THE VINCENTIAN PDF- 01-10-21

FRIDAY, OCTOBER

01, 2021

VOLUME 115, No.39

Teachers now Frontline Page 3

www.thevincentian.com

Gangs: No solution Page 4

EC$1.50

Banks don’t care Page 11

Eviction order challenged Page 18

Gunmen have no mercy Page 28

$50.00 VACCINE VOUCHER PROPOSED

Sir James Mitchell, former Prime Minister, and Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, sitting Prime Minister, might just have found common ground with respect to the ongoing struggle to convince persons here to take the COVID-19 vaccine. administered by the Hotel Association for all the hotels and restaurants, to give a voucher for $50 to any person on getting their first vaccine.”

ALTHOUGH THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH has assured that He went as far as to say that the money could be stocks of the Astra Zeneca, Pfizer and Sputnik-V COVID- easily sourced. “Don’t tell me the money can’t be 19 vaccines are aplenty here in St. Vincent and the found….. all you need to do is prepare the project Grenadines, vaccine hesitancy remains a problem. A and get it to the relevant funding agencies: The large majority of the population is not vaccinated, some World Bank, the IMF, our local resources. Surely, refusing to accept (the vaccine) altogether. there are individuals in Mustique who could come Towards encouraging, one observer said enticing, up with a $1,000,000!” persons to get vaccinated, a proposal has been Sir James added, “So that is one suggestion I proffered by former Prime Minister of St. Vincent made: $1,000,000 and then work out modalities of and the Grenadines, Sir James Mitchell. how it would be distributed — you get your first jab Sir James, speaking on the WE FM ‘Issue at and you have a certified piece of paper in your hand Hand’ episode aired last Sunday, September 26, and you collect your voucher to go to a hotel or said, “I have a proposal on how the government can restaurant of your choice and have a meal for $50.” address this issue. And it is the use of the Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, speaking on carrot….…….. offer an opportunity for 20,000 the same programme after Sir James, expressed Vincentians to get vaccinated, who may be support for the proposal. reluctant.”

“I will give the proposal my support of $1,000,000 He detailed his proposal thus, “The government for persons who want a $50 voucher if the Hotel should allocate a fund of $1,000,000 EC to be Association thinks that it will work,” he said.

by GLORIAH…

“I wouldn’t want to impose it on them. Sir James has put it out and I notice how he has put it. He says, well, find out from the Hotel Association, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce on how they feel about that,” the Prime Minister added.

Dr. Gonsalves reminded listeners that incentives for vaccination were considered here before.

“Remember, we had earlier discussed a series of incentives and then on the basis of what happened in other countries, where apparently the incentives didn’t work; because they had incentives in Antigua.

Remember that…lottos and all kinds of other things, but they didn’t work.”

In short, Dr. Gonsalves was encouraged by Sir James’ proposal, saying it just may work… . “We have nothing to lose but to try it, but at the same time, we have to make sure that people in the frontline be given a choice to be vaccinated or not vaccinated. And if you don’t get vaccinated, well you find a different job. And he’s quite right, it’s not mandatory if you get a choice.”

The citizenry awaits with bated breath.

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2. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

ÂBecoming a QueenÊ takes top award

formerly Caribana, in Joella’s quest to take the Queen of Carnival title for a tenth time.

Joella, the daughter of former Vincentian masquerader LouAnn Crichton, plays herself in the film.

Bruce DeMara, writing in the September 5, 2021 issue of the Toronto Star (newspaper), reported that festival director Diana Webley had described the film as a “documentary film,” that is “both a family story and a broader one about ‘Becoming a Queen’- the award winning film by Chris Strikes that features community spirit, tradition and the ‘Carnival Queen’ journey of Joella Crichton. engagement. It’s got suspense and a plot twist leading to a surprise ending, ‘BECOMING A QUEEN’, a film with a the festival. an ideal film for the festival.” “strong Vincy presence” about a Toronto THE VINCENTIAN has also been He quotes Joelle as saying that she woman vying for her 10th Carnival Queen reliably informed that the film is “was surprised by how much work title, was selected to open the 16th presently showing in Ghana, Africa went into the documentary,” which annual CaribbeanTales International Film and will be on show at various was shot mostly over the summer of Festival. (See THE VINCENTIAN OF screenings around the USA. It is also 2018.

September 20, 2021.) expected to be screened at the “I didn’t realize how much film you That position of pride might just Grenada Film Festival which is yet to actually have to gather, how much have been a precursor to greater be scheduled. stuff you have to capture and pull things, for THE VINCENTIAN has “Becoming a Queen” a film by from. That was a big undertaking received confirmation that ‘Becoming a Canadian Chris Strikes, an award trying to capture those moments,” Queen’ is the winner of the award for winning director, follows the story of Joella said, according to DeMara.

Best Feature Film at the Festival, Joella Crichton, her mother Lou-Ann The film includes archival footage which ran virtually from September 8- and sister Mischka as they prepare for essential to a fleshing out the history 24. There were 56 films featured at the 2018 Toronto Caribbean Carnival, of the venerable carnival, which has

Joelle Crichton in one of her winning Queen of Carnival costumes. been running since 1967.

DeMara wrote that besides highlighting Carnival, the film shines a spotlight on the city’s longestablished Caribbean community.

And as for director Strikes, the Toronto Star article records him as sayin, that he was struck by “the amount of emotion, the amount of heart, that goes into building mas and into preparing for Carnival,” referring to the elaborate costumes worn by the bands that take part.

Those elaborate winning costumes as portrayed by Joella have all been the work of ace Vincentian designer and builder Kenney Coombs. Coombs is appropriately featured in the film.

Closed Season could be extended VINCENTIANS HAVE GREETED with much anticipation the opening of another Hunting Season (Open Season) — October 01 to January 31- for wildlife such as manicou, iguana and agouti.

But if Director of Forestry Fitz Gerald Providence can influence a decision, he would like that decision to be one that stipulates an extension to the Closed Season — February 01 to September 30.

In fact, Providence said in a SVG TV broadcast that his Department was awaiting confirmation form Cabinet on a proposal that the Close Season be extended, especially in light of the impact the recent volcanic eruption had on the population and habitat of the wildlife here.

If this was already in law, persons who hunt wildlife would have had to wait until next year to engage in a legal hunt, and those who savour the taste of wild meat would have to control their urges for a while longer.

Hunting is a tradition in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. For some it is a sport but for many others it is a livelihood.

Providence, speaking at the Forestry Headquarters in Campden Park, concedes that any extension of the ‘Close Season’ would shock and worry many people and appealed for cooperation.

He sees an extension as a measure that would help to protect animals from possible extinction, and in the process, ensure sustainability of the hunters’ livelihood.

On another area of concern, Providence

spoke of his Department feeding parrots, the Amazona guildingii, during the recent crisis.

He disclosed that in another week or so a census would be complete, giving a clearer picture of the parrot’s population.

Additionally the Forestry Department is focusing on Agro Forestry as a means of stabilising areas of threats — e.g. soil erosion.

Providence cites efforts at Zion Hill in Barrouallie, in the Central Leeward district, as an example of his Department’s success in soil conservation.

Work at Montreal Gardens in the interior Marriaqua constituency is another example of efforts aimed at forest protection.

Providence cites reduction in bush fires at Edinboro as a

consequence of measures by his staff.

Turning to the volcano, the Forestry Head reported that some employees have helped to rebuild the trail to allow scientists easier access to the volcano. He joined the call for persons to stay away from the mountain top as there may be lurking dangers on the hill sides.

The Forestry Head is conscious of the recovery and restoration process that is taking place and highlighted the need for human and wild life to coexist, especially at this time, with as little conflict as possible.

(WKA) EDITOR’S NOTE: Since this article was written, official communication from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, etc. indicated thus: “…. there will be a moratorium on the hunting season for the 2021-2022 that

Director of Forestry Fitz Gerald Providence is hopeful that the Closed Season with respect to hunting wildlife would be extended. extends from October 1st 2021 to January 31st 2022 for reptiles and mammals and October 1st 2021 to February 28th 2022 for Birds.”

Left: Efforts are afoot to protect the manicou which provides for a popular hunt and a tasty meal among many Vincentians.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021 . 3.

News 3 COVID-19 deaths climbing Dr. Simone Keizer-Beache, CMO, confirmed that the majority of COVID-19 cases were unvaccinated persons.

Memorial Hospital.

The other person tested AS OF YESTERDAY, Thursday positive for COVID-19 on 30th September, 2021, twenty- September 25th, 2021, and one persons had died here as a was admitted to the COVID-19 result of COVID-19. ward at Milton Cato Memorial The Ministry of Health Hospital. reported that two males — one Both men were reported to 62 years old and the other 60 have been unvaccinated. years old — had died on The two recent deaths Wednesday 29th September of follow closely on that of a 48COVID-19 pneumonia. year-old female who died on The 62-year-old had tested Tuesday, September 28th, positive for COVID-19 on 2021, of COVID-19 September 14th and was pneumonia. That person had admitted to the Argyle tested positive for COVID-19 Isolation Facility on on September 26th, 2021, and September 20th. He was later was admitted to the COVID-19 transferred to the COVID-19 ward at the Milton Cato ward at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. She was

by GLORIAH…

also unvaccinated.

According to the report dated September 29, 2021 from the MEMO/Health Services Subcommittee, there were twenty-two (22) patients admitted for COVID-19 at the Argyle Isolation Facility.

Twenty-one (21) are unvaccinated and one (1) patient is fully vaccinated.

Fourteen (14) patients are admitted to the COVID-19 ward at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. Thirteen (13) are unvaccinated and one (1) patient is partially vaccinated. Sixteen (16) new recoveries were noted over the reporting period.

One thousand and fifty-one (1051) cases are currently active.

Three thousand five hundred and eight (3508) cases of COVID19 and two thousand, four hundred and thirty-six (2436) recoveries have been recorded in St. Vincent and the Grenadines since March 2020.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Simone Keizer-Beache said in a recent NBC news interview, that, “The majority of cases we are seeing in St. Vincent are for persons who are not

vaccinated. The majority of persons who are ill and coming in, presenting to us with coughs and colds and fevers are persons who are not vaccinated. So, I really urge persons to have the vaccine….

You have a wide range and an enormous amount of vaccines.”

Teachers are now frontline workers

by GLORIAH… A CABINET MEETING Of Wednesday 29th September, 2021 decided that teachers are to be included in the category of frontline workers.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves made the announcement as he spoke on VC3 TV’s ‘Round Table Talk’ that same evening.

“On the basis of the advice which we have received, including advice from the medical authorities, based on the Health Services SubCommittee of NEMO, it was decided to put in these regulations to include teachers as frontline workers,” Dr. Gonslaves said.

He further stated that The teacher joins the ranks of frontline workers and will now be required to not only teachers, but also “those who working vaccinate or subscribe to rigid testing regime. at the schools, the cooks The Prime Minister cautioned for the inclusion of teachers in the and so on, everybody who comes teachers that “The same position frontline workers category. in touch with children,” are also applies. You have to take the He had stated, “And during included in this bracket. vaccine or you take the test, and this period, I must tell you, I’ve Frontline workers have received a lot of messages. People if you don’t do that you wouldn’t previously been identified as be allowed on the compound.” have telephoned me saying that Medical/Health Services The new school year, i.e. term we must put in the regulations personnel, Police Officers, coming up, teachers as those who one, begins on 4th October as Custom/Port Officers and Prison originally scheduled and will, in should be considered frontline Officers .

These categories of workers are workers just like how we consider the first instance, embark on two expected to fully vaccinate against nurses and doctors and police and weeks of online instructions.

After that period, school the disease and teachers, who are Customs Officers and Prison management and staff will decide Officers and people at port — sea now part of this group, will be on how to proceed with a blended ports and airports.” expected to follow this same approach, with particular focus on Dr. Gonsalves had however, vaccination guideline. intimated that a determination is entry level (Grade K and Form 1) Prime Minister Dr. Ralph best made after dialogue with the and exit level (Grade 6 and Form Gonsalves, had, during the WE medical authorities, especially as 5) students.

FM’s ‘Issue at Hand’ programme The next phase is expected to teacher vaccination could of Sunday 26th September be a return to Face-to-Face disclosed that persons among the effectively return normalcy to instructions. school life general public had been calling

The MU variant forms part of a new collection of COVID-19 variants all of which cannot be identified by local laboratory facilities.

Variant testing not available locally LOCAL LABORATORY FACILITIES do not have the capacity to test for variants of concern.

So said Elliott Samuel, Chief Laboratory Technician, as he addressed the issue of testing capacity during a press briefing on September 23.

He explained that testing for variants of concern is done using a process known as genetic sequencing, which is a highly specialized testing area.

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has recently received the technical capacity to conduct such testing, however, most of the samples are sent to other facilities for characterization.

“So, its not something that a local lab will take on because of the cost of implementation and the high skill involved …,” Samuel said.

He mentioned that most of the CARPHA member states submit all their positive and 10 percent of the negative samples for characterization.

The process of sending samples to CARPHA to be tested started off as a quality assurance method when the laboratory was first started.

But according to Samuel, it has now cascaded to samples being tested for variants of concern.

(DD)

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4. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Criminal gangs, not a solution possession of a .38 firearm, and five rounds of ammunition, without license, in the vicinity of Bishop’s College Kingstown on September 23.

Scott was initially unrepresented, but Bruce, who was at the Bar Table, in connection with another matter, told the Court he would assist the youngster, as a friend of the Court. As a result, Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne stood down the matter for a few minutes to allow Bruce to speak with the defendant.

But Bruce said that having left the gang, Scott had to find a way to protect himself from the people who were once his associates, and for whom he might have held secrets.

“This morning he has a new reality. He now has a criminal conviction at 21,” the lawyer said, and voiced his condemnation for those who support and promote that way of life.

“Becoming members of gangs is not a solution, Attorney Israel Bruce and those who groom took the opportunity to such individuals are share with the court doing a disservice to some of the challenges their country and the faced by and pitfalls A gang member – a world at large,” said endured by a person dropout Bruce, who is also an who is enticed to opposition New become a gang When the matter was Democratic Party (NDP) member. resumed, the lawyer Senator. indicated that it was The lawyer said Scott, revealed to him that the second child for his Stories by Scott was a former gang mother, attended the HAYDN HUGGINS member.

Technical Division of the “Some of us talk about Community College, but DEFENCE lawyer Israel gangs in this country, failed to complete his Bruce is sending a clear but don’t know how they course in refridgeration message to the nation’s operate, and how they and air-conditioning, and youth, that becoming a worked for a brief period member of a criminal gang are sustained,” Bruce said, and noted that using whatever skills he is a dangerous decision, based on his information, had acquired from his and is not a solution. training.

Bruce was mitigating Scott had to pay $300 a fortnight, as dues, to “Mr. Scott is at the on behalf of 21-year-old maintain his mercy of the Court this Kimron Scott of membership, but got morning. Before, he was Redemption Sharpes, nothing in return, and at the mercy of the gang who, on Monday, at the decided to leave members,” Bruce said.

Serious Offences Court, ceremonially.

“This matter this admitted being in

morning is an awakening for all of us to save our male species.”

The lawyer opined that if this is not done, the nation will look back some 30 years from now at what the social fabric of the society has become.

A DEFENCE lawyer has offered suggestions to deal with the prevalence of firearms and consequential firearmrelated offences here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Grant Connell, who has been and continues to be in the forefront in the representation of persons on firearmrelated charges, is suggesting an Amnesty with a financial reward, for persons who surrender their illegal firearms within the Amnesty period.

He is also recommending an increase in the maximum penalty for possession of a firearm, or ammunition without license, but that increase must be accompanied with an amendment to Section 30 of the Criminal Code, so that a suspended sentence could be applied in certain circumstances.

He underscored that each case has its own

ammunition possession.

And Connell is also suggesting that the law in relation to sentencing for offences of this nature be reviewed.

As it stands now, possession of firearms or ammunition carries the same maximum penalty of seven years, as that of marijuana possession.

“You have compressed marijuana which has proven to benefit this country physical, through medical marijuana, and financially, in excess of $15 million in License fees, compared to a deadly weapon (guns) that is reaping havoc on our streets,” Connell argued.

In his proposed Amnesty, Connell said that the financial reward for bringing in an illegal firearm, within the stipulated period, should depend on the calibre of the gun surrendered.

“It is $500 to have a license for a firearm, so

youthfulness,” she admitted but maintained that the accused must be punished because of the seriousness of the offences.

Magistrate rules

The Chief Magistrate, in her summation, was of Paying for your choices the view that Scott would have used the firearm if the opportunity to do so But Crown Counsel Rose Ann Richardson, in had arisen.

After following the response, contended that sentencing guidelines, Scott was before the Court because of the weighing the aggravating and mitigation factors, choices that he made, and doing the and no matter the explanation given, he mathematical calculations, Browne must suffer the arrived at a penalty of consequences for those choices. two years and two Reflecting on the facts, months for possession of Richardson said that the firearm, and eight while the gun and months for having the ammunition. The ammunition was found in Scott’s bag, there was sentences will run information that he was concurrently. seen with the firearm The facts, as presented earlier, which meant that earlier, revealed that at some point, it was not around 10:30am on concealed.

September 23, police She noted that he was received information that in the vicinity of the a tall, ‘fair-skin’ man Bishop’s College dressed in a multicoloured shirt, and Kingstown. standing in the vicinity “What goes in his Gordon ‘Tarya’ Boucher’s favour is that the gun Ital Shop and the and ammunition were Bishop’s College recovered, he had no previous convictions, Kingstown, was seen to have a gun in his cooperated with the possession. police, and his

Lawyer suggests money for guns peculiarities.

“The custodial sentence would still be imposed, but suspended, thereby allowing the offender who, on the evidence, may not be a threat to society, nor would the prison environment have the desired effect, and may instead ruin his life, thus defeating the whole objective and the four pillars of sentencing”.

He identified those pillars as prevention, rehabilitation, deterrence, and retribution.

“Although there are guidelines of the Supreme Court for sentencing in cases of this nature, a strict and rigid application of those guidelines may create a scenario where the guidelines and the pillars of sentencing could be on a collision course.

“There are cases where a youngster makes a genuine error that does not warrant him going

behind the prison walls.

If a suspended sentence is imposed, it would give him the opportunity to prove that he made a genuine error,” the lawyer explained, while speaking to THE VINCENTIAN on Monday, shortly after representing two of three youngsters who appeared at the Serious Offences Court on firearm and ammunition possession charges.

Connell pointed out that currently, the maximum penalty for firearm or ammunition possession, without license, is seven years imprisonment; and though the law gives the option of paying a fine, that option has not been applied by the Court in recent times. He pointed out that Section 30 of the Criminal Code deals with the issue of suspended sentences, but as it is now, a suspended sentence does not apply to offences of firearm or

Not for the first time, Attorney Grant Connell has brought up the issue of firearms and firearms-related offences for discussion in the public domain. that could be a guide.

“There are too many illegal guns on the street.

Something has to be done, or we will become a gangster paradise.

“Filling our jails with youngsters on firearm charges is not going to solve the problem.

Something has to be done to save the Nation’s youth,” Connell implored.

Kimron Scott could well have been the victim of having to protect himself from gang members from whom he had tried to divorce himself.

Police officers proceeded to the area and saw the defendant with a bag. They approached him, took possession of the bag, opened it and discovered the gun and the ammunition within.

Scott had pleaded guilty when he initially appeared before Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on September 24, and the matter was transferred to the Serious Offences Court.

Labourer charged with stabbing wife ROSANNO THEOBALDS, the man accused of inflicting multiple stab wounds on his wife Tiffany nee Williams of Largo Height, last Saturday, at Bentick Square, Kingstown, will return to Court on January 3, 2022 at which time the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the matter is slated to begin.

Theobalds, 30-yearold labourer of Clare Valley, has been charged with wounding Williams with intent.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne at Serious offences Court on Monday, and was granted $9,000 bail with one surety.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021. 5.

News

COVID-19 causes Lab woes

THE RECENT surge in COVID-19 cases has forced health officials to prioritize which category of samples get tested.

And the recommendation is that persons requiring such a service make the requisite arrangements as soon as possible.

According to Elliott Samuel, Chief Laboratory Technologist, while speaking at a press conference on September 23, one of the challenges was that persons doing exit screenings were getting a little concerned about the turn around time for the results.

“And part of the reason is that the message has not gone out to the public, persons have not picked up on the message that the laboratory services programme, both the Molecular Lab and the one at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) are opened 24 hours,” Samuel said.

“So, persons may get a little antsy

when they see that is it 4 or 5 o’ clock and they have not received their PCR test results,” he continued.

Both facilities were inundated with samples and staff were at the point where they had to give precedence to the samples being sent in by health workers conducting contact tracing.

He acknowledged that he knew that there was a time limit for the validity of the test result and recommended that they follow the protocol and that they utilize the online registration process.

“So, if you are traveling on Wednesday, you have to schedule your testing on Monday,” he said.

Samuel further noted that all was being done to ensure that no one is left out.

But often and especially at this time, samples submitted for exit screening take a lower rank to samples brought in by members of the public

health team.

Diagnostic capacity Samuel also gave the assurance that although the number of samples coming in to be tested, the lab facilities still have the capacity to conduct both PCR and antigen/antibody testing.

As of September 29, there were 76,423 tests administered, up 301 from the previous day.

Prior to the recent spike, the Chief Lab Technician said that most samples coming in were taken from exit and entry screenings, but they were now being overtaken by samples from public health workers.

“And it has pushed the number of samples for testing up to high levels,” he said.

However, Samuel pointed out that they had been building capacity in

Elliott Samuel, Chief Laboratory Technologist, admitted to challenges the Labs face in responding a timely manner but assured that they (challenges) were being met head on. anticipation of a surge and they were at various stages of procurement.

There were a lot of items on order, but the greatest challenge to date is the movement of items across borders.

He explained that a single person infected with the Delta strain of the COVID-19 virus could further infect up to 2,000 persons within 5 to 7 days, and it will not be practicable to test everybody if the numbers keep rising.

“But at the same time, we are doing all we can to ensure that we have supplies on island to sustain the diagnostic capacity,” he said. (DD)

6. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021. 7.

News

One deadline for taking vaccine THE DR. RALPH GONSALVES led Unity Labour Party (ULP) government has taken its effort to enforce the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccination to another level.

Speaking on the WE FM ‘Issue at Hand’ programme last Sunday, Prime Minister Gonsalves announced that he has issued a deadline of October 15, for all chairpersons and members of Statutory Enterprises, and state-

owned corporations/companies to take the COVID-19 vaccines.

“I drafted a letter, a memorandum to the chairpersons and members of the boards of all statutory enterprises and state-owned companies and public enterprises generally, that they have also been given a choice to be vaccinated by October 15 or demit their offices, to take their first vaccine by then, if they haven’t taken it yet, I

Empty gas cylinders required

by GLORIAH… AS THE Hospital Services Programme of the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment prepares to cater for a possible further hike in COVID-19 numbers especially with the presence of the Delta variant of the virus here, a call has been issued to members of the general public who are in possession of empty oxygen cylinders, to trade them in.

Persons are compensated $100 EC for each cylinder received.

Interested persons are asked to deliver the empty cylinders at Caribbean Investment Company located downstairs Oxygen Fitness Center at Campden Park.

A September 28 article carried by Barbados Today Online highlighted the oxygen situation throughout the Caribbean region. It stated, “Hospital oxygen supplies are being pushed to the brink across the Eastern Caribbean, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has warned, as a wave of the highly infectious Delta COVID-19 variant causes more deaths and infection rates soar to record levels largely among the

Turning in an empty oxygen cylinders can earn you a tidy return. unvaccinated.” The article went on to express concern “over the burden on regional health care systems” in the PAHO latest report.

With the recent spike in coronavirus cases and deaths, the confirmed presence of the Delta, Mu and Gamma variants in the community causing an urgent need for supplies needed to contain the spread, these cylinders could go a long way in acquiring necessary, additional supplies of oxygen.

The Sunday, September 26 coronavirus report from the Ministry of Health stated that there has been a total of 3,369 COVID-19 confirmed cases in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with 2,407 recoveries and 943 active cases.

Up to press time — Wednesday - 19 persons have died from the disease.

CWSA mounts another white goods pick-up THE FREE collection of white goods across the country is not only aesthetically pleasing but healthier for the nation.

That’s according to the Central Water and Sewage Authority’s (CWSA) Public Relations and Marketing Manager Joan Ryan as she spoke with THE VINCENTIAN about the current White goods pick-up in train in the white goods collection exercise.

New Montrose area.

The exercise, which ran from Monday September 27th to Saturday CWSA, Ryan said, identified that October 2nd 2021, is undertaken by the exercise was one way the CWSA the Solid Waste Management Unit could make a difference in the fight (SWMU) of the CWSA. against dengue.

It provides an opportunity for It is expected, as has been the case households to dispense with items after each ‘white goods pick-up such as old appliances, electronics, exercise, to do an assessment of the furniture, and barrels free of cost.

Ryan said that the initiative, which types and amount of waster collected.

Last year was a record year with began in 2011, specifically targeted the largest collection of white goods white goods which are common since commencement 10 years ago. breeding grounds for mosquitos, CWSA also offers paid for waste rodents and other pests. removal services year round. (SG)

know many of them have,” Gonsalves said.

He argued, “I don’t see how we could have the Cabinet vaccinated, and we are asking frontline workers, for instance in the port and airports to be vaccinated, and then the people who are running these statutory enterprises or public companies are not vaccinated, so they also have to lead by example in that regard.”

According to the report from the Coronavirus Task Force, Ministry of health, as of September 28, 2021, 33,825 persons had received the

There is now at least one stipulated deadline for some categories of public officers to be vaccinated. vaccine — 20,414 having had one dose and 13,411 two doses.

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8. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021. 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

COVID-19 and the vaccine discord TRY AS HARD AS THEY HAVE, the Prime Minister, the Chief Medical Officer, a range of health-related personnel and even some non-health related personnel, have failed to impact the majority of Vincentians, who remain unvaccinated.

As per a report dated September 27, 2021 from the Ministry of Health, 33,625 persons had been vaccinated against COVID-19, 20,414 of those having had two doses and 13,411 one dose.

This does not support any appreciable uptake of the vaccine since the initial euphoria, leaving us in a position that pales against the target of 80,000.

Our situation is one in which, without any careful consideration for this non-acceptance, some of the vaccinated ones cry aloud that the ‘non-acceptors’ heads are hard, and that they are being willfully defiant because of this and that reason, a political one included.

Of some of those who have been vaccinated, it could be said that they did so because they see it as a duty to society; that given that they can infect those around them, it is their responsibility to not let that happen.

The choices are simple: accept a vaccine or contract the coronavirus or die. The reality that a person can die because of COVID-19 is something that we cannot control. That said, in the end we are either in it — acceptance — or we are out — refusal.

For those who challenge the efficacy of the vaccines, it is well that we draw to their attention the fact that hundreds of persons are victims of non-communicable diseases, but they live relatively normal lives because of drugs and therapies. These drugs, not unlike vaccines, are the results of the work of scientists whose experiments might well have gone wrong on the way to a safe treatment.

Note too, that it wasn’t so long ago that children fell easy prey to diseases known and unknown. Back then, the

same old arguments were used to vilify the scientists and the drugs/vaccines but these diseases no longer afflict the young because of national vaccination programmes.

But this standoff between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated is not an issue of the availability of information; it is about what information we get; what we do with that information; and what we want to believe and how we act.

A vast number of our citizens rely on people to tell them “things” —and they are prone to swallowing a juicy story with much picong therein.

As a result of much of what is fed to the unvaccinated, they conjure up pictures of a world of zombies, and develop a scorn of the vaccinated who in the long run are wont to remain the quiet minority that they are.

Not uncommon is the word reaching us that some people pretend they are unvaccinated simply to fit into the crowd.

What is to stop an interpretation that those who do not support vaccine compliance are actually practicing a defiant exercise of power, motivated by the opportunity for retaliation for some perceived injustice and a disregard for the people’s views?

The damning thing about this period of disharmony is that it throws up: an opportunity for those who thrive on disorder to promote their agenda; an opportunity for those on whatever side of the political divide to politicize the virus by exploiting people’s ignorance.

And as we watch this play out, there is every good chance that the ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’ would emerge as the ‘saviours’.

That said, we must make every effort to listen to and unite people.

Not to do so is to sow a dangerous and twisted reality.

Vaccine hesitancy, as someone opined, ‘is a symptom of a severe disease of the body politic, desperately in need of a cure’.

Sir James and De comrade: On the same COVID page ON LAST SUNDAY’S ‘ISSUE at Hand’ programme hosted by Mr. Cecil Ryan on WE FM, Sir James appealed to the Vincentian community to get vaccinated, as it represented the most reliable way to counter the ravages of the dreaded COVID-19 disease which is overwhelming the world. He was very forceful in his condemnation of those persons who had not yet been convinced into taking the relevant vaccine.

Dr. Gonsalves participated in the discussion and was also very strong in his expression of disapproval of those persons who seemed yet to be not enthusiastic about coming forward to be vaccinated.

So both men share the same position with respect to COVID and vaccination. Dr. Gonsalves reminded his listeners quite emphatically, that he and Sir James have together held the position of Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for thirty-six of the forty-two years that SVG has been an independent state, he for twenty and Sir James for sixteen. Both men, on the programme pointed out, emphasized that our economy was taking a beating because it was so heavily dependent on tourism which has now been crippled by the COVID pandemic.

When Sir James related the story of his empty hotel and the boat load of fish from which only two were sold, I could not help but recall his famous words of yesteryear: “When they don’t have bananas up there in St. Vincent you all will still have fish”. So now we on the mainland have no bananas and you can’t use up the fish you have. It makes me wonder, suppose we had made a strong effort to save our Banana Industry, the farming community might well have utilized all that fish. Bayliss Frederick could have helped in the processing of the excess.

So, Dr. Gonsalves and Sir James share not only a common position on COVID, but also in the crippling of the agriculture sector here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines which has left a significant dent in our economy, while they strangled the hope of thousands of people who lived off the land. It would be fair to say, that to a large degree, the things that were bad in the days of the James Mitchell administration have become worse under Ralph Gonsalves.

So much so, that Renwick Rose who has been a seemingly prominent player under the ULP since 2001, is now telling us in his column in “The Searchlight” of 20th August 2021, that the days when agriculture was able to play a strong role in our economic and social development “have long gone”. He further stated that tourism is “The essential ingredient in the economic development thrust of the Caribbean”.

The said irony is, that maybe less than three years ago, WINFA — The Windward Islands Farmers’ Association of which Mr. Rose has been the prominent players was touring some of the prominent cities in Europe, “talking bananas”. Was WINFA hoodwinking our people? An explanation is due!

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has indicated his willingness to try the suggestion that Sir James has proposed, to encourage citizens to go forward to be vaccinated against the COVID. It is to be hoped that this represents the beginning of a sincere attempt to address the agonies of our people, quite a few of which are traceable to Sir James and Dr. Gonsalves.

Agriculture needs serious attention!

Both gentlemen now enlightened on hind-sight should see that agriculture offers a more dependable platform for our socio-economic development, than tourism does.

LeRoy Providence

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Letters

Those banks don’t care

IT IS CLEAR that the commercial banks here are not concerned about us small people. It is clear that they prefer the big accounts… big people accounts and big business.

I understand that COVID-19 means that we have to take some pre-cautions but what else can I say when they make ordinary people stand outside in rain and sun; let in a few at a time only for those persons to realise when they get in, that there

are only two tellers to serve those already inside and a whole set of others who are still outside.

So, we have to wait outside and then wait inside before we can get to a teller. The whole business at the bank for an ordinary person like me can last up to twothree hours. Thank God I have an understanding boss.

And wait!!!! I wonder if the bank realizes that is my money that I am coming for, the same

money that they use to lend at high interest rates while giving me next to nothing on my savings.

Back in the seventies we use to complain about the white man banks (Barclays, Royal bank, etc.) taking their profits out of the country. (Any of you remember a Barclays plane that use to come here and what it used to take out?) As far as I see it, things have not changed only the actors …. Those who now own the banks are

FIRST and foremost, Mr. Editor, I want to thank my wife for putting together this Letter to the Editor.

I see where our Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Saboto Caesar, has taken his Ministry and Government into a deal with a businessman to bring in boats for use by our fishermen.

I expect, like any businessman, that this partner is expecting to recover whatever he put into this partnership and more on top of that.

After all, no one forks out money and not expect to at least recover what he puts into a deal, no matter how much that person says he is a

patriot and wants to give back to his country. The question is: Who else will benefit from the sale of these boats?

From what I understand, nobody from the Ministry saw it fit to talk to the fishermen concerning the type of boats that this partnership would provide. Now, I am hearing that the boats are not attracting the interest of fishermen who know more about fishing, and what they need, than the Minister and his partner, who someone told me, ‘never even ketch a sprat’.

Why is it that this Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries continue to think that he has all the

answers for farmers and fishermen? I know his family has been into farming and he might know a thing or two about planting some crops. But what does this man from South Central Windward know about fishing other than what he read in some books somewhere?

Fishermen can speak for themselves, Mr. Minister. If you talk with them and listen to what they have to say, they will teach you a thing or two which you can then take to Cabinet.

Don’t take what you think you know and partner with somebody who knows less about the fishing business than you.

still all foreigners, even if they are from the Caribbean. Don’t think we can expect better.

The profits still leave this country.

There has got to be something we or somebody can do to make the banks here friendlier to the thousands of small and ordinary people whose money they are holding and using.

Ordinary Man

That fishing boat partnership

To mask or not to mask I WONDER if you can tell me whether or not the Ministry of Health is offering exemptions from wearing a mask? If they are then I will proceed to make an application.

You see, Mr. Editor, as far as I know the wearing of masks is one of the health protocols that we are expected to practise. Wherever you go today - supermarket, bank, shop, store, hospital, any office anywhere on the island - if you are not wearing a mask you are not allowed to enter.

That is the ‘law’ and I think that the clear majority of people here comply with that ‘law’. (Mind you, I wonder how effective some of the masks are, especially some fashionable ones I see some ladies wearing.)

That said, it is not encouraging that our Prime Minister is seen in public without a mask. That is why I ask

about the exemption. It must be that the Prime Minister is exempted for some reason. I mean, he goes overseas to deliver addresses at high level meetings and he is without a mask.

And he does this right here in SVG, even in the House of Assembly.

This is not, to say the least, setting a good example. How can the government be encouraging even enforcing certain practices to combat this COVID-19 and the head of government is not complying with those practices? It can’t be that the ‘law’ is for some and not for others.

Let all those in public office who make it their business to remind people like me what to do during this COVID-19, practise what they preach.

It is either mask for all or no mask at all.

Charles, Edinboro

I urge fishermen here to have a look at the boats this partnership has brought in and tell the minister frankly what you think about them. I am a retired fisherman and I don’t think what I see is suited to our waters and our kind of fishing.

Jacob Retired Fisherman

A closer look at the WI cricket team CRICKET, in particular West Indies cricket, continues to be widely discussed. The just concluded CPL and the selection of the 15-man squad for the ICC World Cup have raised varying views.

Congratulations are in order for the new CPL champion, the Patriots, and hard luck to the Kings who fought very hard. A captain can make a difference between success and failure as seen in the Patriots’ (captain) DJ Bravo. His captaincy was an inspiration to the team which was considered underdogs in the competition. It is interesting that when he was absent due to injury, the team lost all its matches and when he returned they won all their matchers.

Sometimes we shield captains when their team loses and we many times overlook the importance of the captain. There are many persons across the Caribbean who feel JASON HOLDER should have been selected as part of the 15-man squad and not as a reserve. On this I beg to differ. Yes he is the number one all arounder in test cricket, but when it comes to T20 he has fallen short as seen by the just concluded CPL. Is it that Politics is being played in West Indies cricket? Here you have Chris Gayle, who has for sometime now failed to deliver any good scores, both for the West Indies and in the CPL, yet he is selected and is given the opportunity to play until he is ready to retire. This contrasts starkly with Shiv Chanderpaul who was forced out of cricket, although he was still performing and was close to breaking Lara’s record for the most test runs.

The selection of Darren Bravo as reserve over persons like Rutherford, Shepherd and even Kimo Paul and Kesrick Williams is indeed baffling.

Maybe this again is another demonstration of politics in West Indies cricket. However, as West Indians we would hope that this team does well and that Gayle puts us to silence.

Best of luck to the team and let us rally around the West Indies.

Kennard King

A look back at political parties FOOD PRODUCTION has been the economic backbone of our islands.

In the early years we worked collectively in the food, meat and fish businesses.

When England enslaved/colonized us, all of our means of production went into their hands - ownership.

When slavery was abolished (on paper) we continued to live under British colonialism in a slave-like manner. Then come the 1950s; we got the freedom to vote. We had the Eight Army as a political force out of which came the late E.T. Joshua, effectively our first black, national leader. He began to fight for the rights of the working class. The

Labour Party was antiworkers. That party represented the estate owners and local and foreign business.

Then came James Mitchell with his land reform programme in the 70s. Many of the estates became state property where squatting emerged. Ordinary people moved to occupy a piece of land to which many have title to today.

The St. Vincent Labour Party (SVLP) took the government in 1974 and continued the Mitchell back-to-the-land drive, even though when in opposition. They opposed Mitchell, saying, “slavery again!’

Mitchell, who led Joshua-Mitchel government in 1972-74, took back government

with his New Democratic Party (NDP) in 1984.

During 1984 to 2000 food production was king and queen.

But in 2000 we had the road block revolution, the Grand Beach Accord, and the ULP came into government on ‘All Fools Day’ in 2001. One of the ULP leaders told us publicly that agriculture was a thing of the past.

So the ULP government broke the economic backbone of our economy and now want us by law to kill ourselves with a vaccine.

But with locally grown healthy food, right diet, exercise and a stress free management, we need no vaccine.

Christian Democrat

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Educating our children in the midst COVID-19 crisis needs Bipartisan approach of a pandemic Introduction TWENTY YEARS AGO, when the Unity Labour Party government embarked on the education revolution, it was under no delusion about the gravity of the task ahead and the challenges that had to be overcome. The goal was to pave the way for a society that was trained, certified and necessary for the creation of the modern, competitive, many-sided, post-colonial economy that is was once local, regional and global. To achieve this, the government had to bring an end to the undesirable situation of having only 38% of the country’s 12-year-olds getting a secondary education, train more teachers, increase the number of Vincentians accessing postsecondary and university education and provide for early-childhood education. All reasonable observers would agree that our accomplishments in education as a nation over the last twenty years have been nothing short of remarkable, and while this is so we continue to build on that solid foundation as the work is not yet complete.

The challenges to educating our students during the Covid-19 pandemic continue to demand of the Ministry of Education, and the government as a whole creativity and innovation in problem solving. Proper management of the pandemic so far did allow for face-to-face learning for the first two terms of the 2020/21 school year, with online learning used for the third term, due also in part to the eruption of La Soufriere volcano. Despite those disruptions, our primary school students achieved excellent results at this year’s CPEA exams with a pass rate of over 83%, and we look forward to positive results from those students who sat the CSEC and CAPE exams. The hard work and dedication of our teachers, the focus of the children, the support from parents and the planning from the Ministry of Education came together to produce positive results that we can be proud of.

Preparation for the 2021/22 Academic year The Ministry had set October 4, 2021 as the date for the start of the 2021/22 academic year and work towards having things in place to achieve this start date.

Repair work was carried out on schools across the country with three new facilities constructed to temporarily house students from three schools undergoing extensive repairs that would not be completed in time for the new school year. The MoE consulted with stakeholders to determine the most efficient method to reopen school, given the challenges of the current spike in Covid-19 positive cases. Within the last week we have seen over 500 new Covid19 cases and an additional 9 deaths related to the virus, a situation that raised concerns regarding the safety of our nation’s children. The MoE has since taken the decision that for the first two weeks of the new term in the first instance, school would reopen using the online format, following which, it would move towards a blended approach for some schools depending on a number of factors. There would then be a further decision taken on the next step, based on the analysis of the situation and advice from the relevant officials. While most prefer the efficiency of face to face learning, this government guided by the

science, must put the safety of our students, teachers and by extension their families and communities, first by ensuring that teaching/learning occurs in the safest environment. This is just another challenge that we must overcome in our continued implementation of the remarkable education revolution, and the government is committed to ensuring its success for the benefit of our nation and its people.

Vaccination Remains our Best Option As we move towards the opening of school with the aim of eventually returning to face-to-face learning, stakeholders in education must recognise the need for those directly involved to protect themselves through vaccination.

Teachers especially, who would interact with thousands of students daily as well as the wider community, have a responsibility to ensure that they are offering themselves and their students the best protection available. Vaccination remains the best tool in the toolkit to fight against Covid-19 and all teachers, with the exception of those with legitimate medical reasons are encouraged to get vaccinated as we accelerate our fight against the spread of this deadly virus. Other countries in the region have gone the route of mandating vaccines for teachers, while Barbados for example has seen a positive response to more than 75% of teachers who have taken the vaccines voluntary. Our teachers who currently have no such mandate are strongly encouraged to take the vaccine and parents of students who are eligible to be vaccinated are also encouraged to vaccinate their children.

The distressing reality of countries around us: Grenada that has had 133 deaths so far in September alone and St. Lucia with 195 deaths, serve as grim reminders of what our reality can look like in a very short period. We have an opportunity to do something before the situation worsens and as we prepare for the start of the 2021/22 academic year, teachers and other stakeholders in education have the chance to play their part in this country’s fight against the Covid-19 virus by getting vaccinated.

Conclusion We have seen the remarkable impact of the education revolution on the transformation of our Vincentian society since it was implemented just 20 years ago. The improvement in living standards by many who previously lived in poverty as a direct result of improvements in their education is undeniable and the instances are widely experienced across this country. It would be such a travesty if as a nation, we were to sacrifice these hard-fought gains on the altar of conspiracy theories, and partisan politics. The science is clear, the data is plain, vaccines work and currently represent the best option in our fight against Covid-19. As we prepare for the start of the new academic year, let’s do our part to protect our future by ensuring a safe environment for learning to take place. Let’s get vaccinated.

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC is the biggest crisis facing the country. Recently, the numbers of infections and deaths have increased rapidly. This is cause for urgent and serious concern.

Let us all agree on that. Clearly, this deteriorating situation calls on us all to redouble our efforts to combat the spread of the virus. The solution involves all of us.

As of 28th September, nineteen (19) persons have died, there was 984 active cases of COVID-19. We know what to do, so let us all do it: Wear a mask in public; wash your hands regularly; social distance wherever possible; inform yourself about the pros and cons of vaccination and decide for yourself on it. No one can force you to take the vaccine. Inform yourself and choose for yourself whether to take it.

Based on the science and the evidence around the world, that vaccination is the safest and fastest way to defeat the virus and get out of this pandemic. It is up to you to decide for yourself. The reports make it clear that it is becoming even more difficult to combat COVID-19 because of the several variants that have emerged and have been found here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines We can’t get tired of combatting COVID-19 because the virus does not get tired of attacking us. Let us treat it as a deadly serious matter and do our part to mitigate the spread and ultimately end it.

Disregarding or minimizing the threat of COVID-19 does no one any good; it will make the situation worse.

Since the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2020, President of the NDP- Dr. Friday has been calling for a bipartisan approach to managing the COVID-19 crisis. In March of 2020, Dr. Friday made this appeal, “As Leader of the Opposition and President of the New Democratic Party, I have a responsibility to put the national interests before partisan political interests and to work for the common good. In times of crisis in our country, this principle rises to paramount importance. I have repeatedly called on our government, civil society organizations and individuals to acknowledge our present condition and work together for the good of all.

“I renew that call here today. We in the Opposition offer our assistance and commitment to do whatever we can to assist the government and nation to confront and overcome this most serious threat. Prime Minister, I urge that you accept this genuine offer of cooperation in the spirit intended and that we put aside political partisanship as we deal with this existential crisis.”

Dr. Friday reiterated those sentiments recently on the New Times programme. He said, “Let us put aside the partisanship, let us put aside the pettiness, let us not try to gain political advantage out of it. And trying to portray the NDP as we are a part of the problem, when we have always

been in the lead in providing solutions.

“It is the government that has not been taking advice because they have tried to approach this in a similar way as they have approached governance issues in the past, where they think they can always do it by themselves. This unilateral approach that we are going to do it, we have the power and we are going to do it, but this is one you simply cannot; it is not possible.

“It is a problem of a magnitude that they cannot deal with by themselves and they should have recognized that from the beginning and accepted our offer, and many others in society who said let us work together. Set up a broadbased taskforce and let us try and bring all the opinions together and settle them there before they become public. Then start dealing with the real problems rather than now having to go and convince people about certain positions that they have become part of the public discourse and information, disinformation, misinformation and people having to decide.

“Of course, the tendency let me just stay where I am because I don’t know what to choose; I don’t know what to do. People ask me this question all the time because there seems to be so much contrary information back and forth. I urge that there be a programme put in place to seriously help our people to become better informed, rather than simply dealing with hype and political advantage. This will help us in terms of our economic recovery, but most of all, it protects us from further deaths seventeen (17) people dying from COVID-19 is a lot of people.”

Since then two more persons have died.

It appears that the Unity Labour government continues to play politics with this serious matter.

We are in a crisis! To have a top official, as reported by Asberth News Network (ANN), on 24th September, 2001, referring to a recent rally to be a super spreader of the COVID- 19. And in the same news article, to have the Medical Officer say in a subsequent virtual press conference, “I don’t think we can say we have (a super spreader).

We probably could point to some socio-economic conditions and some living conditions that have supported or allowed a greater spread of the disease, but I don’t think we can point to one or two events to say that these events are super spreaders.”

It was also revealed in that virtual press conference, which was hosted by the Ministry of Health, that the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases began on September 8. And the rally which was referred to was held on September 9…. all in an effort to blame the NDP. The NDP is responsible and has always been offering solutions as to how to manage this crisis.

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The Spotlight

“I think the spotlight is a lonely place to be. Everybody’s wanting something from you, pulling at you.” Angela ‘Angie’ Everhart (born 1969), American actress and former model.

IT IS QUITE understandable, and considered normal, that we will crave some form of acceptance and/or recognition as we go through life. This may be especially pronounced and noticeable during the teen years; that period of adolescence when the body is evolving from childhood to young adulthood. Being noticed can sometimes be at the forefront (and in the subconscious thoughts) of the vulnerable developing mind. However, the need for acceptance and to be noticed, although magnified during this period, extends throughout our life.

Adults and the elderly need to know that they are noticed, appreciated, cared for, and loved. Each of us, as we perform our various roles as parents, siblings, coworkers, and friends, are to be reminded that these roles often place us in the spotlight whether or not we like it.

The thoughts emerging in the preceding paragraph reflect on the reality that being noticed (i.e., in the spotlight) is normal and unavoidable.

However, there are instances where the craving for the spotlight can be considered abnormal and undesirable.

For example, those individuals who regularly seek the spotlight by reminding others of their accomplishments, their senior positions, their possessions, etc., quite often appear to be seeking to massage their egos by making others feel inferior. In other words, using the spotlight analogy, their desire is to appear in the spotlight and have others grovelling in the dark. Such approaches and attitudes portray an unhealthy pride and undesirable arrogance. This holds true whether the individual is a professor at the university, a politician, or a church leader. Harold B. Lee (1899-1973), the former American religious leader and educator, cautions us to, “Stay true in the dark, and humble in the spotlight.”

What we do and the thoughts that we entertain when others are not around (i.e., being in the dark) portray who we really are. The way we behave in the dark, when we think no one is watching or that it is difficult for us to be observed, tells the true story about the motives for our actions. We must live lives that have us thinking pure thoughts and engaged in righteous actions regardless to whether or not others are observing. If we stand straight, living lives that reflect integrity and truth, it is quite obvious that when the spotlight is turned in our direction, we will not cast a crooked shadow.

Many individuals continue to discipline themselves to be the best that they possibly can be as musicians, athletes, politicians, professionals, academics, and so on.

We admire them for their determination and tenacity. Such accomplishments are not always achieved merely as a result of their innate talents and abilities. It often demands discipline and dedication; a commitment to the pursuit of perfection. Such persons therefore have every right to bask in the glow of success as they appear in the spotlight at centre-stage having performed an extraordinary feat. We

First do no harm especially admire those who, having achieved greatness, remain humble.

These individuals, secure in themselves, encourage others to do likewise and, in some instances, to surpass their accomplishments.

These model citizens do not let the spotlight so blind them that they are unable to see others.

Being in the spotlight and being recognized for noble accomplishments generate a healthy sense of achievement. It is good to be in the limelight for noble deeds. Jiah Khan (1988-2013), the British-American actress and singer, reminds us that, “There is a time and place for being in the limelight. As far as being away from the spotlight, well, a certain air of exclusivity is always good.”

While searching the Internet for stories that may fit this topic, this writer came across a most interesting (but traumatizing) true story that was written by John Orquiola in September 2019. It was entitled, “Spotlight True Story: The Movie’s Real Boston Scandal Explained.” The article noted that the movie Spotlight is about the Boston Globe investigative reporting team that exposed the widespread systemic sexual abuse of children by Roman Catholic priests in the Archdiocese of Boston. The perpetrators and the establishment were placed in the spotlight as the media houses and the wider society demanded the abandonment of the atrocities against the innocent and unsuspecting. The media and concerned citizens have a right and responsibility to highlight the evils of society — regardless of where they abide. The spotlight must continue to be placed on the caustic and destructive forces of evil within our society. The spotlight must continue to be placed on those who commit and facilitate rape, incest, white collar crime, racial prejudices, bigotry, and the like.

There is another aspect of The Spotlight that we need to illuminate before ending our conversation. This has to do with the need to share CenterStage with others who would have contributed to the effort. The more mature among us will be ready and willing to share the limelight.

Leaders, managers, supervisors, parents, students, politicians, and pastors, for example, know that accomplishments are often the result of team efforts. While an individual may seem to stand on the pinnacle of success having demonstrated the requisite discipline to get there; there are often so many other individuals who would have played a role in that exercise. They did not make it all on their own. It takes maturity and humility for such accomplished individuals to pause and recognize the contributions of others … to share the spotlight. One of the hallmarks of a good leader is that she will be prepared to take full responsibility for her failures or foibles but will share the limelight with her colleagues and team members when efforts result in success. Sharing the spotlight creates and sustains a glow in the sharer … and brightens the life of those invited to CenterStage.

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

THE DISHEARTENING news struck like a thunderbolt. It was a shot across the bow from the regional medical establishment. It came one week after our CMO issued a similar warning. The St Lucian Medical and Dental Board summoned Dr Gilbertha St Rose to a disciplinary hearing, to defend for advocating and dispensing Ivermectin to patients. As early as last May, 10 Jamaican doctors with a combined medical practice experience of 400 plus recommended the use of Ivermectin.

‘I am trying to save lives,’ Dr St Rose said. ‘When I discovered Ivermectin, I brought it to them, and they rejected it, and I have had a back and forth with the Ministry of Health and the Chief Medical Officer trying to convince them it can be used, but I have the welfare of my patients, so I continue to use it, and I have been educating the public about it, so they thought I am not obeying what the ministry wants to use, so that is why they want to take this action against me.’

Dr St Rose is accused of: 1.

Prescribing Ivermectin to treat COVID-19 without authorization; 2. encouraging its use; 3 conducting an observational clinical trial of Ivermectin as a treatment for Covid without approval.

Ivermectin is on the World Health Organization (WHO) schedule of essential medicines. It has been used to cure millions of persons of painful and life-threatening parasitic diseases.

The WHO says the current evidence on the use of Ivermectin to treat Covid is inconclusive. It never said Ivermectin is not safe. It has been safely used to treat other illnesses.

The WHO recommends that the drug only be used within clinical trials.

Dr St Rose, in her defence, said, ‘It is not approved for Covid yet, but it is an approved drug for other conditions like parasitic infections, so we have a concept which is called ‘off label’ which happens with lots of drugs that were initially approved for a particular condition (and) when it is seen to be effective for another condition, is used by the physician for that purpose, and this is what I have been doing with Ivermectin.’

Many drugs are repurposed and used to treat the illness for which they were not initially designed. Most repurposed drugs are off-patent and efficiently manufactured, and much cheaper than drugs still on patents.

Many doctors worldwide, especially in India and other parts of South Asia, have sung the praises of Ivermectin both as a preventative and curative agent in the successful fight against Covid.

The current struggle against Covid19 must be seen and analyzed in its historical context and the role of medicine. Across the world, there is a significant emerging ‘Right To Try Movement’ which demands the use of emerging, repurposed or experimental drugs if they offer some hope to seriously ill people.

On January 3, 2018, the US Congress passed into force a ‘Right To Try’ law whose short title reads, ‘An Act to authorize the use of unapproved medical products by patients diagnosed with a terminal illness.’ The law requires that the doctor agrees not to be compensated by the drug manufacturer and gain the patient’s written informed consent.

From time beyond mind, the bedrock principles of medical care and treatment are ‘first to do no harm and informed consent.’ Proof of this fundamental principle was found in the teachings of the ancient African

scientist Imhotep - the world’s earliest recorded multi genius, known for his triumphs in Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Architecture and Medicine. He designed and constructed the great pyramids.

In Book 1 of his Corpus, titled Epidemics and written in BC 440, Hippocrates says, ‘Practice two things in your dealings with disease: either help or do not harm the patient.’

A record from AD 245 had doctors vow, ‘I will abstain from all intentional wrongdoing and harm.’

In 1783, the German Jewish physician Markus Herz, drawing on the ancient Jewish traditions, proclaimed the oath of Maimonides for pharmacists and physicians: ‘The eternal providence has appointed me to watch over the life and health of Thy creatures. May the love for my art actuate me at all times; may neither avarice nor miserliness nor a thirst for glory or an excellent reputation engages my mind; for the enemies of truth and philanthropy could easily deceive me and make me forgetful of my lofty aim of doing good to Thy children.

‘May I never see in the patient anything but a fellow creature in pain.

Grant me the strength, time and opportunity always to correct what I have acquired, always to extend its domain; for knowledge is immense, and the spirit of man can extend indefinitely to enrich itself daily with new requirements. Today he can discover his errors of yesterday, and tomorrow, he can obtain a new light on what he thinks himself sure of today.

In 1948, in its Declaration of Geneva, the World Medical Association committed to standing strictly behind the principles of ‘utmost respect for human life from the beginning.’

By 1968, the American code of medical ethics called on doctors and pharmacists to: * apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures that are required, avoiding those twin traps of over treatment; * remember that there is an art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon’s knife or the chemist’s drug; * not be ashamed to say “I know not”, nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient’s recovery; * respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems, are not disclosed to me that the world may know; most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death; bove all, I must not play at God; * remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person’s family and economic stability; I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

Against this long and cherished history of commitment to medical care, what is driving this persecution of doctors and the censor of medical information? What motivates the international medical establishment to adopt blind faith rather than enterprising scientific enquiry?

In this era of viruses and variants, one can only hope that the common sense variant soon takes hold and grips the minds of men.

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

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SVG needs a Green and technology economy, not tourism THE ULP REGIME has failed to put forward a coherent strategy to create mass employment for our people, probably because they don’t have one.

Since 2001, they have been begging and borrowing and all they have achieved is high unemployment, high crime and high poverty. The SVG economy continues to get weaker, and more and more families are being pushed into poverty.

Tourism is the sword of death for SVG. Tourism is being used as an excuse to sell-off hundreds of acres of our crown lands to super-rich foreigners, in the hope that tourism might bring prosperity to the people of SVG. Tourism can never bring prosperity to SVG. Barbados and Jamaica have had tourism as the engine of their economies for over 60 years, yet both countries have high levels of unemployment, crime and poverty.

Barbados has regular nationwide poverty alleviation programmes and in 2020, Jamaica’s debt was 105.6% of GDP. Jamaica is regularly on its knees begging the IMF and World Bank for financial bailouts.

Tourism cannot provide the financial yield necessary to cover public wages and salaries, pensions and NIS, interest payments on public

debt, and the goods and services required to keep society and government in good working order.

The Ministry of Tourism should be closed and restructured into a statutory body like CWSA. We have to modernise the SVG economy in relation to how the world is today and discard the ULP regime’s 1960s mentality. SVG must adopt structural change, away from tourism and towards a Green economy. A Green economy can create thousands of new jobs, increase revenue, ensure sustainable development and preserve our country for future generations, since we will have no need to sell our lands to foreigners.

To drive the above, a Green Government would bring in two new ministries: a Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Wealth and a Ministry of Science and Technology.

A Green government would cut ties with Taiwan and take back our deep sea fishing licence. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Wealth would create a billion-dollar tuna fishing and canning industry. This fish processing factory would create thousands of jobs in SVG. The Ministry of Science and Technology would build a science and

technology based economy. It would introduce free Wi-Fi (internet connection) throughout our country and build a science and technology university.

The Ministry of Science and Technology would help SVG businesses enter and compete in the global Green market, which is worth more than £6 trillion. In 2013, the United Kingdom’s entire renewables sector employed 250,000 people and was worth £33 billion a year.

The Ministry of Science and Technology would help SVG businesses enter and compete in the global infocomm industry. The Singapore infocomm industry had a revenue of $61 billion in 2018, employing almost 200,000 people.

In richer countries, technology is the engine of the economy, not

tourism. A Green government would put technology at the heart of the SVG economy to make it strong.

Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, who has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance & Economics from Oxford Brookes University, England, a Masters of Science in Macro-Economic Policy and Planning in Developing Countries from the University of Bradford, England, and a Masters of Business Administration from University of Leicester, England, says that technology will give our nation true economic independence and protect us from the frailties and global shocks that are inherent in tourism.

Our children deserve a prosperous future and science and technology can assure them of that.

The redevelopment of the E.T. Joshua Airport MILTON FREIDMAN once said, “Nothing is more permanent than a temporary solution.” so don’t expect the schools at the decommissioned E.T. Joshua airport to be there for only one year. They are there to stay, and rightfully so, I might say.

What is upsetting to me is the government officer’s comment that they are waiting for the Cabinet to approve compensation for the vendors along the bridge. This type of behaviour has been the hallmark of many administrations over the past forty-two years. I am not old enough to speak of the pre-independence times, but since everything we learned, we learned from and through the colonial system, it would not surprise me if that was the case long before me.

Now once again, I will share my thoughts on the redevelopment of the decommissioned E.T Joshua airport.

First, all land west of the river that is privately owned should be acquired by the Government. To be clear, this excludes all property that fronts onto the Vigie Highway. The site should then be turned over to a Development Corporation charged with developing the area. Through a citizen participatory process, minimum expectations should be crafted.

Here are some things I think should be included: 1. At least sixty percent of the site should ultimately be privately owned.

2. The development should include at least 300 hotel rooms, preferably closer to the sporting complex.

3. A 3,000 seat multiple-purpose Arena/Performance Art Center,

capable of accommodating cultural events like Dimanche Gras and international indoor sporting events.

4. The Government has already identified a modern hospital facility. I am ok with that.

5. One secondary school, ok Thomas Saunders, should be enlarged and be relocated to this area (the current location is a strain on the existing infrastructure in Kingstown) 6. The site should include at least two million square feet of retail and professional services space, excluding the hospital.

7. It should also include live-work options and accommodate at least five hundred residential units for rent or ownership.

8. A water feature and other entrainment activities should be a part of the development.

9. The current police and fire station should be improved, expanded, and modernized.

10. A new and expanded cruise ship harbor should be included. (We need to get the tourist out of Kingstown).

Allowances for increased flows in the river and runoff from the residential area on the north side of the airport should be accommodated by this development. Some attempts should be made to capture and reuse some of the runoff generated by this development.

Anyone living or operating a business currently should be included in the new development. These are just a few of my thoughts. It is not too late to do this right.

Horatio

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14. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Regional

Mottley not supporting mandatory vaccines

“I personally do not like the notion of mandatory vaccines; I don’t. And we had said that we would work as hard as possible to get as many Barbadians… sensitised and I said that I would be the chief one out there trying to do[so], even though I’m not supporting mandatory vaccines,” Mottley said on a recent virtual press conference.

Mottley added that the Government had always made the point that it would make tests freely available to people because there are some people who will never be able to be vaccinated because of various reasons — such as medical conditions, religious Prime Minister Mia Mottley has made her beliefs and or position clear as far as mandatory philosophical vaccination for COVID-19 is concerned. position.

(Source: Caribbean News Now) “We are reaching a point where we have AS THE DEBATE over whether in to sit with the private sector, the circumstances the COVID-19 public sector and the labour vaccine should be made movement to determine how mandatory, Prime Minister Mia best to use the combined Mottley of Barbados has stated approach of vaccinations and categorically that she is not for testing to ensure that those mandatory vaccination.

who have been vaccinated are not unfortunately restricted or removed from being able to pursue their living, and at the same time, those who are not vaccinated are not excluded from participation in a society across an island that is only 166 square miles.”

The Prime Minister denounced any attempts to divide the country, warning that divisions would not end with the COVID-19 pandemic, but would endure for generations.

Pointing out that already there was an addition to the number of persons taking vaccines, Mottley said that the numbers are expected to continue to rise.

“Go and look at the dashboard and you will see over 130,000 Barbadians have already had a dose. So against that backdrop the conversation about mandatory, with the kind of acid and division that has taken place in other countries, is not relevant in our own country, and that’s why I say I am so proud, believe you me, to lead a country where the level of social capital and trust is such that we can have the conversations, and people can respond in their best interests.” (Source: Caribbean News Now)

Church discord over vaccine AN APPEAL by The Most Rev Howard Gregory, Anglican Archbishop of the West Indies, has caused what some observer described as “discord” among churches in Jamaica and elsewhere in the Caribbean.

Archbishop Gregory came in for some stick when he publicly called on the Jamaican Government to embrace mandatory vaccination against COVID19.

There was immediate response with one church leader in Jamaica, Bishop Romeon Facey from Freedom Evangelical Association, suggesting that the archbishop “should stick to preaching and not dabble in science,” the Jamaica Observer of September 30 reported.

“God never raised pastors to administer science, he raised them up to preach the gospel. The church has no position calling for mandatory vaccination. That’s not the duty of a pastor, and I disagree with the archbishop.

I do not believe that vaccines should be mandated because it goes against the human being’s free will, and it goes against the freedom of choice that is given to Jamaicans through the constitution and the charter of rights,” Bishop Facey said.

Archbishop Gregory, in what seemed to be an attempt

Archbishop Howard Gregory spoke of the prevailing times demanding usual action.

(Source: Jamaica Observer) to justify his position, said he was doing so against the background of continued vaccine hesitancy, the high COVID-19 infection and death rates in the country, and disclosure of the prospect that vaccines may be dumped because of the expiration of their recommended life.

“These are not normal times when every individual can choose to play by their own rules while untold suffering and loss of lives, well-being, the ability to conduct one’s daily life and the return to vibrancy in the economy are at stake. We are in a critical time which requires unusual action; and the good of the whole must count at some point,” Archbishop Gregory said in a news release. (Source: Jamaica Observer)

SVG Air aircraft incident in Montserrat

Fire and safety units rushed to the aircraft where it had been ditched off the runway.

(Source: ZDK)

GOVERNMENT INFORMATION UNIT (GIU) in Montserrat reported that on 29 September 2021, SVG Islander (BN2) J8VBI aircraft flight 207 with 7 crew and passengers aboard, , veered to the right of the runway at the John Osborne Airport, making a nose dive into the southern embankment of the strip.

Reports indicate two passengers required medical treatment The aircraft, said to be owned by SVG Air, was said to be en route to Antigua.

The GIU also assured that an investigation will be launched into an incident and The Governor’s Office in Montserrat expressed sympathy to all those involved in the incident at the

airport, adding that such incidents are inevitably traumatic for all concerned but hoped the stress will ease soon now that all are safe.

The Office said the UK’s Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) have engaged their local Accident Investigation Manager (AIM) to commence the investigation process.

A report will be published when all investigations are completed.

The Governor also thanked the emergency services and airport staff who responded swiftly with courage and commitment.

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News

VincyCares awards scholarships Dahlia Ann HowardLewis – local representative of VincyCares.

ANOTHER TWELVE STUDENTS were last Wednesday presented with their first installment of a five -year scholarship, compliments the VincyCares Inc. The disbursements took place at the Methodist Church Hall in Kingstown, with the recipients being Juarez Baptiste, Thais Sutherland, Rozzian Thomas, Sadie Ann Robertson, Mya Lavia, Glennique May, Nasari Nash, Matthew Williams, Keshonna Da Breo, Vanessa Mason, Lynika Haynes and Jay Laidlow.

Drawn from different communities of St

Vincent and the Grenadines, the scholarship winners, who will each receive US$600.00 annually, are set to attend the Thomas Saunders Secondary School, Girls’ High School, Sandy Bay Secondary, the St Vincent Grammar School, the Bishop’s College Kingstown and the Canouan Secondary School.

The successful twelve emerged from a list of applicants who were interviewed virtually last week, before the final selections were made.

Speaking on behalf of VincyCares Inc. at last Wednesday’s ceremony,

and motivated and make a decision to do well.

This is a difficult season for all of us, school as you know it has changed … I pray that soon things would return to what we know as normal.”

The new lot of students join the twenty already on scholarship, bringing the total number of active scholarships to thirtytwo.

Eleven of the recipients of the 2021 VincyCares scholarships.

Since the scholarship offers began in 2010, Dahlia Ann Howardpleased of the work we years.” forty-one students have Lewis, one of the have been able to Addressing the founding members said: accomplish with the students, Howard- Lewis been the beneficiaries.

VincyCares Inc. which “We are extremely generous help of our implored: “My simple donors and supporters, words of encouragement was founded in 2009, began their philanthropic both Vincentians living to you students, is to work with making abroad and friends of St make use of the donations of supplies to Vincent and the opportunity you have Grenadines over the been given … Be focused the Sandy Bay Primary School.

BBO extends assistance to ten students

by CARLYLE DOUGLAS DESPITE A DECREASE in the number of fund-raising activities it hosted over the past year or so, as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Becket Benefit Organisation (BBO), last Saturday, was able to hand out Gift Certificates to ten graduates of the Layou Government School.

This was in keeping with the BBO’s commitment to assist deserving students of the Layou Government School, as they enter secondary school in the upcoming term.

The ten who each received a Gift Certificate redeemable for school supplies at JAX Enterprises were: Jakeim John, Sarah Hazelwood, Serenity Joseph, Curticia Young, Christobah Nash, T-Sheika Sam, Joaquin Hazelwood, Junia Butcher, Jordon Hunte and Cleo Taylor.

Addressing the students at the handing over, Treasurer of BBO and retired teacher Stella Quow urged them to be diligent in their approach to their school work and to avoid following “bad company,” as they will now be mingling with unfamiliar classmates from all over the island.

She also advised the parents and guardians present to be proactive with their young ones, even if it meant checking their book bags.

Recipients of the BBO Gift Certificates and BBO executive members at last Saturday’s handing over.

About the BBO The Becket Benefit Organization (BBO) is a non-profit organization headquartered in the Central Leewrard town of Layou.

Its founder is Alston ‘Becket’ Cyrus, renowned performing and recording calypso/soca artiste and a native of Layou.

Alston ‘Becket’ Cyrus has always had a focus on his native Layou, and the Organisation which he conceived and founded in 2014 is similarly intended. It was formalised in January 2015.

The mission of the BBO is one of engendering ‘...love, peace and unity within the community of Layou, through …assisting, guiding and supporting the community in concerns related to health, education, sport, culture and the environment, and to assist in times of disaster’.

The BBO will host a Soup Sale this Saturday, October 2, in Layou.

V Opposition resists House protocol 16. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

OPPOSITION Parliamentarians objected to one of the protocols implemented during the September 30 Sitting of Parliament, by refusing to participate in the Question for Oral Answer segment.

Among the protocols announced by Rochelle Forde- Speaker of the House, was that unvaccinated members, or those who have not revealed their status, will be required to use a speaking booth and to be doublemasked, Vaccinated members were allowed to speak from their respective seat.

This did not go well with members of the opposition.

At onset of the day’s Parliamentary proceedings, the Speaker of the House announced that due to the current condition occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, there were some additional protocols to be observed. These, she said, were set out by the Health Services Subcommittee of the National Emergency Committee.

The protocols were circulated on September 23, after having been approved by the Health Services

Subcommittee, Forde told the House.

“These protocols are continually under review becoming less or more stringent should the relevant officials advise,” Forde said.

But, shortly after the Speaker of the House addressed the issue of the new protocols, Leader of the Opposition Dr Godwin Friday said that the use of a speaking booth interfered with the proper functioning of the members of the House.

“And where it is rationale and absolutely required, you have asked members to indicate whether they are vaccinated and to have a PCR test, as far as I know all members have complied with that,” Friday said.

He said that he had gotten a PCR test because as a vaccinated person, it was the surest way to know his status and added to the fact that vaccinated persons can get COVID-19 and spread it, it begged the question why some members had to use the box to speak or to wear double masks.

“Nowhere else in this country has that been a part of the protocols,” the

Leader of the Opposition contended.

He said that he had been following the protocols adopted in other jurisdictions, and cited the case of Greece where all members of Parliament were required to have PCR tests whether they were vaccinated or not.

“And so, that being the case I would suggest that all members be treated with the dignity to speak like everyone else.”

Opposition Senator Israel Bruce further attempted to challenge the new protocol engaging in an exchange with the Speaker when it was his turn to make his contribution during the Congratulatory Remarks.

Shortly after he was acknowledged to speak, Bruce got into his remarks and in doing so, disregarded the protocol earlier outlined that he was required to speak from the booth.

A brief back and forth between Forde and Bruce ensured with the opposition senator making the point that he submitted a negative PCR test,.

Speaker of the House Rochelle Forde had another difficult day trying to get the Opposition members to respect certain House protocols.

Forde, though, insisted she was not going to debate the issue; that she was upholding the protocol requiring Bruce to make his contribution from the booth.

Bruce was eventually denied permission to make his contribution, and following three oral questions asked by the Leader of the Opposition, the remaining members of the opposition refused to ask the questions in accordance with what was listed in Order Paper, prompting the Speaker to end the segment and break for an early lunch. (DD)

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18. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Walvaroo man jailed for gun, ammo and one month for possession of a .9 mm pistol; eight months for JASON RICHARDS, 30, of possession of five rounds Walvaroo, Sion Hill was of .9mm ammunition; one of two persons to and eight months for receive sentences, after having an accessory for a pleading guilty to firearm firearm, to wit, a and ammunition magazine. The sentences possession during a sitting are to run concurrently. of the Serious Offences Members of the Rapid Court on Monday.

Response Unit (RRU) Richards was found Richards in sentenced to two years possession of the loaded Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

gun during a search of his person, while patrolling Carib Village, Campden Park around 2:18 p.m. on September 25, 2021. He was then taken to his home at Walvaroo where the magazine was found.

In mitigation, Richards’ attorney Grant Connell told the Court that, based on his instructions, a friend of

Richards asked him to hold the firearm for him, and on the spur of the moment, Richards agreed.

He noted that Richards had no previous convictions, cooperated with the police, was extremely remorseful, surrendered the firearm, voluntarily, and pleaded guilty to the charges.

Just before him, in the

Jason Richards joins scores of men who have been sentenced for illegal possession of guns and ammunition in recent times. same Court, 21-year-old Kimron Scott was sentenced to two years and two months for possession of a .38 firearm, and eight months for having five rounds of ammunition, after pleading guilty to the charges. Those

sentences will also run concurrently.

Man on multiple gun, ammo charges QUESTELLES resident Dexter Pope was granted $18,000 bail with one surety, when he appeared at the Serious Offences Court Monday on multiple charges of firearm and ammunition possession.

Pope, 23, is charged with possession of a .9 mm pistol without license on September 25, 2021, possession of a .25 mm pistol without license on December 9, 2020, possession of two rounds of .9 mm ammunition without license on September 25, 2021 and possession of two of .25 ammunition without license on December 9, 2020.

The charges in relation to the offences on September 25, 2021 reportedly stemmed from an action at Carib Village, Campden Park. Those on December 9, 2020, reportedly stemmed from an action at Lower Questelles.

Pope pleaded not guilty to the charges when he stood before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne on Monday.

As part of his bail conditions, he was ordered to surrender his travel documents, and report to the Questelles Police Station. Stop notices are to be placed at all ports of entry and exit, and he is not to leave the state without permission of the Serious Offences Court, or a higher court.

The matter has been adjourned to October 14, 2021.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021. 19.

News

No super spreaders THE CURRENT UPTICK in COVID-19 cases has not been attributed to any planned mass event being a super spreader.

However, according to Shanika John — Health Promotions Officer in the Ministry of Health — the health ministry’s COVID-19 subcommittee is presently not accepting any new requests for permission to stage activities that exceed the capacity as already stipulated.

Under the guidelines, outdoor gatherings are not to exceed 20 persons and a maximum of 10 is

allowed for indoor activities.

“So any fully vaccinated party, event, wedding, funeral, camp,…we will not be accepting applications,” John told members of the press during a media briefing on September 23.

It was noted that the decision had nothing to do with any previous activity being a super spreader event, or anyone testing positive after having attended one of the events.

But health officials have made provisions to

The dismantling of shops at Arnos vale began this week. (Photo Credit: ANN News Facebook)

Eviction order to be challenged SIX PERSONS who were served with an Enforcement Order to have them removed from their current location of business in Arnos vale, have contracted the services of lawyer Kay Bacchus-Baptiste to ‘fight’ the order.

When contacted, Bacchus-Baptiste confirmed that she has been contracted to begin an appeal of the Enforcement Order, on behalf of six persons.

In fact, she said that she had already written to the Physical Planning and Development Board and Chief Surveyor on behalf of her clients.

Bacchus-Baptiste is claiming that no Enforcement Order/Notice was served on any of her clients and advanced the interpretation that even if Orders were served, they would be illegal as they would not have been served within five years as the law stipulates.

The lawyer, who was an unsuccessful candidate for the West St. George constituency in which the location of the businesses fall, also stated that grounds for the appeal extended to the ‘fact’ that if any Order was serve, it was not done in accordance with any specified provision of the relevant Act. The letters from the authorities must be withdrawn, she asserted.

But even as Bacchus-Baptiste began her appeal, dismantling and removing shops in the area of concern began in earnest earlier this week.

allow for vaccinated events to take place where patrons, caterers, deejays and other personnel are required to be fully vaccinated.

Dr Roger Duncan, Medical Officer of Health also addressed the issues saying that he was not able to point to any one event that may have been a super spreader of COVID-19.

“We probably could

point to some socioeconomic and social conditions that could have supported or allowed for greater spread of the disease, but [I] cannot point to any one event to say that that was a super spreader event,” Duncan said.

Dr. Duncan’s response was in stark contrast to a recent statement attributed to infectious

disease specialist Dr. Jerrol Thompson, who said on Boom FM last week Monday, that the September 9 protest in Kingstown, was a super- Dr. Jerrol Thompson may have spoken out of turn when he fingered spreader event. (DD) a certain event as a super spreader.

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20. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Ungrateful woman

Dear George, I LIVE IN TORONTO. Some years ago I met this girl from Vincy in Canada, fell in love with her and eventually married her.

She was honest with me upfront and told me she did not have her papers. That was not a problem to me and I set about taking care of her immigration status, so much so she got her permanent status and her citizenship.

George, do you know that woman, and her man who is also from Vincy, was playing me all along? She ended our marriage and has gone back to her man. I understand she is now sponsoring him.

I have never met a more ungrateful individual. After all I did for her sending her back to school, getting her a good job and buying her a brand new Honda CRV. I am deeply hurt.

For sure, I don’t want her back. I just want the world to know how wicked and ungrateful some women can be.

Tears Dear Tears, Thank you for sharing. Yes, and unfortunately so, there are a few ungrateful ones around.

What you did for her you did out of a heart of love. You could not have seen this coming. There was nothing you could have done to prevent it seeing that this was all premeditated.

You were taken advantage of yes, but life has a way of paying us back for the good deeds we have done. I suggest you talk to someone about your situation so you can be settled in your decision to move on despite the hand you were dealt.

George

Hurt by my girlfriend Dear George, MY LIVE-IN GIRLFRIEND has been leaving the house twice a week to take care of a little boy, or so she told me.

She leaves at 8am and returns around 8pm.

George, after she did this for 18 months, I discovered the truth.

One day I followed her to the house, knocked repeatedly and got no answer. I went around to the back of the house, looked through a half opened bedroom window, only to see my girlfriend having a whale of a time in bed with three women and a couple men.

I walked away from that scene and from her. I contacted her only once since I left, to tell her that if she tried to contact me, I would expose her.

To this day I haven’t heard her.

My heart is still heavy from the experience, but I’m coming around.

Heartbroken Dear Heartbroken, I am sorry to learn about your painful experience. Despite the pain and hurt you are still able to reach out, and that in itself is a good thing.

That people whom you trust would inflict such pain on you is a wider mystery that will remain unsolved for generations.

That said, you are well within your right to cut the relationship. Your girlfriend does not need an explanation.

In the meantime, take as much time as is needed to get past this, while leaving your options open to receiving professional counselling.

George

Caught in the act Two weeks have passed since that incident and I haven’t I CAUGHT THE WIFE said anything to her of a good buddy of mine husband. I’m wondering cheating on him. if I should. The man One night, I saw a car she was with is a parked a little ways off married man, so if I say the main road. I anything there will be recognized the car as trouble on both sides. belonging to a friend of I don’t want to be the mine, stopped and went cause of anyone losing up to the car expecting their life over a matter to greet him. which is probably not my Lo and behold! There business. was the wife of my buddy getting it on with Just Wondering my other friend. She immediately came out of Dear Just Wondering, the car and begged me not to tell her husband, Ask yourself: What going as far as to offer positives could be me sex in return. derived from going to

Dear George,

your buddy with this information?

Yes, what you saw was shocking and hard for you to process but maybe it is better you talk with her one on one about the matter, letting her know how upsetting it was to you to have witnessed what you witnessed. Encourage her to end her two timing ways or risk having you spill the beans. Maybe this incident could be catalyst for a new beginning for her marriage.

George

Leisure

ARIES (MAR. 21­ APRIL 20) Be sure to pay attention to your bank account. You may be upset if someone has borrowed something that belongs to you. You may enjoy doing something musical for entertainment.

LIBRA (SEPT. 24 ­OCT. 23) Don’t be angry, but be on your guard.

Take care of any paperwork concerning institutional or governmental agencies.

You may find that your mate is well aware of the circumstances.

TAURUS (APR. 21­ MAY 21) Use discretion, especially if involved with someone from work. Your main concern will be to spend as little as possible of your own cash in the process.

SCORPIO (OCT. 24 ­ NOV. 22) Residential moves will be in your best interest. Watch your tendency to live for the day and to spend too much on entertainment and children; it could set you back.

GEMINI (MAY 22­JUNE 21) Love could develop with someone of a different cultural background. One­sided relationships are likely. Your concern with older family members and those less fortunate than yourself will only add to your attractiveness.

CANCER (JUNE 22­JULY 22) Get involved in activities that will bring you knowledge about foreign land, philosophies, or cultures. Unexpected bills will be impossible for you to pay.

Your lack of interest in your partner is a problem.

LEO (JULY 23­AUG 22) Don’t settle for less than the best. You could be cornered, so be prepared to tell the truth. Use your inventiveness to find solutions. You can mix business with pleasure to get favorable results.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 ­SEPT. 23) You can avoid hassles by sticking to your work and refusing to get involved in gossip or idle chatter. Problems with colleagues are likely. You might get behind if you spend too much time debating senseless issues.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 ­DEC. 21) Travel will promote new romantic en counters. Secret enemies will be eager to spread rumors about you. Don’t play on your partner’s emotions. You are able to make changes in your home that will be favorable to all involved.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22.­ JAN. 20) Your philanthropic contributions will bring you praise. Don’t be afraid to make additions to your house. You may be likely to have difficulties with females.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 21.­ FEB. 19) You always seem to spend more than you make. Your energetic personality will make you the center of attention at social gatherings. Set the ball in motion and be relentless until you complete the project.

PISCES (FEB. 20­MAR. 20) Get together with friends and do something entertaining but not too expensive. In­laws or older individuals may give you a bit of a hard time this week. You'll be an emotional basket case this week.

ACROSS

1. Baseball score 4. Flightless bird 7. Green color 10. Quick note 12. Pallindromic girl’s name 13. Dutch artist Frans 14. Inoculation liquids 15. SuperStation initials 16. Hooting experts 17. Many a Floridian 19. Future atty.’s exam 20. Star system 22. Takes pleasure in 26. Percussion instrument 30. Baker of the blues 31. Country music singer, Judd 32. Disconnect 34. Graffiti writer, e.g.

35. Cut into 37. Minnesota tourist attraction 40. Mistreats 44. __ bit (slightly) 45. Memorable George Burns role 46. Consumes 48. Sophomore, for example 49. Rough shelter 50. Periods 51. “The __ Couple” 52. Football scores 53. Jeanne d’Arc, e.g. abbr.

DOWN 1. Real estate ad abbr.

2. Root or ginger 3. Nagy of Hungary 4. Corner 5. “The Pirates of Penzance” heroine 6. Remove from power 7. Cutting tools 8. Jazzy Fitzgerald 9. Secy.

11. Piece of horse food 13. Lama, e.g.

18. Tropical lizard 21. Kubla Khan’s region 22. Melted glace 23. Columnist Landers 24. Up to then, old way 25. Comedian, Ben 27. “The Fox and the Hound” fox 28. G.P.’s grp.

29. Short of a lot

of money 33. Jumping chess piece 34. African grazing areas 36. Cumulus, e.g.

37. Bread spread

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021. 21.

38. Wowed 39. Main star 41. Go out with 42. Supports for specs 43. R.B.I., e.g.

47. Compass point

22. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021. 23.

Records galore at Swimming Championships A TOTAL of twenty-two record fell at the 2021 SVG Gallagher Swimming

Championships, which ended last Sunday at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre.

Responsible for six of these records was Caghry Williams. Competing in the Male 8 and Under, Williams of the Blue Marlins Swim Club, set new marks in the 25m Backstroke (18.89), the 25m Breaststroke (20.20), the 50m Breaststroke (44.12) and 100m Breaststroke (1:41.14), along with the 25m Butterfly (17.09) and the 100m Individual Medley (1:29.69).

Following Williams was Matthew Ballah of the Black Sands Swim Squad, as he rewrote five records in the Male 11 to 12 age group. Ballah’s record breaking feats were achieved in the 50m and 100m Freestyle; the 50m Butterfly, the 50m Backstroke and the 100m Individual Medley.

Ballah reset the 50m Freestyle to 26.36 seconds, the 100m Freestyle to 58.07 and the 50m Backstroke was lowered to 30.53; the 50m ButterflyCaghry Williams was responsible for six new records.

28.84 and the 100m Individual Medley to 1: 07.79.

Meanwhile, Kennice Greene, Eltonique Leonard, Eltonte Leonard and Brandon George, all members of the Black Sands Swim Squad, reestablished two records each at the Championships.

Greene is now the holder of the Females 13 to 14 age group 100m Freestyle and 100m Butterfly, resetting the times to 1:01.26 and 1:08.86, respectively, while Eltonique Leonard grasped the 9 to 10 Females 200m Breaststroke best to 3:17.90 and 200m Individual Medley at 2:53.05.

Also, Eltonte Leonard took in his possession, the Male 13 to 14 age category 50m Butterfly at 27.07 and 100m Butterfly at 1:01.69.

In the case of George, he bossed the Male 13 to 14 200m Backstroke in 2:23.59 and the 100m Individual Medley in 1:0376.

Accounting for the other three records were Tayeah St Hillaire, Mya

Matthew Ballah set five records at the Championships.

De Freitas and Tia Gun — Munro.

St Hillaire of the Blue Marlins Swim Club, bettered the time in the Female 9 to 10, 100m Butterfly(1:17.76), with De Freitas taking the Female 15 to 16 age category’s 400m Freestyle (4:41.18), and Gun- Munro eclipsed the previous record which stood in the Female 15 to 16, 200m Breaststroke (2:56.23).

The Championships were staged from 22nd to 26th September, under strict health protocols.

Six swimmers take double titles THERE were double titles for Belle Adams, Caghry Williams, Kathryn Cumberbatch, Matthew Ballah, Mya De Freitas and Kenale Alleyne, at the SVG Gallagher National Swimming Championships, which took place from 22nd to 26th September at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre.

Adams of the Blue Marlins Swim Club won the Mya De Freitas - Female 15 Females 8 and and Over individual title Under individual holder. title with 81 points, having won all nine events. She crowned off her participation by winning that gender’s 8 and

Under Sprint Champion.

Fellow Blue Marlins member Williams copped the Male 8 and Under title and was also the Sprint Champion. Williams, like Adams tallied 81 points.

Cumberbatch of the Black Sands Swim Squad (BSSS) took the Female 11-12 and the 9-12 Sprint Champion Kathryn Kenale Alleyne – Belle Adams – Tops titles. She amassed 98 points, from Cumberbatch – Champion in the in the Female 8 and recorded seven her seven first places and seven Male 15 and Over Under group. wins. second places. category.

Also in the 11-12 age category, Leonard topped the Female Ballah of the BSSS was dominant among the males, 9-10 age group amassing 129 points, while as he won his thirteen races, with a cumulative Robinson champed the Male 9-10, tallying 112 individual score of 117 points. Ballah added the 9points.

12 Sprint Champion title, to be perfect at the Greene was the top performer in the Female 13Championships.

14 age group, with 87 points; and George was the Meanwhile, De Freitas won the Female 15 and Male 12-14 champion, with his 116 points.

Over individual title and the 13 and Over Sprint The Championships also saw the emergence of a Champion; with Alleyne doing the same in the Male new talent in four-year-old female, Raya Adams, bracket. De Freitas compiled 97 points and Alleyne who delighted those present with her display in the - 103. Both De Freitas and Alleyne are members of 25m Backstroke.

BSSS. The BSSS took away the overall trophy, The other titles were pouched by the BSSS stockpiling 1935 points. Second was the Blue quartet of Eltonique Leonard, Tyler Robinson, Marlins Swim Club with 854 points, followed by the Kennice Greene and Brandon George.

Rising Stars Swim Team of Bequia with 21 points.

V Bramble: Not taking opponents lightly 24. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

EVEN AS HE assures that he and his team will not take their opponents lightly, Andrew Bramble, Head Coach of this country’s Under-17 Female Football Team, is confident that the team will progress to the next round of CONCACAF Under-17 World Cup Qualifiers.

This will be determined when the girls take to the field at the IMG Academy in Bradenton in Florida, USA, from October 20th to November 1st, in Group B of the Qualifiers that pits them against Curacao, Barbados and Belize.

Bramble admits the team’s preparation threw up

some challenges but he was quick to say that this didn’t deter him nor his players.

“The preparation has been going pretty ok in spite of the COVID. We played games every Saturday for the past four weeks against boys’ team to have a look of where the players are. They have been significant improvement. This, even though we don’t have a female competition of note here in that category. We expect the girls to go out there and give of their best,” Bramble told THE VINCENTIAN.

As for the team’s opponents in this round of qualifiers, Bramble identifies Curacao as the most formidable.

“Curaçao have a regular running Andrew Bramble, Head with the female at Coach of SVG U-17 Female this level. The last Football Team, is confident time we played his team will move beyond against them away the next round of Qualifiers. we drew with them, so we expect they will give a good showing.”

As for the other two in the group, he said, “We don’t know much about Belize and Barbados but we are prepared to go out there, win our games and qualify from the zone.”

All in all, the Head Coach thinks his team will make a good showing.

He noted, “We have three girls from the Under20, so we expect they will bring some level of experience to this unit. Some of these girls came from the Under-14 team two years ago that won in St Kitts so the experience will do them well. I am looking forward to them doing well.”

SVG will face Barbados in their first encounter on October 25th.

The FIFA U-17 The SVG U-17 Female Women’s World Cup is Football Team has been scheduled to be played in in intensive training for India, from October 11the last four weeks.

30, 2022.

Tigress receive new cricket kits A RE-DECKED JG Tigress and Sons Female Cricket Club is expected to take to the field whenever a new season of female cricket begins here.

Last Wednesday, the Club received spanking new kits (uniform, etc.) courtesy Massy United Insurance and Line & Length Network.

The donation was made as part of the Massy United Insurance Grassroots Regional Programme, which received nominations for assistance from across the region.

On receiving the donation, which was presented at the Massy Insurance Office at Arnos Vale, Cleton Barnet, head coach of the Tigress Cricket team, expressed his gratitude.

“I was delighted we were selected as I have seen

through the years the contribution Massy United Insurance has made to the development of sports in this country. It’s a tremendous gesture and we are very thankful for what you have done and we will make the best use of what was given to us,” Barnet said.

Jenita Lewis, Manager of JG Tigress, concurred with Barnet saying, “We are grateful at this time for the contribution you have made to us, and we appreciate all that you did and what you are doing for cricket clubs throughout the Caribbean.”

Massy Untied Insurance Branch Manager (SVG) Jenita Lewis, Roland Iton who Manager, made the expressed thanks presentation, on behalf of the commented, “We continue to support Tigress and Sons Cricket Club. and help develop sports with all the communities that we are part suffered because of.” of the Barry Wilkinson, host of eruption Roland Iton of Massy Insurance (right) the cricket show Line & of the La makes the presentation to Japhina Length that airs on SVG TV Soufrière Joseph, member of JG Tigress. and Sportsmax, shared, “We volcano.” accepted nominations from Also Jamaica, St. Lucia, Grenada present at the handing over ceremony was former and Anguilla, and I West Indies and Windward Island player, Ian Allen, Cleton Barnet, head coach of feel so happy to be representing MSDA, through whom the kits were Tigress and Sons Cricket able to help procured. Allen, along with Mark Audain, are the Club, recognized the facilitate St. principals of MSDA. contribution that Massy Vincent, especially insurance has been making after the setback Stories: I.B.A.ALLEN they would have to sports in ASVG.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021. 25.

Sports

Sports: Foundation for development SPORTING bodies and those responsible for the proper order in their societies, have to fulfil their duties. With the erratic situation surrounding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, complications abound.

Competition between youngsters, or any age for that matter have been curtailed. Increase in deaths as a result of the lingering health issues is forcing everyone on the defence.

It is logical for parents to be sceptical of their children attending sessions in the absence of controlled atmosphere.

If teachers are reluctant to be vaccinated, what will be fate of students under their supervision?

And that extends to coaches.

The anxiety is real that is gap is being created by the length of time students are missing out on their education.

With the tendency of protest action something of a world phenomenon, St. Vincent and the Grenadines has become a player. But in our society, an attitude of anti-social behaviour spills off as a natural occurrence. So when a breakdown in discipline spreads across the broader spectrum.

Measures to stem the flow, or inject a semblance of balance as regards to making proper judgements become a factor.

The world has hit a critical stage and with the complexity of issues as they unfold, there has to be sound and realistic responses to the new shifts.

Take the situation in Afghanistan for example.

That nation is caught between upholding religions traditions and coping with the trend of human development. The Taliban regime will have to determine to what extent they carry their spiritual tenets, in comparison to the awakening of genuine freedom.

Afghanistan sporting and cultural folklore was taking a different direction until the Taliban made their swift and spectacular military advances. That nation’s youths have entered a dangerous intersection on their path to progress.

The rest of the world can do very little about the security situation in Afghanistan. That is a place used to trials. There is no doubt that the nation will solve its problems.

How the Taliban adjusts to fulfilling needs of educating women and accepting the principles of human development will be a test of their survival.

Caribbean youngsters have their matters to contend with, and if one has to clean one’s yard first, there is a huge task at hand. One of those is to instil that trait of hard work which as the saying goes, brings success.

Doing that work in these times demands selfdiscipline. As has been seen, a pattern of indifference, perhaps bordering on fulfilling destruction seems to be the order of the day.

So until the situation with Covid-19 is brought under control, we will have to live with the prevailing conditions.

This calls for a meeting of the minds and a realisation that answers have to be found to the numerous questions we are faced with.

Being carefree, or oblivious to the times will not contribute to any meaningful settlement. It boils down to the individual, but in many instances, that also entails a broader civil commitment.

More athletes head for Jamaica TWO MORE IT-DAT Academy athletes, Odeshia Nanton and Earl Simmons, have been awarded track and field scholarships at the GC Foster College in Jamaica.

Nanton, one of this country’s recent entrants into the hurdles, is a graduate of the SVG Community College and is bent on moving on to the international after her stint at GC Foster.

Remarking that this (scholarship) was a childhood dream, she admitted, “I feel great because to me it’s like a head start, towards achieving my dream which is to become a professional 400-metres hurdler. … From primary (school) I was just thinking about the medals and trophies. Not until I started training with my coach Michael Ollivierre, did I start believing in myself.”

She added, “This is a great start for me especially in Jamaica.

Training there will give me an opportunity to lift my game, to get even better with more competition.”

Nanton, a Earl Simmons towering 6-ft - 100 and 200 athlete, is meters looking specialist. forward after completion of her studies in Jamaica, to return home “and bring other athletes into the field of hurdling… making other athletes become great hurdlers would make me feel good.”

Earl Simmons, a 100 and 200metres specialist from Clifton, Union Island, will be pursuing studies in Sports and Business at GC Foster College, even as he looks to improve his performances on the track.

He considers attending college in Jamaica as “an opportunity for me to improve from my CARIFTA showing, one of my biggest achievements to date even though it was over a year ago.”

Simmons recalls that when he started training with coach Michael Ollivierre, it was tough.

“But as I continued to train under his guidance, I achieved my

SVGTTA outlines 2021/22 programme THE ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Table Tennis Association (SVGTTA) will resume activities later this month, as it moves to ensure players are in a state of readiness for upcoming tournaments.

Sean Stanley, Public Relation Office (PRO) of the (SVGTTA) said, “The SVG Table Tennis Association is in the process of rolling out its activities for years 2021/2022,” which he said will be conducted in accordance with the protocols occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Activities are slated to commence with an all-female training camp from October 18-21.

This will be followed by a series of Assessment Tournaments beginning on November 25 and continuing on December 18, 2021, and January 29, May 28 and

personal Odeshia Nanton best in the 400m hurdler.

100 meters from 11.28 to 10.83 and in the 200 meters from 22.78 to 22.04,” Simmons said of his recent improvements.

Simmons believes his achievement will inspire more athletes from Union Islands. He said, “This will be a booster for them and encourage both genders to take running more seriously as we have a lot of talent in Union Islands.”

He is “looking forward to training with some of the Jamaicans as my goal is to become one of the best athletes in SVG.” I.B.A.ALLEN

November 26, 2022.

The annual Business Houses Tournament is set for February 716, 2022, to be followed by the Beverley Warren Memorial Tournament beginning March 26, and the Inter Church Tournament from June 13-18.

The much anticipated National Senior Championships are carded for July 27 — 30; with the National Cadet/Junior Championships being staged on August 6, 13 and 20.

Sean Stanley, Public Relation The Schools Table Tennis Officer - SVGTTA, outlined a Championships have been packed programme of scheduled for October 18-21 and the Independence Competition on competitive table tennis for the 2021/22 period.

October 22.

Also on the SVGTTA 2021/22 Commonwealth Games among calendar is participation in the others.

Caribbean Cadet, Junior and Senior Championships; the US I.B.A.ALLEN Open Championships; and the

Table tennis action will once again be centred at the West St. George Secondary School.

26. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2021. 27.

Classifieds

Gunmen showed no mercy From Backpage

and he love his kids and I’m gonna do my very best and take care of them and make sure they grow up to be good men and woman. He always used to say they have to go college.”

Perhaps the most moving thing she said was that the day after her boyfriend‘s death, their youngest son came and asked her if she got shot, then proceeded to encourage her to be strong.

Neverson was known to ‘hang out’ on the block across from the gas station in Questelles.

Many of his friends there said they were saddened by his passing and that everyone in the community loved him.

In the past Neverson spent a lot of his time in the areas of Villa, Stubbs and his native Enhams, where his mother and other relatives still

reside, and where he was known for his sense of style and powerful voice.

Neverson’s death marks the twenty-eight

(28) homicide for 2021.

With him went his dream of moving into a house he was building for him and his family.

GLADYS AGATHA PETERS Wednesday 29th September, 2021 Church of God of Prophecy Biabou Service: 10:00 a.m.

Interment: Cemetery

The Reverend Mother BETTY FREE Sunday 26th September, 2021 St. John Spiritual Baptist Church Sion Hill Viewing: 9:00 a.m.

Service: 11:00 a.m.

Interment: kingstown Cemetery

7+(23+,/86 &251(/,86 µ321*<¶ JACOBS Tuesday 28th September, 2021 Church of Christ Kingstown Viewing: 9:30 a.m.

Service: 10:30 a.m.

Interment: Kingstown Cemetery MICHAEL AUGUSTINE MILLS Saturday 25th September, 2021 New Testament Church of God Wilson Hill Viewing: 10:00 a.m.

Service: 11:00 a.m Interment: Kingstown Cemetery

EVELYN ROSETTA ANTOINE A.K.A WARNING Saturday 25th September, 2021 Wesleyan Holiness Church Mt. Bentick, Georgetown Viewing: 10:00 a.m.

Service: 11:00 a.m.

CARMELITA JACINTHA CLASP GUY A.K.A. CAMO Thursday 23rd September, 2021 New Testament Church of God Wilson Hill Viewing: 10:00 a.m.

Service: 11:00 a.m.

Interment: Kingstown Cemetery

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER

01, 2021

VOLUME 115, No.39

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

GUNMEN SHOWED NO MERCY

by KENVILLE HORNE SOME TIME before 41-year-old Donald Neverson, aka ‘Merciless and ‘Mercy’, was gunned down, he had engaged in

some playful football with his two sons, outside his shop in Kingstown.

According to an eye witness, Neverson had just secured his shop that he operated across from the heavy

Police at the scene of the crime. “X” marks the spot where Neverson lay dead.

Donald ‘Merciless’ ‘Mercy’ Neverson and his daughter in a happier times. hardware department of Coreas-Hazells Inc. on the loud explosions and on turning around, extended section of Melville Street.

“I seeing the person getting shot but I This was around 8pm on Saturday didn’t know it was ‘Mercy’.

25th September, the witness said, and “I hear pop, pop, pop, then I see the Neverson was making his way in the person shooting down and I seeing direction of ACE Hardware, when he fire,” and even then she did not think was attacked.

‘Mercy’ was involved.

His girlfriend and two sons had That would change when she walked a short distance ahead of him. recognized the back pack and the The witness said that two masked pants on the person lying on the men accosted Neverson before opening ground as being Mercy’s. fire on him.

“Right now I feel hurt. I cannot Neverson, who was carrying a back believe this happen because he doesn’t pack, fell to the ground, the source trouble people,” Lesarine expressed. said, after which one of the gunmen “It has been very difficult to cope.” stood over him and continued to pump bullets into his body.

Missing him The men kicked Neverson about his body before making their escape What is she going to miss most towards the sea front. having lost her companion of 13 years?

“What hurt more,” the source said, “I miss his smile, laugh and the “was when the little boys went over energy. The vibes, it was always ‘Mercy’ and start calling for Daddy.” positive and no dull moment,” she responded.

Didn’t recognize him at first After spending the last 13 years together, Lesarine, who was a stay-atNeverson was a well-known home mother, said she has lost her businessman and farmer who, at the breadwinner and best friend. time of his death, resided in Questelles She said, “It will be really hard for with his three children (two boys and the boys as they love him a lot and he one girl) and his girlfriend, Lesarine, was there for them. I know he love me of 13 years.

Lesarine, who did not want to be Continued on Page 27. photographed, admitted to hearing the

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

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.