Vinpages 28 06 13

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY,

JUNE 28, 2013

VOLUME 107, No. 23

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

Expect that security at these ports and all ports in SVG will be manned by officers of the Royal SVG Police Force.

The first LIAT ATR 72-600 on its maiden stop at E. T. Joshua Airport.

by KENVILLE HORNE

Welcome aboard LIAT’s ATR 72-600 service.

The new aircraft offers increased capacity and comfort.

PRIME MINISTER of St.Vincent and the Grenadines, Chairman of LIAT shareholders (government) Dr. Ralph Gonsalves described the maiden flight of the new LIAT ATR 72600 aircraft to St.Vincent, as an emotional moment for him.

Last Wednesday, one of the twelve expected upgraded aircraft that will

comprise a re-fleeting of LIAT, touched down at the ET Joshua airport, creating excitement and hope for a better service.

The aircraft on settling at its destination, received the traditional water salute, before Monsignor Michael Stewart of the Roman Catholic Church performed an act of blessing.

Disembarking from the aircraft were: CEO of LIAT, Captain Ian Brunton; LIAT Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. Jean Holder; and other high ranking officials of LIAT. They were welcomed by a party of Prime Minister Dr. Gonsalves, government officials, the contestants in the 2013 Miss Carival Show and media personnel.

Government’s policy “This is a very emotional moment for me because it has been a long, long journey,” declared Dr. Gonsalves at the welcoming ceremony.

Continued on Page 3.

Left: Top ‘brass’ of LIAT (L-R): Chairman of Directors Dr. Jean Holder, CEO Captain Ian Brunton and Chairman of Shareholder Governments Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, know that the road ahead is no bed of roses.

SVGPA to sever Port Police: Hardship expected

by JP SCHWMON THE MANAGEMENT of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Port Authority invited the Public Service Union (PSU) to a meeting on Thursday 13th June, 2013.

Down for attention was The Port’s decisions to discontinue its employment of the 80 plus officers initially retained to secure the local ports, and to pass on said security responsibilities to the local constabulary.

This action followed the Prime Minister’s pronouncement declaring the government’s intention to disband the Port Police, this after an alleged sickout by Port Officers, which is said to have occurred on Friday 12th April, 2013.

PSU still open to discussions Speaking after the meeting, President Cools Vanloo expressed disappointment that the invitation was one to attend what amounted to a press briefing, since the meeting did not allow for a discussion on the issue, and merely served to bring the Union up to speed with what decisions were already made.

“The Union has not been engaged in any meaningful way with respect to the announced decision,” Vanloo said.

Continued on Page 3.

2. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. 3.

News 3 LIAT ATR 72-600 makes maiden voyage to SVG

of play, you have to stand for what you think is a correct public policy He recounted that in and pursue it,” he April of 2001, one month insisted. after his ULP The Prime Minister government came to proceeded to describe the office, he had his first occasion as one with a substantive discussion on spiritual flavor. “There air transportation, is an amazing grace particularly LIAT. He which has brought us made it clear to his safe with LIAT thus far, finance officials that the and I am certain, with public policy of his our plan, that amazing government was “to grace will take us home.” support LIAT, to save it, to see that it survives, Re-fleeting and reand then to see it tooling thrives.”

Despite many The re-fleeting and challenges, he said, the retooling of staff will cost people of SVG have LIAT US$100 million, elected his government to but this is expected to three successive five-year reap substantial benefits. terms, “among other According to the Dr. things to keep LIAT in Gonsalves, “These new the sky.” planes will help us over He recalled the the next two years to reference to LIAT as an keep our maintenance insolvent airline when he cost very low and to went to Parliament in facilitate us in having 2012 to seek LIAT turnaround from authorization to invest in an operational deficit to the airline. an operational gain.”

“So, I was investing as LIAT, it is understood, much in the idea and the has embarked on a focus people as (I was) in the process of re-fleeting, company,” he said. with plans to expand its The Prime Minister, routes in the Caribbean, however, cautioned that, and venture into new despite the changes and markets in North, reforms, “We are not yet Central and South completely there,” and America, in unison with reminded the gathering strategic partners. that, while persons want The re-fleeting of results instantly, difficult LIAT is important to St. decisions always have to Vincent and the be made when you are in Grenadines, Dr. government.

Gonsalves stressed, more “And against the run so, when the Continued from Frontpage.

OOPS! HOW COULD WE? In our issue of Friday 21st June, 2013, in a story captioned ‘Porter: Tops for Windsor’, and carried on page 14, we stated the following, inter alia: “…..of the 16 students who did the exam (CEE), only one passed.”

That was incorrect and should have read: “… of the 16 students who did the exam (CEE), only one was pass deferred.”

We apologise to all the 2013 Common Entrance students, Management and Staff of the Windsor Primary School for the incorrect representation of the School’s performance.

We, at THE VINCENTIAN, know Windsor Primary School to be one of the consistently outstanding performing schools at the Common Entrance.

And while we are on ‘Oopses’, we extend a hand of apology to Mr. Kenny Baker, who we referred to as ‘Kerry’ Baker on a page two article of last week issue, an article that featured the outstanding performance of his son, in the 2013 CEE.

international airport is operational next year.

The Prime Minister made a direct appeal to Miss Dominica to convey his gratefulness to her prime minister for coming onboard.

Dominica earlier this year joined St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, and Barbados as shareholder governments in the LIAT. The Prime Minister is hopeful that St.Lucia would come on board.

The ceremony was also addressed by LIAT Board of Directors Chairman, Dr. Jean Holder, who said he was honoured to be in the company of the

Vincentian Prime Minister.

Dr. Holder commended Dr. Gonsalves for championing LIAT’s cause of regional air transportation, noting that if LIAT was to be grounded, the region would come to a “grinding halt.”

“I see a light at the end of the tunnel,” Dr. Holder intimated.

CEO of LIAT, Captain Ian Brunton, described the re-fleeting as a game changer for LIAT , that can only be achieved through confidence by the people.

He highlighted the ATR 72-600 aircraft as modern, highly

technological and fuel effective.

Brunton expressed thanks to the Caribbean people for their faith in LIAT. Following the ceremony, government Dr. Ralph Gonsalves described the officials, dignitaries and event as a special one for him. media personal Barbados, St. Vincent were treated on a 20minute flight which took and the Greandines and Dominica, the latter only them over the southern recently coming on Grenadine island of Canouan and back to the board.

The hope is still held E.T. Joshua Airport. out that the government LIAt shareholders of St. Lucia will come on include the government of Antigua and Barbuda, board.

SVGPA to sever Port Police Continued from Frontpage.

“It need not be a contentious matter… I am saying we’re still open to discussions, even if the decision has been announced,” said the Union boss while explaining that although the Union is “still not clear as to the issues which may have given rise to the decisions (as no reasons were stated at the meeting)… the PSU anticipates that there may still be opportunities to have the matter resolved.”

Current president of the National Labour Congress came in for some heated rebuke as the PSU president critized the NLC’s apparent in-action with regard to facilitating an amicable resolution of the issue. “As president of the NLC, Jackson should not be taking sides. He should have called in the government and demanded that they meet with the PSU to have the matter resolved.”

Meanwhile the Public Service Union is set to intervene with local financial institutions on behalf of several adversely affected Port Police officers, who now

find themselves faced with mounting debts and very limited to noneexistent financial resources.

Officers’ plight THE VINCENTIAN newspaper was reliably informed that a growing number of Port Police officers are now being forced to contemplate a future without homes, as the possibility of defaulting on their loans and mortgages looms in the shortening distance.

One Officer confirmed that her credit union requested loan was only awaiting the lawyer’s attention in the final preapproval stages when she was called in, only to hear that the institution was “putting a hold on the loan until all this talk bout letting we go get settle one way or the other.”

Another officer, preferring to remain unnamed, lamented, “(I am) the only bread winner in home. …It’s like I’m just building house for Bank. Right now all that’s left for me to do is to put on my roof and they told me they can’t stop the loan now because the house almost done, but the thing is if I

lose this job I stand to lose the land too…”

The land to which the officer referred was given as a Deed of Gift. Not only would the bank lay claim, by rights, to the house if there is defult on the loan, but because the land was used as collateral in the loan negotiations, the officer is fearful that the land will also be lost. The uncertainty has bred a multi-pronged shard of woes including the welfare of her grandmother who lives with the officer.

“I ain’t even tell my grandmother anything about what going on yet because I don’t know, I don’t know… I break down the board house to build this and now it looking like she go have to join me on the roadside now in she old age. That is the first thing she going say…, adding, “Them talking about reducing poverty, this is how they plan to do that? When me home, my child can’t go to school, is that how you really plan to reduce poverty?”

Also of concern to the frazzled officer is the possibility that all the talk about being welcomed to re-apply for police duty would amount to just that —

talk. She pondered, “How can you tell people they are ill-disciplined after 9 years. If I was so illdisciplined, would you consider to reinstate me back? To me that sound like foolishness.”

And as if that is not enough to worry about, the officer reported that the recent Prime Ministerial pronouncements regarding the collective firing of the Port Police is negatively impacting on the officers’ ability to effect their duties. “Now you try to talk to people here and the first thing they saying is ‘Ralph say aryo going home just now’… God knows I show up here every day but I still can’t function.”

These officers are not alone as there are more who have indicated that they too have financial commitments entered into on the premise of guaranteed job security.

The PSU estimates, at an average of 5 persons per household multiplied by 80 plus officers, “over 400 persons will be directly affected by the announced decision.”

The Union was poised to address its Port Police contingent on Monday 24th June as they continue to strategize on the way forward.

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4. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Courts

Policeman cleared of criminal charge Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS AN ELATED CONSTABLE ADRIAN FORDE walked away from the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday, not as an arresting officer, but as a free man, after being cleared of a criminal charge.

The allegation had stemmed from an incident at Rose Place, Kingstown, December 5, 2012, during which Corporal Milford Edwards of the Narcotics Unit was shot in the right upper arm.

PC Forde, along with Sergeant Julius Morgan and Constable Orlando Collins, all of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), were charged with conspiracy to defeat the course of Justice. Morgan and Collins are also charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Edwards, unlawfully discharging a firearm, excessive use of force and acting in a manner so rash or so negligent as to be likely to cause harm to a person.

At the close of the prosecution’s case, Chief Magistrate Sonya Young dismissed the conspiracy charge against Forde, after upholding his attorney Kay BacchusBrowne’s objection to a report Forde had given to the police, shortly after the incident, being admitted into evidence.

The objection was made on the grounds that witness statements are not put into evidence.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Colin Williams conceded that, once the report was not in evidence, the case against Forde would fall.

However, Sergeant Morgan and PC Collins will have to wait a while longer to know their fate in respect to their charges.

Attorney Ronald Marks, representing Morgan, and Duane Daniel, defending Collins, are expected to file and serve no case submissions on behalf of

their clients by July 12, while the DPP is expected to respond by July 19. The Chief Magistrate is expected to give her ruling on the submissions, July 23.

The investigator, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Jonathon Nichols, the final prosecution witness to give evidence, told the Court on Tuesday that Forde gave no caution statement, while Collins said he would stick to his report, as he was instructed by his lawyer not to give any further statement.

Morgan gave a caution statement which he said was in accordance with the report he had given following the incident.

Morgan and Collins were interviewed electronically and the interviews, conducted by Corporal Biorn Duncan of the Major Crime Unit (MCU) and ASP Nichols, were shown in Court on Tuesday. Because Collins said he would stick to his report, that report was admitted in evidence.

In her objection to Forde’s report being admitted, BacchusBrowne contended, “If a person becomes a defendant and they do not give a statement, you cannot refer to their witness statement.”

According to the experienced lawyer, “I have never seen police reports put into evidence as exhibits in all my practice.”

Under crossexamination by BacchusBrowne, ASP Nichols could not say where or when Forde conspired with Morgan and Collins.

The investigator admitted that he completed his internal report on the matter before it became a criminal investigation, and that Edwards did not make an official report to the police until March 23, 2013, about three and a half months after the incident.

In his caution statement, Sergeant

Morgan said that around 9 p.m. December 5, 2012, he received a call from Corporal Barker of the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) that a boat was loading drugs on a beach at Rose Place and the CID’s assistance was required. He left with Forde, Collins and P.C Robinson, all armed.

Morgan was in charge of the operation. He said that on arrival, he encountered one person on the beach about 25 ft. from him. Morgan said the beach was dark, the person had a flashlight and as he raised the flashlight, he (Morgan) recognised that he had a rifle. Morgan stated that when the person shone the light on him and his men, he (Morgan) said “police” following which he discharged his shot gun. “I heard a shot after”, Morgan stated, adding that he subsequently heard that it was P.C Collins who

Sergeant Julius Morgan (left) and Constable Orlando Collins (centre) await their fate, but Constable Adrian Forde has been cleared. had fired that shot.

Morgan said that after the shots were fired, he saw Edwards lying on the sand bleeding from his face. He then spotted Sergeant Katherine Robinson, then Corporal, of the Narcotics Unit and a Trinidadian civilian.

Attorney Duane Daniel asked ASP Nichols only one question: “You are not in a position to say which one of the officers wounded Edwards?

Nichols replied, “No, please your honour”.

Dr. Charles Woods, who had examined Edwards, told the Court that “It would appear

that the bullet shattered on impact with the bones of the shoulder, and shrapnel (bullets or pieces of metal contained in a shell) flew into the patient’s forehead as he looked back”.

Noting that a number of police units had been informed on the night of December 5 of an illegal activity on a beach at Rose Place, Marks asked Nichols whether he thought it was dangerous to have several units responding to a call without all units being coordinated. Nichols said he did not know about it being dangerous, but acknowledged that it was

important to have all units coordinated. Under further crossexamination by Marks, Nichols said the responses could be coordinated through the units themselves or by the duty officer who is responsible for supervising the Central Police Station. However, Nichols said he did not know who the duty officer was on the night in question or whether that officer was informed.

The trial had commenced May 29 at the Serious Offences Court.

Improved police coordination needed ATTORNEY Kay BacchusBrowne has stressed the need for the local constabulary to establish a proper system to co-ordinate responses to calls.

Bacchus-Browne was speaking to THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday after her client, Constable Adrian Forde, was acquitted at the Serious Offences

Attorney Kay Bacchus-Browne wants to see better co-ordinated responses by the police to calls for their assistance/service.

Court on a charge of conspiracy to defeat the course of justice. The charge stemmed from an incident at Rose Place, Kingstown, December 5, 2012, during which Corporal Milford Edwards of the Narcotics Unit was shot in the right upper arm.

The charge against Forde was dismissed at the close of the prosecution’s case.

Bacchus-Browne said that, according to the evidence, her client was among a party of officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) who had responded to a call that some illegal activity was going on at a beach at Rose Place that night.

“Three different units received the call. They all went down there. None of them knew that other units were going. My client’s unit thought they were accosting the criminal/criminals on the beach. A police officer from another unit dressed in civilian clothes turned around with a gun in his hand. It was around 10 p.m. on a dark beach at Rose Place. My client did not fire, but was charged with conspiracy,” Bacchus-Browne explained.

“They (police) need urgently to coordinate the responses between

different units responding to calls,” the lawyer urged. She expressed the view that, “You can’t have two or three units responding to these calls and none of the units know of each other’s involvements. That is what led to the unfortunate incident”.

While Bacchus-Browne thinks justice was served, she contended that the prosecution of her client was unwarranted. She noted that Forde had received a trophy at the CID’s Annual Awards Ceremony for being the most outstanding detective in 2012.

On the conspiracy charge, Forde was charged along with Sergeant Julius Morgan and Constable Orlando Collins.

Morgan and Collins are also charged jointly with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Edwards, unlawfully discharging a firearm, excessive use of force and acting in a manner so rash or so negligent as to be likely to cause harm to a person.

Attorneys Ronald Marks and Duane Daniel, representing Morgan and Collins respectively, are expected to file and serve no case submissions on behalf of their clients by July 12.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. 5.

Regional

The OECS turned 32 this year OECS celebrates 32nd anniversary: Spencer sees bright future

Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, and current Chairman of the OECS, spoke of a bright future for the organization:

the accomplishments of the organization in encouraging and consolidating co-operation in the subregion, e.g. in banking, telecommunications, aviation, the TUESDAY 18TH JUNE, 2013 marked the courts (law), money markets.

32nd anniversary of the Organisation of As far as he was concerned, it was a Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). wise decision to move to deepen OECS CURRENT CHAIRMAN OF THE integration in the face of the global OECS, Prime Minister of Antigua and crisis, and to work toward achieving Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer, delivered the OECS Economic Union. an address to mark the occasion.

He pondered as to what would have He described the day, June18, 1981, been the condition of the individual as a “pivotal day in our history,… member states, in the face of the when the founding fathers of the global crisis, without the mutual OECS, inspired by the need to ensure support that characterizes the current the viability and future security of the integration effort. region,….. affixed their signatures to But his best was left for projecting the original Treaty of Basseterre the sub-regional organization into the marking the birth of the OECS.” future.

Chairman Spencer traced some of He spoke to the immediate future as

being set to bring benefits derived from the Economic Union, citing crossborder movement of goods, services, labour, and capital as allowing for “more efficient allocation of economic resources, and enhance the economic potential of our Member States.”

Going further, Prime Minister Spencer projected, “A larger regional market will make possible the economies of scale that are required to drive down costs, encourage enhanced domestic (OECS) and foreign investment, and so create new jobs and sustainability in the market” But he was not confined to the economic sphere. PM Spencer highlighted the strengthening and enhanced “institutional structure ….to guide the integration process and

Martin wants an OECS budget Dr. Len Ishmael, Director General of the OECS. Both had espoused the position that as the OEC celebrated its 32nd anniversary, it could look back, especially over the last ten years, with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

this economic union, we’ve been held up as a model to the world and small island developing states have never done this before.” She described it as a bold step into the future.

Spencer had all but said, in his address, that deepening the work towards OECS Economic Union had all but made it possible for the subregion to withstand the full Atherton Martin wants to force of the global economic see a consolidated budget and financial crises. for the OECS. But Martin, who was once a minister of government in his native Dominica, did not AT LEAST ONE share the sentiments ‘REGIONALIST’ has taken expressed by the OECS umbrage with the position officials, and said that the that the OECS has made Economic Union lacked huge progress by taking the substance. step towards an Economic Dr. Len Ishmael said there “I don’t see the progress Union. was much that had been myself because economic Atherton Martin, a noted accomplished in the OECS union would mean that by Dominican hotelier and over the last ten years. now we consolidate our activist, has said that if at all Dr. Ishmael, in an address budgets,” Martin is reported it was successful, the member to mark the 32nd anniversary to have said, adding that he states should have already had said, inter alia, “We have felt the heads of government had a consolidated budget. an organization which has in the sub-region, and the Martin, it appeared, was played much more than just a wider CARICOM region, reacting to statements made leadership role in regional ignored the input of the

by Baldwin Spencer, Prime integration in the Caribbean. people, an input he described Minister of Antigua and “That nine countries have as one that “could make a Barbuda and current come together and formed huge difference.”

Chairman of the OECS, and

improve the way in which joint decisions are taken,” making specific reference to the OECS Regional Assembly that was inaugurated in 2012.

And what also excited the OECS Chairman was the interest by third party countries who, he said, have expressed a wish to deepen relations with the OECS, some going to the point of applying for membership of the Organisation.

In short, Prime Minister Spencer was excited by the prospects that lie ahead for the OECS, and encouraged nationals of the sub-region to look forward to the near future, cautioning though that there will be challenges that will be surmounted if the people and their leaders are resolved so to do.

Drugs found in Volkswagen container NARCO-DRUG Traffickers in the Caribbean continue to employ daring ways of effecting their business.

On June 14, customs officers in Trinidad and Tobago discovered over 300 kilograms of high-grade Jamaican compressed marijuana in a 40foot container at the Port of Spain port.

Reports from Trinidad and Tobago said that a customs officer spotted a black duffel bag in a secluded areas and a search of the bag revealed several packages wrapped with brown packaging tape.

A search ensued, and officers recovered six additional duffel bags with marijuana in a container.

The container in which the additional six bags were recovered had several Volkswagen vehicles.

Best Auto Ltd, distributors of Volkswagen vehicles in Trinidad and Tobago, acknowledged the discovery, and explained that the container of vehicles was shipped from Mexico and may

The Port of Spain port is one of the busiest in the Englishspeaking Caribbean (Photo: Trinidad Guardian) have docked, in transit, at various ports before its arrival in Trinidad and Tobago, implying that one of those ports may have been Jamaica.

Trinidad and Tobago customs officials said that they were very concerned with the importation of marijuana from areas such as Jamaica and the United States, because the potency THC level of the drug is much higher from these places.

This drug haul has an estimated street value TT$22.3 million (approx. US$3.6 million).

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6. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Miss Carival is set to go

by KARISSA CLARKE THE MISS CARIVAL CONTESTANTS ARE ALL AMBASSADORS FOR THEIR COUNTRIES; THEY ARE EXPECTED TO PROMOTE THEIR COUNTRIES.

Dannyelle Teneel Leslie – Barbados –24 “I just love our accent, all Caribbean accents are interesting but there’s just something about a bajan accent. On top of that, our people are extremely talented from Robyn ‘Rihanna’ Fenty to Gary Sobers, and the list goes on. “

Here’s a peep at what the girls say they love most about their homelands. And of course, to see and learn more about them and their countries, an invitation is extended to be at Vicotira Park tonight, Friday 28th June, for the 2013 Miss Carival Show.

Sharie de Castro – BVI –22, “Our Culture and though BVI is my home, I know that’s not just in the BVI. There’s just something about Caribbean Food, Caribbean Music, the warmth of our people that is completely different from anywhere else in the world.”

Leslassa Armour Shillingford – Dominica –19 “It’s so hard to choose, but I would have to say the Hot Springs and our Resident Sperm Whales which are present all year round. The hot springs are absolutely amazing and extremely therapeutic, and the whales are huge yet so graceful. Both truly represent the natural beauty of Dominica. “

Rosa Martinez – Dominican Republic – 19 “It would have to be the weather, I think it’s so cool and fun that you could be in the city and it’s scorching hot, and then go else where and its very cold. Also, our people always wear a smile, no matter how tough times are, we work through it and smile.“

Kabrena Robinson – Jamaica – 18 “Our cultural arts , I have a love for our Jamaican dance, our music, and our literature. It is beautiful to see our native writers, dancers and artists express themselves in the arts and especially to see it so well accepted elsewhere. “

Janelle Desir – St. Lucia – 22 “The part of St. Lucia that I am from is known as Soufriere, home to the Volcanos and Pitons, Soufriere is a must see for any person visiting St. Lucia. Beyond Soufirere, there is just something about St.Lucian people,we are all hospitable, but St.Lucians give that little Lucian oomph in everything they do. “

Zinga Imo -St. Kitts and Nevis -18 “My favourite aspect of St. Kitts would have to be our beautiful beaches, I live near the beach and I love it, My favourite is Frigate Bay. “

Jenelle Thongs – Trinidad and Tobago - 21 My favourite thing would definitely have to be our passion. I love the passion that Trinidadians adopt to everything that we do, especially when we can come together and support each other. “

Yaimer Armes – Venezuela –21 “I love Margarita Island in Venezuela, it’s an island that reminds me now of St. Vincent. I love the beaches and the music of Callao.” (A place in Venezuela)

Shara George, SVG – 22 “ Our people! Vincentians have extremely vibrant personalities and very high standards. Our people are out spoken and vocal and that inspires me to really ‘bring it’ on the night of Miss Carival 2013.”

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. 7.

News

Calypsonian threatens legal action Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS CALYPSONIAN BERNARD ‘I-REALITY’ WHITE has threatened to take legal action against anyone who defames his character by spreading rumours.

An upset White told THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday that those rumours had recently caused him to lose his cool, landing him before the Serious Offences Court for causing grievous bodily harm to Sion Hill resident Marcellus Woodley, by swinging a large tin of juice contained in a bag that struck him (Woodley) in the face.

Woodley sustained damage to his jaw.

The 64-year-old calypsonian had pleaded guilty when he appeared at the Serious Offences Court, May 27. He was bonded and ordered to compensate the victim. He told the Court that Woodley heard persons saying defamatory things about him at a shop in Sion Hill, and proceeded to do likewise.

But the calypsonian of 39 years told THE VINCENTIAN that persons have continued to defame him, and he is warning them to desist.

“I don’t interfere with anybody and I am innocent of what is being said about me. I am a peace loving

Child injured after ‘Skinny’s’ fair CHIEF MAGISTRATE Sonya Young told a 48year-old carpenter who wounded a 4-year-old child last Saturday evening because of his reckless behaviour, that he should thank God, “It was not worse.”

The infant and his mother were coming from the popular ‘Uncle Skinny’s’ fair at Victoria Park, organized by reigning Soca Monarch Gamal ‘Skinny Fabulous’ Doyle, when he received a cut to the left thigh from the splinters of a broken bottle.

Simion Gurley, of Rockies, appeared at the Serious Offences Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to wounding the child. The court heard that when Gurley got close to the child and his mother, he flung a Hairoun Beer bottle to the ground. It broke and the splinters caught the child and wounded him. The laceration took one stitch.

Magistrate Young chided Gurley for his irresponsible and reckless action.

“If you are a fully grown man, you must know that if you fling a bottle, the splinters will fly. This is a 4-year-old child,” Young lamented.

“This could have been so much worse, I don’t want to think about it,” she added.

Gurley said he did not see the child and her mother.

“Because you were drunk,” Young retorted.

Gurley was ordered to pay $1,000 compensation to the victim, $500 forthwith and the balance in one month. In default, he would go to prison for four months.

Within recent years, government has introduced a no-bottle policy during Carnival celebrations. This policy has been followed by other Caribbean countries including Trinidad and Tobago.

person, I study my own business. I don’t know why they trying to pull me down. If they don’t stop, I am going to take legal action,” the visibly disturbed man said.

White is thanking those who read the article captioned ‘Calypsonian on Bond’, in THE VINCENTIAN of May 31, and “have expressed their understanding of the situation.”

White, who did not make it to the national semi-finals, held last Friday, June 21, is also a veteran pannist, drummer and craftsman.

Bernard ‘I Reality’ White is fed up with the ridicule he is experiencing and wants persons to desist from defaming him.

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8. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Managing Director: 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 PROSTITUTION: One end result of Human Trafficking THE US GOVERNMENT has issued a strong warning of sorts against this country. A report carried on page 15 of this issue speaks to our country as one that does “not fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s minimum standards but are simply making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.”

Long before this issue of human trafficking became ‘popular’ here, this publication editorialized the issue resulting in comments to the effect, including from police sources, that “all yo crying wolf’. Well, the wolf has come home for blood, and it’s not even full moon yet, or is it.

Since our focus on the issue, a Human Trafficking Unit has been added to our law enforcement (police) services.

But while our (local and regional) law enforcement personnel have been admirably waging a war against drug trafficking both on land and sea, the crime of human trafficking has been effectively ignored, allowing it to take root, fester and become a problem, like it or not.

Here in the Caribbean, the crime of human trafficking affects, in the main, women, and is one of the crimes against women with all the noise we make of abuse of women, that goes unmentioned if not unnoticed.

One of the end results of this crime is prostitution or forced servitude. It is a form of modern (day) slavery.

Women are entering Caribbean territories, some under cover of support from circles well placed, with the intention to have then engage in prostitution. Once they arrive in a ‘foreign country, to a Caribbean country from another Caribbean country, they become nothing but sex slaves, forced to work off expenses for getting them to their new destination, and forced to work for measly wages, if at all they earn anything.

And there is no opportunity for questioning their sordid, new lives, because the threat of deportation hangs over their heads as their passports are confiscated. Step out of line, and it’s back to the poverty from which they were enticed or snatched.

Ask yourself: How many women in the brothels in Antigua, Barbados, Trinidad, even St. Vincent, if your know where to look, are victims of human trafficking? Ask yourself: How many of these women are from Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic?

It’s no use denying; the truth is the truth; there will always be those men, who feed their fetishes off the services of the ‘oldest occupation known to man’. But that is no excuse.

Although prostitution is illegal, or since last we checked, across the English-speaking Caribbean, law enforcement seems only concerned with drugs and guns. They may raid a brothel, find it free of drugs and guns and give it carte blanche to continue its operation.

This seemingly deliberate act of stopping short of addressing the inter-locking nature of crime, speaks to law enforcement’s flippant approach to the laws against human trafficking and prostitution, and gives the impression that it is okay to proceed with prostitution, once no guns, and illegal drugs are involved.

The Caribbean islands are no great masses of land. Most are small islands with small populations; where, it is said, everyone knows everyone. That is why it is not difficult to identify and prove an establishment is a brothel, and go further and indentify its management and patrons. Isn’t it baffling therefore, all things taken into consideration, that these ‘places of pleasure’ are allowed to continue operating with impunity?

The fact of the matter is that the crimes of trafficking in illegal drugs and ammunition, and prostitution are intimately connected.

Prostitution breeds a lifestyle of guns and drugs, hence the reason why the crime of human trafficking should be given greater attention and not just a ‘community awareness programme’ aimed at the younger generation, while the older generation revels in the practice of an illegal trade and act.

Let’s be honest: Our approach, in the Caribbean, to human trafficking and prostitution is far from encouraging. If it is encouraging at all, it is that it (our approach) encourages the very crimes it is intended to control and eradicate.

It is time that we focus on properly educating and training law enforcement not just communities; time to close brothels and other establishments that encourage prostitution and human servitude; time not just to formulate anti-trafficking laws, but to enforce them vigorously and without fair or favour; time to start taking an interest in all the issues (not just physical/domestic abuse) that unduly affect our women and children; time to consider the interconnectivity of crimes and respond accordingly; time we stop turning the proverbial blind eye to the social impact of crimes (like human trafficking and prostitution) that go unattended.

And you know? We haven’t even touched on how tourism fuels the pace at which humans are trafficked intra-regionally, and how this accounts for increases in prostitution. That is quite another story.

Calpyso - The struggle continues I AM SURE that in the end, we will have enjoyed, generally speaking, yet another Carnival extravaganza.

It seems, however, that we have to remain eternally vigilant about our rights as players as against the claims of any Government which would seek to encroach upon our thing.

As Joel Providence whom I am fond of quoting, so aptly put it in 1991.

Joel had observed that things cultural are not amenable to regimentation. You may coax a developing trend in a desirable direction, but not railroad it. So Joel issued a general warning “to those who would want to impound this spontaneity and set rigid guidelines…

They must let go of what is not theirs to own or control”.

Jeff Hackett was in 1991 Editor in Chief of THE VINCENTIAN newspaper. He is a Trinidadian, of Vincentian roots, who certainly knows a thing or two of carnival in general and calypso in particular which drives it.

What follows is a fairly long quotation from him because he best captures the essence of calypso tracing the relationship between the governments and politics and the ribaldry in song that cascades down from the calypsonians’ lips.

In 1991 the N.D.P had been in power for seven years and appeared somewhat overbearing with its control of a one-party parliament, having won all the elected seats.

So, the calypsonians entered a warning which Hackett sensitized thus: “If the political commentary contained in a number of calypsos, some of which will be heard on Sunday night, is any indication of the Government’s popularity then Mr. Mitchell ought to be a very worried man, indeed.

The calypsonians have not only merely commented on the State of Affairs in this country; they have roundly denounced the Government, some of them rather savagely, to the delight of the audiences.

In St Vincent and the Grenadines, as is the case with the rest of the Caribbean, the calypsonian is an accurate and reliable barometer of the public opinion, more so than any Gallup poll.

He represents the grassroots and is therefore, the troubadour for the masses, expressing their pain and anguish; their hopes and fears; their anger and beliefs, political and otherwise.

Calypso as the calypsonian succinctly put it “is an editorial in song of the things that we undergo “and with lyrics to make a politician cringe”.

It would therefore, do Mr. Mitchell and his men a world of good not to ignore the social and political signals coming from these calypsos, but to take heed and act, positively, on them.”

Not only did Mitchell give the criticisms all ears, but he pledged never to ban a political calypso, and kept his solemn promise!

Clearly, having won the last two elections 12to 3 and pushed by a maximum,

“charismatic” leader of the ilk of Dr. Gonsalves, the U.L.P seems not to heed the lessons as did Mitchell, for example. Constant interference and veiled threats seem to be the name of the game.

The result has been a spate of calypsos throwing darts directly at the U.L.P. Government- Zion-I first caused a stir with his song that was threatened by a ban, familiar in the bad ole days of the Labour Government.

“Shame on you” by Patches Knights, “Out, Out, You got to go” by De Man Age tell it all; the classic lecture by the veteran Scakes who attacks the P.M simply by holding out how a good leader should behave, Which is not Ralph’s life-style.

Abijah, who does not mince matters, simply called on the electorate to “Fire Them”, referring to the Gonsalves Government.

Abijah did not make it to the Big Yard this carnival. … Kaisomen are brutally aware that it is a fight to the finish, a struggle that knows no end, and all kinds of weaponry. Even police brutality has been tried, as witness recent police confrontations with Poorsah and Ipa who was slapped then told to “sing about that”

Turn Around Now, just a matter of days before the next carnival, it seems that we are once again muddling through it all to a fairly successful conclusion.

Not that the ULP Government has not got its way with the political commentary in the calypsos, but that the calypsonians have maintained their stand generally, taking their blows with aplomb.

“Jumbie Squeezing Me”, for instance, has been officially rejected, but is still breaking down the place with popularity.

We have to thank three radio programs, that of Vynette Frederick over Nice Radio on Thursday the 20th of June, followed by Luzette King on Global Highlights on Saturday morning June 22nd, and finally Martin Quashie on NCB Radio last Monday night that opened up the flood-gates to the vital role of the calypso in our culture, pointing the way forward, which apparently jars with the policy of the ruling ULP. We shall soon enough know whether the NBC program struck a discordant note where officialdom is concerned. Not only was Bryan Alexander bathed in glory for his musical contributions over the years, but he was invited to have a lap of honour in a joint sponsorship of his band “Touch” and the NBC itself — of all agencies.

So, Carnival 2013 has sprung back to life with “Touch’s” Monday band. Our plight would have been so different, had trigger happy hands got his way with Bryan!!

The persistent trio- Luzette, Bryan and Vynette, plus the doughty Joy-C who danced through the valley of the shadow of death, formed the nucleus that mounted Sulle’s “Rescue Mission” of Yester-year.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. 9.

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LIME? More can be done After reading an in IWN, I came up with the following questions and comments: Why does a LIME to LIME call cost $0.60/min? LIME to LIME mobile or land line calls should be cheaper.

It is one network and carrier. Most of the international calls are terminated on VOIP network. LIME is almost everywhere in the region, so long distance rate on aand line and cellular

should be less.

LIME owns most of the copper (phone lines) on the street. Yes, they have to pay tax/fees to the Government, but they make money if some other company wants to use the same circuit. It is called Last mile Charge.

Government can generate revenue in many other ways and create competition in communication market.

For example, customers should be allowed to take

Trying to make ends meet

their phone numbers from one carrier to next (Number Porting). A fee can be charged and Government can tax that fee.

Create more post paid Cellular accounts.

Instead of paying to a third party in America, Government can collect tax on the Bill and use that money to improve the services. Sell DID numbers to other VOIP/Phone companies.

This will force local phone companies to improve their infrastructure.

How much longer do LIME and Digicel want to keep locals under 2G umbrella? Companies should upgrade the network and provide more WiFi services for reduced rate. Sell internet as prepaid/postpaid plan for Tablets & Laptops. Once again your Edge & GPRS network is maxed out. It takes a minute and half to download a webpage on BB in most of your downtown coverage area.

And, why most of the times after you perform network upgrade, your network (Mobile & Data) become non-responsive?

In today’s Internet market DSL service is almost at its end of life.

So why spend money on old technology and not invest in Fiber?

St. Vincent will need Fiber sooner or later.

Fiber will help you launch the TV portion of the service.

If your service is cheaper and better than your Competition, customers will come back to you.

And please attend to your customer care.

LIME should, give credit at customers request, when something goes wrong with their network. Don’t just TXT (text) about network problems, do something.

In recent times, LIME

Version 2 Editor’s Note: Ronald ‘Ron B’ Browne has withdrawn as a finalist in the 2013 Calypso Monarch Competition. Here’s the lyrics to the song that won him selection as a finalist.

Vs1 Marva meet me outside ah KFC, Ron B boy is you ah so glad to see Ah shame to beg yo but what else to do Sometimes you have to swallow your pride for true Is three months now ah ain’t pay me rent, Ah brokes to thief ah don’t have a darn red cent A forth night work ah month for some might be just fine But not when yo have six Pinckney for you alone mine CHO: Ref. SO.. In these hard times boy this is really Hell Just trying to make ends meet Is pressure in me tail ah sure you could tell Ah willing to work but no work ent dey The hold on ah had like dey didn’t want pay It really seems they don’t have ah clue The hard times Boy that I’m now going through that making me see blue Just Trying, Just Trying, Just trying TO MAKE ENDS MEET Ah Just Trying, Really Trying, Just trying TO MAKE ENDS MEET Vs2 Such ah sad story ah had to empathize You could see the hurt and pain in her eyes Ah trying everything ah can just to survive Ah done sell most me clothes ah aint telling no lies Dey father tell the court maintenance he can’t payThe contractor he was working for call it ah day Look is twenty claims he have by the treasury More than six months gone and he can’t get no money Vs3 Look, Santos pass me straight just the other day He couldn’t recognize me say how I wasting away What was going through he mind seemed very clear But the truth ah wanted for him to hear The people by welfare done tell me flat All request for help constituency Rep. handling dat You could join the early morning queue on Bay Street up so But who I vote for seems everybody done know Vs4 Yo watch me here scrunting thinking this is insane Cause yo know is seven CXC’s ah have to me name Yo saying I not contributing to the economy But it seems my colours not right for work in SVG Politicians playing games with de people’s cash Some say that is why Bank and Building society done crash Look we borrowing more than we can ever hope to repay YOU KNOW, Mr. Editor, I am no One single project done tek all we economist, finance expert or pension pay Cho: .. In these hard times boy this is mathematician, but I just can’t see really Hell how the maths make sense as far Just trying to make ends meet as LIAT is concerned. Now, you Is pressure in me tail ah sure you could declare a heavy loss one year, and tell wham, you expect to make a profit Just trying to make ends meet the next year, and during that When de pressure ketch yo you go year, you plan to purchase or lease understand What it means to be poor in this island (same thing) new airplanes.

It really seems they don’t have ah clue My maths tell me that with the The hard times Boy that I’m now going new aircraft, there will be new through that might soon be upon you expenses. We have the loan to pay Just Trying, Just Trying, Just trying TO for the planes, since Dr. Gonsalves MAKE ENDS MEET already said that LIAT planning Ah Just Trying, Really Trying, Just to borrow from the CDB; you have trying TO MAKE ENDS MEET

DSL & Cellular service has taken so many hits, sometimes that is an understatement. What is NTRC doing about it? I guess NTRC can’t say much as LIME is the national carrier. Bigger is Better.. ?? Let’s see who will lay down Fiber first, LIME or FLOW.

Dishonest judgment

How come we have so many missing monies of all kinds in St. Vincent WHEN are we going to and the Grenadines, and see honest judgment?

Begging: Do you know yet no economist can come up with a plan to that you must have begging arms to run this bail us out of missing country? I am waiting to monies, missing gas, see the day when we lay missing stocks from the down our begging arms. hospital, missing drinks, AS. missing building The ‘big man’ cannot stay away from flying. If materials? Can I say he does, this country will that the persons in charge of these be in the red. Today he departments are in the is here, tomorrow he is missing game too? gone. Once he sees the Doomsday coming opportunity in any soon! The day is coming country, he is on his soon when the economy knees begging. He has will have to send all the no pride around the ‘G’ vehicle to a resting begging table, but at home he has his pride to place, and all those who get travelling allowances make sure all civil will have to walk, and servants get paid.

Economy: Around the those who sit in their offices doing nothing will country, we talk about economists and who will have to beg for something to do when run the country better. the day comes. The day Well, I have news for is watching us when the you. No lawyers, no gas guzzlers and high economist, no one can run the country without maintenance G vehicles will be down the business knowledge. cemetery yard ready to be buried, and all those waste consultant fees will be biting us.

IT MAY not be the nicest the exception of Bump I thing to say, but here and I Pa, the latter to a SPY goes: Why did I ever lesser degree, no other leave the comfort of my calypsonian was able to home to venture to arouse any noteworthy Victoria Park to ‘take in’ response from the first hand, the Calypso audience. That says a Semi-finals? It must lot about the songs have been the worst rendered on the night. I semi-finals I have ‘taken think once people paid to * Did the PM in’ for a very long time. get in, they decided to report on his First to begin with, stick it out and await meeting with the when I thought the Winston Soso, who PM of T&T, you accompanying band was delivered as we expected know, the one about far from descent in the him to. the unfair oil first round, imagine how Time for our subsidy? If he did, I felt when the second calypsonians to go back then I missed it. round band was even to basics!! Stop all the worse. Then again: Was preaching… all the * Why did the police it the band or was it the moaning about this and put that young man sound engineers? that, and put some craft on a wanted poster Whatever the case, there back into the art form. if they were not should be no dispute: Why is it that the certain he was the The musical calypsonians feel that one they wanted? accompaniment was calypso has nothing to do * The international way, way below that of with entertainment? airport might allow past years.

When we start once us to get some of And the again to withdraw our our produce out, but ‘calypsonians??? With patronage, then maybe calypsonians would will we be realize they have to competitive? buck up or shut up.

Perhaps the airport By the way, I people should reabout the bill for workers all hear a lot of talk think their across the region, especially that about the standard advertisement, eh? big wage bill in Antigua. of writing. Are * School children By the way, something tells me people aware that it might be cheaper to run some of some of the writers are saying that the affairs of LIAT in another there is a new party responsible for some territory. Antigua is no cheap interested in buying of the outstanding place, you know. We might save songs in the past Bottlers. Any truth some money and get closer to that have either gone to in that? What profit if we take some the great beyond or about the displaced responsibility away from Antigua. have simply taken workers? Will their But then again, Gonzie cyah do retirement? A lot of union ensure that his friend Baldwin that. those who sang and whatever happens I must be stupid, but this LIAT who are still singing that they get their thing just doesn’t make sense to did not and do not me. Perhaps somebody could help write their songs. severance pay? me out on this one.

Chew on that!

Part 6

That calypso semi-final

CanÊt make sense out of LIAT

Ronald ‘Ron B’ Browne January 17, 2012, SVG

maintenance of the new planes, and you still have the old Dash 8’s to worry about. And don’t talk Jack

Blockman

V

10. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

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The significance of the FAO award High marks for the NDP

The issue Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves returned to the state last Saturday, principally from Rome, Italy, where he received a prestigious award from the Food and Agriculture Organisation.

St.Vincent and the Grenadines was among 38 countries who met the internationally-established targets in the fight against hunger, called Millennium Development Goal One, chalking up successes ahead of a deadline set for 2015.

Even more impressive was the fact that St.Vincent and the Grenadines was among an additional elite 18 countries, who reached both the MDG 1 and the more stringent World Food Summit (WFS) goal, having reduced by half the absolute number of undernourished people between 1990-92 and 2010-2012.

To have achieved these goals in the face of a global financial and economic crisis, is indeed remarkable. To have been able to provide focused leadership to drive state entities to fashion and adopt programmes, aimed at reducing the level of undernourishment in our country, is even more outstanding, given the level of dirty propaganda from the opposition NDP. If you listen and believe the opposition, you will conclude that St.Vincent and the Grenadines is a poor, insignificant country, where its citizens are so poor, that they can’t afford to buy a “cake of soap”, and have to resort to buying a “half pound of chicken back”.

But truth and facts will always trump lies.

The achievement The FAO statistics show that the under-nourishment factor in the country between 1990 to 1992, was 19.2 percent or around 20,000 persons. In 1995, there was an increase to 20 percent, or around 22,000 Vincentians who were deemed by the FAO to be under-nourished.

The figures began to decline after 2001, and at the end of the period 2000 to 2002, under-nourishment was assessed by the FAO at 11 percent of the population or about 12,000 persons. The most recent assessment showed that by 2012, the level of under-nourishment was 4.9 percent or just around 5,000 persons. So during the period 1995 to 2012, some 17,000 persons had been removed from the level of under-nourishment, a truly remarkable achievement. Many countries in Caricom, and indeed in the OECS, cannot boast of such an achievement.

Rather than celebrating this achievement, there are persons in our society, mainly supporters of the NDP, who question the validity of the figures released by the FAO. Rather than acknowledging the tremendous work done by the ULP administration, in terms of poverty reduction, these “Ralph haters” have embarked on a strategy of questioning the figures released by the FAO. Let us not forget that the ULP administration moved the GDP of the country, from EC$1.1 billion in 2001 to over EC$2.1 billion today, a substantial creation of wealth. In addition, the corresponding average annual GDP per population rose from EC$10,000 in 2001, to EC$19,000 at the end of 2008, with large numbers of persons entering the middle class

and graduating out of indigence and poverty.

Comparing the data In 1996, the then NDP government conducted a study into the levels of poverty in the country, using a Trinidad and Tobago based company, called Kairi Consultants, to do the work. They found that the level of indigent poverty in the country in 1996, to be 25.7 percent of the population.

The ULP administration engaged the same company to do the same study in the period 2008-2009, and found that the level of indigent poverty had dropped to 2.9 percent of the population, a remarkable achievement indeed. In fact, this is the sharpest reduction in poverty ever in the history of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

So, clearly there is similar trend in the figures from the FAO and Kairi Consultants. They are in sync, in the measurement of the level of undernourishment and the level of indigent “dirt poor” poverty. This is very significant, and we urge Vincentians to pay attention to this development.

The figures are a clear indication that our beloved country, once regarded as one of the poorest countries in the region after Haiti, is now one of the fastest risers from poverty. In fact, whereas some Caribbean countries have moved deeper into poverty in the last ten years, St. Vincent has moved forward.

Conclusion All the material indices, in the various sectors all support the figures related to a reduction in the level of poverty reduction and undernourishment in the country. All sectors including employment, income per head of population, food and nutrition, housing, water, electricity, education, health and the social services have improved significantly.

The ULP administration has implemented a series of programmes aimed at increasing the safety net for the most vulnerable persons in the society, and these socio-economic policies have worked, and continue to work.

Despite this, we cannot relax, and we have to do more. Our economy is facing tremendous odds in the shape of the current global economic and financial crisis, but we are holding our own. We have to increase our efforts to further reduce the levels of poverty and under-nourishment in our country.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves will soon elaborate on a policy of “zero undernourishment” in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and this will require even more hard work by workers in the state enterprises; but we must keep our focus.

Make no mistake, this award and the subsequent publicity and attention that have been focused on our country, is cause for celebration, and we should be proud. It is also a slap in the face of those persons within the NDP, who continue to “badmouth” our country and the achievements of the ULP administration.

The NDP, led by its esteemed leader the Honourable Arnhim Eustace and his competent elected members and senators, has been performing exceptionally in and out of parliament, since it was voted into opposition in 2001. They have demonstrated their debating skills in parliament on numerous occasions. On the other hand, the members of the ULP regime, with the exception of the Prime Minister and Senator Julian Francis, are unable to make any meaningful contribution to debate in the House of Assembly.

The NDP, unlike the ULP when it was in opposition, puts the country first. The NDP supports Bills that are brought to parliament by the ULP administration, that will benefit the country as a whole, and opposes legislations that it considers will not benefit the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The NDP does not only oppose, but in many instances offers meaningful suggestions and solutions.

Additionally, the NDP has been scoring high marks in question sessions. They have been asking tough questions as they seek answers and clarification on a number of issues that affect the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and persist even when the members of the government refuse to provide answers. Citizens will recall that it was through a question posed by the Honourable Leader of the Opposition, that Vincentians found out that the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines was paying the Cuban workers at the Argyle International Airport, EC$370,000. per month, although we were told that their salaries were to be paid by the government of Venezuela.

And at the next scheduled sitting of parliament, Tuesday 2nd July, 2013, the Honourable leader of the Opposition has another important question to ask. He will ask the Prime Minister: ‘With regard to the diesel that is used by the International Airport Development Company and/or others to perform work at or on behalf of the Argyle International Airport project, is this diesel procured through or from VINLEC and if so:, is this diesel accounted for by VINLEC separately from diesel that is included in the computation of the fuel surcharge on Electricity Bills? Is VINLEC paid the full and current price for this diesel such that there is no subsidization by VINLEC of the cost of the diesel? Are any such payments due to VINLEC up to date or in arrears and if in arrears, what is the total amount in arrears?’ We await the Prime Minister’s answer.

In 2011, the NDP vigorously opposed changes to the Representation of the People Act, and was victorious. It was during that session that the opposition parliamentarians were thrown out of the House of Assembly, and when the Honourable Daniel Cummings suffered severe damage to his back; an injury that he carries up to this today. This was a day of infamy, during which a life could have been lost.

The NDP continues to employ a number of strategies in parliament; but the one which hurts the ULP the

most is when the members of the NDP walk out of parliament. This has been met with a ULP spokesman suggesting that the NDP parliamentarians should not be paid.

Utter rubbish! The NDP is convinced that walking out is effective, and will (continue to) do so when it is necessary. When the ULP was in opposition, it walked out of parliament sixteen (16) times. There wasn’t any live broadcast at that time from parliament, so this went unnoticed.

The NDP utilizes NICE radio and other media houses to get its message across to the Vincentian public and the Diaspora; outlining its programme and policies, and exposing the problems that confront the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which the ULP government has failed to address. Its candidates and caretakers continue to meet the people on a daily basis, and in the process gather first hand information about the plight of the poor and working class.

Because most of the trade unions are not functioning, pressure groups are non-existence, and we are not hearing from civil society, it makes the job for the NDP extremely difficult. When the NDP was in office, all those organizations were functioning. We can recall the Organization Against Democracy, ‘the OD thing’, the role it played in curtailing the life of the NDP government in 2002. Since the ULP got into power, we have not seen nor heard the ‘ODD thing’. As such, therefore, the NDP has to perform its role as opposition, and assumed additionally, the responsibility of those organizations. The good news is that the NDP has been carrying out those functions successfully.

However, the NDP is not satisfied being in opposition. Its ultimate goal is to be in government, and the time is fast approaching when we will take the reins of government in this country. We have the better team and better policies to take the country forward. Our people are meeting it too hard. They are suffering, and there will more suffering when the Port Police are sent home.

Eighty-five (85) Port Police will be on the breadline from 1st August, 2013. What is the real reason why these workers are going home? They took industrial action for one (1) day, for a legitimate cause, and this is the result. You are all fired! What is the message that is being sent to the workers and trade unions in this country? Take industrial action, and suffer the consequences.

Our supporters, well wishers and those on the borderline should be proud of the performance of the NDP. We are confident that Vincentians will make the change by electing the NDP to office when the time is come. The NDP can do a better job, and will do a better job than the ULP.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. 11.

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Praise FM: Making a positive difference “Praise FM exists to glorify God, to equip the saints in the faith for Godly living, and to make disciples of all nations through the power of the Holy Spirit.” — Mission Statement for Praise FM, St. Vincent & the Grenadines Praise FM broadcasts from Sion Hill in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This FM radio station, which can be heard at 105.7 FM and 95.7 FM, celebrated its 15th year of operation on Sunday, June 23, 2013.

The programme commenced at 5:00 PM and was hosted at the Streams of Power Tabernacle at Sion Hill. The church hall was packed to capacity; attendees came from all over St. Vincent.

Unfortunately, some who had planned to come from the Grenadines eventually were unable to make it, despite desperate efforts to be part of the celebration. However, many were able to listen live via the radio, and others viewed the live video stream via the Internet (www.praisefmsvg.com).

The event was co-chaired by Pastor Errol Daniel, his daughter-in-law Mrs. Shana Daniel, and Inspector Jonathan Nicholls of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force. There were several outstanding performances in song, trumpet solo, prose, dance, and skits. Time and space will not allow us to describe the presentations by the Police Christian Soldiers, Sister Prescott, Ayana Little, Linton Squires, the Flag Ministry of the Streams of Power Church at Sion Hill, Sister Carmalie Daniel, Sister Michelle Whittle, Mr. Nigel Blake, Mr. Michael John Providence, Evangelist Michael Haynes, and Sister Hermia Scott.

However, interested readers can visit the Praise FM website (listed at the end of the preceding paragraph) where they can view a video recording of the event.

It can be found by clicking the tab entitled “Church” at the Praise FM home page. This tab is located at the right hand corner of the toolbar. They should then click on “Watch the church service LIVE and on demand!” (highlighted in yellow) and then proceed to select the video that appears in the right column of the USTREAM PRO BROADCASTING page that then appears.

Honourable Maxwell Charles, Minister of National Reconciliation, Public Service, Information, Labour and Ecclesiastical Affairs, was also on hand to deliver remarks. Honourable Arnhim Eustace, Leader of the Opposition and area representative for the Sion Hill area, also attended the event and shared his insights in relation to the tremendous positive contribution the radio station makes to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Mr. Conrad Sayers, former Member of Parliament and a regular member of the Praise FM family, was also present and testified of the tremendous benefits he derives from being a regular listener.

Mr. Luke Browne, Economist in the Ministry of Finance and Planning and a candidate in the 2010 general elections, commented on several of the programmes that he participated in as a youngster growing up in the Streams of Power Assembly, and especially thanked Pastor and Mrs. Errol Daniel for their spiritual guidance over the years. Ms. Mandela Campbell, Attorney-at-Law, also expressed her gratitude for the significant positive contribution the church assembly made to her life, and remarked about her fond memories of participating in the various church activities in her youth. They all extended best wishes to the administrators, staff, and volunteers at Praise FM, and wished the radio station continued success.

The programme was also designed to

recognize many of the local listeners who would regularly participate in the station’s programme via their telephone calls. This allowed those present to “put a face to the voices and names” of these “faithful callers”. Many testified of the tremendous positive influence that the radio station has had (and continues to have) on their lives. They expressed tremendous pride in being part of the “Praise FM Family”. Dennis Daniel, who flew in from the USA to participate in the activities, noted the many individuals and companies that contributed to the “early start-up days”.

He and his father, Pastor Daniel, were pleased to recognize several of the early contributors in the audience, and noted that those who had been invited butwere unable to attend, had sent their regrets. The various testimonies shared confirmed that the tremendous personal and financial sacrifice made continues to bear fruit today.

Praise FM broadcasts twenty-four hours a day every day of the week. Its programmes include the Fellowship Breakfast, Weather Report, Bible Readings, the Joyful News, Ambassadors for Christ, Praise Lime, James Dobson Family Minute, Bible Trivia, Peoples Cathedral Barbados, Streams of Power “Preaching”, Love Language, Living Way, Today in the Word, Focus on the Family, Bold Bible Living, Good News, Caribbean Word for Today, Adventures in Odyssey, Children’s Ministry, Children’s Radio Bible Club, Sharing His Life, Revealing Truth, Bible Issues and Answers, Elim Pentecostal, Mustique Christian Assembly, Unshackled, Sound of Majesty, Good News, Sharing His Life, Unshackled, Christ is the Answer, and a variety of Christian music. Several of the programmers and hosts were on hand to share their testimonies of the tremendous blessings they derive from participating in these activities, and to wish Praise FM happy birthday.

Praise FM’s main studio is relatively small (approximately 12 feet long and 6 feet wide) but its programmes travel far and wide. Donnie Daniel, the main technician and “jack-of-all-trades”, revealed that listeners on 61 nations were tuned in to Praise FM on that day.

Wow! Technology now allows the gospel, the good news, to travel from a tiny room on a very small island to reach the rest of the world. Only time will tell how many lives have been changed for the better, and how many souls have been saved as a result of the faith and commitment of the team of dedicated Christian soldiers who work at the station, pray for its success, and make the necessary financial and/or material contributions to keep it strong.

During the days leading up to the celebrations, individuals had been telephoning the radio station to testify of the tremendous benefits they derive from having their radios tuned in to this uplifting radio station. Many shared testimonies of how the various programmes have impacted their lives and their homes over the years. These provide ample evidence that the radio station continues to meet its mandate to glorify God, to equip the saints in the faith for Godly living, and to make disciples of all nations through the power of the Holy Spirit.

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

Will St Vincent and the Grenadines ever develop?

THE DECISION by the government of PM Gonsalves to borrow over $200 million to assist with the completion of the Argyle International Airport has forced me, and hopefully many thinking Vincentians, to ponder if SVG will ever develop, even when we get assistance from traditional and nontraditional friends.

We have swallowed hook, line and sinker everything rich and powerful countries and their institutions have offered. Beginning with President Kennedy’s Operation Boot Strap, the development strategy industrialization by invitation was implemented. Countries developed infrastructure, buildings, roads, communications systems, as well as offered the necessary tax concessions to attract foreign businesses. This strategy brought us the Campden Park and Diamond industrial estates.

The businesses that came are long gone.

Import substitution which emphasized the development of domestic capacity to serve the home market failed because the protection never produced competitive or efficient national enterprises.

Similarly, export led strategies advocated by the rich and powerful countries have not produced the desired results.

For most of the Mitchell years, banana was gold, so we rode that horse until the World Trade Organization (WTO) killed it. The NDP rejected both the back packer tourists and Miami type tourist development. Mitchell made efforts to lure high end tourist development, as realized on Mustique and Canouan.

Gonsalves has placed his bet on tourism as the vehicle that will take us to the Promised Land. Witness the efforts at airport development at Canouan and Argyle, the hotel at Bucament, and the proposed hotels on Bequia, Peter’s Hope and Mt Wynn.

Our PM describes tourism as a lodestar, and SVG is said to be on the cusp of an advanced economic take off. Where have these strategies taken us? What can we expect from these new efforts? And are they really sustainable?

Joseph Stiglitz, former chief economist at the World Bank, in his books Globalization and its Discontents and Making Globalization Work; billionaire investor, George Soros, On Globalization; Jeffrey Sachs, Harvard economist and architect of the transition to capitalism in Eastern Europe and the Russia, End of poverty, and William Easterly, New York University Economics professor, White Man’s Burden, have all concluded that the existing strategies for economic development are bankrupt. They condemn the one size fit all policy prescriptions of the Washington Consensus, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, European Union and other lending institutions.

There is now consensus that it is wrongheaded to believe that developing countries can generate sustainable growth by producing commodities and goods for export to the rich countries. This doctrine of export led growth has resulted in a race to the bottom that results in increased exploitation of workers, mounting indebtedness of poor countries, destruction of the environment and increased and troubling inequality that threatens a class war between the rich and the poor.

All of the strategies employed by

our leaders so far have failed because they provide few if any of the skills or capabilities needed to compete more effectively in the world capitalist economy. We remain bit players in this high stakes game of ‘let’s see who can get rich quickest.’ Our leaders speak of becoming more competitive, without resolving against whom they are going to compete. Some say we have to build knowledge base economy, as if such an economy is built with grass. All of this is glib talk.

But why do the political and economic elite express unquestioned support for these developmental policies in the face of the mounting evidence that they do not work? The short answer is the elite benefit from this system of development. As leaders of the state machinery and commerce, they can make deals with foreign and local ruling class to their exclusive benefit. Workers may get low end jobs, but the country rarely benefits. This is why both parties fight to gain control of the state. The task of the people is to gain a better understanding so that the political elite will not trick them in fighting among themselves.

Our country has not seen significant economic transformation since we attained the right to vote in 1951. At the last poverty assessment in 2007, 30 percent of the people were said to be living in poverty, one in every five families (20 percent) was poverty stricken, and 1 in every ten persons found it difficult to make ends meet on a daily basis. There is no fundamental indication that the poorer classes are doing much better.

Economically, things are exceedingly tight.

What then is the way out? Barring a major oil or mineral find, St Vincent and the Grenadines will remain a poor underdeveloped country decades from now. In fact, a better life for the majority of the people will only come following a complete realignment in the world economic, financial and trading system that guarantees equity. Only such a change that places people before profits will result in sustainable development.

But there is a lot that can be done.

We need to concentrate on food security and health. The environment must also be protected. All of the people must be guaranteed nutritious meals every day. Three decades ago, we appeared poorer, but we may have been healthier. Only a few of our people were overweight and obese.

Sugar and pressure were diseases of the very old. We are richer and more developed, but are experiencing more daily discomforts than ever before.

There is work to be done. If we concentrate on providing skills and education, and wholesome food for our people, protect their health and safeguard the environment, we will experience more development than we can imagine. Then the people will gain hope for the difficult transformational and development tasks ahead.

Except for a few minor changes, this column first appeared in THE VINCENTIAN on February 12, 2007 and was republished in January 2012.

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

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Views

Close the Ministry of Tourism

TOURISM IS THE SWORD of death for SVG. Tourism is wickedly being used as an excuse to sell-off hundreds of acres of our crown lands to super-rich foreigners, in the hope that it (tourism) will bring prosperity to the people of SVG. Tourism can never bring prosperity to SVG. Barbados and Jamaica have had tourism as the engine of their economies for over 60 years. Barbados had to initiate a nationwide poverty alleviation programme in January 2011, and Jamaica is on its knees begging the IMF and World Bank for a EC$2.7 billion loan for a financial bailout.

Tourism, as the engine of an economy, does not bring prosperity. It cannot provide the financial yield necessary to cover public wages and salaries, pensions and NIS, interest payments on public debt, and the goods and services required to keep society and government in good working order.

The Ministry of Tourism should be closed and restructured as a statutory body like CWSA. It should be managed

by the private sector and not by government.

We have to live in the real world.

SVG must adopt structural change away from tourism and towards a Green economy. A Green economy can create thousands of new jobs, create revenue and bring sustainable development. With a Green economy, we can preserve our country for future generations, and not have to sell our lands to foreigners.

A Green Government will bring in two new ministries: Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Wealth, and Ministry of Science and Technology. These new ministries will be significant in driving sustainable economic growth, creating revenue and thousands of new jobs, and bringing prosperity to our people.

A Green government will retain the Ministry of Agriculture, but create a new Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Wealth. We will cut ties with Taiwan and take back our Deep Sea Fish licence, and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Wealth will create a billion

dollar fish industry.

This means fishing for tuna in the Atlantic Ocean and building a substantial fish processing factory in SVG to create jobs. The export of tuna will strengthen the economy and produce a high financial yield. It will cover the cost of all SVG’s recurrent expenditure.

The Ministry of Science and Technology will build a science and technology based economy. It will introduce free wi-fi internet throughout our country, and within a decade replace expensive, oil-generated electricity with cheap electricity produced from renewable energy.

The Ministry of Science and Technology will help SVG businesses enter and compete in the global Green market, which is worth more than £3 trillion, and is projected to reach £4 trillion by 2015. In 2013, the United Kingdom’s entire ‘renewables’ sector

employed 250,000 people, and was worth £33 billion a year.

The Ministry of Science and Technology will help SVG businesses enter and compete in the global infocomm industry. Singapore has an established info-comm industry with a revenue of US$49.5 billion in 2009, employing over 140,000 people.

We must restructure away from tourism and into a new fishing industry and a science and technology based economy. A Green economy will provide long-term jobs, prosperity for our people, and build a strong economy for future generations.

SVG Green Party www.svggreenparty.org

From Federation to Fragmentation THE BIG CELEBRATIONS that were held in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago on the 6th and 31st of August respectively last year, marked their anniversaries of 50 years

of independence. Now that the dust has settled, people must be reminded that 50 years of independence for these islands represent 50 years of fragmentation for the English- speaking West

Indies.

It must not be forgotten that the above countries emerged from the disgraceful and woeful destruction of the Federation of the West Indies in 1962. This

Federation of ten Englishspeaking islands was the embodiment of the antiColonial and civil rights struggles of all West Indian peoples; a collective and enlightened nationalism advocated by great West Indians like T.A. Marrishow, C.L.R. James and Norman Manley, just to mention a few.

Jamaica starts the break-up It is true that the ball of Fragmentation started to roll in Jamaica in 1961, when Alexander Bustamante and his Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) decided to whip up Jamaican ultranationalism, after they had agreed and accepted that the West Indian Federation should proceed to full independence as one unit. The resulting referendum on the issue was turned into a partisan political issue, with the ultra-nationalist JLP calling for a withdrawal from the Federation. Their slogan was ‘Jamaica yes, Federation no’. Norman Manley’s Peoples National Party (PNP) on the other hand, supported the Federation, their slogan being ‘Jamaica yes, Federation yes’.

The JLP camp won the referendum, and the West Indies degenerated into ‘Fragmentation and Chauvinism’. Bustamante became the first Prime Minister of Jamaica in 1962. He was given a knighthood for the hatchet job he performed on the Federation of the West Indies. Was there more to Bustamante in relation to

the demise of the Federation? I take the view that there was.

The Windward and Leeward Islands, Barbados included, bore the brunt of the uncivil and unchristian insults from Bustamante and his cronies during the Jamaican referendum in 1961. We were scornfully referred to as ‘Small islands who could not even balance their budgets’, and ‘were and would continue to be a burden on Jamaica’s resources’. This became known as the ‘burden of the small islands’, an insulting and untruthful phrase which was also adopted in Trinidad.

Sir Alexander Bustamante caused a referendum to be held in Jamaica that signaled the withdrawal of the country from the Federation.

long way behind the nine islands they rejected. So the answer to the above Jamaica’s progress question is clearly in the negative. Bustamante’s Now, after 50 years, idea of rich Jamaicans, can it be said that poor West Indians, has Jamaica is an economic clearly backfired. success compared to the Trinidad and Tobago other nine islands that did nothing to salvage the were rejected? To answer Federation in the West this question, we must Indies. Barbados look at some economic figures: In 2010, Jamaica, committed an act of treachery on the other with a population of 2.7 Windward and Leeward million, had a gross domestic product (GDP) of Islands in 1966, when US $14.3 billion. Trinidad, they abandoned their agreement for an Eastern with a population of 1.3 million, had a GDP of US Caribbean Federation, ‘the little eight’. Nevertheless $20.6 billion. The the present sense of unity Windward and Leeward in the Windward and Islands, Barbados Leeward Islands has a included, with a quiet respect in the population of International Community, approximately 900,000, and sooner or later, had a combined GDP of common sense will prevail, approximately US$19 and Federalism will be billion. This shows that reinvented in the Eastern Jamaica’s GDP is just about half that of the GDP Caribbean. We need it. of the islands they rejected. The average GDP Clinton McCree UK per head of Jamaica is a

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Diaspora

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14. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Women

Commonwealth women address MDG issues THE COMMONWEALTH WOMEN’S Network (CWN), was represented among delegates from seventeen (17) Commonwealth countries, attending the Partners’ Forum to the 10th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministerial Meeting, held in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Nelcia Robinson

from 15th – 17th June, 2013.

In its Statement to the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting (17th - 19th June, 2013), the Partners Forum noted that there were less than One Thousand days remaining for the accomplishment of the Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015) —( MDG). Therefore, there was need for Governments to urgently accelerate efforts to achieve MDG 3 and 5.

MDG 3, which calls on Governments to promote Gender Equality and Empower Women, is particularly relevant to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and poverty can be eradicated if challenges to women’s and girls’ economic empowerment and rights are addressed and overcome. Governments

Ms. Nelcia Robinson, Chair of the Commonwealth Women’s Network, addressed the 10th Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting. were urged to prioritize women’s and girls’ economic empowerment in the post- 2015 development agenda and to put in place measurable targets and indicators to achieve this goal.

With regard to the Prevention and Elimination of all forms of Violence, an appeal was made to

Governments to exercise a much overdue zero tolerance to violence against women and girls in all Commonwealth countries.

The Partners Forum also called on Governments to adopt as appropriate, review, and ensure the accelerated and effective implementation of laws and comprehensive

measures that criminalize violence against women and girls, and that provide for multidisciplinary and gender-sensitive preventive and protective measures such as emergency barring orders, the investigation, submission for prosecution and appropriate punishment of perpetrators to end impunity, support service that empower victims and survivors, as well as access to appropriate civil remedies and redress.

The Partners Forum

also urged Governments to recognize and address the needs of Women and Girls with Disabilities, enabling them to get better access to finance, skills, competencies, information technology and other resources for entrepreneurial development.

The Partners Forum, and 10th Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting was attended by St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ own Ms. Nelcia Robinson, Chair of the Commonwealth Women’s Network.

(Contributed)

Isanna is also a DSWTS winner THE DIGICEL Singing With The Stars Karaoke (DSWTS) Karoake Island Tour has thrown up another winner.

The hundreds who followed the airing of the local sessions were requested to ‘text in’ their choices of winners, who eventually comprised the cast for the finals.

Of course, we know that Noveecha James Toney is the 2013 winner of the DSWTS Karaoke Island Tour.

But there’s another winner. As promised, Digicel has rewarded Isanna Saxon won herself the person who ‘text’ a cash prize for being the the most during the person who ‘text’ the preliminary round. most.

That person is Isanna Saxon of Ashton, Union Island, and she received a cheque for $500.00.

The Co-ordinator of the Karaoke Island Tour has assured THE VIINCENTIAN that she is “doing everything that is humanly possible to ensure that it remains on the calendar of entertainment events for 2014”.

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News

SVG on list for trafficking in persons

by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; neloking@msn.com US Correspondent THE UNITED STATES has placed St. Vincent and the Grenadines on a list of Caribbean and other countries for allegedly “trafficking in persons.”

In its 2013Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, released in Washington, D.C. last week, the US Department of State listed six Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member-states on its Tier 2 Watch List: Barbados, Guyana, Haiti, St. Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Another five — Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines — are listed on the Tier 2 List.

In distinguishing Tier 2 Watch List from Tier 2 list, the Department of State defines countries on the Tier 2 Watch List as those whose governments “do not fully comply” with the minimum standards in its Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards, and the absolute number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is, among other things, “very significant or is significantly increasing.”

The State Department claims that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a “source, transit and destination country for some men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking.

“Officials have expressed concern about the possible existence of adults pressuring children under the age of 18 to provide sex acts to men in exchange for money or gifts, a form of sex trafficking,” it says.

“Officials have also raised concerns regarding foreign women engaged in prostitution in or transiting through the country,” it adds.

The report says that other vulnerable groups

include foreign workers and children under the age of 16 working in shops.

“The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so,” it says.

Admits to investigations During the reporting period, the report says the Ralph Gonsalves administration “initiated both sex and labor trafficking investigations, raised awareness about human trafficking, developed screening forms to help officials proactively identify trafficking victims among vulnerable groups, and funded the establishment of a crisis center that could assist trafficking victims.”

But the State Department says the government “did not refer any potential victims to the center or launch any prosecutions against trafficking offenders.”

It notes that the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Bill of 2011 prohibits forced prostitution and forced labor, including bonded labor, and prescribes punishments of up to 20 years’ imprisonment with fines.

“These penalties are sufficiently stringent and commensurate with penalties for other serious crimes, such as rape,” the report says, adding that, during the reporting period, the “government’s special police unit focusing on human trafficking, sexual offenses, and domestic violence initiated four human trafficking investigations involving both forced labor and sex trafficking.”

Like the previous year, it says the government did not report any prosecutions or convictions of trafficking offenders

during the reporting period.

It says there were no reports of public officials complicit in human trafficking-related offenses during the reporting period.

But the State Department claims the

government has “not recognized the problem of foreign child sex tourists in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” and that it “reported no efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts or forced labor.”

The United Nations

defines human trafficking as, “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons, by means of the

threat or use of force… or coercion…. Or of the giving or receiving of payment or benefits…. for the purpose of exploitation.”

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Arts

80Ês Glam and Glitz: Coming to the Aquatic Club

local show, featuring top talent and performances.

This will be a feel-good concert, an alternative type of entertainment, for people to just ‘vibez’ and reminisce on songs that have meant a lot to that at an earlier point in their lives. It is an opportunity for us to celebrate the versatility of our local artistes, and to show young and old Sean Sutherland, pianist that we have talent, and extraordinaire, is the that we are able to mastermind behind the produce a high quality venet. show.”

Sutherland, founder of the group Suede, which

by JP SCHWMON also included among its members Kevin Lyttle PENNOLA ROSS, Addison and Addison Stoddard, Stoddard, Marvo O’Brien, further shared that there Kamara Foster, and would be “two different Bomani Charles are shows on each night” together expected to from the mesmerizing transport patrons at the cast of five, supported by Aquatic Club back to the a band of fine local nostalgic 80s, come musicians and backup Saturday 13th and Sunday singers. This novel 14th July 2013. concept, he explained, This is according to would allow patrons of the event’s mastermind the collaboratively Sean Sutherland who, on produced ‘80’s Glam and Monday, told THE Glitz’ to really experience VINCENTIAN, “It is a a full sound thereby

thoroughly enjoying the performances.

As with any event of this magnitude, one can almost always expect to surmount a multitude of challenges and the 80’s Glam and Glitz production was no exception. The classical pianist took the time to shed light on some of the more poignant hurdles, saying “while we faced many logistical hurdles because we live in different countries, the biggest issue was that there is just SO MUCH GREAT MUSIC in the 80s. There is such a wide variety of music; ranging from power ballads to upbeat songs) to choose from that deciding which hits to do was extremely challenging, and so too was matching the songs to the artistes’ voices (and hoping that the artistes want to sing the songs). It is a mammoth undertaking and we are pleased to have the support of the St. Vincent Brewery Ltd, our

major sponsor, and that of the St. Vincent Corrugated Container Inc.” Meanwhile, at least one of the featured singers, Pennola Ross, is earnestly “looking forward to sharing with my fellow Vincentians two nights of captivating performances. My expectation is for us to have fun. We will be doing songs from the 80s, which, in my opinion, produced some of the best-written music of all time.”

In this exclusive interview with THE VINCENTIAN NEWSPAPER, she confides, “I am just grateful for another opportunity to share my passion with my own people. This show has some of the finest singers and musicians in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and I can assure you that we are all working diligently to make this opportunity worth your while!”

Fresh off the heels of

The 80’s Glam and Glitz promised to showcase some of the talent that abounds in SVG. his latest music video production to promote his song ‘The Wine of Your Life’, Ragga Soca Monarch contender Bomani is excited to be a featured performer in the ‘80s Glam and Glitz’ line up. He promises patrons to the show a mixture of “solos, duets, and group song renditions,” which he believes would “go down well”, not only because of his own experience performing music of other genres at

SVG’s Blues Fest, but also because of the calibre of the other cast members. He confidently predicts, “… the show will be well received.”

The long-time rhythmand-blues-styled soca artiste took the time to thank his fans both at home and overseas for their support over the years, and invited them to come out for a weekend with a musical difference.

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Agriculture

SOME FIFTY YOUNG persons from across the CARICOM region are better equipped to inform policies aimed at improving business efficiency and acumen in agriculture.

This follows a three-day workshop, June 19 — 21, 2013, held here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Workshop, hosted by the Caribbean Farmers Network (CaFAN) in collaboration with Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), focused primarily on Policies for Improved Business Efficiency in Agriculture for the Youth, was held at Frenches House, Kingstown.

Jethro Greene, Chief Coordinator of CaFAN, in welcoming participants, set the tone of the deliberations, when he cited the agriculture sector in the region as being

underfinanced, but encouraged, that now that it is back on the front burner, it must be operated efficiently so that it can once more be a profitable business.

CaFAN, he said, “is spearheading the call for rural modernization and the regional mainstreaming of youth in policy making in agriculture.”

Saboto Caesar, Minister of Agriculture, declared the Workshop open but not before he commended CaFAN for its work across the Caribbean region, and saluted its chief coordinator, Jethro Greene, as an unsung hero in agriculture both locally and regionally.

He highlighted the “slavish mentality” with which agriculture is approached by youths, and called for this to be “broken .. if they are to be progressive in this sector.”

Workshop sessions Among the areas of concern examined at the workshop were: reducing costs and maximizing business profitability; accessing finance for prospective businesses; and understanding the regulatory framework for doing business along agricultural value chains.

A panel, comprised of Beverley Thompson of the National Development Foundation/SVG, Cerlin Russell of the Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Simone Murray of COMFI, presented on issues relevant to Financing Youth in Agri-business.

The panelists highlighted some of the inherent risks in agribusiness which may make it difficult to access loan financing, and discussed ways of managing those risks.

Business analyst

Dougal James stressed the importance of proper record-keeping, knowledge of all costs incurred by one’s business, money management, and networking, as practices that could lead to significantly lower cost and maximise profitability.

Erica Mc Intosh, Food Technologist, Agroindustrialist, and entrepreneur, emphasized the importance of marketing and financing, and stressed the importance of producing quality products and supporting local farmers.

She warned that financing can be the “deal maker or deal breaker” in setting up and developing an agribusiness enterprise.

In a presentation that put a ‘cap’ to the workshop, Member of Parliament for West Kingstown, St. Clair Leacock, called on youth across the region to play

an integral part in the “regionalization of agricultural production,” and suggested that “a culture of innovation and creativity is necessary in order to implement practical measures to accelerate the development of agriculture in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (and the Region).”

At the end of the workshop, recommendations were advanced as per action plans with which CAFAN and its affiliates could use to engage policy makers.

Among the recommendations were: that venture capital schemes should be set up to ease the burden on entrepreneurs; mentorship and training should be available to young entrepreneurs on applying for funding: and cohesion among farming groups and organizations should be fostered.

Jethro Greene Coordinator of CaFAN, advised that the business of agriculture, like any other business, must be operated efficiently.

Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar wants to see a change of attitudinal approach to agriculture.

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Education

Dr. Warrican bids farewell with sound advice

Dr. Joel Warrican will vacate his position as Director of the SVG Community College, satisfied that he has overseen significant advancement of the College.

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY THE 722 STUDENTS who graduated from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC) have been advised to mix their ambition of creating wealth with serving the public.

The suggestion came from outgoing Director of the SVGCC, Dr. Joel Warrican, in an address to the Graduation Ceremony of the SVGCC, held at Victory Park last Tuesday, June 25.

Dr. Warrican took up the post in 2009, and expressed satisfaction that he had justified his decision to contribute to the vision of educational development here.

He reflected on changes that have taken place during his tenure.

He thinks that the institution is comparable to any in the region.

Arrangements are being made for an eCollege which, according to Dr. Warrican, will make it easier for fulltime on line and distance studies. For him, that will open it up to the world.

He is convinced that the Associate Degree offered by the institution is of high value. The University of the West Indies has recognised the programme.

Warrican expects that

the graduates will use their degree from the College to “pursue other areas of education.”

He implored them to appreciate those who helped them, and also to assist those who followed, and encouraged them to avoid behaviour that could harm them, the community and the institution.

He was rewarded with a painting by one of the students.

The feature address came from Barrister-atlaw Rochelle Forde.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the SVGCC, Dr. Audrey GittensGilkes also addressed the gathering at Victoria Park.

Outstanding Students The 2013 graduates marched through the streets of Kingstown, to the strains of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Band.

Outstanding students were rewarded. Those included Lornet Prescott from the Division of Technical and Vocational Education, who gave the Valedictory address.

Kyrel Edwards received the Divisional Award for Excellence from the Arts, Science and General Studies section.

The top performer in the Associate Degree Programme was Cassandra Decoteau.

Sherika Deane copped the Teacher of Education Award for Excellence.

She was the leading student in the Early Childhood Programme.

Omal Pitt was the Top Performer in the Secondary Programme.

Donnette ChanceWilliams captured the Divisional Award for Excellence Midwifery Programme and the Peter Ballantyne Shield.

Carol Williams won the Divisional Award for Clinical Nursing Practice Registered Nursing Programme. Veronica Nanton took the award for Theoretical Nursing, while Lyande Joslyn, who took first place in

the Regional Examination, doubled up with the General Nursing Council Award.

The Divisional Award for Excellence Nursing Seven hundred and twenty-two persons graduated from four Divisions of the Assistant Programme went to Rashida Parsons. College.

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22. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Eleven contenders: One vehicle

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY

‘Fya-Empress’ Nedd in the Dimanche Gras Calypso Monarch Final slated for TEN CALYPSONIANS have Victoria Park July 7. been named to take on At stake is a Nissan reigning monarch Lorna Skyline sedan, compliments Coreas Hazells Inc., and Left: Lorna ‘Fya-Empress Nedd, defending monarch, EC$20,000 in cash.

Shernelle has ‘Just a Little word’ for ‘Skarpyan’ Williams her colleagues.

gets a chance at the top price, he having been a late replacement for Ronald ‘Ron B’ Browne.

‘Skarpyan’ did the number ‘Until,’ but was not in the original ten.

‘Ron B’ has opted out owing to an overseas commitment. His number was ‘Trying to

make ends meet’. (See page 11 of this issue)’ Javelle ‘Diya’ Franklyn’s ‘Don’t cry Kingstown’ earned her selection and John ‘D Truth’ Dougan with ‘Betrayal’ will be another contender.

Former Junior Calypso Monarch Shaunelle McKenzie did ‘Mama cry’ to advance.

Last Friday’s semifinal saw 22 candidates anxious for a final spot.

Glenroy ‘Homey’ Delpesche will fancy his chance in his first sojourn in the calypso arena. He progressed with the song ‘SVG will rise’.

If crowd response was anything to go by, Glen ‘Bump I’ Richards will be a favourite. He generated applause with his rendition ‘Judge’, which gave calypsonians tips on composition, and other advice.

Noted pannist turned calypsonian, Glenford ‘Azarah’ Charles, progressed with ‘If’, a number about garbage but far from being

‘dirty’.

Dennis Bowman, the 1997 Soca Monarch, earned selection with ‘Wey he dey?’, a piece questioning our physical recognition, or lack thereof of Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer, this country’s first National Hero.

David ‘Chang I’ Morgan is a newcomer to the ‘big yard’ but no stranger to the stage.

He sings out front with his Canadian-based band Moses Revolution, and was a vocalist before migrating with local bands Resurrection and Astericks.

Grantley ‘Ipa’ Constance advanced with ‘Drunken Master’.

He took the 2006 Calypso title and is the reigning New Song Calypso Monarch. He may well think this is his year.

Other semi-finalists were Gosnel ‘GC’ Cupid who did ‘Pan is beautiful’; Elliot ‘Mystery’ Shallow - ‘Ah second chance’; Fitzroy ‘Brother Ebony’ Joseph ‘Bring back the cat’, Bridgette ‘Joy C’ Creese - ‘No fight with CAL’; Kingsley ‘Hero’ Roberts - ‘Vincy style’; Kenneth ‘Vibrating Scakes’ Alleyne - ‘Milton Cato hero’; Zamfir ‘Man Zangie’ Adams ‘Innocent is me’, Carlos ‘Rejector’ Providence ‘Push the pan’, and Aurella ‘Queen B’ Beache — ‘Get out’.

The bands SVG Rage and Akcess accompanied the semi-finalists in equal batches. They make way for the SVG Police Band in the final.

Man jailed for importing cocaine from SVG From backpage ICE said evidence was also presented that, during preparation for trial, several witnesses contacted US law enforcement agents to advise them that they or members of their family were being threatened to prevent the witness’s testimony against Solomon.

“As a result of these threats, Titus ordered that Solomon be taken into custody on the first day of his trial, March 12, and he has been detained since that time,” the statement said.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. 29.

Advice

A nosey mother-in-law Dear George, MY WIFE and I have been married 3 months now, and I have been experiencing hell because of her mother. She is pushing her nose where it does not belong.

Since the wedding, my wife has limited me to making out with her twice per week - once on the weekend ( never Sundays ) and once during the week. I argued with her about this, and it finally came out that it was her mother who had advised her along that line. I confronted her mother about it, and all she had to say was, “More than twice per week can be harassing to any woman.”

I do not know what to do at this point! My wife is not giving me the pleasure I bargained for, and she is not letting up on the misleading advice her mother gave her. I am about to do something that will shock her and her mother. I may just have

to ask her to come pick up her package “RETURN TO SENDER”.

Outraged husband Dear Outraged husband, Sex is something that should have been discussed at the beginning or at least before getting married.

You and your bride should be on the same page as far as that is concerned.

Your wife should be adult and mature enough to have a mind of her own, and should not allow her mother to dictate her movements as it relates to pleasing you.

You should ask your mother in-law to butt out and not to pass judgement based on her past experiences (maybe that’s the case). Your wife should wake up to what is happening, and correct this situation as quickly as possible, in the interest of saving her marriage.

It is not too early in your marriage to get some much needed post

marital counselling.

George

Too many male friends Dear George,

ought to be a cutoff point in terms of incoming calls, and she needs to give her friends a time You had some idea before marrying her that limit, out of respect for you and the she preferred male relationship. Both of you company, and I am guessing that you had no can discuss that time line if she has difficulties objections to that, and coming up with a went on to marry her. suitable one.

I do agree that there

Dear Disgusted,

ALL MY WIFE’S friends are men! When we were dating, she told me that most of her friends were male, but I never realized it was this bad.

She hangs out only with men friends, and would have these men calling the house at all ungodly hours at night, and I am not supposed to say anything about it.

I do not consider myself jealous or anything, but I contend that there should be some control as to when these men can call my house. I told her that, and she concluded that I am just jealous. I am about to blow my cool, and she better watch it with me.

Disgusted

It is a good opportunity for you to spice things up after hours to make it easier for your wife to discourage her friends from calling, and taking away from giving you the attention that is needed.

George

A lady on the side?

Dear George,

communication problem. Yes, he could have, and probably should have called you to let you know he was safe, and a follow up call could have stated that, it might not be possible to communicate as per usual. In the absence of that I can understand how the silence on his part could have led to your imagination going haywire.

Do not return to the past in this case, and focus only on the point that he should have communicated, and how that lack of communication made you feel. If you continue to have trust issues with this man in the absence of proof of any infidelity, then maybe you need to take some time out to work on yourself. Discuss this with your boyfriend and together, come up with a reasonable work plan on the way forward. If you decide to remain in the relationship, it is either you trust him or you don’t. If you don’t trust him, then politely bow out and leave him to find someone else who can.

MY BOYFRIEND left the state to attend a conference in a neighboring Caribbean country, and before he left, he gave me the particulars of the conference. It was supposed to last for 5 days. He did not contact me during the first 2 days, and I let it slide by, telling myself that he got caught up and would contact me later on. On the 4th day of the conference, I still did not hear from him.

He returned one day after he was supposed to, and when I asked him about that, he just said he had flight problems. I asked him why he did not call me to say he got there safely, etc., and he just dismissed me as crowding him. He saw that as nothing.

I know that in the past he had another woman on one of his so called conferences, and he was shocked when I found out about it. That was 2 years ago, and he vowed never to do that again. Somehow I am feeling that he was playing around, and that was why he put me out of his mind at George least for those 5 plus days. I just do not have the proof, but the thought of the possibility is bothering me. Am I overreacting here?

Worried Dear Worried, I will put this one down as a

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Unforeseen changes in your location are apparent. Travel should be on your agenda. It might be time to pick up the slack and do your share. Get involved in sports groups or hobbies that attract you.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Your positive attitude and intellectual outlook will draw others to you. Use your creative talent in order to accomplish your goals. You can set your goals and make a beeline for your target. Use your charm, but don't be phony.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) You'll find it easy to deal with government agencies or large institutions.

Everything is moving quickly, just the way you like it. You may find yourself caught in the middle of an argument that has nothing to do with you.

Pleasure trips will bring you into contact with new and interesting people.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Avoid any petty ego confrontations; they could lead to estrangement if you aren't careful. You should teach children some of your unique creative talents.

Someone may not be thinking of your best interests. This is a great day to start that new health regimen you've been talking about.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Investments may be misrepresented this week. Maybe it's time to look into ways you can improve your health.

Take the time to help those less fortunate. Heart to heart talks will clear up vague issues.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Visit those less fortunate than your self; be sure to help them with their personal problems. Try to be honest when dealing with your mate. Do not get upset about situations you cannot change.

Avoid any over indulgences.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Empty promises could be likely where work is concerned. You may become rundown if you take on too much. Love could develop at social events that are work relate. You may find that someone you live with is not too happy, but you can't really do anything about that right now.

Capricorn (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Have a heart-to-heart talk with family and find out what the problems are.

Your ideas may be a little ahead of their time; don-'t push them, instead just continue working on development. You might find that delays will cause setbacks and upset. Be prepared to jump quickly if you wish to stay in the forefront of your industry this week.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Go out with friends. Pleasure trips will be favorable and bring about possible romance. Curb your mood swings; they could result in loneliness. New relationships will surface through work related events.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) You need to take some time out to decide what you want to do. You will have to make some changes regarding your direction if you wish to keep on top of your career expectations. Use your charm to get your own way. Make any necessary changes to your insurance policy.

Aquarius (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) You are likely to be left alone if you aren't willing to bend just a little. Take time to help a friend who hasn't been feeling well. You may want to talk to your boss about your future goals. You may not be able to help, but your support will be favorable.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) You can make money if you put your savings into conservative investments.

Your added discipline will help you complete the impossible at work.

Compromise if you have to, to avoid verbal battles. You should be putting in some overtime.

ACROSS 1. Opp of ESE 4. __ transit 8. City abodes (abbr.)

12. Motorists’ group (abbr.)

13. “__ Foyle” 14. Puppeteer Lewis 15. Pig’s place 16. Mr. Fudd 17. Nautical 18. Kleenex alternative 20. “__ sock in it” (2 wds.)

22. Ambulance worker (abbr.)

23. Abandoned 24. Boxes 26. “Moonstruck” star 29. Demands as one’s due 33. One __ time (2 wds.)

36. Spills over 39. Wet weather 40. Freckles’ locale often 42. Longlegged bird 44. __ Domini 45. Chocolate covered snack bar 46. Egyptian city 48. Use thread 49. Set into place 52. Skillful 54. Hairdos , informally 57. Baby Deer 60. Nightingale’s “nose” 64. Made fun of

66. __ eclipse 70. Assistance 71. IRS Concern 72. Winter toys 73. Tiger Woods’s gp.

74. Aware of 75. Napoleon’s residence 76. Bashful DOWN 1. Lave 2. Brazilian port 3. Vegas’s Newton 4. Marathon Unit 5. Cash dispenser (abbr.)

6. ‘The ThirtyNine ___” (Hitchcock) 7. Waffle topping 8. “Caught ya!”

9. Apply asphalt 10.English streetcar 11. Mud deposit 13. Rocker Richards et al.

14. Become entangled 19. Col. Sander’s outfit 21. Tic-__-toe 25. TV chef Moulton 27. City trains 28. Univ. military group

inits.

30. Ziering and 55. Erroneous Fleming 31. Coal hole 56. __ and 32. Skier’s crossbones hope 58. Prepares a 33. One present against 59. Horse 34. Village’s sound kin 60. ‘Simpsons” 35. Terms of a bus driver bargain price (2 wds.)

37. Actress Zadora 38. Glided 41. Company head (abbr.)

43. Three, in Rome 47. Proposes 50. Judges’ items 51. Gift for Dad 53. Edison’s

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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30. FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

61. Martial arts star Jackie 62.Schoolbook 64. Actress Pinkett Smith 65. 6/6/44 (hyph.)

67. Classic car 69. Omaha’s state (abbr.)

V Rachel’s story

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. 31.

People

support from family and friends, Rachel gradually began to cope with her RACHEL HOLDER, a Top blindness. Church Questelles resident, a wife members visited and mother of three girls, regularly to pray with approaches her every and encourage her, and household duty with she eventually found, so confidence, despite her to speak, a new lease on blindness. life inspired by the It was in 1998 when biblical reference from Rachel began Phillipians 4:13: ‘I can experiencing slight pains do all things through in her eyes. She was, Christ which then, employed as a data strengtheneth me’. entry clerk in Kingstown.

She considered this (pain) a normal occurrence, the result of constant focus on the (computer) monitor. To ease her pain and give her eyes a rest, she would turn off and on the computer.

But the pain persisted and Rachel, recognizing that there might be a more serious problem, consulted an Ophthalmologist who diagnosed her as having acute glaucoma.

A second opinion confirmed this and also identified the source of Rachel has no problem the pain as being a styling her girls’ hair. damaged (optic) nerve, the result of an accidental blow she had Inspired thus, Rachel received at age ten. became emotionally Oral treatment was stronger, optimistic, and prescribed and her confidence grew. She administered, but the adopted a cheerful pain persisted; in fact, it countenance, and life intensified. became, once again, Overseas medical promising. attention may have attended to the pain, but A turning point Rachel’s case was far gone, and in 2002, she In 2004, just two years lost her sight completely. after losing her sight, This, however, was after Rachel was baptized by she gave birth to her first Pastor Claudius child, Brittany.

‘Samaritan’ Morgan and became an active Coping with her member of her church.

Submitted by LOREN ‘LEDDIE’ DA BREO

blindness

Like most persons who are described as advantageously blind, i.e. going blind in adulthood, Rachel subsided into a period of denial that gave rise to bouts of depression.

“I would cry constantly, hardly ate and sometimes (was) unable to sleep. I went nowhere, just stayed at home all the time,” she recalled.

Understandably, she harboured fears: the loss of means (employment) to support her child; loss of mobility and doubts about whether there would be anyone willing to make the sacrifice to guide her.

But all was not lost.

With much love and

She became involved in her church’s missionary activities, including joining other members on visitation to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.

And as though to crown her ‘new life’, on 27th July, 2008, Rachel’s hand was taken in marriage by the love of her life, Sherwin.

Rachel and Sherwin had been childhood friends. They grew up in the same community and attended the same primary school, but never in their wildest dreams did they think they would have married each other.

When Rachel lost her sight, Sherwin readily became one of the persons to escort her to various places, and gradually their friendship developed into a strong love for each other.

As she reflected on their wedding day, Rachel recalled the official photographer, not knowing she was blind, asked her to look at him and smile. It took awhile for him to really accept the reality. The photographer expressed in a toast at the reception how elated he was that Sherwin could make such a bold step.”It must be love,” he said.

Sherwin describes his wife as the most charming woman in all the world: loving, patient and most of all, a wonderful mother to her children. “She does just about everything: washes, cooks, cleans and even braids the girls’ hair,” he said.

Rachel and her family.

Rachel’ daughter Brittany, now 14 years old and a Form 3 secondary school student, says her mom’s love “is like an island in life’s ocean, vast and wide — a peaceful quiet shelter from the wind, the wave and tide. My mother is so

dear to me despite her loss of sight. She showers me with lots of love. If I am asked who cares for me from now until eternity, no folk or friend or anyone else but only my loving Mommy. …When I make mistakes, she takes

corrective actions to make me good and pure and true, so I would be a good parent too.”

Rachel is not fortunate to see the smiles on her family’s faces, but her faith in God is strong in that she trusts in Him for a miracle.

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32. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Honours

Lawrence ‘Captain’ Guy proudly displays his sash of honour.

ÂCaptainÊ Guy honoured by local community MEMBERS of the Paradise Seventh-Day Adventist Church of Vermont honoured their respected community member, 92year-old Lawrence ‘Captain’ Guy,on Saturday the 15th June, by presenting him with a certificate acknowlging him as the oldest Father in the community.

Pastor Snagg and his congregation delighted in listening to Elder Guy recite a poem and thank them for such an honour.

Mr Guy later spoke about the experience as

one that was delightful to him. “ It means a lot to me to interact with my community as we did years ago. I met some family members who did not know they were related to me, and was able to give them some of their family history.”

Captain Guy is a master of many trades lumberjack, farmer, estate manager, carpenter. He was also an executive member of many co-operatives and the founder of Bunpan Society.

His knowledge of the local forest is unsurpassed, and he is a storyteller par

excellence. An active gardener, Mr Guy engages in production and processing of local foodstuffs.

The Elder has also earned a reputation as the oldest practising lecturer, teaching Heritage and Environment courses to art and design students of SVG Community College. He appears regularly with them and their lecturer, Vonnie Roudette, on NBC’s programme ‘The Art Room’.

Roudette, a close friend of Mr Guy, says “This extraordinary man has lived to such an

advanced age, with his memory completely intact, preserving our history and cultural traidtions. The extent of his knowledge and acute descriptions of details can educate and keep youngsters captivated by his stories and jokes.”

This recognition by the congregation of the Paradise Seventh Day Adventist Church has fulfilled Mr Guy’s wish for some of his local community to value his work. He still has many goals to fulfil as he spreads the message of the importance of selfreliance and sustainable farming.

Maya: CEE top English performer the final sitting of the Common The 2013 Common Entrance Entrance, Friday 7th June, Maya Examinations top performer in English, Maya Abdoussala, has her recalled, “The composition was going well and I had a lot of ideas.... I eyes fixed on becoming a lawyer.

Maya, an 11-year-old student of the choose the one with, you woke up one morning and you found yourself with C. W. Prescod Primary School who wings and write gained 93.94 per about your cent in English, believes she has experience. I had a huge story in mind what it takes to but then as soon as realize her they said five minutes aspirations. and I was coming to “I want to be a the really, really good lawyer when I part, I had to shorten grow up... People it, so it wasn’t as good say I’m good at as I planned.” arguing,” Maya Despite this, she said. believed that her And she might composition helped already be on the tip her above all path, for her others. teacher describes Apart from the her as willing to English, Maya gained defend her stance 85 percent for without fear of a Mathematics and verbal battle.

88.33 percent on the Her General Paper, participation in placing her 11th for quizzes, writing and public girls and 23rd overall.

Born in the United speaking States of America, competitions Maya began her early seem to have primary school life in informed her Maya Abdoussala – top CEE Dominica, the birth early passion. place of her mother, An avid reader, English performer.

Ruby Mc Lean.

Maya noted: “I Certain to be placed at the Girls’ read a lot... I love to read, but I’m High School, she plans to continue her growing out of books with coloured pursuits, but anticipates greater pages, so I am taking on greater competition and challenges. challenges... I like Nancy Drew.”

On her experiences on the day of

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. 33.

Disaster Preparedness/ Community

Please prune the overhanging trees !!!

The hurricane season is with us again, and this is an urgent call from a first responder agency appealing to all stakeholders to assist with the pruning of trees that overhang our major motorways as well as the by-roads, sideroads and feeder roads.

Within the Rainbow Radio League Inc. — RRL, we have zonal directors who are trained to report on damage within their area to the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), and most of the vehicles we use have antennas which are normally mounted on the roofs of these vehicles … Now, low over-hanging trees are hazards, as antennas will be damaged by these branches, even if the vehicle is moving slowly. Without an antenna, the radio cannot function.

The RRL is not the only agency with vehicles using antennas. Vinlec, CSWA, Forestry Division , LIME and Police have all used mobile radios in the past and still us, communications from that mobile station is seriously

compromised, a situation that must be avoided, especially during or after a disaster.

Despite the fact that disaster management (DM) is everybody’s business, the RRL is appealing to the Forestry Division to team up with Vinlec and all telecommunications providers to use their trucks fitted with bucket hoists to safely prune these over-hanging trees. Before the start of each hurricane season, our members check the main roads and feeder roads to check the condition of the drains, bridges, retaining walls and of course overhanging trees, and report our findings to the relevant authorities; and this public appeal is an open invitation to all persons who live next to roads with overhanging branches to have them pruned. If you have difficulty in having it done professionally, please call the Forestry Division and ask for guidance or assistance.

In earlier times, DM focused mainly

on responding to events that have already occurred. In the new paradigm, the emphasis is on mitigation, or the prevention of, or the lessening of the effects of a natural or man induced hazard. The old adage “a stitch in time saves nine” is appropriate in this new paradigm, so let’s start pruning the overhanging trees that pose threats to human and vehicular traffic.

Consider this scenario, your roof collapsed due to the high winds and you are trapped in your own house pinned to the ground by the heavy rafters. First responders are aware of your situation, but the road leading into your property is blocked by a large branch that broke off during the storm; you are losing blood, so every second to release you from imminent death is important. Had the offending branch been pruned beforehand, the vehicle bringing the equipment and personnel to help you would have proceeded to rescue you in the quickest

Action today can prevent harm tomorrow. possible time, increasing your chances of survival; and that is what really counts when rescuing persons, TIME and timeliness.

So it is not too late to start a vigorous campaign to mitigate the effects of storms by cutting trees that overhang your house and roads; but more importantly to allow first responders to provide their service with the minimum of delays.

Submitted by: DONALD DE RIGGS Director/Secretary Rainbow Radio League Inc.

34. FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2013.THE VINCENTIAN

Paul’s Avenue, P.O. Box 592, Kingstown Tel: 456-1821 Fax: 457-2821 E-mail: metrocint@vincysurf.com Website: www.metrocintsvg.com

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2013. 35.

Mc Lean not happy with local cricket, players

Nixon Mc Lean, former West Indies pacer, wants to see more attention for local cricket.

by E.GLENFORD PRESCOTT

THE ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Cricket Association –SVGCA - needs to pay more attention to the domestic cricket programme and a number of other cricket related matters. So says former West Indies speedster, Nixon Mc Lean.

Speaking to THE VINCENTIAN on Wednesday, Mc Lean said he is of the opinion that the SVGCA is just holding a competition for the holding of a competition sake.

“There is no promotion.......no effort to encourage people to come to the games.......it appears that they are not too put out about what happens with the matches on the weekend,” Mc Leansaid. .

He said that for all the years he has been in charge of News Spartans, the 2013 competition is the first time that he was

receiving an extended fixture, and commended second VP Denis Byam and Assistant Secretary Kishore Shallow for their good work.

On the just concluded Premier Division, won jointly by Team Rivals and Victors ONE, Mc Lean felt that the standard of cricket had fallen off badly, and attributed some of the problems to administration and the teams themselves.

“The quality of the pitches for the most part was not up to the required standard......it was if they just wet, rolled and threw some grass......that is not how you prepare a good cricket wicket, and this has to be looked at,” he advised.

In addition, he felt that the teams were guilty of playing their part in retarding the progress of the sport.

“Matches are supposed to begin at 1.30pm (on Saturdays), but matches sometimes cannot get

going before 2pm because teams are strolling in one, one, and at times they have the bare minimum of seven players.......there is no urgency whatsoever,” he said, a look of anger overtaking his countenance.

Mc Lean is heading for almost a quarter century at competing at the domestic level, and when asked if he and the other veteran of the team, Dawnley Joseph (who has passed 25 years at the local level) would call it a day, Mc Lean burst into loud laughter.

“Pressy, you crazy.......we cannot done with that now......you want Spartans fold up.”

“In my team, only one player, ‘Mando’ (Reinaldo Coombs) who calls to find out when we are playing.....I have to physically call them to tell them when we are playing.......and even on the day of the match, I have to be calling to find out how far they are from the

Youth player shines SHANE ROBERTS, Windward Islands under 15 all-rounder, hit a half century for Combined Youths to help his team gain first innings points in an otherwise drawn match against Rudy’s Electrical Unique Warriors.

The match, played at Arnos Vale Two, was one of three weekend matches in the First Division of the National Cricket Competition.

Inserted by Warriors, Combined Youths piled up 237, with 13-year-old Roberts accounting for 73. Other good scores came from Kelvin Lorraine 51 and Dexter Winfield 43. Joseph Medford grabbed 5 for 95, Junior Bacchus 2 for 24 and Samuel

Holder 2 for 82, bowling for Warriors.

Warriors’ first turn at the creased produced 141 runs, with a top score of 38 coming from Omar Samuel. They had little answer for Nickie Antoine who made mince meat of their batting with a haul of 6 for 38.

Batting a second time, Combined Youths declared at 132 for 5, Oneil Endeavor topscoring with 46 and Kelvin Lorraine hitting 41.

Set 229 for victory, Warriors were 125 for 3 when play ended.

Roberts, when questioned about him being active in the First Division, told THE VINCENTIAN, that he is

(L-R): Kishore Shallow and Denis Byam have come in for praise from Nixon Mc Llean for their work as Executive members of the cricket association for their good work. ground”...sigh.......”it’s like you are forcing these guys to play a game that has the potential to give them something if they play it well enough.... .” .

There have been suggestions for the Premier Division teams to be cut from eight to five teams, with two rounds of cricket being played, but Mc Lean dismisses this suggestion.

“I will not support this because it will not expose enough young players to competing against experienced players.......we need to see good young players coming through, and then we will have good teams.....I see Desron Maloney for instance, who came from Division One and his game has improved a lot, so we need to encourage players to take their

game seriously, and then the standard will improve .....but the Association has to play its part”, Mc Lean said in between giving instructions to his charges at the Victoria Park.

A member of the national coaching programme, Mc Lean is disappointed that the experience players, especially the batsmen, are not shouldering the responsibility.

“These batsmen have to realise that the objective is to make runs and to occupy the crease as long the match situation will allow you.....you cannot just reach 96, get four chances in the nineties, then get caught on the boundary soon after reaching your century ...that is not sensible cricket.”

Right: Thirteen-year-old Shane Roberts has his eyes set on the W.I. Under-15 tournament.

using it as preparation for the upcoming regional under-15 tournament.

In another weekend game between Smashers and Buccament Bay Adroids this also ended in a draw.

Smashers batted first and made 136. Cutbert Springer hit 45. Wesley Simmons took 5 for 39 and Joel Ogarro 3 for 22. Buccament Bay Androids were bundled out for 57. Anthony Charles took 5 for 29.

Smashers declared their second innings at 152 for 5.

Ronald Scott top-scored with 94. Obed McCoy took 4 for 29.

Buccament Bay Androids, set 232 for victory, struggled to 69 for 9 when play ended. Marvin

Harry took 4 for 19.

In the other game, Robertson’s Surveying Belmont United beat Police One at Stubbs by 10 runs, after conceding first innings lead.

Robertson’s Surveying Belmont United batted first and were dismissed for 62.

Mikayon Delpeshe made 17.

Osrick James took 4 for 23 and Sylvan Spencer 4 for 27.

Police One replied with 111.

Vertil Davis led the reply with 51. Adolphus Campbell grabbed 5 for 41.

Facing a deficit of 49, Robertson’s Surveying Belmont United reached 157.

Damien James top scored with 59. Vertil Davis took 3 for 28.

Bent on victory, Police One fell short of the mark and closed on 98 in chase of 108 for a win. Maxian Richardson hit 53 but Adolphus Campbell was the lawmen’s undoing, grabbing 5 for 39.

I.B.A.ALLEN

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36. FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

T&T sweep Guinness Street Football titles

combination of the dreadlocks’ Ako James and Anthony Small in the FOOTBALL POWER HOUSE, TRINIDAD attack presented a real threat; they AND TOBAGO, WALKED AWAY WITH ALL combined admirably to deliver some THE MAJOR PRIZES in the Guinness breath-taking passes, and created Street Football Challenge Champions, numerous shots on the Dominican’s played on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd, goal. at the Arnos Vale Hard Court, in front of It was an Anthony Small goal that the ESPN & SportsMax, cameras. stamped that dominance. His long ‘The Hills Have Eyes’ team from range shot from the right side North East Trinidad defeated deflected off a Dominican player before Dominica 2-0 in the final, on penalty finding the back of the goal. kicks, to take the Teams Challenge Dominica almost equalized Crown, after the regulations time moments later, but stout and daring scores were tied at one apiece. defence by the ‘#3 defender ensured Eight minutes of extra time failed to the Trinidadians 1 — nil lead at the break the deadlock, signaling the end of the first half. penalty tie breaker.

The second half was evenly poised, The large crowd in attendance on and just before the final whistle, Saturday did not leave disappointed; tragedy struck for Trinidad. A one two they were treated to some exciting and combination in the attack for Dominica pulsating plays. saw Shyan Larond finding the back of Trinidad and Tobago dominated TNT goal. position in the first half. The The score at the end of regulation time: 1-1. The rest is now history.

Trinidad and Tobago secured their berth in the final with a 10 victory over St. Kitts.

Dominica had to withstand a strong St. Lucia Challenge on A section of the large crowd that turned out for the final. their way to the

by KENVILLE HORNE

Above: The victorious ‘The Hills Have Eyes’ Trinidad and Tobago team.

Inset: Mark Taylor demonstrating one of his skills that won him the individual Skills Champions title. final.

St. Lucia defeated St. Kitts 3-0 to take third place in the Teams Challenge.

The victorious Trinidad and Tobago team took home a cash prize of US4,000.00. Second placed Dominica pocketed US$2,000.00, third placed St. Lucia US$1,500.00 and St. Kitts, US$1,000.00 Next came the Skills Challenge Trophy which tampered down quickly to be a battle between Trinidadians Mark Taylor and Kerron Ford.

At the end of the of regulation time, the judges had failed to separate the two, necessitating a tie breaker. At the end of an enthralling second round, Taylor won the judges’ favour and took home a cash price of US$1,000.00 Following the presentation ceremony, the large crowd remained to enjoy a full package of entertainment that featured as the star bills, SVG Calypso Monarch ‘Fya-Empress and

Jamaican dance hall super star Aidonia.

Eight regional teams participated in the second annual Guinness Street Football Challenge. The inaugural tournament was held in Guyana last year and was won bt St,. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Unfortunately, ‘School Yard Strikers’, local representatives in the Team Challenge Champion, failed to advance beyond the round robin stage.

Regional Guinness Brand Manager, Gareth Geddes, declared: “It was a fantastic competition and a step up in scale and standard from the previous year. I’d like to thank St Vincent for the warm hospitality and turning out in their thousands to support.”

Under-23 netballers go after 14th title ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES UNDER23 NETBALLERS WILL BE SEEKING THEIR FOURTEENTH lien on the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank OECS title, when the 23rd

edition shoots off in Antigua at the YMCA Sports Complex, from 7th July.

The Vincentians, who won last year’s tournament which was held in Grenada, will

Manager/chaperoneNatasha MedfordStapleton.

Lone newcomerMiranda Spencer

feature nine players with experience at that level.

Returning from the 2012 triumphant squad are Ruthann Williams, Maryann Fredrick, Naomi Williams, Shellisha Davis, Bownie Allicott, Rochelle Franklyn and Delonie Sam, while Shannique De Shong and Shanice Daniel are back.

The lone newcomer is Miranda Spencer, a former national under16 player.

De Shong, Daniel and Spencer, replace Zukelia Ross, Shantol Williams and Kasukie Daniel.

And the St Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association’s executive has decided to retain winning coach Godfrey Harry, while first vice president Natasha Medford-

Stapleton will carry out stiffest resistance. managerial /chaperone St Vincent and the duties.

Grenadines won the Moeth Gaymes travels inaugural tournament in as St Vincent and the 1991 and went on to win Grenadines’ the three subsequent representative on the titles. umpires’ panel.

After returning to Looking ahead to the tournament, Medford-Stapleton believes that St Vincent and the Grenadines has what it takes to bring the sub- regional title back to these shores.

“We are not taking any team lightly; every team is considered a threat,” Medford- Stapleton remarked.

She cites St Kitts, St Lucia and former champions Grenada as the countries Coach Godfrey Harry doing expected to give the with Delonie Sam. Vincentians their

winning ways in 1996, St Vincent and the Grenadines next won in 1998 and continued in that vein until 2001.

Titles in 2006 and 2007 round up the other titles gained.

some defensive work

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. 37.

Sports

Not from North Leeward North Leeward residents have always been at the receiving end of some unfair treatment. There have been glaring examples where talented individuals from the area have been openly discriminated against.

The case of Maxford Pipe is a prime example.

He was selected to a national cricket squad, taken to Grenada, and never played a match.

Pipe went on to take up residence in the British Virgin Islands. He subsequently grafted his way onto the Leeward Islands squad.

Pipe also represented the BVI in Football, and played in defence in a Digicel Caribbean Cup against the very Vincy Heat when they were, perhaps, at their peak in regional football.

That BVI squad, also with some other rejects from St. Vincent, held the mighty Vincy Heat to a one all draw at Arnos vale.

Earlier this year, a Vincentian Under-15 team was selected, and there was not one single representative from North Leeward.

If one were to look back at the Under-15 champions over the past decade, North Leeward invariably came up as champions.

For some reason, the trend of thought was that nothing existed beyond Belle Isle Hill.

Veda ‘Sister V’ Edwards produced a calypso in the 1990s in which she pointed out that North Leeward was part of St. Vincent too.

That was when the North Leeward Highway was the subject of incessant delays by the government.

The pattern seems to have become entrenched, and North Leeward remains the bastard child of the nation.

Take for example the lingering treatment of the Cumberland Playing Field.

That scenario is reflective of a general mindset where North Leeward does not seem to fit into the national agenda.

The VINLEC North Leeward Cricket Championship has emerged as a platform for cricketers. One would have thought that the Cricket Association would have found a way of endorsing the competition and use it as a means of analysing the crop of cricketers.

Last year, Kenny Stapleton was the leading run scorer in that tournament. One would have thought that that performance would have given him some recognition for call up for national duties.

Other players have displayed their skills in North Leeward and have shown that they can hold their own in any form of cricket here.

But even when they have raised eyebrows in national cricket, doubts are raised about their ability.

One case is that of Ronneil Jeffrey. His name has surfaced time and again for his performance in North Leeward. A hard hitting all-rounder, it is more than strange that Ronneil has been ignored.

As if to strengthen their claim, Stapleton and Jeffrey stood out when the Vinlec North Leeward Cricket Competition opened last weekend.

Stapleton blasted a century and Jeffrey picked up the season’s first hat trick.

Some may dismiss the complaint and outline that Kenneth Dember gained selection to the national squad last year and played one game for the territory. Some persons who are closer to the selection system would argue that Dember’s selection had more to do with connections outside the North Leeward area.

Dember has been a consistent performer in North Leeward, and his display at the Under-19 level spurred him into the Vincentian and Windward parties.

Still it took two matches before he was able to show his colours.

The treatment of North Leeward residents goes beyond sport. It is perhaps something of a stigma that has been established. How much longer will the alienation continue?

Lynch, Nero star in Women’s Cricket

Samantha Lynch had a good weekend with bat and ball.

NATIONAL players Juliana Nero and Samantha Lynch played pivotal roles to help propel their teams to comfortable victories in the RBTT Bank Senior Women’s Cricket Competition on the weekend.

In the first of their two games over the weekend, United Survivors defeated Rising Stars by 7 wickets at Buccament. Rising Stars batted first and made 42 .Camille Garrick grabbed 5 for 5 and Samantha Lynch 3 for 11. United Survivors replied with 44 for 3.

In their other game,

United Survivors won by 10 wickets over Garifuna Stars at South Rivers.

Garifuna Stars batted and registered 118, with Juliana Nero topscoring with Juliana Nero continues to 65. United Survivors be the backbone of the Garifuna Stars batting. replied with 119 without loss, in which Samantha Lynch stroked batted first and were 66 and Kemon Gomer 34. dismissed for 58. Roshel John took 4 for 10, .

Rising Stars were the Latoya Providence 3 for 8, Sherry-Ann John 2 for flip side of United Survivors when they lost 14 and Stacy-Ann Adams 2 for 22. JG Tigress both of their matches.

Their second came after replied with 61 for 2.

Jean Bloucher led with their defeat to United 21.

Survivors, they went under to JG Tigress by 8 I.B.A.ALLEN wickets. Rising Stars

Ajuba sends signal THE SPRING VILLAGE based team, Ajuba, has sent an early message that they are not about to surrender the title as Champions of the VINLEC North Leeward T/20 Cricket.

Last Sunday, they beat Robertson Surveying Rising Stars by 143 runs in the first match of the 2013 season.

Kenny Stapleton blasted 103 to power Ajuba to 256 for 5 off their 20 overs. Harley Skerritt, 52, and Ronneil Jeffrey, 21, also contributed to the total.

Ronneil Jeffery claimed a hat trick as part of his five-wicket haul.

Amansford Richards, 1 for 27 from four overs, returned the best figures for Robertson Surveying Rising Stars.

Ronneil Jeffrey underlined his all-round ability, grabbing 5 for 19 to rout Rising Stars for 113, in 13.1 overs.

Jeffrey’s haul included the season’s first hat trick. He was supported

by Gemel Jeffrey 2 for 30.

Akeem Shallow, 36,

was the top scorer for Rising Stars. He was involved in a 51- run opening stand; but thereafter, the run chase went into decline, and Jeffrey’s hat trick tightened the stranglehold.

Ten teams in two Zones will compete for the VINLEC Trophy, symbol of T/20 supremacy in North Leeward.

Kenny Stapleton registered the first century in the competition.

Action continues in EKSA There were wins for Attackers (2), Nice Radio Clinchers, Attackers (1) and Combined Forces in the Dover’s Electrical Services East Kingstown Twenty/20 Softball Cricket Championship at the Grammar School Playing Field, on the weekend.

Attackers (2) defeated Nice Radio Clinchers by 8 wickets. Nice Radio Clinchers made 99 for five off 20 overs. O-Keiph Andrews made 34 and Henderson Morgan 29 not out.

Kerwyn Browne took 3 for 13.

Attackers (2) replied with 100 for 4 off 18.3 overs. Marlon Cambridge hit 25 and Maxi Hackshaw 24. O’Heyon Toby took 2 for 13, Donwell Hector 2 for 14.

Nice Radio Clinchers defeated CK Greaves by nine wickets. CK Greaves were bowled out for 37 off 11-overs.

Donwell Hector bagged 3 for 14, Damian Springer 2 for 13 and O’ Heyon Toby 2 for 9. Nice Radio Clinchers then raced to 38 for one off 4.1overs. O’Keiph Andrews hit 28 not out.

Attackers (1) triumphed over Dover’s Electrical Services, beating them by 56 runs. Attackers (1) made 143 for 6 off 20 overs. Elrico Patterson topscored with 36 not out. Emmanuel Baptiste took 2 for 20 and Ronnie Warren 2 for 25. Dover’s Electrical Services could only reach 87 for 8 off 20 overs. Travis Cumberbatch took 2 for 4, Kentish Phillips 2 for 13 and Desron Maloney 2 for 25.

Combined Forces beat Customs by 6 wickets. Customs posted 120 for 7 off 20 overs. Raymond Maingot hit 30 and Chester Hendrickson 25. Cassius Welcome took 3 for 18 and Ian Sutherland 2 for 2. Combined Forces made 124 for 4 off 17.5 overs. Hanniff Warren topscored with 47 not out, and Joshua John made 27. Raymond Mingo took 2 for 40.

Customs will play against Rivals in this weekend’s only match on Saturday from 12:30 pm at the Grammar School Playing Field.

I.B.A.ALLEN

38. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

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V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013. 39.

Classifieds IN MEMORIAM In loving memory of my beloved husband, KENNETH RALROY MOFFORD better known as Kenny of Rivulet, who departed this life on the 28th June 2009.

The master called I’m sorry I had to leave you.

My loved ones oh so dear.

But you see the Master called me.

His voice was very clear.

I had made my reservation A heaven bound ticket for me, And I knew that he will call me, When he felt my work was done.

I know that your hearts are heavy, Because I have gone away, But when the master called me.

I knew that I could not stay, Yes I’m sorry I had to leave you, My loved ones oh so dear.

But you see the Master called me.

And now I’m resting here, Yes I’ve crossed on over to glory, And to you all I say Just stay in the hands of Jesus, and we’ll meet again someday.

Love, four years has passed since you left us But your loving memories will be with us for the rest of our lives.

Gone but not forgotten.

You gave us a life of happiness that no one can take away.

You are absent from the body, but present with the Lord.

Forever loved and sadly missed by your loving wife, children, stepchildren, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, many relatives and friends, will be forever missed. Love, may you forever rest in peace.

PETSON RICARDO TOUSSAINT

ELCA LILIETTE DICKSON

Sunday 23rd June, 2013 New Apostolic Church Campden Park At 3:00 pm

Stubbs Gospel Hall Sunday 23rd June, 2013 Service at 3:00 p.m.

KERWIN GRANTLY JACOBS FRANCENE JAMES Grace & Truth Sunday 23rd June, 2013 Service at 2:30 p.m.

JONATHAN FRANCOIS Prayer & Faith Assembly Sunday 23rd June, 2013 Service at 2:30 p.m.

Campden Park Wesleyan Holiness Church Saturday 22nd June, 2013 3:00 pm

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

F O R S A L E

FRIDAY,

JUNE 28, 2013

VOLUME 107 No.23

A.I. REAL ESTATE Fair Hall 2 buildings on 5,629 sq.ft. - $153,000.00 - H888 Cane Garden 5 bedrm fully furnished Property on 9,090 sq.ft.

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MAN JAILED FOR IMPORTING

COCAINE FROM SVG

By Nelson A. King naking@verizon.net. neloking@msn.com US CORRESPONDENT

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) said on Tuesday that a Baltimore, Maryland man was sentenced the day before to 15 ½ years in jail for conspiracy to import cocaine from St. Vincent and the Grenadines and distribute it in Maryland.

The Washington, D.C.based ICE incorrectly stated that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in the US Virgin Islands.

Following an investigation

by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Metropolitan Area Drug Task Force, ICE said Lorenzo Solomon, 28, was sentenced by US District Judge Roger W. Titus to 188 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.

ICE said coconspirator Ronnie George, 27, of Owings Mills, Maryland pleaded guilty to “participation in the drug conspiracy”, and was sentenced to a year and a day in prison.

The immigration agency said Titus “enhanced” Solomon’s sentence on finding that he was “a leader of the conspiracy”, and that he obstructed justice by attempting to intimidate witnesses to prevent them from testifying against him at trial.

The scheme ICE said, U.S District Judge Roger W. Titus between April and wasted no time in inflicted a long term in December 2010, prison for Lorenzo Solomon, who Solomon arranged proved elusive as far as procuring a with “cophotograph of him was concerned.

conspirators in St. Vincent” to send him packages containing up to a kilogram of cocaine, “hidden in the soles of flipflops.”

“Once Solomon retrieved the packages, he would remove the cocaine and sell it to others in Maryland, who would then distribute it,” it said in a statement.

“To pay for the drugs, witnesses testified that Solomon arranged to have friends and family members send large amounts of cash via Western Union and MoneyGram, most frequently in US$2,000 increments, which Solomon provided them,” it added.

ICE said Solomon recruited George to send money on his behalf, and that, “in addition to providing him cash to send to St. Vincent, Solomon provided George several hundred dollars in cash or merchandise as compensation for sending money.”

“Solomon suggested that George recruit friends to send money to reduce the chance of the scheme being detected, which he did,” the statement said.

It said Solomon also “recruited his sister, girlfriend and others to send money to St. Vincent for him.”

According to court documents, more than 17 individuals sent a total of US$117,270 from the United States to St. Vincent between April and November 2010.

The haul, arrest and threats On Nov. 26, 2010, ICE said CBP officers intercepted a “package of cocaine-filled flip

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

This is a typical flip flop – not the ones used for exporting the cocaine – but not far off. flops intended for Solomon, but addressed to a friend.”

ICE said CBP transferred the package to the Metropolitan Area Drug Task Force to attempt a controlled delivery of the package to the Takoma Park address listed on the package.

After unsuccessfully attempting to deliver the package on Dec. 6, 2010, ICE said HSI special agents left a note on the door advising of the attempted delivery of the package and provided a telephone number to call to arrange delivery.

According to ICE, witness testimony showed that “Solomon was advised of the arrival of the package; and, at Solomon’s direction, delivery of the package was arranged the next day.”

After the package was delivered, the immigration agency said phone records show that a call was placed to Solomon to let him know of the delivery.

A short time later, ICE HSI special agents executed a search warrant, recovering the

drugs.

HSI special agents arrested George after he arrived to pick up the package for Solomon, ICE said.

It said Solomon left the area “and later traveled to St. Vincent in February 2011, where he filed paperwork with the local government to form a business in an effort to create a cover story as to why he had sent so much money to St. Vincent.”

ICE said Solomon returned to the United States in March 2011, and on April 6, 2011, George and Solomon were indicted on drug conspiracy charges.

George was arrested and pleaded guilty, but Solomon was not located until after George’s sentencing March 2012, ICE said.

According to witness testimony, Solomon requested that a witness change her story so as not to implicate Solomon in the drug conspiracy, but the witness refused.

Continued on page 22

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.