Vinpages 26 07 13new

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY,

JULY 26, 2013

VOLUME 107, No.30

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

Antonio ‘Que Pasa’ Gellizeau was calm and talkative as he left the dock after being sentenced. of Antonio ‘Que Pasa’ Gellizeau while speaking “IT IS AN HONOUR to be to THE VINCENTIAN tried here on money on Monday, shortly after laundering charges receiving a ten-year instead of on rape prison term in the (charges), and it is an biggest ever money honour for the prosecution laundering case in the to drag me through this Eastern Caribbean. mud instead of nolle The 47-year-old prosequing my case.” businessman was Those were the words sentenced to ten years

by HAYDN HUGGINS

for bringing into the country on the yacht ‘Jotobin’, April 5, 2008, at Calliaqua, US$1.73 million (approximately EC$4.6 million) in cash, the proceeds of criminal conduct. He was also sentenced to ten years in prison for concealing the cash. The sentences, handed down by Justice

Wesley James at the Criminal Assizes, will run concurrently, and the time spent on remand will be taken into account. Gellizeau had already spent 16 months in custody in connection with the matter.

After the sentences were handed down, Gellizeau left the prisoners’ dock with a smile, and spoke briefly to members of the audience while being escorted to the prisoners’ benches.

Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN, Gellizeau commended and thanked his lawyers Shiraz Aziz and Mira Commissiong for “brilliant representation.”

Bermudian seaman Winston Franklyn Robinson, convicted on

similar charges in connection with the same incident, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 9 when his lawyer Alberton Richelieu of St. Lucia is expected to be present.

Aziz told reporters that Gellizeau’s conviction and sentence would be appealed.

“We pushed for sentencing because we cannot appeal the conviction without the sentence,” he explained.

Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson of Trinidad and Tobago, who appeared for the Crown, declined to comment.

Justice Wesley James reminded Counsel for the Defence about the regional and international implications of money laundering.

personal circumstances.

But Justice James rebutted, “Are you aware Defense pleas for that money laundering custodial sentence offences have national and international effects?”

At the sentencing Aziz pointed out that hearing, Aziz there was no direct contended that the Shiraz Aziz (centre) evidence connecting and Mira Commissiong penalty should be the Gellizeau with Robinson, or least possible custodial (right) seen here after linking him to any criminal sentence, given the the sentencing in activity.

He noted there discussion with Senior circumstances that was only circumstantial Counsel and make the case different and inferential evidence.

Prosecutor Gilbert from other money Peterson of Trinidad laundering cases, as Continued on Page 3. and Tobago. well as Gellizeau’s

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2. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Honour

Carlisle Burke sits for the first time in his Madza RX-8.

Carlisle Burke stays the course and wins

by KENVILLE HORNE

CARLISLE BURKE of Chester Cottage is the winner of the EC$67,000 Mazda RX-8 car, the grand prize in the Hairoun ‘Hai Life Promotion’.

The construction worker, who plies his skills in Canouan, selected the correct key to the car, after 11 of the 20 contestants remained ‘holding the car’ after 24 gruelling hours: Yoland Glasgow, one of two from 11:30 am ladies to stay the course, Friday 19th , to putting some of their male 11:30 am Saturday counterparts to shame.

20th July.

The large crowd that turned up at Heritage Square for the unprecedented (local) event, weas surprised to see 11 persons standing at 11:30 am on Saturday, and were even more surprised that two ladies in the competition were among the 11.

Burke said he felt great when his first key entered and unlocked the vehicle.

“I feel real good. I work in the hot sun in Canouan, so I know what is hard work,” Burke said when questioned about his ‘staying power.’

He is still unsure as to how he would be utilizing the car, but he remained firm that it will stay in St. Vincent.

London dismisses slavery comparison During the handing over ceremony of the Mazda RX8 at the St. Vincent Brewery in Campden Park, Tuesday 23rd July, Regional and Commercial Manager at the Brewery, Shafia London defended her company’s decision to hold such a competition.

London-Williams dismissed statements that the competition was a form of slavery, challenging the critics to define slavery.

“It was voluntary,” asserted the Brewery’s regional head, adding, “there are more physical endurance competitions all over the world… the participants knew what it means to ‘hold their own’.”

Interestingly, most of the participants expressed support for the competition, declaring openly that they would do it again.

Yoland Glasgow, from Byrea, one of the last eleven, said she never felt like giving up. “I endured to the end,” she boasted, and pointed out that women are very strong because they carry a child for 9 months.

“Sometimes I was hoping that all the men would drop out and leave me and the other woman to battle it out,” she confessed.

Each of the other ten finalists received a consolation prize of 1 year’s worth of Hairoun beer.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. 3.

News 3

A difficult time for the Police

CAN SVG’S Royal Police Force really spare 80 police officers to replace the existing body (Port Police), subsequent to the controversy headlined in THE VINCENTIAN in recent weeks?

At last check, (police) officers numbered around 950.

In terms of divisions, we have the main body (inclusive of the Criminal Investigation Department), the Rapid Response Unit (RRU), the Special Services Unit (SSU), the Coast Guard, and Tourist Police.

Undoubtedly, we need, in companionship with proper training in sensitivity, the safety valve of counselling for a job all too difficult to begin with.

In the last half a decade, the police have been beleaguered by instances of brutality, and this may be an indirect factor - less quantity of police as

needed.

Here are the facts nonetheless. The police are losing the war on drugs. There are a number of offenders on the high end scale of drug trafficking, who operate scot free. (One cannot fault the recent decision by a prosecuting officer to decry the policy of taxpayers’ dollars to prosecute the individuals who are picked up for one ‘bomb’).

One can understand the connotation of events where a small time grower of weed, barely holding it together, is targeted with ‘sweeps’ in which 5-7 RRU officers take on one small time grower.

We need better police and sadly, more police.

However, the recent developments, as in the case of the shooting of the police officer at the Kingstown Post Office (and the robbery thereof), where a ‘suspect’ former

U N - H E A D L I N E D N E W S

Late Dinner?

Burn the house YOU WON’T LIKE Guy Edward Jones when he’s hungry.

Jones, 60, of West Virginia, allegedly set fire to his home after arguing with his wife, Beverly, over why his dinner wasn’t prepared.

After returning from a night of drinking, Jones became enraged to find his dinner not yet on the table.

Guy Edwards Jones.

When the fight escalated, Mrs. Jones left for a neighbour’s house in an attempt to avoid her husband’s rage. Soon thereafter, she noticed flames coming from the basement of her home and saw Mr. Jones exiting through the basement door.

Guy Jones was arrested, and is being held on charges of first-degree arson. (The Charlestown Gazette)

More police, yes. More quality police, an even bigger yes. national footballer, Dwaine Sandy, who was detained all the way from Grenada on 17th June, then rearrested on the 20th , indicates an ad hoc approach to something as serious as a possible shooting death, and a disorganisation which stems from, as focussed on earlier, lack of sufficient resources and personnel.

The following quote applies — ‘The (Dwaine

Sandy) wanted poster — a malicious and irresponsible act by the Commissioner and his office, an intentional assassination (of) character’.

To wit, in the last few weeks, we have had two other incidents of police officers being shot — one at Rose Place during the scene of an alleged drug bust and the other being a J’Ouvert morning shooting of officer Sunil

Barker.

Police officers are on edge, others are confident and trained, it would seem, to use deadly force much more so than needed.

Profiling happens also.

A friend of mine is targeted because he looks Columbian. There seems to be no modus operandi that is suitable in these, and the (other) incidents described in this article.

What other

explanation, than lack of numbers can there be, as highlighted by other writers in this publication, the very poor response time to dialling 911, (except in Cane Garden).

The police force needs an upgrade, in light of the wave of crime descending on the Vincentian consciousness.

(Contributed)

“It is an honour…” says ‘Que Pasa’ Continued from Page 1.

sentencing

But Justice James responded, “You will know that in every criminal case, the prosecution must prove its case against the defendant; but in certain cases there comes a time when the evidential burden shifts onto the defence.” He noted that when the evidential burden shifts, the accused could give an explanation if he wishes.

Reflecting on the trial, Justice James pointed out that Robinson had said that the money belonged to him, but the court did not believe that.

“It must have appeared to those conducting the trial that the court was not buying that. That was not the court’s view. The court believed that he (Robinson) was carrying it for somebody else,” James contended.

Aziz also highlighted that his client had one previous conviction, having been convicted in another Caribbean country in 1994 for marijuana possession. He pointed to the delay in sentencing on the money laundering charges, his client’s age, and the fact that Gellizeau suffers from a back problem and is diabetic.

Aziz contended that his client was in solitary confinement since 2012, was not allowed outside, and the prison authorities had made him wear prison uniform while he was not under their jurisdiction.

Chief Magistrate Sonya Young, sitting at the Serious Offences Court, had committed Gellizeau and Robinson to the High Court for sentencing, after she found them guilty of the money laundering charges, March 9, 2012.

The charges stemmed from the April 5, 2008 haul of US$1.73 million aboard the yacht Trinidadian Kent Andrews (left) was acquitted ‘Jotobin’, in but Bermudian Winston Franklyn Robinson Vincentian waters. (right) will hear his sentence on October 9.

There was evidence from the both. prosecution that Gellizeau had Gellizeau still has another purchased the ‘Jotobin’ from one hurdle to cross. He is awaiting a Antonio Genchie. Gellizeau was confiscation hearing scheduled for not aboard the yacht when the October 9. An application for search was conducted.

Gellizeau’s assets was filed the The men were charged under same day he and Robinson were the Proceeds of Crime and Money convicted.

Laundering Act 2001.

The confiscation application, Kent Andrews, 39, of Trinidad which was prepared by the office and Tobago, who was also charged of the Director of Public in connection with the cash haul, Prosecutions (DPP) in conjunction was acquitted. In the High Court, with the Financial Intelligence conviction for Money Laundering Unit (FIU). has been made in carries a maximum penalty of 20 relation to approximately EC$10 years in prison and/or an million believed to be Gellizeau’s unlimited fine. In the Magistrate’s benefits from criminal conduct. court, the maximum penalty is This includes vehicles, houses, five years behind bars or a fine or yachts and cash.

Guilty but referred for

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4. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Courts

DPP says Frederick not different Frederick.

But the DPP told reporters on Wednesday, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC “There is no difference PROSECUTIONS (DPP) between Vynnette COLIN WILLIAMS SAYS Frederick and hundreds THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE of other Vincentians. between opposition New Police arrest people while Democratic Party (NDP) they are sleeping. Police Senator Vynnette go for people in the Frederick and hundreds of night.” other Vincentians.

About two and a half Some persons have hours after three charges expressed the view that of making false the manner in which declarations and three Frederick was refor false swearing, arrested, July 11, while involving the senator, having lunch at a were struck out at the restaurant in Kingstown, Serious Offences Court was uncalled for and the July 11, she was resituation could have been arrested, the charges dealt with differently, in reinstituted, and three light of the fact that she additional charges were is a senator and lawyer laid against her. by profession.

Frederick had told Some felt the event THE VINCENTIAN that was designed to no less than eight police humiliate and embarrass

Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

officers, including one woman, came for her.

“They asked me to accompany them and I declined the invitation.

They produced no warrant and they took me with them. They were trying to pull me out my seat, compelling me to go with them, a man on one side and a woman on the other side, and they took me with them. I sat between two police officers in the back of the transport and there were two in front,” Frederick had recalled.

The DPP had refuted claims that Senator’s arrest was unlawful, and a Vynnette Frederick was re-arrested warrant was required hours after charges against her were to arrest her. struck out.

Colin Williams, DPP, says Vynnette Frederick is no different from hundreds of other Vincentians.

New ACP committed to national security FORMER PERSONAL AND CHIEF SECURITY OF PRIME MINISTER DR. RALPH GONSALVES, CHRISTOPHER ‘BENJI’ BENJAMIN, recently promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police, in Charge of Operations, says he is committed to the security of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Benjamin, who was elevated from Superintendent, took up duties in his new capacity from July 16.

The police officer of 26 years said that, having been a member of the Special Services Unit (SSU) for eleven years, and having done all the

training of the Regional Security System, moulded him into a “rounded military man”.

He recalled that his most memorable experience was in 1994 when he was part of a Vincentian contingent of police officers who went to Haiti as part of a peace-keeping force, involving several countries around the world, when President Bertram Aristide was reinstated.

Benjamin said he grew up in a Christian home, was baptised with the Kingdom Life Ministry of Barrouallie, but worships with any church.

He sees no conflict between his Christian upbringing and being a military man. He

views his military role as a duty to his country and people.

“I believe promotion comes from God. He has a purpose for my existence. Life is fully in his hands, so he is charting the course,” Benjamin explained.

Benjamin, who joined the Constabulary in 1987, was attached to the Prime Minister’s security detail from 2001 to 2011, following which he headed the Special Branch, the post he held at the time of his recent appointment.

Benjamin had also worked at the Kingstown and Arnos Vale branches of the Fire Department and at the Calliaqua Police Station. “I have a rich

background in the force,” he boasted.

However, many Vincentians may best remember Benjamin, popularly known as ‘Benji’, when he was PM Gonsalves’ personal security. He was oftentimes referred to as ‘the Prime Above: Newly Minister’s appointed ACP, bodyguard’.

Christopher ‘Benji’ Benjamin is Benjamin, boasts of one of two new having a rich Assistant background in the Commissioners Police Force. of Police. The other is Carlos Inset: Carlos Sampson Sampson who has also been promoted to was also elevated from Assistant Commissioner of Superintendent.

Police.

Lawyer disappointed in Bar Association ATTORNEY GRANT CONNELL HAS said the issue involving Sandy was a EXPRESSED CONCERN about the matter for the Human Rights absence of a release or input by the Association. local Bar Association and the Human Sandy was detained on two Rights Association with respect to the occasions last month for questioning recent arrest and re-arrest, without in connection with the robbery of a charges, of his client, Dwayne Sandy. postal clerk and shooting of a police Connell voiced his feelings at the officer, during an incident which conclusion of the Criminal Assizes on occurred in Kingstown June 13. On Tuesday. both occasions he was released “I am not the voice of the Bar, but I without charges. express my disappointment in the Bar Sandy had denied knowledge of the Association’s silence on issues in incident, claiming he was in Grenada recent times. I hate to think that I had at the time. to flavour it with a little political pepper to get their attention. That is unfortunate,” Connell said.

When contacted later, Connell told THE VINCENTIAN that the issue involving Sandy, a former national goalkeeper, would be further addressed. He disclosed that Sandy’s passport, which was confiscated, was returned last week and his client could begin to Attorney Grant live a normal life again.

Connell implied that Dwayne Sandy was Connell, however, revealed the matter involving there are other issues which would his client might have arrested on two be addressed shortly. been more attractive occasions and relased without When contacted, President of if it had a political being charged. the Bar Association, Linton Lewis, flavour.

V More money for LIAT

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. 5.

Regional

LAST WEEK WAS SOMETHING of a bumper week for LIAT’s effort to capitalize its Fleet

Left: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit made no bones about the advantages in attracting Venezuelan investment in LIAT.

Modernisation Project.

Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, got the week off to a good start, with an announcement that his government would be making another financial contribution to the Caribbean carrier.

The second ATR 72-600 aircraft arrived in Antigua on July 8, 2013.

In making that announcement, Prime Minister Skerrit also whet the appetite of shareholder governments when he revealed that Venezuela had expressed an interest in investing in the regional air carrier.

“I believe it is an absolutely good move if we were to get Venezuela to invest in LIAT to provide LIAT with the much needed financial and technical support that it requires. It could also mean additional business for LIAT,” Skerrit said. “If we could get Conviasa to service flights from Brazil and from Venezuela and all the Latin and South American countries and transport them to a hub in the Caribbean and then take them to their respective destinations

within the Caribbean, then it means additional business for LIAT.” The revelation comes a few months after PetroCaribe member states discussed the possibility of enhancing air service in the region, according to Venezuelan Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez.

In further ‘good news’, LIAT headquarters announced at the bottom of last week, that the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) will provide loans totalling US 65 million dollars to four shareholder governments of regional airline LIAT (Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Dominica), to assist with the purchase of aircraft in the context of a Fleet Modernisation Project.

The loan agreements provide for the loans to

be on-lent to, and repaid by, LIAT over a thirteenyear period, following a grace period of two years.

Co-financing for the Project is being provided by shareholder equity contributions and from the sale of LIAT’s existing aircraft.

To date, LIAT has taken possession of two new ATR 72-600 aircraft, giving tangible evidence that the Fleet Modernisation Project has begun.

LIAT is owned by a group of Caribbean governments, including Grenada as a minor shareholder. Its principal shareholders include Barbados, Antigua, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica.

The latter three are members of Venezuela’s ALBA Alliance.

CARICOM reparations effort raises concern THE UK-BASED PAN—AFRIKAN Reparations Coalition of Europe (PARCOE) has voiced concern about the approach being taken by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in establishing National Reparations Committees.

At the recently concluded CARICOM Heads of Government Conference in Trinidad, the leaders agreed to set up national reparations committees in each of the 15 member states as a first step toward tackling an issue that was previously ignored.

PARCOE commends the effort, but warns, in a letter to CARICOM from PARCOE’s Co-Vice Chair Esther Roniyah StanfordXosei, “that the top down approach being taken to this issue will end up not achieving the reparations’ aspirations of the masses of Afrikan descendants and indigenous citizens in the Caribbean.”

It called for efforts to be made “to enable the facilitation of constructive engagement, dialogue, debate and deliberation within and between civil society, non-governmental organisations and social movements across the

respective Caribbean nations in the region to allow for the negotiation of the best reparations common interest.

PARCOE also voiced concern about the decision to enlist the services of law firm Leigh Day & Co to provide a legal brief in order to present a case for reparations for Caribbean slavery and Native genocide to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

PARCOE believes that the decision was based on the law firm’s role in securing compensation for thousands of Kenyans from the nationalist Mau Mau movement, who were tortured in the anticolonial uprising in the 1950s.

“We fear, what we in PARCOE consider to be, a dubious move on the part of Leigh Day & Co. …. they appear to have wormed their way into the confidence of Caribbean state authorities in order to once again misrepresent Afrikans and people of Afrikan descent on an issue of vital importance to our very survival.”

The organisation urged Caribbean leaders to engage consultations with

Esther Roniyah Stanford-Xosei, PARCOE’s Co-Vice Chair. all Afrikans and people of Afrikan descent in the various countries of the Caribbean, as well as with Afrikans and people of Afrikan descent living in the British Isles and other countries in Europe.

(Source: Caribbean 360.)

The PARCOE has concerns about CARICOM’s ‘top-down approach’ to the issue if reparations.

V Private sector must get involved 6. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

News

we have something to offer.”

The event, held last Saturday and A BUSINESSWOMAN and member of the Sunday by the Ministry of Tourism, Coordinating Committee of the 2013 Sports and Culture in conjunction with Cultural Festival held at the Kingstown the Port Authority, showcased a wide Cruise Terminal last weekend, wants the range of Vincentian creative talent in private sector here to get involved in the craft, music (steelband), drumming, areas of agro-processing and craft. dancing, folklore, fashions, modelling Jan Fernandez, who was born in the and food.

United Kingdom but has been living Fernandez was highly impressed here for 13 years, described the craft with what was displayed, and would produced in St. Vincent and the like to see an international market for Grenadines as “second to none in the these products and services.

Caribbean,” which could be sold “The thing I love about Vincy crafts throughout the world. people and cooks is that they are Fernandez, a beauty therapist and enthusiastic and optimistic about their owner of ‘Time out Café’ at the Cruise trade, that’s why they came out today; Ship Terminal, told THE they came out in their droves,” VINCENTIAN, “We got to build Fernandez said. She thinks the awareness. We got a melting pot of business sector should play a vibrant culture here, but we have to build the role in the development of Vincentian awareness for our tourists to see that

by HAYDN HUGGINS

culture.

“I want to see the private sector develop in the areas of agro-processing and craft. I would like to see the development of a canning industry here and an international market for our goods and services,” Fernandez, who worked in the area of Financial Cooperate Public Relations in the UK, declared.

Fernandez also called for more cultural activities to be held here to “Keep Vincy business vibrant.”

She noted that a gate fee of $5.00 was collected at last weekend’s event and the profit would go to the Paediatric Ward at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.

Businesswoman Jan Fernandez The Coordinating Committee wants to see greater involvement of comprised representatives from the the private sector in the arts/crafts Ministry of Culture and Port industry here.

Authority, as well as shop owners and employees at the Cruise Ship Nicole Hazell of the Port Authority Terminal. headed the committee.

Diamond resident still waiting on road From Backpage.

around me squatting now and have better road than they want to give he would be “completing the me.” barricading”.

Jones is still hoping that the “So now I paying the consequences. matter will be dealt with before the Although I build in the right way, ah new school term begins, so that her me the enemy. Is real uncomfortable two youngest children, 10-year-old especially when persons want to come Josh and 5-year old Denzil can get by me,” she moaned. safely to and from school.

Jones is obviously frustrated by “I would really like to get my road, the lack of a proper road. “I don’t feel so that my children could get access comfortable walking through people to a road to get to school, cause I am yard,” she said, adding, “I have gone block(ed) everywhere,” Jones pleaded. to Girlyn Miguel, BRAGSA, Housing THE VINCENTIAN was unable to and Land, write to the Prime get a comment or clarification from Minister, but nobody responding to Chief Surveyor Ollivierre. He, me. I need two wings to fly or I need according to his secretary, was out of a helicopter to get out of here. People the state.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. 7.

News

COP Miller celebrated

towards soliciting feedback and recommendations for developing special and adequate laws to deal more effectively with the problems of theft of agricultural produce and livestock; the drive to have community policing

Keith Miller accepts a parting token from National Security Advisor, Sir Vincent Beache.

PRIME MINISTER and Minister of National Security, Dr.Ralph Gonsalves, has described Commissioner of Police, Mr. Keith Miller, who proceeded on preretirement leave on Monday, July 15, 2013, as an excellent commissioner of police.

Dr.Gonsalves, along with Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Mr.Godfred Pompey, and Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, Sir Vincent Beache, were among several persons who expressed well wishes to COP Miller at his last meeting with the Officer Corp of the Royal St.Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force on Friday, July 12, 2013.

Well wishes also came from Mr. Michael Charles, who was appointed Commissioner of Police, in an acting capacity with effect from July 16, 2013, as well as from Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr.Reynald Hadaway and Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr. Frankie Joseph.

The Prime Minister credited COP Miller for leading an organization that has done fairly well, when compared to other Caribbean states, in solving homicides and

reducing crime throughout St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

And as far as the future is concerned, Prime Minister Gonsalves said he doesn’t think that the nation has heard the last of Keith Miller. He said that he believes when Commissioner Miller completes his Bar exam and is entitled to practise law, there will be several positions open to him in the Caribbean.

“People will love to get an experienced policeman, who has legal training, to practise at the Bar, to be a magistrate, to work at this or that security agency in the region,” Dr. Gonsalves posited.

Addressing his last meeting with the general body of the Royal St.Vincent and the Grenadines Police, Commissioner Miller thanked God for preserving him during his tenure, as well as Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves for having confidence in him.

He encouraged the general body to build on his achievements during his tenure, achievements inclusive of: consultations throughout St. Vincent and the

COP Keith Miller (at head of table) being toasted at his last meeting with the Officer Corp of the Royal SVG Police Force. in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; as well as ensuring that the Pan Against Crime Programme was implemented as

mandated by the Ministry of National Security.

Keith Miller’s tenure as Commissioner of Police spanned eight

years and brings his years, of service as a police officer to 34 years and 10 months. (Source: Police Public Relations Department)

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8. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. 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

A tale of two cultural activities A TALE OF TWO cultural activities Kudos to those who worked beyond the call of duty, to save some face for the Minister of Culture!

Ces Mc Kie, Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture it was, who had promised a gala ‘Exposition of our Culture and Industry’ for the Diamond Industrial Estate, an activity akin to one hosted earlier in the year by Invest SVG. This one though, targeted at the returning nationals and visitors ‘hanging over’ from the carnival festivities.

Whatever the reason(s) that gala exposition was not staged is(are) all up in an air of speculation; but there must, among all other ‘red herrings’ that will be thrown up, be the speculation that the Minister may not have had a budgetary allocation for his grand plan, and that it turned out to be folly to rely on private sector sponsorship for a carnival spin-off activity, that didn’t speak to immediate returns.

He will learn that ‘special warrants’ are hard to come by these days, those privileges seemingly reserved for other, more important undertakings like the construction of the international airport.

He will learn also, now that he has had a taste of the value of the scaled down activity, that the success of the inaugural ‘Culture Fest,’ nonetheless, is enough on which to begin planning another; and that an early inclusion in the 2014 advance budget proposals for ‘Culture Fest 2014’ should work in his favour.

But all’s well that ends well. Thanks to overly committed middle and lower functionaries in Mc Kie’s Ministry and the Port Authority, ‘Culture Fest 2013’ looks set to become another window of opportunity to display our industriousness.

As the Minister posited, ‘It is something on which to build’.

And while we make mention of returning nationals and visitors to our Carnival, ‘Vincy Mas - The Hottest Carnival in the Caribbean’, those whose job it is to plan, organize and ensure that visitors, especially returning nationals, continue to come for this heightened period of activity, must now take heed of what is happening among Vincentians in the Diaspora; what is unfolding that might just be mitigating factors in their promotion drives.

The largest gathering of Vincentian nationals and their off-spring in one spot outside of SVG is now the annual Vincy Unity Picnic held on the St. Lawrence River, in Western Ontario, Canada. So much so, it has had a ripple effect of encouraging a similar activity in Brooklyn, New York.

Those responsible for Vincy Mas and its survival must take stock of the fact that many of those non-resident Vincentians who, in earlier times, would not have not missed a Vincy Mas, have not only grown older but have become tempered in their choice of recreational activity. They now see the Unity Picnic as a viable alternative to Vincy Mas. And school is still out with respect to how much Vincy Mas means to the off-spring of those early journeymen and women.

The Vincy Unity Picnic follows closely on the heels of Vincy Mas, making it a cheap alternative as a summer getaway. And the fact that it involves only a weekend, it does not affect adversely the vacation schedules of Vincentian nationals living abroad; not to mention the cushion, safety net, that its provides for their disposable incomes and hard-earned savings.

News abounds about the increasing number of Vincentian nationals who travel from the US, and even England, to revel in the camaraderie (of the picnic) that they would not necessarily find during Carnival.

And it appears, without empirical data, that Vincentians resident in Canada are staying put, spending less for a taste of the homeland. (It would be interesting to examine the figures for returning nationals from Canada for Vincy Mas, over the last five years.)

So where does this leave Vincy Mas? Is Vincy Mas to be allowed to develop into a ‘residents thing’, a period given over to the resident population and a few visitors from neighbouring islands to ‘let off steam’?

Already there is much talk about how our Carnival is losing its culture; that it is in fast and furious nose dive to becoming one big street party.

Time that we realize that Vincentian nationals residing abroad cannot be taken for granted. If we want, as Antigua has successfully been able to do, attract large, meaningful numbers of non-resident Vincentians to Vincy Mas, we must take a good, hard and long look at what those non-residents are doing among themselves, and stand up and ask: Are we in competition with ourselves? If we are, how can we rectify this?

This is not a job for the CDC only nor is it a Ministry of Culture thing. This has to be a multi-sectoral, non-partisan effort to reach every Vincentian at home and abroad, before Vincy Mas implodes.

Ah writing de Comrade Letter in “The Vincentian” by Otto Sam 25th May 2001 I HAVE PULLED THIS LETTER from my personal archives as I thought it would make interesting reading round about this time.

Otto as The Comrade’s Acolyte “I am writing out of concern over certain developments since the general election.

I support the Comrade, then now and in the future. I could have called your house to share these concerns but I wanted the “honourable” E.G Lynch and others to know that the populace gave you, the ULP, the mandate to implement changes.

Comrade, I believe that the ULP is acting like a timid child who is afraid of ghosts.

Fifty seven percent of the people who votednot only for work, nor poor relief, nor galvanise and lumber but for change, in most cases instant change. For example, the policemen who sang, supported and danced when the ULP won wanted change in their institution. They voted against the manner which the Commissioner was appointed, prior to the 1998 general elections. They voted against the system of appointment. They voted against the manner in which Horace Williams “eye balled” and assaulted you. They want change now..

Comrade, we love, respect and support you, but we resent healing and togetherness before exposing, cleansing and purging. If those sores heal like that they would “force well” with inflammation in them. As you know Comrade, corruption was a main issue in the last campaign, and we supported and still supporting the exposure, and the bringing to justice of the corrupt elements.

Expose all the former ministers who owe Marketing Board Supermarket, all who stole government land for 40 cents per square foot, all those who held monies from the Canouan developers that should be in the Treasury.

Comrade, ask Audrey Scott, Denniston Douglas, Dr. Ambrose and any comrade on the ground and their work places, ULP warriors are dissatisfied at the pace at which things are going! They find that the match is boring! They want action! Labour now!!! People, ULP stalwarts are questioning if Sir James negotiated an amnesty for his buccaneers.

Comrade, in 1984 when Sir James won, he immediately moved to crush the SVLP by exposing all wrong doing and dragging Arthur Williams before the Courts. That virtually killed Labour! People never trusted them again!

That is why NDP was able to last so long and even put up such a fight in the last elections although the majority wanted them out, it took your energy and skills, the statesmanship of Vincentians and the struggles of all workers in a people’s movement to rid this nation of the evil, corrupt and wicked NDP regime!

Crush them now! Owen Arthur exposed and crushed the DLP before speaking of inclusiveness. Even the fledgling NDP in his country died in the process and DR. Richie Haynes lined up with Arthur. Dr. Denzil Douglas crushed PAM and Dr. Kennedy Simmonds by exposing and investigating immediately after his victory. Comrade you and the ULP need to do the same. Local elections are forthcoming and if there are not rapid movements to expose and investigate the past, ULP supporters might go on the beach while the 41% of NDP will go voting! They are together! You notice that they boycotted

fisherman’s day which they created? Labour now, now! ...

Comrade! You see the embarrassment the education officials nearly caused at Prep School? You had to suggest negligence, incompetence! Yes square pegs! Retire them in the nation’s interest. They cannot do their jobs!

That’s Change! Comrade how do we explain CWSA Manager slamming the phone on a minister and Jeannie Olliverre blatantly refusing to implement the hundred days programme? Together now!!!

Comrade clean up the mess. You have the mandate. Forget about E.G Lynch and the people who supported “peace party” . Labour calls for action! Give us what we voted for change! Do not be afraid! We support the Comrade yesterday, today and in the future”.

Amen A Few Comments Otto Sam expressed these sentiments within two months of the ULP winning the 2001 election. He was obviously intoxicated with power and could not wait for a balanced assessment of the situation, but called for immediate action to control, curb and eradicate the NDP without more! Victimisation, pure and simple.

In fact, he bellowed his support of the “Comrade, then, now and in the future”. He handed him a blank- cheque which he doubledup at the end. “Labour calls for action. Give us what we voted for — change. Do not be afraid.

(Again) “We support the Comrade yesterday, today, and in the future”.

During the road-block revolution, there were many illegal marches. At one in Arnos Vale, a policeman Horace Williams in trying to restore order only looked sternly at Comrade, thus committing the grave sin of “eye-balling” the anointed, and was condemned for that, and Otto was begging his Comrade not to forget, or forgive that insult!

Above all, Otto was against Ralph’s clarion call for togetherness. He wanted cleansing before a healing that produced “force-well” sores that create abscesses on the body politic.

His leader must first attend to the wanton corruption that they glibly talked about before they could talk about reconciliation.

Sad thing is that Otto has now found that he was part of the mess, and has been treated as such by his hero. The populace should ensure that Otto gets his justice which is being denied him. But one must go no further in embracing him. The Otto type could well turn out to be gallis bait in our current context of devilish political war. He once hinted that he was only a telephone call away from the Comrade!

Vynnette’s case is only the most recent of several that the comrade planned or countenanced against political enemies with his chorus that included Otto up to yesterday producing a well-rehearsed refrain of praise.

Now, Otto gets a taste of his prescribed medicine, “hoisted by his own petard”.

Vynnette’s case is raging on. P.R has remonstrated not with the actual legality, but with the crudity, callousness and lack of dignity which attended Vynnette’s last arrest. After all Vynnette is a human being, Parnel warned.

In Ralph’s words, Vynnette is a citizen, which is the highest status in a democracy.

That system cries out for decency, dignity and decorum, especially when the state confronts an individual.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. 9.

Views

Alfred Charles remembers ÂBageÊ Lucas WELLINGTON ‘Bage’ Lucas first appeared on the Victoria Park in the late 1940s, playing football for the famous Colts, at wing half.

He represented St. Vincent at home and away on several occasions, and was a member of the first St. Vincent team to win a ‘POPHAM’ match.

After Colts was disbanded, he played for Reef Club, Falcons, Castrols, Geest Stars and Spartaks, then he retired.

Having to pass Victoria Park on his way home every evening, and looking at the guys training, he could not resist Mike Findlay’s call to come out of retirement, so he

played a few games for ‘Saints’, then he hung up his boots for good.

By then, he played at ‘full back’. ‘Alias’, as he was called on tour, (‘Babs’ Jones gave him that name) was an outstanding full-back, and it was always a difficult task to get through Castrol’s defence, with ‘Bage’ Lucas and George ‘Chucker’ Bailey in front of Eldon Bramble in goal.

‘Bage’ is a piece of history, having played in the first Sunday afternoon match under the auspices of the St. Vincent Amateur Football Association, at Victoria Park.

That match was Castrol vs

Juniors.

‘Bage’ was not only a footballer, he was also a merchant seaman. He was a crew-member of the ill-fated Amanda T when she was cut in halves by a steam ship.

Alfred Charles, the man who wrote the foregoing sketch on ‘Bage’ Lucas, has himself made a tremendous contribution, a giant contribution, to our nation, in the area of sport. The records bear this out.

In addition, he is a veritable human repository, a bank of information, relating to the last seventy years of our history.

Many of these sportsmen and sportswomen hardly received any material rewards, and some of them were barely “making it” when death struck.

This is an opportune time to draw the nation’s attention to the remembering of those persons here described, who have made tremendous contributions to the lifting of our national psyche and pride.

We all know what their performances meant to us.

In the context of nation building, it is pertinent to compare, or contrast, the buoyancy of spirit which the efforts of our sports men and

women stirred in us, against the humiliation and crippling embarrassment that those allegations of rape against our Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves caused our citizens around the globe. What pain!

Let us now therefore, not be indifferent to the needs of those sportsmen and sportswomen who are yet among us. The National Lottery is no doubt well placed to take note and offer the necessary relief.

LeRoy Providence

Come clean on Buccama

A Karib Cable SVG Customer Inquiry?

GOOD morning, Karib Cable: I was in your office on 7/19/2013 and paid my bill. Yeah, you guys gave me a discount. But I am sorry I can’t keep my mouth shut when I keep paying my dues and Karib cable (KC) is failing miserably in providing fiber optics quality internet service.

It is approx. 4:25 am 7/20/2013. I took three speedtest.net tests between 4 am & 4.30 am today, when the whole country was asleep.

To my surprise, I am not even getting half of what I am supposed to

get. Ideally, it should be 2 Mb down and 512Kb up on a fiber Optic Network. Your organization is robbing me of my bandwidth, and the funny thing is, I can’t do anything about it, but keep paying you what you ask me to pay. Is the National Regulatory Commission which takes care of Nation’s Communication infrastructure and services blind?

Well, with my naked eyes I see a coaxial cable in my house and speed not even close to what I am supposed to get during the day, at night

or in between.

In simple language: Cable Internet in St. Vincent ‘sucks’. I don’t give care if Columbus will come and save St Vincent. At present I, the consumer, have to suffer and pay full price for your unreliable service.

The QOS on your network is very erratic; the circuit bounces like a ping ball; it is not symmetric at all. There is line noise, and because of fallout, those great ‘Quality VOIP Calls’ are non-existent.

The situation I describe has been going on since last December.

Yes, the service improved for a couple days, but then it went down south again. I care if your equipment failed or water went into the repeater or someone chopped your wire. You as a national carrier should be monitoring your network and bandwidth, 24/7, and if you can’t, I am providing you a free service, almost 24x7.

I am not seeking an apology. I need this fixed ASAP, in 24-48 hours, and to be financially compensated.

Anshu Singh Have a great weekend 784.496.8226

punish those exploiters (v21).

They will be rounded up and put in prison (v22). What happened to the former leaders of Libya and Egypt is part of the prophecy.

The prophecy is there for heeding.

THIS ONE is short and sour, Mr. Editor.

Would somebody please come clean and honest about the situation at the Buccama Resort?

All the runours about the Resort not being able to meet its debts, how it owing this one and that one, and that all construction has ceased there, and how a company buy out all the heavy duty equipment, somebody needs to clear the air.

The Resort is important to tourism in this country. After all, did the authorities not say how much it would mean after the international airport opens?

The question: Is the Resort in trouble or not?

Christian Democrat

Concerned Citizen

Prophecies unfolding * Has any of those $$ collected as the Carnival Alcohol Tax been handed over to Carnival Development Corporation? If so, how much? * Why are persons asking Man-AboutTown if Linton Lewis will join the NDP march planned for today? Why don’t they check the march to see for themselves? * How are investigations going with respect to that police officer who was shot during J’Ouvert morning?

Any truth in the rumour that he was shot by another officer? * When is Frankie McIntosh going to be properly recognized for his contribution to music in the Caribbean? Are we going to wait for some other territory to do it for us?

WE ARE LIVING in the most unique age in human history; the age when most of the Bible’s major prophecies are unfolding.

1. II Timothy 3:1-5. We will allow the readers to read the texts in different translations.

The words in the texts are for present day people. There has never been any age in human history that will suit this prophecy as the age in which we live. For instance: lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. In this age, the newspapers, magazines, books, radios, TV are filled to capacity with pleasure times; the villages and towns are hotels for pleasure, while the house of the Lord is almost empty.

Product of perilous time: Who is to blame? The religious and political systems that divided and rule us for many ages. From around BC539 when Nebuchadnezzar took world political power, followed by the Medo-Persian (Iran/Iraq), 331BC, the Greek empire with Alexander the Great, 168BC ending with Rome, the world has experienced many social religious, economic and political changes, hence the norms from those Babylonian governments.

Satanic rule: After the end of the transatlantic slave system in

the 1800s, the world experienced two world wars (1914 — 1918 and 1939 — 1945). Since then, we in the west have experienced or been influenced by two main political elements — capitalism and communism, while the east had (have) a 3rd, Islam. Those two systems are satanic in nature.

The capitalist system teaches ‘in God we trust’, yet in the heart of the USA school system, godly principles are not being taught.

The communist system teaches ‘there is no creator — God’ and upholds evolution. Both cases are proof of satanic rule.

2. James 5: 1-5, brightens this prophecy which has its remarkable fulfilment in the last 150 years or so. But this is a matter of general knowledge.

Labour troubles, strikes, sickouts, etc. by the working class, in demand for higher wages and better working condition, and the concentration of wealth, are matters which developed in the past 150 years. The above prophecy is against those (governments and private sectors) who exploited and continue to exploit their workers. This prophecy is in connection with Isaiah 24. God said that he will

That West Indies cricket team..

Mr. Editor, something must be wrong with us psychologically. Come hell or high water, we sit in front of our television screens and watch the West Indies cricket team make fools of themselves.

Yes, fools! Remember the great Pollard who only had to let the ball go, but chose instead to hit it for six, in the Champion’s League against South Africa, and was caught out in the process, causing the team to be eliminated?

Well, that is only one of a set of ‘stupidness’ that we continue to do in our cricket.

And the height of the ‘stupidness’ was when Sammy was replaced as captain. Just when the man really getting into the job, the

‘great’ selectors ‘ups’ and replace him with Dwayne Bravo. Bravo can’t even set a field, and don’t talk about using his bowlers. The man is a lost case. Look how he fuss with the umpire last Sunday. The man has no class, as my dead mother would have said.

Time we get rid of all those so called great players — Gayle, Pollard, Bravo - and start afresh with Sammy as captain in all formats of the game. Is better we lose with a group of upcoming players who are prepared to develop than to stick with those who are only interested in playing for the money.

Cricket Dog

V

10. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

NDP’s nonsense on the The NDP is ready Frederick’s criminal charges The Issue THE RECENT, LAWFUL ARREST of the NDP’s Vynnette Frederick on a series of criminal charges relating to “false swearing amounting to perjury” and “fabricating evidence with intent to mislead the Court”, has evoked an unjustified avalanche of political selfrighteousness from the opposition NDP. The simple truth is that Frederick has been the author of her own misfortune: She lied in several affidavits in the High Court and Court of Appeal arising from a matter in which she unsuccessfully tried to pillory Comrade Ralph in a complaint before the Magistrates’ Court. It is on account of her falsehoods in the Court proceedings that the DPP’s Office has laid charges against her. “False swearing” contrary to Section 96 of the Criminal Code carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment; “fabricating evidence” carries a maximum punishment of seven years under Section 101 of the Code. These criminal offenses are particularly serious for a barrister like Frederick.

She is of course innocent until proven guilty; she is entitled to that presumption of innocence, and must be treated fairly and equally as every other person before the law; no better, no worse.

Some of NDP’s mock outrage is focussed on the mode of her lawful arrest after the original “false swearing” charges were “thrown out” by the Magistrate, without any evidence being heard, on the ground of legal technicality. This is not the first, and is unlikely to be the last time, that the DPP’s office or Police in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Britain or other Commonwealth jurisdictions would so act. Similarly, the adding of fresh charges is not a legal novelty. The Court of Law will finally determine Frederick’s guilt or innocence. Thus, we will not get into the merits or the detriments of the substance of the charges themselves.

That is for the various lawyers and the Law Courts to pronounce upon.

We will, however, say something about what is already part of the public record and what brought the situation to its current maturation.

The Background The background of all this is Frederick’s initiation of a private criminal complaint against Ralph Gonsalves in which she alleged that Ralph had made a false statement against her at a public meeting at Park Hill in August, 2010, for the purpose of affecting her negatively as a prospective election candidate, contrary to Section 51(3) of the Representative of the People’s Act. The Chief Magistrate threw out this complaint against Comrade Ralph as being “frivolous and vexatious”. If Frederick had left the matter alone, that would have been the end of another of these trumped-up charges against Comrade Ralph, devoid of any merit whatsoever. But no, she and the NDP wanted “blood”, the Comrade’s “blood”, so to speak. After all, this complaint against the Comrade, if it had succeeded at a Court trial, would have meant a fine of $750 against him or one year in jail

AND his removal as the representative for North Central Windward and a ban on him as a candidate for 5 years. In short, what the NDP could not do in a free and fair election, they wanted to do through the Law Courts. The NDP, through their various members, had also brought private criminal charges against Clayton Burgin, Ces Mc Kie, and Douglas Slater.

So, having been stung by the Chief Magistrate’s refusal to entertain a “frivolous and vexatious” complaint against the Comrade, Frederick turned to the High Court. She applied for leave to issue a process of judicial review or appeal of the Chief Magistrate’s decision. She swore to affidavit evidence; that is, evidence in writing, and obtained the leave of the High Court on the basis of her affidavit evidence. The Chief Magistrate appealed against this ruling of the High Court to the Court of Appeal in which proceedings Frederick also swore affidavit evidence. The problem for Frederick, however, is that it soon emerged that what she swore to as being the truth, it was otherwise; her alleged “facts” were shown to be false, to be not true!

It is a very serious matter for anyone to ‘swear falsely amounting of perjury” or to “fabricate evidence with intent to deceive any Court”; it goes to the heart of the administration of justice. These untruths are what the DPP’s Office is alleging that Frederick concocted!

When Frederick was caught in her own web of falsehoods, she sought to exonerate herself by stating that the untruths which she alleged against Comrade Ralph were innocent errors made unintentionally and inadvertently. The judgment of the Court of Appeal commented adversely on Frederick’s untruthfulness. It was clear that she had obtained “leave” for judicial review from the High Court judge principally because she misled the High Court with her affidavit evidence of untruth. The Court of Appeal overturned the ruling of the High Court. Frederick, for whatever reason, even in light of the Court of Appeal’s factual finding, is still seeking to challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision before the Privy Council. Is she being wrong and strong?

NDP’S political nonsense In the light of all of the above facts, right-thinking persons are dismayed at the NDP’s ridiculous politicisation of this issue and its absurd portrayal of Vynnette Frederick as a persecuted victim. The only person whom the NDP sought to make a victim was Comrade Ralph through Frederick’s bare-faced falsehoods against him in her criminal complaint and in her affidavits before the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Continued on Page 12.

THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY (NDP) is ready to take the reins of government in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The ULP has failed Vincentians, and once again the electorate is calling for the NDP to govern the country.

The massive show of support for the NDP at its recent public meetings in Langley Park, North Windward; and Layou, Central Leeward, is a clear indication that most Vincentians are dissatisfied with the state of affairs in our blessed land. Hence, the protest march and picketing by the NDP on Friday, 26th July, 2013 in Kingstown to highlight a number of burning issues that affect Vincentians.

The NDP will be protesting against the treatment that was handed down to Senator Vynnette Frederick by the police, when nine (9) police officers arrested Senator Frederick a couple hours after the six (6) charges brought against her were thrown out by the magistrate. Miss Vynnette Frederick is a member of parliament and a lawyer, and if the Honourable Senator is being treated that way by the police, what will they do to you, the common man? And to make matters worse, because of recent developments in the court, Senator Frederick now has fifteen (15) charges. Why is this young, bright Vincentian being treated that way? Is it to humiliate her?

The arrest of Senator Vynnette Frederick has been attracting much attention locally, regionally and internationally. It was discussed on Power 106 FM in Jamaica, and prompted the Directorio Democratico Cubano to write to the Honourable Leader of the Opposition. Below is a copy of the letter: “Members of the Dircetorio Democratico Cubano, a nongovernmental organization which works for democracy in Cuba by way of a civic, non violent struggle, have had the opportunity to meet and interact with Senator Vynnette Frederick at international forums, where she always represented the interest of people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“She has demonstrated her solidarity with peoples whose human rights have been systematically violated, and by the stands that Senator Frederick has taken, human rights for her are paramount.

“We have been following with great concern the reports emerging from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the anti-democratic tactics being used by the state to silence Senator Vynnette Frederick, a courageous opposition voice.

We stand in solidarity with the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines who are engaged in the struggle against the erosion of their rights and freedoms.”

We can recall other actions by the police, for instance, when the elected members of the NDP were thrown out of parliament by the police. In that incident, the Honourable Daniel Cummings’ back was severely damaged, an injury that he is still carrying today. What is amazing is that members of the ULP are saying the Honourable Daniel Cummings did not get his back damaged during the

incident at the parliament.

During the NDP protest at the port against the $1.00 tax, the police also used excessive force, causing an elderly lady to be injured.

Is the ULP government using the police to intimidate the citizens of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and striking fear into the hearts of Vincentians, so that they will be afraid to stand up for their rights when they are trampled upon by this wicked regime? That is why all Vincentians need to come out on Friday 26th July, 2013, to join with NDP in the march and picket in Kingstown, to show the ULP government that they (citizens) have had enough and it’s time for them (ULP) to go.

There are other major issues that will be emphasized at the picket. One such issue is the matter of the Port Police. Imagine, the Port Police took industrial action against the ULP regime for a legitimate cause and were given marching orders by the government. Does it mean that trade unions in this country can no longer take industrial action against the government? We must march in solidarity with the Port Police and send a clear message to the ULP government that the NDP is in support of the Port Police.

We cannot forget Mr. Otto Sam, another son of the soil, an independent thinker, who has felt the wrath of this ULP administration. He was dismissed from his job after working tirelessly for the ULP during the 2001 general elections. At this time, Otto, we know it is difficult for you. Mr. Sam has to cope without an income and during this week he lost his mother. Our sympathy to you.

Moreover, we will be protesting against the hardship in the country.

As you traverse St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the cry is loud and clear, ‘Things hard’. Most Vincentians are meeting it real hard. They are unable to make ends meet. Farmers’ income has reduced appreciably, in some cases no income at all. The unemployment and underemployment situation are causes for concern.

Many homes have had their electricity and water disconnected because they cannot pay their bills, and the 15% VAT on basic food items is making it extremely difficult for the poor and working class to survive.

Those are just some of the reasons why Vincentians will be joining with the NDP on Friday 26th July, 2013 to show their dissatisfaction with the way this country is being managed.

The electorate of St. Vincent and the Grenadines are saying, “Enough, No More” and it is time for the ULP to go.

It is time for the Prime Minister to call general elections, so that the people can elect a new government to manage the affairs of this country.

And the only alternative is the NDP which is ready to govern, so that the poor and working class can have a better standard of living.

V No Regrets?

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. 11.

Views

“None of us can say that we have no regrets. Often we are led down paths of bad choices – some paths longer than others – which can have a lingering effect on the mind, body, and soul.” — Joe Stowell A punctuation mark can make a world of difference. Inserting a question mark at the end of the title of this week’s article invites the reader to investigate whether they have made mistakes along life’s journey. Had the question mark not been there, we could have interpreted those two words to be stating that we are in a position in this life where we are totally comfortable with who we are and the things that we have done. But the statement by Joe Stowell that has been used to introduce this week’s article brings us face to face with the sobering reality that “none of us can say that we have no regrets”. In addition, he asserts that some of these indiscretions “can have a lingering effect on the mind, body, and soul”.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made. God has blessed us with the ability to think. We can reason. We can analyse. And sometimes when we pause to analyse our thoughts, words, and actions, we realise that we could have done differently. It is often on such occasions that regret will seep through to our consciousness. In some instances, we may even wish that we could fly back through time and undo the past. If we are not careful, we could easily become burdened by remorse and guilt. We can experience a weakening of the spirit. James G. Blaine, writing in the Albert W. Daw Collection, says it so well when he purports that “Nothing is so weakening as regret.”

But there is an antidote for the poisoning effect of such regrets — learning to forgive self and accepting the forgiveness of others ... and the pardon of a merciful God when we are truly repentant.

Henri Frédéric Amiel (1821—1881), the Swiss philosopher, poet, and professor of aesthetics and philosophy at the Geneva academy, stated it so beautifully when he remarked, “Accept life, and you must accept regret.” And although that statement was penned in 1876, the words appear to be ever fresh and relevant. We are not perfect. We will make mistakes.

We will have regrets ... every single one of us. Our task, however, must be to seek to reduce the number of errors of thought and actions that we make.

We have to be so very careful to guard our thoughts ... for they become words. And our thoughts can also be rolled out and become actions. This is

why I regularly challenge young persons to develop the habit of reading the Old Testament book of Proverbs as they pursue knowledge and wisdom. Thoughts can be purified through meditating on God’s words. Actions can be noble when following God’s directions.

Developing the habit of seeking God and His righteousness will enable us to go through life having fewer regrets; fewer reasons for remorse.

Know well that we will periodically stumble and slide. But we will be fortified for life’s battles and be beacons of hope.

We cannot conclude an article of this nature without providing a word of caution in relation to the need for all of us to develop the discipline of slowing ourselves down and guarding our words when we become angry.

Anger is the breeding ground for many of our indiscretions, and it therefore becomes the seedbed for later regrets. Ambrose Gwinett Bierce (1842-1914), the American journalist, provides useful words of caution when he says, “Speak when you are angry, and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.”

There will always be persons and situations that will appear to “rattle our cages”. But we do not have to respond in anger. And sometimes we do not have to respond at all. We can develop the will power, the discipline, to be calm and composed even when challenged by the most severe circumstances.

Sometimes our reflections on past deeds would result in our emission of a sign. Yes, we have regrets. The follies that emerge as a result of youthful exuberance and/or shortsightedness can linger for a long, long time. But they are behind us now.

Let us not waste the lessons learnt from those indiscretions. Let us learn from those errors of the past and be determined not to repeat them. There may also be value in sharing the insights and the hind sights with those who now appear poised to make the very same errors of judgement.

Using our regrets to aid the innocent and unsuspecting can avoid others from creating regrets of their own.

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

Eustace predicts 'early elections' again OPPOSITION LEADER Arnhim Eustace must stop predicting when the next general elections will be called. Even as he keeps the pressure on the ULP, Eustace must suggest to his supporters that they must prepare for elections in 2015, when they are constitutionally due.

Last weekend, at a public meeting at Langley Park, Eustace again declared to his supporters that his party is expecting general elections to be called this year, two years ahead of schedule. Eustace told supporter, 'We cannot continue on this basis, and we cannot wait for no 2015 for any election either. We [are] looking for election in 2013 – this year.'

Predicting the date of the next elections is nothing new for the opposition leader. Some say that he correctly called the date of the 2010 elections. PM Gonsalves, according to this view, was forced to change the date from December 10 to 13.

But from then on, the Opposition leader's predictions have been getting from bad to worse. The day after the 2010 elections, Eustace told the nation that the ULP government, fresh into its 3rd term, will not last 6 months. A few months later, he revised upwards and gave Gonsalves one year. Later he was to predict that the ULP government will not last its full term.

It is very clear that the opposition leader engages in wishful thinking.

For one thing, Gonsalves will not be calling general elections before the mandated time because he has no incentive to do so. He holds government by the slimmest of margin, 8 seats to 7. No rational political leader, in a similar position, will chance defeat at the polls 21/2 years before general elections are due.

Further, if we were to use the 2010 elections as a guide, we know that Gonsalves takes little or no chances. After the 2005 general elections, the ULP held a 12 to 3 majority, but that second term government carried on for the entire 5-year term, before the ensuing elections were called. Why then will Gonsalves call early elections now? If early elections is the road map on which the opposition leader contemplates walking his way back into the corridors of power, he ought to think again.

In a competitive, electoral democracy elections are (generally) due every five years. There are times when a ruling party, as James Mitchell did in 2001, calls fresh elections based on the united pressure of the popular masses. There is currently no evidence that the mood in the country is one where people are willing to hit the streets in demonstrations and remain there for long periods. There is no evident that the people are at the point where they refuse to be ruled in their own way.

Once this state of affairs continues, the nation cannot reasonably expect elections before 2015.

Another way in which early

elections can be forced on the electorate is if someone in the ULP electoral stable were to bolt and join the opposition. If this reality were to present itself, it will mean that there will be a vote of no confidence in the Gonsalves government. Eustace, with the command of majority support in the House, will petition the Governor General to have him (Eustace) form the government. While the realm of possibilities are infinite, and stranger things have happened, there is no indication that any of the ULP parliamentarians are about to cross the floor.

There is also the possibility of the death of incapacitation of a ULP parliamentarian forcing the calling of a bye or general elections. If Gonsalves were to die, the nation can be certain that the ULP leadership will never call general elections in that situation, because it will be easier for the party to retain the North Central Windward seat.

Therefore, it will opt for bye election with certainty of winning the seat and retaining government.

If another parliamentarian were to pass, the ULP will most definitely take the general elections route over a bye election. The calculation is simply. The entire opposition campaigning for a single seat where the margin of victory was close, will find it easier to take such a seat. The governing party will fancy its chances campaigning for 15 seats rather than for a single seat, in a bye election.

Does the leadership of the NDP take this scenario into consideration when its leader makes these wild statements and predictions about the next elections? Does Eustace understand that he sets himself up for ridicule when he continuously moves the date on when he expects elections? Does the NDP realize that it risks demoralizing its constituency when leaders pronounce an election that simply passes without a murmur from the leadership?

How does the party explain a series of failed predictions regarding the date for the next elections? Would it not be better for the NDP leadership to keep its eyes on 2015, organize its activists to keep the government on its toes, all the while ensuring that its war chest is in place and its cadres are ready for the serious battle that will be elections 2015?

Ah tired giving free advice to these parties. But ah can't help. As my good friend Richard Cox is fond of saying, ‘For me SVG comes first, second and last’.

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

V

12. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Opinion

CDB should invest in highquality education, not in LIAT SVG GREEN PARTY strongly opposes the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) loan of US$65m to LIAT, to help purchase new aircrafts.

The CDB should have invested the $US65m in the construction of science and technology universities in Eastern Caribbean countries, to help young people in the region. Investment in high-quality education for our youth would go a long way in eradicating poverty, and helping our young people develop businesses.

Mr Ivan O’Neal, Leader of SVG Green Party, has a BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Finance from Oxford Brookes University, England; a Master’s degree in Budgeting, Macro-economics, policy and planning from Bradford University, England, and a Masters

degree in Business Administration from Leicester University, England.

According to Mr. Ivan O’Neal, LIAT is its own worst enemy, operating a high-priced business model in a low-income environment, which has very high rates of unemployment. It is a foolish business strategy

by LIAT. The CDB should never have approved the US$65 million loan to LIAT. LIAT has been going for 50 years, and has never been able to stand on its own two feet and make a profit. That fact in itself should tell you that its business model is wrong.

When LIAT goes bust, it is the citizens of SVG and the countries who would have underwritten the loan, who will have no choice but to repay the US$65m, plus

interest; not the shortsighted policy makers who wrongly approved the US$65m loan in the first place. This means higher taxes, or money that would be spent on our children being taken away to repay the loan.

The CDB must get its priority right, and focus on high-quality education for our youth and projects aimed at eradicating poverty.

Poverty has a substantial negative effect on the education of the children of the poor and the disadvantaged. In the SVG 2013 Common Entrance Exam, policy makers set the pass mark at an incredible low of 33.3%; yet still of the 2314 students who wrote the exam, 1024 failed.

Also, in the 2012 Common Entrance Exam, some students got as low as 5% in some

subjects. That is a very bad indictment on those who push tourism and unwise loans of US$65 million to LIAT. Education of the Caribbean’s youth should be CDB’s priority, not tourists.

Tourism is a dead variable and can never be the engine of Caribbean economies.

The demise of Greece, Italy, Ireland, Portugal and Spain illustrates this clearly.

The CDB was established on 26 January 1970 yet, in its

43 years of existence, it has not bothered to build any science and technology universities in the eastern Caribbean.

Do they really care about the youth of the region?

According to the CDB agreement, the CDB is meant to ‘improve the standards of living of their peoples’. Perhaps the CDB should start

investing in its peoples by funding education and building universities, and funding high-quality education systems for young people.

Pumping money into LIAT and tourism is flogging a dead horse.

SVG Green Party www.svggreenparty.org

NDP’s nonsense on the Frederick’s criminal charges Continued from Page 10.

They wanted to bring down Ralph and the ULP government. That is what the falsehoods of Frederick were about.

Interestingly, the man who alerted the country to Frederick’s falsehoods was Frank Da Silva, a member of the NDP. His conscience could not allow him to see untruths used to pillory the Comrade and bring him down unjustly. Vincentians would recall his exposé of Frederick’s falsehoods in his “Tale of Two Tapes’ published in The Searchlight newspaper. Da Silva showed beyond any doubt, through the actual tape recordings, that Frederick’s affidavit evidence about the Comrade’s speech at Park Hill in August 2010 was false, not true; and that there was no shout of “lesbian” from the crowd at Park Hill in response to Ralph’s “tom boy” comment. The Comrade had made a speech at Belmont in November 2010 from which certain crowd responses were conflated with the Park Hill meeting; but at Belmont, there was

nothing to complain about in the Comrade’s speech. In short, Da Silva was alleging that someone doctored the two tapes to get a result which was not true; it was a falsehood.

Protest for what?

The NDP is now falsely and maliciously blaming Ralph for having Frederick re-arrested and charged with fresh charges. But Ralph did not even know that the Magistrate had rendered his ruling and that Frederick had been arrested until after all that was done. The DPP is an independent Office; it has nothing to do with the Prime Minister. The NDP is clutching at straws. The simple fact is that Frederick is the author of her own misfortune. She lied dangerously about Comrade Ralph; she is feeling the consequence. Prophecy is being fulfilled: You dig a pit for someone; dig one for yourself!

In an IK-TV interview on Sunday night, July 21, 2013, involving DPP Colin Williams, the pathetic Linton Lewis of the NDP, and the moderator, Tony Regisford, Lewis acknowledged that none of Frederick’s rights was violated by the mode of arrest, so the protest is about her embarrassment.

He even distanced himself from the statement of the SVG Bar Association, of which he is President, which had earlier wrongly asserted that Frederick’s arrest was unlawful.

In any event, why is the NDP protesting against Ralph and the ULP government? They did nothing. By all means, protest your foolishness if you want; but target those who exercised their authority to arrest and charge.

Those matters are not in the province of the executive, neither Ralph nor the government.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. 13.

Changing the face of Kingstown: A mural unveiled The young artists who make up CYAM and created the masterpiece mural.

The mural, ‘Our Living Heritage’, finally unveiled to the public on Tuesday, July 23rd.

by KARISSA CLARKE ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES IS HOME TO NATURAL MASTERPIECES BESTOWED TO US FROM GOD, as well as those created by our own hands.

One of those masterpieces created by our own hands comes in the form of ‘Our Living Heritage’, a mural unveiled on July 23rd and produced by the CYAM (Contemporary Young Artist Movement) Team.

The mural, whose

unfolding passers-by would have marvelled at over the past months, is located en route to the cruise ship birth, opposite the NIS and Ministry of Tourism building.

The mural is any tourist’s perfect dream if it were to come to life. It is a breath-taking combination of the sites of Owia Salt Pond at the top left corner, moving down to Black Point Tunnel, and across and back up to the Botanical Gardens, down to the

Dark View Falls, up through the Vermont Nature Trail, and back down through the Wallibou Falls on the bottom right corner.

Vonnie Roudette, Coordinating Teacher of the Team, and lecturer at the SVG Community College, explained that to join these complex visual elements successfully is very technical, yet, whatever doubts persons had as they looked on in the early stages were quickly cast away, as the colours and shape of the

The persons who helped to change the face of the area; the CYAM Team, standing above pose with various sponsors and Minister Cecil Mc Kie.

mural quickly began to take form.

Roudette went on to explain that, “the painting developed from observational drawings of six National Heritage sites. We travelled to the sites and drew, and then it was crafted together through a lengthy design process into a final composition that takes the viewer on a journey through the beauty of our natural heritage.”

The mural definitely transforms the area, and

Roudette expressed her joy at the outcome of the project. “As an educator, I am delighted to see the aims of the course fulfilled; as an artist, it has proven what I have known in my heart all along- that all Vincentians love art! Some of them now know more about the skills and time it takes to produce quality work. They are encouraging, they are excited, inspired; they are generous and easily uplifted by authentic artwork that articulates what is in our hearts.

Through simply painting creatively, with no rewards in mind other than to uplift our community, we have received the huge reward of knowing our efforts are deeply appreciated. “ Minister Cecil Mc Kie followed these remarks with gratitude to the artists for their creativity, and congratulated them on a job well done. “The mural very much adds to the overall aesthetic of the

Vonnie Roudette, Co-ordinating teacher and Minister of Tourism Cecil Mc Kie pose for a moment infront of ‘Our living heritage.’

area, and we hope to add more. …. It will surely become an area of attraction for tourists,” he said.

The sponsors of the mural were thanked, and other business houses are encouraged to follow in their footsteps to help not only to beautify the island but also to encourage art and especially our islands, talented young artists.

Olivia Stephens, a member of CYAM, expressed the group’s gratitude for the encouragement which they have received, and thanked the sponsors on behalf of the CYAM, whose talented members also include Alexandra Mascoll, Olivia Stephens, Chante Ferdinand, Sean Roache, Joy Celestine, Kithesha James, LeeAndra Thompson, assisted by Aiko Roudette.

CYAM and the Ministry of Tourism expressed their thanks to sponsors who made funding possible and encased a plaque near the mural.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. 15.

14. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 THE VINCENTIAN

Section of picnic tab

Another view of picnic scene.

les.

Sections of the massive par

Unity Picnic: Vincy patriotism on show Story and photos by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; neloking@msn.com US CORRESPONDENT

HEAVY THUNDERSHOWERS and a tornado watch overnight and early morning gave way to a lovely, sunny Saturday, July 20th, 2013, as thousands descended on Brown’s Bay Park, on the shores of the St. Lawrence River, in Western Ontario, Canada, for the annual Vincy Unity Picnic.

Despite the initial bad weather forecast and a reported “rumor” that Canadian immigration officers will check the immigration status of picnic-goers, the event, over 20 years old, attracted a multitude of Vincentian nationals, their Caribbean counterparts, and friends and supporters from all walks of life in North America, the Caribbean and home – beautiful St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Nationals converged on the huge

park, in the 1,000 Is. area, coming primarily by bus and car from major Canadian and United States cities, such as Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Washington, D.C. The Brooklyn, New York-based umbrella Vincentian group in the United States, Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Organizations, U.S.A. Inc. (COSAGO) and the Philadelphia-based St. Vincent and the Grenadines Organization of Pennsylvania (SVGOP) collaborated in organizing five buses for the massive picnic.

The spectacle, described as the largest event on any given day on the shores of the St. Lawrence River, was organized by three Vincentian groups in Canada – the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Association of Montreal, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ottawa Association, and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Association of Toronto.

Vincy niceties and more

Picnic-goers dined on wide-ranging, mouth-watering Vincy delicacies, such as pelau; bakes and saltfish; doughboy, dukuna; boilin with coconut dumpling; fish broth; goat water; barbecue chicken, ribs and fish; and roasted and boiled corn.

They washed them down with mauby, ginger and sorrel beers, and just plain water, while gyrating or listening to the sounds of popular DJs, such as the Brooklyn-based Supa Eyes at the New York/Phillie tents or Toronto-based DJs Freeze and Fusion at the main stage in the center of the park.

The Toronto-based Syxxfaze Band was also on hand to entertain the mammoth crowd at the main stage, while Master of Ceremonies E. Bernard John, former National Broadcasting Corporation manager, kept the performance of a host of artistes flowing.

Some local businesses and agencies, such as Western Union, KLC Freight Lines Limited, AI Real Estate, Carnival Power.com, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority capitalized on the extravaganza to promote their wares.

Loving it

Queuing up for hamburgers and hot dogs.

“I’m feeling good!” exclaimed Montreal resident Sheroya Cole, of Hopewell Village in the Marriaqua Valley, in a VINCENTIAN interview.

“You get to meet a lot of people you didn’t see in a very long time,” she added.

Mozica O. Bascombe, of Argyle – who is vacationing in Montreal and who recently graduated from St.

SVG Nurses Association of New York was on hand to administer care to the sick and/or injured. (L-R) Registered nurses : Celia Bramble, Judith Lewis, Norma Taylor, Vanya Jones, Albertha Ryan and Dofflyn King.

Joseph’s Convent, Marriaqua, and plans to attend the Community College in September – intoned: “I love it. I’m enjoying myself – lots of people.”

Kelly Richards, of Redemption Sharpes, Kingstown, who also lives in Montreal, could not withhold her excitement.

“I love it,” she said. “It’s very, very interesting, because you get to meet a lot of people who you haven’t seen in years.”

As they chewed on corned beef, bakes and fried plantain, the Dallaway family, originally from Penniston in the Buccament Valley, said they have been attending the picnic for the last 20 years.

“How can I not support my country?” Sandra Dallaway asked rhetorically, a customer operations specialist

with Alexion, a bio-pharmaceutical company in Toronto.

“It’s a great opportunity to meet friends and family,” added the Mississauga, Toronto suburb, resident.

Her mother, Isola Dallaway, said they love their country of birth to the hilt.

“No matter you have a Canadian passport or you are a Canadian citizen, we’re born-Vincentians,”

she said. “And if the Canadian government decides to put us out, we will return to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Vincentian government cannot refuse us.

“St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a beautiful place,” she added. “You only need more money.”

Vanya Jones, a registered nurse at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, attended the picnic for the very first time.

“I had fun,” said Jones, a Chateaubelair native, who brought along her Grenadian-born friend and nursing colleague Norma Taylor.

“It’s something I’ll do again,” she added. “We drank a lot and ate a lot more than we expected. I recommend anybody to come to see it (for) at least once.”

Taylor, who hails from Grenville, Grenada, said she had a good time.

“It’s beautiful, and I’ll come back,” she said.

ty crowd.

Calliaqua native Ava George, accompanied by her elder sister, Althea, also brought along a Caribbean friend and co-worker, Barbadian Dian Duke.

“I look forward to coming because, every year, I am always lucky to see somebody I have not seen in years,” said Ava, a Brooklyn resident and payroll clerk with New York City Environmental Protection agency.

“It’s a time for Vincentians to get together, meet old friends,” she added. “We unite, we kindle.”

Duke, of St. Michael, Barbados, said she was attending the picnic for the second time.

“I truly enjoy it,” she said. “The team work of having this successful picnic is amazing.

“The camaraderie and friendship are outstanding,” she added. “And, I’ll come again. I’m a Vincy for today.”

Kay Miller, a cosmetologist and business owner, originally from Lowmans Windward, who grew up in Quarry, Kingstown, and Arnos Vale, said she and her family have been attending the Vincy Unity Picnic for the last six years.

“It’s something we look forward to,” she said. “It’s beautiful, it’s entertaining. You get to meet family and friends, and people you have not seen in years.”

Entertainment and more

Don and Emily Providence promoting their company, A.I. Real Estate.

Back at the main stage, New York-based, Bequia gospel artiste Monodel “Mono” Ollivierre kept the crowd bubbling, arguably drawing the largest crowd, with “Your Grace and Mercy”; “I want to be More”; “My God is an

New York-based, Bequia gospel singer Monodel "Mono" Ollivierre electrifying the party crowd.

Awesome God”; “Round the World”; and “Praise, Hand in the Air.” Other entertainers included Montreal-based Black Mode Rappers and Swaggteam Dancers; Toronto’s Root Divine Dancers and soca artiste Yellow; and New York’s reggae singer Patrick “De Minista” Richards.

Organizers and politicians, among others, also addressed the gathering, including Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) for the area Steve Clark; Mayor of the nearby Mallorytown, Roger Haley; CEO of the SVG Tourism Authority Glen Beache; New York Consul General Selmon Walters; and COSAGO president Laverne Mc Dowald-Thompson.

Beache urged the crowd to continue supporting the nation’s development, including construction of the Argyle International Airport.

He also distributed a survey, soliciting inputs from nationals in the Diaspora.

“I ask you to please fill out the survey to strengthen our negotiating skills with the airlines [that will be coming to the Argyle International Airport],” said Beache, disclosing that there will be at least two flights per week from New York; Atlanta, Georgia; Miami, Florida; and Toronto.

16. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Unity Picnic: Vincy patriotism on show The largest event

Clark told THE VINCENTIAN that he has attended every Vincy Unity Picnic at the park.

“It’s one of the biggest events in the municipality,” he said, confirming also, “This is the largest event on the shores of the St. Lawrence (river) on one day.

“This is a big event,” he added.

“We want to have the Unity Picnic for many years to come.”

Haley said it was the first time he was attending the picnic.

“It’s wonderful,” he said. “I’m more than pleased to have this event here.”

Alfred “Jack” Dear, a Kingstown-born member of the Unity Picnic Organizing Committee 2013, who is also president of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Associa-

It's not the sea, but the beach at the St. Lawrence River.

Children having fun at amusement playhouse in the park. tion of Montreal, said despite the cancellation of “lots of buses” (fearing the weather), the picnic “still (had) an appreciative crowd.”

Georgetown native Alwyn Child, also a member of the organizing group, from Otttawa, said the picnic has grown, over the years, by leaps and bounds, from 1,000 to 18-20,000 in recent years.

James Cordice, co-coordinator with Arlette Dopwell-James of SVGOP’s participation in the picnic, said the Vincy get-together was “just awesome.

“The picnic is one of the most wonderful events for any Caribbean country in North America,” said the group’s public relations officer and former president, who hails from Clare Valley. “I have not seen

any other country display what we display at 1,000 Is.” “It was pretty good,” said O’Brien Simmons, a Bequia native and overall coordinator of the COSAGO-SVGOP bus trip.

“We got a lot of cooperation,” added Simmons, who is also COSAGO treasurer and president of the Brooklyn-based Bequia United Progressive Organization (BUPO).

“We had a lot of new faces. Overall, it was nice. Everything went well.”

Vincentians in North America will now prepare for the next massive convergence, the second annual New York Vincy Picnic, at Hechter State Park, in Long Island, a New York City suburb, on Aug. 17.

Some members of the Unity Picnic Organizing Committee 2013: Alfred "Jack" Dear (centre) and Rosmond Ryan (right) of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Association of Montreal (right), with Cornetta Mason of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Association of Toronto.

US Vincies pose for group photo outside hotel prior to departure from Canada.

V Culture Fest: Excellent platform to build on

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. 17.

Regional

told THE VINCENTIAN during an interview at the MINISTER OF TOURISM, event on Saturday.

SPORTS AND CULTURE, “The aim is to Cecil Mc Kie, views the stimulate the creative 2013 Cultural Festival talents of Vincentians, staged at the Kingstown offer them opportunities Cruise Terminal last to expose their handiwork weekend (July 20 -22), as and talents, create an excellent platform to activities for persons in build on for the future. the country, and promote The event, the first of the use of different its kind to be held in St. facilities for this and Vincent and the similar types of activities,” Grenadines, was the Mc Kie explained. result of collaboration Emphasizing that between the Ministry and culture is pivotal to the the St. Vincent and the development of St. Grenadines Port Vincent and the Authority.

Grenadines, Mc Kie A wide range of Vincentian creative added, “It (event) also talents and skills, allows to add this type of including drumming, activity under Cultural steelband music, folklore, Tourism and to the local fashions, handcraft, Cultural Calendar so that modelling and locally locals, returning produced food, were Vincentians and visitors showcased on Saturday will have this activity as a and Sunday. must see and (to) “I am very encouraged experience activity.” by what we are seeing Mc Kie explained that here, and it is an excellent his Ministry had agreed to platform to build on for put on a Cultural Expo 2014 and beyond. We will after the conclusion of now look at the possibility Vincy Mas 2013, to give of having similar activities the arts, crafts and at the cruise ship facility folklore people an and throughout St. opportunity to display Vincent and the their goods and services to Grenadines,” the Minister

by HAYDN HUGGINS

Ces Mc Kie, Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture found much to be pleased about with the inaugural effort. locals, returning Vincentians and visitors.

However, according to him, his Ministry learned that the Port Authority was looking towards putting on an activity focused on International Cuisine.

“When we learnt about that. we decided to collaborate. A coordinating committee was set up, and the Cultural Festival is now reality, two weeks after Carnival,” Mc Kie said.

He noted that one of the Port Authority’s objectives is to showcase the cruise ship terminal, to sensitize persons to the possibilities for diverse activities at the facility, and to highlight the art, craft and other services available at the shops there.

Cuisine delights included a taste of El Salvador.

There is no Culture Fest without the sounds of steel, provided here by the SVG Port Authority Genesis Steel Orchestra.

Immense Bags – just one indication of what SVG has to offer.

Below: Haiti meets SVG, and mouths begin to water.

V

18. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

People

Heritage: History distilled Gurney Gibson – a case in point

by CHESTER CONNELL of ‘Off The Grid Media’ “BOY, YOUR FATHER did not go to Grammar School . . . go and learn trade with him”.

I define heritage as, “History accepted as significantly and specifically one’s own” or more simply, “history, distilled”.

Cognisant of your particular history, you may choose to build on it, or to bind it if you consider it infra dig or unworthy of you. This is powerful. The Holy Bible offers what I consider an interesting parallel in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus is quoted as saying, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”.

It is my thinking that when one takes possession of one’s positive heritage spiritual, emotional, ancestral, physical, financial - claims it as one’s own, and continually builds on it, one evolves to a higher state of being. This empowers, as one makes the journey. Your history can destroy or determine your destiny. It is therefore of paramount importance that one is well aware of one’s heritage - and the power it carries with it! Case in point: Gurney Gibson Esq.

Impacting the landscape Today, the Young Island Resort, the Kingstown Medical College and the Cobblestone Inn (the Hotel) are just three of the many edifices that form part of Gurney Gibson’s signature on the

landscape of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. If you live in a house, or occupy a building in St. Vincent that Gurney Gibson did not build, it is very likely you occupy one that’s located within walking distance of one that he did. How many of us know of Gurney Gibson and his significant contribution to St. Vincent and the Grenadines? Do we as a nation understand the importance to our national psyche of such “figures of excellence”? Do we really understand the significance of recognizing the achievements of our own, and that in not recognizing this, we are doomed to remain in a state of underdevelopment? It is the interwoven threads, the building planks of the contributions of such persons which interconnect to build a great nation. For us in the now, ignorance of such powerful people, and their accomplishments, prevents us from building and adding to the foundations they have constructed. I challenge my readers to want to know in order to want to grow - and indeed to actually achieve that growth!

commercial building industry. This family hero and business trail-blazer did this consistently and significantly for over a half-century. This seemingly stern yet quiet, strong, gentle, giant, Gurney Gibson, a Vincentian, is the very materialization of the concept of leadership. He is the manifestation of what it means to ennoble your destiny; his example is one for us all to emulate.

After I had invested a considerable number of hours interviewing persons who know him well - including leading Vincentians in their various professions, such as Horace Lewis, Eustace Robinson and Cecil Cyrus - and documenting primary evidence from the wise and tested Gurney Gibson himself, a picture of setbacks, successes and significance surfaced. Rich though the material, what emerged as a title for this biography on film is, “Lonely”. The life of this man of merit is a story worth telling and he, his family and friends paid me the honor of allowing me to shape it into a chronicle of moving images and sound. I take the liberty here of sharing a unique experience with greatness with you.

Maybe one day the Gibson Family may A privilege choose to share it - in its entirety - with the nation. As of now the biography is Over several months, I had the domiciled in the private archives of the privilege and pleasure of producing a Gibson family for generations hence to rare, 70-minute, historical, biographical view. The heritage of one man, Gurney video documentary on the life of this Gibson, and his family, will be known by pillar of family virtues in St. Vincent their own. I share here a shadow of the and the Grenadines. Professionally, he is story. a cornerstone of the residential and

home to tell his grandmother that he had won the scholarship to attend the prestigious school. Her response, wrong or wise, grated his ears and cut deep into his being, fateful words which pierce him to this day, “Boy, your father did not go to Grammar School . . . go and learn trade with him”! Your history can destroy or determine your destiny.

Gurney Gibson, despite the fact that he, through no fault of his own, could not capitalize on the scholarship as a stepping stone, was determined to succeed. How he accomplished this forms the substance of the biography, and the viewer comes face to face with an ambitious, tireless maverick, a trailblazer, a thinker, a voracious reader, a dreamer who built foundations that undergirded and sustained his vision, a family man and a friend to the poor.

Uncovering the memories

As we seek to become aware of an unknown history, unknown because it is for the most part unrecorded, as those persons, prominent pillars of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, slip beneath the earth, - Norma Keizer, Earl Kirby, F.O. Mason, Pat Prescod and so many others who formed the buttress of this country’s underpinnings, let us understand the implications for St. Vincent and the Grenadines of the words of philosopher, George Santayana: “ a country without a memory is a country of madmen”.

In an effort to administer the antidote Rising from the pit of to the madness, the malady of no disappointment memory, Off the Grid Media, a commercial media house, specializes in Gurney Alexander Gibson - who, by the documentation of the heritage of St. the way, still drives to work every Vincent and the Grenadines, especially morning, “was the only child in the home” and he considers this a part of his via its writing and production of biographies on film. “lonely”, sometimes painful, past. Yet We are nearing a state of national this heritage, his very own which he amnesia, as evidenced by a deep desire accepts, drove him to create his own of many to follow the words of popular, legacy, a destiny of success and influential individuals who name significance, now a rich heritage bequeathed to his family, to this nation. themselves after watches made in His mother, a poor woman, was asked by Switzerland!

You are what your deepest desire is; her father, under whose roof she lived as your desire is, so is your intention; as with her son, to leave his house before your intention is, so is your will; as your little Gurney was not yet two. Gurney was left with his paternal grandmother. will is, so is your deed; as your deed is, so is your destiny.

He was a bright lad. When he won a scholarship to attend the Grammar Questions, comments, concerns, School - to which, in the early 1940s, enquiries about the above, Gridless SVG only the elite and the brightest cut a or Off The Grid Media may be sent to path - Gurney was to experience the info@chesterconnell.com unexpected, ‘the unkindest cut’. He ran

V SCOPE out to make a difference

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. 19.

Community

by PATMOS RICHARDS

THE NEW YORK-BASED Vincentian Organization SCOPE - Soldiering the Cause to help Our People Excel - held a successful fund-raising venture, July 12th, at Miss Ela Toney’s

Vaughn Toney, NY Councilman, makes his time and expertise available to promoting the work of SCOPE.

residence in Villa.

Funds raised by SCOPE’s ongoing fundraising activities go towards assisting needy children at all the primary schools throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Assistance is meted out in the form of public transportation cost and the provision of all schools supplies.

SCOPE has entrusted the principals of the primary institutions with the responsibility of setting criteria for identifying those pupils who are most in need.

In addition, SCOPE has initiated a programme geared at increasing an awareness of art among primary school students.

Towards this end, a quantity of art materials has been made available

to schools from Fancy on the Windward coast, to Fitz Hughes on the Leeward coast.

Day Care Centres have not been left out of the loop, and a number of these centres have received cots, courtesy of SCOPE. Recipients of SCOPE’s assistance also benefit from free access to dental and medical care services. In 2011, a medical team was despatched from the USA, through the courtesy and initiative of SCOPE, to give free care to communities throughout mainland St. Vincent and the Grenadines islands of Bequia and Union Island.

SCOPE was founded

by Eleen Ackee, its current president, with the support of local trade

unionist and social activist Joseph ‘Burns’ Bonadie, and the late Carl Glasgow, a lawyer, who made his legal expertise available to ensure that the organization was registered here, free of charge.

Other persons who serve as executive members are Stephanie Browne, vice president and Fitzgerald Hutchinson, treasurer.

Vincentian born New York Councilman, Vaughn Toney, who is Chief-of-Staff to Council Member Lloyd Henry (DBrooklyn), New York City Council, is a committee member.

He was recently in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and took the opportunity to do promotional work on

behalf of SCOPE. He is firmly committed to SCOPE, and expressed a hope that it would be able to attract assistance from international finance agencies so that it can fulfil its commitment to provide humanitarian services.

Eleen Ackee is the mastermind behind SCOPE and its commitment to assisting needy children in SVG.

Y !

D A E R WEST INDIES

PAKISTAN

YOUR WORLD CHA MPS ARE BACK FOR BAT TLE!

INTERNATIONAL SERIES 2013 27 JULY - 1st T20 28 JULY - 2nd T20

ARNOS VALE PLAYING FIELD Start time: 2pm each day

TICKETS: EC $30-45

L O C A L B O X O F F I C E ( 4 5 6 - 6 6 0 4 ) O R W I N D I E S C R I C K E T. C O M

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20. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

For the sake of money Dear George, SOME MEN are just cheap, and that’s why I am writing to you to voice my disgust.

I have been seeing this man on and off for about 9 months. He has his wife, yes; but we have agreed to see each other regardless. He agreed to help me out with the rent and other expenses.

All he wanted from me was “some great sex,” according to him. Every time we would have sex, he would leave me some money. It is not that I am asking him for money every time, but I demanded that he did after he was just getting up and leaving me without even saying “thanks for the time with me.” So, I not only make him pay sometimes, but also made an agreement to help me out with my rent. He can afford it because he has one of those juicy jobs.

The last time we were together, he began arguing with me because

I asked him for $100. I had extra expenses, but he felt I had no right to even ask him for anything extra. Last end of month, he did not even give me anything for my rent, but still he keeps coming for his pleasure.

The last thing he told me was, “things are tight at home” so he would not be able to be as free handed as before. I know he is lying and just wants a free ‘ride.’

I asked him to leave me alone and to go and meet his wife because he is too cheap. He is begging me to change my mind, but I have had it with this sad excuse of a real man.

Disappointed Dear Disappointed The one thing you did right in all of this was to ask this man to go back to his wife. In the first place, you should not have been encouraging him to split his time and money between you and his wife. Obviously the

commitment you demanded from him was putting undue strain on his family commitments, which caused him to pull back on what was agreed to you.

Placing yourself between him and his wife contravenes the rules of his marital agreement with his wife,

My daughters ‘shamed’ me Dear George,

and it is good that in the end he now has a chance to get his act together and take care of family the way he should.

Maybe at the same time you can make use of this opportunity to find yourself a man of your own.

George

BOTH of my daughters are pregnant for the same man and I do not know what to do.

My first daughter, who is 18 years old, recently told me that she was pregnant for her boyfriend, and that news shocked me out of my senses. I couldn’t believe she was that careless and irresponsible. I allowed her boyfriend to sleep over a few times, and she swore to me that they were not doing anything. Obviously she lied about that.

While this man was there in the house, my older daughter knew he was also interfering with her younger sister, and never said anything to me. She admitted that he had both of them in the bed at the same time on different occasions too.

I am so mad at both of my daughters!! How could they bring me such shame? I am now considering putting both of them out of my house, but my mother is saying that I have no right to do that under the circumstances. I need some guidance here because I am losing my mind.

Cut him loose, don’t kill him altercations with some of these women. Some of them would meet me TO BE HONEST with in ‘Town’ and you, I have thought on embarrass me, and I am many occasions, about killing my boyfriend. I at the point where I am not able to deal with still do not know how come I have not done it this.

Men like him should as yet.

He has been sleeping not be allowed to live, around with all kinds of and right now he is women and exposing me living overtime, believe me. I know no judge to all kinds of would send me to jail after they hear how much ridicule this man has exposed me to. He comes home to me looking all innocent with his sweet talk, knowing that he just came from one or more of his women.

Sometimes I would actually smell the sex on him, and yet he

Dear George,

Frustrated Dear Frustrated,

would be forcing me to sleep with him. I cannot stand him any longer, and I am at the end of my rope!

The person you should be disappointed in here is YOU. It was irresponsible of you to allow this man to sleep in your house, and to expose both your daughters Fatal W to everything that is not good for them and their Dear Fatal W future. It was naïve of you to think that this man There is no need to would be sleeping in your agonize any longer over house and not be sexually this man who you claim involved with your daughter is causing you more (s). grief than pleasure.

Putting your daughters However, you have no out of the house is not the right to take his life and way to go. I strongly should therefore, put suggest that you go with that idea of your mind. them to get some counseling If he is as unfaithful and support to help you and deceptive as you through this dilemma. claim he is, then why You never mentioned the don’t you just turn him age of the younger lose? Obviously he is daughter, but depending on not the man you her age, there might be thought you had, and some legal questions to be with all the evidence answered, and you need to you have of his cheating explore that as well. ways, it should be I hope this experience enough to give him his will cause you to take a freedom to live the way critical look at your he wants to live. I parenting skills, and cause think you deserve you to make some better, don’t you? improvements.

George

George

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Sudden changes could result in estrangement's. Your creative imagination will help you in coming up with unique ideas. Don't expect the whole family to be overjoyed. You will have splendid suggestions for fund raising events.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) This is probably causing upset and confusion on the home front.

Opportunities for new romantic encounters will unfold through the social events you attend. Family members will not be happy with the amount of time you are spending away from home. Loved ones may be annoyed if they feel restricted.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) If you can put some work into home improvements, you should. Don't overspend on friends or children. Having your own business is a good idea. Use your creative talent in order to accomplish your goals.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Be professional, and you will advance much more quickly. Try making some changes to your appearance and your attitude that will reinforce just that. Try to put your money away for a rainy day. You are best not to confide in anyone right now.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) You can make progress professionally.

Back off if you want to keep the relationship intact. You will be confused about the intentions of someone you work with. Loss or theft may occur if you are careless with your belongings.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Do not expect others to do your work.

Do not force your opinions on others the connections will be short lived.

Uncertainties are still prevailing. Social events will be plentiful.

Libra (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Sign up for courses or join fitness clubs.

You will find good buys and you will lift your spirits. Children's needs could be more costly than you anticipated. Spend time with friends or family.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You should get into programs that will enhance your appearance and help you to be the best that you can. Residential moves are evident. Try to avoid any drastic/ decisions concerning personal legal matters. You could be blind to the defects of those you love.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) You may meet that special person if you attend fundraising functions. You can accomplish a great deal. Accept the inevitable and continue to do your job.

Generosity will put you in the poorhouse.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) You may not be as well received in group endeavors if you try to force your will on others. Try to mix business with pleasure while traveling. Your lack of responsibility and attention has been a key issue in your relationship. You can travel for business or pleasure.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Don't let criticism upset you. Hassles will delay your plans. If they don't like the plan, suggest that they con tribute a little. Depression may put a damper on your day. Don't make unreasonable promises.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Your ability to stand out in a crowd will bring you the recognition you desire. Go directly to the source if you want to know exactly what's been going on. Do things for them but don't allow them to make unreasonable requests. Make some notes regarding the changes that you should make.

ACROSS 1.Baby’s sleeping spot 5. Arrive at 10. Min. part 13. Tortoise’s race rival 14. Judy’s brother on “The Jetsons” 15. Make waterproof 16. 2002 Olympics site 17. Caroline, to Ted Kennedy 18. “__ Lonesome I could Cry” (2 wds.)

19. Supervise 21. Family member 22. Baseball glove 23. Down times 25. Senior citizens’ org.

27. Cause to crumple 30. Leaks 33. Tyrannosaurus __ 34. Bend 35. __ and butter 37. Performs onstage 39. Wasp wound 42. Breeding horse 43. Actress Thomas 45. Flounder’s relative 47. Response (abbr.)

48. Flora and __ 50. Song refrain (3 wds.)

52. Brewing ingredient

54. Captains’ superiors (abbr.)

55. Volvo’s home- turf r--ival 58. Coffee maker 60. Knickknack 64. Wheel spindle 65. “Hannibal” costar Julianne 67. Wander 68. Change direction suddenly 69. Artists’ models, sometimes 70. Till fillers 71. Tricky curve 72. Articles 12. Clump 73. Trans15. Smiles mitted foolishly 20. Sport for DOWN Tiger Woods 1.Mate 24. Proof2. __ -tat-tat reading (hyph.) notation 3. Mideast 26.Confedernation ate, for 4. On __ of (as short a represen27. Like Sanka tative) 28. Newsboy’s 5. Subscription shout extensions 29. Be 6. Hebrew 31. Blossom judge part 7. Greek god of 32. Steam bath war 33. Butt 8. Ski lodge against beverage 36. Letters 9. “Laughing” after a beasts dentist’s 10. Trucker’s name truck 38. Sleep 11. Bridge 40. Asta’s position mistress

41. Delight 44. Soap __ rope (2 wds.)

46. Actor Lincoln 49. Graduates 51. Houston team 53. Mountain stream fish

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. 21.

55. Be frugal 56. Hewing tools 57. Brewers’ products 59. Knob 61. Actress Skye 62. Pizzeria need 63. Robin’s residence 66. Sleep stage (abbr.)

22. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. 23.

Lake confident Grassroot Programme will grow

by E. Glenford Prescott

Lake also said he was satisfied with the facilities which were available for conduct of the programme.

“I have gone to other countries, and what you have here is so much more than what they have……you have the fields….the children who are so motivated……you do not have to go and find kids and get them interested....they are enthusiastic and ready to participate….it’s not so in other places,” Lake said.

L-R: FIFA Instructor Lenny Lake and national coach, In addition, Lake “Cornie” Huggins in conversation at Grassroot said he was impressed programme. with the response of the coaches who FIFA INSTRUCTOR LENNY LAKE has expressed attended the programme and described them as receptive and inclined to learn. satisfaction and surprise after conducting a “I can see that if I come back here in five-day coaches’ education programme here three or five years time that this Grassroot last week.

Programme will be going strong……the Speaking to THE VINCENTIAN last foundation seems sound and the Sunday at the closing of the programme, individuals are clearly committed…..I see Kittitian Lake said he was surprised by no reason not to be optimistic about the the number of children who attended the programme, and cited that many positives future,” Lake, who was first appointed a FIFA Grassroot Instructor three years ago, are to be had from that.

said.

The FIFA instructor said that to make the programme a major success, everyone, including government and other related agencies, must become part of the process, since it was not only about football, it was about developing young minds.

National coach “Cornie” Huggins, one of the coaches who attended the course, was in full of praise of the programme.

“It is getting the young children to play and have fun, and you can just look at them now as they run up and down, and you can see that they are enjoying themselves….this will make them feel comfortable and willing to learn,” Huggins said.

According to Lake, the Grassroot Programme is geared toward preparing children between the ages of six to twelve, using activities in a fun-like environment; where limited coaching is involved and more participation encouraged.

He said it is for boys and girls, and the persons responsible to carry out these activities are not called coaches, but coach educators, and their job is to provide the children with those activities.

Lake reiterated FIFA’ s intention, through the Grassroot Programme, to help children discover the game and have more fun and let the game be the teacher.

“So it’s not just about kicking a ball; yes, kicking a ball is okay, but what we

Hillocks: Exchange programme a success

Deliberations in the second round focused on marketing strategies, use of government funding, and project/proposal design.

Hillocks reported that this round decided on developing a programme for the OECS. SVG is commissioned with preparing the component as it relates to physical education and sports and recreational activities.

Antigua was charged Nelson Hillocks, Director of with looking at the question Sports. of governance, Grenada, the path way, and St Kitts, at NELSON HILLOCKS, Director of accreditation and Sports in SVG, judged the communication. second round in a three-year This round also looked at exchange programme between event and facility management Australia and CARICOM, to be a as well as signage. success.

They was also a view The programme is aimed at expressed that the OECS developing a co-ordinated needed an institute of sports. approach to encouraging “What is important coming healthy lifestyles and sports in out of this visit as it relates to the region.

SVG, is that in order to

enhance my Department so that it works for the overall benefit of sports in the country, we will have to embark on a trainer of trainers workshop,” Hillocks said.

“We already got the commitment and support from Cecil Charles, Manager of the National Sports Council, and former junior Minister of Sports, Elvis Charles, on this matter,” he assured.

Nelson hillocks, Samantha Lynch, Cecil Charles and Elvis Charles represented SVG for the three-week visit.

The other countries to take part in this round were St Kitts, Antigua, Grenada, Suriname, Nevis, Dominica and St Lucia.

The next round/phase will be for physical education officers and coaches program.

The program was first held in 2011.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Young footballers ‘skills up” at Grassroot programme want in the end is that if we don’t get great footballers, we get better persons,” said Lake.

“As long as we improve our Grassroot Programme, we will have better players, clubs and a better society. I see Grassroot being a part of each school and community in the future. I must applaud FIFA for crystalizing the development of kids in a more organized way”, he concluded.

Bentick in the peak of form 2013 is proving to be a great year for National Squash Coach James Bentick who is having quite a run of form this year.

He recently captured the BCQS Trinidad Open Masters title, to add to his National Over 40 Champion, OECS Over 40 and the BCQS Barbados Open Masters titles.

Bentick’s run in the Trinidad Open Masters James Bentick continues to be a top saw his dispensing with performer.

Ray LaCroix (Trinidad) Champion Keith Boyea also 3-0 — (11-3, 11-8,11-3); Rhea Khan (Trinidad) 3-0 —(11-8, 11- competed in this Championship and finished in 8th Position.

5, 11-5); Tony McKenzie 3-0- ( Next stop for Bentick and 11-9,11-5,11-6), to book his Boyea is the Senior Caribbean place in the Semi-Finals.

Area Squash Association He dismissed Don Benn Championships 2013 scheduled (Barbados) 3-0 (11-6, 11-5, 11for Guyana from August 10th 7), to set up the Final against 18th.

Trinidadian Paul Deverteuil.

Vincentians Jules Snagg, When it was all over, Bentick Kevin Hannaway, Kevin Bailey, emerged Champion, dropping the first set 9-11 but recovering Jason Doyle, Eshwan Adams to take the other three 11-9, 11- and Sherian Slater, will also travel to Guyana as part of the 8,11-5.

National and OECS Over 55 OECS Team.

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24. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Simple Boyz take T20 title They were put under early pressure when Kenroy Martin sent back GAIRY Construction Simple opener Nicos Davis (6) Boyz are one week into with the total on 10, and their reign as champs of looked to be up against it the St. Vincent and the after being 47-1 at the Grenadines Police Cohalf way point of their operative Credit Union innings.. But Desron Clinchers T20 softball Maloney and Elric competition, after Morris proved to be the demolishing RSVG Police architects of a recovery; by 51 runs in the final on they constructed what Sunday, at the Richland turned out to be a matchPark Oval. winning second wicket SCORES: Gairy partnership, that left the Construction Simple lawmen chasing Boyz 170-5, 20 overs; shadows.

RSVG Police 119-6, 20 The pair added 134 for overs. the second wicket; Simple Boyz, with Maloney hitting a top their preference for score of 71, including chasing down targets, seven sixes and three were pushed out of their fours, and Morris 58, comfort zone this time, inclusive of five sixes and after losing the toss and two fours. Both men being asked to take first were given a number of knock. let offs, and both fell

by E. GLENFORD PRESCOTT

with the total on 144.

Simple Boyz closed on 170, scoring some 123 runs in the last ten overs.

Police’s reply was a crawl to 119-6, with Danson Andrews hitting an unbeaten 29 and Salvon Browne 26, to give Gairy Construction Simple Boyz victory by 51 runs, and their first lien on the trophy amid estatic scenes.

In the third place play-off earlier in the day, Sting Power Nice Radio Clinchers beat CGM Gallagher Novice by five wickets.

SCORES: CGM Gallagher Novice 141 off 20 overs, Sting Power Nice Radio Clinchers 142-5 in 18.1 overs.

Batting first, Novice reached their total, thanks to an 81-run fourth wicket partnership between Sydney Campbell (65) and Ruel Williams (37),

after coming together at 60-3 in the tenth over.

Campbell struck seven sixes and three fours, while Williams cleared the boundary five times.

Clinchers were taken to victory in 18.1 overs, through the efforts of Ohean Toby, 55, and Javar Caine 42. Toby struck five sixes and four fours, while Caine counted four sixes and three fours.

Gairy Construction Simple Boyz collected EC$1500.00 for winning the title, while runnersup RSVG Police earned EC$1000.00; third placed Sting Power Nice Radio Clinchers EC$800.00 and CGM Gallagher Novice EC$400.00 for finishing fourth.

In the closing ceremony which followed after in addition to the major team prizes, Desron Spring of Clinchers was the top runscorer with 248 runs,

Ballboy Omar Williams receiving token from president of Nice Radio Clinchers Pearlina Thomas.

Peter Richard also of Clinchers the top wickettaker with 18 scalps. Desron Maloney was the competition’s top six hitter, while leading

spectators as well as the lone ballboy Omar Williams all received some token of recognition.

Peters off to CPL

Manager of the SVG Police Co-operative Credit Union Daniel Robertson (left) and members of Simple Boyz - Desron Maloney, captain Elric Morris and manager Edgerton Morris at presentation ceremony last Sunday.

Nero to lead SVG AGGRESSIVE West Indies opening batter Juliana Nero will lead a 14-member team, which includes one newcomer, in the upcoming West Indies Women’s 50 overs and T20 cricket tournaments to be held in Grenada, from August 3 to 23.

Newcomer, wicket-keeper/batter Edelyn Turtin, joins a team comprised primarily of regular names.

Melisa Billingy, an experienced all rounder, makes a return after a year’s absence.

The team reads: Juliana Nero Captain, Cordel Jack, Crystal John, Terisha Lavia, Melisa Billingy, Edelyn Turtin, Roshelle John, Myschia George, Sherre Ann John, Latoya Providence, Hazel-Ann Foster, Vinisha King, Stacy-Ann Adams, and Shavorne Clarke.

Xavian Stephens, Ronelia Fergus and Sue-Ann Martin have been named as reserves.

Former Windward Islands batsman Kenroy Martin will coach the team, with Josette Cambridge as the manager.

Jamaica are the defending Juliana Nero, champions for the T20 format. captain of the SBG Female I.B.A.ALLEN Cricket Team.

LEFT ARM SEAMER, Kenroy And as far as playing against his Peters, is looking forward to joining Vincentian colleague is concerned, his colleagues in preparation for the Peters said: “Playing against some of inaugural Caribbean Premier League my team members like Delorn (CPL) T20, which bowls off August Johnson and Johnson Charles, who 30, in Barbados. will be representing the Jamaica Peters, a prominent member of the Tallawahs, will put me at an senior Windward Islands Cricket advantage because I know their team, will represent the St Lucia weaknesses and strengths. I’m Zouks, the franchise which is based looking to be ahead of them on every in St Lucia. occasion.”

“I am really looking forward to The other CPL franchises are the this opportunity because it will give Antigua Hawksbills, Barbados me an opportunity to play with and Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors. Kenroy Peters says he will be comfortable playing against some of the top players in with most of his world cricket,” Peters said before I.B.A.ALLEN Windwards colleagues. departing to St Lucia earlier this week, for a one week training camp before heading off to Barbados for the opening ceremony.

Peters will play MILSOM CONSTRUCTION moved Masters promised much but alongside some of his one step closer to retaining their title disappointed in the long run.

Windward Islands Salanga Tomahawks took first in the Mustique 20/20 Cricket players, including Liam Competition when they eased to a knock and amassed 220 runs for 3 Sebastein, Nelon Pascal, nine-wicket victory over Pink House wickets from 20 overs, to record the Gary Mathurin, Shane Tags in the fist of two weekend highest total in the tournament so Shillingford, Devon far. matches.

Smith, Darren Sammy, Pink House Tags won the toss last Shem Browne was in blistering Andre Fletcher and Saturday and may have thought luck form, blasting his way to 102 not out.

Kavem Hodge. This, he He had good support from Oneil was on their side. They, however, believes, will make him laboured to 74 runs for 8 wickets, Thomas, 33, and Razine Browne, 30. more comfortable because from 19 0vers, failing to come to grips Deflated by the beating their he understands the with the Milsom bowling attack, with bowlers got, Rock Masters were sent chemistry of those to the slaughter house, every last Nicholas Baptiste taking 3 wickets players with whom he for 6 runs in 4 overs, and Kevin ounce of life seemingly drawn from has played with for the them. They were bundled out for a Greene, 2 for 13 runs in 4 overs. past 10 years. dismal 38 in 13 overs.

Charles Benjamin contributed 25 “I will be going out in Pink House Tags total.

Chief among the wickets for there to represent my Milsom made light work of their Salanga Tomahawks were: Sherbert team, SVG, family and chase, rushing to 77 for I wicket in 6 Jacobs 3 for 6 in 3 overs; Shem friends in this once in a overs, with Elroy Baptiste blasting 30 Browne 2 for 4 in 1 over; and Oneil lifetime setting,” Peters Thomas 2 for 6 runs in 3 overs. and Baptiste completing a good day, further stated.

Shem Browne was duly named with 26.

Peters and fellow left Man of the Match.

Nicholas Baptiste, as expected, arm fast bowler Delorn was named Man of the Match.

Matches for this weekend: Rock Johnson are the only Masters vs Hybrid Alliance on Vincentians to be part of Saturday 27; Terraces Tags vs Savage Tomahawks the CPL. Alumbrera Sweepers on Sunday 28.

Johnson will line up Sunday’s encounter between with the Trinidad and (Submitted by Adesha Peters) Salanga Tomahawks and Rock Tobago based Red Steel.

MILSOM on track in Mustique

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. 25.

Sports

VINLEC North Leeward T20 North Leeward youths get assistance Update

by KENVILLE HORNE

Gideon Lewis (front left) makes a ceremonial handing over of football gear to Kenville Horne, in the company of some of those who will benefit from the donation.

by KENVILLE HORNE YOUTH FOOTBALLERS in the North Leeward constituency are now better equipped to participate in the sporting discipline, following the donation of football gear made possible by Troumaca resident and community activist, Gideon Lewis.

During a brief handing over ceremony at the Arnos Vale playing field on Sunday 21st July, Lewis said the donation was being made on behalf of his sister and her husband in Canada, and hinted at more assistance to come , naming Earl ‘Ole George’ Daniel, as a possible donor.

Lewis disclosed that the major challenge was getting the donation

through Customs.

Prior to the arrival of the gear in St. Vincent, he had sought help from various sporting entities and governmental institutions with a view of obtaining some concessions. When nothing was forthcoming, he used “money from my own pocket” to clear the items through Customs.

Those expected to benefit from the donation include youth footballers from Troumaca, Chateaubelair/ Fitz Hughes and those enrolled in the Rose Hall-based Kenville Horne Sports Academy.

Coach of the Chateaubelair/ Fitz

Hughes youth footballers, John Williams, said he was grateful for the donation, and promised to ensure that the “children benefits, most.”

Kenville Horne described Lewis’s generosity as “a noble act,” pointing to the fact that he (Lewis), donated the gear instead of “selling them to recover the money he used to clear them through Customs.”

Gideon Lewis is no stranger to helping. He has provided assistance in the past, including cricket equipment, books for school children, and Christmas lights to beautify his community during that season.

Schools’ Games on this weekend

THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION is in the final stages of preparation for the hosting of this year’s Windward Islands Schools’ Games scheduled for 27 July – 4 August which will feature intense competitions in Track and Field (male and female), Basketball (male and female), Football, Netball and Volleyball (male and female).

Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia and host, St Vincent and the Grenadines, have all committed to participating in the annual festival of sport with full teams, each comprising 70 persons 62 athletes and eight

officials.

St Lucia, travelling by boat, will be the first team to arrive for the Games. The Lucians will take up residence at the Games Village, the West St George Secondary School, on Wednesday 24 July. The other teams move into the Games Village on Friday 26 July. The Mayor of the Games Village is former Principal, Mr Wendell Edwards.

The Vincentian team has been encamped at the Sion Hill Primary School since Saturday 20 July. The coaches and the team’s management have been focusing on finetuning their strategies for

the competitions. The team hopes to mount a very serious challenge to defending champions, Grenada, and expects to benefit from home crowd support.

For the first time, the annual Windward Islands Schools’ Games would be played at several venues across the host country.

Venues include: the Biabou, Girls’ High School, Questelles and Keartons hard courts: Netball and Basketball facilities at New Montrose; and Victoria Park, the Park Hill Playing Field and the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.

FOUR MATCHES were completed last weekend in the VINLEC North Leeward Twenty20 Cricket tournament played at the Petit Bordel Playing Field.

There were back to back wins for RSVG Police, and wins for Carlos James Troumaca Starlight and Peto Stars.

RSVG Police defeated Sharps United by 46 runs.

RSVG Police scored 239 for 7 off 20 overs, Salvan Browne 82, Kevin Michael 4 for 44.

Sharps United 193 all out off 20 overs, Marvin Cato 48, Maxwell Edwards 33.

Sylvan Spencer 3 for 43 and Vertil Davis 3 for 23.

Man of the Match was Salvan Browne, 82.

RSVG Police defeated Winterset Ball Beaters

by I wicket.

Winterset Ball Beaters 133 all out off 14

overs, Omar Tucker 37, McLeon Williams 5 for 18.

Police 135 for 9 off 16 overs, McLeon Williams 22, Kesroy DeBique 3 for 15, Kenard Edwards 3 for 38.

Man of the match McLeon Williams 5 / 18.

Carlos James Troumaca Starlight defeated Carlos Salvan Browne, 82, helped James Troumaca Police to victory over Sharps United by 4 United. wickets.

Troumaca United runs.

112 for 6 off 15 overs, Peto Stars 243 for 4 Keron Cottoy 27 not out, off 20 overs, Ronique Donald Delpesche 3 for Laborde 82, Shamon 22. Troumaca Starlight Hooper 55, Nigel Small 113 for 6 off 14 overs, 47. Ruddy’s Electrical Donald Delpesche 36, 154 all out off 17 overs, Emil Anthony 2 for 22, Leon Samuel 42, Javon Samuel 2 for 22.

Ronique Laborde 6 for Man of the Match 26.

Donald Delpesche 3 for Man of the Match 22 & 36.

Ronique Laborde 82 & 6 Peto Stars defeated for 26.

Ruddy’s Electrical by 89

26. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

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V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013. 27.

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The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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DIAMOND RESIDENT

STILL WAITING ON A ROAD

by KENVILLE HORNE

IMAGINE building your home, only to realise that you are surrounded by other houses, and have no clear access to and from your property: that is the situation in which Diamond resident Avril Jones finds herself.

Jones began building her house in 1995 on lands, she openly admitted, she and her husband had squatted.

Construction was halted when the community group GEMS claimed to have right to the land on which she was squatting. When that matter was settled in her favour, so to speak, she continued construction, even though, as she repeated, she was squatting.

0n the 5th May, 2008, Cabinet granted approval for Jones to purchase the land (on which she was squatting).

The land, measuring 6,792 square feet, cost $21,394.80, towards which she is currently paying, as receipts she

produced for THE VINCENTIAN indicate.

Problems set in

residence, it was clear that there was still no road to her residence.

Alternate road Jones’s problems with access set in after she had completed her home. She discovered the road which was provided for in the original plan for the area, was “tampered with.”

She pointed to a house that she contends, now sits on that roadway.

“There was a road there, where those persons build, but Ollivierre (Chief Surveyor) shift the road, which the original plan showed . After the persons realised they build in the road, they asked for leniency,” a frustrated Jones said.

The mother of five said the Chief Surveyor explained to her “what was taking place”, and made a promise, some three years ago, that an alternate road would be provided. But when THE VINCENTIAN visited Jones’s

When she pointed to the area that the Chief Surveyor had earmarked for an alternate road, it was Avril Jones and her sons, Denzil noted that the area was blocked in completely. congested with tall grass, and seemed quite steep for a According to the Diamond road, an impression which resident, she was told by Jones shared.

Ollivierre that they would use She explained that she had a tractor and create a better someone do an estimate to road for her. determine the cost for a proper She pointed out that at the road, and it amounted to EC$ time when the alternate road 6,000. “I don’t have that kind was promised, a road was of money; I am not working,” said Jones, who explained that being constructed to serve, she receives financial support among other residents, the Prime Minister’s secretary. from a son who is in the “Ollivierre told me that British Navy, her sister and after they finish the Prime her children’s father who Minister secretary road they resides in Canada. would cut my road. They cut Jones confessed to being the secretary road, throw way hopeful after the promise by all the waste and did not cut the Chief Surveyor 3 years that,” she explained, pointing ago, but voices total to the area Ollivierre had disappointment now.

Avril Jones points to the area that was earmarked for an alternate road.

(left) and Josh, may soon be earmarked.

Access for how long To access their home, Jones and her children are allowed “a passage way” through the neighbour’s yard (the property that sits on the original roadway).

But even this generosity is threatened, as Jones disclosed that the lady who currently occupies the house has already told her that when her husband returns from sailing, Continued on Page 6.

The area to the right of the coconut tree is currently the only access way to the Jones’s home.

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

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.