THE VINCENTIAN PDF- 23-07-21

FRIDAY, JULY

23, 2021

VOLUME 115, No.29

Jail for G’town guns Page 4

www.thevincentian.com

Friday urges protests Page 5

EC$1.50

Remembering Dr. John Page 15

Tributes to Soso Page 16

Bequia woes Page 28

FIRST ROAD FATALITY FOR 2021 Chavel Cain was the only fatality in last Sunday’s accident along the Mandela Highway.

by KENVILLE HORNE

The Toyota Marino rested on its hood after running off the road.

“THEY WERE RACING and the other vehicle did not

stop after the accident happen.”

This was one of the comments overheard coming from among the number of persons who had gathered at the scene of a vehicular accident, last Sunday, July 18.

The accident, which occurred along the Nelson Mandela

Highway (Leeward Highway) just outside the Windsor Primary school, left the male driver of a Toyota Marino dead, and two females injured and hospitalised.

When this reporter got to the scene, the car was ‘sitting’ on its hood and persons could be seen frantically trying to

remove someone from the vehicle.

A utility pole could be seen bent out of its original position indicatingthat the vehicle might have crashed into it.

Inquires revealed that the persons were trying to remove the driver, which they did, after some effort.

A police transport rushed him to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police confirmed that the dead man as 27-yearold Chavel Cain of Belair and listed him as the first road fatality for 2021. The vehicle, Continue on Page 3.

PEDESTRIAN HIT BY CAR WHILE CROSSING ROAD to call for the ambulance.

Those who had assembled ON WEDNESDAY 21ST lamented the fate of the nurse JULY at around 3:35 in the who laid prone on the ground, afternoon, a female pedestrian having been “knocked off the wearing a nurse’s white crossing” as several persons uniform, was hit by motor reported. vehicle, PP 831, driven by a A particular group was male. quite irate, accusing the The accident occurred on person they identified as the Bay Street between Ace driver of being known for his Hardware and Corea’s Heavy reckless driving.

Hardware.

A seasoned vendor, pedaling A large crowd quickly items on Melville Street, was assembled. Some encircled the downright angry. He told victim while others hastened THE VINCENTIAN, “He alltime speed down here! This is Accident victim readied for his street, every time he does transporting to the hospital. come and speed down here!”

by GLORIAH…

When asked if anyone had ever cautioned him about it, the vendor said, “No. Well he go learn now because he bounce the nurse!”

When questioned if he actually saw what had happened, he said “I see when he lick she back. He come down here and turn and lick she off the crossing.” He reiterated that the accident should provide a good lesson for the driver.

Another onlooker stood quietly but a mark of being upset about her.

Continue on Page 5.

2. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021. 3.

News 3 Vaccination hesitancy: A matter of concern ACCORDING TO A DASHBOARD REPORT released by the Ministry of Health last Monday, 25,506 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered here. Of these, 15,673 are first doses and 9,983 second doses.

And while these national figures do not come close to the expectations of government, of even greater concern is the vaccine hesitancy among staff in the Ministry of Health.

During a call to last Sunday’s WE FM Issue on Hand programme, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Simone Keizer-Beache said, “We are engaging them — doing more sessions with them to try and address their concerns in terms of the hesitancy... we are not seeing the numbers that we would expect to have... in the emergency room, where we only have about two of

10 doctors being vaccinated — that is not safe for anybody.”

Dr. Keizer-Beache disclosed that they are looking at small groups where they can have one on one interaction “to try and address some of these complaints.”

And on the issue of adverse reaction to the vaccine, the CMO reported zero incidents/reports of any such reactions, especially clots.

She insisted, “We haven’t had any deaths associated with the vaccine, as in direct cause of death,” and in response to a social media post that cited four deaths after persons were vaccinated, she said, “Upon investigation, the Ministry of Health can now say that those claims were false and that this country still stands at twelve COVID-19 deaths.”

No COVID-19 variants in SVG

As for the concern about COVID-19 variants in SVG, the CMO stated emphatically on Sunday, that there was no evidence of any COVID-19 variants in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

She supported that by sharing that, “we are constantly sending [samples] to CARPHA and, as you know, we test here.”

She repeated that the latest reports have shown that “we still don’t have any variants of concern.”

The New York Times has advised that the variants about which the Caribbean and the Americas There is no want of vaccines here and the PM has alluded to 50,000 doses of the Sputnik should be concerned are: Vaccine having already arrived here. (See story Alpha — which emerged in Britain and is now dominant on 13) in the USA; Beta — which emerged and remains prevalent in emerged in South Africa; Gamma — India. first appeared in Brazil; and Delta —

First road fatality for 2021

Health and Tourism personnel are working diligently to prepare for the return of cruise ship visitors.

Getting ready for the cruise ships THE CRUISE INDUSTRY is set to resume with some level of normalcy and local health officials are said to be working on protocols in anticipation of the arrival of cruise liners and passengers to Port Kingstown.

Dr Simone KeizerBeache, Chief Medical Officer confirmed this while speaking on radio on July 19.

“The emphasis is on vaccinated passengers and just as they are looking at vaccinated passengers, you have to look at the persons who

will greet and meet those persons,” Keizer-Beache explained.

According to the CMO, that means that persons offering products for sale to those visitors will have to make up their mind to get vaccinated.

“That is the sort of bubble which extends from the cruise ship on land,” she said.

For persons who cannot take the vaccine, they will be subjected to tests Keizer-Beache further noted.

Efforts towards readying all stakeholders for the return of the

Continued from Frontpage.PM214, a blue Toyota Marino, is said to be owned by Jerome Cain also of Belair.

Police also disclosed that the vehicle was travelling in the direction of Kingstown when the driver lost control and ran off the road.

The condition of the two females was unknown up to press time.

In the last month or so, there have been at least three vehicular accidents — last Sunday’s inclusive — along the stretch of the Leeward Highway between the two entrances

to the Botanical Gardens.

In related news, reports reaching THE VINCENTIAN said that a BRAGSA water truck overturned in the Rabacca area on Wednesday.

While photographs indicated extensive damage to the vehicles, THE VINCENTIAN can confirm that no one received any major injuries.

Those concerned were taken to the Modern Medical and Diagnostic Centre, Georgetown, where they were treated and discharged.

cruise ship have already been mounted.

Health officials met with taxi drivers a few weeks ago, and although the CMO said that the turn out was disappointing, the plan was to continue with the interactions in order to encourage them to become fully vaccinated, as the numbers of taxi operators presently vaccinated was not satisfactory, especially as it related to taxi operators assigned to the Argyle International Airport. (DD) The BRAGSA water truck lay on its side.

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4. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Youth jailed in firearms disappearance Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS Photos courtesy: Kenton Chance AVI KING, one of four men, including a police officer, slapped with multiple charges in connection with the disappearance of guns and ammunition from the armory of the Georgetown Police Station, will serve two years and eight months behind bars after being handed a series of sentences to run concurrently.

The 26-year-old Diamond/Villa resident received that sentence for possession of an M-4 rifle, serial number W877775, which is categorized as a prohibited weapon.

Such weapons are used mainly in the military, and members of the public are not allowed to have them.

Firearms expert, Station Sergeant Maxian Richardson of the Special Services Unit (SSU), told the Court that the gun had a maximum firing range of 2,652 meters and an effective range of 460 meters which can cause serious damage. He estimated the maximum firing range as the distance from the Serious Offences Court building at Pauls’ Avenue to the sea on Lower Bay Street, Kingstown. It can be fired semi-automatically and automatically.

King was also sentenced to two years on each of two charges for possessing two .22 glock pistols, without licenses, and eight months on each charge of selling those glocks, without have a firearms dealer’s license.

King also received, a 2-year sentence for possession of 305 rounds of ammunition, and eight months for sale of 15 rounds of ammunition without licenses.

That ammunition was contained in a magazine.

He was also sentenced to two years for entering the Georgetown Police Station with intent to commit an offence.

The Magistrate ordered forfeiture of $3,200 with which King was found. He was charged with possession of the money, knowing or believing, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, represents the proceeds of criminal conduct.

King was also charged with possession of another glock, which was not recovered, but Prosecutor Renrick Cato withdrew that charge.

The offences reportedly occurred in Diamond village and Kingstown in June 2021, on various dates.

All the sentences handed down by Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne at the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday, are to run concurrently.

King pleaded guilty to the charges when he initially appeared at the Serious Offences Court on June 21, but sentencing was adjourned.

Zackrie Latham, 25, of Diamonds Village who was a police constable attached to the Georgetown Police Station up to the time of his arrest, Meshack Dublin, 26, also of Diamonds Village, and Myron Samuel, 28, of Layou have also been slapped with multiple charges in connection with the incident,

Myron Samuel, Nationally acclaimed footballer also awaits his day in court.

Zackrie Latham, (left) and Meshack Dublin await their day in court.

was the father of three children and is expecting more babies by January. King’s father was expecting surgery on Wednesday, and his mother but their matters, to was unemployed. She noted that he was employed which they have pleaded in the electrical field, but he like many others, was not guilty, and were affected by the fall out, as a result of the economic granted bail, have been situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic, but transferred to the Colonaire Magistrate’s Court. when he was working provided and assist the less Before handing down the penalties on King, the fortunate.

Chief Magistrate lauded his attorney Nakita According to the lawyer, King was the main Charles for her sterling mitigation plea, as well as provider for his child and girlfriend, who is also the response from prosecutor Renrick Cato. She unemployed. described both presentations as concisely and “His economic circumstance frustrated him, and substantively put. caused him not to think of all the consequences. He “Had it not been for the sterling and strenuous connected his mind solely to what there is to be mitigation plea on your behalf sentencing would gained if the venture was successful”, Charles said. have been different”, she told King. She added that But she added that when he was faced with the if the matter had gone through a full trial, the reality, he sought to correct what wrong he had offender could have ended up with a sentencing done. She asked the Court to impose a non-custodial ranging from four years upwards. sentence.

She noted that possession of a prohibited firearm In response, Prosecutor Cato declared, “Firearm carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison in offences have gone sky high. When not in the Magistrate’s Court, while possession of a possession, is the use, and the Court has a duty to firearm or ammunition without a license, and protect the law abiding”. carries a maximum penalty of seven years in the He highlighted that one of the charges was same Court. possession of a prohibited weapon, and referred to Brown agreed that King played a significant role the evidence of the firearms expert, who highlighted in the recovery of these weapons before any harm the range and effectiveness of that gun. was done, but said she also had to take into account Cato also stressed that the weapon could be fired the seriousness and consequences of firearm related semi-automatically, as well as automatically and offences, and the fact that that a police station was that King was also charged with possession of 305 involved. rounds of ammunition. He asked the Court to She commended King for his full cooperation with impose a sentence that will reflect the seriousness of the police. He had not previous convictions, and the crime. benefitted from one-third reduction in sentence A June 4 release from the Police Force had because of his guilty plea. indicated that the Major Crime Unit (MCU) has The Magistrate agreed with King’s lawyer that been ordered to investigate the incident, in which an when the youngster became aware of the undisclosed number of guns and ammunition had consequences, he sought to correct what wrong he gone missing from the Georgetown Police Station. had done. She told him, “You are still young. We all And on June 21, the police, in a follow release fall short, but what is important is for us to pick up disclosed that the four men had been arrested and after we fall short. charged. (More Court Stories on Page 20) In mitigation, his lawyer told the Court that King Avi King may have benefitted from a reduced sentence because of his early guilty plea.

On July 19 he went to Union Island and picked up one Joel Barker, who boarded the boat with bags and buckets, and they left for Canouan AFTER THE BOAT on which he was The sentences are to run pistol, was made in Serbia, has a where Parsons boarded the boat along travelling developed mechanical concurrently. magazine capacity of 30 rounds, and with another person who asked for a problems, Winston Parsons found “Guns are dangerous weapons. They was in good working conditions. ride. They left for mainland St. himself in more hot water when law take lives, they ruin families. Stay Caine said the weapon was semiVincent but the boat developed enforcers found him in possession of a away from these types of offences. automatic, and estimated a maximum mechanical problems, and had to be prohibited gun and 67 rounds of There are not benefits to be derived firing range as the distance from the towed to Mustique. It was on their ammunition, after the boat was towed from picking up guns or walking Serious Offences Court building to arrival in Mustique that law officers into Mustique. around with them,” Chief Magistrate beyond the sea walls on Lower Bay conducted a search of the boat And things became even hotter for Rechanne warned Parsons after Street. He said that with a full 30 revealing the gun and ammunition the 32-year-old Penniston resident on handed down the penalties. round magazine, the gun could create contained in a bag.

Wednesday when he appeared at the Parsons pleaded guilty to both a lot of damage.

“These are serious offences and the Serious Offences Court. He was charges and told the Court he found In presenting the facts earlier, crafters of the law have put certain sentenced to four years and nine the bag with the gun and ammunition Prosecutor Renrick Cato told the Court things in place because they are months for possession of the prohibited in Canouan. that on July 17, Parsons contacted the serious offences. A gun is not a gun, a 5.56 mm firearm. He was also Ballistics expert, Station Sergeant owner of a speed boat, operated as a walking stick,” the Chief Magistrate sentenced to 15 months imprisonment Julian Caine, a Special Branch Officer, water taxi, to pick him up in Canouan, told the father of three. for possession of 67 rounds of had told the Court earlier that the and on July 18, the boat owner went to ammunition. firearm, usually referred to as the AK Canouan and overnighted.

Continued on Page 20.

AK pistol lands man in jail

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021. 5.

Politics

Dr. Friday urges more protest Francis scoffs “We are going to be on the streets on the 29th (Meeting of Parliament). I want the people throughout this country to understand that!”

That’s the word from President of the New Democratic Party NDP, Dr. Godwin Friday as he spoke on last Tuesday’s New Times programme, aired on Nice Radio.

As far as he was concerned, things have not changed since the last protests and even as he thanked those who came out, the Opposition Leader urged them to return to the street.

“Come with your strength, your voice, your courage your determination… your determination to not be intimidated. …… Stand up for the things that you believe in for this country!” Dr. Friday beckoned.

He assured that the New Democratic Party will lead the protest action because they believe that the actions taking place in the country, demonstrate in very real, strong and vigorous ways that the operations in the country are unsatisfactory.

On that note, Dr. Friday referenced what he said was the poverty in the country, a result of the poor economic policies implemented by the government.

He refrained, “You

can’t run a country just by going around and begging. Grants and aid money are critically important to poor developing countries just like St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but you have to also generate economic activity to help businesses succeed, to give people a chance to gain employment and good paying jobs.”

He cited the Ottley Hall Marina and Dr. Godwin Friday (centre) promises to lead the protest next week Thursday Shipyard as a potential and Senator Julian Francis (Inset) will be watching to see if ‘he grows the source of major crowd’. employment …… but the ruling government didn’t He said that Dr. Francis reasoned, that give the assurance that want it to succeed here were several the government was Friday also wanted to because it was an NDP national setbacks which concentrating on leading grow the “little crowd he project. caused the politics to the country through all has outside into suffer, but he sought to the disasters. (SG) something,” so he will be Julian - Don’t Protest watching (on the 29th Dr. Friday’s comments July) to see what the did not escape the ears of crowd will be like.

The longest serving the ruling Unity Labour Senator in this country Party.

Its General Secretary, Parliament claimed there was confusion in the Julian Francis, on his regular Tuesday evening NDP camp, with many believing that the ‘tail radio programme on STAR FM, scoffed at Dr. was wagging the dog’; Friday calling the people that Dr. Friday was not strong enough to carry out to protest.

Francis described Dr. the position of the NDP Friday as “dubious” as he and that he was claimed to be protesting embarrassed by the loss in the November 2020 against Senator Ashelle general elections.

Morgan but then called Francis was adamant for fresh elections. that he knew what Ashelle Morgan, caused the “fall off” in Francis said, was no votes for the ULP in the longer important to the NDP, and he posited that 2020 general elections, but those findings were fresh elections was now not things to talk on air. the NDP’s agenda.

It was unfortunate,

Pedestrian hit by car while crossing road Continued from Frontpage.

When asked about her countenance, she told THE VINCENTIAN that she knew the driver from Largo Height.

She explained that her boyfriend is from Largo Height and that same guy had almost knocked her down while she was crossing the road in that community. In further disgust, she explained that it was the norm in Largo Height for persons to dash out of the road whenever that particular driver was approaching.

Luckily, it did not take long for the ambulance to arrive. The nurse was quickly and carefully strapped in on a gurney and put into the vehicle for transport to the hospital.

A pedestrian ably cleared the space

The driver of PP 831 disembarking the vehicle after the accident occurred. for the ambulance to make its departure, even as the police made their markings around the car and spoke with the driver.

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6. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Media Release

BACOL hosts media conference on the status of the legal action filed at the CCJ to compensate British American policyholders

For Immediate Dissemination St. George, Grenada.

July 21st, 2021.

MONTSERRAT Kharl Markham P.O. Box 1 100 Banks Estate Banks Montserrat Tel: (664) 491-2498 / 2848 Email: kmarkham@allenmarkham.com

BRITISH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED and Colonial Life Insurance Company Limited Policy Holders Group (BACOL) will host a virtual Media Conference on Monday, July 26th, 2021, to inform the Caribbean and international media (and by extension, their readers, listeners and viewers at home and in the Diaspora) of the status of the legal action filed at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on July 13th, 2021, in pursuit of fair and equitable compensation for British American Insurance Company policyholders and beneficiaries in seven OECS countries.

ST. KITTS AND NEVIS Larkland Richards Larkland M. Richards & Associates

The filing of the lawsuit is the culmination of years of painstaking work and a long journey that began with the formation of BACOL in 2015, after it emerged that British American policyholders in the OECS would not be offered compensation on par • ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, ST. LUCIA, with that awarded to policyholders from other MONTSERRAT - July 29th, 2021 CARICOM nations, following the 2009 collapse of Zoom Link: the insurance company. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86225878460?pwd=RH BYZ3ZtR2RrTTQ0bmVXcCtQLzRNUT09 The Media Conference will be addressed by Meeting ID: 862 2587 8460 BACOL President, Dr. Patrick Antoine, and the Passcode: 110568 legal team, headed by Mr. Simon Davenport, Q.C. • UNITED KINGDOM AND THE DIASPORA Media houses are invited to join the Media - July 30th, 2021 Conference on the Zoom meeting platform at the Zoom Link: following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83353272119?pwd=T2 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83273743441?pwd=c2 RYajhHKzlhUDRhelQ1TXlqYk9LZz09 N0MWFwZ0FKSHN2WDNFUGw3dHNzUT09 Meeting ID: 833 5327 2119 Meeting ID: 832 7374 3441 Passcode: 875007 Passcode: 678534 Since its formation, BACOL has held consultations with aggrieved policyholders throughout the OECS, to apprise them of their rights, and to invite them to become members of BACOL, the only legally viable option to obtain fair compensation. It should be noted that currently, the only other offer of compensation from the appointed judicial managers, is for 30 cents on the dollar.

BACOL, through the CCJ and on behalf of its members, is seeking full compensation plus interest for 10 years.

BACOL will hold a series of online town hall meetings to apprise policyholders of the lawsuit and answer questions, as per the schedule below: •

GRENADA - July 27th, 2021, 6:30 p.m.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81067430477?pwd=WT ZMbnNtcFNPRmNyTUxLM2VRU2x6dz09 Meeting ID: 810 6743 0477 Passcode: 56628 •

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, ST. KITTS AND NEVIS, DOMINICA - July 28th, 2021, 6:30 p.m.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88618532438?pwd=WH VtZHFXK1pQdnB4N21EVnJjcEZxQT09 Meeting ID: 886 1853 2438 Passcode: 381583

Unit C15 The Sands Complex George Street, Basseterre, St. Kitts Tel: +1 869 465 3696.

Fax: +1 869 466 3043 Email: lmrichards@sisterisles.kn NEVIS Box 807 Main Street, Charlestown, Nevis Tel: +1 869 469 4696 Fax: +1 869 469 4697 ST. LUCIA

Case Managers The following Case Managers are authorised to register Policyholders of British American Insurance Company Limited to participate as litigants in the BACOL legal action before the Caribbean Court of Justice: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

Stacy Roach-Richards Richards & Company The legal action filed by BACOL at the CCJ Victoria Chambers represents Policyholders of British American The Colony House Insurance Company Limited from Antigua and 41 Nevis Street Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts St. John’s and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Antigua Grenadines.

Antigua & Barbuda Tel: (268) 562-1705 Registration of policyholders wishing to join the kmarks@antigualaw.com class action is already underway, through a network sroach@antigualaw.com of Case Managers located in every participating country.

DOMINICA

Next Actions – Online Town Hall Meetings

ST. KITTS

Heather Felix-Evans/ Jeffrey Douglas-Murdock Optimum Legal Attorneys-at-Law & Notaries Public VeRu's House 54 Hillsborough Street P.O. Box 1595 Roseau Dominica (767) 440-0816 / 6901 E-mail: felixevans@optimumlegal.dm attorney.@optimumlegal.dm GRENADA Paula Phillip #7 Lucas Street PO Box 1091 St George Grenada Tel: 1 473 404 2226 Email: admin@bacol.info

Dr. Kenny Anthony Anthony and Antoine Chambers Maurice Mason Avenue Sans Souci Castries St. Lucia Tel: 1 758 285 2263 1 758 518 1000 Email: aachambersslu@gmail.com ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Kay Bacchus-Baptiste White Chapel Kingstown Tel: (784) 457-1828 / (784) 528-8903 E-mail: kayrab2121@gmail.com Stephen Huggins Corner Middle & Bonadie Streets Kingstown Tel: (784) 456-1687 E-mail: saunders.huggins@gmail.com Louise Mitchell LMJ Chambers Upstairs BDO (Opposite Church of Christ) Kingstown Park Kingstown St Vincent and The Grenadines Tel: (784) 453-1722/1 (784) 494-1001 E-mail: mitchelljosephchambers@gmail.com

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021. 7.

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8. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Editorial

Managing ourselves HOW MANY OF US BELIEVE that Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has taken on too much responsibility as it relates to planning and directing what is the best for this country?

If the truth be told, we have to admit that no matter how good his intentions, no man is an island.

Despite their best efforts, Prime Minister Gonsalves and others before him, in the face of challenges occasioned by natural disasters and our vulnerability to external, global shocks, have struggled to position our country on a clear path to sustainable economic growth,.

Neither have Dr. Gonsalves and his predecessors been able to guarantee safe communities and attend with any exactness and consistency to simple things like traffic management and ongoing road repair and restoration.

For this country to realise its maximum potential, every ablebodied citizen should be allowed, encouraged and supported to participate in the process of national growth and development.

One structure, not foreign to our history and allows maximum participation by citizens, is a local government structure that allows the people in the communities to manage themselves.

That is a proven fact in every developed country in the world, yet our leaders and aspiring leaders fall miserably short of embracing this. What do they fear?

In supporting local government, we align with Mr. LeRoy Providence, a regular contributor to our opinion pages, who has made it his mission to remind all of us about the effectiveness of this structure, based on his own experience of having lived and worked during the period when local government was an integral part of our national management structure and process.

Few would argue against local government being a crucial aspect of the process of democratization and intensification of mass participation in the decisionmaking process. Can we truly say that our political system is complete and democratic if it does not have a system of local

government?

Local government serves a twofold purpose: the administrative purpose of supplying goods and services; and to represent and involve citizens in determining specific local public needs and how these local needs can be met.

Seen in its real sense, local representative government connects representation and administration at national level with the local levels.

And yes, we understand that local government is that part of the whole government of a nation or state which is administered by authorities subordinate to the state authority, but elected independently of control by the state authority.

Now, more than ever, as we move to rebuild after a devastating volcanic eruption and a recent hurricane, we can see the effectiveness of a local government structure in ensuring equity in the distribution of materials and supervision of contracts, etc.

In simply language, local government will return the post office to its role as a place for “penny bank” savings. We would once again report to the Warden’s Office to make our payment of property taxes, liquor licences and other government services. The Community Centre, not a Learning Resource Centre, will re-emerge to encourage cultural activities and other presentations.

Physical works — road and drain repairs/maintenance/cleaning will return as a responsibility of the local government structure, i.e. effectively the community.

Structures and programmes will be put in place so that the community becomes once again the breeding ground for sportsmen and sportswomen, and the community will be made to contribute to caring for playing fields and other sport facilities.

And if this country is to ensure that it faces up to the challenges of corruption, wastage, poor planning, crime and a lack of vision for a sustainable tomorrow, we need to change the governance structure.

Local government reform must be integral if not the nucleus for this change.

August Monday is no more (First published in THE VINCENTIAN August 02, 2002) UNTIL NOW, we have celebrated Emancipation Day on the first Monday in August, partly so that we can make use of the preceding Sunday and enjoy an extended weekend holiday.

The ULP on the other hand, in its programme of manufacturing “Historic” occasions, had ordered that we switch the holiday to the 1st of August, the original date on which slavery had been abolished in 1834.

But a case could equally be made out that emancipation was granted on the first Sunday in the month of August in 1834, with a public holiday naturally following on the Monday.

Carnival, which once took place immediately before the Lenten season, now has a date in mid-July, but the Monday-Tuesday climactic scenario has been preserved for socio-economic reasons.

Similarly, in this plural State, mainland workers in the Grenadines in particular need the extra weekend day to earn a brief respite home. This has now been denied for no compelling reason. It is simply a fetish favoured by the ruling party which wishes to create the impression of a serious concern with historic-cultural matters.

The unvarnished truth remains, however, that few people celebrate Emancipation Day appropriately. It is simply a time for fun and games and excursions. Indeed, as late as 1998, the date slipped by like nobody’s business.

True, the ULP claims that it needs first to zero in on the proper date to lay the basis for appropriate celebrations.

But we could have killed two birds with one stone, simply by choosing the first Sunday in August, as happened in 1834, and permit the holiday to fall on the following working day!

In any event, one cannot just press a button to summon nationalistic feelings and put in an order for the correct celebratory mood. We have supped full of these instant liberations, like instant coffee that stimulates momentarily without leaving an afterglow or lingering effect.

It calls for hard slogging in the field of broad education, not the slap-dash, quickfix which Ralph and Rene think they could pull off with Michael Peters, Lennox Bowman and Cecil Ryan at the controls.

Depth is the name of the game, not a skimming of the surface of things: studied reflection and deep thought, not

flash and colour and music, bearing in mind Shake Keane’s observation that they who like to jump up only develop their feet.

In this context, I take a leaf out of PM “Son” Mitchell’s book in daring to make a blast or two on my own trumpet.

My first article written on Emancipation appeared in “Flambeau” in 1965 under the title “Footnotes on Slavery”. This pioneering effort appears in the booklist of black studies in U.S Colleges down to this day.

I followed up in “This Week” with some pointed references to the Plantation mould which churned out a people sculptured in the distorted image of their Masters, Black effigies of White Colonialism.

The titles of a representative sample of the articles are indicative of their content, slant and concerns.

“Emancipation: Looking Back (1988); “Abolition and Mental Emancipation”(1993); “Some Trademarks of Slavery (1994”; and significantly, “Emancipation Day Ignored (1998)”.

Still, one has to be grateful for small mercies. After all, current Prime Minster Ralph Gonsalves of Portuguese extraction on two counts, can hardly be expected to identify with the Black cause which is a pre-condition to understanding slavery, its aftermath and the likely remedies.

Sympathy from on high, we can be assured of, but never empathy by the very nature of the situation.

Participation, patronage and paternalism are guaranteed, but never real involvement or true identification!

1st August may experience difficulty in establishing its credentials in the popular conscientiousness, but we wish it safe passage all the same, in the national interest.

Indeed, we are twice blessed in this year 2016. It is a time when Black people are seriously questioning our apparent demotion to a white value-system, just at the moment when Abolition Day falls on August Monday thus recapturing the spirit of emancipation which so far, has failed to deliver on her promises: flattered only to deceive.

There has been too much rhetoric.

This Emancipation Monday, August 1, let all our people in their several ways highlight our grievances and hope in generally “Walking the Talk.”

And the many who wish for some relaxation and fun might betake themselves to the NDP celebration of Daniel Cummings at Bottom Town, at the main entrance to the Victoria Park.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021. 9.

Letters

Police Force: More than one bad apple MR. EDITOR, how many of your readers know that the Royal SVG Police Force has its own website? How many of you who know about the website, know that it can be used “to interact and share information and ideas” with the Police Force?

How many of you who know that, have used it for that purpose?

I want to believe that not many persons know about, nor far less have used this website. I have found it useful because it gives news about the Police Force … about arrests and others developments in the Force — but I have not

used it as a means to get my feelings over to the Top Brass of the Police Force.

Perhaps it is time that I use it to remind the local constabulary that they are to serve and protect, with courtesy, integrity and respect for the rights of all persons.

Perhaps I will use it to tell the Commissioner that one bad apple can spoil the whole basket, and that that bad apple is usually one who creates problems with civilians not realizing that his/her bad behaviour can impact negatively on the entire Force, and turn people

away from co-operating.

Our situation, Mr. Commissioner, could be a case of lots more than one bad apple.

I will not comment on what occurred between the police and the protestors recently, but I want to draw attention to the manner in which police generally approach civilians. To say the least, they are not very civil and this often results in a similar reaction from the civilians.

I know, for example, that mini bus drivers can be uncouth in their reactions to a police officer stopping them,

but one must not fight fire with fire. The power of the police lies in applying the law, not force, though it is understood that certain incidents might warrant force. The bottom line is that the greatest weapon of the police is the law not the gun.

And that is another thing, Mr. Editor. Have you noticed how police officers show off their guns in public and brandish them for the smallest difficulty they encounter? I recall, Mr. Editor, you saying to me once that when Dr. Eric Williams armed the police force during the

Black Power demonstrations in Trinidad in 1970, when he tried to disarm them he couldn’t. How Trinidad has developed since that we can all see from the reports coming out of that country.

Perhaps the Commissioner of Police can speak to his subordinates about this display of guns even especially in rather simple cases.

All in all, the recent complaints about the Police Force brings the whole operation of the Force into question, The quicker, as Horatio said in his piece

Those uncivil Consult with the teachers omnibus drivers FIRST it was a teacher stating the fact that our children are not reading according to their ages, and I concluded that what that teacher was saying is that we don’t seem to care; that we are only concerned with shoving the children through the system.

Then last week, on your back page, there was that clash between the Teachers Union and the Ministry of Education about the Diagnostic Tests.

According to the Union head, it was unfair to have all children do the same tests as they were at different stages as far as their instructions were concerned. And then there was disagreement about the purpose of those test.

To me, Mr. Editor, in my humble opinion, these so-called education officials need to consult more with the teachers.

After all, it is the teacher who spends the most time with the students

IT IS MY OPINION that we have bent backwards to accommodate our omnibus operators. It is important that we address their concerns because in the absence of a National Transport Service, they provide a vital service to the nation. I will be the first to agree that the country could well be brought to its knees if these buses were to withdraw their service for an extended period of time.

That said I am disheartened by the behaviour of some of omnibus men. And it seems with all that the Traffic Department of our Police Force claims it is doing, whatever it is doing has had little or no impact on curbing the unruly behaviour of a lot of the omnibus drivers, who continue with their lawlessness and anarchy on our roads. Over time, as I see it, the behaviour of a lot of omnibus drivers has got progressively worse.

Successive governments have either lacked the will or creativity to change the culture of UNFORGIVENESS and life there would be hurts recklessness that prevails over the omnibus service hatred are among the and disappointments, in this country. It is as though the authorities are most prevalent wrongs in even rejections. And saying to the commuting public, “Get accustomed to our society. Yet, we many times this can lead it or walk!” hardly talk about them. to unforgiveness and I don’t want this society of ours to descend to a Yes, we know that in hatred, and when we fail practice of always having to resort to punitive measures to address a problem, especially one like THE COLLABORATIVE efforts of 2020 and having fallen in love with the this, but there have (attorneys) Jomo Thomas and Maia island my desire was to apply for got to be some Eustace enabled me to get the results residency and a work permit. measures that the The end goal was to live in SVG, that were achieved in the High Court Government can open bakeries and hire ex-convicts on Tuesday (July 20). introduce that will As an attorney myself, I understand which is a dream I will take to other encourage omnibus shores and countries. that there are always multiple drivers into adopting obligations often at the same time.

The beaches, great weather, fresh some semblance of Thomas and Eustace sacrificed their fruit and vegetables are all things that civility on our roads.

I cannot get in the UK and are the time from other cases to provide me It is time for a much needed legal assistance for which reasons why I dreamed of making a life change of behaviour here.

I am grateful. and a change of My faith as a Christian gives me the When I arrived to SVG on August culture. Some of us ability to forgive, remain positive and 20th 2020; celebrating my birthday on have had enough of focus on the future that lies ahead of August 27th; and travelling between the incivility, me. the various islands giving free recklessness, even That future includes promoting my education and empowerment talks and profanity-hurling presentations on human trafficking and new book, ‘Can You Keep A Secret?’, insults and which is NOW available for pre order child abuse prevention, I never once dangerous driving. on Amazon.com, and continuing the envisioned that things would end in We hope the work of my grassroots this way, receiving a temporary authorities can find a residency application denial and being NGO www.changingcases.org solution to this I will continue my anti-human the subject of deportation proceedings unbecoming trait. trafficking work by changing one life at particularly after having travelled a time. extensively to 36 other countries.

Senior Citizen My flight was cancelled on Sept 10th Driver Juanita Headley

and there’re in the best position to say what really is going on.

Nobody sitting in some office can truly know what to do without consulting first with the teachers. They are the cogs that make the system turn, not the principals nor the education officials. They should not be ignored, for it is they who should say how far this education revolution should go.

Consult the teachers; they are the ones with

carried in last week’s issue, we long for the day when we can truly boast about an independent Police Force.

Charles, Edinboro

the pulse-beat of where their students really are.

And by the way, I wonder how many of us, including the government; see teachers as ‘professionals, just like doctors and lawyers?

Maybe it is because our officials don’t view teaching as a true profession and teachers as professionals, why they are ignored.

Claude

Unforgiven and hatred

Committed to my mission

to forgive we tend to want to take revenge.

Together, these wrongs can lead to homicide and other crimes which have lasting effects on us as a people. Besides that, we are told that if we don’t forgive, the Lord will not forgive us. The reality is that many who are very active in churches fail under this category of not forgiving. Therefore, it is fair to say that if they don’t forgive then the Lord will not forgive them. If a person is not forgiven by God, then that person will end up in Hell.

Hatred leads many to become violent and to want the worst for the person who they hate.

Where there is hatred, there is also the likelihood of a desire to do something to hurt the other person and/or wish defeat even death on that person.

In this country there is so much political hatred. Expressions of hatred are expressed on radio and social media on

a daily basis, and even face to face encounters.

Sadly but true, many Christians find themselves practising hatred because of politics.

So, hatred is unchristian. It is unfortunate that we judge a person’s Christianity based on party politics while projecting the image that we are righteous even though we have hatred in our hearts towards others.

In conclusion, we know that hatred and unforgiveness continue to plague our nation and the world at large. If we are indeed a Christian nation, we ought to follow Christ who told us to love our enemies and do well to those who suffer patience.

We should all look inward and put away the hatred and unforgiveness. May God continue to bless us all.

Kennard King

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10. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

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Wealth creation through home ownership Introduction IN THE WORDS of one commentator, as he drove around the country on a recent visit home, “Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a permanent exhibition in houses”. This is the reality across this country, from Fancy in the North to Union Island in the south, as Vincentians invest in houses and the beauty and majesty of these homes are displayed.

Interestingly enough, this was not the case twenty years ago as many of our hard-working citizens especially those employed in the public sector found it extremely difficult to buy or build houses. Since the coming to office of the Unity Labour Party, so rapid has been the transformation right before our very eyes that it is hard not to notice even for the most adamant of deniers. The housing revolution that occurred in this country, under the leadership of Comrade Ralph, who had a very clear vision from the very beginning, has expanded home ownership and increased the housing stock in this country by more than 60% in 20 years. This feat was not achieved by guess-work and coincidence, but it was the result of a clear vision, and deliberate plan and the proper execution of that plan. The housing revolution that has taken place is built on three pillars that would be examined briefly; a land reform program, 100% mortgages to public servants, teachers, police and nurses and the low income housing project.

These three pillars of the housing revolution have together presented an excellent opportunity for Vincentians to own their first home and greatly increased and improved the housing stock here in this country.

emphasised. Prior to 2001, one of the requirements of financial institutions regarding mortgages was that a mortgagee could only access between 80%-90% of the mortgage needed to finance their home. This presented much difficulty for potential homeowners as many including young professional and junior or mid-level public servants, police, nurses and teachers may not have accumulated the savings necessary to cover the additional funds needed. The ULP government immediately, recognising this situation, began offering 100% mortgages to public servants, police teachers and nurses though the National Commercial Bank. This lead to many of these workers finally being able to access the full financing needed to acquire their first home.

There was also a knock on effect, as other lending institutions readjusted their policy to also offer 100% mortgages to the same category of workers, and eventually to its the current situation where it is offered across the board to potential homeowners. It is now easier in SVG, to access financing to build your first home, than to buy a car and many Vincentians continue to take advantage of this opportunity provided through a policy of the ULP government.

Low and middle housing

One of the campaign promises of the ULP during the 2001 election season was that it would build 500 income houses within its first Turning dead capital to live capital low term of office. That promise has led to new housing communities in Fitz As part of the government’s land Hughes, Peters Hope, Clare Valley, reform program, the Comrade Ralph Green Hill, Diamond Sans Souci and lead ULP government approached this Byrea (Manning Village). The in two ways: Firstly it offered title to construction of houses for low income individuals living informally on earners allowed many Vincentians government lands and secondly, whose income may have been too identified parcels of lands owned by small to enable them to own a home the government to be sold at prices independently, to be given that below market value. This particular assistance by the government. The initiative hit at the heart of poverty programme was so popular, with reduction, impacting positively many significantly high levels of demand individuals who may have began their that it was extended to include the domestic settlement either by construction of houses for middle “squatting” or who may have inherited income earners, a lot of whom were property from parents who before young professionals starting out on them began the informal settlement. their first home. This housing What was clear in their situations programme by the ULP was that they were unable to use the administration remains the largest property they lived on, in many ever such programme by any instances for decades, as they didn’t government in the history of this have title. The brilliance of the country and may well be across the expression that embodied the policy region. Many of these houses built by “turning dead capital to live capital” the government and sold to middle immediately offered a clear indication and low income earners, have since of the intention of the policy. These been improved or extended to add homeowners were sold the lands they personal touches of the homeowner were inhabiting at prices as low as 10 and remain an object of pride for cents per square foot, making it those individuals. extremely affordable for them to purchase the land and finally own the Conclusion title. Now having ownership of the title for the land many were able to It is no coincidence that the rapid use the title to approach lending expansion in home ownership in this institutions, to access finance to start country occurred after 2001, since the a business, finance the education of a implementation of the housing child, or for home improvements. revolution that included the granting What the policy did immediately of title to settlers, the provision of through the regularisation of title for 100% mortgages to first time those individuals, was to offer an borrowers who work in the public opportunity for wealth creation. sector, and the construction of close to 1000 low and middle income houses One Hundred percent mortgages across this country. This ULP administration, with the leadership of The game-changing impact of this Comrade Ralph, remains committed to policy on home-ownership especially lifting the standard of Vincentians for workers in the public sector in the and recognises home ownership as one first instance cannot be overof the ways of doing this.

SVG is poverty rich POVERTY is defined as the state of being extremely poor. Poverty means that the income level from employment is so low that basic human needs cannot be met. “St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a poverty rich country,” Major Leacock. Thousands of families are living in abject poverty in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Unity Labor Party (ULP) government has created this poverty rich country.

Research has shown that poverty is linked with negative conditions such as: substandard housing, homelessness, inadequate nutrition and food insecurity, inadequate child care, lack of access to health care, unsafe neighborhoods, and under resourced schools which adversely impact our nation’s children. Those conditions can be identified in this country and are severely affecting most Vincentians.

In an effort to get a true picture of poverty in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in 2017 the government began preparations to conduct a Poverty Assessment. Four years later, the government has failed to release the report to the general public. What is ULP government hiding?

The New Democratic Party (NDP) has been calling continuously on the government, in and out of parliament, to release the report. In late 2019, the Honourable Daniel Cummings asked the Minister of Finance the following question: “The country poverty assessment was launched with much fanfare in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in February, 2018. The IMF’s report put unemployment among youths here, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, at about 46%. Would the Minister please explain why the country Poverty Assessment Report which should have published in March 2019 as promised by the government, is still not published; how much was spent in undertaking the assessment, and when can, we, the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, expect the report to be made public?” An answer is yet to be given.

Two years later, Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Godwin Friday, on Thursday 29th July asked of the Minister of Finance: “The report for the 2018 poverty assessment has not been released to the public by the government but was made public by Members of the Opposition last year.

This generated much public interest and discussion. At that time, members of the government responded that the report was not yet complete. Will the Minister please state: whether the 2018 poverty assessment has been completed? If it has been completed, when will the report be released to the public and, if it has not been completed, explain why it has not been completed?” We are waiting patiently for the answer to that question.

However, we did get a peep into the report. Last year, Mr. Cummings presented findings to the general public of the Poverty Assessment Report. It painted a damning picture of poverty in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The report concluded that poverty in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is worse than when the ULP gained power in 2001. It stated that poverty in St. Vincent and the Grenadines had moved from 30.2% of the population in 2008 to 36.1 % in 2018. And the indigence level had moved from 2.9% to 11.3% in the

country of 110,000 people. The government denied knowledge of the report and said the poverty study was incomplete.

Contrary to what the government is saying, poverty in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is real; we are witnessing it every day. The uproar that was triggered when I Witness News aired a video captioned, ‘Storm exposes shocking poverty’, was no surprise to us. But, some persons were appalled while others wanted to crucify the producer of the programme. Three years ago, I Witness News also featured a story entitled, ‘Children 6 & 10 among family living on streets of Kingstown’. The story dealt with a family of five, including two minors, a 10-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy, and an 18-year-old who were living under a tree in Kingstown for almost four months. Examples of poverty in this country.

The ULP government for the twenty years in power has mismanaged the country’s economy which has contributed significantly to the increase of poverty. This country is at the bottom of the OECS as it relates to economic growth. The government has failed to create meaningful employment.

Unemployment is at its highest. The overall unemployment rate has increased from 20 percent to 26 percent and 46 percent of young people are unemployed. Those figures were before COVID-19 and the volcanic eruption. We were told by the Minister of Finance that since COVID-19 the situation is worse.

That 420 businesses have been closed and 2754 jobs have been lost to COVID-19. The ULP government has no clue as to how to solve the current unemployment situation.

The government has destroyed the productive sectors. Despite the importance of agriculture to the economy of this country, the government has systematically diminished the agricultural sector.

The ill-advised policies of the government have forced many established farmers out of agriculture, and vast areas of formerly highly productive land are now abandoned.

Even a cursory examination of our rural areas reveals a deteriorating situation, where large sections of land, previously deemed part of the national food-basket, are now underutilized.

Crime is on the increase. There is a rapid increase of homicides for the year. For the first six months of this year, St. Vincent and the Grenadines has recorded twenty-two (22) homicides. Also, a significant percentage of our student population is without electronic devices, internet connections and electricity to access online education. And, during the regular school sessions, some parents are unable to send their children to school.

The government must release the Poverty Assessment Report. It is their responsibility to do so. Over the years, they have boasted about their programmes for poverty reduction.

The damaging report is an indication that the ULP government has failed Vincentians and is bankrupt of ideas.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021. 11.

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Give me more!

“For you to really make it in life and not be defeated in life, life demands that you stretch yourself. It is a demand of life.” Sunday Adelaja (born 1976) founder and senior pastor of the Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom may not want to invite physical, of God for All Nations. emotional, or spiritual pain. However, amidst all of these hurting THE TITLE OF THIS WEEK’S ARTICLE possibilities, we have the capacity to emerged during a recent visit to Miami, bear so much more. The author Ana USA. It was while driving with a dear Claudia Antunes reminds us that, friend, Mrs. Susan Perry, that the “When everything looks unbearable, conversation drifted into the realm of our understanding and appreciating that and nothing really seems to fit, You've got to work at full stretch, But you we have the capacity to do so much should never ever quit!” That ability more with our time and life. As we conversed, it became quite obvious that to persist (or to quit) begins in our we often have the ability to give more of minds - with the thoughts that we entertain. If/when we reach out with ourselves; to be stretched even beyond the expectation that we can cope with our expectations. On reflection, we do more … we often can. We can take have the capacity to love more, to give more, to listen more, to work harder and the stretch. We can go the extra mile.

We can accept the challenge to stretch longer, and so on. our minds and capabilities knowing Susan is a disciple of lifelong that, in doing so, we stretch the world learning. It was therefore not surprising that her comments related around us. We are much better able to “stretching” also included thoughts to cope with life’s tragedies when we remind ourselves that we do have the of learning more about self, nature, history, and so on. At the time of our ability to chart courses through and conversation she was researching the beyond life’s setbacks.

Life often seems to be unkind to life and accomplishments of the those who seek to “play it safe”, fold outstanding leader Genghis Khan their arms, and simply settle for (1158-1227), the founder and first whatever life serves. Such Great Khan of the Mongol Empire — individuals often nurture feelings of the largest empire in history. self-pity and a mentality that life has There is wisdom in studying the been so very unkind. However, even lives of great leaders even though amidst the tragedies of life there is they would have lived in distant countries during periods long ago. We often so many reasons to hope; to view the glass as half full rather than can learn so much from examining being half empty; to contemplate what their character as well as their character flaws. They still inspire us can be done with what is left rather than mope and gripe about what is to excel as we pursue our noble lost. It is often a matter of dreams. We can model and mentor perspective. Sunday Adelaja (whose them as we focus on bettering our quotation was used to introduce this best efforts. We may not agree with essay) reminds us that, “Anyone that all of their aspirations, philosophies, does not wish or desire to stretch and actions. However, we can learn himself will get nowhere in this life. about various best practices; about That is just the way life is.” maintaining focus, the importance of Regardless of our circumstances and persistence, being proactive, perceived setbacks, there is wisdom in developing other people, the value of mastering new skills, the importance accepting the challenge to stretch beyond the said conditions. of integrity, and so on. As we aspire While the thoughts conjured up by to greater heights of achievement this week’s essay may have initially there is nothing inherently wrong appeared to imply some degree of when we beckon life to “give us more”. greed, the thoughts generated here Temitope Ibrahim, the author of have moved us away from such “Secrets to Your Win”, invites us to considerations. The understanding is constantly focus on going beyond our that even as we seek to broaden our perceived limits when he says, horizons and stretch ourselves more “Stretch your mind and you will reach in relation to our accomplishments beyond your current reality.” Such and acquisitions, we do so with the thoughts invite us to learn new skills, expectation that this will better equip to seek knowledge, to imbibe the us to give more of ourselves and our wisdom of the ages that remind us possessions to others. That is where that we have the capacity to true joy and happiness will reside. accomplish so much more with our The more we give the more we seem lives. We need to be especially to get. The more we focus on being a reminded of this when life seems to blessing to others the greater the hit us on the blind side; when we are number of blessing we seem to visited by the pain of sickness or receive. This is a fact of life. So we disease, abandonment, cry for more. Give us more so that unemployment, divorce, and the we, in turn, could give more. various other life tragedies. We have the capacity to bear so much more.

Send comments, criticisms & We may not want to think about such suggestions to negative possibilities. We certainly julesferdinand@gmail.com

We owe Haiti a debt we can’t repay A guest column by Gordon-Reed, a professor of law and American history at Harvard University

The stage was set for isolation of the tiny island nation, a choice that had enormous consequences for its development.

Napoleon brought a new challenge to Saint-Domingue when he decided in 1802 to reassert control over French colonies in the Americas. He sent a fleet to the island to accomplish the task. The residents fought back and, with the help of Aedes Aegypti, the mosquito that carries yellow fever, repelled the invaders. This victory was fateful not only for the residents of Saint-Domingue, who went on to form an independent republic that they renamed Haiti but also for the course of American history.

As part of his plan to re-establish the French empire in the Caribbean, Napoleon was hoping to use the territory of Louisiana as a supply station for the island colonies. Once the Haitians had shattered his dream, Napoleon saw no reason to hold on to the territory. He was eager to sell it, and President Jefferson was equally eager to buy. The purchase doubled the size of the United States, which obtained 530 million acres for $15 million. If not for the French defeat at the hands of the Haitians, the sale may not have come off, leaving the United States possibly forever divided by a huge swath of French-controlled land or forced into armed conflict with the French over it. Of course, what the United States really bought from France was the right to contend with the various Indigenous people who had their own claims to the land.

Instead of welcoming and supporting the fledgling republic, the United States refused to recognize Haiti until after the Southern states seceded from the Union. Despite this formal recognition, after the assassination of President Vilbrun Guillaume Sam in 1915, the United States occupied the island until 1934.

Think of how different its prospects would have been had Haiti been fully embraced from the very beginning, instead of reviled, and if Haitians hadn’t been forced in 1825, in one of the most disgraceful details in the history of the oppression of Haiti, to pay reparations to their enslavers and their heirs in exchange for official recognition. The reparations created a crushing debt that blighted the country’s future.

Throughout this history, race was at the heart of the matter. The Haitians, who suffered enormously for their victory in the early years of the 19th century and who were treated so poorly by Americans and Europeans for decades after that, gave the people and the government of the United States a generally unrecognized benefit. Writing in ‘History of the United States During the Administration of Thomas Jefferson,’ Henry Adams said it plainly: the ‘prejudice of race alone blinded the American people to the debt they owed to the desperate courage of five hundred thousand Haytian Negroes who would not be enslaved.’

Americans’ debt to the Haitian people may never be repaid. But if we are supposed to be able to learn from history, we should be obliged, in true good faith, to try.

WHEN ASSASSINS KILLED President Jovenel Moïse of Haiti on July 7, pushing the country to the brink of chaos, it may have struck many Americans as the latest in a string of political upheavals and destabilizing disasters in an unfortunate country with which the United States should have little to do.

But the revelation that two of the suspects were American citizens was a reminder of the complicated history of our relations with Haiti — a needlessly tragic history driven by self-interest and the politics of racism. As the United States now offers to help Haiti restore political order, it should be kept squarely in mind that Haiti is more than just a troubled neighbour. It is a nation whose revolutionary fight for freedom helped make the United States the country that it is today.

In 1791 the enslaved people of Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, engineered the first and only successful slave revolt in modern history. Saint-Domingue was France’s richest colony, made so by the worldwide demand for sugar and the slavery-based economy that fulfilled it.

Led by Toussaint L’Ouverture, Africans on the island violently threw off their enslavers, whose countrymen themselves had only recently overthrown a monarchy that had oppressed people for generations. For reasons both strategic and principled, in early 1794, the French government accepted the declaration of the end of slavery in Saint-Domingue made by the rebels in August of 1793. Some in France saw abolition as in keeping with their own revolutionary ideals.

This period is popularly known as the “Age of Revolution.” First came the Americans, aided by the French, in 1776. The French followed with the fall of the Bastille in 1789. Thomas Jefferson, an ardent supporter of the French Revolution and still under its spell, wrote to his daughter in 1793 as if the events in Saint-Domingue were part of an unstoppable wave sweeping the globe. ‘St. Domingo has expelled all its whites, has given freedom to all its blacks, has established a regular government of the blacks and coloured people, and seems now to have taken its ultimate form, and that to which all of the West India islands must come.’

Americans watched these proceedings closely. As refugees from Saint-Domingue arrived in the United States, bringing news of the successful revolt, white Southerners were alarmed, fearing replication of the events on the island. Apparently, when whites fought and killed for their freedom, as the Americans and French had, it was noble and heroic. But when Blacks killed whites, who had used force to enslave them and would not be talked out of the practice, they were simply murderers.

Many Black Southerners, however, were inspired. In 1800, a man named Gabriel planned, with some other Blacks in Richmond, Va., to strike against slavery. The plot was foiled, and white Virginians put in place new restrictions on the enslaved and on free Blacks in the state, hoping to prevent other revolts. President Jefferson, mindful of the desires of his Southern political base, adopted a Send comments, criticisms & hostile stance toward Saint-Domingue. suggestions to jomosanga@gmail.com

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12. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

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SVG needs a free, statefunded preschool system IN LIGHT of the revelations by a teacher that many children in SVG cannot read, Leader of SVG Green Party, Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal BS (Hons), MSc, MBA recommends that SVG creates a state-funded preschool education system, which all our children can use from the age of 3 years old.

Preschools are important in helping create a solid foundation for when children enter primary school.

Preschools help get children schoolready through a variety of activities.

In preschool, children learn to strengthen their social and emotional development. Children learn how to compromise, be respectful and problem solve. Preschool provides an environment for children to explore, gain a sense of self, play with peers and build self-confidence.

Behaviour management is a major part of preschool learning. In preschool, children learn how to be students. Children learn patience, how to raise their hands and take turns.

Children also learn how to share the teacher’s attention.

Children also learn about routine,

following directions and waiting.

Quality preschools help children find answers through exploration, experimentation, and conversation.

In pre-school, pre-math and preliteracy skills are introduced. Children are taught numbers and letters, but it is taught in a way that is appealing to children at that age. Children sing an alphabet song while following along in a picture book or learn rhymes and chants, which help them to notice the distinct sounds within words.

Teachers read stories to children to encourage their listening, comprehension, and expressive language skills. Matching games, sorting games and counting games build children’s understanding of numbers, and sequences. Putting puzzles together encourages children to notice patterns and to work on problem-solving skills.

Children learn best through activities they find interesting, such as songs, story time, and imaginative play. Preschool is not about achieving academic success; it is about creating a well-rounded child who wants to

explore and question their surroundings and becomes ready to attend and cope with primary school.

SVG should invest millions of dollars and create a nationwide, standardised preschool system that is free for all. Too many children in SVG leave primary school unable to read or simply dropout of primary school because they struggle. This consigns them to a lifetime of poverty and makes them more likely to fall into criminal trouble.

Many children in SVG have been failed by the inadequate education system and the lack of access to free

preschool.

Early childhood is an important phase of development which includes physical, social/emotional, and linguistic/cognitive development, strongly affecting mental and physical health, literacy and numeracy skills and life success.

What happens to a child in the early years is crucial to the trajectory of their development and education.

This part of our children’s development and education has been badly neglected in SVG. Every child in SVG should have access to free preschool from the age of 3 years old.

This is best for the child and best for our nation.

SVG needs change for this to happen.

A Committee to establish Demarcations I WANT TO COMMEND the government for setting up a “Committee to Establish Demarcation”. I can only hope that the committee will not take the easy way out and color a map indicating levels of danger and recommendations like not to build in certain areas. Of course, this must be done, but we need more from the committee.

I would like to see this committee commission a study on establishing appropriate building standards for the area. The government should also take this opportunity to construct the backbone infrastructure needed for a sustainable community/village. Such a study should include the following: location for Schools, a Farmer’s Marketplace, a Community Centre, and other amenities like Churches and a Cemetery, etc. Yes, we need to know where we can build and what and how we can rebuild safely. The study should also establish preservation areas and graduated leave of restrictions in the danger zone.

History indicates what is likely to happen after a volcano eruption is a significant realignment of our population. It happened after the 1902 and 1979 eruptions, and it will happen again this year. Relocating is a natural reaction following such a traumatic experience, and the government will tell people that the land they once owned is no longer suitable for home building. Reports that the government is already looking for alternative locations outside the area to house residents not interested in returning to the danger zone, are commendable.

In addition to this process, I do not

think it’s too early to begin examining our political districts. I know some will think it’s too early; after all, we just had elections less than a year ago.

Unlike some, I am not anticipating an election for another four and a half years. However, knowing the snails’ speed, something like redistricting will move if done correctly; I’ll say the time is now. I will not presume to tell parliament how to form such a committee. I will assume that we have a procedure for that. I will, however, share what I would consider a fair and just process.

Increase representatives on mainland First, let us increase the number of representatives on the mainland by four; this should not be the committee’s responsibility. I feel each district should have between four and five thousand registered voters. The committee should consider the following other factors in the creation of each district: * The committee should make sure each district is geographically connected. * The core of each existing district should be preserved. * A District should seek to include villages with unique cultural and historical relevance.

The committee should be small but with representative of all the interested parties, not just the established political parties.

I will have much more to say if the government ever considers doing something in this area.

Horatio

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021. 13.

News

Persons to pay for COVID-19 tests

by GLORIAH…

UNVACCINATED persons here will now have to pay for any COVID-19 test administered to them at Health Centres across the state.

Prime Minister Hon. Ralph Gonsalves gave indication of this new development as he spoke on the Eyeing La Soufriere programme hosted by NBC Radio on 14th July, 2021.

In explaining the reason for the move, he stated that employers are requesting that

employees show proof of vaccination or of having done a COVID-19 test “every Monday morning.”

He added, “You don’t want to take the vaccine but why should the state, why should we pay for your test every Monday morning, why don’t you just take the vaccine… you get the first one free.

I think they even give you the second one free.

But you deciding you not taking the vaccine for whatever reason.”

He disclosed that it costs around $10 USD to do the Antigen Test for

each person.

He gave an example of a situation by saying: “I know a construction site which employs close to 170 persons and I was told that they closed the construction site.

They’re building a hotel.

They close the construction site for a week because two persons got COVID and they didn’t know whether there was going to be an outbreak. They said, ‘You come vaccinated, you don’t have to go and do the test. But if you decide

not to take the vaccine, you have to do the test at your expense’.”

The Prime Minister followed this up with a scenario: “Let us say, you have close to 50,000 employees in the country - public and private sector. Let us say you have 40,000 people who need it [the vaccine], so every Monday morning we have to pay $10 USD for 40,000 persons. That is $400,000 USD every Monday morning — that is $1,000,000. In those tests alone, that is $50,000,000. [using

Against the backdrop of a fee for any COVID-19 test, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves made another impassioned plea for persons to get vaccinated. rough figures]. Now, that can’t be fair.”

Announcing that 50,000 first dose of the Sputnik vaccine had arrived in the country, he pleaded, “I’m begging you please to take the vaccine. It reduces markedly, significantly, transmission of the COVID virus. We have to live with this thing.”

On a previous

occasion, the Prime Minister while describing the vaccine a “a vital tool in the toolbox to fight COVID,” he admitted, “It’s not a silver bullet because you can still get COVID even though you’re vaccinated, but the chances are significantly reduced.”

(More COVID-19 News on Page 13.)

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14. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Relief - Diaspora

SVG Relief USA on the ground Howie Prince, SVG’s Consul General in New York, described the handing over as an expression of “the fruits of our labour” in NY.

SEVERAL organizations, including the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines, were recent recipients of a range of equipment and relief

supplies from the Brooklyn-based SVG Relief USA Inc. The supplies were handed over at a brief ceremony on Friday 16th

at the Logistics Hub of the World Food Programme (WFP), at its headquarters at the decommissioned ET Joshua Airport.

Delivering opening remarks, SVG’s Consul General in New York, Howie Prince, said that members of the Vincentian Diaspora had journeyed to St. Vincent and the Grenadines to deliver much needed equipment and relief supplies.

“When La Soufriere erupted we were all concerned. Those of us who live and work in the United States, decided that the best that we could do is to do the best that we can do to help,” said Prince.

He said that the Consulate in the USA, other organizations and persons came together to conduct a massive relief mobilisation effort to gather and dispatch relief items/aid to persons who were displaced by the volcanic eruptions.

“Today we are on the ground to hand over, symbolically in some cases but real in other cases, the fruits of our labour in New York,” Prince said.

The relief effort, spearheaded and directed by SVG Relief USA Inc. resulted in the provision of five 40-foot containers of supplies… four of which are already in SVG and the fifth is en route. Additionally there was a plane load of relief supplies sent previously through the UPS. Atiba Williams, Public Relation Officer of SVG Relief USA Inc., said that in addition to sending containers of relief supplies, his organisation has also been assisting the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) with PPEs, to help

Atiba Williams, Pro SVG Relief USA, promised that a full report will be made on the fact-finding mission’s return to NY. combat the dengue fever outbreak and the coronavius pandemic.

“We have had generous donations and outpouring of support from New York and within the US ….. We have established numerous partnerships through which we have also sent relief supplies,” said Williams.

Among the organizations that have benefitted so far are the Rotary Club, the SVG Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the HIV/Aids Secretariat.

And during a factfinding mission that was initially to run for a week but has since been extended to three weeks, Williams said some members of that mission have visited the Red Zone to make a firsthand observation of the needs on the ground, which will in turn inform future assistance.

The mission has also met with a number of agencies involved with managing and delivering the relief effort on the ground.

He promised that a full report will be made on the team’s return to new York.

Senator Keisal Peters, Minister of State with responsibility for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, accepted the donation on behalf of the government and people, and thanked persons and groups in the Diaspora for their assistance to the persons who have been displaced.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021. 15.

Tribute

Dr Kenneth John has left us: Putting him into context

KENNETH JOHN was an important member of that block of citizens, of a significant historic period in the development of this country - St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I would venture to say, that in the period 1920-2020 more of the world got to know us and we got to know more of the world. Today, because of the great developments in technology and its universal accessibility, we here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines could be said to be intimately connected to the rest of the world.

Kenneth was born in 1938, three years after we had those historic uprisings in St. Vincent and other territories of the Caribbean. He lived in Rose Place and by the way of the road through the cemetery, he went to socialize with youngsters living in the beautifully planned and hygienically keenly maintained New Montrose (Lovers’ Layne) area. The residents of that community were recognizably progressive and among them were senior people in the civil service.

Kenneth’s home in Rose Place, a prominent fishing community, was a few minutes’ walk from the hamlet of Edinboro, where some of the folks who held prominent positions lived.

A leisurely walk of less than an hour would have taken him to the historic and impressive Fort Charlotte. The soulwarming view of the seascape, including Bequia, would have been reward enough for the effort on a sunny day.

his “historical works” in an exercise book - ‘cahier’ is French for exercise book.

The loss of Kenneth John, follows so painfully closely on the loss of several of our sisters and brothers who, form the mound on which I sit, seemed predisposed and had indeed noticeably demonstrated, that they had the qualities to have significantly carried St. Vincent and the Grenadines forward to higher planes. We seemed to have had our sights on those higher planes since 1951. Kenneth John was at that time a teenager, conscious and informed.

that the representatives of those countries who came to assist us after the recent eruption of the La Soufriere saw first-hand our immaturity? They saw the raw neglect relative to the unhygienic conditions of the environs of the Girls’ High School and the Grammar School where hundreds of citizens from the affected areas had to be sheltered over several weeks, while the Prime Minister and his entourage were making unproductive trips to the affected villages.

The people’s confidence in the officers of the Ministry of Health has deteriorated greatly!

A place for Kenneth going forward

We owe it to him

The best intentioned men have made mistakes during their earthly sojourn, but I sincerely believe, that the documented endeavours of our late brother Kenneth R.V. John — ‘cashier’, will be keenly referenced and many of his propositions adopted by the next block of citizens, who will fashion the way forward for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It will be an onerous task indeed to reverse this retrogression we have suffered over the last two decades because of the crippling mismanagement of our administrators.

It is the painful responsibility of those of us remaining of that block of citizens “stewards”, of which Kenneth was a prominent and consistent player, to acknowledge that we have failed to Early indications of his exert ourselves to honour leanings that responsibility which we ought to have I first came into contact recognized, rested with us with Kenneth John when to endeavour to advance we attended the Grammar the welfare of our beloved School as youngsters. He country. Evidence of our was recognized for his failure is pervasive! having a “handle” on the The prime reasons for happenings in the society. this failure has been that It may well be that this those who have held the propensity was to some reins of power were not degree conditioned by the really oriented to societal fact that his father was a development, but used the senior police officer. Even privilege of position to at that young age he advance their egoseemed to have been massaging pursuits. They conditioning himself to be were dishonourably “the historian”. As a accommodated in this matter of fact he was betrayal of the people, by popularly known as the intelligentsia who “Cahier John”, and I have remained indifferent to the “sneaking suspicion” their responsibility to that he had earned that provide guidance. name because of the fact Are we not aware, and that he had been recording does it not matter to us,

So now as we say goodbye to our brother Kenneth John who had clearly exhibited the potential and predisposition to enhance our development, let us commence discussions which would see the construct of a plan of development, in which many citizens of the quality of Kenneth John, will come forward to offer themselves, towards the retrieval of people and justice and honour in “Hairouna”, once the Land of the Bless, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

At this time of the discussion on the important subject of “Reparations related to

slavery”, in which the University of the West Indies must play a leading role, Kenneth John as a distinguished scholar of that relevant historic block of citizens, would have been an important voice indeed.

His dependable consistency as reflected in his writings over several decades was definingly representative of scholarly discourse which remained close to the people. What he said

in his column “THIS WEEK” in 2021, was consistent with what he had said in 2001.

May he now rest in peace!

LeRoy Providence

humanism; not far from a blend of knowledge, human emotion and spiritual elements with dexterity.

Little wonder that his work impressed not only his peers, but the generations whom he sought to DR. KENNETH JOHN by entrepreneur extraordinaire teach and many far and wide BREATHED for the last at his Egerton “Uncle Metro” Richards. representative of a range of home in Villa on Saturday 19th Richards’ purchase of the oldest disciplines and philosophies.

July, 2021. He was 83. newspaper in SVG, came on the We are not aware that Dr. John He had been ailing for some time verge of its liquidation in 1982, was ever bestowed and had taken to bed, so much so presumably because of waning regional/international literary that in his last conversation with interest by its then shareholders awards, but those who would have the Editor at THE VINCENTIAN, who, Dr. John would studied his work agree that his he admitted, in language only he unapologetically remind us, were style was lucid and captivating, could master, “I seem to be running drawn from the planter class. without any mystery to how he away quicker than I could handle.”

It seemed an accord blessed by presented his thoughts, and was Dr. John’s relationship with the gods, so to speak, that Dr. deserving of recognition.

THE VINCENTIAN predates the John, a stoic advocate of Black And while there are many who commencement date of tenure of Awareness, Liberation and would have chided Dr. John for his each, current member of staff, Ownership, would join ‘forces’ with seemingly unshakeable political including the Managing Director. a publication now owned by a Black positions and alignments as made The learned Lawyer and Vincentian. manifest in his column, they would Political Scientist/Historian first That he manoeuvred his way have found, admittedly, that his graced the pages of THE and stayed the course through the writing offered enlightenment and VINCENTIAN in its issue of political meanderings of Richards joy.

December 03, 1982, with a piece and the differing approaches, styles Many detractors as well as titled, “Spiritual Deadness” in a and demands of at least nine supporters would have requested column called THIS WEEK. He editors, was testimony to his reprints of his work for one reason would have his last original piece, understanding of the variances of or the other. But one common “Other than the COVID-19 virus”, the newspaper business, as well as thread charcaterised these published in the issue of March 20, his appreciation of and recognition requests: there was also something 2020, marking an unprecedented of the worth of people with whom that this man who showed a real unbroken stint of almost 42 years he worked and interacted with in a sense of being informed by the as a weekly newspaper columnist. special way. world, would have said that Some say that this might well But all in all, it was Dr. John’s remained relevant through the standout among columnists in the writings that made him the icon he years. region. was — writing that was laid plain He wielded his pen like the In respect for his contribution to and made his readers comfortable wand of a magician transporting the newspaper, and given that he and uncomfortable one and at the his readers, without any overplay was not up to creating any new same time. That, his associates or dramatic expression, into a land material, and not wanting to be would say, characterized his lined with knowledge, debate and accused of unceremoniously writing as topical and relevant, recourse. removing him from its pages, THE intended always to evoke reaction, It is with clear conscience that VINCENTIAN carried reprints of which he did successfully. we declare that Dr. Kenneth John some of his earlier work, a gesture Few would deny that he has left an irrefutable mark in the that attracted notice and praise possessed a command of the field of Vincentian and Caribbean from his many admirers as it did English Language — a command literature with his vast variety of criticism from a number of that many envied, could not immortal works, and left a void detractors, whom he always replicate but from which they which is difficult to fill, if it can be recognized and with whom he learned much. filled at all. would have welcomed the His work was not just Rest in peace, Dr. John. opportunity to discourse. informative and reader-friendly, it Interestingly, Dr. John’s was uncompromising regardless of THE VINCENTIAN PUBLISHING relationship with THE the topic/issue into which he chose CO. LTD. VINCENTIAN began the same to delve. It was a reflection of his July 20, 2021. year, 1982, when it was purchased

Tribute to Dr. John

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16. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Tribute

Tributes flow for Winston Soso known in the entertainment world as ‘The Rolls Royce of Calypso, died on Sunday morning, July 18, 2021.

Evan Lockhart, Soso’s son, confirmed to THE VINCENTIAN on Monday that his dad died at State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center and University Hospital of Brooklyn.

Soso, whose legal name was Trevor Winston Lockhart, died a few days after his 69th birthday, following a long and valiant battle with kidney disease.

THE VINCENTIAN is pleased to have solicited the following tributes to Winston Soso.

Trevor Winston ‘Soso’ Lockhart captivated the world with sweet sounding and punching calypso/soca lyrics and melodies.

by NELSON KING naking@verizon.net, US CORRESPONDENT With contribution by: Sheron Garraway VINCENTIAN CULTURAL AMBASSADOR and calypsonian extraordinaire Winston Soso,

He performed in all of the major soca countries in the world.”

CYRIL N. “SCORCHER” THOMAS –Calypsonian, Diplomat “Soso was a patriot in every sense of the word.

In sports, music or national fundraising, he was front and center — always ready to give, always ready to serve, also never had a negative thing to say about anyone.

When he could lend a helping hand, he did it freely and willingly.

Soso loved SVG (St. Vincent and the Grenadines). He had a special place in ALSTON BECKET CYRUS – his heart for the island of his birth.

Recording/Performing Artiste Back in 1986, Soso and Becket, “Soso was one of the top soca artists Cauldric Forbes, the late Walter Porter, in the world who had a long and valiant and I formed St. Vincent and the battle with illness.”

Grenadines Entertainers Guild of North He was also a former national football America — a group that fostered the goalkeeper in St. Vincent and the musical aspirations of young Vincentian Grenadines. artistes here in the Diaspora.”

Soso was the composer and performer of a number of hits including his CARLOS “REJECTOR” PROVIDENCE – signature “I Doh Mind”; “How Some Men calypsonian, Presidient Dynamites Love Dey Women (Big Bottom)”; “Ah Calypso Tent Feel to Party Tonight”; “Rude Girl “It is with profound sadness the Posse”; “Come Ley We Go in The Back Dynamites Calypso Tent New York and Fool Around”; “Congratulations”; extend condolences to the family, “Don’t Throw Stones”; and “Too Much friends, fans and the calypso fraternity, Corruption”. on the passing of one of our own He was an outstanding member of the performers and standard-bearer, most defunct Clymax band in St. Vincent and humble and venerable icon, Mr. Winston the Grenadines for which he penned and Soso. voiced the mega hit, ‘Dianne’.

We pray God will strengthen his family in this time and accept him into the place of eternal peace,”

significantly to the musical and cultural landscapes of SVG and the wider world.”

STANLEY “LUXY” MORRIS - Vincentian sports ambassador “Soso was my captain and goalkeeper in the St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Football Team, and was a very good friend.

He was one of our very best custodians, bar none.

Soso was also the custodian for the newly-formed Avenues United (soccer team in St. Vincent and the Grenadines).

He rendered his goal keeping services to the National Football Team from 1972 to 1976.”

MARVA CATO - a very close friend I trekked to New York, for five weeks to visit Soso while he was hospitalized. I last saw him two days before his demise.

I had departed New York on Jul. 17 only to receive the sad news early the next day that Soso had passed.

It’s a loss to me. We visited each other. Even though it was a longdistance relationship, we looked forward to the time that we had with each other.

I was sorry to see him suffering the way he did but God has a plan for all of us.

Though we will miss him, we know he’s out of all pain and suffering,” We cannot forget him. His legacy will always remain with us, and we have to cherish what he has left with us.”

ST. CLAIR LEACOCK – MP for Central Kingstown HAILES CASTELLO, a New York-based “Trevor Lockhart who had the stage Vincentian –calypsonian, disc jockey name Winston Soso, was so talented that “I admired Soso from a young age and he commanded respect from ‘name’. even tried to imitate his singing style While some artists were only known but could never duplicate it. by their first or surname, the music I shared the stage with Soso at many legend was known by both names, which venues in North America and in the was symbolic of the respect he deserved.

Caribbean.”

Some persons just limited Soso to his musical contribution, he was also an EARL BENNETT – President of SVG outstanding goal keeper. He is one of Calypsonian Association the most outstanding sons of the soil, “St. Vincent and the Grenadines has who came out of Pauls’ Avenue. lost another gem in the person of Trevor This country is privileged to have Lockhart, aka (also known as) Winston people like Soso and classed him with Soso.

Alston Becket Cyrus who made His sweet, smooth and melodic voice contributions to culture and music that rightfully earned him the name Rolls was equal to anyone in the art form.”

Royce. ’Sos’, as he was also popularly and DR. GODWIN FRIDAY – Opposition affectionately known, contributed Leader “Winston Soso was a musical icon and a wonderful performer who was impactful.

Soso was one of the cultural artists who made Vincentians define themselves, and helped to shape how others perceived Vincentians.

He had a beautiful sweet voice, his sexuality was never vulgar and persons could appreciate the subtlety of the sweet sayings and melodies.

Soso was a pioneer who wanted to see his country be better and used his talents to make impactful social commentary songs.

His music will set a standard that many young artists, not only in St. Vincent but also in the Caribbean, will aim to reach.”

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021. 17.

Relief

UK-SVG Friendship Trust donates $330,000 THE UK-SVG FRIENDSHIP TRUST has granted an amount of EC$ 330,000 to the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, to assist with the relief effort following the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano.

At a presentation ceremony held on Friday 16th at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Keisal Peters, Minister of State with responsibility for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, accepted the donation on behalf of the Government, Mr. Darrien Ollivierre, the Trust’s local representative The senator expressed gratitude to the Trust for it generous contribution to the cause of assisting those in need.

Ollivierre noted that the funds will provide support to persons in shelters, those who have left the shelters, and those who are in the need of support following the fallout from the eruption.

He disclosed that the funds raised resulted from a partnership involving the Trust, the SVG High Commission in the UIK, the National Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Association UK, and over 7000 donors.

Meanwhile, the Trust has announced that it will partner with the St. Vincent Cooperative Bank to

Senator Keisal Peters and Darrien Ollivierre at the handing over. provide direct support to over 500 individuals.

The support will be channelled through the Ministry of National Moblisation, Soroptimist International SVG, Je Belle Football Club and the Voice of the Disabled.

In accordance with the partnership agreement, the St. Vincent Cooperative Bank will provide oversight on how the funds are managed and will make appropriate disbursements to the entities as named.

The UK-SVG Friendship Trust is a not-for-profit organisation based in the UK chaired by H.E. Cenio Lewis, High Commissioner of the SVG High Commission in London, UK. The other trustees are Mr. Adaiah Providence-Culzac and Mr. Steve Maingot. (KH)

GrowNYC gathering seeds for SVG

by GLORIAH… WHEN GROWNYC, an environment-focused group, learned of the devastation inflicted on farming by the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), it immediately issued a call on its website (www.growny.org) to its members and citizens at large to donate seed packets for distribution in affected farmers in the affected Caribbean state.

According to the SVG’s Agency for Public Information (API), GrowNYC’s goal is to collect 5000 seed packets to be shipped to the Windward Islands Farmers Association, headquartered in SVG, which will distribute

those seeds to 200 farmers to assist them in rebuilding their livelihoods.

GrowNYC encouraged seed types for herbs such as: basil, parsley, sage, rosemary, garlic, thyme; vegetable varieties like: broccoli, peas, beans, cucumber, butternut squash, zucchini, okra, tomatoes, sweet peppers, pumpkins, scallions, onions, spinach, beets, carrots, cabbage, lettuce, sweet corn, and arugula.

Seeds for cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew melon were also encouraged.

GrowNYC’s, formerly called the Council on the Environment of New York City (CENYC), was created in 1970 out of the “spirit of the first Earth Day”.

Its mission is to

A GrowNYC volunteer promoting the seed donation drive. (Photo Credit: GrowNYC Facebook) “improve New York City’s quality of life through environmental programmes that transform communities block by block and empower all New Yorkers to secure a clean and healthy environment for future generations”.

V OAS donates to RSVGPF 18. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

ON 20.07.2021, MS. DIANA BROWNE, Administrative Assistant at the Country (SVG) Office of the Organisation of American States , handed over a KwikMark Marking Machine for Small and Light firearms to Commissioner of Police, Mr. Colin John.

The donation was done on behalf of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States.

During the handover ceremony, Ms. Browne explained that the firearms marking machine was made available under a special OAS programme called

‘Comprehensive Action against Small Arms and Light Weapons’ which is part of the project ‘Countering the Illicit Proliferation and Trafficking of Small Arms, Light Weapons and Ammunition, and their impact in Latin America and the Caribbean.’

Ms. Browne said “today’s donation demonstrates the commitment of the OAS and the General Secretariat to support and strengthen all Member States capacities in different areas, especially — public security and firearms.”

Commissioner of Police, Mr. Colin John, on receiving the equipment, thanked the OAS on behalf of the members of the RSVGPF and the Government and People of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) for the timely donation.

The Commissioner noted that security is at the centre of the OAS’s mandate thus, the firearms marking machine will significantly enhance the RSVGPF’s capability in the tracing and fight against trafficking in small and light weapons.

The Commissioner also noted that the equipment does not only help to prevent crimes, but it can lead to the successful prosecution and conviction of offenders.

Commissioner John lauded the contribution of the OAS to SVG. He said “This is not the first time the OAS has come to our assistance. They have always been a partner to the region and to St. Vincent and the Grenadines as a whole. And we look forward to the continued friendship, cooperation and support so we can make the region a safer place.” (Source: RSVGPF)

Ms. Diana Browne and Commissioner John at the handing over of the KwikMark Marking Machine (foreground).

Catching Gold with SportsMax AFTER THE UNPRECEDENTED POSTPONEMENT of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games last year, SportsMax is ready to catch gold with the rest of the athletes as the Official Caribbean Broadcaster for the games.

From July 23 to August 8, the eyes of the world will be on Tokyo, Japan to watch all the action, all the excitement and all the drama, and Digicel customers on a Digicel Prime Bundle will have access to the games live via the SportsMax app, with double the dedicated SportsMax data allotment.

Peter Lloyd, Chief Marketing Officer at Digicel Group said: “We have all had to wait an additional year for the excitement of the Olympic Games to come around once more, and now they’re finally here.

With 33 sports being represented in 339 events, there is a lot to look forward to, and SportsMax is bringing the action, live at your fingertips.”

The SportsMax app

lets users cast from their mobile device to their TV or any other big screen, and has exclusive content and the latest sports news and coverage. For the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the app will have two dedicated live channels, with over 800 hours of exciting content, including a focus on Caribbean athletes, along with preview and review shows with highlights and analysis, 24-hour medal table, event schedules and the latest news articles and stories.

Peter continued: “Across our Digicel countries we have a number of athletes participating, and we want to wish them all the best in the games.

We’ll be watching them represent their countries live via SportsMax. With entry to Japan banned from 159 countries (except for athletes, support staff and media), having access to the live games is the next best thing to being there in

Peter Lloyd, Chief Marketing Officer at Digicel Group, said there is a lot to look forward to and SportsMax will bring it all live and direct. person. And for customers on a Digicel Prime Bundle, they get double dedicated SportsMax data, so they can tune in and watch the games on the SportsMax app without having to worry about depleting their any use data allotment.”

SportsMax is bringing simply more sports, simply more action and simply more competition this summer with the Olympic Games. It’s the greatest sports event in the world, live, right in the palm of your hand.

(Source: Digicel)

V Francis cautions John

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021. 19.

News

UNITY LABOUR PARTY (ULP) General Secretary Julian Francis has cautioned Cornelius John.

Francis made references to the cost of legal fees.

He empahsised, “I want to send a caution to Cornelius John. Kay

Bacchus is your lawyer.

Kay Bacchus is an expensive lawyer. We have heard many things about her. Watch out for your legal bills. All I’m saying to you Mr. John, I don’t know if you sought her out? Or she sought you out? That is a matter

between both of you.”

Francis went on to reveal that John said that he couldn’t work now and that he couldn’t do his business, but there was a conflict here.

Since the first time he made a public statement on his crutch, he had just

Fire destroys two buildings LAST Tuesday, July 20, just about when his family and friends were about settling themselves in for the commencement of the funeral service of Dr. Kenneth John, excessively loud sounds of a number of sirens disturbed the solemnity of the occasion.

When the ‘smoke’ had cleared, reports reaching THE VINCENTIAN said the sirens were signalling a clear path for Fire Department Units heading for Block 2000, Old Montrose.

The police reported later Fire Officers and residents of Block 2000 fought that they had begun the fire but failed to prevent two building being investigating the circumstances surrounding destroyed. a fire that occurred on that VINCENTIAN. day, Tues. 20th July, at Block 2000, The fire officers, ably assisted by Old Montrose, which completely destroyed two buildings and damaged members of the community, managed to bring the fire under control but not two others.

A release from the police said that before another building was destroyed. officers from the Fire Department Reports are that the two buildings (Kingstown) responded at about that were destroyed were wooden 12:10pm to a call that a fire was in buildings, one owned by Earl progress at Block 2000, a relatively closely located community to the Fire Frederick and the other by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Department’s headquarters at the Of the two building that were Central Police Station. damaged, one is listed as being owned When the fire officers arrived on by the Maranatha Seventh-Day the scene, one building was already completely destroyed and it was clear Adventist Church, and the other by Exrod Herbert. that the fire was spreading rapidly, one eye witness told THE

The remains of one of the building that were destroyed.

come back from the lands, where he had the workers employed.

Francis underscored, “I’m just cautioning you that there will come a time when legal bills have to be paid. I see an appeal out on social media, I don’t know who formulated that and who put it together or if that was done without your knowledge? But as a middle aged, advanced aged citizen of country, you obviously got shot in your leg and it’s difficult to move now.”

The General Secretary said that he had heard Bacchus say that if it were her on the other side, Ashelle would walk.

He warned that while Bacchus was looking at John’s case, Bacchus was

Senator Julian Francis has issued a polite warning to Cornelius John (left) about, among other things, his legal fees. looking at the other one too.

He concluded, “I don’t know if that was solicitation, that she can handle both sides. After all she is pretty good at these things. So I just want you to be cautious on the matter.”

Cornelius John is at the centre of an allegation that he was shot by Kareem Nelson, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, and that Senator Ashelle Morgan had threatened him with a gun to his mouth. (SG)

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20. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Another fined for breaching quarantine health officer, and went to her relatives’ home in Bequia.

A health official assigned A 47-YEAR-OLD WOMAN to monitor COVID-19 residing in Bequia was, on related matters in Bequia Monday, ordered to pay the went to where Thomas was, Court $750 forthwith or and accompanied her to a spend one month in prison hotel in Bequia to complete for breaching quarantine, her quarantine. after arriving here from the On July 16, Thomas was United States, July 3. taken into custody, and THE VINCENTIAN when interviewed, said she understands that she paid breached the order because the fine. she was frustrated.

Appearing at the Thomas also told the Serious Offences Court, Monica Thomas said Court he had complained Monica Thomas pleaded she became guilty to contravening an frustrated during her about the food she received during her quarantine. order by Medical Officer quarantine and “You cannot do these of Health requiring her to decided to leave the things. Could you imagine quarantine herself from hotel. (Photo if you were tested positive? others, contrary to section Courtesy: Kenton Well we don’t know,” Chief 27(a) of the Public Health Chance) Magistrate Rechanne Act. Browne told the woman.

The facts revealed that “I was wearing a mask,” Thomas on July 3, Thomas arrived at the responded.

Argyle International Airport (AIA) on “But you were mingling, and you an American Airline flight. She was came from an extremely high risk served an order to quarantine for 14 country,” the Magistrate contended. days at Cobblestone Inn, Kingstown.

Several persons have already been She checked in but on July 10, around charged, taken to Court and penalized 9:30 a.m. she checked out of the hotel for breaching the quarantine protocols without being cleared by the Chief here.

Medical Officer (CMO) or any other Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

Too many guns in the town CHIEF Magistrate Rechanne Browne is upset by the number of persons who come before the Court on an almost day to day basis, to be arraigned or to answer charges for possession of firearms and ammunition.

Browne voiced her feelings on the issue on Wednesday while presiding over the matter of 32-year-old Winston Parsons, who was charged with possession of a prohibited gun and 67 rounds of ammunition.

Parsons had told the

Court he found the gun.

“What happens, everybody owns a gun?”

Browne questioned hypothetically.

The Magistrate said that sometimes it does not reach home to those involved as to how serious these offences are until their love ones fall victims. She noted that firearms ruin families.

But sometimes you become so callous and uncaring. You are in a gang or whatever, that you don’t even care if you die.

Up to press time on Wednesday, several

persons had already appeared at the Serious Offences Court this week for matters related to firearms, and ammunition, including possession of prohibited guns.

Parsons pleaded guilty to possession of a 5.56 mm firearm, usually referred to as the AK pistol and 67 rounds of ammunition, just hours after 26-year-old Avi King of Diamonds Village had pleaded guilty to having an M-4 rifle, two .22 glock pistols and 305 rounds of ammunition.

AK pistol lands man in jail From Page 4.

that it was an extremely dangerous firearm. She placed the offence at the “You have no reason to pick it up, highest level in that category of and you had it on you for a period of offences. time. You kept it,” she added.

She found no aggravating factors in Prosecutor Cato highlighted the relation to Parsons, but in relation to fact that Parsons was traveling to the mitigating ones, she noted that he mainland St. Vincent with that gun, took responsibility, and had no along with 67 rounds of ammunition. previous convictions. He also “No one knows what he would have benefitted from one-third reduction in done when he reached St. Vincent. sentence for his guilty plea.

The Court must send a strong Possession of a prohibited firearm message”. carries a maximum penalty of ten In sentencing, the Magistrate made years imprisonment in the it clear, “I have to follow the Magistrate’s Court, and the guidelines. I can’t just do my own Magistrate indicated that she had to thing.” use 75 percent of that as starting She stressed the seriousness, and point before proceeding with her consequence of the offences. She noted calculations.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021. 21.

Regional

Antigua sending seaweed to Finland ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA has made a second shipment of sargassum seaweed to Finland.

Loop News (Caribbean) reported that on or about July 8, some 20,000 kgs of the seaweed left Antigua via container.

The shipment was the second shipment from Antigua and Barbuda’s Department of Analytical Services to Origin by Ocean.

Origin by Ocean is a company being incubated within the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) S3I Innovation Centre in Sweden.

The seaweed will be used as part of a project to design a new biorefinery process (Nauvu®) for the extraction of biomolecules for use in food, cosmetics, and domestic detergent.

“This second shipment

is one of several that will be shipped to Finland later this year to be used by the company to do initial reference trials of the Nauvu® process against the benchmark feedstock of Bladderwrack seaweed,” the Department of Analytical Services said.

The collaboration between Origin by Ocean and the Department of Analytical Services is being facilitated by the Antigua and Barbuda Science Innovation Park (ABSIP) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

The Department of Analytical Services noted that the long term goal is to establish a bio-refinery in Antigua and Barbuda where sargassum seaweed can be processed.

The collaboration between Antigua and Barbuda’s Department of Analytical Services and

45 for St. Lucia’s election ACCORDING to The Star Newspaper of St. Lucia, forty-five candidates have been nominated for Saint Lucia’s general election on July 26.

This, The Star reported, was confirmed by the It is expected that either Allen Electoral Chastanet (left) or Phillip Department after Pierre will be St. Lucia’s next the proceeding of Prime Minister.

Nomination Day held on July 16.

The Electoral Department confirmed that the incumbent United Workers Party, headed by Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, will field seventeen candidates, whilst the main opposition party, the Philip J. Pierre-led Saint Lucia Labour Party, will contest in fifteen.

Describing it as the revamped National Green Party (NGP), the Star said it had filed nomination papers for eight candidates. The NGP is spearheaded by activists Andre de Caires and the former President of the Iyanola Council for the Advancement of Rastafari - Aaron Alexander.

Five independent candidates are listed to contest the election, these being former Prime Minister Stephenson King, Richard Frederick, Nathalbert George, Michael St. Catherine and Melanie Fraites.

Advertisement This will be Saint Lucia’s eleventh general election post-independence. (Source: The Star/ St. Lucia)

Origin by Oceans comes at a time when experts are predicting that the influx of sargassum seaweed into the Eastern Caribbean will be moderate to severe.

According to the March 2021 Sargassum Sub-Regional Outlook Bulletin published

by The UWI Centre for Resource Management and Environment Studies, Cave Hill, Barba dos, the level of sargassum arriving now has increased considerably. this time last year, the There is six per cent report said. (Loop News) more sargassum visible out in the Atlantic than

Loading sargassum seaweed in Antigua for shipment to Finland.

The UWI to reduce student costs INDICATIONS are that including in the five-year plan dubbed ‘Operation Revenue Revolution 75+’, launched last Wednesday by The UWI Vice Chancellor Professor Sir Hillary Beckles, is a proposal costs to students should be reduced.

The plan seeks to address the financial stability of the region’s leading tertiary institution and according to a press release, The UWI is seeking “to create a funding model in which half of its revenue comes from the The UWI’s contributing Caribbean governments, with the other half coming from “the university’s entrepreneurial actions”.

These entrepreneurial actions, The UWI said, were regional student fees (20 per cent), international student fees (10 per cent), business activity (10 per cent), with five per cent each coming from private sector investment, and endowments (including alumni).

Beckles said, over the last five years, the reputation of the university had been addressed, with the institution being the number one university in the Caribbean, in the top one per cent of universities in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the top one per cent in its age cohort in the world.

Beckles indicated that The UWI’s finances had to be addressed because of the devastation of regional economies by COVID-19.

Beckles also noted that the university cannot continue to grow, innovate and prosper solely within its domestic financial base.

According to the release, The UWI’s vision and strategy were embraced by the Chairman of CARICOM, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne.

“He (Browne) noted that the (contributing) governments are solidly behind the regional university in leading financial reforms for greater autonomy. He endorsed the quest to radically alter The UWI’s financial circumstance”, the release stated.

Beckles also

The UWI Vice Chancellor Professor Sir Hillary Beckles did not hesitate to make clear that the finances of The UWI had to be addressed given the diminishing state of regional economies because of COVID19. (Photo Source: Loop News) reiterated plans for each UWI campus, including developing bankable projects for income generation, offering The UWI bonds on financial markets, and driving international students into The UWI online.

(Source: UWI)

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22. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Betraying my trust Dear George, ABOUT two years ago when we just started dating, I confessed to my girlfriend that I did somethings at my work place that would cause me to be dismissed, if it came out. My immediate supervisor, however, decided not to take the matter further and asked me to get it together, which I did.

Now, only last week, I caught my girlfriend cheating on me. I threatened to leave the relationship if she didn’t confess to her mother, who always defended her, that she had cheated.

She didn’t and instead went to the top brass in at my workplace and spilled the beans about what had happened so long ago.

I was fired and the company is threatening to fire the supervisor who gave me that break.

My girlfriend is expecting me to forgive her for this and move forward

with her as though nothing happened.

Your views on this please.

Blue vex Dear Blue vex, Your girlfriend had no right to break that trust placed in her by using your past against you. It will be extremely difficult to rebuild that trust and it is quite understandable why you would want to move on.

It is your decision to move on or not to move on and she has no choice but to abide by your final decision.

George

I was deceived

You are now free to find which is not too much to the kind of man who can ask for.

THINGS are very ‘brown’ be supportive in good times and in bad, and George with me at the moment who can love you for you but it has shown what kind of man I am or was with.

I had a very good paying job and could afford to dress in the Dear George, latest fashion. Now that is not possible, ‘my man’ I HAVE been married for 6 years and love my is showing less and less wife. I have just found out that my loving wife is interest in me. A friend part of a prostitution ring in Barbados. of my told me that he Before Covid-19 she found multiple, sound said he has no intention reasons to visit that country. I would find out her of staying with me ‘secret’ when someone visited in search of her. because I am broke and A man came to the house and asked for her! ‘can’t dress. This is a He thought I was another of her clients and after man who should know I recognised that, I pretended I was and got a lot better. of information out of him about my wife, including I asked him about compromising pictures of her. what he said to my I had the man wait at the house until she got friend and instead of home. She ate fire saying she did not know what owning up, it brought he was talking about until I showed her the tears to his eyes and pictures. She fell to her knees and begged me to denied saying what my forgive her. George, it is because I am afraid of friend said he did. jail why I did not finish her off right there and I had my friend then. confront him in my Needless to say, I have decided to end the presence and he became marriage. However, I am finding it very difficult dumb all of a sudden. I to sleep and I am hearing all kind of voices in my walked away from him. head telling me to do some horrible things to her.

He has since been How can I get these voices in my head to stop? calling and messaging me asking for forgiveness Depressed and angry and another chance but I have other plans in mind

Dear George,

Voices in my head

Dear Depressed and angry,

Disappointed Dear Disappointed, I can understand how disappointed you must have been to realise that the man you loved only loved what was physical about you.

You now know the quality he is made of and I am guessing that is why you have opted not to continue with him.

It is good that you did not take matters into your own hands and do something silly that would have landed you in a regrettable situation. Yes, you have every right to be angry and disappointed but what is most important now is how you deal and manage that anger.

I suggest that you call Marion House immediately and arrange to see a counsellor. It is there you would get an opportunity to address the emotions of anger, disappointment, etc. and think more clearly towards charting your way forward.

You need to look after your emotional health.

Best wishes.

George

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Don’t let your friends talk you into taking time off. Don’t lend to people who have given you negative vibes.

Money can be made if you use your ingenuity.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Don’t jump too quickly if someone tries to make you join in on their crusade.

Female colleagues may be able to help you get the job done.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Your high energy will enable you to take the role of leader in group functions. Be cautious not to get involved in office chatter that will cause problems for others.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Family outings or a quiet stroll through the park will lead to stimulating conversation and a closer bond. You may be emotionally unstable if you let someone you care about get away with verbal abuse.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Go after your goals. Your dramatic approach to life has probably gotten to your mate. You may find that your boss is not delighted with your work lately.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Networking will be a necessity. You have to know what your boss wants if you expect to do your job correctly.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You can make headway in the workforce if you put your mind to it. You may be thinking of starting your own business. Go out with friends or family.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Changes in your domestic scene are evident. Not everyone will be pleased with your plans. You can make a huge difference to children if you are able to put yourself in their shoes.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) You can make money through real estate or by using your head when it comes to personal investments. You will have to be careful not to let infatuations with colleagues get out of hand.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Direct your energy wisely. Help with your aspirations is likely, and profits could follow. You will have no problem getting your point across to those in a position to help you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) You may find that you’re being used. You will be on the rampage this week. Your love will not be willing to listen to your criticism.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) You should sign up for creative courses.

Concentrate on your work. Your doubt could lead to insecurity. Hassles with female colleagues may lead to problems with your boss.

ACROSS 1. Onstage article 5. Pen point 8. Cut covering 12. Verdi heroine 13. Lovely Lupino 14. Folk learning 15. “High” time 16. Camp bed 17. Brain flash 18. Bacon portion 20. Once owned 22. Havana’s country 25. Lacy headdresses 29. Emulate Viola Davis 32. Starchy dish 34. Crow sound 35. Mr. Costello 36. “Name him!”

37. Notable age 38. Demonstrate grief 39. Filing pro 41. Rainbow site 42. Musical presentation 44. Lack 46. Likely (to) 48. Wind blasts 52. Debate stance 55. Impish child 58. Become bushed 59. Pursues legal damages against 60. Summer zodiac sign 61. Mystery-novel hint 62. 63-Across joint 63. Lower limb 64. Used a shed tool DOWN 1. Kitchen vessels 2. Civil emergency

3. Aroma 4. Sudden fear 5. Nervous spasm 6. Nuptial words 7. Wooded trail 8. Proceed smoothly 9. Seafood choice 10. “How – you?”

11. Humorous Arthur 19. Little dog 21. Gorgeous Gardner 23. See 38-Across 24. Very pale 26. Frozen treats 27. “Happy” bird 28. Move in the breeze 29. Furthermore 30. Farm enclosure 31. Hair-gel container 33. Ripped 39. Baseball hat

40. Pub barrel 43. Elevate 45. Of Holland 47. Reveal (secrets) 49. Rural facility 50. Genuine 51. Plant origin

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021. 23.

52. Pose (a question) 53. Abbey resident 54. Kickoff object 56. Kung-fu icon Bruce 57. Thick haze

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24. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Second VP surprised at playersÊ action

Gaymes aiming for the highest

MOETH GAYMES is this country’s lone referee on the FIFA International list, and he is not settling for merely officiating in regional WAYNE GRANT, Second Vice centered surroundings. matches. He President of the St. Vincent and the “One of the things we added to intends to reach Grenadines Football Federation the camp fees was an allowance the highest (SVGFF), has taken umbrage with based on their dislocation… we level. the manner in which national senior did try to make them as He, however, footballers recently aired their comfortable as possible,” the is taking it by concerns.

Second Vice President disclosed. stages and has Grant said that the players’ Grant confirmed that he has earmarked an public statement was “surprising since had “one-on-one appointment to to us (Executive Committee) as conversations with some of the the Concacaf none of us knew of the situation players who indicated that they Gold Cup Finals Moeth Gaymes, FIFA until the media release.” thought the letter (detailing internationally accredited in 2023, as his Grant assessed that “they went players’ concerns) was supposed referee, is bent on officiating at next target. to the media houses first with the to be presented to the Executive the highest level.

“My shortissues before bringing it to the Committee as a fore-runner to term goal is to Executive Committee, so there further dialogue.” be at the next Gold Cup…. . “….reaching that stage was never an opportunity for the And maybe for the first time, is the highest you can within Concacaf and once you Committee to address their the public was made aware of get to the Gold Cup, you just have to perform and concerns going forward.” signed agreements between Wayne Grant - 2nd Vice you will get citation for the World Cup,” Gaymes The SVGFF official indicated players and the Federation, when President SVG Football projected. that, in fact, there was a series of Grant explained, “…we did a Federation.

In the meantime, Gaymes is gathering all the meetings with the players “and players agreement where players information he can, staying fit, as well as observing to Florida for the Gold Cup match this is why we found it surprising signed on to certain benefits. … those (referees) who are at the top of the list. against Haiti and not before.” that they didn’t ask for a meeting This was based on dialogue As for observing the referees, he explained, “I He assured that work is in but went directly to the media.” between the players’ progress “for better dialogue going zoom in closely on the movements of the referees, According to Grant, the representative and the executive their mannerisms, how they approach these higher Executive was disappointed since, reps. It therefore, was baffling as forward.” matches, because it is important not only to go in according to him, the Federation to why the players’ release came with your knowledge, but to see how it is done I.B.A.ALLEN has always created playeron the day the team was to travel outside the realms of games that you are assigned.”

Gaymes has been a FIFA International Referee since 2014. He has had a stint at the Olympic Qualifiers level, Futsal being demonstrated and most recently was fourth at the Arnos Vale Netball official in the St. Kitts and Complex.

Nevis hosted World Cup qualifying match between HAVING HAD THE APPROVAL of the Royal the hard courts at Guyana and the host.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Biabou, Gomea, He described this Force, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Calliaqua, Sion experience as “… good even Football Federation (SVGFF) has set the Hill, Arnos Vale, though I was the fourth process in place for hosting an Invitational Layou and official, because there are Futsal and Nine-A-Side Competitions for Barrouallie, and things that you will learn by females. matches are set for looking at other officials, These are scheduled to get going July Fridays, Saturdays because Football is Football 30. and Sundays, and the Laws of the Games However, in light of the prevailing between 5 and pm. do not change”.

COVID-19 pandemic, the competitions The Female Gaymes and other Football will be subject to several restrictions and Nine-A-Side officials here have been short guidelines.

Competition will of local field practice as there Among these are a maximum of fifty take place at the “prescription” for the 2021/2022 National are no national or community (50) spectators at the various venues; Hope (Vermont), Richmond Hill, Arnos Club Championships, which is carded to competitions taking place at mandatory temperature checks; wearing Vale Two and the Sion Hill playing kick off in early October. this time. He is, however, of face masks; regular hand sanitizing; fields, on Saturdays only, from 1pm to The 2020/2021 National Club staying fit and mentally alert, availing identification and contact 5pm.

Championships which got started in as he follows a daily FIFA numbers of all spectators, players, match The SVGFF will provide teams/clubs November last year, was cancelled last required regimen. and management officials. participating in the Futsal Competition May following a prolonged suspension.

Apart from Gaymes, Additionally, players, team officials with uniforms and will consider others The championships were set to Assistant Referees Kenran and match officials must be at the forms of assistance as may be identified. recommence in January, following the Daniel and Denroy Barker venues at least half an hour before the Chair of the Tournaments Committee- Christmas break, however, a spike in are the other Vincentians on scheduled starts of the matches.

Dwight Roberts underscored that the COVID-19 cases here, put the National the FIFA list of match The Futsal Competition will be held at Futsal/ Female Competitions will be a Football Programme on pause. officials.

Futsal/Female Football Competition coming

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021. 25.

Sports

Blue Chip to host B’ball camps

Bishon Bishop - main organizer of the camps.

BLUE CHIP BASKETBALL Academy is set to host a series of Basketball Camps for boys and girls, ages 5 to 12, at different

venues here.

Three Camps have already been scheduled: the first at the Campden Park Hard Court from July 29, the second at the SVG Girls’ High School on July 30, and the first annual Chad Thomas Blue Chip Basketball camp in Ashton Union Island on August 02.

The main facilitators of the Camps will be Blue Chip’s founder and head coach- Kishon Bishop, and Kendale Thomas — Programme Director. They will be assisted by Blue Chip Basketball coaches Tim Lynch, Bernard Billy, Ramon Johnson, Rachael

‘Queen’ Haynes, Shad Thomas and Timothy Myle.

According to Bishop, the camps will expose participants to the fundamentals of Basketball, and involve them in ‘small side’ games and individual skill competitions.

In elaborating, Bishop said, “During our camps we will be looking to introduce basketball to the very young kids as we came to the realization that the crop of players we have right now - ages between

15—21, we have lost them in a sense that they have not learned the game in a very fundamental manner.”

He added that this was no fault of theirs as “there are no programmes available to do that, no incentives, no national basketball tournaments. No senior basketball players are teaching the sports, so our focus is what we call planting a new crop… towards launching our youth basketball programme.”

Bishop told this

publication that since 2021 Blue Chip Academy has been touching kids’ lives in the Vincentian communities through education and sports (Basketball) camps.

It all began at the Campden Park Hard Court and has expanded to the Girls High School, which is now the home of Blue Chip Basketball Academy.

Blue Chips is looking forward to hosting the 6th Annual Veronica Bishop Classic named after the founder’s mother, and 1st Annual

Clive Bishop Soccer Classic in a Futsal tournament, named after his father.

Blue Chip Basketball Academy is part of a wider programme of Hope and Hope Inc. which is an official nonprofit body registered in the USA and here, with the primary approach being one of sports evangelism towards creating heathy bodies and minds among young people.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Morgan nabs NACAC position TECHNICAL Director of Team Athletics — Chester Morgan, has been appointed as the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) Director of Coaches and Camps.

Morgan got the nod from a shortlist of three from a total of ten applications.

A graduate (2006 — 2001) of the Universidad Deportivo Del Sur of Venezuela, Morgan’s oral and written competence in Spanish is said to have Chester Morgan given the advantage in the race for the position.

As Director of Coaches and Camps, Morgan will be an integral player in the NACAC Development Commission, and will be required to interface on a monthly basis with the Development Department of World Athletics.

He is also expected to commit to weekly online meetings with NACAC President- Mike Sands, General Secretary- Keith Joseph and Director of Competitions, Michael Serralta.

Morgan, a teacher by profession and former national footballer, will also be responsible for providing a comprehensive review of coaches’ database as well as planning the NACAC Coaches’ Pathway, to be in line with the wider development of the sport’s parent body- World Athletics, while yielding a more aggressive approach in developing Track and Field from grassroots through to elite levels.

Morgan joins Keith Joseph and Kineke Alexander-Stay as other Vincentians who hold pivotal positions in the NACAC setup.

Alexander—Stay is the Chair of the Athletes Commission.

The VINCENTIAN congratulates Morgan on his appointment.

Basketball action during one of Blue Chip’s previous camps.

Shallow re-elected W’wards Cricket President Dr. Kishore Shallow was re-elected unopposed as President of the Windward Islands Cricket Board (WICB), when it held a face-toface board meeting at Bay Gardens Marina Haven, St. Lucia, on July 16, 2021.

Dr. Shallow, who is also Vice President of Cricket West Indies (CWI) will continue to lead what is deemed the ‘New Windwards’.

Dwain Gill was elected unopposed as Vice President, replacing long-standing Vice President- Julian Charles.

Messrs. Kezron Walters, and Dougal James were returned as Secretary and Treasurer respectively.

The meeting also saw the installation of two new selectors, with former Windward Islands captain, Liam Sebastien, and former first-class player, Craig Emmanual, replacing Trevor Shillingford and

Greg Wilson.

The selection panel will continue under the chairmanship of Steve Mahon with the other member being Roland Wilkinson.

The selectors’ first assignment will be to observe three Best vs.

Best ‘red ball’ matches in Grenada from July 18 to July 30, 2021.

Gill will continue as a CWI Director for Windward Islands and will be joined in that capacity by current St. Lucia National Cricket Association president, Mr. Carol Henry.

Romel Currency and Clement Marcellin were elected alternate directors for one year.

In addition to the elections, the meeting also received a comprehensive proposal from the Cricket Development Committee, chaired by Miles Bascombe.

The proposal promotes an integrated skill-based data-centric framework

Dwain Gill –new Vice President of the WICB. for cricket development in the Windward Islands, comprised of Data Centralization and Accessibility, Skills Testing and Benchmarking, Coaching Development, and Elite Player Programmes.

The Executive was mandated to: explore a Windwards T10 tournament this year; prepare a vaccination

Dr. Kishore Shallow policy for players, administrators, and other travelling functionaries of the WICB; establish a committee to conduct further constitutional review; complete the Strategic Plan by the next board meeting; and devise an honour roll for retired players and administrators.

I.B.A.ALLEN

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26. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Winston Soso: Patriotism personified HIS NAME was Trevor Winston Lockhart, given by his mother Olive Lockhart. How he engraved the soubriquet Winston So-so is another story. From childhood developed an affinity to music. He made drums from biscuit tins, played the ukulele and assembled a band with his peers.

He recalled his eagerness for renditions from persons like Alston ‘Becket’ Cyrus, Cyril ‘Scorcher’ Thomas, Jeffers ‘Sheller’ Alexis, and Ellsworth ‘Lifeboy’ Quammie at the carnival events staged those days in the pre-Lenten festival.

It is perhaps symbolic that when the changeover to July Mas occurred in 1977, Soso and the band Clymax was part of the cultural transformation.

Soso had fine-tuned the vocal cords singing with the group Volume Five, which was forerunner to Clymax. The number ‘Dianne’ remains one of the country’s trademark productions.

For nearly forty-five years, Winston Soso stood out as a genuine symbol of Vincentian folklore.

By the time he veered into the musical arena, he had distinguished himself as a goalkeeper of worth.

His acrobatics were pleasant on the eye and there was an obvious flair with which he carried out his work.

Those traits accentuated in the cultural arena.

Soso was one of the country’s innovators. He fused musical genres and came up with a repertoire of numbers that formed the basis for his global appeal. Soso had fans in Holland, Canada, USA, the Caribbean, and any place where culture was appreciated.

His connection with Frankie McIntosh and Granville Straker provided an added platform for his musical exploits. His list of compositions increased with rapidity including: ‘Rude gal posse,’ ‘I don’t mind,’ ‘Vengeance,’ ‘Hands in the air,’ ‘How some men love dey woman,’ ‘Ah feel to party tonight,’ ‘Don’t throw stones,’ ‘Congratulations,’ ‘Is me who have yo woman,’ ‘Panty man.’

It was easy for Soso to gain recognition on the local scene. He placed second in the national calypso competition at the turn of the transition.

When the Soca competition was added to the carnival agenda in 1996, Soso was the first monarch. Viewers recall him appearing in a skimpy jump suit, a situation engendered by the absence of his luggage somewhere on his journey from his New York based sanctuary.

Soso maintained his respect for Vincentian musical arranger Frankie McIntosh, honoured recently by the University of the West Indies for his contribution in that field.

Soso was one of those artists who formed the core of Caribbean artists who worked along with the collaboration engineered between Straker and Frankie McIntosh.

Soso had connections with Sion Hill and Paul’s Avenue, two areas in St. Vincent with a reputation of natural resistance to colonial oppression.

The Nelson Bloc Mas band paid tribute to Soso in 2012 with a portrayal dubbed ‘Dat is Sos.’ In 2014, he was appointed as Cultural Ambassador.

Soso earned the respect of many of his colleagues. Scorcher reflected on Soso’s patriotism: “In sports, music, he was front and centre, always ready to give, always ready to serve, never had a negative thing to say about anyone.”

Arrangements are being made for the burial. If it does not happen here, there will be a Memorial Service.

Reference to Winston Soso will not be complete without reference to Johnny Straker, based at the local national Broadcasting Corporation.

Straker emerged as the Soso mascot, noted for publication of Soso’s creations. Straker confessed his admiration for Soso from since he “Starker” was growing up.

The bond strengthened in 2008 when Soso would send versions of his release for Starker’s assessment.

Straker will use a programme on radio Saturday, July 24 in tribute to his departed hero.

THE VINCENTIAN joins in offering condolences to the family.

Obed McCoy – a secret weapon T20 CRICKET SPECIALIST Andre Russell believes Vincentian Obed McCoy can be the West Indies’ secret weapon heading into this year’s T20 World Cup. This bold assessment was reported by Louis Cameron writing on the website cricket.com.au on July 8, 2021.

Russel was heaping praise and encouragement after, in the first T20 against Australia played in St. Lucia, “McCoy had a remarkable night that saw him collect a wicket with his first delivery, go on to concede 17 runs from the following five balls, take a contender for catch of the series before finally claiming the match-sealing wicket that sparked frenzied celebrations,” Cameron wrote.

McCoy first played for the West Indies in 2018 and 2019, but the towering left-armer came

into his own this year in taking 17 T20I wickets at 15, going at only 7.08 per over in games against Sri Lanka, South African and now Australia.

Russell, believes bowlers like McCoy, who is already noted for his back-of-the-hand slower balls and who is fresh into international cricket, can often have immediate success.

“He’s a little secret weapon for us,” Russell told cricket.com.au postmatch.

“Sometimes when playing in world cricket, the first two years or couple of months on the scene you’re going to be dangerous.

“No one really knows him. The back-of-thehand slower ball and then the variations — I hope it can continue to work for us.

“I think it’s a good advantage … He’s been working very hard and I

Obed McCoy celebrates one of his wickets in the recent tT20 series between Australia and the West Indies. think this is his time to shine.”

As for McCoy, he said after that 18-run victory against the Aussies, “Normally on that surface the ball has nice bounce and carry but I was just trying to mix up my pace as much as I can……. . I noticed the

spinners were getting a bit of turn so I thought my slower balls would grip.”

He prompted jubilant scenes when he dismissed Josh Hazelwood, last wicket, to ensure victory for the WI. (Source: Louis Cameron (cricket.com.au)

An elated Maloney heads for Japan this country and myself,” she told THE VINCENTIAN. The 22-year-old track athlete will compete in the 800m “Preparation…, for the most part, everything has been good,” she shared, adding, “My intention is to go out there and represent my country to the best of my ability. I am also hoping to do a new personal best, God’s willing.”

And Shafiqua sees beyond the track, saying, “I am looking to the experience of the Olympic Games. Every Shafiqua Maloney all set experience in life contributes to your and ready for the success later on. This Olympics in Japan. would be the biggest SHAFIQUA MALONEY, stage I have ever competed on and this one of three Vincentian experience would no athletes who will doubt contribute participate in the 2021 positively to other Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, from July experiences I will have after the Olympics.”

23 to August 8, is She took time out to obviously elated. thank: “the Lord for “Going to my first Olympics…, words can’t blessing me with a really describe. This has special ability; my been a lifelong dream of mother Jessica Maloney for making the sacrifices mine, and I am happy to get me to where I am and excited about the opportunity to represent today; Dale Ottley who,

in the early stages of my life, guided me and made sure I was on a positive path; Godfrey Harry and the XCeed Sports Club for nurturing me from when I first arrived at the Thomas Saunders Secondary School; Michael ‘Mercy’ Ollivierre who worked tirelessly with me when he realized my potential and guided me.”

Recognition was also paid to: “Janice Daley who was my legal guardian for 3 years while in St. Kitts and who, together with ‘Mercy’, helped to get me where I am today; Mr. Wilkinson who was my

coach in St. Kitts and set me along the path to an Athletic Scholarship to the US; my Coach Christopher (Chris) Johnson who over the past 3 years molded me into the athlete I am today; the University of Arkansas for the resources provided to me as a student-athlete; TASVG for the opportunity to go to the Olympics - they could have sent anyone else; my support system in the US — family and friends, and others who have over the years supported and encouraged me.”

I.B.A.ALLEN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021. 27.

Classifieds

Bequia Community Centre woes From Backpage.

He fumed, “What is worse, is that people were in the dark and nobody knew what was going on until the work started. Somebody said there was hammering and lumber was being moved into the Centre and I went down last Wednesday to investigate.”

Dr. Friday said that was when he found out about the plan to house the clinic staff as well as accommodate the Magistrate’s Court.

Dr. Friday expressed that the move to relocate the facilities to the Community Centre without prior notice to the villagers was “totally disrespectful” and “a denial of their rights and privileges.”

He called on residents to raise their voices in concern about the removal of an essential service in their lives.

AUGUSTUS LAWRENCE CAINE a.k.a. Bapoo & Big Ben Sunday, 18th July, 2021 Stubbs S.D.A Church Viewing: 10:00 a.m.

Service: 11:00 a.m.

Interment: Stubbs Cemetery

HERMUS PATRICK Saturday, 17th July, 2021 Layou Methodist Church Viewing: 10:00 a.m.

Service: 11:00 a.m.

Interment: Layou Cemetery

DAVID HORNE a.k.a. Seto Sunday, 18th July, 2021 S.D.A. Church Kingstown Viewing: 11:00 a.m.

Service: 12:00 p.m.

Interment: Kingstown Cemetery

TRAVEZ VASQUEZ FERNANDEZ Sunday, 18th July, 2021 Ebenezer S.D.A Church, Bellvue Viewing: 10:00 a.m.

Service: 11:00 a.m.

Interment: Park Hill Cemetery

CRISPIN ALEXANDER ROBINSON Saturday, 17th July, 2021 Fellowship Baptist Church, Ratho Mill Viewing: 9:30 a.m.

Service: 10:30 a.m.

Interment: Golden Vale Cemetery

DR. KENNETH RANDOLPH VINCENT JOHN Tuesday, 20th July, 2021 6W *HRUJH¶V Cathedral Kingstown Viewing: 12 noon Service: 1:00 p.m.

Interment: 6W *HRUJH¶V Cathedral Church Yard

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FRIDAY, JULY

23, 2021

VOLUME 115, No.29

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

BEQUIA COMMUNITY CENTRE WOES Story by SHERON GARRAWAY Photos Javan Stowe THE COMMUNITY of Paget Farm on the Grenadine island of Bequia is having quite some time figuring out what is becoming of their Community Centre.

Member of Parliament for the Northern Grenadines, Dr. Godwin Friday on Tuesday, on the New Democratic Party’s New Times Radio Programme aired on Nice Radio, described a move at hand to temporarily house the clinic in the Centre, as an outrage.

The upper floor houses the Magistrate’s Court, albeit once a week, but the inconvenience is compounded by the fact that the Police Station has been “temporarily” housed on the ground floor of the Community Centre, for over a decade.

Friday lamented, “That was supposed to be temporary while they fix the Police Station. It’s now been over 10 years since the police station has moved. And the ground floor has been occupied by the police station for most of that time.”

Dr. Friday said the people in Paget farms and the immediate surroundings have, traditionally, used the Community Center for various activities. Now, they have nowhere to have their functions.

He noted that it was used for wedding

receptions, youth group meetings, funerals, after school and exercise classes and even government related functions.

An infuriated Friday declared, “You can’t just take away something from the community.

Nobody fussed very much about downstairs because they figured eventually they would rebuild the police station and they would get that part of the building to use again as a public facility. That hasn’t happened and it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen anytime soon.”

Yes, he admitted, the people used the upper floor because the Magistrate’s Court use was confined to one day a week.

Dr Friday claims that now, the clinic at Paget Farm has been run down to the point where it’s not functional and it has to be repaired.

He explained, “They did no repairs on it for the past 20 years, now they have essentially closed the building because it’s not safe……

So what they have done, is taken over the Community Center to put the clinic …… . there and they have divided the building…. the room is divided in half. One half is going to be subdivided into various rooms for the doctors, the nurses, etc. as a clinic. And another section will be assigned to the Magistrate’s court.”

The Paget Farm Community Centre will no longer be made available to the community for accommodating meeting, weddings and other social activities.

Dr. Friday said that while the clinic is needed, the residents should not be made to choose between two important public goods, because the government has allowed it to become a situation where there is a crisis.

Continued on Page 27.

Signs of repair work that has already begun on the Centre.

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