Carriacou & Petite Martinique Affairs Newsletter - Vol. 2, Issue 4, (Oct - Dec 2010)

The Workings of the

MINISTRY OF CARRIACOU & PETITE MARTINIQUE AFFAIRS

Newsletter Volume 2, Issue 4 October - December 2010

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The Workings of The Ministry of Carriacou & Petite Martinique Affairs

GG greets resident at the home

GG and lady Glean with management team of the home

Lady Glean presents cake to staff member at the home Greets Matron of the home

Lady Glean presents cake to matron@ PRH Theresa Hamlet

leading singing of Christmas carols GG greets Dr. Alexis

The message of peace and goodwill was brought to the residents and staff of the Top Hill Senior Citizens Home by Governor-General, Sir Carlyle Glean.

His Excellency, accompanied by his wife, Lady Norma Glean, noted that the contributions made by senior citizens towards the development of the Tri-island State must be recognized. Therefore, it is important, he said, that he pays an annual visit to the institution.

Sir Carlyle led the singing of Christmas carols which brought smiles to the faces of the 16 residents.

The Governor General also visited the Princess Royal Hospital where he mingled with staff and patients.

The Workings of The Ministry of Carriacou & Petite Martinique Affairs

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Minister Prime makes presentation

Business Manager of CPM 2000 Inc Allan Gilbert presents to student

Fleur Patrice, Director Six Roads Campus Scholarship awardees with TAMCC faculty Minister Prime & Mr. Gilbert

The role played by groups in the Diaspora in the development of Carriacou and Petite Martinique must never go unnoticed, said Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs, Senator George Prime.

He made the comment during the scholarship award ceremony sponsored by Carriacou and Petite Martinique (CPM) 2000 INC. for students attending T. A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC), Six Roads Campus, Carriacou.

Minister Prime said government is very serious about forming alliances for the development of the Tri-island Nation. Development, he said, cannot be done by government alone.

Sen. Prime also admonished students to make full use of the scholarships.

In giving an overview of the TAMCC's collaboration with CPM2000 INC, College Registrar, Dr. Nigel Gravesande, said it started in March 2006.

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Sen. Prime, then a member of the Opposition in Parliament, took up the cause of Carriacou and Petite Martinique students and the financial burden on parents to send their children to Grenada to study at TAMCC. CPM 2000 INC. Business Manager, Nathaniel Gilbert, reaffirmed the group's commitment towards the development of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

He said with most members being past students of Carriacou's Bishop's College, and earning their education at the time when going to secondary school was more of a privilege, they feel obligated to contribute back to the community.

The award ceremony was attended by a number of faculty members of TAMCC, including Council Chairman Terrance Moore; Dr. Nicole Phillip, Dean of the School of Arts, Sciences and Professional Studies; and Fleur Patrice, Director of the Six Roads Campus.

There are 75 students currently enrolled at the Six Roads Campus.

The Workings of The Ministry of Carriacou & Petite Martinique Affairs

Prime Minister, Minister Prime & villager Lorna Montrose cut the ribbon

a section of the crowd in attendance

Villager Lorna Montrose with contractor Karl Benjamin

Contractor Simon Lendore

Part of the reconstructed road

Contractor Karl Benjamin and crew

GOVERNMENT RECEIVES HIGH COMMENDATION FOR REHABILITATION OF TOP HILL-BELAIR ROAD A day of “satisfaction and achievement'' for the government were the words of Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas at the official opening of the Top Hill/Belair Road.

The Prime Minister, along with the Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs, Senator George Prime, cut the ribbon to signal the opening of the over 3000 ft of road. Hon. Thomas said he is happy that government has been able to make life more comfortable for the people of Top Hill, Mt. Royal and surrounding areas.

The Workings of The Ministry of Carriacou & Petite Martinique Affairs

For years villagers of Top Hill and Mt. Royal have been crying out for repairs to the road, which connects to the Princess Royal Hospital. “It was a long time in coming and now that is a reality I am very happy,” was the sentiments expressed by Lorna Montrose, a villager of Top Hill who gave the government high praise.

It was a happy moment also for Sen. Prime who has seen the project through to its completion, despite some setbacks while work was progressing. He applauded the two contractors, Karl Benjamin and Simon Lendore, and their team for the standard of work done.

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BBH footballers

Petite Martinique

Central

The winners- Paradise United

Easterners

Brunswick

Senior Coach Jester Emmons

Northerners

footballers in action

YOUNG FOOTBALL PLAYERS PARTICIPATED IN FIRST EVER UNDER 18 COMPETITION

Young football players in Carriacou and Petite Martinique showed great enthusiasm the islands' inaugural Under-18 football competition. The players' excitement and enthusiasm were visibly displayed at an impressive official ceremony for the eight neatly attired competing teams. Of the eight teams, one was from Petite Martinique.

The competition was the brainchild of recently appointed Senior Coach Jester Emmons. Emmons expressed thanks to the corporate sector here for their contributions to ensuring the competition took place.

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Bogles

The competition attracted a wide cross-section of people, including Senator George Prime, Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs, and Leader of Government Business in the Upper House of Parliament Sen. Prime commended the Division of Sports, and implored the young competitors to continue being active in sports.

At the end of the competition, Paradise United from L'Esterre was victorious.

The Workings of The Ministry of Carriacou & Petite Martinique Affairs

SIERRA LEONE LINKED TO

CARRIACOU

Although more than 200 years have passed since enslaved Africans were taken to Carriacou on the brutal Middle Passage, the people of Carriacou have never forgotten their African homeland. They continue to celebrate their African heritage through the famous "Big Drum Dance".

Now research by Grenadian historian John Angus Martin and American Joseph Opala has found that a group of people here can identify with a small tribe in West Africa, the Temne of Sierra Leone.

Minister Prime receives Sierra Leone painting from Opala

The trio who was accompanied to the meeting by well known Big Drummer and dancer Winston Fleary, said the people of Sierra Leone will be ecstatic to see the Temne cultural performances of Carriacou.

Minister Prime said the planned visit to Sierra Leone will open an important link with the African nation, creating new possibilities especially in cultural tourism.

Cultural enthusiast Winston Fleary, Acting PS Javan Williams, Minister Prime. Joseph Opala, John Augus Martin & Dr. Cynthia Schmidt

This year, Sierra Leone is celebrating its 50th anniversary of independence. It is hoped that a group of Carriacouans will pay a visit to their ancestral land to participate in the Sierra Leone celebrations. Discussions have already started in preparation for this important and historic event.

The proposed itinerary of the Sierra Leone trip includes meetings with Temne Paramount Chiefs and visits to rural villages, where centuries' old traditions are maintained. They will also get the opportunity to visit Bunce Island where Africans were held before the ships brought them to Carriacou.

Martin, Opala and Cynthia Schmidt, an American ethnomusicologist who has extensive experience in Sierra Leone, met with Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs, Senator George Prime, and Acting Permanent Secretary, Javan Williams.

The Temne are the second largest ethnic group in Sierra Leone, numbering over two million.

The Workings of The Ministry of Carriacou & Petite Martinique Affairs

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DEVELOPMENT

CASSAVA HIGHLIGHTED DURING WORLD FOOD DAY CELEBRATIONS Focusing on the staple cassava, the Division of Agriculture within the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs staged another successful World Food Day in October 2010.

The theme of the celebration, held at the Hillsborough Market Grounds, was "United against Hunger.''

One of the interesting highlights of the celebration was the production of farine, with attendees having the opportunity to view the entire process – from grinding to pressing and sifting, and finally the end product.

To stir people's interest in utilizing the food crop, a wide variety of cassava-based dishes were prepared and displayed.

Cassava Flour

Bam Bam

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Drying of Cassava

Farine Production

Brendon Stanisclaus one of the cassava farmers recognized

Among them were bam bam, cassava pone, cake and flour.

As part of the celebrations, several farmers were recognized for continuing the cassava tradition. They included Brendon Stanisclaus, Helen Mills and Alfred Quashie.

Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs, Senator George Prime, delivered the keynote speech, in which he addressed the theme of the celebrations.

He said that uniting against hunger becomes real only when state and civil organizations and the private sector work in partnership at all levels.

Farine

Cooked Sweet Cassava

Cassava

Cassava Salad

The Workings of The Ministry of Carriacou & Petite Martinique Affairs

grinding Manually

DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE NOW HAS ELECTRONIC CASSAVA MILL AND PRESSER

cassava

Old tim e way o f pressi

ng cass ava

a s s av a c new

Cassava farmers in C a r r i a c o u a n d Pe t i t e Martinique no longer have to go through the hassle of grinding and pressing cassava for themselves. The Division of Agriculture within the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs is now equipped with an electronic cassava mill and a presser.

According to Head of the Division, Benson Patrice, grinding services are available at 15 cents per pound while pressing is 5 cents per pound.

r esse r p and mill

In the past persons manually grind cassava and pressed it utilizing stones. Therefore, the introduction of the electronic cassava mill by the Agriculture Division has been welcomed by farmers here.

They noted this will now save them the hassle of manually preparing cassava for farine production and encourages them to try other ways of utilizing the crop.

The Workings of The Ministry of Carriacou & Petite Martinique Affairs

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FARMERS AND FISHER FOLKS IN CARRIACOU MET AGRICULTURE MINISTER Farmers and fishermen in attendance Carriacou and Petite Martinique farmers and fisher folks, who play an important role in the nation's development, have voiced concerns and shared ideas on ways of improving the agriculture and fishing sector.

They expressed their views at a meeting with Michael Lett, Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The Minister, addressing the farmers and fisher folks at the Carriacou Multipurpose Centre, said government firmly believes that Carriacou should be the centre of excellence for small ruminants' production, with one of the focuses being the development of an abattoir and packaging centre.

In recent times, fishermen here have been faced with the problem of people stealing

their engines and sometimes their boats. As part of the solution, they called for the construction of lockers to secure their items.

For the farming sector, crop destruction caused by animals on the loose continues to be a nightmare. Farmers, in response, are seeking revision of the impounding law to curb the stray animal problem.

Mr. Lett promised government's action to develop a closer working relationship with the farming and fishing community of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

The Minister, who visited several farms on the island, was accompanied by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Aaron Francois, and other agriculture staff.

Minister Prime and Minister Lett on a visit to a farmers' garden

Minister Prime, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture Aaron Francois, Minister Lett at a pig farm

At Limlair Livestock station

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Minister Lett with farmer Agatha Jordan

The Workings of The Ministry of Carriacou & Petite Martinique Affairs

Tilling the soil can be a difficult task. But, today that is being made easier for the farmers of Carriacou and Petite Martinique by the Ministry of Agriculture through the provision of six cultivators.

Ministers Lett and Prime with a cultivator

The cultivators, a donation from the People's Republic of China, were presented to Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs, Senator George Prime, by Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Michael Lett.

Assembling of cultivators

Ministers, Agriculture staff with cultivators

Both ministers emphasized government's position of ensuring that agriculture plays a major role in stimulating economic growth in the Tri-island State. They said farmers will continue to receive the necessary support and motivation, with even greater emphasis to be placed on the agriculture sector in 2011.

The plans for agriculture in the New Year include ongoing subsidies to farmers and the development of agriculture-related businesses.

The Workings of The Ministry of Carriacou & Petite Martinique

For many people, bluggo is only eaten boiled. However, one man in Petite Martinique is using his creativity to showcase that the vegetable can be used otherwise.

Osbert Felix is making flour from bluggo.

Felix presented Minister for Finance Nazim Burke with a sample of his product during a recent budget consultation on the island.

And, with the announcement by Russia earlier this year of possible flour shortage because of low wheat production due to bad weather conditions, Minister Burke praised Felix for his creative work.

One of the areas of focus for the 2011 budget will be agri-business w h e r e government hopes to provide support to farmers and other persons involved in agriculture and agriculture-related businesses.

Meanwhile, Felix also made a distribution to several institutions on the island of Carriacou.

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The Workings of The Ministry of Carriacou & Petite Martinique Affairs

FREE ZONE PROJECT PRESENTED TO RESIDENTS OF CARRIACOU

Dr. Bromney (blue top) with Minister Prime, acting PS and members of her team

A government-backed Free Zone, considered a development that will change the economic landscape of Carriacou and Petite Martinique in a positive way, has been presented for public input and debate.

Dr. Cristiane Bromney, one of the developers with Urbaniza, said no financial contributions will be needed from government for the project, which will provide at least 2,000 jobs in the first year of development.

The project is being undertaken by Urbaniza, a Brazilian company, and the proposed Free Zone site is at Dumfries.

She said it's the intention of Urbaniza to integrate technology with nature.

During the project presentation at Hotel Laurena, people raised several concerns such as the environmental impact of the Free Zone on Carriacou and Petite Martinique and the source of funding for the initiatives.

The Workings of The Ministry of Carriacou & Petite Martinique Affairs

Senator George Prime, Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs, promised that while government is supportive of the project, it will not allow the rights of the people of Carriacou and Petite Martinique to be compromised.

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(front row) Minister Prime, Lady Glean, Governor-General Sir Carlyle Glean (back row) Tourism Director (pink shirt) Simon Stiell

BBH SERENADERS: PARANG CHAMPIONS

CROWD ON MELEE NIGHT BC STARS

STRUGGLERS

BOYS FROM CAMOON

GHETTO YOUTHS

DETERMINATORS

DOMINATORS

MEN FROM THE MAINLAND Page 14

BC OFFSPRINGS The Workings of The Ministry of Carriacou & Petite Martinique Affairs

Big drum drummers

Big drum dancers

ST

1 EVER INDEPENDENCE TORCH LIGHTING IN CARRIACOU A SUCCESS Accompanied by string band music and dancers, the Independence Torch travelled through the villages of Carriacou last Friday, January 14.

The Workings of The Ministry of Carriacou & Petite Martinique Affairs

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Come and meet the ancestors, celebrate a new life Carriacou Maroon and Regional String Band Festival. April 29th- May 1st 2011

Ministry of Carriacou & Petite Martinique Affairs Contact: Deanna Isaac PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER Phone: 1-473-443-6026, Fax: 1-473-443-6040 Email: prccou@live.com, Website: www.gov.gd