Vin pages 20 10 17 e reader for web

FRIDAY,

OCTOBER 20, 2017

VOLUME 111, No.42

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME! he stopped off at the ‘Road Side Bar’ in Diamond.

Shortly thereafter, gunmen appeared at the shop, opened fire, and

by DAYLE DASILVA Abraham was one of eight individuals shot, as IT HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY the gunmen unleashed past few days, says Arlene their bullets Soleyn, mother of 33-year- indiscriminately into the old Gregory Abraham, who shop. died after being shot while Police sources indicate at a shop in Diamond last that the intended victim Saturday night. was also in the For Abraham, it was a establishment, but was classic case of being at able to escape. the wrong place at the Abraham was not that wrong time. fortunate, and died at The deceased man’s the Milton Cato mother told THE Memorial Hospital on VINCENTIAN that she Monday, succumbing to a has been finding it shot he received to the difficult to fall asleep, stomach. and eating has become as equally difficult for her Well loved since her son’s death.

According to Arlene, His mother described her son was now making him as a hard-working his way from work when person — “very quiet.”

Editor’s Note: The parents of Gregory Abraham requested that they not be photographed.

Gregory Abraham - the only one of eight persons shot who died in the attack at a bar in Diamond.

Abraham spent some time in Canada — a total of seven years, Arlene Soleyn said.

“And it was just seven years since he has been back.”

Dad, Reynold Soleyn, chimed in, saying that he knew that his son was a good person.

“He is ah man who

love wuk. You have something to do and you call him, he will go,” Reynold Soleyn said.

Abraham was loved by everyone in both communities in which he resided — Redemption Sharpes and Diamond, his father continued.

Continued on Page 3.

Remnants of the atatck - bullet holes - in the chairs and a partition in the bar.

‘HEARTLESS AND SENSELESS”, SAYS BAR OPERATOR fire into ‘Road Side Bar’ shooting Abraham, Kenneth ‘Bullo’ Barzie, 42; Kerime Benjamin, 25; Andrew Layne, 37; Kaymanie Richards, 39; Kerwin John, 52; Fitzroy Iris, 62, all of Diamond, and Michael Richards, 18, of Calliaqua.

Abraham succumbed to his injuries in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital on Monday.

THE VINCENTIAN understands that several The Bar at Diamond where eight persons were shot. persons who were ‘liming’ at the bar when the incident

by HAYDN HUGGINS night, has described the occurred, jumped through incident as, “heartless and windows and ran in different SAMUEL KEIZER, operator of senseless.” directions, to escape the hail of the bar at Diamond where 33The drama reportedly bullets. Fortunately, some year-old Gregory ‘Pecker’ unfolded just after 9 p.m., were unhurt.

Abraham, was shot and killed, when masked men alighted an The episode, said to be the and seven others left nursing unmarked white Toyota first of its kind to have gunshot injuries last Saturday ‘Sprinter’ vehicle and opened

occurred in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has left the Diamond community in a state of shock and trauma.

Keizer, who has been operating the businessplace for about two months, told THE VINCENTIAN at the outlet on Tuesday, “It is a sad situation. It is senseless and heartless. These (victims) were innocent people just enjoying a lime, and keeping themselves out of trouble. I hope the perpetrators would be brought to justice”.

He pointed out that people come to his bar to lime, have a drink, enjoy the music, then go home.

Keizer said that his 19year-old daughter, who sometimes assisted him with the business, was so

Kenneth ‘Bullo’ Barzie, nursing his many wounds at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. traumatized that she left, following the incident, and went back to meet her mother.

Continued on Page 3.

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2. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Businessman shot – police make breakthrough POLICE HAVE made a breakthrough in the shooting of Paul’s Avenue resident, Jawanza ‘Sanga’ Fraser, who was shot six times last Sunday.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Colin John, while speaking on a radio programme on Tuesday morning, indicated that an

individual connected to last Sunday’s shooting had turned himself in to the police.

And on Wednesday, DPC John told THE VINCENTIAN in a telephone interview, that another individual had been arrested in connection with the same shooting incident.

Charges are yet to be laid, however.

The incident occurred around noon Sunday when gunmen opened fire at Fraser in the vicinity of his place of business, the Avenues Sports Bar in Paul’s Avenue, .

According to reports, the businessman

received five bullets about his body.

Based on reports, Fraser was preoccupied with his mobile phone when a car (Toyota Runx) pulled up alongside where he was standing, and occupants of the vehicle opened fire in his direction.

Reports further

indicate that one of the gunmen attempted to exit the vehicle, but was distracted by a woman.

The individual then got back into the vehicle, drove to the end of the street, before turning, against the legal flow of traffic, in the direction of the St Vincent Jawanza ‘Sanga’ Fraser is a Electrical Services well-known promoter.

(VINLEC).

It was further MCMH. noted that more shots Sunday’s shooting were fired as the gunmen made their way occurred just hours after eight individuals were out of the area.

Fraser was rushed to shot while hanging out at a bar at Diamond; one of the Milton Cato the eight eventually died Memorial Hospital at the MCMH, taking the where he underwent murder tally for the year emergency sugery. He to 35. remains warded at the

Victim says target wasn’t hit

by HAYDN HUGGINS WHILE ONE MAN was shot and killed and seven others injured, when masked men opened fire on ‘Road Side Bar’ at Diamond last Saturday night, nothing happened to the man who was apparently the desired target of the gunmen.

That’s according to one of the men who suffered injuries during the gun blasts, which started just after 9 p.m. last Saturday.

The victim, who was shot twice in the left arm, was warded at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital up to press time Wednesday.

According to him, the man, reportedly targeted, was at the bar, during the shooting, but was not hit, despite the off-loading of multiple bullets.

The police are said to have recovered some 40 spent shells.

The wounded man, who asked not to be photographed or identified by name, told THE VINCENTIAN that he had gone to the bar that night to buy a bread and chicken sandwich, when he heard gunshots and saw people falling.

“I run over them in the middle of the fire, run through a door and jump over a cliff at the side of the building. My intention was not to die. That is all I was telling myself, don’t die, don’t die,” he recounted.

The man added that he bandaged his wounded arm with his vest, and after the ordeal, he resurfaced and asked someone with a vehicle to take him to the hospital.

But interestingly, the man continued, “You know, the man who they came for was not shot; nothing happened to him”.

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News 3

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. 3.

LIAT reports EC$35.6

million in losses

REGIONAL AIR CARRIER LIAT is reporting EC$ 35.6 million in losses, the result, it said, of the impact of natural disasters in a number of LIAT markets.

Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and chair of LIAT’s shareholder governments — Dr Ralph Gonsalves, speaking at a press conference at Cabinet Room last Tuesday, said that he summoned a meeting with the shareholder governments of LIAT last Friday, to assess the situation with respect to how the recent hurricanes (Irma and Maria) had affected LIAT operations.

“LIAT has lost a lot of revenue because they couldn’t go into Dominica, St. Maarten, Tortola and Puerto Rico, and we discussed also how the work is coming concerning further reforms in LIAT,” said Gonsalves.

He said that the disasters have had an impact on LIAT schedules. From June to September, LIAT cancelled 208 flights, compared to 67 flights in 2016, and this translates into revenue lost of EC5 million, said Gonsalves.

He said that the areas affected by natural disasters account for 30% of the total flights and 35% of LIAT’s total revenue. “We are provided with a best case scenario for the loss in revenue for the remainder of the year, October to December, which is estimated to be about US$4.6 million or EC$12.5 million.

Gonsalves said that LIAT’s forecast

Chairman of LIAT shareholder governments Dr. Ralph Gonsalves (inset) painted another unflattering but unavoidable account of LIAT’s operations, and found room within the situation to be optimistic, again.

for 2017 was to collect total revenue of EC$112.1 million dollars, with operating expenses at EC$109.3 million, amounting to an operating profit of EC$2.8 million dollars. “But it’s gonna turnout that we are going to have a loss of EC$35.6 million dollars,” said the Chairman of LIAT shareholder governments.

In an effort to meet the airline expenses, the shareholders secured a loan of US$7 million from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)

as emergency support. The terms of the loan will see LIAT paying off the loan in 15 years at an interest rate of 1%, and allows for a grace period of 5 years.

Antigua and Barbuda will guarantee US$2.4 million of the loan, Barbados US$3.72 million, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines USD$840,000.

The Prime Minister said that he is

hoping that before the end of November, all the technical works will be done, “and then we will be embarking on filtering this work through a broad based task force, and then hopefully sometime before the end of the first quarter of next year, I expect us to implement a series of additional reforms in LIAT, some of them hopefully far-reaching,” Gonsalves said. (KH)

Wrong place, wrong time “Heartless and senseless”, “We have suspects we regard [as] the persons who would have In fact, he was very good friends committed those offences.”

DPC John, however, noted that they with the mini-bus operator who were trying to convert the information dropped him home, and whom he (Abraham) had asked to be left at the that they received into evidence that could be taken to court. bar. Abraham had done duties as During a telephone interview with conductor on that van during the day.

THE VINCENTIAN on Wednesday, Now the couple say they look to the DPC confirmed that one individual bury their son, but they gave no was arrested in connection with the details. incident; however, charges were yet to be laid.

Arrest made He further commented on the incident, describing it as a sad state of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Colin John, while speaking on radio on affairs.

“It is something that we can do Tuesday, said then that the police without,” DPC John said, adding that were at an advanced stage of their such incidents were not good investigations. advertisements for the country.

Continued from Frontpage.

says bar operator

Most of the injured were already treated and discharged when Keizer recalled that THE VINCENTIAN he was taking a doze in visited the Milton Cato a room on the compound Memorial Hospital on when he was awakened Monday, but Barzie and by several “explosions” Benjamin remained at which he thought, at the Male Surgical Ward, first, to be fire crackers. seriously wounded, but The businessman is visibly in stable extending condolences to condition.

Abraham’s family and Barzie suffered relatives, and wishes gunshot wounds to the those who received chest, arm, shoulder and injuries a speedy knee. He complained of recovery. severe pains. He’s a Continued from Frontpage.

mini-bus operator, popularly known as ‘Bullo’, and has been described by persons in the community as ‘friendly’.

Benjamin who was nursing a bullet wound to the chest, was unable to say much, because of his condition.

Up to press time Wednesday, police had made one arrest in connection with the incident, but are in search of two other suspects.

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4. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Mc Kie reports on tourism projects INITIAL MOBILIZATION leading to the eventual construction phase of the proposed Mt Wynne/Peter’s Hope development is ongoing.

Minister of Tourism, Cecil ‘Ces’ Mc Kie gave this ‘update’ in response to a question put by Leader of the Opposition, Dr Godwin Friday, at the Sitting of Parliament of Thursday 5th October.

Dr. Friday had prefaced his question for an update on the Peter’s Hope/Mt. Wynne project with reference to the public’s expectation that construction was going to follow immediately after the ground-breaking ceremony which took place back in January, adding that nothing has started. He wanted an explanation as to the reason for the delay.

Minister Mc Kie then pointed out in his response, that during that the ground-breaking ceremony , it was understood that the developer would have attended first to preparing the site for construction.

He explained that a few months ago, some

work was done to clear sections of the land, and some excavation was done in preparation for the laying of the foundation.

“All of this must be considered part of the construction phase, and was done under the watchful eyes and ears of the various agencies and arms of the government.

Currently intense discussions were ongoing over the final details of the plan and streamlining the programmatic and schematic parts of the project,” Mc Kie continued.

The US$660 million Black Sands Resort is expected to feature 40 four to five-room villas and a 200-room hotel, and is expected to be completed within a 24 to 30 month period.

According to Mc Kie, as the minister of tourism, he was well aware of the need to increase the room stock in the country and a need that was even more evident, given the easier air access from international destinations.

The much-touted Buccament Bay resort remains idle.

Vincentians still await signs of some serious construction at Peter’s Hope/Mt. Wynne.

“I will be happy for the facility to be opened in as short a possible time,” he said.

So too, the minister of tourism said that it was anticipated that the now defunct Buccament Bay Hotel is expected to resume operations in 2018.

This was in response to another question put by the Leader of the Oppostion, requesting a report on the current status of the resort.

The project was an important project, Mc Kie said, and provided

jobs for locals.

“Its closure impacted negatively, especially in the UK,” he said.

Following the resorts closure in December 2016, it was placed in the hands of a trustee in bankruptcy, but Mc Kie indicated that ‘new’ investors have been showing an interest in the resort..

“This is an ongoing process, and the court will have to give approval to the entity which will eventually operate the facility,” Mc Kie said. (DD)

Charge laid in Cane Garden burglary KIRK WILLIAMS, a 37-year-old Sion Hill man who was apprehended at the residence of a burglary at Cane Garden, in which police shot and killed 34year-old Leon ‘Buyaka’ Samuel, October 10, is on remand awaiting a January 23, 2018 Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the matter.

Williams has been charged with aggravated burglary. He is accused of entering the dwelling house of a Cane Garden resident, as a trespasser, and at the time had in his possession weapons of offence, to wit a knife and a crowbar.

Williams was not required to plead to the indictable charge when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne at the Serious Offences Court last Friday, October 13, and was remanded.

In objecting to bail, Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche told the Court that Williams was already on bail on two burglary charges, and the prosecution was concerned that if released on bail, he may commit similar offences.

Attorney Ronald Marks who represented Williams, contended that the charges on which Williams was granted bail were mere allegations, and a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. He suggested that bail could be granted with conditions such as reporting requirements and the imposition of a curfew, to address the prosecution’s concerns. Marks’ application was refused.

It is alleged that Samuel was shot and killed after he attacked a police officer with a crowbar when the lawmen stormed the premises. (HH)

There used to be a lot more ‘green’ and open spaces in capital Kingstown, like the original site of the War Memorial (pictured).

No green area in Kingstown, until…

THOSE, ST. CLAIR LEACOCK, MP for West Kingstown, who yearn for more greenery in capital Kingstown, will have to continue to do so for some time.

This is the indication left with the Parliament of this country, and the people of SVG in general,

by Senator Julian Francis, Minister of Transport, Works, Urban Development and Local Government.

Senator Francis was responding to a question

by MP Leacock during the October 5 Sitting of Parliament.

Senator Francis made it clear that the appearance of capital Kingstown will not be enhanced with the addition of trees, until the vending situation, as it currently exists is addressed.

MP Leacock had wanted to know whether it wasn’t time for a “proper tree planting exercise in the city of Kingstown”.

And while Senator Francis admitted that he was in full support of a tree planting project in the nation’s capital, he noted that in some instances, the only spaces available for the planting of trees are in areas occupied by vendors.

He gave the example of an area where there was a tree planted — in the vicinity of the Peace Memorial Hall.

According to Francis, he has had to instruct the Kingstown Town Board on three occasions, to remove the individuals vending next to the tree.

“And they are still there today”, he lamented.

With respect to MP Leacock’s suggestion that the area between the Registry and the General Post Office, where the Treasury building and Electoral Office once stood and which was destroyed by fire back in 2015, to be designated aa a venue for concerts or otherwise, Francis quipped, “It is a valuable piece of real estate,” adding that to do so would be to create another Heritage Square.

The Senator, though, disclosed that the plan was to redevelop the area to house some government departments, which are currently housed in rented premises for which government pays significant rates.

This plan is expected to be addressed in the 2018 budget, according to Senator Francis.

“The idea of a green space in town… fine, I have no problem with that. But surely, we cannot take that place and turn it into a park,” Francis said. (DD)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. 5.

Regional - Marijuana Focus

St. Kitts/Nevis National Marijuana Commission fully functional THE NATIONAL MARIJUANA Commission, which was recently established by the Team Unity Government to facilitate national engagement on the issues surrounding the use of marijuana in St. Kitts and Nevis, held its first meeting on Friday, 6th October, 2017 at the Joseph N. France General Hospital’s Conference Room.

The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, 20th October, 2017.

The commission, chaired by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws, comprises members drawn from the fields of education, health, law enforcement and the

legal profession, as well as religious bodies, the Rastafarian community and youth, who are tasked with exploring the issues surrounding the use of marijuana/cannabis sativa through national consultations with all stakeholders in society, and to develop a final report that will inform relevant policy decisions.

Dr. Laws, in her presentation during the 2018 Budget Estimates Committee Meeting on Wednesday, 11th October, stated that all members of the Commission are excited to commence the dialogue on the issue of

More and more countries across the globe are moving towards removing prohibition and decriminalising of acts related to the medicinal use of marijuana and its scientific. (Photo Credit: cheatsheet. com)

Medical marijuana: A billion-dollar earner THE GLOBAL medical marijuana market is expected to reach a value of USD 55.8 billion by 2025, according to a news report by Grand View Research.

The increasing interest amongst the academic researchers and healthcare providers, not to mention the venture capitalists and big pharmaceutical companies, regarding the therapeutic uses of marijuana, is among the significant factors, which will drive the market over the coming years.

Some of marijuana’s potential therapeutic values are said to be, the suppression of vomiting and nausea, pain relief, and appetite stimulation.

In addition, research states that marijuana is effective in providing relief to the patient suffering from HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, and multiple sclerosis.

Unquestionably, the growing number of therapeutic applications of the drug is one of the key factors that is propelling the market over the forecast period.

The questions for the Caribbean: Is the region going to sit idly by and let this opportunity slip through its fingers? Are individual CARICOM members going to go out on their own and grab the opportunities that are beckoning? (Partial Source: marijuana new)

marijuana use in the Federation, taking into account its health, religious and legal implications.

A press release issued on Tuesday, 10th October by the Ministry of Health, in observation of World Mental Health Day 2017, identified marijuana/cannabis as one of the most commonly abused substances in the Federation.

The press release further stated, “Substance dependence/abuse is the second most common mental disorder that was diagnosed during 2016 in the community-based health care setting in St. Kitts and Nevis.”

Dr. Laws added: “We plan to use best practices in terms of the methodology in accomplishing the task.

So we are looking at previous marijuana commissions in terms of what they did and best practices, and we would employ the same [practices] in accomplishing our task.”

Individuals, organizations and professional groups can send written submissions on the issue to the National Marijuana Commission via email to marijuanacommission @gov.kn.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris commended Dr. Laws and the other members of the National Marijuana Commission for leading the broadbased discussions in an open and objective manner, noting that “there’s a lot of interest, not only here in St. Kitts and Nevis, but regionally and globally on this important matter.”

Aside from Dr. Laws as its chair, the other members of the National Marijuana Commission are Ms. Joan Browne; Mr. Charles Wilkin QC; Mr. Andre Mitchell; Dr. Garfield Alexander; Mrs. Michele de la CoudrayBlake; Dr. Julie Graves; Dr. Robert Mankoff; Ms. Kenisha Flemming; Samande “Ras Iya” Reid; Reverend P. Allister Rawlins; Mr. Curtis

Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws.

Francis and Ms. Karimu Byron.

Prime Minister Harris earlier stated that the findings and recommendations following what is expected to be “vigorous and exhaustive consultations”, will be presented for consideration by the Federal Cabinet “for a determination on the

current drug classification of marijuana.”

In the interim, Prime Minister Harris reaffirmed that the country will uphold the laws that are now on the books, and he also called on citizens and residents to abide by the laws of the land. ( Source: Prime Minister’s Office St. Kitts and Nevis)

Medical marijuana still on BarbadosÊ agenda ADRIEL BRATHWAITE, Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs of Barbados, has assured his country’s citizens and the wider Caribbean region by extension, that Barbados has not closed its mind to the medicinal properties of the marijuana plant.

Brathwaite made the disclosure while delivering the opening remarks at the regional consultation on marijuana hosted by the National Council on Substance Abuse, in collaboration with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

According to the Attorney General, there were, in fact, opportunities under the present legal regime to write to the head of the Drug Service for permission or get a doctor to provide a prescription so the capsule or oil could be sourced.

Braithwite, though, posited that the conversation should not be about legalising marijuana, but about discussing the properties of the plant and how they can be exploited.

“We want the best out of the plant as possible,” he stated.

Prof. Rose-Marie-Bell Antoine, Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, heads the Regional (CARICOM) Commission on Marijuana, which was established in march 2014. (Photo Credit: oas.org) Turning to the ‘marijuana conversation’ at the regional level, he admitted that the Regional Commission on Marijuana had experienced some setbacks, some of which were financial, and the other as a result of some countries not coming on board.

The Commission, he explained, was established to conduct a rigorous enquiry into the social, economic, health and legal issues surrounding marijuana use in the Caribbean to determine whether there should be a change in the current drug classification of marijuana.

“The aim of the Commission is not to say ‘you need to legalise

Adriel Brathwaite, Attorney General of Barbados, says that that country is still very much involved in a ‘conversation’ on the medicinal use of marijuana. marijuana’.

The aim is to explore if there are any medicinal or legal [properties]; to explore from a holistic perspective and make recommendations to the heads based on its research. And, it can only have the research if it has the voice of the people,” the minister said, while describing the situation as regrettable.

He used the opportunity to also appeal to those countries that had not yet welcomed the Commission, to do so, and appealed to CARICOM to ensure that it had the resources needed to meet its mandate. (Source: Barbados Today)

V Prayer Breakfast staged to aid SVG athletes at Penn Relays 6. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Diaspora

Stories by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; kingnaking210@yahoo.com

US CORRESPONDENT THREE BROOKLYN, New York-based, Vincentianborn sisters recently collaborated with James Cordice, the architect behind St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ participation in the illustrious Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the umbrella Vincentian group in the United States, in hosting what they described as a very successful fundraising Prayer Breakfast in aid of Vincentian athletes competing in the annual relay carnival.

“Many Vincentian and Caribbean natives

enjoyed a beautiful day of worship, singing, meeting new and old friends, while enjoying a mouth-watering breakfast, which they haven’t had in a long time, with local foods from St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” Yvette Deshong, one of the three Old Montrose, Kingstown-born sisters, known as the “Friends of COSAGO,” the umbrella group, told THE VINCENTIAN about the event, which took place at the Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center in Brooklyn.

COSAGO is the acronym for Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Organizations, U.S.A., Inc. The other sisters are

Evelyn and Rosita Deshong.

The Deshong sisters, along with Claudette Thomas-Butler, formerly of Murray’s Village, Kingstown, have been coordinating the Prayer Breakfast for the past five years.

Thomas-Butler did not participate this year.

“The breakfast was great,” Yvette Deshong said. “Everyone, who came out to support the event, said they enjoyed everything about it. It was great to see the support we got for the kids for the Penn Relays team. I’m proud to be part of it.

“Most of all, we met three past athletes from the Penn Relay games,” continued Deshong about

Patrons at the Prayer Breakfast. (Photo Credit: Velda Ashton)

the athletes — Zenron Chance, Kilon Kirby and Rodgike Thorpe — who are current students at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn. “They informed us that participating in the games helped them to shine to their full potential.

“They also said that they learned how to give back to their community, because a very large community has helped them by supporting the fundraising breakfast,” she continued.

In her message, Dr. Roxie Irish, a youth minister at the Miracle Temple Ministries in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn and a former national netball star, challenged patrons to “REST in the Lord, because we already know the outcome; ENGAGE James Cordice (2nd from left) with former Vincentian Penn Relays athletes, God in your now athletes at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, (L-R): Zenron circumstances, because Chance, James Cordice, Kilon Kirby and Rodgike Thorpe. (Photo Credit: He is more than able; Velda Ashton) LEARN who God is,

because he is excellent, competent, all-powerful; and YIELD to God’s Lordship, because He requires it.”

“The acronym is RELY,” said Dr. Irish, who also heads the United Vincie Cultural Group of Brooklyn.

“When we REST in God, ENGAGE Him in our circumstances, LEARN who He really is, and YIELD to His Lordship, it is so easy to have absolute trust in our excellent, competent God who is more than able.”

The Clare Valley-born, Philadelphia-based Cordice, a former president of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Organization of Pennsylvania, said he was very pleased with the fundraising event.

“It was great!” he said, and assured that, “The funds from this breakfast will go a long way in the funding of the 2018 Team SVG at the Penn

relays,” Cordcie had trekked from Philadelphia to participate in the fundraiser.

He is energized in his work to ensure SVG’s continued participation in the Penn Relays.

“There are sparks of positive energy coming from the Penn Relays, such as children wanting to run; children getting better grades, because, to participate in the Penn Relays, their grades must be acceptable to the faculty of that high school; children getting to explore the possibility of visiting colleges and universities in the USA,” he continued.

“We continue to seek assistance and support from the public,” Cordice said. “All I ask is that you allow the program to work the way it was meant to: ‘Using sports as a vehicle for the academic enhancement of our student athletes’.”

‘Science is clear,’ stresses SVG UN envoy NOTING THE DESTRUCTION caused by recent Category 5 hurricanes in the Caribbean, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador to the United Nations, I. Rhonda King, stresses that “the science is clear” on climate change.

“Harvey, Irma, Jose, Maria — these four hurricanes, a massive earthquake in Mexico, and the devastation they wrought, have caused me to ponder,” said King in addressing the 34th anniversary gala luncheon of the Brooklyn, New York-based group, Vincentian American Independent National Charities, Inc. (VINCI) at El Caribe Country Club in Brooklyn.

“With respect to the hurricanes, the science is clear,” she added. “These hurricanes are not merely freak weather events or vengeful acts of God; they are the direct result of the acts and/or omissions of

man.

“They are the manifestations of climate change,” the envoy continued. “No denying that, no fanciful equivocation will negate the truth.”

King’s address followed on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sir Louis Straker’s address to the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly last month.

Sir Louis said then, that the death and destruction wrought by this hurricane season are not merely freak weather events or the vengeful acts of God, but are “the direct result of the acts and/or omissions of man.

“They are the manifestations of climate change; the symptoms of the prescient predictions made by the overwhelming majority of scientists.”

The Deputy Prime Minister also stressed

that Small Island Developing States are the most vulnerable to climate change, while contributing the least to the emissions that cause it.

“But that truism is the foundation of our just, urgent and unavoidable demand that the nations that have contributed most to climate change similarly do the most to mitigate its effects and assist others in adapting to the dangerous new realities,” he said.

He called for “special and sustained support” of the international community to Antigua and Barbuda, St. St. Vincent and the Grenadines Kitts and Nevis, Cuba, the Ambassador to the United Nations, Bahamas and Dominica in I. Rhonda King, reiterated the position “immediate and massive that climate change has much to do with assistance in both immediate relief and longthe recent increase in hurricane and term reconstruction.” related activity in the Caribbean.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. 7.

News

Inset: Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves urged listeners “eat more of what we grow,” and there was a lot of what we ‘grow’ on display at the WFD exhibition.

Agriculture is still the basic industry CHIEF AGRICULTURAL Organisation (FAO) gave Officer Ashley Cain might impetus to establishing be uncertain about what World Food Day this country’s priority activities in 1979. Dr should be, but he is not Colleen Phillips, FAO’S despondent. He is making local representative, every effort to ensure that looked at the FAO/United the younger generation Nations declaration of play their part in its the day, October 15, as in survival. keeping with the “Agriculture is still the requirements of respect, basic industry,” Cain safety, and dignity for remarked. He was refugees, and their speaking at this year’s mandate as regards to World Food Day issues of food and Exhibition staged at agriculture to the Heritage Square, Monday principles of “leaving no 16th October. man (woman) behind.”

Cain expressed She pledged her satisfaction that his office institution’s commitment was insistent on to ending “poverty, Ashley Cain, Chief engaging the attention of Agricultural Officer, hunger and the youths, so as to sees reaching out to the malnutrition.” maintain their interest Prime Minister Dr. youth as pivotal to in agriculture. His Gonsalves pointed to safeguarding a mission is not for today, country’s food security. movement from rural to he said, instead urban areas. He projecting his message as one of attributed a rise in tourism and other preparing for 50 years in advance. services as contributors to the “We do the investment to secure migratory trend here. The Soufriere food security years on,” Cain asserted. volcano eruption in 1979 played a part, He cited that as the reason for his he said, and natural disasters have Ministry reaching out to the youths. accounted for increased density in This year’s World Food theme was: places like Glen, Sharpes, Mala ‘Change the future of migration, invest Village, and Roseau. But whatever the in food security and rural reason for moving, “we require food.” development.’

He pointed to praedial larceny as a A number of local food crops hindrance to agricultural development. producers, crafts persons and agroAnother factor was “road access.” based entrepreneurs exhibited their He urged listeners to “eat more of wares last Monday. what we grow.”

The Food and Agricultural

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8. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Editorial Medical Marijuana? Make haste.

PARTICIPANTS AT THE MAY 2014 Cannabis Conference in Jamaica, heard Vincentian-born ophthalmologist and noted speaker at the Conference say, in relation to the emerging legal and medical marijuana market, “We are 40 years late”. Add another three years, and we can extend Dr. Lockhart’s assessment to read, “We are 43 years late.”

Dr. Lockhart further warned then, that if Jamaica did not act soonest, it risked “missing the boat, losing out to countries such as the United States and Canada, where medical marijuana had become big business.”

And Dr. Lockhart should know. It was he who helped to pioneer medicine derived from marijuana such as Canasol (which treats glaucoma) and Asmasol (which treats asthma); but due to lack of funding and historically entrenched inhibiting laws and practices, are still not widely available outside of Jamaica.

Jamaica seemed to have heeded Dr. Lockhart’s warnings, albeit late, for that country, in the face of supposedly ongoing deliberations of a CARICOM established Marijuana Commission, has gone ahead and legalised medical marijuana as a first step in establishing a presence in the global, emerging, billion-dollar medical marijuana market.

Of course, Jamaica has sought to ‘control’ this unprecedented step among CARICOM countries, by introducing a cannabis licensing authority that will regulate the cultivation and distribution of marijuana.

The truth is that, even as Jamaica takes the lead among CARICOM countries as far as the issue of medical marijuana is concerned, it is still playing catch up in the global medical marijuana market.

Notwithstanding, Dr Henry Lowe and partners have launched Jamaica’s first medical marijuana company, with the intent of establishing a worldwide brand out of Medicanja (medical marijuana).

All of that while we in the rest of the CARICOM ‘family, sit by awaiting the ‘results’ of painstakingly slow work by a Marijuana Commission, before we make a decision one way or the other, about legalising medical marijuana.

Sure, we would want to say the CARICOM Regional Commission on Marijuana Use is a process that has to encompass a regional investigative interest, beyond just decriminalisation, whether for medical purposes/scientific research.

But Jamaica must have felt from the get go, that this process was going to be another round of procrastination of which we are so prone.

So, while Jamaica and the rest of the world have recognized that scientific research into marijuana and its medical properties, is an idea whose time has long come, those of us south of Jamaica appear bogged down by a disease called ‘pussyfooting’. That we prefer, like the Roman Emperor Nero, to fiddle away at building tourism-oriented economies and so-called service-ready societies, while the medical marijuana industry passes us by on its billion-dollar train.

And if we talking about growing the economy so that we can sustain our development model and meet recurring obligations (social services, etc.), why can’t we, south of Jamaica, not accept now, that a regulated medical marijuana industry can only serve to widen the tax net, to the extent that it can transform the many stagnating economies of the region, especially the smaller economies?

Is there some wisdom in the ‘hold-up? Perhaps those leaders who contribute to this can edify us.

But, for all the gods of ancient Rome and Greece, it simply does not make sense that the wider Caribbean has not yet awakened to the need to cash in now, and create a world- leading, legal medical marijuana industry; an industry that has the wherewithal to act as a cash crop, provide much needed agricultural jobs, and provide the building blocks for genuine development of our economics.

And even as we speak of the potential that lies therein, we caution about the industry becoming top-down. We must ensure that the industry, as the ‘illegal’ cultivation of marijuana currently obtains in most Caribbean territories, remains in the hands of small growers. We must ensure that the regulatory model, inherent in any decriminalisation of marijuana, whether for medical or recreational use, is biased deliberately in favour of the small grower and not the large corporations that are already lurking over the shoulders of the political elite (governments included), ready with their trinkets of poisoned gold, to take charge of the cultivation, distribution and use of marijuana grown in our midst.

So, can we hope that the Caribbean can cash in on this open opportunity? Or would we once again build the golden calf only to hand it to another round of colonisers?

Marijuana may still not be on everybody’s menu, but it certainly can provide for a better cup of tea.

Thirty-eight years Independence- What about our promised slate of national heroes?

IT IS GENERALLY ACCEPTED that countries liberalised after donkey years of colonial domination, do in fact need the memory of their native heroes to give psychological uplift especially at moments of crisis or despair.

We of SVG became an Independent country 38 years ago and enjoyed at least one ready-made and nationally accepted hero in Paramount Chief, Joseph Chatoyer.

In 2002, 15 years ago, I wrote to the newly installed ULP government, that the following persons are fine material to form a slate of Heroes for SVG. In order: Chatoyer, Hugh Mulzac, George Mc Intosh, Ebenezer Joshua.

Later, I added the name of Parmenos Eustace who was presented, as it were, particularly by Theo Browne and Vin Samuel.

But throughout the argument which became legalistic and party-political, did I ever dream of accepting the false claims and pretensions of Milton Catoites.

Not surprisingly, even staunch ULPites opposed Cato’s claim despite the flattering, twisted and jaundiced version publicised by former Cato hater Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves’ who now see things differently.

Since the PM is all powerful, to date there has been no addition to Chatoyer. I now give you Jomo’s narrative about what is taking place.

Jomo’s unwilling role in the masquerade which led him to quit his lofty post in 2014.

“When Governor General Sir Fredrick Ballantyne called to ask whether I would serve on the National Heroes. Committee, I viewed his request as a signal honour. In the past, I had written and spoken extensively on who our next heroes should be. However, once I became a member of the committee, I knew instinctively that I could not speak or advocate for or against anyone who should join Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer, in the national pantheon of heroes.

Drs Adrian Fraser and Kenneth John, at the invitation of the UWI Open Campus, spoke persuasively for the elevation of George Mac Intosh and Ebenezer Joshua to hero status. Doctor Gonsalves apparently felt compelled to make a case. He spoke on the topic “The Making of a National Hero: The Law and Practice in St Vincent and the Grenadines”.

Some say that the lecture was brilliant.

What else do they expect from Ralph Gonsalves? The man is an academic of superior intellect. There was no surprise there. If Gonsalves was able to translate his academic prowess into political I.Q, history will look at him kindly. But alas, the muzzle of national service applied to everyone except him. By short listing who the next heroes should be, Gonsalves failed to see the most

elementary point; that as Chairman of Cabinet, the final arbiter of the selection process, he should not intervene. Gonsalves’ lecture was wilful disregard because respected opinion makers, the likes of PR Campbell Q.C, social activist Renwick Rose and News Paper editorialists, led the chorus against the Prime Minister’s intervention.

This takes me to Gonsalves’ case for Cato.

Cato is far removed from anyone resembling a national hero...

But the area in which Cato’s image and legacy takes the greatest battering is the very area to which Gonsalves applies the most whitewash: Cato’s repressive tendencies, high-handedness and over reaction when it comes to the use of force, and his disrespect for the civil and political rights of citizens.

The “Kill the Bills” struggles of 1981 placed Cato and Tannis in very bad company. He was so arrogant and contemptuous of the views of others that in the 1979 Independence period he lambasted a group of respected nationals as a “bunch of nincompoops”.

Many citizens still remember Cato’s overreaction to the 1970 Black Power Rebellion in Trinidad, the tear gassing of teachers during their November 14, 1975 march, and the Union Island Rebellion led by “Bomba” Charles in 1979. Citizens were not allowed to walk in more than twos, and Barbadian troops came onto our soil at Cato’s invitation.

Cato’s political police also searched and rounded up members of the budding intellectual class, on the serious charge of sedition, and dug up the yards of progressives in search of ammunition. That was the political atmosphere that Cato’s regime engendered.

Did the PM try to rewrite history in speaking of the tear gassing of teachers? We think he did. Beache, he said, told him that Cato and his cabinet were in session and had not given approval for the tear gassing of the Teachers’ march.

If this is true, why did Cato not order the immediate release of the arrested teachers?

Why did Cato have the Teachers Union leaders spend the entire weekend in jail?

Why did Cato summon Attorney General, Arthur Williams to lead the prosecution against the teachers? Do these actions reflect the opinion of a leader who was not in support of the tear gassing, arrest and trial of citizens?

Continued on Page 26.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. 9.

Letters

Missing ‘coke, secret court? Answers please WHEN I SPEAK on the issue of crime and security, it is because I love my country, and as a member of the RSVGPF, I wanted to leave an institution better than when I joined. I was always cognizant that a time would come when I had to leave and would require the services of a professional police force.

But how am I to feel safe and have confidence (in a Police Force) when it would appear that we can’t even protect the things in our own custody?

I ask: Is there any truth that over one million dollars worth of cocaine have gone missing from the RSVGPF secure storage? What type of

rats do we have running through the sewers of this blessed land? I call on the Minister of National Security and the Commissioner of Police to tell this nation the truth, the real facts relative to this situation.

Gentlemen, tell the nation: 1. Have cocaine to the value

of $1million gone missing?

2. Was a secret court convened to indict a junior police officer for it and the matter was thrown out by the magistrate?

3. Are there foreign police in our country carrying out investigations into this matter?

4. Why is this matter being kept secret?

Tyrone James Commander SVG Coast Guard (retired) Editor’s Note: This was first carried as a posting on Mr. James’ facebook page.

Deal with the men Going beyond ÂBuyakaÊ THE ISSUE of abuse of our women continues to be a much-debated topic. Sometime ago, Mr. Editor, you did a piece on this issue and referred to it as a Men’s Issue’. I couldn’t agree with you more.

Until we put something in place that would deal with our men who feel they can go around dealing with women as though they (woman) are some goods they pick up off a shelf, abuse of women will continue.

What bothers me even more, is that these women who allow themselves to be used and abused by men, find themselves in very frustrating situations, and they take their ‘heat’ out on their children, as can be seen in a recent video that showed a woman ‘planning’ her daughter.

And these men feel they can have children with every woman they spend a night with, then turn their backs on them. I know of a case where a woman brought a man before the court for child support, that the man said he could not afford child support because he had twelve other children to support. That man should have been sent to Belle Isle, but he wasn’t, giving the impression that men are free to do as they please with our women.

So, Mr. Editor, the problem of abuse of women comes right back down to our men and what ‘rights’ they feel they have.

Time that government address some serious laws to address this issue. Time for some laws that would lose some of these men for good.

Steve of Kingstown

SO WE, AS A COUNTRY, are having a hard time as far as the escalation of crime and violent homicides are concerned.

Most of us look into these crimes as voyeurs, reacting to scenarios where it is impossible to know all the facts; that is until someone we knew is at the ‘wrong end of the gun’.

Leon ‘Buyaka’ Samuel was shot recently in the process of burglarizing a residence at Cane Garden. If you read THE VINCENTIAN of Oct. 13, you would know he had been on bail for another burglary of a business place in Kingstown.

Many, based on how Leon’s life ended, are going to write him off as just another criminal.

The ‘Buyaka’ I knew, having been his neighbor for two or so years in the early 2010s when I resided at Long Wall,

tried everything. He sold cds and bootleg movies, had an ‘open’ boutique in Kingstown, and I guess the direction of indifference to ‘a nobody’ led him to ‘harder’ measures to survive.

Add to that, that we live in a culture that flaunts excess in terms of possessions, and tends to secondarise those who do not conform to the ostentation all around us.

Without help from overseas, I could have been ‘Buyaka’, in the worst case scenario.

Who was ‘Buyaka’, though, as someone -not a voyeur- would have known?

A simple guy, never in conflict with anyone for the time in which I knew him. He enjoyed hanging out, sometimes with one or two ladies on a weekend in his downstairs sparsely furnished, in the

Congratulations, SVG 38 years of Independence ON OCTOBER 27, 2017, St. Vincent and the Grenadines will celebrate thirty-eight years of independence. Congratulations!!

Many Vincentians in the diaspora leave their mark on the communities in which they find themselves buoyed by their roots in St. Vincent. I reflect on the life and good works of the late Wendell Hercules.

On Sunday, October 1, 2017, The Wendell Hercules Running with the Angels, 5K and 10K races took place at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Rochester, New York. It was an event filled with the love, warmth and spirit exemplified by Wendell.

Wendell was born in Kingstown, St. Vincent and was the second child of Charles and Caroline Hercules of Ratho Mill.

His father, who was not only a preacher in the Methodist Church but also a Teacher and Chief Education Officer in St. Vincent, was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to education.

His mother was also a local preacher. His siblings are Baldwin, Vilna and Dalton.

Wendell attended the Boys’ Grammar School and St. Martin’s Boys Secondary School.

He was known as a fast, middistance runner. As a track athlete, he ran in local and regional inter school games, including, Dominica in 1969, Guyana in 1970 and numerous trips to Grenada. In the Southern Games in Trinidad, which was, in its heyday, a competition for the best track athletes in the Caribbean, he competed successfully in the 800 and mile run.

His track success led him to receive a track scholarship in 1972 to the University of Idaho to study civil engineering. His working career as a civil engineer was spent in Rochester, New York.

He married Hazeldene PhillsHercules and the union produced three children, Michelle, Nicole and Colin.

After many years worshiping at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Henrietta, Rochester, Wendell and his wife, Hazeldene, came up with the idea of 5K and 10K races to help to raise funds for the church.

When he passed on February 5, 2017, a decision was made to add his name to the event. He never forgot the country where he was born and was nurtured in his youth. St. Vincent and the Grenadines fostered a loving, caring individual.

We are grateful to St. Vincent and the Grenadines for producing Wendell and his goodness. Those in attendance at The Wendell Hercules Running with the Angels event included The Rector of St. Peter’s, The Rev. Catherine Tatum; the former rector, The Rev. Sharon Karl, members of the congregation, family and friends including two mayors, the Mayor of Rochester, Lovely Warren, and the Mayor of Brockport, Margay Blackman.

Love and best wishes to St. Vincent and the Grenadines as it celebrates its independence, and may it continue to provide human beings who make this a better world. In the words of Wendell Hercules keep on going “Forever Forward.”

Cheryl Phills King

Trumpet house at the ‘village’ at lower Long Wall.

At a time in my life when a perceived ‘descent’ seemed to be in progress, and the bigots all round me were trying to dictate that state of ‘nobodiness’ which I smile at as I work on my secret dreams featuring a ‘sure fire split’ from the new St. Vincent, I ask: Where is the support system for young men like Leon?

A friend of mine recently asked what I would do if I were Minister of National Security as regards the crime situation here. My response was to the effect of: We have many young men filling the prisons for crimes including murders. How hard would it be to enact a study of psychological and other factors involved, getting at the make-up of the psyche and contributory factors which drive kids and young men and women to crime? The results of that study could be used to implement counter measures.

Our young people need help. Most agencies talk a lot but do not enact a real follow-up as regards the obvious results, and some of those who do ‘help’, have a nasty habit

of putting victims’ personal business on the road. That’s the reality, isn’t it? Hence a useful life like ‘Buyaka’ Samuel’s down the line… soon forgotten.

A countdown to ruin is imminent in SVG, if counter-measures aren’t taken soon.......

Colin King

* Is it true to say that the last thing today’s Permanent Secretaries want to do is make decisions? * What use are those small cars the police just got from a Malaysian businessman? How many officers can one of them carry? * Why are people saying that our Tourism Department has too many square pegs in round holes? * If there is no strategy to combat illicit guns here, who are we to blame for that? * What is the real reason why a ‘simple thing’ like the Vincy Table Tennis Foundation Incorporation Act was sent to select Committee?

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10. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Designing the ULP policies for social and economic development

Introduction THERE ARE many Vincentians who have been following the policies of the Unity Labour Party administration over the last sixteen years, and the positive effect that these have on the socioeconomic development of the country, and indeed on all Vincentians.

Many of these policies tell the story in terms of the emphases of the ULP administration, in terms of where it wants to take the Vincentian society, in the drive to make things better for all of us. The ULP has settled on a “people-centered development policy” which puts people at the centre of the policies created by the administration.

This guides the framers of the policies, and the direction these should take.

Take for example the policy which drives the Education Revolution. The action to drive this emerges from a scenario under the NDP, where only thirty-eight percent of our primary school leavers, got a chance to go to secondary schools to continue their education. Once the ULP adopts the policy of universal access to secondary education, a whole series of actions will emerge from changes in the syllabus to the training of teachers, the provision of more spaces at secondary schools, and the list goes on.

into the manifestos, after careful research and discussions at the level of the party organs of ULP. From the manifesto, these policies are then included in the budget address of the Prime Minister, and are then formalized in terms of any financial requirement needed for the implementation process. In this regard, they are formalized and produced in a document called the Estimates of Expenditure and Revenue, which is used in particular by the public servants, who are the ones who execute the policies of the government. These policies are often debated in Parliament, although several times, when the policies are produced in the form of a resolution, the opposition NDP is often absent, and contribute nothing to the debate.

In the final analysis, the ultimate goal of the ULP driven policies, is the upliftment of the quality and standard of life, of all Vincentians. The ULP administration has the peoplecentered vision, the philosophy, the historical sensibilities, the policies and programmes to uplift further the quality of Vincentians of all walks of life.

Creating Policies By and large, these policies are extremely effective, and that is why A policy is really a series of the people have returned the ULP to principles which guide decision aimed office in 2001, 2005, 2010 and 2015, a at achieving a desired outcome. historic four in a row. The truth of the Usually, a policy will come out of the matter is that the ULP has chalked identification of a problem and/or the up a record of outstanding and need to change a policy, or make a unprecedented achievements, which critical paradigm shift. Professionally, have benefited every family, and the some work has to be done in terms of nation as a whole. These researching the source of the problem accomplishments have been secured to be solved and the possible solutions in the most challenging of that the policies will address. circumstances.

Political parties who want to address policies aimed at creating Conclusion economic development opportunities for a people, have to have leaders who All this might sound like an easy are steeped in the philosophical process, based on the short history of the society in which they description on the way government operate. For example, in the case of policies are designed and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, it is implemented, but a lot of intricate important to understand the historical work has to go into this entire context, in terms of the way our process. The truth of the matter is people have developed, from colonialism through to independence, that, because of the level of competence applied, the ULP and beyond. administration has made this process Within the ranks of the ULP over so easy. the years, are persons who are All this is well known and is in the steeped with an understanding of the consciousness of the people of Vincentian society, and who St.Vincent and the Grenadines, and understand the mechanics of for that matter, in the hearts and developing policies for national minds of the opposition NDP. Readers development. People like Sir Vincent will recall that the then leader of the Beache, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Sir Louis Straker, and young politicians opposition, Arnhim Eustace, at a town like Luke Browne, Camillo Gonsalves, hall meeting in New York, was asked and Saboto Caesar, are all qualified about his five to ten-year development and have the experience in the plan. His defeatist answer was, “Ask development of policies for socioRalph”. This was a clear indication economic development. that Eustace and his party, have no Many of the policies of the ULP answer to the developmental problems administration first have their genesis affecting the country. We must point in the manifesto of the party. A them in the direction of the review of the manifestos from 1998, government’s twelve-year National 2001, 2005, and 2010 will contain Economic and Social Development policies related to the education Plan 2013 to 2025. This plan is revolution, the international airport, available to the public and is posted citizenship security, health and the on the government’s website for all to environment, foreign relations and culture. These policies find their way read.

Is the ULP tough on crime and the causes of crime?

THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY (NDP) reiterates that the Minister of National Security, Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves, must take the blame and responsibility for the crime situation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Since the ULP came to power in 2001, we have seen a significant decline in moral values of our people, increased poverty, increased unemployment, economic decline and social inequality. It is widely believed by many, that these factors have contributed to the increased crime and violence in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

One of the major functions of government is to provide adequate security for its citizens. The Unity Labour Party (ULP) regime has failed to do so. Also, the Minister of National Security must send the strongest message to people who commit crime, that they will be caught, prosecuted and appropriately punished. Dr. Gonsalves had the opportunity to send that strong message to criminals at his press conference on Tuesday 16th October, but failed to do so. Instead, it was about rhetoric, the sound bytes and the NDP. In times like these, Vincentians need a Minister of National Security who is serious, and knows what he is about.

Meanwhile, the law-abiding citizens need to believe that they can live their lives free from fear; but some Vincentians have begun to become fearful. When gunmen can walk into a shop and spray bullets, leaving eight (8) persons hospitalized, it’s cause for concern. We have had thirty-five (35) homicides so far for the year, in our thirty-eighth year of independence.

That’s too many for a small state like St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It’s not good news for Dr. Gonsalves and the ULP regime, because we were promised in 2001 by the ULP, that they would have been ‘tough on crime and the causes of crime’. We cannot be proud of the current homicide figure.

However, it appears that Vincentians should not be reminded of crimes that have been committed under the ULP regime. General Secretary of the NDP, Tyrone James, in his article headed ‘The ULP has no response to crime in SVG’ and carried in THE VINCENTIAN and THE NEWS newspapers of October 13th, 2017, reminded us: “The ULP regime has constructed this present reality by their discriminatory policies, and fostered the environment that facilitates and embolden criminals.

Remember: the murder of Glen Jackson and Edgar Cruickshank; the rape rally and the reinstatement of police officers who were convicted of crimes; the slap on the wrist of Tamara Marks and Bibby; refusal to account for monies supposedly spent on public projects; and the parceling out of jobs for their children and cohorts.”

The NDP’s message is clear as it relates to tackling crime in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The NDP is strongly of the view that in order to effectively combat crime, the emphasis should be placed on identifying the likely causes of crime and developing a strategy to remove those causes.

Moreover, recognizing the importance of developing and

maintaining an effective criminal justice system to convict, incarcerate and rehabilitate convicted offenders, the NDP will: implement the Spiritual and Social Redemption Charter as the prime mechanism in the prevention of crime; commission a review of existing research into the causes of crime, followed by research in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to determine which of these causes are applicable here. This will inform the strategies we introduce for combating crime.

In addition, the NDP will: collect statistics on rates of recidivism in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; review measures that have proven successful in reducing the incidence of recidivism; implement those measures that seem likely to be effective in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; institute a system to continually monitor the results; and emphasize the importance of community policing by increasing the visibility of police on the beat and by organizing and arranging training in that aspect of policing.

We will also: promote the establishment and maintenance of a CARICOM criminal records information system which would provide information about convicted criminals so as to make it easier for the police authorities in the region to ascertain whether a person was convicted of a crime elsewhere; establish small police out stations in locations where there is an appreciable level of conflict; and establish a police website providing information on known criminals and information about the crime situation throughout the country.

Furthermore, the NDP will review the provisions of the Theft of Produce and Livestock and other legislation, with a view to introducing measures that will more easily and speedily apprehend and convict persons who steal livestock and agricultural produce, commit theft against yachtsmen, and accord more severe prison sentences for sexual offenders.

The NDP is committed to combat crime. Dr. Friday outlined in his recent press conference, “The NDP pledges that this problem will be high on our political agenda in government.

We do not hold the reins of government now, but are prepared to work along with others to tackle this alarming crime situation. It really cannot be business as usual; we must begin the process of taking back control of our communities, our lives and our peace of mind.”

There is no doubt that the ULP regime has failed miserably in fighting crime. We have not heard from the police high command or the Minister of National Security strategies to effectively combat crime in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It must be emphasized that to address the problems of crime and violence, the ULP must be removed from office.

The NDP will provide that platform for all stakeholders to play a role in combating crime.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. 11.

Views

Beyond the final heartbeat

“Just beyond our last heartbeat lies eternity.” - Charles Stanley (born 1932) – Senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. MANY INDIVIDUALS seek to avoid thinking about death; that moment when we draw our last breath, our eyes blink for that final moment, and our heart beats for that last time. However, just as surely as we are alive to read these words, there will come a time when we will die. Death, in its own strange way, is a part of life. And death is that door, that link, that conduit, that leads to eternity.

Some of this column’s readers may be tempted to discontinue reading this essay at this juncture. Some may conclude that there is no life after death; there is no heaven; there is no hell; and there is no God. However, there are many who know (beyond the shadow of a doubt) that there is a God … and there is life beyond that final heartbeat. That being said, we all need to make sure that we make the necessary arrangements for life after death. Those arrangements must be made while we still have life.

We have heard individuals say that they do not believe in anything that they cannot see and/or touch. In their minds, “If you cannot see it, then it does not exist. If you cannot measure it, then it does not exist.” They seek to extend this thought to indicate that if we cannot see, touch, or measure God, then He does not exist. They further argue that He could not have made the world and mankind as described in the Old Testament book of Genesis. They appear to be more comfortable with the belief that there was a “big bang” in the universe, and from that the earth and mankind emerged. We do not have to see electricity to believe that we will receive a shock if we insert our finger in an electrical socket. We do not have to see gravity to believe that if we step off the roof of a building, we will fall to the ground. We know that these exist. So too, those of us who believe in the God of creation, can attest to the fact that we feel His presence on a regular basis. He has worked things out in our lives that convince us that He exists. He is real.

We return to the discussion on the idea, the reality, that there is life after death. Unless we are physically present when Jesus returns to the world (when the dead in Christ shall be resurrected and then those who are alive will be caught up to be with him in the air,) we will all die. Those who die without having made that critical decision to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, will spend eternity in hell. As harsh as this may sound, it is a reality. However, those who die in Christ (having accepted Him as our Lord and Saviour), will look forward to spending eternity in heaven.

James Dobson reminds us that, “The final heartbeat for the Christian is not the mysterious conclusion to a meaningless existence. It is, rather, the grand beginning to a life that will never end.” We are encouraged.

There are so many passages in the bible that tell us of this reason for hope. The scriptures, written by the

inspiration of God over centuries, provide useful insights of this lifeafter-death experience.

Life is fragile … and death is certain. We can be here today and gone tomorrow. Accidents do happen.

Fatal misfortunes occur each day.

None of us will know exactly when we will die. Death does not message us to say that he is coming. He just turns up. And he may turn up when we least expect him to. It therefore behooves us all to make sure that our calling and election is sure; to make the right choices in relation to how we live this life and what we believe.

That is the focus of this week’s essay.

All readers are invited to reflect on where we are in relation to our date with destiny. There is only one way to heaven, and that is through accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. There is no other way.

Education will not do. Skin colour will not do. Nationality is insufficient. Family connections have no value here. Being nice, kind, or good will not make a difference. One way! Through Jesus Christ. We have to get to the point where we understand and appreciate that all of our righteousness will be like filthy rags. All of us, every last one of us, have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But God commended His love to us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for our sins.

He paid a debt that we could not pay.

He gave His life so that we could go free; so that we could spend eternity with Him — if we accept His gift of salvation.

Some of this column’s readers may incorrectly conclude that they have been too bad to be saved. We have committed too many evil deeds. We have engaged in too many “big sin” activities. We are too far gone to receive this salvation. But that is not true. There is none so vile that the love of Jesus Christ cannot reach … and clean. God’s grace is sufficient to clean every last one of us. All we need to do is trust Him to do what He has promised. He mentioned that all who come to Him in true repentance (turning away from the life of sin) will be saved. It does not matter where we have been and what we have done.

The blood that He shed on Calvary’s cross over two thousand years ago is still sufficient to clean and save whosoever will. That “whosoever” means you and me.

Today, as you read these words, and as you hear His voice, harden not your heart. There is a beautiful life of peace and contentment that is available to all who will trust the Lord for the salvation that only He can give. And there is great assurance that once this is done, we can look forward in great anticipation to spending eternity with Him … beyond the final heartbeat.

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

Oscar and being the nation’s conscience “WHO REALLY are you? He began. “Why do you want to honour me?

“You don’t know me,” I confirmed, “but from a distance I have learned much from you. Moreover, I cherish what you do for SVG.” Reclining as far as the chair allowed and looking at me with an owl-wise expression, he replied, “I never did anything seeking praise, …”

“I decided to thank you through this dedication, because I learned one of my most important lessons in life; the nobleness in progressive struggle, thanks to people like you,” He tried to recline further, ignoring the chair’s objection. After a few seconds of mind searching, he offered, “Tell me about Richard. I heard you are a Moscow graduate.”

“You are part of the village that made me as the Africans say. I was taught that ingratitude is worse than witchcraft. I want to give respect where it’s due.” His smile indicated reduced suspicion.

“I read your articles. You should write them in the way you wrote this book. Ordinary people must be able to understand your writings.” The rebuke’s power was its gentleness and purity of intent, embellished by a studied gaze through a calmlypiercing lizard-like-eye survey of me. I was being schooled by a priest, teacher and advocate for the Poor. By humility in the flesh! His name: Oscar Allen.

It would be foolish pretense were I to make a portrait of Oscar’s life. My host Jomo Thomas, and others are more conversant with Oscar and his history. My intention is to state what he continues to mean to me since rushing onto my socio-political consciousness in 1979, as part of the UPM, itself born of a tectonic shift in the politics of that time. Like many youths of that era, I became “Upfull.”

And, thanks to Mike Browne, Renwick Rose, Oscar, and Arthur Bobb, that flame burns bright as ever.

As he spoke I travelled memory lane placing Oscar in the process that revolutionized my “being.” We were never close, and met five times at most. But from the first I saw and heard him, his abiding serenity, sincerity and confident intellectual deposition were alluring. He was wellspoken without seeking to impress; modest dress his vogue; accessible to all his commitment; and determined quiet courage and belief in the greatness of community action a practised virtue. I admired and tried to emulate these, but his indelible mark on my thinking came when the “Kill the bills” movement swept SVG. Upon winning the 1979 elections by a landslide that all but buried the parliamentary opposition, Cato’s Labour administration declared itself, “the strongest government in the world!” In their minds, they could do whatever they wanted! Their laundry list was long and they went about it with aplomb including: state of emergency after Bomba Charles led the Union Island uprising; inviting the Barbados Defense Force to occupy SVG; letting contemptuous Grafton and King Arthur run wild in public office; harassing dissidents, even banning calypsos critical of the government. Then Cato introduced his “Dreads Bills” in 1981, which in part made it a crime to think about committing a crime. Enough was enough!!

I stood in the Market Square (which Mitchell destroyed to build his

monstrosity), listening to speakers from Parnell Campbell to Renwick Rose interpret and explain the evil intentions of these hoodlums, in trying to force the “dread bills” on us.

With each speech, the tempo rose and people like Aubrey “Ras Boo’ Burgin and yours truly became incensed upon realizing that “Ma Goffei” (Cato’s sobriquet) might be an emerging Eric Gairy, father of Grenada’s notorious ‘mongoose gang’. Market Square seemed on the build-up to a Krakatoa eruption! But there was Oscar Allen, a cool gentle breeze which this overheated atmosphere needed to prevent explosion. Calm descended on this mass (parts of which urged open rebellion) when he assured there would be non-violent victory because; “This is an ocean of Vincentians; and we are here to drown the bills!” His deep faith in the power of the masses to secure our justice changed me forever. Henceforth, I knew where I stand.

“And so where do you go from here?

I mean you want to support national development,” he was saying.

“You are a symbol of honesty, humility, and service to our nation; a great example to me. You are unassuming, void of conceitedness and wishes for personal profit; you refuse to practise self-praising demagoguery, and despise political deceit. There is no flattery here. This is my understanding of you.”

He looked beyond me, out of the window, obviously pondering his response. “I am not sure about that, but you are learning well as one interested, it seems, in serving people.” I noted, “You are learning well,” as distinct from you have learnt well. This was another fundamental lesson and hit home. While still vehement, I have discarded intellectual brutality.

“I consider you the conscience of this nation. And, like you, I have chosen the side of justice for the Poor.”

He was again silent. I waited.

“I deserve no honour, but thank you.” He was turning something(s) over in his head. “I have little time left. I must not waste it.” His mood and tone were deeply reflective; evidently speaking more to himself than to me. “Our country has a conscience; its people. The task is to wake up that conscience.” I was floored, my ignorance laid prostrate and naked at the feet of this giant in humility! “So let’s go out and try to do that.”

With SVG marking another year of “independence”, I reflect on what a miserable failure I am as regards Oscar’s noble commandment. But I was very fortunate to meet what honest decent humanity looks like in the physical! I can’t be him! But he left us hope. So tomorrow and the day after and ... I will try again. Oscar’s honesty, humanity and humility MUST live if only for SVG’s sake.

This piece, written by Dr Richard Byron Cox, is the first of many collaborative efforts that will unfold in the coming months.

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

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12. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Debt relief for bad accountability and bad governance IT IS BELIEVED that the ULP government will receive about EC$180 million in debt relief from the UK government, in the latter part of 2017.

It is shocking how the UK government can be so short-sighted and give EC$180 million in debt relief, and ignore the very serious breakdown in governance and accountability of the public accounts in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), and ignore the plight of the people of SVG. It appears that the UK government is rewarding bad accountability and bad governance with debt relief.

Under the Mustique Act no. 48 of 2002, the super-rich of Mustique and Canouan get tax and customs duty exemptions worth about EC$500 million annually. Yet the UK government ignores this.

Under the SVG High Seas Fish Act, Taiwan uses SVG’s national flag and SVG’s tuna fishing licence. However, under the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas rules, Taiwan is required to offload its

tuna fish catch from the Atlantic Ocean in SVG, and pay tax to the SVG Treasury.

However, Taiwan gets away with not paying about EC$3 billion in fish tax annually to the SVG Treasury. Yet the UK government ignores this.

In 2007, the ULP government overspent the budget by EC$63 million without prior approval of the SVG Parliament (Source: audit reports 2007 - 2010). The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1979 constitutionallyappointed Director of Audit failed the ULP government on the audit of public accounts for the years of 2008, 2009 and 2010.

In 2008, the SVG Director of Audit was refused access to the records at the Inland Revenue Department to verify the accuracy of revenue (Source: audit report 2008).

The SVG 1979 constitutionallyappointed Director of Audit has complained strongly that the Public Accounts Committee reports 2001 to 2017, as under Section (76) of the SVG

1979 Constitution of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, have not been completed (Source: audit reports).

By giving the ULP regime EC$180 million in debt forgiveness, the UK government gives a perverse reward for bad governance and accountability of the public accounts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Clearly, the ULP government lacks financial discipline, and lacks the ability to competently manage SVG’s financial affairs and economy. The ULP government received debt relief from the UK government in 2002, but since then, the ULP government has been so reckless and wasteful with the country’s money, that they have simply accrued a massive debt again.

SVG has high debt levels. Granting debt relief to a government that is reckless does not help the people of SVG in the long-term. It is not a sustainable solution.

The tax exemptions given by the ULP government to Taiwan and the super-rich of Mustique and Canouan

are choking the SVG economy to death and causing severe poverty, high levels of crime and unemployment, destitution and hunger. SVG has poor health facilities and a very poor education system too.

The UK government is ignoring the plight of the people of SVG, in granting debt relief to a financially reckless government. The UK government should force the ULP government to abolish the tax exemptions given to Taiwan and the super-rich of Mustique and Canouan, and collect the billions of dollars owed to the SVG Treasury.

The UK government should explain this perverse reward of debt relief to a financially wasteful government.

SVG Green Party cc: His Excellency the Governor General of St Vincent and the Grenadines SVG Minister of Finance Hon. Leader of the Opposition SVG Hon. Chief Justice OECS Supreme Court United Kingdom Prime Minister UK Ambassador to Barbados UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Director General, British Broadcasting Corporation

Colonisation and God’s plan for building his Kingdom - Part 15

THE LEADERS of the Sanhedrin council were determined to be rid of this Jesus, who, along with his followers, were turning the world upside down (Acts17:6). He was constantly disregarding their rules and making his own.

Often, He could be heard using this phrase: “But I say unto you…,” [Matt 5:44). They were comfortable with their traditions.

How dare He come and mess things up. But the people were looking to Him for leadership (and) their stranglehold on the people was slipping.

Jesus was going about healing sick folk Matt 9:35), and teaching about this Kingdom in all their synagogues. This was just too ridiculous, the Pharisees thought.

Just now they would be out of a job; they had to do something soon. In the meantime, they would keep an eye on Him; He must slip up sometime, then they would embarrass and destroy him.

Everywhere He went, the crowds followed him. They walked for miles just to hear the incredible things he spoke, for no one had ever spoken the things He did (Jn 7:46). They hung on his every word. It was as if His

words were life itself (Jn 6:63), and they were indeed.

Jesus realized that Satan had the people under his control for so long that they were in a spiritual stupor; they were like sheep without a shepherd (Matt 9:36), harassed and helpless. He decided that he must destroy the works of Satan if the people were to be freed(1Jn 3:8), for because Adam and Eve had transgressed, they by forfeiture, had their authority torn from their grasp by this deceiver, this usurper called Satan. However, Satan was not about to give up his bounty without a fight (Eph 6:12).

Jesus had beaten Satan in the wilderness battle already (Matt chap 4), yet Satan was still in the war, and was fighting tooth and nail for the immortal spirits of mankind; they must join him in hell (Isa 5:14), and he would see to it.

He (Satan) was quite aware that he had limited time, so he must work tirelessly (Rev 12:12).

He was furious for, after all, it should be all his, yet Yah (God) had given dominion to these puny, fragile creatures called “man” (Gen 1:26). But they were

so emotional, sensual, and weak, he thought, that he could easily destroy them all.

He who could have been exalted above the stars of Yah(God), who could have walked amidst the fiery stones on the Mount of the congregations (Isa 14:13), had to stand by and watch Yah (God) hand the earthrealm over to these humans (Ezek 28:13).. . Yes he will destroy them.. or rather, he will make them destroy themselves.

Yah (God) hated sin with a passion, because sin was really disobedience, transgression against Him, and He loved these humans so much, it was ridiculous.

But he Satan, the great serpent, the devil (Rev 12:9) was going to lead the whole world astray, watch and see. Kick him out of the celestial Kingdom….there will be HELL to pay.

He will make sure that the same humans that Yah loved so much, will be the same ones who will turn against Him. to be continued....

Negus

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. 13.

Feature

Brief history of the St. Vincent Teachers’ College (1964-2017)

Left: The Teachers Complex at Arnos Vales, the College’s first permanent location.

Top Right: Mrs. Ednitt Providence-Mitchell - First local principal.

Right: Chester Rogers – longest serving local principal to date. followed, after three years, by a second year of training for selected teachers.

The first group of student-teachers received tuition at the Old THE ST. VINCENT Grammar School building.

TEACHERS’ COLLEGE was In those early years, the established in October 1964 College continued to be with a cohort of 30 housed in a succession of students. During the period borrowed buildings until October 1964 to June 1968, 1973 when the institution a one year basic course of was moved to permanent all-round training was quarters at Arnos Vale. provided for experienced These facilities which teachers in primary schools were constructed to who had never attended a accommodate 200 Training College. Prior to students, were a gift to St. the opening of the College, Vincent from the British supernumerary and grade Government. The College, teachers received some now the Division of level of training at Pupil Teacher Education, is Teachers’ Centers which presently housed at the were set up across the Villa Campus of the now island in the 1950s. A few amalgamated St. Vincent Vincentian teachers also and the Grenadines received training at the Community College.

Erdiston Teachers’ College In the initial period, the in Barbados. staff of the college The initial functions of provided for a principal, the St. Vincent Teachers’ senior lecturer, two College were: 1. to provide lecturers and seven parta one-year basic course of time tutors. The first all-round training for Principal was Mr. E. W. primary school teachers; 2. Holmes, a Canadian. He to provide a cadre of twoserved from 1964 to 1966 thirds trained teachers; 3. and was succeeded by two to provide one year’s other Canadian principals. initial training to be The first local Principal Editor’s Note: This publication forms part of a programme of activities to mark the 53rd anniversary of the College.

Teachers College Graduation Class of 1969.

islands. At this conference, matters affecting Teacher Education in the sub-region are discussed.

The U.W.I also assumes responsibility for setting and moderating the marking of the final examinations in the externally assessed subjects.

Over the years, there have been changes in the curriculum of the College in terms of the teaching organization and structure, as well as the actual syllabuses taught. The areas covered in the early years included: EXTERNAL SUBJECTS — Education Theory, English, Mathematics, Science, Social was Mrs. Ednitt Providence who served the Studies, Practical teaching, and Individual institution from 1972 to Study; INTERNAL 1977.

SUBJECTS — Agriculture, Health education, Home Role of the Regional Economics, Industrial University Arts, Music, Physical Assistance in the initial Education and Research organization of the St. methods.

Vincent Teachers’ College Students who passed all was provided by the then seven university-assessed Institute of Education, areas as well as one University of the West internal subject were Indies (Mona). issued a certificate by the Subsequently, The U.W.I U.W.I. A holder of this School of Education, Cave certificate was eligible for Hill Campus became the admission to some certifying body for faculties of the university. teachers pursuing the training programme at the Some significant College. By way of a Joint developments Board of Teacher Education for the Eastern Caribbean, the Campus 1968: The College course continues to assist in was lengthened to two curriculum development years and the curriculum for the externally assessed revised. As time went on subjects, providing inand individual subject service training through areas were evaluated, it regular became obvious that two workshops/seminars for years were not enough to staff members in adequately cover the these areas. course. To this end, a preThe U.W.I college year was School of introduced in 1986. This Education continues to host focused on academic upliftment, and students a Biennial attended sessions every Conference on Friday on a day release Teacher Education which basis. The pre-college programme has since been is attended by discontinued. the Principals/Deans 1984: The College, in response to a perceived of the Colleges need for trained teachers and the Chief in the lower forms of Education Officer from the the secondary schools, began a secondary teacher respective

training programme. The secondary programme was suspended in 1991 because of the small number of eligible applicants and pending further evaluation.

It was subsequently reintroduced in 2001 as part of Mrs. Harriette Da Silva – current the programme of Dean of the Division of Teacher the Division of Education (SVGCC).

Teacher Education at the untrained graduates, and now amalgamated St. the move from the Arnos Vincent and the Vale location to the Villa Grenadines Community Campus.

College.

There was 1986-1988: an attempt at joint teacher training between the Teachers’ College and the Technical College at Arnos Vale. Students were trained in the areas of Agriculture, Business Studies, Home Economics, and Industrial Arts. The Technical College assumed responsibility for training in the areas of Agriculture, Business and Industrial Arts, while the Teachers’ College taught all students at the Use of English, Mathematics, Education Theory and Home Economics.

1988-Present: Significant developments since 1988 include the introduction of the Associate Degree in Education programme (ADE), training in Early Childhood Education, reintroduction of the Secondary Programme, training in Technical Vocational Education, offering of part-time Bachelor’s degree, postgraduate diploma for

Outreach programme The College, mindful of its central role in the development of education, works closely with the schools through various outreach programmes.

College staff continues to assist in staff development programmes in the nation’s schools.

With the assistance of U.W.I. personnel, training sessions were held for Qualified Assistant Teachers in order to develop competencies in areas such as the effective use of the teaching practice assessment form used by the College as well as training in Clinical Supervision. The training sessions still take place every year and are conducted by the dedicated staff of the Division of Teacher Education. Therefore in the primary and secondary schools, there is a cadre of trained cooperating teachers who can assist the College lecturers in the guidance and assessment of students on teaching practice.

Principals of the St. Vincent Teachers’ College Over the years, the College was able to accomplish its objectives of producing trained teachers for the classrooms under the effective leadership provided by the following persons: 1964 1966 1969 1972 1977 1998 1999 2003 2004 2005 2008 2015

— 1966: Mr. E. W. Holmes — 1969: Mr. James. H. Ramsey - 1972: Mr. Clifford. S. Bawden - 1977: Mrs. Ednitt Providence- Mitchell (First local Principal) - 1998: Mr. Chester Rogers (Longest serving local Principal) — 1999: Mr. Christopher Dennie — 2003: Dr. Veronica Marks — 2004: Mr. Philemon Williams (Ag) — 2004: Mrs. Deborah Bacchus — 2008: Dr. Alston Jack — 2015: Mrs. Eula Adams (Dean/DTE) — present Mrs. Harriette Da Silva (Dean/DTE)

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. 15.

14. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

DOMINICA, ‘MARIA’ and lessons learned water arrived later, via a Canadian Navy helicopter and other volunteer agencies.

There was a lapse of another few days before food supplies began arriving.

The SVG team members shared their supplies with the families who housed them and having radio access with their support team in SVG, requested more food and medical supplies, including IV antibiotics. With communications means at its disposal, the team was also able to coordinate the arrival and collection of medical supplies and food from friends in the US, who brought these supplies in by private jets.

Observation

The stark reality (of destruction) that greeted the medical and emergency communications team.

Right: Teacher Annette speaking with her relatives in Grenada via a radio provided by Don de Riggs.

Submitted by DONALD DE RIGGS A FIVE-PERSON MEDICAL and emergency communications team from St. Vincent and the Grenadines recently provided incountry, voluntary service to the rural district of Wesley, Dominica, for just over two weeks, September 25 to October 10, following that country’s devastation by Hurricane Maria, September 11.

The service included: clearing roads of fallen trees and other blown debris; repairing generators, water pumps; restoring the broadcast capability of the lone FM station; providing vital medications and

SVG First Responders cleaned about one mile of road.

food supplies for the staff at the Wesley Health Center and health centers in nearby communities.

The response team was led by medical doctor Masada James, a Dominican who hails from the Wesley area. She was ably assisted by Director of the Rainbow Radio League Inc., Donald De Riggs.

Others making up the team included a registered nurse, a pharmacist and small engine technician/chainsaw operator.

The reality Initial focus for the team was ensuring that Dr. James’ family was safe. Once that was settled, the team sought to ascertain the needs at the Wesley Health Center and getting a ham radio station on the air, as there was NO form of communications in that part of the island.

Though the team’s movements were restricted due to the lack of gasoline, an assessment of the damage was still possible. It was clear that the damage was consistently horrific island wise.

It was noticeable that when the SVG team arrived in Wesley, no form of relief had yet been received - not even water. The first set of

More can be said about the tour of duty, but the focus is on the lessons learned from the experience on the ground.

The lack of a proper distribution system and lack of communications were and still are the main problems encountered in Dominica. While at Wesley there were only two HF stations on the air, J73JT Joseph (Castle Bruce) and J73WA Wayne (Portsmouth), while there were about five stations on VHF/UHF who were located mainly in the southern half of the island, but coverage from those repeaters was not islandwide. The repeaters could have been heard but not accessed with a portable VHF radio. Another relief station from Barbados, Ishmael 8P6PE/J7 a coast guard officer, also assisted with coms from the financial complex in Roseau.

There are Community Disaster Committees in some districts, but there is little community based involvement in those structures. In most cases, they comprise individuals appointed by the parliamentary representative for that area.

The government distribution structure assisted by the Red Cross is working, but very slowly, and the remotest communities, the worst affected, were not reached up to the time when the SVG team was extracted.

in the quickest possible time.

The most important medium is communications. Nothing will happen until those responsible for distributing/providing assistance know what is happening and where help is needed. A concerted drive to train district medical staff, law enforcement officers and community disaster committees in radio usage, will help solve some of the problems associated with the lack of communications. Regular simulations must be conducted so that all radio operators are familiar with the operations of their equipment.

Community response committees must involve key stake holders - chainsaw operators, truck drivers, electricians, plumbers, medical staff, cadets and law enforcement officers. In addition, these persons must have some form of communications even if it is only a handheld radio.

VHF/UHF radios have a limited range; several repeaters must be installed to provide as wide a coverage as possible. The remotest communities must be targeted first. Portable repeaters will play a vital function in areas that may be affected and are located in a ‘radio shadow’ area.

The RRL is willing to provide the training and to assist local radio operators with the installation of the communications infrastructure.

Distribution of relief

supplies can be handled thus: pre-positioning of food, water, tools, cots, blankets, tarpaulins, generators and fuel in communities that historically have been blocked by landslides; The SVG team got NBS FM back on the air, much to working the delight of owner Michael Andrew (foreground). with truckers(e.g. provision of power, but fuel is not readily fuel) from these communities to available after a major ensure transport of relief disaster. supplies from a central location At another level, the CDB, or main warehouse, thereby World Bank and other internarelieving the burden on the tional credit agencies, through government transport system; grant funding, can help offset setting up zonal warehouses to the cost for rent by farmers and supply the remote districts other persons who would have thereby minimizing the time lost their livelihood through that relief reaches those affectMaria. Housing is a serious ed. problem and it is difficult for The region is faced with an persons whose homes were annual hurricane season, destroyed to pay a rent since therefore a major simulation, a they have no income. Buildings month or two before the official used as shelters were also start of the hurricane season, destroyed or rendered inhabitwill put all stakeholders in a able. Once a proper structure state of readiness. This will is set up, persons renting also be an excellent opportunity houses or space should be able to use radios only, to see how to receive a monthly payment, the system will perform, as well without trying to rip off the as giving users hands on system. Agencies, including the experience with two-way radio FAO, can provide vegetable and the associated protocols. seeds to farmers as well as Given that the electricity organic fertilizers, to get supply is likely to be affected farmers ‘on their feet’ again. during a storm/hurricane, Always, though, it is instrucemphasis will be on the use tive to note that putting mearenewable energy devices to sures in place beforehand can recharge the two-way radio mitigate the impact and resulbatteries. The most viable tant disorder caused by any option is solar. Gas generators hazard. are also useful to provide

Recommendations The following are our recommendations going forward, to ensure that help is available to who need it most

Lawson Bonadie working on a generator for the Wesley Health Receiving medical supplies and food items from SVG. Centre.

The road cleanup team.

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16. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Tourism

There is something simply romantic about Young Island Resort that gives it that special edge.

Young Island debuts on Condé Nast Traveler “best of” list YOUNG ISLAND RESORT marks its first time receiving a Readers’ Choice Award from Condé Nast Traveler. The 2017 list published October 17, 2017, highlights the Top 60 Resorts in the Caribbean.

“It is a great honor to be recognized by the esteemed readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine, who include many of our guests who have named Young Island Resort as one of the best resorts in Open air restaurants and deck bars add to the the Caribbean,” says luxury resort.

Bianca Porter, General Manager of Young Island independent property offers 29 wellResort. “We go above and beyond to appointed guest cottages, resort pool provide our guests with a memorable and private plunge pools, spa, and vacation experience. This award gives WiFi. Island-fresh ingredients make us great pleasure, and we are humbled dining enjoyable in the resort’s opento know we are fulfilling their wishes.” air thatched hut restaurant, and More than 300,000 dedicated cocktail service is enjoyed at the readers cast votes and submitted Captain Bligh Lounge and Bar and millions of ratings and tens of just offshore at the Coconut Bar. thousands of comments, sharing their Guests enjoy complimentary ferry recent travel experiences of the world’s service to/from mainland St. Vincent, cities, islands, hotels, resorts, cruise just 200 yards away. (Source: MP&A lines, airlines, and airports.

Digital & Advertising) Young Island Resort is one of only two properties in St. Vincent and The Grenadines to win this prestigious award. Guests worldwide come to Young Island for its perfectly tropical setting, familiar service and authentic Caribbean experience.

The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are commonly known as “the best of the best of travel.”

Under Editor in Chief Pilar Guzmán, the Readers’ Choice Awards are highly selective and specific to the passions that inspire today’s travelers.

The Readers’ Choice Awards are published in the November print issue of Condé Nast Traveler, on newsstands in late October 2017. The full list is online at CNTraveler.com/rca.

About Young Island Resort Young Island Resort makes its home on the first of the 32 Grenadine islands and cays that make up St. Vincent and The Grenadines. Vincentian owned and staffed, Young Island Resort welcomes guests seeking a peaceful, private and romantic Caribbean holiday. The

V Climate Change Calypso contest set to go

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. 17.

Youth

Julia Simmons, Disaster Management Officer/ Red Cross, is keen to get the message of climate change ‘out there’.

THIS YEAR’S INDEPENDENCE celebration activities will result in cash for some secondary school students.

They could earn that

cash by participating in the Climate Change Calypso Competition, set for Wednesday October 25, at Victoria Park.

That’s the same day when students will be rewarded for academic accomplishments in the 2016/17 academic year.

When the awards ceremony is over, it would be time for nine competitors, each singing on a Climate Change related theme, to vie for a first prize of $3,000.

Reigning Secondary Calypso Monarch Kristiana ‘Singing Kristy’ Christopher will represent the Thomas Saunders Secondary with her number, ‘Climate

change and we’.

The current Junior Soca Monarch - M’riah ‘Young Siah’ Robertson from West St. George Secondary, will show her versatility with a composition, ‘It is a warning’.

There are four competitors from the Sandy Bay Secondary School: Javed ‘Ejay’ Baptiste with ‘Whip them’; Delisha ‘Soca D’ Brackin - ‘Global warming’; Bevern ‘Crystal B’ Baptiste ‘Scared’; and Sakura ‘Soca’ Princess’ Ryan doing ‘Feeling the heat’.

Till-J Cyrus represents the Intermediate High School with ‘Bad memories’. Lisa Williams carries the Girls’ High School banner doing ‘Our climate has changed’,

and North Union Secondary School’s Ronard Joseph will do one entitled ‘E knee me knee my knee mo’.

The competition is a collaboration between the Ministry of Education, Red Cross

Society and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Calypsonians Association. Musical accompaniment will be provided by the band Nex Level.

Julia Simmons, aligned to the Red Cross

and assigned to Disaster Management and Coordinator of the Climate Change project.

She sees the competition as a “way of getting the message out there.”

(WKA)

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18. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

News Director Nadine AgardJuillerat, who has held positions at Invest SVG in the past, described the IPA as a “dynamic organization”, and regards her new post as an “opportunity to assist Invest SVG in becoming locally in the services we a strong best practice IPA that will be a global offer and what we have leader in its field.” achieved thus far, and She added, “The FDI we must develop and find [Foreign Direct more avenues to assist Investment] arena can be our local market with a difficult place to exporting Vincentian navigate, but we have a products and services.” new Executive Director Deputy Executive

New top-level staff appointment at Invest SVG

INVEST SVG - St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ official investment promotions agency (IPA) – has announced two new appointments to its toplevel staff.

Vincentian national Annette Mark has taken up a three-year post as the new Executive

Director, and Vincentian Nadine Agard-Juillerat is now the agency’s new Deputy Executive Director.

Ms. Mark, a past student of the St. Vincent Girls’ High School, and whose previous post was Antigua and Barbuda’s

Chair of the Board Anthony Regisford (centre) welcomes Executive Director Annette Mark (right) and Deputy Executive Director Nadine AgardJuillerat to Invest SVG.

Chief Immigration Officer, holds a L.L.B Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of London (UK), and is a graduate of the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad.

A release from Invest SVG said that ‘she brings a strong business and marketing background with her to the IPA’.

Assuming her new responsibility on October 16, Ms. Mark admitted, “It’s a new challenge for me,” adding “I’ve had many new challenges before, and I have risen to the occasion at all times. I plan to do the same at Invest SVG — take my experiences from over the years, and with the help of the staff, we can make something big of this!”

As far as what she sees as part of her undertaking, she posited, “Invest SVG has to be more visible both internationally and

who comes with a great deal of experience and a wealth of knowledge, with whom we can make a positive difference to St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” Mrs. Agard-Juillerat took up her post in early September.

Ms. Mark was introduced to media persons here at last Tuesday’s press conference hosted by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

Let us not forget Cuba (Statement from the SVG/Cuba Friendship Society) VINCENTIANS are urged to reciprocate the solidarity shown by the Government and people of the Republic of Cuba to our country and the rest of the Caribbean.

Making the appeal is the St Vincent and the Once the clearance was given after the passage of Grenadines/Cuba Friendship Society. The Hurricane Irma, Cubans took to attending to cleanSociety notes that Cuba up operations in their respective communities. suffered tremendous damage from the passing of hurricane The “Vision Now” programme, enabling hundreds of Vincentians to Irma, but damage to other Eastern receive optical treatment, deserves Caribbean islands by both Irma and special mention. Latterly, there has hurricane Maria, as well as the been the Argyle International Airport, traditional bias of the international in the construction of which Cuban media towards Cuba, has overshadowed Cuba’s own devastation. assistance was critical.

It is only fair that Vincentians In spite of its own damage, Cuba has been in the forefront of rendering extend the same solidarity to the assistance to hurricane-hit islands, in people of Cuba as they try to recover from their disaster. The SVGCFS has keeping with its philosophy of therefore set up a CUBA solidarity. This and the tremendous HURRICANE RELIEF FUND at the efforts at recovery in Cuba, has also contributed to the mistaken belief that Bank of St Vincent and the Cuba has not suffered greatly from the Grenadines, account # 130016. The Society appeals to Vincentians, ravages of Irma. particularly graduates of Cuban The people of St Vincent and the universities, parents and relatives of Grenadines have benefitted Vincentians studying there, substantially from Cuban assistance. beneficiaries of Cuban assistance in As long ago as 1979, following the the health field, and the general public eruption of the Soufriere volcano, who have benefitted directly or Cuba was one of many countries to indirectly, to contribute to this Fund come to our aid, even though at the and so demonstrate our solidarity, time we had no diplomatic relations generosity and gratitude to the with that country. It has provided Government and people of Cuba. hundreds of scholarships to Vincentian students, and made tremendous contributions in the fields Renwick Rose of education and health in particular. SVGCFS

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. 19.

Relief

Evangelical Churches reach out to hurricaneravaged Caribbean

The Association of Evangelical Churches of St Vincent and the Grenadines has embarked on an outreach programme to aid Caribbean countries ravaged recently by hurricanes Irma and Maria.

The religious organization announced its assistance efforts at a press conference held at Frenches House last week Wednesday.

The Association’s treasurer Wade Carter said countries such as Barbuda, Dominica, St Kitts, Puerto Rico, Anguilla and some in the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands were ravaged while St Vincent and the Grenadines has been spared the wrath. He said Vincentians must be grateful for that, and must not take God’s grace for granted.

“So, here we have an opportunity which calls us to our responsibility.

And, that’s what we’re seeking to do, to call the Christian community in St Vincent and the Grenadines to respond in love to meet the needs of those who have been affected in our region,” Carter said.

Carter said that the Association of Evangelical Churches of St Vincent and the Grenadines is working with the Evangelical Association of the Caribbean (EAC) - the umbrella body for sister organizations in the region —to assist disaster-affected islands.

He said that while attempts are being made to get resources to provide relief to the people in those islands, attention is also being paid to the need to go in and provide training and capacity building for people in the area of relief and recovery.

The local and regional Associations, Carter said, will be working with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies (PAWI) to provide the necessary training.

Carter called on the Evangelical churches in this country to support the efforts. He said that even if they have already given, they can give again. He proposed that if each person gives $5.00, it will still be a worthwhile gesture.

“The needs are so great I don’t know if, collectively, we will be able to meet all of them,” Carter said.

Other persons addressing the press conference included: the Association’s president Dr Reynold Murray; the Association’s secretary Pastor Shakika Fraser; Committee members Dr George Frederick and Rev. Verrol Blake.

They all addressed the need for the Church to be present and more proactive in the lives of the people, especially in times of need as was the case of the populations in the affected islands.

St. James’ GIVE Club donates to relief efforts STUDENTS of the St James School of Medicine have joined in the national effort to aid the citizens of neighbouring countries ravaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria.

On Friday 6th October, members of GIVE — a community service oriented club comprised of students of the School - handed over the proceeds of their Can Drive to fashion designer and events manager Kimya Glasgow, to donate to the Dominica Hurricane Relief.

Ms. Glasgow had connected with Kimya Glasgow arrives at NEMO headquarters with her automobile’s the GIVE Club when members inquired of her about a fundraising trunk filled with goods donated by the GIVE Club of the St. James School of event in which she had partnered with Leo Club St Vincent, to raise Medicine. funds for hurricane relief for foods, toiletries, and water. islands affected by earlier storms.

The goods were delivered by Ms. Developments continued apace, and Glasgow on Monday 9th October to the Can Drive, a three-day hurricane relief effort for Dominica at the School, NEMO, for onward shipment to Dominica. attracted immediate support as And the GIVE Club members have donations poured in to goods worth over EC$300, and monetary donations not closed their effort to assist. There of approximately EC$300 towards the is a plan afoot to partner further with Ms. Glasgow on a fundraising Latin purchase of additional goods. Goods purchased and donated included non- Night event, to raise more funds to meet the on-going needs of Dominica’s perishable canned foods, candles, matches, toiletries, baby products and recovery.

Those addressing the press conference were (from left) Wade Carter (treasurer), Dr. Reynold Murray (president), Pastor Verrol Blake (committee member) and Pastor Shakika Fraser (secretary). Inset: Dr. George Frederick (committee member).

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20. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

ÂHusband-chasingÊ women, beware!!! children, daughters.

Think of the example you I AM WRITING to appeal to are setting for them. women out there to leave What are you teaching them, that you can go people’s husbands alone. after other people’s There are some women husbands and it is O.K? who call and message No way! The Bible says people’s husbands who have become their friends. the sins of the fathers They call these men on the visit their children.

Women, have some job and at nights in their dignity and integrity. home when they are with Maybe you are blocking their families. Some of these women in their high yourself from finding someone for you. If you positions invite people’s break up a marriage, husbands out to lunch, dinners and outings. They God will hold it against fill these husbands’ heads you, and you will pay for it. What are you willing with things such as ‘your wife is so needy’, ‘she is always around you’ and ‘she doesn’t understand you’.

I am warning you women who are Dear George, friends with people’s husbands, to cut it out.

I READ YOUR column You are women and you every week and I must plan to one day marry. say you give good advice.

Well, look out, because I now ask for your advice what goes around comes on my current situation. around.

I am 20 years old, Some of you who have

Dear George,

to pay?

Help me!

Dear Help me, Unfortunately, there are those individuals who subscribe to different moral standards and what will be

obviously immoral and wrong to you, may not appear that way to such individuals.

Let’s hope that your plea to women to maintain their dignity and integrity will not fall on deaf ears.

George

Almost caught!

Dear George, I AM A YOUNG man in my 20s. I met this woman who caught my eyes, and the same was true of her. We started hanging out and eventually started making love to each other on a regular basis. We got to the point of talking about future plans together — and exchange information on our families. We were certain we were not related.

Then I asked her for her identification card and she told me she lost it. Sometime after, a senior person in the village told met that we were family. I confronted her and she denied it. Her mother denied it also. So, I asked her for her passport and other documents and she told me she got robbed and didn’t have them.

One day when she went shopping, I dug up the house, found all of her documents- passports, I.D. card, etc. I saw we had the same surnames. I got pissed.

I confronted her when she got back. Her Mom told me not to worry about that and started laughing. I told them off and just left.

Deceived

Focus on the baby finished college and everything, and recently found out that I am pregnant. The problem is, the baby’s father wants me to “throw away” the baby, but I don’t want to do it. I love

this boy so much, George, but the things he is now doing to me, I don’t know…. .

A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine messaged me and told me that they (my friend ) were hearing a rumour going around that my baby’s father was telling people that he was not the father of my child.

He says he is a big man, but what kind of little boy thing is that?

All I want him to do is man the hell up and take care of his damn responsibility, and stop behaving like a 12-yearold child. Need your help urgently.

Dear Deceived, What may have seemed like a game to your girlfriend and her mother, is in fact very serious.

There could have been nothing for them to gain by colluding and withholding such important information from you.

It is rather unfortunate that you did engage in sexual intercourse, but you have to keep in mind that you were ignorant to the fact that you were related.

Maybe in the future it will help to be more diligent in your search to establish relations.

Chalk this one up as a learning experience and move on.

George

a child.

That said, you are not to be discouraged about your situation. Having a child at age twenty is not the end of the world, and you need to focus on doing what needs to be done to prepare for the Fed up of this nonsense birth of this child. It is more than likely that the father of your baby may Dear Fed up, not be a willing participant in the life of Thank you for the the child, but you can use compliment and for the legal services sharing. Chances are available to get him to this guy just wanted to financially support the have sex with you, but he was not ready to have child, if it comes down to

that. Of course, you will have to provide proof that he is indeed the father, and this can be had by doing a paternity test.

You can get good supportive counseling at The Marion House, and information that would be useful to you as a young mother.

Keep your head up and do what needs to be done in your best interest and the interest of your child.

George

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22. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Finance

Financial Information Month- October 2017

Financial Tips

Editor’s Note: Continued from Last week

In setting your retirement goals, consider the following:

Tip # 7 – Review Insurance Coverages “Review your insurance coverages on a regular basis to ensure that the amounts of coverage are still consistent with your original needs and intent. This means reviewing life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, car insurance, and homeowners insurance. You also might find out that you need some additional insurance coverage in the way of an umbrella policy. Insurance is not the sexiest of financial planning discussions but it’s crucial to living a financially secure life. Where life insurance is involved, be sure to reevaluate your beneficiary designations and coverage amounts after major life events.”

Tip # 8 – Do Something For Your Kids “Think about what small thing you can do in 2018 that will have a huge impact for your children 10 or 15 years from now - maybe it’s funding a junior savers account for college. Perhaps it’s establishing a trust or funding a small investment account so they have a safety net after college. Small acts today can be lifesavers for your kids when they become adults. Plus, it may avoid the likelihood of having them move into your downstairs when they’re 35.”

Tip # 9 – Education Re-Financing “You might find yourself in that interesting place where you are still paying off your student loans and saving for your kids. Right now is a great time to consolidate or refinance your student loans. Grab a lower interest rate if you can.”

Tip # 10 – Develop A Retirement Risk Management Strategy “Retirement income planning is different from saving and accumulating wealth for retirement.

The risks are different.

Retirees need a plan to manage

market volatility, their unknown longevity, and a variety of spending surprises such as a need for long-term care. Planning with only investments or only insurance is rarely the most efficient way to develop a plan that can manage these varying risks. Now is a good time to start reading more about retirement income to develop an integrated and cost-effective plan for managing all the retirement risks.”

Tip # 11 Use cash Instead of charging things to credit cards, use cash for non-bill spending such as eating out, gas, and groceries.

Spending cash makes the spending more real, and there’s an added advantage of knowing when you’re out of cash, instead of spending more than you have.

Tip # 12 Stay home Going out makes you more likely to spend unnecessarily, you eat at restaurants, and stop at the gas station for snacks. It’s hard to avoid spending when you’re on the road.

Instead, stay home, and find free entertainment. It’s also a great way to bond with your family.

Tip # 13 Track Spending for a Week Tracking every dime you spend for a short period of time will be eyeopening. It will show you how spending even small amounts of money adds up over time. It will also reveal areas of spending that otherwise go unnoticed. Ideally one should track their spending for a full month, but even tracking for a week can provide valuable information about your spending patterns.

V Football coaches examine Child Abuse/Protection

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. 23.

WITH THE GROWING DEMAND for providing a safety net for young persons involved in sports, local football coaches were recently part of a one-day workshop, which exposed them to the issues of Child Abuse and Child Protection.

The workshop, staged at the Blue Lagoon Hotel Conference Room, formed part of the United Nations Children’s Fund’s

(UNICEF) Communication Strategy for Child Abuse in Sports.

Conducted by Barbadian Robin Paris and Dominican Yoshabel Durand, Programme Assistant Social Cluster OECS Commission, the workshop looked at Child Protection versus Child Abuse. Participants got the chance to view videos, and were involved in

Winners remain intact in Cycling Hill Sprint IT TOOK ZEFAL BAILEY, six minutes 46.84 seconds to complete a route from Finishing and Furnishing on Tyrel Street, Kingstown, to Grand Gate in Lowmans Hill, as the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cycling Union staged a one-mile Hill Sprint last Sunday morning.

Bailey was first in the Elite class, ahead of Enroy Lewis, whose second place time was seven minutes Peter Durrant 09.58 seconds, and Samuel Lyttle in third in seven minutes 35.40 seconds.

The lone competitor in the Masters’ category was Peter Durrant. He timed eight minutes 44.24 seconds, to be fourth overall.

David Thomas — 11 minutes 05.24 seconds, was fifth overall and Jerel Browne — twelve minutes 41.93 seconds was sixth and the final cyclist to cross the finish line.

Thomas and Browne were fourth and fifth respectively in the Elite bracket.

Bailey and Lewis will represent St Vincent and the Grenadines at this year’s Caribbean Cycling Championships, set for the French Caribbean territory of Martinique, this weekend.

Top three finishers in the Elite category. From leftSamuel Lyttle, Zefal Bailey, Enroy Lewis.

group exercises and role playing.

In assessing the workshop, Paris noted that the local Vincentian coaches made his job easier, as they had a good understanding of the subject matter.

“They are well educated as far as child abuse is concerned, which was a plus for us. It is a matter of them going back to their clubs and trying to institute what we have been telling them … and put the kids’ welfare at the forefront,” Paris stated.

“What stood out for me, was the dialogue, their participation, the feedback from the participation,” he added.

Paris underscored the

need for coaches and others who are dealing with children in sports, to equip themselves with the necessary knowledge to protect themselves legally.

“The whole topic of child abuse in sports has been relevant all over the whole world and in the

Caribbean. It may soon become mandatory that persons will have Robin Paris to possess a child protection workshops dealing with certificate, before they can Child Abuse and Child be coaches,” Paris Protection in sports are envisaged. planned for coaches in Reports are that other other sporting disciplines.

A section of the participants at the Child Abuse/ Child Protection workshop.

Nine teams in Firms and Industrial Netball Tournament NINE TEAMS are contesting the 2017 Firms and Industrial Netball Tournament, which opened last Monday afternoon at the Kingstown Netball Centre.

BRAGSA Pavers, CK Greaves and Company, Fireballers, Harmony Investment Teachers, KFC Pacers, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture, Ministry of Transport and Works Combine, will try to dethrone NBC Radio 705.

When the last tournament was staged in 2014, in which there were ten participating teams, NBC Radio 705 had a 64-57 win over the Ministry of Education/ Teachers, in the final.

At last Monday’s opening, BRAGSA Pavers were adjudged the Best Dressed team on show, while CK Greaves and Company won the Best Banner award.

The two, both newcomers, were second to each other in both areas of adjudication.

Speaking at last Monday’s brief opening ceremony, President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association- Doris Mc Intosh called on participants to embrace the opportunity to engage themselves in some meaningful physical activity. “… Some of you would have played in previous tournaments…

For others it will be the first and a

Best Dressed team- BRAGSA

Doris Mc Intosh, President of the SVG Netball Association, speaking at last Monday’s opening of the Firms and Industrial Netball Tournament at the Kingstown Netball Centre.

new experience… I sincerely hope that you will enjoy yourselves, and at the end of the tournament, (you) would think (that) it was worth the while, and you would encourage more teams/ firms, to participate next year”, Mc Intosh remarked.

Noting that although the tournament is primarily for CK Greaves and Company- winner of fun, the Netball head the Best Banner award. requested of the players, “I want to urge you to improve”. understand that you are to take the Following the formalities, an tournament seriously and play exhibition match was played according to the rules of the game… between the national senior team It is the only way that you can and a select male team.

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24. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

National Bocce programme gaining ground THE BOCCE programme undertaken by Special Olympic SVG is gaining ground.

So says US Peace Corps Tom Barker, who is presently on the island, promoting the sport.

Barker conducts sessions at the Grammar School Playing Field from Monday to Thursday, beginning at

330pm.

“These sessions have been going well. It is a sort of spontaneous activity, where persons just pass by and see it happening and join in,” Barker noted.

“It is a fun event, you don’t have to be able to run nor jump… You just need a bit of skill, some luck and accuracy and try to outsmart your

opponent,” he added.

Barker is encouraging persons to get to know the sport, and reiterated that it does not require much physical doing.

Special Olympics SVG recently acquired sponsorships from various donors, allowing the organisation to purchase Bocce equipment to help in better serving the

Bocce action last Wednesday at the Anglican Church car park. programme.

Meanwhile, in helping

GTC Dominica relief efforts appreciated THE VERY REV’D. Otis Nichols, Dean of the St. George’s Anglican Cathedral, has thanked the Grassroot Tennis Club (GTC), for providing some relief to members of the Anglican community in hurricane ravaged Dominica.

Speaking on behalf of the Anglican community here, Dean Nichols said, “It was excellent to partner with a NonGovernmental Organisation to bring relief and some hope to persons in Dominica.”

Dominica, readers will recall, was flattened on the night of 18th September by Hurricane Maria.

Nichols continued: “We were contacted by Mr. Grant Connell, and we readily contacted our North Eastern Diocese, and got an idea of their immediate needs, and we facilitated.”

The GTC was able to provide the relief supplies to Dominica, as a consequence of hosting a fund-raising event last month, dubbed a ‘Tennis Marathon’, at the Grand View Hotel Tennis Court.

The event, which also included a barbeque, involved twelve hours of tennis, with each hour sponsored by firms and individuals, raised in excess of $11,000.

Head of the GTCGrant Connell revealed that every cent of the proceeds were sent to Dominica.

Connell noted that the Tennis Marathon was first aimed for the other islands which were affected by Hurricane

Supplies purchased from efforts of the GTC, piled, ready for shipment.

Irma.

“We jumped into action after hearing of the plight of those in Barbuda, St Martin, Anguilla and Tortola, especially after Hurricane Irma; but then came Hurricane Maria that devastated Dominica, so we had come to their aid in an instant”, Connell said.

“We as a people have to continue to look out for one another, in light of what is taking place in our society, both by natural events and other social issues… Again, we at the Grassroot Tennis Club, thank all the donors who dug deep into their pockets and resources, and helped us to help others,” Connell

added.

“We at the GTC will continue to jump in when such disasters occur, as we have to be our brothers’ keepers, because we never know when we here in St Vincent and the Grenadines will, in turn, need such brotherly love and support,” Connell concluded.

to spread the sport as well as prepare for Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, scheduled to take place in March 2019, Special Olympics SVG held a Unified Bocce Competition last Wednesday at the Anglican Church car park.

The competition involved mixed teams of challenged and unchallenged persons.

Bocce is played on a flat court, measuring 90 feet in length by 8.2 to 13.1 feet in width.

A match can be conducted between two players, or two teams of two, three, or four, and is started by the toss of the pallino, a smaller ball.

The aim thereafter, is to get the other balls thrown closest to the pallino.

Players are permitted to throw the ball in the air, using an underarm action. This is generally used to knock either the pallino or another ball

Tom Barker, Peace Corps Volunteer, is helping to popularize the sport of Bocce. away to attain a more favourable position.

The team with the closest ball to the pallino is the only team that can score points in any frame. The scoring team receives one point for each of their balls that is closer to the pallino than the closest ball of the other team.

Browne intensifying her football academy efforts HOLISTA BROWNE is taking her commitment to making her contribution to the development of women’s football here to another level.

Browne, who is attached to the national women’s female team as coach, is intensifying the work of a football academy which she launched in November 2016.

The academy’s programme caters to both males and females between the ages 3 to 17 years, and with its base at the Sion Hill Playing Field, will pay particular attention to development of football in that community.

“I started the academy last year late November because I think it was the best for the kids in the community to have a chance, like everybody else, to learn the skills of football and, in the process, take them from crime and idleness,” Browne told THE VINCENTIAN recently.

She is confident that with structured coaching sessions like those offered by her academy, “will boost soccer in the Sion Hill

The current batch of participants involved in the academy’s programme. Inset: Holista Browne, head coach of the academy. area and by extension the country.”

Participants are involved in training sessions (drills, etc.) on Fridays and mini matches on Saturdays, during which coaches keep a close eye on the progress they have made in developing their individual skills and tactical ability, said Browne.

The academy is also served by coaches Afiya John, Samantha Carrington, Karen Browne and Desroy Dopwell as the goal keeping coach.

I.B.A.ALLEN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. 25.

Sports

World Cup Roster rounding up THE 2018 FIFA World Cup list of finalists is nearing completion. The three Concacaf qualifiers have been determined. They are Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama. A fourth has a chance, but they will have to overcome Australia, who displaced Syria for that last-ditch opportunity.

Argentina sealed a spot for South America, along with Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay. A fifth South American nation can strengthen that continent if they dispose of New Zealand.

Two African nations have secured berths: Egypt and Nigeria. Three others join them in time for the December 1 draw when the 32 nations will begin the countdown for the prestigious title.

Iran, Japan, Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia comprise the Asian bloc.

There are nine European nations: Belgium, Iceland, Serbia, England, Poland, Spain, France, Portugal, Germany, along with host Russia. Four others will join the crew by November 14. They will be either Northern Ireland or Switzerland, Croatia or Greece, Denmark or the Republic of Ireland, and Sweden or Italy.

The team that will be hurting the most will be the USA. Everything seemed choreographed for their qualification until the most unlikely set of results on the final round of the hexagonal put the USA in a position where they were not in contention for the fourth spot. They ended fifth, after entering the round in third position. A draw would have secured a berth. Honduras and Panama produced upsets as far as the Americans were concerned.

Analysts in the USA are still shifting through the aftermath of the debacle. Coach Bruce Arena resigned three days later, but the whirlwind persists.

Trinidad and Tobago ended up as spoilers, while at the same time avenging a defeat and correcting an anomaly that had haunted the nation for 28 years. Sympathy will be extended to the USA, but it will be fun for the Trinidadians.

The November 19, 1989 picture still triggers nightmares for many Trinidad and Tobago football fans. Then, they were poised for Italy, when a draw against a then under the radar USA squad produced the devastating blow.

That Paul Caligiuri strike in the 31st minute was enough to silence an entire Caribbean nation.

Caligiuri was hailed as the man who set the wheels of USA soccer in motion.

That was in Trinidad. Americans will live through the next few years brooding over the Couva fiasco, for as long as or until they make their next entry to the World Cup. It is a pity that Trinidad and Tobago was not in the mix for the qualifiers. They were out of contention long ago. The victory over the USA will serve as a tonic, and a relief to the nation. There will be belief, with what was described as a third string XI accomplishing a feat that their more distinguished colleagues were able to achieve.

Almost everything imaginable went wrong for the USA that October 8. And when the dust was settled, it was tears for the US soccer fraternity.

An own goal in the 17th minute was the initial signal, and when Alvin Jones unleashed a shot in the 37th, the score line doubled.

The USA reduced the margin early in the second half. But no other pieces fell into place. A combination of determination, superb goal keeping by Adrian Foncette saved the day. And as fate would have it, a deflection from Foncette was enough to parry a US forage on the upright.

It is a pity that only a scattering of spectators were on hand to witness the home team’s performance. That might have added to the intrigue. For the Americans had no excuse of being intimidated.

North Leeward 20/20 climaxes this weekend THE 2017 VINLEC North Leeward 20/20 Cricket Competition will climax this Sunday, at the recently re-commissioned Cumberland Playing Field.

The final match is scheduled to begin at 2:00pm, following the semi-final encounter between Robertson Surveying Future Legends and RSVG Police, that is scheduled to commence at 10:00am.

The other semi-final will be played on Saturday 21st October, beginning at 2:00pm, following the last of the quarter finals between Ajuba and Carlos James Troumaca Starlight, a match abandoned last Saturday because of rain. The winner will meet Sweetie Pie Bakery Peto Stars.

Peto Stars, Police and Robertson Surveying Future Legends booked their places in the semi-finals with victories last weekend.

Desron Maloney Rickford Walker On Saturday, Peto Stars hit 50 for RSVG stroked 58 for defeated House of Graphics Police.

Future Legends.

Summerset by 17 runs. Scores, overs, Atticus Peto Stars 127 for 5 off 17 overs - Browne 34, Leon Quashie 31.

Ortis Matthews 35, Ronique Winston Samuel 3 for 18.

LaBorde 22; Summerset 110 off On Sunday, RSVG Police 16 overs - Rawdon Bentick 43. defeated Ruddy’s Electrical on a Future Legends defeated faster run rate. Scores: Police 107 Kishore Shallow Coulls Hill for 3 off 10 overs - Desron Rangers by 40 runs. Scores: Maloney slammed 50, Selwick Future Legends 147 for 7 off 17 Caine 26; Ruddy’s Electrical - 34 overs - Rickford Walker 58, for 4 off 8 overs when rain ended Bennitton Stapleton 23 -Romano play. Ruddy’s Electrical needed to Rouse 2 for 27, Leon Quashie 2 be 86 after 8 overs in order to win. for 13; Coulls Hill Rangers 107 off 16 I.B.A.ALLEN

Police maintain unbeaten record RSVG POLICE continued their winning ways in the national SVG Masters 20/20-Cricket competition.

Their latest win came last weekend when they took full points from Rudy’s Electrical Barrouallie Masters, in a rainaffected encounter.

RSVG Police Masters defeated Rudy’s Electrical Barrouallie Masters on a faster scoring rate after rain stopped play. Rudy’s were dismissed for 92 off 19.5 overs, police officer Parnel Browne took 3 wickets for 4 runs. In reply, Police were 71 for 1 after 8.5 overs. Joseph Bascombe led the batting with 53 not out, when the match was called off.

In other results, Mustique Company Masters defeated Pastures Masters by 72 runs in a match reduced to 17 overs because of rain. Scores: Mustique 158 for 4 off 17 overs - Elroy Baptiste 78, Chadwick Carrington 43; Pastures Masters 86 for 9 off 17

overs - Kirk Hamlet 2 wickets for 2 runs.

North Leeward Masters defeated Sion Hill Masters by 51 runs. North Leeward Masters: 120 for 3 off 15 overs (overs reduced to 15 because of rain) - Orville Franklyn 41, Orlando Charles 33, Sylvester Vanloo 2 for 22; Sion Hill 69 all out in 13.4 overs - Lauren Baptiste 25, Donovan Mason took 2 wickets for 4 runs.

Bequia Cricket Association Masters took full points from J G & Sons Glamorgan Masters by 3 wickets. Glamorgan Masters 66 for 6 off 12 overs ( overs reduced to 12 because of rain) - James George 21. Roland Blake 3 for 21; Bequia Masters 67 for 7 off 10.1 overs - Burton Forde 37, Emerald Samuel took 3 for 15.

Fixtures for this weekend: Saturday AR&G Trucking Ptani play Marriaqua at Park Hill, North Leeward face Pastures at Buccament, and Stanley Browne’s Stubbs take on JG & Sons Glamorgan at Sion Hill, from

Rugby 7Ês Tournament for independence THE SVG Rugby Union will hold the roster of participating teams. its annual ‘Independence 7’s Games are scheduled for an Tournament’ on Saturday 28th 11:30am kick off.

October 2017, at the Sion Hill I.B.A.ALLEN Playing Field.

St. Vincent will welcome two (2) club teams from St. Lucia the Rogues RFC and the Whiptail Warriors RFC. Both clubs are expected to feature male and female teamd.

In addition, a team from the complement of a Navy Ship is expected to participate.

Local teams Rugby action will form part of the activities Sharks, Pirates and to mark this country’s 38th Anniversary of Invaders will complete Independence.

2pm.

On Sunday: Computec Belfongo play Mustique at Park Hill, Sion Hill Masters take on RSVG Police Masters at Sion Hill at 10am; TCU North East Masters face J G & Sons Glamorgan Masters at Park Hill, and Kirk DaSilva’s LaCroix Masters vs Marriaqua Masters at Sion Hill from 2 p.m.

I.B.A.ALLEN

SVG U-15 squad cut to 18 THE NATIONAL youth selectors have reduced the original 30-man training squad to 18 for further training in preparation for the Windward Islands Under 15 Cricket Tournament, to be held here in December.

The squad has nine players who were part of the training squad and team earlier this years and expected to form the core of the team.

Returning to the squad are: fast bowlers Coby Dabreo, Shummar Peters, Kirtney Franklyn and Soloman Bascombe; batsmen Randy Joseph, Newton Browne, Akeem Alexander; and off spinners Luke Browne and Trevian Mathews.

The newcomers up for selection from the 18 are: left arm spinner Kemani Husband; batsmen Joe Williams, Keadon Hackshaw, Jazad Farrel and Reshawn Lewis; fast bowler Keian McMillian; wicket keeper Devon Fisher as well as allrounders Codi Grant and Omarian Ottley.

Wicket keeper Kyle Bowens and all-rounder Devante McDowald have been invited to continue training with the squad.

The squad will continue training and are expected to be involved in practice matches against teams comprised of older players.

I.B.A.ALLEN

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26. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Classified

Thirty-eight years Independence - What about our promised slate of national heroes?

Continued from Page 8.

There is an affection and acclaim that Mc Intosh and Joshua had that which Cato lacked.

The essence is gleaned from the names by which they were known.

Among broad sections of the people, Mc Intosh was “Daddy Mac,” and Joshua was “Pappy Josh”.

The muzzle of national service as a member of the National Heroes Committee prevented me from checkmating Gonsalves’ sales pitch for Cato. Do you still think Cato makes the cut? I hope you can see why I had to resign”.

The question remains: does top membership of the ruling ULP coupled with appointment as Speaker of the national assembly now impose its own gag order in this and other burning controversies!

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. 27.

Classifieds

CHRISTOPHER JEFFREY WILSON

CHANEY OLLIVIERRE

Kingstown Methodist Church Monday 16th October, 2017 3:00 p.m

Bethel Gospel Assembly Georgetown Saturday 14th October, 2017 2:30 p.m.

JENNETH SOLEYN Aka STELLA WELCOME Kingstown Seventh Day Adventist Sunday 15th October, 2017 2:00 p.m.

MRS. LUENDA SMITH Seventh Day Adventist Church Layou Sunday 15th October, 2017 2:30 p.m.

ETHELINE ELAINE WILLIAMS / ELAINE GOODLUCK aka Mama Layne & Granny Biabou Methodist Church Saturday 14th October, 2017 2:00 p.m.

WILFRED MATTHEW MILLER New Testament Church Of God Belair Saturday 14th October, 2017 2:00 p.m.

F O R S A L E

FRIDAY,

OCTOBER 20, 2017

VOLUME 111, No.42

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‘DON’T BACK DOWN,’ PM TELLS POLICE THE USE OF REASONABLE force by police officers in situations where gunmen are involved, is a measure that the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines supports fully.

This assurance came from Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister and Minister of

National Security, as he addressed a press conference last Tuesday.

“I say again to police officers who are on the frontline, when you are confronted, or when you are face to face, or when you are involved in doing your job, and you meet gunmen who want to do

you harm, or persons with implements of violence, you are not obliged to recite the beatitudes,” Dr. Gonsalves said.

He added, “Your (police) first option is not flight; you are entitled to repel the source of the threat reasonably.”

Dr. Gonsalves used Tuesday’s press conference to address, among other issues, the heightened calls from citizens across the state, for the government and the Royal SVG Police Force, to do ‘something’ to address the recent upsurge in criminal activity here, especially the recent spate of gunrelated violence resulting in fatalities.

In explaining the probable cause(s) of the recent spate of Officers from various departments of the Police Force, on the scene of a shooting incident.

They have the support of the government to use force to apprehend armed assailants.

violent crime, Dr. Gonsalves alluded to the existence of ‘associational groupings’ of young males and females.

He noted that while some of the “leaders’ of these ‘associational groupings’ were intelligent young men, some with secondary education, and some even owners and operators of businesses, it was their “foot soldiers”, who have little or no skills and some with psycho-social problems, who are, he appeared to posit, directly involved in the actual acts of violence.

The Prime Minister, however, gave the assurance that he “takes the issue of citizen security seriously,” and that his government was taking steps to strengthen the

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Minister of National Security, promised increased support for the operations of the Police Force. operations (e.g. increased transportation, further recruitment) of the Police Force.

Dr. Gonsalves’ response to the crime situation here came on the heels of this country registering its 35th homicide for the year.

Forty (40) homicides were recorded here in 2016.

Stephenson calls for serious stocktaking

by HAYDN HUGGINS PARLIAMENTARY Representative for the South Windward constituency - Frederick Stephenson, has described the shooting of eight men, one fatal, at a bar in Diamond last Saturday night, as “a serious tragedy which calls for serious stocktaking.”

And he hopes that the police act swiftly and bring the perpetrators to justice.

He admitted that it was the first shooting of

its kind that he could recall in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in terms of the number of victims involved, and the manner in which it was carried out.

Stephenson, who holds the ministerial portfolios for National Mobilization, Social Development, the Family, Gender Affairs, Persons with Disabilities, and Youth, visited some of the wounded men at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital on Monday.

Speaking with THE

VINCENTIAN at the Male Surgical Ward, where the men were warded, he added that Diamond was one of the places which do not have a community centre, and some residents use facilities such as shops and bars as places to socialize.

According to Stephenson, it is sad when innocent people sitting or standing at a bar or shop, enjoying a ‘lime’. are shot down like that.

The minister is advising members of the

public to give the police whatever information they may have, that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.

While acknowledging that there are some people who have issues with the police in relation to giving information, Stephenson said that there must be police officers in whom those persons could confide.

Stevenson is also concerned about a young lady who he understands was assisting at the bar

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

Frederick Stephenson, MP for South Windward which includes Diamond, speaking with THE VINCENTIAN during his visit to the wounded men, warded at the MCMH. on the night of the shooting, and has since been traumatized.

He disclosed that he would make arrangements for counsellors from the Social Welfare Department to spend some time with her.

And even as the police

continue investigations into the incident, the Parliamentary Representative is hoping that they would increase patrols in the area.

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