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FRIDAY,

JUNE 10, 2016

VOLUME 110, No.24

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

Magistrate Bertie Pompey, who presides at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court, is a former Deputy Commissioner of Police.

by HAYDN HUGGINS Above: Kay BacchusBrowne, lead attorney for Benjamin Exeter, has found ground on which to request Magistrate Bertie Pompey to recuse himself from hearing Exeter’s matter.

KAY BACCHUS-BROWNE, defence lawyer in the trial involving opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Benjamin ‘Ben’ Exeter and Shabazaah George, a member of the NDP Youth Organization ‘Young Democrats’, has written to presiding magistrate Bertie Pompey, requesting that he recuse himself from the matter.

The lawyer told THE VINCENTIAN that, based on what transpired towards the end of Monday’s proceedings,

the defence is seriously concerned about the fairness of the trial.

She pointed out that Magistrate Pompey overruled a salient objection she made, arguing that Pompey was permitting prosecution witness, Assistant Superintendent of Police Timothy Hazelwood, to give inadmissible and irrelevant evidence.

Bacchus-Browne added that the defence became even more alarmed when the Magistrate contradicted her by saying there was a charge for breach of the peace, when neither of the defendants had been charged with any such offence.

The development unfolded while ASP Hazelwood was testifying.

Assistant Director of Public

Prosecutions Colin John had asked Hazelwood about the police powers of arrest in relation to breach of the peace.

Continued on Page 3.

Queen Nikianna Williams flanked by her ladies-in-waiting First Runner-up Jeanetta Richards (right) and second Runner-up Anya Frederick.

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2. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Hinds: A youngster with foresight CENUS HINDS is a name to which Vincentians will get used.

He is the creator and sole provider of the Konservi Mobile Marketing App, and trades in the business name Konservi.

Hinds described Konservi as “the only mobile first advertising platform in the Caribbean that is guaranteed to result in more targeted eyeballs than any other platform.”

He explained that, “It uses social media to maximise your communication reach to the fastest time possible, and allows your customers to stay in touch with your businesses 24/7.”

Konservi was officially launched last week Thursday, June 2, under the auspices of the Centre for Enterprise Development (CED).

And communications service provider FLOW was pleased to be part of the launch, Hinds being “an enthusiastic student of her company’s Internet Summer School Programme,” according to Nakalia Williams, Marketing Executive at FLOW, in her brief address at the launch.

Williams assured that FLOW is dedicated to supporting learning through technology, and will continue to invest heavily in education here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, by supporting initiatives such as: Internet Summer School; National Scholarship programme; Public speaking competition; Tertiary school

internship programme; Reduced internet rates to low income homes, and internet access to learning institutions throughout St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Hinds, for his part, acknowledged Williams’ role in his advancement, and confessed to having learnt a great deal from Williams.

As far as he was concerned, his biggest accomplishment has been his relationship with the communication service provider FLOW. Also addressing the launch was Ms. Keisha Phillips, CED’s Training Officer/ Communications Officer. She did not hide her pride about Hinds’ progress.

“Given the levelling effect of information technology in terms of international competitiveness, we are particularly pleased that Cenus has chosen to establish an IT related business,” Phillips said.

She pointed to Hinds’ venture as the place for “present and future business.”

The young man is pleased with the fact that some businesses have embraced his operation and have become part of what is a global network.

He appealed to the business community to patronise his service which he assures is bound to be rewarding, and is offering a free trial period for two months, during which prospective clients can assess the worth of Hinds’ services.

Hinds’ company Konservi was one of 32 teams from 17 countries

selected as finalists in the 10th Talent and Innovation Competition of the Americas and the Eco-Challenge 2015, held in Panama City. (WKA)

(L-R): Nikala Williams - FLOW Marketing Executive, Cenus Hinds – creator of Konservi, and Keisha Phillips, CED’s Training Officer/ Communications Officer, at the June 2 official launching of the Konservi Mobile Marketing App.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. 3.

News 3

Witness not sure of Exeter’s intention De Freitas confirmed that he had been a member of the Royal St. Vincent GRANVILLE DE FREITAS, a former police and the Grenadines Police Force officer and prosecution witness in the (RSVGPF) for six years but recently Benjamin ‘Ben’ Exeter trial, admitted under resigned. cross-examination on Monday that he was He recalled that on the day in ‘bothered’ when he saw Exeter, with a question, he was on duty at the House of firearm on him, moving in the direction of Assembly when around 3:45pm, ASP Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, during Timothy Hazelwood dispatched him to a protest outside the House of Assembly, provide security in an area which was December 29, 2015. barricaded. It was then that he (Exeter) Exeter, who is contesting otherwise forced himself between some police his loss as a New Democratic Party officers.

(NDP), candidate for Central Leeward in Exeter, the witness said, was stopped the Dec. 09, 2015 general election, and by one of the officers whom he said he Shabazaah George, a member of the did not recognize.

NDP Youth Organization ‘Young The witness added that he also saw Democrats’, are being tried together, on Corporal Morris stop Exeter, and it was separate charges arising from an at this point that he spotted what incident at the protest. appeared to be a firearm in Exeter’s Exeter has been charged under the waist.

Public Order Act with unlawfully having “Corporal Morris pulled that object an offensive weapon, to wit, “a firearm”, from his (Exeter’s) waist and just before at a public meeting outside the House of Corporal pulled the object from his Assembly. He is also charged with waist, he (Corporal) shouted, ‘Boy the assaulting constable Granville De man have a gun’,” De Freitas related, Freitas, causing him actual bodily harm, adding that Morris then held onto assaulting Corporal Cuthbert Morris, Exeter who responded by pushing him and resisting arrest. away.

George is charged with obstructing “The Corporal held onto him again Corporal Morris during the execution of and he pulled away. He grabbed the his (Morris) duties, and that without Corporal around his collar with both lawful excuse, had in his possession an hands. offensive weapon to wit, ‘a zapper’.

“I pulled away his hands from the Corporal’s shirt and I heard the Corporal Spotting the gun tell him he would be reporting against him for assaulting a police officer,” De

by HAYDN HUGGINS

Freitas said. He and Morris then proceeded to take Exeter to the nearby Central Police Station.

Cross-examination

Under cross-examination by defence attorney Kay BacchusBrowne, De Freitas told the court that the area through which Exeter had forced himself was located in front the main entrance to the House of Assembly. He said the Prime Minister had just arrived and was about to take the salute close to Granville De Freitas (right), along with that area.

Corporal Morris ‘escorting’ Ben Exeter to “He (Exeter) forced himself through a crowd in the direction the Central Police Station. where the police were and when he about reached to the police, he forced himself 20 ft away. through the police, ” De Freitas “What is your relationship to the explained.

According to the witness, Exeter went Prime Minister, first or second cousins?”

Bacchus-Browne asked the witness. in the direction of the Prime Minister.

But Assistant Director of Public “That seems to be bothering you?”

Prosecutions Colin John sharply Bacchus-Browne asked. rebutted, “I want to know what’s the “Yes please, My Honour, he (Exeter) relevance of this?” had a firearm on him and he was not a Bacchus-Browne retorted, “We have police officer,” De Freitas replied. always said that this case is highly When the lawyer asked De Freitas whether he viewed Exeter as a threat to political,” and added, “In other words, I am putting it to him that he is bias the Prime Minister, the witness said, “I because he is related to Dr. Gonsalves.” don’t know what was his intention.”

Bacchus-Browne asked De Freitas De Freitas explained that it was after Exeter had gotten past the police officers again whether he was ‘closely’ related to the P.M, to which the witness replied, that he noticed the firearm. He was “No please, Your Honour.”

She also inquired of De Freitas whether he was dismissed from the constabulary for dishonesty, stating that she was testing his credibility.

Continued from Front Page. supplied by police witnesses.

ASP Timothy But De Freitas maintained that he “It would be unfair to our client and Hazelwood’s resigned, and that he was not aware of Bacchus-Browne strongly to the administration of Justice in St. testimony was what the lawyer was speaking about. objected to the question, Vincent and the Grenadines if we do Corporal Morris, the first witness to interrupted by stating that there was no not ask the learned Magistrate to have testified at the trial which arguments over a such charge before the court. commenced at the Kingstown charge which Exeter’s recuse himself”, she declared.

But the magistrate The lawyer however made it clear Magistrate’s Court on May 31, had told lawyer said was nonresponded that there was. that, “This has nothing to do with our the court that he ran up to Exeter and existent in her client’s respect for the magistrate but Bacchus-Browne pulled the gun out of the holster which charge record. expressed disappointment everything to do with our duty to was in Exeter’s waist, after Exeter’s that the magistrate would defend our clients to the best of our shirt went up and he noticed what case, and without even say something like that. ability.” appeared to be the black handle of a hearing the defence.

Pompey then went on to Exeter has been charged with being firearm.

“This is not how fair say that even though Exeter present at a public meeting outside the Evidence was also heard from trials are conducted”, was not charged with House of Assembly on December 29, Corporal Irakie Mayers who, according she declared. breaching the peace, there 2015, had in his possession an offensive to the evidence, was speaking to Exeter Bacchus-Browne was evidence that he did, weapon, to wit, “a firearm”, otherwise when Corporal Morris noticed the pointed out the defence when he forced himself through a line of than in pursuance to lawful authority, firearm, and ASP Hazelwood, who told is cognizant of the fact that the police officers, during a protest. contrary to section 14 (1) of the Public the court that checks made at the Traffic magistrate, Assistant DPP and ASP But Bacchus-Browne vehemently Act, chapter 396 of the Revised Laws of Department of the RSVG Police Force Hazelwood all worked together as police St. Vincent and the Grenadines. questioned, “What law did Mr. Exeter ascertained that Exeter was the holder officers, as the Assistant DPP and the break by walking through a line of Exeter is also charged with of a licenced firearm, which matched the magistrate are former members of the police officers during a protest?” assaulting constable Granvil DeFreitas, serial number of the firearm that was Pompey then said that the Assistant local constabulary. causing him actual bodily harm, taken away from him.

She also noted that the matter is a DPP, in asking the question, was assaulting Corporal Cuthbert Morris, The matter has been adjourned to police case with classical police charges and resisting arrest. “leading” the witness.

June 20 to accommodate George who is such as assault, assault causing actual Bacchus-Browne told THE George has been charged with sitting pre-CXC exams which will run bodily harm and obstructing a police VINCENTIAN that what Pompey was obstructing Corporal Morris and over a two-week period. doing was giving a conclusive finding of officer, and that the only evidence possession of an offensive weapon, to Attorney Israel Bruce is also against Exeter and George is evidence fact before the end of the prosecution’s wit, a ‘zapper’. representing Exeter and George.

Exeter’s lawyer requests magistrate’s recusal

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4. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Man shot - no one to assist PROPRIETOR of the chain of Double Happiness restaurants here is lamenting the fact that no one saw it fit and decent to come to the assistance of him and wife during a moment of peril, LAST FRIDAY (June 3) night.

Reports are that the businessman of Oriental origin was shot twice, and his wife sustained head injuries when the vehicle in which they were travelling along the Long Wall/Cane Garden road towards their home,

was attacked.

The report reaching THE VINCENTIAN said that a stone was thrown from a bank along the road, and landed in the pathway of the vehicle.

The sudden brake that had to be applied

resulted in the man’s wife being thrown forward onto to the windshield.

Within a flash, two gunshots rang out. The man (the drive), was hit in his upper arm and left thigh. Another gunshot

Bagga man fished from Kearton’s Bay THE FAMILY of Garfield Harry, whose body was fished from Kearton’s Bay last Tuesday, say they are very saddened by his death.

Harry, who sells fruits to yacht persons visiting the area, went missing on Sunday evening. He had left that day to go on a fishing expedition.

When he failed to return home to his common-law wife, an alarm was triggered. One of his brothers lodged a missing person’s report at the Barrouallie Police Station.

When he did not turn up on Monday, the family again reported the matter to the Barrouallie police Residents of Kearton’s flocked the Bay when news of Garfield Harry’s plight spread throughout the community. who, according to Garfield’s younger sister Edith Harry, did not water.

The family is hopeful that the police give them a warm welcome.

Heart-broken and distraught, Edith said investigation into the death of their On Tuesday afternoon, a friend of the on Wednesday, “I am still sad, last night I beloved Garfield will shed light on how he family brought the news that they had couldn’t even sleep.” died. found Garfield’s body in the water at Garfield’s niece Keisha Harry said, “I The deceased was once employed to Kearton’s Bay. am still sad …..I can’t find words to clean the streets of Barrouallie, according Edith and other family members took off describe him. He always give me good to Kiesha. He fathered 5 children with his immediately for Kearton’s Bay where two advice and keep me in check.” common law wife. (KH) men pulled Garfield’s body out of the

rang out, this time hitting the engine of the vehicle.

Bearing the discomfort of his wounds, the businessman drew his licensed firearm and discharged two shots into the air. The assailant, said to be masked, immediately made his escape.

The developments thereafter are what shocked the businessman and his wife the most.

Bleeding and in obvious pain, the man attempted to stop three vehicles to ask for help, but to their astonishment and dismay, none saw it fit to stop.

He pulled himself together, a report said, and drove his wife and himself to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, causing quite some consternation as he and his wife appeared bloodied and in obvious pain, he still with gun in hand.

THE VINCENTIAN understands that the man was released from the MCMH by the following day, Saturday.

Green Hill man died of natural causes GODFREY DUPONT, a 65-year-old farmer whose body was found at his residence at Green Hill last Sunday (June 5) morning, died from natural causes. That is according to the post mortem report.

DuPont, a tailor during an earlier time of his life, was described as a loner. He dabbled in farming in recent times.

He is not known to have been married or fathered any children.

He loved to attend funerals, his older brother Kenrick Jacobs admitted. It was his absence from one of three such ceremonies last Saturday that aroused curiosity.

That night, family members searched his house but they did not see him. The following Sunday his body was discovered in the basement.

DuPont had a swollen heart, suffered from diabetes, his prostrate was bad, his elder brother outlined.

He dismissed suggestions that DuPont had been stabbed and chopped.

“Nothing like that,” Kenrick Jacobs, told THE VINCENTIAN. He added that nothing was missing from DuPont’s house, and that his wallet was intact with a few EC dollars.

DuPont will be buried

Godfrey DuPont died of natural causes, contrary to what was reported on social media. at the Green Hill Evangelical Church Sunday. (WKA)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. 5.

Court

ÂJacketÊ charged with murder again

‘Sky Juice’ charged with threatening SOE

language, to wit, “Miss haul yuh stinking A RESIDENT of Victoria mudder (expletive).”

Village was taken before Richards is also ABOUT SIX MONTHS after being called on December 8 last year at the Serious the Kingstown charged with, that on cleared of a murder charge at the Offences Court, Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne Magistrate’s Court last June 2, 2016, at the Serious Offences Court, Schemel discharged Dunbar after Crown Counsel Karim Friday, June 3, charged Electoral Office made ‘Jacket’ Dunbar appeared in the Nelson indicated that the prosecution was with using indecent and use of threatening same court on a similar charge. withdrawing the charge. threatening language to language, to wit, “When Dunbar, 28, of Rillan Hill, Nelson later told THE VINCENTIAN, when Supervisor of Elections, you leave work I will be stood before Chief Magistrate contacted, that the Office of the Director of Public Sylvia Findlay. here and I go knock off Rechanne Browne on Tuesday, Prosecution (DPP) had reviewed the files and found Absult ‘Sky Juice’ yuh head.” charged with the murder of there was not enough evidence to support the charge.

Richards was charged Richards pleaded not Campden Park resident James Interestingly, Dunbar was also charged, on with that on June 2 guilty to the charges Shephard.

Tuesday, as an appendum to police investigations when at the Electoral when he stood before Shephard was reportedly into Shephard’s death, with possession of 167 Office in Kingstown, Magistrate Bertie killed at Twenty Hill in the grammes of cannabis with intent to supply it to made use of indecent Pompey and was granted South Leeward area on the another, at Rillan Hill. (HH) bail in the sum of night of Tuesday, May 31. He $2,000. He will return to was discovered lying at the side court on July 18. of the road, next to a vehicle, Stowe’s apprehension follows on that Schemel ‘Jacket’ Attorney Israel Bruce with a bullet wound to his head. A VINCENTIAN woman, Desrey Veronic Stowe, is set to appear in a of two Vincentian men, Renrick Roger appeared on his behalf.

Dunbar is hoping Dunbar was not required to Barbados court, after being slapped with Richards and Ramon Rupert Horne, Following the result of that he would be plead, and was remanded four cocaine-related charges in that both 29 years old, who were similarly the December 9, 2015 twice lucky. pending a Preliminary Inquiry Caribbean country. charged and are currently on remand in general elections in (PI).

Stowe, 35 years old and said to be a Barbados. which the Unity Labour This is not the first time that Dunbar is being mother of two, was charged with Barbados authorities are said to have Party (ULP) was charged with murder. He had been charged with the possession of 1.5 kilogrammes of apprehended the men on May 32 this returned to office, a murder of Aljay Chadrick Douglas, 23, of Campden cocaine, possession with intent to year when they arrived in Barbados by group of persons have Park, who was shot and killed on May 1 last year supply, trafficking and importation. air, from St. Vincent. been staging an ongoing during an incident just outside the Campden Park Reports from Barbados said that the Their luggage was searched protest in the area of the Playing Field, where an entertainment event was woman arrived in Barbados from St. separately. In each man’s luggage was Electoral Office, taking place.

Vincent by air, on June 6. found ½ kilogramme of cocaine hidden claiming that the Douglas was reportedly shot in the head and During a search of her luggage by in newspaper. elections were not free stomach.

Customs officials, two bottles of liquid Richards and Horne are expected to and fair.

However, when the Preliminary Inquiry was cocaine were reportedly discovered. reappear in court on June 15. (KH)

by HAYDN HUGGINS

Vincy mother on cocaine charges in Barbados

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6. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Diaspora Feature

Vincy student accepted to Harvard Med School

by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; kingnaking210@yahoo.com US CORRESPONDENT WITH THOUSANDS of applicants annually to Harvard Medical School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a Vincentian student is among an elite group who have been accepted to the prestigious institution, considered to be the top medical school in the world.

Tiffany Minors, 22, who was born in Brooklyn, New York to Cheryl GibsonMinors, of Dauphine in the Belair/Gomea area, and Sylvanus “Sus” Minors, of Biabou, is one of 150 students to be accepted to Harvard’s medical programme, which she plans to start on Aug. 1.

“I believe I got into Harvard Med for a couple of reasons,” Tiffany told THE VINCENTIAN in an exclusive interview over the weekend. “First and foremost, I believe God has a special plan for my life, so all the glory should go to Him. “Secondly, I think it was obvious from my application, that I had an underlying driving force in everything I was doing, which had to do with my faith,” added the Born-Again Christian. “In all my extracurricular activities — be it working at the homeless shelter, leading the Social Action team for Harvard College Faith and Action, tutoring inner-city kids, musically directing Harvard’s Christian A Cappella group, going on mission trips, or attempting to find cures for certain viruses — I was working towards the goal of loving people well and using my talents to do so.

“Thirdly, I believe my heritage was a big factor in my acceptance,” continued Tiffany, who graduated in May from Harvard College with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, with honors. “I spoke in my interviews about being a first generation American and identifying with my Vincentian culture. I explained how I was interested in Global Health, partly because I would love to impact St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ local hospitals in the future.”

Besides Harvard, Tiffany, who said she is “driven by her faith in Jesus Christ and deep love for others,” was also accepted to two other Ivy League medical schools — the University of Pennsylvania (U-Penn) and Columbia in New York.

In addition, she was offered a full scholarship to Hofstra Medical School in

Long Island, a New York City suburb. The Award Letter from Hofstra cited her ability to be “a leader” of the school as it moves forward.

The undergraduate years

In her undergraduate study at Harvard College, Tiffany cosynthesized, with another Harvard student, novel NS3 Protease Inhibitor for dengue fever.

They presented their findings to the Medicinal Chemistry sector of the American Chemical Society (ACS) National Convention.

Clinical trials are expected to begin later to produce a dengue vaccine.

Tiffany said she was “blessed with many opportunities to do research while at college,” stating that she worked for Dr. Lecia Sequist, Chief Pulmonary Oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, on an EGFR mutant third generation drug, in which she analyzed the side effect of hyperglycemia in patients not previously known to have diabetes.

She said she and her Harvard College lab partner presented their work to ACS around the design and synthesis of an unsaturated oximinoamide, which will act as a tighter binding NS3 protease inhibitor, and is now featured in SciFinder, ACS’s online database, as a novel inhibitor of the dengue virus’ NS3 serine protease.

Tiffany also shadowed Dr. Louis J. Auguste, a surgical oncologist at Long Island Jewish Hospital, during her second summer break from Harvard College.

At Harvard College, Tiffany led the Social Action Team, Faith and Action, to meet the needs of Boston’s [Massachusetts] impoverished community. She also volunteered at other hospitals, food banks, homeless shelters and prisons; was the co-musical director of Harvard’s Christian A Cappella Group; and tutored underprivileged children in Boston’s “inner city,” Roxbury.

“I feel incredibly blessed,” said Tiffany, when asked about her studies at Harvard College. “The path was definitely difficult — many late nights and long exams — but rewarding.

“I got to interact with some of the smartest people I’ve ever met, and learned from the greatest minds in their respective fields,” she added. “I enjoyed doing research and being involved in the pre-Med community, while also not allowing it to define my existence.”

Tiffany said she was unsure what she will specialize in Tiffany and her extended families – Gibsons and Minors.

Tiffany Minors at her graduation from Harvard College on May 26, 2016.

Left: Tiffany and her parents, Cheryl and Sus Minors.

during medical school, but added that she had done “a bit of work in oncology and love the longstanding patient interaction that comes with the field.

“I am waiting to experience all the other specialties and choose then,” said Tiffany, who went on mission trips to Colombia and Texas to both share her faith and assist the needy.

her academic prowess, love for others and generous nature from early in her life, and worked diligently to cultivate them.

“She is our pride and joy; yet, we recognize that she stands on the shoulders of our parents and families, and her teachers, who have all sacrificed a lot to make these moments come to fruition,” they added in THE VINCENTIAN interview.

According to her extended family, “Tiffany is a rare, precious gem, with an over-abundance of humility and compassion.”

Her roots

The Minors said Tiffany’s desire to serve others comes from a long line of examples that began with her late The formative years grand-parents. They said Tiffany’s She was asked to deliver the keynote paternal grand-parents, Henry and Gracel Minors, were “stalwarts in address at her first elementary school, Public School (PS) 312 in Brooklyn at its Biabou — great examples of sacrifice and love.

June 24, 2016 graduation ceremony “Their vehicle was the only car in (5th grade).

Tiffany attended Sanford H. Calhoun Biabou at the time and was the means of transportation for all - including being High School in Merrick, Long Is., from the ambulance that took people to the September 2008 to June 2012, and was hospital in Kingstown and clinics in recognized by St. John’s University in Biabou,” the Minors said.

Jamaica, Queens, New York in 2009 as Tiffany’s grand-parents also had the one of America’s future top female only shop in Biabou for some time,” said scientist with the university’s the Minors, adding that “everyone could “Outstanding Woman in Science always get grocery, whether or not they Award.” had money to buy.”

She was voted by her high school Tiffany’s maternal grand-parents, faculty as the recipient of the “Blue and Edgar and Etheline Gibson, of Gray Award” for her demonstration of outstanding leadership in high school in Dauphine, “are also amazing examples of sacrifice,” the Minors said. both scholarship and service.

Butchers and farmers, the Gibsons In 2006, Tiffany received “The “gave help and support to many, American Legion Certificate of School providing jobs and food to countless Award” on graduation from elementary Vincentians,” according to the Minors, school “in recognition of the possession adding that Edgar, who is deceased, and of the high qualities of courage, honor, Etheline, who is still alive, will always leadership, patriotism, scholarship and be remembered for their hearts of service.” compassion and deep concern for the less fortunate.

Our ‘pride and joy’ “Cheryl and I try to mirror our “We feel very humbled and grateful to parents’ lives in our own care of others, and raised Tiffany to know that God is God for his manifold blessings on our first and people next,” Mr. Minors said. daughter,” said Tiffany’s parents, who “Things will follow if we are obedient to now reside in Merrick. “We recognized the Lord.”

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. 7.

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8. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Editorial

Do we have to worry?

DO WE HAVE to worry that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is becoming less neighbourly?

Do we have to worry that we are no longer our brother’s keeper?

Do we have to worry that as Christian as we sound at every opportunity that presents itself — especially in public — that we have all but forgotten the parable of the Good Samaritan?

Do we have to worry that a large percentage of us would not stop to help a person crying in the street or, for that matter, bleeding on the side of the road?

Do we have to worry that very few of us would lend our mobile phone to someone who said he/she was stranded or hurt and needed an urgent call to the hospital or police?

Do we have to worry that only a very small percentage of us would come to the assistance of someone who looked like, or we know to be, a businessman or woman?

Do we have to worry when we find ourselves in situations where we need help in a public place, but no one sees it fit and proper to stop to offer assistance?

Do we have to worry that we are losing our humanity?

Unquestionably, we are plagued with a rise in violent crime in this once peaceful place, where windows were once left wide open to allow the cooling breeze from our mountains to bring a natural comfort to our households, with no fear of intrusion by some unwelcomed nighttime visitor.

The use of firearms is almost the norm, the accepted means for those bent on creating a culture of fear, as they wreak havoc on innocent, hard-working citizens on the one hand, and others of like mind who launch violent reprisals for deeds of the underworld that have gone bad.

The natural reaction to this situation, not far removed from a situation of siege, is to lock ourselves away literally, in what we perceive to be the safety of our homes… some feeling safer and more secure than others because they can afford the expensive security systems that the circumstances have made so readily available here.

In so doing, we lose trust in all but those members of our immediate families. And there is every likelihood that we might also lose faith in those tasked with ensuring our safety — our

parliament, our judiciary, our police force, our government, our cabinet.

All of this came sharply into focus, and exposed our current attitude and mentality, when a businessman here testified that when he sought assistance from persons after he was shot and his wife injured (occasioned by an attack by bandits), not one person in at least four cars which came upon the incident, stopped to offer assistance.

Bleeding from gunshot wounds, his wife all but dazed and disoriented from a blow to her face, he made himself visible and beckoned for assistance, to no avail.

Were those drivers and their passengers so afraid for their own lives that they opted to hasten away from the scene?

Notwithstanding a ‘natural’ reaction to get as far away from a crime scene as possible, a quick observation of the situation would have shown that the crime was long ago committed, and the victims of that crime were genuinely in need of assistance.

That the persons involved at the wrong end of the criminal act were persons of Chinese origin, all but worsened the impression left about us.

Is it that we have sunk to such depths that we now discriminate against who needs our help on the basis of ethnicity?

Is there a latent attitude that is now coming to the fore?

One would not want to harbour an iota of thought that we have sunk to the depths of racism, and in so doing dispensed with our Christianity. Is it that our sense of our Christianity is now coming to the real fore and displaying itself as an individualistic, almost capitalist expression of that faith?

That being Christian is all about me, me and me, and has nothing to do with doing good deeds to and for our fellowmen?

Sadly, that could well be the reality, and those who have offered themselves as our leaders must take full blame for a widening dichotomy in our society, that is now growing tentacles that engulf more than those who do unkind acts on their political enemies, and extend to those who are not of our cloth and colour.

The reality is — the truth is — we have become or are fast becoming less kind as a society.

This is not a characterization of which we can ever be proud.

The political tragi-comedy gathers speed FOLLOWING THE RECENT party political changes in St Kitts, in whose politics the NDP had positively entered, the people of St Lucia have switched their allegiance, 11 seats to 6, from the Labour Party to the UWP. Historically, the parties have in a sense been kinsfolk: the SVLP forerunner of the ULP and St Lucia Labour Party are considered brethren, as have the NDP and the UWP through the blood and other ties between founding fathers “Son” Mitchell and the late John Compton.

In St Lucia, despite ugly portents, the election itself was rather quiet and peaceful, as become an emergent country in growth, however fitfully, confident of its democratic path.

In SVG on the other hand, the last elections is yet to be concluded owing to accusations of irregularities which form the background to a crudely conducted elections which falls now to be determined by a court system also corrupted. If there is reason for our misgiving, then certainly the blind cannot be led by the purblind, but to perdition. That is why some people throw their hands in the air and declare, pessimistically, St Vincent is a failed State.

The trouble started a relatively long time ago. In his youth, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was impressed by the way the representative of the area, the former “Comrade Joshua”, related to the poor and suffering constituents.

They were carried away by his “charisma”, as he fought for them against a backward white plantocracy generally aided and abetted by Britain, the Imperial country.

He studied Social Science at UWI where he fell under the influence of Bertel Ollman and others, and became a believer in communism.

Gonsalves returned home in 1979 and fought the Independence election under the banner of the UPM, which had pushed the notion of socialist orientation, but broke when Gonsalves insisted, after a dismal election defeat, that we should formally accept communism as our guiding philosophy.

Then he broke with what was left of the UPM under Oscar Allen and Adrian Saunders, and entered politics with his MNU, in which he carried Blazer Williams, Caspar London and others, but the party made no headway in the political milieu.

So he exploited an opportunity of a weakened and broken Labour Party, to link up with them in 1994, which formalised into the ULP in 1998, but which lost 7 to 8 under Beache, who turned over the Party under the headship of Ralph who beat to a pulp all other aspirants to the leadership, including Boyea, Straker and, of course Stalky John.

As if to greet the 21st century with a new cast of political actors, Mitchell dropped out the game, with blessings for Arnhim Eustace to carry on as new leader of the NDP.

There followed four elections, in 2001, 2005, 2010 and 2015, all won by the ULP, though the last two by one seat majorities.

Nevertheless the cry went up principally by ULPites, that the four wins in a row demonstrate that Arnhim is a born loser who should give up leadership of the NDP. Instead, NDP top drawer, the “dream team” bolstered by the rank and file, have drawn their wagons round Arnhim, not only to continue the fight as such, but more significantly, to challenge the last election on grounds of what can best be described as boldfaced skull drudgery indicative of systemic corruption.

And even the lengthened-shadows of related election exercises may be interpreted as contrived delays, which amounts to justice denied or the simple and straightforward case against Exeter has been stretched for over six months, which is one tenth of an electoral term and continuing.

The truth is that ideology - communism or not — is no longer an issue. There are countless millionaires in China and Russia, the bedrock of communism.

The problem today is the totalitarian party, charismatic or not, that calls all the shots in a polity dominated by a political boss and his agents. The PNC of Guyana is the example for us par excellence. Burnham had preached the paramountcy of the Party, and held that a party in power has every reason to dominate, assisted by little unorthodoxies, including the rigging of elections of which the “overseas vote” had been Burnham’s specialty. I think Burnham is Ralph’s real idol.

Ralph, like Burnham, was like Pappa with whom everyone ended up.

The ULP totally controls the society through the appointment to key jobs by supporters who enjoy favours aplenty.- The DPP, only happens to be the highest law officer, who was appointed against the expressed wishes of the Bar Association who over the years has largely been trampled underfoot into submissiveness, when not bought off.

No case against the PM was ever presented involving Michelle Andrews, and the DPP powers have been enlarged to require his fiat for a private criminal case!

Now the whole boley threatens to burst with the election petitions and related cases. I am stunned by the crass effrontery of perpetrators of enormous crimes against the people. My shame is such that paradoxically, I dare to hope against hope that the allegations are not true, and I am living through a nightmare.

But I am awakened by the incorrigibility of the government which proceeds as in a walk through the park. Over all, I think that Hairoun- Home of the Blessed- is in for a rather rude awakening.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. 9.

Letters

The greatest MUHAMMAD ALI was simply the greatest…greatest boxer, greatest teaser, and could have been the greatest poet.

He has left us with some memorable verses, not least one he uttered before he regained the heavyweight boxing title of the world, by beating George Foreman in 1974.

Here’s that verse: “Wait ‘til I whup George Foreman’s behind.

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.

His hand can’t hit what his eyes can’t see.

Now you see me, now you don’t.

George thinks he will, but I know he won’t.

I done wrassled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale.

Only last week I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalized a brick.

I’m so mean, I make medicine sick.”

Robert

Ali was the Greatest HOW WELL I remember October 30 1994. I was then a student of the St. Martin’s Secondary School under the tutelage of outstanding teachers like Mr. Eddie Griffith, Bro John Marco, Bro John Vella, and of course you, Mr. Editor.

That date was talked about before and long after. We were all excited those days by a fellow who called himself Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer the world had ever seen up to then, and the greatest even up to today.

What uproar there was among us boys when our favourite Ali put a pounding on George Foreman in that African country that was known then as Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

And mind you, we had to wait until the next morning to hear the result on the local sports programme, since many of us did not have radios to allow us to hear the life commentary. I remember a fellow classmate boasting the next morning how he listened to the fight on

his father’s Short Wave radio. Many of us were not so blessed.

But enough of that.

The fact that the whole world is saddened by the passing of Muhammad Ali tells you how great and respected the man was.

During my time here in the USA, I have had the opportunity to follow his career through his last years in boxing and since. I came to love and admire this man, even more for four basic reasons.

Ali was a man who believed in himself. His words were often meant to put down his opponents, but he also used them to instill fear, because he believed in his ability — in himself — and more often than not proved himself correct.

Ali was a man of strong conviction. In the face of White America, he refused to be drafted into the army to fight in the Vietnam War, because, he maintained, the Viet Cong were not his enemies; they had done nothing to him. He suffered the indignity of

The overriding influence of politics MANY YEARS ago when I first read Ruth Benedict’s “Patterns of Culture”, I concluded that there are no superior or inferior cultures, only different circumstances within which cultures evolve, and all are equally viable and valid within their own context. But I omitted political considerations, as Ms. Benedict did. Politics can change and alter the fabric of a society, repressing beneficial, benevolent aspects and promulgating malevolent, negative attitudes. Hitler’s Germany, Chile under Pinochet, Spain under Franco, East Germany under the Soviets, Argentina at a certain stage of its history, (The U.S.A under Trump?) and many others, distorted and malformed their countries’ culture into something demonic, the antithesis of what its national culture had been.

Not just an absence of the encouragement of fine art, of controversy, of challenging literature, of progressive thinking, or of a stimulating atmosphere, but the institutionalization of the repression of these very activities, either actively by enforcement, or passively by implied discouragement: “We may not lock you up, but it would be better if you do not move in that direction,,,or we might ‘detain you’, so watch it!”

We in St. Vincent seem to be facing this kind of cultural shift. Songs with lyrics pointed this way will be encouraged; songs with a slant that way will be heard less or not all.

Vituperative invectives aimed at the Prime Minister result in crippling lawsuits, but the same language directed at his opponents are forgiven

being stripped of his world title, just when he was at his peak, because he had a strong conviction that war was not the answer.

Then there was his athleticism. Many who have come before him, have employed his foot movements in the ring, something that so few if any boxer before him had dared to employ in the ring. To do that, i.e. move like a butterfly, he must have developed his own training routine which has influenced so many since his time.

Then there was the love that the man had

for humanity. He not only hugged, shook hands, embraced all peoples wherever he went, but he put his money where his ‘big’ mouth was, and helped to pull many a poor youth — black youth — out of poverty and despair.

Muhammad Ali may be no more with us, but if there ever was a human being who has left a legacy of mammoth proportions, it is this man.

R.I.P. Bro. coping with this rather Garnet, NY lengthy piece. I was PS: Thanks Mr. Editor, for truly moved by this man.

A living national hero?

THERE ARE sometimes things which are better left unsaid. After careful introspection and examination, I am pleased, and relieved, to conclude that this is not one of those. Biases and prejudices aside, let’s give Jack his [red?] jacket and flowers while he can smell them.

I see the current Prime Minister of St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, in much the same light as our first national hero, Joseph Chatoyer. Like Chatoyer, Dr. Gonsalves, after a 21st century model, has well liberated the Vincentian people by opening wide the doors of opportunity for advancement and progression, like no leader of any government before him. I would dare say, when the discussions continue regarding naming a new national figure, maybe we should not seek to do of one posthumously.

With failing or flaws if any, as a captain, Dr.

Gonsalves has indeed guided his little ship with dexterity and resolute strength, when at times it seemed it could capsize. His vision remained clear when many obviously could not see what was in his view. At the helm, his efforts and actions are clearly indefatigable; his Administration active and proactive.

Notwithstanding the fact that it is God who rules in the heavens and all the earth, yet He has given gifts to men to do and to be, to move and to shake. I believe that as a faithful servant, Dr. Gonsalves has fulfilled this mandate to “be fruitful and replenish the earth”. I pray God blesses him with the increase He gives to those who invest their talents for greater good.

To carry all of this without a countenance that is lifted up is also a remarkable feat.

Not to be a spoke in the wheel of any dissenter, myself being one that is converted, I

as “figures of speech, not to be taken literally.” Persons discharging firearms in public, who are members of the ruling party, are ignored or excused, while others who are members of the opposition are arrested and their firearms confiscated for simply having a licensed weapon on their person.

Forget active support for classical music performances or composition (European dead-white man’s music), or adventurous drama creations that are not in the framework of “Caribbean Civilization”, or literature that criticizes or is skeptical of the politics of the Bishop/Grenada, Maduro/Venezuela persuasion.

Henry Mencken called the American South of his day the “Sahara Of The Bozarts” (intentionally misspelled) because THE RULING party boasts every day about ‘their’ airport, and there was no “there” there. Encouragement of about how it is set to open soon. They have been joined by their boot lickers. My comment is not condemnation of their leadership, artistic development or but their lack of proper planning. of the expression of On the 20th May 2016, we had an unstable weather condition, controversial or critical not a freak storm, resulting in the terminal building and airplane political opinions may parking lot being flooded. Had a plane brought in passengers not have been then, would we have allowed them to enter the terminal building? applauded in that How can we boast of such facility? As an old builder, I watched culture, but they were the airport flow from the beginning. Another disaster is in the not discouraged or making, given what is at the head of the runway. Those big suppressed by stones placed there are like pebbles to the Atlantic Ocean waves, governmental pressure something we suffer from almost yearly on our coastal line. or influence. Not so That area need piling, but everyone is running from that cost. here. Look out, and “Get This is my 4th warning: June to soon, July stand by, September/ Back”!

October remember, November all over.

Boasting about what?

Herzen

Old Citizen

see it that getting an ‘A’ plus doesn’t mean you get all the answers right.

It means you got most of them, and that you have done exceptional.

This is my tribute, and I salute you, Sir. Rizpah Steward

* Whether the NDP is going to distance itself from that chap who has been dragged before the court for threatening the Supervisor of Elections and her family? * Wouldn’t it have been the best thing for the country, seeing how unstable it is now, if the PM had called another election to set the right once and for all? Seems he didn’t think or doesn’t think that things ain’t going right, eh? * Anybody in High office for sale?

Anybody willing to buy? * Are all these gunshot we hearing or being reported across the state, gunshots by persons who have licensed firearms? Or are they the criminals firing at one another? Are we becoming like Syria, gunshots morning, noon and night?

What is the police doing about this?

V

10. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

The 2016 Cybercrime Bill Celebrating our women (Senator Zita Barnwell’s Address at NDP’s rally, Sion Hill, May 25, 2016.)

Introduction THE PROBLEM of cybercrime is something that is occupying the attention of most governments worldwide. In fact, cybercrime is now assuming alarming proportion,s and many criminal experts claim that this is perhaps the fastest growing area of crime. Many criminals are exploiting the convenience, speed and the anonymity of the internet, to commit a range of criminal activities, including the disruption of information and financial systems. These criminals pose tremendous danger to countries and persons worldwide.

Despite the work of a number of international security agencies worldwide, studies now show that cybercrime continues to worsen.

Estimates vary in terms of the damage to the global economy in relation to cybercrime. Security officials estimate that this issue has created losses in the region of US$400 billion dollars, from the hacking of banks, financial information and the holding of websites as hostages. Also included in this cost are the security arrangements that governments, banks, information systems, etc., have had to put in place to protect assets.

Last week, the ULP administration caused the first reading in Parliament of the 2016 Cybercrime Bill. Contrary to a newspaper report, the Bill has not been passed. It is now before a select committee of the House of Assembly, and can be influenced by citizens and groups who wish to make pertinent suggestions in terms of change or changes to sections of the Bill.

The current draft Bill before the select committee is based on the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime. If you do your research or do a “Google” search, you will find that out of this convention came the first treaty to address internet and computer crime, and to harmonise laws, improve investigating techniques, and set up a number of cooperating procedures between countries, in the prosecution of cyber criminals.

The 2016 Cybercrime Bill The draft Bill has five sections.

Section One looks at the interpretation of various terminologies used in the description of cybercrime. Section Two looks at the offences which can be committed under this act, and these include data interference, system interference, identity related crimes, computer fraud, violation of privacy and child pornography. In the Third Section, investigations and procedures are addressed including issues related to jurisdiction, the interception of traffic and content data, search and seizure, arrests and warrants, and the extradition of offenders. In Section Four, the Bill looks at the liability of internet service providers and in Section Five, the Bill looks at miscellaneous matters, and allows the minister who has the responsibility for this portfolio, to make regulations, if necessary, for the proper administration of this Bill.

There are a number of offences which are covered under the 2016 Cybercrime Bill. These relate to treason, murder, drug trafficking, fraud and financial, obscene and offensive content, terrorism, fraud, child pornography and

the trafficking in persons; and the list is not exhaustive.

The introduction of this Bill shows the seriousness of the ULP administration, in addressing the issue of cybercrimes, and in protecting the citizens and national institutions from the activities of cyber criminals. In this regard, the ULP administration is catching up with a number of countries in the Caribbean, including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica and Dominica, who have done much work in this regard.

Opposition to the Bill It is important to note that when the 2016 Cybercrime Bill was presented in the House, there was no sign of the members of the Opposition. And so once again the people of this nation were deprived of the contribution of the NDP in Parliament. That aside, expect that there will be opposition to this Bill, and that members and supporters of the NDP will lead that charge.

Already there are suggestions on radio and on Face book, that the government wants to stifle freedom of expression, and that Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves wants to punish those operators on social media who made nasty comments about the ULP administration. This is far from the truth. It has often been said that persons who want to commit crimes, are very fearful of laws which punish them for these crimes.

It is clear that the internet is being used by some persons in St.Vincent and the Grenadines as a weapon to defame, intimidate and bully other persons. This clearly could not be right, and there must be ways in which the State can address this. Then there is the issue of persons who want to attack the banks, credit unions and other financial institutions in the State. The state must have laws and procedures to address these crimes, and to act as a deterrent in the protection of the assets of these organisations.

Right-thinking Vincentians have nothing to fear from the 2016 Cybercrime Bill. Vincentians are being asked to get themselves familiar with the Bill, and to pay attention to all the positive discussion that will take place on radio, and in some newspapers on the new Bill. It is clear that the ULP administration has created many opportunities for the people of St.Vincent and the Grenadines to access a full range of information and communications technologies and capabilities. Highly computer literate Vincentians have taken advantage of this development to acquire new skills.

These are applied daily, for their living and production, education, worship, entertainment and social interaction.

There must be laws to ensure that no one takes advantage of these opportunities to commit Cybercrimes.

Many international and developing countries are moving, or have already developed cybercrime laws and regulations in this regard. St.Vincent and the Grenadines must not be left behind.

We ARE ALSO here to celebrate our women and their contribution to defending our democracy! We speak of all of our Vincentian women but we want to give special commendation to the women who tirelessly ground themselves immovable outside the Electoral Office, and raise their shields of resistance against injustice.

They have shown to the world that their expression and promotion of our democracy is beyond casting their votes at the General Elections Day on December 9th, 2015. We give special mention to: Yvette Tittle, Rosalind Allen, Susan Duncan, Viola Grant, Monica Coombs, Dolia Woods, Grace Ann Young, Weena Roberts, Danielle Maloney, Shanna Thompson, Marilyn Jackson, Rita Williams, Donette Browne, “Hearty”, and Luzette King.

They are our: mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, step mothers. They are the unemployed.

For many, being unemployed or having young children has not stopped them from standing firm against political intolerance and injustice. In fact, it is the social, political and economic crises affecting our country that have kept them in the struggle for the last 164 days.

Some may want to argue that our democracy is not at risk; that it is not being threatened; and that we stand as a model of a very good working democracy. We know that is a lie — a lie wrapped up in ‘red’ packaging and ribbons; and certainly we are not fooled.

We remind you not to lose your way and become impressed with that glittering ‘red’ package. You see it every day - that package stuffed with exploitation, greed, tribalism, discrimination, exclusion, theft, mismanagement, and let us not forget the recently added item, “Beg A Barrel”.

Let me remind you that when our honourable leader, Mr. Arnhim Eustace, went to New York at a town hall meeting, he told the honest truth about the dire situation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but they said he lied. But look now, the truth cannot be hidden anymore. They are telling it themselves with their ‘pack and barrel and send home to St. Vincent and the Grenadines’. But we say to them - we send the message that what this nation needs cannot be pulled out of a barrel like tricks out a magician’s hat.

We can’t pull a quality inclusive education out of a barrel! We cannot pull a surplus budget out of a barrel.

We can’t solve crime out of a barrel and certainly, we, especially the poor of this country, cannot pull employment out of a barrel. What matters most to us and the development of our country cannot be shipped here in a barrel.

We, therefore, say an absolute no to the ULP administration and it’s “Beg A Barrel” mentality. And say yes, yes we want a government that will create sustainable work for everybody. And, yes to the creation and cultivation of products for exports that we can ship out of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in barrels and boxes!

We also say to the ULP Administration that what passes for

democracy and good governance in our beloved country is nothing short of a Reality TV show gone disastrously bad. And so I ask you: Is it democratic to refuse to put in force the Freedom of Information Act 2003, an Act which would give right of access to official documents of the government and public authorities to members of the public? This is an Act which would aid in transparency.

Is it democratic to refuse to create and pass Integrity Legislation? This anti- corruption legislation has been passed in our sister OECS islands such as Antigua, St. Lucia, Grenada, Montserrat and St. Kitts. Obviously, failure to pass this Act tells us that this government is not concerned with fighting corruption among persons in public life.

Is it democratic to sign a Collective Bargaining Agreement with all of the teachers of this country and say that you agree that they can participate in elective politics, and if unsuccessful that their benefits and jobs will protected, but when it comes to honour the terms of the agreement you resort to using the constitution as a sword to stab these teachers in their backs?

They are teachers with over 60 collective years of service to our children. Let me remind you, brothers and sisters, that the constitution was designed to protect citizens against state violations, not for the state to use against its citizens.

Is that a government that practices the principles of democracy? As many of our sisters and brothers have perfectly put it: The ULP is nothing but a clear and present danger to the survival of our democracy.

Our human and constitutional rights are constantly eroded, some in subtle ways and others with blatant force. Our right to quality health care is denied every time the hospital fails to administer the medication and treatment required to make us and our children healthy. Rule of law is violated every time we see the law applied discriminately - where the well-connected gets a slap on the wrist or walks away free, but the law books are thrown at us with full force.

Therefore, we must stand for justice and demand that our human rights are protected and promoted.

I started with our women, but I want to end with our nation; a nation of many hard working and committed men and women. They are those invested and engaged on both sides of the democratic fight versus those who just stand by and watch disinterestedly, suffering too but doing nothing about it. Most of them I call the sleepwalkers.

And we encourage all Vincentians.

All of the men and women to rise above fear, intimidation, and humiliation, and to stand firm against political victimization and corruption, against unemployment, against bad governance and political intolerance, against rape and against sexual assault against our children under 13.

To all of this and more, unified, fearless and strong we stand for the reconstruction of our democracy.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. 11.

Views

Coping with rejection: Deceived, deflated and depressed

“When you make a mistake or get ridiculed or rejected, look at mistakes as learning experiences, and ridicule as ignorance. Look at rejection as part of one performance, not as a turn down of the performer.” —Denis E. Waitley (born 1933), American motivational speaker, We wish that it would last forever. We author, and consultant. treasure those instances when we can bask in the warmth and elation that THE TOPIC for this week’s essay was they provide. Unfortunately, there are particularly alluring to some readers. also times when circumstances appear Having glanced at the heading, some to burst our bubble — we are deflated. A readers were especially curious to find out good friend or family member dies. A what the writer has to share about the business venture fails. An accident subject. Some were confused as they happens. There are a host of sources sought to decipher the connection that can deflate us. On those occasions between rejection and the “three D words” we can feel so abandoned and alone. inserted at the end. Others, having gone Those are times when it can seem so through (or are going through) the trauma easy to give in to the temptation to feel of rejection, commenced reading hoping rejected and to embrace depression. In to get some clarity in relation to their its own very strange way, melancholy particular situation. There was a glimmer seems to provide some degree of solace. of optimism as they contemplated that Sometimes it appears comfortable and they can learn to deal with their situation soothing to cuddle despondence for a and move on with their life. moment. However, it should only be for It is important for this writer to a relatively short time as we seek to provide an early disclaimer. Although regroup, refocus, and strategize. having studied psychology in some of Remaining in melancholy’s embrace for the courses that I have pursued, I am too long can have dangerous no psychologist. I am most certainly not consequences — personality traits could a psychiatrist. However, having been be retarded and positive coping battered and bruised by the torrents of mechanisms could vaporise. rejection it is possible to share some Melancholy deceives, deflates, and insights about possible coping depresses. These are often the times mechanism — reminding others (and when we need to focus on solutions myself) that even though the flames of away from ourselves. These are rejection may appear to be intense and moments when we find it rewarding to debilitating, there is reason to hope. trust in someone higher than ourselves.

The wounds will heal. The scars may The God who created and sustains this remain (as a reminder) but the pain will universe is able to sustain our little part vanish away with time, and the beauty of the world. The Old Testament book of life will shine through. There is of Job (see chapters 28 and 29) reason to hope, and there is good cause reassures us that we can find wisdom to be optimistic. and understanding in this same God of When we pause to lend an empathic creation. He never rejects the listening ear, and individuals develop repentant pilgrim. We may appear to some trust that the information shared be battered, bruised and rejected by is sacred and confidential, we readily others but He patiently waits to be our discover that there are so many source of renewal. He can regenerate individuals who have carried (or are us after we have gone through deep and carrying) heavy burdens of guilt and/or bitter rejection. pain. Many have invested time and It is often refreshing to note that money in relationships or projects that tough times never last but tough people have failed. They read (and misread) do. Many have traveled that same road the body language of family members, or trauma, and have arrived at their friends, neighbours, and associates, and final destination in one piece — maimed observe how much the pain seems to and disfigured, but thankful for and intensify. This is especially so when appreciative of the individuals who negative and/or insensitive comments encouraged them to persist. They are heard. Many give in to bouts of treasure the encouragement the depression and, if not careful, could received from an e-mail, a telephone easily become cynical and venture into call, a hand-written note, a small gift, a being a hermit — not trusting or smile, or a word of encouragement. wanting to be around anyone. However, They, in turn, look for those God did not create us to be alone. We opportunities where they can bless were meant to live in communities — not others who are going through their to be secluded. This explains why tough times of rejection and placing an individual in isolation is despondency. They lend a hand. They perceived as such an inhumane and share a testimony. They move from emotionally painful form of torture or merely being spectators and analysts, to punishment. It is quite understandable being caring and concerned enough to that, having been hurt, there is a intercept with intent. We thank God for temptation to protect and preserve self friends like these. We thank God for — to avoid being vulnerable; trusting providing us with a spirit of and hoping that we do not venture over discernment so that we can sense when into the world of insanity or creating someone is going through these tough and/or sustaining a habit of alcoholism trials (even though they may not talk or drug use. These are ugly, but real, about them) and we can be there to outcomes of many who do not find assist — or just to let them know that we healthy coping mechanisms for the are there and that we do care. We rejection that life will sometimes usher know that today they may be in need, in. but tomorrow it may very well be our Happiness and peace can sometimes turn to cope with rejection, deception, appear to be a mirage. There are times deflation, and depression. when these joys and contentment seem to appear for such a short time. During Send comments, criticisms & those fleeting moments, life may seem suggestions to to be so beautiful and full of promise. julesferdinand@gmail.com

Beach and Land ‘It is a damn fool who gives up a continent and settles for an island.’

African American historian, John Henrik Clarke CLARKE, a master teacher of African history and heritage, was lamenting the nasty habit of Africans in the diaspora to abandon and vilify their ancestral home in Africa for islands and countries that can easily fit into the Sahara desert.

This truism rings loudly whenever we listen to the debate over the access to beaches on Canouan. Lost in the debate is that the government essentially gave away 1200 acres of pristine land, in the tranquil waters of the Grenadines to foreign private developers.

In 1990, James Mitchell Government, in its quest to develop SVG as a high end tourist destination, leased the northern two thirds of Canouan to an outfit called the Canouan Resorts Development. Canouan comprises of approximately 1800 acres of land. The Mitchell government leased 1200 acres for tourism development. The developers proposed to spend 100s of millions of dollars.

For the first 15 years, the developers paid no taxes. This is standard procedure in these kinds of developmental deal. What was not standard and has never been standard anywhere in the world, is that the government allowed the lessee, who had negotiated a 99 year lease, to sell free holds out of the leasehold which it negotiated.

So it is conceivable and highly probable that in 2089 when the lease expires, all of the 1200 acres of land could have been developed and sold.

There will be nothing that remains to be returned to our patrimony. For this sweetheart deal, the developers paid $10,000 annual rent in 1996 and on the final year of the lease in 2089 the annual rent is $55,599.17.

We have essentially given away a fortune. Imagine that government recently sold 40 acres of land on Canouan for $20,000,000 to the same developers. Imagine further the amount of money these investors are making by selling our land that has been leased to them. This can’t be right. This has to be wrong. This should be illegal. We must at least investigate to see if it is illegal, because if it is found to be illegal, there a lot of benefits the people of SVG can derive from such a declaration.

Follow this conversation and do not lose sight of the fact that the 1200 acres of land belong to the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Understand that even though the land is owned by the crown and was leased from the government for 99 years, the owners of the Canouan Resorts Development Limited can sell parcels of this land. Whatever fee our land is sold for, the government gets 17 percent in fees.

What is also significant about this lease agreement is that it was not only registered. It was attached as the schedule and incorporated into the laws of St Vincent and the Grenadines as Act # 4 of 1990 as the Canouan Resorts Limited (Lease Ratification) Act. This means that it will take a courageous decision by the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines to repeal this act. Make no mistake, the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines are holding the ‘shitty’ end of the stick in this deal. At least indigenous people of Canoaun should be living a dream life.

That they are struggling is wrong. A school is structurally compromised. The

developers do not even exercise the corporate goodwill to offer to fix it.

There is no doubt that St Vincent in 1990 as in 2016 needs foreign direct investment. There is no question that St Vincent and the Grenadines needs more employment opportunities. These kinds of developments will assist with employment. However, no selfrespecting national could/should/would countenance an agreement that gives away a sizable portion of a beautiful island under the pretext of development.

It is therefore hard to believe or understand how in heaven’s name the conversation in SVG is whether we support or oppose the protest action of Terrance Bynoe and his followers regarding access to the beach. PlainTalk is convinced that access is really a non issue. We should all have access to our beaches. We know however that developers are looking for exclusivity.

They want to attract a particular clientele and offer them absolute privacy. These battles are fought by nationals all the time.

One may remember when locals were not allowed to take the motor boat owned and operated by Young’s Island so as to simply lounge on the sands there. There were similar struggles over the right of access over private lands to Breakers Bay. Locals must never give up their rights, and governments must never arbitrarily negotiate away the rights of citizens regarding access to beaches. However, nationals must never abandon the spirit of compromise if they can gain in the bargain.

The issues in Canouan are not the affairs of Bynoe and his supporters on the island and the developers. This issue should concern all of us. Moreover, the issue is much larger than beach access. Central to this debate is how we can renegotiate this deal that gives away prime real estate for small change. Some may argue that Canouan was a mosquito infested island with little commercial value in 1990 when the deal was brokered. This may be true. But there is something we ought to know about land. It never spoils, and in these parts rarely ever loses value.

Former PM Mitchell is acutely aware of this fact. He has family interest in a Grenadines island. We can be reasonably certain that it did not and will not cross his mind to lease that island and give the lessee a right to sell free holds.

In law, we know that one cannot give what they don’t have. Therefore, this agreement appears legally untenable. It is true that it has the support of an act of parliament but governments pass and repeal laws all the time. Further, any agreement that exempts it from any section of the constitution is presumptively unconstitutional.

Millions of dollars have already been invested, and this may be a long road to hoe. But there are legal minds far more knowledgeable than mine that can be brought to bear on this issue. One does not have to be very smart to know that we have given away a treasure. The question is whether there are legal avenues for us to get something or everything back. We have clearly given up too much.

This is how the debate should be grounded and not whether nationals should have access to the beaches.

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

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12. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

White trash: The solution for funds for garbage collection PRIME MINISTER Gonsalves said on TV that the government is spending about EC$1.5 million on garbage collection in Bequia, Canouan and Union Island, but only collects EC$300,000 for garbage collection on the CWSA bill from residents on those islands.

To solve this problem, Gonsalves has passed a regulation for residents of Bequia, Canouan and Union Island to pay for their garbage collection through/on their VINLEC electricity bills.

This is yet another spiteful and stupid idea from Gonsalves. Many of the same people who don’t have CWSA water, also do not have VINLEC electricity. Also, now that oil prices are starting to rise again, more people will get cut off from VINLEC electricity as it will become too expensive.

Also, now that Gonsalves has done what SVG Green Party told him to do and abolish taxes on solar products and parts, more families will set up their own electricity sources and disconnect themselves from VINLEC’s grid.

As the number of people on Bequia, Canouan and Union Island using VINLEC’s electricity decreases, so will the revenue for garbage collection.

Gonsalves’ new regulation will become more and more ineffective.

Is it possible that Gonsalves just

doesn’t like black people? He is harassing the people on Bequia, Canouan and Union Island for money for garbage collection, yet he allows the super-rich foreigners of Mustique to dump their rubbish in SVG for free.

SVG Green Party Leader, Mr Ivan O’Neal, has observed over a number of weeks, that the Mustique Ferry brings garbage trucks full of rubbish from Mustique to St. Vincent mainland, for that garbage to be dumped on the people of St. Vincent.

Let’s not forget, under the immoral Mustique Act No 48 of 2002, the superrich foreigners in Mustique have blanket tax and customs duty exemptions. The super-rich foreigners in Mustique do not pay for the upkeep of the landfill site, and do not contribute to the wages of the people who work there.

The super-rich foreigners in Mustique like to operate Mustique like a state within a state when it suits them, but still want to use the services of SVG that Vincentian taxpayers have paid for. They want to keep Mustique clean and pretty by dumping their rubbish on us in St. Vincent.

The garbage from Mustique that has been dumped in the landfill in St. Vincent should be returned to Mustique. If they want to dump

garbage into a landfill, they should create their own landfill site in Mustique. Why should the people of St. Vincent have to suffer the pollution and environmental consequences emanating from Mustique’s garbage in St. Vincent?

If they want to operate like a state within a state, they should bury their own garbage on Mustique until they start paying taxes like Vincentians have to.

The government should stop harassing the people on Bequia, Canouan and Union Island for more money for garbage collection. If there’s not enough money to fund garbage collection, then the government should tax the super-rich living in Mustique.

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

On Jerry GeorgeÊs business advantage MR. ISAAC SOLOMON, a senior official of RBTT, indicated more than once that we are part of the global economy and more intimately, part of the Eastern Caribbean which is experiencing a seriously shrinking economy in which there are not enough opportunities to do profitable business. Yet, there was a period of several decades in the Eastern Caribbean when the economy comfortably allowed for all the banks to do business.

When in those days the banks were happy with the state of our economy, it was because the agricultural sector was vibrant and earning substantial foreign exchange, which provided the base which facilitated players in the other sectors to pursue business activities, which necessitated the use of the services of the banks. The banks then had no interest in taking the savings of their clients, as they seem driven to do now to protect their resources.

All the players in the economy, including the banks, should therefore have been playing their part to ensure that the agriculture sector, the big earner of foreign exchange, was given the support needed to thrive and prosper. However, when it was evident that the agriculture sector was being distinctly neglected by the administrators, and that fact cannot be challenged, all the people who had benefited handsomely when the economy prospered, made no intervention; they expressed no concern. We are all in the water now farmers, merchants, bankers and beggars!

About ten years ago, our Prime Minister Dr. Gonsalves had pronounced, that he was going to approach the banks to induce them to make funding available to farmers at more reasonable rates of interest, so as to allow them to intensify farming operations, towards improving our foreign exchange and stabilizing the rural communities. However, there has never been any evidence to indicate that Dr. Gonsalves had indeed made that approach to the banks. On the contrary, Dr. Gonsalves dismantled the Banana Growers Association, the mechanism which had served the growers for decades.

The sad irony is, that in this crippling of the farmers, he had had the active participation of persons who had previously purported to represent the interests of the farmers. Those

persons who had enjoyed privileges, and respectful recognition from the farming community, are now perceived to be traitors to the cause.

Those patriots seem now to have redefined their raison d’être.

Suppose the banks and other financial institutions of the land could have been induced to participate in a development fund of about $800 million to fortify agricultural development, including fisheries activities in the Atlantic, we might well have been earning now almost two hundred and fifty million dollars per year. By now, we could have been well on our way developmentally, with crime rate and unemployment levels down, zero hunger level, and government being able to address social services, above the level that prevails now.

But our technocrats and other scholars and progressive citizens fell asleep, for we had a situation where the East Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), responding to the global economic downturn, came up with a plan which they called the Eight Point Stabilization and Growth Plan. In this plan, they proposed to inject substantial capital into the sectors of tourism, manufacturing, construction and fishing. These leaders of ours did not think agriculture was important enough to warrant any support. At that time, SVG had six thousand farms on record, with capacity to employ over twenty thousand workers, almost overnight.

Not even our food security was a consideration for them, for Sir Dwight Venner, the then governor of the ECCB, suggested that we could buy food cheaper if the islands (OECS) purchased collectively from outside of the region. Those gentlemen must share the blame for stagnation of the economy of SVG today!

It must be remembered, that the sectors which had been targeted in the big plan to stimulate the economy, experienced negative growth in the succeeding three or so years.

The ECCB should be requested to provide now a comprehensive appraisal of that Eight Point Stabilization and Growth Plan. It should be considered to be top priority, without which no further major undertakings/proposals should be considered. We now have urgent rebuilding to do.

LeRoy Providence

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. 13.

News

PM gives overview of fiscal out turn ALTHOUGH the (current) figures for the economy are better than those for 2015, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr Ralph Gonsalves says that care is still required for the management of the country’s resources.

He gave an account of the nation’s fiscal out turn for the period January 1 to April 30, 2015, on Tuesday at a media briefing.

According to Dr.

Gonsalves, there was an increase of 5.7% in total Revenue and Grants over the corresponding period for 2015. That figure now stands at EC$180.07 million.

This increase was accounted for through increased collection in several categories: taxes on Incomes and Profits have increased by 11.7 percent; taxes collected on goods and services are up by 2.3 percent

„I do not have to tell everything,‰ PM “SOMETIMES there is no need for detail; people need to trust that those that have the responsibility to do certain things are doing so.”

So said Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves in response to critics, following his announcement that the name of the air carrier out of the United States that has already signed PM Dr. Ralph a document to operate out of the international Gonsalves took umbrage with those airport at Argyle, will who he said wanted be revealed. him to look like ‘a During the Unity stupid person’.

Labour Party’s Convention at Campden Park last week Sunday, Dr. Gonsalves announced that he was waiting on one or two items of feedback from the Attorney General and the Director General of Finance and Planning, and that the name of the airline would be revealed at a later date, or hopefully by the end of this month.

Last Tuesday, at a media conference, he responded to those who called for him to give the name of the airline, saying, “If you sign an agreement with an airline, they hear you make the announcement, they would want to make the announcement in the way they think is most appropriate.”

He asked if they thought he was a stupid person that would just make such a careless announcement, and declared that he did not have to tell everything. (DD)

compared to 2015; collections from the Value Added Tax (VAT) are up 7 percent, although there are still a lot of arrears; and revenue collected from taxes on International trade is up 8 percent: “That (tax on International trade) could have been higher, but we still give too many ad hoc concessions and we have to tighten those, and everybody

applies, and when you don’t give, you are the worst person in the world,” the Prime Minister commented.

However, the PM admitted, taxes on properties were down.

Total Expenditure, both Capital and Recurrent reflect little difference compared to that in 2015, he explained.

Recurrent spending is up slightly, from $171

million in 2015 to $173 million in 2016, but Capital Expenditure was down.

The Current balance has shown a surplus of $5.2 million, compared to a deficit of $4 million in 2015; and the overall deficit is $7.3 million compared to $18 million in 2015.

“So that there are some improvements in the fiscal numbers. At

the same time, I caution again that we are not out of the proverbial woods, and we still require care in the management of our resources and how we spend our money,” Gonsalves said.

He added that there were still some improvements to make with respect to the collection of money owed to the government. (DD)

No trust in the justice system SOMETHING NEEDS to be done to address the seeming lack of confidence in the justice system by some members of the public.

Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace spoke on the issue on last Monday’s edition of ‘New Times’, saying that it was no longer possible for the current situation to continue where people do not have confidence in the justice system.

“This matter has to be taken seriously. More and more people are losing confidence by the day in the justice system in the region and certainly here in St Vincent,” Eustace said.

“So many things are happening and there is no answer – it hurts that every Monday morning, you wake up and someone has been killed or injured, or damaged and very little is done, if anything at all.”

For example, implementing laws where the Director of Public Prosecution has to produce a fiat to bring certain types of cases before the court, Eustace explained, prohibited rather than improved the justice system.

And it appeared as though people from the lower classes were dealt with differently from affluent civilians, the Leader of the Opposition continued.

“We cannot live like this; our communities must have confidence in the justice system in our country, otherwise we will continue our decline.”

There was already a decline in the economy, he said, (now) people were losing confidence in the justice system amidst a lot of corruption. “All these are pointers for a failed state,” Eustace assessed,

and added that persons in society were being disenfranchised, “and it seems as though nothing is being done about that.”

Groups such as the Bar Association, according to Eustace, were not speaking out.

“In other countries, you hear more activity from the Bar Association, as they ensure that the justice system is something that we cherish; but not here in St Vincent, everything is political,” he said. (DD)

‘The scale of justice is not balanced,’ to paraphrase Arnhim Eustace.

14. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

V Byron-Cox: ÂYou have your role to playÊ

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. 15.

News

PEOPLE HAVE A PART to play in ensuring that the surroundings are clean and maintained. Dr. Richard Byron-Cox, Capacity Building Officer at the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, outlined his version on the Sustainable Development Goals at a session staged at the Fisheries Conference Room last Tuesday.

Byron-Cox, Vincentian born lawyer trained in International Relations, delivers a lecture at the University of Trinidad and Tobago next Wednesday.

He praised the organisers which included the Windward Islands Farmers Association (WINFA), Lazarus Foundation for spearheading the event called ‘National Civil Society Capacity Building Forum on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.’

The United Nations outlined 17 goals considered fundamental to any country’s progress.

Byron-Cox stressed on the importance of the topic in light of increasing world population and the extensive usages of its resources.

Byron-Cox pointed to the potential extinction of particular species owing to the rampant disregard of environmental conservation.

Byron-Cox cited the effects of climate change on people today as a reaction by earth itself.

“Nature has declared war on human kind, because we have treated it so badly,” Byron-Cox, indicated.

He pointed to the population increase by 2050, and its implications on the demands for food, energy, and water. The prospects look dismal as far as Byron Cox is concerned.

One with 16 years’ experience at the international body, Byron-Cox noted the distribution of wealth.

He pointed to the number of European countries that have collapsed, and reminded the Civil Society organisations of the role

they must play in the scenario.

Byron-Cox alluded to goal 16, which aims to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.”

Byron-Cox emphasised the closeness of civil society bodies whom he described as “grounded with the people.”

He put people and their livelihood, economics, and the environment as pillars of any developmental programme. For that stance, Byron-Cox highlighted the need for people to have a voice in matters of sustainable development.

Byron-Cox pointed to the need for securing justice, and encouraged the groups to have their input in the developmental agenda. Persons must be involved and act to make their voices heard, Byron Cox declared.

They don’t have to await the government’s direction on every matter, the Vincentian lawyer suggested.

Civil Societies are not fringe elements, as far as Byron-Cox is concerned.

“You are in it,” he outlined, and stressed the importance of universal action.

Byron-Cox used the occasion to air his views on the situation on the Southern Grenadine territory of Canouan.

He pointed to the need for Civil Society to harness resources to “get the law changed.”

That was another aspect on which Byron-Cox outlined the strength of the people’s voice. But it was not to be persons operating on their own. “It has to be institutionalised,” Byron Cox indicated.

He was joined on the platform by Beverley Richards, from the Organising Committee.

The day session heard from WINFA’s

coordinator Kozel Peters- ‘Ideisha’ Jackson representing Lazarus Fraser, and Matthew Foundation. (WKA) Johnston from Inspirational Volunteer Journeys.

Dr. Richard Byron-Cox advocated for a people’s Chairperson of the voice in matters of sustainable development. event was Angella

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16. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Carnival Beat

Queen Niki overcomes nerves

category being considered the most challenging.

THE SACRIFICE and hard work She admits that she wants are not quite over for 22-yearto be treated like the ordinary old Nikianna Williams — Miss Nikianna Williams, but life SVG 2016 — as she has moved has changed with the immediately into preparing for overwhelming support and the Miss Carival Show, love that she has since scheduled for July 1 at Victoria received from the public, as Park. she makes her way around But there is still some capital Kingstown. relief, “Because everything I “I am seeing a change in have worked so hard for and the way people react towards my dream have become a me. I would walk and people reality,” Williams told THE would be like ‘Miss SVG!’ VINCENTIAN. “I would get voice notes from my friends. I would get Overwhelmed videos from students and they would be telling me that they Williams (Miss FLOW) rose love me and can’t wait to meet The top Evening Wear modelled by Queen Nikianna above seven other competitors me – so I would say it’s a Williams. last Saturday to take the great feeling so far compared coveted title of Miss SVG two adverse comments made for moments like that in the to what other persons were 2016, having taken top by the few patrons that months leading up to the saying,” Williams said. honours in three of the judged bravedthe inclement weather show, pexplaining that she categories: Swimwear, to see the queen crowned. avoided Social Media sites Prepared for the adverse Evening Wear and Interview, However Williams says the last along with the talent that she had been preparing Continued on Page 17.

She referred to the one or

by DAYLE DA SILVA

Nikianna Williams sports her winning Swimwear.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. 17.

Carnival Beat

Queen Niki overcomes nerves

Anya Frederick – Miss St for attendance at Training and Vincent Electricity Services the Richard Monroe Community such as Facebook and (VINLEC).

Spirit Award.

Instagram, and that she had Frederick took two nonDahvana Providence, Miss even deleted the apps from her judged categories – Miss Metrocint, was the other mobile phone.

Congeniality and Miss competitor.

“But friends would come back Photogenic; while and report what people have Richards shared the been saying, and to that I said prize for the Best that people would have their Community Support on own opinions, and they are Road Trips with entitled to their own opinions Vakeesha John (Miss and I respect that.”

Agricultural Input Warehouse) and Overcoming nerves Shanique Alexander (Miss Bank of SVG).

Appearing at number 8 on The much the evening, Williams said that anticipated Talent she was ‘threatened’ by some category was won by nerves – especially since Zenna Lewis (Miss everything that could have gone Lotto) who entertained wrong did so in the last week the hundreds in leading up to the event. attendance with a Emotions ran high, she said, humorous, yet after remembering the words of sometimes her chaperone and team controversial members who kept encouraging monologue entitled ‘It’s her when she got nervous. a Vincy Thing; Message But it all came raining down from Below’. in her favour when the heavens The other awardees burst open, shortly after 2 on were Ranaesha Loraine Sunday morning. She was (Miss Play 4) - Beauty declared the winner.

Show Committee’s Taking the second spot - the Award for the Most first runner up - was Jeanetta Improved Contestant; First Runner-up Jeanetta Richards Richards – Miss Jergens, and Vakeesha John copped rounding off the top three was the Committee’s Award sparkled in her red Evening Wear.

Continued from Page 16.

Zenna Lewis entertained and enthralled with her monologue.

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18. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Education

New Prospect Primary School wins Literacy Prize NEW PROSPECT Primary School has been awarded the 2015-2016 Hands Across the Sea Literacy Award for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The prize is U.S. $1,000 in brand new reading books or literacy support materials of the school’s choice.

Back in 2014 when the co-founders of Hands Across the Seas first met Mr. Albert Harry, Principal of New Prospect Primary School, they were so impressed with his total commitment to raising the literacy levels of his students, that Hands shipped the school 400 brand new books. The only question was, where would the books go? There really was no spare space at this little school.

Undaunted, Principal Harry promptly created a library space by cutting the school office in half. The principal raised some funds, purchased lumber for bookshelves, and asked a local business to donate

Celebrating at New Prospect Primary School on St. Vincent.

paint. The result is a cozy, inviting library space that the children love. There is no space for tables and chairs, but that doesn’t matter. The library is super-popular–many of the 2014 books are so well-loved that the pages are dog-eared.

The official opening of the library included a children’s parade through the village and a gala ribbon-cutting.

Hands Across the Sea’s CoFounder and Executive Director Harriet Linskey said, “There is no doubt that improved literacy skills open the door to a better life, and Principal Harry and his staff are demonstrating a No chairs, no tables, but the children are as comfortable in the library strong commitment to promoting as they would be in their own homes. reading and writing by making their library an important part of integral, essential parts of the school,” says Tom “T.L.” the school.”

Linskey, Co-Founder of Hands Across the Sea. Hands Across the Sea, founded in 2007, has served In addition, Hands Across the Sea is dedicated to 11,730 children at 55 primary and secondary schools raising the literacy levels of Eastern Caribbean and reading programmes in St. Vincent and the children on the islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines since 2009, sending a total of 40,950 new Grenadines, Antigua, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and near-new books. As part of each year’s Hands St. Lucia, and Grenada. Since founding the Wish Lists, educators specify the types of books most organization in 2007, Hands Across the Sea has needed for their school. shipped over 209,300 books to the region through its “Our dream at Hands Across the Sea is that every Caribbean Literacy and School Support (CLASS) primary and secondary school in St. Vincent and the program.

Grenadines have a first-class lending library filled Christobelle Ashton and Elaine Ollivierre serve as with new books, books that have been requested by Hands Across the Sea representatives on St. Vincent each school’s educators, and that the libraries become and the Grenadines.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. 19.

Arts

Youlou Arts Foundation: Ready for another Arts Programme YOULOU ARTS FOUNDATION is making preparations for their annual Visual Arts Programme.

The dates have been set for the 2016 Visual Arts Programme. It kicks off with the annual Teacher’s Training Workshop on Monday July 11th and ends July 15th. The Children’s Visual Arts Programme starts Monday, July 18th and ends August 5th.

A great deal of preparations are taking place, to ensure a successful programme for the children of St. Vincent and the

Grenadines. The 2016 visual arts programme will take place in 4 locations, Kingstown, Barrouallie, Georgetown and Spring Village.

According to Founder of Youlou Arts Foundation Camille Saunders, the success of this programme depends on a number of factors. It relies on donations and help from the community.

Saunders Musser acknowledges that several businesses/organizations and

individuals have constantly given the organization their full support financially as well as their services.

“This kind of support is key to the success of the programme; without their help and support there would not be an annual visual arts programme,” Saunders Musser said in a recent release.

A key player in the success of the visual arts programme organized by Youlou Arts Foundation is Rotary Club

South. For the past 16 years, they have been a constant source of support and encouragement, from the very origin of the organization. They continue to give financial support and their services, in clearing art supplies at customs.

Youlou Arts Foundation is very appreciative of all the support it continues to receive.

“I know without their help we would not be able to continue the programme,” Saunders Musser admitted.

Banana Leaf Craft.Art – just one of the projects to which participants to the YAF programme are exposed.

20. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Try to get everyone involved; it will help bring you closer together. Your energy will be high. Sit back and observe, regardless of how hard that might be. In-laws may cause difficulties.

Travel should be considered.

circumstances and meet eccentric individuals. Don't be too quick to judge those you live with. You are best to sit back and think it through, rather than add to the ranting and raving. Don't evade important issues; you may find yourself backed into a corner.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Be cautious of making any residential changes this week. Look into any educational activities involving the whole family. Tell it like it is. Selfdeception is likely.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Your high energy should be spent pleasing your mate. Focus on forming business partnerships. Try not to use emotional blackmail; it will only make matters worse. Things are looking up.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Go to the top if you're being harassed or held back. You may be upset if someone has borrowed something that belongs to you. Friends from your past may come back into your life. Get motivated and follow up on some selfimprovement resolutions.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Opportunities to get together with people in powerful positions could help you get ahead. Pleasure trips will be emotionally favorable. A romantic dinner, followed by a quiet evening with the one who is enticing you, should be most satisfying. You need time to put your house in order and sort out what you are going to do about your personal direction.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Dead end projects could plague you.

Your words will be taken out of context if you're evasive with co-workers or employers. Try not to take everything so seriously. A residential move may be necessary to get a better job.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Don't take offense at comments made by co-workers. Real estate investments will be extremely profitable in the long run. Time is money and you must be ready to take action in order to reach your highest potential. If they're too demanding, reconsider this union.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Don't divulge secret information.

Rewards for past good deeds will highlight your day. You may attract attention if you get out socially. You can enjoy your involvement in organizations that make charitable contributions.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You could experience unusual

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Children could cost you more than you can afford. Your energetic personality will make you the center of attention at social gatherings. Exercise is always a good way to relieve stress. You might not accomplish all that you want to at home this week.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Have a heart-to-heart talk with family and find out what the problems are.

Don't overspend on luxury items. Be careful not to let friends or peers make you look bad. Jealous colleagues may try to undermine you.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Financial gains can be made. You are best to back away from commitment.

Situations could easily get blown out of proportion if you have made unreasonable promises. You will have to face each issue separately and in person.

ACROSS 1.Lawyers (abbr.)

6. Baseball legend Willie __ 10. Empty 12. Venerates 14. Make safe 15. Author Mailer 16. Standard (abbr.)

17. Woman’s garb 18. Some PCs 21. Filmy fabric 23. Singing syllable 24. Amethyst, e.g.

25. Canine 29. “__ Abner” 30. Get to 32. Recent (Prefix) 33. Leave alone (2 wds.)

35.Underhanded 36. Football scores (abbr.)

37. Slip-up 39. Be defeated 40. TV’s

“Murder, She __” 42. Cagers’ gp.

44. Certain neckwear 45. Two-door automobiles 49. Sidetrack 50. Bargain 51. Fr. Holy women 52. Commandments Word

DOWN 1.It can follow lemon or lime 2. KO count 3. Appliances for couch potatoes 4. Not ours 5. Beget 6. Actress Rita __ 7. Tentacles 8. Affirmative votes 9. Social Security no.

11. Baccalaureate 12. Sheriff Taylor

13. “Oz” girl 18. “__ keep” (procrastnator’s Motto) 19. Soft French cheese 20. Beer ingredient 22. Stockpile 24. Larger 26. In the know about 27. Koppel and Kennedy 28. Fireman’s aid 31. Close tightly

34. Chaps 38. Jaunty 39. Guffaw 40. Jot 41. Stray 43. Feathery shawls

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. 21.

44. LP alternatives 46. Tom Watson’s gp.

47. House addition 48. Gel

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22. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Deceived!!!

Dear George, MY BRIDE (recent) led me to believe she was a virgin. She was not!!

She also confessed, only after I forced it out of her, that she had two children whom she gave up for adoption a long time ago.

She apparently did all of this because she just wanted me, and thought I would not have married her if I knew the truth.

Funny thing, I always told her that the woman I married has to be a virgin. It did not matter that I was not, but I want my bride to be. She swore to me that she was, and knew that she could get away with it because she knew I would not sleep with her until our wedding night.

I was completely deceived and I do not want to remain in this marriage. How do I proceed from here? I do not want any form of counselling, I just want out.

Tricked blind Dear tricked blind, You should make it your business to get some legal advice, but I believe you would be able to get a divorce on grounds of deception. Had you known then what you know now, you may not have made the decision to be married, which is why you might be able to argue that she deceived you.

It is your choice to marry a virgin; I see nothing wrong with that, once you are up front with your position. The time to be open and honest about facts of your life, is before marriage, not the moment or day after.

George

Car problems!!

Dear George,

Dear Peeved,

I CANNOT LIVE in peace for my neighbours. I just purchased a new car, and it seems that is a problem for my once kind-hearted neighbours.

Before I got this car, my neighbours used to refuse to give me a ride to work. They would come up with all sorts of excuses why they could not do so, and I knew they were just flimsy excuses. Now that I have a brand new car, they are very cold towards me, and a friend of mine told me they are saying that I got the car just to show off, and that I would not be able to buy food after I’m done paying for it at the end of the month.

Should I confront them on this? What they are saying is eating me out and I just want to get how I feel off my chest.

There are some things that you just have to ignore, and this is one of them.

What your neighbours say or think of you, is their business, and you should not let it be a bother to you. You know the reason why you purchased the car, and

Peeved

that is all that should matter. What or how you pay for it is absolutely your business.

Have nothing to say to them about it unless

they approach you directly, which I believe would not happen. Enjoy your new car!

George

A tempting offer Dear George, I AM DATING this girl whom I am seriously thinking about marrying. I believe she would make me a good wife.

The trouble is, she has a very sweet sister, two years younger than she.

Sometime this sister would compliment me on how much of a gentleman I am, and went as far as to say she wish she could have a man like me.

She approached me a few weeks ago and asked me to sleep with her.

She insisted she had no intention of taking me away from her sister, but she would settle for a child with me.

She said she wanted her child to have the qualities that I have, and would never say a word of it to her sister or anyone else. In fact, she promised she would go away to New York and have the child, and no one would know of our little secret.

George, I am telling you now that this offer to sleep with this girl is extremely tempting. She is a knockout as far as looks are concerned, but I am afraid she would want to make it a problem for me

later down. I am not sure if I can trust her with such a secret. What do you think?

Wondering soul Dear Wondering soul, At this stage, you should not even be thinking about whether or not she would keep your secret. It should be clear to you, that getting involved with your girlfriend’s sister is a terrible idea, and getting involved to the extent that it could have adverse consequences for you down the road.

If you are as serious about your girlfriend, then focus on her and the future you would like to have with her, and stop the gazing. You should have eyes only for the love of your life, unless she is not. If she is not the love of your life, and you find that you are easily distracted, then you should let her know.

Give yourself more time to sort yourself out before making the move to marriage. It’s always a good idea to measure twice and cut only once.

George

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. 23.

Pageantry

Cheris Roberts Miss Barrouallie

Ronella Lampkin Miss Chateaubelair

Miss Leeward Pageant 2016 SIX YOUNG LADIES will compete for the coveted title of Miss Leeward on Friday, June 10th at the Petit Bordel Hard Court.

Once again, the Pageant will be organised and managed by the North Leeward Sports and Culture Association.

As part of the promotion of the event, the contestants were involved in a motorcade on Sunday 5th June. The motorcade traversed the Leeward communities.

Carnival activities in North Leeward began some two weekends ago with an activity primarily for children.

Like the other three rural carnivals scheduled for this year’s carnival, the North Leeward programme of events did not include a calypso competition.

Notwithstanding, we are pleased to present the contestants.

Cheris Roberts - Miss Barrouallie - 19 years old – her gaol is to become a teacher.

Ronella Lampkin - Miss Chateaubelair - 18 years old - has her eyes set on becoming a lawyer.

Nekeisha James - Miss Fitz Hughes - 17 years old – wants to be a paediatrician and/or a flight attendant.

Breanna George - Miss Layou - 17 years old – hopes to become a classroom teacher.

Nelisa Parsons - Miss Vermont - 17 years old – her goal is to become an entrepreneur.

Mollisa Bowens Miss Petit Bordel 18 years old looking to help the less fortunate in the community by becoming a teacher.

Nekeisha James Miss Fitz Hughes

Breanna George Miss Layou

Nelisa Parsons Miss Vermont

Mollisa Bowens Miss Petit Bordel

24. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. 25.

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26. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Three receive Coreas Hazells bursaries

by KENVILLE HORNE

THREE STUDENTS from the University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus are now the beneficiaries of bursaries from Coreas Hazells Inc .

Verdessa Browne, Lornette Moore and Keisha Peters accepted bursaries during a handing over ceremony at

(L-R): Head of UWI Open Campus Deborah Dalrymple; bursary recipients Lornette Moore Verdessa Browne and Keisha Peters; Elka Phillips-Roberts, Human Resources Manager/ Coreas Hazells Inc.

the UWI Open Campus at Richmond Hill, last Monday 6th.

During the ceremony, Deborah Dalrymple, Head of the Open Campus, acknowledged the need for the Campus to partner with various institutions, and has identified the general public as possible corporate sector, partners. community groups, “Our role really is to theater groups and the

ensure that the opportunity for tertiary education is more and more available to our nationals,” declared the Open Campus Head.

‘Catch the vibes, not the virus’ launched THE ANNUAL Carnival outreach and awareness building programme spearheaded by the National AIDS Secretariat (NAS) was launched on Wednesday 8th June at the Secretariat’s headquarters, Largo Height.

Recognising that the Carnival period is plagued with a range of poor health choices, from high alcohol consumption to running the body on little or no sleep for days at a time, which separately and together lower inhibitions, impair judgment and increase high risk sexual behaviour and

misguided sexual choices, the programme, dubbed ‘Catch the vibes, not the virus’, aims to ‘help persons take precautionary measures and make wiser sexual health choices throughout the season.’

According to the NAS, the programme will unfold, inter alia, with additional testing services at the NAS headquarters, and a stepped up effort to promote the consistent use of condoms through radio, television, electronic billboards and social media advertising and text blasts.

Condoms will also be distributed at various carnival events and on the road during Carnival Monday’s activities in Kingstown.

Statistics show that SVG has recorded a cumulative total of 1504 cases of HIV since 1984.

Statistics also indicate that the age group mainly affected by the epidemic is the 15-49 years group, which accounts for 1252 or 83.2 % of total cases.

“These statistics reflect an alarming transmission rate in the youth population. This at risk group is most likely to be the one engaging in high risk sexual behaviours throughout the carnival. We, therefore, encourage young people especially to take advantage of the services being offered,” said the NAS in a release.

This year’s ‘Catch the vibes, not the virus’ campaign is supported by a number of business entities to whom the NAS is grateful.

THE VINCENTIAN joins with the NAS in encouraging locals and visitors alike to enjoy this year’s carnival festivities, but to do so responsibly.

Remember: ‘One high risk sexual encounter is all it takes for the rest of your life to change.’

Dalrymple said when she approached the CEO at Coreas Hazells Inc, Joel Providence, for assistance with bursaries for the students, he was very supportive.

“There was no hesitation on his part. He welcomed it, and he thought this would be a great idea to hand something tangible back …. So he was happy to agree to the bursaries,” disclosed Dalrymple.

Recognising how helpful the bursaries are, Mrs. Dalrymple said, “Sometimes that little financial help makes a difference between doing one or two courses or taking a leave of absence.”

She expressed thanks to Coreas Hazells Inc. for the assistance, and congratulated the recipients.

The bursaries are the second set that it has provided between 2015 and 2016. Last year, two students from the Open Campus benefited from that company’s benevolence.

Human Resources Manager Elka PhillipsRoberts pledged her company’s commitment to assist.

Phillips- Roberts also spoke about Coreas Hazells’ assistance to its employees for their

continuing studies, as well as providing two yearly scholarships to top students in the CPEA examination, whose parents are employees of the company.

Currently there are 13 students with 7-year scholarships.

“We are constantly mindful that for a business to succeed, the development of our human capital must remain a focal point,” said PhillipsRoberts, adding that Coreas and Hazells Inc will continue to support the Open Campus. She appealed to the student recipients to make good use of their assistance.

Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Lornette Moore expressed gratitude to Coreas Hazells Inc, and praised the UWI Open Campus for making it their task of finding financial assistance for those in need.

“We are incredibly grateful to the proprietor, Manager and staff at Coreas Hazell sInc, for letting students around the island know that if they want to pursue a higher education … don’t let financial matters hold them back. This bursary will assist us in defraying some of the tuition fees, which will get us an opportunity to spend more time on our academics,” said Moore.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. 27.

Vincy Heat bows out of Caribbean Football Cup ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES’ Vincy Heat was booted out of the Scotia Bank Caribbean Football Union’s senior men’s Caribbean Cup, beaten by St Kitts and Nevis one- nil last Tuesday afternoon, at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

A sixth minute goal from the boot of Javeim Blanchette was enough to condemn the Vincentians to their second defeat in Group five, and put a ‘winless’ end to their campaign.

Blanchette pounced on a loose ball in the

penalty area, as the Vincentian defence was found ball watching.

The hosts though were guilty of squandering several clear cut chances, with Myron Samuel being the chief culprit.

The Vincentians went into the match needing to win as they had lost 12 to Suriname last Saturday, in Suriname.

The loss came after St Vincent and the Grenadines took the lead in the 71st minute through Myron Samuel, only to concede two goals in the dying stages of the

match.

Mitchell Kisoor equalised in the 85th minute and Melvin Valigs added the winner deep in injury time.

Assessing the Vincentians’ efforts over the two matches, Technical Director Keith Ollivierre, who performed the duties of head coach for the matches, summarised, “We were this close to heaven, but we are in hell”.

Ollivierre believed that his charges should have advanced to the

Right: Keith Ollivierre, this country’s football technical director , who served as head coach for the second round of the Caribbean Cup.

second round, based on the work done to prepare them for their sojourn.

“We had done all the preparation in terms of analysing, looking at the strengths and weakness of both teams (Suriname and St Kitts and Nevis), (but) at the end of the day, if the players do not carry out the instructions and finish the chances they get, we will end up losing games,” Ollivierre told reporters at the end of last Tuesday’s match.

Ollivierre reaffirmed

TD’s job not ‘Taylor- made’ for Lenny FORMER HEAD COACH of the St Vincent and the Grenadines men’s senior football team Lenny Taylor said he is not interested in becoming this country’s football Technical Director.

Taylor, who served as head coach from 1993 to 1996 and 2000, made this clear last Tuesday at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, after viewing the second round match between St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Kitts and Nevis.

“I am not interested in being a coach or TD (Technical Director) to work with senior national team,” Taylor declared.

However, Taylor, currently employed with the USA Soccer Federation in that country’s youth set up and as trainer of trainers, noted that his main interest in St Vincent and the Grenadines’ football will be youth development.

“The strength of the tree is the root ...The whole world is going towards youth

development, and that would be the area I would be interested in,” Taylor declared.

“Being in football at this point in the Caribbean after what has been done in the 1990s, 2000s, I don’t think it will be wise to delve in this area,” Taylor added.

He said, however, that he wouldn’t mind giving his expertise in the training of coaches, if asked to do so by local football authorities.

Taylor, who in 1995 guided St Vincent and the Grenadines to second in the Shell Caribbean Cup and place in the CONCACAF Gold Cup the following year, revealed that he was invited to St Vincent and the Grenadines by president of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) Venold Coombs.

Speculations were rife when Taylor, who had also worked as Technical Director of St Kitts and Nevis’ football, was seen at the Arnos Vale venue on Tuesday, in light of

the fact that there has been a shake-up in the configuration of technical staff of the senior men’s team- Vincy Heat.

For the two recent matches of the Scotia Bank Caribbean Cup, Technical Director Keith Ollivierre assumed the role of head coach of the senior team, with Cornelius Huggins, who has served as head coach since 2012, being named Assistant Coach Number Two. Third Vice President of the SVGFF Wayde Jackson was named as Assistant Coach Number One, while Wesley Charles, who was previously Huggins’ assistant, was listed as Assistant Coach Number Three.

The sentiments on the ground are that the SVGFF may be looking in another direction as it relates to its technical team.

St Vincent and the Grenadines is in the ongoing 2018 World Cup Qualifier campaign, but has failed to win a match in this the third round , losing to the Guatemala 4-0, USA- 6-1, Trinidad

the technical staff’s decision to blood young players.

“We have been saying for some time that Vincentian football revolved around certain individuals... We are trying to change that (by) giving the youngsters more opportunities,” Ollivierre added.

Ollivierre said that what they are doing will not see results “overnight.”

While St Vincent and the Grenadines, who entered the competition at the second round having received a first round bye, has exited , St Kitts and Nevis headed Group five with two wins. The Kittians had a 1-0 win over Suriname in St Kitts.

The other group winners were Puerto Rico, Curacao,

Myron Samuel Martinique and the Dominican Republic.

The five group winners along with the best four runners up go into the fourth round, when Jamaica, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago, make their entry into the competition.

The fourth round is slated for the 3rd, 6th and 9th October this year.

OOOPS!!!!

Lenny Taylor at the Arnos Vale Playing Field last Tuesday. and Tobago 3-2 and 6-0.

Two losses in the Scotia Bank Caribbean Cup, to Suriname 2-1 and St Kitts and Nevis, 1-0, add to Vincentians’ woes.

Before these matches, St Vincent and the Grenadines was beaten

by Aruba 2-1 in Aruba last September, in the second round of the World Cup Qualifiers, and 4-0 to Martinique in a friendly international here at the Victoria Park, last October.

OUR ARTICLE ‘Two Hampton Games gold medals for SVG’ carried on page 27 of our edition of June 3, 2016, referred to one of those gold medallists, Zita Vincent (pictured), as a member of the IT DAT Academy.

We now know that to be an error, and that Ms. Vincent is in fact a member of the High Performance Club.

We apologise for any discomfort caused to Ms. Vincent and the High Performance Club and congratulate Ms. Vincent on her recent achievement.

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28. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Grenada, St. Lucia – joint WÊwards cricket champs GRENADA and St Lucia were crowned joint champions of Senior Windward Islands cricket, as the 2016 Edition of that

Donwell Hector hit 101 against Grenada.

championship came to an end on June3 in Grenada.

The tournament, played over a two-day format, was dominated by the batsmen, as three centuries were recorded.

Vincentian Sunil Ambris (captain) and Donwell Hector hit 125 and 101 respectively against Grenada in the second round, while Grenada’s captain Devon Smith stroked 105 against St Lucia in the third and final round.

The Championship ended with St Lucia and Grenada on 15 points each.

In the final round of matches, Grenada was made to work hard to earn first innings points against St Lucia at the Progress Park Playing Field.

Chasing 284 from 85.4 overs posted by St Lucia,

following scores of 70 from Larry Edwards, 59 from the captain, 44 from Keddy Lesporis, and 22 from Dornan Edwards.

Grenada appeared to quake under the challenge. However, and not for the first time, captain Devon Smith came to their rescue with a patient 105, allowing his team to declare at 290 for 9, accumulated over 91 overs. It was Smith’s first knock of any consequence in the tournament.

He was assisted by Roland Cato 33, Rudolph Paul 35, Denis Smith 35 and Ryan John 32 not out..

Earlier, fast bowler Sherman Lewis took 4 for 92, Josh Thomas 2 for 54 and Denis George 3 for 87, bowling for Grenada. St Lucia’s

bowling revolved around leg spinners Larry Edwards and Dornan Edwards and medium pacer Greig Emmanuel, each picking up 2 wickets.

The other scheduled match between SVG and Dominica at the La Sagesse Playing Field ended in a no decision, when the match was abandoned on the second and final day without a ball being bowled, due to a wet outfield.

The only play possible was on the first day, allowing SVG to close on 165 for 3. Captain Sunil Ambris was unbeaten on 63. Miles Bascombe and Gidron Pope each made 28 each.

Points standings put SVG in the cellar position on 10 points.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Three Vincentians in WÊwards Female Cricket Squad THREE VINCENTIAN female cricketers have been selected in a 14member Windward Islands cricket team that will compete, for the first time as a single unit, in the WICB regional female limited overs cricket competition, scheduled for Guyana, July 5th to 25th, 2016.

The three - Juliana Nero, Stacy-Ann Adams and Glendeen Turtin — were selected to the final squad after a series of matches in which SVG faced Grenada in St. Vincent, and Dominica and St. Lucia squared off in St. Lucia.

A single Windwards team’s participation in the WICB is a change from what obtained previously, which

allowed for two teams from the Windwards — a Southern Windwards team comprising players from Grenada and SVG, and a Northern Windwards team made up of players from Dominica and St. Lucia.

The team reads: Afy Fletcher, Akeira Peters, Holly Charles and Rackel Willliams of Grenada; Rosilia Registe and Ksisanj Irish from Dominica; Swailene William, Nerissa Crafton, Roylin Cooper, Yasmine St. Ange and Diana Joseph from St Lucia; and Juliana Nero, Stacy-Ann Adams and Glendeen Turtin from SVG. The team, coached by Cleton Burnette of SVG and managed by Eugena

Juliana Nero - batter

Glendeen Turtin wicket-keeper/batter.

Gregg of St Lucia, is expected to travel to Guyana about a week before the tournament’s start, for a training camp.

I.B.A.ALLEN Stacy-Ann Adams all rounder

Sunila Ambris, captain of the SVG team, recorded one century (125) and one half century (63 not out).

Devon Smith’s knock of 105 against St Lucia ensured Grenada’s first innings points and a share of the championship title.

First Division Cricket semi-finalists decided AN OUTSTANDING all round performance by Bill Edwards contributed in no small measure to ensuring a semi-final place for Ruddy’s Electrical Unique Warriors, in the National First Division Sunday Cricket League.

In one of last weekend’s matches, Unique Warriors recorded a 25-run triumph over Radcliffe Too, when their total of 181 for 9 from 45 overs, proved unreachable. That total Bill Edwards’s rested primarily on an innings of 85 from the bat performance was instrumental in of Edwards, who also ensured that Mickron Mc Warriors’ win over Dowall 3 wickets cost him Radcliffe Too. 54.

Edwards returned with the ball, to take 3 Radcliffe Too wickets for 7 runs. Radcliffe were all out for 156 in 31.1. overs, McDowall again leading with a top score of 34.

French Verandah SVG Community College (SVGCC) also booked a semi-final place with a 14run win over Prime Consulting Marriaqua. Scores: SVGCC 188 from 50 overs - Tijorn Pope 58, Javil Harry picked up 3 for 46; Marriaqua 174 in 41.2 Ronique James 42, Jeremy Haywood had 4 for 29.

Smashers defeated Combine Youths by 17 runs to book their spot in the semi-finals. Smashers made 142 from 33.1 overs - , with Romano Charles making 27 and Deptor Culzac- 25. Javid Cordice took 4 for 30 for Combine Youths who replied with 125 from 27. 5 - Oneal Endeavour top scoring with 47. Javid Harry took 4 for 41 and Javon Samuel 4 for 42.

Victors TWO secured their semi-final place at the expense of Police One, when they won by a comfortable margin of 54 runs. Scores: Victors TWO 168 for 9 from 38 overs, extras 47, Afram Byam 29, Renford Samuel 3 for 33; Police One 114 in 24.3 overs, Shamic Roberts 3 for 17, Leon Quashie 3 for 20 and Jenry Ollivierre- 2 for 27.

The semi-finals, slated for this Sunday, June12, will pit French Verandah SVGCC up against Victors TWO at Arnos Vale 2, and Smashers versus Ruddy Electrical Unique Warriors at Arnos vale 1.The final is scheduled for June 19 at Arnos Vale 1.

I.B.A.ALLEN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. 29.

Sports

New approach THE ATMOSPHERE at Arnos Vale last Tuesday summed up the state of the nation’s football. The team engineered a lacklustre performance. There was no crowd to inspire the players, or even to fill the air with insults they have been known to offer.

It is unimaginable the depths to which our expectations have fallen since September. And with the hype raised less than a year ago over the prospects of a Russian experience, the fortunes of the nation’s football stakes sank dismally.

The hopes existed up to five minutes into the first qualifier in the USA when St. Vincent and the Grenadines shot into the lead. That euphoria was snuffed and represented the extent of this country’s flirt with glory.

The turn of events forced the Federation to change their approach, and a fresh look army was adopted to go into the Caribbean Cup. Chances of progressing on the Russian road have disappeared, and the Caribbean Cup could have been used as a platform for rebuilding.

There seems to be miscalculations within the transformation, and measures appear to have been premature. Building a football pedigree entails continuity. There must be deliberate preparation and symbols of a planned programme.

A level of commitment has to spread across the board, and a sense of purpose and direction enshrined.

The experiment is not appearing to have been accorded effective cohesion. And like the frailties of life, players can be injured forcing changes.

Forward thinking authorities would envisage the passage of time to be on guard for the unfolding times.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has established a reputation as being among the big weights in Caribbean Football. It is a title that has come through sweat.

The accomplishment of the 1979 outfit in taking second place in that inaugural Caribbean Football Union tournament underlined the standard of Vincentian football. They repeated the performance in 1981.

Since then, it has been an up and down journey, and the present scenario mirrors the intricate course.

There is never the suggestion to abandon the cause. When the time comes for reflection, it must be done with sincerity.

This country is never short of talented players.

The coaches are on the hunt, nurturing and unearthing those with the potential of taking this country up the ladder.

The groundwork has to be relentless, and youths have to be exposed to the highest standards of preparation, and encouraged to harness their skills.

There seems to be a deflation in the bubble that the male squad had placed itself on in recent times. That was inspired by the performance of their female counterparts who took the Windward Islands tournament when it was introduced. They will have to defend that title. And it will be interesting to see how they fare. Given that their male counterparts have failed to keep up their end of the bargain, the onus is on them to salvage some semblance of national pride.

That will be enough reason and opportunity for authorities to reassess themselves. It is not just a matter of the Federation. The affiliates have the role of being the torch bearers.

They have to decide what their priorities are.

Football has advanced beyond a Sunday morning sweat, or a Christmas day picnic.

We have to think beyond the field of play, and ensure genuine measures to entrench the sport.

Browne enjoying overseas experience

Janique Browne, SVG national footballer, is looking forward to the upcoming Windwards championship.

JANIQUE BROWNE, after a stand-out performance in the 2015 Windward Islands Senior Female Football Championships, earned herself a two-year football scholarship.

She is currently enrolled at Graham’s College, Texas, USA, and is expected to return in August to further fulfill her obligation to that College and to continue her studies.

Janique has returned home temporarily, and has joined the National team in its preparations for this year’s Windward Islands Championship.

THE VINCENTIAN caught up with Browne at one of the team’s training sessions at the Sion Hill playing field, to find out how things have gone with her football scholarship, and about her returning home to represent SVG. “In addition to my daily training, I also participate in internal college football competitions, in which I have scored 15 goals from 10 games to date,” Browne said.

“I missed about four games because I sustained a knee injury, but I believe I am a very important player on my team for which I have scored the most goals,” Janique added about her football exploits to date.

As far as her return home was concerned, she confessed that the welcome she got from her teammates was overwhelming.

“I felt very excited coming back to SVG to represent my country in the Windward Islands football tournament, and I am encouraged and looking forward to be at my best and help SVG retain the title,” she told THE VINCENTIAN. And beyond her current college tenure, the young striker hopes to move on to a higher ranked college, which would not only allow her to pursue higher academic studies, but would hopefully prepare her more adequately for a professional football career.

She will have an

opportunity to display improved skills when she participates in the Windward Islands championships, June 13 to the 20, in Dominica.

Janique, better known as ‘Striker’, hails from

the village of Green Hill and represents the football club System Three.

I.B.A.ALLEN

30. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016. 31.

Classifieds

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

S A L E

FRIDAY,

JUNE 10, 2016

VOLUME 110, No.24

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UWP IN, SLP OUT IN ST. LUCIA VOTERS IN ST. LUCIA endured heavy rains on Monday 6th June, 2016, as they headed to the polls to decide who should run their Eastern Caribbean nation for the next five years.

The weather, some observers said, might have been responsible for the low turnout (estimated preliminarily at 52%, purported to be the same as the last election in 2011), but others are of the firm view that the reasons were far more extenuating than that, e.g. high unemployment, extra-judicial killings by the police, price increases.

Dr. Kenny Anthony, Leader of Whatever the reason or reasons the St. Lucia Labour Party – a for the low turnout, when the polls picture of defeat. (Credit: closed and the preliminary count st.luciaonlinenews) “Victory is ours,” declared Allen Chastanet, Leader of the United Workers Party. was announced, long before (Credit: St.Lucia Times) midnight on Monday, victory was enough of the swing away declared for the opposition United He was sober in defeat, offering on hands as per: 2006 — eleven for the from the SLP, to have said, “This is a Workers Party (UWP), with eleven UWP, 6 for the SLP; 2011 — eleven for behalf of the SLP and also his personal nightmare for the SLP.” seats, over the incumbent St. Lucia behalf, congratulations to Allen Interestingly, the results showed no the SLP, 6 for the UWP. Labour Party (SLP) with six seats.

Chastanet on his victory at the polls.

Also of note was that the SLP, as change in the numerical split of the As a matter of fact, one radio “On all accounts, this was a the incumbent and under the seats dating back to the election of commentator at 9:40pm was assured leadership of Dr. Kenny Anthony, was convincing victory. It is clear there 2006. The numbers simply changed losing for the second time after was a major national swing against the Saint Lucia Labour Party. … I calling early elections.

Unlike his counterpart, Allen wish the people of Saint Lucia the very best as we embark on this new Chastanet, leader of the UWP who won his Micoud South seat journey,” Dr. Anthony said in a postby a margin (preliminary count) election statement.

Prime Minister-elect Allen of some 1,189 votes, Dr. Anthony, considered unbeatable Chastanet spoke briefly with the local media after Dr. Anthony had conceded in his Vieux Fort South defeat. After thanking the people of constituency, managed victory Saint Lucia for allowing him and his by a mere 120 votes, according party to lead the country for the next to the preliminary count, five years, he expressed moving one online publication his commitment to ensure that they in St. Lucia to declare, “This (UWP) deliver on the promises made one was too close. Winning by to the people, St. Lucia News Online 120 votes has to shake up reported.

Kenny.”

That online news service also Dr. Anthony had said that he had called the (2016) vote early, reported Chastanent as saying that his party’s aim “is to rebuild a Saint “to ensure peace, stability and Lucia, where the people are put first certainty in this country’s and where investments start returning affairs.” to the island to help spur economic In the face of defeat, he wasted little time in announcing growth.”

Allen Chastanet was sworn in as his ‘retirement’ as leader of the SLP and therefore, leader of the Prime Minister on Tuesday, June 7, making him the 8th person to serve in Opposition, but committed to continue to represent his Vieux that capacity since the country Supporters of the United Workers Party greet their Leader and new Prime Minister, Fort South constituents in the attained independence on February 22, Allen Chastanet. (Credit: inewsguyana) 1979.

St. Lucia parliament.

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

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.