THE VINCENTIAN PDF- 30-08-19

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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FRIDAY,

AUGUST 30, 2019

VOLUME 113, No.31

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

SVG HOSTS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM CONFERENCE

by DAYLE DA SILVA

THE REGION leaves a very small carbon footprint; however, we pay a heavy price for what is taking place globally.

And it was with this in mind that delegates from across the region and a few representing tourism markets outside the region, converged here for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) 2019 Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development, otherwise known as the Sustainable Tourism Conference.

The Conference opened last Wednesday, August 28, at the Beachcombers Hotel having been pushed back one day as a result of the passage of Tropical Storm Dorian.

This was the first international tourism conference hosted in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Sustainable Tourism Conference forms part of the information dissemination and regional awareness component

Section of those in attendance at last Wednesday’s opening. of the CTO’s strategy for sustainable tourism.

It was set to discuss sustainable tourism, examine how member states can design and implement sustainable tourism policies and programmes, and serve as a regional forum for the exchange of information on the successes and pitfalls of

member states.

Keeping the Right Balance The theme for this year’s conference was ‘Keeping the Right Balance: Tourism Development in an Era of Diversification’.

Secretary General (Ag) of the Caribbean Tourism

Glen Beache, CEO/SVGTA, recognized Organization Neil the need for the tourism dollar to Walters said via a reach into the hands of the people. televised address, that it was very development and the human important that the theme of race, and the changes we have the conference included the caused in the world around us. phrase ‘Keeping the right “In fact, it is clear that Balance’, adding that the man’s development in the last region needed to keep at the forefront of its mind, the Continued on Page 3. delicate balance between its

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2. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Services

New Medical Care facility opened

Principals and staff of the IMC and IMUC in front of the new facility at Pembroke.

PERSONS RESIDING ON THE LEEWARD SIDE of mainland St. Vincent can now readily access affordable, professional and specialized medical care/treatment.

After just two years of operations from its Arnos Vale location, the Integrated Medical Care (IMC) clinic has opened another much larger facility at Pembroke.

The ultrasound machine makes for improve and precise assessment.

The formal opening took place on Saturday, August 17, 2019.

The new clinic, under the name Integrated Medical Urgent Care (IMUC), will offer specialized services in Cardiology (heart), Oncology (cancer), Nephrology (kidney), Radiology (X-ray), Hematology (blood) and Dentistry (teeth), among other medical needs.

Dr. Masada James, who along with Dr. Canesha Browne are the ‘brains’ behind these undertakings, said that being able to diagnose a medical problem quickly allows for early intervention.

The earlier the correct treatment begins, the quicker the

recovery will be.

It is towards this end that the new clinic is focused and along with its professional consultations in specialized areas, the clinic offers ultrasound, laboratory and X-ray services, among other services to aid in timely diagnosis.

The clinic also offers a full pharmacy service and the principals said that an ambulance service will be available in the coming months.

Opening

The official opening ceremony heard addresses from Ms. Joy Matthews, who gave an overview of the company, and a keynote address by Dr. Dale Dangleben MD, a close friend of both Drs. Browne and James.

Pastor Noel Clarke blessed the facility and Dr. Browne and daughter Ebony cut Left: Dr. Canesha the ribbon to declare Browne with the facility open to daughter Ebony business. in hand, cut the The MC for the ribbon to official occasion was Angela declare the “Ideisha” Jackson. facility open.

During the formal

opening, several staff members were awarded for their dedicated service.

Patrons who have benefitted from the service at IMC were presented with tokens Members of staff, like Immaculata Johnson (right), were recognised for of appreciation their dedicated service. and were facility. also given the The IMUC clinic opportunity to briefly officially opened its doors relate their experiences for business from with IMC. Monday, August 19, Invited guests were 2019. (Contributed by: given a tour of the new Donald De Riggs)

A further glimpse of the facilities at the clinic.

V News 3 BAICO policy More payments holder to meet to BAICO policy holders

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30s, 2019. 3.

THE BRITISH AMERICAN and CLICO Insurance Company Policyholders Group (BACOL) was formed in Grenada in 2013 with the main objective of recovering policyholder’s investments from the failed British American and CLICO Insurance Company, their subsidiaries and affiliates.

After its formation, BACOL was extended to include membership from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in addition to the original membership of Grenada.

BACOL has retained an extremely competent Team comprising of eminent Queen’s Counsel Mr. Simon Davenport (Head of 3 Hare Court Chambers in London, England) and Senior Counsel Dr. Kenny Anthony (Former PM of St. Lucia), as well as Junior Counsels Mr. Robert Strang and Mr. Raphael Ajodhia, and experienced Trade Ambassador (Ret.) Mr. Gerald Thompson.

The Team will be holding a Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday September 4th at 5:00pm at the Methodist Church Hall to inform Policyholders of their rights within Community law, and to offer guidance on the timeframe for submission of the legal case to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

The concerted hope is that the Meeting will lead to Policyholders from St. Vincent and the Grenadines joining with approximately one thousand (1,000) other Policyholders in approaching the CCJ pursuant to their rights within the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

Accordingly, all BACOL Members, as well as policyholders who may not now be Members of BACOL, but would wish to join in this litigation, are invited to attend this important Meeting.

(Submission)

the event that a policy holder failed to collect that first distribution, that amount will also be available.

Judicial Managers across the Eastern Caribbean were Another round of payments to BAICO policy continuing in holders is set to begin next week. their efforts to In relation to CLICO, the obtain more cash for distribution, Prime Minister said that he was Gonsalves noted.

These efforts include successful in discussion with Barbadian litigation against former Director Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who had indicated that she was in the Lawrence Duprey and other process of putting together some former directors, resulting in a judgement in excess of US$100m documentation in the lead-up to a obtained in the United States and formal meeting between the two Heads of State, to review the recognized in Trinidad and progress made on that issue. (DD) Tobago.

Gonsalves further pointed out that there were still some properties to be sold in Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada, and Continued from Front Page. conferences like the one that the judicial managers (since concluded) were intended to collect on a number of one hundred years has relevant in that they outstanding mortgages. essentially outpaced the provided platforms for the And there was litigation to be earth’s adaptation to this dissemination of good taken against a local commercial development,” Walters said. practices, which, if bank in the amount of EC$146m.

This, he said, had led to properly implemented, Any recoveries made in this some dire consequences “can help to bridge the gap regard will be for the benefit of such as climate change and ensure a symbiotic policy holders in SVG only, which we face today. relationship between Gonsalves assured. tourism and the Tourism – Economic environment in which it lifeblood functions,” Walters contended.

As the most tourism-dependent The tourism dollar Neil Walter, CEO (AG) of the region in the world, CTO, cautioned the region Walters said that Chief Executive Officer that it needed to be aware of THE GOVERNMENT OF THE memorial there was no doubt (CEO) of the St Vincent REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) which seek to the balance between its that tourism was the and the Grenadines has pledged US$150,000 toward the honour him,” development and the region’s economic Tourism Authority Glen setting up of a scholarship fund in the Prime changes it has caused in the lifeblood.

Beache pointed out that honour of Sir Vincent Beache, former Minister world.

“Millions of our SVG has grown as a leader of the Unity Labour Party, explained. citizens depend on tourist destination over who died on August 5.

Sir Vincent much money in the country tourism in both direct recent years, but that Prime Minister Dr. Ralph was formerly as possible. and indirect ways,” he meant nothing unless the Gonsalves said in Parliament last recognized in “And that is putting it Sir Vincent Beache said. people got to feel what that bluntly: and what makes it Thursday, while paying tribute to Parliament, Tourism has also brought to them. the former Parliamentarian, that with members will have a even harder, we are not just contributed to the “I mean financially and Government had taken a decision to on both sides scholarship fund up against each other in the development of the being able to provide for match the Taiwanese contribution, paying tribute set up in his name. region, we are up against region, making their family and many other every country in the world,” and he committed himself to looking to the 87contributions to the things,” Beache said. for additional funding from both local year-old veteran politician. he said. construction of schools According to the CEO, it private and public entities, as well as His years in politics span from For example, during the from abroad.

1972, and he served as Leader of the and medical facilities was a must for communities 1970s, nobody would have and the upgrading of to enjoy a part of the The fund will be used to assist Opposition between 1985 and 1989. believed that Vietnam public utilities and tourism dollar. students attending the St Vincent Sir Vincent served first as would have been a world roads.

That meant that they and the Grenadines Community Parliamentarian Representative for player in tourism — but they Tourism, Walters had to manage sites, and College and Universities across the the North Central Windward are. emphasized, has had to be trained because region, Gonsalves said. constituency and then the South “And every country has improved the quality regardless of what is said, “This is separate and distinct from Windward constituency before realized what tourism of life in the region. the primary objective was to brings to their economic any other scholarships set up in his retiring in 2005 from active politics.

He noted that say to visitors to leave as (DD) memory, or any other fitting standing,” he said.

PAYMENT AMOUNTING to EC$6.1m to policy holders affected by the collapse of British American Insurance Company (BAICO) in 2009. is expected to begin here next Monday, September 2.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said in a Ministerial Statement in Parliament on July 22, that this payment is a part of EC$30 million that have been released for distribution to policy holders in the Eastern Caribbean.

This has come in part through litigation efforts and sale of property.

“In addition, I secured from the Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, through him and from the governments of the Eastern Caribbean, to allow at this time for $7m owed to the government to go to the pool,” Gonsalves explained.

As it stands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, there are 490 remaining policyholders who are owed close to EC$5 million, and a further 33 policyholders with US$ policies amounting to just over US$450,000.00 Previous payments focused on policy holders with amounts of under EC$30,000; the payments to be made this time around are for those policy holders of above EC$30,000.

But according to Gonsalves, in

Scholarship fund to honour Sir Vincent

SVG hosts Sustainable Tourism Conference

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4. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Courts

Compay turned to God before passing “He knew that his time was close at hand and he prepared himself,” the CONVICTED murderer Daniel ‘Compay’ Prisons boss said.

Dick Trimmingham turned to God and Asked about ‘Compay’s’ conduct as a repented in the closing stages of his life. prisoner, Charles said that, while ‘Compay’ died at the Belle Isle ‘Compay’ broke some prison rules from Correctional Facility August 23, after time to time, he was generally very cobeing discharged from the Milton Cato operative with the prison authorities.

Memorial Hospital earlier that day. He The prison chief said he could not was 65. say that the authorities had any major He was serving a sentence of life problem with him. imprisonment for the January 2003 Charles used the opportunity to murder of 68-year-old Carriere extend condolences, on behalf of the livestock farmer Albert ‘Bertie’ prison staff, to ‘Compay’s’ relatives Browne. and family. He said ‘Compay’s’ family Browne, ‘Compay’s’ cousin, was made a request to take the burial, and beheaded and disemboweled, then noted that the law provides for this to buried in the Carriere mountains. The be done with the guidance of a medical body was unearthed January 9, 2003. officer.

Browne’s murder had triggered Attorney Kay Bacchus-Baptiste, shock waves across the country, and is who represented ‘Compay’ at his trials considered by many to be one of the and appeals, told THE VINCENTIAN, most brutal crimes to have ever been “I was told that he (‘Compa’y) turned committed here. to God and repented. It shows that none of us are too far gone that we A co-operative inmate cannot repent.”

She quoted Lamentations, Chapter During a telephone conversation 3, verses 22 and 23 — “It is of the with THE VINCENTIAN on Monday, Lord’s mercies that we are not Superintendent of Prisons Brenton consumed because his compassions fail Charles said ‘Compay’ had been not. They are new every morning. battling cancer for the last year or Great is thy faithfulness.” two, but what was significant is that Asked whether she had any regrets he was able to confess and give his life representing ‘Compay’, Bacchusto Christ in the last months of his life. Baptiste said, “It was a state-assigned Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

brief, and I did it to the best of my ability, just as I have always done and will always do for all my clients”.

The trial sequence ‘Compay’ was first sentenced to death on November 17, 2003, after being convicted of Browne’s murder.

On June 22, 2004, the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal quashed ‘Compay’s’ conviction, set aside his sentence, and remitted the matter to the High Court for retrial.

‘Compay’ was again convicted and sentenced to death on December 8, 2004. He again appealed his conviction and sentence at the regional level, but his efforts were turned down, October 13, 2005.

Subsequent to this, ‘Compay’, represented by Bacchus-Baptiste, took the case to the Privy Council.

The London-based Privy Council commuted ‘Compay’s’ death sentence to life imprisonment on June 22, 2009, concluding that it did not consider the crime for which ‘Compay’ was convicted to be the ‘Worst of the Worst’, such as to call for the ultimate penalty of death. The Judges were also of the view that the object of keeping ‘Compay’ out of society entirely could be achieved without executing him.

Veteran calypsonian, pannist jailed VETERAN CALYPSONIAN and pannist Bernard ‘I-Reality’ White will spend the next four years behind bars for unlawfully and maliciously wounding his younger brother Fitzroy White, by stabbing him multiple times with an icepick.

Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett handed down the penalty at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday, after White, who gave his age as 70, was convicted following a trial which started last week at the Kingstown Magistrate Court.

The brothers live in the same house at McKie’s Hill, Kingstown, but in separate sections of the building, this, it is alleged, because there is an ongoing dispute between the two.

The younger brother told the Court that around 3:05 p.m. August 14, as he was heading towards the towards the door of his section of the house, his elder brother hurled a bottle at him.

The bottle did not hit the victim but the defendant ran into him with a bucket cover and he (Fitzroy) slipped and fell to the ground. The defendant then got on top of the victim and stabbed him in the left side of his stomach with an icepick. He said the doctor told him he received nine stab wounds.

“The neighbour son came to my assistance and he (Bernard) said, ‘You want me to kill him,’ and the neighbour son say, ‘Don’t kill him,’ and

he (Bernard) said, ‘You lucky he say don’t (expletive) kill you,’ and he (Bernard) walked out the yard,” the younger brother related.

He added that the neighbour’s son took him to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where he was treated.

The Court also heard evidence from a neighbour, who corroborated the victim’s story.

The defendant, who was unrepresented, denied that he was the aggressor that evening. He told the Court his younger brother attacked him with a bottle, and he picked up a bucket cover to defend himself. He said he had an icepick in his pocket, and during a scuffle, his brother got wounded.

The elder White had initially pleaded guilty, but based on his explanation, the Senior Magistrate entered a not guilty plea, and the matter was tried.

The defendant had been before the Court on previous occasions, charged in connection with incidents of violence against the same brother, but this matter was perhaps the most serious.

The elder White, a stalwart member of the local calypso fraternity, has been inactive over the last five years or so.

He was also a leading pannist, and was perhaps the first calypsonian here to have rendered a calypso

accompanied by a steel orchestra.

But it was not only on Bernard ‘I reality’ the cultural White landscape that White was known. He was an active participant in the movement of the 1970s which sought to build a black consciousness and awareness, he did so as a member of the Black Liberation Action Committee (BLAC) , now defunct.

One of his early calypsos, ‘Go Colonization’, reflected the struggles of that era.

Daniel ‘Compay’ Dick Trimmingham’s death means that he has fallen short of fulfilling a promise he made to journalists during one of his early Court appearances in 2003. He had told journalists then, “I will be Daniel ‘Compay’ Dick Trimmingham back!”

Labourer charged for stabbing vendor KRISTOFF HUGGINS, 27-year-old labourer of Belair, was remanded Monday on a wounding charge with intent, after Prosecutor Curlene Samuel informed the Court that the victim was warded at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.

Samuel also informed the Court that there was a possibility of the charge being upgraded, because of the severity of the injuries.

Huggins is charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding with intent Michael Glasgow, 28year-old vendor of Kelbourney, who was stabbed twice in his back during an incident at Bedford Street, Kignstown, last Saturday morning, allegedly following an altercation the night before.

Samuel asked that the accused be remanded at this stage, and that the issue of bail be reviewed in a week’s time.

Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett granted the request, and Huggins who was not called upon to plea, was remanded.

The matter was adjourned to September 3 when the accused would appear before the Serious Offences Court.

Dress code doesn’t bother Senior Magistrate THE ISSUE of a dress code in Court does not bother Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett.

Burnett made this clear when a defendant, taking the dock, apologized before any charge was read to him, for the way he was dressed.

The Senior Magistrate, who seemed not to have even noticed how the defendant was dressed, responded, “These things don’t bother me. What I care about is what people do or say in Court.

“Dress code was made by somebody down the road, and I just go along with the flow.”

The dress code issue in relation to the Court has surfaced from time to time, sparking mixed reaction from members of the legal profession, among whom it has been debated, as well as the public.

The defendant, who was wearing a short pants and t-shirt, admitted that he was not dressed appropriately.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 , 2019. 5.

Regional

Increased visitors to Spicemas 2019 GRENADA’s Spicemas 2019 climaxed August 15, but already the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA), unlike so many of its counterparts in the rest of the OECS, has published figures with respect to visitors arrivals for the festival.

NOW Grenada’s Linda Straker reported that the GTA disclosed that the island recorded a 7.7% increase in arrivals for the 2019 festival, of 13,327 stay-overs, compared to 12,379.

This figure, according to the GTA, is a measure of the visitors and returning nationals arriving in the destination, prior to Carnival Monday.

Of the 13,327 stay-over visitors, 10,505 were tourists and 2,822were Grenadians residing abroad.

The best performing markets for Spicemas 2019, as per the GTA report, were the United States, 21% representing a total of 6,818, and Trinidad and Tobago, 7% representing a total of 1,973.

Part of this growth is attributed to additional airlift, including 3 extra flights from LIAT, increased marketing and the global recognition of Grenada’s artistes, culture and music.

Just some of the thousands of revelers in the 2019 Spicemas Monday Night Mas. (Photo Credit: Spicemas Corporation) Grenada’s Minister of Tourism Dr. Clarice Modeste-Curwen commented: “The numbers speak to the growing interest in Spicemas as one of the best Carnivals to visit in the Caribbean.

Our people make the experience memorable and enjoyable with their warm hospitality and visible pride in their music and culture.”

The GTA, for its part, highlighted, as growing attractions, Grenada’s soca, groovy and calypso music, together with its authentic and distinctly unique offering of Jab Jab and Monday Night Mas, which help to set Spicemas part from other carnivals. (Source: NOW Grenada/Linda Straker)

T&T Minister further disgraced MARLENE MCDONALD has not Marlene McDonald told reporters on only been booted from the Trinidad and Tobago Cabinet, but the day of her bail hearing, that she she has now been discharged as expects to be Deputy Leader of the incumbent acquitted of all People’s National Movement charges. (Photo (PNM).

Credit: Caribbean Prime Minister and Leader of National Weekly) the PNM Dr. Keith Rowley himself made the announcement While the of McDonald’s removal from her party other four appeared in court on position, two days after she was fired Monday 12th August, McDonald did from her Ministerial post, consequent not as she was ill and was admitted to upon her being charged with the St Clair Medical Centre conspiracy to defraud government and She, however, made an appearance misbehaviour in public office. on Tuesday 13th August to fulfil her McDonald, now fired thrice from the bail arrangements. cabinet, has been charged along with McDonald was granted bail in an her common-law husband Michael amount of TT$2 million (US$295,980).

Carew; former head of the National Bail was set for Carew at Commission for Self Help, Edgar TT$500,000 (US$73,995), Zephyrine at Zephyrine; and contractors Wayne TT$1 million (US$148,048), Anthony Anthony and Victor McEachrane. at TT$100, 000 (US$14,804), and They face a total of 49 charges.

McEachrane at TT$400,000 It is alleged that while serving as a (US$59,206). minister, McDonald approved millions They are all expected to appear in of dollars in funds for organizations court on September 9. linked to at least two of the accused; In a fallout to this latest and that all of the accused received ‘government bacchanal’ in the twin the funds knowing or having island republic, Dr Keith Rowley reasonable grounds to the effect that it admitted he may have made a bad was criminal property and constituted judgment call on the former Public criminal conduct in the form of Administration Minister Marlene conspiracy to defraud the government.

McDonald, but insisted his McDonald was also charged with government was not in any crisis. misbehaviour in public office.

(Source: Caribbean360 News)

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6. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Diaspora

Hundreds attend Union Island Day in NY Story and photos by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; kingnaking210@yahoo.com US CORRESPONDENT

Union Island Day coordinators Phil Stewart and Angela Stowe.

HUNDREDS OF UNION ISLAND NATIVES, other SVG nationals and Caribbean nationals turned up at Canarsie Park in Brooklyn, NY, last Sunday, for the 4th Annual Union Island Day. “Everybody came out,” said Phil Stewart, who, with Angela Stowe, cochaired the special event.

“We get to see people we have not seen in years,” he said in a VINCENTIAN interview.

“It not only about Union Island but also about friends and associates, and lots of friends and nationals from the mainland (St. Vincent), Bequia and Canouan,” he added.

With a size of just 3.5 square miles, Union Island is the second largest of the St. Vincent Grenadine islands; the largest is Bequia (7.1 square miles).

“People bring their own food and drinks, and we look forward to seeing a lot of people (on Union Island Day),”

said Stowe, adding: “We started out with a backyard BBQ 10 years ago; then, we started a boat ride.

“Then, we started this (Union Island Day), which is getting bigger every year,” she continued.

Stowe’s relative, Ann Stowe, the chief financial officer at a college in Manhattan, told THE VINCENTIAN, “It’s a good time; we meet, share in the traditional dish of wangoo (the local name for cuckoo) and callaloo.

Phyllis Wilson (left) and Desiree Cox served “Even though I went to up wangoo and callaloo.

Vincy Day (the week before in Long Island, New York), it’s Wyllie.

(Union Island Day) a different vibe A few yards away, Roland “Patel” and culture,” she said.

Matthews, the current NDP Member Nearby, Zilla Stewart, from Ashton, of Parliament for North Leeward, was and Georgina Brown, from Clifton, ‘hanging out’ with his wife Movis, Union Island, were preoccupied in fanning the flames, roasting corn on a cousin Vivian Matthews and close friend Robert Delpesche. small grill.

“The people of Union Island always “This is very good — like back do things together. I got to meet some home,” said Ms. Stewart. of my former students,” added “We do this every year,” chimed in Matthews, who taught for five years at Brown in the unusually cool weather.

“We do this for fun. It feels good to be the Union Island Secondary School, among friends and family, enjoying the before entering politics.

“I wish that the people of St. last weekend of summer.”

Vincent and the Grenadines will Percival ‘Colours’ Ralph, of Sion Hill, Kingstown, and Bennett Straker, continue to do what they’re doing — of Vermont, “ole talked” while sipping whether it’s Union Island Day or Vincy Day USA,” he continued. “Something Carib beers. like this would be good for North “A good gathering!” exclaimed Leeward”.

Straker, a former elementary school teacher at home. “It’s my first time here, and I’ll come back.

“I met one of my cousins I’d not seen in years,” added Straker.

As DJ Burnis struck up a soca beat, and picnic-goers beat drums and cow bells, a reporter politely interrupted Phil Stewart and Bernard Wyllie in deep conversation.

Stewart is the vice president of the Brooklynbased St. Vincent and the Grenadines Progressive SVG MP Roland “Patel” Matthews (2nd from Organization of New York left) with his wife Movis and Matthews’s (SPOONY), the New York cousin, Vivian Matthews (left), and close friend arm of the main opposition Robert Delpesche.

New Democratic Party (NDP) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Wyllie, SPOONY’s public relations officer, is also a former government minister in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“It’s a nice gathering — very friendly, very communityspirited,” said Some picnic-goers.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 , 2019. 7.

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8. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Editorial

Showing maturity THERE WAS A CERTAIN ‘fragrance’ in the air last Monday that was distinctly different from days of similar nature in the past.

When it looked more than likely that this country would be ‘hit’

by Tropical Storm Dorian, Vincentians seemed well advanced of the national appeals for them to take precautionary measures.

There was a sense of expectation which spoke of them knowing and accepting that they had to be prepared, that this was their responsibility as much as that of the state, which we expect to be more concerned with the national services, like ensuring Emergency Shelters.

As expected, as bulletins were aired as often as necessary, there was increased activity at supermarkets, groceries and petrol stations. This, however, was not characterized by any undue rush to get to the top of the line.

Unlike what would have obtained in the past, there was a respect for order, even as danger loomed imminent. Citizens went about their precautionary preparations with a sense of knowledge and organisation.

It appeared also, that persons who had to make use of the Emergency Shelters made early decisions so to do, thereby putting less strain on Shelter Management workers and volunteers in having to respond to a rush of persons’ inordinate demand.

The Emergency Shelters were activated early, and volunteers, from all reports, stood ready to respond.

So much so, when the official declarations and appeals came from the Prime Minister, they were met with a readiness and willingness to comply. Shelter Management personnel moved into action, households moved to mark- off their check lists, and state offices, state corporations and private enterprises moved to enact the emergency plans that they had learned to accept as being as important as any other process that safeguards the interest of their operations.

And while we are on the issue of declarations and appeals, we must recognize the calm with which the Prime Minister did what he had to do as leader of this country. There was no ‘Don’t Panic’ appeal.

The Prime Minister’s appeals were complemented, in a rare spirit of ‘together now’ by the Leader of the Opposition’s, uninvited as he was by the state apparatus, who demonstrated his own sense of responsibility to the welfare of the nation as a whole by making a nationally broadcast appeal.

On yet another occasion, we were saved from nature’s fury, the extent of which we are so well-aware. We have much to be thankful for in this regard.

The challenge from here on in, is for us to remain stoic in the face of future events that can prove devastating to our person and households; our nation’s infra-structure, services and general wellbeing.

From all accounts, we have crossed a new line; we have moved into territory in which we have demonstrated that we are prepared to accept the responsibility of safeguarding ourselves, our communities and nation, which, hitherto, we would have expected, even demanded the state to have done for us.

And in the aftermath, we need to ask ourselves: Do we need tragedies or pending disasters to bring us together?

There is no question that amidst the incivility and conflict that prevail in society in normal times, in this time of pending danger, we noticed reductions in the angry “noise” emanating from the media and our politics.

For a while at least, sounds of animosity diminished, and people were ‘nicer’ to each other. Natural human impulses of empathy and communality were aroused and intensified.

As naïve as it might be, there is nothing more important for our survival than how we treat each other. Rather than anger, animosity, and armaments, we need kindness, caring, and communality.

Why must it be such an irony that these temporary respites occur during times of major tragedies?

Food for thought!

SVG at 21- October 27, 2000 This concludes the message of the then Opposition Leader Dr. Ralph Gonsalves. Next week, a reaction IN SHORT, our neighbours have been doing much better than us. As we celebrate the 21st anniversary of Independence, the plight of street children has been highlighted in the print and electronic media. The proliferation of street children is a new phenomenon in our country. Surely, this must stand as a profound blight on our nation’s anniversary celebrations. In an essay authored by me for publication elsewhere, I stated the following: “Our Caribbean civilisation is stunted to the extent that our countries restrict the full growth and potential of children. Child abuse (sexual and otherwise), street children, child mothers, criminals of tender years, children without basic education, abandoned children, child poverty, homeless children, child labour, child neglect, malnourished children, and children with HIV/AIDS, are categorises which are expanding to the shame and pain of our region. The lack of sufficient material resources are all but a small part of the problem. More pointedly are the lack of the requisite political will, the breakdown of families, the absence of a developed sense of compassion, the poverty of a spirit of solidarity, a retarded political vision, and a growing indifference to suffering. Who are to care for these children but the parents, families, viable communities, sensitive nongovernmental organisations, the State and our civilisation as a whole?”

Recent scientific surveys of public opinion in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have identified the following national problems as the most critical: Unemployment, the economy and education; rising crime; and corruption in government. At the constituency and community levels, a host of other urgent problems are identified by the public, ranging from the conditions of the roads to blocked drains and inadequate access to cemeteries.

Indeed, the range of local problems highlighted by the people in these surveys indicates that the centre cannot hold and things have fallen apart. This is as much a problem of inadequate resources (material and personnel) as it is of management, governance, and leadership and more.

what I call our 20-20 vision; * The connection of that vision with a well-conceived philosophy appropriate to our circumstances and our

history. * The formulation of policies and the detailing of programmes lodged within the vision and philosophy, and connected to and arising from the concern of real flesh-andblood people; * The presence of a leadership (including appropriate party) which possesses sufficient bundle of attributes to lead in this new period of globalisation consistent with the articulated vision, appropriate philosophy , formulated policies, and detailed programmes; and * The restructuring of governance to include the full participation of nongovernmental organisations and viable communities without in any way subverting the principle and practice of representative democracy.

We in the Unity Labour Party (ULP) have stressed repeatedly that our vision that of further ennobling and advancing our Caribbean civilisation, particularly its Vincentian component, in its spiritual, cultural, social, economic and political dimensions. This vision speaks to enhanced opportunities for all our people, at home and abroad, to achieve uplifting individual and societal goals in all spheres of living and production. Our Party’s philosophy is that of social democracy applied to our conditions.

This calls for, among other things, the deepening of democracy and individual freedoms; the building of a balanced economy for sustainable development, the putting of emphasis on people; the modernising of our society and polity; and engendering of solidarity as a guiding principle for action.

The ULP has mapped its vision and set out its philosophy of governance in two documents published on July 31, 2000, entitled Constitutional Reform: A Discussion and Ideas Towards a Social Contract Between the Unity Labour Party and Civic Society.

These are at the centre of a national conversation upon which the ULP has embarked with the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, at home and abroad. My own ideas on a new model of leadership has been sketched in other publications but it is sufficient to state here that a leader must not The way forward merely inspire; he or she, having assessed the possibilities and limitations of those who are Fashioning an appropriate way forward for being led, must draw out of the people that our nation demands at least the following: which is good and noble in them; sometimes * An assessment of the real condition of to draw out that which the people do not our people in all spheres of living and know they possess. production; On behalf of the ULP, I wish all * A full and proper survey of our resources, Vincentians, at home and abroad, a reflective our possibilities and our limitations. and purposeful 21st anniversary of * The articulation of an uplifting vision, Independence.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. 9.

Letters

The CDB debacle and levels of sin

WHEN I WAS growing up in the Roman Catholic Church, they taught me that there were two types or levels of sin: venial sin and mortal sin. A venial sin, if I understood what I was taught, was a lesser sin that did not separate the sinner completely from God. Mortal sin, on the other hand, condemned you to eternal damnation in Hell, so to speak.

I couldn’t help going back to these lessons I received during my Catholic upbringing, as the whole hullabaloo burst about the CDB and its withdrawal of its funding for a certain works project here.

From what I could discern from the government’s attempts, following the fallout, to indulge in some crisis PR, which often means putting a

certain spin on the issue, it appears that the government saw the CDB’s ‘misprocurement declaration’ as a venial sin, and the CDB’s subsequent declaration of ‘no fraud’ a mortal sin.

So, as far as the government is concerned, there might have been misprocurement, which is a lesser sin that doesn’t condemn them, but that they

have committed no mortal sin, since the CDB found no fraudulent activity, in awarding a contract for one of its funded projects .

Do I make any sense here, Mr. Editor?

Oh, by the way, isn’t our Prime Minister a Roman Catholic?

RC

School fees and more My stand on homosexuality WELL, I tell you! What a rude awakening I had recently when I went to register my child for secondary school! And from what I have been hearing, I might not have been the only firsttime parent who got that awakening.

I will be the first to admit that maybe I got it all wrong when the prime Minister said there will be a secondary place for every CPEA student. I thought, in all honesty, that those places would be for free.

What a thing it was

when I found out I had to pay a school fee and a whole set of other charges! The persons at the school I was concerned with, told me that the school fees help to pay teachers and run the school. I thought, Mr. Editor, that all the teachers, whether it was government school or otherwise, were being paid by government. I must have got that wrong too.

Well, here is my take.

With the cost of books going through the ceiling (even if you get some

Janet

classification of acts of homosexuality.

Let me join the conversation you called for, Mr. Editor, and say FIRST and foremost, I must recognise you, Mr. Editor, for being the first and that I have no problem whatsoever in removing the criminal classification may be only editor to have addressed that currently hangs over the laws the issue of homosexuality. relating to homosexuality, etc.

Sometime ago, long before the What I am against, though, is arrival of the bandwagon on which many have climbed aboard, you called removing the laws altogether so as to make it legal and commonplace for for a serious, mature conversation on persons to indulge in same sex this issue. You recognize that it was relationships. not going to go away; that it was a I, as a straight person, am not in reality in our midst and therefore agreement with any move to remove warranted our attention, given our and/or amend the laws. The laws own attitude to the issue as a people, should remain as they are, except for the government’s attitude as made clear by many of its minister, and not that criminal classification.

We have to safeguard our legacy as least, the manner in which the laws a Christian society. In fact, we have address it.

Now, I am aware that two men who to safeguard our society for future generations. profess to be homosexuals have Ours is a society founded on written to the authorities home, with Christian principles, i.e. the laws The a view of having them address the Almighty has laid down in His Holy laws as they apply to homosexuality and buggery. In fact, these men have Book, which condemns the practice of same sex relationships. called for a full revision and amendment to the laws, so as to M. Greene, USA remove, as a start, the criminal

MR. EDITOR: With all the threats coming from the mouths of our politicians, and so many more vile statements on social media, I thought I would share just a few guidelines on what the Bible has to say about our speech: Ephesians 4:29 — “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

Colossians 4:6 - “Let your speech be always

with gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

Matthew 15:11 — “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

Proverbs 15:1-2 — “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools pour out folly.”

Psalm 141:3 - “Set a

under the Book Loan Scheme, you still have to buy quite a bit), these school fees and other charges, having to pay for uniforms even exercise books, I think is time that the government looks into paying all of these school fees or some of the other charges.

After all, if the government could find money just like that, to finish that river works up in Belle Vue, the Prime Minister’s constituency, they could budget for these fees and charges and ease the burden on us tax- payers.

Education in this country is far, far away from being free. Only foolish people like me thought it was.

W.I. lose to IndiaÊs fast The Bible and our speech bowlers

MR. EDITOR, you will forgive me if I seem to be hogging the space on your letter page, but the West Indies cricket team just continues to get on my nerves and I must say my bit.

Yes, for another week I am on cricket, this time to lament and mourn yet another loss this time a big loss in a Test Match against India, played on our own turf.

I remember when we used to laugh at the Indians … say how they afraid of fast bowling — how they back away to square leg. I even recall, though I was still in primary school, how Charlie Griffith almost ended the life of the Indian captain Nari Contractor in 1962, I think.

Then there came an Indian called Sunil Gavaskar and all that changed. Indian batsmen began to flourish in the face of the mightiest bowling attacks from the West Indies and Australia.

But while they made ground with their batting, they depended on their spinners — great spinners.

All that changed with the coming of Kapil Dev. Now the joke is on us… Indian fast bowlers are bowling our batsmen out like it’s an everyday thing. And they not just getting us out cheaply, but they are carting our stumps all over the place.

Imagine, an Indian fast bowler Brumah — bowling at 90mph? And we can’t play him because he moving the ball both ways.

As I said before, time for a true, true shake-up in the West Indies cricket teams. And by the way, time to take stock of Holder’s captaincy as well.

Charles, Edinboro

guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”

I assure you there is a lot more that the Good Book has to say about our speech. If we take

note of and practise what is taught, we would certainly have more harmony among us.

Retiree Arnos Vale

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10. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Challenges facing our The Unity Labour Party: A force for and children good in St. Vincent and the Grenadines women ‘RAPE CULTURE, we cannot pretend that

Introduction IT IS THE consensus among right thinking Vincentians, at home and abroad, that the Unity Labour Party is a force for good in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. There has been tremendous evidence to support this view, right before our very eyes. When the ULP arrived in office in March 2001, our beloved country was in a mess, the education system and the state machinery were in tatters, and there was no leadership.

To many Vincentians in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, March 28th 2001 was deliverance day in the country.

On that day, Vincentians went to the polls and voted overwhelmingly to remove the heavy yoke of the NDP from their necks. That decision by the voters, to cast their votes next to the star, the symbol of the ULP, ushered in a new developmental era in the country.

Having elected the ULP to office in March 2001, Vincentians then reelected the ULP to office in 2005, 2010 and 2015, four in a row. This was so because the people trusted the ULP government to deliver on their commitments, having seen the impressive work of Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and his ULP. Never has there been such a prolific period of development in the history of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Never has there been an outpouring of project work, all aimed at creating jobs, and making life better for the people of SVG.

Vincentians will have noticed that the ULP administration has ramped up its socio- economic development work load, with the official opening of several government projects, and the announcement of plans for some new enterprises. All this is happening at a time when the world economy is still affecting the countries in the Caribbean, including St.Vincent and the Grenadines, in a negative way.

And so the ULP administration has had to ramp up its strategies to deal with the effects of a hostile external economic environment. The success of this can be seen in the fact that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is perhaps one of the few countries in the Caribbean, who has not sought the services of the International Monetary Fund, the IMF. Countries who encounter economic challenges, seek the services of the IMF, to get out of their financial difficulties. The country of Barbados is a case in point.

The new Barbados government has had to introduce a number of tax measures aimed at raising much needed revenue.

Over the next five months, the country will see a hive of construction activity, as two hotel projects get off the ground. In September, there will be the launch of the proposed Marriot Hotel in the Mt. Wynne area. Readers will recall that the government obtained a loan of US$50 million from Understanding our country the Republic of China on Taiwan, for this purpose.

The success of the ULP Then there is the construction of administration under Prime Minister the government-owned ninety-three Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, is based on a room Holiday Inn express in the sound understanding of the issues Diamond area, with work expected to that affect the socio-economic commence towards the end of 2019. development of our country, and the Also related to hotel occupancy is the willingness to devise a framework to construction of the privately owned address these issues. So, from the outset, the ULP offered a vision which Royal Mill Hotel in the Calliaqua area, which will have a total of 200 is based on a policy called “peoplerooms and private villas. centered development”.

All this activity, to include work on So, for example, all the the Buccama Resort, and the Black development activities designed and Sand Hotel in the Keartons area, will implemented by the ULP, are all see a further 1200 hotel rooms being aimed at improving the lives and circumstances of all Vincentians. And added to the national stock. But the construction activity will be hectic the list is long, from the Education over the next five months, and there Revolution which educated and trained our people, to the bridge over will be new jobs on the market for the Rabacca Dry River which provided Vincentian skilled workers, including better communications for the people masons, carpenters and plumbers.

The Diamond area will also see living in the north of the country; to turning dead capital into live capital, some further construction activity this and to the number of health facilities year, with the construction of an which the ULP is providing. All these athletic track facility to be built by a German company, and the erection of are aimed at improving the lives of a community centre, as a backdrop to Vincentians. the athletic track, and the Holiday The other political party, the Inn express. opposition New Democratic Party, is not in love with Vincentians, does not Conclusion have the leadership skills, and is not in communion with the people of St. All this is exciting news for the Vincent and the Grenadines. Daily on country. When the full plans for the radio, they malign this beloved country, cussing Vincentians, without Acute Referral Hospital at the new city at Arnos Vale is released, along any message to show that they understand the development needs of with the port development work in the country. They are a sorry bunch of Kingstown, that excitement will reach misfits, who are desperate to get their fever pitch.

Only the ULP administration under hands on the treasury. the leadership of Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, will add more to the socioRamping up the activities economic development of this country.

it does not exist’ was the Headline of the Searchlight Newspaper of Friday 23rd August, 2019. In that news story, a psychologist attached to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital presented statistics for 2018 and expressed her concerns about the problem of rape in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Is there a rape culture in St. Vincent and the Grenadines?

The New Democratic Party (NDP) has been continuously highlighting the problem of rape that has been plaguing our country. Leading up to the 2015 general elections, all of the polls that were conducted by the NDP revealed one common trend. They showed that violence against women, including rape, was the number one issue about which most Vincentians were concerned. As a result, in March 2015, our party held a successful national symposium under the theme, ‘The role of government in the advancement of women’s agenda and the elimination of violence against women’. It was at that symposium that it was revealed that St. Vincent and the Grenadines was ranked third in the world for rape.

Members of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) regime were upset and disputed the figures that were presented at the symposium.

Undoubtedly, they did not see it as a serious problem to be addressed. To show the callousness of the ULP regime to victims of rape, a young lady who shared her experience of her ordeal of rape at that symposium, was criticized and ridiculed by spokespersons for the ULP on national radio. One spokesperson for the ULP government went as far as presenting personal information of the young lady to the public. Further, there has been a number of allegations of rape leveled against prominent individuals in our society, and it would appear that nothing has been done to address the issue. One may ask: Does the government care about addressing the problem of rape in St. Vincent and the Grenadines?

Moreover, in her 2017 budget presentation, Senator Marcia Barnwell addressed the issue of rape.

She called it a rape culture. She said, “There is something very nasty and ugly beneath the surface of our people; it is tearing away at the very fabric of society; and added to that there seems to be an atmosphere of dejection, hopelessness and helplessness. Statistical records from the Royal Police Force of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the offences reported for period 2015-2016 indicate that there has been 28% increase in sex offences, and of the total number of sex offences reported in 2016 there was a 27.2 % increase for sex with girls under 15 years. Further, there has been a 16% increase in sex with girls under 13 years. This is horrendous! This is painful circumstance!”

Senator Barnwell further stated, “In a 2014 regional study called Breaking the Silence conducted by Reid, Reddock and Nickenig, it was found that, ‘Most alarming, however, is that 47.6% of females and 31.9% of males described their first intercourse as forced or somewhat coerced, and attributed blame to family members or persons known to their family.’ The rape culture that is rooted in our nation must be eliminated if we are to

save this nation! We must lead the way against this scourge that afflicts the region and the world. Our National Development Plan states that, ‘If women are left, then half the world is left out’. Let’s save our girls, so that they can be the best women of tomorrow!”

In order to support and empower our women and strengthen our families, the NDP will: review the functioning of the Family Court and all legislation connected with domestic violence and violence against women to, among other things, increase the power of the Family Court to include the imposition of criminal sanctions for domestic abuse, and expand the scope of the Family Court to encourage mediation and alternative dispute resolution and conflict resolution in family situations; revise and broaden the police training manual to include training for all police recruits in domestic violence and human trafficking; implement the mandatory use of rape kits in medical examinations of rape victims at all district clinics and hospitals; and make mandatory the reporting by all medical personnel of births to minors at hospitals and clinics or wheresoever that birth may take place.

We will also begin to collect data relative to domestic violence, and violence against women nationally, including its dissemination to the public; institute and enforce a code of conduct within the public service at all levels that provides for protocol on reporting sexual offences including sexual harassment in the workplace; respect for the women and girls in our society must be a part of how this government conducts itself. We will implement the Social and Spiritual Redemption Charter to provide women and children with proactive opportunities at the community level, and make education programmes available on public and social media.

The NDP will support the welfare service so that it can better address the needs of vulnerable women and children; restructure and improve the Foster Care System; support community projects that include continuing education and skills training, especially those targeting young parents; engage with single mothers, and especially single mothers who are farmers, to address issues that are specific to them as a group; provide incentives for employers whose working hours create challenges to the safety of women travelling to and from work, to address these issues and partner with NGOs to offer hotline services and support for women, children and young people who are at risk.

There are several challenges facing our women and children that have not been addressed during the past eighteen years by this government.

These include the increasing sexual assaults suffered by women and children. The NDP is committed to working with all stakeholders which will assist to solve the problem of rape and violence against our women and children.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. 11.

Views

Correction and Encouragement

400 years in bondage

“Correction does much, but encouragement does more.

Encouragement after censure is as the sun after a shower.” -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), German poet, dramatist, and novelist.

‘Look how long: 400 years, (400 years, 400 years) Way too long!

That's the reason my people (wo-o-o-o) my people can't see.

Said, it's four hundred long years - (400 years, 400 years. Wo-o-o-o) Give me patience (wo-o-o-o) - same philosophy.

It's been 400 years, (400 years, 400 years) Wait so long! Wo-o-o-o, wo-o-o-o.

How long? 400 long, long years.’ Bob Marley

WE ALL NEED TO BE CORRECTED from time to time. As we strive for perfection, we will periodically need the views and guidance from others. We also need their encouragement. Parents, teachers, and other concerned adults occasionally need to be reminded of the value of pausing to correct and encourage the young ones around us. We are required to intercept with intent. It is a serious error to observe them heading in the wrong direction, developing bad habits, and merely conclude that they will learn from their mistakes. We have a right and a privilege to assist them in avoiding errors of judgement that can so often be lifechanging and catastrophic.

The idea of intercepting with intent (intervening when we see others saying or being wrong), is often required in our homes, neighbourhoods, churches, and places of work. We have a right and the privilege of guiding those considered to be our peers, our direct reports, and even those persons considered senior to ourselves. However, we need to develop tact in doing so. We can learn from the example of John the Divine when he addresses the seven churches in the New Testament book of Revelation (see Chapter 2). In each case he begins with a positive comment and then proceeds to identify areas where improvements were needed. Even the worst among us will possess some form of good. We may obtain much better results (i.e. positive changes) when we pause to begin with a positive comment, even as we engage in commentaries and criticisms aimed at improving performance and attitude.

Eleanor H. Porter (1868-1920), an American novelist, reminds us that, “What men and women need is encouragement. . . . Instead of always harping on a man’s faults, tell him of his virtues. Try to pull him out of his rut of bad habits.”

It often appears so very easy for us to criticize and correct others. However, greater value and more speedy growth take place when, in addition to correction, we pause to encourage more positive outcomes. If we were to use a medical analogy, this would be like conducted surgery (taken corrective action) and then taking the time to bandage the wound (the encouragement). The medical professional would appear to be callous and incompetent if the valuable followup action is not taken to facilitate proper healing or to avoid infection. We too often miss out on that critical aftercare service when we engage in correcting others, but neglect to encourage. We need to be sure to provide the necessary encouragement and hope for improvement. Ziz Ziglar, the American motivational speaker and author, reminds us that, “The door to a balanced success opens widest on the hinges of hope and encouragement.”

Being imperfect human beings, we all need to be corrected from time to time.

The reprimands (and this may seem to be a harsh word) may sometimes appear to be harsh. This may be further magnified when the admonishment is done publicly. Sometimes “the individual of power” may appear to be tactless and uncaring. However, we are often required to look beyond such occurrences to extract the potential

growth opportunities that are cocooned in the utterance or the behaviour. In our humility (even if humiliated), we can extract the positives from what may have initially appeared to have been a negative encounter. Be sure that this writer is not advocating that insensitive and/or cruel interventions be accepted as “normal” ways to intercept with intent. These comments appear to encourage us that, even when the interventions may appear to have been badly done, there are possibilities for learning and growth.

The story is told of a primary school teacher who regularly encouraged her young students to excel at whatever they put their hands to. There was a young student in her class who was struggling with most of his academic studies. However, he appeared to be very gifted at art. One day he placed what he thought was his best drawing on the notice board at the back of the class. He had also affixed a note indicating that any student who was able to find fault with the drawing should take a pencil and circle the deficient area. He was devastated when he looked at the drawing prior to the commencement of the class on the following morning. There were circles all over the drawing.

The teacher had not looked at the notice board that morning. However, she observed how depressed the young boy appeared throughout the morning period. She invited him to chat with her during her lunch break. It was then that she realized how traumatized he was by the numerous circles that covered his masterpiece. She then suggested that he does a replacement drawing but change the instruction to indicate that anyone who finds a fault should make an effort to correct it. To his pleasant surprise, there were no changes when he got to class the following day. The teacher then reminded him that, in life, persons may be willing to criticize and to identify where corrections should be made, but may never appear to be ready to take the more responsible position to enhance and encourage.

As we culminate our thoughts on this topic of correction and encouragement, it is probably fitting that we return to Goethe’s eighteenth century quotation that was used to introduce this essay: “Correction does much, but encouragement does more.

Encouragement after censure is as the sun after a shower.” We are reminded of the importance of following correction or reprimand by providing encouragement. Such an approach calls for humility and personal maturity. Too many individuals among us incorrectly conclude that the fragile and transient power that we may possess gives the right to break without needing to help to mend; to hurt without seeking to heal; to censure and not follow this with encouragement. We are shortsighted when we think this way. Depending on the situation, we may need to step back or step aside after having taken corrective action. We must be caring and proactive enough to invest in that extra time needed to be an encourager.

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

We no know how we and dem a-go work this out, oy!

We no know how we and dem a-go work it out.

But someone will 'ave to pay For the innocent blood That they shed every day, Oh, children, mark my word; It's what the Bible say, yeah! yeah!

Oh, we no know how we and dem a-go work this out; We no know how we and dem a-go work it out. Bob Marley AUGUST is an important month. It is a month that should not be sullied or played with. August represents the month of enslavement as well as the month of emancipation. For African people transported across the Atlantic, August signifies both darkness and light.

The record shows that 400 years ago this month, captured and enslaved Africans landed at Virginia, even before the United States of America was born, and even before slavery as an institution was legalized. It was not until 1661 that White property owners gained legal and constitutional cover to own and work enslaved Africans to death in the mad rush to make a profit.

The kill rate was as much as 70 percent, as death outstripped births.

This deadly trade in African bodies is nothing short of crimes against humanity. In fact, the United Nations at its Conference against Racism in 2001 at Durban, South Africa, declared that ‘slavery always was and always should have been crimes against humanity.’

In America, the story of slavery began in August 1619, but it certainly had an earlier genesis in the Caribbean. The record shows that most enslaved Africans who journeyed across the Atlantic in chains then into bondage, landed first in the Caribbean.

Some were taken up the eastern seaboard of the USA and sold to eager plantation owners.

In the Caribbean, Britain colonized St Kitts and Barbados in 1623 and 1627 respectively, and later Jamaica in 1655. Before the turn of the century, most of the other islands became important enslavement outposts that brought in huge profits for the slave owners and the British Crown and Treasury.

So significant was the Caribbean to the economic wellbeing of the British economy, that the enslavement enterprise allowed for the region to be labeled the ‘most important piece of real estate in the world.’ Evidence of the importance of the Caribbean’s slave project to the British industrial rise can be gleaned from the fact that the 20 million pounds the British state borrowed to pay the slave owners at emancipation amounted to 40 percent of the economic value of Britain. So huge was the debt borrowed in 1833, which in today’s currency amounts to about 200 billion pounds, it was not repaid until 2015, a mere 4 years ago.

This money, which was plowed back into the British economy, helped fuel the industrial revolution and the economic take off that allowed Britain to rule the waves and control the world.

It was not until WW11 that Britain lost its status as the economic work horse of the world to the USA. Apart from the pillage and destruction of African societies and the centuries over which millions of Africans were transplanted from their homes to perform free labour, there was rape, torture, blood, tears, murder and dehumanization of the African body and the denuding of the African mind.

Almost 200 years after the abolition of slavery in the Caribbean, the region by any indices of life: economic wealth, health, education, industrial or infrastructural development, remains at the bottom of the societal ladder. The same holds true for Africans living in the United States or for that matter wherever African people reside.

Therefore, any celebration that marks the 400th anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans into the ‘New World’ without the issue of reparations placed at the top of the agenda, is bound to ring hollow. This year and beyond should not just be a historical marker. It must not just be another teaching moment. All talk about 400 years will be fundamentally meaningless unless a meaningful dialogue is encouraged about ways to make former enslaved Africans whole again. The enslaving European powers have a case to answer and must be made to pay.

The post traumatic slave syndrome which results in mal-adopted minds, depressed and under developed Caribbean societies and a poisonous white supremacist, Euro-centric domination of our people and societies must be resisted and broken.

As Dr Ibram Kenti, writing in the Atlantic magazine recently, emphasised ‘to be opposed to reparations is to be objectively racist. ‘Today, many {persons] who oppose reparations stand on this middle ground. They selfidentify as ‘not racist,’ but do nothing in the face of the racial wealth gap that grows as white people are compensated by past and present racist policies. Or they support small-scale solutions that barely keep up with this growth. Or they support class-based solutions that are bound to partially fail in solving this class- and race-based problem. Or they oppose reparations because they’ve consumed the racist idea that black people will waste the ‘handouts,’ that the reparations bill will be too expensive, or that black America is not too big to fail.’

Everyone committed to the fight for the development of our societies and the liberation of our people, must understand that the struggle for reparations is a struggle for power. Our societies will not get a chance to develop, and our people will never begin to really enjoy the fruits of their labour until or unless there is a radical restructuring of the international economic, financial and trading architecture.

As we mark 400 years since our African ancestors were forcibly brought to this part of the world, let us remember that freedom is not free and everything worthwhile is worth fighting for.

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

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12. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Competence is the greatest asset in one’s life

ACCORDING to Vincentian-born Retired British Royal Air Force Engineer Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal, BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, who has had a highly distinguished Military Service of over 31 years in The British Royal Air Force as an Engineer, and is Leader of SVG Green Party, competence is the greatest Asset in one’s life.

Competence is having the ability to do something well and to get it right the first time and every time.

In 1976, Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal, BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA received the Personal Commendation of a MILITARY FOUR STAR GENERAL; Two years of Compulsory Military National Service in The British Royal Air Force FOR CROWN AND COUNTRY 1958 to 1960; Awarded the Royal Air Force Personal Commendation of the Air Officer Commanding —In — Chief Near East Air Force in 1976; Awarded The Royal Air Force Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of his exemplary conduct, high personal standards and professional expertise in 1986.

Awarded the Royal Air Force CERTIFICATE OF MERIT in recognition of his initiative and inventiveness towards the improvement of the Engineering Services of the British Royal Air Force while serving in Strike Command in 1989 — all add up to be undoubted competence.

The leader of the SVG Green Party contends that the ULP Regime’s financial strategy for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines IS CLEAR AS MUD.

Every year, the ULP gives away more to the billionaires in Mustique and Canouan and to Taiwan than it puts into Saint and the Grenadines Treasury. That is HOGWASH. The Financial analysis as per Tables 1 and 11 shows that the millionaires and billionaires of Mustique and Canouan and Taiwan are the beneficiaries of the resources of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

THE VINCENTIAN newspaper of Friday 26 April 2019 reported PM Gonsalves as making a public statement in the presence of Former Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell, that the Mustique Agreement is a unique one.

SVG Green Party very strongly contends that the Mustique Act NO: 48 of 2002 is unconstitutional and in breach of Section 13 of the Prime Law. Section 13 states ‘no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect’.

How much longer can the black poor and powerless indigenous population of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines live in deep poverty and destitution, and sacrifice free high quality education from Pre-School to our own Science and Technology University because of the artificial, unique Mustique Agreement?

SVG Green Party

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 , 2019. 13.

14. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

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16. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Education

School of Continuing Education welcomed

MYCCLE BURKE, Permanent Secretary in the Education Ministry, hails the registration of the SVG School of Continuing Education as a worthwhile addition to the education and learning landscape here.

Speaking last week Thursday at the Peace Memorial Hall where the formal launch of the School was held, Burke described the process as fulfilment of a seed inspired by God, and the registration as the start of a tree.

The Permanent Secretary highlighted the importance of protecting individuals from “unscrupulous men and women,” whom he charged as having “an agenda to make money, that distorts the purpose of education.”

Burke praised Descima Hamilton, who is credited with progress of the National Accreditation Unit where she is Senior Assistant

Secretary.

For her part, Hamilton expressed happiness that the SVG School of Continuing Education is completing the journey towards full accreditation.

Sylvia Gould, the founder of the SVG School of Continuing Education, vowed to strive always for “quality” presentations.

She lauded the National Accreditation Unit and extended, “We are ready to make things happen.”

The institution provides programmes for persons interested in Cosmetology, Sewing, Caring for the Elderly, Early Childhood Development, and Early Childhood Education.

Students were expected to begin this year’s semester last Monday, having undergone orientation, at the Red Cross Headquarters.

Osborne Bowens,

2019 VINLEC Youth Forum participants at the South Rivers facility.

VINLEC host Youth Forum 2019

BENEFICIARIES of the St. Vincent Electricity Services Limited Education Awards Programme participated in the second annual Youth Forum on (L-R): Sylvia Gould, founder of the SVG School of August 21st and 22nd. This programme was Continuing Education, accepts the School’s established in 1984 and provides financial and Certificate of Registration from NAB Board moral assistance to children of employees.

Member Joy Browne.

The Youth Forum was hosted to provide a support system for the students to succeed in Dean at the St. Vincent uncertified youngsters. setting and achieving their personal, academic, and and the Grenadines The SVGCCTVE Dean career goals; and to provide a platform for them to Community College also pointed out that Division of Technical and many youngsters are not network, share ideas and knowledge.

The activities on the first day included team Vocational Education, prepared for integration building exercises, breakout sessions and quizzes, noted that many young into the work force. He as well as presentations. people do not complete projected that the SVG The roles and functions of VINLEC were secondary schooling.

School of Continuing highlighted with emphasis on Health and Safety He recognised the Education can be and Customer Services by a Transmission and SVG School of harnessed so that its Distribution Engineer.

Continuing Education as resources go into Mr. Mitra Malcolm made a presentation titled being positioned to providing would-be “bridge the divide” workers with “work force “Mathematics is your friend,” to encourage the students to embrace Mathematics as this subject between certified and soft skills.” (WKA) helps with critical thinking and problemsolving. Mr. Kish France, Trainee Engineer presented on Engineering.

Entrepreneur, Ms. Kimsha Williams spoke to the participants about the value of having purpose in life, setting goals, how to choose the right paths to achieve your goals, and being focused.

She advised the Participants, speakers and officials of the 2019 GECCU Youth Symposium. participants to actively participate in discussions, and make the choices that will benefit them. Ms. Williams emphasised IT WAS POSTPONED from Tuesday 27 to purposefully, embrace creativity.’ that the youths Wednesday 28 Augus,t given the threat of Sutherland rehashed her life’s journey, should ensure that Tropical Storm Dorian, but there was no and outlined to the students that with the they purposely engage stopping the attendance of some 100 young increasing technology, persons were exposed persons at the General Employees Coto greater variety. in decision making operative Credit Union (GECCU)-sponsored With the recent 13 GECCU scholarship processes so that they Youth Symposium. winners among the lot, Sutherland can meaningThe young people were primarily drawn reminded them that they will face fully contribute to the from those attending secondary school on challenges. She urged them to “know your country’s scholarship from GECCU. worth as a creative person.” development.

According to Lennox Bowman, GECCU’s There is no alternative to hard work, On the second day, Chief Executive Officer, in his address to Sutherland pointed out, and she urged her the participants were the opening ceremony, “The objective of the listeners to “keep practising your craft.” given a tour of the symposium is to expose scholarship holders Sutherland encouraged the students to South Rivers Hydro The opening of the Symposium heard to the core principles of cooperatives,” and “see things,” as she declared, rather Power Plant. Prior to addresses from Odini Sutherland (left) and the tour, they were other areas which “will have a positive controversially, that “perfection does not Colin Sam among others. impact on their lives.” exist… that perfection is the enemy of briefed on how Wednesday’s opening ceremony also creativity.” electricity operates heard a feature presentation from Odini She shared the platform with Colin Sam, development.” and about the Over the course of the Symposium, Sutherland, a former GECCU scholarship GECCU Director. He implored participants uniqueness of the participants were involved in sessions on holder. to make the best of the Symposium.

South Rivers facility. team building, and were scheduled for visits Sutherland, a fashion designer of regional Ronnie Daniel, Deputy Chairman of the A total of twentyand international appeal, encouraged the GECCU’s Scholarship Committee, appealed to different parts of the state. three persons The Symposium was held at the Anglican attended the forum. students to “think outside the box,” in line to the participants to “take ownership of Pastoral Centre, New Montrose. (WKA) with the symposium’s theme, ‘Live your professional and personal

GECCU scholars urged to embrace creativity

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 , 2019. 17.

Grenadines

Danny Scrubb summer school: Another successful year WHILE the mainland was enjoying their annual summer carnival, children in Union Island were enjoying days filled with fun and learning, at the Danny Scrubb Summer School.

This year marked the ninth edition of the School, and children eagerly packed their bags and headed to the Stephanie Brown Primary School, the base for this year’s edition, to brush up on their Maths and English, and indulge in other activities for two weeks.

The theme for this year’s School was, ‘Climate Change, the Environment, and How We Cohabitate’, Children of the 2019 Danny Scrubb Summer which children found meaning through creative School engage in an art/craft session. activities.

Wind & Sea; Exhibition of their work Some of the ‘other’ activities in (art, etc.) and featuring cultural which the children participated were: performances, the curtain closure on Bird Watching from as early as 6am, another year of DANNY SCRUBB supervised by the Sustainable SUMMER SCHOOL. Grenadines (SUSGren); Ashton Facilitators of the annual School Lagoon/Mangrove Habitat Clean-up in have, in a release, expressed their collaboration with SUSGren; Baking thanks for the ongoing support of Mr. with a focus on cakes and cookies; James and the Danefod Trust; the Drumming which exposed the children selfless contribution of all the to the indigenous cultural art form of volunteers especially Akilah Higgins the big drum, and associated dancing and Eric Pringle; and of the UK-based and songs; Swimming with emphasis Union Island Support Group and other on safety and swimming techniques; donors for their enduring support.

Day Trip to Mayreau sponsored by (Contributed)

Canouan Secondary School on target ALL IS SET for the opening of a secondary school on the Grenadine Island of Canouan.

So said Minister of Education St Clair ‘Jimmy’ Prince in response to a question posed by Parliamentary Representative for the Southern Grenadines Terrence Ollivierre, during the July 22 Sitting of Parliament.

Ollivierre had asked the Minister for an update on the status of the introduction of secondary education on that island.

According to Prince, the school will begin with a class of 20 Form 1 students, and four teachers, who are currently on the island preparing for the 2019/2020 academic year.

A fifth teaching position is expected to be filled soon he added.

He further stated in his response, that the government has had much needed assistance from a developer on the island, who partnered with them to provide island accommodation for

The Education Complex in Canouan is expected to comprise a primary and secondary school for a total of 400 students. (Credit: ANN) the teaching staff, procurement for furniture and other school supplies, and the company had also pledged to employ one or two adjunct teachers to assist in case the need arises.

For some time, residents have been calling for a secondary school to be opened on the Southern Grenadine Island.

This provision now means that students will not necessarily have to journey to the mainland to pursue their secondary school education, as has been the norm. (DD)

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18. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

News

WSGSS celebrates historic CSEC results THE PRINCIPAL and staff of the West St George Secondary School (WSGSS), Belair are celebrating an unprecedented feat by its students in the 2019 CSEC performance.

The school obtained a 78.24% pass rate in the recently concluded regional exams. This percentage pass rate has ranked the fifteen-year-old school at position number 8th among all the secondary schools in St Vincent and the Grenadines, according to figures released by the Ministry of Education.

Although it has been only ten years since the West St George Secondary School first entered candidates in the CSEC, its results have placed it among the top ten of the nation’s best performing schools. That is, the WSGSS has been ranked in the top ten for 50%, or half, of the time!

Certainly, this is no fluke, or mere coincidence.

The 2019 batch of students wrote the CSEC exams in 18 different subject areas.

Seven (7) of these subject areas recorded a pass rate of 100%.

Every student received a pass in at least one subject.

Four students passed 8 subjects.

Student of the Year Dannry Cordice got 2 ones and 6 twos. Aliah Forde obtained 3 ones, 2 twos, and 3 threes and Keyasha Dowers and Zehonnah Garraway both passed with 5 twos and 3 Aliah Forde

(L-R): Kamaro Pompey, Keyasha Dowers, Zehonnah Garraway and Dannry Cordice. threes.

Karamo Pompey passed 7 subjects, returning grades of 1 one, 5 twos and 1 three.

The school is particularly happy that, for the first time, several students were able to pass General Mathematics.

“This is a very big deal at this school,” says principal, Ms. Dianne Williams. “Our students have suffered from some prolonged discrimination and stigma fanned by sections of the Vincentian population. This result is another indicator that our children and teachers work just as hard–and can achieve just as much– as any other secondary school in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

Scholarship and Bursary recipients with CWSA officials.

CWSA awards scholarships and bursaries THE CENTRAL WATER AND SEWERAGE AUTHORITY (CWSA) of St Vincent and the Grenadines has once again acknowledged the efforts of children of its employees, who successfully wrote the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA).

On Wednesday 14th August 2019, a ceremony was held where fourteen (14) children were rewarded with scholarships and bursaries.

Xania Archibald, Brandon George, Alando Bobb, Clarencia Caine, Ronique Davis and Le-Anja O’Garro received seven-year scholarships which extend to college level education, while Keason Byneo, Kahrice Jones, Kelbert Collins, Kalyssa Dyer, Xiomara Henson, Kara

Roberts, Domonic Barnwell and Angelina Francis all received one off bursaries.

At the inception of this award in 2000 only two scholarships were given. This year marked a record with its 6 scholarships and 8 bursaries.

Among those at the handing over ceremony were CWSA Human Resource Manager Yvette Daniel, Public Relations and Marketing Manager Joan Ryan, Union representative and staff member Tyrone Olliver, Public Relations Assistant Symantha George, Public Relations Clerk Rae-Anne Mc Dowall and parents of the awardees.

(Contributed by CWSA)

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 , 2019. 19.

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20. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Right choice Dear George, I OVERHEARD my boyfriend on the phone detailing to the listener how terrible a person I was; that I cannot cook, and how I keep a dirty home.

I interrupted his conversation, took the phone from him and introduced myself to the person to whom he was talking. It was a female.

Even as he said I had no right to do that, he tried to explain the incident away by saying he was not serious about what he told the lady on the phone; that he never meant any of it.

I challenged him to call the lady and to tell her how much he was committed to me. He refused, and I gave him his marching orders right there and then.

His relatives and friends are sticking it to me, and doing their best to make me out as the ‘bad’ one. He, of course, has never tried to tell them the truth.

In fact, he wants me to forget about

the incident, and for us to get back together, but he is not prepared to recant his statement. So, I will not have him back, and for that I am the bad person.

Fed Up Dear Fed Up, You are not a bad person for demanding that your boyfriend declares your exceptional qualities and that you are the only woman in his life.

However, since he is not prepared to do as you ask, which is not too much, he should be left to be with this other woman, whom he must think is more qualified to be with him.

He has already made it clear his position, including that you are definitely not the woman with whom he is happy. You need to move on with your life and find someone who is more deserving.

George

Living with abuse alone. I have a video recording of him beating me, and I know once I take this information outside of the home, it would be the end of him.

Please help me and tell me what to do. I no longer wish to remain married to him. He has taken the best years of my life, and I am ready to get back whatever is left.

letter will be a source of encouragement to them to do something about I AM TIRED of being their situation before it beaten by my husband gets to be too late. and making excuses for As for your case, you my injuries. No one need to find a qualified knows of his abusive counsellor to sit with you ways. I have been and help you with a plan protecting him because of action. You will then of the family name. be given the support to In the public’s eye, he help you move forward is this upright and with this legally. outstanding man, but at If you do not have a home he is nothing but counsellor in mind, you the devil.

Victim of abuse can always seek help at The abuse has got to the Marion House. the point where I am I am happy that you very afraid he would kill Dear Victim of abuse, do realize that you have me. The last time he hit Thank you for writing. a lot to live for and there me, I was completely is still time to pick up knocked out. He hits me You are not alone in this. There are many the pieces. for everything and women who are in the The very best to you anything. very situation that you as you seek to change I am tired of this. I are in, and are afraid to the direction of your life. want to report the matter to the police, but come forward for different reasons. Your George I am afraid to go there

Dear George,

A sex schedule Dear George, MY HUSBAND wants me to give him sex 4 times a month which is once per week. I, on the other hand, literally beg him to let me rest for at least a few weeks at a time.

I try to tell him there are other important things —preparing meals, washing clothes, looking after the children etc.

Lately, he has not been coming home at the hour he is accustomed to.

For now, I just want you to tell my husband that sex is not all to marriage, and he ought to chill a bit.

I never was that interested in sex anyway, and he telling me that I should have made that clear when we first met. How am I supposed to talk about something that personal when we first met? I think my husband

needs to see a shrink to help him with this problem and leave me alone.

Frustrated Dear Frustrated, Maybe there are other things going on in the relationship you have lost the desire to give yourself to your husband. Usually, the sex life of a married couple should get better over time.

Instead of resigning yourself to the sex schedule he has set, then both of you need to seek immediate counselling.

You will discover that when you share all things unselfishly in a marriage, spontaneity will be encouraged, and there will be no such arguments about when and for how long should sex happen in your marriage.

George

Leisure

ARIES (MAR. 21- APRIL 20) Changes regarding your image will bring you greater confidence. Abrupt changes in your home may send you for a loop.

New methods and innovative technology will make your job far easier than you anticipated.

TAURUS (APR. 21- MAY 21) You can write beautiful love letters this week. You will find that social activities will lead you into passionate meetings.

Communicate with relatives who may need advice in order to find solutions to their existing problems.

GEMINI (MAY 22-JUNE 21) You can have a great time if you go out with the one you love. Travel opportunities look positive, but be cautious while driving. Peers may not be on your side. You must use discretion when talking to others.

CANCER (JUNE 22-JULY 22) Sudden changes regarding work and colleagues are apparent. Spend a quiet day with the one you love. Compromise may be necessary. You may find yourself interested in more than one person.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) This week will be rather hectic on the domestic scene. Do not overspend on entertainment. You can meet interesting new friends if you join worthwhile groups. You’re in the mood to spend money.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 -SEPT. 23) You will not be able to contain your emotions this week. You can expect the fur to fly on the home front. Help elders get their personal papers in order.

LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT. 23) Go to the top if you’re being harassed or held back. You can accomplish a lot if you work out of your home this week.

Find an outlet for any mounting frustration. Consider a creative hobby.

SCORPIO (OCT. 24 - NOV. 22) Your partner will blow situations out of proportion. Don’t let the cat out of the bag. You’ll find you’re detail oriented this week. Things may not be as they sound.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) You will have a problem sorting out your true feelings when it comes to your relationship. You will have the getup and go to con tribute a great deal to groups of interest.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22.- JAN. 20) Limitations with females could lead to unfortunate circumstances. You may have taken on a little too much, but you will enjoy every minute of it. You need some help this week.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 21.- FEB. 19) Don’t let others know about your private affairs. Travel could turn out to be more exciting than you imagined. You must be careful not to reveal secrets or get involved in gossip.

PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) You will have some problems with children, but if you are patient you will win their favor. Reevaluate your position and make decisions about your future goals. Take that long overdue vacation if you can.

ACROSS 1. Perched on a chair 4. Green Gables gal 8. Draw on metal 12. Yale alum 13. Room entrance 14. Pastrami palace 15. Brewed beverage 16. Military assistant 17. Cover (a present) 18. Waffle toppers 20. Securing devices 22. Messy spot 23. Road goo 24. Adhesive strips 27. Sells from a cart 31. A single item 32. Down in the dumps 33. Gardner of Hollywood 34. Utterly ordinary 37. Age, as a banana 39. Convent sister 40. Scale tone following fa 41. Pushed rudely 44. Spring blooms 48. “Here, Rover!”

49. Naval assents 51. Maple fluid 52. Frank 53. Folk customs 54. Untruth 55. Canvas shelter 56. NBA team from Phoenix 57. Final chapter DOWN 1. Caspian and Baltic 2. Cooperative nation 3. Cake level 4. Makes fit 5. Quite loud 6. Affirmative head gesture 7. Built (a wall)

8. “_ Scissorhands” 9. Politician’s stint in office 10. Rumble of thunder 11. Midbody joints 19. Manipulate 21. Youthful gent 24. Little child 25. At all 26. Zip; energy 27. Dear friend 28. Track circuit 29. Preholiday night 30. _ Diego 32. Beach shoes 35. Design something new 36. Billiards rod

37. Awakens 38. In poor health 40. Boat’s back 41. Glasgow dweller 42. Expectant wish 43. Prophetic

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. 21.

warning 45. Dot of land in the water 46. Great discomfort 47. Rushed 50. “Who are _?”

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22. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports Feature

Electing the best – Training properly Proper training sessions are important for the development of youth footballers, says Rollit Walrond, Coach.

enjoy laughing at their teammate who might make an awkward pass, causing the receiver to improvise if he is to

by ROLLIT WALROND control and deliver.

Correction and AS FOOTBALLERS START enforcing proper skills PREPARING for another and techniques must be season, their clubs and immediately addressed teams are yet to hear of, during practice sessions. far less receive, a But to matters off the technical report or any field. SVGFF recently report at all, on the state had a visit by the of soccer in St. Vincent presidents of FIFA and and the Grenadines.

CONCACAF. They did A report that will not have enough time to advise on the areas that talk to the people who are developing, and those promote soccer in SVG. that need to be Had they known that addressed. people of influence in the This is so because the various communities voters and affiliates do organize soccer by using not know what is their families’ money required to drive the and time, maybe they development of the sport, would have made the otherwise, they would time. have demanded reports They came not to hear annually. nice words from the But let’s get to things executive, but to remind technical. and warn them to adhere The way teams and to the business of FIFA. clubs conduct their The office of the SVGFF practices leaves much to will get $5M more than be desired. the previous Popular drills such as administrators. If the circle drill, with one someone else had made or two players in the such an offer without circle and the others any government forming the circle approved plan, it might (perimeter). have been deemed a Those in the circle bribe, similar to what learn how to position and happened some years support one another ago in Trinidad. when approaching an So, our votes are opponent with the ball, important in the next with the intention to elections. intercept the ball. Those Come election time in who form the circle November, do not elect learn: to develop their persons who present the awareness; to make best promises and gifts. sense of their passes; to Last election, they use their preferential promised the coming of a vision, and how to new league that will pay remain focused. players and coaches.

What we see most in Soccer can only all soccer games, is develop by passing (the ball). Yet, knowledgeable and very little emphasis is experienced coaches, not placed on its weight, nice talkers. Remember speed, accuracy, purpose to select and elect and the consequences, persons who can develop especially in possession the youths. and transition.

Soccer first!

Players at practice

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. 23.

SVG cops four gold at IDK Caribbean Cup ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES collected four gold medals, three silver and two bronze medals at the International Karate Diagaku’s Caribbean Cup, which took place at the Anderson Sports Hall in Guyana, last Saturday and Sunday.

Kareem Valentine was a double gold medallist, winning the Kata and Kumite in the coloured belts of the 12 to 15 years age group.

Shazelle Isaacs, who is a brown belt, won gold in the Female 20 to 39 agegroup, and secured silver in the Kata as well.

Also winning gold was brown belt Mc Quinn Mockett, who won the Male 9 to 11 years Kumite.

St Vincent and the Grenadines had another podium finish, when Black Belt Claude Bascombe Jr. took silver in the Male 20 to 39 Kumite.

Joining him was Zalika Henry, a brown belt, who won silver in the Kumite for Females 12 to 15 years.

Henry also won bronze in the Kata event.

And, Richard Daize gained a bronze in the 12

to 15 years Male Kumite.

Daize holds a brown belt.

In addition to the medals won in the Kumite and Kata, two Vincentians were inducted into the IKD Hall of Fame.

Receiving Medals of Service awards were Allan Burke and Claude Bascombe Jr. Burke’s medal was for pioneering work, while Bascombe Jr. earned his in the capacity as an Instructor.

St Vincent and the Grenadines was represented by a 25member contingent, in

Mc Quinn Mockett which 11 were competitors.

The other participating countries were Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St Lucia,

Shazelle Isaacs Jamaica, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela Kareem Valentine and host Guyana.

Trinidad and place, with an overall Tobago retained the top tally of 90 medals.

Marriaqua Village Football climaxes

L-R: Malden Scrubb - Best Goal Keeper- Senior Division; Jodiniho Sawyers Best Midfielder; and Omario Ottley - Under-16 Division Best Midfielder.

Hill 16- Senior League champions of the Marriaqua Village Football Competition.

Joint Most Goals awardee in the Under- 16 Division.

Division, handing Mesopotamia a 5-0 nil defeat.

Hill 16 collected the winner’s trophy and $ 2000, with Downstreet gaining $1500 and System Three/Central Kingstown Combined- $1000.

System Three/ Central Kingstown Combined added $ 500 to their coffers for winning the Knock Out title, along with the Joseph Da Silva Memorial Funeral Home trophy.

in the Senior Division.

Taking the Best Goalkeeper was Malden Scrubb; Best Defender- Yaka Fredericks; Best Midfielder - Jodiniho HILL 16 WON THE SENIOR TITLE Sawyers, and Most Goals- Deomaji and Carriere Wakanda the Under-16 Samuel, with 17 goals.

Division, when the Kirk Da Scrubb also took the MVP of the Silva/SVGFF/Expose SVG Marriaqua final award.

Village Football Competition ended Carriere’s collection of awards saw last Sunday, at the Cane End Playing Ash J Peters taking the Bet Defender Field. trophy; Omario Ottley- Best A 2-0 nil score line handed Hill 16 Midfielder, Zuriel Browne- Best Goal the Senior League title over Byam’s Awards Keeper and Justice Browne- Most Physical Therapy Downstreet.

Goals.

Jodiniho Sawyers and Emmerson Several players in both the Senior MVP of the finals Justice Browne Prince scored a goal each for Hill 16.

Division and the Under-16 Division and Devante Joseph of Richland Park Before Hill 16’s coronation, Carriere were rewarded for their outstanding were joint top goal scorers with 6 goals Wakanda beat Richland Park 3-2, to performance. each. win the Under-16 Division.

Both Hill 16 and Carriere featured Organisers of the League, the In between the two titles, System prominently among the awards Marriaqua Football Association, Three/Central Kingstown Combined presented. awarded a trophy to Junior won the third place in the Senior Hill 16 accounted for all five awards Richardson, the groundsman.

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24. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Another Kiddies Cricket Camp concludes THE ANNUAL SVG Zakahila Cricket Harry, Most Association/CWI/ Disciplined Scotiabank Kiddies Cricket Summer Camp topics. came to an end last They weekend at the Arnos Vale were Sports Complex. also inSome 40 primary volved in school students were mini involved from August 19 matches. in sessions that exposed The them to the rudiments of most outstanding the sport and classroom students in various areas sessions on personal were rewarded. development related The awardees were: MVP — Zach Thomas, Ozaid Edwards, Best Overland Primary Wicket-keeper

Zach Thomas, MVP School; Best Batsman Maldini Simmons, Fitz Hughes Primary School; Best Bowler - Alston Bobb Jr, Park Hill Government School; Best Wicket-Keeper - Ozaid Edwards School., Chateaubelair Primary; Most Disciplined Zakayla Harry, Belair Primary Twenty-five of the participants are to be selected for enrollment in

Maldini Simmons, Best Batsman

Alston Bobb Jr., Best Bowler

other national training programmes.

Coaches in the programmes were Bill Edwards, Uzzah Pope, Cleton Burnett and Jeremy Layne. Stanley Hinds was the Camp’s Co-ordinator.

I.B.A. ALLEN Sunaldro Woods, Best fielder

Cyrus leads SVG at Senior CASA PAUL CYRUS took the runner-up spot in the Men’s 50 and Over Category of the 2019 Senior Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Championships, which ended last Thursday in Guyana.

He was second to Barbadian Mark Sealey against whom he had his solitary loss ( 3-11, 6-11, 411)in his six matches.

Cyrus’ triumphs came against: Bermuda’s Peter Drury — 11-5, 11-5, 11-6; BVI’s Neville Sorrentino 11-5, 11-8, 11-6; Guyana’s Brendon Mounter - 11-6, 119, 11-7; Jamaica’s Stewart Maxwell - 11-6, 11-3, 11-2; and Cayman Islands’ Jody Jervis by default.

Cyrus was part of the Veterans team that also included Collin Alexander and Keith Boyea.

Overall St Vincent and the Grenadines finished seventh in the Veterans’ Category, with one win, one draw and four losses.

St Vincent and the Grenadines beat Jamaica 21, but suffered 4-1 losses to Barbados and Guyana, as well as 3-1 and 2-1 defeats to Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands, respectively.

They drew 2-2- with the Cayman Islands.

Other than the Veterans,

Paul Cyrus receiving his runner-up trophy from a Digicel representative.

St Vincent and the Grenadines contested the Men’s Singles, the Men’s Teams, the Men’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles and Women’s Singles.

In the Men’s Singles, Jason Doyle, Jules Snagg and Othneil Bailey reached the round of 16. The other competitor, Mikal Quashie, got to the semifinals of the Men’s Consolation.

The four, joined by Kevin Hannaway, placed fifth in the Men’s Teams table.

The duo of Hannaway and Doyle was eliminated in the first round of the Doubles.

Bailey and Amber Glasgow suffered a similar fate in the Mixed Doubles.

On her own, Glasgow lost her opening round match in the Women’s Singles.

St Vincent and the Grenadines competed as a single unit in the Guyana Championship, following the dissolution of the OECS team.

SVG’s Squash Team- From left: Paul Cyrus, Jason Doyle, Mikal Quashie, Jules Snagg, Collin Alexander, Othneil Bailey, Amber Glasgow, Keith Boyea, Kevin Hannaway.

Bequia T20 Finalists decided

A CENTURY and Mackeson for 35. a three-wicket Friendship United made a spirited Kydd’s outstanding all haul by start to their run chase, but lost 8 round Mackeson Kydd wickets for 199 in their 20 overs, performance assured Sugar Desbet Yorke top scoring with 69. contributed Reef Bequia Mackeson bagged 3 for 33 and Jenry United a berth in significantly to Ollivierre 3 for 34 for Bequia United.

Sugar Reef the finals of the In the other semi-final, Defenders Bequia United 2019 Bequia beat Southside United by 24 runs to earning a place Champions claim their spot in the final. in the finals.

League T20 Cricket Scores: Competition, at the expense of Friendship United.

Southside United 154 for 9 in 20 In a last weekend semi-final overs - Kevin Samuel 42, Jeremy encounter, Kydd stroked 128, Layne 30, Sherlon Pompey 5 for 25; including 9 fours and 13 sixes, to help his team Defenders 178 for 9 from 20 overs, Kirton Lavia to 226 for 6 from 20 overs, Other good scores 70. Delroy Compton 3 for 36. came from Jenry Ollivierre 46 not out and The final is slated for this Sunday.

Garvin Ollivierre 20. Verdan Baptiste was Friendship United best bowler with figures of 3 I.B.A. ALLEN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. 25.

Sports

Hard Hitters are Richland Park T20 Champs Shamic Roberts Best all-rounder

Of Storms and Tornadoes ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES and its neighbours breathed a sigh of relief after Tropical Storm Dorian bypassed them. While that happened last Tuesday morning, another disaster had already befallen the entire region.

It was the Jasprith Bumrah tornado. The Indian fast bowler, supported by the others in his team’s bowling pack, dismissed the West Indies for exactly 100 in a match when fans were hoping for some heroics, comparable to what was happening in England around the same time.

The West Indies’ collapse drove home the vulnerability of the region. We seem unable to cope with an assault, especially if it is sustained and relentless.

West Indies, moulded on a history of deadly fast bowling outfits, were treated to a dose of their medicine. When the dust settled, the home team had been manhandled, giving India their biggest overseas victory.

There wasn’t an inkling of resistance, and at 50 for 9, we were on the verge of another ignominy.

Kemar Roach and Miguel Cummins hauled the total to its eventual end.

There is no consolation in such performances.

Besides a lack in technique, our batsmen displayed insecurity. No one fought. There was an absence of resilience, and one might be forgiven in saying that our batsmen operated as if they had never seen a red ball.

Compounded by the intricacies of team selection, it is understandable for fans to be fuming. What transpired has to be a distant past, and they have to summon a will to improve.

If inspiration is needed, England was providing it on the same day the West Indies were squandering their chance. There must be a reversal, and this is the last opportunity to avoid a deluge.

One has to hand it to Ben Stokes. That innings, 135 not out, will be remembered as one of the great performances in cricket. It compares with Brian Lara’s 153 unbeaten against Australia in 1999.

Stokes entered the fray with England 141 for 3.

He was joined by Jack Leach with the total reading 286 for 9. By the law of averages, Australia were on course for a straightforward victory. The last pair put on 76, enough to seal England’s historic triumph. Leach’s contribution was one run. But the 17 balls he faced were enough to take the strain off Stokes.

The Vincentian Senior Football squad play away to Nicaragua next Thursday, September 5, in the Nation’s League. This will be coach Kendale Mercury’s sternest test since he took charge of the squad earlier this year.

When the Nation’s League began last year, SVG suffered 12 minutes of down time, and when the final whistle blew, a 2:0 loss at Arnos Vale was what the team came out with against Nicaragua.

The Vincy ballers secured a one/nil win over French Guiana on the South American mainland.

A previously hapless Turks and Caicos Islands got the better of Vincy Heat 3:2. That the Vincentians came close to drawing, with two goals in the 80 minutes mark, tells of the way things changed.

One would have thought that any goal ought to have been from a Vincentian boot, but the nation was plunged into a nightmare.

The final encounter in that Round saw the Vincentians having to come from a goal down to beat Bonaire 2: 1.

After the Nicaragua battle, the Vincentians return home to play Dominica. The Vincentians have to be relentless and secure a path to League A. That is the least the fans expect.

HARD HITTERS are the new champions of the Valley Sports Committee/ Flow/ National Lotteries Authority/Carib T20 Cricket Competition.

They laid claim to the title when they defeated CGM Novice by 30 runs in the finals played three Sundays ago, at the Richland Park Playing Field.

Hard Hitters took first turn at the crease and made 104 all out in 20 overs, Erwin Williams leading the batting with 30. CGM Novice replied with 74 for 8 in their 20 overs, Rodrick John top scoring with 20.

Earlier, Sion Renrick Hill Tallawah Williams – beat Gary Most runs Construction Simple Boys in the third place play off.

At a prize-giving ceremony following the finals, each of the first four finishers received trophies, with the Champs getting the added bonus of $2,500.00; second placed GCM Novice $1,500.00; third placed Sion Hill $700.00 and fourth placed Gary Construction $500.00 Shorn Williams of Hard Hitters was rewarded for being the

Competition’s highest wickettaker — 23; Renrick Williams of CGM Novice was the highest run-getter -226; Shamic Roberts was the best allrounder with 18 wickets and 216 runs; Elton Shorn Williams Williams was – Most the best wicket wickets. keeper.

Simple Boys was adjudged the Best Dressed Team, and Hard Hitters the Most Disciplined Team.

Man of the Finals was Erwin Williams from Hard Hitters.

I.B.A. ALLEN

Hard Hitters – new Richland Park T20 Champions.

X-Ceed Summer Camp wraps up Athletes going X-CEED SPORTS CLUB’S 2019 through some Summer Camp ended last week, and Godfrey Harry, Head Coach of basic training the Club, is pleased with what was in the jumps taking part in a achieved. jump.

The camp, the 8th, comprised both field and in-house sessions.

In-house sessions included: National Representation presented by Maulan Byron; Sports Ethics by Keith Joseph; Communication by Joy Cato; and the School and Sports by Khalil Cato.

The practical/on field sessions featured sprints and hurdles conducted by Khalil Cato and Chantel Legair; jumps led by Godfrey Harry, J Browne and Woodrow Williams; throws under the guidance of Javed Marksman and Kris Lee Morris.

The camp also featured a netball segment, which was facilitated by national and XCeed goal shooter Mary Ann Fredericks Some 41 participants, drawn from Clubs and Primary and Secondary Godfrey Harry, Schools throughout the state, Head Coach Xwere involved in this year’s Ceed Sports Club. Camp which commenced on July 15 and ended on August 22.

Sessions were held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 am to 1pm, each week.

Team Athletics SVG was a part sponsor of the Camp, held under the theme, ‘Run, Jump, Throw, Grow and Glow’.

I.B.A. ALLEN

Rugby gets new coach THE SVG RUGBY UNION has welcomed a new coach.

Sam Knights, a Canadian, arrived here early last week and has already set about developing a work plan for his 6-month voluntary attachment to the Rugby Union.

According to a SVG Rugby Union release, Knights will take charge of the grassroot programme in which he will work with local coaches, especially in Sam Knights the schools. new SVG In addition, he has been Rugby Union assigned the responsibility of coach. preparing a National Men’s team for a 15-a-side match against St. Lucia, to be played here in SVG on Saturday 26h October, 2019.

Knights’ selection was the result of an extensive search both locally and overseas.

I.B.A.ALLEN

26. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019. 27.

Classifieds

Shoplifter claims he forgot to pay FIFTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD DENZIL SARDINE told the Court on Wednesday that he had $100 and change on him when he stole a sunglasses valued $10 from Jax Enterprises Ltd, Kingstown on Monday.

The Kingstown Park man also said he had over $200 on him during his appearance before the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Asked by Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett why he had more money in his possession on Wednesday than he had on Monday, Sardine said he was going to pay his daughter’s school fee for college.

Sardine said he sells breadfruit and saltfish for a living.

The defendant’s explanation to the Court, after pleading guilty to the charge earlier, was that he left the store with the sunglasses, forgetting to pay for it.

However, the facts presented by Prosecutor Curlene Samuel revealed that around 1:45 p.m. on Monday, a

Security Guard on duty saw Sardine enter the store, and was kept under surveillance because of previous incidents there.

The guard saw Sardine pick up the sunglasses, put it in his right front pocket, pass the cashier and leave the store without paying for it.

The Security Guard pursued and caught up with the defendant, and he was handed over to the police.

Burnett told the defendant that on an almost daily basis, persons appear in Court charged with stealing from these stores. He particularly mentioned Jax Enterprises and Massy Stores as those being frequently targeted by shoplifters.

Burnett noted that Sardine had no previous convictions and pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity.

He bonded Sardine for six months in the sum of $500, with an alternative of two months in prison.

(H.H)

LUCY AMELIA BARKER WILMOTH DANIEL New Apostolic Church Industrial Site Road Campden Park Tuesday, 27th August, 2019 Viewing: 1:30 p.m.

Service: 3:00 p.m.

St. Mathias Spiritual Baptist Church Dickson Saturday, 24th August, 2019 Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p.m.

Interment: Georgetown Cemetery

Cathedral of the Assumption Kingstown Monday, 26th August, 2019 Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p.m.

VIRIE JOHN

LESTER EDWARDS St. Bethel Spiritual Baptist Church Chateaubelair Sunday, 25th August, 2019 Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p.m.

JACQUELYN GLORIA GARRAWAY

IMMANUEL HARRY Prayer and Faith Assemble Rose Bank Sunday, 25th August, 2019 Viewing: 2:00 p.m.

Service: 3:00 p.m.

St. Theresa Spiritual Baptist Church Barrouallie Sunday, 25th August, 2019 Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p.m.

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

F O R S A L E

FRIDAY,

AUGUST 30, 2019

VOLUME 113, No.31

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VINCY MAN CHARGED IN $M COCAINE BUST Chance, address given as Layou, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and occupation as businessman.

The men appeared at the St. George’s No. 1 Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 26 August 2019, having been jointly charged with Conspiracy to Trafficking in a Controlled Drug.

The street value of the drug seizure was placed at EC$4 million.

While the Grenadian was granted bail in the sum of $300,000 with two sureties, the Jamaicans and the Vincentian were remanded to Her Majesty’s Prisons, St. It definitely doesn’t sound like a George’s. case of ‘once bitten twice shy’ for The four are slated Dexter Chance. to reappear in court on September 5, 2019.

GRENADA’s NEWSPAPERS Dexter Chance is well reported last week on a police known to police circles in the action in that country that region. resulted in the seizure of some Chance had been arrested, 40 kilos of cocaine, and the along with Vincentians Gareth arrest of four men allegedly McDowell and Carlos linked to the drug.

Sutherland by Vincentian The men were reportedly police acting on the advice of nabbed with the cocaine during a joint police operation the BVI constabulary, that the three were wanted in on Wednesday, 21 August connection with a drug burst 2019 about 8:30 pm, at Dr in 2008.

Grooms [beach], St George.

That burst netted some 61 Among the four listed were one Grenadian, two Jamaicans kilos of cocaine, found in a hidden compartment on board and one Vincentian.

The Vincentian was named the catamaran Liseron, in a as Elvis Chance, known more bay in the BVI on January 23, 2008. familiarly here as Dexter

The BVI police alleged that the drugs had come from SVG, and their investigations led to the three Vincentians being identified as persons of interest to the case.

In a protracted matter before the court here, the three were eventually extradited to the BVI where they were formally charged for importation of the cocaine.

Four other men, Dale Nibbs, Asif Glasgow, Coy Penn and Mario Pemberton, all from the Virgin Islands, were charged with being concerned in the importation of a controlled drug, unlawful possession of cocaine, and conspiracy to supply a controlled drug to another, in connection with the same matter.

After a trial that concluded in 2011, Dexter Chance and the other two Vincentians were convicted as charged. A sentencing hearing in July 2012 ordered that they spend six years in jail in the British Virgin Islands.

However, the men’s conviction and sentencing were quashed when it came up for appeal before the BVI Appeal Court in 2014.

THE VINCENTIAN was made to understand then, that the three returned to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

BVI newspapers reported at the time that in connection with the same case, an eighth man, Chesley Balkaran, a former maintenance supervisor at what was then

Sunsail St. Vincent, pleaded guilty in a BVI Court in April 2008 to importation of a controlled drug, unlawful possession of cocaine and being concerned in the supply of cocaine. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

During his trial, Balkaran,

testified that Chance had encouraged him to get a passport so he could travel to the VI as part of the drug smuggling operation, an allegation that Mr. Chance’s lawyer aggressively challenged during cross-examination.

Driver charged with vehicular manslaughter DAVID WILLIAMS, a 51-year-old chauffeur of Richmond Hill, has been officially charged with vehicular manslaughter.

Williams is charged with causing the death of Barrouallie labourer 41year-old Gregory Glenroy Charles, also known as Glenroy ‘Bernie’ Providence, by driving motor vehicle PN-643 dangerously along the Kearton’s Public Road.

As reported by THE VINCENTIAN of Friday 9th August, 2019, the vehicle, according Gregory to witnesses, Glenroy struck Charles Charles died who was crossing on the spot. the road.

Charles is said to have died on the spot.

Williams appeared before the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on August 16, 2019 for an arraignment, and was not called upon to plea because the charge was laid indictably.

He was placed on EC$20,000.00 bail with one surety.

The case was adjourned to September 3, 2019.

David ‘Pepsi’ Williams will return to court next week.

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

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.