THE VINCENTIAN PDF -26-06-20

FRIDAY JUNE

26, 2020

VOLUME 114, No.26

Bruce slams PRYME Page 5

www.thevincentian.com

Night watchman killed Page 7

Private motion not debated Page 14

EC$1.50

Geothermal Update (Pt2) Page 15

Cause for concern Page 15

COURT RULES IN BIGGER BIGGS’ FAVOUR Right: Leon ‘Bigger Biggs’ Samuel has won the Court’s favour in advancing his claim of arrest and illegal entry on to his land, to be heard.

The attorney team of (L-R) Jomo Thomas and Akin John represented Samuel at the recent hearing.

A DISPUTE SURROUNDING LANDS at Rabacca and which has been raging for some time, has been set on course for further hearing, now that there has been some preliminary ruling on the matter.

Justice Esco Henry ruled last Wednesday that in the matter involving Bigger Cement and Aggregate Incorporated and its principal Leon ‘Bigger Biggs’ Samuel on the one hand, and the government on the other, that Samuel’s claim can be contested in Court.

The government had moved to have Samuel’s claim struck out, that claim being that the ‘State’s entry into Bigger Biggs’ land and arresting (him), surveying and dividing his land amounted to an unconstitutional entry; that it was arbitrary and a

curtailment of his interest therein without due process contrary to sections 6 and 7, 8 (8) & (10) of Constitution.’

The action referenced in the claim unfolded on Friday 1st March, 2019.

Samuel’s lawyers, Jomo Thomas and Akim John, at a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon, hailed Justice Henry’s ruling as an “important victory.”

Thomas went further to contend that “entry of state officials (on to Samuel’s property) was arbitrary…. contrary to the constitution,” and tantamount to “an abuse of process.”

The press briefing also heard a recording of a statement made on radio by Minister of Transport and Works Senator Julian Francis in November 2019.

Francis contended, in response to what Samuel said was an effort by the government to ‘confiscate his lands’, that there was no confiscation of land belonging to Samuel, and advised him

to challenge the action of the government, to assert the boundaries of his property.

The claim on which Justice Henry ruled on this occasion, was filed in response to Samuel’s arrest, after he Continued on Page 3.

APOLOGY TO THE PRIME MINISTER

ON FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2020, THE VINCENTIAN published an article “PRISON OFFICER TO SUE” which contained an allegation that the Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves abused or misused his power or authority, by wrongly or improperly instructing the Police at the Colonarie

Police Station to return, unjustifiably and without reasonable cause, Hanniffe King’s guns to him in a volatile situation of a domestic dispute involving Hanniffe King, his uncle and the uncle’s siblings.

THE VINCENTIAN accepts that this allegation is defamatory and is groundless and indefensible and ought

not to have been published.

THE VINCENTIAN apologises unreservedly for having published the defamatory allegation and offers our sincere apologies to the Prime Minister, for the distress and embarrassment caused by the publication of the defamatory allegation.

The Vincentian Publishing Co. Ltd. Kingstown St. Vincent and the Grenadines June 26, 2020

V Jahdatta beats them all 2. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

Entertainment

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC has affected every facet of life and life’s undertakings for the past six or so months, and looks likely to be inflicting continuing disruption for an unforetold period of time.

Nor least among the sectors affected is the entertainment sector.

Performing artistes, sound reinforcement and lighting From Yuggie Farrell to ‘Jahdatta’

companies, drinks manufacturers, even the humble peanut vendor that plies her trade at live shows/concerts are feeling the squeeze.

To cushion this impact, entertainers have gravitated to the internet to keep in touch with their fans.

International celebrities, the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Alicia Keys, have made special use of the INSTAGRAM social media platform, WITH LIVE BROADCASTS AND POSTINGS. In the midst of preparing this article, an audio beep from my Smart Phone prompted a posting by Vincy Mas reflecting ‘Rural Carnival Action’, which had generated

six hundred and ninety- two views after four hours.

But locally, none compared to the postings of ‘Jahdatta’, aka Yuggie Farrell, who on June 10th generated one thousand four hundred and seventysix views in under two minutes with a musical release.

‘Jahdatta’ uses the Hip Hop genre to grab attention, not to mention her sex appeal. Her strong lyrical content reflecting an X Tempo (calypso) style, delivered with sensual overtones combine to address the common misconception that she, Yuggie Farrell, might be mentally ill.

THE VINCENTIAN requested an Interview with this ‘Unlikely Talent,’ but has had no response up to Press Time. (CD)

Oscar James releases a “Vision” VINCENTIAN SONG WRITER, musician and vocalist Oscar James described his latest release, ‘Vision’, as a mixture of reggae, soca and some R&B. The compilation features seven new tracks leading with the title track ‘Conquer Day’ which, according to Oscar, captures the combined use of the genres featured on the album.

Among the other tracks is ‘Wingate Park’ — a Oscar James has tribute to a recreational been making music park in his adopted home, and entertaining New York in the United audiences here and States.

‘Taxman’ addresses the abroad since the issue of high taxes and its 1970s. impact, and ‘Mathematics’ highlights the importance of the subject.

So, not only has he been able to blend different styles, but Oscar said that he utilizes what is going on socially to come up with material for his projects.

As for the musical accompaniment, Oscar said that, for the most part, he played the instruments on all tracks with the exception of the keyboards in the intro of ‘Conquer Day’, which is credited to the Frankie McIntosh.

The entire album was recorded at his home studio in the US. Oscar’s current work is informed by years of experience following stints with the Georgetownbased band ‘Affetuosos’ in the 1970s, with whom he registered hits like ‘Feeling an Emotion’ and ‘Babylon Dread’.

He is also revered for his 1985 carnival hit ‘Fun Time Again’.

For now, he is on the mission to promote and sell his latest production.

He has been in his native St Vincent for an extended period, having been forced to stay following travel restrictions occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The album is not being distributed locally but can be purchased, along with Oscar’s other work, on cdbaby.com/oscarjamesandtheravers.

Persons can listen to the title track ‘Conquer Day’ and ‘Wingate Park’ on Youtube. (DD)

V News 3 New COVID-19 protocols for air service

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020. 3.

A set of protocols will govern passengers arriving at AIA, beginning with those who arrive on AA when it resumes travel to SVG.

ALL ARRIVING PASSENGERS to St Vincent and the Grenadines between July 1 and 31 will be subject to a PCR Covid-19 test.

Cabinet approved these protocols in light of the announcement that international air travel is expected to resume here next month.

Minister of Tourism, Cecil McKie announced in Parliament on June 22 that American Airlines is expected to resume service here on July 11, while Air Canada Rouge is expected to do so on

July 23.

There was no indication from Caribbean Airlines (CAL) or regional air carrier LIAT with respect to when those airlines were expected to resume service.

In a ministerial statement, Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment Senator Luke Browne emphasized, “These protocols are very important.”

The protocols, he said, were aimed at achieving clear objectives, inclusive

of: to establish the risk of the arriving passengers; to minimize exposure of residents within SVG to Covid-19; to aid with the early identification of potential exposure to the virus and for the early containment of new Covid-19 cases.

The first phase of this resumption of commercial air traffic between July 1 and 31 will include the mandatory testing for all arriving passengers.

A review of the protocols as applied in the first phase (July 1 31) will be conducted,

the results of which will inform measure for a subsequent phase.

Senator Browne alluded to the creation of a CARICOM bubble aimed at minimizing hassle in traveling between certain regional countries.

Cabinet also approved two additional protocols: persons arriving on yachts will now be able to quarantine on their vessel. To take effect immediately; established arrangements under which professionals can come to render services which may be required.

(DD)

COVID-19 Testing locally: Isolation Centre ready IN-COUNTRY PCR COVID-19 TESTING was expected to have officially begun last Wednesday, June 24.

This after Chief Medical Officer, Dr Simone Keizer-Beache who had initially announced that PCR testing had started here following the arrival of a PCR testing machine in May. The increased frequency of tests and shortened period between test and results, brought the readiness of the Isolation Centre at Argyle into some focus The million-dollar Isolation Centre during the sitting of Parliament the outbreak of COVID-19. last Monday.

In a further update, Minister of 24 beds and six ventilators.

Health Senator Luke Browne Minister Browne reported that announced that the Isolation the facility was constructed at a Centre was now retrofitted with cost of about EC$1.6 million. the required equipment, including The land on which it sits is estimated to cost an additional EC$1 million.

“We are paying for it (the land) through rent on a lease to own arrangement,” Browne explained.

He described the Left: The Isolation Centre is equipped with up to 24 beds.

at Argyle became necessary with facility as being state of the art, with many features like automated soap dispensers and faucets.

Fortunately, all the cases recorded here so far have been “mild”, and those infected were able to be isolated at their home or at a government approved facility.

“This means that the capacity of our health system to deal with cases was not strained,” the Health Minister said.

He added that local health personnel were also now fully equipped to manage all levels of cases. (DD)

Leon Samuel, under arrest, being led away to the Georgetown Police Station by officers of the SSU.

Court rules in Bigger Biggs’ favour Continued from Front Page. objected to government surveyors entering his property to conduct a survey.

He was arrested on March 1, 2019 at his lands at Rabacca, lands which border lands owned by the state that were, at the time, being surveyed.

Samuel was arrested and officially charged with one count each of disrupting Alrick Williams of Cane Garden and Garnet James of Diamond, surveyors employed by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, from conducting a survey of lands registered in the name of Bigger Cement and Aggregate Incorporated/Leon Samuel.

This action by government was, apparently, in an attempt to reset boundaries that could result in the size of lands owned by a person being increased or decreased, given any natural repositioning of watercourses (rivers/streams) running through the property concerned.

Government officials may also have deemed this action necessary in an effort to address, if not settle, a dispute that arose between Samuel and farmers who had used his land as thoroughfare to access their farmlands.

The dispute which had threatened to escalate into ‘something more serious’, arose when Samuel placed a 40-foot container, after a gate he erected was removed, across what was the established entrance to his land, an entrance which the farmers had also used.

While there has been no date set for continuation in the overall matter of land ownership, etc;, Justice Henry has ordered the state to pay costs to Samuel for this recent proceeding.

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4. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Guard’s murder PI winding down Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

burglarizing of the GEC Auto Supplies building at Arnos Vale.

THE PROSECUTION is Suspended Police expected to call about five Constable Ettian more witnesses in the Charles, along with ongoing Preliminary Glenville Harry of Inquiry (PI) into the 2018 Vermont, and Ulric slaying of Security Guard Hanson and Jerome Rodney George, of Victoria Ollivierre both of Village, and the Mayreau, are charged

with the Security Guard’s murder.

They are also charged with entering the Auto Supplies between August 31 and September 1, 2018, and stealing EC$2,074 in cash, the property of Gevandean Wilson, the owner of the business.

George’s body, with throat slit, was discovered in that building on the morning of September 1, 2018. He was 50.

Among the witnesses who have testified so far at the PI which started at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court

PI into Auxiliary CopÊs shooting underway

SUPERINTENDENT Clauston Francis, Head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), is the only witness to have testified so far in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the attempted murder of Auxiliary Police Officer Curtland Jack, and the wounding with intent of two others, November 2019 at Heritage Square, Kingstown.

The P.I started at the Serious Offences Court last week Thursday and is expected to continue on July 7 when the Prosecution will call other witnesses.

Tyson Spencer, 30, of Green Hill, has been charged with the attempted murder of the Tyson Spencer - the Curtland Jack – Auxillary Police Officer, accused. the victim as well as wounding with intent, Deron Quashie of understands that the Prosecution Choppins and Dwayne Peters of is seeking to have Jack’s evidence Kingstown. taken via Skype because of his Jack, a resident of Campden Park, has been paralysed from his medical condition.

Attorney Grant Connell is shoulders down, reportedly as a representing Spencer, while result of the shooting incident at Heritage Square on November 22 Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche leads the case for the last year, during which Quashie and Peters also sustained injuries. Prosecution.

Chief Magistrate Rechanne THE VINCENTIAN Browne presides.

Youth jailed for gun, ammo, assault ORANSON GARRAWAY’S explanation to the police on June 17 that he attempted robbery because nothing was happening for him, found no merit at the Serious Offences Court on Monday.

The 21-year-old Layou man who has no children, was sentenced to 4 years and 4 months for possession of a homemade shotgun without licence, 6 months for possession of one round of ammunition, and 8 months for assaulting Ronique Toussaint of Mesopotamia, by pointing a gun.

The penalties, handed down by Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne, are to run concurrently.

Garraway had pleaded guilty to all three charges. He was unrepresented.

Court Clerk, Corporal Atnel Ash, in presenting the facts, told the Court that on June 16, Garraway went to a facebook page dealing

with the selling of items, and saw the picture of a motor cycle valued at EC$700. He contacted the seller Jenny Browne, and asked if they could meet, as he was interested in purchasing the cycle. They agreed to meet at Layou, and a friend of Toussaint agreed to transport him around 3:30 p.m. on June 17. In a facebook conversation with Browne, Toussaint was told that her son would take care of the transaction.

When Toussaint got to Layou at Horne’s Corner, he met the defendant, who told him that he would have to wait for about 15 minutes for Jenny Browne to be there. However, while waiting, the defendant pulled a firearm from behind a wall, and pointed it at Toussaint and his friend. Toussaint recognized it to be homemade. He got scared and ran to the Rapid Response Unit’s base in Layou, leaving his friend behind. While running, he heard a voice

behind saying, “Give me everything you got”.

Toussaint reported the matter to the RRU officers, and Corporal 403 Nigel John, using a private vehicle, led a party of RRU officers to Ruthland Vale where they held Garraway with the firearm in a sack. It contained one round of ammunition.

When cautioned, Garraway told Corporal John, “Nutten nah ah happen foh me, so I try rob ah man”.

Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche told the Court, “In times like these, we all know what is happening here, and we have to do what the law says to make our society safe”.

The Prosecutor noted that just recently Garraway had a charge of a similar nature withdrawn because of a technicality. He contended that Garraway showed no remorse for his action, and according to the Prosecutor, the penalties should reflect the seriousness of the

offences.

The Chief Magistrate stressed the seriousness and consequences of the offences.

“The firearm was not concealed, it was brandished. It was daylight and it had a round of ammunition in it. It was used to instill fear and intimidation. In see no mitigating factors in relation to the offences”. She, however noted that Garraway had no previous convictions, and that he had spent some time on remand.

She also stressed his youthfulness, and the possibility of rehabilitation.

Garraway had also pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, which would earn him one third reduction in sentence.

Firearm or ammunition possession carries a maximum penalty of $20,000 or 7 years in prison, in the Magistrate’s Court, and a person could also be fined and confined in that Court.

earlier this year, are crime scene expert Sergeant Elmore Alexander of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Sergeant Biorn Duncan of the Major Crime Unit (MCU), and Constable Hadley Ballantyne of the CID. The Investigator, Inspector Sherol James, is among the other witnesses listed to be called.

Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche leads Suspended Police Constable Ettian the case for the Prosecution, while Senior Charles.

Magistrate Rickie The hearing will Burnett presides. continue on June 30.

Prosecutor calls for Cop’s promotion SENIOR PROSECUTOR Adolphus Delpleche has recommended the promotion of an outstanding police officer.

During the sentencing hearing of Oranson Garraway, who was charged with firearm and ammunition possession, as well as assault, by pointing a gun, the Prosecutor expressed the view that Corporal 403 Nigel John of the Rapid Response Unit (RRU), should be promoted.

Delpleche pointed out that after the defendant pointed the gun at the Virtual Complainant at Layou, the Complainant ran to the RRU base in that town, and Corporal John whom he met there, immediately took the initiative, based on the report, to go in search of the defendant, using a private vehicle.

John, who took along other RRU officers with him, was able to apprehend Garraway in the Ruthland Vale area with the homemade gun in a sack.

“Corporal 403 Nigel John has displayed exemplary leadership and professionalism in apprehending the defendant. He led from in front.

He used a private vehicle and went on his own.

That is leadership of the highest class”, the Prosecutor said.

“Men must get paid when they work. They must be rewarded”, he added, and concluded, “My honour, congratulations to Corporal John”.

Delpleche had also lauded Corporal John in February this year for his vigilance in an action which led to the seizure of a semi-automatic rifle, and the arrest of 28-year-old Evander ‘Skull’ Myers of Vermont. He was sentenced to 5 years and 6 months in prison after pleading to possession of the gun when he subsequently appeared at the Serious Offences Court.

And as recent as June 2, the Prosecutor again held high praises for Corporal John on the professionalism he displayed during the execution of a search warrant which led to the seizure of a homemade shotgun and two rounds of ammunition at the home of 27-year-old Lenrick Nero of Owia.

Delpleche has commended John for his performance on several other occasions within the last year or so.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020. 5.

Politics

Bruce slams PRYME, proposes alternatives

SENATOR Israel Bruce, the New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate for the South Central Windward constituency in the next general election, has slammed the recently rolled out government Promoting Youth Micro Enterprises Programme (PRYME).

Addressing a recent event held at Lauders to mark the official opening of the New Democratic Party’s South Central Windward constituency office, Bruce likened the PTYME — a grant programme - to a situation where a parent gives his offspring a vehicle, without allowing that child to manage all of the responsibilities that go with vehicle ownership.

Bruce was careful however in having his comment used as a blanket take on young people.

“I am not saying that the young people of this constituency or this country are reckless. I am saying that the government is reckless in the way it is going about dealing with the PRYME programme, because they are so hurry to undermine sound propositions they rush to PRYME. And when it is not PRYME, they giving you lime to plant in the dry season,” Bruce declared.

The Senator’s reference to PRYME came as he sought to explain his party’s plans with respect to employment creation.

He said earlier, “… We (NDP) would look, as part of our employment creation thrust and outlook, that we would create an employment and skills training bank for the young people of this constituency. And that we would comingle that or ensure that a national development bank, the constituency development fund and the Citizen By Investment funds are available to allow the young people of South Central Windward to move from one level to the other.”

These initiatives he cited as “allowing for responsible entrepreneurship, growth and development for the young people of this country and this society, in particular South Central Windward.”

As far as how he and his party proposed to bring “long term, quality employment” and positively impact development in the constituency, Bruce offered the following, among others: “upgrading either the Lauders or North Union playing field to a standard that caters to regional and possibly international sports; setting up small cottages at Pavement in Greiggs to allow ecotourism to thrive; constructing and equipping a clinic to serve the people of Chapmans and New Grounds, a clinic that would allow for the people of those areas to have access to proper health care, we’re talking jobs and health care,” Bruce promised.

Bruce remarked on the ad hoc method used to add to the

Senator Israel Bruce used the occasion of the formal opening of his South Central Windward constituency office to needle the PRYME programme while offering proposals for employment creation in the constituency. government’s payroll.

“I have no difficulty with these young people being offered an assignment, but what I want to say to you my friends, is to look at the timing of all of this. They want to have for themselves, acquired, 4 ½ years of fun, joy and proper living and then give you 2 months before the elections, and then send you back to hardship for another 4 ½ years.”

As of Monday, June 22, a staff manned the Lauders-based Team Bruce 2020 Constituency Office. jp.schwmon.vincy@gmail.com

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6. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Investigation mounted into Union Island fire

AN INVESTIGATION into the cause of the May 19, 2020 catastrophic explosion and fire at the UniGas petrol station in Clifton, was mounted immediately after the incident.

And according to Prime Minister and

Minister of National Security, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, a senior officer from the Major Crime Unit and the Senior Ranking Officer attached to the Union Island Police Station have both been assigned

to conduct the investigation.

Gonsalves was responding to a question

by Parliamentary Representative for Southern Grenadines Terrence Ollivierre in Parliament last Monday, as to whether or not an

investigation will be conducted and what recommendations have been made going forward.

The Prime Minister further said in his answer that it is expected that a report will be produced

immediately upon completion of the investigation.

It is anticipated that the investigation will discern the cause of the fire.

The May 19 fire is said to have started at around 7pm at the petrol

station owned by 72year-old Freddy Naert.

Naert, 12-year-old Lindini Neverson and 17year-old Shaniqua ‘Azaria’ Alexander succumbed to burns they received during the blaze. (DD)

Union IslandÊs Fire tender

Part of the remains of the UniGas petrol station after it was gutted by fire. (Photo courtesy Carlyle Douglas)

THE VINCENTIAN journeyed to Union Island last December to share in the commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the Union Island Uprising.

During that visit, observation of the Fire Tender located at the Union Island Airport showed the tender to be seemingly abandoned, and immobile. Its tyres were definitely not in road worthy condition and the external part of the vehicle seemed to have suffered severe bleaching as a result of direct overexposure to the sun.

This observation regarding the condition of the Fire Tender was brought into focus when, on Tuesday 19th May this year, the UniGas Station went up in flames. The tender, located an

estimated three-minute drive away, is said to have arrived at the scene of the fire some two and half hours after it was first summoned.

Recently, THE VINCENTIAN attempted to contact the Police Public Relations office to ascertain if the Fire Truck being repaired in front of the Central Police Station, was the tender from Union Island. There was no response.

If it is the Fire tender A Fire tender, not very different referenced here, and we are from the one that was assigned to not saying it is, the questions Union island, parked in the vicinity abound, not least being: Is a of the Central Police Station, replacement tender located at seemingly undergoing some the Union Island airport? inspection/repairs.

What if any additional facility to bolster the fire-fighting/rescue has been placed on Union island service there? (CD)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020. 7.

Crime

Night watchman killed by the school’s staff. In addition to doing his watchman duties, he went out of his way to ensure that the teachers were comfortable.

Civics/Project teacher Crez- Kemma Burgess expressed shock on learning of Neverson’s death and described him as a “plain minded person.”

“He was really helpful, cool, loving and simple. You could call on him to do anything … even picking coconuts for the staff. He would bring fruits and he was just that kind of friendly,” added the Grade 6 teacher.

Neverson lived with his commonlaw wife Susan Frances. He had been employed at the school for over five years, but supplemented his income as a watchman by ‘burning coals’.

He was also well known to Member

Windsor Primary School where watchman Henry neverson (inset) was found dead last Tuesday.

HAD THE SCHOOL not been closed, students of the Windsor Primary School, situated in close proximity to the southern entrance to the Botanical Gardens, would either have been sent home for an early summer break, or would have had to have the services of social workers and psychologist to help them deal with a tragedy at their school.

As it turned out, Grade 6 students of the school who were expected to take a pre-exam on Tuesday, before the CPEA Exams on Thursday and Friday, had that test cancelled and were sent home.

All of this after the School’s night watchman, 56-year-old Henry ‘Nevo’ Neverson , a resident of New Montrose in the West Kingstown constituency, was found dead on the school’s compound around 8pm last Tuesday.

Reports are that his body, lying face down, legs and arms bound and

showing signs of multiple chop wounds, was discovered by the School’s cleaner.

The police later confirmed that Neverson’s body did show signs of multiple chop wounds.

At least one person associated with the school said that when she visited the school on Tuesday morning, there were signs of a burglary, but she could not say what if anything was missing.

Another person, with an even closer association with the School, confirmed to THE VINCENTIAN that the school had been the target of a number of burglaries in recent times.

Neverson apparently was well liked

Businessmen arrested and charged POLICE SAY that they have arrested and charged Kenrick Thomas, 62-yearold businessman of Arnos Vale.

Thomas was charged on June 22, 2020 with intimidation, damage to property and unlawful discharge of a firearm, acts committed on June 22, 2020.

According to a release from the Royal SVG Police Force Public Relations and Complaints Department, the accused allegedly entered upon the premises of an Arnos Vale resident as a trespasser with the intent to intimidate same. In the process, he unlawfully discharged a firearm and without lawful excuse, damaged a dog belonging to the Arnos Vale resident by shooting same with a gun.

The incident occurred at Arnos Vale on 07.06.2020.

Thomas appeared before the Serious Offences Court this week to answer to the charges and pleaded not guilty. The matter was adjourned to 13.08.2020.

Thomas is presently on station bail.

In another matter involving a businessman, police reported that they arrested and charged Lequann Robertson, a 22-year-old businessman of Arnos Vale, with possession of an unlawful firearm and assault.

Police investigations revealed that on June 23, Arnos Vale, Robertson allegedly had in his possession one (1) Uzi firearm without a licence issued under the Firearms Act. For this he was charged for possession of one (1) prohibited firearm without the authorization of the Minister of National Security.

In addition, Robertson allegedly assaulted a 27-year-old businessman of Kingstown Park, by pointing a gun at him with the intent to commit the offence of bodily harm. The incidents occurred at Arnos Vale on June 23.

The accused was expected, during the week, to appear before the Serious Offences Court to answer to the charges.

of Parliament for the West Kingstown Constituency, Daniel Cummings, who described Neverson as a hard-working, family man… “not known to be associated with the criminal elements,…. just savagely killed by that …. What could possess a human being to commit such a crime against another one?” the MP questioned, adding that our society has lost its soul and “that is troubling, especially at a time when people are suffering economically.”

Police have mounted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Neverson’s death. A post mortem examination is expected to be carried out on the body to ascertain the cause of death.

His death is listed as the 17th homicide for the year. (KH)

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8. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020. 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

Human Being vs Being Human THIS COUNTRY IS EMBROILED in a ‘tit for tat’ mode that is characterized by the most obscene, demeaning expressions of what one person thinks about another.

It seems we no longer accept that we are human beings, and that we must fulfill that place of pride (we are top of the animal kingdom) by being human.

And as we introduce the terms ‘human being’ and ‘being human’, we have to recognize that, in almost any language, the order of words is very important.

Sometimes a slight change or the switching of a word can alter the meaning of a sentence almost completely. This is exactly why one should be extremely careful when using any language.

Further, English-language users are wont to interchange words and phrases/terms, having concluded that they mean the same thing.

One such example is mistaking human being for being human.

The fact is, human being and being human are two terms created from the same words but denote different ideas.

Dictionaries give a variety of definitions for the term human being: a person or a creature different from an animal, a mortal, and many others. The basic interpretation here is that the word ‘being’ connotes existence or life.

A human being can therefore be classified as ‘a living entity’.

There is never mention of colour, class or creed to distinguish us human beings from each other, as if to proffer the concept that ‘All are created equal’, i.e. ‘No pigs are more equal (entitled) than others’.

The difference or problems lie in the fact that being human is all about exhibiting a quality, whereas the term human being is, for all intents and purposes, a biological concept.

Being human is how we play out ourselves; how we act out our understanding of what it means to be a human being.

Put another way, being human is an expression of a myriad of diverse actions and emotions, and how we choose to deal with them defines whether or not we are considered a good or a bad human being.

We can choose to love or hate; agree or disagree with a point of view; make the wrong decisions and regret thereafter; forgive or not forgive those who have wronged us; be happy or sad, tempered or angry, caring or unkind; and we can envy, curse, fight and even kill others.

Of course, if we choose to act out the righteous qualities that are available to us, this makes us humane, and that should be the essence of our quest to being human.

In grammatical reference, we can think of the term ‘human being’ as a noun, and ‘being human’ as a verb. It is what we do (how we act), therefore, that will make us good or bad human beings.

That is why, in as much as we are embroiled in a culture whose politics has divided us - sometimes to the extent of a house fighting among itself - we must be courageous enough to go about our daily lives in a manner that makes us worthy to be called human beings; by giving careful thought as to how we are being human.

A good way to achieve success is to acknowledge and strive to ‘love our neighbour as ourselves’, the universal calling to every human being.

As idealistic as it sounds, this will have a tremendous effect on the success of the nation and on our personal relationships with each other.

In short, a human being is not always seen as being human.

However, being human is a good quality of a human being.

A lesson for all lies within this simple maxim.

On “Comrade Ralph” (Pt 2) Cross Country newspaper September 6 2000 IN REWINDING THE TAPE, one finds, firstly, that Ralph now subscribes to “Social Democracy”, the last official creed of the defunct Labour Party which Ralph had condemned as “deformed State Capitalism” in the good old days.

The philosophical position of the MNU just prior to the merger, was one of democratic socialism, to be distinguished from social democracy. In fact, the concept was elastic and simply meant whatever Ralph intended it to mean.

In 1982, Ralph had pulled the MNU out of the UPM which he co-led with Renwick Rose at the time. The UPM had been moving too close to Marxism-Leninism for his liking, after the PDM had walked out in 1980.

The problem was that Ralph himself had been the ideologue of Yulimo whom he goaded into following the communist path.

This line had been softened in 1979 to “socialist orientation” — sort of hybrid, halfway house — in order to accommodate the PDM. PDM had seen socialist orientation in terms of a practical, mixed system around which one could rally for the foreseeable future, while a UPM led Ralph saw it as a process, a staging post on the way to fullblown communism!

Ralph did the about turn after correctly reading the signs of the time, with international communism moving in the direction that would take it off the radar screen.

That was a far cry from Dr. Gonsalves, the flaming radical who preached fire and brimstone about the road to the communist heaven. We take the liberty from Ralph’s stirring speech delivered August 1976 at the Peace Memorial Hall.

After one year on the road, Yulimo had invited Ralph to make an anniversary speech to put some fire in the belly of “comrades”. He did so with a vengeance in a harangue at the Peace Memorial Hall that has been printed in Vol 1 No 1 of “Beacon”, the ideological journal of the group.

In wrapping up, Ralph literally administered his sting in the tail of the address which bears repeating for our education and edification in its historical perspective. This is not surprising since the two Cato Governments have served in

every possible way the interests of the bourgeoisie and have ignored working-class demands. Look at the things on which they spend money; look at their reluctance to take over property such as estates for the people’s use. Insurance companies export over $1 million annually and they do nothing; the foreign banks are ripping off the fruits of the workers and peasants, yet the government does nothing. The bourgeois class character of the regime is clear. The two-party system continues to divide our people, and encourages rampant victimisation and corruption”.

“As against the existing system, I want to propose three central platforms for any revolutionary movement in Youlou, first, national independence; secondly, socialism or people’s control of the resources; and thirdly, a one party socialist democracy (Applause). What we must do, therefore, is to begin to build that party from the rootsfrom the material we have here. The party must be a vanguard party; it must be a closely knit group of professional revolutionaries armed with the ideology of Marxism-Leninism. Then and only then would the foundation be laid for a oneparty socialist democracy...” But a disciplined vanguard party is not built in a day or a year; it takes time. We need to study scientific socialism and relate it to the development of the class struggle in society.

“As I leave you, I want you to reflect upon the various things I have touched on: the class nature of the State; the need to study scientific socialism; the necessity for a vanguard party and a scientific socialist programme.”

So, there you have it, from the horse’s mouth, a tracer that depicts the way Gonsalves moved from one extreme to the other in order to endear himself to the people. From “Social democracy” which are poles apart. The question is, as Joshua would put it, what other trick Gonsalves has up his sleeves to meet any new situation?

The more Dr. Gonsalves varies, the more he remains the same.

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Coroner’s Inquest

I SEE WHERE a former police officer has called for reforms to be instituted in the Royal SVG Police Force.

That person is the brother of Police Officer Philbert Chambers, who died on Sunday 26th April, in Campden Park, after being shot in an exchange of gunfire between a civilian and a team of officers.

I say this: If shark come out ah de sea and say barracuda air ha teeth, yo mus believe him.

The former officer must know what he talking about, and it was interesting to note that he said his brother also felt that reform was needed in the Force.

If the authorities are concerned, they can start by putting some energy into getting the Coroner’s Inquest into Chambers; death going.

Maybe the delay in getting this going has to do with a combination of things, but a reformed police force, to mean a reformed attitude, would see that the inquest is expedited.

Get a move on, Mr. Commissioner. We want to know the truth.

Errol, Kingstown

Lock up the crop/ animal thieves

WHEN I READ about the police asking persons who might be affected to check with them because they had three goats at the CID, I had a good laugh. I wondered, for example, where in the police barracks they could keep a goat far less three. Then I remembered we have police stations all over the country so they could keep them anywhere.

However, when I stopped to think about the real issue, I realise we still have a big, big

problem with Praedial Larceny.

It used to be that farmers who plant food crops like ground provision and vegetables, used to complain the loudest about how vagabonds were digging their field and reaping their crops. Now it seems that those vagabonds have moved on and mixing up stealing food crops with livestock.

But this problem is not new, and in fact we

Father, where are you?

THE CHILDREN cry out. Who will protect us when the consent age is 15 years old and we mistake lust for love? We are too young to cope with these kinds of things and we need protection from predators. Can we look for help from the girls in parliament or the Parliament Girls? They need to consent to change the age of consent so that school children can focus on learning without distraction.

Poverty makes people vulnerable, and people in

positions of authority may be tempted to take advantage of us for their own gain, and to our detriment.

But if father would play his role as priest of the household, we would have high moral values and keep our dignity. If father would provide for the family, we would be less likely to fall prey to the vultures. If father would protect us with his presence, those with evil intensions would stay away.

Anthony Stewart, PhD

introduce something we call a Rural Constable Service to deal with the problem. The unfortunate thing is that those people appointed to those positions seem to be more ‘rural’ than ‘constable’. The think simply has not worked.

I pity the small farmers, especially since they do not have the resources like the big famers to afford security to protect their crops and livestock.

This is a small country, and in out rural communities especially, everybody knows everybody; everybody

knows who is planting what and who rearing what. So, when people whom we know don’t plant anything or rear even a a common breed fowl have the most crops and livestock to sell, report them.

And when you report them, make sure the police follow through on the report.

It is time we put some of these vagabonds who live off the sweat of others, behind bars.

Lock then up, don’t just fine them.

Investing in agricultural produce could well be the thing

that takes out of the arms of this Covid-19 business. However, even as we invest in agriculture, we must also be mindful of and do all we can as communities to combat Praedial Larceny.

Paul, A countryman

Tribute to Mr. Cedric Mills I NEVER knew Mr. Cedric Mills personally, but because his name was a household one here in SVG, it feels like I knew the man for all my life.

I can’t forget the warning that many of us ‘town boys’ received: “Boy, if you don’t behave yourself, is Mills you will end up’.

Mr. Mills was perhaps the leading funeral

undertaker in SVG. The services that we have in that area today, all took their lead from Mr. Mills’ funeral home, the EverReady Funeral Home, which was founded by his father, I understand, and which he took charge of when his father died.

The little I know of the man is what I have learned from others.

I learned, for example, that in addition to his funeral service business, which as I alluded to, set the pace in this area of need. Mr. Mills was a pioneer in the entertainment industry here. Not only did he open entertainment houses here, but my understanding is that very often he would turn them over to more popular people in the entertainment business to run.

And I also understand, that he assisted many a calypsonian and musical band to record their music and advance themselves generally.

I am told that it might have been with Mr. Mills’ initial backing that Glen Jackson would develop his Clash of the Bands show into the biggest show for Vincy Mas in the early years.

And how can we forget Dynamic sounds. That I know of first hand. It was Dynamics Guys —

Mills’ sons — who revolutionised and modernised sound reinforcement in this country.

When Dynamic Guys came on the scene, every other sound system had to take a back seat.

Dynamic Guys became the benchmark in sound reinforcement here.

Everything we have today in that regard in SVG, began with Dynamic Guys.

I understand that Dynamic Guys was also contracted to do jobs in neighbouring islands.

But most of all, what I learned most about Mr. Mills is that, contrary to what others might say, he was a generous man, and there are many families here for whom he would have discounted funeral costs or, when they could not come up with the balance, to tell them to forget about it.

Mr. Editor, if I lie, I lie after what I heard people say.

His family, without doubt, will miss Mr. Cedric Mills greatly.

From what I saw last two Saturdays ago, at his funeral service, he will be similarly missed by a great number of Vincentians.

May he rest in peace.

Charles, Edinboro

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SVG: An example of Sustainable Agriculture on Desertification and Drought Day

Introduction ON JUNE 17, 2020, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) convened a global roundtable discussion via the zoom platform in recognition of Desertification and Drought Day, under the theme “Is it time for a new social contract for nature”. The panelists for this conference included Ministers of Environment from India, United Arab Emirates, Mauritania and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, who were all asked to share experiences and lessons learned during this global pandemic that has crippled many economies around the world. This is not the first time the United Nations has reached out to this country to share our experiences with the world as an example of effective public policies that positively impact our people.

Previously, SVG has spoken at conferences hosted by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) on our work in building a sustainable energy mix that focuses on environmentally friendly renewable energy; the Food and Agricultural Organisation, to detail our work on reducing undernourishment and malnutrition through the Zero Hunger Trust Fund (ZHTF), to the point where the country was awarded for our work in this regard and most recently; the World Health Organisation, commending this country for our work in managing the Covid-19 pandemic.

In this latest request, the Under Secretary General of the United Nations, requested of SVG, that we share our story of sustainable land management as a means of promoting sustainable livelihood through proper agricultural practices that reduce land degradation. Below is the full text of the excellent presentation made at the conference by Minster of Agriculture, the Honourable Saboto Ceasar.

Salutations I wish to greet colleague Ministers, ambassadors, dignitaries, and specially invited guests.

Mr. Chair, it is an esteemed honour, to participate in this topical global discussion, within the context, and against the backdrop, that the world is fighting one of its most monumental challenges to human civilisation, in recent history.

Mr. Chair, intensive troubleshooting, to find solutions, to the avalanche of seemingly insurmountable challenges, will occupy policy makers, and all value chain stakeholders, for the next decade, to extents that we could not plan for, predict, or could have foreseen.

The unpredictability of the vagaries of climate change; the COVID 19 pandemic and the resultant implications on land; food security and migration are some of the issues which small island developing states, like St. Vincent and the Grenadines, must grabble with on a day to day basis. These are impacts with a timing of their own!

With a population of 110,000 citizens and a landscape size of 150 square miles, the successes of our resilience plans, and mitigation strategies, are equality critical, if we are to achieve economic growth trajectories and reach the targeted Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Our mantra simply, is that, “Live and Living must continue and we will rebuild better.”

Mr. Chair, St. Vincent and the

Grenadines has been able amid the onslaughts of a global pandemic; the worst drought in 50 years; and the start of a hurricane season predicted to be hyperactive, to cement significant successes.

Mr. Chair, permit me to list several of these strategic interventions aimed at sustainable food production and productivity; climate change resilience; and environmental protection, and specifically, aspects of methods used to prevent land degradation.

Firstly, strategic land use methodologies have been adopted.

The establishment of a national Green House Park, which acts as a major food production Centre, has addressed the important issue of sustainable production of vegetables, utilising irrigation systems, in an agriecological zone, which sustains year round production.

Further, the COVID-9 stimulus package for agriculture provides through a national credit system for farmers the needed finance for installation of simple systems for irrigation and rainwater harvesting.

These interventions at the farm level are critical in reducing global hunger and undernourishment, since it makes food more affordable and accessible.

Secondly, the increase in the demand for internal production, and the export of food, has led to greater technical emphasis among State technicians on sustainable farming, focused on an avoidance of land degradation.

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused significant interruptions in the global food supply chain. My country has therefore redoubled its efforts to reduce its food import bill by increasing import substitution; while at the same time working to increase exports. This translates into an intensification of the use of land as a factor of production.

Trained technicians have been assigned to ensure that this anticipated increase in production is done utilising all the tenets of sustainable agriculture.

Thirdly, the Ministry of Agriculture has made an expansive intervention to promote drought tolerant crops such as arrowroot; and tree crop production in coffee and cocoa. The State distributes tree crop planting material to farmers and provides full value chain support inclusive of marketing of the products.

Over the last five (5) years, we have witnessed in my country the exponential growth of the tree crop sub-sector as it recovered from Hurricane Tomas of 2010. The main targets are high value commodities which will ensure adequate returns on investment to the producers.

At this time of global disruptions in the international food supply chain, every single nation on earth will be impacted. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines import supply chain does not exist in isolation, neither is our export supply chain independent of global interconnectedness and linkages.

At this moment of general global uncertainties in food distribution, St. Vincent and the Grenadines has continued its efforts, as a food producing nation, targeting local consumption, intra—regional and regional export and the servicing of extra-regional markets.

We are confident that with greater global networking and sharing of expertise on bi-lateral and multi-lateral platforms, that we can share the cutting edge technologies available to combat the devastating impacts of desertification and droughts.”

ULP continues to block democratic processes ON MONDAY 22ND JUNE, 2020, the Unity Labour Party (ULP) regime denied members of the opposition their rights to debate a Private Member’s Motion in parliament. The Motion was on the COVID19 Pandemic and the Management of the Economic and Social Consequences of the Pandemic. It was proposed by Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Godwin Friday. This behaviour in parliament by the members of the ULP government is unacceptable, and can be described as the tyranny of the majority.

Since 2001, the New Democratic Party (NDP) has brought several Private Member’s Motions to parliament, e.g. the Spiritual Social and Redemption Charter, Integrity Legislation, Electoral Reform and now the Motion on COVID-19 pandemic, and not one has been debated. The ULP government has blocked every effort by the NDP to get a Private Member’s Motion debated.

The rules of the parliament allow for private members to bring a motion to the parliament once per year. Whenever the NDP has brought a motion to parliament, either non-cabinet members of the government has brought a motion, or the government includes a number of Ministerial Statements on the Order Paper of parliament for that sitting, a strategy to use up the time that should have allowed for the debate, therefore preventing the NDP from debating its motion.

Further, there was a similar occurrence when the No Confidence Motion was brought against the government in 2018. The No Confidence Motion was not debated after Dr. Gonsalves made significant changes to it and called it a Confidence Motion.

This is what Dr. Gonsalves said during the intense exchanges that took place in the House of Assembly that day: “Mr. Speaker, with great respect …I have already said that the opposition can bring a motion of no confidence only if the government acquiesces or agrees….”

“Unless you have this initial step, which has to be overcome, you are going to have chaos in the Parliament……,” What is that statement telling us?

Undoubtedly, it is seen as a mockery of democracy by the ULP regime.

We reiterate: what was done in 2018, during the NO Confidence Motion, in 2019, the Motion on Electoral Reform and again in 2020, the denial to debate the Motion on COVID-19, go against the Constitution of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which many people who came before us have fought for, in order to ensure that we are able to benefit from those freedoms which it guarantees.

Dr. Gonsalves has transformed our parliament into a pantomime, by which he indulges himself in acting out narcissistic fantasies. He obeys the laws that he chooses to when it suits his purpose, and ignores and tramples on those laws he chooses, when it does not suit his purpose to obey them. He functions like a veritable tin pot dictator and is viewed by many as pale imitation of the deposed Robert Mugabe, the disgraced former leader of Zimbabwe.

COVID-19 On March 11th, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic. On the same day, it was announced that there was a confirmed case in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Since that time, the

socio-economic situation has changed drastically in the country. COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of the economy of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Before COVID-19, the economy of St. Vincent was in shambles.

Unemployment was a staggering 46% among our youths, and overall unemployment was 25% according to the IMF, there was low economic growth, agriculture had declined, manufacturing was non-existent and a number of businesses were closed.

During COVID-19, the economic condition has worsened. Unemployment has increased by 10%, and almost 400 businesses have closed, according to the Minister of Finance, which means increased hardship for the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

With all the economic problems, the government’s lack of accountability and the poor fiscal management of the economy, the NDP has put together a Motion to debate the COVID-19 crisis.

The following is the Motion: Private Member’s Motion on the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Management of the Economic and Social Consequences of the Pandemic.

WHEREAS the quality of life in SVG has deteriorated over the last two decades AND WHEREAS employment for young people coming out of school is seldom available AND WHEREAS business activity and the economy have suffered from the arbitrary rule of the present government AND WHEREAS economic activity has further suffered severely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic AND WHEREAS this government has a practice of distributing aid and government resources on a partisan political basis AND WHEREAS in order to ensure transparent and effective use of relief funds, it is essential that all international aid and all funds approved

by Parliament for COVID-19 relief be managed by a permanent select committee of Parliament AND WHEREAS to promote full, effective and speedy recovery from the COVID-19 crisis it is beneficial, practical and sensible to involve persons from various sectors of the economy and civil society who bring insight, experiences and expertise that would help the government to fashion meaningful and effective policies and measures to promote and achieve economic and social recovery from the crisis BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House establish a permanent select committee of the House to supervise and report on the use of funds voted by Parliament for COVID-19 relief AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Government establish a broadbased task force that involves persons from various sectors of the economy and civil society who would bring insight, experiences and expertise that would help the government to fashion meaningful and effective policies and measures to aid and achieve economic and social recovery from the crisis.

Once again members of the NDP were denied their rights to debate their Motion. The ULP government continues to make a mockery of democracy.

V Good enough isn’t good enough

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020. 11.

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“Don’t be average. Good enough isn’t good enough if it can be better. And better isn’t good enough if it can be best.” - Dr. Rick Rigsby – Amazon and Wall Street Journal best-selling author TOO MANY HOMES, schools, workplaces, government departments, and businesses are occupied by individuals who too readily settle for average performance; individuals who just do enough to get by. Persons who are lulled to accept mediocrity when they have the potential, the capacity, to do so much move and to give so much more of themselves. Multi-talented and skilful individuals who limit themselves to being “average” rather than pursuing excellence.

Many teachers are frustrated when they observe brilliant students who refuse to exert themselves to gain maximum grade but, instead, become comfortable with merely getting a passing score. Life will not be kind to such individuals. If their thought patterns are not intercepted and go through radical positive changes, these individuals are likely to portray similar attitudes and behaviours in their homes and workplaces. And so, we must intercept with intent. We refuse to merely be observers and analysists as we observe such behaviours. We move in the direction of being proactive in showing such individuals a better way. We invite them to imbibe the wisdom that is captured in the quotation that is used to introduce this essay. We impress upon them that it is unacceptable to settle for average performance. We challenge them to exert the necessary effort and energy to be the best that they can possibly be, and to embrace an attitude of always seeking to better their best efforts. Good must never be accepted as being good enough when better is possible.

Such an approach is not limited to academic pursuits. These are attitudes and principles that we take into our domestic and work spaces too.

We should never accept mediocrity when domestic chores are performed.

Simple tasks like washing the wares, stacking and drying them, and then packing them away must be so immaculately done that observers will understand that these actions mirror the thought patterns of the individual who performed the task.

It would be interesting to ascertain why so many individuals settle for average performance. We observe employees who appear to exert minimal effort when performing tasks or just do enough to avoid getting fired. There could be a host of reasons why these non-performing or underperforming individuals behave in this manner. There could also be numerous reasons why they appear to “get away” with such destructive habits.

However, it would probably be more productive for us if we focus on those employees who excel; those who are not distracted by the average performers but, instead, push themselves to be as close to perfection in punctuality, courtesy, productivity, integrity, and so on. These are the individuals who encourage and inspire others to shine. These positive role models and mentors generate the energy that becomes necessary for sustaining momentum even amidst difficult situations. These are the individuals who win at the game of life.

The excuse that “everyone else is

doing it” (when referring to poor performance) must never be accepted.

We are not “everyone else”. We aim for perfection in all that we do and, because of this, we measure our performance against our best efforts and not by comparing ourselves with others. We are better than that. This is a true for the teacher who prepares lesson plans, as it is for the student engaged in studies. It is equally true for the employee and it is for the employer. The Member of Parliament and civil servant must also take on such an approach. The pastor who prepares his/her sermon must also prayerfully commit to such a life style and challenge parishioners to do likewise. Each of us must commit and re-commit to the pursuit of excellence in all that we do. Mediocrity must not be accepted. We must refuse to be lulled into accepting average performance when we have the capacity to do so much better.

We must commit to living our lives in such a manner that we leave a positive impact — not just an impression. We must perform our various tasks with such passion and gusto that spectators and analysts will have no doubt in relation to the calibre of our character. Individuals who constantly focus on bettering their best efforts get much farther ahead than those who seek to “merely get by”.

These are individuals who stretch themselves to do things faster and better than they ever thought possible.

They are super-efficient and super productive. Their time and skills are always in demand, and yet more and more individuals and organisations seek to engage them. These beacons of positive attitude attract are always in demand. They inspire employers, supervisors, and co-workers. These observers and admirers know of their productivity levels and quality performance. They recognize that these are individuals who are socialised, programmed, conditioned to believe that good is not good enough.

A focus on excellence demands that we break away from the shackles of mediocrity. Those who bear the yoke of “average performance” will always discover that they retard their own progress and stymie the progressive mobility of others. The path to excellence demands that we consistently embrace the challenge to better our best efforts - to reject the invitation to settle for average performance. Thus, as we continue the pursuit of our noble dreams, let us commit (and recommit) to giving each task the best of ourselves. We must not be distracted by the underperformers who seek to lull us into a position of complacency or attempt to convince us that our noble ambitions are beyond our reach or capability. We will not become comfortable with performances that are deemed to be good knowing that good is the enemy of great … and that good is not good enough if it can be better. And better is not good enough as we strive to be the best.

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

Race and Class in SVG IT IS A PAINFUL EXPERIENCE to listen to persons of influence say there is no racism in SVG. Some say that there is colourism, by which they mean discrimination based on skin colour. And you got it: the darker the skin, the greater the discrimination; the lighter the skin tone, the more privileged the daily life experiences.

Clearly, colourism is the twin sister of racism. It flows from the same demented head and has identical destructive effect and impact.

Racism is where systems are put in place to keep people in their place.

Colourism manifests itself in a similar fashion. Once you are assigned a station in life, it may take more than a revolution to get you from one place to another. Those in authority or because of the ingrained societal norms, will do all to keep you down, even as those at the bottom of society, the black majority, fight like hell to throw off the oppression.

From the time of conquest, throughout slavery and for another century after the physical shackles were removed from our feet and hands after emancipation, the black majority was kept in its place, brutally oppressed, mercilessly exploited and criminally discriminated against.

An awakening began with the emergence of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements in The United States.

A new consciousness gripped sections of the population and impacted SVG and the rest of the region. Dr Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael aka Kwame Ture, H. Rap Browne, Eldridge Cleaver, Huey Newton and George Jackson became popular, at least among the progressive and intellectual sections of the community.

Organizations like Black Liberation Action Committee (BLAC), led by Renwick Kamara Rose, and the Organization for Black Cultural Awareness (OBCA), led by Jim Maloney and Patches Knights, popularized and transformed the slogan ‘Black is Beautiful’ into sometimes of an ideology.

The more conscious elements in our society started to highlight the fact that colonial England committed genocide on our Garifuna/Kalinago forebears, enslaved thousands of Africans kidnapped from the African continent and brought them here to work for free, thus enriching a white parasitic elite.

These organizations preached race pride, encouraged citizens to reclaim their cultural heritage, to wear African clothing and to adopt African names.

Other organizations such as Young Socialist Group (YSG), led by Caspar London, Hugh Ragguette and Glentoy Tswala Browne, and with whom Ralph Gonsalves has some connection, emphasized the class divisions in society.

In 1974, BLAC, OBCA and YSG merged to form the Youlou United Liberation Movement (YULIMO) with Renwick Rose at the helm - Youlou and the Begos being an indigenous name given to our country. By its first anniversary celebration in August 1975, the considered view was that the struggle between classes, especially that struggle between the workers and peasants and the owners of the big plantations and businesses, was the primary factor that determined how the society advanced. As a result, at least among the progressives, issues of race increasingly took second place to matters of class. Issues of race were deemphasised and class as a standard

mode of analysis gained in ascendency.

The new mantra was for genuine independence, people’s ownership and control.

But it is instructive that matters of race then and now played a key role in understanding Vincentian society. Up until independence in 1979, England continued to have control over much of what took place in SVG. Then as now, the commanding heights of the economy were owned and controlled by mostly white foreigners. A regional elite that is white or near-white has also muscled its way to take a slice of the commercial sector. Persons of Indian extraction and whites who arrived after the abolition of slavery were given preferential treatment. Many became overseers or got other privileges which helped them to gain a stake in Vincentian society.

Some black individuals have strived and owned businesses, but they are in the minority even though most citizens are of African heritage.

In our country, matters of race and class merge and intersect, but we ignore or downplay racism to our eternal regret. The poorest and most marginalized sections of the population are persons of African descent. Black people here as in the rest of the world, remain the faces at the bottom of the well. They are the most exploited and oppressed. They remain the most dehumanized.

Euro-centric ideas still dominate all sections and sectors of the country. Our history and heritage are not taught in a systematic and organized manner.

Large sections of the population practise a kind of self-hatred that is sadly self-defeating. It is not surprising to hear people verbally murdering each other by describing themselves as ‘black and ugly’; for so many of us to despise our complexion or kinky hair; for men and women to express preferences for mates with lighter skin tone or softer or long hair. The false hair/weave/extension craze among our women, bleaching of our black skin give testimony to this false sense of what constitutes beauty.

We despise our noses, lips and hips.

All of this hatred comes from the fact that all things African were drummed into our heads as bad. Africa was the dark continent with no history, and a place that made no contribution to world civilization. Our images were images of contrast Black magic and White angels, white purity and black filth. A few decades ago, no one of a darker complexion could have found work in a bank in Kingstown. Positions that brought businesses into contact with customers who were white or of the ruling classes, were reserved for those with a light complexion.

At this late date, it remains much easier for a white foreigner to see government officials or get preferences to engage in a host of activities than for black individuals. The darker you are, the more suspicions your presence creates. Is it a mere coincidence that for 35 of the 40 years since independence, Vincentians have made a particular set of leadership choices? We need to interrogate our choices to ensure we are not making sad commentaries of ourselves.

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

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Boundary changes – all political parties should be involved ACCORDING to a report on the front page of THE VINCENTIAN newspaper dated 19 June 2020, Governor General Dame Susan Dougan has written to the Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Dr. Friday, informing him of the pending Constitution and Boundaries Commission which became due, since at least 2 of the 3 conditions that were enshrined in the SVG constitution have been flagged.

In the interest of democracy, all political parties should be involved in discussions about any constituency boundary changes. Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal, BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, Leader of SVG Green Party, strongly contends that SVG is not a two-party state, and that all other political parties registered with the Supervisor of Elections have a right to be involved.

It would be a threat to the democracy of SVG and undermine our democracy, if all political parties were not included in discussions about any

boundary changes.

A number of people have voiced their concerns about the possibility of gerrymandering, when it comes to updating constituency boundaries and changing the number of constituencies.

Gerrymandering is when an intentional change is made to constituency boundaries to establish an unfair political advantage for a particular party or group, by manipulating polling and constituency boundaries, in first-past-the-post electoral systems.

Two principal tactics are used in gerrymandering: “cracking” (i.e. diluting the voting power of opposing parties’ supporters across many polling areas) and “packing” (concentrating the opposing parties’ voting power in one polling area to reduce their voting power in other polling areas).

Gerrymandering is almost always considered a corruption of the

democratic process, and is thoroughly and correctly frowned upon. Given the closeness of the previous two general elections, we hope that gerrymandering is not used this time as it cheats voters and cheats democracy.

People question whether partisan gerrymandering is in the spirit of the SVG constitution. It runs counter to the ethos of one person, one vote. It is inherently undemocratic and is a menace to our system of representative democracy.

It is not right that the Governor General has failed to contact all political parties in SVG about the pending Constitution and Boundaries Commission. What are the mechanisms by which political parties and the public can be heard in relation to changes in boundaries in constituencies and polling areas?

The Leader of SVG Green Party, Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal,

BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, is very concerned that Her Excellency the Governor General sent out letters to the NDP and ULP regimes in relation to the Constituency Boundaries Commission, and did not contact the other political parties in SVG. The Governor General must have known, or should have known, that there are other political parties registered with the office of Supervisor of Elections, and that SVG is not a two-party state.

Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal, BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, is making a very strong call for Her Excellency, the Governor General to resign as SVG Governor General for sending letters to the NDP and ULP Regimes and not to the other political parties in SVG, about the Constituency Boundaries Commission.

Let the discussions begin WE ARE NOW half-way into the twentieth year of the twenty-first century and it is quite evident that we in “St. Vincent and the Grenadines” are very far away from where we should have been by now, relative to the resources which were at our disposal a hundred years and more ago. All the territory positioned at 13 degrees and 60 W, settled strategically in the Atlantic Ocean between Africa and America is ours, and it is rich!

Considering what we have under our control, so many of our people should not have been under the pressure which they are evidently struggling with today. We know of the history of the agony of our forebears of African orientation under the dehumanizing system of SLAVERY, which fortified the economies of the nations of Europe and their extensions in the United States and Canada.

Under the apparatus of Adult Suffrage of 1951 which ushered in a closer relationship between the masses and the government, and when Independence came in 1979 it was thought that we were on the way to addressing intimately, the welfare of all the people. That hope was shortlived, however, for in but a few decades, the people—appointed administrators began to exhibit their indifference and insensitivity; the focus on development seemed to have been diluted, as the custodians could not resist the opportunity to generate wealth for themselves which their positions afforded them the authority to do. Today, it is perceived by informed observers that this culture has grown to such a degree, that it is a root cause of the gross mismanagement which is strangulating the economy of St.

Vincent and the Grenadines.

The banana issue

Issue for discussion As we prepare ourselves for the process of electing a government who will manage our business for five years, the responsible persons in the society, especially those who are better educated and informed, should see it as their responsibility to participate in serious comprehensive discussions, on issues relative to the development of the people, all the people of the land.

Some years ago, the Public Service Union and the St. Vincent Union of Teachers jointly organized a panel discussion on the Government budget for the year. It was well attended and the panelists - Mr. Cools Vanloo and Mr. Kirk Da Silva - two distinguished professionals, were very impressive. At the end of the function, the Chairman, Mr. Philbert John, pronounced that similar discussions were going to be held throughout the state. I do not know if that promise was kept, but we are once again in the season when these discussions are necessary and it is my hope, that organized bodies like the PSU and the SVGTU will endeavour to facilitate them.

Some of the subjects for discussion should be the Cross-Country Road; the Geo-thermal Project; the Agriculture Industry; the Management of the NIS; the Edinboro Road; the evidence of neglect in the management of the capital Kingstown; the response of the Ministry of Agriculture and Government relative to the Black Sigatoka; the critical examination of the approaches of the Government relative to the St. Vincent Banana Growers’ Association, mindful of the prominent role it played in anchoring the socio-economic life of this country for so many years.

This, the banana issue, is particularly important, for there is no doubting, that the strong support from the farming community which the Ralph Gonsalves-led ULP received in 2001, as they sought to be elected into government, was based on the promise that they made, to revitalize the Banana Industry. And they did so with vehemence, even to the point of getting somebody from Britain speaking on their platform, to assure us that we would have had support in the U.K. Until this discussion takes place, the view will persist that it was a political scam, and that Ralph Gonsalves was not interested in advancing the interests of the farmers.

A serious disappointment to many people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is Renwick Rose, a man who had for years, even in more turbulent times, been recognized as a man of and for the people; he was the visible leader of the ODD, in 2001, in the name of which he had promised to be strong in defending the interests of the people, no matter what. He has been CEO of the farmers’ organization WINFA well recognized, and in that capacity has travelled to several cities in Europe. What an anomaly that Renwick Rose could be named as one of the players who featured prominently in the treachery which resulted in the mashing up of the St. Vincent Banana Growers Association, leaving the farmers crippled, and thus significantly contributed to the stagnancy in the economy which has been strangling us for some time.

Let the discussions begin!

LeRoy Providence

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020. 13.

Industry

Rainforest Seafood work resumes CONSTRUCTION OF THE RAINFOREST Seafood facility at Calliaqua has resumed. So said Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves in Parliament on Monday.

The resumption of work on the Jamaican company’s project had been suspended in March on the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gonsalves explained then that the project had to be temporarily halted because the company’s overall income had been affected Laying gambion basket as part of the

by COVID-19 related measures in work involved in construction of the other territories where the Rainforest Seafood facility at Calliaqua. company had investments.

The project here had also been Work is expected to commence soon grounded when technical experts out on the construction of 47 homes to of China, who were expected to be facilitate the relocation of residents here to supervise the next phase of from Rose Place, as a pre-requisite to construction, could not travel, given the work on the extension of port the lockdown in international facilities in Kingstown. commercial flights.

The finance minister also said that Continuing his ministerial a number of private sector projects statement, Gonsalves informed the continued amidst the COVID-19 Parliament that a number of critical related conditions, including the Royal Government works projects, as Mill Hotel/Apartment, etc. Resort, and outlined in the 2020 Budget, were renovation of the Grand View Hotel, continuing. now renamed The View.

These included: the coastal defense “We are grateful to these and other work at Georgetown and Sans Souci; private sector entities for persevering river protection work at Buccament; with their investment during this the Long Line and Belle Isle roads; difficult period, and for helping to construction of new vendor stalls; keep the national economy afloat,” ongoing work on the athletic track and Gonsalves said. (DD) football facility at Brighton.

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14. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

Parliament

NDP Private Motion not debated

The Standing Orders/Procedures that govern the conduct of proceeding in the Parliament of SVG may just have been used to prevent honest debate, infers the Opposition NDP. LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION Dr Godwin Friday maintains that the Unity Labour Party (ULP) did all in its power to prevent the debate on the Private Members’ Motion, brought by the New Democratic Party at the June 22 meeting of Parliament.

The Motion, captioned ‘Covid-19 Pandemic and the Management and Social Consequences of the Pandemic’, called, inter alia, for the establishment of a broad-based task-force comprising persons from various sectors of the economy and civil society, “who would bring insight, experiences and expertise that would help government to fashion meaningful and effective policies and measures to aid and achieve economic and social recovery amidst the COVID-19 pandemic”.

Dr. Friday elaborated, via Facebook, on the content of the Bill after he had left Parliament late Monday. It also addressed the manner in which the funding assigned to COVID-19 relief “is to be managed, and the manner in which society was going to cope with managing the crisis and the recovery process,” he said.

The day’s proceedings closed without any member of the opposition being given the opportunity to discuss the motion.

“These are some important issues that we wanted to debate today, and we put a motion on the Order Paper, and the government again blocked it… They don’t want the matter to be debated; it’s been their practice for the past 19 years of being in the

House,” Dr. Friday said.

Under the Standing Orders of the House, Private Members Motions are given until 5p.m to be recognized and debated.

If this is not possible, the motion falls. The majority can pick it up at another time.

But Friday contended that under the Standing Orders of Parliament, the motion ought to have been given precedence.

Ministerial statements During the actual proceedings on Monday, Opposition Parliamentary Representative for Central Kingstown, St Clair Leacock first raised the issue of the Private Members’ Bill shortly after Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves announced that there was going to be four ministerial statements,

MPs to discuss dress code THE DRESS CODE for Parliamentarians will come under scrutiny.

Speaker of the House, Carlos James called for members to meet to discuss the issue.

“It is one of the things that we have to look at,” James said in Parliament on June 22.

He noted, for example, that some of the air conditioning units were not functioning and that he had to adorn a robe.

Members of the House are usually clad in suits, but according to the Speaker, the issue needed to be looked at in order to determine that in these modern times, whether a more relaxed, yet formal dress code would be accepted.

The Speaker of the House said also that he wanted to take a look at the Rules of the House in the hope of making some

much needed amendments.

In this vein, James said that he wanted to explore the idea of facilitating virtual meetings.

“Not just within the issues relating to COVID-19 but also in times of emergencies and disasters. There may be the need to meet to address an important issue,” he said.

“The rules will have to facilitate whether or not we can focus on having virtual hearings at some point in the future as we move into a more technologically inclined era,” James continued. (DD) Speaker of the House Carlos James has taken the lead in encouraging members of the House to begin to discuss the issue of dress as it obtains presently for members.

St. Clair Leacock, MP for West Kingstown’ sought something of a compromise but got no way with the Speaker and the House Majority.

Dr. Godwin Friday, Leader of the NDP, contends that the ULP deliberately acted so as to prevent any debate of his party’s Private Motion.

inclusive of statements related to COVID+19 by the Ministers of Agriculture, Health and Finance.

About a minute into Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves’ statement, Leacock was allowed to inquire “…whether the contribution on COVID by members on the other side could not be incorporated in the debate and or discussion on the motion?”

The Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves rose to remark that every time the Opposition brought a motion, they expected the rest of the business of the day to go awry, and suggested that it could be accorded if the time permitted.

“It doesn’t mean that because the Opposition puts down a motion that everything else must be vacated,” he said.

Speaker of the House Carlos James said that while he understood the point that Leacock was making, the proceedings were guided by the Order Paper which, at the time, had ministerial statements listed, and that the Motion would be dealt with once time permitted.

Leacock again asked for the ministerial statements and the motion to be discussed together.

“It is clear abuse of the privileges of the House and a denial of the opportunity for this motion that we have,” Leacock asserted.

Opposition Senator Kay Bacchus-Baptiste supported her colleague, saying that the ministerial statements contained information that was also contained in the private motion.

“This is the people’s House and the people’s business; there is only one special

time when we have the opportunity to debate a members’ Bill,” she said.

Time runs out Parliament resumed for the Question and Answer portion at 4:15pm and went on for a further three hours, beyond the 5pm mark.

According to Dr. Friday, although it said that the private members’ motion must be considered before 5 pm, the rules state that any business not reached should stand over to the next sitting.

But Dr. Gonsalves countered, saying that although the motion may be on the order paper for the next sitting, it did not have any precedence because unless it is picked up by a member of the majority, then it falls and has no precedence at the next meeting of the House.

Parliamentary Representative for West Kingstown Daniel Cummings joined in the discussion and accused the government of bringing up all types of shenanigans to “steam roll the intent.

“Some people think that they in government for life, the shoe will be on the other foot. We must not stifle debate, we must allow for the hearing of the voices that are not like ours — that is what Parliament is about,” Cummings proffered.

But the Prime Minister insisted that part of Parliamentary work was to plan time properly.

“The point of it, the opposition actually do not want the motion to be debated, they want it to be said that we did not allow for the motion to be debated,” Gonsalves said.

Similar fates as begot this Motion have characterized early efforts by the NDP to have Private Members’ Motions debated. Among these are the Spiritual, Social and Redemption Charter; Integrity Legislation; Motions on Electoral Reform, and the Motion of No-Confidence.

(DD)

V SVG Geothermal Update Alternative technology, feasibility, VINLEC (Part Two)

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020. 15.

Energy/Environment

Monday, May 6, 2019 marked the launching of the multi-million dollar geothermal energy-drilling project made possible with financing mobilised by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). the surrounding fissures.

Dr. Gonsalves told THE VINCENTIAN, “There are some challenges which have emerged because of the lack of permeability… they have been watching the rocks and there have not been any improvements.

(Ellsworth) Dacon.

Project Manager, and his team have been in IN RECENT TIMES, the conversations with some Vincentian Prime Minister technical people in Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was Canada, who have a reported as alluding to certain kind of possible outcomes of the technology to address pending assessment of the precisely that kind of a 3 wells which are currently problem. That technology underperforming. would require a great The underperformance deal of resources — is assessed in terms of whether grant resources the rate at which the would be put by the IDB trapped heat is escaping or any of the other Editor’s Note: The following is the second installment in a threepart series which seeks to give an account of how the Geothermal Project at La Soufriere has panned out. The series makes no attempt to be editorial in approach. Instead, it reports the facts as relayed to the writer.

partners we are not sure of that.”

Making economic sense or not In any case, the Prime Minister said “An assessment would have to be made whether there’s an alternative technology which can help you or when the assessment is made as to the extent of the resource which you can get from the existing drilling which we have done, whether the existing resource would justify the project in economic terms.

“We’re talking about anything between 8 to 10 megawatts; if what you can get from the existing

Cause for concern THE CONTINUING DEFORESTATION of a parcel of privately-owned land located at Upper Sion Hill, is a source of concern for some persons living in that community.

For the past two months, the lands have been cleared of many very large trees, exposing the rocks in the process, and increasing the chances of them rolling down the sloping parcel of land.

As a consequence, some residents in the area, even though they do not stand to be directly affected by the potential danger, have voiced their concerns, ion

behalf of those who might (be affected).

One resident who refers to the practice as “land degradation” called on the relevant ministries to act, “before things get worse and we have to pay with the loss of human lives.

“We understand that the persons are planning to plant crops there, but the danger those rocks pose, one has to weigh up the situation,” the resident added.

In addition, some motorists who use the road below the land, on a regular basis, have made known their concerns to THE

source is a number much below that — the question of the economic viability when you come to assess the viability — it may not make any sense in economic terms. So in the light of those sets of decisions we will have to see whether it makes economic sense either in relation to the new technology, depending on what resources are required or existing what you have whether you can get enough of the resource up to justify the project in economic terms.”

The drill, essential to the geothermal project has not be taken to the lee3ard side of the island.

may hear that they’d be getting 75 percent from renewable energy, but that doesn’t mean they’d get 75 percent off their Lower energy cost not bill. guaranteed “Your utility bill is based on VINLEC’s base Dacon also explained rate and the fuel that a successful surcharge. Now if I take geothermal project may off 75 percent of my fuel not necessarily translate surcharge, it doesn’t into lower energy cost to mean that my base rate the consumer since, in is going to change — our case, VINLEC’s base VINCLEC’s base rate rate may not be adjusted would remain the same. so as to pass along For this project, VINLEC economic savings, would have to install immediately. transmission lines from He noted that the Bamboo Range all the combined projected way to South Rivers, and output from the the estimate cost of that geothermal resource and is about US$10 -14 the current hydro plant, million. i.e. from renewable “VINLEC would sources, would provide therefore want to recover approximately 75 percent that, so what you would of SVG’s energy needs. find, in fact, the base “This would mean that rate would go up a little we would have about 75 bit to recover that cost. percent cut in the fuel So the estimated surcharge. Now what is reduction on your bill confusing is that people would be, I would say,

Ellsworth Dacon, Project manager of the Geothermal Project at La Soufruere, made it clear that a geothermal project may not necessarily translate into lower energy cost to the consumer. around 30 - 40 percent — that is what was earmarked - because the developers would have to get back their money for their risks. And after 10 or 12 years we would probably start to see the real effects of the project, so it probably might have an even greater reduction after the first 12 years.” jp.schwmon.vincy@ gmail.com

Right: The parcel of land located at Upper Sion that is being cleared.

VINCENTIAN Meanwhile, a person who has training in Forestry Management, told THE VINCENTIAN, that the exposure of the rocks, “is like a double edged sword.”

The person explained: “With the onset of the rainy season, because the trees were holding the rocks together, the soil can get loose, thus causing a rock fall… It does not even have to be when it is raining, as we can also have an avalanche when it is hot, as the rocks can expand and cause fissures.”

He concluded: “It may week or next month, but not happen today, next what is taking place,

surely it will happen.”

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16. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

Education

RedRoot SVG empowering women

REDROOT SVG, a locally based nongovernmental organization dedicated to providing unemployed young mothers with a second chance to learn an income-generating skill, held its 4th Empowerment Workshop and another of its monthly Food Basket distributions, on Saturday 20th June.

The workshop was conducted as part of Redroot’s flagship project, ‘Education Through Grocery’.

Workshop topics included: ‘Sexual Reproductive Health’, ‘Persistence’ and ‘Believing in Your Dreams’.

The fifteen participants in the

Empowerment and Skills Training Workshop series received food packages, with an additional five earmarked for distribution to needy, elderly female citizens.

A release from RedRoot SVG said that the organization is looking forward to the launch of a new project called, ‘End Period Poverty’. No further detail was given.

In the meantime, the organization will continue to work under its flagship ‘Education Through Grocery’ which is funded through donations and

RedRoot Executive: L-R: Peculiar Noble (Committee Member), Ishcah St. Hillaire (Secretary), La Fleur Little (Treasurer), Phylicia Alexander (Executive Director), Rea Crichton (Committee Member), Kelly-Ann Kelly (Committee Member).

females.

The CPEA is a regional assessment The student were required to write model offered by the Caribbean two papers on each day. Day one was Examinations Council (CXC); the TODAY, Friday 26th June, marks the given over to Mathematics and Social results will be released by CXC in July, second and final day of this year’s Studies, and day two to Language Arts giving the Ministry of Education CPEA exam. and Science. sufficient time to conduct its secondary The exam began yesterday at 57 Each exam is in multiple choice placement exercise for the new centres across the state, an increase format and consists of fifty (50) items, academic year (2020-2021). (Source: from the 16 in previous years, Ministry of Education) to be completed in one and a half according to a release from the hours.

Ministry of Education.

The total of the marks The increase in the number of obtained on each paper will examination centres means that more account for 60% of the overall students will be able to write the grade. The previously graded examination in the schools in which School-Based Assessment they are enrolled, and it is expected (SBA) accounts for the that social distancing will be more remaining 40%. effectively practised during this time of This year’s registration is an the COVID-19 pandemic. increase over last year’s which According to the release as stood at one thousand seven referenced, one thousand nine hundred hundred and eighty (1780) — and twenty (1920) students were nine hundred and seventy-five registered to sit the 2020 exam - nine CEPA Days are as pressuring-building times (975) males and eight hundred hundred and sixty-four (964) males and and fifty-five (855) females. for the parents as much as they might be nine hundred and fifty-six (956) for the students. (Photo Credit: SVG TV)

CEPA finishes today

Young mothers a workshop session held under the RedRootSVG “Education through Grocery” Programme.

support from RedRoot members.

In this light, RedRoot SVG would be grateful for any support from persons/organisations.

Businesses can offer as it commits to working to develop communities across the state, by “saving women, one by one.”

Persons moved to make a donation can contact the organization through: email: Redrootsvg@outlook.com or tel/WhasApp 491 ROOT (7668).

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020. 17.

V Sagicor: More doctors covered for telemedicine 18. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020. THE VINCENTIAN

News

options if they need to see a doctor but prefer to do so virtually.

Telemedicine, which offers doctors an opportunity to meet with patients via secure online platforms, also means they can provide electronic prescriptions.

Additionally, clients can feel secure that payment for service and completion of online claim forms can all be done electronically.

Submission of claims is Donald Austin, CEO, also done via email with Sagicor Life (Eastern payment of the claimed Caribbean) Inc. (Photo amount deposited to the Credit: Sagicor) client’s bank account electronically. This SAGICOR NOW COVERS 60 means that the entire DOCTORS in the Eastern process — save for picking Caribbean and Belize for telemedicine claims since up prescriptions- is all done without face-to-face it began offering this contact and without the extended coverage to risk of covid-19 clients in mid-April. This transmission. means that Sagicor At the time of the customers have increased

launch on April 22nd, which was the height of the first phase of the covid-19 pandemic in the region, Sagicor’s Vice President, Group Insurance, Susan Boyea said, “In these unprecedented times, we see it as our duty to make healthcare more convenient, accessible and safe for our clients.

Maintaining the health and well-being of the population, is a priority during this period of pandemic while protecting patients and practitioners from possible exposure.”

Mr. Donald Austin, Chief Executive Officer for Sagicor Life Eastern Caribbean Inc reinforced the benefits of the remote medical practice.

“Since the introduction of telemedicine coverage in the Caribbean, we have

received calls from doctors to be included in our roster of providers that we cover. We have also shared information with our clients so that they can have a conversation with their practitioner who may not offer telemedicine, to consider adding telemedicine to their practice. We’re happy to have contributed to the development of this initiative and we consider it a positive

aspect of the new normal.”

Sagicor customers in the Eastern Caribbean and Belize can visit sagicor.com/telemedicine to see the list of doctors covered and then contact the doctor to make an appointment and confirm that their issue can be managed via telemedicine. (Source: Sagicor)

Susan Boyea, Vice President, Group Insurance, Sagicor Life Inc. (Photo Credit: Sagicor)

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020. 19.

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20. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

No need to involve others Dear George, I HAD NOT seen my girlfriend in six weeks. When I call, she would say she is busy and how she wished I was around.

The separation came about because of the COVID-19 which she says is a good thing, since I would know where she was and not say she was running around.

George, I rested in the belief that my girlfriend was safely at her house until three day ago, when a friend sent me a picture of my girlfriend and two men making-out at the home of one of the men.

He said he met them there and one of them lifted her up and took her inside. The other guy followed. My friend recorded the entire bedroom scene.

I called her and told her I was coming over. She objected. It was then I told her about what I had heard about her. She denied every bit of it, but said nothing after I sent her the pictures.

To this date, I have not heard from her and neither do I want to hear from

her; but I have messaged her to let her know that I would forward the footage to the wives of the men with whom she made out.

I have made this known to you so that the men who read it will know they have to check on the whereabouts of their significant other.

Disappointed Dear Disappointed, You said you have moved on, and that is good. So, if you have indeed moved on, then there is no need to send those pics and video to the wives of those men.

You have already dealt with your end of things; now leave the others to deal with theirs.

George

A tempting offer Dear George, MY HUSBAND’s job is on the line, and our bills are mounting. I have been praying for a breakthrough, but nothing seems to be happening for us right now.

So, I took the matter into my own hands by approaching my husband’s boss, whom I know very well, to ask that he keep my husband on his pay role.

He said that could happen only if I attend his sexual needs; and I would get $5000.00 every month for oral services and $6500.00 monthly for anything if more was added.

My husband’s take home pay is presently $2,800.00 monthly.

George, I am beginning to think the offer is worthwhile and that if I accepted it, would be for the sake of my marriage and our survival. But the thought keeps bothering me.

George, we need the money. Could this man’s offer be the answer to the prayers?

Seeking answers Dear Seeking answers, First off, God will not provide an answer to your prayer that will lead to the destruction of your marriage, and that is what will happen if you accept the offer made by your husband’s

employer.

Clearly he does not mean well for you of your marriage. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that he will even give you one dime after you have soiled yourself and reputation by lying with him.

My advice is: Rid yourself of any thought of sleeping around.

Your financial situation will not be permanent, and in time your prayer will be answered otherwise.

Make sure you support your husband emotionally. Encourage him not to give up to seek other employment if he is laid off.

George

Too much sex Dear George,

Too much overtime

IT CAN’T be normal for a man to demand sex from his wife 3 to 4 times, every day of the week.

When my husband and I first met, we learned quickly that we were two sexually charged persons. That was good for me since I wanted a man like that after a relationship in which my ex was challenged sexually.

Now, we have been married for nine months, but the sex is too much. My husband is a beast; he keeps coming at me 24/7.

Lately, I have been surviving by giving him all kinds of excuses, but those excuses are running out fast.

I love my husband, but I need to sleep at nights. His insatiable appetite for sex is too much for me. How can I say no to him without hurting his feelings?

Dear Too much overtime, There is an old saying, “Too much of one thing is good for nothing.” Moderation is a good yardstick to ensure no one or nothing goes overboard.

Talk to your husband and let him know the difficulty you are having meeting his sexual needs. Be sure to point out that it is not that you do not want to, but you are having issues with the frequency.

If you think you need assistance to do this, then book the services of a counsellor. In your case, the manner in which you raise the concern is as important as the concern.

And if your husband truly loves you and cares about your feeling, he would co-operate.

George

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Use your charm to get your own way.

The locks, stove, gas, or electric wires may not be secure. You have made an accurate assessment of the situation and have come up with ideas that will save money.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Don’t let your anger consume you and don’t allow important matters go unattended to. Try to compromise rather than having an all out battle. You will need to spend extra time sorting through your work.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Your emotions will be touched off concerning recent encounters with your lover. Risky financial ventures will result in unrecoverable losses. You will make new friends through physical activities.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You may find a rare antique this week.

You can ask for favors and get sound advice from close friends or relatives.

Don’t hesitate to look for alternatives that will enable you to raise the kind of donations you need to do the job right.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) You can learn a great deal if you listen to those who are older or more experienced. You will be able to enlist the help of colleagues who believe in your ideas. You may have difficulties at an emotional level with mates.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Don’t lament to a friend about any grievance regarding your mate, or it may be hard to rectify your relationship. You will be able to talk about emotional problems with your partner.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Your best efforts will come through investments concerning your home. You can benefit financially if you put money or maintenance into your living quarters.

Keep the promises you’ve made or you can expect to be in the doghouse.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Your concern with older family members and those less fortunate than yourself will only add to your attractiveness. Talk to someone with experience about budgets or consolidating debts.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) You’re on the right track and you can make money if you are willing to go out on a limb. Travel and creative hobbies will be your best outlet. Visit friends or relatives you rarely see.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) They won’t pay you back and you’ll be upset. You’ve been hurt before and could be again if you don’t play hard to get.

You may be ill-treated if you have to deal with institutional environments.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Exercise your talents and present your ideas to groups you think you can contribute to. Do not reveal personal information to those you feel may be untrustworthy. Expect problems with settlements that you are trying to resolve.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Matters pertaining to your home environment will be favorable if you are direct. Ask those in key positions to help you overcome the delays and to support your concerns in order to move on.

ACROSS 1. Amazed outburst 4. Top 8. Board cutters 12. Relaxed exclamation 13. “Slow down!”

14. Enclose (presents) 15. Adults: hyph. Wd. 17. Verdi opera 18. That fellow 19. Far from tough 21. Red-breasted bird 24. Vast expanse 25. In conformity 26. School course 27. Skirt border 30. Heredity unit 31. Shark “arm” 32. Small bay 33. Turf piece 34. Male child 35. Helpful hints 36. Scorching 37. Merits (a salary) 38. Sculpting implement 42. Military struggle 43. Alleviate 44. Emulate a hockey player: 2 wds.

49. Egyptian river 50. Confident 51. Gentlemanly title 52. Journey 53. Listen to 54. Feminine pronoun DOWN 1. Move (a tail)

2. Bloating blade 3. Identity query 4. Building entrance canopy 5. Good friend 6. Swabbing tool 7. Like some mystics 8. Graceful pond critter 9. Parched 10. Walk in water 11. Shadowbox 16. Peevish cry 20. Enjoy guava or grapes 21. Tattered cloths 22. Butter substitute 23. Agent 007

24. Holy one 27. 60-minute span 28. Equally matched 29. Disorderly state 31. Ridiculous 32. Actor Gable 34. See 54-Across 35. Quit 38. Dollar part

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020. 21.

39. Salon focus 40. Cruise-ship stop 41. Hunt for 42. Existed 45. Billiards rod 46. Campfire dust 47. Connect 48. Commit a mistake

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22. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

People

Taiwan continues to assist SVG THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (Taiwan) continues to add to its list of physical infrastructural projects it has funded in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

During his now weekly programme on NBC Radio, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves announced that Taiwan will provide a soft loan of $20 million, for the construction of a

Modern Parliament and Modern Court House here.

The Loan Authorisation Bill for the projects was passed in the House of Assembly during its Sitting on Monday.

No further details on the project were given.

Meanwhile, Taiwan demonstrated its ongoing commitment to assist

this country in its effort to prevent further spread of the coronavirus.

On Wednesday 17th June, Taiwan’s Resident Ambassador in Kingstown, H.E. Calvin Ho, handed over two PCR machines with test kits, 200,000 surgical masks and 450 infrared forehead thermometers to the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the

Environment.

Senator Luke Browne, Minister of Health, accepted the donation on behalf of his ministry.

Right: H.E. Calvin Ho, Taiwan’s Ambassador to SVG (masked) makes presentation to Senator Luke Browne, Minister of Health (unmasked).

(Photo: Facebook)

A Vincy’s opinion on being black in America and beyond Editor’s Note: Reprinted with the permission of Dr. Dr. Chichester Toney as a tribute to George Floyd and a reminder that USA is caught up in a national crusade to right the systemic racism against African Americans in that country.

You are not a “nigger” as you are forced to believe A nigger’s history, can only be traced back to slavery You are more than the descendants of the remnants Of those who survived the middle passage Yes, most of us came from the same ship Taking the same trip And felt the same whip Grandchildren of the doors of “no return” You are above racial “profiling” Take the shackles off of your mind My sisters, you are no “nappy-headed” woes My brothers, you are no “banana eating” jungle monkey You colour does not make you less than human It just makes you different Take you place in a world that is afraid of you Not for what you are, but for what you can become A world afraid to mentor you in wealth creation and innovation Yes, they are afraid to teach you “not to sell yourself cheaply” Not to fear failure and to stand on your own two feet Love yourself! Hunger for knowledge and success!

The man who wins is the man who sees the end and not the journey Strive for love, courage, respect and faith Endeavour to be happy, have compassion, and search for your purpose Once you can dream it, believe me you can do it Don’t forget your history while keeping steadfast to your destiny My sister, understand and cherish motherhood My brother, fatherhood is serious business And in your hands lie the architects of the next generation Plan for tomorrow by spending less than you earn Save what you don’t spend and invest a part of what you saved Blacks in America and beyond!

How could you not cry for Darfur and Ethiopia?

How could you not sigh for Haiti?

How could you not weep for the people of Zimbabwe?

How could you not beg for the unjust embargo to be lifted off Cuba’s people?

How can you have talks at WTO and forget the Caribbean?

How could you slumber and don’t think about the impoverished people all over?

Black people, White people, Yellow people and the in-betweens A shackled man anywhere is a threat to freedom everywhere My blood brothers, stop being blind visionaries Not because the vehicle has changed velocity means you are better off For you’re not, you are still in the back seat And even though it appears that you’re in the driver’s seat in the USA It doesn’t mean you are in control You’re a man, black like the ace of spades and come in different shades Your wooly hair is black and comely Your full size nose and lips define you THE JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL TOO, WE ARE ONE PEOPLE, ONE RACE, ONE DESTINY Dr. Chichester Toney Arnos Vale, St. Vincent, 2009

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020. 23.

Sports Division equipping its officers

Michael Ollivierre and coach Kanhai Senior pictured at the 2019 Camp. Kanhai will return this year.

Up to 70 for IT DAT Summer Camp Semone Richardson, Assistant Sports Officer, is hopeful the current programme will refresh and equip the officers to deliver more effectively when they return to the field.

IN THE SITUATION OF THE CIVID-19 pandemic having brought sporting activity, especially competitive sporting activity, to a halt here, the Division of Physical Education and Sports has moved to keep their officers refreshed and offer some training to sports persons in the process.

Simone Richardson, Assistant Sports Officer and Coordinator of Education and Training in the Division, told this publication that they have embarked on a training programme in certain disciplines, which is aimed at serving as a development tool to empower the staff as well as the number of YES workers on the programme.

The disciplines chosen are track and field, road tennis, table tennis, tennis and cricket, and Richardson assured, “We are using sports that we think the athletes would be able to do their social distancing, and adhere to the protocol that has been established by the Ministry of Health”.

The Assistant Sports Officer is hopeful that the programme “will equip and prepare the officers for when they go

into the schools to teach the different sports.”

She emphasized that in a situation in which officers of the Division are relied upon to train and prepare school teams, especially at the primary school level, for participation in various competitions, “it is absolutely important the right knowledge be passed on at this tender age, and by doing these empowerment session that’s what we want to ensure.”

Nelson Hillocks, Director of the Division, stressed, “We are retooling ourselves with a general backdrop to

give each person the basic knowledge for the specific sports. We are in the process of developing a COVID-19 protocol on how our staff will function and deal with the public and the thousands of children.”

That said, the Director expressed the view that the nation needs to get active again. “We need to Right: Nelson Hillocks, Director of the Division of Physical Education and Sports, thinks the nations needs to get up and be active again.

Below: The tennis component...note the social distancing.

Left: A session in the Track and Field training component. get the national activities going again, even as we live with COVID-19. We can begin with the non-contact sports as well as hikes and walks,” he said.

Stories by I.B.A.ALLEN

ACCORDING TO MICHAEL OLLIVIERRE, founder and head coach of the Integrated Team Developing Athletic Talent (IT-DAT) Academy, the intention is to have up to 70 athletes participate in this year’s edition of the Academy’s Annual Summer Camp.

The 2020 camp, the 9th edition, will be conducted at the Arnos Vale Sporting Janice Bailey will Complex, It gets going on July 01 and will run for seven also return to add to the coaching weeks. pool.

“Our organization, ‘SVG Team Athletic’, was blessed with being the top sporting institution in the country, and for that we are very proud. We intend to build on it this year with this camp,” Ollivierre said.

Jamaican coaches Janice Bailey, who currently resides in St. Kitts, and hurdles specialist Kanhai Senior will return for a second year to bolster the coaching resources available to the camp.

The camp, Ollivierre said, will focus on the usual track events as well as hurdles, shot putt and jumps.

But, the Penn Relay renowned coach stressed that greater emphasis will be placed on field events this year.

“We will be looking to get some new talent in the jumps, especially the lateral jumps (long and triple). I think we have the athletes who can acquire the skills in that area, but we as coaches, including myself, are guilty of not pursuing the field events more,” Ollivierre admitted.

And in the prevailing circumstances of COVID19, Ollivierre is conscious of the social distancing guideline during this period.

“The camp will focus on two sessions per day, working in compliance with the COVID-19 guidelines, with groups of about 5 and 6,” was the assurance from the IT DAT founder.

As has been the custom over the years, participants will also be exposed to life skills and personal development sessions led by qualified guest speakers.

Ollivierre had a word about where the track and field efforts are heading.

He commented: “Medals are ok, but I am equally interested in the young athletes getting opportunities to further their education. So far we have had 12-16 on scholarships in overseas institutions.”

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Sports

YOUNG Vincentian tennis players home from their temporary homes, i.e.

Colleges in the USA, and even some who are working towards obtaining scholarships to US colleges, have been ensuring that they keep physically and mentally fit.

Three such players are Brianna Nash, Gabrielle Benn and Richand Hoyte, who have all joined the High Intensity Camp, spearheaded by Vincentian players/coaches Corey Huggins, Kevin Huggins and Kirk Da Silva.

Brianna, also known

for her exploits on the local track and field circuit, described the Camp as focusing “on helping us to improve our technique and being more fit on the court.

They are helping me with my footwork more stamina.”

She admitted that some of the “work’ at the Camp is new to her, but she also recognises how the programme helps “to keep you focused on marrying academics and tennis.”

Brianna has set her ambitions high not least

THE WINDWARD Volcanoes Franchise has retained four Vincentians in a 15-member squad selected during last week’s draft of the Cricket West Indies Professional Cricket League (CWI PCL) 2020/21 season.

The four Vincentians retained are leg spinner Keron Cottoy, left arm fast bowler Obed McCoy, opening batsman Desron Maloney and off spinner Kenneth Dember.

The Volcanoes, who finished in fifth position in the six-team table last year, will be looking, once again, to the experienced opening batsman Devon Smith to carry the batting as they look towards recording an improved performance. Smith hass played 217first class matches and scored 14, 681 runs at an average of

39.78. He has 38 centuries and 63 half centuries to his credit.

He has taken 239 catches.

‘Overseas player’ Kevin Stoute will also be looking to add his experience and ability to the team’s showing.

Allrounder Stoute, who has played most of his cricket for Barbados, has scored 2929 runs, including 3 centuries and 16 half centuries, in 76 first class matches at an average 27.63. He has taken 154 wickets at an average of 21.76 and economy of 2.66.

The rest of the squad reads: Kavem Hodge, Kimani Melius, Larry Edward, Denis Smith, Preston McSween, Ryan John, Shermon Lewis, Josh Thomas and Jamal James.

Sunil Ambris is on contract with the West

being “to reach Wimbledon, but most importantly, I will like to obtain a scholarship and focus on business and become a professional tennis player.

Benn, a Junior Champion in SVG, is into her first year as a chemistry student, and while she is looking forward to returning to continue that programme, she is equally anticipating returning as an improved player.

She recognized the Camp as an opportunity

Briana Nash is looking to get into a college.

Gabrielle Benn is working towards being Richand Hoyte wants to in top shape and form be a professional tennis for her return to college. player from SVG.

“to get some practice so when we get back to college we won’t be behind the required standard… . I am looking to improve on my strokes, especially in my problem areas, and my fitness, so when I go back I can get a higher spot on the team.”

As for those entering College for the first time, she thinks the Camp will help prepare them for their new environment.

Gabrielle, who is joined in the Camp by her tennis partner and twin sister Amarlia, is determined to “reach as far as I can in tennis,” and assured, “I am working towards it”.

Richand, pursuing a major in Business Administration and Management, and who said that he had to make a lot of changes and adjust to the American culture, said the Camp

has been a good experience, and has assisted him with improving his technique.

The Camp, he sees, as doing a good deal for tennis in SVG and moreso for the college students.

The young man has his focus set on becoming one of the first Vincentians to play professional tennis.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Volcanoes retain four Vincentians

Desron Maloney, opening batsman.

Keron Cottoy, leg spinner.

Indies senior team and Roland Cato, Ray Jorden was exempted from a and Alick Anthanize. regional contract.

Omitted from the contract list this year are I.B.A.ALLEN

BESCO-Pastures will represent SVG Continued from Page 25. Amical Club D’ Etang Noir.

One Love of the The winner of the British Virgin Islands, 2020 CONCACAF Liberta Blackhawks of Caribbean Shield will Antigua and Barbuda, face the fourth place SV Racing Club of finisher of the 2020 Flow Aruba, and Guadeloupe’s CONCACAF Club

Championships in a playoff match, to determine the fourth Caribbean representative at the 2020 Scotiabank CONCACAF League.

However, there is

much speculation that the Shield will be scrapped altogether, as all of CONCACAF programmes have been halted because of the pandemic.

Kenneth Dember, off spinner.

Obed McCoy, left arm fast bowler.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020. 25.

Sports

It is to be IN USUAL circumstances, advanced birthday greeting would be in order for one Julius Anthony. And the festivities would have been swinging, so that was the backdrop to the occasion.

That was right up Jules’ street, for he exuded the typical Caribbean ebullience. He passed away November 16, 2018, and many are still dazed by the vacuum that he created.

The Jules story continues to unravel. He was the pivotal factor in the circuit. His commitment was without question. There was a sense of purpose in his duties.

He endured his share of disenchantment, and he carried them with humility. Jules looked at the biggest picture. He saw sports as a vital section of human development. He was something of a Marcus Garvey figure, a pioneer beyond his parameters.

If he was around today, he would use his experience and intuition to cope with exposure to the Covid-19 outbreak. He was the versatile and flexible type.

Jules stamped his footprints in the sands of time.

Waves may erase the traces of his imprint from time to time. But like mystic in the manner in which he manifested his magic, the visual image of his legacy surfaces.

Those who are taking up the mantle have to follow the genuine script. If not a page from a book, a paragraph or a line or two would suffice.

He was the full-time activist. He welcomed changes for he saw them as phases. He was unruffled and more interested in solutions. His failing was the way he put himself out of the way to accommodate others.

When it was my birthday, I was sure of at least one visitor. And even if I was not at home, Jules would have waited until I came home. But his visits were not confined to special occasions.

There was the open-door policy.

The closeness was inevitable, for there was just one year that separated us. We have similar upbringing, and when we needed to verify stories, the collaboration produced relics of historical detail.

It is perhaps in that regard that I miss his input.

He was the silent overseer and took a sense of roving protector. With the extent of his resource base, Jules engineered all his contacts into a dynamic network, and his worth was beginning to have deeper meaning just at the time of his passing.

His message will be relayed in its own way, for he practised the art of communication interaction.

Tributes to him can never be exhausted, for ever so often some new treasure unearths of the nuggets that he has created over the stages of his existence.

The 67th birthday is only imaginary. It is nothing bad to dream. Life is not a dream. There is no space to accommodate wishes. And there is nothing to gain from such thinking. One has to face reality. That that is the fact of life and difficult it may, we still cherish the path that Jules has carved.

Brighton Playing Field set for upgrade/fencing THE BRIGHTON PLAYING FIELD, for which the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) has a 25-year lease, will from next Monday, June 29, enter another phase of its development.

A Special Project, undertaken by the SVGFF and funded by Football’s world governing bodyFIFA, will see resurfacing of the playing surface and the fencing of the entire facility.

Estimated to cost a total of EC$900,000, the fencing is slated to take 80 working days, while the resurfacing of the field has been projected over a three-month duration.

Franco Construction was awarded the contract to erect the perimeter fence, while Kenann Investment and Landscaping Services earned the contract for the resurfacing of the playing field.

Otashie Spring, First VicePresident of the SVGFF, said that the fencing and resurfacing have become necessary.

“We have had to deal with the problem of livestock, and their waste would have brought the flies as health hazard…. This was

exacerbated by the facility itself not being fenced,” Spring reasoned.

“In the case of the playing surface, it has been uneven for some time and we are trying to correct that,” Spring related.

He noted that once upgrading is complete, the Brighton Playing Field will host Premier Division matches once again.

It will also serve the national teams which often use the adjoining Technical Centre for training camps.

Humanitarian Spin Off Spring, apart from underscoring the project’s contribution to sports development generally, revealed an humanitarian spin off of the work to be undertaken.

“As a matter of helping with the unemployment issues among members of the senior national

Foreground L-R: President of the SVGFF- Carl Dickson and Bradley Francis of Franco Construction sign the contract for fencing of the Brighton Playing Field, witnessed (standing L-R) by Charmaine Forbes, Otashie Spring and Felix Dublin (seated partly hidden). team especially, we have asked that a few of them be employed on the project,” Spring disclosed.

Spring said that this move is much welcomed as other than earning an income, the players would be learning a skill.

Initial Conception

Members of the SVG Under-20 Male team during a training session at the Brighton Playing Field.

The rehabilitation of the Brighton Playing Field formed part of the SVGFF’s Goal Project One, which began in 2010 under the Joseph Delves led Executive.

It was the plan then to erect a two-storey building for use as dorm with capacity to house 40 persons.

Additionally, the project, which then was estimated at EC$1.348 million, was to have included the fencing and erection of a bleacher.

BESCO-Pastures will represent SVG WHATEVER is the outcome of the Premier Division of the 2019/2020 National Club Championships of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF), BESCO- Pastures, the 2018/2019 winner, remains this country’s representative to the next CONCACAF Caribbean Shield, whenever it is staged.

This was made clear by officials of the SVGFF at a meeting with clubs, held last Monday at the Methodist Church Hall in Kingstown.

The national football officials stated that whichever club wins the 2019/2020 Premier Division of the National Club Championships, BESCO- Pastures will still maintain its place as SVG’s representative at the Shield.

BESCO- Pastures was set to be part of the shield during the group stage in April of this year in Curacao, where they were set to meet SV Real Rincon of Bonaire and Platinum of St Lucia, in Group D. However, like all CONCACAF competitions, the Shield was postponed because of the threats of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Also qualified for the Shield were SV Vesta of Curacao, the Barbados Defence Force of Barbados,

BESCO- Pastures was already into advanced preparations for participation in the CONCACAF Caribbean Shield.

Club Franciscain of Martinique, along with Dominica’s South East, which were placed in Group A. SV Inter Moengo of Suriname, Metropolitan Football Club of Puerto Rico; FC Santiago de Cuba of Cuba, and Scholars International of the Cayman Islands, were placed in Group B, while C comprised Continued on Page 24.

26. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020. 27.

Classifieds

ISOLA ANITA HOLDER 6W 3DXO¶V Anglican Church Calliaqua 7KXUVGD\ WK June ,2020 Viewing: 1:30 p.m.

Service: 3:00 p.m.

Interment: Golden Vale Cemetery

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HAROLD MOORE Church of the 7UDQVILJXUDWLRQ Anglican Church /RZPDQV OHHZDUG :HGQHVGD\ 24th June, 2020 Viewing: 2:00 p.m.

Service: 3:00 p.m.

ROY URBAN LEWIS LESLIE BOBB 1HZ 7HVWDPHQW Church of God :LOVRQ +LOO Saturday, 20th June, 2020 Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p.m.

Interment: .LQJVWRZQ &HPHWHU\

Evangelical Church, Barrouallie Saturday, 20th June, 2020 Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p.m.

Interment: Glebe Hill Cemetery

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FRIDAY JUNE

26, 2020

VOLUME 114, No.26

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

COLLEGE STUDENTS GRADES WITHHELD: ‘RESIT’ ORDERED REPORTS reaching THE VINCENTIAN indicate that at least one group of CAPE Communication Studies students at the SVG Community College, has been caught in the crossfire, as one lecturer and her employers (the SVGCC) attempt to settle a wage dispute that has been brewing for some months.

Several of those pursuing studies in the Division of Arts, Science and General Studies (DASGS) reached out last Saturday and Sunday to relate their growing angst after being told, via email, that all the work they’d put in to date and the grades awarded would be invalidated through no fault of their own.

One Comm. Studies student estimated some “40 plus” of his colleagues “are being forced to redo an oral presentation on such short notice because the College hasn’t made any arrangements with the teacher to collect the students’ grades for the work done this semester (i.e. the School Based Assessment).”

The oral presentation carries 20 percent of the total score awarded.

One student who reached out said, “The students are fuming and frustrated. They’re also saying that it’s unfair that only these students have to redo the oral presentation.”

Oral tests were expected to be held beginning Monday, June 22.

One other student summed up the situation saying that the teacher concerned had said that the College had failed to make arrangements to obtain the grades from her.

pronouncement regarding their grades.

One young lady reported that she submitted her queries to the Administrative Office’s email address.

Up to publishing time, she did not receive a reply.

She was moved to comment, “They are being unfair and putting their students through a lot of stress. They are not accepting the grades from our Communication [Studies] speech and making us redo it …. there is no need for a redo…… they did not give enough time to prepare for a redo, and most students have to make their speech from scratch now because this speech was done in March.”

She bemoaned further, “… my teacher said she can send the grades in to the College very easily, but for some reason the school is not taking them. Also the school told us there is a situation, but can’t tell us why we have to redo it.”

At 8:45 p.m. on Sunday, June 21, another message — this time sent, supposedly, by the Villa Campus

Several students pursuing studies in the Division of Arts, Science and General Studies (DASGS) of the SVG Community College, have been informed that they would have to redo a certain component of Communication Studies course.

Since the reprieve was granted, the affected students are breathing easier and are refocusing their energies on exam prep, even though the missing grades issue is still left largely unresolved as the teacher concerned seeks adequate redress. jp.schwmon.vincy@gmail.com

PERSONS BENEFIT FROM UTILITY MORATORIUM FIGURES indicate that some 1,900 persons representing 5 percent of the Central Water and

Difficulty getting grades from lecturer An email sent to the students by the College admitted that there was difficulty obtaining the grades from the teacher.

Several students were prompted to email College officials in search of the motives behind the abrupt

Administrative staff — announced that the scheduled oral presentations that should have run from until Wednesday June 24, 2020 “has been postponed until further notice.”

No official explanations as to what caused the College to change course were expressed. However unconfirmed reports are that several concerned parents petitioned College officials and occasioned the eleventh hour intercession.

Attempts to engage Director Nigel Scott and DAGS Dean Maxwell Fergus are, as yet, futile since neither functionary sought to entertain ANN’s multiple queries.

Over 1000 CWSA customers were saved from being disconnected because of the moratorium.

Sewerage Authority’s (CWSA) customer base, have benefitted from the policy shift regarding disconnections for arrears and reconnection fees.

As part of Government’s Stimulus Package during the COVID-19 occasioned disruption to the economy, the CWSA and St Vincent Electricity Services (VINLEC) had agreed not to disconnect any customer who was currently in arrears for more than two months, and that any indebtedness on those bills after this three-month moratorium period will be

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

paid on an agreed incremental basis, over a period of two years.

The measures also covered customers who were in arrears and had been disconnected. They would not be required to pay the reconnection fee to either of the two utility companies, once the reconnection was effected within the threemonth period.

In an update on how these measures were impacted, Ministry of Finance Camillo Gonsalves told Parliament on Monday that 1,520 of CWSA’s customers would have been

disconnected over the past three months, had it not been for the moratorium, and that an additional 380 persons took advantage of the free connection announced.

And while the Finance Minister said that VINLEC was not able to provide figures with certainty, he said that information provided indicate that between March 20 and May 20 there was a 52 percent increase in accounts receivable for 60 days for domestic customers, and a 7 percent increase for commercial customers. (DD)

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