THE VINCENTIAN PDF - 20-12-19

FRIDAY,

DECEMBER 20, 2019

VOLUME 113, No.51

Nine Nights of Light Page 3 The lighting/ decoration of the centre walk was undoubtedly captivating.

www.thevincentian.com

No decision on Fitz Page 6

EC$1.50

Concern about rape Page 37

No haven for the girl Page 53

Consortium buys RBC Page 64

Doric Temple with covered portal, took on a whole different atmosphere.

The large open pond appeared to have taken on a new form.

The Curator’s House and its immediate garden was a favourite stop for visitors.

Another section of the centre walk.

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2. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Christmas Message

MESSAGE FROM HER EXCELLENCY MRS. SUSAN DOUGAN, OBE GOVERNOR GENERAL OF ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, and Goodwill in the Spirit of Christmas 019 has been an eventful year as our small nation celebrated several

2

outstanding achievements, and our citizens are filled with hope. We have just celebrated our fortieth

anniversary of Independence, and we have become the smallest nation to be elected to

serve on the United Nations Security Council.

These extraordinary milestones ought to

reassure us, at Christmas, of God’s overwhelming love and blessings, and to solidify our commitment, in this season, to celebrating the birth of Christ.

The Nativity Story fills our hearts with tremendous joy and proclaims that God is with us. This season is, therefore, a time to reach out to each other with the gift of peace, countering ills, respecting our neighbours and putting aside our differences.

As Christians, we must continue to build strong family values and strengthen the bonds of friendship with our fellowmen, and as we celebrate Christmas, let the birth of Jesus Christ inspire us to love others

with an abundance of generosity and grace.

During these challenging times, we must strive for peace on earth and goodwill to all.

My family and I extend a happy Christmas to you all.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. 3.

News 3 ÂNINE NIGHTS OF LIGHTSÊ: five years and growing

Stepped up too, was the entertainment package.

Moving swiftly from zero to an elaborate variety of performances that were different each night, this year’s audiences were stimulated to join in to show satisfaction for what they were experiencing, whether it be the music of live steel pan, the Christmas Melodies of the Bowmans, or indigenous drumming.

And, of course, local culinary delicacies on sale proved more that satisfying for the regular Vincie as well as the foreign visitors.

Of great significance too, The Bowmans- renowned for their Christmas music, was one was the much improved gate of the popular acts featured. receipts recorded each successive year. This year

by GLORIAH… local and foreign, the was not expected to be an enjoyment of that variety to exception.

“WHEN VINCENTIANS RETURN which the Minister referred.

As a matter of fact, it was HOME and when visitors come The activity began in 2015 the idea of gate receipts that to the destination, that [will] with a mere 500 bulbs have a wow moment for as many decorating areas of the centre chairman of the National Parks, Rivers and Beaches of the communities who light up; walk and a few trees. Gate Authority (NPRBA) Mr. and the Botanical Gardens has receipts were minimal, and Gideon Nash, used to lament offered that variety to us here in entertainment low-keyed to the non-collection of entrance St. Vincent and the Grenadines.” non-existent. fees to popular and interesting These were the words of This year, the lighting has tourism sites in St. Vincent Hon. Cecil McKie, Minister of soared to an approximate and the Grenadines — sites Tourism, Sports and Culture, 500,000 light bulbs, coming at the Sunday 13th December from over 3000 lighting sets of that are costly to maintain.

Addressing the crowd at the launch of the 2019 Botanical icicles, small and large string Gardens’ ‘Nine Nights of lights, net, rope, solar, shower, launch, Nash said, “There are other countries even within Lights’. and LED multi-colour lights, the Caribbean where you have The effort of lighting the among others.

Gardens and providing Intricate designs decorated to pay $5US to enter [the site].

Our Gardens is the most entertainment during the Nine the main pond, Doric temple, outstanding, the oldest, and Mornings period, began in centre walk, Ixora Lane, the yet we are complaining to pay December 2015. It would be museum (Curator’s House), an entrance fee to get into the fair to say that its fifth year amphitheatre, rose garden, Gardens!” has taken the activity to epic children’s playground and He told those gathered that proportions in a number of Santa’s Workshop, open lawn areas, affording visitors, both area, and entrances and exits. Fort Charlotte is also underserved as a destination.

In 2020, the NPRBA will be making every effort to more effectively manage the Fort, beginning with introducing an entrance fee.

Nash congratulated the organizing committee of the Gardens’ ‘lighting-up’, and the NPRBA office for the unwavering effort towards ensuring the annual improvements and for overexcelling in 2019.

He took the opportunity to forward his expectations for 2020. “Next year, we want to extend it to ‘Nine Nights of Lights and Carolling’, and the The Nativity Scene was not excluded from the celebration.

Gideon Nash, Chairman NPRBA, recognised those who had contributed to the ongoing improvments of the events.

Cecil Mc Kie, Minister of Tourism, spoke of the variety that the ‘Nine Nights’ offered. format we will be taking is to have nine nights, and nine

groups of nine numbers strong,” he signaled.

Given the dedication of the NPRBA staff and others associated with the ‘Nine Nights of Lights’, one would not bet against Nash’s suggestion becoming a reality.

The callaloo soup, one of the many culinary delicacies on sale, was said to be popular with locals and visitors alike.

OOOPS!!

THE VINCENTIAN was pleased to have provided coverage (Fri. 13th Dec. 2019 issue) of an event held on Sat. 06 Dec. in Union Island, to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Uprising in that Sothern Grenadine Island.

In the process, we made some errors (‘ooopses’) for which we hope the organisers of the event, and the people of Union Island in general, would not hold against us.

We have since learned that Steve Stewart was not the organizer of the event, as we said in the article captioned ‘Union Island recalls 40 years ago’ (page 16). We now want to acknowledge that Camillo Adams was indeed the organizer of the event.

Additionally, we want to say to Camillo that we might have rushed into misrepresentation when we said in the article captioned ‘Union Island ‘soldier’ reflects’, that his father had told him he should turn himself in. We now know the ‘advice’ might have been inferred but not stated in open direct language as reported.

Readers would be moved to learn the photograph carried of Camillo in the article ‘Union island ‘soldier’ reflects’, was taken in the area where he had hidden from the foreign and local troops who were hunting him with instructions to shoot him on sight, 40 years ago.

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4. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

No Christmas behind bars for Avi Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS DIAMONDS VILLAGER AVI KING, who pleaded guilty on Monday to handling stolen items, has been spared a Christmas behind bars. King was instead bonded for six months.

In breach, he would have to pay the Court $1,500 or go to prison for six months.

The penalty was handed down on Tuesday.

The Serious Offences Court heard that around 4pm on December 13, police were investigating a report of robbery, during which they detained a suspect. He gave the police certain information.

King was taken into custody and informed of the report, and the

information the police received. He took the lawmen to some bushes and handed over a pair of Adidas slippers.

He also took them to a nearby tree and handed over a 14-carat gold chain.

He was taken to the Colonaire Police Station, where he was cautioned and interviewed, but said nothing.

King was charged with knowing that the items were stolen, received

PM assures help for gunshot victim MICHAEL CHARLES, Commandant of the local Auxillary Police, has confirmed that the Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, has given his government’s commitment to assist with the medical expenses of paralyzed Auxillary Police Officer Curtland Jack, of Campden Park.

Charles, also a former Commissioner of Police here, gave the confirmation while speaking to THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday.

Jack’s paralysis was triggered by a bullet to his neck, the result of a shooting incident at Heritage Square, Kingstown on November 22. He was discharged from the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital last Saturday, but his condition remains extremely serious.

The Commandant confirmed that Jack needs urgent surgery, so that some comfort could be restored to the officer and his family.

THE VINCENTIAN understands that the surgery would be done here by an expert, and up to press time Wednesday, Jack’s family was awaiting the next step.

“This is a very sad moment for all of us, but we are giving God thanks that he is alive,” Charles said, adding that the organization wishes Jack and his family all the best.

Charles expressed displeasure with comments made in some circles, including social media, and has cautioned these outlets to be more responsible, as Jack has a family.

He expressed the view that some people tend to believe what they hear or read, and advised that not everything published is factual.

Charles commended THE VINCENTIAN for being the only media entity to have contacted him so far.

Meanwhile, Tyson Spencer, 30, of Green Hill, who is accused of

Reports are that Curtland Jack has been discharged from the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. shooting Jack and two others during the incident at Heritage Square, remains in custody, following continued objections to bail by the prosecution.

Spencer is charged with attempting to murder Jack, wounding with intent both Dwayne Peters of Kingstown and Deron Quashie of Choppins.

When Spencer returned to the Serious Offences Court on Monday, he was again denied bail, after Crown Counsel Rene Simmonds informed the Court that information reaching her was that the victim’s condition had deteriorated.

The matter has been adjourned to April 27.

Electrician pleads guilty to theft FORTY-seven-year-old, Sherman Soleyn, an electrician of Redemption Sharpes, was last week ordered to compensate the man he stole from at the National Lotteries Authority, two weeks ago.

Soleyn, last week Monday, pleaded guilty to stealing a wallet valued $25, containing $30 in cash, and a Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines ATM card valued $15, from a man, who had

gone to the National Lotteries to collect a cheque for $450.

The Serious Offences Court heard that between 10:47am and 10:51am, the customer went to the teller to collect the cheque, and was asked to have a seat on a nearby chair. He rested his wallet on the counter, and Soleyn, who entered the building shortly after to buy some lottery tickets, saw the wallet, slipped it into his left pants pocket, and left unnoticed.

The complainant collected his cheque, but discovered that his wallet was gone. He made checks, but was unsuccessful in locating it. He reported the matter to the police, and investigations led by Constable Dilford Collins of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) led to Soleyn.

When cautioned and interviewed, he admitted to the offence.

CCTV cameras at the National Lotteries had recorded Soleyn removing the wallet.

That footage was used by the police in their investigations which led to Soleyn’s apprehension.

He told the Court he took the wallet with the intention of locating the owner so that he could return it. He said he had found many things before and handed them over to the police.

“Is my fault, I take full responsibility for everything. It was a stupid act,” admitted Soleyn.

The Magistrate took into account the fact that Soleyn was not known to the Court and his remorse, as among the mitigating factors. She ordered compensation in the sum of $70.

“I let myself down,” Soleyn admitted, after receiving the penalty.

them for his own benefit.

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne stressed the seriousness of the offence, but noted that he had no previous convictions before the Court, cooperated fully with the police, and led them to where the stolen items were.

Browne also noted that King pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity.

Rapists handed tough sentences

TWO MEN who raped, buggered and indecently assaulted a 15-year-old girl back in 2015, received tough sentences at the Criminal Assizes on Friday, December 13.

Jaranza Howe was sentenced to 20years for rape, 6 years for buggery, and 14 months for indecent assault, while Kozan Haywood was sentenced to 14 years for rape, 4 years for buggery and 11 months for indecent assault.

The sentences for each individual, handed down

by Justice Brian Cottle, will run concurrently, and the 25 days they spent on remand would be deducted.

A 9-member mixed jury had found Howe, 36, and Haywood, 26, both of Clare Valley, guilty on three counts of rape, one count of buggery and one count of indecent assault, following a trial earlier at the Criminal Assizes; but Justice Cottle adjourned sentencing to allow the defence time to prepare their mitigation.

The prosecution’s case was that the men took the girl to a house where they committed the offences.

The defence, led

by Attorney Grant Connell, did not deny that the men had sex with the girl, but argued L-R: Kozan Haywood and Jaranza Howe walk their way that she consented. to prison.

Robbery matter set for 2020 DIAMONDS villager Asroy Cruickshank will return to the Serious Offences Court, April 14 on charges of robbery and theft.

When he appeared at that Court on Monday, he was not required to plea to robbing Langley Park resident Shaquille Barker of a pair of Adidas slippers, valued ECE180, and a 14-carat gold chain valued EC$1,000; and the theft of a pair of slippers valued EC$130 from Zidon Medica.

Both offences were reportedly committed at Diamonds village on December 13.

Cruickshank was granted $3,000 bail with one surety, with a report condition to the Colonaire Police Station every Monday, and ordered not to have contact with the virtual complainants.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20 , 2019. 5.

Education

The UWI Five Islands Campus Principal visits professional and senior management field in education, holds an LLB FIVE ISLANDS Campus, located in degree, and is a certified expert in Antigua and Barbuda, is the fourth on Curriculum Development, land campus of The University of the Measurement and Evaluation, West Indies (The UWI), similar to Mona in Political Science and Development Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Studies.

Cave Hill in Barbados.

The new Campus opened its doors Focus on the OECS to teaching in September 2019 and the first cohort of students will be Professor Griffith visited St. Vincent welcomed in January 2020. and the Grenadines from December Its opening is viewed as an 11-12 and met with Prime Minister indication that The UWI is doing more Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Minister of to the advance education needs of Education St. Clair ‘Jimmy’ Prince and persons in the region and even beyond. other Education Officials.

The interim (August 15th, 2019 At a press briefing following his July 31st, 2020) Pro-Vice Chancellor meeting, Professor Griffith noted that and Principal of The UWI Five Islands the closing date for students was Campus is Professor Stafford Griffith. December 13th, but the campus had He has more than 35 years in the extended it to December 20th.

by SHERON GARRAWAY

(Front): Professor Stafford Griffith (right) and Minister of Education St. Clair ‘Jimmy’ Prince. (Back L-R): Nigel Scott, - Director of the SVG Community College, Deborah Charles - Parliamentary Secretary MOE, Althea GumbsDyer - EO/Curriculum Development, Ann-Marie Glasgow - Acting SEO/Secondary Schools, Dixton Findlay - Deputy Chief Education Officer Acting.

There was, the Professor said, a focus on attracting students from Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves met with the Organisation of Professor Stafford Griffith in a private session.’

Eastern Caribbean States Other campuses when they started (OECS) and he encouraged them to were very small, very modest facilities apply to the new campus. such as Cave Hill in Barbados which Recognising that notwithstanding started in a warehouse, but the Five the advancements, the region was way Islands Campus has an extensive behind other countries that have building, including student living benefitted from university education facilities which were intended to be and higher skills training, Professor used as a modern secondary school, Griffith posited that the region — the Professor noted. “needs to do a lot more to generate the kinds of higher level expertise for the Courses offered at Five Islands world in which we live, and for which we have to compete and make our The UWI Five Islands Campus has mark.” three separate schools.

He reckoned that the lack of The School of Humanities and expertise was worse in the OECS Education, offering a Bachelor of compared to the rest of the Caribbean; Education degree, includes courses in that the countries with on land UWI Language and Literary Education, campuses - Barbados, Trinidad & Mathematics Education, Curriculum Tobago and Jamaica - have benefited Education, and will expand in 2020 to tremendously, and that the OECS include courses in Social Studies and countries have not had parallel Special Education, and a post graduate benefit. diploma in Education.

The University of the West Indies The School of Health and would wish, according to the Pro-Vice Behavioural Sciences is largely a Chancellor and Principal, “to, take nursing programme with a Bachelor in steps to alleviate that. The Open Nursing, but from January 2020 will Campus is one way of doing that, but add a Bachelor’s in Psychology. there is a need for us to do more than The third school, the School of that.”

Management, Sciences and Technology Recognising Antigua’s contribution is the largest and will prepare students for Bachelor’s in Information Technology, Economics, Management And as for Antigua and Barbuda, Banking, Accounting and Tourism and Professor Griffith commended the Hospitality Services.

Government there for stepping up With effect from January, the accommodation facilities.

Campus will offer two one-year And while he admitted that with certificate programmes - one in the campus will come some returns Human Resource Development and the from areas such as student fees and other in Tourism and Hospitality from additional investments that the Management in the Caribbean. campus will make such as consultancy Details of programmes being offered services, he commended the can be found at website government of Antigua and Barbuda www.fiveislands.uwi.edu/apply for footing most of the bill.

Police OfficersÊ children get scholarships TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY MOTOROLA, in partnership with the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP), has awarded three (3) scholarships to children of three (3) Police Officers of the Royal SVG Police Force (RSVGPF).

The scholarship recipients were: Jada Swift, Jodisha Ross and Aaliyah John. Each recipient was awarded the sum of ECC $ 8,186.47.

The announcement of the scholarships was made by current President of the ACCP RSVGPF

Commissioner of Police Mr. Colin John, and presentations of Receiving on behalf of the scholarship Receiving on behalf of Swift. cheques made during Aaliyah John. the hosting of the distributed a Police 2019 Carolling Contest 2019, total of thirty (30) scholarships, December 13.

Commissioner John said.

Commissioner John disclosed that He thanked Motorola for donating the scholarships are available to the scholarships to the ACCP children of police officers and children countries, including St. Vincent and of the members of the administrative the Grenadines. staff who are assigned to the Police The scholarship fund is in its Department. eleventh (11) year and has provided So far for 2019, Motorola has financial resources to over one

Jada

Receiving on behalf of Jodisha Ross.

hundred young people in the twentyfive (25) nation grouping.

Scholarship recipients pursue or continue their college or university studies in fields of study inclusive of Engineering, Communications, Marketing, Finance, Human Resource Management, Criminology and Forensic Science.

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6. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Politics

No NDP candidate selection for East Kingstown yet

NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY (NDP) General Secretary Tyrone James has refuted claims that Canada-based, former

national goalkeeper Fitz Bramble has been confirmed as the candidate to represent the party in the East

Kingstown constituency, in the upcoming general elections.

James was contacted on the matter Wednesday morning, days after the Whoever is decided upon as the NDP claim started making the rounds that candidate in East Kingstown, he/she Bramble was selected without a will be defending a seat that Arnhim primary election, although there were Eustace has won in five consecutive three other persons who have elections. expressed interest in contesting.

James’ response was “I didn’t hear that.”

The General Secretary confirmed that the party is expected to have a candidate selection process, and the decision arising will be advanced to the Central Executive for ratification.

He explained that there are two approaches to the selection of a candidate: that the Constituency Council may choose an individual and take him/her straight to the Central Committee for approval; that the person is selected from a primary Tyrone James, General Fitz Bramble has been which allows for the Secretary of the NDP, busy making himself consideration of more refuted that there was known to the electorate than one person. any decision that Fitz in East Kingstown.

The General Secretary Bramble would be the disclosed that it was he Marriaqua; Northern party’s candidate in who sets the date for Carollers (Northern East Kingstown. primaries, and when Grenadines); Water Man asked if a date has been Carollers - West set for a primary election in East Kingstown; and, Heavenly Harmony Kingstown, he said no. from West St George.

The persons known to have The contest is scheduled for expressed interest in contesting the tomorrow, Saturday December 21 at East Kingstown seat are: Truman the NDP headquarters, Democrat Quashie (businessman); Kevern Cyrus House, Kingstown, beginning at 8pm. (accountant); Frank Clarke Defending champion is P’tani (accountant) and Fitz Bramble (former Revellers. ambassador).

In other NDP news, up to Wednesday, nine choirs representing various constituencies were registered for the NDP’s Christmas Carolling Contest.

The nine were: Central Leeward; East Kingstown Carollers; Major Carollers — Central Kingstown; Cutting Loose Carollers — South Central Windward; North Leeward Serenaders; P’tani Revellers —

V Love and good neighbourliness at Christmas 2019

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. 7.

Christmas Message from the Prime Minister

persons who parade their debilitating anger, malice, and hate; many spew these malignancies We are good-natured, without any restraint in caring and loving the virtual world of social media and in the VERWHELMINGLY, real world of our the people of St. communities. Secondly, Vincent and the some others are so selfGrenadines are goodabsorbed, egotistical, and natured, caring, and selfish that they have no loving; we are instinctively concern for anyone but good-neighbourly to one their individual selves. another. We tend not to Thirdly, there are still like or approve of persons others who are obsessed who are perpetually angry; with excesses in the companions of anger shopping, drinking, and are hate and malice. Our eating that they injure people usually reach out to themselves and others in each other with warmth, myriad of ways. love, and a generosity of spirit. Our sense and Keep it good and joyous sensibility which are grounded in the values and It would be wonderful virtues of goodif we can all embrace, naturedness, caring, love, and act upon, the true and good-neighborliness, spirit of Christmas as are made manifest daily reflected in Jesus Christ. but especially so at Is it too much to hope for Christmas time. a multitude of individual Our commemoration of acts of kindness, caring, the birth of our Lord and and loving rather than Saviour Jesus Christ, in anger, hate, and malice? what has become the Can we have a season of Christmas, Christmas season usually brings the best without drunkenness, out of us in terms of violent crimes, assaults giving, sharing, caring, on women and children, and loving as we seek to senseless vehicular reflect much of the spirit accidents occasioned by and teachings of Jesus. drunk driving and excessive speed? Can we Avoid injurious have a season with a intrusions wholesome communion between the youths and Unfortunately, several the elderly? Can we other intrusions conspire have peace and goodwill to undermine this between us all? Can we uplifting spirit of Jesus. avoid religious or First, there are some political divisiveness over

by DR. THE HON. RALPH E. GONSALVES PRIME MINISTER

O

the Christmas season 2019? Can we focus on uplifting things, sober enjoyment, and joyous reflection? Can we just simply enjoy our traditional Christmas of family, friendship, and good-neighbourliness within the liveliness and holiness of our joyous culture?

Peace and Goodwill

next year; but for now, let us celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in the way we know it is right and proper to do.

Let us do justly, love mercy and goodness, and walk humbly with our I am deliberately God. And let each of us avoiding any political remember to help at discussion; there would least one person who is be lots of time for politics in need of help. Those The peace, goodwill, love, and caring of Christmas begin with each of us. It cannot be imposed. We can, however, help to bring “the good” out of each other.

who give lovingly and those who receive gratefully are always blessed.

A blessed and joyous Christmas to all Vincentians at home and abroad!

Season’ S Se eas ea assooonn’ s Greetings Gre Gr ree eetettiin inngggss ing We come together particularly at Christmas to greet, share and give to our special customers, friends and well-wishers sincere greetings for a brighter future.

Season’s S eason’s Greetings Gre e t i n g s Gre Gr

ffrom rom the the Management Maanagement aand nd Staff Staff of of your your nnumber umber oone ne GGift ift SShop hop Modern odern rn Place Place Gift Gift Shop Shop & G General enera rall Store S t or e tthe he M

“ Yo You our #1 Gift G iifft Gi ft St Sto tore” ore re “Your Store”

Middle Street, P.O. Box 900, Kingstown Tel: 456-1018 Fax: 457-0270 E-mail: modernplace@vincysurf.com

8. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. 9.

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

The Christmas Story Is there a universal message in the Christmas Story? The answer isn’t hard to find, for it is a guiding tenet of all of the great faiths.

Space does not allow for supporting references from the teachings of the great faiths.

Suffice it to say, all of the great faiths teach a practice of love and respect for one another, as summarized for Christians in the words of Jesus from Matthew 7:12: “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.”

So, even the non-observants would have to admit that, given the dominance of Christianity in our State, the pervasiveness of Christmas should come neither as a surprise nor an affront.

And the Christmas story teaches universal concepts that all people of goodwill can embrace.

One of those concepts is that social status, money, privilege are of little consequence. Wasn’t the baby Jesus born in the humblest, if not poorest of circumstances, to an unwed mother (Mary) and a rough-palmed, simple carpenter (Joseph)? There was nothing of grandeur about His birth, yet we still celebrate it, albeit with ever changing expressions, some 2000 years and more later.

Unquestionably, Joseph and Mary had more in common with homeless people (like those who sleep under the galleries of the Kingstown Market and covered sidewalks in Kingstown), than with those who live in affluent neighbourhoods.

It is wise that we recall Jesus’ advice in Matthew 7.1: “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.”.

It follows, therefore, that the Christmas story tells us that greatness comes not from might — power, wealth and intellect - but from compassion of those who care for the poor, the vulnerable, the dispossessed, in a genuine manner of intent and not because of some constitutional requirement.

We must take note of Herod’s musings. Herod, for all his power and grandeur,

did not understand that leadership emanates from service, not from issuing orders and demanding that his people accept that ‘what I say goes’.

Then there is the record of Joseph, Mary and their newborn fleeing Egypt, under threat that Herod would kill the child he saw as a threat to his rule.

Joseph and Mary, with their newborn, threw themselves at the mercy of foreigners, not unlike those who seek refuge in foreign lands, from economic deprivation and abuse of their human rights.

The Christmas story implores us to open our arms to ‘strangers’ and protect them from harm. Are we that open?

But the story does not end there. It asks us to consider that the most extensive political and social structure in western civilization at that time, the Roman Empire, began to crumble, not least because of the emergence of a competing, revolutionary ideology — one that encouraged its followers to love one another, turn the other cheek, and pray for one’s persecutors.

Yes, there will always be open dissent and opposing views; they are as inevitable as death itself.

And then there is the lesson of generosity. As the procrastinators rush to buy last-minute presents, the message of Christmas is that it’s not about the latest smartphone; it is about generosity. As Paul quoted Jesus saying: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Above all, the lesson, especially for today’s SVG riddled with an unbridled sense of accumulation, is that that object wrapped in enticing ‘Christmas paper’, decorated with an exquisite bow and bound with ribbon that feels like velvet to the touch, is only a symbol of the real gift and one that comes without a price tag, i.e. — the GIFT of LOVE. Merry Christmas to all from the Management and Staff of THE VINCENTIAN.

Arnhim Eustace seeks renewed mandate as N.D.P. Leader (A reprint) “IT IS JUST LIKE EUSTACE to follow the democratic imperative to a fault in seeking a popular endorsement of his leadership at the next convention of the N.D.P on December10.

Arnhim Eustace is a true democrat who is always alert to the fact that “Democratic” is the middle name of the N.D.P which he leads. So he first of all engineered two amendments to the Party’s constitution, enlarging the scope of grassroots involvement in both instances.

To begin with, he broadened the participation of ordinary Party members in the business of running the Party by letting the leadership be decided by all and sundry through their delegates in every constituency, and removed that taint of elitism which permitted only the elected Members of Parliament to vote for their leader.

Secondly, he reduced the normal time of holding the leadership from five years to three years, which to allows the leader enough time to show his colours, and the people be afforded a shorter time within which remove or confirm him, as the case might be.

It follows, therefore, that Arnhim Eustace can legally continue as leader for another two years, but has decided to seek a renewal of his mandate in view of the fact that in the interim he had led the N.D.P for a second time into defeat.

In fact, Arnhim Eustace had won his seat on the last three outings in 1998, 2001 and 2005.

He, personally, has never been rejected at the polls.

In 2001 he captured against a mighty anti-NDP swing and was the only mainland candidate for the N.D.P that recorded victory, a feat that was repeated in 2005 with clear improvements.

By local comparison, Milton Cato, first leader of the Labour Party, went down with his entire crew in 1957, and altogether suffered three Party defeats - in a row. The S.V.L.P lost to the P.P.P in 1961 and in 1966 as well. Yet he remained leader of the Party, in control, until he chose to resign in 1984.

To come nearer home, Ralph Gonsalves was a leader of the

U.P.M when he and his Party, including me, lost the elections in 1979. As leader of the breakaway M.N.U, he again suffered double losses in 1984 and 1989, yet remained the unchallenged leader of the M.N.U. Why then, the hue and cry over Arnhim’s leadership raised by a disgruntled minority in the N.D.P, aided and abetted behind the scenes by the insidious propaganda machine of the U.L.P? Some people have rated Cato and Gonsalves as exemplary leaders of the country, but they had suffered a rough political baptism before finally ascending to Mount Olympus.

Why is Arnhim Eustace to be treated differently? Is it because, unlike his two leadership colleagues, there is a marked absence of personal failure on his C.V? Ask the formidable Julian Francis, beaten by Arnhim against the odds!

Incidentally, if not Eustace, who should lead N.D.P at the moment? Clearly, of the two remaining N.D.P elected parliamentarians, a bond of mutual respect exists between Eustace and Friday, and Terrence Ollivierre realizes that he cannot yet perform a man’s job.

And to return as leader, a non-Parliamentarian is a recipe for disaster, like Labour accomplished when Hudson Tannis became Leader of the Labour Party in 1985 and Beache remained leader of the Opposition in the House! Fate intervened and solved the crisis with Hudson’s tragic death.

To choose a Senator is even worse, for he is beholden to the Leader for his appointment, and we will be back to square one if he aspires to lead outside the House.

In any event, Leacock is on record supporting Eustace’s continued leadership. So too, no doubt would Cummings. And the bulk of the Party in the country would follow suit, guaranteeing Eustace total victory by default.

Only the luckless Linton Lewis has been presented as the fly-in-the-ointment. If truth be told, Lewis, who has legitimate

ambitions for leadership, is prepared to bide his time and await his turn. But he is being prematurely pushed by others, not excluding ULPites and their journalists, who mischievously prepare the climate for confusion.

Even before the results of the last elections were in, I had caused N.D.P eyebrows to be raised by suggesting that, should the N.D.P lose - and I never dreamt that they could legitimately be defeated - that Arnhim Eustace might resign.

Frank Da Silva held on to that line for dear life.

To clear the air, Arnhim has decided in best democratic tradition to seek endorsement of his leadership.

So I am overjoyed that Arnhim Eustace should finally be persuaded of the wisdom of that advice - not to resign altogether, but virtually request a vote of confidence. The Convention will talk and intraparty democracy will be enthroned, ready for export to the wider society. “ I must apologise to readers of ‘This Week’ for not giving them a ‘Christmas piece’, but such will come in abundance with the New Year.

But Arnhim Eustace was on my mind and I felt compelled to say something more at his time of giving up politics which might actually be sooner than I think.

His career life as a public servant and statesman has been without blemish. Of all the political leaders of SVG, Arnhim Eustace surprisingly never lost an election, 5 in a Row. On the other hand, Milton Cato, Ebenezer Joshua and James Mitchell, all lost at least once, while Dr. Gonsalves suffered 3 defeats in a row.

The forgoing story is eloquent on the public esteem to which Arnhim was always held. He stood like the man that he is through it all, with the support of his wife, a trained accountant who suffered victimization at the Government’s hand. It is significant that he had never encouraged his daughter to enter politics. Although I personally think that she would make an excellent legislator.

V

10. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Letters

Blacks on the outside BLACKS on the outside, Syrians on the inside; Feasting on the disorganized negroes inna Kingstown City Blacks on the outside, Chinese on the inside; Sucking the negro Dollars like vampire Inna KingstownTown Blacks on the outside, The Parasites on the inside; Milking millions of dollars from the polarize negro Methaphoricly, blacks get left out of the commercial Ark On the sidewalk to face Torrential rain, Sun, heat and wind!

They hustled in the elements to make an honest living.

From Back Street to Middle Street to Bay Street The negro cry desperately: Get your Peas Potatoes Yam Salt fish Onion Dasheen Tanya Tomato Cassava Get yo Soursap Mango Sugar apple Banana Guava Pineapple Oranges Tangerine

Margarine Ah, the blind can see desperation on negroes face Etching out a living in the dense city The deaf can hear the cries As the negro bargains trying to survive In the cluttered streets of Kingstown Town Then I asked: Where are all the black entrepreneurs Who used to run the town?

Where are the Belingys The Baynes The G. W. Frank and Sons The Mc Connie Yammys The Reddocks The Llewellyns The Hinds The Charles?

Ah, solemnly a plea to the youths Who have Degrees in Business Administration; Fan the flames of the black entrepreneurs spirit of yesteryear!

We can do Do it!

Where are the black merchants?

Of this predominantly black country of Chatoyer.?

Weh them dey?

Weh them gone?

Weh them dey?

Them must be dead!

Carden A. Michael © 9/7/19 — St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Heritage Square IN AS MUCH as I support you, Mr. Editor, (re Editorial of November 29, 2019) and letter writer Horatio Sheete (December 13, 2019), I must admit that I am a pessimist.

I do not believe that we will ever see any change at Heritage Square. Put it another way: I don’t think anybody will be allowed to make any change at Heritage Square. What

happens there has become so entrenched that not even an increased police presence will make any difference.

And there is not a politician in SVG who is brave enough to even whisper the idea of making a change there.

You see, Mr. Editor and Mr. Skeete, our government of the last 18 years or so has encouraged such a

misguided impression of what freedom is, that our people feel they can do as they please, when they please, how they please, because they ‘own the government’.

The least we can do at Heritage Square is try to rename it. This Heritage Square thing just does not fit what happens there.

Thomas - The Pessimist

Tourist season and our roads WE ARE INTO another tourist season. The Tourism Department must be complimented for its hard work in promoting our country — St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

We know that St.Vincent, the mainland, has many attractive sites and most of these sights are well kept. Of concern, though, is the state of some of the roads that lead to these sites. It is a shame that visitors have to travel on these roads to arrive at the sites that we have to offer.

The road to Fort Charlotte needs some attention.

It is shameful the condition of the road that

leads to Montreal Gardens. It takes a lot of courage and patience to travel on that road. It is nothing short of a disgrace to have tourists travel on this road which is becoming a deterrent.

The site is a beautiful one, but getting there is a pain. Some attention must be given to that road.

Travelling through Calder can be a very painful experience. I know there is work going on currently, but that road has been undergoing some work for the longest while and is still not yet rehabilitated. It is an ordeal to traverse that road leading from the Argyle gap to the clinic

at Calder.

Since the period of the late Milton Cato and his Labour Party, no other party has seen it fit to continue to have regular ‘patch gangs’ on the road, a measure that meant the roads were maintained regularly.

Today, most of our roads are left to deteriorate before they are given attention. And when they get attention, the cost is extremely high. If these roads are regularly maintained, then they would not reach such deplorable state, and in the long run, Government could save millions of dollars.

By the way, The BOTANICAL GARDENs has lost some of its

Share, care and respect one another I LOVE CHRISTMAS. I truly do. From my earliest recollections to today, Christmas creates this feeling of warmth and of all things good and positive. At the same time I recall Christmas time as being associated with disasters, both local and of global dimensions. Our own little SVG has had its share of Christmas disasters when we tell ourselves that God is telling us to “pull up our socks”. But it seems to me that we no longer wear socks, and each year, it looks as if we’re moving further and further away from sharing, caring and respecting one another.

Is the human spirit dying? Are we no longer our brothers’ keepers? Do we all have to think the same way, believe in the same things, want and need the same things in order to get along with one another or to like one another? Is this the kind of country, or for that matter, the kind of world we want to live in? There is clearly moral decay in our society as we enact more laws, while at the same time become an even more lawless country.

Our students are encouraged to graduate from school, not to become citizens who see themselves as having

a responsibility to contribute to the growth and development of ALL citizens, but rather by the promise of money. At the same time, while we encourage our young people to extol the importance of money, we continue to malign them, forgetting that the most effective teacher is example. I know that there are many reasons why we should be concerned about some of our young people. But I am continously being amazed at the number of truly good young people whom I have the distinct pleasure of meeting from time to time.

As we rapidly approach 2020, perhaps as individuals, we should try as best we can to think positively, while at the same time encouraging those who are fighting hard to restore some emblance of decency in our society. Also let us hold our politicians accountable for their actions, and remind them of the need for them to walk their talk and that when their party is in office they are there to serve EVERYONE who calls St Vincent and the Grenadines home, as well as those whom we encourage to visit and enjoy what we have to offer.

Vera Anne Brereton

attraction and beauty.

While the site is well kept, which is commendable, there is not much to see there.

The lack of wildlife has robbed the gardens of its interest and attraction.

After all, it is the simple things that count.

As we enter the New Year, we must plan, but we need politicians and parties who would reintroduce ‘patch gangs’.

With BRAGSA and its equipment on board, there is no reason why we cannot do weekly maintenance of our roads and save millions in the process.

Kennard King

* Whether there was any investigation into the claim by Janett Thomas of Park Hill that police beat her? * If there was no investigation, did the fact that the court ordered a psychological assessment of the complainant make her claim null and void? * Do mainland people deliberately ignore the fact that the Union Island Uprising of 1979 is a significant chapter in our history? * Mr. Head of Traffic, why can’t we have some traffic patrols on the Cane Garden main road?

Or is it now a free for all for mini buses to see how fast they can go on that narrow, winding road?

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. 11.

Christmas Message from the Leader of the Opposition

A Season of Change

by DR. GODWIN FRIDAY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION – PRESIDENT OF THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY RIENDS, FELLOW VINCENTIANS, it is Christmas again and a New Year beckons. Do all you can to enjoy it and to help others to do likewise.

We are all familiar with the usual things that the season brings. The mad rush to get things done and make everything right! Even if it takes us till late on Christmas Eve night, we will get our decorations up and make all the desired preparations. That is how we, as a people, embrace Christmas.

However, amidst the noise and haste, let us make time and truly remember the reason for this Season– Christ our Redeemer. He came into this world, born not in a palace or in a prominent place but in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes–the humblest of circumstances. He came to give us hope of redemption and a chance to be like Him and to be with Him. As we share in the festivities that come with this time of year, let us always hold in the forefront of our minds that Christ is the reason we celebrate.

Christmas is my favourite time of year, as I am sure it is for most of you,

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whether you are at home or abroad. It is a time we eagerly anticipate, as we welcome home family members whom we may not have seen for a long time.

Most of us embrace the changes that come with the Season. Homes across our nation undergo makeovers — new paint, new curtains, new carpets, new or newly polished furniture and many other personal touches. We do these things for ourselves, and also because we prepare to welcome one and all to our homes: friends and relatives who drop by for a drink and a slice of black cake or a taste of something special, prepared only for the season. Enjoy!

There is a special feeling in the air.

The heightened activities in Kingstown. Walking in and out of stores searching anxiously– often straining our means– to get that special item that for each of us sets the season apart from the rest of the year.

There is nostalgia in the beautiful scenes of Christmas lights in our communities. I thank and appreciate the hard work and dedication of the many volunteers who put up those lights every year for the sheers joy that it brings to all who see them.

Christmas Season is also the time of reflection. A time when we think more deeply about our achievements and disappointments of the passing year and the lessons we take from them.

Some of us even make New Year’s resolutions to help us focus our efforts throughout the upcoming year and, against the odds, hope to keep them.

Good luck, keep trying.

It is also a time to consider how we can contribute to bring change that is necessary to move our beloved country from stagnation to a place of hope, prosperity and opportunity. We cannot ignore the challenges that confront us.

We must face them with renewed hope and a determination to work together to overcome them.

Most importantly, at some point during the year ahead, we will be called upon to exercise our constitutional right to choose our government. It is a most precious, but also very fragile right! All of us have a part to play. Let us gladly embrace that responsibility and exercise our democratic right properly and courageously. Moreover, let us do all

that we can to protect our democratic right from those who might seek to corrupt and subvert it. It is a most serious responsibility and one that, as citizens of our blessed country, we cannot abandon or leave for others to do. We must do it ourselves!

My commitment to every Vincentian in 2020 is to lead a process of change in our country, to unify our people and to work hard for their best interest.

But, I cannot do it alone; none of us can. So, we must come together, banishing our fears and disappointments to the past and moving forward with joy and determination to achieve our many hopes and dreams. Our country needs your strength, your energy, your creativity and skills to build the nation promised to us by its founders so many years ago and which is still our destiny to achieve. To our brothers and sisters of our Diaspora, we are counting on you. This is your land and we know your heart is with us.

Christmas is a time to promote peace and harmony and to abandon hatred and violence, hopefully forever.

It is a time to embrace one another in the spirit of love and hope. Reach out to family members in a special way.

Renew old friendships and preserve them going forward. Our greatest happiness in life comes, not from the

things we possess, but from the relationships we share, our relationship with God, and with our family and with our friends being the most rewarding of them.

My dear people, I truly believe that there is no obstacle too big for us to overcome as a nation when we work together with one another and for one another. I look forward to bringing in change that our people have been working for and waiting for because we do deserve better.

From my family to yours, have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year- 2020. I pray it brings joy, good health and better times.

May God Bless us all.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. 13.

Views

Books make beautiful Christmas Gifts!

Dark money and democratic elections

“The reading of all good books is like a conversation with all the finest men of past centuries” – Rene Descartes (1596-1650) French Philosopher & Scientist

THE ELECTION of Trump in 2016, Bolsanaro in Brazil in 2018 and Boris Johnson in the UK last week, has brought to the fore yet again the ‘triumph’ of rightwing populism and the role of Dark Money in politics. To understand these developments, we highly recommend Jane Mayer’s well researched book ‘Dark Money, the hidden history of billionaires behind the rise of the radical right.’ In the text, Mayer looked at the many ways, ideas which were decidedly unpopular with voters gained respectability and, in some cases, tip the electoral scales.

Very rich people, she said, pool their vast resources and fund an interlocking array of organizations that work in tandem to influence and ultimately control mass media, academic institutions, think tanks, the courts, statehouses, Congress and ultimately the presidency. In turn, all these billions spent to influence political outcome are written off as tax-deductible ‘philanthropy.’

Read on as Caitlin Johnstone reveal how this anti-democratic practice brought Boris Johnson to PM’s office in the UK. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I have here at my fingertips indisputable proof that egregious election meddling took place in the United Kingdom on Thursday.

Before you get all excited, no, it wasn’t the Russians. It wasn’t the Chinese or the Iranians. I am not going to draw in millions of credulous viewers waiting with bated breath for a bombshell revelation of an international conspiracy that will invalidate the results of the election. In fact, hardly anyone will even care because this election interference has been happening right out in the open and was perfectly legal. And nobody will suffer any consequences for it.

Nobody will suffer any consequences for interfering in the UK election because the ones doing the interfering were extremely powerful, and that’s who the system is built to serve.

Boris John won a landslide victory.

Numerous other factors went into this result, including most notably a Labour Party ambivalently straddling an irreconcilable divide on the issue of Brexit, but it is also undeniable that the election was affected by a political smear campaign that was entirely unprecedented in scale and vitriol in the history of western democracy.

This smear campaign was driven by billionaire-controlled media outlets, along with intelligence and military agencies, as well as state media like the BBC. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been described as the most smeared politician in history, and this is a fair description. Journalist Matt Kennard compiled documentation of dozens of incidents in which former and current spooks and military officials collaborated with media institutions to portray Corbyn as a threat to national security.

Journalistic accountability advocates like Media Lens and Jonathan Cook have been working for years to compile evidence of the mass media’s attempts to paint Corbyn as everything from a terrorist sympathizer to a Communist, to a Russian asset, to an IRA supporter, to a closet anti-Semite.

Recently, The Grayzone documented how establishment narrative manager Ben Nimmo was enlisted to unilaterally target Corbyn with a fact-free Russia gate-style conspiracy theory in the lead-up to the election, a psyop that was uncritically circulated by both right-wing outlets like The Telegraph as well as ostensibly

EDUCATORS the world over have shown the significant positive relationship between reading and academic excellence. Reading forms the foundation of all other subjects taught in schools. It is therefore not surprising to observe that the children who embrace reading skills early in their academic pursuits, appear to excel throughout their sojourn at school.

The American Science Fiction writer Ray Bradbury draws attention to the importance that reading plays in the development and sustaining of a culture. Reading broadens our horizons and assists us in developing thoughts.

Good books motivate us to positive action, and very good books encourage us to focus on improving self. The American writer Cliff Fadiman advocates that good classics, in particular, help us to see more of ourselves. Regrettably, many of our people appear to have developed a culture where there is an aversion to books. There appears to be few adults who frequent the public libraries and documentation centres in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. However, it is not too late for us to change this. We can influence the culture of reading if we take the assignment seriously.

The French Writer Francois FeNeleon (1651-1715) was so in love with books and reading that he once stated that “If the riches of the Indies, or the crowns of all the kingdoms of Europe, were laid at my feet in exchange for my love of reading, I would spurn them all”. Similar views were expressed by the British Historian, Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) when he stated that “My early and invincible love for reading I would not exchange for all the riches of India”. Benjamin Franklyn (1706-1790), the American scientist, publisher and diplomat, stresses the value of reading when he indicated that “Reading makes a full man, meditation a profound man, discourse a clear man”. As a people, we need to develop a culture of reading, meditating on what we read, and sharing the knowledge gained through regular discourse. Such practices would expand the mental capacity of our people. We need to encourage a culture of reading.

I treasure the hard cover copy of Mark Twain’s “Tom Sawyer” that was presented to me in 1964 in recognition for my being considered a “most helpful student” at the Kingstown Preparatory School. I often return to reading sections of it and recapture the positive feelings that emerged when I received it as a gift so many years ago. That book encouraged me to kindle a love for reading at a time when I unwisely considered reading “undesirable” and “unimportant”. That gift helped me to refocus and gain some sense.

With Christmas just around the corner and we consider gifts for our friends, associates and loved ones, books should be at the top of the list of possibilities. We may never be able to measure the significant positive impact such gifts will have on the readers. As good as we may consider ourselves to be, we all have areas of our lives that need improvement. Books can be useful instruments in assisting us to make these incremental steps that would improve our lives and impact positively on our relationships with others. Many good self-help books are available at good bookstores in St.

Vincent and the Grenadines.

Several of the Christian Bookstores carry a wide range of self-improvement, positive thinking and motivation books.

These often make very good gifts and could be viewed as a source of encouragement and support when we are faced with difficult, challenging times. Such books also assist in building character and could therefore play a significant role in strengthening individuals, families and communities.

Novels and other “entertainment books” should not be overlooked or underestimated. They also have a major role to play in assisting us to appreciate other cultures. They may also assist us in appreciating differences as we read about the lives of others and the challenges that they faced. Many “fiction” books and novels revolve around real life situations, and could provide learning opportunities for readers. In addition, they often provide vivid descriptions of places that we may never visit but have a good appreciation of, based on the writers’ ability to describe them to us through his or her words.

It would be remiss of me if I omitted to present a word of caution — all books are not necessarily “good books”. We should therefore be very selective in the ones that we purchase. England’s only Jewish Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881), was also a popular statesman, novelist, and brilliant debator. He advanced the view that some books are considered fatal. He noted that some printed material had the potential of poisoning the minds of readers and luring the innocent and unsuspecting to pursue habits and activities that were damaging to the reader and their communities. We must therefore be very discriminating when selecting books to present to such vulnerable age groups as the young adolescent. I identify this age group specifically due to the fact that they are often in a period of “instability” and could be influenced by craftily written books that encourage, for example, disrespect, sexual promiscuity, homosexuality, violence, and drug use.

Engaging in such undesirable activities erodes our moral fiber and destroys the core that strengthens and supports communities and cultures.

A number of local writers have published works during recent years.

These are likely to be especially appreciated by Vincentians who live overseas. Don’t get me wrong, I am not advocating that those of us who reside in St. Vincent and the Grenadines will not appreciate receiving these as gifts.

Many will. I merely highlight the fact that such publications appear to be especially appreciated by our nationals who live in the diaspora, since it appears to give them “a piece of home” and an appreciation for the talents and abilities of our nationals.

Margaret Fuller (1810-1850), the American writer and lecturer, once asserted that no house is a home unless it contains good books - food and fuel for the mind. If we embrace this as factual, then it behooves us to seriously consider presenting books as gifts this Christmas. We could make many homes and lives richer by providing useful food and fuel for the mind.

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

“left”-wing outlets like The Guardian.

Just as Corbyn’s advocacy for the many over the super rich minority saw him targeted by billionaire media outlets, his view of Palestinians as human beings saw him targeted by the Israel Lobby; Corbyn, a lifelong opponent of anti Semitism was smeared as an anti-Semite.

The historically unprecedented smear campaign that was directed at Corbyn from right wing forces outside, and from within his own party had an effect. If you say this on social media, you will get a ton of comments telling you you’re wrong, telling you every vote against Labour was exclusively due to the British people not wanting to live in a Marxist dystopia, telling you it was exclusively because of Brexit, totally denying any possibility that the years of deceitful mass media narrative management that British consciousness was pummeled with day in and day out prior to the election, had any impact whatsoever upon its results.

Right. Sure guys. Persistent campaigns to deliberately manipulate people’s minds using mass media, have no effect on their decisions at all. I am not claiming here that the billions of dollars worth of free mass media reporting that was devoted to smearing Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party had a greater effect on the election results than Brexit and other strategic stumbles in the party. I’m just saying that it had a much greater effect than the few thousand dollars Russian nationals spent on social media memes in the US, which the American political/media class has been relentlessly shrieking about for three years. To deny that a media smear campaign the size and scope of that directed at Corbyn had an effect is the same as denying that advertising, a trillion-dollar industry, has an effect.

To accept that dark money influences election outcome, means that the very rich and government agencies indisputably interfered in the British election, to an exponentially greater extent than anything the Russians are even alleged to have done. Yet, according to British law it was perfectly legal, and according to British society, it was perfectly acceptable. It’s perfectly legal and acceptable for powerful individuals to have a vastly greater influence on a purportedly democratic election than any of the ordinary individuals voting in it.

A free and healthy society would not work this way. A free and healthy society would view all forms of manipulation as taboo and unacceptable. A free and healthy society would not allow the will of members of one small elite class to carry more weight than the will of anyone else. A free and healthy society would give everyone an equal voice at the table and look after everyone’s concerns. It certainly wouldn’t tolerate a few individuals who already have far too much abusing their power and wealth to obtain even more.’

For all the foregoing reasons, we have always been opposed to dark money influence in politics. We have long called for campaign finance reform and call on all our people to exercise vigilance as SVG prepares for the 2020 elections.

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

V Let us wish for an end to corruption in SVG 14. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Christmas Message from the SVG Green Party

by Warrant Officer IVAN especially those families with O’NEAL, BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, children.

Leader of SVG Green Party The people would like to hear from PM Gonsalves: Is CCORDING TO WARRANT the Nader Hariri OFFICER IVAN BERTIE Ambassadorship to UNESCO O’NEAL, BSC (HONS), MSc, an example of Ambassadorship MBA, Leader of SVG Green by investment?

Party, there is a very strong There are a number of correlation between the depth of public bodies and private corruption in a Third World companies that have failed to Country and the extent of declare their financial poverty in the Third World statements to the public. The Country. financial statements of all The greater the amount of public bodies and the corruption in a Third World companies and subsidiaries of Country, the greater is the the super-rich of Mustique and amount of poverty, destitution Canouan should be available and filth. for the public to scrutinise and There is a very high check. correlation between corruption There will be obvious and deep poverty in SVG, and speculation about corruption if since there is very strong these accounts are hidden positive correlation between away from the public. poverty and corruption, we can There is a substantial lack predict that many families will of financial transparency in struggle to put food on the our country, and this is a gross table this Christmas abuse of power and can lead to

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corruption. According to Transparency International, information is fundamental to make informed decisions.

Where it is not freely accessible, corruption can thrive and basic rights might not be realised. People can hide corrupt acts behind a veil of secrecy.

SVG needs greater transparency and accountability of the public accounts. The SVG Freedom of Information Act 2003 was signed by His Excellency, The Governor General, in 2003, and it should have been proclaimed and made into law, so that we have proper access to government information.

We need a Freedom of Information Act so that we can root out corruption.

The solution to the very deep problem of corruption or even to prevent it is quite simple: Update or create new

laws that provide heavy penalties for corruption, including custodial sentences.

Every dollar lost to corruption in SVG or elsewhere, is one less dollar available to combat extreme poverty, one dollar less to fund education and maintain schools and one dollar less to create jobs for our people.

Corruption affects us all and hurts the poorest and most vulnerable members of society most, increasing costs and reducing access to services, including health, education and justice. SVG needs to create lasting change.

We need a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption.

To improve Vincentians’ lives, a Green government would end corruption and bring strong economic leadership and competent financial management. This would enable a Green

Government to invest significant sums of money in to Vincentians’ education and community needs and create mass employment.

Merry Christmas and let us wish for an end to corruption in SVG and a regime change to Green for prosperity for the people.

V New agreement among LIAT shareholders 16. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Regional

AS THE LIAT SAGA continues to unravel, there has been a change of heart on the part of Barbados, as far as its sale of shares in the airline is concerned.

The Daily Observer of Antigua reported on December 11, that Barbados has apparently come off its initial stance of requesting US $40 million from the Government of Antigua and Barbuda (GOAB), to acquire most of its 49 percent shareholding in the regional air carrier.

“We have a general consensus on the way forward,” the Observer quoted Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne as saying, as he reported on a LIAT shareholder government’s meeting he attended at which Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves were in attendance.

According to Browne, the new agreement “will result in the recapitalization of LIAT as well as the restructuring of LIAT to place it on a path of sustainability.”

Talks broke down between the GOAB and Barbados back in June, when the two sides could not come to an agreement on the purchase price for most of Barbados’s 49 percent shares in the regional air carrier.

The Barbados government, then, was

seeking approximately US $21 million, more than the GOAB was willing to offer.

Concerning the new deal, however, Prime Minister Browne said, “I’m not in a position to give the details at this point, but to say that the issues that we’ve had, there has been some convergence, and there’s now a consensus and a way forward.”

In November, the GOAB secured a loan from Venezuelan Bank, BANCO ALBA, for US $15.8 million, part of which it was expected to inject into the cashstrapped airline.

The Antigua and Barbuda shareholding in LIAT currently sits at 34 percent.

LIAT, in some form or shape, has been in service to the Caribbean for close to 63 years.

Left: The Cuban flag flies outside that country’s reopened embassy in Washington in July 2015, and a trio welcomes the restoration of ties at the newly upgraded U.S. Embassy in Cuba, where the American flag was raised a month later. (Photo Credit: Associated Press)

Cubans feel betrayed LAST TUESDAY, Dec. 17, marked five years since presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro announced that the United States and Cuba would reestablish diplomatic relations, and end nearly 60 decades of hostility.

Church bells rang out across Cuba but echoed loudest in capital Havana.

The bells were like signals to the dawn of a new day, but five years later, many Cubans say it is as though that historic moment never happened. They feel betrayed.

Since his election in 2016, President Donald Trump has spent roughly as much time undoing detente as President Obama spent constructing it.

As it stands today, relations between the two countries are at one of their lowest points since the end of the Cold War. President Trump has done all that he could do to block U.S citizens from visiting Cuba. His administration has barred cruise ships from including Cuba on their schedules, and banned scheduled flights and unguided educational travel flights to most cities in Cuba, What was a full US Embassy when it reopened in Havana under presidents Obama and Castro, has been reduced to skeleton staffing after diplomats reported a series of health problems, the source of which remains a mystery up to today.

Worse, the embassy’s visa section has been closed and the end of the special five-year visas for Cubans means travel to the US has become near impossible for many Cubans, who grew accustomed to flying to Florida to visit relatives and to purchase supplies for businesses.

The Cuban economy is struggling, with tourism numbers flat, and aid from Venezuela far below its historic peak as Cuba’s oil-rich chief ally fights through its own long crisis.

In 2014, Obama and Castro’s announcement felt like the end of a dark era for Cuba and the start of something positive and new, people said in Havana.

Now, the two years of detente under Obama feel like a temporary break in a long history of tension and struggle, that has no end in sight, they said.

“There was hope, thinking that there would be an opening with Obama,” said Alfredo Pinera, a 37-yearold construction worker. “And with Trump, it’s like a child’s dream, gone up in smoke.” (Source: American Press)

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. 17.

V Human Rights Day 2019:

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. 21.

News

SVGHRA cautions State AS IT FOCUSED its attention on marking Human Rights Day 2019, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association (SVGHRA) directed its attention on how the state can find itself guilty of perpetuating an abuse of citizens’ human right.

In a statement released to mark the DAY, December 10, 2019, the SVGHRA directed a caution at the State apparatus, saying, “…when you sit idly by and allow Police Officers, under the cloak of their uniforms, to continue to abuse individuals in custody, then you are abnegating your responsibility and encouraging violence to take root in this

Vincentian society.”

But it was not all talk for the Day. The St Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association (SVGHRA), Marion House Youths, NGO and Juvenile Intervention Networks, joined the rest of the world on Tuesday December 10th, in observing and celebrating Human Rights Day 2019.

Under the banner of the International theme ‘Youth Standing Up for Human Rights’ and subtheme ‘The end to incest and rape in the Vincentian Society’, Marion House’s youth groups from Rose Hall, Kingstown and Georgetown, as well as members of the Domestic

Violence Support group and other stakeholders, convened in Georgetown and marched from the Mall to the Marion House Centre, where a Rally witnessed presentations/messages from different stakeholders charged with responsibility for addressing violence in the Vincentian society, According to a release from the SVGHRA, in recognition of the potential of young people as constructive agents of change, it reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen their voices and to engage Vincentians in the promotion and protection of their rights. This is intended to galvanise support and action for

how Vincentian youth can speak to the social issues of crime and violence, with focus on incest and rape.

On the occasion of Human Rights Day 2019, the SVGHRA called for a rekindling of the “the flame that once burnt within our families - the soul and fabric of society,” highlighting in the process that “parents are too disconnected from their children, and so too are the children disconnected from their parents.”

It was this disconnect that “leads to violent crimes, which are perpetrated by our young people who are also the victims of crime,” the

SVGHRA said.

In this light, the SVGHRA declared that it was “high time” that Human Rights be included in the school curriculum, as a means of educating on rights and responsibilities; and for the churches to implement relevant, meaningful, interactive programmes that will touch the lives of young people.

The SVGHRA called on citizens to respect the rights of their fellow citizens, and to work to resolve (their) differences in a peaceable manner, so as to avoid any form of violence.

“Let us respect the rights of others throughout SVG!” declared the SVGHRA. (Source: SVG Human Rights Association)

Impact Justice hosts conference for OECS SEVERAL aspects of the constitutions in the OECS came up for discussion and were highlighted for review and action, at the twoday conference hosted by the Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) and held at the Ocean Terrace Inn, St. Kitts from December 5-6, 2019.

Discussions centred on the following areas: a comparative analysis of OECS constitutions; the standardization of judicial pensions in the OECS; highlights of Impact Justice’s Model Business Names Registration and Trade Marks Bills; the potential establishment of a sexual offenses registry; arbitration in the OECS; providing for continuing legal professional development in small jurisdictions; the benefits of community mediation; and, genderbased analysis plus and the IMPACT Justice Sexual Harassment Model Bill.

The objectives of the conference were to enhance awareness of the OECS constitutional provisions, and to encourage consideration of IMPACT Justice drafted legislation by governments, through explaining some of the

key provisions and sensitizing their representatives to the initiatives.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Conference, High Commissioner of Canada to the OECS, Her Excellency Marie Legault, pleaded with the delegates to ensure that the model legislations provided, and the legislative drafters trained by IMPACT Justice, are utilized to meet the needs of the countries of the region, and to enhance capacity where possible.

The Hon. Pam Webster, Member of Parliament in Anguilla, delivered remarks on behalf of the OECS Assembly, offering thanks to the Government of Canada for providing the opportunity for regional parliamentarians to gather in such a forum, and noted that these initiatives help to assure the region that Canada is serious about its development. She concluded that development projects such as IMPACT justice are a worthwhile investment in the region.

Four Vincentians were among the parliamentarians, Attorneys, Business

Persons and Members of the Media from across the OECS who attended the conference. Local Parliamentarians the Hon. Dr. Godwin Friday and the Hon. Nigel Stevenson, Attorney at Law Mandella Peters and Shana Daniel of the Agency for Public Information, made up the Vincentian delegation.

The Conference was funded by the government of Canada which is the primary benefactor of the eightyear Regional Justice Sector Reform Project, implemented from the Caribbean Law Institute Centre, Faculty of Law, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus.

(Source:API)

Participants at the two-day Conference hosted by IMPACT Justice.

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24. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Message from the Christian Council

The coming of Christ - a standard for our nation

Monsignor Michael Stewart (Chairman) – Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Rt. Rev’d C. Leopold Friday – Bishop of the Windward Islands Anglican Church.

ET THE SAME MIND be in you that was in Christ Jesus (Phil 2.5) One of the most telling truths about humanity is that we are all influenced by another.

Simply put, we are social beings. What this also means is that we have role models, we follow examples and we walk in someone else’s footsteps.

The Bible presents Christ as our perfect example, best role model and the one whose footsteps we ought to walk in (Eph 5.1-2, 1 Cor 11.1). This is the substance of Paul’s counsel here in Philippians: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” In one sense we can understand this to be a reflection on our mind/thinking; in view of the fact that our mind shapes everything about us; the reason Solomon advised “as a man thinketh so is he” (Prov 23.7 paraphrased).

Alternately and denotatively, “mind” here is understood as attitude, not just thought process but how that thought process harmonizes and interplays with our behaviour and our response to a given stimulus.

Jesus’ mind-attitude is epitomized (best reflected) in the incarnation. It is described as “humble”.

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This is not simply a disposition or ‘personality trait’ equal to ‘easy going’. This is a choice made which includes selflessness (do nothing out of selfish ambition — vs. 3), seeing great value in others (“regard others as better than yourselves — vs. 3) and giving priority to the needs of others (look not to your own interest but to the interests of others — vs 4). Humility is also about how we respond to unfavourable situations, since the word humility in itself is from the same root as humiliate. This humility was the foundation of Paul saying “therefore God highly exalted him…” It is a triumphant, overcoming, revolutionary type humility. This is the story of Jesus. God uses an unknown girl, a cattle pen, an insignificant village and shepherds as key components of the most revolutionary and victorious life to have every walked this earth.

This highly exalted, triumphant message born at Christmas, is grounded in the principle of humility advocating for a certain kind of selflessness. This is not simply putting others before you, rather, this humility is about being invested in the other person’s relationship with God; putting them first towards them honouring God in their life. Jesus humbled himself to be a slave, the ultimate servant that we may be reconciled to God. This challenges us to see the worth in others, a worth not based on the certificates and accolades they received, nor is worth primarily based on the fact that we are humans — mortal beings of flesh and blood. Our worth is in and through and because of God. Recognizing the worth of all human beings is and ought to be grounded in a deep appreciation that we are all made in God’s image and likeness, and that God’s very breath is in us. We are all His children, in him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17.28). We must therefore aggressively reject any effort to define human worth by physical or material accomplishment, by intellect or wit or by any national or international institution. While institutions have their place and value, human

worth is neither because a constitution so declares or any treaty so requires.

The worth of every Vincentian whether we are signed on to an international treaty or not, is inalienable. This is a good time for us to see one another because we all matter and remember simple virtues such as “hi” and “hello”, “good morning” and “good evening”. It is a good time for us remember the good Samaritan, who needed no name, nor identification, no family history, but cared for the next person just because here was a child of God in need. This is a good time to remember that the tourist and the local alike are all people of worth, children of God. This is a good time to remember that the person in a mansion and the homeless on the street are all people of worth, children of God. This is a good time to remember the employer and business man and the employee and unemployed are all people of worth, Children of God. Such is our worth that Jesus made an amazing sacrifice, leaving the glory of eternity, becoming moral just for you and me.

This matter of our worth also challenges us to raise questions about issues regarding our women and children. The stories of abuse and rape prompt our consideration of the matter of worth.

We must resist the many activities that, in effect, demean our women and treat our children merely as commodities. Our world continues to wrestle with the problem of Trafficking in Persons, and St Vincent and the Grenadines needs due diligence to ensure we do not add to the narrative.

We must challenge our business places who believe a scanty clad young woman is the best lure or advertisement for their product. We must challenge bosses, employers and other senior personnel who lure women into offering themselves for favours.

We must continue to cry foul to our van drivers and our entertainers who use music and various artforms to present the woman as a sex object.

We must speak up and speak out when we learn of neighbours or villagers who seek to destroy the

innocence of our children. If we do not together work towards protecting our children, giving them a strong sense of security and an assurance that we are a nation that’s there for them, we may well say to them that they are of little worth, contributing to destroying their selfesteem. The worth of our children is at risk as they are exposed to ideas and philosophies that devalue them by instructing and indoctrinating them into believing that they are simply what they feel, and that God did not make them male or female, rather they must figure out which of more than 100 possibilities they are. The worth of our young people is at risk when we devalue them by teaching that they have no control, no power over their body and sexual appetite, so just “protect yourself”.

The worth of our people in this nation has been compromised by an annual festival that encourages and celebrates no restraint, vulgarity, nudity, indulgence and bad behaviour. The incarnation tells us of our worth as Jesus sacrificed himself that we may become reconciled with God, possible only when we are willing to turn from sin.

This humility Jesus exemplified at Christmas, woos us to become persons who are invested in responding to the need of others. This is not about people pleasing, neither is it simply about being dogooders; rather it is looking after their

interest, their best interest. It is seeking to reconcile others to God their greatest need. In so doing we work towards the other experiencing the fullness of life as God desires. This therefore is a call for neighbourliness. It is being deliberately invested in the wellbeing of the next person. This is challenging at a time when “mind your own business” is a common mantra. The call for neighbourliness challenges us at this time of gift-giving, when it seems we care, to be deliberate in our thoughts towards the other. It forces us to candidly reject the folly of tribal politics which can at times see someone celebrating the demise of the next person simply because they are on a different side of the political divide. Rejecting the kind of tribalism which may even manifest itself when the funeral of the die-hard of one party - however outstanding a person they were - sees a noticeable absence of persons from “the other side”. This neighbourliness is the kind that must see us leaving our spaces of comfort and convenience to encourage and support those who are hurting and struggling. This kind of neighbourliness encourages us to be more responsible with the stories we hear and our readiness to spread them without getting the facts.

We must consider the lives that will be affected. It is the kind of neighbourliness that challenges our use of social media, and encourages our talk show personalities and radio programs to be more

Reverend Adolf Davis Superintendent Minister of the KingstownChateaubelair Circuit of the Methodist Church.

Major Pierre Antoine, Commanding Officer of the Salvation Army, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. invested in the advancement of people’s lives than ratings and popularity.

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. This humility we celebrate at Christmas is that we must also aspire to collectively and individually exemplify. It is this humility that sees God highly exalting. It suggests that the future of SVG can be tremendously advanced if we are to learn a fundamental Christmas lesson in humility and let the mind that was in Christ be also in us.

The SVG Christian Council takes this opportunity to wish you a Blessed and Holy Christmas.

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26. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Message from the Seventh Day Adventists

Standing on the Horizon of the Decade of the 20s live anyhow we desire, rather He has stamped His divine image in us so that we can reflect His character, glorify His name and help to make society a HEN 2019 ECLIPSES into sweeter, better and more loving place eternity, we would come to the to coexist. end of the decade of the 10s and For us to live peacefully and step into the decade of the 20s. We will lovingly, it is essential that we also end the second decade of the consider the quality of our relationship twenty-first century and begin the third with God and with our fellowmen. No decade. I believe at this crossroad of man exists unto himself, for we cannot time, there will be a lot to recount and to sustain ourselves. Our sufficiency is in forecast.

Christ and so it is only in Him our It is often said that life is lived by lives can derive meaning, fulfillment the number of breaths that we take and satisfaction. Unless that vertical and time is counted by the number of relationship with our Creator is intact, heart throbs. Life is also measured by the horizontal relationship with our segments or blocks of time that neighbour will be virtually nonAlmighty God has allowed us so that existent or woefully fragile. we can reflect on the past, determine Our fundamental problem is that of where we are today, and align the sin, which like an aggressive cancer future with our God-given purpose for eats away our soul and by extension our existence. the soul of the nation. It is for that God has not given us breath, space essential reason why we see and time to do whatever we want and miscreants who overtly live

by PASTOR DERMOTH BAPTISTE President, Seventh-day Adventist Church

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contemptible lives of defiance, rebellion and violence, as well as those who covertly live selfishly, uncaring, unconcerned and unkindly to one another. Is there any wonder why there are continuous episodes of crime, violence, abuse, neglect, malice and other unsavory behaviours in our homes, communities and the nation?

Without the establishment and fostering of quality relationship with God, which fundamentally leads to better relationship with our fellowmen, our lives will always be in turmoil, lacking, missing the mark and falling apart. To satisfy this lack, some people turn to drugs, sexual promiscuity, alternative lifestyle, partying, gluttony and the likes.

Jesus states very succinctly that the greatest need of mankind today is to seek the Lord and His righteousness with all earnestness, and to live for Him with eternity in mind, Matthew 6:33. Relationships are established upon trust and sustained by love. It is reassuring and heart-warming to know that God has proven to be trustworthy over the years, and so today we can trust Him fully and completely with our lives as we approach the decade of the 20’s.

Wherever we might have failed in the past, whoever we might have disappointed, whatever dreams might have been unfulfilled, the Good News is that we can begin afresh, we can take stock of our lives, we can turn a new page, we can take a fresh guard as we make wrongs right, and like the prodigal son return back to a loving Father.

As we come to the ending of the decade of the tens and teens, let us be ever grateful to Almighty God for His manifold blessings upon us. Certainly, it is not the alarm clock that wakes us up every morning, but our Creator God whose mercies are new every moment.

Every morsel of bread that we eat is from Heaven’s pantry, every breath we breathe is His oxygen that we don’t have to pay for, and every space that we inhabit belongs to Him. Whatever successes we have achieved individually, corporately or nationally are all because of His loving kindness and gracious favour.

Even the setbacks and misfortunes that we have to endure, He allows, because He wants to get our attention.

Sometimes when He speaks to us in blessings bestowed, and we fail to listen, He speaks to us in blessings withdrawn, because His ultimate aim is to seek our salvation. This is the story of Christmas. It is the story of the infinite love of the Saviour who invades human space to reconcile fallen man back to the Father.

My prayer is that nationally, we’ll have a healthy, happy holiday season as we renew or restore our relationships with our compassionate Saviour and with one another. As we step into the decade of the 20s and into another New Year, we can do so confidently, knowing that God is in control and has our back.

On behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, I wish the government and people of our blessed Hairouna unsurpassed happiness, unending success and unbridled prosperity. Blessings and goodwill to you and to your household!

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. 27.

Message from the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies SVG District

Santa or Christ?

pronunciation, to Santa Claus. We are thankful for this man and the S A CHILD, I was on kind deeds he did for so my best behavior many persons, mainly when it was children.

Christmas. My mother Today, you cannot would remind me that celebrate Christmas Santa is looking to see without him being the who is naughty or nice. If I central point. Santa was naughty, I will not Claus is the receive any gifts, therefore advertisement for many I must be nice. business places, some Santa became my would even dress like focus, and I saw him as him and make sounds the gift-giver. As I grew like Santa Claus. But older, I knew there was we must ask the no Santa Claus bringing question, who is any gifts. However, the important? Whose person referred to as birthday is the world Santa Claus was a man celebrating? called St. Nicholas, born The one, who is in Patara, Turkey in the extremely kind and third century. His loving to mankind, who parents died when he willingly gave His life for was young and they left us, is Jesus Christ. The him an inheritance, Bible tells us, John 15:3: which he used to help “Greater love has no one the poor. He was known than this: to lay down for his kindness and one’s life for one’s generosity to the less friends.” Jesus came to fortunate. He was called this earth with a plan.

Sinterklass, but when Our fore-parents the Dutch migrated to sinned by eating the fruit America, the name that God had forbidden changed because of the in the garden of Eden.

From that day God promised a deliverer will come to deliver mankind, Genesis 3:15: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Throughout history, God has always provided a substitute for mankind, a lamb to let man know blood must be shed to save us. Additionally, it pointed to a redeemer.

The time came, and through the virgin birth, a child was born, in a manger. That was a glorious day. The Bible says: Luke 2:11 “Today

by BISHOP, REV. STEPHEN OLLIVIERRE

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in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Consider what Jesus did: Philippians 2:7-8: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The pronouncement was made by the Angel: Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was

spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS”.

Santa Claus was a good man, but the season is all about Jesus Christ.

Let us worship Him, let him be Lord of our lives.

Why not make this season one of reflection, and commitment to Him? He has done so much for us, even though we were guilty of turning away from Him. Santa or Christ, let it be Jesus Christ.

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30. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Message from the Spiritual Baptists

A reflection of Christ we celebrate

call me blessed.

Mary had her own perils to go Hail, thou ever-blessed morn! through during child’s birth. Her Hail, redemption’s happy dawn! journey from one country to another to Sing through all Jerusalem, give birth in a manger. There his Christ is born in Bethlehem. shelter was a stable and his cradle was a stall, but this did not take away from HRISTMAS IS THE CELEBRATION of the angels’ excitement to deliver the the birth of Jesus Christ, born of great news to this day to the world, Mary a virgin espoused to Joseph. first to the shepherds, “Fear not for When angel Gabriel visited Mary, behold I bring you good tidings of there was something special about his great joy, which shall be to all people. salutation, “Hail” he said, then went For unto you is born this day in the on to inform her of the high esteem in city of David a Saviour which is Christ which she was held: “Thou art highly the Lord.” Luke 2: 10-11 favoured, the Lord is with Thee, The angels were not alone, for this blessed art thou among women,” St was a good message to attract a Luke 1:27. Fear came upon Mary, multitude. And suddenly there was then the angel said, “Fear not Mary, with the angels a multitude of the you are favoured by the lord; thou heavenly host praising God and shalt conceive in thy womb and bring saying, “Glory to God in the highest forth a son and name him Jesus,” St and on earth peace good will towards Luke 1 30-31. She was so happy to be men.” Luke 2:13-14 the chosen mother of our Lord that she May this Christmas help us to proclaimed, “My soul magnifies the reflect on the birth of Christ and stop Lord,” and because of the favour of worrying about our situation when it God, she declared all generation shall seems like all is lost. Stop worrying

by ARCHBISHOP MELFORD POMPEY

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about the shoe you wanted; think about the person with no legs. Stop worrying about the extra groceries you missed on your shopping list; think about those without a meal. Stop complaining about your salary; think about those without a job. Stop complaining about your health; think about the family mourning the loss of their loved one succumbed to an illness. ST. Matthew 25:40 says, “In as much as ye have done it one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

Let this Christmas be a blessing to us as we think not only about ourselves but of others. Let it be a time of reconciliation for peace not war, love not hate, unity not division.

By so doing, we will be at peace with ourselves and our fellowmen.

As a church, the body of Christ, we must continue to watch for the souls of men, and among others, embrace the homosexuals, the rapists, the murderers, the criminals, but hate their actions and call upon them to follow in the footsteps of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

All praise and thanks to God for bringing us safely through another hurricane season, as we pray for those who suffered losses.

I am thankful to be bringing to you this Christmas Message after a long recovery from surgery last month.

Special thanks first to God for staying in control, my family, my prayer partners (home and abroad) and the surgical team of Doctors and nurses.

God is good.

As we come to the end of another year, let us redouble our efforts and do more for Christ in the coming year.

To all Spiritual Baptist at home and abroad, I thank you for your support during this my first year as Archbishop. I look forward for your continuing support and prayer in the New Year as I continue to serve you with the help of God.

On behalf of my wife, Eminent Lady Pompey, my children, our Holy Matriarch, Her Excellency Mona Pompey, our hard working Archdiocesan Council and on my personal behalf, I wish all Spiritual Baptist, friends, well wishers and all, a wonderful Christmas and a radiant New Year, filled with blessings from God the Father, His Son, whose birth we celebrate today, and the Holy Spirit, our guide.

Thank you and May God bless you.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20 , 2019. 35.

Diaspora

Another Jamaican crowned ÂMiss UVCGÊ

Vincie Cultural Group of Brooklyn’s (UVCGB) 11th Annual Fundraising Tea Party, at Trinity Apostolic Church Banquet Hall on Pacific Street in Brooklyn.

FOR THE SECOND successive year, Lettman edged out a Jamaican national has been Barbadian Denise Callender crowned the “Miss United Vincie (first runner-up) and another Cultural Group (Miss UVCG) of Jamaican national, Daisey Frith Brooklyn.” (second runner-up) to take the Lillian Lettman, a Canarsie, top spot.

Brooklyn, New York resident, “This is the very first time originally from St. Catherine in attending, and I love it,” Jamaica, was adjudged “Best Lettman told THE Dressed” during the United VINCENTIAN briefly after she was crowned by her compatriot, Morna Francis Harris, last year’s winner.

She said she was invited to the event by her Brooklyn friend, Donna Huggins.

Last year was also the first time that Harris, a Queens, New York resident, attended the event; she was invited by her church sister and compatriot, Pamela Tucker, last year’s second runner-up.

Harris and Tucker worship at Miracle Temple Ministries in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. Most members of UVCGB also worship at the evangelical church.

Besides “Best Dressed,” there were also several competitions throughout the four-hour-plusIngrid Bess (right) receives a long Tea Party, including bouquet of flowers from her “What’s in Your Purse”; “Song”; Vincentian compatriot “Pillow-Fitting Case”; “Hat”; Gwendolyn Holder, for her and “What’s Under Your Chair.”

Vincentian Jackie John, voluntary services over the originally from Rockies, years.

Story and photos by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; kingnaking210@yahoo.com US CORRESPONDENT

Richmond Hill, Kingstown, won the “What’s in Your Purse” contest after producing 10 items in her purse: Five pennies, pack of gum, store receipt, toothbrush, floss, safety pin, hand sanitizer, Advil, nail clip and Zip lock bag.

Jamaican Venice Golding, who worships at Greater Blessing Assembly in Flatbush, Brooklyn, won the “Song Competition.” The Miss United Vincie Cultural Group of Portmore, St. Catherine Brooklyn 2019 Jamaican Lillian native composed and sang Lettman (center) flanked by first Deidre Ballantyne (left) to the tune of the runner-up Barbadian Denise receives a bouquet of Christmas Carol, “Silver Callender (left) and second runner-up flowers from her sister, Bells.”

Jamaican Daisey Frith.

Judith “Baffy” CuffyBarbadian Joshua Murray, for her voluntary Green was declared the services over the years. winner of the “PillowFitting Case” Competition, edging out Puerto Rican Hector — Perez’s father-in law, who hails from Rose Perez, who’s married to a Bank and recently Vincentian. moved from Florida to In the “Biggest Hat” reside with his Competition, Jamaican Careen daughter in Brooklyn — Blackwood, a congregant at Miracle Temple Ministries, was received rave reviews with an impromptu victorious, while Tucker, won version of “This is My the “Small Hat” Competition.

Story.”

Hemi Perry, an African The Tea Party also American, residing in Brooklyn, was adjudged first runner-up in featured, among others, models and renditions the “Small Hat” Competition. by the UVCGB Band.

After revealing “What’s The band, with Under Your Chair”, Elorriane Edinboro native Perry Richards, who hails from Allen as main vocalist, Manchester, Jamaica sang played “Bless the Lord “Amazing Grace.”

Vincentian Edwin McKenzie My Soul” and “You’re a Good, Good Jamaican Venice Golding Father,” among (left) poses after winning the others.

“Song Competition” with In addition, “Silver Bells”.

UVCGB presented bouquets of flowers, in medical supplies,” Irishas tokens of Morris said, adding that by appreciation, to 2018, all 40 clinics in St. Kingstown natives Vincent and the Grenadines had Deidre Ballantyne and Ingrid Bess, for received medical supplies from the group. their voluntary Georgetown-born Randolph service.

Liverpool, UVCGB’s song writer “Deidre and and choreographer, who was on Ingrid have been the group’s last two missions to good to us over the St. Vincent and the Grenadines, years,” UVCGB said he was “really impressed” president Dr. Roxie with the trips.

Irish-Morris, told “We did not have enough to patrons afterwards. give to the people,” he said.

Earlier, Irish“Your presence helps us to Morris said all proceeds go towards achieve our goals.”

Howie Prince, St. Vincent the group’s medical and the Grenadines Consul missions to St. General to the United States, Vincent and the who participated in the “Song Grenadines.

Competition”, lauded UVCGB Besides the for its humanitarian missions. annual Tea Party, “What you do is worth doing,” UVCGB also raises Prince told patrons. funds for its “We commend very highly the missions by hosting work of the United Vincie an annual Cultural Cultural Group of Brooklyn, Concert. It’s first concert was in 2003. because of what they’re doing,” “Since we started, he added. “There’s always room to help others.” we already spent over US$50,000.00

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018. 37.

Message from Christian Coalition

Editor’s Note: The following is a Statement on rape and sexual abuse by the Christian Coalition.

THE CHRISTIAN Coalition St Vincent and the Grenadines expresses concern regarding the recent reports of rape and The man-woman is at the core of how our attitude plays out in public.

sexual abuse.

At a time when the United Nations has identified 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence under the theme “Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands Against Rape”, it is troubling to learn of the several stories that punctuate the life of our Vincentian society. The most recent cases involving police officers are especially of concern, since those accused of being the alleged perpetrators, are persons entrusted with the security of our nation.

We are mindful that the problem of rape is multifaceted and therefore requires responsible discourse as we collectively seek to determine the root causes and mitigate against them. While we encourage the use of available research, the need to particularize the conversation to our Vincentian reality must be underscored. These incidents demand a reiteration of the need

No child should be made to feel this low. for our women to be treated with the dignity and respect deserving of persons made in the image and likeness of God. To do such challenges us to reject occasions where our women are demeaned, objectified and exploited, and encourages us to be bold in our rejection of lyrical content in various artforms of that nature.

We must also be disgusted and bold in our rejection of our “minivan culture” and commercial entities and their representatives using the woman’s body and sexuality to sell products or gain favours.

We are also challenged to consider whether or not the evolution of our society means more of our women are left alone with the era of “walking her home” or “waiting to ensure she gets in safe”, apparently being behind us. We are also challenged to find more and more creative ways and social structures to keep our children safe.

While we continue to encourage our children and women to “break the silence”, the need for preventative approaches is especially pertinent.

Further, we are of the view that the recent events may provide the administration of the SVG Police Force with occasion to review matters such as the entry policy. Is there a need to implement a psychological review entry component? Is there a need for an updated, implemented code of conduct which encourages and creates an environment of greater scrutiny, accountability and responsibility?

Our understanding of womanhood, how the woman is to be treated and celebrated, and how male and female are to function together, is directed by scripture and the dignity and worth with which God created all human beings. The understanding of our bodies as the temples of the living God, and sexual intimacy as reserved for marriage between husband and wife, are parts of a wider value system and world view that provides the platform for us to be the best nation we can ever be.

We are convinced that herein lies a fundamental and practical solution to our challenges and problems — the more we value and seek deliberately to live by a wholesome understanding of God’s Word, the safer our women and children will be.

We encourage the advancing of this conversation, not for blame or personal leverage and mileage, but to contribute to a national discourse in a way that stimulates greater insights into the problem and identifies solutions. Let us work together to protect our women and children, remembering that it is still true “righteousness (right relationship with God and one another) exalts a nation”. We are committed to continue our advocacy for righteousness, strengthening our various educational and counselling ministries, and to partner with various agencies in our efforts to be part of the solution.

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40. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Message from the Association of Evangelical Churches

S IT AMBIGUOUS, or just ironic?

Is it a poison, or is it a tonic?

I

This Season is supposed to be a time of peace; Yet many can’t wait for the day when the craziness cease.

The word Christmas itself is a misnomer.

It’s about the King coming out of an obscure Bethlehem Ephrathah.

The Prophet Isaiah was both a scholarly and colourful writer — he pulled from nearly all the literary genre of his day to tell his message. I don’t think we should be any less studious; since we have a story to tell to the nations.

Here a little...

There a little...

He, the prophet, saw visions; he uttered oracles; he proclaimed blessings; he pronounced judgments.

In one of the oracles (21:1-10) concerning the Babylonian overturn, he says: “I am staggered by what I hear, I am bewildered by what I see.

My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me” (vv. 3-4, NIV).

The mighty Babylon would eventually become a wasteland — a luxurious resort for jackals, owls, and hyenas (13: 20-21). All this is after they would have crushed Judah and carried them into captivity.

In the oracle against Dumah…Seir (synonyms for Edom), the question was like a haunting echo: “Watchman, what is left of the night?” The disconcerting reply comes, “Morning is coming, but so also the night” (21:1112). Most likely implying that the long night of Assyrian oppression is almost over, but only a short “morning” will precede Babylonian domination (Zondervan Footnotes).

How did that happen? The same thing will happen to us if we don’t take stock of ourselves — our values, goals, and priorities — and remember the purpose for what we’re doing, and why we’re here. This is indeed a material world, and we need material things in order to get by living in it. But when we become carried away with possessions, that’s materialism.

“Watch out!” Jesus warned, “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Lu. 12:15).

To understand how we got here, we need, like Isaiah, to take a little from the historical there. Under David’s and Solomon’s leadership, the nation of Israel was united under one kingdom — and they were virtually invincible. The surrounding nations feared and respected them. But when successive leadership, characterized by self-interest, immaturity and a push towards idolatrous practices, the nation split into two fractions — the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

When you take here a little, and there a little, a clear, consistent picture emerges: when these fragmented divisions turned in Repentance to Jehovah God, they were not only victorious and delivered from their enemies, but were Reinstated in their Relationship with their God. Recently, we saw a flash of brilliance in the nation of SVG, when the local church organizations decided to set aside denominational distinctive and speak with a single voice its disapproval of those who want to tamper with the Buggery Laws of the land, thereby opening up a gateway for other immoral practices. It was more than a breath of fresh air. For a brief moment, we got a taste of what it is to come together.

Christ coming to earth was intended, as the angels announced,

“Peace on earth; Good-will to all men.”

We, however, seem to enjoy thriving on division and disunity. Some of us take pleasure in talking about the reasons why we shouldn’t celebrate the Birth of Christ. While a secular world is running crazy with the fictitious Santa Claus. Lighten up; this is joy to the world; the Lord is come!

When a little here, and a little there come together, seeming insignificance can find meaning: Isaiah was to take his oldest son with him, while delivering the prophecy. The alliance will turn on itself, “Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people” (v. 8). It’s all now history: Assyria shattered Ephraim and left only a remnant in Damascus. It was into that chaos, God spoke of giving a sign — there a little.

Now, here a little: the chaos we all seem to constantly create (I wish the church was blameless), God gave the greatest sign. To the prophet then, it meant his second wife (the first presumably died) would be a young virgin, whom he’ll marry and give him a son, whose name will be called “Immanuel.” But the wider fulfillment of his prophecy would mean, Christ Jesus — God with us. That’s what we are celebrating — not the chaos we are creating, but the coming of the One who hails by the Name, “Prince of Peace.” He has come so that, as the carol anthems, “No more let sin and sorrows grow; nor thorns infest the ground.

He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found…”

Be truly blessed this Season, and do have a successful and gloriously fulfilling 2020.

Courtesy: GEORGE R. FREDERICK For on behalf of our President, Dr. Reynold Murray and the Executive Committee of the Association of Evangelical Churches of SVG

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42. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Medical professionals trained to prescribe and dispense cannabis CLOSE TO 100 local medical professionals are now closer to receiving the green right which will allow them to prescribe or dispense medicinal cannabis in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This development follows a series of training sessions which were conducted by the Medicinal Cannabis Authority (MCA).

Participants, including medical doctors, veterinarians, dentists, pharmacists as well as technicians from each specialty, received training in the safe and effective use of medicinal

cannabis, in accordance with international best practices and the laws of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Registration and tracking requirements of the patient access system was also one of the topics on the agenda.

Participants were also appraised of recent developments in the global cannabis industry and proposed anti-drug campaign that will soon be implemented by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The main sections of

the sessions were delivered by overseas consultants with years of experience in the use of cannabis to treat patients with a variety of illnesses. The resource persons were Dr. Hance Clarke, Director of Services at the Pain Research Unit at the Toronto General Hospital (TGH); Dr. Wycliffe Baird, Founder, President and C.E.O. of Cannabis Access Ltd., who has been engaged in the practice and prescribing of cannabis for medical purposes for the past six years; and

Dr. Tricia Reed, Pharmacist, leads her session. (Photo Credit: MCA) Dr. Tricia Reed, Lead Pharmacist at Columbia Care, one of the largest

and most experienced multi-state operators in the American medical cannabis industry.

At the end of each session, participants were awarded Certificates of Training which can be used during the authorization process that will allow them to prescribe or dispense medicinal cannabis to qualifying patients.

According to the MCA’s Technology Officer Dr. Jean Saville

Cummings, “Attendees left with a greater understanding of the use of medicinal cannabis, and an introduction to the patient access system that will be rolled out in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

Dr. Cummings said these sessions form the initial phase of the Authority’s training of local medical practitioners and that similar events will be scheduled in order to incorporate persons who were unable to attend, as Participants who were well as to update involved in the practitioners as global December 8 training session. (Photo Credit: best practices evolve.

(Source: MCA) MCA)

V Thanks, but you must leave!

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. 43.

Opinion

Part One PERMIT ME space to respond to “Concerned Retired Member” who shared some concerns about the SVG Teachers Union in a letter published here on December 06, 2019 under the caption, “Sorry, I must leave”.

Like him/her, I have had some serious problems with the manner in which the SVGTU has been led over the past decade or so. The National Executive, the General Council and the General Membership are all aware of my concerns. I have articulated them at every opportunity and in every forum made available to me by my union. The records will show that, even if they are only in the form of “scrappy minutes and reports” as highlighted

by Concerned Retired Member (CRM).

Among the several concerns that I have raised within recent times, is the collective attitude and activities of so-called members in the ilk of CRM. They form part of a backward cabal who seek only the advancement of their personal interests and desires using the union as their primary vehicle to do so. Imagine, therefore, my relief when CRM claims that for the sake of their health, they “must leave”! I say to them, “Thanks, but you must leave now!”

In the piece, CRM opens with an unjustified and unsupported swipe at the president and the rest of the executive.

They suggest that somehow the president has her team under some kind of spell rendering them “afraid to speak up”. They further sleazily insinuate that the executive members are only in it for the stipend.

The point about it is this, the current executive has been the most productive and successful in the past ten years. For those who, like CRM, are prepared to say otherwise, bring your proof and come.

In paragraph 2, CRM

poses five questions as follows: 1. Are decisions made by the president outside of constituted meetings?

2. Do the president and the general secretary want to have all the say, while the other executive members appear dumb?

3. Have the original staff been relieved of their regular duties, to the point of frustration?

4. Are major financial matters executed without the knowledge of the elected treasurer?

5. Do executive members occupy local hotel rooms during regional conferences hosted in SVG, and the union has to foot the bill?

The simple answer to all of these questions is a resounding NO! There is a paper trail for every decision taken by the union. To the extent that CRM may have been successful in raising some doubts in members’ mind, I urge you to visit the office and scrutinize the reports and minutes.

In fact, CRM is making some groundless, accusations in the form of “questions”. Not only are the accusations groundless some are also libellous. No wonder the missive is published under the inane pseudonym “Concerned retired member”. They lack the gonads to declare their identity, even as they appear to be on a quest to destroy the reputation of an organization for which they claim undying love.

The trend continues in the third paragraph, more lies, more innuendoes. Contrary to what CRM asserts about the stewards, it is this executive that recently revived the Stewards Council; I am the past executive member “who failed to function”, that I am prepared to concede.

However, I am also now one of several advisors working with the membership, at every level, to bring the union back from where leaders in the ilk of CRM were recently taking it.

In that same paragraph, CRM claims that “reports are

presented to general meetings with no financial statements”.

This is a patent lie!

Pertinent financial data have been presented for every meeting that I have attended since this executive took office.

There was an issue in

the most recently held general meeting where the treasurer did not prepare the usual financial report. He had tendered his resignation a few weeks prior to the meeting. The executive in its wisdom commissioned the

auditing firm KDLT to conduct a financial audit.

That work was not complete in time for the meeting. So, in the interim, the executive presented a summary of the financial status of the union pending the completion of the audit

by KDLT. Philbert J. John Member of SVGTU General Council Tuesday 10 December 2019 Tel 593-0405 E-mail mrpeejohn@gmail.com

V „A Christmas Carol‰ 44. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Message from the Commitee for the Development of Women

HE INCREASING INCIDENCE of gun related crimes, sexual violence against children and adults, heart-breaking cries of the sick and elderly persons, are in sharp contrast to the achievements in education and job advancement at home and abroad. There is a search for power, unrest and anxiety pervading the Vincentian population on the one hand, and on the other hand, unbridled merriment as in St. Vincent’s 9-morning Festival, and the competitive Festival of Lights. Such a sharp disconnect speaks to

T

serious imbalances in the society.

As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote in his Christmas Carol“I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, and wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

The poet goes on to speak of the various atrocities that were committed in a time of war “….the cannon thundered in the South” and drowned the carol’s message “Of peace on earth, good-will to men”!

“And in despair I

bowed my head; “There is no peace on earth,” I said; “For hate is strong, And mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men”.

His lyrics apply today as the newspapers and social media report on the vicious nature of man’s injustice to man, where men, women and children are victims and perpetrators of crime..

As a people, we can be tempted not only to give in to despair, but to cast blame, without offering solutions, or seeking opportunities to be the change we wish to see.

Have we contributed to

the behaviour of those young men and women who are misled, by not giving a rebuke or offering compassion and understand at a critical time in their lives?

When we see the pictures of perpetrators in the media, do we see the tortured faces of neglect?

How can we contribute to lifting up those fallen ones? Do the Social Workers make an outreach only when a crime is committed, and the Courts require an Evaluation? Is Adult education focusing only on academics and paying less attention to the compelling life-skills of good social behaviour?

Are the Churches teaching the converts to fish? After collecting the Tithes and Offerings so that they will be meat in the Creator’s House, are they lending a helping hand to their membership in times of adversity? Are we saying to one in need — come again, when we have it at hand?

What has the women’s movement contributed to building a peaceful society? The answer will be much. What has it left undone? The answer will equally be much.

The Beijing Platform for Action identified twelve critical areas of concern

which bear repeating Women and Poverty, Education and training of women, Women and health. ... Violence against women. ...

Women and armed conflict. ... Women and the economy. ...

Women in power and decision-making. ...

Human rights of women. ... Women and Health, Women and the Environment, Women and the media, Institutional Mechanisms, the Girl Child.

There needs to be focus on all areas if the balance is to be achieved.

At one time it was thought that “Women and Armed Conflict” did not apply to us in the Caribbean. However, in the present atmosphere it would seem that some attention needs to be paid to this critical area of concern. How are women coping with their sons who are armed and dangerous, taking lives, wounding, and robbing people of their lives and belongings, and behind prison bars?. How are spouses coping with loss of breadwinner and other family members returned to the earth? Education in all its forms is essential for women and

men to reach gender equality and become leaders of change.

To return to Longfellow’s Christmas Carol, he moved from despair to hope that change will come “Then rang the bells more loud and deep God is NOT dead, nor doth He sleep “The wrong SHALL fail, the right — prevail With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Above all, are we taking responsibility for our actions? Are we willing to practise peace and goodwill to men, to make sacrifices towards the common good? Then, the wrong shall fail — the right prevail — Let This be our Christmas Carol of Hope and Joy, the true meaning of Christmas.

Nelcia Robinson Coordinator Committee for the Development of Women December 18, 2019

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. 45.

News

The event attracted wide participation from the young ones.

A section of the participants in the 2019 5k Sweat organized by WPP and Be Fit Movement.

WPP/Be Fit say thanks WORLD PEDIATRIC PROJECT (WPP) and Be Fit Movement SVG collaborated in a joint effort, and hosted “5k SWEAT: to heal a child”, on November 30th, which was deemed a success. The team is officially expressing a heartfelt thank you to all the sponsors and supporters for their love, contribution and role in making the event successful.

SWEAT to heal a child is one of several fundraising activities organized in “The Every

Child Counts Campaign” which is a local initiative aimed at boosting awareness of WPP and its work, assists in funding the programme and meeting the funding target of $270,000 in two years. From this activity 10% of the target was met. While we still have further to go in achieving our goal, we are thankful, and WPP is extremely grateful to Lindon James and the Be Fit Movement family for contributing their help to every child who needs it,

as all the proceeds raised went directly to the children.

To have a clearer understanding of how your contribution works, approximately 10 children will be able to receive medical intervention because of this endeavour. This Every Child Counts Campaign is about businesses, government and individuals working together as a community,

and to receive such a turnout of love at this time of the year, is a good indication of where we are heading in terms of helping our children and nation. Once again, we express our gratitude for the presence, timeliness and love of all our sponsors and wellwishers.

It should be noted that the purpose of this event is to raise funds to help the needy children, and it was a complete success, thanks to the different institutions, including the media who attended. The work of the WPP and its impact can be followed at www.worldpediatricproje

Lindon James, Founder and Chief Instructor of Be Fit Movement, leads the participants in an exercise session, all part of the 5k Sweat. ct.org and you can call the office at 784 -4512989.

(Submitted by: WPP)

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46. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Police News

SVG Coast Guard gives back Coast Guard representatives handing over one of 25 gift baskets handed out this year.

FOR THE PAST 20 years, the SVG Coast Guard Service has been involved in programmes intended to demonstrate a commitment to giving back to communities throughout SVG. The exercises, according to the Coast Guard, are also aimed at fostering and improving the relationship between the Coast Guard and the community.

One such undertaking is its annual distribution of food baskets to senior citizens in communities in SVG. In 2018, 35 gift baskets were distributed to the elderly in the villages of Clare Valley and Questelles. This year, on December 12, the Coast Guard distributed 25 gift baskets to senior citizens in Spring Village, on the Leeward end of the island.

The Coast Guard, in a release last week, thanked the following for their generous contributions to this year’s gift basket effort: Police Cooperative Credit Union, Vinsure, Sea Operation, Minors Hardware, Global Distributors and Co Ltd, SVG Brewery, SVG Insurance Brokers, Corrugated Containers, Sol EC Ltd, Better Brands Distributors, Wind and Sea Limited, L.G Sales, Select Pasta Enterprise Limited, East Caribbean Metals/Plastic Industries Ltd. and East Caribbean Bottlers Inc.

Police Choir makes Christmas recording ANOTHER first was recorded recently for the Royal SVG Police Force.

While residents have anticipated through the years the Annual Christmas Concerts staged throughout the state by the Band of the RSVGPF, they now have the added Christmas cheer of a recording by the Police Choir, led

by Sgt. Olsen Rodney.

A recording of Olsen Rodney leads the the traditional Royal SVG Police Force Christmas Carol Choir.

‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ was launched during the 2019 Police Carolling Contest, held last Friday, Dec. 13.

The recording features the twenty-person strong choir and, according to indication given last Friday, plans are afoot to do a video production to add to the marketing/promotion of the audio recording.

The recording of the song was done at Carlos Sampson recording studios. Sampson is currently an Assistant Commissioner of Police and a former Police Band Master.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20 , 2019. 51.

Opinion/Agriculture

Farmers, plan for your weeding and removing the love-vine EVERY GOOD farmer knows that prior to the planting of a valuable crop, he needs to do effective weeding. That would necessitate that the appropriate tools are readily available.

So, the wood that serves as handles to his hoe, his axe, and his rake might have to be replaced. He would also have to sharpen his axe, and cutlass which he uses to remove unwanted plants; he will therefore need to file. When the farm has not been productive, not having been attended to for a long period, there will be much work to be done to make it productive again.

In several ways, our beautiful country, Hairouna, the Land of the Blessed, now like an abandoned farm, seems now qualified to be called “the blighted land”.

And why is this so? How did we come to this? When from my vantage point I examine the happenings in our The weeding comes land over the last sixty before the planting. years, I can only conclude that this stagnancy, this crippling malaise has befallen us because of the reckless mismanagement by the persons whom the people elected to manage their affairs.

When we became an independent state in 1979, the banana industry was over twenty-five years old, and had already significantly impacted positively this traditionally agricultural society of ours. Many and varied were the economic endeavours which were embarked on by persons who were then empowered and having become so, because of that weekly banana income.

On reflection, I am bemused how some of our intellectuals had been dismissive of the value of our banana industry, as “a one crop economy”. Their immaturity did not allow them to conceive systems which could have shored up our banana industry when innovative intervention was needed. Obviously not oriented to societal development, they did not take note of the fact, that bananas was a fifty-two week per year economy which richly enhanced the development and stability of the rural communities.

This present crop of administrators oriented in the ULP, will have to take responsibility for the sad state of the economy of SVG today. No questioning that!

They must be told so! It must be remembered, that when James Mitchell and the NDP lost the confidence and trust of the people, Ralph Gonsalves

Promises of rehabilitating the banana cultivation were fast and plentiful.

and his ULP promised that they were going to govern the land in the interest of the people.

They made several pledges, and the people were impressed that they were sincere. Prominent among those promises were: 1. They were going to revitalize the agriculture sector.

2. They were going to aggressively address the repair of Feeder Roads.

3. They were going to repair the schools.

4. They were going to fortify the Banana Industry.

Almost twenty years after those seemingly sincere promises had been made, there has been no evidence, that any serious effort had been made to effect them. On the basis of those promises, the farmers voted the ULP into office in 2001. They stated their intentions then boldly; they were prepared to give the ULP and Gonsalves their vote; they wanted change because agriculture was their life.

But they were fooled, the farmers were fooled, Gonsalves and the ULP have not honoured those promises, and they do so with impunity.

One of the sad realities that has been exposed, is the almost “wutless indifference” of our educated and informed intelligentsia, whom the people had considered to be persons of honour who would have spoken out against injustice. They are now regarded by the people as spineless and un-trustworthy.

Included also are those technocrats who are not prepared to express their considered opinion which would be in the country’s best interest. Too often the desire to have the politicians’ nod of approval for appointment to some perceived “cushy” regional job predominates, so that they reduce themselves to the status of beautiful barnacles which attach themselves to the bottom of the ship, but play no part in determining the course the ship takes.

Despite the fact that after they had had the support of the farming community and been voted into Feeder Roads remained unattended office/ government, and many fell into disrepair. the Gonsalves led ULP made no effort to deliver on the promises they had made to the farmers. So that today, the Feeder Roads are in the worst condition that they have ever been in, the Banana Industry is dead, leaving us a crippled economy which spawns rampant criminality and reduces the quality of health care for the citizens.

Yet, despite the fact that they had made no effort to implement those promises they had made to the farmers in 2001, Gonsalves and his team continued to make promises to address the welfare of the Banana farmers in particular, and the agriculture sector generally.

For example, several years ago, we heard from Mr. Gonsalves that we were at the cusp of an economic take off, yet we are still decidedly “grounded” economically. He is also documented to have said once that on the basis of what they the ULP government had been doing, SVG was soon

Promises, promises by the Minister remain unfulfilled. going to be shipping twelve thousand (12,000) boxes of bananas to the UK weekly. Years after that statement was made by Mr. Gonsalves, we did not ship twelve boxes, not even twelve hands of bananas to the UK. But that did not stop Mr. Gonsalves and his team from the making of promises. They promised during the election season of 2015, that they were going to plant three thousand acres of bananas, and up to now we have not been told why they have not met their target.

I must here document my disappointment with the performance of Mr. Saboto Caesar, the Minister of Agriculture, a man who had his origins in a relatively progressive agricultural community where the people live close to the land which has the potential for the earning of useful income. Mr. Caesar’s place in the ULP’s crippling of the agriculture sector is assured on the strength of that One Hundred Days Plan in 2016 authored by himself and the Chief Agricultural Officer Mr. Ashley Cain, in which 250 acres of new bananas were to have been planted, in the hundred days between April 18-July 26.

That plan had fizzled out within weeks of the publication of its booklet on which was an impressive photo of Mr. Caesar. It would be interesting to hear how much it had cost to prepare the booklet. That money could have been better used!

This is the season in which it has been traditional with us to enjoy our life to the maximum of our potential and resources. The preparation for this season, it would be reasonable to say, begins in the “Harvest Season” which is energetically celebrated in this agriculture oriented society.

It is pertinent to warn the farmers of SVG that even as they celebrate during this season, to bear in mind the urgently necessary task of preparing for an aggressive rehabilitation of the SVG farm during the New Year. This rehabilitation is a responsibility which will fall heavily on the shoulders of the farmers.

This process of weed control must commence early in the New Year to save our country from the malaise and stagnancy which has resulted from our mismanagement. The likely reward will be the fashioning of an aura of hope which will positively impact our younger generations on whose shoulders we are leaving the responsibility to repay our debts, some of which had been recklessly incurred.

The farmers certainly have a big role to play in ensuring that the agonies of the last two decades suffered by this hardworking and generally peace loving people and community, are not continued in the new decade.

So, farmers, remember to deal effectively with the Love Vine!

LeRoy Providence

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20 , 2019. 53.

Children

No haven for the girl reaching out for help.....

I LISTENED to HOT FM last week as they laid out an unbelievable case.

A teenage girl in an abusive situation at home went to the police for help and was molested by a police officer, in turn.

It speaks to the seriousness of the situation in this country, never so harshly made aware as before, of the emasculation, the abuse, the preying on our young children.

Some of these children are models, though, of diplomacy and optimism and success, as highlighted by certain newspapers, in their endeavours as young people particularly in their academic pursuits.

Meanwhile, the hidden side of their lives bespeaks a veritable hell.

Sexual violence and perversion pervade our country, and the outer happenings portrayed by our media and other agencies might be interpreted that IT IS NOT SO BAD. But sweeping a boiling cauldron of woe under the rug is destined for very negative repercussions. Someone needs to sound the alert. Or is it that so many are involved that sounding an alert would be ironic and unfeasible?

Will it be necessary for children to band together and seek help outside of SVG? Guaranteed though: the outer world is listening........

Just as I knew would be the case, there was no mention of the case referenced here anywhere in the media come last Friday.

But questions abound: Is the policeman who betrayed an ultimate trust going to be held accountable? What is the psychological status of the young girl? What does the inaction on this scenario mean for other kids in the same situation?

There is a clear indication that not all is well psychologically with adults in our country. The police officer in question definitely needs to come under mental health review. And what gives me the authority to write this? Experience!! Specifically, a friend who admitted to child sex issues and made a cry for help to me.

Another issue that is held silent and avoided for discussion is the fact that adults are engaged in sexual compulsive behaviour that they may not be

able to control.

However, one can find that the inappropriate response to such a situation would be to ‘Abandon all hope to ye who enter here’, and deliberately encourage and exacerbate the compulsions you feel.

Speak out! Seek help! Or is it that Vincentians have lost their backbone, along with a sense of civic responsibility?

Children won’t see things in quite such a tolerant light; and the laws of the land are on their side! It is now up to the infrastructure as applies, to find

solutions to this scourge of paedophilia and child abuse, by engaging in ‘do the right thing’ actions.

The case under review is close to my heart, though, and I am challenging Police Commissioner Colin John, to address this most troubling case with a response that will ensure that children feel they have a recourse in these situations.

Let’s see how this case pans out over the next two weeks.

Colin King

54. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Help children complete projects they're having difficulty with. Family trips or projects should be on your mind. The key to feeling good about yourself will be to do something about it. There could be disappointment regarding investments.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Don't let your partner goad you into wearing your heart on your sleeve. Raise your self-esteem and your confidence if you want to get back into the mainstream again. Secret love affairs may be enticing; however, you must be prepared for the restraints that will follow.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Be careful disclosing information. Avoid getting trapped in internal disputes. You will find it easy finalizing personal papers if you make an effort. Relationships will form if you get out and do things that you enjoy.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You need some rest. Your obviously unique way of doing things has caught the eye of someone in a higher position.

You should get into some of those creative hobbies that you always said you wanted to do. Try to communicate if you wish to help.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) You may find that purchases or entertainment could be expensive. You must be sure not to be frivolous, because as the saying goes, easy come, easy go.

Someone you work with could try to undermine you. Arguments will flare up if you get backed into an emotional corner.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Delve into worthwhile causes that will show results if you put in the effort. Go out shopping this week. This may not be the day to get involved in risky joint financial ventures. You can make headway in the workforce if you put your mind to it.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Communication must be open, precise, and honest. You will be popular with acquaintances; however, loved ones could feel left out and insecure. You can come up with ways of earning extra cash. Don't turn down offers that include sports activities or children.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Listen to a good friend who is truly looking out for your best interests. You can expect sorrow to evolve from the information you discover. You are best to avoid confrontations. Interaction with colleagues will only be upsetting.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) You must be extremely careful not to let relatives or friends interfere in your personal life. You can look around for the right place and enlist some of your friends to help you move. Your outgoing, aggressive nature will attract someone you've been eager to meet.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Don't overindulge in anyway. Try to be precise in your communications. You need to do something that will make you feel better about yourself. You can expect to have a passionate time if you go out with someone you are romantically interested in.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Take a look at the possibilities of starting a small part time business with friends or relatives. You can clear up important legalities and sign contracts this week.

You need to do something that will make you feel better about yourself. Creative educational pursuits will payoff.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Social events may lead to a romantic interlude. Don't be too quick to judge others. There'll be difficulties if you spend too much. Travel and entertainment will be pleasurable.

ACROSS 1. Did some laps in a pool 5. Beam of sunshine 8. Insignificant 12. Star Turner 13. Intense anger 14. Preacher Roberts 15. Batting statistics 17. Salmon color 18. Copied cats?

19. Tosses out 21. Stood 24. Egyptian tomb 28. Oklahoma city 33. Loud laugh 34. .

36. Gather grain 37. Pound fraction 39. Get back together 41. Charisma or beauty 43. Gentle heat 47. Direction indicator 52. River that forms Indiana’s southern border 53. Despite the fact that 56. Dinner bread 57. Future fish 58. Norway’s capital 59. Like some Easter eggs 60. Verbal joke 61. Those things DOWN 1.Shut violently 2. Hand gesture 3. Resurgently 4. Horse mama 5. Fix (an election) 6. Verb that often follows 25-Down 7. Survey column 8. Pout

9. Guitarist Clapton 10. Passionate speech 11. Deer cousins 16. Singer Levine 20. Fast plane 22. Get free (of) 23. Stinky smells 24. Debate side 25. Common pronoun 26. Managed (a business) 27. Circle segment 29. Large vase 30. Hula necklace 31. Rested awhile 32. Hairy beast 35. Casual shirt 38. Enjoy lunch 40. Provo’s state

42. Opposite of dull 43. Puzzle entry 44. Nautical hail 45. Make angry 46. Gelatin pan 48. Plant anchor 49. Hurry

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. 55.

50. Eye lustily 51. “To _ it may concern….”

54. “Skip to My _” 55. Number opposite four on a clock

V

56. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Time for dialogue Dear George, THE PAST months have been hell for me as far as my 4-year-old marriage is concerned. My husband has been acting strangely since he got back from Jamaica, after a business trip that was longer than usual.

My husband has never cheated on me before; but now, all this has changed. I work nights, and my husband has been bringing woman after woman to our house, during the time I am at work, disrespecting our home and marriage. I asked him about it, and all he said was I should be lucky he is not sleeping out.

George, I am fed up with this man who everybody thinks is a decent and upright man. All that I can think about is doing him something. He should be warned that his days are numbered. Enough is enough!

Last Straw Dear last straw, Forget about taking any action you

will regret.

Your husband has been disrespectful yes, and you deserve better.

However, I am not sure if you tried sitting your husband down to determine where he is in terms of staying married to you.

Something is obviously wrong, and the situation calls for dialogue. If he is unwilling to talk to you, then invite him to go with you to see a therapist.

His response to that suggestion will give you an indication of your future with him.

Meanwhile, it would be wise to get yourself checked our medically, and suspend all sexual relations with him until you get the assurance that all is well, that you are both back on track together, and heading in the same direction.

George

Dealing with my ED would be able to determine whether the LATELY I cannot get an cause of your ED is physical or psychological, erection, and my girlfriend has asked me a and refer you accordingly. few times about it. I You also need to focus gave her the excuse that on your relationship with I have lots on my mind your girlfriend. Her which are affecting me. support would be crucial, I have also been questioned by the women and you should give her I have been messing around with, and they have threatened to let me go if I can’t get my act together.

Dear George, Worse, I am afraid that if my girlfriend MY FRIEND has mocked finds out that I have a my long distance problem, she would leave. She has a healthy relationship with this Bajan woman for exactly sexual appetite, 14 months today. He has sometimes wanting to given me every reason in have sex two to three times a day. Now, I have the book why long distance relationships do to dodge her. not and cannot work.

I have tried all kinds I met this woman of homemade remedies, when she visited St. but to no avail, and I must admit it is not easy Vincent for the first time. It was love at first for me to open up to a stranger (counsellor) that sight. My friend was I have erectile there when we dysfunction. I need to met. Little did I know, know how to handle this my trusted friend has delicate matter. been in touch with her since that day.

Worried It was not until I proposed marriage to Dear Worried, her, that she told me that she has already There could be a been proposed to by my variety of reasons why friend, and they have set any man could the wedding for January experience Erectile 2020.

Dysfunction (ED).

I made her promise The thing is to remain not to tell my friend that open about it, especially she had told me about with your girlfriend and their plan, since I want not with those other to turn up at the women with whom you wedding, not to stop it should cut ties but to terrorize him. He immediately. need to be told that A good start to coming friends do not do such to terms with your terrible acts to friends. situation, is to talk to Do you think it is a your medical doctor. He

Dear George,

the opportunity to demonstrate her love and commitment to you by leveling with her about your condition.

True love always finds a way to get past obstacles such as these. Stay positive.

George

Betrayed!!!!

good idea for me to show up just to make him sweat for a bit?

Hurt feelings, Dear Hurt feelings, The downside of long distance relationships is there are too many gaps in between communication that can contribute negatively to the relationship. Long distance relationships can work, but there needs to be a solid foundation at the very beginning.

Your friend may have done you a favour by taking from you someone who could have been the author of your destruction. Maybe both of them deserve to have each other, who knows?

No need to bother to show up at their wedding ceremony; you are better than that. Both of them have given you clear reasons why you should cut the ties that existed between you and them. Use this opportunity wisely and move on with your life.

George

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018. 57.

News

OECS consortium to purchase RBC Holdings From Backpage.

acquired.

As per the two other the Columbian concern sales referenced, this one known as GNB Financial is subject to regulatory Group Ltd. for US$797 approval and other million, while retaining a customary closing 24.9 per cent interest in conditions, which are the company – which expected to be finalized operates in 16 countries in the coming months. in the region. IBC also recognized a $135-million RBC in SVG after-tax loss on the transaction in its fourth As far as its quarter ended Oct. 31. operations in SVG are concerned, RBC opened a Expanding regional branch here in 1959. It banking sector operated here until it moved to divest its RBC didn’t provide operations in the details about what it will Caribbean, and in 1987 receive from the completed that move purchasing consortium, when it sold to a 50/50 but said the transaction joint venture between will be reflected in first the Neal & Massy Group quarter results for fiscal of Trinidad and Tobago 2020, to be released on and the Royal bank of Feb. 21.

Trinidad and Tobago, to Johnathan Johannes, who RBC had sold it Managing Director, Trinidad and Tobago 1st National Bank St. operation in 1987.

Lucia Limited, The RBC branch in representing the SVG was to become the consortium that is set to first branch of the purchase the RBC Caribbean Banking Eastern Caribbean Corporation (CBC), holdings, was quoted by which went on to set up St. Lucia media as branches in St. Lucia saying: “We formed the and Antigua. consortium for the On 26 March 2008, express purpose of 98.18% of RBTT expanding the scale of Shareholders voted in the locally owned favour of selling back the financial entities in the bank to RBC and so RBC Eastern Caribbean returned to SVG that Currency Union. This year, trading as the transaction gives us the Royal Bank of Trinidad size and scale to play a and Tobago. (Source: more active role in the The Canadian Press, development of our SLOL, Wikipedia) respective countries.

We see this transaction as the first step in achieving even greater synergies, efficiencies and cross-territory marketing opportunities.”

Johannes assured there were no plans for any immediate changes to the operation of the business/branches that will be

V

59. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Vincy Heat eyes Guadeloupe, Haiti Kendale Mercury – Vincy Heat’s Head Coach - is a confident man.

KENDALE MERCURY, Head Coach of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Senior Men’s Football Team (Vincy Heat), is busy plotting strategies to overcome Guadeloupe in March, in a home and away tie in the CONCACAF Nations League.

This, as he sets his eyes further to advancing to the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA. The Vincentians learned their fate last Wednesday, when the draw was made in Miami, USA. Should they beat Guadeloupe in the tie, they will have Haiti in June, as the last hurdle for Gold Cup qualification.

Now that the schedule is clear, Mercury believes, all things being equal, that SVG can overcome Guadeloupe.

“It (Guadeloupe) was not our first choice, but our second choice, but we are still happy as we wanted to avoid Guatemala, which on paper is the strongest team we could have played,” he said.

And Guadeloupe has already begun to occupy the planning.

“We have started our preparations by studying tapes with matches involving Guadeloupe, to get a more in

depth knowledge of how they play,” Mercury noted.

Mercury, though, lamented that he was unsuccessful in getting friendlies with Martinique, which plays a similar style as Guadeloupe.

But, given the support of his players and technical staff, he is confident that SVG will get past Guadeloupe, since “we have looked at them play in the earlier matches of the Nations League and since….. they are playing as they have an established way and we can counteract them … . There are places we have identified where we can hurt them, and we have the players who can hurt them,” Mercury reasoned.

But there is one particular challenge for which Mercury has to make adjustments, i.e. the availability of players.

“We don’t have access to the players like before, as the National Club Championships is in progress, and

some of the players have moved to Antigua and Barbuda, to compete in that country’s semi- professional league there. But, we are working some things out from behind the scenes”, Mercury assured.

And then there are the Haitians.

Mercury proffered that they would be “ “W bit of a challenge” in the next round.

“From what we have seen so far, the Haitians, they are physically strong, the players are really big… . … We realised that they bullied their way through their opponents, so we have to keep that in mind”, Mercury assessed.

And as SVG prepares for Guadeloupe, Barbados will face Guyana, Guatemala takes on Montserrat, and French Guiana meets

Members of the SVG Senior Men’s Football Team congratulating the Vincentian public for their support during their match versus Nicaragua at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, last month.

Bahamas, in the other playoffs in March.

While SVG has Haiti in the next round, the other winners of the March ties will face off against either Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba or Bermuda, to make up the other four available Gold Cup spots.

Already qualified for the Gold Cup are Jamaica, Mexico, Canada, USA, Suriname, Grenada, Curacao, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Martinique and Panama.

GHS tops in KÊtown SchoolsÊ Female Football THE GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL (GHS) ended as the lone unbeaten team in the Kingstown Secondary Schools’ Female Invitational Football Competition, which ended last Friday at the Grammar School Playing Field.

In the final, GHS overcame the Dr JP Eustace Memorial 5-2 to claim the first place trophy and gold medals.

For GHS, Kendra Findlay scored twice, Brielle Compton hit another, and they benefitted two own goals by their opponents.

Both Dr JP Eustace Memorial’s

goals came from Jahmelia Williams.

Taking the third place was the Thomas Saunders Secondary School.

They had a one nil win over the Intermediate High School, in third place off, Ariel Delpesche accounting for the lone goal.

The other competing team was the Bishop’s College Kingstown/ St Joseph’s Convent Kingstown Combined.

The Girls’ High School also took away three of the individual awards: Kendra Findlay for the Top Goal

Girls’ High School- Champions of the Kingstown Secondary Schools’ Female Football Competition.

Scorer with 7 goals; Ann-Jean Roache - Best Goal Keeper, and Davisha Sayers- Best Midfielder.

Shannel Lampkin of the Thomas Saunders Secondary, was adjudged the Best Defender.

Medals were also presented to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of each of the five teams.

The recipients were: Ariel Delpesche- Thomas Saunders Secondary; Jayana Glasgow- Dr JP Eustace Memorial; Julecia EdwardsIntermediate High School, Kendra Findlay- Girls’ High School, and Kyla

Kendra Findlay top goal scorer.

Shannel Lampkin – Best defender.

Gibson- Bishop College Kingstown/ St Joseph’s Convent Kingstown Combined.

The Nine-A-Side Competition, played over a five-day period, was the brainchild of Ian SardineYouth Development Officer of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation.

A pleased Sardine revealed that he chose to host the competition to showcase the talents of the females, who have been training for some time.

He is hopeful that by the next academic year, there will be an island -wide Secondary Schools’ Female Football Second place team- Dr JP Eustace Memorial. Competition.

V

60. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Caswell Lewis gives thanks

CASWELL LEWIS says he has much to thank his involvement in Track and Field for, which he said is serving him in good stead in his career as a member of the British Army.

A middle-distance track athlete, Lewis left these shores for the British Army in early 2018, and immediately had to draw on his experiences in Athletics to see him through.

Currently home on a short vacation, Lewis

told THE VINCENTIAN, of the benefits he derived from his involvement in Track and Field.

“I must say that being involved in Athletics here in St Vincent and the Grenadines has assisted me a lot in many ways, especially in discipline, to wake up every morning , even though you are tired, even though it is cold, even though it is warm, but you still have to do it,” Lewis related.

“It has also helped me mentally, as sometimes although the body is aching, I have to do my tasks as a soldier, the same as an athlete, as sometimes we have to compete in pain,” Lewis added.

He also noted that training as an athlete, especially with weights, has both “physically and mentally helped me.”

Lewis is thankful that he has been able to broaden his perspective

on life in general, and recognizes how the British military set up has contributed in this.

“I want to say that I have become a better person and, as a young adult in my midtwenties, I have grown mentally and better able now to face life’s challenges head on,” Lewis said.

Not relenting on his running, Lewis disclosed that apart from his routine training for his

Grenada out front in WICBC U15 GRENADA leads the pack in the 2019 edition of the WINLOTT INC/WICBC U15 Championship after last weekend round of matches.

The boys from the Spice Isle had played unbeaten in their first four matches, recording two victories over Dominica and one each over St. Lucia and host SVG. Defending champion St Lucia and Dominica Grenada’s U15 played unbeaten in their first four matches. both had two wins from four matches, while host SVG was without a win Rion Mitchell of following four rounds of matches.

Grenada - the Grenada maintained their clean sheet when they defeated Dominica last Saturday by 60 runs, Championship’s only centurion. at Park Hill.

Grenada made 230 for 4 from 50 overs, with The next their leading batsman and the Championship’s only round of century-maker Rion Mitchell getting 82. Justin John hit 50 and Kirsten Murray 41. Jerlain Joseph matches was scheduled for took 2 for 20 bowling for Dominica. earlier this Dominica in reply reached 170 from 38 overs. week, with Stephen Pascal top scored with 43, Al Cameron Burton hit 38. Kano Lewis took 5 for 38 and Justin SVG up against John 3 for 38.

As it stands going into the next round of matches Grenada at which was scheduled for this week, Rion Mitchell of Cumberland, and St Lucia Grenada is the leading runs scorer in the against tournament with 207, including one century.

He is followed by Dominica’s Stephen Pascal with Dominica at Park Hill. The final round, also set for this 178 and St. Lucia’s Khan Elcock with 174 runs. week, pits SVG against Kodi Grant is SVG’s leading runs scorer with 111.

Dominica at Park Hill, and Dominican Jahson Vidal with 13 scalps is the leading wicket taker to date. He is followed by Kani St Lucia against Grenada at Cumberland.

Lewis and Kirt Murray of Grenada on 10 each.

The tournament was expected to end on December 19th.

A Windwards U15 team, to play in the 2020 CWI U15 Tournament in Antigua, is to be selected following the conclusion of this Championship.

I.B.A.ALLEN Kodi Grant – SVG leading batsman to date.

army duties, he does his personal training and sometimes, when time permits, he gets involved in 5K and 10K races.

Lewis is a former student of the Petit Bordel Secondary and the St Vincent Grammar School. He has represented the X- Cel Track Club as well as the IT- DAT Academy, in local and regional Athletics events.

He thanked all the persons who have helped thus far, in guiding his life along a pathway of conforming to societal norms and practices.

Caswell Lewis

Romano Spencer proudly displays his certificates in the company of the Course Director.

Spencer attends coaching course ROMANO SPENCER - SVG National Table Tennis Player and Coach, is better equipped to deal with the all-round development of table tennis players here.

This after his successful completion of the 34th Edition of Training under PAISAC - the International Scholarship Program for African and Caribbean Sport coaches, in Applied Sports Science, up to the Classical level.

According to Spencer, classes were designed to equip the coaches with high level sports science training in all areas of sport, and to enhance the skills of the coaches.

While admitting that the Course was intensive and sometimes overwhelming, Spencer recognized the importance of the programme.

Some topics may have “peaked my interest,” Spencer said, and he explained that this might have been so, “because I see them immediately affecting change in my approach to coaching.”

A total of nine (9) coaches took part in this segment of the PAISAC programme, four for the classical level and five for the advance level. Some parts of the programme overlapped.

I.B.A.ALLEN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. 61.

Sports

Co-ordinator pleased with NextPlay Programme THEON GORDON, Co-ordinator of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Chapter of the CONCACAF NextPlay Programme, is pleased with the

improvements made.

This final NextPlay Programme for primary schools, culminated last Saturday at the Victoria Park, with a Festival involving some of the participating institutions.

According to Gordon, “ We have had several improvements, one of which was the referees, where we were able to tap into personnel from the SVG Community Theon Gordon – Local Co- College, who are not part of ordinator of CONCACAF the Referees’ Association, NextPlay. and that is one of the directions we are trying to go as well, by bringing new talents to the fore and a basic system of having Junior Referees.”

The Co-ordinator also pointed to innovations in the game itself, and the way the game is played.

“A game is no longer played over halves; it is played in quarters, where there is a minute

Champion of NextPlay Festival – Buccament Government.

Roban wins gold at Jamaica Track Meet

VINCENTIAN Handal Roban won the Class One Male 1500m at the Tyser Mills Classic which took place last Saturday at GC Foster College track, in Jamaica.

Competing for Jamaica College, where he is now enrolled, Roban clocked a winning time of 4 minutes 07.32 seconds.

The former Georgetown Secondary and the St Vincent Grammar School student, left for Jamaica this year, after completing his secondary education at the latter institution Handal Roban in June.

Known more for his exploits in the 800m, Roban took bronze in the Under-20 category of the 2019 Junior Carifta Games held in the Cayman Islands.

Last year, in his debut at Carifta in the Bahamas, Roban collected gold in the 800m in the Under-17 age group.

Earlier this year, Roban earned a bronze medal at the North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Under-18 and Under-23 Championships held in Mexico.

break Action in the NextPlay Festival last Saturday at the Victoria Park. between the first Gordon revealed that the local and the second quarters, and between chapter of NextPlay is without a the third and the fourth, with a three- sponsor, as the previous sponsor, minutes break at the end of the second Scotia Bank, no longer has a presence quarter or at half time,” Gordon here in St Vincent and the explained.

Grenadines.

Gordon highlighted also that At last Saturday’s Festival, the “players cannot be substituted during Buccament Government emerged the match, but only at the end of the champions, defeating the Barrouallie quarter”.

Government School in the finala.

This, he said, was to ensure that The Festival featured ten schools, players got a full five minutes on the namely: Barrouallie Government, field.

Bequia Anglican, Brighton Methodist, “We also stipulated that each team Buccament Government, Fitz Hughes must consist of ten players with three Government, Georgetown Government, females of whom one must be on the Kingstown Anglican, Kingstown field and all ten players must be used Preparatory, Lowmans Leeward by the coaches”, Gordon informed.

Anglican, and Richland Park The local NextPlay Co-ordinator Government. noted that the introduction of the NextPlay is an undertaking of retreat line was helpful, in the sense CONCACAF, aimed at using the sport that players were able to bring the ball of Football as a social instrument to from their area without being address and correct behavioural issues pressured by the opponents, who had among students between the ages of 6 to stay beyond the retreat line. and 12 years.

End of year success for Black Sands FIFTEEN Black Sands Swim Squad swimmers took part in the 2019 annual ASATT Invitational Swimming Championships at the Trinidad Aquatic Center, December 11 -14.

This highly competitive swim meet attracted some of the region’s best swimmers from Jamaica, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent and also from the USA. In the Girls 8 Years and Under Category, BSSS’ OECS Champion Eltonique Leonard swam herself to pole position on the medal podium, winning gold in the 50 meter breaststroke, and added 2 silver and 1 bronze to her overall tally.

She finished the meet in the overall third position in her age category.

In the Girls 9-10 Age Group, Zariel Nelson swam herself onto the medal podium winning 2 silver medals.

Abigail Deshong and Jamie Joachim competed well in the Girls 11-12 year age group, Joachim winning 1 gold and 2 silver medals, and Deshong won 1 silver and 2 bronze.

Mya DeFreitas swam to success in the very competitive girls 13-14 year age category, winning 1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals.

Medal winners for the BSSS boys were: Seth Byron - 1 bronze medal in the 9-10 Age Group; and, Eltonte Leonard - 2 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals in the 11-12 Age Group.

BSSS also had success in the relays. In the girls 11-12 Year Age Group, the relay team of Jamie Joachim, Kennice Greene, Zariel Nelson and Abigail Deshong left their opponents trailing in both the 4 x 100 and 4 x 50 meter freestyle relays.

The Boys 15 and Over relay team of Bryson George, Kenale Bronze Medal winners in the Boys Alleyne, Eltonte Leonard and 15 and Over Relay (L-R): Kenale Aaron DeFreitas won a bronze Alleyne, Eltonte Leonard, Bryson medal in the 4 x 50 freestyle George, Aaron DeFreitas.

The winning Girls 4 x 100 and 4 x 50 meter freestyle relay team (L-R) Kennice Greene, Jamie Joachim, Zariel Nelson, Abigail Deshong. relay.

Personal best performances were also achieved by Kyle John, Brandon George and Dariana Des Vignes.

Head Coach of Black Sands Swim Squad Kyle Dougan commented: “These are fantastic results to complete a Eltonique magnificent Leonard (left) 2019 swimming accepts her third year. It has place trophy for taken a lot of the Girls 8 and hard work to Under Category. get to this standard, and we are looking forward to working even harder in 2020.”

V

62. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Everything to play for THE WEST INDIES will look to rekindle the flame that propelled them to victory in the first One Day International in the Indian version of the sub-Asian clash. The home team rebounded to level the series last Wednesday.

Chasing 388 to win, West Indies were in with a chance of sealing the series victory until the loss of two wickets in consecutive deliveries.

They slipped from 192 for 3 to 192 for 5. Worst came with a hattrick which effectively ended the chase.

Some resistance from Keemo Paul and Kherry Pierre salvaged pride, but the writing was on the wall.

Perhaps India wanted it more, for they would not have stomached losing to the West Indies and facing the prospect of a white wash. India lost the first on the basis of Shimron Hetmyer’s 139 off 106 balls.

Despite the ridicule from Indians, shocked by the West Indies intrusion on their turf, manned by their commentators and bloggers, the West Indies earned respect from cricket lovers.

It is all to play for in the final ODI this Sunday.

There is no doubt about the sarcasm the Indian press and their supporters have for West Indies.

They could not cope with West Indians putting their team under scrutiny. Ironically, many West Indians, riled up by whatever vendetta, have become victims of

the onslaught of negative proclamations. It is obvious that the Indians have long memories of the bashing they have been subjected to over the years.

The emphasis on today’s match reports is on what matters to the Indians. The West Indians are given little chances of survival and if it turns out that the West Indies are successful, it is greeted with contempt as if something has gone wrong.

In the first ODI, India was beaten. Those anxious to ridicule the West Indies passed it off as a fluke and attributed it to luck.

When India took the second, they labelled it as skill. Whatever happens on Sunday, there will be continuation of derision for the visitors.

India is going through an identity crisis. They are obsessed with mini issues, so much so that when the are challenged, they react with venom.

Indian captain Virat Kohli may just have served as a promoter of the Kesrick Williams cause for an Indian Premier League contract. If Kohli is as good as he professes, he ought not to demean himself with trying to trivialise Kesrick.

It is a credit to Williams to have gotten so much under Kohli’s skin that there is such a reaction to any encounter between the two.

It has taken a Vincentian to

expose Kohli’s frailties. If they West Indies selectors want to be bold, they will make sure that Williams is part of any line up against Kohli.

The performance of the West Indies is enough to stir their anger.

A response that India doesn’t have to rely on hitting sixes to win matches falls flat when to every cricket follower, sixes send a signal of dominance. It is symbolic that India were happy to contribute winning their second ODI to their six-hitting prowess.

West Indian cricketers need not be preoccupied by the Indian semantics. Cricket is played and won on the field. We have to stick to the basis and make sure that execution is done with accuracy.

Shai Hope made confession when he outlined that the team is playing for the “entire Caribbean,” and everyone who supports. It is intriguing to know that the West Indies engenders support, even in India. It is no surprise that West Indies are viewed with respect in India. There are aspects of social consideration that make the West Indies a favourite anywhere they go. No one questions any one’s loyalty, but there must be reasons why West Indian performances are greeted with such accord.

Referees who were reinstated as FIFA Referees (from left): Kenran Daniel, Moeth Gaymes and Denroy Barker.

Vincentian Referees reinstated THE FIFA REFEREES COMMITTEE has reinstated three Vincentian Officials to the 2020 FIFA International Referees List.

Gaining the FIFA nod of approval were Referee Moeth Gaymes and Assistant Referees Denroy Barker and Kenran Daniel.

In a statement following news of the reappointments, the SVG Football Federation congratulated the three officials and wished them well.

The Federation also had special commendation for Lorson Lewis, Head of the Referees Department, and the Department as a whole, for their ongoing work to ensure that Vincentian officials are considered for the FIFA list every year.

The SVGFF said it was confident that these Officials will continue to work hard towards the development of the sport at home and abroad.

I.B.A.ALLEN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019. 63.

Classifieds

REGINALD DUNBER (Spooky/The General) King - Knights Kingstown Methodist Church Monday16th December 2019 Viewing: 2:00 p.m.

Service: 3:00 p.m.

Interment: Kingstown Cemetery ROCINA ISABEL CAESAR Better Known as Sis Caine Mount Zion Spiritual Baptist Church Barrouallie Sunday, 15th December, 2019 Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p.m.

MR. VIBERT RANDALL 2¶'211(// 0$56+$// Faith Temple, New Montrose Monday, 16th December, 2019 Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Open Tributes: 1:30-2:00 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p.m.

LLOYD MURRAY Apostolic Faith Mission Lowmans Hill Monday, 16th December, 2019 Viewing: 2:00 p.m.

Service: 3:00 p.m.

ELVIE A.K.A AUDREY WILLIAMS

ARNIM PETER WILLIAMS Barrouallie Evangelical Church Sunday, 15th December, 2019 Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p.m.

ANDREW JOHN Faith St Mary Spiritual Baptist Church Spring Village Sunday, 15th December, 2019 Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p.m.

New Testament Church of God Wilson Hill, Kingstown Saturday, 14th December, 2019 Viewing: 11:00 a.m.

Service: 12:00 noon Interment: Spring Village Cemetery

AI REAL ESTATE Ref: H123 The Museum on 18,000 sq.ft.

Historic house near Botanic Gardens.

Appraised at $905,000.00. Owners would pay ALL closing cost.

This deal expires December 31st, 2019.

(784)- 457-2087/(718)-807-4376 office (784)-493-9431/(784)-533-0431 whatsappcell donp@vincysurf.com

FRIDAY,

DECEMBER 20, 2019

VOLUME 113, No.51

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

OECS CONSORTIUM TO PURCHASE RBC HOLDINGS Johnathan Johannes, Managing Director, 1st National Bank St. Lucia Limited, said he was proud that a group of “small islands’ had come together to purchase the RBC holdings.

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA (RBC) has signed a deal to sell its banking operations in the Eastern Caribbean to a consortium of banks based in the OECS. The agreement, according to The Canadian Press/CTV News, was announced by RBC last week Thursday.

The announcement made no mention of financial terms, but the sale is known to include RBC concerns in Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Monserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The acquiring consortium comprises five financial entities: 1st National Bank of St. Lucia, Antigua Commercial Bank Ltd., National Bank of Dominica Ltd., the Bank of Montserrat and Bank of Nevis Ltd.

partially or wholly, their business units in the Caribbean region.

Bank of Nova Scotia announced on Nov. 28, 2018 that it had reached an agreement to sell 100 per cent of its unit in Anguilla, Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, to Republic Bank of Trinidad and Tobago.

That transfer, following regulatory approval, came into effect October 31, 2019, but excluded Bank of Nova Scotia operations in Antigua and

Guyana.

Scotiabank had announced in June 2019 that it had a deal to sell its operations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to Oriental Bank, a subsidiary of OFG Bancorp, which said it would pay $550 million cash and a $10 million deposit premium.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) announced on Nov. 8, 2019 that it had a deal to sell a large portion (66.73%) of its investment in CIBC FirstCaribbean to Continued on Page 57

Canadian banks leave Royal Bank is the third of the Canadian banks that have been operating in the region since the days (early 20th century) of the great rum trade between the then British West Indies and Canada, who have moved to dispense with, Readers will recall that there was a rush in May 2016 to close accounts at RBTT, Kingstown, when the bank announced an EC$25 monthly charge on accounts transactions.

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