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FRIDAY,

DECEMBER 19, 2014

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, has projected another deficit year of operations for this country’s government.

VOLUME 108, No.50

by DAYLE DA SILVA ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES will record another deficit year in government financial operations in 2015.

The Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the 2015 fiscal year was presented to the members of the House yesterday, and indicated that government is expected to spend some EC$971,367,582.

This figure is computed as follows: Current Expenditure of EC$560,798,044; debt amortization and sinking funds amounting to EC$144,219,008; and Capital Expenditure of EC$296,350,530.

According to the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who presented the Estimates, the 2015 budget is being financed through an estimated EC$532,343,200 from Current Revenue and Capital Receipts totalling $439,024,382.

The Recurrent Estimates for 2015, inclusive of amortization and sinking funds, according to Dr.

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

Gonsalves, is $657.017 million, and the Current Account deficit is estimated at $28.5 million.

“This is a decline of $10.7 million, or 27.4 percent over the figure for 2014,” he said.

The budgeted Current Revenue for 2015 is $532.3 million, or a 2.3 percent increase over the 2014 figure.

Gonsalves said it was anticipated that revenue from taxes will contribute a total of $485.6 million; non-tax revenue is expected to contribute $46.8 million; taxes from international trade will yield a total of $207.8 million; and in flows from taxes and income on profits will contribute $123.7 million.

Arnhim Eustace, Leader of the Opposition, questioned some of the figures projected on the revenue side.

Continued on Page 3.

CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR SIR JAMES

SIR JAMES MITCHELL, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines from 1984 to 2000, has received an early 2014 Christmas present.

On Thursday 18th December 2014, the Privy Council ruled in his favour, in a matter of an appeal against a ruling by the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal (St Vincent and the Grenadines), pursuant to findings of a Commission of Inquiry into the failure of the Ottley Hall Development Project, which began in the 1990s under the then Sir James Mitchell-led New Democratic Party (NDP) administration.

The matter before the Privy Council was listed as ‘Mitchell

(Appellant) v Georges (Respondent) St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Case ID: JCPC 2013/0067, Georges being the retired judge, Ephraim Georges, who was appointed the lone Commissioner by Governor General, on the advice of the 1Dr. Ralph Gonsalves-led, Unity Labour Party (ULP) government, in 2003.

The issues in Sir James’ appeal centred upon whether the respondent showed apparent bias in his conduct of the Commission of Inquiry and, inter alia, whether the Report (Interim) prepared by Commissioner Georges ‘was procedurally unfair, because it was produced outside the

respondent’s terms of reference (Clause 13), or otherwise in breach of the rules of natural justice’.

In its ruling, the Justices hearing the appeal, wrote, in conclusion, that “The extracts from the Interim Report ….. strongly support the conclusion that, having regard to the context and all the surrounding circumstances, the fair-minded observer would conclude that there is a real possibility that the respondent had made up his mind by the date of the Interim Report that the appellant was at the heart of the wrongdoing which led to the Project and its collapse and would not be willing to

change his mind, so that his final report would not be impartial.”

That said, the Justices also concluded and advised that “the appeal should be allowed,” and that the “parties should make written submissions on the appropriate form of order and on costs within 21 days of this judgment being handed down.”

More exacting, the ruling stated, “..in addition to an order that the appeal be allowed, the only other order which it would be appropriate to make (apart from costs) is a direction that the respondent should take no further part in the Commission.”

Sir James Mitchell has had the last laugh as far as the Ottley Hall Commission of Inquiry is concerned.

Continued on Page 3.

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2. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Baldwin Johnney (right) -Administrative Officer-GECCU Georgetown branch, hands over a food box to a member.

GECCU Social Development Fund in full swing IN 2003, at its 37th passed a resolution to Annual General Meeting, establish a Social the membership of GECCU Development Fund.

The primary objective set then was to have the facility provide assistance to GECCU members, ‘who lack the financial resources to recover from an emergency such as fire, earthquake, hurricane or serious illness.

The 37th AGM also agreed that the Fund would be capitalized, in an ongoing manner, by a monthly contribution of $20.00 from each member.

Since its inception, the Fund, which is managed by the Social Development Fund Committee, has assisted hundreds of GECCU members during their time of need.

Chairman of the Committee, Michael Da Silva, says “By contributing to the Fund, each member is able to be his brother’s keeper, in a very tangible way.

This is quite evident in our response in the

aftermath of Hurricane Tomas, the Christmas Eve 2013 floods, and in providing medical assistance to our members.”

In 2014, the SDF Committee partnered with the 50th Anniversary Committee to assist in the distribution of 100 food boxes to GECCU members across St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

In June, members of the committee journeyed to Bequia and Union Island to distribute the first fifty boxes. The remaining boxes were distributed on the mainland, on November 28 and December 5, at the NIS Golden Years Centres at Black Point and Cane Grove respectively.

These activities formed part of GECCU’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations which ran throughout 2014, under the theme ‘Proud of the Past….Prepared for the Future’.

Camilla Mandeville (left) - hands over a food box to a member in Bequia.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 3.

News 3

No salary increases, bonuses for public servants

THERE WILL BE NO SALARY increases for 2015, and no end of year (2014) bonuses for public servants here.

The Public Service Union (PSU) reported this in a news release dated December 6, 2014.

According to the release, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, intimated this position during a meeting, December 11, he held with representatives of Trade Unions, to discuss certain

aspects of the 2015-2016 Budget estimates.

The release stated that the Prime Minister, in making a presentation with respect to maintaining employment for all public officers, awarding of scholarships and other opportunities for young persons and some Public Officers, and continued Public assistance to the elderly and indigent poor, informed that “the present economic and fiscal situation does not allow

for any salary increase or the payment of any end of year bonu”.

In lieu of salary increases for 2015, the PSU disclosed that it and the St Vincent Union of Teachers, put forward a proposal for compensation, a one off payment, to Public Officers and Teachers. This proposal is expected to be refined for resubmission to government.

The release also stated that the Public Service Union had

Public Servants here will have to live with frozen salaries for another year. raised the issue of government’s failure to negotiate the collective agreement, previously submitted on behalf of public servants, and were given the assurance from the Prime Minister and the Director General of Finance and

Planning, that this agreement will be negotiated early in 2015.

The Union is expected to convene a meeting of its members to update them on the discussions held with the Prime Minister/Minister of Finance.

Another deficit year projected Christmas gift for Sir accounted for by t provisions for 56 new positions and an Revenue from domestic increase of $400,000 in goods and transactions is allowances. expected to contribute The figure budgeted for $119.2 million to the Central retiring benefits in 2015 is Government, Gonsalves said, $57.9 million, an increase and licences will contribute over 2014. Other transfer $29.9 million to the payments are estimated at Consolidated Fund. $102.5 million.

Non-tax revenue is The public debt as of expected to produce a September 30th this year, reduced revenue flow in according to the prime 2015, and dividends will minister, amounted to decline by $2.5 million.

EC$1.5 billion inclusive of Recurrent Expenditure domestic debt ($631.2 amounts to $675 million, million) and the external registering another deficit debt ($882.7 million). year, and an increase of $9.5 Expenditure on goods and million over the approved services is also expected to figure for 2014. increase, according to It comprises $560.8 Gonsalves, amounting to million (Recurrent $73.2 million.

Expenditure) plus amortization and sinking Opposition Leader funds $101.5 million and responds $12.7 million, totalling $675 million.

In his response, Leader of The prime minister the Opposition again outlined how this money was addressed the issue of the to be spent, saying that cash deficit. $274.5 million is allocated to “Sometimes, you know, I wages and salaries; NIS and wonder whether it is worth pensions - $57.9 million; the while to discuss these other transfers - $102.5 Estimates,” Eustace said. million; debt service - $166.9 He said that whenever million and goods and there was a cash deficit, services -$73.2 million. important projects under The total wage bill capital programmes are increased by $3.1 million, usually cut back.

Continued from Page 1.

“We have spoken about this several times, and we need to have achievable targets in terms of our revenue,” Eustace advised.

He said that he was of the opinion that some of the figures presented to the parliament on the revenue side were not achievable.

“We need to be presenting something that is real, but we don’t get that,” he continued.

He further commented on wages and salaries, saying that ,based on the figures, it was evident that 2015 was the fourth year when there was a wage freeze for civil servants.

Eustace said that he was reminded when he was prime minister and minister of finance and he negotiated for a 12 percent increase in salary for public sector workers, he was ridiculed by the then opposition, who said that the figure should have been 30 percent.

“But if I had gone (there), what would have happened?

Freezing would have taken place a long time ago,” Eustace reasoned.

“Just think about it; we would have been far worse off today if we went for the 30 percent increase.”

James Continued from Front Page.

Prior to his departure for The UK for the hearing of the appeal, which began on November 17, 2014, Sir James had told THE VINCENTIAN, that his previous appeals had gone through all the Caribbean Courts, however, he and his lawyers maintained the view that the judgment was biased.

“They wrote a report, they never heard or interviewed me but made a judgment without having Will Minister of Finance Dr. ralph heard me,” Sir James said Gonslaves have to table a then.

Supplementary Appropriation Bill Sir James was granted to ensure compensation for Sir leave for judicial review in James? relation to the statements made in the report, but the prejudice, prompting Sir James judge, hearing the matter, held to pursue redress at the Privy that a fair-minded observer Council which remains this would not conclude from the country’s highest Court of contents of the report that there Appeal. was a real possibility of bias.

The way has now been The application was dismissed. cleared for Sir James to recoup The Eastern Caribbean Court all or part thereof of the half a of Appeal subsequently million united states dollars, dismissed Sir James’ appeal and which he purported to have held that the test was whether spent on untangling his name the Commissioner had closed from the web of the Ottley Hall his mind and demonstrated Commission of Inquiry. irreversible prejudgment and

V „Jail not easy,‰ convicted killer warns 4. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

“keep themselves from trouble because jail is not an easy place.”

A 24-YEAR-OLD MAN who was Raphel ‘Butter bread’ John this week sentenced to nine years in prison for manslaughter, was speaking to THE is appealing to young people to VINCENTIAN on Monday, as he was being escorted to Her Majestry’s Prison just after receiving the sentence at the Criminal Assizes, for unlawfully causing the death of Ashley Warren, 29-year-old fruit vendor of Largo Height, on January 22, 2009 at Long Wall, Kingstown.

John, who resided at Long Wall at the time of the incident, would serve six and a half years behind bars, as the court took into account the two years and six months he had spent in prison on remand. He would also receive counselling while in prison.

John was originally charged with murder, but on November 21 this year, at the Criminal Assizes, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

The prosecution accepted the plea. The matter was adjourned pending a Social Inquiry Report on him.

John, 19 at the time of the incident, had 12 previous convictions for damage to property, possession of controlled drugs with intent to Raphael John will serve another six and a half years behind bars. supply, burglary, theft, and

possession of offensive weapons. His first clash with the law was in 2002 when he was 12 years old.

John described prison as a “dog eat dog” place.

“Life is a cycle, and I want to change my life. …. I am advising the youths them to keep themselves from trouble because jail is not an easy place”, John told THE VINCENTIAN. He promised to heed justice Kathy Ann Latchoo’s advice to use the time in prison for positive reflection.

His lawyer, Ronald Marks, had told the court, in mitigation, that his client had a difficult childhood.

Justice Latchoo told the youngster, “When you are released from prison, you could use your difficult childhood experience to help others.

“You have expressed remorse, and the court hopes that those feelings of remorse remain with you, and you will be less likely to commit violent acts”.

The facts revealed that on the date in question, John along with brothers Colin David and Junior David, both of Long Wall, planned to rob Warren. They invited him to a particular place at Long Wall, saying they had a gun for sale.

John led the way through a track. On arrival, Junior pointed a gun at Warren and

said that that by itself was not a mitigating factor, but it could assist in assessing whether the accused was a good candidate for reform.

“The guidance of the supreme court is that a term of 15 years should be a starting point, and the early Preface to sentencing guilty plea should attract a one third reduction in Justice Latchoo, in passing sentence”, Latchoo explained sentence, said, the court must before arriving at the ninehave regard to the sentencing year sentence. principles outlined in several Crown counsel Tamika cases, and must balance the McKenzie appeared for the mitigating and aggravating prosecution at the sentencing factors. She noted that the hearing. aggravating factor in this case John was initially charged was that a firearm was along with the David brothers, involved, and the court had to but the charge against him note the prevalence of was withdrawn in April 2009 firearms. “The taking of a life and he was made a key is an extremely serious witness for the prosecution. offence,” she stressed. She Junior was acquitted at the noted that John had several previous convictions, but none Preliminary Inquiry (PI) and the prosecution offered no of them were of a similar further evidence against Colin nature.

The Judge pointed out that at the trial on November 22, 2012 after John did not testify. the mitigating factors were However, John was reJohn’s early guilty plea and arrested on November 26, his youth at the time of the 2012 and recharged in offence. “Youth has to be connection with the matter. balanced against the seriousness of the offence,” she Junior David was shot and contended. She also noted that killed inside a popular John expressed remorse, and business place in Kingstown, that a Social Inquiry Report during an encounter with the concluded that he should be a police some years ago. good candidate for reform and Manslaughter carries a rehabilitation. maximum penalty of life In terms of his difficult imprisonment. childhood, Justice Latchoo

demanded money. Warren failed to come up with the cash, and Junior shot him.

In mitigation, Marks asked the court to consider the fact that it was not John, who pulled the trigger, and that he did not mastermind the crime.

Eustace sued by former secretary

BY TODAY (Friday), Opposition Leader and President of the New Democratic Party, Arnhim Eustace, was expected to be sued by his former secretary, Rishatha Nichols, for alleged defamation of character.

At press time Wednesday, the law firm of Marks and Marks was making final preparations for filing the claim form in the High Court.

Nichols claims that Eustace made defamatory remarks in relation to her when on April 23rd and 24th 2014, he called in to the popular radio programme AM Mayhem, aired on Hot FM, and hosted by Christopher ‘2 Kool Chris’ Jones.

She claims that on

April 23, during the conversation with Jones, Eustace stated that he had paid her severance pay, as ordered by the Appeals Tribunal of the Department of Labour, adding, “the New Democratic Party (NDP) administration will have no tolerance for corruption and petty theft.”

She also claims that on April 24, Eustace stated, during another call to the same programme, “Look, what happen is that she took money that she should not have taken, many times.”

In two letters to Eustace, both dated November 12, 2014, the law firm demanded, on Nichol’s behalf, that Eustace issue public apologies on the same

programme, and in the local newspapers for the statements made; that he fully retract the statements and publicly admit that they are untrue. The retraction can be included in the public apologies or published separately, on the said radio programme and in the local newspapers.

The law firm had also demanded that Eustace give a written undertaking to Nichols that he would not publish these statements or any other defamatory statements against her, and that compensation be paid to Nichols in an amount to be agreed upon by their chambers.

The letters stated that “failure to meet any of these demands within seven days hereof would

result in legal proceedings against you (Eustace) in the High Court of Justice”.

Attorney Ronald Marks of the law firm, told THE VINCENTIAN on Wednesday that “Mr. Eustace did not respond to the letters and our client has instructed us to bring legal action against him.”

Marks said that Nichols instructed the law firm not to bring legal action against Hot FM. When contacted, Eustace told THE VINCENTIAN, “I am not getting into that, my lawyers are dealing with it.”

One of the letters by the law firm to Eustace stated, “Our instructions are that our client was employed as your

secretary from 1st August 2001 to the 28 March, 2014. In a letter issued on the latter date, you summarily and wrongfully dismissed Mrs. Nichols from her job. She pursued her rights by bringing you before the Hearing of the Department of Labour.

The Hearing Officer found that Mrs. Nichols was in fact unfairly terminated from her job by you. That finding was appealed upon your instructions to the Appeals Tribunal of the Department of Labour.

In a written decision dated 14 March 2014, all three members of the Tribunal confirmed the decision of the Hearing Officer and agreed that you acted unfairly in dismissing our client,

The matter involving Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eusatce and his former secretary has taken a new turn. and ordered that she be compensated in the sum of sixteen thousand, one hundred and ninety-nine dollars and ninety-nine cents ($16,199.99).”

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 5.

Regional

Dominica opposition cries foul

bribery, and fraudulent manipulation of voter qualification ensured victory for the DLP. He considered it odd that the Commission did absolutely nothing in this regard, despite strong advocacy.

Linton disclosed that his party was in discussion with its lawyers to determine the feasibility of filing relevant petitions.

He cautioned, though, that, while the party was aware of certain misdemeanours, it must be able to build a compelling case of bribery and The OAS registered concern that there were 72,484 registered voters, while the country’s illegal interference for the court. population was 71,293, according to the 2011 census.

Against this backdrop, the former Radio Talk Show host cum Leader of irregularities. The UWP also being distributed on the morning of Lennox Linton, Leader of the the Opposition called on Prime condemned a reported $30 million elections in the vicinity of polling Minister Roosevelt Skerrit to give a Opposition UWP, has said that victory which it said was used in the DLP’s stations. clearly defined timeline, for electoral in the December 8, 2014 general campaign, describing it as “lavish.”

The UWP leader also referred to reform. Linton promised that the UWP elections in Dominica was stolen.

Linton accused the DLP of bribery overseas voters who were brought to of the electorate, funded by the public Dominica illegally, to vote for the DLP, will make this an important item on its parliamentary representation THE GENERAL ELECTIONS in Dominica, purse, referring to construction and who heavily weighed the election December 8, 2014, returned the materials being distributed around the results in favour of that party. He said agenda.

The UWP has 21 days from the date Dominica Labour Party (DLP) to island up to the morning of the the party can identify at least six seats of the election to file a petition. government, but newly elected Leader of elections, and reports of envelopes where the impact of overseas votes, the Opposition, Lennox Linton, is not taking his party’s (United Workers Party – UWP) defeat lightly.

According to a report carried by Caribbean News Now, Linton said, in a radio broadcast on Wednesday 10th THE FIFTH CARICOM-Cuba summit the summit, referred to Cuba’s December, that his party is was held in Havana, Cuba, on Monday ongoing assistance to most of the considering its options in the wake of December 8 and concluded with the region, in the areas of health care the December 8 elections, which he declaration of La Habana. (doctors and nurses), education declared to be stolen.

The summit reaffirmed solidarity (scholarships), human resource He promised that the UWP will among those small developing (technical assistance).

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves (left make an appropriate decision on the countries, citing cooperation and CARICOM recognized this way forward, and assured that it will front row) among CARICOM leaders and integration as the pillars on which to invaluable assistance and also, not President Raul Castro (centre front row). employ a disciplined, methodical build effective ways to face up to the unlike many developed countries approach toward finding the right economic, political and environmental across the globe, commended Cuba with China, solutions. for its contribution (medical personnel) Libya, The UWP won six of the 21 seats in challenges which confront them.

Much of what transpired at the to the fight against Ebola in Africa.

Vietnam, Iraq, Parliament in the December 8 general summit, according to independent The summit also examined ways and North elections. This followed a campaign in reports, focused on the theme of and means of improving trade.

Korea. which the UWP alledged widespread cooperation which, in the context of And as it has done on the four And while bribery and other electoral occasions the summit there were has been convened, discussions on heads of governments other issues of issued another mutual condemnation of the interest, serves 10 countries.

US embargo, and reports are Its mission is to called for its unclear as to empower and equip immediate whether the communities with dismantling as the summit necessary resources, region has done from addressed the Cuba’s President and improve their the early 1970s when issue of Raul Castro access to basic diplomatic relations PetroCaribe addressing the public services. were established in and the “Regionally, more Barbados, Guyana, implications the opening of the fifth Students in the Toledo District of Belize CARICOM-Cuba than US$300 million Trinidad and Tobago, decline in oil This school in Dominica was now have access to Vocational summit. has been spent to and Jamaica. prices might refurbished with funds from Education, thanks to the CDB-BNTF. date on projects The heads have on that the CDB-BNTF. human resource development; which have benefitted more reiterated that the arrangement, given that Venezuela, than 2.6 million people living water and sanitation; basic “embargo has failed,” the benefactor, could be hard-pressed THE NEXT ROUND of the in the poorest communities in community access and and that it is an to continue its level of assistance.

Basic Needs Trust Fund drainage enhancement in low- these countries,” the CDB said. anachronism, because (Source: Regional News) (BNTF) — funded by the income, vulnerable (Source: CDB) the US has relations Caribbean Development Bank communities.

(CDB) — will target at least “There has also been a eight Caribbean territories. progressive shift from a The CDB announced last focus on infrastructure week that it has approved development managed by THIRTY FORMER indicated that they do not Allan Stanford US10 millions for BNTF 8, central government to EMPLOYEES of the disgraced have money to pay former was sentenced to that will be used in Dominica, community managed suband currently incarcerated workers.

Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, projects. Increased 110 years on June Allan Stanford claim that they “We can’t make a Montserrat, St Kitts-Nevis, St investments have been 14, 2012, by a are owed some EC$20 million payment out of an Lucia, St Vincent and the made to improve basic District Judge in insolvent estate until Grenadines and the Turks and infrastructure and services in salaries and severance Houston, USA, payments. there is money with which after being found Caicos Islands. and increase the potential And as their patience runs to pay them,” Wide said The governments of the for economic activity guilty of running thin, the workers took to the during an interview. recipient countries are through skills training, a $7 billion Ponzi pavement outside the office of The former workers expected to provide capacity building and scheme. the liquidator of the Stanford’s have been agitating for counterpart funding of institutional development estate, to voice their claim. severance and US$546,000 under this round support,” the CDB said.

But workers contend that However, according to the outstanding salaries for the of the BNTF. The BNTF programme, properties owned by the Daily Observer, Marcus Wide of past five years. They will have disgraced financier are being The CDB said that the which began in 1979, is a Grant Thornton, one of the to wait a while longer before emphasis of this round of grant-funded poverty sold and nothing is forthcoming liquidators of the Stanford payment is realized, if ever it funding will be ‘improved reduction programme to former workers. (Source: Development Company, is. access to quality education; managed by CDB which Daily Observer, Antigua.)

CARICOM-Cuba meet

CDB approves fund for BNTF 8

Stanford workers want their money

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 7.

Christmas Feature

Hope, Faith, Love indigent were plunged into a desperate condition of desolation.

Roads, bridges, river defences, the water system, the electricity infrastructure, and AT EVERY CHRISTMAS forests were severely season since I have been battered and, in some Prime Minister, I urge all cases, collapsed into of us to be good destruction. The neighbourly, and to display economy was adversely in practice the human affected in an virtues, embedded in all extraordinary way. The universal spiritual official estimates of teachings including damage and loss suffered Christianity, of hope, faith, by the country was a and love. whopping EC $330 We remember million or roughly 17 solemnly, and joyously, percent of the Gross our ongoing Domestic Product (GDP) reaffirmation that our of St. Vincent and the nation is founded on the Grenadines. belief in the supremacy This Christmas Eve of God and the freedom disaster of 2013 was part and dignity of man. and parcel of climatic We remember, too, change occasioning four that one year ago when other devastating, natural disaster struck, unusual weather events: twelve of our citizens lost Hurricane Tomas of their lives, including my October 2010; the floods cousin Raymond from of April 2011; and the Byera. Hundreds of two prolonged droughts others had their houses of early 2010 and 2014. destroyed or damaged at In the aggregate, all the levels ranging from natural disasters from severe to moderate. In 2010 onwards caused three hours of torrential damage and loss in rainfall, vulnerable excess of EC $600 million families became poor; the or some one-third of our poor descended into country’s GDP. indigence; and the Since the Christmas MESSAGE BY DR. THE HON. RALPH E. GONSALVES PRIME MINISTER OF ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

Eve disaster of 2013, and the extensive drought of early 2014, our nation has returned to normalcy. The resilience and productive work of our people, the active policies and strategic interventions by our government, the material assistance and practical solidarity which friendly nations overseas have rendered to us, and the abundant blessings from Almighty God, have all together restored us to an acceptable level of living, despite continuing challenges. We ought to feel satisfied, though not complacent, about our achievements and the prospects for further upliftment.

Within the next twelve or so months, there will be a general election to determine who should govern our nation over the following several years up to the year 2020. I rely, as always, on the good sense of our people to re-elect a Unity Labour Party (ULP) government. We have, since 2001, a highly commendable track record of accomplishments in a vast array of areas,

including: Poverty reduction, job and wealth creation, education and health, housing and infrastructural development, information technology and airport development (Canouan and Argyle), water and electricity, sports and culture, citizen security and justice, good governance and sound fiscal management of prudence and enterprise, regional integration and foreign policy. These achievements we have chalked up in the most difficult circumstances of a global economic crisis, debilitating natural disasters, and homegrown criminal activities by a tiny minority of persons.

Still, there is much more to be done and unfinished tasks to be completed. So, with a fourth-term ULP government in place, I expect by Christmas 2020, a further consolidation, expansion and deepening of the gains of the period since 2001. I reasonably anticipate, too, that by 2020, the Argyle International Airport

would be in its full bloom of functioning after five years of productive, highquality operation; the modern city of Arnos Vale would be in the throes of construction; the geothermal energy initiative would be producing at least one-half of Dr. Hon. Ralph Gonsalves our nation’s peak-demand for have hope for our energy at a cost individual and collective reduction to the salvation and consumer of between redemption. Our faith one-quarter and onemust be steadfast and third; a modern, made complete in deeds; relocated seaport would words alone will not be completed or nearing suffice. Our love for each completion; our job and other must be enduring wealth creation would be as all children of God. markedly enhanced; and At Christmas 2014, I our people’s all-round pray for us as a nation. I quality of life would be reaffirm my adoration for substantially improved.

Almighty God; I confess These further my sins, my trespasses achievements are within and seek His forgiveness; our grasp if we continue I thank Him for His to embrace the sensible abundant blessings and effective leadership which He has delivered of our government and if unto us; and I pledge our we lift the level of our continued supplication to productive efforts at the Him. individual and collective At Christmas 2014, we levels. As a nation, we remember and pray for have coalesced the sick, those who are in overwhelmingly around a distress, the poor and wise people-centred disadvantaged. We ask vision, a social Jesus Christ, on this democratic philosophy Christmas celebration of applied to our particular His Birth, to help those circumstances, a wellwho have strayed to articulated framework to return to His light and construct a modern and path, and for the lawcompetitive economy in breakers to turn away the people’s interest, a from crime and violence. social-cultural rubric for In practical terms, at the further ennoblement Christmas 2014, each of of our Caribbean us who is in a position to civilisation and its assist, should help a magnificent Vincentian needy brother, sister, or component, an uplifting neighbour. Let regional and moderation in consuming international solidarity, and a bundle of practical food and drink be our policies and programmes watchword. Let us stand askance from harmful reflecting these excesses at Christmas principles, philosophy, 2014. and ideals.

On behalf of the At Christmas 2014, Government, and on my individually and as a own behalf, and that of nation, we must reaffirm in practice the virtues of my immediate family, I wish all Vincentians a hope, faith, and love bequeathed to us by our happy, joyous Christmas 2014, and a New Year of Lord and Saviour Jesus a better life and living.

Christ directly, and We embrace Christmas through the message of 2014 and the New Year the Apostle Paul in his 2015 with hope, faith Letter to the and love!

Corinthians. We must

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8. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Editorial

Celebrating the birthday of the Christ Child HOW OFTEN have we heard, and repeated the words, “Jesus is the reason for Christmas”?

Some proclaim the expression with profound Christian conviction, while others seem to use it when it appears convenient, and the politically correct thing so to do.

If the truth be told, today’s world stacks challenging odds against the effort to ensure that Jesus is included in our Christmas celebrations.

But we endure.

The word Christmas is said to be derived from the Old English Cristes maesse, which means Christ’s mass.

In today’s world, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, it should not be alarming if, given a propensity for litigation and the use of the court process to wring apologies and more for disorderly conduct, on the basis of the fore-mentioned derivative (Cristes maesse), that someone sues some company for listing on its calendar, December 25 as the birthday of Jesus Christ.

But that might just be too ridiculous to even speculate.

Thank God that Christmas has not yet thrown up the extent of controversy here that it has in many other open, liberal societies.

But the age-old question/speculation about the birthday of Jesus Christ will linger as long as we celebrate December 25 as the birthday of the Christ Child.

Speculation as to the time of Jesus’ birth dates back to the 3rd century, when Hyppolytus (ca. 170-236) claimed that Jesus was born on December 25.

The earliest mention of some sort of observance/celebration on that day dates back to the Philoclian Calendar, representing Roman practice, of the year 336.

Later, John Chrysostom (349 — 407), Archbishop of Constantinople, favoured the same date of birth. Cyril of Jerusalem (348-386) had access to the original Roman birth census, which also documented that Jesus was born on the 25th of December.

The date, some people say, is immersed in paganism; that it eventually became the officially recognized date for Christmas, because it coincided with the Roman pagan festivals celebrating Saturnalia, a week-long period of lawlessness celebrated from December 17-25.

In designating December 25 as the birthday of Jesus, the Christian church offered people a (Christian) alternative to the pagan festivities, and eventually reinterpreted many of their symbols and actions in ways acceptable to Christian faith and practice.

December 25 has become more and more acceptable as the birth date of Jesus. However, some argue that the birth occurred in some other season, not the winter; that it would have been too cold for ‘shepherds to be watching their flocks by night’. Historical evidence shows otherwise, i.e. that unblemished lambs for the Temple sacrifice were in fact kept in the fields near Bethlehem during the winter months.

The truth is, we simply don’t know the exact date of our Saviour’s birth. But one thing is clear: if God felt it was important for us to know the exact date of the Saviour’s birth, He certainly would have told us in His Word.

The Gospel of Luke gives very specific details about the event, even down to what the baby was wearing — “swaddling clothes”–and where he slept–“in a manger” (Luke 2:12). These details are important because they speak of His nature and character, meek and lowly. And that is the significance of the Christ who came into the world to atone for our sins and was resurrected to eternal life, not the exact date of His birth.

The fact is that He was born; that is what we celebrate.

So this year, like on so many Christmases before, our homes will be adorned with Christmas trees, lights, Christmas wreaths, new curtains and what have you. Many will send out Christmas cards and sing Christmas carols (yes we still do).

Most importantly, Vincentians will want to demonstrate, regardless of how long lasting, that we believe in the Christmas story told in the Bible in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

And if that offends some people, then we don’t expect that they will drop by for a drink of punch de crème and a slice of black cake.

Bridge over troubled waters WE ARE NOW into Christmas, traditionally the period of peace on the earth and good-will to all men.

SVG is reputably a Christian nation, a virtue which has been written into the preamble of our constitution. It behoves us to keep it that way, notwithstanding the provocations, temptations and irritations that the flesh is heir to.

That does not mean that we shall break away at the end of the period and make up, as it were, for our enforced passivity during Christmas time.

Rather, we should try and strive to lengthen the period to embrace our whole lives ideally, although as human beings, such aspiration appears to be unduly high. But, we can at least give it a try and see what happens, how things pan out.

Our country is in the throes of a partypolitical division. We will not here analyse as to how we got to this point. What we must acknowledge, however, is that it is at its lowest ebb ever; that individualism is running riot; that the gap between rich and poor is widening and deepening; that there is now no sense of a bond of unity, with each man an island unto himself.

We must use the inception of a New Year as a convenient time for a national resolution that we must do better; we must at any rate inculcate a sense of community, a spirit of togetherness, a bond of fellowship as we stop worshiping at the Kingdom of self, which somehow reigned supreme over the last two decades or so.

We need to come clean and throw this incubus off our backs, without overthrowing any institution, simply revolutionizing same. 2015 is a new year, let us really welcome it with a new and refreshing approach to a positive and Godly life. We have the means to accomplish this goal. And all the signs tell us, that we are getting there, despite the many hurdles which constantly dance before our eyes. We can least afford to be dazzled, or be derailed, or bought off. We need to show strength, resilience, consistency and a belief in the collective self. And the goal is ours to be maintained by un-ending humility and divine guidance.

One day, one day, one Conquer Day.

alone stood among the political leadership of showing measured maturity and calm responsibility in holding that we should await the findings of the police investigative team of “experts” and not jump to hasty conclusions.

Other leaders, like the Prime Minister and Julian Francis, had ruled that it was an accident, pure and simple, within 24 hours of the occurrence. The publication of those remarks, issued from “on high” was most unhelpful, in that it added fuel to fire among those who saw it as a signal to the investigating team.

Now that the team has reported that it was largely an accident, certainly they unearthed no evidence of a planned attack, there still remains many unanswered questions left hanging: if it is true, as several attendees at the meeting attested, that the car in question had made two rounds, driven slowly, around the meeting before the crash, what was the purpose of their scouting about?

Suffice it to say that there will be doubts left hanging about, that will only be solved, if at all, by a General Election that returns an NDP Government.

Meanwhile, we must try and keep that bridge firm and not let things get out-ofhand.

I myself try in many ways to constitute that bridge. Take for instance, the current “national crisis”. The Supt. of Police, in charge of traffic, happens to be my friend, by virtue of his bearing my own names “Kenneth John”.

We met when I was sent a claim, meant for him, for performing duties in the Peace Keeping Force in Grenada 1983 after the counter-revolution; we became comrades (with a capital “c”).

Later, when Ralph transferred him to do duty as the Prime Minister’s out-rider, I realised he was a favourite of the real Comrade.

So I joked with him, saying Ralph had favoured him only for his name “Kenneth John” , as it pleased him to note that a Kenneth John routinely cleared the path of his Prime Ministerial entourage.

Then Kenneth John made rapid progress in being made head of the Traffic Department above my real friend, the deserving Bertram Cumberbatch who The Clare Valley Disaster went into retirement.

It is not the first time that Kenneth We recently suffered a man-made John finds himself in the hot seat. But he disaster at an NDP political meeting at is comforted that in this situation, he is Clare Valley, which was variously assured of the support of his boss whom attributed, according to the broad political he loyally adores. spectrum and deep party loyalties, from Merry Christmas to Ralph and outright murder to innocent accident.

Kenneth. I am unsure of prosperity in the In the first round, Arnhim Eustace New Year when Elections may take place.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 9.

Letters

Too many senseless killings

IT WILL TRULY be amiss of us if we fail to mention the late Ewart ‘ELLS’ King, who was brutally killed in a place that was supposed to be his haven, on December 4, 2011.

In the three long years that have passed, no meaningful investigation has ever been done, in an attempt to bring his perpetrators to justice.

‘ELLS’ was an innocent man; innocent since he was not convicted in the courts of the land for any wrongdoing up to the time of his death. He is gone, yet the heartless monster(s) is(are) still living it

up, as it were, managing to fool a good cross-section of the Vincentian public into believing that they are all ‘law abiding citizens’, ‘all honourable men’.

I am no law person, but I know enough to know that a crime scene can never be the same, once it is allowed to be tampered with. Yet, this was exactly what was alledgedly allowed to happen on December 4, 2011. This was a good indication that nothing would have transpired after.

‘ELLS’ suffered so greatly, it is even hard to imagine. One can’t help wondering why some

humans could be so heartless.

At times, we accidentally bite out tongues or we experience a ‘pull muscle’, and for those brief moments the pain is annoying.

‘ELLS’ was hammered repeatedly until he expired.

Many humans by their actions show that they are no different from some ferocious animals. Some destroy others verbally. Others do so by actually killing them. What they fail to note, though, is that their deeds return to haunt them, if their hearts and consciences are not too seared to avoid this.

I must reiterate that ‘ELLS’ suffered tremendously; his perpetrators could never give a valid reason for their cruelties.

This land is plagued with too much senseless killings that go unnoticed. Persons who are making worthwhile contributions are snuffed out for no reasons.

But, someone cares, and He is always watching from a distance. Yes, God is watching from a distance.

Saddened

Bring back the hangman In support of TIME AND TIME again I hear, especially from our Prime Minister, how hanging remains on the books. My question is: If hanging remains on our law books, how come we haven’t used it, and people continue to commit the most gruesome murders here? Are we not an Independent Country? Why must we continue to have some court of old men in England telling us what to do?

Look at our situation. For the year so far, we have had 37 murders. It is like some people taking this murder business to make fun. Somebody should be made to pay for all this crime.

Somebody need to be hanged so that an example can be set.

Politicians need to stop their pussy-footing on this issue and do the right thing.

I know this sounds gruesome, especially at this Christmas season; but we need to do something before something do us.

Bring back the hangman before all of us find ourselves as prisoners in our own homes. It looks like the situation must get worse before we do something.

Name withheld on request

Integrity Legislation LAST WEEK’S letter from Basil on the issue of corruption caught my interest.

There is no doubt in my mind that this little country of ours has had its fair share of acts that are clearly acts of corruption or not so far away from being considered as such. As much as I say that, I want to be one of the first to declare that people in this country are, in the main, decent, hard-working citizens, who pay their taxes

and abide by the law. People generally get what they get through honest means.

But, unfortunately, there are a small number of people, the bad eggs, who take advantage of the systems and advance themselves through ill-gotten means.

The upsetting thing is that we tolerate this minority, whose deeds reflect badly on all of us, opening us to the outside world who tend think that all Vincentians are for sale.

Government must take the

lead and stamp out any acts of corruption or practices that encourage these acts. And those elected to serve us must be the first to stand for what is honest and upright. That is why I support ‘Basil’ in his call for Integrity Legislation.

The fact that this government has reneged on its promise to introduce Integrity Legislation leads me to ask: Is there something they are afraid of?

Thomas

Christmas, the birth of the SON or the SUN? Congrats to Emma O’Neal THE EARLY Apostolic Assembly began zealously to witness the truth of the Messiah’s advent to the world. They took the message into the far reaches of the known world. Especially outstanding was the Apostle Paul, who accomplished much through his extensive travel, preaching throughout the Roman Empire.

But, a very strange thing took place. Ancient ethnic peoples could not maintain sound doctrine. The pagan people appropriated the account of the supernatural person of Yahweh’s true Messiah, and superimposed His life upon their pagan customs and practices.

Worldly people prefer their traditional pagan practices, but at the same time, they want salvation as well.

With unreasoned abandon, the people of the western world, which includes our country St Vincent and the Grenadines, spend lavishly for gifts and ‘goodies’ which, very often, they cannot afford.

They indulge in parties featuring alcoholic beverages.

They feast on a variety of seasonal delicacies. All of these traditional practices are done in the name of celebrating the birthday of

the One they profess to be their King.

However, the reverse is true. Through false doctrine, the Messiah becomes subservient to their own human concepts. Would Yahshua the Messiah approve of such loose conduct to celebrate His birth?

Obviously not! Does the Bible support the celebration of Christmas? Certainly not!

Actually, the diligent Bible student already knows that nowhere within the pages of our Bible can you ever find any commandment to observe a birthday, especially that of the Messiah. As a matter of fact, three times, birthdays are mentioned in the Bible, and on each of these occasions a violent death occurred.

Please verify this from Genesis 40: 9-22, Job 1: 4 & 19 and Matthew 14: 3-12.

The celebration of birthdays was unknown in primitive Judaism, so it is certain that Yahshua never celebrated His birthday.

Apparently, Almighty Yahweh did not wish it to be observed, and consequently, we can readily understand the reason for omitting mention of a specific day in the scriptures.

Did you know that it was

over 200 years after the birth of the Messiah before anyone ever fixed December 25 as His birthday? Apparently the first one to set the date of December 25 for the Saviour’s birth was Julius Sextus Africanus, a historian of Alexandria, Egypt, who composed a chronicle of events of the world to 221 C.E. Did you notice that date?

It took historians two and a quarter centuries after the Messiah’s birth to decide upon the date of December 25 as His birth.

December 25 is not the birthday of Yahshua; but this date is closely tied to ancient pagan worship of the SUN (winter solstice), and it is also linked to the ancient Roman festivals of the Saturnalia and the Mithraic Feast of the Sun God. It is from these idolatrous festivals that most of the traditions of Christmas were derived. So, should we continue to celebrate Christmas? I think not!

Return to the pure worship of Yahweh by keeping His commandments and not the pagan traditions of men (Matthew 15: 7-9).

Ulrick Sutherland Assemblies of Yahweh svg_aoy@live.com

THE EXECUTIVE of the SVG Green Party extends warm congratulations to Miss Emma O’Neal BSc (Hons), ACA., the second granddaughter of the Leader of SVG Green Party, Mr Ivan O’Neal.

Miss Emma O’Neal has just passed her final examination and is now ACA qualified.

The ACA is an accounting qualification administered by the ICAEW. Being ACA qualified allows the bearer to be referred to as an ‘Associate of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. It is considered to be the premier accounting qualification available, noted for the difficulty of its examinations and the requirement to complete 3 years of technical work experience towards it.

In 2011, Miss Emma O’Neal was awarded a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Mathematics in the Second Class, Division One, from the University of Nottingham, England.

Mr Ivan O’Neal has a very strong passion for high-quality education, and believes that highquality education could be the engine of the SVG economy, in conjunction with our own SVG university.

SVG Green Party www.svggreenparty.org

MAN-ABOUT-TOWN would like to know: * Do health inspectors check the meat that is actually sold at the stalls or do they simply inspect the meat when the animal has been slaughtered? * Further, how do they know that what is being sold is the same meat they inspected when the animal was slaughtered? * How many civil servants and farmers have received duty free concessions for the year so far? How many of those farmers who have received duty free concessions actually use those vehicles in their farming operations? * Who is the sporting personality that people home and abroad are telling Man-About-Town should have been made a Sports Ambassador, long before some of those who have been named since the ULP took office in 2001?

10. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 11.

Christmas Feature

Merry Christmas There is reason to be hopeful this season

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM HON. ARNHIN EUSTACE, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION “CHRISTMAS IS YOURS, Christmas is mine, A feeling of joy, is so divine.

So let us all rejoice and, let the voices sing, Glory to the new born King.”

As I sat down to write this Christmas message my mind wandered to years gone by, when music, like the wellknown refrain above would put a special feeling in your heart when you heard it. West Indian people celebrate Christmas in our own unique way and Vincentians are known for our Christmas Spirit.

For everyone, the Season was not just about the food, the new curtains, new furniture, the general hustle and bustle. We celebrated the wonder of the birth of the Christ child, Jesus.

Many recall the auntie or uncle, the grandmother, or mother, who would insist that something had to be painted at home, and that new “carpet” linoleum was carefully placed in some room.

The village carolers, the house parties, and nine morning celebrations

were ours to enjoy and we did.

Today, the general feeling of good will, the spirit of togetherness and that feeling of excitement which characterized the to and fro of our people, has all but stopped, under the weight of hard times, and the struggle just to make ends meet.

In spite of the hardship, and the pain that has defined these past few years for Vincentians, joy will come in the morning.

Where there is life, there is hope, and the next year will be critical in the life of our nation.

Change is coming, and a new day is dawning.

With every challenge

Hon. Arnhim Eustace and sacrifice that we have made, let us remember that we all enter the dawn together, Hand in hand, as one people, we must strive to shape a better life for all of us. So be glad, and hold strong to your faith and belief in a better tomorrow. May God richly bless your home and touch your hearts this Christmas season.

V

12. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Culture

Samuel lights up, despite adversity

by KENVILLE HORNE

lighting-up business.

In fact, he said that he has DESPITE HAVING ABOUT three not only replaced his collection quarter of his Christmas lights (of lights) but he has increased made inoperable by the rains its size. that pounded St. Vincent during Samuel began “really” Christmas 2013, and even in the lighting his home in 2006, face of high electricity bills, after witnessing the joy it Jimmy Samuel of Rillan Hill brought to his mother who remains in the Christmas

was at the time living in Vermont.

He entered the BEST Lit Private Home competition in that same year and he is resolute through all the challenges that have come his way.

Speaking to THE

Jimmy Samuel (right) and his VINCENTIAN on faithful helper Ashanki Ackie.

Monday , following the official turning on of his lights, here, including the VINLEC bill. When the bill comes I Samuel said, “I went up to Town Hill last night and it get have to pay it,” Samuel explained with vigour. thirty something people But even as he recounted putting Town Hill lights together, no money, just faith. his problem, he expressed Here in the community .. gratitude to his fellow villager nobody come to Ashanki Ackie for his ongoing help, it’s bad.” help.

And he had a “If it was not for Ashanti I word or two for don’t know how I would have those who claim made it. We not electrician, that, “I does make we just have good ideas, and a lot of money from we trying to help the the lighting up and community. We love the I don’t share it community, and we trying to with nobody.”

He was adamant build it up, and nobody from the community come out to that such a claim give a hand other than Shanti; was the furthest not one soul come to give a thing from the hand,” repeated Samuel. truth.

Samuel admitted, though, “I does get EC$1000 from the that, “I doing it for the community and for the people Nine Morning people, no more them who come and look on than that, that is and visit. I will never do this only if you win. If for myself, …. But the people you come second love it and I try to keep them you get EC$700. I happy. I was away from this don’t know what country for 44 years and I they does give for come back, and I want to give third because I back something to my never come less community,” he said. than second. You As Christmas Day don’t get no money approachesSamuel is from these people.

Is my own money I appealing to persons not to drink and drive “since life is use. Sometimes I don’t think my wife precious,” and he wishes all his “family, children and know that I use friends a very happy holiday.

EC$4000 out my And all the news people, I pocket to put up wish you all success.” lights to light up

Looking down from the balcony.

What greets the visitor on entering Jimmy Samuel’s yard at Christmas.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 13.

Diaspora

Rudolph ‘Rudy’ Boucher (hands clasped) and his wife, Jacqueline (to his left), flanked by family members.

Boucher receives Lifetime Achievement Award really humbling.”

Boucher’s wife, Jacqueline, née James, was also among other family members, including children, on hand in offering support.

FOR ALMOST two decades, Rudolph VincyCares also honored Dr. Garrey ‘Rudy’ Boucher was renowned as an Michael ‘Grubby’ Dennie, a Rose Place, attacking and stout midfielder on the Kingstown native and Professor of football (soccer) field, and an obdurate History at St. Mary’s College, national coach.

Maryland; and Calliaqua-born But, on Saturday night, he was community advocate Garnes Byron. highly emotional, breaking down in In addition, the group presented tears on receiving the Lifetime Vision Awards to entrepreneurs: Alicia Achievement Award from the everDewar, of New Montrose, Kingstown, rising, Internet-based group, owner of the Brooklyn-based Alicia VincyCares.

Dewar Designs, a jewelry and “I must say thanks to VincyCares accessories concern; and Murray’s for this award,” said Boucher in his Village, Kingstown native Malcolm X brief acceptance speech, at the group’s ‘Garjo’ Joyette, proprietor of Garjo’s 5th Annual Gala Dinner and Awards Autobody and Garjo’s Car Wash and Ceremony, at the Friends of Crown Detailing in New York.

Heights Educational Center in In his acceptance remarks, Dennie Brooklyn, New York. said Boucher and former national “It’s something I’ll always cherish,” netball star and captain, Stella Boyeaadded the Hospital Road, Kingstown Ashby, who was among patrons, native, pausing immediately as tears exemplified “a great Vincentian.” flowed down his cheeks.

Byron said, as much as he “When I saw all my friends here, it appreciated the award, his “greatest made me feel great,” continued ambition is simply to be given the Boucher in a slightly hoarse voice, opportunity to help in the development with his daughter, Tamarisk, emerging of our country.” from the “I have my kids here — from Dewar described the award as “a Miami, Austin (Texas), Buffalo huge honor”, adding that she was (upstate New York)”, he said. “It’s “overwhelmed” by community support

Rudolph ‘Rudy’ Boucher (right) accepts his Lifetime Achievement Award from VincyCares President Franklyn ‘Supadex’ Richards.

Story and photos by Nelson A. King naking@verizon.net; neloking@msn.com US CORRESPONDENT

During Members of VincyCares. his playing stint, Boucher said the national soccer team won the Windward Islands championship on numerous occasions, including consecutively in 1965 and ‘Boucher: A Product of Victoria Park 1966.

In its souvenir journal, VincyCares The son of the late Beryl Boucher, said Boucher is “noted as one of the Rudolph Boucher was a member of the living legends of Vincentian football. iconic Notre Dame Football Club that “He was simply the finest attacking was founded in 1959 by Sam DeBique midfield player ever produced in his and “a group of young sporting native St. Vincent and the enthusiasts.”

Grenadines,” it said.

Boucher said the club “matured into one of the VincyCares – more than awards finest club teams ever to grace the playing fields in VincyCares said it has continually St. Vincent and the raised funds to furnish school supplies Grenadines.” to the “children of St. Vincent and the He said he joined Notre Grenadines.”

Dame in 1963 as a President Franklyn ‘Supadex’ “precocious teenager” and Richards told the sell-out ceremony “literally grew up on the that, with the help of Vince Mathews, grounds of Victoria Park in Anita Botti, Sara Toyloy, Vanessa and Kingstown,” where his uncle, Preston Johnson, and Christlyn Paul Boucher, was the head Matthews, the group has “successfully groundsman. handed over seven full-time Boucher played soccer scholarships to deserving students of continuously from 1963-77, our beloved country. captained the national team “Initially formed to provide school The St. Vincent and the Grenadines football team 1968 (Back row L.R): Rudy Boucher, from 1972-76 and then supplies to students in need, we’re George Peters, Gideon ‘Ragga’ Horne, Winston Baptiste (Manager), Fred Trimmingham, constantly fulfilling that and pursuing Douglas Doyle, Jeff Bailey; (Front row: L-R) George ‘Fat Pants’ Forbes, Dennis Murray, coached it from 1977-80, when he migrated to New others — all with your help and Tyrone ‘Tweety’ Spence, Cyril ‘Scorcher’ Thomas, Carl Glasgow, Douglas Cambridge, York. contributions,” he said.

Lawrence ‘Babs’ Jones (captain) and William Muckett. on the social media.

Joyette was also high in praise for VincyCares and “all my customers,” disclosing that he has “a new business coming — the printing business.”

V

14. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Christmas Feature

Only EC$136 a year per person on health - This is a disgrace

Message from MR IVAN O’NEAL, Leader of SVG Green Party WE DRAW NEAR THE END of yet another year in which Vincentians’ health has been neglected by the ULP regime. For the past 10 years, the health of Vincentians, especially the poor, has been getting worse, because of the miserly amount of money the ULP regime has put into health.

Over the past decade, only $150m has been put towards Vincentians’ health. This works out to be only $136 a year per person on health. This is a disgrace.

The Health Service in

SVG has fallen to ruin under the incompetent ULP regime. Many areas are dilapidated, do not have enough medicines, and lack equipment. The Kingstown hospital is run down. We have seen that when Gonsalves gets ill, he flies off to Cuba or Barbados, avoiding the Kingstown hospital.

How many Vincentians though can afford an air ambulance or jet aircraft to fly abroad when they get ill?

Thousands of households can barely feed their children; flying abroad is not an option when they are ill.

Tens of thousands of Vincentians are made to

suffer: meanwhile Taiwan and the superrich of Mustique and Canouan are allowed to make millions with their tax and customs duty exemptions. No doubt they will be having a merry and healthy Christmas as the poor go without.

The health of Vincentians is also made worse by the financial incompetence of the ULP regime. Poverty is so high in SVG that many people turn to pilfering agricultural produce from fields. This has meant that fed-up farmers plant less food, and so there is less food around. This makes food more scarce and it is the

poor who ache with hunger.

The fact that thousands of households have no mains water, because of poverty, is also a serious risk to Vincentians’ health. The lack of access to clean drinking water can lead to a serious outbreak of illnesses such as cholera.

If that ever happened, though, we all know who would be jumping in to a jet aircraft to Cuba to avoid the devastation.

Gonsalves’ poor leadership has caused SVG to operate virtually as a failed state. Health is declining rapidly and homicides are increasing significantly. Gonsalves’

weak economic leadership and incompetent financial management have mashed up SVG. The reliance on begging and borrowing has pushed the SVG economy into a dark hole, and made Vincentians’ health suffer.

Vincentians deserve a higher standard of health service, so they can have a better quality of life and be better able to work and support themselves and their families. Vincentians could then also really enjoy their Christmas.

To improve Vincentians’ health, a Green government will bring strong economic

Ivan O’Neal leadership and competent financial management. This will enable a Green Government to invest more money in Vincentians’ health needs and build highquality hospitals in Kingstown and Union Island. We will also upgrade other health facilities around the country.

Merry Christmas, and a regime change to Green for prosperity and good health in 2015.

V

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

World News

U.S. to restore full relations with Cuba PRESIDENT OBAMA on Wednesday ordered the restoration of full diplomatic relations with Cuba, and the opening of an embassy in Havana for the first time in more than a half-century, as he vowed to “cut loose the shackles of the past” and sweep aside one of the last vestiges of the Cold War. The surprise announcement came at the end of 18 months of secret negotiations that produced a prisoner swap, brokered with the help of Pope Francis and concluded by a telephone call between Mr. Obama and President Raúl Castro.

The historic deal broke an enduring stalemate between two countries divided by just 90 miles of water but oceans of mistrust and hostility dating from the days of Theodore Roosevelt’s charge up San Juan Hill (1898) and the nuclear brinkmanship of the Cuban missile crisis (1962).

“We will end an outdated approach that for decades has failed to advance our interests, and instead we will begin to normalize relations between our two

countries,” Mr. Obama said in a nationally televised statement from the White House.

The deal will “begin a new chapter among the nations of the Americas” and move beyond a “rigid policy that is rooted in events that took place before most of us were born.”

Mr. Obama has long expressed hope of transforming relations with Cuba, and relaxed some travel restrictions in 2011. But further moves remained untenable as long as Cuba held Alan P. Gross, an American government contractor arrested in 2009 and sentenced to 15 years in a Cuban prison for trying to deliver satellite telephone equipment capable of cloaking connections to the Internet.

After winning reelection, Mr. Obama resolved to make Cuba a priority for his second term, and authorized secret negotiations led by two aides, Benjamin J. Rhodes and Ricardo Zúñiga, who conducted nine meetings with Cuban counterparts starting in June 2013, most of them in Canada, which has ties with Havana.

President Barack Obama outlined the steps the United States would take to “end an outdated approach” to relations with Cuba.

Pope Francis encouraged the talks with letters to Mr. Obama and Mr. Castro, and had the Vatican host a meeting in October to finalize the deal.

Mr. Obama spoke with Mr. Castro by telephone on Tuesday to finalize the agreement in a call that lasted more than 45 minutes, the first direct substantive contact between the leaders of the two countries in more than 50 years.

(Source: New York Times)

SVG/CUBA friendship society welcomes Obama’s move THE ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES/Cuba Friendship Society wholeheartedly applauds the announcements made, Wednesday, December 17, 2014 , in both Havana and Washington, of significant actions which will greatly improve relations at both a state-to-state and people-topeople level between the respective countries.

The measures, announced by US President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro, involve actions to lead to a resumption of diplomatic relations between the USA and Cuba, an ease of restrictions on travel and commercial relations and US State Department commitment to remove the American designation of Cuba as a “state sponsor of terrorism”.

In addition, both countries released prisoners being held on charges of spying or interference in the affairs of

each other. Cuba has freed Mr Allan Gross, whose imprisonment was an obstacle to improved relations as well as a long-held US intelligence officer, whilst the USA has freed the remaining three of the famous “Cuban Five”.

Though there remains significant differences between both countries, and the US embargo on Cuba remains intact, the SVG/Cuba Friendship Society is of the view that the steps announced today represent an enlightened approach towards resolving long-standing differences, and wholeheartedly support them, while remaining steadfast in its support for an end to the embargo, and a normalisation of relations between the USA and Cuba.

Renwick Rose President

V Time for brotherly love and care 16. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Christmas Feature

policing in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Since creation, maintaining law and order has been and CHRISTMAS IS continues to be a UNDOUBTEDLY one of the mammoth task - the best events for me same holds true in St. personally during the year. Vincent and the It is so for a number of Grenadines today. As reasons – firstly, it is the your Commissioner of time when we celebrate Police, I want to assure the birth of our Lord and that this task is Saviour Jesus Christ. His surmountable - and birth over two thousand while the safety and years ago ushered in a joy security of our nation that no one else can bring rests squarely on the and it is that same joy that ‘shoulders’ and ‘backs’ of we share and enjoy today the Police Force, with our families, friends fulfilling this awesome and visitors to our responsibility becomes beautiful island. Secondly, easier when every barring a few incidents, member of the society Christmas is one of the plays his/her part in most peaceful and solemn safeguarding the safety periods of the year- during and security of our this period, a certain kind nation from criminals of brotherly love and care and other nefarious emanates from elements.

Vincentians like no other As 2014 nears its time of the year. culmination, as an Moreover, Christmas organization, it is critical in St. Vincent and the that we take time to Grenadines is unique. reflect on our past This can be attributed to achievements and our our Nine Mornings strengths and Festival (which is over weaknesses in the year, 100 years old, according with a view of to historians). This formulating strategies to festival is incomparable improve on our to other similar festivals strengths, minimize our anywhere - it brings out weaknesses and plan the creative nature of our ahead for the future. people; it’s a Vincentian In 2014, there has experience one simply been a marked increase cannot afford to miss at in the crime detection this time of the year. As rate. Due to the a nation, we are blessed unwavering and hard in so many ways; it investigative work of therefore behooves us to Police Officers and the be thankful to Almighty cooperation received from God. members of the public, Fellow Vincentians, we were able to 2014 has been a successfully solve a challenging year for number of outstanding Message from MICHAEL F. CHARLES COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

crimes. This means that more criminals are ‘behind bars’ and not in a position to continue their assaults on our law abiding citizens. Our Police Officers continue to receive the highest levels of training and development in practical policing matters and in academia, both local and overseas.

The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force in 2014, held the largest Summer Camp for youths in SVG. Over one hundred and fifty (150) young people from throughout the length and breadth of the island and the Police Youth Club Coordinators converged at the Pamelus Burke Primary School to take part in this successful event.

There are now twentyfour (24) established Police Youth Clubs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with new ones expected to be established soon. This initiative by the Police has not only impacted positively on the lives of our nation’s youths, but it has also reduced the rates of juvenile delinquency and youth violence in our beloved country. The Police Youth Clubs, coupled with the Pan against Crime Initiative, has helped to negate the many negative influences that our youths are exposed to every day and has created the avenue for them to channel their energies into something positive. To date, twelve

(12) community Steel Orchestras and one (1) school steel orchestra have been established, while two (2) schools were assisted with pans, as part of the Pan against Crime Initiative.

Despite our successes, we have had our shortcomings as well. We have seen increases in serious crimes, especially in gun related activities.

We have also seen an increase in Praedial Larceny committed against our hard working farmers. It is unacceptable for our farmers, after working hard on their farms, to be denied an income through the theft of their livestock and root crops, by criminals. I know that this is a vexing issue nationally; therefore, I give you the assurance that come 2015, the Rural Constables would be re-trained and reorganized in a manner so as to make them more efficient at their task, and bring about a reduction in these and other crimes.

As per usual during this season, there is increased economic activity in and around Kingstown.

Consequently, criminals and those with criminal intentions are often in a state of readiness to rob persons of their property.

I want to assure the business community and their customers that the Police will continue to serve and protect you from the criminals.

Police Officers from the various departments will be out on patrol in and around Kingstown in their usual numbers to ensure that the corporate sector and all law abiding citizens conduct their business in peace and safety during this festive season.

Fortunately, a batch of fifty-one (51) Recruits graduated on December 18, 2014, after completing their training at the Old Montrose Police Training School.

Be assured that most of these Officers, along with other senior personnel, will be deployed in Kingstown and its suburbs to ensure safety and security among our citizens.

I wish at this time to

congratulate all of the Officers who were either promoted, recognized or rewarded during 2014.

Let me remind you that the further up the hierarchy you go, the greater your responsibilities to the public. Please do not wallow in promotion, be a responsible leader and get the job done.

During this festive season, I urge you to exercise restraint in your eating and drinking.

Please do not drink and drive, because that is a recipe for a catastrophic and painful disaster always have a designated driver on board if you feel that you must “take one for the stomach’s sake”. Secure your homes and properties before leaving home or work, or retiring to bed.

Do not carry around large sums of monies and valuables with you - this can only make you an easy target for the criminals.

Fellow citizens, given the nature of a Police Officer’s job, we are always on duty as there is hardly a time when we can safely say that we are “off”. Nonetheless, we seldom find time to add a little bit of ‘play’ to our serious work, in the form of a Christmas Caroling Competition.

Accordingly, you are cordially invited to join us as we relieve some ‘work stress’ at our annual Christmas Caroling Competition at the Central Police Station Compound today (December 19, 2014), commencing at 7:30 p.m.

Come and celebrate the festive season with us.

We value your partnership highly.

I want to further assure you that in 2015 God’s willing, the Police High Command and Officers stationed in the Out-Districts will embark on a number of “walk-throughs” in your communities to further solidify our partnership with you and improve on our community policing strategy. Our hope is to give you the assurance that we care and we are here to serve you. As an organization, we can only do well by ourselves, but together, we can and will do better. We look

Michael F. Charles forward to working with you and all of our stakeholders in 2015 and beyond in keeping our country safe and secure.

As I conclude, I wish to thank His Excellency, The Governor General, Sir Frederick Ballantyne for his support and cooperation; Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Ralph E. Gonsalves and his Cabinet for their support (materially and otherwise) to the Police Force; all Public Servants, Superintendent of Prisons and Staff; Members of the Judiciary (including staff at the Offices of the Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutions); Members of the Clergy and other Faith-Based Organizations, Civil Society, NonGovernmental Organizations and Civilian Staff of the Police Force for your steadfast support throughout 2014.

I want to say a special thank you to the media.

At times, you have been our friend and our foe.

However, we sincerely thank you for your partnership for without you, it would have been difficult for us to get our ‘message’ out to the public.

Finally, a big thank you to the men and women of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force and its Auxiliary Forces for your continued support and dedication to duty in 2014. I wish to also thank your families for their sacrifices and understanding. They appreciate and understand that your responsibilities as Police Officers often keep you away from them and for that they must be commended.

To the entire Nation, I wish you a Blessed Christmas and a healthy, prosperous and safe 2015. May the Almighty God continue to bless you and our Nation.

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18. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Parliament

Not Venezuela PRIME MINISTER Dr Ralph Gonsalves has refuted the information published by various international media houses and bloggers, that Venezuela was seeking to sell the Dominican Republic’s US$4 bn debt under the Petrocaribe agreement.

“I have been hearing a lot of things about the Petrocaribe agreement — I have read that Venezuela has gone to Goldman Sachs to help with the debt. Venezuela has not gone to anyone,” Gonsalves said during Wednesday’s session of the House.

The prime minister said that he had enquired about the situation with some Venezuelan officials, during the recent ALBA meeting held in Havana, Cuba.

“The PDVSA people in Havana said that the Dominican Republic has had challenges in paying their short term and long term debts, and as a consequence their debt rose to US$4 billion,” he explained.

That country purchases 50,000 barrels of oil a day, the Prime Minister reported.

“They are a huge consumer of Petrocaribe products and it is the Dominican Republic government which went to Goldman Sachs and said that what it will try to do is to secure a reduction in the overall debt by some 60 percent, and they pay only 40 percent, and that Goldman Sachs will purchase the bonds that they will issue.”

But the PDVSA officials indicated that they never initiated such a discussion nor did they give the Dominican Republic permission in respect to this matter.

“So when it is said that Venezuela will do that to St Vincent and the Grenadines, we are not in default at all,” Gonsalves said.

It had been reported that transactions under discussion could see Goldman Sachs, an American multinational investment banking firm, purchase the $4 billion debt the Dominical Republic owes to Venezuela’s state-owned oil company PDVSA, for $1.7 billion.

Paid in full CONTRARY to reports being circulated in the media about other members of the Petrocaribe agreement, this country has paid in full, short term moneys owed to Venezuela.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr Ralph Gonsalves said in Parliament on Wednesday that the amount paid between 2010 and August 2014 is US$95.1 million.

He further explained during his ministerial statement, that the short term is paid by PDVSVG within 90 days of being invoiced.

The finance portion, or long term part of the agreement, is the portion which remains in the country, and this is the money that is paid over a 25 year period, with a two year grace, at 1

percent interest.

“So VINLEC or SOL will make the payment in full, and then the short term portion is held by PDVSVG and paid to PDVSA (the Venezuelan company),” the Prime Minister said.

He told the members of Parliament how the financed, or long term portion of the money was dispersed.

According to Gonsalves BRAGSA received $5 million; Central Government got $61.2 million; the IADC - $62.7 million; Port Authority - $400,000; and some other small contributions made to HLDC and the loan made to Jayden M, the company which owns and operates the fast ferry amounts to $140 million.

Among the projects that have been funded by such moneys are Opposition Leader Arnhim the installation of the coastal Eustace. radar system, the Belle Isle Correctional Facility, the Black panel programme. These are Sigatoka eradication project, among 31 projects funded, Dr. social investment and the solar Gonsalves said.

Appeal for decency

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

PRIME MINISTER Dr Ralph Gonsalves has made an appeal for supporters of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) to not wear party colours at the funeral of Edgar Cruickshank, on Saturday.

He made the request during the obituaries segment of Wednesday’s Sitting of Parliament.

“We have to ensure that he is laid to rest in dignity and I am asking our supporters to avoid party colours,” Gonsalves said.

He appealed for the funeral to take place with dignity, principle and values.

Gonsalves further noted that similar requests were made for the funeral of Glen Jackson and Michael Hamlett.

Cruickshank succumbed to

the injuries he sustained when a vehicle drove into a crowd attending a public meeting by the New Democratic Party in Clare Valley, December 6.

Immediately following the incident, members of the public and some politicians on the opposition side was of the view that what occurred was no accident, and that members in the hierarchy of the ULP had a hand in the man’s death.

Gonsalves said that he will be in attendance to pay his respects to the man he knew for over 30 years.

Earlier this year, Gonsalves was jeered by supporters of the NDP as he got up to speak at the funeral service for former Opposition talk show host Elwardo ‘E.G’ Lynch, in Georgetown.

During the lead up to the funeral, there was debate on national radio and social media over whether Gonsalves should have attended based on the differences both men had had in the past.

Merry Christmas to all our readers.

V Acquisitions payments ongoing News

TO DATE, GOVERNMENT has paid EC$117 million of the $138.4 million owed for properties acquired for the site of the international airport.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves told Parliament on Wednesday, that a total of 143 built properties and 452 parcels of land were acquired to facilitate the construction of the international airport at Argyle.

The total cost for acquiring the 143 built structures amounted to $61.8 million and $76.5 million for the 452 parcels of land, for a combined cost of $138.4 million.

According to the Prime Minister, 139 property owners have been paid at a total value of $60.4 million.

He explained that four property owners were to be paid an amount totalling $1.5 million.

“These property owners will be paid because this government is not a bandit,” Gonsalves said in his response to a question posed by the Leader of the Opposition.

“They will be paid when their various matters relating to the particular situations in each case are resolved.”

He continued, saying that the process of

Provision is in place for settlement of all property and land acquisitions for the construction of the international airport at Argyle. negotiations for the land parcels are on-going.

Between January and December this year, the International Airport Development Company (IADC) paid $22 million to 22 land owners, bringing the total paid overall for parcels of land at the site to $42 million accounting for 259 parcels of land.

Forty-three parcels of land are currently being negotiated with the chief surveyor, with the anticipated settlement price set at $16 million.

“These monies will be paid to them in the first half of 2015,” Gonsalves said.

In addition, he said that there were 44 parcels of land for which owners had already submitted deeds as proof of ownership.

“Negotiations with the land owners are pending and are likely to end during the coming year,” the Prime Minister explained.

In summary, the IADC is committed to paying $22.4 million for 87 parcels of land, 43 of which have already been negotiated.

There were, however, 106 parcels of land where the owners were yet to submit deeds to the IADC. According to the Prime Minister, $12 million has been set aside, which is the estimated cost of the lands.

These negotiations were being done through the office of the Chief Surveyor and overlooked by the attorney general.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 19.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 21.

Views

Health for all in the 21st century The issue The issue of the provision of health services for Vincentians has taken a remarkable leap over the last ten years and counting, under the watchful eyes and guidance of the ULP administration. Here and there, a few complaints have been raised and blown out of proportion when there is an issue at a health institution here, but by and large, our health provisioning has been excellent.

Our media don’t find these developments “sexy” enough to report on and to provide details to their audiences and readers, but the developmental work in the health sector is truly impressive. Overall governments will always strive to provide the best medical care for all its citizens, one that is accessible and at a reasonable cost. Each country must have a healthy population for living, and most important for production, in terms of the work force.

So that progressive governments like the ULP administration will examine all the health needs of its citizens and make the appropriate decisions as to the corrective measures to be adopted. St.Vincent and the Grenadines is a middle income developing country, with a sophisticated population. As a result, one can expect the demands on the health sector to be onerous at times.

That is why the ULP administration has allocated just about thirteen percent of its recurrent budget to meet the health needs of Vincentians.

itself, and we encourage our readers to visit the site, to get a firsthand look at the service that is being provided.

Parents bring their children from the OECS countries and as far away as Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, for medical attention. This is a story that is waiting to be told.

Let’s take a look at the country’s school feeding programme. In 2001, when the ULP arrived, this programme was in shambles. The kitchens were rundown and the equipment in a terrible state. Now the primary schools boast of new and refurbished kitchens with new equipment, and with dietary information to guide the preparation of meals for our children. Can you image that our children at schools in the countryside can purchase a wellbalanced lunch for the small price of fifty cents, and those in Kingstown for one dollar? Remarkable!

Under the tenth EDF programme, the ULP administration will spend close to EC$40 million providing more health facilities for Vincentians. These include the construction of polyclinics at Mesopotamia and at Buccament, the provision of facilities for doctors in Union Island and Sandy Bay, and renovations to a number of departments at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. The Modern The ULP approach Diagnostic Centre in Georgetown will become a reality in 2015, providing The ULP administration provides a additional health services, service that involves primary, particularly in the treatment of secondary, and tertiary health care, kidney related diseases. along with public health services.

The list of developmental work in Under this strategy, 39 clinics and the health sector is very extensive, five health centres provide a wide and this includes the least mentioned variety of services. Added to this list area of tertiary health care. Through are the Georgetown SMART hospital, its foreign relations drive, the the Lewis Punnett Home and the government has obtained health Mental Health Centre. These services for Vincentians with institutions are staffed by some 100 advanced medical problems, in Cuba doctors (including those in private in particular. The ULP has provided practice) and just over 700 nurses. monetary support for our needy Truly, these are first world statistics citizens to go to Trinidad and Tobago, when compared to many countries. It Barbados and even the United States, is clear, given the location of these to seek medical attention. health facilities, that most Vincentians can get to any facility Conclusion within a ten minute period.

In terms of public health, many The list of achievements in the Vincentians take the provision of health sector, since the ULP arrived water and garbage disposal for in office in 2001, is long and granted. In 2001, only 69 percent of impressive and there can be no doubt the population had access to quality that the delivery of health and pipe-borne water. Today that figure environmental services has improved has risen to 98 percent. In March significantly, during this period. Still 2001 there was no island-wide there is much more to be done, garbage disposal system, but by including the intensification of the October 2001 such a system was in plan to relocate the Milton Cato place and fully operational by the CWSA; a truly remarkable Memorial Hospital, the achievement. implementation of a programme to In 2001 the country’s infant tackle chronic non-communicable mortality rate, for children under five diseases, and the opening of the years, was twenty-two per year for Modern Medical Complex. every 1000 live births. Now that Overall, the ULP administration figure is fifteen. Maternal deaths in will always ensure that the country’s the country have been reduced to a health system is well staffed by the statistical zero, thanks to the vastly appropriate health personnel; be it improved education and treatment doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, that is provided for mothers. The technical workers and so forth. And country can also boast of a one our citizens deserve the best that the hundred percent immunization rate.

The World Pediatric Project at the country has to offer, even in the harsh Milton Cato Hospital is in a class by global economic and financial climate.

Petro Caribe and St. Vincent and the Grenadines THE DEBATE on PetroCaribe, an initiative by the Venezuelan government, continues to dominate the discussion on radio here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Under the Petro Caribe arrangement, beneficiary countries pay 50% up front for the oil and the balance is converted to a 25 year loan at 1% interest. At the initial stage of this arrangement, the Honourable Arnhim Eustace registered his objection to the deal. His main concerns were that the Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration was not disciplined in its spending, and would not have spent the money in productive areas to stimulate economic growth and development.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves took the Hon. Arnhim Eustace to task; Mr. Eustace was ridiculed by the ULP. Today, his words have come to past. At present, the possibility of PetroCaribe collapsing looms large, given the economic situation in Venezuela, leading Vincentians to ask the obvious: What are the implications for St. Vincent and the Grenadines if or when Petro Caribe collapses? In response, there is a deafening silence on the matter by the Prime Minister and the government.

This matter of PetroCaribe is extremely serious because Venezuela is now experiencing severe economic difficulties; the falling oil prices on the world market make it even worse for Venezuela.

Oil is less than $59 US per barrel, and Venezuela needs to sell oil at a minimum of US$90.00 to repay its loans and to meet its other obligations. As a result, Venezuela has already begun to react to the situation. They are in the process of selling some of the PetroCaribe debt beginning with that accumulated by the Dominican Republic. They have sold that $4 billion debt to Goldman Sachs Bank for $1.5 billion, a loss of $2.5 billion. This sale demonstrates the urgent need for cash by the Venezuelan government.

Back home, we are not receiving an accurate figure from the ULP government, as it relates to the amount of money owed by this country under the Petro Caribe agreement. Scotia Bank in its report has stated that St. Vincent and the Grenadines owes Petro Caribe close to a billion dollars; but the government is disputing that figure.

The Hon Arnhim Eustace is concerned, and rightly so, about the amount of money that is owed to Petro Caribe, and the fact that it is not included in the national debt.

Towards addressing the issue, Mr. Eustace asked the Prime Minister the following questions, during Wednesday’s Sitting of the House: (i) Please indicate the level of debt owed by the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Venezuela under the Petro Caribe oil facility as at June 30. (ii) Where is the debt recorded in terms as on our National Debt given its not recorded in the estimates for 2014? (iii) How much has been paid in interest and principal under the loan facility and where is that recorded in terms of our national debt records?

Will he answer the questions?

Also, Vincentians want to know what the ULP regime has done with the money that is saved from the PetroCaribe arrangement. For

instance, in Jamaica and Haiti, it is reported that the money was used to fund social programmes.In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the government has never indicated what the money is being used for, leading to much speculation among the populace. To stop the speculation, the ULP government should address the real issue and not attack the Leader of the Opposition. Vincentians need clarity on this matter.

Corruption In its column of Friday 12th December, 2014, the ULP failed miserably in its attempt to outline that its government is not corrupt. It’s ludicrous for ULP to suggest that “the ULP is the most transparent government ever, in the developmental history of the country.”

Most Vincentians are aware and the New Democratic Party (NDP) considers the ULP administration the most corrupt ever to govern St. Vincent and the Grenadines, since conquest and settlement.

During the 2001 general elections campaign, the ULP made several promises. The ULP promised to wage war against corruption since, at that time the New Democratic Party (NDP) government was perceived and portrayed as corrupt by the ULP. Today, Vincentians are still waiting on the ULP government to provide the evidence of corruption by members of the former NDP government.

Instead, what Vincentians have seen since the ULP gained power in 2001, is corruption and more corruption. Allegations of corruptions abound in almost all the ministries.

Among these: a former chairman of the then National Commercial Bank (NCB) was involved in a questionable banking transaction at the said bank; at the said bank, $1 million US dollars was deposited and when the Leader of the Opposition asked a question about the matter in Parliament, the Prime Minister refused to answer; the Director of Audit found that officials managing the Cuban Integrated Health Project, in the Ministry of Health, had bought computer supplies and fast food and paid monies to the International Airport Development Company (IADC), contrary to the government’s policy; in the Ministry of Agriculture, under the Agriculture Diversification project, a microphone cable was imported at a cost of US $12.14 and was sold to the ministry for EC$1499.76.

In addition, there are the cases of : the situation at the Ministry of Tourism, where a senior government official was involved in a company that was formed to market and promote tourism in this country; the recall of the Deputy Consul General from the Consulate in New York after he was found to be in activities outside the scope of his employment; and most recently, the situation with the former Registrar.

The ULP has no moral authority to speak against corruption; it is corrupt to the core, and the time has come for them to go.

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22. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Opinion

Christmas is near

“There must be some deep psychological reason why we turn so instinctively toward home at this special time. . . . A place where every day will be Christmas, with everybody there together. At home.” - Marjorie appreciated as I entered my early Holmes (1910-2002); American author; from "Christmas at Home" adolescent years. It was then that I realised and appreciated the real meaning of giving and receiving gifts, THE CHRISTMAS SEASON has arrived! and the recognition that we, mankind, Most radio stations are now regularly received the most precious Gift that playing Christmas carols. The stores first Christmas Day. Later in life, I have redecorated and now display a variety of toys, curtains, furniture, paint, appreciated the significance of the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and linoleum. The supermarkets advertise hams, a variety of drinks, and (see Matthew Chapter 2) that the wise men gave to the baby Jesus. other grocery items that we would normally stock at this festive time of the These gifts had meaning: gold a precious metal representing God’s year. The farmers display their sorrel, ginger, and green peas. They know that pure and precious gift to mankind; frankincense (a fragrance used to Vincentians will feel that something is make holy incense) representing the lacking from their Christmas lunch if these are missing from their tables. The Lord Jesus’ ministry; and myrrh (a Department of Culture and many of the highly flavoured spice used in anointing oil) relating to our Saviour’s village organisations play their role in anointing. These were all precious advertising the local Nine Mornings Celebrations as they also seek to usher gifts that conveyed valuable meanings. in the Christmas cheer. And within In our part of the world, the recent years they have sought to Christmas Season often triggers a encourage such activities in the rural series of house and yard cleaning districts also; the activities are no activities. Some households become longer confined to Kingstown. Yes, preoccupied with scrubbing concrete Christmas is near - everywhere. surfaces in and around the house.

I have very fond memories of my childhood Christmas celebrations. My Many homes are repainted. As a God Father, Juss Edwards, appeared people, we have been programmed to to know the “right toys” to give me at make sure that the house is “spic and span” by Christmas Eve. Some family Christmas. There are two that I members (especially children) may received during my pre-teen years that still stand out: a “pop” rifle that find such activities laborious. But there are also adults who may made a loud sound when the trigger conclude that such chores are was pulled, and an plastic aeroplane unnecessarily burdensome. This is that had to be assembled and operated by a large rubber band that most unfortunate because the whole Christmas celebration (inclusive on drove the sole propeller. Although they were relatively well built and of the various forms of preparations) should be about the Good News of the good quality, neither gift survived birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and beyond New Year’s Day. Like most Saviour. This is a time when we youngsters at that age, every effort was made to engage in activities and reflect on the worship and the wonder games that the toys were not designed of Jesus. This is the special time of for. That often resulted in their early year when we remember the miracle of the Christ Child; the virgin birth destruction. Back then, Christmas was synonymous with toys, Christmas of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Here in the Eastern Caribbean, we trees, Christmas lights, gifts, sorrel, know that Christmas is near as the ham, and ginger beer. days grow shorter. The sun sinks The Nine Mornings Celebrations beneath the horizon sooner than in had a special way of ushering in Christmas for me as a teenager. That the earlier periods of the year. And was when the Backstreet Boys would the nights are much cooler too. gather at The Blue Max (the property Residents whose homes are located on that was then owned by the McIntosh some of the higher elevations, will also complain that it gets “colder” as family and located at the bottom of Wilson Hill close to where the George Christmas Day approaches.

Christmas is near! With only a few McIntosh Market now stands). The more days to go before we celebrate Blue Max would buzz with activity the birth of the New Born King, this just after midnight. That was when is as good a time as any for each of us the pot went on the fire. We to reflect on the relationship that we especially liked to cook dumplings, have with Him. Is He your Lord and and prided ourselves with being able Saviour? Can you call Him your to make them larger than the palms Comforter and Friend? Can He call of our hands. These “works of art” me friend? Can He call you friend? came in several flavours: some were What a blessed Christmas Day that plain (flour only), while others had cornmeal or coconut added. We would will be as we gather with relatives and friends to worship and adore the gorge ourselves with food and drink during the early hours of the morning. King of all kings and the Lord of lords; a friend who sticks closer than When the food “settled”, we would a brother. So, come let us adore Him head into Kingstown to view the lighted bicycles, the stunt riders, and this Christmas. those who ventured to thrill us with Send comments, criticisms & their roller skates. suggestions to However, the true meaning of julesferdinand@gmail.com Christmas was revealed and

Finally Cuba can breathe freely THE DECISION by the Obama administration to end the illegal 53year-old blockage against the Cuban revolution finally brings an end to the cold war. The decision brings American policy in line with that of the the international community which time and again voted overwhelmingly at the United Nations against the policy intended to strangle the revolution.

Through these five decades, the Cuban people suffered immeasurably.

The mighty United States, committed to overthrowing the revolution, aggressively threw all its power against the Cuban government, but failed measurably. In the end, Cuba’s revolutionary leadership remains intact. Raul Castro is president; Fidel, though frail by age, is alive and revered; the Cuban people remain proud and most important of all, the Cuban revolution lives.

It is an important story that offers an adoring lesson: a people united can be battered, bruised and held back in their nationalist, revolutionary task of development, but can never be defeated. The blockage, started by the Kennedy administration in April, 1961, was crippling and deadly: but the Cubans’ experiment survived.

Against the odds, Cuba is today recognized as an education, sporting and medical power.

The blockage is estimated to have cost the Cuban people about US$100 billion. Imagine what Cuba could have done with all of that money. In its fight against revolutionary Cuba, the Caribbean people came face to face with American-sponsored terrorism. On October 6, 1976, Cabaña airliner 455 was criminally blown out of the sky off Barbados.

Luis Posada Corrilles, the agent trained and financed by the American Central Intelligence Agency, lived a happy life in the USA, even after admitting in a New York Times interview that he ‘lost no sleep’ following the criminal act that took the lives of 57 Cubans, 11 North Koreans and 5 Guyanese.

Germ warfare was used against Cuban agriculture, causing serious damage to its tobacco and sugar.

Swine fever was introduced, and this forced the Cuban government to slaughter over 1 million pigs. Cubans, particularly those well trained, were encouraged to defect.

There were times when life became very difficult in Cuba. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, this hard period tested the mettle and endurance of the Cuban leaders and people; but the revolution survived. I was particularly moved by a speech

by Fidel Castro, who in reviewing the period, said, “In those difficult times, we never closed a school. We never closed a hospital, and we never brought to an end our commitment to our friends whose sons and daughters we offered to educate and train…Through all of this, no one went homeless or hungry on the streets, and most of all, there were no mass protest or rebellion against the revolution.. .”

None of this fazed the Cuban leadership. It continued with its mission to protect the people and provide service to the world. Cuba’s selfless assistance, to Pakistan and Haiti after the devastating earthquakes; the leadership it is currently playing in the fight against the dreaded Ebola disease in West Africa, and most famously, the role Cuba played in ridding Africa of

colonialism in Angola, and the collapse of the apartheid system in South Africa will long be remembered. Today, no one doubts that, whenever the world calls, Cuba answers the need for help and assistance.

The Cuban example proves that through education for consciousness, organization and mobilization, a people can defy the odds, survive and prosper.

President Obama admitted that the policy of aggression and isolation of Cuba had failed. He called for a more enlightened approach which will see more contact between the people of the United States and Cuba. In the past, Americans had to overcome many hurdles in order to travel to or spend money in Cuba, These restrictions have now been removed.

The USA has committed to review and remove Cuba from the list of nations and organizations labeled as terrorists. As part of the deal, the Cuban government released Alan Gross, an American jailed in Havana since 2009 for spying. The American government reciprocated by releasing three men, who became renowned as (part of) the Cuban Five. The other two were previously released, one in 2011 and the other earlier this year.

Many observers maintained that the Cuban Five were not prosecuted for violating US law. They were prosecuted for attempting to expose those who were violating US law. In an October 2012 report on the case of the Cuban Five, Amnesty International concluded that there are “serious doubts about the fairness of the proceedings leading to their conviction, in particular the prejudicial impact of publicity about the case on a jury in Miami.”

This is a watershed development that is sure to cause a sea change in how nationals and people deal with each other. The Cuban/American deal resets the clock on political discourse even here in SVG. In many ways, the normalization of relations between the US and Cuba is a vindication of the foreign policy of PM Gonsalves and the Unity Labour Party government. Guided by the tested diplomatic principle that SVG is a friend of all and an enemy of none, our government moved purposefully to broaden relations away from its traditional friends. It is a policy that has brought many benefits. Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador, Libya, Mexico, Taiwan and Venezuela have all offered assistance that takes us a little further on the path to develop.

Leaders may now see the wisdom in thinking ahead rather that toady behind a given leader or nation, no matter how powerful that entity might be. The dark refrain ”What will America say,” will hopefully go the way of the dinosaurs.

In all of this, we welcome the new relations between Cuba and the United states, and salute our Cuban cousins for being a living embodiment of what it means to stand on our feet and not on our knees.

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

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 23.

„Support a worthy cause,‰ Becket urges

by HAYDN HUGGINS

AS VINCENTIANS ENGAGE in various activities to celebrate Christmas this year, legendary Vincentian calypsonian and soca artiste, Alston ‘Becket’ Cyrus, is urging citizens to give one evening for Layou resident, Patsy Matthews.

The recently formed Layoubased Alston Becket Cyrus Benefit Organization (BBO) will stage a show and dance, dubbed ‘An Evening for Patsy’, at the Layou Hard Court from 6pm, December 26 (Boxing Day), to raise funds for Matthews towards offsetting the cost for her medical attention overseas.

In a telephone interview on Monday, Becket, the founding father of the Organization, headed by Fitzpatrick Cyrus, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Irvine Interior and Construction Inc. at Pembroke, told THE VINCENTIAN that to date, Matthews has not been diagnosed, but her physical appearance is very worrying, and she seems to be in need of urgent medical help.

Becket said the Organization is hoping that the money raised at the event would be able to cover Matthews’ travel and medical Alston Becket Cyrus will head a cast of leading expenses. local artistes in an event intended to raise funds to “Come out and have a assist a Layou woman with overseas medical wonderful time. There will be costs. entertainment for all ages. You

will be having a wonderful time, and at the same time you will be contributing to a worthy cause,” Becket said.

The event will feature Becket, who will perform several of his hits, in addition to a number of leading Vincentian artistes, including the Lime Soca Dans, Jamesy P, Mad Skull, Cleopatra Henderickson and backing band KNetik. Patrons will also be entertained by DJ Stucky, DJ, ICE & Terror Fabulous and M Judge.

The masters of ceremonies are Randy D, Vincy Vibz and Chester Morgan.

Becket noted that the major sponsor is the St. Vincent Brewery, but others, including St. Vincent Distillers, Square Deal Shippers, the three local newspapers, NBC Radio, Hitz FM, and Nice Radio have rendered assistance. A Vincentian national residing in New York is assisting with flyers and tickets.

Always ready to give Becket, a Layou native himself, said that at the Organization’s first meeting last week Thursday, Cyrus was voted to head the organization, and is in charge of its day to day operations. He noted that Cyrus was his first manager, and was also manager of the popular Layou-based musical band Astericks, now defunct.

However, Becket, who described the event as his (Becket) brainchild, said he has been doing the necessary groundwork to ensure its success.

He explained that the organization is hoping to make that type of

event an annual one, and to stage other activities throughout the year, for the benefit of the Layou community, primarily in the fields of sports and culture; but he stressed, “Help will always be our first priority.” He is also willing to do benefits for other communities.

“I can’t do the everyday work, but I will be there to make sure that it stays as an unbiased organization to assist those who truly need help,” he assured.

The Vincentian legend, who migrated to the United States in 1969, but has spent most of his time here since 2011, pointed out, “While I am still going after my music dream to capture the world with my style of calypso, my role has always been to contribute to the development of my community and country as a whole.”

He holds very fond memories of the Layou-based Gladiators Football Club, now defunct, of which he was president for five consecutive years, before his migration.

Asked whether the event on Boxing Day is the first charitable activity in which he would be involved, Becket said, “I have always been contributing. I have always been a giver, but people don’t know because I don’t say I am doing this or I am doing that. I am always a behind the scenes guy. I don’t beat my chest and I don’t look for personal gain.”

However, he recognizes the importance of publicity in today’s world.

“The way the system is going now, in order to get the help of the business houses and other people, you have to put your name out there. Had it not been for that, I would still be behind the scenes, but you can’t get much done today without the media,” Becket explained.

Regarding the event on Boxing Day, he concluded, “I think we are off to a good start. I like the feedback we are getting so far, and I think we will have a successful event.”

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24. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Cristmas Feature

Let us come together to celebrate the birth of our saviour

by SVG Christian Council only son, that whosoever believes in him shall not AT CHRISTMAS, we perish but have everlasting celebrate the Incarnation, life.’ (John 3:16). the birth of Our Lord and The Incarnation Saviour Jesus Christ. It has makes a clear statement to do with the coming of God’s presence and together of the divine and involvement in the human for the Salvation of world: as a result, we the world. St. John tells us cannot separate the ‘the Word was made flesh, sacred from the secular. and dwelt among us.’

God created heaven and (John 1:14). The Evangelist earth and all that exists, Matthew says, ‘She shall both seen and unseen. As bring forth a son, and thou we read in the book of shall call his name Jesus: Genesis, the universe is for he shall save his good, and God sustains people from their sins.’ and directs it. Thus, we (Matthew 1:21) St. Paul, are called to enjoy it and in writing to the Galatians, to care for it, in states that ‘When the accordance with God’s fullness of time had come, purposes. It also means God sent his Son, born of a that all people are woman, born under the worthy of respect and law, 5in order to redeem honour. those who were under the But something went law, so that we might amiss, since what God receive adoption as created is good. Human children.’ (Galatians 4:4-5) beings misused their St. John again informs us creaturely freedom and that the incarnation was a made wrong choices demonstration of God’s which brought about sin, love: ‘God so loved the separation, corruption, world, that he gave his division, hatred,

selfishness, arrogance, unrighteousness and disobedience. But God’s intention of a world where there is peace, love, joy, harmony, fellowship and righteousness never changed. Thus, Christ has come to cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light. There is a fundamental difference between darkness and light, and we should not seek to have them become intermingled, they should always remain decipherable.

Amidst all the confusion, pain and misery, natural disasters, corruption, dishonesty, division, hatred, wars, conflicts and godlessness in the world, and conscious of its own unworthiness, the Christian soul still longs for the saving grace and love of Jesus Christ.

Christmas assures us that God is not so far away that he cannot

hear nor respond to such longing: rather he is in our midst and is always ready to reach out to us, even before we request it.

We celebrate this matchless love of God at Christmas, a love which goes beyond all boundaries, a love which is not deterred by our acts of rejection and sin, a love which works to restore human dignity, a love which calls us out of darkness into God’s own marvelous light, a love which enters into our human experience and offers us transformation, healing, and peace.

So there was Christmas in St. Vincent and the Grenadines last year, December, 2013, in spite of the devastation caused by the weather system which passed then. For Christmas emphasizes the truth that God comes to us, is with us in our human situation. God is not only present and involved in our lives when things are pleasant, comfortable and satisfying; but also in the harsh realities of life, the storms, floods, landslides, destruction of homes, roads, bridges, agriculture, loss of personal effects and of lives.

The message of Christmas gives us hope that our yearning for deliverance from the evils of the world, not only from personal guilt and sin, and systemic evil, but also from the ravages of natural disasters like the one we experienced last December, is found in Jesus Christ.

Christmas is much more than eating and drinking and having fun: it is the celebration of a religious truth, a celebration of faith in God who has the power to save us, and who offers us abundant life, life in all its fullness. So, at the heart of this celebration is worship: thanksgiving, adoration and praise. But celebration is not authentic if we fail to engage the present situation of our existence as a nation and a people.

Coming to light is the high rate of homicides (37 at the time of writing) for the year 2014, the extent of gender violence and violence against children, the several complaints of political victimization, the increasing rate of unemployment, the increase in vagrants and homeless people in Kingstown, the alarming rate of amputations due to diabetes, and the list goes on.

The Incarnation is about God’s solidarity with humans and all His creation. We are called to emulate God. There are several groups, organisations, churches and public officials who are working feverishly to address these issues. The message of Christmas demands that we not only encourage those who are involved in these efforts but that as a people and nation, we reflect on the ways in which we contribute towards and perpetuate these concerns, and

commit ourselves to make the necessary change in our attitudes, behaviors and dispositions, and to educate ourselves on these matters, and join in efforts to provide a more wholesome, healthy, harmonizing, peaceful, compassionate and just society.

In light of the Incarnation, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Christian Council urges all Vincentians, particularly those in public office, to apologise for their own shortcomings, and to forgive those who have done them wrong,so that the spirit of love, fellowship and peace, which the Christ Child came to give, may be experienced in this blessed land of ours, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

We take this opportunity to wish you all a Blessed and Holy Christmas.

MONSIGNOR MICHAEL STEWART Roman Catholic Diocese of SVG RT. REV’D C. LEOPOLD FRIDAY Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Windward Island REV’D ADOLF DAVIS - Superintendent of the Chateaubelair Methodist Circuit SVG MAJOR PIERRE ANTOINE Commander – Salvation Army, Kingstown

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26. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Arts

Browne launches ÂProminent VincentiansÊ book

persons here.

Featured are Erica Mc SENATOR LUKE BROWNE Intosh and Clara Layne, has added the latest volume the only females , to the shelves of locally alongside Basil Balcombe, written works.

King Mitchell. Egerton The book, entitled Richards, C. D. Veira, O. ‘Entrepreneurs in St. C. Forde, Milton Mayers, Vincent and the A Nathaniel Jack, Grenadines”, features Sylvester De Freitas, O. T. accounts of the lives, work Mayers, P. H. Veira, and contributions of 20 Bertille DaSilva, McNeil outstanding business Trotman, Gideon Browne,

by KENVILLE HORNE

Gurney Gibson, C. K. Greaves, Fred J. Dare, O. A. ‘Ken’ Boyea and Kelly Glass.

A book launch was held on Tuesday, December 16th at Frenches House, but this was preceded by a press conference earlier in the day.

Browne explained at the press conference, that the idea of having pieces

done on local entrepreneurs was first broached by Harold Dougan, Manager of National Properties Limited, who also chose the 20 persons about whom Browne would be contracted to write.

The articles were published as single pieces in a local weekly publication between

January 10th, 2014 and May 30th, 2014, after which a plan unfolded to have them published in a single volume.

Browne said that the non-profit organisation, the Light Hill Foundation, of which he is Director, undertook the responsibility of getting the book published, and sought the support of Invest SVG and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SVGCIC) to this end.

“It took a lot of effort.

We thought that after the articles, it would be a walk in the park getting the book up and running, but it was otherwise,” Browne intimated, adding “The book is important because some of the entrepreneurs in the compilation are unheralded, although they have made a meaningful contribution to our economic development, through the creation of jobs and innovations/new ways of doing things.”

Browne explained further that ‘Entrepreneurs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines” was written to recognise the work of the men and women who have contributed to the development of the country in their own way.

The young senator is hoping to have the book placed in archives and the local libraries as, “the potential to make this a very good product is there.”

Anthony Regisford,

Senator Luke Browne, author of the book, says the book was written to give recognition to those who have contributed significantly to the development of SVG. (Internet photo) Executive Director of SVGCIC, and who also wrote the foreword for the publication, described the book as “an inspiration and … a very important intervention in this part of our history.”

Executive Director of Invest SVG, Bernadette Ambrose-Black, needed little convincing that the book is “an excellent initiative and one that is much needed in SVG.” Feature Speaker at the official book launch, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, said, “What Browne has done in a series of articles in the newspaper about business people, is something that is lost on a lot of persons; and I want to congratulate him on that fine piece of work.”

He said the book is important for the historical record, and he hopes to see another publication on 20 more entrepreneurs.

V Real Joy

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 27.

Christmas Feature

have sent us a scientist.

If our greatest need was for money, God would have sent us an economist. Since our greatest need is forgiveness, God sent His Son to be our Saviour.

Finding real joy can be This is the good news elusive for some as they that brings real joy. believe that it is self – Real joy is for induced. Dr. Dwight Gunter everyone to experience postulated that real joy because the good news is isn’t a goal or an for all people (Luke achievement, but rather it 2:10). No matter what is a by-product. It is a may be your response to something circumstances, joy can be that has happened to you. yours. Real joy is not Luke’s account of the dependent on your birth of Jesus (2: 1-20) circumstance. The shows us this truth. shepherds’ Luke opens the story circumstances: poor, with Caesar Augustus’ menial job, left out in the decree for a census of the cold, did not change. But, entire Roman world. they were overjoyed at Even Mary, in her last the good news (Luke trimester of pregnancy, 2:20). had to make the long Observe the journey back to her circumstances of Mary husband’s town. and Joseph: newly Shepherds are out in married, accusation of the field in the cold and immorality, the taxes, no the dark, but the angel vacancy in the inn, the says to them “Don’t be stable and the birth. Yet afraid, I bring you good they experienced joy. news of great joy”. (Luke Real joy is not the result 2:10) Joy is a by-product, of what we do. but a by-product of Conversely, it is the what? Joy is a byresult of what God does. product of the Good Mary singing a song. The News. “For unto you is shepherds danced back born this day a to their jobs. They are Saviour…..” (Luke 2:11).

To fully comprehend the good news, we must first know the bad news. The bad news is that we cannot save ourselves from sin, bondage and death. The Jews thought Roman oppression was unacceptable. The real oppressor, however, was sin. If our greatest need had been knowledge, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would

By BISHOP SONNY E. WILLIAMS Presiding Bishop – Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies, St. Vincent and the Grenadines District

Bishop Sonny Williams joyful because God has taken action.

There is a force greater than ourselves at work in the world. God is active in the world. In our battles with emperors or with malignancies of the body, mind and spirit, it isn’t all left up to us.

Christmas tells us God has acted. God has chosen to be involved in our affairs. Real joy is a by-product of the good news to all people. There is a Saviour who has taken action in our world and in your life. He is the inexhaustible source of real joy.

In this regard, I want on behalf of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies, St. Vincent and the Grenadines District, to wish all a joyous season.

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30. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Christmas Feature

Christmas Celebration a Fundamental right and freedom for Christians

We are not worshiping false Gods or chasing imaginary butterflies, and or fooling ourselves with the so called belief that Christians’ Christmas is Christians are not celebrating the fictitious story that Jesus Christ was only about the house decorations, the “YET, I WILL REJOICE in the Lord, I will born on the 25th of December 2000 or feasting, families get together and the joy in the God of my salvation” gift exchanging. This is a far cry from more years ago, and certainly, we are (Habakkuk 3: 18) what it is. Christmas is all about the not having a pagan celebration as A Merry God filled Christmas and a stated by a few of our ‘pyroclastic’ Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, our heart-warming New Year to My Redeemer, the only Wise God, whose religious counterparts. What we as Archbishop —His Grace, the Most Glory, Majesty and Power cover all.

Christians are celebrating, is what Reverend Primate Frank Simon: My As we celebrate this joyous season, Almighty God has done, what He is Chancellor-Reverend Parnel Campbell; doing, and what He will do in the let us give thanks to Almighty God for My Canons, Archdeacon, Bishops, Jesus Christ (divinity clothed in future! We are vividly remembering Ministers, Deacons and Deaconesses, humanity), God’s greatest gift to the birth of Christ, for we know that members and friends of the divine revelation in the inspired word mankind. A gift that caused Pope Archdiocese, the Government, the Julius - the first, in 350 years after the of God decreed its reality in the Old Opposition and all Vincentians home Testament, and it turned out to be an birth of Christ, to declare that Christ’s and abroad, not forgetting my personal empirical fact (fulfilled prophecy) in birth would be celebrated on the 25th secretary ,Reverend Dr. Phyllis Ralph the gospel of the New Testament.

December each year. Yes, it may be Browne. I declare God’s blessings on Also, we recognized the importance of true that a few people do not realize your lives as you continue to preach the death and resurrection of the Lord that a form of Christmas was and implement the truth of God’s word Jesus Christ in securing our celebrated in Europe long before the and submit yourselves to His redemption, and we are looking beyond people heard about Jesus; and also sovereignty. that it is very unlikely that Jesus was “today and tomorrow” when the Lord born in December at all, since the Jesus Christ will come back again.

Bible records shepherds tending their sheep in the fields on that night. It is quite unlikely that shepherds will be out in the fields grazing their flocks on such a cold Judean winter ‘December 25th’. A historical search back in time revealed that when Pope Julius - the first, began to convert the pagan Romans to Christianity, he knew that removing their pagan celebration would have proved too painful and may have prevented many of the pagan Romans from accepting Christianity, so he infused a new meaning and a new direction to the celebration “the Christ of Christmas (X-mas) which involved worshipping and honoring the birth of Christ”. This strategy (a combination of worshiping, feasting, caroling and gift offerings) made it easier for the pagan Romans to accept the Christian religion.

Christmas as we know it today, His Excellency-Patriarch of the Spiritual Baptist Archdiocese of St Vincent and the Grenadines EDMUND EARDLEY JOHN

Is it right for Christians to celebrate Christmas?

Patriarch Edmund John actually began in Germany, though Catholics and Lutherans still disagree about which church celebrated it first.

However, the earliest record of an evergreen being decorated in a Christmas celebration was in 1521 in the Alsace region of Germany.

Despite all the controversies, the celebration of Christ’s birth on the 25th December remains one of the most important festive events in the world, where peace and goodwill are shared among all people, both Christians, non- Christian and even some of the ‘pyroclastic’ religious leaders.

For all of us to truly celebrate the Christ of Christmas, we must confess and repent of our sins! Only then could we look beyond ‘the day and the next’ for the second coming of Christ.

Confession is cleansing the mind from sinful thoughts, and clearing out the residence (heart) in order to seek God’s mercy and to invite God to reside in you. And if God be in you this Christmas, He is greater than the world against you. So stop pretending!

Take off your false eyelashes and gorilla suits, and put on the Lord Christ Jesus, for He has already marked you for Greatness. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “If God is for you, no man can be against you.”

V Cain is new Chief Agriculture Officer (Ag.)

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 31.

People

Grant has opened the door for Ashley Cain.

At a press conference on Wednesday 10th December, Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar, made the announcement that Cain will fill the post of CAO, in an acting capacity.

The Agriculture Minister expressed thanks to Grant for his service to the ministry, noting that many of the farmers and the entire sector would have benefited from his expertise.

And as he welcomed Cain, he said that much is expected of him.

Caesar described Cain as having a long history of Ashley Cain, Chief Agricultural working in the Ministry Officer (Ag,) cites the basic and, in particular, in the challenge in the agricultural banana industry. In fact, sector as a financing one.

Cain was seconded to serve as manager of the St.

by KENVILLE HORNE Vincent Banana Growers Association from circa 1995 — THE RETIREMENT OF Chief 2001.

Agricultural Officer (CAO) Leslie

Responding to a question from THE VINCENTIAN concerning his major objective in his new capacity, Cain said that one of his major objectives is to revive the banana industry. “I have said on many occasions (that) we know how to grow bananas, but we don’t know how to grow bananas successfully for this time,” said Cain.

He alluded to some of the challenges the sector is facing, including lack of preferential treatment by the EU. “(But) a lot of it has to do with technology, it has to do with attitude. It has to do with bringing the finances behind banana as a crop,” said Cain, on how to make the industry more viable.

But he was quick to remind that the challenges faced by the banana industry were no different fundamentally from those faced by other crops.

“The challenge for us is a

financing one,” Cain said, adding, “We have good soil, we have good conditions for producing them. Where it has fallen short has been in terms of the consistent financing and investment for the production of these various crops.”

He pointed to the Farmers Support Company (FSC) as an opportunity to provide the requisite support to a focussed group of farmers. “Get them to raise their production, productivity, and the benefits which can be derived from the crops. (And) as we have seen in the heyday of bananas, people flow behind what they see as successful initiatives within the agriculture industry,” Cain proffered.

“So that is my expectation; that we would be able to enhance the technology with a facility such as the FSC and normal banking institutions, if farmers choose to use those, to enhance the production and

Leslie Grant, outgoing Chief Agricultural Officer, also served at the St. Vincent Banana Growers Association before being reassigned to the Ministry of Agriculture. productivity and, at the end of the day, their income in a sustainable way,” concluded the newly appointed Chief Agricultural Officer acting.

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32. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Will death of PetroCaribe mean job cuts?

PETROCARIBE WAS FOUNDEd in 2005, by the then President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez. The aim was to get a number of poor countries to buy Venezuelan oil on preferential terms with a 20-year grace period and build an alliance with Venezuela.

PetroCaribe (SVG) Limited was formed on 17 October 2005, and registered as a private company on 03 November 2005.

It is believed that VINLEC buys oil from Venezuela and pays PetroCaribe (SVG) Limited about $6 million every month. Since the end of 2005, approximately $648m has been paid to PetroCaribe (SVG) Limited ($6m x 12 months x 9 years =$648m).

It is difficult to exactly verify the total amount, as access to PetroCaribe (SVG) Limited financial statements has been denied, and although the Freedom of Information Act 2003 was signed by His Excellency the Governor General of SVG in December 2003, the Act has not been gazetted by Gonsalves to become law.

It is also believed that money paid to PetroCaribe (SVG) Limited has been used to help pay wages of government workers, which in 2014 amounted to $271,417,887 (source: SVG Budget Estimates 2014).

There is much concern that the death of PetroCaribe means the ULP regime will cut

thousands of government jobs. The ULP regime’s begging bowl has dried up: Gaddafi of Libya is dead; Chavez of Venezuela is dead; Chen of Taiwan is in jail; Manning of Trinidad and Tobago was voted out of office; Badawi of Malaysia was voted out of office.

The begging bowl has gone, and Gonsalves, who is not a university graduate in finance, has been incompetent in managing SVG’s financial affairs.

Will the ULP regime sell VINLEC or the Port Authority, or be forced to follow Barbados and cut thousands of government jobs?

According to the SVG Budget Estimates 2014, the ULP government’s recurrent expenditure is $654,441,101. Now that PetroCaribe is dead, where will this money come from?

The reliance on PetroCaribe has unnecessarily syphoned millions of dollars out of Vincentian households and the SVG economy. Oil is expensive, and the continued use of oil to generate electricity has drained the economy with a high fuel surcharge and high electricity prices.

To keep more money circulating within SVG and in householders’ pockets, SVG should have turned to renewable energies at least 10 years ago, to produce electricity. This would have made electricity cheaper.

PetroCaribe has been bad for SVG. The SVG economy is very weak. A Green government will bring competent financial management, and create revenue to save government jobs and create thousands of new jobs.

We will build a billion dollar tuna fishing and canning industry, build factories for agro-processing, set up a renewable energy industry, set up a water exporting industry, boost small businesses and the manufacturing sector, and abolish the multi-million dollar tax exemptions given to Taiwan and the super-rich of Mustique and Canouan.

The death of PetroCaribe could have serious consequences for SVG under the financially incompetent ULP regime. The present SVG Minister of Finance, Gonsalves, is utterly hopeless at managing the public accounts. It is crucial that the electorate vote for regime change. A Green government would bring stability by increasing our exports, reducing our imports and creating economic growth and revenue.

SVG Green Party www.svggreenparty.org

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 33.

Agriculture

Agriculture Policy Programme launched

Things looking up for Vincy bananas

by KENVILLE HORNE Saboto Caesar, Minister of AT LEAST TWO of Agriculture, increase the capability of the Thursday, spoke of this country’s Regional Agricultural December 4, increased regional trading Development Agencies, also. To 2014, at the demand for partners have NIS Conference address the development needs shown an increased Vincy bananas of small holder agriculture this Room. in the region demand for According to recognizes the needs to St.Vincent and the and plans to re-commence strengthen institutional Dalton, the exportation to the UK. Grenadines APP, a regional environment that supports bananas. agricultural development and From left: Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar, initiative that According to Minister of conference on Wednesday hence adds value at the regional Agriculture, Saboto Caesar, 10th December. is being Dr. Gregory Robin – CARDI and Milton Dalton – implemented by level.”

Caesar also pointed to a IICA at the launch of the APP. while in 2014 the Ministry Dr. Gregory Robin, Country IICA and the Memorandum of of Agriculture was able to Representative for CARDI, Caribbean meet its target of exporting Understanding that was appealed to regional farmers to Agricultural 1100 tons of bananas to the signed between his source certified quality seedlings regional market, he Research and Development Ministry and the Fair Institute (CARDI), is intended to for commercial production, and disclosed that , “There is a Trade organization in advised, that in order to ensure identify agricultural November this year. The growing demand in both that farmers produce commodities, which are best Barbados and Trinidad and agreement set the platform commodities of the highest suited for production in the for SVG to once again Tobago, and we were not quality under the APP Project, region, towards enhancing the export bananas to the UK. able to satisfy half of that they must source their seedlings demand.” regional effort to maximize The Minister also from certified suppliers. benefits from agriculture. revealed that he was The Agriculture Minister Farmers and other stakeholders He warned that the APP “The Agricultural Policy “reliably informed” by the said that the growing at the launch of the APP. project has very serious Programme is truly a regional demand came as a result of Head of the Banana guidelines that must be followed. the Black Sigatoka disease Services Unit, Sylvester programme which aims to Meanwhile, Minister of contribute to the effort of Vanloo, that there were affecting the industry in THE AGRICULTURE POLICY Agriculture Saboto Caesar said member states in the approximately 900-1000 Central America, and that Programme (APP), founded under there is a need for more CARIFORUM area (Caribbean region’s preferred focus on acres of banana under the 10th European Development agricultural programmes to be ACP States), to develop their their traditional markets in cultivation, and that this Fund (EDF), has the potential to developed; programmes that are the USA, Canada and the agriculture and food industries was expected to increase, completely transform how in a meaningful and sustainable tailored specifically to the needs encouraged by a demand United Kingdom. agricultural production takes place way,” Dalton said. of St. Vincent and the for banana plants by “It is our aim to in the region.

Grenadines.

He continued, “The APP is farmers on the Leeward capitalize on this and to This is the view of Milton He called for the Agricultural ultimately aimed at ensuring side of the island. continue to export our Dalton, Technical Specialist for Science syllabus in schools to be that small producers in These plants would be bananas to the islands that Inter-American Institute for Co- CARFORUM countries are more more focused on the development supplied to those farmers are neighboring,” the operation on Agriculture (IICA). effectively integrated into component of agriculture, in St. before the end of 2014, Minister noted, while He expressed the sentiment at national regional market. This Vincent and the Grenadines.

Caesar assured. speaking at a press the launch of the APP, on program specifically aims to

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34. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Community

Elderly feted Persons addressing the gathering included (from left) Mineva Glasgow – NIS, Member of Parliament for Central Leeward Maxwell Charles and Grenville Williams –FIU.

Ken Abraham, Members of the URA took on the duty of serving the senior citizens.

President of the URA, also addressed the gathering.

and made known that they have a responsibility to make suggestions to ELDERLY PERSONS WHO attend the help the young people, who are in need Golden Groove Golden Years Centre, of guidance. “You have the knowledge, located in Buccument, were treated to the talent, to contribute to these an early Christmas, compliments the persons. We cannot just step back and United Returnees Association (URA), last say ‘it’s not my responsibility’,” week Thursday, December 11.

Williams told the group of elders.

The elderly were ‘wined and dined’ Deputy CEO of the NIS, Mineva and entertained in song by local Glasgow, retraced the process that led songstress Kahalia Beache. They were to the NIS agreeing to fund encouraged to join in the singing and construction of the Centre, which was dance. opened in 2005, and, given that the Remarks at the function came from NIS has a responsibility to pensioners, Member of Parliament for Central she highlighted her institution’s Leeward, Maxwell Charles; Deputy satisfaction with having provided a CEO of National Insurance Service facility where “Golden agers” can meet (NIS) Mineva Glasgow; and Head of and socialize. the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Glasgow commended the staff at the Grenville Williams.

Centre for “the job they are doing.”

Williams addressed the senior MP Charles recognized the URA citizens on the ‘The pleasure of age’, and its ongoing work in the declaring that getting old is a Buccament/Penniston community. privilege. “….You were in England and spent He told them that as long as they so many years, (and would) have come had life, their work was never done, back to enjoy life… yet you find the by: KENVILLE HORNE

time to participate in the communities ……….. And you are contributing in a positive way,” Charles told the URA members.

Charles also applauded the senior citizens who usually attend the Centre on a regular basis, for their pleasant attitude and warm reception towards him whenever he visits, and he implored them to “continue to attend the Kahalia Beache entertained the senior citizens in Center and socials song, accompanied by her father Kenelm Beache. with their peers.”

The United among the returnees themselves, but Returnees Association is comprised of in recent times, the objective has 30 persons who had resided in expanded to include serving England and the USA for some time. communities around St. Vincent.

The initial objective of the organization was to form a bond

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36. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Co-operative/Economy

Cooperative Farmers Market launched Right: Ashley Cain, newly appointed Chief Agricultural Officer (Ag), wants the relevant authorities to work towards ensuring market opportunities for farmers.

resilience by making use of training opportunities FARMERS have been and technical support encouraged to improve the from the Ministry of presentation of produce Agriculture, he advised. they put on sale.

Recently appointed This recommendation Chief Agricultural comes from Cecil Officer (Ag) Ashley Cain, Jackson, Registrar of in his presentation, said Cooperatives (Ag) as he that he was particularly addressed the launch of pleased to see the the Cooperative Farmer’s implementation of the Market, last Friday, project.

December 12.

“Over the years, if you The launch of the new asked farmers what have farmers’ cooperative is been some of the biggest being viewed as an challenges, they will initiative that would respond praedial larceny bring with it, and proper markets,” tremendous growth, Cain said.

Jackson said.

Regarding the latter But local farmers need concern, he expressed the to ensure that they build wish that the work of

by DAYLE DA SILVA

relevant authorities would result in better markets for farmers in the rural communities.

“Service to clientele with efficiency is something to be pursued with great vigour,” he said.

The formation of the cooperative market was to ensure that farmers work together, Minister with Responsibility for Co-operatives, Frederick Stephenson said.

“Don’t undersell your group if you belong to a group, and don’t go sell produce outside for more or less — it will fall apart,” Stephenson continued.

Frederick Stephenson, under whose portfolio Cooperatives comes, urged farmers not to undersell themselves.

It was acknowledged that local farmers will never be able to compete on the scale as those from some of the larger territories across the globe; therefore they needed to come together.

“There is certain strength in unity — it is that strength that resides in unity that is going to propel the

Cecil Jackson, Registrar of Cooperatives (Ag), called on farmers to pay production is increased, attention to how they presented their produce “it not only registers a decrease in the food for sale. import bill, but it also cooperatives’ initiative to addresses the important play a greater role in issue of hunger and agriculture in this undernourishment.” country,” Minister of The Farmers Market Agriculture Saboto Cooperative is expected Caesar said. to receive technical The significant result assistance from the of growing more and Taiwanese Technical cooperating, according to Mission. the Minister, was that when local food

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42. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Tribute

Prominent Vincy businesswoman passes Story and photos by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; neloking@msn.com US CORRESPONDENT

JUST MONTHS after fulfilling her life-long dream of opening a bakery in Brooklyn, New York, Cynthia Williams-Bernard passed away.

Williams-Bernard, a Richland Park native, who owned Ethlyn’s Caribbean Bakery on Nostrand Avenue, between Tilden Street and Beverly Road in Brooklyn, went to the Great Beyond on Nov. 25.

She was 64.

Williams-Bernard, who was also a veteran Registered Nurse, died at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, according to the Rev. Dr. Glyger Beach, pastor of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn.

In his sermon, at the

funeral service last Friday, Rev. Beach, who was Williams-Bernard’s pastor, said he had gone to visit her on her dying bed.

The cause of death was not stated in the funeral programme, and close friends and associates of Williams-Bernard declined to disclose the cause, claiming that she had wanted her diagnosis to be private.

But Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s inpatient hospital — known as Memorial Hospital, says on its website that it is a “worldwide leader in the treatment of cancer,” adding that its patients are admitted “when they have acute care needs for treatment or symptom management, based on their cancer diagnosis or a related illness.”

Williams-Bernard had opened the bakery, formerly Vincie Bakery, in early March last year, amid much fanfare.

She told THE VINCENTIAN then that she named the bakery after her grandmother Ethlyn Hector, also of Richland Park. The Vincy Bakery had closed its doors about a year earlier — shortly after its former co-owner Nicholas Clouden expired.

“I thought about doing something for my retirement, and decided to open a bakery because my parents had a bakery while I was growing up,” Williams-Bernard told THE VINCENTIAN in an exclusive interview at the time.

Her late parents were Ezekiel and Marion Elizabeth Williams, also of Richland Park.

Williams-Bernard — who worked full time with the United States federal government, at 26 Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan, in charge of hospital programmes — said, in that interview, that she

had planned to retire from nursing in about two to three years.

“I chose bakery also because it does not conflict with my job,” she had said, disclosing that her goal was to expand the bakery in a couple of years.

At her funeral service at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, where she was a member, mourners — including Williams-Bernard’s two children and ex-husband, Dennis “Long John” Bernard, of Arnos Vale — described her as very loving, caring and supportive.

“I’m really so happy to be Cynthia’s daughter,” said Kimberly Massiah in her tribute. “She was such a beautiful and strong woman.

“She was an amazing mother, and (she) made us live an amazing life we can (could) ever imagine,” added Kimberly, referring

also to her brother, Keith Little, who sat in an adjacent pew with his wife, Sherri MangieriLittle, and their toddler Carmela.

Registered Nurse Phyllis Payne-Dublin, of Belmont, bordering the Marriaqua Valley, noted that Bernard-Williams was a member of the Brooklyn-based St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Nurses Association of New York.

“Cynthia, we will miss you”, she said in a very terse tribute on behalf of the nursing group.

Lauren Morensen, who worked with WilliamsBernard at the federal government’s Center for Medicare and Medicaid in Manhattan, said: “She was a wonderful person, who put herself to selfless service.”

New York Counsel General Selmon Walters, who attended the service with his new deputy,

Cynthia BernardWilliams Sehon Marshall, said that when he assumed his new position four years ago, Williams-Bernard was “one of those persons who reached out to me.”

Rev. Beach, who hails from Brighton, said Williams-Bernard “would donate from the bakery” when the church was in need, noting, “When you’re doing good works and good deeds, people will remember that.”

Williams-Bernard, a retired member of the US Army Reserve, was interred the next day “amidst a beautiful military send off,” according to Bernard, at Rosehill Cemetery in nearby Linden, New Jersey.

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44. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Christmas feature

Remembering the Past, Renewing our Faith Christmas Message PASTOR DERMOTH BAPTISTE President, SVG Mission of Seventh-day Adventists AS WE PAUSE to celebrate the season of Advent this year, we are doing so against the backdrop of a world which is rapidly sinking more and more into moral declension, economic depression, social deprivation, catastrophic disasters resulting from climate change, and spiritual depravity, as a result of a lack of trust in God, who is the very reason for the season we are celebrating.

One of the greatest delusions of the time is to think we are in control of our lives, and we can do as we please without regard for the natural consequences which follow our actions. Our recent history of the calamitous floods of 2013 reminds us again of our vulnerability and total helplessness when nature is out of control.

For many this year, Christmas comes with a bitter taste, especially for those who have lost loved ones, whether it be in the floods of last year or death by unnatural means this year. I enter into your feelings as you live through the pain, anguish, agony and hurt that follow every cycle of disaster and death. As you honour the memory and remember the legacy of your loved ones, I commend you to the power and strength of Jesus who condescended to this earth to bind our wounds, anoint our beings and to lift us up from the trenches so that by faith, we can sit with Him in heavenly places.

Whether you are searching for significance, floundering for faith or looking for some type of ultimate meaning to your life, I offer you Jesus who alone brings joy, assures salvation, satisfies our longings and fulfills our emptiness. Your life is not a meaningless journey to nowhere. Just as every thread in a tapestry has a function, so God has a plan for your life to fulfill

you because of His gracious love. His plan begins with you turning your life over to Him fully and completely.

The story of Christmas is about Jesus becoming flesh and moving into our world, into our country, into our neighborhood, into our street, into our corner and into our heart to qualify, claim, rescue and redeem us from the power and dominion of sin. Christmas only has relevance and significance for us as we allow Him to break sin in our lives and be empowered by the Holy Spirit to live renewed, sanctified lives.

I read a story about a young husband and wife who had gone through some rocky times, to the point where the wife finally became so disillusioned with the stress of marriage and the responsibility of being a mother, that she just wanted to get away.

One morning, the husband awakened to a note beside him in their bed, but she was gone. He agonized about her leaving, but felt she needed a little space. So, he didn’t try to follow her.

He called her cell phone that day and every day for more than a week. He told her he loved her. He begged her to come home, and she listened to what he had to say. He often could hear her softly weeping, but she stubbornly refused to come home.

As Christmas approached, the young father became more intentional, and he decided to hire a private investigator to help him locate her. A week later, the detective stumbled across her in a low-budget motel in a bad area of Las Vegas. Without alerting her to his discovery, he called the husband in California.

Several days before Christmas, she sat on a lumpy motel bed by herself in a dimly lit room. She felt about as lonely as she’d ever felt in her entire life, and suddenly she heard a knock, softly at first and then it grew louder.

Pastor Dermoth Baptiste Cautiously, she walked across the room and peeked through the curtain. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw her husband standing in the doorway. She slid the chain free, threw open the door, and fell into his arms.

He repeated his familiar speech: “We love you. We need you. Please come home.” This time…this time she was throwing the few clothes into her old suitcase and heading for his car. A week later, the Christmas tree was back in the attic; the children were in school; and he asked her, “Why did you wait so long to come home? I begged you to come back a dozen times. What took you so long?”

She said, “You told me you loved me. You told me you needed me, but those were just words until you came.”

Two thousand years ago, the God of the universe came. He left heaven, and He came through the doorway of earth. He set aside His power. Why? Because of His love for the human family. As we celebrate Christmas this year, the best gift we can bring to Him is our wary, wayward, wretched, wrecked lives in exchange for renewal, regeneration, restoration and revival.

Until we do this with honesty and sincerity, we will never find rest for our troubled souls.

On behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, I wish every Vincentian and all visitors to our shore a blessed and reflective Christmas and a New Year of rich, unprecedented blessings in every facet of your life.

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46. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Business

CARICOM assesses:

CWC & Columbus form new company CARICOM has officially declared that it is taking note of the November 6, 2014 announcement of the acquisition by Cable and Wireless Communications Plc

Phil Bentley, CEO-CWC, receives a salary of £800,000 a year and a maximum bonus of £1.2m as CEO of CWC.

(CWC) of Columbus International Inc, trading as FLOW in the region.

CARICOM, through its Competition Commission, said that it has begun conducting an internal preliminary assessment of the transaction with all available public information.

The Commission said it will make a further announcement at the conclusion of its internal review process on its strategy and plans for addressing the announced transaction.

But while CARICOM begins its ‘preliminary assessment’, Cable and Wireless Communications and Columbus International Inc. have announced the pending formation of NewCo, a new company

that they say will revolutionise telecommunications in the Caribbean, by “putting customers at the heart” of their business.

The establishment of the company will follow the approval and closing of the merger of the two companies.

Making the announcement yesterday, CWC CEO Phil Bentley said that NewCo will invest US$400 million to expand its broadband infrastructure. “This merger will result in the most extensive fibre infrastructure ever constructed in the region, providing wider access to all, specifically targeting low-income households.

We will ensure that all our customers have affordable access, while also providing industry-

leading 1 gigabyte per second broadband speeds for those customers who want an unparalleled online experience,” Bentley disclosed.

Bentley also pledged that the new company formed from the merger of CWC/Columbus would create more than 500 jobs between now and 2019, through growth in its services and by reviewing current outsourcing arrangements. “We will enhance the quality of our customers’ experience, as we invest in jobs closer to our Caribbean customers,” he said.

“We are keen to facilitate consumer choice – it’s our customers who define service excellence – and the freedom to access

OTT services and to port mobile or fixed-line telephone numbers is a key element of our strategy,” Bentley emphasised.

With the introduction of a ‘no-contract’ service offering, customers will have the ability to transfer landline, video and broadband services at any time, to any provider.

“Our job is to keep our customers satisfied, and if we do not deliver an exceptional experience, we can’t expect their patronage. You can’t contract customer loyalty – you have to earn it,” explained Columbus CEO Brendan Paddick.

The acquisition is still awaiting approval from telecommunications regulatory bodies in Trinidad and Tobago,

Brendan Paddick, Columbus CEO, stands to benefit from a windfall of US US$707 million in cash, as part of the conditions of the acquisition.

Jamaica and Barbados, and licensing approval from St. Vincent, Grenada and St. Lucia.

In accordance with the conditions of CWC’s acquisition of Columbus Communications Inc, CWC proposes to pay the three main Columbus shareholder, co-founders John Risley and Brendan Paddick and cable tycoon John Malone, US$707 million in cash.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 47.

News

PCR tests discontinued for Nigerian nationals NIGERIAN nationals travelling to this country are no longer required to produce a negative PCR test upon entry.

Dr Rosmond Adams, Chair of the National Surveillance Committee in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, confirmed that The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test is considered Cabinet had the most accurate for Ebola. made the discontinuation of the entry decision following the October 20 requirement of a negative PCR Ebola declaration by the World Health Organisation (WHO), that Nigeria was test for persons traveling from Nigeria to St Vincent and the Grenadines. now free of Ebola.

The restrictions imposed on According to a press release from nationals from Sierra Leone, Guinea the Ministry of Health, Cabinet and Liberia are still in place, however, granted approval for the according to Adams.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 49.

Business

Digicel brings cheer to the Special Children TELECOMMUNICATIONS service provider Digicel is not slowing down in its drive to bring early Christmas cheer to institutions serving Special Needs Children here.

A Digicel Christmas entourage, led by Marketing Manager Juno DeRoche, visited with the staff and students at the Georgetown School for Children with Special Needs on Wednesday 10th December: then a team, led by Digicel’s Sales Manager Fanta Williams, hastened to Bequia for a similar visit with the Sunshine School on Thursday 11th.

And there was no letting up, for the very next day, Friday 12th, the Digicel entourage, led again by DeRoche, touched down at the Kingstown School for Children with Special Needs.

Digicel Staffer, Fanta Williams, led the drive to On each visit, the students and some staff ensure that the Special Children in Bequia received gifts. received special Christmas cheer.

Principal of the Kingstown School for Children with Special Needs, Nazeem Smith, funded the ‘Digicel party’ for the students. represented the sentiments of the other schools, DeRoche assured that Digicel was saying, “Digicel brought joy and happiness to the committed to bringing the Yuletide spirit to kids, and we are thankful.” all the Special Needs students in the Her school was the recipient of a cheque which country.

In a related development, DeRoche responded immediately to an expressed need of the Georgetown school, when she committed her company to funding and

Winner Mashardo with Digicel’s Marketing Executive Danielle Cupid (3rd from right) and Digicel models.

Substitute wins big in Digicel promo THREE of the four originally selected contenders in the fourth round of the Digicel’s ‘Together we make Christmas Better’ promotion might not have turned up in person, for last Friday’s draw, but the excitement still overflowed at Heritage Square, where the activity was staged.

Mashardo Abraham, filling in for Anthony Patterson, Tashica Richardson on behalf of Sylvenius Edwards, Maxwell Exeter for Leroy Mitchelle, and Cecelia John standing on her own, enthusiastically followed the day’s ‘treasure hunt’ clues.

They began by each selecting a bottled soft drink, and consumed it to find the registration number of a vehicle parked in the Square.

Off each went for a ride in their ‘respective vehicles’, returning to Heritage Square where they were instructed to look under the seats they occupied, where they each found an envelope, one of which contained indication of the grand prize, $10,000.00 And the lucky winner was

Mashardo Abraham.

The Roseau, Sion Hill resident, a tally clerk at General Maritime Agencies (GMA), said that when he notified his friend Patterson, his friend told him to keep the winnings, but he could give him something if he wanted.”

Abraham, a subscriber of Digicel since it started operations here, has decided to hand over a quarter of the money to Patterson.

“I will like to say thanks to Patterson and thanks to Digicel,” he said.

The other contestants did not leave empty-handed. They took home prizes of bottled beverages.

Today, Friday 19th December, two persons will receive calls from Digicel, telling them that they each has won EC$5000, as part of the ‘Together we make Christmas Better’ promotion.

On Christmas Eve, December 24th, one person will take home EC$20,000 in the final day of the promotion.

Nazeem Smith (left front) receives the Digicel cheque that funded the Christmas party for the children of the Kingstown school.

Students of the Georgetown School joyously display their Digicel gifts. constructing a perimeter fence at that institution.

Digicel is recognised here and in the region, as an ongoing benefactor of Special Olympics programmes.

V Agriculture needs new talent 52. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Economy

talent for which the Ministry of Agriculture YOUNG PEOPLE are no was looking. longer choosing farming “We want the children as their first choice career of the farmers — the option, and this is second generation,” the threatening the minister said. sustainability of the “Even if you are a agriculture sector. lawyer, there is a role for Minister of legal services in Agriculture, Saboto cooperatives — if you are Caesar, said at the a nutritionist, if you launch of the have received training in Cooperative Farmers medicine, we have to lift Market on Friday 12th our game if we are to December, that the survive in a competitive situation posed a environment,” Caesar challenge to the declared. strengthening of farmers’ organisations.

Airport to bring possibilities “If you look at those heading the Turning his attention organisations, and the to the international leadership, we have not airport at Argyle, yet been able to Minister Caesar said incorporate, infuse that the airport will organisations with an bring the possibility of exceptional cadre of new markets, multi-talented, multiparticularly for those in faceted young people,” the fishing sector.

Caesar said.

With the opening of He said that the the international airport, children who currently farmers and fisher folk take advantage of the have to start reaching Education Revolution are new frontiers when the children of those looking to market their persons who occupy the commodities positions of leadership internationally, Caesar within many proffered. organisations, and cited The lack of an that that was the sort of international airport was

by DAYLE DA SILVA

Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar, wants to see a new generation of Vincentians actively involving themselves in agricultural endeavours.

significantly hindering the exportation of fish from this country to the United States, he explained.

“We cannot get the fish to the market fresh,” Caesar said.

He continued, saying that it was a situation where after the produce left St Vincent and the Grenadines by air cargo, the flight had to overnight at Piarco Airport, in Trinidad.

“By the time it reaches the United States the next day, they (the fish) get red eye,” he said.

“So from a fisheries standpoint, we see that The Minister of important market opening and our ability Agriculture to get more food to the expects the export of fish to market place in a short space of time as being be increased one of the pluses when and improved we open the once the international airport international at Argyle,” the airport is commissioned. Minister said.

Cultivating a ‘new’ interest in agriculture has to start with the very young.

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56. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Christmas Feature

A message of hope at Christmas

life of sacrifice, and inspired many by his teaching. Millions around the world celebrate His birthday at Christmas, and draw AT CHRISTMAS, our from his life and thoughts are always full of message of strength and our homes and our hope, peace and love. families. If you are a wife In 2014, we were or a mom, remember that confronted every day your joy is important at with many grave Christmas. Christmas is problems and difficulties about joy and if the joy of which seem the Lord is your strength, insurmountable. We then your strength is your grappled with the children’s strength. So, do scourge of violence, not let anything steal your (sexual, physical, verbal, joy. psychological and However, for some of financial), discrimination us, Christmas is the at all levels and many season when family injustices committed members come together against humanity. The to share in the spirit and struggle goes on; we will affection, by exchanging not give up. The greetings from a violence must stop. distance. For others, As we move into 2015, Christmas will mean our expectations and reflection on the aspirations are many, memories of our loved but the challenges that ones who are no longer will confront us, we do with us. not know. So, let us But we do hope that establish a foundation to your comfort might be build a truer knowledge fulfilled by the example of ourselves; practise of Jesus of Nazareth, tolerance and who lived an unselfish understanding among

by BEVERLY RICHARDS THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN OF ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

Beverly Richards ourselves, respect ourselves, respect others, love one another, and by this we will establish a culture of peace.

As we celebrate, let us remember the eternal message of Christmas and the desire of us all: ‘Peace on earth, good will to all men’.

We hope that this Christmas message will encourage and sustain you now and in the coming year.

Remember always that genuine happiness and satisfaction lie in giving than in receiving, and in serving than in being served. Faithfully serve God all the days of your life.

We wish you all a very happy Christmas, and May God bless and guide you all throughout 2015.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 61.

News

NOBA to join the fight against crime indicated that owners, drivers and conductors of omnibuses are expected THE NATIONAL OMNIBUS to attend the meeting, as ASSOCIATION (NOBA) is well as Brighton seeking to see how best residents, the they could assist the neighbourhood watch residents of Brighton, in and police light of the criminal representatives. activities taking place in Bacchus said NOBA that area. wants to see in what way NOBA’s President, they could assist that Anthony ‘Code Red’ community in the fight Bacchus, told THE against crime. He VINCENTIAN on suggested that one ways Tuesday that NOBA will could be to drop be attending a meeting passengers at their tomorrow (Saturday, homes in the villages at December 20) at Huffles nights. He noted that Business Place at there has been a number Brighton. The meeting is of reported incidents in called by concerned the area. citizens of the community Bacchus is of the view to discuss the crime that passengers who situation in the area. He have to walk from the Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

main road to their homes after being dropped off by the omnibuses at nights, are vulnerable to the criminals. This is one of the issues NOBA intends to raise at the meeting.

He indicated that some residents have agreed to pay more to be dropped at their homes at nights.

Bacchus said that the Association is also seeking to have this done in other communities.

Bacchus took the opportunity to appeal to omnibus drivers to drive safely, especially during the Christmas season.

“Take the passengers safely to their destinations and leave the (alcohol) drinking for when you are off duty,”

he advised, and wished everybody a happy Christmas and a prosperous new year.

When contacted, Commissioner of Police Michael Charles told THE VINCENTIAN he welcomes the move by residents of Brighton and NOBA to come together to hold discussions with regard to the crime situation there. He confirmed that Bacchus contacted him, and the police will be represented at the meeting by its Complaints and Public Relations Department, as well as Superintendent Eric Browne, District Commander of the South Central Division in

Sion Hill Lights up tonight THE SION HILL COMMUNITY will be turning on the lights at the Sion Hill Intersection this Friday evening, 19th December, from 7:30.

Donald Peters, one of Sion Hill’s foremost distance athletes of yesteryear, will have the honour of turning the switch to unfold the usual spectacle that is synonymous with such an occasion.

Working with the theme ’Peace on Earth’, the opening programme will have the invocation done by Pastor Mc Kenzie, and will hear

brief addresses from Leroy Llewellyn, Chair of the Sion Hill Lighting Committee; Senator Luke Browne, representing the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture, and a representative of the National Lighting Community.

The packed cultural offering which follows, will feature performances from Resistance Heart Beat Drummers, Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra, the father and daughter duo of Tracy and Shannique Browne, Sweet

Sixteen, K.C of the Avenues Dancers, Ashford Peters and De Squad Dance Group.

Also appearing will be Jasper Alexander, Aero Dancers and Rodney Small and the Ultimate Band.

A balloon blowing competition for boys 10 and under and a Christmas Song contest for girls 10 and under, are also part of the evening’s proceedings.

Gloria Williams will perform the duties as Master of Ceremonies.

which Brighton is located.

The Commissioner also confirmed that there has been a series of burglaries and other crimes in that division.

Citizens generally have been complaining of the crime situation here.

In an interview with THE VINCENTIAN last week, Assistant Commissioner of Police, in charge of Operations, Christopher Benjamin, said that crime is everybody’s business, and the public also has a role to play in ensuring its safety.

Anthony Bacchus, President of NOBA, is moving to ensure that its members join with the residents of Brighton to ensure safety in that community.

Cane Garden woman sued by Judge’s wife HELENA ROSALIND EDWARDS, formerly of Queensbury Road, Vermont, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but currently residing in Mount Vernon, New York, USA, has taken legal action against Jillian Providence, also known as Leslie Jack of Cane Garden, SVG, for alleged defamation of character.

The law firm of Marks and Marks, acting on Edwards’ behalf, filed the claim form in the High Court on December 5, 2015.

Edwards, the wifeof William ‘Bill’ Edwards, a Judge attached to the Family Court in Mt. Vernon, New York, claims that in August this year, Providence posted defamatory remarks about her, to her husband’s personal message via facebook,; and that the post was copied and published via facebook in a group bearing the name, ‘The war room’.

She claims that Providence again copied and published the words by attaching the post to an article written by the Claimant, in the online magazine Caribbean News Now. Attorney Ronald Marks told THE VINCENTIAN that his law firm had written to Providence, November 12, 2014 on Edwards’ behalf, demanding that she apologize, retract the words and take down the post; but she did not comply and his client instructed the law firm to take legal action.

Edwards is claiming damages, including exemplary damages for defamation of character, and an injunction preventing the defendant whether by herself, her servants and/or agents or whosoever otherwise from further speaking or publishing the said or similar words defamatory to the claimant.

Edwards is also claiming an injunction mandating the defendant, her servants and/or agents to remove the entire post containing the words complained of from all social media sites, blogs, comments on article written by the claimant on the Caribbean News Now page, and all other electronic publications of same.

She is further claiming interest as the court deems fit and appropriate, any further or other relief as the court deems fit and proper in the circumstances, and legal costs.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 63.

Grenadines

Moorings were illegal Yachts people mooring in Salt Whistle Bay, Mayreau, had complained about over-crowding THE MOORINGS ESTABLISHED at the Tobago Cays Marine Park by Nigel Forde were done so illegally.

They were constructed without any consultation or authorisation from the Marine Park Board, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said.

“They are made from material which is questionable and could pose a danger to the marine environment, as well as endanger the very yachts that provide a living for the people,” he explained “There is nothing sinister or secret about the decision of the Board, and I don’t intent to add or make this a political issue.”

The chairs on

Dr. Gonsalves made the disclosure in response to a question put forward

by MP for the Southern Grenadines, Terrence Ollivierre, during Wednesday’s Sitting of the House.

Back in November, residents of Mayreau travelled to Union Island to stage a protest against the decision made by the Board to remove the existing moorings at Salt Whistle Bay. However, the Prime Minister said that he had been advised that there were too many moorings in the bay for the comfort of the yachts, and that the carrying capacity of the area was being compromised.

According to the Prime Minister, he

removal of the moorings was therefore done as the board made a decision to upgrade and regularise the moorings as part of the general upgrade, Dr. Gonsalves said.

In September 2013, nineteen moorings were replaced in the Park in order to provide safe and reliable facilities to visiting yachtsmen, with a further 20 currently being installed.

Gonsalves further explained that Forde telephoned the Board after hearing of the intended action, and was advised to write to discuss the matter further.

“He has not done so up to this the Opposition side were all occupied. point,” Gonsalves said.

He was also asked to write, but never did so, the Prime Minister had been reliably informed that the continued, and steps taken to obtain a Board had received numerous United States contact number, where complaints from yacht operators of the Forde resides, proved futile. lack of privacy and incidents of yachts “The impression is given that this bumping into each other, due to man is somewhere in Mayreau overcrowding in the area. scrunting. The man in New York City Gonsalves added that he was also putting down sub-standard moorings reliably informed that the residents of in Mayreau.”

Mayreau were also complaining and The Prime Minister further stated that the Marine Park Board came in that another individual removed his for high praises by the said residents, moorings after receiving the similar for the decision it took to upgrade the notice that Forde had been issued. facility.

But, according to Dr. Gonsalves, when “So the people of Mayreau are not Forde received the notice he did the up in arms,” Gonsalves said. opposite — he constructed more The decision for an order for the moorings.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 65.

Across the generations sprouted from Rebecca “DI” Woodley.

John’s international family gathering IT STARTED when three family members met in 2009 and shared reminiscences of our paternal grandmother, Rebecca “DI” Woodley of Bridgetown. “Mama/Granny Woodley” was an iconic family figure, a towering matriarch who influenced and, indeed, shaped the broad development of her children, grand children, and great grandchildren until her death in 1973 at the age of 78 years. Memories of her in that trademark ubiquitous head tie, puffing her pipe are etched in the collective psyche of relatives in whose lives she instilled time tested values.

But the role of this family icon was not restricted to her family; it extended to community political activism as Robert Fitzpatrick noted in his book, BIABOU, THE STORY OF A COMMUNITY: “When George A. McIntosh organized the St. Vincent Representative Government Association (SVRGA) in 1919 a branch was established in Bridgetown. By the mid-1920s the local branch was under the leadership of William Thompson. Women, like Ms Avis Bartholomew, Rebecca “Di” Woodley,

Alice Endever, and Leatha Garrick played pivotal roles in the local Branch as organizers. The Bridgetown Branch was one of the more vibrant branches of the SVRGA and organized activities for the visits of Captain Arthur A. Cipriani and Mr. Marcus Garvey in 1931/32 and 1937 respectively.”

Out of the reminiscences emerged the decision to hold a family reunion for the descendants of “Di” Woodley. The three family members morphed into a planning committee, which soon incorporated other relatives and extended its mandate to include Granny Woodley’s siblings, with an ambitious objective of holding an International Family Gathering. A series of National Family gatherings was held, starting in April 2011 at Bridgetown in the area of Rebecca Woodley’s home. Several activities were held as a result, including fundraising and research. An extensive network of interwoven has been discovered. We explored the intriguing link of family connections, The names tell the tale of REBECCA” Di” WOODLEY, siblings and their generation; JAMES DONALD, PRISCILLA GERTRUDE (Lucy), VERA MADELINE (Cooley), ELSINA ROBERTHA (Janey), ONA GERALDINE (Mary), ALFRED. So now the movement is here in real time. The

International Family Gathering, which runs from December 16 — 29, will, among other things, receive a presentation on the family tree covering seven generation, beginning with Nicholas John (18581939) and his wife Elizabeth Harry (1871-1910). A church service will be held in Biabou at the St. Matthew Parish Church, itself an important part of the heritage of the family. The grand finale will be a recognition event on December 28th which will pay tribute to (i) the oldest female member alive, Winnie John (84years). (ii) The oldest male member alive, Prince Woodley (80 years), (iii) Rebecca Woodley for community/political activism, (iv) Kineke Alexander for athletic achievements including running in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and (v) Tanya Charles, violinist, for international musical achievements.

Joye Browne Secretary Planning Committee

New Cuban Ambassador installed A new Resident Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has been installed.

His Excellency Luis Castillo Campos formally presented his H.E. Luis Castillo Letters of Credence to Her Campos, new Excellency Susan Dougan, Cuban Deputy Governor General of Ambassador to Saint Vincent and the SVG. Grenadines, on Friday December 5th, 2014.

Ambassador Campos is a career diplomat with thirty (30) years of experience. His last ambassadorial posting was to the Democratic Republic of Congo serving.

H. E Campos is fluent in both English and French outside of his native Spanish, and is married with four (4) children.

He replaces His Excellency Pablo Rodriguez who served here for the past four years.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Cuba on May 26th, 1992.

In 2008 both countries entered into a technical cooperation agreement which provided the framework for the enhancing cooperation.

Subsequently a Joint Commission was established as a mechanism to facilitate dialogue, and to develop an effective strategy for deepening relations between the two countries in the areas of Education, Health, Culture, Sports, Trade, Transport, Telecommunication, Infrastructure and other areas of mutual interest.

V Where are the defenders of our democracy?

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 67.

Opinion

SOMETIMES when one hears certain individuals speak of the need for reconciliation in our land, one finds it very difficult not to reflect on certain issues where blatant injustices had been meted out to unfortunate people, citizens of our beloved land, who had their rights trampled on by individuals who had been given the privilege to administer on behalf of the people. Those who pontificate now, about the virtues of reconciliation and how it should be initiated, were themselves callously indifferent when those injustices were being perpetrated, before their very eyes.

Who would have thought that the political rumblings which we had been having in 2000, represented the conception of a spirit of roguishness, the intrusion of which was in process, at the very time of year when we, a nation which claims foundation “on the belief in the supremacy of God and the freedom and dignity of man”, were celebrating the Nativity. The happenings over the last decade or so, fortify the view, that a colossus of evil now bestrides our land and whose agents have succeeded in steering SVG off-course, from its traditional sociopolitical tranquility and tolerant neighbourliness.

It is a direct result of traceable misgovernance, that a very significant number of our citizens are experiencing conditions which are frustrating their lives from day to day.

There is now among many of them, the absence of that spirit of hope which energized the society in yesteryear.

People power at work In 2000, it was generally believed that the operatives who were catapulted into leadership, or who had

wormed their way into the confidence of the people, were driven by a sincere desire to advance the interests of the people. While it was evident to some of us, that there was on display, a certain amount of overzealousness reflected in the rhetoric, concern for/about it was not heightened, because of the seeming insensitivity which had been exhibited by the then administration.

So, although the ordinary citizens suffered considerable inconveniences, because of the disruption of social services by the blocking of roads, etc, there was no counter-demonstration from any quarter. Understandably so, for the leaders of the protests were well respected heads of organizations which played important roles in the society.

As a result of this ground-swell of expression of rejection, then Prime Minister James Mitchell considered it prudent to step down, shortening the life of his term by two years. He handed over the leadership of the government and his party, the NDP, to Arnhim Eustace who had but five months as Prime Minister and Minister of Finance before elections, according to the terms of the settlement.

The protesters had won the day; the government had been forced to resign due to the pressure from a significant slice of the population.

Promises abound – not fulfilled However, the grand promises of Dr. Gonsalves and his team have not materialized, while many of his policy excursions have brought us to the very threshold of economic ruin. It is indisputable, that St. Vincent and the Grenadines has not prospered under

Play 4 pays out big money JUST ABOUT two weeks after its official launch, the National Lotteries Authority’s new online game, Play 4, has seen its biggest winner.

Last Wednesday, December 17, Miss Keniesha Barbour of New Keniesha Barbour collects her $40,000 booty from Anthony Montrose Dennie of the NLA. cashed in her According to the NLA, the first winning ticket, and walked away person to win a Play 4 bet inline was with an unbelievable $40,000.

Mr. Adam Billingy of Sandy Bay, who Keneisha said she has no won five thousand dollars with a one immediate plans for use of her dollar ($1.00) bet. Since then, there winnings, but is happy that the have been several persons winning on money has come in time for a daily basis.

Christmas.

their management.

One of the areas where Dr. Gonsalves’ credibility is acutely poor, is in his failure to live up to his promise to address the revitalization of the banana industry. It must never be forgotten, that Dr. Gonsalves and his government had assumed full responsibility for pest and disease control in the industry. The failure of Dr. Gonsalves and his team to honour their undertaking to provide the appropriate organizational structure and the required financial resources, to effectively address the Black Sigatoka problem which had been drawn to the attention of the government since 2009, will guarantee, that Dr. Gonsalves will be remembered for a long time. He will be remembered for his inconsistencies and his unreliability. The case of that banana farmer, a lady who had not yet been paid for the bananas which she sold to the authorities’ agents since several months ago is an aberration to democracy.

Where have they gone ?

So now I must ask, where are the defenders of democracy today? Have

they lost their moral footing and fallen as mere traitors to the cause they had so forcefully articulated just fourteen years ago? I am asking again, where are the defenders of our democracy today? Do they not have ears and eyes any longer?

Or is it that they are now so preoccupied in raking in their bounty, that they do not have the energy to spare, to comment on the issues which are causing the people agony?

How painfully pathetic to see how those vibrant minds have been so cheaply won over, to become today, not even honourable shadows of their former selves. One can only think of them with pity, when one ponders how they will deal with the agony of spirit which may well afflict them when they reflect on their betrayal in the evening of their years.

As we prepare for the next general elections, the pertinent issues and the relevant players must be properly ventilated so that the populace is able to make informed decisions. I hope to examine some of those issues in Part Two of this exercise.

LeRoy Providence

V Vincy youth head for YOUTH FEST 2014 68. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Culture

entrance, Vieux Fort, St. Lucia, and while there will be competitions in three age categories and the dance segment, only the 32 contenders who will render songs, Vincentians and St. Lucians, will be vying for the overall coveted title of Youth Star 2014 and the People’s Choice.

There will be no representation for SVG in the JUNIORS (aged 12 & under) category this Javid Rouse time around, but will be one of Shaniah Webb, Tevon three Vincentian Richards and Javid artistes looking Rouse will represent this to claim glory in country in the the TEENS TEENS (aged 13-19) grouping. grouping.

In the TWENTIES (aged 20-29) category, reigning Calypso Monarch Zamfor Adams will lead the Vincentian charge that also includes Brian Maloney and Noveecha Toney.

Artistes compete in the genres of - gospel, dance hall, reggae, soca, rap, hip hop, and R & B. The Breakstorm Crew, the heartthrobs of the local dance scene, will carry the Vincy flag in the Dance Competition.

A release from the Association of Music Producers (AMP), which co-ordinated local SIX VINCENTIAN singers and one dance group are ready to outshine their St. Lucian competitors at the December 21st Youth Fest Finals.

The Final takes place at the OMS tennis court, opposite the Hewannora Airport

Noveecha Toney will compete in the TWENTIES category.

Breakstorm Dancers are bent on creating a storm in St. Lucia. auditions for the Youth Fest, says that The M.V. GEM STAR will be travelling from St. Vincent & The Grenadines (SVG) to St. Lucia with the Vincentian Artistes and supporters. The vessel departs St. Vincent at 7 AM on Sunday December 21 and leaves Vieux Fort at 11 PM. The All-inclusive return trip costs EC$125.00 per Zamfir ‘Man Zangie’ Adams will person. be looking to stamp his Youth Fest is authority in the TWENTIES an annual family category. event that provides a forum healthy lifestyles. to showcase, promote, Vincentian Omar and develop the musical Davis, who resides in St. and related talents of Lucia, is the originator of Caribbean youth, while the Youth Fest and utilizing their talent and continues to play a influences to spread leading role in its positive values and organization.

Its Christmas time!

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Disharmony in your relationship may cause minor ailments. Professionalism will be of utmost importance. You can gain approval, get kudos, and ask for help if you put a little heart into your speech or request. You may find that your boss is not delighted with your work lately.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) You have been stagnating for some time now and you need a change of pace. Career changes may not be your choice right now, but in the long run they will be to your advantage. Don't bother trying to make someone you live with see your point of view. You'll meet new friends if you try new activities.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) You will enjoy events that lean toward theater, art, or music this week. You may have difficulties at an emotional level with mates. Your involvement in interest groups may bring you popularity. Take some time out.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Try not to be so demonstrative. Don't be too shy to promote your own interests.

Love relationships will flourish. Property deals look good.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Put in some extra hours and finish those careful jobs before you move on to some fun and games. Changes in your home will be positive. Property in vestments should payoff. Spend time with your lover this week. Your mate will appreciate your honesty.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Finish those changes you've been talking about making to your residence.

Romance is quite possible if you are willing to approach someone who interests you. You will have the discipline to make changes you feel are necessary. Invite friends over.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) A change in position could be better than you thought. You will enjoy the interaction with youngsters and take great pride in the projects you've completed. Be careful not to show your temper when dealing with the boss.

Work quietly on your own.

ACROSS

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You must be sure not to be frivolous, because as the saying goes, easy come, easy go. You need to keep the peace and you will have to bend in order to do so. Get involved in philosophic groups that will enlighten you. It's time to make professional changes.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Don't let your health suffer because of abuse. Take work home but be sure to spend some time with your mate. You will have original ideas for ways to make extra money. Strengthen your position among your peers.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Remember that no one can walk through your door if there's someone standing in the doorway. Talk to your mate about a vacation and discuss the expectations of your relationship. You always seem to spend more than you make. Upheavals may occupy your day.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) You will have to put those you live with in their place if they try to interfere with your work. You can make some favorable changes to your looks. You need an outlet. You should feel a little more stable about your position; however, don't be surprised if a job offer comes your way.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Stay away from social unpleasantness.

Difficulties may be encountered while traveling in foreign countries.

Overexertion and negligence will be your worst enemies. Minor health problems could result through exhaustion.

vehicle (abbr.)

1. Morning’s 46. Melville beginning Master5. Do AAA’s job piece 8. Singer Celine (hyph.)

12. Sheltered, 48. “The doctor asea __” (2 13. Soldier’s wds.) address 49. Petition (abbr.)

50. Live 14. Canyon’s 51. “You reply mustn’t!”

15. Shape (2 wds.)

16. Brass 52. Search out instrument 53. Directed 18. List ender 54. Recognized 19. Fashion sense DOWN 20. Digits (abbr.)

1. Woman of 21. Milky gem rank 23. Drug2. “__ you regulating know!” (2 org. wds.)

25. Mexican 3. Greeted specialty 4. Actor Beatty 27. Profile 5. Blab 31. “Maria__” 6. Grand Ole__ 32. __ Island 7. “Who’s 33. Apple juice Afraid of 34. Broom part Virginia __?”

35. Roost 8. Society gal 37. Drive 9. Religious onward picture 38. Nest egg 10. Shout of (abbr.) dismay (2 41. Make wds.) disappear 11. Denials 43. Campers’ 17. U.S. health

program 19. Like many workers 22. Window glass sections 24. Honor __ thieves 25. Detective, informally 26. __ Baba 28. Actress Loni __ 29. Set 30. Spud bud 34. Prepared corn for cooking 36. Courtroom procedure

38. Mischievous children 39. Portrayal 40. “…sting like __” (2 wds.)

42. Develop-

44.

45.

47.

48.

ment measure Tarzan’s transport Winter flakes “Yakety __” Pen filler

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 71.

Wear the scent, man! time to let you in on her little secret.

Her weakness for this scent AFTER FOUR months of marriage, I does not, in any way, suggest that have just made a serious and she does not love and want to be shocking discovery about my wife, with you. She simply has to that has left me somewhat in the accept that she has made a long middle of nowhere.

I saw her flirting with a man at term commitment to you, and it is her duty to honour this a dinner party we attended. commitment.

When I talked to her about it after we got home, she confessed to me that it was his cologne that got her going nuts over him.

After dating for 11 months and Dear George, being married for 4 months, she is now confessing to me that THIS ONE might make you whenever she smells the scent of wonder a bit. My boyfriend a certain cologne, it sends her came to me with a very unusual crazy. request. He told me that his ex When she met me, I was not one for wearing cologne, and when was going away to live in I asked her what made her go Australia and there is every head over heels for me, she said chance he would never see her she thought she smelled that again, so he wants me to allow scent on me. him to visit her at her house, the I am now in a situation in night before she leaves. which I am very insecure and do I did not want to sound as not know when my wife would though I am insecure or chip out on me after smelling this anything, but I bluntly refused, particular cologne on another and now he is not speaking to man. me.

What is your advice to me, Mr. Ole George?

He eventually went to her house without my permission, Shaky Grounds and since that time, we have not spoken to each other.

Dear Shaky Grounds, I am wondering whether I should continue with this It is always a good thing to put relationship.

Am I overall the cards on the table at the very beginning of the relationship, reacting? and I think your wife had enough

Dear George,

Now that you know the scent that sends her wild, it won’t hurt if you started wearing it. After all, wearing a scent becomes more fascinating if it excites your partner. You can find ways to use this COME ON to your advantage.

George

The ÊEÊ may be not so ÂExÊ Unimpressed

Dear Unimpressed, The decision of your boyfriend to spend time with his ex the night before she leaves for another country, is a clear indication that his goodbyes to her have far more value than maintaining his relationship with you.

The fact that he chose to spend time with her against your wishes speaks for itself, and gives you more than an idea as to where his allegiance lies.

This is no time for you to wonder about whether you should continue with him or not, but rather it should be over and out for you. He went OVER and now it’s your time to get OUT.

Infidelity finances the home Dear George, MY WIFE has been going to work religiously for the past six months, only for me to find out that instead of working, she has been going home with the boss during the time she should be at the office.

I actually followed them to his house one afternoon at around 2 o’ clock ,and heard their ‘going ons’ from outside his bedroom window. I have not told her of my discovery because I do not want to upset my marriage.

The truth is she has been bringing home much needed funds (salary) and I don’t want to lose that because we are going through some hard times presently.

How can I get her to stop what she is doing and still keep her job?

Worried Dear Worried, You need to ask yourself: Do I continue to enjoy some level of financially stable even if it means that my wife commits infidelity to afford that?

Honestly, there is nothing to debate here. You must take a stand and address the issue if you, in fact, wish to have your relationship return to the place where your wife was drawn to you by love and nothing else.

Condoning prostitution , and it seems like this is so in this case, for the sake of having the bills paid is no way to maintain a marriage, and you need to wake up from your coma and decide what is it that you want - a marriage or an arrangement.

George George

V

72. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Carols

Mary’s Boy Child Carols: From whence they came WE WELCOME THE NEW ERA of local Christmas music that characterises us as the people we are. The music captures the flavour and effervescence that the world has grown to expect of us as an island people, informed by a Kaleidoscope of ethnicities.

But even as different cultures look to represent the Season of Christmas with their unique blends and representations, there remains a common theme: The celebration of the birth of the Christ Child.

That is why, whether they are considered traditional or foreign, the carols remain an integral part of our Christmas.

That we have sung them with gusto through the years is unquestionable, though it would not be incorrect to say that we sang our throats out, not knowing much of from where these songs/carols came.

THE VINCENTIAN, in respect of the universality of the theme of Christmas, and in recognition of those songs that give meaning to why we celebrate Christmas, is pleased to present a brief insight into the origins of some of the more popular Christmas songs/carols.

‘MARY’S BOY CHILD’ was written in 1956 by Jester Hairston, a versatile actor who appeared in over 50 movies, as well as a singer composer, arranger, and choral conductor, who wrote more than 30 film music scores including that for the internationally acclaimed, ‘Lilies of the Field’.

Hairston was the grandson of American slaves and was dedicated to preserving Negro Spirituals, and the history behind them.

Soon after the song was written and performed in churches by Hairston himself, it was taken up

by Harry Belafonte. It was Belafonte’s version of the song, recorded on the album ‘An Evening with Belafonte’, that propelled Mary’s Boy Child’ to international acclaimed, particularly in the UK where it topped the charts for nine weeks in 1957.

Many others have subsequently released the song and interpreted it in their own ways, including Nat King Cole, Jim Reeves and Tom Jones, as well as classical singers

Jester Hairston, composer of ‘Mary’s Boy Child, was a noted AfricanAmerican composer of ‘Negro Spirituals’.

like Kiri Te Kanawa and Boney M’s, whose Caribbean-flavoured version in 1978 became one of the UK’s bestselling singles ever.

Regardless of how many would say that this song is different as far as traditional Christmas songs

carols go, it reminds the world about the source of truth; that Christmas is all about a baby — Jesus — was born in a manger to Mary and Joseph, to bring salvation to all men.

Silent Night THIS IS PROBABLY the most famous carol of all, and certainly the carol with the best known story surrounding its origins.

That story however, has been embellished so often that the truth has become unclear.

Notwithstanding the story is that In 1816 Pastor Joseph Mohr wrote the words of ‘Stille Nacht’ as a poem in Mariapfarr, Austria. Two years World War 1 guns went silent for one day in 1914 to later, he moved to the allow warring parties to sing ‘Silent Night’.

Church of St Nicholas in Oberndorf and, John Freeman Young Night’. according to the legend, The real truth may be published an English the organ in this church a little less romantic but translation of the broke down on Christmas whatever the truth, the German original. Then in Eve of all nights!

December 1914, ‘Silent song took off, firstly in Desperate for music for Night’ - already a popular Austria where a singing the Christmas Mass, carol - took on a new family called the Mohr uncovered his two- Strassers sentimental edge during year-old poem, and the first Christmas truce performed ‘Silent handed it to his friend of World War 1. It was Night’ at a Leipzig Franz Gruber. Gruber concert in 1832, and then one of the few carols was immediately struck which both English and in America, where the and composed a melody German soldiers knew, so Rainer family first for guitar. The melody as the guns fell silent for performed the carol was completed in time for outside Trinity Church in an all too brief period, the the Midnight Service, and New York City in 1839. strains of ‘Silent Night’ so was born on Christmas filled the air instead.

Two decades later, Eve, the carol ‘Silent

V The First Noel

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 73.

Carols

Angels feature prominently in many of the artistic interpretations of this song, through the centuries.

WHILE VERY LITTLE definitive information is known about its origin, ‘The First Noel’ is believed to have had its rise in France during the fifteenth century.

‘Noel’ is a French word originating from Latin meaning ‘birthday’.

The earliest English versions of the song are said to date back to the 17th century, and possibly much earlier than this.

What we know today as ‘The First Noel’ may in fact be an ancient French tune (melody), but the lyrics are undoubtedly English, probably from South West England.

The original English title was ‘The First Nowell’, but much later in history, the French spelling ‘Noel’ was substituted into the title.

The earliest publication which survives today is from ‘Christmas Carols It was first published five ‘We Three Kings’, also known as Ancient and Modern’ years later (1862) in a collection ‘We Three Kings of Orient Are’ edited by William B or ‘The Quest of the Magi’, arose called ‘Carols, Hymns and Song’ Sandys and Davies and titled ‘Three Kings of Gilbert in 1833. In their out of the need to write something new for a Christmas Orient’, and subsequently collection, Sandys and became the first purely pageant in New York City.

Gilbert arranged and John Henry Hopkins Jr was a American carol to be published added some lyrics and in England. man of many talents - author, wrote down the melody The composer organised the illustrator of books, designer of to be used, and with carol in such a way that three stained glass windows, and a some further male voices would each sing a clergyman. He was also the amendments by John single verse by himself, in order musical director of the General to correspond with the three Theological Seminary in New Stainer, this is the York, and it was his job in 1857, kings. version we sing today.

The first and last to organise the music for the “The First Noel” verses of the carol pageant. portrays in vivid are sung together by He set to work, and among narrative style the story all three as ‘verses of the birth of Christ. All the compositions he produced of praise’, while the was the music and the lyrics for six stanzas are needed this carol, breaking the tradition intermediate verses to complete the entire are sung of composing either lyrics or event when the hymn is music, not both, for the same individually, with sung. each king describing song.

We Three Kings Of Orient Are

O Come All Ye Faithful EVIDENCE about the history of this carol has long been unclear and conflicting, making it difficult to ascertain the truth. The carol has been attributed to the Franciscan Order of Monks and the 13th century Italian theologian Saint Bonaventure.

But many other authors from the 14th to the 17th centuries, have also been postulated, among these Portuguese King John IV, a noted musical patron and composer, and the carol was briefly known as the Portuguese Hymn.

However, the evidence for any of these is very limited, and there is no clear proof of the existence of either the text or the melody before the middle of the 18th century.

A belief has developed that ‘O Come all ye Faithful’ was in reality a coded show of support for the Catholic Jacobean cause in England, and that the song was imploring ‘the faithful’ to come to the aid of Prince Charles.

Whatever the truth of that, John Francis Wade (1711 — 1786), a noted Catholic supporter of the rebellion against King George II of England (1683 — 1760) and who had fled to France to escape fears of persecution, is now seen as the most likely original author of these lyrics, which was first

‘O Come All ye faithful’ was thought to be a subtle call for persons to join the rebellion against Europe’s monarchical system. published in 1751 in Latin, under the title ‘Adeste Fideles’, in a collection known as ‘Cantus Diversi’.

In fact, the song is known by its Latin title in most all official discussions, particularly because this allows it to be shared in the multiple countries that all sing it.

The authorship of the melody, though, remains very unclear.

the gift he is bringing.

It remains one of the most popular and most frequently sung Christmas carols today.

This piece of artwork depicting The Three Kings is on display in the Greek Orthodox Church of the Nativity, built over the place where Jesus was born.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 75.

ShallowÊs team returned en bloc

He, however, was corrected by Patterson who proceeded to explain: “What I am talking about is not the management of the fund but getting an Accident Personal Injury Benefit and Injury Policy that will take care of such Auditor Floyd things, because right Patterson addressed the now one injury can wipe meeting on the issue of out all of the funds you Personal Injury Benefit. have there, and it is It was the first time an therefore, important that auditor was making a you move with some live presentation at a haste to have this done.” cricket meeting.

The meeting also Patterson suggested received the Executive that the Association Report for 2013-2014 as move to secure a policy well as the financial to cover such eventuality, report for that period. instead of just Others matters were having a fund to discussed, including assist with the concerns relating to (medical) cost scoring and statistics. contingent on such Teams had expressed injuries. dissatisfaction with some Jack took the figures which were opportunity to produced by the contribute to the Association, resulting in discussion saying some players not being “That is one of the properly rewarded for reasons why I was their runs and wickets. removed…that is President Shallow and one of the reasons his team will plunge why I was immediately into the removed when I fray, with the NLA T20 try to make some beginning in the second changes to the week of January and management of the first class cricket and the Committee members Miles Bascombe, Romel Currecny and Cleton Burnett at last fund.” national competitions Saturday’s meeting.

the organisation’s 67year history, was given similar blessings.

FOR THE SECOND TIME in The decision was ten years, an executive of historical not only for the the St. Vincent and the unanimity in retaining Grenadines Cricket the group, but the fact Association was returned that Robinson Henry, a en bloc.

St. Lucian domicile here, In 2006, the Julian was the person moving Jack-led executive was the motion. returned without They will now serve a opposition. And at last full two-year term and Saturday SVGCA’s AGM, will oversee, among other held at the Media Centre things, the ushering in of at the Arnos Vale a new Constitution Playing Field, an which proposes a term executive, albeit interim, limit of the presidency. headed by Kishore Manager of Victors Shallow, the youngest Club, Venold Coombs, person to hold the post in taking centre stage at

by E. GLENFORD PRESCOTT

the meeting, laid out the reasons why the executive must be returned. “…When I look at the people who are there on the executive ...bright young, honest …I see no reason why we should not return them for a full term,” Coombs said inter alia, to applause and nods of approval from some affiliates.

Shallow and his executive were elected to office in May of this year to continue the six months remaining on Jack’s two year term, after the latter was

booted from office following a successful Vote of No Confidence in his administration. Jack was in attendance at last Saturday’s meeting.

Auditor Floyd Patterson making historical presentation.

Former president, Julian Jack, on the floor. and Schools tournament following in quick order.

The Executive reads: Kishore Shallow — president; Elson Crick first vice-president; Denis Byam - second vice-president; Jenry Ollivierre — treasurer; Samuel Holder — secretary; Cleton Burnett - assistant secretary; with committee members - Romel Currency, Miles Bascombe, Deighton Butler and Samantha Lynch.

Leeward ‘Unrulies’ wins Rugby 7-ah-side THE LEEWARD CLUB ‘Unrulies’ reigned supreme last Saturday night, December 13, when they collected the Townend League Cup, symbol of supremacy over 7-a-side rugby here, during the SVG Rugby Union’s Second Annual Awards night.

‘Unrulies had put aside two other Clubs, Country ‘Pirates’ and town/central ‘Sharks’, on their way to glory.

Mr. John Townend, a foundation member of the Rugby Union and in whose honour the trophy is named, presented the trophy and said, “I’d like to congratulate the Leeward ‘Unrulies’ team on their success in the first ever SVG National Rugby Championship.

Internal competition is the key to embedding the sport in St. Vincent,

and I hope in future years more teams enter and greater sponsorship can be attracted.”

Townend, who continues to cochairman, also congratulated the new Executive on “this wonderful initiative” and wished it every success.

Other 2014 awardees on the evening were: Benson Nanton - Junior Player of the Year; George Kruger - Senior Player of the Year 2014; Leonard Matthews - Most Dedicated Player; Dellon Durrant - Best Newcomer; Brian Alexander - Most Improved Player; Godfrey Matthews - Try Scorer of the Year; Kruger. Recardo ‘Yellow’ Dallaway - Best Tackler of the Year; Alonzo Dabrell - Best Attendance; and Mauricio ‘Chef’ Corado — Outstanding Contribution to Rugby.

Rugby training action at Arnos Vale Two. According to its website, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Rugby Union Football Club (SVGRUFC) came into existence on Sunday 18th January 1998, when the first game of touch rugby was played at the Sion Hill Playing Field, using four traffic cones as pitch markers.

There were seven players at the first game: Carver Alexander, Ernst de Freitas, Kelly Glass, Kirk HobsonGarcia, Geoff Hyde, John Townend and Delon Williams.

I.B.A.Allen

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76. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Simple Boys retain TBPO 20/20 Title GAIRY CONSTRUCTION Simple Boys made it simple but reaffirmed their dominance, when they successfully retained their TBPO Softball 20/20 Cricket title last weekend at the Dauphine Playing Field.

Their hold on the title was secured when they defeated Gomea Bombers by 8 Desron Maloney, wickets. the Finals.

The final turned to be a one-sided affair after Gomea, electing to bat first, were halted at a meager 78 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. Casmond Walters was Simple Boys’ best bowler with 3 for 21 and Elric Morris took 2 for 16.

In reply, Simple Boys made haste, racing to 75 for 2 in 8.4 overs. The runs chase was led by national player Desron Maloney with an unbeaten 34 and Stein Joseph, 19.

Earlier, former champions Novice defeated Dr. Thomas Injectors by 56

Gairy Construction Simple Boys, 2014 TBPO Softball Cricket Champions. recognized: Stein Joseph of Simple Boys for the most runs in tournament, 249, including one century, 133, and as MVP of Tournament; Elric Morris of Simple Boys for the most wickets, 19; Man of Desron Maloney, also of Simple Stein Joseph made the most Boys, as Player of the Finals. runs, 249, in the Competition.

Asquit Mapp of the BOSVG was recognized as the top scorer in the runs to take the third spot. Novice first run with a total of 236, elected to bat first and made 128 for 8 Elric Morris took the most wickets, 19. including one century, 100 not out. off 20 overs. Hyron Shallow top-scored The Ball-o Rama, which was with 42, Rennrick Williams hit 26. presentation ceremony was held, introduced for the first time this year, Bowling for Dr. Thomas Injectors, during which Simple Boys collected a was also won by Gairy Construction Quesnel Cattoy took 2 for 15. Dr. trophy and a cash prize of $3,000.

Thomas Injectors in pursuit of 129 for Second placed Gomea Bombers walked Simple Boys. Kemron John with 27, scored the most runs in that format victory were restricted to 72 in 14.1 away with a trophy and $2,000, and and Alwayne Quashie, 3, took the most overs. Neil Audian top-scored with 31. Novice earned themselves a trophy Bowling for Novice, Hyron Shallow and $1,000. Fourth placed Dr. Thomas wickets. bagged 3 for 18 and Andre Hunte 3 for Injectors got a trophy and $500.

I.B.A.ALLEN 10.

Individual performances were also Immediately after the final, a

SVGCA flags strategic plan cricket committees; national softball/tapeball competition.

“DEMONSTRATE HONESTY, accountability, and Provide world-class leadership and management transparency to affiliates, and all other stakeholders”, on and off the field: Demonstrate honesty, so reads the opening clause in the St. Vincent and the accountability, and transparency to affiliates, and Grenadines Cricket Association’s Strategic Plan 2015- all other stakeholders; Strengthen and support the 2017. It comes under the section “Provide world-class existing committees; Establish different components leadership and management on and off the field,” and of the organization; marketing, commercial, media, is listed at number three in the areas of priority in the and human resources.

Plan.

Sustainability: Establish a business owned by the The Plan, which was released by the Kishore association; e.g. Lottery booth, indoor facility, Shallow-led executive last week, outlines the Explore investment opportunities. initiatives the SVGCA has identified as being And Improve Infrastructure: Continue the essential in charting a way forward for the venture to own / part-own a training facility; and development and expansion of cricket in St. Vincent Strengthen relationship with National Sports and the Grenadines.

Council to have regular access to training facilities.

It comprise five areas among them, Produce the President Shallow, prefaced the presentation of best teams, players, and officials in the Region and the plan, saying, “Cricket has evolved from just a this will include among other things: Develop recreational sport to a multi -million industry. The comprehensive training plans for all national teams; sport is now a livelihood for a number of persons on schedule, activities & budget; Continuous all-year and off the field. Moreover, it has a tremendous training programme for a minimum of 50% of each impact on the economy of many countries. national team; and an annual training camp for U15 Acceptance of this reality should be enough to and U19 teams. convince cricket administrators that professionalism Increase participation substantially, and inspire cannot be an option”, he stated in his opening the next generations of players and fans: Establish comments. cricket in primary & secondary schools; Make According to Shallow, a starting point for this domestic cricket more interesting & attractive; new approach of professionalism is by establishing increase prize money and other non-monetary the strategic plan. incentives; Support and strengthen community “A strategic plan is a road map for all cricket by increased affiliation; and Develop organizations. This specific document identifies and relationship and work in collaboration with softball serves as a guide to what the SVG Cricket

by E. GLENFORD PRESCOTT

Association hopes to achieve over the next three years.

Additionally, it would be used as a measurement of our progress.

“This strategic plan comprises a new vision for the SVGCA, as well as the drive to develop closer relationship Kishore Sallow begins his first between ourselves full term as presdient with a and our key new strategic plan in support of stakeholders. advancing the sport of cricket “It also here. incorporates a business component, which is also a necessity for every non-profit organization that aspires to achieve any great degree of sustainability”, he added while urging all to give this plan all the critical support that is required to ensure that the document truly reflects the development vision for cricket in St.Vincent and the Grenadines over the next three years.

The previous executive had promised on many occasions to compile and release a plan, but this never materialised.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 77.

Carols

O Little Town of Bethlehem

THE LYRICS OF THIS POPULAR carol were written by Commonwealth, the same lyrics Phillips Brooks, rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity are sung to a very different in Philadelphia. It was inspired by a visit he made to tune, ‘Forest Green’..

Palestine in 1865, which included a horseback ride The American version is the from Jerusalem to Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. Three more popular one in the Englishyears later, Brooks composed the lyrics of the song, speaking Caribbean.

The words for this carol was inspired by a visit to Bethlehem when it and his organist Lewis, Redner, was asked to add music was part of Palestine. so it could be performed by the church’s children’s choir at Christmas.

Neither Brooks nor Redner really expected much more from their carol, but in 1874, Reverend Huntington, the rector of All Saints’ Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, THE LYRICS OF THIS Massachusetts. chose to print it in his SundayIt first appeared in print carol, sometimes rendered as School hymn book, called ‘The ‘It Came Upon a Midnight in the Christian Register in Church Porch’. In so doing, he Clear’, were written as a Boston, on 29th December introduced the carol to a much poem in 1849 by Edmund 1849; it was one of the wider audience.

Hamilton Sears, the Pastor earliest American carol Gradually the song grew in compositions, and destined popularity across the world, though of the Unitarian Church of Wayland, Massachusetts, to become one of the most a strong dichotomy in the choice of popular.

USA. Sears is said to have music to accompany the words written the words at the Two melodies have been would also develop. Redner’s request of his friend, William used to adapt the poem to a original tune ‘Saint Louis’ remains Parsons Lunt, Pastor carol. One simply known as the music most often used for this of United First Parish ‘Carol’, was composed by carol in America. However, in the Richard Storrs Church, Quincy, United Kingdom and the Willis. The second melody The Birth of the Christ Child were likened unto a burst of was adapted light in the middle of night.

by Arthur been included in many of the their hit single ‘The House of Sullivan (of Christmas albums recorded the Rising Sun’. In 2006, a Gilbert and by numerous singers (and recording of the song Sullivan fame) from an English many types of singers) in the by Daryl Hall & John Oates, modern era. a pop duo that made their tune in 1874 For example, the 1960s name in the late 1970s and and was called pop group, Eric Burdon & early 1980s, hit number one ‘Noel’.

The Animals, recorded the on the Billboard Hot Adult This song has song, in 1964, to the tune of Contemporary Tracks chart.

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

Away in a Manger ‘AWAY IN A Manger’ was first published as two verses

by James R Murray in Philadelphia in 1885 in the Lutheran song book, ‘Little Children’s Book for Schools and Families, signifying that Cultures across the world have given their own meaning and it may have been composed interpretation to the birth in the manger, like this one from with children Africa. in mind.

McFarland in 1904, having been In fact, it has become a favourite originally written for another song by with children through the ages.

Charles H Gabriel in 1892.

The verses were subtitled ‘Luther’s The music to which the lyrics are Cradle Hymn’, which has led to the usually performed in America was belief among some that the first two composed and published by Murray in verses were actually written by Martin 1887 under the title of’Mueller’. But by Luther himself, but there is no far the best known version in England evidence of this. is a tune simply known as’The Cradle A third verse (‘Be near me, Lord Song’ composed in 1895.

Jesus’) was added by John T.

V

78. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Gas prices down VINCENTIANS began paying less for gasoline at the pumps from Monday 15, December 2014, the third reduction over the last three months.

Gasoline moved from $14.42 to $13.81 per gallon, a reduction of 61 cents. In October, motorists saw a reduction of 40 cents per gallon, and in November 46 cents, bringing the total reduction over the

three-month period to $1.47.

The reductions are in keeping with the government’s policy of using a three-month moving average for the price of fuel and reflect a downward movement in the price of oil on the international market.

VINLEC, the stateowned electricity company, has also announced a drop in its

fuel surcharge for the month of December. The 40.65 cents per unit is the lowest since March 2011.

(Contributed)

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014. 79.

Classifieds

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ACTION COMING TO TACKLE PRAEDIAL LARCENY However, there was little change, based on complaints from farmers.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, in his POLICE ARE EXPECTED to begin making checks on address at celebrations to commemorate World Food roadside fruit and vegetable vendors, to ascertain the Day 2014, admitted that the measures put in place origin of the produce being offered for sale, to deal with the problem were proving to be Commissioner of Police (COP) Michael Charles has ineffective. disclosed.

And, according to Charles, one of the complaints According to Charles, this is one measure that will be implemented as the Police continue to battle coming out from last week’s meeting between Ministry of Agriculture officials and farmers, was the vexing issue of praedial larceny.

The COP told THE VINCENTIAN that, based on the tardiness on the part of police in their response to reports that are made. information received, there were some roadside The nation’s top cop told THE VINCENTIAN that vendors selling stolen produce. the primary responsibility of the rural constables The checks will ensure that the items being sold was to work along with the police to deal with the to the public either came from a legitimate source or problem of praedial larceny; however, he was from lands owned by the vendors. informed that when reports are made, the police sit “We have a lot of roadside vendors who have no back and send the rural constable to do the work. lands, they don’t buy, yet they have produce “Some of them don’t have investigative skills. selling,” Charles explained.

The police need to take the lead,” Charles said.

“This is one of the initiatives — we have to get He further explained that the receipt system, these small things right, then we will be in a better introduced as another means of stemming the issue of food and livestock theft, began working well, but position to deal with the issue of praedial larceny,” has proven to be ineffective. he continued.

“We will have to look into it again,” the Commissioner said.

Measures ineffective A selected group has been appointed and charged with the task of reviewing the present Act, and In 2007, the Agricultural Produce and Livestock making recommendations with respect to improving (Prevention of Theft) Act was passed, and in July 2010, twenty rural constables were commissioned as measures already in place, aimed at curbing the illegal practice. part of new division of the Police Force to deal Regarding the rural constables, Charles said that specifically with the theft of agricultural produce they will be re-trained. and livestock.

Stories by DAYLE DA SILVA

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said that measures to deal with praedial larceny had proved to be ineffective.

Commissioner of Police Michael Charles has promised stepped up action against vendors to deal in stolen agricultural produce.

Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar, during his address at last week’s launch of a farmer’s cooperative market, promised that a statement will be made, detailing the deliberations of last week’s meeting between Ministry of Agriculture officials and farmers.

Eustace not comfortable INFORMATION released by the police in relation to the fatal crash which occurred during a New Democratic Party (NDP) political meeting in Clare Valley on December 6, has the Leader of the Opposition, Arnhim Eustace, feeling uncomfortable.

Eustace spoke very briefly Monday during the ‘New Times’ Radio programme, after a number of callers had aired their views on the contents of a press release that was disseminated throughout the media by the Public Relations Department of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), on December 12.

“It makes me very uncomfortable in relation to this matter, very uncomfortable,” Eustace said.

He did not disclose anything further on the matter, however.

The contents of the release indicated that at about 10:50pm, motor vehicle P119, also bearing the registration number P7516, and driven by Antwone Quincy Anthony, was travelling from top Questelles towards Clare Valley, and on passing Merlene Hill, the vehicle’s engine closed off, but the vehicle continued travelling downhill for over 500 feet.

The release went on to indicate that Anthony reportedly lost control of the vehicle, and it collided with a car that was parked in the vicinity of the public meeting, injuring several people, including 78-year-old Edgar Cruickshank of Questelles.

The ‘killer car’ bearing registration number P7516 was in fact registered as P119.

Cricukshank eventually succumbed to the injuries he received.

According to the release, the vehicle was inspected by a gazetted motor vehicle inspector, who revealed that the vehicle was registered as P119, not P7516; the fan belt which runs the alternator was off and burst; and the starter relay and starter fuse were tampered with.

Immediately following the

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

Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace (centre), seen here interacting with persons after the accident on Saturday 6th December, is not comfortable with the contents of a Police Release on what happened on that night. incident, a number of persons voiced a common opinion, saying they believed that, based on what transpired, it was a deliberate act.

The driver was arrested and was slapped with a number of charges including fraudulent

use of a vehicle’s identification mark, using an unlicensed motor vehicle, failing to renew his driving permit, using an uninsured vehicle, and causing the death of Cruickshank by dangerous driving.

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.