Vinpages 31 05 13 by TheVincentian Publishing

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY,

MAY 31, 2013

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister and Minster with responsibility for air and sea ports, has stated emphatically that there will be re-structuring at the Port.

VOLUME 107, No.21

EC$1.50

by JP SCHWMON 22nd and Thursday 23rd May 2013 were the most recent in a series of actions undertaken by the Port officers’ trade union representatives, the Public Service Union, as it sought redress for their wronged brethren. Previously, the local law courts ruled that the officers operated within the boundaries of their service codes and were subsequently vindicated for their application of standard operating procedures in the restraint of an irate visitor to the uptown port facilities. However, this ruling was somewhat too late, as the officers’ fates were already decided and their sole income streams terminated. The court, meanwhile, found the Port’s client to be guilty on some six counts of misconduct and gross disrespect for the All in favour of the officers uniformed officers. According to Cools Vanloo, The incidents surrounding current President of the PSU, their sacking occurred both Browne and Douglas sometime around early were advised to refuse the November last year and token monetary compensation involved a “client of the Port” proffered by the SVG Port who, it is alleged, is the son of Authority following the a Unity Labour Party verdict. This, he explained, financier. was because this case was The hearings which one for either “full occurred last Wednesday compensation right up to

SPECULATION IS RIFE following the conclusion of a Labour Commissioner appointed hearing of a case of the unfair dismissal of two Port Police officers, that contrary to recent comments made by this country’s Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves, he might after all be implicated in at least two Vincentians losing their jobs here. THE VINCENTIAN newspaper understands that a probe into the grounds for Lenny Douglas, Port Police the dismissal of the two Port Corporal 134, is still at home even after a hearing officer ruled Police officers, Ian Browne and Lenny Douglas, by the that he and his colleague, Ian Hearing Officer, purports Browne, should be reinstated. that beyond what amounted to orders from on high, may be as high as the Office of the Prime Minister, there was no real basis on which to relieve the gentlemen of their posts.

Cools Vanloo, President of the PSU, advised that it is in the best interest of the Port to reinstate the officers quickly.

www.thevincentian.com

Above: The public is wondering who is making the decisions for the SVG Port Authority. Party more than myself. I spoke to a good few of them who indicated to me that they cannot vote for ULP again and they can’t vote NDP, so they not voting.” The father of two dependent children, and primary provider for his wife, is still attempting to rationalize his predicament. He raised two possible scenarios that, to him, could Port officer bears all account for his dismissal. On the one hand, he relates a Today, despite the Hearing conversation in which he may Officer’s recommendations have remarked that “ULP is that the Port not await his better than the NDP by far, written Order but instead act but ULP is doing everything post haste to reinstate the within their power to lose the officers, Lenny Douglas tells next general election: if they THE VINCENTIAN, “I am (ULP) not put their house still at home catching me nen together.” The other scenario —nen. I am wondering if the he deems as logical relates to PM instructed them not to both Browne and himself reinstate us. This is the having had something of a Labour Government that I record for making more supported and voted into arrests “on the Port for power….” controlled drugs than the Douglas is a self-professed drug squad did… so I think “ULP supporter in Central they really want us off the Kingstown with a family of port.” six (6) votes,” and stressed, “I will vote for them if I love my Continued on Page 3.

retirement or immediate reinstatement.” The Port Authority’s refusal on both counts allowed the issue to be presented to the local Labour Commissioner, who was obliged to submit it for a hearing since the matter had exhausted his level of the (appellation) chain, as set out in the Employment Protection Act.

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY,

MAY 31, 2013

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister and Minster with responsibility for air and sea ports, has stated emphatically that there will be re-structuring at the Port.

VOLUME 107, No.21

EC$1.50

Cools Vanloo, President of the PSU, advised that it is in the best interest of the Port to reinstate the officers quickly.

www.thevincentian.com

2. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. THEâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;VINCENTIAN

Focus on Anna Laborde

member of the Mije Modeling Agency, which she enjoys ANNA LABORDE, CONTESTANT thoroughly, and under whose IN THE MISS SVG PAGEANT guidance she participated in 2013, is ready to put her best the Elite Model Look foot forward. Caribbean. It is easy to imagine In an interview with THE Laborde as Miss SVG, as her VINCENTIAN, Anna quiet and disciplined explained that â&#x20AC;&#x153;besides the personality can be seen amidst financial assistance to further the lovely smile she wears so my educational goals, I naturally. entered the Ms. SVG 2013 Anna, a native of pageant as it is a steppingMesopotamia, attended the stone to my modelling career, Evesham Methodist School, and I believe the experience the Emmanuel High School will open doors for me in that Mesopotamia and the SVGCC. aspect.â&#x20AC;? Tall and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;modelesqueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, she is a She hopes, though, to by KARISSA CLARKE

further her studies in Tourism and Hospitality Management, even as she furthers her modeling career. For Anna though, day to day life is rooted in family and friends, knowing whom one can trust and who trust you. She makes it clear that becoming Miss SVG 2013 would be an honour for her and as a role model for young women, she feels that â&#x20AC;?It is a fact that women are personifications of love and compassion and I believe that we should maintain our independence , confidence and

positivity.â&#x20AC;? She is undeniably experienced in the world of pageantry, and thus her performance on June 1st should reflect this as she holds the coveted title of Miss Pâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Tani 2010. Anna declared that patrons to the June 1 Miss SVG Pageant can â&#x20AC;&#x153;expect not only beauty but talent and creativity.â&#x20AC;? Anna Laborde is sponsored by THE VINCENTIANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S sister company, Metrocint General Insurance, and just like that company, she is home grown

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and caring. Need you ask for more? Life is a lot about passion, freedom and love. Anna will only walk this road once â&#x20AC;&#x201D; she might as well make the most of it. THE VINCENTIAN wishes Miss. Metrocint General Insurance best of luck in the 2013 Miss SVG Pageant.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. 3.

News 3 SVG respects religious freedom by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; neloking@msn.com US CORRESPONDENT THE UNITED STATES says that the Government of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves in practice, respects religious freedom, and that the constitution and other laws and policies, as well, protect it. In its International Religious Freedom Report for 2012, the US State Department says, while the anti-blasphemy law is not enforced, the trend in the government’s respect for religious freedom “did not change significantly during the year. “There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice,” it says, adding that the Barbados-based US embassy for the Eastern Caribbean discussed religious freedom with the government. “Embassy officers also met with the local human rights association and engaged in discussions about

religious freedom,” it added. In alluding to the 2001 census, the report says that the Anglican Church (18 percent) and Pentecostals (18 percent) are the largest religious groups, followed by Methodists (11 percent), Seventh-day Adventists (10 percent), Baptists (10 percent), and Roman Catholics (7 percent). Other religious groups include Bahais, Rastafarians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, members of the Church of God, and other evangelical groups, the report says. The State Department pointed to a 2011 World Bank report that estimates the population of St. Vincent and the Grenadines at 109,000. The report says that students in public schools receive nondenominational religious instruction based on Christianity, and that Christian prayers generally take place at school assemblies. It, however, says that attendance and participation are not mandatory, adding that

students wishing to opt out of Christian prayer or religious education classes may be excused from participation in religious activities.

Above: Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves (centre) was accompanied by a delegation of Rastafarians on an official visit to Ethiopia in 2005.

The The Spiritual Baptists have had a history of struggle leading up to its Washington report notes acceptance. says that that the religious freedom with officials and the local representatives from administration observes the government as part human rights different religious the following religious of an overall policy to organization raised no groups, especially holidays as national promote human rights,” concerns about religious holidays: Good Friday, Anglican and Catholic, it says. freedom in these are occasionally invited Easter, Whit Monday, “Government meetings,” it adds. to speak to students, and and Christmas. that teachers may provide information on other religious groups. The report says that the government prohibits the use of marijuana, including for religious purposes. While there were no reports of abuses of The IDB loan will be administered by the CDB for public sector projects. religious freedom, the report says that Rastafarians complained that marijuana was “integral to their religious rituals,” and that they “complained of discrimination, especially by NELSON A. KING It said the loan will support in hiring and in schools. naking@verizon.net; areas such as education, “US embassy neloking@msn.com infrastructure, mitigation and officials discussed US CORRESPONDENT adaptation to climate change and also policy based operations. THE WASHINGTON-BASED InterThe IDB said resources will be American Development Bank (IDB) allocated by the CDB based on its says it has signed an agreement for country strategy and programming US$20 million for a Global Loan processes. Programme of some US$20 million The IDB said its charter was with the Caribbean Development amended in 1977 to allow the bank to Continued from Page 1. dissolve the Port Police and make all Bank (CDB), for projects in four provide financial resources to the CDB 80 plus positions redundant. The Organization of Eastern Caribbean to support its member countries. Payment or disbandment Prime Minister, who also serves as the States (OECS) countries, including St. Prior to the approval of the new Minister of National Security, Air and Vincent and the Grenadines. loan, the IDB had financed four global Meanwhile, Vanloo not only Sea Port Development, has since The IDB said the CDB will loan programs to the CDB totaling “anticipates that the Port would have confirmed during the debate on an “on-lend” the funds for the financing of US$104 million, as well as various to take the direction of the Hearing amendment to the Protection of public sector projects in Dominica, technical cooperation operations. Officer because it is the law,” but also Employment Act in the House of Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent The IDB said the approved advises that they execute the quasiAssembly on Monday 27th May 2013 and the Grenadines. program will be financed by US$14 judicial instructions sooner rather that “… one thing is clear, nobody can “These small open economies are million from the IDB’s ordinary than later, since “all salaries would stop a government from restructuring. vulnerable to external economic capital, and US$6 million from the have to be paid retroactively… it is in And there will be a restructuring at shocks and natural disasters,” it said. bank’s Fund for Special Operations, their best interest to reinstate them the Port. No if, maybe, or but.” “They are also still reeling from the (concessional funds). with an quickly because the Port would still be The hearings heard testimony from effects of the recent financial crisis.” amortization period of 30 and 40 years obligated to pay all their benefits several persons, including the officers The IDB said the new approved respectively. including NIS and other retirement concerned and the Port Authority’s programme will help address the The CDB has lowered its fees benefits.” Manager Bishen John, who it is social and economic challenges of on the concessional portion of the loan, This decision comes amidst alleged sought to clear himself of any these non-IDB member countries, “in order for the beneficiary countries announcements made by Dr Gonsalves involvement in the final decision with constrained by their limited access to to access these resources at more and the Port Authority’s Chairman of respect to the officers’ dismissals. (See longer term and lower cost credit favorable rates,” the IDB said. the Board, Edwin Snagg, proposing to related commentary on page 12) resources.

Who ordered Port Police firings?

OECS to benefit from US$20 million

V Policemen on trial for shooting colleague 4. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Davis told the Serious Offences Court that he received a telephone call Constable 296 Davis of the Narcotics from Constable 153 Caine around 9:30 Unit testified on Wednesday that pm on the date in question and, based Sergeant Julius Morgan of the Criminal on what Caine said, a party of officers Investigations Department (CID) told from the Narcotics Unit, headed by him, during a drug operation at Rose Sergeant Katherine Robinson, Place, December 5, 2012, that he journeyed to Rose Place. The patrol proceeded to shoot after he saw a man included Corporal Edwards. coming towards him. Davis, the driver of the vehicle, said PC Davis was giving evidence at the he parked opposite to one Shirley trial in which Sergeant Morgan, along White’s residence. He waited next to with Constables Orlando Collins and the vehicle, while the others proceeded Adrian Forde, also attached to the to the beach. CID, are charged in connection with “A few minutes after, I received a the December 5, 2012 shooting of one phone call and (then) I heard the of their colleagues, during an sound of gunshots. Sergeant Morgan operation on the Bay Front at Rose and PC Collins were bringing Edwards Place, Kingstown. towards the transport,” Davis Morgan and Collins are charged recounted. jointly with unlawfully and “I asked Sergeant Morgan who shot maliciously wounding Corporal Milford Edwards, and he replied, “Nobody told Edwards of the Narcotics Unit, me police was down here. I came on unlawfully discharging a firearm, the beach and I shouted, ‘Police’, and I excessive use of force and acting in a saw a man coming towards me with a manner so rash or so negligent as to gun and I shoot’,” Davis related. be likely to cause harm to a person. According to him, Sergeant Morgan Morgan, Collins and Forde are said the only information he had charged jointly with conspiracy to received was that drugs were being defeat the course of justice. loaded onto a boat on a beach at Rose Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

Place. Davis said he took Corporal Edwards to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, following which he (Davis) went to the Central Police Station. Davis testified that the area where he had parked at Rose Place was lighted. There were lights from a lamp pole and business places. Under cross-examination by Morgan’s lawyer Ronald Marks, Davis said Morgan appeared to be frightened and very upset. When questioned by Forde’s attorney Kay Bacchus-Browne, Davis revealed that the patrol which included Sergeant Robinson, Constable Shaun Chandler and Corporal Edwards, had a total of four firearms, two of which were carried by Chandler, including an M4 rifle. He said everybody had flashlights, but they did not have the flashlights on when they left the vehicle. Davis noted that Collins and Morgan accompanied him to the hospital, and Collins also appeared to be frightened and very

upset. Duane Daniel represented Collins. Evidence showed that nothing illegal was found during the operation which included searches carried out on three suspects and a bag aboard a pirogue. Seven prosecution witnesses have testified so far at the trial which commenced on Wednesday. The witnesses also included Constable Shaun Chandler of the Narcotics Unit and Constable Lester James attached to CID. Six additional state witnesses are expected to be called, including Assistant Superintendent of Police Jonathan Nichols, Sergeant Robinson and Corporal Edwards. Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Colin Williams leads the case for the prosecution. He is assisted by Inspector Adolphus Delpleche, prosecutor at the Serious Offences Court. The matter is expected to continue today (Friday).

Calypsonian on bond AS CALYPSONIANS prepare for Vincy Mas 2013, calypsonian I-Reality struck the wrong note last weekend, landing him before the Court for causing grievous bodily harm. I-Reality, whose real name is Bernard White, was charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Marcellus Woodley of Sion Hill, by striking him in the face with a large tin of juice contained in a bag. Woodley sustained injuries to the mouth during the incident which occurred last Sunday at a shop at Sion Hill. He was warded at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital and was discharged on Tuesday. The 64-year-old calypsonian, singing for about 39 years, and pannist, expressed remorse for his action when he appeared at the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday. “I am sorry I did it,” White told Chief Magistrate Sonya Young.

White said Woodley was defaming him by spreading a certain rumour. He admitted that he went into a shop at Sion Hill, saw Woodley and swung a bag which contained a large tin of juice, striking him in the face, as revealed in the facts presented in Court. “You could have killed this person,” the Chief Magistrate told the calypsonian. She pointed out there were other ways in which White could have dealt with the situation, and noted that according to the medical report, Woodley’s jaw was swollen. White, who pleaded guilty to the offence, was bonded in the sum of $500, and if he breaches the bond, he would go to prison for two months. White was also ordered to pay compensation of $700 to Woodley, of which $400 was to be paid forthwith, with an alternative of three months in prison.

Five to stand trial for murder FIVE MEN who were recharged with the murder of two St. Lucians, were committed to stand trial in the High Court, at the conclusion of their Preliminary Inquiry (PI) on Tuesday. Alister Gould, Kelwyn Gloster, Paul Nichols and Bernardo Barbour, all of Barrouallie, along with Noel Franklyn Browne of Chateaubelair, were committed to stand trial for the murder of Javed Prospere and attempted murder of Eric Samuel. Chief Magistrate Sonya Young ruled that a prima facie case was made out on both charges. Prospere died after sustaining bullet wounds to the chest and right

thigh, while Samuel suffered gunshot injuries to the right shoulder. Both shootings occurred October 8, 2012 at the Morne Ronde Dry River, on the north western coast. Attorney Grant Connell, who represented the men, made a no case submission on both charges. This was overruled. Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Colin John prosecuted. The men had been discharged at the Serious Offences Court earlier this year because all the witnesses were not available after the matter was set for a final adjournment. They were subsequently recharged.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. 5.

Regional

MOODYÊS advises: devalue EC Dollar WHILE IVAN O’NEAL, leader of the Green Party in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has issued a call for this country to establish its own currency, a reputed international investment-rating agency, Moody’s Investor Services, has suggested “that Caribbean territories should devalue the Eastern Caribbean currency or adopt the US dollar, in an effort to address what it deems to be a ‘debt crisis’ in the region.” This was reported by the Antigua Observer Newspaper, May 22, which went on to say that Moody’s, while admitting that this move was “unlikely,” advanced the view that such a move “could enhance the region’s competitiveness.” The May 20 weekly Credit Outlook put out by Moody’s said further, “We do not see policymakers voluntarily choosing these options because they would sacrifice price stability (Caribbean countries rely heavily on food and fuel imports) and risk political upheaval.” It continued, “Only a balance of payments crisis (similar to what happened in 1989 in Trinidad, when it abandoned its currency peg and subsequently defaulted on its sovereign debt) could force policymakers to choose these options.” Reiterating that currency

devaluation is unlikely to happen, the New-York based agency said “severe domestic adjustments” through deficit reduction and structural reforms intended to stimulate growth, are the only options that remain. In the weekly Credit Outlook report referred, Moody’s presented a negative outlook on the future of regional debt, noting that Caribbean countries remain “unable and unwilling” to service arrears. “We see the defaults of Belize, Jamaica and Grenada over the past year as being part of a broader debt crisis in the Caribbean,” the credit rating body said. “At the moment, we see a high probability that Belize and Jamaica will relapse into default. In addition, Grenada is currently restructuring its debt for the second time since 2004, which mirrors broader distress in the ECCU.” The report noted that St Kitts & Nevis defaulted on its debt in 2011 and that Antigua & Barbuda restructured its debt in 2010. It posited that despite these restructurings, ECCU members Moody’s advances a position for remain among “the most heavily devaluation of the EC$, but indebted” nations in the world. concedes that it is unlikely to (Source: Antiguan Observer) happen.

RSS officer stabbed in Barbados LONDON, England and Paris, France were recently hit by open killings of members of their armed forces by civilians. The London incident of May 23 and Paris of May 25 were given front page coverage across the globe, as those countries sought to reflect on their efforts to combat terrorist activity on their home soil. What got so much less coverage was that the Caribbean also recorded an incident in which a military-related person was stabbed in the open, albeit not fatally. The news is that on May 17, Warrant Officer

in the Belize Defence Force (BDF), Andre Gabb, 45, attached to the Regional Security Services, Barbados, was stabbed in the chest, in that Caribbean state. Reports are that the incident occurred during the evening hours at a marketplace in Carlton, Black Rock, an estimated two miles from captial, Bridgetown. A news source in Belize reported that Gabb’s brother had said that they were still not sure exactly what transpired, but sometime during the altercation, “Andre was stabbed in the chest with a knife,

RSS personnel in target practice during a training exercise in Barbados, 2012.

which punctured his heart. Gabb is said to have undergone emergency surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Barbados, and up to late last week was still listed in critical condition. Family members, including his wife, who travelled to Barbados to be with Gabb, have said since that Gabb was sedated, but has begun to respond by lip and finger twitches, and that they expect he will recover. Meanwhile, the Barbados media reported that Police have formally charged Jabarie Kemar King, 25, of Haynesville, St. James, Barbados, for the offence of serious bodily harm in connection with the stabbing. Andre Gabb has been in the BDF for about 19 years and has been stationed in Barbados since July 2012 as a part of the Regional Security System (RSS). The 30-year-old RSS, based in Barbados, is a defense alliance of several Caribbean nations that provides assistance in defense and security.

Warrant Officer Andre Gabb, a Belizean attached to the RSS, was off duty when he was stabbed.

Call for Regional Reparations Conference ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES could well be the venue for a regional conference on reparations. This if an invitation extended by SVG’s Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves is accepted by his colleagues in the region. Dr. Gonsalves, addressing a celebration in Antigua to mark the 50th anniversary of the Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, African Unity/African Prime Minister of St. Union and the Vincent and the commencement of the Grenadines, wants Africa Year, which is the issue of being observed from May reparations to be a 2013 to May 2014, offered highlight of the his country as a possible location for the staging of region’s foreign policy. a conference on reparations. “I am suggesting a special regional conference on reparations, including governments NGOs and distinguished personalities of relevance,” he said, adding, “This conference ought to be convened, and I am offering St Vincent and the Grenadines to host it.” According to reliable sources in Antigua, Dr. Gonsalves’ lecture captioned, ‘The Struggle for Reparations: A Caribbean Imperative’, was well received. He dedicated it to the memory of his “comrade,” Antiguan political activist, Tim Hector. Dr. Gonsalves saw purpose for extending the discussion to include CARICOM since, as he put it, “If all of us in Caricom are on the same page with this, it is going to be difficult to touch us,” he said. He appealed to “all right-thinking people around the world …. to embrace reparations for slavery and native genocide.” It was time, Dr. Gonsalves posited, to assemble a competent and committed body of experts, historians, economists, statisticians, lawyers and other professionals, “to prepare the case, including the sums of money and other initiatives.” And it was the Vincentian Prime Minister’s assertion that the region must continue to advance the cause for reparations at all international forums. “It must be the centre piece of our region’s foreign policy, he said.

6. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Parliament

Airport concerns raised by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY “I AM DELIVERING A QUALITY AIRPORT.” That’s the commitment from Vincentian Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves. He made it while winding up debate on the Public Sector Projects (ALBA Bank) Loans (Amendment) Bill 2013, last Monday, in Parliament. The Bill was passed after contributions by Opposition leader Arnhim Eustace, MPs, St. Clair Leacock (Central Kingstown) and Dr. Godwin Friday (Northern Grenadines) and Government Senator Julian Francis. For Dr. Gonsalves, the Bill was “straightforward,” designed to avoid parliament having to meet every time the government needed to borrow. According to Gonsalves, US $10 M was held up in Venezuela because of elections, and former president Hugo Chavez’s death. The slow pace in getting money from Venezuela put work at the Argyle Airport behind schedule, but Dr. Gonsalves anticipates that, with the approval of additional finances, “we should pick up

back with the speed.” Eustace had “no difficulty” with the principle behind the amendment, but expressed concern that “a lot more emphasis was being placed on the airport than anything else.” The opposition leader questioned the amount of money to take care of Cuban workers. He was concerned with the impact on our budget.

A question of fiscal prudence MP Leacock accused the government of treating the opposition with “contempt and disdain.” As far as Leacock was concerned, the Coalition has become “quite unwilling.” The Central Kingstown representative contended that “for 100 years, the airport can’t pay for itself.” He raised questions about the “fiscal prudence on that project.” Leacock took issue that the Prime Minister “has not chosen to take us into confidence.” He questioned the role of the International Airport Development Company

(L-R): Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace and MP St. Clair Leacock expressed concern about the financing of the construction of the international airport. (IADC). and wanted to know the relationship with central government. “What do they take us for in the NDP?” Leacock blurted. He concluded that Vincentians were worse off because of the construction of the airport. “The country is yet to feel the presence,” (of the airport’s construction) as far as Leacock was concerned. He suggested

Inset: Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, promised a quality airport and accused the opposition of taking “cheap shots”. that more money goes to Cuba and that, “We are drowning in debt.” Dr. Friday contended that “resources were removed from Central services in order to facilitate the construction of the airport.” Dr. Gonsalves took a different view from Leacock. He accused the Central

Kingstown parliamentarian of having a “lot of heat, but not much light.” He chided the opposition for saying that they had no information. “Every time we have an agreement, I bring it to parliament,” Dr. Gonsalves outlined. He accused the opposition of taking “cheap shots.”

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. 7.

8. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Editorial Good news, bad news IT JUST FEELS LIKE THAT TIME of the year when we should stick the tongue in the cheek and traverse the world of ‘news’, which throws up so much of its own contradictions. So here goes with a trip, as careening as it might appear, through the maze of Good News, Bad News. Good News when you have civil servants who understand that it is their duty to uphold the policy of the government of the day? Bad News for those civil servants when they try to stand up for principle and the principles that dictate proper civil service practices, only to have them shot down as being incompetent and spiteful. Good News when we can undertake a project like the construction of an international airport. It demonstrates for the world to see, our vision and industry. Bad News when the whole affair is riddled with twists and turns, and the winds that promised so much might have taken a diagonal turn for the worse. Good News when we hear that our country is at the forefront of guaranteeing religious freedom and hasincorporated as many religions as you could think about under our laws. Bad News when we do all that, knowing full well that one such religion holds the use of marijuana as a sacred and religious rite, but still faces prosecution under a law that makes its use illegal. What a contradiction! Good News when we moved to comply with all the international regulations/protocols governing security at ports of entry. Bad News when we are finding out that one of those measures taken by the Port Police, may just have been simply a means of guaranteeing employment for (only) some of the faithful of the ruling party, and that they are dispensable. Good News when we talk of rehabilitating cocoa cultivation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Bad News when we seem to want to involve cocoa farmers in a scheme that smells of the shortcomings of the old Banana Growers Association. Good News that we seem to have a Minister of Agriculture that cares about farmers and farming communities; one who is not blinded by his own investment (if he has any) in an industry that will always be fundamental to our very existence. Bad News when there are persons, within and without the Ministry of Agriculture, who think that the Minister is too big for his own (water) boots, getting too much press, and should be made to desist from working with perceived opponents of government, even if it means that work is in the interest of the common good. Good News when Government sees the need to energize the agrobased industry in this country. Bad News when that government, instead of facilitating expansion of the industry, which includes a number of small operations, chooses to set up and give ongoing financial support to a plant that stands in direct competition to the small operators. Good News that we should recognize the contribution that the Vincentian Diaspora, especially in the USA, can make to our economy and society in general. Bad, Bad News when our elected leaders knowingly take to creating division among that Diaspora, casting aspersions, thereby ostracizing many Vincentians who are well positioned and financially endowed to make a tangible contribution to their homeland. Good News for those Ju-C workers (Bottlers- St. Vincent — Ltd.) when they heard that the factory was going to be re-opened, since a new investor was coming on board. Bad News when after years of being on the bread line, those workers have heard nothing further on the re-opening, far less about their severance pay; worse again when most of them would have supported a party that professes to be ‘a workers’ party’. Good News that we have carnival celebrations to help let off the steam that builds up as a result of all the ‘goings and comings’ in the land, and pressure of making ends meet. Bad News when, instead of dancing and prancing to let off the steam, we use the occasion of gay abandonment to shoot and maim. Good News that we can spend a ton of the National Lottery money to provide sporting facilities across the state, like in the North Central Windward constituency. Bad News when the people of Bequia are made to feel that they are not meant to be beneficiaries of the funds of the said National Lottery. Good News that this column is limited by space. Bad News that so much ‘news’ has to be left unattended.

Arnhim Eustace again and again (a reprint of This Week 2nd February 2001, just before the ULP took power) IT IS IRONIC that so much attention has been focused on Arnhim Eustace, an unassuming and humble person who, until now avoided the public glare like a plague. As fate would have it, however, there is a moment of truth for Arnhim who has been thrust into the hot seat of head of Government, a lonely figure in a sense surrounded by tumult and turmoil and intrigue, as he tries to get to grips with running the country, taming the Opposition and consolidating his own leadership with the N.D.P during a feverish election season, all at the same time. Surely, these are times that try men’s souls, and a lesser mortal would already have run for cover. So far, Arnhim has stood tall, seemingly tempered by the fire. Another reason that demands special treatment for the head of our Government is that, through no fault of his, the system that we operate centralises everything around him. One-Manism is not new, nor does it necessarily grow out of the personality of its practitioner. It naturally flows from the Westminster system off which we allegedly patterned ourselves. In the 1950s, the brilliant English Don and Labour Politician, Dick Crossman, spoke openly of the emergences of “Prime Ministerial Government” in England. In the Caribbean, the lack of an independent Press, an informed citizenry, and a democratic attitude, all tend to create the atmosphere conducive to personal rule. In the long term, we can counter with constitutional reform. In the mean time we have to reject persons who are consumed by the power —bug, and go for the humble and meek, all other things being equal. Specifically concerning Arnhim Eustace, political partisanship has ensured that a studied attempt be made to keep him far from any Labour connections of the past. It is little known that Arnhim cut his professional teeth during a Labour regime, moving from Administrative Cadet, to Assistant Secretary, to Manager of Development Corporation, to Director of Planning, and ended up, at age 32 as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Agriculture under Joshua and junior Minister Vincent Beache. On the contrary, Arnhim is linked especially with “failed” NDP projects led by Ottley Hall in which he had not a hand, except during his stints as fiscal adviser and DirectorGeneral of Finance to Mitchell, engaging in salvage operation and damage control. Both Bassy Alexander and Dennis “Prick” London, neither of them a supporter of the NDP, have noted that Arnhim resigned his Permanent Secretaryship on a matter of principle when the Minister sought to discriminate against small-traders in favour of the Big Man. Not surprisingly, armed with experience of personal knowledge of their former administrative boss, Bassy and “Prick” bluntly refused to believe that Eustace had borrowed one red cent from the Nanos, as claimed. Significantly, the late Patrick Hughes, who loved to hate Mitchellites, publicly expressed his disbelief in the Nano claim as it related to Arnhim. For his part, Arnhim immediately went transparent and open on the issue, summoning a press conference within the hour, where he refuted the “bizarre charges”, attributed the situation to a ploy by the Nanos to get their own back following Eustace’s revocation of

their Bank’s licence, and not “within 30 days” as suggested. That Eustace has handled the personal matter effectively with dispatch and aplomb can be gleaned by the acerbic reaction of Casper London who described Arnhim Eustace as acting impatiently with undue haste and arrogance, like “a bull in a China shop”! Evidence that Eustace will not lose his head in a crisis came in a sequel to the Nano affair. The calculated delay in preferring the charges was seen by P.R Campbell as part of an orchestration of events to ensure the “unelectabilty of Eustace.” Arguing that such behaviour breach a fundamental, if unstated, condition on the Grand Beache Accord, Campbell advised that in such a case, Eustace could reasonably refuse to abide by the terms of the Accord which were not legally binding. Arnhim’s immediate response was that he was morally bound, and that his word was enough! In his parliamentary work, Eustace has paid attention to old people, with increased pensions for public servants, teachers and police of the Consolidated funds, but not without warning that they might have been better off in years to come with the NIS. The new Prime Minister has promised to help create a kinder, gentler society without the sacrifice of discipline and law and order, and, mindful of the economic damage and psychological scars which it left in its wake, the road- block revolution elicits only harsh and regretful comments from him. Once again, Mr. Eustace shows firmness in moving the vendors off the streets and into the “People’s Palace” where they properly belong, to the loud silence of the U.L.P problems of squatting and solid waste management are being addressed appropriately. Significantly, Eustace was all Statesman and no politician in his last budget. There was absolute no temptation to present “an election budget” with gifts to the people that would have to be paid for with interest after the election. The budget was an honest-to-goodness presentation in which Eustace as much as told Ralph that he had not the capacity to challenge him on matters of economic analysis! In vain has the ULP tried to project an image of Eustace as a puppet to Mitchell, a junior Prime Minister to the Senior Minister who back seat drives the Government. It is as if the ghost of Mitchell were still conducting public affairs from purgatory. In the TV program “No Holds Barred,” Keith Joseph had sympathised with the prime minister as to how the outgoing PM, had left rather large boots to fill. Eustace answered simply and tellingly that he has every intention of walking in his own shoes! Many issues remain on Eustace’s plate for solution. By quiet diplomacy, the Canouan problem has been placed on the back-burner. But the Airport Situation and the Prisons call for urgent treatment. Aware that he barely made it home last election, Eustace has been working in earnest with the poor and disprivileged of his constituency, striking up good rapport with them. Above all, Eustace has been consolidating his place in the party by winning over Executive as well as floor members and rankand-file to his side. The narrow bank of independent business people, neutralists and the floating votes of disillusioned people are all giving him a hearing and wondering whether, at last, they have been offered the genuine article.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. 9.

Letters

Common sense in business

COMMON SENSE is a most important quality for an employee if any business is to progress. Many Vincentians interacting with local businesses might scratch their heads at a less than stellar approach of many employees when dealing with customers. In terms of money transfer agencies, Western Union is clearly ahead. One customer had a chance to test the common sense factor at Western Union and other similar services here. He possessed a temporary ID located on an ordinary sheet of paper, standard from the electoral office. He had used it regularly at money transfer agencies, as the paper ID became damaged. (Incidentally, even if a temporary ID is damaged, the electoral office will not replace it until the six-month moratorium is up). The Western Union employee recognized the ID although missing a name, as one given by a customer who had repeatedly used it, and let all transactions go through. Not so with the other agents; although the information was valid, they were derogatory and hassled the customer, although he had used the paper ID repeatedly with them, insomuch as they recognized the customer. One can understand the reservations if this were a large country where you have various offices of one money transfer agencies or the other, and where security is more of an issue. The Western Union employees must be commended for their polite, intelligent and comfortable treatment of their customers. St. Vincent is suffering from a troubled tourism industry. Business is slow across the board; but that does not mean that common courtesy and common sense should not be maintained as are qualities demonstrated by employees who have to interact with persons on a daily basis. Customer

That Layou strip LAST WEEK’S tragedy in Layou, I hope, will bring home how dangerous the road through that town is. As your article last week indicated, it was not the first fatal accident in Layou, and God forbid; but given how the road is used, it might not be last. The road through Layou has not changed in any major way, save and except for some resurfacing and drainage work through the years. It is still the same width as it was long before this country had 1000 vehicles on the road. Times have changed, and there are thousands of vehicles that use our roads now, on a daily basis. What bothers me is that drivers, especially those who drive public service vehicles, seem to have no regard for the narrowness of the road, and that at any given time in the day and night, there are pedestrians on that road. Drivers simply ignore the slow signs and hurry to where I don’t know. It is time for the Traffic Department to increase surveillance through Layou. Maybe too, it is time to introduce radar traps so that those who continue to break the speed limit could be prosecuted. Persons outside of the police force could be appointed wardens with the job of operating the radar. A Leeward Man

Censor the ÂsocaÊ Mr. Editor, first and foremost, let me recognize that your column of last week (May 24) confined itself to addressing the issue of ‘likely’ censorship of calypsos. That, forever, will be an issue, once calypsonians continue to have the courage to comment on political and social issues affecting our society and not take political sides. The last thing a calypsonian should do is sell his soul to a political party or leader. But nuff on the calypso business. I can’t, regardless of

what others have to say, group this soca thing under the banner of calypso. First to begin with, the arrangements don’t have the type of intricate music that calypsos have. Anybody it seems could walk into a studio, pick a pre-recorded rhythm, put together two or three words per line, and presto, a song is ready. And the topics!!! Lord have mercy. I mean, things have been bad with all this wining business, but this year

takes the cake. Even the female soca divas, as they like to call themselves, have sunk to new levels of lewdness and disrespect for themselves. If the authorities want to talk about censorship, they should start with some of those baseless soca songs. And I notice that the CDC is promoting this baseless sub-culture, its Junior Scoa Monarch which encourages the youngsters to gyrate amd wine down the place.

How on earth could any self-respecting person talk about wining on a Granny? Nuff said. Paul

Dishonest judgment Part 3 When are we going to get honest judgment for this country? 1. When are the churches going to come together to say no to same sex lovers? Can we say that they are covering it up to protect their contributions, or that the churches have some big wigs who are invisible to the congregation, and can only be seen when they get caught?

2. What about that airport cheque displayed by the former Prime Minister, but before the meeting was over he was unable to find it? Did you know Ralph Gonsalves snatched the cheque when he was sleeping and build the airport behind his back? Ha! Ha! 3. When are these politicians going to stop fooling us about factories? Who are we going to sell our product,

St. Lucia, Grenada, Trinidad, etc. or locally? Look around St. Vincent, see how many restaurants are selling local juices The fastest selling products come from abroad. How can I be a shoemaker, selling my own shoes and all my family shoes are imported? 4. Why is it that every project that comes to St. Vincent and the Grenadines dies before its time? Can’t we wait

Making sport with the port police I COULDN’T help but notice how the but the payment never happen? Who PM side-stepped your publication and is to blame? responded on the Port Workers issue Big men could fool some people to another publication. Try as much some time, but they can’t fool all the as he wants, he cannot take away the people all the time. fact that THE VINCENTIAN brought Time is running out on this workers the issue to light. I must congratulate government. your reporter, JP Schwmon for staying Sydney the course, and you, Mr. Editor, for having faith in him. This is the first time in a long time that we have had an issue covered with consistency and balance. You young man look carefully inside What irks me here is the PM’s You don’t even have self esteem and pride announcement that he intends to You young man sitting, wasting time re-structure things as they relate As the days go by and by. to the port police. This is just You young man want a pretty lady another way of saying that he is Talented, hardworking and dedicated going to disband the Port Police Who will accomplish any task day by day and put people out of jobs. To make life a success in every way. Interestingly, those port police who might be out jobs would You young man work hard in life surely be wondering how ‘dey To achieve your goals reach for the sky party could do dem dat? How You young man life is a precious gift dey thought ‘dey own de There’s so many things to accomplish government’. Be persistent and you better achieve it. And what is all this thing about having the money to pay P.B. Felicia Thompson the port police their increments

Young man

for it to die a natural death? Is it because the deals are so sweet that we forget our past mistakes? Who will make the fix when the fix may be a dishonest judgment? SPY

* Are the creditors of Bottlers (St. Vincent) Ltd. moving to sell the factor at Campden Park? * Has anyone, Directors, Union, spoken to the displaced workers about their severance pay? * Really, man, is anyone concerned about those potholes in Kingstown? * Are we waiting for something terrible to happen in front of downtown Kentucky before the Works people wake up and pressure the Minister of Finance to release some money for road repairs? * Do motorists know what two solid lines at an intersection mean? When is the last time a traffic police was positioned at the top of McKies Hill to observe what happens there? * Who is paying for all these fancy phones that school children walk around with, especially those young ladies? The parents?

10. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Placing faith in the ULP The issue On May 20th 2013, during his Fisherman’s Day address, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves urged Vincentians to continue to have faith in his ULP administration. One day later, Sir Vincent Beache, former Minister of National Security, and the current adviser to the ULP administration on matters of national security, echoed the sentiments of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, in relation to the concept of faith. Was this a coincidence? Faith is an interesting concept. It requires an individual to place confidence, trust and belief, in an individual, an organization, or an idea. But this concept of faith, universally accepted by all religions, is made stronger if it is accompanied by evidence that will justify its existence. The book of James chapter two and verse 17 states: “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (King James version). In the same chapter at verse 26, it states “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead”. What does this mean? It means that people who believe in something, but don’t express that belief through actions of some sort, don’t believe what is coming out of their mouths. So that faith must be accompanied by works. Individuals must be able to say “I told you I was going to do this, and look what I have done”. This will come as a positive factor in the future.

By your works you are known In 2001, the people of St.Vincent and the Grenadines put their faith in the ULP led by Comrade Ralph, and since that time, they have not looked back. The ULP administration has responded, by keeping many of the promises made in the manifestos of 2001, 2005 and 2010. The ULP says that its philosophy, its mantra, is based on a concept called “people centred development”. At the core of this concept is the drive for a sustainable social and economic development status, even in the face of the current global financial crisis, which is showing no signs of abatement. Over the years, the ULP has consolidated this philosophy, and the resulting positive actions are there for all to see. The fact of the matter is that the voters of this country have shown confidence in the ULP administration, by returning this party to government in 2005 and 2010, following the victory in 2001. This is so because there is a strong belief in the ability of the ULP to deliver on its promises. The ULP made pledges to the nation and kept its word. The ULP has earned the faith and trust of the electorate, not by words, but through deeds and “works”, by doing what was promised for the socio economic development of our nation.

list is impressive, from the Education Revolution, the Housing Revolution, the re-habilitation and construction of schools, clinics and police stations, to the salary increases, poverty reduction, the turning of dead capital into live capital through the land sales programme to the rural poor, the Canouan jet port and the modern library in Kingstown. The construction of the bridge over the Rabacca River, must come in for special mention. When this project was announced by the ULP administration, there was a great deal of skepticism by a number of persons who support the opposition NDP. There was talk that the bridge could not be constructed, that it will be washed away with the first heavy rainfall, and that the construction of a tunnel under the Rabacca River, was a better idea. In due course, the bridge was constructed, there was an official opening ceremony attended by thousands of Vincentians, and now the bridge is being used by motorists and pedestrians alike, as if it were a normal everyday occurrence. Many persons have expressed appreciation to the ULP administration, for the foresight and leadership provided in the construction of the bridge. They have now developed a higher level of faith in the ULP. That faith is manifested in the support provided for many of the projects now being implemented by the ULP administration. In colloquial terms, the talk is that “if Ralph and the ULP could build the Rabacca Bridge, they could build anything”. Hence the outpouring of support for the international airport project at Argyle.

No faith in the NDP

On the other side of the equation, Vincentians have shown little faith in the NDP. We will recall that the NDP was swept out of office in the wake of a series of corruptible activities, including the Ottley Hall project, the sale of crown lands to cronies, the abuse of state vehicles, the sweetheart mortgages at the former National Commercial Bank and the ill-fated Colonial Homes project. The NDP has shown no desire to improve, to change their ways. Instead they continue to bad talk the country and Vincentians, and they oppose many people- centered development projects which provide benefits for our people. We have never seen so many lies and half-truths told by the NDP and their spokespersons and supporters, in relation to the work of the ULP administration and Comrade Ralph. This is unprecedented in the political history of our country. The works But the people of this country will continue to put their faith in the ULP There can be no doubt that this administration because they have ULP administration has presided over seen the work of the ULP. We must the most impressive achievements of all remember that “faith without any government in the history of deeds is dead”. St.Vincent and the Grenadines. The

Unemployment and poverty continue to increase There seems to be no end to the hard economic conditions in this country. Instead of outlining a programme to get the country out of this economic malaise, this ULP government is contemplating sending home eighty-four (84) more workers, Port Police, adding to the numbers of those already unemployed, and dampening the of hundreds of young Vincentians who will be graduating from colleges and universities this year. There is no doubt that these Port Police will be going on the breadline. We were told during the 2010 General Elections campaign by the ULP, that if you voted for the NDP and they won the General Elections, they would send home public servants. The questions now are: Who is sending home public servants at this time? Are these workers going home because there was a sick out at the Port? Is that the real reason? Are these Port Police being severed because of austerity measures by the government? It is crystal clear that the ULP administration is experiencing serious financial problems, so they have no other choice than to sever these workers. More unemployment means more poverty. It would appear that those persons who speak on behalf of the ULP are in a world by themselves. They continue to deny that poverty is at its highest under the ULP regime, and (that) the poor and working class are really suffering. Never in the history of this country are Vincentians meeting it so hard. As a result, their standard of living has significantly reduced. There is no more a middle class in this country. It’s either you are rich, and we do not have many rich persons, or you are poverty-stricken. The actions by this ULP government have caused the middle class in the nation to virtually disappear. One such action by the ULP administration is to systematically destroy the banana industry, thus making our farmers dependent on the government to the extent that the Minister of Agriculture is distributing cutlasses and files to some farmers. Imagine, farmers who were once independent have been brought to their knees by an insensitive and unsympathetic administration. Early in the life of this administration, the government took control of the Banana Growers Association, then removed the credit facility which was established to assist farmers with their inputs, making it extremely difficult for farmers to purchase fertilizer, insecticide and other inputs. Meanwhile, there is no attempt at all to help the hard-working and honest farmers. The Minister of Agriculture, in the 2013 Budget debate, said that the Ministry of Agriculture would rehabilitate one thousand (1000) acres of bananas this year; so far nothing has been done. There is no funding for the programme in the Estimates of 2013. The questions the Minister of Agriculture has to answer are: What is the cost to rehabilitate one thousand acres of bananas? What is the source of funding for the rehabilitation? The farmers need the government’s assistance so that they can continue the cultivation of bananas in a meaningful way.

Unemployed Youths As you traverse this country, the number of young people who are on

the ‘blocks’ and are unemployed is astonishing. In most cases, it would appear that over seventy percent of young persons in a number of communities are unemployed, and they are frustrated. One young person called the “New Times” programme recently and literally cried while explaining his situation to the host of the programme. He lamented that he did not have a dollar in his pocket; he was unemployed, perturbed and did not know who or where to turn for assistance. The cry of that young man is the cry of most young people in this country. The ULP administration has failed the youths. It has failed to provide the quality jobs for the young people that were promised during the General Elections campaign. Instead, the jobs were provided for the ULP’s “bigwigs”, while the children of the poor and working class are still unemployed and wondering where the next dollar is coming from. No wonder some young people have found themselves involved in illegal and criminal activities. The question is being asked: Are these young people being forced to get involved in such activities by the actions of the ULP regime? The NDP and the Young Democrats are concerned with the level of violence among our youths, and this situation has prompted the Young Democrats to make a statement on the issue of crime among our young brothers and sisters.

Press release by the Young Democrats “The N.D.P. Young Democrats wish to address the recent increase in acts of violence taking place in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We recognize that in many cases, young people are both the victims and perpetrators of violence in our nation. As a result, we are calling on the nation to pray for peace at this time. “We ask all young people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to exercise restraint and to walk away from potentially violent situations. It is important to seek good counsel and to desist from acting irrationally. We are calling on the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to once again consider the Spiritual and Social Redemption Charter put forward by the New Democratic Party, which outlines the framework for intervention and positive youth empowerment in our nation. “We believe that the youths are an asset to the development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and therefore every effort must be made to ensure that they are the focal point of all policies and programmes to ensure their participation in the decision making processes of the country.

Closure “The youths and all those who lost their jobs must hold this ULP government accountable for the unemployment situation in the country, and it must be made to pay a heavy political price at the polls when the next General Elections are called.”

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. 11.

Views

There was a time “The only use of a knowledge of the past is to equip us for the present. The present contains all that there is. It is holy ground; for it is the past, and it is the future.” - Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) British mathematician, philosopher, author THERE IS VALUE in looking back. We are at our present location largely because of the choices that we made - and those that were made for us. As best we try, we cannot return to the past in an effort to correct or improve some of the decisions that were made back then. However, it is so important to periodically contemplate where we have come from, and to make a true assessment of our present position, capabilities, and limitations as we seek to design strategies for enhanced performance en route to our noble goals. But it can be hazardous to take too long a backward gaze. As one writer puts it, “There is danger in driving forward but fixing your gaze in the rear view mirror”. So, as we contemplate challenging ourselves to excel, let us pause to look back through our personal and common history, with a determination to use the positive experiences to inspire and propel us to greater heights of success. We will also be forever conscious that we must avoid repeating the negative pitfalls that will slow us down, detract, distract, or derail our lives. And while the individual introspection and retrospection have value on the personal level, we can conduct a similar exercise in relation to community efforts and involvement. There was a time when neighbours looked out for each other. This was especially evident in agricultural and/or rural villages. Individuals were prepared to share whatever little they had, to make sure that their family members and those in their neighbourhood had enough of life’s basic needs. For example, I vividly recall a family from one of the farming communities in St. Vincent that frequently visited our home over three decades ago. At least once each month, they would bring a box or bag of ground provisions and spices as a gift of appreciation for some act of kindness that our family had shown to their family many years earlier. In exchange, we provided them with canned foodstuff, clothes, and toiletries. The family bonds grew stronger over the years. Sharing like this has disappeared in so many of our communities, but can be rekindled with very little effort. There was a time when families cooked more than they could eat, in anticipation that someone may pass by and would benefit from the “extra morsel”. I first experienced this at my maternal grandmother’s home in Frenches (just outside Kingstown). “Miss Billy”, as she was fondly called, always had some extra food just in case some distant relative or friend from the country passed by ... and they regularly did. I recently had dinner with some outstanding Caribbean professionals, and discovered that the mother of one of my colleagues, who lives in rural Trinidad, still does this. Some readers may quickly rebut by claiming that the food is likely to waste if this becomes a practice. But it will not. We will either find persons to share it with ... or we will place it in the refrigerator for another time. We certainly will not see it go to waste. There was a time when communities engaged in the practice of “swap labour”. Individuals (skilled and unskilled) looked for the opportunity to assist each other in the cultivation of lands, harvesting crops,

the construction of homes, and so on. Many of these volunteers were quite satisfied with receiving food and drink for their efforts and interest. Most would have left tired, but filled with a deep sense of satisfaction that they had lent a helping hand to another in need. Some rural communities still engage in such practices ... but the activities can be further expanded. There was a time when the residents in the fishing villages would aid the fishermen in “pulling seine” and, as “payment for their labour”, would receive some of the fish that was harvested. Or the youngsters, when out of school, will sit with the older fishermen as they repaired their broken nets, and listen to the tales of adventures on the sea. This writer will digress a bit here to emphasise that some fishermen really told some “long tales”. I vividly recall the tales that Bandy Waist shared down at Bottom Town in Kingstown during my young teen years. I believed him then, but later realised that many of his stories were grossly magnified. For example, my reflections during adulthood convinced me that there was no way that Bandy Waist could have leaned over his fourteen-foot rowing boat at sea and snatch a shark by the fin as it swam by. And for years, I remembered the excitement when Caddle (I never knew his real name) would fascinate our young, gullible minds as he told us of the Giant Doctor Bird that lived up in the Soufriere Mountains and would take him to and from neighbouring islands “in a flash”. We could never have enough of those episodes. But those stories had their place in our culture and our writings. They displayed imagination at work. They were entertaining too. We must not let the attractions of the modern gadgets, the Internet, or the cable television programmes rob us of the richness of the sharing across generations. This writer wishes that there was more time for sharing thoughts and reflections on the days gone by; but, alas, there is so little time and space left to do so in this article. But we must squeeze in some important questions here: Is it possible for us to recapture some of those “good old days”? Is it feasible for us to rekindle that spirit of community and caring that seems to have dwindled as we have become so busy with our own cares and the distractions of the TV, Internet, cell phones, and so on? Of course we can! We will never get back to having the very same events (because times have changed), but we can rekindle that spirit of community and genuine love for others; attitudes and behaviours that make societies strong. Each of us, in our own little way, can think of things that we can do to reach out and bless each other. Look towards the future with me now. Visualize, if you will, and in your mind’s eye see a youngster sitting amidst representatives of an older generation contemplating the positive thoughts and actions that you will implement, and the older whispers to the younger as s/he commences the conversation with, “There was a time ...”. Send comments, criticisms & suggestions to julesferdinand@gmail.com

Sheriff Lewis’s gift to SVG ACCORDING TO THE Order of National Heroes Act, to be considered for the hero status, a nominee must have given outstanding service to SVG and (that) his/her contribution has altered positively the course of history of St Vincent and the Grenadines. Sheriff Lewis, through sheer sacrifice and selfless leadership, would have made a greater contribution that ‘positively altered the course of our nation’s history’ than any other person in the modern history of SVG. Let’s place Sheriff in context. In 1935, poverty among the poorer class, of mainly black persons, was exceedingly high. A great majority of the people was unable to read or write, (Sheriff made it to class 5). The white ruling class and its light-skinned allies in the merchant and middle class, not only maintained a race-based control over the government and economy, but they ensured that the black masses knew and stayed in their place. So when Sheriff Lewis and his band of rebels struck out in righteous indignation against colonial power and domination, they were not only saying enough was enough. Their act set in train the movement that resulted in everything we have gained since. Their action, without coordination, was precisely timed. It occurred when the masses across the region were on the move. From Cuba in the North to Trinidad in the South, people rebelled against their unbearable existence. Out of this Caribbean wide rebellion, the British Government sent out a team of researchers (Moyne Commission) to look into the causes of the revolt and to make recommendations that will make conditions better. Among the recommendations were the following: 1. Allow the recognition of workers’ rights and for the formation and legalization of trade unions 2. Deepen the democratization of the islands, and move away limited representative government where voting rights were grounded in the possession of property to universal adult suffrage and the formation of political party. 3. The beginning of some form of poor relief that lent some support to the poverty-stricken majority. This is why we say that this nation owes a tremendous amount of gratitude to Sheriff and his band of indignant rebels. To recognize Sheriff and to bestow hero honours on him will be to pay tribute to that 1935 generation that sacrificed so much in blood, sweat and tears so that we might experience a better life. A failure to recognize Sheriff as the symbol of that generation would be to do a disservice to ourselves. By not recognizing Sheriff, we will display a willful lack of historical memory. Sheriff and his band of rebels, through their protest, sketched out the architectural foundation of our modern society. Every one of our leaders, indeed all of us, are standing on the shoulders of these protesters. Take George Mc Intosh: Few people protest when his name is mentioned as a possible national hero. But Daddy Mac really came into his own and was recognized as a champion of the people following the 1935 rebellion. His high run at the helm of the Working Men’s Association gained the space necessary to function, precisely because of protest action of Sheriff and his rebels. The recommendation of the Moyne

Commission to allow for universal adult suffrage and the recognition of trade unions following the 1935 rebellion possibly played the biggest role in helping to break the domination and control of the white planter class, and its lightskinned emerging elite. Ebenezer Theodore Joshua returned from Trinidad, after learning his trade unionism from Buzz Butler in Trinidad, to form his Federated, Industrial and Rate Payers Union. He used the opening created by Sheriff and others in 1935 to do yeoman work among agricultural and estate workers. Joshua stood up against the might of the planter class and told the poor workers that they did not have to suffer silently; that they were human beings with needs, and deserved better conditions. But where did he get that strength and vision from? To be sure, he got some of this from his work in Trinidad, but we must not forget that the rebellion in Trinidad; occurred in 1937, two years after Sheriff and St Vincent had pointed the way. Those who fail to see Sheriff’s footprints in the path they have travelled lack vision. Other leaders such as Mitchell, Eustace and Gonsalves might take their own successes for granted. They may even chalk it up to their own greatness and special qualities, without ever understanding or appreciating the pathways made by Sheriff’s 1930s generation. This is quite unfortunate because in all of the other islands that erupted in violent protest in the 1930s, much more consideration and regard are given to those who made sacrifices so that we might become. The vast majority of us came from that section of the population on whose behalf Sheriff and his rebels struck that blow for change on October 21, 1935. Many of us have made progress. Most are not longer illiterate or in poverty. But the demands for jobs, and dignity, and the cry against high taxes and poor health care and an unresponsive governing elite are still with us. To go forward, we must go back. The modern history of SVG has its roots in the actions of Sheriff Lewis and his group in October 1935. Some say we should not honor a card playing, stone thrower. Let’s see how the rest of the world view heroism. Tarek al-Tayeb Mohamed Bouazizi, was a Tunisian street vendor who set himself on fire on 17 December 2010, in protest of the confiscation of his goods. His act became a catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the Arab Spring, inciting demonstrations and riots throughout Tunisia in protest of social and political issues in the country. Bouazizi was hailed a heroic martyr of a new Middle Eastern revolution. In 2011, Bouazizi was posthumously awarded the Sakharov Prize for his contributions to “historic changes in the Arab world.” For his leadership and sacrifice, Samuel ‘Sheriff’ Lewis is worthy of nothing less than a national heroes award.

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

12. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

SVG Green Party supports call for fish processing programme According to THE VINCENTIAN newspaper, volume 107, 24 May 2013, SVG’s 2013 Fisherman of the Year, Lenford Jack, thinks it’s time SVG embark on a fish processing programme. Fish is a multi-billion dollar industry and is a gold mine for SVG. SVG Green Party strongly supports Lenford Jack’s call for a fish processing programme. Also, according to THE VINCENTIAN, Lenford Jack thinks successive governments have not done enough to develop the industry and help fishermen. He pointed out that there are billions of dollars of resources in the sea, and thinks more could be done to utilise those resources. Rather than focus on the multi-billion dollar fish industry, Gonsalves puts in place a foreign policy of begging and borrowing as the engine of the SVG economy. Gonsalves has mismanaged the SVG economy with a massive fiscal deficit for the past ten years. Taiwan creams off billions of dollars from SVG’s deep sea fish licence. SVG would be much better off replacing Taiwan with the cheap technology and ships necessary to do deep sea fishing on our own licence. This would create many jobs in the deep sea fishing industry and hundreds more jobs in SVG in the factories needed to process and can the fish. The Fishing Complex in Owia urgently needs a

fish processing unit to export fish. If we used our own tuna fishing licence and had fish processing factories, SVG would earn hundreds of millions of dollars a year. This money would help eradicate poverty, illiteracy and gross criminality, and also bring down the high unemployment rate in SVG. Having our own fishing and fish processing industry will not only make our economy more healthy, but our people too. A large part of the brain is made up of omega-3 fats, vital for healthy brain function. In fact, 60% of the fats in the brain are omega-3 with DHA, a type of omega-3 fat found in fish, being the main type. Omega-3 fats are essential for healthy brain development both in the womb and in early childhood. Studies have found that the children of mothers who eat fish while pregnant have better social and verbal skills at age eight, compared to the children of mothers who never ate fish. Studies have also shown that omega-3 fats such as EPA, found naturally in fish, may help improve the reading skills and attention span of children, and improve motor skills and general co-ordination. Children benefit from regularly eating fish.

As in Zanzibar, a Green government will provide credit facilities to help fishermen, and encourage unemployed young women and men to engage in fishing. It is important to empower women to fight poverty and run their own businesses. In Zanzibar, a rejuvenated fishing and canning industry has created hundreds of new jobs in secondary local industries such as ice-making plants, cold-storage services, boat-building yards, workshops to make fishing nets, and engine repair and maintenance workshops. A Green Government will create a tuna fishing industry and fish processing for export. Fish will then be affordable for all families. A multi-billion dollar fish industry will play a pivotal part in promoting good health, creating hundreds of jobs and bringing prosperity for all in SVG. SVG Green Party www.svggreenparty.org

The Port Police saga THE PORT POLICE saga seems to be a good example of Labour relations in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. This was portrayed by Cools Vanloo and JP Schwmon on Saturday’s (May 25th, 2013) edition of Global Highlights (GH) on NICE Radio, and has left us to wonder: How did we get here? “Where does that leave us?”, asked a GH listener as he bemoaned, “employees are afraid to go to union meetings; where cases are prolonged in courts.” Only days (Monday, May 27, 2013) after this particular episode of Global Highlights, parliament announced that the Port Police contingent was going to be disbanded. Prime Minister Gonsalves was emphatic as he made the announcement: “.. there will be a restructuring at the Port. No if, maybe, or but.” Vanloo, president of the 70-year-old Public Service Union, and Schwmon, a

reporter of THE VINCENTIAN newspaper, had been working with these workers who recently staged a “sick out” to protest unfair working conditions. They reported that for 8 years, the Port workers had been working with what amounted to a wage freeze, as they were denied their contractual, annual The Port Police, a contingent of which is pictured at the 2012 Independence Parade Day, is increments. These workers — about 85 and to be “restructured”. Is that another word for disbanded? mostly women — did not even have proper toilet facilities. They explained how difficult it can be for his between $ 48,388 and $78,530. In addition to a guaranteed gratuity of aggrieved union members to get had to leave the compound to use the 25% of their annual salary, these justice. Some have had to wait 6 years toilets of a private business. Their or more to get their cases through the individuals amass another $142,980 in uniforms were in tatters. Conditions allowances. Some even get housing high court. Just imagine the trauma were just dire!! allowances for living in their own As for the process of redress, Vanloo of that uncertainty! Even before the parliamentary announcement that the homes, and the returns are negligible. Unashamedly, Port Authority Port Police are about to join the Chairman Edwin Snagg’s allowance bloated unemployment list, the alone is some $36,120. Compare this Searchlight newspaper had carried with the $20,000 salary of a police that story which was exclusive to constable in SVG, which is what we them. Of interest, also, is that after can use to gauge the average salary of 10 years or more, qualifications for the Port Authority workers. some of these workers are being Editorial restriction will not allow questioned. More annoying, also, for us to explore the allegations that could be the success of two port about 60% of these workers hail from workers who appealed to the Labour Commissioner against their dismissal. the North Central Windward constituency, and that some of these So, to some, the latest announcement 85 jobs were created as political that these workers are about to lose favors, with little regard for suitable their jobs after complaining about qualifications and productivity. their wage freeze and derelict work In the meantime, and according to environment smacks of intimidation. De Man Age, “We are right back to While we have union leader Noel square one” with Labour Relations Jackson telling port workers there is under the Unity Labour Party (note no money to pay them their the Labour) in SVG: vindictiveness, increments, some among the higher intimidation and repressive laws. echelons of the Unity Labour Party endure no such lack. Take for Luzette King – Host: Global Highlights; example, 9 of them amass a total globalhighlights@gmail.com annual salary of $497,526, ranging

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. 13.

Diaspora

Vincies support major scholarship fundraiser interview. “A lot of people came out to support us, despite the cold weather,” added Richards, a prominent, Brooklyn-based graphic artist who grew up in Despite the unusually cold Sion Hill but was born in weather, several Vincentians Calder. last Saturday supported the Richards, a St. Martin’s annual VincyCares fundraiser in Secondary and Grammar New York, to assist elementary School alumnus, said the and secondary schools at home. group plans to expand The all-day affair, broadcast scholarships to less fortunate live on Brooklyn, New York’s students at home. ‘True Caribbean Radio’, 91.9 FM, attracted nationals from Scholarship holders all walks of life, to Standard Shippers on Clarendon Road. Dahlia-Ann Howard-Lewis Patrons dined on barbecue — who along with immediate chicken and fish, washing past president, Kenley them down with local drinks, “Shortmus” John, are cowhile “ole-talking” and finding founders of the group — said, time to gyrate to the latest at the beginning of the Caribbean soca and calypso academic year last year, hits. VincyCares awarded five new “It’s more like a social scholarships: four to students fundraiser,” said Franklyn entering secondary school for ‘Supadex’ Richards, the newly- the first time, and one to a elected president of second-year student. VincyCares, a four-year-old She said Nieasha Richards Internet-based group, which from the Belair Primary claims it has been making School and Tyricia Samuel tremendous difference in the from the Chateaubelair lives of students at home, in Methodist School entered the an exclusive VINCENTIAN Girls’ High School. Story and photos by Nelson A. King naking@verizon.net; neloking@msn.com US CORRESPONDENT

In addition, HowardLewis said Gail Ann Pierre from St. Mary’s Roman Catholic School in Kingstown entered the St. Joseph’s Convent, Kingstown; and Giovanni Surrounding VincyCares banner, L-R: Lucian Cambridge, Asst. Lewis from the Bequia Gen. Sec. Helen Mascoll (Dorcestershire Hill), Taswya Anglican Primary School Cambridge, Jr. and Public Relations Officer Michael Alexander. entered the Grammar School. children will be able to attend Educational Center in Victoria Sutherland, the school on a level playing field, Brooklyn, Anita Botti, a young lady from Sandy Bay former Peace Corps Volunteer especially when it comes to the who VincyCares said “inspired at the Mental Hospital at tools that they need to be the formation of the group”, Glen, and current chief-of-staff successful. and after whom the “We want to level the at the United States scholarship fund is named, Department of State’s Office playing field,” he affirmed. and Omari Sutherland are “Lack of school supplies should for Global Women’s Issues, both attending the Sandy Bay presented a US$2,500 check to not hinder a kid from Secondary School. VincyCares for an additional achieving his or her John said the six students education.” scholarship. have been awarded full, fiveUnited Nations’ year scholarships to the tune Determined to level the Ambassador, Camillo of US$2,500 each. playing field Gonsalves, who attends the He singled out Mrs. annual affair, described the Christlyn Matthews-Child, Howard-Lewis said a recent fund-raising initiative as “one Mr. and Mrs. Preston visit to the schools, as well as of the best” in the Diaspora in Johnson, and Mrs. Sara conversations with the assisting students at home. Toyloy for assisting the group students and parents, revealed “They (VincyCares) have a in providing scholarships for that the students are record of success I’m very the students. “performing well.” proud to be associated with,” At VincyCares’ anniversary Richards said he is he told THE VINCENTIAN in dinner and gala award determined to fulfill a break from “ole-talking” with ceremony last December, at VincyCares’ goal of providing his compatriots. the Friends of Crown Heights “an avenue whereby all

14. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. 15.

News

Teachers Union wants justice A matter involving Otto Sam, a member of the SVG Teachers Union (SVGTU), is expected to be heard in court, June 26, but President of the Union, Oswald Robinson, is not pleased with the manner in which it has developed. He expressed dismay with the manner in

which Otto Sam has been treated, during a press conference last Wednesday. Sam has been at the centre of a controversy over recent years. He will be appearing at the High Court sitting following his dismissal, after having been found

guilty by a Tribunal appointed by the Public Service Commission. Before his eventual dismissal, Sam was reassigned to the National Emergency Management Office from his position as Principal of the South Rivers Primary School. He was previously

transferred from the Diamond Primary School. Since his suspension on August 20, 2012 on half month’s salary, Sam and his employers have been at loggerheads. Robinson views Sam’s dismissal as having “complications” for the Union, and he promises that “we have to look very closely at this matter.” He is particularly worried about the prospect of Sam losing the benefits of his 30 years in the profession. “It is unfortunate that he has to suffer in this way. With God’s help, victory will be achieved,” Robison contended. Teachers are scheduled to meet and, according to Robinson, members will give direction. The issue surrounding

Oswald Robinson, President of the SVGTU, is not pleased with how the matter involving Otto Sam has developed. three teachers who were unsuccessful at the polls in the last general elections has also come into the picture. Robinson is of the view that the government wants to abandon the idea of election leave. The Union has also been trying to get the one and half percent of a payment deal with the government activated. PRO of the Union,

Vibert Lampkin highlighted the issue of pension as it relates to teachers. The Union is “gathering information” about the planned merger of the National Insurance Services payment, and the Consolidated Fund Pension. The plan to extend the retirement age to 65 is also of concern to the Teachers Union.

16. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Former West India Regiment members to meet in SVG ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES will be host to a most prestigious gathering beginning Thursday 6th June. That’s the date set for

Soldiers of the West India Regiment, seen here standing at attention, were recruited from the English-speaking Caribbean territories. (Source: Wandering: Andy E. Williams)

their Sixth Biennial Reunion. According to a news the arrival of the first release from a local Cobatch of former members ordinating Committee, of the West India former members of the Regiment (WIR), as they WIR are expected from converge on these shores the United States of where they will hold

America, Canada, the United Kingdom, and most of the Englishspeaking Caribbean. The Local Coordinating Committee is comprised of former Minister of Government Mr. John Horne, Mr. Victor Hadley of Union

Regiment, a defence force for the Federation, was established. Young men from all the Englishspeaking Caribbean territories enlisted, and those recruited proceeded to Jamaica where it was headquartered. Upon its dissolution on July 30, 1962, members were given options of joining the new Jamaica Regiment, the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment, a British Regiment or returning to their home bases. In the years following dissolution, members of the WIR embarked on careers in several disciplines including law, medicine, banking, accountancy and theology; some continued military careers, attaining senior commissioned ranks in the Jamaican and Trinadadian regiments, even progressing to the position of Brigadier General, while others took up the option of military service in Britain. In 2003, the former members of the WIR held their first biennial reunion and continued in 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011. At the last reunion which was hosted by Grenada, it was decided that St. Vincent and the Grenadines should have its first opportunity to Brief History of the WIR host this prestigious gathering in 2013. It is anticipated that History records that a Vincentians, in Federation of the (British) West Indies was welcoming these men to our shores and some inaugurated in 1958, back to their homeland, with headquarters in will demonstrate that Trinidad and Tobago. sense of gratitude to The Federation was which they, the former dissolved in 1962 when members of the WIR, are Jamaica and Trinidad deserving. and Tobago opted for THE VINCENTIAN independence on 6th and newspaper extends a 31st of August cordial welcome to these respectively. On January 01, 1959, honourable men. the West India Estates and Hadley Blooms, Mr. J. Ricky dos Santos of Diamond and a former Cable and Wireless employee, and Mr. George Solomon who, like Mr. Hadley, opted to continue his military service in England, before he moved to Canada and returned to settle in St. Vincent. The former WIR members will be in SVG until 13th June, and are expected to have a packed week of activities, including visits to Black Point, Dark View Falls, Montreal Gardens, a Formal Dinner and Presentation of plaques, a Church Service, Shopping, Sightseeing and a tour to Bequia. Those expected in St. Vincent and the Grenadines will include Lt. Col. Wendell Salandy, Lt. Col David Dopwell and Captain Bullen. Among the Vincentians expected to attend are Dr. Eitel Providence and Mr. Ricardo Timm from New York; Mr. St. Elmo Providence and Mr. Pat James from Trinidad and Tobago; and from Canada Mr. Teddy Cato, Mr. George Duncan and Mr. Robert ‘Nana’ Durrant, formerly of New Montrose and the best recruit of the first batch of recruits (1959).

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. 17.

Lord have mercy, Âno entryÊ?

MICHAEL ‘LORD HAVE MERCY’ OLLIVIERRE is, first and foremost, a qualified and accomplished track and field coach. His more successful coaching exploits to date are, in the main, recorded in other Caribbean countries’ annals and in areas further afield. He has returned to his homeland, bent on taking track and field to a level that will make the sport competitive at the regional and international level; an ambitious undertaking if ever there was one. That very undertaking may have, in itself, thrown up his first challenge since it, at one and the same time, set him apart from and in ‘competition’ with, a number of coaches who, in their own estimation, ‘had gone nowhere and had laboured with the local athletes through the years’. Ollivierre, though, has a second passion: he is a calypsonian and a former National Calypso Monarch (1980). He, therefore, is, so to speak, ‘doubled profiled’. If there are some who feel that he has provoked the ire of many involved in the business of track and field here, it is in the calypso arena that he has been even more controversial. Not one to ‘back away’ from the burning issues of the day, he has been known to strengthen his songs, often exact and pointed on those he involves in the issues he chooses to raise, with appropriate dramatization, ensuring that if his point is not made in words, the impact can be felt through the visual. And so this year, ‘Lord have Mercy’, the calypsonian, has married his two passions, track and field and calypso, in a composition entitled, ‘No Entry’.

Taking off on a particular track and field event staged here earlier this year, ‘Lord have Mercy’ lays clear, in song, his position that the stance taken by a certain school principal, was nonsensical and uncalled for in the circumstances. Its style, i.e. ‘No Entry’, though not wholesomely so, can be described as narrative, which is not uncommon to ‘Lord Have Mercy’s’ preferred style. But he also refers to his own relations with that school, and brings into the public purview some of the ‘problems’ he has been encountering in his salaried position of coach extraordinaire. Expect that the offering for 2013 with its simple, catchy melody, uncomplicated chord structure, succinct use of words, vocalized in typical off (music) bar by the singer, will be even more impacting when he does it live. For, as inferred earlier, the real impact of his calypsos is predicated on the strength of his (live) rendition, his (live) performance. Reports are that ‘No Entry’ has already provoked mixed reaction and understandably so, for it ‘names names,’ but does so in careful regard for the confines of the laws governing libel and slander. In a season when calypso enthusiasts might well expect an over-preponderance of politically laced calypsos, ‘Lord Have Mercy’ dares to be different, maybe too personally so, but will cause his audience to listen and take sides. That’s the power of the art form: provoking debate. Have a listen to “No Entry’ and judge for yourself. And here’s hoping that his stage exuberance does not, once again, get the better of him.

Michael ‘Lord Have Mercy’ Ollivierre the calypsonian, who has married his two passions in song and the track and field coach, has his eye on the future.

18. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Community

The Richmond Vale Academy trains volunteers and activists for development and environment work in Caribbean and Latin America.

Richmond Vale Academy:

Moving to safeguard the environment by KARISSA CLARKE THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FRIENDS of the Richmond Vale Academy are making a special effort to help SVG have a clean and healthy environment for our future. The Academy body, led by Selwyn Patterson and Stina Herberg, has devoted much of its attention on the Climate Compliance Conference, and the Academy’s action has a goal of 10 years of standing action for the environment, and to date has reached 2300 people directly with public awareness campaigns in its first year of existence, 2012-2013.

Coastal Clean-Up Day, and a Trash Pick-up Competition and Trash March got young and elderly persons of North Leeward involved in actively keeping their community clean, seeing 310 participants removing 550 bags of trash. Still seeing more that could be done, Workshops on Global Warming, Climate Change and Sustainability were held. Six Education Workshops, called “Let’s Talk Green,” were organized in order to teach more about global warming and climate change, in Coulls Hill, Petit Bordel and Rose Bank. In addition, three workshops were held at Richmond Vale Academy, two in connection with Earth Day and one for students from the Girls’ High School. Over 450 persons were able to participate and learn important things about keeping our country clean,

and about the effects of climate change. The programme does not stop there. Sessions, and lessons have been conducted in Primary and Secondary Schools. Forty lessons have been held in the town of Chateaubelair at the Methodist School and throughout other schools in North Leeward. Every week, about 10-15 children participate in lessons and activities in their Environment Clubs in Coulls Hill, which also involved the children in sporting activities and music lessons.

Residents of North Leeward take to collecting trash and cleaning the drains all in keeping with creating cleaner and safer surroundings. Left: This rubber tank serves as the ‘digester’ (into which kitchen waste is put) for production of bio-gas which is used for cooking.

rears sheep, pigs and producing 5 hours worth of poultry for meat cooking gas per week. consumption; operates According to Stina beehives for pollination Herberg, the Richmond and honey production,’ Vale Academy is “making Awareness programmes and produces bread, great moves in its mission were held through TV, yogurt and jams, the latter to help SVG and North Radio and Newspapers. making ample use of the Leeward in particular, Eight TV programs in fruits from trees become more selfPromoting the programme cooperation with TV Focus propagated on the farmsustaining.” North Leeward, have been lands of the Academy. This mission is Despite the fact that produced to date. The school also features expected to continue with On the ground this activity is widespread Meanwhile, efforts to a small bio gas plant even more vigour. throughout North ensure international Since its inception, five Leeward, the facilitators of support for and “big” actions to stop this programme recognition of the efforts of pollution and prevent recognized that many the Academy have been waste have been created. Vincentians are still successfully pursued with The Easter Beach Cleanunaware of the impact universities and colleges Up, activities to mark UN being made. Towards abroad. Up to 2100 Environment Day, World correcting this, Public students in those institutions have been touched through the use of social media, especially its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/richmo ndvaleacademy. Richmond Vale Academy is well on its way to becoming a Climate Centre, the first of its kind in SVG. The school aims to produce most of its own food and its own renewable energy as it features 4 greenhouses Encouraging proper practices and habits among that produce organic the children is an important focus of safeguarding vegetables, compost and Beach Clean-up day brought out children and young people, all of whom bent the future. more. The school also their backs to set an example for others to follow.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. 19.

Business

From Karib Cable to FLOW:

No job cuts expected by KENVILLE HORNE

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES’ lone television cable service, Karib Cable, will soon be trading in a new name, FLOW. And the new owners have promised that, as far as job security for the approximately 80 employees of Karib Cable is concerned, they have nothing to fear. John Reid, in an exclusive interview with THE VINCENTIAN, assured that no position will be made redundant and, in noting that in all likelihood there would be need for some new skills, he hinted at having to hire more persons to satisfy this need. Reid, President/Chief Operating Officer, Columbus Communications Inc, was in St. Vincent, Tuesday 21, along with

Columbus Communications Inc. FLOW’s top personnel, Chairman and CEO Brendan Paddick (right) and President/Chief Operating Officer John Reid, were in St. Vincent to meet with Karib Cable staff. Chairman and CEO Brendan Paddick, for a meeting with Karib Cable staff.

Vincentians will soon have to begin getting accustomed to this logo.

A rather happy cross-section of Kable Cable staff members at last Tuesday’s meeting.

traded under the brand name FLOW. Developing on the concern about job He confirmed that security, Reid told THE Columbus VINCENTIAN, “You Communications Inc. would see additional purchase of Kelcom staff hired in the International, the parent country,” adding that company of Karib Vincentians can expect Cable/SVG, was in its that his company will final stages. The “invest more in training, purchase also includes development (and) skills Kelcom’s assets in St. enhancement.” Lucia, Antigua and In a tone of Barbados. confidence, Reid declared: “We are happy More staff to be here. We’ve got a good track record of Once the acquisition investment and creating satisfies all required good employment in the legal stipulations, Karib region, and I think the Cable’s services would be country is ready for a

Karib Cable gives back THE KINGSTOWN GOVERNMENT SCHOOL is irrefutably devoted to educating the young minds of this country, and Karib Cable in recognition of this, made a tangible contribution to ensuring that the educational process, at the School, is as easy and interactive as possible. Richards Hadley, Marketing and Sale Manager, and James Ballantyne, Sales Executive of the television and telecommunications company, visited the school on Monday, to hand over a DVD Player and CD player. Principal Mrs. Maureen Brackin accepted the donation in front of a class of enthusiastic young students. Ballantyne said that his company was “beyond happy to hand over the gadgets to the school.” Hadley described the gesture as another demonstration of Karib Cable’s corporate, social responsibility.

Principal Maureen Bracken accepts the donation from Ballantyne. Mrs. Brackin promised that the items would be put to very good use. The Kingstown Government School is still recovering from a recent fire. As management and

staff look to re-tool and re-equip, gestures of this nature from corporate entities such as Karib Cable are greatly appreciated. (KC)

the region since its inception in 2004, said Reid, who added, “We continue to invest in all these countries we are in. Every country we have gone into, we have lowered cost and increased service quality, so Vincentians can look at the countries we have been in and look at what we do. They will recognize we have stood up and stood by our investment, and we will continue to do so; that’s our commitment.” Investment to raise In total, the Karib standards Cable, HFC cable systems, high speed Reid disclosed that his internet and telephony company had brought in services across St. Lucia, engineering and Antigua, Barbados and information technology St. Vincent and the teams to assist in the Grenadines serve reviewing process, and approximately 60,000 make recommendations customers. Upon as to what “we will completion of its need to upgrade the acquisition of Karib network.” Cable, Columbus’ retail The transition period triple-play services — is still early, and largely offered under the according the Columbus FLOW brand ,will span President, “We have eight countries across the obviously bought Caribbean region, pass something that we more than 750,000 believe is worth buying, households and and at the same time we businesses, and serve in have also recognized that excess of 500,000 retail it would need some customers. investment to bring the Columbus network and Communications Inc. is a infrastructure up to privately held company standard.” currently providing Reid is encouraged by digital cable television, this acquisition, and broadband internet and views it as an digital landline opportunity for his telephony in Trinidad, company to take an Jamaica, Barbados investment that has (where it recently bought grown to a certain point, TeleBarbados), Grenada and take it to another and Curacao, under the level. FLOW and corporate Columbus data and cloud-based Communications services under its Inc/FLOW has invested Columbus Business about a billion dollars in Solutions wing. new player to compete. We don’t need to own the entire pie. We will compete to take our fair share. We will put our best foot forward, and I think the public will be happy with us.” As far as the tone of last week Tuesday’s meeting was concerned, the Columbus Communications Inc. officials were convinced that the employees were keen to work with the new management.

20. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Entertainment

Karaoke competition nears final

THE FINALISTS FOR THE 2013 DIGICEL SINGING WITHTHE STARS (Karaoke Island Tour, will soon be known. Eight singers are to be selected from the semifinal round held last week. When viewers and Digicel subscribers text their choices after viewing the last session tomorrow, Saturday, on SVG TV. The eight will converge, along with Karaoke enthusiasts from across the state, on the Octagon Restaurant and Bar, Diamond, June 8, for the grand finals. Georgietha ‘Aunty G’ Nanton, Co-ordinator of the DSWTS Karaoke Islandwide Tour, described the experience as overwhelming. “We started in February, and I am pleased that we have been able to see it through to the final. We

have had our ups and downs, but the support from sponsors and of course, the Karaoke fans, has contributed to the success of the effort.” The DSWTS Karaoke Island Tour sessions were televised on SVG TV, and Digicel subscribers The DSWTS Karaoke Tours attracted wide patronage where ever it were actively involved in determining the winners at the touched down. end of each round and at the The winner of the 2013 DSWTS Karaoke will semi-final. receive a cash prize of $1,000 and will have the Digicel subscribers will again have the opportunity to compete, all expenses paid, in a opportunity to “text in their choice of the winner,” competition in St. Lucia, later this year. said Nanton, “when the final is televised.” Other prizes for participants amount to close to $3000.00, and there is a prize of $500.00 for the persons with the most texts during the period of the Tour. When contacted last Wednesday, Nanton said, “Persons attending the grand finals can look forward to great karaoke and a number of guest artistes, including Tajoe and Recka, Ground Breakers and Nu Stars. All I can do now is to invite everyone to the Octagon on June 8, and again thank the sponsors for making all of this possible.”

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Georgietha ‘Aunty G’ Nanton, Coordinator of the DSWTS, says it has been an overwhelming experience.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. 21.

22. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. 23.

24. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Leisure

-ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Visit friends or relatives you rarely see. Concentrate on work. Put your efforts into making changes to your domestic scene. Look into joining groups that can give you hands-on advice about business.

Travel will promote new romantic encounters and additional cultural knowledge. You can find out important information if you listen to friends and relatives. Get busy. Make changes around your house and plan to do some entertaining.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Try to make amends by planning a nice dinner for two. Don't shy away from potential mates they want to introduce you to. Put your energy into your work or moneymaking ventures rather than into your emotional life this week. You are ready to blow up and your stress level has gone into over drive.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Opportunities to make financial gains will develop through your connections with other people. Don't let any money slip through your fingers this week. You may find that your plans will cost a little more than you had expected. Opportunities to pamper yourself may unfold.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Don't make mountains out of molehills if you want to avoid conflict. You may be more emotional than usual. Help those incapable of taking care of their personal affairs. If you're single, get out there and you'll meet someone new.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Your creative imagination will help you in coming up with unique ideas. Look into real estate. Delve into worthwhile causes that will show results if you put in the effort. Family members will not be happy with the amount of time you are spending away from home.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) You will have the getup and go to con tribute a great deal to groups of interest. Disappointments are likely if your mate embarrasses you in front of friends. Look into real estate. Try to stay calm and understand both sides of the situation.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Be sure to pay attention to your bank account. Do not lend money to friends, or contribute more than necessary to groups unworthy of your cash. Short trips will prove to be more fruitful than you imagined. Deception is likely.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Cultural activities open your eyes to new ways of doing things. Enjoy some socializing this week. Friendships could be terminated quickly if disappointments occur. Join humanitarian groups and let your leadership ability take over. VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Don't expect anyone else to pay your bills for you. Be supportive in order to avoid confrontations. Keep an open mind when dealing with youngsters. Your emotions may get the better of you. LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23)

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) Opportunities to get involved in investment groups will payoff. It may not be the best time to socialize with clients or colleagues this week. You will have no problem getting your point across to those in a position to help you. You can make financial gains through your unique and creative approach to business. PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Opportunities for advancement at work are apparent. Try to curb overindulgence this week. Nagging has never been something that you could tolerate, and it's once again driving you into a lonely state of affairs. Sign up for courses or join fitness clubs.

ACROSS 1. Put your hands together 5. Bangkok native 9. Tobacco holder 13. Witching __ 14. Shirley Temple role 16. Brain creation 17. “It was __ dream” (2 wds.) 18. Aired anew 19. Bed support 20. Political extremists 22. Inhibits 24. Presidential wannabe Perot 25. Farm’s storage spot 26. Clean the silver 29. Seafood mainstay 33. Shoreline feature 34. Candid 35. Filth 36. Teachers’ gp. 37. Book published once a year 40. Age 41. Flat hats 43. Voluntary worker 44. Proprietor 46. Menu term (3 wds.) 48. Tantalizer 49. Highway trucks 50. “Star Wars” knight

51. Afire 54. Strengthens, as morale 58. Voyage 59. Up to this time 61. General Robert __ (2 wds.) 62. Portion (out) 63. __ -frutti ice cream 64. TV host Kelly 65. Clairvoyant one 66. Most excellent 67. Be cheeky DOWN 1. Blacken on the grill 2. “Damn Yankees” temptress 3. New Year’s song beginning 4. Coyotes’ home 5. Clobber 6. Head over __ 7. Snooty manners 8. Director Lupino 9. Hand guns 10. Unemployed 11. Fleshy fruit 12. Enjoys appetizers 15. Ohio’s neighbor 21. __ Mesa, California

23. Building extension 25. Part of an act 26. “Nina” sister ship 27. Name on Shaq’s uniform 28. Andes creature 29. Actor David 30.Forewarnings 31. Blender setting 32. Reporter Brenda 34. Neglects 38. Most grand 39. Female college students, once 42. Road smoother 45. Restaurant

employees 47. Intention 48. “__ to the Marines” (2 wds.) 50. Bumps 51. Bank machines (abbr.) 52. Without charge 53. Word on a

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. 25.

lo-cal beer can 54. Use one’s teeth 55. Director Karan 56. Agts. 57. Marine expanses 60. Margarine container

26. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Misunderstanding,„I love you‰

Questions about adoption Dear George,

for just over a year, MY HUSBAND and I have been married for 6 and I feel for him years and we have a 4-year-old child. My husband and his future with I have a male friend in SVG and we was the one who was working, but now he has no work. He has been unable to find work otherwise. have been friends since childhood. I her. I hope she is call. Explain your side of the reading this. Things have been hard with us, and we are got a call from his wife sometime story to her. Her husband can worried that we would not be able to provide for ago asking me why I am involved also do the same at a time when our child. My husband wants us to consider giving with her husband. I was at a loss as New Yorker she is in the mood to have such a, him up for adoption, but I cannot bring myself to do to what she was talking about. It discussion. If that does not work that because it is like I am giving my child away. Dear New Yorker, turned out that one time I was then it will be left up to mother He then suggested that we give the child to an aunt talking to her husband on the time to determine when maturity of his who lives in Kingstown, for her to take care It could be a situation where telephone and in ending the can kick in on their part. of him until we can manage; but I don’t want to do your friend’s wife has other trust conversation, I told him, “I love you,” You cannot be accountable for that either. and he replied “ I love you too.” She issues with him and therefore, the way she thinks or behaves, Is there any other way for us to fix this that could have been the reason apparently overheard him saying, “ I but if she holds to her position, situation without giving my child away? I do not why she got on your case in the love you too,” and took issue with want to do something that I would later regret. then you will have to wisely find way she did. him for saying that. She checked to another way to communicate with If you care to keep your see who called him, and called my Concerned Parent your friend. number. I explained to her that it is friendship with him, maybe you customary for me to say “I love you” can wait until you think she has Dear Concerned parent, George to the persons dear to me whenever cooled down a bit, and give her a I was ending a conversation, and it It is good that you are was not meant to be an intimate willing to exhaust all remark. I say it to my children, avenues before making a decision. friends, co-workers, etc. It is Giving a child up for customary for me to do so. for me if I asked her to while should be compatible and Dear George, adoption is a very serious I was surprised at her smallthe other says she loves me, want the same things. After and important action that mindedness. Now she is saying I but I’m not feeling her love as discussing your expectations, I am about to make the can affect all the parties am involved with her husband. I much as the other girl. you should have a better idea decision to get married, but I involved, if not done for do not want her husband! He is The second girl I love more if you are focusing on the right the right reasons and done am not sure to whom. I have my friend and that’s that! I am person. two possible women to choose than the other, but it is just in accordance with the law sorry for him for having a wife that she does not love as much The woman you marry from. One of them really, and satisfaction of all the like that. He has been married really loves me and would die as the first girl. I do not know needs to be in love with you, parties. However, because who to marry, and and you need to be in love the child is unable to have I want to make with her, and this love must a say in the action, it is the right be without conditions. Shy important that everything decision. My folks away from anyone who seeks is done (if you are to are telling me to to put conditions on the love pursue that course of action) in the best interest marry the woman they have to offer. “who loves you A few key questions you can of the child. I suggest that you and and not ask yourself to help you necessarily the narrow it down are: Can I live your husband discuss your one who you with this person for the rest of financial situation again, and try to find new and love.” What do my life without being bored, you think about etc.? Is this the woman I want innovative ways to improve your financial that? to be the mother of my children? Does she love me as situation. Maybe you will need to consult a financial Confused much as I love her? If your counsellor. Get a different answer is “yes” in all cases, perspective with respect to Dear Confused, then you can take it to the the questions you have next level. If course, there are about the adoption option The person you other questions you need to and that can be had from marry must have ask; but this you can be a counsellor, and for that I all things in discussed in the presence of a recommend Marion House common with marriage counsellor. for starters. Good luck! you. What that means is: you George George

Dear George,

Who to choose?

St. Vincent Automotive Co-operative Society Ltd

NOTICE Annual General Meeting Shareholders of the St. Vincent Automotive Co-operative Society Ltd. are asked to take note that the 42nd Annual General Meeting of the Society will take place on Thursday 13th June, 2013 at 5:00 p.m., at the St. Vincent & the Grenadines Red Cross Society Building on Halifax Street. Signed: Randy Boucher Secretary

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. 27.

News

Appeal Court chides unprepared lawyer from backpage

Not prepared Proceeding to make his submissions, Thomas made reference to statutes upon which he intended to support his arguments. He referred to the English Laws of Evidence, the Evidence Act and the Criminal Procedure Code of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. However, when the Judges asked for copies of those laws, Thomas did not have any to provide to the court. “It was our intention to seek leave to explain what line of march we were taking,” Thomas explained. “The star witness in the case is dead, and the other witness who was to come to court could not come to court and we were looking for other ways in which we could deal with the matter. When we got there and realized that the conference (case management) was gone, we intended to come to this court and ask for leave,” Thomas added. But Justice Baptiste told the lawyer, “You got to be prepared for your appeal.” Justice Blenman explained, “If you doing a matter in any court and you are referring to any legislation, you have to give the court a copy of anything that you are referring to.” Justice Mitchell suggested that

Thomas ask for the matter to be adjourned to the next sitting of the Appeal Court. “You need time to file a proper application with proper affidavits,” Mitchell told him. The Judges contended that Thomas was not prepared, that the DPP had only received the application on Monday and the documents for Thomas were not in order. Blenman said that in other jurisdictions the court would not even entertain such a submission. “We want to maintain a Justice System in which we all can be proud of in the OECS,” Blenman declared. Thomas complied with the Appeal Court and requested the adjournment. The Court granted leave to the appellants to file an application to rely on hearsay evidence as supported by any affidavit evidence or submissions in writing and served on the crown on or before June 25. The DPP is to file his response on or before July 23. The matter was traversed to the next sitting of the Court of Appeal scheduled to commence September 30. Dougan pointed out that his concern was that his client had been incarcerated for over two years. He contended that he came to court fully prepared to proceed with the matter. But Justice Baptiste reminded him that he had placed his client in Thomas’ hands, but Thomas was not prepared.

28. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Opinion

The pressures of school work, and the pressure to succeed make it no easier on the young people.

Intimacy lost on children So what do we have to offer Vincentian children? Adults are swamped by the pressures of a new age within the Vincentian

Where have the tender movements consciousness. They have to battle like holding hands gone? with the ‘fruits’ of progress, an invasive and plethoric negative Intimacy lost in translation unchecked media and the hard-toThis, however, is about escape lifestyleintimacy. Gone are the days facilitated by such. when a young man serenaded However, by no the girl he loved with a love account, should song outside her window and children be left behind, neglected or a guitar string; when holding hands in an appropriate abused. Unfortunately, they religious environment was chaste and respectful of the are! giver of life; when virgins waited it out for sex. Neglect So what’s the solution? Children, you are on your We have ‘sexting’ own until someone with (sending of resources steps up. pornographic I address our young men images and texts via cell phone). Can and women who, sad to say, at 15 or 16 years old, already parents be held responsible for this have many adult experiences under their belts, that type of habit, rampant in the teen mitigate the pursuit of true intimacy in favour of sexual blackberry rawness. explosion? It is as serious as pre-teens, as young Alternatives as eight years old, Love should not be denied using their school the young. Pressures are computers to access hard, with twelve subjects, porn and have hookrough college agendas. When ups and sexual you are through with school, activity. This work, try a different sort of occurrence was recreational response, e.g. reported to this writer by an 8-year- music which lifts the spirits. I knnow you are into Vibz old privy to Cartel and ‘the movement’, observing them but remember those songs repeatedly in the act. Where are the possess an influence at the subconscious level and attract parent(s)? The experiences of negative value. mother is out working, sometimes The internet has classical, jazz, Asian and even African doing things of spiritual music, and it does compromise to her not have to be gospel to be of integrity, just to use. support her Spirituality is as easy as children. Does having a conversation with anyone win in this God. Praying emotionally can scenario? be taxing due to guilt. But Many young people are involved conversing with a higher power — the principle of every in violent and self-help group - can be done. pornographic Talk to God; an hour can activities which are filtered aggressively be as easy as ten minutes. Miracles still happen through media and technology. today. Someone with Let’s hope someone with resources needs to resources up there gives step up. You know pause to issues of love. who you are.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. 29.

Sports Feature

ICC Champions Trophy 2013 By EARL W. ROBINSON Almost nine years ago, two West Indian cricketers of little repute brought great relief and joy to a nation that was hurting badly from two devastating storms. Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw were the cricketers, while Ivan and Jeanne were the hurricanes. It was the first time in twenty-five years a team from these islands was holding ICC silverware aloft. The previous occasion was June 23, 1979, when Clive Lloyd’s team won the second ICC Cricket World Cup at Lord’s.

Eight teams Next Thursday, the seventh and final edition of the ICC Champions Trophy begins in England, with eight teams participating for a trophy and a winner’s cheque of two million US dollars. In the West Indies squad of fifteen, there will be three players who were in the eleven on September 25, 2004: Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo. The proud captain at that moment in time was Brian Lara. The teams are divided into two groups of four; the West Indies will contest Group B with world champions India and their mercurial neighbours Pakistan, and the first-time winner South Africa. It is expected that India and West Indies will advance from this quartet. Host England is yet to win an ICC 50-over competition; but this time around, they are considered favourites. In Group A, they will be accompanied by Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. It is widely anticipated that Australia will advance to the semi-final stage along with England. Pakistan and England are the only teams that have never won this trophy. India, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Australia have won both the mini World Cup and the World Cup.

Captaincy With less than two years before the eleventh

edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia, the WICB and selectors have decided to change the captain. Of course, this has become a big issue. Let’s have a look at the team’s performances since the last World Cup in 2011 In two bilateral series that followed in the Caribbean, both Pakistan and India won 3 — 2. Both series were decided by the end of the third match and thereafter, Darren Sammy and his men played simply for pride. In the three-match contest with Bangladesh in Bangladesh, the team restored some of that pride by winning 2 — 1. By the end of the year, it was back to square one. India hammered the West Indies 4 — 1 in a 5match series. The third defeat of that series was a mauling. India totaled 418 for 5, the third highest total against a Test nation. In the process, Virander Sehwag recorded 219, the highest individual score in an ODI. West Indies lost by a margin of 153 runs. By the time Australia arrived in the Caribbean in 2012, all (of) that was forgotten. Calypsonian Field Marshall said we have a short memory. That’s true, Alan. A drawn series was good enough against Aussies. A score line of 2 — 2 with one match tied was excellent for some fans. Soon after, the West Indies lost 2 — 0 to England, in England, in the three-match Nat West Series. Perhaps, the weather was too cold. Back home, a 4 — 1 series win over New Zealand was enough to revive hopes. However, that was like an ephemeral flower. Before the end of the year, Sammy was expecting a clean sweep against Bangladesh in Bangladesh. At the end of the five matches, the host had won three. Obviously, Sammy’s stint of captaincy was on borrowed time when 2013 began. In February, he and his team were thrashed 5 — 0 by Australia Down Under. Supposedly that was the final nail in

To date, he has captained the West Dwayne Bravo Indies ten times in ODI matches. Overall, his Zimbabwe’s arrival in record is not too the Caribbean later in impressive. He has won that month was heralded 5 and lost 5. All five with the news that victories were against Dwayne Bravo was the Zimbabwe. His five new captain. defeats were in one Was anyone surprised series against South when he was named Africa in 2008. captain of the This tournament does Champions Trophy not include fledgling squad? nations like Ireland,

Sammy’s coffin.

Netherlands, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, so Bravo and his men will have to hit the ground running. No matter who is the captain, remember one thing — like David Rudder — “Rally round the West Indies”. Dwayne Bravo will lead the WI in the ICC Champions Trophy. Will he lead a turnaround in fortune?

30. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. 31.

Rivals, Victors in season finale Radcliffe at Arnos Vale TWO, to go along with THE 2013 NATIONAL five bonus points. CRICKET Premier Division The result leaves is set for an exciting cricket fans and climax, with defending supporters of both clubs champions and eagerly looking forward tournament leaders Rivals to this weekend’s clash taking on Victors ONE, at which will feature a the main Arnos Vale number of national Playing Field. players. Several times The focus will also be champions, Victors ONE, on Victors ONE batsman who trailed the Donwell Hector, who champions by as much as needs another 28 runs to twenty points at the half become the first player in way point in the season, more than thirty years to are just six points behind score five hundred runs (102-108), after taking in the top tier of local first innings over Lime cricket. BY E. Glenford Prescott

Hector has so far scored 472 runs with three centuries from his four matches, having missed one match while on Windwards duties. Last weekend, Victors ONE, on the back of a good allround performance from Alston Bobb, easily took first innings from Radcliffe, in their rain affected match. SCORES: Victors ONE 231, Lime Radcliffe 139 Winning the toss and batting first, Victors ONE reached 231, with Bobb getting 85 in a

Byam hoping for ‘Cricket miracle’ to avoid relegation by E. GLENFORD PRESCOTT ‘WE HAVE TO PERFORM a near miracle to stay up.” So said Victors TWO captain, Denis Byam, as he exited the gate at the Sion Hill Playing Field, minutes after their match with Carl Joseph Law Chambers ASCO had ended. The match between the two bottom-placed teams had seen ASCO taking first innings points to improve their chances of staying in the Premier Division. SCORES: Carl Joseph Law Chambers ASCO 132 & 99, Victors TWO 111 & 24-3. Sent in to bat, ASCO, who for the umpteenth time for the season failed to field a full team, were dismissed for 132, with only nine men batting. They looked to be on the road to a good total when Desron Maloney (44) and Daron Greaves (38) had raised 61 for the first wicket. But they did it the ‘ASCO WAY” as offspinner Roland Wilkinson took 546. Victors TWO were then dismissed for 111 (nine men batting), with Kishore Shallow getting 34 and Shaquille Browne 28. Andre Hunte took 4-38.

Right: Victors TWO captainDenis Byam hoping for a miracle.

controlled innings and laying the foundation for a solid total. He struck five fours and three sixes. Lauron Francois got 35 and Hector 29, as spinner Dyke Cato, 3-56, and pacer Delorn Johnson, 3-61, led the bowling. Lime Radcliffe with 53 overs to get the 232 for first innings points, opened with veteran

Ray Jordan was no-balled by umpire Rodger Davis for a suspect action. Inset: Alston Bobb turned in good allround performance for Victors ONE.

Lance John and skipper Lindon James in what could have been interpreted as a sign of positivity. The demise of John (5) with the total on 12, proved a major blow, and despite James (26) seeing the score to 63-2 off eight overs at tea, it soon went downhill as four wickets fell for the addition of seven runs on the resumption. beat Spartans outright,” he Andy Harper (27) and said as he also made his Westrick way out of the Sion Hill Strough (17) Playing Field. added some As per information crucial late order from the SVG Cricket runs to take Association website, Carl their team past Joseph ASCO are on 50 points and Victors TWO on the follow on score. 28.

Batting a second time, ASCO points, and if we do squandered an opening that, we will get one stand of 53 between Greaves (41) and Maloney point more than (36) to be all out for 99. In ASCO……but it real steep”, he said soberly. fact, the score had Victors TWO have progressed to 75 before the yet to reach two third wicket fell. Adinell hundred for the season Richards took 5-11 and in their five previous Wilkinson 3-48. Victors matches. TWO ended on 24-3 after ASCO’s Desron an initial attempt to get the 121 for victory. Darius ‘Floonks” Maloney, seeming as if their life in Martin took 3-14. the Premier Division for Byam, in recognising the enormity of their task another year is ‘done and dusted’, believes that it of fight relegation and would be tough for Victors mindful of his mother TWO to beat Spartans. being a pastor, is seeking “We safe. ….they can’t divine intervention to boost his beleaguered force. ‘We need to get 23 points in our next match against (the NATIONAL MIDDLE with 215 runs coming in News) Spartans and ORDER batsman Hyron the last ten overs. this is a near Shallow may well have Obviously impossibility,” the former Windwards and established something of emasculated by the a record in local cricket. Shallow assault, there SVG opener said, a Playing for Glasgow was little surprise when look of resignation on Construction A against Hungry Sharks lost their his face. Hungry Sharks in a appetite and were In assessing the Canouan Softball Cricket humiliated for 76, 42 of task ahead, Byam, a Tournament match last which were accounted for physiotherapist by by Zano Marks. profession, sounded as weekend, Shallow cracked an unbelievable Interestingly, no if ligaments and 22 sixes in an innings of bowler dominated for tendons had suffered irreparable damage. 179, that also included 5 Glasgow Construction A. “We must beat them fours. Adolph Adams was their outright and score 250 He helped his team to leading bowler with 2 for runs to get at least a massive 291 for 4 in 10. three batting bonus their allotted 20 overs, In other weekend

Bobb grabbed 3-20, Kenneth Denbar 2-22 and Norlan Williams 239. Ray Jordan who took 1-28 in five overs was once again no-balled by umpire Rodger Davis for a suspect action. Last season, Davis had also called the Victors ONE pacer for exploiting more than the allowable 15 degrees under ICC regulations. In another match played on the weekend, The News Spartans took first innings points from Police TWO in their drawn match at the Stubbs Playing Field. SCORES: Police TWO 146, Danson Andrews 44, Terron Simon 3-49, Austin Edwards 2-5. The News Spartans 182 for 8 declared, Gidron Pope 46, Olando Wright 6 for 50.

Shallow brutalizes Sharks matches: Glasgow Construction 60 runs for 9 in a game reduced to 15 overs due to rain; Smashers 61 for 4 in 8 overs; Market Boys 77 of 16 overs, Rudy Construction 78 for 2 in 13.3 overs. I.B.A.ALLEN Right: Hyron Shallow made minced meat of the Hungry Sharks’ bowling attack smashing 179.

32. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Life goes on This week’s Vineyard pays tribute to two sporting stalwarts. Those are Sigbert Ashton, better known as Mongoose, and Curtis ‘I-Shan’ Edwards. Mongoose was laid to rest in his home village of Petit Bordel last Sunday. He was not by any means a celebrity. But he represented a kind of spirit which exhibited a passion for anything within his district. Any sporting, cultural or social event at Petit Bordel, or anywhere in North Leeward, Mongoose would have been there. At times, some of his defects came openly, for it was known that he was diabetic. That hardly slowed him down. Mongoose was more than the average citizen. He was not going to be left out of any activity. His dedication to his community was unquestionable. He made his feelings known. There was a subtle touch of humour about him. He kept himself informed on many matters. Whether that meant following the news on his own or rehashing it from any other source. Once he understood what it was about, he applied his interpretation. Even though his version might have been somewhat out of whack, he did not feel any way to grasp the proper assessment of the situation. At age 53, Mongoose might just have been about coming to grips with many aspects of life. But as the Creator planned it, he has been called to the great beyond. Mongoose’s death came shortly before that of IShan. I-Shan is yet to be interred. His passage has left its sparks. I-Shan came close to selection on the national football team. He was more than an average footballer. Some might say that had he been from any other location, his elevation to the national squad would have been automatic. I-Shan never complained or allowed anything to bother him. He continued to display his talent. When Masters Football became an item on the sporting calendar, I-Shan’s skill came to the fore, even with his advancing years. In typical North Leeward fashion, I-Shan was a multi-talented individual. A follower of the Rastafarian tradition, I-Shan lived a blend of sporting and cultural traits. He was a member of the North Leeward Calypso Tent in the early 1990s. His African orientation caused him to drift towards the grounded philosophy, so it was no surprise that he tended to favour a positive kind of musical outlook. He was entrenched on his path towards fulfilling his gifts as a Reggae singer. He had launched onto that path in recent times, and it was a matter of time before he would have revealed himself as a full-fledged Reggae artist. Death put a hold on his plans. North Leeward has missed two stalwarts in a short space of time. They might not have been the accredited national figures. But in the context of the North Leeward community, tributes go out to the two fallen soldiers. They have made their contribution. Condolences must go out to their loved ones and relatives. They will rest in peace assured that their fulfillment to the upliftment of their community has not gone unheralded.

Female Volleyballers fail to advance The national female volleyballers may have failed to advance to the next round of qualifiers for the World Championship, but Shaun Young, coach of the team, is satisfied with how the team competed against the more experienced teams. “In my opinion, the team performed well,…. especially when you look at the score lines against the top teams as compared to previous tournaments”, Young said, after the Vincentian lasses had completed their matches in Pool K of the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association, in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, May 25 to 27. Young posited that, had all the ladies played to their full potential, the outcome could have been different. ‘The experience we gained from competing in the high standard tournament was tremendous, and I believe it will benefit the team in future tournaments,” Young said, adding, “What we need to do now is to take certain things from playing against these top

The SVG National Female Volleyball team at the recent World Cup qualifier in St. Croix. way. I just focused on players and teams, and add it to our game. The my game and fed off of the motivation from my way we prepare, I believe, will help lift our team mates. I am hoping to do a lot better next standard.” time, but believe I need There was some to continue to work consolation for the harder in certain areas,” Vincentians, however, when Preanka Williams Williams added. SVG had one victory was adjudged the best in the tournament, libero, a specialist defensive position, of the beating the British Virgin Islands 3-love, but tournament. “I feel great receiving went down 3-love to both El-Salvador and United this award, and was States Virgin Islands. confident before I left El-Salvador went on home after the hard Preanka Williams was to win the round and work that I put in,” a adjudged the best smiling Williams said on advance to the next libero in the round. US Virgin her return. tournament. Islands finished second, “Playing in front the large crowd didn’t affect SVG third and British I.B.A.ALLEN Virgin Islands fourth. my confidence in any

Football administrators enhance management skills by E. GLENFORD PRESCOTT OFTEN UNDER heavy and caustic criticism for their apparent shortcomings in the administration of the game, local football administrators can now approach their task with an air of confidence and improved knowledge, after attending a four-day FIFA sponsored course in Kingstown last week. The Course, conducted by FIFA Instructor Dale Spencer of Jamaica, and held at the Xpert Computer Conference Room, covered a number of areas which are germane to the development of the sport. Spencer told THE VINCENTIAN that the course covered a wide range of topics that are critical in the administration of the game, which include general management, rules and regulations, planning, finance, communication and event management. “FIFA recognises that not every association would have the competent personnel to handle such areas that are included in this course, hence the reason to invite this much people to the sessions so they can pass on what they have learnt to their organisation,” he said during a break in one of the sessions. General Secretary of the SVGFF, Trevor Huggins, said participants were drawn from clubs and organisers of leagues so as to ensure that there was uniformity in the administration of the game island wide. Yolande London, one of the participants at the session, was full of praise for the course and its content, citing it as being extremely helpful. “As one of the main persons behind the Stubbs Soccer League, this course opened my eyes to a number of things I previously paid little attention to…….I am very happy to have been one of the

Participants during one of the working sessions at the FIFA Administration course. persons selected to attend it,” she said. London, who is a committee member of the executive of the SVGFF, believes that for the sport to improve, management must be effective and efficient. National coach, Cornelius “Corny” Huggins, also expressed satisfaction with the course, and was confident that if worked upon, participants would be able to build their clubs or teams. “It was really good… and man, if people don’t take in all that information, something had to be wrong with them…..I learn a lot…….it was good,” Huggins said. In addition to members of clubs and affiliates, the course was attended by some executive members of the SVGFF, among the thirty or so participants. During the course, participants were asked to carry out mock events in order to get a hands-on experience of organising and managing real life events.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. 33.

34. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN

THEâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013. 35.

Classifieds

EDNA CHARLES GILL Wesleyan Holiness Campden Park Saturday 25th May, 2013 3:00 p.m.

MELFEATON R. SHORTT Sunrise: 2nd May 1948 Sunset : 16th May 2013

JEAN ALLEN - EDWARDS Sunrise: 13/3/1939 - Sunset: 22/5/2013

New Ground SDA Church

Church of God World Wide Mission Redemption Sharpes

Wednesday 29th May 2013

Tuesday 28th May, 2013

2:00 pm

3:00 p.m. JOHN THOMAS GRANT

JOYCE EGLANTYNE ALLEN ROSS New Grounds Methodist Church Saturday 25th May, 2013

EDNA CHARLES GILL Wesleyan Holiness Campden Park

Paradise SDA Church Vermont

Saturday 25th May, 2013

Monday 27th May, 2013

3:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m.

F O R

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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S A L E

FRIDAY,

MAY 31, 2013

Justice of Appeal Don Mitchell cautioned Jomo Thomas that he needed to be prepared for his appeals.

VOLUME 107, No.22

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APPEAL COURT CHIDES UNPREPARED LAWYER

witness Uroy ‘Laybay’ Robertson and Maurice ‘Gamoon’ Clifton used at the appeal hearing. Robertson, 24, of Evesham, died from a single bullet to the head while reportedly in the company of others at the roadside of Walvaroo, Sion Hill, September 2, 2012. On May 7, 2012 Robertson had signed to a sworn affidavit recanting his testimony at the trial. He stated in the affidavit that he lied under oath because the police promised him a passport and to send him abroad if he testified against Bute and Ash. The prosecutor’s case was hinged primarily on Robertson’s evidence in which he related that he was present when Samuel’s murder was planned. He had testified that Bute masterminded the killing, while Ash was assigned to pull the trigger. Twist in trial In the other affidavit, Maurice ‘Gamoon’ At the previous Clifton, who resides in sitting, Thomas, Canada, completely representing Bute, and denied being in a house Carlyle Dougan Q.C., at Redemption Sharpes representing Ash, made with Bute and Ash when an application for the plot was hatched, as additional evidence to be Robertson had testified adduced. The lawyers are at the trial. At the previous sitting Attorney Jomo Thomas now has to ensure that he seeking to have the sworn affidavits of star of the Appeal Court, the follows the correct procedure. by HAYDN HUGGINS

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attorney Jomo Thomas on Tuesday for his lack of THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN preparedness in a matter Court of Appeal chided before that court.

Thomas’ unpreparedness resulted in convicted murderers Che ‘Ragga’ Bute and Azari ‘Nines’ Ash having to wait another four months to have their appeals heard. Bute and Ash, both of Redemption Sharpes, were sentenced to life imprisonment, July 2012, after being convicted of the murder of Lloyd ‘Larzarous’ Samuel, also known as ‘Lazo’ or ‘Hawkie’, who died after being shot in the head while reversing his vehicle at his Redemption Sharpes home around 1:15 a.m. December 21, 2007. The much anticipated appeal hearing was traversed from the previous sitting of the Appeal Court, February 12, 2013, to this week’s sitting of that court, which concluded on Tuesday.

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Judges ordered that the Justice of Appeal Louise Blenman witnesses reminded attorney Jomo Thomas who are that he needed to produce any alive be document to which he referred. brought to Court to give to be followed before this evidence and to be cross- was done. Among them is examined. to apply for leave of the When the matter was Court to file the called up again on application, and that the Tuesday, Dougan documents should be informed the Court that filed before the court and Thomas would present upon the parties arguments on behalf of involved. both appellants. The Appeal Judges indicated that they had Late submission received information Thomas indicated that which came out of case he had filed an affidavit management that the substantive matter was which he served on the DPP’s office in relation to to be dealt with at the an application to adduce May, 2013 sitting, which concluded on Tuesday. hearsay evidence. Thomas admitted that That document, neither he nor his according to Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Junior, Shirlan Colin Williams, was only Barnwell, had attended the case management received by him on hearing May 17, 2013. Monday. Thomas then He explained that he was tried to make an abroad for his daughter’s application before the graduation and Barnwell Court to have Clifton’s had received information affidavit admitted without Clifton having to that the hearing was at come to Court in person. 2pm instead of However, Appeal 12:30pm.m and when she Judges Davidson got there it was already Baptiste, Louise completed. Dougan Blenman and Don indicated that he was Mitchell told Thomas unavoidably absent. that there are certain procedures which ought Cont’d on Page 27.

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