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MORGANSÊ SENTENCE: „NOT ENOUGH!!‰

FRIDAY,

MAY 04, 2018

VOLUME 112, No.18

‘Not enough’

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

Pastor Nigel Morgan (Left) had tried to justify his family’s action as a spiritual exercise.

After the Morgans were convicted on sorry for,” said another, referring to Crystal.

Monday, the Senior Prosecutor recommended a custodial sentence. He ‘Fitting sentence,’ Delpleche described the act as “barbaric and Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN later, the inhumane,” and pointed out that the sentence should reflect the seriousness Senior Prosecutor explained that on indictment, the offence carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in of the offence.

While Victory is happy that a prison prison, but in the Magistrate’s Court, the maximum sentence was imposed, he is of the view penalty is seven years.

When asked why the prosecution did not proceed that the Morgans deserved a tougher on indictment, the prosecutor explained that, “the penalty, given the nature of the crime.

“I am not pleased with the sentence; matter did not reach the evidential threshold to go on indictment.” that ain’t enough”, the 38-year-old Delpleche described the conviction and sentence Caruth villager told THE as fitting, given the fact that the aggravating factors VINCENTIAN outside the Kingstown had by far outweighed the mitigating ones.

Magistrate’s Court, shortly after the “It was not a simple case; a lot of prosecutorial penalty was handed down.

Althia Morgan, Pastor Daughter Crystal Morgan was work had to be put in,” the prosecutor said.

Victory’s father, Joseph Caesar, Morgan’s wife, remained said to have been the one He noted that a video recording of the incident popularly known as ‘Cuffy’, also defiant and at times boisterous who poured the hot water on was not shown in Court, as the person who did the expressed the view that the Morgans throughout the hearing. the4 victim’s back. should have received more jail time for recording, resides overseas, had left the country

by HAYDN HUGGINS the offence. He indicated, however, that civil action shortly after, and the investigators were unable to would be taken against the defendants for damages, contact him.

CUTHBERT VICTORY, THE MAN WHO WAS severely and he is already seeking legal advice in this burnt with boiling water, at the hands of a family just Continued on Page 3) regard. over two years ago, is among those who have “We feel happy, but four years not expressed displeasure with the four-year prison enough,” said another relative, who sentence handed down for the crime, on Monday. identified himself as Fitzroy Davis.

Pastor Nigel Morgan, his wife Althia and their Many of the persons who had flocked Argyle International Airport 24-year-old daughter Crystal, were each jailed for the Court precincts on Monday to await four years at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court, the outcome of the widely publicized after Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett found them matter which had been before the Court guilty of unlawfully and maliciously inflicting for more than two years, were also of the grievous bodily harm on Victory, at Hopewell, April view that the Morgans should have 9, 2016. received a heavier sentence.

Also remember that check-in closes Burnett had reserved judgement following closing “This is not justice… Morgan and dem submissions from Senior Prosecutor Adolphus disappoint all ah we,” one woman 1 hour before departure.

Delpleche and Attorney Kay Bacchus-Baptiste, declared. representing the Morgans, on April 12 this year.

“They too wicked,… ah de girl me

Tr ra ave el Tiip ps

Check in 3 hours before scheduled departure for all international flights.

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2. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

News

FLOW celebrated IntÊl Girls in ICT day PROMOTING WOMEN’S GROWTH as well as emphasizing the importance of diversity in the ICT sector in SVG,

Telecommunications company Flow on Thursday April 26th celebrated International Girls In ICT Day.

The girls of the Thomas Saunders Secondary and the Central Leeward Secondary schools who participated in the Day’s celebration.

This as some 35 students of the Thomas Saunders Secondary and the Central Leeward Secondary schools were engaged in a tour and seminar.

In commemoration of ‘International Girls In ICT Day; an initiative which aims to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in the growing field of ICTs, enabling both girls and technology companies to reap the benefits of greater female participation in the ICT sector, saw members of the Flow team engaging with the students.

Guided by the theme ‘Expand Horizons, Change Attitudes’, the event saw the participation of a female clad team from the respective schools in a tour of the company’s compounds where they got a first-hand view of the company’s operating system which provides telecoms service across SVG. Promoting the rewards of careers in the ICT sector, were some of Flow’s senior female members. Highlighting some of the tools students should equip themselves with, Consumer Sales Manager Andrea Liverpool emphasized on the significance of some key subject areas the female students should focus on, noting that having the right qualifications is pivotal.

Stating that careers in ICT are no longer limited to male counterparts,

Products Executive Maria Degrads encouraged the students not to be intimidated by the prospect of an ICT career, while Head of Corporate Sales Garcia Cato who also boasts an extensive engineering backgound, urged the students to change the stereotypical image of a technician being a male. She further encouraged the students to take advantage of the mounting opportunities that are available to them. Expressing gratitude and pride on the nature of the initiative, Marketing and Comms Lead Nikala Williams, stated that the celebration of Girls In ICT Day is just the first steps towards making a mark in the ICT field.

Noting that the company is welcoming a new era, Country Manager Wayne Hull also encouraged the students to break the barriers, as the presence of females in the ICT field is scarce. He further noted that the ICT sector is also currently male dominated, and stated that Flow continues to provide the platform for females to make a significant contribution in the world of ICT. International Girls In ICT Day is celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of April. (Submitted by FLOW)

Flow’s Country Manager, Wayne Hull, was on hand to share and to challenge the girls.

FLOW staffer (left) gets the attention of the participants during one of the sit down sessions.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. 3.

News 3

Morgans to appeal

sitting at the Kingstown Magistrate’s like me on their side, because I do my (NDP) senator explained.

Court on Monday, convicted and The lawyer indicated that the job fearlessly, thoroughly, and to the sentenced the Morgans to four years best of my ability, and I am satisfied appeal should have been filed by each in prison. The conviction that I gave the Morgans the best,” the today, (Friday). stemmed from an incident at Hopewell opposition New Democratic Party on April 9, 2016, in which Victory was severely burnt with boiling water.

The lawyer said that, while she was bound by the Court’s decision, she is of the view that, based on the evidence, Continued from Frontpage the conviction was unsafe. She also thinks Victim’s account that the sentence was harsh and excessive.

VICTORY HAD TOLD THE COURT “The prosecution during the trial, that on the day in must prove its case question, he left the Richland Park beyond reasonable Playing Field and went to Hopewell doubt, but I am not to visit a friend whose residence satisfied that the was close to the Morgans’ home. prosecution, in this That friend was not at home, matter, reached that but he met Clint Antoine there. standard of proof, Victory admitted to playing music because of the grave from his cellular phone amplified inconsistencies in their through a ‘bum box’. Pastor evidence,” BacchusMorgan came out and told Joseph ‘Cuffy’ Caesar, the Baptiste said.

Antoine not to encourage Victory victim’s father indicated there with his loud music. There that civil action is being A difficult case was an exchange of words, and contemplated against the the Pastor’s wife came out and Morgans .

Bacchus-Baptiste Cuthbert Victory is glad that pointed her hand in Victory’s admitted that the case face. She pushed him, and a the Morgans were found someone say, had always been a guilty and sentenced. tussle ensued. The Pastor intervened, and the “Bring de difficult one. trio ended up in a gutter. ting, bring “The pre-trial Victory said they proceeded to beat him, the oil”. publicity made it even and he recalled one of them saying, “bring de When she looked outside, she saw her more difficult, so it was ting”, while Morgan and his wife held him by parents under attack, “her spirit left her body always an uphill battle.” his hands. Their daughter came out with a She ran with the kettle and poured some She added that she kettle, and he felt a burning sensation on him. water on a backpack Victory had on him. was even maligned for He said the Pastor’s wife then swung him and representing the he struck his head. The Pastor then ‘cobbed’ Jail - no fine Morgans, and some him on his buttocks and said, “Don’t come Kay Bacchus-Baptiste, lawyer for the persons saw it fit to back here.” Victory then ran.

Burnett contended that, based on the Morgans, gave early indication that make politics an issue.

In material particulars, Antoine’s evidence the Morgans would appeal their But the lawyer made corroborated that of Victory’s. Antoine recalled evidence, a case of common purpose or joint conviction and sentence. it clear that she was a in his testimony, that the way the Pastor and enterprise, argued by the prosecution, was not sustained, but he concluded that Mr. Morgan professional, and had his wife held Victory, there was no way he and his wife aided and abetted their daughter,

by HAYDN HUGGINS taken an oath to defend could “get away.” in committing the offence. her clients to the best of In mitigation, Bacchus-Baptiste asked the KAY BACCHUS- BAPTISTE, Attorney for her ability.

Morgans’ rebuttal Court to consider the clean records and Pastor Nigel Morgan, his wife Althia and “I am not interested impeccable characters of the Morgans, before their daughter Crystal, confirmed to THE in what political party In their defence, the Mogans accused this incident, and to impose a fine instead of a VINCENTIAN on Wednesday, that she was they support. The Victory of being the aggressor, and claimed custodial sentence. in the process of preparing an appeal to constitution says that that they acted in self defence.

She indicated that prison is a place for be filed on behalf of her clients, against all defendants are The Pastor told the Court then that when rehabilitation and deterrence, but her clients their conviction and sentence for innocent until proven did not fit these requirements, because of their inflicting grievous bodily harm on Caruth guilty, and they have a he said ‘bring the ting’, he meant ‘bring the oil’. His son then brought some oil in a bottle, clean records and impeccable characters , and villager Cuthbert Victory. right to get the best and he (pastor) poured it on Victory’s head the circumstances of the case.

Bacchus-Baptiste pointed out that defense. and started praying.

But Burnett agreed with the Prosecutor the defendants are entitled to apply for “I am sure that any Crystal said she was at the time having her that a custodial sentence was appropriate. bail, pending the outcome of the member of the public menstrual cycle and was in pain. She was in appeal. would want somebody the kitchen making tea when she heard Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett,

Morgans’ sentence: “Not enough!!”

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4. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

News

SVG gets new Supervisor of Elections

Stories by (DD) MRS. DORA JAMES, A RETIRED secondary school principal whose last posting was at the Central Leeward Secondary School, was sworn in on Wednesday, by H.E Sir Frederick Ballantyne, Governor General, as this country’s Supervisor of Elections, replacing Sylvia Findlay.

Mrs. James, wife of local Director of Peace Corps SVG - Director Cuthbert

James, told THE VINCENTIAN that she intended to uphold the position with integrity and fairness, and expressed assurance to the Vincentian public that she intended to maintain dignity of the office.

“We have to continue in that vein,” she said.

James further stated that she intended to adhere to the laws that govern her position, ““and the public can expect that we will work to get the

best of the electoral office,” she added.

She thanked her Mrs Dora James takes the oath of the office of predecessor, Findlay, for the Supervisor of Elections. (Phot Credit: Lance work she put in over the Neverson) years.

Among the work done by the former outcome of the 2015 General Elections, resulting in the filing of Election Supervisor was the embarkation of a Petitions by two opposition New process to clean up the voters list in Democratic Party candidates. That 2015. matter is still before the court.

Findlay has been embroiled in a legal battle over the legitimacy of the

Small states not applying for funds Commonwealth heads of Government became a category 5 within hours, member state. devastating countries such as Meeting, we not only endorse the It is anticipated that the Dominica. approach which is the regenerative funding will be used to host a “We are therefore determined to national consultation with micro, development approach for climate work together to make a difference by change, but we also came up with a small and medium enterprises, blue charter. A charter that identifies creating a vulnerability index,” she conduct a regional study and said. the things that we together will have action plan, deliver training in “We are looking at building back project concept development and to do to keep our oceans healthy,” H.E better and how we get real toolkits to support accreditation of regional Scotland said.

The situation was serious in that make that happen.” private sector entities.

Hurricane Maria was a category 1 H.E Scotland explained that storm when it left Barbados, but the Commonwealth’s Climate Finance Access Hub was set up to help countries Discussions with the fiveuntangle the red VINCENTIANS NO LONGER continue to build bridges,” she REQUIRE a visa if they wish said, and disclosed that her member UAE delegation, tape around to travel to the United Arab government was interested in according to the Prime climate Emirates (UAE). assisting SVG in a number of Minister, focused on an financing, and On Wednesday, H.E Reem areas, including tourism and investor programme, make successful H.E Baroness Patricia Scotland, Ebrahim Al Hashimy, education. particularly in the hotel applications to Commonwealth Secretary General, spoke of The UAE will be hosting an industry, agreements the international Minister of State for the need for countries to access funding International Cooperation exposition in 2020 and the concerning economic funds that from the ‘Green Fund’.

UAE, and Sir Louis Straker, Special Olympics in 2019, and cooperation and culture. address climate SVG’s Minister of Foreign according to Al Hashimy, this During the visit, Al change.

EVEN THOUGH 31 OF THE 53 Affairs, signed a visa waiver was being done not only for Hashimy pledged another The Hub is located Commonwealth member states were agreement. the benefit of her country, but USD500,000 to the zeroin Mauritius with identified as “small” states and they Addressing the media for the rest of the world. hunger fund matching an spokes in each region. faced the existential threat of climate preceding the signing, Al Prime Minister Dr Ralph amount given last year.

The spoke for the change, small island states are not Gonsalves, Caribbean is located in Hashimy said that she was availing themselves of the billions of pleased to be able to learn also present at Belize, and advisors dollars set aside in the about and explore some of the the signing are assigned to Commonwealth’s Green Fund, a fund on-going projects being ceremony, said countries seeking established to finance climate change undertaken by the that the assistance. projects. government of SVG.. significance of H.E Baroness Patricia Scotland, She said that there was a the event was Secretary General of the tremendous amount of respect not only the Climate change Commonwealth, said, during a recent for St Vincent and the benefit of easy visit here, that this is because the Grenadines and the role it travel to the H.E Scotland expertise or ability does not exist to UAE but was stressed that the recent plays within CARICOM. make claims.

“We look to you not only as an important Commonwealth Heads There are billions of dollars step in the of Government Meeting a friendly country, but one available under the Fund which was London, April 16 — 16, with significant influence,” Al people to made operational in 2016. people Jamaica has been credited as being addressed the issue of Hashimy said.

She continued, saying that dialogue. among the first to have submitted two climate change with her government was keen on The next much seriousness. applications. not only establishing step, he said, She noted that It was announced earlier this year would be for indications are that the government to government by that country’s National Climate next hurricane season relations, but people to people both countries Financial Advisor, Katherine H.E Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of to appoint is likely to be as bad, or relations.

Blackman, that a grant valued at State for International Cooperation for UAE The signing of the waiver honorary $582,000 was secured in support of low worse than last year’s, agreement and Sir Louis Straker signed a visa waiver was seen as a step consuls — a “so how can we prepare carbon, climate resilience growth in this direction. process that is agreement, which comes nine years after project, and was the second application for that?

SVG established diplomatic relations with “One may wonder why we expected to “Together during the submitted for that Commonwealth are here…. we are here to begin shortly. that country.

New agreements between UAE and SVG

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. 5.

Regional Focus

Stuart: Election date no magic

IN WHAT WAS described as an “uncharacteristically Freundel Stuart quiet affair,” has been Prime Prime Minister Minister of Freundel Stuart Barbados since announced by 2010 when he way of a brief succeeded David release last Thompson. week Thursday, that Barbados will go to the polls in a general election on May 24, 2018.

Nomination Day was set for May 7.

The Barbados House of Assembly had been dissolved since March 6.

And now with the election date announced, Stuart - PM and Leader of the incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) moved to clear the air for those who thought he simply took the date from a magic hat.

In fact, according to Stuart, the choice of date was “strategic.”

NationNews reported that he

told an intimate gathering of supporters at a DLP social held at the party’s headquarters at George Street, Belleville, St Michael, on Friday night, “We did not fix the date whimsically or out of any sudden fancy. All the investigations and the background work which we had to do to make sure there would be no dislocation [to examinations], was done.”

The report also said that Stuart reminded Barbadians that the upcoming election was not the first that was held in Barbados in May, in response, it appeared, to those complaining and calling for an election, and demanding it wanted a date set.

NationNews said that Stuart, in his hour-long address, gave a detailed account of the DLP’s accomplishments over the last 63 years, what he described as the pillars on which Barbados stands today: social security, school meals, schools, labour and family laws and, more recently, sexual

harassment in the workplace legislation, domestic violence legislation, cultural industries development and new sectors such as energy and offshore medical education.

He also defended his party’s record over the last ten years, saying, inter alia, that it was one of which the Dems “had nothing to feel ashamed about because they governed wisely…. We are satisfied that we can go and look the people of Barbados in the face and explain and defend the decisions which we took.”

The 67-year-old veteran politician sounded the battle cry and assured that he was set for the fight ahead and was ready to confront his opponents… armed with the most powerful weapon the DLP could use against the Opposition Barbados Labour Party… the truth.

(Source: NationNews)

ÂFocus on BarbadosÊ FOCUS ON SAVING Barbados, not on electing its first female prime minister.

That is the advice that Mai Mottley, Leader of the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) is impressing upon her party’s supporters and the electorate of that country.

She made this clear last Saturday, as she addressed her party’s annual Heroes Day picnic to celebrate the birthday of party founder Sir Grantley Adams, at Barclays Park along the Ermy Bourne Highway,

St Andrew, Barbados.

“The history to be made is not about me being the first female Prime Minister. The history that is going to be made and that matters, is about Barbadians coming to pull back their country and doing what people believe can’t be done,” she said.

Mia Mottley has done her best to shift the focus away from her becoming Prime Minister on to the issue affecting Barbados. (Photo Credit: Advocate)

Former BLP leader Owen Arthur will not be seen in RED for this election (Photo Credit: RJR)

removed . . . and without the sargassum on our beaches. Give me and my team this one and we Encouraged by the will earn the rest,” massive turnout party members and supporters, Mottley promised.

Missing from the the clear majority dressed in red, the colour gathering would have been Owen Arthur who, of the BLP, Mottley in July 2014, resigned as impressed the party’s a member of the position on a number of Barbados Labour Party issues affecting (BLP) which he led as Barbadians.

Not least among these Prime Minister for 14 years. was her party’s position Arthur led the party to against the National defeat in the 2013 Social Responsibility general election, but Levy and tuition fees retained his being introduced to parliamentary seat in the students at the constituency of St Peter.

University of the West He remained in Indies.

“I want to do right by parliament as an independent member the people in this country, but we can only until his term of office do so by joining forces. I came to an end in this year. want to see Barbados (Source: NationNews, prosper, with all the Jamaica Observer) bush along this coast

Many schools across Barbados, as in the rest of the Caribbean, are used as polling stations in general elections. (Photo Credit: NationNews)

Election and CXC clash OPPOSITION LEADER Mia Mottley of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) has expressed concern about the May 24 date for general elections in Barbados.

She explained that the date clashed with regional examinations scheduled for the same day.

Mottley noted that many schools across the island nation were designated polling stations, and it would be a “logistical nightmare” to have voting on the same day students were doing Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) tests.

The concern was rebuked by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, who among other things, reminded that it was not the first time that elections were being held in May. More importantly, the Ministry of Education has given the assurance that the external examinations would not be affected.

Barbados press reported that the Ministry said the exams would go ahead as scheduled, and would be administered in strict compliance with the regulations and procedures of the respective examining bodies.

“There will be special arrangements to be implemented at each centre to facilitate the entrance, controlled movement and exit of candidates and other examination officials during the day’s examination period,” the Education Ministry said.

And even though Barbados had been set in election mode for some time now, the announcement of the election date sent the two major political parties - the incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and the opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) - into a heightened level of campaigning, with one of the more intense campaign issues being the controversial National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL), which was increased last July 1 from two to ten per cent of the custom duty of both locally produced and imported goods.

The BLP promised to scrap the NSRL which, the DLP claims would cost the state an astronomical amount of money, and challenged their opponents to say from where or how it would source the funds.

The other parties down to contest the election are: the United Progressive Party, Solutions Barbados, Barbados Integrity Movement, the People’s Democratic Movement, and the Bajan Free Party (a coalition involving the Kingdom Government Party and the People’s Democratic Congress).

A former sex worker, Natalie Harewood, is also throwing her hat into the ring as an independent candidate. (Source: BarbadosToday, NationNews)

CXC Exams are traditionally held in May and June every year. (Photo Credit: caricom.org)

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6. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Feature

The coconut takes prominence

By Gloriah…

Marilyn Townsend – the mastermind behind the event.

Coconut fibre used as bedding and coconut meat (jelly) used as food for poultry.

The “whys and wherefores of the coconut” were presented at an event that included an interactive discussion and an ‘everything coconut’ exhibition, by the ladies of the Women’s Ministry of the Campden Park Baptist Church (CPBC) last Thursday, 26th April.

The mastermind behind the production Marilyn Townsend was understandably enthusiastic about this year’s presentation. She had steered the Women’s Ministry through its third year of putting on such an event, the two previous years delivering information on “Spices” in 2016 and “Going Bananas” in 2017.

The church, packed to capacity by church members from neighbouring churches and individuals from the surrounding communities, was, at first glance, creatively decorated with every form of the coconut, exhibiting to onlookers both modern-day and long-ago uses of the all-

Some local delicacies which all have coconut as a main ingredient.

Coconut processed into everyday products.

important food.

The activity took off with prayer and a medley of songs, then rising to address the audience on the coconut was Mr. Fitzgerald Providence, Director of Forestry in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Mr. Providence dealt with particulars of the coconut, whose classification is complicated, since it can be one of three things: fruit, nut or seed. He referred to it as a ‘drupe’, and literally dissected it into its parts as he established its importance to the gathering.

The Forestry Director then looked at the presence of coconuts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the concentrated nature of cultivation, its uses of long ago and now, and the possibilities of production today.

He pointed out, “Long ago, when you travel up north and you get to Byera, you would just see pure coconut trees, now because we’ve been cutting them down you don’t see that anymore.”

He spoke of other areas like Georgetown, Lowmans Bay valley, Mount Wynne, among others. He continued, “We had a strong production of coconut.

Remember we had a factory as close as in Arnos Vale that provided the great aroma of coconut oil to passersby and visitors arriving at and leaving the E.T. Joshua Airport.”

He gave a historic fact: that SVG was known as one of the largest areas of coconut plantations in the Western Hemisphere, calling it a historic plus.

As for the history of the coconut, he said, “it was brought to these parts after Columbus came with the Europeans, but coconuts can find themselves around the world. As you can see, once you put a coconut on the sea it floats and that’s how it distributes: it becomes so light that it floats and can travel far distances, up to ten days on water and ends up on the sea

shore, still able to germinate.” He then delved in depth into the uses of the coconut.

Another presentation on “Benefits of Coconut Oil” was done by Ms. Kimsha Williams.

A group comprised of members of the Women’s Ministry presented two hilarious folk renditions on the glories of the coconut, to expand the enjoyment.

To wrap up, Mrs. Townsend gave some words of inspiration.

Looking at Psalm 92, verse 12 which says, “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon”, she likened the life of Christians to the tenacity of the coconut tree. She showed how coconut trees grow, even when the soil is harsh; even through terrible weather coconut trees remain standing; and how the tree is given to fulfill its possibilities by the turning of every one of its single parts into

Fitzgerald Providence, Director of Forestry, addressing the gathering. something useful.

“So, whenever you see a coconut tree,” she reminded the audience, “God wants you to stay strong and be fruitful!”

Mattress and pillow filled with coconut fibre.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. 7.

Court

Magistrate deals firmly with pig thieves Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS SENIOR MAGISTRATE Rickie Burnett jailed two men on Monday for their role in the theft, retention and disposal of nine pigs, valued $25,000, belonging to businesswoman Beverly Reddock.

Raymond Henry, 36year-old mechanic of Questelles, was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for the theft of the pigs, while Kenny Gordon, 30, of Campden Park, received a six-month jail term for dishonestly participating in their retention and disposal for his own benefit.

The sentences were handed down at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court after the men pleaded guilty to the charges.

The facts revealed that around 7:20 p.m. April 24, the caretaker secured the pig pen at Mt Wynne with all 26 pigs.

On returning to the pen the following day, he discovered it was broken into, and nine pigs were missing.

A report was made to the police and investigations led to Henry. The police were then taken to Fairbane Pasture where they recovered eight of the pigs. The other one was recovered at Questelles.

Henry told the Court that Gordon had taken him to the scene about midnight to remove the pigs, telling him that he was giving him “a work.”

But Gordon, who works as a conductor on a passenger van, said Henry told him that, “He was going to handle a mission,” and asked him to go with him to drop off the pigs.

“He (Henry) alone come by my house with a jeep full of pigs,” Gordon said.

Gordon asked the Court to allow him to apologise to Reddock for his action, and to ask for forgiveness. His request was granted. But Henry insisted, “I ain’t really have nothing to say…is he (Gordon) carry me dey.”

But the Magistrate responded sharply, “Big man like you, he carry

$250 for 12 pounds of sugar A 28-year-old Sandy Bay man who told the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday that he stole 12 pounds of sugar from his workplace to take home because sugar was going scarce, was fined $250 for his action.

Lorenzo Ince, who was employed at Corea’s Mini Mart, was caught, on camera, in the act, April 27, just after another employee had opened the business place and let him in around 6:15am on that day.

“Sugar was going scarce, my village had no sugar, so I was taking it to carry home,” Ince explained after pleading guilty to the charge.

“To do what, to sell?” Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett asked the defendant, who replied, “No, for my personal use.”

The Magistrate then asked, “What should the court do with you?”

Ince replied, “Let me pay for them,” in a seemingly bold-face manner.

“That’s their reasoning, let them pay for it and go home,” Burnett responded.

Ince was ordered to pay the fine by June 29 or two months in prison.

you dey.”

Henry had a previous conviction for stealing a goat belonging to Dennis Mars of Lower Questelles.

Burnett has been demonstrating that he is a ‘no nonsense man’ when it comes to the theft of people’s livestock and agricultural produce.

On April 12 this year,

Burnett jailed 42-yearold Stanley Andrews of Vermont for three months after he pleaded guilty to stealing $10 worth of dasheen from the land of 47-year-old Vermont farmer Cornel Penniston.

Andrews had a string of previous convictions for theft.

Pig thieves Kenny Gordon and Raymond Henry will both have some time in prison to ponder on their misdeeds.

Trinis fined for illegal entry THREE NATIONALS of Trinidad and Tobago were on Monday ordered to pay the Court $1,500 forthwith after pleading guilty to three Immigration charges.

Joel Medina, Steve Medina and Ricardo Espinoza were charged with entering the state as prohibited immigrants, by boat, at a place other than a port of entry.

They were also charged with entering the state and disembarking without the consent of an immigration officer, and entering the state without a passport.

Prosecutor Curlene Samuel told the Court that on April 26, the Coast Guard, acting on information received, went to a bay at Union Island where they met an unoccupied pirogue secured to a jetty.

The police then went to a house where they met the defendants looking at television. The men were taken to the vessel where they had a 385-gallon container of gas. They had no form of Identification, passport or port clearance, and were taken into custody, interviewed and charged.

Attorney Israel Bruce, who appeared on the men’s behalf, told the Court that they had left Trinidad to assist another vessel. They developed engine problems and drifted for about a day and a half.

According to Bruce, the fuel they had was to take to another vessel that had run short. They were distressed at sea and had to be assisted by a local fisherman.

Samuel told the Court

that when the men were apprehended, they told the police that they were here to sell fuel.

“They were found in a house looking at television, and never went to the police,” the prosecutor stressed.

But Bruce rebutted that nowhere in the men’s statements did they say that they were

here to sell fuel. He noted that the information they gave was that they were going to assist another boat with the fuel.

The prosecutor also said that Espinoza was deported from these shores in 2016 after serving a sentence for gun and ammunition possession.

But, according to Bruce, Espinoza never had such a conviction.

Samuel recommended that the men be fined and deported.

If the men failed to pay the fine, they would go to prison for one month.

Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett also made a deportation order.

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8. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Editorial

Safeguarding the interest of cannabis farmers THE CANNABIS/MARIJUANA ISSUE took on an air of heightened enthusiasm recently in the government corridors.

Government officials were scurrying over one another, jostling for the tiniest opportunities to make themselves heard, as they expounded, belatedly, the medical value of the plant, and the vast potential a medical cannabis industry held for the financial stability and economic development of SVG. Our Minister of Agriculture, in particular, appeared to be on a high, as he busied himself: talking about legislation to govern the legalisation of the plant for medical purposes; making public pronouncement on how many overseas-based individuals, corporations (and ‘cartels’) had indicated interest in investing in cannabis production here; and how many of these interests had visited SVG and held talks with him.

Good for the Minister. He had been allowed to ‘lead’ the government’s awakening to a need to get involved or miss the boat. After all, a number of CARICOM partners were well advanced in their conversations on decriminalising the cultivation and use of cannabis for medical, religious and even recreational purposes.

This country could not be found lagging behind on an issue which it had brought to the fore of the CARICOM agenda.

The momentum among government officials, if the truth be told, seemed to have subsided recently, so it is a good time as any to re-energise the conversation on cannabis.

Let us admit a few things about cannabis production in this country.

Make no bones about it, our cannabis farmers have proved themselves to be cultivators of some of the best cannabis anywhere this side of the globe, and may be beyond.

Our cannabis continues to be in demand, and it is for that reason that many a young man here would brave the treacherous waters and naval patrols to ‘make a sale overseas’, where he can fetch a reasonable return for him and his family.

For, unquestionably, the cannabis cultivation and its sale in foreign markets have been directly responsible for the improvement in the standard of living of many families in this state... not to mention the bounty reaped by local and foreign-owned retail/wholesale operators.

The basic rudiments and advanced techniques involved in cannabis cultivation have not escaped our farmers — even under the watchful

eye of local drug interdiction forces and a system of laws that criminalises every aspect of cannabis — from its cultivation to even its use as a beverage.

Our cannabis farmers have learned the hard way — without the expertise of agronomists, agricultural scientists or who have you — and have acquired new found practical knowledge about plant propagation, etc.

And if the industry has become tainted with elements of criminal tendency, it is as a result of how difficult it was made for genuine cannabis farmers to access the market directly as they had done in earlier times.

The local middle men who erupted with the promises to take the dangers involved in the sale off the backs of the farmers, were as responsible for the criminal colouration of the industry as anyone else.

The market value of the commodity was set by the middle man, to the extent that when they set the value at ridiculously low prices, many a farmer, with no experience of the sea, prefer to take the risk of marketing overseas rather than be exploited.

All of that is said so as to establish a certain point.

In the absence of any indication that there are locals and/or foreign individuals and corporations ready to invest in the research and development that come with a medical cannabis industry, we take it that we are being bargained off — not for the first time in our history — as suppliers of a primary/raw product, with no opportunity to benefit from the added value component.

That is why cannabis farmers, who are being encouraged to avail their ‘expertise’ to this medical cannabis industry, must do so as one voice, in an association of themselves, governed by themselves for themselves, to ensure that they get the fairest price.

Overseas conglomerates will look to encourage those with political clout especially, to set up cartels to purchase the cannabis on their behalf. Local cannabis farmers must avoid falling victims to their own.

And if at all the research and production component of the industry does come to SVG, a body of cannabis farmers must be involved as equal partners.

We made too many mistakes with bananas. We cannot do the same with our cannabis.

The magic of Netball 12/8/1994 WE NEED TO KEEP COOL HEADS during the current period of over-heated politics. So, what better than to serve again four of my older columns on sport in SVG, focusing on the latter half of the Twentieth Century beginning with the game of Netball, ladies first.

Lightning struck twice in the same place to highlight for the second time in two years (1992 and 1993) the netball teams of Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Vincent and the Grenadines as joint Caribbean champions of the game.

Once again, St Vincent and the Grenadines was edged out by Trinidad and Tobago who went under by a single goal to Barbados who in turn suffered defeat at the deft hands of our girls. This was in a virtually separate competition of the top three, all of whom swept past the other competitors.

While I have been peeling off reams of paper in dealing with the history and records of achievement of my beloved cricketers, and footballers which have threatened to hog the headlines with, perhaps, over ambitious and premature shooting for the World Cup, our girls have been quietly doing their thing without fuss or fanfare.

And the simple fact is that our netball team is a world-rater. For Trinidad and Tobago as well as Jamaica, with whom we have held our own in the recent past, earn their keep whenever they engage the top dogs in the business- Australia, New Zealand and England. So it stands to reason that in terms of ability we belong to the Big League though we are as yet unable to finance our participation there.

Netball is strong because its growth has not been propelled by any prima donnas in fits and starts, but steady development has been assured by the commitment of many dedicated workers whose love of the game seems to be their own record. Even those leaving our shores, maintain a link and offer to help as do the “North Americans” led by Gailene Windsor and associates.

The modern history of the game began after the end of the Second World War when women such as Mrs. Vilna Cox, Mrs Curtis Wallace, Mrs Sydney Morris, and Miss Sylvia Wilson set about its organisation. Of course, once it named “sport”, Mother “Dops” was around. And Miss Nester Paynter could always be counted on to host fund-raising drives or put up

visiting teams at her guest-house for next-to-nothing!

Naturally, men were not to be left out. Long before we had Julian “Yardah-Mouth” Bailey and Noel Jackson, there were Trinidadian coach Clive Mc Kell and local referee Vin Douglas taking the girls through their paces before sunrise at the dawn of the modern period.

The organisation of netball proceeded over the years to a point where it is now the envy of sister, as well as brother, associations. Ace players of yesteryear have continued in an unending stream, re-cycling some of their talents back into the game.

The omissions will be readily forgiven, but full praise go to the sterling contribution of President Gloria Ballantyne who had one time served as President of the Caribbean Netball Association; Vice President, Marlene Arthur and the others including — coach Genita Lewis, the indefatigable Joyce Frank, Agnes White, Adlith Waldron ,Michelle Guy, among others .

If, according to sports writer Mike Findlay, old teams and clubs are essential for continuity and maturation of a particular game, then local netball has been fairly well served. “Falcons” probably started in the mid 1950s and lives on through its merger with the younger “Joggers”. “Maple” of early 1950s vintage, brought into being by Sydney Morris, Mary Neverson and the Wilson family, just keeps rolling along, with its first generation of Marlene Wilson-Arthur and Joyce Maloney Frank now acting as Motherfigures today.

What follows is this column’s best netball team, together with four extras, selected from teams over the last fifty years as have been attempted for football and cricket.

Shoots first: I believe that at long last SVG has found its ideal pair in the shooting circle in the persons of Skiddy Francis and Clothel Young.

Other excellent goal shoots and goal attack include Joyce Maloney Frank, Gloria Glen Lewis, Urel Campbell, Ishbel Horne King, Peggy Ince Hull, Ganes White and Thelma Foster. The identical Huggins’ twins of the 1960s who mesmerised opposing defence by their speed and natural deception, came nearest to this new pair of Clothel and Skiddy.

(Continued on Page 16)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. 9.

Letters

Domestic violence as a Public Health issue ‘ABOLISH LAWS that allow discrimination, and replace them with legislation that protect women’s rights.’ This was one of 14 big tasks presented to Foreign Ministers from the Commonwealth Women’s Forum held in the United Kingdom from16-18 April,2018..

Addressing domestic violence, the Duchess of Cornwall encouraged participants to speak out: “Domestic abuse remains a hidden problem in our society. It is characterised by silence – silence from those who suffer, silence from those around them, and silence from those who perpetrate abuse.

This silence is corrosive: it leaves women, children – and men - carrying the burden of shame; it prevents them from speaking out about their abuse, and it prevents them from getting help. And at its worst, it can be fatal.”

These comments by high level women is one of the strategies used to bring women’s issues to the forefront. The Strategy is not as effective as anticipated, as the scourge continues, and women in despair in all CARICOM countries are blaming government for not protecting women through for example, safe houses, stiffer penalties for perpetrators and removal of laws that discriminate against women. Worse, they are thinking that a change in government will solve the problem.

The major problem is that the loudest voices are paid attention to, while the still small voice is ignored. The comment by the Duchess of Cornwall that the silence around domestic abuse “can be fatal”, brings to mind a comment by Mr. Leslie Ramsammy, a past Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) who stated that “Violence against women is a public health crisis, and actions to combat it must become a priority agenda item on national and global development programmes”. It is as urgent as dealing with HIV/AIDS. NonCommunicable Diseases, typhoid and tuberculosis, etc., and the Duchess has given a peek into the cancerous nature of domestic violence.

When there is an outbreak of communicable and non-communicable diseases, food borne or water borne diseases, the public health departments and collaborating agencies spring into action to respond to the crisis. In addition to existing measures of prevention/intervention, domestic violence must be treated as a public health issue. The Ministry of Health is well equipped to lead the necessary remedial and preventive actions.

Nelcia Robinson Chair Commonwealth Women’s Network (CWN)

Save our males!!

SO, AS WE continue the conversation on crime and violence here in SVG, it would be good for us to note that the statistics reveal that the clear majority of homicide victims here are male. I don’t have the statistics right now, but I am certain I am correct in what I say.

Our males are heading down the hill fast, and if we don’t stop the slide, many more are going to become homicide statistics.

No longer is a father — if there is one at all - the head of the family. There is no one in the family to set an example for the

males. That father figure has been replaced by leaders in the community — leaders and members of the groupings that our Prime Ministers calls ‘associational groupings’, which, as far as I am concerned, is just a fancy way of saying GANGS. The PM can put whatever spin he wants on these groups; they are GANGS with leaders and different levels of authority for members.

Look around! Who do you see as the one involved in the crime and violence? The majority?

Young males!! From

Good times for the police MR. EDITOR, would you agree that the Police Force in this country has never before been so equipped?

The latest addition is a number of bulletproof vests which, I hope, is not the first time that our police are getting such a vital piece of protective gear.

Never before has the Police Force been so equipped with transportation. If citizens complain that the police continue to say they have no transportation when called upon to respond to emergencies, that must be a case of poor organization and a serious lack of knowledge of logistics by those officers in charge.

And what of the accommodation? Police officers no longer have to serve in squalor. They have some of the finest police stations and lodging that you could

ask for in the Caribbean.

And don’t talk about training. Never before has there been so many qualified — university trained — officers in our Police Force. In many cases, the training is made available directly through the government while those officers who pursue studies on their own, have also benefited from certain privileges extended to them by the government — whether it be study leave with full or half pay or whatever.

All in all, I must say that the Police Force has had a good run under the Unity Labour Party government. And rightthinking, honest Vincentians would agree.

There will always be a few hiccups in any organization. The important thing is that we can honestly address them and move on together.

Janice

goods are inferior (but gives no examples).

Perhaps he has never heard of Rolls-Royce, Bentley,Turnbull & Asser, Saville Row, Purdy, Holland & Holland and Gerrards, to name but a few.

In closing, I am left with an enigma over Mr. Corea’s final statement.

If he has no love or sympathy for the British, why did he stay there for 13 years????????????

Why did he not tuck his tail between his legs and scuttle back to SVG at his first opportunity ??????????????

Misconceptions again!

ONCE AGAIN we have had the (mis)fortune to suffer diatribe from Mr. Corea.

Not for the first time this gentleman has submitted a total misconception upon followers of this newspaper.

In contradiction to Mr. Corea’s statement, more markets may well open up to the U.K. after Brexit, since it will not be constrained by any sanctions imposed upon the E.U. (as now considered by Trump), and will also not be constrained by an E.U.

tariff or quota regulations.

I agree with Mr. Corea that British goods sold in this geographical area may well be more expensive owing to additional freight costs. But this is not an overall problem for U.K. exporters as it will be compensated by markets nearer to the U.K. In fact, we could reverse Mr. Corea’s statement and apply it to W.I. goods marketed all over Europe.

Mr. Corea states that British

A. W. Indupp.

whom do they take their lead? From the PM? From the Pastor? From their Fathers? None of these it would seem, given the type of activity in which they are involved.

And I don’t mean to take away from the issue of violence against and abuse of our women, but we will continue to spin top in mud and go around in circles if we don’t devise plans to redirect the males (boys) away from a path that leads them to become criminals when they become men.

It is clear to me that our boys are in need of attention. If we don’t do something to rein them in, the gangs and their leaders will win them over, especially those boys/males who have no father figures in their homes.

And let me tell you something: no amount of marching, stiffer jail sentences and even Days of Prayer will solve the problem of crime and violence.

Crime and violence breed well in broken homes. Children, they say, live what they learn.

The question is: What are we teaching them?

Jason C.

Just a thought THIS IS A funny one.

I have a thought!! The opposition NDP says it is ready to take this country on a path of prosperity and peace. What if we handed them the reins of government and see what they could really do?

When you come to think about it, they had 17 years to set us on this path to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but they left us stranded on the way.

I fear, though, that if we did give them a chance to government, that we would be calling for a change sooner that we think.

Just a thought.

Lester

Workers arise, take up your bed and walk IT’S ANOTHER year, and things remain the same.

Time seems to just go on its merry way. May 1st is workers’ day in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Do workers here understand the importance of Labour Day? The struggle, pain, grief, brutality, anguish, torture and abuse it took to gain the recognition. At present, it seems as if the National Labour Congress, the umbrella body of the Labour Movement, is at a stupendous slumber. The Labour Department is manned by persons who don’t know about this struggle. Therefore, how else will workers know their rights, role and responsibility?

This present regime came into office on the back of workers’ support and promises to stand in solidarity for their rights. They promised to work to improve working conditions and benefits. They promised to stand up and defend the workers at all costs. They promised to protect the rights and benefits. As far as I can see, these were just empty promises. The same things that were happening before are happening again to workers: No severance payment; bankruptcy; pension for nonelected parliamentarian; pension reform without consultation and dialogue; no respect for Unions and their leaders; no response to correspondence; scant regard for the laws and regulations of the land; abuse of the constitution. Cont’d on page 12

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10. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

The ULP is the Party of the future

Developing the Private Sector

Introduction

The New Democratic Party (NDP) is cognizant of the importance of the private sector to the economy of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We will develop a strong and sustainable economy which will result in economic growth and development, job creation and poverty alleviation. One of the major strategies we will utilize towards this goal is private sector development.

It is well-established that in today’s world, a thriving private sector is the foundation of a growing economy.

Private sector development has many benefits for St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ economy. It will expand economic development and support a sustainable source of revenue, tax and otherwise, that will fund strategic social programmes. Private sector development will become the nucleus of employment, and therein accelerate the process of socio-economic development.

The Unity Labour Party regime, however, appears not to understand this basic fact. Evidence of this is seen through government’s ill-advised policies, and the fact that this government owes the private sector an enormous amount which has accumulated to millions of dollars; a crippling burden for a private sector already weighed down by some of the highest energy prices in the Caribbean.

The NDP recognizes that improving government policies and behaviour will not only shape the investment climate and drive private sector development, it will also drive overall economic growth and improve opportunities for everyone. We will, therefore, provide a range of incentives and support to encourage private sector development, and above all, create the stable and predictable macro-economic and social environment that will encourage investment.

In order to foster private sector development, the NDP will focus on creating an attractive investment climate. An NDP government will establish a Ministry of the Private Sector to facilitate the development and expansion of private industry in general. We consider that Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are a critical factor in economic growth, and we will create the conditions that will enable SMEs to play a major role in entrepreneurship, innovation and job creation.

In order to create the environment in which Small and Medium sized Enterprises will thrive, the NDP will end the competition between government enterprises and SMEs; adopt and pursue appropriate fiscal and employment policies to promote an optimal economic environment; improve the attractiveness of entrepreneurship and remove the constraints to the development and growth of SMEs through: the reestablishment of a Development Bank to provide funding and financial support for SMEs. The NDP will also establish a government sponsored Laboratory, a Scientific Research Council to provide technical assistance for all new and expanding enterprises; establish a St. Vincent and the Grenadines Bureau of Standards and foster strategic alliances between Vincentian and foreign companies to gain knowledge about market entry and export led activities.

Moreover, the role of the Ministry of the Private Sector will identify and seek to develop or expand a range of direct and indirect support services for SMEs, including: business prestart, start-up and development assistance; business plan development and follow-up; business incubators — legal, accounting and financial services; information services

WHEN THE Unity Labour Party was elected into office on March 28th, 2001, it met existential issues at its feet. Among these were poor garbage collection, dilapidated public infrastructure, high levels of corruption from Ottley Hall Marina project to the then National Commercial Bank; the bank almost went bankrupt because it was used as a wallet by then high ranking NDP members. The country was blacklisted by the European Union due to lack of stringent laws to tackle corruption. St. Vincent and the Grenadines recorded an indigent poverty rate of 29 percent resulting from a backward NDP government policy encouraging squatting and lack of real opportunities for our young people.

It took this Unity Labour Party led government to correct all those issues including receiving debt relief of nearly $175 million dollars on the Ottley Hall Marina. The ULP modernized state garbage collection which is managed through the Solid Waste Management Unit and offered on a weekly basis to residents throughout our multi island state.

The privatization of the then National Commercial Bank, now the Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has seen the bank grow from EC $ 370 million dollars in assets in 2001 to over EC $1 billion dollars currently.

The ULP government reduced indigent poverty to 2.9 percent and introduced the Possessory Title Act in 2004 ensuring that persons living on land continuously for 12 years or more can claim title to property: such titles can be used as a collateral for loans to improve the standard of living of the ordinary citizen. These and many more were some of the achievements done in the first ten years of the ULP government.

experience, but also a salary to gain that experience and training in the labour force that will assist them further in their own educational advancement and careers. This too was opposed by a backward and shameless NDP. The NDP has stated that this government is a killer of jobs, but it is the very NDP that has opposed every job creating initiative that this government has pursued which includes the construction of a Geothermal Energy project, the Mt. Wynne/Peters Hope Hotel Development Project. The leasing of various fishing facilities across SVG involved in the processing of seafoods for export, the construction and operationalisation of the Argyle International Airport that will increase trade and thus providing jobs directly and indirectly. The establishment of a Cocoa Company here, the sale of lands in Canouan that saw expansion in major hotel developments such as Pink Sands Hotel and the Buccament Bay Resort that will reopen shortly, will add cumulatively, thousands of jobs in the local labour force.

It is therefore no surprise that this government, in foreseeing the skills that will be needed to supply such a job market, has modernized the programmes offered at the Community College, where students are offered Associate and Bachelors Degree programmes. As a result of the franchise agreements with the University of the West Indies and Humber College, many that pursue programmes in hospitality employed in the tourism sector and other skillbased professionals, get the requisite The way forward training through these programmes as well as the TVET (Technical In looking ahead, this Unity Labour Vocational Educational Training) Party recognized that young people programmes. must be at the center of its policies in Lastly, in furthering the economic building the foundation for a better development and shaping that modern future. Hence, in 2005, this ULP future of SVG, the ULP government government introduced the Education will embark on Port modernization, by Revolution Act which paved the way relocating the Port facility to in ensuring 100 percent enrolment of downtown Kingstown. This will all students into secondary school, undoubtedly enhance the city of against 39 percent under the NDP. Kingstown and move to start the The use of its “friends of all and construction of a new modern city at enemy of none” foreign policy Arnos Vale. The ULP government is approach in securing and increasing pursuing the production of medicinal numerous scholarships abroad in marijuana, a move that is highly various States (Mexico, Azerbaijan, received by farmers; farming Venezuela, Cuba, Taiwan, Russia, cooperatives have been formed to New Zealand, Turkey etc.); these purchase leased lands for initiatives scholarships have assisted in ensuring including the production of coffee and students from poor and working-class cocoa, which are produced and families are afforded increased processed here for export. All these opportunities in advancing themselves initiatives and many more, that are academically. opposed by the NDP, will create jobs Additionally, there has been the and increase wealth and by extension introduction of the disadvantaged the standard of living for us all in St. student loan (scheme) that has seen Vincent and the Grenadines. government as guarantor of these loans taken by students across St. Conclusion Vincent and the Grenadines. This initiative targets those from poor, It is therefore evident, that the marginalized homes, with the aim of NDP is spewing “hot air” or rhetoric, improving the standard of living by hoping that it will stick somewhere in enabling children to return home and the minds of you the people. They work, as most of these families had no believe that many of us are ignorant collateral to access a loan. To no and oblivious as to what is happening surprise, this very education around us, as they continue to oppose revolution was opposed time and time job-creating initiatives, thereby being again by the NDP, as they preferred highly hypocritical. We, in the ULP, the “good old days” of the NDP to are the real agents of real change and remain, where only the elite class had transformation. Never running out of the opportunity to travel abroad and fresh ideas, and ideas that indeed will study at various Universities across further assist in the socioeconomic the globe. We must never take these development of our country through things for granted. job and wealth creation. Let us continue to be messengers of this good Furthermore, in building a better news and ready ourselves to take SVG under this Unity Labour Party, advantage of the limitless youth received more opportunities opportunities to come. through the YES and SET proLabour is the only way! grammes that offer not only

including advice on government policies; advise on the effective application of information; provide communication and business technologies to the business process; offer consultancy and research services; managerial and vocational skills enhancement; promotion and development of enterprise based training.

In addition, the Ministry will provide support and offer training in occupational safety and health; assist in upgrading the literacy, numeracy, computer competencies and basic education levels of managers and employees; provide access to energy, telecommunications and physical infrastructure either directly or through private sector intermediaries, and assist in understanding and applying labour legislation, human resource development and the promotion of gender equality, product design, development and presentation, packaging services, environmental management services, quality management, including quality testing and measurement and streamline business regulatory processes and procedures in order to substantially improve the ease of doing business in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Ministry will also work in close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our overseas Missions, CARICOM and the Vincentian Diaspora to identify trade and export opportunities for SMEs. There are also significant benefits that can be achieved through entrepreneurship. These include increasing the number of selfemployed persons through the creation of quality jobs. This new work environment will produce new economic activities to increase the motivation and skills of the unemployed in the rural area; to actively seek and create new employment opportunities within their own communities; to ensure an equitable distribution of wealth though all sectors of the national economy. This will lead to a reduction of poverty and the negative effects associated with poverty and to empower people to trust in their own abilities and knowledge. And to learn the basic values and operating principles of business, thereby adopting a practical approach to the world of business.

Private sector development will improve the lives of our people, whether directly or indirectly. It will expand the variety of goods and services available and reduce their cost, to the benefit of consumers.

Private sector development will create sustainable jobs and opportunities for macro and micro-entrepreneurs alike.

Micro entrepreneurship is one of the key pathways by which people can escape poverty. We will give each person the power to shape their own destiny.

The resultant economic growth envisioned will also help to reduce the costs of goods to our citizens. This is especially important to those who suffer the economic burden the most.

Private sector development shall contribute to an expanded tax base that will allow for investment in health, education and welfare for all our people.

It is obvious that the NDP has the better programmes and policies and Vincentians can look forward to benefit from the NDP’s private sector development initiative. The NDP will make St. Vincent and the Grenadines work for all Vincentians.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. 11.

Views

Let Your Work Be Your Recommendation

“Do everything that is required of the job and more.” Professor Eudine Barriteau, Principal and Pro Vice Chancellor, Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies.

IT IS SUCH AN INSPIRATION to visit workplaces where employees display positive attitudes. They make it quite obvious that they are interested in their jobs and are forever ready to joyfully serve customers or clients. However, too many workplaces are plagued by individuals who appear to just do enough work to avoid being fired. Such employees gripe and complain about everything and everyone. They drag themselves around and seem to be most miserable. These are individuals who irritate onlookers and drive customers/clients away. In the process, they retard their upward mobility and the firm’s viability.

Customers continue to gravitate to firms where they receive quality products and service. People want to feel welcomed and appreciated when they visit a business place or government office. We expect and deserve to be treated with respect and courtesy. Unfortunately, many individuals complain that such outstanding service is often quite lacking throughout the Caribbean.

Let me hasten to say, however, that there are workplaces where such exemplary service could be observed.

These are the places where repeat businesses are evident. These are also the places that receive “free advertisement”, as customers/clients broadcast how these positive, courteous, and professional employees made them feel. These are the employees who often go beyond the call of duty to assist others. Such individuals are employed within the private and public sectors.

Unfortunately, their less productive and discourteous colleagues demonstrate behaviours that encourage observers to incorrectly conclude that the entire department or enterprise is “bad”. We commend those who stand out in a positive way.

Their behaviours and attitudes provide good reason to hope. These outstanding employees demonstrate the winning attitudes that are necessary for increased productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Many managers and leaders will agree that attitudes make a significant difference in relation to the recruitment and promotion of employees. Skills, experience, and qualifications may be useful in getting an individual “through the door”, but invariably it is the individual’s attitude towards work, their colleagues, and their customers/client that will determine whether or not they retain their jobs and/or get promoted. The individual who performs his/her duties to the best of his/her ability (whether or not others are observing), will invariably be rewarded for their efforts. These are the individuals who will go beyond the call of duty. They accept the challenges to do assignments outside of their job descriptions (and they do so without grumbling and complaining). These are individuals who constantly seek to produce good quality work at minimum cost to the enterprise. They are regular and punctual. They do not believe in following those caustic co-workers who seek to justify requesting “sick days” when they are not ill. They

listen to a different drummer. They walk a high road of honesty and integrity in all that they do. Their attitudes and behaviours become their recommendation. These are the ones who will climb the ladder of success within their organisations … or get invitations to leave to build other enterprises. Such employees are always in demand.

Recruitment, induction, and training, all play major roles in bringing out the best in individuals and adding value to the firm.

Unfortunately, an examination of the training budgets of many of our establishments will reveal that our efforts tend to be directed more at training for skills and less on attitudes. This writer firmly believes that greater effort should be given to training for improved attitudes in our workplaces. Many workplaces could benefit from mentorship programmes where the young, inexperienced worker can gain useful insights from those positive and productive employees who have been in the trenches for some time. This is as true for the employee who comes face to face with the customer/client (e.g. the receptionist, secretary, delivery man, security guard, etc.), as it is for those who work behind the scenes.

Each worker impacts the other.

Negative attitudes within the workplace fuel negative cultures. Our leaders and managers must therefore be regularly on guard in an effort to intercept with intent; to foster cultures that encourage greater teamwork, camaraderie, empathy, and so on. Relationships matter.

Poor internal customer relationships will eventually lead to poor relationships with the external customer/client. The opposite is also true - excellent staff relationships are likely to result in the external customer feeling accepted and appreciated when they have to interact with employees at workplaces that encourage healthy relationships.

In turn, the behaviours and attitudes displayed become their recommendation; their advertisement.

Customers/clients will advertise the employees and the enterprise. This is as true in relation to private sector entities as it is for government departments.

We commend those employees who get to their work stations before the designated work commencement time (and begin working). We applaud those who exhibit positive attitudes, even when under pressure. We laud those who continue to be committed to going beyond the call of duty and look for opportunities to meet and surpass the expectations of their supervisors, managers, and customers. We congratulate those who regularly encourage others to better their best efforts. They make the time and exert the energy to lift others to new heights of accomplishment. These are true leaders. They encourage and develop the leadership skills in others. They are excellent mentors and role models. Their work, and their attitude towards work, will forever be their recommendation.

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

Cuba has a new leader

ON APRIL 18, 2018 THE CUBAN National Assembly elected Miguel Diaz-Canel as president of the socialist republic. Mr Diaz-Canel, at age 57, is younger than the revolution led by Fidel and Raul Castro, and became the first leader of the revolutionary process who does not carry the name Castro.

In his first speech as president, Diaz-Canel promised to modernize the country’s economy and pay even closer attention to addressing the pressing needs of the people. Importantly, he pledged to uphold the values of the country’s socialist revolution.

Diaz-Canel is a product of the Cuban revolutionary process, just as Barack Obama was a product of the Democratic Party establishment.

Diaz-Canel is a believer and practitioner of revolutionary ideals in very much the same way that Obama embraced and proclaimed the imperial and neo-liberal mantra.

None in the media establishment expected Obama or Trump to deviate from the capitalist ideas that have wrought so much havoc around the world and created so much pain for the American working people. But siren calls can be heard that DiazCanel pledged to continue in the tradition and footsteps of his revolutionary mentors Fidel and Raul Castro. The establishment media will very much like him to become ‘his own man’, much like the renegade Lenin Morena of Ecuador, who abandoned the ideals and disavowed the programs of his party and former president, Raphael Correa.

Diaz-Canel told his countrymen that there will be changes intended to make their life better, but he firmly and properly declared that there will be no capitalist restoration. The new Cuban leader said his tenure will be dedicated to the further modernization of his country’s ‘social and economic model.’ Mr Diaz-Canel also promised to make better use of the communications technology that is best reflected in the internet.

Times of transition are not the best of times. We saw what happened in the 1980s in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. We saw the many ways in which powerful countries seized the opportunity to subvert processes that brought some levels of social support and satisfaction to large sections of the population in those countries. We saw what happened when things spun out of control, beginning with the Yeltsin counter revolution in the Soviet Union and the serious assaults which occurred thereafter. We witnessed the tremendous reversals in the people’s living standards especially in the areas of health.

We have viewed with horror the many ways in which assets which were owned and built up by these states, were given away in virtual fire sales to local and foreign business people who became very rich while the people’s social and economic conditions went into sharp decline.

Polls in these countries reveal a clamour for a return to a socialist system, defects and all, which offered some levels of support, security and protection.

It is unfortunate that this transition is taking place two generations after the triumph of the revolution. However, it is crucial that it takes place at a time when the people’s gains remain secured and protect. Diaz Canel can still count of

the firm hand, prestige and guiding ideas of his aging mentor Raul Castro, who remains as head of the communist party until 2021.

However, this emerging generation of leaders have a long and glorious legacy to defend and emulate. They must draw on it and take strength from the fact that if the revolution could survive 60 years right under the nose of the most powerful and aggressive imperial power in history, it can negotiate its way and bring further benefits to the people of Cuba.

There are those who condemn Cuba. They fail to tell us that this is a revolutionary process that never got a chance to exhale or breathe freely.

Revolutionary Cuba always had to engage in a forced march because it was always under threat. This revolution knows what it means to be sabotaged and terrorized. In the 60 years of revolution, the American embargo has caused more than US$100 billion in damage.

Yet the revolution has made impressive gains. Imagine how much more could have been achieved if the revolutionary process was allowed to flourish and develop in peace. Imagine if the Cuban leadership did not have to spend so much on defence and were allowed to trade with all without impediment. Imagine if investors and tourists were allowed to freely travel to the revolutionary isle to invest, enjoy its beauty, understand its experiment and follow its example.

But enough imagining; revolution breeds counter revolution. In the same way the Grenadian and Nicaraguan revolutions were pressured and smothered. In the same manner Gadhafi was demonized isolated assassinated, that same threat continues to hover over Cuba.

In the same way the United States defended itself after 9/11 catastrophe and people across the world disregarded America’s history of aggression and oppression of other peoples, it is the same manner in which Cuba must be allowed to defend itself and chart its own course. Only a clear sighted understanding of the demands of revolution will allow us to see why Cuba must be allowed to live and develop in peace.

This new generation of Cuban leaders have their minds and hands full as they try to negotiate this dangerous world. However, if there is one people on earth who can be expected to fight and win new gains as they continue on their revolutionary path, Cubans are it.

One only has to remember the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, following which the Cuban economy contracted by a third, when President Bush put together a capitalist restoration commission to deal with the so called imminent collapse of the revolution. Today, three decades on, the revolutionary process is ongoing.

As Miguel Diaz-Canel said, echoing Fidel and Raul before him ‘Socialism or Death! We will triumph!’ We can do no less than to add ‘Long live the Cuban Revolution.’

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

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12. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

SVG must follow T&T

THE JAMAICA Observer reported that the Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) Ministry of National Security said that the Venezuelans who were being sent home comprised “nationals who would have served time in the prisons and were awaiting deportation on the completion of their sentences.”

Five years ago, it was reported in the T&T Guardian that immigrants living and working in T&T and not paying taxes, would be sent back to their home countries. T&T takes firm and decisive action against undesirables in their country.

SVG should follow T&T’s example and deport undesirables in SVG. SVG has its share of undesirables, many of them occupying positions of privilege, enjoying a standard of living the ordinary/average Vincentian does not. Should we not deport them?

Our national anthem says inter alia:: ‘St. Vincent, Land so beautiful, With joyful hearts we pledge to thee; Our Loyalty and Love and vow, To keep you ever free.’

Chief Joseph Chatoyer sacrificed his life protecting SVG from undesirable invaders and colonisers. We should not allow a second phase of colonialism to engulf our country and lose our country to these undesirable

migrants.

And for those undesirables who do not pay tax, it is the black indigenous population who subsidize their rich lifestyle. They drive on our roads, use many facilities throughout SVG, dump their rubbish in St. Vincent mainland and enjoy the law enforcement provided by the Royal SVG Police.

This is all funded by Vincentians who pay tax. We — our taxes - are subsidising the undesirables’ lifestyle.

This is not acceptable, and these undesirables living and working here but not paying taxes should be deported. We should be firm and decisive like T&T. Warrant Officer Ivan O’Neal, BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, Leader of SVG Green Party, says we should deport the undesirables. Native Vincentians have to pay tax and customs duty in all shapes and forms, but the undesirable do not.

The blanket tax and customs duty exemptions enjoyed by many nonVincentians, are estimated to be billions of dollars annually. This perpetuates poverty, hunger, unemployment, crime and criminality in SVG. We must deport them.

A Green government would deport the undesirables and set up industries, like a SVG tuna fishing and canning

industry, which will provide jobs for thousands of Vincentians. The billions of dollars that we will make from the tuna industry, will be used to build our own SVG University, improve hospitals and other health facilities in SVG, provide free education from preschool to university, and connect every house to mains water and

electricity.

In order to create a strong economy and ensure prosperity and jobs for our people, the undesirables must go. We should follow T&T’s decisive actions.

SVG Green Party

Why do I exist?

THIS IS A QUESTION that has plagued human beings individually and collectively.

Some refuse to think about it.

Others take the road of “eat, drink and be merry because this is all you’ve got. When you dead, you done!”

Some try to drink, drug, fight for power, or sex away the question.

Others think about the question and become depressed enough to kill people or even kill themselves! So, do you know why you exist?

The Bible demonstrates that every individual human being is a unique work of an intelligent loving Creator.

If we go to a Fine Art Exhibition and desire to understand the meaning of the pieces of Art on display, it would make sense to go talk to the Artist who created them. But unlike inanimate objects, we have a mind of our own.

May I suggest then that first we consult Genesis chapter one for a clue to the answer. At the end of the chapter, we read that God made human beings like Him and gave them dominion over everything else that He made. God also gave us instructions to multiply the race, spread out over the whole earth and look after it. If we understood the implications of this mandate, we would stop littering and polluting the planet.

King Solomon, who is reputed to have been wise and rich, recommends in Ecclesiastes that humanity remember The Creator while we are still young, have reverence for Him and obey HIS commands because this is why human beings exist. Solomon further emphasizes in his summary on life in Ecclesiastes chapter twelve, that God is going to judge everything we have done whether good or bad, even things done in secret!

Doctor Luke, in his historical account, recounts that Jesus told a

story about “A Rich Man and Lazarus”, illustrating the point that human beings are going to live forever either with God or without God. The choice is an individual one.

God does not force anyone to believe He exists, or do anything against his or her will. Every individual is a free moral agent having the knowledge of good and evil. This means each individual is responsible and will be held accountable for his or her choices. As it is recorded in Genesis, Eve did not get away from the consequences of her choice by blaming the snake for deceiving her, and neither will we by saying “The devil made me do it!”

Apostle Mark records that one of the Teachers of The Jewish Law asked Jesus what was the most important commandment. Jesus gave a shocking two sentence summary reply. Here it is quoting from The Good News Translation of The Holy Bible, “The Lord our God is the only Lord; Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and all your strength.

Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

Jesus’ reply shows that we exist for loving relationship with God and with other human beings and with ourselves. If we are thankful for, and love the life God has given us as well as cared about others, we would not engage in selfish destructive behavior like cutting our wrists, sexually abusing our own bodies, trafficking or killing people just for cash, seducing other people’s wives and husbands, destroying people’s property or good name.

Bottom line, we exist to please The Creator, enjoy living with and working for HIM forever!

Frances Palmer

Workers arise, take up your bed and walk From page 9

so called NGO to do for you what you are With all these (things) supposed to do for taking place, the only yourself. way workers can get * Stand up for decent their rights is by working environment. standing in solidarity. * Stand up for All workers must unite negotiation and and fight against this bargaining rights injustice, this moral * Stand up for respect of decadence that is constitution of country plaguing this blessed and Union. land. * Stand up for respect of Workers arise, take up human rights. your bed and walk!!. * Stand up for equal pay Don’t depend on any * Stand up for gender politician, social workers, equality.

* Stand up for rights to work without stigma and discrimination * Stand up against sexism, sexual harassment, child abuse and all social ills whether at work or in the society.

This is my humble call to all workers. We were all born with ability. Let us use it for the betterment of all.

So long!!!!

Man on De go

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. 13.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2018. 15.

14. FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

High praise for TSSS girls

TSSS outside Calabash Restaurant and Lounge in Philadelphia.

TSSS Kee-juan Chance leading in 4x400m on Saturday.

Story and photos by Nelson A. King naking@verizon.net; kingnaking210@yahoo.com US CORRESPONDENT After inquiries last year from patrons and athletic enthusiasts about the missing girls’ team from the Thomas Saunders Secondary

TSSS Head Coach Godfrey “Fuzzy” Harry (L) with James Cordice at Saturday night’s reception.

School (TSSS) contingent, Head Coach Godfrey “Fuzzy” Harry promised that he will ensure that a girls’ team compete at this year’s Penn Relays championship at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

This year, Harry not only delivered, but he, fans and supporters were highly impressed with the girls’ winning

TSSS’ Aaliyah Johnson (L) and Kee-juan Chance spoke at Saturday night’s reception

performance.

“It was really a great performance at this level, because, for the first time now, most of them ran an event of this nature, except Zamesha [Myles], who ran twice before [at the Penn Relays],” said Harry in a VINCENTIAN interview Sunday, at the Vincentian-owned Calabash Restaurant and Lounge, on Lancaster Avenue in Philadelphia, over brunch for the Vincentian and Belizean athletes.

The night before, at a reception for the athletes, at the same venue, Harry drew wide applause and a standing ovation, at the urging of New York Consul General Howie Prince, in speaking about the girls’ achievement.

Harry said the girls’ team — Zamesha Myles, Kaylia Edwards, Aaliyah Jordan and Tiwanny John, in that order — won the 4x400m heat on Thursday in 4 min., 6.94 sec. — their fastest ever.

The 2015, girls’ team had competed the race in 4 min., 8 sec.

“They had great weather on Thursday, and a number of colleges have been calling and asking for Zamesha Myles [to possibly recruit her],” said Harry to applause.

“This is what we have to offer, and there’s a lot of fire power,” he added.

“You have made us proud, your country proud,” Prince interjected.

For the boys, Thomas told THE VINCENTIAN that he was “sort of disappointed, even though they recorded the best time for the year.

“I thought we could have done better on the first two legs [in the 4x400m on Saturday,” he said. “That would have changed the outcome of the race.”

The TSSS boys, competing against 13 schools, placed 4th in both the 4x400m [3 min., 3.19 sec.] and the 4x100m [45.16 sec.] the day before.

The 4x100m team comprised Inglis Daniel, Joel Jack, Uroy Ryan and Dawson Samuel, in that order; and Daniel, Jack, Kee-juan Chance and Micah Glasgow, in that order, for the 4x400m team.

The TSSS has been the pioneer in representing St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Penn Relays. It was the first and only Vincentian school to compete in the games for six years.

This is the second year for the Grammar School, the current intersecondary schools’ champions, in competing in the Penn Relays.

Brandon Valentine-Parris, who was among the TSSS contingent in the school’s first Penn Relays meet in 2012, lauded the current Vincentian athletes.

“These guys are running faster than when I was here,” Parris, who is attending college in the United States, told the reception Saturday night. “I came 4th in my first CARIFTA Games.”

Thomas told THE VINCENTIAN that it has been a “tiresome exercise,” in the annual trek to the Penn Relays, but added, at the same time, that it merits participation in “exposing St. Vincent and the Grenadines to a new frontier and exposing talent to a new level.”

Grammar School impresses at Penn Relays renowned among the world’s top athletic bumps from patrons, Lavia, of Owia, North Windward, told his power houses. story.

In interviews with THE VINCENTIAN “I got sick after 300 meters; I was down and out,” he said. the next day, at a brunch, at the same “Then, I heard the Vincies [in the Franklin Field stadium] venue, for the athletes, Morgan and King screaming, then I ran. It was a great experience.” reiterated their impression with the teams’ performance.

“When I looked at how they approached the races, I was very happy,” King said. “I was very elated.”

He said, Head Master Curtis King (4th from left) and Head Coach Rawlson Morgan (4th from however, that right) with Grammar School Team to the 2018 Penn Relays. the 4x100 team, in ALTHOUGH IT WAS ONLY THE SECOND year competing in the illustrious Penn Relays at the University of Pennsylvania at particular, could have done better but for the chilly weather on Philadelphia, the St. Vincent Grammar School last weekend Friday and an unhealed hamstring injury to Javon Rawlins, who anchored that leg.

“Taking everything into consideration, I’m very proud of the guys and very James Cordice (R) with Kenrick Mitchell, New York Consul General Howie Prince happy that no major founder of SVGOP, at Saturday night’s addresses Saturday night’s reception. incidents took place,” reception.

Morgan chimed in.

JAMES CORDICE CONTINUES TO BE King said the team’s showered with praise for being the man who, washer” for the initiative.

“It’s a sound commendation for Mr. performance in the 4x400m — over the past eight years, has ensured that St. Cordice to pull this together,” Prince said. in which it competed with 12 Vincent and the Grenadines’ representation “So, let’s hear it for Brother Cordice.” schools, including two it beat at the annual Penn Relays Carnival in Dr. Jeremy Cayetano, principal of Stan from Jamaica — “put us in a Philadelphia.

Creek High School in Belize, was also effusive better position to solicit on As an executive member of Team Jamaica in her praise for Cordice, who had travelled to Bickle, the Queens, New York-based their behalf to ensure they Belize to get that Caribbean Community organization that provides meals and other are present next year. support to Caribbean teams competing in the (CARICOM)-member country to compete in “The performances have the Penn Relays for the very first time.

Penn Relays, the Clare Valley-born Cordice indicated to us that the “Extreme thanks to Mr. Cordice,” she said. had yearned for a Vincentian team to school has a lot of talent and, “You are part of our family.” once given the opportunity, participate in the popular Relays Carnival.

COSAGO president Laverne McDowaldIn 2010, he was successful in getting the there’s no telling what they first Vincentian school, the Thomas Saunders Thompson, Club St. Vincent, Inc. vice can achieve,” he said. president Ancilla Friday and Yvonne O’Garro, The 4x100 team — Zwicka Secondary School (TSSS), to compete in the president of the Philadelphia-based St. games and that school has continued its Charles, Jadyn Delpesche, Vincent and the Grenadines Organization of participation to the present.

Jovanie Lavia and Javon Pennsylvania [SVGOP] were among others Last year and this year, the St. Vincent Rawlins, in that order — lauding Cordice Saturday night.

Grammar School joined TSSS at the games. competed in 44.90 sec. Last For his part, Cordice, who chaired the At a gala reception for the Vincentian and night’s proceedings, said it was “all in a day’s year’s team had competed in Belizean athletes Saturday night and over 44.30 sec. brunch the next day — both at the Vincentian- work.

“We welcome our athletes for the wonderful The 4x400 team — Lavia, owned Calabash Restaurant and Lounge on Ethan Myers, Handel Roban Lancaster Avenue in Philadelphia — patrons, job they’ve done,” he told patrons. “I want to Zwicka Charles anchors leg for the Grammar School in 4x400m and Charles, also in that fans and supporters heaped praise on Cordice remind our athletes that, as long as they do their best, we’re satisfied.” order — recorded the best for his pioneering, indefatigable efforts.

He later told THE VINCENTIAN that, “We’re extremely grateful for those who impressed athletic fans and supporters with its performance at time ever: 3 min., 22 sec. Last despite financial constraints and all of the year’s Penn Relays’ effort was 3 came out to support — whether monetarily or the 124th staging of the games. obstacles that were in the way of the athletes otherwise,” said Rawlson Morgan, the min.

27 sec.

The all-boys teams placed third in the 4x100m and 4x400m making the best possible impression, they still Grammar School Head Coach on Saturday Roban had snatched the gold on Friday and Saturday, respectively. did. night.

“We’re very proud of the performance,” Head Coach Rawlson medal in the 800 meters, in 1 min., “I am absolutely on track with the “Specifically, we want to thank Mr. 56 sec., in the Under 17 Category, Morgan told a reception Saturday night for the athletes at the continuation of this programme,” he added.

Cordice, and we want to thank the drivers at the just-concluded CARIFTA Vincentian-owned Calabash Restaurant and Lounge on “Back in 2010 Coach [Godfrey] Harry [of [including Cordice] for getting us around,” he Games in the Bahamas.

Lancaster Avenue in Philadelphia. the TSSS] accepted the challenge of coming to added. “[It was] the first time at the “They [the teams] did extremely well, taking into the Penn Relays …. and, it’s so interesting to Curtis King, the Head Master of the St. games [Penn Relays], and I enjoyed consideration that they were not 100 percent [fit],” he added.

Vincent Grammar School, also lauded Cordice see that, last year, Coach Gary Francisco took it a lot,” the soft-spoken Roban, “We had couple of injuries. It was a concern to us.” the same challenge, and Belize was at the in his remarks. who hails from Byera in North Curtis King, the Grammar School Head Master, later told Penn Relays for the very first time,” he “I want to thank Mr. Cordice for ensuring Central Windward, told Saturday patrons at the reception, that he, too, was very proud of the continued. “Thank you to all for your that we’re here,” he said. night’s reception. tremendous support. That’s what’s keeping teams’ accomplishment.

New York Consul General Howie Prince In a terse speech that evoked “We have set the bar, so we can begin rubbing shoulders with described Cordice as “the chief cook and bottle this programme alive.” patriotic cheers, screams and goose the Jamaicans,” said King about the Caribbean nation that is

Cordice praised for Penn Relays initiative

16. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

More scholarships available Island Scholars Inc. announces scholarships for the 2018-2019 academic year Students from St Vincent and the Grenadines who demonstrate strong academic achievement, and need financial support to pursue a Bachelor’s degree are invited by Island Scholars Inc. to apply for scholarships.

A maximum of EC$8,000 will be awarded to each student selected for the 20182019 academic year.

Applications should be submitted online at www.islandscholars.or g. The deadline is June 30, 2018. Scholarship recipients will be notified by

July 31, 2018.

Island Scholars Inc., a non-profit organization located in Lawrenceville NJ, was founded in 2014 by Ronald Rose. The mission is to provide merit and needs-based university scholarships to promising students from St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Twenty-eight scholarships have been awarded to date.

Scholarships are renewed annually if the student maintains a GPA of 3.0 or better.

For further information, please contact Ronald Rose at Ronald.Rose@Islandschol ars.org.

The magic of Netball Continued from Page 8 AFTER A SERIOUS head-ache, I would choose Sylvia Wilson Da Silva as my number one Wing Attack. She was a complete netballer. The others might be good technicians or sound artisians; she was the artist supreme. Among those others would rank sister Marlene Arthur, the brilliant Joanne Ballantyne, Ingrid Foster for her promise, and Gailene Irish Bobb who painfully dangles between the positions of goal attack and wing attack.

The centre position is most central to the game.

It is, so to speak, the one-woman distillation of the game-plan. The following players have performed this pivotal role with distinction: Sydney Morris, Peggy Ince Hull, Stella Boyea, Michelle Guy, Betty Glasgow and Dellareece Duncan. I go for Stella Boyea as the first among equals.

Similarly, Stephanie Boyce gets the nod at Wing Defence over the likes of Thelma Browne and Elizabeth Caruth.

Forty years separate my pair responsible for defence work. Grace “Snatch” Daisley of the early 1950’s and Cecilia Richards of the present generation. In between we have had such stalwarts as Pearl Anderson- Herbert, Noreen (Simon) De Shong, Shirley Winsborrow-Browne, Genita Lewis, Gloria Ballantyne, Adlith Waldron, Roxy Irish, Shirlon Douglas and Janelle Parris.

So my team from back to front reads: Grace Daisley, Cecelia Richards , Stephanie Boyce, Stella Boyea, Sylvia Da Silva, Clothel Young and Skiddy Francis.

The four extras, their versatility a determining factor- Gailene Irish Bob, Joanne Ballantyne, Peggy Hull and Shirlon Douglas.

Would the crowd support or would psychological pressure of playing at home prevail in the tiebreaker at the next championships in SVG? We have to wait and see.

By next week we would know for sure. In any event, goal averages ought to settle any impasse.

The foregoing is a rough history of netball up to the 1990s. Cricket, football and athletics to follow.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. 17.

News

AA Announces Miami-AIA Service

An American Airlines Airbus A319 will serve the Miami-SVG non-stop, weekly scheduled flight.

AMERICAN AIRLINES (AA) is the latest international air carrier to add the Argyle International Airport to its itinerary of scheduled flights.

Beginning December 22rd 2018, AA will commence a non-stop Airbus A319 yearround Saturday service from Miami to AIA. In so doing, AA becomes the first U.S. carrier to serve St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The US Carrier is ‘selling’ the service as offering “new options to escape the cold with more seasonal and year-round flights.”

According to the airline, tickets will go on sale on May 14th, 2018.

In welcoming this positive development, CEO of the SVG Tourism Authority, Glen

Beache, described it as “a game changer for the country,” one that “…will make it so much easier for visitors including the diaspora to vacation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” and will serve as “a gateway for visitors from Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and even the United Kingdom.”

The American Airline service from Miami follows two other scheduled services into AIA by international carriers. Caribbean Airlines operates a weekly non-stop scheduled service from JFK International, and Air Canada Rouge a weekly non-stop scheduled Autumn/Winter service from Pearson International, Canada.

Sunwing also offers a chartered service out of Pearson for the Spring/Summer period.

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18. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Tribute

Tribute to Susan Ida Joan Sinson (1937-2018) finishing school for young ladies.

Probably a good idea, given the rather A GREAT LOSS has befallen 3 devoted rambunctious upbringing she enjoyed daughters, many families and the island as child on a plantation out in the of St. Vincent. Her dying has hit many boondocks! with a crushing sadness; leaving a void Susan returned to St. Vincent in the that was once filled by the soul, force mid-1950s. Around this time, a young and zest of Susan Sinson - that which she Dominican, Ivo Sinson, had been imprinted on all who loved her. She was seconded to Barclays Bank, and it was part of a larger than life Barnard family, while he was working there that he and created her own clan and legacy met Susan the two fell deeply in love with a style, voice and fierceness that and were married on 10th August drew in many, many admirers, probably 1957. Their first home was on Murray more than she appreciated.

Street, Kingstown, and it was whilst Susan Ida Joan Barnard was born there that their first daughter, Odette, in Trinidad on 27th October 1936 in was born. Later Susan and Ivo would Johnson’s Nursing Home and returned have two more daughters, Deborah to St Vincent with her parents, Cyril and Janine. Ivo eventually left the and Joan, just weeks after her birth. bank to embark on a career in She grew up at Waterloo House on agriculture, and the Sinson family Orange Hill Estate where she was finally joined the clan at Orange Hill home schooled with her brother, estate, Ivo with responsibility for the Martin, for their early education. It banana sector. As a couple, Susan and was a childhood filled with adventure Ivo settled into marriage easily moving and quite a few pranks. Susan into the large Estate House that would attended boarding school at be their home for many years.

Codrington High School in Barbados Looking back at this time, I think that where she completed her secondary Susan could be described as a education. After Barbados it was off to wonderful and supportive wife. As the England to complete her schooling at old saying goes, behind every Tortinton Park School, Sussex — a successful man is a woman! Ivo’s By family and friends

position as the head of the Windward Islands Banana Industry required her to put on many a lavish spread for the string of visitors that he brought home. Susan was involved in the processing of bottled juices and jams on the estate. She found the time to sew numerous outfits for her three daughters throughout all the stages of their lives, and when it got to the point that she was unable to do it herself, she gave instruction.

We can all agree that her three girls, along with their respective spouses, Greg and Nigel, have been wonderful support for Susan over the years and particularly since Ivo’s passing in August 1998.

She could have been known for 3 beautiful daughters or a handsomely eloquent/sweet/caring Dominican husband or even her derailed tennis career. Instead, anyone who ever met Susan Sinson will tell you about her charisma, boisterous laugh, big love and genuine concern for the person or situation in front of her. She always made you feel important (to her) and truly loved. It’s a very special quality that very few possess and none played as well as she did. Importantly, she was generous in what she shared with people. Some would say too generous at times, but her frankness always left you clear about either you or Susan.

And what an athlete! Tennis was her greatest talent — indeed she has been dubbed as one of the finest female players to ever represent St. Vincent. Prince Philip once visited St. Vincent many years ago and being introduced to Susan in the Botanical Gardens as St. Vincent’s leading tennis player. He looked at her with raised eyebrow and commented “my dear, you should play more often”! It is no secret, our Sue was not the slimmest of ladies! She was a good golfer and enjoyed playing at the Penniston Golf Course. She had a mean arm and could match anyone in

throwing the cricket ball. An accomplished horse rider, water skier, squash player, snooker player ... the latter being the source of her nickname “Davis” — there was little that Susan could not do, once she put her mind and immense talents to it.

She loved to play bridge and this game she continued to enjoy for many, many years of her life. Her core bridge partners included Flora Gunn, P G Lewis, Sir Fredrick Ballantyne and Eleanor McMillan.

Susan’s daughters Odette, Debbie and Janine would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who have been a part of her journey through the good times and those tough ones. They thank her numerous helpers and caregivers. Son-in-law Greg who kept her as comfortable as possible until the end. Her family — siblings, children, grandchildren and even a great grand, in laws, (and a few out-laws) nieces, nephews … all fondly remember her with love and thank all those who have offered kind words of sympathy at her passing. Your words have touched their hearts.

She lived in the here and now, she reconciled her past and always held to her hopes and her loves.

As we look back on Susan’s life, we think of her as a kind and gentle person with a fine sense of humour. We now imagine her in the arms of her beloved Ivo. Rest gently my dear — you will be missed.

Cry, remember and smile at the wonder of Susan Sinson.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. 19.

News

VINLEC puts safety first St. Vincent’s Electricity Services limited (VINLEC), has been commended for their emphasis on safety measures in their routine.

The praises came from Anglican Reverend Father Kari Marcelle at last Wednesday’s ceremony marking the opening of activities to mark Environmental Health and Safety Awareness’ Month, to be

held on the theme: Safety ties us together.

Taking his lead from the Bible, Colossians 3: 23, he reminded the workers that “Whatever your task, do it for the Lord and not for your Master.”

He encouraged electricity workers to “refocus” on themselves so as to ensure that their performance is pleasing

VINLEC workers showcased their pan playing skills.

in God’s sight.

Dr Vaughn Lewis, Chief Executive Officer (Acting), focussed on workers’ safety at the office, and pointed to effects from hours of sitting.

Risks of diabetes, hypertension, and varicose veins can result from prolonged sitting, Lewis indicated. He urged workers to look at

ways of doing duties without having to sit.

A healthy person is “more focussed and less likely to make mistakes,” Lewis pointed out.

“Good health is essential if you want to maintain maximum safety,” the Acting CEO outlined, and he emphasised that the best safety tool is a “relationship with the Almighty.”

The feature address came from Dr. Del Hamilton, NonCommunicable Disease Coordinator in the Ministry of Health.

She outlined steps the Ministry of Health and the Environment was taking to prevent and control diabetes and hypertension.

Those include strengthening laws aimed at preventing smoking in certain places, and soon to be assistance to cancer and kidney patients at the Diagnostic Centre in Georgetown.

There will be an inter-

ministerial coordinated approach to reducing the impact of noncommunicable diseases and Hamilton is looking forward to “cooperation and partnership.”

Hamilton acknowledged Vinlec’s spiritual connections as evident by the devotions.

“VINLEC cannot exist without the great power: God,” she outlined.

Environmental Health and Safety Officer Anthony Patterson prefers to improve “foresight and insight” rather than learning from “hindsight.”

Board Chairman Rene Baptiste praised VINLEC workers who went to the British Virgin Islands and Dominica to help restore electricity services last year, following the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria.

The VinVoices, comprised of VINLEC workers, accompanied by Willis Williams on keyboard entertained with a soulful line of

Dr Vaughn Lewis, Chief Executive Officer (Acting), highlighted the importance of safety and health among office workers.

VINLEC, as did the VinPan Orchestra.

As part of the month’s activities, St. Vincent and the Grenadines will host its regional Utility counterparts with a Carilec Lineman Symposium, Monday 7.

That will lay the groundwork for a Carilec Linesman Rodeo at Vinlec Training Ground Diamond Saturday 12.

V

20. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Taken for a ride Dear George,

I HAVE BEEN with my girlfriend for 3 years. We do not live together. When I met her, she was hustling to make ends meet buying and selling stuff. I decided to pay for her education and even made it possible for her to study overseas. When I thought she was in college studying, she found a way to get into the States and, as I understand it, has got married.

I cannot say for sure how long she has been in America, but the fact is

you trust her enough to commit to assisting with her personal development.

She is the one who has to live with a guilty conscience.

Do not let this incident harden your heart against women.

There are other women Fooled but not a fool out there who would love nothing better than to Dear Fooled, get the opportunity to Do not beat up on love and be loved. Hold yourself for not seeing your head up and this one coming. You did continue to look ahead. what you did out of love, and demonstrated that George

she is there and has left me holding a bill that I must repay. I want her to see this letter and know that what goes around comes around. It is going to be difficult for me to ever trust or love another woman.

Get rid of the dead weight Dear George, WHEN MY boyfriend moved in with me, I really thought life was going to be better.

Not so!!! His presence has brought nothing but heartaches and more headaches.

He is drunk almost every day and does nothing to find work. I am left to pay all the bills and when I talk to him about this, he gets annoyed to the point of threatening to physically hurt me.

The thing is I do not

have the heart to throw him out. He has nowhere else to go.

When we met, he had nowhere to call his home, going from one relative’s home to another.

I am wondering what to do to change my situation.

Undecided Dear Undecided, There is nothing you can do to make this man turn over a new leaf and start taking responsibility for himself

She needs to stop now!!

and the relationship with you. He has to be the one to quit making excuses for his failures, and grow up and be the man that you expect him to be.

However, there comes a time when one has to cut his/her losses, stop pretending that what is happening has never happened, and move on to better things. The best way to change your situation is to change your choice in men.

George

male friend sitting in the living room while she was in the shower. That scene was very odd to me.

Something is not right; it seems as though I am not allowed to voice anything in my own house. I am still thinking about how to handle the situation. Maybe you can help in this regard.

Played Dear Played,

Your wife needs to stop her behavior right now and consider your Dear George, feeling, if you two are to hold the marriage together. It is her duty not MY WIFE is too friendly with her to let the situation look like a duck. male friends, and when I complain, You and your wife need to sit down she says I am just being jealous. and draw up clear and fair house and I would come home and meet her relationship rules and cut out any sitting on our bed talking to one of actions that would be hurtful to one her male friends. I told her I do not another. want another man in my bedroom, I strongly suggest that both of you period. get some counselling. This might help Another time I got home and one of to point your relationship in a her male friends passed me as I was healthier direction. ascending the stairs. He gave a forced hello and went his way. On George entering, I was greeted by another

Leisure

(Mar. 21- April 20) You will have no trouble getting things to fall into place. You can make a difference if you offer your help at functions that involve children. You can meet interesting new friends if you join worthwhile groups.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) You will enjoy getting together with friends. Be careful that you don’t overextend yourself. Social activities will be satisfying. Strong willpower will come to your rescue.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) You can make excellent career moves if you are open to the opportunities that exist. Your charm will be captivating. This is not the best time to take a risk, to gamble or spend money you really can’t afford to part with.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Don’t let your partner get away with spending too much of your money. Don’t believe everything you hear. The experience will be good. Be sure to cover all the necessary groundwork before signing binding contracts.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Draw up contracts regarding your personal situation. You might not be as reserved on an emotional level as you’d like. It’s a great day to attend social functions. Family outings will make you feel secure and happy.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Take work home but be sure to spend some time with your mate. Emotional deception will cause friction on the home front. You have the ability to motivate others. You’ll be able to break bad habits if you put your mind to it.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Females may put demands or added

responsibilities on you. Move forward if you want to turn your life around. You will do well with clients this week.

Organization will be the key to avoiding discord and family feuds.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Be honest if you wish to solve the problem. You should look into a healthier diet. You can make extra money. Rewards will be yours if you put in the overtime required. Generosity will put you in the poorhouse.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Don’t let your health suffer because of abuse. Be careful not to show your temper when dealing with the boss.

Financial investments that deal with joint money can be extremely prosperous. Your love will not be willing to listen to your criticism.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Be sure to question any detail that you feel could leave you in a precarious position at a later date. Too much talk might lead to hassles. Be sure to pay attention to your financial status. Social events will lead to a strong and stable relationship.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Communicate with relatives who may need advice in order to find solutions to their existing problems. Keep a lookout for any individuals eager to confront you with unsavory situations. Try to keep your opinions to yourself.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) You will not impress others by being foolishly generous. Try to curb your habits, or you could find yourself in an awkward financial position. Emotional up and downs have caused doubts in your personal life. Your temper could get the better of you if you confront personal situations.

ACROSS 1. Split 5. Person who lies 9. Mineral spring 12. River in Central Switzerland 13. Otherwise 14. Bustle 15. Colored 16. Sleeveless garment 17. Biblical high priest 18. Mountain goat 20. City in central Belgium 22. The natural world 25. Gray sea turtle 26. Pueblo Indian village 27. Immature herring 28. Used for resting 29. Taxicab 30. Understanding 33. Highly excited 36. Brass wind instrument 37. Subdebutante 40. Prate 41. Astonish 42. Bone of the forearm 43. Direct 44. Ancient town in N Africa 46. Naïve person 50. Fall behind 51. Recedes 52. Respiratory organ of fish 53. Supplement 54. Peasant 55. Indolently DOWN 1. Sorrowful 2. Put Down 3. Wrath 4. Tediousness 5. Embankment 6. Holly 7. Donkey 8. Sell directly to the

consumer 9. Hard exterior of an egg 10. Sphygmus 11. Friendship 19. Brassiere 21. Find the sum of 22. Arrest 23. Very skilled person 24. Former weight for wool 25. Curved bone 27. Sink or bend downward 29. Male swan 30. Soviet secret police 31. Former measure of length 32. Born 33. Axlike tool

34. Eccentric man 35. Prohibit 36. River in W Central Africa 37. Fine fur 38. Eskimo boat 39. Emblem

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. 21.

40. Explosion 42. Boss on a shield 45. To endure 47. Help 48. Unwell 49. Move through the air

V

22. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Victory assured EOCEN VICTORY, president of the National Fisherfolk Organisation, has been in the fishing industry for 37 years.

He expressed some grievances last week Friday when he spoke at the launch of the monthlong programme of Minister of Fisheries Saboto Caesar advanced the AIA as a conduit of hope for fisherfolk.

activities that culminate on May 21, designated Fisherman’s Day. Victory pointed out that the fisherfolk were “going through difficult times.” He cited plans to provide identification cards to fisherfolk in 2012 as a cause. Another is that Rose Place has been “taken away without proper consultation”.

He alluded to allocation

of Centres at Calliaqua and Barrouallie, but mused that as regards Kingstown, “we ain’t know directly what is going to happen.”

And even though Victory said there might be some gladness, he advised, “In all our happiness, let us address the sadness.”

Victory brought out an immediate response from Saboto Caesar, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour.

Caesar assured Victory that was no need for anguish.

“There is hope and bright prospects,” the Fisheries Minister said, and referred in this potential that the Argyle International Airport promised.

“Flights will need cargo,” Caesar went on, and that he was encouraged by joint ventures that had been wedged. He sees “great hope in Owia” and spoke of a “request for Owia to be designated as a Port of Entry.”

Caesar finds it a “joy and real hope that live lobsters from Bequia are shipped through Kingstown, Argyle, and Miami and onto a Hong Kong plate in 48 hours.”

“We can’t grieve like those who have no hope. In the real

Eocen Victory, involved in fishing for three decades and more, spoke of difficult times for fisherfolk. world, there are challenges.

We have to overcome these challenges,” Caesar said.

Caesar praised the efforts of the Agricultural Input Ware House for the measures aimed at improving operations at the Kingstown Fish Market. Caesar “sees business opportunities” in the fishing arena and of the possibility “of having the vendors being part of a Cooperative.”

The new venture will see the Bequia Sea Food Company assisting in making the Kingstown Fish Market a “transhipment point for fish in the Caribbean.”

“Our fish must reach the rest of the world,” Caesar outlined, but indicated that in relation to the Kingstown Fish Market, “a lot more conversation is to take place.” (WKA)

V Stanley is National Table Tennis Champion

David ‘Sky’ Llewellyn journeyed from New York to compete and may have been disappointed with his performance.

.FORMER NATIONAL PLAYER and national champion Sean Stanley, competing as a representative of the Sean Stanley Table Tennis Academy, copped both the National Open Seniors and Masters Championship titles, as the National Male Table Tennis Championships concluded on the weekend.

He beat another former National champion Robert ‘Bob’ Ballantyne in the finals of both categories of the competition.

In the Masters finals, he beat Ballantyne, coming from one down to claim the next four sets, 6/11, 11/6, (7/11), 11/6, 11/8.

Stanley had earlier

Trevor Bailey- President of the SVG Cycling Union.

Commonwealth Games it is really, really difficult… We may just be able to get two spots in the Caribbean Cycling Championships,” Bailey said, adding, “To qualify for the Olympic Games, you will have to come first in the Pan America Championships,” Bailey also drew attention to the cost of the sport saying, “Cycling is an expensive sport… We don’t have the resources, and unlike Football, we don’t get money from our parent body.”

Despite what appears to be a rough and rugged road ahead, Bailey promised to stick with the sport, and encouraged others outside the local Cycling body, to saddle up and become part of the organisation.

Bailey has been President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cycling Union for over twenty years.

FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. 23.

Robert Ballantyne went down to Stanley in the finals of the National Male Open and Masters finals.

defeated New York based David ‘Sky’ Llewellyn, 11/9, 5/11, 11/4, 11/8 in one of the semi-finals, while Ballantyne dispensed with Khalique Bailey ,11/6, 9/11, 11/3, 11/5, in the other.

Stanley enjoyed more success when he beat Ballantyne again, this time in the National Open Senior finals. This encounter went the full seven sets, Stanley eventually emerging winner with the scores recorded as 11/6, 11/6, 11/9, 5/11, 11/9, 9/11, 11/9.

In the semifinals of the Open Seniors, Ballantyne

Cycling to wheel and come again IT WOULD BE NOT BUSINESS as usual going forward for the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cycling Union as that body moves to be more professional in its operations.

This was the caution and intent disclosed by Trevor Bailey, President of the local organization, as he addressed the 2017 Cycling Awards Ceremony last Friday.

“We have to do things differently…

We have to be more professional… We have to get some proper structures in place,” Bailey underscored.

A new executive to run the affairs of the SVG Cycling Union is expected to be put in place at a General Meeting on 12th May. Apart from Bailey heading the local cycling organisation, he is also President of the Caribbean Cycling Federation, hence greater scrutiny has been placed on the way things are done here.

Bailey also expounded on the international demands which make it imperative for immediate changes locally, noting that this country was able to send two cyclists to the recent Commonwealth Games, held in Gold Coast, Australia,but the qualification criteria may make it difficult in the future.

“It is getting harder and harder…To qualify to go to the next

THE VINCENTIAN.

beat Spencer 11/8, 13/11, 8/11, 11/2, 11/9, and Stanley defeated Llewellyn 11/4, Sean Stanley – National Male Senior Table 7/11, 8/11, 11/8, Tennis Champion once again.

11/8, 8/11, 11/4.

Caleb Howard and Romano having not advanced beyond Spencer didn’t have to break a the semi-finals rounds in the sweat to take the Senior Males Master and Open championships.

Doubles title. They won by He also did not participate default from Llewellyn and in the closing/prize-giving Damion Dublin when ceremony, as did Ballantyne.

Llewellyn refused to play, apparently in a show of I.B.A.ALLEN disgust with himself for

Zefal Bailey: 2017 Cyclist of the Year Award

ZEFAL BAILEY WAS LAST FRIDAY NIGHT, named the 2017 Cyclist of the Year, when the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cycling Union staged its awards ceremony, at Samuel Lyttle(right) gets the Conference his award from Wayne Room of the Williams, Vice President of Xpert the SVG Olympic Computer Committee.

Centre, Kingstown.

Bailey won most of his races on the local scene, to amass 370 Zefal Bailey poses with his points. trophies.

Apart from the overall and was fifth in the Time Trial. title, Bailey Also rewarded at last Friday’s won the award function were the Most Improved for the Elite Cyclist, which went to Samuel Cyclist of the Lyttle, with Peter Durrant Year.

Wayne Williams (left) copping the Master Cyclist of the Regionally, presents Peter Durrant with Year award.

Bailey placed his award.

President of the SVG Cycling ninth in the Union thanked all those who are Organisation of Eastern Caribbean weathering the storms to keep cycling States (OECS) Championship, which going here in St Vincent and the was held in Dominica.

Grenadines.

At a three stage event in Antigua, The SVG Cycling Union will this Bailey finished second in the 32 mile Sunday, stage the Subway Road Race. race; he was fourth in the circuit race

V

24. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Victors One and Police Two into Club semis

Derson Maloney continues to show good form with the bat for Police Two.

PREMIER Division Victors One’s Alston Bobb and Solomon Bascombe were simply too good for First Division Belfongo in their encounter in last weekend first round of quarter finals in the SVGCA 50 Overs Club Atticus Browne Championship.

National allhelped himself rounder Bobb, 5 to 54 against for 20, and some National U-15 unbecoming fast bowler Belfongo Solomon, 3 for bowling.

10, combined to humiliate Belfongo, bowling out a haplesslooking team of eleven men for 48. This after Victors One had posted a mammoth 305 for 8 from 46 overs, Atticus Browne and Donwell Hectors posting half centuries - 54 and 52 respectively - Tilron Harry 43, Miles Bascombe 42, Chrisroy John 32 and Bobb 29.

Meshack Williams, 2 for 47, was Belfongo’s best bowler.

The match was played at the Arnos Vale One Playing Field..

Victors One are the defending title holders of the Neil Williams/NLA T20 National Cricket Competition.

Neil Williams/NLA 2018 T20 bowls off

THE 2018 edition of the Neil Williams/NLA T20 National Cricket Competition bowls off this weekend at various venues, and the word is that defending champions, Victors One, have sent out a warning to the other competitors that they are bent on retaining their title.

Seventeen (17) teams will compete in two groups in the preliminary round of the this year’s Competition.

Competition in each group will be in a round robin format, at the end of which the two top teams from each group will advance to the semi-final stage.

A source from the SVG Cricket Association says that there would be no reserve day for any rained out game in the preliminary round.

Teams were grouped, based on their seeding from the 2017 tournament.

In Group A, Victors One, defending champions, is the top seeded team and will face competition from Guardian General Saints, Smashers, Police Two,

French Verandah R W Sporting World Community College, Triumph United, Radcliffe Two, Prime Consulting Marriaqua and E & J Robertson Construction North Windward Youths.

Team Rivals is the top seeded team in Group B which also includes FLOW Radcliffe, Providence Electronic Solutions North Leeward,Carl Joseph Law Chambers ASCO, Victors Two, Strike Eagles, Keegan’s Bequia XI and Police One. The Competition bowls off this Saturday beginning at 2:00pm, with the following matches: Police Two versus Victors One at Arnos Vale 1; Community College against Marriaqua at Arnos Vale 2; Saints versus Triumph United at Sion Hill, and ASCO play Police One at Stubbs.

On Sunday, beginning at 2:00 p.m, Community College take on Triumph United at Stubbs; ASCO face Strike Eagles at Arnos Vale 2; Police Two oppose North Windward at Stubbs, and North Leeward face Police One at Buccament.

I.B.A.ALLEN

In another weekend match played at Sion Hill, Police Two outclassed North Windward, runners up in the First Division, beating them by 173 runs.

The lawmen posted 275 from 49 overs.

Desron Maloney topscored with 73, Rickford Walker hit 34, Andrew Thomas 27, Salvan Browne 21 and Kevin Abraham 39. Desron Hypolite took 3 for 53, Kenson Dalzell 2 for 23 and Stradford Ballantyne 2 for 59.

North Windward responded with 102 from 33.3 overs.

Vencot Baptiste topscored with 23.

Salvan Spencer took Alston Bobb has taken his rich vein 4 for 10 and of form in this season’s Premier Kenneth Division into the Club Championship.

Dember 2 for Radcliffe face Radcliffe 15.

Two in the final round of This weekend, quarterfinals matches.

Smashers will take on I.B.A.ALLEN Team Rivals, and Flow

Officials pleased with Giving Back Programme THE DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS and Physical Education is pleased with the delivery and progress of its ‘Giving Back Programme’ (GBP).

The Programme, which initially targeted Primary Schools, was devised as one through which persons would impart practical skills to students, mixed with motivational speech sessions.

It is one of the many programmes that the Sports Department has initiated for schools here, as part of its overall ‘Sports 36’ plan of action.

Deighton Butler, Assistant Sports Officer with responsibility for the GBP, said that it started in 2016.

“We started with members of the Sports Department as the facilitators, then invited sportspersons and motivational speakers from outside the Department. … Our original intention was to try to touch all the primary schools in SVG, and as the Programme really got going, we received numerous calls and encouragement to extend it to the secondary schools.”

According to Butler, the GBP has touched all the primary schools throughout St Vincent and the Grenadines, and is into a second round in this regard.

As for the mechanics of the Programme, he explained that it is conducted on Thursdays. Two teams are deployed, and each is expected to work with four schools on the day.

“What we hope this Programme will do, is help to motivate our students Deighton to lift themselves, see Butler, the importance of both Assistant sports and education Sports Officer and how they can with combine both to make responsibility a good life, and be an for the GBP, asset to society,” says it is Butler stressed. taking root.

Some of the sportspersons/officials who have been involved in delivery of the Progamme are: Nelson Hillocks, Woodrow Williams, Deighton Butler, Olanzo Jackson, Kahlil Cato, Kenroy Peters, Ian Allen, Goaland Greaves, Nixon McLean, Juliana Nero, Cordel Jack, Gailene Windsor, Roxanne Williams and Vasha Adams.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Students of the Belair Primary School take in a motivational speech session – part of the GBP.

V

THE VINCENTIAN.

FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. 25.

Sports

On the order paper INSTEAD of West Indies cricketers doing something to help the sport, there is the showdown as to how the game is run. The Board, referred to as Cricket West Indies (CWI), has come in for ridicule over the years.

Those in control must take some responsibility for the drop in the status, notably with the fall to ninth position. I am not polishing the administration, or putting the blame on anyone.

There are persons in the Caribbean who like to scream and cry foul. What is happening in West Indies cricket has been ongoing.

If the complaint is about insularity, that is nothing new.

There was the big island mentality. It took the fortitude and foresight of one of the region’s most rational thinkers to predict that the bulk of cricket talent would come from the smaller islands.

For some time, Frankie Worrell’s prophecy proved spot on. The emergence Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts, Winston Davis, of Richie Richardson, Winston Benjamin, and Kenny Benjamin gave credence to Worrell’s foresight.

Cricket has changed just like the climate, and new dynamics are emerging. In the glory days when West Indies were dominant, those who faced the music received little in terms of financial rewards.

The tide changed with the arrival of the Kerry Packer factor to the proliferation of T/20 Leagues worldwide.

West Indies players have the option of making money without having to rely on the wages from their domestic engagements. In fact, the West Indies Board also share in the spoils from their position. The players are happy to flirt in West Indies colours, for that is their gateway to international mainstream. Once they have broken into the arena, regional commitment is no longer priority.

Restructuring West Indies Cricket has been on the order paper for the past 30 years. When the team loses, the fire rages. It has gotten to a point of obsession. While the clamour for changes rage, the action of cricketers has been greeted with acclaim by those anxious to see the back of this or that president.

There was a time the battle lines were drawn between the players, inspired by the West Indies Players Association and the Board.

A team for a Test match scheduled for Arnos Vale in July 2009 remained a secret up to the morning of the match.

That was triggered by ‘action’ taken by the cricketers. There must be harmony between the workers and employers and compromises.

The decision to abort a tour in India took industrial relations to a level.

Players have shown that the money they make in the shortest version, playing Test cricket amounts to modern day slavery. Hence their reluctance to be engaged in cricket beyond one day.

It is ironic that some of the players who were involved in that infamous Indian fiasco are ranting about wanting to play for the West Indies.

There was the rivalry of the ‘Big Boys’ wanting to impose their way on regional affairs. The players are the ones who call the shots: they bat, bowl, field, dance, and do interviews.

In the era of civil negotiations, the onus is on those involved to strike common ground. It is not up to anyone to attempt the control of the sport.

Governments have to exert their influence in their territories. The drive has to be holistic involving schools, because that’s where the nurturing starts.

Northern Girls take N’Leeward Junior netball title NORTHERN GIRLS are champions of the Junior Division of the North Leeward Sports and Culture Organization Netball Competition.

They defeated Star Girls, 16-5, in the finals of that Competition

Runners-up Star Girls.

played at the Petit Bordel Secondary School Hard Court, last weekend.

Goal Shoot Mekeisha Lavia led the scoring for Northern Girls with 9. Asia Lewis Goal Attack- shot the remaining 7.

Goal Shoot Leah Gordon had 4 and Goal Attack Letish Barber one for Star Girls.

Both teams were locked on 4 goals at the end of the first quarter, but it was Northern Girls who took the lead, 10-4, at the end of the second quarter.

A dull third quarter saw the score close at 11-5, but Northern Girls woke up to add 5 to close off victory at

Champions Northern Girls – MVP Mekeisha Lavia (standing extreme left).

16-5.

Mekeisha Lavia was the MVP of the finals of the Competition.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Petit Bordel Secondary: Female Schools’ Basketball champs PLAYERS, fellow students, Player of the Finalteachers and other wellwishers of the Petit Bordel Mekeisha Lavia Secondary School, (PBSS) were in jubilation at the sound of the final whistle at the Girls’ High School, last Monday afternoon.

That final blast signaled that PBSS had won the 2017/18 Female Division of the Secondary Schools’ Basketball Competition.

In an all North Leeward final, Petit Bordel beat the Troumaca Ontario Secondary 37-29, to lift the title.

Petit Bordel also copped the Player of the Final award, with Mekeisha Lavia being bestowed that accolade.

The two institutions had worked their way to Monday’s final after convincing Second place- The Troumaca Ontario Secondary School.

Petit Bordel Secondary School - Champions of Female Secondary Schools’ Basketball. semi- finals wins: Petit Bordel triumphing 38-12 over the Girls’ High School, and Troumaca Ontario doing likewise with a 46-16 win over the Bishop’s College Kingstown.

The Girls’ High School won the third place, whipping the Bishop’s College Kingstown, 58-3, in an encounter that took place just prior to last Monday’s final.

Attackers take FOGSCO Netball Title

BUCKY Auto Shop Attackers, last Sunday night, took hold of the Champions title in the Vitamalt Friends of Georgetown Sports and Culture Organization (FOGSCO) Netball Tournament.

The title was secured with a 51-36 defeat of Ball Warriors in the final played at the Chilli hard court.

In the third place play off, which preceded the final, the LP Girls defeated Dynamic Girls 4334.

Jessica Lavia of Bucky Auto Shop Attackers was adjudged the MVP of the finals.

Preanka Williams of the LP Girls was adjudged the best mid

Joseann Antoine (left), with the best shooting average, court player of the gets her tournament, with national player - Vasha award Adams of Bucky Auto from Shop Attackers, named Rosmund Griffith. the Best Defensive player.

Joseann Antoine of LP Girls recorded the Best Shooting

Bucky Auto Shop Attackerschampions of the FOGSCO Netball tournament. average, 92 %.

The other participating teams were Hard Knocks, Sandy Bay Secondary School, Sandy Bay Attackers, Caesar’s Real Estate Diamonds, Strick Strikers, Georgetown Secondary Juniors and Georgetown Secondary School Seniors.

26.

FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018. 27.

Classifieds

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REPAIRS

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Washing machine and microwave repairs.

HOME SERVICES 455-5018/431-0539

SASHA JOYANA ANNETTE EDWARDS Aka Sashie or Kay Kay Church of the Nazarene Arnos Vale Sunday 29th April, 2018 Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p.m.

ST. CLAIR G. COOMBS Grace Baptist Church Date:28th April, 2018 Viewing: 2:00 p.m.

Service: 3:00 p.m

INEZ A. BACCHUS Church of God Prophecy Victoria Village Sunday 29th April, 2018 Viewing: 2:00 p.m.

Service: 2:30 p.m.

OLBINO LEWIS Evangelical Church Biabou Saturday 28th April, 2018 Viewing: 2:00 p.m.

Service: 3:00 p.m.

MARTINA BELLINGY Buccament Bay Wesleyan Holiness Church Saturday April 28th, 2018 Viewing: 12:30 p.m.

Service: 1:30 p.m.

NOEL AUDLEY BIBBY Faith Temple New Montrose Friday 17th April, 2018 Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service: 3:00 p.m.

F O R

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

S A L E

FRIDAY,

MAY 04, 2018

VOLUME 112, No.18

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INTERPOL SPOKE TOO SOON, SAYS PM

Prime Minister and National Security Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves found himself having to explain in some detail, the circumstances surrounding SVG’s role in a recent Human Trafficking operation. which occurred between April 3 and 9, 2018, he THE STATEMENT issued as explained that the it related to St Vincent and conditions were that the Grenadines’ participating countries participation in an agreed to report to Interpol-coordinated Interpol on the successes operation targeting human and or failures of local trafficking in the investigations, following Caribbean, Central and which, at the end of the South America, was done operation, the individual prematurely. countries would issue Prime Minister and press releases, if they so Minister of National desired.

Security, Dr Ralph Gonsalves noted, Gonsalves addressed the however, that Interpol issue yesterday in was also permitted to Parliament. issue a press release While acknowledging about the operation. that SVG participated in “St Vincent and the an operation dubbed Grenadines did not issue ‘Operation Libertad’ any press release on its

by DAYLE DA SILVA

operation, and neither was St Vincent and the Grenadines informed that its name would be mentioned,” Gonsalves told Parliament.

The Prime Minister explained that SVG participated in the operation as part of its on-going effort to combat the issue of human trafficking, Gonsalves said in Parliament, with the local leg taking place on April 4.

“As the Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, I was kept informed on this matter at every stage,” he said.

A command centre was set up in Barbados, and there was constant contact with Interpol offices in Lyon, France and Buenos Aires — Argentina.

Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands and Venezuela.

The report as it related to SVG, was that it was an instance where Asian nationals were stripped of their passports and forced to live under the care of their handlers.

In responding to that insertion, Dr. Gonsalves admitted that during the operation, a local business entity was targeted after being suspected of being involved in human trafficking.

Three persons were detained, Gonsalves said, and cellular phones, laptops, cash and other items were seized.

The individuals were interviewed and subsequently released after it was determined that there were no elements that human trafficking were evident.

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) which had jurisdiction over the money, said to be US$11,000, was returned after it was determined that it was obtained through legitimate means.

The cell phones and laptops were also returned after they were analyzed by IT professionals.

The prime minister said that a report was being put together following a meeting with

the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Prime Minister informed.

“The Interpol press release was over extended by this official and over blown and in some way, where things travel and are magnified, placed on St Vincent and the Grenadines an unnecessary spotlight and created the impression that this country has a human trafficking problem that we are not reporting.”

According to Gonsalves, based on the wording, one may get the impression that we have a lot of Asian trafficking victims.

SVG takes action According to the Prime Minister, the information was included in an article which appeared in the BBC and quoted Tim Morris, Interpol’s Executive Director for Police Service.

The issue also made headlines in the region, with an article which appeared in the May 2 edition of the Trinidad Guardian reporting that close to 350 potential victims of sex exploitation and forced labour were rescued.

The other countries that participated in the operation were listed as Jamaica, St Lucia,

Source: Human Trafficking Centre 2014.

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