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FRIDAY,

AUGUST 15, 2014

VOLUME 108, No.33

www.thevincentian.com

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RICHARD JOHN - SHERWIN ADVISES TAKING TOP PERFORMER MANY SUBJECTS AT CSEC

14 Passes RICHARD JOHN, of the St. Vincent Grammar School, is this country’s top performer in the 2014 CSEC examinations.

He achieved passes in the fourteen subjects he wrote, recording Grade 1s in Biology, Chemistry, Electronic Document Preparation and Management, English Language, English Literature, French, Geography, Information Technology, Mathematics, Physics, Principles of Business, Social Studies and Spanish, and Grade 11 in Music.

The realm reserved for top performers is no wonderland to Richard, he having been the top performer in the 2009 Common Entrance, as a student of the Kingstown Preparatory School.

Now over what he described as an initial “state of shock” on realizing that he had been this country’s top performer, Richard admitted, “I knew that the top position would be highly competitive this year. I was not entirely confident, however, that my grades would put me at the top; but when I heard the news, I breathed a long sigh of relief….”

As far as the challenges of writing fourteen subjects were concerned, Richard confessed that he faced “minimal difficulties … however, at times, SBAs proved to be a source of unrelenting stress!

The exams themselves weren’t

by GLORIAH…

particularly difficult.”

The young man, who now heads for the Division of Arts, Science and General Studies of the SVG Community College where he will pursue preuniversity courses in Chemistry, Pure Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics, is thankful to his parents for their “…daily inspiration and support.”

His classmates and teachers do not escape his recognition, and he is especially grateful to his former teacher, Ms. Isha Frederick, “who taught me English Literature and English Language, both of which became my favourite subjects.”

And even as he looks at a future in Biomedical Engineering which he would hope to pursue at the University of Cambridge, Andrew has an eye on those who

will follow him. His advice: “Never underestimate your abilities, or allow anyone to discourage you from achieving your goals. But most of all, do not underestimate your CSEC subjects. People may tell you that they are ‘extremely easy’, but that doesn’t give you reason not to try your hardest.”

KYRA BELIEVES THAT HARD WORK BRINGS SUCCESS expected to achieve twelve Grade Is. KYRA MATTHIAS, sat Being a student who and passed twelve preferred to integrate subjects at the 2014 the Science subjects with sitting of the Caribbean those in Business, Kyra Secondary Education found that some of the Certificate (CSEC) exams were a bit examinations. According difficult. She told THE to the sixteen-year-old, VINCENTIAN that, GHS past student, while although she found the she expected to pass and Science and Business to do well, she never subjects to be equally

“DOING FOURTEEN SUBJECTS at CSEC took a lot of energy and many late nights!” Those were the words of Sherwin Peters, past student of the St. Vincent Grammar School, who actually aced the exams he recently sat in this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).

Sherwin, who has been a very serious and disciplined student throughout his ‘Grammar School years’, received Grade One in Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business, Spanish, Mathematics, English A, English B, Information Technology, Biology, Electronic Document Preparation and Management, French, Physics and Chemistry. For Geography and Social Studies, he gained Grade Twos.

With such a tally and the experience coming from achieving it, Sherwin recalled the ways in which his dedication to school work changed as he got closer to the Fifth Form. “In Form Three,” he said, “we used to do a lot of sports and be running around during break and lunch time.

But, by the time we got to Form Four, all that stopped. We became more disciplined with time.

Continued on Page 3.

RHEA CAIN: EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES DO NOT INTERFERE

by GLORIAH…

by GLORIAH…

Continued on Page 3.

SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD RHEA CAIN, past student of the Girls’ High School, boldly informed THE VINCENTIAN that “Extracurricular activities do not get in the way. They help.” This came after, in an exclusive interview, Rhea outlined the extent of her involvement in extracurricular

Continued on Page 3.

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2. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

News

SVG not high risk for Ebola, says Health Ministry release from the Ministry of Heath, during a joint THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, meeting of member Wellness and the countries of the Environment is advising Caribbean Public Health that St. Vincent and the Agency (CARPHA) that Grenadines does not, at was held on Friday, this time, fall into the August 8, 2014, the category of high risk Ministry was advised countries for the that there are as yet no transmission of the Ebola reported cases in the Virus. region, and that the risk, According to a press therefore, still remains

by KENVILLE HORNE

low. However, Member States were requested to be on alert and to start preparedness activities.

The Ebola virus can cause hemorrhagic fevers – illnesses marked by severe bleeding (hemorrhage), organ failure and, in many cases, death. The virus is native to Africa, where sporadic outbreaks have

occurred for decades.

Currently, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia are fighting an outbreak of the deadly virus.

Nigeria and Ivory Coast on Monday both restricted flights from Ebola-infected countries, in steps that underscore fears of the virus in West Africa spreading globally by air travel.

Airports in Hong Kong, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines have all hospitalized feverish passengers arriving from West Africa and sampled their blood for Ebola.

Chair of the National Surveillance Committee, Dr. Rosmond Adams, says that the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment has been keeping abreast of the developments with respect to the Ebola situation in West Africa, through reports issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), and that the nation will be updated accordingly.

“Surveillance at our ports of entry is being intensified, and we will continue with training and sensitization of our health care professionals, as part of measures to increase our vigilance and preparedness for this disease,” the press release quoted Adams as saying.

Ebola is a very serious illness, as evidenced by the rapid spread in West Africa, and also the over 50 per cent death rate of infected persons, including many health care workers.

According to the release, “the virus is severe and often fatal, and is transmitted through direct contact with blood, for example through broken skin,

Dr Rosmond Adams says says that the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment has been keeping abreast of the developments with respect to the Ebola situation. other bodily fluids or secretion, such as stool, saliva, urine and semen of infected persons”.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has begun to collaborate with morgue and funeral home operators as part of its Ebola preparedness and response strategy.

Mrs Ferosa Roache, Focal Point for Communicable Diseases in the Ministry, says further, that members of the various public health teams, particularly the public health inspectors, will be trained to visit all morgues and funeral homes to work alongside them to implement the already crafted guidelines in this regard.

“This will be further formalized; but for now, the guidelines are in place, and having reviewed them, in terms of the Ebola virus, they will provide the appropriate protection,” she explained.

V News 3 Ashini Kingstown ConventÊs Best

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. 3.

Sherwin advises taking many subjects at CSEC Continued from Frontpage.

We learnt time management skills.”

He had some advice to give to other students: “Start studying early, especially if you are taking many subjects. Start between six and nine months before the exam; listen to your teachers, and do not waste time; complete and submit SBAs on time; through it all, find time to relax.”

Sherwin will attend the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College Division of Arts, Sciences and General Studies. With an eye fixed on a career of mechanical engineering, he will continue laying his foundation through his pursuit of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, with a choice between Biology and Computer Science.

As for the kind of student he will be, Sherwin told THE VINCENTIAN that he will be the perfect example of what a student of the college should be: well behaved, disciplined, proud of his placement.

WHEN ASHINI BEST returns Business and Spanish with Grade One in English A, home next week Tuesday, Grade One, and secured English B, Information August 19, it will be into Grade Two for Caribbean Technology, Mathematics, preparations for her History. and Social studies. She enrollment to the St. Vincent Dawnique Small added to obtained Grade Two in and the Grenadines the St. Joseph’s Convent Biology, Geography, Physics Community College Division of Kingstown performance with and Spanish.

Arts Sciences and General Grade One in Biology, Principal Calma Studies.

Chemistry, English A, Balcombe was happy with Ashini obtained 11 passes English B, Mathematics, the school’s performance at the CSEC Exams held Social Studies and Spanish. moving to 93.6 percentage last June.

She obtained Grade Two pass over the 88 percent Ashini was successful in for Physics and Grade Three from 2013. There were 100 Biology, Electronics in Geography to complete percent passes in sixteen Document Preparation her performance. subjects. Balcombe was Management (EDPM), Elizabeth Simmons pleased as well with the 83.3 English A, English B, obtained Grade One in per cent pass rate in Geography, Information English A, English B, Mathematics.

Ashini topped a list of Technology, Mathematics, Information Technology, and She extended special creditable performances Physical Education, Social Social Studies, as well as thanks to the staff for their from that institution.

Studies, Caribbean History Grade Two in Biology, hard work, and commended Allena Hazell passed and Chemistry. She had Economics, French, parents for their support.

EDPM, English A, Grade Ones in all but Geography and She pledged to continue Integrated Science, Caribbean History and Mathematics. She rounded with the excellent standard Chemistry. From the area of Mathematics, Office off her achievement with that the school has attained, Administration, Principles of Grade Three in Visual Arts. and looks forward to better Ratho Mill, Ashini entered Accounts, Princip0les of the St. Joseph’s Convent in Natalie Samuel had results next year.

2009 from the Sugar Mill Academy.

She will be studying Biology, History and Geography at the Continued from Frontpage. several Spelling Bee and Public Speaking showered them with gratitude.

Community College, to competitions while there, actually taking Rhea was high with praise for the strengthen her interest activities while undertaking to study and the title in the 2009 round. In that same Government Employees Cooperative in the field of excel in twelve subjects at CSEC. year, she placed 7th for girls and 10th Credit Union where she interned during Archaeology. Her Rhea gained twelve Grade I passes in overall in the Common Entrance the 2013 Invest SVG Summer Internship mother, Josette, was the recent CSEC examination in Biology, Examination. At the Girls’ High School, Programme. She is a holder of a GECCU pleased with Ashini’s Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, English she placed in the top three positions in scholarship, so she was retained for two performance, and A, English B, Information Technology, every class, maintaining a grade average weeks after the culmination of last year’s beamed with pride at Principles of Accounts, Office of over 80% in every promotion exam. programme, and was also employed for the the accomplishment.

Administration, Geography, Spanish and According to Rhea, it was all of these period of July 9th to August 22nd, 2014.

Principles of Business. Rhea explained that made her want to “upkeep my name She has learnt a lot at GECCU, and is that she was a straight Science student, and remain consistent” in her CSEC exam. happy that they chose to “invest” in her. but endeavoured to take extra business She explained, “I am trying to lift myself Rhea will proceed to the SVG subjects outside of her school schedule. up, to do better than my parents. This Community College Division of Arts, Added to this mammoth task, she was will also pull my parents up too”. She told Sciences and General Studies. She will involved in the GHS Science Club and the THE VINCENTIAN that she never study Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Drama Club. She was a member of the expected to receive all Grade Is but it was Mathematics and Principles of Accounts, Girls Brigade, the Calliaqua Police Youth through the grace and mercy of God, as she plans to pursue a career in Club and the Calliaqua Methodist Church support from friends, members of her medicine, but as yet is still unsure of the Youth Fellowship group. community and church, those who helped exact field.

This came as no surprise. Rhea was her with SBAs, the GHS Principal and Her word of advice to students writing actively involved in the Dance group at the staff, and her biggest supporters — her these exams is to “Be persistent and Calliaqua Anglican School. She entered mother, aunt and grandmother. She determined to get to what you want and where you want. When things seem to go wrong, pray. Find a trustworthy person to ask for help and advice.”

Rhea: Extracurricular activities do not interfere

Kyra believes that hard work brings success

this step, to “Work hard and never give up! Hard work brings success!” difficult, she believed that she had put more study She will now move on to the St. Vincent and the emphasis on the area of Science.

Grenadines Community College Division of Arts, Her successes were as follows: Economics, Sciences and General Studies to pursue Spanish, History, English A, English B, Mathematics, Physics, Biology and Chemistry. She Mathematics, and Biology, Chemistry, Physics, has set her eyes on a career in Science. Though not Information technology, Office Administration and quite sure of the particular area, Kyra believes that Principles of Business. She believed that the she will lean towards “disease research”. involvement of her parents in her studies was partly She expressed her sincere thanks, firstly to God responsible for the excellence which she achieved in for giving her the ability, strength and confidence to her results. “My parents pushed me to perform well perform well; to her parents for their involvement in the academics”, she said; “they have always and encouragement; to her Headmistress and wanted me to be academically successful.” These teachers at GHS for their dedication and were some of the reasons why Kyra vehemently encouragement, and to her friends for their stated that, “Hard work brings success!” She said encouragement. that she would advise any student about to take Continued from Frontpage.

OOPS In last week’s publication, dated 8th August, 2014, we carried a picture purported to be Antonio Saladino.

It was an incorrect photo, and we take the opportunity to rectify this, and apologise for any inconvenience which occurred because of its placement.

The correct photo is displayed here

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4. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Ex-con offers sound advice

by HAYDN HUGGINS AN EX-CONVICT who claims that a spinal injury he suffered ten years ago caused him to turn his life around, is urging persons involved in criminal activity, especially youngsters, to do something positive with their lives.

Anthony ‘Bullet’ Browne made the appeal while speaking to THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday just after emerging from the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court where he had appeared, not as a defendant, but as the virtual complainant in a criminal matter. Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias, following a trial, had convicted and sentenced 21year-old Kemron Mc Dowall of Murray’s Village to three months for stealing a quantity of snacks along with a Jansport bag valued at $120 and containing $231 belonging to ‘Bullet’; three months for assaulting ‘Bullet’ causing him bodily harm, and two months for damaging the bag. The sentences are to run concurrently and consecutively to a one-year term for breaching a

suspended dependent”, he sentence. Mc urged.

Dowall will Things therefore serve a changed total of one year drastically for and three ‘Bullet’ in 2004, months. when he fell from ‘Bullet’, a 51a tree and year-old Rockies severely damaged man, admitted to one of his hips, THE resulting in a VINCENTIAN spinal injury, that he has which has numerous affected his criminal mobility. As a convictions for result, he moves offences of around with the dishonesty and aid of stick. wounding, and “My injury Anthony ‘Bullet’ was once one of made me change, Browne. the most feared my disability inmates at Her Majesty’s made me a better person”, Prison. But while prison was he said. a learning experience for ‘Bullet’ has been a patient him, he is advising at the Lewis Punnett Home youngsters not to embark on at Glen for the past ten a life of crime; and those years. He indicated that he who have already done so, to sells snacks in the vicinity of discontinue their actions. the institution, to raise “Everyday in jail is like a funds to assist in obtaining day absent from the world. medication for his ailment.

Jail does set you back in life.

Though he admits that “I feel the young guys the conditions there are not should find a way of doing always the best, he declared, legitimate work, because “I don’t watch where I live. I there is always a legitimate know who I am, so I just way to earn a living,” ‘Bullet’ have to do what I have to do said. “Stop being to stay alive, because the art

Man charged with stealing building materials DIAMOND resident Reynold Small was granted $4,500 bail with one surety when he appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, charged with stealing a quantity of building materials.

Standing before Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias, Small pleaded not guilty to the theft of short columns, balustas, rails and other items, at a total value of $4,180, belonging to Alston Baptiste of Rillan Hill.

Baptiste was reportedly relieved of the items at Evesham between March 8 and 10 this year.

Small was granted bail on condition that he does not establish contact with the virtual complainant.

The matter was adjourned to August 15 and transferred to the Mesopotamia Magistrate’s Court.

(HH)

of survival is knowing how to stay alive”.

After the Magistrate had sentenced Kemron Mc Dowall, Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche told the defendant, “There was a time when you couldn’t do ‘Bullet’ that. You couldn’t even go near ‘Bullet’ when ‘Bullet’ was ‘Bullet’.

‘Bullet’, who was sitting in the audience, answered, “That was the past”.

On the outside, ‘Bullet’ told THE VINCENTIAN, “I used to stand up for guys like Kemron dem while in prison; I was one of the most feared prisoners”.

A woman claiming to be Kemron’s relative accused ‘Bullet’ of being ex-convict.

He replied “yes but that was the past, I changed my life”.

The charges against Mcdowall stemed from an incident at the Windward Bus Terminal May 28 this year, when Mcdowall pulled away ‘Bullet’s’ Jansport bag and removed his money.

‘Bullet’ was also relieved of a pack of corncurls and a bag of chocolate The lamed man fell to the ground in the process sustaining an injury to one of his hands.

Watchman jailed for firearm QUICK ACTION by Police Constable Gamal Bowens of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) may have prevented another gun related crime from occurring here.

Bowens’s move led to Winston Brackin, a 56-year-old watchman of Rockies being sentenced to three years in prison when he appeared before Magistrate Rechanne BrowneMatthias last week Monday for possession of a 9mm pistol without licence.

The facts revealed that PC Bowens was among a party of CID officers who responded to a telephone call last Sunday, August 3 and went on duty in the area of ‘Buffer man’s’ shop at Rockies.

Brackin was met standing outside the shop. Bowens approached him, identified himself as a police officer

and requested a search, to which Brackin consented.

The search turned up a 9mm pistol in Brackin’s right front pocket. When cautioned, he said he was carrying the firearm because his brother was robbed some days before.

He was taken to CID and a search was executed at his home, during which a gun holster was discovered.

The gun was without magazine and no ammunition was found. Checks revealed that Brackin was not the holder of a licensed firearm. As a result, he was arrested and charged.

Brackin, who was not represented by a lawyer, pleaded guilty to the offence.

There has been an upsurge in gun related crimes here in recent weeks, and the police have stepped up the fight against such offences. (HH)

Investigations continue into Rose Place shooting AT PRESS TIME Wednesday, police were continuing their investigations into the shooting of Keon Lawrence, 38-year-old businessman of Kingstown Park.

Reports are that Lawrence was shot several times during an incident at Rose Place, Kingstown, August 7. Up to press time, nobody was arrested and charged in connection with the incident. Lawrence was warded at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, and was said to be in stable condition.

There has been an upsurge in gun related crimes here within the last

month or two.

During an interview with THE VINCENTIAN July 23, Acting Commissionr of Police Reynold Hadaway assured that the police high command was doing all in their power to address the issue. He informed that the entire police force, including the high command, had been mobolized, and he appealed to the public to be supportive and cooperative with the police.

Seventeen of the 24 murders recorded so far this year are gun related. (HH)

Employee caught stealing AN EMPLOYEE of Petro Caribe, Lowmans Bay, appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, charged with stealing diesel from his work place.

Otley Gordon of Campden Park pleaded guilty to stealing a 5-gallon jug containing diesel valued at $300 from Petro Caribe.

The facts revealed that on August 8, the security guard at Petro Caribe saw Gordon throw out some diesel into a jug. The guard asked him what he was going to do with the diesel, and he said his vehicle was low in diesel and he would return the diesel the following day. The matter was reported to the person in charge, and the police were called in, resulting in Gordon being arrested and charged.

Gordon told the Court that his vehicle was low in diesel, and he knew diesel was there, so he took some with the intention of returning it.

Gordon was reprimanded and discharged, and ordered to pay compensation of $300 forthwith or one month in prison. He paid the compensation. (HH)

No criminal wrongdoing in police shooting A CORONER’S INQUEST has confirmed that no criminal wrongdoing caused the death of Greiggs resident Alex Matthews who was shot and killed by police earlier this year, a release from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) dated August 8, 2014, stated.

According to the release, a 5member jury, during a 2-day sitting before Coroner Rickie Burnett at the Mesopotamia Magistrate’s Court, August 5, 2014, returned a unanimous verdict of death by misadventure.

Police Corporal Cuthbert Morris, attached to the Special Services Unit (SSU), had shot and killed Matthews on January 16.

An autopsy showed that Matthews died from a bullet wound to the chest.

Police reports were that around 6 p.m., Corporal Morris, who was at the time off duty, was in the bedroom of his girlfriend Colma Durrant’s home at Greiggs when he heard her scream and shout from the kitchen that a ‘crazy man’ was in the house.

When Morris went to the kitchen, he saw a man in the house, armed with a cutlass. The intruder attacked Morris with the cutlass, and Morris shot him. The civilian was identified as Alex Matthews. (HH)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. 5.

Regional

Artist’s sketch of first church to be constructed in Cuba since 1959.

(Source: BBC)

First new Church in Cuba since 1959 structured and controlled response by the revolutionary government to matters of Church and the church’s involvement in society (education), but despite two generations of suppression, the Catholic faith never disappeared in Cuba.

In recent times, however, there has been a softening, a fading of government’s hard-line censorship of religion in the country.

In fact, relations between state and church have changed so much that today, in stark contrast to what obtained previously under the revolutionary government, fifty-four (54) young Cuban men are studying for the priesthood at Roman

Catholic San Carlos and Ambrosio seminary, whose opening in 2010 was attended by President Raul Castro.

Many observers say that this relaxation came as a direct result of Pope John Paul 11’s historic visit to Cuba in 1998, and that permission to construct the seminary may have been granted then, during a meeting between the President Fidel Castro and the Pope.

Further ‘freeing up’ of the religion followed the 2012 visit by Pope Benedict XV1.

According to a 2010 study by the Pew Forum, Cuba’s population has remained staunchly Roman Catholic, even in the face of government censure of religion. An estimated 59 percent of Cubans are Christian, and of those, most are Roman Catholic.

The Roman Catholic population is hoping that Pope Francis accepts an invitation to visit Cuba when he tours the U.S.A. in 2015. (Source: Patheos.com) Cubans attending mass at the Corpus Christi R. C. Church during earlier times.

FOR THE FIRST TIME since the Marxist Revolution of 1959, a new Roman Catholic Church is being erected in Cuba, according to a report from the BBC. This is welcomed news to the Roman Catholic Church, to which many if not most Cubans, profess allegiance. But it is also welcomed by Christian churches all over the world.

The significance of the news is registered when one considers that, since the revolution of 1959 that overthrew the dictator Fulgenico Batista, Cuba was declared officially atheist until 1992, when constitutional reforms in that Spanish-speaking Caribbean country declared otherwise.

There existed a

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6. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Daniel wants production for overseas among other local items.

The building from which they operated was one of MONTGOMERY DANIEL, this those destroyed during the country’s Housing, Informal passage of the Trough Human Settlements, Lands system. and Surveys and Physical The area on which the Planning Minister, would building was erected was like to see members of the declared a disaster zone Fancy Corporation produce following the episode. goods for the overseas However, another market. structure was erected on a Daniel, the North higher elevation, and Windward Daniel indicated that the parliamentarian for the new construction was past 13 years, was upgraded to meet the speaking at Fancy last requirements of the Friday. The event was the Hazard Analysis and handing over of new Critical Control Points buildings to persons who (HACCP). suffered as a result of the In that regard, Daniel December 25 floods. is encouraging members of The Fancy Corporation the Fancy Corporation to has been producing farine, aim for the overseas cassava bread, and market. madongo dumpling, Daniel used his address

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY

to highlight his and his government’s response to those who suffered from the floods.

Donovan Samuel received the keys to the new building.

The Corporation was not the only entity to benefit from the government’s intervention.

A shop, owned by Grafton Toussaint, was also rebuilt in the area regarded as the business centre in the island’s most northern community. Two other persons whose houses were damaged also received keys to new buildings. They were Zilma Michael and Shirley Lewis.

It was a celebration in that community Friday, August 8. Daniel

Minister of Housing, Informal Human Settlements, Lands and Surveys and Physical Planning, Hon. Montgomery Daniel and wife Jacqueline celebrate their wedding anniversary.

celebrated his wedding anniversary, and he and wife Jacqueline took part in a public ceremony in front of a crowd assembled for the handing over of the buildings.

While Daniel’s years of marriage was somewhat of a secret, there was no hiding that Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was marking his 68th birthday.

He received a gift from the North Windward community, and his wife Eloise was on stage to cut and share a cake in an act of solidarity.

Dr. Gonsalves delivered the feature address. He used the occasion to endorse Daniel as the man whom voters must support when the next general elections are called.

Dr. Gonsalves, Prime Minister since March 28, 2001, paid tribute to Daniel.

The new buildings at Fancy cost about $250,000, according to Gonsalves. He referred to buildings rebuilt following the floods at Fitz Hughes, Cumberland, Langley Park, Hope, South Rivers, in addition to those rebuilt at different locations throughout the nation.

For Gonsalves, Daniel is “an experienced political personality.” The Vincentian leader outlined Daniel’s wisdom, and commended him for having an “understanding on a wide range of matters.”

Leader of the ruling Unity Labour Party, Dr. Gonsalves urged persons not to “hurry” him into ringing the bell. That was in relation to calls by the opposition New Democratic Party to calling general elections.

The Prime Minister described his regime as the most “proactive” when it came to building houses.

He referred to figures which indicated that from June 2001 to June 2012, 3,000 new houses had been constructed.

He alluded to 100 percent mortgages through which public servants could approach the Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines,

Prime Minister Dr. Hon. Ralph Gonsalves and wife Eloise celebrate his 68th birthday. formerly the National Commercial Bank, to build houses.

For the Prime Minister, “the rapid expansion has been extraordinary under the Unity Labour Party.”

Gonsalves pledged to build Donovan Samuel (above) and timber houses for Zilma Micheal (below) accept persons affected their house keys from Prime with disabilities.

Minister Dr. Hon. Ralph He promised that Gonsalves. the Housing and Land Development Corporation will put up the structures at a cost of about $25,000 each.

He disclosed that building 100 such units will cost $2.7 M For him, that amount “is joke for the Comrade to raise to take care of these people.”

The gathering also heard from National Emergency Management Organisation’s Director Howie Prince, and Chairman of the Housing and Land Development Corporation Grafton Toussaint receives his Beresford Phillips. keys from PM Gonsalves.

Fancy, dubbed as the nation’s Government School, as Cultural Capital, heard a well as the 2011 Calypso presentation from Monarch Maxwell ‘Tahjoe’ students of the Fancy Francis.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. 7.

Feature

Interview with Non-Resident Chilean Ambassador

His Excellency Fernando Schmidt

by GLORIAH…

THE NEW NON-RESIDENT Ambassador of Chile to Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Guyana, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, His Excellency Fernando Schmidt, presented his credentials to Governor General Sir Frederick Ballantyne on Monday, 11th August.

THE VINCENTIAN sat down with this honourable statesman to try to find out firsthand about his work as an Ambassador, and the mutual cooperation which bilateral relations afford involved countries.

areas in which Chile intends to cooperate with St. Vincent and the Grenadines?

AMBASSADOR SCHMIDT: Well, there are two ways. There is classical cooperation that we are doing for mutual benefit. It is in the area of Spanish teaching.

Within the Caribbean region, we have about 400 teachers of Spanish who have been trained, not in the speaking of the language but in improving techniques of teaching it.

Secondly, we are making a very visible effort for disaster preparedness.

Well, you know that Chile is a country GLORIAH: Ambassador Schmidt, let which has to be prepared all the time me extend a formal welcome to St. because we have 3,000 active volcanoes.

Vincent and the Grenadines from THE You have one! There are minor and major VINCENTIAN. You are a Noneruptions which occur every two years. resident Ambassador and will be Well, there are some volcanoes with last stationed in Trinidad and Tobago. Is recorded eruptions, at least measured this your first stint as an Ambassador? eruptions, about 1,000 years ago.

AMBASSADOR SCHMIDT: No. I actually am a career diplomat. I have been working for about forty years in this position. I have served Chile as an Ambassador in a number of countries including South Korea, Mongolia, Australia, Asia Pacific, and Bosnia/Herzegovina, among others. My last post was in Brazil. From there, I served as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in Chile. That is something like your Permanent Secretaries here.

GLORIAH: And you have an Honorary Consul here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines?

AMBASSADOR SCHMIDT: Yes. That is Ms. Desiree Richards.

GLORIAH: Ambassador, my first question to you is, bilateral relations facilitate mutual cooperation between the countries involved. What are the

much the active participation of the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

GLORIAH: That should be of great benefit to us.

AMBASSADOR SCHMIDT: I also think it necessary for us to expand the network of air services. Such an agreement will be the first step to mobilizing tourism.

You see, this country will have a major international airport sooner or later. We have to take into account the different realities, such as: Latin Americans are vacationing in the Caribbean in ever increasing numbers. There are 200,000 Chileans who, every year, come to this area of the world, and they come to the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. Why not make an effort to attract a percentage of those to St. Vincent and the Grenadines?

An air services agreement will be important for that.

Secondly, my country, with Argentina, Brazil, we are located in the southern GLORIAH: So you can say that you hemisphere. We experience winter, but are a seismic country? at a different time from the northern AMBASSADOR SCHMIDT: Yes, and in this hemisphere. Then, why not take this opportunity for hotel occupation all year regard, we have already prepared our country for occasions such as education round, thus diminishing the possibilities of any downturn in European tourism that of the people and rapid evacuations. In heavily affects the tourism industry? our last drill, with the help of CEDEMA, Another element is that Chile is the we involved about 300,000 people, headquarters of the most important Latin taking from the shores to the upper plains of the country, in order to avoid a American airliner – the LATAM group of aircrafts. There is LANChile, LANPeru, tsunami.

LANColumbia, LANrgentina, LANBrazil, and an international airport could GLORIAH: I do believe that SVG could benefit from involvement in such definitely be the gateway for the Windward Islands or generally for the activities.

Caribbean.

AMBASSADOR SCHMIDT: Yes. What is GLORIAH: My next question seeks to important will be, how to call it, how to find out if, in your opinion, as member name leaders in each place, how to states of the OAS, small island states enforce those who do not want to abandon their homes. This type of thing have been benefitting from the programmes of the OAS which Chile we are doing with the Caribbean in has funded. general, and certainly we will like very

Gloria Williams enjoys an enlightening conversation with Non-Resident Chilean Ambassador Fernando Schmidt.

Non Resident Ambassador of Chile to Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Guyana, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, His Excellency Fernando Schmidt. implementing gender guidelines in all the policies implemented across the country. However distant these policies may seem, there is a commitment.

Violence against women and violence against human beings, with the tragic history we had, we are very much involved in fighting wherever the violations of human rights are taking place.

GLORIAH: Great. Tell me, what is Chile’s position on Cuba’s membership in hemispheric organizations, including the OAS? AMBASSADOR SCHMIDT: We have diplomatic relations with Cuba. We have cooperated in a very close way while we were presiding the CELAC. We participated very closely with them in their Presidency of CELAC. Cuba, however, is a very complex society, but we have created a very good and fair relationship, however different we are.

GLORIAH: My final question deals with trade. Has there been any exploration for mutual trade between our two countries?

AMBASSADOR SCHMIDT: Yes, there are benefits, but we can do a lot more.

Some of our programmes are not necessarily through the OAS. Some, like the Spanish Teachers programme, have major OAS intervention. Others are bilateral agreements: Chile-Caricom. We need an umbrella that covers everything and also can organize the countries along certain guidelines. It is hard to say. We have defined, after many years, four major lines of cooperation. These are Spanish teaching, disaster preparedness, diplomatic relations and agriculture.

AMBASSADOR SCHMIDT: Trade is a possibility. In the Caribbean in general, not just in the Windward Islands, some system of distribution in which the customers would perceive the benefits of international trade: exports and imports, must be found. Then there is the problem of communication and also of administrative duties and the lack of complementation between the islands.

It is not necessarily the geographical distribution. There must first be the identification of some pivotal centre for import/export; and secondly, the identification of products that are worldwide competitive.

GLORIAH: I know that since the Beijing Convention on Women’s Rights, Chile has put forward the issue of intervention for abuse against women. Where is Chile now on that issue where SVG is concerned?

GLORIAH: Ambassador Schmidt, it has been a great pleasure speaking with you. I am happy that you took the time to engage in this discussion, and I look forward to the fruits of our mutual cooperation.

AMBASSADOR SCHMIDT: We are very much committed. We have a policy for improving the cooperation of women in different decision-making processes. We have a female President, and she is

AMBASSADOR SCHMIDT: Thank you, Gloriah. It was a pleasure. I am now going to make sure that I am not completely absent from this country and those others in which I represent Chile.

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8. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. 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

CUBA- a new threat GONE ARE THE DAYS when Caribbean leaders kept looking over their shoulders for the next threat of an invasion by those Communist Cubans, or some band of local renegades who had embraced the teachings of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, on how to engineer some hostile takeover of government.

Gone are the days of those Monday morning pronouncements of one ‘phantom coup’ after another.. an excuse for unleashing the local constabulary on those who would dare question the status quo.

Yes, those days are long gone. Cuba is no longer an ideological threat to the region.

Cuba now enjoys open attention by all the governments, if not people, of the Caribbean. But amidst the scholarships, ‘Vision Now’s’, technical assistance, there are some who are able to set the politics aside, and discern a new type of threat.

Today’s Cuba is a mixture of a controlled and opened economy.

Given all that has been turned upside down in global politics and economic trends and practices, Cuba realizes the protection it enjoyed, the support it could rely on, are no longer guarantees; it must fend for itself in a highly charged capitalist-driven, open world economy that speaks to phenomena like globalization and (trade) liberalization.

As it stands, Cuba is no longer some pawn in a cold war; the face of some challenge to socio-political equilibrium. It has emerged from the fallout of the dismantling of the Soviet Union and a redefining of East-West relations, as a growing threat, i.e., competitor, for direct foreign investment and development inputs (trade agreements, et al) from the world at large.

The truth is, even as we, CARICOM, rightfully call for the lifting of the US embargo on Cuba, and for the inclusion of Cuba in regional and hemispheric fora, etc, Cuba is a threat to our ability to maintain and advance our status quo.

Cuba’s intentions are clear, and we should not begrudge that country’s efforts and progress made to date.

Take for example the transformation of the port at Mariel, once famous as the point from which Cubans were literally exported to the USA. That port is being redesigned and transformed into a mega-port to compete, eventually, for transshipment services for goods to and from the US. Places like Jamaica, Bahamas and the Dominican Republic should take note.

Take, also, the ‘new’ relations between Cuba and the European Union (EU). These relations bring capital and technical assistance as Cuba gradually opens its market, creating opportunities for European and others to establish themselves in a new and untapped marketplace, all this while the economies of CARICOM remain, for all intents and purposes, stagnated in real terms.

It is becoming clear, or it should, that the EU and others are more disposed to opening trade and investment relations with Cuba, than with the economies of their former colonies.

What else can we draw from the lifting of sanctions (against Cuba) by many EU governments? Can we not see that Europe is positioning itself to become Cuba’s largest source of investment and trade?

Cuba is ‘virgin’ territory; a land of untapped opportunities; a land dazzling with the need for infra-structure (the tourism plant included) and foreign capital.

Europe realizes the fact that the Caribbean, CARICOM, included, accounts for insignificant trade returns to that bloc.

That’s why there will be a mad rush to see who becomes the first in on investments. CARICOM stands to benefit from EU aid, but it will be hard-pressed to divert real and lasting foreign direct investment away from Cuba.

And let us not fool ourselves. As much as the issue of Reparations is a noble cause, against what Cuba offers and can offer, that crusade could well present us as being ‘unfriendly’, setting up Cuba, in the process, as a more affable partner, even with all its human rights deficiencies.

And then, there is also the likelihood of easing or removal of sanction by the US. If or when that should happen, expect that there will be a directing of funds towards Cuba’s development — e.g. infra-structure, food security, institutional and capacity building, energy — some of the exact areas for which the Englishspeaking Caribbean cries out for help.

So, as we remain fragmented, and continue to speak eloquently instead of acting meaningfully about integration, we could just be standing by, arms akimbo, watching resources flow with consummate ease into a new and larger market.

The Milton Cato legacy vs national heroism Lest we forget. The naming of other National Heroes is still out there, somewhere.

Independence Day, October 27, may very well be and were neither flippant nor spiteful, which is how Ralph wishes to pass them off in his the appointed time. Hence my timely reminder. changed agenda.

Mike Browne, among others, had earlier THERE IS A NEW MOVE afoot to lionise warned of the trait of sullying and cleansing the Milton Cato, with a view to making him a history of characters as they appeared to Ralph National Hero. as enemies or allies over time.

Soon after the ULP Government had first When the comrade had separated from UPM, attained office in March 2001, Prime Minister Mike Browne who remained behind wrote in his Dr. Gonsalves and his entourage made a desperate attempt to have Milton Cato declared column “My Dear Son” in “Justice” of 19th September 1986 concerning Ralph’s volte face a National Hero. towards the dead Hudson Tannis: “By the way, I In my view, this quest had been motivated heard this same Gonsalves paid a hell of a by purely narrow political considerations. Cato tribute to Hudson and his “great” contribution to having been the founder of the Labour Party the nation. I understand that he even went so that later merged with MNU to form the ULP, far as to confess his “shame” for criticising any elevation of Cato would redound to the Hudson “unfairly”. After “gunning down” credit of the Old Labour Party, and ultimately would be a feather in the cap of successor Prime Hudson with his pen and his mouth, it seems that he is trying to salve his conscience. I really Minister Gonsalves. can’t take people who does talk with forked I put in strenuous objections to this cynical ploy, backed up with uncontroverted evidence of tongue. Old people always say not to trust Cato’s unsuitability, exposing the lies that were them!”

The living Vincent Beache has experienced being peddled in his behalf, and citing in the same course of treatment, courtesy the support the negative reaction expressed by the Comrade. Condemnation at the time of rivalry, P.M’s colleagues , erstwhile and current, praise and over-compensation in more propitious including Oscar Allen, Renwick Rose, Casper times. The changing relationship to Ralph is the London, Jomo Thomas and Blazer Williams. only yardstick and measurement. Other I am aware that there is support from the examples are legion, from top to bottom. likes of Cims Martin who had been Cato’s There is another “non-starter” on the blocks. economic guru during Labour’s early True, Dr. Parmenos Eustace made an invaluable administrations; Burns Bonadie who contribution to what is now termed “the understandably champions his uncle whose education revolution,” but his thrust was too government he served as heir apparent; and narrowly confined within the four walls of the Rene Baptiste who is a noted family friend, to school-rooms. They should name the Glen the extent that, rejecting all other considerations, Cato selected her birthday as the Community College after him.

With respect to Joshua, Casper London could official date for the nation’s independence!

Cato’s C.V was embroidered and studded with bold-facedly publish the following in the News of 7th January 2007, five years after I had untruths, such as that he attended Oxford University, was a great trade unionist, and had recommended Joshua to the ULP authorities; sixteen years after I had given Joshua’s eulogy been instrumental in developing and at his State funeral in 1991; and thirty-six years shepherding the Shaker Movement to general after I had produced a Ph.D thesis virtually acceptability. The lies exposed, there was a based on the positive qualities of the man. strategic retreat of that mission.

Casper had the gall to write “Joshua’s Lo and behold, after eight years, the Prime Minister has chosen again to remember Cato on detractors, who include those of the ilk of the twelfth anniversary of his death. He reminds Kenneth John and Adrian Fraser, are a us that “there is a huge legacy of this great man, miniscule few and ought not to be allowed to succeed in their spurious arguments on this and we must remember him”. Remember him particular issue”!!! The public call was for yes, as in naming of the Central Hospital after immediately (in 2007) conferring the title of him.

National Hero on Comrade Theodore Joshua.

It so happens that Ralph Gonsalves had Actually I belonged to a group that himself recited the essentials of the legacy when it was fresh in his mind in 1983, the year before recommended that lofty status about one week Cato ended his administrations of 10 years plus. following Joshua’s death-the group comprised The litany of woes included: “Public Service Act Edgy Richards, Oscar Allen, Ralph Gonsalves and Kenneth John, who held a nocturnal session of 1971; the banning of progressive literature at White Chapel to assure Joshua’s place in and persons from the State; the increasing history. militarisation of the country; the rampant Can you imagine the self-same Casper political victimisation and harassment of antiSVLP persons; the presentation to parliament in London who had angrily stated in 1974 that he 1981, of the Public Order and Public Safety Bill would live long enough to see “Young people spitting on Joshua’s grave,” without breaking a and the Essential Services (Amendment) Bill; stride, now proclaims him to be a Hero, no the strengthening of ties with repressive matter what Kenneth may say. regimes such as Taiwan and South Korea; the So, my recommendation to the committee active resistance to workers’ protests or strikes; and the passage of the unfair Representation of headed by René Baptiste, and charged with the the People Act (1982) designed to rig elections”. fine-tuning a list of National Heroes, is that The foregoing is a damning indictment for all George Mc Intosh and Ebenezer Joshua are deserving of the accolade right now. time. It can be forgiven, but neither forgotten Others may later be added as the fruits of nor re-written! Ralph’s lame excuse cannot hold further research dictate and determine. water. The references were cold-blooded facts

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. 9.

Letters

* Has development work resumed in Canouan as promised? * What is holding back work on the Leeward highway?

Does it have anything to do with the (non)availability of hot mix? * Are there structural problems with some of the houses at the Diamond (Low Income) Housing Scheme? * Anybody else notice how quick calypso and soca music disappeared from the radio ways as soon as carnival over? Can’t even hear what the Calypso Monarch win with, eh?

“When sleeping women awake, mountains will move” The BEIJING + 20 Campaign seeks to engage a broad crosssection of the Vincentian society in addressing the critical issues affecting women. There were two years of preparation leading up to the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 in Beijing, China.

In that preparatory process, I was approached in my capacity of President of the National Association for Mass Education (NAME), to bring the

organization as an active partner in building public awareness on the upcoming Conference.

It was not an issue for just the National Council of Women; it was and remains an issue for the entire population.

Twenty years after Beijing, the wisdom of that approach is proven, and the strategy even more relevant. It is hoped that this Campaign will attract the attention of the opinion leaders of the

country.

Already some newspaper editorials, columnists, artistes and political figures focus on women’s issues — Oscar Allen, Nzimbu Browne, Cyprian Neehall, Saboto Caesar, Jomo Thomas, and Jules Ferdinand, to name a few.

A veteran spokesman is Renwick Rose who never fails to remind the population of the women’s struggle, and to call on all the women’s movements to join forces.

An open letter to Flow re Cable TV I BELIEVE that Flow is reviewing the Cable TV Channel Line up (and content) consequent to public outcry and protests. In this regard, I would like to make the following observations, in the hope that they would be helpful: * Flow should reconsider the rationale for the many channels offered in the subject areas mentioned hereafter: news, cartoons and church. * From information belatedly made available, Flow is offering a basic package comprising some seventy-seven (77) channels at a cost of $74.75, and “six (6) optional packages and movie line-up”, - five (5) at an additional cost of

$25.00 each, and one (1) at an additional cost of $35.00. The majority of these channels and their contents are foreign and meaningless to me and to a substantial number of their customers, judging from the public outcry and protests.

Some examples include: Gayelle, Hype TV, Synergy TV, LMN, Gone Viral etc. * I have examined the basic package, and of the seventy-seven (77) channels offered, I find only twelve that I would classify as good. These are: 150 CNN, 160 BBC World, 180 TNT, 204 Cartoon Network, 230 National Geographic, 234 Discovery, 236 Discovery Civil, 238 Discovery Science, 240 A&E, 248

History, 258 TCM, 274 inclination.

ESPN Caribbean. In short, for every one (1) C. Quashie that I would classify as good, there are some six (6) channels that I would classify as not good.

It seems to me that Flow’s position is that customers must take “the chaff with the wheat”; but such a position is clearly not acceptable. I would suggest that Flow cleans up the basic package by deleting the ‘chaff’ channels, and then offer customers a clean and meaningful BASIC PACKAGE at a $35.00 per month. Customers can then supplement their ‘TV diet’ from the ‘optional packages and Movie line-up according to their taste and

He also never fails to remind that the outcry against violence should not only be when a murder is committed, but it should be recognized that the fatal event is but the manifestation of the lava that is waiting to explode. He asked in one of his columns —what of the men who go home every day and beat up their wives?

The women’s struggle needs these Champions to speak out with a relentless and sustaining voice, until change comes. The political parties need to blow the whistle on domestic violence, to use their position of influence of their membership and

supporters to educate them on the need for women and girls to be treated with respect and not as property, servants or inferior species.

It is our hope that this Campaign will open women’s and men’s eyes to the priceless worth of women and girls, as partners in the development of home, community and country.

Nelcia Robinson /Coordinator/ CWN/CDW

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10. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

The NDP will provide opportunities for our youths

NDP is in complete disarray

The Issue THE LONGER THE New Democratic Party (NDP) under its current leadership (Eustace, Friday, Leacock, Cummings, Lewis) remains in opposition, the more that party and its leaders show themselves absolutely unready and unfit for governance. The plain truth is that the NDP is in complete disarray. The overwhelming majority of Vincentians have now seen the current NDP and its leaders for what they truly are: Visionless; devoid of credible, practical policies and programmes for genuine development; disorganised; lacking in quality leadership fit for the times; angry and politically divisive; backward and anti-national; unruly and lacking in respect for the living and the dead; power-hungry and dangerous to the country; and devoted to falsehood to advance their partisan political agenda.

All of the above opinions and conclusions are supportable by a factual matrix which we shall, at least, sketch in this article.

As a consequence of the NDP’s total disarray, former members and supporters are leaving that party in droves. Uncommitted voters and ULP supporters now fear the NDP “like how jumbie fraid holy water”.

THE CORE EVIDENCE The NDP under Arnhim Eustace has not articulated or elaborated a clear vision and a package of credible, developmental policies and programmes.

To be sure, the NDP presented election manifestos in 2001, 2005, and 2010,; but the people have repeatedly rejected them as unworthy. Since the 2010 general elections, the NDP has essentially abandoned any pretence of presenting a vision or a political bundle of developmental policies and programmes.

It is bereft of creative ideas; it is only in an opposition and politically opportunistic mode. All this is evident from its postures on central issues such as the International Airport project, the Education Revolution, the Housing Revolution, Health and Wellness, Poverty Reduction, Wealth and Job Creation, Agriculture and Tourism, Good Governance, Regional Integration, Foreign Policy, Disaster Preparedness, Climate Change, Reparations for Native Genocide and Slavery, Medical Marijuana, Crime and Citizen Security, Renewable Energy, Sports, Culture, and the further Ennoblement of Our Caribbean Civilisation.

The NDP’s central policy initiative is that of selling Vincentian citizenship and our passports, a wholly discredited and unworthy public policy.

It is interesting that the NDP has issued no response to the ULP government’s “Social and Economic Development Plan for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 2013-2025”. The budget speeches of the NDP’s parliamentarians are vacuous, devoid of substance.

NDP’S DISORGANISATION AND OVERALL MALAISE The recent NDP’s protest march and rally in Kingstown was very poorly attended and disorganised; only about 300 persons attended and it possessed no cohesion. The video and audio footage are available for all to see and hear. The NDP’s recent town hall meetings in Canada and the USA reflect the emptiness of their message and the scantiness of their supporters.

People in the NDP and outside of it are laughing at the leadership of Eustace and the others. Their instigation or condonation of the unruly behaviour of a rabble section of their supporters prior to, and at, Lynch’s funeral service, and their defence of the unruliness afterwards, have turned off people in massive numbers. The unruly behaviour at the Church was reflective of the repeated “bad-boyism” of Leacock

and Cummings in the House of Assembly. But the Speaker of the House firmly handles their “bad-boyism”, including “naming” them and putting them out of the House. The NDP leaders, including Eustace, defended the criminal behaviour of those who disrupted the funeral service as “exercising their democratic rights”.

This is consonant with their amusing, and disgusting celebration of Cummings’ stoning of a church at Redemption Sharpes while the pilgrims were in prayer and praise.

The NDP leadership and hangers-on are verbally abusing and insulting respectable people for no just cause.

Eustace, for example, has written that Sir James Mitchell, founder of the NDP and Eustace’s former patron, is now “an acolyte of the ULP”. Assorted NDP leaders have attacked Parnel Campbell QC (even on his sick bed), various church leaders, journalists, trade unionists, business people, and civil society leaders. They attack, verbally, anyone who disagrees with them or who offers any support for the ULP and Ralph; and they do so unjustly and mercilessly.

Comrade Ralph, of course, gets the brunt of their verbal attacks. They defame him on a daily basis. His five lawsuits against several of them and their mouthpiece “Nice Radio” attest to their campaign of vilification and defamation. The Comrade has had judgment in his favour in more than one of these cases. He has never lost any defamation case. Meanwhile, no one had ever had cause to sue the Comrade for defamation.

The NDP’s strategy and tactics against Ralph have failed. They have even tried to malign him through contrived criminal cases; but the legal authorities, namely the DPP, the High Court and Court of Appeal, have vindicated him on each occasion. The NDP is continuing the same failed strategy and tactics. As James Mitchell used to say: “Dirty water can’t tarnish gold”. The simple fact is that on the three occasions Eustace and the Comrade have squared off in general elections, Eustace has lost. And Eustace’s NDP will again lose to the Comrade’s ULP again in 2015!

NDP’S DISCONNECT FROM THE PEOPLE The NDP no longer represents genuine working people, farmers, fishers, professionals, and business folks, as in the Mitchell years. The NDP now represents five social groups: the party’s leadership in quest for power; a small coterie of Eustace’s friends; a tiny faction of middle-class colleagues; another small outer circle of opportunistic hangers-on who mainly have a personal grouse against Comrade Ralph; and a group of “internet crazies” with their own personal ambitions, agendas, and neuroses. Some of these categories overlap.

The people who now drive the NDP are the “power-hungry” circle and the “internet crazies”. They have little or no real connection with the people. They have driven, and are driving, solid and sensible people away from them.

Meanwhile, the ULP’s work and approach are swelling its ranks of supporters: the ULP’s vision, philosophy, policies, programme (“message” generally); its record; its quality leadership (Ralph and the collectivity of leaders); its renewal of personnel and ideas; its organisation; and its links with the people of all social groups.

So, it’s Labour2Win in 2015 and NDP2lose. At the leadership level, Eustace was “born to lose”!

VINCENTIAN YOUTHS, especially young males, as in the rest of the Caribbean, are at high risk. Research has identified this risk at three levels: the individual; the micro-environment- comprising family, social networks, peers and role models, community and neighbour; and the macro-environment- mass media, the economy, public institutions, cultural and historical background, and social norms and gender. It is at these levels of risks that the New Democratic Party (NDP) responses will be targeted; but it is first necessary to understand these risks.

Young people are not born as risks, but their micro and macro environments define them to a large extent, and create the conditions that lead to their risky behaviour, which is often a reaction to the circumstances within which they exist. It means that it is those circumstances that have to be altered, and that is what the NDP government will target. Youths are not the problem, but a product of their micro and macro environments. In most instances, youths react to the situation in which they find themselves. The NDP will place special emphasis on the family, schools, poverty alleviation and gender affairs.

The NDP will implement youth development programmes and policies. Some of these will include reforming the education system; institutionalising national level mentoring system for at risk youths; reforming and strengthening legal, judicial and policing systems, using the media and social marketing; making families and fathers a top public policy issue; and strengthening community and neighbourhood supports to adolescents and families.

However, the NDP also recognizes that the youths are critical to nation building, and have a significant role to play in the development of the country; and we will work closely with them and provide the opportunities necessary for their advancement.

Therefore, the NDP has identified Information Technology as one of the areas that will provide such opportunities for our young people.

We intend to place tremendous emphasis on Information Technology to tackle the unemployment situation in this country which exists among our youths. From our Information Technology programme, we are confident that thousands of young Vincentians will be employed in this sector.

In addition, the NDP recognizes that the youths are central to the establishment and success of our knowledge-based economy. The NDP believes in the capacity, willingness, competence, and potential of our young people, and will do our best to empower them to participate in the development process. Our youths will be given the responsibility to promote our IT programme as we seek to excel as a nation.

Furthermore, the NDP will establish a St. Vincent and the Grenadines Youth Parliament, so as to give the young people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines a voice. We believe that the experience gained from the parliament will develop leadership qualities in these young people, enhance their debating skills, and make them more knowledgeable in a wide range of national, regional and international issues. The NDP has placed great confidence in our

youths and believe they can make effective contributions to the management of the country, so we will appoint one young person to all statutory government boards.

The NDP will continue to provide the opportunities for higher education for more young Vincentians to obtain degrees at home and abroad, create a diversified scholarship portfolio by providing incentives and scholarships for youths who excel in sports, the arts and extracurricular activities.

The NDP will also ensure that meaningful employment is created for these youths after they have completed their studies.

We will also focus on sports and skills training. Vincentians have seen the decline in these areas since the Unity Labour Party (ULP) took power in 2001. It is the intention of the NDP to revive these crucial areas of development, so that our youths can benefit. The NDP will restructure the schools’ curriculum, so that sports education can again be a priority.

Hard courts will be built, enclosed, lit and properly maintained to facilitate various sporting disciplines; at least one playing field in each constituency will be lit to encourage more participation in sports, and we will construct the national stadium.

Moreover, the NDP will improve and expand skills training by utilising the various resource, multipurpose and community centres around St. Vincent and the Grenadines, support music education in schools from the earliest level, with a view to establishing a Youth Orchestra and permanent music programme in schools, and also provide support for all established youth organizations.

The ULP has failed the youths of St. Vincent and the Grenadines after they were promised thousands of jobs, and thirteen years later, the situation remains the same. As you traverse this country, the number of young people who are on the ‘blocks’ and are unemployed is astonishing. In most cases, it would appear that over seventy percent of young persons in a number of communities are unemployed, and they are frustrated.

The cry of the youths is for jobs, jobs, jobs. And the ULP administration, after thirteen years in power, cannot and will not create employment for the young people; neither will they be able to stimulate the private sector to assist in job creation.

Because of the unemployment situation and no meaningful sporting or development programme for our youths, they have more time on their hands. As a result, some of them are involved in illegal and criminal activities. The NDP does not want our youths to be involved in these activities, that’s why we have developed the programmes that we have outlined earlier to create jobs and to exploit the talents and abilities which these youths possess.

The NDP offers hope to our youths.

Based on the programmes and policies of the NDP, the youths of St. Vincent and the Grenadines have something to gravitate to, and will have no choice but to elect the NDP when the next general elections are called, so that they can benefit from our exciting programmes.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. 11.

Views

Spades of Sorrow and Wells of Joy

“In our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.” Quoted by Robert F. Kennedy, delivering an extemporaneous eulogy to Martin Luther King, Jr., the evening of April 4, 1968, in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. WE OFTEN GO THROUGH life seeking to avoid pain and sorrow as best we can.

However, we know that pain will come.

Sorrows will come. Pain and sorry are normal aspects of life; “normal” in the sense that it is natural, human, to be visited by disappointment and pain from time to time. And, while we do not aspire to be sadists and regularly seek sad experiences, we would be naive to assume that we will always have those glorious mountain top experiences (where everything is nice and smooth).

We cannot avoid instances of pain and sorrow. And we need to appreciate that pain is often on the flip side of pleasure.

We should also observe that there are often countless blessings that appear garbed in pain’s attire. Good can emerge from many of the experiences that we initially describe as “bad”.

And so, this article surfaces to encourage those who are going through particularly tough times.

Tough times will come. But we must persevere. Unwelcomed diseases will visit us and/or our loved ones. The accompanying pain may appear to be prolonged and unbearable. Accidents will occur. They sometimes take place when we least expect them and bring their own supplies of pain and worry.

Friends and loved ones may abandon or forsake us at the times when we need them most. We may be traumatised by the absence of a job and the piling of unpaid bills as we view the rapid depletion of our life’s savings. There are a host of experiences that can usher in these feelings of abandonment, sorrow, stress, and emotional pain. And, yes, at times like these, we could well feel depressed, dejected and defeated. But there is reason to hope. There is wisdom in looking for the silver lining that adorns those dark cloud experiences. We can be assured that time has a way of healing many of these devastating experiences. We must also appreciate the fact that many have gone through similar (and worse) situations and made it. We must have the wisdom, the fortitude, to know and appreciate the value of such life struggles. We must understand that the spades of sorrow can dig wells of joy. We draw strength from the fact that we are often not alone as we go through such debilitating experiences. Others have “been there and done that”. They have come through those experiences bigger and better ... and so can we.

The following Chinese story comes to mind: A mother was devastated as she mourned the loss of her son. She sought comfort from an elderly Chinese philosopher. She needed to know how to overcome her deep grief.

The wise man listened with empathy as the mother described her grief. He

then punctuated her sobbing with these words, “I can help you, but you must first bring me some mustard seed.” Before the woman could seek clarification, he continued, “But you must get it at a home where there has never been any loss or sorrow.”

The woman eagerly started her search. She was desperate to be relieved of her sorrow. However, she soon discovered that every home she visited had someone who had lost a loved one or had known some heartbreaking loss. She returned to the elderly Chinese philosopher without any mustard seed. With a twinkle in her eyes, she exclaimed, “How selfish I have been! Sorrow is common to all.” The smile broke at the philosopher’s lips as he proclaimed, “Ah, my dear, you have learned a valuable lesson. Pain, sorrow, and disappointments are common to all. Now, because you know sorrow, you can sympathize with others and comfort them. And when you do, your own sorrow will be lessened.”

The Chinese, like so many other ancient societies, found ways of teaching some of life’s greatest lessons through stories and anecdotes. We can extract so much wisdom from the one that is captured in the two preceding paragraphs; no home (and no individual) is immune to sorrow.

It is no respecter of persons. It does not discriminate, based on colour, class, academic achievement, and the like. It is common to all.

The experienced among us, however, will testify that when we pause to help others carry their load, we discover that the weights on our backs appear lighter. We soon discover that our release, regardless of the intensity of the trauma, is often linked to our willingness to lighten the loads of others. Many can bear witness that they have found happiness as they sought to make others happy. They have found peace as they ventured to lead and support others through their “battlefield experiences”. They have found joy and contentment as they comforted others through their mourning experiences. They have discovered that life has a way of lifting us up when we pause to lend a helping hand to a fallen or broken fellowman.

God has blessed us with so many “tools” that we can use to build hope in the lives of others. We have skills and possessions that can be used to improve the lives of many around us. We have experiences that we can share with others to encourage and inspire them to excel at all that is noble. Some readers can testify that they have come a long way and been through a lot of physical, emotional, and spiritual pain and suffering.

These “spades of sorrow” can be wisely used to dig wells of joys for others ... and for ourselves too.

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

Ebola Panic and corporate profit THERE IS AN INTERNATIONAL panic growing over the outbreak of the Ebola disease. The disease outbreak has mainly affected the African countries of Liberia, Serrio Leone, Guinea and Nigeria. To date, there has been close to 2000 confirmed infections and more than a thousand deaths of persons infected with the virus. Ebola was first detected in Guinnea in 1976.

I write as a skeptic. I remain convinced that every so often, things are said and done mainly to scare the international community into spending billions of dollars to prepare for a pandemic that never materials.

I distinctly remember SARS, and Swine Flu, which was caused by the H1N1 virus, and now we have Ebola.

There is no doubt that all lives are sacred and none of us should be made to suffer. Therefore, it is high time for the international community to research whether these outbreaks are not manufactured, and placeD in certain strategic places, cause some deaths through deliberate infections, raise an international alarm, so that a few companies can make huge profits.

When the news of SARS broke at the turn of the century, international travel slowed appreciably, and again countries were forced to spend large sums of money to stockpile on drugs that they never used.

When the Swine Flu ‘epidemic’ broke in 2009, resource-starved St Vincent along with other Caricom countries, still reeling from the death blows caused by the economic meltdown in 2008, were again forced to spend funds they could ill afford for an pandemic that never came.

Now there is Ebola, and we are going wild with panic again. Not a day passes without a rebroadcast on our phones regarding the dangerous Ebola virus. Most often, the broadcast offers as the only safety precaution, the frequent washing of hands, as if we should not have integrated this habit already.

There is no doubt that, whether we are talking about SARS, Swine Flu or Ebola, an infected person, particularly one living in a poor underdeveloped country, would have her life chances seriously compromised. Many of our countries lack the sophisticated detection instruments, techniques and treatment that may save lives.

Therefore, in times like these, we need to be intuitive and rational. We must avoid panic at all costs, and engage in the necessary due diligence to ensure that we don’t get carried away by the sensationalism of the international media.

This is not a call for complacency, for an assertion of small island invincibility or worse, the celebrated triumphalism that God is a Vincie. All I ask is for sober reflections and strategic planning and preparation to meet all threats to our people and country.

In keeping with the aforementioned view, I find particularly interesting a statement by the Colombian Vice Minister of Health and Social Protection who assured the public that while the government was preparing itself to meet the virus, he told his citizens that the conditions in the country don’t give Ebola the

chance to natively spread because ‘the bat species responsible for transmitting the disease nor the practice of eating it are not present in Columbia.’

Now this is important information because it suggests that the disease is spread by a bat, which may either be eaten or it bites someone who becomes infected. Knowledge is power. It means if we don’t have those species of bats, then we can exhale a little easier because the disease is not ‘home grown.’ In that case, the risk comes through international travel.

We can also advise Vincentians who are travelling to affected areas, and it seems that West Africa is the area of concern, to take all necessary precaution. Further we can ask our customs and immigration officials to be on special alert for symptoms of the disease on persons travelling into our country.

These diseases always seem to blossom and raise their ugly tails in the poorer sections of the world. I distinctly remember the stigma and outrage that flowed across the world when the US Centre for Disease Control labelled all Haitians as risk for the HIV virus in 1990, people from Asia were seen as the risk factor in both SARS and Swine Flu, and now Africans are dying and suffering as a result of the Ebola outbreak.

Is this mere coincidence or is there a hidden agenda which may be uncovered if we follow the dollar to see who profits from the diseases. The way Africans are allowed to die, while persons from the developed world always seem to get to a hospital in a developed country on time to take the ZMapp serum or other antidotes to Ebola is shocking, to say the least.

But there may be some light in the fight against this most recent outbreak. Last Tuesday August 12, 2014, the Canadian Government, which holds the intellectual property to an untested vaccine (VSV-EBOV), announced that the country would donate between 8000 and 1,000 doses to the World Health Organization. A private company Bioprotection Systems has a licence to develop the product for use in humans.

One is left to wonder if the outbreak is not directly linked to the development of a drug to treat the ailment. Ebola and its negative effects on human beings became widely known in 1976, Why is there an outbreak now that at least two corporations have developed a serum?

Would the changes of Ebola’s development and spread not be more likely in the 70s, 80s and 90s that now when people are more enlightened?

Evidently, there are more questions than answers. What we cannot do is allow scaremongering and feed panic.

Sober thinking and timely planning are absolutely necessary in this period.

Send comments, criticisms & suggestions to wefirst@aol.com

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12. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Tax exemptions for the super-rich, or school books for SVG’s children?

At the next election, the choice is simple: do we continue to give tax exemptions to Taiwan and the super-rich of Mustique and Canouan, or provide SVG’s children with all the school books they need, free of charge.

Both the NDP and the ULP regimes gave tax exemptions to Taiwan and the super-rich of Mustique and Canouan. It is only SVG Green Party who says that these tax

exemptions must end, and that money gained from taxing the super-rich should fund a system of free school books and uniforms for all SVG’s children.

The school book loan system is failing, and many thousands of children in SVG do not have all the books that they need. For school children moving into secondary school, their parents may have to

spend over $1,000 per child for the cost of school uniforms and books.

It is the children of the poor who are suffering the most and getting left behind, and they are being denied a proper education.

In the long-term, these children with an inadequate education will find it very difficult to get a job, and are being condemned by the ULP regime to a life of poverty.

The United Nations

says that 123 million youth cannot read or write, and illiteracy can often be traced to the lack of books. Books are core materials to help students learn their lessons. When children’s homes lack books and other reading material, they practise less and forget more during school breaks.

Their education suffers.

Denying children access to quality education increases their vulnerability to abuse, exploitation and disease.

Children in SVG are being deprived of their right to education, because their families cannot afford school fees or uniforms.

How are our children supposed to do assignments and study for tests and exams when they lack the books they need?

It is important for everyone to learn to read.

Reading provides access to information to improve oneself. Reading empowers and emancipates citizens, and is a priceless skill that

everyone needs to succeed in life. Books are the foundation of a strong educational system. Access to books and an education is one of the only opportunities young people have to end the cycle of poverty and attain a better quality of life.

The ULP regime seems to be blind to the correlation between lack of books and a weak education system and the high rate of shootings and other acts of criminality in SVG. We must deal with the cause of crime by providing children with high-quality education.

Both the NDP and the ULP regimes have soldout Vincentians to Taiwan and the super-rich of Mustique and Canouan.

They have provided decades of tax exemptions to Taiwan and the superrich, and heartlessly denied generations of poorer Vincentians access to high-quality education.

The agreement between the ULP and NDP regimes and Taiwan that allows Taiwan to cream-off hundreds of millions of

dollars every year, using SVG’s deep sea fish licence is outrageous. Our children’s education and lives suffer as a consequence.

A Green government will make the changes the people are calling for. We will end the tax exemptions given to Taiwan and the super-rich of Mustique and Canouan, and tell them that they must pay tax and customs duties, as Vincentians do, or else pack their bags and go back to where they come from.

At the next general election, make the right choice to show that you care about the children of SVG. Vote Green to end the tax exemptions given to Taiwan and the superrich of Mustique and Canouan, so a Green government can provide free books and uniforms to all our children.

Our children should not be condemned to a life of poverty.

SVG Green Party www.svggreenparty.org

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. 13.

News

Young Vincentian author launches third book

by KENVILLE HORNE STORM HALBICH continues to write his name in Vincentian history as one of the youngest and most talented authors.

On Wednesday, Government officials; the Cuban Ambassador to SVG Pablo Rodriquez; Principal of the St.Vincent Grammar School, Curtis King; representatives from Scotia Bank; family, friends and well wishers, gathered at the Paradise Beach Hotel for the launching of Halbich’s third and latest publication entitled ‘My Caribbean Connection’.

The book is quite impressive and modern in its presentation, and informative in its content, containing fun facts on 21 countries that Halbich visited, which included Mexico, St. Maarten, Jamaica, Cuba, Panama, Puerto Rico, Curacao, St.Kitts, Dominican Republic, and Trinidad.

Halbich began writing books from a tender age; his first ‘My Homeland’ was launched in 2007, followed by ‘Colours of My Country, St. Vincent Former Minister of and the Grenadines.’

Culture Rene Baptiste.

Both books are centered around welcoming visitors, protecting the environment and appreciating the lifestyles and products available in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Speaking at the book launching, former Minister of Tourism and Culture, Rene Baptiste commended Halbich on his latest publication. Baptiste recalled taking a delegation to Cuba for the International Book Fair of Havana, when she was Minister of Culture, which delegation included Halbich. She said the book festival is the second largest of its kind in the world, and Halbich was the youngest writer present. According to Baptiste the authors were shocked and surprised to see a child author, because all the other authors were much older than he. The former minister told the gathering that Halbich displays tremendous talent, and she commended him on the launching of his book.

Country head of Scotia Bank Fitzaudy Wright also joined in commending Halbich. He said the banking institution was happy to have sponsored the young author. Wright also praised Brian Alexander, former Country Head, since it was during his tenure that Halbich received sponsorship for his book, under the Bright Future Programme.

Halbich, at 15 years of age, is currently awaiting his CSEC results. The Grammar School student thanks all those who have supported him thus far.

He told the gathering that he was pushed by his mother Kim Halbich, to complete his third book.

According to the young scholar, who is hoping to further his academic career at a university in Florida, USA, he enjoys travelling and he strives to make his books interesting and fun for his readers.

Halbich also enjoys visual art and photography.

In his book, Halbich tells of the places he has visited and the experiences he encountered; but most importantly, he seeks to highlight places and things that are unique to the countries he visited.

The journey, for Halbich, is still ongoing, and he hinted that he intends to visit more countries and

tell their stories. The young author is urging young people Storm Halbich latest book. to play a part in protecting their environment.

‘My Caribbean Connection’ is available at bookstores island-wide and at Fantasea Tours.

L-R: Mother Kim Halbich and Storm Halbich.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. 17.

News

Benn looking forward to Taiwan experience Devan Peters, another St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community BRANDON BENN Is a product of the College graduate, will pursue a Marriaqua Valley, dubbed the Bachelor’s degree in Electrical breadbasket of St. Vincent and the Engineering at Tamkang University.

Grenadines. He is a graduate of the St. He will prepare for that programme Vincent and the Grenadines Community with a language programme for the College. He is pursuing a Bachelor’s first year at the National Taiwan degree in Computer Science at National Normal University.

Tsiang-Hua University in Taiwan.

Kimette Robertson, a graduate from Before that, he will take a year’s the University of the West Indies, will programme at the National Taiwan do a Master’s degree in Counselling Normal University.

Psychology at Asia University.

He had earlier foundation at the St. Dr. Bettie Jn Baptiste Adams, will Vincent Grammar School and read for a Master’s degree in Public Kingstown Preparatory School. Benn Health at Taipei Medical University. is “looking forward to the experience.”

Quincy James, a graduate from the Benn is one of 13 students who University of the West Indies, is doing received certificates of Taiwan a Civil Engineering course as his post scholarships at the National Public graduate major, after a language Library last Friday from His training programme at National Chen Excellency Ambassador Weber Shik.

Kung University.

That ceremony was attended by Yannick John, a graduate from the Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

St. Vincent Community College, will He used his address to dispel doubts study Electrical Engineering at I-Sou about Taiwan’s registration of fishing University, having prepared with vessels here. language training at the same Dr. Gonsalves dismissed institution. suggestions that the $3M that the Michaelia Marshall will take a Scholarships were worth, was in language training programme at the exchange for the fishing registration.

National Taiwan Normal University Foreign Affairs Minister Camillo before embarking on an Animal Gonsalves outlined that there was “no Science degree. value amount on education.”

Shemon Baptiste will read for a The Foreign Minister alluded to the Mechanical Engineering degree, after 40 graduates from the scholarship language training at the National programme, as well as those who were Taiwan Normal University. studying in Taiwan.

Rafique Prescott, a graduate from The young Gonsalves reminded the St. Vincent Community College, will recipients that they had big boots to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in fill.

Mechanical Engineering at Kunshun

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY

Students secure solid scholarships

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY THREE STUDENTS will start their secondary career with help from the SVG Solidarity In Action Incorporated.

Vibert Parris, Raheem Richards and Annese Charles are this year’s recipients. They will receive $800 at the start of the first term and $200 each for terms two and three.

The scholarship will be for five years and the students can have their expenses taken care of, if they are successful in moving on for tertiary training.

Member of the Board of Directors Noel Jackson promised that university education will be offered, depending on the performances at school.

Parris is a former Belmont Government School student, and he enters the St. Vincent Grammar School.

Richards enters St. Martin’s Secondary, having passed his Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment from the St. Mary’s Roman Catholic School.

Annese Charles, a former Lowmans Leeward Anglican School student, has been enrolled at the Bethel High School.

The scholarships are granted to children of workers at the Solidarity in Action Incorporated Car Park, or of farmers attached to the Fairtrade Organisation.

This is the third year that the

Scholarship recipients for 2014, L-R: Annese Charles, Raheem Richards and Vibert Parris.

Solidarity In Action Incorporated is handing over scholarships.

However, their assistance to students began in 2011 when five bursaries worth $500 each were made.

In 2012, the sponsors opted for fiveyear rewards.

Jackson disclosed that $10,000 had been disbursed in taking care of the students’ education. The recipients must keep a 75 per cent average if they want to continue receiving the assistance.

They must show exemplary behaviour, and display good attitude and respect for authority.

Joy Matthews, a member of the Board of Directors, reminded students that “education can take you anywhere.” She urged the recipients to “try to be a leader and not a follower.”

The Solidarity In Action Incorporation took over the operations of the Car Park October 2010.

University.

Four other Scholarship recipients, including Benn furthest right Community College back row, are all smiles seen here with; L-R Front graduates, LaNeika row: Taiwan Ambassador Weber Shih, Minister of Prince, Tiffesha Foreign Affairs Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Telesford, Rolissa Education Girlyn Miguel and Gordon Shallow Taiwan Ballantyne and Alumni Association President.

Brookanna Griffith complete the Tropical Agriculture, and Griffith will contingent. work towards a Bachelor’s degree in Prince will work towards a degree Medical Laboratory Science and in Forensic Psychology, while Biotechnology at Kaohsiung Medical Telesford will work on Statistics.

University.

Ballantyne will pursue a degree in

LIME sponsors Technical Institutions

by KENVILLE HORNE TWO TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS here are the latest to benefit from the generosity of Telecommunication Company LIME. The Barrouallie Technical Institute and the Campden Park Technical Institute were on Tuesday, at the receiving end of 12 HP computers from LIME. The Barrouallie Technical Institute received seven computers and a printer, while the Camden Park Technical Institute collected five computers.

Senior Marketing and Corporate Communications Executive at LIME, Nikala Williams, said the sponsorship resulted from a town hall meeting the company had last year. Williams noted that the company is proud to give the donation. The all in one computer is said to be valued at EC$ 2,500 retail price, and carries a 20 inch monitor. LIME would also be providing their technicians to set up the computers.

Williams said the town hall meeting last year was the first her company has hosted, and they appreciated the feedback they received.

LIME will continue to conduct more such meetings in the future, according to the Senior Marketing Executive.

She concluded by expressing thanks to the communities for their support, and as for the donation, Williams stated “We are hoping that this will definitely take education in IT to a different level”.

Acting Principal at the Campden Park Technical Institute Sharon Joseph said she was very happy for the donation because the computers will greatly affect the school, as it will train the students in data operation. She said the school is preparing students for the world of work, while expressing gratitude to LIME on behalf of the staff and students.

Roslyn Hazlewood, Instructor at the Barrouallie Technical Institute, also expressed similar sentiments, and

(L) Sharon Joseph and (R)Roslyn Hazlewood accept computers from (C) Senior Marketing Executive of LIME Nikala Williams. explained “we would use these computers, not only to help our students, but to also further integrate ICT in our class room”. She said the school looks forward to forging an even greater relationship with LIME. LIME is also a major sponsor for public speaking and the most coveted educational award ceremony here, The National Awards Ceremony.

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18. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Diaspora

GovÊt sits on powder keg, MP claims

Story and photos by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; neloking@msn.com US CORRESPONDENT OPPOSITION SENATOR Dr. Linton Lewis has reiterated calls for Prime Minister Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves to “ring the election bell,” stating that the incumbent Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration is a “spent force,” and that it’s “sitting on a powder keg.”

“It’s like a dynamite [that is] ready to explode,” Lewis, who is also chairman of the main opposition New

Democratic Party (NDP) and candidate for the West St. George constituency, told a town hall meeting last Saturday night at the Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center in Brooklyn, New York.

In reeling off a litany of charges against the government, Lewis, who is still in the “Big Apple” with NDP North Windward candidate, Lauren Baptiste, said that, unless the NDP adopts office in the next general elections, constitutionally due in December next year, “the decadence will not cease, the moral decay will be

prolonged, and the lovely people of our beautiful homeland will continue in total bemusement as to their existence and life’s trajectory.

“So we ask of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves to ring the bell and relieve our people of their misery; ring the bell to rid our people of frustration, poverty, depression, victimization, discrimination and political polarization,” he said at the meeting, organized by NDP New York affiliate, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Progressive Organization of New York, otherwise known as SPOONY. “Ring the bell, comrade, ring the bell!”

Claiming that the ULP Government is “the worst in living Opposition MP Dr. Linton Lewis, NDP memory” to rule St. Vincent and the chairman, addressing town hall Grenadines, Lewis said the NDP, meeting. headed by its president and Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace, a and “bring them into the mainstream former prime minister, is “ready” and of governance by giving them a very worthy experience of parliamentary “willing” to lead the “ship of state.” affairs.”

“The NDP is able, and the NDP is Therefore, he said the NDP will equipped to arrest this tumultuous, gruesome and frustrating experience,” establish a Youth Parliament that not only gives young people a voice, but said Lewis, who is also an attorney. also enables them to “hone their skills “We are ready to bring back peace in preparation for a life in politics and and tranquility,” he added. “We are ready to bring back unity, to heal our the governance of our homeland.”

The NDP chairman said it would land from the division that is crippling our people, and causing war require at least a week’s seminar to cover most of the serious issues and strife against brothers and sisters, parents and children, relatives plaguing the land, casting a very bleak picture of the socio-economic and and friends. political status quo in St. Vincent and “Never before did we have 2,000 the Grenadines. reports of burglary; never before did He said, while the ULP we have more than 21 murders, until the ULP took office in our homeland,” administration has made “tremendous efforts” to improve education in the he continued.

Lewis said the NDP has assembled nation, there is, at the same time, a “rescue team” that he further labels “some cause for concern about the manner in which those opportunities as “Rescue St. Vincent and the have been divided up among our Grenadines”, with Eustace “at the people. helm, holding the reins of East “There have been rampant Kingstown, and battling the storm complaints about political winds as he steers the ship of state victimization, discrimination, safely home.” favoritism, cronyism and nepotism,” He said Eustace, an economist in training, is “ably supported by a team charged Lewis, adding that “those of men”, who are “tried and tested” in, complaints have reduced the gains that were made, and cast a cloud of among other disciplines, business, doubt over the fair and equitable law, agriculture, health, education, distribution of those opportunities. engineering, management, finance, “Such an unfortunate approach to economics and sports. governance has caused social, political Lewis said an NDP administration and psychological trauma for many of would “arrest” the spiraling crime those who were unable to have access situation by “implementing the to the opportunities that are policies and programs of our available,” he continued. redemption charter.

In addition, Lewis said there is “We will arrest the crime situation “little or no employment opportunities by providing hope to our young people,” he said. “We will assure them for young people,” resulting in that they have a lot to offer; and that, “disgruntlement, frustration, depression and despair. without their involvement in the “In the absence of hope, there is development process, St. Vincent and the Grenadines will not move forward confusion; and, in the face of temptation, there is a loss of selfas a prosperous entity.” control, a lessening of pride and In this nexus, Lewis said the dignity, a preponderance of self-pity NDP “will endeavor” to include at and a weakening of the fabric of least one young person on every society,” he said. statutory board of the government,

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. 19.

News

Vincentians are speaking Elly Olive: ‘Identity,’ and ‘Never give up’ continued the trend that the A NUMBER OF Vincentian poets package dwelt on. displayed their talent in an event dubbed Curtis Williams did: ‘A Rose’s scent,’ ‘Spoken word’ staged at the Peace touching on an aspect of social Memorial Hall last Saturday. misconduct rarely brought into public This year’s presentation was a domain. follow up to one held August 17, last Laucel Harry had ‘A Nu- be-ing’ year. There was an increase in the which gave testimony to her Christian package, with more persons appearing. belief.

The driving force behind the exercise London Monae maintained the is Crystal Bynoe. trend with a rendition called ‘It’s She welcomed the audience and killing me.’ complimented fellow organisers Chad Daryl Williams is awaiting results Greaves and Damion McTair. from his recent Cape examinations.

Crystal showed full involvement His presentations ‘When I’m not with with her rendition ‘I am beautiful,’ as you,’ and ‘Save me,’ raised the the show built up to a climax. excitement level with the listeners.

A chord of spiritual awareness Darriel Ambrose whetted the marked the presentations in a setting appetite and stirred emotions with a which displayed an atmosphere of mixture of drama and lyrics in a faith in the Almighty. portrayal dubbed ‘Soul food.’

Kenisha Joslyn opened the evening By then, it was intermission, where with a creation entitled: ‘Deny me patrons had the choice of viewing the this.’ exhibits of some entrepreneurs who Clive Small did ‘Universal added to the package with a sample of language,’ and ‘Stage,’ performances their creativity on the ground floor of with which the audience was the building. Homemade snacks were delighted. also available, and the absence of

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY

Danny Scrubb Summer School 2014 , Union Island opens attached article for relevant quote). Anjali John, the Rotaract Spelling B winner 2014 gave the vote of thanks.

The school had a total of 90 children registered for the first week, and the children participated in a variety of activities.

On Wednesday, Nurses Christianna Daniel, Viola Sweeney and Pastor Julianna Daniel from the House of Prayers of all Nations in Montreal, Canada, addressed participants on the importance Pre-school children working hard. of personal care and safeguarding .

by YVETTE THOMAS On Monday, Nzimbu, a well-known artist from the mainland, will be THE UNION ISLAND /London Summer delivering workshops in Drumming School, renamed the Danny Scrubb Summer School, started on Monday 4th and Art and Crafts. At the end of these workshops, the children will August. The opening was attended by show off their newly learnt skill in a many dignitaries on the island. The performance at the Hugh Mulzac welcoming address was given by Mrs. Square on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

Coy-James, Principal of Stephanie On Thursday, the children will Browne Primary School. Ms. Selena Gray, a teacher from the Union Island Support travel to Canouan for a day out by the Group London, highlighted the aims and Catamaran, sponsored by Wind and objectives of the programme. The Guest Sea. The children will also be speaker, Mr. Godwin James, former participating in Kite Surfing Principal of the Union Island Secondary sponsored by Anchorage Yacht Club.

School, who is now based at the The programme will end on Friday Community College-Teachers Division, 15th August with a cultural focused on the main theme of the programme for parents and the wider summer school “Remembering our African Roots”. In his address, he spoke community. There will be an African Fashion show, exhibition of about the Emancipation of Slavery and participants’ work, drumming and of the impact that this had on African course, the Big Drum dance which is people throughout the world. (see so special to Union Island.

alcoholic beverages added an air of sanctity to the occasion.

Those who were not inclined to leave their seats, Poets and organisers of the ‘Spoken Word’ event. were entertained with a verbal ‘Mainstream.’ interaction, picong style, between Kamillo Blake kept up the theme Shafique Sam and Gary Bynoe. But with a composition dubbed: ‘Father.’ their clash was of a biblical nature, Melissa Williams had the audience and tended to dismiss any element of spell- bound with her illustration rancour.

‘Delusional.’

They might have been taking the When Fralene Thorpe brought the opportunity to get used to the stage. curtains down with ‘My name is Sam resumed the actual show with Maria,’ the audience was left with a his presentation ‘From Boy to man,’ sense of anticipation, but dutifully and Gary revelled in his poetic enthralled. fervour.

Chad Greaves thanked everyone for Andreaka Samuel maintained the their participation, and he deserved flow with: ‘Shadz of a beautiful soul,’ some appreciation himself. He played after which Crystal showed her skill. piano in a musical collection along A musical trio, made up of ‘Misfit, with Junior Cottle on bass and Javon Rhema—D, and GB, did the song called Providence on drums, which added to ‘Treasure.’ That set the stage for Jeron the ambience which the evening had James with a performance called engendered.

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20. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Is she using another man’s money to mind me?

Dear George, I am very satisfied that I have a wife who loves me and who is doing her best to keep me happy.

I have a few nay sayers who are telling me that she is accepting monies from other men to “mind me”; but I am not concerned about what they have to say, because I think they are just jealous. I asked my wife about the things I was hearing, and she just said that there were a few times when a good friend of hers did her a favour and lent her some money, to take care of some bills, but that was all it was to that. She said she has since paid back that money and there was nothing to worry about. My wife will never do anything behind my back, and she is doing

a great job keeping the house in order while I go out to work. Right now, she is even trying to get a job to help out with the bills, and that is in addition to the work she is doing in the house. I want all the negative talking people to take their mouth out of my business.

Loving Hus Dear Loving Hus, You seemed concerned enough about what was being rumoured about to ask your wife about it.

It seems odd that she would be borrowing money for bill payments without your knowledge, and yet

She wants me to end up in jail! father. How do I deal with this situation, with PLEASE tell me what to this man throwing words do with my eighteen-year at me and telling that it is me why my daughter daughter. This young is not at home. He says lady will make me go she is not living with straight to jail. I have him, but everybody spent all of my life’s knows better than that. savings to send her to school, and now she has I was expecting her to come out of school with gone and shack up with something in her head a man who could be my

Dear George,

and in the end help me out; but she has given me the shock of my life with her ungratefulness.

I do not want anything to do with her, and I want this man to know that if he continues to harass me, I will go to jail for him.

Disappointed

Dear Disappointed, Your daughter is legally an adult, and therefore has the right to make her own decisions.

It can be a painful experience to see your children make unwise decisions, but you can only do what is in your control to do. As far as not making good use of her years at school, there is not much more you can do in that regard.

Financing her high school education was part of your parental obligation, and in that regard, you should not refer to her as ungrateful. Yes, it would have been a good thing if things had turned out differently; but you did what you were supposed to do as a parent, which was to ensure she got an education. If the man she is with continues to harass you, then I suggest you take the necessary legal action to nip that in the bud.

George

you maintain that she will never do anything behind your back. It is clear that there is a communication problem in the first instance which will lead to other problems in the marriage. You need to sit down with your wife and let her know what your concerns are, and that while you appreciate her efforts to keep things afloat, she needs to keep all the cards on the table FACE UP. Let this be a new beginning for you both. Your wife appears to be well intended, but needs to include you fully in the decision-making process.

George

Between a rock and a hard place Dear George, I am with my girlfriend for 3 years now, and she has been talking about getting married to me. I have no problem with that, except that I have been carrying around a dreadful secret. I told her in the beginning that I did not believe in sex before marriage, and used that as a reason for not engaging in sex with her. She told me how admirable it was that I should take such a position. The truth of the matter is, I am having serious problems getting an erection, and this happened suddenly one day. I am so embarrassed to let her know, and she being a beautiful and sexy woman will most certainly leave me instantly as soon as she finds that out.

I am really in a predicament!

Scared Dear Scared, The only way to deal with this is to be forthright and tell your girlfriend about this.

Expect her to be disappointed that you have kept this from her and have misled her into thinking that you had a different set of values as it relates to sex before marriage etc. What is the sense of telling her this after marrying her? If she wants to leave, she would still leave, married or not.

Give the love you share a chance to be proven and tell her the truth. Whether or not you tell her the truth about your situation, you still should check this problem out for a possible remedy.

George

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Gambling will be a waste of time and money. In-laws or older individuals may give you a bit of a hard time this week.

Assist a relative or good friend by setting of a budget for them. Your high energy should be spent pleasing your mate.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Loans will be attainable and legal matters easily taken care of. Don't be too pushy or demanding, or you may find yourself all alone. Help elders get their personal papers in order.

Opportunities for travel and communication are evident.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Your own small business on the side sounds pretty lucrative. You may have major blowups with someone you love if you don't back down. Draw up contracts regarding your personal situation.

Reciprocate by offering helpful hints.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Don't let others bait you into arguments.

Uncertainties about your home may cause tension. Responsibilities with respect to older relatives may be a burden. Stay away from social unpleasantness.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Romance will be yours if you get out and do things in large groups. Trying to deal with your mate will be unproductive and possibly hurtful. Your communication skills will bring you popularity and increased self esteem.

Underhandedness regarding legal matters or contracts must be counteracted.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) You need to interact with others if you want to expand your knowledge. Sports, physical fitness programs, exercise in general will make you feel better and show some pretty quick results. Peers may not be on your side. You must make them stand on their own two feet regardless of how much you want to make things better for them.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You will enjoy interacting with those who come from different backgrounds. Be precise in your communications to avoid any misunderstandings and arguments.

Take your time and try not to overload yourself. Be careful what you consume this week.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You will easily blow situations out of proportion. Try to be as mellow as possible. You won't have to look for the action. You're ready to take action and take over.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) You may blow situations out of proportion when dealing with the one you love.

Unfortunately, your personal life may suffer from a lack spare time.

Moneymaking opportunities will surface.

Your need to be in a leadership position will help you surpass any rivals you might encounter.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Don't hesitate to present your unique ideas. You will feel so much better about yourself if you can control your addictions. Use your high energy and dynamic approach to win favors from superiors. A long discussion is in order if you wish to clear the air.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) Extravagance and overindulgence are not a cure if you're feeling sorry for yourself. Problems with in-laws or relatives may be more damaging than you realize. Opportunities for financial gains through investments and games of chance are likely. Uncertain changes regarding your personal life are evident.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Secret enemies will be eager to spread rumors about you. Your suggestions for fund raising events will be well received.

You should avoid getting involved in the personal problems of colleagues. Your lack of responsibility and attention has been a key issue in your relationship.

ACROSS

price (abbr.)

44. Melissa 1.Curved __ Hart passage 46. Increase 5. “__ in 49. Church Rome…” bigwigs 9. Rainy month 52. Singer (abbr.)

Rawls 12. District in 53. Is sick London 55. Hydrox 13. Coin of Italy relative 14. Actor 56. PennsylMajors vania has 15. Actor three Malden 57. Brisk pace 16. Issue from 58. Existed 17. Politician 59. Visit a Landon diner 18. Looked 60. Anxious happy 61. Mac20. Tops of Donald’s waves partner 22. “Auld Lang __” DOWN 23. __ education 1.Makes a 24. California’s request time (abbr.)

2. Gad about 26. Like some 3. Julie of white “Afterglow” wines 4. Yuletide 28. Omelet decoration items 5. Garden 32. Rental car workers company 6. Bustle 34. “Cheers” 7. Sevareid barkeep and 36. Guitar neck Clapton attachment 8. __ Dame de 37. Knight fight Paris 38. Jolt 9. “Oh, dear!”

40. Like 10. Throw crunchy rocks at carrots 11. Umps’ 41. Guess at a counter-

parts 19. Break off 21. Company head (abbr.)

24. Bachelor __ 25. “Law & Order: __” 27. Bosox great’s nickname 29. Accumulated 30. Grade Point Average (abbr.)

31. Female pig 33. Seattle __ (racehorse) 35. Queen’s title 39. Gdansk’s

42.

43.

45.

46.

47.

locale (abbr.)

Declare “The __ Man” Southwestern brick Joy Gossip

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. 21.

columnist Barrett 48. Evict 50. Wind instrument 51. Name in TVs 54. Nautical diary

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22. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

News

SVG Diaspora 4R’s completes camp SVG Diaspora 4R’s Organization for Youths Inc. has successfully completed a four day camp in Keartons, Barrouallie at Kingdom Life Ministries August 4th.10th, 2014. Approximately fifty persons attended the camps, including youth and adults. The aim of the camp was to bring together members of the various chapters of the organization in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to share in training and camaraderie. Currently, there are three chapters, in Chateaubelair, Troumaca and Sandy Bay. The camp also marked the launch of a chapter in Barrouallie.

The four days of the camp were packed with activities. On Thursday 7th, there were lectures, discussions and exercises on areas, including selfdevelopment, health, leadership and field craft. On Friday, the campers journeyed to Sandy Bay via a bus tour to visit members of the Sandy Bay chapter that were unable to attend the camp.

Saturday was a very hectic day for participants. They hiked from Keartons to the Barrouallie bay on a tracking and treasure hunt expedition. The campers, on completion of their expedition, immediately embarked on a beach cleanup which cleared the Barrouallie bay of an estimated 200 lbs of garbage. Later that same day at 8.00 p.m., the organization hosted a community youth talent show at the Barrouallie Park.

Director Dr. Tannis and a team of SVG 4R’s Youths Campers and other youths from the Organization with garbage collected at Barrouallie Beach. community performed to an appreciative, modest crowd. The community talent show The organization, in keeping with its Mission, also marked the launch of the Barrouallie chapter of issued each participant and some members to the the organization. The curtain came down on the Barrouallie community bags of school supplies, camp on Sunday after the campers attended a including scientific calculators, geometry sets, church service at the Kingdom Life Ministries rulers, erasers, pens, pencils, crayons, and church at Keartons. sharpeners.

The Directors of SVG 4R’s Organization for Youths Inc. express gratitude to Mr. Berisford Phillips and Phillips Bakery of Barrouallie for partnering with them to make the community talent show a success.

Thanks also to Pastor Walker- Kingdom Life Ministries; D&S Variety Store, Superintendent of Police Richard Browne, Barrouallie Town Board, Wallilabou Anchorage and Cyril Doyle.

Catholic Diocese of SVG prepares for Synod 2015 In January 2015, the Catholic Church in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) will celebrate its Silver Jubilee; twenty-five years (25) years as a Diocese, with its present Bishop Jason Gordon. In recognition of this auspicious occasion, Catholics throughout St Vincent and the Grenadines will be engaged in a Synod, where Priests, religious and laity of the local Church, will assemble to express their views on matters which they propose, so that they may share more deeply in the Ministry of Christ within the Diocese.

The theme of the Synod “Building Community through Word, Eucharist and Service”, is being presented in a variety of ways to Catholics between now and January 2015, commencing with specific focus on the “Eucharist”. Eucharist is a Christian service, ceremony, or sacrament commemorating the Last Supper, in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed, giving thanks.

The Holy Eucharist was instituted by Jesus Christ the night before he died, at the Last Supper, when he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to His apostles, saying “Take and eat; this is My body;” then He took a cup of wine, blessed it, and giving it to them, said: “drink of this; for this is My blood of the new covenant which is being shed for many unto the forgiveness of sins”. He commissioned the apostles to do “This in remembrance of Me.” Catholics take Christ at His word because He is the omnipotent, all powerful God. On His word, we recognise that the Holy Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ.

As Catholics, we are supposed to draw from the Eucharist. We believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is NOT complete unless it is lived in our daily lives, so we live by Jesus’ example; sharing, caring, assisting, contributing time, talent & treasure. Matthew 5:13-16 reminds “Let your light so shine before men so that they will see your Good works and glorify your father in heaven.”

Catholics, we do the same things over and over; we repeat them so they become rituals, a series of actions used in religious or other ceremonies, a procedure that is regularly followed. For example, we gather often as a community or family. On entering Church, we make the sign of the Cross in recognition of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We make peace with our neighbours; we proclaim the word, give gifts, reflect on our Story in the Eucharistic Prayer, share in a meal, and then go forth to proclaim and glorify God; living out the Eucharist. These are some of the rituals that Catholics recognize in the Eucharistic celebration, thus connecting them to our daily lives.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. 23.

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24. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Little Oalex makes big statement

Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) at the top floor of After being forced to be on the side lines the building housing the Federation’s for over eight months, “Central Leeward office. football Minuteman” Oalex Anderson Some observers were of the view appeared a giant last weekend as he that the Ceremony looked an undercollected a series of trophies for his planned event, with members of the devastating impact on his return to the executive appearing not to be on the game. same page with president Venold Anderson suffered a near career Coombs. ending injury last year in a match Anderson told THE VINCENTIAN against Central Leeward arch-rivals, that he was happy to have been able to Layou when he had his ankle broken. return and have such an impact on the But the efforts of the mercurial tournaments and help his team Bank pintsize marksman could not escape of St. Vincent Barrouallie to win the those who dragged themselves to the Hairoun Beer Community Interpresentation ceremony of the St. League football championship. In

addition, he also helped his team secure the Under 18 title, and collected individual awards in the process.

He scored sixteen goals in the senior competition, to be the leading goalscorer, and added the MVP of the final with a brace, and was adjudged the overall tournament MVP. Anderson defeated shot stoppers a further fifteen times in the Oalex Anderson Under 18, to collect the top marksman prize, and added the MVP of the final as well.

“I am thankful to GOD for giving me my talent to score goals…I give him thanks and pray over my feet before I enter the field of play, because without Him, I APPROXIMATELY cannot achieve what 60 Children between I have done so far”, the ages of 9 and 13 Anderson disclosed. years, drawn from 62 He admitted to Primary Schools not being a born throughout the again Christian, but Ccountry, including someone who has a the Grenadines, very strong belief in benefited from yet Aliyah Anderson the Almighty. another Scotia Bank The pacey and Kiddy Cricket Speaking about persons who have Camp participants and their coaches. elusive striker has bad Summer Camp. helped him in his fledging career, memories of his injury, The Camp, held over the Anderson picked out national striker, but is not deterred by August 4 — 8 period at the Shandel Samuel as being the most the possibility of Arnos Vale Playing Field, was suffering further mishap influential. run in collaboration with the “He has advised me and been like a as he plies his trade.

West Indies Cricket Board father to me, talking to me when “I will continue to (WIBC), the SVG Cricket things not going too good, and always play as I have by Association and the Ministry boosting me up….pointing out certain dribbling and running of Education. things……I am thankful for his when I have to, and I The programme, the second support.” will get some strong of its kind, exposed the He said that his pattern of play is tackles because the Anthony Browne participants to the somewhat similar to Samuel since he the best fielder. other teams see me as a fundamentals of the sport: danger man….but I will sees him as his hero. fielding, catching, bowling, wicket keeper, “I want to follow in his footsteps not change my style”, a batting, wicket-keeping and Anthony Browne and score plenty goals for the national shy but confident running between the wickets. the best fielder, team, for to me, he is the best striker I looking Anderson said.

They also had an Jenna Frederick have ever seen playing for St. Vincent, His ambition is to be opportunity to view the ‘Fire the most Rosique Toney - best batsman – and I have learnt a lot by looking at a permanent fixture on in Babylon’ video, which improved player, receives his award from Norman him”.

SVG senior team after highlights the glory days of and Jescilia McKie Cumberbatch of Scotia Bank.

Anderson’s priority is to work making his debut in the West Indies cricket. the most towards a football scholarship, and he Windward Islands In addition, participants disciplined player. is hoping to succeed through his work tournament where he were involved in sessions In attendance at a closing at the Technical College where he is a helped SVG to second related to personal hygiene, ceremony held on Friday 8th student. place, scoring one of two fitness and nutrition, injury August, were Kishorne “My aim is to go out and play goals in a 2-0 win over prevention, the laws of the Shallow, President of the SVG professional football, so I can get Dominica. game, and the dangers of Cricket Association; Lennox money to give to my family for what He previously donned illegal substance use.

John representing the West they have done for me over the years, the national colours at At the conclusion of the Indies Cricket Board; and if I am to get a scholarship, that the Under 20 level, Camp, 24 participants were Rosmond Griffith could be the start for bigger things”. where he represented selected for places in the West representing the Ministry of Anderson’s mention of the support SVG in the Caribbean Indies Grassroot Programme, Education, and Norman of his family was emphasised with Football Union which is expected to further Cumberbatch of Scotia Bank. younger sister Aliyah standing next to Qualifiers in Cuba. He develop their skills.

The coordinator of the him with her catchment of trophies for From among the 24 was also part of the camp was Stanley Hinds. He McKoy Hazell - best bowler. team which retained the excelling in the female tournament selectees, Rosique Toney was was supported by coaches where she took the most goals and adjudged the best batsman, Bertram Stapleton, Ian Allen, football title in the MVP titles.

McKoy Hazell the best William Edwards and Uzah Windward Islands I.B.A.ALLEN bowler, Kyle Williams the top Pope.

School Games.

by E. GLENFORD PRESCOTT

Youths benefit from Kiddy Cricket Camp

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. 25.

Sports

Charity at home and abroad BARBADOS Tridents must have followed the second semi-final with great interest yesterday. It wouldn’t have mattered whether Jamaica Tallawahs or Guyana Warriors are the opponents.

Tridents topped the standing to qualify for the berth, while the third and fourth placed teams had to go the extra mile to reach the final.

Jamaica put themselves in contention in a showdown with Trinidad and Tobago last Wednesday. As exciting as that victory was for the Tallawahs, they had to put all emotions aside in readiness for the other semi-final clash. Whether it is a case of building the momentum, or falling victim to the ebbs and flows would have been determined yesterday.

The Caribbean Premier League picked up some steam as it headed into the homestretch. If the organisers have gotten it right is a matter of speculation.

The region is benefitting from the exposure. The camaraderie between the players has served as a soothing aspect on the international arena.

The Franchise system seems to have raised the prospects of Caribbean cricket. What impact it will have on the West Indies team is still to be determined.

As ironic as it may be, Caribbean players seem to have a deeper commitment to their individual nation than to the West Indies. Whatever the sentiments are, they must play together when they come up against Bangladesh starting next week.

Following the One Day Internationals, Bangladesh head for the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

It will be the third Test at that venue. Vincentians will witness the Bangladesh squad for the second time in a Test match.

The previous occasion was the ill-fated affair which an ad hoc West Indies team lost. That was in 2009 in the height of the rumble between the West Indies Players Association and the West Indies Cricket Board.

The West Indies team ought to be at full strength, given that the feud has subsided.

We have seen how unpredictable the West Indies team can be. So much so that no one will be keen to bet on the West Indies with any degree of confidence.

The Test squad ought to have been named.

What package the selectors come up with is to be seen.

The trend is for venues to be lit as the T/20 version takes deeper root. St. Vincent and the Grenadines has to come in line if it wants to stay in contention as a destination of some merit.

In addition to the $56M spent on refurbishing the Arnos Vale Playing Field for the 2007 Cricket World Cup, consideration has to be given for the injection of some more money to cater for night matches. It is the trend we have to follow. If we do not, we are doomed for exclusion.

If we decided to spend the money on lights at Park Hill, that will still be circulation of currency in the economy.

Once the facilities are provided, it will be to the nation’s overall benefit. Never mind Cumberland continues to flounder on the rocks. It is a pity that nothing concrete has come of that facility after so many years. It seems that North Leeward is not part of the developmental agenda. Their role is perhaps as cannon fodder, or as people used only to provide votes for whatever party. The facility within the Fitz Hughes area is a sign that North Leeward has options.

Whatever the odds are, Cumberland should not be left to such delay and uncertainty.

The misfortune of the December flood has created a setback for Cumberland. Steps must be taken to get the Cumberland playing field into a state of readiness. The residents are not asking for any favours. It is a matter of courtesy that the facility be handed over to the community.

Anything short of that is an extended case of denial.

ÂBaggaÊ football in session The Keartons Playing Field was a mass of colour, as footballers and hundreds of football fans converged at that venue last Sunday, for the opening of the 2014 Barrouallie Football Competition.

A total of twenty-six teams are registered to participate in this year’s competition: six in the Maxwell Charles U-13 division; six in the Norell Hull U-17 division; and fourteen in the Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines League and Hairoun Knock Out in the senior division.

The opening ceremony, which preceded the parade of teams and a feature match, heard addresses from Barrouallie Sports Association officials, other national football officials and representatives of the sponsors.

The Barrouallie Sports Association came in for much commendation from both sponsors and national football representatives, for their commitment and hard work in ensuring that the competition

Teams on parade at the opening of the 2014 Barrouallie Football Competition.

Action in the feature game to mark the opening of the Competition. continues unimpeded.

The sponsors reiterated their support, and pledged to continue working with the organization for the upliftment of the community.

After the march past of at least nine teams, the large crowd was treated to an entertaining friendly match between a Bank of SVG Barrouallie eleven and Parkside Rollers, a replacement for a Georgetown Eleven who turned

down an original invitation.

The home team came out victors, 3 goals to nil, goal scorers being Chavel Cunningham, Roy Richards and Vasbert Ledger.

Matches in the Competition are scheduled for the Keartons Playing Field every day of the week.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Fred and ‘Rollit” breakaway A RECORD 32 teams are contesting the fourth Edition of the Breakaway Masters Firms Football competition which got going last weekend.

The tournament this year is being sponsored once again by Digicel, with Aero Post and Hairoun Beer being part of the supporting cast.

There are 22 teams, two more than last year in the senior division, while an Under 15 division has been added this year and will see ten teams join in battle.

The two new senior units are Fisheries, which comprises men who ply their trade at the fish market, and the National Lotteries team.

Both teams, while being new units, are coached by men who have more than six decades of football knowledge in their arsenal, with both being former national players and national coaches.

The Fisheries team has

Seymour “Rollit” Waldron as their coach, a man who represented SVG in the late sixties and early seventies while part of the Avenues team.

The other coach is Fred Trimmingham, whose association with the venue of the competition goes back more than half a century.

The venue, known as the Grammar School/Richmond Hill Playing Field or “Pasture,” has been somewhat of a home to Trimmingham who hails from SVGFF Boss Venold Coombs greets Veteran coach Fred Trimmingham. the Murray Village community and played both cricket and football at the playing through the seventies and the field at the club and national level birth of the eighties. Following the end of his playing days, the as a brutal defender/midfielder man known to many as and offspinner.

The Playing Field became home “Garrincha” after the great Brazillian midfielder, slipped of the Pastures Football Team easily into coaching as he after its formation, through the moulded Pastures into a efforts of Trimmingham in 1973, who took the field as an aging but competitive and subsequently winning unit. still knowledgeable player He also moved up to be head coach of the senior national team in the mid -eighties.

Some may see this stint by both Waldron and Trimmingham as an outing, but others who know them will never overlook their commitment to finding the winning formula.

Saturday’s opening, which was attended by all the participating teams, heard addresses from representatives from Digicel, the National Sports Council, The Ministry of Sports and the host organisation.

Coach Seymour “Rollit” Waldron with his Fisheries team.

26. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014. 27.

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www.thevincentian.com

L-R: Chief Executive Officer of the IADC Rudy Matthias, Engineer Alutio Dublin, Technical Advisor Leonardo Perez, and Head of Earthworks Alfredo Hernandez in conversation with the PM during last week’s visit.

EC$1.50

L-R: Prime Minister Gonsalves with General Manager of Franco Construction Bradley Francis.

MATTHIAS EXPECTS JUNE OPERATION Prime Minister Gonsalves pointed out that Franco construction secured the bid DR. RUDY MATTHIAS, Chief for the Tower base through a Executive Officer of the transparent Tender’s Board International Airport Development Company (IADC), is process.

Aeronav Group of Canada of the view that major works will will install equipment for the be complete at the Argyle site Control Tower. Richard

by December, 2014, and that operations of the facility should Lubeck, Aeronav’s supervisor, is proud to work with locals at begin by June 2015. the Argyle International Matthias made the airport. prediction at the compound He will oversee the last week Thursday. He led a installation of the facilities at delegation which included the Control Tower.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph The Aircraft Rescue and Gonsalves.

Firefighting Facility will be According to Bradley handed over to the Airport Francis, General Manager of authorities by October this Franco Construction year. That’s according to Company, the Tower base at Anderson Yarde, Project Argyle will be finished by Manager of the Barbados September 15. based InfoTech Services Ltd.

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY

Aeronav Supervisor Richard Lubeck is happy to work at the IADC.

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

That company is building the EC$6.2 airport Rescue and Firefighting facility.

That building will house three fire-trucks which have already been purchased. They can carry 300 gallons, and are scheduled to arrive as soon as the building is finished.

Prime Minister Rd. Ralph Gonsalves disclosed that 20 additional Firefighters will be employed at the new airport.

One aspect of concern to the contractors at Argyle is the installation of pipes to direct water beneath the runway strip.

Alfredo Hernandez, Head of Earth works at Argyle, and Leonardo Perez, technical advisor, are overseeing the final touches of the runway’s installation.

Sea defences are scheduled to end by October.

The airport’s approach will be enhanced with works being done, which also see provision of a sheltered bay at Stubbs.

That will also cater for adequate lighting as well as broaden the aspect of safety at the new facility.

The Terminal Building was handed over earlier this year.

Installation of equipment to take care of activities has been taking place at that structure.

Work on the airport began August 13, 2008. There has been speculation as to when the airport will become operational. It is estimated to cost EC$700M, and is this country’s biggest single project.

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.