17th August, 2012 Edition

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY,

AUGUST 17, 2012

VOLUME 106, No. 33

www.thevincentian.com

INFANT MURDERED SOME RESIDENTS OF THE VILLAGE called Robinson Hill, which overlooks the E T Joshua Airport at Arnos Vale, said they were traumatized Wednesday afternoon after Machika Peters, an eighteen-yearold mother residing there, allegedly strangled her one-year-old male child.

Residents, trying to come to grips with the killing of Makealti Peters, said they had never had such heinous crime in the village before, even though they may have had quarrels from time to time.

One resident, Sheridan Davis, said she was not at home at the time of the incident but she was saddened by what happened.

“Ah feel bad. If we coulda get the girl to beat she I woulda beat she,” Davis said in an interview Wednesday afternoon.

It is alleged that the teenaged mother was in Kingstown earlier Wednesday and was quarrelling about maintenance money for the child. She then went home and around 2.00 p.m. she went and took the child from her neighbour’s place where he and others were playing, and carried him

EC$1.50

Makealti Peters (pictured here sleeping), the oneyear-old who was allegedly murdered by his mother.

Sheridan Davis (left) and Cortina Benn who held the dead infant in her arms. Davis’s daughter is also pictured.

The wooden house at Robinson Hill, in which Machika Peters, her son Makealti and her siblings lived. home.

“Oh Gawd, de pickney lip turn white like he nah been ha no blood,” said a neighbour, Cortina Benn in an interview.

“I was inside and I heard my next door neighbour, (Machika) siblings saying ‘Good afternoon. Good afternoon.’ I did not go outside. Then I hear one of them say his sister took up a pillow and chase he and his other siblings out of the house,” Benn stated.

Benn said she heard a commotion and then went outside and rushed to the scene. She said that a pillow was covering the infant’s face.

“When the police dem come I had the baby in my hands holding. The child fired stool (defecated). Stool was in his pampers. Like when he suffocating he fired stool,” Benn said.

Residents said that shortly after the alarm was raised, Peters was seen running towards

the main road, the Vigie Highway, where she got into a vehicle which, reportedly, took her to the Calliaqua Police Station.

Calliaqua Police confirmed Wednesday afternoon that a suspect was in custody.

They said a post mortem was expected to be conducted on the infant yesterday.

Information received said that Peters was to celebrate her nineteenth birthday yesterday.

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2. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Education

Utamu has risen to the occasion

by GLORIAH…

SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD Utamu Rose, 2011 – 2012 Head Boy of the St. Vincent

Grammar School (SVGS), has worked his way to ‘Top Performer’ status in the

recently sat regional CSEC Examination.

His gains amounted Utamu Rose to eleven passes, including nine Grade Ones with Distinction and two Grade Twos.

At the 2012 Graduation Ceremony of the SVGS, Utamu received awards for being ‘Most Outstanding Student’ in English A, English B, and in the Humanities. Admittedly, he had expected to receive a greater number of awards.

Those which he received and this distinction which he produced at CSEC, however, were really to be expected, as Utamu was no stranger at all to excellence. Five years ago, he had worked his way to the top echelons of the Common Entrance Examination, placing first for boys and first overall. His teachers at the St. Mary’s Roman Catholic School had only praise for this quiet, yet academic rock of a student, for the consistent, high quality work he produced through his years at that school.

During his years at the SVGS, Utamu has had heavy involvement in extra-curricular activities, most notably the Young Leaders programme. Here he has been credited with a serious ability to lead.

He also worked with a group of boys whom he kept together in a study group, all of whom have placed among the top five performers for his school, in this year’s CSEC Exam. He used both of his parents’ homes to accommodate these boys after long hours of study, and was often the coordinator of social activities among them.

Utamu is also an avid steel pan player, setting the academics aside to practise and perform for the 2011 and 2012 Panorama Competitions as a full member of the Starlift Steel Orchestra.

When an attempt was made to contact Utamu, THE VINCENTIAN learnt that he had earlier left for Toronto on a six-week vacation, and at that very time was travelling to New York , USA. In an interview with his father, Mr. Conley Chivambu Rose, however, THE VINCENTIAN was able to get a firsthand impression of the nature of this young man.

Mr. Rose chided himself for bragging, but then soberly explained that Utamu was always a “normal youth.”

He said that he had “a good level of maturity and, although he was not a bookworm at all, he was very focused.

He was meticulous, taking his time to do things and paying attention to detail.”

Utamu, as testified by many, is a very creative and innovative young man. “He was so computer savvy”, said his Dad, “I learnt so many things from him!”

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. 3.

News 3 Khandi excels

a week before our preexaminations in March, I KHANDI GORDON of the Girls’ High thought I was prepared enough School has put herself one step but I prayed a lot during my closer to attaining her dreams, after studying, and prayed before excelling at the 2012 CSEC and after each exam.” examinations.

When asked about Attaining 11 grade ones, with challenges she faced while 10 A profiles, the Ottley Hall preparing for the resident, daughter of Velma examinations, she spoke of her Gordon, is one of this country’s grandmother’s passing during top performers. the school year. Despite this Joining the flocks of students affecting her grades initially, checking their results online on Khandi expressed, “I August 11th in the early hours of recovered, and my academic the morning, Khandi admitted performance was even better that her instant reaction was one than before. I feel relieved of joyful surprise. since I no longer have to worry Khandi’s A profiles were about my results.” obtained in the subject areas of Khandi plans to do Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Physics and Geography, Spanish, Information Geography at the Division of Technology, English A, Office Arts, Sciences and General Administration, Mathematics and Studies at the Community Principles of Accounts. Her other College, and sees herself grade one was in English B. becoming an engineer in the As far as the study schedule future. and motivation that accounted for her success, Khandi shared, “I Right: Khandi Gordon started studying for CSEC about

by KARISSA CLARKE

WITH THE RECENT INAUGURATION of the OECS Assembly, there was much reminiscing about the integration movement in the English-speaking Caribbean.

Some pockets of discussion traced the efforts to the deliberations of the Caribbean stalwarts of

the 1930s Caribbean, including our own George Mc Intosh.

Others laboured on the ill-fated Federation of 1958, not forgetting to cast blame on the likes of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago for its death in infancy.

Here’s a photograph of more recent times which, while it might

appear, given the personalities pictured, not to represent the earlier efforts of OECS sub-regional integration, it does wonders in reminding us of the wider agenda: Full Caribbean Unity.

The picture shows the big four Caribbean Heads signing the Treaty of Chaguaramas

in July 1973, which established the Caribbean Community, CARICOM. These big four were considered the great integrationists of their time. How much this designation holds true is for us to judge and historians to write about.

Cherrianne Davis is on top ARNOS VALE RESIDENT Cherrianne Davis has climbed to the top of this year’s CSEC Performers and done herself and her family proud.

The 16-year-old Girls’ High School student attained twelve subject passes with 11 grade ones and one grade two.

Her passes were in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English A and B, Mathematics, French, Spanish, EDPM, Information Cherrianne Davis Technology, Social Studies.

In an Interview with THE VINCENTIAN, Davis who is celebrating her success while on vacation, recounted how things proceeded when she discovered her results, saying, “The site was giving me a little trouble so for a second I thought it was setting me up for disappointment, but then I saw my results. Mommy and I jumped around the room and celebrated.”

She admitted, as far as her preparation for the exams was concerned, that “I started a little late.”

But, according to Cherrianne, “About a month or so before exams, I got a copy of a friend’s study timetable and modified it for my own need, that’s what really helped me.”

When asked about challenges that presented themselves along the journey, she explained that Foreign Languages presented her biggest challenge as, “it’s difficult to practise oral aspects by yourself, because you never know when you may pronounce something wrong, so I had to get help with my pronunciation and diction in that area.”

In the future, Davis plans to become a Mechanical Engineer, and has put herself one step closer to this dream by applying to the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College Division of Arts, Sciences and General Studies to pursue Math, Physics and Computer Science.

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4. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Dead man found at Orange Grove

Right: The heavily grassed roadside (note arrow) where Jason Gibson’s body was discovered.

television.

Half an hour later, she heard a knocking on the ORANGE GROVE, a small door, after which she community located heard her son calling, between Dorsetshire Hill “Mommy, Mommy.” and Cane Hall along Upon inquiring, she Queen’s Drive route, was said her son told her that the scene of the discovery while he was on his way of a dead man. home, “he butt up on The lifeless, bulletsomething and when he ridden body of Jason investigate, he saw a Gibson, a 25-year-old man lying on the ground. deportee from the United So he touch the person States, was found at with his right foot and about 1:00am last say, “Man here is Saturday. nowhere to sleep if yo Karen Davis, a drunk,’ but the person resident of the didn’t move.” community, recalled Davis, who did not hearing “five rocket want her picture carried sounds” while watching in print, admitted that Stories by KENVILLE HORNE

she was not initially moved to offer assistance, but she had a change of heart after being convinced by her husband.

She got into her car and drove to the area where her son said he had stumbled upon the body.

“I spot the light on the body, and my son went and investigate, but he was not moving,” she recounted. On further investigation, she observed a man lying face down with a blood stain at the side of his mouth.

“He was dressed in

full black, a big black jacket and long black pants. There was a glove at his foot, and he had something like a tam in his hand which was by his mouth. His jacket was slightly up and ah saw he was also wearing a gun holster on his waist,” Davis told THE VINCENTIAN. She and her son concluded then that the man was dead because, “he was not moving.”

She drove her vehicle to a friend’s home and instructed her to call the police.

The police arrived soon after and cordoned

incorporate a lot of negative and bad boy Gibson’s past culture.”

In Murray’s Village Amelia Gibson, a 92where Jason was year-old lady from residing in an apartment Dorsetshire Hill said he had rented, some that she adopted Jason’s persons described him as sister, and someone else ‘a bad boy’. One person adopted Jason from his alleged that he was uncle. recently involved in a She recalled Jason robbery. visiting her regularly.

But persons who could “He was very cool, I can’t remember him from a say nothing bad about child, confessed that he him,” the elderly lady was ‘a cool boy’ until he said. went to the USA. But Jason eventually Police investigations migrated to the United continue into the States, and that is where circumstances the elderly lady believed surrounding Gibson’s “he would have death.

off the area.

Methodist Dramatists assists gunshot victim THE AGAPE METHODIST Dramatists Club, one of the leading cultural groups in the country, has come to the

assistance of someone in need. Campden Park, to assist with Last Wednesday, August his medical attention..

15, the group made a financial James is wheelchair bound, donation to Simeon James, of paralyzed from the waist

down, the result of a bullet wound received in a shooting incident in Campden Park, September 13, 2012.

He was one of four persons shot on that day when George ‘Chocolate’ Franklyn went on a shooting rampage, fatally wounding his wife, Ingrid Jack-Franklyn, and Marva ‘Hazel Ann’ James, and wounding James, Marva’s son, and Jack’s nephew, Desroy Jack.

Desroy was hospitalized but has since made a full recovery, but James was not that lucky.

The incident occurred on the final day of a ‘marble pitching competition’ which the Methodist Dramatists had organized for youth in the South Leeward area, of which Campden Park is one of the larger communities.

The group felt connected to the incident and committed to lending a hand to the persons adversely affected by the incident. The result was the donation made last Tuesday, the returns on the dramatic productions Simeon James receives the donation from the AGAPE Methodist Dramatists Club in the company of the group and support of his sister Sharon James (standing to his right).

from the business community.

Managing Director for AGAPE, Kevin Rodriguez, spoke at the presentation and highlighted the importance of giving back. He urged other businesses and organizations “to give to the unfortunate persons in communities.”

He confirmed that his organization, from here on, will be assisting other persons in the future. “This is just the beginning,” he said.

Speaking to THE VINCENTIAN last Tuesday, Simeon James said he remains perplexed over the reason why Franklyn shot him.

“Me and the man basically was friends. Down to the day before I was shot, I was by his shop talking to him. Me and he never had an argument, nothing at all,” a tearful Simeon told THE VINCENTIAN. He expressed thanks to the Methodist Dramatists for their assistance, and admitted that he has “never really received any help before.”

His sister, Sharon James, also stated, “Just before Simeon got shot, he wanted to be a police.”

Would Simeon’s dream be realized? That’s left to be seen.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. 5.

Regional

Baptiste is speaker of the OECS Assembly

VINCENTIAN RENÉ BAPTISTE is the first Speaker of the OECS Representative Assembly.

Ms. Baptiste was elected unopposed when the Assembly met in its historic inaugural session in Antigua and Barbuda, Friday 10th August.

An attorney at law for some 35 years, Ms. Baptiste is a former government minister in the Dr. Ralph Gonsalves ULP Administration.

She was first elected to the SVG House of Assembly in 2001 and retired from active politics in 2010.

Ms. Baptiste will have Mr. Walford Gumbs of St. Kitts and Nevis as her Deputy. He is a former Speaker of the House in St. Kitts and Nevis and is currently that country’s Ombudsman.

In accepting her elevation to the position

as Chairperson of the Assembly, Ms. Baptiste said, Members of the OECS Assembly.

“Today we in the OECS Inset: René Baptiste, Speaker of the OECS Assembly, have certainly making her inaugural address. made history time is of the essence.

The OECS Assembly, with our assembly.” headquartered in She thanked all those This is our occasion to Antigua and Barbuda, who were responsible for write our own history with our own hands and has 5 members of the her appointment, and our own voice.”

Parliament of each committed herself to be The Assembly is a independent Member “a servant in the House,” deliberative body. It is State, and 3 members even as she made a call expected to meet at least from the Legislature of for cooperation and twice a year, and is the each non-independent support from all newest of five principal Member State, with members.

Baptiste stamped her organs established by the representation from both Revised Treaty of the ruling administration vision for the Assembly and the political when she said, “This is a Basseterre, 2010, which established the OECS opposition. serious place. We have The Vincentian serious work to do. And Economic Union. representation to the Assembly included: Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Hon. Clayton Burgin and Hon. Saboto Caesar from the government side, and Hon. Arhnim Eustace THE CARIBBEAN will be done under the and Hon. Dr. Godwin CONTINUES to be the Anti-Crime Capacity Friday of the Opposition. centre of attention as far Building Programme as illegal drug smuggling (ACCBP) funded by is concerned.

Ottawa. The ACCBP This time around is spans areas such as the turn of the drugs, human trafficking Canadians who have interdiction, combating long recognized that violent organized crime, illegal drugs are and police and judicial Diane Ablonczy, smuggled via Caribbean reforms.

Canada’s Minister of ports to Canada.

The Minister is State of Foreign Affairs, A recent communiqué reported to have said recognized the need for coming from Ottawa, that the funding will the Caribbean and Canada, speaks about facilitate improved Canada to work as a the Canadian authorities information gathering working with the region and storage and sharing. unit. to establish a mechanism Minister Ablonczy is addition to being for better information quoted as saying, members of the gathering, analysis and “Trans-national criminal hemispheric sharing. organizations don’t organizations (e.g. OAS) Canada’s Minister of recognize borders and so and the United Nations, State of Foreign Affairs, we have to work as a the English speaking Diane Ablonczy, unit.”

Caribbean and Canada confirmed this initiative The Caribbean and are both members of the in a recent statement.

Canada boast a long Commonwealth of According to her, this history of co-operation Nations. new level of co-operation and collaboration. In

Canada/Caribbean united in fight against drugs

Keshorn Walcott stunned the world when he took the gold medal in the javelin event at the London Olympics.

House, dollars and more for Walcott OLYMPIC JAVELIN CHAMP, 19-year-old Keshorn Walcott, is in line for a hefty payment by the government of his native Trinidad and Tobago.

Reports from that twin-island republic indicate that Walcott will soon have a house in the upscale Federation Park in Trinidad, in which to display his gold medal. The house is said to be valued at TT$2.5m.

He is also down to receive a TT$1m hand shake.

But that is not all that the new national hero will receive for his feat. The young man will be granted some 20,000 square feet of land in his home community, Toco, the most northeasterly community on Trinidad.

He is also to be a recipient of a scholarship to the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) “to further his studies in his chosen field”.

Another announcement made with respect to honouring the gold medalist included: a housing project in Toco to be named the Keshorn Walcott Housing Development will be established; the renaming the ‘The Lighthouse’ the Keshorn Walcott Lighthouse; and naming a Caribbean Airlines aircraft in his honour.

The young man, the reigning World Junior Javelin thrower, stunned an illustrious field of experienced throwers to win the gold medal at the London Olympics, with a throw of 84.58 metres, setting a national record in the process.

Walcott becomes only the second Trinidadian athlete to win an Olympic gold, the first being Hasley Crawford, who won in the 100m at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

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6. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

News The administrative wing of the school blazes in close proximity to residential and commercial properties.

Right: Police manned the brigade to ensure that residents and onlookers did not hamper the work of the Fire Officers.

ÂStoney GroundÊ School on fire

via the bridge. Not surprisingly, the area had already been cordoned off, with traffic police allowing entry A PHONE CALL from a only to authorized visiting sibling interrupted vehicles. my afternoon ‘reading By the time I got to siesta’ at my home at my property, just three Campden Park, to notify hundred feet or so from me that the ‘Stoney the blazing school, a Ground’ School (Kingstown small crowd had already Government School) was gathered to witness the on fire. swift action by the I instinctively jumped firefighters, the most up from my reclining curious encroaching position, informed my within 30 feet of the son of what was burning structure. Quick happening and told him action by the incident to join me, as our family commander ordered that owns a property close to all onlookers step back that school. for their own safety and I knew that access to to allow the firefighters Stoney Ground from the to conduct their duties.

Leeward highway would Also on the fire scene have been impossible as in quick time was the fire trucks would have VINLEC emergency crew already occupied the safe who disconnected the area for operations. I, electrical supply to the therefore, opted to enter burning building, while from North River Road allowing residents in the A commentary by DON DE RIGGS Photos by: DON AND MALIJKA DE RIGGS

immediate area an uninterrupted service.

When things go wrong….

As fate would have it, ‘Murphy’s Law’ set in: ‘When something goes wrong, it will do so at the worst possible moment.’

One of the fire trucks ‘closed off’ and the ignition was stuck; the water pumps could not function without a running engine.

However a police engineer was also on the scene and moved swiftly to correct the problem.

But that wasn’t all.

The fire hydrant located just outside the school had been disabled by CWSA some time ago, for reasons unknown.

Fortunately, a CWSA emergency crew was on hand to re-commissioned ‘the hydrant’ to allow the fire trucks to replenish

their tanks. Speculation was rife: Had the fire hydrant been in place, the fire could have been contained earlier.

The tanks in our largest fire trucks do not exceed a capacity of 700 gallons, and water is pumped at a rate of 150 gallons per minute to put out a fire. It followed, therefore, that in less than five minutes the tanks were empty.

Firefighters depend on hydrants in their efforts to contain or control a fire.

After the fire hydrant was connected to the trucks, the firefighters had little difficulty dousing the administrative section of the top floor of the ‘new building’, where the fire was concentrated.

On site was an obviously distraught principal, Mrs. Maureen Brackin, and other staff members. The Hon. Minister of Education, Girlyn Miguel, and the

A CWSA staffer (left) was on hand to recommission the fire hydrant.

Hon. Minister of Works, Senator Julian Francis, along with senior civil servants from those ministries, were also on the scene.

Both ministers expressed sadness at the loss of property and equipment, including new furniture, computers and sporting gear. They also acknowledge the ensuing setback to the opening of the new school year as far as the Stoney Ground School was concerned.

Last term, the Kingstown Anglican

School came close to being destroyed after a fire at the adjacent Eustace Auto Supplies scorched the school.

That school reverted to a shift system to allow classes to continue. The school has since been relocated to the ‘old glove factory’ building.

As of writing, debris, mainly galvanize, had already been removed from the Stoney Ground School in preparation for renovation. No official cause of the fire has been released.

When all was said and done, this is what remained of the building.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. 7.

Education

GHS still number one in CSEC STUDENTS OF THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2012 OF THE GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL ARE NOTHING SHORT OF PROUD of their school’s performance in this year’s CSEC Examinations. At 12 am on Saturday, students were given access to the online database where they were able to check their scores. The CXC’s online release of the 2012 CSEC results for the Girls’ High School reveals an overall pass rate of 96.78%. Twelve of the twenty-four subject areas recorded 100% passes, with the pass rates in the other twelve subjects ranging from 80% to 99%.

The School’s top performers were : Cherriane Davis with twelve passes, comprising eleven grade ones and one grade two; Shanka Edwards — twelve passes with ten grade ones and two grade twos; La Donna Yorke — twelve passes with two grade ones, seven grade twos and three grade threes; and Khandi Gordon with eleven passes with all grade ones.

Twenty-two students recorded eleven passes, forty-four recorded ten passes, twenty-nine had nine passes, nineteen had eight passes, seven registered seven passes, two had six

passes and three had five passes.

One hundred and twenty-six wrote the 2012 CSEC examinations. In an interview with Principal Andrea Bowman, she expressed that she was “pleasantly relieved because I had anxiety which I publicly expressed.

The (last) performances of these girls weren’t performances to inspire confidence, particularly when you know what they’re capable of, but they really stepped up.” Bowman also emphatically declared her school’s Andrea Bowman, Headmistress of the intent to attain the 100% pass rate Girls’ High School, says her school is next year. on the hunt for a 100% pass rate.

SJCK takes the number 2 spot

Principal of SJCK, Calma Balcombe, says her students showed consisitency.

THE ST. JOSEPH’S CONVENT KINGSTOWN OUTDID THEMSELVES IN THIS YEAR’S CSEC EXAMINATIONS, securing an overall pass rate of 89 percent which placed the school second in overall performance for the first time ever.

The school offered 24 subjects for

examinations this year.

When compared with 2011, Calma Balcombe, Principal of the school, said that, “the students’ performance shows consistency in maintaining an overall percentage pass of 89%.”

The 73 girls sitting exams achieved 100% passes in 12 subject areas, namely Clothing and Textiles, Food and Nutrition, Home Economics Management,

Information Technology, Integrated Science, Economics, Office Administration, Religious Education, Social Studies, Spanish, Principles of Business, Physical Education and Sports. Twelve of the students passed 9 subjects, 19 students passed 8 subjects, with several with passes in six and seven subjects Balcombe commended the staff for their

dedication, hard work and patience in preparing the students.

“We will continue to encourage our girls to aim for excellence to improve the quality of their grades,” the Principal declared.Top SJCK performers for 2012 were: Danniel Cambridge with four 1s, two 2s and two 3s; Xena Williams who attained three 1s, five twos and a three; Zenica Francis

with three 1s and six 2s; and Nadine Dornieden with three 1s, five 2s and a three.

THE VINCENTIAN extends congratulations to SJCK on attaining the number 2 position in overall performance, and commends all of the students and staff on their hard work.

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8. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Editorial

OECS Union: Another step along the way THE OECS ASSEMBLY is now a reality. Our own Rene Baptiste, took the chair as the OECS Assembly’s first Speaker, and our own Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, current OECS Chairman, was among those who featured in ushering in the historic occasion, August 10, 2012, in Antigua and Barbuda.

The Revised Treaty of Basseterre, 2010, established the Economic Union, and it was only a matter of time before this step, the OECS Assembly, was formalized.

An authentic political union of the OECS may still be some way in the distance, but it would be folly of anyone to hold on to the notion that it is not forthcoming.

That we have taken this long, that we have laboured through the failure of the Federation, the early challenges of CARIFTA, the continuing burgeoning bureaucracy of CARICOM, the infantile bickering that sought to railroad further union in the OECS, should be enough to fortify us for staying the course, regardless of how long (longer) it might take.

As it stands now, there are seven full members of the OECS: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands are associate members. Each is represented on the Assembly, appropriate in number to its category of membership.

So, while it may be trite, to some, to rehash the benefits of an authentic union of the OECS, at this point in our history, especially in light of the first ‘real’ step towards authentic political union, it may be instructive to highlight some of the (potential) benefits of the OECS union.

There are unquestionable economic benefits that will redound to member states. In fact, the sub-region is already benefiting from important initiatives in this regard.

Member States of the OECS are free to offer their services and goods to other member states, within a framework of agreed economic laws and practices.

This movement of services and goods has resulted in a competitive market and reasonable product prices.

The fact that trade is conducted in a common currency, marshaled by one Central Bank, augurs well for protection against hyperinflation and unnecessary turbulence in the money market.

Enhanced economic growth is almost guaranteed with harmionized banking practices, tourism marketing strategies and foreign policy initiatives.

And while, admittedly, the political benefits of the Union are still to be felt with any real impact, there is no doubting that a genuine union will mean that each member will have its part to play in the development of a unified sub-region.

The basis on which to found a political union is already in place, for take it or leave it, regardless of the nature of politics in each member state, participating states all have sound democratic structures and systems.

No member state can be said to be unsafe, to be riddled with political, religious or cultural differences that warrant violent dissent.

In time, there will be no boundaries between states; travel will be free of unwarranted encumbrance, save and except those measures that will have to be enforced to deal with the scourges of smuggling of illegal drugs, arms and even humans.

And as it becomes easier to work in another member state, the all important cultural bonds will be tightened for, after all, it is as a united, cultured people that we must face the world and its challenges of globalization, the new form of colonialism.

The OECS Assembly must, therefore, not become another arena for a gun fight among opposing politicians. It must not become an extension of the ‘same ole politics’ that has divided us within the geography of our island spaces.

That is why those who are committed to the fostering of a genuine political union of the OECS must take it upon themselves to ensure that the political leaders don’t make the Assembly another avenue for their sometimes childish behavior.

This is serious business for serious people only.

A port for a storm (First Published in 1987)

A talk shop enthroned LITTLE MISS “EMILY” , the latest storm to caress the region, has yet again reminded us of the brittleness of our economy and the fragility of our existence as separate Islands. One small puff of wind, and “Green Gold” turns to dust and the infrastructure wrecked. It takes long years to recover from one of these sharp whip-lashes to which we are particularly vulnerable.

If we foolhardily continue to plod along on our own individual resources, two body blows of higher magnitude delivered in successive years would be enough to floor us for an uncomfortably long time.

Last year, “Danielle” barely smacked us, and it was like the kiss of death. We had just begun to pull ourselves together when a prolonged period of drought descended with a vengeance.

Our courageous farmers, however, were equal to the task, putting shoulder to plough and using the heavy rain to good effect. Now “Emily”, packing winds of sixty miles per hour and releasing torrential showers, has given local agriculture yet another severe beating.

Government will have to divert scarce resources from areas of need to cater for emergencies caused by storm damage.

A wider grouping would have provided a cushioning effect with the burden spread equitably and bearably. In this way, political union would have offered a reasonable enough haven -though not heaven- in which we could enjoy secure anchorage from the ravages of natural disasters. For it is highly unlikely that a hurricane will sweep away all the islands in one breath, leaving none intact, on which affected member States in the union could lean for temporary support.

By demonstrating how easy it is to pick the islands off, one by one, Nature itself is pointing the way forward to us. Grenada had its “Janet”; Dominica its “David”; St Lucia its “Allen”; and now St Vincent has had a taste of “Emily”. Still, we seem too hard-headed to get the message.

“Who can’t hear go feel,” the old folks say; but it seems that we can neither hear nor feel!

Perhaps it was more than coincidence that “Danielle” chose to strike last September at the time of the N.D.P convention in Bequia.

“Danielle” touched Barbados, then visited Bequia where it marooned Guest-Speaker, the late Errol Barrow. It was a timely reminder to both leaders who are confirmed integrationists.

This time, the opposition Scope Chairman, St. Lucia’s Julian Hunte, had hardly completed his feature address to the annual convention of his Vincentian counter-part, counselling caution on the movement to unity, when news broke that a storm was headed for these parts and due to take in his hosts and neighbouring home in stride. It must have been a rude awakening to the Labour conclave. The tropical depression, giving little notice, sprang up “hot and sweaty” and moved with “indecent haste” to make a mockery of territorial integrity, national boundaries and paper sovereignty.

But there are persons who are prepared to swim against historical currents and fly in the

face of destiny. They plead “sovereignty” which they would never lightly surrender to a foreign super-national body. The real point at issue is whether it is wise to give up a measure of “formal” independence to some larger entity in order to partake of more “effective sovereignty”. …

Among those eminent persons ranging on the side of union are to be counted, significantly, several men who have made their mark in regional and international circles. Potter (former sec. W.C.C); Ramphal (Commonwealth Secretariat), Carrington (A.C.P desk ) ; Demas (C.D.B), Mc.Intyre (U.W.I) ; Rainford (Caricom), Vaughn Lewis (O.E.C.S). Of them, it can never be fairly said that they don’t know their onions, or that they have axes to grind.

Yet the anti-unionites are holding on for dear life to the notion that Mitchell only initiated the thrust as a lever to catapult him to personal power. Granted that the ruling regimes might have seized the time to capitalise on the issue and reap the fringe benefit of probably leading the first round of administrations in the new combination. But surely in the longer term, the accidental new combination of Government is totally irrelevant to the serious issue at stake .

And the issue is to what extent, standing by ourselves, can we weather the impending storm of world conditions. Forty years ago, Norman Manley had sounded a warning. Today, it reverberates with a ring of finality. “… here are we all on a sea of world conditions, stormy and hazardous in the extreme, each huddled in some little craft of their own.

Some hardly have oars, and only few have accomplished a rudimentary sail to take them along. And here offered us is a boat; substantial, capable of being made sea-worthy and ready to be manned by our own captain and our own crew. If we won’t leave our little boats and get into the larger vessel which is able to take us to the goal of our ambitions, then I say without hesitation that we are damned and purblind, and history will condemn us.”

Surely it is the duty of those of us with eyes to see, to ignore the prophets of doom and making light of the usually overcast conditions to make the best we can of the patch of blue shooting through on the horizon”.

The Present Now we come to the present- 25 years later!

There is an apology which OECS launched in Antigua last week. Frank Da Silva has dubbed the scene a charade. I call it a mirage. The old fathers of West Indies Federation- C.L.R James, Eric Williams, Errol Barrow, Norman Manley, T. Abert Marryshow, our own George Mac Intosh et al, must be turning in their graves. Indeed, “ we are damned and purblind, and History will condemn us!”

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. 9.

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Productivity in the Public Service

PUBLIC SECTOR PRODUCTIVITY is as important to economic performance of a country as that of the private sector. This is very crucial, especially in small developing countries such as St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This is mainly because the public sector is the main employer. It is the major provider of services in the economy, particularly business services (affecting cost of inputs) and services (affecting labour quality).

The public sector is a consumer of tax resources. Changes or low productivity may have great implications for the economy.

In recent times, there have been much talk about the quality of work, or the lack thereof, that is being produced

by members employed in the public service and central services here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Hon. Prime Minister has made a call for increased professionalism and harder work, for equal pay. I must say this is a just call by our Prime Minister. But we all must take a close look as to the cause of the problem: Our people are divided by politics like never before in the history of this country; Supervisors cannot discipline their juniors without being interfered by a Government Minister, and in most cases the Supervisor will be the one who is disciplined instead of the junior; Or what about the party card that will be stuck in the faces of the supervisor? The refusal to pay the 3% to

Public Servants, Police and Teachers, yet inflation keeps increasing notwithstanding taxes that are being imposed upon us from the same salary that cannot be increased.

Do we really expect productivity with all these ills? In the last general election, three teachers resigned their position to run for the opposition party, the NDP, with the expectation of returning to their jobs if they were not elected at the polls.

Our dear Prime Minister has said over and over again that he wouldn’t put a finger to hold or not to hold them. I am saying, fellow Vincentians: Can we really progress as a nation with all these?

When you place a journalist, who has absolutely no experience

THE VINCENTIAN CARNIVAL MAGAZINE – a must have !!!

in policing, at the rank of Inspector, ahead of all the other hardworking Police Officers who have been giving relentless service to the organsiation and the country, how can you have productivity?

I conclude with this question “Is it the tail that is wagging the dog?”

B. Smith

We deserve better, Mr. PM * What’s happening with that ‘hand-in-the-cookiejar incident at the Ministry of Agriculture? * Is there a petition going around in the Police Force asking for the removal of Inspector Hawkins Nanton? * Have the police been called in to investigate allegations of disappearance of football funds? * Is there a very large corporation in this country which is indebted to government for millions of dollars in outstanding VAT payments? Will that corporation get a reprieve? * Is the removal of vendors under the former NCB the first step in ridding the sidewalks of excessive numbers of vendors?

WHO DOES PRIME MINISTER Dr. Ralph Gonsalves think we, the people of North Windward and Sandy Bay in particular, are?

Every time he comes to Sandy Bay for whatever function, he treats it like some political meeting, tracing off on this one and that one, believing in his posturing that he can continue to hoodwink us.

Not only does he get into a whole lot of diatribe, but he chooses to do so in the worse ‘broken English’ you could think about. What does he think, that we don’t understand or speak proper English?

It is sad when the leader of our country perpetuates a certain perception of those of us who are proud citizens of this country, and proud residents of Sandy Bay. We have lived through some of the

worst cases of neglect in this country’s history, not least under the St. Vincent Labour Party administrations.

If we happen to be enjoying some of what other Vincentians have long enjoyed, it is only right that we do so, in compensation for all the ‘sins’ committed against us.

Don De Riggs And by the way, Mr. Prime Minister, some of us have improved ourselves and our standard of living long before the ULP ever dreamed of coming into being.

We deserve AUGUST 14 marked the 25th better from you.

Anniversary of the first Conference of Indigenous Peoples Sandy Bay resident of the English-speaking forever Caribbean, held in St. Vincent & The Grenadines from August 1417, 1987.

Under the Theme “Caribbean Indigenous Revival — Towards And he is ‘killing’ himself Greater Recognition and to ensure the completion of Development”, the Conference the international airport. paved the way for persons of Ralph is concerned about indigenous descent to proudly tourism in St. Vincent and claim their identity, and drew the Grenadines; no other attention to the isolation and Prime Minister has ever under-development faced by thought about giving us an many of the indigenous peoples international airport. of the region.

Ralph is our Prime The Conference also saw the Minister forever. formation of the Caribbean Organisation of Indigenous Rev. Dr. Paul Perry

Name the airport after Ralph I THINK THE ARGYLE INTERNATIONAL Airport should be named the ‘DR. RALPH GONSALVES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. Why? The man is an icon.

He works tirelessly to solicit assistance on our behalf, from other countries. No other Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has done as much as he in this regard.

CONGRATS TO THE EDITORIAL STAFF, photographers and writers of THE VINCENTIAN Newspaper who artfully put together their 10th Carnival Souvenir Magazine.

Having faithfully and colorfully published for a decade deserves high accolades, and these praises must, in great part, be showered on the photographers who provided the ‘critical mass’ as it were, for these historic memoirs.

When I bought this year’s magazine, which was on the market just days after Mardi Gras, I quickly glanced through the colourful pages. On the weekend I took my time and looked at the first half, and later that week was compelled to grab the magazine and complete it. I decided there and then that I must write a short piece commending the editor and his staff for another job well done.

I particularly like the lively mood captured of the young pannists, the serious expression on the faces of all calypsonians, and the expression of total enjoyment by the J’Ouvert and Monday Jam crew.

Our carnival is about creativity, and the costumes (individual and sections) published in this magazine, together with the aforementioned, embody the entire mood of Vincy Mas 2012.

I would suggest that this magazine be sold on all LIAT flights, and one raffled on each flight right after the fire drill is complete, so that the winner can enjoy looking at these wonderful pictures during the flight. This will be an excellent way of promoting Vincy Mas. Maybe one of the major sponsors of the magazine can arrange to have the magazine raffled on all outbound flights from SVG for two weeks after the magazine is published.

Finally, but on a broader note, it would be equally nice if a compilation CD of all calypso finalists and semi-finalists, as well as a properly edited DVD of the Soca Monarch show be produced on an annual basis, and made available from a CDC online store or other entrepreneurs. These CDs and DVDs can also be raffled on outbound flights as well as being sold on the local regional and international markets.

Raffles on flights is now becoming a regular feature as airlines seek to encourage customer loyalty. All seat numbers are placed in a bag and a random passenger is asked to pull a number; the seat number drawn is declared the winner.

Once again, congrats to THE VINCENTIAN for another good shot.

Remembering the 1st COIP Conference Peoples, and the declaration of August 14, as Caribbean Indigenous Peoples’ Day. To mark this historic occasion, one local organisation — the Margaret & Nelcia Foundation for the Advancement of Young Women — is sponsoring four Book Awards to secondary school students of indigenous descent from the Greggs, North of the Dry River, Petit Bordel and Grenadines communities.

Notwithstanding its name, the sponsoring organization would make two awards to girls, and two awards to boys.

Nelcia Robinson Hazell Co-Founder/Margaret & Nelcia Foundation

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10. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

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Graduate entry into the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force

The Issue EARLIER THIS MONTH, the Commissioner of Police, Keith Miller, announced the appointment of experienced journalist Hawkins Nanton to the rank of inspector, under the graduate entry programme.

Hawkins Nanton holds a Master of Arts Degree in communication from Carlton University in Canada, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of the West Indies, with a specialization in public relations. He was a former editor of the Searchlight’s midweek newspaper.

So there can be no argument about his qualifications and his required experience for his role in the Police Force, where he will strengthen the public relations department.

This appointment seems to have attracted the attention of the NDP and its mouthpieces. One such person, St. Clair Leacock, while supporting the graduate entry programme, questioned the way in which it is being implemented. The host of another radio programme had much to say about the appointment.

Suddenly it seems as though Hawkins Nanton was a devil in civilian clothing, ready to wreak havoc on the Police Force. The NDP and its sycophants have completely ignored the structured strategic approach that the ULP administration has adopted when it comes to matters like these.

2004, and in the process, Orville Durrant conducted some 150 interviews with government officials, members of the Police Force, statutory bodies, the media, the private sector, youth groups and the church.

During the interviews, it was determined that since 1979, there was no formal review of the Police Force, aimed at improving the management, administration and operational capabilities. Orville Durrant found that, while there were policemen whose performance was outstanding, there were a number of deficiencies that should be addressed, so as to modernize the Police Force, and provide a higher level of service to the nation.

The final document contains some 144 pages of carefully thought out recommendations to modernize and enhance the Police Force. The resulting action plan based on the accepted recommendations is the document that is driving change in the Police Force.

So there is no ad hoc, fly by night approach to this issue. Policies and actions are developed after careful research and consultation. That is the ULP’s way.

The Graduate Entry Programme

The Graduate Entry Programme is one of the many recommendations The Police force in March 2001 coming out of the Durrant Report. One Vincentian, Kamecia Blake, a holder of It bears repeating here that the ULP a Master of Science degree in Forensic found the Police Force in a mess, when Psychology, was appointed to the rank it assumed office in 2001. Morale was of Assistant Superintendent of Police. low; facilities, including police stations Her skills are in great demand, and she and equipment, were in a sad state of has already proven herself at a recent disrepair. By and large, some urgent regional training course, where she was attention was needed to address the at the top of her class. situation.

Inspector Hawkins Nanton will boost The ULP administration repaired the operations of the Public Relations several police stations and even built Unit of the Police Force. There have new ones, including those at Canouan, been complaints from local media Biabou, Questelles, Georgetown and houses about the information flow from Sandy Bay. More training programmes the Police, and this is expected to be were provided to upgrade the skills of addressed by Inspector Nanton. the officers; salaries and allowances There are other issues for the young were increased to make the Police Force inspector to address. The Police Force more competitive, and to create a needs a website to assist in the greater attraction for the qualified men dissemination of information internally and women who were interested in this and to the wider public, and there is field. room for a newsletter. He will also The list of impressive enhancements assist the force in the building of good and new strategies adopted by the ULP, community relations with Vincentians to modernize the Police Force, is quite at home and in the Diaspora. Does the long. Additionally, the list of NDP understand any of this? enhancements to the justice system in Commissioner Miller and his other the country, is equally long and fellow officers will spend time providing impressive, and there is no need to Inspector Nanton with the basic police remind readers about these. training to bring him up to speed with the accepted regulations and practices The Durrant Report of the Police Force. We must wish this young officer all the best in the future.

Let us go back to the Durrant report as a testimony to the way the ULP Conclusion administration approaches problem solving in matters related to the State.

The criticisms by St.Clair Leacock First there was the Fourteen Point and the other echo chamber masters of Strategic Framework on the reduction the NDP are all based along party of crime, which was approved by the political lines. There is nothing ULP or House of Assembly in February 2003.

NDP about crime, so we must, as a Once the administration recognized Nation, avoid the partisan arguments. that there were serious problems in the We must seek truth from facts, Police Force, it commissioned a former analyse the issues without applying any police commissioner, with an impeccable passion or partisan politics, and make record, the former Barbados Police practical and effective proposals to Chief, Orville Durrant, to conduct a tackle crime. We are all in this fight study of the Force. The study began in together.

NDP, ready to fix the Agriculture sector THE NDP HAS LITTLE SYMPATHY for Mr. Saboto Caesar and his responsibility for Agriculture. It is just a shame that he did not stand up, as the man he pretends to be, and demand of Gonsalves to leave him with the Ministry of Tourism. “I AM THE MINISTER OF TOURISM,” he said, insisting that he had to make that clear.

Interestingly, at the point in time when he uttered those words, he was being advised by an experienced tourism professional, former senator, Anesia Baptiste. One can conclude that if he can’t listen to the man or woman closest to the ground, do we expect him to listen to and be guided by the farmers? ? Again, more suffering for the poor, as he bellows at the top of his voice “I AM THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE”.

The NDP has written a lot about this important Ministry, and hopes that one day, this administration will bring itself to accept blame for the destruction of Agriculture in this country. An apology to the farmers of this country is long overdue, and we hope the farmers will punish the ULP in the next general election. They are a poor people’s Government — they love to create poverty…and this goes beyond the arrogance of Mr. Caesar.

We urge Caesar to study our manifesto and make the necessary demands of his Government on behalf of the poor. But that too is difficult, as our Leader has noted in an interview with I-Witness News, “Whoever you put there, as long as you do not have resources, nothing will happen”. Begin, Mr. Caesar, by eradicating completely the black sigatoka disease from our abandoned fields.

Agriculture and Fisheries The major resource base of our country is its land, which has been traditionally devoted to the cultivation of crop and livestock species for local food consumption, export earnings and job creation and income generation.

The NDP recognizes the central role of agriculture to the economy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and its considerable contribution to the livelihood and well-being of Vincentians throughout successive generations.

Our country is the best disposed group of islands in the Caribbean for agriculture. Its tropical climate, very fertile soils and abundant supplies of clean water, coupled with the skill and will of the people in farming, make it ideal for year-round production of high quality agricultural products. For that reason, our country has been correctly categorized as an agricultural country.

The soils in particular are so productive that the claim is made that “if you plant a nail, you’d get a crowbar”.

In earlier times, our country had earned the celebrated status as a place of excellence for Sea-Island cotton, Arrowroot and Coconuts, as well as its classic hillside contours and contourfarming techniques for the protection and preservation of the environment.

St. Vincent’s agriculture has contributed more to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) than that of any other Caribbean country. The agricultural sector has traditionally bolstered the economy; created jobs and employment opportunities for our people; provided honest incomes and earnings for many in our society; sustained significant levels of foreign exchange earnings for extended periods; and offered a measure of food security for the population.

Thus, the sector has created wealth, and maintained a high standard of living for the widest cross-section of our people. This has been especially true for our peasants, small farmers, processors, marketers/traffickers, and workers, i.e. our local, or indigenous, private sector.

Despite the importance and vibrancy of the agricultural sector, its dominant position in the life of Vincentians has declined substantially in the past decade, as large numbers of people left the sector/industry. Three main causes have been identified for this decline: 1.

Government’s virtual neglect and degradation of the sector; 2. The imposition of ill-advised policies like terminating the banana credit system and failure to incorporate the established banana facilities overseas to expand the national diversification efforts; 3. The negative impact of a range of external factors such as the high cost of imported inputs, stringent quality standards imposed on our exported products, unstable markets, low prices offered for produce, all of which are essentially beyond the control of our farmers, processors and traders.

The reality is that many established farmers have been forced out of agriculture, and vast areas of formerly highly productive land now lie idle.

Even a cursory examination of our countryside, reveals a deteriorating situation, with large sections of areas previously deemed part of the national food-basket now underutilized, or converted to non-productive uses. This is serious! Our responsibility is to help rehabilitate the sector.

The NDP is committed to arresting the situation, to make the sector more efficient, technologically prepared and internationally competitive, and return it to its place as a major contributor to the national economy and the nation’s food security for future generations.

Towards this end the following will be pursued through efforts that will: include our marine resources, rivers and ponds as part of the agricultural sector resource base; encourage/motivate the widest cross-section of Vincentians, especially the youth, to become involved in agriculture; to support the production, handling and marketing of safe, healthy foods; ensure the safety of food supplies; develop sound business systems for agricultural production, processing and marketing; ensure efficiency and international competitiveness of the sector; establish linkages between/among agriculture and the other sectors; promote sustainable rural development and the sustainable use of natural resources for present and future generations; transform the role, structure and functions of the Ministry of Agriculture to confront the new realities of globalization and modernization of the sector; to endorse agricultural education programmes that will produce entrepreneurs of farmers, processors, traders, technicians and others involved with the sector; to incorporate flexibility within the sector to adapt quickly to changing external Global situations.

A New Democratic Party administration will facilitate and support the private sector to tackle these objectives by instituting relevant actions through the Ministry of Agriculture (Food production, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Development). As such, the Ministry will be repositioned to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, and promote a vision of food and nutrition security, rural prosperity and improvement in the quality of life and livelihood of all Vincentians.

The vision will be shared, or advanced, through strategic planning meetings, seminars, workshops and field visits, in order to encourage partnership, cooperation and participation with key stakeholders in the private sector, NGOs and civil society. Such contact will inform national priorities and development plans, and determine specific programmes and actions. This approach will accordingly motivate farmers, fishermen, processors, marketers, agribusiness entrepreneurs and technicians, to be more productive and gain confidence in the Ministry as a tool, or facilitating mechanism, to aid their business operations.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. 11.

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The Levi Latham Legacy (Part 1 of 2) “I hear therefore with joy whatever is beginning to be said of the dignity and necessity of labor to every citizen. There is virtue yet in the hoe and the spade, for learned as well as for unlearned hands. And labor is everywhere welcome; always we are invited to work; only be this limitation observed, that a man shall not for the sake of wider activity sacrifice any opinion to the popular judgments and modes of action.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) American philosopher, essayist, poet & lecturer

been interred with his bones”.

Over the years, many jokes have been poked at this legendary, humble man. He was not fortunate to receive a university education. And many would admit that he sometimes used “green verbs” in many of his orations.

But that is beside the point. There are so many outstanding individuals THE MARRIAQUA VALLEY is a wonder to in business and government whose early education had to be curtailed behold. Tourists, and locals too, enjoy spending a few minutes at the “look out due to pressing medical and/or financial circumstances in their spot” at the top of Belmont to view the valley that is nestled in what is believed respective homes. Their lack of to be an extinct volcano; a valley that is formal education had nothing to do still considered the “bread basket” of St. with deficiencies in academic ability.

They may not have had mastery of Vincent and the Grenadines. Over the the Queen’s English, but they have years, the industrious farmers in this made significant contributions to our area have regularly supplied the local nation. Levi was one of these. market with bananas, nutmeg, cocoa, This column referred to the great breadfruit, coconut and a multitude of Levi Latham several months ago (see root crops.

Many persons driving through the The Vincentian Newspaper of Friday, March 9, 2012). On that occasion I Marriaqua Valley may not even be had written about the outstanding aware of the bold letters that adorn the valley’s medical centre — The Levi community effort that was championed by Verna “Shirley” Latham Health Centre. This facility Brown. Shirley, in the self-help and was aptly named after one of the caring tradition of the late Levi valley’s most prominent politicians.

As I prepare to share my thoughts on Latham, had rallied individuals and groups in and around the valley to the topic at hand, I pause to wonder put on a concert to raise funds to how many persons would recognize assist Lester and Ruby Davis; a that name, had it not been affixed to husband and wife team that was this much-used medical facility. But struggling to pay their medical my thoughts go beyond that. I expenses after robbers had shot both contemplate that, as happens in so of them months earlier. Ruby is now many instances, people forget the paralyzed from her waist. The e-mail outstanding accomplishments of messages that I received following individuals like the late Levi “Papa” Latham; to paraphrase one of William that article convinced me that there needed to be a sequel to that essay; Shakespeare’s quotations (Act 3 in we need to tell the story of the value Julius Caesar), “the good may have of community work, and the dignity that we create and sustain through self-help projects. I was especially encouraged by an e-mail that I received from a Vincentian national living in the UK, Mr. Mikhail Charles, who sought additional information on this icon of a man as he, Mr. Charles, was preparing a presentation aimed at challenging Vincentians living in the UK to “take a page from Papa Latham’s book”. I am grateful to Mr. Charles for subsequently sharing his research information with me, and for Dr. Kenneth John, and Mr. George Bailey, for filling in some of the gaps in my knowledge about this legendry national icon.

We will unearth some of the outstanding achievements of the late Levi “Papa” Latham in next week’s feature of In Touch. In addition, we will provide evidence that his legacy as a community activist lives on, and consider how his legend can encourage and inspire us to perform outstanding community service today.

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

Thinking straight about sports THE ENTIRE CARIBBEAN is on an emotional high following the outstanding performance of our athletes during the London Olympics.

The joy is justified. However, much of the conversation surrounding our success is laughable at best. Unless we get a grip, the people of the Caribbean set themselves up for a letdown that rivals our sentiments about the failings in West Indies cricket.

Nothing can be taken away from the dazzling performances of Usain Bolt, Kirami James, Keshorn Walcott, Shelly Fraser-Price, Yohan Blake, Bahamian gold medalists in the 4 by 400 meters, Warren Weir and all the others from the Dominican Republic and Cuba (14 medals, including 5 gold) whose names are less known.

Their success is a living testament to what can be achieved through commitment to hard work and determination.

But we need to know something else about sports. Talent is as abundant as sand on the beaches. The trick is to identify it early, and place the individual in a structured programme that is geared to harvesting top performances. The Americans, Chinese and Russians produce top class athletes, in multiple areas of endeavour, year after year.

As sponsor of the London Olympics, the British government poured hundreds of millions of pounds into its sporting programme, and reaped great all round rewards. Other countries like Kenya and Ethiopia, Jamaica, and Bahamas are known for their prowess in the foot races. The Cubans managed to take 13 medals in London, including 5 gold, although its sporting programme seems to have suffered mainly through the lack of resources. It no longer dominates boxing as its athlete of yesteryear.

There is a particular development, seen mainly in Jamaica, that ought to be commended and encouraged.

The Jamaican athletic programme has developed to the point where it is producing world class athletes who are home grown. Bolt, Blake, Weir, and other Jamaican athletes, have gained worldwide recognition. This is no fluke; Jamaica has a long history of athletic excellence.

But not too long ago, most of our successes came through Caribbean athletes who were spotted and recruited by American scouts for athletic scholarships at American universities. This route may remain the single most important avenue through which Caribbean athletes get the exposure and training necessary to do well internationally.

But already there is talk about the Caribbean overtaking the Americans, and that we may not need to even train there. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. If we do, we may end up expending an enormous amount of scarce resources and reaping much less than we anticipate. There is recent history to warn us off such a silly course.

As we prepared for the Cricket World Cup in 2007, various Caribbean islands spent millions of dollars. In SVG, about $47 million was spent, and we got little in return. More than that, we now have about 9 territories, with test match quality grounds, in an era when touring teams are playing no more than 3 test matches

as opposed to the usual 5 tests series of old. We must never overinvest in anyone or anything.

We must provide our athletes with the basics that guarantee them a fighting chance. Send them off to the Penn Relays in the US and other athletics meetings, with the hope that a scout will spot them and take them to the US and other places on athletic scholarships. Kirami James is the perfect poster child of Grenada, although he attends the University of Alabama. The Bahamian athletes who regularly collect medals are trained mainly at American universities.

The euphoria over the success of our athletes may breed another set of wrong thinking among our youths.

They may conclude that if Bolt, Blake, Kirami, Fraser-Pryce, and Keshorn Walcott can win fame and fortune through running fast or throwing a javelin, there is really no need for them to spend time with academic work. This news flash played over and over in their minds. If for throwing a javelin 19-year-old Keshorn Walcott gets a plane and a lighthouse named after him, 20,000 square feet of land, US$160,000 in cash, and a home valued at US$450,000, who needs school?

Teachers, political and civic leaders have an important role to play in convincing our youngsters that for every Usain Bolt, there are hundreds of Jamaican, Caribbean or African youth who thought their lucky stars would lead them to stardom. Most of them end up frustrated and dejected after injury or insufficient talent dimmed their prospects of success.

And what about those who say, what about us Vincentians? The short answer is absolutely nothing. It takes a great deal more than talent to medal at any international sporting event. Training, facilities, a structured and organized programme, diet and nutrition are crucial elements that the uninformed take for granted.

Further, let’s put things in perspective, because people point to little Grenada. Before the Spice Isle’s almost orgasmic joy after Kirami’s triumph, SVG produced Alfie Roberts in the 50s, Michael Findlay in the 60s, Cameron Cuffy and Ian Allen in the 80s and 90s in West Indies cricket. Some may scoff at these now, following our great athletic showing in London; but for a long time, cricket was all we had.

So before we get too dizzy and overcommit to building ‘sport factories’ on each island, let’s all soak in the region’s successes at the London’s Olympics. Then we should give serious consideration to the suggestion of Sir Ron Saunders for a single sports academy manned by outstanding coaches, located in Jamaica and funded by the governments and private sectors of the Caribbean Community for our athletes.

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

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12. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Opinion

Three science and technology universities for SVG UNDER A VISIONARY GREEN GOVERNMENT, investment in science and technology will be given high priority, with the construction of three science and technology universities.

With a Green Government, science and technology universities will become a major component of the SVG economy, creating a massive amount of jobs and revenue. Crucially, this will propel us as a nation to unlock the currently wasted, huge potential of our people and our indigenous resources.

Science and technology universities will create longterm jobs for teaching staff, support staff and maintenance staff. Science and technology universities will boost our country’s income by winning research contracts from companies abroad and having foreign students learning and living in SVG. With a highly educated population, we will see a significant increase of

entrepreneurs starting up new businesses and this will create jobs, bring revenue to the country and strengthen the economy as more money will be circulating in the country.

It will lead to new products being created in SVG and our exports tapping in to new markets throughout the world.With a highly educated population, we will see significantly more Vincentians being offered and taking up highly paid, highly qualified jobs abroad, and sending remittances back home to support their families. This will help boost economic growth and bring surplus revenue. Surplus revenue is the key.

The problem with the ULP regime is that they lack competence in finance and economics, and this is illustrated in their backward pursuit of tourism at any expense. The ignorant pursuit of tourism has led to the

serious downfall of our economy and the demise of social stability and happiness.A classic comparison is Greece’s heavy reliance on tourism. Greece’s economy crashed as the revenue yield from tourism fell substantially lower than Greece’s current expenditure.

Greece’s economy became bankrupt. SVG’s economy has become bankrupt under Gonsalves’ incompetence and foolish policies.

The revenue yield from tourism cannot sustain SVG government’s current expenditure, such as employees’ salaries, interest payments and other transfers.

The equation between expenditure and revenue shows a fiscal deficit. It shows disaster as the outcome, with significant public sector job losses. We must abandon tourism to avert this pending disaster in SVG. Finance and economic

success examples around the world indicate that an SVG economy driven by science and technology universities will kill the fiscal deficit and create surplus revenue. This surplus revenue will be the catalyst for economic growth, sustainable development and save public sector jobs in SVG. The ULP regime wastes taxpayers’ money by spending it on tourism which brings little returns. A Green Government, investing in science and technology universities, will bring substantial returns, financially and socially.

Human happiness will improve the quality of life of our nation and be instrumental in eradicating crime.Singapore and South

Korea are classic examples of science and technology driven economies that produce a higher yield in revenue, high paid jobs and a greater quality of life. Science and technology is the clear alternative to tourism as the engine of SVG economy. We need to change the perception and international image of SVG away from a poor country with a low yielding, floundering economy failing with tourism, to a prosperous country with a high yielding, strong economy, successful with science and technology, and producing highly skilled, highly paid jobs. We cannot fail with a highly skilled population.

SVG Green Party www.svggreenparty.org

The Thought Today True Valour: See Rev. Cornelius Matthias Harry ST. MARK 16:14 – 22 EARLY THIS MORNING, as I prepared some land for some cucumber vines, before heading off to work, my thoughts went back to a momentous occasion yesterday, when we bade farewell to Reverend Cornelius Harry and his wife Auntie Cecile.

We also bade farewell to Rev. Caliste and Rev. Yashel Watson, two ministers in training who, after a time of working in our spiritual vineyard, were returning to studies at UTCWI in Jamaica, with new perspectives and clearer ideas of their roles and mission in shepherding the people called Methodists in the South Caribbean lands. At a time of joy and sadness, we paid our respects and gave tributes to the contributions of those who we were sending to other mission fields. As for

Rev. Cornelius Matthias Harry, he is heading to Tobago for a new Station in September. I listened to the many true and glowing tributes to a man who never failed to keep a preaching appointment in twenty seven years of ministry as a local preacher and fully accredited Methodist Minister in the Mt Coke to Georgetown Circuit.

Through sickness and pain, he was as reliable as the flow of sea to shore.

Indeed, I smiled when one speaker described him as Committed, Optimist, Reliable, Noble, Effervescent, Loving, Inspiring, Unassuming, Supportive CORNELIUS. I heard him described as a veritable tower of strength in our Methodist communities and a man who ‘in his time played several parts’ - school teacher, farmer, Youth

Worker, indefatigable preacher, pillar of the community, organiser and Director of Annual Methodist Youth Camps, mentor of Courtney Williams (our representative sprinter at the London 2012 Olympics) and others, too numerous to mention. With a calm yet serious demeanor, he has shown us, with his life, an example of the highest Christian Virtue in action.

Like Elijah and Elisha, I listened him recall Rev. Victor Job (who shared the platform with him yesterday) telling him, nearly thirty years ago, of the Methodist Church’s need for local preachers. He answered the call and became a blessing to a community and generation. Whilst he is well known for the depth of his preaching, his involvement with the Methodist Youth Camps, outings, and fund raising Boat Rides is also

legendary.As I considered the imminent departure of my spiritual brother to a new mission field, the words of the well known hymn by John Bunyan came to me “Who would true valour see, let him come hither, One here will constant be, come wind come weather. There’s no discouragement, shall make him once relent, his first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.”

That writer, had he known Rev. Cornelius Harry, would have said, “there goes a man of whom I speak, who will not fear what men say, but will labour night and day, to not only be a pilgrim but also to lead others to be pilgrims on the Christian way”.

As I pondered his valour and contribution to our lives, I recalled Jesus’ story of the mustard seed and his admonition to us that, if we have the faith of a mustard seed, we will be able to say to

the mountains in our lives “be ye cast cast into the sea”. Rev. Harry’s journey among us has shown the quality of spirit which leads to sermons preached without fail, children led in a right path and enduring memories of loving service which lifts one and others, above and beyond the call of selfishness, to a healing care of a brother, sister, neighbour, stranger or friend.

With his characteristic love of youth, he who led the annual youth camps for years implored us to never let the Annual Youth Camp ministry die. May the same Spirit of God in our brother and friend also lead us to also our own true valor see.

Today Ashley R Cain (As You Care, Share The Thought Today)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. 13.

Diaspora

Thousands to descend on New York Vincy Picnic

by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net US CORRESPONDENT THOUSANDS OF NATIONALS and friends in North America are expected this Saturday, Aug. 18 to descend on Heckscher State Park on Long Island, a New York City suburb, for the inaugural Vincentian Picnic, organizers say.

Though the turn-out is, clearly, not expected to match the perennial Vincy Unity Picnic in July, at Brown’s Bay Provincial Park in the 1,000 Is. area, in eastern Ontario, Canada, organizers told THE VINCENTIAN that they anticipate a massive crowd for a “Day of Fun and Relaxation.”

“I feel very proud of Vincentians that we can organize a Vincy Picnic in the United States for the first time,” said Ainsley Primus, an advisor and member of the organizing committee, headed by New York Consul General Selmon Walters, a former government minister.

“If we can journey from here (New York), with so many buses, to go to 1,000 Is. and, in

Brooklyn (New York), we have the most Vincentians in North America, then we can do the same (have a unity picnic) in New York,” added the Arnos Vale native, an Intermediate High School alumnus, who also serves as stage coordinator for the picnic.

Primus, organizer of Level Vibes, the group that organizes the New Song Competition for Vincy Mas in Brooklyn, said he expects at least 2-3,000 nationals at the picnic. Over 20,000 nationals usually converge on Brown’s Bay Provincial Park in 1,000 Is., Vincentian organizers in Canada say.

“This is the first year, so I don’t expect it (picnic-goers) to be as great as 1,000 Is.,” said Primus, disclosing that bus and car loads of nationals are expected to trek from major cities, such as Philadelphia, Boston; Washington, D.C., and Toronto.

He said his committee — as well as the umbrella Vincentian group in the United States, the Brooklyn-based Council of St.

Vincent and the Grenadines’ Organizations, U.S.A, Inc. (COSAGO); the Brooklyn-based Bishop’s College Ex-Students Association; VincyCares; and K (Kurt Liverpool) Promotions — will be providing buses from Brooklyn, for a nominal fee, to transport nationals who are unable to travel to the venue by car.

Cultural Group of Brooklyn; drama by the New York Garifuna Association; gospel music by Theophilus Homer and Brigo Lynch; soca by Scorcher, Winston Soso, Lively and Ziggy; and steelband music by Century, U.S.A. Steel Orchestra, headed by exnational football (soccer) star Raymond Ballantyne.

Ulric “Soca” Jones, Jr., the picnic’s founder and Picnic activities entertainment promoter; veteran broadcaster Don Bobb, The 1,600-acre Heckscher and Tiba will serve as Masters State Park, on the south shore of Ceremonies during the of Long Island, in the town of East Islip, is 45.9 miles — about entertainment segment, Primus an hour’s drive — from Brooklyn. said.

“Any event that brings Primus said while picnictogether our nationals here in goers are expected to bring the Diaspora, I will always along their own dishes, support,” said COSAGO organizers will provide a full president Lavern McDowaldday of free sports and Thompson, who is also president entertainment. of the Brooklyn-based He said sporting activities Chateaubelair Development include soft ball cricket, threelegged race, double-dutch (jump Organization (CDO).

“I believe we need to stay in rope), rounders and small-goal touch with each other and stay soccer. connected family-wise,” added The entertainment package McDowald-Thompson, whose comprises, among others, folk COSAGO will provide two buses singing by the United Vincie

Ainsley Primus, advisor and member of the organizing committee, thinks it is great that Vincies in the USA can get together in a spirit of camaraderie. to transport nationals to the picnic site.

“Believe it or not, these functions help people to find their long-lost relatives and friends and school mates, who they have not seen in years,” she continued.

“We’re looking forward for people to come out with an open heart for a day of entertainment, a day of fun, a day of meeting and greeting,” said McDowald-Thompson, another member of the organizing committee. “The whole aspect of it is — you look at it as a big family day.”

THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SUPREME COURT IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES SUIT No. : 45 of 2012 IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION BY ANNETTE C. HAYNES FOR A DECLARATION OF POSSESSORY TITLE TO LAND APPLICATION FOR DECLARATION OF POSSESSORY TITLE

NOTICE Whereas ANNETTE C. HAYNES of Frenches by her application in the High Court on the 27th day of June 2012 claims to have acquired title to land described in the Schedule to this Notice and has applied to the Court for a declaration of possessory title.

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

SCHEDULE ALL THAT LOT PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND situate at Frenches in the State of St Vincent and the Grenadines admeasuring Five Thousand Two hundred and Sixty Seven (5,267) square feet and bounded as follows: On the North partly by lands of Hon. PM. Ralph E. Gonsalves and partly by the lands of the Star of Eden Lodge on the South by a Public Road on the East by lands of Annette Haynes described as Lot 2 on Plan G38/36 and on the West by lands of Elmore Providence described as Lot Number 2 of Plan G28/88 as shown on a Survey Plan prepared by Alrick Williams Licensed Land Surveyor and approved and lodged at the Surveys Department on the 4th day of May 2012 bearing Registration Number G53/20 together with all buildings and erections thereon and all ways waters watercourses rights lights liberties privileges and easements thereto belonging or usually held used occupied or enjoyed therewith or reputed to belong or be appurtenant thereto.

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14. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Entertainment

New music publishing company launched

by GLORIAH…

Song writers Candy Gloster and Mark Cyrus have provided the impetus for the launch of C2W.

VINCENTIAN AND OTHER CARIBBEAN SONGWRITERS can now become more engaged in the art of songwriting, as the fruits of their labour now have a more likely possibility of accessing the regional and international markets.

This is possible after the C2W (Caribbean to World) launch at Beachcombers, last Friday, 10th August.

C2W is a music publishing company which has as its main aim ‘to seek, develop, market, exploit and gain top revenues globally for Caribbean music’. It has already been launched in Jamaica and, being an ‘Intellectual Property Company’, has become the first company of its kind to be listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market.

According to Mr. Ivan Berry, CEO of C2W, “In the Caribbean, we have an entertainment business, not a music business.” He said that he firmly believes that the region has a wealth of talent sufficient to produce excellent song for the global market, but “there is no outlet for

the creative youth.” Mr. Berry explained that this lucrative industry is not promoted at its infancy stage, and after he saw what St. Vincent and the Grenadines had to offer from a skill set, the business plan of C2W was born.

Not only was the talents seen in SVG identified as the main spur for the formation of the company, but Mr. Berry specifically gave the credit for its creation to the brilliant job being done by Candy Gloster.

song of the 2012 Canadian Olympic team. The song was sung by Keisha Chante, soon-to-be host of the television show ‘106 and Park’.

Another song, ‘State of Emergency’, was sung by Trinidadian born ‘Shazelle’ with contributions from ‘Beanie Man’. It was released in Japan some three weeks ago, and was named the ‘#2 most digitally downloaded song’, after the first week.

Candy and Mark’s writing

C2W’s further work

Candy Gloster cowrites with Mark Cyrus.

She is a young Vincentian who, since being a student, has been writing songs, and has shown a particular determination to write for international singers.

Mark Cyrus, the son of prominent surgeon Dr. Cecil Cyrus, is the proprietor of MASTEROOM music studio.

The duo’s success is well known, and a showing of the videos in which some of their songs were sung, was a feature of the C2W launch.

Among their accomplishments is ‘Shooting Star’, theme

C2W has been conducting songwriters’ workshops throughout the Caribbean, and intends to bring to the fore artistes who can produce ‘songs for export’.

“As we write for export”, Mr. Berry told the audience, “a percentage of the revenues must remain in the region.”

C2W is slated to conduct about eighteen such songwriting camps in the Caribbean this year.

It was through these camps that they have unearthed other local talents, who are now in the process of getting organized in their roles.

Sixteen-year-old Sarah

Mr. Ivan Berry, CEO of C2W, believes that the region, including SVG, has a wealth of talent.

Mark is one such talent.

Sarah has been making her mark in the music industry, and has been named as a phenomenal talent to watch.

Present at the event also was a cadre of prominent persons in the music and film industry who were in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to get a first-hand look at what we have to offer.

These will prove very important in steering the direction of many of the young artistes signed on to the C2W Company.

The times in our local music industry are becoming very exciting.

Some of the Vincentian musical talent that have signed with C2W

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. 15.

Arts - Diaspora

Vincy mas band ÂvisitsÊ ÂTongaÊ for Labor Day Carnival

by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net US CORRESPONDENT WHILE MOST MASQUERADERS, perhaps, never traveled to Tonga, a Vincy mas band in New York says it will give them a peek preview of the South Pacific island when it portrays ‘Tonga’ during the West Indian American Day Carnival Parade on Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway, on Labour Day, Sept. 3.

Labour Day, the first Monday in September, is celebrated annually as a public holiday in the United States.

“We just wanted to do something different,” said veteran Vincentianborn producer and designer Wesley Millington in a VINCENTIAN interview.

Millington said the band, with about 100 adults and 75 children masqueraders, boasts nine sections — six adults and three children.

“We’re just trying to have fun and to get things going,” he said.

“We invite everybody to come out and enjoy the carnival.”

Last year, Millington and his Mas Productions Unlimited Camp, placed third in the small band category in which it portrayed ‘Seven Plus’, signifying the seven ‘deadly sins’ and the three virtues.

Over the years, Mas Productions Unlimited — most often the only Vincentian mas band to hit the parkway — has also picked up a few notable prizes, including Band of the Year in 2005 in the medium-size category, with ‘Garden Exotica’.

Millington, who hails from Sion Hill and has been playing mas since he was a child in his native land, said he expects a contingent of Belizean masqueraders to again, as done perennially, augment his production.

“A lot of people are

having problems because 35th Streets in Brooklyn.

You can call the mas of the economy,” he said. camp at 866 MAS-BKNY “It takes a lot to put a or 866-627-2569. band out there (on Eastern Parkway for Labor Day).

“It’s important to keep the cultural events of Caribbean people together,” he added.

Millington lamented that, this year, he will be without the services of veteran local mas producers Ricardo ‘Puzzle’ Grant and Junior ‘Melbourne’ Constance, who are unable to undertake their annual ‘pilgrimage’ to the “Big Apple” (New York).

But he said another veteran producer, Kamal Aleem of Wizards Mas Band fame, will continue to aid his production.

Nonetheless, Millington said he expects his diverse band to continue attracting masqueraders from most Caribbean islands.

Millington said he learned most of his early mas skills from his late father, Winston ‘Sammo’ Quammie, also a veteran mas producer from Rose Place, Kingstown.

Quammie, who lived most of his adult life in New York, died six years ago.

Masqueraders will sway to ‘Tonga’, and revelers will gyrate to soca vibes from DJ EZ Sound, whose real name is Eswort Coombs, a former national sprinter in athletics, originally from Chateaubelair, on the sprawling parkway.

Eastern Parkway is one of the larger thoroughfares in Brooklyn.

Over 3 million people from around the world, including the Caribbean, converge on the parkway annually for what is considered to be the largest carnival parade in North America.

The spectacle brings millions of dollars to New York City coffers.

Mas Productions Unlimited camp is located at David’s Bakery, 3405 Avenue H, between East 34th and

Adia Brooks displaying ‘Kialao Dancer’

Nequash Dove models the section entitled ‘Fisherman’

Candace Samuel portrays a ‘Mako Dancer’

16. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. 17.

V Rastafari, SVGBC celebrate Emancipation Month 18. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Heritage

THE INIVERSHALL RASTAFARI Movement Inc ,is collaborating with the SVG Broadcasting

Corporation, in the continuation of celebrations to mark Emancipation Month,

August.

Beginning today, Friday, August 17, and culminating on August 25, a series of films/documentaries will be aired on SVG TV. Friday, August 17 will feature the documentary

‘Look for Me in the Whirlwind’, which chronicles the life of Marcus Garvey, one of the leading PanAfricanists of the 20th century.

The film ‘Pass It On’, which traces the life and

times of Dohruba Bin Wahad, a surviving member of the original Black Panthers, will be aired on Saturday, August 18.

Friday, August 24 will feature ‘Black Friday’, the history of the 1963 Coral Gables Massacre, in Jamaica, during which a community of Rastafari was victimized by the then Bustamante government. The The spirit and teachings of story is told, with Marcus Garvey (pictured) extreme passion, provide the basis for the from the point of Inivershall Rastafari Movement’s celebration of view of survivors Emancipation Month. of that massacre.

The series closes on Sunday 25 with the showing of ‘Maurice Bishop and the Grenada Revolution’.

A release from the Inivershall Rastafari Movement Inc., expresses gratitude to SVGTV for its “corporate sensibility,” and reiterates the Movement’s commitment to “celebrate 174 years of Dohruba Bin Wahad, his life and emancipation, times, will be featured in one of freedom from physical bondage.” the documentaries to be aired.

The statement time, regarded his words went on to say, “We as a prophetic sign of remain committed to redemption. emancipating ourselves “That is why we value from mental chains that in this man, Garvey, his have too long kept us developmental from embracing what is philosophies and originally our cultural opinions (as) poviding and historical legacy,” uplifting teachings and and emphasized the solutions to the problems strength in the teachings of the Black race,” the of Marcus Garvey who release from the said, ‘A people without Movement went on to knowledge of their past say. history is like a tree Marcus Garvey, along without roots’. with reggae icon Bob The Movement says Marley, are receiving that it is in this respect special tribute by that it invokes the Jamaicans as they memory of Marcus celebrate the 50th Garvey during this anniversary of their Emancipation Month, country’s independence citing that “many of the from Britain, during this early Rastafari brethren month of August. and sisteren of Garvey’s

V enhancing Heritage Tourism potential THE ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO is doing its part to ensure that the Natural and Cultural Heritage of this country is preserved and utilized in the interest of overall development.

The Secretary General for SVG National Commission for UNESCO, Miss Janeil Henry, has revealed that approximately USD9000.00 was received from one of UNESCO’s flagship Janeil Henry, Secretary programme, (Youth PATH) - Youth Poverty General of the SVG National Commission for Alleviation through Tourism and Heritage UNESCO, will help drive the Heritage Tourism - to fund activities in project in the Marriaqua this area.

Toward this end, the area. local office of the National Commission youth will also be will collaborate with a provided with local community-based opportunities to generate partner to implement a income, become Heritage Tourism project employable and develop in the Marriaqua Valley. action for the The project is designed to development of the harness the potential for Marriaqua community. tourism activity given the rich cultural and Project indentified natural heritage in St. Vincent and the The community-based Grenadines, and group in Marraiqua has Marriaqua in already identified one of particular.The project that area’s mineral spas will aim to alleviate for development as a poverty by giving tourist attraction that economic value to the will bring opportunities areas cultural heritage, to generate income. and creating employment Along with the physical for young people, development of the spa, including juvenile the group is expected to probationers and ‘at risk’ erect an interpretation youth. sign at the location.

Special attention Additionally, it is would be paid to the self- expected that there sustainability of would be Capacity community-based youth Building workshops to and gender projects, ensure that the youth are through the development fortified with the of "social enterprise" requisite skills, including projects, aimed at Communications, Tour fostering Guiding and Customer entrepreneurship. The Service skills.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. 19.

The fertile Marraiqua valley will be the focus of an Heritage Tourism project aimed at enhancing the skills and income generating capacity of young people.

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20. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

OECS Antigua Political Charade

belonging or being permanent resident of any of these states.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Frank da (2) Persons belonging to any Silva was a former of these states shall not be correspondent for the subject to any restrictions in Gleaner. He gave up that role their rights to work in any of when he moved to North these states.

America in 1974.

(3) Persons belonging to any He is currently one of the these shall not be subject to owners of the Searchlight any restrictions in their newspaper published in SVG holding land in any of these and is a freelance media states. commentator.

Participants at the meeting were from Grenada: E M Gairy, Premier , A. Williams , Dateline: Searchlight, 2/8/12: Attorney General, Senator Inaugural Session of OECS Caesar, Parliamentary Assembly slated for Antigua Secretary; St Lucia: Premier on Friday.

John Compton, H Francis, Minister of Health and H The Inaugural Session of Grandy, Chairman United the OECS Assembly is to take Workers Party; St Vincent place at the Parliament Premier J F Mitchell, E T Building of Antigua and Joshua, Minister of Finance Barbuda on Friday. and O R Sylvester, Minister of The milestone event will Works. The Premiers agreed to include such highlights…there meet in September to review are eight specific areas for the progress of the new which the Revised Treaty initiative and to examine what allows the OECS to develop further steps should be taken legislation. The areas are the to increase harmony among common market, monetary the states. policy, trade policy, maritime jurisdiction and boundaries, Dateline: Gleaner St Vincent civil aviation, commercial Correspondent, 15/10/72; policy, environmental policy Progress and immigration policy. These areas are critical in advancing The Premier of St Vincent, the progress of OECS Hon. J F Mitchell attended a integration, and therefore it is meeting in Grenada at which important for OECS the progress of the Petit St parliamentarians to have a Vincent Agreement was common forum to debate these reviewed and new plans were issues. made for the future advancement of the Dateline: Gleaner St Vincent agreement. The meeting was Correspondent: May 1972: attended by the Premiers of St Isles Forge New Links.

Lucia and Grenada.

The following points were Leaders of three Windward agreed upon:Islands have agreed at a (1) That the use of meeting to break down travel immigration cards and work barriers between (embarkation/disembarkation) themselves. by permanent residents of At the meeting, the Grenada, St Lucia and St Premiers of St Vincent, St Vincent would be discontinued Lucia and Grenada with their immediately when travelling respective delegates agreed to and from any of these that:states. This would also apply (1) In order to eliminate to accepted visitors. barriers to better co-operation (2) All residents in the three and association among the states would have states, and without prejudice identification cards from to or frustration of the August 1, 1973. (The Premiers constitutional aspirations, of agreed that a simple any state, there shall be photograph appropriately effective as August 1, 1972 stamped by immigration complete freedom of movement authorities would be adequate among the states of persons for the time being.)

by FRANK E DA SILVA

Speaker Rene Baptiste presides over the inaugural sitting of the OECS Assembly, held in Antigua and Barbuda, August 10, 2012. described the Caribbean Community as “a path towards frustration and starvation”.

Said the newspaper in a front page editorial: While all this ‘busy body’ procedure was carried out and with our experience of CARIFTA, West Indians everywhere were threatened by starvation from high-priced goods and things prepared in the area itself as food. This erstwhile accord said nothing about such things as ‘freedom of movement’ and the means of issuing work permits to those who have nothing to sell but all to buy.

Perhaps the arbiters of the Accord would call such things ‘details to be worked out later’.

On the Community, the editor wrote: The trouble is that the people are losing complete faith in the majority of West Indian leaders who Dateline: Gleaner St Vincent continue to hold power to the detriment of the entire Correspondent, 15/10/72: Vincentians hear ‘Revolution’ area.Montserrat and Antigua have not signed the Accord. lecture.

All those who have not experienced the deception of The self-proclaimed CARIFTA, may well blame communist and Leader of the these islands for not signing Opposition in the Guyana Parliament, Dr Cheddi Jagan, the Accord. A common tariff visited St Vincent to deliver a means the same price for goods arranged everywhere in lecture sponsored by the University of the West Indies. the West Indies for us — goods like those at the moment The topic was “Caribbean which change their prices Revolution — Past and every other day. What would Perspective.” …The political poor people do when they leader said that attempts to become tied to a community of crush the socialist revolutionary movement were costly manufactured goods?It is the considered opinion of being made by forces of people capable of judging that imperialism. He pointed out the larger territories were that CARIFTA and the Grenada Declaration were all merely carrying out industrial experiments on the remainder parts of the plot. Asked of the islands which have whether he felt the same nothing to manufacture. Our about the Petit St Vincent Agreement, he replied that he West Indian politicians were trying to ape Europe and the could not say as he did not EEC in bringing together know what exactly the three islands without knowhow or leaders had in mind. industrial skills. The West Dateline: Gleaner St Vincent Indian area can hardly supply anything at reasonable rate, Correspondent, 22/07/73: how can we have an exclusive Sees Carib Community as common tariff. “path toward frustration”.

The editorial concluded.

The Voice, the organ of the Peoples’ Political Party (PPP), Dateline: Gleaner St Vincent the majority party in the Correspondent 10/7/1973: coalition government here, has Antigua not likely to join severely criticized the Caricom.

Georgetown Accord to which Secretary General of St Vincent is signatory and

The Premiers also discussed tripartite approach to tourism and decided that the matter should be studied in depth with a view to streamlining the various organizations — both at home and abroad which promote tourism and also the co-coordinating of policies. A decision was taken that a meeting of ministers of agriculture with their marketing agents to determine how best to the marketing organizations in the three states might be integrated.The comments of George Walters, the Premier of Antigua that “the move was dead before it began” formed part of the discussion. Premier Walters was not alone, political observers here claimed that the Premier of Grenada was making plans to take his country into independence….

Caricom William Dumas has stated…The Secretary General made the statement during a courtesy call on the Governor St Vincent, Sir Rupert John…Speaking to Mr. Dumas and his delegation, Governor John stressed that his interest in Caricom sprung from the fact that he regards himself as a West Indian and not merely a Vincentian. “Being simply a Vincentian would be like belonging to small town which had no wider community area,” said Sir Rupert. “By contrast, ‘Europe’ is the result of plans. It is, in fact, a classic utopian project, a monument to the vanity of intellectuals, a programme whose inevitable destiny is failure: only the scale of the final damage is in doubt.” From Margaret Thatcher’s Statecraft, page 359. 2002.

Was the FrontPage editorial correct? Are our politicians just “aping” Europe?

Nothing New I have here sought to educate readers that what took place in Antigua last Thursday is nothing new.

Since 1950, our leaders have taken us down a “primrose path” — a political charade.

The Antigua get-together has taken the charade to another level. I cannot write about the “Federation,” I was only a child not yet ten. I remember, though, the glow of the adults who thought it was a wonderful thing and the buns and juice that were served to us as children. I remember, too, a calypso by The Mighty Sparrow, “One from Ten leaves Naught,” voicing a politician.All this “busybodying” comes in the nick of time when the IMF just released its figures showing none of these politicians/experts capable of running a mauby shop. The people suffer and they gather not to talk about a regional healthcare system - to help the most - but to set up things like a Caribbean Court of Justice to profile the few.

It is time for the people of these islands to demand an end to this decades-long political charade.

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Inharmonious situations at home may be extremely upsetting for you this week. Reevaluate your situation. A new you could help your attitude. Don't push your mate away.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Use your head and do things to your liking. You might be overly emotional when dealing with your partner. Make sure that all your legal papers are in proper order. You can meet interesting new friends if you join worthwhile groups.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) You'll have great insight. Try to be considerate in your personal obligations. This week will be hectic.

You will enjoy lavish forms of entertainment and should consider making arrangements early.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) This will not be the day to have minor surgery. Relationships will be erratic this week. Get busy on those home improvement projects that you've been procrastinating about. Assist a relative or good friend by setting of a budget for them.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Be careful when dealing with loved ones. Discover opportunities based on the individuals you mingle with this week. Older members of your family may try to take advantage of you. You may have difficulties with in-laws or family members.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) You can have an enjoyable time if you socialize with friends. Organize all the responsibilities that have to be attended to and make sure everyone knows what to do. You can sort out any differences you have in an amiable manner. You should put your efforts

into creative projects.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Don't let your personal partner hold you back. Your attitude could be up and down like a yo-yo. Sort situations out as best you can. Watch your spending habits. Your uncanny insight will help you make the right choices.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You may find that relationships are not going as well as you'd like. Don't count on your friends to be loyal when it comes to doing things. Visit friends you don't get to see that often. Look at your options before making commitments that could jeopardize your financial position.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) You really can't do anything to change matters this week. Praise will be yours if you have been pursuing your goals. You will be in the doghouse if you are being.

Overexertion and negligence will be your worst enemies.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Don't overextend yourself in the process. Don't exhaust yourself or minor health problems will set in. A new you could help your attitude. Try to avoid being extravagant this week.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) You can make money if you pursue your own business. Residential moves are evident. Don't push your luck with authority. You may want to sign up for lectures or courses that will bring you mental stimulation.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Offer consolation, but don't give them any direction. Opposition is present and you should be prepared to counteract it as best you can. Try to slow down, and take another look. You're best to avoid disputes.

ACROSS

41. Tilting, at sea 1. Danson and 43. Lanterns 46. VCR word Mack 5. Said “guilty” 48. _ Marie Saint 9. Lifesaving 49. Proofreadskill (abbr.) ing comment 12. Robert _ _ 51. Fiver (2 wds.) change 13. Leisure 14. Caviar base 54. Not pos.

55. Eternities 15. Exile isle 56. Shuttle 16. Actress launchers Hartman (abbr.)

17. Get by 57. _ Lanka 18. Decree 58. Fountain 20. Round offering wooden stick 59. One way to 22. Kind of go downhill flower 24. __ culpa DOWN 25. “The Lady _ _Tramp” (2 1. Golf acceswds.) sory 26. Odd sort of 2. House annex person 3. Dapper 32. Move 4. _ Roebuck slightly 5. Brazillian 34. Popular soccer legend vacation mo.

6. Beast’s hide35. Cloth belt out 36. Auto body 7. Road curve designer’s 8. Make soundconcern proof 39. One-one 9. _ cut score 40. Certain TV 10. Prod 11. Rod’s comknob (abbr.)

panion 19. Tint cloth 21. Granola ingredients 22. Italian tourist’s stop 23. Italian wine town 24. Prefix for Trump’s bucks 27. Track star Lewis 28. Billiards stick 29. Logical 30. Egyptian deity 31. Newsman Huntley 33. Invitation abbr.

37. Prepares a salad 38. “_Libs” 42. Jaworski and Skinks 43. Binoculars part 44. State firmly 45. Wise trio of

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. 21.

the Bible 45. Peddle 47 “_boy!” (2 wds.)

50. As well 52. Opp. Of WNW 53. “The _ Sack”

V

22. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Conned by a stripper certain business men and exchanging sexual favours for money. When I asked her about it, she did not deny it, MY GIRLFRIEND AND I ARE HAVING but said that I knew who she was at SERIOUS PROBLEMS, and I desperately the beginning, so what am I fussing need some advice. I met my girlfriend about. at a strip club in New York City and The trouble is, I really do love her we hit it off big time. Since meeting me she promised that she would leave and do not want to lose her, but I can’t have a girl who is involved in this kind that kind of life and settle with me. of life. What bothers me most is that I We discussed this at the very beginning and I was satisfied that she have been having sex with her without was serious about leaving that lifestyle any protection whatsoever my health.

What do I do now? behind her. It has been 8 months since we are together. Things were going quite well until I found out that Worried Lover. she had been dancing at the homes of

Dear George,

Dear Worried Lover,

Your situation reminds me of the story of a man who found a wounded baby snake in the middle of the road.

He took it home and nursed it back to health, and soon enough, it matured into an adult snake. While he slept one night, it bit him and as the poison penetrated him, he asked the snake, ‘Why did you bite me after I cared for you when you were dying?’ The snake replied, ‘When you brought me home, you knew I was a snake, and I did what snakes do naturally - bite."While your girl friend could have been serious about her promise to leave that

life behind, it should not have surprised you when she slipped right back into, it. You knew what you were getting into and it was the chance you took in your search for love; this time the dice rolled the other way.

If you are looking for a devoted partner and future wife, I suggest you do not extend your search to strip clubs. While you are at it, it would be useful to get tested for possible STDs.

George

A question of Virginity months and I have just learned what being a WHEN I MET MY CURRENT "virgin" means. Her explanation of being a GIRLFRIEND, SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS A VIRGIN and virgin is a woman can have anal sex, not I believed her. I always vaginal sex, and that told myself that I am not going to marry any woman constitutes being virgin.

I only found out that she who is not a virgin. I do had been having anal not care if that means I sex, for the past two or might never get married.

You can only imagine so years through her girlfriend who was with how overjoyed I was her whenever and where when my girlfriend told ever. If it was not me that she was a for her girlfriend, I would virgin. We are now not have known this. together for just over 6

Dear George,

I asked my girlfriend to leave me alone, and told her that her deception disqualifies her from being the kind of woman I’m interested in.

She called me the worst names in the book for doing what I did, but I could not care less.

I understand from her friend that a lot of young women in SVG are into this thing, and really and truly believe that that’s the way to preserve their virginity. What

nonsense!!

Annoyed Dear Annoyed, You have the right to set your own target, but

keep in mind that some targets can be quite challenging.

It was good of you to be upfront with your girlfriend by telling her that she does not fit the bill. Sex is sex, whether

it is anal or vaginal, and that information needs to reach these women who believe otherwise.

George

One drink too many Dear George, THE PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY KNOW ME AS A RESPECTFUL, hardworking and morally upright woman. I do not run around and I have only one boyfriend, whom I love dearly. Something got into me not too long ago when I attended one of my girlfriends’ 30th birthday party. I do not drink, but they persuaded me to have one drink. One drink led to another and another and another, until I became highly intoxicated.

Right now, I am pregnant, and I am not sure if this child that I am carrying belongs to my boyfriend or to one of the men at that party.

One guy told me after that I had sex with him, and I doubted him until I found out that I was pregnant. He is not telling me out straight but I believe it could have been more than just him I meddled with that night.

My boyfriend always uses a condom with me and it is going to be hard task that the child is his. I know the condom is not 100% safe and there is an outside chance that this child could

be his. I do not want to tell him of my recent past. Should I wait until I know for sure whose child it is before telling him? I do not want him to leave me for this silly mistake I made.

I am also ashamed of what I did.

Unsure Dear Unsure, The less stress you have while carrying a child is the better it is for you and the child you are carrying. It is too stressful to go through a pregnancy with so much uncertainty hanging over your head.

Come clean with your boyfriend and tell him what transpired at the party while you were under the influence, and it will be left to him to make a decision whether to remain in the relationship or not. Either way, you can begin the journey of repairing your life. All is not lost, and there is still time to make the adjustments you need to make in order to get your life back on track.

George

V Copyright Seminar held

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. 23.

Industry

by KARISSA CLARKE ONCE IT IS CREATED AND MADE TANGIBLE, IT BECOMES COPYRIGHTED. This concept, which many Vincentians are yet to grasp, was the theme of a two-day ‘Copyright and Related Right’ seminar hosted by held by the Commerce and Intellectual Property Office (CIPO).

Held on August 9th and 10th, the seminar attracted participation from among Police Officers, Customs Officers, musicians, singers, song writers, Mas men, members of the media and persons from various alks of life.

They had come, according to one participant, to learn about Copyright, how it works and its importance in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Topics The 11 topics that were tackled over the two-day period included: ‘Copyright and Related Rights: more than a song’ presented by Ms. Sonia Cruickshank of World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Geneva; ‘Copyright in SVG: Part 1- the Law” by Parnel R. Campbell QC; “Copyright in SVG: Part 2 — The law meets reality - What are the challenges facing the country’ by Soca ariste

Orande “Bomani” Charles; ‘Enforcement and the TRIPS Agreement : An introduction’ by McCarthy Marie, Regional Copyright Expert of Roseau Dominica; ‘Enforcement of Copyright : The Role of the CRO, the Police, the Judiciary’ by Ayana Baptiste, Crown Counsel; ‘Access to Content: Balancing the rights between Artists and Users’ by Ms. Sonia Cruickshank and MaryAnn Richards; ‘Collective Management — an Introduction’ by McCarthy Marie; ‘Making Collective Management Work in Developing Countries : The Role of Government

by Sonia Cruickshank; ‘Collective Management Systems: Meeting the Challenges in SVG’ presented by Bernard Joseph and Joffre Venner; ‘Enforcement Revisited : the Role of Collective Management Organisation’ by McCarthy Marie; and “Arts and Crafts — the link between Copyright and Traditional Cultural Expression’ by Mary-Ann Richards.

Copyright in SVG While WIPO deals with Intellectual Property in its broadest sense, an organization that is closer to home

Sonia Cruickshank of World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Geneva delivered two papers at the seminar.

which Vincentians should pay attention to is the Eastern Caribbean Collective Organisation (ECCO) for Music Rights.

ECCO is represented in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the persons of Joffre Venner and Bernard Joseph.

Though Copyright is not specific to Music and covers the rights of all creators, including Mas Men, artists, poets and more, ECCO is specific to music and plans to bring Copyright licensing to the forefront of Vincentians minds, especially with the prevalence of piracy in the country.

The seminar left a hope for a greater understanding and appreciation of the importance of Copyright in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Left: Ayana Baptiste, Crown Counsel, delivering a presentation on ‘The Role of the CRO, the Police, the Judiciary’.

Below: Participants at the Copyright and Related Rights seminar.

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24. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Commentary

Students urged to be focused

Luke Browne (standing) and members of VINSA at the orientation session.

Stories by SHERRON GARRAWAY who invested monies in their education by failing courses, and he STUDENTS WHO WILL ENTER THE called on them to strive for the UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES UWI highest academic honours and not St. Augustine in Trinidad have been settle for mediocre results. encouraged to stay focused while they Browne also urged the students to pursue higher education. apply what they have learnt and work At an orientation event put on by consistently so that their studies the Vincentian Student Association would not pile up and overwhelm (VINSA) at the St. Augustine them.Meanwhile, President of VINSA, Campus, held on Friday 10 August at Emil Dougan, who welcomed the the UWI Open Campus Lecture Hall, students to the fraternity, impressed the students were reminded by upon them the importance of having a Rhodes Scholar Luke Browne, that balance between the academics and distractions from their studies would their social life. Dougan also informed be inevitable, but that they should that VINSA, St. Augustine, was never forget the main reason why they currently reviewing its constitution so were at the university. as to bring it in line with counterpart In his pep talk, the young politician Associations in Barbados and warned the gathering that they did Jamaica. not want to disappoint the persons

Sandy Lane assists Givorny ACCIDENT VICTIM GIVORNY NIMBLETT WILL BE FLOWN TO CUBA on Saturday 17th August to get rehabilitative treatment, thanks to the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust Tangle Wood in Barbados.This is the second time that the 14-year old, who in January 2011 was knocked down by a vehicle in the Fountain area, has received assistance from the organization. The assistance will cover air as well as ground transport and medical treatment.

Givorny is partially paralyzed Givorny Nimblet, who carries a happy on his left side and has some countenance, enjoys a ride in the Botanic neurological damage and is still Gardens with the aid of his father. not able to school at Thomas Saunders Secondary School, at (son’s) ongoing health problems.” which he was enrolled at the time of He acknowledged that many people his accident.He is expected to receive had made sacrifices in order to assist occupational therapy, physiotherapy his son, and that many of the medical and magneto stimulation to his staff have commended him for the paramedic side among other things. commitment he has shown towards Giovorny’s father, George Byron, the improvement of his son’s well confirmed that this was the second being. He admitted that his urgency to time that Sandy Lane Charitable help his offspring was often Trust had come to his son’s assistance, misinterpreted as being “too and expressed gratitude that it was aggressive,” but confessed that he was possible for his son to receive follow up sometimes frustrated by the fact that medical care. Byron was also high in he has been unable to work regularly his praises to the government and to afford the necessities to care for his people of St. Vincent and the son.

Grenadines for their assistance over His wife helps to run the household the years, especially for aiding and ensure that Givorny’s siblings Givorny in his first trip to Cuba which attend school. he noted, “was at a critical stage in his

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. 25.

Youth in Action

National Youth Lecture Series concludes LAST WEEK THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, SAW THE CONCLUSION of the SVG National Youth Lecture Series 2012. The focus of the evening was ‘Youth in Entrepreneurship’, and as promised, it was truly an exciting, informative and interactive forum.

The featured speaker, Mr. Luke Browne, Economist — Ministry of Finance and the National Insurance Services, did a fine job in setting a platform for the highly anticipated discussions which followed. Browne’s presentation touched on issues ranging from business start-up to the potential impact of large foreign firms on small local enterprises.

As he shared from the experiences of several young local entrepreneurs, Browne

highlighted key issues such as the provision of specialized business training locally and the importance of business development organizations such as the National Development Foundation (NDF), and Invest SVG in supporting local enterprises.

In addition to Browne, panellists for the evening included Ms. Shafia London (Regional Commercial Manager of International Brewery Ltd), Mr. Kenrick Quashie (Co-Founder of Youth Business SVG), Mr. Paul Morris (CEO of MAVCOM), Mr. Kishore Shallow (CEO of KS Designs).

As they shared their personal business development experiences as well as their personal outlook on the business

development process, the panellists ensured to leave some vital words of encouragement with the young aspiring entrepreneurs present in the near-capacity audience. They were encouraged to “get experience...dream big...be realistic...get to know the right people.”

According to Mr. Paul Morris in his synopsis, “...True Panellists (L-R): Luke Browne, Kenrick Quashie, Shafia London, Paul Morris, wealth is not generated Kishore Shallow working for others” — a personal outlook that coordinator Jamal youth in education, arts further discussions. may have sounded the Browne, “This is just the and culture, media and The Ministry of alarm for a new beginning. We are entrepreneurship, would National Mobilization of entrepreneurial thrust seeking to establish a be further discussed St. Vincent & for young people all platform and a space for among the organizers Grenadines — with direct across St. Vincent & the young people to share, and other nonresponsibility for youth — Grenadines. learn and develop governmental has thus far The organizers of the innovative, valuable, and stakeholders, from which demonstrated its four-part series practical approaches to point a paper would be commitment to this considered the initiative national development.” compiled and forwarded process through its a resounding success.

The outcomes of the to the relevant financial and technical According to the series’ series which focused on government officials for support.

Red Cross hosts Youth Summit here, the SVG Red Cross Society (SVGRCS), spearheaded a Youth Summit to mark the day.

The Summit, held at the NIS Conference Hall, attracted representation, numbering 60 persons in total, from the SVG Cadet Corps, the Scout Movement, 4H Clubs, Pathfinders and Red Cross Youth groups from school and communities across Dr. Adrian Fraser, (standing the state.

The Day’s opening at left) delivering paper during the business session ceremony got on the way with welcome remarks from the of the summit.

Youth Co-ordinator of the SVGRCS and Summit Co‘INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY, August 12, 2012, did not ordinator, Leroy Jack.

Hon. Frederick Stephenson, pass without a Vincentian Minister of Youth, also twist. addressed the opening, as did At least one organization

Bernard T. Marksman, Director General of the SVGRCS. Youth Commissioner for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Ms. Ashanta Osborne-Moses, was unable to attend due to traveling issues, but her presence was felt as her message was read by Mr. Leroy Jack.

The business session followed and included presentation by: Dr. Adrian Fraser - Good Governance and Democracy; Dr. Reynold Murray - Climate Change and the Environment ; Luke Browne - Globalization, Trade and Investment; and Deputy Labour Commissioner, Mrs. Bernadine Dublin. -

Summit participants in session.

Employment and Decent Work.

The Day’s programme climaxed with an Awards Ceremony, during which a number of Red Cross volunteers were recognized for service of 10 years and more.

Red Cross groups were also

recognized for their drive to increase membership and activities.

The Youth Summit was made possible through sponsorship from Premier Distributors, agents for Crix biscuits.

“More than just words,’ says Dr. Ferdinand DR. JULIAN FERDINAND, BUSINESS CONSULTANT AND LECTURER AT THE ARTHUR LOK Jack Graduate School of Business and the Cave Hill School of Business (Barbados), has advised young persons here that communicating is “more than just words.”

The advice came on Saturday 11th August, when Dr. Ferdinand delivered a talk on ‘Communication and Presentation Skills’, to a meeting of the SVG Teachers Co-operative Credit Union Youth Group.

Dr. Ferdinand highlighted the importance of communication in almost every aspect of life, from the informal to the more formal working environment.

He explained that communication was more than merely giving out information; that it was about doing so

in a clear, suitable and concise manner, so that the speaker’s ideas could have the desired impact.

According to the Business Consultant, studies have shown that when “there is communication between or among persons, the words hold only a small fraction of importance,” and it is the tone of voice used and body language displayed that most heavily impact the conversation.

Dr. Ferdinand also focused specifically on the importance of communication within the SVGTCCU Youth Group, urging that exchanges should be always healthy and in keeping with advancing the mission and goals of the group.

In addition, he stressed the importance of allowing each member a fair chance, and that any conflict raised within the group should be

recognized and quickly dealt with, in order to maintain harmony among themselves.

Concluding the session, Dr. Ferdinand encouraged the members of

the group to accept responsibility, increase group member participation and to enhance the way in which they communicate with each other.

Members of the SVGTCCU Youth Group share a moment with Dr. Julian Ferdinand (left back row) at the end of the group’s session with him.

26. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. 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, AUGUST 17, 2012 . 27.

Jackson wants squad to stay together

Participants in the Caribbean Coaching Certification Programme.

Coaches working towards certification COACHES IN A WIDE RANGE of sporting disciplines here are expected to be better equipped to carry out their work, following their participation in a two-day Caribbean Coaching Certification Programme, conducted at the Arnos Vale Media Centre, last weekend.

The course, facilitated by the SVG National Olympic Committee (NOC) on behalf of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CADOC), was conducted by local coaches Woodrow Williams and Rosmund Griffith.

Williams and Griffith had been prepared to conduct the progamme following their involvement in a Trainer of Trainers Workshop in January of this year.

According to Williams, the course was designed to assist coaches in planning their general training programmes. As such, therefore, it covered a number of broad areas appropriate to a range of sporting disciplines.

Topics examined included: The Role of a Coach; How the Body Works; Programme Planning;

Dieting and Dieting Disorders; Drugs in Sports; and Fund-raising Strategies.

Williams, at the conclusion of the programme, intimated that he was “encouraged by the high level of commitment demonstrated by the participants, who were willing to work hard to enhance their knowledge (L-R): Rosmund Griffith and Woodrow in their respective fields Williams, course instructors. of coaching.”

He urged the coaches to be committed, and implement the involved in coaching, and consider this a good basis on which to build knowledge they had gained.

For her part, Griffith identified sports in St. Vincent and the that, for many of the participants, Grenadines.

Participants are now required it may have been their first to design and implement action exposure to what goes into plans for their respective areas of planning a training programme. endeavour which will be assessed Wayne Williams, Viceby Williams and Griffith before President of the NOC, in brief certification is made by CANOC. remarks at the closing session, This process is expected to be emphasized the importance of completed by December 2012. coaches empowering themselves by improving their skills.

I.B.A.ALLEN He was pleased to see the participation of persons who were

WAYDE JACKSON, the manager of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Under20 football team, wants the local football authorities to keep the team together.

Jackson expressed the sentiment, even as the team failed to go beyond the group stage of the Caribbean Football Union men’s qualifiers of the CONCACAF group of the 2013 World Cup. Jackson, in a post match interview last Sunday night at the Victoria Park, following Wayde Jackson, manager of the the team’s loss to Trinidad and Tobago, expressed a firm SVG U-20 football view that there was enough team, wants greater talent in the team for future investment in investment. football, especially “These guys are 16, some among the youth. are 17 and they have a lot to offer,” Jackson said.

“If we have to get beyond this stage, we have to invest more in football, as it does not come that easily,” Jackson advised.

The team’s manager made the comparison with the programmes in place in other regional territories, and felt that the same must be done in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“When we invest in sports, we are investing in the youths, and education and sports go hand in hand,” Jackson said.

He is also suggesting that the schools’ sports teams work closer with the teachers of the various schools.

The manager, who is also a teacher, believes there should be an academic performance criterion which should determine students’ selection on teams.

“If you can’t achieve 55 percent or more in your subjects and at least 95 percent attendance, you should not be selected for the schools’ team,” Jackson recommended.

Jackson thinks, with such a system in place, there will be more mentally strong teams which will then be transferred to the national teams.

At the end of the four team competition, St Vincent and the Grenadines finished third.

St Vincent and the Grenadines were beaten by Suriname 1-0, and Trinidad and Tobago, 3-0, St Vincent and the Grenadines’ lone victory, 3-1, came against Guyana.

The group was won by Suriname, who handed Trinidad and Tobago a 3-0 defeat, but lost to Guyana 2-1.

Trinidad and Tobago were the group’s runners up, as they also beat Guyana 2-1.

Suriname and Trinidad go on to the CFU finals in Jamaica, in November.

Cupid, Baptiste for WICB/Sandals Camp VINCENT CUPID AND JURANI BAPTISTE are among14 under-15 Windward Islands cricketers slated to attend the second edition of the High Performance Under-15 Camp, organised jointly by the West Indies Cricket Board and Sandals.

The camp will be divided into two sessions, each of two weeks

duration, and will run concurrently from August 13 to 27, in St. Lucia and Antigua.

Participants are expected to be, in the main, the national under- 15 players who represented their countries in the recent West Indies Under-15 tournament held in 1st.

Kitts.

Cupid and Baptiste will be joined by their Windward Islands colleagues, including: Brian Joseph and Deon Burton from Dominica; Christian Charlery, Jochua Mann, Nick Elibox, Vernillus Gabriel and Johnnd Eugeine from St Lucia; and Davel Cyrus, Anil Matthew, Ryan John, Shakim

Charles and Jensen Mitchell from Grenada.

The Windward Islands players will join other under 15 players from Barbados and Guyana in the St Lucia leg, while players from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and the Leeward Islands will assemble in Antigua.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Vincent Cupid (left) and Jurani Baptiste are heading for the High Performance Under-15 Camp.

V

28. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Rising Stars win in Rose Hall

Right: Winston Samuel missed an easy one but eventually turned in the winning goal for Rising Stars.

by KENVILLE HORNE THE ONE MATCH PLAYED in last weekend rain-affected schedule of The St. Vincent Brewery Rose Hall Small Goal Football Tournament, provided much excitement for the spectators who had braved the weather, to continue to show their support.

Sunday’s match between Triple 2 and Rising Stars was called only after both teams agreed that they would play on what was a water-logged Rose Hall Playing Feild.

The first 15 minutes of the match was evenly balanced, though neither team threatened the other’s goal.

However, in the 30th minute, the pair of brothers, Kenroy and Sergio John, combined to set up a goalscoring opportunity for Triple 2. Sergio John came down the right flank, faded one Rising Stars defender and cut left to fade another. With one defending desperately trying to hang on to his heels, Sergio had the Rising Stars goal at

his mercy but chipped the ball over the cross bar, to the disappointment of the Triple 2 fans.

Rising Stars improved on their first half defense, staged a number of counter attacks but failed to capitalize on opportunities when the Triple 2 defenders seemed to have been caught napping.

The second half saw an even more determined Rising Stars, but they failed to convert a golden opportunity in the 65th minute when

Winston Samuel, who had received a perfect cross from mid-fielder Benniton Samuel, opted for power instead of accuracy and hit the ball over the cross bar.

Rising Stars’ hard work finally paid off in the 75th minute. Triple 2, in pressing hard for goal, left their defense exposed, and Winston Samuel, in compensation for his earlier missed opportunity, took a loose ball from out of the air and headed it into the back of Triple 2 goal.

Rising Stars were unfortunate not to have increased their tally, but when the final whistle was sounded, they celebrated with much abandon, their 1-nil victory.

Action continues in thetournament this Sunday, at the Rose Hall playing field.

Cato, Johnson lead Radcliffe’s win OFF SPINNER DYKE CATO and West Indies A Team fast bowler Delorn Johnson stole the spotlight in last weekend’s round of matches in the NLA Premier Division National Cricket Competition.

They combined to lead OLA Boutique Radcliffe to a commanding victory over Police 1 in a match played at Arnos Vale Playing Field.

Police 1 took first knock and were dismissed for 50. Dyke Cato bagged 5 for 32 and Delorn

Johnson 5 for 13.

Radcliffe, in response, declared their first innings at 130 for 8, with national wicketkeeper/batsman Lindon James topscoring with 55. Sylvan Spencer took 3 for 49 and Rohan Holder 3 for 35, bowling

for Police 1.

Police, batting a second time, improved to 125, led by Parnel Browne 48 and Sylvan Spencer 37 not out. Cato and Johnson continued their destruction of the Police, claiming 5 for 65 and 4 for 52 respectively.

Radcliffe reached their victory target of 46, losing two wickets in the process.

In another weekend match played at Arnos Vale 2, Police 2 secured first innings points over ASCO in a drawn game .

Police 2, batting first, scored 163 for 9 declared.

Mclean Williams led with 60. Andre Hunte took 4 for 29 and Travis Cumberbatch 4 for 64.

Dyke Cato had a match haul of 10 wickets for 97 runs.

ASCO replied with 111. Desron Maloney topscored with 50. Elmore Alexander took 5 for 37 and Mohammed Lavia 2 for 23.

Police 2 were 51 for 1 when play ended. Salvan

Left arm pacer Delorn Johnson had 9 Police 1 wickets for 65 runs in the match.

Browne was on 25 not out and Rolando Wright 22 not out.

The competition is expected to continue this weekend.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Sunil Ambris shines for W. I. U-19 West Indies; they had beaten India the day VINCENTIAN AND before.

WEST INDIES Under-19 Ambris was brutally batsman Sunil Ambris dominant. The righthit a blistering 91runs handed batsman rushed from 43 balls to propel to his half century off 28 West Indies to a 9balls. He was especially wicket win over Papua severe on PBG’s opening New Guinea (PNG), in attack, taking 14 off the the 2012 ICC Under-19 second over of the match Cricket World Cup, being bowled by Chad Soper, played in Australia. and 18 off the same The opener is reported bowler’s third over. to have brought But it was against leg excitement to the spinner Charles Amini relatively small that Ambris really let Endeavour Park in loose, crashing that Townsville, Brisbane, bowler to the boundary with his blistering five times — 4 sixes and I innings that included four - in one over. nine fours and seven Ambris fell short of sixes on Monday 13th what would have been August. his first century at that Ambris helped his level, leaving John team to 117 for one in Campbell to hit the only 11.4overs, after winning six.

PNG were dismissed for PNG’s innings of 116 116 from 41 overs. was built on a top score This was the second of 23 by Chad Soper. victory on the trot for the

by KENVILLE HORNE

Sunil Ambris took toll of the PNG bowling attack, but just missed out on his maiden W.I. U-19 century.

Jerome Jones, 3-15, Kyle Mayers, 3-1, and Akeal Hosein, 2-23, were the chief wicket takers for the West Indies.

The victory brought the West Indies closer to a place in the quarter finals.

V The changing face of national football teams

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. 29.

Sports

THE CONTINUED TRICKLE of footballers from Kingstown and it suburbs making it on to national teams was evident among the Under-20 team which played in the Caribbean Football Union competition hosted by this country.

The competition closed last Sunday at t the Victoria Park.

In that national team, there were four persons from in and around Kingstown, similar to what obtains at the senior level.

The four were Kenroy Francis from Richmond Hill, Azhino SolomonGreen Hill, Kevin Francis - Paul’s Avenue and Lenford FosterRedemption Sharpes.

The majority of players on the current under-20 team is comprised of young men the Leeward side of the island, with the Central Leeward towns of Barrouallie and Layou accounting for half of the twenty players who made the final squad.

Barrouallie and Layou had five players each, while there were three selected from South Leeward and one from

Young boxers, who participated in the recent camp, with coach Junior Assing (left back).

Boxing Association stages camp

A FIVE-DAY CAMP hosted by the St Kenroy Francis, the lone L-R): Lenford Foster and Kevin Francis are two of Vincent and the four Kingstown players on the national U-20 ‘up town’ player on the Grenadines Amateur football squad. squad.

Boxing Association, and funded by the North Leeward. to the Victoria Park as senior and under-17 National Olympic The final twenty was titles, Layout the under- being a contributing Committee of St completed by two players 13 and South Leeward, factor in the demise of Vincent and the from the Georgetown Kingstown-based the women.

Grenadines, came to area. footballers from the The shift, noticeable an end last Saturday, The selection pattern national teams. as it is, is relatively August 11.

There was a time may be based on the recent, for well into the It was held at the when the Victoria Park recent shift in dominance 1980s players from St Martin’s was a thoroughfare for which is evident even at Kingstown dominated Secondary School, the youths and teams the schools competition the composition of Kingstown, and was from the Rose Place, level, at which the national teams. conducted by Paul’s Avenue, Edinboro Central Leeward teams Kingstown threw up national boxing coach, won both the under-16 its own rivalries, uptown and surrounding Winston Telesford, Junior Assing. and senior titles. versus downtown, which communities. This gave President of the SVG Attended by eighteen rise to many national In the last accounted for a level of Boxing Association, young boxers between players who were of Community/Inter League play that attracted the ages of 9 and 17, the says his Association is exceptional quality and competitions, all four attention of national camp, according Winston steadfast in fulfilling its who accounted for an titles went to the selectors. commitment.

Telesford, President of envied high standard of leeward teams when Today, many blame the Association, was Barrouallie won both the the absence of the access play by this country’s aimed at bringing together, in one setting, all the national teams. persons who have been netted through the talent identification programme carried out by the Association.

The boxers at the camp were 16.2 overs. Trevor Bailey led POLICE CLINCHED yet drawn from the target areas of the runs chase with a patient, another softball title when unbeaten 28 which included 3 Greiggs and Layou. they defeated defending “The guys from these areas are champions, Street Fighters, in sixes. Mack Richardson hit 19. Cedrick Thomas took 3 for the ones we want to get back in the finals of the Calliaqua 20.

Premier Distributors Cardo the sport , because they live far Earlier, Police defeated 20/20 Softball Cricket from Kingstown and cannot get to Digicel by 9 wickets in the Competition, played last train regularly,” Telesford said. first semifinals. Digicel made weekend at the Calliaqua He disclosed that there were 47. Rodrick John took 3 for 5 Playing Field. other youngsters who have shown and Mack Richardson 3 for 10.

Batting first, Street an interest in becoming boxers, Police replied with 50 for 1.

Fighters posted 82 from 20 including some from Barrouallie, Trevor Bailey hit, 20 not out. overs .

Street Fighters’ route to the but lack of finance is Renrick encumbering their involvement.

Williams top- finals came at the expense of South Rivers. Street Fighters scored with Despite the many challenges 23 and Elton made 56, to which South the sport is facing at this Rivers replied with 40.

Williams hit juncture, Telesford feels assured South Rivers and Digicel 19. Redford that his Association is holding its were declared joint third place own and is steadfast in carrying Jack took 3 winners. for 20, out its programme.

A total of 20 teams took Holdford Among the issues confronting Browne 3 for part in the competition. the Association is finding a The official presentation of 12 and suitable location for its boxing Police, Champions of Calliaqua 20/20 Softball Cricket Rodrick John prizes and awards will take ring. The ring is currently Competition. place at a date to be 2 for 3. announced.

Police housed at the Bishop’s College replied with Inset: Police’s Trevor Bailey was named Player of the Kingstown, where regular 83 for 6 from I.B.A.ALLEN Finals for his 28 not out. training takes place.

Police are Calliaqua Softball champs

V

30. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Cont’d

Vincentian on money laundering and drug charges in BVI

Continued from backpage.

Police also observed a Toyota Tundra truck in the vicinity and identified Erickson and Freeman as its occupants.

It was then that the police decided to intercept the Kia vehicle. A search of the Kia yielded a bag which contained some $178,060. A later search of the Rav4 turned up $80,000 in cash.

Erickson and Freeman took note of the police action and fled the scene but were apprehended the same day, and a search of their vehicle recovered $37,040.

John informs Crown Counsel Graham said that officers executing a search warrant at the home of John discovered some $391,780 in a cardboard box. The defendant admitted that the monies were the product of selling drugs.

Officers also uncovered 10 kilos of cocaine in one canvas bag, 30 kilos in another two bags, and a further amount in cardboard boxes, to bring the haul to a total of 114 kilos.

John is said to have told officers that he had received some 147 kilos of cocaine at Beef Island dock and had already sold an estimated 36 kilos for $11,000.

He informed that the cocaine found at his residence was to be sold to Jack, Erickson, Freeman and King.

Charges On Monday 13th August when the men appeared in Court, presiding Magistrate Richard pleaded John to the charges of unlawful possession and importation of cocaine; possession of proceeds of criminal conduct; possession of proceeds of criminal conduct; possession of proceeds of criminal conduct; and unlawful possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

Jack and King were jointly charged with possession of proceeds of criminal conduct. Erickson and Freeman were separately charged with possession of proceeds of criminal conduct.

John and Jack were also jointly charged with conspiracy to import cocaine.

All of the men were slapped with charges of: assisting another to retain the business of criminal conduct; unlawful possession of cocaine with intent to supply; and being concerned with the supply of a controlled drug.

All pleaded not guilty and were remanded to prison.

The matters come up for hearing on September 25, 2012.

(Source: BVI News)

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012. 31.

Sports/Classifieds

SVG looking to improve in 20/20 outing ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES will be looking for an improved performance in the WINLOTT Windward Islands Cricket Board of Control 20/20 Cricket Competition.

SVG, whose bowling attack will rely heavily on West Indies A team left arm pacer, Delorn Johnson, is being led by Windward Islands wicketkeeper/batsman Lindon James. West Indies opener Miles Bascombe is also included in the team.

Grenada, defending champions, will be led again by the 2011 MVP, Devon Smith.

Windward Islands allrounder, Liam Sebastien will lead Dominica’s charge.

St. Lucia will feel themselves fortified with West Indies captain Darren Sammy at the helm.

The Competition, to be played at the Beausejour Cricket Stadium in St Lucia in a day-night format of two games a

day, got going last Thursday, August 16, with St Vincent up against Grenada and St Lucia versus Dominica.

Friday, August 17, pitted Grenada against Dominica, and St Lucia against St Vincent.

Saturday, August 18, St Vincent was expected to meet Dominica, followed by the St. Lucia-Grenada clash.

The third place play-off and finals were scheduled for Sunday, August 19.

This is the third edition of the tournament. The winning team will walk away with $10,000.00 cash, a trophy and gold medals. There are also cash prizes, trophies and medals for 2nd and 3rd place as well as for outstanding individual performances in all matches.

The SVG squad reads: Lindon James (Captain), Miles Bascombe, Atticus Browne, Salvan Browne, Alston Bobb, Keiron Cottoy, Donwell Hector,

Employment Opportunity Applications are invited for the position of Cafeteria Assistant.

Interested persons are asked to call 529- 0546 between the hours of 9:00 – 3:00 Monday to Friday

Lindon James will lead a formidable SVG squad to the 2012 Windward Islands 20/20 competition.

2000 Toyota Harrier Black 86000 km Tel: 455-9340 Land for Sale at Cane End $7.00 per sq. ft.

Tel: 455-9340

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2 bdrm House at Cane End Tel: 455-9340 House for rent Tel: 533-2430 House for Rent at Campden Park Tel: 532-4362

SAGICOR LIFE INC. Vibert Dublin of Union Island having made sworn deposition that policy No. C1451017 issued or assumed

by Life of Barbados Limited prior to its amalgamation with Sagicor Life Inc. on the life of Vibert Dublin has been lost, and having made application to the Directors to grant a duplicate of the same, notice is hereby given that unless objection is raised within one month of the date hereof, the duplicate policy asked for will be issued.

Dated August 10,2012

By Order Sandra Osborne Corporate Secretary

1 Compaq- Desktop Computer 1 Dell- Desktop Computer One complet D.J. System Tel: 497-1600

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

F O R

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S A L E

FRIDAY,

AUGUST 17, 2012

VOLUME 106, No. 33

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VINCENTIAN ON MONEY LAUNDERING AND DRUG CHARGES IN BVI

by KENVILLE HORNE

Under surveillance

JOMO JOLAN JACK, a 28-year-old Vincentian truck driver, is among five men charged with money laundering and drug related offences in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), after a police operation discovered the drugs and a large sum of cash in the Road Town Cruise Ship Dock area, on Friday 10th August.

When the matter was taken to court on Monday 13th, Senior Crown Counsel Valston Graham told the court that on August 8, members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) received intelligence that Jack had entered the territory from Antigua, at Beef Island airport.

The Crown Counsel stated that it was believed that Jack’s visit was in no way related to emancipation celebrations currently being staged. Instead, it was assumed that Jack was in the BVIs to shepherd the sale of cocaine.

Police followed Jack and observed that he had a meeting with King before checking into the Fort Burt Hotel.

Police kept Jack under surveillance and observed that King arrived on August 9 at Jack’s hotel.

King was driving a bronze Kia vehicle. Police noted the vehicle exited the parking lot of Jack’s hotel and proceeded to the rear of the nearby Central Administrative Complex, where King exchanged conversation with persons in a Toyota Rav4 jeep.

After the conversation, the vehicles departed in On Friday, August 10, at different directions. around 11:30 am, the bronze

Conflicting police report A Police report on Saturday 11th disclosed that the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) had recovered over $688,000 in cash and around 114 kilos of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $11.4 million.

Within an hour of the statement, the police retracted on the stated value of the cocaine and issued a revised estimate value of $1.4m.

However, another statement was issued within the hour of the second, returning the value to $11.4m, with the explanation that there was confusion over the wholesale and street values.

Jack was arrested along with 42-year-old self employed Hugh Ericksson, a 62-year-old captain James Telesforde John , 31-year-old captain Leon King and 48-year-old Gerry Freeman, all Virgin Islanders.

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

BVI police search the two vehicles in which stacks of cash were discovered.

Inset: Jomo Jack (left) under police escort. sighted in the area of the Administrative Complex.

They were joined by the same Rav4, and police identified John as its driver. John entered the Kia. Kia, driven by King with Jack as a front seat passenger, was

Continued on Page 30.

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