Issue 21 September, 2012

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY,

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

VOLUME 106, No. 38

www.thevincentian.com

ÂMONSTROUS...

MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICEÊ, SAYS Q.C

by HAYDN HUGGINS

CARLYLE DOUGAN Q.C, a former Attorney General here, has described the murder convictions of Che ‘Ragga’ Bute and Azari ‘Nines’ Ash, both of Redemption Sharpes, as, “a

Colin Williams, DPP, had originally sought the death penalty in the case against Che ‘Ragga’ Bute and Azari ‘Nines’ Ash.

monstrous demonstration of a miscarriage of justice.”

The Queen’s Counsel who represented Ash at the trial and will conduct his appeal, made the comment while speaking to THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday.

Attorney Jomo Thomas is optimistic about his client’s chances before the court of appeal.

EC$1.50

and lies.”

Robertson, 24, of Evesham died from a single bullet to the head while reportedly Carlyle Dougan Q.C. minced no words sitting at the about what he thought of the conviction of roadside at his client.

Walvaroo, Sion Hill, with two use any affidavit at the appeal other men, on September 2, hearing, the appellants, 2012. through their lawyers, would On May 7, 2012, Robertson have to apply to the court of had signed to a sworn affidavit appeal to introduce fresh recanting his testimony at the evidence. He indicated that trial. He stated in the affidavit the application would be made that he had lied under oath at the hearing. No date has because the police promised yet been set for the hearing of him a passport, and to send the appeal. him abroad if he testified However, both Dougan and against Bute and Ash. Bute’s lawyer, Jomo Thomas, The prosecution’s case are aware that Robertson’s Witness with a history hinged primarily on recantation alone, is not Robertson’s testimony, in sufficient to overturn the Dougan said Director of which he related that he was convictions.

Public Prosecutions (DPP) present when Samuel’s Speaking with THE Colin Williams ought not to murder was planned. He had VINCENTIAN on Monday, have sought a conviction based testified that Bute Thomas pointed out that the on the testimony of star masterminded the killing, court of appeal has ruled in witness Uroy ‘Laybay’ while Ash was assigned to pull previous cases that a Robertson, with Robertson’s the trigger. recantation by a witness is not antecedents. sufficient to overturn a He described Robertson as Recantation insufficient conviction. “a man with a long history of violence, gunplay, dishonesty Dougan pointed out that to Continued on Page 3.

Dougan is of the view that the legal system has totally failed Bute and Ash. A 12-member jury on July 27, 2011, had found the two guilty of the murder of Lloyd ‘Lazarus’ Samuel, also called ‘Hawkie’ or ‘Lazo’, who was shot in the head while reportedly reversing his vehicle at his Redemption Sharpes home around 1:15 a.m December 21, 2007. He was rushed to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where he died on Christmas Day that year.

Bute and Ash were sentenced to life imprisonment July this year, approximately, one year after they were convicted.

2. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

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News 3 New Law Year opens

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. 3.

by KARISSA CLARKE

THE CEREMONIAL OPENING of the new OECS Law Year, 2012-2013, held here on September 18, comprised two formal activities.

Members of the Bench and the bar gathered first at the Cathedral of the Assumption in an ecumenical service under the theme, ‘Let justice be tempered with mercy’.

Delivering the sermon, local Methodist minister, Rev. Stilson Cato, inter alia, addressed those who would pass

judgement directly, advising, “All sorts of cases are going to be put before you. The crime will deserve the right punishment, and this doesn’t say you must give a slap on the wrist for a crime that deserves a heavy sentence.”

Following the service, which included an item in song by a group of local legal professionals, a procession of those gathered made its way to the Court House.

There, a guard of

honour was inspected by Her Ladyship Chief Justice (Ag.) Hon. Janice Pereira, after which there was a spcial sitting to mark and declare the Law Year open.

In what was the first time a female Chief Justice was addressing the opening of the Law Year, Hon Janice Pereira, assured that “The judiciary of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, although faced with challenges, one of which is the

Her Ladyship Hon. Janice Pereira inspects the guard of honour.

optimum quota of justice, promises that in this new year that the quality of justice will not be compromised even in these economic times.”

Chief Justice Pereira considered it her duty to promote transparency in the court.

She promised a greater effort to make known the workings of the court, to include programmes for schools and the media.

The administrative Members of the local legal fraternity rendering a song at the ecumenical service.

and clerical responsibilities of the court will not go unattended, as the Lady Chief Justice alluded to promoting the modernization of the courts to include electronic case filing, inprovements in record management and working generally to fulfill a dream of a paper free on demand system.

And as far as the actual workings of the court was concerned, Chief Justice Pereira highlighted the expected increase in the use of video conferencing and use of evidence collected by video. The latter

measure she saw as being of tremendous help to “vulnerable witnesses.”

Addresses were also heard from, among others, Her Ladyship Louise Blenman, His Lordship Hon Mario Michel, His Lordship Hon. Don Mitchell, His Lordship Hon. Frederick Bruce-Lyle, His Lordship Hon Wesley James and Attorney General Judith Jones Morgan, who expressed how very proud she was to see this day, ”when a woman would be speaking as chief justice at the opening of the Law Year.”

‘Monstrous... miscarriage of justice’, says Q.C Continued from Page 1.

AS PROMISED, we return with our Down Memory Lane column and apologise to our readers for its absence over the last two weeks.

We begin a run of features on Kingstown with a 1907 shot of, believe it or not, a section of the MARKET PLACE in KINGSTOWN. It may be difficult, given what now stands in its place, to even imagine that the MARKET was as open as this picture depicts. But, as the saying

goes, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’.

Gone is the Middle Street throughway that this picture clearly indicates as being central to the purpose and style of the market. Two covered iron sheds, opened on all four sides, provided stalls for vegetables/ground provisions and other vendors.

Note also how fully clad the citizens — vendors and buyers - were, giving the impression that a day at the market then, was ‘a formal affair’.

And in case you are wondering, the building in the background which carries the name Thomas Lawlor and Co., now houses JAX Enterprises.

Interestingly, Thomas Lawlor and CO. was a leading, if not the leading variety store of its time, not much different from how JAX would be perceived in today’s commerce.

Notwithstanding the progress, oh how we wish for some open, breathing space in the city.

Thomas explained that, “as part of a supporting bundle of no evidence, we believe that the court of appeal may be persuaded that the convictions would be unsafe.”

Thomas disclosed that part of the ‘supporting bundle’, in their possession, is another sworn affidavit which was filed in the court long before Bute and Ash were sentenced.

In that affidavit, Maurice ‘Gamoon’ Clifton who, in Robertson’s testimony, was said to be in a house at Redemption Sharpes when the killing was planned and carried out, has completely denied being in that house, where Robertson had said the plot was hatched.

On July 19, 2011, Robertson had testified at the trial that he, Bute, Ash and Clifton were at the home of one Kimron ‘Skinon’ McDowall when Bute and Ash plotted to kill Samuel.

“He (Ash) told me he was going to kill ‘Lazarus’. That was the plan. I and ‘Gamoon’ was smoking weed and Che and Azari was planning,” Robertson had testified.

Clifton currently resides in Canada, while McDowall was shot and killed some years ago in an area at Redemption Sharpes called Hollywood.

Thomas told THE VINCENTIAN that the affidavits sworn to by Robertson and Clifton would be included in the appeal package. He indicated that the notice of appeal has already been filed and 14 grounds of appeal have been cited.

“We remain optimistic that, once the court of appeal gets the opportunity to read the trial transcript and to listen to arguments from defence counsel, the court will rule that the convictions are unsafe,” Thomas said.

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4. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

NDP candidates refused Privy Council leave Eustace held for her.

One of the applications TRINIDAD attorney Keith seeking leave to appeal to the Scotland, the lead lawyer who Privy Council involved the represented three opposition decision of the Court of Appeal New Democratic Party (NDP) May 31, 2012, to set aside candidates on Monday, Justice Gertel Thom’s decision September 17, in the hearing of to uphold a court order their applications for leave to granting leave to Senator appeal to the Privy Council the Frederick to seek judicial Court of Appeal’s judgement in review of Chief Magistrate the December 13, 2010 election Sonya Young’s decision, not to matters, has made it clear that issue summonses in relation to his team respects that court. two private criminal “We respect the Court of complaints Frederick had filed Appeal,” Scotland told against Prime Minister Dr. reporters just after emerging Ralph Gonsalves. from the Supreme Court The Chief Magistrate was building, after the Eastern represented by Dominica’s Caribbean Court of Appeal senior counsel Anthony refused all the applications.

Astaphan along with local He was heard telling his lawyers Grahame Bollers and colleagues, “We tried our Richard Williams. best.” He also told this to The Appeal Court had also reporters. on May 31, dismissed The three NDP candidates Frederick, Lewis and concerned, Senator Vynnette Stephenson’s appeals against Frederick, Linton Lewis and Justice Thom’s decision to Nigel Stephenson, were also refuse them leave to seek represented by attorney Kay judicial review of the DPP’s Bacchus-Browne who was out decision to take over and of the state. Lawyer Maia discontinue private criminal Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

complaints they had filed against Dr. Douglas Slater, Cecil McKie and Clayton Burgin, January 11, 2011 at the Serious Offences Court.

The Appeal Court had also dismissed an appeal against Justice Thom’s order to set aside leave Justice Frederick Bruce-Lyle had granted private citizen Marva Chance to seek judicial review, Justice Thom’s decision to dismiss the application for leave as well as the claim. The charges related to Afi Jack’s registering to vote in a constituency where she was not ordinarily resident.

Astaphan, Bollers and Williams represented the state in these matters.

The NDP candidates had applied to the court of appeal for leave to appeal the court’s decisions to the Privy Council.

However, on Monday, September 17, in a judgement handed down by newly appointed acting Chief Justice, Janice Pereira, all the applications were thrown out.

Chief Justice Pereira (Ag), along with Justices of Appeal Davidson Baptiste and Mario Michel, agreed that the applications were without merit.

Astaphan, in his submissions, argued that the applications were entirely without merit, and asked the court to dismiss them.

Scotland declined to comment on the judgement, but indicated that the next step in representing the NDP candidates would be to apply to the Privy Council for special leave to appeal.

The NDP candidates Attorney Keith Scotland made it clear that his team respects the had claimed that the ruling of the court. government ministers made false statements in relation to their complaints were brought characters in the run-up to the under section 51(3) of the December 13, 2010 general Representation of the People elections.

Act (RPA).

The

Murder accused on more charges Kenny Lewis has to answer other charges, even before answering to the charge of murdering a former state witness.

THE YOUNG MAN who has been charged with the murder of former state witness Ulroy ‘Laybay’ Robertson, has been slapped with more charges.

Kenny Lewis, 20, of Campden Park, appeared at the Serious Offences Court on Wednesday, September 19, charged with possession of a 12-guage

shotgun and six rounds of 12-guage ammunition without licences on September 5.

Lewis pleaded not guilty to both charges when he stood before Chief Magistrate Sonya Young. He was expected to return to that court yesterday, Thursday, for the commencement of a trial in relation to those matters.

Lewis had appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on September 10, charged with the murder of Robertson as well as possession of a Llama 9mm pistol, serial number unknown, without licence, at Arnos Vale on September 6, and 14 rounds of 9 mm ammunition on the same date at Arnos Vale.

Lewis was not required to plead to those charges when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Donald Browne and the matter was transferred to the Serious Offences Court.

Prosecutor Inspector Glenford Gregg had informed the court that the 9mm pistol would have to be sent abroad for examination.

Robertson received a single bullet to the head while reportedly standing at the roadside in Walvaroo, Sion Hill with two other men on September 2. He died on the spot.

Trini ‘weed thrower’ jailed

A NATIONAL of Trinidad and Tobago, who attempted to throw a portion of marijuana into Her Majesty’s Prisons on Monday, September 17, will spend the next four months behind bars for his action.

Trevon Thomas, who resided at Redemption Sharpes and was here illegally since 2004, was on Wednesday, September 19, taken before the Serious Offences Court.

Thomas was sentenced to four months in prison for, without lawful authority, attempting to introduce into Her Majesty’s Prisons, 18 grammes of marijuana.

He also received a one-month jail term for possession of the marijuana with intent to supply.

The sentences will run concurrently.

Chief Magistrate Sonya Young handed down the penalties after Thomas pleaded guilty to both charges.

The court heard that around 10:20 a.m on Monday, Inspector Timothy Hazelwood of the Special Services Unit (SSU) was on his way to the St. Vincent Electricity Service (VINLEC), located next to the prison, when he spotted Thomas attempting to throw something over the prison wall.

The object stuck in the security wiring above the wall and the accused went into a nearby shop.

Hazelwood approached the man, identified himself, informed him of his observation and took him into custody at the Central Police Station. He then sought the assistance of members of the Fire Department to retrieve the object from where it was stuck. It turned out to be a bag containing marijuana.

When cautioned, Thomas told the police, “Officer, ah somebody tell me to fire it over.”

Information is that Thomas came here legally and was allowed six months to stay in the country, but overstayed his time.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. 5.

Regional

Grenadian politician thanks Dr. Gonsalves WHILE THE ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Public Service Union has castigated Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves for making an SVG- Eastern Caribbean Central Bank borrowing facility available to Grenada so that that country can meet its public service wage bill, at least one Grenadian politician has commended Dr. Gonsalves for his “regional integration spirit.”

Arley Gill, a former senator in Grenada’s parliament, commended Dr. Gonsalves for his commitment to regional integration, noting that it was not the first time that the Vincentian leader had come to Grenada’s assistance.

But while Dr. Gonsalves has confirmed that his government has made the facility available to the Grenada government, Gill was

speaking in Grenada on Monday without any official confirmation from that country’s government of its acceptance and use of the facility.

Caribbean News Now quotes Gill as saying, “If the report is true, it is a commendable act on the part of Dr Gonsalves.”

“Here’s a man and a comrade who is willing to come to the assistance of a CARICOM neighbour and friend; in a demonstration of the spirit of regional integration; and in keeping with the tradition of some of our best-known regionalists such as Maurice Bishop, Michael Manley and Patrick Manning,” he continued.

Gill, the Public Relations officer of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is reported to

Arley Gill has compared Dr. Ralph Gonsalves to some of the foremost regionalists. (Internet Photo)

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves confirmed that this was not the first time that SVG had come to the assistance of Grenada.

have said that “The National Democratic Congress thanks Gonsalves for his extreme act of kindness and generosity to the Grenadian people.”

Gill has been estranged from his party

and leader since his removal as a senator and minister of government.

Some commentators questioned whether he had the authority to speak on behalf of the NDC.

Troubling times for Grenada’s Thomas GENERAL ELECTIONS in Grenada will be held before yearend. This is the firm belief of former Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition New National Party (NNP), Dr. Keith Mitchell.

And when those elections are held, Dr. Mitchell believes that the result will show overwhelming support for his party and, to further compound problems already rife in the Government and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), a personal defeat for Tillman Thomas, Prime Minister and Leader of the NDC. All of this could well remain conjecture because following on Dr. Mitchell’s enthusiasm, Prime Minister of Grenada, Tillman Thomas on Monday requested the governor-general, Sir Carlyle Glean, to prorogue Parliament.

This effectively brings to an end the fourth session of the eighth Parliament, six months earlier than its scheduled close.

It is expected that a date for the commencement for the fifth session of the eighth Parliament will be announced at a later date, at which time the traditional throne speech is expected to be delivered by the governor-general.

This “expected move” said one observer, prevents debate on a noconfidence motion filed in August by former Foreign Minister Karl Hood.

Hood had resigned in April, and in August filed a noconfidence motion against the government, claiming that the Thomas administration had failed to fulfill its promise to implement programmes “that were marketed to deliver economic and social development to the people of the State of Grenada.”

In May, NDC MP and Minister Proroguing parliament merely of Foreign Affairs Karl Hood postpones debate on the motion, resigned, and Thomas removed since a new motion can be filed Arley Gill as a Senator and once a new session of parliament Minister of Culture. is convened.

Peter David, But Dr. Mitchell General Secretary of remains adamant the NDC and former that Tillman Minister of Tourism, Thomas will call has also been elections before year marginalized. end.

And as far as Dr. His projection Keith Mitchell is comes amidst concerned, it is highly continuing tension unlikely that Tillman over investment and Thomas will be economic policy returned as a issues in Grenada. member of Public Servants parliament in the have been at the year-end general centre of the fallout, elections. their salaries having It has been a rocky Tillman Thomas been paid late on year for Prime Minister won his seat in 2008 more than one occasion for the year. Tillman Thomas whose by a margin of 104 administration has votes.

In addition, the been besieged by ongoing discord in worsening economic the NDC has had times and discord the ripple effect of within his party. causing general (Internet Photo) discontent and lethargy in the society.

The NDC formed the government in 2008, defeating the incumbent NNP by 11 seats to four. The NNP had held the reins of government for 13 years.

But it has been a rocky period of stewardship for Tillman Thomas. A number of key party Dr. Keith Mitchell is and government confident that he and colleagues have his New National Party either resigned or been removed from will be returned to government. (Internet office.

Photo)

Coral cover in the Caribbean disappearing

Below: Caribbean coral reefs are in danger of disappearing.

AS YOUNG PEOPLE throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines joined their counterparts around the world in activities to mark International Coastal Clean-up Day, September 15, news from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUC) painted a debilitating picture.

According to a September 12, 2012 disclosure by the Union, the grim reality is that “less than 10 percent of coral reefs in the Caribbean show living coral cover and are on the verge of utter devastation.

Carl Gustaf Lundin, a director at the ICU told the British Guardian newspaper that global warming, pollution and overexploitation are the main causes for the damage to reefs.

“The major causes of coral decline are well-known and include overfishing, pollution, disease and bleaching caused by rising temperatures resulting from the burning of fossil fuels,” Lundin said.

“Looking forward, there is an urgent need to immediately and drastically reduce all human impacts if coral reefs and the vitally important fisheries that depend on them are to survive in the decades to come,” he stressed.

A 1970s study in the Caribbean revealed then that 50 percent of the reefs showed coral that was alive and continuing to grow. In stark contrast, the latest survey found that only eight percent is covered with living coral growth.

Scientists participating in the study also warned that there was no evidence that coral death would be slowing.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration points out that global warming is a big factor with coral reefs, as more bleaching and infections break out when temperatures rise.

Additionally, more carbon dioxide in the air alters the chemistry of the oceans, and slight changes in acidity could alter the growth rates of coral.

There is, however, some room for hope. Terry Hughes of James Cook University has conducted research on the Great Barriaer Reef in Australia and concluded that rather than experiencing total destruction, “many coral reefs will survive climate change by changing the mix of coral species as the ocean warms and becomes more acidic.”

He warned, though, that local factors like pollution and overfishing also need to be addressed.

International organizations studying the decay of coral reefs across the world, estimate that the damage to reefs threaten the livelihood of some 500 million people, including many in the Caribbean.

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6. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

‘Security for Magistrates not enough’ Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS has not gone very far, mainly because these SENIOR MAGISTRATE Donald constitutions do not allow Browne has called for for easy transition to adequate security for Magistrates and the courts.

The Senior Magistrate made the call on Tuesday, PRESIDENT of the OECS September 18, during a Bar Association, Ruggles sitting here of the Eastern Ferguson, has urged his Caribbean Supreme Court to mark the start of the colleagues to be part of the Law Year 2012-2012. solution instead of just “I know there are complaining. measures taken to have “Attorneys have a way of security well in place for complaining. Don’t just sit us, but I am saying that it back and complain about is not enough, and with the how much your Bar violence in our society Association is not doing. these days, we need to be Step forward and play an protected better than we active role, make are, whatever the cost may suggestions, make a be,” he declared. difference, encourage your The Senior Magistrate colleagues to become part also pointed out that “the of the solution,” the Magistracy does up to 70 Grenadian born lawyer percent of the criminal told members of the legal matters which come before fraternity as he delivered the court, and it is high remarks during a special time that it be afforded the sitting of the Eastern recognition it deserves.”

Caribbean Court here on He lamented, “The Magistracy is crying out for Tuesday, to mark the opening of the new Law integration into the Year.

Judiciary. The integration Ferguson added: “Local process started some 20 Bar Associations, on the years ago, but up to now

integration.”

Magistracy had been given It was the first time that an opportunity to address a representative of the the opening of the law year.

Lawyers urged to be ‘part of the solution’

Senior Magistrate Donald Browne became the first magistrate to address the opening of the Law Year.

other hand, must become proactive, more organised, and more creative to energise the membership’s needs.”

The OECS Bar President urged Bar Associations not to give up in the face of these challenging times.

“It is often very easy to give up in the face of constant criticism, lack of support from members, and lack of appreciation for the Ruggles Fergusson, President of time and resources the OECS Bar Association, expended to make admonished his colleagues things happen, about their complaining. especially in the context of your busy constant challenges of schedule, your purely staying on board in these voluntary contributions economically challenging and sacrifices and the times.”

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. 7.

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8. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 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

Of visas and head table addresses SO THIS COUNTRY’S NATIONALS are now required to apply for a visa before they can enter Canada.

While the requirement in the broadest sense is not a matter about which we should make a huff and a puff, since we have no control over its imposition, it must have hurt simply because of the country that has chosen to impose it.

Long have Vincentians enjoyed, generally speaking, ease of entry into Canada, a fellow member of the Commonwealth Realm of Nations. Long have Vincentians benefited from the ‘open door’ policy of this vast country that, in addition to other areas of assistance, has extended scholarship and bursary programmes from which many a Vincentian would have been assured training and advanced education opportunities.

So, it must hurt; it seems another friend has found it fit to ‘stop being a friend’.

That Vincentians themselves have to accept ‘blame’ for the imposition, is documented as coming from corners wide and varied.

Politicians from government and opposition, community leaders home and abroad, ordinary citizens home and abroad, have voiced ‘concern’ and disappointment with the new policy, each group putting its own spin to the issue.

The fact is, try as much as we would wish that the Canadian government rescinds the requirement, our Minister of Foreign Affairs is correct when he says, ‘The die is cast.’ He, and anyone else, especially those in prominent national positions, must desist now from propagating any false hope that gives indication and/or insinuation that something can be done to reverse the decision.

What we need to do, beginning now, is not to encourage any senseless prolonging of griping over the spilled milk, but to begin to work with Canadian immigration officials to ensure that Vincentian nationals understand how to proceed from here on in, and that they get fair and unbiased consideration when they apply for the visa.

This is important since indication from the Canadian Government is that Vincentians are among 1800 Caribbean nationals whose Canadian citizenship will be revoked, because it has been discovered that they used ‘fraudulent means to become Canadian.’

The question abounds: Even as we accept the use of ‘fraudulent documents’, how many of these ‘citizens’ were born nationals of this country or simply holders of Vincentian passports?

There have been Caribbean nationals as well as non-Caribbean persons who have worked their way through the local system and acquired Vincentian passports, and have used them to obtain passage into and status in another man’s country. What they do thereafter is anyone’s guess.

As we move to protect bono fide citizens and nationals of this country, we must ensure that we have the strictest measures in place to guard against the ‘unduly’ influenced issuance of this country’s passports and their eventual misuse.

Last week’s report that a legitimately elected representative of a constituency of people in this country was denied ‘permission’ to address a gathering on a matter that affects that representative’s constituency, seems to have descended into the usual realm of discussion that does not go outside of the vicious circle of partisan politics that has engulfed this country.

That area representative St. Clair Leacock did not indicate, prior to the actual day on which the Consultation on Vending was held, that he was desirous of addressing the gathering, should not be the focus of the ensuing discussion.

Rather, the whole affair must be seen against the clarion calls for building a true democracy and an ennobling Vincentian civilization.

It should never have been a matter of Mr. Leacock making an ‘uninvited’ appearance; it should have been that he was an integral part of the planning and staging of that consultation.

That would have made for ‘true’ democracy; for a true coming together to address an issue that affects the people generally, and the people of Leacock’s constituency in particular.

Another opportunity was lost to showcase to the world that we can and are able to put action behind our utterances of moving from being a fledging democracy to being a true, working democracy in which the central concern is not who has the answers, who controls the power, but that all ‘stakeholders (there’s that word again) are genuinely involved in the process of remedy and change for the better.

Nuff said.

The ULP faces up to visa requirement for visitors to Canada I WAS ALMOST RELUCTANT to venture an opinion on the latest issue of our relegation to a State for which there is now a visa requirement to enter Canada.

It was most difficult to arrive at a situation of balanced truth owing to the presence, nay the bombardment of the communications media of opposing views, all clamoring for attention. In fact, it appears as if a well-oiled propaganda machinery was spitting out half-truths, downright lies, and jaundiced views on the vexed issues of the day.

I dared to put some of the thoughts in black and white with which I am now reasonably comfortable, though not completely confident, given the turns and twists of news nowadays.

Firstly, the ULP must take a lion’s share of the blame. To begin with, it took place under their watch, and they are notoriously a strong Government noted for standing no nonsense from opposition or any other forces not towing their line.

The issue began simmering from as far back as 2003. They were served notice that Canada was not comfortable with the confidentialities of our passports as they related to Canada’s own security. Nothing was done. Not even a diplomatic exchange or a flying visit with a view to ironing out differences and difficulties.

So the bombshell has been dropped. Canada demands a visa for visiting folks from St. Vincent and St Lucia in the Caribbean, and the blame game has started with our two political parties pointing fingers at each other.

Meanwhile there is little positive news that the P.M will join his counterpart from St Lucia in approaching the Canadian Government, to see what, if anything, can be salvaged from a desperate situation.

In fact, Skerritt of Dominica should join the expedition as a Caribbean country experiencing similar problems but has been able to hold its head above the tumultuous waters ravaging these parts. The trio of Windwards brothers, birds of a feather, approaching an industrial giant would itself speak volumes on the seriousness of OECS unity, apart from probably bringing home some tangible benefits to the Sub- Region.

We should laugh to scorn the U.L.P propaganda machinery that accuses the N.D P of being the prime cause of the Canadian reaction by broadcasting that they continually short-changed the country by forever talking of the economic plight of the nation since the U.L.P won power.

Arnhim Eustace and St. Clair Leacock have both acknowledged writing letters in support of Vincentians who seek Canadian asylum on the grounds of economic hardships, whether or not aggravated by political victimization and abuse.

An easy answer to that problem is that ULP’s own Consul General to Canada, Steve Phillips, has acknowledged that he performed a similar service for which he was rapped on the knuckles by the Prime Minister, but not otherwise disciplined or recalled.

In fact, the “Refugee issue” concerns numbers, it is a quantitative problem which attract Canada in that applications for that status from SVG about tripled over the last decade, which remains a double-edged sword so far as SVG is concerned.

The “Asylum” issue causes little sweat on the noses of Canada’s Immigration Authorities.

Cases are still being processed for what they may be worth. It is only the time factor involved which has been drastically cut, saving the

authority much money that had been generously spent on applicants before.

But the real problem has been the slap-dash way in which passports have been thought to be issued by the Government of SVG. I owe it to Clemroy Bert François on Nice Radio programme last Tuesday night to point out that the news of visa requirement was delivered in a Release that pointed out the dangers to their own country of the slack way we handled the passports issue.

Significantly, there was no mention whatever about the “Asylum Question”.

A second Release was issued the following day in identical terms, save that, almost as an after-thought, mention was made of those who sought “Refugee Status”, an entirely different question.

It so happens that Bert François, who normally appears on a Cross Country Radio programme with Burns Bonadie who had been a former Consul General of SVG to Canada, directed to him the following question. What could have made the Canadian Authorities add to their original release an ancillary section touching upon applications for Refugee Status, to which Burns answered to the effect, that it seems logical that it was in response to the Government of SVG. So that focusing on the rider, the propaganda machinery still dwells on the applications for Asylum, charging Arnhim and Leacock as being accomplices, and ignoring entirely the main matter of the wrongful issuance of passports.

One irate caller noted that her nephew who had been in Canada was advised by an Immigration Officer, presumably working with SVG, to return home and contact a particular office in SVG who issued him a passport with a new name, at a cost of three hundred dollars.

The gentleman travelled back to Canada with his new passport and was promptly posted back to SVG where he was greeted with a three-year sentence for being the owner of a fraudulently obtained passport!

Our Prime Minister needs to go to Canada and help clear-up the mess. Canada has recently cut all ties with Iran to whom the ULP Government is friendly. Many persons have been asking whether an Iranian could not fly to SVG via Venezuela, pick up a SVG Passport and so gain easy access to Canada under the old dispensation, and commit much mischief.

Every country has a duty to defend its own borders and do whatever it perceives to be contributory to the safeguarding of that right.

Many questions arise from our present debacle; will the PM surprise everyone by going to Canada and work his charisma and charm and bring back even partial victory? Indeed it is passing strange that our PM for the last decade has avoided visiting Canada, a country that hosts many of our diaspora!

Most people think that if things continue to deteriorate, there is bound to be social crisis in, say, three months with the return of many “Canadians” with nothing to do.

The down-hill trend accelerates as of now until the crash comes at the end of the day with a general election. Until then, things will certainly worsen before they get better. There are a ton load of unanswered questions, relating broadly to our governance over the past ten years.

I can only hope that beyond the clouds, there is glorious sunshine- that it all comes out in the wash.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. 9.

Views

Vendor leadership needed LAST WEEK TUESDAY, the vendors meeting at the Victoria Park was very interesting, but only served as another talkshop for Kingstown Town Board (KTB), a chestthumping occasion for the Minister, backseat quiet moments for the KTB Warden and the uniformed Permanent Secretary, and an embarrassing moment for the elected representative for Central Kingstown.

As an observer at the meeting, I found it strange that the minister was the one to lead the discussion, from under the tent, with other officials just sipping water. What did he (the

minister) expect from the vendors but cross talk and political slurs.

The Minister stated that there was a range of stake holders with interest in the cleanliness of Kingstown, yet none of them were invited to address the vendors. Those who wanted to do so were directed to use the public microphone and not the one on the platform on which he stood. The Major (Mr. St. Clair Leacock) was also told to do so, but refused, and I agree with him!

If you have a government which speaks about unity, ‘together now’,

reconciliation, and love for poor people, how come there could not have been a head table which included one of the affected merchants, representatives of Public Health and Solid Waste, a vendor representative and the elected representative for Central Kingstown? This format would have encouraged unity in the call for a more organized way to vending and a cleaner environment for Kingstown.

But it is clear that, like the Prime Minister, the Minister wants all the ‘say’; he knows the solution, so there’s no need for anyone to

suggest to him the best approach.

However, the minister should have taken note that the vendors saw right through his plan.

He should have taken note that the vendors have not forgotten that he pledged to build the model stalls, get vendor ID ready, remodel Little Tokyo, zone the vending and rectify the issues of the market. All these were thrown back at him, only to hear him declare that the vendors were partly to be blamed, not he.

Leadership is urgently needed in this vending issue in Kingstown, but it needs to be approached with and with the involvement of all the

Getting the small things right I MUST SAY that I was totally impressed by the turn out of police officers, members of the public and family members at the funeral service for the late P.C. 628

* There has been much talk recently by the Leader of the Oppostion about “backdoor attempts” to get SVG into the CCJ what is the NDP policy on SVG adopting the CCJ? Does it differ from the position of its most recent senator and Chairman of the party who is also on the CCJ’s board? * Socialist International earlier this month held its assembly in South Africa. Did anyone from SVG attend? If so, in what capacity? And has the Unity Labour Party been reduced to observer status because it has defaulted on its dues? * What’s so important that the Minister of Agriculture had to rush overseas rather than fulfill an advertised visit to farmers? Did his ‘rushing overseas’ have anything to do with a personal matter? * Was one of those three teachers who have not been reemployed since unsuccessfully contesting the 2010 general elections, offered a teaching position which he refused? * Is it only proper that the Minister of Local Government should have invited the MP for Central Kingstown, and all the Kingstown MPs for that matter, to give official presentations at the Consultation on vending? Is this not disrespectful of fellow members of parliament and the people they represent?

Franklyn Matthews, held at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Mesopotamia, Sunday, 16th September, 2012.

Matthews joined the Police Force as a Band Cadet, then enlisted in the regular constabulary.

From my knowledge, he spent all his years as a member of the Police Band. I believe that he had lots of plans for the future.

However, at age 37 his life was cut short. It is not easy losing a loved one at such a young age but there isn’t anything anyone can do when death steps in. Death is not something we are ever ready to accept and to cope with, but we all have to face it one day.

What is important is that we live a life pleasing to God as we spend our short time here on earth, in the hope of a better life when we leave this earth.

I take this moment to wish his wife and son all the best. I know that it won’t be easy for you, Mrs. Matthews, losing your husband at such a

young age, but God knows best. I pray that he will give you the strength to cope. There will always be friends, family and loved ones around who can comfort you with encouraging words.

While at P.C. Matthews’ funeral I noticed two things which I need to comment on.

Firstly, the flag which was used to drape the casket: I am not certain whether the funeral was a state or a military one.

Normally, when a police dies in service he/she is given a military funeral service and the police flag will be used to drape the casket. In this case, it wasn’t so. Maybe things have changed and the State flag is used instead. If this is so then I stand corrected.

Secondly, is the way this flag was placed on the casket: The blue of the flag, which is the head of the flag, was placed at the foot of the casket instead of the head. I do not know which officer was responsible for the

funeral; maybe this was the first time he was put in charge of a funeral of this nature and he probably didn’t take note of these small details.

The little things are what someone should take note of, bearing in mind that there is a right and a wrong way to hang our flag. If the first part of the casket that goes into the hearse is the head, then the flag was placed incorrectly, because the blue was the first to go into the hearse. I hope that the police will look back at their photos and see if I am right or wrong. If I am wrong, I stand corrected.

Other than these two observations, I will say that the funeral was well attended.

Mrs. Matthews, on behalf of my family, and on my own behalf, I wish you all the best in this moment of your bereavement. May God continue to bless and keep you and you son safe always.

SKIM

Single mothers, absent fathers I ONLY RECENTLY came upon the story about the eighteen-year-old mother who allegedly killed her oneyear-old son. At first, I could not believe what I was reading, believing that this could not be real, and furthermore, this could not be happening in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

After I got over my denial, I got to reflecting on what this ordeal holds for our country.

I want to state from the outset that every society has its share of uncaring mothers and fathers, but also its fair share of caring mothers and fathers.

However, pronouncements from those who work in the field of Family Affairs/Relations speak about there being a greater number of delinquent fathers than mothers.

So we have a situation of a number of single mothers who have to bear the brunt of raising their child or children.

And to make matters worse, our society is still one that castigates the

single mother and even blames her for the absence of the father or for not having a “father” for their children.

Was this the situation with that young lady?

I hope for the day when our men would come to the realization that nothing should prevent them from being present in the lives of their children. Money, while important, is not all. Just being present matters in the life of a child.

In the end, I am sorry to say, but it is always the children who have to live in pain, and in this case die. Adults must strive to be real adults, to be responsible parents, instead of playing games with their lives and those of their children.

The death of that one-year-old, regardless of the circumstances, is a scar against the entire Vincentian society. It is a scar on each and every one of us.

Yvonne

stakeholders affected.

From my observation of the meeting at Campden Park four years ago and this one in Kingstown recently, the vendors want to see better, but they are calling for help with organizing and the fulfillment of promises.

Maybe this is the time for Ken Boyea to show his real concern for business, seeing that he is no longer interested in politics.

Disappointed

No Confidence Motion THE TIME IS overdue for a No Confidence Motion in parliament, against the leadership of the ULP. Among the reasons for this vote are the ULP’s failure to: deliver on the cross country road that they promised us in 2001 for 2005; deliver the stadium that was to be built at the Diamond estate; deliver the thousands of quality jobs for our youths; to provide us with a cheaper electricity rate as promised; to provide us with a cheaper a water rate as promised; to enact integrity legislation within their first one hundred days in office; to turn around our food basket — the St. Vincent Marketing Corporation.

There are many more, but the ‘Comrade’s’ number is seven (7), so we keep the Sabbath.

If the opposition in parliament is afraid to bring this No Confidence Motion, then the people (taxpayers) will have to do what we have to do, and choose our new leaders for the new parliament.

We have advanced beyond the thinking of the old school of divide and rule, to the age of eyes and minds opening to the truth. Falsehood cannot be victorious over truth anymore. No military power will stop our people when they take to the streets in protest against falsehood from the ULP, the NDP or who else.

It is the nature of dictators that when they can’t rule their people anymore with their falsehoods, and the people protest, that they (dictators) use their military against the protesters. Sometimes, the military backfires on their leaders. Time will tell.

Please, Mr. PM, go to Canada and negotiate on the SVG-Canada visa matter and set up a ‘vetting’ system to vet the returners from Canada. The public will like to know their past and present nationality(ies).

Christian Democrat

The visa issue: Get real, man REALLY, man, what is all this fuss about having to get a visa for Canada? Did we really believe that this was not on the cards?

If we have to gripe about anything, gripe about whether or not the government in SVG knew about plans to introduce the visa, and what they did, if anything, to prevent it. (Not that they could prevent it, anyway.)

So, back to this whole fuss: I have to get a visa to enter the US and any of its dependencies (US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico), and this has been so since ‘me grand pappy’ days’. And tell me, don’t we have to get a visa to travel to Venezuela, Brazil, Cuba and even Taiwan?

Let’s get real, man. We can’t expect that a man will forever allow us into his country to behave as we feel like. The question is, though: When are we going to introduce the same requirements for nationals of some of these countries who have imposed it on us?

Garnet, N.Y.

V

10. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

The Canada VISA imposition and the NDP The Issue

When Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves announced that Canada was about to institute visa restrictions in respect of Vincentians travelling to that country, there was much discussion in St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

For supporters of the ULP administration, this was not a surprising move by the Canadian government. Over the last fifteen years, the ULP, as a responsible political party, warned Vincentians against applying for refugee status anywhere, including Canada. In opposition, the ULP warned Vincentians, particularly women, to desist from this practice.

In government, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Sir Louis Straker, Rene Baptiste, Sir Vincent Beache, Joseph “Burns” Bonadie and Mike Browne, to name a few, all advocated against Vincentians applying for refugee status in Canada.

Sadly, these appeals fell on deaf ears, and so all Vincentians will have to find additional funds to obtain a visa from the Canadian Embassy in Port of Spain, before they travel to Canada.

Bad mouthing St.Vincent and the Grenadines Any application made by a Vincentian to the Canadian authorities for refugee status, will contain a number of lies and half-truths on this beloved country, and to some extent on our citizens.

The application will say that there is no law and order in this country; that the economic conditions are so terrible that they cannot exist here; that there is no protection for women, that they have been abused, raped, and molested; that their lives have been threatened, and that the ULP administration has mounted a campaign of political victimization against them.

A perusal of the website where the appeal cases can be found, indicates how far these Vincentians will go to remain in Canada. In some cases, the applicants use the names of persons who are not aware of the abuses they are supposed to have committed!

Several Vincentian males are seeing their names on Canadian court documents for the first time, and they are perplexed. Vincentians, particularly females, have been using all sorts of ruses to “beat the system” illegally.

Invariably, such persons will be caught by the authorities, and they will have to pay for the consequences of their actions.

The NDP response Unlike the ULP in opposition, the NDP behave irresponsibly on this issue.

The expectation was that the NDP, if it was a party with a certain amount of national consciousness, would have persuaded Vincentians against applying for refugee status. Not so!

Instead the NDP, including its leaders and senior members, have encouraged, and aided and abetted the efforts of Vincentians in this regard.

The leader of the NDP, Arnhim Eustace, publicly stated that he had assisted Vincentians in their application for refugee status. St.Clair Leacock, the member for Central Kingstown, bragged that he had taken a similar action. There are newspaper reports that two other leading members, one a lawyer, and the other a gender rights advocate, were involved in this process.

Here is more evidence that the NDP should be described as a party that is un-patriotic, with no good intentions to

Vincentians and to this country. Here is further evidence that the NDP will do anything within its power, to unseat the ULP administration. And here is more evidence that the NDP is not fit for governance in this country.

More NDP lies As is the custom, rather than seek to repent for their actions, the NDP tries to shift the focus of Vincentians away from their support for the refugee applicants, to find some reason to show that the ULP is responsible for the imposition of the visa status. They claim the visa status was imposed because our passport is faulty. That is a lie, and this can be confirmed by the diplomatic note from the Canadian Embassy in Bridgetown.

For the record, our machine readable passport has many security features that have been commended by many nations, including the government of the United Kingdom. A reputable Canadian company, Canadian Banknote, is responsible for the production of our passports, and they have done a fantastic job.

They further claim that the Canadian administration is not happy with our diplomatic relations with countries like Iran and Venezuela.

Again this is another lie, since there is no evidence to suggest that this is the case.

The NDP goes further by claiming that Comrade Ralph is responsible for the number of refugee applications, since it was his administration that created the harsh economic conditions in the country. That is another lie.

There are no harsh economic conditions in the country.

To compound this, spokespersons for the NDP are claiming that a number of Cubans, Venezuelans and other foreign nationals, have acquired Vincentian passports, and are using these documents to enter Canada. That is another dastardly lie.

The NDP must face up to the fact that that party is culpable in the implementation of visa restrictions against the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Now when our citizens encounter problems travelling to Toronto or Montreal, they must hold Arnhim Eustace, St. Clair Leacock and the NDP to account. Not once did they lift their voices, not once did they lift their hands, to persuade Vincentians not to apply for refugee status. Instead they supported the process, and for this we must find them guilty as charged.

The way forward Now Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves and the ULP administration will begin the process of consultation with the Canadian government, to address the matter of the lifting of the visa restriction. This process will be intensive and may take awhile.

Meanwhile, Vincentians are urged to make early arrangements to apply for the Canadian visas, when they are about to travel to Canada. This process will be costly, since it involves travelling to Trinidad and Tobago.

Unfortunately, this process will affect all Vincentians, whether or not you support the ULP or the NDP. But it is the NDP that has placed us in this disadvantageous position.

Public Servants: ‘Baawling Fu Murdooo’ under the ULP Administration!

The Public Service of St.Vincent and the Grenadines is gripped by a state of fear and intimidation. The morale within the service is at an all time low- with low levels of productivity, drive and initiative. Staff in many departments cannot tell whether their respective department is moving ahead, stagnant or regressing.

At no other time have we seen a more politicized, apathetic, fearful and disenfranchised civil service as we are seeing today. After a decade in office, many ULP supporters now realize that the “pie” cannot be shared and that they have been deceived “big time” by Ralph Gonsalves who promised the Vincentian people so much prior to the 2001 elections. He simply cannot deliver.

The legacy of the ULP administration will surely be that it was the party which created the highest degree of divisiveness, fear, nepotism, intimidation and corruption within the public service and, one that promoted incompetence among a small but autocratic group of its supporters.

Since the advent of the ULP, the majority of public servants are just plain fed up of the way in which the service is being managed. Many of the ULP supporters within the service are even feeling the squeeze. To say that they are disappointed in the performance and actions of the ULP is grossly understated.

It has been long established that politics and administration are inextricably intertwined, thus making administration a political process. What then should be the relationship between civil servants and the cabinet executive/politicians? Such a relationship implies the necessity for a two way communication flow, coordination of policy, mutual respect and easy access to each other. While the civil service exists primarily to implement the policies of the government, it ought to do so within a framework of established principles and guidelines of administration that is objective, transparent and free from political interference, pressure and intimidation.

Civil servants are suffocating The incompetent ULP cabinet, headed by arguably, the region’s best talker, who is devoid of substance, is unable to make a clear distinction between the policy making function of cabinet and the administration/executing function of the public service. Since assuming the reins of power, the line of distinction between the two functions which existed before March 2001 and which is necessary for the maintenance of an objective system of administration, has now completely disappeared.

Fuelled by a climate of intimidation, the deliberate actions by the ULP regime to directly undertake the administrative function of the civil service, serves only to render the civil service as an ineffective and demoralized organization.

So functions such as employment to the service, appointment, trainingparticularly overseas training, transfers, promotion, and retirement are now carried out de facto by the executive of the ULP government. The Service Commissions Department (SCD), the agency responsible for personnel has been largely reduced to the role of rubber-stamping. It certainly has lost its effectiveness in the proper management of the Public Service personnel. After all, “you do not bite the hand that feeds you”. This fact is very well understood by the chairman of the Commission and the Chief Personnel Officer.

Ralph runs the show Whenever civil servants go to the CPO with their legitimate concerns, the advice is always the same, “…go see the ‘big man’ (Papa Ralph)”. So if you want a job in the service, a promotion or appointment, you have to go and see PM Gonsalves. What a shame!

Gonsalves is running the civil service as an extension of his private house. The service is being micro-managed. There is absolutely no action taken without his knowledge and approval. He sanctions all activities relating to personnel. You are not expected to get anywhere if you are perceived as an NDP supporter. Such subjective practices of managing the Human Resources, undermine the culture of neutrality, and adversely affect the system of productivity and of its capacity for generating and implementing positive changes in the public service.

Transfer within the service While the regulations state that an officer can be transferred to any equivalent post within the service, this measure is often abused and misused by those in authority as a weapon of punishment for civil servants. And what is the crime committed by these hardworking civil servants to warrant such a punishment? They are punished when they are assertive, which is often misinterpreted as being disrespectful.

They are punished for speaking out against poor management styles of the head of department. And even if the behaviour of some officers adversely affects the functioning of the department, is transferring that person the solution? Won’t you be transferring the problem to another department?

Many transferees are sent to other departments widely regarded as ‘hard area’ departments. These persons are never given prior consultation; never told why they were transferred or what their job at the new department would be. The current practice regarding transfers has absolutely nothing to do with succession planning.

The prevailing climate of fear and intimidation Civil servants are now unwilling to offer their objective opinion and constructive criticism of a minister’s policy decision or actions, or the management style of the head of department, for fear of being marginalized, transferred against their will or overlooked for promotion and training. The arrogance and incompetence of the Gonsalves bunch feed into the psyche of the civil service, resulting in among other things, the paper shuffling and passing-the- buck syndrome that so often lowers the morale throughout the entire public service.

This wicked and vindictive ULP government, which once made a call for a state of “together now”, carries out the most wicked acts of nepotism and spitefulness ever experienced within the Public Service. Quite a large number of eligible public servants can’t wait to take early retirement. Their main reason being that they can still enjoy a good state of mind and longer life.

Many of them feel that if they remain on the job for the five years (50-55) that they are likely to lose their sanity or worse, die of work-related stress.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. 11.

Views

The threefold cord WomenÊs rule,

“Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Ecclesiastes 4:11-12 THE ANCIENT GREEKS had mastered the art of supporting each other in battle. The early Roman soldiers also engaged in similar techniques when they went into battle. They were always considered a formidable force and foe when they banded their shields together to create a “mobile shell of shields” as they penetrated the defences of their enemies. On occasions they would use that same “banding of the shields together” to create an impregnable wall of metal as their enemies sought to penetrate their legions on the battlefield. Persons who view the movies Troy or Gladiator would see this military strategy at work. The usefulness of this military manoeuvre is also evident in the movie Three Hundred which portrayed the historic event of 300 Spartans holding 10,000 Persians at bay. We can learn useful lessons from this ancient military approach; if we try to go it alone, we are likely to be “picked off”; but when we band together, we protect and preserve self and others. An analogy that also reflects this truth is when we consider placing pressure on a single piece of stick or a cord and being able to break it relatively easily; but place a few sticks or cords together, and the task becomes much more difficult – the threefold cord is not easily broken.

Many groups and organisations are seeing the benefit of encouraging teamwork; pooling strengths and resources for a common good. This is commendable and should be encouraged. We could expand this concept to also expound the benefits of trade unions, credit unions, friendly societies, the “sue-sue hand”, and so on; relatively small units contributing to the greater whole.

We can take this concept into our homes, schools, church assemblies, and service organisations, knowing that when we pool our assets and band together, we can accomplish so much more than if we tried to do it all by ourselves.

The Rocky Balboa films, starring Sylvester Stallone, were quite popular just around a decade ago.

Many viewers may not have known that Stallone, in addition to being the main character in the films, also wrote and produced the Rocky series.

In the final episode (Rocky VI), Balboa is portrayed as a retired underdog boxer and the owner and operator of a local Italian restaurant in Philadelphia, USA. In this film, Rocky comes up against Mason “The Line’ Dixon, the current World Heavyweight Champion in the film.

Initially, it appears as though Rocky was “completely out of his league” and that his opponent would utterly destroy him. However, Rocky, bruised and seriously battered, won.

The story shows how a disciplined and committed team approach could enable individuals to overcome

Vynnette and Bayliss

seemingly insurmountable odds; working together can accomplish so much more than trying to do it alone.

It is interesting to note that Sylvester Stallone subsequently revealed that his faith in Jesus Christ actually encouraged him to write the script for the Rocky series. Stallone explained that for a long time, his life had been guided by a focus on being self-reliant. He described this as a very poor way of living. Stallone later concluded that we all need to have other persons play supporting roles in our lives, regardless of how independent we may wish to appear.

He put it this way, “You need to have the expertise and the guidance of someone else.” This outstanding actor and film producer encourages us to seek out good persons to accompany us along life’s journey.

He concluded that we all need people in our life ... and we all need God. We were designed to be social beings; not loners. We need to encourage and be encouraged by others. We need to understand and appreciate the value of the threefold cord.

There will be times when life’s situations may appear to suck the winds from my sails, and we may even appear to be drifting aimlessly, tossed about and battered by life’s strong waves. At times like those, we need someone to support and encourage us on the course back to successful living. And there will be times when we will be relatively safe and secure, but the currents will batter and toss others. Those are times when you and I will be expected to come to their rescue. We can support each other along life’s oceans, and in doing so, we discover new lands of success through cooperation and displaying genuine care and concern; wrapping our cords of love around each other.

There are so many instances where we can be considered unstoppable when we embrace this power of “the threefold cord”; when we rely on each other and demonstrate a reliance on God. King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, advocated the fact that individualism and/or selfreliance can be dangerous and destructive. As a matter of fact, he recommends the team approach when he noted that two acting together are better than one self-reliant individual (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). We can learn from his wisdom. We can band together and make beautiful things happen in our lives, our homes, our church assemblies and our communities. Together, each of us can achieve more. Together, we can strengthen the beautiful fabric of our society and know that the threefold cord is not easily broken.

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

FOR THE FIRST TIME in the 45year history of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, a woman, Janice Gregoire, sits at the helm as the Chief Justice.

Justice Gregoire presided over the opening of the new law term on Tuesday, in Kingstown.

The elevation of Justice Gregoire caps a stellar career in which she performed outstanding work in various areas of the legal profession: as a private attorney, registrar, high court judge and justice of the court of appeal.

As her peers on the bench as well as attorneys who worked with her or practise before her all attested, Justice Gregoire is a model of modesty, strength, strong will, intellect and erudition. To read her decisions is to be enlightened on the finer points of law. She is the living embodiment of a key tenet of the justice system that ‘justice must not only be done, justice must appear to have been done’.

As Chief Justice, Justice Gregoire is uniquely positioned to ensure that the architecture for a strong and authentic Caribbean jurisprudence is reinforced and further developed. The selection of Justice Gregoire continues a long tradition of outstanding regional jurists climbing to the helm of our judiciary. We are confident that Justice Gregoire will continue to perform outstandingly as she leads our court at the task of making good law.

But if Justice Gregoire is a model of what our judiciary exemplifies, lawyer and opposition senator Vynnette Fredericks continues to let her politics get the better of her, as she makes poor decisions and contemptuous statements regarding our court.

It will be long before any keen observer forgets Frederick’s infantile actions of posting on Facebook ULP candidate Luke Browne in the docks at the Magistrate’s Court. The criminal action was dismissed.

Frederick compounded her reckless action by taking pictures of the proceedings of parliament.

Nothing surprised us when Frederick declared that she expected the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, at a sitting here last Monday, to throw out her application for permission to appeal to our highest court, the London based Privy Council. Frederick is quoted in the mid week edition of Searchlight as saying ‘I expected to be denied. We will now make our application directly to the Privy Council.’

Plain Talk was in court when the new Chief Justice, Janice Gregoire, read the decision of the court. In making that decision to deny the applications of Frederick, Linton Lewis and Nigel Stephenson, the chief judge pointed to legal precedent and concluded that the applications did not meet the legal threshold necessary to allow our court to send the matter for review to London.

The rabblerousing Frederick gave the distinct impression that she knew the court was going to rule against the weight of the law. To claim that you expect a court to rule against you is to either admit that your application was meritless or that the court, before which the applications

were heard, is bias or easily swayed by forces opposed to the opposition.

The truth is that this charge by Frederick and others in the opposition NDP is nothing new; they ‘cherry pick’ decisions made by our justices all the time. If and when the court rules in the opposition’s favour, those decisions are held up as gospel. But woe to the court if, as it usually does, it rules against this unruly band!

There is never the reasoned, if strident, argument that the court may have wrongly applied the law. The hue and cry is always that the court is bias and prone to political interference.

The plain truth is that our court is hard working, fiercely independent as well as judicially and jurisprudentially sound. By sheer work load and the frequency with which our court is overturned, studies have found that our Court of Appeals is reversed less often by the Privy Council than cases taken by the English Supreme Court from its own appeal court.

But these facts mean nothing to a merry band intent on stoking heat rather than cast an illuminating or knowledge awakening light. This is the light in which contemptuous and slanderous utterances of lawyer and opposition activist Bayliss Frederick must be viewed.

Frederick, appearing last Thursday on the NICE Radio programme ‘NDP Night Time,’ which is hosted by his daughter Vynnette, said that Gonsalves was in a mad rush to replace the British Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) because Gonsalves could easily control Adrian Saunders, the sole Vincentian jurist on the court.

Apart from the insulting inference that Justice Saunders, known for his fierce independence, could be bought, Frederick seems not to have an understanding of how the CCJ works.

Assume for a moment that Justice Saunders is in Gonsalves’ pocket, he Saunders, will have to convince at least two other justices from a 4-judge panel to vote with him.

But when her father uttered his slander of Justice Saunders, Vynnette Frederick, Dr Linton Lewis, Dr Godwin Friday, as officers of the court, should have promptly move to disavow the nonsense claim of the senior Frederick. Even the opposition leader should have disavowed them.

No such statement was heard.

Vynnette Frederick took the ‘safe’ but opportunistic road of disassociating the NDP and herself from her father’s mess.

The statements of Vynnette Frederick and her father are further proof that politics has gone too far.

When lawyers, especially Drs Lewis and Friday, remain quiet in the face of this tirade, we lose a good chance to uplift our nation.

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

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12. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Opinion

Salary increases: Yes for PM, no for Public Servants SVG Green Party strongly calls on PM Gonsalves to urgently attend to paying the Public Services Union its 3% increase in wages, due since January 2011. The call is based on three factors: (1) erosion by inflation; (2) the opportunity cost; (3) PM Gonsalves received a massive increase in salary in 2011 amounting to $6686 (Source SVG Budget Estimates for 2011).

The table illustrates the serious loss caused by erosion. A public servant has lost $86.40 on an inflation rate of 4% over the two year period.

Salary Salary

3% increase

2 years’ inflation at 4%

$36,000

$2,160

$86.40

The opportunity cost is quite significant to all concerned. A public servant could have used the $2160 to improve the quality of life for his/her family, but was not able to do so. Yet Gonsalves, SVG’s super Minister of Finance, was able to give himself a massive increase of $6686 and so improve the quality of life for his family. Is Gonsalves’ action an abuse of power in public office? Is Gonsalves managing SVG as if it were his private estate?

Research by Mr Ivan O’Neal, the Leader of SVG Green Party, has revealed that PM Gonsalves received a massive salary increased from $133,767 in 2010 to $140,453 in 2011, a net increase of $6686.

Gonsalves also received a multitude of travel allowances. Since the 2003 Freedom of Information ACT has not yet been gazetted, SVG Green Party cannot get access to Gonsalves’ travel allowances for 2011.

The ULP regime gets on average $8 million per month from the petro—Caribe oil agreement. This money has a 20-year grace period before being repaid. The $5 million owed to the public service is a drop in the ocean for the ULP regime if paid out of Petro Caribe. SVG Green Party, therefore, makes a very strong call on the ULP regime to urgently attend to the PSU and its 3% wage increase.

It must be seen as a slap in the face of the SVG PSU, that Gonsalves gave permission for a loan of $5 million from ECCB, out of SVG’s quota, to the Government of Grenada to pay a 2% salary increase to its Public Servants.

Gonsalves is a brilliant Minister of Finance. In 2007, Gonsalves killed the National Commercial Bank (NCB) with an outrageous overdraft of $170 million. In 2007, Gonsalves spent $63 million dollars of tax payers’ money without the prior approval of

the SVG House of Assembly. In 2008, Gonsalves became the first SVG Minister of Finance in our history to fail the audit of public accounts.

Gonsalves maintains the blanket tax and customs duty exemptions given to Mustique, Canouan and Taiwan, which equate to a multimillion dollar loss for the SVG treasury annually. This shortsighted tax exemption regime is a gross injustice to the poor and to the disadvantaged. The recipients of blanket tax and customs exemptions are using a Charity Trust to socially engineer their justification for the multi-million dollar tax exemptions. It is a gross insult.

Blanket tax and customs duty exemptions to the super rich, in these times of economic hardship is political suicide for Gonsalves. History will show this is a fact.

Under a Green Government, there will be an egalitarian tax regime to promote equilibrium in the benefits from SVG’s 150 sq miles of land space and over 10,000 sq miles of sea space. Going Green will provide justice for the rich, justice for the poor and justice for the disadvantaged in SVG. Green is prosperity.

SVG Green Party www.svggreenparty.org

May it please the Court THE NEW LAW term opened here a few days ago with the accustomed attempt at pomp and ceremony. There did not seem, however, to be any single aspect of the proceedings to which one can ascribe the quality of generating of the retrieval of trust in the institution, some of whose officers have prompted in the wider society the perception of being untrustworthy. The parading of familiar faces of those at whom accusations of not quite honourable nature have been associated, could hardly have been expected to enhance the desirable faith and confidence in the Court.

The opening remarks of the Ag. Chief Justice Lady Pereira reminded us that the Court is determined by the Heads of Government of the member territories, and there have been too many expressions of lack of faith in the ultimate independence of a court whose members may in fact harbor a sense of indebtedness to the political players for their appointments. There have been too many examples experienced by us here in St.

Vincent for us not to be wary of those risks of having the delivery of justice being thwarted by vindictive men.

I would like to use this opportunity to ask the Court to have a look at the conditions at our Registry, to see whether what prevails there is in harmony with the court’s attendant services. For years now, letters from Chow have been appearing in the local newspapers, drawing the attention of the authorities to the need for urgent remedial action. Up to now, there has not been any documented support for Chow by any member of the ‘law community’. The people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines would be grateful if the Court could bring its influence to bear on this most important institutional player in the efficient delivery of justice to the people of the region.

Attorney General of SVG, Judith Jones-Morgan, may well have expressed some assuring niceties to the Court, which I was not impressed with, because I was remembering that my attorney at law, Mr. Errol Layne, an

officer of the Court of many years standing, wrote to the Attorney General Mrs. Morgan, on my behalf, on 1st June 2010; but up to today he has had no reply from the honourable lady.

A few weeks ago, I learned that other people have been experiencing the same discourtesy from her.

Little wonder then that I am inclined to join with many other citizens and dismiss the occasion of the The historic Court House building sits as a central mark in capital opening of the Law Kingstown.

Court as merely an exposition of shallow The real test of sincerity will pomp and empty ceremony.

Leroy A. Providence come in the coming months.

V Vincies in US say Canada visa policy ÂunfortunateÊ

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. 13.

Diaspora

by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; neloking@msn.com US CORRESPONDENT

MOST VINCENTIANS in the United States have expressed regret over the imposition of visa requirement for nationals entering Canada.

Last week, Canada’s Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced that nationals from St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia now need a visa to enter the country.

The new requirement also covers citizens from Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland.

Vincent and the Grenadines,” added the New Grounds native and United Nations’ Development Officer. “Financial remittances have helped in a huge way our economic and social situation.

“Attempts by any country that hosts Vincentian migrants, to place restrictions on Vincentian migrants, would negatively impact us,” continued Haywood, a St. Martin’s Secondary School alumnus.

“There’s bound to be serious consequences for SVG (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) as a result of the revocation of the visa-exempt status by Canada.

“On the other hand, Canada wants to decrease as much as possible irregular migration; and it wants to ensure that immigration is done on the basis of honesty in terms of the reason immigrants give for wanting to enter Canada,” Haywood said.

“Hence, there is a need to come to a solution, where the interests of both countries are respected,” he added.

son of the biannual massive symposium hosted by Club St. Vincent, a Brooklynbased group, said it’s “very unfortunate that these restrictions are being put in place.

“However, people have been warned by so many people on so many occasions,” said Club St. Vincent’s public relations officer, who hails from Paul’s Avenue, Kingstown.

“Obviously, the warnings fell on deaf ears,” she added.

“The chickens come home to roost.”

O’Brien Simmons

Brought it on ourselves

James Cordice

A sad thing

Maxwell Haywood

Migration important “The migration situation between Canada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines is very unfortunate,” Maxwell Haywood, chairman of the Brooklyn-based St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Diaspora Committee of New York, told THE VINCENTIAN, in reacting to the news.

“Migration has been an important aspect of our development process in St.

Verna Arthur

Unfortunate Verna Arthur, chairper-

“Once a country gets labeled, it’d be labeled in other countries as well, such as England,” Cordice continued.

James Cordice, public relations officer of the Philadelphia-based St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Association of Pennsylvania, said while the news is “a sad thing,” the Canadian government “has to protect its borders.”

“Though it’s sad, we also have to be sensitive to the provisions of the Canadian government,” he said.

“We, as Vincentians, have to address our domestic policies,” the Clare Valley native added. “Vincentians and the Vincentian government have to take a stand against slandering, such as [charges of] domestic violence.

about the visa requirement.

“There’s nothing we can do, neither can the government.”

Unreliable travel document Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Canada’s immigration agency, said on Sept. 11 that the changes will allow it and its partners “to ensure that those seeking to visit Canada intend to return to their country of origin, rather than overstaying or committing other immigration violations.

“A key reason why the government has imposed visa requirements on St. Lucia and St. Vincent is unreliable travel documents,” it said.

“In particular, criminals from these countries can legally change their names and acquire new passports,” it added, stating that, in some instances, “people who were removed from Canada as security risks later returned using different passports.”

Kenney said the changes were necessary because “all the countries concerned have an immigration violation rate of over 30 percent, well above the level we deem acceptable for countries benefiting from a visa exemption.”

O’Brien Simmons, who coordinates the annual trek to 1,000 Is. in Canada for the Brooklyn-based Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Organizations, U.S.A. Inc. (COSAGO), said the new immigration policy would be “a big problem” for nationals at home.

He, however, hastened to add: “We brought that on ourselves. What can we do?”

Simmons, who is also COSAGO’s treasurer and president of the Brooklynbased Bequia United Progressive Organization (BUPO), said he recalled Louis Straker, ex-Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, urging nationals to desist from filing for refugee status in Canada and making false claims of rampant spousal and domestic abuse in the country.

Vincentians will to have to get a “That’s our own visa much like this one to be doing,” said Simmons allowed entry into Canada.

V Workplace related documents complete 14. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

News

MINISTER OF LABOUR, Hon. Maxwell Charles has taken possession, on behalf of the government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, of two documents related to health matters and the workplace.

In a brief handing over ceremony at the NIS Training Room on Monday, September 17, the minister accepted copies of the completed drafts of the SVG National Tripartite Workplace Policy Document on HIV and AIDS and the SVG National Tripartite Workplace Policy on Non — communicable Diseases (NCD’s).

They were handed over

by Rene Baptiste, Consultant for the International Labour Congress on Labour Policies.

In accepting the documents, Charles said that he was pleased to be a part of the exercise, and congratulated all parties involved in crafting the important documents.

In addition to having influence on the workplace, Charles also expressed the view that the documents would lend direction in this country’s effort to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS, combat the stigma associated with the disease and assist with establishing effective counseling, treatment and care.

Charles expects that the documents will be continually reviewed so as to remain relevant.

In his addressing at the ceremony, Labour Commissioner Fitz Jones

underscored the significance against those with of the documents to the HIV\AIDS,” Jones implored. work environment.

Consultant for the ILO on He noted that in the the Labour Policies, Rene workplace “we are exposed Baptiste, and to persons who are affected Representative of the St.

by Non- Communicable Vincent and the Grenadines Diseases and HIV\AIDS,” Employers Federation, and advised that “As Phyllis John Primus, also workers and employees we gave brief remarks at the have to be prepared to deal morning ceremony. with these realities.”

Jones said HIV/AIDs Maxwell Charles, must be looked at in the Minister of Labour, same manner as diabetes or assured that the any other nondocuments will be continually reviewed so communicable disease, since as to remain up to date. they are all serious illnesses.

“We do not discriminate against those with NCDs, so we should not discriminate

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY

Too many children are unsupervised children to reason.”

She repeated her assessment that CHIEF EDUCATION OFFICER the practice of Texting “will sustain Louann Gilchrist is echoing a the poor standard.” statement that has been long spelt Gilchrist also pointed to the use of out. That is: the home is the first place dialect. For the CEO, dialect is that children get their education. “helpful,” but she warned parents and In that light, Gilchrist is students “to make yourself familiar encouraging parents not only to with standard English.” maintain strict supervision of their As regards performances in Maths, children, but also to ensure that they Gilchrist will like to see parents and develop some discipline towards their teachers as well make use of “real life school work. experiences.”

The Chief Education Officer was She warned parents not to chase speaking last Monday at a press children out of the kitchen when they conference staged at the Ministry of are preparing meals, but to allow Transport and Works Conference them to have practical examples of Room. things used in and around the Gilchrist lamented the poor household. performance in Mathematics and “Home is the first locus of English obtained by many Vincentian education,” Gilchrist indicated. students.

As far as Gilchrist is concerned, She attributed the low grades in English teaching is not for English English to the speaking and writing teachers only. She pointed to English habits by some students. as part of the entire social exercise.

She pointed out that some students Gilchrist lamented the situation were speaking in “restricted codes.” whereby some children were being This she asserted was preventing molested at their homes. She also them from “thinking logically.” pointed to the fact that children at the That absence in creative thinking centre of custody battles between she analysed resulted from students parents tended to be at a having become used to “texting.” disadvantage as far as obtaining their The Ministry of Education has been education was concerned. taking measures to resolve that Gilchrist noted that a child situation, and Gilchrist pointed to molested cannot learn tables at school. improved teacher knowledge.

She used the occasion to advise But the CEO pointed to “more mothers in particular to stay at home parental involvement in developing with their children rather than going language art skills.” to a dance hall.

Gilchrist stressed the importance of For Gilchrist “too many children are parents and guardians getting their unsupervised.” children to “read for pleasure.”

She asserted that parents must not She stressed the importance of simply fulfill their biological role, but early stimulation, and encouraged also fill in with ensuring that their parents to “engage the children in social, academic, and psychological reading.” responsibilities are complete.

She noted that reading “helps

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. 15.

Arts

Krazy Komedy blows Mustique away

others falling under the weight of their own THE KRAZY KOMEDY laughter.

KREW, a drama group Many among the which specializes in audience reported that entertainment with a slant they will never forget on humour, were the ‘The Interview Segment.’ guests of the Mustique “I just can’t remember Professionals what the answer to the Toastmasters Club at a question was — it was so show, held in Mustique on crazy — but I know the Friday 14th September. whole idea of the The show, dubbed interview is what I will ‘Happy Comedy Zone’, always remember,” one was held at the Mustique overwhelmed patron Community Centre. The programme consisted of a number of items or speeches and poetry from the Mustique Professionals Toastmasters Club, interspersed with the Krazy Komedy Krew’s repertoire.

by GLORIAH… President of the club, Toastmaster Roger The 10th Annual Charles, opened the National Dance Festival, function. With prayers hosted by the and the welcoming of Department of Culture in guests out of the way, the Ministry of Tourism, Master of Ceremonies, Sport and Culture with Area Governor Mr. Ryan exclusive sponsorship Hazell, took over, from the Kingstown signaling the start of an Cooperative Credit evening of hilarity.

Union Ltd. (KCCU), The Krazy Komedy Krew proved their worth. began with a bang on They dished out humour Saturday, 15th September, at the Peace in song, commentary, Memorial Hall. and skits. The Performances were versatility of the actors seen in both the never ceased to amaze the audience. The skits, ‘Traditional’ and ‘Hip Hop’ dance categories, in particular, served to with participants coming tickle many a funny from schools and bone, and had persons jumping into the air and community groups.

by GLORIAH…

remarked loudly.

As if all that was not enough, Founder and Artistic Director of the Krazy Komedy Krew and international stand-up comedian, Gloria Williams took to the stage to deliver a discourse which she called, ‘It’s a Y2K World’.

What began as a commentary evolved into a hilarious rapport with the audience, some of

whom jumped with explosions of laughter when a member of the audience was picked upon.

This show was a definite success, and much kudos go out to the Mustique Professionals for conceptualizing, organizing and executing such a show.

The patrons who attended clamoured for a repeat, and this is

currently being looked into, with November this year being highly favoured.

Right: Gloria Williams, comedienne extraordinaire and founder and artistic director of the Krazy Komedy Krew.

KCCU Dance Festival off to a good start the C.W. Prescod Primary Schools, and from the Renaissance Dancers.

A traditional dance is The C. W. Prescod one which, over time, has Primary received a Gold been developed by Award for an excellent, members of a community well-synchronized dance. and has some bearing on The other groups all aspects of the lifestyle of received Silver Awards. the people in the past.

With these types of Traditional Quadrille dances, there is room for dance subtle and eventual overt additions.

The Quadrille, which The two traditional is purported to be dances performed at the derived from the slaves’ festival were the mimicking of their Maypole and the masters’ European Quadrille. Entries in the ballroom dance style, Maypole came from the saw entries from four Brighton Methodist, the groups: the St. Mary’s R. Kingstown Preparatory, C. School, the Junior

Traditional Maypole dance

Recorders for C. W. Prescod School THE MUSIC PROGRAMME at the C. W. Prescod Primary School got a boost earlier this week, when a quantity of recorders was presented to the institution.

The presentation was made by Christopher Cumberbatch, on behalf of Cordell and Cynthia Beache of the United States of America and their ‘Travelling Love Suitcase Programme’.

The Programme is geared towards helping needy individuals and institutions here in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Kesslon Wilson, the school’s music teacher, said he was grateful for the donation of the recorders as they would

help “to prop up the efforts of teaching the rudiments of subject areas to the students.”

Wilson said that there are several students who are very adept at playing the recorder; however, they cannot afford to purchase one.

Sharing Wilson’s sentiments was new principal of the school, Yvette Antoine.

Apart from the recorder, students at the institution are exposed to the playing of the steel pan, and the bom drum as part of its music programme.

The school recently launched an all-male choir, to complement the school’s mixed choir, and has already established a creative dance troupe,

The Junior Dance Club into the Quadrille dance.

Dance Club, the St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown, and the Renaissance Dancers.

The St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown took brave steps to more clearly define the female in the dance and to remove the verbal announcement of the ‘figures’ in the dance, choosing rather to let all figures run smoothly through the performance, without interruption of voice. For this, they received a Gold Award.

The Junior Dance Club also received a Gold Award, with the St. Mary’s R. C. School and the Renaissance Dancers receiving Silver Awards.

Hip Hop dance

Yvette Antoine (right) accepts donation of recorders and other music teaching material from Christopher Cumberbatch (left) in the company of Kesslon Wilson. which is involved in keeping alive traditional dance, like the maypole.

The C. W. Prescod Primary School won the

Schools’ Panorama Competition during the 2012 national carnival celebrations.

Hip Hop is a dance that has evolved out of the ‘breakdance’ culture.

Primarily a street dance, it has been open to innovations over the years and now includes influences from other dance styles. It is uniquely energetic and allows the dancer to inject his own personality into the dance.

The audience was treated to four group performances and two

solo performances in this category. The groups were the: Junior Dance Club, St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown, Kaotic Dancers, and the Touchdown Dancers.

The solos came from Jeanine Knights and Rondine Browne of the St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown.

Very creditable choreographic routines were observed through dances which completely thrilled the audience.

Gold Awards were handed out to the Junior Dance Club, Kaotic Dancers, Touchdown Dancers, and Rondine Browne of the SJCK. A Silver Award went to the SJCK group; while Jeanine Knights received a Bronze Award.

More to come The festival will continue at the same venue with Creative Folk and Social Dances on Saturday, 22nd September, and Modern Dances on Saturday, 29th September. The Finals will be held on October 6th, when all Gold Medal awardees will perform and vie for specific titles.

16. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

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

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18. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

People

Theresa Cyrus: A good and faithful servant

by GLORIAH… WHEN THE 2012-2013 academic year began on September 3rd, 2012, one teacher, who has been very passionate about her profession, did not enter the accustomed doors of her beloved institution.

That teacher was Mrs. Theresa Cyrus, a long standing teacher and virtual icon of the St. Mary’s Roman Catholic School.

After a stint of some thirty-five years of illustrious service, Mrs. Cyrus retired as a teacher at that school on July 6th, 2012.

In an exclusive conversation with THE VINCENTIAN, Mrs. Cyrus, mother of three children, Abuza Nimeh, Kerishia, and Marissa, and grandmother of four, reminisced about activities at the school, almost reliving and reenacting the memories as she recounted her story.

A teacher worthy of note Mrs. Cyrus entered the teaching profession “straight out of secondary school — the St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown - in 1977,” when she was sent to “teach’ at the St. Mary’s Roman

Both Theresa Cyrus and Sis. Ivy Pacheco share a joint ‘pre-retirement’ moment at a special function hosted by the management and staff of the school.

Catholic School (SMRC), having been employed directly by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, managers of the school.

In 1980, she became officially employed by the government Theresa Cyrus ensured that her cares were exposed to of St. Vincent activities outside of the classroom. and the Grenadines, She fondly remembers accompanying but remained at the SMRC, where she Courtney Williams to compete in the There was always time to offer that spent most of her teaching life as an Junior Calypso Competition during the little extra care and attention to Infant Teacher. She also taught at the Carnival celebrations at Victoria Park. those who came under her care.

Junior Three level for a while.

Courtney won that year, and Mrs. Cyrus Persons from all walks of life, who recalls how she had to encourage him a teacher,” Mrs. Cyrus announced would have attended the school, would throughout the competition, and how emphatically. “You give to the children simply hear the name of Mrs. Cyrus and euphoric his win was. and you receive from them. I learned immediately associate it with an from them as much knowledge as I endearing quality and an abundant She’ll never forget imparted to them. We always got from quantity of patience and love. This the children what they knew, and built would be immediately coupled with With a faraway look that reflected on it.” memories of a serious ability to dispense pleasure, Mrs. Cyrus spoke of occasions These days, she takes the opportunity knowledge in a way that made it easy for which will always remain with her. She to enjoy the outdoors more, assisting her all to understand, and a firmness which confessed that much of her inspiration husband, Wayne, in the ‘land’. Together insisted on good discipline and for teaching came from the sessions in they produce a variety of vegetables and exemplary behavior. which Sr. Magdalene taught her how to fruits for sale to the general public.

According to Mrs. Cyrus, “Teaching in make lesson plans and how to teach, But, Mrs. Cyrus has not forgotten ‘her those days was less stressful. Children every afternoon of her first two years. school’. “Because it is my school, I still were always willing to learn because She remembers the yearly Christmas go back there and give volunteer service there were fewer distractions. Parents staff luncheons, for the relaxation they in the teaching of Religious Education were very co-operative and supportive of brought, “as the staff was ‘free to chittwo times per week,” she told THE teachers and their children.” chat’ in an atmosphere of festivity; and VINCENTIAN. also for the good food served up.”

Can’t keep a good soul down!!

Her other agenda A devout Catholic, Mrs. Cyrus will never forget the Lenten season In her very quiet yet impacting way, when “our children made notable Mrs. Cyrus’ work as a teacher also sacrifices for others. As a included extracurricular activities.

Catholic school, we encouraged Always an avid fan of the arts, she our students to look out for the entrenched her talents in cultural less fortunate in the community, performances of the school, like drama and this was more evident and singing, especially folk singing, and during the period of Lent.” rendering items for the local music She also keeps with her the festivals. discipline of SMRC and the faith To these, she added sports like netball in God taught there. This, she and athletics, and she always showed a said, was epitomized by the keen interest in the football teams of the school Motto: ‘With God We day. From1994, she travelled for years Can’. with Mr. Ian Sardine to Barbados to “We began every morning accompany boys who played in the with prayer and ended every Barbados Football Cup. afternoon with prayer. Many If there ever was a teacher on the past students still remember the staff of the SMRC who always believed prayers of SMRC,” she said with that students were well deserving of an conviction. outing, it was Mrs. Cyrus. She was She may be retired, but Theresa Cyrus always ready to organize and execute And now: connotes an air of contentment, knowing field trips that acted as exercises in that she has made an impacting contribution gaining knowledge and offering sheer “If I had to live my life over to education in this country. enjoyment for her charges. again and go back, I will still be

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. 19.

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20. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Opinion

Assistance to Grenada

September 17, 2012 Dear Editor,

I AM DISMAYED that the leadership of the Public Service Union (PSU) unreasonably criticised my decision to permit Grenada to use part of the allocation for St. Vincent and the Grenadines available for it at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB). They illadvisedly referred to it as a loan by St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Grenada in the sum of $5 million. They then compounded this profound misunderstanding of my decision by enveloping it in opportunistic distortions or falsehoods namely: That Grenada pays its civil servants better than St. Vincent and the Grenadines does; that I lent Grenada money to pay civil servants; and that this is the money which I should be using to pay Vincentian public servants their due increase.

Let me, for public information, explain the process by which the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines permitted the Government of Grenada to use a part of its allocation in the recent past.

At the beginning of each fiscal year the ECCB allocates, on the basis of a formula, access to financial resources for each member country with very clear limitations and conditions as set out in the ECCB Agreement. When countries reach that limit they can only have access if another country or countries make(s) available a part to the country in need. The country which receives the allocation has to replenish it as soon as possible but definitely by the end of the fiscal year before new allocations are made.

This facility has been in operation since the establishment of the ECCB in 1983, and has been used by countries with a pronounced short term volatility in revenues, which affects their cash flow and liquidity. This is part of the normal operations of a central bank in a currency union; that is, mutual assistance to maintain monetary and fiscal stability.

The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines never “lent” Grenada any money. I never sent any money to Grenada from the Consolidated Fund (the Treasury) or from any entity owned by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Last year, September 2011, the Minister of Finance of the Government of Grenada requested permission from me the use of $5 million of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ allocation at the ECCB. I gave permission for this to be done on the undertaking that the monies be replenished in five months’ time; the replenishment was done by Grenada. In July 2012, a similar request was made of me by Grenada in the sum of $4.5 million to be replenished before the end of October 2012. I again acceded to Grenada’s request.

The only real risk to St. Vincent and the Grenadines attendant upon my decision to assist Grenada as aforesaid is that if the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines were to have urgent need of those funds, prior to Grenada’s replenishment, they would not be available for the use of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The idea that Grenada would fail and/or refuse to replenish is unthinkable for members of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). In any event, at the end of each year, when accounts are rendered, the replenishment will occur as a matter of course.

Grenada is not the first or only member-state of the ECCU to which St. Vincent and the Grenadines has extended a helping hand in their time of

extreme fiscal distress. I had never, hitherto, made such help publicly known since I consider it to be a solemn unspoken obligation of solidarity with other member-states of the ECCU. That is part of what a currency union is about! It embarrasses St. Vincent and the Grenadines that its Prime Minister is virtually coerced by the leadership of the PSU, who ought to know better, to proclaim publicly its fulfillment of such an unspoken solidarity commitment. By so doing, the leadership of the PSU has cheapened our country and sullied its Christian grace in being “our brothers’ keeper”. I feel sure that the overwhelming majority of public servants are at one with me on this matter; they ought to make it known to their PSU leadership.

Remember this: Today for you; tomorrow for me.

That is the principle of mutuality established in the Currency Union.

Incidentally, I should point out that the Director General of Finance and Planning in the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Mr. Maurice Edwards, has advised me that the salaries of public servants in Grenada are lower, not higher as asserted by the PSU leadership, than the comparable salaries for public servants in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. But even if this were not so, my decision in the circumstances would have been no different. Mean-spiritedness is not in the make-up of the government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

More broadly, my government seeks always to uphold the precept and practice of a committed and mature regionalism as a vital matter of public policy. Its record is clear and unequivocal in this regard. Moreover, this is not the first publiclyknown case of specific assistance by St. Vincent and the Grenadines to our Caribbean brothers and sisters. Vincentians would no doubt recall the $3 million, low-interest loan which St. Vincent and the Grenadines made to Dominica in 2002 when that country was about to enter the temporary clutches of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). So, too, the $10 million loan to Belize by the National Insurance Services of St. Vincent and the Grenadines shortly after that country was struck by a hurricane, in particular the area known as Dangriga, the home of the descendants of our ancestral Garifuna forebears. These cases were publicised at the time because they involved actual loans of monies from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Grenada, like all Caribbean countries, has a very special place in the hearts, minds and souls of Vincentians. We have been selfless to Grenada; and Grenadians have been selfless to us. For example, at the time of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, when Patrick Manning, then Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago announced that he was making an initial grant of $10 million in the aggregate, available to Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in equal sums, I advised him to give it all to Grenada since our sister-island was “completely devastated” while St. Vincent and the Grenadines was merely “badly damaged”. Manning, in acknowledging St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ selflessness, gave the whole of the $10 million to Grenada, but still provided $5 million for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. That is solidarity!

In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, Vincentians poured out their hearts, souls, and wallets in generosity to Grenada even though St. Vincent and the Grenadines was badly damaged.

Several organisations, including a flotilla loaded with relief supplies, spearheaded by Sir James

Mitchell, came to Grenada’s aid. Our schools opened their doors to Grenadian students, free of cost. Indeed, one such visiting Grenadian student who excelled at the CAPE/”A” Levels Examinations received a special university scholarship from the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the name of the Grenadian-born Vincentian, Sir Sydney Gun-Munro, who toiled selflessly as a surgeon in the vineyard of St. Vincent and Grenadines and who became our country’s Governor-General.

Grenada and Grenadians have been most helpful, too, to us in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Examples abound. I shall list only a few. Sir Sydney Gun-Munro, trained at Grenada’s expense as a medical doctor, served for most of his working life as St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ only surgeon.

I feel sure that many parents, grandparents and great-grandparents of members of the PSU, including its leadership, were attended to, often free of charge, by Sir Sydney. Further, every week, Grenadian and Vincentian fishermen help one another at sea. In the Southern Grenadines, residents of Union Island and those of the Grenadian territory of Carriacou, interact daily to their mutual benefit. Additionally, at this very moment, the Grenadian government is assisting the Ministry of Agriculture of St. Vincent and the Grenadines with the re-introduction of cocoa cultivation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

I urge public servants to view the issue of the promised salary increase to them as quite separate and distinct from any assistance by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Grenada through the ECCB or otherwise. Please, let us not demean ourselves further by traversing a path, wrong-headedly prepared, with selfishness, a lack of regional solidarity, and plain falsehoods.

My government remains committed to pay the promised increase of salary. The public servants have done very well under the ULP administration and they can continue to trust us to do well for them on an on-going basis. It is the ULP government which has provided for public servants, among other things, the following: Meaningful salary increases up to the end of 2010; a series of annual bonuses; the reclassification exercise; 100-percent mortgages for housing construction; exceptional educational and training opportunities; better conditions of work; enlarged freedoms; and good governance generally.

Did the Bible not tell us to cast our bread upon the waters? Did it not say we will get a return “ten fold”? Is this not happening to St. Vincent and the Grenadines through other countries’ generosity and solidarity?

Sincerely yours,

Dr. The Hon. Ralph E. Gonsalves Prime Minister

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Make sure all of your travel and driver's documents are in proper order. Finish off old projects before starting something new. Your temper could get the better of you if you confront personal situations. Try to deal with it quickly; don't dwell on past regrets.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Don't overdo it. You need to enjoy yourself. Plan some family outings.

Your partner will be emotionally unable to cope. You may be up for some changes in your home.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) You will have a little more energy than usual. Deep discussions may only lead to friction. Any renovation or decorating to your home should include the whole family. You'll get to your destination just as quickly.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Lovers will be less than accommodating, and decisions regarding personal direction a necessity. You will want to take off and have some recreation. You are best to work at home, clearing up overdue projects. You will impress new friends and acquaintances with your intellectual wit.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Do your job and then spend some time with family; you'll be glad you did. Make changes to your home that will be pleasing to everyone involved. You will be on the rampage this week. Anger could lead to problems.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Anger may cause you grief; control your temper and try to sit back and calm down. Your need to use emotional blackmail will only cause more conflict.

Emotionally you won't see things accurately. You will find the excitement gratifying.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23)

You will need to do a lot of research if you wish to get to the bottom of things.

Do things for them but don't allow them to make unreasonable requests. Try not to lend or borrow money this week. Your stubborn nature will backfire if you give your mate an ultimatum.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Your talents are likely to be discovered.

Be extra careful with your valuables; loss and theft are evident this week.

Promote your ideas now. You may find yourself interested in more than one person.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Don't draw too much attention to yourself at work. Don't give out any personal information that you don't want spread around. You may find it difficult to discuss personal matters with family members. Be confident in your endeavors and others will believe in your efforts.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Close deals that have been up in the air and move on to new ones that appear to be profitable. Join humanitarian groups and let your leadership ability take over.

Put in some extra hours and finish those careful jobs before you move on to some fun and games. Talk to someone with experience about budgets or consolidating debts.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) Take time to look at any outdated papers or possible investments. Be ready to explain your actions. You will find yourself tied to the phone. Hidden assets can be doubled if you play your cards correctly.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Go over their important documents and take the time to suggest alternatives.

Involvement in groups will be favorable and lead to valuable information. Do not blow situations out of proportion. You'll meet new friends if you try new activities.

ACROSS 1. Land measurement 5. Eggs __ easy 9. Sup 12. Wander about 13. “Tonight” host 14. Schedule abbr.

15. Not deserted 17. Animation unit 18. John, in Aberdeen 19. One Barrymore 21. Earth 24. Lisa of the Louvre 26. Whitney and Wallach 27. Plans 31. Baseball’s Durocher 32. Shows staying power 34. Dogpatch’s Daisy __ 35. Skin Soothers 37. Had been 38. Name in TVs 39. Bewitches 40. Ships’ wheels 43. Hr. part

44. Actress Arden 45. Listen in secretly 51. Squealer 52. Hammer’s partner 53. Affirmative votes 54. Response (abbr.)

55. Shore feature 56. Lenient DOWN 1. Onassis, informally 2. Argument against 3. Cheerleader’s shout 4. Internet messages (hyph.)

5. Lena or Ken 6. Fido’s doc 7. Opp. of WSW 8. Hamsters, e.g.

9. Engrave with acid 10. “…sting like __” (2 wds.)

11. Having height 16. Rotten 20. Edison’s inits.

21. Gusher site

22. Toast topper 23. Crowd uprising 24. Melissa, to some 25. Canadian Prov.

28. Land of Enchantment (abbr.)

29. Be bold 30. Views 32. Relaxes 33. Actress Sothern 36. Suffix for a doctrine 37. Burger chain 39. That guy’s 40. Zeus’s

wife 41. Writer Hunter 42. “__ Misbehave” 43. Pinochle term 46. Motorists’ gp.

47. Action star

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. 21.

Diesel 48. Car named after Ransom E. Olds 49. Dunce 50. Attentiongetting sound

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22. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Maid of Dishonour to do it only because of my husband, with whom, she admitted then, she MY WEDDING is in 2 months and I had my best was intimately involved.

She told this person friend down to be the Maid how she and my fiancé of Honour until, unfortunately, I overheard would be on the beach many times after a telephone conversation sundown and what they between her and a friend would be engaged in of hers. The way I feel there. My heart almost now, it is better I did not stopped after hearing the know what I now know. things she was saying.

After speaking to her I have not brought about certain things I this to my boyfriend’s wanted her to take care attention, and I am of for my wedding, she apparently did not hang wondering if I should up the phone properly or leave it as is and get on with the matter of something, and I heard planning my wedding. her telling this person Should I let sleeping that she did not really dogs lie? want to be my Maid of Honour, but she decided

Dear George,

Upset

questions, to your satisfaction, before you proceed into marriage.

You should be getting Should you proceed married feeling as though nothing is extremely confident that wrong, you will be placing your marriage on the man you are marrying belongs to you a shaky foundation. and you only, and that The “sleeping dogs” you people in your wedding referred to are very party all have your wellmuch awake and ready being at heart. to take their place in your married life. You George have the luxury of time to put your wedding on hold and do the necessary adjustments based on what you know. Your Maid of Honour (to be) has not acted honourably and your husband to be needs to answer some

Dear Upset,

Come clean with your boyfriend

I told him I could not do that, since it was my I HAVE BEEN working first child and I do not know if I would get any for this guy for over 5 more. He then years now and we have threatened that if I did had a relationship not abort the child, he during that time. He will have to fire me from has his wife and I have the job. I responded by my boyfriend. It is because of financial hard telling him that if he fires me from the job, I times that I find myself in bed with him. would tell his wife the I am now pregnant with entire story. Knowing his wife, I know she his child. I told him about my pregnancy and would leave him. It was he ordered me to get an then he told me that if I did that he will see that abortion.

I disappear forever.

George, I am very worried and scared, and since that conversation with him, I cannot eat or sleep, and it is affecting my health. I love my boyfriend and he loves me, but I am scared to Dear George, confess my wrong-doings to him.

A GUY TO WHOM I say hello to now and then There is no one else I handed me an envelope and told me not to open it can turn to. Both my before I got to my home.

I hurried home and opened it to find 500 dollars parents are dead and my boyfriend is all I have. inside with an “I love and want you” note. I immediately put the money back into the envelope Scared and hurried back down the road to find him.

I was so angry that if I had found him at that time I would still been in jail. This man surprised Dear Scared, me. I did not know he was into that dirtiness.

The stress and I want him to know I am not interested in being uncertainty that pervade with a man. I am a woman’s man and that’s it! your life do not create the right climate for a Angry baby, and could have implications for your Dear Angry, health and the health of the child you are While you cannot prevent another individual carrying. from expressing their feelings towards you, you You cannot continue can choose to accept or reject projected sentiments to work with this man to you. under these conditions.

There is no need for violence here. Find a way Your ‘honeymoon’ is to get this money back to this guy and let him over, and it is time to know you are not interested. face the music. Your boyfriend needs to know George the truth, and what he does after that is entirely up to him.

Telling him does not mean that he is going to leave you out in the cold.

Use this opportunity to clean up your act, and remember that it is never too late to start doing the right thing.

This man you are involved with has just threatened you, and all threats on your life should be reported to the police. Do what you have to do and leave him to clean up the mess up on his side of the fence.

Dear George,

I am a woman’s man

George

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. 23.

Business

Youth Entrepreneurship Conference deemed a success entrepreneurs within St. Vincent and the THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED Grenadines, and I am 5th Annual Caribbean Youth proud of the results that I Entrepreneurship am seeing thus far.”

Conference, held at the The conference, which Kingstown Methodist took place from September Church Hall, was deemed a 12 to 15, explored a success by young variety of issues under the entrepreneurs, aspiring theme ‘Youth young entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurship: The representatives from other catalyst for a Sustainable regional Youth Business Caribbean Economic takeTrusts and other off-Justice, Equity, stakeholders who were Independence’. present over the two Young and aspiring conference days. entrepreneurs who were Mr. Kenrick Quashie, present took advantage of Managing Director of a number of opportunities Youth Business SVG, of lecture sessions on facilitators of the product development, Conference, further added, networking, basic “Indeed the conference knowledge transfer and was a success. It has learning and linkages that always been my dream to will help them to further develop young promote their businesses.

by KARISSA CLARKE

Ikesha is tops There was extra reason to celebrate by one participant.

Ikesha Delpesche of Ikesha Art, known for its exquisite and uncommon jewellery creations, took home the top prize for entrepreneurial excellence among the Vincentian delegates, receiving an Iphone4 from telecommunications service provider LIME, one of the Conference’s sponsors.

“It was a big surprise to receive this award. I was unsure if I was actually prepared to participate amongst regional delegates. However,

Audience at the opening session of the Conference.

Ailene {Bailey] and the team at Youth Business SVG encouraged me to do so, and it paid off. I am very happy to see my work being displayed and appreciated. It was a pleasure representing my country in this conference,” said Delpesche.

The other Vincentian entrepreneurs were not excluded and they too will receive prizes for the collaboration with Youth Business SVG in the coming weeks. “We at Youth Business St. Vincent and the Grenadines believe in rewarding our partners. It is only the beginning of greater things as we continue to work hard for the youth of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to have their businesses recognized and established,” assured Mr.

Ikesha Delpesche, recognized for her entrepreneurial excellence, accepts her award from Leslie Jack, General Manager of LIME. Inset: Mr. Kenrick Quashie, Managing Director of Youth Business SVG, addressing the opening session of the Conference.

Debson Cruickshank, Youth Business Advisor at Youth Business Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Inc. The second day of the conference focused on agriculture and its links to youth businesses, with a panel discussion on ‘Youth and Agriculture: Removing the scars off the Plantation , Modernising for Productivity.’

The panelists were Ms. Una May-Gordon of IICA, Mrs. Kozel Peters-Fraser of WINFA, Mr. Conroy Huggins of CaFan and Mr. Reuben Robertson of Ministry of Agriculture SVG.

Youth Business SVG ensures that young entrepreneurs are given the best possible chance to be financially successful.

Young Entrepreneurs who are interested in registering with Youth Business SVG can contact them by Telephone : 457 2132 or visit the office, located at Beachmont on the ground floor of the Griffith Corporate Centre also known as DeFreitas and Associates Building.

In addition, persons can email info@youthbusiness.org.vc or check their website at www.youthbusiness.org.vc for further information.

Digicel opens Canouan Branch

by KENVILLE HORNE DIGICEL CONTINUES to demonstrate why it considers itself the bigger and better telecommunications network here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The service provider, on Thursday 14th September, opened a specially branded store on the Grenadines island of Canouan.

Executive Officer for Barbados and the OECS South, Barry O’Brien, speaking at the official launch, stated, “The cornerstones of Digicel’s philosophy and success have been to build bigger and better networks and services coupled with reduced prices, offering best-in-class customer service whilst contributing back to the local community. With this store we continue to live by this philosophy.”

He noted that the store is now the official Digicel Canouan store and has been office built and branded to Digicel’s usual high standards.

“The original idea for this store came from a staff meeting in Barbados a few months back. Rob Lyons, Island Manager for Canouan and the Grenadines, noticed that

customers were looking for a retail outlet where they could get easy access to Digicel’s products and services, and also get advice from Digicel staff. We then added to the idea by suggesting it also becomes the Digicel Canouan office. And here we are, with typical Digicel speed, three months later,” O’Brien said.

The office will be open to answer customers’ queries, supported by Digicel staff in St. Vincent and the rest of the Eastern Caribbean.

O’Brien told persons present at the opening that, “This store reinforces the fact that Digicel is 100 per cent committed to remaining the premier mobile provider for mobile services in Canouan.”

He assured that Digicel is committed to ensuring that Barry O’Brien, Digicel EC for the OECS Digicel Mobile coverage South, in front of the recently opened maintains pace as the resort Digicel office in Canouan. and island dwelling expand, as they also plan for the cutting of the ribbon and a tour of future roll-out of 4G. the facility. (Source: Barbados The launching also heard Today Online) addresses from other Digicel representatives, followed by the

24. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. 25.

Business

CCR Christmas Countdown launched The 6th Annual Cross Country Radio (CCR) 100 Days of Christmas Countdown got going last Sunday, September 16.

Invited guests and sponsors joined CCR management and staff in

the launch at the Country Ranch, Fountain.

Broadcast live on CCR, FM 104.3 and 88.5, the launch featured live performances by the South East Steel

Orchestra, the Cross Country Staff Choir and entertainment by CCR DJ’s.

Managing Director of CCR, Carlos Maloney, his natural grey beard and bulging torso

projecting a unique Vincentian styled Santa Claus, addressed the gathering and declared that “This year will be bigger.”

Pointing to one of the wrapped presents

LIME gives away $45K After six weeks of the LIME Mega Moments promotions, thirty (30) LIME customers have each won $1500, ; totaling a whopping $45000 in cash.

The promotion, which got started in August, was hailed by many customers as ‘One for the hard times’ since most winners were quoted as saying that the money will be used to purchase back to school supplies and paying off outstanding bills.

LIME customers were given a chance to win daily in this promotion when they the following: traded in a handset from the competitor; purchased a Blackberry Jazz handset; signed up for fixed line service; sign up for broadband service; purchased a handset; talked for 3 minutes

and get the next 57 minutes free.

The statistics revealed that 16 out of the 30 winners traded handsets, 10 winners talked for 3 minutes. Twenty four women won prizes, while 6 men Tamara Grant (left) and Adonna Harry were the were lucky. The most recent winners in the LIME Mega age group of the winners varied Moments Promotion. between 19 to 45 recognize that LIME is more years. affordable and reliable. We “These stats are quite welcome the many customers of revealing,” said Nikala Williams, all age groups who have moved Marketing Head at LIME. over and thank all customers who “It is quite clear when you look took part in the promotions,” at them that people are moving to Williams continued. our network because they

nearby, Maloney identified it as “a juicer” and promised, “it’s among one hundred prizes to be won, one prize for each day of the Countdown.”

Among the coveted prizes will be a TV, a stereo system and a weed eater.

Principal sponsors of

Carlos Maloney, MD of CCR, promised a bigger Countdown this year. the 2012 Countdown are Standard Shippers of New York and Edwin D. Layne and Sons. (CD)

An ensemble of young players from the South East Steel orchestra provided entertainment.

26. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 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, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. 27.

Milsom Construction: Mustique T20 Champion

Kenuth Peters of Alumbrera Sweepers into his spell that earned him 3 wickets.

Julian Lampkin, Player of the Final, during his rescue innings of 56.

MILSON CONSTRUCTION (MC), losing finalists in 2011, are the 2012 Twenty/20 cricket champions of Mustique.

They capped what was a very consistent season when they beat Alumbrera Sweepers in last Sunday’s finals, played at the Mustique Playing Field.

The large and supportive crowd saw MC take first knock. And at 25 for 3 there were some murmurings of disappointment among some spectators, who felt that the finals might not live up to expectations.

The speculation was shortlived, for in came Julian Lampkin, Captain of MC, who, from the first ball he faced, gave indication of his intent. Lampkin raced to 56 before being out; he hit 7 fours and 1 six and shared in a 71-run 4th wicket partnership with Shaford Ballantyne, who contributed 23 runs.

Alumbrera Sweepers seemed swept away by the LampkinBallantyne stand and in the process, demonstrated some poor outfield cricket. When MC had used up their allocated 20 overs, they had reached 153 for 8, with extras accounting for 30 of those runs.

Kenuth Peters was the best of the Alumbrera Sweepers’ bowlers, returning figures of 3 wickets for 21 runs in his 4 overs.

Alumbrera’s chase began disastrously with the fall of an early wicket. However, Cedrick Grant, 17, and Keith Lavia, 40,

The victorious Milson Construction team with manager and supporters. came together to steady the innings.

But accurate wicket to wicket bowling and agility in the field, kept the pressure on the Alumbrera batsmen, and when captain Lampkin introduced Cedric Cupid, he began a slide from which Alumbrera never recovered.

Cupid took 2 for 18 in his four overs and Alumbrera closed at 100 all out in 16.3 overs, to hand MC their first hold on the title and send their supporters, among whom was MC Manager Tony Wilson, into loud and deserving celebrations.

Julian Lampkin was named Player of the Finals for his top score of 56 and astute leadership.

And in addition to the team awards, Harris Roberts was recognized as having taken the most wickets in the tournament, and Cedrick Grant, the most runs.

Mustique Building Construction Ltd., who lost to Pink House Tags in the third place play-off the previous weekend, was named the Most Improved Team.

Last year’s Tournament winner, Tomma Hawk Sweetie Pie, failed to make it into the semi-final round.

Thomas Saunders on the rise GODFREY ‘FUZZY’ HARRY has no doubt that the Physical Education and Sports Programme at the Thomas Saunders Secondary School has improved considerably over the last five years.

He expressed the sentiment in a recent conversation with THE VINCENTIAN Harry has been Director of the programme over those five years, and he is convinced that the performances of the school’s sports men and women speak for themselves, results, he says, built on a positive structure and meaningfully programme implemented under his watch.

Harry took over from Aldrick Wright at the TSSS, after serving for some 18 years at the Emmanuel High School (EHS), now the J.P. Eustace Memorial Secondary School, where he introduced and

directed “one of the better P.E. programmes in the state.

“I have built on what Wright established at the TSSS and have brought my EHS experience to bear on it as well,” Harry said.

His tenure at the TSSS has not been without challenges and Harry recalls the extra work he had to put in to have the students, especially the talented ones, adapt to his approach to training.

The extended hours paid dividends, for in his first year at the school, the “boys placed fourth and the girls sixth at the interschool athletes meet.”

And because of the strengthening of the P.E. programme, the TSSS has dominated both male and female categories of the interschool meet, for the last three years.

“TSSS is the pace setter for

school athletics. We have raised the bar in school athletes, and because of that we have caused other schools to raise their standards, which is the right direction for track and field in the country,” Harry assessed.

In addition to success on the track, Harry pointed to the 100 per cent passes for each of the last three years for TSSS entrants in the CXC Physical Education exams, describing this as “a significant stride for a school which is just seven years old.”

And even as he recognizes the hard work put in by the

Students going through the long jump drill.

Inset: Godfrey ‘Fuzzy’ Harry, Sports Director at the Thomas Saunders Secondary School. students, the coach acknowledged the overwhelming support of the principal, staff and parents as being an equally important contributing factor to the school’s success.

“More parents are sending their children to the TSSS. We must be making progress.

We must be doing something good,” Harry said in closing.

I.B.A.ALLEN

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28. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Barrouallie Football League kicks off The 2012 Bank of SVG Barrouallie Football League opened last Sunday afternoon in front a large crowd at the Keartons Playing Field.

The afternoon activity included a march past of teams, addresses from football and sports officials and a feature match.

Addresses were heard from: Venold Coombs, President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation; Cecil Charles, acting Manager of the National Sports

Council; Maxwell Charles, area representative for Central Leeward; Lorson Lewis, President of the Barrouallie Sports Association (BSA).

Kimalie Gordon, a member of the BSA, read remarks on behalf of the sponsors, Bank of SVG. Coombs commended the Barrouallie community for winning the national inter community league competition last May and pledged the Federation’s continued support for football in the

communities, and the country as a whole.

Cecil Charles recognized the sterling efforts of the Barrouallie Sports Association over the years, and said he looked forward to work with them.

President of the BSA, Lorson Lewis, reminded the players of the zero tolerance on ill discipline, and was emphatic in issuing the warning that the culprits will be kicked out of the competition.

Following the remarks, it was

Action in the feature match at the opening of the Barrouallie Football League (Photo: I.B.A. Allen)

Parkside Rollers, the best dressed team on parade. announced that Parkside Rollers was adjudged the best dressed team on parade.

In the feature match, a Barrouallie team and a North Leeward outfit

Keyon Jack made 40 and Bill Edwards, 36 not out.

Stanley Browne’s Stubbs Masters defeated Computec Belfongo Masters by 8 wickets.

Computec Belfongo Masters made 106 for 8 off 20 overs. Jesima Browne made 25 and Cleus Robertson 22. Leon Samuel took 3 for 20. Stanley Browne’s Stubbs Masters in reply reached 107 for 2 off 11.3 overs. Dawnley Joseph led with 26 and Christopher Campbell 25 not out.

St.Vincent Cooperative Bank P’tani Masters defeated C.K.Greaves Vintage Arnos Vale Masters by 7 wickets. C. K. Greaves were reduced to 90 for 9 off 20 overs. Isaac Haywood took 3 for 16. P’tani Masters reached 92 for 3 off 17 overs. Alfred McKenzie top scored with 37.

Isaac Haywood hit 36.

Bickles Fun Masters defeated DaSilva La Croix Masters by 9 wickets. DaSilva La Croix Masters were bowled out for 51 in 14 overs. Claudius Murray,

division.

Fitz Hughes won last year’s senior division.

Topsidaz took the first division and Adare One the under-13 division.

Burke upbeat despite heavy defeats BRIAN BURKE, coach of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Under-21 and senior men’s volleyball teams, is upbeat despite the teams’ enduring heavy losses in their recent tournaments.

The Under-21 did not win a match in the Intercontinental Championships which took place last month in Colorado Springs, USA, and two weeks ago, the senior team finished last in the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association Championships (ECVA)

Defending Masters champ suffers defeat DEFENDING champion Log Enterprises Kingstown suffered their first loss of the season in pursuit of the defence of their SVG National Masters 20/20 Cricket title.

The defending champions went under by 3 wickets in a last weekend encounter with Rudy’s Electrical Barrouallie, Log Enterprises Kingstown Masters batted first and were dismissed for 90 off 20 overs.

Bradley Brooker led with 26.

Samuel Byam took 3 for 26 for Rudy’s Electrical Barrouallie, and his team went on to successfully chase their target, closing at 91 for 7 off 19.4 overs. Joseph Medford and Hollis John had 3 wickets apiece for LOGS. In another weekend match, Sion Hill Masters defeated RSVG Police Masters by 9 wickets.

RSVG Police Masters made 114 for 8 off 20 overs. Allan John topscored with 24. Cecil Charles took 3 for 19. Sion Hill Masters replied with 115 for 1 off 19.1overs.

played to a goal-less draw.

Competition will be in the senior division, the Norrell Hull under-17, the Maxwell Charles under-13 and a women’s

Theophilous Joseph and Gregory Brewster took 3 wickets each.

Bickles Fun Masters replied with 53 for 1 off 9.2 overs.

Samuel Richards hit 26 not out.

This weekend, on Saturday, North Leeward Combined will face Joyette’s Auto Slater Development Pastures from 1.30 at Buccement, while Computec Belfongo oppose C.K.Greaves Vintage Arnos Vale the same time at Arnos Vale One. On Sunday, North Leeward Combined face Cato’s Heavy Equipment Glamorgan from 10am at Petit Bordel. Sion Hill oppose Rudy’s Electrical Barrouallie from 10, followed by RSVG Police against Log Enterprises Kingstown from 1.30pm at Arnos Vale One. At Buccament, Bickles Fun will play St Vincent Cooperative Bank Ptani from 1.3opm.At Paget Farm Bequia, Bequia will take on Stanley Browne’s Stubbs.

I.B.A.ALLEN

in St Lucia.

Burke, in putting the Intercontinental Championships into perspective, said, “This was more like a learning experience for the Under-21 team because we met teams that were far more advanced than we, they’ve been playing competition more than our guys.”

Brian Burke, national He continued, volleyball teams’ coach, “Our guys learned admits that the teams have to a lot and I think work harder. they were really inspired by what and a lot of the coaches they saw, and I believe and teams were they have come back to commenting on how they St Vincent with renewed have improved,” Burke effort to work hard at said. their game, and also I He conceded that the think it was an eye teams needed to work opener for most of them harder, and he intends to because it was the first begin this effort by time they were exposed organizing gym exercises to competition at that to build the fundamental level,” Burke analysed. requirement of body In assessing the strength.

ECVA tournament, In the Under-21 Burke stated, “In terms championships, St of placing, we placed Vincent and the sixth out of the six Grenadines was beaten teams; it might seem like by the USA, Mexico, a bad performance, but Guatemala, Honduras in my estimation, I think and Curacao. The host, it was the best the team USA, won the has ever played, as they championship. were also very St Vincent and the competitive.

Grenadines went under “The team is fairly to eventual winners, St young and inexperienced, Lucia, runners -up St and this is only the Kitts, Antigua and second competition for Barbuda and French St most of them, and I Martin, in the ECVA think they played really tournament. well in the last game,

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. 29.

Sports

VINLEC lights up North Leeward The area of North Leeward with its divergence of attractions, has become the cradle of T/20 Cricket on the national scale. How else can you account for the presence of so many national players to the zone?

Spectators to the games sometimes don’t realize the calibre of players taking part until they hear their names in some other circles.

Take for example Miles Bascombe. Bascombe turned out for the Carlos James Troumaca United in this year’s competition. But North Leeward is no foreign territory to Bascombe. He appeared at the Under-15 level before.

Windward’s opener Atticus Browne came into his own at last year’s final when he helped to guide Troumaca United to retention of their title.

Denis Byam is acquitting himself in a different sphere of the cricketing and sporting arena. But his pedigree in cricket has been documented. There will be no questions about Byam’s attachment to the Troumaca United outfit. He considers himself a full-fledged Troumaca man, and no one can question his loyalty to the village.

Verbert King and Dyke Cato have proven themselves worthy members of the Somerset outfit. That team, based in the most northerly North Leeward community, proved a formidable unit in this year’s showdown, until they lost the services of those two players. King and Cato will be keen to reappear for their quarterfinal encounter so as to ensure that they take the squad to its ultimate destination.

Ajuba of Spring Village is normally a force to be reckoned with, but the inclusion of national allrounder Casmond Walters and opening batsman Donson Andrews has added a further touch of solidity to that unit. Their combination with Combined Colleges and Campuses member Kesrick Williams and national wicketkeeper batsman Harley Skerritt makes Ajuba a top contender for this year’s trophy.

West Indies Under-19 wicket keeper batsman Sunil Ambris has been contacted to play with the Carlos James Troumaca Starlights. Ambris is yet to make his entry on the North Leeward circuit, perhaps denied participation owing to other schedules. He may take up the offer of a quarterfinal exposure.

A Police team was invited to this year’s competition for the first time. That team raised the level of competition in no uncertain terms, for with players of the calibre of Orlando Wright and McLean Williams, spectators had the chance to see national players in action.

Gerald Gould could have been representing his home village of Rose Hall, but his appearance for the Police team has helped with enhancing the credibility of the competition.

There are a host of North Leeward players who have made their mark at various levels of regional cricket. Norlan Williams is a player who has represented the nation previously. With a man of the experience of Ian Allen in the Rudy’s Electrical team, there is additional prestige to the tournament.

Former Windwards Under-19 player Emil Anthony was good enough to earn the Man of the Match award in last year’s final when he appeared for the champion outfit. But he and the rest of his teammates will not be resting easily, for any of the other seven quarterfinalists are only keen on thwarting their success.

Other emerging cricketers are keen to make an impression. Kentish John for example will relish the opportunity to showcase his skills for the Troumaca Starlights, and with the likes of Leshaun Lewis in his team, they will be wanting to progress beyond the quarterfinal stage.

Omar Tucker is anxious to create a name and propel his team Winterset Ball Beaters to the top.

And with speedster Jamal Nash in his team, there is an underlying threat lurking.

The speculations will be put to rest with the quarterfinal and semifinal encounters. Then it will be winner takes it all in the grand finale.

But whoever lifts the trophy, cricket will be the winner.

More century makers THE VINCENTIAN

continues to recognize the century makers in the 2012 National Lotteries Authority Cricket Sylvanus Vanloo, 101 Competition.Premier and and 111.

First divisions’ cricket competition.

Added to last week’s list of century makers are: Former national player Sylvanus Vanloo who hit two centuries for LOGS Enterprises Masters in the First Division - 101 against Radcliffe too and 111 against Belmont.

Another former player Nicholas Baptiste hit 102 for Victors Two against Radcliffe Too, also in the First Division.

National left handed batsman Harley Skerritt hit 151 against ASCO for Rivals in the Premier Division.

Nicholus Baptiste, 102

Harley Skerritt, 151

I.B.A.ALLEN

Next Level Records big win Vincom Next Level recorded a comfortable 70-run win over Warriors as action continued in the National Lottery Authorities TBPO Softball cricket competition on the weekend, at the Dauphnie playing field.

Vincom Next Level batted first and made 119 all out in 19.5 overs. Elroy Cumberbatch top scored with 24. Wickets were share by Desroy Laviatook 3 for 21, Augustine Jennings 2 for 11 and David Fairbairm 2 for 23. In reply, Warriors mustered 49 in 13 overs, Courtney Joyette doing the damage with 5 for 17.

Novice defeated Glen United by 32 runs. Novice posted 177 for 7 in 20 overs. Roderick John hit 55, Glenroy Dazel 28 and Kentish Phillips 15. Marcus Hackshaw took 2 for 28.

In reply Glen United made 145 for 4 in 20 overs. Marcus Hackshaw, 50, led an unsuccessful chase.

Sea Operation Nar Fren Dem beat Dr. Thomas Injectors by 7 wickets. Dr. Thomas Injectors batted first and made 58 off 13.3 overs. Travis Peters and Keno Matthewshad 3 wickets each.

Sea Operation Nar fren Dem made 61 for 3 off 11.1 overs.

Jamal John led with 34. Kezron Ashton took 2 for 12.

Gariy Construction Simple Boyz defeated Valley Boyz by 15 runs. Batting first Simple Boyz made 93 off 18.2 overs. Aswald Soleyn top scored with 19, Shawn O’ Garo and Randolph Bascombe took 3 for 15 and 3 for 21 respectively.

In Reply Valley Boyz made 78 off 20 overs. Olando John made 16. Kenny Hunte took 3 for 17.

Bank of SVG All Stars beat Older Boys by 6 wks. Batting first Older Boys made 127 for 9 in 20

overs. Noel Miller hit 23, Ashford Wood 20. Four bowles took 2 wickets each.

Bank of SVG All Stars close on 128 runs 4 off 19.4 overs, .

Newborne Joseph leading with 59 with Kentish Pope contributing 32. Junior Bacchus took 3 for 21.

On Saturday, Nar Fren Dem faces Georges Valley Saints from 1pm, followed by ASCO against

Warriors from 3pm.

On Sunday, Vincom Nex Level oppose Bangers frpm 10, Warriors will face Pine Hill Dairy Clinchers from 12.30pm followed by Gomea Bombers against Bank of SVG All Stars.

Matches are slated for the Dauphnie playing field.

I.B.A.A.LLEN

North Leeward cricket hits quarterfinals Rudy’s Electrical and Ajuba are through to the quarterfinals of the Vinlec North Leeward T20 Cricket Competition, after victories in last weekend’s round of matches played at the Petit Bordel Playing Field.

Rudy’s Electrical secured an 8wicket win over Sharpes United in Saturday’s encounter.

Sharpes recovered from a precipitous 33 for 6 to close on 128 all out in 19.4 overs. Their stability came through the efforts of Augustus Cato, 41 not out, and Niclon Browne who hit 37. They shared in a 60-run seventh wicket stand which was broken with the score on 93. Norlan Williams, 3 for 23, and Augustine Bentick, 3 for 25, accounted for the inroads into Sharpes batting.

Rudy’s Electrical endured no nightmares in their chase and cruised to 130 for 2 from 12 overs. They were propelled to victory by McNeil Morgan, 63, and Leon Samuel, 23, both undefeated.

Sunday’s action saw back to back victories for Ajuba.

Somerset were dismissed for 62, wrecked by Casmond Walters 3 for 7.

Ajuba overtook the target

reaching 62 for 2 in five overs.

Kenny Stapleton hit 36 not out.

Donson Andrews, 43, and Casmond Walters, 35, both unbeaten, guided Ajuba to their other victory as they cruised to 110 for 2 from, 8.5 overs. Kerry Isaacs 2 for 27 was the chief wicket taker for Sharpes United.

Sharpes United fell for 108 after Winston Skinner, 28, and Kesroy Granderson, 23, had put on an opening stand of 51.

Gemel Jeffrey engineered the Sharpes’ collapse.

The other quarterfinalists will be Police, Troumaca United, Peto Stars, and Winterset Ball Beaters from Zone one.

Rudy’s Electrical and Somerset join Carlos James Troumaca Starlight and Somerset from Zone B. The final of the Vinlec North Leeward Cricket Championship is carded for October 7, 2012.

The other teams in the competition were Backlash, Future Legends and Sharpes United.

Troumaca United are the defending champions.

The final will be played at the Petit Bordel Playing Field.

(WKA)

30. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012. 31.

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SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

VOLUME 106, No. 38

GUNSHOTS RING OUT IN BELMONT

by KENVILLE HORNE GUNSHOTS RANG OUT in the West St. George community of Belmont, in a neighborhood known as ‘Meng’, last Monday night, prompting residents to take refuge indoors.

And when the shooting was ove, a window and other sections of the Ryan’s property, along with a black Toyota Levin car were left with bullet holes.

A member of the Ryan family told THE VINCENTIAN that on the night

of Monday 17th, she and her sister were in the lower floor of their twostorey home, watching television, when they heard about six or more gunshots. They quickly secured the property and took cover.

“I was so frighten I could not think,” the family member said.

On collecting herself, she telephoned her boyfriend, Jamal McMaster, but did not reach him.

It was then that she telephoned Kenrick Scott, a close friend of McMaster, and related what took place.

Half an hour later, Scott showed up, followed by members of the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) of the Royal SVG Police Force.

The officers confirmed: that a bullet had pierced a window located on the upper floor of the house; the external area of the large concrete structure also showed signs of bullet piercing; and that the black Toyota Levin car also showed signs of indentations caused by bullets. Spent shell casings were recovered from the scene.

Residents told THE VINCENTIAN that they saw a White Toyota Sprinter (sedan) fleeing the scene after the barrage of bullets.

Before the shooting

Jamal McMaster seemed to have been the real target.

Kenrick Scott volunteered what he thought was a connection to the Monday night shooting.

He told THE VINCENTIAN that on the evening of Saturday 15th while

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This window pane shows clear signs of a bullet piercing. hanging out the Mango Tree Bar, he was approached and held at gunpoint by a person who he knew to have beaten a murder rap some years ago. “(Name withheld) threatened to kill me if I didn’t show him where Jamal live,” Scott recalled, “but I told him that I was not sure where McMaster lives.”

According to Scott, the man proceeded to “private his number and told me to call McMaster.”

He continued: “I then made the phone call to Jamal but didn’t get through”.

Scott said that not long after, his phone rang, “but I keep ending the call in my pocket, because I didn’t want him to know I had a phone.”

After being held for what felt like an hour, Scott noticed the man removing the bullets from the gun and placing them in his hand. He took that as an opportunity to escape and make a dash.

The man and four others chased him, but “I jump in a van and get away,” Scott reported.

He arrived in capital Kingstown and immediately telephoned McMaster, relating to him what had transpired.

Scott said that he received threatening phone calls well into the next day, Sunday, from the man who had held him at gun point. He threatened to kill both him and McMaster.

On Monday morning, McMaster and Scott journeyed to the Calliaqua Police Station and lodged a report. That said

Kenrick Scott reported being held at gunpoint. night, the Ryan property, where McMaster resides with his girlfriend, was shot up.

While Scott stated that he is not fearful of his tormentor, McMaster’s girlfriend told THE VINCENTIAN that she fears for her life, “because I don’t know if they would come back.”

Personnel at the Calliaqua Police Station confirmed that a report was made prior to the shooting and that investigations are ongoing.

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