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FRIDAY,

OCTOBER 31, 2014

by KENVILLE HORNE A FORMER RELIEF SECURITY OFFICER at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) has lost his job, and he is convinced that it was as a result of being wrongfully accused by the police.

Kirthland Johnson of Kirthland Johnson connects his losing his job to a wrongful accusation by the police.

VOLUME 108, No.43

Victoria Village, Stubbs, told THE VINCENTIAN that he was frightened and shocked, when police turned up at his work place, around 6 pm on Thursday, October 16th , and arrested him for a crime he claims to know nothing about.

He said he was told then that he was suspected of robbing a man at gun point on Tuesday 14th.

The distraught young man related that he was taken to the CID at the police headquarters in Kingstown, where he was asked a few questions concerning his identity, before being threatened and made to bathe in unsanitary conditions.

He was then taken to Stubbs where his house was searched, but nothing illegal was discovered. Johnson was also questioned by police at the Stubbs police station before being released without charge, the following night.

at the Stubbs Police Station, Johnson said that he was told by a Corporal that he was accused of robbing someone at gun point in Carapan. He said he was not told at what time on Tuesday the act was committed, and neither was he told who made the initial report.

Johnson contended that he would have been at work on the day in question, as his shift starts from 4pm and ends at 12am on Tuesdays.

Conflicting accusations

In his own assessment of the ordeal, Johnson purports that the treatment handed out to him may have had something to do with a previous confrontation of sorts, he had had with a police officer.

He was at the time manning a gate at the MCMH when he exchanged ‘harsh’ words with a police officer, who had arrived in a police transport.

The officer in question

According to Johnson, while at the holding area at CID, his cousin, a lawyer, arrived to intervene on his behalf. His cousin was told by an officer that Johnson and some other guys had broken into an officer’s house and tried to rob him.

But

evening.

They were, however, unable to provide further details surrounding the incident, as they were continuing their

Possible reason

Ollivierre, a well-known former football (goalkeeper), of Paget Farm.

The source indicated that Ollivierre died as a investigations when result of a wound or THE VINCENTIAN wounds he sustained spoke with them. during the altercation However, a source with his son, Diandra told THE VINCENTIAN Williams. that dead is Colville Williams, who is also

BEQUIA MAN KILLED POLICE HAVE CONFIRMED that there was an altercation involving a father and son which occurred on the Grenadine Island of Bequia Thursday

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

SDA Pastor Brent St. Jean described Kirthland as a young man of impeccable character. threatened to have him lose his job.

He said he lost his job after his Supervisor called CID, the Calliaqua Police station and the Stubbs Police station and couldn’t get him. “Because when I was at CID they took my phone from me, and I couldn’t get any calls until the Friday morning,” Johnson explained.

a footballer and plays currently with the Avenues Football Club in the Premier Division of the National Football League, was said to have also sustained some injuries about his body during the incident.

This is the second,

Continued on Page 3.

fatal incident involving a father and son for the year.

On May 1, there was an incident involving 24year-old Calvin Johnson who killed his 56-yearold father, Calvin Jacobs, both of Biabou, and then placed him in a shallow grave. (DD)

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2. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

News

New section of SVGCC opened building, student union WHEN THE COMMUNITY and teachers’ COLLEGE opened in 1997, it lounge. catered to 250 students, had Additionally, four classrooms, a science there are two hard laboratory and one lecture hall. courts and an uncovered Today the campus has seating area or bleachers. expanded to include three The most recent phase was lecture halls, new laboratories done at a cost of EC$30 and is, from all reports and million, and was financed by observation, better equipped to the European Union and the prepare students for external Government of St Vincent and examinations. the Grenadines.

Over two thousand “Our relationship with your students, encompassing the country has grown and Divisions of Arts and Sciences, matured as your country has Teaching, Nursing and grown as an independent Technical and Vocational nation,” Head of the Studies, now attend the Delegation of the European institution.

Union to Barbados and the On Tuesday, October 28, Eastern Caribbean, H.E the third phase of the campus Mikael Barford said, at the was opened, with the opening ceremony. unveiling of a lecture theatre “Indeed, over the past three

by DAYLE DA SILVA

The new and largest Lecture Hall at the SVG Community College.

Inset: H.E Mikael Barford, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, spoke of the need to improve primary and secondary level education in order to provide enough persons with the skill to enter post-secondary education. decades, our support has shifted from the usual mix of scholarships, school feeding programmes and skills development initiatives to a more holistic approach designed to improve access and quality in the early years, and enhance competitiveness through human capacity development in the post secondary years,” he continued.

He spoke of the process to get the facility to where it is today, reminding that that

process did not take place overnight.

According to the EU Ambassador, it was first important to improve the quality education at the primary and secondary levels in order to provide enough persons with the skill to enter post-secondary education.

The EU financed two of the three construction components to the tune of EC$21 million, and covered the cost of the design of the facility.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister

Dr Ralph Gonsalves, in his feature presentation, explained that the institution today was far different from what it was back in 1997.

“This is a post secondary institution of merit which has the potential to develop into a full-fledged university,” Gonsalves said.

He considered the development and expansion of the facility as part and parcel of his government’s ‘Education Revolution’.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. 3.

News 3 Opposition boycott irresponsible, says PM

by DAYLE DA SILVA

THE DECISION TAKEN BY MEMBERS of the opposition to boycott last Friday’s session of Parliament has been described as irresponsible,

by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

Gonsalves, in a thirty minute long presentation at the beginning of the sitting, chided Leader of the Opposition, his six elected representatives and two opposition senators, saying that the reasons cited for their withdrawal from the day’s proceedings were all made up.

“Is like if you trying to cook a pot and you don’t know what to put in it and you take all the scraps here and there and you throw it inside, and this is what happened in this particular case,” Gonsalves said.

Members of the opposition stayed away, citing the persecution of Leon ‘Bigger Biggs’ Samuel, the fining of former Registrar at the High Court of Tamara Gibson-Marks, the poor fiscal situation of the country and unemployment, and the issue of the homes at Clare Valley, among others.

However, the Prime Minister in rebutting the reasons, gave detailed

information to support his view that the opposition did not have a strong case for its absence.

He said firstly that there was no persecution of Samuel; that the government had nothing to do with charges which are brought against an individual nor the sentencing; that the issues of the economy and unemployment have been debated before, and the public is Prime Minister Dr. Ralph aware of the Gonsalves called out the strategy of the Opposition on the failure to government to deal ‘do the people’s business’. with both issues; and that there was a quick resolution accountable, Dr. regarding home owners Gonsalves reasoned. at Clare Valley.

“But they are not here According to Dr. asking any of them, and Gonsalves, the opposition I want the people to was “scrunting” around know this, Mr Speaker, for a political strategy. under the rules, each He declared that in member of the opposition order for the people’s can ask three questions business to be properly addressed in the House, for oral answers... that’s 27 questions, and in the the Opposition was case of each of them, required to come to they can ask a Parliament to do the supplementary one so people’s business.

“That is fundamental,” long as it is appropriate,” the Prime Minister said. Dr. Gonsalves said in The ‘Questions for oral Parliament Friday.

That was the way to answers segment of Parliament was the most hold the executive accountable, he said, but important mechanism the opposition was not towards ensuring that the government was held doing the job for which they were elected.

The unoccupied seats assigned to Opposition Members of Parliament.

“It is my duty to announce that if the opposition would not come here to ask any questions, I will make the arrangements through the state owned radio station...on a particular day and time, so that citizens of this country who are not being represented by the opposition, who are let down by them, that they can write to me, questions for the Prime Minister,” Dr. Gonsalves said.

He suggested that the programme be named ‘Ask (the) Prime Minister’, and assured that he will be taking the relevant steps for an

Visa waiver for Vincentian nationals VINCENTIANS WISHING to travel to Brazil will soon be able to do so without the hassle of acquiring a tourist’s visa.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Camillo Gonsalves, announced last Friday in Parliament that the governments of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Brazil had exchanged instruments to confirm the visa free movement of Vincentians and Brazilians.

The waiver is expected to take effect on November 15th and will allow for Vincentians to visit that country for a period not exceeding 90 days in the first instance, Gonsalves said, and renewable for a period of up to 180 days.

The new agreement is for tourism purposes only, the foreign

minister said.

Students or persons looking to work would still be required to meet the necessary requirements.

“But if you want to visit as of November 15th, you won’t need a visa,” he said.

In addition to its supremacy in football and renowned carnival, Gonsalves noted that Brazil was the fifth largest country in terms of size and population, and was ranked in the top ten economies in the world.

Similarly, it is expected that come early in the New Year, Vincentians wishing to travel to the 27 nations in Europe comprising the Schengen group are expected to have the visa requirement removed.

email account to be set up so persons can also contact him electronically.

“Since the opposition is not here to do its duty, I am asking the people to assume that duty to ask

the prime minister — they must stop this tomfoolery with the Parliament of this country and the people’s business,” Gonsalves said.

Wrongfully accused Continued from Front page.

Johnson lodged a complaint, October 20, 2014, with the Complaints and Public Relations Department of the Police Force, where he was told by a female Officer that the police cannot make him lose his job.

That Department confirmed that an investigation into the matter is ongoing.

And while he is hoping to get back his job, he now cleans yards to earn a living.

Impeccable character

Senator Camillo Gonsalves announced the soon to be enacted waiver of tourist visas between Brazil and SVG.

When THE VINCENTIAN contacted Pastor Brent St. Jean of the Mt. Moriah Seventh Day Adventist Church, Stubbs, where Johnson worships, he spoke of the young man’s impeccable character.

Pastor St. Jean said when he heard the news of Johnson’s arrest, he was in total shock.

He said that Johnson was a youth leader at the church, with responsibility for youth training.

“He is also a Deacon,” the pastor disclosed, adding, “The church has recognized his good character and his morality, and next year he will be an Elder …. he would be the youngest Elder for the entire church.”

The pastor vouched for Johnson, declaring that “He has never been in trouble; he is one of the young people at the church that I know I can rely on.”

The pastor is perplexed as to why someone would want to implicate Johnson in such an act.

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4. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Government

Salary increase for part-time workers

by KENVILLE HORNE

PART-TIME WORKERS employed by the government can look forward to an increase in salaries, effective from January 2015.

This was announced by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves during his address at the Military Parade on Monday 27th , to mark the nation’s 35th anniversary of independence from Britain.

Part-time workers such as cleaners and kitchen staff in School Feeding programmes will benefit from the increase, according to the Prime Minister.

Dr. Gonsalves explained that he was moved to take the decision after speaking to some of the workers. “I go around. The cleaners and those who work in the kitchens for the SchoolFeeding programmess, they tell me, ‘Comrade we are doing well with the programess but our money is still a little too small.’ I agree with them.” said Gonsalves.

“In the same vein, our government will shortly set in train the review upwards of the minimum wages for various categories of workers,” Gonsalves said. “Shortly too, our Government will be engaging public sector trade unions on the issue of improved terms and

conditions of work for the public servants, all category of public servants,” the Prime Minister further declared.

Other announcements Gonsalves, also Finance Minister, made other announcements that are usually associated with his address at the event. Among those was the declaration that the duty-free concessions on Christmas barrels, which his government started in 2001, will this year run from November 17th to December Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves 31th. delivering his 35 Independence A special Christmas works Anniversary address at the annual programme of at least EC$3 Military parade. million, plus a special cleanannounced that the soft loan of up provision of EC$500,000 for capital Kingstown, will take place EC$6 million to the Farmers Support Company will be next year.“Thousands of strengthened with a further EC$6 Vincentians will receive shortmillion for 2015. term employment under the Additionally, the Budget programme,” Gonsalves said.

Address for 2015 is expected to An order for EC$6 million in detail a five-year, EC$50 million building materials will be programme for the rehabilitation finalized to facilitate the and construction programme of beginning of the ‘Lives to live’ government buildings in housing programme in January Kingstown, commencing in 2015.

2015. Persons with physical and There was no mention of a other disabilities will benefit from bonus for public servants in this this programme. year’s independence address.

The Primme Minister also

Fight against chikungunya ongoing

by DAYLE DA SILVA THIS COUNTRY’S Minister of Health, Clayton Burgin, says that his ministry is embarking on a campaign to rid the country of the Chikungunya virus.

According to Burgin, this was in the wake of a statement made by Parliamentary representative for North Leeward, Roland ‘Patel’ Matthews, who said that the virus was not spread by mosquito, but was in fact airborne.

And that the floods which occurred in December 2013 had given rise to the outbreak of the virus in the country.

“We are saying that it is not airborne, and I don’t think he would have retracted the statement, so if you hear someone say that, then it is your duty to correct them and give them the information,” the Minister of Health said.

Addressing Parliament last Friday, Burgin made a ministerial statement on the state of the Chikungunya virus, saying that the fight was continuing with some innovative methods to get the message out.

Mobile phones and social networks will be utilised, according to Burgin.

The ideas are being discussed for agreement

expected to continue — it is currently being done in what Burgin said were areas deemed as hot spots.

To date, there have been 990 reported cases of Chikungunya in the country, according to the health minister.

This figure represented the numbers Clayton Burgin, Minister infected as of the end of of Health, prefaced his August; he, however, contribution in last said that it was believed Friday’s sitting of that the precise number parliament by saying of infections was being that he was responding under reported. to an incorrect “This is owing to the statement made by the many misconceptions MP for North Leeward. about the disease and people not seeking medical attention for and the eventual mild cases and relying on implementation of the self-diagnosis,” Burgin use of such methods. said.

Fogging is also

Ebola related forms for visitors

by DAYLE DA SILVA VISITORS COMING to St Vincent and the Grenadines via air transport are now being required to fill out an Ebola fact sheet.

This is one of the additional measures introduced by the Ministry of Health as it takes precautionary measures to monitor for any infected persons entering the country.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, at last week Friday’s sitting of parliament, said that the form contains a list of questions for passengers to answer, in order for local officials to monitor any potential risk.

“It is a form to collect information as part of the monitoring,” Gonsalves said.

He further explained that it was an Ebola fact sheet, and that thousands had been published.

“That is what is being called a ridiculous form by the opposition.”

The Prime Minister said that the relevant ministry was working on fine-tuning the questions in order to obtain precise responses.

The forms are already in the hands of regional airline LIAT. This is an additional measure implemented following the announcement that nationals from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea were banned from entering the country, and persons travelling to this country from Nigeria were expected to present results from tests done which proved that they tested negative for the Ebola virus.

Report blames faulty construction

by DAYLE DA SILVA A GEOLOGIST REPORT has concluded that the collapse of one of the houses at Clare Valley had more to do with issues relating to construction than with the land.

Dr Ralph Gonsalves read from a report detailing the findings of Vincentian-born Dr Richard Robertson, Geologist and head of the Seismic Unit, UWI, Trinidad, who levelled blame on poor construction practices for the collapse of a house at the Clare valley Housing Project.

Robertson indicated that while the land at Clare Valley was classified as one with high landslide potential based on a study conducted back in 1988, this was the case with the majority of the lands across the country.

“No remnant scarps were observed from past landslides on the site, and there is no evidence of large scale mass movement of earth material down slope in the area,” the report indicated.

Safe construction should be possible, Robertson’s report indicated, as long as adequate consideration

Dr. Richard Robertson pointed to faulty construction as being responsible for the collapse of a house at the Clare Valley Housing Project. was taken of the site conditions.

“Urgent remedial work is needed in order to stabilize steep slopes created during the construction and to deal with surface runoff from buildings and roadways, so as to minimize the corrosive impact of the water,” the report continued.

Agronomist Clive Bishop, immediately following the September 19, 2014 collapse of the house which belonged to Dr Katisha Douglas, had indicated that the soil type where the housing project was located was not suited for construction.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. 5.

Regional

Facebook posting of beating causes outrage

Shot taken from the Facebook posting of a young girl lying face down after being beaten by three girls. (Source: Antigua Observer) Superintendent Nuffield Burnette, Head of the Criminal Investigations Department of the RPFAB, says the Police hands are tied until a complaint is made.

SUPERINTENDENT NUFFIELD BURNETTE, Head of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda (RPFAB), said if the schoolgirl in the video who was beaten until she passed out does not file a complaint, no charges can be levied for the attack.

Superintendent Burnette was responding to calls for charges to be laid against those who, in a posting on the Facebook page ‘Troll Antigua, Friday 17th October, were seen to have beaten a young girl unconscious. Three other girls, who appeared to be partially dressed in school uniforms, were seen to have inflicted the beating.

He assured, however, according to the Antigua

Observer, that once “they come to the police, you bet your last dollar, we’re going to deal with it.

Once it is reported to the police, whether it happened at the school or not, we are going to deal with it. They have to cooperate.” The Antigua Observer, in describing what played out on the Facebook posting, referred to a number of onlookers, dressed in school uniforms, forming a ring around those engaged in the fight and spurring on the attackers.

“A number of persons in the video appeared to be taking photographs and making videos, while others, who were screaming “fight”, kept the circle tight to prevent the victim from escaping,” the Antigua Observer reported.

The beating is said to have included punches to the victim’s head, pulling of her hair and stomping/kicking her side and back.

The ‘blows’ ceased only after it appeared the victim had passed out, face down on what appeared to be an asphalt surface.

Minister of Education Michael Browne described the video content as “disturbing.”

He appealed to the public, parents to assist in an effort “to do something to correct that behaviour of students standing on the outskirts watching while a student almost dies and they’re cheering on.”

And in noting that a crime was committed in the form of the beating and also, possibly, in the posting of the video, he had a stern warning for “those persons who are perpetrators and including the persons who are cheering on and the one posting those images and videos on Facebook, as much as the law allows us to be able to act, we are going to act.” (Source: Antigua Observer, Other Sources)

V ÂKaceyÊ dominates Miss Heritage 2014 6. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

News

the Talent and Interview segments was not directly FORM FOUR BUSINESS dependent on material from STUDENT, Keneisha ‘Kacey’ any of the Outstanding Llewelyn, worked talent, poise Female Contributors. and charisma through four The other delegates were: segments in the 2014 GHS Miss Regisha Hazell, Form 3B3, Heritage, to earn the coveted showcasing Hon. Girlyn title, last Saturday, 25th Miguel; Keithryl Miller, Form October, at the Russell’s 4 Science, showcasing Hon. Auditorium.

Rene Baptiste; Kaiia Phillips, The event, held under the Form 4 General/Commercial, theme, ‘A Lasting showcasing Dianne ‘Diey’ Legacy…Who Did This to We’, Hinds; Adriann Straker, Form saw seven delegates taking 4 Plain, showcasing Miss their audience through the life Nelcia Robinson; and Nellisa and history of a phenomenal Williams, Form 3B5, Vincentian woman, making showcasing Miss Vera-Ann the information relevant to Brereton. carry the Ambassadorial Speech, and Cultural Wear Keneisha’s performances specifically. The content of

by GLORIAH…

Keneisha’s outstanding female contributor was Dr. Kathleen ‘Kitty’ Israel. In her first judged segment, the Ambassadorial Speech, she commenced a regal trail from back to centre stage, stood with an adamant epitome of poise, and delivered a speech full of accolades about Dr. ‘Kitty’. Her diction enhanced her delivery, and her attire pushed the point a bit further home.

Her talent centred on dance, an art she had been crafting since childhood. In tying the effects of the chikungunya disease with an inability to maintain flexible movement in dance, Keneisha did a dramatic dance of

preventive efforts. This changed to a dance of triumph and celebration upon finding that these actions worked, even against the giant mosquito which attacked her on stage.

Her cultural wear constituted a close-fitted, redorange gown, decorated with drawings of things and places that had crossed Dr. Israel’s life path. It was named, ‘A Life Well-lived’. The shoulders were emphasized by a semicircular colourful carnival-like motif, resplendent with feathers implying her contributor’s colourful nature; and the back drew eyes to the African mask between the shoulder blades, made by Dr. Israel herself.

These were followed by diamond shaped elements cascading towards the tail of the gown.

The Interview segment called for content, diction, fluency, and confidence.

Keneisha exhibited all of these. Her poise manifested in an easy confidence.

She gave both questions some thought then delivered answers that followed the criteria.

Then to

Chantel is first Miss Windward Independent Jolantha Toney was named Miss Photogenic.

CHANTEL JOHNSON, competing Cornelia Forbes was adjudged as Miss Joseph Chatoyer, copped 1st runner-up and Leanza the title in the inaugural Miss Johnson 2nd runner-up.

Windward Independent pageant.

Shernell ‘Skarpyon’ Williams, Conceived and produced by Managing Director of renowned recording and ‘Stingaevents’, a promotions performing artiste Shernell company, is pleased that he ‘Skarpyon’ Williams, the pageant chose this particular type of was held at Old Greiggs School event and this particular last Saturday, 25th October. community, Grieggs, to stage the Chantel impressed the judges first in a series of events that sufficiently enough to win the will form the celebration of his Best Talent, Best Interview, and 25th anniversary as a music Best Cultural Wear segments. artiste.

The other contestants were: He, along with his assistant, Nadine Davis, representing the Shamron Shortte, have expressed Botanical Gardens; Cornelia thanks to those entities that Forbes, Fort Charlotte; Angell came on board to provide John, Ebenezer Theodore Joshua; sponsorship for the show.

Leanza Johnson, Fannie Greigg; ‘Skarpyon’ promises that “next and Jolantha Toney, who year is going to be bigger and represented Robert Milton Cato. better”.

The Best Shorts Wear went to Cornelia Forbes, Fort Charlotte.

Chantel Johnson being crowned She also won the titles of Miss Ms. Windward Independent by Congeniality and Most producer Shernel; ‘Skarpyon’ Community Spirited.

Williams.

by GLORIAH…

Keneisha ‘Kacey’ Llewelyn, delivering her winning Ambassadorial Speech highlighting the work and contribution of Dr. Kathleen ‘Kitty’ Israel. resounding screams of “Kacey!

Kacey!”, Keneisha was named and crowned GHS Ms. Heritage 2014. She had won the Best Ambassadorial Speech, Best Talent, and Best Cultural Wear Awards.

Keithryl Miller won the Best Interview Award. She was also judged 1st runner-up.

Kaiia Phillips placed 2nd runner-up and also named the Most Improved Delegate.

As usual, the Girls’ High School has put on another event par excellence.

Keneisha, the winner, functioned as a representation of the positives they have been constantly promoting. Lessons could be learned here.

15 more Cultural and Sporting Ambassadors

by KENVILLE HORNE THE GOVERNMENT of St.Vincent and the Grenadines has name 15 Vincentians as Cultural and Sporting Ambassadors.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves during his address at the Military Parade to mark the nation’s 35th year of independence.

According to the Prime Minister, Cabinet took the decision to accord ambassadorial status to 15 sporing and cultural icons.

The cultural ambassadors are Cecil ‘Blazer’ Williams, Ken Isles, Marlon ‘Mattafix’ Roudette, Elroy ‘Blondie Bird’ Boyde, Julian ‘Pilling’ Pollard, Errol ‘Sardo’ Sutherland, Rondy ‘Luta’ McIntosh, Orande ‘Bomani’ Charles, Shaunelle McKenzie, and Shernelle ‘Skarpyon’ Williams.

The sports ambassadors are Dr. Halimah Deshong, Deighton Butler, Stanley ‘Luxy’ Morris, Denis Byam, and Sabrina Mitchell.

“These appointments reaffirm our government’s conviction that culture, the arts, and sports, as well as other uplifting aspects of live and living, are vital to our nation’s well-being and the further ennoblement of our civilization,” said the Prime Minister following his announcement of the names.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. 7.

News

Royal Navy veteranÊs death accidental

support his family and innocently consumed what he thought was a soft drink.”

Lewis, 33, of Gosport, THE DEATH of Joromie Hampshire, became ill Lewis, Vincentian born, UK after trying the drink resident Royal Navy which he spat out veteran, who sipped a pear because of its bitter juice drink laced with taste, according to the cocaine, was accidental, Daily Mail. an inquest jury has ruled.

The paper said Lewis, The jury of five men who was working at a and five women recorded food import company, a verdict of accidental consumed the drink in death as a result of Southampton on cocaine intoxication, December 5 last year, following the six-hour and died that night at inquest.

Southampton General Central Hampshire Hospital. coroner Graham Short The inquest jury heard said: “This was a tragedy how tests showed that in the real sense of that the drink, called Pear D word because this was a imported by his employer man who was working to Kelly’s Shipping UK Ltd

by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; neloking@msn.com US CORRESPONDENT

on behalf of a client contained an ‘overwhelmingly high’ concentration of cocaine.

“Joromie worked for a company which imported food and drink from the Caribbean and distributed them in this country. He was a driver and general assistant working mainly on a part-time basis,” said Short.

On Dec. 5 2013, he said Joromie drank from a bottle at his employer’s garage where he was unpacking a delivery of drinks. The bottle was labeled Pear D, a form of pear cordial not normally available in this country.

“He took only one mouthful, and he felt it

The MV Noble Spirit was denied berthing permission in Barbados and would have been denied entry if it tried to berth in SVG.

Ebola threat averted night around 11. I had to make dozens of phone calls to different AN OIL TANKER carrying two crew places,” Gonsalves said. members with Ebola like symptoms He said that he gave local Coast which was blocked from berthing at Guard authorities instructions not to the Bridgetown port, was also permit entry of the vessel. scheduled to dock here.

As it turned out, Gonsalves said, Prime Minister Dr Ralph the vessel changed course to Gonsalves made the disclosure Barbados, from where, after being during last week’s sitting of the denied entry, it headed for House.

Equatorial Guinea.

According to the Prime Minister, “You see, the potential for harm who is also Minister of National could be on any vessel which comes Security, he received a call from his in at any place in our archipelago,” Permanent Secretary Godfred the Prime Minister said.

Pompey who informed him of the Gonsalves headed a delegation to a vessel, ‘Noble Spirit’, which had meeting of ALBA member states in made a request to dock in Jamaica.

Cuba last week, to discuss the Ebola The vessel left a port in Houston, virus, and was criticized for stating Texas on October 10th and was that this country was not fully expected to dock at Jamaica on prepared to keep the borders safe October 14th , with the next port of from any risk of Ebola. entry expected to be St Vincent and He said that the many ports of the Grenadines, Gonsalves said. entry, both on mainland St Vincent Intelligence sources informed the and those in the Grenadines, were local authorities of the two Philipino problematic for officials here. nationals on board who were said to “I am at a particular level of be displaying Ebola symptoms — high readiness, but not one where I can fever and vomiting. say that we are fully prepared,” “Well, you could imagine, they Gonsalves said in Parliament. were expected to dock here the very

by DAYLE DA SILVA

tasted bitter and spat it out,” Short added. “After this, he started to feel unwell and he was taken to hospital by his friends.

He died later the same day at Southampton General Hospital.

“Tests of the contents of the bottle showed it had a very high concentration of the drug cocaine in solution,” he continued.

Basil Purdue, a Home Office pathologist, said the bottle was part of a consignment of 90 cases imported from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but the bottle had tested for dissolved cocaine - a smuggling method for the drug, according to the Daily Mail.

Stating that the cause of death was cocaine intoxication, Dr Purdue said toxicology tests showed that Lewis had a “very high” cocaine level of 21.3mg per litre of blood, with a fatal level being as low as 1mg. The drink would have contained 1g of cocaine in 3ml of liquid.

Juanette Allen, company secretary of Kelly’s Shipping UK Ltd, said the firm imported drinks from the Caribbean at the request of customers, the Mail

said.

“In this case, we didn’t source the drink, we just facilitated the process of bringing it from St .Vincent to the UK,” she Joromie Lewis is deemed to have said. died after taking one swig of a She explained that cocaine-laced sip of a Pear D the van-load of drink. drinks arrived at Portsmouth docks on November 24 and, once duties had been paid, Lewis collected it two days later and took it to the garage at Allen’s home in Southampton, where the company is based.

She said the company had not ordered any Pear D drink and she had not come across the brand before, according to the Mail.

She said Mr Lewis arrived at her home at about 6.30pm with a colleague, Carlos Deabreu, with a van of The bottle of Pear D items collected for from which Lewis drank export. was said to have Allen said she had contained 189 grams of known Lewis, who was cocaine. paid £10-an-hour for his Carole Willis of work, since they had both lived in St. Vincent Hampshire Scientific Services said an and the Grenadines, examination showed the adding that they had bottle contained 189g of joined the Navy at the cocaine. same time.

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8. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Editorial

The “little things’ matter SO THE STRIKE by mini-bus operators in the Redemption Sharpes area was averted.

Mini-bus operators who ply that route did not ‘park-up’ their vehicles on Tuesday, as they had threatened so to do.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonslaves, perhaps just waking up to the gravity of the situation, intervened personally, pleaded with the drivers, and promised immediate remedial action to attend to the numerous pot holes and ravines that had made motoring in the area a burden, that even Atlas would have found difficult to bear.

The proverbial eleventh hour action had all but made the difference, and commuters — adults and children alike - breathed a sigh of relief.

But the question still lingers: How, after such a protracted period of inconvenience, added expense for mini-bus operators and incessant pleading, literal lamentations and cries for something to be done, did the government find the means to respond with such expediency?

Where the money came from to attend with such rapidity to the cries of the mini-bus operators and commuters, perhaps the Prime Minister will disclose at a future time.

One would hope that Peter didn’t have to pay for Paul; that some other area of need/ongoing commitment did not have to suffer in order for another basic need, long ignored, to be given attention.

All’s well that ends well, we may be wont to conclude.

And it is heartening to hear, as per the Prime Minister’s address at the 2014 Independence military parade, that capital Kingstown will come in for some much needed, long overdue attention.

Is there anyone among us who will deny that the capital has been ignored, and ignored for too long? Did this wanton act of disregard have anything to do with the fact that Kingstown has proved to be a bastion of opposition support? We hope not.

It is time that those who are elected to serve as government elected by the people for the people — accept that they are obligated to care about the ‘little things’ in the life of the people of any country. ‘Little things’ like: proper roads; unbiased enforcement of traffic laws; stricter regulations for breaking the rules; better options for the walking public, like better footpaths without vendors; bins for throwing waste on the streets; limiting motorised traffic at busy city areas and school locations; better drainage facilities to cater to a now unpredictable rainy season; effectively positioned street lights; hefty fines for damaging public property and indecent behavior including, but not limited to, spitting in public, ‘peeing’ in public, using a footpath to ride a motorcycle, driving in the wrong direction, breaking laid roads for private constructions, parking in a no parking zone or in footpaths, and illegal vendors in designated pedestrian throughways.

Is it too much to ask a government to care about these ‘little things’?

This is not in any way meant to denigrate the government’s responsibility to the macro development of this country. That is demanded of any government.

But when a certain haste characterizes a government’s desire to attend to the macro needs, to involve itself in grandiose and financially overwhelming projects, albeit all meaningful, but at the expense of attending to the ‘little things’, those things that are basic to ensuring a comfortable life for all the people, then we must ask, WHY? No government must be made to feel that the people are afraid of it. No government should encourage any fear of it by the very people who elected it.

But when it comes down to a threat of, or real action by the people to have a government respond to their legitimate demands, the coin is flipped, and a government just might become afraid of the people.

That will breed anarchy, and that we do not want, ever!

Darkest time is the hour before sunrise - Keep faith THE PRIME MINISTER knows very well the course of politics in SVG. He has reason to believe that he has all but lost the next elections. The ULP has been caught in quicksand. The more he and his cronies wriggle, the deeper they sink in the quagmire, the cesspool of corruption.

But the old belief in the venality of the electorate still energizes him. The view of the crisis as having been caused by outside forces has limited appeal, if any at all. The IMF has stated clearly that most of our local problems are domestically generated.

It is not as in the old days, when Ralph’s mouthpiece, “Freedom” or “Justice” can simply lump all his problems as“IMF, “Is Mitchell’s Fault”. Now he has to stand up on his weakening feet, and face the problem squarely.

The frantic attempt to “buy votes” by huge public works will avail nothing. Too little, too late shall be the cry. The electorate has grown up over the last 15 years, with their venality diminished by harsh experiences. They now consult their own interest, as with the clever call-off of the van strike, in Central Kingstown, as they monitor the current situation. The ULP Government has taken a severe beating in having to defer to the wishes of the “lowly” van-driver. Still, the electorate, which has wised up over the years, will not cut off their nose to spoil their face!

That is the pattern from here on, no blind opposition to ULP action, but measured responses to their chicanery, until Redemption Day. I noticed that in his politically crafted 35th Anniversary speech, the Prime Minister hinted broadly that the time was drawing near for the selection of a complement of National Heroes, which is likely to be the quartet of George Mc Intosh , Ebenezer Joshua, Milton Cato and Parmenos Eustace.

I go along merrily with 75 percent of the choice, but object strongly to the inclusion of Milton Cato, with the support of Oscar Allen, Renwick Rose, Cecil Blazer Williams and Jomo Thomas - all friendly disposed to the Prime Minister.

In fact, in the case of Jomo, who is at present a ULP senator and prospective ULP candidate for South Leeward in the next election, he had actually resigned from a commission to pick the likely

heroes, to which he had been appointed the Chairman by Ralph.

Jomo’s beef was that Ralph, who is constitutionally empowered to recommend the final choice(s), flaunted the regulations in publicising his selection, Cato.

How now will Jomo and company react to Ralph’s exposure on Independence Day in the presence of the Governor General, and hordes of Vincentians! Ralph, for all his democratic façade, makes it plain who is the boss of the plantation, of Government and country!

The reason that Ralph is so hung on Cato, has absolutely nothing to do with “heroism”. It has all to do with politics in general and next elections in particular, as I have repeatedly declared in various fora.

The real problem stems from the fact that Dr. Gonsalves sees as crucial to his return to power, victory of his son, Camillo, in the East St. George Constituency over Dr. Linton Lewis of the N.D.P. And he must have calculated the results of the next elections, his best returns are possibly 10 to 5 counting the East St. George seat of Camillo, who he hopes to replace him in due course as Prime Minister.

Therefore, he wants to capitalise on Cato being a National Hero for the enhancement of Camillo’s chance at the polls.

In any event, the Prime Minister seems to be day-dreaming, since the 2015 polls will record an N.D.P. victory of no less than 10 to 5, in which Camillo will be a casualty.

Frankly, the game is up. Ralph will have little to be ashamed of, having been three times P.M. in a row — 2001, 2005 and 2010. Only Mitchell and arguably Ebenezer Joshua have done better than him.

Significantly, Ralph would leave a sadly divided country, given his style of politics marked by a rage of victimisation. And his economic policy included many broken promises: Cross country road, the new Sports Centre, several failed fishing projects, a badly flawed housing programme, and an airport hanging in the balance.

True, there are a few positives in the mix, but they are grossly over-shadowed by the rampant corruption and flagrant victimisation that characterised the regime. Ring the Bell!

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. 9.

Letters

Exploring the inspired Greek New Testament myth!

The GREEK New Testament was not breathed by Yahweh, as we have grown up assuming. The New Testament was inspired in Hebrew and Aramaic, and subsequently translated by uninspired men into Greek and into English as well as many other languages ( Dr. E.W. Bullinger - Companion Bible, (Appendix No. 94 page 134); Dr. Charles C. Terrey and Dr. Solomon Zeitlin - The Jewish Quarterly Review, (April,1942 page 429); Dr. Albert Schweitzer - The Quest of the Historical Jesus (Page275 — 276 ); Joseph Klausner, Ph.D. — Jesus of Nazareth (Page 234, 263); etc.). If any of the books of the New Testament were written originally in Greek, the authors would have retained the true inspired Hebrew Names for the Heavenly Father and His Son; since proper nouns are transliterated to maintain the sound, and not translated, which changes the sound.

Those who believe in an inspired Greek New Testament will resort to a Greek interlinear such as Englishman’s Greek New Testament as their authority when a doubtful translation in the King James Version arises. Page v shows that this book is from the Greek Text of Stephens 1550, therefore it’s not original. Undoubtedly, during the first century of Common Era, the New Testament assembly became apostatized, the original New Testament writings were translated into Greek, and the original documents were hidden, lost or destroyed, perhaps intentionally.

The name Jesus in the English is not the same as Iesous in Greek. Etymology proves that Jesus is derived from the Latin language. According to the Greek and Roman Mythology, Appendix ix 1, Survivals of Ancient Greek Divinities and Myths in Modern Greece, p. 321, the god Zeus still lives under the title [Theos], a title so conveniently misleading that the Christians use it without heresy and at the same time square perfectly with the ancient pagan belief.

“Christ, in Greek is an attempt to translate the Hebrew or Aramaic word (Messiah) which means anointed — though the meaning was surely lost upon most non — Christian Gentiles. Eventually Christos ceased to be a title and became only a part of the proper name Jesus Christ” (Dr. Frederick C. Grant — Roman Hellenism and the New Testament (page 24) The choice is yours to worship the Greek mighty ones, or the only creator of this universe Yahweh and His son Yahshua. Moses, and all the major and minor prophets worshipped Yahweh and so did the Apostolic Assembly. You should hesitate to do the same. (Isaiah 42:8, Acts 4:12).

Sheldon Govia Assemblies of Yahweh svg_aoy@live.com

What a country – Part 2 YOU PRESENT your National ID to transfer vehicle ownership, then you need two government IDs to insure the vehicle that the government just gave you permission to own?

The insurance has to incur a cost, and we pay.

These bureaucrats must stay up real late at night to dream these up. We are paying some high salaries to frustrate us.

We can thank UWI for the brilliant acumen that gave us SVG AML, CAIC’s AML/CFT and some good BS. You going to launder money paying vehicle insurance? That is what banks are for.

If government wants to know how many vehicles a person owns, just ask the licence office. I go join PF at the bar to ease the pain.

Robbie Williams

Randolph RusselL: Awaiting the Report A symbol of great wisdom & strength IT WAS INDEED a sad day for me to hear of the passing of Mr. Randolph Russell, and I was not able to pay my last respects to him due to my trip overseas– I wept.

Mr. Russell has touched my heart, and has positively impacted my professional life in so many ways; he has been a tough boss- ensuring that I learnt all the required tasks to function effectively in the leadership role assigned to me, and I THANK HIM. As my former Boss, he commanded nothing but respect, and my commitment to my duties and responsibilities- nothing less will suffice!

Mr. Russell has wholeheartedly supported me both in my professional and personal life, and reached out in times of need, which made my ordeal a lot easier.

This man of great wisdom had a heart of love and kindness that was not always recognized - but he had it!

During our last discussion, we met

outside of his office where he was busy, as usual, making suggestions for infrastructural improvement. With a smile, he enquired how I was doing, and how the Company was progressing; he encouraged me to work hard to secure the business that he knew had potential.

His successor, his son, has great challenges ahead, but his intelligence and vast experience has been, and will continue to be a great asset in continuing the family legacy.

The knowledge and lessons I have learnt from Mr. Randolph Russell will long be remembered.

May the Lord bring comfort and peace in the heart of his family, especially his wife, who I know would miss him dearly.

May he rest in peace in God’s eternal love.

Mrs. A. Henderson New York, USA

Ju-c and more!!

I WELCOME the return of Ju-C, it was long overdue.

I commend ECGC for seeing the wisdom and dollars and cents in investing in the return of a drink that became part of our culture. But there are a few things that bother me, though, about the return.

Can the new company please publish the recommended retail prices for a case of Ju-C and a bottle of Ju-C? Over the last weekend, it bothered me that the price for a case of Ju-C was different at two different places I checked.

And to make matters

worse, the prices quoted were all higher than what I would have to pay for a case of Busta, a foreign dink!!!

The other is that the matter of severance pay for the original Ju-C workers has not yet been settled. I wonder how these men and women feel, especially those who did not find employment with the new company?

Our Prime Minister could find the time and money to intervene in a matter some time ago between Chris Gayle and the West Indies cricket authorities and put his mouth in all kinds of other people’s business.

Can’t he find the time to

A thought JUST THOUGHT I would share a short thought on the occasion of our 35th anniversary. I hope that those who read it will reflect on its deep meaning.

“You and I must work together to develop our country, to get education for our children, to have doctors, to build roads, to improve or provide all day-today essentials.” Jomo Kenyatta , former Prime Minister and President of Kenya, from an Independence Day message to the people, 1985.

Garnet, NY

UNLIKE some of my colleagues, I am not going to stick my neck out and simply condemn our West Indies team for having withdrawn from the tour of India.

I am not going to do that because I am of the view, given all that I have heard and read, that we, supporters of the sport and the West Indies team, have not been told the whole truth.

If all that we heard was the truth behind the action by the players, why is the West Indies Cricket Board setting up a ‘task force’ to investigate the matter?

Somewhere in the scheme of things, somebody is not being honest with us. So before I cast aspersions on any side or individuals, I will await the report from the ‘task force’, which is something I think all of us should do.

In saying that, I am assuming that the report of the ‘task force’ will be made available to the public.

Paul - Kingstown

intervene on behalf of Vincentian workers who are being handed a bad hand?

George

* Has there been some recent movement outwards at a top position in the NIS? * Who has the last laugh now that persons understand the approach of the Independence Message by the Leader of the Opposition? * Is the Prime Minister going to respond to the pleas of other communities, with the same speed he responded to the Sharpes community? * Why couldn’t the Anglican Church open their car park for use during this year’s independence parade at Victoria Park? * Why are people saying that things really going to the dogs when police have to ‘thief’ from police?

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10. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Thousands witness 35th Anniversary Parade The issue MONDAY, October 27th, 2014, the

celebration of our 35th anniversary of independence, saw Vincentians turning out in their thousands at Victoria Park, to view the outstanding performances of our men and women in uniform, in their salute to the nation. Many consider this parade to be the largest ever, in terms of attendance, in the history of the event.

There was a veritable outpouring of national consciousness, as our citizens donned their national colours, proud to be called Vincentians, and proud to belong to a country which has shown so much progress over the last thirteen years. It was a pity that the Leader of the Opposition, Arnhim Eustace, could not find the time to attend this most important of events, to be in solidarity and communion with the people of this country, as they celebrate a milestone in the history of St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

We can only hope that once again, the member for Central Kingstown, St. Clair Leacock, will continue to chide Arnhim Eustace, for his nonattendance at this critical event. If you aspire to lead, then you have to show that you have the same spirit of national building and national consciousness as the proverbial man in the street.

The ULP administration is grateful for this outpouring of patriotism, as demonstrated by the attendance at the parade. This is an indication that there are a number of “feel good” factors at the national level, which are driving this level of national consciousness.

opposition, since March 2001.

Contrast this with the developments with our neighbours, Barbados and St.Lucia, where public servants have been sent home, and where the Kenny Anthony administration is proposing to cut salaries in the public service by five percent.

The evidence is that the economy of St.Vincent and the Grenadines is recovering, although slowly, but surely. Since the year 2011, the country has recorded positive economic growth, with an aggregate real economic growth of 4.9 percent for the period 2011 to 2013 inclusive.

The Education Revolution has touched the lives of many Vincentians, either because they are students who benefited directly, or because they are parents, relatives or friends of students who are doing well in secondary schools across the state, or, who are taking advantage of the many opportunities to pursue tertiary level learning abroad.

The future

As Vincentians, we can now face the future with confidence and determination, knowing that there is a government called the ULP administration that has its hands firmly on the tiller, and is charting a careful course through all the global storms. No wonder it was said that St.Vincent and the Grenadines is “weathering the storm”.

At 35 years of age, our nation has Why we are so patriotic achieved a growing maturity that will serve us well in the future. We have First of all, there is the recognition many things going for us. As a people, that our country has come a long way we are resilient, we have a capacity since independence, and that the for hard and smart work, and we are socio-economic progress of the country very astute in the way we find spaces has gathered steam, since the coming and opportunities for advancement at of the ULP administration into office, home and abroad. in March 2001. Vincentians can hold We must continue to believe in our their head with pride, because they country, St.Vincent and the recognise that their country is now Grenadines, and its future. We must equal to or better than those in the continue to support the efforts of our region, and that there is a leadership people as they make their tracks that will ensure that the forward around the world. It must be observed economic drive will continue. that the government has appointed a There is a lot of talk about the further ten cultural ambassadors and world economic and financial crisis five sporting ambassadors. These are that has affected us since 2008, and persons who have made outstanding the effects on small island states like achievements in their particular those in the Caribbean. Despite these fields, and who have made us all very challenges, and in the face of several proud. A grateful and caring natural disasters which have tested government will continue to honour our mettle, the country is “weathering those persons who work hard to make the storm” and is doing better than us proud. some of our Caribbean neighbours.

It is for these reasons why rightTo begin with, no public servant in thinking Vincentians cannot the government sector has been laid understand how the Leader of the off as a consequence of the global Opposition, Arnhim Eustace, could economic and fiscal challenges. not make himself available at Victoria Instead, the ULP administration has Park last Monday, to join with the employed more persons in the state thousands of patriotic Vincentians to sector, particularly in the vital job mark the 35th anniversary of our areas such as teachers, nurses, nation.

It is clear that Arnhim Eustace has doctors, police men and women, and no desire to lead this country. It is civil servants. also clear that he and his party are Secondly, there have been no not interested in celebrating the spending cuts in the all-important achievements of Vincentians, areas of health, housing, education, national security and agriculture. No particularly over the last 13 years.

The people of this country will make public servant has had his or her their feelings known about this salary cut, and the ULP unpatriotic behaviour, whenever the administration has paid salaries on Comrade rings the bell. time, including those of the

The Independence Address VINCENTIANS have nothing to smile about from Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves’ independence address. Most Vincentians were disappointed as they were anticipating the announcement of salary increases, Christmas bonus and policy statements to stimulate this country’s economy and tackle the corruption scourge that is now plaguing the ULP administration. Instead, it was an empty speech, notwithstanding its overdose of rhetoric.

For instance, no mention was made about the Argyle International Airport (AIA). In his independence address of 2013, we were told the AIA would have been completed in 2014. The AIA is the largest capital project to be undertaken by any government since our independence, and Vincentians were expecting the Prime Minister to update them on the progress of the project. Why was no mention made about the airport? Your guess is as good as mine. The question remains: When will the AIA be completed?

In addition, Dr. Gonsalves was silent on the issue of corruption. It is one of the most debated issues in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; yet not a word on how the government intends to tackle corruption. The ULP told Vincentians during its election campaign of 2001 all of the negatives of corruption. They told us in their manifesto, ‘Corruption undermines democracy and people’s trust in government. Corruption distributes wealth from the poor to the better off.

The ULP will make government clean and transparent.’ Where is the transparency? And at a time when so many allegations of corruptions have been made against certain bigwigs of the ULP regime, not a word as to how the government will effectively deal with corruption.

With the economy of this country continuing to decline under the ULP, one would have expected that a comprehensive programme to stimulate economic growth and offer hope to Vincentians would have been outlined, Instead, the global economic down turn was blamed for our failure to manage the economy of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It is crystal clear that this administration does not have any programme to revive the country’s economy. Vincentians are suffering; most of them are unemployed and are unable to make ends meet. They were yearning on Independence Day for the Prime Minister to announce economic programmes that will create jobs, which will ultimately ease their suffering. To their dismay, that did not happen. It was another unsatisfactory performance by Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

However, the Prime Minister talked about reconciliation, But as one caller to a radio programme said, Dr. Gonsalves should also speak to the issue of reparation for all those persons who were wronged by this vindictive ULP administration. Dr. Gonsalves and ULP administration would not be forgiven easily by the electorate for what they have done to Bigger Biggs, the three teachers (Kenroy Johnson, Addison ‘Bash’ Thomas and Elvis Daniel), Otto Sam, Marcus De Freitas, Douglas De Freitas, Margaret London, Curtis Bowman, Junior Bacchus, Matthew Thomas, the late Elwardo Lynch, the former VINLEC management team and the six hundred (600) watchmen and cleaners who were dismissed in 2001. And those are just some of the persons who have felt the weight of

the ULP regime.

The Prime Minister’s thirty-fifth independence address was the worst he has delivered. There wasn’t anything creative or novel about it, neither did it address the critical issues affecting the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He failed to present any practical solutions, or outlined any programme that would offer hope to the hopeless.

A visionary address The Honourable Arnhim Eustace’s independence address was well crafted and captured the readers’ attention. Apart from the creativity and style of his writing, he articulated his party’s vision of where St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be in the year 2019, i.e. after the New Democratic Party (NDP) wins the 2015 general elections. It offered hope for Vincentians.

In the Leader of the Opposition’s address, he touched on the critical issues affecting Vincentians, e.g. the economy, agriculture, information technology, corruption, unemployment and the health sector. He envisaged that St. Vincent and the Grenadines would experience economic, social and political renewal when all the programmes and policies are implemented at the end of NDP’s first term in office.

He dealt extensively with job creation. The electorate of this country, especially the youths, now know, if they didn’t before, that the NDP is concerned about their welfare.

And employment will be created for them when the NDP returns to office.

The Hon. Arnhim Eustace declares, “When the private sector grows, so too does employment. To this end, the government has attracted investments in the Information Technology sector which too, have impacted positively on both employment and small business.”

During the reign of the ULP government, Vincentians have been complaining about the state of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. That too will also be addressed in the next NDP administration. A new state of the art hospital will be constructed in the constituency of East St. George.

Its construction will guarantee employment for the people of East St. George and the surrounding constituencies. This health care facility will also provide service to other Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) nationals.

This announcement by the president of the NDP is a visionary one and needs to be applauded, because it will generate tremendous economic benefits to the economy of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Given what (i.e. the vision) the Honourable Arnhim Eustace outlined in his independence address, it is obvious that the electorate has no other choice than to vote for the NDP at the next general election.

It is clear that the NDP government of 2015 — 2019 will improve significantly the livelihood of all Vincentians. For thirteen years, Vincentians have been living in misery, and the ULP is now bankrupt of ideas. The lone ‘encyclopedia’ is exhausted. It’s time for the NDP.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. 11.

Views

The path

“Victories in life come through our ability to work around and over the obstacles that cross our path.

We grow stronger as we climb our own mountains.” - Marvin J. Ashton (1915–1994) American religious leader, business executive, state senator Ensign, May 1979, p. 67.

WE CAN SOMETIMES appear to be so very judgemental when others seem to “drown their sorrows” by drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. You and I can also become so condemning when that unemployed father appears to squander whatever little resources he has by playing games of chance (e.g. the lotto) rather than using those funds to feed his hungry children. However, sometimes we need to step back, look within, and note that “but for the grace of God, we could be in a similar situation”. Some readers may quickly respond with a knee-jerk rebuttal indicating that, despite their challenges, they will never resort to drinking alcohol or gambling as a means of resolving their challenges. But not everyone has the resolve and self-discipline that others have cultivated over the years. Some individuals have great difficulty in determining and selecting the correct way to respond to the bends and twists along the road. Those bends and twists may appear in a myriad of forms; sickness, accidents, rejection, unemployment ... the list goes on. Sometimes, with a little empathy from us, they can be helped to take a more responsible approach to dealing with the obstacles along their path.

It is sobering to note that we will all meet obstacles among our course.

There is wisdom in being prepared for their eventuality; they will come. The level of preparation will often influence how we manoeuvre when they appear.

Some will show up uninvited. Others may result from our indiscretion and unwise decisions. Many will appear when we least expect them. However, the level of preparedness could very well be the difference between our success or failure in overcoming the obstacles. And while we will never be able to anticipate every challenge or difficulty that will come along our way, we could have a general strategy or approach for life’s obstacles; a resolve that, come what may, we will approach each challenge with honesty and integrity. And for those who pursue righteousness, we commit to ensuring that we always seek to use God’s word as a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Life’s path may sometimes seem dangerous and lonely. But with God’s word as our guide, and God by our side, there is no path to treacherous for us to manoeuvre and no mountain too difficult for us to climb.

Dr. Robert Schuller, in his bestselling book “Tough Times Never Last But Tough People Do”, reminds us that we will each meet mountains along our path from time to time. He challenges us to develop the resolve to climb over them, tunnel through them, skirt around them, or dig under them. That is the kind of determination that you and I should have as we prepare for the obstacles that will emerge. Similar views are expressed in Dr. M. Scott Peck’s New York Times Bestseller, “The Road Less Travelled” (and his sequel “The Road Less Travelled and Beyond”).

Peck encourages us to develop the strength, the tenacity, to constantly move forward amidst the myriad of obstacles that life will place before us.

He reminds us that, depending on our attitude and approach, we can generate

Ideas without persuasive power a lot of growth and sense of purpose as we overcome the challenges along our path. Confronting and resolving problems can enable us to achieve new heights of self-understanding and a sense of accomplishment. We can grow bigger and better as a result of the mountains that we have conquered.

However, we remind ourselves that sometimes we need to understand and appreciate that we do not always have to seek to travel the road alone. The writer of the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, writing under God’s inspiration, remind us of the value of camaraderie as we proceed along life’s path. A powerful imagery is created as he notes the importance of such “friendly support” when we read from Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two are better than one. ... If they fall, one will lift up his companion.” We sometimes need to stretch out a hand for comfort and support as we travel life’s patch. And sometimes we need to be there to lend a helping hand to someone who is struggling along their path.

Unfortunately, many of us have become very cynical and uncaring over the years. We seem to be unwilling or, in some cases, afraid to lend a helping hand. This may be especially so when we observe individuals who “should have known better”; persons who made wrong choices in life and are now paying the consequences. That teenager who, in a fit of anger, defied their parents’ guidance and now prepares to give birth to a “fatherless” baby. Or that alcoholic whose drunken stupor has resulted in him now being hospitalised following an “alcoholinduced” accident. Or that youngster who had such a bright future but followed unwise counsel from his peers and experimented with drugs only to discover that his mental capacity is now seriously diminished. There are so many other scenarios that we can add to these examples. However, we get the point: there are persons who will cross our path that need our help ... and it may often appear as though they do not “qualify” for our assistance. But we need to be mature enough, caring enough, compassionate enough, empathic enough to lend a helping hand.

Whose path will we (you and I) brighten over the next few days? We should not look away from that challenge. Whose load will we (you and I) help to carry over the next few days?

May we develop that spirit of discernment so that we become more sensitive to the needs of others. And may we have the courage and the faith to go beyond merely observing their plight but going that next step to lend a helping hand. Yes, they may have previously been unkind, uncaring, and ungrateful. But we (you and I) will be bigger than that; we will support and encourage them along their path. And in so doing, we discover that our path becomes better and brighter too. When we pause to help others we discover that we have also helped ourselves. We discover that in assisting others along their path we receive new abilities to work around and over the obstacles that cross our path. We seem to gain new strength to climb our own mountains.

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

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

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

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

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

European domination of the world is a relatively recent (as in the last 500 years) development. Five hundred years is a long time in human terms, but it is relatively short if we are thinking in terms of human history. For example, the emergence of Europe as a world power around 1470 is about the same time that South Europe, Spain, Portugal and Italy were coming out from under a 700 year domination by Africans beginning in the 7th century.

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

Clearly, there is something other than race that explains development and prosperity. Some thinkers, among them Max Weber, argued that the Christian ethic found among Protestants explains the rise to dominance of Europe. On its face, this idea has to be rejected.

Europeans for centuries have been the dominant powers in the world. They colonized the entire planet, brain washed much of the world into Eurocentric Christian thought, yet poverty and underdevelopment is still the order of the day in large swaths of the earth. Or is it that the Europeans are not that good at their colonizing craft?

Further, countries in Asia that have made a great leap forward from serf like backwardness to modern societies, represent cultures where Christianity is not the dominant religion. In fact, in Japan, India, China, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore the religions of choice are Shintoism, Hinduism and Confucianism. In China many of the leaders who led the rapid rise to

development were self -confessed atheists. Therefore, the religious belief of a people is not a good explanatory tool for their economic fortunes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The other view, which those who prefer to look at religion and geography and cultural habits clues for development rely on, but which is often ignored or vigorously opposed, is that the more developed world built their foundation on the backs of the rest of the world. The ‘lazy and uncultured’ people of Africa, Asia and Latin America were the work horses, and their lands were the plantations and provided the raw material on which the developed world prospered and developed.

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

Understanding these basic realities is a pre -condition for the development of strategy and tactics that can lead SVG and the Caribbean onto a path of more sustainable development.

Next week we look more extensively at why nations fail.

Send comments, criticisms & suggestions to wefirst@aol.com

V Mustique operates like an apartheid state 12. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

get richer, the rules for indigenous Vincentians get harsher. There seems to be a deliberate curtailment of Vincentians’ freedoms in order to impose some kind of psychotic control over Vincentians and maximise financial gain.

What kind of psychosis must exist in a APARTHEID WAS A segregation. There is a super-rich foreigners are overnight guest person’s mind, not just to SYSTEM of racial new pre-school in charging up to authorisation form for think of these racist segregation in South Mustique that has only EC$135,000 a week in residents of Lovell rules, but to happily Africa, under which the white children. It seems rent for their properties, Village’, and give it to rights, associations, and like the super-rich and collectively making the apartheid regime for impose them too, and deliberately inflict movements of the majority irrationally think that billions of dollars. clearance, before they hardship and suffering black inhabitants were their precious white Indigenous can bring a visitor to curtailed. Apartheid was children might ‘catch Vincentians who own their home in Mustique. on another human being?

Work for many abolished in South Africa something’ distasteful property in Mustique This is clearly done to in 1994, but, sadly, from black children. cannot pass on their control the movements of Vincentians in Mustique is on a part-time basis. apartheid lives on in SVG. Indigenous property by will to their people, and the policy This means that many Mustique operates Vincentians who work in children. This economic can be likened to the workers are not entitled like an apartheid state.

Mustique live apart from oppression of our Pass laws in apartheid The white super-rich live the super-rich, indigenous people is South Africa, 1800-1994. to a pension or gratuity.

Again, this policy seeks a life of luxury, but very segregated in an area unjust. A Green Africans, i.e. black to maximise profit for the harsh rules and known as Lovell Village. government will abolish persons born in South super-rich and oppress conditions are imposed Indigenous this apartheid system.

Africa, were forced to poor people, no matter on indigenous Vincentians who own Indigenous carry passes so their how many years of good Vincentians living in property in Mustique Vincentians who own owners could control Mustique. cannot rent out their property in Mustique their movements. Do the work they have done.

Indigenous Like South Africa property to earn a few must seek permission super-rich of Mustique Vincentians who own during the days of extra dollars, whereas from the super-rich to think they own the property in Mustique apartheid and the USA the super-rich foreigners have a visitor come and indigenous Vincentians were forced to pay the pre-1970s, Mustique has of Mustique can rent out stay. They must fill in a in Mustique? a regime of racial their property. The form called the ‘Mustique As the Mustique rich Inland Revenue Department property tax

before 30th September 2014 or be liable of a fine of 10% per month. Under the Property Tax Act, indigenous Vincentians can be sent to jail for not paying their property tax. Meanwhile, the super-rich of Mustique do not pay tax.

The psychotic and vindictive regime in Mustique that exerts excessive control over indigenous Vincentians, will not be tolerated under a Green government. There is no rational reason for apartheid to exist in our country.

A Green government will abolish the tax and customs duty exemptions given to the super-rich of Mustique and Canouan, and use the money gained from taxing the super-rich to build free, high-quality pre-schools and a science and technology university for SVG’s children.

SVG Green Party www.svggreenparty.org

Commissioned by the General SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, because of the ungentle reception I had from the Attorney General when I went to see her on a matter, I considered that I was then commissioned by her to give public expression to my thoughts and opinion.

The genesis of the story is that I had thought it reasonable to question certain fees which government legal department had imposed on me relative to a land tenure matter. I was then instructed that the AG was the competent person to examine my case,

so I went to her. She heard me politely, and I would venture to say that I thought her warm and amiable.

She suggested that I should have my attorney write to her presenting my case.

My attorney did so promptly, and when after several months there was no reply from the Attorney General, I called on her at her office in an effort at resolving the issue. On this occasion, she was neither warm nor amiable; her attitude reflected disdain, which I surmised had origin in my having submitted to the press, my thoughts regarding what I considered an untenable situation at the Registry.

She threatened to summon her security officer to throw me out. “You could write about that”, she said, hence my “Commissioned by the General”.

Now, in recent years, there have been some issues impacting negatively on the life and welfare of the nation, in which the functioning of the present Attorney General has fallen way below the desired level one had expected to be evident, in this land of ours in the 21st century.

It is imperative, I think, that her failings be critically examined and clearly documented, so that we ensure that in the future, the person chosen to fill the office of Attorney General of this state, is not predisposed to the weaknesses that have resided with the office of Attorney General, over the last thirteen and one-half years.

The constitution of St. Vincent and the Grenadines gives high regard to the office of Attorney General.

Section 63 of the Constitution states — “There shall be an Attorney General who shall be the principal legal advisor to the Government”. In several other sections of the constitution, the Attorney General is given special charge authorisation and protection, implying and anticipating an exhibition of high moral integrity by the holder of that office. Sensitivity to the important role and the high profile that the office of Attorney General enjoys in our socio-political construct, ought to influence the holder of that office to conduct himself or herself honourably.

It has been one of our sad legacies, to have had several of our Attorneys General leaving office because of “misdemeanour”. As we now contemplate the changing of a regime, we must make it clear to those aspiring to serve, that we will no longer be tolerant of those vulgar excesses, they have crippled and blighted our land. We should therefore let the remainder of this year 2014 be for evaluation, so as to determine the way forward. Good governance is the core pre-requisite!

So it is the opinion of many Vincentians that the tenure of Madame Judith Jones-Morgan has not been good for us. During her time, we have not prospered, and we feel that she must be held responsible for some of the agonies burdening the people at this time. I have identified three solid reasons for my conclusions.

LeRoy Providence

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. 13.

News

Building bridges and more

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY THE COUNTRY of Ecuador, located on the north western coast of South America, is establishing a historical link with the Caribbean multi island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Almost one year after mainland St. Vincent was devastated by a trough system which brought devastating rainfall and flooding, the South American country, Ecuador, is fulfilling a promise to re-build four bridges that were destroyed in the process.

The extent of Ecuador’s contribution to the re-building project is set at $11.3M, and includes the in the country presence of a 45- member contingent from the Engineering Corps of the Ecuadorian military.

The contingent, already in country, is expected to oversee completion of the bridges in eight months.

Major Manuel Querembas, commander of the contingent, made it clear that his country did not have a lot, but the little which they have, they have made it available for restoration of four bridges here.

He expressed the sentiment during a launch of the project last Tuesday, at Hope, the site of one of the bridges to be re-constructed.

Major Querembas promised to complete the mission while respecting the laws of the country, and pledged to

take care of the environment and to appreciate the Vincentian culture.

He described the bridge as a ‘highway’ to the development of not just the people of Hope, in the interior South Leeward constituency, but to the entire area and the nation altogether.

Santiago Martinez Espindola, Minister Counsellor from the Ecuadorian Embassy, The Ecuadorian Engineering contingent that will noted the speedy oversee the building of the bridges. fashion in which negotiations were logical tests here. carried out since the unfolding of the The Hope Bridge will be 24 metres disaster. long and eight metres wide which, He pointed to the redefinition in according to Dr. Gonsalves, will be the relations between the countries since President Rafael Correa took office in longest bridge in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

2007, in Ecuador.

The Prime Minister urged The Minister Counsellor praised the Vincentians to work with Ecuadorians South/South cooperation between the so as to cement that bond of friendship two nations, and proffered that links will be strengthened as a result of the which has broken historical grounds.

Dr. Gonsalves is hoping that construction of the bridges.

President Correa will be here for the Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves opening of the new bridges. expressed satisfaction with the speed The Project includes the with which the venture materialised. reconstruction of the Hope Bridge and He recalled going to Ecuador last the construction of three Bailey July, and by September 15, a fivemember team from Ecuador was doing Bridges in the Chateaubelair villages of Sharps, Kakarta and Plan.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and Commander of the Ecuadorian Engineering Corps, exchange a strong handshake of friendship.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. 15.

14. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

captures inaugural Ex-baby-sitter receives Bowman Independence Calypso crown NY Independence honour Stor y and photos b y NELSON A Story by A.. KING naking@v erizon.net; neloking@msn.com naking@verizon.net; US CORRESPONDENT

JO ANNE LEGAIR rose from her early bab y-sitting JOANNE baby-sitting job, when she fir st migrated to the United United States States first in 199 1 , to become the sole honoree last last Sunday Sunday 1991, at the gala Independence L uncheon and A wards Luncheon Awards Ceremon y in Brooklyn, N ew Y ork o , commemorating Ceremony New York, the nation’s 35th anniv ersary of political indepenindepenanniversary dence from Great Brit ain.

Britain.

Legair, 50, a Richmond Hill, Kingstown native, was honored at Tropical Paradise Ballroom on Utica Avenue. The event was organized by the umbrella Vincentian group in the US, Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Organizations, U.S.A, Inc. (COSAGO) and the New York Consul Consul-ate General.

“It’s a privilege to be the sole honoree today,” said Legair, who worked as a clerk with the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines before migrating, after receiving the award from COSAGO President Laverne McDowa McDowa-ld-Thompson. McDowald Thompson is also president of the Brooklyn-based Cha Cha-teaubelair Development Organization (CDO), and Legair is the vice presi presi-dent.

Legair told THE VINCENTIAN that the honour was extra special, in light of the fact that she elevated herself from baby-sit baby-sit-ting for seven years in Man Man-hattan, to obtaining a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Long Island University, downtown Brooklyn.

She said she financed her associate degree in accounting from LaGuardia Community College in Queens, New York, and partially did the same for her bachelor’s in business administration from Baruch College, both with the City Univer Univer-sity of New York, on her baby-sit baby-sit-ting salary.

“You can use baby-sitting as a stepping stone; it does not define who you are,” she said. “And if you chose to be a baby-sitter (baby-sit (baby-sit-ting) as a career, it’s ok because you’re nurturing and educating children.”

Baby-sitting controversy The baby-sitting issue was the center of intense public discussion at home and in the Diaspora in recent weeks, with many nationals, primarily in the US, expressing outrage over

Right: Joanne Legair receives plaque from COSAGO member Lennox fundrais-Joslyn, chair of the fundrais ing committee, flanked by McDowa-president Laverne McDowa ld-Thompson (left) and attorney Curlina Edwards (right).

remarks made on local radio by prospective Deputy New York Counsel General Sehon Marshall.

Marshall, a Chateaubelair native, who subsequently apologized for what many described as repulsive and condescending comments, also said that many nationals had left prestigious jobs at home to become “dog-walkers” in the US. As the uproar intensified, Foreign Affairs Minister Camillo Gonsalves appealed to nationals in a town hall meeting in Brooklyn in September, to give Marshall “a chance.”

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves subsequently said he was standing by the embattled would-be diplomat.

But some nationals in New York predict that the prime minister’s repercus-stance could have adverse repercus sions on his administration, should he still insist in appointing Marshall to the position.

About Joanne In introducing Legair, attorney Curlina Edwards, CDO secretary, said: “This might come as a surprise to you because Joanne is not from ChaChateaubelair; she’s from town (Kings(Kingstown). And she’s worked as hard as anyone from ChaChateaubelair.”

Legair, the daughter of Rosabelle Pompey-Legair and Harold Legair, of Richmond Hill, attended the Richmond Hill Government School, renamed the Thomas Saunders Secondary School, and later the Emmanuel High School in Kingstown.

Joanne Legair gives acceptance speech.

Stor y and photos b y Story by A. KING NELSON A. naking@verizon.net; naking@v erizon.net; neloking@msn.com US CORRESPONDENT

DENNIS BOWMAN, a finalist compe-in the national calypso compe tition in Vincy Mas 2014, is the winner of the inaugural New York – SVG Independence Calypso Monarch competition.

Bowman won from a field that comprised 11 challengers, at a show held last Saturday at Café.

Some elements of the

She developed a love for track and field, and would participate in up to 11 events in one track and field meet, earning the sobriquet ‘The Horse’.

But Legair’s secondary education was cut short; sho rt; she was forced to drop out after completing the Third Form.

Determined, however, to pursue her education, she attended evening classes and gained G.C.E O’ Level certification in Accounts and English.

She became the first female to work at the “all men” Vector Control Division in the Ministry of Health and the Environment, as a field inspector, and was very instrumental in the employment of other females in that programme.

After baby-sitting in New York, she worked for a number of leading business concerns, including Morgan Stanley, Bank of New York Mellon, AIG and GE. She is currently employed as an accountant, and operates a VINCENTIANS LIVING and working in home-based tax preparation Bermuda, hosted a programme of activities from October 23 to 27, to commemorate the business.

35 anniversary of independence of their Besides CDO, Legair serves homeland. on a number of community According to spokesperson Stephen organizations in New York.

Diamond, a principal organizer of the She is, among other things, activities, the programme “was also a chairperson of COSAGO’s timely reminder of our homeland’s achieveCulture and Sports Committee; ments and caused us to reflect on these treasurer of the Brooklyn-based and many other things that concern us as a St. Vincent and the Grenadines Vincentian people”.

Diaspora Committee of New York The celebrations got underway with a and the Caribbean-American Vincentian Folklore and Heritage Night on Cultural Group, Inc.; one of the October 23, which “presented another founding members and an opportunity to further expose others to advisor to the Friends of Sion information on St Vincent and the GrenaHill, Inc.; and a member of the dines, our rich history and our culture”.

Steering Committee of the A Games Night was hosted on October 24, Vincentian-Ameri-newly-formed Vincentian-Ameri the highlight of which was the traditional can Chamber of Commerce.

Vincentian ring games like ‘Gouti Under

Dennis Bowman holding trophy aloft.

with-audience did not with hold their displeasure by booing when the top three spots were announced, by co-Master of Ceremonies Hailes Castello, shortly after 3:00 a.m.

Franklyn ‘Supadex’ Richards, who rendered ‘All Ah We Ah Vincy’, and Brother Don, who Judges, L-R: Samuel ‘Kala’ Gordon, Monty Constance and sang ‘Bring Back Vincy Cauldric Forbes. to We’, placed second and third, respectively.

But Ainsley Primus – the Arnos Vale-born president of and Exposer (‘Fight Back’), “There was no the Dynamite Calypso Tent, Primus said they should have doubt in my mind the lone Vincentian calypso placed higher in the competi [that] the crown competi-tent in the United States, tion, based on the judges’ was mine,” he which organized the event – tabulation. added. “The song is told THE VINCENTIAN Except for Bowman, Rich itself lyrically rich.

Rich-afterwards that the auditor ards and Brother Don, the When you come to apparently erred in tabulating positions of the other artistes presenting a song, the results. were not announced. you can count on Primus said, while Bowman Primus said he was expect Dennis Bowman to expect-was the clear winner, with ‘Not ed to meet this week with the deliver that.” judges and his executive to Other contend Giving up’, based on the contend-judges’ score, Richards and finalize the results, but stated ers were: Striker Brother Don should have that Bowman will remain the (‘We are Vincen Vincen-placed lower down the order. undisputed winner of the tian’); Fabulous T The judges were Monty inaugural event. (‘Happy Indepen Indepen-Constance, Samuel ‘Kala’ Nonetheless, Bowman, who dence’); Wise Guy Gordon and Cauldric Forbes. earlier this year won Dyna (‘Happy Anniversa Anniversa-Dyna-mite’s New Song Competition, ry’); Jose Juan (‘I Without disclosing the respective position of John said, shortly after competition, Miss You’); Jakie Dougan (‘Our Independence’) he was confident of victory. (‘Independence’); “Excellent! Excellent!” he Groovy D (‘What A exclaimed when THE VIN World We Live In’); VIN-DynaLeft: Ainsley Primus, DynaCENTIAN asked him about his and John Cumbay o Tent Tent e PresiPresimite Calypso performance. “If you listen to (‘Our Indepen Indepen-dent, will move to have the the song lyrically, musically, dence’). other positions clarified. the song is right up there.

Vincies in Bermuda host Independence celebrations Dey’, ‘Ah Pan Ah Pan’, ‘Brown Girl in the Ring’ and ‘Who Stole the Cookie’.

According to Diamond, “Many of the off-spring - Bermudans born to Vincentian parents - attended these activities and participated fully. For them, it was quite an experience that they welcomed, and expressed interest in seeing future events being put on that will give them more than just a taste of things Vincy.”

Saturday, October 25 was dubbed ‘Carry Yo Own Key’ and Movie Night, and on Sunday, October 26, Vincentians in Bermuda joined members of the Cobbs Hill Gospel Chapel for worship.

Decked out in their Vincy t-shirts, they assembled and marched into the church with the national flag of St Vincent and the Grenadines. Their host and officiating minister was Pastor Edward Richardson, who hails from Richland Park, and his wife

Vincentians in Bermuda proudly display the SVG national colours.

Everette from Freeland, Mesopotamia, who has lived in Bermuda for over 40 years and recently retired as a principal.

Pastor Richardson delivered an inspiring sermon on the theme, “Righteousness Exalts a Nation, But Sin is a Reproach to a

People”, during which he urged the congregation to love one another.

The celebrations continued that night with a culinary affair that featured Vincentian cuisine, and the raising of the national flag at midnight.

16. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. 17.

News

NOBAÊs president thanks the authorities

formally, with a view to having the situation dealt Bucan. with Francis noted that two private contractors have Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN on THE QUICK response of government to the predicament been hired, and confirmed that the work is expected Wednesday, Senator Francis said he understands of the Redemption Sharpes omnibus owners and to take about three weeks. the plight of the omnibus owners and operators. He operators, has prompted president of the National The government Senator recalled that explained that the work undertaken by the Bridges, rehabilitation work on the roads generally had Omnibus Association (NOBA)’ Anthony ‘Code Red’ Roads and General Services Authority (BRAGSA), is Bacchus, to say thanks on NOBA’s behalf. started before the floods last December, but after expected to cost about quarter million dollars and Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday, the floods, monies had to be diverted to other will cover the areas of ‘Block 2000’, Lodge Village, Bacchus expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Dr. priorities.

Green Hill, Redemption Sharpes, Sharpesdale and Ralph Gonsalves, Senator Julian Francis, Minister of State in the P.M’s Office with responsibility for Transport and Works, and the government as a whole.

Bacchus said that because of

by DAYLE DA SILVA He however, said that he was the quick response, the omnibus not going to disclose what these owners and operators did not PRINCIPAL of the Mountain projects were. proceed with its decision to go on View Adventist Academy, Ollivierre said that the occasion strike last Tuesday, October 28, Anthony Ollivierre, said that he was a proud one for him, and he in an effort to prompt government has already identified a few explained that the victory was the to attend to the deplorable projects for which the $2500 prize end of a journey which ensured condition of the road network. money for winning this year’s that school’s representative was Bacchus noted that repair work public speaking competition, will well prepared. started last Saturday, October 25, Anthony ‘Code probably be put towards.

“One of the things that we do and the omnibus owners and Red’ Bacchus, operators have been given the Fourteen-year-old Eric at Mountain View is to prepare President of assurance that it would be February walked away with the students for this level,” Ollivierre NOBA. completed in about three weeks.

Mikey De Freitas Challenge told THE VINCENTIAN. “We are looking forward to Trophy, the trademark of public According to him, it has become seeing the completion of the roads for the benefit of speaking supremacy in the common practice to use a fourth Eric February, 2014 Public drivers and members of the community as a whole”, country, last week Thursday. form student, so as to avoid any Speaking Champion, pictured Bacchus said.

February’s performance meant potential conflict between with his parents.

Bacchus held high praises for the Redemption that 2012 champions, the Bishop’s preparing the competition and Sharpes omnibus owners and operators.

His experience in youth College Kingstown, represented their academics simultaneously.

“I would like to commend them for the strength ministry combined with his and unity they showed to make things happen.

by Damail James, had to settle for “And he was well prepared for Without their strength and unity, things would not interest in reading and the overall second place, and Chreslon Fraser this, not only from the public have happened”, Bacchus stressed. support he received from his of the St Vincent Boys Grammar speaking level, we have Asked about the condition of roads in other parents, teachers and peers, are School third. programmes where he is always communities, Bacchus pointed out that NOBA is what, Ollivierre said, made the “There are a couple of projects involved,” Ollivierre said. aware that other areas have similar problems, but young man confident and well that we are hoping to use the These programmes include a he assured that NOBA would have community prepared for the competition. money for,” Ollivierre said.

Youth Ministry. meetings and government would be addressed

by HAYDN HUGGINS

Preparation is key at Mountain View

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18. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Education

His Excellency Ambassador Baushuan Ger, pictured here with some of the recipients, emphasized the crucial role of education in developing island economies that have little natural resources.

Students from primary, secondary and college levels received Taiwan scholarships.

Vincentian students awarded Taiwan scholarships FOUR HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN (414) Vincentian primary, secondary and college level students have been awarded Scholarships under the Taiwan Scholarship Assistance Programme.

The awards were presented by His Excellency Ambassador Baushuan Ger of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on October 21, 2014, at the Peace Memorial Hall, in a ceremony attended

by Minister of Education Girlyn Miguel, Minister of Youth Frederick Stephenson, Minister of National Reconciliation and Labour Maxwell Charles, other government officials, principals, teachers, recipients and

their families.

In addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Ger said that since 1998, Taiwan has been providing Scholarships in the amount of US$100,000 every year to hundreds of students from primary, secondary, and tertiary schools.

He emphasized that, since St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Taiwan are island economies with limited natural resources, the only way for development and success is through education.

Education, therefore, according to H.E. Ambassador Ger, formed an

important component of the areas of co-operation that characterize the relationship between the two countries.

To ensure the continuation of this scholarship programme, a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries, has been renewed for another 5 years, from 2014 to 2018.

Besides the Scholarships for students enrolled in institutions here, Taiwan also provides higher education scholarships to Vincentian youths. To date, over 100 Vincentians have been awarded scholarships to study in Taiwan, and about half of them have completed their degrees and returned to serve the country with knowledge

obtained from Taiwan.

Minister of Education Girlyn Miguel expressed gratitude to the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for all the assistance in areas of infrastructure, agriculture, education and human resources development, etc. over the 30-plus years since the establishment of diplomatic ties.

She lauded the Government of Taiwan, a model for SVG, for its foresight to invest in education, which has played a key role in its national development.

She also encouraged the recipients to make the best use of the scholarship, study hard, and manage to complete their education.

GECCU: Committed to education

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY THE GENERAL EMPLOYEES Co-operative Credit Union (GECCU), demonstrated its commitment to national development with the award of three bursaries last Wednesday, October 29.

Jiwani Peters is working towards her degree in BioChemistry at the St. Augustine Campus Trinidad, so she was not present to collect her $10,000. Her mother Kathleen Williams-Peters received the funds on her behalf.

The other recipients were Ricky Haynes and Natalie Glasgow, who GECCU bursary recipients (from left) collected $10,000 each.

Kathleen Williams-Peters (standing in Haynes is working towards his for Jiwani Peters), Ricky Haynes, and degree in Banking and Finance, Natalie Glasgow. while Glasgow is aiming on hers in traits.

Accounts.

Head of the University of the West Chairperson of GECCU’s Indies Open Campus, Deborah Scholarship Committee Mineva Glasgow, emphasised her institution’s Dalrymple, welcomed GECCU’s injection of help to students at the commitment to development.

Tertiary level.

“The Credit Union sees education Asfo Stephens, Senior Education and training as vital to the holistic development of the individual, country Officer for Secondary Schools, endorsed the value of higher and the Credit Union,” Glasgow education, and urged the students to indicated.

She highlighted GECCU’s provision work hard and not to follow a trend of being one of those off-campus of services as evidence of its students, who he described as “very commitment to members. lazy.”

Cornelia Moses, GECCU’s Stephens is pleased that GECCU Operations Officer, regarded displays a non-partial role in its Wednesday’s session as a “strong distribution of awards. For Stephens, affirmation of GECCU’s vision to the GECCU serves its members, no overall development of its members,” matter their “class, race or ethnicity.” and encouraged the recipients to acquire sound values and character

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. 19.

Court

Former civil servant ordered to repay money Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS IN AN INTERESTING turn of events at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court this week, Stacia Aberdeen, a former employee at the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), who was accused of dishonestly obtaining monies amounting to $7,500.70 from that department about four years ago, was ordered to repay the money.

Aberdeen, of Green Hill, was charged with 56 counts of theft an 56 counts of falsification of accounts at the IRD on different dates, between January 12, 2010 and December 23, 2010.

Aberdeen, who was 23 at the time, pleaded not guilty to the charges when she initially appeared in Court in 2011. She was released on bail, and the case was adjourned.

When the matter was called on Tuesday, Aberdeen’s lawyer, Arthur Williams, told the court that his client was willing to repay the money. Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias then asked Williams if he wanted the charges to be read to the defendant.

But the lawyer said that Aberdeen was going to repay the money.

The Magistrate then took evidence on oath from the woman, and in her evidence, she indicated that she was willing to repay the money.

Browne-Matthias ordered that Aberdeen repay the money forthwith with an alternative of two years in prison. Aberdeen made the repayment.

She was also bonded for one year. In breach of the bond, she will pay the court $2,500 forthwith or serve one year behind bars.

Commenting on the matter, Williams accused the IRD of being negligent. He noted that the way the

Calder man charged with villagerÊs death CALDER resident Hamilton McDonald is behind bars awaiting a February 24, 2015 Preliminary Inquiry (PI), in connection with the death of fellow villager Desborne Yearwood.

McDonald, 47, is charged with the murder of Yearwood, 28, who died after being struck on the head with a blunt object, around 5:40 pm, Hamilton McDonald October 20.

McDonald appeared before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court last week Thursday, October 23. He was not required to plea and was remanded.

Yearwood’s death was one of two killings which occurred October 20 in separate incidents occurring in the space of a few hours. The other was that of Aninka Stowe, 23, of Redemption Sharpes who was gunned down in the presence of her boyfriend and 8-year-old daughter Zennika Stowe, as Aninka was about to close her mother’s shop at Green Hill that night.

Up to press time Wednesday, 30 homicides were recorded for the year.

receipts were written should have put them on notice.

However, when contacted, Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche told THE VINCENTIAN that one should not attempt to justify or legitimize one’s dishonest actions by trying to solely blame the supervisors.

“One may agree that supervision may have been tardy, but there is a way of dealing with the supervisors. The lack of proper supervision does Stacia Aberdeen’s offer to not legitimize acts of repay the money was accepted dishonesty,” Delpleche by the Court. cautioned.

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20. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

More than an age difference like you with all that stamina.”

Everyone got quiet on hearing this; I MARRIED a woman 30 years my junior, but instead of leaving it there, she continued with, “and plus, you just I am 68 years old and she is 38, and I must admit the marriage was going fine. want to show off because you have an oversized....you know what.”

Until recently, when we went to a George, I was furious, and when we birthday party for one of her friends. got home, I confronted her about what It was there and then that she she said. She simply asked me if embarrassed and insulted me. what she said was a lie, and walked One of her male friends asked her off. I asked her how she knew he was something pertaining to my sexual oversized, and she replied with, “It is.” abilities, and her response was, “You This experience has left a bitter have to remember my husband is not

Dear George,

taste in my mouth, and now I have tons of questions.

Worried Dear Worried, You need to find a way to sit your wife down so that you can get a chance to ask the questions that are piling up in your mind. If you think she cannot do this effectively, then you can suggest to her that you two

see someone who is qualified to help you sort things out. It could very well be that you are over reacting and reading too much into what was said.

Yes, she could have been a bit more subtle in her remarks, seeing that you were present; but it could also be concluded that she was out having fun with her friends, and whatever was said was done so in the spirit of fun and laughter.

George

Keeping our marriage a secret Dear George, MY WIFE continues to insist that we keep our marriage a secret “a little longer.” We got married in Barbados, as per her wish, and now that we are back in St. Vincent, she is acting as though she is still on the market. She does not wear her wedding band, and when she is asked to introduce me, she does so by referring to me as “my partner.” I would rather prefer if she said “my husband!”

I asked her why she could not use ‘my husband’, and she said she is not ready and I must be patient, because I know that she is my wife and that is

all that should matter right now.

George, I am sensing another agenda here. Should I be worried?

Stress!

Dear Stress, It could very well be that your wife still considers herself as being on the market. As far as why that is so, you will have to ask her.

It makes no sense getting married and not being ready to declare yourself as married. The one thing that adds to the security of marriage is the open declaration that follows the act. The

suspicions you now have about a possible hidden agenda will remain until you get her to honestly open up, and tell you the real reason for the secrecy.

Having said that, it is that secrecy that can cause the demise of your marriage. You need to ask and get direct answers from your wife. She is either married or not married, and if

she considers herself married, then she should openly declare it.

At the end of the day, it is what you decide to settle for - a secret agent or open forum.

George

Sex that hurt You also need to seriously tell your husband that he is being selfish; that he should start considering your MY HUSBAND is damaging me, and he does not want to listen. Every time feelings more and listen to what you we have sex, I bleed, and do so badly. are trying to explain to him.

Both of you should immediately see I am afraid to go to the doctor because I am embarrassed. He does not want a marriage counsellor/sex therapist to iron out the issues you have to take his time with me, and he is mentioned. Maybe he will listen extremely huge too. better if the information comes from a I want someone to speak to him source other than you. In any event, please, because I am not enjoying having sex with him, and he does not his love for you should not allow things to come to the point where you understand that. He interprets that are not taken seriously. as I am seeing someone else.

There could be much more to iron out than Hurt Wife the sexual issues you Dear Hurt Wife, have mentioned.

You have to do what is in your power to take care of yourself. You George should not hesitate to seek medical attention if the situation warrants it.

Dear George,

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Confronting a situation will only result in indignation and misunderstandings.

It's time to get yourself back on track.

Try a barbecue or a day at the beach.

Plans to make physical improvements may lead to psychological changes, too.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Go out with friends and avoid the situation on the home front. It might be best to work on your own; if possible, do your job out of your home this week.

You can make rewarding connections through the organized groups you associate with. You need to spend some time with individuals who have more experience than you.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) There will be hidden matters that you may find disturbing. You can expect to have a problem with your lover. Don't put off the things that they have asked you to do. This day was meant for love.

Make creative changes to your residence. Enjoy a quiet dinner for two and discuss some of the plans you have for the future.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) You need to do more things that you enjoy. Finish projects that have been hanging over your head. Don't overspend or give too freely to others. You have a tendency to think that no one else will do things properly.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) You may be able to get some good advice about your personal problems.

You should avoid getting involved in the personal problems of colleagues. Lay your cards on the table regarding your personal direction. Your emotions are fluctuating, so be careful not to say things you'll regret.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) You can write beautiful love letters this week. Be willing to listen, but don't be fooled. You may be emotionally unstable if you let someone you care about get away with verbal abuse. Arguments

may flare up in your home.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) If you take on too much, you will find your self in martyrdom. Changes involving your domestic scene may be unpleasant. You will have to control the way you feel. You may find that your quick wit and charm will help you in obtaining allies.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Rid yourself of that which is old and no longer of use. Your leadership qualities will come in handy. Don't avoid your true feelings. Set your goals and stick to your guns.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) You can meet someone who will become very dear to you if you get out and socialize. You need to take a good look at all sides of an issue before making a decision. If you can't get ahead in the company you're with, perhaps it's time to move on. Do not overspend on entertainment.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Travel should be on your agenda. Be sure to find out all you can before you commit to anything. Although it does look promising, be careful not to overextend yourself or you will lose in the long run. Sudden changes at home will affect family members more than you anticipated.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) Involvement in financial schemes will be followed by losses. You should not be concerned with coworkers who insist on spreading rumors. You are best to keep your money tied up in a safe and secure place. Your mate may not have been honest with you.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) You may get upset with peers or relatives. Get involved in jobs that require creative input. You can win points with both peers and superiors. Don't expect new acquaintances to be completely honest about themselves. You may find a rare antique this week.

ACROSS 1.City abodes (abbr.)

5. Yellow vehicle 8. Mr. Crosby 12. Café au__ 13. Select 14. Swear 15. Grape site 16. Nightclub feature 17. Actor Hackman 18. Pranks 20. Goads (2 wds.)

22. Canucks’ gp.

23. Prior to (prefix) 24. More impudent 28. Flawless 32. __ crossroads (2 wds.)

33. Computer game format (hyph.)

35. Play division 36. Coffee type 38. Stung 40. FBI worker (abbr.)

42. __ cream 43. Taste 46. Sir Isaac __ 50. Ear part 51. GI’s club 53. Sailor’s greeting 54. Fifty-fifty 55. Gymnast Mary __ Retton 56. Demolish 57. Marries 58. Gridiron units (abbr.)

59. Atkins, e.g.

10. Taboo (hyph.)

11. Dancer DOWN Verdon 1.Thomas __ 19. Cub’s home Edison 21. Facial 2. Suffering expression 3. Color 4. Beer mugs 24. Yosemite __ 5. Long, 25. From __ Z runnered (2 wds.) coaster 26. Cul-de-__ 6. __ creek 27. Amtrak (2 wds.) and Conrail 7. Throat (abbr.) infection 29. __ crow 8. Did a supermarket 30. Air hero 31. 1970s job midsize 9. Singer Burl

Ford 34.Portentous 37. Safe places 39. Word on a “Wanted” poster 41. Really 43. Emulated Superman

44. Romantic feeling 45. Sleeping 47. Siamese, now 48. Seep 49. No, to Yuri 52. Pregrown lawn

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. 21.

THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SUPREME COURT IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES CLAIM NO: 64 OF 2012 IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION BY VILMA GOODLUCK FOR A DECLARATION FOR POSSESSORY TITLE TO LAND APPLICATION FOR DECLARATION FOR POSSESSORY TITLE

NOTICE FIRST PUBLICATION

Whereas VILMA GOODLUCK of Adelphi Estate in the State of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines but presently residing in Brooklyn, New York, in the United States of America, by her application in the High Court on the 5th October 2012, claims to have acquired title by twelve years adverse possession of the said land described in the schedule to this Notice and has applied to the Court for a Declaration of Possessory Title.

Now all persons claiming an interest in the said land are required to enter an appearance in the Registry in person or by their legal practitioner, within one (1) month from the date of the last publication of this Notice which is being published twice in the newspapers.

SCHEDULE ALL THAT LOT PIECE OR PARCEL of land situation at Adelphi Estate in the Parish of Charlotte in the State of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and admeasuring two point nine-nine three five seven (2.99357) acres and abutted and bounded as follows on or towards the North by a road on or towards the South by a road on or towards the East by lands of the heirs of George Goodluck and or towards the West by lands of Samuel Goodluck as shown and delineated on a Survey Plan drawn by Licensed Land Surveyor Osborne Browne and approved and lodged at the Land and Surveys Department of this State of the 16th January, 2008 and bearing Drawing Number C1477 or however otherwise the same may be butted bounded known distinguished or described together with all buildings and erections thereon and all ways waters watercourses rights lights liberties privileges and easements thereto belonging or usually held used occupied or enjoyed therewith or reputed or be appurtenant thereto.

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22. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Finance

Financial Information Month (FIM) –

Soar to success ADMIT IT! Soaring conjures elements, above and up an image of gliding beyond the trials of what effortlessly, almost lies beneath. aimlessly, in sync with the But Alas! Let’s take

the scene back a few slides…., before the gliding, before the cooperation of the

elements, there is foremost a decision to take flight, a period of frantic fluttering of the wings against the elements, then consolidation, as familiarity set in and there is relative comfort amongst the flock….but then the desire to ‘soar’ and stand out.

The flight of a bird is in no way dissimilar to the stages that a business By now, it is accepted that we are in a global recession, a very prolonged one as well. It can be tempting to just stay focused on improving operations and lowering cost, where possible, hunker down and hope things will be fine. This strategy may help your business to survive a little longer, but is not necessarily geared toward long term success.

You have got to change your game to soar.

Let’s examine some principles that will help to transform your small business and enable it to soar to success:

ideas to satisfy valueconscious consumers.

Serve ‘Even’ the customers you don’t like

only partially true.

Seriously, it may simply involve opening a retail shop on the other side of Village / Island / The Grenadines. In other words, where can I make my products / services accessible to a grouping that is otherwise constrained or inconvenienced by my present location?

Every type of business you can imagine has customers it sees as undesirable from a cost or profit perspective. But as entrepreneurs, this is where your individual genius and guile must come to the fore. Here is your opportunity to focus on what is important; divorce your emotions from the transaction, and remember success is not just hinged to the customers that you have learned to love but, in fact, customers you have learned to dislike, and figuring out innovative ways to make them great customers.

Reassess your customers’ values

A good product always sells

The recession has forced consumers to change their mindsets, not just their spending habits. While it is not yet certain what long term impact this will have on customer behavior, one must be aware that a more cautious, anxietyridden consumer has evolved. People are reevaluating their values and consequently their purchases. Determine as Think new markets best as possible, “how Open your mind’s eyes have my customers’ and seek opportunities to values changed in the recent past, and how source new markets. have their needs Instinctively, a call for changed?” The answers new markets is equated can help to guide new to ‘export’. Now, that is

Consider these products / services that have made our daily existence easier: Ipads, cellular phones, on-line banking, debit cards, ATMs, and the list goes on. Now consider this, most game changing products were launched in very tough times, economic low-points. So, what does that mean to you and your business?

The known secret is simple. Just because times are tough doesn’t mean people aren’t willing to PAY for things that help them to solve their problems or simply make their lives easier.

Acclimatize to chaos Yes, you heard me correctly. You MUST get comfortable with chaos.

Nothing is normal anymore. Globalization and Technology are contributing to constant economic turbulence.

Recognize and accept this new normality. There is going to be continuous turbulence punctuated by spurts of prosperity and downturns; understand that you are NOT going to be able to count on uninterrupted periods of prosperity.

Empower yourself through training, and proactively LEAD your business through paths unknown toward greatness!

Contributed by Bank of Nova Scotia

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. 23.

SVGCA praises awardees THE LOCAL CRICKET FRATERNITY is in pink of form after seeing some contributors to the sport being recognised for their role in helping to develop the sport.

Three members of the cricket family, Denis Byam, Deighton Butler and Anson Latchman, were given recognition during the recent Independence Celebrations.

Butler, who hails from the Prime Minister’s North Central Windward Constituency, and Byam, who accompanied the Prime Minister him on his recent trip to Cuba for medical treatment, were both named as Sports Ambassadors, while Latchman, a national Under 19 captain, was awarded a national scholarship for his performance at CAPE. Byam, a former Windward Islands opener at both junior and senior levels is second vice-president of the SVG

Cricket Association.

The former Victors ONE captain, who still campaigns in the first division with Ishalz Byam Therapy, is a Cuban-trained physiotherapist, who reports say is giving yeoman service in helping local and regional sports personalities recover from career-threatening injuries.

Left-arm seamer/spinner Butler, a former national captain, represented both the Windwards and the West Indies and, like Byam, is seen by many as a shy and humble individual whose contribution is not restricted to the field.

He is also involved in coaching.

A Team Rivals player, Butler is also a first class umpire who, some say, could soon be fast tracked into the international arena.

Latchman, a wiry glove-man, has shown a high level of intelligence

in his game for Team Rivals and as leader of the national Under 19 team. Making the national Under 15 team as a pint-size wicketkeeper a few years ago, Latchman then was the smallest player in the tournament. His academics and his cricket have grown simultaneously, and he has indicated an interest to migrate to the UK to further his studies in the field of management.

In CAPE, he came away with Accounts, Economics, and Management of Business to add to his ten ones at the CXC level.

The achievements of the three came in for high praise from their Association, which issued a press release, to this end, under the hand of president Kishore Shallow.

“SVGCA is delighted at the recent recognition and achievement of three sons of the cricket fraternity, His

L-R: Sports Ambassadors: Deighton Butler, Denis Byam.

Excellency Denis Byam, and His Excellency Deighton Butler, for just being named Sports Ambassadors of our blessed country, as well as St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Under 19 cricket captain, Anson Latchman, for earning a National Scholarship Award,” the release said.

“A critical element of the proposed SVGCA’s 2015 — 2017 strategic plan is to advocate and support personal development in both sports and academics.

These three gentlemen’s achievement is inline with this, and I trust that this would be an inspiration to not only cricketers, but also all sportsmen and sportswomen in SVG,” the release continued.

SVG heading for OECS swim championship

Below: SVG team for the 2014 OECS Swimming Championships.

A 31-MEMBER St Vincent and the Grenadines team is heading for the 24th OECS Swimming Championships in St Lucia from November 7th to 9th.

Comprised of twelve females and nineteen males, the final squad was selected upon the completion of the 2014 LIME OECS Time Trial Invitational.

The team will compete in all age categories and in all relay events, and is said to be the largest SVG team yet to compete at the OECS level.

The female 8 year old and under team comprises Mya DeFreitas, Kennice Greene, Tia Gun-Munro and Jamie Joachim.

The other females are: Eltonia Leonard and Paige Cadogan (9 — 10 age group); Ria Adams and Chelsea Cordice (11 to 12 age group); Shné Joachim (13-14 age group); Adora Lawrence (15-17 age group) and Neisha Alexander and Loren Gun-Munro in 18 and over age group.

The male team comprises Tristan Ballah and Eltonte Leonard (age 8 & Under); Kenalle Alleyne, Bryson George and Alex Joachim (age 9 to 10); Shane Cadogan, Aaron DeFreitas, Tyrique Thomas and Justin Sylvester (11 to 12); Dillon Gooding, Cruz Halbich, Chavez Joseph and Nikolas Sylvester (aged 13 to 14); Dorien Antrobus,

Khori Brown, Gerrard Geowarsingh and Storm Halbich (age 15 to 17); Roy Bradshaw and Kyle Dougan in the 18 and over age category.

Competitors in the 2014 OECS Championships will be Grenada, St Lucia, Antigua, BVI and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Grenada are the defending team champions.

Scholarship recipient Anson Latchman.

Cottoy pursues his dream ‘IT’S ALWAYS GOOD to pursue dreams and goals; it is even sweeter achieving them.”

Such sentiments were expressed by Windward Islands leg spinner, Keron Cottoy, as he embarks on furthering his academic and cricketing careers at the UWI Cave Hill Campus, Barbados.

Cottoy will pursue a 4year bachelor’s degree Keron Cottoy programme in Sport admits it’s not Sciences. going to be easy He will also have an opportunity to represent the meshing sports and academics, but he Cave Hill Campus in an Elite Cricket Competition in is going to give it his best try.

Barbados. ‘”This opportunity to pursue not only my academics but also (my) cricket, I see it as a prayer being answered,” Cottoy told THE VINCENTIAN. “I wanted an opportunity like this ever since my stint at the High Performance Centre (HPC), so I am going to make the most of it,” he added.

He admits that, “It’s not easy meshing sports and academics, but nothing worthy is ever easy,” and advises others to follow and pursue their dreams.

Cottoy recognizes that being at the University, he will be exposed to better training and playing facilities and he is looking forward to maximizing the use of same towards a spot on the Windward Islands cricket team.

He is currently representing SVG in this year’s Windward Islands senior two-day tournament in St Lucia.

The young man hails from from Marriaqua and attended the Richland Park Government School, then the Emmanuel High School Mesopotamia where his life as a sportsman took off. Following secondary education, he attended the SVG Technical College where he pursued a course in electrical engineering.

The leg spinner, who represents Victors cricket team in the local cricket competition, is grateful to persons who are directly responsible for his achievements, including Casper Davis, Kenroy Peters as well as my mother and father, Venold Coombs his club manager, Denis Byam and Kishore Shallow.

I.B.A.ALLEN

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24. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Martin reigns supreme at Car Show

Keleph Martin (right), Overall Winner, receiving his prize from Maxwell Smith.

KELEPH MARTIN emerged Overall Winner at last Sunday’s, October 26, Philmore Auto Services, ‘ Crank It Up Part 2’ Car Show.

The event, staged at the Corea’s Car Park, Bay Street, Kingstown, attracted participation in six categories.

The mini-bus ‘West’, owned by Conway Stephens, was At the end of what organizers say was a adjudged to have the best graphics on display. “fairly attended show’, the following reigned supreme: Keleph Martin in the SPL and Loudest categories; Kenmore Junior Ellis in the Sound Quality category; Conway Stephens - Best Graphic Design; and Damion Edwards in the Bang Out. Conway Stephens, with the popular West mini-bus, was the People’s Choice on the day.

Philmore Auto Services paid tribute to the A-team Auto Club for their continuous support of the show.

Sponsors, including Cash Money, Lewis Auto World and Coreas Hazells Inc., were also recognised.

Keleph Martin’s winning entry.

Youngsters FC are Bagga double champions ‘Toppa’ – another entry in the Best Graphics category.

Carlos James Peto Triumphs

YOUNGSTERS FC claimed both senior Knockout and League titles in the 2014 Barrouallie Football competition.

The competition climaxed in front of a large crowd last Sunday, at the Keartons Playing Field.

They secured the Hairoun Beer Knock Out title with a 1 nil victory over Unlimited Strikers on Wednesday. In an encounter in which both Youngsters FC, Senior Knockout and League champions. teams failed to live up to stepped up to calmly convert. expectations, it was a late penalty that gave Last Sunday, Youngsters FC reaped more success Youngsters the title, after Chavel Cunningham when they beat System 3 FC , also by a 1-nil Parkside Rollers, Norell Hull U17 champion. margin, to add the Bank of SVG League title to their collection. It was Seaton Griffith’s early strike that separated both sides after both teams failed to capitalize on their numerous opportunities.

Earlier that day, Parkside Rollers claimed the Norell Hull U17 title over Adare 1, who seemingly has a finals jinx, having failed in a similar outing in 2013.

Parkside had taken the lead through a Wasim Providence penalty, but an equalizer came through Finals MVP Trivis Fraser.

The teams were still locked at the end of overtime and Parkside eventually claimed victory, 7 — 6, on penalty kicks.

During the presentation and awards ceremony held after the finals, several individual awards were distributed.

In the senior division, these included: Best Goal Keeper - Tevin Griffith (Youngsters FC); Best Defender - Lesburt Jeffrey (Youngsters FC); Best Mid fielder - Jamael Pierre (Unlimited Strikers); Most Goals - Chavel Cunningham (Youngsters FC); MVP of the Finals - Andy Griffith (Youngsters FC).

In the Norell Hull U17 division, the best Goalkeeper award went to Corey Anderson (Adare 1), Best Defender was Tevin Davis (System 3), Best Midfielder award went to Dylon John (Adare 1), while the MVP of the Final’s was Trivis Fraser (Adare 1).

CARLOS JAMES PETO TRIUMPH secured a 19run win over their counterparts Carlos James Starlight last Sunday, as the VINLEC North Leeward T/20 Championship continued. Vidal Edwards, 3 for 24, supported by Allison Samuel, 2 for 36, ripped through the Starlight batting as they fell for 155 off 19 overs. Leshaun Lewis, 29, led the scoring for Starlight, with J’rani Haywood contributing 22.

Triumph racked up 174 for 5 from their 20 overs.

Ronique Laborde, 46 not out, was helped by Maxwell Edwards, 44, and Shamon Hooper, 43.

Dorson Cottle 2 for 46 was the leading wicket taker for Starlight.

It might have been a case of fatigue for Starlight.

They beat Ajuba by three wickets in the day’s earlier match. Donald Delpesche, 57, shared a 70run fifth wicket partnership with Nicklon Alexander,18, to rescue Starlight from a precarious position of 46 for 4.

When they separated at 116, the damage had been already done, and even though Ajuba picked up some more wickets, Starlight eased home with three deliveries to go. They reached 153 for 7 from 17. 3 overs. Shaquille Browne 3 for 39 was the best bowler for Ajuba.

Ajuba were 152 for 6 at the 18 overs cut-off point.Casmond Walters, 50, Ronneil Jeffrey 30, Kenny Stapleton, 22, and Keswick Williams, 20, helped Ajuba to their total. Niclon Alexander 2 for 21 and Javon Samuel 2 for 26 were the most successful bowlers for Starlight.

System 3 FC, First runners-up in the senior league.

I.B.A.ALLEN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. 25.

Sports

Controversial Dwayne Bravo WEST INDIES One Day International cricket captain Dwayne Bravo was scheduled to be in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for a meeting with the nation’s Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

That must have been another boost for the Vincentian leader, and provided him with a chance to enhance his reputation as a regional statesman.

Being involved in a regional cricket impasse is nothing new to Dr. Gonsalves. He spoke about his role in the Chris Gayle saga which was settled recently. Ramnaresh Sarwan relied on Gonsalves’ deft touch in his quest to regain his place on the West Indies squad. The success which Gayle accomplished did not materialise for Sarwan.

What might have transpired between Dr. Gonsalves and Bravo will be known in time. That will depend on how the dust settles on the lava flow which has opened up cracks that were delicately plastered over recent years.

It is nice to welcome Bravo here. He is a super star of world cricket. Many fans will be delighted to see him display his skills in dancing and cricket in the World Cup. There is no doubt about his appearance in South Africa. He and others have already been assured of their contracts for the T/20 splash there.

And that is notwithstanding that the impasse is still being resolved.

Everyone knows the sequence of events from the staging of the fourth One Day International in India. What is not certain is the consequences of that action as far as the Board of Cricket Control India (BCCI) is concerned.

What a dramatic step we took, only to be attempting to wriggle out of a pot of boiling water. Who escapes will be sufficiently scorched, and without being crude, they will not be fit for survival at least in the short term.

If they can find a way to rise out of this ash, we could be compared to the Phoenix. The reality is that this inferno is so intense that there might not be any bones from which Phoenix will be able to feed on.

Time is the healer of all wounds. We have to allow enough to elapse for us to be able to come to any judgement on the recent explosion.

I will wait on details, by which time the offenders would have reflected. There is an aura of apathy that has overtaken a traditionally sensitive region. When claims are made that there are forgotten heroes in our society who have almost become aliens in their society, there is evidence of the tradition of abuse that appears to have engulfed us.

The belief is that this conflict is a contributor to the concept of T/20 Cricket and a platform for those anxious for the phasing out of the test of sporting qualities.

Dragging the West Indies Cricket Board into a showdown seems to carry the impression that there are some people on a platform of destruction.

The region will have to solve this crisis. To what extent some strong headed persons will overlook their tendency to build or secure an ego, for the ability to compromise is a matter of speculation.

A sense of despair has characterised the region as the abandoned tour has exposed. The consolation is that things can’t get worse. Having seen the possibilities and immersed ourselves with prospects of worse case scenarios, it is left for us to see what best we can save.

Going through the rubble is dangerous. We have to swallow our pride and face the consequences of the situation.

Touring Masters begin on losing note NEW YORK MASTERS began their 2014 tour of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in an inauspicious manner, when they went down to Arnos Vale Masters by 34 runs in their opening T20 encounter.

The match was played at the main Arnos Vale Playing Field on Tuesday.

The result looked to be heading in the opposite direction when the visitors, made up primarily of Vincentians resident in New York, were 66/0 in the 15th over.

Their start was due to Cheldon Alston Bacchus McMillan (21) and Alston Bacchus (44), before the former, struggling badly with a lack of fitness, was run out.

McMillian, known here as ‘Keegan’ from his football playing days, failed to find the boundary

drives straight. during his innings, but counted eight twos and 13 singles. The more elegant and aggressive Bacchus struck three fours and one six. The separation of the pair spelt doom for the North Americans, who then skidded about as if caught in snow on the highway, and landed ungainly on victory -street still some way from their destination.

No other batsman got into double figures, as Junior Bacchus, bowling brackish medium pace, took 2/7 from his 3.4 overs.

Earlier, Arnos Vale Masters, transported along on the backs of Bill Edward 27, Vibert Bute and Ted Roberts 14 each, and Uriah ‘Tommy’ King 11, reached 117/8 in their 20 overs.

Those present were able to see the elegant onside play of Bute and a trade mark savage square cut by King. And they also witnessed the still pedestrian pace of Roberts between the wickets, resulting in him going by the runout route for yet another time in his career.

Allan John, who previously bowled seamers, finished with 4/20 with his ‘slowlypops’.

The New York Masters tour will end this weekend.

Uriah ‘Tommy’ King goes legside.

Contrasting wins in Masters weekend matches NORTH EAST MASTERS, Sion Hill Masters and Carlos James North Leeward Masters, all chalked up victories in last weekend round of matches in the SVG Masters T20 cricket competition.

Sion Hill had the easiest of victories when they chalked up a 10-wicket win over Pastures Masters. Pastures Masters were held to 111 for 3 off 20 overs, with Robbie Hackshaw contributing 33, Titmus Trimingham 32 and Ardon Hall 22.

Sion Hill Masters then raced to 114 without loss off 13.2 overs.

Keyon Jack top scored with 82 not out and Michael Duncan had 25 not out.

North East Masters defeated Bequia Cricket Association Masters by 43 runs. North East Masters posted 158 for 9 off 20 overs. Deighton Butler led the batting with 47 and Jerry Matthias 28. Larson Ollivierre took 3 for 19 and

Ormond Bellingy 3 for 35. Bequia Cricket Association Masters in reply reached 115 for 8 off 20 overs. Terrance McKree top scored with 33 and Shyann Glynn made 30. Daniel McMillan bagged 3 for 20, Jerry Matthias 2 for 12 and Cornelius Springer 2 for 13.

Carlos James North Leeward Masters made light work of Metrocint General Insurance Sagicor Richards Masters, beating them by 6 wickets in a low scoring match.

Metrocint General Insurance Sagicor Richards Masters made 41 off 12.4 overs.

Conroy Ryan grabbed 4 for 10.

Carlos James North Leeward Masters replied with 42 for 4 off 8.1 overs. Benjamin Austin took 3 for 6 (including a hat trick).

The game between Log Enterprises Kingstown Masters and Henny Penny Masters was abandoned due to rain. Henny Penny Masters had reached 10 for 2 after 3 overs.

This weekend, at Park Hill, on Sunday 2nd November from 10am, Computec Belfongo Masters take on St.Vincent Cooperative Bank Ptani Masters, and from 2 pm the visiting New York Masters will take on North East Masters.

At Buccament, on Saturday at 2pm, New York Masters oppose Byron’s Buccament Masters, and from 2 pm Carlos James North Leeward Masters face Henny Penny Masters.

In action at Arnos Vale One, on Saturday from 2 pm, Cato’s Heavy Equipment Glamorgan Masters clash with Kirk DaSilva’s LaCroix Masters. On Sunday at 10am, RSVG Police Masters play Pastures Masters, and from 2 pm Log Enterprises Kingstown Masters take on Sion Hill Masters.

I.B.A.ALLEN

V

26. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. THE VINCENTIAN

Business

Scene from the LIVE LIME kitchen.

LIME Customer Appreciation Week a huge success SENIOR MARKETING and Corporate Communications Executive of LIME, Nikala Williams, said that the recently concluded Customer Service Week was a huge success.

Williams said that the company’s many customers expressed satisfaction with the week of activities that took place at LIME headquarters in Kingstown over the past week, and that the company intends to continue satisfying its valued customers through its ongoing Upgrade Vincy campaign.

“Our customers were well pleased with all the great deals, gifts and treats that they received over the last five days, and we at LIME were just as happy to satisfy our customers during Customer Appreciation Week.

“And with Upgrade Vincy in full swing, we will ensure that our new and longstanding patrons are pleased with the great things we have to offer on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.”

The week of service to customers began with a health day which offered blood and sugar levels test by a competent team of community nurses.

On Tuesday, LIME partnered with Courts St Vincent Limited and Coreas and Hazells Inc, to bring customers the best in wellness equipment and supplements for daily use and fitness.

Wednesday’s activity involved the staff of Barnet Fair Hair Fashion in the house, who gave customers facials, makeovers, hairstyles and haircuts, all free of charge.

Thursday was given over to the elderly who were treated with pedicures ,and pampered all day at LIME. The curtains came down on activities on Friday, with customers receiving free meals on the LIME promenade, compliments Rik Nicks Grills and LIME’s own General Manager Leslie Jack who served customers delicious stir

fry delights cooked “on the spot” in the LIVE LIME kitchen.

Customers were offered great deals throughout the week as well, on their landline, broadband and postpaid and prepaid services such as 4G ready handsets as low as $35 & more.

Williams said that as the year comes to an end and the Upgrade Vincy initiative continues, customers can look forward to more amazing offers, deals and giveaways from the number one telecommunications provider; LIME.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014. 27.

Classifieds

MRS. THERESA BUCCHAN Church of Christ Kingstown Sunday 26th October, 2014 Service at 3:00 pm

CORINE EDWARDS Kingstown Methodist Church Tuesday 28th October, 2014 3:00 p.m.

MARJORIE QUAMMIE

HAGAR JACK-SAMUEL

6W 0DU\¶V 6SLULWXDO Baptist Church Tuesday 28th October, 2014 3:00 p.m.

6W 6\OYDQ¶V $QJOLFDQ Church Saturday 25th October, 2014 3:30 p.m.

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

F O R

A.I. REAL ESTATE Cedars incomplete house on 12,514 sq.ft. - $150,000.00 - H541 Yambou 3 bedrm Property on 4,528 sq.ft. - $186,000.00 - H453 Prospect 10,789 sq.ft @ $12.00 p.s.f. - $129,468.00 - BB418

S A L E

FRIDAY,

OCTOBER 31, 2014

VOLUME 108, No.43

Sally Spring 3 bedrm Property on 42,886 sq.ft. - Open to offers - H585 Other listings are available Phone: 457-2087 Fax: 457-1382 Toll Free (USA): 866-978-0951 718-732-0545 Email: donp@vincysurf.com Website: www.aisvg.com

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GOVERNMENT MOVES SWIFTLY -

STRIKE AVERTED

by HAYDN HUGGINS

NOBA and the relevant state authority, MIKHAIL CHARLES, lawyer represented by Senator representing the National Julian Francis, Minister of Omnibus Association State in the Prime (NOBA), is happy with the Minister’s Office, with outcome of recent responsibility for Transport negotiations between and Works.

Charles told THE VINCENTIAN that NOBA’s impending strike action on behalf of concerned omnibus owners and drivers of Redemption Sharpes has been suspended until further notice, as a direct result of those negotiations.

The strike was planned for last Tuesday, October 28, and was aimed at prompting government to see to having the roads in that community, and other areas of their route, repaired.

Mikhail Charles, lawyer Charles has been representing NOBA, retained and instructed assured that NOBA is

by NOBA to advise, prepared to engage with negotiate and mediate on the travelling public to behalf of the Association with regard to the ensure that public specific issue. transport in St. Vincent Charles explained that and the Grenadines is the road network from par excellence.

‘Block 2000’ upwards, including Green Hill and Redemption Sharpes, was extremely dilapidated, and despite repeated protests by drivers, repair work was not forthcoming. On October 19, Redemption Sharpes omnibus owners and drivers took the decision to take industrial action inclusive of strike activity last Tuesday.

Charles said that by Friday, October 24, Senator Francis held an informal meeting with the omnibus operators from the area, to give them an opportunity to air their grievances, and repair work began promptly the next day.

Last Sunday, October 26, NOBA convened a formal meeting with omnibus owners/drivers, conductors and persons from the community.

The meeting, held at the Redemption Sharpes Community Centre, was attended by Senator Francis, and was chaired and mediated by

Charles.

Charles said that after about three hours of discussion, it was agreed that the road network would be repaired and that the work would be completed within three to four weeks. There was also evidence that work had already begun and was continuing. As a result, NOBA suspended its decision to take industrial action, and re-affirmed its commitment to represent the best interest of road users and the wider public. The Work began on repairs to the Redemption Sharpes road Association also network on Saturday 25th October. extended its hand of cooperation to transport in St. Vincent Sharpes omnibus owners the relevant state and the Grenadines is and operators have been authority. par excellence. commended in some Charles said NOBA “NOBA is happy that quarters for the strength has pledged to rebuild, we have been able to and unity they have re-strategise, re-energize play our part shown, which triggered a and engage with the constructively,” the quick response from the travelling public to lawyer said. authorities. ensure that public The Redemption

Florence Morgan turns 100 FLORENCE MORGAN turned 100 years old last Wednesday, October 29, 2014.

And according to her, the secret behind her achieving this milestone is no secret at all, but rather is the result of what, she says, is having that solid belief in the Almighty.

Still very coherent and articulate, the centurion said that God has always been good to her.

“It’s my belief in Him why I am here. Without Him I wouldn’t,” she said.

“From the time I can’t go to church, I still giving God the praise,” Morgan continued.

Morgan also credits her four surviving children for taking care of her and ensuring her long life.

Her story began in Kingstown where she was born. Her father was a policeman.

“You know how they bright,” she said, as she demonstrated that, even

at 100, she still possessed some wit.

The family moved to Brighton where she said she attended school, and began her personal journey with her Lord at the Gospel Hall Church.

She spent her adult life in the service to her family as housewife and mother.

Today she boasts no complicated medical conditions, she says — no diabetes, no hypertension.

All this except that she remains confined to a wheel chair or bed, as she is not as mobile as she once was.

A party, including Governor General Sir Frederick Ballantyne, government ministers, Girlyn Miguel and Clayton Burgin, family and friends, visited with Ms Morgan on Wednesday at her place of abode in Prospect, where she resides with daughter Anselma Rose and son-in-law Renwick Rose.

Florence Morgan (seated) flanked by from left: Renwick Rose, Anselma Morgan-Rose, Minister of Health Clayton Burgin, Minister of Education Girlyn Miguel, Governor General Sir Frederick Ballantyne, Sybil Williams and Winston Morgan.

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