Vin pages 10 03 17 e reader for web

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY,

MARCH 10, 2017

VOLUME 111, No.10

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

SENT BACK TO LOCAL COURT

Justice Brian Cottle’s ruling was overturned.

THE ELECTION PETITIONS filed by two New Democratic Party (NDP) candidates following the 2015 general elections, are heading back for consideration in the local court.

This is the ruling of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, more familiarly referred to as the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, which last Tuesday in a sitting in

St. Lucia, heard an appeal filed on behalf of NDP candidates Benjamin Exeter and Lauron Baptiste, against a June 2016 ruling by Justice Brian Cottle to strike out the petitions.

According to news coming out of St. Lucia, Justices Gertel Thom, Mario Michel and Davidson Baptiste ordered ‘that the order to strike out the petitions be set aside and that the hearing of the petitions and motion to strike be remitted to the High Court of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, to be heard by a different judge expeditiously.’

The basis for the Court of Appeal’s order was said to have been an appearance of bias on the part of the High Court Judge.

The Court also awarded costs to

the appellants in the lower court (SVG) and in the Court of Appeal.

The petitions were filed by the NDP’s Exeter, candidate in the Central Leeward constituency, and Baptiste, candidate for North Windward, who both cited discrepancies in the voting and counting of votes in said constituencies, during the 2015 general elections.

Respondents in the matter were the Attorney General, the Supervisor of Elections, Sir Louis Straker — Unity Labour Party (ULP) candidate for Central Leeward, Montgomery Daniel — ULP candidate in North Windward, Returning Officers Winston Gaymes (Central Leeward) and Vil Davis (North Windward), and Presiding Officers Kathleen

Jeffers (Central Leeward) and Veronica John (North Windward).

Reactions Justices Gertel Thom, Mario Machel Given all the (below left) and Davidson Baptiste indications here, (below right), comprised the Court of especially with respect Appeal which ordered that the to what Prime petitions be returned to a SVG court Minister and Leader for hearing. of the ULP Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said on celebrated the decision, and X’Treme radio on Wednesday, said in a news release on the ULP will again seek to Wednesday, it was a decision have the petitions struck out. “welcomed with equal relief by But even as he gave the leadership and general indication of this, Dr. membership of the NDP.” Gonsalves was careful to say Dr. Godwin Friday, Leader that he, and by extension his of the NDP, is party, had accepted the quoted in the ruling of the Court of said release as Appeal, and that the saying, anticipation was that “Whilst we the matter would be welcome the heard and dealt with ruling, we expeditiously. are fully He had all aware of the confidence that the challenges matter would pan out which are still in favour of the before us…” respondents.

Meanwhile, as would be expected, the NDP

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2. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Arts

SVGÊs first Art Centre/Gallery opens

SATURDAY 4TH MARCH, 2017 was an historic day for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It marked the official opening of the country’s first ever Art Centre and Gallery.

Situated at Villa Beach, the Centre/Gallery was “the realisation of a dream,” for its brainchild the Youlou Arts Foundation, which, since being established in 1999, made the quest for a Centre/Gallery for use

by Vincentian artists, its primary focus both in terms of creating awareness of the rationale and raising funds in support the effort.

Saturday’s opening was attending by a large gathering of artists and art lovers, and was addressed by Mr. Cecil Mc Kie, Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture.

The cutting of the ribbons, declaring the Centre open, was done by Ms. Camille Saunders Musser, founder of Youlou Arts Foundation.

The opening also marked the 3rd annual Art Show and Sale, which was open to local visual artists, sixteen of who displayed their work, which included paintings, photographs and sculptures.

Artists whose work was displayed were: Jade Gonsalves,

Bridal Wear from Kimon Baptiste will be on show at Flow Fashion Caribbean 2017.

SVG’s first ever Art Centre and Gallery at Villa Beach.

Inset: Camille Saunders Musser, founder of Youlou Arts Foundation. was on show, with the pieces ranging from paintings, to photography to sculpture.

The Youlou Art Centre is open Monday to Thursday from 10:30 am to 5 pm, on Fridays from Robert Joyette, Cecile Comblen, 10:30 am to 6 pm, and on Leeandra Thompson, Marc Saturdays from 1o am to 1 pm.

Erdrich, Christine Browne, The centre has a small art shop Sherika Sayers, Shonette Bynoe, which sells handmade jewellery, Sean Roache, Tipi Punnett, Daniel Stewart, Kingsley Roberts, T-shrits, and a limited supply of Owen Ralph, Connie Howard, Zen drinks Youlou Arts Foundation is Punnett and Camille Musser. asking the public for it’s The work of sixteen (16) artists continued support.

Flow Fashion Caribbean 2017 is On! TO KICK OFF IT’S 20TH Anniversary, the Image Modelling Agency begins its year of fashion with premier event Fashion Caribbean. This year’s event will be the 11th installation and will once again have local telecommunications company Flow as title sponsor.

“Image Modeling Agency and Flow have been partners for many years. Over the years we have watched the agency grow and maintain its legacy for producing quality models and the highly anticipated, regionally recognized Fashion Caribbean product. We were a sponsor of the very first Fashion Caribbean, which took place in 2001, so it was only fitting as Image Modeling Agency celebrates their 20th year in the business that Flow also supports and celebrates this proud achievement with them,” said Nikala Williams, Marketing Manager at Flow SVG. Flow Fashion Caribbean 2017 which is being held in association with the Grenadine House, takes place on Saturday March 25th at the SVG Community College, which is now being referred to as the official home of Fashion Caribbean.

Executive member, Maxin Browne, who first suggested the venue last year, said “We have finally found a location that meets all our requirements, including easy access, adequate parking and enough space to expand the show as the years progress and the audience increases”.

Flow Fashion Caribbean also receives support from the Grenadine House Hotel, SVG Tourism Authority, Invest SVG, Bank of St. Vincent, Fitness Lab, Vitamalt, Max Digital Dark Room, Oasis Spa and from Corea’s Distribution Ltd and their Bailey’s & Johnny Walker Black brands.

Corea’s Distribution Ltd., a main sponsor of the event, has been a part of Fashion Caribbean every year since the shows inception in 2001.

“We can never express our gratitude enough to Corea’s, especially to Mr. Teddy James and Mr. Noel Browne who always champion our cause which has ultimately resulted in the development of Fashion Caribbean into the event that it is today” said Managing Director Monique Arthur.

This year’s show has over 15 confirmed designers representing Trinidad, Antigua, BVI and host country St. Vincent & the Grenadines. It will also see the debut of six new designers who will make up the Fresh Face Emerging Designers Segment of the 2017 show.

Fashion Caribbean tickets are available at Oasis Spa, Grenadine House and Famous Ritchie’s in Heritage Square. (Contributed)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. 3.

News 3

No fault reported with vessel:

Crew member relives ordeal

THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS made about the physical condition of the M.V Persia, the Vincentian cargo vessel that sank 8 miles off Grenada last week Friday.

This is according to Cameron Beache, Director of Maritime Administration (Ag), who told THE VINCENTIAN that a full investigation will take place.

He further explained that vessels usually undergo annual inspections to determine whether or not there are any deficiencies, and if any are found, then the owner is required to do whatever repairs are needed.

The M.V. Persia, registered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, left Trinidad and Tobago last week Thursday for St Vincent and the

Grenadines and, according to a press release, the vessel encountered some difficulty approximately 8 miles off the coast of Grenada.

One crew member, who asked to remain anonymous, and who was on the ill-fated vessel, told THE VINCENTIAN that he was thankful to be alive.

He said that in all the years that he has spent working on ships, this is the first time that he has had such an experience.

“It was a dangerous situation I tried to secure myself,” the source said.

He explained that the trouble started sometime after 2 last Friday morning. The vessel was making its way out of the twin island republic heading towards Grenada.

There were some high waves, and according to

The M. V. Persia, seen here berthed at Kingstown, was a primary means of transport for SVG traffickers’ goods to and from Trinidad and Tobago.

the man, the boat slammed on to one of the waves.

The term ‘slam’ is used to describe the action of a vessel when it rides over a high wave and lands back on the water, usually with some impact.

The said action damaged the underside of the vessel, the crew member said, and water immediately started pouring in.

Attempts to pump the water out proved futile, as the gushes into the vessel were too stronger, the crew member said.

Everything was

‘We live in a dangerous neighbourhood,’ says PM PARTICIPANTS in a Regional Border Management Training Workshop here have been told that crime and security must be dealt with effectively for a number of reasons, especially in view of the developments currently taking place in the tourism sector.

The admonition came from Prime Minister and Minister of national Security — Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, when he addressed the opening of the Workshop last Monday.

The Prime Minister went on to say that here in St. Vincent, we live in a dangerous neighbourhood, with Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela and Colombia making up a major part of that dangerous neighbourhood.

Given our open borders, the Prime Minister reasoned that these countries posed a threat to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“I am not making any anti Trinidad points when I tell you Trinidad is part of the dangerous neighborhood; they may say that we are too, because we have our own home grown crime and criminals”, said the PM, who added that for the first 62 days in Trinidad, 92 murders were committed.

In light of this threat and our proximity to it, the Prime Minister admitted that more has to be done to strengthen this country’s border security, through the deployment of more coastguard assets and intelligence.

The Workshop, hosted by the Passports and Immigration Department, in the Ministry of National Security, in collaboration with the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), continued during the week, and discussed a range of security-related issues.

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of SVG, admitted that we live in a dangerous neck of the woods.

A number of Immigration and Customs officials were in attendance, with the intention of improving their capacity to operate efficiently at the Argyle International Airport in particular.

working, some at the controls, others at the water pump; but the volume of water entering the vessel was too much for the pump to handle.

At one point, the crew member said, three quarter of the hatch was filled with water.

This went on for about six hours, he said, with the crew of nine working to keep the water out all this time, but it was too heavy a task, and they were eventually forced to radio for help.

They were eventually rescued by the Grenadian

Coast Guard.

“I thank God for my life. I am thankful that we were all able to make it off safely,” the man said.

“Life is more important, and I praise God that I am back on land, and people are happy to see me back too,” he continued. (DD)

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4. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

„Absolute nonsense,‰ Teens accused of entering with gun lawyer responds Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS ATTORNEY Grant Connell has described as “absolute nonsense”, an allegation reported in another publication that he appeared to have “barely restrained himself”, from using an expletive while describing the lighting conditions of a house, during his crossexamination of Station Sergeant Dwayne Bailey of the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) in a firearm and ammunition possession matter at the Serious Offences Court last week.

The allegation was carried in a back page story of the publication on Tuesday, March 7, headlined ‘Lawyer warned about his conduct at the Serious Offences Court’.

When THE VINCENTIAN contacted Connell on Wednesday and asked about the allegation and him being warned of his conduct in Court, he replied, “That is absolute nonsense and not really worthy of my reply. It is amazing journalism, to the point where you can write about an unspoken word.

“How could you say that I appeared to have barely restrained myself from using an expletive? It’s either I said it or I did not say it. How could you know what I was going to say?”

Connell said he did not think that the Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne was referring to any particular word he used, but simply to his tone of voice and the manner in which he was dealing with the police officer, during cross-examination.

“I give the good Magistrate credit. She never indicated that I made use of or restrained myself

from using any expletive, so I don’t know where the media house got that from”, Connell said.

He advised that, “If the Court wants to do something in the interest of justice for all who speak in that Court, they should ensure that a recording system is put in place with some degree of urgency, so that in any event, when what is said in Court is questioned, a simple print out of the transcript will reveal the truth, and not depend on mere mortals like myself who are prone to error to regurgitate what was heard”.

According to Connell, “The present procedure in the Magistrate Courts is a clear residue of colonialism and our love affair with paper, not wanting to move with the times and computerize the proceedings in Court”.

The lawyer also made reference to the second paragraph in the story which stated that the Chief Magistrate was quite vocal about how unamused she was by him referring to Station Sergeant Bailey as a cat.

“When the visit to the locus was done, Station Sergeant Bailey was not allowed to perform the act he had told the Court he did when he allegedly found the firearm, and this justified my analogy.

“Station Sergeant Bailey is a fine officer and commands my respect. His record speaks for itself. He did not rise to his rank by sudden flight or on winds of convenience under his wings”, Connell explained.

According to him, “My

comparing Station Sergeant Bailey’s actions to that of a cat, was by no means meant to be an insult. It’s Attorney Grant all relative.

Connell Cats are flexible, agile and stealthy. When they defecate, they do a better job of disposing of it than some human beings. If I had called him a ‘pussy’, that’s different, the latter would have both innocent and vulgar connotations”.

Connell however concluded that, “It’s the period of Lent”, adding, “One can expect these arrows. I am in the public’s eye, and a few low blows such as this, comes with the territory; but with my spiritual armour, those arrows have no effect, like water off a duck’s back”.

The lawyer pointed out that, “Life is short, I love life, I love my job. Whoever wants to make a mountain out of a mole hill from what transpired in Court, and wants to quota me from an unspoken word, that’s a matter for them”.

He made it clear that he cannot give any guarantees that he would not use the analogy of a cat again in Court.

“What I could say is that I would never disrespect the Court.

I have my job to do, the Magistrate has hers, and the police has theirs. Once we all operate within the ambit of the law, hopefully, there would be justice for all”.

Magistrate recuses herself from gun case CHIEF MAGISTRATE Rechanne Browne, sitting at the Serious Offences Court last week, recused herself from hearing a firearm possession matter.

The matter before her involved a firearm which was allegedly found in the vicinity of her home in Fair Hall.

The persons charged are Hezron Phillips, 23, and Daryl Frederick, 29, both labourers of Enhams.

They are jointly charged with possession of a .380 pistol without licence.

As a result of the Chief Magistrate’s recusal, the matter was transferred to the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Senior Magistrate Bertie Pompey.

When the men appeared before Pompey, they pleaded guilty and were each granted bail in the sum of $10,000 with one surety, on condition that they report to the Calliaqua Police Station on Mondays and Fridays, between 6 am and 6 pm.

They were also ordered to surrender their travel documents, and stop notices were placed at all ports of entry and exit.

The men were apprehended during a police action at Fair Hall on March 1.

The matter has been Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne adjourned to March 24.

TWO TEENAGE boys charged with an aggravated burglary on the apartment of a female medical student, March 1, were remanded following strong objections to bail from the prosecution.

Atibon Campbell, 17 and Osbourne Roberts/ Rogers 19, both labourers of Arnos Vale, have been charged with entering the apartment of Yewande Adeniyi, a medical student of the United States, and at the time of doing Atibon so had a weapon of offence, to wit, a Campbell gun.

Electronic devices including laptops and phones along with other items amounting to thousands of dollars were reportedly stolen.

The offence was reportedly committed at Cane Hall where the student was said to have been staying.

Campbell and Roberts/Rogers were not required to plea to the indictable charge when they appeared before Senior Magistrate Bertie Pompey at Osborne the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Rogers Monday.

Campbell is also charged separately with indecent assault, allegedly involving another female medical student of the United States.

This offence is reported to have occurred on the same date, arising from the same incident.

Campbell was not required to plea as this charge was also laid indictably.

Roberts/Rogers is also charged separately with entering the house of Danielle Wyllie of Fountain, on the same date and stealing a knife valued EX$10.00.

This was laid summarily, and Rogers pleaded not guilty.

In objecting to bail, Prosecutor Constable Shamrock Pierre stated that the police were in the process of recovering some of the items reported to have been stolen in the aggravated burglary matter, and the prosecution believes that if the defendants were granted bail, they would obstruct that process.

The prosecutor added that the police were conducting further investigations in relation to the aggravated burglary report, and two other suspects may be of assistance.

Pierre also noted that Campbell was on bail for another offence while the recent offences were reportedly committed, and stressed that the virtual complainant in the aggravated burglary matter, has expressed fear.

The prosecutor requested a two-week adjournment in the aggravated burglary and indecent assault matters, and that they be transferred to the Serious Offences Court, which was not sitting at the time.

The Senior Magistrate upheld Pierre’s application and remanded the youngsters.

The aggravated burglary and indecent assault matters were adjourned to March 20 and transferred to the Serious Offence Court. The other matter was adjourned to March 27 and transferred to the Calliaqua Magistrate’s Court.

The youngsters were without legal representation.

‘Dougie’s’ matters adjourned at lawyer’s request THE MATTERS involving Nice Radio’s proprietor Douglas ‘Dougie’ De Freitas, which were scheduled to be heard at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday, March 6, have been adjourned to May 8.

De Freitas is facing 12 charges of publishing false statements likely to cause fear or alarm or to disturb the public peace.

The charges were laid in connection with statements De Freitas had reportedly made on Nice Radio on December 10, 2015, the morning after the results of the December 9, 2015 general elections were declared.

Magistrate Rickie Burnett granted the adjournment at the request of De Freitas’s lawyer Kay

Bacchus-Baptiste, who had written to the Court indicating that she was involved in another matter in a higher court.

The letter was copied to Crown Counsel Karim Nelson who is prosecuting the case.

De Freitas was NOT present in court when his name was called, and THE VINCENTIAN understands

that the Magistrate asked Nelson to convey his disappointment to BacchusBaptiste for the absence of her client.

De Freitas’ matters are slated to be heard before Burnett, after two Magistrates - Senior Magistrate Bertie Pompey and Zoila Ellis-Browne had recused themselves from hearing the case.

V VC Hero held at US Immigration

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. 5.

Regional

Can it get any worse?

THAT IS THE QUESTION on the lips of many persons across the globe, as they come to grips with the humiliation suffered by a War Hero, at the hands of US immigration.

Victoria Cross recipient, 37-year-old Grenada-born Sergeant Johnson Beharry, who had fought alongside US troops in the last Iraq war and gained the highest military decoration for valour in the British and Commonwealth forces, was delayed for three hours at JFK Airport in New York, January 27, 2017.

Ironically, Beharry was en route to a charity event for war veterans that was once backed by Donald Trump, where he was to be a guest of honour, the UK Mail Online reported.

Speaking after his ‘release, Beharry said, “I felt humiliated. I think they held me because my passport showed I’d been to Iraq. .. Maybe I am a bit Asian-looking, but that doesn’t mean I should be treated with the same suspicion as a terrorist. I explained that I had been in Iraq fighting for the British army, but they didn’t seem to care.”

According to Beharry,

“The officials only let me in when I kicked up a fuss.”

Beharry relives the ordeal The Mail Onlone reported that Beharry relived the whole scenario at the JFK for the UK media, describing it as one of chaos that greeted nonUS citizens as they entered the country during Trump’s ban on people from seven Muslim majority nations.

“We were separated into two queues - people from the US and those who weren’t. The Americans sailed through while we just waited.

“One immigration official started pulling out Middle-Eastern looking passengers. We kept asking what was going on, but they wouldn’t tell us,” the Mail Online reported.

The former soldier, who was wounded after a rocket propelled grenade was detonated close to his face in Iraq in 2004, ended up missing the event organised by Sean Connery which featured a fashion show in aid of war veterans.

He told the Sun on Sunday that he became very ‘grumpy’ with the long wait, the effect of

The highly decorated soldier Beharry meeting with the Queen in 2014. back pains that he gets from standing for long hours, a reoccurring ailment occasioned by his war injuries.

Beharry, who moved to the UK from Grenada in 1999, reached the front of the airport queue at 10:30pm, two and half hours after his plane from Gatwick had landed.

But, he explained, as he approached the airport booth, he was told by an official to go to the back of queue of about 800 nonUS citizens.

Another 30 minutes elapsed, the Mail said, before a man returned from other duties and subjected him a a barrage of questions concerning his time in Iraq.

“He stared at my passport for ten minutes. I kept reiterating that I wasn’t from Iraq. But again he didn’t say anything.

“I was getting more and more angry. I was being treated with suspicion.

“At that moment I hated the place, the airport, New York. I was thinking of never coming back here if this is how they are going to treat me.

I felt like a second rate citizen,” Beharry related, as reported by the Mial Online.

Beharry was eventually allowed to pass, but only after both his fingerprints were taken.

The disciplined and committed individual he

Victoria Cross recipient Johnson Beharry, was so honoured for two acts of bravery during military action in Iraq. is, a still irritated Beharry dashed for the hotel, where the event was taking place, donned his military wear, turned up at the event venue, only to discover that it had already finished.

The executive order put in place by President Trump in late January sparked widespread condemnation at home and around the world.

As it stands now, the order has been temporarily blocked after a judge in Seattle made such a ruling, and a subsequent reinforcement

of the ban by the Court of Appeal, which ruled after the Justice Department had filed an appeal to the first ban.

However, in trying to circumvent the block ion his original executive order, President Trump, on Monday, signed a new travel ban that administration officials said they hope will end legal challenges over the matter by imposing a 90day ban on the issuance of new visas for citizens of six majority-Muslim nations. (Source: Mail Online)

Chalkdust not apologizing (Dr. Hollis Liverpool) is standing firm.

Chalkdust created history when he won his ninth Calypso Monarch Title in Trinidad and Tobago, in 2017. He now has one more than the great Mighty Sparrow (Dr. Slinger Francisco).

But even before Chalkdust could begin to revel in his new-found glory, his detractors were upon him.

Among the first to have taken umbrage with Chalkdust’s winning number, which addressed the issue of child marriage, and referenced the Hindu community’s position on the issue, was Sat Maharaj - Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, a leading Hindu organization in T&T. The Hindu leader made a strong, public condemnation of the song.

Since that, according to reports in the Trinidadian media, a member of Chalkdust (Dr. Hollis Liverpool) sees parliament in T&T has joined the criticism of Chalkdust. MP Barry nothing in his winning song for which Padarath said the song ‘fueled he should apologise. misconceptions about child marriages in the country’.

According to last Sunday’s Newsday, IN THE WAKE OF CONTINUED Paradath was also critical of Chalkdust criticism of his winning number ‘Learn for having neglected to mention other from Arithmetic’, in the 2017 Calypso religious groups and civil marriages that Monarch competition in Trinidad and had no minimum age requirement.

Tobago (T&T), the Mighty Chalkdust

But Chalkdust, speaking with the Sunday Newsday, was unshaken. As far as the Calypso Monarch was concerned, he had nothing about which to apologise.

“No, I am not apologising,” he blurted when asked, adding “When I make calypsos, I don’t make them for groups. I sing calypsos. If they do not understand calypsos, that is their business. Calypso is for intelligent people.”

He maintained that the song “had nothing to do with one race, group or religion,” but was a worldwide phenomenon that needed to be properly ventilated, and that the song was not directed to any individual or organisation.

Wider concern Since his victory, Chalkdust and his ‘Learn from Arithmetic’ have attracted criticism from wider quarters: His former University colleague Dr. Errol Benjamin, in a letter to the editor (Newsday), opined that the composition “seemed flawed in terms of message and style.”

Political analyst Dr Indira Rampersad, in her Trinidad Guardian newspaper column of Saturday 4th

March, wrote that ‘Liverpool’s song was flawed on several counts, including attire for the presentation’.

And All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union Sat Maharaj made an leader, Nirvan early condemnation Maharaj, of Chalkdust’s called on “specific’ reference to Liverpool to the Hindu community. apologise to both the Hindu and national community, saying, “It was indeed shocking that one of the best calypsonians, a master of the art form, respected and acknowledged as an objective thinker and one for whom I have the greatest respect, would have descended into the realm of pure bias and subjectivity.. .”

Calypso, it seems, remains an art form that still provokes the establishment.

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6. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Garifuna group congratulates Caribbean American legislator

by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; kingnaking210@yahoo.com

US CORRESPONDENT THE BRONX-BASED GARIFUNA Political Action Committee (Garifuna PAC), a nonpartisan organization that provides opportunities for Garifuna and Communities of Colour to participate in the American political process, has congratulated a Caribbean American legislator in New York, for winning a top position in the United States Democratic Party’s National Committee (DNC).

Bronx Assemblyman Michael Blake, the son of Jamaican immigrants, won one of the vice chairs positions in the DNC at an insiders’ meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, two weekends ago. Queens, New York Congresswoman Grace Meng won the other vice chair position.

With the election of new Chairman Tom Perez, the number of New Yorkers in the DNC leadership comes to three.

Garifuna PAC had endorsed Blake for DNC vice chair.

The Garifuna are an ethnic group of mixed ancestry — descendants of

Carib, Arawak and African people living along the Caribbean coast in Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras.

They originated from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

In its December 23, 2016 endorsement, Garifuna PAC said “Garifuna issues are New York’s issues, and we stand ready to work as full partners with all segments of the Bronx’s society to address our current ordeals and fulfill the promise of a bright future.

“Assemblyman Blake has worked directly with our community to help bridge the divide between our community and the local government administration,” it said.

Since his election to the New York Assembly, Garifuna PAC said Blake has “proven to be a friend and supporter of the Bronx Garifuna community, sponsoring an event to celebrate the contributions of the Garifuna-American community to the city and state of New York, cosponsoring a bill to include the History of the Garifuna People in New

York State Education Law, and moderating an event that brought together young men of colour, police officers, and community leaders to discuss healing community relations.”

A seafaring people, the Garifuna arrived in the United States as merchant marines during World War II. New York City is currently home to the largest Garifuna population outside of Central America, with an estimated 200,000 living in the South Bronx, Brownsville and East New York in Brooklyn, and Harlem in Manhattan.

Out of 814 votes cast with a 211-vote threshold for election for two female at-large vice chair positions, Meng received 216.5 votes, while Maria Elena Durazo, a prominent Californian labour leader, received 228.5 votes, according to the New York Observer.

It said that Blake, a 34year-old veteran of former US President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and White House, received the most votes–171–for the

remaining position, open to a male or female out of 411.5 ballots received.

But a second round was held because all contenders fell short of the 206-vote threshold, the Observer said. It said Blake won 237 votes in the next go-round after several candidates withdrew.

Both Blake and Meng called in their platforms for rebuilding the Democratic Party’s infrastructure to support new candidates for local office, the Observer said.

It said the race for the chairmanship was divisive, as progressives– led by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders–favoured Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison over Perez.

In his victory speech, Blake called for party unity.

“We have to leave here united,” he said. “We cannot walk out of here as Obama Democrats or Hillary Democrats or Bernie Democrats, we are a united Democratic Party, and that is who we are.”

In a show of unity, Perez asked the 400-plus

Michael Blake, the son of Jamaican immigrants, fills one of the vice-chair positions of United States Democratic Party’s National Committee (DNC).

DNC members to elect Ellison his deputy chairman. They complied, and Ellison accepted the post, the Observer said.

US Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, was among members of the Congressional Black Caucus who had also endorsed Blake.

“As a fellow JamaicanAmerican, it is with great pride that I endorse Michael Blake for DNC vice chair,” Clarke

said. “Michael is absolutely committed to organizing on the ground, mobilizing communities to vote and communicating how policies are directly impacted by political decisions.

“I have been a surrogate with Michael on countless occasions, and have seen how hundreds of people are motivated to action because of his words,” she added. “He is exactly what we need as a party to heal and unite.”

Judy Boucher to be celebrated VINCENTIAN SONGSTRESS, Judy Boucher, is celebrating an important milestone this year (2017).

It marks the 30th anniversary of the release of the hit song — ‘Can’t be With You Tonight’ - which catapulted her to international recognition.

To celebrate the occasion, A&A Promotions will host an event in her honour at the Russell’s Auditorium on Saturday, April 22, 2017, at 8:00 pm.

The event will feature music, dance, drama, poetry and more, all in honour of Judy.

Among the highlights of the show will be a segment in which wellknown Vincentian artistes will serenade Judy with hits from her repertoire.

This show will be the first of what is expected to be an annual event in St Vincent and the Grenadines. to celebrate outstanding Caribbean artistes/personalities in the music industry.

The intention is to develop, subsequent to this show and others in the future, a tailored version (featuring

Vincentian songstress Judy Boucher continues to maintain a high profile in the big people’s chart with her brand of ‘easy listening’ lover’s rock.

Caribbean artistes) to be taken to other markets of the world, including Europe.

This year’s show, which has at its theme: “A Tribute to Judy Boucher-Can’t be With You Tonight”, is being co-produced by Ezee Radio, in collaboration with SVG Association of Music Professionals (SVG AMP), Nice Radio, among others.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. 7.

News

ÂRoots and RhythmsÊ coming is not just to attract foreign revenue, but also to expose some of the local, hidden talent.

The event is the brainchild of Barbadian Orlando Newton and is being produced by S.O.N. Management Consultancy.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Festival’s official launch at Grenadines House, Kingstown Park, Newton explained that the idea for the show came after many visits to the island, from which he discerned that there is a Glen Beache, CEO/SVGTA, urged local lot of talent waiting to be exposed here. artistes to be The two-day event professional because ‘somebody big could be which gets underway Friday, March 31 and watching you’. continues on April 1, both nights at the Cruise THE ORGANIZERS of the Ship Terminal, ‘Roots and Rhythms’ Kingstown, features Festival say that the goal musical greats such as Eric Donaldson, Edwin Yearwood, Sugar Aloes and Romain Virgo on the first evening, and boasts an all-star local line up including Kevin Lyttle, First Lady, Rodney Small, and local reggae artistes Abuza, The ‘Cherry Oh Baby’ man – Eric Dynamite and Donaldson’ returns to SVG as the Yaphatoo on billed act on the first night of the the second.

Festival.

SVG’s own Kevin Lyttle is billed for the second night of the Festival.

According to Newton, the producers of Dominica’s Creole Festival, the owner of Barbados’ ‘Reggae on the Hill’, and a group calling themselves ‘Pure Grenada’ are expected to be here.

“The festival is the first of its kind in the region, most are teeming with international artistes, but what we are trying to do is to have the Caribbean market into St Vincent,” Newton explained.

It was also anticipated that the event will assist in the process of attracting airlines.

“With the new airport, there is need for additional activities on the island,” he said.

This follows on an expression by the producers that the Root and Rhythms Festival is ‘a long term venture in the island, designed to also ignite new economic opportunities at various levels…’.

Caution to local acts Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority (SVGTA) — Glen Beache, addressing the launch, said of the Festival, “I think from what I have seen so far, it is heading in the right direction.

But while he applauded the effort of the organizing team, he cautioned the local artistes.

According to Beache, during the days of the Blues and Rhythms Festival, the local artistes who were slated to perform were promoted heavily, particularly since the US cable music channel BET was providing some coverage of the event.

However, the level of unprofessionalism displayed by some of the local acts was unbearable, Beache said.

Against this recall, he urged the locals billed to perform in this event, to be professional and make use of the opportunity being provided to them.

“You never know who is in the audience, who is watching, where the videos are going to go. In this day of technology, all it takes is someone doing a 10 second broadcast,” he added. (DD)

Orlando Newton, who is spearheading the Festival, described it as the first of its kind in the Caribbean.

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8. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 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 Being honest about International Women’s Day IT IS NOT THAT MEN don’t respect the achievements of women and their contribution to the world, or that they don’t appreciate initiatives for women empowerment. It’s just not in the nature of the creature we call man, especially the Caribbean man, to let his sentiments be seen or heard so to make him out to be a ‘soffee’.

And if the truth be told, March 8, International Women’s Day (IWD), is not meant to be a day for messages and wishes just to suit their (women’s) or men’s understanding.

How many of us have sat with them - women — and talked to them about this Day? If you have, haven’t you come to a realization that showing unusual respect on this Day is not really something they would necessarily like?

When we insist on parading the radio waves and what have you with messages and grand wishes on this Day, are we not just pretending to the world that we have a positive approach towards women, and we respect them and treat them with equality?

The sooner we realize that just showing isn’t equivalent to feeling the same from the core of the heart, the quicker we will realize how we have in fact, not given women an equal share of the pie.

IWD is all about a call by the United Nations to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and the struggle waged by women themselves since the early 1900s. The Day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. However, the sensitivity (if not hypocrisy) associated with the issue of women empowerment and parity can be judged from the fact that it’s been over a hundred years, and we still need a ‘Women’s Day’ to respect women and treat them well.

This is oh so spineless, for it is the approach/attitude towards women for the entire year that should define the celebration of this Day. On this IWD, let us question ourselves: Are women safe and secure around us? Are they given rights equal to men? If yes, then are they actually able to exercise those rights? Do we treat them equally in our minds and hearts as well? Do we see them as commodities? And, will women be treated better for the rest of the year until next IWD? If we are true to ourselves, trying to answer these questions yields more doubts in our minds rather than answers. Hence, we avoid them. The fact that we don’t have answers to these questions signifies how “happy” this day must be for the women around us.

The entire year goes in satisfying the ‘male’ ego, satisfying the urge of being the ‘superior’ gender through rapes, molestations and public humiliations. Suddenly on the March 8, we treat the same “inferior” gender as goddesses!

Birthdays are not celebrated only because you were born on that day, but also because you survived a year more, and for all the learning and understandings you developed in that year.

Similarly, we forget that the entire year, women have been treated badly — whether at national platforms or at homes.

And yes, people argue that women are being treated well and are being given equal opportunities on the basis of a sample space that hardly forms any significant percent of the entire population.

But what they neglect is the way they are treated in the rest of the space. Providing a handful of women with opportunities and a stand in the society when a majority is being objectified, or are being deprived of even the basic human rights, is not something to be termed as women empowerment, and something about which we have anything to feel proud.

Do the messages/wishes on IWD count? Do they change the perception and understanding of men towards women? Does the standing of women in the society become the way she wants it to be and not the way the egoistic male wants? When the answer to all of them is NO, then how can we say that the wishes of a happy IWD are even valid?

A day cannot solve the plight of women in the mind of the entire society. We should mend our behaviour in a way that we no longer need the crutch of a “Women’s Day” to treat females fairly and equally.

R.M. Cato and the myth-makers (First published in 1998) THIS WEEK MARKS one year since Robert Milton Cato was called to higher service, and already his story is taking on the shape of legend, with distortion of History and myth creation becoming the order of the day.

Robert Milton Cato was, by any standard, an outstanding Vincentian who made a signal contribution to national development.

Cato it was who, with a few others, founded in 1955 the St Vincent Labour Party which in essence still exists today, shining from the heart of the ULP beyond the MNU gloss.

The SVLP participated in the establishment of a two-party democracy which thrives to this day, and in its early years, helped to rein in the extremes of the PPP by slamming brakes on the excesses of Joshua who could otherwise have so easily degenerated into the tyranny of Gairy in contemporary Grenada.

In constitutional terms, Cato led this country to a politically advanced status becoming in turn our first Premier in 1969 and our first Prime Minister ten years later.

Nobody, nothing, can wash those accolades off Cato.

But to go further and embellish the story by claiming that Cato attended Oxford University and was a great trade unionist (Straker); had enunciated an idea of ideology based on the old English philosophers and was, as well, Secretary of the West Indian student union in his time (Stanley John); championed the “Spiritual Baptists” when it was an outcast religion in the 1950’s (Father Paynter); at the time of the 1935 riot was the sole contact Mc Intosh maintained outside his prison walls (Carlton Williams)- do a great disservice to Cato’s record, and can sully the name of the man intended for canonization.

Significantly, it would have had to be a oneoff relationship, for Milton Cato was never known to have been associated with the Mc Intosh Movement before he left St Vincent during the Second World War, nor even after returning in 1949. It was Mc Intosh who in his last years joined Cato’s St Vincent Labour Party around 1959. Half-brother Carlton Williams has to come better than that.

Similarly, Chairman of the ULP Louis Straker glibly calls Cato a great trade Unionist.

In fact the ST Vincent Labour Party was unique in that it was the only “Labour” Party to form in the 1950’s in the entire chain of West Indies Islands, without a trade union base.

The nearest the Labour Party could come to a relationship with a Trade Union was the exploitation of a blood-tie when in 1963 the CTAWU formed under Cato’s nephew Burns Bonadie, displayed some initial sympathy To the Labour party in 1957 its president, OD Brisbane, declared that Cato had the brains “to rub shoulders” with the Caribbean leaders of the day. Norman Manley, Eric Williams and

Grantley Adams.

It was a tall order.

For the Big Three were all graduates of the highly prestigious Oxford University, boasting an education that Sir Arthur Lewis was to deem “the envy of mankind“.

By a strange telepathy, forty years later, Louis Straker could boldly state that Cato had attended Oxford University, when he had set foot in no university at all.

Stanley K. John, a former leader of the Labour Party who probably saw himself as heir apparent to Cato, attributed Cato’s political posture to the teachings of the English philosophers Jerey Bentham, John Stuart Mill and John Locke to which University students have been routinely exposed. Enrolling in an Inn of Court, as Cato did, did not necessarily expose him to that type of education.

In fact, Cato’s C.V in the “Vincentian published in 1958 showed that he had been “a barrister, twice member of the Kingstown Town Baord, once Chairman, thrice President of the Old Boys’ Association. five times President of the Cricket Association, Windward Island’s representative on the West Indies Cricket Board of Control, member of the Public Service Commission , Chairman of the Labour advisory Board , member various wages councils, member Library Committee, member of Land Settlement Development Board. Chairman of Preparatory School Committee. Later, Cato’s membership of the Federal House 1959-1961 was legitimate adornment.

Finally, the political Champions of the Spiritual Baptists have been in order. George Mc Intosh, Ebenezer Joshua and Parnel Campbell. Lawyer Milton Cato during his first brief flirtation with the 8th Army in 1951 simply did a job of work in providing that pariah with legal representation on a single occasion. The case against the Shakers was withdrawn, but has been passed down in history as a “land mark victory for the Shakers”.

At Cato’s funeral, Father Paynter appeared to take up the cue with tribute purporting to demonstrate Cato’s shepherding of the Shakers!

It is worth noting that neither Father nor the Dean of the Cathedral welcomes eulogies or applauses such as Father Paynter evoked by his “sermon” on the departed father of the nation.

Taken by himself, Cato stands tall in our modern political history. False praise, fulsome flattery and tailored embroidery of biography only serve to tarnish the image and disfigure the personality without giving benefit to those who would piggy-back the saga to political glory. The true memory of Milton Cato can stand on its own feet, without props, “borrowed robes” and the undertakers‘ sprucing up.

Addendum: The foregoing article is one of four, objecting to Cato’s nomination for National Hero status.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. 9.

Letters

Appreciate Argyle International Airport THE ARGYLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT affords one the opportunity to be gracious to others upon arrival in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Thanks to Immigration Officer, Ms. Nedine Roache, for the very warm welcome extended to me when I landed there recently. Much appreciated.

On leaving Barbados, the pilot stated that it was windy at the airport in Barbados, and that similarly, it was windy in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It turned out to be a very smooth flight, and was very pleasant.

In this National Heroes/Heritage Month, we reflect on the positive, innovative contributions and milestones of the past, which have made such a difference in terms of education and development. For example, we celebrate the publication of the first newspaper in St. Vincent in 1817, two hundred years ago (Lent 1977) which has led to the advancement of thoughts and ideas.

We thank those who continue to make it possible for the future progress of the nation with another milestone, the first international airport. We look forward to economic, social and cultural advancement, with this new dimension added to the national landscape.

I share this poem which I wrote about the Argyle International Airport.

Argyle International Airport (AIA) (A)rgyle International Airport in SVG destination SVD, (R)eforming a nation by land, air and sea, (G)lobally and locally more progress there’ll be.

(Y)ears of dedication paving the way, (L)ooking to the future it is a new day, (E)xpanding horizons up up and away.

Cheryl Phills King

Enough is enough

Colonisation and God’s Plan for building His Kingdom – Pt. 4

get this ridiculous teaching? This was sacrilegious! After all, was it not Yahweh who had given the law to the ancient patriarch — Moses? This young rabbi had to be demonpossessed (Matt. 12:24); this was the work of Satan; he was even casting out demons through Satan (Matt 12:24).

But the young rabbi spoke and said, ‘the law and the prophets had its place. Those laws had served their time; they were relevant right up until the time of John (the Baptist). Since that time, the Kingdom of God is to be preached, and those who

understand its message will press their way into it. You accuse me of casting out demons by Beelzebub the Prince of demons (Matt 12:26), but if that is so, wouldn’t that imply that Satan’s kingdom is divided?

(Matt 12:26). How then can his kingdom stand?

But if I am casting out these demons by the spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived (on the earth colony).’

Indeed, a new era had begun - a new management was in place, God, through his Son had taken back the earthcolony from Satan (Matt 4:10,11),and destroyed his works(1Jn 3:8), bringing to a close the era of the law and the prophets, and ushering in the Kingdom of I WOULD HAVE things to say.

God. thought that February Why can’t we just The account of the 14, 2017 would have agree that the airport is transfiguration of Jesus been the beginning of here, it is ours and only on the mountain while something new and we can make it work? accompanied by his beautiful in my land — Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and disciples Peter, James, St. Vincent and the the ULP might have and John (Matt 17:1,2), Grenadines. After all, it built it, but they built it happened so that they was the opening of our for all of us. Do you could bear witness to the own international think the immigration conclusion of an era - the airport, something that officers would ask you era of the law and the people of my generation who you voted for before prophets. thought they would they let you through to There on the never see in their board your flight? mountain appeared lifetime. I thank God Come on, my people, it Moses and Elijah, that I have lived to see is time we put all this talking with Jesus (Matt the day that we land jets political bantering 17:3), Moses in St. Vincent. behind us and rally But, Mr. Editor, it around the airport. hurts my heart to hear Somehow, Mr. Edotor, some people still wishing the Argyle Airport does bad on the airport. I make me feel like I am can’t seem to find a good now truly connected to reason why they should the rest of the world. be still criticising the God bless our airport. airport. They look for all kinds of stupid little Judy Thomas THIS WAS THE FIRST time in Earth’s history that such a message was presented to the Earth-colony,- the young rabbi serious (Matt. 9:35),and the religious zealots began to take notice (Jn. 12:19).

Previously, the focus had always been about the esteemed traditions, and about the law and the prophets, of which all of Israel were very proud. But here was this young rabbi teaching and preaching throughout all the towns and villages, a vastly different message from the conventional one (Matt. 9:35).

The religious leaders were incensed. Who did this young upstart think he was? Where did he

No time for division

SOMETIME ago, your publication carried an editorial which asked the question: Do we have a rape culture?

I would not want to say that we have a rape culture in SVG, but what I know is that our men continue to have a very dim view of us women.

Take for example a conversation I overheard recently involving three relatively young men. The conversation was all about girls and which girls they thought were “easy to get.” As far as they were concerned, these women were waiting for them (men) to pounce. It was as though they thought these girls were their belongings.

And you should have heard what they said they would do to these girls when they “got them.” That was so ridiculous and obscene that it is not YAHUSHUA precious bride, forgive and let go. worth repeating.

Yahushua asks us to let go because He will take it from Until such time as our men change, there. He knows you are hurting in more ways than one. Love their attitude to our women, we will your enemies, pray for those who persecute you. Don’t you know get nowhere. Perhaps we women that they persecuted Yahushua, and how can we not have pity should not wait on the men to change on them that persecute you without a cause? but we should start now demanding It is written that the rain falls for the just and the unjust more from them as far as their alike. So be like your Father in heaven and love them. Matthew attitude to us is concerned, and say a 5:44-45 - But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those big NO when they come around who persecute you. So that you may be sons of your Father who looking ‘to catch’. is in heaven, who causes the sun to rise on the evil and the Could it be that our girls are good, and send rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Love making it too easy for our men to those who are good and also those who are evil. exploit them?

Yahushua died for each of us. Thou shalt love the Lord they In this week of International Women’s Day, Vincentian women need God with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment, and the second is like unto it, thou to rally together and tell our men, shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

“Enough is Enough!”

Yahushua (Jesus) asks us to love one another

Sarah

Yah descendant

representing the law, and Elijah representing the prophets. And though the account did not reveal the conversation, one can imagine Jesus thanking them both for their wonderful and outstanding contribution to the rich tradition of Israel, and bidding them to go back to their eternal rest, for it was now time for another phase in the divine plan for the earth-colony.

It was now time for the beginning of the establishment of Kingdom government upon the earth (Isa 9:6,7).

Negus

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10. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Citizen Security

(Excerpt from the 2017 Budget Address) Introduction

expanding the Police Force; enhancing the Coast Guard facilities and vessels; THE PRIMARY obligation of the State is attracting quality applicants to the to provide an appropriate, and effective, Police Force; increasing the salaries framework for an acceptable level of and allowances for police officers; citizen security. Citizens and visitors to enlarging vastly the training St. Vincent and the Grenadines must be opportunities for police officers; made to feel reasonably safe and secure improving markedly the working in their homes, their places of work and conditions of the police through the at leisure, and as they generally go construction and renovation of police about their lawful business in a free stations across St. Vincent and the society.

Grenadines; better equipping the Mr. Speaker, St. Vincent and the Police Force in several areas including Grenadines is a small country in telecommunications, videography and which we tend to know one another recording equipment, criminal face-to-face. We are overwhelmingly a investigation, and vehicles; setting up law-abiding society. We are an the Forensic Laboratory; educated and disciplined people. We strengthening the legislative have a sound system of law and order; framework against crime, including and the Police Force is reasonably tough laws on illegal guns; resourced with personnel and Police Youth Clubs and Community equipment. Yet, we have a level of Policing have been established and we criminal violence, perpetuated by a have strengthening the links between small minority, in our country; this is St. Vincent and the Grenadines and deeply troubling. We must do much, regional and international agencies in much better, in curbing the incidence the fight against crime. of criminal violence committed by this hardy minority. I take this matter More Discipline very seriously.

It is correctly and widely accepted All of these efforts continue apace that the fight against crime is not in and new initiatives, particularly in the province of the State apparatus intelligence gathering and analysis alone. This fight is an alland crime detection, are being rolled encompassing enterprise involving the out. Undoubtedly, the overwhelming State institutions, the family, church, majority of police officers are focussed, school, community, the mass media of courageous, and diligent in fighting communication, civil society, private crime. security firms, businesses and labour, Unfortunately, a minority of them and individuals themselves in a are uninterested in policing and are partnership with appropriate regional possessed of a sedentary public and international institutions and service mind-set, trotting out lame government. We must all be on the excuses for their failure and/or refusal same page in this fight within the to do their duty with any sense of context of a democratic society. urgency or at all; often, these very ones are the perpetual complainers of State Institutions this, that, and the other. The policymakers and leadership of the Police The principal State institutions Force, and the bulk of the disciplined engaged actively in the quest for police personnel have to address optimal citizen safety and security satisfactorily this challenge of a are: the Law Courts, the Office of the minority of none-performing police Director of Public Prosecutions, the officers. It is a matter on which the Financial Intelligence Unit, the public rightly complains. machinery for the administration of In 2017, the Police Force intends, justice, the National Commission on according to its targeted Strategic Crime Prevention, the Police Force, in Outcomes, to ramp up the percentage concert with relevant regional and of arrests of persons reasonably international entities, including the suspected of committing crimes, Regional Security System, IMPACS especially violent crimes, and (Implementation Agency for providing the basis for the prosecution CARICOM Security), and INTERPOL. of those against whom there is a Each of these State institutions is reasonable prospect of conviction. The reasonably well-resourced and public expects that when accused performs creditably. persons are taken to the Law Courts The SVG Police Force is on the that the presiding judicial officers be front-line of crime fighting. On the firm and fair. The public interest police establishment are 836 police demands that justice be done in officers, 15 Traffic Wardens, 20 Rural accordance with law and without Constables, 99 Fire Officers, and 91 unreasonable delay.

Coast Guard Officers, a grand total of Mr. Speaker, our government has 1,061 persons. The recurrent budget embraced the formal request of the for the Police Force in 2017 is $27.6 Chamber of Industry and Commerce million, for the Fire Services $3.7 to afford duty-free concessions to million, and for the Coast Guard $4.2 businesses which plan to install million, an aggregate for these law security cameras. I have asked that and order institutions of $35.5 million. the Chamber work in concert with the Additionally, the Prison Services have Ministry of Information Technology 131 prison officers and an annual and the Police Force to coordinate this recurrent budget of $5.8 million. In matter. I am interested in providing the 2017 Budget, the functional the tax concessions to the very best classification, “Public Order and security camera systems.

Safety”, has an impressive allocation As a mature people we must of $63.8 million or 9 percent of the acknowledge that some persons, total recurrent budget, inclusive of mainly a small minority of young amortization and Sinking Fund men, are bent on a life of crime. Their contribution. impulses and pre-dispositions towards Mr. Speaker, in 2003, the criminality, and corresponding government elaborated, and caused to criminal activism, are many and be approved in this Honourable House varied. Excuses must not, and a National Strategy on Crime cannot, be made for such persons Prevention. It has been updated and particularly those who have no regard refined on an ongoing basis. This whatsoever for human life. We must many-sided Strategy and focus on being tough on crime and consequential Work Plan have been, tough on the causes of crime. In this and are being, implemented. But any mix, of especial concern, too, is the Strategy and Work Plan must be violent offender who is mentally effected in practice by real flesh-and- twisted or deranged. In this regard, blood beings, and better can always be the Mental Health Services must done. work very closely with the Police, the Over the last sixteen years, the Prosecutors, the Law Courts, and the ULP government has done the Prisons. Often this is not done well following, among other things, to enough or at all; the consequences of build the anti-crime fighting any neglect in this regard can be apparatus of the State: Reforming and deadly.

Our women need to be empowered (Excerpts from Senator Barnwell’s Budget Presentation) MR SPEAKER, for my contribution I will first give a snap shot of the general circumstances in which we all live, then build upon it the living circumstances of our women and children.

Mr. Speaker, amidst the glitz and glamour, nice words and grand standing we have heard from the government benches during this Budget no amount of longwinded bombast, no amount of studied eloquence, and no amount of compulsive arrogance will be enough to change the undeniable fact that our society is very sick and getting sick by the day: our women, our children, our youth, our environment, our security as a people and nation is under serious threat. Crime is at an all time high and it is a grave concern for every citizen of our Nation!

There is something very nasty and ugly beneath the surface of our people; it is tearing away at the very fabric of society. And added to that there seems to be an atmosphere of dejection, hopelessness and helplessness Mr. Speaker, statistical records from the Royal Police Force of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the offences reported for period 2015-2016 indicate that there has been 28% increase in sex offences, and of the total number of sex offences reported in 2016 there was a 27.2 % increase for sex with girls under 15 years.

Further, there has been a 16% increase in sex with girls under 13 years. This is horrendous! This is painful circumstance!!

In a 2014 regional study called Breaking the Silence conducted by Reid, Reddock and Nickenig, it was found that, “Most alarming, however, is that 47.6% of females and 31.9% of males described their first intercourse as forced or somewhat coerced and attributed blame to family members or persons known to their family.”

The rape culture that is rooted in our nation must be eliminated if we are to save this nation! We must lead the way against this scourge that afflict the region and the world. Our National Development Plan states that “if women are left then half the world is left out.” Let’s save our girls, so that they can be the best women of tomorrow! The government cannot do this by itself and it must support even more organisations such as Leave Out Violence in SVG that are involved in the fight!

Mr. Speaker, in addition to the rise in sex offences there has been 4.16 % increase in offences against property; and of the total number of offences against property 4% are related to theft of agriculture produce and livestock! Mr. Speaker while this percentage amount may sound small one just have to give some consideration to how these offences affect the struggling poor families involved in earning a living from agriculture sector.

Agriculture sector has seen negative growth of 3.31% according to the 2015 preliminary figures from our Statistical Office, and experienced a sharp decline from 2014.

Also last year, Mr. Speaker we peaked at 40 murders! We woke to headlines carried by I Witness News such as: “13 year old student on gun, ammunition charge”; “Mother hears gunshots that ended son’s life”; “Accused drug runner gunned down one week before court hearing”; “Another man gunned down in East St. George”; “Family shaken up as gunshot victim runs into their house”.

Violent crime, in particular gun

related violence is out of control. In fact, Mr. Speaker the records from Royal Police Force indicates that there has been a 22% increase in gun related offences. Not only are we living in hard economic times we are also living in rather insecure times.

We must not lose sight of the fact the majority of crimes are committed against by and against our young men. Also not too lose sight that at the same time the majority of inmates at the Mental Asylum are young men.

Mr. Speaker, the fact that our young men are at risk is very glaring!

Courts are taking a tough stance through its sentencing guidelines for gun related violence but sentencing is post event approach. It does not deal directly with the cause of crime!

The causes of crime are not as simple, and I am sure the Honourable Senator and Parliamentary Secretary would agree that it is not as simple as reducing it to evil in man’s heart.

Crime affects more immediately and directly the poor and vulnerable; their lives filled with complex issues. If one takes a visit to the magistrate court we would see that the majority of the persons hauled before the criminal court are the poor and vulnerable. Yes may say that we are not as bad as our neighbour Trinidad such a comparison brings no real comfort and security to our people. We need solutions!

Neighbour watch is one small step but much more has to be done.

Mr. Speaker, to the foregoing context I now add the context of the circumstances of women who make up 49% of the total population.

Mr. Speaker, based on our human development index women will live approximately 4 years more than men in our life time. 40% of households are single-headed by women. They are the sole income earner. And in our rural communities women are more severely affected by the declining of the declining agriculture sector. 2015 statistics from the Statistical Department reveal that the agriculture sector experienced negative growth -3.3; a steep decline from a growth rate of 9.12% in 2013.

Women continue to dominate the lower paying wages. Their lives are difficult Mr. Speaker. Single mothers who are forced to take their children’s fathers to the Family Court for maintenance received on average received $150 per month! Even if this mother receives social assistance it is still not enough to live on especially in the face of 16% VAT. Mr. Speaker, we must not be fooled by a government or blinded by a government that point to women in prominent position in our society. Any progress must not be allowed to mask the serious power vacuum between men and women! Because women may have “high” positions but they have no power. Behind the many faces of success, women remain deprived, needy and vulnerable; men still see them as objects to be used, abused and discarded. Mr. Speaker, prostitution is one of our growing industries; our young women are increasingly selling themselves for favours. For the men: you give me sex and I will give you what you want.

Our women need to be empowered, NOT sexpolited!

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. 11.

Views

Playing the dysfunctional card (Part 2 of 2)

“However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. Science is not only a disciple of reason but, also, one of romance and passion. Look up at the stars and not down at your feet.” - Dr. Stephen Hawking (born 1942) English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology within the University of Cambridge.

LAST WEEK’S ARTICLE highlighted several individuals who were born with missing limbs but proceeded to accomplish greatness in a variety of fields. However, these setbacks did not prevent them from great accomplishments. That essay ended with an invitation for us to continue the discussion on the topic by sharing insights from the lives of individuals who were born with totally functional bodies but, through a variety of life’s tragedies, lost the function of some body parts or were exposed to traumatic circumstances. This week’s article focuses on two outstanding men and a most outstanding woman. Their life stories continue to encourage and inspire even though they experienced severe physical and/or emotional traumas in their early lives.

Kenneth Robinson was born in England in 1950. He was one of seven children. Ken contracted polio when he was four years old. The resulting deformity of his lower limbs resulted in him having to attend a special school in Liverpool. However, he was then transferred to a regular public school following the visit of a special school inspector when Ken was nine years old.

He excelled in the regular school system and later pursued studies in English and drama. After completing his Bachelor of Education degree, he enrolled in and completed a Ph.D. programme at the University of London where he conducted extensive research in theatre and education. He was knighted for services to the art in 2003. Sir Kenneth Robinson is a wellsought-after speaker and international advisor on education. He has examined how regular schools kill creativity, the need for changing education paradigms, reforming public education, and how to raise education standards to meet the demands of the workplace and culture.

Sir Kenneth Robinson has commented on how fortunate he considers himself to be for having come across an education administrator who looked beyond his physical defect (because of contracting polio) to see his potential. This becomes a timely reminder that individuals who are shared life’s dysfunctional cards via disease or accident, can still make significant contributions to society.

They remind us that disability is not synonymous with inability; these individuals are merely differentlyabled.

Stephen Hawking’s life story is probably the greatest example that we can use in relation to this most interesting topic - playing the dysfunctional card. Stephen was born in Oxford, England, on 8th January 1942. There were no evident physical challenges observed throughout his early post-war life in London. He excelled at his scholarly pursuits and gained entry to the University College

in Oxford. He had an affinity for mathematics although his father sought to encourage him to practise medicine. The college did not offer advanced courses in Mathematics at that time. Young Stephen therefore opted to pursue studies in Physics. He excelled. He graduated with a firstclass honours degree in Natural Science.

However, in 1963 (while only 21 years old), he was diagnosed with a motor neurone disease. The medical experts predicted that he only had two years to live. They had alerted him to the fact that his motor skills would rapidly deplete over the ensuing months. He was aware that, as the disease progresses, he would lose his ability to walk, move his arms, hold a pen, comb his hair, and so on. He was also aware that it was likely that he would also lose his ability to speak before that dreaded day when he would die. Although traumatised by this medical revelation, the young scholar chose to pursue research in Cosmology at the University of Cambridge.

Although wheelchair bound and reliant on a computerised voice system for communication, he gained his Ph.D. He subsequently was employed as a Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge during the period 1979 through to 2009.

Birth defects, physical accidents, and diseases can place obstacles in our path. However, there are also instances where individuals can be emotionally maimed and still rally the will to pursue their noble dreams.

Maya Angelou (born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928 — May 28, 2014) highlights this reality. Her parents divorced when she was three years old and her brother was four. The children then moved from St. Louis, Missouri, USA, to live with their paternal grandmother in Arkansas. However, four years later, without any advanced warning, her father visited the children in Arkansas, removed them from their grandmother’s care, and returned them to their mother’s home in St. Louis.

Maya, at age seven-and-a-half, was sexually abused and raped by her mother’s boyfriend. The perpetrator was found guilty and jailed for only one day. He was murdered four days after his release. Maya blamed herself for his death, and became mute for five years. She refused to talk. It was during this half decade of silence that she developed her love for books and literature, a keen sense of observation, and an extraordinary memory. Maya is known to have been a mentor to now world-famous Oprah Winfrey who was raped during her early teens.

Dr. Maya Angelou is revered as a poet, author, motivational speaker, memoirist, and civil rights activist.

She has written seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and several books of poetry — all aimed at inspiring readers to pursue excellence even as they face great odds. She played her dysfunctional card well, and reminds us that “out of evil can come good”.

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

A gift to our women LAST WEDNESDAY, March 8 marked another anniversary of International Women’s Day. There was a time when this day set aside to celebrate women was headline news across the world. Not so anymore. Money is now more important than people. The nation comes a distant second behind selfinterest. More proof that the world has changed for the worse.

In our country, a few women marched through Kingstown with a loud sound system with popular music. In the 70s and 80s, hundreds of women and men marched through the streets with placards denouncing or demanding something. In the past, the march was orderly, serious and quiet. This year, women waved balloons and ribbons, swayed to popular music, and Shanelle Mc Kenzie reminded ‘we don’t like we.’

There were no placards, and the march was more akin to a funeral rather than a celebration of women’s struggles and achievements. This is not intended as a criticism of the organizers of the march and rally. The expose is to show that meaningful activities gain little or no attention of the people and vibrant activism is a thing of the past.

Oh where are the progressives when we need them most? Where are those who can give guidance and direction to the people who are in desperate need of a sharpened consciousness?

Our country has taken positive steps forward in the way of women’s advancement, but has also made many steps backwards. Women make up 48 percent of the population, and have taken up important posts in the public and private sectors. But the majority of women still experience immense hardship and difficulties.

Many of them eke out a living as vendors on the streets in Kingstown.

However, they are coming under increasing pressures as the political elite prepare to clear the town so as to create better optics for tourists.

As the economic conditions in the country tighten, social prostitution is on the rise. These are not the days when a few young women climbed the gangway of ships to ‘pick fares.’

Increasingly, women give up their bodies for favours to businessmen, politicians and powerful individuals.

Therefore, while we celebrate the fact that the Attorney General, Chief Medical Officer, President of the Family Court, Serious Offenses Court, Registrar, Director of Planning, and most of the Permanent Secretaries are females, we must refrain from hoisting the mantra ‘You have come a long way, baby.’ There is still a long road to hoe. Men still control the politics and economics of the country.

Men still dictate who advances and who are stymied.

In the political arena, where decisions that can usher in real changes are made, only one woman contested the 2015 general elections, and a dismal 14 percent of our legislators are females. In Cuba, by contrast, 49 percent of the legislators are women, and an even larger percentage are women in the African country of Rwanda.

This is unfortunate because women play such a crucial role in ensuring the wheels of our democracy do not fall off. They are the strongest and most active supporters of major

parties. They are the shock troopers.

They do the fund raising and the most consistent campaigning. They are some of the best organizers. They make the most noise and take politics most seriously. Unfortunately, these same women reap the least rewards.

They are the most loyal, but hardly gain personally for their commitment and loyalty. As we look across our country, we notice that only a few women have benefitted from their political involvement. We are not here talking about the daughter who gets the scholarship to study or the son who joins the police force. We mean real benefit, in the ways the sons and daughters of the political elite advance.

Our women are the most boisterous and of the least consciousness. They are the one who utter the most foolishness. They will curse and fight for the parties and their leaders. They will most often bear malice with their family and friends who do not see eye to eye with them on political matters.

They, more than anyone else in our society, believe either that the NDP was wasting its time to go to the Appeal Court in St Lucia, or that the decision handed down by the Court on Tuesday meant that Dr Friday and his party would have been sworn in as the new government on Wednesday morning. Women were the strongest believers that the government would have easily gotten the 67 percent necessary to pass the referendum in 2009, or that a defeat of the referendum meant that the ULP lost 13 of the 15 seats and therefore would be tossed into opposition.

Engels did say that when men offered their hand to women in holy matrimony, it was the biggest trick they ever played on women, because while they locked the women into obedience and monogamy, they continued with their philandering ways. The same is true of men’s relationship with women in politics.

Most female supporters are not given the necessary tools to understand what is going on in either the economy or in politics.

Our women’s usefulness is measured by their sex appeal as well as their campaign/electoral/voting readiness. In fact, one person in the ‘know’ advised me that I would have won had I engaged in a sexual crusade that targeted the female voters.

The best International Women’s Day gift our men can prepare and offer our women next year is to stop seeing them as sexual objects, organize lectures, study groups and teach-ins geared at lifting the consciousness of our women in politics and economics. Most importantly, that level of teaching will allow more women to develop self-confidence.

With self-confidence, they become better activists and better human beings equipped to serve our nation better, because one thing is certain, there can be no liberation of our society without the emancipation of our women.

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

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12. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Call for referendum on SVG membership in OECS

THE ORGANISATION of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) was formed by the Treaty of Basseterre on 18 June 1981. The OECS is an economic union of a single financial space, within which goods, people and capital move freely. Monetary and fiscal policies are harmonised with a common approach to trade, health, education and environment.

We have experienced very poor vision and gross incompetence from the OECS. From 1981 to 2017 marks 36 years of economic union; however, these leaders have failed to build strong economies and high levels of employment - especially in highly-paid jobs — for the people of the OECS. Leadership in the OECS is very poor. There is no plus for SVG to remain in the OECS, and it would be a strong blessing for SVG to exit the hopeless OECS. According to the Leader of SVG Green Party, Ivan O’Neal, who has a BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Finance from Oxford Brookes University, England, an MSc in Macro-Economics Budgeting, Planning and Policy from Bradford University, England, and a

Master’s in Business Administration from Leicester University, England, the earlier SVG exits the OECS, the better for our long-term development.

For decades, OECS countries have been poor and heavily indebted. The OECS union has not resolved these long-term problems, and this will continue for many years to come. The OECS Monetary Council has decided to extend the timetable to reduce our Debt to GDP ratio to 60 per cent from 2020 to 2030.

There is a lack of prudent debt management and lack of economic growth in the OECS, even though the union has been in existence for 36 years.

The OECS is drowning in Fiscal Deficits year on year. The OECS Ministers of Finance, who create the Fiscal Deficits, are the same people who sit on the OECS Monetary Council as a watchdog of themselves.

Are we not being led by educated fools?

We do not see a separation of power between the Executive and the Judiciary in the OECS. A recent ruling

by the Privy Council in London, found a High Court Judge in the OECS Judiciary to be biased, when the judge wrongly ruled in favour of a government (the Executive).

According to Ivan O’Neal, who lived in Singapore with his wife and three children from 1963 to 1965, Singapore’s exit from Malaysia on 9 August 1965 to become an independent sovereign state, is a classic example of why it would be a substantial blessing to SVG to exit the OECS. With its own central bank, own currency, own judiciary and own universities, Singapore became a World Bank success story, with an extremely strong economy and one of the highest standards of living in the world.

Singapore was able to have better control over its economy by having its own central bank and currency, and so was better able to guide itself to becoming an economic stronghold. It has fiscal surpluses and high employment.

We must stop dragging our feet in

this economic mess of Fiscal Deficits year on year in this hopeless OECS economic union. The past 36 years have shown that it is not the solution to bring prosperity to our people and country.

We need to exit the OECS to create a strong and sustainable economy and a high standard of living for all who live in SVG.

SVG Green Party congratulates the NDP In Castries, St Lucia, on 7 March 2017, the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal cited bias by the trial Judge, Justice Brian Cottle, and has reinstated the election petitions of the main Opposition, New Democratic Party.

This allows the NDP to challenge the outcome of the result in St. Vincent and the Grenadines December 2015 general elections in the Central Leeward and North Windward constituencies.

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

International WomenÊs Day 2017 Message from National Council of Women Be bold for change

day in which the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of Women are celebrated.

The Day also marks a call to action for accelerating hand, we have globalization, the technological and gender parity. digital revolution and the opportunities they bring: Let us reaffirm our commitment to women’s THE THEME for International and on the other hand, the growing informality of rights. Let us defend our human rights, as a labour, unstable livelihoods and incomes, new fiscal Women’s Day, 8 March, 2017, violation of human rights will devalue our society. and trade policies and environmental impacts–all focuses on “Women in the Let us move forward with courage and of which must be addressed in the context of Changing World of Work: determination; we should never let our fears prevent women’s economic empowerment.

Planet 50-50 by 2030”. us from doing what we know is right.

In 2015, world leaders adopted the Sustainable The world of work is Moreover, let us foster an inclusive environment Development Goals, placing gender equality and changing, and with significant and believe that regardless of gender, the full value implications for women. On one empowerment of all women and girls at the heart of of each individual’s contribution can be realized only the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. when we treat one another with respect, trust and Achievement of the goals, including ending poverty, dignity. Inclusion drives business results. The Beverly Richards, President of promoting inclusive and sustainable economic diversity of unique talents, skills, abilities and the National Council of growth, reducing inequalities within and between experiences lead to innovative solutions and more Women of SVG. countries, and achieving gender equality and successful entrepreneurs and businesses, more empowerment of all women and girls, rests upon empowered women and girls, and a stronger unlocking the full potential of women in the world of economy. work.

Addressing gender parity is the first step in a Measures that are key to ensuring women’s broader, more intentional diversity and inclusion economic empowerment in the changing world of journey. As agents of change and empowerment, let work must include bridging the gender pay gap, us move forward despite the indecisions that try to which stands at 24 per cent globally; recognizing hinder our progress. We must place gender equality women’s unpaid care and domestic work, and at the ebb of all development; we must support addressing the gender deficit in care work; as well women’s empowerment as a transformational force as addressing the gender gaps in leadership, for human rights, for economic growth, for entrepreneurship and access to social protection; sustainability. and ensuring gender-responsive economic policies “The heart of a woman is what for job creation, poverty reduction and sustainable, makes the world keep turning. inclusive growth.

They bring joy, hope and love.

Additionally, policies must count for the They have compassion and ideas. overwhelming majority of women in the informal They give moral support to their economy: promote women’s access to innovative family and friends. technologies and practices, decent work and climate- Women have vital things to say resilient jobs, and protect women from violence in and everything to give.. the work place.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN On International Women’s Day, UN Women calls WOMEN, upon all actors to Step It Up for Gender Equality IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.” towards a Planet 50-50 by 2030.

(Author unknown) Congratulations from the National Council of NCW Inspiration Women, to all women and girls, as we celebrate International Women’s Day. The National Council of Women, partners and other women organizations in St. Vincent and the Beverly Richards Grenadines and the Global environ, will, on President Resource: Wednesday, March 8th, 2017, celebrate www.unwomen.org/en/news/infocus/internationalInternational Women’s Day (IWD). This is a global womens-day

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. 13.

News

Garifuna Folkloric Ballet to perform here Stories by GLORIAH…

this year’s International Garifuna Summit.

Included in these WITH THE 4th Garifuna activities are several International Conference holding its official Opening performances of the Ceremony on Tuesday 7th acclaimed Chief Joseph March, and the conference Chatoyer Garifuna proceeding on Wednesday, Folkloric Ballet of New York City. The thirteen 8th March, the way has member delegation, now been made clear for which was scheduled to the myriad activities arrive in St. Vincent and planned to take place in the Grenadines on March

9th, has been invited as special guests by The Garifuna Heritage Foundation, to showcase their exquisite brand of the traditional Garifuna dances that have escaped our generations, with the exile of our indigenous peoples — Garifuna from our shores way back in 1797.

Visitors to the free

performances put on by this inspiring and energetic group of dancers will be able to capture the ideals of its Founder, Félix Gamboa and its Artistic Director, Gehovany Alvarez.

Since its founding in 2009, its main aims have been to raise awareness about Garifuna Cultural Heritage by showcasing

Project Pink donates to cancer care THE RUSSELL’S AUDITORIUM, Stoney Ground was awash in pink when the Project Pink organization of St. Vincent and the Grenadines staged a dual activity.

First there was the first public viewing of a documentary featuring a number of cancer survivors, and then there was a handing over of a cheque to SCORCH, to be used in Some members of Project Pink and SCORCH, including Project Pink’s providing financial founder Karen De Freitas (3rd from right). assistance to persons striken with cancer.

The documentary was introduced by Ms. Laferne numerous members of her family to cancer, has Fraser. Some of the survivors whose journeys with become proactive in aiding those who have become its victims. and through cancer featured in the film, were Project Pink, according to Ms. De Freitas, was present. Many persons at the function reported created as a brand, and has raised $50,000, with that the viewing created the stirring of the $44,000 having already been collected. This was emotions, and expressed that the film could be a done through a series of fundraisers from March very powerful tool for awareness and should be 2016, and concluded with the Project Pink Gala, repeatedly used as such. held on October 29th, 2016.

The story-tellers in the film included Tamara Bishop Jones, Natifah Bonadie, Valerie Joy Cato, Everest Charles, Monifa Farrell — the only survivor who had cervical cancer, Alesia Lewis and Gloria Williams.

A cheque in an amount of $44,000.00 was handed over by Ms. Fraser to Dr. Miller of SCORCH. Dr. Miller, in expressing thanks for the generous donation, explained that SCORCH’s mandate was “to help persons with cancer, not just breast cancer; and we not only provide awareness but we also try to help financially, so this money will go a long way in doing that.”

Project Pink is a non-profit organization aimed at increasing awareness of the prevalence of breast cancer in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and raising funds to assist patients battling the disease.

It was conceptualized by Vincentian clothing designer, Karen De Freitas “Soka” who, after losing

Dr. Miller of SCORCH (left) accepts cheque from Ms. Laferne Fraser.

The Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Folkloric Ballet of New York City is considered one of the leading exponents of Garifuna cultural expressions. and conducting workshops on the Garifuna Culture, with an educational experience that involves drumming, singing and dancing.

Consequently, the Company has earned a reputation of being one of the most acclaimed ambassadors of Garifuna culture, as they continue to promote the uniqueness of the Garifuna-American cultural experience.

The contribution this folkloric ballet has made to the preservation of the Garifuna Cultural Heritage in New York City is invaluable. It is for this reason that Vincentians are being encouraged to witness our dance culture returned to us, and make attempts to reconnect and to inculcate some of its ideals.

Performances While here, the Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Folkloric Ballet

of NYC could be seen at a free showing at the Peace Memorial Hall this Friday, 10th March, between 8:00 and 10:00 pm. On Saturday, March 11th and Monday, March 13th, the group will tour the Windward and Leeward sides of the island, making a number of stops along the way.

Additionally, guest performances will be made at the following events: the Garifuna Marketplace and Heritage Village at Heritage Square and Old Public Library yard respectively; the Schools Garifuna Folk Festival at the Victoria Park between 10:00 am and 12:00 noon; the National Heroes Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Obelisk at Dorsetshire Hill on March 14th between 8:00 and 10:00 am, and to Greiggs between 2:00 and 6:00 pm, to participate in their National Heroes Day celebrations.

V Dr. Honychurch: ÂIndigenous peoples aware of climatic factorsÊ 14. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Heritage

THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE of the Caribbean had an “amazing awareness of the climatic factors,” and based their existence on conditions around them.

That’s the summation by noted historian Dominican born Dr Lennox Honychurch.

The explorers adapted to the natural occurrences and they were able to live and survive, no matter how crude the manner of existence might have been, Dr. Honychurch

said, and he pointed to the indigenous people’s knowledge of the tides which enabled them to travel from the Orinoco to the Caribbean islands..

From those early travels, the Caribbean has emerged into a condensation of a new culture with the presence of African people.

Honeychurch pointed to the rich biodiversity of the Vincentian forest and of its value as a depository of herbs and

Dr. Lennox Honychurch, noted Dominican Historian/ Researcher/ Lecture, gave an insight into the extensive awareness of Caribbean indigenous peoples.

has shown him such value. He has seen the correlation of life in the Caribbean with the link to Amerindian and African cultures.

It is for that reason Among the distinguished attendees at the Summit Opening was Governor why there are different General Sir Frederick Ballantyne (left foreground) and Venezuela’s terms for the same Ambassador to SVG His Excellency Yuri Pimentel (right) and his wife (2nd reference across the from right). region. plants crucial to man’s deductions and Dr. Honychurch Reference was also survival. interpretations were proclaimed. made to his Dr. Honcychurh’s presented during an work/publication on the He contended that address at the opening Dominican Maroons. He there must have been ceremony, March 7, of pointed to three areas of movements backward the International the Dominican interior and forward between Garifuna Summit. He mainland South America where Maroons had was also a presenter at bases, broadening even and the Caribbean the 4th International greater the intertwining islands over periods, Garifuan Conference of traditions and cultures even as he alluded to a convend on Wednesday among Caribbean “myth” that once you at the Peace Memorial peoples. could have walked from Hall.

The Maroon presence mainland South America The International broadened the regional to Trinidad. scope with the Garifuan Summit was St. Vincent posed a intertwining of traditions again organised and new frontier for those hosted by The Garifuna coming from the Orinoco and culture running deep Heritage Foundation, as zone, having to cope with as Callinnago, Garifuna, or Amerindian struggled part of the activities to the Soufriere volcano. for survival. mark National Heroes Having recognised that Tuesday’s Launch was Month — March. the volcanic ash made the soil fertile, he lauded also addressed by: Cecil A deep history the inhabitants for their Mc Kie, Minister of Tourism, Sports and system of multi-crop Culture; Debra At Tuesday evening’s farming.

Dalrymple, Head of UWI launch of the Summit, Concerning Marine Dr. Honychurch used as life extension, the range Open Campus SVG; Vanessa Derircyan, his platform, a magazine of resources and their Chairperson of the published on the verge of uses, Dr. Honychurch Garifuna Conference this country’s highlighted the use of Committee; and David independence. the Queen conch shell for ‘Darkie’ Williams, He harped back to the making tools and President of The original inhabitants’ jewellery.

Garifuna Heritage knowledge of tides and He is keen on oral currents, which enabled tradition, for his research Foundation. (WKA) them to travel across the region.

The way our rainforest is set, renders it nearly impossible to be destroyed, as far as the historian/researcher is concerned, and he is overwhelmed with the diversity of animal and plant life found therein.

“There is a Fittingly, a Garifuna dance was performed by this group depth of history,” of Vincentian children at the opening of the Summit.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. 15.

Arts/Community

Starlift cleans up ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES most successful steel orchestra – Starlift Steel Orchestra is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

To kick off anniversary activities that will climax in December, the Orchestra mounted a clean-up campaign in the New Town/Block 2000 area last Saturday, March 4.

The effort was undertaken in collaboration with the Old Montrose/Lodge Village/ Block 2000 Community group, and with the assistance of the Solid Waste Management Unit/CWSA. The clean-up was concentrated in and along the river that cuts through Block 2000, the banks of which provided the home of the very beginnings of the orchestra. Residents of the community joined with members of Starlift - seniors and juniors — in effecting the clean-up.

Addressing the significance of its birth place, Errol ‘Sardo’ Sutherland, Manager of Starlift, said he joined the band in August 1967, and at that time it did not have a name, but was later given the name New City Starlift, since the area in which the orchestra started was

called New Town. Today it is known as Block 2000.

Sutherland, in continuing his chat with THE VINCENTIAN, emphasized that the Starlift “is a community band. We look at ourselves as a community-based band because we are in this community for nearly 40 years, and we never had a problem with the community, never had a problem with the neighbours. They say the music puts them to sleep - they go to sleep with the music in their heads.”

Roddy Dowers, Leader of Starlift and a member for 32 years, joined in the chorus, and described the clean-up exercise as a way of showing appreciation to the community.

“Fifty years for Starlift is a great achievement in every sense of the word.

I like to say we are the longest serving, continuously serving cultural organization in the country, fifty year’s nonstop,” said Dowers.

Starlift will return to the Block 2000 area on National Heroes Day for a grand open air Community Concert, during which they will honour Walton ‘Tanny’ Peters and the other

Aubrey ‘Ras Boo’ Burgin doing a good job with the rake.

Starlift members removed litter from difficult spots along the river bank.

Right: Even the Juniors got involved. pioneers of the orchestra.

The next activity of the 50th Anniversary celebration is a Thanksgiving Service at the Kingstown Methodist Church, this Sunday, March 12. (KH) The females also took an active part in the exercise.

‘Sardo’ calls for pan tuners A CALL HAS BEEN MADE for government to acquire the service of steel pan tuners for deployment here.

The call was made by Errol ‘Sardo’ Sutherland, Manager of the Starliff Steel Orchestra, during an interview with THE VINCENTIAN newspaper last Saturday, as he took a break from a clean-up effort in New Town/Block 2000 mounted by the orchestra as part of its series of activities to mark its 50th Anniversary.

Sutherland praised the government for the Pan Against Crime Initiative, but highlighted the need to

provide tuners to service the numerous steelbands/orchestras here. He noted that the steelbands in the rural areas needed the support moreso, since they continue to play pans that are not properly tuned.

“Pans are built in Trinidad, but when they come to St. Vincent, there is ongoing need to have them keep their sound or even improve.

This need is filled by having tuners come in from Trinidad,” Sutherland explained, and he lamented that “We are not seeing any young ones who want to take on the task.”

He echoed that there

was a real need to have persons trained in the art.

“But you have to be committed and you have to have it within to be a tuner; it’s hard work, skillful work, you have to have that talent,” he cautioned.

When pushed on the issue of a lack of interest in learning the art of tuning steel pan, Sutherland did concede that there might be a few persons here who are willing, but declared that “there is a need for them to be more committed.

They have to make some sacrifices, but I am hoping sooner than later that somebody will emerge from among us to

Below: Under the bridge got special attention.

Errol ‘Sardo’ Sutherland, veteran panman and Manager of Starlift Steel Orchestra, lamented the absence of Vincentian pan tuners. be a pan tuner that we can recognize.” (KH)

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16. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Heritage

Indentureship: 100 years since abolition THE SYSTEM of Indian indentureship ended on 12 March 1917 with the passage in the British Parliament of the Defense of India Act. The last indenture contract, however, lapsed on 1 January 1920.

As such, 12 March 2017 marks the

centennial of the official abolition of Indian Indentureship. an era spanning 1834-1917.

To mark the milestone year, the Indian Diaspora Council (IDC), an international nonprofit organization of shared heritage, aspirations and interests,

in collaboration with several organizations and institutions in various countries, is coordinating a series of high profile global events in countries impacted by Indian Indentureship.

The activities were launched in September, 2016, in New York, and

kicked off with a Conference in New York on October 23, which focused on ‘Gandhi’s Influence on Indian Indentureship and Civil Rights’.

The activities have attracted support from governments, prominent patrons and well-

Indian Indentured labourers were ‘imported’ into the British West Indies to replace or supplement the African work force on sugar estates. wishers, academic institutions, historians/researchers/ writers, civic and cultural organizations, media and historic preservation groups.

Here in the Caribbean, the high point of the activities will be a Global Convention in Port of Spain (Trinidad & Tobago) on 17 — 20 March 2017. This is expected to include a segment of recognition awards for notable achievements.

The worldwide commemoration will also see the release of a book entitled, ‘Centennial of Abolition of Indian Indentureship: End of an Era of Indian Migration, followed by Challenges and Progress’, a compilation of relevant articles by prominent writers, historians and researchers selected from respective countries.

The history and consequences of Indian Indentureship are deeply embedded with importance, meaningful history and reflections to millions of descendants living in many recipient countries of Indian Indentured labourers.

Among these are: Mauritius, Fiji, South Africa, Reunion Island, Francophone countries, Malaysia, Trinidad, Suriname, Guyana, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Belize, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

Between 1861 and 1880, 8 ships brought 2474 Indians to St.Vincent as indentured workers. However, by 1884, 1141 had returned to India. Those who remained, continued to live on estates, notably Argyle, from which they moved off to purchase lands, and formed distinct Indian villages in areas such as Calder, Akers Hill, Richland Park, Park Hill, Orange Hill and Rose Bank.

Persons of Indian origin today number about 7000 in SVG. Some notable recent, related developments here include the establishment of the SVG Indian Heritage Foundation (2006) and the recognition by Parliament of Indian Arrival Day and Indian Heritage Day (2007).

SVG also has strong diplomatic relations with the Republic of India, whose High Commissioner to SVG was here for the opening of the Argyle International Airport last month.

More information on the activities and convention can be had from SVG Coordinator of the Indian Diaspora Council/ Centennial Convention 2017 - Dr Arnold Thomas, at thomasarnold025@gmail. com and/or telephone 784 430 4186. (Submitted by Dr. Arnold Thomas)

The period of Indian Indentureship that arose after the abolition of slavery, has been the subject of hundreds of books, journals and papers.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. 17.

News

Lotto sales up GENERAL MANAGER of the National Lotteries Authority (NLA) MacGregor Sealey has disclosed that sales at the Authority had shown a movement upwards, following government’s decision to remove the tax on lottery winnings.

According to Sealey, there was a lull in sales after the tax was implemented.

But now that it was removed, there was an upward trend in sales.

“As a matter of fact, we are EC$2 million ahead on last year’s sales for the same period, so our players are coming back,” he said.

And one of the NLA games which has shown a falloff in sales will get a boost next month.

The scratch games have contributed significantly to making the National Lotteries Authority (NLA) what it is today, but, according to NLA Product

MacGreggor Sealey – manager of NLA – pointed to the removal of the tax on lottery winnings as contributing to an increase in sales.

Development Officer - Anthony Dennie, “We have seen a fall off, and the reason for that is not all agents sell the scratch tickets.”

Dennie told the media

Fancy is expected to be a buzz of activity this National Heroes Day. (Photo Credit: Don De Riggs)

All roads lead to Fancy for Heroes Day THE 13TH FANCY NATIONAL HEROES DAY celebrations, set for National Heroes Day March 14, is expected to be overly patronized once again.

The Fancy Unity Farmers’ Cooperative (FUFC) and the North Windward Tourism Association (Fancy Chapter) will play host to Vincentians from all walks of life who will make the journey to this country’s most northerly community, to observe and partake in activities and savour indigenous cuisine.

The hosts promise a package with much humour, entertainment and history.

Among those down to provide the entertainment are: Delroy ‘Fireman’ Hooper, Rondy ‘Luta’ Mc Intosh, Orandie ‘Bomani’ Charles, Rodney Small , the Rose Hall Drummers, the band Kinetic with Kedo, Chewalee, Ipa, Fancy

Drama Group , Bam, the Owia Primary School , Fancy Government School and Sandy Bay Quadrille Group.

The guest speaker is novelist/lawyer Cecil ‘Blazer’ Williams, and ‘Candyman’ will serve as MC.

Clarke wins big a second time

As has been the case over the last twelve years, the Fancy National Heroes Day activity will celebrate this country’s sole National Hero — Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer. (KH)

gathered at the NLA headquarters to witness the payout of the latest LOTTO jackpot last Wednesday, that the game is not going to be abandoned.

In fact, he said, there is a re-launch of the scratch games early next month, after which it is expected that all NLA agents will stock the scratch games cards.

(DD)

THEY OFTEN say lightning does not strike the same place twice; but Arnos Vale resident Mark Clarke may want to beg to argue against that point.

Clarke won himself the EC$172,000 LOTTO jackpot Second time lucky Mark last week, Clarke (left) collects his adding to the LOTTO jackpot cheque from EC$44,000 he MacGregor Sealey, Manager of won nearly 24 NLA. years ago.

The winning numbers on that night were 15,16,25,18 and 31, and Clarke’s winning ticket was purchased as a quick pick.

He showed very little emotion when he came to the National Lotteries Authority’s office on Wednesday to collect his winnings, but said that he was happy to be the lone jackpot winner.

According to Clarke, he intends to use the money to settle a loan at the bank. (DD)

18. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. 19.

Business

SVG delegation heading to St. Lucia business Expo SEVERAL MEMBERS of the business community will be representing St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the Specialty Caribbean Expo 2017, which takes place in St. Lucia from March 9 – 12.

This being its first year of operation, the multi-sectoral trade exposition is intended to be an annual event, focusing on exporters from the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) member countries and Martinique.

Local participants include collectives Vincyklus and Brand SVG, Erica’s Country Style, Pasta Enterprise, Kendra’s Aluminium Products, East Caribbean Metals, East Caribbean Group of Companies (ECGC) and VincyFresh.

A number of representatives from the creative sector are also expected to attend.

The delegation will be

accompanied by Invest SVG’s Glender François, Investment Promotions Manager, and Andrew Phillips, Investment Promotions Officer.

François explained that this is a “great opportunity” for local businesses of all sizes to network and seek opportunities to develop and “grow their footprint”.

She added: “We are happy to have worked with all the participants as we play our role in helping them and their businesses to be strong, vibrant and growing.”

Specialty Caribbean Expo gives participants the opportunity to not only interact and network with each other, but also with various stakeholders, policymakers, regional/international buyers and potential customers.

The exposition’s objectives include: creating an opportunity

for exporters/exhibitors to obtain credible sustainable leads/markets for their products and services; facilitating regional and international buyer/seller connections; forming and strengthening strategic alliances with relevant trade partners and officials and/or agencies; promoting and improving inter-regional trade; and identifying new distributors, suppliers and representatives for exhibitors’ products or services.

In the long term, the organisers of the exposition — St. Lucia Trade Export Promotion Agency and the OECS — are aiming to export the products and services of OECS/Martinique businesses under a collective brand to the UK market.

This year’s exposition will take place at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Gros Islet.

Vincentian author advantages Amazon VINCENTIAN author, Curtis W A Williams, published 12th eBook to Amazon Kindle as of last Thursday, March 2, 2017.

Amazon, via Kindle, has made it very easy for authors/writers and aspirers around the world to get their material seen and purchased globally. Not only are authors’ eBooks available online, but buyers representing thirteen different languages can easily access your material and make purchases while you sleep.

Curtis W A Williams has been advantaging this opportunity, and to date has published twelve

“Manifest Legacy” enlightenment poetry eBooks to Amazon Kindle.

This year (2017) has seen the publication of two of these (January 1 and March 2), and will see a third come May 3, to bring his eBook poetry family to a total of thirteen.

Curtis’ writing highlights the message of the Kingdom; the message of the responsibility of becoming a treasure, placed on parents and individuals; and the message of increasing onto perfection of character — holistic integrity unto Godliness/ Godlikeness.

His message to Vincentians is: “You too can be a published author to Amazon Kindle. Your story/ biography, idea, thoughts, sermons, poems, niche topic, novel, or philosophy can get to the eyes of the world, especially to the eyes of Mr. Opportunity who can take you so much further.”

Curtis’ eBooks can be accessed via searching at Amazon for “WORDThrone” or Curtis W A Williams, and through Amazon Kindle at: https://www.amazon.com/CurtisW-A-Williams/e/B00U22UXNK.

South Windward gets business skills seminar RESIDENTS of the constituency of South Windward who are engaged in business operations or aspiring to do so, are being given an opportunity to hone their business management skills.

The opportunity comes through a oneweek Community Programme for Entrepreneurship (CPED) seminar, March 20 — 28, organized by the Centre for Enterprise Development Inc. (CED), and set for the Stubbs Government School.

Keisha According to CED’s Training and Phillips, CED’s Education Coordinator - Keisha Training and Phillips, the decision was taken to Education bring the CPED programme to the Coordinator, South Windward constituency following says that CED a needs assessment conducted by CED is responding last year, and the upcoming seminar to a need at a will cater for 30 residents. particularly “CPED was initially developed to encouraging empower rural communities in St time for Vincent and the Grenadines to generate business wealth, by equipping residents with the prospects in necessary knowledge and skills to start the South and operate successful enterprises in Windward their communities. Based on our area. interaction and discussions with residents of the area, we found that the community has a felt need for business management training. In addition, the Argyle International Airport was recently opened in that constituency — thus providing unique opportunities for business in the surrounding communities due to their proximity. We believe that programs like CPED and other training will facilitate the community’s access to these entrepreneurial opportunities.”

The seminar will provide participants with the information that would be required before engaging in a business activity, and help them plan to successfully operate and manage their businesses.

The CPED seminar is scheduled to take place from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily. Interested persons can contact the CED to register at 451-2235 or 451-2236, Extension 30.

Meanwhile, CED has announced that registration is also openfor upcoming seminars in Financial Management Module I: Recordkeeping — April 3-7 and Events Planning and Management — April 24-25.

(Contributed)

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20. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Eating somewhere else eating from someone who Dear Hurt feelings, secretly wishes they were I MAKE IT MY business to still together, but he is Out of appreciation for not listening. provide lunch for my you and your efforts to husband every day, for him ensure he eats and eats Hurt feelings and more well on a daily basis, to take to his work. I would be up very early in should be enough for the morning getting his your husband to stick to lunch ready, while he is still in bed.

I noticed recently that he was bringing the lunch, untouched, back to sleep in the bed with Dear George, home. When I asked her and told him that he him about it, he admitted A FRIENDS of ours was should be able to trust he was eating at a food visiting from The States himself. He said he did shop which he said “a as she suggested but and spent just over a friend” recently opened, week at our house. This noticed that during the and he wanted to support is a man who was my night she started the business. caressing him and before friend first but later I decided to check he knew it, they were became friends with my further into this food sexually engaged. wife. My wife insisted shop, and found out that that he stay at our house After they were done, it is his ex-girlfriend who even though we have a according to him, she has this food shop, apologized to him by one bedroom house. operating from her home.

During his visit, I had saying that she thought He was having her lunch to run over to Bequia on he was her husband. instead of eating what I He admitted to feeling an urgent matter and had prepared for him. terrible about the had to overnight. I got I was hopping mad home two days before our situation, and wanted me and let him know of my to forgive him. I just guest’s departure. displeasure and how hung up the phone on When he returned to ungrateful he was. He the US, he called me and him. saw nothing wrong with confessed that he had I have since told my his actions, and vowed to slept with my wife and it wife that she needs to continue eating there. start finding herself was all a mistake. He I warned him about said my wife invited him another husband. I want

Dear George,

your meal plan.

I see no justifiable reason for your husband to trade his homemade lunch for another. It is obvious that he does not realize what it means to you for

Give yourselves a second chance her out of my life, George. She has hurt me real bad and I do not think I can ever get past this.

him to bring home an empty lunch bowl.

You need to help him to see the bigger picture as to why it is important to you for him not to depart from the usual. If

it is not broken, then there is no need to try to fix anything as far as your meal preparation is concerned.

George

Let her be and move on

on her several times. I have had one or two runI AM WRITING you from ins with him, and have Dear Emotional wreck, been told by some of her Barbados. I am a co-workers of the regular reader of your The question I want to inappropriate behaviour column and want you to ask is: At what point in between both of them. give me your take on the sexual act did your She denies any of this of this. wife realise that your course.

My girlfriend and I friend was not you?

She is presently have been together now It was not proper for taking driving lessons, for about two years.

She her to have invited him is 18 years younger than and her instructor is a into the bed with her, I am, and is accusing me former boyfriend of and it was equally hers. She never told me of being a jealous man. improper for your friend this; it was by sheer She is in the gym to accept such an accident that I found this almost 24/7 and that I invitation, which had out. applauded for that, until temptation written all I just found it strange I discovered that her over it. However, I am of that everywhere she male gym trainer is in the view that your turns and every corner love with her. She marriage can get past she finds herself in, denies having anything this, once the correct there is a man involved. to do with him outside of approach is made to this I’m seeing it more clearly the training. present challenge. now, but I do not want to Her doctor (male) has Do not let your judge her wrongfully. been known to have a emotions get in the way, fling with her just before but get your wife to he became a doctor. She In love and worried agree to accompany you said they were out to get some immediate drinking at the time and Dear In love, marital counselling. that was when she slept Both of you can grow Both of you needed to with him. I asked her if from thi,s and it is a discuss beforehand the the other nine times she good opportunity to test expectations you (both) slept with him, she was the strength of the love had for the relationship. also drunk.

For that she that you know existed in If after that, either had no answer.

I the marriage before this one of you became suggested she change incident. doctors, but she refused. uncomfortable with the Further, her boss has other’s actions, then you George needed to discuss and been known to have hit attend to it. The first order of the day should be to please each other and not to let anything get in the way so as to place doubts about the relationship.

If you are not comfortable with your girlfriend and the people she has in her life, then you are free to let her know you have to move on; that you are not going to remain in the relationship to argue about with whom she should keep company.

As an adult, you ought to know what you want and who you want, and if you feel deep in your heart that this girl is not it, then let her be and move on.

Emotional wreck

Dear George,

George

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21‐ April 20) Stretch the truth, and you may get blamed for something you didn't do. Try to keep a low profile. Don't make any drastic changes or begin new projects this week. You are best to move quickly and to get in good with the boss.

TAURUS (Apr. 21‐ May 21) Don't allow your personal problems to interfere with your professionalism. Groups you belong to will not only enjoy your company, but they will also share your interests. You will have no problem getting your point across to those in a position to help you. Don't be taken advantage of by any fast talking sales‐ person trying to part you from your cash.

GEMINI (May 22‐June 21) New part‐ nerships will develop if you join invest‐ ment groups. You will have to check your cash flow before you decide to indulge in hobbies or entertainment that may be beyond your budget. Try to visit a country that excites you.

Renovations or purchases made for your home will pay off.

CANCER (June 22‐July 22) Do a little shopping. You're likely to find a real bargain. This is a great day for a trip.

Involvement in groups of interest will bring you in touch with important indi‐ viduals. Make plans to do the things you enjoy.

LEO (July 23‐Aug 22) You may be out of sorts. If you have been extravagant or have let children or friends take advantage of you financially. Get busy making those changes to your home.

Alienation may be the result of a mis‐ understanding. Try not to judge too quickly.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 ‐Sept. 23) Property investments, insurance, taxes, or inheritance should bring you financial gains. One of your female friends may try to disrupt your day. Stand up for your rights. Take the time to help those less fortunate. You will be able

to close any deals successfully.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 ‐Oct. 23) Do whatever your mate wants; it really doesn't mat‐ ter as long as you're together.

Communication will be your best bet.

Travel for business or pleasure will be enlightening. Your dramatic approach to life has probably gotten to your mate.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 ‐ Nov. 22) Make cre‐ ative changes to your living quarters.

Some time spent with that special someone should be your intent. You can bet officials will be waiting for you when you do. Get promises in writing or you will be disappointed.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 ‐Dec. 21) You may find a rare antique this week.

Update and review your personal investments. Find out what they're up to, and see if you can pick up where you left off. Take time to relax. Stress and pressure at home may have worn you ragged.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.‐ Jan. 20) Some of the best opportunities will crop up if you keep an open mind. Compromising could be on the agenda this week. You might not accomplish all that you want to at home this week. Relatives will not agree with the way you are dealing with your personal problems.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.‐ Feb. 19) Get thinking about prolonging longevity.

You really can't do anything to change matters this week. Be careful when using machinery or electrical equip‐ ment. Get ready to discover love, pas‐ sion, and the desire to enjoy all that life has to offer.

PISCES (Feb. 20‐Mar. 20) Nagging has never been something that you could tolerate, and it's once again driving you into a lonely state of affairs. Jealousy may get in the way of a good relation‐ ship. Travel will be enjoyable but could be expensive. Physical activity will help defuse your frustration.

ACROSS

37. Leading 38. June or May 1.Lincoln, for short 40. __ of the hill 4. Make a cartoon 41. Scrap 8. Ship’s letters 42. Slugger 11. Baseball legend Prince Gehrig Fielder’s 12. Lower edges father of a roof 44. Suffix for a 14. Comic Gilliam doctrine 15. Champagne‐ 47. Portugal’s opening sound cont.

16. Bible passage 48. Terre __ 17. Penpoint 49. Hound 18. Hula‐__ constantly 20. White Owl 50. Struggle product 51. Take a nap sandwich 22. “Mad __ You” 52. Aerobics area 13. Looked happy 24. Pineapple 19. Three strikes name DOWN 21. Fetch 25. Chipper 22. Rental units 26. Root, root, root 1.Yodeler’s (abbr.) for them location 23. Emcee Parks (2 wds.)

2. 10/31 shout 24. Bride’s portion 30. Angle starter 3. Bliss 26. Post‐toast 31. Did needle‐ 4. Bus terminal phrase (2 wds.) work 5. Grate 27. Coming forth 32. NYC transit org. 6. Actress 28. Bank machines 33. 1977 sci‐fi Gardner (abbr.) classic (2 wds.) 7. Greetings 29. Sail support 35. Not Reps.

8. Milit. Academy 31. Change sides or Inds.

9. Waken 34. Moved swiftly 36. Like meringue 10. Hero 35. Continued

noise 37. Debone 38. Hawaiian island 39. Cruel person 40. Baby foxes 41. Race an

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. 21.

`engine 43. Actor’s prompt 45. Speak 46. They made merry musicals in the ‘30s

22. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

V Lennox John Cricket Academy launched

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. 23.

the turnout of players and parents, and explained: “The idea of the cricket academy is to fill a gap that has been missing for some time in St Vincent and the Grenadines and the region as a whole.”

He added, “We have always produced talented players; however, in terms of nurturing and fostering the development of players, we have pretty much failed in this area for decades, and this is something we are trying to put right in SVG because we realize the numerous opportunities for professional cricketers.”

Burnett said the Academy’s aim is to identify young talented Filling a gap cricketers, especially from among the schools, and to Shallow said, inter alia, work with them so that that he was happy to see they can become better ST. VINCENT and the Grenadines now has its own Cricket Academy.

The Lennox John National Cricket Academy, named in honour of Lennox John, one of this country’s cricket administration icons, was formally launched last Saturday, March 4, at the Media Centre of the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

The ceremony heard addresses form President of the SVG Cricket Association Inc.- Kishore Shallow, Patron of the Academy Mr. Lennox John, and the Coordinator of the Academy - Mr. Cleton Burnett.

Lennox John – in whose honour the Academy is named – was visibly moved by the accolade.

The historic first batch of entrants to the Academy. cricketers and mature persons.

“The Academy,” he said, “will run for nine months until November, on each Saturday from 9.30 am to 12:30 pm at Arnos Vale and in the rural areas.”

John has great hope

Playing colleague and fellow administrator Michael Findlay (left) and Lennox John in a chit-chat at last Saturday’s Launch.

An understandably emotional John told the gathering that he “accepted this with all humility, which I consider to be a magnanimous gesture to name this Academy in my name.”

He recognized the Academy’s coaching staff as an excellent team, and expressed confidence that the cricketers — male and female - who will attend the Academy will find themselves in good hands.

“I pray those who have

been selected would attend and take full benefit of all that have been offered to them, and I hope especially that not only would their cricket skills improve, but that their personal development skills will also improve, as it relates to building respect, cooperation, team work and loyalty,” John said further.

Lennox John had a brief career as a national cricketer but established himself, locally and regionally, as a top cricket administrator.

He served the local Cricket Association both as President and Secretary, was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Windward Islands Cricket Board (WICB), was for some time the WICB’s representative

on the West Indies Cricket Board , and managed both Windward Islands Senior teams and West Indies Youth teams.

Academy entrants Twenty players were announced as the first entrants to the Academy.

These were: Under 15 Males — O.J Mathews, Handel John, Solomon Bascombe, Newton Browne, Koby Dabrio, Dwayne Henry, Kirtney Franklyn, Irvin Warrican Jr, Jerrol Edwards, Gregory Whyllie; Under 19 Males - Jahiel Walters, Tijourn Pope, Rayon Williams, Urnel Thomas, Harry, Jeremy Layne, Rayshan John; and Under 15. Females - Jeanna Frederick, Kimone Homer,

Kishore Shallow – President of the SVGCA, described the Academy as filling a gap that has been left unattended for too long.

Alison Antoine and Solela Pope.

Irvin Warrican is the head coach, and will have as his assistants Bertrum Stapleton, Alston Bobb, and Samantha Lynch as the lone female.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Vincy swimmers shine in Canada VINCENTIAN SWIMMERS 16-year-old Shne Joachim and her brother, 13-year-old Alex Joachim, have done themselves and this country proud once again.

Competing at the Prairie Winter International (PWI) Swimming Championships held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada from March 2nd to 5th, 2017, both swimmers struck gold, in a competition that showed a registration of over 550 of the best swimmers from all over Canada, and more than 30 Swim clubs.

SVG’s Carifta record-

holder and Caribbean Island Swimming Champion Shne Joachim, representing her current Canadian swim club, Oakville Aquatics, copped gold in her favourite 50 meter Breaststroke, in a cracking time of 33.33 seconds. This time was the second fastest in Canada for a 16 year-old.

Shne is recovering from a knee injury and this performance shows she is making good progress as she tries to get ready for the upcoming Carifta Swimming Championships.

Alex, with wider participation, took home

seven medals, and proved to be among the best swimmers at his age in North America, with several of his times being in the top 10 performances for his age in the USA and Canada.

His medals included: gold in the 50m breaststroke (34.41secs), 100m Butterfly (1 min 5.44 secs) and 50m Butterfly (28.96 secs - PB); silver in 200m Butterfly (2 minutes, 29.22 secs - PB), 100m Breaststroke (1 min 17.41 seconds), 200m Breaststroke (2 min 49.13 secs); and bronze in 200m Individual Medley (2 min 29.43 secs - PB time).

Black Sands Swim Squad (BSSS) and SVG National swim coach Kyle Dougan was pleased but not surprised at the fine performances of both Alex and Shne.

“Alex is an exceptional young man who works hard and is very focused…

Shne is such an amazing natural talent, and I am not surprised at her continued success,” Dougan commented.

Both Shne and Alex will be part of the SVG National swim team competing at the 2017 Carifta Swimming Championships in the Bahamas, in April. They will be joined by Olympian

Shne Joachim continues to excel in her favourite 50m Breaststroke. swimmer Nikolas Sylvester, Aaron De Freitas, Bryson George and Mya De Freitas.

Alex Joachim – multimedallist – seems destined for another medal performance at this year’ Carifta Swimming Championship.

V

24. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

G’town Secondary extends hold on schools’ volleyball titles THE GEORGETOWN Secondary School reaffirmed its place as the tops in schools’ Volleyball here, by taking, once again, the female and male titles.

When both genders of the 2017 competition were decided last Friday at the Girls’ High School courts, the females completed their fourth straight hold of the title, while the males made it a hat trick.

Georgetown Secondary females, led by Shernell Browne, side lined the Girls’ High School in straight sets, 25-12, 2519, and 25-17, in the best of five final.

It was the third year in a row that the two institutions were meeting for championship honours, and the result has been the same on each occasion.

When it came to the Georgetown Secondary’s males, they had some opposition from first time finalist- the West St George Secondary.

The Delshun Welcome led West St George sped out to a 25-22 win in the first set, but Georgetown replied to take a close second set 26-24.

West St George withered thereafter as Georgetown closed off the contest 25-8, 25-14, to record a hat trick of double wins, which dates back to 2015, for their school.

Jamar CropperPlayer of the male final, accepts his trophy from Suzanne Ollivierre – President of the SVG Volleyball Association.

Semis and third place Before getting to last Friday’s final, the Georgetown Secondary’s females smothered West St George 25-15, 25-12, and the males had a hard fought 2-1 ( 14-25, 25-18, 15-8) stopping of George Stephens Senior Secondary.

Georgetown’s opponents in the female finals, the Girls’ High School, overcame Thomas Saunders Secondary 2513, 25-21, and in the males segment, West St George outpointed Petit Bordel Secondary, 25-20, 25-17, to make a first visit to the final.

In the third place play offs, West St George Secondary remained third among the females, downing the Thomas Saunders Secondary 2-0.

Among the males, the George Stephens Senior Secondary, winners of the competition in 2012, 2013 and 2014, before the Georgetown Secondary take over, registered a 2-1 win over Petit Bordel Secondary.

Four-time Player of the FinalShernell Browne (left) gets her trophy from President of the SVG Volleyball Association – Suzanne Ollivierre. both awardees coming from the double crowned champions- the Georgetown Secondary.

Player of the females

final was Georgetown Secondary females made it four straight titles Shernell in schools’ volleyball.

Browne, an award she has straight years, while accolade for the male now captured for four Jamar Cropper got the winner.

Victors One: New T20 champions

IN WHAT WAS a lowscoring but riveting finals played last Saturday, March 4, at the Sion Hill Playing Field, Victors One romped home ahead of Team Rivals to claim this year’s title in the NLA/Neil Williams T20 Competition.

Given the form of the batsmen — the likes of Cosmond Walters for Team Rivals and Miles Bascombe and Donwell Hector for Victors One — The victorious Victors One cricket team and officials. in the preliminary and wicket partnership between Donwell Hector, 36, and Super Six rounds of the Competition, much was Lauren Francois,11, consolidated Victors One’s anticipated in terms of bat beating ball. That was Awards reply, and though they stuttered along the way, not to be the case. finished on 96 for six in 18.1. overs. Deighton Team Rivals took first knock and never seemed The top three places in Butler again exerted his experience on the game, able to negotiate the pitch nor their opponent’s both genders of the claiming 2 wickets for 6 runs in his 4 overs. bowlers, eventually using up their allotted 20 overs competition were Flow Radcliffe were the defending champions. and mustering a mere 92 runs for the loss of 9 awarded trophies and And there will be no let-up in national cricket medals. wickets. The experienced Deighton Butler competition here. Come tomorrow, Saturday 11th And the Most Valuable accounted for 30 of those runs, and eventual Man of March, the National Lotteries Premier Division will Players of the finals were the March, Victors’ One Norlan Williams snared 3 get on the way with three matches: Victors One also compensated, with wickets for 14 runs, supported by Kimson Dalzell 2 versus Carl Joseph Law Chambers ASCO at the for 12.

Arnos Vale Playing Field; Team Rivals and If Victors One had thoughts of a rush to victory, Guardian General Saints at Sion Hill Playing Field, they were in for something of a surprise as they and defending champions Flow Radcliffe versus were made to work for their win. With 3 wickets Police at Park Hill Playing Field. down for a paltry 38 runs, Team Rivals must have had thoughts of stealing victory from the jaws of I.B.A.ALLEN defeat. That notion was temporary - a 32-run 4th

Three peat for Georgetown Secondary School males in Volleyball competitions.

Jack records another century FORMER WEST INDIES player Cordel Jack continued her onslaught of local bowlers here, when she hammered 126 for United Survivors in one of two weekend matches in the National 40 Overs Women’s Cricket Competition.

Jack’s century came against Radcliffe Women in a match played last Sunday at the Stubbs Playing Field.

She, along with the now retired-from-national-duty Samantha Lynch, 97 not out, led Survivors to a mammoth 341 for 3 in 35 overs.

Radcliffe Women had little fight in them and were humbled for 93 in 17.2 overs, Jennisha Hackshaw top scoring with 23.

United Survivors best bowlers were Sherma Wright, 2 for 16,

and Cinecia Matthews, 2 for 19.

The other match, played on Saturday at Stubbs, saw, Garifuna Stars continuing their winning ways, with a thrilling 3run victory over J.G Tigress, at the Stubbs Playing Field.

Garifuna Stars totalled, what would have been for them, a disappointing 113 all out in 25.4 overs, with Nyasha Williams contributing 63 of that total. Isha Williams and Samantha Caine took 3 for 5 and 3 for 19 respectively bowling for J.G Tigress.

J.G Tigress, though, found the going tougher than they might expected, getting close but not quite there, with a total of 110 all out in 28.1 overs. Samantha Caine led the Tigress batting with 36, with Nyasha Williams completing

Samantha Lynch stroked 97 also for Survivors.

Cordel Jack hit 126, her second century for Survivors this season.

a good allround performance, took 3 for 22.

Jessica Lavia picked up 2 for 27.

Matches in the competition continue this weekend.

I.B.A.ALLEN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. 25.

Sports

Systems 3 battles SYSTEM 3, the Vincentian Club champions trying to advance to the next round of the Caribbean Football Club Championship, will have to produce a display of epic proportions if they are to salvage anything from this round of the championship.

They play Flames United SC of Sint Maarten this evening at Victoria Park. That match will be a bottom of the table showdown, with Flames having suffered a drubbing from San Juan Jabloteh in Wednesday’s opening encounter.

A hat trick from Nathan Lewis, two by Keith Simpson, and one each from Vurlon Mills, Jamal Gay, Tyrone Charles and Jairo Escobar, gave Jabloteh their victory. It was a casual first half for Jabloteh with three goals.

They turned up the temperature on the resumption, and were decidedly more productive.

Still, manager of the San Juan squad contended that the score ought to have doubled.

System 3 will be wondering where they fell down against Club Sportif Moulien. They seemed to have been in with a chance up to the 40th minute. Then a free kick just outside the box was executed with precision, and Moulien broke the deadlock. It was almost double tragedy instantly, and it took some heroics from the goalkeeper Kenyan Lynch, and perhaps a little fortune, for the score to stay 1:0 before the whistle acted.

The restart was more dramatic and indeed traumatic. For within three minutes, the Guadeloupians increased their lead. They did enough damage to hit the left upright, but the rebound came dangerously in front of the goal and hit a defender and into the net.

That was a tonic for the French players, and they grew from strength to strength. Goal keeper Lynch was bombarded on a consistent basis, and were it not for his acrobatics, the Vincentians might have faced worse humiliation.

The third goal came in the 64th minute after goal keeper Lynch went out of his area in an attempt to thwart the attack. He was left stranded, and the conversion was clinical. With seven minutes of normal time remaining, Club Sportif Moulien found another with a cheeky delivery. Their goal scorers were Krismiller Bolmin, Vladimir Pascal and Steven Bizasene.

Moulien and Jabloteh, with their victories, will be endeavouring to settle the top spot. A draw will perhaps favour the Guadeloupians more, who will fancy their chances of surpassing the nine goals Jabloteh put in on Flames.

System 3 will be depressed if they do not get points over Flames, and they will be in a position to play spoilers when the curtains come down Sunday night.

Victoria Park in capital city Kingstown is the venue for this round of the Championship, Another local team, Bequia United FC played in Antigua late February, and lost their games 2:1, 4:1 and 4; 0.

System 3 FC, a creation of one of this country’s most familiar football figures Ian Sardine, fielded a squad which showed: Jahvin Sutherland, Terron Miller, Shorn Lowman Kemron Osment, Curlan Joseph, Azinho Solomon, Alanzo Bute, Kevin Francis, Tyrone Harrison, Myron Samuel and Kenyan Lynch.

The substitutes were Kyle Edwards, Devon Browne, Morelli Solomon, Chad Bascombe, and Kishawn Johnny.

Technical Director is Wesley Charles.

Historic Motorsport event at E.T. Joshua ANOTHER chapter was added to the annals of Motorsport here when, last weekend, VINCY MOTORSPORTS, along with SVG Professional Auto Racing Club (SPARC), hosted this country’s first ever side-by-side ¼ mile drag racing event.

To add to the professionalism of the event, the Barbados Association of Dragsters & Drifters (B.A.D.D) were on hand, at the E. T. Joshua Airport, Arnos Vale, the venue for the event, with their race timing equipment to assist with the staging and accurate timing of this event.

The event was staged over two days. Saturday was the Test and Tune Day, with Sunday set aside for the given over final qualifying and eliminations and the grand finale.

And at the end of two days, filled with its embryotic challenges, the record number of participants and hundreds of racing enthusiasts and spectators, agreed that it was a grand racing event.

The results of the actual racing showed that Sherman Joseph in his Nissan Pulsar GtiR, recorded

As expected each race was closely contested.

Modern lighting and timing equipment was provided out of Barbados.

The Samurai Challenge threw up much excitement.

the fastest times of 12.0 — 12.5 Sec. He was followed by 13.0 — 13.5 Sec: Raffique Roberts in an ever popular Mitsubishi Evo IV in 13.0 — 13.5 sec, and Obed Williams racing a Nissan Silvia in 13.5 — 13.9 sec.

The added attraction of a Motorbike Challenge saw Clide Sutherland in a Honda CBR 1000RR, getting the better of the two-wheelers.

A much fancied Samuai Challenge was won by Hanif Admas, and the much anticipated Truck Challenge was taken by Austin Bullock in a Nissan Navara.

In all there were twelve sedans timed — including the first three places.

A special presentation awards ceremony is planned, the date for which will be announced in due course.

National 50 Overs Sunday League opens wickets and Elvis John, Adolphus Campbell and Chesley Ottley each had 2 wickets bowling for Glamorgan who, in their turn at the crease, managed a mere 104 in 30.3 overs. Alfred McKenzie top scored with 20. Jeremy Haywood grabbed 4 for 13.

At the Sion Hill playing field on Sunday, Victors Two bowlers made light work of Strike Eagles batsmen.

Strike Eagles were dismissed for a less than challenging 108 in 25.3 overs, with Adrian Stapleton accounting for the top individual score with 25. Bowling for Victors Jeremy Layne opened his Two, Kishore Shallow bagged 4 season with a century for SVG for 25, while Jenry Ollivierre Community College. and Adinol Richards took two wickets each for 4 and 29 runs respectively.

Denis Byam, 30, GODFREY HARRY, athletics coach of competitive in the Jardon Jacobs, 28 not the Thomas Saunders Secondary distance events and out, and Shallow, 20, led School (TSSS), is confident about his fields, and in fact, we Victors One’s reply which teams’ preparation ahead of the are looking to closed at 109 for 2, giving Annual Inter-Secondary Schools dominate in the field them a comfortable 8Track and the Penn Relays. events.” wicket victory.

Harry admitted that the teams Harry affirmed the Matches continue in were in a rebuilding stage as, was school’s focus on the 50 Overs Competition expected, many of the senior athletes competing in the this Sunday, March 12: prestigious Penn would have left school.

Ruddy’s Electrical He admitted that preparations Relays, since, as he Unique Warriors against said, “We have the were “going slow”, but expressed Prime Consulting confidence that, “we will get there by talent to compete Godfrey Harry, the time Inter-Secondary sports at this level.”

Marriaqua at Stubbs; long-standing The Penn comes around.” and defending athletics coach Relays are Harry spoke of having some new Champions Smashers at the TSSS, is good prospects that point to the TSSS scheduled for and Providence dominating schools track and field in April 26, 27, 28, in confident about Electronic Solutions his school’s the next three years.

Pennsylvania, North Leeward at performance, “We are looking to improve in all USA. Buccament. going into this areas. We have done fairly good in year’s the sprints, but we can still be more I.B.A.ALLEN I.B.A.ALLEN competitions.

THERE WAS little or no breathing space for cricketers involved in local competitions, as they moved from the closure of one competition (Saturday), to the beginning of another (Sunday).

Last Sunday, the National Lotteries Authority

National 50 Overs Sunday League began, with wins for the 2016 runners up - French Verandah SVG Community College, and 2016 Semi Finalist - Victors Two. And the Competition recorded its first century when Captain of the SVG Community College and SVG National Under19 Vice Captain - Jeremy Layne smashed 104 (3 sixers and 11 fours) in his team’s total of 245 all out in 42.2 overs, playing against newcomers Glamorgan United.

Some observers said that the College had taken first knock in less than ideal batting conditions at the Buccament Playing Field.

Godfrey Brewster took 3

Coach Harry confident amidst rebuilding

26. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017. 27.

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‘ALTERNATIVE FARMER’

IS MURDER #2 that the man was last seen on Sunday, February 26th.

POLICE HAVE SAID they are investigating Jonique Solomon, one of Gordon’s what is believed to be a second murder sisters by father, believes that her of the year, after the body of 35-year-old brother was killed for “his own Barrouallie resident, Philan Gordon, was product,” since “he engaged in discovered with a gunshot wound to his alternative farming.” chest.

She noted that her brother was According to a police press release, “Cool”, and added, “I will also say approximately 11:30 am, Wednesday loving because he uses to look out for 1st March, police were informed that me. I feel sad about his death because Gordon’s partially decomposed body he wasn’t sick or anything”. was seen in the Johnson Mountains, Even though they did not live in the Belle Isle. same abode, Solomon said she would A search party headed by police miss her brother, for he made it his officers recovered the body. business to keep in touch, and would A post mortem examination visit her regularly to have his hair revealed that Gordon died as a result styled. of severe loss of blood, occasioned by a One of Gordon’s neighbours, who gunshot to the chest. did not want to be identified, described Reports from the community said

by KENVILLE HORNE

him as “a cool man who would be by himself or sit among the youths sometimes.”

He said that growing up, the deceased was very active in sports, and showed a liking for cricket and football.

Jonique Solomon, The neighbour admitted Gordon’s sister, Philan Gordon is ruled that, like everyone else, believes her brother to have died as a result Gordon had his issues, and was shot and of a single gunshot he served time in prison for robbed. wound. chopping a man on his hand during an altercation. But the neighbour noted that after his release he was found dead in his field. The neighbour was from prison, Gordon became “quite also of the opinion that Gordon was settled and cool. He was just cool and killed during a robbery of his crop. used to just sit with the young boys.”

Gordon’s death, according to the That person was also aware that police press release, is being recorded “Gordon used to engage in alternative farming,” and said he had heard that as the 2nd homicide for the year in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

SVG AMONG WORST FOR VIOLENCE AGAINST „YACHTIES‰ ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES accounted for 33% of all violent incidents against yachts reported to CSSN for the Caribbean entire region in 2016.

This alarming statistic was carried in the 2016 Caribbean Safety and Security Net (CSSN) report on Yacht Crime in the Caribbean.

In its section on St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the report said; “The total number of incidents reported in SVG declined in 2016, however, the mix of violent and nonviolent incidents was greatly changed in 2016. Violent crimes increased +500%, and included the region’s only death, and were reported from a variety of locations throughout the SVG island

group. SVG violent incidents represent 33% of ALL violent incidents against yachts reported to CSSN for the entire region.

Nonviolent reports in SVG actually declined, largely attributable to fewer reports from Canouan, which had the highest number of reports in the region in the prior year (2015).”

The Caribbean Safety and Security Net’s (CSSN) is an all-volunteer, independent, self funded team whose primary mission is the collection and dissemination of accurate information relating to crimes against yachts in the Caribbean, enabling cruisers to make intelligent decisions about how and where they cruise.

Source:Caribbean Safety and Security Net 2016.

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

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.