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FRIDAY,

APRIL 27, 2018

VOLUME 112, No.17

www.thevincentian.com

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FINAL ADJOURNMENT

FOR SHOOTING SPREE P.I Above right: Alaskie ‘Beaver’ Samuel – murder accused.

Below right: Obandele Neverson – murder accused.

Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

MAY 14, 2018 IS THE FINAL DATE set for the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the October 14, 2017 shooting spree at Diamond, which resulted in the death of one man and the wounding of several others.

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne made this clear when

the matter was called at the Serious Offences Court on Monday.

Alaskie ‘Beaver’ Samuel, 30, of Redemption Sharpes and Obandele Neverson, 43, of Murray’s Village have been on remand since October 2017 charged in connection with the incident.

They have been jointly

SVG’S FIRST CYBERCRIME CASE SET FOR AUGUST ATTORNEY KAY BACCHUSBAPTISTE is hoping that the Prosecution uses the period of a four-month adjournment to rethink its decision to charge her client Catisha Pierre-Jack with a cybercrime offence.

The matter was slated to be heard at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, but Prosecutor Curlene Samuel requested, and was granted the adjournment on the ground that the Prosecution was not ready to proceed.

Left: Catisha Pierre-Jack is currently on station bail.

charged with the murder of Gregory ‘Pecker’ Abraham also known as ‘Woody’, as well as the attempted murders of Kenneth ‘Bullo’ Barzie, Venus Thomas, Kerwin John, Karime Benjamin, Kamani Richards, Fitzroy Iris, Oslin Thomas and Andrew Layne, all of Diamond.

They are also accused of

Kay Bacchus-Baptiste had no objection to the seemingly protracted adjournment.

Pierre-Jack, 29-year-old seamstress of Lower Questelles, has been charged on four counts of libel by electronic communication, allegedly committed on January 30 this year.

In response to the Prosecution’s application for the adjournment, BacchusBaptiste said she had no objections as she had not yet gotten a chance to interview Continued on Page 3.

attempting to murder Ricardo ‘Shrek’ McFee of Villa and Michael Richards of Choppins.

When the matter was called on Monday, Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche informed the Court that the file went to the Deputy Commissioner of Police on April 13 and was en route to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He indicated that the investigator Sergeant, Ashlyn Bristol, was in Court.

Sergeant Bristol then took the stand and informed the Court that, “We had some hiccups along the way,” but added that things have “smoothed out.”

The Magistrate explained that usually in these matters, she does not like to hear of these hiccups because “there are persons on remand, and they are deprived of their liberty.” But she added that she tries to balance this with the seriousness of the offence.

“I am granting a final adjournment, and it’s going to be short”, she declared before setting the May 14 date.

Reports are that shortly

after 9 p.m. on October 14, 2017, masked gunmen alighted an unmarked white Toyota Sprinter and opened fire into the ‘Road Side Bar’ at Diamond, killing Abraham and wounding several others.

Some persons escaped unhurt.

Attorney Kay BacchusBaptiste is representing Samuel, while Neverson is represented by Ashelle Morgan.

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2. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Business

Flow assists parenting group UNEMPLOYED PARENTS in the Mount Bentick/ Georgetown community are benefitting from the efforts of a parenting group formed by the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment and the Mount Bentick Wesleyan Holiness Church.

Flow has rendered tangible assistance to the programme The group that taught these parents the skill of baking. targets unemployed recognized the proposal as The Health Promotions mothers. Working with Officer recognized the the mothers aims to instill an opportunity to positively impact the contribution of in them positive targeted individuals in the telecommunications health/lifestyle and Mount Bentick/ company Flow to the behavioural/ attitudinal programme, especially in change, and also provides Georgetown community, and the programme as the company’s provision of programmes to address utensils in the baking their ability to provide for launched on October 5th 2017. component of the real life themselves.

The programme was skills programme.

According to Health Flow’s Marketing and Promotions Officer within extended from four months to six months Comms. Lead, Nikala the Ministry of Health, because of the enthusiasm Williams said her Wellness and the of the parents. This company found the Environment Shunice allowed the facilitators to programme to be an Butcher, the idea of the address an extensive area opportunity to assist in parenting group was equipping parents with brought to their attention of the various aspects of by members of the Mount health and social issues in the knowledge and skills the first phase and to assist with their own Bentick Wesleyan teaching real life skills — development and that of Holiness Church. crocheting and baking. their community.

The Minister

HIEXPO finalists announced INVEST SVG, in collaboration with Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA), has announced the three locally-based businesses selected to benefit from the High Export Potential (HiExPo) Programme.

The finalists, named at a press conference last Friday, April 20, are: LinkUp — co-founded and owned by Anthony George and Kenna Questelles-George; Olive Art Designs — founded and owned

by Christal Oliver; and Grenadine Wild Sea Salt — founded and owned by Jerry Simpson.

The HiExPo Programme, HIEXPO finalists (from left): Anthony George which will see Invest SVG and and Kenna Questelles-George, of LinkUp; CEDA working with the finalists Christal Oliver, of Olive Art Designs; and over a two-year period, aims to Jerry Simpson, of Grenadine Wild Sea Salt. strengthen the capacity of the selected small to medium sized restaurant menus and events in St. enterprises (SMEs) to export to new Vincent and the Grenadines. markets and increase their global Olive Art Designs is a fashion competitiveness. business with a focus on the design and At last Friday’s press conference, manufacturing of women’s and men’s Invest SVG Deputy Executive Director bags.

Nadine Agard-Juillerat congratulated Grenadine Wild Sea Salt is a gourmet the finalists, and expressed how eager salt brand boasting six varieties she was to witness the transformation harvested from the waters surrounding and development that the selected Bequia. FDA testing has shown that it businesses will undergo through this has lower sodium and chloride content programme. than the world’s leading brands.

LinkUp is a technology and Invest SVG hosted the launch of the marketing business which features a HiExPo Programme on February 23, mobile App that makes it easier to find 2018. skilled professionals, businesses,

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. 3.

News 3 Private/public sectors discuss disaster management

ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, like other countries in the region, is vulnerable to all types of natural disasters and other occurrences that have a negative impact on the economy. It is important, therefore, that we are prepared for any event.

This was the main objective of a privatepublic sectors disaster management workshop organized

by Tropical Shipping.

Participants in the one-day workshop.

The one-day workshop, held on season.

April 24 at the National Insurance Of course, there were other threats Services Conference Room in such as earthquakes and volcanoes; Kingstown, drew participation from a however, according to Caesar, the number of corporate partners and activities of last year, and the state agencies.

Cedric McIntyre, Island Manager — intensity of storms mean that a new norm may have been established.

Tropical Shipping, in his address at He further explained that the issue the opening ceremony, posited that of preparedness was relative, in that businesses played an important role in the recovery efforts, in the aftermath of a disaster, natural or otherwise.

It is only when the business sector re-opens doors, that people are able to return to work and generate revenue to get the economy up and running.

There is need, therefore, “for private and public sectors to develop disaster management solutions based on relationships of trust, open lines of communication, shared commitment Continued from Front Page. and common concern for the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines,” witnesses for the defence, and she McIntyre said. would like to have disclosure of all He said that it was expected that relevant material to the case, adding, the findings coming from the one-day “The Prosecution may benefit from an exercise will inform consensus as to adjournment and see the light in this the way disaster management ought to matter”. be viewed.

Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett Minister of Agriculture, Rural then adjourned the matter to August Transformation, and Forestry Saboto 28.

Caesar said that the people of the Pierre-Jack is accused of posting region were seeing an evolution in libelous remarks on her Facebook page what we perceive to be a natural accusing her sister Crystal Pierre of disaster, with a particular fear for what could occur during the hurricane abusing her (Crystal) daughter, trying

Cedric McIntyre, Island Manager Tropical Shipping.

the people of Dominica and the US Virgin Islands, who have had the experience of a category 5 hurricane, have a different contextualization of the level of preparation needed, compared to SVG which has experienced only a category 1 hurricane, Tomas, in 2010.

Building resilience was the focus

across the region, said Anthony Regisford, Executive Director of the SVG Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and this has not escaped the local private sector which could not be distanced from what went on in the overall disaster management space.

Workshop presentations were made by the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), the Hotel and Tourism Association and the Meteorological Services Office, among other agencies. (DD)

SVG first cybercrime case set for August

investigator Corporal Colin May prompted her to do so.

Pierre-Jack is the first person to be charged under the Cybercrime Act to kill the girl with an icepick, using 2016. stolen documents to sell their mother Section 19(1) of the Act, under the Lauren Pierre’s house, and putting heading, Libel By Electronic their mother to live on the street, as Communication, states that, “Any well as poisoning a pot of food to kill person who uses a computer system to her family. unlawfully publish any defamatory Pierre-Jack had pleaded guilty matter concerning another person when she initially appeared at the with intent to defame that person Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on commits an offence”.

February 12, but was allowed to Section 19(2) states that, “A person change her plea to not guilty when she who commits an offence under returned to Court on February 16. subsection (1), is liable on conviction This was based on reports from Pierreto a fine of $50,000 or two years in Jack and her lawyer, that she had prison, or both. pleaded guilty because the

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4. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

The Arts

Expressing Art In SVG Four artists showcased Lady of the Assumption, in Kingstown, on the cover of the 2018 Telephone directory.

Kingsley owns Photographic Elegance and also operates from his residence at Dorsetshire Hill,

Anthony Mc Dowall prompted as early as the 1960s, after a visit to his YET ANOTHER SHOWING of village by an American with a works by Vincentians camera. artists/artisans has been His interest continued mounted by the Youlou Arts through time, and a period of Centre, Villa. residence and employment in A showing of the works of Barbados allowed him to delve four artists - Kingsley Roberts, deeper into the art and refine Anthony Mc Dowall, Marc his technique, eventually Erdrich and Sean Roache resulting in him becoming a began last Saturday, April 21, professional photographer. and will run until June 30.

In addition to work for An opening reception for the newspapers and magazines artists is planned both here and in Barbados, for tomorrow, Saturday, April Kingsley is known for 28th from 5 to 8 pm, at the photographing everyday life, Centre in Villa. which is captured in his publication entitled ‘A Taste of Kingsley Roberts the Caribbean’.

A prize-winning Photographer Kingsley photographer who has been Roberts, a native of Sandy practising his craft now for Bay, recalled that his close to four decades, one of his interestin photography was shots of the Cathedral of Our

Kingsley Roberts

Anthony Mc Dowall confesses to always having a passion for art. He studied art while a student at the Emanuel High School in Mesopotamia and took his passion with him into a variety of work experiences — farming, policing, business and currently insurance underwriting.

After a break away from the canvas, he returned painting when his daughter entered secondary school. He realized he could be a role model for her.

Anthony is inspired by nature, with a penchant for the natural beauty of St. Vincent, and views his art as an avenue to make the statement, “Beauty is in everything we see”.

Marc Erdich

Anthony Mc Dowall

Marc Erdich is reluctant to call himself a photographer.

He refers to himself an imagist.

A resident of SVG for 20 years and counting, Marc delved in his early years into a a career as a photo-journalist in his early years. This allowed him to harness and refine his talents in the literary arts, and he has ‘tried his hand’ at writing plays, short stories and essays.

Since settling in SVG, he has been assembling all these various skills into something resembling the creative process, and the result has been a number of theatre projects, under the guise of a production company called Theatre Arts. He has also had several photo exhibitions and a number of writing and graphic design projects.

“I prefer to ply my trade quietly and without fanfare. I am at an age when it gives me great pleasure to see young Vincentian artists creating new work. There is a lot of talent here begging to be seen and heard, and if by sharing

my work it encourages others, then my ‘art’ has succeeded,” he said.

Marc Erdich

“Abstract Art expresses underlying thoughts in an Sean Roache indirect way, in a code that is unique to the sender and the Abstract painter Sean listener,” he explains, adding Roache is a policeman, but a that that abstraction in art large part of his heart is in the takes courage and the reward world of art making. is a pouring out of one’s He speaks of being thoughts and experiences - a surrounded by a creative freeing of the soul. mother, who has encouraged Roach is a product of the and nurtured his creative side. ‘Growing Young SVG Artists’ He recalls, which growing up, programme organized by the watching his mother to Youlou Arts Foundation. painting abstract designs on The Youlou Art Centre, in fabric which was then turned operation now for just over a into clothing. He appreciated year, is owned and operated by her approach to art making as Youlou Arts Foundation, a something special, and very non-profit organization focused early, he recognized the on developing and preserving painter’s power of adding and the arts in St. Vincent and the displaying (including) a range Grenadines. of emotions and ideas.

Sean Roache

V T&T deports Venezuelan:

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. 5.

Regional Feature

UNHCR, Amnesty angered Her Excellency Coromoto Godoy.”

The statement also noted that all the 82 Venezuelan nationals had volunteered to be repatriated and were placed on an aircraft provided by the Venezuelan Government.

The action (deportation) though, has attracted the attention of the UNHCR and Amnesty International.

UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Volker Türk on Monday, expressed deep regret over the deportations.

He described sending back those who applied for refugee status as a THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH “breach of international refugee law.”

COMMISSIONER for Refugees (UNHCR) He also said some of them were and Amnesty International have both deported from T&T despite the expressed strong concern in relation to UNHCR’s request for access to them. the deportation of 82 Venezuelans by the “The forced return of this group is of government of Trinidad and Tobago. great concern,” Türk said, adding, The 82, including 29 women, were “UNHCR calls on Trinidad and Tobago deported to their homeland last to continue to abide by its Saturday, April 21. Reports said that international obligations as signatories many of the 82 had made formal to the 1951 Refugee Convention and application for refugee status. other applicable international Trinidad’s Ministry of National instruments that are incorporated into Security, in a statement, said the its official Refugee Policy, in particular Venezuelans “were voluntarily the principle of non-return, known as repatriated…to the Bolivarian non-refoulement, and Article 31 of the Republic of Venezuela with the Convention which requests signatories assistance of the Ambassador of ‘not to impose penalties, on account of Venezuela to Trinidad and Tobago, their illegal entry or presence, to Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s Americas Director, directed her organizations grave concern in a letter to T&T Prime Minister. (morocoworldnews.com)

people who are in need of international protection.”

Amnesty Meanwhile, Amnesty International’s Americas Director Erika Guevara Rosas has written to the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Dr Keith Rowley, criticising the way in which the Venezuelan nationals were repatriated to their home country.

Rosas’ letter came one day after a non-governmental organisation in Venezuela said it was going to lodge an official report on behalf of the 82 Venezuelans who were repatriated and as international outcry over the act intensified.

In the letter, Rosas requested information about the procedures followed by the T&T Government in carrying out the deportation. She suggested, contrary to the statement issued by the T&T Ministry of National Security, that the Venezuelans, based on information Amnesty had received, that they did not return to their homeland voluntarily.

Rosas went further, saying that her organization had received information that the deportees were presented with papers to sign “in a language they do not understand, stating that they would return voluntarily.”

In her letter, Rosas reminded Dr. Rowley that “As part of the

Volker Türk, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, called on Trinidad and Tobago to continue to abide by its international obligations as signatories to the 1951 Refugee Convention. (Source: havanatimes.org) Convention relating to the Status of the Refugees (1951 Refugee Convention) and its Protocol (1967), Trinidad and Tobago is obliged to fully protect the rights of those in need of international protection.

“To do otherwise implies a breach of international law, and it is regrettable that your Government has chosen to ignore its obligations in a way incompatible with international human rights standards.” (Source: T&T Guardian, N.Y. Times)

Situation in T&T not ‘rosy’

Right: The Venezuelan aircraft, which transported the 82 deportees, touches down at the Piarco Airport. (Source: caribbean national weekly)

A VENEZUELAN WOMAN who told the Trinidad Guardian that she was forced to flee from her home country in 2016 after she won a case and was subsequently kidnapped and almost killed, has expressed fear in the aftermath of the deportation of 82 of her fellow nationals.

The unnamed woman said that she

has her certificate and a “yellowpaper” document from the T&T Immigration to be here, but is now afraid in the wake of Saturday’s repatriation exercise.

“The situation against Venezuelans here has worsened and I am afraid.

Recently, I went to the beach and was taken by the police here but then they

Venezuelans board a T&T Immigration Detention Centre bus that would take them to Piarco Airport for departure to their homeland. (Source: barbadostoday.com

released me when they saw my documents,” she said.

“I just want the process to speed up here for us and for my people who are coming here for help. They should not be sent back to Venezuela because their lives are in danger.”

Another Venezuelan woman in T&T said because of the worsening situation in T&T with regard to Venezuelans being locked up by the police and handed over to the Immigration Officers to be placed at the Immigration Detention Centre or in prison, they have made contact with a non-governmental organisation in Venezuela who will be raising their issue and making the relevant reports to Amnesty International.

“We strongly believe that with Amnesty International’s intervention we will get the help that we desperately need,” the woman said.

The Trinidad Newsday of Tuesday 24th April, reported that it had spoken to one Elena Vega in Caracas, and she reported that the plane carrying the 82 deportees had landed safely in Caracas.

Vega also reported that her husband, one of the deportess, was home and had trouble with the government when he landed, despite initial concerns.

Julio had been held by the Immigration Division, despite having an active application with the UNHCR as an asylum seeker. His certificate was issued three days after his detention, but he was never released.

Earlier this month, Chief Immigration Officer Charmaine Gandhi-Andrews told a select Joint Committee of Parliament that an estimated 2,000 Venezuelans have applied for asylum here in recent months.

Gandhi-Andrews also told the Committee that in 2015, there were 29 male Venezuelan detainees, but one year later the figure had risen to 125, including 97 females. Last year, there were 45 men and 82 women. She said that on a weekly basis, between 150 and 200 Venezuelans come here by sea, some of them, illegally. (Source: T&T Guardian, T&T Newsday)

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6. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Vincy attorney laments situation for DACA recipients passage of a law,” said Chateaubelair-born Ottley in a VINCENTIAN interview.

“That would give these young undocumented individuals the relief that they so desperately ROLAND OTTLEY, a Vincentian need.” immigration attorney in The DACA programme was Brooklyn, New York, is lamenting instituted by US President the “terrific” situation for 800, Barack Obama, but has been 000 undocumented, young rescinded by President Donald Caribbean and other immigrants J. Trump. in the United States, who are Several US district courts dependent on the deferred have, however, ruled Trump’s action for early childhood rescinding of the policy as arrivals, or DACA. unconstitutional. The issue is “While both the now before the Appellate Republicans and the Court.

Democrats say that these Ottley noted that Trump individuals should receive “has been going back-and-forth some kind of immigration and giving mixed signals relief, the circumstances are about his intentions for the just so complicated that it forward action,” regretting prevents these two parties that “the president has never from reaching any kind of deal committed to providing relief that would result in the to these undocumented Stories and Photos by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net;kingnakin g210@yahoo.com US CORRESPONDENT

individuals.

“Had it not been for several lawsuits that were filed to prevent the complete recession of the deferred action programme, there would have been the commencement of mass deportation as of March 5, 2018,” said Ottley, referring to the deadline that Trump had given the US Congress to fix the issue or DACA recipients would be deported.

He said many of those who would otherwise qualify for DACA are now unable to take advantage of this programme, “because they did not take advantage of it when the programme was still in full force and effect.

“Now, only individuals who had applied prior to the termination date, or whose deferred action status was terminated at any time, can

now renew their deferred action status,” the immigration attorney said.

He said Trump has been using DACA as a Roland Ottley, a Vincentian “negotiating tool to immigration attorney in Brooklyn, pressure lawmakers to New York, said that, had law suits pay for the wall along not been filed, mass deportations the Mexican border.” would have already begun.

But Ottley said, while DACA is a high priority “While many Americans are for Democrats and some unable to determine why Republicans, “it appears as Congress is unable to pass a though politics is the main bill that would grant such hinderance to the passage of a relief, other Republicans may law to provide relief to these still be inclined not to grant undocumented individuals. such relief to individuals that “It appears as though some are in the United States on an Republicans do not want to undocumented basis, pass a bill that would grant regardless of their ages,” he relief to those undocumented added. young individuals, because it Ottley warned about the would give even more ominous disruption of families momentum to Democrats,” he if DACA recipients are said. ultimately deported.

Greatness: Achieved through community service A VINCENTIAN LAWYER in Brooklyn, New York says greatness can be achieved through community service.

“We can empower our community through service. What, a remarkable way to become great!”, said Kingstown-born Curlina Edwards in delivering the keynote address last week Saturday night at the 3rd Annual Dinner and Award Ceremony of the Vincentian group, Friends of Sion Hill, at the Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center in Brooklyn.

“There’s no greater sense of purpose and satisfaction in life than serving and helping others,” added Edwards, whose mother hails from Fitz-Hughes in Chateaubelair, and father from Spring Village — both in North Leeward.

“In order to empower our community, we must seek to understand what our community’s needs are; what are the issues facing our community; what impacts others most within our

community; and what can we do”, continued Edwards, who serves as the legal adviser for several Vincentian organizations in Brooklyn, and who sits on the executive boards of the Brooklyn-based groups, Chateaubelair Development Organization and the umbrella Vincentian group, Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Organizations, U.S.A., Inc. Having assessed the Vincentian community in New York, Edwards highlighted a few areas that she said the community can work on.

“We can empower our community by empowering others,” said Edwards, an evangelist and director of the Fundraising and Events Committee at the Abundant Life Christian Church on Church Avenue in Brooklyn.

“First, let’s begin with the simple ways of impacting our community and empowering others — changing our attitude

and mindset,” she added.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, attitude is everything.

The relationships that we build with people are everything.”

Hence, Edwards, who practises immigration law, said: “We need to learn how to motivate and inspire.

“This means that we stop using Facebook or social media as a tool to criticize and bring others down. Stop the fighting!

Stop the gossiping! Stop the divisions! Let’s be positive! Let’s smile!

Let’s express appreciation!”, she urged.

Edwards said stronger communities can be created if residents learn how to connect with each other, “and express genuine empathy for others.

“It is not by tearing down that we empower communities, but by helping others to reach their highest potential,” she said. “What impacts others most is our words, our attitudes, our behaviors and our choices.”

Edwards said not only must community

members affect those around positively, but they must also serve by providing exemplary leadership.

Referring to the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership Model, she said good leaders “model the way,” stating that they set an example for others to follow.

Reflecting on her own life, Edwards said she takes “great pleasure in serving in whatever capacity that I can.

“I truly believe that I am a product of community empowerment,” she said.

She said she grew up in a poor family, had limited access to resources, did not have textbooks, “but a neighbor who I call my mother, took interest in me.

“She ensured that after her eldest daughter completed her homework, I was given her books to complete my work,” Edwards said. “It has not been an easy road for me.

I have been knocked down, but yet I rise.

“I continue to serve,” she added. “Whether

through giving, cooking, providing legal advice or evangelizing, I serve. At the end of my journey on earth, if I have changed one life, then I have accomplished a lot.”

Edwards, therefore, urged patrons to collaborate in creating an impact in the community.

“We need to work together to empower our community,” Lawyer Curlina Edwards Edwards urged. delivers keynote address.

“While it is good for individual organizations important, we can to contribute to work on mobilize Vincentians in specific goals and target our communities to act.

So, let’s explore ways of specific areas, there’s collaborating on national great potential in Vincentian organizations projects that can benefit collaborating to create an all Vincentians.

“I call upon each of impact locally, or to work you tonight to rise up on projects of national and strive to become significance in SVG (St. great by serving,” she Vincent and the appealed. “Be positive.

Grenadines).

“When we share ideas Serve by exemplary leadership, with and pool our resources and talents together, we humility, gratitude and respect. Let’s collaborate can accomplish so much more,” she added. “More to create an impact of national significance.”

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. 7.

Court

Youngsters escape sentence They are to pay $116 each by April 30 with an alternative of six months THREE YOUNG men were in prison. on Monday each placed on The facts revealed a six-month suspended that around 10:45 p.m. sentence and ordered to on June 16, 2017, Walker pay compensation, after was walking from Cedars having a robbery charge to Biabou to attend a reduced to theft.

Karaoke session. On Appearing before reaching Bridgetown, he Chief Magistrate saw the men sitting in Rechanne Browne at the the vicinity of a shop. He Serious Offences Court did not pay them any on Monday, Leron attention, and continued Christopher, 18, Jamel walking. On reaching the John, 17, and Jared vicinity of Bridgetown’s Clarke, 20, all of Pentecostal Church, Bridgetown, Biabou, Walker felt a blow to his pleaded guilty to the back, and fell. He then theft of a wallet looked up and saw his containing $350, the attackers with property of Carlyle handkerchiefs around Walker of Cedars. their faces. They The youngsters were proceeded to beat him. ordered to pay $350 He asked them what compensation to Walker. they wanted. A hand was Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

Robbery accused fears for his life ROBBERY accused Oranda Telemaque told the Serious Offences Court on Monday that travelling into Kingstown puts him in fear of his life at the hands of the man he is accused of robbing.

As a result, the 29-year-old resident of Gun Hill, Lowmans Leeward, asked the Court to allow him to report to the Questelles Police Station instead of the Central Police Station as initially ordered as part of his bail conditions.

Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche had no objections, and Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne granted Telemaque’s request. He was also ordered to surrender his travel documents.

Telemaque has been charged with using a gun to relieve Quincy Boyde of Rillan Hill of one black blu (cellular phone) valued Can$500, one sim card valued EC$15, one 32-megabyte memory card valued EC$90 and EC$200 in cash, amounting to a total value of EC$305 and 500 Canadian dollars.

The offence was reportedly committed on February 21 this year at Rose Place, Kingstown.

Telemaque, who was unrepresented, was not required to plea when he appeared in Court on Monday. He was granted $6,000 bail with one surety. The matter was adjourned to July 24.

then pushed into his pants pocket relieving him of the wallet with the cash, after which the assailants fled.

Walker, who recognized one of the men, reported the matter to the police and investigations led to the arrest of the trio.

They were without legal representation during their court appearance.

Teen on robbery charge RAHEEM DA SILVA will return to the Serious Offences Court July 24 for a Preliminary Inquiry (P.I) into an offence of robbery.

The 19-year-old Lodge Village resident is charged with robbing Frenches resident Phillip Alexander at gunpoint, relieving him of $2,000 in cash.

The offence was reportedly committed when Alexander was sitting in his vehicle at Lodge Village on April 19. It is alleged that Alexander was struck twice in his abdomen during the incident.

Da Silva was not required to plea when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne at the Serious Offences Court on Monday. He was granted $6,000 bail with one surety, with reporting conditions.

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8. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Editorial

The Conversation on Crime and Violence CRIME, from whatever standpoint it is considered, is seen to transcend in importance most of the other great problems of the day. Granted, it is a more complex phenomenon than is generally supposed, but because it is a constant source of degradation of public and private morality, with the potential to disturb society’s equilibrium, it cannot hide.

The citizens of St. Vincent and the Grenadines have been aroused because of crime, crime of all shapes and forms, and the many statements, some accurate and too many inaccurate, relative to it, and the treatment of both the victim and the criminal.

The citizens finger those they perceive to be responsible for society’s slide into debauchery, and make their own pronouncements on the exact crime situation and its causes.

Unfortunately, in the midst of a common enemy (crime), this reaction of marked differences of opinion by the citizenry, sets the situation in a state of indecision.

If the truth be told, many reforms are proposed, and cover the entire range of administrative activities from the police to the final Court of Appeal and more community-related activities like family and school.

In the quandary, though, each separate official agency dealing with crime and/or the prevention of crime, defends its methods and attempts to place the responsibility elsewhere.

In the meantime, the public mind is further clouded and treads precariously close to a state of total confusion and alarm.

That is why, the recent (April 18 and 19, 2018) National Conversation on Crime and Violence, co-ordinated by the SVG Christian Council (SVGCC) and detailed by a broadbased committee representing churches/denominations extending beyond the membership of the SVGCC, civil, non-government, professional organizations and individuals, and relevant government agencies and departments, was not just timely but necessary.

Necessary because the time is nigh (a la Professor Harriott) when the cup would ‘runneth’ over and the resulting spill could roll out of control.

This Conversation - in accordance with its purpose as understood and from all reports — seemed to have served well to inform the wide crosssection of persons and organisations in attendance, of the existence of others in the fight on crime, and of their viewpoints, accomplishments, problems, challenges, objectives and

methods.

It seemed to have provided a body of knowledge, the result of brining together a diverse Vincentian representation.

The Conversation’s success, it would appear, lay in its bringing together all who have worked, are working on the problem, and gave the problem a percentage of a whole, and showed perhaps, that the real answer to the problem rests in a concert of our forces, with respect from each group to each other group and with knowledge of what the other has and is doing, And amidst all that could be, has and perhaps will be leveled against the SVGCC for its ‘perceived’ (dignified?) silence on issues coloured with tones of politicization and partisanship, this Conversation cut across the fabric of Vincentian society; brought together minds and souls from a cacophony of views and prejudices; and created a new hope that spoke to a real possibility of setting the society on a path to righteous and harmonized action against crime - the ‘greatest problem of the day’.

Now, as a heightened gathering prepares to go forward, we must be prepared for the obvious challenges — not least being those who would want to keep the status quo from which they benefit.

And we must recognize that the responsibility for effecting change and addressing phenomenal problems like crime, does not rest singly with the SVGCC. This misperception, harbored by both members of the SVGCC and the society at large, has been, unfortunately, the cause of much maligning of the Council.

For certain a difference can be made — one led by the Council — but only if those it leads, those in society who recognize the need for change and who possess the resources and wherewithal to assist with formulating that change, are prepared to join with SVGCC and others to fight the good fight.

There is a great hill to be climbed; crime is not going to go away overnight. But we must dig the hill down and if each of us starts with his own pick and shovel but is aware there are other men equally effective working with their picks and shovels, the final task of overcoming that reluctant mass becomes more compassable and more possible.

If the Conversation on Crime and Violence occasioned that understanding, it deserves a pass mark, and so does the SVGCC.

On Comrade Ralph: The thin edge of the wedge Cross Country newspaper September 6 2000 A FEW WEEKS AGO, I was hit by friendly fire coming from Cross Country.

I decided there and then to write a regular column for the newspaper. If you can’t beat them, then join them.

So here I am with my first column which deals essentially with an article that appeared in another place on 16th June last over the name “Albert Mc Kenzie”.

Whoever that person is, the content and tone of the writing are Gonsalves’ in print. Just like “Floating Voter”.

These productions are not beyond the capacity of the Comrade Leader who took great pride in his various Pen-Names — like the many disguises of the hit-man — when he put out his mouth-piece “Unity” in 1982 to 1994. Ralph would write as political commentator, special reporter and, of course as Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, among others.

But “Albert Mc Kenzie” takes the cake, moreso than even “Garfield Wilson” who purported to take me to the cleaners several years ago.

Imagine Ralph’s alter ego boldly enquires as to “why should anyone get at Dr. Gonsalves because of his delectable charm, brilliance, folksiness, and the opportunity now afford him to hold high office? This charismatic personality has endeared himself to everyone of all class and creed!”

Says who? Ralph himself. Even if it were the voice of some other Albert Mc Kenzie, it is the hand of Dr. Gonsalves.

Self-praise, they say is no recommendation.

And I realised that I had hit the bullseye with my reference of Ralph’s calling “Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who is the fairest of them all”.

“Albert”, writing of himself in the third person, went on to mention my “cutlass attack” and “public lynching of the doctor”; my “unidimensional (one-sided) approach to Vincentian politics” and my alleged view of “the Prime Minister (“Son” Mitchell) as a Philosopher-King from whom all goodness flows” while the leader of the Opposition (Ralph Gonsalves)is seen as “a demon to be vilified... using scare tactics like the communist bogey, among others”.

I have never accused Ralph of following a communist path in his approach to Vincentian politics. I hold the view, however, that he uses communist methods as a means of achieving his goal, as witness his organisation of his Road Block Revolution as a tool ... conduct and general political behaviour show that he is now a pragmatist (not to say opportunist)

bent on capturing power even if it meant being “all things to all men”.

But the twists and turns that our hero has made to reach his current stance, are enough to give eye-turn to any Ralph watcher.

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, half-way 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 workingclass demands. Look at the things on Continued on Page 22.

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Letters

Sacrilege on the Political Platform us to turn in the direction of a huge frame which said “17 Years” and bow to it. I couldn’t believe what I had heard.

My jaw dropped. I gazed incredulously at Minister Francis. I wondered if our good Senator had taken temporary leave of his senses, was just being reckless and sacrilegious or simply didn’t know better.

He was basically asking us to bow down and worship the sign.

How could he do such a thing? He repeated the instructions several times to his satisfaction.

I suppose that this was simply his way of drawing attention to the sign. I tried to understand the psychology of the

situation. It seems to me that the General Secretary was exceedingly proud of himself for being able to have such a sign made.

In asking persons to bow to the sign, he was perhaps indirectly asking them to worship the man who was able to get it done.

We must push back against any subtle or seemingly innocuous form of evil. What Julian Francis was encouraging is expressly forbidden by the Word of God. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that we should not bow down before any graven image — see the 10 Commandments and elsewhere in the Scriptures. The three

Hebrew Boys (Shadrach, Vincent and the Meshach and Abed-nego) Grenadines the next refused to bow down to Sodom and Gomorrah? the golden image which God forbid. I wish that Minister Francis would King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and obtained return to his godly the favour and protection heritage — that would do him a world of good. of God, even in a fiery furnace.

He owes the Was the “17 Yrs” sign supporters of the ULP and the entire nation an a modern day golden or graven image? When the apology. He must also General Secretary made undertake to be more his call for us to bow, I of careful in his future course did not budge. utterances, if possible, or Thankfully, there were just keep quiet. That is a mild way of putting it. many other persons in the crowd like me. I wonder if there would be Theodore Browne an attempt to throw us all into the fiery furnace.

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us.” (Daniel 3:17) Seriously, why should anyone believe it is acceptable to say on a platform in a nation which according the Constitution is founded on a belief in the supremacy of God, something so outrageous I COULD WRITE a book about Now, add to that the fact that our was a gem of are empire wide and offensive to Biblical Britain, but I will just post a population in England is aging project- the fruits of which can imperatives? Is Julian short note here. and dwindling. still be seen and felt throughout Britain is desperate (especially Having left the EU, they now the former empire. Britain is not Francis inviting a curse for markets). She has suddenly find themselves in a quandary. in a position to repeat that (except to descend on the party and country? Is there a realized that beating her chest The old Commonwealth (empire) on a small scale in tiny countries plot afoot to make St. and walking out of the European has grown up and Britain hasn’t. like West Indian islands).

Union (EU), has put her at a India is an industrial giant; I wish for the break-up of the great disadvantage in industrial Canada and Australia are on the British (???) Commonwealth, competition worldwide. She can’t cusp of industrial greatness; the hoping that will allow us to compete with the ‘big guns’ African nations are becoming in formulate hemispheric groupings anymore. tune, buying where your dollar I READ WITH increased interest your regional But she is determined to drum gets you best returns (China) and that can be more directly page of last week (April 20) issue of THE beneficial to us. up more business. But we in the the Chinese, as racist as they are, VINCENTIAN. (I also note and welcome the I have no love or sympathy for West Indies can’t help her much. have offered development projects return of the Regional Page.) them (the British).

I lived there ‘Ameri-kkka’ has already co-opted (big ones) in return for the ability I also recall sometime ago, an editorial in which for 13 years and I can tell you the market for goods and services. to trade with these nations. you called for a conversation on same sex firsthand what West Indians went In fact, Britain won’t make any The last development deal the through. But that, as they say, is relationships. inroads on that. Why??? British colonies (insulting word) got With what has transpired in Trinidad and another long story. goods and services are much more was the CDC — the old Colonial Tobago recently, in which a High Court which expensive - distance adds to cost - Development Corporation. That declared the criminalisation of buggery as Paddy C plus their goods are inferior. “unconstitutional, illegal, null, void, invalid, and of no effect”, it is as a good a time as any for this who support some…are not the conversation to continue, if it has started at all. decriminalisation think beliefs of all, and, in the I will start the ball rolling by declaring up front it performs a public Republic of Trinidad and that God wants us to expose the unnatural good. Many were open to Tobago, all are protected Editor’s Note: We thank infringes on the basic practice of homosexuality. We are called to changing their viewpoint and are entitled to be our colleague Paul, principles of human maintain and respect what he created — a man when it was shown that protected under the resident in Jamaica, for rights and justice. The and a woman to dwell with each other. criminalisation does Constitution”. sharing this with us. It ruling signifies an I know there are some people — some very CVC identifies with was previously carried increasing recognition by more harm and intelligent people too — who hold on to the view contributed to the the Pan Caribbean in the newspapers in our courts in the that we should allow people to live the life they Partnership against HIV that country.

Caribbean of the need to spread of HIV. want or choose. By saying this, they seem to be CVC recognises that and AIDS (PANCAP) in Caribbean Vulnerable safeguard human calling for the buggery laws to be removed from acknowledging that Communities (CVC) dignity and the rights of even governments with our Law Books here. That would be a sad day, supportive officials face every individual coalition welcomes the everyone. and I agree with our Prime Minister who has challenges and risks in regardless of race, ruling of the Trinidad Similar to another already declared that such a removal will not enacting reform because colour, gender, age or and Tobago High Court ruling in Belize, and a come under his watch. which declared the pending case in Jamaica, of lack of consensus with sexual orientation, has To remove those laws from our Law Books the right to human criminalisation of CVC reiterates that it is their Government or would be like flying in the face of God, whose party, fears of alienating dignity. buggery as not advocating for new rules are clearly against any form of the political base, or CVC also “unconstitutional, laws or new standards homosexuality, lesbianism and gay marriages. that reform will be congratulates Jason illegal, null, void, for the people of the It is time we stop fearing man and fear God invalid, and of no effect”. Caribbean. Instead, the politicised by opponents. Jones and his legal team who has laid down the rules and regulations for Notwithstanding, the for their valiant efforts This is to the extent that coalition is adamant how we are expected to live — how we are expected these laws criminalise that these nations Government of Trinidad in correcting this to relate to one another. any acts constituting should adhere to their and Tobago is being decades-old injustice.

I say all of this, not to stop the conversation on consensual sexual own constitutions. urged to accept the conduct between adults. same sex relationships, but to add to it. The While public opinion ruling and, instead of Ivan Cruickshank It has always been Court ruling in Trinidad should awaken us to the has largely favoured appealing the decision, Executive director the considered view of need to talk about this subject. criminalisation of in the words of the High Caribbean Vulnerable CVC that any such buggery, surveys have Court judge, recognise Communities arrangement in law Charles, Edinboro shown that most people “that the beliefs of I WAS DISTURBED and dismayed by something the General Secretary of the Unity Labour Party said at the Calliaqua Playing Field on Sunday, April 8, 2018. The occasion was the Party’s 17th anniversary rally. I am speaking as a ULP supporter, but in everything, my Christianity takes precedence. I consider it my duty to guard against any semblance of sacrilege or disrespect of Biblical precepts creeping into the official rhetoric and public discourse of this blessed land. What happened greatly bothered my spirit and stirred up in me a righteous indignation. I am under patriotic, spiritual and moral obligation to speak out against it,

whatever the consequences, with the hope that by so doing I can help to ensure that my country stays on the straight and narrow path.

This is for the good of the nation and the good of my party.

I was at the rally myself from start to finish, and heard everything that transpired with my own two ears. No one had to tell me about it. There was a point in time when the General Secretary took the microphone and began addressing the large crowd that was assembled. Thousands of people were in attendance. The atmosphere was electric.

Suddenly, he took me by surprise when he asked

Britain is no longer ÂGreatÊ

Keep the buggery laws

Victory in T&T

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10. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

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Economic challenges we have to address

(Excerpt from the 2018 budget address) TWO ECONOMIC features of tremendous significance to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are: First, the extent to which our country is enmeshed, or integrated in a multiplicity of economic, financial, and trading relations of a global economy that is dominated by monopoly capitalism and its variants; and, second, the huge, and comparatively disproportionate, dependence of our small-island economy on the external trade in goods and services.

The economic well-being of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines depends heavily on the knock-on effects of strong economic performances of the economies with which we are inextricably linked. Concomitantly, job creation and economic growth in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines increases when trade in goods and services are enhanced.

To be sure, the domestic market is vital, but it is a reality that a relatively small demand of 110,000 persons is unable to provide by itself the requisite economic propulsion for competitiveness, job-and-wealth creation. This realization is at the core of the establishment of the Economic Union of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the quest for a Caribbean Single Market and Economy in CARICOM; these regional integration efforts effectively enlarge our country’s small, domestic, economic space.

The World Economy Mr. Speaker, in the first three quarters of 2017, the world economy experienced an upswing in economic activity. Global growth was estimated at 3.7 percent fuelled largely by economic recovery in the USA, by strong performances in several other advanced economies, and by the major emerging markets and developing economies, mainly in Asia (including China and India) which racked up an impressive 6.8 percent economic growth.

During the first three quarters of 2017, the economies in Latin America and the Caribbean rebounded to realise 1.3 percent growth compared with a 0.9 percent contraction in 2016.

This growth was mainly due to stable performances in Central America and in the Caribbean, as well as recoveries in a few economies, including Argentina.

The member states of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) the modest growth momentum of 2016 carried over into the first half of 2017 due to an expansion in tourism and construction. In the second half of 2017, there was a contraction in economic activities mainly because of the impact of two devastating hurricanes, Irma and Maria, which adversely affected Anguilla, Barbuda, Dominica and St. Kitts-Nevis.

Mr. Speaker: The IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook1 (“WEO”) forecasts global growth of 3.7 percent, driven largely by better than expected — though still modest — growth in developed countries. Within the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, the WEO predicts growth of 2.8 percent in 2018.2 I anticipate this projection to be adjusted downwards in the wake of the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Irma and Maria on ECCU member countries.

More recently, in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the IMF’s Article IV consultation3 predicted that our 2018 growth would be in the neighbourhood of 2.1 percent, increasing to 3 percent in the medium term. We consider these predictions to be somewhat conservative, but recognise that they

Crime has a negative impact on National Development (Excerpts of Dr. Friday’s presentation at the National Conversation on Crime and Violence)

depend in part on our ability to improve our productivity and the implementation rate of the public sector capital programme and private sector investments in the real economy.

Significant Risks Nonetheless, there are significant risks to even that conservative prediction, including tightening global financial conditions, a rollback in regulatory enhancements to the postcrisis financial architecture, a rise in economic protectionism and antimigrant attitudes, political shifts in USA, UK and EU, geopolitical tensions and other upheavals; and, of course, the ever-present threat of climate change-related events.

Our largest and more reliable traditional partners in trade, cooperation and migration — the United States and the United Kingdom — are undergoing periods of significant political change that may have exogenous knock-on effects on our own growth and development.

The United States of America has recently withdrawn from the Paris Climate Accord. It has signaled a desire to cut USAID development assistance to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean to zero dollars. It has sadly voiced its intention to slash funding to the World Bank,4 which is a major development partner of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It has engaged in an unnecessary war of words and expressed interventionist intentions towards Venezuela, a major development partner and a fulcrum of regional integration and south-south cooperation. Additionally, certain ruling elements have been explicit in expressing their desire to curtail migration from within our CARICOM region, and from countries predominately populated by people of colour. I am confident that the majority of Americans and their elected representatives, as a whole, will not cave in to these nativist and un-American sentiments.

However, each of those five policy emphases: anti-climate, anti-aid, antidevelopment, anti-solidarity and antiimmigrant, have potential direct medium and long-term impacts on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and our developmental goals and aspirations. The degree to which our superpower neighbour’s evolving worldview of important political forces will alter our own developmental trajectory remains to be seen, but requires careful attention and focused advocacy. Still, I reiterate that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a friend of the United States of America and its people; we are neighbours; our relationship has been mutually beneficial in socio-economic terms; and we share excellent security ties.

We remain confident that opportunities exist for strengthened relations.

The United Kingdom is also radically reorganizing its relationship with the European Union and the world. For Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, there are both potential pitfalls and opportunities in this reorganization. The extent to which a post-Brexit United Kingdom may reorient its trading relationships, and the degree to which the European Union may adjust its development cooperation in the absence of UK advocacy for its former colonies, are great unknowns.

THIS VERY important conversation on Crime and Violence in our country is long overdue. I welcome it because it is a timely reminder of the situation that we currently face in our country.

If we are honest and we must be honest if this conversation is to be of benefit to any of us and to the country as a whole - we must acknowledge that the situation of crime and violence in our country is very serious and in need of intervention. We cannot, considering our circumstances, continue as though things are right and normal. Today’s event is but a beginning. I hope it will lead to others.

It is clear to all how serious the crime situation is. In 2016, SVG was listed 13th among the top 25 countries in the world in terms of highest homicide rate (i.e. 25.6 murders per 100,000 people). In that year, we experienced 39 homicides–-a record high! The following year, that recordbreaking trend continued. As Leader of the Opposition and a concerned citizen, I was alarmed at these developments. Therefore, on September 28, 2017, I held a press conference to highlight the problem. I began as follows: “On Friday, September 22nd, 2017, two men were shot to death. On Saturday, September 23rd, a young woman was shot to death, two bullets to the head we are told. A day later, a man died in hospital from gunshot wounds he had sustained days earlier.

He was elderly and had been shot 8 times! On Monday, September 25th, two persons were shot in Vermont, one of them died as a result. On the same day, another man- a security guard–was found dead at Fairburn Pasture. His throat was slashed! On Tuesday in Kingstown, in broad daylight, a man was shot to death and a woman wounded at the bus terminus. This all happened over a period of just five days! Thirty-two people have been killed so far in 2017.

No wonder people throughout the country are in a state of disbelief and shock, as they wonder who is next, or what comes next.”

Sadly, as it turned out, the killings continued, and the dubious homicide record was again broken, for by the end of 2017, SVG had recorded 42 homicides! We can only hope that in 2018, this record-breaking trend does not continue.

Murders and wounding are of course not the only crimes. They, understandably, get the most attention. However, there are other very damaging crimes that occur even more frequently. Homes and businesses are being burglarized, and the safety and security of our people are under continuous threat. In addition, reports of sexual crimes and violence against women and girls continue to plague our society. One only has to look at the list of cases for the Assizes posted at the High Court door, to see the evidence of this– evidence that many reasonably believe is merely the tip of the iceberg. The situation of sexual crimes and sexual violence in our country is a disgrace, and we must act as though we recognize it as such, and urgently move to address it. These are the ugly truths that we must confront, we cannot hide from them; this is our reality.

When we look at the victims and

perpetrators of these crimes, many of them are young people. They are the future of our country, but we are losing them to guns, to the illegal drug trade and other criminal activity.

Too many of our young men are in prison; too many of them have become repeat offenders; Too many bring grief to the families of their victims and to their own parents and other relatives.

The detrimental effects of crime and violence in a country are welldocumented. A high crime rate, especially violent crime scares away investors and hampers economic development. It drives citizens away from our shores to seek safer harbor in other countries. These persons tend to be well-educated and so more mobile. This too has a negative impact on national development.

Further, as a country dependent on tourism, we are particularly vulnerable to the problem of violent crime. As word spreads–now at internet speed– about an upsurge of crime in area, visitors tend to plan to vacation elsewhere. This is particularly damaging to our yachting sector, where word of crime against fellow yachters can spell real problems for businesses who provide services to that market. As word of another yacht robbery and injury or death to the occupants spread through the network, other boats sail past us.

The most obvious effect of crime and violence is of course social: the pain and suffering caused to victims and loved ones; the health care cost in treating victims; the loss of family income as affected persons are unable to work. These are some of the effects that are all too familiar to us. It is an awareness of them that leads us to action and that I hope will create greater urgency in addressing the problem.

I am aware that crime and the causes of crime are complex and multifaceted problems. First and foremost, people expect their government to provide security and to create an environment that fosters opportunity for growth and development. But, I acknowledge that everyone has a role to play in combatting crime and violence in our society. Not merely by securing our homes and staying put, behind reinforced doors for security, but by understanding the root of the problem and addressing the causes of crime.

The experts will tell us more about that. One thing that I can say for certain is that it has long been established that there is not merely a correlation, but a causal connection between economic hardship and an increase in crime. This is as true here in SVG as it is elsewhere. So, it seems clear that one means of addressing the problem is by promoting economic growth and opportunity in the country.

Joblessness and poverty are well known to be contributing factors to high crime rates. We must do more to create opportunities for our young people to find decent paying jobs to lift themselves out of poverty; to be given a chance at financial stability and economic independence. We must also ensure that our youth are provided with alternative paths to foster positive behaviour.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. 11.

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The best ships are friendships

“There are good ships, and there are wood ships, the ships that sail the sea. But the best ships, are friendships, and may they always be.”

Irish Proverb THE IRISH HAVE BEEN A PEOPLE who, for a number of years, have been discriminated against. This has been especially so when they travelled outside the boarders of their country. But we are told that they treasure friendships and would regularly recite the Irish proverb that was used to introduce this essay.

This was especially so whenever friends gathered for social drinks.

My first encounter with an Irish national took place during the winter of 1977. I was a student in Birmingham, England, at the time.

The winter appeared to be beastly cold that year. As Christmas Day approached, my longing for a warm Caribbean Christmas was evident. I was understandably homesick. I dreaded the thought of spending a cold, miserable Christmas away from family members, friends, and the warmth of the Caribbean sunshine. I had anticipated that this would have been my most miserable Christmas.

But I was wrong.

Lillian Chinnery, an Irish national, and her husband, John, lived a few miles from where I resided in the West Midlands. They had contacted the British Council in order to ascertain whether there were any foreign students who may have been interested in spending Christmas Day as their guests. Many of my colleagues from Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific countries declined such invitations. However, I accepted their kind offer. They agreed to pick me up early that Christmas morning. We spent most of that Christmas Day together. We conversed about our varied experiences. I was surprised to learn that even though Lillian was a talented and accomplished secretary, she often found it difficult to obtain employment in England, “once they heard her Irish accent”. Our friendship developed over the months that followed. Lillian typed most of my assignments from then on. We have kept in touch over the years.

John and Lillian befriended me when I needed a “warm home” that Christmas. They have subsequently returned to live in Ireland. We communicate via regular post from time to time. Those handwritten letters still warm our hearts and remind us that the best ships are friendships.

Friendships are often considered relatively fragile. They also demand rather high maintenance. We have to be prepared to keep the lines of communication going if we are to preserve their value and allow them to grow. This is as true for friends who are physically close as it is for those that are separated by miles of land and/or sea, or time. The value of the friendship is enhanced as we accept the challenge to have regular and clear communication. In the absence of these, the “ships” deteriorate and may eventually sink (if we use that analogy).

It would be interesting to conduct a personal survey to ascertain how many friends (not merely acquaintances) we each have. In addition, we could broaden the exercise to rate the value of the relationship. For example, on a scale of one to ten (with ten being the most valuable), we can assess how

precious these friendships have been over the years. Many of these friendships may have emerged during primary school, secondary school, in our neighbourhood, our church, and so on. As we sail back in time (to use the analogy), we contemplate how many of these “good friends” have drifted away from us (or we have drifted away from them). We ask ourselves whether we should seek to rekindle those friendships. They have not all drifted into nothingness. They may still be mutually valuable.

We can sometimes become so busy as we engage in pursuing our personal goals, that we allow friends to glide away. If not reminded of their presence and value, we could quite easily allow them to drift beyond the horizons of our lives. This is especially so when they do not regularly cross our physical or cyber space. Life is fragile. Friendships are valuable.

Good friends are often few and far between. It is precisely because of this, that we should learn to treasure them while they are still around. We may be separated by time and distance, but we should find the time to remind them that they are ever present in our hearts; that we value the contributions that they have made to our lives. Many would have been our source of encouragement and support through many of the most dangerous storms of our lives. They would have aided us in trimming the sails or steering away from dangerous reef formations. In some instances, they may have been on board with us when our ship hit a reef or ran aground. They remained with us to ensure our safety.

We often observe friends drifting away as a result of changes in physical location. Sometime the old adage “out of sight; out of mind” appears to be accurate. However, we need to make every effort to ensure that distance and/or time do not tarnish/retard the development of our friendships. There are instances, too, where changes in ideology encourage us to pull up anchor and sail away. On other occasions we allow the “little differences” and “minor conflicts” to move us from our friendship moorings.

On reflection we discover that we allowed little things to become big hindrances and retardants.

Unresolved “little conflicts” can create strong rip tides in relationships.

There is wisdom in seeking to resolve such misunderstanding and misperceptions as soon as they appear.

Friendships add value to life; they enrich our living. Muhammad Ali (1942-2016), born Cassius Marcellus Clay, said it so well when he said, “Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.” So we learn to treasure those few individuals who qualify to be categorized as our friends. They remind us that the best ships are friendships.

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

SVG about to lose its towns

IF THE SCIENTIFIC PROJECTIONS on Climate Change are correct, and there are no available credible reasons to doubt them, all of the towns in SVG as well as the picturesque Tobago Keys will be covered by sea water in another 82 years.

A similar fate awaits St George’s, Grenada; Bridgetown, Barbados; and Castries, St Lucia. Inattention to the issue of climate change over the last three decades may have made the problems irreversible. Our Caribbean, along with thousands of other islands worldwide, may be in for this dismal future because there may be nothing that can be done to reverse this damning trend.

A study released last Wednesday by the US Department of Defense concluded that major parts of our islands risk becoming uninhabitable by the middle of the century – or possibly sooner – because of rising sea levels, upending the populations of some island nations.

The threats to the islands are twofold. In the long term, the rising seas threaten to inundate the islands entirely. More immediately, as seas rise, the islands will more frequently deal with large waves that crash farther onto the shore, contaminating their drinkable water supplies with ocean saltwater.

Hilda Heine, president of the Marshall Islands, which sits in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, noted that the study ‘brings home the seriousness of the predicament facing island nations.

It’s a scary scenario for us.’ If we think that we are out of reach, we simply need to look at what is taking place in the Maldives and Seychelles. Our leaders fail to share this alarm, to our eternal regrets.

The US government is concerned about its military installations and want to better understand how to organize and plan in the face of climate change. We ought to be concerned about our own survival and existence. A Defense Department spokeswoman said while no decisions have been made about Department of Defense activities on islands threatened by rising sea levels, DOD continues to focus on ensuring its installations and infrastructure are resilient to a wide range of threats. Are the American led Trade Winds military exercise in part to find new sites for their military installations? Whatever happened to the idea that the Caribbean must remain a zone of peace?

Seas across the earth are rising by a minimum of 3.2 millimeters per year at the moment, and expected to rise even faster in years ahead. The new research suggests that saltwater contamination ought to become an immediate and real fear. The danger comes because of the increasing ability of large waves to spill across the islands and sink into their groundwater. Scientists are alarmed that there has been a five to six centimeters rise globally since the turn of the century.

The “tipping point” in the study varies depending upon the rate of climate change – and above all the stability of Antarctica. In the worst case, the research shows could come before 2030. However, Bob Kopp, a Rutgers University professor not part of the study, said ‘They’re asking the right questions, they’re doing the right sorts of analysis, but I’m a little skeptical of some of their early century dates for some things.’

For less dire scenarios, the critical moment is pushed farther off to the decade between 2030 and 2040 for a high warming scenario without Antarctic collapse, or 2055 to 2065 for a middle range warming scenario.

Professor Kopp said while there is

indeed a major threat, it won’t arrive as soon as 2030 but could by the 2050s.

Small comfort for us in SVG. The researchers concluded if these impacts are not addressed or adequately planned for, as it becomes necessary to abandon or relocate island nations, significant geopolitical issues could arise. They argued that part of the risk can be addressed by adaptive measures, but that’s costly. We in SVG know of the cost. Close to $80 million has been earmarked in the 2018 budget to address climate change related issues.

The study underscores why many small island nations clamored to ensure that the 2015 Paris climate agreement included language requiring the world to strive to limit global warming to just 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). Dependent nations that have been heavily involved in the push for climate action, include not only the Marshall Islands but also the Maldives, Kiribati, and Tuvalu in the Pacific Ocean. Caribbean leaders also travelled to Paris in 2015 for the Climate agreement, only to look on in horror as President Trump pulled the US, one of the world’s major polluters, from the Paris Climate agreement.

With the planet already 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer, the Paris climate goal of holding warming to 1.5 C may be a dream, because it would require extremely rapid shifts away from the current energy system toward renewables.

The new study didn’t address specific Paris climate targets, available climate data projects that even under a 2 degree or 1.5 degree Celsius climate scenario, by late in the century, more than 40 centimeters (15 inches) of sea level rise would probably have occurred, thus endangering many Caribbean countries with low-lying territories or below sea level areas.

A critical issue for Caribbean people and leaders, is the fate of the coral reefs which surround all of our islands. Reefs are not just important snorkeling grounds for tourists. They help to break waves and prevent flooding. But sea level rises, coral reefs around the world, but particularly in our Caribbean have been suffering from severe bleaching events, and are also weakened further by acidifying oceans.

This is no alarmist, futuristic picture.

The Maldives islands are exhibit A for what’s happening to small tropical islands. A country capitol Male, with a population of 140,000 is disappearing before the eyes of the world. It is true that we have points of much higher elevation, but Calliaqua, Georgetown, Kingstown, Layou, will easily be covered if the sea level continues to rise.

One way out is for the leaders and people of the United States to take a more responsible position on this critically important issue. Places like Miami and Manhattan in New York have also begun to witness problems. In addition, the developed parts of the world whose reckless industrial practices got us into the environmental crisis must share that responsibility for its solution.

To sit and do nothing is not an option. Rising sea levels bring us closer to a reckoning. The distant future is becoming increasingly near.

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

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12. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Warrant Officer Ivan O’Neal stunned by Gonsalves’ ‘No Fishing Agreement’ statement

WARRANT OFFICER IVAN O’NEAL, BSc (Hons) MSc, MBA, Leader of SVG Green Party, is stunned by Gonsalves’ who, in a statement in the SVG House of Assembly, said there was no fishing agreement between Taiwan and SVG. Taiwan fishing companies are getting away with not paying about EC$3 billion in fish tax every year to the SVG Treasury. For Gonsalves to say “NO fishing agreement between Taiwan and SVG”, is a significant blow to the economy of SVG. Warrant Officer Ivan O’Neal believes that Taiwan fishing companies, registered under the SVG local fish registry and using the SVG national flag on all its fishing vessels, owe the SVG Treasury about EC$50 billion in fish tax.

This is a huge amount of money which carries a substantial opportunity cost to SVG. Warrant Officer Ivan O’Neal, who lived in Singapore from 1963 to 1965, is stressing the point that Fidel Castro of Cuba and Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore would have signed a fish agreement with Taiwan to ensure that the EC$3 billion of fish tax was paid into their respective countries’ treasuries annually, to promote a very high standard of Sustainable Economic Development for

the benefit of all the people of their countries.

Ralph Gonsalves’ “NO fishing agreement between Taiwan and SVG” is poor QUALITY management at the top, in a developing country.

Ralph Gonsalves’ “NO fishing agreement between Taiwan and SVG”, yet in 2002, the ULP Regime was forced to seek debt forgiveness from the UK government and received substantial debt forgiveness from the UK government. In 2017, the ULP regime received substantial Debt Forgiveness from the International Community.

The SVG 1979 Constitutionally Appointed Director of Audit failed Gonsalves as the SVG Minister of Finance in 2008, 2009 and 2010 in the Audit of Public Accounts (Source Audit Reports-Research by Ivan O’Neal BSc (hons) MSc, MBA).

In 2007, the SVG 1979 Constitutionally Appointed Director of Audit reminded Ralph Gonsalves, the SVG Minister of Finance, that SPECIAL WARRANTS are for unforeseen expenditure under the Finance and Audit ACT (No 1 of 1964).

In 2007, Gonsalves used 139 Special Warrants totalling $63.082 million dollars - 10% of the 2007 Budget — and

overshot expenditure without the prior authorization of the House of Assembly (Source Audit Report- Researched by Ivan O’Neal).

According to Oxford Brookes University graduate, Warrant Officer Ivan O’Neal, it is conservatively estimated that Taiwan owes SVG over EC$50 billion in fish tax.

We don’t need Taiwan in our country.

SVG Green Party is calling on Taiwan fishing companies using SVG’s national flag on their fishing vessels, to pay their fish tax in SVG, and for the recall of the Taiwan Ambassador from SVG. An SVG Green Party government will end this abuse of the Vincentian people

by Gonsalves and Taiwan. We would cut ties with Taiwan and make ties with China.

A Green Party government will set up a joint venture tuna fishing and canning industry with China to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in fish tax to the SVG Treasury, and to create thousands of new jobs in a billion-dollar tuna fish industry.

Our country needs change. We need to generate new sources of revenue to drive economic growth and create new sources of employment.

SVG Green Party

The Legalisation of Marijuana THE LEGALISATION OF MARIJUANA/CANNABIS is a very serious public policy issue as there are economic, public and private health and criminal justice implications for our society. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is known in the Caribbean to be one of the biggest growers and exporters of this plant, albeit illegal up to the present.

A number of persons have been arrested and prosecuted for possession and cultivation of this plant. Statistics reveal that over the past five years, 2,219 persons were arrested for the possession or cultivation of this drug, and well over three million grammes of cannabis were seized, some of which was destroyed while some remained in the custody of the Police. Given that that 454 grammes make one pound, one ‘bomb of weed’ (a cigarette of marijuana) is less than a gramme which has a street value of two to three dollars and, in the case of the Grenadines, five to ten dollars. So for example, one pound of cannabis could carry a street value of just over $1000.00 EC dollars. This is why I believe so many young people take the chance to be involved in this business.

I am aware that many Rastas and young people are in the hills of St Vincent and the Grenadines planting cannabis, also referred to as ‘the herb, for various reasons, and would gravitate towards a position of ‘freeing up the herb’ for medical and recreational purposes. However, one must ask: What are the implications of legalising marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes? Is our society mature enough for these changes? What would be the checks and balance to avoid abuses?

I am no medical practitioner by any means, but I must ask: What are the implications on the mental health of persons?

In November of 2016, I had the opportunity to be on a panel discussion organized by the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors on the very important topic, ‘Free up di herb’. The trained medical practitioner (on the panel) outlined very serious implications for the mental health of persons who abused the drug. It was revealed that quite a high percentage of persons who abused the drug ended up in the Mental Health Centre (mental asylum). Is this the

nation we want?

While some may argue that they have been smoking marijuana for years and it has had very little effect on them, we must remember that every individual is different and may react differently to the same drug.

We must therefore, ask ourselves: Are we truly ready for the legalisation of this drug? As a strong advocate for community policing and community safety, I believe the issue of marijuana legalisation or decriminalization must be carefully thought out and must involve each and every community. What works in Jamaica, Colorado or any other country that has legalized marijuana whether for medical, religious or recreational purpose, will not necessarily work in SVG. This is a very complex issue which must be properly crafted and thought out with all stakeholders especially at the community level. We must not be self-centered or individualistic in the quest to legalize cannabis solely for economic benefits.

We must think this through critically if we are to get the best results.

The police, who make arrests in relation to cannabis, also need to be educated on this issue that calls for drastic change. If marijuana is legalized for recreational purposes, there can be serious confrontation between the police and citizens. For example, can you imagine a young man purposefully blowing his smoke in the faces of the officers?

I am even more scared and concerned for the abuse of this drug by our children — especially our students. In Amsterdam for example, students smoked on or near campus and challenged their administrators to do something about it. As a result, children would turn up stoned, or high. Coffee shops licensed to sell marijuana and located in close proximity to schools had to be closed because students were turning up for classes in a daze.

As we move towards this change in our society, let us not use it for political or economic gains. Let commit to take into consideration the ills and the serious implications this could have on our society, especially if the right mechanisms are not put in place.

Brenton Smith

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. 13.

News

VINLEC ‘high’ on safety concerns THIS COUNTRY’S main electricity provider VINLEC is taking safety to heart.

It launched its Environmental Health and Safety Awareness Month last Wednesday, under the theme ‘Safety ties us together’.

The month (May) of events is aimed at, among other things, heightening awareness about matters relating to the family.

Addressing last

Wednesday’s launch, VINLEC’s Chief Executive Officer Thornley Myers stressed that environmental health and safety was a national concern, and measures to uphold that begin in the home.

In that light, Myers encouraged homeowners not to discard of their used compact fluorescent lamps as mere household garbage. He cautioned

Just one of the teams of VINLEC workers who would have contributed directly to the restorative work in hurricane ravaged Caribbean territories.

that they contain mercury which is dangerous to both humans and their surroundings.

Myers urged persons to put the old bulbs in their original boxes and bring them to the company for forwarding to the CWSA Solid Waste Management Unit which has a ‘Bulb Eater’ that will reduce the danger.

Myers is also advising Vincentian households to install “Residual Current Devices’ in their homes.

These help to avoid threats to life and property in cases where devices like fridges and machines suffer from poor insulation.

Myers noted that the inclusion of these Residual Current Devices are “mandatory” in certain countries, and posited that these measures can go a long way in minimising accidents and preventing death at home and on construction sites.

The month will also feature the hosting of the Conference of Meeting of

The Caribbean Association of Electricity Utilities from May 7 to 13, A family type affair is planned for May 12. The day’s activity will also include a Linesman Rodeo and will be used as an occasion to “celebrate” the work of VINLEC’s Linemen who gave willing and yeoman service in restoring electricity to countries ravaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.

VINLEC workers will not be ignored, and they will be exposed to the elements of a healthy workplace during the month. And in keeping with establishing the practice that environmental health and safety awareness is an ongoing matter, VINLEC workers have signed to an understanding that allows them to reuse to do tasks that are not safe.

The month long drive, though, begins with a lecture by Del Hamilton on ‘’Wellness and NonCommunicable diseases’.

Thornley Myers, VINLEC’s Chief Executive Officer, addressed the issue of safety in the home, among other issues, as he officially launched the company’s Environmental Health and Safety Awareness Month.

Lectures on nutrition, health, and handling electrical equipment will also form the month’s effort to heighten environmental concerns.

Schools and other institutions will be visited as part of VINLEC’s drive to bring the issue of safety to everyone.

High Voltage Mas Production: Going to the beach

Kingsley Collis, Leader of High V Voltage oltage o Mas Production, continues to demonstrate his penchant for topics found ‘outside the box’.

TOMORR TOMORROW OW S SATURDAY, ATTURDAY, High Hig V Voltage oltage Mas Production will launc launch h its 2018 2018 presentation, presentation, entitled ‘Ex ‘Exotic otic Beac Beaches’, hes’, at the Mas Camp locat ed on Ba treet, opposit e Gibsons located Bayy S Street, opposite Building Supplies.

This year’s presentation features 10 sections – two children and eight (8) adult sections – this according to Band Leader, Kingsley Collis.

Collis, in explaining his band’s 2018 presentation, said that it features some of the world’s unique beaches.

The focus is on the sand because, accord accord--

ing to Collis, some people may be of the view that beach sand is limited to simply being black or white.

‘Exotic Beaches’ endeavours to correct this misconception; it reveals in carnival art and artistry, for example, the purple-coloured sand of Pfeffer Bay in California, and the the red sand of Cavendish Bay of Prince Edward Island, Canada.

The ten sections are as follows: ‘Mount Wynne’– St Vincent (boys) and ‘Rainbow Bay’ – New Zealand (girls); ‘Hyam’s Bay’ – Australia, ‘Pfeffer Bay’ – Calif. USA, ‘Ramla Bay’ – Gozo, Malta, ‘Golden Bay’ – China, ‘Grey Bay’ – Alaska, ‘Horseshoe Bay’ – Barbuda and ‘Cavendish Bay’ – Canada.

“There is an emphasis on the colour sand. It is not an easy design, it is semi-abstract, but the people will be able to relate,” Collis said.

Osbourne Browne has been credited with this year’s designs, and according to Collis, this year’s presentation is in keeping with traditional costume design and caters for up to 450 masqueraders.

This will be the Mas Band’s 16th presen presen-tation and, according to Collis, the team is still in search of its first ‘Band of the Year’ title.

The band enjoyed its best year in 2016

when it finished second overall and ‘ Rainbow’ New copped the Junior Queen and Section Zealand – the of the Year titles. section for girls.

‘Horseshoe’ – Barbuda – one of the sections for adults.

Once again, they will participate in all Mas competitions this year.

Mas camp, The public is invited to view the designs where they will also have the opportunity to that will be on display from tomorrow at the interact with members of the High Voltage team and register. (DD)

THE EIGHT-YEAR-OLD MAS BAND Xtreme Fanatics is “Moving on Up” for Vincy Mas 2018.

That’s the title and theme of presenta-the band’s 2018 band presenta tion, prompted by the band’s encouraging eighth place in the Competi-2017 Band of the Year Competi tion.

According to Designer and Bandleader- Jamal Jacobs, he put the plans in place for this year’s designs as the result indicated that they were having upward movement.

And in keeping with the theme of ‘Moving on Up’, the sections to be depicted are: ‘Happiness’, ‘Sky’ ‘High’, ‘Fast Jamal Jacobs is amongst the designs of Xtreme Forward’, ‘Upbeat’, ‘Upgrade’, ‘Nebula’, Vincy Mas 2018.

Fanatics production for Vincy ‘Superman’, ‘Superwoman’ and ‘Iron Man’, “We are looking to have at least twentwenty-five masqueraders per section, with a price range of $350 to $400 for adults, and it is $150 for the kids,” Jacobs declared.

Xtreme Fanatics mas band is located on Murray’s Road, in the compound of the old De Freitas building, and Jacobs revealed that the official launch takes place this Friday, 27th April at the band’s base.

“On display will be prototypes of the costumes for persons to see up close and what they actually look like,” Jacobs related.

Jacobs said that he has high expectations for the general execution of Vincy Mas 2018.

“I am looking forward to see good things in Vincy Mas this year. … I want people to from Xtreme fanatics 2016 presentaA section sect presentasupport all the mas bands and have a good tion from which they are ‘Moving on and Up’ in Vincy Mas”, he noted.

2018.

St. St. George Carnival launches tonigh tonightt

My Imagination envisages ‘In Time To Come’ MY IMAGINATION MAS BAND has taken a positive view on some of life’s improbabilit ies, and will be using Vincy improbabilities, Mas 2018, to express their predictions.

Through the presentation ‘In Time to Come’, My Imagination projects ‘Vincy Heat will win the World Cup’, ‘Snow will fall in SVG’, ‘Marijuana will be legalized’, ‘World Peace’ and ‘Chinathe next World Power’, all sections of the band.

Also envisaged through the band’s presentation are ‘Money will be no use’, ‘People will be living in space,’ and quite fittingly, ‘Imagination will win Band of the Year’.

The theme was conceptualized by one of the band’s members - Julian St Hillaire, who, after My Imagination’s ninth place in last year’s Band of the Year competition, projected that the band will one day reach the top.

Band leader Denrick Woodley revealed that St Hillaire’s comment was not taken as an idle boast. In fact, he said, it was taken with much serious serious-ness and soon morphed into an My Imagination’ Imagination’s s bandleader -Denrick W Woodley oodley displays the portrayal ‘Marijuana will be legalised’.

Fanatics Xtreme Fanati cs ‘Moving on Up’ for Vincy Mas 2018

idea for this year’s mas presentation.

Given the designs – their artistic value and messages – of the eight sections, Woodley is optimistic of another good production for 2018.

“We are again catering for about 350 to 400 persons (so as) to really show off our presentation this year for Carni Carni-val,” Woodley explained.

With an asking price of between $300 and $400 each for the senior costumes and $150 for the children section, Woodley believes the band can reach the targeted number of masquer masquer-aders.

“We are already preparing the costumes; it is for the masqueraders to come in and make their selections,” Woodley said.

My Imagination’s 2018 Mas presen presen-tation will be officially launched today, Friday 27th April, at the band’s head head-quarters located in the old De Freitas building, opposite the Ministry of Agriculture on Murray’s Road.

Full costumes will be on display at the launch.

Julian St Hillaire with the section ‘Imagination will win Band of the Y Year’. ear e ’.

Foster Hannibal, Chairman of the ComCommittee, told THE VINCENTIAN, he wants to assure the residents of the two St. George constituencies and carnival enthusiast in general that, “Carni“Carnival is on in St. George.”

Friday evening programme promises much, with the five contestants in the 2018 St. George Pageant slated to make their first public appearance.

Of course, the ladies Foster Hannibal, Chairman will follow the addresses expected to come from of the St. George Carnival Hannibal, an official of Committee, made an Develop-the Carnival Develop appeal for corporate support for the effort of his ment Corporation (CDC) Represen-and the Area Represen Committee. tatives Camillo Gon Gon-salves and Cecil Mc Kie. The evening will also THE CALLIAQUA HARD COURT is expect feature the newly formed expect-ed to be abuzz with EPIC steel orchestra - a carnival-related activity Calliaqua-based steel orchestra led by promi tonight, Friday 27th promi-April, 2018, as the St. nent arranger and pan aficionado Johnny JP George Carnival Com Com-Pompey. mittee launches its programme for 2018.

And the Hard Court is

set to come alive with extended soca energy when Calliaqua native Rondy ‘ Luta’ Mc Intosh joins with the Soca Dans to give a preview of what they have on offer for 2018.

But the package of entertainment does not end there, since the St. George Carnival ComCommittee has partnered Experi-with the Upstage Experi calyp-ence to have that calyp so tent introduce its casts and their numbers for 2018.

This is particularly exciting since this would be an unaccustomed early start to the calypso season.

Already, principals of Upstage have promised a good balance of male and female artistes, and a repertoire that traverses the landscape of genuine calypso, ragga soca and power soca.

The 2018 St. George Carnival programme is set to comprise: The St, George Pageant, Calypso

and Soca Monarch Competitions on May 25 at the site of the decommisdecommissioned E.T. Joshua Airport; a J’Ouvert and a Street Jump-up from Arnos Vale to Calliaqua on May 26; and the Kiddies Carnival on May 27 at the Calliaqua Hard Court.

Even as he leads the Luta – ‘The Crowd Motivator - is set to effort to return to home turf to excite and ensure entertain as only he can do. another successful and enjoyable en njjoyable carnival in “Carnival, wherever it St, George, Hannibal is is held in SVG, has appealing to business positive spinoffs for houses and those individ individ-commercial activity. It uals who are able, to lend deserves to enjoy some financial support to his benefit from that Committee’s effort. spinoff,” said H annibal.

Hannibal.

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16. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Community

RRL receives second gift from Australia THE DIRECTORATE OF THE RAINBOW RADIO LEAGUE INC. (RRL) is especially appreciative of a set of 6 HF/SSB radios, a gift from Barrett Communications – Australia.

This gift is tangible support for the RRL as it strives to build an effective High Frequency (HF) network for St. Vincent and the Grenadines — a multiisland state.

An RRL release of last week, said that two of the radios will be deployed in the Grenadines - namely Canouan and Bequia - with three others located on mainland St. Vincent. One of these is earmarked for use in the on-going Independence Secondary schools Radio Link-up started a few years ago.

The gift also includes solar panels and antennas for field use.

Radios from the previous gift received in 2015 were used to provide reliable communications in Dominica, October 2017, by a combined medical and communications responder team, following the devastation of that Caribbean island by category 4 http://www.barrettcommunications.co hurricane Maria. See following link: m.au/news/first-responders-support-

Some of the equipment that comprised the recent dominicas-rebuildinggift from the Barrett Communications – Australia, after-hurricane-maria/ to the Rainbow Radio League.

Over the next two months, all radios will be deployed and a simulation held to ensure that all radio operators are in a state of readiness for the 2018 hurricane season, which is predicted to produce at least 3 major storms and more than ten named systems.

The RRL, in its statement, thanked the government for waiving all customs imposts on the equipment, and reaffirmed that the equipment will be available to the government during national emergencies, especially in times when all other forms of communications have been rendered inoperable.

The RRL is also part of a regional network that provides emergency communications services following natural disasters. While in Dominica last year, the League was able to coordinate the arrival and distribution of vital medicines, food, water, and the arrival of Donald De Riggs, RRL Director, on the ground in medical personnel from Dominica post-Maria, made it possible for this the US. In some resident to speak with relatives outside of instances, they were able Dominica. to facilitate a service that allowed locals to speak to a continuing fraternal friendship with relatives in other Caribbean with our benefactors, Barrett islands, using HF/SSB radios,an exercise that signified the importance Communications from Australia, and publicly thank them for a most useful of this equipment.

The RRL said that it “looks forward gift.” (Submitted by Donald De Riggs.)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. 17.

Business

New Agri-business Co-op launched ST. VINCENT and the Grenadines can count another registered Cooperative.

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines AgriBusiness Co-operative Limited (SVG ABC Ltd) was officially launched last Tuesday (April 24th) at the site of the now decommissioned Bigger Biggs Block-Making Plant in Yambou , A cross-section of farmers, Mesopotamia. government officials, That facility has now been re-commissioned as business persons and supporters turned out for the operational headquarters of the SVG the launch which also ABC Ltd., which featured entertainment by currently has a the Resistance Heartbeat membership of twentyDrummers. nine. stall or even The SVG ABC Ltd. aims to bring considering farmers together in an effort to contributing directly and maximise the market potential for unconditionally to the cost. fresh produce, by, though not Addresses at the launch also came exclusively, offering facilities for from Chief Agricultural Officer Ashley storage (including cold storage) that would make food crops and vegetables Cain, Businessman - Opposition Politician Curtis Bowman, and Digicel available all year round.

The Co-operative launched, also on Marketing Executive Jerry George.

Tuesday, its first service to members - a Point of Sale Vendor’s Stall — which is intended to enhance the display and increase sales of agricultural produce.

The stall, attractively painted in the national colors of SVG, boasts vending tables with stainless steel tops, three levels of storage and an electronic scale.

The one on display last Tuesday was decorated with locally grown fruits and vegetables.

According to Leon ‘Bigger Biggs’ Samuel, President of the SVG ABC Ltd., the stall is also aimed at enhancing the aesthetics of the open-air vending of agricultural produce; to improve on the current use of hastily put together tables and trays that are not in themselves healthy and attractive to buyers and visitors.

Samuel suggested that local corporations, like the telecommunications service providers, could help to offset the cost of the stalls by buying advertising space on the

ORDER CONCH @491-5060/ 527-2735 Organic Shea Butter Organic Cocoa Butter

Leon ‘Bigger Biggs’ Samuel (left) introduces Carlita Campbell, a farmer, who cut the ribbon to officially declare open the Yambou operations of the SVG ABC Ltd.

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18. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Kingstown Chorale donates to SJCK

A handshake between (L-R): Antoinette Best, Principal of the SJCK, and Jeanne Horne, Musical Director of the Kingstown Chorale, signifies the passage of the piano (also pictured) from the Chorale to the School.

FOR THE PAST 20 years, the Kingstown Chorale has called the premises of the St Joseph’s Convent Kingstown (SJCK) home.

Since 1997 and while the school was still under the stewardship of Sister Maureen Alexander, the ensemble began practising on the compound.

This had come about shortly after Jeanne Horne, the current Musical Director of the Kingstown Chorale and retired Headmistress at the Girls’ High School, left office. Until then, the GHS was home — as was a number of other venues

A representative group of members of the Kingstown Chorale rendering a song in appreciation of the assistance offered by the SJCK. in the 60 years that the chorale has been in existence.

Last week Friday, the Kingstown Chorale handed over a piano to the SJCK. Rachel Haslam, member of the Chorale, explained that Sr Maureen gave the initial nod, giving consent for the use of the school grounds.

“Unfortunately, the Kingstown Chorale does not have its own home,” she said.

Over time, she continued, the unit has performed locally, regionally and internationally and a portion of the proceeds from these performances was used to purchase the instrument.

The donation was symbolic of the appreciation to the staff and students of the SJCK who, over the years, have welcomed the Chorale as one of its own, and to the people, this according to

Haslam.

“We owe a lot of gratitude to the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines, our fans, who continue to support us, so we say thank you,” Haslam said.

As part of the morning’s presentation, students at the institution were treated to a number by the Chorale, with Director Horne providing accompaniment on the piano which was just gifted. (DD)

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. 19.

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20. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Not a nice situation Dear George, I HAVE BEEN living with ‘this aunt’ of mine for the past 8 months. My mother arranged for me to stay there because things were hard with her. I am now learning that ‘this aunt’ is not my biological aunt, which might explain why she has been treating me in the worst of ways. There are times when I had to go to sleep without anything to eat, punishment for something I knew I never did.

I have tried many times to tell my mother what is going on, but her response has always been, “Try and stick it out.”

I am not happy and I want somebody to address my situation.

Some of the things my so called aunt is doing to me I cannot explain here. I am in so much pain. A friend encouraged me to write this letter to you asking for your help.

Hurting teenager

Dear Hurting teenager, Thank you for sharing this with me. You need to make another attempt to get this message through to your mother. If she still refuses to listen, then contact Marion House.

The counsellor (s) at Marion House may be more successful in getting your mother to sit down with you and begin to work towards a solution to this problem.

There is no justification in one person abusing the other. Your case is no exception. You need to get this situation addressed so your mind can be clear enough for you to focus on your education. Please keep me posted.

George

Replaced by a piece of rubber while you are away, this be introduced into a could be her way of relationship until there MY GIRLFRIEND and I is a clear understanding saying that this is an alternative to her are fighting over an issue about the reason and cheating. Another topic usage for them. And which I thought we had for discussion at your even if it is, it must settled 2 years ago. She counselling sessions. never be looked at as a wanted to get a dildo If she insists on her replacement tool. then, but she decided position and refuses to You do have a much against it. Her reason for getting it was that it bigger problem, however. seek counselling, then you will have to consider would “comfort’ her while When your partner the option of separation.

I was at sea. (I work on a presents the argument that she needs to have a cruise ship).

George I came home on leave sex toy to satisfy her very recently, and I noticed she was quite distant. I could not find a good reason for this until I accidentally Dear George, stumbled upon an oversized dildo in her I AM TIRED of being treated like dirt by my bag. I confronted her girlfriend and her mother. Each time we have an about it, and she made it argument, she runs home to her mother, and her plain and straight to me mother responds by cursing me out. I have had that the said dildo was enough! bringing her more We live together and she is constantly asking pleasure than I would me about marriage, going as far as to say that, ever give her. She has once I marry her, she will be the kind of wife I replaced me with a piece always wanted. I am wondering if any of this is of rubber which, as I told true, and whether I should go ahead and marry her, she can continue to her. enjoy without me. She begged me not to walk Deep in thought out on her, but what choice do I have?

Dear deep in thought,

Dear George,

Heed the signs

Hurt and insulted Dear Hurt and insulted, You do have the option of giving the relationship a chance. Suggest to your girlfriend that both of you sign up for some much needed relationship counselling, during which you can thrash out the things that have been plaguing your relationship.

A sex toy should never

When in search for a wife, do so with caution and eyes and ears wide open. A mango tree will naturally only bare mangoes, and should you see apples on a it, you need check the facts about that tree.

Your girlfriend has given you more than a sneak preview of what life would be like having her as a wife. She has even given you a view as to the type of mother in-law you are going to get in the package.

Marriage would not magically transfer her into a beautiful and loving wife. Take what you see as the truth about your girlfriend and reset your GPS and head into another direction.

George

Leisure

Aries (Mar. 21- April 20) Your ability to deal with others will help you in getting the support you need. Your partner could make you angry if they steal your thunder or embarrass you in front of others. Don’t hesitate to sign up for lectures or seminars that will enlighten you.

Taurus (Apr. 21- May 21) Work quietly on your own and you will forge ahead. Don’t back down but don’t ignite the situation. You can gain distinction; however, it may be for the wrong reasons. You will be emotional when dealing with coworkers or employers.

Gemini (May 22-June 21) Make sure that you have all the pertinent facts before taking action. Investments are best left alone this week. You will be your usual charming self and the partners you attract may be the adventurous type. Sit back and observe, regardless of how hard that might be.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Friends may not understand your situation.

Property deals will pay big dividends. Try not to be so demonstrative. Take some time out.

Leo (July 23-Aug 22) Do your own thing. Don’t be afraid to make additions to your house. Be creative in your efforts. You’re best to channel your energy into work.

Virgo (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) You are apt to meet someone special on your journey. Social get-together will bring you in contact with intelligent new friends.

Situations could easily get blown out of proportion if you have made unreasonable promises. You can accomplish a lot if you direct your thoughts toward starting your own small business on the side.

Libra (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Luck is with you, regardless of the financial

venture. You may find yourself mixed up in a triangle of sorts. Disharmony will result in a lowered vitality. Stress may result in minor illness. Be aggressive and colorful, and you will get your way.

Scorpio (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) This is not the time to lend or borrow money or possessions. You may want to sign up for lectures or courses that will bring you mental stimulation. Expect temper tantrums on the home front if you haven’t been letting someone have their way.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Your emotional partner may make you angry this week. Curb the impulse to make lavish purchases and maybe spend some time with good friends. Minor health problems will flare up if you don’t take care of yourself. Leave your checkbook and credit cards at home.

Capricorn (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Your ability to stand out in a crowd will bring you the recognition you desire. You can make a big difference to children if you are understanding of the difficulties they are experiencing. Older family members may take advantage of you by making you feel guilty.

Aquarius (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) You can make wonderful contributions to any organization that you join. Do not let others exhaust you financially. You can accomplish a lot if you deal with other people’s money or possessions this week.

Get busy on those home improvement projects that you’ve been procrastinating about.

Pisces (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) You need to spend time with friends and family. Adventure will result in added knowledge. Concern yourself with legal matters and formulating contracts rather than finalizing your objectives. Use your head and do things to your liking.

ACROSS 1. Permanent army post 5. Bluish white metallic element 9. Illustrative craft 12. 6th month of the Jewish calendar 13. Extent of space 14. Acknowledgement of debt 15. Matron 16. Ship’s small boat 17. Idiot 18. Related by blood 20. City in central Belgium 22. Quantum of electromagnetic energy 25. Calls on 26. Republic in N Africa 27. Thrust 28. Affirmative reply 29. Label 30. Tibetan gazelle 33. Tailless amphibian 35. Flat slab of wood 37. District adjacent to a city 40. Renowned 41. One-celled protozoa 42. Periods of history 43. Falsehood 44. Juniper 46. Apiece 50. Organ of hearing 51. Conceal 52. Worn by women in India 53. Firmament 54. Greek god of love 55. Close DOWN 1. Craze 2. Room with a harem 3.Male sheep 4.Agreement 5. 7th letter of the Hebrew alphabet 6. Republic in SW Asia 7. Of recent origin

8. Seaport in N France 9. Garlic-flavored mayonnaise 10. Heat excessively 11. Bunches 19. Hawaiian acacia 21. Powdery residue 22. Wield 23. Hasten 24. Observation 25. Small cavity in a rock 27. Cushion 29. Label 30. Girl or woman 31. Metal-bearing mineral 32. Find the sum of 33. Clumsy boat

34. Mountain spinach 35. Bleat of a sheep 36. Haunt 37. Auctions 38. Eskimo boat 39. Affected by beer

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. 21.

40. Liberates 42. Root of the taro 45. Atmosphere 47. Exclamation of surprise 48. French vineyard 49. Strike

V

22. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Women in Ottley Hall to be empowered THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN SVG, with support from the New Zealand High Commission Fund, is implementing a Home Gardening Project for the women of the Ottley Hall Community.

The project aims to facilitate the empowerment of the women of the Ottley Hall Community, many of whom are single or stay-at-home mothers.

In real terms, the project will encourage and assist the women

to get involved in backyard and container gardening.

And by encouraging good garden and environmental practices, the project hopes to provide opportunities for selfincome generating sustainable enterprises, engendering in the process a sense of self-worth and dignity among the women.

Forty women are targeted by the project which is intended in due course to reach out to children (50) and men (15).

The project committee has been carrying out consultations with the women and their families, Recipients of hand held tools and Committee Members after the since early February 2018, presentation last Thursday at Ottley Hall. and last Thursday 19th home/backyard gardens was National Council of Women, and April, members of that facilitated by Mr. Conroy includes Mr. Fitz Jones - home committee presented hand held Huggins, a Home Gardening garden facilitator, Mr. Conroy gardening tools to 15 persons Facilitator/Specialist in Urban Huggins - facilitator, Ms. Joyce who are already registered for and Peri-Urban farming.

Burgin - nutritionist and Andre the project.

The project committee is Liverpool - community activist.

Also on Thursday, a coordinated by Mrs. Beverly workshop on Good Agricultural Richards, President of the Practices (GAPs) for

RSVGPF get bulletproof vests SEVENTEEN (17) new bulletproof vests were donated to the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) on April 24, 2018 by Vincentian National Mr. Lantie Castello, a Police Officer with some 28 years of ongoing service in New York City Sheriff’s Department, United States of America.

In accepting the donation, Deputy Commissioner of Police Frankie Joseph conveyed thanks on behalf of Commissioner of Police Colin John and the ranks and file of the RSVGPF. In ensuing remarks, the Deputy stated that it was always a good thing when citizens of St Vincent gave back to the Police.

Noting that the majority of homicides committed here are gun-related, Deputy Joseph stated that the safety of police

officers was paramount and acknowledged that there were times when the men and women within the police force were short of or did not have the necessary protective armour. The donation of bulletproof vests will go a long way in protecting police officers whilst on duty, the Deputy opined, adding that he was certain the police officers who use the vests will feel much safer carrying out their duty.

In his brief remarks, Mr Castello stated that he was starkly aware of the need in keeping up with 21st century law enforcement.

Mr. Lantie Castello (right) and DOP Frankie Joseph at last He recounted the Tuesday’s handing over of bulletproof vests. conversations he had with Deputy Commissioner Mr Castello expressed the and reminded those present at Joseph, and revealed that it view that saving one police the handing over that, “We took him a year before he officer’s life “is a good thing,” are all in it together.” could deliver on his promise.

‘Conversation’ organizers satisfied ORGANISERS OF LAST WEEK’S ‘National Conversation on Crime and Violence’ have declared the event a success.

According to Ronnie Daniel, member of the core-organising committee for the Conversation held at the Methodist Church Hall April 18 and 19, members of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Christian Council (SVGCC), one of the organizations at the fore of pLanning and effecting the event, are pleased with the level of participation and the quality of the information shared over the two days.

“It surpassed our expectations,” Daniel said.

At last week’s opening, President of the SVGCC the Right Rev’d C Leopold Friday mentioned that among the

objectives of the activity was not just to get recommendations for the way forward in reducing crime, but to explore options in order to foster collaborative efforts between the SVGCC and existing institutions.

Daniel explained that he was unable, at this juncture, to indicate what strategies the SVGCC will adopt going forward, but said that the dialogue will have to continue involving institutions, including the prison.

“The event was the beginning of a process that we hope will continue into the future so that we can begin to see a reduction in crime,” Daniel added.

Keynote speaker Professor Anthony Harriott and

facilitator Ingrid O’Marde, were commended for their direct and positive impact on the event which, according to Daniel, event drew participation from NonGovernmental Organizations, students, the police, political parties. “Overall participation was gooD,” he said.

Over the two days, participants heard presentations from other important stakeholders such as the Commissioner of Police Colin John, Registrar in Psychiatry attached to the Mental Health Centre Dr Karen Providence, Superintendent of Prisons Brenton Charles, Barrister-atlaw Julian Jack, and Members of the clergy of a number of Christian denominations. (DD)

Ronnie Daniel said that the organizer of last week’s Conversation on Crime and Violence was pleased with the level of participation.

On Comrade Ralph: The thin edge of the wedge

Continued from Page 8. 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 roots- from 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 MarxismLeninism. Then and only then would the foundation be laid for a oneparty socialist democracy...”

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 communist aspiration, to democratic socialism, to social democracy, to whatever “ism” Ralph attaches to his deeds.

Today, whatever his ideological construct, the philosophical underpinning are a dynasty led by a charismatic leader fuelled by a family circle, with the support of a professional elite, and the people are left darkened unseen in theatre who can only applaud or hiss the performers on stage. A reversion of Gordon Lewis’ modernised version of Plantation Society.

We have to do better than that.

V Athletes rewarded at Sports Awards THE VINCENTIAN.

FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. 23.

National Sports Awards handed out OUTSTANDING SPORTSMEN and sportswomen were recognised for their hard work and achievement for the past year (2017), when the National Sports Council, in conjunction with the National Lotteries Authority, held the National Lotteries Sports Awards Ceremony, at the SVG Community College Auditorium, Villa, last Saturday, April 21.

Awards were handed out for Junior and Senior Sportsman and Sportswoman, L-R: Sunil Ambris, Senior Sportsman; and Linda Mc Dowall, Coach of the Year Senior Sportswoman. and Association of the Year. In of the W.I. Women’s Super 50 call-up to active duty for the addition, awards were handed West Indies Cricket ODI Tournament. out to the Top Journalist and Athletics (Track and Field) (against India and England) Top Photographer for the accounted for the Senior and Test teams (against New Year.

Sportswoman and Coach of the Zealand). Ambris took the And when the lights Year Awards.Middle and long award ahead of West Indies Dillon Douglas, Junior dimmed on the impressive distance runner Linda Mc teammate Keswick Williams, Sportsman. ceremony, cricket Dowall, a member of the ITMyron Samuel (Football) and had snared three of Junior Ashton (Athletics).

DAT Academy, ran ahead of the awards, Dillon Douglas, a member of Cordel Jack (Cricket) and athletics (track and local cricket team Rivals, vice- Kimneke Alexander (track and field) two, with the captain of the SVG Under-19 field) to take the coveted other going to the Senior Sportswoman of the and a member of the rapidly impacting Year Award. Her victories in Windwards Under-19 teams, sport of swimming. showed consistency in the the South American and the The Cricket NACA 10Ks would have local Premier League, the Awards went to advanced her for consideration Windwards and West Indies middle order in this category.

Under-19 competitions. batsman Sunil IT DAT featured again, Others up for that award were Ambris — Senior Ronaldo Franklyn (Volleyball), with its Founder, Director and Sportsman of the Kai Bentick (Squash) and Alex Coach, Michael Olliverrie, Year; all rounder taking the Coach of the Year Joachim (Swimming).

Dillon Douglas — Award. Not only has his Few would have been Junior Sportsman Academy proved itself to be surprised when the SVGCA of the Year; and the overall leading club in was adjudged the Sports The SVG Cricket active track and field here, but Association of the Year, over Association — Ollivierre has been responsible the SVG Volleyball Association of the for nurturing many of this Association, Team Athletics Year. country’s senior and junior SVG and SVG Swimming Notwithstanding Association. The Dr. Kishore representatives to regional his outstanding Shallow-led SVGCA had had a and international meets in form in local and 2017. year (2017) of tremendous regional cricket Swimmer Shne’ Joachim activity and success, not least over the year in won the 2017 Junior being the opening of the review, Ambris’ Sportswoman Award, over Lennox John Cricket L-R: Deighton Butler and Dr Kishore award would have Academy; the reintroduction of Yolande Lewis (Track and Shallow, President of the SVG Cricket been likely and Field), Altica Benn (Football) the Zonal Under-15 Association Inc., Association of the expected given his Competition; and the hosting and Leah Cumberbatch (Table Year.

Shne’ Joachim, Junior Sportswoman.

Tennis). In the process, she counted her fourth lien on the award, adding to those in 2013, ‘14 and ’16. She is now resident in Canada where she is studying and swimming.

Her time of 33.33 seconds in winning gold in the 50 metres breaststroke at the 2017 Prairie Winter International in March last year, was the second fastest in Canada for a 16-year-old. Shne’ is also a CARIFTA medalist.

In addition to trophies, each Awardee receive a cash prize — amounts ranging from EC$2,000.00 to EC$5,000.00, compliments the NLA. The Ceremony heard addresses from Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Minister of Sports Cecil Mc Kie, and featured speaker Dr. Geneille Greaves — a former national cricketer and now a lecturer at the SVG Community College.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Michael Ollivierre. Coach of the Year.

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24. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Sion Hill takes Masters Football Title AFTER HAVING to settle for the third place on the last two editions of the National Lotteries Authority SVG Over 35’s Organisation Masters Football Competition, Sion Hill went two places better, when the 2018 edition concluded last Sunday night at the Victoria Park.

A 2-1 win over Rock Hard Cement/ Howard Marines Calliaqua handed Sion Hill their first Masters title.

Sion Hill dominated the first half of play, and it was no surprise when they went ahead just before the end of the half, as Randy Pierre rose above the Calliaqua defence to put a header past Gosnel Cupid in goal.

The score line was doubled when Diego Sutherland earned a penalty and stepped up himself to convert it.

Calliaqua, though, did not cave in, and mounted wave after wave of attack on the Sion Hill defence, which, together with the rest of the team, began to show signs of fatigue.

The relentless pressure served its purpose when Ishama Mc Kree scored a low shot after the goal mouth Top goal scorer- Lezlo Mc Kenzie is rewarded by Hon. Camillo Gonsalves.

scramble.

Calliaqua then mounted more raids on the Sion Hill goal, coming Sion Hill- the 2018 Masters Football close on a few Champions. occasions with the equaliser, regulation play. but it was again not their Layou went on to beat night.

Bequia 1-0 to take the It was Calliaqua’s second third place. A Greg John consecutive defeat in the final; goal was responsible for they lost to COMPUTEC Layou’s triumph.

Vincy Masters in last year’s For winning the title, decider.

Sion Hill gained $3,000 Both Sion Hill and along with medals and a Jamal Duncan- Most Outstanding Calliaqua had to depend on trophy.

Goalkeeper, gets his trophy from kicks from the penalty spot in Second place Calliaqua Glenroy Caesar of the SVG Over the semi-finals, to get to last pocketed $2,000, a trophy 35’s Organisation.

Sunday’s final. and medals, and Layounetted 13 goals.

Sion Hill got past Layou 6- $1,000, a trophy and medals.

Also rewarded were the 5, after a goalless draw in Layou’s Jamal Duncan was Most Valuable Players of each regulation time, with voted the competition’s Most Calliaqua having a 5-4 win Outstanding Goalkeeper, with of the twelve teams that participated in the from the spot over Bequia, as Lezlo Mc Kenzie of Calliaqua they had drawn level 2-2 in the top goal scorer. Mc Kenzie competition.

Top Male Junior TT players decided THE TOP Male Cadet/Junior Table Tennis players in SVG have been decided.

Completion in the Cadet/Junior Division for boys closed last weekend at the West St. George Secondary School, Belair, with titles being decided in the Pre-Cadet (13 years and under), Cadet (15 years and under), and the Junior (18 years and under) Divisions.

Caleb Howard ruled supreme in the PreCadet Division, taking the title when he defeated Michel Creese in the final, 11/7 11/4, 11/2.

Howard showed his class when he also competed in Caleb Howard - the Cadet Pre-Cadet Division and champion. after playing through some tough competition, reached the finals. He, however, went under to Akeil De Roche, 15/13 11/8 11/8.

The 18 years and Under Division, an Akeil De Roche open - Cadet competition, champion.

allowed for participation by most if not all the Pre-Cadet and Cadet players.

It made for heightened competition and a show of varying levels of skills, with organisers expressing satisfaction with the keenness of the competition.

In what was described as “one of the tightest Junior semi-finals” in recent times, De Roche beat Joshua Joseph 11/6, 7/11, 11/8, 11/8, and Michel Creese came from two sets down to beat the enterprising Howard 9/11, 10/12, 11/5, 11/8, 11/8.

The hard-fought semi-final round seemed to have provided added gusto and

determination for Creese who took the coveted National Junior Table Tennis Championship title when he beat De Roche 9/11, 11/8, 9/11 11/8, 11/7.

Champions De Roche and Creese were not done yet.

They teamed up to take the Junior Male Doubles Championship title, beating Juwan Howard and Celeb Howard, 11/7 11/6 12/10, in the final.

Two weekends ago, Delisha Michael and 12-year-old Lia Cumberbatch were crowned the Under-15 and Under 18 Girls Champions respectively.

Senior Championship

Attention turns this weekend to competition in the National Senior Championship.

The much anticipated 2018 edition served off last evening (Thursday 26th) at the West St. George Secondary School and will run until tomorrow (Saturday 28th).

In addition to participation by two overseas-based players David ‘Sky’ Llewellyn (New York, USA) and Kavir Gaymes (Barbados), others down to ‘impress on the green table’ are defending champion Carlton Daniel, former champions Joseph Carrington, Sean Stanley and Robert Ballantyne, and Romano

Michel Creese - Junior Boys Champion.

Spencer and Andre Mitchell who, along with Daniel, represented this country at the recent Commonwealth Games held in Australia.

Play begins at 5:30pm on each day of competition.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Smashers are First Division Cricket Champions SMASHERS are still basking in glory, as they celebrate being 2018 Champions of First Division Cricket here.

They also had a second reason to celebrate as their First Division Championship earned them a berth in the Premier Division for the next season of national cricket.

Smashers made sure of their place in the top tier when they beat North

Smashers – 2018 First Windward by Division Cricket 8 wickets in Champions of the finals of SVG. the NLA First Division Sunday League 50 Overs Competition, played at the Sion Hill Playing Field.

North Windward took first knock and, after a late start due to some seepage (water) under the covers caused by overnight rain, they got to 159 for 9 from 36 overs. Sealron Williams top scored with 60.

Javid

Harry took 3 for 26 and Darren Greaves 2 for 21.

Raymond Rouse had no plans of unnecessarily prolonging the encounter and launched into the North Windward bowling attack. He remained unbeaten on 76, his contribution to North Windward – Smashers 161 for 2 in 16 overs. Cuthbert losing finalist in the 2018 NLA First Springer and Ronald Scott chipped in with Division Sunday League 50 Overs 28 not out and 20 respectively.

Competition.

Smashers will now join the other top three teams from the First Division in the inaugural 50 Overs Club Championship, against the four top teams of the Premier Division.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Raymond Rouse led Smashers rush to victory with an unbeaten 76.

V

THE VINCENTIAN.

FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. 25.

Sports

The cup running over SPORTS lovers are relishing the feast. And it’s going to get better. Imagine two World Cups back to back. With the Football segment soon to be decided, soccer fans the world over have arranged their itinerary for the full flow. No one will be intrigued that the Russian hosts have some influence. But then what is there that Russia has no inkling of?

They are indisputable. They shrug off accusations. Ghosts of the bidding process may surface as living testimony of the dreams of what might have been. Especially that the USA did not qualify, and that it occurred in the most bizarre circumstances.

Honduras, who filled the fourth spot of the Concacaf’s hexagonal, should have been expected to qualify in the Play against what turned out to be Australia.

But the Australians seemed to have wanted it more, and perhaps, the spillover of the situation in Honduras was enough for the god of natural justice to impose some handling on the Honduran outfit.

This World Cup will be sensational. It might be astounding to determine to what extent money runs the rout. Therefore it will not be the team that plays the best football that lifts the trophy.

The Avenues Football Club gained a crude awakening in the operations of some tournaments, and they have to adjust to the conditions and move onto to the next chapter.

That might be in two years. In between, the Nation’s Cup will generate excitement. And with countries peeved by their performances at the World Cup qualifiers, they will be taking it a rebuilding exercise.

The other ‘World Cup’ is the cricket affair in England starting May 30. The West Indies are in the mix, with each team meeting the other until the top four move into a semi-final showdown.

Reserve days are set aside for the semis and final. West Indies play Pakistan May 31, and Australia June 6, both at Nottingham. Monday June 10 sees West Indies and South Africa at Southampton. That’s the venue for their fourth match Friday, June 14 at Southampton.

The Windies surface three days later at Taunton against Bangladesh. Their only Saturday fixture is against New Zealand June 22 at Manchester. They stay for a clash with India Thursday, June 27.

West Indies end first Round duties against Afghanistan July 4. That was preceded by the Monday July 4 against Sri Lanka.

If there is a reason to go to England, next year might be the window. Recent attempts to deport a section of Caribbean migrant workers raised the spectre of rejection, and one might be inclined about asking if this is worth it.

I get a sense of pity from the actions of some West Indian cricketers. They seem to want to take a stranglehold of the game without any regard for the foundation which gave them some exposure.

West Indies cricket will go on after whoever cricketers have represented the region. After whoever has been president. If politicians can come up with a team to take the region on a sound footing, they can wrest control of West Indies Cricket.

Until they can convince me that they take regional integration seriously, it will be better for them to focus on their main event and allow civil society to function.

Dillon Gooding makes history DILLON GOODING wrote himself into the history books of St. Vincent and the Grenadines when he became the first Vincentian to qualify for the semi-final round in a swimming event at the Commonwealth Games.

Gooding achieved that mark when he qualified for the semi-final of the 50-metre Backstroke at the recently concluded 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia, swimming in a heat on April 6 at around 11:00am, under what was described as a midday sun that caused

problems for many of the swimmers.

A 7:00pm semi-final that same day, saw Gooding recording a personal best time of 29.74 seconds which accorded him 16th position, not good enough to get him into the finals.

The local Swimming Association described the accomplishment as an experience that Dillon will remember for a lifetime, and quoted the young man as saying, “This is one of the proudest moments I have felt in my life so far.

Hearing mine and my country’s name

announced Dillon in front of a Gooding – live Vincentian audience of history 100,000 maker. spectators was an amazing feeling.”

Coach Kyle Dougan commented that each of the four-member team which represented SVG at the Games swam exceptionally well.

In addition to Gooding, Cruz Halbich, Alexander Cyrus and Nikolas Sylvester, the other members of the team, all recorded personal best times -

Halbich in the 200-metre freestyle in 2 mins. 9 secs, and Cyrus and Sylvester with 25.57 seconds and Sylvester 25.44 seconds respectively in the 50metre freestyle.

Six Vincies in WÊwards Female Cricket team SIX VINCENTIAN female cricketers have been selected in a 13-member squad to represent the Windward Islands in the Cricket West Indies’ Regional Women’s Tournament scheduled for Jamaica in June, with teams playing both 50-over and T20

formats.

The six are Vinisha King, Kimone Homer, Juliana Nero, Cordel Jack, Glendeen Turtin and Stacy-Ann King who will service as vice-captain.

They will join: Afy Flecher (captain), Qiana Joseph, Nerissa Crafton, Aria

Fortune, Rachel Cryrus, Akeria Peters, Pearl Etienne, Shantan Charles, Taylor Dickson, Zaida James and Ronette Sanford.

The Windwards squad was selected following the completion of the Inaugural Senior Windward Islands Women’s 50-overs and T20 Cricket Championships, played in St. Lucia.

The Vincentians SVG played unbeaten in selected to the the round robin segment of Senior Windwards the 50 Overs Championship Cricket Team (Land went on to defeat St. R): Vinisha King, Lucia in the finals. They, Cordel Jack, however, lost to St. Lucia in Juliana Nero, the finals of the T20.

Stacy-Ann King, Glendeen Turtin, I.B.A.ALLEN Kemone Homer.

SVG Rugby targets communities The SVG Rugby Union partnered with the Cicada Foundation on Saturday 21st April 2018, to deliver a rugby impact event in the community of Rose Place (Bottom Town), as part of the Rugby Union’s drive to spread the sport across the state.

Some 16 boys and girls

were involved in the event, which comprised a number of fun activities that culminated in some tag rugby games, all aimed at introducing the sport to the children.

The Rugby Union said

it was pleased to partner with the Cicada Foundation,

Children of Rose Place and rugby coaches pose for this photograph on Nine Steps, a landmark of the Rose Place community.

Belair Primary takes WSG Cricket title BELAIR Primary School are the title holders of the 2018 KFC/Standard Caribbean Shipping Inc. West St George Primary Schools Cricket Festival.

The Festival, which resumed after a two-year lapse, accommodated five Primary schools from the constituency: Belair Government, Dorestshire Hill Government, Belmont Government, Gomea Methodist and Sion Hill Government.

Belair earned the title when they Belair Government School – dispensed with the Belmont by 5 Champions of cricket among the wickets, in the finals played last Primary Schools in the West St. weekend at the Belair Playing Field.

Belmont took first turn at the crease George constituency. and made 99 from 15 overs, Boruvin Nicolas Horne 2 for 19.

Cain, 23, and Ken Aberdeen,14, the Belair responded with 100 for 5 from only batters to get into double figures.

14 overs.

Bowling for Belair, Damian Chance I.B.A. ALLEN took 3 for 8, Zakayla Harry 2 for 23 and

founded by Eniye Kagbala and JD, and which has identified sports as a channel through which it can pursue its objective of enhancing the lives of children in the state.

Cicada seeks to identify individuals in the communities they have targeted, who can assist with their programming.

In the case of the recent Rugby effort in Rose Place, Keneisha Gordon, a resident who teaches children in her community in her spare time, assisted in organizing that activity.

The SVG Rugby Union said that the Rose Place activity revealed some good talent with which to work.

I.B.A.ALLEN

26.

FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. 27.

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MISS LOUISE ³0272´ 7,77/(

Kingstown Methodist Church Friday, April 20, 2018 Viewing: 2:00 p.m.

Service: 3:00 p.m.

Kingstown Methodist Church Thursday, April 19, 2018 Viewing: 100 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p.m.

New Life Ministries North Union Saturday, April 21, 2018 Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service 2:00 p.m.

ALSTON WILLIAMS

DEVON O. SAMUEL

Richland Park SDA Church Sunday 22 April 2018 Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p.m.

Troumaca Methodist Church Saturday, 21 April 2018 Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p..

SIGBERT OLLIVIERRE Church of the Immaculate Conception Mayreau 22nd April, 2018

F O R

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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S A L E

FRIDAY,

APRIL 27, 2018

VOLUME 112, No.17

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COACH OF THE YEAR LEAVING? MICHAEL OLLIVIERRE, who only last weekend received the Coach of the Year Award at the National Sports Council Sports

Award Ceremony, has been thrown into a warp of contemplation.

THE VINCENTIAN learned from very

Michael Ollivierre has not, it seems, made up his mind with respect to an offer to return to coach in Jamaica.

reliable sources — both local and overseas - that Ollivierre has had offers of coaching positions from institutions in Jamaica, with one such offer coming from the prestigious Kingston College (‘KC’).

‘KC’is an all boys’ high school that occupies two campuses with a purported total enrollment of 1900.

It once dominated both the academic and sporting endeavours among secondary schools in Jamaica, and while it may have maintained its outstanding academic record, it has fallen on hard times as far as sport, especially in track and field, is concerned.

Indications are, according to THE VINCENTIAN’S sources, that ‘KC’, determined to improve its standing in inter-secondary school track and field, has launched a search for a reputable and recordproven coach to lead a new development phase of his athletics programme.

Ollivierre’s name reportedly surfaced among the fancied choices to fill that post,

and when contacted earlier this week, he did not deny that the overture had come his way.

‘KC’ seems bent on securing the services of Ollivierre, and have apparently made an offer of remuneration and fringe benefits that are not short of being astronomical.

But what makes SVG’s 2017 Coach of the Year so attractive?

Some checking by THE VINCENTIAN showed that Jamaicans recognize Ollivierre as one of the most successful track and field coaches on the Jamaica secondary school circuit.

During his 1981 — 1997 tenure as track and field coach and then Sports Director at Jamaica’s St. Elizabeth Technical High School (SETHS), he led that institution to numerous national track and field titles and a phenomenal 21 Penn Relay titles. He was honoured by that institution in a special ceremony last year.

He has also accounted for some 35 Jamaican CARFITA gold medalists, and one of his cares,

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

Kenroy Levy, still holds the CARIFTA record for the 800 metres, a record set in 1988.

‘KC’ would have taken note of that and the fact that Ollivierre facilitated some 91 scholarships for athletes from STEHS, during the time he served there.

And while Ollioverre gave no ‘yes or no’ answer when THE VINCENTIAN asked him whether he had made up his mind, he recognised the offer as proof of the esteem with which he is held in Jamaica.

Pressed for a definitive response, Ollivierre circumvented the pressure by referring to some of what he has done since his return home.

Not only has he established a functioning Academy — IT DAT — that has attracted members from both primary and secondary schools, but he has already produced nationally acclaimed athletes.

“I want to continue working in this area, and I have already promised a CARIFTA gold medal in the girls 400m relay,

among others,” he said, adding, “In addition, I am continuing to identify overseas scholarships for deserving athletes here and have already opened doors in Jamaica in this regard, which is something new.”

“All in all, and with my recent election as Vice President of Team Athletics SVG, it seems that I have indeed returned home and sunk roots again,” he continued.

“Overseas offers are always going to be attractive, but perhaps the promise of what can be accomplished here might be strong enough to resist them… but you never know,” Olliveirre admitted.

Ollivierre returned home under a state contract with, among others tasks, one of producing ‘world class’ athletes. There might be some way still to go in this regard, and for that reason, SVG might remain the stronger pull.

“But with track and field facilities still wallowing in the past century, who knows?”

Ollivierre quipped. (SR)

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