THE VINCENTIAN PDF-08-04-22

FRIDAY, APRIL 08,

2022

VOLUME 116, No.14

Vac./ID card coming Page 3

www.thevincentian.com

Remembering Ms. Rodney Page 7

EC$1.50

Fair Chance goes under Page 14

ATIPU marks 10 years Page 15-18

Vincymas in full Page 28

THREE CHARGED IN CAR PARK STABBING man fights back by holding one of his attackers in a chokehold THE FRIDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING position. However, he was mass gathering of persons, overpowered and fell to the including school children, at the car ground, at which point he parks at the Massy supermarkets in received multiple stab wounds Stoney Ground and Arnos Vale, drew about his body, including his heightened concern following an head. incident around 6pm on Friday 1st On Sunday, police arrested and April, at the Stoney Ground car jointly charged Jomarie Lynch, park.

23-year-old labourer, Desroy A video posted online showed Smith, a 19-year-old student and at least three men wrestling a Jason Pierre, 18- year-old young man to the ground. The unemployed with the offence of

by KENVILLE HORNE

A typical Russell Mall car park setting on a Friday afternoon.

wounding.

They are accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding a 23year-old labourer (name withheld by the police) of Lowmans Leeward /Stoney Grounds, by stabbing him multiple times about his body.

The accused are expected to appear before the Serious Offences Court to answer the charge.

Continued on Page 3.

The MV Guidance (right) and FV Glorious berthed safely at the wharf in Canouan, after the rescue mission. (Photo Credit: Donald De Riggs)

MV GUIDANCE RESCUES FV GLORIOUS ON SUNDAY, APRIL 03, the crew of a Grenadian registered fishing vessel - the FV Glorious thanked the captain and crew of the MV Guidance for their quick response in coming to their rescue, after having run out of fuel (diesel) and began drifting away quickly.

They were about 5 miles West of Canouan heading back to Grenada, when they ran out of fuel.

According to the Captain of the MV Guidance he received a call from the vessel in distress. He immediately informed the Coast Guard and Customs, who requested that he procced with the rescue, since the available coast guard patrol would not be able to tow the fishing vessel, which was much large that the patrol.

The MV Guidance towed the stricken vessel into Canouan where it was searched as a standard procedure, and log book scrutinized. The crew were not allowed to disembark and an all night watch was in effect to ensure there was no violation of Customs orders.

Having purchased fuel in Canouan and engine operational again, the FV Glorious was able to depart Canouan and return to Grenada. “on their own steam”, much to the delight of worrying families in Grenada.

This incident followed closely on one involving a St. Vincent and the Grenadines vessel, MV Fair Chance, which capsized and sank off the Bocas in Trinidad waters, on Saturday 02, April, leaving five of its seven-man crew missing. (Contributed by: Donald De Riggs.)

Related story on Page 14.

2. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . 3.

News 3 Emergency Response project launched

Some of the first Seeds as they are referred to, who will be trained in Taiwan.

A PROJECT AIMED at enhancing this country’s capacity to respond to emergencies was officially launched on April 5.

The project, known as the ‘Public Health Emergency Response System Enhancement Project’ is a collaboration between the Republic of China (Taiwan) Technical Mission and the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment.

“We are going to improve the capacity of

emergency response through the enhancement of the public health,” Ambassador of the Republic of Chine (Taiwan) H.E Peter ShaLi Lan said.

He explained the project had three main components — to build capacity, equipment upgrades and enhancing community awareness.

Ten people have been selected and will travel to Taiwan where they will be trained over a

three-month period and upon their return, train others H.E Sha-Li Lan said.

“This is going to be a four-year project and we believe that through this project we will better be equipped to counter the impact from COVID-19 and the volcanic eruption here,” said the Ambassador.

Meanwhile, this country’s health minister St Clair Prince explained that the project got

underway in November 2021 with the executing agencies being the Taiwan Technical Mission and the Health Security Unit.

The Health Security Unit, according to Prince, was set up to strengthen, focus and coordinate the country’s response to all hazards and emergencies.

“The unit is mandated to coordinate our response and mitigate and prepare for hazards such as natural events, biological, radiological — even nuclear events, chemical events, climate change and infectious diseases especially those of international concern,” Prince said.

The outcome of the project was to improve resilience within the health system by improving emergency response at all levels.

And for the first time, Vincentians will be trained in emergency response who will then train Emergency Medical Technicians’ type I in the

Vaccination ID card on stream THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM will soon begin the distribution of COVID-19 related vaccination identification cards (ID’s) for persons in the tour industry and later to the public.

CEO of the Tourism Authority, Glen Beache, made the announcement during a press conference at the Ministry of Tourism conference room on Wednesday 6.

He said that the vaccination ID initiative falls under the Ministry of Tourism it will be rolled out in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

According to Beache, the vaccination ID card is a result of a process during which consideration was given as to how to verify the vaccination status of the taxi drivers, tour guides and tour operators, so as to assure passengers that it was safe to use certain taxi drivers and tour guides.

The ID card will now become an ID card and a vaccination card for tourism stakeholders/functionaries, and

will give the date of first dose, date of second dose and batch number and date of booster if one was administered. The back of the card will carry a QR code that will carry all the information, revealed when screened.

Beache assured that there will be intense checks with the Ministry of Health with respect to the status of persons applying for the new vaccination ID card.

“So it is not a matter of them just presenting the vaccination card,” Beache stressed.

And as far as making the ‘new’ card available to the public, the CEO said, “At this time we are also looking at providing this for the public but it will be at a cost.

We have not priced it out completely but from what I am seeing, we are looking at a cost between $150 and $200, for one of these cards.”

He admitted that there might be comment about the card being expensive but he explained that whatever the cost, it was based on inclusion of all that was needed to produce the card, e.g. printer and

Glen Beache – CEO Tourism Authority. ink.

The use of the card by the public is especially useful for those who travel often and who encounter checks for vaccination status at airports, restaurants, etc., the CEO cited, adding that the design of the card for use in the tourism will differ from the one issued to the public.

The ‘new’ card will be available for distribution to those in the tourism industry between this week and the end of next week.

(KH)

Some of the equipment donated to the Ministry of Health. first instance, then they will be focusing in on EMT Type II and then move on to paramedics, the health minister said.

He added, “We are

now working towards strengthening legislation and crafting policy to allow for these EMTs to be our responders on our ambulances.” (DD)

Three charged in car park stabbing Continued from Front page.

Some of the eye witnesses to the incident spoke with this reporter.

Having a say Innis Primus said she feared that the Massy supermarket car park at Arnos vale could be the next to experience an incident of the one referenced here.

“Can’t understand why the management of these supermarkets is allowing their premises to take on a Heritage Square appearance every Friday evening. Very soon customers will be afraid to go to these supermarkets to shop which eventually will do bad for the business,” Primus added.

Popular radio host, Christopher ‘2Kool Chris’ Jones also weighed in on the matter.

The host of the popular morning programme AM Mayhem aired on Hot 97.1 FM, said, “Listen, I’ve said it before and I’mma say it again. That big gathering in them carparks, both Massy Arnos Vale and Stoney Ground, the police need to put an end to that ehh... it’s only a matter of time before someone is killed and simply because of ignorance.”

Continuing his take on the matter, Jones said on Monday that there is a need to stop what is taking place and suggested ‘No Loitering’ signs be placed at the car parks as well as assigning a police detail to the areas.

Co-host and proprietor of Hot 97.1 - Luke Boyea, proposed the main tenants of the properties (at Arnos Vale) take issue with the landlords.

“Remember Massy is the main business here but they don’t actually own the property. So the only way I think it’s going to change is if say like in Arnos Vale, the two main tenants, which I think are KFC and Massy, say look we are going to withhold the rent unless you deal with the problem…, ” Boyea detailed.

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4. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

Women

Another RedRootSVG programme completed REDROOTSVG INC. closed its first training programme for 2022 on March 24.

Dubbed the ‘Against All Odds Training Programme’, it commenced on January 17 and was held at

RedRootSVG’s office in Paul’s Avenue.

Some twenty-three certificates were presented to women in four different skills (area): mixology, customer service, QuickBooks and

beginners nail technology According to a release from RedRootSVG, the training programme was intended to impart certain skills to women, so as to aid them in better equipping themselves to create

Graduates of RedRoot’s Against All Odds Training Programme’ and RedRoot Executive Members (seated).

meaningful employment in the near future.

RedRootSVG Inc. is an NGO dedicated to empowering and supporting women and children who are victims

of violence, inequality and sexual abuse in St. Vincent, by offering training programmes, empowerment workshops and children’s summer programmes.

It has been offering training programmes and workshops aimed at uplifting women and children since 2018.

(Source: RedRootSVg Inc.)

Women farmers get Canadian assistance variety, quantity and quality of crops A LOCAL organization - Women in they desired, and often times the yield Agriculture for Rural Development produced was relatively low.

(WARD) — was recently the recipient In extending their sincere of a quantity of equipment, appreciation for the assistance which compliments the Canadian High Commission in Barbados, through its is expected to address their challenges, the members of WARD local project initiative window, pledged to take good care of the Canada Fund for Local Initiative equipment, to make maximum use of (CFLI).

The equipment was handed over to them towards enhancing their livelihood. They noted that their WARD on Wednesday, 23rd March, work will be much easier as they 2022, by Ms. Amanda Martinez, Political Officer of the Canadian High acquaint themselves with the use of the equipment, enabling them to Commission. contribute more meaningfully not only Ms. Martinez, in brief remarks at the handover, said inter alia, that her to rural development, but to the High Commission was pleased to be of nation as a whole. assistance to women farmers.

The donation (equipment) included: rotating garden tillers, trimmers, wood chippers, post-hole diggers and landscape fabric covers.

Along with the equipment, the assistance also provides for the purchase of seeds, field demonstrations, hands-on training in the use and maintenance of the equipment and training and capacity building in areas of Environmental Preservation, Strategic Farm Management Practices and Composting.

The women farmers noted that over the years, their operations have been very labour intensive and the Executive/members of Ward and Ms. overall cost of production Amanda Martinez, Political Officer of the extremely high. As such they Canadian High Commission (left) at the were unable to produce the handover of the equipment.

V Thrift store to open in Bequia

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 5.

Bequia Focus

BEQUIA is to get its first ever charity-run ‘thrift’ store this summer, offering second-hand clothing, books and homeware at bargain prices - all in aid of The Sunshine School for Children with Special Needs.

Due to open in June, the store known as ‘Encore’, has been made possible thanks to financial support from community group Action Bequia, itself an environmental pioneer which instigated the island’s recycling programme in 2016 and which now employs nine people.

‘Encore’ will be based in the harbour area of Port Elizabeth between Front Street and the start of the famed Belmont Walkway. Its name

has been chosen to reflect the opportunity to give a repeat performance of something much loved and appreciated.

‘Encore’ will be manned by volunteers and rely on donations of items from the community.

Island resident and Treasurer of the Sunshine School, Suzanne Gabriel, is co-ordinating the project’s launch.

“Shopping at Encore will not only be kind to people’s wallets with so many amazing bargains to be had, but it’s also going to help us be kind to the planet,” she said.

“Approximately 12 million tons of clothing end up in landfill each year, yet 85% of it is in perfect condition

Bequia gets assistance for playing fields upkeep SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Consul General to Northern Ireland Dr. Christopher Stange facilitated the donation of a brand-new commercial grade zero-turn agricultural tractor lawn mower to assist the Bequia Sports Management Committee. The machinery valued at £12,000 (EC$45,000.00) will be used Handover party: (R-L): Mrs. primarily for the Sandy Peters-Phillips, PS upkeep of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. playing fields on Carlos Williams, Deputy Bequia.

Director, Grenadines Affairs; Mr. Carlos Ms. Shemma Sayers, Europe Williams, Deputy Desk Officer, Ministry of Director for Grenadines Affairs Foreign Affairs; Mr. Kasi Simmons and Mr. Kendale and Mrs. Sandy Mercury of the Bequia Sports Peters-Phillips in Management Committee. the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and representatives of the Bequia Sports Management Committee were on hand to receive the donation at the St. Vincent Port Authority, Kingstown.

In applauding the initiative, Consul General Dr. Stange on behalf of the Consulate General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in Northern Ireland stated “It’s an honour to play our part overseas through foreign diplomacy to deliver this project and much needed equipment for the Northern Grenadines. Thank you to all our partners: Gosford Equipment, Kestrel Liner Agencies, Clarksons Port Services and SFG Forwarding in assisting us in the economic, social, sport, health and wellness development of our great country.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade expresses its appreciation to the Consul General and donors for their efforts in facilitating the donation of this important equipment that will be of great use and add to the future development of the Bequia Sporting Community.

(Submitted by: SVG Consul General to Northern Ireland Dr. Christopher Stange)

and could be reworn and reloved. The same is true of books and homeware, and it’s so much better to see things re-used rather than ending up in the dump.

“We all have things at home that we don’t want or need any more. Perhaps a dress that no longer fits, a bag you never use, a set of dishes that have now been replaced, or a cushion that no longer matches the décor. If you think someone else might love it, we can find it a new home and the school’s children will benefit.”

The Sunshine School is a not-for-profit institution, which through education and love, helps students aged from 5 to 20 to reach their full potential. It is dependent on donations and private fund-raising efforts, and like many other organisations has been hard hit by the global pandemic.

It is hoped that ‘Encore’ will become a significant source of income for the school and that it will also stock craft items made by the pupils.

Donations for the store, including clothing, books, furniture, homeware and electricals can be left at The Sunshine School in Port Elizabeth. All

Students and teachers of the Sunshine School welcome another donation from a generous benefactor.

The Sunshine School for Children with Special Needs on Bequia is one of three such Schools in SVG – the others are in Kingstown and Georgetown. donations should be clean and in good working order. Unfortunately, they are not able to accept VHS cassettes, DVDs or CDs. For further information contact: Suzanne Gabriel on (784) 528 7444 or (784) 457 3794. (Submitted)

6. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 7.

Tribute

They came from far and wide to pay tribute to an icon.

Anesta Rodney: A SisterÊs view

Anesta I-leen Rodney – stalwart of the Rose Hall community – leaves a legacy of sacrifice, commitment and service.

the Eulogist recalled, “She became THE NATION, North Wendy said that her their voice and offered them tangible Leeward in particular, on sister attended the help and encouragement.

This passion Saturday, 26th March, Troumaca Government of hers for the underlings of society 2022, bade farewell to an School since Rose Hall was evident by the continuous flow of extraordinary leader and did not have a Primary people who always strayed at our women’s rights activist school at the time.

Anesta I-leen Rodney, She became a teacher house. They came bruised, they came with a multiplicity of names, they affectionately referred to at a very young age were hurt and had problems. My sister as Nesta. before travelling to offered food, clothing and shelter. She She was laid to rest at Jamaica to further her gave advances (cash) and helped the Rose Hall cemetery education in Home after a service at the Economics at University people to migrate to metropolitan New Testament Church of Technology in Jamaica countries to improve their lives. in Rose Hall.

(UTEC).

Overall, hers was a mission of care.”

Rodney, a former The younger sister And her goodwill extended to secondary school said that delivering the persons from outside the Rose Hall principal at the eulogy was a very community, Wendy related. She Troumaca Ontario challenging task, referenced that “… persons from Secondary and the Petit Wendy Rodney recalled explaining, “Not because outside of Rose Hall would also come Bordel Secondary of any incapacity on my her sister as marching to Anesta’s home seeking refuge and schools, and president of forward in service to part but rather because she would accept them, sometimes the ‘beat of her own the National Women’s of the mystery of death without even knowing their drum’.

Council, passed away at and the struggle to background. Often it would be after her home in Rose Hall on encapsulate a life that the fact that she learned that some of Wednesday, 16th February after a was so expansive. There are so many her guests had been threatened.” brief illness. memories of and experiences shared She is credited with helping many with my sister Anesta that are so disadvantaged, at-risk women in uniquely expressive of her personality North Leeward; and providing training and her character, that what I say in home economics, sewing and cannot accurately represent through baking. She spearheaded the words a tiny sliver of who she was.” development of pre-schools and other education institutions in Rose Hall The Matriarch and surrounding communities, and in retirement, operated a small bakery She acknowledged Anesta as the and shop in Rose Hall. matriarch of the family, who Rodney was the daughter of Denzil practically raised a number of nieces Rodney. She went very quickly from and nephews. Rodney, she said, had a being a student to a teacher before distinctively calm and simple persona. serving as a principal. Sister and “But these belied her selfformer high school principal Wendy confidence and her very strong sense Rodney, who delivered the eulogy from of independence …. She would simply her location in Taiwan where she find her way to make things work…. currently teaches English, said that at her own pace and within her own Anesta was the second of 6 children time,” marching always “to the beat of for her mother, Mary Samuel Rodney, her own drum,” Wendy said. and father Denzil Rodney. She also And as for her commitment to the had 6 other siblings whom that her underprivileged and disadvantaged, father had after migrating to Trinidad.

Wendy admitted that the family was often inconvenienced by Anesta’s action but were also aware that she would be irritated if they did not comply with “what she expected of us.”

The Rose Hall community benefited tremendously from Anesta’s kindness, Wenday said.

“Through her profession as a teacher and by means of the adult education classes and the Rose Hall Working Group, she was able to share with many villagers and students her love of and her skills for home economics,” Wendy noted.

Undoubtedly, Anesta played an extraordinary leadership role in the community. Under her leadership and with the support of Chadis Stapleton as group facilitator for the Rose Hall Community working Group, various projects were implemented that contributed in great measure to community life and growth.

Many in Rose Hall can attest to this. The question is: Who will continue the work?

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8. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Editorial

Agriculture on the agenda THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE has given notice of its intention to launch a national marketing consultation, April 25, 2022.

According to a release from the Ministry, the consultation will engage “farmers, farm workers, fishers, agriculture co-operatives, exporters of fresh produce, agro-processors and agriculture students and their teachers”.

Additionally, the release disclosed that, “the Chief Agriculture Officer is currently engaging technicians to craft a framework for the introduction of a commodity production plan which is expected to produce for market demands”.

We would want to admit that the fore-mentioned encapsulates a noble intention on the part of the Ministry and by extension, the Government.

If the truth be told, though, the intention comes after many uninspiring responses by said Ministry to what is still a significant contributing sector to the socio-economic landscape of this country.

The question abounds: Is this latest effort, latest efforts, anymore inspiring?

We may find the answer if we are allowed to add an even more serious and far-reaching intent, call it an interpretation of the Ministry’s announcement; to mean that the announced intention is part and parcel of the more comprehensive plan to energise and modernize the agriculture industry.

After all, while the ‘modern’ trend is towards developing a service-oriented economy and society, dependent in the main on tourism as a major contributor to GDP, we have to ensure that the agricultural sector is in sync with that trust as an integral partner and not as a bastard child who enjoys’ only flippant support.

So let’s briefly take that point of departure.

Managing the decision-making processes of farming, agriculture has always been complex because there are so many different limiting factors that are not within a farmer’s control, e.g. weather.

Notwithstanding those limitations, the vision of sustainable agriculture, and that we assume is the goal of the Ministry’s plan(s), involves people in a variety of capacities throughout the industry.

Those capacities must not be

diminished by the fact that the amount of arable land is likely going to remain constant or decrease, the latter being driven by the trust towards plant construction to serve the tourism sector.

As the population steadily grows, we will need to produce more crops from existing resources. Can we do so from depleting resources? Food production must increase not decrease if not feeding ourselves swill become a herculean task, and there will be very little if any to export.

If the agriculture industry does not look beyond traditional strategies, and government does not attached a different and nonpartisan qualification to its handouts, future generations will not be able to produce and take advantage of our arable land.

In the past, agriculture focused on taking full advantage of available land and yielding as many crops as possible.

There was no focus on sustainable crop production or land preservation. From a financial standpoint there was no focus on profitability and conserving land and resources. These go hand-inhand.

But lest we forget, there are benefits of taking a leap towards sustainable agriculture as we endeavor to help growers and enterprises make better decisions.

By adopting sustainable practices, farmers will reduce their reliance on nonrenewable energy, reduce chemical use and save scarce resources. Keeping the land healthy and replenished can go a long way when considering the rising population and demand for food, not to mention attracting niche markets that are biased towards use of natural ingredient, i.e. organic material.

Farming smarter and moving food from farm to fork in a more efficient manner will benefit everyone involved within the agriculture industry, not lest ensuring the market readiness of the commodity.

The anticipated population increase is cause for concern. Today, there is an opportunity to develop agricultural practices from a pure production standpoint, and sustainable agriculture is the route with the most opportunity.

These are just some thoughts with extended intent that we hope would inform, to some degree, that marketing consultation that the Ministry has given notice of conducting.

Ready to fix it?

ARE YOU READY TO ADMIT that the Planning Department’s process for changing Land Use is broken?

How could an application for the use of over 6,000 sq ft of the seafloor be accepted when the applicant has no record of a lease or use agreement? How could the elected representative for the area not be aware that the Planning Department received an application for a Major Land Use in his district? How could the Deputy Prime Minister be on TV on Friday night, March 25th telling us to submit our comments to the Planning Department when the deadline for receiving comments according to the public posting was that said Friday? How could the Planning Board have a meeting on a change in Land Use without notifying the public of such a meeting? How could the Planning Department reject the applicant at the Thursday Board meeting when I was told by Staff, in response to a direct question, that the Board did not discuss it at the meeting held earlier that day?

But, enough of that, I am not looking to blame anyone. The irony of this all to me is that without any provocation, on Thursday, March 24th, a staff member told me that the system they have in place to review applications was “as good or better than any other in any part of the world.” This comment was after he asked me, “Who are you? Where are you from?” The rest of the conversation continued in that general tone for quite a while. I can assure you I took no offense to this aggressive yet defensive attitude.

But, in keeping with my new mantra, I will tell you something good about the team. They are a loyal, confident group of employees.

Now I think it’s time to review how this case was handled. There must be a way for us to stop these embarrassing episodes. These selfinflicted wounds are unnecessary and dangerous. I will freely admit that I do not know enough about the internal systems to be able to make suggestions for all the things that need to be changed to avoid another public embarrassment like this one.

However, I have a few suggestions on how we can improve the Departments’ interaction with the public in cases like these.

Before a public notice is posted in the newspaper and on the

Department’s web page, all of the essential components of the application must be completed by the applicant.

When those basics are completed, Staff should inform the elected representative of the area.

The assigned planner should meet with the applicant and review a public outreach. This process I will call a Citizen Participant Process (CPP).

What is a CPP? It is an effort to ensure that applicants pursue early and effective citizen participation in conjunction with their Land-use zoning change applications. It allows the applicant to understand and mitigate any real or perceived impacts their proposed changes may have on the community. This process will ensure that the citizens and property owners in the surrounding area around the project have an adequate opportunity to learn about applications. This approach puts the burden on the applicant to resolve concerns at an early stage in the application process and facilitate ongoing communication between the applicant, interested residents, property owners, and the Planning Department. This process will help the Staff of the Planning Department and the elected officials by giving them an early opportunity to gauge the community’s feelings for the project, before submitting a formal application to change the land use.

The following are five critical steps to an effective CPP: I. The Planning Department will provide a standard letter for mailing to everyone within 500 ft of the project property line. II. This letter is to be mailed to the property owner of record. III. The letter should include the details of the project, including an operations plan. IV. The applicant should organize at least one public meeting. This meeting should be held in the community where the project is located. V. A final CPP report should then be included in the formal application for Land-use changes.

This simple process would shift the burden of handling controversy associated with any project to the landowner and away from the Planning Department and other government officials.

As always, ready to help.

Horatio

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 9.

Letters

Office Attendants: Have a heart

OFFICE ATTENDANTS are workers too and deserve to be treated better. It is time to have a heart for them. While it is commendable to change the pension laws concerning teachers, the office attendants are seemingly forgotten and are not counted for much.

Those office attendants work very hard. Besides carrying out mails, they do office work like packing away files and other office duty, yet they are least paid and retire with very small pensions, if any. Come on man, have a heart for these dedicated and hardworking individuals without whom the workings of government will be set back. They are the ones who ensure communications between government departments and ministries, and between government and the private

sector.

Just think about it. If they fail to deliver a document let’s say for payments, then those who ought to receive payments would not. A delay in delivering can have a negative effect. So, they play a very pivotal role in the government service, yet they share least in benefits when they retire.

Sometimes they have to be at work early since they have to open the buildings of the various ministries, and also sometimes late in the evening to close up. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that they are the only important persons or the most important persons, but like all other civil servants they are important and, in some cases, work much harder than

some other civil servants.

While I don’t oppose the amendments to the pension act for teachers, we have to remember that our hard-working and dedicated office attendants need urgent attention. We need legislation that would make our office attendants pensionable after 15 years of unbroken service.

Can you imagine having office attendants working for over twentyfive years and go home with no pension, and have to wait until the age 65 to receive benefits from NIS. How unfair can you get? They risk their lives through sun and rain to ensure that communications are delivered on time to various ministries and department, while many

pensionable civil servants sit in airconditioned offices all day and when they retire receive handsome pensions.

Even worse are elected members of parliament. Some of them hardly do anything worthwhile but after two consecutive terms, i.e., 9 years, they qualify to receive pensions. What an injustice.

Who really cares for these office attendants and where is the heart for these workers? Come on man, they deserve better. It is time to consider this class of workers. It is time for a level playing field. It is time to make them truly pensionable.

Kennard King

World Boss ‘Kicksin in parliament’ should bring world peace THE ‘WORLD BOSS’ who sits at the world’s center for world peace, and, we are referring to the P.M of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves, what is he doing to prevent a third world war?

Apart from his lecturing of his 21 years in power, could he give us a lecture on the cause(s) of wars and how to prevent wars and bring about world peace? Dr., you are the ‘World Boss’ and if you cannot bring about world peace, are we to hold you accountable for aiding the course to war? This is no joke time in which we are living. We already feeling the impact of the Russian-Ukraine war: price hiking that is affecting businesses and the rich and the poor.

We in SVG, and the world in general, are feeling the smoke and it wouldn’t be long before we feel the fire if this war don’t stop. You are the ‘World Boss’; stop it or the people of SVG will hold you accountable. We want to know what is in the mind of Putin, why he embarked on the Ukraine war.

‘World Boss’, we also want to know if Putin committed war crime as the U.S and others accused him of.

As ‘World Boss’ explain Ezekiel 38:1-4 for us. We are not forgetting the reassuring kiss you gave to that female security. You are to speak as the ‘World Boss’ at this critical time in the history of man on earth. The only man who could prevent a third world war is the ‘World Boss’. Let no one think about you as the antichrist.

Please Mr. World Boss, the Hon. P.M of SVG, it is your mandate to call for cease fire in the Putin war against Ukraine.

Christian Democrat

Mr. Editor, you have written on more than one occasion, if my memory serves me correctly, about how our elected representatives are ‘kicksin in Parliament’.

While there are those who will say that ‘you’re only trying to be funny’, I see a much more profound reasoning and message behind what you are saying.

Recently, I was appalled that by the use of an entire day’s sitting of parliament to shower praises on the Unity Labour Party and by extension, the Government. Nothing is wrong in ‘showering praise, especially praise that is due, but there are other avenues through which this can be done, and many, many forms

of media which are available. To take what should have been time to discuss and make decision regarding our business, the business of and on behalf of the people, and to use it for selfish gain is an affront to our democracy and our expectation. Put simply, it is an insult.

Our elected parliamentarians must be made to accept and act in accordance with the fact that they are there to attend to the people’s business and being in parliament does not give them the right to run all over us.

And while that is bad, our parliamentarians continue to ‘pelt’ piccong and insults at one another. Maybe the fact that our parliament is

made up of two divisions and this makes it adversarial in nature, we should expect this kind of banter. But, how many of you will agree that this has been allowed to get out of hand and there seems to be no turning back?

When are we going to grow up and set a new and different example for the next generation of leaders?

You members of parliament have been elected to serve St. Vincent and the Grenadines, i.e., all the people without exception.

I urge you to cut out the insults and name-calling and get on with doing the business of the people. And by the way, in case there are those who might be reading a

certain bias into what I have to say, let me make it clear that what I have said here applies to both sides of the House.

Mr. Editor, time for our elected members especially, to get out of this boyish/girlish behaviour.

A Watchman

Stray kid: Go home ONE WONDERS, what are they doing out so late at night? What are they prowling about looking for? Don’t they belong to some family somewhere? Why are they out eating and drinking anything?

Some of them are apparently underage but the older ones seem to be led by the wild and inexperienced young lads. Are they the ones being referenced in the song of lamentation heard at many late-night wakes?

‘No one cares for me, No one cares for me. Not a friend in all the world have I. None to soothe my fears, none to wipe my tears. I alone in sorrow. I must die.’

There is no doubt that their diet is impoverished. Eating by the wayside cannot compare with the nutritious diet that is usually prepared at home. They surely epitomize what it means to go

astray. Indeed, they are in the far country. Can their actions be determined to be riotous living?

It is said that some of them like darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. It is only in the light of day that the damage they cause can be fully assessed. Times used to be that responsible individuals seeing them would guide them home.

But these days they seem to be always on the loose and their wayward behaviour cannot be curbed. They only call attention to their notoriety when they get in trouble with the law for some reprehensible deed like breaking and entering or entering and breaking.

When such happens the virtues of these delinquent ones are often touted but one wonders: “What were they doing out at those ungodly hours?’ My mother used

to say, “Don’t make sundown meet you outside.” So, when we go out to play and we see the sun setting, that was the cue for us to hurry home. Even the cow knew its place at night and often would find it without assistance. The yard fowl too, finds its sleeping place at sunset. However, some are operating like Mr. Howard’s Cat, sleeping anywhere night meets them.

There is much benefit that the family gains from sleeping at home. Some say that the Chinese make full use of human manure to fertilize their crops. In the age of organic farming, the contribution of pen manure is valued greatly.

It is for this reason that the call goes out for all stray kids to be brought home.

Anthony Stewart, PhD

V Easing of COVID-19 Protocols: 10. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN

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No reason to be reckless Introduction MARCH 29, 2022 saw the Gazetting of Statutory Rules and Order No. 14 of 22; the Public Health (COVID-19) (Gathering) (Repeal) Rules 2022 and, 15 of 22; the Public Health (COVID-19) (Amendment) Rules 2022. These Statutory Rules and Orders as their name suggests amended by way of repealing the Public Health (COVID-19) (Gathering) Rules 2021 that placed a number of restrictions on various forms of gatherings as necessitated by the circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It wasn’t too long ago that this country was experiencing a spike in new COVID-19 infections that resulted in increased hospitalisations of the critically ill and the tragic increase of COVID-19related deaths.

To curb the spread of the virus based on the surge in cases, the Parliament of this country conferred upon the Minister of Health, powers within the law to issue the necessary orders in June of 2021. While we agree that the measures were necessary at the time as one of the measures used to prevent the further spread of the virus, it is also indisputable that the measures impacted some sectors negatively and businesses faced challenges as a result. During this period when the order was in effect, churches, restaurants, night clubs, and event promotors were all anxious to be able to resume activities in the pre-covid manner. The Ministry of Health constantly monitored the situation, and in advising the Cabinet, felt that to protect our society it was both necessary and desirable that the restrictions on gatherings remained in place. Following the announcement of the repeal of the 2021 Order, it appears that some have thrown caution to the wind and have decided that the COVID-19 pandemic is no more. The data from the Public Health Sub-committed within NEMO indicates that we have very few active cases recorded with zero infection rate currently, but we continue to urge caution among our population since we are not yet out of the woods.

Continue to follow the protocols The COVID-19 pandemic is not behind us and already we are hearing of a new strain of the virus being discovered that from indications may present significant challenges to our health care system. It would be reckless to dismiss such news as scaremongering, while at the same time to overreact or panic is necessary, as always we encourage you to listen to the medical experts and follow the protocols. Those COVID-19 protocols that served us over the last 2 years that included hand washing, hand sanitising, cough and sneeze etiquette (using the cuff of elbows) and mask wearing, should not be dispensed with simply because the restrictions on gatherings have been repealed. The “we’re outside” attitude that has become too common-place, especially among the youthful and party-going population is undesirable, and we urge a much more cautious and reasoned approach. Some business places continue to require masks on entry (masks were never mandated; these were individually imposed restrictions) while some have

dispensed with those restrictions.

Ultimately, it depends on the individual to ensure that every care is taken to protect himself/herself and continuing to observe health and hygiene protocols will go a long way on helping this country to manage the spread of the virus and keeping our citizens safe.

Get vaccinated Over the past few months, the Ministry of Health has ramped up its efforts to try and increase the vaccination rates among Vincentians with a number of drive-through caravans to various parts of the country as well as hosting pop-up sites, all this while maintaining access at various clinics across the country.

This country remains close to the bottom of CARICOM countries regarding vaccination with very slow uptake as vaccination hesitancy, buoyed by an active anti-vax campaign, remains too high. With all the conspiracy theories that were floated around regarding the safety of the vaccines and all the supposed horrible side effects that were “extremely prevalent”, SVG is yet to see any reported case of death or injury related to a covid-19 vaccine.

According to Ministry of Health statistic, this country has administered more than 69,800 vaccine doses with just over 30,000 Vincentians receiving both. This speaks to the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines which is why vaccination remains the best tool in the toolbox in our fight against the spread of the virus. This is true not just of the COVID-19 vaccines, but vaccines in general which have collectively helped to eradicate a number of dreaded diseases within the last 150 years.

Vaccines remain readily available to all Vincentians and we continue to urge all to get vaccinated and to those who have been vaccinated, to get boosted even as the protocol regarding gatherings have been relaxed. As we move into the Easter weekend where a number of activities are planned and then into the Carnival season after a two-year absence, let us ensure that this county has the highest level of protection possible by going out and taking a COVID-19 vaccine.

Conclusion No doubt, the announcement of the repeal of the 2021 Public Health (COVID-19) (Gatherings) Rule, was very welcomed by many who had seen a significant decline in their church, business and other activities that entered around gathering. The lifting of the restrictions, while consistent with a decline in infections and active cases, by no means indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic is no more. We urge that as we return to gathering for fellowship or other reasons, that we do so in a manner that is safe and offers maximum protection for all.

Continue to follow those hygiene protocols that help minimise the spread of the disease and best of all get vaccinated; it’s the best tool available in this fight against the virus.

Legislation amended without Parliament approval (Excerpts of Dr. Friday’s Presentation on the COVID-19 Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2021) I WANT to start with a larger issue, the more I read the resolution and went back and read the parent legislation which is Act No. 5 of 2020, which purports to confer the power on the Minister to make the changes to the Police Act that is supposed to have been so generous to those persons, those fourteen persons to preserve their pensions. The first issue is this. I don’t recall in this Honourable House that the Police Act was brought to this House and amended following a debate.

That is to say, after Section: 73 of the Police Act, Section 73 (A) was put in there of which part 2 says: “That if you are absent from duty without leave for ten consecutive days, you are deemed to have resigned your office or declared otherwise.” That’s a powerful piece of legislation. It grants a lot of power to the Minister responsible.

It affects a fundamental right of someone to employment and to their jobs. I don’t recall debating that in parliament. I don’t recall that it ever came to the parliament in the normal course; for it to be debated, so that members can present their argument for or against and then this Honourable House pass it in the normal course.

The constitution provides the power for law making, Section: 37 I believe, that says: parliament should make laws. And, Section: 41 says, how those laws should be made, how that power to pass a Bill is to be exercised. That was not done in this case.

What it purports to do and it’s something that as legislators, we have to explore and expose and discuss because this is the function that we perform. We come here to pass laws; to amend Acts of parliament. That’s our constitutional duty, but here we have in the powers granted under Act No. 5 of 2020, called the COVID-19 Miscellaneous Amendments Act, which says, that various Acts can be amended simply by amending the schedule to the Act itself. The Act that grants its power No. 5 of 2020 and by order amend an Act of parliament.

What’s more, it says that if you bring that order to the parliament you have to do it having a resolution approving it or otherwise within two months but within that Act itself you can extend it up to six months, which was done twice.

So, you have essentially government amending legislation, creating new law without parliament and extending that time, by an order consented to by the Governor General.

This is a constitutional and legal conundrum. It is our view that when you want to amend an Act of parliament, an Act that was passed which is the Police Act, you have to come back here and have it debated in the parliament and amend it. You can’t use a subsidiary legislation to amend an Act of parliament. In the

same way, you can’t use an Act of parliament to amend the constitution.

There is a hierarchy of legislation. An order is done by the Minister, approved by cabinet, is published in the gazette and that’s it. Parliament doesn’t debate it but that has provision within a particular Act that gives that Minister the power to do so.

But, to give the Minister the power to then amend essentially any Act of parliament by way of an order; it seems to me an extra-ordinary power that has been granted here; an unconstitutional power that has been granted here and especially when it affects the rights, the fundamental rights to employment and to living for individuals, brings into serious question the legislative procedures, the manner of governance in this country that diverges from what is provided in our constitution and by conventional practice as well.

What we are being asked to do here is to continue the illegality. It’s not something that we can take lightly, consent to and condone having come to that position ourselves from looking at the Act No. 5 of 2020, The COVID19 Miscellaneous Amendments Act’. I will read the power of No. 5 of 2020. It says, “The Minister may by order amend the schedule to provide for the modification of any existing law and such law unless a contrary intention is indicated shall be deemed to be amended from the day it is published in the gazette.” Not from when it is passed in the parliament.

The Minister is not limited to powers within that Minister’s own jurisdiction but any existing law. That is an over reach. It is an unconstitutional over reach in my view. And, members on this side of the House, we cannot participate in that, condone it, support it or otherwise, we must expose it.

We come to the second aspect of this. That this extraordinary power that was granted to the Minister was then utilized to essentially prevent persons who were in the police service who did not take the vaccine and were told that they could not show up to work and so they lost their jobs. They were constructively dismissed or resigned from their jobs under this legislation, this policy.

That power that I described earlier as being an extra ordinary power granted to the Minister was then used to take away a fundamental right of persons to their employment, to provide for their families because they said, “My body is my business and I will not put a vaccine or anything in my body without my own consent; even if you are going to take away my bread”. That is the right so to do. And, all over the world that is being recognized now. So, this is a very serious violation of our legislative procedure in this House.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022.11.

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Climate Change: the fight of our lives

Compromise

“Sometimes in life, you do things you don’t want to. Sometimes you sacrifice, sometimes you compromise.

Sometimes you let go and sometimes you fight. It’s all about deciding what’s worth losing and what’s worth keeping.” Lindy Zart, Complete THE THOUGHTS SHARED in relation to this topic could quite easily be titled “Two Sides of Compromise”. We may describe the “bright, shining side of compromise” to be that aspect of compromise where, as in marriage, we are required to forego our own pleasures and desires for that of others. We may describe this as “healthy compromise”. And then, there is that “dark side of compromise” where, for example, we are enticed to settle for situations that infringe on our principles, standards, and/or ethical beliefs. Such situations are often considered undesirable, dangerous, and/or unhealthy.

Nicholas Sparks (born 1965), the American novelist, screenwriter, and philanthropist, reminds us that, “Marriage is about compromise; it’s about doing something for the other person, even when you don’t want to.”

Selfless care and concern for another individual will often encourage us to sacrifice our needs, wishes, and dreams for another’s joy, happiness, and peace of mind. In such instances, compromise can build and sustain healthy relationships. However, it calls for deep commitment and selflessness. It often requires that we give up our rights or positions for that of another. Pride, arrogance, and elevated egos must appear to be diminished if/when healthy compromise is in play.

However, there are instances when compromise can be considered dangerous, destructive, and undesirable. For example, individuals who give in to immoral/unethical acts in the hope of “getting ahead” may soon discover that such foibles can (and do) generate tremendous guilt and shame (assuming that the individual’s conscience is still active). Pauline Joyce Meyer (born 1943), the American charismatic Christian author, speaker, and evangelist, reminds us that, “Compromise means to go just a little bit below what you know is right. It’s just a little bit, but it’s the little foxes that spoil the vine.” Such a description reminds us of the danger of moving away from the principles that keep individuals and societies strong: honesty, integrity, purity, truthfulness, and so on. Little compromises can have catastrophic consequences.

Some of life’s choices can appear to be so very challenging and traumatic — especially when compromising principles are involved. The story is told of a single mother who had lost her job as a result of her refusal to take the Covid-19 vaccine. With no nearby relatives of friends to call upon for assistance, she considered herself to be desperate and destitute. However, fortune appeared to smile on her when she received a telephone call from a former schoolmate who, although married, offered to give her a job at his establishment on condition that she would periodically entertain him. He appeared quite excited when he revealed that, “I have always had a crush on you. Employing you could be mutually beneficial once you agree to come on board under this condition … if you know what I mean. Think about it and get back to me soonest. The job is yours once you concur.” Although considered most vulnerable and desperate, she knew that she could not

compromise her principles. She must stand up for values and retain her dignity. She gracefully declined his offer, avoiding the guilt, shame, and feeling of unworthiness that so often plague individuals and relationships where such compromises have been evident.

Steve Maraboli, the distinguished and accomplished coach, author, and motivational speaker reminds us about the dangers and destruction of such compromises. He notes, “Do not compromise yourself and put your goodness in the same impermanent category as whatever circumstance happening. Be the best you in every circumstance.” Regardless of life’s situations, we are encouraged to value and cherish purity, truth, and integrity.

These must never be compromised.

In an age when some leaders in business, government, and society appear to conveniently adjust their position on a number of topics (especially those considered to be controversial) the bastions of our society need to remember not to take the “middle ground” or to appear inconsistent on issues that are fundamentally right. Such haltering positions of convenience and/or seeking to please everyone can lead to catastrophic consequences. We must uncompromisingly hold on to the principles that keep societies strong … regardless of the audience and/or the constituents involved. Right must always be right. Purity, honest, and integrity must never be sacrificed on the altar of expediency. No compromise must be entertained in such instances.

The biblical example of Joseph readily comes to mind. After many years of suffering and torment in a foreign country, he eventually secures a position in Potiphar’s house. The events recorded in the 39th chapter of Genesis clearly describe Joseph’s responsibilities to this captain of the Egyptian guards. However, Potiphar’s wife had “cast her eyes on him” and cunningly orchestrated events to be alone with him while her husband was absent. Joseph refused to compromise his principles and, although innocent, was subsequently jailed when Potiphar’s rejected wife accused him of attempted rape. However, the historic record does not end there. Joseph was subsequently released from prison and elevated to be the second most powerful individual in Egypt. There is an important lesson here. Sometimes, individuals will be required to suffer for the principled positions that they take … but it is always right to do what is right. In time, there will be a reprieve and, with God’s help, there will be restoration and elevation.

Ogwo David Emenike, a young, talented Nigerian author, essayist, and poet, cautions us that, “Nothing will blind the eyes of man quicker than the touch of compromise. A principle not compromised is a principle worth dying for. A dream not compromised is a dream worth living for.” His thoughts expressed here are pregnant with wisdom. This is especially so in relation to his two final sentences: “A principle not compromised is a principle worth dying for. A dream compromised is a dream worth living for.”

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

CLIMATE SCIENTISTS have yet again rung the alarm. Unless we act quickly, we may not have a place to call home.

Planet Earth may be gone in a lifetime.

This frightening reality may be far from the consciousness of most, especially since we are bombarded with the triple crisis of the war in Ukraine, the Covid pandemic and the rising cost of living.

Despite the despair of mounting global problems, the release of the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows some grounds for hope.

Unlike previous reports on the causes and effects of climate change, this one, though it does not go far enough offers possible solutions. The report summary is blunt and clear, and in many places speaks to realities that scientists and environmentalists have known for years but governments often avoided directly admitting.

First, the report acknowledged that North America and Europe have made the greatest contribution to the crisis we are living through, by producing by far the most carbon dioxide emissions since the industrial revolution.

The IPCC shows that today the average North American emits 16 tons of carbon dioxide each year from fossil fuel use, compared to just 2 tonnes for the average African.

Consumption by the top 10% of households comprises over a third of global greenhouse gases, compared to 15% of these gases for the bottom 50% of households. Everyone now agrees that the climate crisis is driven by how the world’s wealthy currently live, consume and invest.

This is a virtual mind change compared to previous reports. The last IPCC summary on solutions in 2014 labelled population growth as one of ‘the most important drivers of increases in CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion.’ Such dangerous misunderstandings are now abandoned. These old and misdirected arguments which blamed the poor for the world’s problems are hopefully permanently resting in the dustbin of history.

The new report also points to how far governments are from meeting their commitments signed under the Paris agreement in 2015 and reaffirmed in Glasgow last year. For example, Boris Johnson’s rhetoric of ‘keeping 1.5 alive’ in Glasgow, runs afoul of the UK’s current climate policies and pledges will not limit global heating to 1.5C above pre- industrial levels, or keep it “well below” 2C, the dual Paris targets. The same conclusion holds true for most industrialised countries.

Without a drastic change in climate policies, the earth is on track for catastrophic 3C heating. In a world where half of the population is highly vulnerable to the climate crisis, that spells disaster. We are already spending millions on climate mitigation and adaptation. Sea defences at Sandy Bay and Georgetown offer proof of SVG vulnerability. Extreme heatwaves, floods, droughts, crop failures and economic disruptions far outside the normal tolerances of cities and towns will destroy lives and livelihoods globally.

The most heartening section of the report is on alternatives to fossil fuel use. The overarching solution to our energy needs is to electrify everything we can, from cooling buildings to

transport, and power everything using clean renewables and storage. We have to rapidly move to clean technology.

Between 2010 and 2019, the report says that the cost of solar energy plummeted by 85%, wind energy by 55% and lithium-ion batteries by 85%. These are staggering figures that point to a radically reshaped energy future.

There is a cheaper, cleaner way.

But the emissions problem is deeper than just failures to invest in lowcarbon alternatives. The world already has enough existing and planned highcarbon infrastructure to take us to the climate point of no return. Coal-fired power stations have to go. Plans to open new oil fields must be cancelled.

The IPCC report is a manifesto for ending the fossil fuel age. It lends scientific support to those who are truly concerned about creating and maintaining a world that is livable and enjoyable. The licence for climate action has never been stronger.

There are also elements in the report that will be used by the fossil fuel industry to further delay climate action. Central to this is the discussion of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Those who bank on business-as-usual will argue that later this century we will be able to suck carbon out of the air, so why bother cutting emissions as sharply as possible today?

The answer, in the report, is that carbon removal ‘currently faces technological, economic, institutional, ecological-environmental and sociocultural barriers.’ The report correctly says that some carbon removal is needed, but it should never be an alternative to cutting emissions now. It makes clear how unrealistic very high carbon removal pathways are, in stronger terms than ever before.

For those who have been working for a better climate, the full 3,000-page report contains an astonishingly frank assessment of the organised efforts used to thwart climate action, noting: ‘opposition to climate action by carbonconnected industries is broad-based, highly organized, and matched with extensive lobbying.’ It may seem ironic that this doesn’t make it into the much more widely read summary, but it is perhaps not surprising. The intertwined relationship between fossil fuels and governments goes deep.

Each year that passes adds further reasons to stop using fossil fuels. Each year, it became clearer that oil and gas prices would rise sharply, affecting millions. Add these to ending urban air pollution and avoiding hundreds of millions of people suffering heatwaves, drought and floods.

Climate change can feel complex, but the IPCC has worked hard to make it simple for us. A path still exists to halve emissions by 2030 and get to net-zero by 2050, which will probably meet the 1.5C goal. It is a hopeful message. The task now is to make it real.

We are in the fight for our very survival.

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

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12. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN

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Tax avoiders beware?

In an article in THE VINCENTIAN newspaper of 1st April 2022, it was interesting to see an early warning from the Inland Revenue to those who might want to contravene the tax laws. The Inland Revenue warned that ‘those business who engage in tax avoidance practices better be on their guard and in the interest of fair play and compliance with the law, should desist from same’.

The Inland Revenue Department said that its newly established TaxPayer Intelligence and Investigative Unit is on watch for businesses which engage in tax avoidance practices. This unit is tasked with investigating businesses to ensure all practices are in accordance with SVG’s tax laws.

Everyone in SVG knows where the Inland Revenue should start its investigations into tax avoidance practices: Mustique and Canouan and Taiwan.

The super-rich migrants in

Mustique and Canouan gain an unfair advantage over locally owned and operated businesses who have to pay tax. Hotels and apartments owned by Vincentians cannot compete with the hotels and apartments owned by the super-rich migrants in Mustique and Canouan, as these have lower overheads. This is grossly unfair to our economy and society.

In December 2017, Apple, the multinational technology company, agreed to pay Ireland back nearly $15bn in unpaid taxes. Apple CEO Tim Cook has talked about the need for companies to have a social consciousness.

The super-rich migrants in Mustique and Canouan have had tax and customs duties exemptions for decades. Should they be made to pay back the tax they avoided paying over the decades?

It is an open secret, also, that for

decades Taiwan has been avoiding paying their fair share of tax (fish tax), as ordinary Vincentians have to.

Taiwan operates a fleet of tunafishing vessels on SVG’s deep sea fish licence and uses SVG’s flag on its ships to say they are SVG local fishing vessels. However, under International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) rules, fishing vessels should offload their fish catch in the country of the flag the fishing vessel is flying.

Therefore, Taiwan’s fishing vessels must offload their Atlantic Ocean tuna fish catch in St. Vincent and pay fish tax, estimated to be about EC$2.7 billion annually. However, Taiwan has been ignoring the ICCAT rules. The Taiwan fishing vessels do not offload their Atlantic Ocean tuna fish catch in St. Vincent and they do not pay fish tax to the SVG Treasury. Taiwan has

avoided paying billions of dollars in fish tax over the past few decades.

Everyone in the country will be looking forward to hearing updates from the Inland Revenue Department’s Tax-Payer Intelligence and Investigative Unit, about how it is getting back the billions of dollars of tax that Mustique, Canouan and Taiwan have avoided paying over the last few decades.

Leader of SVG Green Party, Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, believes that SVG needs a change in government and a change in economic strategy, and more critically, a government that is competent in managing SVG’s public accounts, has the ability to create sustainable sources of revenue and the courage to make the super-rich of Mustique and Canouan and Taiwan pay their fair share of tax.

On the question of national heroes CONSIDERING the capacity of the talent we have traditionally exhibited, the presentation in Dubai, where we attempted to project our national hero Chatoyer, was not as impressive as it could have been.

Incidentally, while our people were doing their dancing in Dubai, representatives of other countries present there, and who had visited St. Vincent during the period just after the eruption of the La Soufriere, were able to zoom in on the current realities here in SVG, showing the neglect of the beautiful Police Headquarters’ building, the unhealthy situation prevailing next to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, and that “Corridor of neglect”, at the back of the Girls’ High School and the Grammar School, and the grass growing in the drains of our capital — And that evoked the snide comment — “Those people are really remarkable”!

I am suggesting that a suitable monument to honour Chief Chatoyer, could be erected on the site which now accommodates the Ministry of Agriculture.

Noting that Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and Sir James Mitchell, who between them had been in charge of the business of this state for 37 of the 42 years that we have been an independent nation;

they had less than six months ago, quite emphatically pronounced, that we in SVG could no longer depend on agriculture to fortify our economy. They declared, that we now have to depend on Tourism! Their position was strongly endorsed by brother Renwick Rose who had for many years, played a prominent role in the Windward Islands Farmers Association.

So, we can find somewhere else to serve the Ministry of Agriculture, and use that strategic site for the erecting of an impressive monument of Chatoyer.

The surrounding territory could be appropriately landscaped, to impact positively the thousands of citizens who use the area every day.

The provision of the long overdue bus-stop and the completion of the repairs to the Grammar School, High School and the other schools in the area, will transform the area significantly, and will impact positively, all the citizens using it.

It is very unlikely, that over the next hundred and more years, there will be anyone in this society, whose exploits will match those of Chatoyer. So, to name other individuals as national heroes at this time, will result in the diminishing of the stature of “national hero’.

Our energies and resources, could therefore

be better invested in the erection of a suitable monument to honour Chief Chatoyer, in a prominent place and properly maintaining it!

What we can do now, is to name/identify persons who have consistently given valuable service to the welfare of the people over a significant period of time, and erect busts of them — attractively done, in appropriately maintained places.

Three persons who have been on my mind who seem to qualify for such recognition are: Dr. Parmenas Eustace and Mrs. Norma Keizer for their roles in education, and Ellsworth ‘Shake’ Keane who has carried our name internationally with honour, in poetry and music for many years.

What we need to be focusing on now are serious discussions aimed at devising systems which would remedy the painful socioeconomic slide we have suffered, because of the shallow and immature approaches we allowed our leadership to pursue without challenge. We have a duty, all of us, to endeavor to fashion a platform which offers hope for the next generations to prosper, in the healthy development of this beautiful land.

They are the ones who will have to repay the debts we are leaving.

LeRoy Providence

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 13.

V SVG registered vessel goes under: 14. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

Two rescued, five missing UP TO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, the search was still on for five men who went missing, after the vessel on which they were crew members overturned in waters just off north of Monos Island in Trinidad, on the afternoon of Saturday 02

April.

The vessel, M.V. Fair Chance, with a complement of seven, was said to be a St. Vincent and the Grenadines registered vessel and was on a voyage from Trinidad en route to St. Vincent and the

Grenadines via Grenada, when it encountered rough north coast seas and subsequently overturned due to a shift of the cargo.

Guardian Media of Trinidad and Tobago reported that it was told that the vessel was

The two survivors on the overturned hull of MV Fair Chance (Credit: WWW3.cnc3.co.tt) Right: Eric Calliste – one of the five who are still missing. (Credit: guardian.co.tt) loaded with steel from the Caricom port in Portof-Spain, and had just departed when the incident happened on Saturday.

A supervisor at the port, who wished to remain anonymous, told Guardian Media that it is believed that the vessel may have been overloaded and added that there was speculation that the vessel’s extra weight was not properly checked by T&T’s Customs and Excise Division’s officers, before its departure.

Port Authorities in Trinidad said the factors contributing to the overturning and subsequent sinking of the vessel will hopefully be

Dexter Chance, captain of the M.V. Fair Chance was still missing up to Wednesday. (Source: Facebook)

sorted out by the relevant authorities and insurance companies.

Meanwhile, what is certain, as confirmed by maritime authorities in Trinidad and Tobago, is that two of the crew of seven were rescued by a passing vessel, handed over to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, and taken to Staubles Bay, the Coast Guard Base, for medical treatment.

The two rescued crew members were reported to be Johnel McIntosh and Derrol Small, of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada respectively.

And the Trinidad and Tobago authorities named four of the five missing crew as Dexter Chance, the captain, Quincy Baptiste, Owen Prescott and Eric Calliste. The fifth was yet to be officially identified up to Wednesday, though, the common-law-wife of Calliste, Alesha Williams, when contacted by the Trinidad Newsday newspaper, said that it was her understanding that another Grenadian, Devon Celestine, “was on board.”

Trinidad Newsday also reported that Williams confirmed that her common-law-husband was born in St. Andrews, Grenada. They have two daughters, Ria, nine, and Renesha, six. Calliste also

has four children in Grenada, three boys and a girl.

As far as the other crew members were concerned, Chance, the captain, is said to be a Grenadian who had taken up residence in Union Island.

Williams said she last spoke with Calliste around 1 pm on Saturday and remember him as saying that they were trying to “turn over the vessel.”

Member of Parliament for the Southern Grenadines, Terrence Ollivierre, weighed in on the tragedy. He described the residents of Union island as being in mourning and heartbroken by the news of the incident.

He spoke specifically of the wife of Captain Chance, who, he said, was understandably distraught.

Ollivierre described the incident as a “tragedy… one that has created an unsettling situation among the people of Union Island.”

Trinidad and Tobago’s National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds has committed his country’s Coast Guard to doing its best to find the missing crew. (Sources: Trinidad Newsday, Guardian Media)

The Manos Island in the foreground near where the M.V. Fair Chance capsized.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 15.

The official launch of ATIPU at Questelles Police Station (from left) then Commissioner of Police Keith Miller, SOP Hazel-Ann Jacobs, the Units first Head, and ASP Jonathan Nichols, Public Relations.

by GLORIAH...

HE ANTI-TRAFFICKING in Persons Unit (ATIPU), a unit in the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, yesterday 7th April, commemorated ten years of existence, with the theme: “I deserve to be free, don’t traffick and exploit me.”

The Unit was officially launched on 7th April, 2012, one month after its establishment on 7th March, 2012.

Established while the RSCVGPF was under Commissioner of Police Keith Miller, the Unit’s first head was Superintendent of Police Hazel-Ann Jacobs, and Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Junior Simmons became the second officer in the two-man Unit.

ASP is now the Person-in-Charge of the Unit and THE VINCENTIAN sat with him to learn of the Unit’s journey from inception.

T

ATIPU: Mandate and Operations

is to investigate cases of human trafficking in SVG and prosecute perpetrators of the crime; and to sensitize the general public about all matters relating to human trafficking.

Towards addressing the latter task, the ATIPU conducts training session with stakeholders, including police officers, public servants, members of the private sector and NGOs, on matters relating to human trafficking.

ASP Simmons affirmed that, “In 2012 we started by going to the schools — primary, secondary and tertiary on the mainland and in the Grenadines, to raise teacher and student awareness about human trafficking. Additionally, articles about the subject were published in the newspapers and radio programmes aired.”

Importantly also, quarterly and annual reports are prepared for submission to the National Taskforce Against Trafficking in Persons, which is chaired by the Hon. Prime Minister. “These are laid in parliament and may have some bearing on the amendment of existing laws. Today, anyone convicted of human trafficking in SVG could be fined up to $250,000, imprisonment for fifteen years, or both,” ASP Simmons informed.

When questioned about how his role as Unit Head has thus far made a difference in the operations of the Unit, he firstly lauded the foundation established by the former Unit Head.

“Superintendent Jacobs led the Unit from 2012 to 2017. She did an excellent job and I really want to commend her as the first Head of the Unit, and for also being a woman who showed that a woman can do anything that men can do!”

He also complimented his staff’s resolve and excellence in carrying out their duties. Along with ASP Simmons, the Unit is staffed by Corporal Ag. 204 Garet Dopwell and Constable 853 Shanon Joseph.

The ASP believes that working closely in the Unit with Superintendent Jacobs, has made functioning in the role of ATIPU Head much easier. He then proffered, “When I took over, I sought to increase our awareness drive.

The more persons are aware of what human trafficking is, then they will be able to better recognize and inform about it. It is important for members of the public to know the indicators or red flags of human trafficking: the activity, the means and the exploitation.”

momentum

Public perception of the ATIPU:

According to ASP Simmons, human trafficking as an activity entails, “.. some recruitment for harbouring of the person; force against the will of a victim with the main aim to exploit him/her; and exploitation for the financial or material benefit of the trafficker”. Keeping up the unit’s The ATIPU’s mandate

First staff complement of the Unit, SOP Hazel-Ann Jacobs (Head), then Station Sergeant Junior Simmons (right), current Head, and then Constable 204 Garet Dopwell.

Below: Current staff complement of the Unit (from left) Corporal (Ag) 204 Garet Dopwell, ASP Junior Simmons, officer-in-Charge, and Constable 854 Shanon Joseph.

ASP Simmons expressed satisfaction with the job of sensitizing the populace about human trafficking.

He is convinced that an awareness of what the

Unit does has been established.

He explained that whenever the public offers any lead(s) to possible cases of human trafficking, the Unit pursues each one and

ensures, should it lead to it, that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Since the Unit’s establishment, over forty potential cases have been Continued on Page 17.

16. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 17.

ATIPU Feature

ATIPU celebrates 10 years

prevention awareness ATIPU interfacing with drive along with our other depts. stakeholders.” He thanked all stakeholders: ATIPU interfaces public, private and NGOs. Continued on Page 18.

Persons who contributed to a review of a National Action Plan for the Unit – July 2020. acceptance of the Unit.

“From where I sit at investigated. This, ASP the head of the ATIPU,” Simmons, recorded as a he opined, “I would say recognition of the public’s that human trafficking is a crime and no country Left: Prime Minister and can exonerate itself from crime. It is everywhere.

National Security Human trafficking is not Minister Dr. Ralph a major problem in St. Gonsalves (right) and Commissioner of Police Vincent and the Colin John unveiling the Grenadines and I think that stems from our Units logo.

Continued from Page 15.

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18. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

ATIPU Feature

ATIPU celebrates 10 years

is exposed to the subject matter of human trafficking as a component of the curriculum.

Additionally, a programme of inservice training is conducted throughout different departments of the police force.

One such session was conducted on Tuesday 5th April by ASP Simmons himself, to a cohort of officers undergoing a basic course in policing and other subject Cpl. Dopwell presenting to participants at Continued from Page 17. matters.

Police Band Summer programme –one of The ATIPU has also signed a the many awareness-building seminars, extensively throughout the Memorandum of Understanding with workshops, public forums conducted by SVGPF. Each batch of recruits the Unit. entering the Police Training School other stakeholders in the Public Service: Office of the DPP; Gender Affairs Division; Passport and Immigration Department; Customs and Excise; Finance and Intelligence Unit; the Coastguard and the Prisons.

Each signatory has a particular role to play in combatting human trafficking and the ATIPU functions as the repository and collator of information as per what they would have done, whether quarterly, monthly or annually.

These departments also assist the

Unveiling of TIP banner at Cruise Ship terminal by Soroptimist SVG (April, 2020.)

ATIPU with training programmes.

The ATIPU is well placed to lead the way in combating trafficking in persons here in SVG. With ten years already under its belt, citizens can look forward to a steady continuation of its work.

Individuals suspecting a human trafficking crime is in progress should contact the ATIPU by calling: #911, #456-1570; #457-1211 Ext. 4929; or by email: svgantitraffickingunit@gmail.com; or Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit RSVGPF on Facebook.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 19.

20. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Investments concerning your residence will be profitable. Your lack of responsibility and attention has been a key issue in your relationship. Use discretion in your dealings and refrain from making verbal promises of any kind.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Problems with female members of your family may play on your emotions. This is a great day to beautify your living quarters or to entertain at home.

Problems with your boss could lead to unemployment.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Try to stay calm and do the best you can.

Spend time by yourself to avoid any conflicts with family members.

Difficulties with children will surface if you try to break a promise you made.

You can make excellent career moves if you are open to the opportunities that exist.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Visitors may be likely to drop by. Don't hold yourself back because you think you're too old. Compromise if you wish to have any fun at all. Limitations will set in if you haven't followed the rules.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) You will gain a lot if you listen. A lack of support and negativity have been the main problems. You need to concentrate on solving existing problems. Emotional upset at work will set you back.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Deep discussions may only lead to friction. Try to bend but by no means should you give in completely.

Limitations at work might set you back.

You can set your goals and make a beeline for your target.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Don't be shy to promote your own interests. You're best not to get involved in joint financial ventures. Opportunities for romance may develop through dealing with groups that have a purpose.

Put your efforts into making changes to your domestic scene.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) This could be the cause of a dispute that may result in estrangement. Your desire for excitement and adventure may be expensive. Unexpected events may be upsetting. Work on legitimate financial deals that may enable you to bring in some extra cash.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Be careful not to show your temper when dealing with the boss. Think of changes to your home that will please and add to everyone's comfort. Romantic opportunities will flourish through travel or communication. Work quietly on your own and you will forge ahead.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Any contributions you make to organizations will enhance your reputation and bring you offers. Put something away in case of an emergency.

You'll meet new friends if you try new activities. You'll find it difficult to control your emotions.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Now is the time for completing hobbies that you've been working on for a long time. You need to lie back and enjoy a little rest. Changes could be overwhelming. Your mate will be pushing you to do things that you really don't want to do.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Don't get talked into get rich quick schemes. Use discretion in your dealings and refrain from making verbal promises of any kind. Curb the impulse to make lavish purchases and maybe spend some time with good friends.

ACROSS 1. Tree with a winged seed 4. Young master Malfoy 9. After 14. Tech executive 15. Prohibit 16. Net-like 17. Chases one’s tail 20. Sci-fi author Greg 21. Fuel 22. Braid relative 26. Man, e.g.

31. Golf start area 32. Hundred Acre wood denizen 34. Video game 35. Son of William the Conqueror 37. Sales callers 38. Honestly 42. Epitome of redness 43. Stimulate 44. Lindy Hop move 47. Got down 48. Relaxing resort 51. Cabalist 53. Bloomers at the masters golf tournament 55. Southwestern art mecca 57. Ticks off 58. Atlantic danger zone 65. Man of Manchuria, e.g.

66. “He ___ did it but I didn’t!”

67. Urban transportation 68. Big name in computers 69. Trample 70. British special forces, for short DOWN 1. Embrace 2. Cigar 3. Respect 4. Dentist qualification 5. Sports judge 6. ___ Dhabi 7. Math class, for short 8. Ship’s deck 9. “Othello” character 10. Nice view 11. Key abbr.

12. Ice hockey org/ 13. One way to change color 18. Certain MD’s specialty 19. Complain 23. Copier 24. Burial site of early Scottish kings 25. Liza Minnelli’s sister 27. Jazz singer Carmen 28. US abbr.

29. Mend 30. CPO’s superior 33. Mythical serpent 35. Command to the band 36. Capri, e.g.

38. Touch 39. It precedes dynamic 40. Interrogate 41. Court grp.

42. “Southern”

relig.

45. Adjust 46. Star part 48. Some worsted fabrics 49. Spanish chef’s concoction 50. Determine value 52. Cut of beef 54. Designer of the Vietnam Veterans

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 21.

Memorial in Washington, D.C. 56. Kind of witness 58. Pastoral sound 59. Clairvoyance initials 60. Tear 61. Bad, to Yves 62. “Catcher in the___” 63. Bk. Before Jeremiah 64. Helping hand

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22. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Foolish advice?

Cut ties!!!

Dear George,

MY LIVE-IN boyfriend has been two timing me for the longest while. All I beg him to stop and come clean, he continues doing his thing. All the plans we had, including building, are now at a standstill.

I have been confiding in my best friend. She told me that I do not deserve to be so unhappy and went as far as to encourage me to get rid of him once and for all by slow poisoning him. I was shocked when she suggested that to me. Yes, I am unhappy but I don’t want anyone’s blood on my hands.

I am beginning to feel uncomfortable with having a friend who would want me to commit such a horrible act. Your thoughts.

Dear Somewhat Surprised, You have to be very careful from whom you take advice. No good friend would encourage you to commit murder and that is in fact what you are being encouraged to do. Ignore that advice.

If your boyfriend is not living up to expectations and has refused to change for the better despite your pleas, then you need to reconsider things. You do not have to wait around for him to change, especially since he seems to have no interest in doing so.

Cut your losses now and move on; it will prove less costly for you in the long run in more ways than one.

George

Somewhat Surprised

A co-worker’s threat Dear George, MY CO-WORKER has been on my case ever since I introduced her to my boyfriend. At first she asked me if he has brothers, then she asked me what he does for a living and how much he makes. She went as far as to ask about his performance in bed. On that note, I began to get suspicious.

My antennas went up when she asked me for his number explaining that she wanted to ask him to have a look at her computer. Instead of giving her the number I said I would bring him around to her home. She did not like that idea.

She asked me point blank why I had to accompany him just to fix a simple computer.

To this day I have not told my boyfriend about her and the job. My worry is that she is going to still try to reach him and he may never tell me. I do not want to be anybody’s laughing stock. What do you think I should do?

Feeling Threatened Dear Feeling Threatened, You are creating a problem where there is none. You have to trust your boyfriend to be faithful to you. Your coworker will not be the

last person to be attracted to him, enough to try to turn his attention away from you, which, based on what you imply, is your coworker’s intention.

If you are confident about your relationship then you should have no problem giving your coworker his number.

Showing up with him only denotes a certain degree of insecurity on your part, and that could send a message of hope to your co-worker.

If you know and trust who you have you will not worry about someone who’s just on the outside looking in.

George

Temptation ⁄⁄ Dear George, Dear Doubtful, I AM MARRIED for five years and for the most part it’s a happy marriage.

A challenge arose over the recent past. A friend who is not with anyone is constantly on my case to get her pregnant. She is 36, and does not want to be in a relationship with anyone.

She went overboard to assure me that getting her pregnant would pose no problem to my marriage since she would vanish somewhere in the United States.

George, she is not a bad person at all and I know she will keep her word but things have a way of getting out, and that is what I’m afraid of.

Doubtful

You have a beautiful marriage of five years, why would you want to risk it just to fulfill the desire of a woman who has her own agenda?

Honor your vows and let your lady friend get someone else who is not committed to do her bidding. You have too much to lose to be so reckless.

George

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 23.

Hikers three-peat in VLP Kavem Hodge from Hikers - Player of the Tournament.

Botanical Gardens Rangers – runners-up.

For good measure Hodge got himself among the wickettakers, grabbing 1 for 11, underscoring his contribution to his team winning the champion’s purse of Champions La Soufrière Hikers with trophy and winner’s cheque.

EC$25,000.00.

And after the victory Rayon Williams AFTER A SHAKY START in which they lost Hodge, the Hikers overseas spoils were decided, the from Hikers took their two opening matches, defending player, as he had done so often rest of the table looked Champions of the Vincy Premier League through the preliminary stages the most wickets, like: Salt Pond T10 La Soufrière Hikers dug deep into of the Tournament, turned in a 13.

Breakers finished their pockets of resilience, and top performance for his team third, Dark View successfully defended their title. with 53 not out. He was supported by Explorers fourth, Fort Charlotte In a finals that pitted the defending Andrew Thomas who hit 21.

Strikers fifth, and Grenadines Divers champions against the 2021 VPL 3.0 National and Windward Island off cellar positioned Botanical Gardens spinner Kenneth Dember took 2 for 12. in sixth place.

Among the individual awards Rangers, Hikers lost the toss and were The pendulum swung back and invited to take first knock by their forth teasing the anxiety of the fans of handed out last Sunday, the accolades of Player of the Tournament and MVP challengers. Both teams went into the the respective teams. Even a single of the Finals were bestowed upon finals on 12 points. was cheered on by the Rangers’ Kavem Hodge, overseas player for And so it was, at the Arnos Vale supporters.

Playing Field last Sunday, April 3, However, Rangers, in using up their Hikers. He accumulated 290 runs, the highest for the Tournament.

2022, in fine weather and before allotted 10 overs got to 95, losing 3 Rayon Williams, also of champions perhaps what was the largest turnout wickets in the process, to hand Hikers for any VPL match since its inception, victory by five runs. The innings was Hikers, was the Tournament’s Best Bowler. He took 13 wickets.

Hikers posted a challenging 100 for 4 built in the main by 29 from Wayne Reynolly Hillocks of Fort Charlotte from 10 overs. Dominican Kavem Harper and 27 from Keron Cottoy.

Emerging Players Reynolly Hillocks (left) and Devante McDonald with Dr. Kishore Shallow, Vice President of CWI. Strikers and Devante McDonald of Salt Pond Breakers were named the Emerging Players for the Tournament.

Sunday’s final was preceded by an exhibition match involving a Best of the Rest Eleven and a President’s Eleven, the latter featuring a number of former National/Windwards players, including St. Lucia’s Darren Sammy.

The Best of the Rest triumphed by 12 runs.

Stories by I.B.A. ALLEN

Warriors take VPL Women’s title BALLICEAUX WARRIORS are the champions of the inaugural Women VPL T10 Tournament.

They took first lien on the title when they beat Montreal Gardens Bloomers by 10 Runners-up in the Kimone Homer wickets in the stroked 51 not out finals at the Arnos for Bloomers in a Bloomers batted Vale Playing Field losing cause. first and posted a two Sundays ago.

76 for 2 from 10 Each team overs. Captain Kimone Homer headed into the finals with led the batting with a classy one win after sharing honours 51 not out. Off spinner in a first drawn match.

Shenezia Daniel claimed the In the final and deciding two Bloomers’ wickets for 2 match, Montreal Gardens

first Women VPL Tournament. runs from her 2 overs.

Balliceaux Warriors replied strongly led by former West Indies batter and Captain Juliana Nero and national player Glendene Turtin, and the two guided their team to victory, 77 runs, in 6.4 overs.

Balliceaux Warriors – champions of the inaugural Women VPL T20 Tournament.

Nero was unbeaten on 28 and Turtin unbeaten on 34.

Nero, captain of the winning team was elated.

“It’s a really good feeling. I used the opportunity to help the girls and share my experience and it’s a

wonderful feeling to work with them, especially the young players,” she said, adding, “I believe the Women VPL is a good idea. We need to continue to put more interest into female cricket which will help develop the players.”

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24. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Head Coach pleased with CNL Draw ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES senior men’s team - Vincy Heat, Trinidad and Tobago, Nicaragua and the Bahamas have been drawn in Group C of League B of the Concacaf Nations League.

And the draw, made last Monday, pleases the team’s Head Coach- Kendale Mercury.

“We are very satisfied with the draw… We did our homework according to the rules and came up with the scenarios with the Group,” Mercury related.

Working out the probabilities before the draw, Mercury pointed out, “So, we said in Pot One, we had favoured Cuba, because we had played Cuba in the World Cup Qualifiers and lost one-nil to them and we did not play particularly well in that game.”

Mercury continued with, “We said also we would be happy with Trinidad and Tobago, so we got Trinidad (and Tobago) … In Pot Two, we had favoured getting French Guiana… Outside of that, we wanted to avoid Bermuda and Guadeloupe which

we did… We got Nicaragua, which we had taken four points off in the last Nations League in 2019…

We said also we wanted Bahamas out of Pot Three and we got them.”

Nicaragua was favoured since, according to Mercury, most of his charges have experience in the Nicaragua setting, including the fast astro-turf.

And the work has already begun. Mercury informed that he has received footage from the most recent Trinidad and Tobago matches versus Barbados and Guyana, and have already started to study them.

When St Vincent and the Grenadines competed in the Nations League in 2019, they finished runners up to Suriname. The Vincentians had three wins, two draws and one loss.

The second place gave St Vincent and the Grenadines a second shot at the Concacaf Gold Cup Qualifiers, where they were defeated by Haiti 6-1 in Florida, last July.

The 2022 Nations League begins in June, with the same format - a round robin home and away, double windows. The second window is set for March, 2023.

The schedules will be disclosed by Concacaf in due course.

Each League, A, B and C consists of three Groups — A, B Head Coach and C. The first placed team in each Kendale Mercury Group in League B and C will be is smiling at the draw with some promoted to League A and B respectively, with the last places satisfaction. in League A and B groups, demoted to B and C, respectively.

And, the four winners of groups in League A will vie for the top Nations League honours.

Greiggs Primary out front in MFA football

The Greiggs Primary School team: Delano Jones, Greiggs Marksman, is pictured front at left.

WHEN THE Memorial Funeral Home Marriaqua Football Association Primary Schools’ Football Competition opened last Monday at the Cane End Playing Field, the Greiggs Primary jumped out in front of the other

seven schools.

Greiggs was triumphant in their two fixtures on the day, beating Cane End Government 2-0. Delano Jones netted both goals.

Jones was again in fine form, as he smashed a hat trick versus

Evesham Methodist, leading his team to a 7-0 win. Doveson Williams, with two goals and one apiece from Carlton Ottley and Keson Durrant, ensured Greiggs’ dominance.

Meanwhile, Richland Park Government defeated Belmont Primary, 2-1, with Richland Park’s goals coming from J-Lonnie Stephens and Ryan Williams. Alex Jordan netted for Belmont.

Richland Park Government though was held to a 1-1 draw by Marriaqua Government.

Dante Caesar scored for Richland Park Government and Jayden Cordice for Marriaqua Government.

Marriaqua Government redeemed themselves on Monday with a 1-0 win over Richland Park Seventh Day Adventist Primary.

Malik John hit the

winning goal.

Richland Park SDA was coming off a 4-0 win over Belmont Primary.

On the score sheet for the SDA outfit were John Prescott, who had a brace, and there was one each from Leon Francis and Johmari Alexander.

And, Argyle Primary beat Evesham Methodist, 2-0. Issiah Nelson netted both goals.

Prior to the on-field action, a formal Opening Ceremony featured addresses by President of the Marriaqua Football Association - Yosiah Dascent; Minister of Sports - Hon. Frederick Stephenson; Parliamentary Representative for Marriaqua - Hon. St Clair Prince; President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation - Carl Dickson and Stephen Da Silva of Memorial Funeral Home.

Lawrence sets new SCGCC records KYLE LAWRENCE was in unstoppable form setting two new records at the SVG Community College (SVGCC) Athletics Meet last week at the Diamond Track and Field Facility.

He broke the 100 meters record with a new mark of 10.71 seconds and destroyed the existing 7.15 seconds in the male 60 meters with a sprint of 6.73 seconds.

For good measure, Lawrence added victory in the 200m with a new stadium record of 21.32 seconds.

Lawrence’s time in the 200m qualifies him for that sprint at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships to be held in Callie, Columbia in August. The qualifying time for the IAAF World Under 20 Championship event is 21.40.

Speaking to THE VINCENTIAN, after his showing at the SVGCC Meet, Lawrence said he was pleased with his effort.

“It’s a good feeling breaking records. I am feeling good coming off of injuries and my confidence is high,” he said.

He shared that he and his training partner — Andrus Dennis — were determined to go after the records which they saw as possible on the synthetic track.

That said, Lawrence’s intention is to “… run faster every time I run,” and he is looking forward to taking a podium position at the CARIFTA Games to be held in Jamaica over the Easter Weekend.

Meanwhile, Lawrence’s coach — Pamenos Ballantyne - is not

Kyle Lawrence has hit what some consider to be top form ahead of the CARIFTA Games. surprised by his dominance in the short distance races.

“With the CARIFTA ahead of him this SVG College sports is an indication that he is in good shape… . . I am expecting good things from him,” Ballantyne told THE VINCENTIAN. I.B.A. ALLEN

The competition which intended to have eleven schools participating, has been whittled down to eight, as the Diamond Government, Lauders

Government and Lowmans Windward Anglican opted out.

The competition is set to conclude on Wednesday 13th April.

The SVG contingent (from left): Zefal Bailey, Marlon Antrobus and Lucky Antrobus.

SVG in top ten places in Jamaica classic ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES managed two top ten places in the overall standings of the inaugural three-stages Jamaica International Cycling Classic, which rode off last weekend.

After the three events in Montego Bay, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Vincentian cyclists Zefal Bailey finished ninth, Luck Antrobus - tenth and Marlon Antrobus - fourteenth.

There was at least one top ten finish for St. Vincent and the Grenadines in each of the stages.

Bailey registered SVG’s best placing when he docked sixth in stage three on Sunday.

Lucky Antrobus was ninth in stage one, while Marlon Antrobus came in tenth on stage two, held Saturday.

The trio which formed Team St Vincent and the Grenadines tallied 15 points, placing fifth of the seven teams.

The overall individual winner was Andy Scarano of Team 706. Scarano pocketed the US$1,000 which was set aside for the top place cyclist.

Together, the three stages totaled 194 miles, comprised of Stage One — 56 miles; Stage Two — 86 miles; Stage Three — 52 miles.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 25.

Sports

Happy Birthday Arnos Vale

ARNOS VALE HAS been the backdrop for the artwork etched on the minds of sport fans the world over. Tales abound of the suspension of moments unleashed before thousands of Vincentian fans and spectators the world over.

There are clippings and excerpts of matches like the Shivnarine Chanderpaul drama against a New Zealand team in 2002.

Arnos Vale has not hosted a One Day International since 2012, neither a T/20 since 2013.

Arnos Vale has its dynamics, and like nature continues to experience changes. There is no longer the spectacle of planes landing or taking off from the E/T. Joshua Airport which bordered the arena.

Action went on, or was adjusted according to the conditions for disruptions were part of the norm, however fleetingly.

The closeness served in good stead at times. It is not unusual to have seen players being ferried from the airport straight to the playing field to join a game in progress.

Expansion and enhancement of the facility hinged on what was taking place at the airport.

And that was in intricate balancing act.

Action at the Arnos Vale Playing took a booming shift February 14, 2017. That’s when traffic ceased at the E.T. Joshua and planes diverted to the Argyle International Airport, situated about eight miles to the eastern curve of the eastern cost.

Arnos Vale has seen world Cup Football qualifiers, many of which have shown up the gap between the home team and their Central American counterparts. Enthusiasts will remind you of that encounter against Mexico which even though the result was 1: 0 in favour of Mexico, it still has the ring of a Vincentian victory.

Pundits will remind you that the goal was questionable, and one is left to rue the extent to which officials may be guilty of big power patrimony.

The Vincentians kept a clean sheet after conceding midway in the first session. Matters became more complicated with the ejection of a Vincentian striker.

Vincentians have been thrilled by their football teams from early in the sentries. Current West Indies Cricket Board President reminded listeners of his exposure to Vincentian sport as part of his country’s Under-19 Football team. He reflected on seeing his team’s early advantage erase by a surge from a Vincentian cavalry.

Arnos Vale rests in an environment of potential boom. When the next 50 years are recorded the digital transformation would have perhaps been upgraded to things inline and inclined to the natural manner of survival.

Whether more than two Test matches will be on the record will be interesting aspects of research.

Whatever the circumstances, nothing can erase the times of the first international encounter between the Windward and New Zealand.

With play interrupted by rain over the first two days, it was decided to play a 45 over a side game. New Zealand secured that win overhauling the Windward total for the loss of four wickets.

That was in April 1972. Happy birthday Arnos Vale.

Vincentian wins Track title in Jamaica VINCENTIAN - Keiffer Bailey took the Female Individual title at the Jamaica’s Inter- Collegiate Track and Field Championships, Saturday, March 26, at the GC Foster Facility.

Competing for the GC Foster College, Bailey won the 800m in 2:45 and was third in the 1500m and 3000m, as she tallied 21 individual points.

Her clocking in the 1500m was 6:07.58 and she posted a time of 15:10.42 for the 3000m.

Bailey, though, was among a contingent of Vincentian athletes who also put in creditable performances at the event.

Javon Rawlins, also of GC Foster College, ran a personal best of 10.46 seconds in the 100m.

OJ Jackson won the 400m in a time of 48.33 seconds and Odeisha Nanton won the Women’s 400m

Hurdles in 1:04.43.

Sage Primus timed 21.49 seconds in the Men’s 200m to earn second place and was followed in third by Earl Simmons with a clocking of 21.79 seconds.

In the women’s 400m where there was also Vincentian representation, Annecia Richards timed 54.82 seconds to win the event and Nanton did 55.20, to trail Richards in second place.

Jackson, Nanton, Primus, Simmons and Richards, are all students of the GC Foster College.

The Vincentians played their part in the relays, as GC Foster College won the Women’s 4 x 100m and 4 x400m, along with the Men’s Sprint Relay.

The overall scores showed GC Foster College wining the Female segment with 198 points and the

Keiffer Bailey Male category with 205 points.

University of the West Indies (Mona), Mico University College, Excelsior Community and Mongeague College were the other competing tertiary institutions.

SVGÊs Lady Heat crush BVI IN WHAT was a remarkable turnaround in fortune after two losses to Cuba and Haiti, Lady Heat, the SVG Female Senior Football team, humbled the British Virgin Islands (BVI), 5-1, in a CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier, at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex last Wednesday.

The local girls, playing in front of a home crowd that all but packed the Arnos Vale Playing Field, showed intensity and aggression from the get go, and registered their first goal in the 7th minute, centre back Annesta Richards doing the honours.

Buoyed by their first goal, the Vincentian ladies piled on the pressure and by the 14th minute was able to register their second goal from the boot of centre forward Areka Hopper.

Lady Heat continued to run riot in the BVI half and headed into the break with a 3-nil advantage, their third goal coming in the 33rd minute from left winger Kristine Wyllie.

The BVI showed improved spirit in the second half, finding more openings in the Vincentian half, and were rewarded with a goal when Lady Heat’s centre midfielder Kitanna Richards turned in an own goal.

Richards, though, seemed bent on making up for her mishap and by the 66th minute had turned in Lady Heat’s fourth goal.

Not yet finished, she closed off a dominant performance by the

Vincentian team when she converted in the 90th minute.

Final score: SVG 5 - BVI 1.

Head coach elated Lady heat’s head coach — Cornelius Huggins was obviously elated with the victory.

Annesta Richards Speaking with the scored in the 7th Vincentian after the match, he minute. said, “First of all, I want to congratulate the team for this win which came down to a total team effort. The games against Cuba and Haiti were disappointing…. We came back home and we put in the work, we raise the intensity and the players have responded well; we played as a team.

Huggins admitted that the team made a few mistakes that didn’t prove to be costly but he is ready to address them.

Looking ahead to Lady Heat’s next match — an encounter with Honduras, Huggins said, “The win Kristine Wyllie found the net in against the BVI will give us the 33rd minute. motivation going in against Honduras. We just need to be patient and clinical in front the goal.”

SVG will now take on Honduras in their final match in Group E on April 12th in Honduras.

I.B.A. ALLEN

Areka Hooper converted in the 14th minute.

Kitanna Richards had herself a brace, scoring in the 66th and 90th minutes.

26. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 27.

Classifieds

Vincymas 2022 is on....

Continued from Backpage.

And he referenced the opportunities that Vincymas offers to beauty salons, hotels, taxi and omnibus operators, vendors, restaurants, crafts shop, and tour guides.

The Chairman hinted that the launch of Vincymas 2022 had taken place unofficially over the weekend. In this regard, he reflected on the National Schools Bands Showcase at Victoria Park last Saturday, April 2, and the Vincy Premier League T/10 final at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex the following day.

Overseas promotion of Vincymas gets into higher gear with Synergy TV in Trinidad and Tobago and locally an advertisement was expected to be launched this week. Residents

across the state can also look forward to the CDC Truck as it aims to heighten awareness.

In related matters, Minister James

announced that this year’s Bequia Easter Regatta and Union Island’s Eastervale will both return to some level of activities for which they have been known.

MICHAEL RUDOLPH WILKES

GRACE LUVENA PETERS

Saturday, 2nd April, 2022 Calliaqua Methodist Church Viewing: 9:00 a.m.

Service: 10:00 a.m.

Interment: Golden Vale Cemetery

Saturday, 2nd April, 2022 Church of Christ Kingstown Park Viewing: 10:00 a.m.

Service: 11:00 a.m.

Interment: Kingstown Cemetery

NORIS ADOLPHUS LAYNE ELROY CARTMEL EMMONS Monday, April 4, 2022 Chauncey Methodist Church Service: 10:00 a.m.

Sunday, 3rd April, 2022 Barrouallie S.D.A Church Viewing: 11:00 a.m.

Service: 12:00 noon Interment: Glebe Hill Cemetery

AI REAL ESTATE Fountain 10,653 sq.ft @ $12.00 p.s.f.

- $127,836.00 - BB231 Twenty Hill 5 bedrm Property on 13,464 sq.ft - $650,000.00 - H116 Murray Village 3 bedrm Property on 4,800 sq.ft. - $350,000.00 - H163 Cane Hall 6 bedrm Property on 5,943 sq.ft.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 08,

2022

VOLUME 116, No.14

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

VINCYMAS 2022 IS ON….

Culture Minister Carlos James was pleased to announced the conditional return of a full Vincymas.

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY

occasioned by the COVID19 pandemic.

It is scheduled to VINCYMAS, the ‘Hottest commence June 24 and Carnival in the Caribbean’, climax July 5. returns in full after a Speaking at a press hiatus of two years conference hosted by the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) at its Victoria Park headquarters last Tuesday, Culture Minister Carlos James said that St Vincent and the Grenadines is expected to hold its first full Carnival since the advent of the COVID-19.

This he said was influenced by the low COVID-19 positivity rate Ricardo Adams, and the advice of the Chairman of the CDC, various entities involved assured that his in the fight against the Corporation will be COVID-19 pandemic. guided by the health He said he was officials and all related pleased to announce that health protocols.

CUSTOM OFFICER DIES IN ROAD MISHAP

by KENVILLE HORNE

THE COMMUNITY of Cane End was thrown into a state of sadness following the death of Oneicho Burke, better known as Niecho, a 30-year-old Custom Officer of Cane End. Burke died, on Saturday 2nd around 8:40 am, after the vehicle (PW 190) he was diving ran off the road along the Fountain Public Road. He is believed to have lost control of the vehicle.

According to a preliminary police report, upon arrival at the scene the responding officers observed that the

victim’s body appeared to be motionless. He was later pronounced dead by the District Medical Officer.

The preliminary investigation confirmed that Burke was travelling towards the Arnos Vale Roundabout when he lost control of the vehicle which then ran off the road.

The vehicle showed no signs of serious damage and persons are doubtful that the impact before the vehicle came to rest, could have been life threatening.

Some persons who viewed the scene suggested that Burke might have suffered a heart attack before losing

Vincymas will return to Victoria Park and the streets of Kingstown.

There will be two days of street parade as has been the tradition, the Minister said.

However, he cautioned that should the positivity rate (COVID-19) move to 5 percent or more, the CDC will revert to a festival of reduced and controlled activities.

Chairman of the CDC — Ricardo Adams, in endorsing what the

Minister disclosed, assured that his Corporation was guided by the health professionals, and that it was ready for any eventuality.

He endorsed the health protocols and encouraged persons not just to get vaccinated, but to get involved in the festival. The components, he said, were ready for the return of Vincymas.

Continued on Page 27.

Oneicho ‘Niecho’ Burke is listed unofficially as this country’s latest road fatality.

control.

Burke was the son of Rouna Burke, Principal of the Marriaqua Government School, and Oswald Burke, a former agricultural officer.

His family is well-known and respected in the Marriaqua constituency.

Friends and colleagues took to social media following Burke’s death to pay tribute and expressed condolences to the family. Those who knew him describe him as “cool and funny.”

Police investigations into the incident are ongoing.

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

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.

2. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . 3.

News 3 Emergency Response project launched

Some of the first Seeds as they are referred to, who will be trained in Taiwan.

A PROJECT AIMED at enhancing this country’s capacity to respond to emergencies was officially launched on April 5.

The project, known as the ‘Public Health Emergency Response System Enhancement Project’ is a collaboration between the Republic of China (Taiwan) Technical Mission and the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment.

“We are going to improve the capacity of

emergency response through the enhancement of the public health,” Ambassador of the Republic of Chine (Taiwan) H.E Peter ShaLi Lan said.

He explained the project had three main components — to build capacity, equipment upgrades and enhancing community awareness.

Ten people have been selected and will travel to Taiwan where they will be trained over a

three-month period and upon their return, train others H.E Sha-Li Lan said.

“This is going to be a four-year project and we believe that through this project we will better be equipped to counter the impact from COVID-19 and the volcanic eruption here,” said the Ambassador.

Meanwhile, this country’s health minister St Clair Prince explained that the project got

underway in November 2021 with the executing agencies being the Taiwan Technical Mission and the Health Security Unit.

The Health Security Unit, according to Prince, was set up to strengthen, focus and coordinate the country’s response to all hazards and emergencies.

“The unit is mandated to coordinate our response and mitigate and prepare for hazards such as natural events, biological, radiological — even nuclear events, chemical events, climate change and infectious diseases especially those of international concern,” Prince said.

The outcome of the project was to improve resilience within the health system by improving emergency response at all levels.

And for the first time, Vincentians will be trained in emergency response who will then train Emergency Medical Technicians’ type I in the

Vaccination ID card on stream THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM will soon begin the distribution of COVID-19 related vaccination identification cards (ID’s) for persons in the tour industry and later to the public.

CEO of the Tourism Authority, Glen Beache, made the announcement during a press conference at the Ministry of Tourism conference room on Wednesday 6.

He said that the vaccination ID initiative falls under the Ministry of Tourism it will be rolled out in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

According to Beache, the vaccination ID card is a result of a process during which consideration was given as to how to verify the vaccination status of the taxi drivers, tour guides and tour operators, so as to assure passengers that it was safe to use certain taxi drivers and tour guides.

The ID card will now become an ID card and a vaccination card for tourism stakeholders/functionaries, and

will give the date of first dose, date of second dose and batch number and date of booster if one was administered. The back of the card will carry a QR code that will carry all the information, revealed when screened.

Beache assured that there will be intense checks with the Ministry of Health with respect to the status of persons applying for the new vaccination ID card.

“So it is not a matter of them just presenting the vaccination card,” Beache stressed.

And as far as making the ‘new’ card available to the public, the CEO said, “At this time we are also looking at providing this for the public but it will be at a cost.

We have not priced it out completely but from what I am seeing, we are looking at a cost between $150 and $200, for one of these cards.”

He admitted that there might be comment about the card being expensive but he explained that whatever the cost, it was based on inclusion of all that was needed to produce the card, e.g. printer and

Glen Beache – CEO Tourism Authority. ink.

The use of the card by the public is especially useful for those who travel often and who encounter checks for vaccination status at airports, restaurants, etc., the CEO cited, adding that the design of the card for use in the tourism will differ from the one issued to the public.

The ‘new’ card will be available for distribution to those in the tourism industry between this week and the end of next week.

(KH)

Some of the equipment donated to the Ministry of Health. first instance, then they will be focusing in on EMT Type II and then move on to paramedics, the health minister said.

He added, “We are

now working towards strengthening legislation and crafting policy to allow for these EMTs to be our responders on our ambulances.” (DD)

Three charged in car park stabbing Continued from Front page.

Some of the eye witnesses to the incident spoke with this reporter.

Having a say Innis Primus said she feared that the Massy supermarket car park at Arnos vale could be the next to experience an incident of the one referenced here.

“Can’t understand why the management of these supermarkets is allowing their premises to take on a Heritage Square appearance every Friday evening. Very soon customers will be afraid to go to these supermarkets to shop which eventually will do bad for the business,” Primus added.

Popular radio host, Christopher ‘2Kool Chris’ Jones also weighed in on the matter.

The host of the popular morning programme AM Mayhem aired on Hot 97.1 FM, said, “Listen, I’ve said it before and I’mma say it again. That big gathering in them carparks, both Massy Arnos Vale and Stoney Ground, the police need to put an end to that ehh... it’s only a matter of time before someone is killed and simply because of ignorance.”

Continuing his take on the matter, Jones said on Monday that there is a need to stop what is taking place and suggested ‘No Loitering’ signs be placed at the car parks as well as assigning a police detail to the areas.

Co-host and proprietor of Hot 97.1 - Luke Boyea, proposed the main tenants of the properties (at Arnos Vale) take issue with the landlords.

“Remember Massy is the main business here but they don’t actually own the property. So the only way I think it’s going to change is if say like in Arnos Vale, the two main tenants, which I think are KFC and Massy, say look we are going to withhold the rent unless you deal with the problem…, ” Boyea detailed.

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4. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

Women

Another RedRootSVG programme completed REDROOTSVG INC. closed its first training programme for 2022 on March 24.

Dubbed the ‘Against All Odds Training Programme’, it commenced on January 17 and was held at

RedRootSVG’s office in Paul’s Avenue.

Some twenty-three certificates were presented to women in four different skills (area): mixology, customer service, QuickBooks and

beginners nail technology According to a release from RedRootSVG, the training programme was intended to impart certain skills to women, so as to aid them in better equipping themselves to create

Graduates of RedRoot’s Against All Odds Training Programme’ and RedRoot Executive Members (seated).

meaningful employment in the near future.

RedRootSVG Inc. is an NGO dedicated to empowering and supporting women and children who are victims

of violence, inequality and sexual abuse in St. Vincent, by offering training programmes, empowerment workshops and children’s summer programmes.

It has been offering training programmes and workshops aimed at uplifting women and children since 2018.

(Source: RedRootSVg Inc.)

Women farmers get Canadian assistance variety, quantity and quality of crops A LOCAL organization - Women in they desired, and often times the yield Agriculture for Rural Development produced was relatively low.

(WARD) — was recently the recipient In extending their sincere of a quantity of equipment, appreciation for the assistance which compliments the Canadian High Commission in Barbados, through its is expected to address their challenges, the members of WARD local project initiative window, pledged to take good care of the Canada Fund for Local Initiative equipment, to make maximum use of (CFLI).

The equipment was handed over to them towards enhancing their livelihood. They noted that their WARD on Wednesday, 23rd March, work will be much easier as they 2022, by Ms. Amanda Martinez, Political Officer of the Canadian High acquaint themselves with the use of the equipment, enabling them to Commission. contribute more meaningfully not only Ms. Martinez, in brief remarks at the handover, said inter alia, that her to rural development, but to the High Commission was pleased to be of nation as a whole. assistance to women farmers.

The donation (equipment) included: rotating garden tillers, trimmers, wood chippers, post-hole diggers and landscape fabric covers.

Along with the equipment, the assistance also provides for the purchase of seeds, field demonstrations, hands-on training in the use and maintenance of the equipment and training and capacity building in areas of Environmental Preservation, Strategic Farm Management Practices and Composting.

The women farmers noted that over the years, their operations have been very labour intensive and the Executive/members of Ward and Ms. overall cost of production Amanda Martinez, Political Officer of the extremely high. As such they Canadian High Commission (left) at the were unable to produce the handover of the equipment.

V Thrift store to open in Bequia

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 5.

Bequia Focus

BEQUIA is to get its first ever charity-run ‘thrift’ store this summer, offering second-hand clothing, books and homeware at bargain prices - all in aid of The Sunshine School for Children with Special Needs.

Due to open in June, the store known as ‘Encore’, has been made possible thanks to financial support from community group Action Bequia, itself an environmental pioneer which instigated the island’s recycling programme in 2016 and which now employs nine people.

‘Encore’ will be based in the harbour area of Port Elizabeth between Front Street and the start of the famed Belmont Walkway. Its name

has been chosen to reflect the opportunity to give a repeat performance of something much loved and appreciated.

‘Encore’ will be manned by volunteers and rely on donations of items from the community.

Island resident and Treasurer of the Sunshine School, Suzanne Gabriel, is co-ordinating the project’s launch.

“Shopping at Encore will not only be kind to people’s wallets with so many amazing bargains to be had, but it’s also going to help us be kind to the planet,” she said.

“Approximately 12 million tons of clothing end up in landfill each year, yet 85% of it is in perfect condition

Bequia gets assistance for playing fields upkeep SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Consul General to Northern Ireland Dr. Christopher Stange facilitated the donation of a brand-new commercial grade zero-turn agricultural tractor lawn mower to assist the Bequia Sports Management Committee. The machinery valued at £12,000 (EC$45,000.00) will be used Handover party: (R-L): Mrs. primarily for the Sandy Peters-Phillips, PS upkeep of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. playing fields on Carlos Williams, Deputy Bequia.

Director, Grenadines Affairs; Mr. Carlos Ms. Shemma Sayers, Europe Williams, Deputy Desk Officer, Ministry of Director for Grenadines Affairs Foreign Affairs; Mr. Kasi Simmons and Mr. Kendale and Mrs. Sandy Mercury of the Bequia Sports Peters-Phillips in Management Committee. the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and representatives of the Bequia Sports Management Committee were on hand to receive the donation at the St. Vincent Port Authority, Kingstown.

In applauding the initiative, Consul General Dr. Stange on behalf of the Consulate General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in Northern Ireland stated “It’s an honour to play our part overseas through foreign diplomacy to deliver this project and much needed equipment for the Northern Grenadines. Thank you to all our partners: Gosford Equipment, Kestrel Liner Agencies, Clarksons Port Services and SFG Forwarding in assisting us in the economic, social, sport, health and wellness development of our great country.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade expresses its appreciation to the Consul General and donors for their efforts in facilitating the donation of this important equipment that will be of great use and add to the future development of the Bequia Sporting Community.

(Submitted by: SVG Consul General to Northern Ireland Dr. Christopher Stange)

and could be reworn and reloved. The same is true of books and homeware, and it’s so much better to see things re-used rather than ending up in the dump.

“We all have things at home that we don’t want or need any more. Perhaps a dress that no longer fits, a bag you never use, a set of dishes that have now been replaced, or a cushion that no longer matches the décor. If you think someone else might love it, we can find it a new home and the school’s children will benefit.”

The Sunshine School is a not-for-profit institution, which through education and love, helps students aged from 5 to 20 to reach their full potential. It is dependent on donations and private fund-raising efforts, and like many other organisations has been hard hit by the global pandemic.

It is hoped that ‘Encore’ will become a significant source of income for the school and that it will also stock craft items made by the pupils.

Donations for the store, including clothing, books, furniture, homeware and electricals can be left at The Sunshine School in Port Elizabeth. All

Students and teachers of the Sunshine School welcome another donation from a generous benefactor.

The Sunshine School for Children with Special Needs on Bequia is one of three such Schools in SVG – the others are in Kingstown and Georgetown. donations should be clean and in good working order. Unfortunately, they are not able to accept VHS cassettes, DVDs or CDs. For further information contact: Suzanne Gabriel on (784) 528 7444 or (784) 457 3794. (Submitted)

6. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 7.

Tribute

They came from far and wide to pay tribute to an icon.

Anesta Rodney: A SisterÊs view

Anesta I-leen Rodney – stalwart of the Rose Hall community – leaves a legacy of sacrifice, commitment and service.

the Eulogist recalled, “She became THE NATION, North Wendy said that her their voice and offered them tangible Leeward in particular, on sister attended the help and encouragement.

This passion Saturday, 26th March, Troumaca Government of hers for the underlings of society 2022, bade farewell to an School since Rose Hall was evident by the continuous flow of extraordinary leader and did not have a Primary people who always strayed at our women’s rights activist school at the time.

Anesta I-leen Rodney, She became a teacher house. They came bruised, they came with a multiplicity of names, they affectionately referred to at a very young age were hurt and had problems. My sister as Nesta. before travelling to offered food, clothing and shelter. She She was laid to rest at Jamaica to further her gave advances (cash) and helped the Rose Hall cemetery education in Home after a service at the Economics at University people to migrate to metropolitan New Testament Church of Technology in Jamaica countries to improve their lives. in Rose Hall.

(UTEC).

Overall, hers was a mission of care.”

Rodney, a former The younger sister And her goodwill extended to secondary school said that delivering the persons from outside the Rose Hall principal at the eulogy was a very community, Wendy related. She Troumaca Ontario challenging task, referenced that “… persons from Secondary and the Petit Wendy Rodney recalled explaining, “Not because outside of Rose Hall would also come Bordel Secondary of any incapacity on my her sister as marching to Anesta’s home seeking refuge and schools, and president of forward in service to part but rather because she would accept them, sometimes the ‘beat of her own the National Women’s of the mystery of death without even knowing their drum’.

Council, passed away at and the struggle to background. Often it would be after her home in Rose Hall on encapsulate a life that the fact that she learned that some of Wednesday, 16th February after a was so expansive. There are so many her guests had been threatened.” brief illness. memories of and experiences shared She is credited with helping many with my sister Anesta that are so disadvantaged, at-risk women in uniquely expressive of her personality North Leeward; and providing training and her character, that what I say in home economics, sewing and cannot accurately represent through baking. She spearheaded the words a tiny sliver of who she was.” development of pre-schools and other education institutions in Rose Hall The Matriarch and surrounding communities, and in retirement, operated a small bakery She acknowledged Anesta as the and shop in Rose Hall. matriarch of the family, who Rodney was the daughter of Denzil practically raised a number of nieces Rodney. She went very quickly from and nephews. Rodney, she said, had a being a student to a teacher before distinctively calm and simple persona. serving as a principal. Sister and “But these belied her selfformer high school principal Wendy confidence and her very strong sense Rodney, who delivered the eulogy from of independence …. She would simply her location in Taiwan where she find her way to make things work…. currently teaches English, said that at her own pace and within her own Anesta was the second of 6 children time,” marching always “to the beat of for her mother, Mary Samuel Rodney, her own drum,” Wendy said. and father Denzil Rodney. She also And as for her commitment to the had 6 other siblings whom that her underprivileged and disadvantaged, father had after migrating to Trinidad.

Wendy admitted that the family was often inconvenienced by Anesta’s action but were also aware that she would be irritated if they did not comply with “what she expected of us.”

The Rose Hall community benefited tremendously from Anesta’s kindness, Wenday said.

“Through her profession as a teacher and by means of the adult education classes and the Rose Hall Working Group, she was able to share with many villagers and students her love of and her skills for home economics,” Wendy noted.

Undoubtedly, Anesta played an extraordinary leadership role in the community. Under her leadership and with the support of Chadis Stapleton as group facilitator for the Rose Hall Community working Group, various projects were implemented that contributed in great measure to community life and growth.

Many in Rose Hall can attest to this. The question is: Who will continue the work?

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8. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Editorial

Agriculture on the agenda THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE has given notice of its intention to launch a national marketing consultation, April 25, 2022.

According to a release from the Ministry, the consultation will engage “farmers, farm workers, fishers, agriculture co-operatives, exporters of fresh produce, agro-processors and agriculture students and their teachers”.

Additionally, the release disclosed that, “the Chief Agriculture Officer is currently engaging technicians to craft a framework for the introduction of a commodity production plan which is expected to produce for market demands”.

We would want to admit that the fore-mentioned encapsulates a noble intention on the part of the Ministry and by extension, the Government.

If the truth be told, though, the intention comes after many uninspiring responses by said Ministry to what is still a significant contributing sector to the socio-economic landscape of this country.

The question abounds: Is this latest effort, latest efforts, anymore inspiring?

We may find the answer if we are allowed to add an even more serious and far-reaching intent, call it an interpretation of the Ministry’s announcement; to mean that the announced intention is part and parcel of the more comprehensive plan to energise and modernize the agriculture industry.

After all, while the ‘modern’ trend is towards developing a service-oriented economy and society, dependent in the main on tourism as a major contributor to GDP, we have to ensure that the agricultural sector is in sync with that trust as an integral partner and not as a bastard child who enjoys’ only flippant support.

So let’s briefly take that point of departure.

Managing the decision-making processes of farming, agriculture has always been complex because there are so many different limiting factors that are not within a farmer’s control, e.g. weather.

Notwithstanding those limitations, the vision of sustainable agriculture, and that we assume is the goal of the Ministry’s plan(s), involves people in a variety of capacities throughout the industry.

Those capacities must not be

diminished by the fact that the amount of arable land is likely going to remain constant or decrease, the latter being driven by the trust towards plant construction to serve the tourism sector.

As the population steadily grows, we will need to produce more crops from existing resources. Can we do so from depleting resources? Food production must increase not decrease if not feeding ourselves swill become a herculean task, and there will be very little if any to export.

If the agriculture industry does not look beyond traditional strategies, and government does not attached a different and nonpartisan qualification to its handouts, future generations will not be able to produce and take advantage of our arable land.

In the past, agriculture focused on taking full advantage of available land and yielding as many crops as possible.

There was no focus on sustainable crop production or land preservation. From a financial standpoint there was no focus on profitability and conserving land and resources. These go hand-inhand.

But lest we forget, there are benefits of taking a leap towards sustainable agriculture as we endeavor to help growers and enterprises make better decisions.

By adopting sustainable practices, farmers will reduce their reliance on nonrenewable energy, reduce chemical use and save scarce resources. Keeping the land healthy and replenished can go a long way when considering the rising population and demand for food, not to mention attracting niche markets that are biased towards use of natural ingredient, i.e. organic material.

Farming smarter and moving food from farm to fork in a more efficient manner will benefit everyone involved within the agriculture industry, not lest ensuring the market readiness of the commodity.

The anticipated population increase is cause for concern. Today, there is an opportunity to develop agricultural practices from a pure production standpoint, and sustainable agriculture is the route with the most opportunity.

These are just some thoughts with extended intent that we hope would inform, to some degree, that marketing consultation that the Ministry has given notice of conducting.

Ready to fix it?

ARE YOU READY TO ADMIT that the Planning Department’s process for changing Land Use is broken?

How could an application for the use of over 6,000 sq ft of the seafloor be accepted when the applicant has no record of a lease or use agreement? How could the elected representative for the area not be aware that the Planning Department received an application for a Major Land Use in his district? How could the Deputy Prime Minister be on TV on Friday night, March 25th telling us to submit our comments to the Planning Department when the deadline for receiving comments according to the public posting was that said Friday? How could the Planning Board have a meeting on a change in Land Use without notifying the public of such a meeting? How could the Planning Department reject the applicant at the Thursday Board meeting when I was told by Staff, in response to a direct question, that the Board did not discuss it at the meeting held earlier that day?

But, enough of that, I am not looking to blame anyone. The irony of this all to me is that without any provocation, on Thursday, March 24th, a staff member told me that the system they have in place to review applications was “as good or better than any other in any part of the world.” This comment was after he asked me, “Who are you? Where are you from?” The rest of the conversation continued in that general tone for quite a while. I can assure you I took no offense to this aggressive yet defensive attitude.

But, in keeping with my new mantra, I will tell you something good about the team. They are a loyal, confident group of employees.

Now I think it’s time to review how this case was handled. There must be a way for us to stop these embarrassing episodes. These selfinflicted wounds are unnecessary and dangerous. I will freely admit that I do not know enough about the internal systems to be able to make suggestions for all the things that need to be changed to avoid another public embarrassment like this one.

However, I have a few suggestions on how we can improve the Departments’ interaction with the public in cases like these.

Before a public notice is posted in the newspaper and on the

Department’s web page, all of the essential components of the application must be completed by the applicant.

When those basics are completed, Staff should inform the elected representative of the area.

The assigned planner should meet with the applicant and review a public outreach. This process I will call a Citizen Participant Process (CPP).

What is a CPP? It is an effort to ensure that applicants pursue early and effective citizen participation in conjunction with their Land-use zoning change applications. It allows the applicant to understand and mitigate any real or perceived impacts their proposed changes may have on the community. This process will ensure that the citizens and property owners in the surrounding area around the project have an adequate opportunity to learn about applications. This approach puts the burden on the applicant to resolve concerns at an early stage in the application process and facilitate ongoing communication between the applicant, interested residents, property owners, and the Planning Department. This process will help the Staff of the Planning Department and the elected officials by giving them an early opportunity to gauge the community’s feelings for the project, before submitting a formal application to change the land use.

The following are five critical steps to an effective CPP: I. The Planning Department will provide a standard letter for mailing to everyone within 500 ft of the project property line. II. This letter is to be mailed to the property owner of record. III. The letter should include the details of the project, including an operations plan. IV. The applicant should organize at least one public meeting. This meeting should be held in the community where the project is located. V. A final CPP report should then be included in the formal application for Land-use changes.

This simple process would shift the burden of handling controversy associated with any project to the landowner and away from the Planning Department and other government officials.

As always, ready to help.

Horatio

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 9.

Letters

Office Attendants: Have a heart

OFFICE ATTENDANTS are workers too and deserve to be treated better. It is time to have a heart for them. While it is commendable to change the pension laws concerning teachers, the office attendants are seemingly forgotten and are not counted for much.

Those office attendants work very hard. Besides carrying out mails, they do office work like packing away files and other office duty, yet they are least paid and retire with very small pensions, if any. Come on man, have a heart for these dedicated and hardworking individuals without whom the workings of government will be set back. They are the ones who ensure communications between government departments and ministries, and between government and the private

sector.

Just think about it. If they fail to deliver a document let’s say for payments, then those who ought to receive payments would not. A delay in delivering can have a negative effect. So, they play a very pivotal role in the government service, yet they share least in benefits when they retire.

Sometimes they have to be at work early since they have to open the buildings of the various ministries, and also sometimes late in the evening to close up. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that they are the only important persons or the most important persons, but like all other civil servants they are important and, in some cases, work much harder than

some other civil servants.

While I don’t oppose the amendments to the pension act for teachers, we have to remember that our hard-working and dedicated office attendants need urgent attention. We need legislation that would make our office attendants pensionable after 15 years of unbroken service.

Can you imagine having office attendants working for over twentyfive years and go home with no pension, and have to wait until the age 65 to receive benefits from NIS. How unfair can you get? They risk their lives through sun and rain to ensure that communications are delivered on time to various ministries and department, while many

pensionable civil servants sit in airconditioned offices all day and when they retire receive handsome pensions.

Even worse are elected members of parliament. Some of them hardly do anything worthwhile but after two consecutive terms, i.e., 9 years, they qualify to receive pensions. What an injustice.

Who really cares for these office attendants and where is the heart for these workers? Come on man, they deserve better. It is time to consider this class of workers. It is time for a level playing field. It is time to make them truly pensionable.

Kennard King

World Boss ‘Kicksin in parliament’ should bring world peace THE ‘WORLD BOSS’ who sits at the world’s center for world peace, and, we are referring to the P.M of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves, what is he doing to prevent a third world war?

Apart from his lecturing of his 21 years in power, could he give us a lecture on the cause(s) of wars and how to prevent wars and bring about world peace? Dr., you are the ‘World Boss’ and if you cannot bring about world peace, are we to hold you accountable for aiding the course to war? This is no joke time in which we are living. We already feeling the impact of the Russian-Ukraine war: price hiking that is affecting businesses and the rich and the poor.

We in SVG, and the world in general, are feeling the smoke and it wouldn’t be long before we feel the fire if this war don’t stop. You are the ‘World Boss’; stop it or the people of SVG will hold you accountable. We want to know what is in the mind of Putin, why he embarked on the Ukraine war.

‘World Boss’, we also want to know if Putin committed war crime as the U.S and others accused him of.

As ‘World Boss’ explain Ezekiel 38:1-4 for us. We are not forgetting the reassuring kiss you gave to that female security. You are to speak as the ‘World Boss’ at this critical time in the history of man on earth. The only man who could prevent a third world war is the ‘World Boss’. Let no one think about you as the antichrist.

Please Mr. World Boss, the Hon. P.M of SVG, it is your mandate to call for cease fire in the Putin war against Ukraine.

Christian Democrat

Mr. Editor, you have written on more than one occasion, if my memory serves me correctly, about how our elected representatives are ‘kicksin in Parliament’.

While there are those who will say that ‘you’re only trying to be funny’, I see a much more profound reasoning and message behind what you are saying.

Recently, I was appalled that by the use of an entire day’s sitting of parliament to shower praises on the Unity Labour Party and by extension, the Government. Nothing is wrong in ‘showering praise, especially praise that is due, but there are other avenues through which this can be done, and many, many forms

of media which are available. To take what should have been time to discuss and make decision regarding our business, the business of and on behalf of the people, and to use it for selfish gain is an affront to our democracy and our expectation. Put simply, it is an insult.

Our elected parliamentarians must be made to accept and act in accordance with the fact that they are there to attend to the people’s business and being in parliament does not give them the right to run all over us.

And while that is bad, our parliamentarians continue to ‘pelt’ piccong and insults at one another. Maybe the fact that our parliament is

made up of two divisions and this makes it adversarial in nature, we should expect this kind of banter. But, how many of you will agree that this has been allowed to get out of hand and there seems to be no turning back?

When are we going to grow up and set a new and different example for the next generation of leaders?

You members of parliament have been elected to serve St. Vincent and the Grenadines, i.e., all the people without exception.

I urge you to cut out the insults and name-calling and get on with doing the business of the people. And by the way, in case there are those who might be reading a

certain bias into what I have to say, let me make it clear that what I have said here applies to both sides of the House.

Mr. Editor, time for our elected members especially, to get out of this boyish/girlish behaviour.

A Watchman

Stray kid: Go home ONE WONDERS, what are they doing out so late at night? What are they prowling about looking for? Don’t they belong to some family somewhere? Why are they out eating and drinking anything?

Some of them are apparently underage but the older ones seem to be led by the wild and inexperienced young lads. Are they the ones being referenced in the song of lamentation heard at many late-night wakes?

‘No one cares for me, No one cares for me. Not a friend in all the world have I. None to soothe my fears, none to wipe my tears. I alone in sorrow. I must die.’

There is no doubt that their diet is impoverished. Eating by the wayside cannot compare with the nutritious diet that is usually prepared at home. They surely epitomize what it means to go

astray. Indeed, they are in the far country. Can their actions be determined to be riotous living?

It is said that some of them like darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. It is only in the light of day that the damage they cause can be fully assessed. Times used to be that responsible individuals seeing them would guide them home.

But these days they seem to be always on the loose and their wayward behaviour cannot be curbed. They only call attention to their notoriety when they get in trouble with the law for some reprehensible deed like breaking and entering or entering and breaking.

When such happens the virtues of these delinquent ones are often touted but one wonders: “What were they doing out at those ungodly hours?’ My mother used

to say, “Don’t make sundown meet you outside.” So, when we go out to play and we see the sun setting, that was the cue for us to hurry home. Even the cow knew its place at night and often would find it without assistance. The yard fowl too, finds its sleeping place at sunset. However, some are operating like Mr. Howard’s Cat, sleeping anywhere night meets them.

There is much benefit that the family gains from sleeping at home. Some say that the Chinese make full use of human manure to fertilize their crops. In the age of organic farming, the contribution of pen manure is valued greatly.

It is for this reason that the call goes out for all stray kids to be brought home.

Anthony Stewart, PhD

V Easing of COVID-19 Protocols: 10. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

No reason to be reckless Introduction MARCH 29, 2022 saw the Gazetting of Statutory Rules and Order No. 14 of 22; the Public Health (COVID-19) (Gathering) (Repeal) Rules 2022 and, 15 of 22; the Public Health (COVID-19) (Amendment) Rules 2022. These Statutory Rules and Orders as their name suggests amended by way of repealing the Public Health (COVID-19) (Gathering) Rules 2021 that placed a number of restrictions on various forms of gatherings as necessitated by the circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It wasn’t too long ago that this country was experiencing a spike in new COVID-19 infections that resulted in increased hospitalisations of the critically ill and the tragic increase of COVID-19related deaths.

To curb the spread of the virus based on the surge in cases, the Parliament of this country conferred upon the Minister of Health, powers within the law to issue the necessary orders in June of 2021. While we agree that the measures were necessary at the time as one of the measures used to prevent the further spread of the virus, it is also indisputable that the measures impacted some sectors negatively and businesses faced challenges as a result. During this period when the order was in effect, churches, restaurants, night clubs, and event promotors were all anxious to be able to resume activities in the pre-covid manner. The Ministry of Health constantly monitored the situation, and in advising the Cabinet, felt that to protect our society it was both necessary and desirable that the restrictions on gatherings remained in place. Following the announcement of the repeal of the 2021 Order, it appears that some have thrown caution to the wind and have decided that the COVID-19 pandemic is no more. The data from the Public Health Sub-committed within NEMO indicates that we have very few active cases recorded with zero infection rate currently, but we continue to urge caution among our population since we are not yet out of the woods.

Continue to follow the protocols The COVID-19 pandemic is not behind us and already we are hearing of a new strain of the virus being discovered that from indications may present significant challenges to our health care system. It would be reckless to dismiss such news as scaremongering, while at the same time to overreact or panic is necessary, as always we encourage you to listen to the medical experts and follow the protocols. Those COVID-19 protocols that served us over the last 2 years that included hand washing, hand sanitising, cough and sneeze etiquette (using the cuff of elbows) and mask wearing, should not be dispensed with simply because the restrictions on gatherings have been repealed. The “we’re outside” attitude that has become too common-place, especially among the youthful and party-going population is undesirable, and we urge a much more cautious and reasoned approach. Some business places continue to require masks on entry (masks were never mandated; these were individually imposed restrictions) while some have

dispensed with those restrictions.

Ultimately, it depends on the individual to ensure that every care is taken to protect himself/herself and continuing to observe health and hygiene protocols will go a long way on helping this country to manage the spread of the virus and keeping our citizens safe.

Get vaccinated Over the past few months, the Ministry of Health has ramped up its efforts to try and increase the vaccination rates among Vincentians with a number of drive-through caravans to various parts of the country as well as hosting pop-up sites, all this while maintaining access at various clinics across the country.

This country remains close to the bottom of CARICOM countries regarding vaccination with very slow uptake as vaccination hesitancy, buoyed by an active anti-vax campaign, remains too high. With all the conspiracy theories that were floated around regarding the safety of the vaccines and all the supposed horrible side effects that were “extremely prevalent”, SVG is yet to see any reported case of death or injury related to a covid-19 vaccine.

According to Ministry of Health statistic, this country has administered more than 69,800 vaccine doses with just over 30,000 Vincentians receiving both. This speaks to the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines which is why vaccination remains the best tool in the toolbox in our fight against the spread of the virus. This is true not just of the COVID-19 vaccines, but vaccines in general which have collectively helped to eradicate a number of dreaded diseases within the last 150 years.

Vaccines remain readily available to all Vincentians and we continue to urge all to get vaccinated and to those who have been vaccinated, to get boosted even as the protocol regarding gatherings have been relaxed. As we move into the Easter weekend where a number of activities are planned and then into the Carnival season after a two-year absence, let us ensure that this county has the highest level of protection possible by going out and taking a COVID-19 vaccine.

Conclusion No doubt, the announcement of the repeal of the 2021 Public Health (COVID-19) (Gatherings) Rule, was very welcomed by many who had seen a significant decline in their church, business and other activities that entered around gathering. The lifting of the restrictions, while consistent with a decline in infections and active cases, by no means indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic is no more. We urge that as we return to gathering for fellowship or other reasons, that we do so in a manner that is safe and offers maximum protection for all.

Continue to follow those hygiene protocols that help minimise the spread of the disease and best of all get vaccinated; it’s the best tool available in this fight against the virus.

Legislation amended without Parliament approval (Excerpts of Dr. Friday’s Presentation on the COVID-19 Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2021) I WANT to start with a larger issue, the more I read the resolution and went back and read the parent legislation which is Act No. 5 of 2020, which purports to confer the power on the Minister to make the changes to the Police Act that is supposed to have been so generous to those persons, those fourteen persons to preserve their pensions. The first issue is this. I don’t recall in this Honourable House that the Police Act was brought to this House and amended following a debate.

That is to say, after Section: 73 of the Police Act, Section 73 (A) was put in there of which part 2 says: “That if you are absent from duty without leave for ten consecutive days, you are deemed to have resigned your office or declared otherwise.” That’s a powerful piece of legislation. It grants a lot of power to the Minister responsible.

It affects a fundamental right of someone to employment and to their jobs. I don’t recall debating that in parliament. I don’t recall that it ever came to the parliament in the normal course; for it to be debated, so that members can present their argument for or against and then this Honourable House pass it in the normal course.

The constitution provides the power for law making, Section: 37 I believe, that says: parliament should make laws. And, Section: 41 says, how those laws should be made, how that power to pass a Bill is to be exercised. That was not done in this case.

What it purports to do and it’s something that as legislators, we have to explore and expose and discuss because this is the function that we perform. We come here to pass laws; to amend Acts of parliament. That’s our constitutional duty, but here we have in the powers granted under Act No. 5 of 2020, called the COVID-19 Miscellaneous Amendments Act, which says, that various Acts can be amended simply by amending the schedule to the Act itself. The Act that grants its power No. 5 of 2020 and by order amend an Act of parliament.

What’s more, it says that if you bring that order to the parliament you have to do it having a resolution approving it or otherwise within two months but within that Act itself you can extend it up to six months, which was done twice.

So, you have essentially government amending legislation, creating new law without parliament and extending that time, by an order consented to by the Governor General.

This is a constitutional and legal conundrum. It is our view that when you want to amend an Act of parliament, an Act that was passed which is the Police Act, you have to come back here and have it debated in the parliament and amend it. You can’t use a subsidiary legislation to amend an Act of parliament. In the

same way, you can’t use an Act of parliament to amend the constitution.

There is a hierarchy of legislation. An order is done by the Minister, approved by cabinet, is published in the gazette and that’s it. Parliament doesn’t debate it but that has provision within a particular Act that gives that Minister the power to do so.

But, to give the Minister the power to then amend essentially any Act of parliament by way of an order; it seems to me an extra-ordinary power that has been granted here; an unconstitutional power that has been granted here and especially when it affects the rights, the fundamental rights to employment and to living for individuals, brings into serious question the legislative procedures, the manner of governance in this country that diverges from what is provided in our constitution and by conventional practice as well.

What we are being asked to do here is to continue the illegality. It’s not something that we can take lightly, consent to and condone having come to that position ourselves from looking at the Act No. 5 of 2020, The COVID19 Miscellaneous Amendments Act’. I will read the power of No. 5 of 2020. It says, “The Minister may by order amend the schedule to provide for the modification of any existing law and such law unless a contrary intention is indicated shall be deemed to be amended from the day it is published in the gazette.” Not from when it is passed in the parliament.

The Minister is not limited to powers within that Minister’s own jurisdiction but any existing law. That is an over reach. It is an unconstitutional over reach in my view. And, members on this side of the House, we cannot participate in that, condone it, support it or otherwise, we must expose it.

We come to the second aspect of this. That this extraordinary power that was granted to the Minister was then utilized to essentially prevent persons who were in the police service who did not take the vaccine and were told that they could not show up to work and so they lost their jobs. They were constructively dismissed or resigned from their jobs under this legislation, this policy.

That power that I described earlier as being an extra ordinary power granted to the Minister was then used to take away a fundamental right of persons to their employment, to provide for their families because they said, “My body is my business and I will not put a vaccine or anything in my body without my own consent; even if you are going to take away my bread”. That is the right so to do. And, all over the world that is being recognized now. So, this is a very serious violation of our legislative procedure in this House.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022.11.

Views

Climate Change: the fight of our lives

Compromise

“Sometimes in life, you do things you don’t want to. Sometimes you sacrifice, sometimes you compromise.

Sometimes you let go and sometimes you fight. It’s all about deciding what’s worth losing and what’s worth keeping.” Lindy Zart, Complete THE THOUGHTS SHARED in relation to this topic could quite easily be titled “Two Sides of Compromise”. We may describe the “bright, shining side of compromise” to be that aspect of compromise where, as in marriage, we are required to forego our own pleasures and desires for that of others. We may describe this as “healthy compromise”. And then, there is that “dark side of compromise” where, for example, we are enticed to settle for situations that infringe on our principles, standards, and/or ethical beliefs. Such situations are often considered undesirable, dangerous, and/or unhealthy.

Nicholas Sparks (born 1965), the American novelist, screenwriter, and philanthropist, reminds us that, “Marriage is about compromise; it’s about doing something for the other person, even when you don’t want to.”

Selfless care and concern for another individual will often encourage us to sacrifice our needs, wishes, and dreams for another’s joy, happiness, and peace of mind. In such instances, compromise can build and sustain healthy relationships. However, it calls for deep commitment and selflessness. It often requires that we give up our rights or positions for that of another. Pride, arrogance, and elevated egos must appear to be diminished if/when healthy compromise is in play.

However, there are instances when compromise can be considered dangerous, destructive, and undesirable. For example, individuals who give in to immoral/unethical acts in the hope of “getting ahead” may soon discover that such foibles can (and do) generate tremendous guilt and shame (assuming that the individual’s conscience is still active). Pauline Joyce Meyer (born 1943), the American charismatic Christian author, speaker, and evangelist, reminds us that, “Compromise means to go just a little bit below what you know is right. It’s just a little bit, but it’s the little foxes that spoil the vine.” Such a description reminds us of the danger of moving away from the principles that keep individuals and societies strong: honesty, integrity, purity, truthfulness, and so on. Little compromises can have catastrophic consequences.

Some of life’s choices can appear to be so very challenging and traumatic — especially when compromising principles are involved. The story is told of a single mother who had lost her job as a result of her refusal to take the Covid-19 vaccine. With no nearby relatives of friends to call upon for assistance, she considered herself to be desperate and destitute. However, fortune appeared to smile on her when she received a telephone call from a former schoolmate who, although married, offered to give her a job at his establishment on condition that she would periodically entertain him. He appeared quite excited when he revealed that, “I have always had a crush on you. Employing you could be mutually beneficial once you agree to come on board under this condition … if you know what I mean. Think about it and get back to me soonest. The job is yours once you concur.” Although considered most vulnerable and desperate, she knew that she could not

compromise her principles. She must stand up for values and retain her dignity. She gracefully declined his offer, avoiding the guilt, shame, and feeling of unworthiness that so often plague individuals and relationships where such compromises have been evident.

Steve Maraboli, the distinguished and accomplished coach, author, and motivational speaker reminds us about the dangers and destruction of such compromises. He notes, “Do not compromise yourself and put your goodness in the same impermanent category as whatever circumstance happening. Be the best you in every circumstance.” Regardless of life’s situations, we are encouraged to value and cherish purity, truth, and integrity.

These must never be compromised.

In an age when some leaders in business, government, and society appear to conveniently adjust their position on a number of topics (especially those considered to be controversial) the bastions of our society need to remember not to take the “middle ground” or to appear inconsistent on issues that are fundamentally right. Such haltering positions of convenience and/or seeking to please everyone can lead to catastrophic consequences. We must uncompromisingly hold on to the principles that keep societies strong … regardless of the audience and/or the constituents involved. Right must always be right. Purity, honest, and integrity must never be sacrificed on the altar of expediency. No compromise must be entertained in such instances.

The biblical example of Joseph readily comes to mind. After many years of suffering and torment in a foreign country, he eventually secures a position in Potiphar’s house. The events recorded in the 39th chapter of Genesis clearly describe Joseph’s responsibilities to this captain of the Egyptian guards. However, Potiphar’s wife had “cast her eyes on him” and cunningly orchestrated events to be alone with him while her husband was absent. Joseph refused to compromise his principles and, although innocent, was subsequently jailed when Potiphar’s rejected wife accused him of attempted rape. However, the historic record does not end there. Joseph was subsequently released from prison and elevated to be the second most powerful individual in Egypt. There is an important lesson here. Sometimes, individuals will be required to suffer for the principled positions that they take … but it is always right to do what is right. In time, there will be a reprieve and, with God’s help, there will be restoration and elevation.

Ogwo David Emenike, a young, talented Nigerian author, essayist, and poet, cautions us that, “Nothing will blind the eyes of man quicker than the touch of compromise. A principle not compromised is a principle worth dying for. A dream not compromised is a dream worth living for.” His thoughts expressed here are pregnant with wisdom. This is especially so in relation to his two final sentences: “A principle not compromised is a principle worth dying for. A dream compromised is a dream worth living for.”

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

CLIMATE SCIENTISTS have yet again rung the alarm. Unless we act quickly, we may not have a place to call home.

Planet Earth may be gone in a lifetime.

This frightening reality may be far from the consciousness of most, especially since we are bombarded with the triple crisis of the war in Ukraine, the Covid pandemic and the rising cost of living.

Despite the despair of mounting global problems, the release of the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows some grounds for hope.

Unlike previous reports on the causes and effects of climate change, this one, though it does not go far enough offers possible solutions. The report summary is blunt and clear, and in many places speaks to realities that scientists and environmentalists have known for years but governments often avoided directly admitting.

First, the report acknowledged that North America and Europe have made the greatest contribution to the crisis we are living through, by producing by far the most carbon dioxide emissions since the industrial revolution.

The IPCC shows that today the average North American emits 16 tons of carbon dioxide each year from fossil fuel use, compared to just 2 tonnes for the average African.

Consumption by the top 10% of households comprises over a third of global greenhouse gases, compared to 15% of these gases for the bottom 50% of households. Everyone now agrees that the climate crisis is driven by how the world’s wealthy currently live, consume and invest.

This is a virtual mind change compared to previous reports. The last IPCC summary on solutions in 2014 labelled population growth as one of ‘the most important drivers of increases in CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion.’ Such dangerous misunderstandings are now abandoned. These old and misdirected arguments which blamed the poor for the world’s problems are hopefully permanently resting in the dustbin of history.

The new report also points to how far governments are from meeting their commitments signed under the Paris agreement in 2015 and reaffirmed in Glasgow last year. For example, Boris Johnson’s rhetoric of ‘keeping 1.5 alive’ in Glasgow, runs afoul of the UK’s current climate policies and pledges will not limit global heating to 1.5C above pre- industrial levels, or keep it “well below” 2C, the dual Paris targets. The same conclusion holds true for most industrialised countries.

Without a drastic change in climate policies, the earth is on track for catastrophic 3C heating. In a world where half of the population is highly vulnerable to the climate crisis, that spells disaster. We are already spending millions on climate mitigation and adaptation. Sea defences at Sandy Bay and Georgetown offer proof of SVG vulnerability. Extreme heatwaves, floods, droughts, crop failures and economic disruptions far outside the normal tolerances of cities and towns will destroy lives and livelihoods globally.

The most heartening section of the report is on alternatives to fossil fuel use. The overarching solution to our energy needs is to electrify everything we can, from cooling buildings to

transport, and power everything using clean renewables and storage. We have to rapidly move to clean technology.

Between 2010 and 2019, the report says that the cost of solar energy plummeted by 85%, wind energy by 55% and lithium-ion batteries by 85%. These are staggering figures that point to a radically reshaped energy future.

There is a cheaper, cleaner way.

But the emissions problem is deeper than just failures to invest in lowcarbon alternatives. The world already has enough existing and planned highcarbon infrastructure to take us to the climate point of no return. Coal-fired power stations have to go. Plans to open new oil fields must be cancelled.

The IPCC report is a manifesto for ending the fossil fuel age. It lends scientific support to those who are truly concerned about creating and maintaining a world that is livable and enjoyable. The licence for climate action has never been stronger.

There are also elements in the report that will be used by the fossil fuel industry to further delay climate action. Central to this is the discussion of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Those who bank on business-as-usual will argue that later this century we will be able to suck carbon out of the air, so why bother cutting emissions as sharply as possible today?

The answer, in the report, is that carbon removal ‘currently faces technological, economic, institutional, ecological-environmental and sociocultural barriers.’ The report correctly says that some carbon removal is needed, but it should never be an alternative to cutting emissions now. It makes clear how unrealistic very high carbon removal pathways are, in stronger terms than ever before.

For those who have been working for a better climate, the full 3,000-page report contains an astonishingly frank assessment of the organised efforts used to thwart climate action, noting: ‘opposition to climate action by carbonconnected industries is broad-based, highly organized, and matched with extensive lobbying.’ It may seem ironic that this doesn’t make it into the much more widely read summary, but it is perhaps not surprising. The intertwined relationship between fossil fuels and governments goes deep.

Each year that passes adds further reasons to stop using fossil fuels. Each year, it became clearer that oil and gas prices would rise sharply, affecting millions. Add these to ending urban air pollution and avoiding hundreds of millions of people suffering heatwaves, drought and floods.

Climate change can feel complex, but the IPCC has worked hard to make it simple for us. A path still exists to halve emissions by 2030 and get to net-zero by 2050, which will probably meet the 1.5C goal. It is a hopeful message. The task now is to make it real.

We are in the fight for our very survival.

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

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12. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN

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Tax avoiders beware?

In an article in THE VINCENTIAN newspaper of 1st April 2022, it was interesting to see an early warning from the Inland Revenue to those who might want to contravene the tax laws. The Inland Revenue warned that ‘those business who engage in tax avoidance practices better be on their guard and in the interest of fair play and compliance with the law, should desist from same’.

The Inland Revenue Department said that its newly established TaxPayer Intelligence and Investigative Unit is on watch for businesses which engage in tax avoidance practices. This unit is tasked with investigating businesses to ensure all practices are in accordance with SVG’s tax laws.

Everyone in SVG knows where the Inland Revenue should start its investigations into tax avoidance practices: Mustique and Canouan and Taiwan.

The super-rich migrants in

Mustique and Canouan gain an unfair advantage over locally owned and operated businesses who have to pay tax. Hotels and apartments owned by Vincentians cannot compete with the hotels and apartments owned by the super-rich migrants in Mustique and Canouan, as these have lower overheads. This is grossly unfair to our economy and society.

In December 2017, Apple, the multinational technology company, agreed to pay Ireland back nearly $15bn in unpaid taxes. Apple CEO Tim Cook has talked about the need for companies to have a social consciousness.

The super-rich migrants in Mustique and Canouan have had tax and customs duties exemptions for decades. Should they be made to pay back the tax they avoided paying over the decades?

It is an open secret, also, that for

decades Taiwan has been avoiding paying their fair share of tax (fish tax), as ordinary Vincentians have to.

Taiwan operates a fleet of tunafishing vessels on SVG’s deep sea fish licence and uses SVG’s flag on its ships to say they are SVG local fishing vessels. However, under International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) rules, fishing vessels should offload their fish catch in the country of the flag the fishing vessel is flying.

Therefore, Taiwan’s fishing vessels must offload their Atlantic Ocean tuna fish catch in St. Vincent and pay fish tax, estimated to be about EC$2.7 billion annually. However, Taiwan has been ignoring the ICCAT rules. The Taiwan fishing vessels do not offload their Atlantic Ocean tuna fish catch in St. Vincent and they do not pay fish tax to the SVG Treasury. Taiwan has

avoided paying billions of dollars in fish tax over the past few decades.

Everyone in the country will be looking forward to hearing updates from the Inland Revenue Department’s Tax-Payer Intelligence and Investigative Unit, about how it is getting back the billions of dollars of tax that Mustique, Canouan and Taiwan have avoided paying over the last few decades.

Leader of SVG Green Party, Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, believes that SVG needs a change in government and a change in economic strategy, and more critically, a government that is competent in managing SVG’s public accounts, has the ability to create sustainable sources of revenue and the courage to make the super-rich of Mustique and Canouan and Taiwan pay their fair share of tax.

On the question of national heroes CONSIDERING the capacity of the talent we have traditionally exhibited, the presentation in Dubai, where we attempted to project our national hero Chatoyer, was not as impressive as it could have been.

Incidentally, while our people were doing their dancing in Dubai, representatives of other countries present there, and who had visited St. Vincent during the period just after the eruption of the La Soufriere, were able to zoom in on the current realities here in SVG, showing the neglect of the beautiful Police Headquarters’ building, the unhealthy situation prevailing next to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, and that “Corridor of neglect”, at the back of the Girls’ High School and the Grammar School, and the grass growing in the drains of our capital — And that evoked the snide comment — “Those people are really remarkable”!

I am suggesting that a suitable monument to honour Chief Chatoyer, could be erected on the site which now accommodates the Ministry of Agriculture.

Noting that Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and Sir James Mitchell, who between them had been in charge of the business of this state for 37 of the 42 years that we have been an independent nation;

they had less than six months ago, quite emphatically pronounced, that we in SVG could no longer depend on agriculture to fortify our economy. They declared, that we now have to depend on Tourism! Their position was strongly endorsed by brother Renwick Rose who had for many years, played a prominent role in the Windward Islands Farmers Association.

So, we can find somewhere else to serve the Ministry of Agriculture, and use that strategic site for the erecting of an impressive monument of Chatoyer.

The surrounding territory could be appropriately landscaped, to impact positively the thousands of citizens who use the area every day.

The provision of the long overdue bus-stop and the completion of the repairs to the Grammar School, High School and the other schools in the area, will transform the area significantly, and will impact positively, all the citizens using it.

It is very unlikely, that over the next hundred and more years, there will be anyone in this society, whose exploits will match those of Chatoyer. So, to name other individuals as national heroes at this time, will result in the diminishing of the stature of “national hero’.

Our energies and resources, could therefore

be better invested in the erection of a suitable monument to honour Chief Chatoyer, in a prominent place and properly maintaining it!

What we can do now, is to name/identify persons who have consistently given valuable service to the welfare of the people over a significant period of time, and erect busts of them — attractively done, in appropriately maintained places.

Three persons who have been on my mind who seem to qualify for such recognition are: Dr. Parmenas Eustace and Mrs. Norma Keizer for their roles in education, and Ellsworth ‘Shake’ Keane who has carried our name internationally with honour, in poetry and music for many years.

What we need to be focusing on now are serious discussions aimed at devising systems which would remedy the painful socioeconomic slide we have suffered, because of the shallow and immature approaches we allowed our leadership to pursue without challenge. We have a duty, all of us, to endeavor to fashion a platform which offers hope for the next generations to prosper, in the healthy development of this beautiful land.

They are the ones who will have to repay the debts we are leaving.

LeRoy Providence

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 13.

V SVG registered vessel goes under: 14. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

Two rescued, five missing UP TO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, the search was still on for five men who went missing, after the vessel on which they were crew members overturned in waters just off north of Monos Island in Trinidad, on the afternoon of Saturday 02

April.

The vessel, M.V. Fair Chance, with a complement of seven, was said to be a St. Vincent and the Grenadines registered vessel and was on a voyage from Trinidad en route to St. Vincent and the

Grenadines via Grenada, when it encountered rough north coast seas and subsequently overturned due to a shift of the cargo.

Guardian Media of Trinidad and Tobago reported that it was told that the vessel was

The two survivors on the overturned hull of MV Fair Chance (Credit: WWW3.cnc3.co.tt) Right: Eric Calliste – one of the five who are still missing. (Credit: guardian.co.tt) loaded with steel from the Caricom port in Portof-Spain, and had just departed when the incident happened on Saturday.

A supervisor at the port, who wished to remain anonymous, told Guardian Media that it is believed that the vessel may have been overloaded and added that there was speculation that the vessel’s extra weight was not properly checked by T&T’s Customs and Excise Division’s officers, before its departure.

Port Authorities in Trinidad said the factors contributing to the overturning and subsequent sinking of the vessel will hopefully be

Dexter Chance, captain of the M.V. Fair Chance was still missing up to Wednesday. (Source: Facebook)

sorted out by the relevant authorities and insurance companies.

Meanwhile, what is certain, as confirmed by maritime authorities in Trinidad and Tobago, is that two of the crew of seven were rescued by a passing vessel, handed over to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, and taken to Staubles Bay, the Coast Guard Base, for medical treatment.

The two rescued crew members were reported to be Johnel McIntosh and Derrol Small, of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada respectively.

And the Trinidad and Tobago authorities named four of the five missing crew as Dexter Chance, the captain, Quincy Baptiste, Owen Prescott and Eric Calliste. The fifth was yet to be officially identified up to Wednesday, though, the common-law-wife of Calliste, Alesha Williams, when contacted by the Trinidad Newsday newspaper, said that it was her understanding that another Grenadian, Devon Celestine, “was on board.”

Trinidad Newsday also reported that Williams confirmed that her common-law-husband was born in St. Andrews, Grenada. They have two daughters, Ria, nine, and Renesha, six. Calliste also

has four children in Grenada, three boys and a girl.

As far as the other crew members were concerned, Chance, the captain, is said to be a Grenadian who had taken up residence in Union Island.

Williams said she last spoke with Calliste around 1 pm on Saturday and remember him as saying that they were trying to “turn over the vessel.”

Member of Parliament for the Southern Grenadines, Terrence Ollivierre, weighed in on the tragedy. He described the residents of Union island as being in mourning and heartbroken by the news of the incident.

He spoke specifically of the wife of Captain Chance, who, he said, was understandably distraught.

Ollivierre described the incident as a “tragedy… one that has created an unsettling situation among the people of Union Island.”

Trinidad and Tobago’s National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds has committed his country’s Coast Guard to doing its best to find the missing crew. (Sources: Trinidad Newsday, Guardian Media)

The Manos Island in the foreground near where the M.V. Fair Chance capsized.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 15.

The official launch of ATIPU at Questelles Police Station (from left) then Commissioner of Police Keith Miller, SOP Hazel-Ann Jacobs, the Units first Head, and ASP Jonathan Nichols, Public Relations.

by GLORIAH...

HE ANTI-TRAFFICKING in Persons Unit (ATIPU), a unit in the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, yesterday 7th April, commemorated ten years of existence, with the theme: “I deserve to be free, don’t traffick and exploit me.”

The Unit was officially launched on 7th April, 2012, one month after its establishment on 7th March, 2012.

Established while the RSCVGPF was under Commissioner of Police Keith Miller, the Unit’s first head was Superintendent of Police Hazel-Ann Jacobs, and Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Junior Simmons became the second officer in the two-man Unit.

ASP is now the Person-in-Charge of the Unit and THE VINCENTIAN sat with him to learn of the Unit’s journey from inception.

T

ATIPU: Mandate and Operations

is to investigate cases of human trafficking in SVG and prosecute perpetrators of the crime; and to sensitize the general public about all matters relating to human trafficking.

Towards addressing the latter task, the ATIPU conducts training session with stakeholders, including police officers, public servants, members of the private sector and NGOs, on matters relating to human trafficking.

ASP Simmons affirmed that, “In 2012 we started by going to the schools — primary, secondary and tertiary on the mainland and in the Grenadines, to raise teacher and student awareness about human trafficking. Additionally, articles about the subject were published in the newspapers and radio programmes aired.”

Importantly also, quarterly and annual reports are prepared for submission to the National Taskforce Against Trafficking in Persons, which is chaired by the Hon. Prime Minister. “These are laid in parliament and may have some bearing on the amendment of existing laws. Today, anyone convicted of human trafficking in SVG could be fined up to $250,000, imprisonment for fifteen years, or both,” ASP Simmons informed.

When questioned about how his role as Unit Head has thus far made a difference in the operations of the Unit, he firstly lauded the foundation established by the former Unit Head.

“Superintendent Jacobs led the Unit from 2012 to 2017. She did an excellent job and I really want to commend her as the first Head of the Unit, and for also being a woman who showed that a woman can do anything that men can do!”

He also complimented his staff’s resolve and excellence in carrying out their duties. Along with ASP Simmons, the Unit is staffed by Corporal Ag. 204 Garet Dopwell and Constable 853 Shanon Joseph.

The ASP believes that working closely in the Unit with Superintendent Jacobs, has made functioning in the role of ATIPU Head much easier. He then proffered, “When I took over, I sought to increase our awareness drive.

The more persons are aware of what human trafficking is, then they will be able to better recognize and inform about it. It is important for members of the public to know the indicators or red flags of human trafficking: the activity, the means and the exploitation.”

momentum

Public perception of the ATIPU:

According to ASP Simmons, human trafficking as an activity entails, “.. some recruitment for harbouring of the person; force against the will of a victim with the main aim to exploit him/her; and exploitation for the financial or material benefit of the trafficker”. Keeping up the unit’s The ATIPU’s mandate

First staff complement of the Unit, SOP Hazel-Ann Jacobs (Head), then Station Sergeant Junior Simmons (right), current Head, and then Constable 204 Garet Dopwell.

Below: Current staff complement of the Unit (from left) Corporal (Ag) 204 Garet Dopwell, ASP Junior Simmons, officer-in-Charge, and Constable 854 Shanon Joseph.

ASP Simmons expressed satisfaction with the job of sensitizing the populace about human trafficking.

He is convinced that an awareness of what the

Unit does has been established.

He explained that whenever the public offers any lead(s) to possible cases of human trafficking, the Unit pursues each one and

ensures, should it lead to it, that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Since the Unit’s establishment, over forty potential cases have been Continued on Page 17.

16. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 17.

ATIPU Feature

ATIPU celebrates 10 years

prevention awareness ATIPU interfacing with drive along with our other depts. stakeholders.” He thanked all stakeholders: ATIPU interfaces public, private and NGOs. Continued on Page 18.

Persons who contributed to a review of a National Action Plan for the Unit – July 2020. acceptance of the Unit.

“From where I sit at investigated. This, ASP the head of the ATIPU,” Simmons, recorded as a he opined, “I would say recognition of the public’s that human trafficking is a crime and no country Left: Prime Minister and can exonerate itself from crime. It is everywhere.

National Security Human trafficking is not Minister Dr. Ralph a major problem in St. Gonsalves (right) and Commissioner of Police Vincent and the Colin John unveiling the Grenadines and I think that stems from our Units logo.

Continued from Page 15.

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18. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

ATIPU Feature

ATIPU celebrates 10 years

is exposed to the subject matter of human trafficking as a component of the curriculum.

Additionally, a programme of inservice training is conducted throughout different departments of the police force.

One such session was conducted on Tuesday 5th April by ASP Simmons himself, to a cohort of officers undergoing a basic course in policing and other subject Cpl. Dopwell presenting to participants at Continued from Page 17. matters.

Police Band Summer programme –one of The ATIPU has also signed a the many awareness-building seminars, extensively throughout the Memorandum of Understanding with workshops, public forums conducted by SVGPF. Each batch of recruits the Unit. entering the Police Training School other stakeholders in the Public Service: Office of the DPP; Gender Affairs Division; Passport and Immigration Department; Customs and Excise; Finance and Intelligence Unit; the Coastguard and the Prisons.

Each signatory has a particular role to play in combatting human trafficking and the ATIPU functions as the repository and collator of information as per what they would have done, whether quarterly, monthly or annually.

These departments also assist the

Unveiling of TIP banner at Cruise Ship terminal by Soroptimist SVG (April, 2020.)

ATIPU with training programmes.

The ATIPU is well placed to lead the way in combating trafficking in persons here in SVG. With ten years already under its belt, citizens can look forward to a steady continuation of its work.

Individuals suspecting a human trafficking crime is in progress should contact the ATIPU by calling: #911, #456-1570; #457-1211 Ext. 4929; or by email: svgantitraffickingunit@gmail.com; or Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit RSVGPF on Facebook.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 19.

20. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Investments concerning your residence will be profitable. Your lack of responsibility and attention has been a key issue in your relationship. Use discretion in your dealings and refrain from making verbal promises of any kind.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Problems with female members of your family may play on your emotions. This is a great day to beautify your living quarters or to entertain at home.

Problems with your boss could lead to unemployment.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Try to stay calm and do the best you can.

Spend time by yourself to avoid any conflicts with family members.

Difficulties with children will surface if you try to break a promise you made.

You can make excellent career moves if you are open to the opportunities that exist.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Visitors may be likely to drop by. Don't hold yourself back because you think you're too old. Compromise if you wish to have any fun at all. Limitations will set in if you haven't followed the rules.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) You will gain a lot if you listen. A lack of support and negativity have been the main problems. You need to concentrate on solving existing problems. Emotional upset at work will set you back.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Deep discussions may only lead to friction. Try to bend but by no means should you give in completely.

Limitations at work might set you back.

You can set your goals and make a beeline for your target.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Don't be shy to promote your own interests. You're best not to get involved in joint financial ventures. Opportunities for romance may develop through dealing with groups that have a purpose.

Put your efforts into making changes to your domestic scene.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) This could be the cause of a dispute that may result in estrangement. Your desire for excitement and adventure may be expensive. Unexpected events may be upsetting. Work on legitimate financial deals that may enable you to bring in some extra cash.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Be careful not to show your temper when dealing with the boss. Think of changes to your home that will please and add to everyone's comfort. Romantic opportunities will flourish through travel or communication. Work quietly on your own and you will forge ahead.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Any contributions you make to organizations will enhance your reputation and bring you offers. Put something away in case of an emergency.

You'll meet new friends if you try new activities. You'll find it difficult to control your emotions.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Now is the time for completing hobbies that you've been working on for a long time. You need to lie back and enjoy a little rest. Changes could be overwhelming. Your mate will be pushing you to do things that you really don't want to do.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Don't get talked into get rich quick schemes. Use discretion in your dealings and refrain from making verbal promises of any kind. Curb the impulse to make lavish purchases and maybe spend some time with good friends.

ACROSS 1. Tree with a winged seed 4. Young master Malfoy 9. After 14. Tech executive 15. Prohibit 16. Net-like 17. Chases one’s tail 20. Sci-fi author Greg 21. Fuel 22. Braid relative 26. Man, e.g.

31. Golf start area 32. Hundred Acre wood denizen 34. Video game 35. Son of William the Conqueror 37. Sales callers 38. Honestly 42. Epitome of redness 43. Stimulate 44. Lindy Hop move 47. Got down 48. Relaxing resort 51. Cabalist 53. Bloomers at the masters golf tournament 55. Southwestern art mecca 57. Ticks off 58. Atlantic danger zone 65. Man of Manchuria, e.g.

66. “He ___ did it but I didn’t!”

67. Urban transportation 68. Big name in computers 69. Trample 70. British special forces, for short DOWN 1. Embrace 2. Cigar 3. Respect 4. Dentist qualification 5. Sports judge 6. ___ Dhabi 7. Math class, for short 8. Ship’s deck 9. “Othello” character 10. Nice view 11. Key abbr.

12. Ice hockey org/ 13. One way to change color 18. Certain MD’s specialty 19. Complain 23. Copier 24. Burial site of early Scottish kings 25. Liza Minnelli’s sister 27. Jazz singer Carmen 28. US abbr.

29. Mend 30. CPO’s superior 33. Mythical serpent 35. Command to the band 36. Capri, e.g.

38. Touch 39. It precedes dynamic 40. Interrogate 41. Court grp.

42. “Southern”

relig.

45. Adjust 46. Star part 48. Some worsted fabrics 49. Spanish chef’s concoction 50. Determine value 52. Cut of beef 54. Designer of the Vietnam Veterans

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 21.

Memorial in Washington, D.C. 56. Kind of witness 58. Pastoral sound 59. Clairvoyance initials 60. Tear 61. Bad, to Yves 62. “Catcher in the___” 63. Bk. Before Jeremiah 64. Helping hand

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22. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Foolish advice?

Cut ties!!!

Dear George,

MY LIVE-IN boyfriend has been two timing me for the longest while. All I beg him to stop and come clean, he continues doing his thing. All the plans we had, including building, are now at a standstill.

I have been confiding in my best friend. She told me that I do not deserve to be so unhappy and went as far as to encourage me to get rid of him once and for all by slow poisoning him. I was shocked when she suggested that to me. Yes, I am unhappy but I don’t want anyone’s blood on my hands.

I am beginning to feel uncomfortable with having a friend who would want me to commit such a horrible act. Your thoughts.

Dear Somewhat Surprised, You have to be very careful from whom you take advice. No good friend would encourage you to commit murder and that is in fact what you are being encouraged to do. Ignore that advice.

If your boyfriend is not living up to expectations and has refused to change for the better despite your pleas, then you need to reconsider things. You do not have to wait around for him to change, especially since he seems to have no interest in doing so.

Cut your losses now and move on; it will prove less costly for you in the long run in more ways than one.

George

Somewhat Surprised

A co-worker’s threat Dear George, MY CO-WORKER has been on my case ever since I introduced her to my boyfriend. At first she asked me if he has brothers, then she asked me what he does for a living and how much he makes. She went as far as to ask about his performance in bed. On that note, I began to get suspicious.

My antennas went up when she asked me for his number explaining that she wanted to ask him to have a look at her computer. Instead of giving her the number I said I would bring him around to her home. She did not like that idea.

She asked me point blank why I had to accompany him just to fix a simple computer.

To this day I have not told my boyfriend about her and the job. My worry is that she is going to still try to reach him and he may never tell me. I do not want to be anybody’s laughing stock. What do you think I should do?

Feeling Threatened Dear Feeling Threatened, You are creating a problem where there is none. You have to trust your boyfriend to be faithful to you. Your coworker will not be the

last person to be attracted to him, enough to try to turn his attention away from you, which, based on what you imply, is your coworker’s intention.

If you are confident about your relationship then you should have no problem giving your coworker his number.

Showing up with him only denotes a certain degree of insecurity on your part, and that could send a message of hope to your co-worker.

If you know and trust who you have you will not worry about someone who’s just on the outside looking in.

George

Temptation ⁄⁄ Dear George, Dear Doubtful, I AM MARRIED for five years and for the most part it’s a happy marriage.

A challenge arose over the recent past. A friend who is not with anyone is constantly on my case to get her pregnant. She is 36, and does not want to be in a relationship with anyone.

She went overboard to assure me that getting her pregnant would pose no problem to my marriage since she would vanish somewhere in the United States.

George, she is not a bad person at all and I know she will keep her word but things have a way of getting out, and that is what I’m afraid of.

Doubtful

You have a beautiful marriage of five years, why would you want to risk it just to fulfill the desire of a woman who has her own agenda?

Honor your vows and let your lady friend get someone else who is not committed to do her bidding. You have too much to lose to be so reckless.

George

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 23.

Hikers three-peat in VLP Kavem Hodge from Hikers - Player of the Tournament.

Botanical Gardens Rangers – runners-up.

For good measure Hodge got himself among the wickettakers, grabbing 1 for 11, underscoring his contribution to his team winning the champion’s purse of Champions La Soufrière Hikers with trophy and winner’s cheque.

EC$25,000.00.

And after the victory Rayon Williams AFTER A SHAKY START in which they lost Hodge, the Hikers overseas spoils were decided, the from Hikers took their two opening matches, defending player, as he had done so often rest of the table looked Champions of the Vincy Premier League through the preliminary stages the most wickets, like: Salt Pond T10 La Soufrière Hikers dug deep into of the Tournament, turned in a 13.

Breakers finished their pockets of resilience, and top performance for his team third, Dark View successfully defended their title. with 53 not out. He was supported by Explorers fourth, Fort Charlotte In a finals that pitted the defending Andrew Thomas who hit 21.

Strikers fifth, and Grenadines Divers champions against the 2021 VPL 3.0 National and Windward Island off cellar positioned Botanical Gardens spinner Kenneth Dember took 2 for 12. in sixth place.

Among the individual awards Rangers, Hikers lost the toss and were The pendulum swung back and invited to take first knock by their forth teasing the anxiety of the fans of handed out last Sunday, the accolades of Player of the Tournament and MVP challengers. Both teams went into the the respective teams. Even a single of the Finals were bestowed upon finals on 12 points. was cheered on by the Rangers’ Kavem Hodge, overseas player for And so it was, at the Arnos Vale supporters.

Playing Field last Sunday, April 3, However, Rangers, in using up their Hikers. He accumulated 290 runs, the highest for the Tournament.

2022, in fine weather and before allotted 10 overs got to 95, losing 3 Rayon Williams, also of champions perhaps what was the largest turnout wickets in the process, to hand Hikers for any VPL match since its inception, victory by five runs. The innings was Hikers, was the Tournament’s Best Bowler. He took 13 wickets.

Hikers posted a challenging 100 for 4 built in the main by 29 from Wayne Reynolly Hillocks of Fort Charlotte from 10 overs. Dominican Kavem Harper and 27 from Keron Cottoy.

Emerging Players Reynolly Hillocks (left) and Devante McDonald with Dr. Kishore Shallow, Vice President of CWI. Strikers and Devante McDonald of Salt Pond Breakers were named the Emerging Players for the Tournament.

Sunday’s final was preceded by an exhibition match involving a Best of the Rest Eleven and a President’s Eleven, the latter featuring a number of former National/Windwards players, including St. Lucia’s Darren Sammy.

The Best of the Rest triumphed by 12 runs.

Stories by I.B.A. ALLEN

Warriors take VPL Women’s title BALLICEAUX WARRIORS are the champions of the inaugural Women VPL T10 Tournament.

They took first lien on the title when they beat Montreal Gardens Bloomers by 10 Runners-up in the Kimone Homer wickets in the stroked 51 not out finals at the Arnos for Bloomers in a Bloomers batted Vale Playing Field losing cause. first and posted a two Sundays ago.

76 for 2 from 10 Each team overs. Captain Kimone Homer headed into the finals with led the batting with a classy one win after sharing honours 51 not out. Off spinner in a first drawn match.

Shenezia Daniel claimed the In the final and deciding two Bloomers’ wickets for 2 match, Montreal Gardens

first Women VPL Tournament. runs from her 2 overs.

Balliceaux Warriors replied strongly led by former West Indies batter and Captain Juliana Nero and national player Glendene Turtin, and the two guided their team to victory, 77 runs, in 6.4 overs.

Balliceaux Warriors – champions of the inaugural Women VPL T20 Tournament.

Nero was unbeaten on 28 and Turtin unbeaten on 34.

Nero, captain of the winning team was elated.

“It’s a really good feeling. I used the opportunity to help the girls and share my experience and it’s a

wonderful feeling to work with them, especially the young players,” she said, adding, “I believe the Women VPL is a good idea. We need to continue to put more interest into female cricket which will help develop the players.”

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24. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Head Coach pleased with CNL Draw ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES senior men’s team - Vincy Heat, Trinidad and Tobago, Nicaragua and the Bahamas have been drawn in Group C of League B of the Concacaf Nations League.

And the draw, made last Monday, pleases the team’s Head Coach- Kendale Mercury.

“We are very satisfied with the draw… We did our homework according to the rules and came up with the scenarios with the Group,” Mercury related.

Working out the probabilities before the draw, Mercury pointed out, “So, we said in Pot One, we had favoured Cuba, because we had played Cuba in the World Cup Qualifiers and lost one-nil to them and we did not play particularly well in that game.”

Mercury continued with, “We said also we would be happy with Trinidad and Tobago, so we got Trinidad (and Tobago) … In Pot Two, we had favoured getting French Guiana… Outside of that, we wanted to avoid Bermuda and Guadeloupe which

we did… We got Nicaragua, which we had taken four points off in the last Nations League in 2019…

We said also we wanted Bahamas out of Pot Three and we got them.”

Nicaragua was favoured since, according to Mercury, most of his charges have experience in the Nicaragua setting, including the fast astro-turf.

And the work has already begun. Mercury informed that he has received footage from the most recent Trinidad and Tobago matches versus Barbados and Guyana, and have already started to study them.

When St Vincent and the Grenadines competed in the Nations League in 2019, they finished runners up to Suriname. The Vincentians had three wins, two draws and one loss.

The second place gave St Vincent and the Grenadines a second shot at the Concacaf Gold Cup Qualifiers, where they were defeated by Haiti 6-1 in Florida, last July.

The 2022 Nations League begins in June, with the same format - a round robin home and away, double windows. The second window is set for March, 2023.

The schedules will be disclosed by Concacaf in due course.

Each League, A, B and C consists of three Groups — A, B Head Coach and C. The first placed team in each Kendale Mercury Group in League B and C will be is smiling at the draw with some promoted to League A and B respectively, with the last places satisfaction. in League A and B groups, demoted to B and C, respectively.

And, the four winners of groups in League A will vie for the top Nations League honours.

Greiggs Primary out front in MFA football

The Greiggs Primary School team: Delano Jones, Greiggs Marksman, is pictured front at left.

WHEN THE Memorial Funeral Home Marriaqua Football Association Primary Schools’ Football Competition opened last Monday at the Cane End Playing Field, the Greiggs Primary jumped out in front of the other

seven schools.

Greiggs was triumphant in their two fixtures on the day, beating Cane End Government 2-0. Delano Jones netted both goals.

Jones was again in fine form, as he smashed a hat trick versus

Evesham Methodist, leading his team to a 7-0 win. Doveson Williams, with two goals and one apiece from Carlton Ottley and Keson Durrant, ensured Greiggs’ dominance.

Meanwhile, Richland Park Government defeated Belmont Primary, 2-1, with Richland Park’s goals coming from J-Lonnie Stephens and Ryan Williams. Alex Jordan netted for Belmont.

Richland Park Government though was held to a 1-1 draw by Marriaqua Government.

Dante Caesar scored for Richland Park Government and Jayden Cordice for Marriaqua Government.

Marriaqua Government redeemed themselves on Monday with a 1-0 win over Richland Park Seventh Day Adventist Primary.

Malik John hit the

winning goal.

Richland Park SDA was coming off a 4-0 win over Belmont Primary.

On the score sheet for the SDA outfit were John Prescott, who had a brace, and there was one each from Leon Francis and Johmari Alexander.

And, Argyle Primary beat Evesham Methodist, 2-0. Issiah Nelson netted both goals.

Prior to the on-field action, a formal Opening Ceremony featured addresses by President of the Marriaqua Football Association - Yosiah Dascent; Minister of Sports - Hon. Frederick Stephenson; Parliamentary Representative for Marriaqua - Hon. St Clair Prince; President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation - Carl Dickson and Stephen Da Silva of Memorial Funeral Home.

Lawrence sets new SCGCC records KYLE LAWRENCE was in unstoppable form setting two new records at the SVG Community College (SVGCC) Athletics Meet last week at the Diamond Track and Field Facility.

He broke the 100 meters record with a new mark of 10.71 seconds and destroyed the existing 7.15 seconds in the male 60 meters with a sprint of 6.73 seconds.

For good measure, Lawrence added victory in the 200m with a new stadium record of 21.32 seconds.

Lawrence’s time in the 200m qualifies him for that sprint at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships to be held in Callie, Columbia in August. The qualifying time for the IAAF World Under 20 Championship event is 21.40.

Speaking to THE VINCENTIAN, after his showing at the SVGCC Meet, Lawrence said he was pleased with his effort.

“It’s a good feeling breaking records. I am feeling good coming off of injuries and my confidence is high,” he said.

He shared that he and his training partner — Andrus Dennis — were determined to go after the records which they saw as possible on the synthetic track.

That said, Lawrence’s intention is to “… run faster every time I run,” and he is looking forward to taking a podium position at the CARIFTA Games to be held in Jamaica over the Easter Weekend.

Meanwhile, Lawrence’s coach — Pamenos Ballantyne - is not

Kyle Lawrence has hit what some consider to be top form ahead of the CARIFTA Games. surprised by his dominance in the short distance races.

“With the CARIFTA ahead of him this SVG College sports is an indication that he is in good shape… . . I am expecting good things from him,” Ballantyne told THE VINCENTIAN. I.B.A. ALLEN

The competition which intended to have eleven schools participating, has been whittled down to eight, as the Diamond Government, Lauders

Government and Lowmans Windward Anglican opted out.

The competition is set to conclude on Wednesday 13th April.

The SVG contingent (from left): Zefal Bailey, Marlon Antrobus and Lucky Antrobus.

SVG in top ten places in Jamaica classic ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES managed two top ten places in the overall standings of the inaugural three-stages Jamaica International Cycling Classic, which rode off last weekend.

After the three events in Montego Bay, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Vincentian cyclists Zefal Bailey finished ninth, Luck Antrobus - tenth and Marlon Antrobus - fourteenth.

There was at least one top ten finish for St. Vincent and the Grenadines in each of the stages.

Bailey registered SVG’s best placing when he docked sixth in stage three on Sunday.

Lucky Antrobus was ninth in stage one, while Marlon Antrobus came in tenth on stage two, held Saturday.

The trio which formed Team St Vincent and the Grenadines tallied 15 points, placing fifth of the seven teams.

The overall individual winner was Andy Scarano of Team 706. Scarano pocketed the US$1,000 which was set aside for the top place cyclist.

Together, the three stages totaled 194 miles, comprised of Stage One — 56 miles; Stage Two — 86 miles; Stage Three — 52 miles.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 25.

Sports

Happy Birthday Arnos Vale

ARNOS VALE HAS been the backdrop for the artwork etched on the minds of sport fans the world over. Tales abound of the suspension of moments unleashed before thousands of Vincentian fans and spectators the world over.

There are clippings and excerpts of matches like the Shivnarine Chanderpaul drama against a New Zealand team in 2002.

Arnos Vale has not hosted a One Day International since 2012, neither a T/20 since 2013.

Arnos Vale has its dynamics, and like nature continues to experience changes. There is no longer the spectacle of planes landing or taking off from the E/T. Joshua Airport which bordered the arena.

Action went on, or was adjusted according to the conditions for disruptions were part of the norm, however fleetingly.

The closeness served in good stead at times. It is not unusual to have seen players being ferried from the airport straight to the playing field to join a game in progress.

Expansion and enhancement of the facility hinged on what was taking place at the airport.

And that was in intricate balancing act.

Action at the Arnos Vale Playing took a booming shift February 14, 2017. That’s when traffic ceased at the E.T. Joshua and planes diverted to the Argyle International Airport, situated about eight miles to the eastern curve of the eastern cost.

Arnos Vale has seen world Cup Football qualifiers, many of which have shown up the gap between the home team and their Central American counterparts. Enthusiasts will remind you of that encounter against Mexico which even though the result was 1: 0 in favour of Mexico, it still has the ring of a Vincentian victory.

Pundits will remind you that the goal was questionable, and one is left to rue the extent to which officials may be guilty of big power patrimony.

The Vincentians kept a clean sheet after conceding midway in the first session. Matters became more complicated with the ejection of a Vincentian striker.

Vincentians have been thrilled by their football teams from early in the sentries. Current West Indies Cricket Board President reminded listeners of his exposure to Vincentian sport as part of his country’s Under-19 Football team. He reflected on seeing his team’s early advantage erase by a surge from a Vincentian cavalry.

Arnos Vale rests in an environment of potential boom. When the next 50 years are recorded the digital transformation would have perhaps been upgraded to things inline and inclined to the natural manner of survival.

Whether more than two Test matches will be on the record will be interesting aspects of research.

Whatever the circumstances, nothing can erase the times of the first international encounter between the Windward and New Zealand.

With play interrupted by rain over the first two days, it was decided to play a 45 over a side game. New Zealand secured that win overhauling the Windward total for the loss of four wickets.

That was in April 1972. Happy birthday Arnos Vale.

Vincentian wins Track title in Jamaica VINCENTIAN - Keiffer Bailey took the Female Individual title at the Jamaica’s Inter- Collegiate Track and Field Championships, Saturday, March 26, at the GC Foster Facility.

Competing for the GC Foster College, Bailey won the 800m in 2:45 and was third in the 1500m and 3000m, as she tallied 21 individual points.

Her clocking in the 1500m was 6:07.58 and she posted a time of 15:10.42 for the 3000m.

Bailey, though, was among a contingent of Vincentian athletes who also put in creditable performances at the event.

Javon Rawlins, also of GC Foster College, ran a personal best of 10.46 seconds in the 100m.

OJ Jackson won the 400m in a time of 48.33 seconds and Odeisha Nanton won the Women’s 400m

Hurdles in 1:04.43.

Sage Primus timed 21.49 seconds in the Men’s 200m to earn second place and was followed in third by Earl Simmons with a clocking of 21.79 seconds.

In the women’s 400m where there was also Vincentian representation, Annecia Richards timed 54.82 seconds to win the event and Nanton did 55.20, to trail Richards in second place.

Jackson, Nanton, Primus, Simmons and Richards, are all students of the GC Foster College.

The Vincentians played their part in the relays, as GC Foster College won the Women’s 4 x 100m and 4 x400m, along with the Men’s Sprint Relay.

The overall scores showed GC Foster College wining the Female segment with 198 points and the

Keiffer Bailey Male category with 205 points.

University of the West Indies (Mona), Mico University College, Excelsior Community and Mongeague College were the other competing tertiary institutions.

SVGÊs Lady Heat crush BVI IN WHAT was a remarkable turnaround in fortune after two losses to Cuba and Haiti, Lady Heat, the SVG Female Senior Football team, humbled the British Virgin Islands (BVI), 5-1, in a CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier, at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex last Wednesday.

The local girls, playing in front of a home crowd that all but packed the Arnos Vale Playing Field, showed intensity and aggression from the get go, and registered their first goal in the 7th minute, centre back Annesta Richards doing the honours.

Buoyed by their first goal, the Vincentian ladies piled on the pressure and by the 14th minute was able to register their second goal from the boot of centre forward Areka Hopper.

Lady Heat continued to run riot in the BVI half and headed into the break with a 3-nil advantage, their third goal coming in the 33rd minute from left winger Kristine Wyllie.

The BVI showed improved spirit in the second half, finding more openings in the Vincentian half, and were rewarded with a goal when Lady Heat’s centre midfielder Kitanna Richards turned in an own goal.

Richards, though, seemed bent on making up for her mishap and by the 66th minute had turned in Lady Heat’s fourth goal.

Not yet finished, she closed off a dominant performance by the

Vincentian team when she converted in the 90th minute.

Final score: SVG 5 - BVI 1.

Head coach elated Lady heat’s head coach — Cornelius Huggins was obviously elated with the victory.

Annesta Richards Speaking with the scored in the 7th Vincentian after the match, he minute. said, “First of all, I want to congratulate the team for this win which came down to a total team effort. The games against Cuba and Haiti were disappointing…. We came back home and we put in the work, we raise the intensity and the players have responded well; we played as a team.

Huggins admitted that the team made a few mistakes that didn’t prove to be costly but he is ready to address them.

Looking ahead to Lady Heat’s next match — an encounter with Honduras, Huggins said, “The win Kristine Wyllie found the net in against the BVI will give us the 33rd minute. motivation going in against Honduras. We just need to be patient and clinical in front the goal.”

SVG will now take on Honduras in their final match in Group E on April 12th in Honduras.

I.B.A. ALLEN

Areka Hooper converted in the 14th minute.

Kitanna Richards had herself a brace, scoring in the 66th and 90th minutes.

26. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 08, 2022. 27.

Classifieds

Vincymas 2022 is on....

Continued from Backpage.

And he referenced the opportunities that Vincymas offers to beauty salons, hotels, taxi and omnibus operators, vendors, restaurants, crafts shop, and tour guides.

The Chairman hinted that the launch of Vincymas 2022 had taken place unofficially over the weekend. In this regard, he reflected on the National Schools Bands Showcase at Victoria Park last Saturday, April 2, and the Vincy Premier League T/10 final at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex the following day.

Overseas promotion of Vincymas gets into higher gear with Synergy TV in Trinidad and Tobago and locally an advertisement was expected to be launched this week. Residents

across the state can also look forward to the CDC Truck as it aims to heighten awareness.

In related matters, Minister James

announced that this year’s Bequia Easter Regatta and Union Island’s Eastervale will both return to some level of activities for which they have been known.

MICHAEL RUDOLPH WILKES

GRACE LUVENA PETERS

Saturday, 2nd April, 2022 Calliaqua Methodist Church Viewing: 9:00 a.m.

Service: 10:00 a.m.

Interment: Golden Vale Cemetery

Saturday, 2nd April, 2022 Church of Christ Kingstown Park Viewing: 10:00 a.m.

Service: 11:00 a.m.

Interment: Kingstown Cemetery

NORIS ADOLPHUS LAYNE ELROY CARTMEL EMMONS Monday, April 4, 2022 Chauncey Methodist Church Service: 10:00 a.m.

Sunday, 3rd April, 2022 Barrouallie S.D.A Church Viewing: 11:00 a.m.

Service: 12:00 noon Interment: Glebe Hill Cemetery

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FRIDAY, APRIL 08,

2022

VOLUME 116, No.14

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

VINCYMAS 2022 IS ON….

Culture Minister Carlos James was pleased to announced the conditional return of a full Vincymas.

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY

occasioned by the COVID19 pandemic.

It is scheduled to VINCYMAS, the ‘Hottest commence June 24 and Carnival in the Caribbean’, climax July 5. returns in full after a Speaking at a press hiatus of two years conference hosted by the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) at its Victoria Park headquarters last Tuesday, Culture Minister Carlos James said that St Vincent and the Grenadines is expected to hold its first full Carnival since the advent of the COVID-19.

This he said was influenced by the low COVID-19 positivity rate Ricardo Adams, and the advice of the Chairman of the CDC, various entities involved assured that his in the fight against the Corporation will be COVID-19 pandemic. guided by the health He said he was officials and all related pleased to announce that health protocols.

CUSTOM OFFICER DIES IN ROAD MISHAP

by KENVILLE HORNE

THE COMMUNITY of Cane End was thrown into a state of sadness following the death of Oneicho Burke, better known as Niecho, a 30-year-old Custom Officer of Cane End. Burke died, on Saturday 2nd around 8:40 am, after the vehicle (PW 190) he was diving ran off the road along the Fountain Public Road. He is believed to have lost control of the vehicle.

According to a preliminary police report, upon arrival at the scene the responding officers observed that the

victim’s body appeared to be motionless. He was later pronounced dead by the District Medical Officer.

The preliminary investigation confirmed that Burke was travelling towards the Arnos Vale Roundabout when he lost control of the vehicle which then ran off the road.

The vehicle showed no signs of serious damage and persons are doubtful that the impact before the vehicle came to rest, could have been life threatening.

Some persons who viewed the scene suggested that Burke might have suffered a heart attack before losing

Vincymas will return to Victoria Park and the streets of Kingstown.

There will be two days of street parade as has been the tradition, the Minister said.

However, he cautioned that should the positivity rate (COVID-19) move to 5 percent or more, the CDC will revert to a festival of reduced and controlled activities.

Chairman of the CDC — Ricardo Adams, in endorsing what the

Minister disclosed, assured that his Corporation was guided by the health professionals, and that it was ready for any eventuality.

He endorsed the health protocols and encouraged persons not just to get vaccinated, but to get involved in the festival. The components, he said, were ready for the return of Vincymas.

Continued on Page 27.

Oneicho ‘Niecho’ Burke is listed unofficially as this country’s latest road fatality.

control.

Burke was the son of Rouna Burke, Principal of the Marriaqua Government School, and Oswald Burke, a former agricultural officer.

His family is well-known and respected in the Marriaqua constituency.

Friends and colleagues took to social media following Burke’s death to pay tribute and expressed condolences to the family. Those who knew him describe him as “cool and funny.”

Police investigations into the incident are ongoing.

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

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.