The Vincentian PDF-23-08-19

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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FRIDAY,

AUGUST 23, 2019

IN THIS ISSUE OF : THE VINCENTIAN

VOLUME 113, No.30

Woman wants justice Page 3

www.thevincentian.com

Venezuelans looking for work Page 4

EC$1.50

Purchase Balliceaux Page 14

Sir Vincent laid to rest Page 15

„I WILL NOT BE SILENT,‰ SAYS FRIDAY

Adventists celebrate Page 17

Dr. Godwin Friday will not be silenced by the Prime Minister’s intention to sue him.

interest.

The matter in question was the developments surrounding the river defense work at the Yarabaqua River, a project originally funded by the Caribbean Development Bank.

The CDB had, upon review, withdrawn its funding for the project declaring that there had been misprocurement in the process leading up to the award of the tender to a company which, it was discerned, had had no previous experience in the nature of works to be undertaken in the Yarabaqua River project.

The CDB, reportedly, had requested of the government of St. Vincent and the Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, is going after Dr. Friday but Grenadines, to repay with interest whatever monies has let the media off this time. had already been advanced towards the project.

Dr. Gonsalves said on Tuesday, during a press by: DAYLE DA SILVA conference he hosted, that he intended to take legal action against Dr. Friday for remarks he (Friday) LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION DR GODWIN Friday did not made against Gonsalves and the government, in say much on the recent disclosure made by Prime reference to the Yarabaqua River Project.

Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves that he (Gonsalves) Dr. Friday, in addressing the issue, is said to intended to take legal action against him for comments have, according to Gonsalves’ claim, hinted that Dr. made at a July 30 press briefing.

Gonsalves and the Unity Labour Party He did, however, assert, in a brief interview with administration were guilty of mischief in public THE VINCENTIAN last Wednesday, that he office, as it related to the awarding of the contract thought he was reasonable in his comments, and for the project in question. insisted, with a stern tone of voice, that he did not “A lot of newspapers and news sites reported on intend to be silent on mattesr. this, and they can be sued,” Gonsalves told the press According to Dr. Friday, he had a right to conference. comment on the issue as it was a matter of public He explained that the publication of a defamation

was in itself defamation, however, he said that while news outlets ought to be very careful in providing coverage, he had no interest in taking legal action against any media entity.

Developments since CDB withdrawal The Prime Minister went on to say that he was not surprised by the release issued by the CDB, in which the institution indicated that it found nothing to indicate any acts of fraud or corruption, even though it declared the development as a misprocurement.

The issue arose after Cameron Balcombe, Managing Director of Bally and Bally Investments Limited, in a letter dated September 14, 2018 to the Chief Engineer in the Ministry of Works, objected to the awarding of the contract to Reliable Construction.

This letter was also copied to the CDB, and in May this year, the CDB responded saying that they had carried out its own investigation, conducted its own review, and declared misprocurement, and requested the government to repay monies already drawn down from the project.

A release made by the CDB, following a meeting here between the Bank’s President Warren Smith, and members of Cabinet including the Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves, that there was nothing to suggest any evidence of fraud or corruption.

Continued on Page 3

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2. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

News

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. 3.

News 3 14 women complete Pattern Making Course Instructor Kimya Glagow keeps a watchful eye on one of the participants at work.

industry and its practices, to further entrepreneurship and employment opportunities, especially for youth and women.”

According to one of the Course participants display their certificates in the company of Instructor participants, “This course was an Kimya Glasgow (front 2nd from left) . eye opener. It put us right into ON TUESDAY 13TH AUGUST, 14 women strive to advance a sustainable local the thick of things. The facilitator A course participant proudly stands next completed an 8-week Pattern Making economy by not only providing was very knowledgeable and to her creation.

Course at Bequia Threadworks, under the exquisite lifestyle products and design knew how to break-down tutelage of designer Kimya Glasgow. services, but also accessible quality According to Ms Glasgow, “In order information to all levels.”

Bequia Threadworks is a non-profit training. Ms. Glasgow’s course for the SVG garment sector to grow, it The 14 participants were taught organisation founded in 2018 to offer represented the epitome of professional is important to raise standards of various pattern making principles, quality sewn products, services and yet practical skills development production, to be competitive on an including drafting flat garment training. training, and we could not have been international level, creating a viable patterns from scratch, measuring Set up by the Grenadines more impressed with her programme path to export. By increasing skills clients, sizing, industry terminology Partnership Fund, the venture is and outputs.” and knowledge at all levels of the and standards, use of tools and based in Port Elizabeth, Bequia, and The participants came from diverse sector, the garment industry can be a equipment, and an introduction to functions: as a resource centre, offering backgrounds, including Threadworks key income-generator for all grading and resizing patterns. training in sewing, textiles and fashion employees, sewing hobbyists and stakeholders. My prime objective is (Submitted by Ms. Kimya Glasgow) design; a retail shop space; and a professional seamstresses looking to empowering and educating production space that aims to produce improve skills and knowledge. participants on the Fashion Design ethical and sustainable clothing as a part of the growing ethical brand movement.

According to Bequia Threadworks Manager Jessica Jaja, “Our several young men walking in the A LOCAL NEWS SERVICE - ANN commitment to empowering the opposite direction.

Bequia community through workshops has shared with THE VINCENTIAN One on the men walked up to him the reactions of a woman to a video such as the Pattern Making Course and made a threatening gesture, after posted on social media. offered by Ms. Kimya Glasgow is which he slapped the victim.

The video captured a number of rooted in our organisation’s mission Pope walked away, even as another and ethos. At Bequia Threadworks, we men inflicting punishment on a young man accosted him, but a supposedly mentally ill man, in an relative of the victim came to his incident that rescue. is believed to According to Roban, as quoted in a have occurred last Friday or release shared by ANN, “The bad thing about it, why it hurts so much, Saturday. is because that’s the village that he The everybody. When he went into grew up. So, if he cannot be woman, business, he gave and he gave and he Keisha Roban, comfortable in his own village, where gave. He wanted to make everybody Continued from Front Page else can he be comfortable?” declared feel happy,” she said.

She continued to express her herself to be She said she decided to share the “YOU WANT THE CDB to disgust saying, “People can’t just the sister of experience of her relative because say something where there is decide to walk up and slap somebody the victim, people may not have an opportunity to not?” Gonsalves questioned.

Lennox ‘Boots’ because you feel like slapping them, or see the abuse meted out to mentally-ill As far as the project was Pope, a former kick somebody because you feel like persons, and admonished the young concerned, the Prime kicking them because they are not businessman. men who “refuse to do something Minister announced in the what you think they are, or maybe According meaningful with their time other than days following the they smell bad. to firsthand to do things to hurt people.” misprocurement declaration, “If these young men can do this at accounts of The woman said she would like to that government will fund the high day time, then what else can they see the law enforcement authorities the video, it Dr. Warren Smith, CDB river defensive works, and do when it’s dark night? This is really investigate the matter and the young President, fuelled further public showed Pope indicated its intention to walking along my concern,” she added. comment with his finding of men involved prosecuted. retain Reliable Construction She related that the victim was a the Chester ‘no acts of fraud’.

ANN reported that a report has Co to undertake the work.

Cottage public gentle person before his mental been made to the police in expectation that work on the On Tuesday, he said that a road when he illness. “Nothing was too good to give Georgetown. project would re-commence draft contract had been to anyone. He loved children. He loved encountered soon. prepared and expressed the

A call for justice

“I will not be silent,” says Friday

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4. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

One man charged for Diamond murder

Stories by: HAYDN HUGGINS UP TO PRESS TIME Wednesday, one person had been charged, as police continued investigations into the shooting death of three persons in separate incidents between Friday, August 16 and Monday, August 19.

Keshurn Sayers, 26year-old labourer of Brighton, was taken before the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on

Tuesday charged with the murder of Odonald Sylvan Nanton, a 41year-old mechanic of Diamond.

Nanton’s body with multiple bullet wounds was discovered in a vehicle at Diamond close to 6 a.m. August 16.

Sayers was not called upon to plea during his brief appearance before Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett on Tuesday.

The matter was adjourned to September 3, and transferred to the

Serious Offences Court.

Meanwhile, police are continuing investigations into last Friday night’s shooting death of Nyanga Sam of Paul’s Avenue, and Monday night’s shooting death of Marcus Corridon of Belair, who were shot at Paul’s Avenue and Fountain respectively.

Eleven (11) of the 14 homicides recorded, up to press time, for the year, were categorized as murder, six being gunrelated.

Keshurn Sayers – murder accused.

Men charged in robbery upsurge WITHIN the past week, police have arrested and charged several youngsters, as they continued investigations into reports of an upsurge in robberies and burglaries in the Diamond, Brighton, Villa, Arnos Vale areas.

On Monday, Shamol Williams and Jovanny Stephens, both of Diamond, were taken before the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on joint charges of robbery and aggravated burglary.

The men are accused of using a gun to rob retired school teacher Jeff Morgan of EC$500 in cash, a laptop valued EC$3,000 and a cellular phone EC$1,000.

The two are also charged with entering Morgan’s home as a trespasser, and at the time, had in their

possession a weapon of offence, to wit, a gun.

The offences were reportedly committed in the early morning hours of July 26 at the Diamond Housing Scheme where Morgan was residing.

The men were not required to plea to the indictable charges when they stood before Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett on Monday.

Michael Richards of Diamond was also taken before the Senior Magistrate on Monday on charges of robbery and assault, causing bodily harm.

Richards is accused of using a gun to rob Brenton Pope of Lauders.

He is also accused of assaulting Pope causing him bodily harm.

Those offences were reportedly committed at

Diamond August 2.

Richards was not called upon to plea.

Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche strongly objected to bail for all three defendants in relation to the robbery and aggravated burglary charges.

Delpleche pointed out that he had been informed of an upsurge in robberies and burglaries in the Diamond, Brighton, Villa and Arnos Vale areas, and investigators are seeking to make some headway into this upsurge of which the accused men are of interest to the police.

The prosecutor added that the stolen items as well as the firearms allegedly used in the crimes, have not been recovered.

Delpleche expressed

the view that it was highly possible for the defendants to impede the investigations if they were released on bail, and asked that they be remanded at this stage, so the police could continue their investigations.

Attorney Samantha Robertson, who represented Stephens, indicated that she would not resist the prosecutor’s submissions, based on the reasons he gave for his objection.

The other men were unrepresented.

The Senior Magistrate remanded the men and adjourned the matter to September 3.

The matters were transferred to the Serious Offences Court which is not currently sitting.

Illegal Venezuelans looking for work?

ONE OF TWO Venezuelan nationals who appeared before the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court Tuesday on charges of illegal entry, said they were here in search of a better way of life.

“We came her to look for work. We came to look for a better way of life,” said Franklyn Montano who speaks a little English.

The 27-year-old was charged with entering the state by boat at a place other than at a Port of Entry, and entering the state by boat and disembarking without the consent of an immigration officer. The offences were committed on July 31.

His fellow native Enrique Garcia, 26, stood alongside Montano in the dock while the charges were read to them through an interpreter.

Garcia pleaded guilty to entering the state by boat on August 16, and disembarking without the consent of an immigration officer, entering the state at a place other than at a Port of Entry, and entering the state without a passport.

Senior Magistrate’s Rickie Burnett told the men, “We all know what is happening in Venezuela, it’s no secret, but we have to uphold the laws”.

Burnett also made it clear, “We have nothing against Venezuelans,” before handing down the penalties.

Garcia was ordered to pay the Court $1,500, while Montano was fined $1,000.

The fines were ordered to be paid forthwith, with an alternative of two months in prison in respect of each defendant.

The Magistrate also ordered that the men be removed from the country, after paying the fines, or on completion of their sentences.

Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), acting on information received, had arrested the men at Pirates Bar, Kingstown, around 12:15 p.m. August 17.

On executing a search warrant, the lawmen went to an inner room of the building where they met the men dressed in diving gear hiding under some benches.

The Court heard that the operator of the business, identified as Obrian, was also taken up by the police, but was released pending further investigations.

Police not trained to abuse citizens THE ROYAL St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) High Command has assured that, “All allegations reported against police officers to the relevant authority will be investigated on their merits so that justice can be done, based on the facts presented”.

The assurance came in a press statement dated August 19, 2019, which added that the Police Force generally is concerned about recent reports of allegations that some police officers were physically abusing citizens with whom they come into contact.

These reported allegations, according to the release, have been publicized by local media outlets on social media.

The release impressed that among

the duties of every member of the RSVGPF, is to protect and serve every citizen of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and its visitors.

“Police officers are trained professionally in the field of policing and, while the Police Act and the Criminal Procedure Code of St. Vincent and the Grenadines give special powers and authority, that power and authority must be used within the confines of the laws of SVG. Police officers, therefore, must not only enforce the law, but equally uphold the law as well”.

The High Command explained that police officers are never trained to use excessive force, but are trained and encouraged to only use the force that is necessary to de-escalate every situation they face.

The most recent release from the High Command of the RSVGPF reiterated that among the duties of every member of the RSVGPF, is to protect and serve every citizen of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and its visitors.

The statement went on to outline that, “The very nature of police work, at times, can put the police and the public they serve at odds, and what is more important is for the police and

the public to work together and have a mutually beneficial relationship that will result in not just safer communities but increased trust and cooperation”.

V Bequia poet launches first book

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23 , 2019. 5.

Arts

BEQUIA POET and social activist Dillon Ollivierre launched his first book of poetry entitled ‘En Route to Self and Society’ on Sunday August 11th, 2019 at Spring Hotel Bequia.

The launching was made possible with support from Bank of St.Vincent and the Grenadines and Spring Hotel Bequia.

According to Ollivierre, the book is a collection of fifty poems divided into three

sections: Family, Faith and Youth and Society the three most important pillars in his life — and bears testimony to what happens when persons embrace God’s gift with the right attitude.

When asked about what he hopes to achieve through his book, Ollivierre said the poems are aimed at evangelizing, addressing social issues and paying homage to persons who have played a critical

role in his development.

The lanch brought together family, friends and strong supporters of Mr. Ollivierre’s poetry, including former minister of culture and current President of the Vincentian Association of Artists Writers and Producers Ms. Rene Bapiste and Editor of the Compass Publishing Ltd Ms. Sally Erdle.

Ms. Baptiste, in her remarks, shared how she and poet, novelist and playwright Blazer Willaims were both ‘moved by not just the rhythm and rhyme but the style, the pros, the chosen language, the expression, the topics that Ollivierre tackled.

She also encouraged those in attendance to follow Ollivierre’s

example because “it’s not always working in a gang or with a bandwagon of people it’s sometimes standing by yourself because you are able to project that pureness, that innocence of your action.”

Ms. Sally Erdle, dug into the archives of the Compass Publishing Ltd. And shared one of Ollivierre’s first published submission entitled, ‘In Love’, giving those in attendance a glimpse into early stages of the poet’s journey.

Ollivierre, in fact, credits the Compass for providing an initial avenue for his poetry and for challenging him to think outside the box so as to develop his critical thinking skills.

Persons who would

like to purchase a copy can do so via https://www.blurb.com/b/ 9557676-en-route-to-selfand-society or by

contacting Mr. Ollivierre via dillonollivierrepoetry@gm ail.com. The cost per book is $50 ECD.

6. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23 , 2019. 7.

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8. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. 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

The promise of true integrity IN AS MUCH AS SIR VINCENT Beache was showered in praise befitting of a true statesman, he left a legacy that some would consider as having a number of empty pages.

Not least among these is his promise to ensure that Integrity Legislation would form part of the volumes of law that we already have.

Needless to say, the view from one side turned out to be a different view from the other side, and Sir Vincent left us without even a whisper of Integrity Legislation to come.

The truth is, Integrity Legislation is the antithesis to politicians who seek the chambers of public office.

If we were to ask the major political parties here for their position on three important arms of an integrity system, i.e. freedom of information, an anticorruption commission, and political donations, they would probably respond but fall woefully short of what is required to ensure transparent and accountable government.

But we have not challenged our parties thus, and therefore, could forgive ourselves for thinking that successive governments consider themselves doing the community a favour if they agree to deliver, in an incremental fashion, modicums of accountability and transparency.

But they have not, period!

We elect people to represent our interests, not their individual interests or the interests of their party machine.

Our taxes pay the wages of our elected representatives and contribute, in part, to the bank accounts of political parties.

If for no other reason, paying taxes gives us the right to know not just about the decisions made in our name, but also the processes that led to those decisions.

So, consider this: in exchange for our taxes, we ought to be demanding greater transparency and accountability on public sector matters; and that includes government-business relations that involve the spending of taxpayers’ dollars.

And let us not think that when we demand such, that we are complicating the issue. In fact, we do so for the simple and straight forward reason: transparency and accountability now, not later.

Transparency and accountability form part of the cornerstone of our ethical health and our democratic political system.

They make the difference between living in free and open societies as against dictatorships and totalitarian regimes.

Without them, chaos ensues, systems breakdown, economic growth falters, and social needs of the citizenry cannot be met.

And, of course, they matter to voters, for transparency and accountability remove the mystery and secrecy that some deliberately allow to shroud many aspects of government and public-sector decision-making (a la Tenders Board).

Unless the veils of mystery and secrecy are lifted, voters cannot make an informed choice.

But to return to the issue of economic growth, profit is not a dirty word. However, the means by which it is obtained can be dirty. Secrecy leads to corruption; it fertilizes corrupt practices.

And this is no rabbit from a hat deduction; extensive research confirms the strong connection between secrecy and corruption.

To ensure that we don’t reach a point where unethical, even illegal, means are used to achieve ends that benefit the few and disadvantage the many, our integrity system needs to be strengthened.

The refusal by successive governments to do this, explains, in part, their fear of being put to the sword by those who elected them, but whom they see as mere votes and to whom their sense of obligation is thwarted.

But before too long, an aware citizenry will lose trust (if they have any) in members of parliament, political parties and the political system.

We need to be able to trust politicians to deliver fair outcomes for all citizens. If the people trust those making the decisions, and the processes used to arrive at those decisions are transparent, people are much more likely to understand the reasoning behind a policy, and perhaps accept why it has to be so.

MPs and the governments they form have to thread their way through the minefield of public opinion.

But one area is largely uncontested: the need for greater transparency and accountability and integrity. Ask Sir Vincent.

Introduction and Historical backdrop (A Message from Leader of the Opposition) ON OCTOBER 27, 2000, ST. VINCENT and the Grenadines celebrates its 21st anniversary of independence. Anniversaries are opportunities or moments for reflection on our nation’s condition and its journey through time.

Although the nation-state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is young, our nation, as a community of peoples, has been much longer in its making. Our country has had a pre- Columbian history. The sturdy and proud descendants of the indigenous peoples whom Christopher Columbus met on one of his voyages in the late fifteenth century, and who survived genocidal attempts to exterminate them, and today an integral part of our nation and by extension, of our Caribbean civilisation.

European conquest, settlement and exploitation of our country conspired to populate our country with slaves from Africa and indentured servants from Madeira (Portugal) and India to serve European planter/mercantile/industrial interests. By 1763, European rivalries for suzerainty over our country had come to an end with the ceding of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (formerly St. Vincent) at the Treaty of Paris to Britain. For 216 years (1763 to 1979), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a British Colony and its political, administrative and legal institutions were fashioned infused with British, mainly English, values, although this infusion did not succeed in making our society a carbon copy of the British much to the displeasure or dismay of generations of local “mimic men” who essentially saw England as their home.

Our nation has been molded through the cauldron of colonialism, imperialism, slavery and indentureship, and lit by the beacon of independence and freedom. In the process, our people have emerged as a harmonious, though heterogenous, whole from diverse races. Metaphorically speaking, we are the songs of the Caribs, the rhythm of Africa, the melody of Europe, the cords of Asia, the home-grown lyrics the Caribbean itself.

The quest for national independence ignited the passion and reason of Chatoyer, shaped the solidarity of Hugh Mulzac and Elma Francois in the diaspora, sparked the consciousness of George Mc Intosh, and suffused the nationalism of Ebenezer Joshua and Milton Cato. The steadfastness of Cato to the great cause of Independence must be contrasted with the timidity of James Mithchell who boycotted the Independence conference in London and who proclaimed before the altar of infamy that, in the colonial condition of associate statehood, the nation was “as safe as sardines”. Joshua’s faltering towards constitutional decolonisation and freedom.

Since universal adult suffrage in 1951, this country has seen three dominant political leaders so far: Joshua, Cato and Mitchell. In a fundamental sense, each of these leaders built upon the earlier labours of others and the efforts of each other, but it must be said that the case against Mitchell before the bar of history for his cynical manipulation of the country’s democratic institutions would be difficult to rebut.

Joshua blazed the land with his struggles on behalf of the workers and peasants; Cato laid the basis for the building of a modern social-democratic state; and Mitchell sought to continue these efforts but he has led a regime of disfigurement of democratic institutions and has permitted the enthronement of disreputable aliens in our midst, to the detriment of the common good.

THE PEOPLE AND DEMOCRACY Periodically, over the past 21 years, the people, spontaneously or in organisations, have acted resolutely in mass public protests to uphold the precepts of democracy, freedom and good governance.

It has mattered not which party has been in political office. For example in 1981, the people demonstrate against the Labour Party government which attempted to enact the so-called “Dead Bills”. And in 2000, the people, in sustained public protests, ensured that the NDP government withdraw the iniquitous Pensions and Gratuities for Members of the House of Assembly Bill and forced it to agree to early elections some three years before they were constitutionally due. Over the last two years, the crisis of governance engendered by the NDP has prompted repeated public protests. The people and their organisations have had to take to the streets to restrain the NDP government from its more undemocratic and insensitive excesses. The people have increasingly become the guardians of democracy against the Leviathan state.

Undoubtedly, this process has been facilitated by the arrival of FM radio stations with their popular phoneprogrammes. The international environment forced the government to grant operational licences to these radio stations. Without “good governance”, international aid would dry up; and one index, but only one, by which “good governance” is measured, is the freeing up of the electronic media.

To Be Continued…

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. 9.

Letters

Get rid of the ULP The other face of Marcus Garvey I KNOW a lot of my friends might just stop talking to me when I say that it is time to get rid of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) government and get rid of the ULP from our politics totally.

The ULP has been in power since 2001. If my Maths is correct, that amounts to approximately 19 years, almost half of the number of years we have been independent.

And while we can say that we have seen considerable development in our infra-structure and in tourism, we are not certain if we can afford to maintain that infrastructure, and tourism has developed at the expense of our agriculture. Now, we are about to sell out our aquaculture to foreigners.

But the thing that the ULP will best be remembered for is not

the airport or anything like that; it is the division that it has caused among our people. They turned out to be nothing but hypocrites with their call for ‘Together Now’.

Their ‘Together Now’ meant together in the ULP not as a people living together with different opinions and equality before the law.

The thing is though, as much as I say get rid of the ULP I am not enthralled by the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP).

Perhaps to get rid totally of the ULP, we must form a new political party and be careful not to include any former members of the ULP or the NDP in our future politics.

Time to clean the slate clean and begin afresh. Crazy thinking???

Bus Boy - Kingstown

Russell tricks us, again BACK to the old cricket debate. We just can’t seem to get enough of the CWI debacle.

Take the latest with the great Andre Russell.

No one would doubt that he is one of the world’s leading T20 cricketers — with both bat and ball.

Leagues seek him out with the biggest contracts, and he seems to be well-loved in places like India and Australia because of his T20 exploits.

I suppose if they played on Mars, he might also be the most sought after for matches there.

After falling short in the World Cup (it seems everybody but the selectors knew that Russell was far from fit), he returned to the Caribbean and was named in the WI squad for the three T20s against India, but he declined selection on the grounds that he was not fit.

Lo and behold, after ‘you-know-what’ in the face of the WI selections and Board, he pads up for the Vancouver Knights in this Canada Global T20 League. I tell you, Mr. Editor, money really talks.

I don’t know if Russell had some previous arrangement with CWI, but regardless of what that might have been,

then both the Board and Russell have taken West Indies cricket for yet another ride.

I would forget about Russell, if I were a WI selector, and move on.

These guys, like Gayle, have been making fools of us fans and supporters of WI cricket for too long.

They are no patriots.

Time to say goodbye to them once and for all.

Charles Edinboro

DURING this past week, there have been many articles in the media focusing on the life and time of Marcus Garvey, and stating what a paragon of virtue he was.

All these articles centred on his “humanitarian” achievements, and there is no doubt that he very much fought for and improved the status of the average black American.

However, what has been overlooked (either by accident or design) was that he was also a racial supremacist (holding the same views of racial separation as the KKK), a racial bigot (he was against mixed race marriages), antiSemitic and a crook.

He established a Shipping Line called Black Star Line to both

trade between USA & The Caribbean and USA & Africa. Although the “Line” only had 2 vessels, and each of these broke down to/from voyages to Cuba.

Through his newspaper, Negro World, the mouthpiece of his organization, The Universal Negro Improvement Alliance advertised that Black Star Line would offer passage back to Africa to who would wish to quit the USA and return to Africa, and the vessels would then return with African cargo for the US market. Many thousands of black Americans either bought shares in Black Star Line or booked and paid for passage to Africa. The only complication to this

was that Black Star Line did own a vessel that was capable, in safety, of crossing the Atlantic, and no such crossing(s) by any vessel ever took place.

When all this came to light, Garvey refused to return any of the passage money paid for travel on non-existent vessel(s), likewise refusing to refund any money paid towards obtaining shares in a Company that was fraudulently operated.

He laid the blame on everybody but himself.

Even to the extent of blaming both members of his own UNIA organisation and the NAACP. In consequence, he was fined USD$2500.00 for mail fraud offenses.

If one is going to celebrate the life of personages, it is more fair and truthful to tell of their complete action (both positive and negative), rather than just focusing on the positives and brushing the negatives to one side without mention.

A.W Indupp

THE STATE OF RADIO IN SVG: Waste of Precious Airtime “GOOD MORNING, and welcome to the programme. To those listening in the United States, in New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, California, students in Taiwan, Venezuela, Barbados….Mr. X, I know you are listening, so welcome to you.”

Editor, believe it or not, the above is heard on a talk show in SVG every Sunday morning.

Imagine sitting down to listen to what is supposed to be an informative programme, only to hear the host go on and on for 15 minutes, greeting listeners in “Trinidad, Bequia, Barrouallie, Campden Park, Antigua”….on and on and on.

A simple “good morning, and welcome to everyone listening to

the programme” will be sufficient, but it is obvious that the ‘radio people’ in SVG do not know the value of airtime.

I think that the programme is quite good, and I listen every Sunday, but someone has got to tell the host that these “greetings” are unnecessary and boring!

Another example of wasted airtime is, so-called talk show hosts allowing callers to talk for as long as they want. These impostors behind the microphone in the studio are not trained to control a conversation, so the caller is left to go on and on, often repeating themselves along the way.

And since I’m on the subject of radio in SVG, let me say that I

United States and Europe have subtle cultural differences. These differences, good or bad, are a manifestation of life experiences.

Dear Editor: Long time not touch base with The use of indecent language is not culture! you. Seems little SVG is having its fair share of regional attention, as the news about CDB’s It is a subculture born out of ignorance, frustration and the inability to express oneself. pronouncement of misprocurement in the awarding of a tender for a project it had agreed Many of our entertainers lack the ability to express their thoughts. They use curse words to fund in SVG, makes the rounds in the as filler words, which, over time, have led to region. our coarseness. It has led other people to mock We’ll see if the Dr. Ralph Gonsalves-led administration can live through this one, even Jamaicans by imitating our vulgarity.

Jamaicans have become a laughing stock if I expect the CDB to do its diplomatic because of our behaviour. We need serious intervention in the fallout. behaviour modification.

But that’s that.

The use of curse words has contributed I wanted, as usual, to share a little something from the Daily Observer newspaper negatively to our overall presentation of self.

Those of us who lack any formal education and of Tuesday 13th August, 2019, up here in Jamaica. As usual, it is my judgement that it the ability to interact between the social groups, eventually develop a negative complex has meaning for us, but your readers can of self. This, my friend, is a recipe for economic decide for themselves. It is abridged for isolation and the further criminal purposes of length. cannibalisation of communities.

To the supporters of removing the ban on Paul from Jamaica curse words, I ask: What are the positive outcomes for regular Jamaicans hearing and Use of Indecent language using curse words?

I do not see an upside.

Culture as defined is: “The arts and other manifestations of human intellectual Michael Brown achievement regarded collectively.” It is very Washington, DC, USA fluid and subtly changes over time based on miguelbro@yahoo.com one’s experience. Jamaicans who live in the

Indecent language

am appalled by the apparent incompetence of the socalled news casters. Either (1) most of them do not know how to read or (2) they do not proof-read before going on-air. Either way, it is embarrassing to hear these news readers stumble through the daily morning, midday and evening news. They seem to be unaware that this is the year 2019 and not 1969, which means that they are being heard all over the world.

Obviously, the proliferation of radio stations in SVG is responsible for this watered-down quality of on-air personalities.

Don Bobb, E.B. John, Theresa Daniel, Shelly Clarke, where are you?

ECQ

Where is the Integrity Bill?

The Editor: With great respect to the late Sir Vincent Beache, Job stated, “Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know my integrity.” (Job 31:6) In 1996, the ULP presented an Integrity Bill to the Parliament of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

That Bill was not passed in the House. Sir Vincent stated publicly then that when the ULP took government, if the Bill was not turned in law (words to that effect), he will resign.

The ULP got into government and has been in power from 2001, and death has forced Sir Vincent to resign.

Sir Vincent was part of the government who sold our national food basket — the Marketing Corporation - now we have to import over 60% of our food. May God judge him by his integrity.

Cont’d on Page 12

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10. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

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The Legacy of Sir Vincent Beache (Excerpt from the Eulogy delivered by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves)

his own inimitable style. We well OVER THE WIDE SPAN OF YEARS of Sir remember his Vincent’s political and governmental unique dance activism, he played major leadership roles in the conception and practical roll-out of a moves to the popular song: “We go mash dem down, cyar lose”. huge bundle of significant initiatives, Our Comrade Leader was a master including: the re-introduction of the sugar political organizer, thoughtful strategist, industry in 1977 – 1979; the land reform and astute tactician. He saw better and programme on former estates of Basil Balcombe, including Mt. Bentinck/Langley further than most. He displayed a calm acceptance of facts on the ground, of Park, Grand Sable, Colonarie, and Sans political realities; he never had a Souci estates; the introduction of several compulsion to brood over them but to new cash crops, and the enhanced diversification of agriculture, which earned fashion this real world, not an imagined one, to the benefit of his party and his him the title of the best Minister of country. He was possessed of a keen Agriculture ever. sense of political timing: Instinctively he Then there was the establishment of the Diamond Diary; the expansion of the knew urgency as well as patience and restraint; he tempted less astute political Campden Park Industrial Estate; the practitioners into elementary errors.

National Provident Fund and the original framework of the National Building the ULP Insurance Scheme; the Georgetown Undoubtedly, Vincent Beache was Hospital; the Petro-Caribe Project; the National Properties Company; the Argyle primarily responsible for building the International Airport; the modern Prison ULP as a formidable, well-oiled, easily mobilized machine at the grassroots at Belle Isle; the Constitutional Reform Process of 2002-2009; the modernization level, armed with a clear vision, a welland reform of the Police Force, including articulated philosophy, carefully-crafted the establishment of the Rapid Response policies, and detailed programmes. His house-to-house campaigning, his links Unit and the National Commission on with the people, his relaxed and focused Crime Prevention; the programmes of engagements, and his easy-going repair and construction of Police Stations, nation-wide; the introduction of manner, and his patience with people, were the stuff of legend. Men adored a modern machine readable e-passport him; women loved him; and the children and a sophisticated border security simply called him “Vincent”. system; the establishment of a modern Above all, Comrade Vincent loved institutional framework for the people. His politics was about people regulation of regional civil aviation and the setting up of the Eastern Caribbean and the improvement of their lives. He would tell the young men and women in Civil Aviation Authority and its achievement of Category One status; the our Party three things: (i) “If you don’t love people, don’t get into politics”. (ii) “If establishment of the modern Maritime you are not disciplined and committed in Administration; the shaping of the detailed trading rules in the early years your political work, stay out of active politics”; and (iii) “If the women or men of CARICOM particularly relating to in your life don’t support you in your inter-regional trade in agricultural and day-to-day political work and heg you manufacturing products; the SET about your political involvement, leave programme; the Geothermal Project; Public Sector Reform; and the pursuit of him or her, or leave the politics alone”.

Instinctively, Comrade Vincent an independent and progressive foreign Beache was philosophically a social policy. democrat; he was a nationalist and a This impressive list of practical regionalist; he was an internationalist. achievements elevate Sir Vincent as a The political outlook and composition of transformative leader who contributed immensely to the alteration of the socio- the core leadership of the ULP brought economic arrangements, for the better in the best out of him in all these respects. the people’s interest, in post-independent He valued political solidarity of likeminded people and groups. He eschewed St. Vincent and the Grenadines. a pristine individualism and realized that only through collective solidarity Outstanding Parliamentarian and action that real social progress is Further, Sir Vincent was an possible and sustainable. He was antioutstanding parliamentarian with a imperialist. He was non-communist but sharp mind, easy speaking style, and not anti-communist. Some people forget possessed of the demonstrable capacity that in 1997 he led the first ULP for detailed and well-researched presentations. He knew, authoritatively, delegation to Cuba. His ideological nonthe Rules of the House of Assembly, and communism did not stop him from engaging fruitfully with the Cuban was experienced in their application as comrades; he accepted the necessity and befitting a parliamentarian of 26 years. desirability of ideological pluralism in In Parliament, Sir Vincent had a our complicated world awash with legendary stamina; on one occasion in multiple contradictions. the late 1980s as Opposition Leader, he spent over two full days, from morning to way into the night, on his feet, debating Conclusion Sir Vincent’s life and work were the Annual Estimates and Budget. This shaped by his rural upbringing in South performance prompted the then Rivers; the liberation theology of government to change the rules of the Methodism and his belief in Almighty debate, so as to restrict the Opposition God; his education at the Grammar Leader to no more than four hours of School; his experience as a primary debate-time. school teacher; his migrant’s life in the On the political platform, our United Kingdom and Canada; his stint in Comrade Leader was compelling and persuasive in his delivery; he was always the British Air Force; his professional focused; he kept his audiences’ attention training in electronics and allied disciplines; his membership and with substance, humour, and a skillful leadership of the SVG Labour Party and use of the language of the folk. In his his paternity and leadership of the ULP; post-1994 campaigns, he grew to be his solidarity with his comrades; his love masterful on the platform; in the of, and for, people; his love for Lady comfortable and supportive embrace of his ULP, he even danced and pranced in Vida, his wife of 57 years and his six children and eleven grandchildren.

Introduction

The NDP and Sports Development THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY (NDP) is committed to the development of sports in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Our mission is to facilitate the emergence of a culture of sports through the elevation of sport as a significant pillar of national development.

The existing Sports Council Act was introduced by the NDP in recognition of the importance of sports to the human condition. In its original form, the Act addressed the need for an institutional framework to oversee the appropriate maintenance of existing sports infrastructure and expansion to ensure future growth.

As it stands now, the Act is in need of a comprehensive review to better meet the requirements of changing standards of international sports federations.

The intention of the NDP is to encourage the hosting of regional and international competitions for the following reasons: to provide regular competition which will encourage excellence in athletes; to generate greater interest in competitive sport; to facilitate the growth and development of the sports tourism sector of the national economy; to provide opportunities for individuals and organizations to fashion and develop sports specific administrative, organizational, technical and service skills as employment options, and to provide Vincentians with ahigh level competition at home.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines was once an established force in many sports. We were regionally and world rated in football and in netball. We were producing West Indies cricketers. We were sending track and field athletes in increasing numbers on athletic scholarships and to international competitions.

However, over the past eighteen years, our standing has declined drastically, as a result of neglect and lack of a proper vision for sports development. This is seen in the steady deterioration of playing facilities across the length and breadth of the island, and the fading of interest in various forms of organized sporting events.

For instance, in track and field, our athletes have been competing on surfaces that are not conducive to proper development. When our athletes compete at the InterPrimary and Secondary Schools’ Athletics Championships, they do so on grass; no national stadium and not a sign of an artificial track for our athletes to develop and acquire the skills necessary for competing at the regional and international levels.

Undoubtedly, it is a lack of vision by the Unity Labour Party (ULP) regime. They failed to construct the national stadium and provide an artificial track for our athletes. For eighteen years, the ULP regime has promised to deliver a national stadium but the mere fact that after all these years they cannot even find the boundaries of the national stadium site, is testimony to their incompetence and complete lack of interest in sports.

The promise of a national stadium was a ruse to win the votes of the youth and nothing more. As general elections approach, the ULP government has begun to make promises again. This time, they are promising an international standard athletics track. Let us not be fooled by the rhetoric of Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and Camillo Gonsalves. They have not delivered a stadium in eighteen years, and will never deliver that which they have now promised. Our athletes

deserve better, and can be assured that the NDP is committed to the construction of a national stadium.

The NDP will also implement a framework for upgrading and effectively managing facilities at the constituency and community level.

An NDP government will implement a Service, Opportunity and Support framework, which will ensure that sporting facilities are upgraded to accommodate their respective sporting disciplines.

Community Sport Councils will be developed and sustained so that they can take ownership and oversee maintenance of the established facilities, and support the programmes for physical activity and sport in their respective communities.

In addition, we will develop at least one playing field in each constituency, to the level that it can accommodate regionally organized sports. These facilities will be fully lit and will have stands and changing facilities.

Consideration will also be given to converting the surfaces of playing fields into artificial surfaces, particularly in areas where grass does not grow well.

We are an island, and water is a part of us, and the sport of swimming should be at a much higher level. Towards this end, the NDP will construct a National Aquatic Centre to attract national, regional and international competitions, and to grow the sport locally.

(The NDP takes this opportunity to congratulates the Swimming Association for the tremendous job it has been doing.)

Under the NDP, Sports will form part of the curricula within the schools from the primary level.

Students will be taught sports as a discipline, and skilled personnel will be employed to teach physical education.

Some of the other areas of development that the NDP will focus on include: the construction of a national indoor sports complex, floored with special sport flooring materials, to accommodate sports such as basketball, volleyball, netball, tennis and squash; provide sports scholarships to athletes who excel in their respective sporting discipline, to attend secondary school, college or university; implement a structure that ensures a proper foundation for the development of elite athletes; provide an effective system of sports medicine; establish an institution that caters for athletes who have displayed the capacity to excel in their respective sporting disciplines; provide schooling within this institution; provide appropriate coaches to facilitate the enhancement of the athletes at the institution, and develop a strong research and development component of this institution.

Further, we will ensure proper funding of sports for training and associated activities. A fixed percentage of funds from the National Lotteries Authority will be made available for sports development, and funding will be provided to properly-constituted national sporting organizations coordinated through the Ministry of Sports.

The NDP recognizes the importance of sports to our athletes, our people and our country, and will work relentlessly to ensure that sports has a place of prominence on the development agenda.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. 11.

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The battle for ideas

Hesed

“Goodness is about character integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people.” Dennis Mark Prager (born 1948) Radio host and political commentator.

This writer first encountered the word “hesed” while reading an article

by Amy Peterson in Our Daily Bread on December 9, 2018. The writer noted that hesed is a Hebrew word that regularly appears in the Old Testament of the bible. She further stated that the word appears twentysix times in Psalm 136. The English language does not possess a word that can accurately describe the meaning of this Hebrew word. However, the words that come closest to defining it would be “kindness,” “mercy,”, or “loyalty.”

God’s love for us is like that. We can never truly measure His kindness, His grace, and His mercy.

Neither can we ever fully understand or appreciate His faithfulness and loyalty. His is a steadfast kind of love. This is His character. As the writer in the devotional stated, “Hesed is a love that is based on covenant commitment; love that is loyal and faithful. Even when God’s People sinned, He was faithful in loving them. Steadfast love is an integral part of the character of God (Exodus 34:6).”

In our imperfections, we can never ever dream of loving as God does. We will always fall short. However, He does expect us to display love and kindness towards our fellow man — regardless of colour, class, nationality, sexual preferences, political allegiance, religious beliefs, and so on.

When we do, we discover that we have more in common than we previously thought. We are more alike than we are different. Such revelations encourage us to live in greater harmony. Such realisations encourage greater camaraderie and togetherness. When we embrace such shifts in our paradigms (by seeing others in a more positive light), we can be more civil and respectful of each other.

Augustine “Og” Mandino (19231926), the author of the best-selling book “The Greatest Salesman in the World”, invites us to embrace this challenge to be more civil to each other, when he beckons that, “Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again.”

Our lives improve exponentially when we pause to show acts of kindness to those around us. This is just as true for those individuals that we know intimately and hold dear, as it is for the stranger who crosses our paths along the road. Simple, innocent, acts of kindness can make others feel the warmth of our admiration and concern. We have the potential, the capacity, to be a blessing to those who interact with us

from time to time. This is not limited to those that we meet in person (faceto-face), but also those persons who feel our warmth, caring, and love from our Facebook messages, our Email messages, and our telephone calls (to mention a few). Little acts of kindness can make a significant difference in the lives of the receivers … and the givers too. God has a way of blessing those who are prepared to give selflessly; expecting nothing in return.

The story is told of a little dog that accompanied its master on a fishing expedition. The elderly man had walked with several worms that had been placed in an open can. He had procured these to use as bait for the fish. However, whenever the gentleman turned his back to cast his fishing line, a greedy crane would swoop down and take away one of the worms. The dog would bark at the crane in an effort to chase it away from his master’s bait. After several failed attempts, the dog decided to gaze at the crane as it flew away. It was then that the little canine discovered that the greedy crane was not as selfish as he had previously thought. She was actually taking the stolen worms to feed her four young open-beaked hatchlings. Moved by compassion, the dog decided that he would discontinue his efforts to chase away the industrious mother crane.

She was able to take as many as her hatchlings desired. To show her appreciation, the crane then basked in the shallow seas nearby and returned with a beak-full of fish for her newfound friend. One act of kindness had given birth to another. As the dog paused to be a blessing to the crane, he discovered that the crane had returned the favour many times over.

We can often be used as God’s hands and His feet. There may be individuals in our environment that have been praying and hoping for a blessing. God may very well want to use us to portray His acts of kindness, mercy, and love. He can and will use us to bless others if we will but make ourselves available to do so. Even when we find ourselves to be in situations of want, God can be speaking to us to give to someone in greater need. It is often at these times that we realise that we still appear to have so much. It is sometimes when we give from our dire needs that the blessings appear to be most magnified. So we give. We give food. We give clothing. We give materials. We give words of encouragement. We give and we are blessed. We show kindness, generosity, moral courage (as when we stand up and stand out to protect the oppressed). We note that it is not what we get from embracing the hesed … but what we become. We commit to unconditional love and unending kindness to and for our fellowman.

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

AMONG THE many scars we inflict on ourselves, are the feelings that we are not equal to ours, that we are poor because we don’t have the discipline and work ethic like others, or that where we live predetermines whether we are successful, unequal or poor. As we shall see our belief in wrong or bad ideas affects our ability to see through the fog deliberately created to prevent us from thinking clearly and going forward confidently into the future.

Sojourner Truth, the African American freedom fighter, tells us that she could have freed many more enslaved Africans had there been more who believed in their own self-worth and a burning desire to reclaim their freedom. In 1979, many of our people harboured grave doubts about our ability to survive as an independent nation. Even today, many will prefer to be wrapped in a colonial cocoon of the union jack or the stars and stripes.

The recent fiasco and subsequent debate surrounding the government’s decision to install the representative of colonial, imperial and genocidal England on the very day we celebrate Emancipation Day is clear evidence that post colonial SVG is not post colonial, 40 years on from the declaration of independence in 1979.

Take for example the fact that North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand are the wealthiest and most developed portions of the world. Take as well that these areas are populated predominantly by persons of European extractions. Does it therefore mean, as so many thinkers assume, that Europeans are smarter or work harder than any other persons or race on planet earth?

The answer is a resounding no. But to see the truth in patterns of world development and what might be responsible for development and underdevelopment, poverty and prosperity, we will have to take a longer panoramic view of the world.

European domination of the world is a relatively recent (as in the last 500 years) development. Five hundred years is a long time in human terms, but it is relatively short if we are thinking in terms of human history. For example, the emergence of Europe as a world power around 1470, is about the same time that Spain, Portugal and Italy were coming out from under a 700year Africans enlightening rulership.

If development and prosperity were unique to persons of European stock, we will be unable to explain the rapid rise, in the last 50 years, of Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, China and India.

Clearly, there is something other than race that explains development and prosperity. Some thinkers, among them Max Weber, argued that the Christian ethic found among Protestants explains the rise to dominance of Europe. On its face, this idea has to be rejected. Europeans for centuries have been the dominant powers in the world. They colonized the entire planet, brain washed much of the world into Eurocentric Christian thought, yet poverty and underdevelopment are still the order of the day in large swaths of the earth. Or is it that the Europeans are not that good at their colonizing craft?

Further, Asian countries have made great leaps forward from serf-like backwardness to modern societies representing cultures where Christianity is not the dominant religion. In fact, in Japan, India, China,

Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore, the religions of choice are Shintoism, Hinduism and Confucianism. In China, many of those who led the rapid rise to development were self-confessed atheists. Therefore, the religious belief of a people is not a good explanatory tool for their economic fortunes.

What about geography? Could it be that where you live on planet earth may explain growth and development?

Again, this theory falls short. Some say that the more temperate regions of the earth are more favourable for development. History belies such thinking. Tropical kingdoms in Kemet (Egypt), Ethiopia, Sudan, Mali, Dahomey, Ashanti, Zimbabwe; the civilizations of the , Mayan, Incas and Aztec of the Americas, the Indus valley civilization Mohenjo Dara and Harappa in Pakistan, all punch holes into the theory that an advanced civilization could not develop in non-temperate regions. Some may say that those are in the past. But a scientific mind will counter if it happened before, it could happen again. And it is happening in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique and Rwanda.

A variant of the geography theory is that people who live in the tropical climate are lazy by nature. It is claimed that the sun saps the energy of inhabitants thus making them docile and lazy. This notion is contrasted with the view that persons living in a temperate climate must be constantly on the go, if only to keep them from freezing to death. This constant movement, it is alleged, allows for greater mental agility and creativity.

And it is this mental nimbleness that presages the development and prosperity we see in countries dominated by Europeans.

There are a number of criticisms that can be levelled at this view of development, but we address only two.

One is that mental agility is a universal trait possessed by all peoples in all cultures. We see this particularly since 1960, following the rapid decolonization and pro-independence wave that has swept the world. Exposed to education, race and ethnicity are not a hindrance to excellence.

The other view, which those who prefer to look at religion, geography and cultural habits as clues for development rely on, but which is often ignored or vigorously opposed, is that the more developed world built their foundation on the backs of the rest of the world.

The ‘lazy and uncultured’ people of Africa, Asia and Latin America were the work horses, and their lands were the plantations that provided the raw material on which the developed world prospered and developed.

Further, the international architecture of economic, financial and trading relationships are so heavily biased in favour of the powerful, that few countries escape and move out of the cul de sac in which they are positioned.

Understanding these basic realities is a pre-condition for the development of strategy and tactics that can lead SVG and the Caribbean onto a path of more sustainable development. We refuse to learn, to our peril.

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

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12. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Open Letter to UN Secretary General, Presidents of UN Security Council, IMF, World Bank, CDB, and Sunday Times 23 August 2019 Dear Senior Officials Re: ULP Regime granting billions of dollars in Tax and Customs Exemptions annually to Taiwan and White Superrich of Mustique and Canouan, and running SVG Treasury dry; converting Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, my country of birth, into a SLUM with very poor quality education for the children of the black, poor and powerless indigenous population.

The results of the 2019 Caribbean Examination Council Secondary Education Certificate Examination (CSEC Exams) as published in THE VINCENTIAN on Friday, August 16, 2019, show that eleven secondary schools in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines recorded very low pass rates of between 60 and 80 percent.

The results revealed extremely strong positive correlations between areas of deep poverty and very low pass rates in 2019 (CSEC Exams), and high standards of living and better results, as per the case of the Bequia Seventh Day Adventists School which achieved a pass rate of 88.57 percent.

Leader of the Green Party of SVG Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal, BSc (Hon), MSc, MBA, lived at 38 Jalan Lanjet, Sembawan, Singapore 1963 to 1965 with his wife and three

by the highly unqualified and grossly incompetent ULP Regime. Is this not Gross Abuse of Human Rights?

Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal very strongly contends that all our children education must be given top Priority. children, and experienced that statement in the presence of Former The SVG Green Party Leadership is Singapore provides free high quality Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell, seeking that this Major Human Rights education from Pre-School to Science that the Mustique Agreement is a Abuse to our children’s Education be and Technology University. unique one. given very urgent attention by all The ULP policy makers are The rich in Canouan enjoy similar addressed Officials in this open letter. spinning top in mud with Education privileges.

We seek appropriate urgent action development. The ULP built a new Moreover, the 1979 constitutionally Jail on prime agricultural land, not a appointed Director of Audit has failed to help the children of the black, poor and powerless indigenous population Science and Technology University.

PM Gonsalves as SVG Minister of of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines The ULP does not provide free high Finance on Audit of Public Accounts, obtain free high quality education from quality education from Pre-School to for three consecutive years - 2008, Pre-School to University.

University for the children of the 2009 and 2010.

White millionaires and billionaires black, poor and powerless indigenous Audit examinations carried out have taken over the country and population. have revealed the following issues of MASH UP the living Environment in It is conservatively estimated that particular concern for the year 2008:Canouan. PM Gonsalves says The Taiwan owes SVG Treasury EC$54 Accountant General’s Current Mustique Agreement is a unique one. billion dollars in Fish Tax Avoidance account was not reconciled with the Section 13 CAP 2 of the for the period 2001 to 2018. Sending a National Commercial Bank (NCB) Constitution of Saint Vincent and the small number of students to study in account, i.e. Accountant General Taiwan annually is not cost effective, Balance $185,142,677.08 OD, National Grenadines states “No law shall make any provision that is discriminatory and does not achieve a multiplier Commercial Bank$72,217,098.87 OD, either of itself or in its effect”. effect on education in SVG. Having Difference 112,925,578.21 our own Science and Technology (Source Audit Report 2008Yours faithfully University will achieve ECONOMY OF Researched by Ivan Bertie O’Neal BSc Leader of SVG Green Party Warrant SCALE and a multiplier effect in (Hons), MSc, MBA) Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal, BSc (Hons), education in SVG. Gross incompetence by the ULP The Superrich millionaires and Regime in Public Accounts (not able to MSc MBA billionaires of Mustique, under the carry out basic reconcile of Bank CC: Her Excellency The Governor Mustique Act NO 48 OF 2002, are Accounts, coupled with Fish Tax General of SVG choking the SVG Treasury dry with Avoidance (Taiwan) and Tax and Cabinet Secretary of ULP Regime of hundreds of millions of dollars Customs duty exemptions to the SVG annually in tax and customs duty superrich of Mustique and Canouan, His Excellency The President of exemptions. are pulling the black, poor, powerless Singapore THE VINCENTIAN newspaper of indigenous population to the ground, Her Excellency The President of Friday 26 April 2019, reported PM into deep poverty and destitution, Gonsalves as making a public amidst abuse of power in Public Office Taiwan.

The marijuana debate

by COLIN KING

“YOUTHS are still being treated as criminals for being in possession of small quantities (of Marijuana).”

This is a quote from Dr. Godwin Friday, Leader of the Opposition New Democratic Party, as carried un THE VINCENTIAN OF August 2, 2019, pertaining to legislation to legalise small quantities of marijuana, and to ‘apologise’ to those youths previously convicted on said quantities.

The ULP proponent also spoke to international policy on ‘forgiving’ large quantities as the limit-

viable programmes designed to educate youth about future challenges their new post-scholastic careers would indicate: and while this writer sees the benefits of marijuana, the underlying concerns are the addictions that this gateway drug, beyond the ‘gate’, seem to foreshadow.

Just who and what quantity are feeding the many alternative ‘recreations’ right here in SVG? It is hard for a young person just out of school/college, to settle for a bag boy job at a supermarket, when the sparkle of brightly glamoured vehicles, gold chains, and unlimited cash seemingly with no reprisal from a well toasted police mechanism, promise an easy life ahead for a seemingly uncontested choice.

Many of our young men seem to be following this course. Do they have a choice? Not realistically with current placements of deterrents and solutions as evident in public planning. And marijuana cannot be significantly legalised quid pro quo because of international drug policies of which we have to be aware, according to the ULP proponent.

Yet these international mediums must know about our teen suicides, our teen pregnancies. The cause(s) of these phenomena should be held to task just as young ‘criminals ‘ are.

In fact, if a young man was to present these arguments to me, and I was a sitting magistrate, I would have to knock off some charges completely in the morality and truth court of law. Certainly, sitting Magistrate Rickie Burnett sometimes faces a conundrum when faced with this in terms of ‘crime’, From page 9 and his sworn duty to uphold laws, as other legal personnel will also find.

May I draw our attention to the living and asked To simplify, we need a change in policy if not an a parliamentary question or more: Could the Hon. altogether larger change. The use of marijuana is Prime Minister tell us if he has any intention to re- upheld by Ratafarians to be a spiritual experience which unfortunately with companions in the new introduce an Integrity Legislation Bill in SVG? And if yes, when. And if no, does he intent to finish millennium, also alcohol abuse is robbing our young his journey with an uneven balance? And, does the men and women of their shine.

Our young people have just one golden age to P.M. know the time? recall; the key to wisdom and sanity seemed to have There are more questions than answers. prevailed then. But more can be done by being aware and in touch.

Christian Democrat

directive in considering the issue.

Friday caught the ‘opposition sentiment’ when he said,”…the end game ought to have been legalization of Cannabis (altogether).”

Friday also called for records as they relate to previous convictions, to be expunged.

In my opinion, any ULP policy relating to youth, is strictly strategic. Massive academic workloads; little preparation for a corrupt work environment on school leaving; very few opportunities of real employment commensurate with the school leavers’ qualifications; a perversely negative unfiltered and uncensored access to perverse and sometimes satanic media, are all factors that preclude the pursuit of marijuana...the ‘gateway’ drug.

The point is that concerns as all the above imply/indicate that popularity in the perceived slant of policy is not addressing or changing the causes of so many youth who are geared towards marijuana both in use and involvment in the trade.

The universal solution implied makes me want to congratulate Friday for his forthcoming comments on the issue.

However, and I am sure it is indicated in future NDP plans, the causes for and the alternatives to such choices have been neglected in terms of visible

Where is the Integrity Bill?

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23 , 2019. 13.

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14. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Heritage

Purchase Balliceaux: Make it sacred heritage land

this country, from the 31st July — 7th August 2019.

A FERVENT call has been made, once The delegation was hosted by the again, for the island of Balliceaux to Ministry of Culture, and their become a sacred heritage site. itinerary included: visits to several The call came from a contingent of historic sites on mainland St. Vincent; descendants of the indigenous attending a church service at the St. Garifuna people George’s Anglican Cathedral, during (also known as which they said prayers and sang in Black Caribs) Garifuna; leading cultural workshops who are resident in Sandy Bay, Rose Bank and in Los Angeles Kingstown. and New York, But perhaps the highlight of the during a ‘Vincy trip was the Monday July 5th visit to Home Coming’ Balliceaux, a 320-acre island off the pilgrimage to Grenadine Island of Bequia which is accessible only by sea, and which the Garifuna artist Aurelio Martinez Garifuna consider to be sacred to their called for every effort to be made to heritage and culture. declare Balliceaux a sacred ancestral Both young and senior persons homeland of Garifuna. aboard the catamaran sang and danced in merriment during the 30minute sail from St. Vincent to Balliceaux. .

But upon nearing Balliceaux, where some 5,000 of their Garifuna ancestors were held, from 1797, in sub-human conditions before they were banished to Roatan, an island about 65 kilometres off the northern coast of Honduras, they were overcome with a range of emotions. Some shed tears, some expressed elation, while others had a solemn countenance.

Garifuna, on arriving on Balliceaux, When the party gathered on the engaged in paying homage to their island to pay homage to those who ancestor.

by SHERON GARRAWAY

Baliceaux, unoccupied and undeveloped, is protected by reefs and fringed by crystalline waters. were exiled to the uninhabited, rugged island, renowned Garifuna artist Aurelio Martinez described Balliceaux as a historic site that must be reaffirmed as the Garifuna sacred ancestral homeland.

He noted that in 2001, UNESCO proclaimed the Garifuna Heritage and Culture ‘a Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity’, and posited, in that light, that it should be inevitable that Balliceaux be declared a sacred land.

Martinez appealed to Garifuna throughout the Diaspora, as well as heritage lovers, to raise funds to purchase the island, which is privately owned by the Linley family — a Vincentian family - and is being advertised for sale on the open market at an asking price of US$30 million.

He thanked the government for their work at restoring the Garifuana culture, and called on them to also facilitate the process to regain Balliceaux.

The visiting delegation of Garifuna.

Meanwhile, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Consul General in New York Howie Prince, who helped in coordinating the visit, said that Prime Minster Dr. Ralph Gonsalves shared the sentiment of seeing Balliceaux being declared sacred ground, and would, as best as possible, have his government put mechanisms in place to facilitate that eventuality.

Prince, however, reminded the delegation that “the pen is mightier than the sword,” and urged them to petition UNESCO and other agencies.

President of the local Garifuna Heritage Foundation Zoila EllisBrowne endorsed Prince’s sentiments, but maintained that purchasing the island must remain one of the options that warrants serious consideration.

Marcus Garvey Memorial Lecture: An eye opener THE FEATURED speakers at the Marcus Garvey Memorial Lecture held here last Monday at Frenches House, both made a call for our children to be taught about our local heroes.

This against the backdrop of the life and times of Marcus Mosiah Garvey who left a legacy that has been embraced by all cultures.

Vincentian born Ishaka Williams, now residing in Toronto, spoke about the upbringing of Marcus Garvey in Jamaica, relating in the process, some of the life changing experiences Marcus encountered as a child. He also spoke about his own life experiences and how the Marcus Garvey philosophy helped him to survive in a predominantly racist society.

The keynote speaker Dr. Dale Dangleben, who migrated from his native Dominica to North America when he was 21 years old, stressed the need for Black people to learn to work with each other.

He also impressed the need for Caribbean people to re-learn their our history, since most of what is known is from a biased Eurocentric viewpoint which, according to Dr. Dangleben, “glorified villains like Hawkins, Raleigh and others, while heroes like Toussaint L’Ouverture, Joseph Chatoyer, Marcus Garvey, and Walter Rodney, to name few, were

Speakers Ishaka Williams (left) and Dr. Dale Dangleben were presented with canvas paintings, compliments IMUC. vilified because they resisted the status quo.”

Both speakers emphasized that there was a conscious effort to negate the worth of Black entrepreneurs and inventors, and to keep Black people divided by creating a black middle class.

That middle class — a buffer zone of sorts - is still evident in today’s society and pits blacks against black.

This attitude needs to be broken down “if we are to survive economically,” the speakers emphasized, even as they repeated the need for reeducation.

A healthy question and answer session followed the addresses by the main speakers.

Monday night’s lecture was organized and sponsored by the Rastafari Working Committee and the Integrated Medical Urgent Care clinic (IMUC).

Continued on Page 31

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23 , 2019. 15.

News

Sir Vincent laid to rest

Sir Vincent Beache was knighted by the Queen on the recommendation of the SVG government.

HE ESTABLISHED THE CREDENTIALS of being one of this country’s longest serving politicians. He has the honour of being among a rare bunch of Parliamentarians who represented two different constituencies.

He served as a Minister under two different leaders: Milton Cato as Premier from 1974 to 1979, and was an elected member after the attainment of Independence 1979.

When the Labour Party was swept aside in the 1984 general elections, Beache was a successful candidate. He was forced out of parliament in the 1989 debacle when the New Democratic Party won all 15 seats.

That result led to the alliance and subsequent creation of the Unity Labour Party. Beache was that party’s first leader, and he passed over the leadership to Dr. Ralph Gonsalves in 1999.

Beache’s Eulogy was delivered by Dr. Gonsalves at the burial service held at the Kingstown Methodist Church last Monday.

Hundreds of mourners from a wide cross section of the national grid, and extending to regional and international corridors, paid respect to the departed

Prime Minister Dr. Gonsalves joined the large number of persons who walked from the Court House to the Methodist Church in respect of a fallen Vincentian stalwart.

Officers of the Royal SVG Police Force carry Sir Vincent’s casket shoulder high to the hearse for transportation to the Cathedral. politician.

“We have lost a valuable guide,” Dr. Gonsalves quipped during his presentation.

The day saw a spate of activities to mark his life’s work. His body rested at the House of Assembly in the morning, where hundreds of mourners passed to show their Sir James Mitchell, former respects.

Prime Minister, was there to With Police pay his respects to Sir outriders, the Vincent.

Police Band, and a throng of sympathisers, Beache’s casket, draped in the national flag, was taken to the Church for the service. Burial was at the Kingstown ceremony.

Dr. Gonsalves reflected on the times with Beache. While they crossed swords on many a front for a period, they consolidated a fusion which continues to resound.

There will be a Sir Vincent Beache Memorial Scholarship for at least one student attending the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College, Dr. Gonsalves assured.

Beache’s qualities of leadership were highlighted by the current Prime Minister who described the departed soldier as a “Master political organiser.”

For Gonsalves, Beache “saw better and further than most around him.” His eloquence, and stamina were highlighted in the Eulogy and Gonsalves pointed to Beache as one who “embraced change.”

The Vincent Beache chapter might have closed with his interment, but the final episode is yet to be complete.

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, first an adversary then a comrade of Sir Vincent, delivered the Eulogy of a man he described as “a master political organizer.”

Leading members of the opposition New Democratic Party, including President Dr. Godwin Friday (left) and Vice President St. Clair Leacock came out to show their respects to Sir Vincent.

Sir Vincent was 87 years at the time of his death.

The Management and Staff of THE VINCENTIAN Publishing Co. Ltd. extend condolences to the Beache family, immediate and distant.

May he forever rest in peace. (WKA)

V Kingstown Seventh-day Adventists celebrate 16. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Celebration

by: SHERON GARRAWAY PRESENT AND PAST PASTORS and their wives of the Kingstown Seventh-day Adventist Church were honoured in a church service on Saturday August 17th.

The event culminated a month of activities in celebration of the sanctuary’s (church’s) 65th anniversary.

Celebrations were held under the theme, “May All Who Come Behind Us, Find Us Faithful”, and marked by dramatic pieces, hymnals and special renditions in song.

But the recognition of the men of the cloth was one of the highlights of the service where Pastors Claudius Morgan, Nigel DeRoche, Andrew Farrell, Henry Snagg, Karlson Samuel and Steve Phillps were given tokens while a special award was given to elder Selwyn Jones and his spouse Marcelle.

The applause of appreciation reverberated throughout the sanctuary as Jones was commended for being “a voice of reason” who had a firm yet caring leadership style. Jones and his wife who were overcome with tears, were lauded for their devotion to the development of the Seventh-Day

Pastor Andrew Farrell and wife.

Adventist Church, and a call was made for others to be as faithful.

Delivering the word on the topic, “Triumph Concealed In Apparent Defeat”, Pastor Steve Phillips advised the congregation to stay faithful to the instructions of God’s word.

He recognised that Seventh-day Adventists have faced many challenges but they have remained focused on the precepts of God’s word, such as keeping the Sabbath. He reminded the congregation of the importance of obedience despite the changing times.

The Pastor preached that those who stay in Christ will be victorious even though life’s challenges can crush hope. He said just like, Jesus’ death at Calvary, it appeared that Satan conquered, but Jesus died so that souls could be saved.

Pastor Phillips also highlighted several eras in time when the church seemed to be defeated but had a revival. The Shepherd, who made several other calls, emphasized the importance of saving souls and preached that the second coming of Jesus is imminent.

Kingstown Seventh-day Adventists Fact

Elder Selwyn and wife Marcelle.

The Seventh-day Adventists building was originally the Kirk Church of Scotland. It was built following the passage of the Emancipation Act in 1834.

Pastor Claudius Morgan and wife.

Pastor Karlson Samuel and wife.

Pastor Steve Phillips and wife.

The Church provided for the religious needs of the freed African and, especially in later years, the descendants of those African.

The decline in number of members led to the closure of the church around the 1950s.

An arrangement arrived at in 1952,

Pastor Henry Snagg (his wife was absent) saw the Adventists using the building on Saturdays and the Church of Scotland on Sundays.

It is believed that the Adventists leased the building from the Church of Scotland in 1954, but paid no rent, and acquired it in that year.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23 , 2019. 17.

News

Another ÂepicÊ picnic: Vincy Day USA

Former Consul General to NY Cosmus Cozier, 3rd from right. Others in photo, L-R: Arlene DeRoche; Cyril “Scorcher” Thomas, Ex-Deputy Consul General to NY; Caroline Cozier; Jacqueline Browne and Osborne Browne.

The Friday Family, L-R: Christine, Crispin, Ancilla, Krisann and her 11-month-old daughter Zylah.

fantastic for Vincentians.

At the main stage, on the far eastern corner of the expansive, picturesque park, Vincentian gospel, soca, calypso and reggae artistes entertained the massive crowd.

SVG Police Commissioner Colin John (3rd from Evangelist left) with, L-R: Telesford “Limbs” Quashie; John’s Bridgette uncle, Al Phillips; Deon Harry, deputy commander Blucher, as well of the SVG Coast Guard; Harley Stoddard, ex-SVG as evangelist police officer; and Ezekiel Woods, ex-prison officer LaFleur Durrant, in SVG. Esworth Quammie, Brigo Osborne Browne, a former vice president of the and the Hills St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association, family were on and his wife Jacqueline, a retired senior education hand, enrapturing Junior Brewster, at BBQ grill, with friends from officer at home, make the trip every year. gospel buffs.

Mayreau.

The Browne’s hang out with former Consul Among the Fimba performs his signature General to New York Cosmus Cozier, his wife soca, calypso and “Mind Yo Funky Business.”

Story and photos by Nelson A. King Caroline; and Cozier’s erstwhile deputy Cyril reggae artistes naking@verizon.net; kingnaking210@yahoo.com “Scorcher” Thompson, also a calypsonian, and were former US CORRESPONDENT Thomas’s “lady” Arlene DeRoche. calypso monarch D Man Age, Dennis Bowman, Field “It’s (Vincy Day USA) a melting pot,” Browne Marshall, Hilford Hurst, Hibuscus, Curtis C and FOR THE EIGHTH SUCCESSIVE YEAR, thousands of Fimba.

Vincentians from all walks of life – trekking from as far said. “I always say it’s a great idea. You get to see people you have not seen in years.”

“It’s really a good initiative,” said Colin John, as Toronto in Canada, Miami in Florida, and even from Thomas said, “It’s a good coming-together. The Commissioner of Police in St. Vincent and the the homeland – converged on Heckscher State Park in old mixes with the young.

Grenadines, attending the picnic for the third time.

East Islip, Long Is., a New York City suburb, for the Cozier said, in the next five years, grand Vincy Day USA picnic.

“I look forward to a lot of Canadian Busloads and carloads of Vincentian and other Caribbean nationals made the annual pilgrimage to buses coming down, just as we (Vincentians in New York) go up there feast, drink, ‘ole talk’, renew acquaintances and (for the annual Vincy Unity Day at friendships, dance and have just plain fun at the event described by organizers as “another epic year.” Brown’s Bay Park in the 1,000 Is. area “From all reports from the patrons in attendance, in Western Ontario).”

Cecil “Blazer” Williams, a it was another great family fun day,” Raymond O. preeminent Vincentian cultural figure “Otis” Lewis, the newly-elected chairman of the Brooklyn-based Vincy Day USA, Inc. Committee told and lawyer, attended the picnic for the third time. He did not attend last THE VINCENTIAN. “Every year, we try to gauge year. our attendance, and it’s proving more and more “It’s great,” said Williams, who difficult by the sheer number of persons in travelled to the picnic on a bus from attendance and vehicles parked in the lots.

“This year proved to be another epic year, with it Brooklyn, organized by the Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines being one of the biggest crowds we’ve had at Organizations, U.S.A., Inc. Heckscher State Park,” Lewis added.

(COSAGO), the umbrella Vincentian Picnic-goers estimated the crowd to be over group in the US. “It’s something 10,000.

Section of the crowd

V SVG youth get new SPARK 18. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Youth

Richardson anticipates that the National Youth Council will be reactivated as a consequence of last Saturday’s programme.

The young people were exposed to a series of lectures and presentations including one dubbed: ‘Swimming against the tide’ delivered by Trinidad and Tobago born Nikoli Edwards.

SPARK SVG is a non-governmental organization. Under the tagline ‘It only takes a spark to ignite positive change’, SPARK SVG aims to stimulate, motivate and inspire young Vincentians to create positive change within themselves, their communities, their nation, their region and their world.

The organisation is the brain child of Richardson a law student at the UWI Cave Hill Campus, Barbados. She has distinguished herself at international events like Some of the participants in the first SPARK SVG Global Young Leaders Youth Summit.

NEFEESHA RICHARDSON is on a mission of inspiring young people into creating changes on a global level. And if the staging of the SPARK SVG Youth Summit is anything to go by, her task seems on course to being fulfilled.

Richardson regards the Summit as “overwhelming.”

Close to 200 young people gathered at the Kingstown Methodist Church last Saturday and were embroiled in sessions aimed at stimulating their interest in things global.

Hon Frederick Stephenson, Minister Responsible for Youth, encouraged with word of a pending Youth Policy.

Conference 2015, and One Young Youth Policy by World Summit in the Netherlands in 2020. (WKA) 2018.

She is intent on making her experience count.

Nefeesha Saturday’s opening heard from Richardson heads Frederick Stephenson the Minister SPARK and has Responsible for Youth. taken on a mission He confided that the government is to help young “trying to update the national youth people define their policy. He sated that a “draft” is to be tabled in Parliament, and he expects a space in the world.

Some of the graduates rendering “Stay With Me”, last Friday.

More young pannists trained A BATCH of thirty-five young people is the latest to graduate from a Pan Against Crime (PAC) training programme, this after four weeks of training at the Elite Steel Orchestra base at the CW Prescod Primary School (CWPPS).

The basic level training, under the tutelage of Kesslon Wilson and Minesha Davis, exposed the participants to the rudiments of playing the steel pan, and to mark their accomplishment, a graduation ceremony was held at the CPPPS last Friday, with parents, guardians and other well- wishers in attendance.

The graduates showed off their newly acquired skill with renditions of ‘Way Maker’, ‘Warrior’, ‘Baby Shark’, ‘Saga Boy’, ‘Stay With Me’ and ‘Foot Steps’.

Reflecting on the four weeks of the training, Davis commented: “It was rocky in the beginning because a lot of the children just came and they

didn’t understand how to play pan, so you had to teach them from scratch. But after the Minesha first week and Davis everybody settled in properly, it was smooth sailing.”

She informed that the programme started with sixty participants which, after week two, were narrowed down to thirty-five, which made the undertaking much easier.

In fact, Davis, who has been part of the training for a few years now, counted this year’s participants as the “easiest” with whom she has worked.

Davis is hopeful that the participants of the just concluded training will join a steelband nearest to their communities.

This year marked the eighth year that the Elite Steel Orchestra facilitated training under the PAC Programme.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23 , 2019. 19.

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20. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Education

Joseph offers ÂThree DÊ solution DETERMINATION, DISCIPLINE and dedication are traits students will have to be endowed with if they are to overcome difficult periods in life.

The ‘Three D’ concept was the advice of Dr. Frank Joseph. He shared it when delivering the feature address at the Annual Scholarship and Bursary Ceremony of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, held in conjunction with the Police Cooperative Credit Union Limited, and the Ex-Police Association.

The ceremony was held on Thursday, August 15th, 2019 at the Police Canteen, under the theme, ‘Forging ahead with a lift so that you can soar’.

An Intern at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, Joseph warned the secondary school entrants that they may face “adversity,” and advised them to “use the tools of determination, discipline and dedication,” when difficulties arise.

He anticipates the pleasure of seeing “which one of you stands in my place in the years to come, giving a similar speech.”

A former scholarship recipient, Joseph reflected on the times when he “got fed up with school”. He urged the recipients not to be afraid “to ask your teachers or fellow students for help.”

While the emphasis is on academics, Joseph recommended that students take up at least two hobbies: “one physical and one for relaxing.”

And don’t be afraid to “Google your problems, since there are many different ways to learn… find out what works for you,” Joseph outlined.

Joseph encouraged parents to engage in their children’s education.

“Even if it is something you know little about, try your best and spend some time with them, actually helping them with homework or even studying with them.”

Joseph urged students to develop

Medical intern Dr. Frank Joseph delivering the Feature Address at the Police’s Scholarship Awards Ceremony. “time management,” and also to “use group study.”

The younger Joseph shared the platform with his father Deputy Commissioner of Police Frankie Joseph who traced the history of the Police Scholarship Programme. He noted that theirs’ is the oldest here, started in 1958, under the then Chief of Police, Colonel Sydney Anderson.

Deputy Chief Education Officer Dixton Findlay thanked the Police “for investing in the youth.” He urged students to take care of the books, as well as furniture and everything in the school.

The Deputy Education Officer hopes that the Police will extend their package to include support to persons at the university level.

Besides being secured by deductions from every police officer, the Scholarship/Bursary award list is increasing with injection from the Police Co-Operative Credit Union Limited, and the Ex-Police Association.

Vice president of the Police Cooperative Credit Union Station Sergeant Brenton Smith urged awardees to “take full advantage of the scholarships and bursaries.”

Michael Charles, President of the Ex-Police Association, cautioned that “resources were limited.”

Fifty-three full scholarships and 18 bursaries were awarded this year.

(WKA)

Scholarship and Bursary recipients with some members of the RSVG Police Force top brass.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. 21.

Education

Scholarship/Bursary recipients (front) with SVTU officials at last Friday’s handing over ceremony.

SVTU makes life easier for students OVER THE PAST 36 years, the St. Vincent Union of Teachers (SVUT) has invested $378,000 in assistance to students in secondary schools here.

This year, the trend continued with the award of three scholarships and 13 bursaries.

Soriah Greaves copped the C.W. Prescod Memorial Award, given in honour of the teaching stalwart. The other scholarship winners were Kendal Sampson and Nadia Williams. They will get a sum of $700 to see them through the year’s activity.

The 13 Bursary recipients are: Nellysse McLean, Kizanique Jack, Tordian Charles, Richann Cozier, Christi Williams, Natalya Nanton, Kishorn Thompson, Mbeki King, Kent Junior Cain, Aroma David, Katelyn Bobb, Seante Marshall, and Urijah Lyttle.

The presentation ceremony was held last Friday at the Teachers Union Mc Kie’s Hill headquarters.

President of the Union Wendy Bynoe expressed satisfaction that recipients were positioned to “follow their dreams,” and used the occasion to encourage them to do just that.

She also urged the students to spread the message of the Teachers Union.

(WKA)

Five receive PSU Scholarships FIVE MORE STUDENTS have benefited from the Public Service Union (PSU) Scholarship Programme.

J’ Tsi-yon Judah Simmons, Kyshauna Richards, Haseena Ellis, Akeem McDonald and Kadijah O’Neil, who were all successful in the 2019 CPEA exams, received full scholarship awards on Tuesday 13th August, during a brief ceremony at the PSU headquarters, Mc Kies Hill.

Eleven other students received bursaries.

Addressing the gathering, Elroy Boucher, President of the PSU, said that the Union is proud of its assistance to the children of its members.

In addition to the usual scholarships and bursaries, Boucher also highlighted the Union’s Disadvantaged Assistance Programme, where children who have been noted to have difficulty meeting their education needs, can also receive assistance from the Union.

Continued on Page 28

22. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. 23.

Education

Four get help from SVBLA

ADIAH HOLDER stood out as a top performer in the 2019 Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate Examinations (CSEC). She obtained 14 passes with 13

Grade I’s and one Grade II. And last week Thursday, at the But before all of that, Adiah was the SVBLA Headquarters, she addressed recipient of a scholarship from the St the 2019 scholarship recipients.

Vincent Building and Loan Association She admitted that she never liked (SVBLA). school that much. “I thought it was dampening my creativity,” she said.

But, she said, she knew the importance of enduring, as failure would have meant torture for her. She knew she had to make her parents proud, and also had to make her “investors” (SVBLA) proud.

So, she encouraged the four recipients, Jaden Edwards-Barry, Ethan Balcombe, Devenae Lyttle and Samara Allen, to make sure that they did their best as this alone would bring them satisfaction.

This year’s

Scholarship recipients (front left to right) Devenae Lyttle, Ethan Balcombe, Jaden Edwards-Barry and Samara Allen, with SVBLA staff.

Adiah Holder, 2019 outstanding CSEC performer, had some encouraging for the new scholarship recipients.

recipients bring the total number of scholarships offered by the SVBLA to 19.

Ava Weekes, Manager of Customer Service, explained that the scholarships are offered to the children of members of the SVBAA on a merit and need basis.

She further explained that the programme was more than just providing support for their academic pursuits; recipients are also given an opportunity to acquire practical on the job training through an internship scheme.

Specifics of the scholarship include a payment of EC$1,200 a year to cover expenses for the academic years from Forms 1 to 3, and $1,400 a year for Forms 4 and 5.

The scholarship is extended if the student opts to go on to the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College.

Weekes also noted that a copy of the students’ reports must be submitted at the end of each term, and students are expected to maintain good behaviour.

(DD)

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24. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

A house issue Dear George, MY GIRLFRIEND wants me to accept her parents’ offer to build our house on a plot of land right next to their house. I am not comfortable with that. Her parents, very controlling people, are offering the land for free, but I would prefer to pay for our own land.

We have planned to get married in 6 months, and her parents want to plan the entire wedding. I am not comfortable with that, and I told her so.

One of her sisters and her husband accepted a similar offer from her parents, built next to them. Now, her husband complains to me of her parents’ involvement in their lives.

He warned me not to accept the offer if I wanted to be independent.

Of course, my girlfriend refused to go along with me, and has even said it seems like I have something against her parents.

I am starting to believe she is ‘a mama’s girl’, and all of this is affecting our relationship. I need your advice please.

Dear Thinking twice, Since marriage is on the cards, it would be wise to wait until then to begin the process of acquiring your home. It will be less complicated in the final analysis.

This will be an opportunity for you to stamp your independence on your relationship with your future in-laws, letting them know that, while you appreciate help from them, there is a limit to how far they are allowed to go.

Stand your ground and continue to encourage your girlfriend to see things your way, as for right now, it seems to be the right way. Now is the time to think with your head and not your heart.

George Thinking twice

Being forced to marry Dear George, Dear Upset daughter, MY MOTHER wants me to marry a man who is thirty years older than me. I refuse, and now she is threatening to disown me.

George, why would a 20-year-old woman like me marry a man who is 50 years old? By the time I am 30, he would be hitting 60, and I want our children to have youthful parents for as long as possible.

This man is giving my mother lots of money and gifts, and that is why she wants him to be connected to the family. I am sure if my dad was alive he would have none of this. I love my mother but I hate what she is doing.

You are the one who has to live with the man you marry, so the choice of a husband should be yours and yours alone.

If your mother is so bent on keeping this man in the family, and since she thinks he would make a great husband, then she should marry him.

Politely but firmly tell your mother to allow you to choose your own husband, and if she still wants to disown you, then that would be on her.

George

Upset daughter

A case of ‘fake’ breasts what she did. I am a man who loves things MY GIRLFRIEND of 3 natural and cannot associate myself with years went to America anything fake including and stayed 8 months. the breasts of my She told me she was there to help take care of girlfriend.

She wants to keep her an uncle. She returned fake breasts at the price recently with breasts of losing me. Do you that are significantly larger than what she had think she was in love with me in the first when she left. She had place? enlarged breasts, and said that she thought I Wants to know would have loved her new breast size.

Dear Wants to know, The truth is I no longer recognize this I sense deception woman with breasts the somewhere in all. Your size of a beach ball girlfriend should have almost. . What I hated most was her not telling seem the importance of discussing any changes me of this before doing

Dear George,

she would want to make to her body with you.

She does not have to seek your permission, but owe it to you to have that discussion.

Having said that, it appears she was willing to risk the relationship by moving ahead to make body changes without a conversation with you.

Maybe the time has come for you to make your change and get someone who can be more open and inclusive in the decision-making, especially when it has implication, for the relationship.

George

Sports

ARIES (MAR. 21 - APRIL 20) Lend an ear to children; it can make a difference. Trouble could be brewing at home. Contracts will not be as lucrative as you think. You need to sit back and enjoy.

LIBRA (SEPT. 24 - OCT. 23) Try to make arrangements with close friends or relatives to spend a few days away. You may have a hidden adversary who would love to prove you wrong.

TAURUS (APR. 21- MAY 21) Don’t try to hide your true feelings from your mate. Your social activity should be conducive to finding love. Stick to travel or do things in conjunction with groups.

SCORPIO (OCT. 24 - NOV. 22) Opportunities for travel must be carefully considered. Investments are best left alone this week. If boredom has set in, find new and unique directions that offer interesting friendships.

GEMINI (MAY 22 - JUNE 21) You can complete any projects efficiently, especially if you put the effort in yourself. You could be emotional if you didn’t take care of problems with loved ones.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 - DEC. 21) Dinner, theater, or a comedy club may be just the place. Don’t let your lover put demands on you.

CANCER (JUNE 22 - JULY 22) Avoid functions that will bring you in contact with those you find difficult to get along with. Use your better judgment before you sign up for a costly venture.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22. - JAN. 20) Pleasure trips will be favorable and bring about possible romance. Emotional deception is evident. You can make a huge difference to children if you are able to put yourself in their shoes.

LEO (JULY 23 - AUG 22) You don’t like confrontations at the best of times; however, you may find them difficult to avoid. Ask others to help, or you may feel that a burden is weighing you down.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 21. - FEB. 19) Your hard work will payoff; advancement looks positive. Don’t blow situations out of proportion. Your charm and generosity will bring new friends and romantic opportunities.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 23) Uncertainties about your living arrangements may be unnerving.

Purchases will be well worth it and they will last a long time. Do your best, but don’t make too many promises or you may exhaust yourself.

PISCES (FEB. 20 - MAR. 20) If you have to deal with large institutions, be careful not to make waves.

Entertainment should include your whole family. Accommodate others but not before you do your own thing.

ACROSS 1. Land parcel 5. Celestial body 9. Aviv lead-in 12. Wander 13. In this spot 14. Seek as a spouse 15. Trim(nails) 16. Newspaper issues 18. Student preparing for graduation 20. Lancelot’s title 21. Massage (muscles) 22. Clears the slate 26. Add honey to 30. Of the same value 31. Puppy’s “foot” 32. Sports deadlock 34. “That’s what – been saying all along!”

35. States firmly 38. Put seeds in the ground 41. End product 43. Before, in verse 44. Center of a storm 45. Pasture 49. Proof in court 53. Great anger 54. Purpose 55. Promptly 56. Jazz icon Fitzgerald 57. Bartender’s spigot 58. Jogging gait 59. Docile beast DOWN 1. Circle segments 2. Composer Porter 3. Spring shower 4. King’s realm 5. Frozen dessert 6. Tycoon Turner 7. Start one’s day 8. Go on pension

9. Early afternoon hour 10. Geological time division 11. _ Angeles 17. Baghdad is its capital 19. “Scram!”

23. Three-piece _ 24. Projecting roof edge 25. Snow toy 26. Practice for a boxing match 27. Sea swell 28. Woolly mamas 29. Bite lightly 33. Basic building block 36. Hated to remember

37. Most conniving 39. Exist 40. Drew closer 42. Male vocal range 46. Examine lustily 48. Diminish by

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. 25.

constant use 49. Enjoy supper 50. By a path through 51. Small demon 52. Sound from a roost

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26. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Classifieds

The Road Cleaning Programme: Is there an Epidemic Waiting to Happen?

By Christopher J. Grant “Do the best you can until you know better; then when you know better, do better.” —Maya Angelou.

THIS IS A QUOTE THAT SPEAKS volumes in relation to how efficient one can be.

We must always do the best that we can until we know better then, we do better.

I do believe that we can do better in

relation to having a bit more respect and care for those who, out of a financial need, are forced to clean the roads in the Road Cleaning Programme. Is there any respect for these people’s health and safety?

The Occupational Health and Safety Act of 2017. Section 19 (1) states that it is the duty of every employer ‘to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work, of all his employees’.

However, when I see the conditions under which many of these road gangs have to work, I wonder if this Section of Law applies to them.

Often, we see young women and men in drains without proper safety gear (goggles, boots, gloves, face masks), and in clothing that leaves their bodies totally exposed.

Section 24 (1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act states among other things, that it is also the duty of the employee ‘to take reasonable care for the safety and health of himself while at work, and for those persons who may be affected by his acts, or his omissions at work’.

In the case of the Road Cleaning Programme we are talking about around 5000 people who are in dire need of resources to pay for their children’s school fees. Can we honestly expect these people to afford the necessary/appropriate gear?

There is definitely an epidemic waiting to happen if we don’t address this. The drains that were referred to earlier are often refuge for rodents and stray animals. In a May 14, 2019 Searchlight Newspaper article ‘Leptospirosis: Beware of Rats!’ by Dr. Rosmond Adams, he highlights Leptospirosis as an infection in

Shot from the Road Cleaning Programme (Source: SVG TV 14/08/19) rodents and other wild and domesticated species. Humans contract this disease through the mucosa of the nose, mouth and eyes, and skin abrasions. A person can become exposed to the bacteria through water contaminated by urine from infected animals.

He further stated that people who work outdoors, like agricultural workers or those who dwell in the hills, are particularly at risk.

Interestingly, Leptospirosis carries symptoms which are often mistaken for other diseases, and Dr. Adams notes that there have been reported cases of deaths from Leptospirosis in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Have we taken note of the fact that Leptospirosis continues to affect St. Vincent and the Grenadines?

This is just one example of a disease that can be contracted by the workers here concerned. The workers can also come into contact with human urine and or fecal matter. To add insult to injury, there are times when we see parents bring along their very young children on site with them, and at times, also having them assist. This puts these children at risk.

I understand that these people are in dire need of funds. However, after so many years of organizing these road gangs, can we not do better to ensure their health and safety?

Let us not make “giving mothers an opportunity to make some money to pay for their children’s school fees” an excuse for not also caring for their health and safety.

We know better. We can do better!

Methodist awards scholarships/bursaries THE KINGSTOWN/Chateaubelair Circuit of the Methodist Church has come to the aid of parents/guardians in their effort to outfit their children who begin their secondary education in September 2019.

The Circuit, comprising 16 congregations, on Sunday August 11, awarded three scholarships each being valued at $1,500.00 a year for five years.

In addition, four one-off bursaries of $500 each were also awarded.

The presentations were made by the Superintendent Minister, Rev. Adolf Davis, during the annual Missionary Service held at the Methodist Church Hall.

Scholarship recipients Luke Cambridge and Rasheed Knights will attend the Thomas Saunders Secondary School, while Alonzo

Stephson will attend the Central Leeward Secondary.

Bursary recipients Grace Robertson and Cadisha Edwards both enter the St Joseph’s Convent Kingstown, while Renyah Simmons and Monica Edwards will attend the Central Leeward and Petit Bordel Secondary Schools respectively.

The Scholarship/bursary awards represent a new thrust in the Circuit’s application of its missionary project funds.

Lay preacher Christobel Ashton, who heads the scholarship committee, explained that the church will be fully involved in the lives of these children and their families, to offer other forms of support that may become necessary.

All recipients are from low income households and attend a Methodist Church. (Contributed)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. 27.

Siblings impress on Regional Tennis debut to 15th August, the two copped titles.

Afe was crowned the Girls’ Singles Champion when she swished Imara Chin Lee of Trinidad and Tobago 5-7, 6-1, 6-4. in the final.

Before meeting the Trinidadian, Afe registered a 6-3, 6-1 triumph over Jole George of Antigua and Barbuda.

But Afe and fellow VincentianYasmine Sandy had to settle for the runner- up spot in the Girl’s Doubles.

They were beaten 6-0, 7-5 by the Trinidadian pair of Imara Chin Lee and Eva Pasea, in the title match.

Afe, though, collected the trophy for displaying the Best Sportsmanship

among the female competitors.

Her brother, Afi, who contested in the Boys’ Under-14 age group, was also crowned with the Best Sportsmanship title among his peers.

Afi, after being ousted in the Main Draw, went on to take the Consolation title.

On the way to his trophy, Afi defeated Corey Charles of St Lucia and Jaiden Julien of Antigua and Barbuda, to set up the Consolation final against Trinidad and Tobago’s Daniel Jeary.

He closed off the final against Jeary in the ascendancy, 6-0, 6-4.

Reflecting on their debut

tournament, both agreed that the standard was higher than what they have been accustomed to here in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“I know that I have to train harder if I want to continue to win,” Afe admitted.

Similarly, Afi noted that the tournament was “tough”, but promised to work harder on his “service” which he conceded was one of “my weak areas in the tournament.”

Afe and Afi Lucas were part of a team of players from the X- Cel Tennis Academy, which has Kebajah King as the Head Coach.

Double title takes for swimmers

Afe Lucas.

Tia Jack.

Tyler Robinson.

Eltonique Leonard.

ELTONIQUE LEONARD, TYLER Robinson and Eltonte Leonard each had a double take of titles at the 2019 FLOW Invitational Swim Championships, which took place at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre from 14th to 18th August.

Eltonique Leonard of Black Sands Swim Squad, copped the Girls’ 8 and Under Individual title, and added the Sprint Champion to her collection.

Replicating Leonard in the Boys’ 8 and Under age group was Blue Marlin Swim Team’s Tyler Robinson.

Afi Lucas.

Meanwhile, BlackSands’ Eltonte Leonard emulated his younger sister, AFE AND AFI LUCAS, IN THEIR FIRST Eltonique, by claiming the Boys’ 11 to OUTING in regional Tennis, returned from 12 individual and Sprint Champion. the Sagicor Confederation of Tennis of The individual titles in the 9-10 age Central America and the Caribbean group saw Zariel Nelson of Blue Eltonte Leonard.

Marlins Swim Team winning the (COTECC) Under-12 and Under-14 Development Tennis Tournament, held in Girls, and Matthew Da Costa-Hinds of competitors.

Black Sands Swim Squad, the Boys.

St Lucia, with their names well Black Sands Swim Squad too, Black Sands Swim Squad also won established. bossed the 13 to 14 age group, with the Girls’ 11 to 12, with Jamie Staged at the National Tennis Mya De Freitas taking the Girls’ title Centre at Beausejour, Gros Islet, 12th Joachim, outpointing the other and Bryson George the Boys’.

However, the 15 and Over was shared, as Jaynika Williams of the Blue Marlins Swim Team took the Girls’ title and Alex Joachim of the Black Sands Swim Squad the Boys’ title.

The three other Sprint Champions went to Tia Jack- Girls’ 9 to 12; Olivia Jack- Girls’ 13 and Over and Aaron De Freitas- the Boys’ 13 and Over.

Tia Jack and Olivia Jack, who reside in Canada, competed unattached.

Aaron De Freitas is a member of the Black Sands Swim Squad.

Black Sands Swim Squad again champed the Championships, tallying 1880 points.

Taking second place was the Blue Marlins Swim Team with 1663 points, and third place was Rising Stars Swim Team of Bequia on 93 points.

The Pirates Swim Club of Grenada also had limited participation in the four days of the championships.

The Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre will be the venue for the 29th hosting of the OECS Swimming Championships, 8th to 10th November, 2019.

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28. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Barrouallie gets Sailing Camp CHILDREN in and around the Barrouallie area had the opportunity recently to get involved in a two-day Vincy Sailing Camp.

Run by volunteer sailors from around Blue Lagoon Marina, the camp was supported by Barrouallie Fishing Cooperative, Massy United Insurance, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Arnos Vale Medical Centre, Dream Yacht Charters, Tipi Punnett and Layne’s Hardware.

The happy face said it all of how much this participant enjoyed her time as a sailor.

Camp organizer Jenny Trumble, who was taught to sail by her mother in the chilly north east of England, was encouraged by the talent here.

“When I moved to beautiful St Vincent two years ago, I was surprised that there was no youth sailing programme. With a huge amount of support and volunteer time, we now have 14 sailing dinghies and hope to teach many people, kids and adults alike, to sail,” Trumble said with much enthusiasm.

“With the advent of engine powered boats and ships, St Vincent has lost a generation of sailors. The yachting industry in St Vincent is experiencing significant expansion, employing an increasing number of sailors. Without home grown talent, most of these sailors will come from overseas,” said Kelly Glass, keen sailor and owner of

Blue Lagoon Marina.

“The work Vincy Sailing is doing to get the children involved in sailing, is not only great fun for the children, but also a route to future employment opportunities,” he added.

The Vincy Sailing Camp catered to children aged 8 to 14, and organisers are looking to run future events in Barrouallie and around St. Vincent.

Vincy Sailing describd sailing as “an adventurous sport that teaches teamwork, engineering, self-confidence, respect and responsibility, all in one go. It is a fantastic opportunity for children to take control of their own vehicle and learn the consequences of their actions, which if they get it wrong, can mean an unexpected swim in the sea.”

I.B.A.ALLEN

Central Windward: Zonal U15 Cricket Champions

Peter Durrant (centre) flanked by Antiguans Mervin Gore (left) and Patrick Peters (right).

Durrant tops Antigua Cycle race VINCENTIAN Peter Durrant placed first overall in the Masters Division of the Three Stage Subway Cycle Race which was run off in Antigua and Barbuda, last weekend.

Durrant took third in the time trial, was second in the 25-mile criterium, but won the road race, stage three, to end up in the top spot.

His winning time overall was 4 hours 15 minutes 39 seconds which saw him take revenge on Antiguan Patrick Peters, who had won the race last year in which Durrant placed second.

Peters had to settle for third in a time of 4 hours 17 minutes 30 seconds.

Docking in second was Mervin Gore, also of Antigua and Barbuda, in a time of 4 hours 16 minutes 06 seconds.

Durrant expressed delight in being able to compete and win a title overseas, as he gets limited opportunities to compete outside of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Lucky Antrobus accompanied Durrant as his mechanic.

CENTRAL Windward are Champions of the Zonal Under-15 Cricket in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

They claimed the honour when they disposed of Central Kingstown in last weekend’s finals of the competition organized by the SVG Cricket Association.

Central Windward, who moved into the finals having beaten North Windward, took first knock and amassed 241 for 8 from 48 overs. Cody Grant was the pick of the batsmen, hitting 94 not out. Jennillia Glasgow took 4 for 32 for Central Kingstown.

Central Kingstown, in

the finals at the expense of North Leeward, made 108 from 31 overs in what was a laboured response. Jaden Henry top scored with 20.

Five receive PSU Scholarships From Page 21 On the back of having paid out some $29,000 in education assistance, the Union also has in

One of the dinghies used in the camp.

Central Windward - Zonal Reynolly Hillocks, Elron Glasgow and Dexter Baynes claimed 2 wickets each.

Only the four teams mentioned in this article took part in the competition.

A training squad is expected to be selected Central Kingstown – Runnersup.

train the introduction of a Health Education Plan, that will offer coverage to assist with ophthalmic care, air ambulance service and other emergency health needs, for a fee of $55.00 by an individual and $111.00 for a family, Boucher said.

The ceremony was also addressed by Tishann DraytonNero, a former scholarship holder who is currently a secondary

U15 Champion.

Cody Grant Player of the finals with 94 not out. from among the participants in the competition, with a view to gaining selection to the final team to represent SVG in Under-15 Cricket.

I.B.A.ALLEN

school teacher.

Drayton- Nero urged the scholarship and bursary recipients to use all their strength to be the best sons and daughters they can, and to respect their parents and to stay focused.

She also appealed to the parents to continue supporting their children.

(KH)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. 29.

Sports

Sports Against Crime THE Sports Against Crime initiative has to be supported. It is commendable when there is a will to upgrade the sport industry. Installation of a track with a football field included comes as a welcome response to calls that have echoed over the past five years.

It takes you to the time following the 2015 general elections, when as a consequence of the upheaval carried out in Layou, calypsonian Michael ‘Lord Have Mercy’ Ollivierre called for that facility. ‘Mercy’ lamented our inability of hosting any meaningful games.

There may not be resounding success as soon as the track has been commissioned, but there will be a sense of purpose as athletes operate in the knowledge that preparation for any eventuality will be enhanced.

The spill-over casts tremendous benefits for the nation, and the region as a whole. The possibility of staging more widespread sporting events, brings the prospect of sporting tourism more clearly into the picture. There is a sense of pride that citizens engender when their sporting heroes stand out.

The feeling of patriotism overwhelms a nation when their athletes stand out.

Evidence of this is obvious in the Caribbean.

Look at the jubilation any sporting success brings to the region, whether it is Usain Bolt, Ato Bolden, or Kirani James.

Facilities provide outlets for expanding the work force and injecting more money into the economy in a sustained way. Workers will be needed to maintain those facilities and, with more focus on events before and after the actual format, there will be a more vibrant community.

Idleness will be reduced, so there will be less work for Satan. The nation will inevitably be healthier, for the benefits and correlation are straightforward. With the thrust on fitness, the agricultural sector will be in for greater attention as the need for fresh and more nutritious intake falls into place.

With the need for continuity, the foundation will be in place to ensure that the younger generation has a platform from which to take off.

The performance of the nation’s youth will make the emergence of the track more exciting. There will be reason to celebrate.

It has been a long-held dream. Its fulfilment is just reward for those who championed the cause over the years.

The sporting initiative will galvanise a nation into realistic condensation. The arrival of the track adds a dimension to the sporting base. The sphere of sporting discipline in SVG continues to expand.

Swimming is a good example. That aspect is deepened in recent times, and the nation is establishing himself as competitive in the region.

Efforts are afoot to honour the name of the late Julius Anthony. He reached out to the sporting fraternity and found reason to expose talent in the northern end of the country. So, the inauguration of the Julius Anthony Trophy, involving teams from the North Windward and North Leeward, is a welcome development. There has been genuine support for the gesture, and with the commencement of the Vinlec North Leeward Cricket Championship also in the offing, those will be suitable gestures of appreciation for the work he imparted.

Another successful IT-DAT Camp closes The IT-DAT Academy six-week Athletics Summer Camp will end today, and founder and head coach of the Academy Michael Ollivierre is pleased with the running and results of another camp.

“During the six weeks, the kids were exposed to

Michael Ollivierre (foreground) directs athletes to another session during the Camp. the basics of the sports as well as a number of events,” Ollivierre stressed. “The participants were also exposed to some sessions off the field, one being a motivation session with Cecil Mc Kie, Minister of Sports,” he continued.

Ollivierre was happy to have the two other coaches give of their expertise to the Camp.

“I am very thankful to Kanhai Senior, an IAAF Level 5 coach specializing in jumps who came from Jamaica, as well as Janice Davis who came from St Kitts, for the very important role they played in the summer camp,” Ollivierre said.

Keith Joseph, President of SVG Team Athletics, was down to address the closing ceremony of the Camp, scheduled for today at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex.

There were 63 Cecil Mc Kie, Minister of participants in this Sports, (back to camera) year’s Camp. delivering his motivational talk to the I.B.A.ALLEN Camp participants.

ITF Junior titles decided

The National Lotteries International Tennis Federation (ITF) Under18 Junior Tennis concluded last Saturday at the National Tennis Centre at Villa.

Hosted by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association, the oneweek Tournament attracted the usual participation of players from overseas.

Last Saturday morning, following a rain interruption, Barbadian Hannah Chambers won the Girls’ Title when she

saw off Jade Marie of France 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

In the Boys’ Singles final, which was played alongside the Girls’ Final, Kaipo Marshall of Barbados won after Brazilian Ian Pessoa Cruz retired.

Cruz was leading 4-3 in the first set, when a rain delay meant that he had to abort the match, because he was scheduled to leave the island at 1pm.

It was Marshall’s second title, as he had teamed up with Stephen Slocombe, also of

Barbados, to win the Doubles.

Marshall and Slocombe beat Cruz and Christian Kuehne of Switzerland 6-4, 6-1.

And, Sydney Clarke of the Bahamas and Miu Yabuta of Japan copped the Girls’ Doubles, by beating the Barbadian duo of Hannah Chambers and Chloe Weekes 6-1, 6-3.

Hannah ChambersSt Vincent and the Girls’ Singles Grenadines was the Champion. second leg of the circuit, the circuit concludes in after St Lucia.

Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago August 24th to 31st. hosts the third leg, and

Kiddy Cricket Camp ends today The SVG Cricket Association/ CWI/Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket Summer Camp got going here last Monday, August 19, at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex, and was expected to end today, Friday.

Students from sixty primary schools across the state participated in the one-week camp.

In addition to classroom sessions that addressed topics like Nutrition, Personal Hygiene, Self-Development, Conflict Resolution, Child Protection and more, on-field sessions were

geared toward teaching the basics of the sport.

In this regard, local coaches William ‘Bill’ Edwards, Uzah Pope, Jeremy Layne and Cleton Burnett led the youngsters through on-field sessions in bowling, batting, running between the wickets, wicket-

Participants involved in catching drills. keeping, catching, fielding and fielding positions.

Former National, Windwards and Combined Islands off spinner Stanley ‘Gunny’ Hinds was the Camp’s co-ordinator.

I.B.A.ALLEN

30. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019. 31.

Classifieds

Marcus Garvey Memorial Lecture: an eye opener From Page 14 Dr. Masada James of the IMUC thanked all present for their attendance and the speakers for their enlightening presentations.

Persons present were the recipients of tokens of appreciation, compliments IMUC. Contributed by: Donald De Riggs.

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

F O R S A L E

FRIDAY,

AUGUST 23, 2019

VOLUME 113, No.30

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THREE MORE SHOOTING DEATHS in the vicinity of Yankee’s Supermarket.

A male has been arrested in connection with Nanton’s death. (See story on page 4).

And before the ink could dry on the police’s preliminary investigations into murders 9 and 10 for the year, they were called out to the scene of another.

The report is that police were thrown into another murder investigation, that of the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of 42-year-old Marcus Corridon, a mechanic of Belair, which occurred last Monday, Aug. 19.

According to a police release, at about 8:10 p.m. on Aug. 19 at Fountain, Corridon was shot in the left side of his body. He was rushed to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Corridon’s death is listed as murder number 11 for the year.

Slyvanus Nanton Sam, a former St. Mary’s Roman Catholic and Intermediate High School Marcus Corridon student, was regarded as a skilled tenth murder victim for the year.

Investigations are ongoing into that footballer. He is remembered as one of the stalwarts that led his school to the matter.

Secondary Schools Championship in Michelle Sam, Nyanga’s mother, 2011. recalled the incident that fateful Persons in that community are evening. baffled with the sudden turn of She had heard the sound of the events, for Sam was noted as one who Nynaga ‘Namsy’ Sam discharge of bullets from her residence got along well with others, and was located a short distance from the scene

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY respected for his role in the area. of the crime.

“He was nice. Nothing trouble(d) Wails from a woman close to the IN THE WAKE of three gun-related him,” one woman in the district murders between Friday 16 and Monday site drove home the impact of what declared. she had heard.

19th August, Assistant Superintendent of Sam, aged 32, will be buried August Michelle was drawn to the spot and Police Junior Simmons, in charge of the 31. confessed: “I could see my son on the Public Relations and Complaints Department, is appealing to Vincentians ground. I roll like a donkey. Da one Two more murders dey hard,” she sighed. to be ‘law abiding.”

A police release said that about 7:45 “It is not a good thing to take the Sam’s death followed that of p.m. at Paul’s Avenue, Sam, who was law into your hands,” Simmons Slyvanus Nanton, 41-year-old labourer advised. He was responding to queries reportedly at a Liquor and Provision of Diamond. shop in the company of others, was surrounding the death of Nyanga According to a police report, at approached by an unknown person, ‘Namsy’ Sam. about 5:45 a.m. last Friday, Aug.16, who shot him and fled the scene.

Sam succumbed to bullet wounds Nanton was discovered unresponsive He was pronounced dead at the last Friday in Paul’s Avenue, with gunshot wounds about his body, scene by the medical examiner.

Kingstown. He became the nation’s in Motor Vehicle PK 927 at Diamond,

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

Michelle Sam now grieves for her son Nynaga.

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.