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The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY,

MAY 19, 2017

by KENVILLE HORNE THE POLICE HAVE LAUNCHEd an investigation following the discovery of three children and their parents living in unusual and unsanitary conditions, in an area known as St. Hilarie, on the Grenadine island of Bequia.

At about 6:15pm last Monday, police took Otis Lockhart, originally from Edinboro, his wife and three children into custody.

The children, two girls and a boy, and their mother, confirmed to be US citizens, have since been assigned to the care of the Social Services Department (see accompanying article), while Lockhart, according to Superintendent of Police Richard Browne, who is responsible for the Bequia District, Lockhart is under police care for his own safety.

When THE VINCENTIAN spoke with Supt. Browne during the late afternoon hours of Wednesday, he said that the family of five was brought to Kingstown on Tuesday. Lockhart was handcuffed.

He, like Deputy Commissioner Colin John, confirmed that investigations since have turned up no evidence that a criminal act had been committed, despite reports that the mother and children were being held against their will.

“From what we understand, the wife said that they were not kept without their will,” said Browne.

He said that based on information the police received, the family was renting a house in Bequia before Lockhart purchased 6,000 square feet of land on which there was a structure of sorts and a small tent.

Browne also dispelled rumours that the property had no electricity. “The gentleman (Lockhart) purchased a

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EC$1.50

Otis Lockhart, handcuffed, being escorted from the Grenadines Wharf to the central Police Station, Kingstown.

(Photo Credit: Jerry George)

had a tank for storing water, according to Browne.

Browne revealed to THE VINCENTIAN that Lockhart told police that the three children were not attending public school, but were being homeproperty which had schooled, and that they had electricity and internet,” plans to return to the USA, said Browne, who where the children would asserted that he had seen have been enrolled at evidence — bills - to this public schools. effect.

When pressed as to the He further noted that the reason the family was taken area of abode of the family was not into custody by the police, an isolated one, and that a number of Browne explained, houses were located close by, contrary to what was reported by some sections Continuied on Page 3. of the local media. The property also Left: Superintendent of Police Richard Browne, with responsibility for the Bequia District, alluded to amenities at the place of abode of Otis Lockhart and his family, as not being as dire as certain media reports and rumours made them out to be.

NO EVIDENCE OF ANY WRONGDOING

by DAYLE DASILVA THERE WAS NO GROUNDS on which to make a definite determination as to whether or not an American woman and her three children were being held captive by her husband, Otis Lockhart.

News broke here on Monday of a possible situation where four individuals, an adult female and three children, were being held against their will on the Grenadine Island of Bequia.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Colin John confirmed on Wednesday that the police had received a report on Monday that a family was discovered to be living in sub-human conditions.

He said that it was later discerned that the family was living in a tent, and that police, who had visited the location after receiving reports, assessed that the children were pale and frail.

DPC John explained that, based on photographs that he had seen of the tent occupied by the family since 2013, it appeared as though the conditions would have been cramped.

He added that he did not see any photographs of the inside (of the tent) and was, therefore, unable to comment on what the police discovered.

According to John, the five persons were taken away, with the adult female and children being taken to the Bequia Health facility for medical attention, and

Lockhart being held in police custody.

“We started the investigations at that time, but based on the information that we have at this time, there is nothing criminally incriminating any member, or anyone else relating to the incident,” DPC John said.

He added that the female had indicated that she was willing to remain with her husband, and gave no indication that she was in anyway harmed or being held captive.

The DPC reasoned that there must have been some other reason why the family was living under such dire conditions.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Colin John confirmed that initial police investigations did not provide any basis on Continued on Page 3.-which to charge Lockhart.

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2. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Business

FLOW unveils ÂGo LimitlessÊ promotion TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANY FLOW has unveiled its anticipated promotion for the 2017 Carnival season.

The promotion called ‘Go Limitless with FLOW’ will see customers winning a number of prizes including a jackpot of

EC$ 10,000, free talk time and data and a trip for two to the Soca on the Hill event in Barbados.

Customers can also win daily prizes such as Monday Band Packs, Costumes, Show tickets and Smart phones. The

Customers at the FLOW Sales Outlet on Halifax Street, got the opportunity to win prizes on the spot on the day of the launch of the new promotion.

promotion is open to FLOW customers when they top up $15 or more, text “Carnival” to “8627” or sign up for any new plan or services.

During the launching of the promotion last Monday at the company’s headquarters, Halifax Street, FLOW’s Marketing and Corporate Communication Manager Nikala Williams explained the promotion and different ways persons can win.

According to her, customers will be winning prizes every day during the Jumbo Jackpot Everyday Giveaway.

Once a customer signs up for any new services offered by FLOW, he/she is automatically entered into the Jackpot. Prepaid customers get that chance when they top-up $15.00 or more, and existing post-paid customers are also in with a chance when they text “Carnival” to 8627, on their cell phones.

Among the weekly prizes up for grabs are 10,000 megabytes of data and 10,000

Nikala Williams (centre) leads the unveiling of the ‘Go Limitless with FLOW’s promotion, ably assisted by Andrea Liverpool (left) and Maria Degrades. minutes of talk time. A lucky customer will also win an all expense trip for two to the Soca on the Hill event in Barbados.

According to the Marketing Manager, the daily prizes include tickets to carnival and carnival-related shows, mas costumes, cash, credit and a redemption center will be set up downstairs the FLOW main building to accommodate winners.

And the giveaways don’t stop there. Product Executive at FLOW - Maria Degrades said that persons signing on to Flow’s Hero’s plan will get a free Samsung Galaxy and extra data.

Persons purchasing the new Samsung Galaxy s8 on a post paid plan will also get double data.

Head of Retail Andrea

Liverpool spoke about the latest edition to the Samsung mobile phone brand, the Galaxy s8. The phone is currently at FLOW for purchase. It carries 64 Gigabytes of memory, with additional expandable storage to 256 Gigabytes.

Liverpool said that persons purchasing a FLOW services headset at either Links or Missed Call tech outlets would be rewarded with 100MB of data and 50 free text messages, among other things.

Following the launching of the promotion, customers at the outlet on the ground floor of the FLOW headquarters were involved in an activity which saw them winning a number of prizes on the spot.

FLOW is a platinum sponsor of Vincy Mas. (KH)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. 3.

News 3 Another payment from BAICO expected

also reported that BAICO’s policy-holders BAICO’s Judicial are in addition to the Manager is also pursuing disbursement made litigation on several already in the ECCU of fronts in the United US $36 million, an States Bankruptcy Court amount drawn down, as for the District of per an agreement, from Southern Florida against the Government of former officeTrinidad and Tobago holders/decision-makers (GOTT). in BAICO, including Under this agreement, Messrs Brian Branker a sum of US $64 million and Lawrence Duprey. outstanding from the Further proceeds from GOTT and efforts remain the on-going Court cases ongoing to ensure that in Florida will over time payment is made. be available to the policyIn his capacity as holders, the Prime Chairman of the Minister said.

Ministerial SubWhile all of the foreCommittee on Insurance mentioned obtains, the of the ECCU, the Prime Government of St. Minister is leading the Vincent and the fight on the BAICO Grenadines, through the matter on behalf of the Prime Minster Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has been Supervisor of Insurance, BAICO policy-holders in spearheading the ECCU efforts to ensure some is pursuing an EC $146 the Eastern Caribbean. recompense for BAICO policy holders within that million claim against a British American jusrisdiction. commercial bank for its Insurance Company breach of undertakings, Limited was incorporated THE JUDICIAL MANAGER for and CLICO) Act passed which resulted in loss in The Bahamas in 1920 British American in the Parliament of the and damage to policyand is a subsidiary of CL Insurance Company member-countries of the holders in St. Vincent Financial Ltd. It Limited (BAICO) has ECCU and the Bahamas. and the Grenadines. operated subsidiaries, approximately US $50 And he is optimistic These continuing affiliates and/or branches million to distribute further that this round of activities on behalf of throughout the to policy-holders in the disbursement of monies countries of the Eastern is likely to be done by the Caribbean Currency Union end of October, 2017.

(ECCU), including St. But he cautioned, even Vincent and the in his optimism, that Grenadines. between now and then, This was the several “reportage” and assurance given by “sanction” hearings Prime Minister Dr. largely formal events Continued from Front Page.

Ralph Gonsalves during before the High Court in a press conference he the ECCU and the “When the police visited the family, their hosted on Tuesday 9th Bahamas (registered physical outlook appeared untidy, and they were in May. headquarters of BAICO) poor health.”

This disbursement, and a Meeting of This (see accompanying article) was confirmed by according to Dr. Creditors, are to be DPC John.

Gonsalves, is to be made concluded prior to the Of course, the question on most people’s mind is pursuant to the Plan of pay-out. how a family could be living in such conditions for Arrangement (BAICO The Prime Minister such a prolonged period of time, and go unnoticed.

Family removed from place of abode

No evidence of any wrongdoing “We could not have just ignored it and allowed it to just continue,” When questioned further, John the DPC said. said that he was not aware of the As of Wednesday, the children employment status of Lockhart, and mother remained under the supervision of the Social Services nor did he have any other Department, and DPC John information on the family’s indicated that since there was no economic status. immediate evidence of any Similarly, he said, he was not able to confirm the medical status criminal intent, the father was allowed contact with the rest of of the children at the time the his family. police arrived at the scene.

He noted that the mother He noted that the police had to take the precaution appropriate to would undergo psychological evaluation, and that based on the the concerns expressed by the residents who had informed police fact that she is a US citizen, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was about the situation.

Continued from Front Page.

expected to make contact with the US Embassy in Barbados.

According to DPC John, that is the usual procedure, and it would be expected that the US authorities would begin their own investigations. This may assist local law enforcement in “unearthing” any evidence that they may have overlooked, he said.

Notwithstanding, investigations here are ongoing, DPC John said, adding that for the moment there was nothing to prove that Lockhart had done anything wrong, and therefore, no charges were laid. (DD)

Lawrence Duprey, Chairman/CEO of CL Financial, of which BAICO is a subsidiary, is one of the two persons facing litigation in the US Bankruptcy Court.

Caribbean region.

Through these operations, the Company sold life insurance, annuity business, and other insurance products.

The Company declared insolvency and was placed into Judicial Management in late 2009 in numerous jurisdictions including the Bahamas,

Antigua, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent & the Grenadines.

The ECCU took a decision to confront this affront to its citizens in a co-ordinated manner.

(Source: Office of the Prime Minister)

WE ERRED, WE APOLOGISE ON PAGE 2 of our issue of May 12, 2017, we carried the photograph displayed here.

The caption read: “Schemel Dunbar’s mother (right) had to be consoled as she left the Serious Offences Court on Monday.”

We now know the person we identified as Schemel Dunbar’s mother is no such person.

In fact, we have been reliably informed that the person being consoled (re photo) is Mrs Jennifer Douglas, the mother of Kendine Douglas, and the other person pictured is Ms. Marva Hadaway, Mrs Douglas’ sister.

We understand that our misrepresentation occasioned some persons to make unsavoury remarks to and about Mrs. Douglas, and we apologise to her and her family for the discomfort we caused.

At the same time, we are disheartened that some persons would find it fit to be so uncaring of the distraught condition of other persons.

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4. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Committee meets to discuss Decolonization WITH JUST THREE YEARS to go until the conclusion of the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, the Chairman of the Special Committee, H.E Rafael Dario Ramirez Carreno, has called for members to work more diligently in order to accomplish their target.

Speaking at the NIS Conference Room, Kingstown, at Tuesday’s opening ceremony of a Caribbean Regional Seminar on the ‘Future for decolonization in the Non-Self-Government Territories. What are the prospects’, H.E. Carreno, Permanent Representative of

Venezuela to the United Nations and Chair of the Special Committee, commonly referred to as the Committee of 24 (C24), said that the work to end colonialism is far from the grasp of the members — hence the reason for the three-day seminar.

He appealed to committee members to step up to their responsibility.

According to H.E Carreno, it was important for the Committee to push for results in light of the UN’s eight millennium development goals.

The millennium development goals deal with a number of

A section of the delegates to the regional seminar.

issues ranging from countries being able to effectively deal with poverty to controlling, or halting the spread of HIV/AIDS. The Committee chair explained the importance of pressing forward with the task at hand, and called on all participants to engage in high levels of discussion to chart the way forward.

Also delivering remarks at the opening was Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves. He posited that the Committee ought not to be too self-congratulatory in that, since the independence of Namibia in the 1990s, only one other country - East Timor Leste (East Timor) - has been granted independence.

“And there are many countries across the world which are living under a colonial condition,” he added.

The Caribbean, he pointed out, was one with the many territories that were still under colonial rule.

But not because there were still a number of territories under colonial rule, that it implied that all the people living in these parts wanted to move to independence, he cautioned..

“I am speaking because this Committee has had to reflect upon this on more than one occasion. That the colonial mind

Prime Minister of SVG Dr. Ralph Gonsalves warned against too much ‘diplomatic speech’ in the deliberation of members. is a peculiar construct, very often the mind for material and security reasons depending on the nature of colonialism,” Gonsalves explained.

“And we must admit that some countries that have gone to independence, their institutions have not been those which have endeared themselves to their people who fought for independence,” he continued.

In all of this, the issue of colonialism and decolonization was not a trivial one,..“but one

H.E Rafael Dario Ramirez Carreno, Chairman of the Special Committee arising out of the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, called for a greater sense of responsibility on the part of members. that speaks to a subversion to a condition called colonialism,” Gonsalves reasoned.

Therefore, the Committee had an important role to play, Gonsalves said, and continued by saying that too often too much diplomatic speech was involved, and advised that it was important to get to the core of the subject matter.

The first International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism was proclaimed in 1990, and the Committee of 24 and its Bureau are assisted by the Decolonization for General Assembly and Conference Management for secretariat services. (DD)

Renovation and repairs on going The funding for the renovations is made through a soft-loan from the World Bank under the Regional Disaster Vulnerability Recovery Programme (RDVRP).

LAST WEEK (Tuesday, May 2. Kingstown 09th), at his Press Government School: This Conference, Prime Minister school houses 420 Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves made students. The renovation several relevant disclosures and upgrade is to be done regarding on-going under a soft-loan from the renovation and repairs to World Bank under the several educational RDVRP. The monies are institutions (Schools and available for the work.

Technical Institutes).

The problem has been to The status of these get a location large enough renovations/repairs is as to house the students follows:temporarily as has been 1. Dorsetshire Hill done at Dorsetshire Hill.

Primary School: A major The Ministry of Education renovation programme; has secured the and upgrade of school also cooperation of the as an Emergency Shelter. Anglican Church to build Renovations started in temporary accommodation September 2016. Work is on the site of the old scheduled to be completed Deanery until the in August 2017. The renovations are completed.

Contractor on the job is This is being treated with Sea Operations Limited. urgency.

The contract sum for the 3. Diamond works amounts to: $1.54 Government School: million. The school, which Substantial improvements has a small population of were done to this school, 70 students, is currently including the construction being housed at the of a new kitchen and Dorsetshire Hill dining block. The project Evangelical Church. was completed on March Editor’s Note: The following is a release, dated May15, 2017 from the Office of the Prime Minister. It is carried verbatim.

Among the schools to undergo major renovations are the Dorsetshire Hill Primary School (left ) and the Kingstown Government School.

31, 2017, by the Contractor, Merge International Services, at a contracted sum of $488,250.00. This project was funded under the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) of the Caribbean Development Bank.

4. Belmont Primary, and Langley Park Government, Schools: Renovations and repairs on these schools under the BNTF programme are to commence within this quarter. The Belair Government School had its repairs completed under BNTF. 5. Four Technical

Institutes: Refurbishment and Renovation to commence shortly.

Contracts have been awarded as follows:(i) To Gibson Construction Company Limited for the Georgetown Technical Institute in the sum of $437,762.00; and for Barrouallie Technical Institute in the sum of $231,638.00. (ii) To Fraser Construction Company Limited for the Kingstown Technical Institute in the sum of $245,782.00; and for the Campden Park Technical Institute in the

sum of $443,253.00.

6. The bid documents for the Bequia Community High School are not completed; this delay is due to a change in the design for the food preparation and the clothing and textile labs to meet CVQ standards. The documents are ready for issue shortly. Work is expected to start on this project later this year.

Funds are available for this project.

7. Design of Smart Classrooms at Four Technical Institutes: The TVET Development Project is to finance the construction of four

Technical Institutes. The Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) for the design of the smart classrooms has been prepared and issued.

Reports of progress will be made from time to time.

8. Additional Capital Funds of $1 million in Budget for upgrade of school premises at several schools over the summer holidays including Thomas Saunders Secondary, St. Clair Dacon Secondary, Sandy Bay Secondary, and Lodge Village Government.

9. On-going Basic Minor Repairs/Maintenance carried out at several schools, through BRAGSA.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. 5.

Regional

Branson remains firm on his ganja call WHEN BRITISH billionaire Sir Richard Branson made a call two weeks ago in Barbados for the use of small amounts of cannabis to be made legal, it did not escape the attention of those concerned with justice in that tourismdependent Caricom member country.

Not long after the Virgin Atlantic boss made his call, the Director of the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit, Cheryl Willoughby immediately brushed aside the suggestion.

Barbados Today news agency reported that Willoughby argued that the local criminal justice system was by no means inundated with people charged with using small amounts of ganja.

In fact, according to the same news agency, Willoughby explained that ‘nearly all of the marijuana-related cases in Barbados were linked to possession and trafficking of large amounts of the illegal substance’.

And Branson, not known to take being

and yet, the entire market is controlled by people that have no interest in ensuring that potent, harmful types of cannabis stay out of the hands of minors.

“If the safety of your child matters to you, this cannot be an acceptable situation,” the business mogul stressed.

While advocating strongly for policy reform, Sir Richard however made Cheryl Willoughby, it clear that he was not Director of the Criminal encouraging the use of Justice Research and drugs.

Planning Unit, made “But I believe strongly light word of Richard that as with alcohol in the Branson’s call for United States, only decriminalizing the use decriminalization helps of small amounts of and will free the law marijuana. enforcement resources needed to focus on brushed aside without a organized crime,” he said. wimp, shot back with a Sir Richard went statement last week, further, and even as he saying, inter alia, that made it clear that he was criminalization and tough encouraging the use of law enforcement did drug, he called for a new nothing to make societies approach to regulation, like Barbados safer. suggesting it was the only “We all know this. way to ultimately protect Cannabis is everywhere in children and communities the Caribbean, freely from the drug scourge. available to anyone who The British business wants it and looks for it, mogul, who is a member of

the Global Commission on Drug Policy, further cautions that “the socalled war on drugs launched in the 1970s, has been a costly and deadly failure that has taken tens of thousands of lives, needless incarcerated millions and wasted trillions of dollars in taxpayer money globally.

“Yet the global drug trade continues unabated,

schools on the island to examine the management practices that exist to ensure greater supervision of students.”

The Director was adamant that “there appears to be little management when teachers are preparing records and the school term is coming to an end,” but did not reveal what measures will be put in place, he said the government intends to tighten the supervision at all schools on the island.

The All Saints Secondary School, located in the Central area of Antigua, an enrollment of some 700 tudents. (Credit: govview.info)

According to the Antigua Observer newspaper of May 12, Browne made his sentiments known during a meeting involving parents, students, the principal and teachers of the All Saints Secondary, called to give the Ministry of Education’s course of action consequent upon its investigation into video recording of sexual activity at that secondary school, that was posted on social media, last month.

Browne reported that after listening to each of the youngsters, the ministry decided that they would be subjected to mandatory counselling and undergo community service for 75 hours during the first half of their summer vacation.

“The counselling will be provided by the Ministry of Education. All five of them will be involved,” Browne said. “The boy, the young lady on the film and those making, uploading the video and encouraging the act.”

The Ministry of

Richard Branson, British billionaire, hit back at Barbadian Criminologist on the decriminalization of marijuana issue.

New Government in the Bahamas NOT ONLY was the incumbent Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) slaughtered at the polls — general elections - last Wednesday in the Bahamas, but its leader and Prime Minister of that country, was badly beaten in his once safe seat.

Perry Christie’s PLP suffered the ignominy of having to concede a seat which he had represented for some 40 years, and his party had to face up to the disgrace of being trounced 38 seats to 4.

It was, according to observers, a clear statement by the Bahamian electorate that it had had enough of the PLP, and that it did not approve of it and Perry’s performance in office.

Dr. Hubert Minnis, as though saying to the Perry Christie, “Go, leave the hall of government. You have sat here long enough.”

(Credit: The Tribune)

Perry party removed

Ministry takes action in students ‘sex video’ matter “WE NEED TO DO a little better in ensuring students are supervised properly. I am not suggesting that’s it’s a free for all; what I am saying is that we have to ensure greater supervision for our students.”

This was the admission made by Clare Browne, Director of Education in Antigua and Barbuda.

And Browne made it clear that he had all intention of taking “the matter a little further and has decided to engage

and many countries, including some with zerotolerance drug laws, have recorded dramatic increases in drug abuse and overdose deaths,” he added.

(Source: Barbados Today)

Clare Browne, Antigua’s Director of Education, had a message for teachers even as he spoke of action against offending students.

(Credit: ABS TV/Radio) Education will partner with various establishments to ensure that the students fulfill their duties, the Antigua Observer reported Browne as saying.

“Someone will be identified within that establishment to be the students’ mentor to help them along the way,” he said.

“It is not to bash the students but to help them to walk along a more productive path and make better choices,” the Director of Education pointed out. (Source: Antigua Observer)

Bahamians instead, elected the Free National Movement (FNM) led by Dr, Hubert Minnis, who was sworn in a Prime Minister last week Thursday.

The Nassau Guardian reported that in his victory speech which followed a 9:00pm concession of defeat by Perry, Dr. Minnins told thousands of supporters that the FNM had fought a long battle, and urged them to, “Never, ever allow the politicians to be in charge again,” and reminded them that “This is your victory and you will always remain in charge.” ” he said.

The FNM had campaigned on a message that the PLP had lost touch with the Bahamian people and had failed to be accountable and transparent. , and the vote demonstrated that the electorate had accepted his message.

In fact, according to the Nassau Guardian, Dr. Minnis had accused the Christie administration of being corrupt and neglectful of the peoples; of selling out to the Chinese government and making deals to enrich

Dr. Perry Christie will have much time to ponder on the forty years he served in the Bahamian parliament.

(Credit: the nassauguardian.com) themselves and their families.

The overwhelming vote in favour of the opposition FNM demonstrated that the majority of the electorate had accepted Dr. Minnins’ message.

Notwithstanding his popularity, the FNM assumes the reins of government amidst what reports say is a widespread concern about the economy, questions about the state of public finances, a far from applicable education system and fear among a population which has had to live with a high rate of violent crime. (Source: the nassauguardian.com)

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6. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Diaspora

Vincy cultural group launches first CD Stories and Photos by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; kingnaking210@yahoo.com US CORRESPONDENT AFTER SINGING and performing folk songs for 14 years ago, the United Vincie Cultural Group of Brooklyn (UVCGB) has finally produced and launched its first CD. UVCGB president, Dr. Roxie Irish, told THE VINCENTIAN, in an exclusive interview, that the CD, labeled, ‘Keep We Culture Alive’, is a “dream come true for us. Very UVCGB performs at launching of first CD. momentous, indeed!

“We give God praise for recorded as a tribute to the late, His continued favor on this ministry,” legendary composer, Alban Henry, a she said after the launching ceremony, former head teacher in Georgetown, are at the group’s annual fund-raising Tea the work of either Ada Johnson, Gordon Party, at the Golden Hall, at St. ‘Don’ Sutherland or Randolph ‘Randy’ Gabriel’s Episcopal (Anglican) Church, Liverpool, all Georgetown-born on Hawthorne Street in East Flatbush, Vincentians.

Brooklyn.

Johnson, a former school teacher and “This is only the beginning,” added Irish. “We’re working very hard; we have High Court Registrar in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, wrote the title track materials in the making. The mission ‘Keep We Culture Alive’ and ‘The has always been to furnish medical Amazing Breadfruit’. supplies to our homeland, but, in the Sutherland, a former teacher and coprocess, we’re on a quest to promote our founder, lead guitarist and song writer culture.” for the Georgetown-based Affetuosos Band of yesteryear, accounted for ‘SVG The Tracks Swaree’, ‘Vincentian Local Dish’, ‘Dis is Crop Over’, ‘Hairouna’ and ‘Ole Time The CD comprises 11 folk songs. All Fashion Never Die’. except the ‘Moonlight’, which was

Dr. Roxie Irish leads (in cultural dress) and Randolph Liverpool (left) directs United Vincie Cultural Group of Brooklyn as the group performs – with dance - three songs at launch of CD. team effort. “Kudos to president, Dr. Roxie Irish, the entire membership of Liverpool, also a former teacher and a the UVCGB, engineer Ozzy Sutherland [Don Sutherland’s son], and all retired Superintendent in the Royal volunteers for their relentless hard work Bermuda Police Force, penned ‘SVG and significant contributions for a job Diaspora’, ‘Where De Good Childhood well done.”

Days Gone’ and ‘Calling Lis’.

Liverpool assured that UVCGB is “determined and will continue to keep Feedback Vincie culture alive, through folk songs, drama and choral speech, and, at the “The event was well-attended and supported by the public,” said Johnson of same time, will pursue the charitable cause of using any funds that are raised the Tea Party and CD Launch. by the group to provide medical supplies “Feedback from attendees was and equipment to hospitals and clinics in predominantly positive, despite some St. Vincent and the Grenadines.” operational hiccups.”

Sutherland agreed, adding: “We have “The lyrics and the melodious music one common goal — to keep our culture of the songs were also greatly alive for SVG (St. Vincent and the applauded,” Liverpool shared, adding Grenadines) and to give the proceeds that the success accomplished by the UVCGB on their CD project was truly a from the CD to the rural clinics in SVG.”

Caribbean Diabetes Initiative to conduct mission in SVG RECOGNIZING THAT OVER one in 10 adults have diabetes and that this number rises to one in five for persons over the age of 40, making it one of the leading health problems in the region (Caribbean), the New York-based Caribbean Diabetes Initiative, Inc. (CDI) will conduct a Diabetes/Hypertension Care Program in St. Vincent and the Grenadines by month’s end.

CDI president Kisha L. Carrington, a Tobago-born

board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, told THE VINCENTIAN in an exclusive interview, that the programme will run from May 30-Jun. 2, in partnership with the Diabetes and Hypertension AssociationSVG (St. Vincent and the Grenadines).

Carrington, who was elected CDI president in August last year, said the visiting team, comprising 14 US-based volunteers, will provide, among other things, a comprehensive community educational

CDI volunteers at a mission in Jamaica in May 2012.

program, screening and management sessions, and lectures and workshops for healthcare professionals.

“We will be providing diabetes management educational tools for local health care providers during our educational conference,” said Carrington, currently employed at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York.

“The areas where we will be working — Chateaubelair, Stubbs and Biabou — were chosen by the local Public Health Department in St. Vincent,” she added. “They were cited as high catchment areas.”

The CDI, according to Carrington, is a communitybased, not-forprofit organization, whose aim is to improve “awareness and

management of diabetes and its related diseases to people of the Caribbean and beyond.”

It was founded in 2011

by Trinidadian endocrinologist Dr. Lisel Hope, and was launched in the twin-island republic that same year.

“Though our operations are held in New York, members of our team come from all over the world,” said Carrington, adding that since the programme’s launch, it has expanded to other Caribbean countries, focusing on comprehensive education, screening and management of diabetes in the community.

She said CDI’s team of board-certified endocrinologists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, internists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses and certified diabetes educators provide specialty medical education for local primary care providers.

“Collectively, we have seen over 1,500 patients and have given Continuing Medical Education (CME)approved lectures to over 100 health care providers,” said Carrington, disclosing that CBI’s first trip was to Tobago, Trinidad’s sister isle, in 2011.

Since that time, the CDI has conducted missions in Grenada sister islands of Carriacou and Petit Martinique, as well as in Jamaica and Belize.

“Our mission entails diabetes-testing, hypertension-screening, education on diabetes and its related diseases, nutrition and physical exercise,” said Carrington, who, besides being a registered nurse, also holds a Master of Science in Nursing degree. “We treat patients with medications donated from organizations, such as Americare and Direct Relief.”

“Diabetes is a major public health problem that is reaching epidemic

Kisha L. Carrington President of the Caribbean Diabetes Initiative, Inc. (CDI) proportions worldwide,” she lamented, noting that the global estimate of this disease was 2.8 percent in 2000, and that it is estimated that this number will rise to 4.4 percent by 2030.

“This corresponds to a rise from 171 million people in 2000 to over 350 million people by 2030,” Carrington added.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. 7.

Court

‘Porous borders, a major challenge,’ says COP Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

porous borders and the illegal drug trade as major challenges in the fight ACTING COMMISSIONER of against the prevalence of unlicensed firearms here, Police Renold Hadaway hence the critical need for has cited this country’s intelligence.

Up to Wednesday, 11 homicides were recorded this year, nine being gun-related.

“Despite our efforts to take illegal guns off the streets, the prevalence of unlicensed firearms continues to be a major challenge which we are prepared to face head on, and to divert significant amount of resources,” Hadaway told THE VINCENTIAN during an interview on Wednesday.

Renold Hadaway, He underscored that Acting Commissioner of the number of arrests for illegal possession of Police, recognizes the firearms and challenges thrown up ammunition in recent by open borders here, years, shows the but assured that the seriousness and local constabulary was commitment of the Royal taking a firm approach St. Vincent and the to ridding the streets of Grenadines Police Force, illegal guns. to rid the communities of

illegal guns.

Up to Wednesday, 19 illegal guns were removed from the streets, this year, compared to 12 over the same period last year.

“We continue to do all in our powers. We continue to look at the hot spots to see what measures can be put in place, and the necessary measures are taken on a continual basis to address the issues. But two of the problems we have are our porous borders, as a result of our geographical makeup, and the illegal drug trade. That’s why intelligence is so critical,” the top cop explained.

“We need to continue to deepen the relationship between the police and the public.

The issue of crime affects everyone, and should we decide to take a back seat, the opportunity would be created for criminal elements to

engage in illegal activities,” Hadaway stressed.

He pointed out that persons should not be reluctant to give the police information, because even if they are required to testify, there are provisions under the Witness Special Measures Act for them to do so without being identified or having to go to Court.

“What we need to look at as a nation, is that most of the persons losing their lives as a result of gun violence are young males. A lot of children will grow up without fathers. If this trend is allowed to continue, it will create greater and more serious challenges for society,” Hadaway continued.

Forty homicides were recorded last year, of which 29 were gunrelated.

“Think about the positives”, Magistrate tells gunman CHIEF MAGISTRATE Rechanne Browne has advised a 25-year-old Vermont man, who was jailed on Monday for firearm and ammunition possession, to “think of how you can turn this into a positive.”

Calbert Andrews was sentenced to four years in prison for possession of a 12-guage shot gun without licence, and three months for having two rounds of 12-guage ammunition without licence. The sentences will run concurrently. He had pleaded guilty to both charges.

Before handing down the penalties, the Chief Magistrate told Andrews that while in prison he will learn the necessary skills to make something of himself.

“You need to take a little reprieve from society,” she urged.

She warned him firearms offences are serious.

Browne noted that possession of an unlicensed firearm or ammunition carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years, and the offender can also be fined and confined.

But she indicated that

Calbert Andrews’ his guilty plea at the first youngster. guilty plea But he available opportunity earned him would earn him a one-third expressed reduction in sentence. She the view that a reduction in sentence. also took into consideration the police the fact that Andrews was would not have believed that he not brandishing the gun found them. about.

“These (guns) things cause damage. People die, and sometimes you the accused fall victims to these firearms, and I can’t wish that for you,” she told Andrews.

Police, acting on information received, TWO MORE WITNESSES are arrested Andrews at slated to be called in the Vermont around 5 p.m. Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into May 13. During a the stabbing death of former search of his person, a school teacher Jasmond ‘Crab’ firearm and Charles-Hutchinson. ammunition were The 62-year-old man died found in his trousers’ from a stab wound to the chest waist and left back following an incident around 7 pocket respectively. p.m. December 12 last year, in Andrews told the an area at Rose Place called Court he found the gun ‘The Hole’, where he lived. and ammunition under Ava Charles, a 39-year-old a breadfruit tree from woman, at the time residing at which he was picking Rose Place, is charged with the fruit. He admitted Charles-Hutchinson’s murder.

Ava Charles, that he removed the The P.I started before Chief charged with ammunition, put them Magistrate Rechanne Browne murder, has no in his pocket, and at the Serious Offences Court legal placed the firearm in on Wednesday. Nine witnesses representation. his waist. have already testified for the “As soon as you saw prosecution. it, you should have The matter has been adjourned to next Thursday, taken it to the police May 25. station,” the The accused is without legal representation.

Magistrate told the

P.I into ÂCrabÊs death ongoing

Veron Primus’ murder P.I winds down

WHEN THE VERON PRIMUS murder Preliminary Inquiry (PI) resumes May 30, the Prosecution is expected to recall the investigator, Constable Edmund Ollivierre of the Major Crime Unit (MCU), who had testified on January 24.

In addition, the Prosecution would make an application under the Vernon Primus Witness Special Measures Act, in relation to a certain witness.

The Prosecution is likely to close its case the same day.

Primus, 39, of Vermont is charged with the murder of Sharlene Greaves, 36-year-old real estate agent of Dorsetshire Hill.

Greaves, who was residing at Calliaqua at the time of her death, was found dead at her Bijou Real Estate office at Arnos Vale on November 13, 2015. She had sustained multiple stab wounds.

When the matter continued at the Serious Offences Court before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne on Tuesday, May 16, Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche told the Court that PC Ollivierre was overseas attending a training course, and will be back on May 24. The prosecutor was granted an adjournment to accommodate Ollivierre.

The Court also heard evidence on Tuesday from Sergeant Malcolm Alexander of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), currently attached to the Georgetown Police Station, who had conducted three electronic interviews with Primus, after he was taken into custody in April last year.

The PI commenced at the Serious Offences Court on January 4 and was adjourned on a number of occasions.

Several witnesses have already testified for the prosecution, including Greaves’ husband Grant Greaves, her mother Inetha Holder, her former secretary Ronella Bailey, surgical pathologist Dr. Ronald Child, and head of the Major Crime Unit (MCU), Inspector Atland Browne.

Primus is conducting his own defence.

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8. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Editorial Vincy Mas: A Modern Day Creature WE WERE PLEASED last week to offer extensive coverage of the launch of Vincy Mas 2017 and some attendant activities.

If you didn’t realize it before, Vincy Mas 2017, marking the 40th year since the change from a Pre-Lenten festival to a June-July one, has been officially launched. We are, therefore, locked in that annual orbit that speaks to the highest point of vibrancy of any aspect or representation of our culture, so it is said. If this were not the case, why then do we refer to Vincy Mas as our premier cultural festival?

If we accept that a culture is the embodiment of our beliefs, values, stories, traditions, among others, then should Vincy Mas, our premier cultural festival, not be a total representation of our culture?

A fair answer to that question must be predicated on what the expression ‘premier cultural festival’ is: a single event into which we would like to stuff our very all, but which sadly, in its modern day expressions, represents, in the main, an overindulgence in ‘partying’.

Let’s be honest about this matter.

Vincy Mas of 1977 is not the Vincy Mas of 2017. It would be folly to think we could have kept it ‘locked in the past’; but the disturbing reality is that while we accept that change is the only universal constant, and Vincy Mas is not immune from that reality, we have created a whole new creature that has left some behind and (now) embrace, in the main, a single generation.

The future rests with this new generation which is likely to ignore ‘things too past’ and plunge headlong, oblivious of the origins of the festival, into a new realm that will, given how far it has moved, find itself even further from its roots.

That said, we must guard against apportioning blame and levelling criticism on those who propagate and nurture this modern-day creature. If the truth be told, this rapid move away from things traditional and culturally identifying, could well be the reaction to the fact that Vincy Mas, somewhere in its forty years, lost some of its excitement; it became unadventurous, remaining the ‘same ole, same ole’ year in year out, filled with the inertia of a comfort zone, and void of meaningful support to transform it, far less to see itself as a transformative agent of society.

As we herald the fortieth year of the change to Vincy Mas which by its very name held a connotation that we were cutting a path that would see us build a festival that was uniquely ours/Vincentian — we must ask whether or not we view this modern creature as having set us on a downward spiral.

If we conclude that we are heading downwards, is this the result of a disconnect with the visions of the pioneers of Vincy Mas? Have we got so far into an abyss that we can no longer write, far less appreciate a socio-political commentary by one of the few remaining genuine calypsonians? What have we not done that has given rise to a leading cleric of a not too distant generation and assumed cultural orientation, to take a stoic stand against this modern creature?

If we accept that Vincy Mas had, at its very being, an intention to create a unique Vincentian identity, and we accept that instead we have allowed a genuine culture medium to morph into a modern day creature that is fed by a desire, not a need, to ‘let off steam’ in an unbridled expression of jumping, waving, ‘wining’, gyrating in the least possible body apparel, then we need to ‘stick a pin’, reflect on where we have come, not fuel a continuance of something that has grown beyond a genuine expression of who we are.

But all is not lost. In the worst of times, we can still see the colours. There is still time for us to consider how we can marry the old with the new, the traditional with the modern, the feathers with the cardboard, the calypso with the soca.

There has got to be a mid-point at which we can meet so as to decide on a way forward that will accommodate the traditional and the modern, and bringing together the older not less abled and the modern, youthful, effervescent generations back on the streets, to calypso tents, fetes, panoramas, pageants.

The man Adrian Saunders I ADDRESS ADRIAN as “the Man” because he looks so young, a neat package in a limited frame of steel, he needs to be referred to as a Man which he is in every particular, save physical size.

He delivered an address on 16th May last on aspects of the Caribbean Court of Appeal of which he has been a distinguished judge for the past 21 years. To say that the lecture was brilliant is stating the obvious, but generally it was simply stated complex issues reduced to their bare bones so that his audience could ingest without difficulty. Above all, he was as usual forthright and penetrative in handling controversial points.

This gentle piece does not deal so much with Adrian’s latest lecture, but goes beyond the boundary to say something of the events and process of which we now get a glimpse of the finished and refined product.

Adrian is the fourth child of a very Christian family, Tommy and Theo Saunders, who have been pillars of their respective churches, the Methodists and Roman Catholics, the duality itself showing denominational tolerance and mutual respectability.

Adrian’s childhood upbringing was normal to a Vincentian person. Numbered among his school friends were a New Montrose gang featuring Andrew Cummings, Joel Providence, all four Iton boys, and Monty Eustace and others with whom they engaged much in street soft ball cricket and formal table tennis and many pranks, in reverse order.

These boyhood friendships took in Secondary Schools and, eventually, the University of the West Indies, extending to embrace Joel Pitt, Olin Dennie, an especially Kingsley Layne and the girls, Kay Bacchus and Rene Baptiste.

Apart from the study of law, the main sideactivity were the impromptu speeches among themselves where solutions were suggested for SVG, the West Indies, and the world.

After a successful and apparently enjoyable university experience, Adrian and company returned to confront a challenging life in SVG in the mid 1970s.

But I shall at this point refer to the past, better to understand the present. First of all, my own wife Jennie had in her later teens worked at the Wesley Hall School as a teacher of students including the brilliant Randy D under the headmaster Tommy Saunders. In fact, Jennie became virtually the boss’s secretary, travelling as a pinion rider (lady like- both legs on one side) on his motor-bike as he carried out his volunteer work of handling the money-business of several old country-folk with children abroad who financed them through Mr. Saunders. Perhaps, who knows, these services might have been Mr. Saunders’ introduction to credit unionism of which he became the local founding father.

Jennie grew closer to Mr. Saunders when he learned that her birthday was 29th December, the same date of his marriage, so Jennie and I joined the small circle of friends to celebrate annually with his family.

To crown it all, Adrian’s father toasted the bride at our own marriage. A sequel is that I am

not sure if it was Adrian Saunders or Adrian Fraser after whom I named my first son, which Fraser claims by default.

Another factor which probably helped to steer Adrian to party-political tolerance was that his mother had been an active Labourite actively running as a candidate in Kingstown Board elections in the late 50s. And her husband had been lured into the PPP camp owing to the support given him by Joshua during an administrative bungling when he had been unfairly “demoted” to Questelles from imposing Richmond Hill School which the ULP Government has uplifted and renamed in his honour.

When Adrian entered the profession of mine, it involved a three-way link, cricket, law and politics which I initially rated, in order, good, fair and failed. Let me expand.

First, I had encouraged the Lawyers to form a cricket team with an aggressive out-reach programme. I was captain with Adrian a goodenough wicket-keeper not blessed with lightning speed stumping!

I especially enjoyed the practice session at home, a gathering of Parnel, Andrew, Adrian and myself as groundsman, with Stalky, Pitto and Olin occasionally dropping by on their way home after work.

Then we engaged formally, Arthur and especially Ralph would join after-matches speeches!

In regards to the practice of Law, it was fair enough with generations sticking close by their particular age- groups though, physically, Adrian was at one time situated at the Singer Building which housed Victor Cuffy, Parnel Campbell and myself of various party-political hues.

Adrian’s entry into politics was as executive secretary of the UPM where he officiated at the conference which named the 12 who ran in the 1979 elections.

Shortly after the DFM withdrew 1980, and the UPM split taking Ralph, Blazer and Casper forming the breakaway MNU leaving the UPM to change its new leadership from Oscar Allen to our friend, Adrian Saunders who finally gave of politics in disillusionment, to concentrate on his law practice after the NDP had gained office after 1984.

Until then I believe that Adrian had subscribed to communism, following Ralph, but in particular his brother Ronald who had been a brilliant academic who died a painful death at a young age.

Adrian simply impressed all by his knowledge and practice of the law, performing as if making up for lost time. He became a judge in the local circuit, then naturally gravitated to the CCJ where I had early prophesised that he would lead.

His lecture was multi-faceted, but broadly speaking, I totally agree with his main and final thrust: our countries need urgently to have the head of their judicial system relocated back home.

What is Independence if the source of our jurisprudence is foreign? That is the simple answer to a fundamental question? All other niggling queries pale into insignificance.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. 9.

Letters

One for the mothers THIS WILL GET to you a week or so after Mother’s Day, but I hope you will please me by publishing it.

With all that I read about crime and violence back home, I thought I would do a little something on how our mothers can play a role in reducing crime. I must admit that I am aware that a lot of mothers, especially single mothers back home, find it difficult as they try to make ends meet, to provide a safe and loving home for themselves and their children.

Nonetheless, based on my own upbringing, I believe that mothers can play a vital role in reducing crime and violence by how they raise their children.

I want to say to all mothers that they must learn to have a balance between punishing their children for bad behavior and rewarding them for good behavior. Very often mothers (parents) forget to do the second thing.

Mothers cannot run the risk by sending mixed singles to their children, especially male children.

They cannot be overprotective and overly punishing at the same time.

On this Mother’s Day, we must shower love on our mothers, but mothers too must realise that regardless of how hard life is, they must also build a loving relationship with their children. Mothers must be there for their children, and this can help in making sure that children develop good behavior patterns and therefore, can avoid any delinquency and criminal behavior.

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers.

Garnet, NY

The Caribbean Primary Exit Exam (CPEA) I EXPECT THAT well over 1000 students between the ages of ten and twelve years will write the CPEA today, Friday 19th May. At the end of the day, there will be some jubilant faces, some faces of dejection, but there will be many more faces of relief.

There are many in our society who think that the CPEA is just another exam. But from where I sit, and given the amount of publicity and national attention it gets, with schools and students jostling for top positions, it has got to be quite a hurdle in the lives of these impressionable minds.

The issue is that the CPEA has got so competitive that everything seems to be put on hold when the

exam time comes around.

And the pressure put on students to finish among the top 200, the pressure put on students to maintain a school’s reputation, result in students who fall outside the 200 bracket being categorised as second class students.

It is all well and good that ‘all’ students are given places in secondary school, but has anyone stopped to consider the psychological impact the whole scenario has on the students, especially those who, the systems says, ‘don’t come up to scratch’?

As ridiculous as it might sound, I suggest that we allow the students to enjoy their moment of success and their moments of

Those vagrants around the town ANYBODY else notice the increase in the number of vagrants around the town?

I tell you, Mr. Editor, I have taken notice of this and am alarmed that we have to put up with this menace every day of our working lives. There

isn’t a day that a few of these guys, and yes the majority of vagrants are male, don’t approach me begging for money; not something to eat or wear but money. And like these fellows are aware of the rise in the cost of living because long ago

when they used to ask for a ‘shilling’ and then a dollar, they now ask straight up for $5.00.

Added to this begging is the smell that comes from these vagrants. I might sound inhuman, but the other day when one of these vagrants

A dead economy breeds crime - murder ST. VINCENT and the Grenadines in the last week or so, has seen four new murders added to the already lengthy existing list of murders.

One day after Prime Minister Gonsalves described the murder of the Crozier brothers as “painful and senseless,” two murders followed. One of these was committed in Stubbs, in the South Windward constituency.

Despite the fact that throughout history, human beings have committed violent crimes against other human beings, research has shown that a poverty-stricken nation will amount to a society riddled with excessive crime.

Venezuela is a classic example of poverty resulting in increased crime.

The resolve of Vincentians, in light of a situation of escalating violent crime, should be to look beyond the persons pressing the trigger. We need to look at what and who is responsible for the conditions that give rise to these crimes. Those factors include prolonged UNEMPLOYMENT, prolonged FRUSTRATION and POVERTY, propelled by an incompetent Minister of Finance who oversees a dead economy.

came up to me to beg and I brushed him off, I swear to God I went to work that day smelling as bad as he was.

Is there anything we can do to get these vargrants off the street?

Some of them are cases for the mental health centre and some are not.

But there has got to be something that we can do as a country.

I don’t profess to have the answer, but maybe together, together with government, we can come up with a solution.

While Vincentian persons wallow and are attracted to life of crime as a means to an end, the current Charles - Edinboro administration lauds over a system that discriminates between what ordinary people pay in taxes and what the rich of Mustique and Canouan, and Taiwanese fishing entities pay.

By this discriminatory system, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and his ULP regime SO AMERIJET is now have provided a significant slap to the using a 767 aircraft in faces of current and potential murder its service to SVG. victims.

That is an We as Vincentians, born and bred, improvement of sorts, must retake control of our revenue; since it makes more putting back hope into the hearts and room, we are to minds of our people and giving them assume, for exports. the reason and will to live a decent The question is: What lives. do we have to export?

And as I offer condolences to the On the other hand, families who have suffered loss of the increase volume family members through murder, and (space) accorded by a share in their loss, I also want to say 767 also means that to the murderers, those committing we import more? crime, that you too are victims — One step forward victims of a failed state, i.e. a broken two steps backwards? economy, which creates two kinds of I don’t know, do you? victims - those who lose their lives and those who commit the act of murder.

Just asking Kadmiel Mc Fee

More in, more out?

decreased success in privacy, by not making public the results, and exalting those who have performed best over the hundreds who did not do as well.

I am left to wonder, as I view the situation year after year, whether in fact the whole situation is not created by the adults for their own egoaggrandisement.

Retired Teacher

To whom does it concern?

For years we bawling about this Old Flour Mill road, The lands purchased from the government so, Who does the infrastructure concern?

Year go, year come road getting worse, Vehicles losing parts To whom does it concern?

Storms go, storm come, we try a different route, Is Bragsa we go But like is not their concern.

Red rats in the neighbourhood, we bawl to dem too, Thinking at least dem go get listen to but, To whom does it concern?

Trees of nature in the house, We listening to hear if it finally going get some recognition, But it seems like is not his concern.

We air begging for Dipcon, we air begging for work men.

Just a little material, a little communication.

So please somebody tell me, To whom does it concern?

A Concerned West St. George Constituent

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10. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

The business of leadership

Introduction ON APRIL 9th 2017, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves hosted a media conference at the Cabinet Room, in which he spoke about a number of critical matters which are important to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This is a continuation of his successful campaign of holding a media conference every time he returns from a visit abroad. All told, the Prime Minister has convened over 400 media conferences, in which he has kept the people of St.Vincent and the Grenadines fully abreast of all the developmental activities of the ULP administration.

No other government in the history of this country, has convened more media conferences to provide Vincentians with detailed information. Four hundred media conferences in sixteen years is indeed a lot, and really describes the drive by the ULP administration to be transparent and accountable to the all and sundry, for the work of the Government. This is leadership in action.

The ULP administration recognizes that the roads in the country are not in the best shape, and require attention, some of which is urgent.

Much of this damage is due to the unseasonal weather conditions which have affected the country’s infrastructure over the last seven years or so. Readers will recall the work done by the ULP administration in repairing a number of bridges and roads in the country, but more needs to be done.

The government has sourced some EC$95 million from the Kuwaiti Fund, and OPEC Fund for International Development, OFID, to repair some 22.7 kilometers of roads in the country. Several of these have been identified. They include Antoine, Montreal, old Sandy bay, Mt.Wynne, Belair, Mespo to Greiggs, Carriere, Brighton Salt pond, Enhams Fair The BAICO issue Hall, Sayers and Colonarie estate.

One of the matters raised by Prime The government intends to source a Minister Gonsalves in the media short-term loan from the Bank of St. conference was that related to the Vincent, to begin work in the dry BAICO meltdown. From the season, until the funds arrive from beginning, the ECCU States insisted OFID and the Kuwaiti Fund. In the that the solution to this insurance meantime work is continuing on crisis must be a regional one. So certain roads under the Basic Needs together, they devised a three prong Trust Fund, and the BAM approach to this issue. First, there programme. For certain, BRAGSA was the creation of a trust fund to settle the eligible claims of the holders will be pretty busy over the next eighteen months, and several of health insurance policies. The contracting firms will also be involved ECCU governments then set about the recapitalization of the traditional in the road repair and reconstruction work. life policy portfolio of BAICO, and then took this to the market in an Other areas attempt to find a buyer. In stage three, the ECCU member states The Prime Minister’s media created a compensation scheme for conference also provided information the non-traditional policy holders of on a number of other areas, including BAICO. the plans by the ULP administration In 2011, the ECCU governments to repair some schools in the State, provided some EC$5 million for the Health Support Fund, and eligible the ongoing discussions on hotel policy-holders had their claims settled development and international flights in full. Hundreds of policy holders at the AIA, the one percent VAT from the ECCU states benefited from increase and the disaster levy, the UN this development. resolution on creativity and This was followed by the provision innovation, the expanding services of of some US$36 million dollars, as part Amerijet, and local investment in the of the EC$100 million arrangement hospitality sector. It is clear that the with the government of Trinidad and ULP administration is going to be Tobago. Prime Minister Gonsalves pretty busy in this financial year. and his sub-regional committee of the There is still work to be done on the ECCU will continue their efforts to new city at Arnos Vale, and the obtain the remaining US$64 million expansion of the Kingstown port. from the Rowley administration.

The ULP has demonstrated over There is also a certain amount of litigation and liquidation activity that the last 15 years that strategic thinking and actions are its the judicial managers will undertake hallmarks. It is a general truism that in the courts, to obtain monies for if one seeks to cross the policy holders. For example, a regional bank operating here will face developmental divide with baby steps, the inevitable is that one would fall to litigation in respect of the coverage which should been provided for the the bottom of the widening gorge. insurance policies written by BAICO. Major leaps are required within a Judicial managers will also institute small resourced-challenged economy court proceedings in Miami against and society like St.Vincent and the two former senior BAICO officials. All Grenadines for the realisation of this means is that there should be genuine sustainable development. some activity around the month of And that is why the leadership is October, in which former policy so critical. Thank God, the ULP has holders will begin receiving some cash provided a political leader in Dr. from BAICO from at least three pots Ralph Gonsalves, who heads the best of money. government ever in the history of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Road repairs

On the Lack of national accountability in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Excerpts of Press Statement by Dr. the Hon. Godwin Friday, Leader of the Opposition) ON THE 19TH OF APRIL, 2017 I held a press conference on the subject of the urgent legal and existential need for national accountability. That press conference sparked a national debate which continues as we speak. The discussion on the need for accountability has spread far and wide as it has been actively taken up by the press, politicians, pundits and ordinary citizens.

The reason why this issue has resonated, is in fact very simple. It is that, when Vincentians of all walks of life look around them, they see gross mismanagement by this government; they see rampant, violent crime spiraling out of control; they see theft; they see corruption, exploited workers, unemployment, bad roads, poor and declining health services, schools falling apart, increasing VAT, increasing prices in the shops, dwindling incomes, businesses closing down seemingly every Monday morning.

Vincentians of all walks of life see their lives getting progressively harder, while they see, at the same time, the lives of a privileged handful of people improving by leaps and bounds. This disparity between the haves and the have nots; the trend in this country over the past 16 years under the ULP administration, of hardship increasing on most Vincentians, while the privileged few enjoy fat contracts, duty free concessions and all manner of new business opportunities, must be a matter of grave concern to any serious and decent person.

This I firmly believe is why this matter of accountability has taken hold of the public imagination. The citizen sees what is happening. Vincentians see what is happening, and they do not like what they see.

I followed up my press conference with a letter to Dr Gonsalves, which I copied to the Governor General, the Director of Audit and other relevant officials. In that letter, I reiterated that: “The Constitution of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at sections 75 and 76, the Finance Administration Act 2004 at sections 4, 5, 7, 49, and the Audit Act 2005, at sections 2(4), 5, 11, 12, 15 and 19, all clearly speak to the legal requirement for parliamentary accountability in the use of money appropriated by Parliament and for the central role of the Director of Audit in same.”

In his response to my letter, Dr. Gonsalves basically did two things: He studiously avoided the real issue at hand, which is the need for full accountability to the citizens of this country, through Parliament, for any expenditure of public funds, as is clearly specified by the Constitution and the law; and he tried to paint our call for accountability as an attack on the Argyle International Airport.

But Dr Gonsalves is wrong, on both counts. The case for accountability is clear and it is compelling. The citizens of this country see the effects of the lack of accountability right in front of their faces every day! So Vincentians are not buying the excuses, the untruths, the contradictions, the side-stepping and the beating-around-the-bush that we have heard from Dr. Gonsalves and other members of his government and

political party.

Parliamentary accountability is mandatory; it is specified in the highest law of the land, the Constitution, and it must be delivered. There is no getting away from this legal fact. It is also morally and ethically necessary. As I said to Dr. Gonsalves in my letter: “there is a moral and ethical imperative for accountability that can be simply stated: if you, in good faith, take a man’s money from him, purportedly to do something for his benefit, then the man is entitled to an account as to how his money was spent.”

It is clear that Dr. Gonsalves wants to make Vincentians believe that our call for accountability is nothing more than an NDP attack on the airport.

Well, it is not. The airport at Argyle is the most recent example, and it is certainly one of the biggest examples, of the gross lack of accountability and poor governance in the expenditure of public monies, as practiced by Dr. Gonsalves as Minister of Finance and Prime Minister.

That is the simple explanation, which any conscious and decent Vincentian will understand. But there are other examples that are just as big and so I wish to deal today, with the matter of Petro Caribe.

Let me start with a quick recap of what the Petro Caribe scheme is about.

The basic idea behind Petro Caribe is for Venezuela, which is a large oilproducing country, to offer financial assistance to less fortunate countries.

Venezuela is basically lending us money on an ongoing basis, using their oil as the vehicle for the loan. (And when I say us, I don’t mean just SVG — most of our Caribbean neighbours are participants in Petro Caribe).

How does this relate to the Vincentian citizen? Well, when you pay your electricity bill, because of the Petro Caribe scheme, you are actually lending money to the government.

Here’s a simplified breakdown of what happens: The government in 2005 and 2006 set up two companies under the Companies Act: Petro Caribe No 126 of 2005 and PDV St. Vincent and The Grenadines No. 136 of 2006. These companies are registered at the Commercial and Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), as required by law.

Under the Petro Caribe scheme, fuel is supplied by Venezuela, consigned to one of these companies. The company passes the fuel on to VINLEC, for VINLEC to generate electricity; you use that electricity at home or in your business, and VINLEC sends you a bill; you pay your bill in full; VINLEC pays the Petro Caribe company for the fuel in full; the company pays a portion — it varies, but let’s call it half of the money to Venezuela; the rest of the money, which you have already paid, is held by the Petro Caribe company and is used by the company for whatever it is they use it for, as directed by the government; that money which is held back, eventually has to be paid to Venezuela so it is a loan for the time being to the government, which the government has to repay at some point, with interest.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. 11.

Views

Blooming in the Desert

“The most beautiful people I have known are those who have known trials, have known struggles, have known loss, and have found their way out of the depths.” – Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (1926-2004) SwissAmerican psychiatrist and author.

THE WAY WE RESPOND to various life challenges can influence those around us. As they listen to us and observe our reactions, they can embrace a defeatist mentality of be inspired to accomplish great feats even when facing great odds. It is possible to wear a smile even when faced with the tragic loss of a friend or relative, unemployment or underemployment, betrayal, and so on.

So much depends on whether we can see beyond the tragedy. There is a feeling of peace when we get to the point where we accept the trauma even though we do not understand or appreciate the tragic circumstances. It is at times like these that we appear to bloom in the desert.

It is always amazing to observe the way certain plants bloom during the dry season. The gliricidia (“Rain-bush Tree”) displays its beauty during the driest seasons of the year. This is when its flowers emerge in their glory. Many varieties of mangoes and other tropical fruit trees blossom during the dry season also. The bees and many species of nectar-extracting birds flirt between their branches extracting vital nutrients and, at the same time, aiding the pollination process. There are so many of God’s creatures that are provided for during the dry season. As we reflect on these wonders of nature we grow to have a better appreciation for the many blessings that come packaged/disguised as hard times (deserts). We are reassured that it is possible to flower in the dry season and bloom in the desert.

As we reflect of the “desert experience,” we can readily conjure up images of scarcity of food and water, parched throats, high humidity, torturing rays of the sun, and so on.

The vegetation may appear scanty and we must forever be on guard for dangerous creatures such as scorpions and snakes. There appears to be danger on every side. Those experiences are not for the faint in heart. Surviving desert experiences demands fortitude and resolve. It demands looking beyond the here and now.

We can gain strength and stamina from the “wilderness experiences” that confront us from time to time.

We will each have times when we go through what appears to be tremendous scarcities in our lives.

Our finances can seem to be dried up.

Relationships can look parched. We can go through what appears to be dry social, emotional, and spiritual landscapes. But there is reason to hope. We can still bloom in the desert. And we can look beyond the arid experience to visualise the oasis that awaits just beyond the sand dune. It is not a mirage — it is there!

There is good reason to hope.

The desert experiences can sometimes floor us. We can feel and accept defeat when life’s struggles and trials appear to knock the wind out of

us. We realise that bad things can happen to good people, and that tragedies can appear when we least expect them. The Old Testament record of the life of Job brings this out so clearly. The early verses in Job Chapter One describe Job as a very good man; a man who always did what was right and obeyed God’s commands. He was blessed in so many ways. He was rich. He also had many children, animals, and servants. However, the latter verses of that very chapter provide a record of his rapid loss of his children, animals, and property. Very bad things were happening to this very good man. His situation was further complicated by his contracting a disease that resulted in the formation of sores all over his body. His dear wife suggested that he should curse God and die. She probably saw this as his best option for escaping his “desert experiences”. The second chapter of Job provides detailed descriptions of the visit from his friends who concluded that Job had to have done something wrong why God was punishing him in this manner.

But Job did not lose heart. He did not lose faith in his God. His faith did not waver. He retained a focus on God’s goodness and His greatness. He knew what it was like to bloom in the desert. God eventually healed Job’s body and restored his wealth.

We all have the capacity to demonstrate this faith that Job portrayed. He was flesh and blood like we are. We have the capacity to love and trust God too. So much depends on our faith in a living God and His ability to drive away the fears that often retard our progress.

That faith that can move mountains can also provide water in the desert.

That faith that can heal the sick and raise the dead can generate blossoms in the desert. Regardless of the situations that confront us and the misguided and negative utterances of those around us, we can find peace and contentment when we anchor our faith in Job’s God — our God. The thoughts we entertain and the attitudes we display as we go through the desert experiences in our lives will largely influence how we progress the course and whether we bloom in this highly unlikely and unfriendly environment. As paradoxical as it may seem, the aridity can intensify our beauty. We know so well that the darker the night,- the brighter the candle light shines. We can all think of individuals whose beauty appeared to be magnified because of the trials, struggles, and losses that they have known. They encourage us. They inspire us. These heroes and heroines have found their way out of the depths of despair and discovered what it was like to bloom in the desert.

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

The Bolvarian Republic is under attack THE BOLIVARIAN REVOLUTION started by President Hugo Chavez is under threat. It is being blackmailed, smeared and undermined by a heartless band comprising the US government, reactionary governments in Latin America and backward looking opposition elements in Venezuela.

Now more than ever our brothers and sisters in Venezuela, who have given so much to help with the sustainable development of our country through Petro Caribe and ALBA, need our support and solidarity. The best show of solidarity we can offer to Venezuela at this moment is to look behind the news, interrogate what we see on CNN, BBC and the main stream media.

Make no mistake, what we seeing in Venezuela is from a destabilization crime book that has been tried and tested beginning with the overthrow of President Mosaddegh of Iran in 1953.

Wherever there was a popular government with leftist or revolutionary leanings, the destabilization plan includes setting of fires, demonstrations, creation of strife and violence, hoarding of essentials, especially food and a media campaign that is aimed at showing the targeted country in a bad or unfavourable light. All of this is happening in Venezuela now.

Those with a keen understanding of this history will remember Henry Kissinger’s letter to President Richard Nixon, in which he called on the American Government to make the ‘Chilean economy scream.’ By 1973 the socialist president, democratically elected in 1970 was overthrown by the military in a bloody coup. Chileans, according to the Americans, were ‘to be saved from their own irresponsibilities.’

We must remember not to forget that following the success of the Sandanista Revolution against the hated Samoza dictatorship, President Reagan vowed to make the Nicaraguan people ‘cry uncle.’

A war of terror was declared by the American government, through its funding of terror groups that resulted in the death of thousands and the destruction of schools, hospitals and other facilities used to alleviate the conditions of the population.

The same play book was used against Michael Manley government between 1972 and 1980. Criminal gangs were supplied with money and guns to terrorize the Jamaican people. The middle class fled to Miami and other developed parts of the world, and the Jamaican infrastructure collapsed as its trained personnel ran from violence. It is that infusion of guns and the development of the culture of violence in Jamaica that partly explain the high incidences of violence and homicides in Jamaica today.

In Grenada, pressure and intrigue from foreign forces, especially after Reagan labelled the international airport a Soviet/Cuban military base and declared Grenada a threat to the national security interest of the United States, led to a bunker mentality that resulted in the implosion of the popular people’s Revolution.

In all of these processes, as in Venezuela, the government had a clear and distinct bias towards the poor and working people of the country. In each case, social and economic policies were pursued that brought benefits to people whose needs were never addressed.

This is the history and context within which all that is happening in Venezuela must be viewed. Venezuela has had more democratic expressions through elections and referenda than most countries in the world. The Bolivarian revolutionaries have always abided by the results of the elections and played by the rules of governance inscribed in the constitution.

President Maduro’s efforts to institute a constituent assembly finds its legal bearing in article 347, 348 and 349 of the Venezuelan constitution. But you will never hear this on CNN or

BBC. The dominant view is that president Maduro is engaging in a power grab. The truth is that it is the opposition, egged on by foreign forces, who are intent on destroying the Bolivarian Revolution by any means necessary.

Therefore, PM Gonsalves is absolutely right to warn Caricom against the dangers of foreign forces, who are hostile to our needs and aspirations destroying our unity in their quest for regime change in Venezuela.

Out of this recognition, a group of Caribbean intellectuals and activists went to take a first-hand look at what’s happening in Venezuela.

There press release follows: ‘Mindful of the decision by Venezuela to withdraw from the Organisation of American States (OAS) in protest against a controversially constituted resolution supported by five Caribbean governments, which threatened Venezuela’s security; Aware of recent negative media portrayals of the President of Venezuela as ‘a dictator who is oppressing opposition groupings’ and of public statements by elected Caribbean officials that echo these portrayals; Further aware of the designation by the former US President Barrack Obama of Venezuela as ‘a threat to US national security’ and the escalation of the verbal aggression towards Venezuela by the Donald Trump Presidency; Cognizant of the efforts of President Maduro to avoid civil war and to establish a foundation for peace, democracy and stability; Mindful of the efforts by Venezuela to assist Caribbean development through initiatives such as ALBA, Petrocaribe, CELAC and TeleSUR; Conscious of the history of foreign invasion, subversion of sovereignty, assassination of Caribbean and Latin American leaders and the ignoble record of war, destruction, destabilisation and territorial incursion which has frustrated Caribbean development, peace and stability; And Mindful of a meeting of CARICOM Foreign Ministers to be held in Barbados on May 18th 2017; The group called on the sovereign, independent and democratically elected Caribbean governments to: 1. Respect the Sovereignty of Venezuela, refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of Venezuela and allow the internal political issues within Venezuela to be solved by the Venezuelan people; 2. Send a CARICOM Fact-Finding Mission to independently ascertain the internal situation of Venezuela; 3. Refrain from colluding with external powers to subvert the security of Venezuela and reject the designation of Venezuela as a ‘threat to the security of the United States’; and 4. Respect the constitutionally mandated electoral timeframes of the Bolivarian Republic as a basis for regional peace and stability, since the practice of holding elections in response to orchestrated violence will unleash an example of instability and will undermine the legitimacy and integrity of elections in the entire region.

We must not allow destabilization, subversion and aggression against Venezuela to succeed. Our responsibility is to ensure that forces alien to the best interest of the Venezuelan people fail in their efforts to defeat the progressive experiment started by President Chavez.

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

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12. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

SVG vulnerable to gun smuggling and terrorist attack ACCORDING to Warrant Officer Ivan O’Neal, BSc (Hons) MSc, MBA, our country has been taken over by brutal gun crime. National security is at an alltime low, and our borders are openly being breached.

The fact that guns and other contraband are being openly and regularly brought into our country, shows that Gonsalves does not have the experience and the ability to hold the office of Minister of National Security, and is incompetent in this role.

Let’s look at just two of the obvious and very important breaches of our national security and borders.

Firstly, the Camden Park Port in South Leeward is not securely and/or appropriately fenced and gated for

failure in many regards, and clearly with national security too. Gun crime has increased since 2001, and it appears that it has spiralled out of control. During the week ending May 12, there were four brutal gun killings.

It is clear that guns are being easily brought into SVG. The people entry and exit. The consequence is unknown person can then freely that members of the public can easily smuggle in guns and other contraband, responsible for national security are a walk in and out of what should be without ever being officially identified. joke and do not have a clue.

The whole idea of national security secure areas. This is a very serious The original individual handed a is prevention. However, with all the breach to national security and a gate pass, after showing his identity slackness with national security, it danger to our people. card, can freely rent this gate pass to leaves us vulnerable to a terrorist Secondly, the Kingstown Port is an any other member of the public to go example of security madness. The in to the Kingstown Port all day long. attack at any moment, and more importation of guns and other entry to the Kingstown Port is This is a very serious breach to contraband. permitted by way of the issue of a gate national security and a danger to our Virtually every week, our people are pass. However, the gate pass is issued people. being killed with guns, and yet the at a point about 400 feet away from The rule on security says that, any ULP regime continues to ignore the the point of entry into Kingstown Port. exchange of a gate pass after an obvious breaches of our national So, the individual handed a gate identity check, must be done at the security and borders. pass, after showing his identity card, actual point of entry to a secure area. can freely give this gate pass to any As it stands, any terrorist can enter other member of the public to go into the Kingstown port and the Campden SVG Green Party www.svggreenparty.org the Kingstown Port, and that other Park port. person’s identity is unknown and not The ULP regime has been in power Find us on Facebook and Twitter since 2001 and has been a massive recorded by the port security. That

These are oppressive people: Toussaint case highlighted Part One

by LUZETTE KING Host and Producer Global Highlights (Call Dat George) OLE PEOPLE SAY if

barracoota (barracuda) come outa sea and say shark ha’ belly (is pregnant), yoh have to believe. So, we expect the Justices of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court,

especially Justices Davidson Baptiste, Louise Blenman and Mario Michel to believe Jomo Thomas, Counsel for Otto Sam, when, on May 09 he declared before them, “YOUR WORSHIP, THESE ARE OPPRESSIVE PEOPLE!!”

When wearing another hat, Jomo Thomas is the remunerated Speaker of the House of Assembly, where the Ralph Gonsalves-led Unity Labour Party (ULP) holds an 8:7 majority.

By virtue of this majority they select the Speaker of the House.

Noteworthy, also, is that this majority is challenged in the court of law by their opponents who claim that the last election on December 09, 2015 was fraudulent.

Much to his credit, though, Thomas is among the few lawyers who would challenge the status quo from within the ULP. In the matter of Otto Sam against The Public Service Board of Appeal, Thomas was able to prove in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court that the treatment, in particular

Scrubb, Terry Bynoe, Kelvin Gibson, Elwardo Lynch, and at no time should we not include Anthony ‘Que Pasa’ Otto Sam’s transfer out Gellizeau who is now of the education system behind bars and being to The National guarded 24/7 by the Emergency Management Police Rapid Response Organisation (NEMO) Unit aka ‘Black Squad’ and eventual dismissal Police. was, “illogical, Gibson and Lynch are unreasonable, unlawful, now deceased, but their arrived at in an unfair families and onlookers and procedurally lament the stress these improper manner and men endured as a result disproportionate.” of the lawsuit.

Simply put, most Among the most Vincentians know that egregious on record, Otto Sam, the educator though, is the matter of and former President of Attorney General of the St Vincent Union of Teachers fell afoul of the Saint Vincent and The Grenadines v Randolph ULP regime.

Quite apart from Otto Trueman Toussaint (CLAIM NO 425 OF Sam’s case, there are 2003). The magnitude many more Vincentians for whom Thomas spoke of the abuse of power and process is illustrated by when he described the oppressiveness of “these Supreme Court Justice Pearlette Lanns in her people”, and for whom the Court affirmed when judgment of March 3, 2015. In her they described Sam’s introduction she transfer from his school declares: to NEMO and “This is a serious case. subsequent dismissal.

At issue is, what was the Some of the other true reason for the well-known cases compulsory acquisition, include: Leon ‘Bigger in the year 2002, after a Bigs’ Samuel, Keith Boyea, Spiritual Baptist change of government, of 12, 957 sq ft. of land in Bishop Edmund John, Canouan, in the State of Marcus DeFreitas, St Vincent and the Randolph Toussaint, Matthew Thomas, Junior Grenadines, owned by the Claimant, Randolph Bacchus, Paul ‘ I Madd’ Trueman Toussaint

(Mr.Toussaint), former Commissioner of Police of the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force.”

In her statement of facts, she also notes the twelve-year twists-andturns of this case before the substantive issues were dealt with: “This matter has been afoot for over twelve years. This present proceeding - the determination of the substantive issues in the case, in which the Court’s constitutional protection jurisdiction is invoked, is just one of other proceedings amongst the parties in this matter. Therefore, it is perhaps not necessary to restate, in its entirety, the chronology of events or to give a detailed exposition of the facts, as they have already been detailed in several decisions in this matter including, (a) a decision of Blenman J dated 25th May 2004: (b) a decision of the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court dated 14th March 2005, and (c) a decision of Her Majesty’s Privy Council dated 16th July 2007.”

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. 13.

Heritage

The Vincy Mas booth was popular with the patrons.

Technical students mount Mini Heritage Exhibition as Vincy Mas. She said that her group gained tremendous insights during their research, and from sessions with Mr. Paynter. Her group was particularly enlightened about the origin of the carnival, inter alia about its beginnings at the Botanical Gardens. The group, though, was disappointed with the lack of information at the National Archives.

Speaking on behalf of the group that dealt with the Garifuna, Sean Shepard said his group highlighted, in particular, their food and general lifestyle. He said that his group got much of its information from the Old Public Library and from local persons with knowledge on Garifuna , as well as the internet.

But this group’s exposure went beyond the typical Garifuna experience, and those involved were amazed to learn, during their research, “that black people were in the Caribbean before slavery… and that the Garifuna is a separate ethnic group originally the result of Caribs and Africans mixing,” Shepherd said.

Mililone Edwards and her group addressed the Union Easterval Festival.

She said they found out that the event was first called the Union Island Easter Water Sports and Games. “That is because they focused more on traditional games, but throughout the years the focus This display on Union’s Island’s Annual Eastervale ensured a Grenadines presence. has changed to

YEAR 2 STUDENTS pursuing a Heritage Tourism and Marketing Tourism Course at the Technical and Vocational Division of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College, gave an important lesson on the History of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, when they mounted a mini exhibition at the Division, Friday 21st April.

Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN on Exhibition Day, Shemeil Isaacs, a member of the group that highlighted Victoria Park, said that her group dealt with the current state of the popular venue and its future development. She said as far as future development at the site was concerned, their project included a proposal for a synthetic athletics track; the erection of sign boards that would depict aspects of the Park’s history; and a Hall of Fame which would honour persons who have performed historic feats there.

Andranica De Freitas’s group dealt with the annual Carnival, now known

The group responsible for showcasing Garifuna experience were appropriately attired.

focus more on party and fetes,” said Edwards.

Her group concluded that Easterval should promote more traditions so that the culture doesn’t die, adding, “The traditional aspect makes the event unique.”

There was an overall comment that

the history of St. Vincent needs to be properly documented or else the future generation will know little about their country.

The groups/students had a month to prepare for their exhibition, and they are expected to earn points that will be accredited to their scores in their Heritage Tourism and Marketing Tourism course. (KH)

14. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. 15.

Getting to know the Miss SVG Contestants

by KENVILLE HORNE

WITH THE MISS SVG PAGEANT quickly approaching the June 3rd date, the seven young ladies vying for the 2017 crown had the opportunity to interact with the media, during the annual Meet the Press event on Young Island Resort, on Saturday 13th May. Here is a brief insight to who the contestants are and some of the things about which they are concerned.

RYANNA HADAWAY – Miss Quick Cash - is 20 years old and hails from Sally Spring, Kingstown. She has a distinguished past from which to find inspiration; her grandmother, Mrs. Daphne Frederick, and her aunt, Nicole Had away, having been former Beauty Queens here.

Bryanna has a burning concern for issues related to feminism, and professes a strong conviction that there must be social, political and economic equality between the sexes, and she is prepared to ensure that that is the case.

DARISEAN LABORDE - Miss Kendra’s Aluminum Products – is a native of Chateaubelair. The 24-year-old graduate of the St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown and the Division of Technical and Vocational Education of the SVG Community College, currently owns and operates a beauty salon.

She spoke passionately about women having to look out for other women. “As women I think that we need to be more supportive of each other, not that we all should like each other, but try and respect each other’s

feelings,” she said.

NICOLEEN LEWIS – Miss Mustique Company – hopes that she could be a role model for socially displaced women.

This ambition is perhaps fueled by the fact that the 19-year-old beauty spent the last two years of secondary school as a resident of Our Lady of Guadeloup Home for Girls in Marriaqua.

She entered the Miss P’Tani Pageant in 2015.

Lewis said that she will continue empowering and motivating young females. “All of us need empowering .

There are certain times in our lives when we feel down, when we feel not worthy, and that is when we all should step in to help one another,… to motivate , empower each other,” said Lewis.

BRITTNEY OLIVER – Miss Agriculture Input Warehouse - is 24 years old and hails from Calliaqua. She graduated from the Bishop’s College Kingstown and then pursued studies in technology at the Division of Technical and Vocational Education of the SVG Community College.

She is a member of the Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra, and is currently the reigning Miss St. George.

“I want to be a voice for those who are afraid to step up and speak up about this issue,” Oliver told THE VINCENTIAN.

Right: The Miss SVG 2017 contestants are pictured here with Miss SVG 2016 winner Nickianna Williams.

CHRISTAL OLIVER – Miss Jergens, is a resident of Glen and the owner of Olive Art Design, which specializes in bag design and branding.

The 26-year-old is a National Award recipient.

Christal is passionate about equal opportunity for young people, particularly in education.

“Not only education through academics, but also through skills, and I am happy that I have been afforded the opportunity to learn academically and to be educated through skills, and that has helped me to develop my business,” said Oliver.

She has a special word for young women, encouraging them to take pride in their natural hair, since the most important thing is to be happy and comfortable in one’s skin.

JIMELLE ROBERTS – Miss FLOW – is an avid dancer. The 24-year-old resident of Belair credits this art form for her overall development.

She is currently a teacher at the St. Joseph Convent Marriaqua and a member of the Girl Guides.

It follows, therefore, that Jimelle is ‘high’ on education and has all intentions of remaining in the field, albeit, in a specialized service area.

“If I were to be crowned the next Miss SVG (and win the scholarship), I will become a Speech and Language thera-

pist,” she asserted.

The young lady, who, like the other contestants is currently involved in the ECGC campaign aimed at empowering women through education, hopes to remain active in that programme.

LA-DONNA YORKE – Miss Metrocint General Insurance Co. Ltd. – is atwenty-one years old Mesopotamia resdient.

She has an eye set on becoming a Paediatrician, but she also has a passion for the Performing Arts.

The issue of emotional abuse concerns her.

“When we hear the term abuse we often think about it as a physical nature, but what about the verbal assault? The constant humiliation and intimidation against each other affect our dignity, self-worth and identity. It is my goal to empower, uplift, give strength and support wherever I can,” said Yorke.

Owen Ralph (left) and daughter Verlene Ralph- James, making sure they lead from in front, by helping with the band’s production at the tent at Mala Village.

Owen Ralph and the Professionals go ‘Now and Then’ WHEN OWEN RALPH and the Professionals Mas Band makes its presentation for Vincy Mas 2017, the portrayals will all hinge on the theme: ‘40 Years Celebration- Then and Now’.

And in keeping with that theme, the band offers seven appropriately named sections, namely, ‘Cherokee and Rhinestone Cowboys’, ‘Green Berets’, ‘Naval Celebrities’, ‘Port Royal Pirates’, ‘Bikini Fantasy’, ‘Las Vegas Show Girls’ and ‘Tribal Nubians’ .

BandleaderL-R: Port Royal Pirates and Naval Celebrities.

Verlene Ralph- James explained that the With production of their businesses to support us, as production features a jour2017 presentation already in they don’t sponsor small ney through the various high gear, Ralph-James bands like us anymore; they phases that the band has appealed to the band’s loyal are all for the big bands,” traversed. masqueraders to come and Ralph lamented.

“The production is get registered and make Ralph’s plea was basically where we started Vincy Mas 2017 a memorasupported by the band with the traditional, the war ble one, not only for themleader Ralph – James, who mas, the cowboys and selves, but as a milestone for stated that they have made Indians, to where we are the country’s premier several requests for help, now with the bikinis and the cultural festival. “but they have not been thongs,” Ralph-James Persons wishing to be fruitful.” explained. part of Owen Ralph and the Despite the challenges She said that the band Professionals Mas Band can and the hurdles, Ralphcaters for all age categories visit the tent , located at the James promises the usual and the sections appeal to old Sion Hill Euphonium high standard of mas from different generations.

Pan Yard at Mala Village , Owen Ralph and the ProfesFounder of the band – Owen or contact Verlene Ralph – sionals, and pointed to the Ralph chimed in, making a James at telephone numberband’s intention to enter plug for financial support for 593 6940 or Owen Ralph at most of the competitions the band.

455 2511. open to mas bands.

“I am pleading with the

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16. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Education

Trinity SGA holds Club Fair for new students Society of Medicine and Surgery (SMS); Trinity Welcoming Committee; Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA); RAWC — the committee that oversees all the sporting activities including hockey, basketball, volleyball, and taekwondo; the American (AMSA), Canadian (CaMSA), and Caribbean (CMSA) Medical Students Associations; Kid Companions; and the Trinity Rugby and Dive Clubs.

According to Morgan Jackson, Term Three student and Chief Justice of the Disciplinary Committee of the SGA, “This club fair is really for the new students. Usually, during the first week of the term, we would have a meeting in the classroom where everyone looks at a PowerPoint presentation on the clubs,” she explained, adding that this year the intention was to create an activity which would not only introduce the new students to the clubs and the work they do, but also to The AMSA booth attracted immediate attention. deepen the role played by RECENT INDUCTEES into the summer Class of 2021 of the Trinity School of Medicine were given the opportunity to learn of the many clubs which function as part of the Student Government Association (SGA), giving service to communities across St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

This, when the SGA held its inaugural Club Fair on the grounds of the institution.

The clubs, which all have a sense of community outreach, included:

those students who already form part of these organizations.

The activity was hailed to be, “a lot more friendly and personable, as the students got to meet new people…., better that The all Vincentian Welcoming Committee added a Vincy Mas sitting in a classroom and flavor to their display. looking at a of Medicine and Surgery, and Kid presentation,” Jackson assessed.

Companions.”

A chat with new students Fifth Term student Karen Steiner, highlighted the experience. Brock who is the Vice President of SMS and Malatches stated, “It’s easier to get a member of AMSA and the Dive Club involved when you can walk around and meet people. I was encouraged to lauded the change in the format of the activity, admitting, “I think it’s better join CaMSA and AMSA.” because, honestly, in Term One we had John Olsen eagerly reported, “It’s nothing like this. We just watched the really nice to see all the upper PowerPoint for about an hour. This ‘termers’ and the physical displays of way, students can actually talk to each the clubs. Everyone has explained other and socialize.” what they’re about and benefits from All is set now for clubs to embark on signing up. They gave us a pitch and I ended up signing on for AMSA, Society planned community activities.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. 17.

Heritage

The „One-off‰ Public Holiday For People - A Jewel Of Great Pride First Peoples, but this decision is a major one, that distinguishes itself, in that it will cause the national community to stop and focus attention on the First Peoples of this land. This “One-Off” INTERESTINGLY, one of our Holiday serves to own, well-known social and highlight the fact that the women’s rights activists, First Peoples have made Nelcia Robinson, has been their contribution to the working with the Santa development of this land, Rosa First Peoples and continue to do so. We Community towards believe that our Vision for devising and implementing the future development of long term development the First Peoples, will programmes for the first contribute to the people of Santa Rosa, development which is so Trinidad and Tobago. often spoken about, in The news of the contributing to the decision by Cabinet to economy, and at the same grant a ONE-OFF Public time, preserving and Holiday to be observed on restoring the original October 13, 2017, is most culture of the First welcome by the Santa Peoples.

Rosa First Peoples Since its inception in Community, of Trinidad 1976, and with increasing and Tobago, who have frequency in 2017, the been lobbying for quite a Santa Rosa First Peoples long time for meaningful Community Museum has recognition. welcomed students from Past Governments have Pre-School to Tertiary taken incremental steps level, all of whom are towards Recognition of the doing a “Project” on First EDITOR’S NOTE: We thought this news would be instructive to our own efforts to recover and recognize the heritage and contribution of our indigenous people.

Peoples History. While it is heartening that this important aspect of Trinidad & Tobago’s history is being recognised, it is equally disheartening that many of the Researchers say “I never knew this place existed. This explains the need to maintain the operation of the Museum, and the establishment of the First Peoples Heritage Village.

It is for reasons like this that the Santa Rosa First Peoples Community conducted a relentless campaign for a “one-Off” Public Holiday in recognition of the first Peoples of Trinidad and Tobago. The purpose of the “one-Off” Holiday is to build a greater recognition of the existence of the descendants of the First Peoples of Trinidad and Tobago. Even with the celebration of the Festival of Santa Rosa — the oldest continuously celebrated Festival in Trinidad and Tobago — which spans 230

years, and the Day of Recognition in October; it is a huge surprise for many that the Amerindian Heritage exists in Trinidad and Tobago.

A “Home-Coming” call is made to First Peoples descendants throughout Trinidad and Tobago, and to First Peoples descendants from other lands who reside here, to identify with the Vision and Mission of the Santa Rosa First Peoples Community to make our presence in this multicultural society. There is no need to waver — it was the wise Principal Chief of the North Alabama Cherokee a wise Cherokee — Jim Pell - who had this to say: “There is no such thing as ‘part-Cherokee.’ Either you’re Cherokee or you’re not. It isn’t the quantity of Cherokee blood in your veins that is important, but the quality of it . . . your pride in it. I have seen full-bloods who have virtually no idea of the great legacy entrusted to

their care. Yet, I have seen people with as little as 1/500th blood quantum who inspire the spirits of their ancestors because they make being Cherokee a proud part of their everyday life.”

The same applies for the First Peoples descendants in Trinidad and Tobago. Consider what a Carib Chief from Dominica — Irvince Auguiste — had to say on his visit to Trinidad & Tobago in 1993: “When I saw how big Arima is, how developed, modern and bustling, compared to our own Roseau; when I saw how many more people Arima has, almost as any Arimians as there are people n all of Dominica, y et, in the midst of all that there is a Carib Community. But they have no land like we have a 3,500 acre Territory, and they do not live together like we do. Still, still, there they are making cassava bread, weaving, performing smoke

ceremonies, making traditional homes — scattered individuals in a modern city, keeping the ways of the ancestors alive. That group is an inspiration to us here in Dominica, for though people always say we will disappear, even when we have land, I can now see, looking at Trinidad, that we are very far from disappearing”.

So with that endorsement and motivation, let us have a great Ingathering of the First Peoples in Trinidad and Tobago. Come as Individuals, Groups and Organisations, and let us work together in the established Celebration of the Festivals, and islandwide activities for the national celebration of this highly prized “One-Off” Public Holiday — a JEWEL of great price!

Ricardo Bharath Hernandez Chief Santa Rosa First Peoples Community

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18. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Business

VINSURE extends its servicesÊ reach ST. VINCENT Insurances Ltd., trading as VINSURE, has extended its range of services to persons here.

On Monday last, at the Methodist Church Hall in Kingstown, VINSURE launched NAGICARE, a package of medical insurance products, which , as of Monday, is now available in 19 territories across the Caribbean archipelago.

According to parent company NAGICO (National General Insurance Corporation N.V.), NAGICARE’s main goal is “to erase or reduce the financial impact of such expenses on the primary insured and his/her family for medical treatment that may not otherwise have been affordable.”

Through VINSURE, NAGICARE will offer four categories of lifetime

Simone Goodluck – General Manager/VINSURE, considers the introduction of the NAGICARE’s Medical Insurance package as timely.

maximum benefits: Torquoise — up to EC$250,000; Emerald — up to EC$500,000; Gold — to a limit of EC$1,000,000; and Platinum - that extends to EC$2,000.000.

VINSURE – A sound service provider and tested” insurance service provider, founded Speaking at Monday’s launch, and sustained by the Christopher Hunte, NAGICARE’s Senior Manager, welcomed the venture unquestioned expertise of and cited VINSURE as a sound, “tried principal partner Samuel Goodluck.

He recognised the VINSURE culture of NAGICARE promises ‘Care, Courtesy, affordable Group and Cooperation, Individual Medical Compromise, Coverage.

Competence and Control’, as an ideal Christopher platform from which to provide Hunte, NAGICARE’s package of NAGICARE’s products, and projected an Senior Manager, improved situation with endorsed NAGICARE and VINSURE’s VINSURE as a combined arm of service. sound insurance He promised that services NAGICARE will be “fast, fair provider. and always there.”

Simone Goodluck, sustained VINSURE’s General Manager, attention was group coverage for referred to the timeliness of the students and workers at industries, introduction of the NAGICARE companies and institutions. insurance products, as SVG moves to The assurance was given that a enact a new Occupational Safety and Group Insurance plan which is Health Law. included in the package, is specifically She assured that the new line of designed to meet the needs of services will be “affordable and companies and organizations. tailored to meet your needs.”

NAGICARE is based in Anguilla An open segment at last Monday’s and has been in existence since 1982. launch allowed for questions and (WKA) inquiries. Among the areas receiving

A sector of the diverse attendance at last Monday’s launch.

V What is mental health?

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. 19.

Health & Safety

EDITOR’S NOTE: Through publication of the following article, we register our pleasure in joining with the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre, in its effort to increase awareness about mental illness.

According to the World Health Organization (2014), mental health is defined as “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his/her own potential, can cope with the normal stressors of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”.

Mental health affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood through to adulthood.

Mental health involves being able to function effectively in daily activities that result in productivity at work, school and home. It also involves being able to have healthy relationships, as well as the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity.

Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in thinking, emotion or behavior. They are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities.There are several contributing factors to mental health problems, including: Biological factors, such as genetic predisposition and brain chemistry; Life experiences, such as abuse, poverty and neglect; Environmental factors, such as exposure to alcohol and other drugs and brain injury; Family history of mental health problems.

Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of! It is a medical condition, just like heart disease or diabetes, and mental health conditions are treatable.

Mental illness does not discriminate; it can affect anyone regardless of your age, gender, income, social status, or other aspects of cultural identity.

While mental illness can occur at any age, learning about early warning signs and taking action can help. Early intervention can aid in the reduction of the severity of an illness. Experiencing

Disaster related personnel involved in safety drill ON MONDAY 8th May 2017, The SVG Coast Guard, Red Cross, Cadet Corps, Calliaqua Police, First Responders and NEMO were involved in a Water Safety Drill at Indian Bay Beach.

The objectives of the drill were: to test the Coast Guard response procedures and protocols; to test the Red Cross medical response to an incident at sea; to evaluate Psychosocial Support response of the Red Cross; to train First Responders in the proper procedure for rescue at sea.

The evaluation of the drill was done by Major Hamilton of the Cadet Corps, Lieutenant Hamlett of the SVG Coast Guard and Raymond Yorke/Jerwayne Laidlow of NEMO. Petty Officer Daniel was in command of the SVG Coast Guard Response Team and Julia Simmons was in charge of the Red Cross Team.

Petty Officer Glasgow was in charge of the Incident command and Bernard Morgan of the Red Cross coordinated the drill.

The First Responders were drawn from the villages of Fancy, Sandy Bay, Point, Questelles, Mesopotamia and from

Bequia.

The drill evaluation revealed that it was a tremendous success in that all the objectives were met, and that valuable lessons were

An exercise that shows the near end of a rescue at sea. learnt by all participants.

(Submitted by Red Cross)

one or more of the following feelings or behaviors can be an early warning sign of a problem: Social withdrawal; Loss of interest; Difference in Eating or sleeping; Feeling helpless/ hopeless; Problems with concentration, memory or logical thought and speech; Severe mood swings; Having persistent thoughts and memories you can’t get out of your head; Hearing voices; Thinking of harming yourself or others; Inability to perform daily tasks; Feeling disconnected from oneself or one’s surroundings.

Strategies for maintaining Mental Health: Avoid alcohol, marijuana and other drugs; Healthy Eating; Exercise; Learn how to deal with stress; Practice meditation and relaxation techniques; Surround yourself with supportive family members and friends; Set realistic goals; Get professional help when you need it.

If you are experiencing any mental health problems, please see your District Doctor. In an emergency, you will be able to obtain help at the Accident and Emergency Department (Casualty) at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. They will A state of encroaching mental illness.

be able to refer you, if needed, to A state of good the Mental Health outpatient mental health. clinics for follow up or the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre for those in need of hospitalization. Not only is medical help available, counselors and social workers work along with the medical team to provide holistic care to clients.

Help is available. Do not be afraid to seek it.

Compiled by: Odelia Thomas – Counselor at Mental Health Rehabilitation Center Email: mhcsvg@gmail.com Contact #458-4240

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20. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

My husband embarrasses me beyond recognition, and it left me asking myself whether or not my MY HUSBAND thinks it’s ok to disrespect husband really loved and cared for me. me in front of his friends or whomever.

Why would he stoop so low? It’s not He would routinely revive an old my fault that I am dry and I’ve told argument that he had no chance of him countless times why. Our doctor winning, just to get his friends to agree already advised us how not to make with him. He knows I do not argue in that a problem. Now it seems his public. He knows I am a very private empty-headed friends are spurring person. him on and it makes me sick. My The last incident had to be the worst. He told his friends how terrible husband was never like this! Should I call it quits?

I am in bed and how dry I would get during sex. I was embarrassed

Dear George,

The tactic of scoring points with his friends is sad and even shameful, and it shows his desperation and struggle Dear Disappointed, to deal with what is really eating away at his happiness.

In the first place, your arguments Maybe, especially given your should never be played out in the public arena. Letting that happen can ongoing physical condition, you both need professional counselling to help carry regrettable consequences. It him get him past the line that only he should never be about who wins or is seeing. Suggest to him to loses an argument. Rather, both of you should get to the root of the issue accompany you to see someone, and take it from there. and address it in a balanced and meaningful way.

Disappointed and feeling low

George

Consider moving on Dear George, MY LIFE is on hold, thanks to my boyfriend.

We have been dating for two years and I’m now ready to get married, but he wants to wait. He cannot tell me what he is waiting on or when the waiting period would be over. I feel like someone who is waiting at the airport for a boat to pick me up.

I’m too old to be

Dear George,

waiting around indefinitely on a man who is going nowhere.

Fed up to my neck Dear Fed up, You need to explain to your boyfriend exactly what you just said to me. After two years of serious dating, one should have more than a clear idea where he/she wants the relationship to go.

Enjoy the view, man

If it is that you are ready to settle down and the man you are with is clueless about if and when he wants to settle with you, then I strongly suggest you waste no more of your precious years and move along.

If you’re going to be at the airport, it has to be because you intend to take a plane, not waiting on a boat.

George

I BOUGHT a pair of skinny jeans for my woman, but when I had her put it on, it looked too tight for my liking and I told her not to wear it. To my surprise and disappointment, I ran into her, downtown and she had the pants on. Men were hissing at her and I could have seen she loved it.

When I confronted her, she said she was going to wear it no matter what, and even accused me of being jealous. I told her it’s either she stopped wearing it or say bye bye to our relationship.

Not laughing Dear Not laughing, Let me get a few points straight. Was it you who chose to get her skinny jeans? Is it that you think that the same skinny jeans is clinging too much to her skin? Why would you want to lower the value of your relationship to the cost of a pair of jeans? Is it the fit you are concerned about or the fact that she is getting more attention from the opposite sex since the jeans?

I think you need to reset your jealousy needle, and it would help if you start appreciating the beauty of your woman. Make it your business to let her know. Feelings of insecurity are less than ideal for a healthy relationship. Get over the jeans!

George

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) You may have more to do with children this week; keep an open mind. You need to spend some time pampering yourself. Older relatives may be a burden. Physical work or exercise should be part of your schedule.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You may need to make a few alterations to your living arrangements. You will gain new friends if you get involved in environmental issues. Try to enlist the support of your coworkers first. Problems with peers is apparent.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) You may have the energy to clear up that mound of paperwork facing you.

Partnerships with creative people could lead to financial gains. Throw yourself into your profession. Don’t let relatives stand in the way of your personal plans.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You may have been too nice to a friend who just wanted to take advantage of you. Don’t offer to pay for others. Get promises in writing or you will be disappointed. Try to keep any mood swings under control; they may result in alienation.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) You will meet potential new mates through business. You will have no trou----ble getting things to fall into place. You will be your usual charming self and the partners you attract may be the adventurous type.

This may not be the day to get involved in risky joint financial ventures.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Put your energy into behind the scenes activities. Opportunities for partnerships are present; but get every detail in writing. Set a limit, or you’ll wind up on a tight budget.

You will be subject to pushy individuals if you get involved in uncertain organizations.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) This may not be your day if you are overly melodramatic and unnerving everyone around you. If you haven’t planned a vacation, then at least try to get away for the weekend. Don’t let any small misunderstandings get in the way. Don’t let your partner get away with spending too much of your money.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Your determination may make you a little overbearing when dealing with others. You may be fortunate while traveling. Try not to take everything so seriously. You can come up with ways of earning extra cash.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Do something that will be stimulating and creative. If you haven’t already, consider starting your own business. Your emotional partner will push all the right buttons this week. Move forward if you want to turn your life around.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) You need to spend some time with individuals who have more experience than you.

Joint ventures might prove to be unfavorable. You can meet someone who will become very dear to you if you get out and socialize. Don’t make mountains out of molehills if you want to avoid conflict.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Put your efforts into physical fitness programs or competitive sports. Not the best day for business trips. Opportunities for partnerships are present; but get every detail in writing. Accept the inevitable.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Your lover will be extremely sensitive and now will not be a good time to make changes that they won’t like. Trips should be your choice. Don’t second guess yourself, just go to it. You can utilize your versa tile mind and dazzle others with your speed and accuracy.

ACROSS 1. Potato 5. Washroom 11. First-class 12. Not done 13. Cut 14. Scanty 15. Excessive ketone in the blood 17. Cram 18. Sorrowful 19. Prison 20. Ovis aries 23. Measured time 24. Clock pointer 25. Soak 26. Highpitched 27. Lodger 31. Dry red wine 33. Air (prefix) 34. Call to arms

35. Hindmost part of an animal 36. Table linen 37. Otherwise DOWN 1.Large bag 2. Long, cylindrical piece of wood 3. Single entity 4. Deprived of office 5. Bombastic 6. Singles 7. Highest mountain in Crete 8. Tangle of logs 9. Infuriate

10. Swarmed indistinct 16. Plant juice 28. Distribute 19. Citric acid cards 20. 8th month 29. Greek of the goddess of Islamic calendar 21. Monetary unit of Saudi Arabia 22. Ensnare 23. Light meal 25. Spacious 27. Make

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. 21.

strife 30. Acting part 32. Metalbearing mineral

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22. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

News

The Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA) GRADE SIX STUDENTS sitting the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA) will be examined on Friday, May 19th, 2017, in seventeen (16) centres throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This year, one thousand six hundred and forty-two (1642) students have been registered for the CPEA. There are seven hundred and ninety-nine (799) females and eight hundred and forty-three (843) males registered.

The CPEA is an examination administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council for students exiting the primary cycle of their education.

The students will sit multiple choice papers in Mathematics, English and Science as the final component of the CPEA. The multiple choice component of the assessment will comprise sixty percent (60 %) of their final score.

Each Multiple Choice paper consists of fifty (50) items and the time allocated per paper is one hour and fifteen minutes.

The overall pass rate for the CPEA in 2016 was 83.87%. The pass rate by sex was 78.11% for males and 89.85% for females. All students who sat the exam in 2016 were placed into secondary schools. This is in conformity with the policy of

Over 1500 students are set to sit the CPEA exams today.

Universal Access to Secondary Education.

The top performer in last year’s exam was Luke Wilson of the St. Mary’s R.C. School with an average of 96.20% The results of the CPEA are expected to be published in June. The Ministry of Education will conduct the secondary school placement exercise.

The Minister of Education wishes all students success in their examination and expresses his gratitude to the head teachers, teachers and all other stakeholders for their dedication to all students.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. 23.

Peters on the rampage in League Cricket KENROY PETERS, better known for his left-arm seam bowling, rewrote the North Lancashire and Cumbria (Cricket) League records books with a stunning display of batting for his Lindal Moor Club.

Peters, batting at an uncharacteristic number 5, blasted a record individual score of 233 off 112 balls, to help his team amass a record breaking total of 426 for 6 off their 50 overs, against Vickerstown, Peters’ former club.

His 233, including 29 fours and 10 sixes, was the best in any League

competition since its formation in 1920, bettering the 215 scored

by Workington’s Simon Beare in the 2005 Higson Cup final.

Lindal Moor’s total of 426 surpassed the previous League record of 414 for 7, set by Millom in the 1923 Higson Cup. The Vincentian was well supported during his knock by captain Ed Waind. The pair came together at 57 for 2 and were only parted with the score on 382, when Waind was out for 116, off 110 balls, with 18 fours and two sixes. The partnership

of 355 was a new Club Record for Lindal, topping the 225 scored by Colin Knight and John Parkinson against Workington in 1999.

Demoralised by the onslaught by the Lindal Moor batsmen, Vickerstown’s crumbled for 122 all out, to lose by a whopping 304 runs, with Craig Crawford taking 6 for 41 in his 15 overs.

Earlier in the week, Peters stroked his first century of the season to help his team beat Millom by 37 runs. Lindal Moor lost their first four wickets

for just 21. But batting at number five, Peters changed all that as he smashed 11 fours and five sixes in his 110, and helped the visitors to 172 all out in the 44th over.

Graham Dawson returned an excellent 5 for 30 in 12.4 overs.

In Millom’s reply, Peters took 4 for 38 and Skipper Ed Waind 5 for 20 to help dismiss their opposition for 140 in the 35th over. Graham Dawson top scored with 64.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Zefal Bailey burns OECS Warm-Up Road Race

Zefal Bailey as he completes the 70-mile event last Sunday.

ZEFAL BAILEY rode off with victory in the 70-mile Road Race, hosted by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cycling Union, last Sunday.

In the race dubbed ‘OECS WarmUp’, Bailey was the first to cross the finish line at the Sion Hill Intersection, ahead of local and some sub regional competitors.

His winning time was 3 minutes 43 minutes 36 seconds, as he, along with the other cyclists, rode from the First Caribbean International Bank to Orange Hill on the Windward side, before returning to

L-R: Second place- Enroy Lewis; Bram Sanderson of Dominica - the first non -Vincentian to complete the course, and Winston Williams – winner of the Masters’ category, reach the finish line at the Sion Hill Intersection. the Arnos Vale Round About.

From there, the cyclists made two laps of the Arnos Vale Round About to the Diamond Estate circuit, before ending at Sion Hill.

Placing second was another Vincentian — Enroy Lewis in 3 hours 50 minutes 41 seconds, while Dominican - Bram Sanderson was third in 4 hours 01 minute 34 seconds.

Eight of the ten cyclists who started the race, completed it.

Others who finished were Winston Williams of St Luciafourth ; Matthew Gula, a Polish

student studying medicine here, in fifth; and the St Lucian trio of Sherkel Aubret, Josiah Murrell and Calix Williams, finishing sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively.

Winston Williams copped the Masters’ category.

The top three finishers, along with Winston Williams were given cash awards.

The ‘OECS Warm-Up’ Race was used a gauge by the SVG Cycling Union towards selection of a national team to compete in the OECS Championships, set for the first weekend of July in Dominica.

Kenroy Peters, the man of the moment, poses in front of a scoreboard that displayed a recordbreaking day in English League Cricket.

Vincy bags five awards in German Basketball VINCENTIAN FEMALE basketballer- Verdine Warner, in her first season campaigning in the German second division’s Bundelisga, was named the 2017 Player of the Year.

Playing for Goettingen, Warner was also named the MVP of the finals, Center of the Year, Import Player of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year.

These were achieved on the back of an average of 15.6 points per game, which was the best for her team.

In addition, Warner had an average of 13. 7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, Verdine Warner and registered 52 percent of her shots from the field, playing an average of 27.1 minutes per game.

Warner’s output in the final versus Wolfenbuettel, in which she sank 12 points and had 17 rebounds, helped Goettingen to the North title.

A former student of Shaw University in North Carolina in the USA, Warner was named the Central Inter- Collegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) 2015 Player of the Year.

Previously, in the 2013- 2014 season, Warner helped Shaw University team to the title, while she earned a place on the All CIAA tournament team.

Warner represented Shaw University from 2013 to 2015.

The 25-year-old Warner, after migrating to the USA, attended Medgar Evers, Monroe College, Hampton University, before moving to Shaw University.

Warner took up a semi- pro offer which saw her playing for Slovanka MB from the Czech Republic, and in January 2016, she moved to Kronos Agiou Dimitriou from Greece.

Warner, from Lower Questelles, started her basketball career here representing Bustas female basketball team, in the St Vincent and the Grenadines Basketball Federation’s national tournament.

She is a former student of the Lowmans Leeward Anglican School and the St Joseph’s Convent, Kingstown.

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24. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Four debutants in Senior Cricket Team FOUR DEBUTANTS have been named in a 14-member team announced by the senior national crickets selectors, to represent SVG in the 2017 Windward Islands Senior Male Two-Day Tournament scheduled for Dominica, May 20 – 26.

The four are: Rickford Walker an attacking right-hand batsman and former Under 19 captain; left-hand opening batsman Romano Pierre; fast bowler Ray Jordan who represented the West Indies Under 19 in the 2015 World Cup; and wicket-keeper batsman Seon Sween also a former SVG Under 19 captain.

They join a squad to be led for the second year by ace Windwards and

Debutant Sean Debutant Rickford Sween - wicket SVG batsman Sunil Ambris.

Walker - batsman keeper/batsman Debutant Romano Debutant Ray Windwards left-arm fast bowler Delorn Johnson has been given Jordan - fast Pierre - batsman the opportunity to serve as vicebowler captain.

The team’s coach is Nixon McLean The team’s batting line-up includes Obed McCoy, West Indies Under 19 and manager Elvis Browne.

West Indies and experienced batsman players, complete the squad.

The three reserves are fast bowler St Lucia are the defending Miles Bascombe, the only player to Roneil Jeffery, allrounder Desron champions. score a century in the two trial matches; and Donwell Hector, Wayne Maloney and off spinner Othneil I.B.A.ALLEN Harper and Godron Pope, who will join Lewis. the Jamaica Talawahs outfit in this year’s CPL. The spin bowling attack will be led by off spinner Kenneth Dember and left arm spinner Asif Hooper.

Fast bowlers Shaquille Browne and

Division One Netball title up in the air THE DIVISION One League title of the FLOW National Netball Tournament, for the first time in almost a decade, is not a two-way race between Western Union Mitres and Metrocint General Maple.

Making a strong bid for title honours is Twilight Trading X — Ceed, which has gone perfect from their three matches.

Inclusive of X- Ceed’s run of wins was a 74-72 win over repeated winners- Mitres.

X- Ceed added another win last Saturday, when they got easy points from Star Girls, who failed to show when the match was called at the Kingstown Netball Twilight Trading X- Ceed – looking to disturb the Centre. equilibrium at the top of netball here.

Another triumph to the eventual declaration are the Xgained by X- Ceed was a 64-43 Ceed versus Maple clash, and the downing of Dr Jules ASCO. Maple against Mitres showdown.

Like X- Ceed, Maple is also And, the top place could be undefeated. determined by goal differential.

Maple’s tale shows them beating This year, the SVG Netball Star Girls 77-27, whipping Hillview 83- 31, and creaming Sea Operations Association merged Division One teams with the previous Division Nar Fren Dem, 81- 24.

Two, in order to provide the teams A 71-34 win over Dutch Lady Clinchers completes Maple’s run thus with more matches.

Mitres have won the Division One far.

League title seven times of the last Meanwhile, defending champions eight tournaments.

Mitres, without several of its key Mitres’ dominance has included players, have recorded a 54-52 defeat on ASCO and got past Clinchers, 69- five years (2009, 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016) of doing the double (League 55.

The decisive matches in the run up and Knock Out).

Officials pleased with SVGCC showing PERSONS responsible for the management and preparation of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC) contingent which participated in the 2017 Abilene Wildcats Track Classic, in Trinidad and Tobago, on Saturday May 13th, are pleaded with the performance.

It was the first such overseas outing for a track team from the College.

The team — male and female — overcame the early setbacks of a false start by Shantel Williams in the Women’s 100m event and Jasmine Robertson falling injured in the last 10 meters of her Women’s 100m event, which she was leading up to that point, to compete with some

degree of success.

The female team of Shantel Williams, Darria Matthias, Jasmine Robertson and Keiffer Bailey won the Women’s 4x100 Meters event in a time of 49.83 seconds, and was fourth in the Female 4x400m in 3 minutes, 54.03 seconds.

Matthias finished second in the Female Under 18 100m, clocking 12.55 seconds, and Bailey clocked 2 min.

33.94 seconds to place fourth Women’s 800m run.

Javiel Saxon, Yonick Murray and Godwyn Roban finished 5th (49.90 sec), 8th (51.19 sec) and 9th (51.49 sec) respectively in the Male Under 20 400m event.

Other individual performances included: Hasheem Daniel - 19th

overall in the Male 400m open in 55.40 seconds; Raasikh John 20th overall in the Men’s 100m in 11.25 seconds; Omar Paul 21st overall in the Men’s 800m in 2 minutes, 09.99 seconds.

Javiel Saxon, Yonick Murray, Godwyn Roban, Raasikh John and Hasheem Daniel then teamed up to put in some pleasing performances in the Men’s 4x400 and 4x100 Meters events.

The team of Saxon, Murray, Roban and John and placed 6th in the 4x100 event in a pleasing 43.05 seconds; and Daniel replaced John in the team that placed 8th in the 4x400m Men’s open, in 3 minutes, 22.21 seconds.

I.B.A.ALLEN

The SVG Community College Track Team that participated in the 2017 Wildcats Track Classic, in Trinidad and Tobago, with Manager Roxell John (front left) and Coach Michael Ollivierre (front right).

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. 25.

Sports

Shannon Angel IN THE PREVIOUS Test in Barbados, he produced a match winning performance and perhaps acquired the biblical title Angel Gabriel.

West Indian fans hoped that Shannon Gabriel, the number 11 West Indian batsman, could defy the odds, like the Angel Gabriel, and guide his team to safety.

Victory was out of the question, even though the home team had brought themselves within striking distance of lightning striking twice.

A target of 306 to win the series seemed out of range. Following the not so unfamiliar collapse, it was stretching it to the limits to expect Gabriel to shoulder the responsibility of saving a test match with the bat.

He was Man of the Match in the Match in West Indies victory in the second test. The final match proved to be all to play for, but West Indies did not appear to want to play for everything.

Captain Jason Holder showed some level of diplomacy when he warded off attacks aimed at Gabriel for what some regard, as a reckless approach at a critical juncture.

Gabriel might have been intimidated or sledged, like what the English players did to Tino Best in England not so long ago.

The Pakistani victory came as a sense of relief, especially so to the elder statesmen — Misbah ulHaq and Younis Khan - of the Pakistani squad.

It was a fitting send off to the most gentlemanly duo. They played genuine and sincere cricket. The atmosphere presented a vivid picture of the Caribbean.

The anti-climax is that the home team could not provide the script ideal for the Dominican sporting public.

The blame cannot be placed on Gabriel. If others before were not able to stem the flow of wickets, it was inevitable that Gabriel would have done likewise.

West Indies ought to be commended for their tenacity. The burden increased with the shortfall from the first innings total.

Having won the second test, there was an opportunity for the squad to make it a habit of winning.

They showed this in that second Test, and fans were anticipating that they would have carried on in Dominica.

There is no excuse that it is a young team and that they need time to learn. Cricket is such that you can be thrust into the deep end without warning.

The selectors have shown their philosophy by exposing the positions to who so ever will. It is sad that Vishal Singh did not acquit himself to the middle order.

His compatriot Shemron Hetmyer may consider himself lucky to be retained. He showed glimpses of brilliance, but he will have to be careful not to be another Carl Hooper.

West Indies should not be feeling too demoralised. Pakistan’s batting was inspired by their legends, and their new players are showing discipline needed to keep up that steadfastness.

Caribbean cricketers have to take responsibility for their own preparation. It is not after having been named that there should be a mad rush to bring oneself into condition.

If Roston Chase can come up with a recipe to counteract the Pakistanis bowlers, the rest of the squad can adopt the same approach.

It is sad that the Darren Bravo episode will taper out like that. It may be a case of Bravo collecting a lump sum from the WICB, then having the liberty of roaming the globe on a T/20 glitz.

Australian cricketers are threatening to strike if arrangements proceed which will see a reduction in their wages.

Unless imaginative compromises are worked out, cricket is likely to witness another upheaval.

How one balances on the rope is the question that will be answered.

by 140 runs, at Buccament.

SCORES: North Leeward 269 for 9 from 35 overs, Michael Joseph hit 50, Bennington Stapleton 53; Kishorne Shallow 3 for 47; Victors Two 140 from 22.2 overs Javon Samuel took 4 for 39.

In another First Division fixture, Belfongo beat Combined Youths by 29 runs. SCROES: Radcliffe gained first innings Belfongo 148 off 29 overs - Oswold points over Team Rivals. Flow Soleyn 32, Nikie Antoine, Geron Radcliffe made 178 from 32.4 overs, with Romano Pierre leading Wyllie, and Javed Cordice 2 wickets each; Combined Youths with 75 followed by Gidron Pope 119 from 24 overs - Nickie with 37. Asif Hooper’s 5 for 30 Antoine 35, ravis Cumberbatch promised some hope for Team Rivals who failed to deliver and took 5 for 14. were bowled out for 147 from 40.2 Unique Warriors beat overs. Richie Richards returned 4 Glomorgan by 6 wickets. for 46 and Delorn Johnson took 3 SCORES: Glamorgan 84 for 8 for 33. Flow Radcliffe reached 82 from 26.1 overs - Parnel Browne 5 for 2 from 14.3 overs in their for 21; Unique Warriors 89 for 4 second knock when play ended, from 12 overs - Bill Edwards 35, leaving Pope on 50 not out.

Jelano Neil 36 not out, Godfrey In the NLA First Division Brewster took 3 for 51.

Sunday League 50 Overs, Providence Electronic Solutions I.BA.ALLEN North Leeward beat Victors Two

Police record win in local cricket POLICE TWO recorded a comfortable innings and 91-run victory over ASCO, in the SVGCA NLA Premier Division Cricket Competition match, played last weekend at Park Hill.

ASCO were undone by Kenneth Dember , 6 for 38, in their first innings, managing only 98 in 26 overs, to which Police Two replied with 258 for 9 from 45.3 overs, Derson Maloney top scoring with 91 and Kevin Abraham getting 32.

Chasing a deficit of 161, ASCO were evem more dismal in their second innings, mustering a mere 60 in 19.4 overs, Darius Martin making ‘mas’ with 6 for 15 and Dember turning in 3 for 36.

At Arnos Vale One, Flow

Swim Coach graduates from ICECP course NATIONAL SWIM coach Kyle Dougan has advanced his standing in the sport, having recently graduated from The International Coaching Enrichment Certification Programme (ICECP).

Kyle was among some 30 coaches from across the globe graduating from the ninth edition of the ICECP: an intensive coaching education programme developed by the United States Olympic Committee, the University of Delaware and the International Olympic Committee.

According to a UANA (Union Americana De Natacion) news article, the programme was aimed “at assisting national-level coaches in developing proficiency in the areas of sport sciences, talent identification, athlete development, safe sport, coaching education, coaching management and grass-roots sport development.”

The intention is for ICECP participants “to return to their countries and serve as coaches within their respective sports, while becoming foundation builders for future coaches and

Kyle Dougan continues to equip himself so as to bring the best in service to the sport of swimming here.

athletes, and spreading Olympic spirit.”

Dougan is a three-time Coach of the Year awardee here, having copped the accolade in 2013, 2014 and 2016.

He is attached as a full time coach with the SVG Amateur Swimming Association.

WI ICC World Cup squad decided THERE’S NO Room for any Vincentian in a 15-member West Indies Female Cricket squad selected for participation in the ICC World Cup, scheduled for June 24 — July 23 in England.

However, the Windward Islands can take pride, for among four newcomers are St. Lucian Quina Joseph, a 16year-old lefthanded Sixteen-year-old Quina Joseph middle order has shown batter and immense promise fast bowler, as a fast bowler and Akeira and useful batter. Peters, a 23-

Akeira Peters year-old leftbrings an handed allallround ability rounder from that perhaps Grenada. belies her age.

The other newcomers are Trinidadians Reniece Boyce, a 19year-old wicketkeeper/batter, and Felicia Walters, a 25-year-old opening batter and part-time spin bowler.

The two Windward Islanders join their captain — right arm leg spinner Afy Fletcher of Grenada - and the two other newcomers, in a squad that also includes: Stafanie Taylor (Captain), Merissa Aguilleira, Shamilia Connell, Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Kyshona Knight, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Shakera Selman and Felicia Walters.

The team will have Ann Browne-John as Team Operations Manager, Vasbert Drakes as Head Coach and Ezra Mosley and Stuart Williams as Assistant Coaches.

ICC World Cup 2017 will be

played on a round-robin Afy Fletcher format was a member involving the of the West world’s eight best teams, and Indies team which will conclude triumphed in with the semifinals at Bristol the 2016 ICC World and Derby on Twenty/20 July 20, before Championships the final at played in India.

Lord’s on July 23.

West Indies open their round of matches against Australia on June 26, and continue as follows, against: India — June 29; South Africa — July 02; New Zealand — July 06; Sri Lanka — July 09; Pakistan — July 11; and England — July 15.

V

26. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Community

ECGC celebrates 40 YEARS with Great Mustique Bake Off

EAST CARIBBEAN Group of Companies (ECGC) is partnering with the Mustique Company as part of the company’s 40th anniversary celebrations, to create, ‘The ECGC 40th Anniversary Great Mustique Bake Off’.

The baking competition will be held on the island of Mustique on May 20th — 21st, 2017. There will be ten (10) participations taking part in the competition, five (5) from mainland St. Vincent and the other five (5) from Mustique.

The participants will prepare a celebratory cake under the theme — ‘It’s an ECGC Mustique Affair’. Participants will also prepare bread using one type of ECGC’s Specialty flour.

The first day of the competition will be

Joanne Layne, Overall Category Winner in the ECGC 2016 Baking Competition, accepts her award from CEO of ECGC, Mr. Osmond Davy. dedicated to baking, while day two will be open to the public to witness live decorating of the cakes.

ECGC thanked the Mustique Company for partnering with them on such a momentous occasion where the company is 40 years stronger.

The CEO of ECGC,

Mr. Osmond Davy, commented that he was excited by the synergies which could be created by having the event on the island of Mustique.

For Davy, the collaboration with the Mustique Company speaks volumes for the company’s motto Excellence through Teamwork!

KFC: More than a Fast Food Restaurant IN PURSUIT of fulfilling its mission to bring hope, cheer and love to communities and individuals across the communities of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, KFC embarked on a special effort to reach out to mothers.

On Saturday 13th of May, the eve of Mother’s Day, KFC management and staff handed out food baskets to a select number of mothers on mainland St. Vincent.

A release from KFC said that the mothers selected were among those facing financial difficulties and/or Mom and son (KFC employee) at the battling health problems, and single Milton Cato Memorial Hospital on mothers.

The gesture, KFC said, was to show Mother’s Day. appreciation to mothers for their lives to bring hope to those disadvantaged and contributions to society. persons in communities across the The KFC Community Outreach is described as on founded one a mission state.

Moms who received gift baskets from KFC last weekend with KFC Store Supervisor Isha Jack (centre) and Project Coordinator Radika Deane (far left).

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017. 27.

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The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

F O R S A L E

FRIDAY,

MAY 19, 2017

VOLUME 111, No.20

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DNA PROFILES MATCH IN 2005 MURDER on the morning of August 13 that year.

An autopsy showed that she was THE TRIAL OF ALI GIBSON, a 39-year-old strangled. man, charged with murder, October 10, Evidence revealed that she was last 2006, on the basis of DNA evidence seen alive around 8:30 the night resulting from analysis done by the before.

United States Federal Bureau of Following Duke’s death, a vaginal Investigations (FBI), was, up to press swab was taken from her body. This time Wednesday, continuing at the High swab together with a pants belonging Court. to Gibson and samples of his blood, as Gibson is charged with murdering well as other samples and items, were Lakeitha Duke, a Diamond resident taken to an FBI laboratory in the at the time of her death, but who was United States. originally from Glen, between August Serilogical and DNA testing were 12 and 13, 2005. done, and the results were received in Duke’s body was 2006.

Murder victim discovered in bushes at FBI analyst Eric Pokorak, who a pasture at Diamond Lakeitha testified on Tuesday via video link, Duke. told the court that a DNA profile obtained from Gibson’s blood matched a DNA profile taken from the vaginal swab of Duke’s body.

Pokorak also stated that a DNA profile obtained from a blood stain on the pants, matched a DNA profile taken from Duke’s saliva.

Up to press time, Pokorak was one of seven prosecution witnesses to have testified. Among the others were Alfred Philmore Allen of Diamond, who told the Court he had a four-year common law relationship with Duke; and Selwyn Jack, a retired Sergeant of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police force (RSVGPF), who was the lead investigator in the case.

Crown Counsel Karim Nelson is leading the case for the prosecution, while attorney Euchrista Bruce-Lyle is representing the accused.

Justice Kathy Ann Latchoo is Created in 1932, the FBI Laboratory is today one of the largest and most presiding over the matter which is comprehensive crime labs in the world, operating out of a state-of-the-art being heard by a 12-member jury. facility in Quantico, Virginia.

by HAYDN HUGGINS

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

Ali Gibson, murder accused, has had to endure a prolonged period of anxiety before his matter was advanced for a full and formal hearing.

Gibson was committed in 2007 to stand trial for Duke’s murder, but the trial was delayed occasioned, THE VINCENTIAN understands, when Nicole Sylvester, Gibson’s attorney at the time, filed a constitutional motion on the grounds that Gibson’s right to a fair trial under the constitution, would be infringed if he was not given the resources to his own DNA analysis.

The motion did not succeed.

That matter was prolonged to an eventual decision in 2014, paving the way for the murder trial to commence.

It started on May 4 this year.

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