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FRIDAY,

JANUARY 16, 2015

Jamalie Edwards

VOLUME 109, No.03

Jamall Edwards

The mini-van came to rest on its hood, but would soon be mangled by the raging waters.

Divers from nearby communities pulled bodies from the raging sea.

Racquel Ashton

www.thevincentian.com

Anique Alexander

a tremendous loss when three of its students perished IT IS UNCERTAIN how when the mini-bus they were soon life for the travelling in, plunged into students at the North the sea in an area between Union Secondary School Owia and Fancy referred to (NUSS) will return to as Rock Gutter, on Monday normalcy.

12th January.

For now, Principal A total of fourteen St Clair DaSantos said students from the said that he and his staff institution were among the were doing all that 21 confirmed passengers in they could to move the the mini-bus that morning. process along.

Brothers Jamalie and The school suffered Jamall Edwards, students of Forms 3 and 1 respectively, and Anique Alexander, a Form 1 student, died. The body of a fourth student, Chanstacia Stay, Form 3, had not been recovered up to press time, Wednesday.

Onique Michael, Israel Roberts and Shemroy Yorke were fortunate enough to have been treated and discharged.

“We are providing counselling for staff and students,” DaSantos said.

THE VINCENTIAN also caught up with DaSantos at the scene of the accident on Monday.

He described the students as top students and well behaved.

The scene at the school on

by DAYLE DA SILVA

EC$1.50

Glenroy Michael

Monday, just after the news broke, was very solemn.

According to the head administrator at the school, many students literally collapsed when they heard what had transpired.

“I myself am traumatized,” he said.

The students from Fancy were usually the first to arrive at school ,and the first with whom, DaSantos said, he would usually interact.

But they would not be there that morning.

The Georgetown Secondary School was also adversely affected, recording one death, and up until press time on Wednesday, had one student missing.

Principal Ronald Clarke confirmed that five students from the school are usually transported in the bus that crashed; however only three were on board that morning.

Racquel Ashton, a Fifth Form student, was among the five confirmed dead in Monday’s crash, and Clarke also confirmed that Simonique Ballantyne, a Form 2 student, was one of the two still missing.

Continued on Page 3.

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2. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Pitt wins FLOW shopping spree

Glenroy Pitt collects notification of his grand prize from Christopher Gordon, FLOW’s Country Manager (right), witnessed by Corey Garett, FLOW’s Marketing Officer, and Esworth Roberts, Senior Marketing Coordinator CoreasHazells Inc. GLENROY PITT OF CHAPMANS VILLAGE is the grand prize winner of the Wonderflow promotion, staged by cable television service provider FLOW in collaboration with Coreas Hazells Inc. Pitt won himself a $5,000 shopping spree at Corea’s Food Mart.

“I just feel elated to be in this position, and thankful,” Pitt said, adding that he intended to share his winnings with his extended family.

Last Friday’s prizegiving ceremony was the conclusion of the Wonderflow Christmas promotion which

targeted customers of FLOW and partners Coreas.

For seven weeks leading up to the grand prize draw, customers were afforded the opportunity to win a wide assortment of prizes, including ham and grog for the season, Rubis gas vouchers and special deals from FLOW, including one year’s free viewing of HBO. FLOW’s Country Manager, Christopher Gordon, said that the promotion was very successful and that there are lots more in store for customers in the coming year.

Mom remains strong DESPITE THE LOSS of her 16-year-old son, Glenroy Michael, in Monday’s deadly mini-bus crash, in Fancy, Gloridene Hoyte says that she remains strong.

“I am doing okay, very good,” Hoyte told THE VINCENTIAN. “I just came through a situation and used to receive counselling and would often read books as a Christian…because of what I went through before, my faith in God grew stronger,” she continued.

Glenroy was a fifth form student at the St Vincent Grammar School.

According to Hoyte, they reside in Kingstown, but would usually go to Fancy on weekends.

“We went there for the weekend and had planned to come back on Monday because I had some business to do in town.”

The woman said that she stopped the van, however, because of the obligation of the van to transport students, she, her infant child and mother and another individual waited behind while she said she told the boy to go ahead.

She was on hand when her son’s body was taken out of the raging sea, she said.

“I just looked at him, recognized him and accepted that was him,” Hoyte told THE VINCENTIAN. She remembers him as a quiet student who spent a lot of time on his mobile phone or computer.

And through all the hurt, she offered advice to the other grieving families, saying that they ought to know that hurt was only for a season and that they needed to remain focused.

“Weeping is for a time, but joy comes in the morning, and when we come through being positive people, we become better persons ourselves, and we will be better able to deal with our situation and to help others,” she said.

Gloridene Hoye declined a request to be photographed for this article.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. 3.

News 3 Trying to hold back the tears

JEMMA EDWARDS says there are times when she thinks about her dead boys and is forced to give up the urge to hold back the tears and just break down.

Today, Friday, will be four days since the fatal crash occurred in the North Windward area, and four days since Edwards lost two sons — Jamalie and Jamall Edwards, both students of the North Union Secondary School.

“I have been trying to keep up myself and not try to study too much to break down; but sometimes my mind keeps going on dem and I start to cry because I miss them very much,” Edwards told THE VINCENTIAN. Like most of the other relatives of those who perished in the mini-bus crash, Edwards said that she was at the scene of the crash on Monday.

She said that she saw

the head of Jamali in the water, and broke down.

Her sons seemed to have been positioned very close to one another while in the water, as was evident when the bodies with arms interlocked, were fished out of the sea.

“They loved to dance and sing,” she said, and they were notably good swimmers and loved to go fishing.

Paternal grandmother Joslyn Stay said that she

would miss them both.

She admitted to have enjoyed a closer relationship with the younger of the two boys — Jamal.

He lived with her and, according to Stay, requested that he go home to live with his mother, with whom he said he wanted to spend more time.

“But almost every day I would call to find out about them,” she said.

She too fought hard to

Jamalie and Jamall’s mother, Jemma Edwards (foreground) and grandmother Joslyn Stay, both admitted to having a hard time trying not to break down. maintain her composure, but was overcome with

grief as she said, “Jamall was my heart.”

Tragic accident impacts schools that has since engulfed the school.

He said that he has The third Georgetown hardly spent an entire Secondary School day at his office since student was treated and the news broke, since he discharged from the has been visiting with Georgetown hospital. the parents of the A fourth student who deceased. He had also usually made the trek been to the site of the from Fancy to accident on the fateful Georgetown complained day. of feeling ill that day Some students have and stayed home. taken the issue very Clarke said and the fifth hard, he said, and the had gotten a ride with a school has stepped up parent. efforts to provide “It has been quite a support for them, sombre mood,” Clarke Clarke said. said of the atmosphere The St. Vincent

Continued from Front Page.

Metheline Alexander (back to camera) being consoled by a relative on discovering that her daughter had perished in the crash.

Mother’s hope dashed over and it gone wid de school children,” Alexander said.

METHELINE ALEXANDER, mother She then ran out of the house of Anique Alexander, one of the where she said she saw other students who died in the mini-bus concerned relatives running down the crash on Monday 12th January, made street. several calls to various hospitals and “Obviously we are parents so we clinics, on arriving at the scene of the thinking what’s really going on wid accident, hoping that her daughter our children.” was one of the those who had gotten So she went on further, still away unscathed. surrounded by other concerned No one recognized the name, relatives until she arrived at the scene however. of the crash and was present when her She would eventually see what daughter’s body was taken from the appeared to be a skirt in the water, sea. and it was then that she came to the The eleven-year-old North Union realisation that she was seeing her Secondary School student was a daughter’s lifeless body in the water. regular on the mini-bus that had Anique’s scantily clad body was the become the designated school bus for last to be recovered by residents of students in the area. She entered Fancy, who braved the rough waters secondary school last September. to bring closure to the speculation of The woman remembers her some of those who had lost loved ones. daughter as being a bit troublesome.

Metheline told THE VINCENTIAN “But she was a really nice daughter that she was at home when she was to me. … And I really sad that my alerted about the crash, by one of the daughter’s life has to go just like that neighbours. at the tender age of 11,” Alexander “She said yo nah hear de van tun said.

by DAYLE DA SILVA

St. Clair DaSantos, Principal of the North Union Secondary School spoke of his daily interaction with the students who perished in the accident.

Grammar School is also mourning the loss of Fifth Form student Glenroy Michael, who was also a victim of last Monday’s tragedy.

The idyllic community of Fancy was thrown into chaos and mourning on the morning of January 12, 2015.

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4. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Courts

‘P2’, ‘2B’ walk ‘free’ again!

January 9, he informed the court that the prosecution had taken a decision to withdraw.

TWO MEN, who were freed of three murder charges about Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN this week, five years ago, were discharged from the Serious Offences Delpleche, who heads the Summary Division in the Court last Friday, January 9, after the prosecution Office the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), said withdrew a similar charge against them. the decision was taken after the matter was reassessed Jason ‘2B’ Henry and Rodney ‘P2’ Roberts, who were with the DPP, Colin Williams. charged with the May 6, 2014 murder of Kyle Phillips, Delpleche explained that contradictions surfaced in 20 of Lowmans Leeward, were discharged at the the evidence of the main witness, Mavis Phillips, Preliminary Inquiry (PI), following the testimonies of during cross-examination. “Because of how the the prosecution’s main witness, Mavis Phillips, Kyle’s evidence came out, we did not feel comfortable that we mother, and surgical pathologist Dr. Ronald Child.

Jason ‘2B” Henry (left) and Rodney ‘P2’ Roberts would have been able to make out a prima facie case,” The PI had commenced before Chief Magistrate he told THE VINCENTIAN. He disclosed that 16 other were discharged at the Preliminary Inquiry stage Rechanne Browne-Matthias last week Wednesday, prosecution witnesses were listed to be called, but the after the State concluded that evidence presented January 7, when the two witnesses were called. evidence that would have come from them would not was not going in its favour.

However, following the evidence of Dr. Child, the have advanced the case. “It would have been a waste of second witness to take the stand, Senior Prosecutor judicial time to continue the matter given the state of brought back since it was not dismissed.

Adolphus Delpleche requested an adjournment to rethe evidence,” the Senior Prosecutor contended.

Phillips died after sustaining gunshot wounds to the assess the matter. When the case resumed on Friday, He indicated, however, that the case could be stomach and left hand, during an incident close to his home around 9:10 p.m. May 6, 2014.

Attorney Arthur Williams represented Roberts at the PI, while Henry was defended by Olin Dennie.

Roberts and Henry had walked free from the High

by HAYDN HUGGINS November 23, 2014, and to bail by Senior Court on November 4, 2009, after a 12-member jury had been warded since at Prosecutor Adolphus found them not guilty on three murder charges. They HAROLD CORDICE, a the Milton Cato Memorial Delpleche, on the grounds had been charged jointly with the murders of Reuben 51-year-old one-legged Hospital in critical that the victim was Small, 22, and Omoro Bowens, 21, both of Lowmans man of Fairban Pasture, condition. hospitalized in critical has been charged with the He succumbed to the condition and was on a life Leeward, and Javon ‘John Wayne’ Antoine, 20, of Layou, who were all gunned down at Burgin Village, murder of his uncle, injury on January 5, and support machine.

Lowmans Leeward, on August 9, 2007.

Grafton Cordice. the charge of attempted Harold re-appeared at Roberts was a 17-year-old secondary school student Grafton, who resided at murder, originally brought the Serious Offences Court at the time of the incident, while Henry was 24.

Fairban Pasture and was against Harold, was on a number of occasions a prison officer at Her upgraded to that of for bail review, but the Majesty’s Prison, murder.

Senior Prosecutor Kingstown, up to the time Harold had been continued to object to bail, Harold Cordice of his death, was struck in remanded since his first even after Grafton was gesticulates at the head with a stone court appearance on the taken off the life support journalists as he during an incident at attempted murder charge machine in the latter part complains about being

by DAYLE DA SILVA Fairban Pasture, on following strong objections of December. Delpleche shot by the police. had maintained that RESIDENTS of Diamonds Grafton’s condition Village are being asked to come remained critical. forward with information they THE VINCENTIAN might have, to ensure that the understands that Grafton perpetrators of the horrific act was initially warded at committed against Earl the Intensive Care Unit Anthony Gonsalves get what and had undergone they deserve. surgery. He was Gonsalves, a 54-year-old subsequently taken off the farmer of Diamonds, became life support machine and this country’s second homicide transferred to the Male victim for the year after he Surgical Ward, but was succumbed to the injuries he not fully conscious up to sustained about his body, last the time of his death.

Saturday (January 10) Harold, who hops on Earl Anthony morning.

Gonsalves one foot to get from one Oswald Williams, the place to another, was deceased man’s son-in-law, told taken before Chief THE VINCENTIAN that he understands that Magistrate Rechanne Gonsalves died a horrific death.

Browne-Matthias at the According to Williams, his father-in-law was in a Serious Offences Court on shop in the area playing cards, when an altercation Tuesday, on the murder arose. charge. He was not He said that he was told that one of the required to plea and was perpetrators held “the old man’s” hands behind his further remanded. A back, while another beat him.

Preliminary Inquiry is Gonsalves fell to the ground and was able to slated for March 19. escape, Williams continued.

As he was being taken The men chased him, throwing stones in his to the court room, he told this reporter, “Why all you direction and, according to what Williams said he was told, the men caught up with his father-in-law just didn’t report on when outside the Diamonds playing field, where he was police did shoot me in me beaten and allegedly struck in the head. foot. All ah you is “It was such an animalistic act because of the propagandist.” severity,” Williams said.

A police source later “They ran him down a quarter mile,” he continued. told THE VINCENTIAN “It was gruesome.” that police were forced to But people are afraid to come out and speak up, shoot Harold in his left leg Williams told THE VINCENTIAN, alleging that the about three years ago, as perpetrators were men who were feared in the area. he was behaving violently Villagers have since resorted to talking amongst when lawmen tried to themselves, Williams said, rather than going to the apprehend him, following authorities. an incident between him The news of the attack and death came as a and the same uncle. surprise, he admitted.

THE VINCENTIAN “I never expected this to happen,” he said, adding was also informed that that the sentiment was the same throughout the Harold received a custodial sentence in 2010 Diamonds area.

He described Gonsalves as a hardworking, friendly for wounding Grafton. guy, and recalled spending New Year’s Day with his Harold was not father-in-law, whom he visited on a monthly basis. represented by a lawyer The results of a post mortem were expected to be when he appeared in released Tuesday. Investigations are ongoing.

Court on Tuesday.

by HAYDN HUGGINS

One-legged man charged with uncle’s murder

Diamonds man killed: Appeal for residents to speak up

V US gets presidentÊs son

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. 5.

Regional

CARICOM countries continue to be the focus of drug, gun and money laundering interdiction efforts by the US government, and not even the relatives of those who hold high political office is beyond the US reach.

The latest victory for the US in its fight against drug-trafficking/drug traffickers comes with the extradition, to the US, of Dino Bouterse, the 40year-old son of Suriname’s president, Desi Bouterse.

The US government had long identified the younger Bouterse as an There are some who believe that it is alledged only through a series of shrewd legal international and political manoeuvres, narcotics regional/international apathy and a trafficker, and had Dino Bouterse has served time in tremendous amount of good luck spared no effort to the past for drug trafficking, arms why Desi Bouterse has managed to have him smuggling and using a false extradited to the avoid being brought to justice. passport.(www.tobiaellwood.com) (inews Guyana.com) US to face trial.

Last week, Dino Bouterse was arrested in Panama, and the authorities there turned him over to US authorities.

According to the US authorities, he is not just a drug trafficker, but is also accused of being in possession of a rocket launcher during his alleged efforts to send cocaine into the United States.

He is also said to have a history of drug and weapons trafficking, having been convicted of similar charges in his home country, Suriname, in 2005.

Reports from Suriname, since Bouterse’s extradition, say that security had been increased around the Embassy of the United Sates in capital Paramaribo.

The Bouterse name is not new to the drug trafficking and gun running radar.

President Desi Bouterse has himself been accused of drug trafficking and gun running.

Before he was elected president, the 62-year-old was convicted in absentia in the Netherlands in 1999, of trafficking 474 kilos of cocaine.

He is still considered a wanted man in many parts of Europe, and this has curtailed severely, his overseas travel in both official and unofficial capacities.

Meanwhile, another Surinamese, Edmund Muntslag, was arrested and committed to be extradited to the US, by authorities in Trinidad and Tobago, late last week. He was named in the international indictment efforts by the US, as an accomplice of Dino Bouterse.

(Partial Source: News Source Guyana)

T&T looking to ‘hang’ again AGAINST THE BACKDROP of a reported 403 murders in 2014 and 16 in the first ten days of January 2015, the government of Trinidad and Tobago is moving towards ‘bringing back the hangman’, by once again returning the death penalty legislation to

Parliament.

When in February 2011 the Kamla Persad-Bissessar led People’s Partnership (PP) government tried to have the necessary legislative measures passed by tabling the Constitution (Amendment) (Capital Offences) Bill,

commonly referred to as the ‘Hangman Bill’, in February 2011, the Opposition Peoples National Movement (PNM) raised concerns over provisions in the legislation.

The Bill failed to get the required majority, and fell away in defeat.

UK government enters Guyana saga The Parliament of Guyana was suspended by President Donald Ramotar in November 2013.

Observers say that there has been no move since by the President, to lift the suspensions.

According to Minister Ellwood, “The UK There has been no Government views announcement by with concern the continued Tobia Ellwood, UK President Donald prorogation of Foreign Minister, Ramotar with Parliament by His made no bones respect to when Excellency about the Guyanese would President Ramotar, continued go to the polls, and calls for the suspension of even though he earliest possible parliament in said they should resumption.

Guyana, being an do so soonest.

Parliament is affront to the (Photo credit: required by principles of inews – Guyana) Guyana’s democracy.

Constitution and (Photo credit: the Commonwealth Charter; www.tobiaellword.com) it provides the necessary checks and balances and THE GOVERNMENT OF enables citizens’ voices to be THE United Kingdom has heard.” entered the ongoing saga of The Minister added, “The the suspension of Parliament suspension of Parliament in Guyana.

Tobia Ellwood, UK Foreign therefore means that an essential element of a Minister, in a recent functioning democracy has statement from his office, called for “the earliest possible been put on hold.”

The ministerial statement resumption of Parliament as also referred to local elections required by Guyana’s that have not been held in constitution.”

Guyana for over 20 years,

describing this inaction as also being in contravention of the Guyana’s Constitution and the Commonwealth Charter.

When President Ramotar suspended Parliament in November 2014, he invoked an obscure constitutional procedure to carry out the manoeuvre. According to the President then, he was suspending the legislature with the hope that it might eventually “benefit our people,” and that, “the measure would allow the president’s administration to work with an oppositioncontrolled parliament without calling early elections.”

The Opposition interpreted the move as a means of avoiding debate and a vote on a no-confidence motion in the government that had been table in parliament.

Recently, President Ramotar admitted that the prorogation had failed to bring about the desired result of discussions with the Opposition, and said that it was time for Guyanese to head to the polls.

Disappointingly, though, he gave no indication of a date for general elections, in his New Year’s address to the nation. Neither did he give any hint as to when he would announce the date. (Source: News Source - Guyana)

Now, as recent as Friday 9th January, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan handed Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley a letter, requesting the PNM make proposals to ensure the Constitution (Amendment) (Capital Offences) Bill, 2015, is passed this year.

The Constitution (Amendment) (Capital Offences) Bill, proposes to allow the State the right to carry out the sentence of death imposed by the courts on convicted murderers, regardless of how long they take to exhaust the various appellate procedures.

The Attorney General noted in his letter that when the ‘Hangman Bill was first tabled, the Opposition supported the death penalty as the mandatory sentence for murder, and he invited the Opposition “to support the Government’s proposed bill to allow the sentence of death to be carried out.”

Ramlogan also promised to remove the categorisation of murders clause, with which the Opposition had concerns, towards encouraging the Opposition’s support for the Bill.

The Attorney General reminded the Opposition “that the death penalty was part of the laws of Trinidad and Tobago, and Parliament had a duty to respond to the legal The last time there was a hanging in T&T was 1999. SVG’s last hanging was in 1995.

Trinidad’s Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has given clear indication that his government is prepared to try again to have the ‘Hangman Bill’ passed.

(Photo credit: tntmonitornews.blogspot) manoeuvres by convicted murderers that frustrate and defeat the carrying out of a sentence of death, imposed by a court after trial before a judge and jury.”

The death penalty remains on the law books of most Commonwealth Caribbean countries, but the actual provision has not been in use for some time now, even as serious crimes continue to rise, and more and more of the populations call for the reintroduction of state executions.

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6. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Vincies in Diaspora saddened by tragedy

by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; neloking@msn.com US CORRESPONDENT VINCENTIANS IN THE UNITED STATES have expressed deep sadness over the death of at least five people on Monday (January 12) morning when a minibus carrying school children, among others, from Fancy, the most northerly part of mainland St. Vincent, plunged into the sea.

Reports indicate that the incident occurred at Rock Gutter, an area between the communities of Fancy and Owia.

“It’s really a sad situation. Our heart goes out to the families,” Lavern McDowaldThompson, president of the Brooklyn, New Yorkbased umbrella Vincentian group in the United States, Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Organizations, U.S.A., Inc. (COSAGO), told THE VINCENTIAN in an interview.

“In a situation like this, the nation is mourning,” added the

Lavern McDowaldThompson, president of Council of SVG Organizations, U.S.A., Inc. (COSAGO), expressed the hope that the relatives of those who died in the accident, will be surrounded by love during their period of mourning.

Maxwell Haywood, chairman of the SVG Diaspora Committee of New York, Inc. said the incident warrants a period of national mourning.

Robert McBarnett, president and founder of the St. Matthias Charities, Inc., promised his prayers for those families who lost loved ones.

New York Counsel General Selmon Walters called on Vincentians in the Diaspora to stand ready to assist.

Zita Adams, a public educator in Brooklyn, described the incident as a catastrophe.

“May God, in His own time, grant healing to of his popular group them and to our island,” she added. “We must “Already, Vincentians “extend our deepest Vincentians — that they’ll sympathies to the continue to pray and to abroad in the Diaspora find comfort knowing take God at His word.” that we’re thinking about are grieving over the loss families who lost loved New York Counsel of lives,” added Haywood, ones, and to those in the them.” hospital.

General Selmon Walters who hails from New The Brooklyn-based “You are in our said that “among those Grounds in the South St. Vincent and the former school teacher, thoughts and prayers riding the van at the Central Windward Grenadines Diaspora who hails from the north during your difficult time were students going Committee of New York, constituency. western town of south to secondary “This is, indeed, a sad time,” he said. “As we Inc. also expressed its Chateaubelair. “In the know, everyone is schools. day in the history of St. Diaspora, we’re really hit “deepest sympathies to affected by this tragedy; “While we offer our Vincent and the the families and friends by this tragedy, and we will keep the people sympathies and Grenadines,” he of those who lost loved we’re praying that the of St. Vincent and the condolences to those who continued “We cannot ones in the accident in (affected) families are suffer loss, I suggest that cease being our brothers Grenadines in our the area of Fancy. surrounded by the love we stand ready to assist, and sisters’ keepers. We prayers. With deepest “In these difficult and concern of all sorrows!” should the need arise; for times, we all must mourn must mourn together.”

Georgetown native example, if there is an Bronx, New York together and console the Zita Adams, a public appeal for financial aid resident Robert families who are educator in Brooklyn, or medical assistance, McBarnett, president affected,” said the said she, too, was very etc.,” said the former and founder of the St. group’s chairman Matthias Charities, Inc., saddened by the tragedy. government minister, Maxwell Haywood, who “Indeed, I was deeply who hails from Lowmans is also a United Nations who hails from moved when I heard of Windward in South Georgetown in Central social development Central Windward.

Windward, said members the catastrophe, which officer. took place at home,” she “Let us, therefore, said. “Clearly, I keep in touch with what sympathize with is happening at home, the families of the and be prepared for any victims, and will call from the relief continue to pray for committee (New York), SVG GREEN PARTY is deeply saddened by the those who are seriously should we be called upon minibus tragedy in Fancy, which took the lives of so injured. to assist,” he added. many young people. We send our sincere sympathy THE SVG CRICKET To the family of one of and condolences to the bereaved families.

ASSOCIATION (SVGCA) our promising young May God bless and be with you all in this period expresses condolences to cricketers, Terrill of distress and suffering. those persons who lost Thomas, we share your their lives in the tragic relief of his survival of Ivan O’Neal accident on Monday 12th this horrible accident.

Leader of SVG Green Party January, 2015.

We keep you and the SVG Green Party other families in our prayers, and pledge our full support to assist in any way possible.

Young Terrill was a THERE ARE TIMES in our lives The Saint Vincent and the participant in the Kiddy where an event causes us to pause to Grenadines Human Rights Cricket Programme, and reflect. This accident at Rock Gutter, Association expresses our concern for last participated for between Owia and Fancy, is one such all those who are affected by this Fancy Government event. incident.

School.

We, as a Christian society, need to SVGCA wishes him a bring this accident before our God O. M. SYLVESTER speedy and full recovery. and, if we are experiencing despair President through this incident, ask that the St Vincent and the Grenadines PRO Lord grant us hope and inner peace.

Human Rights Association Samantha Lynch

SVG Green Party: Deeply saddened by the tragedy in SVGCA expresses Fancy

condolences

SVGHRA expresses concern

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. 7.

Honours

Horne among QueenÊs Young Leaders awardees KENVILLE HORNE, a staff reporter with THE VINCENTIAN newspaper, has found himself included in a prestigious group of 60 young persons, ages 18 to 29 years, from the Commonwealth.

He has been included, having been recognised as an ‘exceptional leader’ in his community, Rose Hall, under the Queen’s Young Leaders Programme (QYLP).

The QYLP is a joint initiative of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust (QEDJT), Comic Relief and the Royal Commonwealth Society.

Dr. Astrid Bonfield, chief

executive of the QEDJT, described the programme initiative, which will run from 2014 — 2018, as an act that recognises Queen Elizabeth’s service to the Commonwealth, and “one that will unlock the potential of this diverse and talented group of young people.”

Kenville’s selection came as a result of his work with young persons in Rose Hall.

He devised, sought funding for and personally directed a sports-based programme for young persons, particularly boys, exposing them to coaching and real play activities in football and

Dr. Jules is the best DR. JULIAN ‘JULES’ FERDINAND, Management Consultant, a long-standing columnist with the Vincentian newspaper, Motivational Speaker and University Lecturer, has been named Best Lecturer for the year 2014 from the Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus.

He received his award last Saturday, January 10, at a ceremony at the Hyatt Hotel, Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Dr. Ferdinand, a former Chief Executive Officer with the Eastern Caribbean Group of Companies, told THE VINCENTIAN that he has been teaching at the Masters and Doctoral Degree levels since 2005.

“My courses are mainly in strategy, corporate turnaround, and leadership,” he informed.

The VINVENTIAN understands that, in assessing the effectiveness of its lecturers, towards deciding on the award, The School measures : how intellectually challenging and stimulating the course is; how well course material is prepared; whether the concepts and ideas are explained clearly and whether the facilitator seems enthusiastic when teaching; ; to what degree questions and class participation are encouraged; how relevant

continue, when I felt like giving up.”

The young man spoke to some of the challenges he faced in executing his programme. “Having to travel from Lowmans Leeward, Overcoming the challenges where I live with my girlfriend and our daughter, to Rose An obviously elated Kenville Hall, of which I am a native, was a drain on my pocket, as I told his colleagues at THE VINCENTIAN, that he is still had to provide for my own in some disbelief, “trying to transportation. It was not come to grips with how such a easy leaving my family behind, small programme like mine, and I thank them for understanding and putting up could win such a big award,” adding, “I dedicate the award with my absence.” to the young people who have He singled out Ian Hypolite, inspired me, and to all those a former general secretary of who kept pushing me to the SVG Football Federation, as one who assisted him both materially and morally, and he also thanked the Sport Division, Randy’s Supermarket, CCA Limited, Premier Distributors, St. Vincent Brewery Limited, ACTP and all media houses for their support.

He also expressed special thanks to Mrs. Anesta Rodney for providing accommodation, “each time I went to Rose Hall.”

As for his motivation, he admitted coming from a less than ideal home but overcame the temptations of a life on the streets, by making use of the educational opportunities afforded him.

“I thought that if I could change my life, I could change the lives of other disadvantaged youths, for the cricket. He also attached a mandatory programme involving sessions on drug use and abuse, “to help lead them on the path to fulfilling their true potential.”

assigned reading and cases are to the course; punctuality and promptness; and overall performance as a university teacher.

Dr. Ferdinand also said that the assessors would have considered the quality of the feedback and support the lecturer would have given the course participants.

He was pleased to report that “Many of the students have commented that they like the experiences that I share ‘from the trenches’.

They appreciate the life learning experiences.”

And as far as what might just have given him the edge from among other lecturers from North Dr. Julian ‘Jules’ Ferdinand and America, Europe and the his wife Hannah at the Hyatt Caribbean, Dr. Ferdinand Hotel, Trinidad, after Dr. Jules suggested that the “aspect received his award. of my approach to teaching that added value was the fact School of Business, UWI, Barbados. that I also invited persons The management and staff from the business community in Trinidad and Tobago, to be of THE VINCENTIAN guest lecturers. Some of them congratulate Dr. Ferdinand, one of our own, on his most have managed very large enterprises. They added a lot recent accolade, and wish him and his family all the best for of value to the course the New Year and beyond. presentations.”

Dr. Ferdinand is earmarked In addition to his to be the opposition New commitment at Lok Jack Democratic Party candidate in Graduate School of Business, the West St. George Trinidad, Dr. Ferdinand also lectures in Strategic Planning Constituency, for the general elections due no later than in the Executive Masters in March 2016.

Business (EMBA), Cave Hill

Kenville Horne makes history by being named among the first ever awardees under the Queen’s Young Leaders Programme (QYLP). better,” he intimated.

“I hope my achievement would serve as an inspiration to many, both young and old, who are involved in youth development work,” he added.

Off to the UK Kenville’s inclusion in the 2014 round of selectees means that he is among the elite group of first recipients of awards under the QYLP, And, in that regard, he joins Caribbean colleagues from Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis and Dominica.

Having won selection, Kenville can look forward to being mentored and enjoying online classes by the renowned University of Cambridge, and will be hosted, along with all other selectees, by the QDJC, for a week-long stay in the UK, from June 21 to 27, 2015, during which he will receive his award from Her Majesty The Queen, at Buckingham Palace.

The management and staff of THE VINCENTIAN extend sincere congratulations to Kenville on his groundbreaking achievement.

Kenville Horne (extreme right back) pictured with the Under15 Rose Hall football team, a product of his programme for young people in that community.

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8. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. 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

Taking a lead JUST ABOUT WHEN THE NATION was doing its best to ease the pain of those who suffered losses in the 2013 Christmas flooding, tragedy struck SVG again.

Records show that five young persons died when the mini bus in which they were travelling from Fancy, plunged off the roadway into raging (sea) waters, in an area in Owia commonly referred to as Rock Gutter. Up to press time Wednesday, two persons were still unaccounted for, out of the 21 known to have been on the bus, at the time of the incident.

If the truth be told, another group of mothers and fathers begin the New Year with unimaginable burdens, which they will have to bear for the rest of their lives.

The nation joins in their pain and burden in as much as it can imagine the trauma they endured and that which they continue so to do.

As is the case following such tragedies, we rushed to speculate as per what transpired on that fateful day. Some spoke to a mal-functioning of the brakes as being responsible for ‘throwing’ the vehicle into a mode of being uncontrollable by the driver. Others spoke of it as being the result of human error, speculating that the driver could, a big could, have resorted to other measures to prevent the vehicle from plunging into the sea.

It is natural, some would advance, for persons, over-charged emotionally after a tragic accident like the Fancy one, to grab at straws and cast aspersions in search of answers, especially when those who lost their lives were students — the future of the nation.

Regardless of how much we understand that sentiment, it will never serve us in good stead to speculate, to cast blame, to jump to conclusions, to remain stubborn and oblivious to reason, in times of national tragedy.

It serves us nought, to labour on matters that wedge divisions among us, when we should be looking to embrace one another so that we can be truly effective in our desire to care for those who have suffered most from this tragedy, and any tragedy for that matter.

Let’s be honest. This country has had its fair share of disasters and tragedies in the past decade or so. To believe that we are the victims of some blight is to characterise ourselves as persons of ancient times, who believed every unpredictable ‘pestilence’ inflicted on them was the work of the gods, whom they felt they may have wronged in one way or the other.

Yes, there is a mighty hand at work here; at work only to test our fortitude, our resilience, our faith in Him and ourselves.

Like the floods of 2013, this tragedy is a wake-up call for us — a wake-up call to test our oneness as a people; to test our willingness to unite behind a cause of care for our brothers and sisters, not only in times of need occasioned by tragedy, but in times of good, bad and indifference that we encounter in our daily traverses towards making decent lives, materially, emotionally and spiritually for ourselves.

This is definitely not a time to be side-tracked by the petty differences that continue to plague us. This is a time to rise above all that we perceive as our differences, and work towards forging a oneness, as ideally and as illusive as it might sound, towards cultivating a true sense of nationhood, of oneness, that we can reflect on a world that is itself wrought by religious and political strife.

That is why we must give Jack his jacket and commend our government and opposition officials, who were respectful in their comments, and avoided, in this instance, pointing fingers at those they would have surmised to be responsible for the tragedy (a la Edgar Cruickshank), and calling for actions against this one or the other.

For once in a long time, we can safely take a lead from them.

Counting our blessings THE VAN ACCIDENT - drowning fatality at Owia, has simply devastated me. First of all, not one but fivepersons have perished; two others are presumed dead. Secondly, they were all young students - the cream of the crop - cut off in the prime of life. Thirdly, they were, for the most part, headed for school to equip themselves for the building of SVG. The tragic loss of life of any Vincentian diminishes me. Moreso, if they are young, and above all, it took place at the northern tip of the island, my ancestral home.

There is total identification with the plight of people of the area. My mother Arabella John, nee Cruickshank, had been a refugee from Fancy at nine years old, when her life had been disrupted by the volcanic eruption of 1902. She spoke lovingly of the people and life in the area at the time.

That bond of kinship and fellowship still dwells with me to this day. The whole scenario is largely spiritual. That probably explains the pain I experience of our joint lot.

But we will soak it all up, and bounce back with the buoyancy and resilience of our own chieftain Joseph Chatoyer and the love of God,who presides caringly always over planet Earth, despite appearances to the contrary.

At this point of writing, Searchlight midweek disclosed that I had indeed lost a relative, Chantacia Stay of Fancy. Her great grandfather had been Reggie Stay of “Fancy Star” fame. Her great aunt Esther had been the first person from Fancy to attend the Girls’ High School, staying at my parents’ home at Rose Place, Kingstown.

Would that the period of mourning quickly pass, and the political exploitation of this and other tragedies had never taken place. But so it is in political- party riven SVG. I think that we can all look to the brighter side of life which is in evidence everywhere.

to be a nightmare, a rogue’s gallery of mainly Italian crooks. He suffered two weaknesses, the poverty of SVG with an insufficiency of economists, accountants and lawyers trained to handle such a project; and worse, wishing to hog all the glory of the scheme, manoeuvred a pliant Cabinet into giving him sole control of the entire matter.

It backfired with a vengeance, with Mitchell looking in vain for active support from Cabinet.

On the other hand, Ralph Gonsalves seized an opportunity to nail Mitchell to the mast of this catastrophe.

All the while, there were pundits and researchers aplenty. Frank Da Silva must be singled out as the one who reached furthest in getting to the bottom of the dastardly crime, in exposing that Dr. Rolla and his associates of Valdatarro had made it a habit of ripping off Governments of developing countries, in smartly contrived schemes.

So, compromises had been effected, with all parties including the Italian governments and settlement of sorts arranged. But apparently Dr. Gonsalves, who imagined that he was on to a good thing in bringing Mitchell and by extension the NDP into disrepute, persisted with his enquiry.

The Privy Council has spoken loud and clear to all interested parties. The trial was biased against Mitchell, whose appeal was upheld with all his costs, and trial quashed but could be constituted anew, with a different Judge, at costs which are deemed prohibitive.

Other welcome news that greeted the changeover of the years, include an end to the fifty-year-old U.S trade embargo against Cuba, what Dr. Adrian Fraser appropriately described as “absurd” in the first place.

Cuba is now free to lift off, after the belated removal of an embargo that achieved nothing.

Paradoxically, free trade means that Cuba’s tourist trade will bite deeply into the Eastern Ottley Hall’s Blessings in Disguise Caribbean.

Strangely, Cuba made immense strides in At least, we are no longer plagued by the the broad field of medicine, despite the problems of Ottley Hall, which had for years been gnawing away at our social-political fabric. embargo. The latest is their discovery of medicines that would make diabetic To cut a long story short. It is true that James Mitchell, with the best intentions, led us amputations of the lower limbs a thing of the past. Having lost but a big toe, I am personally virtually into a trap of European fraudsters in delighted by this advance in the medical field. the Ottley Hall affair.

At long last, it seems that the Christian As a small and impoverished Black Nation, churches are now prepared to stand up against we fall easy prey to international skulduggery the rude incursion of political dictators here in out there when we try desperately to tap for funds to alleviate the economic plight that daily SVG. The local R.C church has come a long way confronts our political party-leaders. since the accommodationist policy of Bishop I seem to recall Mitchell conversing with me Rivas, to the fight-back of priest Jason Gordon. in Bequia on plans which he had in mind to Similarly, the Methodists now look to Rev ease the financial malaise of our country.

Adolf Davis for inspired leadership, having Pointing at mainland Saint Vincent, he declared abandoned the line of Rev. Victor Job. that the Ottley Hall area held enormous And other churches have been strengthened potential for assisting our growth as a ship-yard by these examples and are prepared to defend with docking facilities, and would service the against arbitrary rule of clerics as started, so northern islands, with the only competition being a similar facility at Trinidad in the south. Parnel reminds, with the Magna Carta in So he pursued this dream, which turned out Imperial Britain.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. 9.

Letters

Shame on Mr Clive Lloyd I SHOULD perhaps be writing to you, Mr. Editor, about other things like the tragedy in Fancy.

My choice to deal with another matter is no disrespect for all those who are grieving for lost ones. My sympathy and prayers go out to them.

I want to deal briefly with one of my favourite pastimes — cricket, especially West Indies cricket.

I was shocked by the squad that Mr. Clive Lloyd and Co.

came up with for the World Cup. First, how on earth can you name someone as captain when, in my humble opinion, he has not established himself as a regular member of any West Indies squad? I have nothing against Holder, but he needs a number of games under his belt before I would ever think of handing himself West Indies captaincy. Tell me, Mr. Lloyd, has Holder

statistics will show otherwise; so Mr. Lloyd, try another explanation, please.

I would not want to think that a man, Mr. Lloyd, for whom I had the greatest respect, can allow himself to become a tool of some outdated members who make up the West Indies Cricket Board. It is clear to me that Mr. Lloyd has done the dirty work of victimising two of the most exciting ODI players in

MAN-ABOUT-TOWN asked last week about the ‘holes’ through which illegal guns enter this country, and what was being done to ‘plug’ them.

That to me is a legitimate concern; but given that is so, the other concern must be what we, as citizens, are doing about the number of illegal guns here.

Given what the Royal SVG Police Force disclosed, it is without doubt that the gun is the first choice of weapon for criminals in this country.

So what are we prepared to do about it?

Notwithstanding that those entrusted with providing security for all the citizens must lead the way in fighting crime and getting the guns off the streets, there are some ‘little’ things that we, as responsible citizens, can do to address the proliferation of illegal guns here.

We need, first of all, to consider ourselves to be community police officers; and I am not talking here about setting up Neighbourhood Watches, though that is helpful. I am talking about each and every one of us keeping an eye and ear on things in our community. We need to report any illegal guns or signs of illegal guns that we see in our communities. I am certain our trustworthy police officers will treat our reports with the strictest confidence.

In doing our ‘little’ part, we are contributing to fighting crime, particularly getting the guns out of the hands of criminals and would-be criminals.

So yes, ‘plug’ the ‘holes’; but when the guns do slip through and we see them, report what we see to the police.

If we all do our own ‘little’ part, we can contribute to fighting crime, and making SVG a safe country for all, once again.

IN SVG and elsewhere, I do not hear the term ‘I am a descendant of Adam and Eve’. Rather I hear ‘I am a descendant of slaves (Africa)’.

I do not think of myself that way. God did not make slaves. He made man in His image, and not slaves or slave masters.

I am an African descendant, with lots of traditions and cultures, among them the marrying off of our daughters, which required the suitor to ‘pay a bride’s price’. This ‘bride’s price’ was compensation for some of the expenses parents had in the upbringing of their

‘girl children’. This practice has disappeared.

Nowadays, parents have many expenses, bringing up children just being one. But as soon as the children (girls) reach an age that allows them to marry, they are taken away without any form of compensation.

The Laws of SVG Vol. III chap. 8. Sect. 6 (1) (2) (3) addresses the question of parents, grandparents, and children’s welfare. It reads (paraphrase): Every person born in or out of wedlock is hereby required to maintain his or her father, mother, grandfathers and grandmothers. If born

Thomas Charles ESG

out of wedlock, he is still required to maintain his/her mother.

This applies only if such persons to be maintained shall be by reason of old age, or bodily, or mental infirmity, become unable to maintain themselves.

Sect (8) states that ‘No person or government shall be required to maintain a grandparent, if any child of such grandparent is able to maintain him or her’.

Has the above been forgotten or become legally void?

Too many elderly persons in SVG, who

have offspring who can help them, are suffering.

Hutchie

Legal fees in SVG IN EVERY country or nation, it is expensive to educate the children.

But the investment must be seen in terms of a farmer and his farm lands. It takes time to plant (sow), before harvest (compensation).

Sir, I beg to ask this question: Who is responsible for setting the fees lawyers charge the public? Is it the Ministry of Legal Affairs,

the Attorney General, the DPP, or the Cabinet? Or is it that the lawyers charge what they feel like, after getting together behind their closed Bar Association meetings?

Imagine in February 2014, I visited a lawyer requesting a warning letter of intent of prosecution. I was charged $75 for such letter and $45 for the

Something to do with vision I HAD a good laugh with your editorial about ‘Too much Talk’. Think that was your first issue of the year.

I couldn’t help but think that you might have been referring to fellows like me. Then again, I concluded that you were really aiming your ‘Too Much Talk’ quip at those who are in leadership positions, and who should be doing more ‘doing’ than talking more.

That is that. I look forward to reading your columns as we enter an election year, and expect that you will be as balanced as you have attempted to be during your tenure.

My focus this week is on an item that appeared in all three newspapers last Friday (January 9, 2015). It had to do with the launch of this country’s first ever One-Hour Service for spectacles, by The Spectacle Shoppe.

the world, on behalf of the Board.

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has all right to say that the Board has failed to live up to their commitment.

Come on, Mr. Clive Lloyd.

Take off your spectacles. You might see the good from the bad cricketers better.

Forgotten or legally void?

Report the illegal guns

CJ

ever captained a team at all?

There are some others who are lucky to win selection, but let’s leave that for a moment and deal quickly with some omissions.

How on earth can Mr. Clive Lloyd say that Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Powell had no ‘exceptional performances’ over the recent past, and therefore, did not deserve selection? On which planet is Mr. Lloyd living. The

I want, first of all, to recognise the Sutherland family for continuing to set the pace in eye care in SVG. Having been one who benefited from the expertise of Rawle Sutherland, who I think was the founder of The Spectacle Shoppe, I am impressed by the vision of his son(s) who has (have) assumed the mantle of management there since Mr. Sutherland’s passing.

I, however, want to draw to the attention of the Sutherlands my observation of the coverage in last week’s papers.

I noted that, while a full page advert was carried in one newspaper — an ad that I found great difficulty reading — there were articles (no ads I assume) in the other two.

This is not to flatter you, but when all was said and done, it was the article

carried in your newspaper from which I easily gathered the information on the new service. It was written in a friendly style, and contained as much information as would satisfy the reader and potential customers.

The Sutherlands should thank you for this, and maybe next time around, consider spending the money your way.

Keep up the good work, and my best wishes to The Spectacle Shoppe in its quest to continue to offer cutting edge eye care services to Vincentians.

Charles - Kingstown Editor’s Note: Thanks for your kind words, Charles. You will note that The Spectacle Shoppe has placed an advertisement in this week’s issue (page 17) and, from time to time in the past, has bought advertising space with us.

bailiff to deliver it to the persons concerned in Chateaubelair. I made no fuss about that, although I am a labourer who earns $30 a day from government.

In December 2014, I went to get another such letter. I was charged $200 for the letter, $100.00 for bailiff services and $60 for consultation. In that 1 day, I had to pay $360 just to get peace from my countrymen, while I lost my $30 day-pay. If a case is needed, I will have to ask my wife to prostitute herself to help me pay for us to get justice.

Crime does pay, and it’s not only the criminals who reap the benefits.

Taxpayer

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10. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Supporting the people of Fancy in their The NDP mourns with families of the tragic accident darkest hour THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY The Issue IN THE EARLY MORNING of Monday, January 12th, 2015, residents of Fancy awoke and began getting their lives together to mark another day. They began making preparations for breakfast, to ensure that their sons and daughters were ready for school and for work. There would have been laughter, full conversation, and some admonishment over some matter or the other.

No one could anticipate or predict that within a matter of a few hours, that tragedy would strike the village, bringing pain and anguish and sorrow, to the people at this rural village. But as the English hymn writer, William Cowper, penned in his song of 1773 “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform”. Further, in John Chapter 13 and Verse 7, Jesus says to his disciples “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter”.

As it turns out, a van, HL 636, left Fancy just after six that morning. The vehicle was owned by the Fancy Apostolic Faith Mission and was driven by Ravanan Nanton. There are different versions of what occurred that fateful morning in the area of Rock Gutter. But the reports are that the vehicle lost control and plunged into the rough seas of the Atlantic Ocean.

When the dust had settled, five persons were confirmed dead, with two others missing at the time of this article. Fourteen persons had to be treated at several institutions in the state, with the majority going to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. It was a tragedy that the people of Fancy could not have predicted, when they opened their eyes to greet the new day that was Monday 12th January 2015.

The Response Almost immediately, the State machinery swung into action to deal with this tragedy. Ambulances were dispatched from as far away as Kingstown, to transport the injured to the appropriate medical facility for treatment. A crisis centre was established at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital and in the north of the country, to provide counseling to the parents, other relatives and friends of the victims. The Milton Cato Memorial Hospital was transformed into a trauma centre to take care of the injured, and no treatment was spared by the health officials concerned.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves provided excellent leadership in this matter. Once he was briefed about the tragedy, he ensured that all the required resources of the State were activated.

For example, from an early period, the Coast Guard services were mobilized, in search of those persons who were lost in the heavy seas. Almost all members of the Cabinet visited the area to counsel the people of Fancy, and to be in solidarity with them.

Members of the Opposition, including the Leader, Arnhim Eustace also visited the area. Truly, it was a nation coming together to offer love and

compassion to the people of the area.

In the meantime there were decisions to be made, as the business of the government had to continue, even in the midst of this tragedy. New arrangements had to be put in place for the meeting of Parliament for the Budget exercise. Prime Minister Gonsalves had to reschedule some of his trips abroad, and some had to be cancelled. As early as this week, Cabinet was discussing what assistance the State could provide, in terms of the funerals for those children who died in the accident. And the list goes on.

The Support As the nation came together to be in solidarity with the residents of Fancy, we must single out several institutions who provided support in one way or the other in this period of grief. The conduct of the radio stations in the State was admirable, as they offered citizens opportunities to express their feelings about the tragedy. Indeed, there was an outpouring of solidarity, which will continue for some time. They also provided timely information so that Vincentians at home and abroad could be kept abreast of the developments at home.

The churches provided critical support to many persons, including the families of those who lost loved ones in the tragedy. It was comforting to hear the many prayers which were uttered live on radio from all and sundry, including some of the leading pastors in the State. Not to be outdone, our teachers joined in to offer counseling services to the students and teachers at the North Union and the Georgetown Secondary schools.

We cannot forget the many persons from the Fancy and Owia areas who came to the assistance of the passengers in their time of need.

Many of them put their lives at risk to help rescue persons at the site of the accident, and they must be recognized for this selfless act.

Not to be outdone, Vincentians in the Diaspora have shown real concern, sympathy and support for the families who were affected by this tragedy. They have been carefully following the events, and have been active on Facebook, examining many of the pictures which have been posted about this matter.

We must continue the process of supporting the people of Fancy in this time of grief. Above all, we must refrain from any negative comments at this time, and we must avoid playing politics with the people of Fancy, in their time of mourning. By and large, Vincentians have been very good in terms of their response to this crisis, which has been positive.

We leave you with these words from the Holy Book, “For in the day of trouble, he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock”. [Psalms 27:5]

(NDP) would like to express its sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones in the tragic accident at Rock Gutter, Owia/Fancy, on Monday 12th January, 2015. We are deeply saddened at this time, and pray that Almighty God will strengthen you at this time of your bereavement. But, you can find comfort from the words of the Psalmist David which say, “Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

We also wish those who are hospitalized a speedy recovery.

On hearing the news of the horrible accident, the Honourable Arnhim Eustace, President of the NDP and Leader of the Opposition, immediately journeyed to the scene. He was accompanied by members of parliament, the Honourable Daniel Cummings and Senator Vynette Frederick. There, they met Lauron ‘Shearer’ Baptiste, the NDP’s candidate for North Windward. The delegation met with the bereaved families and offered their condolences and support to them.

Meanwhile, president of the Young Democrats, the youth arm of the NDP, Nick Francis, issued the following statement, “As a nation, we are saddened by the tragic events which took place in Fancy this morning. On behalf of the Youth Arm of the NDP, we wish to express our deepest sympathy to those who have lost their loved ones. Words cannot possibly describe the immense pain and suffering being felt at this time. Our hearts weep, and we mourn with those who remain. May God grant us His mercy and His everlasting peace.

Romans 8: 38-39, ‘For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ As a nation, may we turn our faces to God who is the author and finisher of our faith.

As a result, the Hon. Arnhim Eustace on Tuesday called on Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, to reschedule the sitting of Parliament to a later date, given the gravity of the tragedy which occurred on Monday 12th January, 2015, at Rock Gutter Owia/Fancy. The Leader of the Opposition also indicated that an announcement of a national day of mourning should be made. Speaking on the NDP sponsored New Times Programme on Tuesday, Mr. Eustace expressed the widely held view that it could not be business as usual today, as our countrymen and women are disturbed by the events of Monday, and our student population as well as those who have suffered loss require attention. He said that we must stand in solidarity with those who have suffered loss during this time. The Hon. Arnhim Eustace also pointed out that we do have some time still left in the month to pass the Budget. By law, the Budget must be passed by January 31, annually.

The community of Fancy is in mourning, and we mourn with them.

Fancy has lost some of its brightest sons and daughters. As they go through this period, we hope that the

government will provide the necessary support that is needed at this time.

We in the NDP will play our part.

However, we must commend the heroic effort of all those who assisted in the rescue and recovery effort.

The NDP will end Victimization Once again, another terrible incident has brought Vincentians together. Vincentians at home and in the Diaspora have been conveying their love and support to the families of those who are affected in the dreadful accident at Rock Gutter, Owia/fancy. As Vincentians shower their love to their brothers and sisters of Fancy, most of them have been expressing their concerns about the serious division in the country because of the actions of the ULP regime, and the high level of victimization that is taking place in the country, and they are calling on the Prime Minister and the Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration to be more compassionate and desist from the rampant victimization of the people.

For instance, Leon ‘Bigger Biggs’ Samuel continues to suffer as he awaits his licence for his mining operations at Rabacca. Some of the other persons who have felt the wrath of this ULP administration are, Otto Sam, Ordan Graham, Margaret London, Marcus DeFreitas, Douglas DeFreitas, Bishop Edmund John, ,Curtis Bowman, Elvis Daniel, Kenroy Johnson, Addison ‘Bash’ Thomas, Matthew Thomas, Junior Bacchus, the former port police officers and the poor watchmen and cleaners who were dismissed in 2001.

While most Vincentians are showing their love at this time to the families of those affected, they have been making request of the Prime Minister for him to demonstrate the love that he has been calling for. We heard the Prime Minister appeal to Vincentians to live better, at the anniversary service of the Christmas Eve storm in Central Leeward. The Prime Minister has to lead by example, but he has never done that; it’s just rhetoric all the time. The people of St, Vincent and the Grenadines want to see him exhibit true love, and it is said that actions speak louder than words, so the prime minister once again has failed to provide true leadership in this regard, and it’s time for him to go.

Vincentians want to see an end to victimization, insults and all the other ills that are confronting them.

That’s why most Vincentians have been pleading for general elections so that they can elect the Honourable Arnhim Eustace and the NDP to govern the affairs of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The NDP has what it takes to unite the country and put a halt to victimization and corruption.

In addition, the NDP has the programmes and policies to generate economic growth and development.

Our people deserve better; Vincentians have been suffering for too long. It’s time for the NDP.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. 11.

Views

This is your moment

“The graduates from the University of the West Indies should constantly consider how best they can serve and contribute to the development of the Caribbean region.” — The Right Honourable Sir Charles Michael Dennis Byron, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice SIR CHARLES BYRON delivered the feature address at the Annual Presentation of Graduates Ceremony for the 2014 business students at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business (Lok Jack GSB), University of the West Indies. The event was held at the prestigious Hyatt Hotel in Port of Spain on Saturday, January 10, 2015. Three hundred and eleven (311) participants were recognized at the ceremony. They had successfully completed studies in a variety of Masters Degree programmes offered by this institution of higher learning. Ninety-nine (99) had successfully completed the International Master in Business Administration (IMBA) programme; twenty-nine (29) in the Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) programme; thirty-seven (37) in the Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) programme; twenty-eight (28) in the Master of Finance (MScIF) programme; fifteen (15) in the Master of Business Administration in Sustainable Energy Management (MBA SEM) programme; six (6) in the Master of Port & Maritime Management (MPMM) programme; fortytwo (42) in the Master of Marketing (MM) programme; four (4) in the International Master of Business Development & Innovation (IMDBI); fortyseven (47) in the Master of Small Enterprise Management (MSMEM) programme; and four (4) in the Post Graduate Certificate in Authentic Business Education programme.

The evening’s activities were cochaired by Mr. Michael Gray, IMBA Programme Director at Lok Jack GSB, and Ms Fayola Nicholas, Director, Human Resource, Advancement and Alumni Relations. Professor Clement Sankat, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Campus Principal of the University of the West indies and the Chairman of Lok Jack GSB’s Board of Directors, was unavoidably absent due to other pressing engagements that resulted in him being away from Trinidad and Tobago. However, his pre-recorded video presentation was very well received as he challenged the graduating class to excel at their various professions. Professor Miguel Carrillo Ph.D., Executive Director and Professor of Strategy at Lok Jack GSB, extended brief greetings to the graduating class, faculty, invited guests, and the media. His welcome was immediately followed by the presentation of certificates and awards.

The Right Honourable Sir Charles Michael Dennis Byron, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, was the feature speaker at the event. Sir Charles previously served as President of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute, and is the former President of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), and former Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

Sir Byron’s presentation was entitled “This is Your Moment”. During his introduction, the St. Kitts-born presenter noted that, even though he was born in one of the smallest islands in the Caribbean, he was fortunate to

head several bodies and organisations with participants from much more developed countries. He noted that members of the graduating class should avoid placing a limit on their ability to do likewise. Sir Charles indicated that his presentation focused on four (4) critical areas that he would like to see the graduating class pay attention to as they continue to pursue their careers.

Sir Charles Byron challenged the audience to strive for the impossible; and not to settle for average performance. He advanced the view that “the impossible is temporary” and noted the value of persistence.

Successful individuals often learn the value of perseverance. He noted that many members of the graduating class could identify with the value of such determination as they pursued their respective courses of study. Many would have had to make significant personal and financial sacrifice to get to where they now are. However, he was confident that the experience would serve them well as they continue to pursue their respective professions.

Sir Charles also challenged the audience to maintain a focus on integrity. He noted that there have been several recent instances throughout the Caribbean where leaders in business have demonstrated character flaws in this area. He observed that these demonstrations of lack of integrity have resulted in significant financial and material loss to many firms and individuals throughout the region. He challenged the graduating cohorts to “hold fast to integrity”.

Sir Byron then challenged the graduating cohorts to commit to serving and contributing to the development of their nation and region. He reminded the audience that Dr. Eric Williams (1911-1981), former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, and Sir Arthur Lewis (19151991), recipient of the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1979, had opportunities to live and work anywhere in the world. However, they both opted to return to the Caribbean. They used their talents and skills to build the region. He challenged the audience to focus on how best they could contribute to national and regional development.

Finally, Sir Charles Byron beckoned the graduating class to live in the moment; to treasure family and friends; to appreciate their respective communities and to seek opportunities to have a positive influence on the communities in which they live. He noted that it is commendable and rewarding to “build better people”.

His closing remarks centred on commending and congratulating the graduating class, their friends and relatives (who played a supporting role), and the various individuals at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School who contributed to making this their moment.

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

The danger of polarized debate TWO HORRIBLE VEHICULAR incidents occurred in SVG in the last 30 days. In the first incident at Clare Valley, politics rose its horrible head in the tragedy. In the incident where the lives of so many of our young flowers were snuffed out or painfully rearranged, the national pain and horror were overwhelming. Same kind of tragedy; completely different response. And so, I offer the following for our reflection: “In times of crisis, those who would like us to keep just one idea in our heads at any one time, are quick to the megaphones. By framing events in terms — dark versus light; good versus evil — an imposed rigid morality seeks to coral us into crude camps. There are no dilemmas, only declarations. What some lack in complexity, they make up for in polemical clarity and provision of a clear enemy.

A deranged black kills two policemen in their car in New York, and suddenly those who protested against the police killing unarmed black people across the country and going unpunished have blood on their hands Sony pulls a film about the fictional assassination of a real foreign leader after threats of violent reprisals, and suddenly anyone who challenged the wisdom of making such a film is channelling their inner Neville Chamberlain. Straw men are stopped and searched in case they are carrying nuance, and then locked up until the crisis is over. No charges are ever brought because a trial would require questions and evidence. You’re either with us or against us.

The horrific events of the past week have provided one such crisis. From both the left and right, efforts to explain the assassination at the Charlie Hebdo Magazine, a Kosher supermarket and elsewhere inevitably become reductive.

Most seek, with a singular linear thesis, to explain what happened and what we should do about it: it’s about Islam; it has nothing to do with Islam; it’s about foreign policy; it has nothing to do with foreign policy; it’s war; it’s criminality; it’s about freedom of speech, integration, racism.

There is something to most of these.

And yet, not enough to any one of them to get anywhere close. Too few, it seems, are willing to concede that, while the act of shooting civilians dead where they live and work is crude, the roots of such actions are deep and complex, and the motivations, to some extent, unknowable and incoherent. The bolder each claim, the more likely it is to contain a qualifying or even contradictory argument at least as plausible.

Clearly, this was an attack on free speech. Despite the bold statements of the past week, any cartoonist will now think more than twice before drawing the kind of pictures for which Charlie Hebdo became notorious. This principle should be unequivocally defended. It should also be honestly defined.

Every country, including France, has limits on freedom of speech. Far from being “sacred”, as some have claimed, freedom of speech is always contingent.

All societies draw lines, that are illdefined, constantly shifting and continually debated, about what constitutes acceptable standards of public discourse when it comes to cultural, racial and religious sensitivities. The question is whether those lines count for Muslims too.

The demand that Muslims should have to answer for these killings is repugnant. Muslims can no more be held responsible for these atrocities than Jews can for the bombings in Gaza. Muslims do not form a monolithic community; nor does their religion

define their politics — indeed they are the people most likely to be killed by Islamic extremists. Nobody elected these gunmen; they don’t represent anyone.

That said, it is simply untenable to claim that these attackers had nothing to do with Islam, anymore than it would be to say the Ku Klux Klan had nothing to do with Christianity. It is within the ranks of that religion that this particular strain of violence has found inspiration and justification. That doesn’t make the justifications valid, or the inspirations less perverted. But it doesn’t render them irrelevant either.

Those who claim that Islam is inherently violent are more hateful, but no less nonsensical, than those who claim it is inherently peaceful. The insistence that these hateful acts are refuted by ancient texts makes as much sense as insisting they are supported by them. Islam, like any religion, isn’t inherently anything but what people make of it. A small but significant minority have decided to make it violent.

There is no need to be in denial about this. Given world events over the past decade or so, the most obvious explanation is also the most plausible: the fate of Muslims in foreign conflicts played a role in radicalising these young men. Working-class French men don’t go to Yemen for military training on a whim. Since their teens, these young men have been raised on a nightly diet of illegal wars, torture and civilian massacres in the Gulf and the Middle East in which the victims have usually been Muslim.

These grievances are real, even if attempts to square them with the killers’ actions make your head hurt.

France opposed the Iraq war; Isis and al-Qaida have been sworn enemies, and both have massacred substantial numbers of Muslims. Not only is the morality bankrupt, but the logic is warped.

But Islamists are not alone in their contradictions. There is Guantanamo Bay. Given the recent release of the US torture report or France’s role in resisting democratic change during the Arab spring, many of those who claim that this is a battle between liberty and barbarism have a foot in both camps.

This is why describing these attacks as criminal is both axiomatic and inadequate. They were not robbing a bank or avenging a turf war. Antiterrorism police described the assault on the magazine as “calm and determined”.. These were, for the most part, not accidental targets. Nor were they acts of insanity. They were calculated acts of political violence driven by the incoherent allegiances of damaged and dangerous young men.

They are personally responsible for what they did. But we, as a society, are collectively responsible for the conditions that produced them. And if we want others to turn out differently — less hateful, more hopeful — we will have to keep more than one idea in our heads at the same time.”

This piece by Gary Younge appeared in the January 10 issue of The Guardian.

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

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12. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

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Weak economy stoking crime in SVG In 2014, SVG had 38 murders. This equated to the 7th highest murder rate per capita in the world. This is a truly shocking statistic, and illustrates the level of destruction caused by the ULP regime, to our society.

The weak economy and lack of investment in education and vocational programmes are stoking

decreasing ability to pay their bills, and their increasing incompetence.

The total for Other Receipts and Fiscal Deficits since 2005, under the financially incompetent Gonsalves, has left a massive $2,070 billion dollar crime in SVG, including a lot of gun crimes. hole in the economy.

Research has shown that there is a correlation The consequence of this long-term economic and between education and increase in both poverty and financial incompetence by the ULP regime has been crime. There is a principle which states: “Education a lack of investment in education, and an increase creates economic opportunity; lack of education in the number of people that lack education. Many creates long-term societal cost”. inmates in SVG’s jails have little or no education.

In general, the more time a person spends at There is a significant connection between low school, the less violent they will become. Schools literacy and numeracy levels and repeat offending, don’t just teach you about history or maths; they particularly for males. Raising standards of literacy teach you how to live in society. But the real and numeracy will make it less likely that problem in SVG is that many children do not finish frustration and failure result in criminality. secondary school or even primary school.

Education is essential to reduce crime. Research Gonsalves is not a university graduate in finance in the United States showed that a one-year and is hopeless at managing SVG’s finances. The increase in average years of schooling for dropouts table shows how the SVG economy has become would reduce murder and assault by almost 30%, progressively weaker over the last 11 years under and a 10% increase in the male high school the financially incompetent ULP regime. graduation rate would reduce murder and assault The Budget Estimates for 2005 to 2015 have had rates by about 20%. an increasingly larger figure for Other Receipts.

The ULP regime was foolish to build a jail rather Other Receipts is a made-up figure, and is money than a university. This is poor social planning and that the ULP regime expects to fall out of the sky. does not help to fight crime.

The economy is so bad that to give the impression of A Green Government will make education free growth since 2005, the made-p figure has become from pre-school to university and build our own ridiculously large. science and technology university. We will also build Similarly, for the Budget Estimates for 2005 to a strong economy and create thousands of new jobs 2015, the Fiscal Deficit has grown massively. The to significantly reduce the high level of growth in Fiscal Deficit illustrates the ULP regime’s unemployment and crime in SVG. On Election Day, vote Green Party. Put your X next to the Telephone.

Sincere condolences National Council of Women The National Council of Women extends sincere and deepest condolences to the families, loved ones and friends of those who lost their lives in the tragic accident of Monday 12th January, 2015, in Fancy.

We are saddened by your loss, our loss, because these children would have looked forward to great things in their future; they would have set goals and had begun to work towards achieving them; their parents, teachers and mentors would have seen great potential in them.

But, life brings with it (these) unforeseen

circumstances and situations. We look to Almighty God at this moment for His good graces. We remind you that God is with you, Jesus is your comforter, and you are not alone. The people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Diapora are praying for and with you. He (Jesus) heals the wounded hearted, binding up their wounds, Psalms 147:3.

We thank Almighty God for those who survived this accident, and pray for their total healing and speedy recovery. We trust that all will find new strength and courage in Jesus.

This is an opportune

diminishes as time passes. Grieving is an important process, and in order to overcome these feelings, continue to embrace the time they had with their loved ones.

Admonition to all Please let us allow for their personal healing Loss is a natural part processes. We are asking of life and, for the most persons, especially those part, grief can be deep, who are not intimately and coping with the loss affected, in this time of of a close friend or family grief and sorrow, to be member may be one of very sensitive in your the hardest challenges conversation. This is not that face us. We all have a time to play the blame different reactions to game, but to encourage death, and possess each other to do good, to personal coping be pure in thoughts, mechanisms towards courteous and grief. Some may take compassionate to each months or years, other. however, the sadness 2 Thessalonians 2:16,17: ‘May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and hope which we don’t deserve, and comfort your hearts with all comfort, and help you in every good thing you say and do’.

time to take stock of your life, see where you are with your ., I admonish you, whatever religious belief you share, to draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.

Beverly Richards President - National Council of Women

SVG Green Party www.svggreenparty.org

Garifuna Foundation in Solidarity IT IS WITH a heavy heart that the members and the Board of Directors of the Garifuna Heritage Foundation received the news of the tragic accident which occurred at Rock Gutter January 12th, 2015, involving loss of life of several young people from the village of Fancy.

We are aware of the grief and sorrow which our brothers and sisters in Fancy are now experiencing, and we share with them our sincerest condolences at this terrible time. The Garifuna brothers and sisters of Fancy have worked shoulder to shoulder with us over the years in promoting the cause of cultural and economic development of the community based on the spirit of solidarity which was manifested historically by our ancestors. The Community of Fancy has displayed a strong spirit of resilience which is reflected in the work of the Fancy Cooperative and other Community organizations.

We share your grief, we share your pain, and we wish you to continue to be strong. We know that God is with you and all your families now and in the future as you endure this terrible tragedy.

In Deepest Sympathy and Solidarity The Board and Membership of the Garifuna Heritage Foundation.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. 13.

News

Hospital services suspended

Plan underway to deal with victims of the MANY PERSONS visiting vehicular accident in their family or loved ones at Fancy, visiting hours at the Milton Cato Memorial the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) last Hospital have been Monday, were forced to turn temporarily suspended.’ away.

Only persons with This after the Ministry family members in critical of Health announced in a condition were allowed to press release last Monday: visit, but they were ‘Owing to the Mass requested to call before to Emergency Management make such arrangements.

The release called for the public to ‘demonstrate enormous understanding as the medical and nursing staff work towards dealing with the crisis.’

And as staff at the Accident and Emergency Unit (AEU) at the MCMH organised with haste to deal with the rush of injured persons, other staff members moved to transform a section of the AEU to serve as a counselling area for family members of those who had died and/or injured in the accident, in addition to dealing with the obvious over anxiety and at time boisterous outbursts of those who had come to the A Counselling Area was hospital for other reasons. set up to cater to The Minister of Health, affected family Clayton Burgin, along members. with Chief Medical Officer

by KENVILLE HORNE

Dr. Simone Keizer-Beache and Chief Nursing Officer Peggy Da Silva visited the hospital during the period of heightened activity, to offer moral support to family members affected and to the staff.

In a statement that day, Monday, Minister Burgin said, “It is a sad occasion for the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and moreso for the families of the persons involved in the

accident.”

He expressed empathy with “the pain of those who are suffering at the moment.”

In extending condolences to those who had lost loved ones, the Minister assured that “the entire country is praying for them,” and that “the hospital staff and the staff of the entire Ministry of Health are doing all that is possible to assist those suffering with injuries.”

Hospital staff moved quickly to accept one of the injured.

Labour Department not working asking for a hearing based on the Collective Agreement between the Louise Glasgow, Grievance Union and the KCCU. Officer at the Commercial Technical “I can’t understand why the and Allied Workers Union Labour Department is not dealing (CTAWU), is upset with the manner with the issue,” Glasgow lamented. in which the Labour Department is The CTAWU Grievance Officer is handling a matter before them. not the only person peeved by the Glasgow highlighted the issue pace of the Labour Department in last Monday. The dispute involves the Erlene Donaldson affair.

Erlene Donaldson who was Lawyer Kay Bacchus Browne has dismissed from the Kingstown Labour Department not Cooperative Credit Union (KCCU) workingwritten to the Labour December 31, 2013.

Department three times, the last Donaldson was the Shop Steward time being December 3, 2014. Up to at the KCCU prior to her dismissal. last Tuesday, there had been no Glasgow lamented the pace at response from the Labour which Donaldson’s complaint is Department. being addressed. The CTAWU Bacchus-Browne deemed the wrote to the Labour Department

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY

Labour Department as being irresponsible. She is wondering who is in charge at that institution, and ponders, “Who is protecting whom?”

An official from the Labour Department was not familiar with the issue when contacted. She mentioned that “quite a few people,” attached to the institution were on vacation.

The KCCU is the country’s oldest Credit Union, having been registered April 12, 1958. It has a membership of some 14,000 and assets valued at $60 million.

The KCCU moved into its own building at Granby Street in 1999.

The next Annual General Meeting of the KCCU is set for March 2015.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. 15.

14. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Winston Soso (Photo Credit: Nelson King)

Soso, Soso S oso, B rancke ker, Y earrw woo w oo o od od Brancker, Yearwood H eadline B eq ount uia M Headline Bequia Mount qu G ay M usiic cF est 2 015!

Gay Music Fest 2015!

IT’S S JUS JUST ONE WEEK to go before the Bequia Mount Ga q Gay Music Fest kicks off its 1 12th anniversary four-day music-filled w eek e weekend in Bequia.

Patrons from St. Vincent and P Bequia and visitors from all over the q world r will be treated to mega-watt r performances from Barbados’ Nicholas a Brancker Project and Edwin Yearwood of ““Krosfyah” fame, who will headline e Saturday night show at De Reef, the followed

by SVG’s own Winston Soso l on Sunday, who will close out the weekend with the Mount Gay grand e finale. a Opening honours for the Music Fest

THURSDAY, 22 2 JANUARY - FRANGI 9 Thhee BBeeqquuia Tou ourrriiisssm m Ass A soociatio i tionn pprresenntttss: THURSDAY, 13-piece E lite i S teel Orchestra

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go to the Frangipani Hotel, where the fabulous 13-piece Elite Steel Orchestra from St. Vincent will perform on Thursday 22nd January, from 9pm.

Thanks to Basil Charles, the Bequia Mount Gay Music Fest once again welcomes The Mustique Blues Festival to Bequia for one night only, on Friday 23rd January Dana Gillespie and the London Blues Band and her guest artistes will guarantee another thrilling night’s entertainment dedicated to The Blues at its very best. Headlining this year are amazing British blues icon Ian Siegal, American soul and blues guitarist Eugene “Hideaway”

Bridges and the extraordinary Dino Baptiste and Julien Brunetaud on keyboard.

On Saturday 24th from 12.30pm, the Bequia Beach Hotel in Friendship will be the venue for a hot and cool Afternoon Jam by the beach, featuring visiting and locally-based musicians, with the “Country Relatives” from Bequia among the headliner Saturday night is Music Fest fete night at De Reef. Debuting in Bequia this year are the two headlining bands – The Nicholas Brancker Project, with bass ace Nicholas Brancker, and Barbados’ soca sensation, Edwin Yearwood. Also performing will be last year’s show-stoppers the “Nj30+” band featuring Marius Charlemagne, guitar virtuoso Toby Armstrong, and Bequia’s own “Infinity”, who will open the Saturday night show.

The ever popular Music Fest Sunday By the Beach expects to attract a big crowd to see the legendary Vincentian soca artiste Winston Soso close out the weekend of fabulous music, at the massive Mount Gay Finale at De Reef in Lower Bay. Also performing on Sunday afternoon will be the Bequia “Kids on Pan” Steel Orchestra, jazz, blues and rock by the “Denzil Bacchus Blues Band”,, AIR ADELPHI the “Bequia Blues Band”, with other guest appearances.

PM:

FRI DAY, 23 JAN A FRIDAY, JANUARY D E R EE F 8.30 P M: u Blues Festival in Bequia The M ustique Mustique D aana na G illespie illesp & the London Blues Band:

DANA GILLESPIE M Paice, Jeff Walker JJake ake Zaitz, Zaitz, Mike R afae chw wi afaell S Schwiddessen , D arby Todd w ith D ino Baptiste, Baptiste, Julien with Julien Brunetaud Brunetaud ffeaturing: e eaturing: ugene Eu gene ‘ H ideaway’ ideaway’ Bridges Bridges IIan an S iiegal egal (A ( A dmission dmission ffree) ree) S AT A T URDAY, URDAY, 24 JANUARY JANUARY BEQUIA BEQU Q IA BEACH BEACH HOT HOT E L 12.30pm: 12.30pm p :

Right: Big crowds at De Reef Cred dit: Wilfred Wiilfred last yearr (Photo Credit: Dederer).

NJ3O+ www.bequiatourism.com/bequiamusicfest www.facebook.com/bequiamusicfest et www.bequiatourism.com/bequiamusicfeest ww w.facebook.com/bequiamusicfes musicfest@bequiatourism.com 3286 musicfest@ e bequiatourism.com | TTel: el: (784) 458 328 6 TICKE T PRICES TICKE TICKE T S AVAI AV VAI L A BL BL E at at : Office Bequia TTourism ourism o Friday Jan 23rd: De Reeff, EC$70 advance, EC$80 gate Bequia Beach H otel Saturday Jan 24th:De Reeff, EC$70 advance, EC$80 gate Bequia TTech eech Sunday Jan 25th: De Reeff, EC$25 advance, EC$35 gate FFrangipani rangipani H otel S pecial Weeekender e 3- E vent Package EC $155 Q uik-Print ( S t. t. V incent)

S SAT AT U URDAY RDAY,24 JANUARY JANUAR RY YDE REE 8.30 PM: M: D ER EE F 8 .30 P E dwin Yearwood rom “ K rrosfyah” osffyah” dwin Y earwood ffrom N icholas icholas Brancker Brancker Project Project N J3O+ J3O+ ffeaturing e eaturing Marius M arius C harlemagne harlemagne

with Marius Charlemagne

TOBY ARMSTRONG

S SUNDAY, UNDAY, 25 JJANUARY DE EE 12.30 PM: ANUARY D E RE E F 12 .30 P M: Soca Legend: Winston S oca & C aalypso lypso Le gend: W inston SSoso oso B equia K ids ids S teel Bequia teel Pan Pan Orchestra Orchestra SVG S V G Tourism T ourism A Authority uthority

Below: Bequia Kids Steel Pan Orchestra (Photo Credit: Wiilfred Dederer).

Wilfred

G rrand and Mount M ount G ay ay Finale Finale

W I N S T O N

S O S O AGENTS FOR MOUNT G GAY AY RUM RUM

Tickets for all shows are on sale at Quik Print in St. Vincent, and in Bequia at the Bequia Tourism Office, Lina’s Delicatessen, De Reef, Bequia Beach Hotel, Bequia Technology Center, Vintages and the Frangipani Hotel.

Tickets prices are EC$70 for advance single night tickets (EC$80 on the door). Tickets for Sunday afternoon are EC$25 (EC$35 on the door). An advance “weekender ticket” for all three ticketed events is available for a bargain EC$155. Admission is free to the Frangipani on Thursday and to the Live Music Jam by the Beach on Saturday afternoon at the Bequia Beach Hotel.

Apart from Title Sponsorship from Mount Gay Rum, the event also receives Gold Sponsorship from LIME, St. Vincent Brewery (Hairoun) and the

Edwin Yearwood

Nicholas Brancker

Bequia Hotel, with additional quia Beach H sponsorship from the SVG Ministry of nsorship fro Tourism/SVG Tourism Authority, Air urism/SVG T Adelphi, Frangipani Hotel, De Reef, elphi, Frang CRS Media, (Barbados), S Music & M Admiralty Transport Co. Ltd., and miralty Tran Quik-Print ik-Print (St. Vincent).

The Bequia Mount Gay Music Fest is also generously supported by Basil’s lso generou Barr Mustique, Nice Radio, Mountain Top Water, Julie’s Guest p Springs W House, Pizzeria, Vintages Bequia use, Mac’s P (Agents Mount Gay Rum), Bequia ents for Mo Technology Center, WAG Service hnology Cen Station, Nichols Garage St. Vincent, tion, Nichol Compass Publishing, Outhouse Graph mpass Publi Graph-ics, and The Vi Vincentian, The News and Searchlight archlight new newspapers.

Blues Legend Dana Gillespie performs with the London Blues Band.

Fo or more information inffo orma ation visit www.bequiatourism.com/bewww w..bequiatourism .bequiatourism.com/beFor quiamusicffe est and nd www.facebook.com/bequiamusicfest www w.f .facebook a k.com/bequi . iamusicffes e t quiamusicfest

16. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. 17.

18. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. 19.

News

Clearing the air on TV services in SVG

CONTRARY TO REPORTS in the local press, THE VINCENTIAN included, there is only one bona fide television station in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The reference to this country having three television stations is technically and legally inaccurate, according to Managing Director of SVG Broadcasting Corporation, Paul MacLeish, who explained that his service, SVGTV, is the referred to ‘only television station’, since it transmits and broadcasts its own signals.

The other two local services, IK TV and VC3,

are accessible only through cable television, a second party, in this case through the services of cable television service provider, FLOW. SVGTV is available to all Vincentian households, even if they are not cable television subscribers.

And while IK TV and VC3 are available only through the paid for cable television service, SVGTV is a Free-To-Air (FTA) service; it charges no fee to Vincentians and is not, in any other way, subscription driven, depending for its continuance on revenue generated through advertising.

While it may have

SVG Broadcasting Corporation operates the only bona fide television station in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, contrary to public interpretation. been the intention of Government to make available the whole or part of the television licence fee ($100.00 per set) to SVGTV, for services rendered, there

is no indication that the television station has been the recipient of such moneys.

The present arrangement is that the Government utilizes part

of the licence fees to pay SVGTV for 3 weekly 1 hour API programmes and numerous daily announcements relating to national issues, including the fight

against AIDS, Domestic Abuse, Aids, Child Abuse, etc.

SVG TV prides itself on being the only FreeTo-Air television service available to Vincentians.

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20. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Tempting feelings Dear George, I AM IN A relationship for 10 years. We have two children together, and I love this man to death. I am not crazy over marriage, because things are working just fine as they are. Truthfully, marriage to me is not the key to a happy relationship.

Recently, I have grown to know this guy at work. He reflects my views on life, and it is easy to talk to him. I was amazed how easily we clicked; how many things we have in common; and how much he reminds me of my

fiancé.

We talk a lot at work, and even after work I find time to chat with him on the telephone.

Sometimes he sends me emails, and I now look forward to hearing from him, and if I don’t hear from him, I am disappointed. I had no intentions of ignoring my fiancé or cheating on him. I stated that to my co-worker/friend from the very beginning, i.e. that he should expect nothing more than a genuine friendship between us.

George, things have changed since that. I now find myself developing strong

feelings for this man, and I am very close to sleeping with him. I know that if we only spend a private moment together, something is going to happen. As much as I am not sure if I want it to happen, I am leaning more towards wanting it to (happen).

I am feeling less and less excited about talking with my fiancé, and I know he has noticed it.

How can I get a good balance between my friend and my fiancé?

Confused Dear Confused

There is nothing wrong with having a friend and getting a good feeling after discovering that you have much in common. However, you have to be very careful that the qualities that attracted you to your fiancé could be again attracting you to this man. The more you water a plant and expose it to sunlight, the faster it grows.

Go back to your drawing board and reset the boundaries between you and this man. Your fiancé should not have to compete for your time.

Take a few steps back before getting back on track, before you do something that will be forever regrettable, and may cause the demise of a genuine relationship.

George

He accused me of stealing Dear George, MY BOYFRIEND was looking for his wallet some mornings ago, and he could not find it no matter where he looked. He said he had it before he went to bed. He had just got paid, and had most of that money in the wallet. We do not live together, and he was just spending the night.

I was so shocked when he accused me of stealing his wallet. I still cannot believe that he would even think of such a terrible thing of me. He threatened to go to the police if I did not return his wallet. I need your advice, George, please. I am so hurt by this.

Tears Dear Tears, Your situation is a regrettable one, and the fact that your boyfriend could accuse you of stealing is an indication of how he sees you. If he was clear in his mind that he was with a woman of character and good values, he would not have crossed the line and made such an accusation.

You need to be with someone who, in the very least, thinks the world of you and holds you in the highest esteem. He can go to the police, yes, but you can and should walk away. Get out while you can.

George

In babies’ mess Dear George,

Caught between

I CHEATED on my girlfriend with two of her sisters, and now I regret the whole thing.

I was drunk the night it happened, and both of them were drinking with me. I believe they set the whole thing up, to seduce me while I was drunk.

My girlfriend does not know any of this, but she is sure to find out, seeing that both of her sisters are now pregnant. What a mess I am in! I cannot tell her I am the father for her sisters’ babies. I know my girlfriend, and I know if and when she finds out, she will be gone.

I am begging her sisters not to tell her who the father is, and even to get abortions, but they refused to do any such thing.

Dear Caught between, Being drunk is no excuse for irresponsible behaviour. Drunk or sober, you should not have allowed yourself to be in such a compromising situation where you ‘mistakenly’ impregnate the sisters of your girlfriend.

You need to man up and tell your girlfriend the truth, and also man up and ready yourself to take care of these two children that are coming.

Your girlfriend has the right to decide whether to stay or go. The possibility of her leaving should have been given consideration before you went out to play.

George

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) You may interest some of them in a service you have to offer. Be wary of those who have overly strong convictions. Your practical approach to life may charm someone who has been observing you. Your emotional partner may make you angry this week.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) You may have the opportunity to get involved in some interesting conversations. Make residential changes that will lift your spirits. Travel for business purposes may bring the highest returns.

You will need to take a look at the renovations that are necessary and try to find the cheapest way to get things done.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) You can accomplish a lot if you deal with other people's money or possessions this week. You may experience financial loss if you don't use good judgment. Be careful not to lead someone on if you truly have no interest. You can make a difference if you're willing to stand up and be counted.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) If you work in conjunction with someone else you may find they're trying to steal your thunder. Opportunities for new and exciting relationships will be yours if you get out and join groups. Opportunities will come through long term investments. You can find out interesting information if you get a chance to talk to people you respect.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Make plans to mix business with pleasure. Dinner with clients or business associates should be successful. You should be trying to clear up legal contracts that have been pending. Take your time; do not make any decisions in haste. Your high energy and discipline will enable you to complete any seemingly insurmountable tasks.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Don't take advantage of your expense account. You can't do everything on your own. You may have difficulties with for-

eigners. You will encounter those who can help you further your goals if you attend functions that attract prominent people.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Make love, not war, and all will be fine.

You will find that social activities will be enjoyable and will promote new connections. There may be opportunities to attend social functions that are linked to work. You will find that you can work progressively at improving yourself this week.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Do what you can to help them but don't neglect your own family. It's time to reconnect with some of the people you used to know. Be sure to take time for old friends or relatives you don't get to see that often. Think twice before you agree to take on any new projects.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Don't overspend to impress others.

Confusion is apparent and you'll need some sound advice if you want to do the right thing. Your ideas can be put into action. Don't ruffle the feathers of those you care about most.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Keep an eye on your weight. Any difficulties with peers could be unnerving. Your devotion will be persuasive. Try to be understanding.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) Have some fun, but draw the line if someone tries to fast talk their way into your heart. Your mate may want to pick a fight but if you're persistent with your affections their anger should dissipate.

Socialize with friends, but don't overspend on lavish entertainment. Take care of the needs or responsibilities of elders.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Business trips might prove unproductive.

Don't give your heart too readily. You need to spend less time daydreaming and more time accomplishing. You may find that you can be the recipient of valuable information if you're willing to be a good listener.

ACROSS 1. Jalopy 4. Raincoat, for short 7. Root beer, e.g.

11. Mine wagon 13. Confused bustle 14. Placed down 15. Tie again 17. Bank machines (abbr.)

18. Dweller (abbr.)

19. Fish feature 21. Heroic narrative 23. Upholstered seats 27. Greenhouse growth 28. Function 29. Legal profession 30. “Tell Mama” singer James 31. Braying beast 32. David Copperfield’s wife 33. Decompose 34. Cagers’ org.

35. Answer 36. Lion’s

battle-foe 38. Vigoda and Burrows 39. __ Khan 40. Occupy a chair 41. Drink deeply 44. Tactful person 49. Phone start 50. Before, in poems 51. “Get Shorty” Actress Russo 52. Garden need 53. Compass pt.

54. Toothpastenotices accepting 12. Yacht spot gp.

16. Religious group DOWN 20. Follower of (suffix) 1.Middle (abbr.) 21. Sir __ John 2. Have being 22. Broadway’s 3. British fliers’ LuPone gp.

23. Actress Dey 4. Wrestlers’ 24. Secretly pads marry 5. Fruity 25. British refresher noblemen 6. Own up 26. Fluctuate 7. Tilt 27. Lima’s land 8. Edible grain 31. Scrapes 9. Fade 32. Loan10. Public company

customer 34. Yule drink 35. Hobo transportation 37. Put behind bars 40. Come forth in a flood

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. 21.

41. City rds.

42. Miniature 43. Island (Fr.) 45. Audit agcy.

46. “Tell __ story” (2 wds.)

47. Furthermore 48. Herbal drink

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22. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Tribute

Rohan Morgan-McIntosh:

King of Karaoke is dead Karaoke in East St. George. He died last THE SMALL TOWN of Thursday, January 8, at Calliaqua has lost its ‘king the Milton Cato of Karaoke’.

Memorial Hospital, Rohan Morgan-Mc surrounded by relatives Intosh, known as and close friends.

‘Rawcaw’ or ‘Cowboy’ by Music was an integral many in and around part of Rohan’s life. He Calliaqua, was deemed to started his involvement be the pioneer of in the art form, singing

by PATMOS RICHARDS

along to music videos on television at the Calliaqua Anglican School. He soon attracted a following, which catapulted him into the limelight.

That pioneering effort, which started fifteen (15) years ago, inspired businessman Kens

Dougan, to accommodate him at his business residence, where he refined his Karaoke skills and repertoire, and developed an even greater fan base.

Soon, Rohan’s reputation as a leader in the Karaoke circles spread throughout St.

Vincent. He was now in demand and performed in Karaoke sessions as far north as Sandy Bay, to the Central Leeward town of Barrouallie.

Karaoke fans looked forward to his performances, many of which featured moving interpretations of some well-known Country Music songs.

When Club Calabash, Kingstown, introduced its Karaoke competition, he copped the coveted prizes on two consecutive occasions.

As a founder of the Karaoke Groovers, he was instrumental in harnessing young talents. Rohan is also credited with starting a dance group.

But many Karaoke patrons will remember him for his organisation of an end of year Karaoke competition at the Calliaqua Hard Court.

And when the Calliaqua ‘Culture Pot’, a callalou of cultural activities, was first broached by Barrister-atlaw, Stanley ‘Stalky’

John, Rohan played a significant role in establishing that event as a fixture on the entertainment calendar.

Rohan was also the winner of the first ever, now well-established ‘Singing With The Stars’, hosted and organised by Georgietha ‘Aunty G’ Nanton. That was in 2010.

Ms. Nanton recalls Rohan as “a dear friend, whom I met in 2010 in one of our Karaoke sessions. He was a very pleasant and loving young man with a sweet voice, who always carried a smile. He was a true Karaoke fan and a lover of Country Music. I will miss him tremendously.”

His sister, Petronela Morgan, remembers her brother as “Mellow and not being easily disturbed.”

Rohan will be laid to rest this weekend.

Some residents of Calliaqua say that the void left in that town with the passing of Rohan, will be hard to fill.

Rohan Morgan-McIntosh won the hearts of Karaoke fans all across mainland St. Vincent.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. 23.

Peters entertains further Test outings

Kenroy Peters exits the arrival area at the E.T. Joshua Airport on his return from Test duty in South Africa.

by E .GLENFORD PRESCOTT ‘I DID A LOT of preparation…there is a machine where you did work for your abs, and I was on that regular as well as taking my ice baths ..I was really looking forward to bowling again,” debutant West Indies seamer Kenroy Peters said as he indicated his disappointment in not getting a bowl in the second innings of the rain affected Test against South Africa.

Peters entered the Test arena on Boxing Day 2014, opened the bowling and finished with 2/69 from 20

overs, as the hometeam reached 417/8 declared. The West Indies then reached 275/9 before rain, which had affected the earlier days, washed out the final day’s play.

The 33-year-old Peters, who was put under the microscope for his lack of pace, said that he was prepared to play a patient game and wait for the South Africans to make mistakes, since they are quick scorers and always look for ways to move the score along.

“I was more concerned with trying to get the ball in the right areas and not trying to strive for pace……bowling is not all about pace ……it has a lot more to it”.

Peters returned home just after 6.30 Friday evening.

He was met on arrival at the E.T. Joshua Airport by members of the Cricket Association and the media, when he exited the arrival area 48 minutes later.

Speaking to the media, Peters indicated that it was his intention to be much more than a “one Test happening.”

He is prepared to continue his good work with the ball, to fight his way back into the team. And his focus will be the remainder of the regional fourday competition, the Professional Cricket League, as the springboard towards achieving this goal.

“I am looking to continue my form, and I am going to allow my form to select me for the next Test series,” Peters said.

Kenroy Peters was welcomed home by SVGCA Executive Members (from left) Second VP Denis Byam, Committee Members Deighton Butler and Samantha Lynch and President Kishore Shallow.

He said that he was not overly disappointed after not being selected for the third Test of the series, since the team requirements of having an extra batsman brought about the need for a bowler to be dropped.

“While I would have wanted to play that Test, I recognise

that the needs of the team is more important than individuals, and I therefore, had to make way…..but it was between myself and Jerome Taylor, and he got the nod.”

Peters, the leading wickettaker in the 2014 regional firstclass season with 40 scalps, was called by the

West Indies to replace injured fast bowler Kemar Roach in the three-match Test series, which the West Indies lost 0-2.

His immediate attention will switch to doing duty with the Windwards team in the NAGICO Super50, which bowled off yesterday in Trinidad and Tobago.

SVG making ripples in Rowing first indoor Rowing competition, done on ergs at the Ronnie’s Gym at Mc Kies Hill, Canadian Aubrey Oldham was on hand to lend his knowledge and to test his skills against the locals.

“He (Oldham) came here just to witness the race and help us...

He paid his way, paid for his meals, all we have to do is put him up... His exchange for Technical Director of coming is that we give him a boat to row for Daron Shallow (left) and Canadian Aubrey the SVG Rowing the ten days he is Oldham on their ergs last Saturday at Association here... This is sports Ronnie’s Gym Raffique Browne. tourism at its best,” Browne claimed.

ALTHOUGH NEW to St Browne stated that within Hailing last Saturday ‘s Vincent and the Grenadines, the last few months, the SVG inaugural indoor Rowing the sport of Rowing has Rowing Association has competition as a success, started to make some ripples. benefitted from expertise, Browne said that the times of And Technical Director of namely expert rowers from the top finishers will be the St Vincent and the Canada. forwarded to the governing Grenadines Rowing He said that the sport has body, FISA, with the Association, Raffique Browne, taken off quicker than possibility of the rowers believes (that) with a strong anticipated, as the local earning rankings. current of acceptance, large rowers have taken to the Required to row 2000 waves of popularity will soon waters, with their training metres, Akini Hypolite did his begin to wash ashore. base being in Layou. in six minutes 59.2 seconds, Moving from indoor rowing Aiming to twin the sport while Keyan Barrow took six to acquiring six boats — five with Tourism, the Technical minutes 59.5 seconds. singles and one double - and Director is optimistic of, Jante James was third in having coaches from overseas within the shortest possible seven minutes 33.1 seconds, to assist in training local rowers, time, attracting persons in complete the top three in the are the factors, according to competition as well as to enjoy open category.

Browne, which have profiled the beauty of St Vincent and In the lightweight category, the sport here. the Grenadines.

Daron Shallow returned the “Our goal is for us to get to “...We want persons from best time- seven minutes 40.5 the Olympics ... We are on Canada, England and the seconds. target for 2018, but with 2020 United States being more realistic ... In the to come down meantime, we are going to do here and row more of these indoor during the competitions ... We were winter invited to events in Canada months,” , he and in Florida, and from those proposed. we are going to see how our During last times rank, and we are going Saturday’s to go forward from there,” hosting of the Browne said. association ‘s On the water rowing taking place at Layou.

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24. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Ambris gets late call

by E. GLENFORD PRESCOTT

Punishment and rewards This year’s Sports Personality will be determined when the National Sports Council stages its annual ceremony.

The nominees have been placed, and speculation is high as to the likely choice.

If the options from the associations is anything to go by, Sunil Ambris will have a platform. He has been given kudos from his body.

It is unfortunate that Kenroy Peters’ late penetration will be overlooked by the judges.

The organisers have resorted to recommendations from the authorities. Without the benefit of the list of nominees, it will be surprising if Oalex Anderson is not among the finalists.

Anderson was outstanding when St. Vincent and the Grenadines attempted to make it into the final stages of the Gold Cup. That St. Vincent and the Grenadines missed the opportunity is no fault of Anderson’s. The squad allowed Martinique to crawl from a 3: 1 score line to secure a 4:3 victory.

How such a turnaround was possible is evidence of the preparation that is a hallmark of Vincentian Football.

The nominees deserve their call. It is a pity that information on the performances of the athletes have become a cloudy issue.

The associations have a duty to select suitable candidates. Efforts to try to sanitise the operation seem to have been met with approval from some quarters. This year, the organisers will have to rely on the sporting authorities, which invariably have proven to be unreliable.

That persons will strive to a level of unscrupulousness in order to prop up their outfits is a sad indictment on our honesty.

Genuine performances ought to be rewarded. To what extent the true picture of our outstanding athletes will be revealed is left to be seen.

The West Indies Cricket team provided a sense of pride for their supporters when they won the T/20 series against South Africa, 2: 1. It is sad that the West Indies did not complete a clean sweep, but with the World Cup looming, it is a question of preparation for that event.

The omission of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from the West Indies squad has raised alarms. The duo perhaps gave the selectors justification with their performances in the T/20 series.

Pundits and others have been up in arms with the omission of the Trinidad and Tobago duo. West Indians are never short of matters centred on conflict.

Fifty years after the collapse of the West Indies Federation, the thread that kept the region together is under threat again. Individual countries are entertaining thoughts of making it on their own, when the trend should be towards solidarity.

This region has contributed to human dignity.

The melting pot which it has turned out to be is a foundation of cultural heritage.

We overlook our prestige and have fallen victim to the trend of isolation which has absorbed the mind.

If we continue this path of divisiveness, we will contribute to the avalanche of abuse and hostility which the rest of the world stands ready to heap on us.

The image has been before us. It is our responsibility to shrug off any tendency to fuel efforts at disintegration.

AFTER INITIALLY BEING SIDE-LINED by the selectors, talented Vincentian batting protégé Sunil Ambris had to depend on an act of fate before eventually being included in the Windwards team for the Nagico Super50.

Ambris, who is seen as the Windwards brightest young batting prospect, arrived on the regional first class scene in 2014, and made his entrance with a debut century against Guyana in the regional Four Day Tournament. He counted another towards the end of the season against Jamaica in the final of the competition. He also represented the West Indies A in Sri Lanka in a series of 50 over matches.

However, Ambris experienced a dip in form in the 2014/15 Professional Cricket League, and was left out of the original Windwards squad for the Trinidad and Tobago hosted tournament.

But, in a dramatic turn of events, the Windwards Selectors were called upon to make a hurried change when, according to reports, Dominica’s Kavem Hodge, who was selected in the original 14, chose to play with the CCC. Ambris, who is currently in Dominica as part of the Windwards Volcanoes Camp, said he was happy to have received the call, and promised to make the most of the opportunity.

The selectors were also called upon to replace Dalton Polius who suffered a knee injury during training.

His place was taken by Taryck Gabriel who was among four reserves named.

The Liam Sebastianled Windwards Volcanoes have been drawn in Zone A of the tournament, alongside defending champions Barbados, Guyana and the CCC. They opened their campaign against

Guyana at the Queen’s Park Oval, in Port of Spain, yesterday, January 15.

The Windwards, winners in 2013, lost all three preliminary matches, (against Barbados, Jamaica and Ireland) in 2014, from positions which they looked to be in the driver’s seat.

The other group, Zone B,sees host Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, the Leewards and West Kavem Indies Under-19 Hodge battling for honours.

The full Windwards opted out and made team reads: Liam room for Sebastian (captain), Ambris’ Miles Bascombe, call-up.

Alston Bobb, Johnson Charles, Craig Emmanuel, Andre Fletcher, Kaveem Hodge, Delorn Johnson, Keddy Lesporis, Mervin Matthew, Kenroy Peters, Dalton Polius, Shane Shilingford and Devon Smith.

Sunil Ambris – some questioned Reserves: Josh Thomas, his omission from the original Kenneth Dember and Keron squad.

Cottoy.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. 25.

News

Agape to re-run ÂAfter the HoneymoonÊ

by KENVILLE HORNE THE AGAPE PERFORMING ARTS Theatre is finetuning preparations for the staging of their first production for 2015.

It will feature a re-run of the group’s highly acclaimed production of the play ‘After the Honeymoon’, written by Stevenson Hyacinth of Dominica.

Kevin Rodriquez, Managing Director of Agape, told a media launch on Tuesday, January 13, at the Methodist Church Hall, Kingstown, that the rerun will take place on February 7 at the Russell’s Auditorium, Stoney Ground, and cited the reason for the re-run as “an opportunity to give persons who have not seen the play, to do so.”

The Agape Performing Arts Theatre has been around for over 17 years and, according to Rodriguez, has made significant inroads in the

local theatre arts landscape.

The group has produced, to date, three DVDs of their stage productions, making them one of only a very few to have done so.

While Agape is associated primarily with plays for the stage, they have also produced dance pieces, and boast a drumming component, in keeping with their objective of broadening their active involvement in other art forms.

“The Agape Performing Arts Theatre is about spreading the message of love through the use of the creative arts,” pronounced Rodriquez.

A major undertaking this year for the group is its partnering with the Ministry Health to highlight the issue of mental illness.

And in addressing the issue, Rodriguez expressed the view that persons with mental health have been

Kevin Rodriguez, Managing Director of Agape Performing Arts Theatre, spoke of his group’s intention to assist with highlighting the issue of mental illness. neglected, and appealed for support for the joint venture.

All things being even, the Agape Performing Arts Theatre will take one of its productions overseas this year.

The group is indebted to the support from NL Sounds and St. Vincent Brewery/Vita Malt for its upcoming production.

Roman Catholics to hold first Synod ROMAN CATHOLICS here will be locked in serious deliberation from January 22 to 25, this when the Kingstown Diocese holds its first Synod.

The Synod, themed ‘Building Community through Word, Eucharist and Service’, opens activities to mark the Diocese’s 25th anniversary.

According to a The historic St. Mary’s R.C. Cathedral will be the venue release issued in the name of Synod for Holy Masses that will begin and end the Synod.

Coordinator Fr. Andrew Roach, ‘The main aim of the the SVG Community College, Villa, Synod would be to develop, inculcate on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th.

The Synod will close with Holy Mass and ensure a spirituality of Word, Eucharist and Service, leading every on Sunday 25th January.

A related activity is scheduled for Catholic on a path to authentic Monday 19th January, this being the human development so as to Synod lecture on the topic ‘Martyrs, revitalize the church and transform deportees, and rebuilders: society.’

Conversations on the R.C. Church in The Synod commences with Holy St. Vincent and the Grenadines’.

Mass at the Cathedral on Thursday The lecture is slated to begin at 22nd January, 2015. The Working 7:00 pm.

Sessions of the Synod will be held at

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26. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Traffickers’ goods stockpiled: Ship overloaded A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION of ground provisions from this country destined for Trinidad and Tobago remained in Kingstown this week.

Bags upon bags of produce were left back at the Kingstown Port last Wednesday, because the one vessel taking the agricultural commodity to Trinidad and Tobago was overloaded.

One trafficker picked up her stuff to return home and disclosed, optimistically, plans of having them shipped next week.

According to one shipping agent, the one vessel transporting goods to Trinidad and Tobago was packed to

capacity, hence the reason for the stockpile.

Another boat, which normally engages in the weekly trade, encountered mechanical problems in Port of Spain last week.

The absence of the additional vessel contributed to the pile up. Reports are that traffickers increased their supply, but with the transport shortage, the situation was further compounded.

The hope is that boats which ply the route and serve the traffickers on a weekly basis, will all be available for next week’s shipment. (WKA)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015. 27.

Classifieds

WENDELL WILLIAMS

0$5< -$&.621

St. Georges Cathedral Kingstown Thursday, 8th January, 2015 3:00 p.m.

Kingstown Methodist Church Monday 12th January, 2015 10:00 a.m.

(/9,6 ³(/'2´ WILLIAMS Mesopotamia Gospel Hall Tuesday 13th January, 2015 3:00 p.m.

PAUL ANDREWS

ALFRED HEPBURN

ELAINE THELMA 6$03621

Mt. Sinai Spiritual Baptist Church Carriere Monday 12th January, 2015 3:00 p.m.

S.D Adventist Church Barrouallie Sunday 11th January, 2015 3:00 p.m.

Evangelical Church Georgetown Sunday 11th January, 2015 3:00 p.m.

F O R

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MURDER CASE DISCONTINUED AGAINST GRENADIAN contacted on Wednesday, that he had written to all the parties involved, informing them of the prosecution’s decision to discontinue proceedings against Grenadian Sheldon ‘Dutch’ Bain.

Proceedings continued against Webster Woodley of Villa, who had been charged jointly with Bain.

Woodley’s matter commenced at the Criminal Assizes on Wednesday with a voirdire (trial within a trial) which was being heard in the absence of the jury, and was adjourned to yesterday (Thursday). He is being Sheldon ‘Dutch’ Bain represented by Attorney was reprieved on one Jomo Thomas. count of murder, but The men were each remains answerable to a sentenced to 25 years in charge of the double murder of Rose Clair prison, February 29, Williams and Lancelott 2010, after they were Williams. convicted on December 2, 2008 of the taxi driver’s murder.

Stories by HAYDN However, on HUGGINS November 23, 2011, the Eastern Caribbean Court THE PROSECUTION has discontinued proceedings of Appeal quashed the convictions, set aside the against one of two men sentences, and ordered a charged in the November retrial. The retrial was 2004 murder of taxi traversed on several operator Peter Joseph of occasions at the Criminal Lodge Village.

Assizes.

Director of Public The appeal was Prosecutions (DPP) Colin upheld primarily on the Williams told THE grounds that the trial VINCENTIAN, when judge allowed prejudicial

evidence, led by the prosecutor, before the jury.

When asked why the matter was discontinued against Bain, the DPP told THE VINCENTIAN, “the assessment of a case against any individual is an ongoing process. If you find that the evidence you have remaining is insufficient to secure a conviction, it doesn’t make sense to continue the matter.”

Meanwhile, Bain’s lawyer. Kay BacchusBrowne, has lauded the

DPP for the decision.

“I highly commend the DPP for doing what is right in the circumstances, because the evidence against Bain was palpably weak.

“That’s what a DPP ought to do, be a minister of Justice, as he did today,” BacchusBrowne told THE VINCENTIAN on Monday after receiving notice of the Prosecution’s decision.

Joseph was gunned down between November 19 and 30, 2004. His

body was discovered in a sheep pen at Cane Hall, a short distance from his vehicle.

Bain remains in custody at Her Majesty’s Prison as he has two other capital matters pending. He is charged separately with the murders of Woodley’s mother, Rose Clair Williams, and his stepfather, Lancelott Williams, who both died in a blaze of gunfire at Redemption Sharpes on December 10, 2004.

Webster Woodley will have to answer to the charge of murder of taxi operator Peter Joseph.

Woodley and Bain are also jointly awaiting trial for the murder of Sion Hill resident Livingston Primus who was gunned down at the Sion Hill intersection on August 22, 2004.

Over $1million worth of cocaine seized A FITZ HUGHES man was on Wednesday offered $500,000 bail with two sureties in connection with the seizure of over $1 million worth of cocaine, during a police operation at Wallibou on the North Leeward side of St. Vincent, last Monday.

Anthony Edwards has been charged with possession of 32,795 grams of cocaine (over 90 pounds) with intent to supply. He is also charged with possession of the drug for the purpose of drug trafficking. The cocaine is said to have a street value of EC$1.6 million.

The charges were laid indictably, and Edwards was not required to plea when he

appeared before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias at the Serious Offences Court on Wednesday.

As part of his bail conditions, Edwards was ordered to surrender all travel documents and report to the Chateaubelair Police Station on Mondays and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, from all reports, is still considered a shipment Fridays. The court also point for cocaine destined for the North made an order for stop American market. notices to be placed at all ports of entry, against Edwards . A Preliminary bail, but requested suitable sureties and conditions.

Inquiry is slated for April 27.

Attorney Grant Connell Senior Prosecutor Adolphus appeared on Edwards’ behalf.

Delpleche had no objections to

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

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.