FRIDAY, MARCH 11,
2022
VOLUME 116, No.10
Ganja penalties severe Page 4
www.thevincentian.com
Antigua to enforce sanctions Page 5
EC$1.50
Moulton Mayers eulogized Page 12&13
SVGFF Executive arrogant Page 21
Horror in Pole Yard Page 24
SANITATION WORKERS
WRONGFULLY DISMISSED sanitation workers as frontline workers, and that government SANITATION WORKERS sent home was prepared to reinstate and pay for failure to take the COVID-19 the sanitation workers who had vaccine were not required, under been sent home after they refused the regulations, to do so in the first to meet the COVID-19 vaccination place. deadline of November 19, 2021. In essence, they were wrongly Dr. Gonsalves commented on categorized as frontline workers. the issue on the March 9 edition And according to Prime of the ‘Face to Face’ programme Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, the on NBC Radio, days after a letter, decision to send home sanitation dated February 23, from the workers was not in accordance Permanent Secretary in the with the regulations. Ministry of Health, Wellness and Prior to Dr. Gonsalves the Environment Cuthbert addressing the matter on radio, Knights and surfaced on social Health Minister St. Clair ‘Jimmy’ media. Prince admitted to the media here The letter’s subject: ‘Permission that the government had made an to allow unvaccinated permanent error when it categorized sanitation workers who are off the Stories by DAYLE DA DILVA
Just one example, field of ripening tomatoes, of what farmers in the vicinity of the Richmond quarry would lose. (Photo Credit: Don De Riggs)
RICHMOND FARMERS TO BE COMPENSATED Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment Mr. Cuthbert Knights. job to show up for work’. It went on: ‘Based on instructions given to the Ministry, please be advised that all permanent sanitation workers, who are presently off the job having not taken the COVID-19 vaccine and are willing to return for work, shall be allowed to do so without the vaccine’. Dr. Gonsalves told listeners that when the issue was brought to the attention of the political directorate, instructions were given for the rules to be checked. And as a result of those checks,
Sanitation workers were incorrectly grouped in the broad category of frontline workers and those not vaccinated were sent home.
Continued on Page 3.
STEPHEN EDWARDS, on short notice, had to vacate the land he was farming at Richmond, to accommodate the Quarry and Mining Project destined for the area. Edwards offered no resistance to the order to vacate but naturally questioned about who was going to compensate him for his losses, and pointed to a field of tomatoes which had started ripening. Prime Minister Dr. ralph Gonsalves may just have allayed any further fears Edwards might have when on Wednesday while speaking on Radio 7905, he announced that farmers utilizing lands in the area now designated a quarry will be compensated. Dr. Gonsalves noted that there were no physical structures near the quarry site, other than what made up the Richmond Vale Academy who was occupying government lands, but there were a number of persons farming in close proximity. Continued on Page 3.
V
2. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN
News
WPPÊs new CEO visits the region JUST FOUR months into the role, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of World Pediatric Project (WPP), Mr. Vafa Akhavan, embarked on his first visit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as part of an itinerary that included visits to St. Lucia and Barbados. Mr. Akhavan was accompanied by the Chairman of the Board of Directors for WPP, Dr. Brian Claire. They spent three (3) days, February 24 to 26, in SVG. The visit to SVG involved multiple meetings Mr. Vafa Akhavan – WPP/CEO (left), accompanied by Brian Claire – WBB Board Chairman (right), called on the Minister of Health St. Claire Prince.
with key stakeholders. Executive Director for SVG and the Eastern Caribbean, Ms. Lauren McIntosh, was also in attendance. While in SVG, the hub in the Caribbean, fruitful engagements occurred with officials from the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and the Environment, namely: Minister Hon. St. Clair Jimmy Prince and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Cuthbert Knights. The WPP team also had a courtesy call with Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development and Information Technology, Hon. Camillo Gonsalves, as well as Minister of Mobilization, Social Development, Family, Gender Affairs, Persons with Disabilities and Youth, Hon. Orando Brewster. WPP Executive Director, Ms. McIntosh expressed that it was a fruitful trip that reflected the presence of WPP in this part of the world. “The visit from the CEO is certainly an indicated of the WPP’s immense interest in the Caribbean. Further, one can tell that the optimism and appreciation from CEO Akhavan were matched by the various stakeholders engaged, which augurs well for the future of WPP in the region, as we continue to advance health care for our children,” articulated Ms. McIntosh. The CEO’s visit to SVG also included a tour of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital and a trip to windward side of the island, as far as the Red Zone. While there, the WPP delegation met with some of WPP’s families and visited with families who were affected by the April 2021 eruption of the La Soufrière volcano. As far as the ongoing WPP medical missions are concerned, SVG is looking forward to welcoming the general orthopedic and the scoliosis medical teams in April. It is anticipated that scores of children locally and regionally will be evaluated and surgeries performed. (Source: WPP)
Mr. Vafa Akhavan – WPP/CEO (standing right) with Ms. Lauren McIntosh - WPP Executive Director (standing centre) and other staff members and volunteers at the WPP local office.
V News 3 Antigua to enforce sanctions against Russia
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022 . 3.
Foreign Affairs Minister, E Paul Chet Greene, called into focus the list of sanctioned Russian persons and companies. (Photo source: wicnews.com) ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA is moving to institute measures to implement international sanctions against named Russian persons and entities. This was disclosed last week Friday by the country’s Ambassador to the
United States, Sir Ronald Sanders, last week Friday. In preparation for implementation of sanctions, Foreign Affairs Minister, E Paul Chet Greene, has since instructed that the complete existing list of US sanctioned Russian persons and companies is to be respected and followed. And Sir Ronald said that he has made a formal request to the US State Department for the most up-to-date list. The US and Europe, in response President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian invasion of Ukraine, are spearheading the sanctions campaign against Russia. The invasion has led to hundreds of deaths on both sides and after more than a million Ukrainians fleeing their homeland. “It is important to appreciate that not all Russian persons and entities have been placed on a sanctions list. These lawful persons and entities continue to be entitled to benefit from services provided by Antigua and
Barbuda and other countries,” Sir Ronald said. “In this regard, the relevant agencies in Antigua and Barbuda will be required to follow the international sanctions lists,” the diplomat added. Earlier this week, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) chairman and Belize Prime Minister, John Briceno, said that regional leaders, at their inter-sessional summit in Belize, left the possible imposition of sanctions on Russia to individual member states. “We discussed the issue of Russia at length,” he said, adding “CARICOM felt that that is something we should do as individual countries. “We have to decide what kind of sanctions, if any, we can take as countries and not as CARICOM,” Briceno. In related news, on Thursday 24th February, the Cayman Island Monetary Authority revealed that the accounts of at least five Russians, said to be members of the Russian oligarch, had been frozen. Cayman Islands, a British Overseas
Sanitation workers wrongfully dismissed within the House of Assembly, among others. not only were the workers invited Responding to the letter from to return to work, but the Prime the Permanent Secretary, Leader Minister gave the assurance that of the Opposition Dr Godwin they will get paid for what he said Friday said on the New Times was an enforced holiday. program on March 7, “This is The matter arose as per an something that should never have SR&O in 2021 indicating that had to be written because those government employees considered persons should not have been ‘frontline’ workers were expected fired.,” to get vaccinated against COVIDDr. Friday said that the 19 by November 19, 2021, or not decision to fire sanitation workers be allowed to work until they did because they did not get so. vaccinated did not make sense as The list included health care they were not regarded as employees, permanent secretaries frontline workers. and heads of departments, “It did not make sense…so now teachers appointed to public, they are retracting and admitting private or assisted private or that they are wrong,” the public schools, the police, prison Opposition Leader said. staff, civil servants, including Opposition Member of Customs Officers, and officers Parliament for East Kingstown — Continued from Front Page.
Fitz Bramble, also got into the fray. Speaking on radio last Tuesday, he said that if he were Health Minister Prince, he would have resigned his ministerial post in the face of the matter relating to the dismissal of the sanitation workers. Bramble also called for the dismissal of the Cuthbert Knight, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health. Meanwhile, Dr. Gonsalves said that he met with the Chief Personnel Officer and the Cabinet Secretary for an update on any outstanding cases of persons who may have subsequently taken the vaccine, making them eligible to return to the job. He expected prompt action in this matter.
Sir Ronald Sanders, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States, confirmed that his country was ready to enforce the USA and Europe sponsored sanctions. (Photo source: caricom.org) Territory, contributes in great part to making London the biggest centre for global foreign exchange in the world. (Source: Jamaica Gleaner)
Richmond farmers to be compensated Continued from Front Page. “So, you have at least three generations of people using the land, but few have gone past subsistence farming, and a few have planted ganja (Marijuana),” the prime minister explained. Those persons, Gonslaves assured, will be compensated, and the government is actively seeking to obtain lands to be distributed to those persons who have had to vacate their current holdings, so they can continue their farming. With respect to identifying lands for distribution to affected farmers, the prime minister said that he has been in touch with the person in charge at the Richmond Vale Academy, requesting that some of the 30 acres of land that they are presently leasing from the government be distributed to the farmers. Notwithstanding what would come out of that request, Dr. Gonsalves said Government would identify other lands for distribution to farmers, hopefully like Stephen Edwards.
OOOPS!!!! THE HEADLINE for our lead story on Page 24 (Back Page) of our edition of Friday 4th March, 2022 carried a reference to a proposed $12 million investment, by the East Caribbean Group of Companies (ECGC). We had no intentions to mislead our readers nor misrepresent ECGC with that reference. We now know that investment to be $10 million and apologise for any discomfort caused by that misquote. THE VINCENTIAN PUBLISHING CO. LTD.
V
4. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN
Court
“Ganja penalties too severe” Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS
The Arminius .32 revolver and ammunition Police here presented as having been found in the possession of Rafique Edwards. (Photo Source: RSVGPF)
Gun, ammo matter set for April RAFIQUE EDWARDS will return to the Serious Offences Court on April 14 for trial, on charges of firearm and ammunition possession. The 33-year-old resident of Chauncey is charged with possession of a Arminius .32 revolver without license, and possession of seven rounds of .32 ammunition. Edwards pleaded not guilty to both charges when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne at the Serious Offences Court on Monday. He was represented by attorney Grant Connell. The charges stem from a police action at Great House, Lowmans Leeward on March 4. Prosecutor Renrick Cato did not object to bail but requested suitable conditions. Edwards was granted $12,000 bail with one surety on condition that he surrender his travel documents and report to the Questelles Police Station every Friday between 6 am and 6 pm. Stop notices will be placed at all ports of entry and exit, and he is not to leave the state without the permission of the Serious Offences Court or a higher court.
HEAD of the Cannabis Revival Committee (CRC), Junior ‘Spirit’ Cottle, not for the first time, is calling on Parliament to review the laws in relation to marijuana cultivation and possession, with a view to facilitating the transition to the modern Medicinal Marijuana Industry. Cottle, Liaison Officer with the Medicinal Cannabis Authority (MCA), told THE VINCENTIAN on Monday that the same way the Amnesty Law was passed in December, 2018 to facilitate that transition, the laws, and penalties for marijuana cultivation and possession should be amended. He is of the view that those penalties are still too severe, and are creating economic hardships for the small man. “The penalties which are handed down for marijuana possession are by far too high, especially at the time when countries, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, are moving towards medicinal marijuana, as well as
decriminalizing certain portions of the herb. “Even though there is a move towards medicinal cannabis, it is transitional. It is not an overnight switch, hence the reason to exercise more tolerance,” said Cottle, who has been in the marijuana business for about 50 years. The CRC chief, however, made it clear that he was not saying that people must be allowed to traffic marijuana as they like. This, he said, could have a negative impact on the Medicinal Cannabis Industry, which is now developing within a legal framework, and the International Narcotics board is monitoring the situation. “If we allow people to traffic weed as they like, our country could be black listed,” he cautioned, but added, “At the same time, we have to exercise some level of flexibility, because people are hungry, they have children do feed, and not all farmers will buy into the medicinal cannabis route at the same time. It is transitional,” Cottle explained. Cottle described the value of $500 per lb for
marijuana, as set by the High Court, as a fabrication. Speaking from the perspective of being a traditional cultivator, Cottle said, “I can tell you that $500 per lb is, in reality, not the case. Marijuana is generally sold at $300 per lb, and now where there is a glut on the market, you could even get it for $200 per lb from some growers,” Cottle said. “It is true that you can get marijuana for $500 per lb, and more, depending on the strain of the cannabis, but the higher the strain the more expensive the seeds would be, and the average grower cannot afford those strains. You have to have some extraordinary connections to bring in those seeds, and generally, marijuana growers are poor people,” Cottle said. And on the perception that marijuana cultivator make big money, the experienced Cottle said, “.. that is a misconception…. hat is not true.” He disclosed to support his point that very often, “ traditional growers have to
exchange cannabis for household items and foodstuff, in order to provide for themselves and their families. Yes, you may make a dollar in one shipment, but sometimes most of that is reinvested to bring a fresh crop, only to lose the harvest through interception by the police.” The Court had the option, by law, to impose a fine of three times the value of the drug in marijuana cases. In the High Court, the maximum penalty for marijuana possession, as well as possession with intent to supply, is seven years in prison and $500,000. In the High Court, the maximum penalty for marijuana possession is 25 years in prison and 1.5 million dollars. Possession with intent to supply in the High Court is 25 years in prison and 5 million dollars. For cultivation of the plant, the maximum penalty in the Magistrate’s Court is 6 years in prison and $400,000, while in the High Court it is 25 years and 1.5 million dollars. Marijuana possession
Junior ‘Spirit’ Cottle, Liaison Officer with the Medicinal Cannabis Authority (MCA), has called again for a revision of the laws that apply to marijuana cultivation and possession. (Source: hr.dp.org) carries the same penalties as that for cocaine. Attorney Grant Connell, a staunch advocate for the decriminalization of marijuana and who has been consistently representing persons on drug-related charges, as repeatedly called for the laws to be amended, so as to significantly reduce the penalties, and ease the burden on the ganja man.
Ganja farmers must be involved WHILE HEAD of the Cannabis Revival Committee (CRC) Junior ‘Spirit’ Cottle is happy with this country’s first shipment of 110 pounds of legal cannabis to Germany, he is disappointed that the traditional cultivators have not been more significantly involved. Cottle expressed his disappointment while speaking to THE
VINCENTIAN on Tuesday. “It (cannabis exportation) is a significant step from the standpoint of the Medicinal Cannabis Industry, and will benefit the entire country, but I am very disappointed that our traditional cultivators have not been more significantly involved in the process”, said Cottle, who is also
Liaison Officer with the Medicinal Cannabis Authority (MCA). Asked why the traditional cultivators were not more significantly involved, Cottle respinded with, “To be part of the Medicinal Cannabis Industry, the cannabis has to be of a certain quality, and to achieve that quality will require a certain level of
training, and practices, by the traditional cultivators.” The CRC chief added, “You have to have money to pay experts to get that kind of input, and traditional farmers do not have that money. Remember we are dealing with Medicinal Cannabis in a global sense, and we don’t want, at the end of the day, when the cannabis is tested to be medically qualified, it is found to contain dangerous chemicals.” Prosecutor Renrick Cato did not While the Medicinal object to bail, but requested suitable Cannabis Authority has surety and conditions. Cato noted that the victim had been to put in place certain support mechanisms to hospitalized, following the incident, but was subsequently discharged from aid the traditional cultivators, Cottle called hospital. for that support to be As part of this bail conditions, fast tracked, so that Isaacs was ordered not to contact the growers could get earlier victim, and to report to the Central Police Station on Wednesdays. He is to benefits. Cottle is also calling surrender all travel documents, and on the Authorities, “to not to leave the state without the listen to we, the permissions of the Serious Offences Court, or a higher court. traditional growers more,
Chef charged with shooting fisherman RONALD ISAACS, 40-year-old chef of Murray’s village, was granted $5,000 bail, with one surety last week Tuesday, in connection with a shooting incident in that community on February 24. Isaacs is charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Philroy Matthews, with intent. Matthews, 46-year-old fisherman of McKie’s Hill, was reportedly shot in his right leg. Isaacs was not required to plea when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne at the Serious Offences Court last Tuesday.
not just from the perspective of going forward, but also from the standpoint of our traditional knowledge of the industry.” Earlier this year, St. Vincent and the Grenadines became the first member state of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to be granted permission to export medicinal marijuana. The first shipment of 110 pounds which left here on January 18, 2022 for Germany, went through rigorous inspections and testing. Chief Executive officer of the MCA, Dr. Jerrol Thompson said he was satisfied with the Caribbean Cannabis Company which was issued the certificate to export, and that more licenses were expected to be granted, and more Medical Cannabis was expected to be exported soon.
V
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022. 5.
News
FAO hands over equipment
Vests and radios – some of the equipment to be used by the fisherfolk.
THE FISHERIES DIVISION within the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries was the recipient of some equipment courtesy the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) on February 25. The items valued at US$150,000 include fats, life vests, ice boxes, etc. to assist small scale fisherfolk and other type of equipment to assist the Fisheries Division in data collection including post disaster data. According to Dr Coleen Phillips, FAO Representative for St Vincent and the Grenadines, it had been recognized that outside of the existing pandemic, the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano in 2021 had negatively impacted the local fishing sector. “It has exasperated preexisting economic and social vulnerabilities and the FAO in recognizing this had offered to assist in the provision of these gears,” Phillips said. She said that the donation aimed to assist small scale fishers, including women and the youth along the value chain and that it further aimed to restore and facilitate
the rebuilding initiative in fishing operations for small scale fishers. “Our hope is that it will strengthen the quality assurance mechanisms including traceability along the value chain in order to improve market opportunities and to improve the capacity of our fisheries division to undertake post disaster assessment and facilitate rapid response for post disaster recovery,” she said. Chief Fisheries Officer, Jennifer Howard-Cruickshank welcomed the donation of items and said that the authorities within the fisheries division are pleased to make contributions to the fisherfolk of SVG. “Whether through projects, funding, capital projects or recurrent from our budget,” she said. She too explained that the equipment donated were to support the value chain and improve data collection and management of systems for the fisherfolk registry, fishing vessel registry, fisheries catch and exports. “National fisheries data and information collection systems are a primary vehicle to
Some of the equipment - computers, etc. – to be used by Fisheries Division in their data collection. produce fisheries information and should therefore be capable of providing reliable and relevant information to the users in a timely manner, especially at times of disasters,” HowardCruickshank said. This, she continued, would provide a comprehensive road map towards sustainable living marine resources management through strengthening and consolidating regional corporation. The fisheries sector was becoming one of the fastest growing industries in the country and
there has been a renewed interest since the opening of the international airport Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar said. However local fishers experienced significant losses because of the explosive volcanic eruptions he continued. And although the government would have assisted affected fishers, Caesar said that they were at a stage where they were
working with some of the fundamentals in ensuring that the fishers will be in a position to restart many aspects of their livelihoods. The beneficiaries of the donated equipment are primarily those residing in the Red and Orange Zones the agriculture and fisheries minister said, but there fishers in other parts also incurred significant losses he said and would also benefit in one form or other. (DD)
V
6. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN
Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Managing Editor: Desiree Richards Editor: Cyprian Neehall Telephone: 784-456-1123 Fax: 784-451-2129 Website: www.thevincentian.com Email: vinpub@thevincentian.com Mailing Address: The Vincentian Publishing Co. Ltd., P.O. Box 592, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Editorial
Stanley Leopold RichardsGive him his credit (Extract from the Eulogy delivered by C. Neehall at the Methodist Church, Georgetown – March 8, 2021) EVEN AS WE JOIN TOGETHER today to send the mortal remains of Stanley Richards to rest, we are heartened by the simple act of having known him, having called him a friend and for having learned a number of life lessons from him. While this is not meant to be a personal appraisal of the man and our relationship, you will allow me, first and foremost, to situate Stanley among the pioneers, icons and simply as a one-in-akind human being, deserving of not only the recognition of those who knew him and join in this service today, but as one worthy of national acclaim. Stanley and I ‘connected’ through one Aubrey Webson, a totally blind Antiguan who would later become the Executive Director of the Caribbean Council for the Blind, and Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Aubrey wanted, so to speak, to breathe new life into the traditional Welfare Associations that served Blind and Visually Impaired persons across the English-speaking Caribbean. Blind persons, he said, were mere conduits for appeasing the consciences of the well-todo, and it was time for blind persons to stand up and be counted as equal human beings. Aubrey had befriended Stanley on one of his visits to St. Vincent. Stanley by this time (1980) had followed on the encouragement of Dr. Neil, a member of the group Volunteers in Mission, from Tennessee, who visited St. Vincent through the Methodist Church, that he should become involved in skills training at the Workshop for the Blind in Kingstown. Stanley would go on to acquire several skills there including the art of macramé, caning and the use of sea grass in furniture repairs. Aubrey identified Stanley as a person — this is around 1981 — who could lead the new dispensation on behalf of blind persons in St. Vincent, and invited me and others to work with Stanley to advance this cause. Aubrey and I had been 1970s products of the Caribbean Conference of Churches and served as resource persons in our respective sub-regions.
The connection was made and together with Stanley L. Richards, we worked towards transforming what was known as the St. Vincent Blind Welfare Association, a grouping of Lions Clubs Members and upper class ladies attached to the Red Cross that did not include blind persons, into the National Society of and for the Blind in 1984. The Society brought together blind and sighted persons on equal footing, status and with equal rights. It was the first time in SVG that blind persons could make their voices and aspiration heard as an organized body. After a few years, as was the intention and the result of appropriate preparation, Stanley was elected President of the Society, the first and only blind person to date who has held that position, a position he held up to the time of his passing. Soon there was a programme of community based rehabilitation that served blind persons and their families; an integrated education programme for blind and visually impaired children; a reinvigorated relief programme for needy blind persons, and a reordering of the focus of the Workshop for the Blind which is now a successful mopassembling unit. All of this is to establish the Stanley as I knew him, as a vanguard on behalf of the rights of and opportunities for blind persons. He is perhaps the one person, who is singularly responsible for the acceptance that is now accorded blind persons, albeit, some way to go still. His advocacy was not confined to the blind. He became a founding member of the cross-disability organization that we know today as the National Association of Persons with DisAbility. His was a voice on behalf of all disabled persons. Soon, Stanley was not just representing this country on regional and international organizations of disabled persons, but was serving on their executives. So when the history of work with and for disabled persons in this country is written, the name Stanley Richards must be enshrined in a place of pride and prominence among all those, especially able-bodied persons whom we are quick to give credit. Give him his credit!!!!
National Awards IS OUR STANDARD TOO HIGH? In this month of March, which we celebrate as Heritage Month inclusive of National heroes Day, I can’t help but ask myself if our standard for selecting a National Hero is too high. Could this be why we still only have one named hero after much talk about who should be recognized? The Hon Joseph Chatoyer remains our only named hero. Most other islands have quite a few named heroes, and yes, they all include founding farther and elected officials. Stop, don’t get the wrong idea. I am not advocating for any elected officials past or present to be elevated to this prestigious status. I’m just saying after over forty years of independence, we are still struggling with adding a contemporary person to this list of one. Like everything Vincentian, we have found a way to politicize recognizing someone from our present or recent past for making a valued and life-changing contribution to our nation. I will stay away from listing the names of people I think should be considered. This annual exercise borders on ridiculousness. All I’ll say today is that I suppose at least one of the three popular names bantered about over the years is worthy of consideration. It is worth noting that while we wait to name a few more National Heroes, we have honored the nation’s first Prime Minister by naming the Kingstown General Hospital after him, and recently we have moved to named the Diamond athletic track after Sir. Vincent Beach. Please don’t ask me why? I can think of a few more appropriate people who labored in these endeavors that are more worthy. So let’s try something different rather than naming a hero or two this year. Let’s create a national award program to publicly acknowledge some people who should be honored using a different format. But before I do that, I want to propose four distinguished patriotwhose names cane be ascribed towards creating an honour programme to recognize outstanding servants of the people: * The Timmy Richards Award, * The Elma Constance Francois
Award, * The O.C. Ford Award, and * The Louie Boucher award. Each person on this list might not rise to your level for National Hero status, but there can be no doubt about their legacy and contribution to our nation, and humanity in general. Therefore, I am proposing to call these awards “Patriot Awards.” So for this year, I think we should use the opportunity to recognize the outstanding contribution made by these individuals to our growth and development as a people and a nation. We can take some of the controversies out of naming a few more National Heroes in the future, as we develop a more patriotic country and recognize more people for their service to the country. The current system of honoring locals with the various “Classes of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire” is too closely tied to our ugly colonial past. The other practice of naming individuals “Ambassadors” is equally unacceptable. One cultural ambassador said that all this does is for him is that he does not have to stand in long lines at airports. The Patriot Award will give us a chance to tell our own stories and recognize the people whose lives and contributions have gone unnoticed by most of us. We can build our history independently from our colonial past by creating this local honours system. We need a local system of national awards and honours that will give special recognition to St. Vincent and the Grenadine citizens who distinguish themselves in various fields of endeavor. A quick check with our neighbors will provide some general guidelines; no need to recreate the wheel here. You might ask why a patriot award? After all, with our exposure to the American media, a patriot award may not feel like an appropriate way to recognize service to our community. But, to me, a patriot is someone who demonstrates devoted love and support for one’s country through service. Horatio
V
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022. 7.
Letters
Let’s name another National hero LONG TIME since I last submitted from Jamaica. Hope this can find space in your one of your issues for the month of March. Yet another Heritage Month (March) and Heroes Day (March 14) will come around and we would not have named another National Hero of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. When I think of the ongoing debate that will result in the naming of additional heroes in Jamaica, and the recent naming of Rhianna as a National hero of Barbados, and I see that we have stalled on this issue, “ah want to bawl” a la The Mighty Bomber. Ours is not a situation of want of persons who have been advanced for consideration for the highest order that can be bestowed on an individual. As a matter of fact, there have been three very strong candidates advanced and from what I can gather, they have been supported by a majority of Vincentians. What bothers me is, that there has not been a plausible explanation for why we have dragged our feet on this National Heroes issue, although this government did promise that it would name at least one additional National Hero before it went out of office. Well, it has been around for the last 21 or so years and we are still waiting for them to fulfill their promise. But what gets me really mad is that it appears the government has literally put this thing on the back burner because they failed to get any meaningful support for their suggestion that Robert Milton Cato, who just happened to be our first prime minister but far from the best, be added to the list of candidates for National Hero. Are we going to have to put up with government’s disregard for fulfilling its promise simply because, like a spoilt brat, it can’t get its own way? Come on! This country belongs to all of us and if we say George McIntosh, for example, should be our next national hero then so be it. What is there that would make McIntosh or any of the other two candidates a poor choice? Let’s get on with the business of naming another National hero soonest. Paul Roberts, Jamaica
Gun Talk MR. EDITOR, I challenge anyone to doubt or to question me when I say there are more illegal guns on the streets of this small 2x2 country than there are licensed guns. Tell me something: When is the last time you heard or read where a person who was shot was shot by a licensed firearm? Not since ‘Dollars Rule’ when he shot that ‘thiefman’ in Belmont some years ago, have I heard about a licensed firearms holder shooting somebody. The homicides in this
country, the majority of which are committed by gunmen, are done by young men who have access to unlicensed firearms. And no amount of Gun Amnesty by Police Commissioner after Commission is going to help. No gunman wants to give up his gun once he gets accustomed to it; it is now part of his life. In the meantime, the licensed firearm holders feel safe with their guns at easy reach, but they are not the targets of the unlicensed firearm
holders. How often have we heard of some shopkeeper being robbed? They are not the targets because the gunmen who might want to commit robbery, know that the shopkeeper more than likely might have a licensed firearm. And that brings me to the point. I would hope that when licences for firearms are granted that they are granted to people who deserve them — businessmen, executives, shopkeepers, farmers, bailiffs,
politicians, news editors. I hope that due diligence is conducted so that people of known criminal connections and people who have ‘contacts’ in the ‘right’ places are not granted licences. Back to my point: With all the illegals guns on the street, the FORGIVE ME, Mr. The problem I have is mean a thing. authorities cannot sit Editor, but I have to say that my people talk and We must be the back and say how this is that my people talk too talk, find fault with biggest talkers in the an open country with ‘darm’ much. They talk everything under the sun world but also the many coves and bays, morning, noon and night and the moon, but very, biggest cowards. When and I am beginning to very few of them give the NDP played the fool and the Coast Guard cannot keep check on all think that the majority any solutions or positive in 2000 we got rid of the gun smugglers. The of them don’t remember suggestions as to how them. We took to the funny thing is, though, what they had to say they would correct the streets. Now, we have from what I hear, many from one day to the next. situations they criticise. become like a pack of of those illegal guns And I must say that I mean, take the mice … a whole set of come into this country in since this FM Radio business about the letter screeching but no action. interesting ways that business was allowed to from our PM to Mr. As for me, I will beat the system by catch fire here, it has Putin. You would remain quiet unless I looking at it straight in only given my people believe the PM had have something good to more opportunity to talk killed somebody the way say as I hope I have done the face. People in uniforms are a whole heap of garbage. our people got on over a with this letter. not always who you (And this is in addition simple, harmless letter. think they are. to what many of them Name withheld on And at the end of the write on Facebook.) request. Charles, Edinboro day, all the talk didn’t
Talk, talk and more talk
Where are the taxis? CRUISE SHIPS began arriving here since the start of the season, in November, 2021. We, the taxi operators, from both associations have been catching hell. How are we to survive? I am sure that the Tourism Department can see with their own eyes when the ships dock,
there is no taxi from either associations parked in that area. It is only Corea’s getting all the business, so what happens to the smaller man? We have children to take care of, put food on the table, license and insurance to pay, banks and credit unions, vehicle
maintenance. The government is not even giving us something to help us through the season. I am sure they are seeing what’s happening. We are asking the government to put something in place for us. We are affected just like other people who are getting a lot of help. We the taxi drivers from both associations should be assisted as well.
So many of us were told we have to be vaccinated, get first aid kit, fire extinguisher, get your vehicle checked, so much expense we all went through and what do we get… absolutely nothing!!!! It’s a big shame and disgrace. Hope our concerns will be addressed. Concerned taxi driver
V
8. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN
Views
Government construction will drive economic recovery Introduction AFTER TWO very challenging years during which our country had to address the fallout from the impacts of a global pandemic, a dengue outbreak, an explosive volcanic eruption and a hurricane, this year 2022 from all indications will see a settling-down period where we can focus on recovery. There has been a reduction in the infection rate of Covid-19, the science indicates that the La Soufriere volcano has ceased its activity of 2021 and the dengue outbreak has been tackled very effectively. The Atlantic hurricane season has not yet started, but we can expect the forecast to predict any number of hurricanes and storms that may affect the region so we prepare as best as possible for those natural disasters. The indication that our country is set on a path to recovery must be taken within the context of the real possibility of a natural disaster impacting us this year as well as the global context, and our acceptance that SVG, like other Small Island Developing States, is vulnerable to exogenous shocks. It is in the face of these very real considerations that the ULP administration, through the passage of Budget 2022 is laying the ground work and putting things in place to lead the charge of recovery that would see economic activity in this country return to pre-Covid levels. The projections of our local officials within the Ministry of Finance as well as from regional and international agencies are for economic growth of between 5% and 8% to occur for 2022. This projected level of economic growth while not putting the country’s economic back on track to where it was pre-Covid, it is definitely an indication of an economy that is showing strong signs of recovery after two years of significant challenges. Having done an excellent job of keeping things together during the last 2 years, the government now has a platform on which to build and the projects that were delayed over the last year or more, are now ready for full implementation to kick-start the recovery.
Public sector spending that will Drive the recovery The Comrade Ralph-lead ULP has a very ambitious agenda of projects that will begin this year and last over the next 2-3 years, injecting significant sums of money into the local economy through construction in the first instance. The port project in Rose Place is already in its first phase, costing the government over $4 million to build houses that would facilitate the relocation of residents who will be affected by the construction of the new port. This project will cost the government of SVG approximately US$ 200m and will be the second largest capital project to be undertaken in the country, second only to the Argyle International Airport. The construction of the new acute referral hospital at the site of the decommissioned ET Joshua airport also scheduled to begin this year, will be completed at a cost of approximately EC$160m, also a very large project that can be compared with the new port in Rose Place. The construction of the two hotels by the government, the Marriot in Mt Wynne
at a cost of approximately US$50m and the Holiday Inn Express at Diamond are other projects that are also scheduled to begin in earnest this year 2022. The $20m project that would see the renovation of the current High Court and Parliament building, the construction of a new Parliament and Halls of Justice and the completion of facilities at Calliaqua to temporarily house the current parliament building will get in stream in 2022. These projects combined represent significant capital expenditure to be made over the next 18-24 months and will significantly boost economic activity both directly in the construction sector as well as indirectly as other sectors feed off the increased spending. Thousands of jobs would be created requiring tradesmen with varying skills as well as unskilled labourers to meet the demands of the construction boom. The projects outlined are all public sector initiatives to be undertaken by the government and will serve to drive economic activity as government takes the lead in the recovery process here in this country. Private sector construction projects will compliment those undertaken by the government creating robust economic activity in that sector that will drive the economic growth projected. From this standpoint alone, 2022 does offer much promise for this country as we seek to recover and begin our journey to sustainable economic growth, driven by a very active construction sector in which government is taking a significant, if not leading, role.
Conclusion The anticipated activity in government funded construction projects is great news for our economy after two years of serious challenges that slowed economic activity and caused very little growth. Even as we prepare and plan for full implementation, we remain mindful that an active hurricane season can delay implementation or worst yet, destroy any gains made causing us to start all over again. The current conflict in Eastern Europe involving the Russian Federation and Ukraine is already showing that it is likely to create challenges to the proper implementation of the programme for 2022. Already, we are seeing a pattern of increases in the price of oil globally which will soon begin impacting the cost of energy locally. In the region, St Kitts and Nevis and Barbados have already announced increases in the price of petrol at the pumps and it is only a matter of time before we are forced to make similar decisions as this country is not immune from the global increase in oil prices. We have seen before how the rise in the price of fuel used for energy impacts everything since global production depends on this form of energy, but we remain optimistic for a speedy resolution to the conflict and a stabilisation of the price of oil. Our government remains committed to the recovery process and will continue to manage this economy in the usual prudent manner to ensure the successful completion of these major construction projects.
NDP will reinstate workers LAST NOVEMBER, the Unity Labour Party (ULP) government instituted its COVID-19 vaccine mandate, requiring police officers, teachers, nurses and certain other government and state entity employees to take the COVID-19 vaccine, as a standard of qualification for work. Hundreds of state employees, including sanitation workers, refused to be vaccinated and were fired from their jobs. It was a cruel and evil act by the government. The New Democratic Party (NDP) has always been opposed to making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory. After much criticism of the government by the general public, the persistent and relentless call by the NDP for persons to be reinstated and legal action by the public sector unions against the government; it would appear that the government has begun to ‘buckle under pressure’. As a result, a memorandum dated 23rd February, 2022 was sent from the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, to the Chief Environmental Health Officer, with the subject: ‘Permission to allow unvaccinated permanent sanitation workers who are off the job to show up for work’. Subsequently, a news article was published on one of our online publications with the captioned, “Vaccine mandate did not apply to sanitation workers, Health Minister says.” Then, why were these workers who did not take the vaccine fired? Who is the Minister trying to fool? The NDP’s position on this matter is clear. While we, as a party, support vaccination as a means of combatting COVID-19, we are philosophically opposed to making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory. Mandating vaccines– i.e., forcing people to be vaccinated against their will is not who we are as a democratic society. It is also not who we wish to be as a people. And, firing government workers and taking away their benefits because they have not taken the COVID-19 vaccine is cruel and counter-productive, and will create more unemployment and misery in our country. We have warned the government repeatedly that mandating vaccination is not the way to go. All over the world, governments that have considered such a measure as a way out of the pandemic have retreated from mandatory vaccination… but not in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It is only through collaborative endeavours, communication, and trust that we can win this battle against COVID-19. The ULP administration, time and again, has broken the trust of the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. They have also neglected to engage with civil society and the private sector in any meaningful way over the years. Anyone who is fired or resigns because of the government’s vaccine mandate must be rehired or otherwise compensated. We have made it abundantly care that an NDP government would ensure that anyone who resigns or is dismissed from his/her job because of the government’s vaccine mandate is rehired or otherwise compensated, and will receive all affected benefits as well. No one should be forced to choose between their body and their bread. There are better and more effective ways to achieve vaccination goals that do not devalue and divide our people. The government’s approach divides
families, workplaces, churches, and communities. It fosters resentment and distrust of government and engenders unnecessary fear among our people. Statement from the NDP Women’s Arm President in Celebration of International Women’s Day 2022 It is indeed an honour to join with women around the world to celebrate International Women’s Day 2022. The theme, “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” #Break The Bias, is most fitting given the global impact the Covid-19 pandemic is having on everyone, particularly women. It is also timely as our world is currently facing many challenges including climate change, high rates of unemployment, inequity, armed conflicts, and the erosion of women’s rights. Indeed, many more of our women are struggling to survive having lost their sources of subsistence. Gender equality is a critical human right. All humans, regardless of gender, are equal in the sight of God. Why then, should we treat each other differently? Women and men must enjoy the same benefits based on their roles in society. This can yield many positives including the promotion of respect for basic rights and social justice for all. Furthermore, the eradication of job discrimination and closing gender gaps in employment can maximize the use of talents and skills from a larger pool of more diverse and innovative ideas. It is true that in the past women may have shied away from such fields as politics, private sector leadership, science, medicine, law, technology, engineering, and mathematics. However, today’s women have made tremendous strides in these areas. They have proven themselves as equally intelligent, functional, innovative, and competent co-workers alongside their male counterparts. Nevertheless, despite these gains, research shows that political representation by women in parliaments around the world stands at less than 25%. This must change. Research has also shown that bias contributes to women’s sufferings as they are often bypassed for jobs and promotions. Three out of four women experience bias at the workplace. Black women, especially those who are physically challenged, are at an even greater disadvantage. Unfortunately, some of our men continue to sit in silence when women speak out and make valuable contributions on issues like gender inequality. We need men to help us change the negative mind-sets that enable physical abuse, sexual harassment, and facilitate other unfair practices perpetrated against our women. The world is rapidly changing and expects diversity, equity, and inclusion. Therefore, women must ensure that they equip themselves with the necessary knowledge and skills to confront these challenges. Government also has a role to play in helping to promote gender equality among the people. Appropriate laws must be passed and implemented to facilitate gender equality and empowerment. National plans and policies must pave the way for all to participate in national development. Collectively, everyone everywhere can strive to achieve “gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.”
V
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022. 9.
Views
No shortcut
“In life, most short cuts end up taking longer than taking the longer manner that reflects our “signature”. route.” Suzy Kassem (born 1975) – Tomas Gavlas says it so well when he well known Screenwriter reminds us, “Don’t take shortcuts to gain small profits which don’t lead to MRS. LUCILLE EUSTACE, mother of former Prime Minister of St. Vincent and great things, but stay true to your the Grenadines Arnhim Eutace, was the guiding intent.” Today’s students are especially Head Teacher at the Kingstown Preparatory School in the 1960s. Each tempted to take shortcuts when tasked with some of their written morning she reminded pupils of the assignments. This is particularly so if value of honest, kindness, gentleness, cleanliness, purity, and hard work. She they have not developed proper time management skills or may not have shared many stories to reinforce the principles that develop strong character disciplined themselves to engage in and robust societies. So many decades prioritising their various tasks. In later, this writer still recollects on many such instances, the looming deadlines for submitting projects may tempt of the stories and anecdotes that she such pressured individuals to engage shared. I recently reflected on one of these while cleaning our family vehicle. in what we now describe as “cut-andpaste”; copying another person’s work I had limited time and was tempted to and pasting it within the document to clean the sides, front, and back but make it appear as the expression of leave the hood (which is usually not original thought. However, such readily visible) undone. I reflected on the following story that she once shared plagiarism is quite easily detected with the emergence of software at the end of the school assembly and programmes such as Turnitin. Such prayer period: A mother had tasked her young son students readily discover that it would have been better to avoid the to clean his untidy room. He rush (and the resulting temptation to reluctantly embarked on the task of tidying his bed and packing away his cheat) and to engage in the more toys before proceeding with the more demanding exercise of original tedious mission of sweeping the floor. thought. Such illicit acts may seem to provide a shortcut to success but He was surprised at the dust that these invariably cut short the glory seemed to emerge as he swept the that is evident when the individual room and, for a brief moment, develops the tenacity to persist contemplated sweeping it under the through difficult and demanding doormat at the entrance to his room. circumstances. There is value in He temporarily considered that his mother will never see the litter there. struggle. The thoughts appearing here However, wisdom prevailed and he should not be construed as proceeded to gather the debris in the dustpan that had been provided when encouraging individuals to avoid improved systems, structures, and his mother armed him for the task. The young boy informed his mother prorammes that allow us to more efficiently use our time and talent. that the task had been completed. We are grateful for such The room was ready for her inspection. As she entered the room, advancements in technology that enable us to improve output and she lifted the doormat and was pleasantly surprised to discover that, productivity levels in various aspects of our lives. However, we must like every other area in the room, it was spotlessly clean. She commended forever be alert to the “shortcuts” that may encourage the innocent and her son for a job that was well done. unsuspecting to compromise their Sometimes we are also tempted to principles; to get ahead at all cost take shortcuts when performing even if it means doing so fraudulently tasks. However, we are encouraged or at the expense of hurting self and by the words of wisdom shared by others. Mehmet Murat Ildan reminds Thomas Stark in this regard. He us that, “Yes, it’s true, there are many reminds us that, “There are no shortcuts to your destination in life, shortcuts. The lazy will accomplish but when you take the shortcut, your nothing in life. The human path of journey gets shorter and what is life, least resistance is the path to total failure and oblivion. You must always it is a journey, not a destination!” Success in our academic pursuits, walk the hard path. The fewer the career development, athletics, and life people on the path, the greater the in general, calls for discipline and glory. A genius is alone on his path.” determination. There is no shortcut I embarked on my teaching career to this. It requires a commitment to in the 1970s and thought it wise to the cause and persistence even visit Mrs. Eustace, then retired, to against great odds. There will be ascertain where I could get a copy of the book(s) that she had used to share detours and distractions along the these early morning pearls of wisdom way. However, understanding and appreciating that these are often with her students. With her usual useful life lessons to encounter, we warm and welcoming smile, she can pursue our dreams with passion. informed me that most of the stories We will stay the course and ride out shared were her own creation. We the storm knowing that our are grateful to such stalwarts of the teaching profession who, among other appreciation of the end results will be things, reminded us that there are no magnified many times over as a result of the obstacles and challenges that shortcuts to success. It is always we would have encountered. There is better to perform tasks thoroughly and to the best of our ability. This is no shortcut to true and lasting as true for the student as it is for the success. teacher. It is equally true for the Send comments, criticisms & leader and manager as it is for the suggestions to labourer and artisan. Every task, julesferdinand@gmail.com every assignment, should be done in a
SVG is in urgent need of a reset THE RALPH GONSALVES government seems seriously confused. Its actions amount to an administrative law nightmare. How in a democratic society does a government respectful of laws issue a memo to change a regulation? It is crystal clear that this government accustomed to the ruling as it pleases has utter disregard for citizens and proper legal procedures. This week, all of this became clear following a memo issued by Cuthbert Knight, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health. Knight’s memo claimed that his ministry had been instructed to ‘advise all permanent sanitation workers, who are presently off the job having not taken the COVID-19 vaccine and are willing to return to work, shall be allowed to do so without the vaccine.’ Before dissecting this memo, it is critically important to say that Gonsalves government, packed with lawyers, doesn’t know a damn thing about the law. To bludgeon the workers into taking a vaccine, which at the time the demand was made it had been crystal clear that the injection’s efficacy was minimal to nonexistent and safety questionable, passed SR&O 28 of 2021, which made showing up for work a criminal offence, now reverses the regulation with a memo. It deemed the workers absent and to have abandoned their jobs. This memo gets a few things wrong. Workers were not off their jobs by choice. They were dismissed. SR&O 28 of 2021 compelled workers deemed frontline or essential to be vaccinated by November 19, 2021. The regulation made it a criminal offence for an unvaccinated worker to enter the workplace. Workers who were not on the job for ten consecutive days were deemed to have abandoned their employment. The insanity of it all is reflected in the explanation of Health Minister Jimmy Prince. Prince told the media that the Covid mandate did not apply to sanitation workers. The government, he said, made a mistake and was prepared to employ and pay workers who were forced to leave their jobs. Prince, with the arrogance often displayed by his boss, doubled down on the government’s cruel and ineffective Covid mandate: this development does not mean the government is backing away from its covid vaccine requirement for frontline and essential workers. We made a mistake. We are correcting it.’ What arrogance! What hubris! What a high handed misuse of state authority! Forget for a moment those who stood firm in defence of their bodily autonomy and integrity and can now return to their jobs. Spare a thought for those with the threat of economic assassination, took the jab to keep their jobs to take care of their families. Who compensates those who suffered after taking the covid injections? Is there an agency that monitors all those who took the jab? Is assistance being offered to those who suffered adverse events after taking the jab? Or are they simply being told that correlation is not causation? Many people suffered severe
adverse events due to vaccines whose efficacy is negligible to nonexistent. Eric Buerla, Pfizer’s chief executive, disclosed that the vaccines ‘was of little or no use’ against the current variant of the virus. The vaccine safety is questionable at best. A few things need to be made clear. No science informed the decision to name sanitation or any other worker in SVG as frontline and essential. The designation was solely intended to force citizens to take the vaccine. By the time Gonsalves told workers to take the jab or lose their job, it was well known and scientifically established that both vaccinated and unvaccinated persons could contract and transmit the virus. By last December, the proof was in. Schools, government ministries and departments, which by then had only vaccinated employees, had to close. By January, the myth exploded when Parliament was postponed because 8, ‘fully vaccinated and boosted,’ parliamentarians from the government side of the aisle tested positive for Covid. The current fiasco should have compelled a sensible, sensitive, and caring government to reevaluate its entire vaccine policy. It would have apologised to the nation and people and seriously considered cancelling the policies. But not Gonsalves! He and his minions are prepared to continue punishing citizens who don’t bend to their will. Add to this debacle the increasing cries of citizens regarding the government’s land acquisition policy, where it snatches land owned by citizens and refuses to pay adequate compensation. How could it be proper in a democracy for a government to negotiate a settlement for property it acquires and then tells the property owner to await a call from the Accountant General as to when to collect the purchase price? A call that has not come more than a year after the property is acquired and the income-generating structure destroyed? Can we honestly claim that our country is a democracy governed by laws rather than the dictates of men when the ruling party refuses to honour declarations made by the court that deems its actions illogical, unreasonable and illegal? Are we living in a democracy when the government snubs the judiciary that commands it to pay damages and costs for its illegal actions? Those of us who are guided by policy and not blinded by politics need to place our country before our party of choice. The arrogance of the Unity Labour Party government and its bad policies need to be checked. SVG is in urgent need of a reset. Such a reset will not amount to an end of civilization moment. Send comments, criticisms & suggestions to jomosanga@gmail.com
V
10. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN
Views
100% renewable energy for electricity will reduce the cost of living OIL PRICES were already at a 7-year high but with Russia invading Ukraine, the price of oil is rising even more. SVG must become 100% efficient in renewable energy for electricity immediately to reduce the cost of electricity. This will help reduce the cost of living and reduce the overheads that businesses have to pay. This war started by Russia has created an urgent need for the introduction of long-term renewable energy production in SVG. We must rapidly end the use of oil for producing electricity in our country and turn to a 100% reliance on hydro, solar and wind. The days of high electricity bills would come to an end and it would reduce the price of electricity, making it affordable to low-income families. Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal, who has a BSc (Hons) in Accounting
companies producing electricity from renewable energy and private households wanting to install renewable energy equipment at their homes, all taxes and customs duties on renewable energy products and parts should be abolished immediately. and Finance and Economics from VINLEC over one year ago and his A Green government will cut the savings are very high. This illustrates price of electricity by 50%. The first Oxford Brookes, University, Oxford, that our country can operate without England, an MSc in Macro—economic 200 KWh used each month will be the use of oil to produce electricity. policy and planning in developing free. If we stop using oil and electricity countries from the University of SVG is losing millions of dollars a becomes significantly cheaper, this Bradford, England, and a Masters of year, because of the massive amount of would ensure that all the children of Business Administration from the oil that is imported to create University of Leicester, England, very the poor could have electricity to electricity. This is killing our economy. strongly contends that if we stop using enable them to read at night and do If we stop producing electricity from oil to produce electricity, we will see a their homework. A Green government would abolish oil and produce it ourselves from safe significant improvement in the quality the fuel surcharge and replace oil with renewable energy sources, then there of lifestyle for our entire country. will be much more money circulating renewable energy, making electricity There would also be significant in the SVG economy. The renewable virtually free. Electricity produced by savings on our imports bill, providing energy industry will create solar, wind and hydro, will be cheap. a golden opportunity to cut our We would ensure that every household employment. international exchange rate and Given the high price of oil and increase our exports. This would drive has access to mains electricity. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, SVG We would also abolish the VINLEC up employment in several areas of our must become 100% efficient in monopoly to produce electricity, so economy. renewable energy for electricity A Vincentian living in Cane Garden that Vincentians could set up immediately, to reduce the cost of electricity-producing companies. In told Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal that he cut his connection from order to help the growth of Vincentian living.
Dr. J.P Eustace should be named a National Hero now! School (which is now called the Intermediate High School) in 1926 at WE ARE ON THE VERGE of National the height of colonialism. In doing so, Heroes Day. I therefore believe that he defied the colonial policy of not this is an opportune time for me to providing access to secondary school repeat my call for Dr. John Parmenas education to the general population. Eustace (Dr. J. P. Eustace) to be The Intermediate School was the first named the next National Hero of St. non-government secondary school in Vincent and the Grenadines. I do so on the country/colony. The only other the basis of the contribution he made secondary schools which existed at to the development of our nation in the that time were the elitist and ultrafield of education, as set out below. exclusive Boys Grammar School and When he was just 20 years old, Dr. Girls’ High School. Obviously, Dr. Eustace started the Intermediate Eustace was a pioneer in education. by LUKE BROWNE
Subsequently, Dr. Eustace started 2 other secondary schools which still exist today — the Emmanuel High School Kingstown/EHSK (now called the Dr. J. P. Eustace Memorial Secondary School) in 1952, and the Emmanuel High School Mesopotamia in 1963. Incidentally, the EHSK is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. It was once the largest secondary school in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, by far. Additionally, Dr. Eustace started several primary schools. By the way, Dr. Eustace was also the first Vincentian eye specialist and a Christian evangelist who built several churches. What more could we want in a National Hero? What would have been the educational state of our country were it not for the intervention of Dr. Eustace? How many persons would have suffered the fate of being denied a secondary school education? I shudder to reflect on these questions. Dr. Eustace liberated many persons from idleness, ignorance and illiteracy. In his time, Dr. Eustace did more for education than the whole government. We can consider him to be the Father of the Education Revolution. I believe that he made the most substantial individual contribution to national development. His achievements are all the more remarkable on account of the fact that he attained them without the benefit of a public platform. I do not believe that Dr. Eustace has an equivalent anywhere in the world. He literally and figuratively opened our eyes and brought us from an age of darkness into an era of glorious light. I submit that Dr. Eustace fully satisfies the criteria for being named a
The Venerable Dr. John Parmenas Eustace National Hero as laid down in the Order of National Heroes Act 2002, in that he: gave outstanding service to St. Vincent and the Grenadines and made a contribution that altered positively the course of our history; provided visionary and pioneering leadership that has brought honour to our country; and by his exploits and sacrifice has contributed to the improvement of the economic, social and political conditions of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Vincentians in general. For these reasons, I call for him to be named a National Hero, NOW!
V
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022. 11.
International
Hospitals damaged in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to speaking in Russian as he appealed directly to Russians during a video address. DOZENS OF UKRAINIAN HOSPITALS have been damaged by Russian airstrikes and shelling since the invasion of Ukraine began two weeks ago. Ukraine’s health minister Viktor Liashko said the number of medical facilities damaged in warfare has now surpassed 60. He also said the deaths of five health care workers were due to “Russian terrorist bullets”. On Wednesday, Ukraine said three people were killed when a Russian missile struck a maternity hospital in the southern port city of Mariupol. At least 17 people, including staffers and patients, were injured after a maternity hospital in Mariupol was struck by Russian forces, Ukrainian officials said Wednesday. Images of the aftermath showed injured pregnant women being carried from the scene. Videos shared on social media showed damage to a clinic, with windows blown out and medical gear destroyed. Mariupol’s city council said the destruction was “colossal,” and Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky called it an “atrocity.” “What kind of country is this, the Russian Federation, which is afraid of hospitals and maternity hospitals and destroys them?” Zelensky said in a video address late Wednesday, during which he switched from Ukrainian to Russian, making a direct appeal to a Russian audience. He rold his Russian audience that “Hospitals and schools are destroyed. Churches and ordinary buildings are destroyed. People are killed. Children are killed. Air bombing on a children’s hospital is the ultimate evidence that genocide of Ukrainians is happening.” The reported assault on the Maternity Hospital in Mariupol occurred after the World Health Organization said it had verified 18 attacks on health facilities in Ukraine. It also came amid a fresh attempt to evacuate civilians Wednesday after Russia and Ukraine announced routes for people to leave hard-hit cities. After accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces of shelling the escape routes four days in a row, Ukrainian officials remained skeptical of the temporary cease-fire announcements. Officials in Izyum, one of the cities set to be evacuated, said Wednesd ay that efforts to get civilians out were compromised by shelling from Russian forces. Other evacuations appeared to be proceeding. However, the Russian defence ministry has denied bombing the site, instead accusing Ukraine of a “staged provocation” there. In a series of tweets, since removed by Twitter, the Russian Embassy in London alleged the hospital was
not operational and had been taken over by the Ukrainian Azov regiment. It even claimed a
Ukrainian beauty influencer was used to fake photographs from the scene, but recent
Instagram posts prove she is heavily pregnant. (Al Jazeera, The Guardian)
A Children’s Hospital in Ukraine said to have been bombed by the Russian bombs. (Source: pipanews)
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022. 13.
6. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN
Moulton Mayers leaves Âarchitectural handprintÊ
Dr. Cadrin E. Gill, Honorary Consul General of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in California presents plaque to Yvonne Mayers. Story and photos by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net US CORRESPONDENT Moulton Mayers MBE (Photo courtesy: Mayers Family/Garnes Byron)
Moulton Mayers left his “architectural handprint on the landscape of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.” Mayers, a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) and St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic, died on Feb. 10 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, New York. He battled colon cancer for five years, according to his cousin, Garnes Byron, a prominent Vincentian community activist in Brooklyn, New York. Mayers was 70. Byron said Mayers designed many large buildings in Kingstown, including the National Insurance Service headquarters and the Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Reigate Building. In eulogizing his longtime friend Mayers, at JOHN ANDERSON, a a two-plus-hour-long funeral service on Saturday, at St. Mark’s United Vincentian-born Methodist Church, on Beverly Road, chemical near Ocean Avenue, in Flatbush, engineer Brooklyn, Anderson said he had forged currently a “lifelong friendship” with Mayers, working at the who was “an outstanding son of the United States soil.” Patent and “He went abroad to develop and Trademark Office, who lives complete his formal education in architecture before returning home to in Bowie, Maryland, says the land he loved,” said Anderson, breaking down, as his wife left her seat renowned to try to console him. Vincentian “Moulton was a pioneer and a architect patriotic Vincentian,” he added. “Vincentians salute and proudly recognize him for his accomplishments in the development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.” Anderson said his “lifelong friendship” with Mayers began when they were students at City College, City University of New York (CUNY), and were roommates for three years. After graduating from college, Anderson said Mayers began his professional career in New York City, working with an architectural company. On returning home, Anderson said Mayers established his architectural consulting company and built his office and residence at Mc Kies Hill in Kingstown “on a steep gradient that only an architect would consider building
on. “This construction demonstrated that Moulton was serious, and no challenge would be too great for him to conquer,” he said.
Leaving his mark on SVG During his professional life in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Anderson said Mayers “designed and built many commercial and government buildings, residential homes, and made additions and alterations to many more.” His said Mayers’ most prominent designs included: The National Insurance Services Headquarters (NIS building); The St. Vincent Building and Loans Association Bank; The Ministerial Office Building; The Reigate Building, also known as the Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; The Marion House; The Forestry HeadQuarters; The School for Children with Special Needs; Bequia Revenue Office Building; Union Island Secondary School; Fancy Community Centre; Hotel John Anderson eulogizes Moulton Mayers. Alexandria; and Dr. Stephens Residence. Anderson said Mayers also York and attended The City College of worked on a project in St. Lucia, and New York, later graduating with a B. S. was refitting some schools in Antigua Arch. and Barbuda. In 1981, Mayers earned a M.S. In 2012, Mayers was awarded the degree in Urban Designing/Planning MBE by Queen Elizabeth II of England. from Pratt Institute, New York. He was also an Honorary Roslyn said Mayers had been Ambassador of the Czech Republic to practicing architecture in St. Vincent St. Vincent and the Grenadines for and the Grenadines, and the Caribbean many years, Anderson said. for the past 36 years. He said Mayers was elected “If you have been in and around president of the St. Vincent and the Kingstown, there is little doubt that Grenadines Institute of Architects from you have seen or entered some of the 1996-1998. structures designed by him,” she said. “Moulton was distinctly a creative “He credited his father for his entrance genius,” Anderson said. “He was highly into the realm of architecture. He said intelligent, using his imagination and he was enthralled watching his father intuitive skills to create art made from work. concrete and steel. “He often referred to him as his idol “Farewell my friend, you have done architect and contractor,who very well, your work is done, you will constructed a breathtaking array of be missed by your friends and family,” iconic and impressive buildings across Anderson added. “Rest in peace.” the length and breadth of SVG (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) and made Following in his father’s path his mark in other Eastern Caribbean countries, especially in St. Lucia, In reading the obituary, Mayers’ Antigua and Barbuda,” Roslyn added. cousin, Roslyn Mayers, said Moulton “He followed in his father’s footsteps Theophilus Mayers, was born in and placed his architectural stamp on Prospect in East St. George, to the landscape of St. Vincent and the Stephanie Antoine and the Late Milton Grenadines. And became a renowned Theophilus Mayers, Sr., MBE. local architect who designed his Roslyn said Mayers graduated with a breathtaking array of iconic and diploma in architecture from Humber impressive buildings across the length College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada in and breadth of SVG,” Roslyn continued. 1977. That same year, he migrated to New Those left to mourn
Roslyn Mayers reads obituary.
In 1972, at a Yvonne Mayers reads Psalms 23. farewell party for Adrián Saunders, who is currently Chief Justice of the Trinidad and Tobago headquartered Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Mayers met Yvonne, “the love of his life,” Mayers said. She said they were married 10 years later, and were blessed with three children, Melissa Mayers-Morris, Melanee and Erline Williams-King sings “Great is Michael Mayers. Dr. Cadrin E. Gill, Thy Faithfulness”. Honorary Consul Sally Benjamin, General of St. Vincent and the Marilyn MayersGrenadines in Los Angeles, CA and Julian Belgraves, of the St. Vincent and Neverson, Marcelle and Maxyn Mayers. the Grenadines United Network of Maferne MayersCalifornia, presented Yvonne Mayers Oliver, Annmarie with a plaque during the funeral DeCoteau, Judith, service. Antoinette, Magna, Besides Yvonne and their children, Bridgette and Carla Mayers is survived by, among many Antoine; aunt Lillian others, his grandchildren and son-inGeorge; uncle Grafton law; his mother; brothers Rudolph, Mayers; nieces; Stanley, Carlton, Milton, Jr., Marcus and Dawrance Mayers, and Shorn and nephews; cousins; and sisters and Patrick Hunt; sisters Elma Gabriel, brothers-in-law.
V
14. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN
People
Father grieves for son
MAURICE LOTMORE, father of Owen ‘Kenny Stoddard burglarized, and his business spot vandalized shortly who was shot and died after a gunman opened fire on a after he was killed. shop where Stoddard and others were engaged in a Stoddard was the only fatality in the incident in game of cards, said that his son’s house was which two other men received multiple gunshots.
Lotmore related that Stoddard was his third child and he last saw him about a week ago. “That was the only son I have who loves me,” Lotmore said without prompted, adding that he fathered two other children but his decreased son always showed him love. Lotmore migrated to Trinidad when Stoddard was a child. His Maurice Lotmore, father of the mother was deceased Owen Stoddard, also absent in admitted his son got involved his life so “he in some illegal activity but grew up sort that he was just beginning to of on his own change his life when it was and he end snuffed out. up getting in trouble and being arrested,” Lotmore disclosed. “But since I come back I see he settle down.” He told THE VINCENTIAN that he did not know immediately that his son was killed. He found out on Saturday morning. “I was in town and a man say ‘what happen, yo a hear nothing?’ and I said no and then the man come and tell me say they killed him (Stoddard) last night. I couldn’t understand this so I said let me go and check him and by the way I dey I hear people telling me their condolences,” the grieving father said on how he found out that his son was killed. He then went to the morgue at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital to identify his son. “It mash me up bad. As I tell you that was the guy who love me the most out of all my children. He check for me, so that is a great weakness,” Lotmore said with a discernible crack in his voice. He said that from all accounts the person who killed his son did not go there (Pole Yard) to do so because Stoddard is not the type of person who would attract such an attack. “If he owes you, he go come and pay you. I now trying to set him up so he don’t do no illegal business and he bin done start putting up a stall .. to sell provision. They (thieves) break it down and go with all the wood as he dead. As he dead they break he house and they take everything in the house,” said the deceased father, adding. “I would like to see them find the killer.” Stoddard was laid to rest on Thursday less than a week after he was killed. (KH)
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022. 15.
16. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022. 17.
V
18. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN
Advice
Too much size Dear George,
MY BOYFRIEND and I met 5 months ago and before we got sexual, he often boasted about how well-endowed he was. I let him know that was right down my alley since I had broken up with my last boyfriend because of how small and ineffective he was. George, I was in for a huge surprise the day he revealed himself to me. I’ve tried to accommodate this guy time and time again but it not working for me. He is much too much for me. I got bruised every time we tried to make something happen. I would hate to see him go but what other choice do I have?
Splitting up
Dear Splitting up, There is a saying, “He who’s in the kitchen feels the heat” which is exactly where you are right now. Before you look to send anyone out the kitchen or even leave you should explore what’s out there on the market to enhance your sexual experience. There are a number of lubricants on the market that might be of help to you. Of course there is always the option of seeing a sex therapist.
George
Tempted to cheat Dear George,
Dear Bored,
I have been married for 15 years and to be truthful I’m tired of having sex with the same person. I have never cheated on her but that may be about to change. I am not saying I want to get rid of her but I just need something different every now and then. I had this discussion with my wife and she thinks I’m losing my ‘marbles’. What do you think?
What do you think your response would be if your wife presented the same scenario to you? Your wife is the package that you chose and she should be able to meet your sexual needs and vice-versa. Find ways to rekindle the flame that is now burning low in your marriage and causing you to harbor unproductive thoughts. Marriage is for the long haul and the sooner you understand that the better.
Bored
George
A copycat co-worker to your boyfriend unless he allow it. If she does get to him then you A co-worker of mine know he was not what seems to want you thought he was. everything I have. I As far as your show up to work wearing a nice outfit she wants to know how she can get one too. I recently got a new car and she is determined to get the exact same car. I introduced her to my boyfriend two weeks ago and since that she enquires about him incessantly. So much so, I’m wondering if she is after him as well. Do you think I should worry?
Dear George,
Wondering heart Dear Wondering heart, If you and your boyfriend are truly in love and have settled in your hearts that you trust each other, you have ‘nought’ to worry about, whether it’s about your co-worker or anyone else. No one can get access
coworker is concerned, it is good to be a trend setter.
George
Leisure
ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) You can make alterations to your appearance that everyone will admire. Try to calm down emotionally about personal financial matters. You need to look into ways to change your selfimage. Abrupt action will cause difficulties with relatives. TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) You need to lie back and enjoy a little rest. A lack of support and negativity have been the main problems. Your lover will cost you dearly if you let them. Don't make mountains out of molehills if you want to avoid conflict. GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Social gatherings will be conducive to meeting new potential mates. You may be emotionally unstable if you let someone you care about get away with verbal abuse. You may experience setbacks due to additional responsibilities with loved ones. CANCER (June 22-July 22) You could be emotional if you didn't take care of problems with loved ones. Arguments will flare up if you get backed into an emotional corner. Make plans to do something special with the one you love. Your efforts won't go unnoticed; however, someone you work with may get jealous. LEO(July 23-Aug 22) In return, the satisfaction you get is enough for you. Use your quick wit to win points with friends. Try to find another time to present work or ideas this week. Your need to obtain additional details will lead you into strange topics of conversation. VIRGO (AUG. 23 -Sept. 23) Minor accidents could cause trauma and major setbacks. Curb your mood swings; they could result in loneliness. You have the stamina and determination to succeed. Sudden romantic encounters are quite likely,
but discretion will be a must. LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Attempt to face key issues with lovers or problems could escalate. Female colleagues may be able to help you get the job done. A long discussion is in order if you wish to clear the air. Mishaps due to preoccupation will be upsetting. SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You may jump from the frying pan into the fire if you make a move this week. Get on with business. Coworkers may not be giving you all the pertinent information. Try not to be too lavish with your lover. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Pleasure trips will be emotionally favorable. Curb or cut out that bad habit you've been meaning to do something about. You need to do something that will make you feel better about yourself. Get ready to discover love, passion, and the desire to enjoy all that life has to offer. CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Organize your day well if you wish to accomplish all you set out to do. Uncertainty regarding your direction is likely. You will learn a great deal from people with different cultural backgrounds. Emotional disputes will only end in sorrow. AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Don't let your emotions interfere with moneymaking deals. Don't be alarmed. Look after financial transactions this week. Don't say something you'll live to regret. PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Pamper yourself; you deserve it. Changes at home might come fast and furious. You are best to deal with those outside your family. You haven't been watching your spending habits and you may have been neglecting your duties.
ACROSS 1. Home, informally 5. In times past 8. Chair part 11. Fragrance 12. Marvel Comics super villain 13. Life partner 14. Hard-to-decide predicaments 16. Quiz 17. Sharon or Oliver of Hollywood 18. “___ we forget…” 20. Some forensic evidence 22. Wears down 25. Advise 29. Wintertime cupful 31. “Wow” feeling 32. Down and dirty 34. Holed up 35. Table setting piece 38. Young baby age 41. Actors’ milieu 43. Draw 44. Dial 46. Crowd motion 50. Ruined 53. It contributes to a higher overall measurement 55. Tiara wearer 56. Prohibition ___ 57. Honest 58. Quick 59. Digital watch display, for example 60. Germ DOWN 1. Non-verbal O.K.s 2. Condense 3. Unassisted
4. Hair phases 5. Purpose 6. Intent 7. Dawning 8. Careless 9. Kennedy abbr. 10. Ruby or emerald 13. Newspaper department 15. A dropdown 19. Word following a typo 21. That’s ___ you need to know! 23. Resounding noise 24. Potting requirement 25. Top limit 26. Night fliers
27. ___ as a pin 28. Squirt gun 30. Comment 33. Dripping 36. Nibble on 37. Idea of self 39. Points at 40. Undergoes a chemical change
LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION
V
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022. 19.
42. Stand 45. Utter 47. Admirable 48. Game name 49. Observe 50. Vacation location 51. Bounce 52. Pick 54. Mischievous
V
20. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN
Field athletes smash national records Verrol Sam IT WAS A RECORDBREAKING WEEKEND for three Vincentian athletes who competed in the Anthrick Corporate Area Meet, held last Friday and Saturday at the Jamaica National Stadium. Topping the list was Verrol Sam. He broke
Uroy Ryan
the St. Vincent and the Grenadines all-time High Jump record and reset his own Under-20 mark in the event. Competing for Kingston College, Sam cleared the bar at 2.05m to win the Class One title and qualify for this year’s Carifta Games. But more importantly, he erased his previous SVG Under-20 Male best of 2.0m, as well as raised
Amal Glasgow
the St. Vincent and the Grenadines bar of 2.01m, set by Zimbert Bramble in 2009. Meanwhile, Uroy Ryan extended the mark on the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Male Under-20 Long Jump record. Competing for Jamaica College, Ryan leapt to 7:59m, to finish second, but eclipsed his previous record of 7:40m, set in 2021. Not only did Ryan break the National Under-20 record, but he made the qualifying standard for the Carifta Games and the World Athletics Junior Championships in Cali, Colombia, in August of this year. Amal Glasgow, competing for Kingston College, also wrote himself into the list of
qualifiers for the Carifta Games and World Juniors when he clocked 47.39 in the 400m. The qualifying standard was 48 secs. The Jamaica-based trio will join locallybased athletes who, this Saturday and Sunday at the Diamond Track Facility, will seek to meet the standards.
Roban on track Joining in the recordbreaking performances was Handal Roban, who smashed the Class One 800m, clocking 1:49.53 and removing Calabar’s Kimar Farquharson’s 1:49.79 from the record books in the process. Roban also helped his Jamaica College lower the Class One 4 x 400 record to 3:09.96. Roban is the St.
BSSS bags medals, breaks records THE BLACK SANDS SWIM SQUAD (BSSS) had another successful overseas outing this time at the, held at the Barbados Aquatic Centre from March 2 — 6. Seven swimmers from BSSS came away from the Championship with a total of 39 medals (14 Gold, 15 Silver and 10 Bronze) and in the process accounted for rewriting six national records. Leading the medal tally was Jamie Joachim in the Girls 13 to 14 age group. She pouched eleven medals including 2 gold, 5 silver and four bronze. Kennice Greene, swimming in that same group secured an outstanding 6 gold and added 2 bronze. Brandon George in the Boys 13 to 14 had 4 gold, 5 silver and 1 bronze. Meanwhile, Kenale Alleyne gained four medals, 3 silver and a bronze competing in the Boys 15 to 17 age category. Also in that age group was Bryson George who gained 2 gold and a silver. Completing the list of medallists were Zariel Nelson and Seth Byron in the Girls 13 to 14. Byron won a silver and a bronze and Nelson helped herself to a bronze.
Six Records reset
Apart from the medals, the BSSS swimmers were able to rest six national records. Brandon George in the Boys 13- 14 age group set two new records. He reestablished the 200m Backstroke to 2:29.23 and the 100m Backstroke to 1:7.84. Jamie Joachim renamed two records as well, as she set new The BSSS swimmers who competed in the marks for the Barbados Aquatic Sports Association Girls 13 to 14: Championships (From left) - Seth Byron, Kennice 2:40.36 for the 200m Backstroke Greene, Bryson George, Zariel Nelson, Kenale Alleyne, Jamie Joachim, Brandon George. and 1:13.62 for the 100m Grenadines at the 2022 Carifta Backstroke. Swim Championships, slated for Kennice Greene moved the record in the Girls 13 to 14 100m Barbados, 16th to 19th April. They are: Eltonique Leonard — Freestyle to a new mark of 1:02.1, Girls 11-12; while Kennice and Kenale Alleyne rewrote the Greene, Kevern Da Silva, Jamie Boys 15 to 17, 200m Freestyle to Joachim and Zariel Nelson - Girls 2:08.19. 13-14; Brandon George and Eleven chosen for Carifta Swim Matthew Ballah - Boys 13 to 14; Tia Gun-Munro - Girls 15 to 17; Championships Bryson George , Eltonte Leonard and Kenale Alleyne - Boys 15 to Eleven swimmers will 17. represent St Vincent and the
Vincent and the Grenadines all-time record holder for the 800m. Additionally, he holds the National Under-20 1500m record, along with 400m, 800m and 1500m records of the Intermediate Division at the Inter Secondary School Athletics Championships (ISSA). Roban was also part of the quartet that established the Under 20
Handel Roban 4 x400m record in 2019, when he teamed up with Deron Edwards, Malik Ferdinand and Nellie Ambriton.
DeRoche champs LQ Classic Junior TT VINCENTIANS AKEIL DEROCHE won the LQ Classic Junior Table Tennis Tournament, played in Grenada March 5 and 6. DeRoche defeated his fellow countryman Michel Creese in the finals, 11/7, 7/11, 11/6, 11/2, to capture the singles title. On the way to the finals, DeRoche outplayed Razel Federicks of Grenada 11/6, 11/7, 11/9 in one semi-final. Creese earned his berth in (L-R): Vincentians Akeil the finals after an DeRoche, eventual extended 9/11, 13/11, 8/11, 11/9, 11/4 victory winner, and Michel Creese, runner-up, were over Shermal the overall standout Willliams, also of performers in a recent Grenada. Junior TT Tournament in Both Vincentian Grenada. players were the top performers after the open round in a tournament played on a roundrobin basis. The two-member Vincentian team was managed and coached by Sean Stanley. I.B.A.ALLEN
Action in the finals featuring Akeil DeRoche (right) and Michel Creese.
V
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022. 21.
Sports
Former administrator takes umbrage with SVGFF DOMINIC STOWE, a past President of the Bequia Football Association (BFA) and Executive member of the SVG Football Federation (SVHFF) has expressed his concern and displeasure with the manner in which the SVGFF is handling the
affairs of the sports. “In my humble view,” Stowe said, “of the points issued in their mandate, (another) one should have been added, which is to communicate with their membership as quickly as possible…. far more progress would
Search for new Vincy Heat manager THE SEARCH is on for a full-time manager of the SVG Senior Men’s Football Team, affectionately known as “Vincy Heat”. And those who are hopeful of selection must fit a set of criteria. According to a SVG Football Federation (SVGFF) release, that ideal person must possess a high degree of leadership, planning, organizational, coaching delivery, interpersonal, motivational and critical thinking skills, and have served for at least five Rohan Thomas Jr. was years as a team the last ‘permanent’ manager. Manager of St. Vincent Additionally, the and the Grenadines’ chosen candidate must Senior National Football have been computer team. literate with competence in Microsoft Word, Power Point and Excel. Completion of courses in management will be an asset. When selected, the Manager must lend support to the Head Coach in terms of technical matters, assist the Head Coach in implementation and coordination of training programmes, along with enforcing all code of conduct, rules and regulations. The Manager must also maintain communication lines with the SVGFF’s General Secretariat and other relevant SVGFF staff members. The timely reporting of incidents and accidents, producing reports of the team’s activities and the ability to take initiatives, are some of the other requirements of the Team Manager. Applicants must provide four references along with an updated resume, and have until Friday, 11th March to email their applications to svgfootball@gmail.com. Vincy Heat has been without a permanent Manager since 8th February, last year, when Rohan Thomas Jr. tendered his resignation forthwith. However, Renson Haynes was made Interim Manager for the World Cup Qualifiers and the Concacaf Gold Cup Qualifier.
have been made, because there were straightforward questions that were asked, and there was the demand for direct answers, especially from the president Carl Dickson, who seems not to want to communicate with the affiliates by not having a Congress.” Stowe acknowledged that there are various challenges which didn’t occur overnight but posited, “I am not seeing a more genuine interest by Carl Dickson led administration to see if they can re-engage,
revamp and return the image of St. Vincent and the Grenadines football to where it rightfully deserves.” The Bequia native said that during the (Covid-19) pandemic, the Executive demonstrated poor communication, glaring errors regarding good governance which, according to some, are alleged to have created openings for abuse of privileges. He advanced the view that since the COVID-19 pandemic, the trust between the SVGFF and its membership has
deteriorated. He went on further, “For some reason there is a misplaced sense of arrogance, division and superiority surrounding SVG Football at the Executive Level. All previous new and innovative ideas are butchered and the few that are taken are executed poorly, which only succeeds in deterring future interest. It is very clear that arrogance is mistaken for professionalism….. .” It is paramount to rekindle a sound and mutually respected
Dominic Stowe, a former national football administrator here, thinks the current executive of the SVGFF is not approaching fulfilment of its mandate with any sense of professionalism. relationship between membership and federation, and I believe that by working together earnestly, it can be achieved, Stowe suggested. I.B.A ALLEN
BlueChip takes SVGCC B’ball title BLUECHIP ACADEMY are Champions of the 2022 SVG Community College Invitational Basketball Competition. They took the title when they resoundingly beat former champions Medical Schools Combined, 52-35, in the final played at Community College hard court last week. The competition’s MVP and MVP of the Final, Marques Thomas, took charge early to give BlueChip Academy a 166 lead. Medical Schools Combined had a better second period, scoring just two less than the new champions but still trailed 30-18 at the half way point. BlueChip Academy continued steady progress to the finish line ending the 3rd period leading 41-27 before they bounced home to a 53-35 victory. Thomas, who was named the Offensive Player of the Final, led the scoring for BlueChip Acadeny with 21 points while Jonelson Compton added 14 points. Abraham Adefesaye of the Medical Schools Combined, who copped the award for the Best Defensive Player in the competition, sunk 19 points. The third-place playoff between Jules Anthony Northern Boys and the Division of Technical and Vocational was a
BlueChip - SVGCC Basketball Champion. keenly contested affair. It ended in a 40-36 triumph for the Northern Boyz. Northern Boyz rushed out to a 12-5 first quarter lead. DTVE staged a comeback to trail 24-18 at the end of the second quarter and continued on that trend to close the third quarter trailing 36-32. However, Northern Boyz held their nerve and to win 40-36. Leading scorers were Kurtney Franklyn who bucketed 23 points
for the Jules Anthony Northern Boyz and Jeshawn Delpesche with 11 points for DTVE. The following were named MVPs of their respective teams: Rueben Ross — MVP of DTVE; Kahlil Charles — MVP of DASGS; Marques Thomas—MVP of BlueChip; Ingram ITTU — MVP of Med. Schools; Kurtney Franklyn —MVP of N. Boyz. I.B.A. ALLEN
V
22. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN
Sports
Still calling out your name I TRY TO FORGET about Julius Louis Anthony, for the thought is too painful for me. But that is the reality and one has to move on. But how does one forget such a person. Having known him for my all of my life, I have been forced to adjusting to life without Jules. He died November 16, 2018. That Friday morning, he had plans of going to the Argyle International Airport to take pictures of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Senior Football team going to Turks and Caicos for Nation League duties. That when the shocking end dawned on every one. Last week Tuesday March 1, there was a function at the Arnos Vale Playing Field. That is an area where Jules would have surfaced time and time again. Whether it was for an international football match, any North Leeward sporting outfit in action, or he involved in some sort of National Sports Council deliberations. Jules was not about sports only, although that formed a distinguishing factor. He was a Tutor, who made getting your license something of a casual affair. He was a trade Unionist, a foundation member of the National Workers’ Movement, and not to mix up with other Union duties, he was one of a group of nine which concretised the Kingstown Cooperative Credit Union. Think about his exploits as a musician, because, Jules was from a musical family, son of Leopold David Anthony, the well-known violinist, saxophonist, composer and folklorist. Jules played the trumpet, enough to appear with the band Intense Heat, but perhaps his best instrument was handling negotiations on whatever issue he needed to. It is no surprise therefore that Jules’ name continues to crop up. The newest is the Carlos James, MSDA Jules Anthony Northern Stars. Anyone with connection to North Leeward will continue to honour the contribution that Jules made to the constituency. But he was so broad minded, that his duties embraced the national agenda. Jules split his time in such a way that he seemed to have enough for everybody. When villagers returned home, Jules was a natural contact. He picked them up at the airport, or sea port, and took care of their logistics. He was respected in that regard. The fact that a North Leeward Cricket team is taking part national cricket competition is a continuation of Jules’ foundation. Not every aspect of his sacrifice was met with approval. He endured more than his fair share of abuse, and indeed ridicule. For some persons, whether through naivety, or malice, sought to malign him. Jules had a stout heart, and nurtured a kindred spirit. So nothing ruffled him. Those with a sense of purpose and commitment will remember the path Jules created over his life time. And the pages of his legacy continue to unfold. From time to time, the question will pop. Who is Jules Anthony? At least, this segment will arouse curiosity. All you have to do is research. There are sources you turn to. Start with some individuals. Once they have any roots in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, there will be some way in which they relate to him. His family is wide. For having grown in a family setting, he cultivated a generation of his own, and that forms part of his extended family. God bless you Jules.
Bascombe is WICBC Technical Director
In addition to his subregional cricket responsibilities, Miles Bascombe is the full time Manager of the National Sports Council.
MILES BASCOMBE is the Technical Director for Windwards Cricket. His appointment follows the Windward Islands Cricket Board’s (WICB) retreat held in St. Lucia last month, during which the role was created. High on Bascombe’s agenda will be to develop a comprehensive development pathway for junior and senior cricketers in the Windward Islands. He will also be expected to focus on streamlining the Volcano franchise’s activities with cricket in the four member states. The Technical Director will be assisted by soon to be appointed Operations Managers/Development
Officers in each of the four Windward Islands. Prior to his new appointment, Bascombe, a former West Indies Crciekt team selector, served as Technical Adviser to the WICB which saw him working closely with the franchise head coach, towards modernizing the coaching program for contracted players. WICB Vice President Dwain Gill expressed enthusiasm about the new appointment. Gill said, “This role is critical to advance cricket in the region, and Miles’s appointment is timely. He will bring immense value to this position with his wit and analytical mind.” Bascombe said he was
upbeat about the role. “It is an exciting opportunity to make an impact in a technical capacity. I am quite keen to play my part as we collectively tackle the tasks ahead to improve Windwards cricket and by extension West Indies cricket.” Bascombe represented West Indies in one international T20 and played First-class and List A cricket for the Windward Islands and Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC). He is a CWI certified coach and holds a BSc in Electronics and MSc in e-Commerce from the University of the West Indies. I.B.A.ALLEN
Pollard, Simmons should face the axe “We don’t have a winning formula under either Pollard or Simmons’ and they should face the axe for poor results.” Such was the sentiment expressed on a recent episode of the Mason and Guest aired on Voice of Barbados radio, by former West Indies batsman, Carlisle Best. Best expressed being puzzled by what he said was the reluctance by Cricket West Indies (CWI) to part ways with team captain Kieron Pollard and coach Phil Simmons, given the team’s recent poor run of performances. Simmons, who was appointed coach of the West Indies Senior Male team in 2019, and
Pollard, who was appointed West Indies white-ball captain that same year, have come under immense pressure in recent months, following a string of bad results and poor performances. An aging Windies squad put in a poorly, lackluster showing at last year’s T20 World Cup, where they exited meekly, and followed that up with a historical One Day International series loss to Ireland, and 3-0 T20 series sweep at the hands of Pakistan. The team rallied to beat England 3-2 in a Carlisle Best former middle order West Indies T20 series against batsman spoke on the basis of tenure and England last month but experience. were defeated 6-0 overall, 3-0 (ODI), 3-0 that formula now with In particular, the (T20I), in their most batting form of the team either captain Pollard or recent tour of India. has been lambasted with coach Simmons. It’s as simple as that,” he many believing there to added. be an overall lack of concentration. I.B.A. ALLEN “What kind of leader is not going to be accountable for the results that occur under his stewardship,” Best told the Mason and Guest radio show. “If we are going forward, we have to focus primarily on performances and those performances have to be result oriented…Do we want a winning team and can we find that Phil Simmons (left) and Keiron Pollard have come winning formula, certainly we do not have under the glare cricket fans across the region.
V
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022. 23.
Classifieds
Night of horror at Pole Yard
Continued from Backpage. When the gunman got closer to the shop, the witnessed said the gunman “pushed the man away” but not before, “is like the gunman use he as a shield or a distraction.” Some customers in the shop
jumped over the counter when they heard the first gunshot. Meanwhile the owner of the shop, who did not want to be identified, said that he was saddened by what transpired. Police, who have mounted an investigation into the shooting
DELARNO WINSTON SPENCER Sunday, 6th March, 2022 S.D.A Church Chateaubelair Viewing: 10:00 a.m. Service: 11:00 a.m. Interment: Fitz Hughes Cemetery
KENROY DENNIS JOSEPH a.k.a. Brother Bom Shato Saturday, 5th March, 2022 Stream of Power Church Carriere Viewing: 9:00 a.m. Service: 10:00 a.m. Interment: Windsor Cemetery
incident, has designated Stoddard’s death as the sixth homicide so far for 2022. A post mortem examination would be conducted on the deceased to ascertain the exact cause of death, the police said. (Related story on Page 14)
SHERMA AZELA PATRICIA ISAACS Thursday, 3rd March, 2022 S.D.A. Church Kingstown Viewing: 10:00 a.m. Service: 11:00 a.m. Interment: Kingstown Cemetery
KAOMA OHENE SAMUEL Sunday, 6th March, 2022 Biabou SDA Church Viewing: 10:00 a.m. Service: 11:00 a.m. Interment: Biabou Cemetery
OLGA ENID MARY ROCK a.k.a Ms James/ Nennie Peggy Sunday, 6th March, 2022 S.D.A. Church Kingstown Viewing: 10:00 a.m. Service: 11:00 a.m. Interment: Kingstown Cemetery BROTHER METH ARMALDO MORGAN Better known as brother Morgan/ Uncle Meth/ Dr Noogo Yashin/ Paps Papa Saturday 5th March, 2022 New Testament Church of God Barrouallie Viewing: 9:00 a.m. Service: 10:00 a.m. Interment: Glebe Hill Cemetery
AI REAL ESTATE Murray Village 3 bedrm Property on 4,800 sq.ft. - $350,000.00 - H163 Brighton 6,681 sq.ft @ $10.00 p.s.f. - $66,810.00 - BB198 Queens Drive 7,523 sq.ft @ 9.50 p.s.f. - $71,468.50 - BB160 Ruthland Vale 9,367 sq.ft. @ $10.00 p.s.f. - $93,670.00 - BB283 (784)- 457-2087/(718)-807-4376 office (784)-493-9431/(784)-533-0431 whatsappcell donp@vincysurf.com
FRIDAY, MARCH 11,
2022
VOLUME 116, No.10
www.thevincentian.com
EC$1.50
NIGHT OF HORROR AT POLE YARD ‘Kenny’ Stoddard of Paul Avenue were all nursing multiple bullet wounds, WHAT ONE resident of Pole Yard, Arnos according to a police report. Vale, described as “a normal night of The victims made their way to the gambling,” turned into one of pain and Milton Cato Memorial Hospital mourning after three men were shot, one (MCMH) for medical attention where fatally. Stoddard, 48 years old, succumbed to According to an eye witness his injuries. The other two (2) victims account, at about 11 p.m on Thursday were warded and reported to be in 3rd March, a lone gunman opened fire stable condition. on a shop (in Pole Yard), where a Brudy, in speaking with this group of unsuspecting customers were reporter, recalled being seated to the engaged in a game of cards. left of Samuel when he heard a loud When the hail of bullets ceased, explosion. He looked towards Samuel Randolph ‘Bruce Lee’ Samuel of Lowmans Hill, Jomo Brudy of Edinboro/Arnos Vale and Owen by KENVILLE HORNE
and noticed that he had been hit on his ear. In an instant, “bullets began to rain down,” Broody said hitting Stoddard and Samuel in the process. As the gunman made his escape, he turned in the direction of the shop and discharged a few more rounds. It was at this point, Brudy said, he was shot. Despite being shot Brudy was able to drive himself and the other two victims to the MCMH. He initially had only Samuel with him when a bystander shouted that Stoddard was lying on the ground. Broody said he reversed and somehow lifted Stoddard into the car. Another witness said that a man who was in the shop but had left a few minutes before the shooting began,
Owen ‘Kenny’ Stoddard, listed as homicide victim No. 6 for the year, died as a result of gun shots. related that he was “stick up” by two masked men and forced to go back to the shop with one of them. Continued on Page 23.
KINGÊS CHARGE AMENDED
Randolph Samuel is said to have been the first to be hit by a bullet. Jomo Brudy was shot but drove himself and the other victims to the MCMH in Kingstown. The shop where the shooting took place was closed when THE VINCENTIAN visited on Wednesday.
last Friday, King took ADRIANA KING is no to Nice Radio to air longer expected to her feelings on the answer to a charge of earlier development. obstructing Prime Minister Dr. Ralph She scoffed at the Gonsalves while he was continuing “charade” going to Parliament On against her, August 5, during the questioning “..how height of street protest are you going to show against the that I attempted to government’s COVID-19 block this man when related action. every single She will now answer Vincentian who was to a charge of on that protest line ‘attempting to obstruct Adriana King, teacher, could say I was the Prime Minister’. community activist, has to nowhere near Ralph King, a teacher at the endure a further delay in Gonsalves?” St. Vincent Grammar having her court matter, She said the School who is on what now amended, addressed. situation shed a bad she would describe as (Photo Source: light on the police SchoolTalk online forum) “forced leave”, learned force saying it about the amendment to “makes the entire her charge when she appeared at the police force look stupid.” Kingstown Magistrate’s Court last King maintained her innocence and Friday, the day set for the hearing off declared, “They have their case, they the original charge. will have to try to prove what they Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett granted an adjournment to March 30 are charging me of. I know they don’t have any proof of this, because I have for hearing on the amended charge. When the matter was done with at never done it; I didn’t do it. As Shaggy would say, ‘it wasn’t me’.” the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court
Published by The VINCENTIAN Publishing Co. Ltd, St. Vincent and the Grenadines;
Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.