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FRIDAY,

DECEMBER 16, 2016

VOLUME 110, No.49

www.thevincentian.com

ÂBERTÊ: „ÂCRABÊ MAY HAVE STILL BEEN ALIVE‰

by HAYDN HUGGINS

upper floor of a wooden two-storey building located in an area known as ‘The Hole’, at Rose Place. The area is ‘home’ to a number of small, dilapidated houses.

ATELBERT ‘BERT’ NANTON, who described the late Jasmond ‘Crab’ Charles-Huskinson as his “soldier,” believes that his close friend would have still been alive, had he complied with his (Bert) request, shortly before he died.

‘Bert’ told THE VINCENTIAN on Wednesday, that moments before the incident which resulted Continued on in ‘Crab’s’ death, he had asked Page 3. him to buy a cigarette and a wrapping paper so that they could smoke a marijuana cigarette, but ‘Crab’ refused to go.

The 62-year-old labourer died around 7 p.m. on Monday, after reportedly receiving what appeared to be a stab wound to the chest and other abrasions to the body, following an altercation on the Atelbert ‘Bert’ Nanton described ‘Crab’ as his ‘soldier.’

Jasmond ‘Crab’ CharlesHuskinson, became this country’s 35th homicide victim for 2016.

Below: The open stairway down which ‘Crab’ fell.

EC$1.50

SENIOR CITIZEN REMEMBERS ‘CRAB’

by KENVILLE HORNE JASMOND CHARLES— HUSKINSON, aka ‘Crab’, a popular figure in the Rose Place community, died on Monday 12th December, 2016, succumbing to a stab wound reportedly received during an altercation he had with Shirley Lynch, two women. considered by some to The incident took be the matriarch of the place at Rose Place Rose Place community, where ‘Crab’ and the remembers Jasmond women shared Charles–Hutchinson, quarters, according to aka ‘Crab’, as an reports. intelligent man.

‘Crab’ was pronounced dead on his arrival at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.

‘Crab’, for all his shortcoming, was, it seemed, well-liked by many persons in the Rose Place community. And for one stalwart member of that community, Ms. Shirley Lynch, he stood out “because of his intelligence.”

Lynch, a former Justice of Peace, told THE VINCENTIAN on Wednesday, “He (‘Crab’) was very intelligent. - the way he talked and the way he looked at things. You could sit and discuss anything with him. He was too intelligent sometimes, in certain things.”

Unprompted, the senior citizen, whose association with ‘Crab’ spanned three decades or more, continued, “Sometimes I would make noise with him and say, ‘You’re so intelligent.

Why don’t you look for a good job? He would just watch me.”

She recalled that he was a vibrant supporter of the Unity Labour Party, and would often defend his party. “But if he wanted any advice or anything, he would come to me,” said Lynch.

Continued on Page 3.

2. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

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News 3

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. 3.

ÂBertÊ: „ÂCrabÊ may have still been alive‰ have occurred”, said ‘Bert’, a well-known character on the streets ‘Crab’ was pronounced of Kingstown. dead at the Milton Cato ‘Bert’ recalled that he Memorial Hospital. was in his room on the But ‘Bert’ feels that if lower floor of the ‘Crab’ had bought the building when he heard a cigarette and wrapping commotion upstairs. paper and they had When he looked out, he smoked the ‘spliff’, he saw ‘Crab’ falling down (Crab) would have been the uncovered stairway. in a different frame of ‘Bert’ and Richard mind.

‘Richie’ Deshong who “He was my brethren, also lives in the same he was my soldier. We yard, took up the used to smoke a little wounded man and herb (marijuana) carried him to the together, nothing else. hospital, located a stone’s “If he did go and buy throw away. the wrapping paper and “I thought he was just the cigarette, we would badly wounded, but he have smoked a ‘spliff’, died shortly after,” ‘Bert’ and we would have been sighed. speaking positive vibes.

He admitted that The incident would not Continued from Frontpage.

‘Crab’ had his weaknesses, but stressed that he was a very intelligent and loving person.

“He loved to listen to the news and read the newspapers, and me and he used to discuss the issues together,” Bert related, adding that ‘Crab’ had a special love for THE VINCENTIAN. “He was my soldier. I just respect his company.

It is so sad that he had to go that way.”

‘Crab’, former teacher at the Kingstown Anglican School and former student of the St. Martin’s Secondary School, had turned to a life of drug abuse for

Some of the houses found in the area known as ‘The Hole’. several years and had numerous run-ins with the law. He had made efforts to redeem himself, but had several relapses along the way.

Some years ago, ‘Crab’ was commended by then Chief Magistrate Sonya Young, after he had testified in a murder trial at the Serious Offences Court.

“You sound so intelligent,” she said to him then.

In an interview with THE VINCENTIAN, ‘Crab’ had declared, with indications of a deepseated consciousness,

SVG marijuana allowed for medical use “Under the existing law in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Doctors can prescribe Marijuana… if they are so… if they believe…. If they have a clinical basis to say that it will assist them… people with arthritis and so on… so I’ve been advised… but I’ve seen the law myself…”

So said Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves while speaking

on his party’s radio station — Star Radio, on December 9.

This was news to most Vincentians, who for all intents and purpose consider the growing and use of marijuana as illegal.

And not only did Dr. Gonsalves cite the law regarding medical marijuana, but disclosed, in accepting that this country is a primary cultivator of marijuana, that there are at least two

investors who have approached the government on the issue of medical marijuana.

It appears that those investors are ready to purchase this country’s marijuana for pharmaceutical use.

It was not clear whether the processing of SVG marijuana into pharmaceuticals would be done here.

However, Dr. Gonsalves made it clear that this venture had nothing to do with the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana locally.

that one of his greatest disappointments in life was to see the collapse of the Grenada Revolution.

On Thursday morning, Ms. Ava Charles of Rose

Place appeared at the Kingstown magistrate’s Court, and was formally charged with causing the death of Jasmond ‘Crab’ Charles-Huskinson.

Senior citizen remembers ‘Crab’ Continued from Frontpage.

‘Crab’ is said to have attended the St. Martin’s Secondary School and taught for some time at the Kingstown Anglican School.

He ‘fell through the cracks”, according to another person who knew him well, and ran afoul of the law, even serving a prison term at one period in his life.

But he was known to be a man who never shied away from work, occupying himself with the most menial tasks.

As far as Lynch knows, ‘Crab’ never had a family of his own. “I have never heard him or anyone else talking about kids,” she said.

When asked about ‘Crab’s’ temperament, Lynch said that if he was pushed too much, he got quite aggressive, but he was not a rowdy person by nature, adding, “He drank a bit, but not to drink and knock about.”

The senior citizen, who has seen the good, the bad and the indifferent in the Rose Place community, shared, in concluding her chat with THE VINCENTIAN, “I really feel sorry for him. He would not pass here without calling out. I would not like that to happen to any of my children.”

Jasmond Charles—Huskinson, aka ‘Crab’, was sixty-two years old.

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4. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Zero tolerance declared on illegal guns

CHIEF MAGISTRATE Rechanne Browne has declared a zero tolerance approach to firearm offences.

She made her stance clear at the Serious Offences Court on Monday, December 12, before sentencing 23-year-old Benson Browne of Belmont to four years in prison for possession of a .380 pistol without licence; two years for heaving 17 rounds of 9mm ammunition without licence, Chief Magistrate and nine months for having Rechanne Browne three rounds of .380 will not smile on ammunition without licence. those brought The sentences are to run before her on gun concurrently. and ammunition Stressing that the offences charges. with which Browne was charged were very serious, the Magistrate told him, “I don’t tolerate these types of offences at all.”

She explained that the law gives a magistrate the power to impose a fine of up to $20,000 or seven years in prison for firearm or ammunition possession, and that the offender could also be fined and confined.

But the Magistrate pointed out that Browne had pleaded guilty, which would earn him a discount on his sentence, and that he had no antecedents, which would also go to his credit.

She added that the age of the accused, and the possibility of rehabilitation also had to be taken into consideration.

But she stressed that she also had to take into account the seriousness of the offences, the situation with regard to firearm related offences here, and the issue of deterrence.

Explaining that she had to weigh the aggravating and mitigating factors in deciding what sentence to impose, the Magistrate echoed, “The nature of the offence is extremely serious and aggravating.”

The court had earlier heard that around 5:30 a.m. on December 8, police officers who were investigating a report of attempted murder, executed a search warrant at Browne’s Belmont home.

The defendant was met at home and during the search to which he consented, the firearm was found wrapped in a red and white T-shirt, which was discovered in a shoe box located in the bottom of a stove.

When cautioned, Browne told the police, “I get it from me partner.”

He was taken to the Calliaqua Police Station but investigations continued, and the police obtained another search warrant with which they again proceeded to the defendant’s home later that day. Another search was conducted, and a quantity of ammunition of different calibres was found in a Ziploc bag, concealed in a black speaker box in his bedroom. When cautioned, he replied, “I got them from my father.”

Checks revealed that the firearm was in good working condition, and that the ammunition were live rounds.

Browne is also charged with attempted murder stemming from an incident at Belmont on December 4, in which Belmont resident Demron Delpleche was shot.

He was not required to plea to this charge, and the matter was adjourned to March 30, 2017.

The Chief Magistrate has been consistent with respect to sentencing for firearm or ammunition possession, demonstrating her seriousness in dealing with such offences.

Prosecutor gives Grenadian woman a chance Grenada, who had appeared before the Serious Offences SENIOR PROSECUTOR Adolphus Court, pleaded not guilty to Delpleche withdrew three marijuana possession of 23 grams of charges against Grenadian national marijuana with intent to Jenny Andrews on Tuesday, taking supply, attempting to the festive season into account. export the drug, and Andrews, of St. George’s, possession of the drug for the purpose of drug trafficking.

But the Senior Prosecutor told the court, “She is from Grenada.

Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche However, this is the season and Attorney Grant ConnelL in a tete-aof goodwill, so I am going to tete after Tuesday’s court hearing. give her a chance.” should have been thrown in a Chief Magistrate Rechanne dust bin at the airport and the Browne advised the woman, woman allowed to travel.”

“When you come to St. Vincent Andrews, who was here legally, and the Grenadines, you must was leaving the country for her enjoy St. Vincent and the homeland when she was arrested Grenadines and not get involved at the E.T. Joshua airport on in illegal activities.”

Monday, December 12.

But Andrews’ lawyer - Grant “This case highlights the Connell responded, “Part of enjoying a visit to St. Vincent and reason why we must amend our drug laws, with respect to the Grenadines is having a good marijuana, with a great degree of spliff (marijuana cigarette)”. urgency, or our tourism will begin Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN later, Connell said, to be affected,” Connell said.

“What if this was a yachtsman “Common sense prevailed, and I just returning to his yacht to sit commend the Prosecutor for not back, relax and enjoy a good engaging the machinery of the spliff?” he questioned. court for such trivial offences.

“It rebuts common sense; but if “That quantity of marijuana the powers that be don’t see it Jenny Andrews, partly hidden, necessary to amend the laws, so got an early Christmas present be it; carry on smartly,” Connell from the court system here. concluded.

Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

Cocaine in paint matter sent higher TWO MEN CHARGED in connection with a November 6, 2015 shipment of cocaine, contained in buckets of paint, from Trinidad and Tobago to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, have been committed to stand trial at the High Court Criminal Assizes, on four charges.

At the conclusion of a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) at the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday, Chief

Junior Gomez – a Trinidad and Tobago national.

Magistrate Rechanne Browne ruled that a prima facie case was made out for Junior Gomez, 26, of Trinidad and Tobago, and former Mustique chef - Gabriel Hutchins, 41, of Bequia.

The men will face a judge and jury on joint charges of: possessing 10,892 grams of cocaine with intent to supply; possession for the purpose of drug trafficking; conspiracy for the purpose of drug trafficking, and importation of the drug.

The cocaine, with an estimated street value of EC$560,700, was reportedly packaged and contained in four of 12 buckets of paint offloaded from M.V. Admiral 3 at Port Elizabeth, Bequia, November 6, 2015.

Eight witnesses testified for the prosecution at the Preliminary Inquiry, which had commenced at the Serious Offences

Court earlier this year, and was continued on Monday.

The witnesses included former Police Corporal Fitzburn Chambers, Sergeant Pedro Harry of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), and head of the Narcotics Unit, Assistant Superintendent of Police Foster Scott who led Gabriel Hutchins – a the November 6, 2015 Bequia native. operation.

When the prosecution was too weak and rested its case, attorneys tenuous on which to commit him to stand Grant Connell, trial. representing Hutchins, Connell argued that and Israel Bruce, his client never even saw defending Gomez, made the buckets. no case submissions.

The lawyers used legal The Chief Magistrate authorities to support overruled the submissions, which were their arguments.

Senior Prosecutor heard on Tuesday.

Adolphus Delpleche, in The lawyers had submitted that there was his response, contended that a prima facie case absolutely no evidence before the Court linking was made out on all their clients to the drug. charges. He also referred to legal authorities in Bruce argued that whatever evidence there support of his may be before the court, arguments.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. 5.

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6. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

News

ÂElection is not over,Ê says Dr. Friday

LAST FRIDAY, December 9, 2016, marked one year since St. Vincent and the Grenadines held its last general election but newly installed Leader of the Opposition – Dr. Godwin Friday is holding fast to his New Democra.0ic Party (NDP) stance that essentially the elections are not yet over.

Dr. Friday pointed to the two election petitions before the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal as testimony to that.

The Opposition Leader and other NDP Members of Parliament bench turned up at the ‘Frontline’ on Friday 9th December, to show their support for the protest that has been ongoing since December 14, 2015 in front of the Electoral Office, Bay Street.

Dr Friday told THE VINCENTIAN that the NDP has been protesting because there were irregularities that took place during the 2015 general elections. “And we have been asking the court to adjudicate on those irregularities, on those things that were not in accordance with the law, and in order to show our continued support for the free and fair election process, we have had a protest that has been going on here in front the office of the Supervisor of Elections ,” said Friday. The protest action began on December 14th, 2015.

“The protest is to remind people that the election essentially is not over, that is why their (the protestors) presence is here, and the fact that the petitions are in the court of appeal is proof that we are taking this to the full

Right: Dr. Godwin Friday (2nd from left) joined the ‘Frontline’ protest on the Friday 9th December. extent of the law… because there is very, very clear evidence that the election was not in accordance with the law, Dr. Friday continued.

In response to a notion that his party was not aggressive enough in dealing with certain issues surrounding the ULP administration, Dr. Friday retorted, “I don’t know what gives them that impression, because I don’t think there has been more demonstration under any other opposition than the NDP.” And he proceeded to list some examples of his party’s action, inter alia, “We have had protests up on the Wharf against the dollar tax; the government had to replace that. We started protest against the Big Cut water; that was pulled back. We have had protests against the attempt to give away the Tobago Cays to a private entrepreneur; that was eventually sculled. We have had candle marches around the country.”

The Opposition Leader, MP for the Northern Grenadines, pointed to his position that it was not about the style or kind of protest, it was about trying to be an effective opposition, and committed his party and himself to that approach.

He expressed his party’s confidence about the Case (election petitions) going forward. (KH)

Election anniversary: BitterSweet more moment for King LUZETTE KING, one of the pillars of the ongoing protest action against the 2015 general election results, described the first year anniversary since the last general election as a bitter-sweet moment for her.

“Bitter in the sense that I wish Vincentians can be a bit more proactive to defend their rights. For some reason, I don’t know when we became a people who others could tread on as they wish,” said King.

Supporters of the Opposition the New Democratic Party (NDP) on Monday, December 14th, 2015, began protest action outside the Electoral Office

Kingstown, ahead of the swearing in of the new Unity Labour Party Administration. Last Wednesday, December 14, 2016, marked a year since the protest action began, and King assured that the protest will continue until justice is dispensed.

The protest, in time, took on the sobriquet ‘Frontline’.

The NDP is challenging the results in at least two constituencies, Central Leeward and North Windward.

Police were called in on Friday to escort the Supervisor of Election Sylvia Findlay- Scrubb from her office. As she exited the Electoral office, protestors could be heard mocking her, with chants of “Election thief”.

King highlighted the fact that Findlay-Scrubb could call for a police escort, but no police officers were called upon to arrest David Ames, a Principal partner of Harlequin Hotel and Resorts, developers and operators of the Buccament Bay Resort, who is facing charges of tax evasion and theft here.

“Here on the ‘Frontline’, we have been protesting an election that was fraudulent, the evidence is there ... so

that’s the bitter part of it”, said King, adding“ The part that is a little bit more satisfying is that I doubt anybody believed that the ‘Frontline’ would have survived.”

She said the problems that Vincentians were facing in 2001 , when public servants and people in general took to the streets along with the then opposition ULP, to protest against the NDP who was in government, were nothing compared to what they are facing now.

“So the ‘Frontline’ right now is a platform where people can come and protest …… discuss political issues, find out what is the state of play on the petition and all kinds of things,” said King.

Many persons visited the ‘Frontline’ last Friday to show their support, King told THE VINCENTIAN. But she expressed disappointment with the media, noting that she is not satisfied with the amount of investigative journalism that is taking place, and even questioned how is it Minister of Labour Camillo Gonsalves could have contacted David Ames and the Press cannot speak to Ames.

(KH)

Luzette King, pictured with Leader of the Opposition Dr. Godwin Friday on the ‘Frontline’ last week Friday.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. 7.

Diaspora

Vincentians chip in for storm relief and to provide funds and supplies.

In an email message to nationals on Dec. 1, Prince said the country “has again been adversely impacted by a series of VINCENTIANS in the United floods, consequent on the States on Sunday, passing of low level December 11, displayed troughs,” warning that their true patriotism by “the situation is bad,” and involving themselves in a noted that “118 persons relief effort to aid those are in shelter at the Sandy back home, who were Bay Primary School,” … affected by the recent and “50 persons were in a Trough System. shelter at the Rose Bank Heeding a fervent Community Center.” appeal by New York Prince also referred to Consul General Howie eight bridges in total being Prince, who also chairs the destroyed, and that there Brooklyn-based SVG (St. was significant damage to Vincent and the the road system Grenadines) Relief, Inc., nationwide. nationals converged on the Those who turned up to Friends of Crown Heights last Sunday’s activity Educational Center in brought, among other Brooklyn to offer support, things, food items, Stories and photos by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; kingnaking210@yahoo.co m US CORRESPONDENT

toiletries, clothing and shoes to fill barrels and boxes; and wrote checks to SVG Relief, Inc., which organized the event in conjunction with the Garifuna Indigenous People of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (GIPSVG), also based in Brooklyn.

Most GIPSVG members hail from Sandy Bay and other areas north of the Rabacca Dry River, the area most severely affected by the recent Trough System.

Marsena Ballantyne, GIPSVG’s Sandy Bay-born president, told THE VINCENTIAN that her group had already shipped eight barrels of supplies, compliments the Brooklynbased Standard Shippers, owned by Biabou native Gideon ‘Fessy’ York, to

Awaiting monetary donations, L-R: Narissa Morris, Stanley ‘Luxie’ Morris and Earl Horne. help provide relief to residents.

She expects the barrels to arrive home by Dec. 23 — in time for Christmas.

“We’re doing this right up to the end of December,” said Ballantyne, a Councillor at the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Mission to the United Nations, as she sorted items to be shipped home. “We appreciate the overall response. Words cannot express how I feel.”

Nearby, Laverne McDowald-Thompson, president of the Brooklynbased umbrella Vincentian

Marsena Ballantyne, with New

group in the York Consul General Howie United States, Prince, addresses volunteers.

Council of St. Vincent and the that the group VincyCares Grenadines Organizations, had solicited US$1,200.00 U.S.A., Inc. (COSAGO), from patrons the night said she was happy that before, at its annual nationals responded well Dinner/Dance and Awards to the appeal.

Ceremony, at the Friends In between sorting of Crown Heights supplies, McDowaldEducational Center.

Thompson, who is also a He described as member of the St. Vincent “tremendous” the support and the Grenadines Relief of nationals in aiding the Committee, said, “I feel relief effort, adding that very good that there is there is “still a window” to good participation in this.” donate relief items.

In brief remarks to nationals Sunday Continued on Page 12. afternoon, Prince disclosed

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8. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Editorial We can turn things around YES, it’s the Christmas season. Yes, we should be in a celebratory mood. Yes, we should content ourselves with embracing things uplifting.

And yes, if the truth be told, we should all make an effort to join in that exuberance and throw the trials of the year over our shoulders, into oblivion.

But, can we or should we, in all honesty, resign ourselves to this ‘joy joy’ feeling? Can we say that there is much for which, deep down, we have to be thankful?

Woe to this column for having joined the ‘complaining industry’!!!!

For certain, we must count our lucky stars that the wrath of nature did not unleash its full strength as she dropped torrents of rainfall on this an already tender nation. And we must be caring of those still reeling under the effects of the damage occasioned by those rains.

But in all of that, we cannot, in fairness to ourselves and to those for whom we would want to bequeath a better land, sit idly by and admit that all is well.

As we go to print, we have recorded our 35th murder for the year, three shy of the record of 38 of 2014. This is not a statistic, as insignificant as it might appear, about which we should be proud. Rather, it is a sign that we are rushing into failed-state status - that there remains an underlying aggression, whether the making of a few miscreants or a natural progression, given the division that characterises present day SVG society, that we can ill-afford to ignore and categorise as simply a passing fancy.

Worse when we see through the court system, an increased number of lawbreakers from among those whom we have entrusted with maintaining law and order.

And it’s even more frightening when we have to resort to name-calling, vile references, denigration of persons about whom we know little, and even violence acts to stem our over-enthusiasm as we engage in sporting competition, a la the final match in this year’s Senior Division of Secondary Schools Netball.

Driven by a seemingly hapless cadre of teachers, parents, adult spectators, the fracas at that netball match boiled over on to the public roadway, exhibiting for all to see, even the interred in the adjacent cemetery it seemed, a sense of disagreement and discord that is waiting to be provoked into, God forbid, proportions that could spell even greater harm.

Is this reality of division and disharmony, among our young people especially, what we want for ourselves as a nation?

We have to guard against giving support, whether direct or inferred, to elements in society that we know do not and cannot advance meaningful development of our young people and the cause of fostering a true Vincentian oneness.

The million dollar question: Can we turn things around for the better?

There should be no doubt that we can; our very size — our smallness — should make our task in this regard manageable.

We must first call a spade a spade — stop protecting the wrongdoers, punish the offenders, condemn the wrong, stop creating for allowing to fester areas that are depressed and become breeding grounds for live styles of illicit gain.

And more importantly, we must return to a form of governance that is coordinated and permeates the society from top to bottom.

Have we ever stopped to consider, that since the introduction of new forms and styles of governance and government, that we have lost that holistic approach that linked not just institutions of state, but the actual delivery of services?

Gone are the times when: forests were patrolled by forest rangers; water wastage and leaks were monitored and policed; sanitation inspectors visited homes and properties to ensure that the environment was kept clean; children’s health was monitored by health officers who visited the homes and schools; that it was an offence for schoolchildren to be away from school especially during school hours; communities were maintained by a local government structure of Town Boards and/or District Councils.

And what of the relationship between the police station, post office, magistrates court, library, health centre and warden’s office and the communities?

People felt they were being cared for, and in return cared for others and their environment. It was not a case of dependence on a prime minister; there were rules and regulations that governed how one performed.

So you see, we have a past from which, it seems, we have not garnered the good. The future is determined by what we do in the present, but the present is always better informed by the past.

A preview of Dr. Adrian Fraser’s book: ‘From Riot To Adult Suffrage ON THE OCCASION of the celebration of our 36th Independence birthday, three columnists of the Searchlight newspaper, as if by mental and emotional telepathy, produced impressive articles showing a real link between the 1935 riot and Independence.

The writers are Renwick Rose, Adrian Fraser and Oscar Allen, the last of whom was the only one to acknowledge that I had established the necessary linkage with Oswald Peters, and were the first persons in a Flambeau article in 1967 to show the connection. What follows below was a condensed article of mine in This Week, published in 1990.“THESE small Caribbean islands owe much to the series of spontaneous popular uprisings which took place along the entire archipelago in the 1930’s.

In our particular case, the outburst of October 21, 1935, marked a watershed in our political landscape. Nothing was the same after that. It formed the crucible out of which Independence was to emerge over time.

Yet, seventy-two years ago, few calculated the importance of the civil commotions. For obvious reasons, officialdom sought to downplay it. And the colonially brainwashed tended to ignore or even condemn it.

Noted historian Ebenezer Duncan saw the episode as a “blot” on the peaceful and orderly development of the country.

Even Mc Intosh seemed to have been riddled with doubt. The masses had taken things into their own hands and hit the street, flouting his constitutionalist approach of letters and petitions seeking compromises and accommodation.

It was the colonial office with a mindset that could not understand that the people could rise up on their own, that put Mc Intosh at the head of the small insurrection, so to speak.

First of all, they simply asserted that Mc Intosh “is mainly responsible for staging the whole business.” Then they rationalized Mc Intosh’s own ambivalent and confused behaviour with the curt comment that “it looks as if he was trying to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.”

Ten days after the riot the Town Board, then chaired by H.A. Davis, sent a resolution of solidarity, reportedly moved

by Mc Intosh, to the Governor. This resolution tendered “its deep regret at the incident,” congratulated “the Government on the stand taken in suppressing the disorder”, and expressed its thanks to those “who readily came forward and rendered very valuable services.”

Numbered among those volunteers were

officers of the Representative Government Association itself. The Vice President wrote a personal letter to the Governor condemning the rioters who he said had behaved “like a bunch of uncivilized savages”, and offered his services to the Government in any capacity.

In the prevailing climate, there was total black-out of news on the riot. It was not until 1967 that Oswald Peters and myself put the event in its proper light in an article in “Flambeau” entitled, “1935 Revisited.” After that breakthrough publication, the matter gathered speed.

The truth is that there was a strong dose of race coursing through the veins of the uprising, and coloured members of the R.G.A with one or two exceptions ultimately took a stand behind the White banner.

Power and Whiteness coincided in colonial society so that any redefinition of the situation involved race. The preaching of Grenada’s Marryshow and, especially Marcus Garvey, had given fillip to the Black cause.

Above all, Ebenezer Duncan had devoted much of the “Investigator” which he published, to the progress of the Italian-Abyssinian war. “Haile Selassie” became the name of a drink in St. Vincent as well as the sobriquet of the lower class leader Sheriff Lewis, who handled matters on the street.

The African bond was regional. The colonial office reported that at the time in Grenada a huge crowd had taken to the streets one day shouting, “We win. We win.” The Governor’s staff thought that it was in celebration of a local football victory, only to learn that the cause of the jubilation was Abyssinia’s recapture of the lost city Aduwa.

Indeed, one colonial office correspondent made the wry observation that locally, the anti-white feeling generated by the war was such that if the Abyssinians (Ethiopians) won, “the repercussions might be more dangerous than they will be if Italy succeeds in annexing Abyssinia.”

In the circumstances, as soon as news of the disturbances circulated, Mrs Grimble, wife of the Administrator, organized canteen arrangement and accommodation to cater for children of Continued on Page 12.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. 9.

Letters

Something good is happening at FLOW

FOR YEARS I have been an outspoken critic of the service I have received/ not received from Cable and Wireless. When I switched my long standing loyalty with C&W to Karib Cable, my problems were further exasperated. The switch in ownership and branding to FLOW turned out to be only cosmetic.

Following the announcement last year of the consolidation of FLOW and Cable and Wireless, my fears escalated that two wrongs could not possible make a right, and we would be locked into the reality of having only one communications giant with no alternative.

Is it possible that my two-wrong theory may be wrong? In this case, “two wrongs

seem to have made a right”, at least as far as customer service is concerned.

I am a Canadian and have a package with FLOW of Internet, VOIP telephone and Television. Each year, we suspend the service for the time we are overseas from May 1 to November 30, and request a total re-connect on our arrival back in St. Vincent. Prior to this year, my request has been a disaster, taking upwards of a month for reconnection service.

This year, my request was responded to by an amazing woman, Natakie FranklynBurgin, the personable, friendly Retention and Customer Experience Officer in Kingstown, who assured me my request

would be taken care of: It was.

Apparently sea blast corrosion had disabled the TV ‘Box’. Natakie invited me to bring the box into her office area, where she tested it, confirmed the problem, and gave me a new unit, which when connected worked perfectly.

I am hopeful and conservatively optimistic that changes are happening and will continue to happen. FOR NOW, Kudos to whoever is responsible in the new FLOW/C&W for customer service, AND A SPECIAL “Thank you” to Ms FranklinBurgin for leading the way.

Ben Harrison

Trying to live by the law RECENTLY I put a musician in Court, hoping to have him directed to complete a contract in which I had entered with him, or for him to repay me my money.

The case was called.

He spoke his story, and the Magistrate questioned me about what he (musician) said.

To tell the truth, I was not interested in the musician’s story. I was interested in having the magistrate tell the musician to either complete my music or

give me back my money.

There was a gentleman who was sitting just in front the magistrate. I don’t know if he was a (defence) lawyer or a prosecutor, but he was speaking laws. He had me wondering if he was trying to help the musician, or influence and impress the magistrate. All the laws that the man spoke went through one ear and came through the next. I felt the spirit of Karma.

The magistrate then ruled that I had no

evidence, and that the only choice was to dismiss the case.

I left the courtroom to go to my home. It was raining so I had to wait until it stopped raining to make my departure.

The musician came and sat next to the door. I said to him, ‘Is people like you causing troubles that are going around the country’. I thought I was speaking words of wisdom.

The two lawmen who were there said to me that I was threatening the man, and that was an offence for which they

can lock me up and charge me. Another lawman said to me that sound does travel, told me I was talking too loud, and said if I did it again, I will be put outside. I uttered something, and he pushed me out into the rain.

That is the kind of things the law allows.

Jah won’t give me more than I can bear.

Jah allows those things to happen to me, because he wants me to reign in life.

Alistair ‘Live Up’ Simon

Remember calypso legends I WOULD LIKE through this newspaper to convey a message to the new chairman of the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC).

Sir, I congratulate you on your

appointment to the chairmanship of the Carnival Development Corporation, and sincerely hope that you would consolidate on the legacies of your predecessor.

accurate clinical diagnosis, are they all on heavy doses of Thorazine? That’ll keep ‘em quiet.

I note in passing that the PanAmerican Health Organization is paying for the retrofitting of eight medical facilities (hospitals and clinics) here in St. Vincent– source of planning and funding to be played down, St. Vincent Government credit and selfpraise to be extolled, no doubt.

Money for this comes from PHOA, which is funded in part from the recently and recurrently demonized U.K. (“repressive colonialists”), or is that just more demagogic rhetoric? “Mom and Dad paid my bills, even after I moved out, but I still hate them”.

We have no funds for health care,”we have to build an airport!” Lord, love a duck!

Calypso has been an important aspect of our cultural landscape from time immemorial. And calypsonians, emerging through different eras during the last century, have singularly and together played phenomenal roles in delivering social commentary to the satisfaction of the Vincentian public.

I now draw your attention to some of our iconic bards who impacted locally and are deserving of recognition: The late Lloyd Providence Lord Hawke — The Caribbean Hawke - should be saluted posthumously by your organization. He was the lark amongst calypsonians in his time.

‘Duster’ and others who passed away should likewise be considered for posthumous recognition.

Still alive are the indomitable ‘Sheller’ and his rivals ‘Sun Blaze’ and ‘Leader’, and I hasten to mention Slider (now a pastor).

I humbly suggest. Sir, that portraits of these legends be posted at Carnival City in 2017.

The younger generation needs to get a glimpse into the glorious past.

John Watson

Patmos Richards

Healthy business?

The EC$117,000 a year the Government is offering for a psychiatrist is a joke–or worse, an insult; that’s less than US$44,000 per annum. No reputable psychiatrist is going to lower himself to work for such a paltry sum. The mean salary for a board certified psychiatrist is over US$190,000 a year.

As to the supposedly posh furnishings and appointments in the new Mental Health facility, the pictures I have seen display rows of beds lined up, “cheek by jowl”, with inches separating them. I lived in a barracks for 8 weeks of basic training in the Army, and we had more room between the beds. So will we have a neurasthenic in a bed next to a manic depressive, next to a delusional psychotic, next to a schizophrenic? Or, lacking a psychiatrist, since there is no one on staff capable of making an

Thank you, Fidel I WANT TO EXTEND condolences to the government and people of Cuba on the loss of their beloved leader - Commander Fidel Castro. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity I got to study in that country, and thank the Cuban people and Commander Fidel for the opportunity he has given so many people of the world to study in his country.

I admired Fidel for his generosity after being the head of the government for over fifty years, and he has not owned anything. Fidel Castro is a very special person; his dreams will live on in the heart of the Cuban people. To all his detractors, I say, the people love their leader.

Long live Fidel Castro, long live Cuba! To all the people who knew Cuba, it is a historical place from which a lot can be learned.

Viva Fidel! Viva Cuba!

Inford Burnette Thomas

Fighting down Fidel I WONDER if that person who got so irate over your Dear Fidel editorial really knows his history.

While Fidel Castro came down on the side of oppressed people, like the black majority in South Africa, and the suffering millions in Angola, the Americans never stopped trying to wipe him out.

And while Castro was on the side of freedom, America was waging wars across the globe.

That country has fought some war in every continient of the world since the end of World War 11. And the only war they ever won, on its own strength, was when they invaded Grenada in

1983.

If Castro was the warmonger that persons make him out to be, he would have sent in battalions of military forces to protect the Grenada revolution. But he didn’t. America did, on the pretext of protecting their citizens studying at the St. George’s Medical College there. Castro could easily have used that excuse too, for he had hundreds of workers there, some building the airport. But he didn’t, to repeat.

So, Mr. Editor, who is the fool and who is the jackass, eh?

Charles

V

10. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

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First Anniversary of the Fourth term Culture in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Introduction LAST WEEK, the ULP administration observed the first anniversary of the fourth term in office, in quiet reflection and introspection. There was no big celebrations, given the situation with our brothers and sisters north of the Rabacca river and in North Leeward.

Still, December 09, 2016 is a significant date in the history of the ULP, for we must remember the “shenanigans” of the NDP, and the claims that the government will not last two months in office, and that Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves could not present a budget in 2016.

We must also remember the protest actions of the NDP, and the way they disrespected the office of the Supervisor of Elections, and the reign of terror they unleashed on Ms. Findlay. We must remember their threat not to go to Parliament to take the oath of office. All of that came to nothing.

The NDP went to court to challenge the results of the 2015 elections in two constituencies, Central Leeward and North Windward. We all know the story of that attempt, and the ruling of Justice Cottle in that regard.

We will hear more about this as time goes by, and we hear the result of the appeal mounted by the opposition.

project that is critical for the future development of the country. When it is completed and operational, the NDP will have some serious questions to answer.

In terms of infrastructural development, the ULP administration has secured funding for the development of major feeder roads in the State, and repairs to some critical secondary roads. This means that construction activity in 2017 will be heightened. Added to this will be the repair work to several bridges in the State, including the Spring Village bridge. The Mt. Young bridge is already being used by commuters in the north of the country, in a fortuitous way, after the bailey bridge was damaged by heavy rains.

The ULP continued its much talked about education revolution in 2016, as students vied for scholarships to pursue their tertiary education abroad. Again, we must be proud that two Vincentians became valedictorians at the University of the West Indies, a trend that is establishing itself. Our students are setting new goals in terms of their educational achievements, but here 2016 and there, some areas of concerns The ULP has made great strides in have to be addressed.

Finally, one major project in 2016 relation to its development agenda in which will impact the drive to 2016. Great work has been done in eliminate dirt poor poverty in the the health centre, particularly in State was the launch of the Zero relation to the construction of the polyclinics in Mesopotamia and Clare Hunger Thrust Fund. This revolutionary move will attack the Valley, and the enhancements to the issue of hunger among persons who Milton Cato General Hospital. are dirt poor. The government has Plans for the start-up of the Geothermal project in the north of the instituted a levy on mobile calls, to raise money for this fund, and to country are far advanced, and work on this project should jump start early continue the war against poverty and undernourishment. The Zero Hunger in 2017.

There is also the Mt. Wynne/Peters Thrust Fund has already started the “adopt a classroom project” aimed at Hope project, which has generated much debate in the media here. That enhancing learning and skills development among children in areas project is ready for its groundaffected by poverty. breaking early in 2017, bringing jobs to the people on the Leeward side of Conclusion the island in particular. Investment activities have proceeded apace in the All told, 2016 was a busy year for tourism sector. Construction work on the ULP administration, with a host one hotel facility in Bequia is of development activities, and 2017 underway, and the marina in shapes up to be an even more Canouan is ready for its opening ceremony. energetic year, given the list of Of course, the major activity in projects coming through the pipeline.

2016 was the efforts to complete the Additionally, the government will construction of the international continue to manage the fiscal airport project at Argyle. This delay is conditions in the country with due to the adverse weather conditions prudence and enterprise. In 2016, which affected the country, and things have been fiscally steady, but resulted in damage to the road we are not out of the proverbial woods network in the area. The Minister of as yet, and the leadership of the ULP Works, Senator Julian Francis, is will continue to consolidate the spearheading the recovery work in economic gains, without being this respect, and we expect things to reckless and extravagant. return to normalcy by the end of the Prime Minister Dr. Ralph year. In the meantime, we encourage Gonsalves has already outlined his Vincentians to visit the terminal transition plan for the ULP, even as building to see the amazing changes the NDP struggles to come to grips as the IADC retrofits the arrival and with the fallout from their plan. With departure areas for operations. its “people-centred approach” the ULP Expect the NDP to continue to be will continue its work, bolstered by critical and bad mouth the airport the fact that it is the party of choice of project, since their opposition from the people of St.Vincent and the 2009. They have said some of the worst things about this project, a Grenadines.

THE LAUNCH of the Nine Mornings activities this year has brought to the fore the failure of the Unity Labour Party regime to effectively package and market our cultural activities. St. Vincent and the Grenadines has many cultural traditions which ought to be encouraged to expand into marketable products as attractions for visitors, and as income generating activities for our citizens.

However, it is noticeable that when visitors arrive from cruise ships, for example, most wander aimlessly around the town. A few will take a coach tour, but other than that, there are really no other attractions. Some visitors come for a specific event, carnival, Christmas or a yachting regatta. When they do, we need ancillary activities in which they can participate and local, unique products which they can purchase. Crafts, art, food, music, dance, all can provide enjoyment and entertainment for our visitors; but we have to develop all aspects of our culture, and produce a well-organized package that is attractive to our citizens and visitors alike. This the New Democratic Party (NDP) aims to achieve.

A New Democratic Party government will take politics out of culture. The best and most innovative Vincentians must be able to participate in the creation of a viable sustainable cultural industry, which can aid our development as a people, as well as usefully contribute to our country’s economy. We will revive the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) and make it, once more, the umbrella body and coordinator of all cultural activity nationally. The NCF, through its work with community based groups and other cultural entities, will be responsible for encouraging the expression of our indigenous culture.

Also, build a National Cultural Centre. This Centre will be the hub from which our performing and graphic artists will be encouraged to grow and develop. It will incorporate a well designed, equipped and acoustically sound Performing Arts Facility. And it will include a School of Music to accommodate the demands of music theory and practice, instrumental training, formal voice training, assistance to modern popular music, classical training, the gospel artistes, calypsonians, etc. We will aim to create a National Youth Orchestra from that nucleus. Our graphic artisits will be enabled to showcase their talents in the decoration of the public spaces as well as in the creation of sets and backdrops for all types of cultural performances. A National Cultural Centre will also provide spaces to house exhibitions of our artists’ work.

In addition, revive our National Biennial Music Festival, and revitalize and expand poetry, dance and drama festivals to cater for both young people and adults; encourage dance programmes in schools at the primary and secondary Levels; support the efforts of independent teachers of dance, and enable our talented dancers to continue to tertiary level and degree level programmes, through the provision of scholarships and bursaries; provide support for cultural programmes at a village level, which seek to reinforce our values and our indigenous culture; revitalize community spirit by reintroducing best village and best school annual competitions. This will again add to the possibility of exposure for our culture practitioners across the country.

The NDP will also support and encourage active participation in our nation’s festivals including Gospel, Jazz/Blues and Carnival. Carnival in particular needs the infusion of new ideas and a revamped marketing strategy. The management of

Carnival will be subsumed under the National Cultural Foundation, which will function to create an enabling environment for creativity without tight government censorship and control.

We will support the expansion of culinary arts competitions, exhibitions, fairs and training programmes to encourage older community heads to pass on their skills and techniques to a younger generation. Exhibitions and fairs will be linked to cruise ship arrivals and other festivals. In this way, we can expand the range of attractions for visitors, while at the same time providing opportunities for income generation locally. We will assist in and facilitate the reorganization of the Youlou Pan Movement, which could then benefit from the opportunities available under EPA; assist the Calypso Association with finding a home and with becoming selfsustaining and a support system for its members, and create an annual calendar of events which will form part of the tourism strategy for marketing to visitors regionally and internationally.

Encourage Ministers responsible for Culture, Trade and Tourism to work together with all stakeholders, to ensure that our culture practitioners are able to benefit from the EPA Agreements, trade and tourism expositions, to ensure the promotion of our country, its culture and its people. Fully support all initiatives taken to ensure that our artists and performers are properly rewarded for their talents and skills. To this end, we will enforce existing legislation that protects their interests, and ensure that SVG becomes a signatory of any international treaties, such as the Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcast Organizations, and the WPPT WIPOO performers and phonograms treaty, that give scope for development and protection of the sector at a regional and international level.

As well, create an IP Enforcement Branch of the Police Force with trained police officers and lawyers, whose sole responsibility will be: to handle IP related issues of infringement, enforcement and issues related; implement properly accredited visual arts and design programmes in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Caribbean Examinations Council and the University of the West Indies, and introduce a visual arts element in the syllabus for trainee teachers;, encourage our artists to expand their skills into technology based fields such as computer animation, computer games and graphic design; implement and/or continue the implementation of the SVG Policy Framework and Development Strategy for Cultural and Creative Industry Development; and provide fiscal incentives to encourage the private sector investment in the music industry, carnival, and in cultural performances.

And complete legislation to award National Honours. The NDP had, in the past, developed a system of local national honours, and a Bill, providing for the declaration of National Heroes and the style and designation of the appropriate award, had its first reading in parliament.

The NDP will revisit this legislation to ensure the recognition of exemplary contributions made to the development of our society by its citizens.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. 11.

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The promise of Christmas

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

– Isaiah 9:6 Jesus Christ, in the New Testament passages found in the early chapters MANY COMMUNITIES around the world of Matthew, Luke, and John. These buzz with activities as they prepare to passages remind us of His humble usher in the Christmas Holiday Season. beginnings (born in a stable), and the Some family members travel long fact that Jesus took on the very distances as they trek home to nature of a servant, being made in celebrate with loved ones. The human likeness so that you and I can shopping areas, decorated with lights be set free (Philippians 2:7). God kept and streamers, engage in activities that His promise. Jesus came to earth encourage spending. The radio stations that first Christmas Day to save provide a varied selection of Christmas sinners like you and me. music as they also seek to usher in a The Gospel of Matthew records time of merriment and peace. However, that our Saviour was given two for many, this year’s Christmas may be names at His birth - Immanuel and tinged with some degree of sadness Jesus. Immanuel means “God with and/or worry. For example, many of our us”, and Jesus means “God saves”. citizens who reside in the northern part These names remind us of the deep, of mainland St. Vincent are still true meaning of Christmas; that struggling to bring their lives back to Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, came some degree of normalcy after being to save mankind. This Jesus Christ devastated by the rains, flooding, and of Nazareth brought peace, hope, landslides that occurred during the reconciliation, healing, and salvation latter days of November. This Christmas to mankind. These blessings are still will be different and difficult for them. available to us today.

However, even amidst such destruction Today, some 2,000 years after his and disappointment, opportunities miraculous birth, we have good cause emerge for the true meaning of to celebrate His coming. That is what Christmas to shine through. Many kind- Christmas is all about — remembering hearted citizens will rally around them and appreciating His coming. We are and make sacrificial contributions to not to become so distracted by the provide gifts of clothing, food, and toys. lights, new curtains, and the many These items will assist in easing the activities that are now associated burden of their devastation, and usher in with this most historic occasion. Let a timely reminder of the true meaning of us avoid these distractions, and Christmas – sacrificial love for our celebrate the birth of our Saviour, fellowmen.

Jesus Christ. And even as we do so, The prophet Isaiah, over seven let us reflect on the purpose for His hundred years before the event coming. He came to set mankind free occurred, had predicted that Jesus from the burdens of sin. It is by Christ would be born of a virgin. In accepting His finished work on the Isaiah 7:14 we read, “Therefore the cross of Calvary, that sinners like you Lord himself will give you a sign: and me can receive forgiveness from Behold a virgin will be with child and sin and have eternal life. He came to will give birth to a son, and will call liberate us from the heavy burdens him Immanuel.” He further indicated and shackles of sin. He came so that that Jesus would be the saviour of the we can spend eternity with Him. world (Isaiah 9:6 and Isaiah 53).

This Christmas Holiday Season, let The prophet Micah also alerted the us reflect on His journey, from that people of his day, that God would humble stable where He was born to send a Saviour, and that he would be the cruel cross where He was born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). We crucified. Let us concentrate on His can read about this historic occasion, unwavering love for the unlovely. His the birth of our Lord and Saviour sacrificial blood still has the power to make the vilest sinner clean. This Christmas holiday season, as we celebrate the mystery of His first coming, let us do so with hearts filled with gratitude and hope. And let us consider how our appreciation for His unending love, can be reflected in our demonstration of love to our fellow citizens. In addition, this Christmas, let us also not lose sight of the fact that this same Jesus, whose birthday we celebrate, will come again. He came. He suffered and died. He rose from the dead. And He is coming back as He promised that He would.

This promise will be fulfilled just as convincingly as the commitment given in relation to His first coming, that first Christmas Day. We thank God for the promise of Christmas … and for the promise of Jesus Christ’s second coming.

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

To thyself first be true ‘We die twice, once when our body gives out. And a second and final death, when there is no one else to tell your story and speak your truth.’

Jorge Luis Borges

for

persons who are their real and best allies and defenders? Who is answering Fidel’s call to arm the cadres and the ‘THE FUTURE is not ours. It belongs to people? those who prepare and fight for it.

Do we still have the fight that the Are we fighting, are we preparing for the revolutionary movement of the 60s and future to ensure that we have a cadre of 70s trained and prepared us for? Are persons from whose pool the next we prepared to challenge and question Chatoyer, Sheriff Lewis, George Mc Intosh everyone and everything so that we and Fidel will spring forth?’ may arrive at the truth? If the ‘I am afraid that Fidel would be pressures brought about by a primitive allowed to suffocate and die under a accumulative casino capitalism increase heavy mountain of nice words and as they will, are we imbuing our people glorious tributes.’ with ideas so that they understand the challenge, thus making them willing Jomo Thomas, parliamentary tribute to and ready to defend a developmental Fidel Castro. process that is in their best interest?

Who is protecting the people against I was not just playing with words confused thoughts? when I expressed fear that Fidel will In Venezuela, the revolutionary soon die twice. I was not hyping either. President, Hugo Chavez led the people My concerns are real. movement for more than a decade. The The brilliant address by Camillo people loved him and he worked to Gonsalves emboldened my fears. constantly lift their consciousness and Minister Gonsalves quoted Fidel on the material conditions. In the elections role of ideas in the fight for a new before President Chavez died, he won world. Fidel, addressing the youths of more than 60 percent of the popular Cuba in 2004 said: vote. Former US president Jimmy In this ideological struggle, ideas are Carter hailed the electoral process as our fundamental weapons; our most free, fair and transparent. important ammunition is also ideas. We But once he was struck down, the have to arm our cadres with ideas so forces of internal and external reaction that they, in turn, can pass these on to led by the United States of America the young and to all of the people. mobilized against the Chavezistas, … I say ideas because the struggle made the Venezuelan economy scream, we are speaking about will not, in and brought untold hardships to the essence, be a war, but rather a battle of people. In the parliamentary elections ideas. The world’s problems shall not be that followed, the forces of progress solved through the use of nuclear suffered a major reversal. The weapons — this is impossible — nor opposition as well as the USA has not through wars. What’s more, they shall relented. They want to see the backs of not be solved through isolated the people who history and experience have shown brought health, education revolutions that, within the order and housing benefits to the poorer installed by neo-liberal globalization, can be crushed within a matter of days, sections of the population. But with the pressures, many persons who supported weeks at the most. the Bolivarians buckled under the … The world is rapidly being hardships and difficulties. The globalized; an unsustainable and revolutionaries continue to fight, but intolerable world economic order is rapidly being established. Ideas are the with much less room for error. This is raw material from which consciousness why Fidel emphasized the vital importance of ideas. is forged; they are the raw material of The people must be armed with ideas ideology par excellence. I prefer to call them the raw material of consciousness that will meet the economic, social, to emphasize that it is not a question of financial and political challenges that are bound to come. There is no rational strict and rigid ideology, but rather of human being who can say that they are an advanced consciousness, that is to satisfied with the state of the world. say, a conviction that hundreds of There is no Vincentian who can declare millions and billions of people on this with a straight face that the people and planet will inevitably arrive at, and that it will constitute, without a doubt, our country is right where we will want it to be. the best instrument to secure the You will have to be crazy mad if you victory of those ideas throughout the are not concerned about the condition of world.’ so much of our people, the instances of Not weapons but ideas will decide this universal battle, and not because of insanity and its violent off shoot, the November rains and the destruction some intrinsic value, but because of and dislocation they caused to our how closely they relate to the objective infrastructure and the lives of our reality of today’s world. These ideas people, the creeping levels of stem from the conviction that, the helplessness and hopelessness. world has no other way out that This is why we need ideas. The imperialism is unsustainable, that the battle of ideas will hopefully lead to a system that has been imposed on the synthesis which allows for the world leads to disaster, to an development of problem solving skills insurmountable crisis, and, I dare say, and sustainable solutions. sooner rather than later.

We must not only be prepared to say Where are the cadres and activist that Fidel will long be remembered. We willing to take this challenge? Is there must commit to ensure than Fidel’s anyone still willing to be called example is emulated, especially by our revolutionary? Do we still say youth. Anything else is not only imperialism and know what it means? counter-productive, but anti national.

Are we willing to train the youth and Let’s all first be true to ourselves. the teachers, the workers and the farmers so that they understand the Send comments, criticisms & world and be steadfast in the support suggestions to jomosanga@gmail.com

V Not in the public interest to sell off E. T. Joshua airport to foreigners 12. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

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GONSALVES TOLD THE SVG House of Assembly on Thursday 8 December 2016, that Argyle airport will be opened soon. He also said on a previous occasion that E. T. Joshua airport will be closed and the airport lands will be sold off, to include to foreigners.

Given that Argyle airport has many flight safety hazards, it is not in the public interest to sell E. T. Joshua airport lands. The many flight

safety hazards at Argyle airport could cause the airport to be closed regularly. If this happens, and E. T. Joshua airport has been sold off, the people of SVG will be left stranded, with no airport in St. Vincent.

Argyle airport has been a waste of what some say is EC$1.4 billion. It was built to accommodate B747-400T jumbo jets, but at most, it will only have the same

capability as E.T. Joshua airport, and will not be suitable for jumbo jet passenger flights.

The runway orientation of Argyle is significantly different to most other Caribbean runways. The runway orientation is perpendicular to the prevailing winds, and would expose aircrafts to very dangerous, strong, gusty crosswinds. This is a major flight safety

Vincentians chip in for storm relief Continued from Page 7.

Three executive members of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Association of Washington, D.C. (SVGNA) also trekked from the nation’s capital on Sunday to turn over supplies gathered during the group’s drive earlier in the week.

President Lennox Simon, a lawyer, who hails from Volunteers New Montrose, told THE VINCENTIAN that he and Vice President Leonard Crichton, of Colonaire, and Albie Crick, of Mesopotamia, chair of the educational programs, packed the donated items in a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and took the five-hour journey to Brooklyn in the bitterly cold and snow-threatening weather.

“This was a hectic weekend for SVGNA members; however, it was for a worthy cause, since charity begins at home,” said Simon.

Donnette Lewis, GIPSVG vice

pack relief supplies. president, who hails from Sandy Bay, told THE VINCENTIAN, as she, too, sorted relief supplies Sunday, that it was “a tremendous feeling to see everyone — all the organizations, along with the Consul General — coming together to help with the trough system and the families above the Dry River, as well as other areas affected.”

Going forward, Ballantyne said nationals in the New York metropolitan area can drop off relief supplies at 5218 Church Ave., between East 52nd and 53rd Streets, in Brooklyn.

hazard and can cause a passenger aircraft to flip over.

Argyle is a waterlogged site, and the Argyle runway has already failed a compaction test, and under the weight of a 400 tonne jumbo jet, the runway will simply break up, just like the Windward highway.

Argyle airport has many other flight safety hazards including: there is a bird island in the path of final approach to landing and take-off, which can lead to bird strikes on the aircraft’s engines; the runway is exposed to flooding by the Yambou River overflowing and making the runway unusable; the width of the runway is only half the required width for an instruments runway, making the runway dangerous and unusable for landing and take-off in bad weather; and, the airport will not achieve the 95% usability factor.

According to the Leader of SVG Green Party, Mr Ivan O’Neal BSc(hons), MSc, MBA, the focus on Argyle has killed our economy and swamped the country with poverty, squalor and high unemployment.

The ULP regime has already admitted that Argyle will not make a profit and will cost more to operate than it will make. Argyle should not be opened. Airlines are not overly keen to fly to Argyle. The ULP regime has revealed that the only way to get bigger airlines to fly to Argyle is to pay them. This will waste millions of dollars more and would be an economic disaster, plunging our country further into debt.

The EC$1.4 billion should have been spent

on restructuring our economy, creating thousands of new jobs for our people, building our own SVG tuna fishing and canning industry with a potential annual revenue of about EC$2 billion dollars; building factories, building new hospitals, and building a university to create a knowledge-based economy.

It was foolish for Gonsalves to have wasted about EC$1.4 billion on Argyle airport. It would be foolish and not in the public interest to sell off E. T. Joshua airport, as the people of SVG could be left stranded with no functioning airport in St. Vincent frequently.

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A preview of Dr. Adrian Fraser’s book: ‘From Riot To Adult Suffrage connections. We need to bridge them and demonstrate that there is indeed a European descent who had sought common thread linking them, the one refuge in the police Barracks. being a natural precursor of the other.

Three years before the outburst, a It really is amazing that in working former Chief Justice of St. Vincent out the question of a date for Independence, Premier Milton Cato had pontificated in the Port-Of-Spain first set his mind on the 22nd day of Gazette, “The negro will not work, as January, a controversial date thought to nature provides him with the be Discovery Day which has now been necessaries of life so far as food is discredited. concerned. Two flour bags will make a Finally, he settled on 27th October, so suit of clothes and it is always possible close yet so far from 21st October, the to beg a couple of kerosene tins to help anniversary of the riots. But at the time in the construction of a palm-thatched Labour and anybody who was somebody hut.” in the society were mortally ashamed of The Moyne Commission which investigated the disturbances confirmed the deeds done on 21st October 1935. that the majority Blacks were consigned There was consensus among the higherto a life of economic misery and political ups in 1979 if possible, to write that stagnation. Their plight was total. As an date completely off the social and political calendar. So the deliberate old man Mc Kenzie used to preach to Sheriff “Haile Selassie” Lewis and others choice of the 27th October which hopefully would replace the 21st in the under an almond tree in the Market people’s mind.

Square: “St. Vincent needs a riot.” A But Adrian Fraser has now enlarged cleansing force! and deepened the thought processes After the riot it was not plain sailing.

Some local persons wanted to turn back earlier begun by Peters and me in a scholarly lecture on the topic last the hands of the clock. Fortunately the Thursday night, by way of introducing a Colonial Office got the message and book he is writing. arranged a time-table of the Little by little we are coming to a constitutional advance leading up to full properly balanced history of ourselves, responsible government.” done by ourselves which is an Both events took place in the month indispensable prerequisite and attribute of October, accidentally, with no of true Independence.

Continued from Page 8.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. 13.

New Adelphi resident FLOWS in cash

LIONEL ALEXANDER, a construction worker from New Adelphi, has got some early Yuletide joy, compliments FLOW. Alexander was a winner in FLOW’s 2016 Christmas promotion themed, ‘Enjoy the most wonderful time of the year with FLOW’.

The lucky FLOW subscriber collected EC$1000 on November 18.

Alexander became eligible for the Christmas cash draw when he signed up for one of FLOW’s post-paid packages, and received a Samsung J2 free.

“It is not every day that you get $1000 handed to you”, he said after collecting his winnings 1 at FLOW’S Corporate offices at Halifax Street.

He admitted to using FLOW’s services for five years.

The obviously elated FLOW customer related how on Monday, November 28, he received a call from ‘Pitbull’, who was live on Hot 97.1 FM, informing him that he had won.

“I was on a van on my way to do some work in the evening, and when I got the call, it did not sink in right away. But when it sink in, I said, ‘Wow, this for real’,” said Alexander.

“I was excited, to see I won a $1000 in this time.

I feel like I was flying in space, knowing I won something so unexpected”, he continued.

And as for the $1,000, Alexander said later, “I put it in the bank for

Lionel Alexander was not afraid to show off his FLOW cash, but said he was going to put it safely away for a rainy day. hard times because getting it unexpected, you have to use it wisely.

It will help in the future to do something important, and I would like to say thanks to FLOW for making Christmas nice.”

FLOW’s Marketing and Communication Executive Melissa Veira stressed on Wednesday, that persons who decide to use FLOW’s services this Christmas, have a lot to look forward to, as the telecommunications services provider is giving consumers what they consider to be, ‘the most wonderful Christmas ever’.

This year, FLOW’s Christmas promotion is rewarding persons who purchase cellular phones, television and broadband services, as well as the various bundled deals being offered by the company.

Antonio Guterres – New United Nations Chief ANTONIO GUTERRES took the oath of office on Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, as the United Nations’ new Secretary-General, during a formal ceremony at the General Assembly.

The former prime minister of Portugal pledged to “exercise in all loyalty, discretion and conscience” his duties as UN chief when he takes charge on January 1.

The 67-year-old was elected by acclamation in the General Assembly in October, to become the ninth UN chief in the world body’s 71-year

history.

Guterres will replace Ban Ki-moon, 72, of South Korea. Ban steps down at the end of 2016 after serving two fiveUnited Nations year terms.

Secretary-GeneralGuterres was designate Antonio Portugal’s prime Guterres in Washington, minister from 1995 to DC, on December 12, 2002 and UN High 2016. Guterres will Commissioner for become the ninth UN Refugees from 2005 to 2015. He performed well Chief in the world body’s 71 year history. in answering questions (AFP File Photo) before the General Assembly while campaigning for the job, 13 candidates vying for the job in informal polls while his executive experience propelled him in the Security Council. to first place among the

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14. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Education

White Coats for St. James students Dr Maxim Crasta, A section of the MD4 Class of the St. James Dean of Students School of Medicine, Affairs at the St. who received their Vincent and the White Coats.

Grenadines Campus of the Saint James School of Medicine, situated at Cane Hall, is encouraging students to pursue their career with a sense of dignity.

“Wear your White Coat with pride,” Dr Crasta advised, at the Kingstown Methodist Church Hall last Dr Maxim Crasta, Friday, when 46 students Dean of Students were inducted to their programmes of study during Affairs, urged the class to be proud a White Coat Ceremony. about wearing their In addition to receiving White Coats. their White Coats — a distinguishing mark of their profession — the students took the Hippocratic Oath — an oath stating the obligations and proper conduct of doctors, formerly taken by those beginning medical practice - watched by faculty members, government officials, parents, families and loved ones.

Crasta congratulated the group of inductees dubbed MD 4 Class. He rehashed the humble beginning of the local campus, transferred from the Dutch island of Bonaire. He noted the school’s upgrade to a full-fledged medical school with some 200 students now enrolled, and acknowledged the “tremendous support from the government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

Crasta projected to the next stage for the MD4 Class, which will see them starting their Advanced Introduction to Clinical Medicine programme in Chicago, January 2017.

Vice President Raj Mitra, in reference to the phase of study/training in Chicago, told the inductees, “You will see the fruits of your labour in the next four months.”

Bernard Soluta, speaking on behalf of the White Coat recipients, highlighted the different worlds from which the students emerged, and noted that he and his colleagues were at the “beginning of another journey.”

He reminded his colleagues that life was like a marathon, and that the world “has a way of making people lose focus, lose hope,” but encouraged them to build-up “knowledge and the heart to become great doctors.”

Vincentian Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was guest speaker. He found words of inspiration for the students, with quotations from the works of poets William Wordsworth, Robert Frost and William Butler Yeats.

The keynote speaker was Vincentian Medical Doctor - Jose Davy, who, in addition to taking a philosophical approach to her presentation, urged the students to “manage stress,” and “learn how to differentiate things in life,” and “develop your spiritual life.”

This is the fourth White Coat Ceremony that Saint James School of Medicine has held here.

Students spend 16 months at the local campus.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. 15.

News

Children patiently waiting to have their faces painted.

Children at the outdoors theatre viewing the movie Elf.

DIGICEL brings special gifts for the children ON TWO CONSECUTIVE Sundays, December 4th and 11th, the First Caribbean International Bank (FCIB) car park in Kingstown came alive, having been transformed into the ideal Kids’ Christmas playground, to accommodate telecommunications company-Digicel’s Winter Wonderland-Santa’s Playground activity.

The event, which also served as a family movie night, was geared primarily at providing children between ages 6 and 16 a safe environment to play, be creative, and view movies, while their parents did their Christmas shopping in Kingstown.

The gate to the FCIB car park was open at 4 in the afternoon until 9pm.

Inside the Winter Wonderland, the children had the opportunity to decorate and personalize cupcakes, have their faces painted, participate in arts and craft activities — building their own necklaces, earrings and other jewelry. The children inside Santa’s Workshop also had the opportunity to meet and take photos with Santa, enter the bouncing castle and view movies- Elf and Frozen. The children were also treated to popcorn and cotton candy as they entered the outdoor theatre.

Parents and guardians expressed much thanks to Digicel, describing the activity as one that should be a permanent display/activity in the capital.

Moreover, many parents admitted that the activity provided their children with the opportunity to Decorating cupcakes inside Santa’s Workshop. grow, as they met and interacted with ‘persons ‘GetGifted’. they had not known before’, and Additionally, Davies explained that developed new skills. the Winter Wonderland initiative Digicel’s Country Manager John provided all Digicel customers another Davies said the Winter Wonderland opportunity to capitalize on the experience is another demonstration of GetGifted Christmas promotion, where Digicel’s commitment to giving back to they can perform a number of all Vincentians, and for specifically, activities for a chance to scratch and one in keeping with telecoms company win over $150,000.00 in cash and 2016 Christmas campaign theme prizes.

SVG Welfare Fund holds party for preschoolers

by GLORIAH…

Children’s Welfare Fund the Girl Guides Christmas Party for Headquarters, Level preschoolers was held last Garden.

THE ANNUAL St. Vincent Saturday, December 10, at It was held under the and the Grenadines distinguished patronage of the Governor General, H. E. Sir Frederick Ballantyne and, as it has been for more than twenty years now, it was staged in conjunction with the Rotary Club of St. Vincent.

Children from some twenty-one preschools in St. Vincent and the Grenadines were slated to attend the party; however, it was quite noticeable that the schools in the North Windward areas of the country were absent.

Sir Frederick, in giving welcome remarks, expressed his sorrow at the damage suffered by the residents of that area, during the recent trough system which created much flooding and landslides.

“I am saddened by the occurrences to the north of the country, causing the representatives from Santa came to town and added even more that area to be unable to excitement.

Fun time for the children in the bouncing castles. attend today,” he said, and went on to stress the importance of showing love for the children.

The children were lavished with a variety of party snacks and juices and entertained by the music of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Band who invited two preschool teachers to sing along with them.

They were also serenaded by the Christmas ‘vibes’ of the Kenneth ‘Vibrating Scakes’ Alleyne, and were given the opportunity to enjoy some fun and frolic in the bouncing castles.

Just before receiving their take away party bags, Santa arrived with

his bag of toys, creating added excitement.

According to the preschool teachers present, the impact of the activity on the youngsters could never be understated, given that some of whom (of the children) have never before left their communities, attended a party or seen a real life representation of Santa Claus.

Of significance this year, was the attendance for the first time by a school from the Grenadines - the Bequia Evangelical Preschool.

Teacher Ms. Jael Miller stated, “It was overwhelming to be chosen as the first school from the Grenadines to

come to this party. It really was challenging to go up to spend the day in St. Vincent because of the way the boat was running, but we made it.” She said that all the children had a great time and the trip was worthwhile.

Teacher at the Theodore McKenzie Preschool in Rose Bank Ms. Dorothy Matthews gave her take on the event. “That party was a good idea,” she was eager to mention. “Most of the times at events like these, only those around town are invited. The organizers did great to invite children from the rural areas. … The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves!”

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16. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Community

It was a time for interacting and reminiscing for the senior citizens.

Senior citizens get ‘Returnees’ treat SENIOR CITIZENS who attend the NIS Golden Years Centre at Buccament, and others from the wider community, received some early Christmas cheer, compliments the United Returnees Association (URA).

Meal time – The URA, which has offered ongoing support to the Centre, held its Annual Threecourse Christmas Luncheon for the Senior Citizens, October 8.

Chairman of the URA - Kenneth Abraham said that the organization was happy to support the senior citizens, and referred to scenic drives/tours the Association organized for senior citizens in June. “…. They are elderly, and if nobody else does this, they wouldn’t be able to see much of what St. Vincent has,” said Abraham, adding that his Association was encouraged by the appreciation the seniors show in return.

Abraham underscored that the senior citizens have contributed significantly to the country, and therefore, must be treated well and made to feel comfortable in their golden years.

The Luncheon activity also included time for the senior citizens to sing and dance to the sound of steel pan. They mingled with each other and reveled in reminiscing about their past.

Area representative - Sir Louis Straker was also in attendance. He was there , because he wanted to share “a little Christmas cheer” with the senior citizens. He described the URA initiative as a very good gesture.

“Actually, this is one of the reasons why we have this Golden Years

and they thoroughly enjoyed it.

Centre, so that we could bring all the senior citizens together, and now that it is Christmas time, it gives me very great pleasure to be here with them,” said the area MP. He echoed Abraham’s sentiment that it was important that the senior citizens be made to feel comfortable and share camaraderie.

The URA has been able to assist the senior citizens because of a number of fundraising events along with members’ personal finance, but “Anyone who have been overseas and want to join the crowd is welcome,” said the Deputy Chairman. Meetings are being held at the Golden Years Center at Buccament every last Monday of the month.

The URA was established 11 years ago, and is comprised of 30 members drawn from persons who have resided in the USA and the UK. The original objective was to foster a bond among the returnees themselves, but in recent times, the objective has expanded to include serving communities around St. Vincent.

The community outreach programmes are funded from the returns of fund-raising events and the ‘pockets’ of members.

In addition to supporting the Centre, the URA also assists a number of secondary school students.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. 17.

News

Buccament Bay Resort closed THE BUCCAMENT BAY RESORT, Right: Operations at the up to press time on Wednesday, was without a supply of electricity Buccament Bay Resort have from local power providers ceased.

VINLEC, and operations there (Resort) have ceased.

Investigations indicate that the electricity supply was disconnected earlier this week, against a backdrop of mounting arrears owed to VINLEC. The exact amount outstanding could not be ascertained, but it is not the first time that VINLEC has had to disconnect the supply of electricity to the Resort, for arrears on charges for power consumed by the Resort.

The disconnection of electricity sent the Resort into further chaos, increasing speculation about the Resort’s future.

Workers, representing a wide range of categories of employment, had, some two weeks or so ago, withdrawn their services, demanding that they be paid outstanding salaries — some for up to two months.

There has been much going and coming on this matter, with promises and indications from the Minister of Labour that the matter would soon be settled. Up to press time, that matter remained unattended.

The disconnection of the electricity supply, meanwhile, came at a time when the Resort was hosting guests, and THE VINCENTIAN was made to understand that following the disconnection, some guests were relocated to alternate accommodation, while others, apparently on request, were flown out of state.

While it could not be confirmed up to press time, one source told THE VINCENTIAN, all staff were sent home following the disconnection of electricity.

The Buccament Bay Resort was developed and managed by Harlequin Property, in which David Ames is a principal. Ames managed the Resort, but has since absconded to the UK, on the heels of an order for him to appear in a local court, to answer charges of tax evasion and theft.

The Prime Minister had said following Ames leaving the state, which he did by boat from Chateubelair, a port of entry on the North West coast of St. Vincent, that the English-born man had left the state legitimately.

Ames has, through his lawyer here, informed the local court that he was unable to appear for the court hearing, because his current state of health made it unwise for him to travel.

But it appears that Ames had all intention of being in the UK, according to one British newspaper, since it was anticipated that a court in the UK would have ruled in the last quarter of 2016, on a suit Harlequin Property had brought against its former accountants, Wilkins Kennedy.

In fact, Harlequin Property, on December 12, was awarded judgement in an amount of US$11.6m (£9.14m) in that matter.

But the hope that this money would have been used to settle the Buccament Bay Resort’s debts to individuals and companies here were dashed, when the judge in the case ruled that the money should not be paid directly to Harlequin, “at least at this stage”, pending the resolution of other matters, including “in particular” the needs of the company’s investors.

The David Ames saga continues.

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18. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Business

RBC launches new Mobile app and Online Website

Isaac Solomon, Managing Director, said that the new services are in keeping with satisfying customers’ demands for easier and more convenient banking services.

RBC ROYAL BANK recently launched its Mobile Banking app for iOS and Android devices across the Caribbean. This new, innovative service provides flexibility and convenience to RBC’s Personal and Business Banking clients.

Clients can now conduct transactions anywhere, anytime, and using any device.

The bank also introduced its new online website, which provides easy navigation across a wide range of devices.

RBC’s objective is to have a single digital platform that will provide a consistent experience for our clients across all markets.

Isaac Solomon, Managing Director says: “We recognize the changing demand of our clients for digital payment options as part of their daily banking services. Clients want to be able to perform easy and secure daily banking activities on an anytime/anywhere basis.

The launch of the RBC Mobile Banking App is a significant milestone for our markets in the Caribbean and part of the bank’s purpose to helping our clients thrive and shape their future”.

Isaac Solomon, Managing Director continues: “We want to differentiate ourselves by delivering leading edge products and services to our clients. By investing in technology, we aim to make it easier for our clients to do business

with us in an innovative way and at their convenience”.

The RBC Mobile Banking app is available to clients who are enrolled in RBC’s Netbank or Royal Online Banking Service, and can be downloaded free of charge from the Google Play or the Apple App store. Earlier this year, the Android version of the Mobile Banking app was launched in Trinidad & Tobago, the Dutch Caribbean and the Eastern Caribbean. Over 10,000 clients downloaded the app for their banking transactions since it was first launched.

According to Solomon,

Managing Director, this new solution contributes to the bank’s existing suite of self-serve channels that will empower clients in the ability to conduct their banking and manage their finances on their time and at their convenience in a safe and fast manner. RBC is committed to provide full-feature banking to its clients, regardless of the device that they use, and is constantly enhancing its digital channels towards that goal.

The RBC Mobile Banking offers many advanced features, including: registering and signing-in for the

first time right from mobile devices; adding payees and managing templates from Mobile Banking; approving and releasing payments for clients; viewing statements.

In the past months, RBC has made significant investments in technology, including the launch of the Online Payment Solution, EZPay and upgrading Point of Sale Machines.

RBC will continue to develop new products and services geared towards customer convenience. To find out more, visit www.rbc.com/caribbean.

(Source: RBC Royal bank)

Christmas greetings from SVGTCCU IN THIS FESTIVE SEASON, the SVG Teachers Cooperative Credit Union ltd.

(SVGTCCU) extends a Christ-centred Christmas greeting to all. We wish for our Nation, peace and prosperity for the New Year, 2017.

The SVGTCCU joins in the celebration with the hosting of its Members The SVGTCCU Headquarters is located in Paul’s Appreciation Day on Avenue, Kingstown.

December 22nd, 2016. An invitation is prizes in conjunction with Coreas extended to all our members, Hazells Inc & Courts SVG will be customers, volunteers, other given up to the end of the Loan stakeholders and friends to interact Special on January 31st, 2017. Also, with us, from 9:00am until 2:00pm five new members, on Appreciation that day.

Day, can win back their full Various prizes will be given away, registration paid. as we show appreciation to those who Blood sugar and pressure stood with us, and helped to build the screenings will also be available on Credit Union over the past thirtyAppreciation Day. Each result is eight (38) years. Additionally, the first accompanied with appropriate advice new member who registers on and or referrals.

December 22nd at our Headquarters Mr Carlos Williams of ‘MR. MCK or any of our Branches (Barrouallie, Products’ will be exhibiting and Bequia or Union Island) will receive a sampling local drinks, etc. Mr. gift.

Williams is one of the customers at Three of the members who received SVGTCCU. a Christmas Loan Special (Oct 2016 — The activity will be carried live on Jan 2017) can win either a 40” Flat NICE Radio, and we invite the public Screen Smart TV, a Stereo System or to tune in and learn more about their a $1000.00 Food Hamper. Weekly Credit Union. (Source: SVGTCCU)

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. 19.

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20. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Teeth getting in the way Dear George, I MET THIS GIRL a few weeks ago, and immediately we hit it off. I was totally convinced this was the woman for me. I introduced her to my entire family circle. I was proud of her.

We never rushed into sex or anything like it. I wanted to be the perfect gentleman. When we eventually did get down to some serious stuff, to my surprise, she cautioned me to be careful how I kissed her, because she had dentures. To be fair, she had never told me about it before.

You see, I vowed never to date a woman who has

dentures. She is missing four teeth.

George, this was a total turn off for me. I asked her why she never said anything about it before, and her response was that I never asked.

That killed the mood for the rest of that night, and I am really bothered by it.

She insists her dentures should not have anything to do with the way we feel about each other. Yes, I love her, and I am convinced she loves me; but those dentures are standing in the way. What should I do in a case like this?

Small headache

Dear Small headache, Are you going to let four missing teeth stand in the way of being with a woman who, as far as you say, is the woman of your dreams?

The one ingredient for any relationship to work is love. Love covers a multitude of sins. It enables you to look beyond the faults and shortcomings, and go on to make the necessary adjustments to make it last.

Do not lose sight of the bigger picture here.

The best direction to love is from the inside out and, in your case, you

have already started on that course, so do not blow it.

If you are looking to meet the perfect woman, you have to make sure that everything about you is perfect. The more you focus on your girlfriend’s heart, is the less you will be distracted by her dentures.

George

You were out of place!!

Dear George, MY FRIEND introduced his fiancée to me, and I was completely taken aback by her physical appearance. I took him aside and asked him how could he chose such an ugly woman to be his future wife.

I thought I was just being frank with him, but what I had to say did not sit well with him. He got angry and told her everything I told him about her.

Not only was I embarrassed, but I was, moreso, angry with him for telling her what I had said about her.

To this day, neither of them has spoken to me, and it bothers me greatly. How can I make this right?

Regret Dear Regret, Your comment to your friend was totally out of line. That said, a sincere apology would be a good way to begin to mend the broken bridge of friendship.

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and to say what you said to him, was to judge his ability to make a choice which he considered to be in his best interest.

You definitely blew this one big time, but take a deep breath, then call up your friend and have a good ‘bury the hatchet’ talk. You can do this!

George

Can’t do without her cheesecake Dear George, MY CURRENT girlfriend and I have been having heated arguments over my ex-girlfriend.

You see, the one weakness I have is to bite into a good cheesecake, and my ex certainly knows how to make a good cheesecake. Since being with my present girl, I continue to get cheesecake from my ex-girlfriend at least once per month, and for sure on my birthday and at Christmas. This has been going on for three years now.

Things have got to the point where my present girl is convinced that my ex and I are still having intimate relations. We have not been involved like that at all. I just cannot say no to her cheesecake.

Innocent Dear Innocent, You are well aware of what the problem is, and it is in your power to do something about it. What might appear to be an innocent act to you, may not sit well to your fiancée. She would have a totally different interpretation of the situation.

Why allow this to drag on? What’s past is past, and you need to drop this cheesecake excuse for keeping ties with your Ex. Show some consideration for your fiancée, and let her be the joy and focus of your life.

Give your relationship a fair chance to breathe, and try to be less ‘cheesy.’

George

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Don't get intimately involved with a coworker. Put your energy into home renovations. Take time to deal with the concerns of children. Concentrate on getting ahead financially and let your personal life settle down for a while.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) A friendship might suffer if money becomes an issue. You should be promoting your ideas. You will get bored quickly, so make sure that you have scheduled enough activity to hold your interest. Do not overspend on entertainment.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) You can look around for the right place and enlist some of your friends to help you move. Romance and social activity will be a promising combination. You can ask for favors but don't take them for granted. Don't allow your personal problems to interfere with your professionalism.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Compromise if you wish to have any fun at all. Don't let your lover put demands on you. Pleasure trips will promote new romantic encounters.

Communication will be your strong point and you should be able to persuade others to see things your way.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Pleasure trips will promote new romantic encounters. this week will be rather hectic on the domestic scene. Others may want to steal your thunder when they realize your ideas are pretty solid.

Beware of someone who is trying to make you look bad.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) You must use discretion when talking to others. Gambling should not be an option. You will have the ability to capture the interest of others. Ask others to help, or you may feel that a burden is weighing you down. Don't draw too much attention to yourself at work.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You can clear up important legalities

and sign contracts this week. Sudden disruptions will cause upset and a change of routine in your home environment. You will have a tendency to put on pounds. Visit friends who have not been well.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Romance will come through involvement with fundraising organizations.

Take the time to close deals that have been up in the air. You may find it difficult to communicate with someone at work. You can make moves, but they won't be settling.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Your talents might just be discovered.

Opportunities to show your worth will enhance your reputation and bring possible advancement. You may find yourself a bit frazzled if you allow someone to goad you into an unsavory debate.

You must be sure not to be frivolous, because as the saying goes, easy come, easy go.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Opportunities for love will develop while traveling or while attending religious functions. Sports, physical fitness programs, exercise in general will make you feel better and show some pretty quick results. You'll be tempted to spend extravagantly this week. You should check out prestigious clubs or groups that have a cause you believe in.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Try spending the day catching up on any responsibilities that need to be taken care of. If your lover tries to curtail your freedom, it may lead to conflict.

You will have opportunities to advance, but you may have to be willing to make some changes and possibly a residential move. Try and avoid getting involved in idle chatter or gossip that might get you in trouble.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Pushy people must be kept at arm's length. Extravagance will be a problem.

Get help to finish a project if you need it. You will find that unfinished projects at home will be most satisfying.

ACROSS 1.Munich’s land (abbr.)

4. Court security 8. Moose’s cousin 11. Lode load 12. Dig 13. Strive 14. Nero’s 54 15. Considerably 17. Supposed 19. Fender nicks 20. Go on a pension (abbr.)

21. Competent 23. One who mimics 25. Woods’s org.

26. Accurate 30. “Get Shorty” Actress Russo 31. Unaffiliated voter (abbr.)

32. Cow group 33. NBA’s Jason 34. Born as 35. Common contraction 36. “__ the Light” (2 wds.)

38. Explosive

(abbr.)

39. Very reluctant 42. “Leave at once!”

45. Boston Pops, e.g.

48. Fisherman’s need 49. On the __ (escaping) 50. Prying device 51. Greek letter 52. Flagon filler 53. Like the letter Z 54. Block (up) 16. Quite agitated 18. Actor 1.Good as __ Burgess 2. Pennsylvania 21. Politician city Spiro 3. Minister 22. Invited 4. Yield 23. Noah’s craft 5. Height (abbr.) 24. Canadian 6. “__ Got prov.

Sixpence” 25. __ colada 7. McEnroe’s (cocktail) court 27. Replaced rival 28. Oversized 8. Unvarying vase 9. Spirited tune 29. NYC 10. Door summer openers setting 12. Count 37. Turtle’s calories “home” DOWN

38. Salty drop 39. “Damn Yankees” temptress 40. Not written 41. Very top 42. James Garner role on

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. 21.

“Maverick” 43. “__ creature was stirring…”

(2 wds.)

44. Dutch cheese 46. Baltic, e.g.

47.Entertainment sources

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22. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Opinion

Some perspectives on finance FINANCIAL PROGRESS depends upon new technologies. Whether they’re big data, whether they’re broadband, whether they are payment and collection systems of the banking system, digital and mobile, they all need to be applied to the development challenges of our time.

Some experts in the fields mentioned above (professional business technocrats), and other brilliant minds of our business world, hold very

prominent positions at the IMF, the World Bank and the MDBs. These institutions represent structures that show up the brilliance of the management of capital markets, the most essential factor necessary for financial advancement.

The value of capital markets for the development of the financial world has led to a demand for capital market companies. This

demand is on the rise in developed countries, and we have also seen the emergence of a new business trend of mid-size capital market firms in the U.S and Europe.

When certain banks which deal with our region choose to discontinue holding deposit accounts from our financial institutions and private businesses — insurance companies, credit unions or government’s NIS

investments — because they do not want to take on the risks associated with money laundering and other risk factors, then this new business trend is giving us opportunities to bank with them.

In April 2015, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (AsDB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (ENRD), the Inter-

American Development Bank Group (IDNG), and the World Bank Group (WNG), together known as the MDBs, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) presented a joint vision of: what we can do, within our respective institutional mandates, to support, and finance achievement of the SDGs through individual and collective support; what we can do to build upon and scale up financial support; the necessary technical assistance and policy advice to enhance the total contribution that we can make to global development.

In the Caribbean, we have recently witnessed studies done to correlate broadband with economic growth, and we see its significance in, for example, St. Kitts and Nevis. The government of Antigua and Barbuda wants to dismantle personal income tax, and to do so, it has coupled with the IMF to bring about the changes.

The IMF and MDBs seem to have developed a mission statement - $1 in, $5 out. This pertains to their brilliance of managing their capital stock. They are expected to invest US$400 billion to the achievement of the SDGs, for the period 2016-2018. With the successes of the IMF and MDGs, I wonder if our government here has ever tried to deposit funds with them, buying instead of selling, as some would say. The question also goes out to our own financial institutions and private businesses whether locally or

regionally owned. How often do we consult these banks? What agreements should be established with them? These are questions that must be proactively answered.

In looking at our financial situation in SVG, it is evident that the ECCB has a primary role to play. The ECCB has tried to keep the rate of interest down to about 1-2%, in its quest to make it easier for governments in the ECCU to sell their treasury bills and other securities, on the exchange markets. The other side of the equation is that citizens are reluctant to save, given the realization that their deposits are not generating enough interest. On the other hand, interest rates for borrowing are seemingly beyond them. The ECCB needs to establish a two tier interest rate system, where one would be responsible for government securities, and the other directed at trying to secure a between 4-6% interest rate for both the borrowers and depositors (savings) of our financial institutions.

As individuals, firms, insurance companies, credit unions and governments, we need to focus on creating links and more dialogue with the MDBs. The significance of all this is that we need new models, we need innovation and finance. We need to try new things, and be willing to come up with creative structures.

Julian ‘Rock Star’ Williams

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. 23.

Schools Netball titles determined

THE THREE SCHOOLS NETBALL TITLES were determined last Friday at the Kingstown Netball Centre, when the championship matches were played.

First to be decided was the Primary Schools category which saw, for the fourth straight year, the Dubois Government taking the title.

Dubois outpointed the Owia Government, 16-13, in a keenly contested final.

Juniors In the Junior segment of the Secondary Schools competition, Troumaca Ontario Secondary School rallied to a 17-15 win over 2015 winners - the Central Leeward Secondary School (Barrouallie).

The all-Leeward final served up some intrigue, as Troumaca led 5-0 at the end of the first quarter and 9-3 at the halfway mark.

Barrouallie roared back to establish a 13-11 lead at the end of the third quarter, but Troumaca dug deep to outscore their opponents, 6-2, in the final quarter, to take the title to the North Leeward area.

For Troumaca, Ashanti Douglas scored 12/18 and Jamelia Grant had 5/8, while for the dethroned champions Leah Gordon scored 11/13 and Brandy Hazelwood- 4/6.

Seniors

Senior Secondary Schools Netball champions – Bethel High School. to take third among the Seniors. numerical The third spot playoffs took place on advantage to edge Barrouallie out 25- Thursday last.

The presentation of prizes will be held 24, at the final whistle- this after at a date to be announced by the organisers, the Ministry of Education, trailing their National Reconciliation and opponents at the Ecclesiastical Affairs. end of the first The hand signs say it all for the Du Bois Government three quarters 4 School’s netballers as they made it four straight in the 4, 11 — 12 Primary bracket. and 15 — 18.

Yanneisha Scipio was Bethel The Campden Park Secondary School High’s top scorer, making good (Bethel High School) won the Senior 20/24, and Calisha Velox netted finals, to add even more agony in 5/8. dethronement to the Barrouallie And for the Barrouallie Secondary.

Secondary, Rochelle Williams In a match marred by ill- temper, the scored 12/17 and Amica Barrouallie Secondary had two of their Hackshaw registered 12/20. better players ejected for striking their opponents. A fracas involving opposing Third places players and non-players from each school, parents and spectators, flowed In the third place playoff for from the field of play on to the street, it the Juniors, Sandy Bay is reported.

Secondary won 31-15 over the When the match resumed, Barrouallie Bishop’s College Kingstown. The took to the court with five players, and New Secondary Schools’ Junior Netball Girls’ High School outlasted the Bethel High made good use of their champions- Troumaca.

Emmanuel High School, 23-19,

Young Strugglers, Pacers take Sion Hill Netball double YANJA YOUNG STRUGGLERS and KFC Pacers did the double take in the 2016 Vita Malt Sion Hill Netball Tournament.

When the lights at the hard court of the Sion Hill Playing Field were dimmed last Sunday on the tournament, Young Strugglers completed their hold on Division One, by taking the Knock Out title.

Rose Claire Hall sank 37 of her 43 attempts, and Michelle Sam 2 from 7, to see Young Strugglers to a 39- 30 win over Owia Trailblazers.

Young Strugglers had taken the League title as well, ahead of Sion Hill and Owia Trailblazers in that order.

Like Young Strugglers, KFC Pacers had done the

same in Division Two. Before Sunday, Pacers had champed the Knock Out, defeating Everready Future Stars 50-38, in the final.

Trailing Pacers in the League race were OSCO Ball Warriors — second and Everready Future Star- third.

Awards Young Strugglers’ Rose Claire Hall was the tournament‘s Top Goal Scorer with 131 from her 154 tries, ahead of Sion Hill’s Sandra Carrington, who made good on 70 of her 101 attempts.

Taking the Most Disciplined Team award was Ajuba Netters of Spring Village, and Samantha Carrington of

the Sion Hill team was adjudged the Most Disciplined Player.

Both Ajuba Netters and Carrington received cash awards compliments parliamentary representative of East Kingstown — KFC Pacers – Double title Hon. Arnhim holders in Division Two. Eustace.

Winning the teams.

Best Dress award was In Division One, the Star Girls One, and Best recipients were: Nyasha Banner- Everready Future Williams- Ajuba Netters; Stars.

Shannique De Shong Also presented at last Yanja Young Strugglers; Sunday’s closing ceremony Princess Chapman — Sion were the Most Valuable Hill; Shanice Daniel - Star Player awards for each of Girls One; and Jessica the eleven competing Lavia - Owia Trail

Young Strugglers – Division One Double Champs.

Blazers.

And the Division Two awardees were: Deborah Robinson- Everready Future Stars; Coran Mc Fee — Sydney Strikers;

Shania Hoyte- Star Girls Two; Jomaria QuashieKFC Pacers; Atiya JohnYoungsters, and Joleen Cato — OSCO Ball Warriors.

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24. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

VolcanoesÊ location hurting SVGÊs cricket

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES will be robbed of its best players, once the Windward Islands Volcanoes franchise continues to be based in Dominica.

This strong view was expressed by President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association Inc. Kishore Shallow, as he gave remarks at the association’s recent Annual General Meeting.

“Our best players are playing in Dominica in their time off from regional games, and that would obviously help their (Dominica) cricket, and you have seen a vast improvement in

Dominica’s local players since the franchise is there…While Dominica is improving, our cricket is slightly at a disadvantage,” Shallow stated.

The Windward Islands Volcanoes is made up of 15 contracted players from the four islands Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines - and one each from Barbados and Guyana.

Dominica is home to the franchise for the greater part of the year, from where the team prepares for the regional competitions, namely the West Indies Cricket Board 4- Day Competition and the

Super- 50 One Day Competition.

Like the other franchise, those contracted to the Volcano earn between US $ 15 600 to $36 000 per year, and when match fees and prize monies are factored in, emoluments can increase to between $ 33 000 to about $54 000.

In this set up, the Dominicans are the ones who benefit from the arrangements, as the others have to fund their accommodation and other personal expenses.

As far as a proposal that franchise base be rotated, Shallow said that at the issue was discussed at the last meeting of the Windward

Kishore Shallow (center), speaking at the recent SVGCA Inc’s AGM. Islands Cricket Board of Control (WICBC), with the result being a confirmation of Dominica as the base.

The SVGCA President noted that the matter of “rotation” will again be discussed at the next convened meeting of the WICBC. But a frank Shallow stated, “I will be very honest with you, I don’t see it changing in the near future, at least not in the next two years.”

He did, however, admit that one had to be fair to Dominica who, accepted the challenge to

host the franchise when it was first offered in 2013.

Also raised at the recent SVGCA AGM was the matter of the relocation the WICBC‘s secretariat from SVG to Dominica, with some local affiliates expressing concern about the domination of Dominica in Windwards cricket set up.

The move will be a loss to St Vincent and the Grenadines as the WICB has, over the years, funded the Secretariat to the tune of about EC $ 150 000, inclusive of the

remunerations to the CEO and secretary, and rental of office space from the National Sports Council.

Reports say that Dominican Gregory Shillingford, who is also the general manager of the Windwards Volcanoes, is set to become the new CEO of the WICBC. The WICBC’s president — Emmanuel Nanthan is also from Dominica, likewise the Windwards Volcanoes’ captain — Liam Sebastian, and chairman of the senior selection panel- Charles Walters.

Simple Boyz take fourth title in TBPO softball

Top Wicket taker - Azmon Forbes.

Gairy’s Construction Simple Boyz made it four in a row in the NLA TBPO Softball Cricket competition.

Right: Desron Maloney, Man of the Finals.

KINGPIN OF LOCAL softball cricket — Desron Maloney powered Gairy’s Construction Simple Boyz to their fourth straight lien on the National Lotteries Authority Top Belair Progressive Organisation’s competition.

In last Sunday’s — December 11 - final played at the Daphne Playing Field, Maloney was severe on the Nice Radio Clinchers’ bowlers, smashing 12 sixes and 4 fours, to make an even 100 not out,

as Simple Boyz scored 201 for 3, batting first.

Maloney’s show was supported by Jabarri Cunningham, 30, and Eldon Morris, 28.

In reply, an already deflated Clinchers seemed to have resigned to exhaling whatever little air they had left, and folder for a mere 74,

to hand Simple Boyz victory by a whopping 127 runs.

Maloney was the pick of the Simple Boyz bowlers, taking 2/ 8, Eldon Morris2/ 9, Casmond Walters- 2 / 12 and Travis Cumberbatch2 / 15.

For winning the competition, Simple Boyz pocketed $ 3000 and second place — Clinchers got $1500.

As expected Maloney was named Player of the Final.

The most sought after softball cricketer in the land,

Maloney has represented several teams during 2016.

Apart from playing for Simple Boyz in the TBPO and PCCU Clinchers competitions, Maloney was part of the Bank of SVG All Starz team that won the East Kingstown competition back in August.

He also represented CGM Gallagher Novice in the Greiggs competition and Mac Lil Saints in the Calliaqua Area Development Organisation’s competition.

Third place play off Preceding to last Sunday’s final, the two losing semifinalists, Bank of SVG All Starz engaged Stingers in the third place play off. Both teams had gone uner by seven wickets to Clinchers and Simple Boyz respectively in the semi-finals round.

Stingers took advantage of

the minimum players fielded

by All Starz, and registered 182/7 from their 20 overs, Colbert Simmons striking 67 and Adonis Nanton 52.

Andrew Little took 4 for 28, bowling for All Starz, who replied with 64 all out.

Stingers earned $750 and All Starz- $750 .

Awards Stingers’ Sheldon Nanton was the Player of the Competition as he was the leading batsman with 318 runs and also grabbed 10 wickets.

His teammate, Azmon Forbes, was the Top Bowler with 19 scalps.

Adjudged the Most promising Youth Player was Keneal Skinner of Stingers, and copping the Most Disciplined Team award was Simple Boyz.

Losing finalist - Nice Radio Clinchers.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. 25.

Sports

Sport and culture

IF EVER there is a case of cultural and sporting fusion, this year’s Nine Mornings celebrations will take the cake. The icing will be set as the festival climaxes on Christmas Eve. Then announcement will be made of the different categories of competitions managed by the Nine Mornings Committee. The Best Lit House competition is a prestigious affair filled with much rivalry. The Best Lit Community and the throng of other acknowledgements engrained in the festival have added to the aura, and people across the nation get out of their beds to take part in all sorts of activities.

Whatever the origins, Nine Mornings have evolved into an ongoing Vincentian mystery. It depends on what input people are willing to make.

The excitement this year is the prospect of individuals pocketing US$1,000 as a result of their dexterity and nimbleness. That through the efforts of the Barbadian based Road Tennis Association. Their efforts at evangelising in St. Vincent and the Grenadines seem to be bearing fruits. Road Tennis seems poised to make an impact.

Sports lovers will be pleased with the flexibility that the game offers. With a dearth of technically correct batsmen palpably blatant in the Caribbean, there is the opportunity for youngsters to hone their hand/eye coordination, while perfecting that agility to handle the skill of playing the ball on the volley.

The fitness level will improve the performance of players and strengthen their muscles.

Road Tennis is comparatively cheap, and its establishment will contribute to national growth.

Signs of that are taking place with the avenues that the Nine Mornings Road Tennis competition provides.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is positioning itself as an outlet for Road Tennis.

The Barbadians are optimistic that it can become an Olympic sport in 20 years. That will be time for us to have cultivated the proficiency.

Two of our sporting stalwarts have indicated our adaptability to the pioneering exercise. The spread of the game here has served as another platform of integration. There is no doubt that the Barbadians will keep their pride as creators of the spectacle. No one must deny them their honour. They will let the tentacles glide far and wide. St. Vincent and the Grenadines will facilitate any aspect of road show. It has been our legacy. We have demonstrated our persistency by naming Joseph Chatoyer as the National Hero.

The Road Tennis Show’s incorporation into the Nine Mornings activities will raise eyebrows.

When people see a nation roused into action at 3 am, there will be curiosity as to what fuels them.

And they will be inspired to finding out.

Owia Young Strikerz retake Greiggs Softball title AFTER FALTERING last year to Top Shottaz Squady, Owia Young Strikerz pulled out all the stops last Sunday at the Greiggs Central Playing Field, to silence Sea Operations Nar Fren Dem, and retake the title in the St Vincent Brewery / Sea Operations Nar Fren Dem Greiggs Softball Cricket title.

Appearing in their fourth straight final, the intention was clear for Young Strikerz, who won back- to-back titles in 2013 and 2014, as they cornered Nar Fren Dem by six wickets.

Batting first, Nar Fen Dem struggled to 84 for 6 from their 20 overs, with Ceon Phillips striking 45 of that total.

The pick of Owia Young Strikerz ‘bowlers were Denson Hoyte — 3 for 8 and Davidson Lavia — 2 for 21.

Owia Young Strikerz’ batsmen wasted no time, reaching 85 for 4 in 12.2 overs, to win by six wickets.

Zaneel Baptiste led the successful response with 26.

Kenford Collins was Nar Fren Dem’s best bowler, picking up 2 for 26.

It was another heartbreak for Nar Fren Dem, who has appeared in eight of the fourteen finals, with only the inaugural title in 2003 to show.

Nar Fren Dem had to settle for the runner- up spot for the

Owia Young Strikerz – 2016 winners of the Greiggs Softball Cricket Competition. seventh time, taking home a trophy and $1500.

Young Strikerz got two trophies and $ 2500, as well as drinks compliments the St Vincent Brewery.

Third place Preceding last Sunday Sea Operations Nar Fren Dem had to settle for afternoon’s second place once again. final, Bruce Law Chambers Inc. Smashers recorded a 14-run win over CGM Gallagher Novice, to win the third place and the $1000 cash prize.

Smashers scored 124, with St Clair Dickson making 41.

There were three wickets each for Desron Maloney and Zane Edwards, bowling for Novice.

When Novice batted, their response ended at 110 all out. Roderick John topscored with 46, while St Dickson Top Wicket-taker- St Clair Dickson crowned off a good (left) gets the Saboto Caesar Trophy allround performance, grabbing three wickets. from Caesar himself.

Adjudged to have taken the Last Sunday was not Best Catch complete without the presentation of awards and in the competition prizes. was Nar Nar Fren Dem’s Ceon Phillips was the recipient of Fren Dem’s three awards. He was voted Keno Matthews, the Player of the Final for with Morell his 45, took the award for Leslie voted the Most Runs (245) in the as the Most competition, and walked away with the Player of the Outstanding Umpire.

Competition award.

Ronan Taking the Most Wickets Rawlins of was St Clair Dickson of Smashers, who accounted for Owia Young Strikerz Most Wickets – 15 wickets. His teammatewon the Delano Woodley Delano Woodley copped the Best Best Wick-Keeper award for Manager his four catches and three award and James Rawlins- the stumpings.

Most Loyal Supporter of this year’s competition.

CGM Gallagher Novice was Left: Most Outstanding named the Most Disciplined Umpire – Morell Leslie Team, and Snipers Reload — the (right) gets his award from Best Dressed Team.

Safrian St Hilaire.

Awards

Player of the Season, Player of the Final and Scorer of the Most RunsCeon Phillips (left) accepts an award from Lystra Franklyn.

V

26. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves accepts a donation towards disaster relief efforts from H.E. Ambassador Baushuan Ger.

Taiwan to SVG’s assistance once again ON BEHALF of the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Ambassador Baushuan Ger handed over to Prime Minister Ralph E. Gonsalves a cheque of US$150,000 (EC$403,230), as a contribution to disaster-relief efforts following the severe damage caused by a trough systems here.

In addition to the grant provided by the ROC government, the SimplyHelp Foundation, a nonprofit humanitarian organization founded by Taiwanese diaspora in Los Angeles, USA, has decided to donate a 20-foot container of disasterrelief goods to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, upon the request of the embassy. The contents of the container, in total value of about US$100,000, will include clothes, shoes and household items.

The container is scheduled to arrive in January 2017.

Ambassador Ger expressed his country’s solidarity with St. Vincent and the Grenadines at this challenging time. He conveyed heartfelt sympathies of President Tsai Ing-wen to those who suffered in the floods, and prayed for a swift process of rehabilitation and recovery in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Prime Minister Gonsalves acknowledged the continuing goodwill of the government and people of Taiwan, and expressed his appreciation for the assistance provided both in kind and cash.

The grant will be used to support immediate humanitarian efforts, while the relief goods expected in January will be distributed through a coordinated social network.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Republic of China (Taiwan) celebrated this year, the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016. 27.

Classifieds

PHILLIP BARTHOLOMEW PETERS

ISREAL JULIAN

CECELIA CARLITA JACK

S.D. Adventist Church Kingstown Tuesday 13th December, 2016 2:00 p.m.

Lowmans Windward S.D.A Church Sunday 11th December, 2016 2:00 p.m.

Faith Temple Church Monday 12th December, 2016 2:30 p.m.

MARCUS JOSHUA HUNTE JR.

SIS. JACQUELINE EDWARDS

The New Testament Church of God Wilson Hill Monday 12th December, 2016 2:00 p.m.

S.D. Adventist Church Barrouallie Sunday 11th December, 2016 2:00 p.m.

ERMINE ANCELLA DASENT Greggs S.D.A Church Sunday 11th December, 2016 2:00 p.m.

F O R S A L E

FRIDAY,

DECEMBER 16, 2016

VOLUME 110, No.49

LEACOCKÊS FUTURE STILL NOT CLEAR

I am the embodiment of not just St Clair Leacock, THE FUTURE OF THE but the hundreds of poor, RELATIONSHIP between suffering people who Parliamentary have held faith with me Representative for Central for many years,” he Kingstown, St Clair continued.

Leacock and the New “Today, I have great Democratic Party (NDP) is suffering and humiliation uncertain. when I witness and He expressed his experience the onslaught dissatisfaction in the that I face. Some call it manner in which he was friendly fire…. . . I have seemingly overlooked for given my best years - in the positions of President fact, some 35 years to the of the NDP and Leader NDP…. lost my job, lost of the Opposition — in my business; but that is favour of eventual choice how the cookie Dr Godwin Friday. crumbles.”

“I don’t think it is Even against that unfair to say that the summation, the door is open, and that it Parliamentary is left to me to see how I Representative said that spend the rest of my he was not bitter, years; whether I want because that was the them to be in the nature of politics. wilderness or to make And in reference to his them available to the years spent contributing people of St Vincent and his service and time the Grenadines in a (given) to the political principled manner,” organization, he said he Leacock said in looked back with pride at Parliament on Thursday, his stint as the Public in a highly anticipated Relations Officer (PRO) presentation. for the NDP — during the “At this time, I am Grand Beach Accord. conscious of the fact that He took credit for

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St. Clair Leacock, MP for Central Kingstown was perhaps more measured in his presentation to Parliament, than most people would have anticipated.

Left: Dr. Godwin Friday, newly installed leader of the Opposition feels assured that his colleague St. Clair Leacock would continue to serve under the NDP.

starting the now popular NDP talk show programme, ‘New Times’.

“I listen to people call in about my absence from the programme, and I am still trying to [find] space on that programme that I conceptualized because it’s full out.”

And he talked about the NDP document, the Social Redemption Charter, which he said was drafted by him, yet he was not often credited.

His popularity in his constituency is evident by the numbers that he has won by, and he assessed his performance

at the polls as having been above the average of the NDP. According to Leacock, he took issue on the principle that the party members mismanaged themselves, and that they did not follow proper process.

He said that he received two important telephone calls during the time that Dr Friday was being elevated to the position of Party Leader and Opposition Leader — only one came from his NDP colleagues, Senator Julian Ferdinand.

The calls came from former leader of the NDP Sir James Mitchell, and Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

Dr. Gonsalves, in his contribution to Leacock’s

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

presentation, described it as unusual.

“In his words, he is enduring great suffering and humiliation and pain, occasioned by an organization that he gave 35 years of service. I am touched by this,” the Prime Minister said.

Dr. Friday, in his remarks, thanked all his colleagues, saying that Leacock called him the day after his appointment, to pledge his continued support in the House.

He pointed out, though, that the position was an appointment by the Governor General, and that it was a responsibility and not a platform.

“It is something that I take seriously because I think that it is time the business of the people be

given priority over personal and private concerns — that is why I accepted the position; it was up to me to say no to my colleagues,” Dr. Friday said.

He concluded, saying that he too was experiencing some anguish that was causing a lot of anxiety and sleeplessness.

“Because it is a person for whom I have great respect, and whom I have worked with for many years, and he appealed to those who would sow the seeds of division to do something better with your time.”

He added that Leacock expressed his continued service to the nation, and that he expected that he would continue to serve under the NDP.

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.