NDP cabinet sworn in
by WILLIAM
PRIME MINISTER
DR. THE RIGHTHonourable Godwin Friday will attend to the portfolios of Finance, Legal Affairs and Justice, Economic Planning and Private Sector Development. He took oaths of Allegiance, Office and Secrecy, at the Arnos Vale Playing Field last Tuesday presided over by Governor General Dame Susan Dougan.
St. Clair Leacock, the New Democratic Party’s Vice President, is Deputy Prime Minister, tasked with responsibilities for National Security and Immigration.
Sarah Louise Mitchell, daughter of former Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell, who will be one of four senators allowed on the government side, was sworn in as this country’s Attorney General.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness, and Energy goes to the West Kingstown representative Daniel Cummings, portfolios of which he was the Shadow Minister while in opposition.
Terrance Ollivierre, of the Northern Grenadines is responsible for Higher Education, Grenadines Affairs, Local Government, Airports, and Seaports.
The Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, and Physical Planning is driven by Nigel Stephenson who beat Grenville Williams in South Leeward.
Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, returning as MP for East Kingstown, takes on what are considered to be the highly profiled portfolios of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment and Diaspora Affairs.
Israel Bruce is charged with
Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Transformation, the same ministries for which his vanquished opponent in South Central Leeward, Saboto Caesar, had responsibility.
Shevern Johna former senator now the North Windward MP, is in charge of Social Welfare, Community Empowerment, Disaster Management, and National Heritage.
East St. George MP Lavern Gibson Velox will serve as Minister of the Family, Gender Affairs, Persons with Disabilities, Occupational Safety, and Labour.
The Ministry of Housing, Urban Development, Land Management and Informal Settlement Upgrading is under the watch of Andrew John, who won the South Windward seat, on his first outing.
Phillip Jackson, who is the Marriaqua representative, is Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Innovation, and Digital Transformation. Jackson beat former Health Minister St. Clair Prince.
The Ministry of Youth, Sports, culture and Creative Industries comes under Kaschaka Cupid’s control. The new West St. George representative overcame the former Minister of Education, Curtis King, in that constituency.
Conroy Higgins serves as Fisheries, Marine Conservation, and Climate Resilience Minister. He is the new Central Leeward representative.
Dr. Kishore Shallow, the new North Leeward representative, takes up the Tourism and Maritime Affairs Ministry. Tourism was the responsibility of Carlos James whom he beat in the Nov. 27 general election.
Two other Senators make up the cabinetChieftain Neptune and Lavern King.
Neptune, who lost against Dr. Ralph Gonsalves in North Central Windward, is a Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister.
Laverne King, the Public Relations Officer of NDP, is Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Innovation, and Digital Transformation. (See spread on pages 12 & 13.)
Dr. Godwin Prime heads a Cabinet that shows an increase in size over the last one of the ULP administration.
Louise Mitchell’s appointment as Attorney General makes her the second female to serve in that office since independence.
St. Clair Leacock, Deputy Prime Minister, has been given purview over the Royal SVG Police Force as the country beckons for an effective response to crime, especially violent crime.
“KOJAH’ ANTHONY
V News 3
of responsibility to all the people.
GOVERNOR-GENERALDame
Susan Dougan has called on the incoming New Democratic Party administration to champion a
“I
GG calls for inclusive society
more inclusive and unified society.
Speaking at Government House on Friday, November 28, during the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday, the GovernorGeneral urged the new leader to govern with compassion and a broad sense of national responsibility.
“You are the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; you are going to be here for all Vincentians. Let us have an inclusive society,” she said directly to Dr. Friday.
Dame Susan commended Friday for his persistence during many years in opposition, noting that the electorate had now entrusted him with national leadership.
She encouraged him to remain grounded and guided by purpose amid global uncertainty.
“I wish you abundant success and pray that God will help you to manage St. Vincent and the Grenadines in turbulent times, because the ways of the world are very dark..,” the Governor General said, adding that the task ahead will also require support of the government benches, the wider public, and all national stakeholders.
am humbled,” Dr. Friday
Continued from Page 3.
The November 27th general election delivered a stunning 14—1 defeat to the ULP, with former Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves being the party’s sole candidate to retain his seat.
Dr. Friday was sworn in the following day by Governor-General Dame Susan Dougan, during a ceremony at Government House in Montrose.
Attendees included members of Dr. Friday’s immediate family, former
Prime Minister and opposition leader Arnhim Eustace, NDP candidates, Resident British Commissioner Jeff Patton, Police Commissioner Enville Williams, public officials and specially invited guests.
The formalities of the ceremony were delayed to allow for Eustace’s arrival, which was greeted with warm applause.
Delivering his first speech as Prime Minister, after swearing
to the Oaths of Secrecy, Allegiance and Office, Dr. Friday openly expressing that he was humbled by the responsibility entrusted to him.
“I intend to do my duty… as a Prime Minister for all the people of this country,” he said, vowing to work to uplift living standards and ensure that political barriers do not prevent Vincentians from achieving their aspirations.
He emphasized unity, noting that the country’s small population of just under 110,000 is “precious, not small,” and called for collective effort to build a stronger nation.
Dr. Friday also expressed deep gratitude for divine guidance during difficult moments. “When challenges seemed to break, I always remember… we take it to the Lord in prayer. I intend to do so as Prime Minister,” he said, urging Vincentians to embrace each other across political lines.
Touching on issues highlighted during the campaign, Friday stressed that prosperity must be shared. “It does no good as a people for some to be thriving while others are struggling… We can do something
Praise for Former Prime Minister Gonsalves
The Governor-General also paid tribute to outgoing Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who led the country for 25 years.
“… I am sure there has been a lot done in that period,” she said. “I’m hoping that we can build on some of those areas – some of the strengths that have been put in place as a foundation. I also wish him the very best in his endeavours.”
In her remarks, the Governor-General also congratulated Supervisor of Elections Dora James and her team for their management of
the electoral process.
“It was not easy; it was a testing experience, and I think they have done it wonderfully well,” she commented.
Dougan extended similar praise to the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force and auxiliary units for ensuring a peaceful election period.
“You have worked tirelessly with your team to ensure the elections went peacefully,” she stated.
The swearing-in marks the beginning of a new political era in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with the NDP returning to office after more than two decades in opposition.
about it,” he said, pledging an adaptable, solutions-driven leadership style open to new ideas.
He thanked his wife, children, Nicholas and Christian, for their unwavering support and advice, noting he expects to rely on them even more in the years ahead.
Friday also acknowledged his longserving colleagues who endured multiple election cycles in opposition. He said the electorate had finally decided they were ready to see the NDP lead and implement the changes for which it had long advocated.
As he concluded, the new Prime Minister again expressed his gratitude to the people of
St. Vincent and the Grenadines. “With such a resounding victory at the polls, it signaled to me
that the people are ready for change that makes a difference in their lives,” he said.
IN AN ARTICLE HEADLINED ‘NDP destroys ULP at the polls’, and carried on page three of our issue of December 05, 2025, we wrote inter alia, “She (Shevern John) also became the first female to be elected to that northerly constituency.”
For some inexplicable reason the phrase ‘of Kalinago descent’ was omitted after ‘female’ in the referenced sentence.
To have carried it without such qualification distorted the history of representation in the North Windward constituency, which we know to have been represented by Ivy Joshua, making her the first female to have done so. In fact, Ivy
Joshua was the first female elected to serve in the Legislative Council of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, later referred to as the House of Assembly/Parliament.
Governor General Dame
Susan Dougan makes her plea to Dr. Friday to remain grounded, compassionate and to govern with a sense
St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ first family: Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday, his wife Ave and sons Nicholas (left) and Christian.
Among those witnessing Dr. Friday’s swearing-in was former Prime Minister Arnhim Eustace (sitting).
ÂNolly BÊ walks free from murder P.I.
Nolwyn ‘Nolly B’ Bennett left the Calliaqua Magistrate’s Court, after a P.I., a relieved man.
Stories: HAYDN HUGGINS
AFTER BEING ON REMAND FOR MORE than a year on a murder charge, former Nice radio personality Nolwyn ‘Nolly B’ Bennett, walked free at the recent hearing of his Preliminary Inquiry (P.I.) at the Calliaqua Magistrate’s Court.
Presiding Magistrate John Ballah discharged Bennett after the key witness, the main plank of the Prosecutor’s case, failed to show up at the P.I., which was already in progress.
Preliminary Inquiries cannot be dismissed, as they are not trials, therefore, the matter could be brought back, as it was not dismissed.
Bennett was charged with the September 29, 2024 murder of Elijah Crease, a 34-year-old labourer of Prospect, who died from stab wounds, reportedly following an incident at Calliaqua.
The matter was initially before the Chief Magistrate Colin John at the Serious Offences Court, during which prosecutor Renrick Cato and Bennett’s lawyer, Grant Connell, had agreed to a Paper Committal Procedure.
However, Connell subsequently changed his mind, after indicating to the Court that a video disclosed to him
by the Prosecutor was not showing anything.
Connell told the Serious Offences Court on February 12 this year, that the video must be shown, or there would have to be a Preliminary Inquiry (P.I.) so that the Court could see and determine whether there was enough evidence for Bennett to stand trial in the High Court.
The Prosecutor, however, indicated that if there was going to be a P.I., the matter should be heard by a different magistrate, as the relevant material to the case was already disclosed to the Chief Magistrate to be reviewed for Paper Committal.
The Chief Magistrate agreed with the Prosecutor and transferred the matter to the Calliaqua Magistrate’s
Court over which Magistrate Ballah presides.
Connell had told the Serious Offences Court earlier, that Bennett had made a report against Crease to the police prior to the incident, but it was not addressed.
Based on security reasons, THE VINCENTIAN has withheld the name of the key witness.
“Think about your children,” Magistrate urges
CHIEF MAGISTRATE
COLINJohn
has advised a 61-year-old shoplifter to think about her children and grandchildren before going to steal.
John gave the advice to Naomi Nero of Rockies, who chalked up yet another conviction for theft on Monday, when she pleaded guilty to stealing a dozen eggs, valued at EC$11.21, and 0.65 lbs of red onions, valued at EC$5.33, from Coreas Food Mart in Kingstown.
When John asked the woman how she felt, she said, “I ain’t feel good, I feel bad.”
The Magistrate told her that when she steals, she was not only damaging herself, but also her children and grandchildren.
“You cannot be selfish. Before you steal, think about your children and grandchildren,” John told Nero, who had several previous convictions for dishonesty.
Nero was sentenced to six months in prison for the offence, but the Magistrate suspended the sentence for
one year. She was also ordered to pay compensation of $16.54 to the food mart.
The facts presented at the Serious Offences Court earlier, showed that around 4:45p.m. on November 29, 2025, the security officer at the Coreas Food Mart, Kingstown, was notified by customer that the defendant had taken up a dozen eggs and some read onions.
The security officer kept the woman under observation and noted that she passed the cashier with the items in her hand, exited the business place without paying.
The security officer approached her and brought her back into the Mart.
The matter was reported to the police, and PC20 Blugh was dispatched to the scene. He took the report and on the basis of its content, arrested Nero on suspicion of theft. The security officer also handed over the stolen items to PC Blugh, who kept them in his possession as
Chief Magistrate Colin John was moved to suspend a sentence that he imposed on a 61-year-old women for shoplifting.
exhibits.
On arrival at the Central Police Station, Blugh showed Nero the CCTV footage of the incident. She admitted that she was the person in the footage, and stated, “Ah sorry.”
Blugh then cautioned and interviewed Nero in the presence of PC979 Jack, and she volunteered a statement admitting to the offence. She was formally arrested and charged later that day.
Local Bar to assist murder accused
THE LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATION WILLprovide legal assistance to teenage murder accused Romano Warren.
President of the Association Shirlan Barnwell gave this assurance when Warren returned to the Serious Offences Court on Monday. However, it has not yet been disclosed to the Court which lawyer will represent
Warren.
Whether the defence intends to proceed on Paper Committal or Preliminary Inquiry (P.I.) will be determined after the Prosecution discloses all relevant material to the case of the defence.
Bail granted on attempted murder charge
A PARK HILL MAN WHO WASremanded last week after being denied bail on an attempted murder charge, was granted bail on Monday, following the discharge of the victim from the hospital.
Ezra Sterling has been charged with the attempted murder of Park Hill resident Zela Questi, who was reportedly chopped several times with a cutlass.
When Sterling appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court last week, Senior Magistrate Tammika McKenzie remanded him after Prosecutor Aliston Stapleton informed the Court that the victim was still a patient at the Milton Cato
Warren, an 18-year-old labourer of Ottley Hall, has been charged with the murder of Gary Bute, also 18 of Riley Village.
Memorial Hospital, and a further medical report was expected to be submitted.
The matter was adjourned and transferred to the Serious Offences Court.
However, when Sterling appeared in the Court on Monday, Prosecutor Renrick Cato did not object to bail, on the grounds that the victim was discharged from the hospital.
Chief Magistrate Colin John granted bail in the sum of $20,000 with one surety, on condition that the accused report to the Colonarie Police Station every Tuesday.
The matter has been adjourned to January 8, 2025.
Romano Warren (foreground) who is 18 years old is accused of causing the death of another 18-year-old.
Bute died at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, after sustaining stab wounds, reportedly during an incident on Melville Street, Kingstown, around midday on November 11.
Warren was unrepresented when he initially appeared at the Serious Offences Court last week. Attorney Grant Connell, who was at the Bar table in connection with another matter, suggested
Zita Barnwell has assured the Court that the Bar Association will assign a lawyer to represent Romano Warren.
that Warren be given some legal assistance.
Connell said that he usually assists in that regard, but his ‘plate’ was full at the moment. However, he assured the Court that he would speak to the President of the Bar Association on the issue.
In the High Court, the state provides a lawyer for persons charged with murder and cannot afford to hire one. This is not done at the magisterial level.
Managing Director: Desiree Richards
Editor: Cyprian Neehall
Telephone: 784-456-1123 Fax: 784-451-2129
Website: www.thevincentian.com
Email: thevincentianpublishing@gmail.com
Mailing Address: The Vincentian Publishing Co. Ltd., P.O. Box 592, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Editorial
Statesman, Privileges, Smaller Government
Some post-election thoughts
THE CONSENSUS? Unquestionable! The ‘concession speech’ by the leader of the defeated Unity Labour Party (ULP) was anything but that, in any language. In fact, it was the exact opposite: void of any acceptance of defeat; possessing a poorly disguised call for civil disobedience and public disorder (remember the promise to make the country ungovernable?); and ensuring that one’s perceived personal interests were not disregarded.
For those who expected a humble ULP leader in defeat, they must have been blinded to the fact that for the past two decades or so, that person had shed his first layer of skin and displayed himself to be anything but a statesman.
Yes, the World Boss had become unforgiving and picky, and even bordered on being tyrannical in his dealings with even his ‘comrades’. He had all but lost the last trimmings of being a statesman.
Only a true statesman would concede defeat and not display an inordinate love of oneself.
Nothing short of a disguised disdain coloured most of his recent shenanigans and climaxed with his clear lack of non-acceptance of defeat, even as there were indications of “committing’ to fulfill the new role in parliament.
Whether those in the region saw him as ‘otherwise, the majority of citizens here, if they were being true to themselves, would have disagreed with their regional neighbours, and declared that he had become a ‘man unto himself’ with little regard for the fact that he was (is) human and therefore, open to defeat.
Our new leader of the opposition is a competitive creature of politics who thrives on the shortcomings of his competitors. Those shortcomings, clearly manifested in the earlier rounds of the tile bout which began in 2001, were crushed into fodder.
We look to the new Parliament with expectation that that person will shed the nastiness of the political rallies and contribute, as we know he can, to the national debate.
And on the issue of courtesies to be extended to the Leader of the Opposition, the citizens would ask, on the basis of what they would have observed in the last twenty years or
Diabetes: A quiet Epidemic
so, just what these courtesies and privileges are, since they were not visible as per what the last two leaders of the opposition were accorded.
It is difficult to reconcile according the new leader of the opposition any privileges when it is a known fact that the road to Arnhim Eustace home was deliberately allowed to fall into a state of utter disrepair, an action that if the truth be told, seemed to have been a government policy decision. Up to the present, that road remains in a state that discourages persons from visiting Mr. Eustace in his time of facing health challenges.
If it is that this was a deliberate act on the part of government, nothing can be worst that this and in the face of that, it would be difficult to have privileges accorded under the new dispensation. Then again, won’t it be a sign of its humanness, its humanity, its openness and spirit of forgiveness if some privileges were accorded the new leader of the opposition? Is the NDP prepared to rise above the depths of disdain that the previous administration demonstrated?
Then for the NDP there is the question of size of government. Its first inclination, and it has gone this way, is to design a cabinet that includes the fourteen victorious candidates. Is this the correct, most practical course to take?
This is/was a good opportunity to implement a smaller government that not only speaks to the national wage bill but even more importantly, to the fact that a smaller government allows for faster policy changes, and is likely to encourage a more efficient and specialised public sector. This of course means, in essence, that government’s role would become more regulatory and facilitating rather than a role that sees government investing in direct production of goods and services (like hotel construction and the likes).
The previous government spoke of this country being on the road to first world status. There are many and varied roads to this reality.
The NDP should wake up to the opportunity it has to introduce fundamental change in how we do business.
FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, unbeknownst to me, I have been living what the medical professionals call a pre-diabetic lifestyle… eating whatever I want, whenever I want. I was able to get away with it because I am an avid exerciser, walking and running for at least one hour each day. With this routine, I maintained an A1C of around 5.8%. Then came a trip to Europe last year, where I continued to eat everything but stopped my structured exercise routine.
I knew something wasn’t right, but I kept putting off getting back to my exercise, since nothing else had changed. So, I went to the doctor and was told my A1C was 7%. One more blood test result like that and he would have to begin diabetes treatment. Having watched my mom, of Blessed Memory, taking pills and insulin injections for the last twentyfive years of her life, I resisted that idea. I chose to return to a life that included a regular exercise routine and sensible eating.
FULL DISCLAIMER: I have no medical training beyond the ability to apply a band-aid to a cut, or drink Carila/Cerasee to “clean the blood”. But my recent A1C report forced me to learn a bit about what my future could be like if I did not take action immediately. Ironically, some say drinking Carina tea can help lower A1C.
First, I returned to my daily walks/runs and paid closer attention to what and when I ate. Then I began to be deliberate about including fiber in my diet – such as a high-fiber fruit or a green salad – with every meal, which is now usually twice a day, with a sensible snack in between. While in SVG and The Bahamas, I also added Carila and Ginger tea to my diet. Today, I am happy to report that, without any pharmaceutical aid, my A1C is back within the normal range.
Type-2 Diabetes is a lifestyle disease affecting somewhere between 10 to 15 percent of our population in SVG. According to the World Health Organization, we are no different from the rest of the world in this regard. What else did I find out? The desirable A1C goal is 5.7% or less, as higher levels are linked to health complications. I am not advocating any strict diet;
instead, just be aware of what we eat and how it will affect our health. But when you have the urge to satisfy that “Sweet tooth“ or indulge in a second helping of pelau, be cognizant of the risk and the extra work you will have to put in to accommodate the body handling the surplus amount of glucose consumed. A simplistic way to look at diabetes is the body’s inability to produce sufficient insulin when needed to process and store the amount of glucose in our bloodstream.
At this point, it’s worth remembering that starch, which converts to glucose, is found in many other foods besides rice and potatoes. Another thing to recall is that your high school biology teacher told you your stomach is about the size of your fist. I don’t remember Mr. Eddie Griffith telling us to use it as a guide for portion control at the dinner table, but now it makes sense. He was like that, always sharing practical life skills in his classes.
We need to be aware of how a diagnosis of diabetes can affect those around us. Too often, we only think of the person diagnosed and not the cost to the family. Think about it for a minute. If a person loses a leg or a job, what does that family look like, and how are they affected if they have children in school, and only one person –or no one – to pay the bills?
The most common type of diabetes is Type 2 and is usually diagnosed in adults. It occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t make enough insulin.
Understanding diabetes is the first step towards managing and preventing it. It can be diagnosed with a simple blood test.
Today, my goal is to educate and inform about the need to take care of our bodies, and that early intervention can lead to a longer, healthier life free from the pain and stress associated with prolonged elevated blood glucose (blood sugar) levels.
Horatio.
The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
The Governor GeneralÊs speech
DEAR EDITOR,
THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL is one that commands respect, dignity, and
inclusiveness, standing as a symbol above the fray of partisan politics. It is precisely because of this elevated position that the public expects impartiality
and restraint in all official pronouncements.
Having listened to the Governor General’s speech during the swearing-in ceremony of
Dr. The Honourable Godwin Friday, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, on Friday 28th November, 2025, I was left with the
Jimmy Cliff impacted our lives
I MUST COMMEND
YOU, Mr. Editor, for including in last week’s issue of THE VINCENTIAN, a fullpage coverage on Jimmy Cliff, never mind it was done so to mark his passing to the great beyond.
Jimmy Cliff inspired people like me long before Bob Marley ever did. And while Bob’s work had a deep Rastafarian message, Jimmy’s was more open, dealing with the same issues like passion, purpose, consciousness,
unity, challenges and struggles, resilience, injustice, poverty, love and peace.
As the article to which I referred said, we danced away to Jimmy’s music in our house parties, not to mention that Jimmy’s music brought many a young man and girl together, some who remained together into adulthood and marriage.
There’s no doubt that Jimmy was a true pioneer of reggae music and like Bob Marley and others, introduced the
music to Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and North and South America.
Through it all, Jimmy, remained conscious and proud of his African ancestry and the history of suffering while enslaved. Recall the line, how they “toiled under the sun, moon, and stars”.
And long before the philosophy of other reggae icons impacted us. It was Jimmy who told us, “I would rather be a freeman in my grave, than living as a
Tackle unemployment
ALLOW ME SIR, to extend congratulations to Dr. Godwin Friday and the New Democratic Party (NDP) on their recent victory at the polls. Suffice it to say, the margin of victory, 14 seats to one, was not something that the average citizen would have predicted.
The margin goes to show the extent to which the country was fed up and dissatisfied with Dr. Gonsalves and his Unity Labour Party government.
Dr. Friday, as you assume the reins of government, I want to propose that you and your government address with urgency and real measures, the issue of unemployment in his country.
According to a report on Country Youth Unemployment, the International Labour Organization database, June 2022, St. Vincent and the Grenadines had a frightening figure of 41.1. youth unemployment.
That can be seen every day in the number of young people who hang around the streets
of major populated areas of St. Vincent the Grenadines.
The past government seemed to have ignored this reality and allowed things to simply sail along. For that, they endured the severest of consequences. Don’t be caught in the same
mindset, Dr. Friday. Your legacy should never be one of doing the same thing as the ULP, which was nothing.
Good luck Dr. Friday. You have an overwhelming majority. Do not abuse it.
Thomas.
PEOPLE ARE ASKING:
* Is there going to be a new “World Boss”?
* Would Dr. Gonsalves go for Saboto and Camillo as Senators or would he look to the future and choose Keisal and Darron?
* Could somebody please give a status report on that red and white fast ferry type boat that has been berthed at the deep water pier for the longest while? Does it have a local owner?
* How many of those sweetheart consultancies and special appointments will the NDP honour?
* Will the NDP commit to introducing Integrity Legislation?
* Have minibus drivers become even more reckless in recent months?
* Would Dr. Kishore Shallow, should he get a ministerial portfolio, do the honourable thing and resign as President of CWI?
* Did Dr. Gonsalves catch Dr. Friday in a ‘Nanci Trap’ when he called elections on a Thursday, knowing that if the NDP won there would not have enough time to roll out NDP’s ‘first-Monday-in-power-VAT-free’ promise?
* Why didn’t the Commissioner of Police salute Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday during the welcome ceremony for Dr. Friday at the Financial Complex, last Monday?
puppet or a slave.’
How can I ever forget when he sang “Struggling Man”, “Hard Road to Travel”, “Many Rivers to Cross” and “You Can Get It If You Really Want!”
Jimmy no longer walks among us, and his life and music will continue to inspire us and future generations. Rest In Peace, Jimmy. Paul, Jamaica.
impression that her remarks carried an admonishing tone directed at the newly sworn-in Prime Minister. While every leader must be reminded of the weight of responsibility that comes with high office, such reminders should be framed in a manner that is neutral, dignified, and free of political undertones.
The Governor General, as Head of State, represents all Vincentians regardless of political persuasion. Any suggestion of bias, even if unintended, risks undermining the perception of impartiality that is essential to the credibility of the office. At moments of national transition, the people look to the Governor
General for reassurance, unity, and stability –not for commentary that could be construed as partisan. It is my hope that future addresses from the Governor General will uphold the tradition of neutrality, ensuring that the office remains a beacon of unity for our nation.
Yours faithfully, Eric Samuel
A Productive Work Attitude
by ANTHONY G. STEWART, PHD
EVERY MEMBER of our Vincentian Society is useful and can do some productive work. My bedridden mother hired 5 workers as caregivers and when she came to live with me was the Chief of Security in my home. While she was around, I felt safe and no one broke in. Her prayers and goodwill over the years served as a protective veil around me and my property.
Gracelyn Simmons Holder, a totally blind woman with a lot of vision is rebuilding her house and restoring her fence. She wants to replant her garden. In the meantime, she gathers sea moss and prepares it for the market by cleaning, washing, and drying it. She could command a job as a musician, singing and playing. Churches and Hotels could make use of her talent.
The ‘Boys on the Bloc’ are best if they are self-employed. Landscaping is recommended because our country needs a new look. A cutlass and a rasp can be borrowed to do the first job. From it, you can buy your own tools. Savings may enable an upgrade to a weed trimmer and then a lawnmower and chainsaw. Some people understand when Oswald Nanton, former principal of Union Island Secondary, manicured a lawn using only a cutlass; many were amazed that a lawnmower was not used.
Every village needs a barber. One can begin with a pair of scissors and a comb and go from house to house. Later, electric rechargeable cutting sets can be bought. When finances improve, a small space in the centre of the village can be rented. If regular savings are made in the local financial institutions, credit can be arranged for expansion.
Similarly, shoemakers, hairdressers, tailors, seamstresses, upholsters and furniture makers and repairers, cellphone repairers, electricians, pastry
makers, reading teachers, homework helpers, farmers, craftsmen and any other needed ingenious jobs can be created. The main ingredients are interest, willingness to work, willingness to learn, and advance in the area of interest. Help may be available but will be useless without interest and personal input.
In the past, many received training that they failed to utilize. The approach should be to assist those with interest and personal input to establish businesses and provide training for upgrades. Training should be paid for by participants who can be provided with jobs specifically to underwrite the cost.
Lack of skills is a failure of our schooling system. Every child should be taught a skill that they can use to make a living before they reach adulthood. Scholarships should be given to those with interest in areas that are needed by the country. There should be fairness in the distribution across all technical and academic professions. Too many struggle to learn and acquire skills on their own when help could have been made available. If those with aptitude and interest are nurtured, more of the needs of our society would be filled.
Handouts tend to kill initiative. Ways and means must be found to enable our people to find productive work to take care of their own needs. Children are born with a helpful attitude. This must be nurtured throughout school so that our entry level workers would have a healthy work ethic.
The need for Integrity Legislation
“Integrity legislation governs integrity and probity in relation to public officials. Integrity legislation includes, for example, laws relating to bribery and gratuity, extended care trusts, wrongful enrichment and unjustified profit, conflicts of interest and nepotism.” –Ernesto Cooke – St. Vincent Times of May 11, 2022
DR. ANTHONY STEWART, writing in an article titled “Integrity Legislation” in THE VINCENTIANNewspaper of 6th May 2022, noted that, “The promise to enact Integrity Legislation within the first 100 days of the ULP administration was not kept. The legislation would have signaled the intention of the government to be transparent, accountable, moral, just, fair, and free of corruption. While the focus should justly be put on our leaders, the rest of the citizenry should not be enablers to corruption.” This is a powerful statement that is worthy of note and consideration. The clamour for integrity legislation can be heard in several Caribbean nations. Caribbean citizens are not unique in their desire to have public officials perform their duties in a manner that convinces the general public that they are performing their duties in a way that holds them above reproach. The general public wants to be assured that public officials (and those in private companies too) are not engaged in activities that generate personal gain through “questionable” or fraudulent means. These are universal challenges. Recent reports confirm that several African nations appear to be especially challenged by such moral (immoral is probably more accurate) dilemmas. However, developed countries are also plagued by the instances of “honourable” individuals behaving in unethical and dishonourable ways.
Dr. Terrence W. Farrell, during a presentation titled, “Integrity in Public Life” on behalf of the Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute on 22nd October 2020, provided some useful guidelines in relation to having integrity enshrined in the public service. He noted that this was critical in combating corruption in the public sector. He commenced with a dictionary definition of “corruption” and noted that, “Corruption is the perversion of destruction of integrity in the discharge of public duties by bribery or favour; the use or existence of corrupt practices especially in state, public corporations, etc.,” He noted that corruption goes beyond bribery to include abuse of power, conflict of interest, patronage, nepotism, theft of state assets, diversion of state resources, insider trading, illicit enrichment, money laundering, and providing advantage or preference. Integrity legislation is a set of laws or regulations that are specifically designed to encourage transparency and accountability in the public sector. While these laws cannot guarantee that they will prevent corruption, they seek to ensure that government officials are held responsible for their actions. This is especially important as efforts are made to safeguard systems intended to have public funds used correctly. Such laws seek to make sure that government officials and civil servants adhere to the highest ethical standards and act with honesty; that they avoid favouritism and nepotism; that they do not redirect government funds or assets for personal gain, and so on. However, integrity legislation also has a broader mandate and focus; it helps to ensure that government decisions are made in the
best interest of all citizens, not only political party supporters or special interest groups. Elected and appointed officials are held accountable as every effort is made to guarantee that policies are designed and implemented in the interest of all people; not a select few.
Integrity legislation is not designed or intended to hamper government officials and/or civil servants. By holding government officials to the highest ethical standards, the integrity legislation can create and maintain public confidence in the government. Well-designed and administered integrity legislation will deter white collar crime while simultaneously promoting accountability and transparency in government.
Integrity legislation also has implications for business owners, leaders, and managers. These laws help ensure that businesses are held accountable for their actions and can be prosecuted should they engage in fraudulent or misleading activities. The legislation is intended to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive business practices. The valuable guidelines provided by such rules and regulations enable businesses to avoid potential embarrassment and ridicule that emerge when enterprises engage in unethical practices that become publicly known.
Nelson Mandela (1918-2013), the antiapartheid activist and former President of South Africa, reminded us that, “It is always right to do what’s right”. These words of wisdom provide timely inspiration for leaders in business, government, and society. C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), the British writer, Anglican lay theologian, and world-renowned scholar, advocated that, “Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.” Such truths should be enshrined in the consciousness of all of our citizens, but especially our children. Societies whose citizens imbibe such pearls of wisdom readily discover that the honesty and integrity that is exuded will create and sustain relationships that are harmonious and uplifting. Conversely, crime is likely to prevail if/when individuals seek to make right appear wrong and wrong appear right; where the end justifies the means; where individuals rationalize and validate illicit and illegal acts because these seem to make them get ahead in life.
Those individuals who advocate that integrity legislation is onerous and regressive must refocus their thoughts to realize that such laws keep government officials accountable for their actions and encourage them to work in the best interest of the people they represent — all the people; including those who did not support their political party. The advocates for integrity legislation, these noble citizens, will forever pursue their gallant ambition encouraged by the words of legendry Bob Marley (19451981) who reminded us that, “The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.”
Send comments, criticisms & suggestions to julesferdinand@gmail.com
And
“Everything can be explained to the people on the single condition that you really want them to understand…The people must be made to realise that change does not mean reform, change does not mean improvement.” Franz Fanon ~ The Wretched of the Earth
THE ELECTIONSare over. The ULP suffered a humiliating and hopefully sobering defeat. The ministers of the triumphant New Democratic Party are sworn in. The government’s work has truly begun. Now comes the hard partdelivery on the many promises made by the party during its election campaign.
And there were lots of promises. My read is that the governing party will easily meet its commitment to fulfil its 60-day plan. NDP plans to cut VAT from 16 to 13 per cent, issue a bonus salary to all public employees, double relief assistance from $250 to $500, and reinstate jobs and benefits lost due to the cruel imposition of the vaccine.
After the end of an era comes a new beginning. But a new course intended to chart the further development of our country must be based on data, statistics and knowledge. When Gonsalves assumed the office, he told the nation he inherited a bad hand. We believed him and gave the ULP leadership time to get the lay of the land. This new government, too, must be granted that courtesy.
If this government, over the next few years, develops a reputation for openness and transparency and acts in ways that foster good governance and democratic best practices, SVG could climb out of the fearful, comatose state in which the Unity Labour Party government left us in the latter part of its decades-long rule.
For starters, the nation needs to know the exact amount it owes. Is it EC$3 billion as the government claims? How much money do we owe to Taiwan? Is it EC$800 as Gonsalves revealed on October 10, 2025 or is the disclosed amount only an insignificant part of the ‘hook in the nation’s gill ’?
Among other important issues begging for in-depth research, disclosure, and discussion is the current rate of poverty prevailing in SVG, the actual unemployment figures and the number of persons who actually passed away in the years 2021 to September 2024, when a public outcry forced the government to declare that within that period 4,127 persons died.
In 2019, Daniel Cummings, now the Health and Wellness minister, read from a leaked Poverty Assessment Report that showed poverty had become much more pervasive than in 2008, when the last poverty assessment was completed. The government recoiled. PM Gonsalves nonsensically claimed that the report had to be peerreviewed before being released. Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves told parliament that the leaked report had become compromised and contaminated and had to be scrapped. Government, he said, had earmarked a further EC$4 million for a new assessment and promised release in 2025.
In 2019, 40 per cent or 4 out of every 10 persons lived in poverty. The government woefully exploited this level of vulnerability and dependence over many election cycles, making targeted giveaways and handouts intended to dupe citizens into voting for and perpetuating its rule. We need to know the actual percentage of our population that lives in poverty and those who exist just above the point of destitution.
The government has the machinery and wherewithal to know things, to discover truths, and, more so, to share the information with the public. What are the actual unemployment numbers? Camillo said it was the lowest since slavery. His father said unemployment had not been lower since independence in 1979. One day, they claim it’s no higher than 12 per cent; another day, it’s under 10 per cent. Now is not the time for guesstimates. Because of the draconian and evil vaccine mandate and the crucial role it played in the voters’ decision to oust the ULP from power, people need information on how many persons actually died between 2021 and September 2024. Then, former Minister of Health Jimmy Prince disclosed that 4,127 persons died. In light of the fact that statistics on live births and deaths became a state secret, the new government owes it to the population to disclose the accurate number of deaths during this period. Moreover, the nation must be told by how much the death toll was above the annual average. Transparency in government must become the hallmark of this administration. In this regard, PM and Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Dr Friday must swiftly instruct the Governor General to sign the Freedom of Information Act, which has been debated and passed since 2003. The people should always know what their government is doing. The Governor General’s assent to the Freedom of Information Act will go a long way towards this end.
The ULP administration was rife with corruption. Therefore, an anticorruption/integrity-in-government law that will not only place guardrails on permissible conduct for those in public life, but also target the ill-gotten gains of the bigwigs and greedheads in our society should be high on the government’s good governance agenda.
As it stands now, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) targets, harasses and confiscates funds from those from vulnerable communities who risk everything to beat the system at its nasty, corrupted game. Ministers, friends and family of the administration benefited from insider trading, nepotism, special favours and other cushy deals. It is well known that some government ministers are the prime beneficiaries of businesses and corporations awarded government contracts. They got rich behind the people’s backs.
Continued on Page 18.
Suggestions to the new NDP Regime
Dear Sirs:
ALMIGHTY GOD has granted you all the opportunity to be the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Work and perform with a sense of urgency as if you only have five years.
All of us still need our hardearned money from CLICO! The Government of Trinidad and Tobago helped their citizens to get their money! We in the OECS left ours to kill themselves, get sick and die!
Please, every ablebodied person eighteen years and older needs to be engaged in meaningful work, generating income to provide each household with food, clothing and shelter. Sirs, we need productivity in this country. “Begging” is a soul-destroying occupation; God has promised to “bless the work of our hands.” Work keeps hearts and brains active and healthy!
In addition, we need to generate more electricity so Saint Vincent can successfully run at least two canning or bottling or drying factories to preserve the fruits and other items that we grow
in our fertile soil. More income from exports on the national balance sheet.
Another strategic intervention is the further upgrade of the National Education System. Every Vincentian, without exception, should leave Secondary School with “A Skill” that can be monetised. Even if you win a scholarship to Tertiary Level, you still need income from other sources. If you can swim, drive, cook, play a sport, do woodwork, do metalwork, sing, paint, sew, dance or play music, or plant something; a person can help him or herself by adding to their income. Every young person, especially the males, needs to be actively engaged in some form of physical team activity at community level. They will be engaged in having a constructive forum where they can shine, learn to engage in healthy competition, and how to function as a team, translating into less idle time to smoke and drink intoxicating drinks to damage their health and put a burden on our health care system.
A child transitioning from primary to
secondary school should be able to access the same quality of education at an institution nearest to their home of residence. Zone the Nation by geography. Have the same level of equipment and teaching staff dispersed in each Secondary Level Institution. Teachers,
from Primary to Secondary, should be paid according to qualification, and professional training ted. To cater for exceptionally bright children, there should be “a special class” in each institution. This will help to cut out the creation of “institutional ghettos”where you stigmatise certain schools and children and create an elitist and entitled attitude in some. Whether
you are “bright” or “differently abled”, we all have to safely occupy this planet called earth. Also, teach Civics.
It’s high time we Vincentians help to beautify our nation, by learning from youth: to stop littering, throwing filth in the rivers and waterways, and pulling up all the plants helping to hold up bank sides!
Every Public/Civil Servant should be trained
in “customer care and how the government’s financial and personnel system is supposed to work.”
Finally, for God’s sake, “the Government should pay its electricity, water and rent bills”! Like blood in the human body, money has to circulate in a healthy economy.
Yours
Requiem for Boss politics
CONGRATULATIONSand many thanks to the Vincentian working class for effecting a peaceful change of government.
Already working people have held a requiem for BOSS POLITICS. (Note the coffins in our streets during the post-election celebratory events). But they must understand that BOSS POLITICS did not begin with Ralph Gonsalves. Preceding him was Milton Cato who epitomized this type of politics. He had passed the repressive Public Service Act, the removal of which was one of the demands of the Teachers’ Union during the 1975 strike. In the epoch of the Black Power Movement — the progressive vanguard of the day, he declared: “I am Black and I have power.” Then the masses got rid of him.
There was also James Mitchell, the well-known “I and I” Prime Minister, leading exponent of BOSS POLITICS, heavy-handed and controlling. The late calypsonian, LEXI (Alexis Joseph) fittingly captures him in his kaiso classic “EASE UP, FISHERMAN.”
During the famous 1972 six-six-one election result, when the nation was on high tension and he was needed for a resolution, he arrogantly declared: “Ah gwine fishing.”
Ralph Gonsalves’ “WORLD BOSS” designation is, of course, very current. And, as the election results made clear, WORLD BOSS can become world loss. Considered the Redeemer, he passed his draconian
vaccine mandate, a heavy hammer that became “a hook in the gill” during the recent election campaign.
As dialectics so eloquently teach us in the study of the Unity of Opposites, you cannot have a “boss” without its opposite, “bossed”. And, in many historical circumstances the contradiction is resolved and the BOSSED bosses the BOSS. History is offering PM Friday the opportunity to eschew boss politics and embrace its opposite, People’s Politics — participatory democracy. Will he accept this offer?
FOUR LINES THE NEW GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT CROSS
1. NO FOREIGN TROOPS/OPERATIONS IN OUR COUNTRY
The new administration must NEVER compromise our independent stature in the world. Engage in a balanced foreign policy always with the interests of Vincentians paramount. It is true that the NDP is a member of the backward Caribbean Democratic Union, in turn a member of the farright International Democratic Union of which the Republican Party of the USA is a leading member. On November 27th, working people voted for Godwin Friday to be our Prime Minister. We do not expect to get Donald Trump.
2.
NO CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT
Our citizenship should not be sold. Such prostitution flies in the face of our national identity and definition, our very being and soul, our history and the sacrifices of our forebears including our First National Hero, Joseph Chatoyer. Will PM Friday sell our passports and STILL give a March 14th National Heroes Day speech at Dorsetshire Hill?
3. NO VICTIMIZATION OF
WORKERS
Touch no worker “because of politics.” Of course, in the heat of an election campaign, some workers may have gone too far but that must not result in the termination of employment. This new administration must encompass a new approach. PM Friday is advocating for “inclusion” as practice, and this, by definition, involves tolerance.
4. NO NEGLECT
OF CONSTITUENTS
Constituents of all political colours and persuasions must be impartially served. The crossing of this line by the recently defeated parliamentarians proved to be electorally fatal. The neglect by ULP “representatives” was so extreme, it bordered on abandonment. That dark past must give way to a brighter, enlightened future. Joy must come in the morning.
Mike Browne SOLIDARITY RIGHTS
Sincerely, Frances A. Clarke.
Opposition Senators yet to be decided
AS OF PRESS DAY, THURSDAY,there was no word with respect to who will be the opposition (Unity Labour Party – ULP) senators in the new parliament.
According to former Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves in an address to the nation on November 29, a meeting was expected to be convened on November 30, as the ULP sought to select two suitable candidates to fill those positions.
The defeat at the November 27, 2025 polls meant that the ULP will have three representatives in the
House, Dr. Gonsalves being the only elected member, while the ruling New Democratic Party (NDP) will seat 14 elected members, four senators and the Attorney General, provided that office is not filled by an elected member.
And as for what can be expected of the Opposition, Dr. Gonsalves said, “Clearly, even the lopsided majority of the new regime in the Parliament, we the opposition will be routinely outvoted, but the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines will judge us based on the quality of our work which I assure you will be of the highest standard.”
He committed to serve in the capacity as Leader of the Opposition with ‘dignity, duty and love’.
“I have trod this road before, it is not unfamiliar to me,” Dr. Gonsalves reminded the citizenry.
While acknowledging that the ULP loss the general elections, Dr. Gonsalves said that it was not a time for pity.
“It is now more urgent than ever for all of us, including those who deserted the family of Labour, to
defend the immense gains which our people have come to know and accept over the past 25 years of ULP governance and to advance them further,” he reasoned.
And even as he congratulated the people, especially those in his
ÂULP was too PredictableÊ
FORMER NORTH LEEWARD MP
Jerrol Thompson believes the Unity Labour Party’s (ULP) heavy loss in last Thursday’s general election stemmed less from its 25 years in office, and more from a predictable campaign strategy that allowed the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) to outmaneuver it.
Speaking on radio, Thompson said the ULP’s campaign followed familiar patterns despite some innovations. He noted the party held more local meetings than in previous elections and introduced coordinated uniforms for inside and outside agents, along with strong musical performances –but argued these details ultimately carried little weight with voters.
“I think the ULP may have been quite predictable,” he said. “Their approach allowed the NDP to position itself in response to what they expected.”
Thompson also criticized the late
ÂGonsalves should have stepped asideÊ
RICHARD FREDERICK, RETURNED independent candidate in the St. Lucia December 01, 2025 general elections, in commenting on the political shift in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, suggested that the long-serving leader (Dr. Ralph Gonsalves) should have stepped aside to allow “fresh minds” to guide the country.
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines general elections held on Thursday, November 27, 2025 resulted in a significant defeat — 14 seats to 1 - for former Prime Minister Gonsalves, who had led his party to five previous
consecutive victories at the polls.
Frederick continued, “I don’t know why St. Vincent’s elections would have anything to do with us. You have a prime minister who served five terms, and anybody in their right mind, in my view, would understand that after five terms he has outlived his usefulness. It was time to vacate the post, to abdicate, to go and rest. Instead, he put his popularity to the test.”
Frederick pointed out that in the last SVG election, the Unity Labour Party (ULP) secured the majority of
constituency of North Central Windward, and those who supervised, managed the electoral process and the various democratic state institutions, Dr. Gonsalves was not moved to congratulate the NDP or Dr. Friday on their victory. (DD)
release of both parties’ manifestos, saying voters were not given enough time to absorb or compare key proposals. He believes the public perception of the NDP’s plan to reduce Value Added Tax (VAT) played a significant role in shifting support.
parliamentary seats but lost the popular vote. “If 50 people voted, they won 20 and the other side won 30, but they still ended up with more seats,” he said in arguing that Gonsalves’ popularity had been on a downward trajectory.
He added that while Gonsalves’ support seemed to be declining, “his age was going upward,” and suggested the former prime minister should have stepped back to allow Vincentians to make a decision without his influence.
Frederick emphasized, however, that the political situation in SVG had no bearing on St. Lucia.
“People talk about color, but color means absolutely nothing,” he said, in reference to the fact that both Dr. Gonsalves and Allan Laves and Allen Chastanet, leader of the St. Lucian opposition, are Caucasian.
“What matters are policies, the economy, and how well a country is performing when citizens go to cast their ballots,” he posited.
He noted that the NDP’s campaign tactics – including the use of foreign artistes similar to those traditionally brought in by the ULP –matched the ruling party’s style and neutralized some of its usual advantages.
According to Thompson, the ULP placed heavy emphasis on long-term development achievements such as housing, water access, and improvements in the Human Development Index. However, many voters were more focused on immediate economic pressures, including rising food prices, low wages, and taxation.
Thompson added that the NDP’s direct focus on the cost of living – particularly food prices – and its promise of a rapid 60day response may have been especially effective.
However, he warned that lowering VAT could reduce government revenue, potentially slowing economic growth and contributing to stagflation.
“You need at least 1.5 percent growth to maintain jobs,” he explained. “If growth drops below one percent, you lose jobs.”
(KH)
Dr. Ralph Gonsalves delivering his first postelections address from the studio of the ULPowned radio station-STAR FM.
Jerrol Thompson, former ULP MP, was forthright as he assessed his party’s defeat in the recent general elections.
Richard Frederick, a lawyer, has had a number of accusations levelled against him, none of which has impacted negatively on his political endeavours.
Dr. Ralph Gonsalves had the distinction of being the longest continuously serving prime minister (2001–2015) since St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ independence in 1979.
HON.
HON. ISRAEL BRUCE
Put God at the centre
PRIME MINISTER Dr. the Right Honourable Godwin Friday is appealing to Vincentians to make God the plank of their existence.
His plea came last Tuesday at the Arnos Vale Playing Field during the swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet.
Dr. Friday noted that a “yearning for change” was achieved in part November 27, but that the change is not just about replacing government, but a “change for the country… a change in the way we are governed, and the way we accept how we are governed.”
Friday extended his thoughts to “how we relate to one another.” He pointed to differences, not least in the political arena and posited that even with varying approaches, we can still be a community.
“My Ministers and I are committed to working with all. We want to see a country where every citizens feels a sense of belonging,” he asserted.
The New Democratic Party leader assured that he will work with all for the
development, peace and progress of SVG, and is bent on investing “wisely in people.”
He was aware that “some people are disappointed, and even hurting” with the results of the general elections. He noted that “politics is not the only thing that defines us.”
He pointed to other aspects that bind us including love for St. Vincent and the Grenadines and called on people to “put differences aside.”
As for the election results, Friday quipped, “I know how
you feel. I have been there.”
The cost of living, the lack of jobs, and the payment of low wages were matters of interest for Dr. Friday. He lamented the wave of violent crimes, notably gun-related homicides, and is worried about poor health care and education which he said ought not to be “slogans.”
Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday committed his administration to working with all and sundry and call for people to embrace the change.
his audience that, “We did not appoint ourselves. I did not make myself the Prime Minister. The people did.”
The new government, the Prime Minister assured, was committed to improving roads and infrastructure generally.
With respect to the cost of living, Dr. Friday announced December 19 as the first VAT free shopping day.
“We will continually look for ways to ease the economic burden,” he promised, and declared, “Where there are challenges, we intent not to succumb, but to overcome them,” he declared.
Dr. Friday reminded
For him, it is an “unmistakable mandate. Let’s all accept that. Change is necessary to refresh… bring hope and energy to our country.”
And in thanking former Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and those who served in the previous administration, he gave the assurance that citizens had no need to worry about projects started by the previous administration. The government will finish them, he committed.
Friday admits that there was work to do and that he was ready to get it done.
“Let’s all accept that change is necessary to refresh… bring hope and energy to our country,” Friday concluded. (WKA)
Persons of all walks of life and allegiances turned out to witness the swearing in of the new Cabinet.
The Diplomatic Corps (foreground) and the upper ranks of the Police Force (right) were in attendance at the swearing-in.
Taiwan extends congratulations
(Press Release carried verbatim)
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, a diplomatic ally of the Republic of China (Taiwan), held parliamentary elections on November 27. The New Democratic Party (NDP) emerged victorious and Godwin Friday, its leader, will serve as prime minister and form a new government. Following the election, ROC (Taiwan) Ambassador to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Fiona Huei-chun Fan promptly conveyed sincere congratulations on behalf of the government and people of Taiwan to Prime Minister Friday and the newly elected members of parliament.
The electoral process was peaceful and smooth. The people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines completed voting through an open, transparent, and peaceful democratic mechanism, demonstrating their staunch belief in safeguarding democracy as well as their mature and stable political culture.
Taiwan and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines share the common values of democracy, freedom, and human rights. Since establishing diplomatic relations 44 years ago, the two countries have enjoyed a steadfast friendship. They have achieved remarkable results in a variety of bilateral cooperation projects–covering such domains as agriculture, food security, infrastructure, health care, ICT, and women’s empowerment–which have been highly recognized by all sectors of society.
The Taiwan government will continue to work hand in hand with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on the basis of the existing solid foundation and in line with the policy of integrated diplomacy to deepen collaboration under the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project as well as to advance co-prosperity, mutually beneficial ties, public well-being, and sustainable development. (E)
ROC (Taiwan) Ambassador Fiona Huei-chun Fan.
V Saluting Dr. Timothy Providence
WITH THE LOSS OF MY COUSIN, the doctor TIMOTHY PROVIDENCE, to whom we said goodbye as we gathered at the historic St. George’s Cathedral in Kingstown, on the 12th of November, the village of Troumaca and indeed the entire community of the parish of St. David, which is made up of the township of Chateaubelair and the villages of Petit Bordel, Rose Bank, Rose Hall, Troumaca, Coull’s Hill, Spring Village and Gordon Yard, have been dealt a very heavy blow indeed.
Since the abolition of slavery that community which is made up largely of the descendants of former African slaves has over many decades been thriving on agriculture and fishing. We Vincentians should not have forgotten that the principal religious organisation among them had been the SPIRITUAL BAPTISTS, and that they had been prevented by the British authorities from having their religious gatherings in the villages where they lived.
The British had been very keen, however, in the maintenance of those roads which the people
And
used to get to their farms. So, they were able to produce their own healthy foods and raise animals. Fresh fish was available almost every day. The strength of that community was seen in the War-days. It is evident that we in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are now at a very critical stage and that there is need for us to construct an intelligent well-thoughtout approach, which offers the reasonable chance to arrest this retrogression which has been crippling us.
We are distinctly not on the road we thought we had set out on as a nation. And we certainly can do better.
We in North Leeward had been hoping that our brother Dr. Timothy Providence would have been shortly, participating in getting organized the plan on the basis of which our community could have offered our young citizens reasonable hope to prosper under the umbrella of Peace and Justice. Those of us remaining must assert
ourselves now and we must sincerely endeavour to repair this retrogression which has been so painfully crippling our society over the last several decades. I believe that there are still individuals in our society of the calibre of Dr. Timothy Providence mature enough to devise a plan which can extricate us from this Socio-economic quagmire which is stifling us today.
May Dr. Timothy Providence, our caring Vincentian brother, now Rest in Peace.
LeRoy Providence 1st December 2025
now comes the hard part
Continued from Page 9.
How under heavens does Elouise Gonsalves, the former Prime Minister’s wife, get the contract to provide meals to workers and volunteers in the Southern Grenadines in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, which allowed her to make hundreds of thousands of dollars while smaller, struggling businesses had no knowledge or opportunity to make a decent living? How does the PM’s wife and brother-in-law get to control the space used for restaurants at the international airport? What is the monthly rent? Are they behind in their rental payments, and by how much? Were they given concessionary rates? Were these spaces put up for competitive bidding? These people made a lot of money
during the ULP tenure in government. As early as 2018, Storm Gonsalves, at the tender age of 25 and just out of university, had sufficient disposable income to purchase an EC$1 million luxury apartment in Trinidad, while his mother was making a similar purchase. It would be interesting to see how much money they paid in taxes, especially since former PM Gonsalves took delight in telegraphing who were allegedly major tax evaders. A new beginning is necessary, but only possible if we know the true reality confronting our country. May the government of PM Friday seek the information needed to tell citizens the deep hole into which Gonsalves ULP dug for us.
Dr. Timothy Providence
Leisure
ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20)
You need to fulfill your needs and pre sent your talents. Focus your efforts on details, and keep to yourself in order to finish your work. They won't pay you back and you'll be upset. Escapist tendencies will result in a poor reputation and a lack of confidence.
TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21)
Try to make arrangements with close friends or relatives to spend a few days away. Don't try to hide your true feelings from your mate. Emotionally, things may not run so smoothly. You can finish projects early, which will bring you praise from superiors.
GEMINI (May 22-June 21)
Your position may be in question if you haven't been pulling your weight. You may find that your plans will cost a little more than you had expected. Travel should be on your mind. Get involved in a competitive sport that will bring the challenges you thrive on.
CANCER (June 22-July 22)
You will find that money could slip through your fingers. Think twice before you agree to take on any new projects. Opportunities for travel and socializing are evident. Don't be too quick to respond to a plea for help.
LEO (July 23-Aug 22)
Compromise will be necessary. Don't hold yourself back because you think you're too old. Romantic relationships should stabilize. Don't hold back.
VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23)
You will be extremely sensual; take precautions and don't take any risks. You'll be dropping friends for no apparent reason. You will attract new love interests. The emotional state of peers may cause a problem for you.
LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23)
Be sure to sidestep those who are
eccentric or unpredictable. Don't bother complaining, do the work yourself. You need to make your lover feel wanted, not like a piece of the furniture. Involvement in groups will be favorable. Business partnerships will prove lucrative.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)
Health problems may prevail if you haven't been getting enough rest. You can win if you're open and up front with your boss. You need an energetic outlet that will help you dissipate your anxiety. Children may be on your mind.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21)
Make sure that all your legal papers are in proper order. Don't second guess yourself, just go to it. Self-improvement projects will payoff in more ways than one. Get back into a routine that promises a better looking, more aware individual.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20)
Payoff all your debts before you go out and celebrate. You can ask for favors and get sound advice from close friends or relatives. Group endeavors will provide you with entertainment. Put your efforts into making constructive improvements to your environment and to your state of mind.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19)
You must look into your options. Your emotions may get the better of you. Do not invest in joint ventures. You need to get down to basics with regard to yourself.
PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20)
Consider starting a small business on the side. Look for a marketable gimmick. You may have difficulty trying to get your mate to understand your position. You should be raising your self esteem and confidence in order to promote your work. Help those incapable of taking care of their personal affairs.
ACROSS
1.Cape __, MA
4. Tobacco holder
8. Rib, for one
12. Former airline
13. Hymn’s end
14. Like a big fan
15. B-ball official
16. What a dieter measures
18. Sawyer’s pal
20. Ancient
21. Places for tabs
23. Waffle brand
25. Caesar and others
26. Pertaining to water
29. Friend (Fr.)
30. Slips over
31. Omaha’s state (abbr.)
33. Tableland
35. Rover’s friend
36. Combustible material
37. Stretchy fabric
38. Reprimand
41. Long skirt
42. Deli order (2 wds.)
45. Liable (to)
48. lota
49. __ Patrick Harris
50. Three, in Rome
51. Foster’s costar in “Sommersby”
52. A few
53. Very wide shoe width
DOWN
1.Middle (abbr.)
2. Have bills
3. Yellow flower
4. Chess pieces
5. “__ Old Cowhand” (2 wds.)
6. Canadian prov.
7. O’Toole’s rank (abbr.)
8. Voting paper
9. Roman writer
10. Innings count, usually
11. Genesis locale
17. Roman
“__ My Party”
Govt. agcy.
Wilted
Fifty-fifty
Hindu teacher
Skipper’s direction
Start
Yield territory 30. Wall beams
Cardboard 34. Burning
Modern
machine
Large dipper
Bambi’s father
Adorable
__ about (approximately,
wds.)
Cripple 43. Reply (abbr.) 44. Feline zodiac sign
46. Before (prefix)
47. Kickoff device
Mexico women humiliate Lady Heat
LADY HEAT,St.
Vincent and the Grenadines’ senior female football team, suffered a humiliating 14nil trashing at the hands (feet?) of Mexico, in their opening fixtures
of Group A in the CONCACAF Women’s qualifiers at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex, last Saturday, Nov. 29.
Mexico, with a FIFA ranking currently at 29 as of August 07, 2025, was in command from the get-go when Charlyn Corral opened the scoring in the 6th minute with a chip in the box. Jacqueline Ovalle followed soon after, netting Mexico’s second in the 14th minute.
Corral went on a spree and scored six more goals in the 22nd, 45th, 61st, 86th, 90th, and 93rd minute.
Ovalle had herself a hat trick adding goals in the 57th and 65th minute to her earlier 14th minute conversion.
Mexico’s other goals came from Scarlett Camberos in the 25th, Alice Soto in the 55th, Montserrat Saldivar in the
73rd, and Maria Sanchez in the 75th minute.
In a post-match press conference, Chelsea Cordice, captain of the Lady Heat team, while conceding defeat expressed the view that her team needed to improve if “we are to compete at this (Concacaf) level,” and noted that the encounter was for all intents and purposes a learning experience.
“I am disappointed in the outcome,” Cordice admitted, adding that “I said to the girls we have a flag to play for; all we can do from this game is to recognize our mistake and learn from it.”
Cordice recognized the vast experience that Mexico brought to the table, saying, “We knew it was not going to be an easy task. We do have a very young team compared to Mexico and we have a lot to learn.”
She pointed to some shortcomings in the host’s play. “Our weak area was the pressing; we gave them too much space on the ball. And our midfield was too far apart. For the next game we need to know how to move better and play the game.”
Lady Heat’s fixture from here on reads: Puerto Rico on February 2nd; United States Virgin Islands on March 14; and St. Lucia on March 18th.
I.B.A. ALLEN
Kendale Mercury back in the fold
KENDALE MERCURY
is back in the national Football fold. He has been assigned the role of Head Coach of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Under-17 male outfit.
His immediate tasks include facing up to the challenge of guiding the team through the Concacaf Qualifiers, in which St Vincent and the Grenadines is placed in Group E, alongside the USA, Dominican Republic and St. Kitts and Nevis.
Mercury who had stints with the Under20s and the senior men’s
national team, dropped off the radar when chose not to renew his contract with the senior team in 2023.
He promised then, to reassess his position and return with a different mindset.
And after putting the challenges of the past behind him, including his rocky relationship during this tenure with the Carl Dickson led Executive of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation, Mercury is ready and raring to go.
“I am always playercentred, so when asked to fill the role I thought
about taking the opportunity to help the youngsters. In addition, the hierarchy of the Executive of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation also thought they wanted a person of my experience to take the Under-17 programme”, Mercury told THE VINCENTIAN.
Mercury noted that his son Marquise, also played a part in his decision to step back into the national programme.
“He is one of my biggest support bases and he, although just a Form One student,
advised that I return and here I am, giving what I think I have to offer to St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Football.
Mercury shared his assessment that with the Male Under-17 Qualifiers held every February, it a golden outlet for St. Vincent and the Grenadines to build its programme.
“This is a dream job for coaches, where you know that the Qualifiers are every year, therefore you can plan accordingly, have a ready done data base from the previous age groups and work from there. Such regular
competitions augur well for incremental development”, Mercury proffered.
Happy to be back, Mercury and his coaching staff are in the process of identifying players who fit the age eligibility ahead of rolling out their programme in the next two months.
Since leaving the St. Vincent and the Grenadines set up, Mercury had a stint in the Antigua and Barbuda with Aston Villa Club, and returned to help guide Bequia United to the top
Tier of the SVGFF National Club Championships. Kendale Mercury returns to the national football fold after an absence of two or so years.
Lady Heat’s starting eleven against Mexico.
Chelsea Cordice (right), captain of Lady Heat, and Ossana De Riggs-Boyea, Manager, at the post match press conference.
Charlyn Corral, 34 years old, helped herself to a whopping seven goals.
Jacqueline Ovalle, left winger, turned in three goals of her own.
RSVG
POLICE
MASTERS,
NORTH
EAST
MASTERS, Mustique Company Masters, GECCU Stanley Browne Stubbs Masters booked their spots in the semifinal of the SVG T20 Masters Cricket Competition.
The semifinals will be played on Saturday 6th December: Mustique Company Masters face GECCU Stanley Browne Stubbs at Stubbs, and RSVG Police Masters oppose North East Masters at Sion Hill. In a quarterfinal match played last Sunday at Park Hill, RSVG Police Masters beat Davis Construction Bequia Masters by 30 runs. Scores: Police Masters 142 for 4 off 15 overs (match reduced to 15 because of a late start), Hyron Shallow 93, Salvan Browne 30; Bequia Masters 112 all out off 14.4 overs, Renold Campbell 29, Sherlon Pompey 21, Carlos Sampson 4 for 16.
Also on Sunday November 30th at Park Hill in a later match, North East Masters defeated Strokes Masters by 9 wickets. Scores: Strokes Masters 47 all out off 14 overs, Shane Shillingford 4 for 5, Rajiv
Barbados Pride take 2025/26 Super50 Cup Masters semis this Saturday
Roberts 3 for 23, Emron Lorraine 3 for 8; North East 48 for 1 off 4.1 overs, Shillingford 29.
At Stubbs, Mustique Company Masters beat North Windward Masters by 111 runs. Scores: Mustique Masters 204 for 5 off 20 overs, Oneil Thomas 60, Drumo Toney 48, Shem Browne 42; North Windward 93 for 9 off 20 overs, Raymond Jordan 27, Caswell Dorsett 3 for 13, Colbert Raimie 3 for 16.
.At Sion Hill, GECCU Stanley Browne Stubbs defeated North Leeward Masters by 8 wickets. Scores: North Leeward Masters 59 all out off 13.5 overs, Kevin Michael 27; Stubbs Masters 60 for 2 off 8 overs.
The final takes place on Sunday 7th December at Sion Hill.
Stories by I.B.A. ALLEN
Russell retires from IPL
FORMER WEST INDIES
all-
rounder Andre Russell, on Sunday, announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL), in a move that marks the end of a long career in the subcontinent, with one franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
The decision came after the franchise opted not to retain the allrounder for the 2026 season, prompting the 37-year-old to call time on his on-field IPL career.
However, in a testament to his indelible legacy, Russell’s association with KKR is far from over. The franchise has immediately brought Russell into its coaching set-up, naming him the team’s “power coach” for the upcoming season.
“I’ve decided to retire from the IPL,” Russell stated. “I’ll still be active playing in various leagues all around the world and all the other KKR franchises. I had an amazing
time and great memories, hitting sixes, winning games, MVPs and all of those things.” He elaborated on the rationale behind the decision, emphasizing a desire to leave at the peak of his reputation.
“But sometimes you just have to know when to hang up the boots. I don’t want to fade out, I want to leave a legacy.”
Hyron Shallow, of RSVG Police Masters, has shown good form with the bat throughout the duration, so far, of this year’s Master Cricket Competition.
A DOMINANT BATTING DISPLAY BYBarbados Pride helped to humble defending champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, and set the ‘Bajan’s on a path to a resounding 9-wicket victory, and to lay claim to the champions’ trophy in the 2025/26 CWI CG United Super50 Cup.
In a lopsided final at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, San Fernando on Saturday, yhe Pride’s easy win was setup by left-arm bowlers Joshua Bishop (slow orthodox) and Dominic Drakes (fast bowler), with both snaring four wickets to lead the demolition of the home side’s batting, with them
A cornerstone of the KKR side since 2014, he was instrumental in two IPL titles for Kolkata, in his debut season of 2014 and again in the 2024 campaign. In 133 appearances, the Jamaican scored 2,593 runs at a strike rate of
174.96, clubbing 220 sixes and 12 half-centuries. With the ball, he claimed 122 wickets and took 40 catches. His 16 Player-of-the-Match awards for KKR are second only to his long-time teammate Sunil Narine.
being eventually bowled out for a paltry 168 in 42.3 overs.
Kyle Mayers, captain, then hit an unbeaten 89 off 79 balls, inclusive of seven sixes and six fours, and partnered with Leniko Boucher, who hit a runa-ball 50 with nine fours and one six, in wasting no time in rushing to 169 for 1 in a mere 20.3. overs.
The Windward Volcanoes, meanwhile, finished third in the points standing with 12 points, garnered from 2 wins, 1 loss and 2 No Results in the five matches they played.
There was no champion declared in the 20124/25 edition of the Super50 Cup, after the finalists (Barbados Pride and Jamaica Scorpions) both forfeited the final when their captains were not present for a delayed toss, effectively refusing to play.
Barbados Pride had much to be proud of when they mauled T&T Red Force to take the 2025/26 Super50 Cup championship title.
Kyle Mayers, captain of the Barbados Pride, led his team with his bat, to a resounding victory in the finals of the 2025/26 Super50 Cup.
Andre “Dre Russ” Russel will no longer be an on the field participant in the ULP.
Cupid takes up Sports Ministry
Congratulations are in order for the new Minister of Sports - Kaschaka Cupid. There is no question as to his connection to sports. His cricketing career might not be distinguished but he was known as a capable batsman but he represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines at least up to the Under-19 level.
His duties will be eased by the existing support structure and I dare say, he will receive great solidarity from his colleagues in the West St. George constituency. Ironically and perhaps ideally, Cupid is somewhere at the centre of this country’s sporting showpiece. The Arnos Vale Sporting Complex is in West St. George, the constituency which Cupid represents.
Expectations are heaped on his shoulders. He may preside over the presentations of trophies and awards at the Masters Cricket Championship expected to wind up this weekend.
Cupid may entertain thoughts of a return to the field to add some dignity to the that Championship. That depends on other commitments. In any event, one can be assured of his endorsement.
If he needs any solidarity, his cabinet colleague Dr. Kishore Shallow will offer support. They have been around the sporting circuit long enough to bring increased attention and added value. Their collaboration can best serve the nation’s interest. Further as Tourism Minister, Dr. Shallow will be pleased to see visitor arrival in any form.
There will be no doubt about Prime Minister Friday’s appreciation of the sporting influx. Expansion of the Bequia Regatta may be an aspect of the sporting calendar on which everyone will work together. And there is the potential of a broader sailing impact designed to include the entire state of St. Vincent and the Grenadine.
Culture and sport are intertwined, especially in the Caribbean. This nation is poised to ride the momentum of expansion with provision of sporting infrastructure which has been an ongoing feature of infrastructural development here.
The programme must continue. And being the Minister of Youth, there is a platform for coordination.
There are many a sport fanatic in the new regime. Cupid can count on St. Clair Leacock’s sporting capacity, After all he has been a Football Federation President.
The support deepens with former national football goalkeeper Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble combining his Foreign Affairs connection to Cupid’s sporting agenda.
Shevern John perhaps owes her success to her efforts in sports in North Windward. Nigel Stephenson has some groundings in sports long before he delved into the politics of South Leeward. John and Stephenson’s involvement in sports may well have galvanized their support in their respective constituencies.
Conroy Huggins is known as a sporting enthusiast and his constituency is established as a national sporting hub. Who can deny the vibrancy of sport in Central Leeward? Football clashes between Barrouallie and Layou were often a welcome addition to the nation’s football calendar.
The stage is set for exciting time in sports.
Tier II Football Clubs grouped
THE TWENTY-FIVE CLUBS THAT are listed in Tier II of the 2025/2026 St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation’s (SVGFF) National Club Championships (NCC), have been placed in four groups.
In Group A are Owia, Parkside Rollers, Sharpes, Largo Height, Pride and Joy, DESCO and Toni Stores Jugglers.
Making up Group B are SV United Strike Force, RSVG Police, QCESCO Titans, Sharpes 09, and United Strikers.
Sion Hill leads Group C, which also includes Richmond Hill, Greiggs, Roxdale, Green Hill and 1998 Hillside Rollers.
And, Group D comprises Glenside Ball Blazers, Sparta, K & R Strikers, Brownstown, Hill View and Blossom Unlimited.
The group phase will be played on a round robin basis, from which the three top units from each group, and the bottom three
System Three - champions of Tier 11 of the 2024/2025 National Football Club Championships.
or four will advance to the play offs of Class A and Class B, respectively.
Class A will feature two groups of six, while Class B will see one group of six and another with seven.
The two top teams will advance to the semifinals and a crack at the title.
SVGCC to crown new netball champ
THE SVG COMMUNITY COLLEGE Invitational
Competition is heading to crown a new/different champion.
This after the Division of Nursing Shooters took down the defending champions - Associates Combined, 20-10, in one of the quarter finals played on Tuesday 25th November. Victonia Williams led the way for the Shooters, scoring 14 of 32 attempts.
Also coming out on top in a quarterfinal encounter on Tuesday afternoon were the Division of Technical and Vocational Education Stars. They defeated the Division of Arts, Sciences and General Studies Belles 15-4. Goal Attack Juricia Solomon was in fine form for the Stars scoring 12 of 19 shots taken.
Another on court result went in favor of the Division of Arts, Sciences and General Studies Elites, who had the better of DTVE Netters 15-10. Lead scorers were Nickyla Tannisif the Elites with 9 of her 15 tries, and Noyara Murray, 8 of 16 shots, for the Netters.
The fourth team to cruise effortlessly into the semifinals was City Auto Parts Northern Girls who won by default from the Division of Teacher Education Alphas.
Class A winners earn $15 000, second place- $11 000, third place$6000 and fourth- $2000. The winner of Class B pockets $7500, second place$5500, third place -$3000 and fourth$1000.
The NCC also comprises the Tier One Semi- Professional Division, the Women’s Division which has an 11 vs 11 component as well as a First Division, the Under-13 Male, Under- 15 Male and Under-17 Male.
The date for the commencement of the NCC is to be announced.
System Three was crowned champions of Tier II in the 20242025 National Club Championships, beating Bequia United 2-1 in the finals to claim that accolade.
Having clinched berths in the finals, both System Three and Bequia United were promoted to the Premier Division of the 2025/2026 club championships.
Netball
Women in focus: 2 murdered, 1 missing
Niesha Frederick was the latest addition to the list of persons killed in Ottley Hall, in recent years. (Facebook Photo)
POLICEin St. Vincent and the Grenadines are investigating the murders of two women killed within a three-day span.
The first victim, 34year-old Mitah Patterson, a farmer of Texier Road, Layou, was shot and killed on Friday, November 28, at around 7:45 a.m. along. He remained lying in public view in the main road in her community.
According to a police report, Patterson sustained several gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene by the District Medical Officer.
The second victim, 48-year-old Niesha Frederick, a sanitation department employee and resident of Ottley Hall, was fatally shot late Monday, December 1, 2025, in her community.
Police say Frederick was found lying motionless near the Ame Zion Pentecostal Church, at about 11:45 p.m. She had also sustained multiple gunshot injuries and was pronounced dead at 12:52 a.m. by the District Medical Officer. She was the mother of five children.
Post-mortems will be conducted to determine the precise cause of death in both cases. In another case that is occupying the attention of law enforcement officers, the police has launched a public appeal
for assistance in locating Lyda “ Sherica” Adams. Adams, 36 years old resident of Keartons, Barrouallie, who is said to be six months pregnant, and according to a police report was last seen at 8:05 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, 2025, “wearing a Brown T-shirt with a teddy bear design on the front, long brown pants, and foot wear unknown. She is 5 feet 9 inches in height, fair in complexion, brown
eyes, with a braided hairstyle.”
A source close to her family shared that Adams had left home saying she was heading for Bequia and has not been seen since.
The Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force is requesting anyone with potential information to come forward in the case off the missing female and the two homicides. (KH)
AI REAL ESTATE
RED IS THE CODE IN ST. LUCIA
resounding 14-3 victory in the 17-seat race.
In so doing, the electorate handed 71-year-old Phillip Pierre a second consecutive term as Prime Minister.
The result must have caused mixed feeling in neighbouring St. Vincent and the Grenadines where five days earlier the SLP’s sister party, the Unity Labour Party led by Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, was swept from government in a 14-1 trouncing by the opposition New Democratic Party led by Dr. Godwin Friday.
And as far the as the colouration of the results panned out in recent polls, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are now coded yellow, but the Allen Chastanet-led United Workers party failed to add to that collection in St. Lucia.
In fact, Chastanet was the lone successful candidate for his UWP, with the other two seats going to independents — Stephenson King and Richard Frederick both of whom, in their earlier political careers, were members of the UWP, with King serving as Prime Minister in that party’s administration (2007 to 2011).
During the election, the SLP advocated for stability and cautious economic management, while the UWP argued that security deteriorated under Pierre’s leadership partly because of more limited U.S. support for local police - restricted on grounds of past human rights abuses under the U.S. Leahy Law. The UPW called for more transparent auditing of the island’s citizenship-by-investment (CBI) programme, introduced in St. Lucia in 2015.
CBI programmes are deemed to be important sources of tax income for several small island nations in the Eastern Caribbean, St. Vincent and the Grenadines being the exception.
Prime Minister Pierre on being declared a winner once again, was visibly emotional and praised the nation for a peaceful electoral day.
“First of all, I would like to thank the people of St. Lucia for conducting what was a very decent election, an election free from violence, and this is testimony to the maturity of our people and the maturity of our democracy,” Pierre said according to local press reports.
He directed his gratitude not to any one person but to the collective engine that powered the campaign – constituency groups, party executives, and volunteers working behind the scenes.
Pierre also extended a diplomatic olive branch to the opposition, urging a collective reset for the sake of parliamentary balance.
“There is a place in Parliament for the opposition, and we will move forward and work moving forward together,” Pierre said, reaffirming his belief in democratic coexistence.
“Because we think there is a role for the opposition so the fine traditions of democracy can prevail.”
Opposition leader Allen Chastanet successfully defended his seat in Micoud South, defeating the SLP candidate, medical doctor Dr. Shanda Lee Harracksingh. However, the party’s overall results left UWP operatives contemplating next steps.
Political analyst and columnist Rick Wayne, said on local television that Chastanet would now need to consider surrendering party leadership.
“He will have to look at giving up the leadership of the party, having lost two consecutive general elections,” Wayne asserted.
Opposition Leader Dr. Ralph Gonsalves travelled to Castries, Saint Lucia, to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre on Friday, December 5. (Sources: CN Weekly, The Guardian)
Castries was awash in red after the SLP victory.
Allen Chastanet will now have to reconsider his leadership role in the UWP.
Philiip Pierre began his second term as Prime Minister on December 02, 2025.