that morning, and headed for an area between Rock Gutter and Cramacou, north of Owia, to fish.
ACCORDING TO FAMILY SOURCES, up to Thursday evening Robert Lavia was still missing, and the search for him was still ongoing.
Robert Lavia, a 51year-old member of the Owia community was said to be a farmer and fished for personal, family use only. He is known to go on his fishing “expeditions” by himself. Lavia was reported missing since Wednesday, April 1, 2026. He had left his home at approximately 5 a.m. on
When he did not return as expected, a report was made to the police in area and subsequently to the Coast Guard, who confirmed receipt of the report on Wednesday.
Persons from the Owia community mounted an initial search but that proved futile.
The Coast Guard conducted their own search but as referenced earlier, they too have not been able to make any headway.
MAN FOUND DEAD IN RICHMOND: POLICE INVESTIGATING LAVIA STILL MISSING
At least one family member of Robert Lavia has not given up hope of finding him. (Photo Courtesy Rochelle Baptiste)
Up to Wednesday the only connection made to the missing man was a report that a reel of fishing line was found and the speculation was that it belonged to him.
Kenroy Grant’s relatives and relevant authorities await the results of a post-mortem which will determine the cause of his death.
by KENVILLE HORNE
CONFIRMED the discovery of a lifeless body in the North Leeward community of Richmond, on Tuesday morning.
The deceased has been identified as Kenroy Grant, a 29year-old male, said to be a labourer of Fitz Hughes, but who was also said to have some connection to a quarrying undertaking in Richmond.
Reports indicate that his body was discovered in bushes along the side of a roadway by workers in the area, around 9:20 a.m. on April 7, 2026.
A District Medical Officer visited the scene and officially pronounced Grant dead.
In a statement, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police
Force (RSVGPF) said it was investigating the circumstances surrounding the death. Preliminary findings suggested that there were no immediate signs of foul play; however, a post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. Grant is described as a twin whose (twin) brother died in a drowning incident in Rose Bank several years ago. While authorities have not confirmed the cause of death, some residents of the Richmond community speculate that it may be alcohol-related. Police have not commented on these claims.
Further updates are expected as investigations continue.
Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Windward Islands ( 25th March 2026)
Ad Multos Annos - "To many more years!" For the lives you’ve touched and the paths you’ve cleared. Twenty years of spreading the Word and the Light, May your strength be renewed and your future stay bright.
From the Management and Staff of THE VINCENTIAN
SVG rejects U.S. Deportee Plan
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINEShas signaled it will not participate in a controversial United States initiative aimed at encouraging Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries to accept deportees from the U.S., even as several regional states move toward joining the programme.
Reports indicate that for much of the past year, the Trump administration has been urging Caribbean governments to accept deportees who are unwilling to return to
RSS to combat gangs and guns prevalence
MEMBERS OF THE REGIONAL SECURITY SYSTEMwill be implementing a mechanism to conduct cross border investigations and arrest warrants.
“Criminals who believe that they can commit a crime in a member state and fit in another one and figure they will be protected, we are taking that sort of approach that wherever you go in our shared space that the law will still reach you,”
Commissioner of Police, Enville Williams said during a press briefing on April, following the RSS Security Chiefs and Council of Ministers meeting in St Lucia between March 23 and 27.
According to Williams, one of the issues raised at the meeting focused on the mergence and prevalence of gangs, and the use of firearms affecting member states.
“It is a troubling phenomenon in our region,” the CoP said.
The security and defence chiefs made recommendations, he said, for a joint plan of action for RSS member states to deal with the issue of gangs and criminality.
“Because we realise because of our closeness and our porous borders that crime moves seamlessly across each other’s borders, and so we want to take a joint approach in tackling the issues of gangs and guns, and
crime altogether.”
One of the other issues that law enforcement officials dealt with Williams said was to come up with a robust plan of action to tackle the issue of illegal firearms.
This is an issue that member states have had to grapple with, he said.
So, security chiefs discussed the harmonisation of legislation across member states in order to build reflective policies that include penalties and policing strategies to deal with the issue of illegal firearms.
“We are faced with a common thread and therefore we ought to have a common operating standpoint in order to deal with that common thread,” Williams said. (DD)
their countries of origin or whose home nations have declined to receive them. The proposal has drawn mixed reactions across the region, with countries such as Guyana, Dominica, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Kitts and Nevis reportedly preparing to sign on in the coming weeks. These governments are said to be considering the arrangement as part of broader efforts to maintain strong diplomatic relations with Washington.
However, Deputy Prime Minister St. Clair Leacock stated that St. Vincent and the Grenadines has no intention of accepting deportees under the initiative. Speaking on Boom 106.9 FM earlier this week, Leacock said the administration of Prime Minister Dr. Goodwin Friday – which secured 14 of 15 seats in last year’s general election – has decided to distance itself from the proposal.
“The plan is not to have any,” Leacock said, citing national security concerns and public unease about the arrangement. “I don’t think our people want to be exposed in that way.”
He added that the government is prepared to formally communicate
its policy position and maintain closed borders to the specific categories of deportees being proposed. According to Leacock, Vincentian authorities have also been reassured that countries declining to participate will not face penalties.
“If you don’t want them, they will not force you, and there will be no penalties for not accepting,” he explained.
“That came out very clearly. In the end, it would be up to the Caribbean countries to accept or reject deportees coming from the U.S.”
Meanwhile, Dominica has reportedly finalized an agreement to accept seven deportees per quarter, with financial and logistical support from the United States and a United Nations agency. Other nations, including Antigua and Barbuda and Guyana, have indicated interest in participating, pointing to potential benefits such as addressing skills shortages in key sectors.
The differing responses highlight a growing divide within the Caribbean as governments weigh security concerns, economic opportunities, and diplomatic considerations tied to the U.S. proposal. (KH)
These deportees are part of a contingent who were sent to Costa Rica as part of the US Deportee Plan.
Good Friday stabbing: One charged
Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS
A 28-YEAR-OLD BEQUIA RESIDENTcharged in connection with a stabbing incident in that Grenadine Island on Good Friday, April 3, was granted bail when he appeared in court on Tuesday.
Calvin Milles has been charged with the attempted murder of Xavaughn Dennie, a 31year-old bartender of Union Vale, Bequia, who was reportedly stabbed in the left side of his neck during an incident at Union Vale on April 3 (Good Friday), and was hospitalized in critical condition. He has since
been removed from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and placed on the male surgical ward.
Milles is also charged with entering the dwelling house of Rocell Chenille of Union Vale as a trespasser and at the time, had with him a weapon of offence, to wit, a knife.
Both offences were reportedly committed on April 3 at Union Vale, and arose from the same incident.
Milles was not required to plead when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Colin John at the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday.
Prosecutor Renrick Cato initially objected to
bail, and asked the court to remand Milles until yesterday (Thursday).
But Milles’ attorney Grant Connell stated that it was unreasonable to keep Milles in custody for two days. “He (Milles) helps his mother who is bed ridden, and he has sufficient ties to this jurisdiction,” the lawyer stated.
“This hard guava crop season, everyday things are getting harder,” he added, and informed the Court that the victim’s status could be verified with the investigator who was in court.
The Chief Magistrate then asked Sergeant Elmore ‘Six’ Alexander, the investigator in the
Mills on multiple gunrelated charges
THE MAN FOR WHOM THE POLICEhad recently requested the public’s assistance in locating, is now in police custody, facing several firearm related charges.
Zouck Mills, a 28-yearold self-employed of Barrouallie/Glen, was remanded yesterday (Thursday), following strong objections to bail by Prosecutor Renrick Cato.
Mills has been charged with discharging a firearm at James Monix of Garden Field, Union Island, unlawfully and maliciously wounding Monix with intent, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger Monix’s life, and possession of a firearm, make and serial number unknown, without a license.
The offences were reportedly committed at Clifton, Union Island on March 30, 2026.
Mills was not required to plead to the charges when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Colin John at the Serious Offences Court yesterday.
In objecting to bail, Prosecutor Renrick Cato acknowledged that bail is a constitutional right,
but there are certain circumstances under which bail can be denied.
Cato noted that Mills is on bail in relation to other firearm related offences, and the police are investigating other matters in which he is a person of interest.
Cato said he knew of several matters before the court where other accused persons were granted bail with strict conditions, including surrendering of their passports, but they still left the country.
“Nothing can stop this accused from leaving the country if he wants to,” Cato said.
Zouck Mills was remanded to His Majesty’s Prison after being denied bail.
But Mills’ attorney, Jomo Thomas, contended that bail should be granted with stringent conditions.
Thomas argued that the grounds on which the Prosecutor was objecting to bail, were vague and not a basis on which bail should be denied.
He said that if the court is to go by what Cato said, then “Nobody should be granted bail, because anybody could leave the country at any time.”
The lawyer pointed out that the liberty of an accused person should not be restrained, because he/she is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and could be freed subsequently at a court trial.
Bus conductor on gun, ammo charges
matter, to take the stand to verify Dennie’s status.
Sergeant Alexander informed the court that at around 7:30am on April 7, 2026, he visited the victim at the male surgical ward of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.
“I spoke to the doctor on duty and he informed me that the patient was removed from the ICU, and is in stable condition.
When Connell asked Sergeant Alexander whether Milles came to the police station voluntarily, Alexander replied in the affirmative.
Connell then asked the investigator, “So he
Thomas added that the charges against Mills are in connection with an incident which reportedly occurred on March 30, 2026, and the date of his court appearance was April 9 (yesterday), and he emphasized that Mills turned himself in.
But the Chief Magistrate upheld Prosecutor Cato’s objection and denied bail.
The matter has been adjourned to April 27.
A 25-YEAR-OLDminibus conductor of Stubbs was taken before the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday on firearm and ammunition charges, following a police action at Stubbs over the Easter weekend.
Dean-J France was arrested around 2pm on April 3 and charged with possession of a Mauser .380 pistol, and three live rounds of 9mm ammunition, without licenses.
(Milles) fits all the criteria for bail?” to which Alexander responded, “Yes.”
Based on the information given to the court by the investigator, Prosecutor Cato withdrew his objection to bail, byt asked the court for suitable surety and conditions.
As a result, the Chief Magistrate granted bail in the sum of $20,000 with one surety, on condition that Milles report to the Port Elizabeth Police Station in Bequia every Wednesday between 8am and 8pm, and that he has no contact with the Virtual Complainant.
Cop granted bail on theft charge
CONSTABLE PHILLIP ARRINDELL,
a police officer who was denied bail on a theft charge one week ago, was granted bail on his return to the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday.
PC Arrindell has been charged with stealing a Suzuki key valued at EC$1,500, the property of Jadiel Riffin of Villa.
The key was among several (Court) exhibits which went missing between Kingstown and Calliaqua between March 15 and 20, 2026.
Arrindell pleaded not guilty to the charge when he initially appeared in court on March 31, but Chief Magistrate Colin John remanded him for one week after Prosecutor Renrick Cato objected to bail.
Cato’s grounds for objection were that the police were investigating reports of attempted murder and firearm possession in which Arrindell was a person of interest, and he could obstruct those investigations if granted bail at this stage.
However, on Arrindell’s return to court on Tuesday, Cato indicated that the prosecution was no longer objecting to bail.
Cato said that while investigations into the reports of attempted murder and firearm possession were still ongoing, Arrindell will be unable to hinder the rest of the investigation.
But Arrindell’s attorney Grant Connell described the attempted murder case as non-existent, adding that the Prosecution used that in order to get the court to deny bail.
France pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Colin John on Tuesday.
When Arrindell initially appeared in court on March 30, Connell described Cato’s objection to bail as “draconian and a personal vendetta,” and referred to Arrindell’s arrest as a “fishing expedition.”
Prosecutor Renrick Cato did not object to bail, but requested suitable surety and conditions.
Bail was granted in the sum of $15,000, with one surety, on condition that France report to the Stubbs Police Station every Tuesday between 8am and 8pm. The matter was adjourned to April 20.
He pointed out then that the Prosecution had not presented sufficient grounds on which bail should be denied. Arrindell was granted bail in the sum of $3,000.
PC Phillip Arrindell was eventually granted bail.
Nothing suspicious about Police Station fire
Minister of National Security St. Clair Leacock pointed to a preliminary assessment that there was not “foul” about the cause of the fire.
THERE WAS NOTHING SUSPICIOUSabout the cause of the March 13 fire that gutted the Calliaqua Police Station.
Minister of National Security St. Clair Leacock said early findings point to a malfunctioning piece of electrical equipment on the ground floor of the two-storey building, as the likely source of the blaze, thereby making the cause accidental rather than deliberate.
He also noted that the structure’s pitch pin (wooden) interior allowed the flames to spread quickly once ignited.
Speaking on Boom FM on Tuesday, Leacock confirmed he had received a formal report from the police but declined to provide full details while the review continues.
He added that while reports have been submitted by the power company, police, and the electrical inspector, authorities were still carefully examining the findings, to ensure no aspect of the investigation has been overlooked.
In the meantime, officers and operations have been relocated to the Calliaqua Town Hall. As far as what happens next, the minister said consideration was being given to constructing a new police station at a site in along the Glen Road that had previously been identified for such a project. Another option under consideration is to keep police operations at the town hall and build a new town hall at the proposed police station location.
He noted that any final decision will depend on consultations with engineers, architects, and other stakeholders, but assured that officers will ultimately be accommodated in improved facilities.
Leacock also acknowledged that the original police station site is valuable government-owned property. While demolition of the burnt structure has been considered, he said authorities must first determine whether funding for demolition is the best use of limited resources at this time.
The minister commended relevant agencies for clearing the site following the fire, even as he acknowledged that the damaged structure remained an eyesore. It is common knowledge that the Calliaqua Police Station, prior to the fire, was in need of urgent repairs/ renovations. (KH)
The burnt remains of the Calliaqua Police Station the morning after the fire.
The Calliaqua Town Hall now houses the police station.
Managing Director: Desiree Richards
Editor: Cyprian Neehall
Telephone: 784-456-1123 Fax: 784-451-2129
Website: www.thevincentian.com
Email: thevincentianpublishing@gmail.com
Mailing Address: The Vincentian Publishing Co. Ltd., P.O. Box 592, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Editorial
Social Media
THERE IS MUCH REFERENCEto social media and its many platforms that seemingly monopolise the lives of peoples all across the globe.
If you never consider this before, here’s something to chew on: Social Media is a world within a world. For those born in the very late 20th century and definitely those born in the 21st century, technology that drives phenomena like social media is nothing but a natural, available convenience into which they were born. Cell phones, iPods, tablets, video games, are practically inevitable for teens and young adults.
And then there is what follows these technologies - social media networking - which has become an integral part of the daily routine of many, here in our little SVG and across the rest of the world.
Social media networking sites like Facebook, X, MySpace, WhatsApp have millions of “visitors” daily. We in SVG are counted in over 500 million users who are said to visit Facebook on a daily basis. Further, we are counted in what has been computed to read that 50 percent of these users who log on daily, spend over 700 billion minutes per month on the site.
Those statistics are enough to inform a realization that undoubtedly, social media and social networking are here to stay. The question is, therefore: If social media and social networking are here to stay, is it OK to have them run wild and cause havoc among our youngest, most alert and energetic minds?
Inherent in these modern day “luxuries” are risks and dangers. There is no questioning that these open dialogue sites allow individuals to express themselves, which they are wont not to do in real life open fora.
The runaway “open dialogue” demands some amount of censorship not only by the domain hosts but moreso by the individuals (users) themselves.
So you create a profile, give details (e.g. education, hobbies) about yourself) and even share aspect of your daily work life.
Herein lies the need to be cognizant of the five C’s - caution, care, common sense, courtesy, and consideration — since what you post can return to haunt you.
Let us suppose you choose to share/post treatment you faced at your work place. Common sense would tell you that such information is personal and should not be posted on a social network, especially when you consider future employment. Worse, what if you decided to remain where you are? What if you did not and a potential employer did a search of your social media page and deemed your behavior as uncouth? Can you talk your way out of the calamity you created for yourself?
Are we to believe that these consequences are often not in the minds of teens and young adults when they take to the social media world to express themselves? Sadly, the vote might well fall on the side that says many young people do not take into account or acknowledge the dangers of such postings on social networking sites since, to them, in their “innocence”, all social media sites are innocent.
Research has shown that one of the greatest impacts of social networking is on people’s social skills. While, on one hand, social networking sites seem to bring people together and connect them, on the other hand, they create social isolation.
The same research has shown that older generations of networkers learned how to communicate and interact long before networking was even a thought, but much of the younger generations do not interact socially.
Can we read this “isolation”: as a contributing factor to the aggression that burst forth so readily in settling scores and misunderstandings among those born into the networking, social media generation?
Just look around!! It doesn’t take a report to tell us that social networking has created a serious breach in the ability of our young people to communicate and interact with each other. This is an area that cannot be ignored as we grapple with crime-prevention programmes.
Social networking can be beneficial in moderation. The questions, though, is: Does moderation and the social media world coincide in society?
Time for users of social media networking platforms to take on a deeper understanding and consciousness about what they are posting on social media.
A misguided policy proposal
ALLOW ME TO SAY UPFRONT that I am among those who believe we need to review how we deliver policing services to our people. For years, I have been advocating for reform in how we police our nation. I am not now, nor ever was, satisfied that we were receiving full value for our money. I am so invested in the need for change, that I have advocated for regional advertising to fill the commissioner position.
It is not surprising to me that we have not reached a consensus on the structure of a modern police department in a small island state. To the best of my knowledge, we have not had a public debate, by that I mean one in parliament, on the different organizational structures best suited for our security. We have not had a study on the pros and cons of the current structure. We have tweaked the inherited colonial system to accommodate our regional obligations since independence.
In my opinion, our local policing strategy and structure were not designed to keep our general population safe. It is an inherited model built to keep our colonial masters and the planter class safe. The pre-independent structure no longer works. As we mature as a nation, that system works less for us. For example, it is appalling to me to see a police officer standing guard at the Kingstown Post Office building while hundreds of people are drinking alcohol on a Friday night at Heritage Square with no police presence.
If we take a high-level view of our system, you will see the same basic five components in our police department as they were one hundred years ago: neighborhood policing, criminal investigation, “public” protection, special services, and supporting functions. The only thing new is the addition of a drug enforcement division in response to the demands of our newest influencer, the USA. I’m sure someone will view this as another political attack and would be happy to tell me how things have changed. Please do.
It is not unusual for a new administration to make changes to existing structures. I can only hope that any change will truly be innovative, not just the rearrangement of the deck chairs. You cannot do this alone; you cannot do this without a complete review of the structure and its fitness for purpose. You cannot make
meaningful change without a proper analysis of the basic data available in the police department. We must understand the strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches we inherited. We must understand and be able to articulate why some of our policing models are not working at full capacity. And finally, we must be willing to explore what we can learn from other regional policing strategies that can be applied locally.
Today, I am once again motivated to write about our police department because of a recent pronouncement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security–his decision to consider deputizing the SVG Cadet Force. Giving them the power to arrest fellow citizens needs a national conversation.
Now I know the old saying that goes like this: “Desperate times require desperate measures”, so this might be the reason why we are seriously considering deputizing the Cadet Forces. I am afraid that this adventure of deputizing untrained civilians to fight crime poses a significant risk to public safety, the legal system, and ultimately the police community relations. By doing so, it could result in more violence, violations of constitutional rights, and the further erosion of trust in law enforcement.
I say these things against the backdrop of the comment made by a high-ranking police officer about the difficulty he is having controlling drug (marijuana) use among the rank and file of the police department. And after viewing a video of a traffic officer hitting a minibus conductor with his helmet during an incident following a traffic stop. If a trained police officer is so ready to engage in a public brawl with a civilian, even though, with some provocation, what can we expect from deputized teenagers?
In short, leave the Cadet Force alone, Mr. Deputy Prime Minister. Don’t spoil a great organization. While most members of this organization grow up to become great and exemplary citizens, few view the Cadet Force as a stepping stone toward a career in law enforcement.
Horatio
The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Do you know Jesus?
by Dorothy Purge
Do you know who is the talk of the day in Jerusalem City?
Do you know?
Mary’s son!
Not Mary Magdalene, the other Mary. Do you know Jesus?
Do you know Him?
He was the one born in hay, whom Herod wanted to slay. Jesus died today, a brutal way.
Do you know Jesus?
Do you know Him?
Jesus was treated like a man on the run, and His life ended like butter in the sun.
But Mary knew His work on earth was done, her dear beloved first-born Son The victory He had won!
Imagine, while He was growing, Jesus was an obedient child Loving, caring and forgiving. Like a good shepherd He would round up the sheep And when He gave bread there was no price. He helped His father in the carpentry shop And often spoke phrases people didn’t understand.
Do you know Jesus?
Do you know Him?
Today, cruel men mocked Him They shouted Who is He? Who is He? Hang him! Hang him!
Oh those bitter tongues!
As bitter as the vinegar they gave Him to drink Yet His thirst made Him drank every drop. Oh what a sight it was as with all their might Those cruel soldiers whipped and whipped Jesus until He bled
Then an evil one pierced His sides.
Do you know Jesus?
Do you know Him?
Mary cried and cried when Jesus died The villains said that He had lied
But Jesus’ loyalty has led Him to royalty, From Messiah to Majesty
A Prince, and a King. And I know, yes I know, He will call me His own.
Do you know Jesus?
Do you know Him?
I loved Mary’s Son like my very own My hope is to see Jesus again someday.
And what I say is not a dream Today will be a great legend. One for all times
A day when Jesus Christ paid the price for all sinners.
The race of victory, Mary’s Son, God’s only begotten Son has won!
Do you know Jesus? Jesus Christ?
Do you know Him?
Union Island Animal Government Newsletter
ON MARCH 31ST, 2026,if you had passed by the pastures adjoining the Salt Pond near the offices of the Environmental Alliance, you would have seen a gathering of Cows discussing the future of the island. While others are planning to get rid of us and tying us up, we are planning how to maintain our freedom.
You have heard it said that it is not what you know but who you know. We, the cows and the other animals on the loose, have a lot of people in high places in our corner. The pastors, priests, pointers and pundits are either owners or have close friends who are owners. The Vets are interested in our welfare and from time to time have provided for the improvement in our stalk. They want us to proliferate and produce quality milk and meat. They say that this contributes to preventing food
insecurity. They even classified the mini goats that resulted from inbreeding as a special breed in need of special protection. The nutritionist says that we are first class protein. The milk we produce constitutes a balanced diet. Many of us have no owners having no marks, ropes, not even a fixed stable of residence. We should therefore be classified as wild animals and gain the kind of protection provided by the Union Island Environmental Alliance.
For years we have been fending for ourselves, finding food and water how we can. Some died during the passage of Hurricane Beryl because “owners” made no provision to secure us. Many were given free chains and bags of feed, but we are still on the loose. Times used to be when children looked after animals.
Of Traffic Lights and more
THERE WERE FUNCTIONING TRAFFIC LIGHTSin Kingstown. When the government changed in 2001, somebody dismantled the whole system. The lights, etc. were contemptuously stocked in the Public Works yard in Arnos Vale.
I am imploring the Commissioner of Police to recommend to the Minister responsible that the lights should be reintroduced.
The traffic police would be relieved of the tasks of standing in the sun or rain for hours, swinging their arms to regulate the flow of traffic, so that they can attend to other traffic-related matters.
Mr. Commissioner, it’s not looking proper to see police officers perched on the edge of the “pan” of an open vehicle. Most times, each officer has a gun in its holster. It is surprising that these guns do not fall out.
Since I was a child, I always appreciated the Police Band. I am suggesting that band members should only wear ceremonial uniforms for national functions like our Independence Parade, state funerals, and at functions for foreign delegations.
The band members can use civilian uniform when playing for marches, funerals, etc. It should not be a problem, because when they provide musical accompaniment for the Calypso finals, they are not in ceremonial attire.
I’ll welcome consideration to my request.
They awoke very early in the morning, collected milk for breakfast, tied us out in green pastures, watered us at noon and brought us home in the evening. We were often treated with peas shells, corn stalks and other delicacies like Gloria Cedar or another edible bush. Every Sunday one of us were sacrificed to feed the neighborhood. On special occasions like weddings and feasts, beef would be provided.
Union Island is a big animal farm, but there appears to be no farmer in charge. All the pasture lands are overgrown with “kashee” and “bun bush”. If anyone cared, they would have cleared pastureland for us to graze.
Since we have just passed National Heroes Day, it is only fitting that the cow should be nominated. It is like a breadfruit tree on the mainland. Little or no care is provided except that at the appropriate time it is caught and sold. The cow
turns garbage into quality milk and meat. It provides manure for lettuce farmers. If a shoemaker shop is ever established again, leather can be provided. Since Heroes Day is gone, perhaps a nomination can be made for Mother’s Day next month.
Just as a child left to himself brings his mother to shame, will anyone be brought to shame for leaving animals without care, protection and tethering?
PEOPLE ARE ASKING:
* WILL THE GOVERNMENTput things in place for forensic auditing of all state enterprises and capital projects executed by the last administration?
* What is the status of the Ottley Hall Shipyard?
* Has anyone taken the Leader of the Opposition seriously when in less than two months of the new government, one of his fanatics called stating how the county get hard and he supported her observation?
* Does this government realize that when someone decides to commit a crime, he has no concern about which party is in government?
* Will road workers be sent out in this quarter?
* Can NIS pensioners get an increase before the CEO leaves?
* When you see something on your device (phone, tablet, etc.), who is responsible for indicating if it’s AI (fake) or real?
* Does it make sense to erect “no littering/dumping” signs if there are no wardens?
* Why is there no investigation to establish who and what were on the plane that departed Canouan some months ago, in the dead of night without further clearance?
* When are we going to get amendments to the Representation of the Peoples Act (R.P.A) and a revocation of the vaccine mandate laws?
* Have we seen the end of “fore day morning” sittings of the parliament?
Anthony G. Stewart, PhD
V Bruce strengthens African links
PERSONS INTERESTED IN FILM PRODUCTIONcan enhance their creativity in practical ways beginning in June this year. That’s when an acclaimed Nigerian filmmaker Steve Gukas begins operating in St. Kitts/Nevis.
That mission fulfils Gukas’ ambition of telling the African story on a global stage.
An agreement signed in Nigeria late March with Gukas and St. Kitts/Nevis
Minister of Agriculture, the Creative Economy and Entertainment and The Arts, etc. Samal Duggins, paved the way for this opportunity.
That signing was witnessed by this country’s Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Transformation Minister Israel Bruce.
Bruce is “excited” about benefits the region can derive from this initiative. He thinks Vincentian film producers
Israel Bruce, Minister of Agriculture, used his visit to Nigeria to establish links with Nigerian Financial Services.
can travel to St. Kitts or arrangements can be made to have Gukas come here.
Bruce trip to Nigeria also fulfilled other missions.
Discussions with officials from the Agricultural Bank of Nigeria opened avenues whereby monies can be passed on to this country’s National Development Bank., from which local farmers can benefit.
Bruce compares the process to the Framers Support Company set up by the former Unity Labour Party government.
The South Central Windward representative also interacted with the
African Export-Import Bank (Afeximbank) officials. He disclosed that their minimum offer is $50m can also accommodate farmers.
Steve Gukas, Nigerian filmmaker, is expected to impact the regional film industry.
The value of intense athletic competition
“Intense athletic competition reveals a man’s true character like no other activity.” – Gene A. Getz (born 1932) –Author and pastor emeritus at Chase Oaks Church in Plano, Texas.
IT IS NOT SURPRISINGthat some of the more progressive managers and leaders seek to attract and retain individuals who have demonstrated prowess as athletes. Many have observed that persons who have engaged in intense athletic competition have developed an unusual and admirable sense of discipline that can be transferred to the world of work. In addition, the way these individuals react to moments of victory and defeat reflect their attitudes and character.
Intense athletic competition has long been a critical aspect of sport activities. Progressive and responsible school administrators recognize the importance of sport in shaping the character of students while simultaneously providing them with “healthy activities” that encourage positive physical, spiritual, emotional, and social growth. They realize that competition encourages individuals and teams to strive for excellence. However, we note that some critics argue that intense rivalry can create and sustain unnecessary pressure. This should not detract from the fact that it builds character, encourages discipline, fosters respect for others, and strengthens resilience.
Character development is often considered to be one of the most significant values of intense competition. The individual’s performance is not limited to their innate abilities and talents (although this may contribute to their success). Their successes are often the result of prolonged training sessions (while others are having a “nice time”), a disciplined approach to managing their diet, having adequate rest, and so on. These all call for a disciplined approach to making good habits a lifestyle. This reminds us that success in sport rarely comes easy. It demands long hours of practice, physical and social sacrifices, and mental tenacity. Through such processes, athletes learn to confront challenges and overcome obstacles — often performing through deep physical and/or emotional pain. These provide valuable life lessons that transcend the field or court. They often provide priceless lessons that shape attitudes that enable individuals to face and surmount difficulties in everyday life. They often develop a heightened resolve to excel, focusing on improving with each successive performance. Many successful athletes attest to the value of their athletic pursuits in strengthening their resolve. They understand that both victory and defeat are inevitable in sport. In moments of victory, humility is essential; in moments of defeat, they focus on building the determination to perform better next time, recognizing that losing is not the end of the journey but an opportunity for growth. Many also see failure as a powerful motivator to work harder and smarter, leading to improved performance and results. In this way, competition offers valuable life lessons in handling setbacks and
disappointments with grace and determination. No successful athlete should ever consider that their accomplishments are solely the result of their prowess; this holds true whether they compete as individuals or as part of a team. While their physique, attitude, mental toughness, and strong resolve would have played an integral part in their outstanding achievements, there are numerous other individuals who would have aided their development; coaches, sport administrators, and various other “encouragers” would have contributed to their success. This is especially evident when the sport activities classify as team games. In this regard, success depends not only on individual talent but also on the ability to cooperate with teammates. In such instances, players must learn to trust each other, communicate effectively, and work towards a shared goal. Many testify that the outstanding accomplishments of the West Indies cricket teams of the 1970s and 1980s was precisely because of this; the focus was on communal success as opposed to “personal stardom”. Clive Lloyd was known to have said, “Cricket is a team game. If you want fame for yourself, go play an individual game.” In addition, they realized that their successes on the field contributed significantly to the psyche of Caribbean citizens throughout and beyond the region.
Based on the foregoing, we gain insights in relation to how athletic competition can inspire communities, promote a spirit of unity, and generate a sense of achievement. Sporting events often encourage the coming together of people to generate a sense of camaraderie and excitement. In addition, they can motivate citizens to pursue healthy lifestyles while providing positive role models who exhibit dedication and sportsmanship.
Fairness and ethical conduct should be foundational to intense competition. It is of paramount importance that coaches, sport administrators, and athletes emphasize the importance of integrity, the respect for rules, respect for the decisions of referees and umpires, and the concern and the wellbeing of participants. When these are evident, intense athletic competition provide a constructive and uplifting experience.
In summary, intense athletic competition creates and sustains significant value for individuals and society. It cultivates character, resilience, discipline, and respect. When approached in an ethical and healthy manner, competition does far more than determine winners and losers; it aids in shaping stronger, more capable, individuals who are better prepared to meet the challenges of life and add value to workplaces and the wider community.
Send comments, criticisms & suggestions to julesferdinand@gmail.com
Trump has no soul
THE MOST PROFOUND REALITIES of human existence are often those that can never be measured or quantified. Wisdom. Beauty. Truth. Compassion. Courage. Love. Loneliness. Grief. The struggle to face our own mortality. A life of meaning.
But perhaps the greatest conundrum is the concept of a soul. Do we have a soul? Do societies have souls? And, most basically, what is a soul?
Philosophers and theologians have all grappled with the concept of a soul. Some define the mystical force within us as will. Sigmund Freud used the Greek word psyche. But most have accepted, whatever the definition, some version of a soul’s existence.
While the concept of the soul is opaque, soullessness is not. Soullessness means something inside of us is dead. Basic human feelings and connections are shut down. Those without souls lack empathy. Soullessness is often seen in war, where leaders, so calcified inside, kill without any demonstrable feeling or remorse.
The soulless exist in a state of insatiable self-worship. The idol they have erected to themselves must be constantly fed. It demands a neverending stream of victims. It demands abject obedience and subservience, publicly on display at Trump cabinet meetings.
Psychologists, I expect, would define the soulless as psychopathic.
I write this not to get into an esoteric debate about the soul, but to warn what happens when those without souls seize power. I want to write about what is lost and the consequences of that loss. I want to caution you that death, our death – as individuals and as a collective –means nothing to those without souls.
This makes the soulless very, very dangerous.
Those who lack souls have no concept of their own limitations. They feed off a bottomless and selfdelusional optimism, giving to their cruellest deeds and bitterest defeats, the lustre of goodness, success and morality.
Those without souls – as Paul Woodruff writes in his small masterpiece Reverence: Renewing a Forgotten Virtue – do not have the capacity for reverence, awe, respect and shame. They believe they are gods.
The soulless cannot respond rationally to reality. They live in selfconstructed echo chambers. They hear only their own voice.
Civic, familial, legal and religious rituals and ceremonies that transport those with souls into the realm of the sacred, into a space where we acknowledge our shared humanity, forcing us, at least for a moment, to humble ourselves, are meaningless to those without souls.
Those without souls cannot see because they cannot feel.
The soulless, enslaved by narcissism, greed, a lust for power and hedonism, cannot make moral choices. Moral choices for them do not exist. Truth and falsehoods are identical. Life is transactional. Is it good for me? Does it make me feel omnipotent? Does it give me pleasure? This stunted existence banishes them from the moral universe.
Human beings, including children, are commodities to the soulless, objects to exploit for pleasure or profit or both. We saw this soullessness displayed in the Epstein Files. And it was not only Epstein. Huge sections of our ruling class, including billionaires, Wall Street financiers, university presidents, philanthropists, celebrities, Republicans, Democrats and media
personalities, consider us worthless.
Reverence is not a religious virtue but a moral virtue. Some define it as a political virtue. Reverence for shared ideals is the only thing that can bind us together.
It is the only attribute that ensures mutual trust. Reverence allows us to remember what it means to be human. It reminds us that there are forces we cannot control, forces that we will never understand, forces of life that we did not create and must honour and protect – including the natural world – and forces that allow us moments of transcendence, or, in religious terms, what we call grace.
If you desire peace in the world, do not pray that everyone share your beliefs; pray instead that all may be reverent.
Trump’s celebration of himself is made manifest in his stunted vocabulary of superlatives and his rebranding of national monuments.
He tears down the East Wing to construct his gaudy and oversized $400 million ballroom. He proposes a 250foot-tall memorial arch, adorned with gilded statues and eagles, in his honour.
He is planning a “National Garden of American Heroes” that will include life-size statues of celebrities, sports figures, and political and artistic figures deemed politically correct by Trump, along with, of course, himself. His face adorns the sides of federal buildings on huge, well-lit banners. He changed the name of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts to the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts.
He added his name to the headquarters of the U.S. Institute of Peace. He has announced a new fleet of U.S. naval vessels called Trump-class battleships.
These are monuments not only to Trump, but to a perverted ethic, to the insatiable self-worship that defines the inner void of the soulless.
Monuments, houses of worship and national shrines dedicated to justice, self-sacrifice and equality, which demand from us humility and introspection, which require the capacity for reverence, mystify the soulless.
The soulless have no sense of aesthetics. They have no sense of balance, symmetry and proportion. The bigger, the gaudier the better. They seek to shut out everything and everyone else.
When the soulless wage war, it is part of this perverted drive to build a monument to themselves. When war goes badly, as it is going in Iran, the soulless, unable to read reality, demand greater levels of violence and destruction. The more they fail, the more convinced they are that everyone has betrayed them, and the more they descend into a tyrannical rage.
Trump, potentially facing a humiliating debacle in Iran, will lash out like a wounded beast. It does not matter how many suffer and die. It does not matter what weapons, including nuclear weapons, must be employed. He must triumph, or at least appear to triumph.
“Fathers and teachers, I ponder, ‘What is hell?’” Father Zossima asks in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov. “I maintain that it is the suffering of being unable to love.”
This is the plight of the soulless. They seek, in their misery, to make their hell our own. Send comments, criticisms &
Guest column by Chris Hedges
Media Release
St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party must pay
THE ISSUE OF NONPAYMENT for the unauthorized use of music has once again reared its ugly head. And the popular song “Get rid ah them” from 2015, remains at the center.
It was back in 2023 that Vincentian lawyer Franklyn ‘Max E’ Edwards announced that he had successfully negotiated an out of court settlement with Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne over the unauthorized use of the work.
That song, “Get rid ah dem” first released in 2015 and sung by Vincentian Fabulous T, is owned by its producer Adrian Bailey - the musical genius behind Kevin Lyttle’s mega hit “Turn Me On”.
Edwards recalls that the popular song had first been used successfully by the then opposition St Kitts Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) on their way towards being elected to office in 2022. The lawyer contacted the SKNLP and negotiated an out of court settlement with lawyers for that political party and was awaiting the expected payment. However, despite the amount of time which has elapsed since, the promised payment from the SKNLP has not been forthcoming.
Worst, the entertainment lawyer reports, he is now being ghosted by lawyers of the SKNLP which presently holds the reins of power in that country. And now, three years on, Edwards finds himself knocking on a brick wall with the political party’s lawyers over their nonpayment.
It was the effectiveness of the composition as a campaign song in St. Kitts and Nevis which had influenced the Gaston Browne led Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party to go ahead and use the song without permission, but with some lyrical changes.
The SKNLP, without accepting liability, decided to agree to an out of court financial settlement. However, three years on, they have stopped communicating with the US-based Vincentian lawyer.
Max E. Edwards intends to take his clients’ representation to the end and is actively pursuing the issue. At the same time the entertainment lawyer is taking the opportunity to remind songwriters of the importance of registering their creations with a copyright organization. At the same time he is sending a warning to users of recorded material of the importance of first obtaining a license from a copyright organization such as East Caribbean Copyright Organization (ECCO) so that the owners can be duly compensated.
Issued 9 April, 2026 For further information contact Dextstar Communications Email: Dextstar@Gmail.com Phone: +1
Franklyn ‘Max E’ Edwards
ÂProduce more to be secure,Ê Dr. Friday
PRIME MINISTER DR. GODWIN FRIDAY has called on Vincentians to make greater use of their home surroundings and to embrace Backyard Gardening as part of their lives.
And in this vein, Dr. Friday endorsed the idea of increased food production as he delivered the feature address at a function, April 01, 2026, at the UWI Global Campus in Kingstown, to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Zero Hunger Trust Fund (ZHTF).
Dr. Friday told his audience that there must be genuine efforts to address the question of food security, hence his emphasis on greater production.
Getting practical
The Prime Minister encouraged the ZHTF to continue strengthening its impact through innovation and creativity, and affirmed his government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that advance national food security and resilience.
And in a practical approach to this, he suggested the setting up of school farms, which he sees as adding to the food reserves and a way of providing practical lessons for students, i.e. young people.
“There is no excuse for a school not to have a garden on the compound,” the PM emphasized. He is intent on expanding the curricula, so as to ensure that students get used to “putting hands in the soil.” This he believes will “make a rounded child.”
Returning to the thrust towards food security, the Prime
Minister reiterated the need to increase food production as a means to this end, and pointed to the need for the effort not to be confined to a
localize one but for it to part of a regional and international thrust.
Continued on Page 17.
(From left):Tourism Minister Dr. Kishore Shallow, Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday, Education Minister Phillip Jackson, and ZHTF Director/CEO Mrs. Safiya Horne-Bique., at the ZHTF 10 anniversary function. (Photo source: ZHTF)
Consulate General, NYPD engage
by NELSON A. KING US CORRESPONDENT naking@verizon.net
Photo credit: Consulate General of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
LED BY NEW CONSUL GENERALRoland U.C.
“Patel” Matthews, the New York-based St. Vincent and the Grenadines Consulate General to the United States says it has participated in a “highlevel engagement” with by the New York City Police Department (NYPD), aimed at strengthening engagement and counter terrorism leadership.
Some attendees during discussions.
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Consulate General said on Sunday, April 5, that the meeting, at One Police Plaza in lower Manhattan, “brought together consuls general representing over 70 countries, providing a unique platform for dialogue, collaboration, and partnership.”
“The engagement, which included presentations from the NYPD Intelligence and Counterterrorism Bureau, Community Affairs Bureau, and Public Security Section, highlighted the department’s extensive capabilities in crime prevention, intelligence sharing, and community-based policing,” the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Consulate General said.
It said the NYPD also provided insight into its Joint Operations Center and strategic approach to maintaining public safety in one of the world’s most dynamic cities.
“For St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the event represented a significant opportunity to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the area of security and law enforcement,” the Consulate General said.
“Discussions previously initiated, continued during the engagement, have laid the groundwork for further collaboration, particularly in the area of close protection training for the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF),” it added.
Matthews emphasized the importance of such engagements, noting that: “This event provided an
invaluable opportunity to connect with fellow consuls general, all of whom share a common objective to ensure that our nationals continue to receive the support they need while abroad, and to foster meaningful dialogue that benefits both our home countries and our host nation.
“As a small island developing state, St. Vincent and the Grenadines greatly value opportunities such as these,” he said. “Today, we have started an important
conversation, and I am confident that what has begun here will bear fruit in the nottoo-distant future.”
The Consulate General expressed appreciation to the NYPD for its “thoughtful initiative in convening this forum and for its openness in sharing best practices.
“As one of the most resourceful and advanced police departments globally, the NYPD demonstrated its strength in crime fighting, public safety innovation, and community engagement,” it
said.
Matthews said follow-up meetings with key NYPD officials are expected to take place in the coming weeks, “with a view toward establishing concrete areas of cooperation.
“The anticipated outcomes are expected to yield tangible benefits for the RSVGPF and contribute to enhanced safety
and security within St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” he said.
“The Consulate General remains committed to advancing partnerships that support national development, strengthen institutional capacity, and promote the well-being of Vincentians both at home and abroad,” Matthews added.
Only SVGS for Penn Relays 2026
James Cordice, the man who spearheaded the effort to have Vincentians schools participate in the Penn Relays sounded a note of disappointment with the decrease in participation from SVG in this year’s Relays.
US CORRESPONDENT naking@verizon.net
JAMES CORDICE, the Philadelphia-based coordinator of the Vincentian Penn Relays initiative and president of Team SVG International, said the St.
Vincent Grammar School will be the only high school representing the country in this year’s Penn Relays Carnival, at the Franklin Field Stadium, at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, from Thursday, April 23 to Saturday, April 25.
Cordice, a Clare Valley native, disclosed that the Thomas Saunders Secondary School (TSSS), which has competed in the games from the initiative’s very inception, will not be participating this year.
“TSSS started this journey in 2011, with its then principal John Renton and head coach Godfrey “Fuzzy” Harry,” he said. “It saddens me to see that they are not in the line-up this year.
“I believe it’s a great loss to St. Vincent and the Grenadines itself — to the
Vincentian middle-distance athlete Handal Roban ran the fastest ever split time in the High School Boys category of 4x800m, in the 126-year history of the Penn Relays.
production of Vincentian athletes who have performed well on track and in their academics, as derivatives of the Penn Relays program,” Cordice added.
The Emmanuel High School Marriaqua (EHSM), which participated in the Penn Relays for the first time last year, will also not be competing this year, Cordice said.
However, he said he expects “continued, strong performance” this year from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Grammar School, which produced Penn Relays 800m Boys record holder Handel Roban. Roban is expected to graduate from Pennsylvania State University in May.
“The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Grammar School has been consistently producing medals at the Penn
Relays since they started to compete in the games in 2017,” said Cordice, stating that the Grammar School’s Penn Relays journey began under the leadership of then principal Curtis King. Cordice urged other high schools in St. Vincent and the Grenadines interested in competing in the Penn Relays to contact him at (267) 9719152.
Story and photos by NELSON A. KING
L-R: Detective Fadi Mansour, SVG Consul General Roland “Patel” Matthews, SVG Consul (Foreign Investment) Bernadette Ambrose, and Detective Maria Raheel.
Vincy Mas 2026 promises much
A MEDIA LAUNCH, encompassed in a cruise on a Catamaran along the leeward coast of mainland St. Vincent, last Tuesday April 7, gave signals that the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) plans to be innovative for Vincymas 2026.
Unlike the usual media launch, Tuesday’s event was different; the speeches from the officials were interspersed by live entertainmentVincentian flavoured drumming, poetry and steelpan.
Local food items such as doucana, coconut sugar cakes, tamarind balls, red belly cakes, were all served with the calabash being the preferred utensil.
The blend of rekindling the past with
present was highlighted by Chair of the CDCRicardo Adams, when he made his remarks.
Calling the launch “a declaration of intent”, Adams noted that his organization is programmed to deliver a product that is second to none.
“This year, Vincymas is evolving. It’s moving beyond being just a festival to becoming a true destination experience. We are calling it ‘The Great Escape’. We are organized, we are forward-thinking and we are execution driven”, Adams assured. Delivery a promissory note to the world, Adams projected a Vincymas 2026, to contain more structured and professionally managed
events, as they are working towards a serious commitment to time, discipline and high production quality.
“We are raising the standard of delivery at every single Vincymas event in 2026; you are going to feel the difference - from the moment you land at the airport to the experiential zones in our communities with decentralized events. We are not just creating events, we’re creating memories that will make people come back from year after year”, Adams projected.
Adams also mentioned the CDC’s wholesome effort to revive and thus maintain some of the traditions.
“Part of moving forward is remembering where we came from. That’s why we are making intentional efforts to revive our traditional elements, including the return of the Monkey Band. We are blending the new with the legendary, to make sure Vincymas’ spirit stays pure.
Vincymas is more than a party, more than a festival of fetes, it’s a movement. It is our story; it is our legacy; it
is our Mas”, Adams proffered.
The CDC Chairman’s pronouncements were solidified and supported by the components.
President of the Calypsonians Association- Earl Bennett, Representative of the Mas Bands Association- Alvern Cadogan, as well as I’ Sheka De Riggs- Miller of the Youlou Pan Movement, and Jamie Crick of the Beauty Shows Committee, all guaranteed that their organisations will deliver.
Meanwhile, Minister of Youth, Culture, Sports and the Creative Industries- Kaschaka
festival a grand affair.
The Media Launch culminated with a display of the Monkey Band at the Wallilabou Anchorage, site of the filming of the movie ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ in 2003.
Cupid; Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Sustainable Development- Dr. Kishore Shallow and Chair of the National Lotteries AuthorityLuann Hadaway, also proposed their respective positions, in making the
And Tuesday’s engagement was a prelude to the early launch of Vincymas 2026, which takes place this Saturday, April 11, at the Tarmac of the decommissioned ET Joshua Airport.
The official launch is dubbed, “One Way”. Vincymas 2026 national programme runs from June 26 to July 7.
Mas makers sound their voices again
MAS MAKERS HERE in St Vincent and the Grenadines are again making a bellowing sound to operate in better facilities.
Head of the Nelson Bloc
Mas Band- Alvern Cadogan was the messenger for that plea, as she represented the SVG Mas Bands Association last Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the Media Launch staged by the Carnival Development Corporation.
Sounding the message loud and clear, Cadogan did not care if she literally rocked the Catamaran on its northward journey to the leeward coast of the mainland, as her remarks was meant to ripple.
Stating the concerns, Cadogan lamented, “We operate under the poorest condition in this country, as in rundown buildings without proper facility, except for two mas bands who have a place to
call home”.
Cadogan, though, interjected that it has not been that for the want of effort but sadly, all to no avail. The call, therefore, was made once again for other stakeholders to address their plight.
“This is not say that we are not searching for our own place, but we are hoping for this year we can have a signed document for a place to call our home; We are inviting you the business sector to visit these mas bands to see for yourselves”, Cadogan stated.
Underscoring that it is a labour of love, Cadogan related, “We produce the best of the best for Vincy Mas even if we are operating under the worst conditions. We love the art form; we love to see Vincymas on the world map as the best festival in the Caribbean”.
She also used the occasion
Despite the challenging conditions under which they work, mas makers here continue to produce a high quality mas (Photo:
and
to debunk some of the misconceptions about the financial status of the bands.
“There are prevailing thoughts among many that mas bands make the most
money during the Carnival celebrations. We depend on the government and the Carnival Development Corporation(CDC) and some of the faithful business sector to
Alvern Cadogan reiterated the need for improved working conditions for mas makers.
assist”, Cadogan informed. Toward the end of providing space for mas bands’ production, in the mid-2000s the administration of the day began the construction of some structures at Lower Roseau, Sion Hill.
Sadly, these steel structures have been left to ruin.
Blondie Bird
Friends, 2023.)
Chair of CDCRicardo Adams
Sampling of the red belly cake in full effect.
Cultural artistes uniting in song and dance.
Monkey Band giving a glimpse of what is to come.
Memories of Mr. Leroy Mulraine
Colin WilliamsHigh Court Judge Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
“I remember Mr. Mulraine as Deputy Headmaster of the Boys Grammar School and a staunch Reeves House Master, especially on sports day counting points. I was never a
recipient of his caning.”
Ellie ClarkeFormer student and Master at the Boys Grammar School
“Mr. Mulraine was a “wonderful, calm and fair-minded soul. It was always a relief when sent to the Headmaster’s office to find Mr. Mulraine there.”
Dr. Cleve ScottUniversity Lecture
“I recall Mr. Mulraine’s wedding as he was married to my first counsin. I remember having to also be on my Ps and Qs because of fear of Double Jeopardy.”
Freddy Adams:Retired Electrical Engineer
“I was a friend of his son and recall playing cricket in his yard. Later, I enjoyed several conversations with him on linguistics, literature, religion and politics.”
Anthony Grant - Landscape Business Owner:
I remember Mr. Mulraine as Deputy Head Master and English teacher. I was one of the quiet ones who was never disciplined by the Deputy Head.”
Earl ‘Cabba’ BennettRetired teacher
“A gem of a human and a beautiful soul .. most of all approachable …
made learning easy and an A+ teacher. I credit Mr. Mulraine as the one that guided me into teaching.”
Carlyle Douglas: Radio Host –Advertising Consultant
“I was caned for being habitually late for school.”
Mrs. Anelle Thomas – Retired Teacher. Education Officer
“I worked with Mr. Mulraine at the Grammar School and at the Ministry of Education, and remember him as a calm and wellrounded person, with a deep passion for sports.
‘Produce more to be secure,’ Dr. Friday
Gilleon O’Garro, Corporate Portfolio Manager, BOSVG, and her team, presented an option for farmers.
Continued from Page 11.
The event also heard remarks from Phillip Jackson, Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Innovation, Digital Transformation and Information; his cabinet colleague Kishore Shallow, Tourism, Civil Aviation, and Sustainable Development Minister, FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean Dr. Renata Clarke; CARICOM Deputy Programme Manager for Agricultural Development Mrs. Selvine Stephenson-Grant; and ZHTF Director and CEO Mrs. Safiya Horne-Bique. Each speaker highlighted the importance of sustained collaboration, policy alignment, and community engagement in tackling hunger and strengthening food systems, and endorsed the efforts of the ZHTF.
she discloses. The Agriculture industry is ‘high risk,” O’Garro points, but admits that the bank is flexible with farmers.
Mrs. O’Garro also alluded to an arrangement with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank which ensures that money for food production is available.
Also on hand to demonstrate her association with the ZHTF was Hermie Bute of Bu-Te-Ful Plants, a service that offers a range of seedlings, and plants be they vegetable, fruit trees, herbs or flowers.
She is fixture at the Kingstown Vegetable Market, mostly on Fridays.
She regards herself as a “partner” in the Zero
Also present to offer support to the work of the ZHTF were two associated businesses.
Supporting associations
Gilleon O’Garro, Corporate Portfolio Manager at the Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines said she and her team were here “to see how we can collaborate.”
While she recognised that the “agriculture industry is high risk”, she spoke of loans being assessed on ”a case by case basis,“ and assured that “the bank is flexible with farmers.”
Loans can be had on a “case by case basis,”
Hunger Trust Fund, and is proud of her association. She used the tenth anniversary commemoration to “learn and sell.” (WKA)
Hermie Bute of Bu-TeFul Plants was pleased to show support for the ZHTF.
Deception in any colour
Dear George,
I WAS DATING a beautiful young lady who was introduced to me by a friend. I made several attempts to kiss here and even sleep with her but she has resisted all my efforts saying, “It’s not time for that yet.”
I eventually put my foot and demanded to know when would be the right time. She responded, “The right time would be when you give your life to Jesus and get married to me.”
George, can you imagine this woman was in the church and a Christian and never told me, and was praying that God would save me?
I was beyond angry. I told her a few things and walked away from the relationship. She is now begging me to be a bit more patient and give the relationship time to work itself out. I am not interested. Can I be blamed for taking such a stand?
Deceived
Dear Deceived,
A relationship cannot thrive on deception and lies. If that is the foundation, it will not last. You should have been told the truth from day one. She tried to make things work by using her methods instead of God’s methods. Being unequally yoked is not part of the Christian teachings, but your girlfriend chose to ignore that.
It is better you part ways now and give each other a chance to find the kind of life that would be befitting for you
Waiting for the right time
Dear George,
MY GIRLFRIEND AND I have been together for just over a year and I can safely say we have a relationship where we do not hide anything from each other.
For her last birthday I bought her a set of sex toys. I never expected the response I got. She lectured me on why my gift was inappropriate; accused me of equating her with a street girl; said I disrespected her by thinking that sex toys would excite her; said my thinking was warped and I should go and look for a street girl; and that I hid my real self from her.
She concluded her outburst by declaring that she will never continue with me.
I was terribly disappointed and no matter how much I apologized she refuse to hear me. Should I move on from her?
Unexpected shock
Dear Unexpected shock,
I guess you didn’t see that one coming. There is nothing more you could do to get your girlfriend to accept your apology and understand that you acted from a place of love.
And even if you think she overreacted, there is but one thing you can do now and that is to move on. From all appearances, it does not look as though you possess what she is looking for, so it’s time to roll!
George
Time to man up
Dear George,
I AM 19 YEARS OLDand my girlfriend is 21 years old. Mind you, she is not my 100% girlfriend. Her real boyfriend is a guy I know and who plans to get engage to her next birthday, next month. She was just hooked on me, as she would say, and we couldn’t stop ourselves from indulging and over indulging.
Two weeks ago, she informed me she could be pregnant and was going to the doctor to be sure. Since that time I have cut all communication with her. I told myself I was too young to be a father. Further I am very active in the church.
George, I am scared, confused, worried and depressed, all at the same time. I cannot sleep, and think clearly and I need you to tell me what to do now.
Searching for a way out
Dear Searching for a way out,
Thank you for reaching out. If you know you are not yet ready to be a father and play an active role in your church, you should not be messing around with sex in the first place. It is irresponsible to be engaging in unprotected sex knowing that you are not ready to be a father. Cutting communication with your friend is not the way to go. See this through. If her status is that she is pregnant, follow that up by immediately booking an appointment with a relationship counselor. The counselor will help you decide in order of priority which issue to deal with first, and help you find practical solutions to each of them.
What’s done is already done. Now is the time for you to face the music. Man up to your responsibilities and own up to your actions.
George
ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) You may be tired of working for someone else. Situations you can't change should be forgotten for the present. Family may not want to get involved but an entrepreneur will. Try to keep an open mind.
TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Think before you act. Unforeseen circumstances will disrupt your daily routine. Travel will be exciting. Recognition can be yours if you present your ideas and stand behind your beliefs. Take time to re-evaluate your motives regarding friendships.
GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Do not let inlaws upset you. Strengthen your position among your peers. Pleasure trips should be on your agenda. Major job changes or opportunities to get ahead professionally are apparent.
CANCER (June 22-July 22) You can make excellent career moves if you are open to the opportunities that exist. Now is the time to concentrate on building a strong financial future for your family. Take time to catch up on gossip and make plans to do a little adventure travel. Your diplomatic approach and rather outgoing nature will enhance your reputation and bring you the support you need.
LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Don't make large purchases unless you have discussed your choices with your mate. Sudden trips will take you by surprise. Unexpected romantic connections can be made if you go out with friends or take a pleasure trip. Group endeavors will provide you with entertainment.
VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) You are best to stick to basics. Work on getting ahead by picking up added skills. You should be on the road. Refuse to get involved in idle chatter; it will only make you look bad. Don't be too quick to voice your
opinion. Listen to others carefully. LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You need adventure and excitement in your life. Changes at home will be necessary. You can certainly gain popularity; however, don't do it by paying for everyone else. You need to spend some time getting to know this person all over again.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You will tend to overeat this week. You can offer your mate a commitment or promise that will help stabilize your personal life. Disputes on the home front may be hard to avoid. Put your thoughts on paper.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) You're best to avoid disputes. Deception is likely. Plan to visit friends or relatives. Don't give your heart too readily.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Changes in your home will be positive. Find ways to make extra cash. Start making things or reusing rather than buying readymade. You should be traveling to that exotic destination you've been dreaming about. Do not travel unless absolutely necessary. Be careful.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Financial investments that deal with joint money can be extremely prosperous. You're in the mood to get out and visit friends. Someone around you may not be trustworthy. Romantic encounters will be full of excitement.
PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Changes at home might come fast and furious. Direct your energy wisely this week. Anger will prevail if you expect help from others. You may find yourself a bit frazzled if you allow someone to goad you into an unsavory debate. You can gain valuable cultural knowledge through dealing with foreigners.
ACROSS
1.Fasten
4. Interweave three strands of hair
9. Nipper’s company (abbr.)
12. Ending for Vietnam or Taiwan
13. Long spear
14. Needing a doctor
15. Bear’s foot
Thomas Alva __
41. Drummer Buddy
42. Conway or Robbins
43. Jet black
45. Taxing agcy.
48. Gardner of “The Killers”
49. Make corrections
50. Recent (prefix)
51. Not strict
16. Ancient Mexican
17. Not masc.
18. Attended
20. Pretends to have a great poker hand
22. Guy, to a Brit
24. Disagreeable
25. __ beans
26. Treats for Bugs Bunny
29. Mao __ -tung
30. BPOE’s meeting place
31. Kix grain
33. Groups of warships
35. __ melt
36. Help
37. Mailman, at times
38. Inventor
52. Swamp grasses
53. Republican party’s inits.
DOWN
1.Vim
2. “The Lady __ Tramp” (2 wds.)
3. Recent arrival
4. Censure
5. Demolish
6. Colonizing insect
7. Arctic water hazards
8. Announce 9. Guitarist’s short phrase
10. Musical symbol 11. Charity
19. Wanted pastor initials 21. Spanish “one”
22. Deli sandwich, for short 23. Bart Simpson’s sister 24. Angry with (2 wds.)
26. Spy’s alias (2 wds.)
27. Feeling 28. Rational 30. Worker
32. Apply asphalt 34. Mothers
37. Heeds
35. Sea-__ (Seattle airport)
38. And others (2 wds.)
39. Opera figure
40. Large screen movie
LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION
theater
41. Tear apart
44. Churchill’s sign
46. Car named after Ransom E. Olds
47. Drench
National Under20 Track record: Broken by a 12-year-old
EVERY NOW AND THEN, the extraordinary hits us straight in the face reminding us that we need to “face” up to a feat worthy of a place in history.
That was borne out when twelveyear-old- Jada Davis, who required special dispensation to compete at the 2026 Junior Carifta Games in Grenada, did not disappoint Team Athletics SVG’s pursuit of her case.
Jaheme Williams is now the Under-20 Male Decathlon record holder.
Davis repaid the effort when she clocked 11:04.92 in the Under-17 Females 3000m last Sunday, April 5, at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium, Grenada.
Davis finished eighth from a field of eleven, but her time beat the St Vincent and the Grenadines Under-20 record.
According to Teamathletics.com, in 2017, Zita Vincent ran 11:09.56, which then stood as the fastest time.
Apart from Davis, there were two other national records that were reestablished, both in the multi events.
Jaheme Williams’ 5183 points amassed in the Under-20 Male Decathlon, showed him surpassing
J’avair Cato with a 4th place in the Male Under-20 Triple Jump, recorded SVG’s best placement.
Godwyn Roban’s 4759 points, registered in 2022.
Similarly, Gail Ann John’s 3661 points in the Under-20 Females Hepathlon went packing, as Kesiann John who finished 7th, archived that mark with her 3858 points.
Other Performances
J’avair Cato though attained the highest place for the Vincentian contingent, docking 4th in the Male Under-20 Triple Jump, with a leap of 15.11m and was 6th in the Long Jump, with a distance of 6.92m.
Jeremiah Wright came in 6th in the Under-17 Male 15000m, with a
John now holds the national Under-20 Females Hepathlon record.
clocking of 4:19.42 and in the 800m, he was positioned 13th, after recording a time of 2:04.61.
Evonte Nimblett was 10th in the Under- 17 Male High Jump, as he cleared the horizontal bar at 1.75m. Then in the Long Jump, Nimblett’s 5.49m could only earn him 11th place.
Ayah Stapleton finished in 13th place when she competed in the Under-17 Females 1500m. Stapleton’s clocking was 5:20.56.
Stapleton who also ran the 800m, timed 2:31.44, placing her 12th in the standings.
Likewise, Tashanique Francis was 13th in the Under-17 Females Shot Putt, when she flung her furthest of 9.81m.
De Shong - double medallist at Carifta Aquatics
VINCENTIAN- KIONE DE SHONG was a double medallist at the 2026 Carifta Aquatics Championships, held at the Centre Aquatique Pierre SAMOT in Fortde- France, Martinique.
Competing in the Boys 13-14 age group, De Shong on Saturday, April 4, claimed silver in the 200m Breaststroke with a time of 2:39.53 De Shong then added a thirdplace bronze medal in the 100m Breaststroke on the night of April 7, with a 1:11.70 clocking. Fellow Vincentian- Caghry Williams was sixth in the event.
For De Shong it was his third
Jada Davis leapfrogged over at least three age groups to break an Under20 age category national record.
Trevel Sylvan docked 12th in the Under-20 Male High Jump with a highest leap of 1.85m, but his fellow jumper, Isiah Patterson was unable to clear the minimum height.
Joranny Welcome clocked 23.17s, to place 17th in the Under-17 Male 200m, whilst Kevonte Pollin also in the Under-17 Male category was 11th in the Javelin Throw. Pollin’s best effort was 36.46m.
And Reine Lau Browne ran 15. 55 in the 100m Hurdles for Under-20 females, which put her in 6th place.
St Vincent and the Grenadines thus did not get a podium finish. Gifting St Vincent and the Grenadines with its last Carifta medal was Amal Glasgow’s 2023 bronze in the Under-20 Male 400m, when the Games were held in the Bahamas.
Kione De Shong medalled for a third straight year.
straight year of medalling. In 2024 then in the 11-12 age category, he won a bronze in the 100m Breaststroke when the championships were staged in the Bahamas.
Then in De Shong stood on the podium thrice in Trinidad and Tobago, claiming gold in the 100m Breaststroke, silver in the 50m Breaststroke and bronze in the 200m Breaststroke.
In attaining three straight years of medalling, De Shong repeated a feat attained by Shne Joachim, although the latter went on to extend hers.
With De Shong claiming two medals at the 39th edition of the championships, it meant that it was the twelfth year in succession that St Vincent and the Grenadines was coming away with podium finishes.
The Vincentian team at the Martinique outing, also included Hazen Da Briel and Matthew Ballah both in the Boys 15-17. Da Briel reached the final of the 200m Backstroke.
Coach- Tamarah St Hillaire, Manager- Janelle Ballah and Chaperone- Brian George, comprised the official management unit of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Kesiann
Eighteen records reset at IPSAC
Omarion Arthur of Layou Governmentdouble record holder among the U9 age group.
WHEN THE 2026 NATIONAL LOTTERIES
AUTHORITYInter-Primary Schools’ Athletics Championships (IPSAC) ended March 25, at the Diamond Track Facility, eighteen new records were established.
The distribution showed that fifteen of the records were achieved by individuals and three were attained in relays.
ky Caine –Georgetown Government Schooldouble record holder among the U13 females.
Individual Records
The individual star of the show was the Brighton Methodist’s Kesron Mc Fee, who holds three records. Mc Fee reset the Under-11 males 80m to 11.16s; the 150m to 20.77s and the 300m to 45.23s.
Jarelle Thomas of Sandy Bay Government School - record holder among the U9 females.
Also with multiple records are Omarion Arthur of the Layou Government and Sky Caine of the Georgetown Government.
Arthur is the custodian of the Under-9 male 50m and 150m records, which he lowered to 7.85s and 22.01s, respectively.
Meanwhile, Caine in the Under-13 female 80m, ran 10.60s and the 150m timed 20.18s, to erase the previous marks.
The Under-7 age group saw three old marks being ditched, as
the Richland Park SDA’s Mateo Bailey claimed the Male 80m with a time of 13.06s; Eddrisha Spring of the Georgetown Government, bettered the female 50m sprint to 8.84s; and the Sion Hill Government’s Diasha Browne rewrote the female 80m, with a time of 13.74s.
The new holder of the Under-9 male 80m is the Colonarie Government’s Kai Baptiste who stopped the clock at 11.86s.
Staying with the Under-9s, Sandy Bay Government’s Jarelle Thomas claimed the female 80m record with her 12.46s timing, and Bequia Anglican Primary’s Kate Ollivierre, the 150m, when she did 23.87s.
Dickson Methodist’s Zaria Pope etched her name in the record books, when she breasted the finish line in 11.54s to hold the 80m mark for the female Under-11.
Coballt hosts Academy Tennis Tournament
TO MARK ITS FIRST-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, the Coballt Racquet Sports Academy hosted its inaugural Academy Tennis Tournament, Saturday March 28, 2026, at the National Tennis Centre, Villa.
The tournament featured fortyfour players, divided into three categories - Rookie, Challenger and Advanced - playing in a doubles format.
When it was all done and dusted, Nathaniel Sheen and Taien Henry played undefeated, winning all five matches by 4-0
margins, to take the rookie section.
Second was the pair of Elaina Grant and Shenia Edwards who ended with a 4-1 win/loss ratio.
Taking the Challenger category was Martin Sheen and Cody Ince, who saw off Rio Dasent-Marks and Tarrell Mc Nicholls 4-0, when the duos squared off in the title match.
all three matches, thus earning the right to contest the final.
And Teana Scott of the Georgetown Government ran 1:51.85 to become the caretaker of the Open females 600m.
Relay Records
Canouan Government ran the fastest time to date in the Under-11 males 4 x 80, with a timing of 44.97s.
Likewise, the Kingstown Preparatory School’s 47.14s, became the new record in the female segment.
The Kingstown Preparatory also
reestablished the Under13 females 4 x 80m, as their quartet registered a time of 43.80s.
Winning the overall championships was the Kingstown Preparatory, ahead of the Georgetown and Canouan Governments, in that order.
Fraser takes inhouse Tennis title
JADON FRASERwas called upon to pull out all the stops in the final of the 2026 Love
All Tennis Academy’s Easter Junior Tennis Tournament, last Saturday, April 4, at the National Lotteries Authority Facility, Murray’s Road.
And he did, coming from a set down to beat and dethrone Keython Gaymes in an epic title match.
Gaymes, last year’s winner, took the first set 6-4, but Fraser reversed the score line in his favour.
Both pairs had emerged top of their respective groups, winning
Similarly, Miguel Francis and Arnel Horne beat Jaiden Bowwens and Angello Morgan to win the Advanced category.
Francis and Horne registered a 7-5 victory over their opponents, after the two finalists had come from the group stage unblemished.
The Rookie category comprised players between the ages of 5 and 12, while the Challenger category involved little experience in competitive Tennis.
And the Advanced group was composed of young and adult players who have experience in competitive Tennis.
Taj Ballantyne, Head Coach of the Coballt Racquet Sports Academy, served as Tournament Director.
With all to play for, Fraser won the tie breaker, 10-5, in a match fitting the occasion, as there was intensity throughout.
Apart from the two finalists, Zion Reece was specially recognized for his sportsmanship throughout the weeklong tournament.
Eighteen players stashed into four groups started the tournament in the round robin preliminaries.
Zion
The top players from each group then advanced to the quarter-finals, before the four semi-finalists emerged. Finally, Fraser and Gaymes squared off for the ultimate prize and bragging rights.
Jadon Fraser pulled out all stops to emerge winner of the 2026 Love All Tennis Academy’s Easter Junior Tennis Tournament.
Kesron McFee of Brighton Methodist - triple record holder in the U11 male category.
Reece was recognized for the Sportsmanship he exhibited throughout the Tournament.
Challenger winners- (left to right) - Cody Ince and Martin Sheen with Taj Ballantyne (Tournament Director).
Caribbean Sample Morgan happy with another title
VINCENTIAN SPORTS ENTHUSIASTScan see one of the world’s greatest sprinters, somewhere in St. Vincent and the Grenadines over this weekend. Her name is Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce.
That name rings a bell. For when the Olympics come up, she must be mentioned. She has established a record as one of the greatest sprinters of all time. With eight Olympic medals: three gold, four silver and one bronze, those accomplishments are hardly matched.
Known affectionately as Pocket, or Mommy Rocket, the petite figure towers on the world stage. If you’re are keen, you will see her in SVG over the week end.
She is here as part of the thrust towards highlighting the role of sports in national development. She arrived here last Wednesday afternoon and is treated as the Queen she is.
Pocket Rocket is an example of things Caribbean: humble proud, progressive. One will think that having earned so much in athletics, she will be the full time athletics star.
She realises the impact of sport, and the need to give back to society what she accomplished on the world stage.
The Vincentian government is aware of Pocket Rocket’s image, and her trip here is part of the efforts to establish sports as part of national development.
Pocket Rocket was at Cabinet Room in St. Vincent and the Grenadines last Wednesday. She forced an interruption of the cabinet session, at the Administrative Complex that afternoon.
In the humble manner which distinguishes her career, Pocket Rocket was pleased to be in SVG for the first time, and her status is such that the government was prepared to adjust the sitting of a Cabinet session to accommodate her.
Her presence here came at the persistence of a former national footballer Renson Haynes. He runs an outfit dubbed: Awesome Sports. It is through his persistency that Pocket Rocket came here.
Being the professional she is, Shelly Ann is not shy about rehashing her history. She recalls being at the Penn Relays in the USA in 1999 and was given support for her educational journey. She is continuing that chain of love, and is ensuring that the future generation benefits from their talent.
She is ensuring that persons without the money get to benefits from their sporting talent. Given her commitment, Pocket Rocket started a six a side football competition in her homeland. That is expanding beyond traps and raps, and that episode is producing perhaps some of the region’s future sports stars. Her actions have led to the formation of an all Star Football outfit and a contingent accompanied her.
Her endorsement of sporting opportunities for young males has defined her as genuine.
The distance between islands of the Caribbean is ensuring that her All Stars outfit, got the chance to visit St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Many of these youngsters might not have been able to travel had it not been for Pocket Rocket’s initiative.
Tributes go to Haynes for his persistency. He is a sports enthusiast and knows the value of coordination
Pocket Rocket is pleased with the reception she got here. She will be a boost to this country’s effort at ensuring that sporting personalities get respect.
Just like how she is attached to the track, Pocket Rocket is strengthening her commitment to sports. And the entire cabinet, and sport loving people, appreciate her.
THE ST. VINCENT GRAMMAR SCHOOL (SVGS) took another lien on the NLA Inter Secondary Schools Championship Athletics male title, when the 2026 edition of the Meet was held on Thursday, 26th March, at the Diamond Track and Field Facility.
It was the school’s 47th title.
And athletics head coach of the SVGS, Rawlston Morgan, was elated by the school’s latest accomplishment.
“It’s always a great feeling when you win but it comes with a lot of stress to continue to win,” Morgan admitted.
He explained. “The turnover in the school is so fast that you have to make sure that you have the team you know can win the competition or at least can challenge for the title, so it’s really a good feeling.”
He continued, “This year was even greater because we won by one of the widest margins, (which) we haven’t done in a long time, especially since Barrouallie came on the scene”
Morgan confessed that “….the junior category was the scariest for me, even though I knew no one was going to beat Tyler Hercules so easy. But he is just one athlete. And in the end, all the athletes chipped in and that is what helped us to win again.” (Tyler Hercules of the SVGS was the 2026 Victor Ludorum)
The head coach recognised that the competition between his school and the Barrouallie Secondary has been tense over
the years, but he is thankful to Barrouallie for creating good competition for the sport.
Barrouallie aside, Morgan also noted that one of the things working in favour of his schools and others is that most of the top athletes were involved in training sessions with different coaches.
“I really have to thank the other coaches who work along with athletes from schools…. most of the athletes who were in the finals are athletes who are involved in training with other coaches.” Morgan said.
But he cited, “We have athletes who are committed to training.”
As for the “psychology” involved in his approach, Morgan said, “We look at who will be our greatest opponents and I will say to the athletes from the heats, make sure you are in the finals. Don’t worry about records and when you
are in the finals make sure you accumulate enough points that will help us to go all the way.”
Whatever the approach, Morgan led his cadre of young men to an historic accomplishment that will remain indelibly written into the record books of schools’ athletics in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
I.B.A. ALLEN
W’wards U15 trounced L’wards U15
THE CRICKET WEST INDIES (CWI) Rising Stars Under-15 tournament wrapped up on Monday.
CWI confirmed that the Windward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana each secured series victories in the revised bilateral format.
The Windward Islands were most dominant in their series against the Leeward Islands by sweeping the series five games to nil in Antigua. While the fifth match was a formality, it provided an entertaining victory for the Windwards.
The Leewards were dismissed for 137 in 42.5 overs. Aedan Williams was 51 not out, Deshawn James contributed 32 and Windwards’ Nian Davis took 3 for 19.
The Windwards reached their target of 138 after losing 8
wickets - Nicken Justin 30, Aaron St. Hillaire 20. Kamari France, Aedan Williams and Ryan Marchan each had 2 wickets for 32, 27, and 16 runs respectively. As far as outstanding performances were concerned, Dylan John, Windards, was the MVP of the series. He took 10 wickets, hit 5 sixes the most of the series and scored a high of 37 not out.
Dewin Lewis of the Windward Islands scored the most runs 147, and had the highest individual, 102.
Meanwhile, Guyana clinched their series over Barbados 2-0 following multiple rain-abandoned matches. Guyana won the final
round by 37 runs (DLS method) at Albion Sports Complex.
Trinidad & Tobago won the series against Jamaica, 3-1. Jamaica won the final match by 5 wickets at Melbourne Park, bowling T&T out for 74. Jamaica replied with 75 for 5.
I.B.A. ALLEN
SVG Grammar School - male champion of Inter Secondary Schools for the 47th time.
The victorious Windwards U15 Team Captain Jershaun Joseph (r) collects the tournament trophy.
Rawlson Morgan - SVG Grammar School athletics head coach.
Son charged with causing father’s death
A 22-YEAR-OLD GLEN RESIDENT was granted bail on a manslaughter charge yesterday (Thursday) in connection with the death of his father.
Kyan Archibald has been charged with causing the death of Cutbert Delon Archibald, 51, also of Glen, by an unlawful act.
The accused had initially appeared at the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday, charged with causing grievous bodily harm to his father with intent, but was remanded yesterday to await the results of the autopsy to determine whether the charge should be upgraded. He was represented by attorney Grant Connell.
LAND FOR SALE
Building Lots for sale at North Union Tel: 593-9787
When he returned to court yesterday, Prosecutor Renrick Cato informed the court that the initial charge of grievous bodily harm with intent was replaced by the manslaughter charge.
The elder Mills had
reportedly sustained a broken left foot after being struck with a piece of board during an incident at Glen on March 29, and subsequently died.
The VINCENTIAN understands that he died as a result of a blood clot.
Prosecutor Cato did not object to bail, but requested suitable surety and conditions.
Kyan Archibald was not the first to be granted bail on a manslaughter charge.
Chief Magistrate Colin John granted bail in the sum of $25,000 with one surety, on condition that he surrender his travel documents and report to the Calliaqua Police Station every Monday. Stop notices will be placed at all ports of entry and exit, and the matter was adjourned to May 5.
COMMERCIAL BANKS across the Eastern Caribbean are holding billions in excess liquidity while businesses and entrepreneurs continue to face barriers to accessing credit.
This is the indication coming from Eastern Caribbean Central band (ECCB) Governor — Dr. Timothy Antoine, and he has warned that is constraining economic growth across the region.
While delivering the ECCB’s 2026 —2031 strategic plan, the Governor disclosed that banks and other financial institutions were holding deposits of E28 billion while their loan portfolio stood at $16 billion.
Clearly, funds were available, said the Governor,
Dr. Timothy Antoine, Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), has issued a clear challenge to commercial banks in the region to get their act together.
BAGGA RESIDENT SHARES SUPER 6 JACKPOT
by KENVILLE HORNE
A RESIDENT OF THE CENTRAL LEEWARDtown of Barrouallie has emerged as a shared winner of the Super 6 Jackpot from the March 31 draw.
Rohan Dickson became the first Super 6 jackpot winner from St. Vincent and the Grenadines for 2026, sharing the XCD $403,000 jackpot with a player from Grenada.
Dickson received his portion of the prize – XCD $201,500 – during a handing-over ceremony held on April 7
but were not being effectively availed to businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
This Dr. Antoince declared was evidence enough that there were structural weakness in the region’s financial system.
He noted that a situation of excess liquidity exist but there was an inability to lend for productive purposes, productive investments.
But the ECCB was not sitting on its laurels and in an effort to “unlock credit, improve financial access and modernize financial infrastructure, it was expanding its partial credit guarantee programme and will offer reduced lending risks for banks so as to encourage them to lend to underserved sectors.
Under the programme, the ECCB provides guarantees of up to 75—80 percent on qualifying loans, significantly lowering the exposure for financial institutions.
Rohan Dickson is the first Super 6 Jackpot winner from St. Vincent and the Grenadines for 2026.
at the National Lotteries Authority (NLA) in St. Vincent.
The winning numbers for the draw were 1, 9, 14, 20, 23, and 25.
Speaking about his win, Dickson said he purchased two quick pick tickets while on his way to play dominoes the day before the draw. He explained that he did not give the purchase much thought at the time. The following morning, after dropping someone at the hospital, he checked his ticket and discovered he had won. He described the experience as a great feeling that still had not worn off.
General Manager of the National Lotteries Authority, Mac Gregor Sealey, congratulated Dickson and encouraged him to use the winnings wisely, particularly as he is a young man starting a family. Sealey suggested investing in property and prioritizing family needs, but accepted that the final decision rests with the winner.
The initiative has already supported more than 300 loans valued at approximately $30 million, targeting farmers, fishers, creatives, and small businesses. Antoine said the programme will now be scaled up to reach a wider crosssection of the economy.
He also noted that while the banking system is liquid, there remains a shortage of “bankable” projects, suggesting that both the public and private sectors must work together to generate viable business opportunities that can absorb available financing.
The governor said the ECCB’s role is to create the conditions for growth –including maintaining a stable currency, safeguarding the financial system, and improving access to finance –but emphasized that sustained expansion must ultimately come from businesses, governments, and citizens working together.
