V If I did Police PR
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012. 9.
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Editor: I do not know much about policing. However, I do know a thing or two about communication — mass communication in particular — including the theories and practice thereof. I also know that in public relations, in many instances, it is very important to get one’s information out as quickly as possible, even as one tries to ensure that it is as accurate as possible. This is especially the case in national security matters. Obviously, there are circumstances in which situations are developing, and the information, while it must be disseminated quickly, must be packaged so that the intended audience understands that information might change in the future. But while one will also want to limit the extent to which that information would need to be modified subsequently, it is never wise to not say anything, especially when there is a development such as the one in Union Island on June 3. If the authorities don’t say anything, someone else might, and they might do so in a manner that is detrimental to the authorities’ public relations efforts. Hence, if I were the officer-in-charge of the Police Public Relations Department (a post in which I have absolutely no interest), rather than waiting until Tuesday
* Whether settlement has been made in the payment of the land on which the Owia Fishing Complex stands? * Why are persons saying that ‘North Leeward dead’ — how business really slow in that area? * If all we know for Carnival is Queen Shows? * Why was Zion I’s calypso not aired on the live NBC broadcast of the preliminaries for the On Tour Tent? Is it banned? * How come we don’t hear the weekly radio reports on banana shipments like we used to long ago? If there are reports, on which radio stations are they broadcast?
(when incorrect information was disseminated anyway), I would have sought the necessary clearances and issued the following statement six hours after the incident, at the latest: “The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) is investigating an incident which occurred in the waters off Union Island at [insert time of day here] in which local law enforcement agents came under hostile fire from persons believed to be foreign nationals. The persons were aboard a vessel believed to have originated from another country. The local law enforcement agents returned fire and three of the suspected foreigners died while another was injured. The injured person is receiving healthcare. The three other occupants of the suspected foreign vessel have been taken into police custody. A local law enforcement agent is unaccounted for and RSVGPF has called in personnel from several of its specialised units to aid in locating the agent, whose next of kin have
been informed of the development. The RSVGPF would like to reassure residents of St. Vincent and the Grenadines that the situation has been brought under control and there is no cause for fear or alarm. All necessary state personnel, including the Minister of National Security and the Commissioner of Police, have been informed and the requisite protocols activated. The RSVGPF will issue further bulletins accordingly.” Further, I would like to advise the staff at the Police Public Relations Department that it is not in their interest to discriminate in whom they send their public relations information, especially media entities, mainstream or otherwise. Your job is to get your information out there, to as many persons as possible and not to engage in narrowcasting– I hope. Every citizen should be able to request and access police bulletins. It might be a good idea to set up a website or a Facebook page where such bulletins can be posted. In that way, the next time a dangerous
The price of cocoa A NUMBER of framers have said that if they can get EC$3.00 per pound for cocoa, scraped from the pod, then they are ready to plant cocoa. Unfortunately the EC$3.00 per lb. offered by Amajaro is not real. Here are some facts. Dry cocoa beans from SVG will sell at a price similar to Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago cocoa, i.e. EC$12 to $13 per kilogram or EC$ 5.50per lb. to $6.00 per lb. It takes 2.5lb to 3lb of wet cocoa to yield 1lb of dry cocoa. One early study by Arthur Knapp, Cadbury research scientist, provides these figures: Weight of wet cocoa -100lbs; Loss from fermentation - 20 to 25 lbs; Loss from drying 40lbs; Weight of dry cocoa remaining — 35 to 40lbs. So, if the 100lbs of wet cocoa, which makes 40lbs of dried cocoa, are worth $240 (40x 6), then the most a framer can expect to get is $2.40 per lb. for wet cocoa. But wait, cocoa reaching the market needs money to be fermented and drying,
person is on the loose, citizens will know where they can go to get information about the person. Further, people can send anonymously tips to the police. My experience in communications has shown that people value the ability to be anonymous, if they so desire. Kenton X. Chance Taipei, Taiwan
Thank you, Mr. John
and that money comes from the $2.40. Then it costs more money to grade and store the cocoa here until we have a shipment; then it costs money to ship the beans, to store them overseas before delivering them to a buyer. All these prices come out of the $2.40 that the overseas market pays. And then, what about the slice that Amajaro will take out of the $2.40? The cocoa group estimates that one pound of wet cocoa will sell for $1.00 per lb. or less. The price which Amajaro is promoting is mistaken and false. We wonder why leaders in the Ministry of Agriculture are encouraging this kind of deception as they promote the Amajaro. The cocoa group is encouraging farmers to look at a new cocoa industry as a business venture and examine every aspect of it carefully. Get involved in the cooperative for cocoa growers and make a success of this venture.
I WANT to extend my congratulations to the KCCU for a most honourable decision and action. The naming of the KCCU Development Centre after Mr. Reuben John was the least that could have been done to honour the man responsible for where the Credit Union is today. I say, without water in my mouth, that Reuben John set the KCCU on a path to growth and development. His vision and positive attitude took the union out of a stranglehold and positioned it for its new role in the 21st century. Without his vision and determination, and his ability to motivate others, the KCCU would have been stuck in the ‘dark ages’, so to speak. This is not to say that presidents of the KCCU before he took office did not do their bit to advance the KCCU; but it was during his period as president that the Credit Union saw the most positive changes in its operations. Thank you, Mr. John, on behalf of all credit union members in SVG, for putting your leadership and vision at the disposal of the people.
Contributed
Sam
Homes are yearning for faithful fathers 1. The need for faithful fathers ring out All around the world The cry from the voice of mothers A little boy or girl. 2. The ache for a listening ear A little help around the home To take interest in your child or children’s education Not spending all day on your phone. 3. The quality time spent with family A time away from the Blackberry To pray, play and find time to smile So your children can feel happy. 4. The world also yearn for faithful fathers To be the watchman of his home To teach the bible stories And to be an example to follow. 5. One who will struggle daily As a provider for his home To be the guardian and a tower And not to always roam. 6. One with patience and consistency A teacher, a mentor, a guide Raising your children with integrity Which they will need when they leave your side. 7. Keep your words kind and gentle Be honest and truthful all times Do not talk only but listen Avoid the telling of lies. 8. Show love with your heart and soul And be unconditional Provide a strong foundation An example for someone to follow. 9. For there is some child who is watching That may not be your very own Who will one day be grown up And have children of his own. 10. Fathers be a disciplinarian A pillar of strength and support Be that man who would rather have Jesus Fathers please take note! Fathers, Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:9) Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers in SVG. Yvette Gittens - SVG, June 12, 2012
SVG should not be a haven for drugs AFTER the recent incident in Union Island, in which three Venezuelans were killed in a massive shootout and one Customs Officer lost his life otherwise, one is left to wonder about the drug situation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The big epidemic is: people of different nationalities are entering our waters by boat and aircraft, at any hour, carrying drugs. It has become a serious reason for concern, and really needs to be addressed. Vincentians on a whole should not tolerate this ongoing problem, and government and other lawenforcement officers must enforce the laws, in order to eradicate this problem. I remember in the good old days when I was growing up, St. Vincent, we never encountered such a problem; but the generation of today is so different. Our beautiful island has become a haven for drugs, and all kinds of different horrors, including unnecessary killings and rapes. Prime Minister, the Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, and his government are doing the very best to eradicate these serious problems in our society, and all Vincentians are hoping everything goes well in their endeavours. Everton Mercury Canada