The Vincentian PDF-16-08-19

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY,

AUGUST 16, 2019

IN THIS ISSUE OF : THE VINCENTIAN

VOLUME 113, No.29

Trigger happy youth jailed Page 4

www.thevincentian.com

Tribute to stalwart teacher Page 6

EC$1.50

Change not renewal Page 12

Ex-Kalinago Chief visits Page 19

WI 250 at home Page 22

GHS TOPS AGAIN

by: DAYLE DA SILVA

performance in Ad Mathematics, which she said was introduced recently to the school, and in the Sciences, Social Sciences and English A. According to Beache, 100 percent pass rates were recorded in 15 subject areas, with the remaining 12 subjects ranging in pass rates between 86 and 99 percent.

In addition to the staff and students, the parents of the students of the Class of 2019 also came in for high commendation.

Beache told THE VINCENTIAN that some of the parents had a heavy presence throughout their daughters’ school careers.

“And that is what school is supposed to be, a cooperative effort between the staff, parents and the community,” Beache pronounced.

The St Vincent Grammar School ranked second with an overall pass rate of 91.44 percent, followed by the Bequia Seventh Day

THE GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL IS AGAIN the top local performing institution in the Caribbean Examination Council Secondary Education Certificate Examination (CSEC Exams).

The all-girls school recorded an overall pass rate of 96.90 percent, and included among its overall result, this year’s top individual performers, namely: Zuania Baptiste who gained 14 passes including 12 Grade I’s and two Grade II’s; Lonye Browne — 15 passes (8 Grade I’s, 6 Grade II’s and one Grade III); and Adiah Holder — 14 passes including 13 Grade I’s and one Grade II. According to Headmistress Michele Beache, the 96.90 percent pass rate represented a decrease over the figure of last year.

Nevertheless, Beache said, it was a rewarding feeling to once again emerge as the top performing institution in the country.

“It is not easy to work with students who are sometimes unwilling, and to be consistent with them,” she told THE VINCENTIAN. She thanked her staff, saying that many of them gave of their free time to ensure that the students go over the required material and are properly prepared.

“The aim is to ensure that everyone gets it, and they (staff) work hard every year,” Beache said.

As she commended the GHS Headmistress Mrs. Michele staff, she said that she Beache is satisfied that the school was particularly pleased could maintain its high pass rate. with the school’s

Adventist School with 88.57 percent.

The St Martin’s Secondary (87.70 percent), St Joseph’s Convent (84.35 percent), Mountain View Adventist Academy (82.08 percent) and St Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua (80.71percent) rounded up the performers for 2019 with an overall pass rate of 80 percent or higher.

Another eleven institutions recorded pass rates between 60 and 80 percent. These were: Bishop’s College Kingstown, Thomas Saunders Secondary, Georgetown Secondary, Petit Bordel Secondary, Intermediate High School, Adelphi Secondary, St Clair Dacon, North Union Secondary, Sandy Bay Secondary, West St.George Secondary and Emmanuel High School Mesopotamia.

Based on information supplied in a release from the Ministry of Education, the Bequia Seventh Day Adventist and the West St George Secondary School recorded the highest percent points improvement.

A total of 2,478 candidates wrote the May/June examinations this year, comprising 817 private and 1,661 school candidates.

The Girls’ High School has been for some time now, the country’s top performing school at CSEC.

2. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

V News 3 CAPE results show slight decrease

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. 3.

RESULTS IN THE 2019 MAY/JUNE examinations were allowed a window Caribbean Advanced Proficiency lasting between two to three hours on Examinations (CAPE) have indicated a established release dates. slight decrease in the overall pass rate, The schedule was as follows,: for down from 91.04 percent in 2018 to students in St Vincent and the 90.66 percent.

Grenadines, Anguilla, Antigua and The Ministry of Education release Barbuda, Belize, BVI, Cayman stated that Grades I through IV Islands, Dominica, Grenada, (passing grades) were obtained in 1,776 Monsterrat, Saba, St Kitts and Nevis, subject sittings in 2019.

Suriname and Turks and Caicos There was a total of 634 candidates Islands and St Maarten - between 9 who registered for the examinations and 11a.m; Barbados and Guyana 567 from the St Vincent and the were between 11:15 am and 2:15 pm; Grenadines Community College and 67 Jamaica — 2:30 and 5:30 pm and private candidates. between 5:45 and 8:45 pm Trinidad Ten subject areas received 100 and Tobago. percent passes: Art and Design, Results were made available for Biology, Caribbean Studies, French, free until the portal closed. (DD) Geography, Integrated Mathematics, Literatures in English, Physical Education and Sport, Physics and Spanish.

PETRUS GUMBS, Up to press time DIRECTOR and Founder of Wednesday, information on the STEM programme, has this year’s top performers urged parents to provide was not forthcoming. computers or Lap tops to A release from the their children instead of Caribbean Examinations Tablets.

Council (CXC) on Monday Gumbs thinks that indicated that the results computers enhance students’ for the 2019 CAPE and ability to be creative.

Caribbean Secondary He made the appeal at the Education Certificate closing ceremony of the (CSEC) were to be released seventh edition of the STEM between 9 and 11a.m on programme, held on Friday August 13 and 15 to 9th August, 2019 at the candidates from St Vincent Methodist Church Hall, and the Grenadines.

Kingstown.

Taji Christopher – Jonathan Wood – The new system, Gumbs expressed delight outstanding performer. outstanding performer. according to CXC, was to with this year’s 4-week avoid high volume of traffic programme held under the ‘Band width,’ on the CXC website when theme ‘Create something new’, at the St. so that the STEM activity could be the results were usually Martin’s Secondary School, and was effective. released at 10 pm EST, on encouraged by the exhibits on display. He He noted that the programme has established release dates. was happy that students were afforded the “grown,” thanks to sponsors, and that the As of this year, students opportunity to experiment. programme was having an impact on a who sat the May/June The Director praised Digicel for their wide range of students.

CAPE and CSEC interest in the programme. They provided Digicel’s Country Manager Fanta

Give children computers

SVGTCCU offers scholarships THE ST. VINCENT AND THE Grenadines Teachers Cooperative Credit Union (SVGTCCU) is continuing to ease the burden of students here, as they pursue their secondary education.

Four students received assistance towards their new path at a function staged at the Credit Union’s headquarters last week Thursday. They are Rihann Cozier, Gianna Estwick, Rayanne Pierre and Chazze Ledger. They will each get $1200 every year for the next five years, to help with expenses.

Cozier secured the Cecil ‘Blazer’ Williams award and moves into the Girls’ High School. Estwick and Pierre will be her schoolmates. Ledger enters the St. Vincent Grammar School.

Besides the four big winners, 84 other students secured book vouchers. These were presented by Deputy Chief Executive Officer Nekeisha Adams.

Remarks came from Miriam Roache, the SVGTCCU president, and Kay Martin- Jack, Senior Education Officer.

Linron John, currently enrolled at the SVG

Scholarship winners with TCCU and Education officials.

Community College, and who benefitted from an expansion in the Union to 2020, was on hand to speak of the positive impact of the scholarship progamme.

The audience was entertained by the School Band of which the SVGTCCU is an original sponsor. (WKA)

Tamiah Williams -outstanding performer.

Williams committed her company to the STEM activity. She saw the need for the provision of “consistent band width” which was vital to the programme, and she was pleased that her company was able to provide that basic requirement to a successful programme.

She observed that “this is a growing and dynamic world,” and encouraged business houses to “invest in these programmes.” She pledged that “Digicel will find a way to be involved.”

Education Officer Kay Martin-Jack endorsed Gumbs’ suggestion of providing computers for children. She noted that “Teachers will have to lift their game,” as a result of the advanced ability of some students.

Martin-Jack stressed the importance of Mathematics at secondary schools, and is insisting that no child should leave school without attempting the Maths examination.

“Maths lies at the heart of modern innovations,” Martin jack pointed out.

A number of students were rewarded for their accomplishments in various endeavours. However, three were privileged to be recipients of Smart Phones presented by Digicel. They were Tamiah Williams, Taji Christopher and Jonathan Wood. (WKA)

V

4. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Courts

Security Guard jailed for theft Too many Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS JUST ABOUT a month after Lincoln Small, a Security Guard attached to Guardsman Security, was reprimanded and discharged after pleading guilty to stealing $200 from telecom provider Digicel, Security Guard Kensley Bascombe, attached to Humbles Security, was sentenced to six months in prison for a similar offence.

Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett handed down the penalty at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court this week.

Bascombe had pleaded guilty to stealing $850 from Sheon John, an administrative assistant at the St. Vincent Electricity Services (VINLEC).

In presenting the facts, Prosecutor Curlene Samuel told the Court that around 10am July 31, John put $850 in a white envelope and placed it in her desk.

When she checked for

the money around 11am August 8, it was not there. She inquired from her co-workers whether they had removed the money, but they said no.

Close circuit cameras at VINLEC revealed footage of Bascombe Ashton walking along the office space, placing a t-shirt over the monitor, then going to John’s desk and removing the envelope which contained the money.

Interestingly, Bascombe placed the tshirt over the monitor instead of the camera, resulting in him being caught.

The Security Guards at VINLEC are given a key so they could patrol the building during the night.

John made a report to the police, and Bascombe was arrested.

When cautioned, he admitted to the offence.

The 45-year-old man told the Court he spent the money to clear outstanding debts.

Bascombe said he had

over five years experience as a Security Guard, had worked with Humble’s Security for seven months, and had also worked as a Port Security.

“Your firm assigned you to watch VINLEC, and that is all you do?” the Senior Magistrate asked rhetorically.

“If we can’t trust Security Guards, who can we trust?” Burnett further questioned.

Bascombe further explained that he was once robbed and shot, and began encountering medical problem while assigned to VINLEC, and his salary was not sufficient to pay medical expenses.

“I know it’s not right in the sight of God and man, especially that I am now a church person, (but) I am willing to pay every cent back to the owner,” Bascombe pleaded. But the Magistrate told him it was not as easy as that.

“Look at how you conducted yourself. You

Trigger happy youth jailed A 19-year-old South Rivers man, residing at Arnos Vale, who told the Court Monday that he felt “trigger happy”, so he decided to take a loaded gun to celebrate his 20th birthday last Friday, is into his fifth day of a 3-year prison sentence.

Zian Ashton was sentenced to three years for possession of a .22 revolver, without licence; nine months for possession of three rounds of .22 ammunition and one year for going equipped to steal. He had pleaded guilty to the charges.

The sentences, handed down by Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court, will run concurrently.

The facts revealed that around 1:45 a.m. last Friday, police from the Calliaqua Police Station were on patrol at Arnos Vale when they met Ashton wearing a black tam almost covering his face, and carrying a black bag on his back.

The lawmen requested a search, to which he consented, and a face mask resembling that of a clown, a black long sleeve T-shirt and a screw driver were found in the bag.

As the officers continued the search, the .22 revolver fell from his waiste. It was retrieved, and found to contain three rounds of ammunition.

The gun was found to be in working condition, and the bullets to be live when checked by a firearms expert.

When questioned by the Senior Magistrate, Ashton said he found the gun under a mango tree at Arnos Vale and kept it without telling anyone.

In relation to the other items, Ashton told the Court he always kept them in his bag, and had used the mask to play Carnival.

When the Magistrate asked where he was Zian Ashton going at that time in the morning, Ashton said he was going to celebrate his birthday, and wanted to start drinking something early.

The youngster said he took the gun with him because he was feeling “trigger happy”.

When Burnett asked about his schooling, Ashton said he attended the George Stephens Secondary School at Colonarie, but at age 14, he dropped out in Form 3. He said he went through difficult times, and had to work on weekends while attending school.

Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche, who made submissions at the request of the Magistrate, recommended a custodial sentence in the range of two and a half years to three and a half years.

Delpleche contended that to be found with a loaded gun, mask, black t-shirt and screw driver, at that time in the morning, were serious aggravating factors. He said the only mitigating factors were Ashton’s guilty plea, and that he had no previous convictions.

In handing down the penalty, Burnett told Ashton that a message had to be sent to him and others like him.

attempting to block the security camera.

“You are aware of the security system, and you attempted to get around it,” Burnett said.

He told the defendant that he wanted the other Security Guards to know about him (Bascombe), and the seriousness of what he did, and urged Bascombe to use his prison sentence for reflection.

In Small’s case, he had told the Court he was undergoing hard economic times and was unable to make ends meet.

Small was also caught on CC camera, removing the money, the property of a Digicel employee.

That offence was committed on July 11.

Small was 49.

The Senior Magistrate had said he believed Small was truthful in his explanation regarding his economic situation.

Small had already handed over $160 to the police for which the Court made a restitution order, and ordered that he compensate the complainant the remaining $40.

young criminals OPPOSITION New Democratic Party (NDP) former Chairman and attorney at Law, Dr. Linton Lewis has recommended serious counselling for young persons who had no parental guidance, and find themselves involved in criminal activity, or have that inclination.

Lewis made the recommendation during a sitting of the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

He was one of two defence lawyers, sitting at the Bar Table who Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett asked to make submissions, as friends of the Court, in the case of 20-year-old Zian Ashton who pleaded guilty to possession of a .22 revolver, three rounds of .22 ammunition and going equipped to steal.

The South Rivers man, residing at Arnos Vale, whom the police caught in possession of the loaded, gun, along with a bag containing a clown mask, black long sleeve t-shirt and screw driver around 1:45am. Last Friday, at Arnos Vale, told the Court he was at the time going to celebrate his birthday and he was feeling “trigger happy”. He said he had a hard upbringing, and dropped out of secondary school at age 14.

He was at the time a third former, and had to work on weekends.

Lewis said he found it difficult to understand why someone, at 1:45am would be going to celebrate his birthday with those items. He made reference to Ashton’s remark that he was feeling “trigger happy”, and expressed the views that anything could have happened that morning.

“Too many young people here are involved in crime,” Lewis said.

Michael Wylllie, the other lawyer who was asked to make submissions, expressed similar sentiments, but questioned whether an investigation was carried out to determine whether any gun-related crime was committed in the area around the time Ashton was found with the loaded gun and other items.

Wyllie noted that Ashton had told the Court that he found the firearm under a mango tree at Arnos Vale.

Iguana hunters get light penalty VIGILANT action by officers from the Forestry Department, September 12 last year, led to two men appearing before the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday after being arrested and charged for violating the Wild Life Protection Act. At the end of the day, however, the men got off with a light penalty.

Though Curtis Small, 29-year-old vendor and Kimal Harry, 25-year-old mason/labourer, both of Ottley Hall, were reprimanded and discharged, a message was sent to would be offenders regarding the seriousness of wild life possession during the closed season.

The two had initially pleaded not guilty to possession of wild life during the close season, but changed their pleas to guilty when they returned to Court on Tuesday.

Forestry officers arrested the men around 2:50p.m. on September 12 last year after intercepting them in the area of the Ottley Hall Marina. A search of a bag Small was carrying revealed four iguanas, two dead and two alive.

Harry was carrying a cutlass, and a dog was walking along with the men.

Small and Harry were handed over to the police and charged under Section 15 of the Wild Life Protection Act 2009 which states that anyone in possession of any specie of Wild Life, the nest or egg thereof during the period of the closed season for that specie of wild life, is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of $2,000,

and to six months imprisonment.

Bradford Latham, Law Compliance and Enforcement Officer attached to the Forestry Department, told the Court that over the years, the Forestry Department have encountered problems with persons hunting before the start of the hunting season which runs from October 1 to January 31. He noted that a person could be fined up to $2,000, and could also be fined and confined for the offence.

Small and Harry had told the Court they had $500 and $300 respectively on them, but Small indicated that he would like to use his money to purchase school items for his children.

When asked what penalty he would suggest for the defendants, Latham suggested a fine, saying, “The gentlemen were very co-operative. We didn’t get any resistance from them.”

The Magistrate expressed the view that it would have been good if the money imposed as a fine, could go to develop the work being done at the Forestry Department, but he didn’t have the power to make that order.

“I am mindful of giving them a chance,” Burnett contended. He recalled that one of the defendants said he would like to use the money he had on him to purchase school items for his children.

“Sometimes you have to show mercy. I show a lot of mercy in this Court.” Burnett said.

The two live iguanas were returned to the wild at the Botanic Gardens.

V ECGC awards Scholarships

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16 , 2019. 5.

Education

SINCE 1999, the East Caribbean Group of Companies (ECGC) has given full scholarships and book allowances to children of its employees, who were successful in the then Common Entrance Examination, now the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA).

This year was no different, and on July 31, Alexandro Charles and Ginneke Shallow became the recipients of the full scholarships, while Tevere Pope, Kalyssa Dyer and Elroy “CJay” Browne received book allowances.

The scholarship awardees will each receive EC$1,200.00 per year for five years of secondary school, while the book allowance awardees will collect EC$600 each.

The awards can be extended for a further

two years of college education locally, at a value of EC$1,500.00 and EC$750 for the full scholarship and book allowance respectively.

Scholarship awardee Alexandro is the son of Mrs Charmine Charles, employed in the Quality Assurance department; Ginneke is the daughter of Mrs Ginel Cudjoe, an employee in the Accounts and Administration department.

Bursary awardee Kalyssa is the daughter of Mr Kingsley Dyer of the Production Department; “C’Jay” is the son of Mr Cornelius Browne an employee in the Accounts and Administration Department; and Tevere’s mom is Ms. Sussana Pope, employed in the Production Department at the East Caribbean Bottlers Inc.

Alexandro and Tevere will attend the St. Vincent Grammar School, while Ginneke heads for the St. Vincent Girls’ High School.

Kalyssa and C’Jay will attend the St. Joseph Convent Kingstown and the Campden Park Secondary School respectively.

Mr Joshua Romeo, a former full scholarship holder and son of ECGC’s employee Mr Julian Keith Romeo, addressed the handing over ceremony. He encouraged the students to continue to study hard, be respectful to themselves, peers and teachers, and to avoid procrastination.

The Ceremony also included performances by two current awardees DeShawna Caine and Shaielle Williams, who did a musical rendition

Two receive assistance from NTRC

STUDENTS Gabrielle Phillips and Clifana McDowall are this year’s recipients of assistance under the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission’s (NTRC) Financial Assistance Programme.

Phillips is now a Grade 4 student at the Questelles Government School, while McDowall advanced to Form 2 at the North Union Secondary School.

Established in 2017, the NTRC Financial Assistance Programme offers assistance to one primary and secondary school Gabrielle Phillips Clifana McDowall student for the duration of one “Thank you year, and came into being as a result NTRC for the assistance, and I really of the observation that there were many students who had the potential appreciate it,” she said.

McDowall spoke of her passion for to do well but lacked the financial dancing, running and Spanish, before status to ensure a sustained she too expressed her gratitude to education.

Nine-year-old Phillips, who aspires NTRC for the assistance accorded her.

Gabriel Smart, guardian of the 12to be a nurse, expressed her gratitude year-old, said that she was proud of for having been one of the awardees McDowall’s academic for this year, saying that it was an accomplishments so far, as he incentive for her to continue to acknowledged the positive impact the perform well in school. financial assistance will have for the Mom Vernlin Phillips also commented on how grateful she was, student.

Six students have so far benefitted saying that this was the first time her from the NTRC Financial Assistance daughter received any type of Programme since its inception. (DD) financial assistance.

(From left): Mrs. Phyllis James, HR Manager (L), Ginneke Shallow, Elroy “CJay” Browne, Alexandro Charles, Tevere Pope, Kalyssa Dyer and Mrs. Rachel Haslam, Marketing Manager. and a dance respectively.

Each recipient thanked their parents for their support and ECGC for awarding the scholarships/bursaries.

Mrs Samanthia Lugay-Charles, ECGC’s Occupational Safety Health and

Environmental Coordinator gave the vote of thanks congratulating the students on their excellent performance, and encouraged the parents to continue supporting the awardees.

The award certificates

were distributed by Mrs Rachel Haslam — Marketing Manager, who also congratulated each recipient.

The ceremony was chaired by Mrs Phyllis James, HR Manager.

V

6. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Vernalyn Blencowe remembered Marriaqua Valley. Vernalyn “Vernalyn always Blencowe (left) informed us of and a member of traditions taking the Union Island place there — Cake Dancers dancing the ‘Big Group giving a Drum’. demonstration of “Although some of what is she loved Union done in the Cake Island Dance ritual. unapologetically, Laverne she was not an isolator,” “She Loved SVG” he continued. “She loved McDowald-Thompson, SVG (St. Vincent and the president of the Brooklyn-based Council “It’s an honour to pay Grenadines). She had a of St. Vincent and the tribute to Mrs. Vernalyn short tolerance for Grenadines Blencowe. Vernalyn was nonsense, which rubbed Mrs. Vernalyn Blencow Organizations, U.S.A., a fighter,” said Jackson some people the wrong Inc. (COSAGO), the Farrell, president of the way.

By Nelson A. King umbrella Vincentian St. Vincent and the “She was an integral naking@verizon.net; group in the US, told kingnaking210@yahoo.c Grenadines Ex-Teachers part of the vibrancy of THE VINCENTIAN that Association of New York, Ex-Teachers om Mrs. Blencowe “has left Inc. “She had strong (association). In my US CORRESPONDENT an indelible mark here in beliefs and strong faith opinion, she was part of the Diaspora and at the foundation of the THE BROOKLYN-BASED St. in her God. She was a home in SVG. She Catholic and loved the organization. Vernalyn Vincent and the served her communities country of her birth. was always there.

She Grenadines Ex-Teachers well.

“She was unique in opened her home to the Association of New York, “In addition to being a her love for St. Vincent organization.

Inc. has paid tribute to member of Ex-Teachers “She tried to get ExVernalyn Blencowe, former and the Grenadines, Association, she was the especially her place of Teachers to work executive member of the together. Most of all, she chairperson of the group, who died on Jul. 20 birth, Union Island,” Church Service added Farrell, a retired kept her strong faith in and interred on Aug. 3 in Committee of COSAGO public school teacher in God. No one questioned her native Union Island, St. Brooklyn, who hails from that. It wasn’t what she for many years,” said Vincent and the McDowald-Thompson.

La Croix in the said; it’s what she did.”

Grenadines. She was 79.

“She represented with dignity and pride for her country.”

Mrs. Blencowe’s professional career spanned over 50 years of teaching both in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Brooklyn.

She was also a Licensed Practical Nurse in New York, community activist and poet.

widow, a mother of three children, an extended Vernaln Blencowe making a mother of another presentation to the Stephanie three and 14 grand- Browne Primary School children. My strong Principal and Students, during family ties form a one of his visits ‘back home’. strong life line.

“I am who I think I am,” Mrs. Blencowe added.

“The product of a single parent upbringing since my father died when I was only 10-plus.

This left an urgency to me attaining adult responsibility status at a very young age. I was to Making another assume caring for my presentation this time to four younger siblings Stanton Gomes of Radio when Mom left to find Grenadines. provisions for our needy children in their livelihood.” easily development,” she She wrote that added. education was stressed In her own way and “I have been blessed in “our household,” words adding: “Even though we with a loving family who Maria Blencowe, Mrs. never had more than an believes in keeping in elementary school on the touch at least once a Blencowe’s youngest week,” Mrs. Blencowe child and only daughter, island until in the late continued. “Together, 70s, education came from said her mother had left they make me, the eldest the total involvement of written instructions, “as of my mother’s children an extended family to the order of her final feel truly special. Three experience; church and day. birth children, an library access helped “Therefore, we adopted son, a stepson greatly in my followed it to the ‘t’,” she and a son by extension, told THE VINCENTIAN. developmental process.” have greatly enhanced Mrs. Blencowe “It was truly a going my life. They are disclosed that her home for what most treasures given to me by deceased mother, Sarah people refer to her as a a wonderful God.” Hutchinson, was stricken Vincentian iconic, who Maria described her with Alzheimer’s disease, represented her people mother as “always about stating that “the with pride and joy, but teaching,” stating that terminology and the always knew where she her teaching career nature of the disease came from, and extended past her official were not part of my treasured and respected retirement, “when she experience. the culture of Union returned to her Union “It is one of the most Island and how special debilitating diseases any Island and singlethis small island was to family could experience,” handedly revived the Big her.”

Drum dancing, which is she wrote. “Its effects Mrs. Blencowe, who Union Island cultural shattered your outlook was born on Jul. 10, pride and joy.” on life, as I watched my 1940, wrote in her eulogy She said Mrs. mother once an assertive — which was read by Blencowe did this woman, a community Maria in the funeral through songs, poem and activist, a church lay service at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church leader, an entrepreneur, dancing, with the focus on the youth. a home maker, a in Clifton, Union Island “Rest on Union Island seamstress, turned into a — that she was “born one Queen,” Maria said. ‘bulb’ of human confusion of six children on a tiny and waste for more than “Your presence will be island in the Caribbean missed, but your legacy 12 years.

Sea. “These many phases of and footprints will live “Just 3 1/16 square on.” who I am make me a miles of land, but this Vernalyn Blencowe complex woman, a birth place provided was interred at the woman who enjoys life, some of the most Ashton Cemetery in loves to travel, wishes to treasured moments of my Union Island. stop working a 9-5 job life,” she wrote. “Now, I and yet be able to assist am an Afro-Caribbean

V „Anything is possible,‰ says Charles

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16 , 2019. 7.

News

EIGHT STUDENTS who begin their secondary schooling in September received some words of advice last Tuesday. The advice came from Basil Charles, during the handing over ceremony of scholarships and bursaries by his Basil Charles Educational Foundation.

Since 1995, the Basil Charles Educational Foundation has been providing financial support to students, and Charles, the man behind the world-renowned Basil’s Bar on Mustique, told the students gathered last Tuesday that, “Anything is

possible,” and “I am living proof of that.”

This year, Rihann Cozier of the Bequia Anglican School, Acadia Charles of the Barrouallie Government School, Elvanique Horne of the Langley Park Government School and Adafa Ralph of the Kingstown Preparatory School received full scholarships — each receiving $600 to start the term and $500 for the other semesters, extending over five years.

Cozier, Charles and Horne are enrolled at the Girls’ High School and Ralph at the St. Vincent Grammar

Bunpan hands out Educational Awards ON THURSDAY 8th August, 2019, the Marriaqua United Friendly Society (Bunpan) held its Annual Educational Awards Ceremony at the Society’s headquarters at Freeland, Mesopotamia.

On that occasion, one (1) full scholarship was made along with twentynine (29) one-off awards.

The full scholarship was awarded to Kiefer Hazelwood, a pupil of the Bequia Anglican Primary School who Manager Margaret Clarke presenting the award to placed 52nd for boys and scholarship winner Kiefer Hazelwood.

125th overall with encouraged the awardees to find the 87.4%, in the 2019 Caribbean source of their power in God. Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA).

She went on to identify the need Kiefer, the son of Ms Ruth Alves of for the pupils to exercise control over Bequia, will attend the St. Vincent their time and energy, in order to Boys Grammar School from steer the course of their achievement, September 2019. and insisted that careful research, His scholarship award is worth fourteen hundred dollars ($1400) per saving the positive things and staying year, and will last for seven (7) years, close to the guidance of their parents/guardians, were all provided his performance is requirements for successful satisfactory. educational and personal Additionally, Kiefer’s external examinations’ fees will be paid for by development.

She also urged parents/guardians the Bunpan Society.

Awards of $100.00 each were made to be responsive to the concerns and needs of their children as they to 29 other children who were either navigate their growth. members or the children of members The Marriaqua United Friendly of the Society.

Society is currently commemorating Speaking before an audience 65 years of service (1954 — 2019) comprising representatives of the under the theme ‘Consolidating Our Board of Directors and Management Achievements, 65 years of Service, and Staff of Bunpan and pupils and their parents/guardians, motivational 1954-2019!’. speaker Mrs. Dollis Caesar Alexander

Scholarship and bursary recipients with Basil Charles (centre back) and Mrs. Karen Joseph Nero (right).

School.

Four others benefited from bursaries: Sharina Browne, Azaria Bullock, Miles Cuffy, and Kizanique Jack.

Browne and Jack will be attending the Girls’ High School, both having graduated from the Langley Park Government School. Cuffy, a former St Mary’s Roman Catholic School student, heads to the Grammar School while Bullock leaves behind the C.W. Prescod School to attend St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown.

The bursary recipients were reminded that they can transpose to the scholarship level if their performances merit it.

Charles disclosed that sales from

CDs of the Mustique Blues Festival prop up the Foundation’s resources.

He hinted on plans for a 25th anniversary special next year, and of upgrading their Web presence. He is urging students to join the Foundation.

Charles used the occasion to query the imposition of duty on text books.

He thinks that the removal of that measure will make books cheaper.

In addition to its scholarship/bursary programme, the Basil Charles Foundation is also involved with assisting Pre Schools and the School Feeding programmes, and also the STEM Summer programme. (WKA)

V

8. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. 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 In support of Marcus Garvey EARLIER THIS WEEK, A MEMBER OF the Bobo Shanti Order of Rastafarians visited with us. His mission: “to rouse the brethren into doing something to celebrate the birthday of the Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey.”

Our visitor felt obligated to pay tribute to the ‘great man’, for after all, he was an integral part of the genesis of the Rastafarian religion, and its overarching philosophy of ‘looking to Africa’.

The Bobo Shanti brethren was civil about including THE VINCENTIAN in the ‘Establishment’ and its disregard of a black leader of immense influence.

Yes, tomorrow, Saturday 17th August marks the birthday of Marcus Garvey. He was born on that day in 1887 in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica and died, perhaps ironically so, in London, England on June 10, 1940.

In 1964, his body was exhumed and reinterred in Jamaica where he was declared the country’s first national hero.

But it is what transpired in his short 52 years that established Marcus Gravey as a leader unsurpassed by other black leaders of his time and since; and why this publication would join with the three main orders of the Rastafari Bobo Shanti, Nyahbinghi and Twelve Tribe - to celebrate the ‘earthday’ of Marcus Garvey.

Marcus Garvey, from his youth, spoke of the need for Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements, to withstand the wrath of the white imperialists.

To this end, he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in Jamaica and then transposed it to the USA. His philosophy would eventually inspire a global mass movement known as Garveyism. Historians, who approached Garvey’s legacy with caution and even doubt, had to admit that by 1920, six years after it was founded, the UNIA boasted a membership of some four million.

This reach caught the hateful eye of white America and even the scorn of Black American leaders who had failed to establish a genuine movement of their own.

Americans, including Black politicians, civil right leaders, university heads, albeit long after

his death, would admit that Marcus Garvey offered his people - blacks dispersed across the Caribbean, Americas and Europe, a different vision for the future.

But there was no hope in white America for a Black man with the influence of Marcus Garvey. Even Black civil right leaders at the time treated him with distance if not fear and jealousy.

All of this culminated in the 1922 arrest of Garvey in the USA. He was charged with mail fraud involving the Black Star Line, the shipping company he had launched in 1919 to facilitate trade between Africa and Africans in the Caribbean and North America In1923, Garvey was found guilty and sentenced to prison for five years. An appeal failed, but he was released in 1927 and deported to Jamaica where, if the truth be told, his influence began to wane.

This began a whole new struggle.

There is little doubt, though so few black historians speak to it, that Marcus Garvey was perhaps the most influential black man of the twentieth century.

He is credited with establishing the first mass movement of blacks in America; influencing African and Caribbean leaders in their struggles for independence; even influencing movements like the Nation of Islam; and of course the Rastafarian religion that continues to capture a following from among the young people of the Caribbean and beyond.

Against that background of unparalleled influence comes today a call for the USA to expunge the (criminal) record of Garvey.

It is documented that the charges that handed him a criminal record were trumped-up, instigated by Edgar Hoover, the known anti-black Head of the FBI. Calls for the expunging of his records have gone unheeded, not least those made during the Obama administration.

Perhaps the greatest injustice made against blacks by Barrack Obama, was his failure to even consider expunging the records of a global hero called Marcus Garvey.

On his last day in office, Obama granted commutation of sentence to 330 individuals. Garvey was not among them. Nuff said!

Football Really Take Over: After a Gestation Period of 70 Years A Re-print CASHING IN ON THE RECENT outbreak of football fever, This Week has scanned the football scene over the past 50 years and come up with its best squad of seventeen players comprising 2 goal-keepers and 5 men each for positions of Defence, midfield and striker.

Players engaged in the current World Cup Preliminaries have not been considered otherwise “Twenty” Browne, “Chang” Jack, and Dereck DuPont would certainly have come up in contention.

A short list of half-a-dozen goalkeepers, together with a dozen players from each division, forms a pool from which the final selection is made.

St. Vincent has been blessed with some outstanding goal-keepers such as George Hinds (who doubled up as full back), Arnhim John (1950s) , Winston Soso (1960s) and two St. Lucians Augustin James and “Father Priest” (1940s-50s).

In the earlier years, there were some interesting keepers as well, including Robert Connell, Robert O’Garro, Elliot Cambridge and Hudson Soso.

But my own top six, ending with the very best, are: Noel Baynes (1930s-50s), Arnold Providence, Robert “Doogan” Mc Caulley (1950s), Dorian Phillips (1970s1980s) and Mike Findlay and Foster Huggins who have my vote.

As we turn to Defence, challenges came easily from the following 7 players: George Hinds, Carlton Horne, Luxie Morris, Bevellington “Bage” Lucas, Leslie Ollivierre, Tyrone Barrow and Winston Baptiste.

Those entering the charmed circle, however, are St Clair Warner (1930s40s), Doggie Cambridge (1960’s), Tyrone “Tweety” Spence, Raymond Ballantyne and Raymond De Bique.

Selecting the midfield players has created my worst headaches. Left out are such ace players as the Millington brothers Moori and Sheen, Garnet Niles and 3 of the best stoppers ever put out by the Grammar School - Jack Pollard, Leonard Sandy and Castine Quashie.

Also overlooked have been Lorraine Daisy and “Napie” Williams of 1940s, Fred Trimmingham of the 60s and Marcus Young of the 1970’s.

In my View, the foregoing have been bested by Paul Boucher (1930s-40s), his nephew Rudy Boucher and the versatile

Lawrence “Babs” Jones who was a fine player in goal, defence and attack whether inside or on the wings, but dominated in midfield.

My other two midfielders are “Slick” Bonadie noted for his creation of space, ball wizardry and accurate distribution; and Ian Neverson who marshalled his men from centre field like a General deploying his forces.

The selection of forwards is, perhaps, the most subjective of all. Let us deal first with the rather rich vein of rejects.

Frank Linley (1950s) Rudolph “Bricks” Wilson and “Chipper” Isaacs (1960s) have every reason to fancy their chances on the right wing. Vin Cupid (1960s) and “Bobo” Joseph (1950s) can consider themselves unlucky to have been passed over for the left wing position.

As to the inside forwards there has been a bumper harvest over the years.

The older generation would swear by Arthur Mc Intosh, George “Button” Forde, Alvin Joseph, Clifford Boucher and Augustine Dennie of the 1930s to 1940s.

A later generation would think that Casper Quammie, Nathan Johnson, Douglas Doyle and especially Jeff Bailey, Norman “Zupang” Jones and Ossie Lewis would be automatic choices. Painfully, I had to turn my back on this galaxy.

For sheer brilliance, persistence and determination, the famous 1979-1981 team, Guy and Raulite Lowe got my nod for the wing positions.

For the trio of inside forwards, I would favour Pete Morris and Norbert Hall with that “golden” left foot.

After a devil of a toss- up between Sylvester “Scooby” Taylor and Bertram Hall, I came down in favour of Hall by a boat-tip for centre forward.

So, to repeat, my seventeen reads from back to front as follows: Goal - Findlay and Huggins; Defence - St Clair Warner, Douggie Cambridge, Tyrone Spence, Raymond Ballantyne and Raymond De Bique; Midfield - Paul Boucher, Rudy Boucher, Lawrence “Babs” Jones, Keith “Slick” Bonadie and Ian Neverson; Forward: Raulite Lowe, Guy Lowe, Peter Morris, Norbert Hall and Bertram Hall.

But our cupboard is so full that it will not surprise me if some pundit selected an entirely different seventeen that look just a good!

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. 9.

Letters

Exhorting our politicians I WANT TO caution all our politicians - ULP, NDP, Green Party and those waiting on the fences that the world is no longer becoming a global village, it is a global village.

As such, therefore, there are no secrets anymore. What happens in our blessed SVG is known within minutes in

New York, London, Toronto, Moscow for the matter.

And when things happen here, whether true or false, you politicians will be judged; so please be on the safe and correct side and be respectful and honest in what you are doing or

what you hope to do.

Commit from now, if you are just entering the political arena to the e highest degree of integrity.

Those of you who are in office, if you didn’t know before, you were elected to serve and to be an encouragement to

those who elected you, not to mention an example to all.

The people’s eyes are upon you all. This is a new era and people are not going to put up with all this dilly dallying anymore.

Retiree, Arnos vale

Police, nurses and civility THERE WAS a time past when as young people we were, come what may, respectful of police officers and nurses.

Police officers because they were (are) the custodians of what was right and what was wrong, i.e. the things that could determine your career path in life; nurses because they were (are) the ones who attended to your cuts

and bruises, broken limbs, and more importantly administered those ‘dreaded’ injections.

In those times, police officers and nurses, even though they were stern, they were civil and mannerly. When they were finished with you, which always meant a little scolding, you felt better for it, and for sure would not want to repeat

Shafted!!!

I AM BEGINNING to think that we consumers are being shafted more and more by business houses here.

Take for example a case of being told that an item which comprises say three different things, is missing one of those things - it is not available at the time - but you still have to pay the full price as advertised for the item. Is there not something wrong about this? How can you say to a customer that one of the things is not available, but if you want the item you’ll have to pay full price? That sounds like ‘robbery’ to me.

The least that could be done in a circumstance like this, is to offer the customer some comparative replacement. But No!!! No replacement. Take it or leave it, period!!!

To be truthful, it’s not the money that should bother us, even though that is a bother — it’s the principle and the feeling that is left that businesses can just take the consumer for a ride.

And in our case, don’t even think about trying to report something like this to the ‘authorities’ whoever they are.

If when things like this happen to us and we boycott that business, let’s see if they will not buck up, at least I hope.

Kingstown Resident

the act that brought you into contact with them in the first place.

Today, sadly, all that civility and good manners are rapidly vanishing.

For certain, attitudes of the populace have changed; people have become demanding, and the young people in particular want things to happen at the snap of a finger.

However, this should not translate into a like response from professionals like police officers and nurses. In fact, these professions are fast becoming void of any modicum of civility.

For all the millions spent on training for those who choose to enter these professions, for all the qualified personnel that make up the professions here, many of these professionals lack the basic human touch — lack a basic ‘customer friendly’ approach to those who they are expected — that they have chosen to serve.

We are fast to find fault with the civil servants, store clerks and even some bank people; so why are we afraid to also bring the

Message of condolences The OECS Commission extends deepest condolences to the Government and People of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the passing of former parliamentarian, Sir Vincent Ian Beache.

Sir Vincent served as a Minister and Member of Parliament for many years, and contributed significantly to the development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. His service to the Government and People of St. Vincent and the Grenadines will always be remembered.

The Commission extends heartfelt sympathies to the family of Sir Vincent and to the Government and People of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on this sad occasion.

OECS Commission

shortcomings of our police officers and nurses to the fore?

I recommend that there be included in the training programme for police officers and nurses, some ‘customer relations training component’, not just all the fancy psychology and sociology that they try to instill nowadays, but very basic ways and means about being civil to the citizens they are ‘paid’ to serve.

Archer, K

Thorough Bible Reading Ref. the front-page rant (albeit in a rival newspaper) of Pastor Brian Turtin concerning the lack of Christian sympathy due to both male and female gays.

The Bible, both Old and New Testament, includes several passages supporting proslavery!

I would direct him to the following as examples, as to submit any more would be both tedious and boring to your readership: Exodus 21:2-6, Ephesians 6:5 and Timothy 6:1.

From this, do we infer that the Pastor is in favour of this ancient institution, bearing in mind the recent celebration of Emancipation Day? Or, rather, is it a case that his “Christianity” is more of the Pick & Mix variety??

A. W. Indupp

More disgrace for our cricket CORRECT ME if I am wrong, but didn’t Floyd Reifer, the current coach of the senior West Indies cricket teams, take over a relatively good team, one that was coming off victories over England in the W.I? He, of course, was President Skerrit and Vice President Shallow’s answer to what they saw as ‘useless hangovers’ from the Cameron days.

Now what do we get?

A team rapidly declining under this new coach; one that could not get past the preliminary round of the recent World Cup and finished 9th out of ten competitors. Is this what we can expect from these so-called homegrown coaches?

And things have got even worse, it seems, with the Indians’ tour to the Caribbean. Three defeats in the three T20 and, as I write this, one defeat and one no result in ODIs, at the hands of an Indian team that includes a lot of newcomers up against

the stalwarts we consider to be our best.

Something is wrong.

Every time we seem to be seeing a trickle of light in our cricket, up come some people to send us back into the abyss.

Time for Cricket West Indies to do some serious, unbiased analysis of those we consider key players, and

make the hard decision if necessary.

In the meantime, I hope for all our sakes — those of us who continue to follow the West Indies with many sleepless nights - that Reifer and his company get it right sooner than later.

Charles Edinboro

V

10. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Medical Cannabis and De-penalisation A Step in the right Direction

Introduction “Me na go ah jail fe ganja no more.” Peter Tosh These explicit lyrics of Peter Tosh were part of his “Nah Go ah Jail” song released thirty-two years ago in 1987. Since the establishment of an independent state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to recent times, it was an indictable offence to possess 15 grammes or less of cannabis, punishable by a jail term of ten years.

It was in October 2013 during an interview with British journalist Stephen Gibbs, our Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves posited that “SVG’s policy on drugs must move with the times and that it made no sense arresting and imprisoning someone for having a spliff or small quantities of marijuana in their possession.”

This statement translated into a serious commitment when in 2015 elections the ULP administration announced the pledge to establish a Medical Cannabis Industry in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. As such, traditional marijuana farmers no longer took on the risk, including imprisonment, for the cultivation of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

However, the move to reform our drug policy had to be done within the four walls of international law and related treaties that we are signatory to.

The strategy is to pursue reform of our marijuana laws so as to legalize cannabis for medicinal and research purposes, while depenalizing/ reducing penalties for possessing small quantities of cannabis to a summary/ ticket offence.

Hence, the government passed a series of laws related to not only the establishment of Medical Cannabis Industry, but also an Amnesty Act in December 2018. The ULP administration went a step further last month in passing a historic Bill, that resulted in the depenalization of the possession of 56 grammes/ two ounces of cannabis. The amendment of the draconian law( Drug Prevention of Misuse Act) which saw the imprisonment of many of our youths simply for the possession of small quantities of cannabis, will finally be a thing of the past.

What made this Act draconian?

The mere fact that under such a law, once you were caught with 15 grammes or less of marijuana, it was seen as an arrestable offence, resulting in a penalty of imprisonment of up to ten years, but no less than five years, and a maximum fine of $100,000. This was the case because, under this law, the possession of fifteen grammes was seen as the intent to sell marijuana to another for trafficking purposes.

Where are we now?

With the passage of the Drug Prevention of Misuse Amendment Act in July, it meant that the possession of 56 ounces of marijuana or less, will no longer be seen as an indictable offence ( imprisonable) but that of a summary offence( less serious crime).

The new Act imposes penalties such as a maximum fine of up to five hundred dollars once in breach of it, or a maximum fine of eighty dollars if caught smoking marijuana in a public place. The act also makes it illegal to smoke marijuana in any place or building, used by the public including educational institutions.

Other imposed penalties are counselling, rehabilitation and the reading of an educational pamphlet on harmful use/abuse of cannabis. This creative piece of legislation was crafted based on a loophole that exists within the Convention Treaty on

The CDB diplomatically calls it Misprocurement (Excerpts of Dr. Friday’s Press Statement) (Pt.3)

Narcotic Drugs 1961, where under Article 36, it does not directly require criminalization of possession of cannabis, except only in the cases of serious offences.

The 1971 amendment to the Article grants nations the discretion to substitute “treatment, education, after-care, rehabilitation and social reintegration” for criminal penalties, if the offender is a drug abuser.

Therefore, while it is still illegal, the imposed penalties are reduced, where no one will be arrested, neither imprisoned nor have a criminal record, even in found in breach of the Act. It is worthy to note that those found in breach of the Act, whether possessing 56 grammes or less of marijuana, or smoking in public, will be given the opportunity to “own up to the offence” committed.

This will be done by discharging their liability to the police officer, by stating that they indeed have cannabis of a small quantity on their person or did smoke in public. They will be handed an educational pamphlet or recommended for counselling/ rehabilitation.

However, if they don’t “own up to the offence” then they will be taken to the Magistrate Court, and could pay a fine no more than five hundred dollars if found guilty of being in possession of 56 grammes or less, or eighty dollars if found guilty of smoking in public place.

Moreover, the government has also ensured that the criminal records of those who were imprisoned for possessing small quantities of cannabis are exonerated.

The NDP’s wrong approach on the matter The New Democratic Party has called for partial legalization and for allowing persons to plant up to four plants in their backyard. This is not only be irresponsible but also reckless.

Why? First of all, there is no doubt that this will breach the very Act passed in Parliament, and will also result in a breach of the international laws and treaties on Narcotic Drugs.

It will be embarrassing for SVG who also headed the United Nations Economic and Social Council at the time, and ensuring that other member states comply with these drug treaties, to be in breach of the very treaty we are urging others to comply.

It would have resulted in an international backlash and the removal of SVG as head of such an important institution of the United Nations.

Conclusion St. Vincent and the Grenadines has seen not only the removal of draconian marijuana laws that robbed many youths of an opportunity to seek work or having a real future, but also we have seen where many traditional farmers, hundreds of them across SVG, are taking advantage of the opportunity given to engage in a formal economic activity without severe risk.

We continue to work on behalf of the poor and working-class, and we believe that this is the right step forward, to ensuring that no one will ever be arrested, imprisoned or have a criminal record, for simply possessing small quantities of cannabis.

THE SECOND point I want to make is in relation to Gonsalves’ defense that the CDB issued a no-objection to the award of the contract. Gonsalves is basically trying to suggest that the CDB approved the award of the contract because it issued a no-objection. The clear implication is that if it is a fraudulent contract, then the CDB is somehow liable for approving such a contract.

As usual, Gonsalves is misleading Vincentians. The fact of the matter is that the CDB, as the funding agency, provides funding on the basis that their rules will be followed, and that the various parties involved will act ethically, honestly and in good faith.

The government receives the funding on this basis, and the ministry is responsible for executing the particular project that is being funded.

It is the government’s responsibility to evaluate the tenders and to explain the basis of the evaluation to the bank, in a written tender report. This report will contain the Ministry’s recommendation for the award of the contract. The Ministry may hire a consultant to perform this evaluation.

But it is the responsibility of the government’s machinery to ensure that the evaluation is carried out fairly, competently and based on the rules identified by the CDB. The CDB does not examine or evaluate the tenders. This is the job of the executing agency, the government.

When the government submits a tender evaluation report to the CDB and asks for their no-objection to negotiate a contract, the no objection will be granted once the CDB determines, based on the submitted tender evaluation report, that the recommendation has been arrived at in accordance with the accepted principles, rules and practice. But at every stage, the onus is on the executing agency, the government ministry, to ensure that rules are being followed and requirements are being met.

If someone in government and/or some other party is intent on perpetrating a fraud (say, for example by falsely claiming a contractor has some particular expertise or experience that is required), and if the tender evaluation report does not expose the deficiency, there is no way the CDB can find this out on their own. This is where Bally and Bally came in. The CDB allows for protests to be made for this very reason, as a second line of defense against fraud and corruption. Its website refers to whistleblowers as a means of protecting its process, and encourages the practice.

So, we see that the CDB’s “noobjection” is not an approval of a fraudulent contract, as Gonsalves and ULP spokespeople are trying to suggest. The CDB does not expect fraud to come from the chambers of its borrowing member countries, so it takes the submitted tender evaluation report at face value. Of course, it anticipates that fraudulent practices can occur, and it places specific provisions in its procurement process to allow avenues for the discovery of and consequences for fraud. Every contract that the CDB finances has a

clause dealing with corruption and “fraudulent misrepresentation”. The “no-objection” granted by the CDB therefore assumes that the government and its agents are acting ethically and have done their job properly. It did not amount to an approval of a fraudulent contract in the present case.

But, as we now know, this is where the CDB has run into a problem. And that is why they are now standing up for ethics and saying no to fraud and corruption.

We Vincentians must do the same thing. When the time comes, the people of this country will take the necessary action. In the meantime, and acting on behalf of the people of our dear mistreated and abused country SVG who want ethical, honest and transparent government, we call on the Prime Minister to: (1) Provide full disclosure of the complete tender evaluation report: This tender was subject to a public opening; the prices were already read out in public, so the prices proposed by the various contractors are known.

Therefore, there is no secret or impediment to releasing the full tender evaluation report.

(2) Provide full disclosure of the names of the owners and beneficial owners of the company Reliable Construction Ltd: The company is being paid by taxpayers. Therefore, every taxpayer has the right to know who they are paying. It’s as simple as that.

(3) For a statement by Camillo Gonsalves, St Vincent & the Grenadines’ representative on the CDB Board of Governors and Minister of Finance, on the matter: As SVG’s representative on the CDB’s Board of Governors, Camillo Gonsalves is required to uphold the integrity of the institution and to ensure that it always acts in accordance with the public good and the good principles of good corporate governance. As this country’s Minister of Finance, he has the same responsibility for ethics and transparency in dealing with matters relating to the public finances, in short, to adhere to principles of accountability! We need to hear from the Minister of Finance to ensure that the government does not bad-spend taxpayers’ money as it appears that they are determined to do. The government’s response so far has done absolutely nothing to answer the legitimate questions of everyone’s mind. What went wrong to lead to a case where the CDB declared misprocurement on the contract? And; (4) We call for an Investigation of the Matter: On behalf of the People of St. Vincent, we call on the Government to immediately open a thorough investigation of the matter to be conducted by a competent and independent person or agency. All the facts that led to the declaration of misprocurement by the CDB must be established and responsibility for this shameful and costly breakdown of the process be established.

The result of this investigation must be made public, and so too any and all corrective measures to be taken to ensure that this does not happen again.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. 11.

Views

A sense of urgency

“If you fail to treat the current time you have wisely and with care, it’ll judge you tomorrow harshly since it came to you but you mistreated and abused it.” ? Assegid Habtewold — Author and founder of PRO Leadership Inc. We are often energized when we observe individuals who approach assignments with a sense of urgency.

We are motivated by their brisk walk and willingness to provide speedy responses when presented with tasks to perform. We are inspired by their sense of urgency. These are individuals who add value to their workplaces, church assemblies, neighbourhoods, and homes. They refuse to be laid back, laissez-faire, or complacent. They make their world and ours a brighter place by being upbeat and engaging.

Our society continues to seek out individuals who demonstrate that they are proactive and innovative.

These are the ones who champion positive changes in their immediate environment. They become conduits of positive change. Dr. John P. Kotter, the distinguished Harvard Business School Professor and international bestselling author on the subject of leadership and change, reminds us that, “At the very beginning of an effort to make changes of any magnitude, if a sense of urgency is not high enough and complacency is not low enough, everything else becomes so much more difficult.” Positive change is often driven by those individuals who have nurtured a sense of urgency.

Kotter is not alone as an advocate for this most desirable trait in our citizens. Neither should we conclude that this observation has become an area of concern in our generation.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), the Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, scientist, inventor, anatomist, writer, and architect, said it so well when he noted, “I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.”

It is not by accident that this writer has highlighted the many disciplines and skills that da Vinci pursued and perfected. His interests were quite varied. However, it is important to note that he developed the discipline to pursue each interest with passion, focus, and determination. History records that his “can do attitude” resulted in him being recognised as an accomplished scholar and artisan whose areas of interest included drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, invention, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany, paleontology and cartography. We marvel at such an accomplishment. However, we pause to reflect on the fact that he was no more (or less) human than we are.

Like Leonardo, we have the capacity to develop that same sense of urgency to accomplish greatness in a variety of fields. And while it is true that it is probably too late for many of us to develop so wide a repertoire of skills (for those of us who are now

approaching the twilight of our years), we do have the capacity to encourage and inspire the younger ones among us to unleash their varied potential.

Most certainly we should avoid limiting our youth (male and female) to “boxed in interests and professions” when they have the capacity, the potential, to perfect multiple disciplines. This is often quite evident when we discover how many of our young persons achieve almost perfect scores in multiple subject areas at the secondary and tertiary levels. They know, and we know also, that they have the capacity to straddle several disciplines. That talented female pianist also has the capacity to be an outstanding mathematician, scientist, and/or teacher. That young male athlete is also capable of being an outstanding pastor, artist, agronomist, and/or architect. It is possible. Those dreams, those ambitions, need not be buried or retarded. They could very well be unleashed today. And those of us who may have the responsibility and privilege of being the “gatekeepers to their minds” must develop that sense of urgency to fuel their imagination in these areas when destiny provides the opportunity for us to do so.

Today is the beginning of the rest of our lives. This day will never come again. We must be prudent. We must use this day wisely and with care. Today beckons us, all of us, to use each moment with a sense of urgency. We must move swiftly to embark on the noble projects and initiatives that we placed on a back burner awaiting “a more convenient time”. For many of us, that time is now. Now is the time to be proactive in igniting that desire to innovate.

Now is the time to seek forgiveness for the infractions that we may have done and the pain that we may have caused in others. Now is the time to invest in aspects of lifelong education.

Now, this very moment, is the time to reflect on how to improve our relationships with family, friends, coworkers, associates, church members, neighbours, and our God. We reflect.

We introspect. We ponder the tasks that we must commit to doing today (and to avoid regret that comes from squandering such opportunities). We imbibe the wisdom in the urgency of doing, being cognizant of the fact that knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do. Wishing and hoping will not aid us in accomplishing our varied tasks; we must be proactive and make that most important move. We are reassured that we are on the right path to a deep sense of accomplishment and ultimate joy as we proceed with a sense of urgency.

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

When Afrocentrism meets Eurocentrism ‘Salon, You Greeks are infants to us. Our (Egyptian) civilization is hoary with age.’

Taken from Plato’s Timaeus.

My column ‘Half Steppin’ to Emancipation’ rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. None took more angst than the Euro-Centrist know it all, C Ben David, a shadowy figure who has been all over the media advising government and private citizens alike about the rights and wrongs about Vincentian society and psyche.

Ben David accused me of racism, and lambasted me for ‘peddling Fake AfroCentric history.’ However, he offered not a single piece of evidence for this wild claim except to posit that ‘Ancient Egypt in northeastern Africa was truly rich in cultural achievements. It was also multiracial, though mainly Middle Eastern and Mediterranean rather than African from a genetic perspective.’ No proof, just a bald statement.

What utter nonsense! Ancient Egypt was not Black? It really comprised of Middle eastern and Mediterraneans.

Who were first and how did the mix occur? Ben David is silent. Any foolish argument to rob Africans of their greatness and their inventions.

This project of denial is not new. It gained credence and currency during the enlightenment period of the 17th and 18th century as Europeans tried to explain and rationalize the African Holocaust: Trans-Atlantic slave trade and Slavery. To do this, they had to obliterate everything of glory that Africans created or claimed as their own.

The Enlightenment Philosopher Georg Fredrich Hegel remarked that Africa “is no historical part of the world; it has no movement or development to exhibit.’ Rene Descartes described North Africa as ‘European Africa.’

John Locke helped to write the slave constitution of Virginia which provided a proviso that ‘every freeman of Carolina shall have absolute power and authority over his negro slave of what opinion or religion soever.’

Emanuel Kant said, ‘In the hot countries the human being matures earlier in all ways but does not reach the perfection of the temperate zones.

Humanity exists in its greatest perfection in the white race. At the risk of arousing the resentment of my brothers of color, I shall say that the Black is not a human.’

C Ben David cautions us to ‘never allow bogus research driven by divisive racialized politics to replace the enlightenment rational and objective search for scientific truth.’ From the foregoing, whose views are racist, the Afrocentrist or those enlightenment thinkers that Ben David places on a pedestal? See why Amiri Baraka warned ‘there is nothing that is objective’?

Now if these enlightenment thinkers thought so ‘lowly’ of Black people and Africa’s contribution to world history, small wonder Ben David concludes that many achievements of sub-Saharan ‘were based either on the independent invention or the ingenious application of what was learned from other lands in areas like astronomy, mathematics, education, medicine, metallurgy, agriculture, textiles, and the arts.’ He never mentions what the ‘independent inventions’ were!

None of these ‘notable achievements’ were home grown, ‘but from the ingenious application of what was learned from other lands.’ Like from where? The Afrocentrists are attempting to steal what the Europeans created. Note well Asians, Middle Easterners and those from the Mediterranean invented anything of substance. Afro-Centrist were employing ‘Pseudo archeology and fringe Science’ to claim ‘[European] philosophy, mathematics and engineering.’

Well, well, well. Philosophy, Mathematics and Engineering are

European! Ben David takes his fallacious thoughts even further and posits ‘As one critic of Afrocentrism has argued, ‘If Eurocentric culture is so horrible, why would these fake historians want to claim it as their own?

By coveting it, aren’t Afrocentrists providing the ultimate validation of Western Civilization?’

Now let’s flip a few words in that construction and posit the following: As one critic of Eurocentrism has argued, ‘If Afrocentric culture is so horrible, why would these fake European historians want to claim it as their own? By coveting it, aren’t Eurocentrists providing the ultimate validation of African Civilization?’

Now let’s demonstrate the strength of our argument by pointing to what ancient Europeans said of African civilization.

Aristotle (384-322) ranked Egypt as ‘the most ancient archeological reserve in the world, and Egyptians as the most ancient of the human race.’

In Metaphysics, Aristotle wrote ‘the mathematical sciences first (proton) originated in Egypt. Egypt is the cradle of mathematics-that is, the country of origin for Greek mathematics.’

In the Prologue to Prodlus’s Commentaries on Euclid’s Elements, a disciple of Aristotle named Eudemus, who lived in the fourth century B.C., confirms: ‘we shall say, following the general tradition, that the Egyptians were the first to have invented Geometry, (that) Thales, the first Greek to have been in Egypt, brought this theory thereof to Greece.’

Indeed, the Greek, St. Clement of Alexandria, said ‘if you were to write a book of 1,000 pages, you would not be able to put down the names of all the Greeks who went to Kemet to be educated and even those who did not surreptitiously claim they went because it was prestigious.’

The following are established facts: Thales (624-547 B.C.) was the first Greek student to receive training from Egyptian priests in the Nile Valley; Plato (428-347 B.C.) records that Thales was educated in Egypt; Proclus ( 420485 A.D.) reports that Thales introduced science, philosophy and mathematics/geometry to Greece; Greek intellectual life started with the Egyptian-trained student, Thales.

He was the founder of the first Greek school of philosophy and science; Thales strongly recommended that Pythagoras travel to Egypt to receive his basic education and to converse as often as possible with the priests of Memphis and Thekes.

In their book, A History of the Modern World (1984), R. R. Palmer and Joel Colton made this salient point: ‘Europeans were by no means the pioneer of human civilization. Half of man’s recorded history had passed before anyone in Europe could read or write. The priests of Egypt began to keep written records between 4000 and 3000 B.C., but more than two thousand years later, the poems of Homer were still being circulated in the Greek citystates by word of mouth. Shortly after 3000 B.C., while the pharaohs were building the first pyramids, Europeans were creating nothing more distinguished than huge garbage heaps.’

These are not the words of a racist Afrocentrist.

Now you see why Europeans try to tear North Africa away from the African continent? Why they argue vainly that Egypt was mixed, and why C Ben David claims Mathematics, Philosophy and engineering as European invention?

But the truth, like the phoenix, will rise, and so would Africa and its people.

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

V

12. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Congratulations to the people & government of Guyana

ACCORDING to an article in THE VINCENTIAN newspaper of 9th August 2019, Guyana now has the world’s fastest growing economy.

SVG Green Party sends congratulations to the people and government of Guyana on having potentially the world’s fastest growing economy. We salute you for this remarkable achievement.

Guyana has a GDP of $3.63 billion, and the economy is expected to grow by 33.5 percent and 22.9 percent in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

Guyana’s growth rate of 4.1% during 2018 is quite remarkable in comparison to the average of 1.1% in the Caribbean, with much of the growth concentrated in the areas of construction, services, wholesale and retail trade and financial and insurance activities.

Leader of SVG Green Party Vincentian-born, retired British Royal Air Force Engineer Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal, BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, believes that economic growth in SVG is pitiful in comparison to Guyana. The ULP regime has been an economic failure. The poverty and destitution throughout SVG illustrate this.

Guyana is focused on getting significant inflows of foreign direct investment to its shores as this stimulates the economy. A Green government would bring foreign direct invest to SVG to strengthen the economy and create new jobs.

Guyana is encouraging businesses to form, expand and build capabilities necessary for growth. A Green government would set up

infrastructure to help SVG businesses flourish and grow.

Guyana intends to lift all economic sectors and improve the standard of living and quality of life for all Guyanese. A Green government would create new economic sectors in SVG. This would create thousands of new jobs and improve the standard of living and quality of life for all Vincentians.

Guyana’s leading Business Support Organisation emphasised the need for “critical investments” in the country’s social and economic infrastructure to advance the country. Guyana is looking to invest in transport infrastructure, green and cheap energy to help manufacturing and valueadding, and in its human capital.

A Green government would update SVG’s social and economic structure and bring cheaper water and cheap electricity from renewable energy.

Guyana has free education from pre-school to university, as the country believes that there is a strong correlation between the state of the economy and the quality of education.

A Green government would create free, high-quality education from preschool to university in SVG, and use the Singapore model of having education as the engine of a knowledge-based economy. The focus on tourism as the engine of the SVG economy is a joke and has made our country poor.

A SVG Green Party Government would open a Vincentian embassy in Guyana to promote bilateral trade and increase SVG exports.

SVG, so that thousands of SVG’s children can go to university each A SVG Green Party Government year. This will achieve a substantial would build a high-quality School of number of university graduates in Navigation to promote a SVG fish SVG. This ECONOMY OF SCALE industry and use the fish industry as a creates low-cost education, and more major source of revenue with an importantly, an education multiplier annual rate of return of about EC$2.5 effect in SVG. It will boost the billion. economy and end the perpetuation of According to the Leader of the SVG generational poverty and destitution in Green Party, sending a small number SVG. of students to study in Taiwan is not SVG needs to follow Guyana’s cost effective, and does not achieve a example and invest in our people, multiplier effect in education in SVG. businesses and country to create A Green Government would build a substantial economic growth. science and technology university in

Change not renewal, more relevant to our circumstance IT IS APPARENT that the recent call by our Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has not found resonance in the society, for not even the senior members of his ULP have as yet picked up the “vibes”. That is understandable, for the realities of our circumstance here in SVG, when the well-being of the majority of the people is examined, prompts the conclusion, that we have not done as well as we should have over the last forty years, considering the resources which had been at our disposal.

Gross mismanagement has been painfully obvious! This has been particularly so during the last two and a half decades of our lives.

We can well remember that in the years after the end of the second World War in 1945, when we were still a colony of Great Britain, the maintenance of the roads, drains and the public buildings like schools, police-stations, clinics and the hospital, were seriously addressed. We were then an agricultural community, in which even though there was not great wealth, there was still a reliable supply of healthy food available. We planted corn, peas, potato, tomato, tannias, dasheen, yams, chives, ginger, sorrel, onions, carrots, eggplant, christophene. We had plenty fruits: mango, plumrose, guava, plums and citrus. We raised animals: cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and fowls.

Many families had the wherewithal to address the urgent needs of a distressed neighbour. There was peace in the society generally, and the administrators and their staff were responsive to the citizens when they raised any complaints. There was no exhibition of indifference or arrogance.

We efficiently maintained our factories which used the material we had produced on our own lands. The related crops were arrowroot, cassava, coconut and sugar-cane. We also had a widely spread handicraft industry, producing hats, baskets and fish-pots.

There was an abundance of fish, and we were able to use the salt from the Grenadines “Salt ponds”, to preserve our fish and meat, which went well with our breadfruit and sweet potato!

No real plan

But our leaders were indifferent and reckless, and seemed over these years to have been pre-occupied, not with the advancement of the interests of the people, but with using the privilege of the authority the people had given them, to secure/advance their own interests. When we became an independent state in 1979, we had had ten years of the experience of selfgovernment, during which time, we ought to have been soberly planning our way forward. The evidence of the realities before us does not seem to suggest that we had planned properly.

So those who ought to have been taking the lead in determining an approach which would have offered the best chances of success, should have been those who had the necessary training and orientation.

Unfortunately, those persons seemed to have been side-lined by the individuals to whom the people, the citizens, had given the authority to govern. Power seemed to have gone to their heads, and their shallow orientation prevented them from appreciating that our resources then at that time, offered very good potential for development and wealth creation for the 110,000 Vincentians resident here. They did not see that our potential to prosper in the changing world was good. So those resources were poorly managed!

Agriculture crippled Following the Abolition of Slavery, we had been for almost a hundred and fifty years, a community which had survived and prospered on our agricultural activity. Yet, our homegrown administrators so blindly indifferent to those sensitive historic realities, were induced to a concept of development which offered expatriates overly generous terms, to the acquisition of land and ridiculous tax holidays, while they underpaid our people who worked for them.

So today, our agriculture is crippled, and the destruction of the largest farmers’ organization, The St. Vincent Banana Growers, has reduced farmers to ruin. On the other hand, some of those investors whom we lavishly accommodated, turned out to be merely “smart-men” and “conCont’d on Page 27

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16 , 2019. 13.

14. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. 15.

V

16. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Funeral Home opens Kingstown office THE MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME which was first established about a year ago with headquarters in Mesopotamia, has opened an office/outlet in Kingstown.

The office/outlet, situated in the Russell’s Shopping Mall, Stoney Ground, was officially opened on Wednesday 7th August, and comes in response to demand from clients and potential clients in

Kingstown and the Leeward, for a more ‘easy-toreach’ service.

And with the use of cameras and associated technology, persons visiting the Stoney Ground outlet can also view caskets, etc., at the Funeral Home’s Mesopotamia headquarters.

Elizabeth Da Silva-Walker, sister of Stephen Da Silva, one of the principals of the Funeral Home, is

pleased with the latest addition to the company.

“I think it is a good venture because it came as a request from clients who would have wanted to access the funeral home but found the Mesopotamia location too far for them,” she said.

“Since the opening of A warm welcome awaits the Memorial public at the new Memorial Funeral Home, Funeral Home at the Russell’s the demands Mall, Stoney Ground. have been great, and what we would have observed is that all the new services that we rendered are being copied by our competitors,” she added.

Asfo Stephens, Manager of the Memorial Funeral Home, is a former High School Principal and also Senior Education Officer. He too admitted that business has been far better than they had imagined. “Based on our performance over the year, in my opinion, we have exceeded expectation,” said Stephens.

Wednesday’s opening of the office also witnessed a mini health fair during which persons availed themselves of free health checks, including blood pressure and blood sugar tests.

The funeral home also honored two persons: former CEO of the SVG Teachers Credit Union and President of SVG Cricket Association Julian Jack, and Winston Lyttle, a retired VINLEC employee who worked his way up to become a Senior Linesman and always found time to be active in the life of his community, Redemption Sharpes.

According to Stephens, the funeral home was the dream of Joseph Da Silva Sr. now deceased. (KH) Honorees Winston Lyttle (left) and Julian Jack (right) with Asfo Stephens, Manager of the Funeral Home .

Persons made good use of the health checks that were available on the day of the outlet’s opening.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16 , 2019. 17.

V

18. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Celebrating the ÂEARTHDAYÊ of Marcus Mosiah Garvey August 17, 1887

BLACK AND WHITE A Poem by Marcus M. Garvey (1934) I’M BLACK NOT WHITE, which is no crime.

To have all things makes one The whites have ALL, in so great, regal state.

If blacks did have all whites And blacks do think them would crave more sublime More blacks to be for all that And whites would think the time blacks so brave If they had

greater wealth all time.

Hail the Great Man Jah Chance ETHIOPIA AFRICAN BLACK INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

SPARK SVG Presents: SPARK SVG Youth Summit 2019 SPARK SVG IS A non-governmental organization in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Under the tagline, ‘It only takes a spark to ignite positive change’, SPARK SVG aims to stimulate, motivate and inspire young Vincentians to create positive change within themselves, their communities, their nation, their region and their

world.

On Saturday 17th August 2019, SPARK SVG will host the inaugural ‘SPARK SVG Youth Summit’.

Using the Sustainable Development Goals as a guiding framework, the summit brings together the youngest and brightest minds of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for one day of

impacting presentations by knowledgeable and lively facilitators.

The featured speaker for the event is Mr. Nikoli Edwards, Interim Political Leader of the Progressive Party of Trinidad and Tobago. Mr. Edwards is a Youth Advocate, Social Activist and Communications Professional. He was appointed as the youngest Independent Senator in Trinidad and Tobago, and the youngest member of the Procurement Board of Trinidad and Tobago. He has held the international title of Vice Chairperson Policy, Advocacy and

Projects of the Commonwealth Youth Council. He is the recipient of Trinidad and Tobago’s 2018 National Youth Award for Youth Activism.

Other speakers include Mr Franz George, Miss Moureeze Franklyn, Miss Roselle Solomon, Miss Tamira Browne, a representative from the Caribbean Youth Environmental Network (CYEN), Mr Odion Hillocks, Miss Karen Veira, Miss Niasha Mofford, Mr Tevin Burnett and Miss Denicia Gaymes.

The event targets young people between the ages of 15-30.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16 , 2019. 19.

News

Former Kalinago Chief visits

Irvince Auguiste, former Kalinago Chief of Dominica at the Kalinago Village site at Argyle.

FORMER KALINAGO CHIEF OF DOMINICA and Vice President of the Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization Irvince Auguiste was recently an honoured guest of his counterparts here.

In fact, Auguiste was a member of the delegation that converged on the Kalinago Village, Argyle, on Monday 29th July. (See Page 7 of THE VINCENTIAN of Aug. 09, 2019.)

In a brief chat with THE VINCENTIAN, the full-blooded Kalinago (once referred to as the Carib) recalled his first visit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 1987, as a participant in a Conference for Indigenous Peoples held at the Haddon Hotel.

He also mentioned visiting the communities of Grieggs and Sandy Bay, and could remember two persons — Chady Child and one Maxine — whom he befriended in Sandy Bay. Auguiste and the Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization are committed to reestablishing the links that once existed among indigenous people in the Caribbean.

According to Auguiste, research has

shown that “there used to be communication by indigenous people from the different islands. There were structures established, and I commonly say while the politicians of today are trying to establish CSME, the indigenous people already had that done long time ago,” he said.

He is encouraged in the effort to re-establish linkages by what he said was “a lot of people who want to be a part of a Caribbean movement.”

Auguiste noted the significant role played by Leiden University in Holland in the work done on behalf of the preservation of Kalinago history in St. Vincent, and hopes that the University could do likewise across the region. (KH)

V

20. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Not slim and sexy anymore Dear George, WHEN I MARRIED my husband 25 years ago, I was young, slim and sexy. My husband has always been the athletic type, and told me from day one that he wanted a wife who cared enough for her body to keep it healthy and trim.

Today, after 2 children, I have noticed that I’m no longer that slim and trim chick that I was back in the days. I became afraid that my husband would leave me for someone else. My worst fears came true when he told me he no longer wanted to be with me because of the way I looked, and blamed me and said it was up to me to work out in the gym after the birth of our children, and I didn’t.

Although I know he is probably right about that, he should not have walked away and left me with his 2 children and no job. He was the one who worked, and I have no way of caring for my children.

I have begged him to come to his senses and come home, but to no avail. He is now asking for a divorce, and this has me completely devastated. What can I do help my situation?

Shattered and scared

Dear Shattered and scared, First off, your husband had no right to hit on you for not going to the gym after you gave birth. A woman’s body will undergo changes after pregnancy and giving birth, and she should never be penalized for it.

Your husband does need a few lessons in family life, and it will do him a world of good if he can consent to accompanying you to see a marriage counsellor.

He may choose to take up that option after he receives notification from your lawyer. Yes, I do think you should seek the services of a lawyer so that you can make your husband aware of his legal obligations.

As of right now, you should also get some individual counselling to help you discover and explore possibly hidden talents that can be used to bring in an income. All is not lost, and there is life after an uninformed and immature husband.

George

Best friends??? or confront them about what I overheard? The way I feel now is to just I STOOD BEHIND my best friend for a good five step back and just forget about them both, without minutes and overheard her bad talking me with giving any explanation. another friend of mine.

Shocked Both of them had horrible things to say about me, and I have not Dear Shocked, been able to come to For right now, your grips with any of it to best friend needs to this day.

My question to you is: know that you know about how she truly feels Should I just stop about you. It’s better to talking to both of them

Dear George,

keep your ‘friends’ honest and say what needs to be said. It’s up to them to raise their game and remain as friends, or find other people they can be friends with.

None of this is on you, but it’s your call whether you want to keep them around or boot them out of your life.

George

Tit for Tat Dear George,

Dear Angry woman,

I FINALLY got the courage to tell my boyfriend I was HIV positive and have been from the very day we met.

He shocked me when he said it was no big deal because he thought he was the one who was keeping that same horrible secret from me.

I do not know if what I’m feeling now is relief or anger. I’m not sure what to do now, leave him or kill him?

Both of you set out to build your relationship on deception, and the final outcome should be a lesson to you both. Honesty still remains the best policy on which to build a relationship Get past your anger and make a new commitment to always be truthful, giving each other the support that is needed in your situation.

Angry woman

George

Leisure

ARIES (MAR. 21- APRIL 20) You will do best to entertain those you wish to close deals with. Try to be patient and understanding. Travel and entertaining conversation will be informative and uplifting.

TAURUS (APR. 21- MAY 21) Misunderstandings at work could easily lead to your demise. You will be too quick to point your finger at your mate.

Uncertainties are still prevailing.

LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT. 23) Your interest in religion and philosophy may lead you to specific destinations.

You may find that your documents are not in order.

SCORPIO (OCT. 24 - NOV. 22) Try to calm down and listen to your partner’s complaints. Compromise may be necessary. You will learn a great deal about yourself if you go somewhere secluded.

GEMINI (MAY 22 - JUNE 21) Set the ball in motion and be relentless until you complete the project.

Uncertainties regarding your home and family are evident. Hard work will payoff.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) You need to keep busy doing things that you both enjoy. Dream a little this week.

Your emotional attitude with respect to your status and direction in society may be unrealistic.

CANCER (JUNE 22 - JULY 22) You can visit clients and make a big impression just by giving them some hands-on help. Be sure to take care of the needs of your immediate loved ones first.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22.- JAN. 20) You need to spend some time pampering yourself. Your ideas are right on the mark and your work commendable. You may find that doing odd jobs around the house will be successful and appreciated by loved ones.

LEO (JULY 23 -AUG 22) You may want to tell someone how you really feel. This day was meant for love.

Make creative changes to your residence. This will be a very hectic day if you’ve made promises to too many people.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 21.- FEB. 19) Entertainment should include the whole family or a lot of your friends. You can ask for favors or run your ideas by those who will be able to support your objectives.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 23) Social activities that involve the whole family will be enjoyable. Losses could occur if you haven’t been careful when dealing with joint financial ventures.

PISCES (FEB. 20 - MAR. 20) You need some rest. Put your thoughts into action. You will need to work diligently in order to accomplish even the smallest amount. You can make money if you get involved in real estate deals.

ACROSS 1. Ewe’s cry 4. Ringlet shape 8. Head warmers 12. Opposite of young 13. Rabbit kin 14. Spread for a dinner roll 15. Bridge ploy 16. Salem citizen 18. Early-spring flower 20. Groups of matched objects 21. One who gives private instruction 23. “Peanuts” fussbudget 25. Toledo’s Great Lake 26. Actress Kudrow of “Friends” 27. Shipboard pest 30. Before now 31. Amazon, for example 32. Forestry tool 33. Checkers pieces 34. Cultivated a garden 35. Resting 36. Come across 37. Pig abodes 38. 17-Down recipient Penn 40. Affectionate greeting 41. Rusting 44. Crude shack 47. Fellow of 48-Across 48. Bible paradise 50. Game fish 51. Deep miseries 52. Socially timid DOWN 1. Move like a cork on the water 2. Former boxing champ 3. Simple math procedure 4. Hymn singers 5. Canoe paddles

6. Strong anger 7. Lower limb 8. Hive product 9. Fluttered down to earth 10. Steeped brews 11. Family lad 17. Academy Award 19. Cod eggs 21. Mets or jets 22. Entreat earnestly 23. Resided (in) 24. Accustomed (to) 26. A big cat 27. Pungent red veggies 28. Wheel-spinning rod 29. Golf-bail holders 31. Horned mammal 35. “_ your turn!”

36. Agricultural businesses

37. Traffic guides 38. Bubbly drink 39. Historical ages 40. 7-Down bender 41. Hired auto 42. Morning lawn moisture

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. 21.

43. Wedding reply: 2 wds.

45. “How distasteful!”

46. Item from Santa’s sack

V West Indies: 250 at home 22. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports Feature

that play-off between the top two teams in the rankings. Australia, Bangladesh, England, New NEXT THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, WEST INDIES will Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka are commence their 2-match Test series versus India in the other teams vying for those two spots. In all, 72 Antigua. This will be the twelfth series between the two Tests will be contested between these nine teams countries in the Caribbean over a period of sixty-six over a period of twenty-one months (August 2019 — years (1953-2019). Also, it will be the fiftieth Test April 2021). between them in the region.

West Indies’ opponents, other than India, will be Test Championship South Africa (2), England (3), New Zealand (3), Sri This will not be just an ordinary bilateral series; Lanka (2) and Bangladesh (3). It is noticeable that it is the regional team’s first outing in the ICC West Indies will not play against their nemesis World Test Championship, the final of which is Australia. They have not defeated the Aussies in a slated to be played at Lord’s in England, in June series since 1993. Do the math! Also, they will avoid 2021. the mercurial Pakistanis.

The West Indies will have fifteen Tests before Every team will play six series against six

by EARL W. ROBINSON

different nations.

Each series will carry a maximum of 120 points no matter the number of matches. A twomatch series will have 60 points awarded for each match won, while a 5-match series will have 24 points awarded for each win.

Sixth Test venue At the end of the last Test series Ajit Wadekar as he looked against England in the West Indies, the when he led India to their first ever test victory over final Test in St. the W.I., in 1971. (Photo Lucia marked the 248th Test contested Credit: Sports.ndtv.com) on this region’s soil.

It means that the second and final Test of this series at Sabina Park, Jamaica, will carry the milestone to 250.

Of the 248 Tests already completed, Arnos Vale Playing Field had hosted only three in twenty-two years. This ground became the sixth Test venue in 1997 when Sri Lanka visited the Caribbean.

Kensington Oval, Queen’s The youthful Sunil Park Oval, Bourda, Sabina Gavaskar who made Park (all in 1930) and the his debut and a name Antigua Recreation Ground for himself during (1981) were the India’s tour of the W.I. forerunners. in 1971. (Photo Credit: The last Test played in Sportskeeda.com) St. Vincent was in September 2014. It was the last time Chris Gayle (‘Universe Boss’) appeared in a Test. His Test appearances reached 103 matches.

India’s Test record in the Caribbean is not spectacular. Of the previous eleven series they have won four compared to West Indies seven. However, Virat Kohli team will be confident based on the fact that they have won the last three consecutive series.

These were under the leadership of Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni and Kohli.

In spite of the recent success, the captain India will remember most is Ajit Wadekar. In 1971, his team defeated West Indies by seven wickets in the second Test, at the Queen’s Park Oval. It was India’s first victory in 25 matches against West Indies at home or away. Sunil Gavaskar made his debut in that match scoring 65 and 67 not out. Jack Noreiga, the Trinidadian off-spinner took 9 for 95 in India’s first innings. Wadekar died on August 15, 2018.

The survivors from that historic match are from West Indies: Charlie Davis, Michael Findlay, Vanburn Holder, R. Kanhai, Clive Lloyd and (Sir) Garfield Sobers. The Indians are Syed Abid Ali, Bishen Singh Bedi, Salim Durani, Sunil Gavaskar, Erapally Prasanna and Srinivas Venkataraghavan.

In the word of Trinidadian calypsonian Lord Relator: Jack Noreiga is “It was Gavaskar, remembered for his 9The real master wicket haul in the first Just like a wall, innings of the test in We couldn’t out which India had its Gavaskar at all, not at all. first victory over the You know the West W.I. (Photo Credit: Indies couldn’t out espncricinfo.com) Gavaskar at all.”

V SVG welcomes Football bosses

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. 23.

Stories by: I.B.ALLEN

MARVIN FRASER, PRESIDENT OF THE SVG Football Federation (SVGFF) was elated with the historic visit

by Gianni Infantino, president of football’s world governing body - FIFA, and Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF, football’s governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean.

The two men visited on Saturday 10th August.

“We are pleased and happy that the head of FIFA and CONCACAF have seen of fit to come here to see firsthand what is taking place in SVG,” Fraser told media person here.

Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, preempted his observation by labeling football a passion and love, before he praised Fraser and his Executive efforts for setting the football movement here in SVGFF Members with FIFA President Gianni Infantino (8th from right front), CONCACA President Victor the right way, this after only one year in office.

Montagliani (4th from left front). Mavin Fraser, President of SVGFF, is sandwiched by the two presidents.

“The sustainable projects, stability focusing Finance Camillo Gonsalves, and also paid a courtesy on girls and boys in football, the facility in Brighton delegations also met with Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture Cecil Mc Kie, Minister of call on Governor General, Susan Dougan. are all very encouraging,” Infantino said.

He spoke of the vision and plans for SVG which included . the refurbishment of the facility at Brighton and the lighting of other The SVG Under-14 Female community fields, an undertaking that Football team won the CFU is being fine-tuned with the Girls U14 Challenge Series, government. playing unbeaten in the In fact, the FIFA president hinted at Series that concluded supporting the construction of a recently in St. Kitts. national stadium at Diamond, which The local girls defeated would, obviously, give some preference host St Kitts and Nevis 4-3 to football. in their first match, then The FIFA president also disclosed secured a second win when that the world’s governing body will the beat Antigua and Barbuda 2-1. invest US$6 million in this country Their best was left for the over the next four years.

Montagliani was pleased with what Dominicans whom the Vincy girls mauled 6 goals to nil. he saw as the emphasis on boys and SVG ended the series on 9 Areka Hooper with girls’ involvement in the sport.

9 goals was the points, St Kitts and Nevis He also expressed how pleased he Series top scorer. was second with 6, Antigua was to hear President Fraser speak of and Barbuda third on 3 this country’s quest to return to the certain incident that, The victorious SVG U15 Female Football Team. points with Dominica Gold Cup, recognizing this as an he said, might just indication that the local Executive was without a point. have been the He related how, on arrival you going with those Head Coach of the team focused. motivation the Vincy girls’ in St. Kitts, his girls were babies?”

Keith Ollivierre revealed a The FIFA and CONCACAF needed. greeted with, “Where are The Vincy girls’ response was played out on the field, Ollivierre said, and he described his team as THE SVG U17 FEMALE football team will Kendra Findlay, captain of the team, is preparation for some having played their be looking to emulate there Under-15 when confident her team will do well. time now, we were hearts out and sticking they compete in CONCACAF U17 “My expectation is to win by scoring as playing in the Break for the greater part to the Qualifiers in Curacao from August 17 — 25. many goals as we can. …If we come out on Away Masters game plan.

SVG will compete in League B which top its qualification for the championship competition to get “The victory,” also included Guyana, the Bahamas and round of the tournament that will be a some match practice Olliveierre said, “is host Curacao. great achievement but it will take hard …. I just want them testimony to the amount work and to give of their best. of work we put into determination but I “I know they have Kendra Findlay, captain of the U17 female football am very confident the fighting spirit development between we will do so,” and they want to do female team is confident her team 2017 and 2018.”

Findlay told THE the best for their can advance to the VINCENTIAN. country so I expect Looking ahead the next round.

Andrew great things.” head coach stressed, “Our Bramble, Hed Should SVG next step is keeping the Coach of the team, advance, the next round would be League A girls in an ongoing believes despite which will pit the Vincentians against the training programme so being in a tough likes of the United States and , El that we can be zone, the girls will Salvador. competitive come 2020, in compete well.

Getting to that round would expose the the CONCACAF U15 “We are in a girls to scouts from colleges, which, Championship.” very tough zone, according to Bramble, “must be a good The U17 National Female Football squad has been in training for we have a team in thing for all of them.” some time now.

SVG wins CFU U14 Female Series

U17 Female Footballers head for Qualifier

V

24. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Another Playaz Camp closes

Participants and Camp officials of the 2019 Playaz Basketball Academy Summer Camp.

Academy Founder/Head Coach Orlando Fergusson is at extreme right.

“I am really pleased to see what came out from the camp.

It was nice to see a lot of THE SECOND Annual Playaz Basketball potential Academy Summer Camp, which got coming out. going here on July 29, came to an end on Some of the 65 Saturday, with an impressive young people Jatin Jiandani – Best who took part closing/awards ceremony.

Passer.

And Orlando caught on very Fergusson, quickly. I am happy about the camp Founder/ Director generally, and I won’t do anything else and Head Coach different,” Fergusson said. of the Academy, is But this is not the end for this excited by the year’s participants. emerging talent Fergusson said development work that he witnessed with the young ones will continue firsthand, coming through his Saturday Morning out of the camp.

Basketball Programme at Arnos Vale, which is open to any of the Summer Nathaniel Camp participants who are interested Jackson – Best in further developing their skills.

Shooter.

Nicholas Jackson – Best Ball Handler.

Those who were outstanding in this year’s Diego DesVignas – camp were: Best Rebounder.

Kaif Neehall — school Most supplies and Valuable Player; Jatin Jiandani — Best a Certificate of Passer; Nicholas Jackson — Best Ball Participation Handler; Nathaniel Jackson — Best Shooter; and Diego DesVignas — Best I.B.A.ALLEN Rebounder.

Each participant took home a bag of

Kaif Neehall (right) receiving his trophy for being the Camp’s MVP.

SVG Rugby gets new President SVG RUGBY UNION has a new President. He is President Leonard Matthews.

Matthews was elected on Saturday 10th August at the Union’s Annual General Meeting held at the National Sports Council Conference Room, Arnos Vale.

A new President was always on the cards following the stated intention by sitting President, Sophie Goddard, to retire the position she had held since 2014.

Matthews, a former national rugby player, had been, up to last Saturday, the Union’s Assistant Secretary.

In her outgoing remarks, Goddard expressed satisfaction with her tenure and the growth of the sport, pointing to, among other achievements: the implementation of the ‘Go To Rugby Programme’ that targets schools; acquiring the assistance of up to eight overseas coaches during the 2014-19 period; improving the finances of the Union and ensuring financial accountability and transparency; and obtaining a home at Ratho Mil for the sport.

She introduced Matthews as one who she felt confident would do a good job.

Matthews, for his part, committed as President to: work to increase the numbers, especially females, currently playing the sport; encouraging persons to pursue the Level 1 Coaching Programme and the

A handshake passes the presidency of the SVG Rugby Union from Sophie Goddard (left) to Leonard Matthews.

Level 1 Referees Course; and seeking sponsorship for the League and the Go To Rugby Programme.

Matthews also recognized Goddard for her outstanding contribution to advancing the sport across SVG. In addition to Matthews, those elected lat Saturday were: Kelly Glass - Vice President; Sophie Goddard — Treasurer/PRO; Dellon Durrant — Secretary/League Coordinator; Ronald Akeem Edwards - Team Manager; Giles Garraway & Kit Horne - Recruitment Officers; Leeza Charles - Media Assistant; Melissa Johnson -Fundraising Officer; Andrew Hadley - Sponsorship Director; Brian Alexander - Male Captain.

SVG Rugby Union will welcome by next week a new club coach - Sam Knights from Canada.

The new executive will run the affairs of the Union for the next two years.

I.B.A.ALLEN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. 25.

Sports

Big move for Football CONGRATULATIONS are in order for the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation.

Things took a leap over the past months. The women maintained the momentum with the Windward Islands championship, and perhaps the inspiration rubbed into their younger counterparts, for an Under-14 Girls team swept aside all opponents in St. Kitts. They disposed of the home team 4: 3, Antigua 2: 1, and swamped Dominica 6: 0.

If that was enough to pop the champagne, the Under 15 Boys while not as dominant, recorded an admirable display in Florida. Oryan Velox has distinguished himself as someone with a flourish.

Achieving the Golden Boots award in any tournament is a lifetime adornment.

And the hope is there that Velox, and indeed the rest of his Under 15 colleagues move with the years and move on to their age status. Velox notched up six goals in the tournament: a hattrick against Aruba who went under 4:0: found the nets twice as the Vincies had to come from behind to salvage a 2 all draw with Bermuda, and he converted in a 3 - 2 loss to Antigua. The game against Grenada ended goalless.

The triumphant march continued at Chili Playing Field in the North eastern coast of mainland St. Vincent when the senior national squad beat Trinidad and Tobago 1: 0. A goal by the prolific Chavel Cunningham sealed the victory.

Everyone will concede that the mission is far from complete. The real test comes in Nicaragua September 5 when the Nations League resumes.

If one thought that the on-field parade was commendable, the visit by FIFA’s President Gianni Infantino adds gold to the jewel box. He was accompanied by Concacaf’s President Victor Montagliani as well as FIFA Caribbean Development Officer Marlon Glean.

Indications are that intensified efforts will lead to the ultimate entrenchment of the sport nationwide. Once the rivalry and acrimony are put aside, and everyone works towards the improvement of the overall package, success will accrue.

One must not lose sight of keeping the reservoir flowing. The performance of the younger squads serves as a morale booster, and coaches must continue to impart that level of discipline necessary to ensure that the upgrade persists.

Marvin Fraser must be a proud man. He seems to have galvanised a network that is gaining the respect not just in St. Vincent and the Grenadines but regionally. Perhaps his record will be enhanced if the senior squad can fulfil the expectations of elevating to the League A. A good showing at the Concacaf level has evaded us for some time. We always seemed affected by the Central American bogey, for no matter how well we may perform at the Caribbean level, most visits to Central America or Concacaf tended to be dismal.

That obstacle must be overcome, and the administration will have to find ways of getting over that hurdle. While we revel in the success of the teams on field, there must the balance between sports and academics. Players have to accomplish the right mix, for as worthwhile as the on-field skills are, players must realise that especially in football, the window of operations does not open forever. In fact, the reality of the times has to be considered so the importance of ensuring a career must be embraced. And with sports, there are many related spheres. Those involved have to explore them.

Taking Taekwondo to another level The Dolphin Taekwondo Club is just nearing its first anniversary, but already it has taken the lead in the development of the sport here in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

And towards that end, the club welcomed Master Edmund Johnson from the Bermuda Champion Taekwondo International, who spent from August 8 — 10 here, conducting seminars, grading and adjudicating instructors.

Johnson is a Kukkwion 5th degree Black-Belt and President of the Bermuda Martial Arts Federation.

Significant to the development

Students of the Dolphin Taekwondo Club into a routine under the guidance of Master Edmund Johnson.

Dolphin Taekwondo in Dayle PICS folder of the sport here was Caption: (l-r) Coach Emulas Alexander of that Johnson took the Dolphin Taekwondo Club and Master Coach Emulas Edmund Johnson of the Bermuda Champion Alexander of the Taekwondo International.

Dolphin Taekwondo Club through his third leaving the country for testing. black belt rating, making him the The participation in overseas Chief Instructor for Champion competitions now legitimizes Taekwondo International in St martial arts in the country, Vincent.

Johnson explained.

Six other individuals also “My job is to now develop these successfully tested and received athletes that we are now talking black belt ratings during the visit. about,” Alexander, also known as According to Johnson, now that ‘Coach Alex’ said.

SVG and Dolphin Academy has He noted that he was a former become an affiliate of Champion competitor, but is now making the Taekwondo International, it is transition to a full-time coach. expected that some structure and “So the end goal, we are not development would take place. just putting athletes, but those “The future of our relationship who would be able to compete and with St Vincent and the represent and take our name up Grenadines is to see national into the stratosphere,” Alexander championship and then a told THE VINCENTIAN. Caribbean Championship hosted “We could not have done the

by Dolphin and sanctioned by training the proper way, if we did Champion (Taekwondo not have people who were International),” Johnson said. sanctioned to come or we did not This, he explained, would give get people to go, then we would local Taekwondo athletes a chance not have been doing it properly,” to compete against international he continued. and regional competitions.

Dolphin Academy started Johnson said that what often offering Taekwondo in October happens in developing last year. jurisdictions like SVG, is that Alexander said in the same way there is a lot of self-promotion — that the entity has established an individual may obtain a black itself in gymnastics, it is with this belt rating and then after a few same enthusiasm and success months, they achieve multiple that they intend to take the sport black belt ratings without even of Taekwondo. (DD)

Police Two: Cricket Club Champions POLICE TWO are the 2019 champions of the SVG Cricket Association’s Club Championship.

The lawmen beat FLOW Radcliffe by a comfortable margin of 80 runs when the two teams met in the 50 Overs final at the Park Hill Playing Field last Sunday, Aug.11.

Police Two took first turn at the crease and were all out for 228 in 32 overs, with captain Rickford Walker leading the batting from his opening position, with a knock of 93 made off 67 balls. He

Runners-up FLOW Radcliffe.

2019 Club Champions Police Two. fell to the veteran combination of Orlanzo Jackson and Deighton Butler, catcher and bowler respectively.

Butler was the pick of Radcliffe’s bowlers returning 5 wickets for 49 runs in 9 overs, with one maiden.

Flow Radcliffe lost wickets on a regular basis, and never seemed to be ahead of the case. They were eventually bowled out for 148 in 29 overs, with a top score of 28 coming Rickford from Jackson batting at number 8.

Walker fell Darius Martin was Radcliffe’s leading bowler, taking 4 wickets for 28 just short of a century for runs off 9 overs.

Police Two. I.B.A.ALLEN

26. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019. 27.

Classifieds FOR RENT

2 bdrm house at Edinboro 457-7766/498-7268

Change not renewal, more relevant to our circumstance From Page 12 artists” who fleeced us of hundreds of millions of dollars.

The “Ames Games” at Buccament and his subsequent withdrawal, which our Prime Minister pronounced to have been “legitimate”, even though Ames had left us short by about twenty million dollars, leaves Vincentians to reason speculatively, that Ames in his games, had been provided by some prominent people with the gear that he needed.

The needed response to the agonies of mismanagement we are not enduring, will not be realized by any shallow sloganizing “Renewal”, but by frank deep-rooted examination of socio-economic realities in serious discussions aimed at the effecting of drastic change.

Extended delaying invites chaos!

LeRoy Providence

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

F O R S A L E

FRIDAY,

AUGUST 16, 2019

VOLUME 113, No.29

A.I. REAL ESTATE SWAN HOUSE Why are you paying your landlord’s mortgage?

Commercial Property near City Center Reference CC210 Price K450,000.00 (784)- 457-2087 office (784)-533-0431 whatsapp (784)-493-9431 cell (718)-807-4376 office donp@vincysurf.com www.aisvg.com facebook.com/airealestatesvg

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

IMPROVED FACILITIES ARE NEEDED, NOW!!!

WAYNE WILLIAMS, Chief-de-Mission of the St Vincent and the Grenadines team to the XVIII Pan American Games, which ended last Sunday in Lima, Peru, holds the view that a lack of facilities here is the main cause for the country not having more internationally recognised sportsmen and women.

“We are pregnant with raw potential, but we have a deficit in facilities,” Williams claimed.

“You have to look at the base… The more facilities that you have in good condition, the more people you can bring into your feeder system and the possibility of having more elite athletes you, not just at the national level but at the regional and international levels,” Williams added.

Referencing the most recent outing in Peru, Williams reviewed: “I have witnessed some events here and they are at a higher level. But I am sure

we have the talent at home, and if properly mentored and groomed, can compete at this level…So we need to focus on the facilities,” the SVG Chief-deMission posited.

SVG’s Performance at the Pan Am Games St Vincent and the Grenadines was represented by swimmersMya De Freitas and Cruz Halbich; cyclist- Zefal Bailey and track athlete- Brandon Parris.

De Freitas was able to do her personal best of 1 minute 2.30 seconds in the Women’s 100m Freestyle.

Her time in the 200m was 2 minutes 19.99 seconds, and 29.57 seconds in the 50m Freestyle.

Halbich’s recorded a personal best

MARCUS GARVEY MEMORIAL LECTURE

The Integrated Medical Urgent Care

Marcus Moziah Garvey

in the Men’s 50M Freestyle, 25.72 seconds, and managed 2 minutes 10.04 seconds in the 200m Freestyle, and 57.51 seconds in the 100m Freestyle.

Meanwhile, Parris timed 48.14 seconds in the 400M and 21.47 seconds in the 200M.

Clinic, in collaboration with the Rastafari Working Committee, will present a Tribute to Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

The Tribute takes the form of a public lecture that will feature presentations from Ishaka Williams, speaking on ‘Garvey, his impact and implications for Rastafari’; with the main presenter, Dr. Dale Dangleben MD, speaking to the topic, ‘Understanding who we are as Black People — a forgotten history: a tribute to Marcus Garvey’.

The lecture will be held at Frenches House beginning at 7:00 PM, on Monday 19th August, 2019.

The moderator for the event will be Idesha Jackson, representing the Rastafari Working Committee.

The first ten persons to be seated will receive a token to commemorate the event. The general public is invited. (Don De Riggs)

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

SVG team to the 2019 Pan American Games, joined by Peruvian volunteers. Chief-de-Mission Wayne Williams is fourth from right.

And, in the case of Bailey, he encountered a mechanical problem which slowed him, to the point that he had no option but to exit the 110mile race.

Commenting on the team’s performance, Williams noted that whilst neither De Freitas, Halbich and Parris made it past their respective heats, he believed they gave of their “best.”

Williams though joined in the pain of Bailey’s misfortune.

“I feel it for young Bailey who had trained a lot for this event and would have made a lot of sacrifice to make a good showing, but these things do happen,” Williams sighed.

The next Pan American Games is set for Santiago, Chile in 2023.

Williams is hopeful that all involved in the respective disciplines will begin to work immediately to ensure that St Vincent and the Grenadines is prepared for the next.

Zefal Bailey holding his own during the early laps of Saturday’s 110 miles race.

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.