Vin pages 24 02 17 e reader for web

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY,

FEBRUARY 24, 2017

VOLUME 111, No.08

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

Untimely transportation of prisoners to and from courts has been a recurring problem, says Prosecutor Delpleche.

by HAYDN HUGGINS

says he was shocked to hear of a recent report of ACTING COMMISSIONER of an ongoing problem Police Renold Hadaway regarding transportation to take prisoners to and from Court.

Hadaway’s remarks came while speaking to THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday. They were made in the presence of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Clauston Francis, who is in charge of the Process Department, responsible for the Courts.

Hadaway admitted that the matter is very serious, and requires urgent attention. He assured that it would be looked into with a view Acting Commissioner of to having it addressed Police Renold Hadaway expeditiously.

The top cop disclosed admitted that the gravity that the issue had been of the current situation brought to his attention was being relayed to some years ago while he him for the first time held the Office of Deputy when this publication Commissioner, and he did so.

had put the necessary measures in place to have the problem rectified. He could not recall how long ago that was.

“I am shocked to hear of this recent report,” the Commissioner (AG) stated. According to him, he was not aware of it until he spoke to THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday. As a result, he made a telephone call to Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche, in the presence of this reporter, to seek clarity on the matter.

Hadaway then pointed out to the publication that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has two vehicles at their disposal, and there are several other police transports at the Central Police Station (CPS), so there should be no

reason for any problem regarding the transportation of prisoners who have to attend Court.

The Acting Commissioner added that the staff at the Process Department of the Police Force is directly under ASP Francis’ supervision, and matters of this nature should be brought to his attention when they occur.

Francis, who is also second in command of the CID, said no such report was made to him.

He too indicated that he was shocked to hear of the recent complaint.

Court Prosecutor complains THE VINCENTIAN had contacted the Commissioner on Tuesday after Senior

Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche expressed disgust, at the Serious Offences Court on Monday, when the ongoing problem regarding the transportation of prisoners again surfaced, that Court having to wait on prisoners for almost an hour that morning.

Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN after, Delpleche said that the problem has been ongoing for several years, and successive magistrates at the Serious Offences Court and the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court had spoken out about it during Court sittings.

Delpleche said he had brought the matter to Hadaway’s attention about three or four years ago when the now acting Commissioner had held the Office of Deputy.

Commissioner, but the situation has not been remedied, and has become more serious in recent times.

Continued on Page 3.

Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche described the situation surrounding the lack of transportation as being shameful.

V

2. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Digicel introduces kiosks TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY DIGICEL is continuing to revolutionize its operations here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Effective Monday, February 13th, a total of ten (10) top-up kiosks became operational across St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Digicel’s Distribution Manager- Gershom Dick said the installation of these kiosks signals the next step in the evolution of the recharge space.

Dick said, “First, there were scratch cards, then came Electronic top up via the phone and web, Top Up via the My Digicel App, and now Digicel customers are given total control over their transactions and top up experience, with the introduction of the Kiosks.”

Dick further explained that the units were introduced to complement Digicel’s existing reseller footprint, specifically in

communities with limited access to top up.

Among the businesses and communities that were chosen for the new kiosks, are Barry’s Shop in Point, Mamma Dawn Shop in Orange Hill, Rubis Service Station, Black Point, Big Lions ShopColonaire, Salian Billingy’s Shop-Chester Cottage, Options Supermarket in Arnos Vale, Kelly’s Mini MartClare Valley, Keegan Beachside-Bequia, Blue

Lagoon Mini Mart, and Choppins Mini Mart.

In explaining some of the key features of the modernized top up machines, Dick said the kiosks are fully touch screen, with a number verification process that will help to ensure that the correct number is topped up at all times.

Customers can also top up friends and family in 13 different Caribbean islands, including Haiti, Jamaica, and Trinidad

and Tobago.

The introduction of the kiosks is not meant to replace the existing reseller base, the distribution manager assured, but he did proffer that industry trends have necessitated that alternate options be explored to ensure that Digicel customers can have quick Digicel top-up kiosks are now access to Top accessible at ten locations across Up whenever the state. and wherever.

Dick said Top Up via bank’s plans are currently being ATMs and Web services in finalized to allow Digicel the not too distant customers the ability to future.

Edwards Family receives groceries and supplies from Digicel team.

Family grateful for help THE EDWARDS FAMILY of Lowmans Leeward was all smiles on the morning of February 1, when they were pleasantly surprised and presented with two large baskets of groceries, household and body products valued at over EC $500.00, all compliments the staff and management of Digicel SVG. The Edwards were identified to receive donation after Digicel’s Direct Sales Team- Feet On The Street (FOTS) came across the family just about a week ago.

Mischka Lewis — FOTS team leader and the lone female on team, said she was extremely hurt and touched when they came across the family, and noted that three children, all under the age of 7, were washing, cleaning and carrying out household chores on a day when they should have been at school.

Lewis added that what was even more disheartening was the fact that no adult figure was visibly present.

The Digicel team met with the family on the said day, and a promise to offer help was made there and then.

When the donation was made at the family’s home in Lowman’s Leeward, one of the three adults residing there, Norishine Edwards, thanked Digicel very much for the kind donation.

Edwards said with a household of 15 occupants and only three adults with no stable job and fixed income, it is often a challenge providing food and even sending the children to school.

Additionally, a Digicel handset was presented to the family, having learnt that there was no direct means of contacting and communicating with persons in or outside the home.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. 3.

News 3

Just a glimpse of the MovieTowne flagship location in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

PM Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and CEO/Invest SVG Ms. Benadette Ambrose-Black greet Mr. Derek Chin as he disembarked his jet at the AIA on Feb. 14, 2017.

MovieTowne for Arnos Vale?

the AIA on opening day, Tuesday 14th February, he confirmed that he had made a promise, and now that the new airport was built and operational, he would honour that promise.

“Obviously, we have the lands in Arnos Vale A NUMBER OF PRIVATE MovieTowne, a still plan to transform Arnos to look at. So things have executive-type jets unfolding cinema and Vale, including the site started to pick up, and carrying regional prime entertainment franchise, of the E. T. Joshua hopefully I’ll come and ministers, diplomats and headquartered in Airport, into a modern give you (the country) a business people Trinidad and Tobago. city, the Prime Minister MovieTowne down here; descended on the Argyle Being at the opening had indicated that Mr. so that’s the plan,” Chin international Airport (AIA), was perhaps Mr. Chin’s Chin had registered an told THE VINCENTIAN. for its formal opening, way of endearing himself interest in being the first There are currently February 14, 2017. further to Prime to invest in the new three MovieTowne Among those arriving Minister Dr. Ralph undertaking, i.e. to bring locations in Trinidad and in that manner was Gonsalves and the people his franchise to SVG. Tobago which boast, Trinidadian businessman of St. Vincent and the When THE among other attractions, Derek Chin, founder and Grenadines.

VINCENTIAN spoke a total of 22 (cinema) chairman of the For in addressing his briefly with Mr. Chin at

screens among them.

The flagship — MovieTowne, located in capital Port of Spain, is, according to the franchise’s website, ‘the most popular hot spot for dining, liming, shopping, live entertainment and enjoying quality time with family, friends and visitors’.

The website continues, ‘The multi-faceted complex facility is home to many amenities and attractions other than just the modern cinemas (ten), including a Mediterranean style courtyard mall, with over 60 elegant retail shops, and restaurants, Fiesta

Plaza, an outdoor dining and live entertainment area, the Banquet and Conference Centre, an exquisite banquet facility and the Carousel Park’.

Stated clearly on the website is an intention to expand in Trinidad and Tobago as well as to Guyana, the first gateway to even wider investment across the Caribbean Region.

Vincentians will wait with bated breath to see if this country becomes the first Caribbean island territory into which the MovieTowne franchise would expand.

(KH)

NDP petition to be heard next month Lack of transport THIS COUNTRY’S ELECTORAL PROCESS will face yet another test when the New Democratic Party (NDP) election petitions challenging the 2015 general elections results in two constituencies, are heard by the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal in St. Lucia, on March 7.

The opposition NDP filed an appeal to the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal against the June 2016 decision of the High Court, to dismiss its election petition as improperly filed.

The NDP is challenging the election results in the Central Leeward and North Windward constituencies.

On Sunday 12th February, Political Leader of the NDP and Leader of the Opposition NDP Dr. Godwin Friday, while speaking at his party’s 39th Convention held in Layou in the Central Leeward constituency, told supporters, “The appeal will be heard, and our lawyers will be there presenting our position fiercely, and we hope and pray to God, that justice will be done, and the people of SVG will soon have a chance at liberation once again.”

Benjamin Exeter, the NDP candidate for Central Leeward in the 2015 general elections, assured the party faithful that, “We are not out, we are not dead,

the hope is still alive.”

The Unity Labour Party was returned to government at the 2015 polls. Its one-seat majority means that, should the decision of the Appeal Court come down on the side of the NDP, there could well be fresh elections.

And with this in mind, Dr. Friday urged the delegates, members and supporters at the Convention to, “recommit yourself to your tasks and to say to yourselves and to the rest of us, that you will redouble your efforts to advance the work of the party in your different areas of the country.”

There was an air of optimism at the NDP’s Convention about the party’s chances of victory in the election petitions appeal.

hampering Court Continued from Front Page.

The Senior Prosecutor pointed out that there are times when the Process Department has had to seek the assistance of civilian departments to transport prisoners because of the unavailability of police transport. He lamented that, at times, other police departments refuse to assist the Process Department with transportation.

“There are times when police officers have had to escort prisoners from Court by foot to Her Majesty’s Prisons, Kingstown, because these officers would have been in the Courtroom for hours awaiting transportation.

“There are also times when the lack of transportation for prisoners caused the Court to be held up for hours because prisoners were unable to get there on time for the hearing of their matters,” Delpleche explained.

In relation to the transportation of remand prisoners, the prosecutor admitted that the prisons should have that responsibility, but he explained that the police had, for years, taken over that role.

“The function of the Process Department is far too serous to be having this ongoing problem”, Delpleche stressed, and made another plea to the police hierarchy to have the matter addressed with urgency.

“The situation is ridiculous, it is shameful, and totally unacceptable,” a visibly upset Delpleche lamented.

The media, including THE VINCENTIAN, have in the past reported on several instances in which Magistrates had spoken out on the issue of lack of transport for prisoners who have to attend Court.

V

4. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Arnos Vale man charged with robbery MAY 30 is the date set for the commencement of a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) involving robbery accused Dwight James of Arnos Vale.

James is charged with robbing John Jackson of the same address of EC$250 in cash, a pair of shoes valued US$150, a cellular phone with charger valued EC$130, a brown comb valued EC$1.50, and an adapter valued EC$3.00.

The offence was reportedly committed on Wednesday, February 15 at Arnos Vale.

James was not required to plead when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne at the Serious Offences Court on Monday, and was granted $6,000 bail with surety, with reporting conditions.

He was also placed on a dusk to dawn curfew, and ordered not to have contact with the virtual complainant.

No tolerance for willy-nilly gun toters Court on Monday, before sentencing him to five years in prison for CHIEF MAGISTRATE having a 9mm pistol Rechanne Browne sent a without licence; and 12 strong message at the months for having six Serious Offences Court on rounds of 9mm Monday, that willy-nilly ammunition without gun toters will not be licence. The sentences tolerated. will run concurrently.

“I don’t want anybody The Chief Magistrate to feel that they could told Prince that firearm just go around and or ammunition parade willy-nilly with possession carries a firearms, and come here maximum penalty of and get a slap on the seven years in prison, wrist,” she told Edinboro and that he could also be resident Terron Prince at fined and confined. the Serious Offences She noted that Prince Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

was convicted at the conclusion of a full trial, and, therefore, did not have the benefit of a guilty plea.

The prosecution’s evidence revealed that shortly after midnight October 15 last year, police officers on mobile patrol at Lower Middle Street, Kingstown, saw Prince urinating on a building.

When the transport got closer to him, he moved away, appearing to be uneasy.

The officers became

Second robbery suspect charged A SECOND SUSPECT has been charged in connection with a robbery at Edinboro on Thursday, February 16.

Alwyn Browne, 17, of Ottley Hall, has been charged jointly with Akeem ‘Tallman’ Bess, 26, of the same address.

The two are accused of robbing Selwyn Adams, 37, of Campden Park, of a brown leather wallet valued EC$25, EC$700 in cash, US$150 in cash, two Mitsubishi jeep keys valued EC$40, one house Akeem ‘Tallman’ Bess key valued EC$30, along appeared on a Police with other items.

Wanted Notice late last All the items and the week.

EC money together valued EC$940.

Bess had appeared before Chief Magistrate Browne at the Serious Offences Court on Monday. However, the second suspect was taken before Senior Magistrate Bertie Pompey at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, as the Serious Offences Court was not sitting.

They were not required to plea, and were each granted $5,000 bail with one surety, with reporting conditions. They were also placed on a dusk to dawn curfew, and ordered not to have contact with the virtual complainant.

A Preliminary Inquiry (PI) is set for May 31.

Reports are that Adams was held at gunpoint and relieved of the money and other items.

suspicious. One alighted the vehicle. Prince began running, heading in the direction of Corea’s Wholesale.

The officer chased him, Terron Prince will spend the next fired a shot in five years behind bars. the air, and shouted to the had disposed of while defendant to stop. running was a bag of The chase continued, and he eventually caught weed, which was the only up with Prince, who was thing illegal he had in then taken back to where his possession.

However, there was no the officer saw him evidence of any throw the object. marijuana being found, The firearm was found on one of the rear wheels during the incident, nor was there any charge of of the trailer. marijuana possession The magazine of the against Prince. weapon contained five A number of police rounds of ammunition. officers testified for the One bullet was in the breach ready to be fired. prosecution, including In his defence, Prince those who were among denied that the gun and the patrolling party.

Prince, who was not ammunition with which represented by a lawyer, he was charged for having, belonged to him. called no witnesses to He claimed that what he support his case.

Kudos for Court Prosecutor PROSECUTOR Constable Shamrock Pierre came in for kudos at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, after he made a move which resulted in a 16-year-old male offender, leaving the Court without any criminal record in his name.

Defence lawyer Ronald Marks, who was sitting at the Bar Table, rose immediately as a friend of the Court, and indicated that the prosecutor ought to be commended for the move.

The youngster had pleaded guilty to theft, having been caught in the act of shoplifting at Massy Supermarket, Kingstown. He had attempted to dishonestly acquire a deodorant.

P.C Pierre told the Court the defendant was 16 and had no previous convictions. He expressed the view that the boy was not beyond redemption, and should be given a second chance.

Pierre then asked Senior Magistrate Bertie Pompey to apply section 37 of the Criminal Code, in order to exercise his power in law, to discharge the offender without punishment.

Pompey granted the prosecutor’s request.

The boy does not attend school currently, but is involved in an educational programme.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. 5.

Regional

CDB president reports:

Calls for immediate action ALTHOUGH THE CARIBBEAN region registered some economic growth in 2016, the recovery was fragile and uneven.

So said President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) _ Dr. Warren Smith, as he addressed the annual news conference of the bank’s headquarters, Barbados, last Friday, according to Barbados Today.

Barbados Today reported that Dr Smith made the comment as he urged the region to be more aggressive in order to stem the tide of economic decline with which the region has been burdened since the global financial crisis.

“The big challenge for each and every one of us, then, is to reverse this pattern and place the BMC’s (borrowing member countries) firmly on to a path of sustained and inclusive income growth with discernible improvements in living standards,” Smith said.

Without raising direct concern about the trade imbalances with which most BMCs are strained, the CDB president cautioned that in order for this goal to be realized, the BMCs must be earning sufficient foreign exchange to pay for goods they import for consumption and

for production.

And he recognized two main policy imperatives that the Caribbean needed to get right in order to unlock the vast potential of the region: that the region’s governments must offer services that promote efficiency and costcompetitiveness whilst fostering inclusive growth and protecting vulnerable groups in our society; and that government activity must be financed by revenue systems that meet the sufficiency criterion while promoting equity and economic efficiency.

Smith may have held his most pointing observation for fiscal policy across the Caribbean. He noted that as a result of the inefficacy of the fiscal policy that abounds across the region, tremendous wastage of resources in the state sector of the region occurred, hampering the future prospects of the territories.

“Government services are not being delivered costeffectively, social safety nets are still not being adequately targeted, institutional and regulatory reforms for improved private sector competitiveness are lagging behind the rest of the world, and state-owned enterprises

Française de Développement a US$33 million loan to support sustainable infrastructure projects and a three million Euro (One Euro=US$1.29 cents) grant to Bank activities fund feasibility studies for projects eligible for financing Smith announced that the under the credit facility.

CDB approved US$306 million The year in review also in loans and grants to marked a new arrangement Caribbean countries last year, with the Government of the highest approval total for Canada for the establishment the past five years. and administration of a five Belize, St Lucia and million Canadian dollar (One Suriname were named as the Canada dollar=US$0.76 cents) three largest beneficiaries of fund to build capacity in the loans. energy sector, The Canadian In addition to the grants Support to the Energy Sector approved in 2016, the bank in the Caribbean Fund. began implementing the The president also United Kingdom Caribbean confirmed that, in 2016, CDB Infrastructure Partnership completed negotiations for the Fund (UK CIF) - a £300 replenishment of the Special million (US$375 million) grant Development Fund (SDF), the programme for bank’s largest pool of transformational concessionary funds. infrastructure projects in eight Contributors agreed to an Caribbean countries and one overall programme of US$355 British overseas territory, million for the period 2017which CDB administers.

2020, and lowered the SDF Under this scheme, some interest rate from a range of £16.4 million in grants was two to 2.5 per cent to one per approved for projects and cent. technical assistance in The programme approved Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, includes US$45 million for Dominica and Grenada.

Haiti and USD40 million for Last year, the bank also the Basic Needs Trust Fund. signed a Credit Facility This marked the ninth Agreement with Agence replenishment of the SDF, are not adhering to universally-accepted financial management policies,” the CDB president said in a tome void of any fear or favour.

Dr Warren Smith – President of the Caribbean Development Bank, addressing the Bank’s annual press conference, Barbados, last Friday. which helps meet the Caribbean region’s highpriority development needs.

In his statement, Smith also reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to drive sustained and inclusive income growth, complemented by improvements in living standards in its BMCs. This, he said, was critical, as economic growth across the Region remains uneven, with fragile recovery expected to continue into 2017. (Source: Barbados Today)

CARICOM sets CSME deadline CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM) Heads of Government have given themselves until March 31, 2017, to submit comments on the review of the various regimes of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

This was the decision reached at the 28th Inter-sessional meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government, which convened in Georgetown, Guyana, last week Thursday.

The review shows the status of implementation, for each country, of the measures intended to bring the CSME into effect and, according to Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, lead head for the CSME, the “comprehensive” review had been carried out by

the CARICOM Secretariat under his oversight, as directed by the conference of heads of government last July.

PM Stuart also said, at the end of the Intersessional meeting, “What the review has done is to highlight all those things that we have achieved, which are many, as well as those things that we have not achieved but can be done, once member states implement the necessary legislation, or put other mechanisms in place to make the operation of the CSME more effective in the respective areas.”

The prime minister observed that, despite various challenges, there was still a “high level of enthusiasm” for the regional integration movement, and “a high level of interest in the

CARICOM Heads of Government and Secretariat staff at the 28th Inter-sessional meeting in Georgetown, Guyana. goal of a CSME,” and emphasised, “What we want to ensure is that we have a regional integration movement that is alive, and that we’re responding appropriately to the multiple challenges that arise from time to time,” he emphasised.

The heads of government will consider again the progress of the CSME at their next regular meeting, which will be held from, July 4 to 6, in St Georges, Grenada. That meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Dr Keith

Mitchell.

While it might not be the only contributing factor responsible for the CARICOM heads setting themselves a deadline to submit comments on the CSME review, it is instructive to note that president of Guyana,

David Granger, called upon its colleagues, during his address at the opening of the twentyeighth intersessional meeting, to expedite the full implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

V

6. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government has once again emphasized the need for immediate strategies to combat the growing incidence of crime across their jurisdiction.

Agricultural produce from St. Vincent and the Grenadines end up for sale in markets across Trinidad and Tobago.

Foreign Exchange problem raised at CARICOM level IT IS NOT CERTAIN how soon local traders (traffickers) will have the situation that affects them sorted out, but the issue has been raised at the CARICOM level, with the hope that relief will soon come.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, speaking on his return from last week’s 28th Intercessional CARICOM meeting held in Guyana, said that he raised the issue in the presence of the other Heads of Governments.

He explained that the situation as it exists now was in which local traders either credit or purchase agricultural produce from local farmers, take them to Trinidad and Barbados, but encounter great difficulty in obtaining foreign exchange in those countries, so that they could settle with the local farmers.

This in turn has an adverse impact on the system because, according to Gonsalves, if the traders cannot get that foreign exchange when they sell produce in other territories, then the farmers’ payments are delayed, since the traders are then forced to purchase items to re-import into St Vincent for re-sale, before they are in a position to pay the farmers. “… There is a time lag in bringing back the goods and getting them sold,” Gonsalves explained.

The Farmer Support Company (FSC), a unit within the Ministry of Agriculture, had assumed the responsibility of paying farmers from whom traders had purchased produce. But, according to the

prime minister, this was not what the unit was set up to do.

He had, the prime minister assured, raised the concern with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, but that route proved futile.

So, he took the issue to the CARICOM Heads where he contended that merchants in countries like Trinidad did not have any difficulty regarding payment for goods purchased.

“They get paid in either EC or US dollars,” he said.

“We can’t have the integration movement unequally yoked,” Gonsalves said.

There ought to be equality in order for it to survive, he added.

(DD)

Crime of grave concern to regionÊs Heads VIOLENT CRIME and the rate at which it is being committed remains a concern for the region’s Heads of States.

This is, according to Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves who, during a press briefing on Monday, indicated that a decision with respect to security had been taken, at last week’s 28th CARICOM Intercessional Meeting in Guyana.

“Some existing issues in security are going to be strengthened, and there are some new initiatives,” he said.

He did not give any detailed information as to what the new initiatives entailed.

But he did comment on the escalating violent crime situation across the Caribbean Community, citing the just recorded highest homicide number for any one year in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, i.e. 40 in 2016; 15 homicides recorded for the year so far in St. Lucia; and the Trinidad and Tobago situation where the murders for the year so far was approaching 70.

“We have to very much try to see what we can do to contain the unnecessary killing and maiming of people,” the prime minister said, adding that citizen security was one of the top issues of focus locally this year also, so the discussion at the CARICOM level fitted in well.

(DD)

OSV makes donation to AIA

OSV and AIA officials at the hand-over last Tuesday.

MAINTENANCE at and of the Argyle International Airport (AIA) has been given a boost.

OSV Group, last Tuesday, made a donation of a Karcher Pressure Washer and a Stihl Weed Trimmer to AIA authorities.

In making the donation, OSV Group said that its gesture was in keeping with its recognition that maintenance of AIA is an integral part of its survival.

“This donation is one of the ways in which we are fulfilling a need with

a viable solution. We trust that the relationship we have fostered with AIA will continue to grow, and we are proud to know that we too are now a part of history with this donation,” Stevie Sutherland, OSV Group Marketing Manager, said.

Andre Sutherland, OSV Group Signs and Graphics Manager, expressed elation with the opportunity his company was given to make a donation to the AIA, “one we believe would aid significantly in

the maintenance of this facility.”

Eddison Edwards — AIA Assistant Engineer Building and Civil, expressed sincere gratitude for the gesture, saying, “On behalf of the Argyle International Airport, it is with heartfelt appreciation that we say thank you for your donation. We commend you on taking the initiative of making this donation by identifying key necessities that would be needed to be undertaken in our maintenance programme… .”

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. 7.

News

International Garifuna Summit for Heritage Month The evening of March 7 is reserved AS PART OF NATIONAL HEROES for the opening of the Month, The Garifuna Heritage International Foundation (TGHF), in Garifuna Conference collaboration with The University at the Methodist of the West Indies Open Church Hall, Campus, will host the Kingstown. The International Garifuna Summit. opening’s feature The Summit’s events will be speaker will be held between March 6 and 14, renowned Caribbean 2017, under the theme: historian, researcher “Celebrating our Indigenous and former Resident Heritage and Culture — from Tutor at the Mainland to Islands and University of the Return: Strengthening links, West Indies Open Campus, Dr. forging networks, claiming Lennox Honychurch from ancestral space”.

Dominica.

SUMMIT EVENTS Working sessions of the Included among the events International Conference will for the summit is the convene at the Peace screening of Garifuna films in Memorial Hall on March 8. primary and secondary The Panel topics will include: schools, and at the Kingstown “The Vincentian Experience — Public Library and Alliance History and Perspectives Francaise for members of the Before and After Exile”; general public, on March 6 “Visibility of the Indigenous and 7.

Peoples’ Heritage and

by GLORIAH…

Students have found the Conference session to be informative.

Dr. Lennox Honychurch, Dominican Historian, will be the feature speaker at the International Conference opening.

Left: The Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Folkloric Ballet of NYC is expected to add an additional flair to the Garifuna Summit activities.

Involvement of the Youths”; “The Amerindian Experience: History, Migration, and Culture”; and “The Garifuna Diaspora Experience: Trauma, Migration, and Culture”.

The Annual Schools’ Folk Festival, an event geared towards bringing out the Garifuna heritage and culture through a series of cultural presentations by students from schools throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines, will be held on Friday, March 10th, 2017 at the Victoria Park. A march of participating students, led by the Royal SVG Police Force Band, will leave the Bishop’s College Kingstown and proceed to the Park for the concert.

To add an entertainment dimension to the Summit, and to heighten interest in and knowledge of Garifuna culture, the internationally renowned Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Folkloric Ballet of NYC has accepted an

invitation to perform throughout the country. In addition to scheduled visits to communities on the windward and leeward sides of the mainland St. Vincent, the group’s itinerary includes an International Garifuna Dance and Music Festival, a free show at the Peace Memorial Hall, on Friday, March 10.

The Traditional Garifuna Village and Cultural Marketplace will be set up at the Old Public Library yard and at Heritage Square respectively. The village will see a number of huts constructed to display information on Garifuna. On Thursday 9th March between 11:30 am and 1:00 pm, a minishowcase dubbed, “Highlighting Garifuna in the Village” will be put on to attract members of the public and the media. The Craft Marketplace at Heritage Square will see art and craft, along with the sale of indigenous foods. These two

features will last two days, March 8 and 9.

The Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Folkloric Ballet of NYC is down to perform at the Market place.

Of special significance is a planned pilgrimage to Balliceau on Sunday, March 12. The public is invited to make this journey at a minimal fee.

And, with National Heroes Day festivities coming right on the heels of these activities, Folkloric ballet will make an appearance at the commemoration to National Hero Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer, at the Obelisk at Dorsetshire Hill on March 14 and also at the Heritage Festival in Greiggs on the same day.

National Heroes Month, March, is a unique opportunity for Vincentians to learn much about their heritage, and THGF is playing its part in the relay of information and education.

Three become one for Leeward Carnival IF TWO HEADS are better than one, then three will be, at the minimum, the best.

The South, Central and North Leeward Carnival Committees have come together to form the All Leeward Carnival Committee.

The programme of activities was presented last Tuesday during a media briefing at the office of the Carnival Development Corporation, Victoria Park.

Leeward Carnival activities begin on Friday, March 3 at the Keartons Playing Field, in Central Leeward, a venue which condensed as a neutral setting in the context of the amalgamation.

That will feature strictly Leeward performers, including Symphonix Steel Orchestra, Rose Bank Drummers, Flanka, Royal, Naptali, Keith Currency, Fireman Hooper, Man Zangie, Electric, Reka, Daddy, Bomani, and Mad King.

Disc Jockeys Tuffa, Sarda, Out Ah

Road Jugglers, Simple X Sounds and Yellow are expected to perform.

Models will portray sections from Vincentian Mas Bands.

South Leeward opens Sunday March 19. A Fish Fest at Clare Valley, Pool Party at Pirates Cove, Calypso Soca Show, and South Leeward Pageant precede the J’Ouvert and Street Party scheduled for Sunday April 28.

Gilbert Frederick highlighted Central Leeward’s activities which culminate May 13. They include a ‘Soca Jungle’ event, aimed at exposing young artistes. A Neon Fete, Boat Party, Wet Fete on the Barrouallie Wharf are in the presentation.

North Leeward round off their programme June 10. They start March 31 with a Wet Fete. Norlan Allen pointed to an April 15 ‘Soca in the Cold’ in Rose Hall, Junior Soca Monarch contest, Miss Leeward Pageant, and a Beach Splash at Cumberland.

Kevin Franklyn, representing St. Vincent Brewery, a major benefactor of the activities, expressed satisfaction with the unity of the three segments, and outlined that the amalgamation “made it easy for us. We embrace it very much,” Nakalia Williams, Representing Flow, another benefactor, was delighted with the coordination of the three committees, and announced “special deals All leeward Carnival Committee members – to keep you connected,” Gilbert Frederick (left) and Norlan Allen – gave a during the festive events. rundown of the various activities that will be Williams pledged her spread throughout the three Leeward company’s commitment, constituencies. and urged listeners to “Go Morgan, representing the ALL with the Flow.”

Leeward Committee, emphasised that Organisers are encouraging the ‘No Bottle Policy’ will be in effect. playing of local music, and Jules (WKA)

V

8. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Editorial One for ‘World Radio Day’ FEBRUARY 13 was World Radio Day 2017. Many Vincentians probably did not know that such a day even existed, but it does.

At the 36th session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2012, the agency proclaimed World Radio Day on 13 February. It was subsequently adopted as an International Day by the United Nations General Assembly.

World Radio Day is a way of recognising the importance of radio in community around the world. It is, without a doubt, and even as a newspaper we will concede, the media form that reaches the widest audience because of its simplicity and low costs for the average person.

This year, World Radio Day was marked under the theme, “Radio is You!” There are different types of radio stations: community, commercial and public, NBC categorised as the last named.

Here in SVG we are saturated, some say, with an inordinate number of radio stations, all broadcasting on the FM band, all owned by different business permutations, all with their respective audiences and, we say cautiously, with different programming.

Yet, they share a common goal: to connect with the listener in a way that is relevant and, more importantly, immediate.

It is the ability to relay information with immediacy that sets radio apart from the press, making it ever so powerful because it has the ability to reach and influence so many people.

But therein lies the challenge of being responsible in the face of such power.

The very fact that it has the advantage of immediacy (in relaying information) is a challenge. In this sense, radio is like a modern village story-teller, i.e. it talks directly to an audience through words, sounds and the human voice - inviting listeners to explore new experiences, new places, new ideas. It gives listeners (or ought to give listeners) — including the poor, the marginalised and those who cannot read or write - the stories they need to know in order to better understand the world.

That is a mammoth responsibility that comes with its power.

A further challenge is in understanding how and where people listen to radio. Radio is the most accessible of media forms. Listeners can tune in anywhere and at any time.

But even as this establishes itself as another advantage, it also creates challenges. When people listen to the radio, they are usually doing something else at the same time. Listeners may only have one ear on the radio, so it can be easy to miss important information, or to get an inaccurate or incomplete picture of what was said. On radio, you have to be particularly careful about the way you communicate. This leads to another challenge.

That challenge has to do with getting it right — right now.

Because radio thrives on covering what is happening now, it places added demand on the practitioner. In a rush to be first with a news story, often there isn’t much time to check facts.

This can lead to mistakes — clouded by sensationalism, rumour, and/or bias. The challenge lies in being able to report in a way that does not confuse rumour with fact.

And because radio allows listeners to respond and make their views known, consciously or unconsciously allowing listeners to become a community, the challenge of getting it right is compounded.

Therein lies the need for radio and all media practitioners alike, to be responsible professional journalists, guided by basic principles of operation, codes of ethics that encourage balance even while being independent.

For all the challenges that radio faces, educators and other appropriately related organizations of professionals have found that radio is the best way to get important messages across especially to citizens in rural areas who may not have access to newspaper or television.

Media practitioners, those in radio especially, should heed the adage, ‘Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely’.

Talking sports in general MOMENTARILY, I am at a loss in our jungle of political warfare, so I will focus a bit on other aspects of my contribution via the Press, namely, on the broad area of sports.

I salute the effort now being made to research our history for nuggets of the past, which ought to help us in present planning for the future.

I must say, up front, that I have made my contribution which has largely been ignored, for whatever reason. About two years ago, I attempted a last-ditch effort. I invited a thoughtful and resourceful radio personality to join me with Carlton Horne to attempt on Radio 705 a like programme to that one now featuring Mike Findlay and Donald Llewellyn. I drew a blank.

Cally Horne is brimful of encyclopaedic knowledge of the history of our football, athletics, and cricket. He is still sharp in expressing his point of view, but now in his eighties, seems to be slipping away fast. I had also contacted two men, both also in their eighties, who were then anxious to give their knowledge from the comfort of their home via radio: Maurice Lee is somewhat limited now by approaching Alzheimer’s, while the other George Howard has indeed called it George!

The years are past slipping by so that if we are to retrieve the situation, we barely have a last chance, and must act now.

As for me, I remain a slave to our sports in general, and have written copiously about them, covering from 1930-1990. In order to provoke argument and discussion, I named the best X1 in cricket and football by position- naming three competitors, with the topmost emerging as the champion player. These can be located in my early newspaper columns.

Congratulations to Donald Llewellyn for being chosen for his contribution to sport by the American brethren. My son Tony sends his congrats. He was a Grammar School champion who remembers being partly trained by Donald who is like family to me. My three elder sisters were in turn Godmother to Gerald, Francis ‘Pess’, and Donald who in turn I taught at Timmy School!

As to the other discussant, Mike Findlay laid his groundwork at the Grammar School whose team I accompanied as assistant games-master to Grenada in 1960, where we won at cricket, and where Mikey hit a towering six off Mc. Clarene, using the cross-bat which he then mastered.

As a matter of interest, our team was captained by Douglas Cambridge and contained Carl Glasgow, Rodway Fraser and Raymond Knights, all dead, with Hally Dougan a survivor.

Also playing in that tournament were Irvin Shillingford and Dwight Venner.

Last Friday evening radio programme mentioned Camie King 1960 games-master and twice Victor Ludorum, who was followed by Kerwyn Morris a Champion sprinter.

On the netball field starred Ishbael HorneKing, Joyce Maloney-Frank, and Pearl AndersonHerbert, and later Clothel Young, all of whom

must never be forgotten.

At this point we need to say a word on the pioneer organisers and administrators, like Clive Mc Kell, Vin Douglas and Franky Thomas who for years also skippered our cricket team and has been recognised by the naming of a pavilion after him at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.

So, too, has been Mike Findlay who had requested me to address the assemblage at the ceremony on his behalf.

In thanking supporters of local sport, we need also to give some attention to the commentators Hughes, Thomas, Winston Baptiste, Mike Findlay, Carl Glasgow, Owen Cuffy, Douglas Cambridge, Linton Lewis, Gunny Hinds and myself, among others.

St. Aurin Seymour was all that and more specifically to the game of cricket. In fact, the Seymour competition played in his honour, showed some appreciation of his tremendous contribution to cricket.

In turn, we ought to mention the same writers who kept the game alive, sometimes through bleak and turbulent times - Earl Robinson, Patmos Richards, William Anthony and, of course, your humble servant.

For the rest, here are some highlights. Mention was made of John Da Silva, alias Sonny Otway, who is my brother-in-law still living in London at 92 years old, our most devastating medium-fast bowler in the early 50s, and one Harvey also from Georgetown, whom I saw blast a double-century in a day’s play against K.C.C in mid 1950s.

Mason’s fame is that he twice dismissed Frank Worrell at the Arnos Vale field for 0 and 25, and later took 9 wickets for paltry runs against St. Lucia in his last match.

Alfie Roberts made 163 for SVG in an unbroken partnership with F.C (Lester) Huggins, now turned 80, who I maintain is SVG’s greatest all-round sportsman of the twentieth century!

We are full of sporting “incidents” to report, but are hamstrung by editorial restraint.

It’s a pity that Thaddeus Seymour did not make available to us the priceless information in his father’s scorebook. So generations are hardput to tell the tales; that is why we must give every effort to Donald, Mike and Associates to climb Mount Everest!

I had witnessed when my school-mate Alfie Roberts broke the Windwards record with 163 scored off St. Lucia in the late 50s. I had been in Barbados when Linton Lewis scored a century against Malcolm Marshall and company to become West Indies Champion in 1982.

I was in Grenada on a cadet camp when I witnessed our 1957 netball team claiming the West Indies champion in an epic struggle against Trinidad.

I was around in the 1979-81 period when we rose to the football heights through — Raymond Ballantyne, Tweety Spence, Slick Bonadie, the Morris brothers, the Millingtons, Dorian Phillips, Mazi Alexander et al.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. 9.

Letters

Randy Lawrence did not have to die

PLEASE PERMIT me to relieve a burden on my chest as a law-abiding citizen of this nation. It is regarding the murder, the first of the year, that took place on February 14th.

Owing to my favourable impression of this young man, the respectable job he held in corporate society, the fact that he was in the prime of his life, the fact that the act of violence was too gratuitously and appeared to be premeditatedly committed (according to certain sections of the media), the incident churned over and over in my head, and I am convinced that Randy Lawrence did not have to die.

It was a day that the nation was looking forward to. A day of unity and celebration; a day of grandest achievement and well-wishing. It was not to be a day of mourning and national heartbreak, by all accounts.

Editor, I make reference to the number of murders last year in this country. It was stated that it was a ‘record’ number, most of which were through gun violence. I then asked myself two questions: How have the church, the government and the rest of society come out and come forward in full force to denounce this diabolical phenomenon in our land? Are we

Proud Vincy forever I HAVE HEARD too many of my fellow Vincentians say that they have very little to be proud of their homeland. As far as they are concerned, the capital is opposite (dirty) to what it used to be (clean), and is overcrowded with vagrants; the roads have more pot holes, but now we have hundreds of more cars, and some of them not fit for use in big countries like Japan where they come from; there are endless large houses all over the place, especially on hillsides; but real estate agents are literally begging you to buy from the pool of homes the banks have asked them to sell…. And so on and so on.

These people, many of them my friends, I sometimes believe, just look for things to pick on.

My question to them now is: Are you not proud of the Argyle International Airport? Lord, if there is one thing they should see as worthy of their admiration and congratulations, it is the Argyle International Airport.

Who would have thought that those of us Vincentians born at and just after the end of World War II, would have lived to see this day?

I am not saying all is a bed of roses home, but for crying out loud, let us swallow our pride and congratulate Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and his people for , so to speak, turning stone into water. This is not any old simple accomplishment. This is the work of genius, and we must recognise it as such.

Down the road, I am certain we will be proud of what it means, but that is no consolation. We ought to recognise its value from now, and give jack his jacket.

I welcome the Argyle International Airport, and thank all those responsible for bringing it into being. I have always been a proud Vincy, but I am even moreso now.

allowing this alien weapon to intrude on this beautiful and touristic destination, to destroy us in every which way?

We have come too far as a nation, to be revisiting time and time again, this kind of animalistic savagery in our society. I wish to declare that we as a Vincentian society are better than that. And can do better than that.

May I remind us that the men and women of this nation are the prime assets and enduring legacy of this blessed land, and that when they are cut down in their prime, not only are their families and homes broken, not

only are their goals and dreams doomed forever, but the country loses the service they could have rendered to its people and to the pride and upliftment of the nation.

I call upon the authorities to deploy the harshest means possible to deal with any form of gun violence in our society. We cannot set a precedence for this kind of behaviour. We, as a collective nation of Vincentians, denounce this kind of barbarism, and demand that it stop now.

May his soul rest in peace.

Our Brothers’ Keeper

Do protests work?

LET ME SAY from the outset that I admire Luzette King, Patches Knights, Warner of Arnos Vale and all those persons who stood firm on what they call the Frontline. It would serve all of us well to remember that they stood up for what they believed (believe) was wrong, and some of them, like Ms. King, was manhandled for their action. It would also be good to recall that they did so even when it seemed the leadership of the party for which they were determined to endure all kinds of scorn and ridicule, at times deserted them; but they remained undaunted.

After well over a year, the Frontline protest seemed to have waned.

The numbers have all

but been reduced to the leadership like Ms. King and Mr. Warner. For certain, there is no longer a presence of any of the leading members of the NDP — elected or otherwise — on the Frontline.

And, the protest, which I understood as one that included a call for the removal of the Supervisor of Elections, had failed. The lady remains in that position.

All of this brings into question whether or not protests really work. If our recent history of the success/failure of protests, demonstrations and marches are anything to go by, they seem to be useless ways of venting your feeling and getting the desired result. All the protests against the Government

of Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and company have been in vain. Gonsalves has made sure of that by using every means possible within the law to ensure that they fail, and that included locking up the protesters if he thinks it necessary.

A certain person here told me that it’s useless fighting the government, since they control the state apparatus which is definitely putting too much power in the hands of one person.

Pity some good things had to get crowded out by some not so good things when that new constitution was proposed.

Dr. Gonsalves will not bend to any protest. He will use the smallest of majority support to stay in power. He controls

Too near retirement to sign my name

In support of Sunil Ambris

now that the regional 50 Overs Competition is over. Fifteen cricketers were selected to a training squad in preparation for a visit by the English team, and Chaz Henry - USA Sunil Ambris was not in the squad! That is downright nonsense. In fact, with David Cameron and his Dominican Z. Straker, Mrs. V. Francis, worthwhile arts. Reading is FOR THOSE WHO took sidekick heading West Indies Mr. C. Joseph & wife, Ms. kindly to my booklets - “Lies, not to be slighted. It is like cricket, we should not be Avis Young, Mr. L. Laidlow, the foundation of a house Tricks and Deceit” and its surprised that this island would wherein all the other subjects Mr. D. David, Mr. W. companion — “Lies, Deceit get even a look in.

Bonadie, Ms. V. Dublin, Mr. areas are dependent. Once a and Injustice”, it will be But when a man stands up in R. Francis, Mr. N. Samuel, child learns to read, half of remiss of me not to let them the wicket and score half century his academic works is already Mr. L. Jackson, Mrs. A. know how grateful and after half century against the best Walters, Mr. D. Patrick, Dr. finished. appreciative I am of their bowlers we go throw at him, that Roa, Mr. C. Bowman, Mr. P. To this end, I will like to very kind gesture. man should get a serious looking Hannaway, Mr. & Mrs. J. My heart is brimming over thank Ms. V. Bulze who has been very instrumental from Sam, Mrs. M. Phillips, Mr. D. at for selection to a West Indies with appreciation and team.

Rawlins, Ms. J. Williams. gratitude to them. It touched the outset, in pushing these Sunil might not have scored a What touched me very booklets to where they are me that they responded in much was this lady who said century in the last Competition, today. I am so grateful, Ms. this way when technology is but from what I understand, he Bulze, for your kind words of to me that she was not able almost taking mastery over at present, but she will do so has a better overall average than encouragement. You did so everything, and “good old in her own way. All these are most if not all of the batsmen much good for me. reading” is being pushed selected to the training squad.

To the following, I will like acts geared towards a further and further into the What else must the young man do them to know that I am very worthwhile cause, and if background. to get recognition? And what others are motivated to read touched by their actions: If each one of these more, it is a move in the right happen to our representative on Ms. Lisa Anderson, Mrs. T. persons would see it fit to the West Indies Board? direction.

Cooke, Mrs. R. Constance, encourage at least two Evert time somebody from SVG My heartfelt thanks once persons to come on board and Mr. D. Constance, Mrs. H. again.

Scott, Mr. G. Lewis, Ms. W. avail themselves of one of made the West Indies team is these booklets, then we would Rodney, Mr. D. Sutherland, because they had to do the

WHAT MUST a cricketer from this country do to get on today’s West Indies training squad and/or team?

I mean. Look at what we heard

Upholders of the art of reading

be saving one of our

the state apparatus.

Whatever the case, we can still learn a thing or two from the Frontline, and one of those things is perseverance and belief in a cause.

Princess, Mrs. K. Small, Mrs.

Estera Jackson

impossible. And this goes back to the days of Michael Findlay and Irvin Shillingford - the best wicket-keeper and one of the best top order batsmen in their time, but they had to wait a lifetime before they got any recognition and made the West Indies team.

And when Shillingford was called up, the man was perhaps past his prime.

Is it going to be a case where Sunil has to wait in the wilderness, showing that he can stand up to all that the bowlers in the region can throw at him and growing a long white beard before these cast-eyed selectors see what class the young man has?

This is straight discrimination.

I know there are some diplomats who would want to tell me this is not so, but I standing firm on this one.

All I can say to Sunil is to keep playing, keep improving. He knows what he can do. He knows he can do better than a whole set of the other batsmen in the region. His time has come to come.

Cricket Fan

V

10. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Excerpt from the 2017 Budget address

Introduction MR. SPEAKER, the World Economic Outlook (WEO) published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in October 2016, under the title Subdued Demand: Symptoms and Remedies, offers the summation that: “The current [global economic] outlook is shaped by a complex confluence of on-going re-alignments, long term trends, and new shocks.

These factors imply a generally subdued baseline for growth, but also substantial uncertainty about future economic prospects.”

In the WEO, the IMF, in its assessment of the baseline scenario, projects that global economic growth in 2016 is at 3.6 percent, and is forecasting an improvement in 2017 to 3.4 percent.

The projected uptick in 2017 is premised on improvements in emerging markets and developing economies and increased momentum in the USA’s economy.

Attendant risks on the horizon globally are: Political discord and inward-looking policies; stagnation in the advanced economies; China’s ongoing adjustments and associated spill-overs; and vulnerabilities in the financial condition of emerging markets.

The not unreasonable advice, proffered generally by the IMF, and of relevance to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, is that: “Low-income developing economies must rebuild fiscal buffers while continuing to spend on critical capital needs and social outlays, strengthen debt management, and implement structural reforms ___ including in education ___ that pave the way for economic diversification and higher productivity.”

Clearly, along with this general and sensible advice, due attention has to be paid to country-specific priorities.

Economic and Fiscal Performances In the CARICOM region, economic and fiscal performance has been uneven. In the member-states of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) as a whole, there have been improvements in the central governments’ fiscal condition and in economic growth, although there has been unevenness within and between member-countries. Quite troubling, is the continuing depression in economic activity in our main regional trading partners, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. The tightening of foreign exchange availability particularly in Trinidad and Tobago has posed especial risks and hardships to the traffickers and farmers who trade with that country. This is a matter of serious concern which we are seeking to address satisfactorily with the relevant authorities in Trinidad and Tobago.

In 2016, both the fiscal and economic situation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have improved. Real economic growth in 2016 is projected by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Statistics Department and the ECCB to be at 2.9 percent, the best growth performance since the global meltdown of 2008. Economic growth in 2016 was realised by growth in Tourism, Agriculture, Construction, Transportation, Wholesale and Retail Trade, and Assorted Services. The projection for economic growth in 2017 is similarly modest, although a better performance in stay-over, yachting, and cruise tourism is forecast.

The preliminary summary of the fiscal operations of the central government in 2016 reveals the following: A current account surplus

(before amortization) of $59.2 million, as against a budgeted deficit of $11.9 million; an overall surplus of $11.4 million compared to an actual deficit of $38.9 million in 2015 and a budgeted deficit for 2016 of $154.8 million; an increase in current revenue in 2016 over 2015 of $70 million, and $25 million over the budgeted figure for 2016 of $564.6 million; a less than optimal performance of capital expenditure of $75 million, below the $99 million of 2015.

The fiscal situation is still challenging due to increasing expenditure on salaries and wages, pensions, and debt servicing. Waste and inefficiencies in government occasioned by systemic weaknesses and sub-optimal personnel performance, continue to be troubling and costly. All these are very much on the radar of the government for marked improvement.

Public and Private sector investment Mr. Speaker, significant public and private sector investment is earmarked for 2017; there is on-going, and imminent start-up, investment. The private sector investment flows from nationals of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (at home and abroad), regional and international investors.

The public sector investment is driven by the capital programmes of the central government and State-owned enterprises.

The capital investment programme in the 2017 Estimates of the central government is budgeted at EC $229.6 million. Funds are sourced externally (grants and loans) and internally (revenue, grants, and loans) to finance this programme. The four major constraints on implementation of the budgeted capital programme are: (i) Limitations in the public and private sector capacity to implement the projects; (ii) oft-times slow release or draw-down of available funds due, among other things, to bureaucratic delays by donors/lenders and the State administration itself; (iii) crowding-out of capital spending by the demands of recurrent expenditure, planned or unforeseen; and (iv) the extent of debtservicing.

Sector Investments The major economic public sector investment projects in the 2017 Budget include: Health and Wellness ($16 million), most of which is earmarked for the 10th EDF Modernisation of the Health Sector ($8.5 million), for the Modern Medical Complex, and a temporary facility for the Lewis Punnett Home; Capitalisation of the Contingencies Fund ($6.7 million); Climate Change and Natural Disaster Reduction Initiatives ($22 million) through the RDVRP; Caribbean Regional Communication Programme (CARCIP) ($5 million); Port Development Project ($2 million); Geothermal Project ($8 million); Renewable/Clean Energy ($4.3 million); Argyle International Airport ($31.5 million); Agriculture Infrastructure ($14 million); BNTF ($6 million); Transport and Works ($64 million) particularly roads and natural disaster reconstruction; Housing and Lands ($16.4 million); and last, but not least, $7.7 million for various projects in Education.

Excerpts from Dr. the Hon. Godwin Friday’s Address at the Convention on Sunday 12th February, 2017 TO YOU WHO HAVE been in the trenches with us the leaders of your party from day one, and to you who have joined the struggle along the way, I say look how far we have come! Through perilous pathways and a long and arduous journey, we have persevered. Indeed, we have triumphed over adversity. We have withstood the slings and arrows hurled against us by a relentless foe, and are ready and able to press on to victory!

We are here today on this hardcourt in Layou, in the great and beautiful constituency of Central Leeward, in a show of support for the New Democratic Party. Thank you Central Leeward for welcoming us!

We love you and will never abandon your fight to be acknowledged as a constituency that has returned to the folds of the NDP. Thank you Ben Exeter for your hospitality. We stand with you!

Now that we are here, it is a good place to remind ourselves what we are about. We are not just supporters of the NDP. We are, more importantly, all Vincentians. We must, with every muscle and every sinew of our body, work diligently and wisely to sustain hope in our people, and bring prosperity and progress to our land.

God knows we need it, and by His grace, we will achieve it!

Though we are here today as members and supporters of the NDP, I want us to think first and foremeost of ourselves, not simply in party terms but as one people. So, each of us present here today represents not just oursevelves; we also represent those of our fellow Vincentians who are not here in body whether by choice or circumstance, but whose cares and concerns we have brought here with us to this beautiful place and who, irrespective of political affiliation NDP, ULP, Green Party or other, are touched by our love and caring. We are all one Vincy!

Today is a good day for democracy, a great day for our party and a wonderful day of hope and promise for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Many of you are here as delegates from your constituencies. Do your duty and do it well. Yours is a party with a long and rich history. It is the oldest political party in the history of this country! It did not get to that status by mere luck and chance.

Rather, it was shaped and moulded by the founders, stalwarts, and parliamentarians that went before us.

They worked hard and persistently to build our party in best principles and practices of our democracy. We must say thanks to them that we are here today continuing that great tradition and fulfilling our duty to uphold their legacy while we move forward.

Today’s contest for positions on the executive committee of the party is a contest among friends. We are blessed to have such capable individuals willing to serve. Let those from the outside who seek to divide us fall by the wayside, as we move forward renewed and with purpose.

I want to emphasize the need for unity always. The only way the ULP can remain in power is if they succeed in dividing and ruling us. We must always remember that we are a family party that will always honour and respect our stalwarts, while at the same time give opportunity to everyone to serve. There must not be any tension between these two

concepts and if ever there is tension, it must not break us.

Our party has the deepest history of democracy. And our elders have set the foundation to allow the future to be ours. So tomorrow we shall go forward united in out fight against a corrupt regime, whose central policy is based on fear and victimization.

What happens here today will strengthen us and prepare us for the battle ahead.

Many of you here today are involved in party groups and other organs of the party. I thank all of you for the commitment you have shown to your party groups and constituency divisions, the women’s arm, the youth arm and the central committee. I am aware of many of the challenges you face as you seek to do the unglamorous but necessary work of keeping the vital organs of the party alive and pumping.

Please keep on working In fact, I am asking you here today to recommit yourself to your tasks and to say to yourselves and to the rest of us, that you will redouble your efforts to advance the work of the party in your different areas of the country.

We cannot do it without you! That is how important you are! I repeat, we in the leadership of the party cannot do it; we cannot succeed without you and what you do at the constituency level.

The secretariat of our party knows of the hard work you do and the difficult circumstances under which you do it. We know that by merely agreeing to serve on a party committee, you have labelled yourself as an NDP activist and thereby put a large target on your back identifying you as a person to be mercilessly victimised by the present government.

Yet you have persevered, and I ask you to continue to do so because not only your party, but your country needs you.

We will provide more organizational support to you. Going forward, it is vitally important that all the organs of the party function more effectively. How we achieve this will depend not only on guidance from the secretariat, but also from the input you provide concerning the challenges you face and the solutions you propose. Both are necessary. Please do not be hesitant or afraid to speak up, and let us know how we can help you to help your party to do its work better.

Funding the work of the party is vitally important. It is also very challenging. That is the lot of most political parties in the region, especially those in opposition. But we must not throw our hands up in despair. We must work to change our circumstances. While we live in difficult economic times, made more difficult by the repeated tax increases imposed by this ULP government, we must acknowledge that there is tremendous goodwill towards the NDP and its representatives and candidates throughout the country.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. 11.

Views

Women in technology

“I have very personally felt the overwhelming loneliness, selfdoubt, and frustration that often comes with the minority status of a woman in engineering. As much as I can help others get through or avoid those difficult stretches that I myself had to weather, I’d like to. As a bonus, the more women (and minorities) that enter and don’t leave the field, the better it all gets for everyone, including me!” Tracy Chou, Software Engineer at Pinterest, Taiwan THE FACULTY OF SCIENCE and Technology (FST) at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) continues to accept the challenge to constantly improve its performance, as it seeks to maintain its reputation for delivering high quality academic programmes. The students, staff, and faculty at the FST must be commended for developing a culture of always seeking to better their best efforts as they design and implement programmes aimed at meeting the needs of their local, regional, and international stakeholders.

The FST is especially focused on energizing the local and regional initiatives in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM initiatives). The department is cognizant of the global demands for women and persons with disabilities to become more actively involved in these fields of study. The days are long gone when society incorrectly concluded that “men had a monopoly on science and technology”; a woman’s brain is no less capable than a man’s in generating, understanding, and calculating scientific concepts and data.

Unfortunately, many of the outstanding accomplishments by women in the sciences have been muted … but need to resurface as we seek to encourage and inspire all of our citizens (male and female) to understand and appreciate that STEM is not gender specific. The remainder of this article highlights several outstanding women whose scientific minds have contributed to significant advancement in the field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Grace Brewster Murray Hopper (1906-1992) was an outstanding naval officer and computer pioneer. She had pursued courses of study in mathematics and mathematical physics, and obtained her Master’s degree from Yale University in 1930; a period when this field of study was dominated by males. She then obtained her Ph.D. in this field in 1934. She was a brilliant mathematician and is credited for outstanding work in the development of computer languages.

Dr. Grace Hopper worked extensively on standardizing computer languages in the 1960s. Her contribution to the common businessoriented language (COBOL) was considered to be quite significant. She received more than forty honorary degrees and numerous awards for her exceptional contribution to the development of the sciences.

Mary Jackson (1921-2005) had a flair for mathematics from her childhood.

She graduated from her high school in Virginia, USA, with honours. She later earned her Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Mathematics and Physical Science.

This qualification enabled her to secure employment in the computing pool at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Centre in 1951. She subsequently took after-class courses in

graduate level mathematics and physics at the University of Virginia.

This enabled her to be promoted to the position of aeronautical engineer in 1958. She became NASA’s first black female engineer. She worked there for 34 years.

Dorothy Vaughan (1910-2008) was an outstanding mathematician and NASA’s first black manager. Dorothy Vaughan commenced working at Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in 1943. NASA, like most of the USA at that time, was a racially segregated community in the 1940s and 1950s. Her professional and leadership skills enabled her to emerge head of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics’ segregated West Area Computing Unit from 1949 through to 1958. These black female mathematicians in the West Computer Unit distinguished themselves individually and as a group. NASA’s records confirm that they excelled in every area of research at Langley (reminding us that gender and skin colour provide no monopoly or disadvantage with regard to intelligence and/or academic prowess).

Katherine Johnson (born 1918) had a flair for mathematics at a very young age. She entered the Virginia State College while still in her teens, and had the distinct privilege of having Professor W.W. Schieffelin Claytor as her mentor.

Dr. Claytor was the third African American to earn a PhD in Mathematics. Katherine excelled in the field of mathematics and, in 1937, graduated with the highest honours.

Her passion for mathematics and for sharing knowledge, pushed her in the direction of teaching in that subject area. However, in 1952, she was encouraged to apply for a position at the all-black West Area Computing section at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics’ Langley laboratory. She commenced working there one year later, and was assigned to a project in the Maneuver Loads Branch of the Flight Research Division. Her brilliant mathematical mind caused her to excel there. Among other outstanding achievements, she did trajectory analysis, and provided the equations predicting exactly where an orbital spacecraft would land on re-entering the earth’s atmosphere. Astronaut John Glenn, on the Friendship 7 mission, is recorded as indicating greater confidence in her calculations than those of the computers. She proved that colour and gender provide no innate advantage or disadvantage to intelligence in general and mathematics in particular.

Shaherose Charania, Co-Founder and CEO of Women 2.0, provides us with some useful words of encouragement when she says, “Women no longer have an ‘if I can’ mindset. Now it’s more about ‘how I can’–be in tech, start something in tech, fund something in tech. That shift is exciting! And it happened because we created a network where we show, daily, that women are innovating.” We need to encourage our girls to keep their noble dreams of pursuing careers in science and technology alive. They have a significant contribution to make in these fields. It is an honour and privilege for us to exert the effort and energy as we seek to encourage more women in technology.

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

Argyle, Policy and Politics THE CONSTRUCTION of the Argyle International Airport may well be remembered as the most important infrastructural project ever delivered to the nation. PM Gonsalves and his Unity Labour Party must be given full credit for its conception and construction.

The airport has the potential to radically transform the entire eastern corridor of our country, with knock on impact into Mespo. The airport is truly of national significance. Hopefully, a reconstituted Buccament Resort and with Black Sands Resort in the offing, SVG may yet get a chance to showcase its natural beauty, which may hopefully bring some economic relief to the people who long for jobs and opportunity.

The airport is not a panacea; our economic troubles are not solved by a long stretch, but the airport helps to level the playing field upon which our little nation can compete for business, foreign direct investment and a rapid gateway for the export of our fish and agricultural produce. As our destination develops and international airlines queue up to enter, Argyle offers hassle free entry and departure to nationals and visitors.

A few things need to be said about this airport. Like everything else in SVG, politics is in the thick of things. It is said that blood is thicker than water.

Politics is thicker than blood, and money makes for the thickest mix of all.

So from the inception, the airport was wrapped up in electoral politics. The multifaceted ways in which politics become the determining factor in everything, harms our nation, and we must work to get rid of it.

We are not calling for a ban of politics. We insist that both major parties cease and desist from the divisive and anti-national habit of confusing and conflating their own political fortunes and interest with that of the nation.

We offer two examples to illustrate this danger. Everyone agreed that constitutional reform was necessary for the further advancement of our polity.

However, as we got closer to the 2010 elections, the NDP withdrew because it concluded that a successful referendum on constitutional reform will give the ULP an important bounce in the 2010 elections. Similarly, once the NDP withdrew from the constitutional process, ULP leaders ought to have known constitutional reform was doomed, yet it continued on a wasteful use of state funds, because without opposition support there was no way for the yes vote to gain the necessary 67 percent.

The airport also was projected in political terms. In conception and delivery, the ULP also tagged this national project with a heavy-handed party presence. From the ‘who e hut e hut’ parade of heavy equipment through the streets, to the massive star at the entrance to the airport tower, to the huge ULP flag at the official opening, the party has acted as though the airport belong to its supporters rather than the people of SVG whose money it was spending for the construction.

Similarly, James Mitchell told his NDP if Gonsalves finished the airport, they could forget victory for a few electoral cycles. The NDP bought into this non-scientific view, obstructed at every turn, refused to vote moneys for the project, only for the leader to make the ridiculous claim in parliament that his party always supported the construction of the airport.

Good policy is good politics

PM Gonsalves has maintained that good policy is good politics. But the party does not embrace this policy, because the policy is not practised.

Party leaders have swallowed the dogma that election cycles are now all wrapped into one. You get elected to get reelected. Consequently, an insufficient attention is paid to governance.

Here’s what I mean. Is there anyone who will ever be able to persuasively discredit Gonsalves and the ULP role in the construction of the airport? The answer is clearly no. Why then is there ULP stickers on the heavy machinery at the airport site? Why were workers not ordered to remove them? Why the need and desire to place in concrete a star at the entrance to the airport? Why the huge ULP flag that flew at the official opening? Why the need to bring partisan politics into the speeches at the official ceremonies? Why the opening on the symbolic Valentine’s Day when red, the party symbol, is in vogue?

By the way, only someone with the IQ of an amoeba will believe that no one in the ULP or the International Airport Development Company (IADC) knew that a giant star was being prepared for the airport entrance. The airport officials should be ordered to remove the star.

As PM Gonsalves correctly said at the opening, these events were official and national. There will be a place and time to speak to the politics. Gonsalves’ statement was a reflection of the view that good policy is good politics. What accounts for the failure of its implementation?

These gaffes are a clear demonstration that these events ought to have been scripted down to the smallest detail, and were not. These miscues are also signs of political and electoral insecurities which are absolutely unnecessary, because the ULP improved its performance in significant ways in the last elections.

Only tactical and strategic considerations prevented it from gaining a more impressive victory in the 2015 elections. It will have lots of time to make its political case.

Finally, the NDP frequently spoke of the feasibility and economic viability of the airport. The ULP response has been to go on the defensive or take the offense politically that the opposition is really opposed to the airport. The NDP view is wrong headed and the ULP response is unnecessary.

In modern society, there is a minimum collection of things government must provide: roads and bridges, hospitals and clinics, schools and good sanitation. No one stops to ask how much these cost and whether they can pay for themselves. The airport is another crucial piece of infrastructure.

We cannot afford, and must guard against run away cost; but the airport is fundamental to our further development. Therefore, transparency and good governance demand audited accounts of the project so as to engender greater confidence in the government.

The Argyle Airport is too important and too expensive for us to let it fail.

The task to make it work is in each of our hands.

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

V

12. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Economic weakness stoking high unemployment in SVG IT IS BELIEVED that at least eight out of ten youths leaving school and college in SVG will not find employment. Economic weakness is stoking high unemployment.

The ULP regime has been managing the economy poorly, so much so, that there has not been a fiscal surplus in SVG since 2005.

The ULP regime has focused on airports and jails, but neglected education. There are five airports and three jails, but no university. Also, a number of the nation’s schools are in need of repairs. The cause of high unemployment is quite obvious.

The ULP regime has been wasteful in its spending. There needs to be focused investment in high-quality education, skills training and job creation. Far too many young people are not trained with skills for the job market, and are missing out on opportunities for employment.

To create employment and wealth, our children need high-quality education. When unemployment is high, crime and poverty remain high too. SVG needs effective programmes

of macro-economic management to create a fiscal surplus to drive economic growth.

Tourism can never be the answer to create high employment, as the net revenue from tourism is very low.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, over 80% of the money spent by a tourist on holiday in a developing country, leaks abroad.

That means, for developing countries such as SVG, only a small amount of revenue gets to developing country’s economy. Consequently, there is little revenue available to invest in job creation and other industries. Also, tourism is very vulnerable to global fluctuations, and most jobs are only seasonal.

Jamaica’s economy is based on tourism, and its tourism industry started in about 1890. Yet, Jamaica still has high unemployment and public debt running at about 130%. It is one of the most indebted countries in the world, and recently had to secure $2 billion in loans to stop its

economy from collapsing.

In a time when the world is dominated by countries with economies based on knowledge, science and technology, and highly-educated workforces, SVG should not place all its bets to create employment on tourism.

To create sustainable, long-term employment, SVG should diversify away from tourism to light manufacturing and encourage entrepreneurship. We need our own billion dollar tuna fishing and canning industry. We need the proper infrastructure available to create an environment in which small businesses can start up and flourish.

Small businesses are the foundation of strong economies. Small businesses rescue struggling economies, create the wealth that can pay the taxes needed to repay public debt and create the finance needed to stimulate jobs.

The internet is a gateway to knowledge and an extraordinary resource for learning. A Green

government would provide free wi-fi internet, so that everyone, especially young people and children of the poor, have access to the internet. The more our people are exposed to new ideas, new technology and innovation, the better able they will be to become entrepreneurs or get jobs.

To boost employment in SVG, we need import substitution, whereby we grow and make much more of what we consume. This would create thousands of new jobs, with factories for agroprocessing of goods such as fruit juices and other food items, and factories for light manufacturing and textiles.

SVG Green Party www.svggreenparty.org Find us on Facebook and Twitter

Colonisation and God’s plan for building His Kingdom ADAM AND HIS WIFE were exiled from the Paradise. i.e. Eden, and forced to leave God’s presence (Gen 3 :23).

What a predicament! He who was to rule the entire planet had lost his right, his mandate, his heritage (Matt 25:34), and as you can see, his inheritance was not a

religion, it was an entire kingdom. Oh, how has the mighty fallen!

Anything that is removed from its natural environment dies. For instance, if you take a fish from the sea or lake, it will die; and if you remove a plant from the soil it will die, because you have removed it from

its life source.

Man was created to live in God’s presence, and if you remove him from it, he will malfunction, and that is exactly what took place.

No wonder we are experiencing so much violence, debauchery, and evil on the planet. It is the result of man’s malfunction. He needs to become reconnected with his creator in order to become functional

again (Matt 11.28).

Man’s “free will” put him in trouble. His disobedience wreaked havoc, causing him his inheritance, and bringing to life something called death. Death was always present, but it was “dead”. However, once sin was committed, death came alive, and death now had the legal right to kill the man and his wife (Gen 2:17). They forfeited the planet they

were to rule, to the devil (Lk 4:5,6).

But the Creator had made a promise to Lucifer (Gen 3 :15), that the same woman he derided was going to produce a “seed” that was going to “bruise his head” (take back authority /control). The promised seed was prophesied by Isaiah (Is. 9: 6,7), who explained that the child was coming to bring back the government of the kingdom - back to the colony.

Meantime, Satan was busy ruling the colony with an iron fist, his demonic hordes invading and possessing at will, the bodies of the inhabitants (Mk.5:9), causing sickness, mentalillness, and a host of other maladies. But Luke (Lk 2:7) informed us that the promised seed had arrived, and was hailed by a mighty host of Angels (Lk 2:13,14).

The “seed “ lost no time in beginning to pursue His assignment in the Earth — realm (Lk 2: 49). His was the task of rescuing Earth’s citizenry from the dark tyranny of the rogue archangel Lucifer, now called Satan (1Jn 3:8).

Upon reaching the legal age at which he

– Pt. 3

could begin to teach/preach, the “seed’s” - Jesus’ first mission was to be led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to face off with his archrival, Satan (Matt 4:2).

Earth’s destiny hung in the balance. The battle was to be so critical, that Jesus had to fast for forty (40) days and nights in preparation, and in this physically weakened state the battle began.

Satan (the tempter) struck the first blow, “if thou be the Son of God... “, and the battle ensued, thrust…parry…thrust… parry…On it raged, with Satan trying his utmost to get Jesus to obey, and to worship him as God, but to no avail. Finally, Jesus struck the last telling blow (Matt 4:10), and Satan had to admit defeat and slink away with his tail between his legs like a dog.

I can hear the angels cheering wildly for the victorious Jesus as they came to minister to Him (Matt 4:11).

Thus Matthew (Matt 4:17) told us that from that time, Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent! The Kingdom of God has arrived!”

Negus

V Joint statement on Mindless Act in Bequia

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. 13.

News

L-R: Dr. Godwin Friday and Herman Belmar have put aside their political difference and joined in condemning what they describe as a mindless act.

organised by Action Bequia, and these were carried out by a team of skilled craftsmen from Bequia Beach Hotel.

The work was completed by 3pm on Tuesday 21st, the day after the damage was inflicted.

This kind of wilful lawlessness against public property and convenience, cannot be allowed to take hold in Bequia.

We would like to thank the RSVG

Police in Bequia for their swift action in opening an investigation, and all those members of the community who have vowed to leave no stone unturned in discovering the perpetrators.”

The restoration in 2012 of the Belmont Walkway and Coastal Trail connecting Port Elizabeth to Princess Margaret Beach and beyond in 2015, was the signature initiatives of Action Bequia, an SVG registered NGO.

Geothermal Emissions

By Gestur Gislason, senior geochemist at Reykjavik Geothermal & Snorri Gudbrandsson, PhD geochemist at Reykjavik Geothermal

Emera Caribbean Inc. and Reykjavik Geothermal, in association with the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, are planning a 10 MW geothermal power plant at the foot of La Soufriere on the northern part of St. Vincent.

Left: The burnt portion of the Belmont Walkway Trail. Right: The Walkway was repaired in record time.

NOTE: Following the discovery of an arson attack on the recently completed cliff-side walkway in Bequia, the following joint statement was issued by Leader of the Opposition Dr. The Hon. Godwin Friday, MP for the Northern Grenadines, and Mr. Herman Belmar, Deputy Director of Grenadine Affairs.

The three-man team who worked expeditiously to effect the repairs to the Walkway.

“EARLY MONDAY MORNING 20th February, a person or persons as yet unknown, deliberately set fire to a portion of the Coastal Trail between the Belmont Walkway and Princess Margaret Beach, rendering it impassable to both residents on their way to work, visitors on their way to and from the beach, and cruise ship passengers here to enjoy the beauty of the island on foot.

We condemn this mindless act of vandalism which seemed intent only on damaging one of our island’s best loved assets, and we salute the many people who have been involved in its swift restoration.

Repairs were immediately Restoration work on the Belmont Walkway and Coastal Trail began in 2012 as an initiative of Bequia Action, a registered nongovernment organisation.

In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Emera Caribbean Inc. and RG are planning to build a 10 MW geothermal power plant. The potential for the present drilling program may yield up to 15 MW, with more available from the resource. Planned construction of the power plant in St. Vincent is estimated to include 3 production wells, each about 2.5 km deep, and one injection well at 1 km of depth.

Presently, the only installed geothermal power plant in the region is located on Guadeloupe, producing 15 MW, and on Nevis where they are currently in the phase of building a 9 MW power plant. Dominica, Montserrat and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are at an advanced development stage.

THE POWER PLANT Geothermal energy is a sustainable source of electricity that has a low natural footprint. During operation steam rises from cooling towers. The steam is mostly water vapour (H2O) but commonly gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and, to some degree, methane, hydrogen, nitrogen, ammonia, and trace gases. All of these gases are naturally emitted from volcanoes around the world.

High temperature well in Iceland

Because these emissions are natural, geothermal energy production does not emit additional greenhouse gas and are considered minimal (near zero). For comparison purposes, the emission of greenhouse gases from geothermal energy is estimated to be 40 g CO2 per kWh compared to diesel generation at 750-800 g CO2 per kWh.

During the operation of a geothermal power plant, the area’s behaviour, water level, chemical composition of the water, seismicity and air quality are constantly surveyed to better understand the system’s behaviour, both for operational purpose as well as for hazard monitoring.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. 15.

14. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

A ALL LL STA TARS S STARS 2017 2017

Evans Bernard John – reliving the days when MC’s carried their tricks in a ‘lady’s handbag’.

Carlton ‘CP’ Hall – the ‘Man About Town’ in all seasons.

EDITOR’S TO TOR’ OR’’S ’S NOTE: NOTE: NO TE: If If tth the h he e Al A All llll S Stars tar ar s S Sh Show, h ho ow, he held eld eld on the tth he tarmac he ta arrrm m ma a ac c of of the tth h he e now no now tterminated errm er m min in n na a atted ed E. TT..

Johsua by, expect ssua ua Airport, Air Air irp rpo po por ort, or rt, iiss anything a any an nyt ytth h hin in ng ng to to go b y, e xpe xp pe ec c ctt Vin Vin inc nc cy Mas cy Ma as 2017 2 20 201 017 wi w iilllll be be the tth h he e ‘Hottest ‘Ho ‘Ho ottt ot tte tes est est thatt Vincy will er Carnival’ Ca a arn rn nivval’ niva niv al’ a an nyw yw whe he ere in the ere the world. wor orrld ld ld. d. ever anywhere Hu und und ndr drre red ed dss thronged th th hrrro onge onge on ng ge ed the ed the novel nov no ove ve el venue el ve enu enu nue ue to Hundreds rrelive re elliv ive ve and an an nd d revel rev re eve ve el in the el th th he e music mu mu usssic ic that tha th ha att set se e ett this this th his ccountry co o ou u unt nttr try ry at the the forefront fore fore fo re efr fro ro on nt of o calypso/soca caly ca ly yp pso so//so /sso occa mu us ussic ic ic, c, beginning be be egi gin giin nn nn nin in ng in the late 1970s and ng music,

Kenneth ‘Scakes’ Alleyne – always ready to relive the good ‘ole time’ carnival’.

Cornelius ‘Poorsa’ Williams went ‘right up in there’ and came out with more ‘eye water’.

Alston ‘Becket’ Cyrus took it all to a ‘Higher’ level.

extending ex xte xte en en nd d din in ng th ng tthroughout h hro ro oug oug gh g h ho o ou u utt the the th he 1980s.

19 19 98 8 80s 0ss. s.

T Tha ha hat at we fe eat eat atu ture tu ure re pictorially pic p icccttor oria ia allly al ly those tho tho ose ose bards b That feature who im who impac mp pac accte cte ed at the ed the h time, tim tim me me, e, is no offence offe of ffe en impacted no o orr a p put ut do dow ow wn of wn of the the contemporary cont co ont nte te empo em em mpora mp pora po orary ora ra arry ar y nor down a ar rtti tis isste te ess.. The es T he hey ey, y, we are are certain, cer ce errta ta a ain in n, will wiilllll join wi j artistes.

They, us in ac us cccco co cord ord rd d din in ng centre ce ent ent ntr tre re stage re sta sta st tage age ge to the the according p pio io one one ee eer errss of of wha w ha hat they hat the the hey ey now now enjoy. no enj enj njo joy oy. y. pioneers what

Augustus ‘Stone’ Right: prefers to throw ‘licks with a posie’ than to throw stones.

Cyril ‘Scorcher’ Thomas - still ‘forking up the beaches’ with his ‘party fever’.

Alexis ‘Lexie’ Joseph has had to ‘ease up’ somewhat but not in his delivery.

Winston Soso – ever as smooth as a Rolls Royce.

PHOTO CREDIT: Oris Robertson

16. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

V Time for private sector investment

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. 17.

News

GOVERNMENT still remains optimistic that the private sector will become more involved in the further development of the Argyle International Airport (AIA).

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves expressed disappointment in the lack of private sector support during the construction phase of the facility, but assured that government will still be making opportunities available for persons in the tourism sector.

“We have reached out and urged the private sector to be involved with us on the international airport at Argyle. In my speech in August 2005, I talked about public sector financing and that people can engage in private sector operation,” he said.

But despite a few private sector entities showing interest initially, they never followed through.

“Yes, they have to talk, they have to do this, and it went on and on, until I said, ‘Wait, are we going to open an airport without a cargo terminal?’ And we have built it, and even at this stage

if a private sector entity wants to get involved to manage it, fine, but remember we built and equipped it and there is an investment there for which we expect a return,” Gonsalves said.

A similar situation occurred with cargo, and the handling of not just cargo, but aircraft as well. Private sector entities, the Prime Minister said, were engaged in talks during the early stages, but nothing came out of it.

Government took the decision to purchase the equipment, a team was put together, and a foreign expert with years of experience was hired.

“All of that could have been done by the private sector, and some are interested but cannot now be interested because we have now invested millions which have to be repaid,” he explained.

Again, it was a similar story with the hangars, with Mustique Company stepping forward, admitting that it was having some issues, but was eventually able to overcome those and

LIAT to improve operations REGIONAL carrier LIAT has come in for heavy criticism from passengers using its services over the past years, but the airline is hoping to make amends, starting from this year onwards.

Vincentian Shavar Maloney, recently appointed Corporate /Communication Manager at LIAT, admitted that 2016 would not go down on record as one of the best years of LIAT’s service to its passengers, but he is hopeful that things will improve this year.

“We acknowledged that we had some issues and we want to improve them. We have renewed the thrust in training for our staff, especially in areas such as customer service which is extremely important to us. We are also aiming to minimize delays and cancellations so that passengers can readily get to their destinations,” said the Communication Manager in an interview with THE VINCENTIAN during the activities that marked the opening of the Argyle International Airport (AIA), Tuesday 14th February.

He said that LIAT still remains the fiber that connects the Caribbean, “so we hope that in 2017, things are going to improve, and we are working towards that. We have already improved our on time performance, and we are getting to the industry standard of 85%,”Maloney disclosed.

Maloney and persons in senior positions at LIAT were in SVG to witness the opening of the AIA. He described the landing of the LIAT aircraft on which he arrived, as “smooth,” and was especially delighted that Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was on hand to welcome the

Shavar Maloney, Corporate /Communications Manager at LIAT, has given the assurance that the airline will once again move to improve its all-round operations. arriving passengers, who, he said, seemed highly appreciative.

“So far, we have had smooth operation,” acknowledged Maloney.

(KH)

The AIA still has room for local private sector involvement, said Dr. Gonsalves. construct a hangar.

Another airline was looking to construct one, he said, and there was enough space for private sector entities to do likewise.

But as the negotiation process with airlines continues, the prime minister said that there were opportunities to arise for chartered flights.

And regarding hotels, he said that there were concessions available to locals.

The airport has been built; it was now up to the private sector entities to take advantage of this in order to attract visitors and business, Gonsalves said. (DD)

V

18. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

News

West St. George:

High and aiming higher CECIL MC KIE, Parliamentary representative for the West St. George Constituency, is not sitting on his laurels. He and his Constituency team have identified a number of areas for concerted attention in 2017.

The New Year opened briskly with: the completion of the BNTFfunded footpath at Queen’s Drive, that now offers great relief to the residents there; completion of rails in two areas; and various selfhelp initiatives that addressed steps, walls and drains.

The comfort station, with vendor booths at the Indian Bay Beach, has added convenience in and enhanced the ambience of that area.

Among the areas identified for attention is

the development of sports, with plans to revive various sport competitions within the constituency and to upgrade and provide sporting facilities.

Education and culture will not escape attention with plans to effect repairs to the Belmont Primary School; promote more reading at the primary school level; enhance the Adult Education and Skills Training programme, offering (sewing, icing, tye dying) in the various communities; collaborate with activities to mark the 40th anniversary of Vincy Mas; and begin efforts to establish a craft centre.

As far as health is concerned, constituents can expect to see an intensification of community-based

Constituents and their representative getting ready for a visit to the AIA. programmes geared at encouraging and supporting healthy life styles, and an intensified effort to encourage a “GREEN IS THE WORD’ project, in keeping with the intention of maintaining a clear and safe environment.

And, of course, according to Mc Kie, there is the move

towards the building of a new city in Arnos Vale, an integral part of the constituency.

Year in Review The plans for 2017 come on the heels of what Mc Kie described as another year (2016) of effective representation and community action.

Among these were the constituency’s ongoing participation in the National Christmas Lighting effort; the community clean-up programme; school materials support for over 400 primary school students, and provision of equipment to various schools; major repairs at the Dorsetshire Hill Primary School; and minor works at the Belmont and Belair Primary schools.

In addition, work continued with the Management of the two Medical Schools located in the Constituency and house owners, to ensure housing and security for the Students and Teachers, so that the constituency could continue to befit from the ‘spin offs’ the Colleges provide.

Activity continued apace in agriculture and other related areas, with the distribution of vegetable seeds, and work with persons involved The bathroom at the Belair Primary School – upgraded with funding from the BNTF.

A brand new BNTF-funded footpath at Queen’s Drive. in poultry enterprises, with attention being paid to upgrading and encouraging business practices in the latter case.

And in addressing the need for employment, especially among the young, qualified persons, over thirty youths from the Constituency joined the YES and SET programmes for the oneyear internship stint in 2016. These

programmes will continue to be monitored for further availability of spaces.

On reflection, McKie posited, “We recognize the reality that our Constituency will be central to national development now and for several years to come, and we will not only take this responsibility seriously, but embrace it with open arms and honoured hearts.”

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. 19.

Education

UWI Graduates Ceremony today THE UNIVERSITY of the West Indies Open Campus’ 2017 Annual Recognition of Graduates Ceremony was held today, Friday 24th February, at the Methodist Church Hall, Kingstown.

Sixty-three (63) graduates, who successfully completed their course of study at all four campuses of the University, were formally recognised for Ms. Stacia Morris, their academic and Financial Literacy professional achievements Expert, was the feature in various disciplines, speaker. including Medical Sciences, Management Studies, Nick Francis – Education, Accounting and Valedictorian.

Natural Sciences.

Vincentian Ms. Stacia Morris, Financial Literacy Expert, Author & Management Consultant, was expected to deliver the feature address at the Ceremony, while Head of the Open Campus, Mrs. Deborah Dalrymple, was expected, as per tradition, to lead the Academic Procession.

Mrs. Sarah Owen, Head of the Open Campus, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Acting Deputy Director of Continuing Professional Education at the Open Campus, was down to perform official duties on Mrs. Sarah Owen, behalf of the Vice-Chancellor.

Head of the Open Another Vincentian - Mr. Nick Francis, BSc (Ist Campus, St. Kitts and Nevis, deputized for Class Hons.- Youth Development Work), was this the Vice Chancellor. year’s Valedictorian.

A dream come true The Youlou Art Centre and Gallery at Villa Beach, will be publicly launched on Saturday, March 4th, 2017.

The official opening will mark the realization of the Youlou Arts Foundation’s ‘dream’ of providing a home where Visual Artists will have a space to display and sell their work, and provide opportunities to offer exciting workshops to the public by talented, professional art teachers.

But, in fact, workshops began in February to mark the inauguration of the Youlou Art Centre.

The first workshop, held on Thursday, Feb.16, was a painting class for children age 6 to 10, and was facilitated by local artist Cecile Comblen.

A CXC Art 101 class started on Saturday, Feb. 18, and was instructed by Ms. Sherika Sayers.

And from Feb 20 — 23, four jewelry-making workshops were scheduled and facilitated

by British designer Ms

Hilary Auty.

Camille Saunders-Musser, Founder of the Youlou Arts Foundation, looks back on the work towards the realization of the Art Centre and Gallery as achieving progress through “hard work, focus, sacrifice, sweat and yes, some blood and tears.”

Established in 1999, the Youlou Arts

Foundation is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization created to develop, promote and preserve the arts and culture of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

V

20. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

My fiancé is a ‘couch potato’ Dear George, I CANNOT GET my fiancé to do anything in the house. We agreed to live together, as a trial to see if we could make it as a couple after we get married.

Before he moved in, he always looked nice and well-groomed, but since moving in, he hardly wants to shower; his clothes are everywhere; and he sits and watches TV all day

without lifting a stroke to help around the house. He claims he cannot work because of a back problem, yet he does not want to go to the doctor to check out his problem.

I want him to leave my place, but if I ask him to leave, it would mean the end of our relationship. How could I get him to leave my house without breaking up the relationship?

Concerned fiancée

development and overall happiness?

Right now he is showing signs of who he is and what he is about. Getting It baffles me why you would want to married to him will only give him full license to practise everything that you continue a relationship with a man who has clearly demonstrated that he are not about and cannot relate to.

Pay attention to the flashing amber has no interest in anything else other and make the necessary right turn than his own gratification. about.

The question you need to ask yourself is: How is this man going to George contribute to your personal

Dear Concerned fiancée,

AIDS panic

I am no Âfool foolÊ Dear George,

YOU DON’T HAVE to be a rocket scientist to know your wife is fooling around, when she agrees to have sex with you only when she is in the ‘mood’ which, in her case, is approximately once or twice per month. We used to get it on sometimes four times a week.

I got more suspicious of her action when I saw a text message to one of her girlfriends, saying

how she usually has sex more than twice per day.

I know she is not having sex with me, so the question is: Who is she having sex with twice per day?

I am not going to confront her about this.

I’m just going to quietly move out and move on. I am no ‘fool fool’.

Suspicious Dear Suspicious, There could be underlying issues that

Dear George,

need to be discussed between you and your wife. The reduction in the frequency of sexual activity between you two, could be attributed to a variety of reasons, which could be addressed through therapy.

Rather than throwing in the towel, your

marriage will be better served if you take two steps back and suggest to your wife the idea of both of you going for therapy.

George

I’VE BEEN HEARING a lot of HIV talk going around. I live in Canada and may be sent home anytime now by the Immigration. I have no one in my life at the moment, and I really want to find a man for myself. I am tired of borrowing other people’s men.

What happens when I get to St. Vincent where there is so much AIDS floating around? How do I know if the man I meet is AIDS free? I love my sex, and would want to be able to do my thing without having to worry about this AIDS thing.

Headache season Dear Headache season!

HIV/AIDS is not confined to any one country.

SVG has its challenge with this scourge, but at the same time, you need to act wisely and protect yourself at all times.

It would be useful to get your partner to produce the necessary paper work that indicates he is STD free. Both of you can take that test together.

Having said that, the best protection you can get against HIV and other STDs is getting a man who will commit to having one sexual partner.

George

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) You must be careful not to trust just anyone. Problems with large corporations or institutions are apparent.

You are best to sit back and think it through, rather than add to the ranting and raving. Get out and enjoy some entertainment.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Compromising could be on the agenda this week. Try to stay calm and do the best you can. Take the time to close deals that have been up in the air.

Don’t let your personal partner hold you back.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Concentrate on getting ahead financially and let your personal life settle down for a while. Don’t let your partner get you going. You are best to travel or attend lectures or seminars.

You always seem to spend more than you make. I don’t let siblings put pressure on you.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Take a look at investment opportunities. Your changing attitudes may be causing concern for your partner.

Empty promises will cause confusion.

Someone may be trying to take advantage of you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Don’t be too eager to start any debates. You will have additional discipline that will aid you in your objectives. Changes in your home may be disruptive and upsetting. You will get along well in social situations.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) It might be best to spend time fixing up your premises and making changes that will be appreciated. Make plans that will take you to exotic destinations. You may need help with your financial situation. Real estate investments will payoff.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Your intuition will be right on. Follow your feelings in matters pertaining to financial investments. Try to avoid any drastic/ decisions concerning personal legal matters. Don’t overspend on luxury items. You need some rest.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Find ways to mellow out. You may not be that popular at home but you should be able to shine at social gatherings. Pleasure trips will induce exciting and passion ate encounters with those of foreign extraction. Keep your thoughts to yourself for the time being.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Deception regarding joint finances or investments will cause upsets between family members. Maybe it’s time to look into ways you can improve your health. Move into a leadership position if you are determined to do so. Don’t be too quick to judge.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Your nerves are frazzled. Loved ones may be annoyed if they feel restricted.

Try to keep an open mind. If you can mix business with pleasure much can be accomplished.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Romance is likely if you can bring yourself to go out with friends. Don’t push your luck with authority. Don’t tell others of your plans. Take on positions that offer on the job training or pay for courses related to the business.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) You are going through a period of questioning. Put your energy into your work or moneymaking ventures rather than into your emotional life this week. You can raise your standard of living if you pick up some freelance work on the side. Family trips or projects should be on your mind.

ACROSS 1.Pacino and Capone 4. Dash off 8. Train stop (abbr.)

11. Field 12. Gone 13. Nautical greeting 14. They go in cavities 16. Alaskan city 17. Tiny child 18. Idolized woman 20. League for the Rams (abbr.)

21. Opera singer 22. __ and grill 23. Chap 24. Like Italian dressing 28. Spent (2 wds.)

30. Yearn for 31. Brightness 32. TV’s “Mad __” 33. Dapper dude 34. Conductor’s wand 36. Sleep stage (abbr.)

37. Author Julia 40. Chinese cooking pan

41. Café au __ 42. __ Provinces, Canada 46. Become listless 47. Tennis teachers 48. Foldaway bed 49. Brayer on the farm 50. Engrave on metal 51. Sportage manufacturer DOWN 1.Candidate Landon 2. Luau garland 3. Like food for a hyperten‐ sive (hyph.)

4. Fishing lure 5. __ up to (admit) 6. Fell behind 7. Perdue competitor 8. Footwear 9. Some cats 10. Supportive votes 13. Previn and others 15. Reaction to an IM joke

19. Twelve 20. “__ Bridges” (TV show) 21. Strike lightly 22. “__ Stop” 23. __ module (NASA Craft) 25. Frequent role for Walter Brennan 26. Trolley, to Paddington 27. Hankering 29. Argue logically 30. Cozy retreat 32. Composer Wolfgang

Amadeus __ 35. Fiesta Bowl city 36. Deteriorate 37. __ mater 38. Cambodia’s neighbor 39. Influential

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. 21.

people (abbr.)

40. Genie’s grant 43. Eden __ 44. “Me,” to Miss Piggy 45. Itinerary abbr.

V

22. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

People

Ambassador Gailene Windsor is back

of the Brooklyn Soccer League and Caribbean Cup. FORMER ACE NATIONAL netballer She along with two Trinidadian Gailene Windsor has returned to her colleagues are revered for their selfless homeland, with a commitment to work in establishing New York’s continue her legacy of community and largest Netball League in 2007. national service.

Together, they gave netball, a largely Miss Windsor began her illustrious unpopular sport in the USA, ‘a shot in netball career in 1974, as a teenager, the arm’. thrilling spectators with her finesse, But Miss Windsor’s involvement in grace and aggression on national, sports, culture, education in her regional and international courts. She adopted New York, was much more would migrate to the United States widespread, and up to 2015 she was shortly after representing her native serving as: treasurer the St. Vincent SVG in World Netball Tournament in and the Grenadines-USA Sports 1979.

Association; general secretary of the Her involvement on behalf of 67th Police Precinct Community women generally saw her playing an Council; treasurer of the New York active role in the SVG National Dynamite Calypso Tent; and St. Council of Women, of which she was at Vincent and the Grenadines Diaspora one time Secretary.

Committee of New York.

On migrating to New York, Miss Her selfless attitude on behalf of Windsor continued her involvement in Vincentians and West Indians sports and culture, particularly generally in New York, saw her efforts netball, holding several top-level posts, prevailing to the point of convincing including: President of the American influential, prominent political figures Netball Association; co-founder of the in New York, of the urgent need for Caribbean American Netball the provision of sanitary facilities at Association; president of the United sporting venues.

States International Netball; president She was also instrumental in of Hairoun Sports Club; and secretary procuring welfare support for persons

by PATMOS RICHARDS

of West Indian origin.

Her association with civic affairs organizations in the United States, also afforded her the opportunity to become a broad member of the New York Police Department and the Citizen Academy.

For her steadfast commitment to the Vincentian and West Indian community in general, Miss Windsor was officially recognized by Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman to contest for congress in New York. In addition, Miss Windsor, along with Portia Simpson Miller, former Jamaican Prime Minister and who was then Minister of Sports, were recognized by the United Nations for their excellent work in the field of sports.

In addition, Miss Windsor was among five Vincentian women who were honoured by the internet-based group VincyCares Inc., in 2015, as ‘Women Who Empower Our Nation’.

As would be expected, Miss Windsor received tremendous media coverage from some of New York’s leading newspapers for her significant contributions in the field of sports and general community service. Among other newspapers, the Sun, the Daily News, and the New York Post showered plaudits on the deserving lady.

Back home with some sense of

Gailene Windsor – Sports Ambassador of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. permanence, Miss Windsor hopes to avail herself and her expertise to the National Netball Association. She feels assured that her wealth of knowledge, expertise and experience can impact positively on the sport here.

Miss Gailene Windsor, among others, was named as a Sports Ambassador of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on October 27, 2015, an honour she described then as being ‘humbling’.

THE VINCENTIAN extends a warm welcome to Miss Windsor, and wishes her all the best in whatsoever she chooses to undertake.

Competitive netball in places like Crown Height, Brooklyn, is due in great part to the efforts of Gailene Windsor.

V Champs fall again in T/20 Competition

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. 23.

FLOW RADCLIFFE, defending NLA/Neil Williams T/20 Cricket champions, continued to make their defence of their title hard work, with mixed fortunes over the weekend.

In last weekend round of Super Six matches, Flow Radcliffe opened with an eight-wicket victory over Smashers, who literally crawled to 101 for 9 in their twenty overs, to which Radcliffe replied with 102 for 2 wickets in 14 overs.

Flow Radcliffe provided the day’s standout batsman and bowler: Roman Pierre hitting 41 and Gidron Pope claiming 3 wickets for 20 runs.

But it may have been too early for rejoicing.

Radcliffe turned up on Sunday, only to be struck down by Team Rivals, at

the Arnos Vale playing field. Team Rivals struggled to 122 all out in 20 overs, and once again they had to thank Hyron Shallow, 55, Casmond Walters, 24, for taking them over 100. Dyke Cato picked up 3 for 23 and Andy Harper 2 for 16 bowling for Flow Radcliffe.

Flow Radcliffe in reply were strangled by the wily veteran Deighton Butler, who claimed 4 for 11, including a decisive hattrick, in Radcliffe’s 110 for 7, Lindon James 31 and Pierre 20.

On the previous day, at Sion Hill, Team Rivals had an easier 53-run win over Providence Electronic Solutions North Leeward.

Scores: Team Rivals 133 for 7 - Deighton Butler 29, Husni Porter 28, and

Rasheed Fredericks 25, Shamon Hooper 4 for 20; North Leeward - 80 in 17.5 overs, Walters 4 for 13 and Olanzo Jackson 2 for 10.

On Saturday, they disposed of Guardian General Saints by eight wickets at Arnos Vale Two. Scores: Saints 150 for 8 in 20 overs - , compliments 68 from Seon Sween, and 28 from Sunil Ambris 28, Alston Bobb 3 for 28; Team Rivals 151 for 2 in 17.4 overs Atticus Browne 69, Miles Bascombe 42, Rolando Wright picked 2 for 19.

Victors One returned on Sunday to rub salt into the wounds of Smashers, by dismantling them by 103 runs, at Sion Hill.

Scores: Victors One 186 for 4 in 20 overs -

Bascombe 64, Chrisroy John 38, Marvin Harry 2 for 26; Smashers: 83 all out in 14.4 overs, Jordon Corridan 24, Alston Bobb 4 for 21.

In the other weekend encounter, Saints took a 4wicket win over North Leeward. Scores: North Leeward 50 for 6 in 20 overs, Shamon Hooper 21, Romel Currency 2 for 19 and Sunil Ambris 2 for 28; Saints 52 for 6 in 19.1 overs, Jerron John 41, Sunil Ambris 39, Winston Samuel 2 for 17.

As at the end of last weekend round of matches, Victors One and Team Rivals were joint leaders in the points standing.

The two remaining rounds of Super Six games will be played on the

Alston Bobb had a good weekend with the ball, claiming 7 wickets.

Deighton Butler did in Saints with a haul of 4 wickets including a hattrick.

of the Competition, Should the final be abandoned due to rain, then the winner will be the team weekend of Saturday 25th with the most points and Sunday 26th accumulated in the Super February, before the Final Six round. If there is a tie on March 4th. in this regard, then Net The two top teams from Run Rate will separate the the Super Six will contest teams. the Final.

According to the rules I.B.A.ALLEN

PYOLA take North East Football League title PYOLA of Layou claimed the 2016/2017 league title of the National Lotteries Authority Hairoun North East League, last Sunday at the Chili Playing Field.

PYOLA’s hold on the top prize came by way of a 4-3 triumph on kicks from the penalty spot, after a goalless draw against Je Belle, at the end of regulation time, in the championship match.

Player of the final- Lemus Christopher.

It must have been the best route towards a final decision,as the match was void of the knifeedge atmosphere, normally associated with football finals in the league.

Not even the forays and near misses by both teams were met with any real appreciation, this Inset: Top goal scorer- Deshawn perhaps having Kydd (left) gets his reward from something to do Otashie Spring. with the fact that the finalists had Boys, to ensure that little association with the locale. title stayed at home.

Champion team –PYOLA. For winning the top prize, PYOLA earned a purse of Awards $3500, the challenge trophy, the Special Recognition first place trophy and medals.

PYOLA’s Lemus Christopher Je Belle got $2500, a trophy and was named Player of the Final, The League recognised medals. with Desroy Peters of SV United Dwight Baptiste for his Before reaching last Sunday’s collecting the Best Goal-keeper contribution to the development final, PYOLA had beaten Bruce award, and Sparta FC’s Kendol of football in North Windward.

Law Chambers Sparta FC 2-1, Douglas taking the Best Under his stewardship, North in the semi- finals, while Je Defender accolade.

Windward reached three finals Belle had a 4-2 win on kicks Terris Joseph of Je Belle in the recently concluded from the penalty spot, at the Chapmans was voted Best National Inter- Community expense of LP Boys.

Midfielder, while Biabou League Championships - senior, Preceding last Sunday’s final, United’s Deshawn Kydd was the Under-18 and Under-14.

Sparta FC took the third spot, leading goal scorer with 11 North Windward came away but did so without a sweat, as goals. winners over Layou, to take the LP Boys did not show up.

Also awarded was Kadeem U-18 title, but lost to Layou and Sparta FC collected a trophy, Duncan of Brownstown, who East Kingstown medals and $1500. was adjudged best young player, in the Senior At left Delrick Charles – Best Coach, gets Je Belle Chapmans had and Je Belle/ Chapmans’ Delrick and Under-14, his award from Otashie Spring – head of the taken the Knock out title, Charles collected the Best Coach respectively.

North East Football League Committee. inflicting a 4-0 defeat on LP award.

V

24. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

More hardcourt woes for Barrouallie residents A BLOCK-MAKING venture, currently taking place at the hardcourt, adjoining the Barrouallie Technical Institute, has rendered the Barrouallie community empty of any such facility.

This is the latest blow that the community has suffered at the hands of the authorities.

Having been without the use of its premier hard court at Keartons for the better part of two years,

Stockpile of block-making material on the hardcourt.

some residents had sought refuge at the hard court, located in the area known as Pierre Wood.

However, this alternative has quashed all avenues for persons in the area to expend their energies on the court.

Reports are that the lone hard court available then, was earmarked to give the primary schools in the area a venue to The current state of the Keartons hardcourt. conduct the Scotia Bank Kiddy over time served as a recreational spot for the Cricket skills practice sessions, granted that the villagers.

Keartons hardcourt is still out of commission.

He noted that one common use of the court was One male resident who lives in close proximity to for night activities, especially when “it is full moon. the court, revealed that since the block-making “We also use it on Old Year’s night and have little commenced, the youngsters of the area have been things up here,” he added. left wanting for a place to recreate.

Concerned that the block making-activity could “The young girls in the village will come up here be a prolonged one, the informant expressed the and practise their Netball, and the young men will view that this could result in a number of the use the court for small goal football,” the resident youths becoming disenchanted and lose interest in related.

With the absence of the Keartons hard court, the sports.

The concerned resident said that he was not Barrouallie Sports Association has been unable to certain who had given permission for block making stage its annual netball competition, since 2014. activity on the court.

As a result, resident teams had no other choice but to participate in the Sion Hill and Richland Park competitions; but this has meant increased costs for teams who participate.

Clear signs of blockThe informant added making activity at the that the hard court has hardcourt.

Ballantyne wins again

ACE TABLE TENNIS player Robert Ballantyne continued on his winning ways last weekend.

Ballantyne, fresh off victory in the first ever Big Six Table Tennis Competition staged recently in Bequia, triumphed in the first of four planned one-day ranking tournaments, held at West St. George Secondary School, last weekend.

Already ranked #1 going into last weekend’s tournament, Ballantyne defended all 30 ranking points he had gained in the corresponding tournaments in 2016, to maintain his top position.

His 30 ranking points put him way ahead of #2 ranked Damion Dublin who sits on 18 points.

Dublin placed third in the last ranking tournament, but maintained his second place in the ranking.

Carlton Daniel, second in this recent tournament, is now ranked at

number 4. He defeated the number two-ranked player Sean Stanley in three straight games, 11/9, 11/4, and 14/12, to set up his place in the final.

As far as actual competition was concerned, Ballantyne defeated Daniel 11/8, 11/8, 11/9 in the first round, but faced a sterner test against the same opponent in the grand finale, eventually winning, 5/11, 11/8, 11/3, 9/11 11/6.

The largest mover in ranking from this tournament was 17-year-old Mikael Hazelwood who ended the tournament in seventh position.

Among his victims were Giles Garraway and Tyrone Jack, ranked 10th and 1th respectively.

The next Open Ranking tournament is scheduled for April 8th at the Georgetown Secondary School.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Robert Ballantyne (right) overcame an inspired Carlton Daniel (left), to keep his #1 rank.

New records in Women’s Cricket IN THE NATIONAL WOMEN’S 40 Overs competition, records galore went by the wayside, as Garifuna Stars got the better of Defending Champions United Survivors on Saturday 18th, at the London playing field.

Garifuna Stars created history in Women’s Cricket in St. Vincent and the Grenadines when they registered the highest innings total ever in the limited overs format of the game.

Their total of 273 in 32.4 overs came in their game against defending champions United Survivors in one of the weekend games of the National Women’s 40 Overs Cricket Competition.

The match was played last Saturday at the London Playing Field.

The record total was due primarily to their ‘taliswoman’ - Juliana Nero who cracked 146 in 86 balls

to deflate her opponents.

Her innings included five sixes and eighteen fours.

She was assisted by Nyasha Williams with 51.

Sherma Wright 3 for 55, Kimone Homer 2 for 44 and Cordel Jack 2 for 57 were the leading wicket-takers for Survivors.

United Survivors took to the crease and began with a sense of determination.

However, even with a stoic 103 from Cordel Jack and 46 from Kimone Homer, they fell short of their target by 55 runs, closing at 218 for 9. Nyasha Williams and Denise Francois took 2 for 33 and 2 for 55, and Nero capped a fine day’s performance by taking 3 for 38 for the victors.

According to the SVG Cricket Association, the combined total of 491 is a new record for the total runs scored in a day, in National Women’s Cricket.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Juliana Nero continues to impact Women’s Cricket here in lasting ways.

Cordel Jack was not to be outdone; she put in another good allround performance.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. 25.

Sports

No stopping BEQUIA United FC returns from their Caribbean Football Union Club Championship by Monday.

Coach Kendale Mercury made it clear that the experience would have been an awakening. He summed up the excursion as a litmus test, not just for Bequia FC, but for Vincentian Football.

The game is due for a reassurance. A level of activity and performance that will give Vincentians the belief that their squad can go out there and compete is missing. Why have we allowed our programme to dip so drastically after the World Cup throes, is a sad indictment on us.

We have shown the ability to match wits with the best, even when our facilities and resources were at their lowest and most crude.

Night facilities are almost non-existent here, so our away matches are inevitably in novel surroundings. Not that we have absolutely no lights here, but the most diplomatic Vincentian will admit that our lighted grounds are short of the average.

Our dressing rooms are inadequate even at the national standard, far more at the Club level. For even though the message of Club Football has been preached for many a year, it is still given scant regard.

When Bequia United returns, it will be time for System 3 to welcome Trinidad and Tobago’s San Juan Jabloteh, Guadeloupe’s Racing de Gonaives, and Sint. Marten’s Flames United.

There is one spot at stake in all five groups involved in the preliminary round.

Vincentians have that spirit of invincibility. We get things done, no matter how unorthodox. It has do with our knack for survival. It is in the nature of this country. We have learnt to live with the conditions. If you go by the history of the country, there are instances of systematic periods of volcanic eruptions.

The most recent outburst was in 1979 when La Soufriere, perched to the north central mountain range, forced an evacuation of the population within a five-mile radius.

Devastating as that might have been, the Vincentian soil and the ash fall have been accepted to be the nation’s most sustainable resource.

The windfall was regional enough to engender a spike in Barbados’ subsequent cane harvest.

So the natural factors are always in place here.

There is the uninhibited natural impact. But just like the effects of climate change, induced by man’s quest to exploit the earth’s resources, we are experiencing the pain of human excesses. It’s only when nature reclaims its course that mankind complain about disaster.

If we take caution to adapt to the environment, while playing our role in sustainable development, we could live side by side with any weather pattern.

The forces of destruction are not confined to causing disruption. But they are propelled by the human element, some subtly and others palpably overt.

And with our inability to provide any form of genuine continuity, we find ourselves inheriting a swirl of disembowelment. So we have to be mindful about how we set traps. There is no need to remind anyone of the dangers of such an operation. It has been proven time and time again.

It is better to commend someone for what he or she has done, especially if it is worthy.

Anything you can do to help someone along the way, do your best to uplift humanity.

We can’t be too harsh on the Bequia United.

They went down 1:2 to Green Bay Hoppers last Wednesday evening.

They have to rebound in their two matches, buoyed with the knowledge that their heaviest burden has been relieved. They may rebound with victories today and Sunday, and hope that Green Bay Hoppers flounder somewhere. In any event, Bequia United FC has already made their mark by their very participation. The attention turns to Victoria Park to see how System 3 presents itself.

Cadore dominates Bethel Sports INDERA CADORE, a resident of Lowmans Leeward, was the standout athlete at the 2017 Campden Park Secondary School (Bethel High School) sports, staged as a day-night activity at Victoria Park, last Friday.

She ran away with victories in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 150 meters in the Intermediate Division, and was declared the games’ victrix ludorum.

Indera’s exploits set All eyes will be on Indera Cadore.

her up as a clear favourite going into this year’s Inter-Secondary Schools Track and Field Meet; but looking ahead, she admitted that compet-ing in five events may be too much, and has decided to drop a few.

“I will only be competing in the 1500, 800 and 400 in the intermediate division and, once I continue to train hard and think smart, I am going to do good,” she told THE VINCENTIAN. As far as her recent triumphs were concerned, Indera said that, looking back to when she started last year, she was more than pleased with her improvement.

“Well, last year I didn’t do that good because I wasn’t training, so I was beaten by all the other athletes. But this year, I began training with my coach Pamenos Ballantyne, so I have improved a

lot,” she said.

Her attachment to Ballantyne comes as a result of her membership in the Chatoyer Athletics Club of which Ballantyne is co-ordinator and coach.

Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN after last Friday’s Meet, he expressed how pleased he was to see “progress in Indera’s strength, endurance and speed, especially as it relates to the middle distances,” adding, “I am expecting a lot from her, not just from inter-school sports but as a strong contender for a CARIFTA medal in the next three years, once she continues to be committed and dedicated to the programme.”

because I realize in SVG we have talented athletes, but some of them don’t have the right mindset. Sometimes they need an extra push - like someone to motivate them. I know it’s not going to be easy, but once they get the push, you can help them to achieve what they want to accomplish.”

She hopes that her getting a scholarship would serve as a motivation to other athletes, and urged young athletes to work very hard. “They maybe winning races here, but when you go away, it’s a different ball game,…. they have to start thinking beyond and in the long term.. .”

Miller first represented SVG at the Windward Islands School Games in SVG in 2014, in the 800

meters, and at the OECS Games in St Kitts in the 400 meters.

Miller is very grateful to her coach Michael Ollivierre, her parents Sorenya Miller and others middle distance who have assisted her runner – is the latest to secure an in her opportunity in the athletics USA. career.

Miller is expected to leave the state on March 1.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Miller secures an athletics scholarship SORENYA MILLER, one of this country’s up and coming middle distance runners and a member of the IT Dat Track and Field Academy, is the latest local athletes to acquire an athletics scholarship in the United States.

Miller will attend the Bentick College in South Carolina, a private African-American institution, where she will pursue a four-year Bachelor’s degree in Physiology.

Bubbling with excitement, Miller told THE VINCENTIAN that she was looking forward to the opportunity which, she admits, can advance her career in the sports.

On her intentions, she said, “I would like to be a professional athlete and a sports physiologist,

St Lucia beat SVG in 15s Rugby THE SVG RUGBY Union’s senior men’s team went under to St Lucia senior men’s team in a 15a-side friendly Rugby match last weekend, in St Lucia.

The match marked the kick-off of the 15s League in St Lucia.

Even with tries from Vincentian players Leonard Matthews, Zhane Cerdine and

Giles Garraway, and 2 conversions from George Kruger, the effort was not good enough to make inroads into the lead that the St. Lucians built. The final score: St. Lucia 49, SVG 19.

A source from the SVG Rugby Union said, “Despite the loss, it was a great weekend with our rugby neighbours and friends in

I.B.A.ALLEN St. Lucia, and we look forward to more friendly matches which will only improve and prepare the team for competitions later in the year.”

SVG Rugby Union continues to recruit both U19 and senior players, male and female, and invite players to practise sessions at Sion Hill Playing Field, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Victorious St Lucia and SVG Rugby teams get together for a post-match photo.

V

26. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Hearing screening workshop held here PERSONS INVOLVED in the delivery of education to students with learning disabilities, and other stakeholders in the health profession, were this week involved in a workshop where they learned to administer hearing screenings.

According to United Kingdom based Speech Language Pathologist Janine Jesberg, she has collaborated with Naseem Smith, Principal of the School with Children with Special Needs, Kingstown, to offer the service and to train local personnel on the proper use of the relevant technology.

The technology of concern is known as the Shoebox Audiometer, and it is especially suitable for administering hearing screenings in remote areas not necessarily in an enclosed, soundproof booth — to test someone’s hearing across all frequencies for speech and sound production.

The device works for people from the age of 4 to adulthood, and works by providing automated screenings to determine if people are hearing at the adequate levels.

St Vincent and the Grenadines is the first in the region to have access to this piece of technology, which was manufactured by a Canadian company, Clearwater Clinical.

The items, which usually cost in the range of US$4,000, were purchased at half price, that is due to the company’s involvement in Jesberg’s project — referred to as the SHED (Speech, Hearing Early Detection) project.

“And Clearwater Clinical deemed this project as one of their Shoebox Audiometer is portable and therefore ideal for use in remote areas.

humanitarian outreach programmes.

They have provided a 50 percent discount on the product, so that was able to bring two that will be left on the island,” Jesberg explained.

The plan is to make the device, Janine Jesberg, Speech Language one each, Pathologist, available to facilitated the students on the mainland and on training workshop.

Bequia, and it is anticipated that access will be granted to other students requiring a hearing screening.

Jesberg explained that this phase of the SHED project was funded through the Cabot Trust, but the next phase will entail securing other sources of funding to allow for follow up visits and care.

“The hope is to come back annually to provide continued training. The next step is to get funding to continue the project. That’s me being able to come down and meet folks and help to facilitate future funding,” she said.

(DD)

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017. 27.

Classifieds

MR. BRIAN FRANKLYN DACOSTA LIVERPOOL

MR. BANCROFT NEWLYN HERCULES

Methodist Church Kingstown Monday 20th February, 2017 2:30pm

Mount Coke Methodist Church Saturday 18th February 2017 2:00 p.m.

ESTHER MAY

'$1((¶ '(9(1(< HORNE

Apostolic Faith Church Lower Questelles Sunday 19th February, 2017 2:00 p.m.

New Testament Church of God Lowmans Hill Sunday 19th February 2017 2:00 p.m.

MRS. ADVIRA VEIRA JOHN Mt. Carmel Spiritual Baptist Church Chester Cottage 18th February, 2017 2:00 p.m.

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

F O R S A L E

FRIDAY,

FEBRUARY 24, 2017

VOLUME 111, No.08

A.I. REAL ESTATE Arnos Vale 7,694 sq.ft @ $17.00 p.s.f - $130,798.00 - BB183 Mt. Grenan 16,788 sq.ft. @ $7.00 p.s.f. - $126,516.00 - BB134 Chauncey unfinished Property on 11,129 sq.ft.

- $140,000.00 - H125 (784)- 457-2087 office (784)-533-0431 whatsapp (784)-493-9431 cell (718)-807-4376 office donp@vincysurf.com www.aisvg.com facebook.com/airealestatesvg

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

‘FYA EMPRESS’ DISQUALIFIED Steele further threatened to sue TUCO and file an VINCENTIAN-BORN Calypso/Soca artiste injunction preventing - Lornette ‘Fya Empress’ Nedd has been Nedd from participating disqualified after initially being in the show. announced as one of the finalists for the The Guardian February 26, 2017 Calypso Monarch reported that Competition in Trinidad and Tobago, to attorneys come up against defending monarch representing TUCO Devon Seale. had contacted The announcement was made on Steele’s legal Tuesday with the reason given for her advisors to confirm disqualification being that she was not that the of Trinidadian nationality. calypsonian’s organization had Grounds for disqualification complied with the request.

According to the Trinidad Guardian of Wednesday 22nd February, the Success in Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Trinidad and Organisation (TUCO) made the Tobago decision to disqualify Nedd late Tuesday, hours after receiving a preEfforts to contact action letter from attorneys Nedd proved futile, the representing Lynette ‘Lady Gypsy’ response to a telephone Steele, who was first listed as the only call to a number provided reserve for the finals. by reliable sources, being that Steele placed 16th, but now replaces she was not available at this Nedd who placed eighth in the Seminumber and residence.

Finals held at Skinner Park on Nedd is known to have been living Saturday, February 18. in the twin island republic for the past The Trinidad Guardian stated that 15 years, and married to a national of the letter sent to TUCO by Steele’s that country. lawyer, noted that Rule 2.7 of the Newspaper reports from that adjudication handbook states that only country said that she had not yet citizens of that country, over the age of completed the process towards gaining 16 are allowed to participate in the citizenship of that country. competition.

It was noted, however, that Nedd The paper went on to indicate that was a former Trinidad and Tobago

by DAYLE DA SILVA

Lornette ‘Fya Empress’ Nedd has been residing in Trinidad and Tobago for the last fifteen years. (Photo Credit: Oris Robertson)

Meanwhile, the matter relating to the disqualification of Mrs. Lornette ‘Fya Empress’ Nedd-Reid, from participating in the finals of the Trinidad and Tobago National Calypso Monarch Competition 2017, has attracted a response from the government of St. Vincent.

Calypso Queen, In a statement released to the press copping the title on Wednesday afternoon, the back in 2012, government expressed dismay “at this and is a three disqualification, as there are several time Tobago grounds on which this disqualification Soca Monarch may be challenged.” winner since Those grounds, according to the 2007, and statement, included: ‘Fya Empress is moreover, has been a financial a member of the calypsonian member of TUCO organization and has been allowed to participate through the preliminaries since 2007, and to the semi-finals of the competition as has never been well as other previous competitions; barred from she is married to a national of participating in competitions in that Trinidad and Tobago; she is protected under the Revised Treaty of country.

Chaguaramas (RTC) not to be Nedd was also the discriminated on the grounds of 2012 Calypso and Ragga nationality. Article 7 of the RTC Soca monarch in SVG. articulates ‘Within the scope of application of this Treaty and without Responses prejudice to any special provisions contained therein, any discrimination When THE VINCENTIAN on grounds of nationality only shall be contacted Steve Pascall, Public Relations Officer (PRO) for TUCO, he prohibited’.

The statement also said that the declined to comment, saying that he Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and preferred to discuss the matter first Commerce was ‘in communication with with President Lutalo Masimba and ‘Fya Empress’ on an on-going basis, so the General Secretary of the as to keep the matter under review for organization. further action’.

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

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.