Issuu

FRIDAY, APRIL 22,

2022

VOLUME 116, No.16

Nurse on cocaine charge Page 4

www.thevincentian.com

More could have been done Page 11

EC$1.50

OT laid to rest Page 13

VT payments due Page 14

Carifta medallists Page 28

VINCENTIAN MIXED FEELINGS

JURIST JAILED IN THE US

Sylvia Ash, a former justice of the New York State Supreme Court, will now be informed by real life experience of both sides of the ‘judicial fence’. by NELSON A. KING US CORRESPONDENT naking@verizon.net

A UNITED STATES FEDERAL JUDGE on Wednesday sentenced Vincentian jurist Sylvia G.

Ash to 15 months in prison for conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice and making a false statement to a federal agent. US District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, of Manhattan federal court in New York, imposed the sentence on Ash, 64, a Brooklyn, New York resident, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago to Grenadian and Vincentian parents. Her father was the late Rudolph “Fireman” Ash, of Kingstown Hill. The Ashes are renowned for their vibrant participation in the annual Christmas Lighting contest in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Kaplan said Ash’s “crimes struck at the heart of the criminal justice system.” Ash, a former justice of the New York State Supreme Court and chair of the Board of Directors of the Municipal Credit Union (MCU) a nonprofit financial institution headquartered in New York, was convicted in

December 2021 after a two-week jury trial before Judge Kaplan. Damian Williams, the Jamaican American United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said the charges against Ash arose from a scheme to impede the federal criminal investigation into fraud and corruption at MCU, a non-profit, multibillion-dollar financial institution, including misconduct committed by Kam Wong, the former chief

ABOUT RICHMOND QUARRY

TWO FRIDAY’S AGO, a New Democratic Party (NDP) delegation journeyed to Chateaubelair and Fitz Hughes in North Leeward, to press home their position on the quarry/mining establishment earmarked for Richmond. That position: There should be no permission granted for the establishment of a quarry and mining operations in Richmond before a full and detailed Environment Impact Assessment is conducted and accepted. Residents of the two North Leeward communities used the occasion of the NDP’s visit to vent their feelings about the project.

Ganja Farmer: No problem He had no problem with the quarry. “Nothing is going on job-wise for the people in North Leeward,” he said, including finding market for his ganja. Now that the project is in motion, he said he might be lucky to get a job. And, as far as the project affecting the environment, he said, “It just left to be seen what will be the outcome.” Continued on Page 3.

Continued on Page 3. The quarry site at Richmond during the month of March showed some trucking activity. (Credit: Lance Neverson – Facebook)

2. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

Education

YAP trainees persist despite challenges vulnerable, marginalized and unemployed, already had challenges, The 2021 graduates of the Marion House yet persevered despite some setbacks Youth Assistance Programme (YAP) have in the operations of the programme been commended for their resilience in due to the volcanic eruptions and the wake of the La Soufriere eruptions restrictions occasioned by COVID-19. and the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges and At the recent graduation ceremony setbacks, the majority of the YAP held at the St. Mary’s Roman Catholic participants didn’t quit. Church, Director Jeanie Ollivierre said Ollivierre highlighted the challenges the physical and sociological trauma of the Georgetown institute not experienced by the reopening for some time after the youth, particularly volcanic eruption but was pleased that in the rural the programme was still able to offer community of comprehensive training and Georgetown, has certification. She noted that the been extraordinary. enhanced skills that these youths now She noted that possess should increase their the youngsters, who employability and sustainability. are for the most part The Marion House Director pointed out that, of the 256 applicants for Minister of Youth places in the programme, 42 of the 62 Orando Brewster who submitted applications from speaking at the Georgetown were approved, and 41 of Marion House the 194 youngsters from Kingstown. graduation. The year-long programme offered Stories by SHERON GARRAWAY

Graduates of the Marion House 2021 Youth Assistance Programme (YAP).

theoretical and practical Jeanie Ollivierre, training in areas such as auto Marion House mechanics, cosmetology, food Director, highlighted and beverage, home the resilience of furnishing, photography and those who manicure/pedicure. completed the Of the over 80% of programme. participants who completed facilitators, the courses, two became employed early in the programme, four migrated mentors and and one was committed to the Mental members of the Health Centre. corporate Several graduates have already been employed while others are in the sectors. In a process of becoming entrepreneurs, message Ollivierre said. that was The Marion House Director said, read, Julian along with receiving a stipend during Mascoll who is the Project Manager of their training, those who stayed the the overseas based Marion Holder course received tools in their areas of Trust, said they were proud to partner specialization and a sizeable bonus with Marion House in the Youth cheque to facilitate their embarking Assistance Programme, in fulfilment of towards self-employment. the founder’s strong belief in education Ollivierre also divulged that the as an agent of change. YAP programme would also be Minister of Youth and Social focusing on making the youth more Development Orando Brewster also knowledgeable of the youth parliament, which would ensure more commended the YAP graduates for persisting in spite of their challenges. youth engagement in power sharing Minister Brewster admitted that he and decision making in SVG. himself also had a challenging life One of the facilitators, former Speaker of The House Assembly Jomo being raised by a single parent (mother). Thomas, in addressing the ceremony, He commended Jeanie Ollivierre, emphasised the importance of the Catholic Church and other impacting the lives of others and supporters of the YAP programme, as commended the participants for they were creating an entre-preneurial sticking with the programme. spirit amongst the youth. Board Member of Marion House, Also in attendance was Dominic Sutherland thanked the Parliamentary Representative for East benefactor of the programme - the Kingstown Fitz Bramble who handed Marion Holder Memorial Trust - and out certificates to the graduates. also expressed gratitude to parents,

Library Week 2022 -

“Connect With Your Library” DESCRIBING the just concluded National Public Library, Archives and Documentation Services week of activities from April 2nd - 8th, 2022 as “well thought out and implemented, Education Minister Curtis King, in an interview with THE VINCENTIAN, said that he was proud of the programme. Taking a tour of Library Expo with a staff member, the Education Minister, who is also a Historian and Educator, expressed satisfaction with the various preservation initiatives to safeguard historical aspects of Vincentian society, among other things. He said it was important that

people can look back at events to help navigate their future. King was also extremely pleased with the various children programmes which he believes help children become more expressive, as they discover the literary world. Underscoring the importance of knowledge through reading, Director of Library Services Michelle King said the theme, ‘Connect With Your Library’ has broadened with the advancement of technological services. Ms. King revealed a collaboration with Ministry of Mobilisation, with the help of Agency for Public Information, API to produce an online story telling session will be aired in June to December. She said besides the regular reading to preschoolers on Saturday and the English and Math tutorial after school remedial lessons, there Minister of Education Curtis King looks over the displays at the miniexpo.

Pre-schoolers enjoying story time with reading Ambassador Hance John will also be help for students with their homework. King was also excited about the library book drive for prisoners and noted that reading and writing was part of the creative process to stimulate literacy development. The week of activities included storytelling, by Reading Ambassador Hance John and authors Samantha Williams and Kayla Williams on Saturday, April 2nd; Photo Exhibits at the Foyer on Tuesday 5th April; Staff Book Character Day and Team

Building Workshop for staff on Wednesday 6th April; Mini Book Expo and Meet-the-Authors and Publishers Writing Seminar on Thursday 7th April; and Story Telling with PreSchoolers on Friday 8th April. The Library also took the opportunity to hand over several learning tools and books to preschoolers who attended the storytelling events. This year marks the 129th Anniversary of the introduction of formal library service in St. Vincent.

lHE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022. 3.

News 3

MP questions pace of rebuilding SOME OFFICIALS are said to be concerned about the pace at which work was taking place in relation to rebuilding process following the eruption of La Soufrière in 2021. Member of Parliament for North Windward Montgomery Daniel said on NBC Radio on April 20 that while the rebuilding process in the Red Zone was ongoing, he had some issues with the pace at which it was being done. This sentiment, he said, was shared by the Director of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) Michelle Forbes. Daniel disclosed that there were still 44 persons being housed/sheltered following the volcanic eruptions which started on April 9, 2021. Many of these persons were said to have had Level 3 and 4 damage, major damage, to their properties.

While work on homes with Levels 1 and 2 damage was ongoing with BRAGSA and several sub-contractors doing the work, work on homes with Levels 3 and 4 were said to have just started, after Cabinet recently approved EC$2 million for work. As it stood according to Daniel, there were presently 12 homes which recorded Levels 3 and 4 damage that were being repaired. He gave the assurance that such persons should be able to move into their homes within one month. As for the Leeward side Daniel said work was ongoing on homes with Levels 1 and 2

damage and work on Levels 3 and 4 had just started. He said that construction on houses on the 12 lots of land acquired at Cumberland was set to begin soon with 12 units. This will be followed by the construction of an additional 41 units, this being contingent on the drawdown of funds promised by Mustique Charitable Organization. In relation to the 27 houses constructed at Orange Hill, Daniel informed that finishing work on the interior was still ongoing, and admitted that this had development had gone “beyond the time one

would have anticipated.” And while he said he was told that the work should be completed within two to three weeks, he pointed to work to be done on roads, an undertaking for which funds were already approve by cabinet. Daniel committed to “… working hard to ensure that these development are done, and working with Housing to ensure that much more is being done.” (DD)

Vincentian jurist jailed in the US Continued from Front page. executive officer (CEO), and Joseph Guagliardo,

PM doing well PRIME MINISTER Dr Ralph Gonsalves was said to be doing “well” after leaving the country over the Easter weekend for medical treatment. Deputy Prime Minister, Montgomery Daniel provided no details on the condition of the prime minister except to add that Prime Minister Dr. Ralph they all wished him well and that Gonsalves is not leaving his health up to chance, and the other rightfully so. members of Cabinet will continue to “hold the fort” until his return. Gonsalves, while speaking on radio on April 17 indicated that he was traveling to Venezuela and possibly Cuba for medical attention. He said that he started experiencing what he described as an excruciating pain on his right side and that he sought medical attention on Good Friday when he was advised to do a full check-up. (DD)

a former New York City Police Department Officer and member of MCU’s Supervisory Committee. Wong and Guagliardo were charged separately and previously pled guilty to embezzlement from MCU. “While serving as a sitting state judge, Sylvia Ash took repeated steps, over multiple months, to seek to obstruct the federal criminal investigation into misconduct at MCU that took place during Ash’s tenure as chair of its Board of Directors,” said Williams. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that those who attempt to thwart a federal investigation face serious consequences for that corrosive conduct,” he added. Williams had said earlier that Ash received annually “tens of thousands of dollars in reimbursements and other benefits from MCU, many of which were personal in nature, and not business-related, including airfare, hotels, food and entertainment expenses for her and a guest to attend

conferences both domestically and abroad, annual birthday parties at a minor league baseball stadium, payment for phone and cable bills and electronic devices.”

Ash’s Résumé Ash served as a judge in the New York State court system from about 2006 through March 2022, first as a Kings County (Brooklyn) Civil Court Judge, and then, starting in 2011, as a Kings County Supreme Court Justice. In January 2016 she was appointed as the presiding judge in the Kings County Supreme Court’s Commercial Division. ASH served on MCU’s Board from in or about May 2008 until on or about Aug. 15, 2016, when she resigned. From in or about May 2015 until her resignation, the US Attorney said Ash served as the chair of the Board. In or about March 2022, after Ash was convicted, she vacated her judicial office, Williams said.

Twenty-seven pre-fabricated houses were erected in Orange Hill for persons whose homes were damaged beyond repairs. The houses are still to be handed over.

Mixed feelings about Richmond quarry Continued from Front page.

Food Crop farmer: They took the best land “They took the best land away from the people and gave them to the developers,” he said. He suggested that the government should have given the farmers the land, considering those lands would be financially beneficial to farmers in the long term, since “...only a few people will benefit financially from the quarry mining operation.”

Another Farmer: A Gold mine “We have a gold mine right here in Richmond,” he said enthusiastically. He was of the opinion that people in the community were hypocrites; that they knew the project was coming on stream. “People are dishonest. They criticize the quarry that could transform North Leeward,” he asserted, even as he admitted that a few farmers would be affected in the long run.

Farmer: Vandalism This famer said he saw danger looming on the horizon. He was of the opinion that the government has no regard for the environment; that the government and the developers were vandalizing the scenery of Richmond Point. Dismayed, he said, “Soon, this lovely mountainous peak of Richmond would disappear. Wait until the elements of hurricane and torrential rain start to come; you will see what would happen!”

Ras-Natty: Welcomes project Ras-Natty, businessman of Chateaubelair, said, “I welcome the development! Those who criticize the project are visionless turkeys. They don’t have anything substantial to offer the people of St. Vincent! Most people who object to the quarry don’t want to see anything good happen to Chateaubelair.” Another young businessman from Chateaubelair projected that the operation would create jobs for the truckers and the unemployed youth of Chateaubelair. He cried shame on the “loudmouth critics” who oppose progress, saying that when it comes to the development of SVG, we politicize everything good! By: Carden A. Michael

4. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Nurse charged in $Million drug haul Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS AFTER SOME three months of

Lucresha Nanton pleaded not guilty to charges in relation to cocaine possession and trafficking.

investigations, police have made a breakthrough into the January 22, 2022 cocaine seizure at the Owia Health Clinic. On Tuesday, police arrested and charged Lucresha Nanton, 34-year-old Staff Nurse of Owia, in connection with the matter. Nanton has been charged with possession of 59,939 grams (54 kilos) of cocaine with intent to supply. She is also charged with possession of the drug for the purpose of drug trafficking. The drugs are said to have a wholesale value of over $1 million, and a street value of over $4 million. Nanton pleaded not guilty to both charges when she appeared before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne at the Serious Offences Court on Wednesday. Prosecutor Renrick Cato did not object to bail, but indicated that bail should reflect the value of the drugs. Cato said that the drugs weighed 54 kilos and the value of one kilo of cocaine, wholesale, is $30,000 which means that the total value of the drugs, with which Nanton is charged, would amount to $1,620,000 wholesale. But attorney Ronald Marks, who is

representing Nanton, rebutted that while he agreed that bail should reflect the value, it should not do so directly. He pointed out that not because the value of the drug amounted to over $1 million, bail should be set directly in relation to that sum, which would make it equivalent to a denial of bail. Marks suggested that bail could be granted with certain conditions attached. The Chief Magistrate agreed, and set bail in the sum of $200,000 with two sureties on condition that Nanton surrender her travel documents and report to the Owia Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Stop notices would be placed at all ports of entry and exit, and she is not to leave the state without the permission of the Serious Offences Court or the High Court. Her next Court date is on June 20. The charges against Nanton stemmed from a joint action between the Narcotics Unit and the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) around 6 p.m. on January 22, 2022. Corporal Lafleur Williams of the RRU led the investigations. The charges came about three

months after Rodney Thomas, 33-yearold sailor of Owia, was fined a total of $64,000 on charges of cocaine possession, and cocaine trafficking, stemming from a police raid at his home in Owia, just hours before the raid on the Owia Health Clinic. Thomas was fined $34,000 to be paid by August 31, or go to prison for one year for possession of 3,623 grams (3.6 kilos) of cocaine for the purpose of drug trafficking. He was also fined $30,000 for possession of the drug with intent to supply. He was ordered to pay $10,000 of that forthwith with an alternative of 6 months in prison, and the balance by May 2, or 11 months behind bars. Police acting on information received, found the cocaine in a knapsack concealed in a barrel in a room at Thomas’ home at Owia, during a raid around 5:30 a.m. on January 22, 2022. Thomas had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, but changed his pleas to guilty on his return to the Serious Offences Court on January 27, 2022. He was represented by attorney Grant Connell.

Self-confessed cocaine pusher fined JUNIOR HAYNES, a 21-year-old Largo Height man, who admitted to the police and the Court that he was selling cocaine to ‘make a hustle’, was, on Tuesday fined $800 forthwith, or two months in prison for possession of 2.3 grams of the drug, with intent to supply. Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne handed down the penalty at the Serious Offences Court, after Haynes pleaded guilty. He was unrepresented. The Court heard that around 12:45 p.m. on April 15, members of the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) were on Mobile Patrol of Rose Place where they saw Haynes walking on the bridge in the vicinity of the public bath. Appearing to have spotted the police transport, Haynes took a medicine bottle from his right front pocket, and threw it into a nearby river. Constable Lesron Craigg who was part of the patrol, told the driver of the police vehicle to stop and he complied. Craigg alighted the vehicle, and approached the defendant. Haynes then went into the river, retrieved the medicine bottle and handed it over to Craigg. It was found to contain several wrappings of cocaine. Haynes was wearing a waist purse containing $111.5 made up of various denominations.

When cautioned, Haynes told the police, “Is pon de street me live, ah hustle me ah hustle, and de money is from whey me done sell 20 pieces of cocaine.” In his explanation to the Court on Tuesday, Haynes said he had been living on the street for six months, and he was seeking employment so that he could help his mother and two siblings, ages 9 and 13. He said his mother was also homeless and his father was an alcoholic. “Daddy live in a rent house but he don’t want us there,” Haynes said, responding to questions from the Chief Magistrate. He said he dropped out of school at Form 1. When the Chief Magistrate asked the youngster if his mother could, clean, cook or wash, it was not clear what was his reply, but the Magistrate pointed out that even if his mother was not educated academically, there were things she can do to earn a living, like many other women have been doing to help themselves. “She is a horrible mother. These are the things I detest, and I have no pity,” the Magistrate asserted. She also advised Haynes to learn a skill as dropping out of school does not mean he cannot acquire other means of developing himself. In handing down the penalty, Browne stressed that the drug with which Haynes was found was cocaine, which is not locally grown, and the defendant admitted that he was selling it. She noted that Haynes was not using the drug himself but was selling it to others, thereby creating a category of persons of whom society has to be fearful. But she took into account Haynes’ explanation. Browne said the offence fell in category four, which is the lowest category based on the weight of the drug. In relation to mitigating factors, she highlighted the fact that Haynes cooperated with the police, and had no previous convictions. She noted that he was 21 and at that age the part of the brain which is responsible for making reasoned decisions, is still not fully developed. She set the value of the 2.5 grams of cocaine with which Haynes was found at $600, and informed the defendant that the Court had the power to impose a fine of three times the value. But the Magistrate

used 2.5 instead. Haynes also earned a one-third discount on his sentence for his early guilty plea. The Magistrate followed the sentencing guidelines, weighed the This is what a gram of aggravating and cocaine could look like. mitigating factors,and did the calculations to arrive at the penalty. The Magistrate also ordered that the $111.5 with which Haynes was found be forfeited to the consolidated fund.

Murder PI set for June 2 THE PRELIMINARY INQUIRY (PI) into the stabbing death of 43-year-old tyre repair man, Jeremiah Daniel of New Grounds, is slated for June 2 this year. The date was set at the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday when the accused, Jeremiah Bacchus, 41-yearold labourer of New Grounds, appeared in that Court before Chief Jeremiah Magistrate Rechanne Bacchus, murder Browne. accused, will have Bacchus is charged with his PI in June. Daniel’s murder. Daniel, who is employed at a tyre repair shop at New Grounds, died from a stab wound to the chest during an incident at New Grounds around 10 p.m on April 10. Bacchus had initially appeared before Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on April 12, but the matter was adjourned, and transferred to the Serious Offences Court.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022. 5.

News

Arnos Vale vendor in search of new location

MARALYN JOHN was one of those ‘informal settlers’, vendors, who had set up business in Arnos Vale, in an area at the bottom of the Vigie Stretch and at the ‘entrance’ to the Arnos Vale Playing Field. She had been operating there for 22 years, with electricity and water connections as approved by former Constituency representative Mike Browne. All of this cease when, by an order of the court, she, like the other ‘informal operators’ in the Maralyn John stands on the spot where area, was ordered to her ‘business’ was once located.

remove her business structures and to vacate the area. In an interview with THE VINCENTIAN, Maralyn made a public plea for assistance, more precisely help with finding an alternate location. Before this plea, she said she had tried reaching out to the Prime Minister but to no avail. She did, however, have an interview with Minister Montgomery Daniel who was at the time sitting in for the Prime Minister. According to John, Daniel

seemed sympathetic and referred her to the Chief Surveyor - Keith Francis — who, in Maralyn words, “..blew her off” saying, “’ It’s a done deal’.” THE VINCENTIAN made several unsuccessful attempts to contact Francis via his office number. Contact was eventually made via a cellphone nymber provided by one of his brothers. In the telephone interview of Tuesday, Francis stated he had made several recommendations to Cabinet but actual relocation is ‘above his pay grade’.

With respect to Maralyn’s case, he disclosed that she was paid $14,000 and wondered aloud whther this could not be put towards finding alternate location. In related matter, Francis disclosed that a new road is earmarked for the said area from which ‘vendors’ have been removed, so as to ease the bottleneck of traffic coming in and out of Kingstown, especially in rush hour traffic. Maralyn the meantime, has not found and alternate location from which to conduct business. (CD)

paid over to the government. The 2016-18 Audit Report said that only 37 businesses were canvassed, this occasioned by the dire shortage of staff and resources. It is understood, Bramble said, that the Director has been requesting resources — mainly training for employees — to enable her to audit statutory bodies. This need was supported by Leader of the Opposition Dr. Godwin Friday as far back as 2017. After a meeting that year with the Director of Audit and her deputy, he revealed that the Director of Audit had not been receiving adequate

resources and as a direct result, was unable to carry out her duties as they related to statutory bodies. He declared then that, “Starving the Director of Audit of trained personnel and other resources undermines governmental accountability.” Dr. Friday disclosed last year that the government failed to account for EC$95 million between 2010 and 2015, representing the difference between the amount drawn down under the government’s overdraft account and the amount presented to the Director of Audit by the Accountant General.

VAT Collected – More Outstanding IT APPEARS THAT WHILE the government has been collecting a fair share of what is owed to it as VAT payments, a significant amount remains outstanding. Speaking on last Monday’s New Time programme on NICE New Democratic Party (NDP) MP for East Kingstown, Fitzgerald Bramble, shared that the while the government collected $71 million in VAT in 2016, $68 million were still owed. This situation, Bramble said, was substantiated by a Director of Audit Fitzgerald Bramble, MP for East report for 2016-2018, Kingstown, describe the situation which he said was tabled of outstanding VAT payments to in parliament in government as “very serious”. February of this year.

Bramble described the situation as “very serious” since it raises questions about compliance by business, the private sector, and government’s ability to effectively collect what is owned to it as VAT. With respect to its terms of reference as they related to VAT, the Audit Department Report identified a number of factors affecting its proper functioning and efficiency. Among these was the issue of inadequate staff. According to the report, the Director of Audit would visit 194 businesses to ascertain whether the funds government collected matched the funds

6. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 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

Vincymas 2022 – coming and going AFTER AN ABSENCE of two years, Vincymas returns in 2022, as per an official announcement by the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC), the custodians of what is touted in recent times as the ‘Hottest Carnival in the Caribbean. The festival is set for June 24 to July 05. (By the way, readers should note that no longer is the festival named Vincy Mas, but those who seem to think that they have been mandated to ‘modernise’ the festival, have renamed it Vincymas. The rationale behind this change remains unknown. And the notion about a name change not having impact, should not be quashed as an irrelevance. Answer up, CDC.) Yes, Vincymas returns in 2022. However, there are conflicting if not wavering indications of what this return means. It appeared, as per the Minister of Culture at a Press Conference of April 5, that plans were already underway to have a full-blown Vincymas with amended Covid-19 protocols, giving the greenlight to commence in earnest intensive promotion of the 2022 edition of Vincymas, i.e., to press home the effort to invite revellers from all over the world especially the Diaspora, North America and the neighbouring Caribbean Islands, to participate. Then, however, there was something of a proviso, a caution and/or a protective veil of sorts by the Culture Minister with respect to how and the extent to which Vincymas 2022 would unfold; that that would be conditioned by the vaccination and positivity rates applicable to COVID-19. Should the positivity rate move to five percent or higher, then we can expect a festival of reduced activity, a scaled down version of carnival to which we have grown accustomed. We find this rather confusing and unfair to carnival makers. The only ‘Hardcore’ reduction in carnivalrelated official and unofficial activities that this publication is aware of is represented by the omission of a 2022 Miss SVG Pageant. Does a scaled down

festival mean the removal of other traditional shows? Does it mean less road revelry? The very generous handout of $23,000.00 to each of a possible 15 mas bands (total $345,000.00) with the stipulation that they each provide a masquerade band of a minimum of 42 masqueraders, and that the usual Band of the Year competition will be shelved, is indication that the CDC and the Ministry of Culture have decided that the festival will be scaled down. In simple terms, this will mean a total of 630 masqueraders on the road. Talk of a scaling back!!! Would it not make better sense if we decided here and now that Vincymas 2022 will be a scaled down affair. We can then plan around a workable list of activities. We can decide whether we’ll have J’Ouvert and the overwhelmingly popular Monday Afternoon Jam. We can decide what the Mardi Gras (if any) parade of bands could look like. We can decide to shelve some of the Mas related competitions. We can decide on innovative ways to ensure that calypso and steelband remain at the core of the festival. Yes, at this 10th hour, there are so many unanswered questions which the CDC, Culture and Health Ministries must address. Are the fetes going to be allowed to proceed without with any regard for the number of patrons and vaccination and positivity rates? A fete is known in some instances to attract up to 10,000 patrons, evidence of which was provided recently by a fete dubbed ‘Colour Fete’ held at Arnos Vale. If fetes are to be allowed to unfold in unbridled manner, what therefore is to stop the Monday Afternoon Jam with bands numbering between 3,000 and 10,000 patrons? It is time enough that the CDC and the Culture Ministry stop the pussyfooting and mamaguying and come forth and say unambiguously to the public that Vincymas will be a scaled down affair! The recent spike in infections (COVID-19)could well force the hands of Vincymas custodians to come clear on what we can, if anything, expect as a the 2022 edition of Vincymas.

Am I living in the Twilight Zone? I FEEL LIKE I LIVE in a twilight zone. Over the last few months, the Ministry of Agriculture has been in the news talking about a message I heard 50 years ago from the same Ministry. It is as if the Minister is unofficially paying tribute to the late Hon. Sir. James Mitchell. The only thing missing is the calypso competition to give us an updated calypso to “Back to the Land”. Sorry, much as I try, I cannot remember who sang that song to give credit where credit is due. One of my mentors always reminded me that there are no new problems, just new people facing old issues. So, it’s okay to do it again. The last successful agriculture/agribusiness government initiative gives rise to our first largescale macaroni production, pottery farms, and other agribusiness ventures. We produced so much ground provision, bananas, and other fruits and vegetables it created the “Trafficker Class” of businessmen. We even saw diversification in our overseas market. We began sending “stuff” to Canada and the USA every week. Remember Amerijet once a week taking off the “wrong way” at the ET Joshua airport. We had a Marketing Cooperation (Marketing Board) with functioning satellite depots throughout the country. Yes, remember that thing? When the government purchased the crops from the farmers and was responsible for marketing the produce throughout the region. I will not be like some older person you know who will tell you how great things were when we were young. We had problems. The Banana Growers Association and all the subsequent versions had their problems. The Marketing Board was not without its issues either. Some smaller farmers had great difficulty getting past the “gatekeeper.” They could only get their crop sold after the larger farmers were taken care of. Sometimes the Marketing Board buyers did not show up to purchase products, and farmers were left scrambling to find buyers or take their products to market themselves. So, you see, there were

problems with the old institutions. They were fixable, in my opinion. But this government seems to have walked away from finding solutions. Welcome back to the table. Some of the Minister of Agriculture’s recent statement is confusing. He outlined all of the “failed” marketing efforts and then proceeded to say, “We must find something new that works.” It is as if we are looking for a new name to call an old trick. I say, how about just calling a spade a spade? With a new name, a Marketing Corporation operative will have the same problems as the old Marketing Board if we do not fix the underlying issues. Again, I agree that we need to reimagine the marketing of agricultural produce, but it is not the only thing that needs fixing. If we must find a new name for selling the agricultural product, how about “Agriculture Marketing Institute”? You know, a teaching, learning practical initiative. For over forty years, I have followed the predicament of the small farmers in SVG. I have concluded the Ministry of Agricultural is not the place to discuss the marketing of any agricultural product. We have tried that and failed many times. The Ministry should limit its concerns to fixing the farm extension service, providing irrigation to farms, and other technical farming support. The farmer registration idea is a good one. It has excellent potential. We need a way to get the farmers to register the crops they are planting with the Ministry. It will be of tremendous help to those assigned to find a market for our produce. Now that we have finished all the handouts following the recent string of disasters, let us fix the list. Back to the idea of finding a market for the crops we grow? How about investing an equal amount of money as we do in tourism? Think about what a million-dollar advertising campaign can do for marketing agricultural produce in the region and farther afield. Horatio

lHE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022. 7.

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The new pedestrian crossing in Arnos vale DOES ANYBODY else have a problem with the pedestrian crossing that the Traffic Department installed between Sunrise Supermarket and the perimeter fence of the old E. T. Joshua airport in Arnos Vale? Recently, I was travelling from Kingstown to Georgetown when I almost hit a pedestrian using the crossing. Thank God I was not travelling at anything over 40 kilometres per hour and I had good brakes. I just did not see the person crossing until he was almost midway on the crossing. What a

catastrophe it could have been! I wonder if the Traffic Department realizes that this stretch of road is one of the busiest on the island — night or day. That could be the reason for the crossing… to give pedestrians some right of way and that makes sense. But when the crossing is not well defined; when there are no signs to notify drivers that a crossing is ahead; when the only sign that it is a crossing are the marking on the road which is not painted with reflected paint and which you

become aware of just before the crossing itself, we are asking for trouble. Can you imagine what could happen at night? It is time that the Traffic Department consult with Town Planners and other professionals before they take it upon themselves to install pedestrian crossings. It is one thing to expect drivers to eventually get attuned to the fact that there is a pedestrian crossing between Sunrise and the airport fence. It’s another thing when a stranger to the roads here, come upon a

crossing of which they have no prior warning. Might I suggest that signs be erected on either side of the crossing and some distance before the crossing, warning that a pedestrian crossing is ahead. Might I also suggest that these signs be lighted or that their lettering is done with reflective material. And while I am at it, perhaps we can erect appropriate signs before each pedestrian crossing in the state. If my memory serves me correctly, there used to be such signs, definitely in Kingstown.

We have been fortunate in that we do not have a dense road network and so our drivers get to know where the stops are, where the major roads are, even where the pot holes are. And yet, even as I say we are fortunate, I have to admit like all other users of the road, that this does not prevent road accidents which are likely to be fatal. Let us address that pedestrian cross before something terrible happens. A Mini Bus Driver

Union Island Roads in North Leeward need attention Watershed UNION ISLAND is well laid out with hills, valleys, swamps, forests, and beaches. Over the years people have erected buildings, roads, reservoirs, and ponds. The challenge for us is to have sustainable development. We must take conservation measures to preserve our environment. However, development projects seem to be ignoring our natural environment and are apparently causing an imbalance. Traditionally, when it rained, the waters flowed slowly down the hillsides over the forest cover, and the contoured hillsides towards the ponds or swamps. The ground water was recharged and the excess water ended up in the man-made ponds or into the swamps where there was settlement before the excess water made its way to the sea. In this way, excessive sediments were prevented from entering our waters to cloud our beaches and damage our coral reefs. In recent times, many homes were built without consideration to contouring the lands. Many farmers have ceased to practise the land conservation measures of contouring with stones, aloes and grass. Terracing, strip cropping, and the planting of trees for wind breaks have waned. Besides this, cows, sheep, and goats are perpetually on the loose destroying all vegetation. Part of the role of the Forest Ranger was to teach and encourage land conservation measures to local farmers and homeowners, and to help to keep the waterways clear. Roads were built directing the runoff straight to the sea instead of allowing the water to percolate through the land towards the ponds and swamps. This resulted in loss of water to the water table and the land becoming less productive and the climate drier. One consequence is that wells have to be sunk deeper to reach the water table. Some of the swamp lands have been filled in leaving no place for runoff to settle before going to the sea. The increased erosion resulting from building construction and over grazing cause the runoff to be muddy. This, entering the sea damages the coral reefs, and beaches. The aborted marina project in Ashton harbor has blocked the free flow of water and caused some stagnation there. A plan for better circulation should be put in place. With more conscious thought all of us can act to prevent or mitigate against the negative effects of our interactions with our environment. Anthony Stewart, PhD

THE COMPLETION of the Sharpes Bridge, the realignment of the Belle Isles road and the soon to be completed Long Line road are projects for which the residents of North Leeward and the travelling public in general are thankful. However, it is my hope that sooner than later we would be giving attention to another very important “must do” project in North Leeward. The project I am referring to are roads below the Prison at Belle Isles and just before the corner leading to the realigned road; the road above the Cumberland Hydro Plant on the rise after you leave Charles Village; and the road which is a little distance from the road overlooking the Cumberland Hydro Plant. These roads need urgent attention! For some years now these road have been sinking at the edges. With the amount of traffic that goes on those roads daily, it is only a matter of time before they collapse. I was made to understand that engineers looked at the Belle Isles road and the one overlooking the Cumberland Hydro Plant and did their assessments. However, to date we have not heard anything further. I am neither an engineer nor any expert on roads, but I recommend a solution. These roads in question would be hard to stabilize because of the distance one side is above ground. So building a wall to keep it stable would definitely

be a herculean task, if not impossible, especially in the case of the one at Belle Isles. Therefore, I strongly recommend that there be a widening of these roads by cutting into the bank. Setting the road further in would ease the tension on the edges with vehicles not having to “edge” the roads. This recommendation is practical and cheaper to undertake.

I trust that my simple layman recommendation would be taken on board and that action would be taken sooner than later. It is far better to deal with it now than dragging it out and then something drastic happens, thereby hindering travel to and from Kingstown. It still stands that “a stitch in time saves nine”. Kennard King

The ÂO.TÊ I knew

OT HAD SEVERAL play names: ‘The little man’, ‘The barefoot millionaire’, ‘The ladies’ man’, and possibly others, but the last mentioned was made abundantly clear by OT. After being accused of womanizing, he noted that it was the women who loved him and not the other way around. That apart, he was a shrewd (clever) joiner and businessman. Olmroy T. Mayers was an Honorary member of the Rainbow Radio League, now Youlou Radio Movement, and was our Guest of Honour at our 20th Anniversary celebrations held on Mayreau, where he was presented with both Platinum and Gold Awards for his contribution to humanity but in particular to the RRL. Before assisting radio communications on St. Vincent, OT bought the first HF radio for the Bequia Disaster Committee, a piece of equipment that is still in operation. OT also loved ham radio and actually owned equipment which was installed at his main business outlet in Kingstown where he lived for a while. He later donated that equipment to the RRL/YRM which was used as recently as Easter Monday for World Amateur Radio Day 2022. OT was a practical Christian, not a ‘Sunday go to church Christian’. His Christianity was displayed everyday by his concern for poor and under privileged persons. I learned about his 70th anniversary celebration of life when I read about it in the

newspapers, but a few months earlier we had already recognized him for his contribution to emergency communications in this country, presenting him with his ‘flowers while he could smell and admire their beauty’. My earliest recollection of this down to earth man was when he operated his furniture workshop at Lowmans Hill close to the primary school. OT can arguably be credited as being the first joiner to automate the production of lathe-turned pieces that guaranteed uniformity of his high quality furniture. He also was one of the pioneers of using the spray gun technology in furniture, thereby producing a very appealing finished product, no wonder the name “Finishing and Furnishing”. You could not be in his presence for more than 10 minutes without some bit of humor from his witty sayings, that is why he was loved by so many including his family, whom he also loved. As in life, so in death, he left a message for all to follow, if they would understand where he was coming from. Most people saw OT’s empty hands protruding from his local wood coffin and wondered, WHY? The answer is simple and clear and straight out of the Bible … he came with nothing, and left with nothing, not even with shoes on his feet. What a man! What a lasting message and legacy! Donald De Riggs

8. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN

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Subsidies for our farmers and the transport sector amid rising prices Introduction ONE OF THE MANY early analysis made by comrade Ralph from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic was his leadership on the fact that there were 4 dimensions to the pandemic: Health, Economic, Social and Security. His recognition of this reality guided the manner in which he led the development of his government’s respond to the pandemic that addressed in an integrated manner the 4 dimensions. It was clear that while measures had to be taken to slow the spread of the virus, care had to be taken that those measures didn’t cause economic hardship on citizens of this country. The most popular measures used by both developed and developing countries to manage the spread of the virus included curfews, states of emergencies and lockdowns, all of which proved devastating to peoples mental health, and financial wellbeing. With many producing countries employing lockdowns, many businesses including factories were closed, and countries also closed their borders restricting trade. As a consequence of these measures, there arose acute shortages in goods as production slowed significantly and this was further compounded by issues with transportation as planes weren’t flying and ships weren’t sailing as borders remained closed. The disruption in the supply change caused by the pandemic resulted in price increases across the board and consumers began to feel the economic pressures of the price increases as they struggled to adjust during the pandemic. The world was still very much in the throes of the pandemic when the Russian Federation decided to conduct what it referred to as a “special military operation” in Ukraine, something that amounted to an invasion of a sovereign country. Immediately this conflict that involved a major oil exporting country, triggered an increase in the price of oil and with that a ripple effect. Also to be considered is the fact that Ukraine is a major supplier of wheat that is used for flour and other commodities, and that too contributed to rising prices. As a result, SVG like many other countries is experiencing the increase in prices across the board, but this government lead by comrade Ralph is doing its part to cushion the impact on consumers. Previously, the government implemented a stimulus package that included income support for various categories of workers who had their income affected by the pandemic as well as families, farmers and fisher folk affected by the eruption of La Soufriere. More recently, the government has announced a set of subsidies in two sectors, transportation (fuel) and agriculture, that will go a long way in easing the burning of consumers following the sustained increases in prices globally.

Gasoline and farm input subsidies In response to the consistently rising prices of oil on the global market and the shortages in commodities that are responsible for increases in prices of basic consumer items on shelves, the government has stepped up to help cushion the impact on local consumers. The two areas

that have been singled out immediately for relief are agriculture, through subsidies in inputs and transportation through subsidies in the price of gasoline and diesel. The farmers in this country have grown accustomed to the efforts of this government to assist them as we continue to invest in the very important agricultural sector. Prior to the ULP coming into office, the NDP administration had taken profitable state owned businesses and pawned them off to their friends in business which allowed them to realise significant profits that benefited those private establishments. While the ULP continues to recognise the critical role of the private sector in national development, and is ready to create the enabling environment for businesses to grow, this must not be at the expense of viable state owned enterprises that can be used to the benefit of all. Take sugar for example, under the NDP, the importation of sugar was left to a single private sector entity and this no doubt was a very viable business that has state protection essentially, but it was not for the overall benefit of Vincentians. The ULP recognised this and made a decision to have the Input Warehouse, a state owned entity, import sugar, with the intention to have the profits used to subsidise inputs for the farmers. Because of this initiative, farmers are able to have significant discounts through subsidies for their fertiliser. For example, farmers will benefit from a subsidy of $20.73 (22%) for each sack of sulphate of ammonia, in the case of ordinary manure, the subsidy is $54.59 (37%) and as much as $72.67 (41%) in the case of urea. These subsidies to farmers will go a long way to ensuring that the costs of inputs remain manageable and ensure some stability in the price of farm produce on the local market. Imagine if this ULP administration didn’t have the foresight to structure the importation of sugar in the way it did through the Input Warehouse, but now thanks to vision, the farmers of this country can benefit. In terms of the price of fuel, that continues to rise globally, SVG uses the 3 month rolling average to determine the retail price of oil on the local market. Based on the trends, the price of gasoline should have been increased from $14.69 to $16.07 per gallon (+$1.38) and the price of diesel increased from $13.20 to $14.01 per gallon (+.81) as at Wednesday April 13, 2022. The government has however decided that it will not allow an increase at this point but instead subsidise the difference for the motorists for at least another two months possibly while the global trends are monitored. Both of these measures will cost the government hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next few months as the attempt is made to ease the possible burdens that will invariably be caused as global prices continue their upward trends. In light of the challenges we face currently, we encourage Vincentians to monitor their spending patterns, but even so, this caring government will continue to utilise initiatives that will help our citizens to between cope with the challenges.

ULP lacks vision for Sports Development THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY (NDP) congratulates our athletes on their performance in the recently held Carifta Games in Jamaica. They performed well. It demonstrates that we have talent. And, if the proper sports policies and programmes are implemented, our athletes can excel to the highest level. The Unity Labour Party (ULP) government has failed our athletes. The New Democratic Party (NDP) has a vision for sports development in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It is obvious that the ULP government lacks a proper vision for sports development. This is evident in the steady deterioration of playing facilities across the length and breadth of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the fading of interest in various form of organized sporting events. We were regionally and world rated in football and in netball. We were sending track and field athletes out in increasing numbers on athletic scholarships and to international competitions. Since the ULP gained power, our standing has declined drastically, as a result of neglect and lack of a proper vision for sports development. The government has paid lip service to sports development over the years. They were forced to commence an athletics track leading up to the last general elections because the NDP stated in its manifestos since the 2001 general elections, that it would construct a national stadium. The athletes are still waiting. The government continues to boast that there are forty-two (42) playing fields and fifty-eight (58) hard courts available to the citizens of this country. The truth is, most of these playing fields are not utilized by the communities in which they are located. Permission for use of the playing fields has to be sought from authorities stationed outside the communities. They are locked up from the communities, and they are not lighted so they cannot be used after regular working hours. For instance, the hardcourt in San Souci was completed by this government in 2019, after construction started under the former NDP administration. It was officially opened for the 2020 general elections. Today, it remains closed. Is this a government that is serious about sports development?

and we further recognize that early achievements in sports as a means for our young people to achieve higher education and better livelihoods. The youth of St. Vincent and the Grenadines will benefit immensely from our impressive sports programme, to include a diversified scholarship portfolio that will open opportunities for college and university education. And, most importantly, we will ensure that meaningful employment is created for these youths after they have completed their studies. The NDP will implement a number of policies and programmes that will aid in the development of sports. We will reorganize the National Sport Council and review the National Sports Policy. The National Sport Council has become something of a political football much to the detriment of the national sport development process. In addition, it has been narrowly focused on cricket in recent years. The NDP will convene a special committee to redesign and redevelop the organization and diversify its focus, and whatever the result, ensure that it is managed by appropriately qualified personnel who will lead and work in the interest of all stakeholders. Also, we will implement a Service, Opportunity and Support framework, which will ensure that sporting facilities are upgraded to accommodate the respective sporting disciplines. Community Sport Councils must be developed and sustained, to take ownership of the maintenance of the established facilities and support the programmes for physical activity and sport in their respective communities. In addition, we will develop at least one playing field in each constituency to the extent that it can accommodate competition at the regionally level. These facilities will be fully lit and will have changing facilities. Where appropriate, particularly in areas where grass does not grow properly, playing surfaces will be converted to artificial surfaces. Some of the other areas of development that the NDP will focus on include: the construction of a Our Sports Development programme national indoor sports complex, floored so as to accommodate sports The experts have all agreed that such as basketball, volleyball, netball, youth who play sports have higher tennis and squash; implementation of self-esteem, stronger connections with a structure that ensures a proper their schools, better peer foundation for the development of relationships, and fewer behavioural elite athletes; and construct a problems. The discipline and training National Aquatic Centre to attract needed to participate in sports will national, regional and international help to develop successful adults. competitions. Athletes learn the importance of The NDP is committed to the teamwork and to follow leadership. development of sports and young The NDP has recognized this fact and people. We will do all that we can to has pledged that sports has a place of develop and promote more sporting prominence on the development activities that will benefit our agenda. athletes. This will have the added Our mission is to facilitate the benefit of providing careers in various sports, example, basketball and emergence of a culture of sports cricket. The athletes of this country through the elevation of sports as a can rest assured that there is a significant pillar of national brighter future for them with the development in St. Vincent and the NDP. The NDP is about creating a Grenadines. We appreciate the brighter future for the athletes of St. importance of sports to our youth, Vincent and the Grenadines. athletes, our people and our country,

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022. 9.

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Champion Teams

Mr Colonialism comes to town

“You need a champion team; not a team of champions.” Stan Eagle

TOMORROW, Prince Edward, son of the reigning Queen Elizabeth, more appropriately named Mr Colonialism pays a one day visit to Yurumei, the name our ancestors called our homeland but which was stolen and renamed St. Vincent by the colonials. Edward and his British entourage should not be feted in our land. Paramount Chief, Chatoyer turns in his grave, Commander Duvalier cringes, and those ancestors corralled and exiled look on in horror as our neo-colonial leaders lay down the red carpet for the invaders. Principles and sovereignty are not argued about; they are stoutly defended. In expending scarce and precious resources to welcome Edward and Sophie, our leaders have not gotten the message yet. As Calypsoian Chalkdust said in song, ‘White people laughing at we.’ Therefore, in defence of our people’s honour, all patriots, nationalists, progressives and reparationists must join in protest and demonstrate their disapproval of the royal visit. To build a praxis necessary to emancipate us from mental slavery and a people-centred consciousness, we must remember not to forget. Jewish leaders teach their history under the broad theme ‘never forget, never again.’ We have not learned anything from our history. The African holocaust was a million times more horrific than that suffered by Jews. The African Holocaust took the lives of countless millions and has gone on for hundreds of yet. How did we get here? Europeans were endeavouring to solve their crushing economic and social problems. Lack of resources and overcrowding made life miserable. They embarked on the colonial project that witnessed the destruction of thriving civilisations in the rest of the world. Europeans’ contact with the rest of the world resulted in conquest, settlement, genocide, colonialism and imperialism. And when the indigenous peoples were either slaughtered or worked to death, Europeans pounced on the African continent, kidnapped an estimated 12 million Africans, began a slave trade, and established a slave system that went on for hundreds of years. Our ancestors lost their culture, religion, language, and history. After the second Garifuna/Kalinago war, thousands of our ancestors were captured, brutalised, and exiled. The monarch of England presided over the conquest of our country, Yurumei. The colonials organised and benefitted from the royal charter that allowed English slavers to travel to Africa and kidnap our ancestors. A tribute to our people’s fierce resistance is that our homeland experienced the shortest period of enslavement (1797 to 1838). But after slavery was abolished in 1838, prince Edward’s family continued the colonial criminal enterprise for another 141 years until independence in 1979. Our people’s experience under the British monarch was brutish and exploitative. They never give up and never give in. By 1863, our people rose up in righteous indignation against the colonial demands. We did so again in 1935 in an uprising that kicked off anticolonial uprisings across the Caribbean. Our people never stopped fighting to establish their sense of ‘somebodiness.’ By independence in 1979, like the rest of the Caribbean, our country was and remains a crime scene. The colonial devastation was enormous. The colonial occupation was extractive. The

EASTERN SOCIETIES have embraced and encouraged a team approach to accomplishing various tasks. Their citizens generally work in teams in their homes, workplaces, and communities (and are rewarded accordingly). They embrace the thought that “no one of us is as good as all of us”. When groups or teams synchronize their activities, they can accomplish much more than a group that may have outstanding performers who are self-centred and egotistic. The private sector, public sector, and nongovernment organisations (NGOs) can benefit from participants working in unison to achieve a common goal. In doing so, they can create and sustain champion teams. Managers and coaches of sport teams know this to be true. Sir Clive Llyod (born 1944), as captain and later manager of the then famous West Indies Cricket team of the 1990s, noted that although there were accomplished and talented players on his team, they had mastered the art of playing together … as a unified force. Arunabha Sengupta, a cricket historian and Chief Cricket Writer at CricketCountry asserts that, “Lloyd will be remembered for making West Indies into a longlasting world champion outfit. They had always promised to become one, but it was under his captaincy that they got there.” The story of the West Indies cricket team’s dominance of world cricket during the 1980s and 1990s has its origins in defeat and shame. The Australian cricket team had decimated the West Indies during the 1974-1975 series. Their leading fast bowlers, Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thompson, unleashed a barrage of hostile fast bowling that caught the West Indies team by surprise. Lilee and Thompson demolished the West Indies’ batting line-up throughout that series. In addition, as tail-end batsmen they demonstrated confidence with the bat and periodically contributed to scores that appeared to be beyond the reach of the West Indies team. Australia celebrated their 5-1 defeat of the West Indies while Lloyd and his humiliated West Indies team members vowed that “never again” would they be so disgraced; so embarrassed; so humiliated. They regrouped. They strategized. They committed to “rising from the ashes of defeat”. West Indian fast bowlers emerged to instil fear in their opponents and to usher in two decades of champion teams that would make West Indians at home and abroad very proud. The well-rounded team comprised of bowlers who could demolish batsmen. In addition, the team attracted and retained batsmen who could destroy the most formidable bowling attach. They were unstoppable. It was important for each player to understand and appreciate that, as good as they were, not one of them was as good as all of them. Opening batsmen Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes regularly chalked up massive scores to provide the lower order batsmen with confidence. For example, when the West Indies played Australia in Barbados in 1991, Greenidge scored 149 before being run out. During that innings Haynes, his

opening partner, scored 169 runs. Opposing opening bowlers dreaded them for decades. Clive Lloyd and “the Master Blaster”, Viv Richards, often held the middle order and were regularly supported by Jeff Dujon and Malcolm Marshall. With an arsenal of bowlers like Andy Roberts, Joel “Big Bird” Garner, and Michael Holding, the West Indies depicted the image of a true Champion Team … with each player being a champion in his own right. These superstars ushered West Indies cricket to a position of dominance — sweeping aside their cricketing opponents from England, Australia, India, and Pakistan throughout the 1980s. West Indians at home and abroad could have been justly proud of their accomplishments. To many West Indians, cricket was more than a game or a sport; it was a means through which we could develop and maintain a sense of pride in who they were … West Indians! Winners! This Champion Team would certainly have influenced the next generation of West Indian superstar cricketers like Brian Lara, Richie Richardson, Winston Davis, Shivnarine “Shiv” Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle, and so many others. As with cricket, so it is in the world of work. Many inspirational leaders champion work teams that appear to make the impossible possible. They inspire workers to dream big dreams and to pursue targets with gusto. They are not daunted by the changing circumstances in the work environment. They look at a crisis and see opportunities amidst the dangers. They calculate the risk and take the necessary incremental steps that put them in a favourable position to grasp the desired success. Champion teams develop a common focus. Champion teams rally each other to perform at their best. Champion teams help each other to rebound after they may have fumbled or faltered. They celebrate their victories and lift each other’s spirits after errors are made. And errors will periodically be made … even by champion players and workers. Steve Jobs (1955-2011), the American entrepreneur and cofounder of Apple Inc., reminded us that, “Great things in business are never done by one person; they’re done by a team of people.” Similar views have been expressed by Kareem Abdul Jabbar (born 1947), the outstanding American basketball player, when he noted that, “One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team.” Regardless of how experienced, intelligent, accomplished and talented we may think ourselves to be, we will never accomplish as much working alone as we would when we merge our ideas, talents, and resources with others. Pooling resources in our homes, schools, churches, neighbourhoods, and workplaces can make a world of difference in the outcomes achieved. Our societies can benefit significantly by having more champion teams and fewer teams of champions! Send comments, criticisms & suggestions to julesferdinand@gmail.com

cultivation was solely intended to benefit the English authorities and plantation owners. Our people were mercilessly exploited. After almost 200 years of occupation, the British built only two secondary schools. A large section of our population was functionally illiterate. The colonial overlords never bothered to construct hospitals or clinics. Life expectancy was very low. People suffered and died from treatable illnesses. There was no attempt to build up a cadre of trained personnel to deal with the problems of a modern developing society. Poverty was and remains high. Today over 35 percent of citizens eke out an existence below the poverty line. SVG was and remains a dismal developmental mess. For these reasons, Edward and his wife Sophie should be reminded that they have stepped onto a crime scene at every turn. They must be made to confront the reality that their ancestors are architects of this crime resulting in rape, murder, theft, and underdevelopment. We must not shake hands and smile with criminals. These colonial visitors should be made uncomfortable. They ought not to have been invited here. Since our neo-colonial leaders welcome them, we, the people, must make them feel uninvited. We must, in action, disinvite them with our protest. We cannot and must not accept their smug expressions of regret for their aggressive conquest, exile, slavery and colonialism. If there is no genuine apology and commitment to repair, we must treat them with scorn and ridicule. Edward and Sophie come precisely a year after the volcanic eruptions. The British government pledged a paltry sum of 200,000 pounds during those difficult times. The monarchy, which sits on billions, did not give a cent. After some legislators protested, the government increased the stingy offer to a dismally low 800,000 pounds. Ukraine gets billions. Only the people can save the people. It is well established that power concedes nothing without a demand. Never did and never will. Therefore, it is our responsibility to wrest what is rightfully ours from those who either stole from us or deny us access to what we need to survive, develop and strive. And this is why the struggle for reparations is so vitally important. We must use the bitter taste of Edward and Sophie’s visit as a catalyst to recommit to struggle to regain our patrimony. The queen must be removed as our head of state. We must discard the alien Privy Council as our highest court and embrace the Caribbean Court of Justice. These small steps will assist in our humanisation as a people and civilisation. This visit by Edward and Sophie must be the last of its kind to our country. They must shudder at the thought of returning to these shores until they accede to our just demands to pay reparations for their brutal crimes against indigenous and African peoples.

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

10. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN

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New economy needed for the new generation

graceful country a leader, and not a follower. Since 2001, there has been a lack of vision by the Gonsalves regime. Many SVG NEEDS A NEW economy for the new is Singapore. Singapore is full of a country’s total households at 15.5%; business people have told Warrant generation. Our economy is weak and technology and knowledge businesses. Singapore topped the charts for Officer Ivan O’Neal BSc (Hons), MSc, outdated, and the ULP regime has not Singapore’s economy was built upon highest GDP per capita in 2010 at MBA, that the ULP regime is out of its only failed to create a service sector, but a world-class education system that close to EC$152,636 and is expected to depth and that they are disappointed they have even failed to create a has been relentlessly funded by its continue to be the global leader until with the ULP regime, as it has been a manufacturing sector. government as its top priority. 2050; Singapore has a GDP of about big failure. We have a new generation of Singapore focused on educating its EC$810 billion; Singapore has a very According to Warrant Officer Ivan Vincentian children born and grown in people, so that they would have a low unemployment rate of 1.9%; more O’Neal, who has a BSc (Hons) degree an era of computer and information highly-educated workforce. than 70% of Singapore resident nonin Accounting and Finance and technology. This is the generation of They also set up rules of law and students aged 25-34 have a university Economics from Brookes University, Vincentians who are most likely to governance that are transparent and education. Oxford, England, we cannot build a create technology startup businesses non-corrupt, and that attracted a lot of An important factor for economic knowledge industry sector without that are knowledge industries. direct foreign investment including success in SVG, is free, high-quality providing a world-class, free, education However, there is no knowledge industries. And Singapore is ranked education from pre-school to system from pre-school to our own industry or service sector in our as the most attractive country for university. Having a highly educated university. economy. There is no foundation upon foreign investors in the Asia-Pacific population will create economic growth We must urgently change direction which technology startup businesses region and attracts 52% of foreign and improve our country. It will help from negative thinking to positive could start and trade. Our country still investment in its region. us build a service sector of knowledge development. The new generation of lacks the infrastructure needed for a Singapore created a new economy industries and that would attract Vincentians needs a new economy and strong service sector. for its new generation very shortly foreign investment. better infrastructure in order to create A well-known example of a modern after independence in the 1960s. Now, At the moment, the SVG economy is and grow technology startup economy based on thriving knowledge Singapore has the highest percentage virtually dead. Vision is needed to businesses. industries and a strong service sector of millionaire households as a share of transform our economy and make our

Remembering Calder Williams IT WAS SOMETIME last year I had the pleasure of talking to Calder. Our conversation was lengthy and informative. I realized that this humble man was well-rounded when it came to politics. I also learned that Calder was a stern Marxist; and was inspired by Hegel, the great German philosopher. After that conversation, I started writing a piece about the humble statesman, but for some reason I never finished, maybe hoping to get more out of him about his experience as a

politician. As a youngster growing up in Chateaubelair, I can vividly remember seeing a group of radicals, aspiring intellectual leaders that came from among the grassroots, among them Calder Williams, Jim Maloney, Ras Millie, Benny Thompson, Amos Glasgow, and Elrias Williams. They banded together in a commitment to mobilize the peasants of the community and especially the workers employed at Richmond Vale Estate. They taught

them about their rights, highlighting the pittance they received as wages from the government. It was clear that this cadre of brothers resented the Milton Cato bourgeoisie government. Their radicalism spoke to those self-centered cocksure men who pledged allegiance to the imperialist powers of Europe, and those elitist blacks who served the Queen as if she were their deity. From my recollection, those days were when young people gravitated toward consciousness, resistance, rebellion and

defiance. Black people were coming to know themselves in a world dominated by a perception of white supremacy - a world designed by those who manipulated politics, religion, education, and commerce. In an unnatural order of things, where there is inequality, exploitation, racism, and xenophobic attitudes, humans tend to rebel, fighting revolution for a just cause. Calder Williams was one of those people who fought for a righteous cause. Jim Malony came to Chateaubelair as a Shango practitioner with Father and Mother Morris of Chateaubelair, the elders of the Shango movement. He lived there for some years. Jim and Calder lived in the downtown area of Chateaubeliar near Mission Corner. I remember seeing Calder and his brethren on Sunday afternoons, lecturing to the peasants and estate workers just below a house not too far from where I lived in Plan Village. They highlighted the social and political ills of the day, e.g., poor wages, deplorable living conditions, and called for a change. Ras Millie and Benny Thompson were two of those rebellious teachers; who were fired by the

Cato’s administration during the unrest and political upheaval of the 1970s, when teachers led a massive strike throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The political activism of Calder and his associates led to the formation of the New Rescuers Movement (NRM), a loose political organization/ party, which some folks referred to as the New Rascals Movement. The members of the NRM became targets for the ruling regime but they remained firm in the face of victimization, brutalization and draconian laws. I remember vividly Calder being led away in handcuffs by police for having subversive literature in his home. Calder Williams was a product of his environment and knew about suffering and poverty. Even when he became the duly elected leader of the North Leeward constituency, he never separated himself from the people like most opportunistic politicians do when they arrive in the big league. He stayed grounded and walked humbly, never acting like the uppity negro who became oblivious to his past. Calder revealed to me

that there were members of the United Peoples Movement (UPM) who envied him because he became an elected parliamentarian before any member of that party. He said that his antagonists felt that he wasn’t qualified and was not as brilliant as them. Ah, this unnatural, wayward thinking strengthens how the crab-in-a-barrel philosophy has damaged black people’s psyche. As a parliamentarian, I can remember seeing him wearing locally made sandals.. a true patriotic, grassroot leader. When as a teenage I lived in ‘Bottom Town’ with Elrias Williams and Levi James, Calder would make it his duty to visit us. Even though he only served one term as an elected parliamentarian, Calder made his contribution positively. May your soul rest in peace, Brother! Carden A. Michael

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022. 11.

News

Three more bodies recovered from MV Fair Chance The MV Fair Chance as it left Port of Spain on April 2, 2022. (Credit: TT Loop News)

able to enter the vessel to begin the process of clearing of debris. The actual search only began after a long process of pumping to remove water from inside the vessel, Guardian Media said.

Poor communication Meanwhile, Alesha Williams, the wife of Eric Calliste one of the crew members whose body was recovered, told Guardian Dexter Chance, captain of the Media that communication between the people overseeing MV Fair Chance, was categorized as missing up to the rescue operation and the Wednesday. (Facebook relatives of the four crew Photo) members whose bodies were recovered, was poor. During its journey, the “We have to be fishing for GUARDIAN MEDIA (Trinidad access the accommodation vessel on April 2, the day the vessel is said to have information. They are saying Guardian) of Trinidad and area of the vessel, Guardian vessel encountered difficulty encountered turbulent waters we are calling every minute, Tobago reported on Monday that off the northern coast of Media reported. and eventually overturned and the bodies of three of the four And even though personnel but how will we get the Trinidad. sank approximately five miles missing crew members of the St. The body of a crew member from the salvage company was information? They are off Trinidad’s northern coast. Vincent and the Grenadines able to cut a hole in the deck, supposed to have someone was recovered by divers on Two crew members, Derron communicating with registered vessel – MV Fair through which it was thought April 7. Small and Johnel McIntosh, us…Information isn’t coming Chance, had been recovered by access could be gained to the were rescued by a passing clear,” she complained. the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Latest recovery accommodation areas of the vessel on the day of the All taken, though, she was Guard, leaving one crew member vessel, neither divers from the mishap. grateful for their efforts. as still missing. The latest recovery came Coast Guard nor the salvage Searches will continue The MV Fair Chance left Guardian Media said that it sixteen days after the vessel company could force their way onboard the Fair Chance, the Trinidad on April 2 with seven was reliably informed that the overturned five nautical miles in through the cargo and Trinidad and Tobago Coast people aboard destined for missing crewman was Dexter in the Gulf of Paria off Monos debris that blocked the way. Guard said. (Source: Grenada and St. Vincent and Chance, captain of the vessel. Island, and eventually sank. In an official statement Guardian Media) the Grenadines. The remains of the three According to Guardian since, the Coast Guard said, Owen Prescott, Eric Calliste Media, the recovery team “Recognising that the only way and Devon Celestine - were involved Coast Guard and to get through the blockage removed for forensic personnel from a private, was to raise the Fair Chance, examination. commercial salvage company. the salvage company began Two crew members, Derron Divers discovered that attempts to refloat her. This Small and Johnel McIntosh, blocked hatches and doorways was a long process that was were rescued by a passing made it near impossible to only completed on April 17.” On Monday, a team of Coast Guard and Coast Guard officers during an attempt to retrieve the bodies Trinidad and Tobago Police of four missing crewmen in the sunken vessel, the MV Fair Chance, just off Chaguaramas on April 9. (Credit: Media Service told the Trinidad immediately, but after Guardian) officers were Express earlier this waiting for 48 hours it week, that more could became a recovery have been done to save exercise and no one the men trapped aboard would have ever the stricken vessel MV dreamed it would have Fair Chance, which taken them three overturned off Trinidad’s Godforsaken weeks to north coast on April 2. recover the bodies. “If they did all that “If I were a seaman I they could, they would would be disgraced with have entered the vessel the amount of time it while it was still at sea,” took because I dive and I said Aboud. “Instead could have told you there they dragged it ashore in those divers did S#@%.” a way that it would In a news release on Gary Aboud pointed sink.” Monday night, the fingers at the TnT Coast The Express said an Trinidad and Tobago Guard for not doing irate-sounding Aboud Coast Guard (TTCG) enough to save the continued: “They said said, after raising the crew of the MV Fair that the waters were too vessel on Monday, they Chance. (Photo Credit: rough and they could not recovered three bodies cnc3.co.tt) dive, but there are all that had been trapped types of floatation inside, while one more devices that they could body remained GARY ABOUD, have used to ensure that unaccounted for. See Corporate Secretary of Fishermen and Friend of the vessel didn’t sink. In lead story on this page an emergency response for more. (Source: the Sea organization in rescue operation you dive Trinidad Express) Trinidad and Tobago,

More could have been done

12. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

Heritage/Environment

Petroglyphs get posteruption cleaning

just one week shy of the first anniversary of the eruption of the La Soufrière Volcano, they found the cup holes full of volcanic ash. Vincent Reid, who has been commissioned by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Trust to map all historical sites in St. Vincent, as part of a project funded by UNESCO through the Post Disaster Needs Assessment under the Heritage Emergency Fund Project, was on site on Saturday. He addressed the group saying, “It pains me as a Vincentian to know that a lot of these things go largely unnoticed; people hardly pay any attention to them. Vincent Reid (left) in discussion at 13 Stones Petroglyph in Petit Bordel on “People hardly pay any attention to Saturday. them but they are there and they tell a story. They say to us this is where you Story and Photo source: SVG National Chateaubelair. Trust Among the groups represented were came from.” Reid’s intention is to encourage an the Rose Bank Development Group, awareness of the petroglyphs, i.e. “to ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES the Rose Hall Community Group, the be aware of our historical and cultural (SVG) National Trust is working to Sharpes Community Disaster heritage sites, and to understand that mitigate the impact of the April 2021 Response Team and Buccament they speak to us. … eruption of La Soufrière volcano on the Disaster Response Team. “Vincentians need to get on board nation’s petroglyphs and other historical Although the site is called 13 sites. Stones, it comprises over 16 rocks, into and look at these cultural heritage sites, these petroglyphs and all these Towards this end, last Saturday the which hundreds of “cup holes” are other buildings that speak of our first SVG National Trust led a team of carved. representatives of community groups La Verne Bentick Phillips, manager existence, of our history, and respect them and have pride in knowing to clean 13 Stones Petroglyph, located of the SVG National Trust, said that where they are, what they mean and on a ridge between Petit Bordel and when the group arrived at the site,

The volunteers getting down to cleaning the petroglyph. do everything that they can to preserve it.” Reid went on to emphasize that petroglyphs are public property even if they are on private land. In this regard, he referenced the petroglyphs in Colonarie and Buccament Bay that are on private property whose owners have protected the artefacts, and have not tried to restrict public access to the sites. So far, Reid has mapped 54 sites, including petroglyphs and buildings; natural features such as Rabacca; salt ponds and historical structures such as the Orange Hill and Fitz Hughes Aqueducts, and stone pillars in the schoolyards in Fitz Hughes and Evesham.

Harry on ghost fishing campaign protect our ocean and our reefs, because what we are seeing now is a diminishing fish catch and one of the things we have identified, is that ghost fishing is one of the main causes.” Addressing the practices that lead to ghost fishing, Harry explained, “Some of the equipment we have been using when we are fishing, when they become entangled, we simply cut them and leave them there (in the sea)… Also, some of the fishermen set their fish Winsbert Harry (left) sharing Ghost Gear poster pots and when they with fisherman Andrew Gould at the Calliaqua cannot find them, they Fisheries Complex. leave them there.” Expanding on the ABANDONED, lost or launched a campaign to repercussions the of otherwise discarded educate his fellow fisherfolks’ actions, fishing gear, known as Vincentian fisherfolk Harry informed, “What ghost fishing, is getting about the harmful and this does, is that the some attention locally. far reaching effects of equipment remains there This, as Chairperson ghost fishing. and still harvest fish and of the SVG Fisherfolk Harry spoke recently Association (SVGFA) and with THE VINCENTIAN when the fish cannot Deputy Chair of the saying: “This campaign move around freely and Caribbean Network of is to encourage fisherfolk cannot spawn, they get trapped and eventually Fisherfolk Association in St Vincent and the die.” (CNFA), Winsbert Harry Grenadines on how to

As for the diminishing fish catches, he posited, “This is the first in many years that I have seen that our dolphin (mahimahi) catch is down in my estimation about 40%. … Also, the red fish, the guys are saying fish are not being seen even in areas which are often loaded with fish… There is a high demand for fish, but we cannot catch fish if they are not there, and if we don’t treat the fishing environment in the way it should be treated.” Towards that end, the SVGFA President urged, “We have to come up with some solutions to help… So, I am asking my fellow fishermen especially, not to throw waste objects in the sea… Everything that we take with us on the fishing trip we should bring them back to land and dispose of them.” The ghost fishing campaign is expected to span three weeks.

Ghost fishing or ghost gear is referred to fishing gear that has been lost, dumped or abandoned in our vast bodies of water. Harry revealed: “I started the campaign at the Kingstown Fish Market, where I encouraged the vendors to speak to the fishers… I also took the awareness campaign to the Manager of the Kingstown Fish Market … I will also be ramping up the campaign in Bequia, as they are known for the use of fish pots, and these fish pots have contributed a lot as

sometimes fishermen set them and then cannot find them.” Reports are that a single abandoned net can kill on average 50,000 marine invertebrates, 1,700 fish and 4 seabirds. Additionally, marine species are injured and trapped by the gear becoming prey for other species which can themselves become entangled.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022. 13.

Tribute

ÂOT The Little ManÊ laid to rest

Theophilus Olmroy Mayers - ‘The Little Ma’ with a BIG IMPACT. mahoe woods. The coffin displayed a crudeness about it, not unlike the ‘burial box’ a The Zodiac led the procession to the burial ground and was quite an poor man attraction for bystanders along the could afford, route. and what would have take him to his final been the given in many resting place, his coffin — rural communities in what he described in an times before the advent advertisement as of modern funeral homes “underground furniture”, and services. was set upon the roof of With hammers serving a vintage Ford Zodiac as handles — four and not automobile — no hearse six - and a saw and plane decorated with flowers adorning the lid of the and blasting religious coffin, it was appropriate songs. to the measure of the The sight of a coffin man who had started as resting on the roof of an a furniture-maker in automobile was obviously very humble and an attraction in itself. basically equipped There was, in effect, workshop in his native no funeral service for Lowmans Hill; where ‘OT’. He, dictated to by many came to refer to no one but himself, had him as ‘Brother John’, had a service of sorts apparently taking the when he celebrated his cue from his mother’s 70th birthday on October surname while others 18, 2015. On that interpreted it as a way of occasion, he invited all distinguishing him for those who were desirous his bible-centred wisdom of paying tribute to him, and encouragement, and to do so, so that he could for the time she spent hear “wid me own ears serving as a preacher. wah alyo hah to say ‘bout When it was time to me, cause I can’t hear it when ah gone”. He also used the occasion to make a profound and honest testimony of his life — its blessings and sorrows, its ups and its downs. A recording of this was played during ‘From dust you came, to dust you shall return’. ‘OT THE LITTLE MAN’ Theophilus Omroy Mayers, furniture-maker of no mean skill and businessman extraordinaire, was laid to rest on Saturday 9th April, in the cemetery in his native Lowmans Hill. Before the burial, persons numbering in the hundreds and from all walks of life, some formally attired in full suits, others more casually outfitted and many more in their ‘working clothes’, traversed the OT Car Park to have a final view of ‘The Little Man’ who was decked in a white suit but barefooted as he had been for many years of his ‘professional’ life. He was placed in a standing position in his coffin with empty hands hanging out on either side, indicating as OT would have said, that “you came into the world empty handed, you will leave the world empty handed”. As he had dictated, he was put ‘on display, ‘foe all to see’ in a coffin — note not casket — made of a combination of local mahogany and blue

‘OT’ Mayers’ coffin – fittingly adorned with tools of his craft.

Family members and others settling ‘OT’ on the roof of the Zodiac for transport to Lowman Hills. the period of viewing at the Car Park. There were interruptions of applause by those who were hearing it for the first time, especially when he made telling pronouncement in his typically anecdotal ‘OT’ style or shared information about himself that the viewers found moving. The burial at Lowmans Hill was a

simple one with family and close friends using buckets to shower the grave with earth. Those who braved the sun broke into spontaneous song even though one young man sort to establish himself as choir master. Those who stayed the course to the ‘final trumpet’, had done so as a clear indication of the admiration, respect, love

they had for and the reverence in which they held ‘The Little Man’. Many of those might have been touched by his generosity. “Is arwe OT. We love him,” one mourner was overheard saying. Theophilus Olmroy Mayers was 76 at the time of his passing on April 9. He passed away at his home in Indian Bay.

The people came out to pay their last respects to ‘OT’ Mayers – an icon and simply an extraordinary human being.

14. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

One of the building that was partially damaged in the fire at Old Montrose. The structure that was completely destroyed in the Old Montrose fire stood immediately in front of this building that partially damaged.

Two fires in Kingstown Right: The blaze that engulfed and completely destroyed Ian Saunders’ home could be seen from afar.

IT WAS QUITE a busy week for the Fire Service with Fire Officers having to respond to two fires in Kingstown, one in Old Montrose on Monday and the other in Kingstown Hill on Wednesday. In the first, three houses were damaged and one completely destroyed. A resident in the area had raised the alarm around 3:00am. Enroy King, who is in charge of two of the houses, including the one that was razed to the ground, told SVGTV news he was sleeping when the scent of the smoke woke him up. An occupant of one of the damaged houses thanked God for sparing her life. She told of having difficulty getting to safety. The owner of another partially damaged house said he was able to prevent his property from being engulfed by flames, by using a hose connected to his water main to spray water on

the flames. King also spoke of the act possibly being one of arson. The police have confirmed that they have launched an investigation into matter. As of Thursday, Ian Saunders was without a home after fire gutted his house on Wednesday afternoon. According to information from the victim, he was at home cooking on his coal pot when the wind increased in intensity. Sparks from the coal pot fire were taken up by the wind and may have been the cause of the fire, Saunders said. Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for the East Kingstown constituency, Fitz Bramble, made an appeal for help for Saunders. “Luckily he is alive and safe but he is in need of support. Any kind of support that can be provided would be greatly appreciated,” sthe MP said. (KH)

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022. 15.

Regional

Antigua: Acting DPP being investigated ACCORDING to the (Antigua) Observer News, the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission has launched an investigation into claims of misconduct against Antigua and Barbuda’s acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Joanne Walsh.

The Observer reported last week that it was their understanding that Deputy Registrar of the High Court, Kayode O’Marde has been chosen by the Commission to investigate the matter. The complaint against the acting DPP was made by Washington Bramble who alleges that Walsh abused the powers of her office, by making false reports to the police against her. Observer, citing firsthand knowledge of the complaint, reported that Washington claimed that, “Mrs. Walsh, for the past ten years has used her power and influence to cause me to be harassed, illegally detained, discriminated against and victimized”. In March, Bramble was arrested on suspicion of committing an electronic crime by allegedly sending offensive messages to Walsh’s Facebook page. She was not officially charged based Joanne Walsh took up the position as acting DPP in February this year. (Credit: antiguanewsroom.com)

on the complaint and denied being involved. But she says this is just another example of acts of harassment by the acting DPP. Bramble wants the Commission to suspend Walsh as the DPP while they investigate the matter, noting that the legal luminary cannot be both the complainant and the prosecutor of her case. The conflict arises because Walsh, as acting DPP, would have to decide whether Bramble’s case moves to the High Court. Earlier this week, Observer was informed that Bramble had filed a civil lawsuit for compensation against the magistrate in the same electronic crime case. Such embroilments are not new to the office of the DPP in Antigua and Barbuda. In February of this year, then DPP Anthony Armstrong, a Jamaican, was ordered to proceed on special leave after he was found guilty of professional misconduct by the country’s legal disciplinary body — the

Grenada earned millions from CBI last year GRENADA has received EC$281.6 million (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) during the fourth quarter of 2021 from the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBI) according to the figures released by the Ministry of Finance. But Permanent Secretary in the Finance Ministry, Mike Sylvester, who is also the interim chairman of the CBI Committee, said that not all of the EC$281,610,000 ended up in the Consolidated Fund. “While it is correct to say that the country earned that amount of money, it’s a reflection of money paid to project developers that the government must record but does not have access to. “That is money investors invest in the hotel projects for example, there is an amount set in law that investors can invest in these investments and that is the money that goes to the developers.

What the government receives from those investments is a set amount of US$50,000,” he said. “If you look at the data on the website you will see a section listed as “budgetary fees”, that is what the government receives from these hotel investment projects,” he explained. The amount in the data document is listed as EC$32,265,000. Under the CBI programme, Grenada provides citizenship to foreign investors in return for making a substantial investment in the socio-economic development of the island. The other source of income for the government under the CBI is the National Transformation Fund (NTF) and according to the Ministry of Finance, the amount the government received for the fourth quarter was EC$52,812,000. According to the data, 1, 272 applicants were granted citizenship

during the fourth quarter while 24 others were denied. (Loop News)

The Grenada Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBI) is sold as an opportunity to get a second passport at an a fordable cost.

Washington Bramble is at the centre of the claim against the acting DPP. (Credit: antiguanewsroom.com) General Legal Council (GLC) — for signing a document knowing that his client was not physically present. He was ordered to take up to three months leave which according to the Attorney General, could be extended to one year, during which time he is expected to appeal the charge against him. Armstrong’s charge stemmed from a matter in which a client, who had claimed to be in prisons for 14 years, accuse Armstrong, a practicing attorney then, of forging his signature and selling his property during his incarceration. Mr. Walsh, then a Magistrate, was appointed to act as DPP during Armstrong’s leave. (Sources: Antigua Observer, Loop News Antigua)

16. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Traffic Branch addressing reckless driving FIVE OMNIBUS DRIVERS and three private vehicle owners have had their ’ driver’s licences temporarily suspended, as the Traffic Branch move to restrict and discourage illegal activities by drivers on the road. The Traffic Branch of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) in a statement said that

‘it is cognizant of videos being circulated on social media depicting some omnibus drivers engaged in dangerous and reckless driving, and irresponsible behavior. This has occasioned increased in what is alrady ongoing patrols by the Traffic Branch, resukting in the acion as referred. Head of the Traffic

Branch, Superintendent of Police Kenneth John, while confirming that traffic officers have stepped up their patrols, encouraged drivers ‘to be extremely careful on the public roads and to drive with due care and attention for other road users’. Recently a video surfaced on social media showing two omnibuses racing in a dangerous manner. Both drivers are reportedly among those whose licenses have been suspended. (KH)

Minibuses in a race to where, only their drivers know.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022. 17.

News

Arrival of Bailey Bridges delayed AFFECTED residents in North Windward have been told that while the order for Bailey Bridges are on order, their arrival has been delayed. This, according to Montgomery Daniel, Minister of Transport and Works, etc., who said on radio on April 20 that the delay is attributed to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Daniel recapped that provision was made in the 2022 Estimates for the purchase of three Bailey Bridges, to be placed at river crossings at Overland, Noel and London by August this year. Pedestrians and motorists in the area have been left stranded on either side of the rivers on a number of occasions, following torrential rainfall. Daniel, said, that on being informed that the Government of St Lucia had some Bailey Bridges in reserve, he wrote to St Lucia’s Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development and Urban Renewal, Stephenson King, asking if his government would consider lending three of the bridges to St Vincent and the Grenadines. The matter was discussed with Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves who promised to follow-up with St. Lucia Prime Minister Phillip Pierre.

Government seems to be holding out hope that St. Lucia will come to their rescue with the loan of Bailey Bridges. Once St. Lucia approves the request, the Bailey Bridges should arrive here before the official start of the rainy season. Earlier this year, Minister Daniel said of the 21 river crossings in North Windward, at least 8 will be tackled by the government by the end of this year. This country purchased several Bailey Bridges following the passage of a trough system in December 2013, of which a quantity was sent to Dominica following the passage of Tropical Storm Erika which caused millions of dollars in damage and death of at least 20 persons in that country in 2015. (DD)

Transport Board to review rates where we go from here,” Daniel said. THE Transport Board is expected to He referred to the SR&O enacted meet to review a request submitted in 2018 which outlined the approved by the AIA Taxi-drivers’ Association rates for taxis and mini buses. in relation to cost of operation. And one of the critical points of Montgomery Daniel, Minister of Transport and Deputy Prime Minister reference would be to compare the price of fuel in 2018 to what is is said on NBC Radio’s ‘Face to Face’ programme on April 20, that a letter presently. “I think that is a fair way of had been sent to the Commissioner of Police, Colin John, with copies sent to looking at it,” he said. However, the Transport Minister Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, summarized, the issue was now in the the Ministry of Tourism and that he hands of the members of the too received a copy. Transport Board which was expected The letter he said, dealt with to meet next week, after which they operational issues within the AIA would advise Cabinet accordingly. Taxi-drivers’ Association and even within the mini-bus association. (DD) It addressed concerns about the rising cost of fuel and other operational costs, including the prices for service parts. “And so, I have had discussions with the police department as the minister responsible and have advised that the Transport Board meet to review the request of the taxi association as well as A meeting of the Transport Board has, once again, the mini-bus been prompted by a submission by taxi-operators association, and to for a review of rates among other operational advise Cabinet as to related issues.

18. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Rumpled bed is my proof

Dear George, EITHER my wife or I will make breakfast on a daily basis and alternate with making the beds. This particular morning was my turn to make the beds. I did and we both left as usual for work. Close to lunch time that day I called for my wife at her job place and was told she was not around. I wanted to tell her I was not coming home until very late into the evening. I left a message to that effect on her voice mail. I called her again but didn’t get her. At around 3 p.m I had to go home to collect a document and was surprised to meet our bed all rumpled. I knew I had made the bed before leaving that morning and that my wife was at work, so it puzzled me as to how the bed got rumpled. When I did get her on the phone, she told me she had to attend a workshop. When we got home that afternoon I asked her about the rumpled bed only to hear, “What rumpled bed?” and she took me to the bedroom and showed me a well-made bed. She spent the next 3 or so hours trying to convince

me and only went quiet when I showed her pictures of the rumpled bed. I never would have believed my wife would do this to me. How should I handle my obviously cheating wife?

In disbelief Dear In disbelief, From your submissions you have full justification if you accuse her of indulging in some hanky panky. It would do her a world of good to come clean on this. Furthermore, the marriage will not breathe far less survive once this shadow of doubt and suspicion continue to hover over it. Both of you should see a counsellor to sort this out but that would not be effective once your wife fails to provide a plausible explanation for her ‘misbehaviour’.

George

Sex time-table

Dear George,

Dear Disgusted, MY HUSBAND is the most ‘hardhearted’ man I have ever come across. He has no appreciation for my feelings. How could he expect me to give him sex simply because he is my husband and is in the mood for it? I have told him time and time again I will give it to him when I want and would decide how much he should get. One time he hinted that he might have start looking elsewhere for his sexual gratification and I dare him to. But I warned him that should he ever bring home any disease to me, it would be the last day he would live. Tell me George, am I unreasonable?

I have to be frank with you and say yes you are being somewhat unfair in your dealings in this matter. Sexual pleasure is something that ought to be shared between you two as a married couple. It is not for you to dictate when it is to happen and its duration. The love that you have for him should be the driving force behind your willingness to give it up. If you sincerely love him you should want to please him in every way. It is in your power to make your husband want to come home to you every night.

George

Disgusted

Does an introduction matter? I am now feeling I’m standing on shaky WHAT WOULD you do if ground. Am I overreacting? your girlfriend introduced you to male Just a feeling friends as “My good friend”? This is want she Dear Just a feeling, did with some male friends visiting from What you describe Trinidad. She never could well be an once introduced me or indication that the referred to me as her relationship may not be fiancé. as solid as you may think On one occasion, one it is. It might be a good of the ‘male friends’ idea therefore, to press remarked, “Maybe I might get lucky then.” She had no response to that. George, after that particular encounter, my faith in her commitment and devotion diminished.

Dear George,

the pause bottom on the relationship until you can get satisfactory answers from your girlfriend. You have to have that certainty. i.e. beyond all doubt, that your girlfriend has eyes for you only, and will proudly introduce you as the love of her life and nothing less. Let’s hope I’m wrong.

George

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Don't overreact if your partner has a poor attitude. You may have ignored or neglected your mate lately. You can offer your mate a commitment or promise that will help stabilize your personal life.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Partnerships could prove to be lucrative. You may find yourself in an uncomfortable situation if you have overloaded your plate unintentionally. There may be opportunities to attend social functions that are linked to work.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Your positive attitude and intellectual outlook will draw others to you. Pleasure trips or friendly get-togethers will be satisfying and intellectually stimulating. Don't try to deal with important issues or make changes that will upset the apple cart. Avoid friction with your mate.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You must not let fellow workers take advantage of your fine talents. You can find out interesting information if you get a chance to talk to people you respect. Make amends if you can. Insurance pay outs, tax rebates, or just plain luck.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Focus on your own domestic problems. Red tape could be impossible to clear up this week. Set your goals and stick to your guns. You need to be active and spend time with friends you enjoy. CANCER (June 22-July 22) Develop some of your good ideas. You can expect to have a passionate time if you go out with someone you are romantically interested in. You will want to complain about the in justice that is going on. LEO (July 23-Aug 22) You can get ahead if you play your cards right. Acknowledge your lover's needs. Brunch, a long walk, or a quiet dinner will secure your position in the relationship. If you're in the mood, go out and socialize, or get involved in sports activities. VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Invite friends or relatives into your home. You need to be careful not to make promises that you can't fulfill. Secret affairs may be tempting. Changes in your home will be positive. Property investments should payoff.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) You may have a rather hectic day due to events that children are involved in. You must watch your tendency to spend whatever you make. Don't let your personal partner hold you back. Residential moves will be favorable, and larger quarters the most probable direction. CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) You could be disillusioned if you let relative in on your emotional thoughts. Be sure to pay attention to your financial status. Be sure to use your charm and diplomacy when dealing with potential new clients. AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) You'll be an emotional basket case this week. Don't take any comments too seriously. Visit those less fortunate than yourself; be sure to help them with their personal problems. Take time to do something nice for yourself. PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Your emotional partner will push the right buttons this week. Organize your day to avoid any setbacks that might ignite temper flare-ups. Exhaustion will lead to minor injury if you don't know when to quit.

ACROSS

covering 44. Podded veggies 45. Director DeMille 1. Red deer 5. Laurie of “House” 46. Sault ___ Marie 47. Loose overcoat 9. Ball game 14. Olympic fencing 50. Battery contents 52. Stuff from the weapon hearth 15. Nasty, as a 53. Habitual course mood of action 16. “Yeah” 56. Vane direction 17. Take a break 59. Floor covering 18. Musher’s for fighters transport 63. Slithering 19. Is peripatetic menace 20. Log cabin floor 66. Maria covers Rodriguez’s 23. “The Bridge on husband, on the River ___” “Sesame Street” 24. Nozzle 67. Blood’s partner 25. Floors 28. Commendation 68. Among contraction 31. Passionate 69. Baseball’s Blue 33. “Swan Lake” Moon steps 70. Squeaked (out) 36. Prefix with 71. Like Bart –clast Simpson’s Hair 39. Opera character 72. Dimes with a dream 73. 1981 Warren 40. Luxury floor

Beatty film

of Australia 34. Brian Boitano DOWN moves 35. Bang up 1. Parsley or sage 37. Born name 2. Sneak ___ 38. Ocean predator 3. To cut for the 41. “Lobby” or third time “novel” ending 4. Colorful fish 42. Pres., militarily 5. Covering 6. Tangelo type 43. Not from this 7. First American world in space 48. Quick mission 8. Start for 49. Caviar “electric” 51. Cloak’s partner 9. Fast-food order 10. Cries of surprise 54. Letter-shaped 11. Dance step opening 12. Goes with laude 55. Music, exercise 13. Sounds of doubt in technique 21. Passive protest 57. Secondhand 22. Traditional stuff Olympics 58. Weighed a powerhouse 25. Seaweeds package 26. Dawn 59. Small songbird 27. Comment 60. Animal with a 29. Temperature mane controls, 61. Doctrines briefly 62. Koppel and 30. Army training Nugent group 63. Tech executive 32. Word 64. Have a pink slip origin for it abbreviation 65. Worker in a 33. Island garden north LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022. 19.

20. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN

National FootballÊs return imminent

A NEXT PLAY YOUTH FOOTBALL FESTIVAL this Saturday, 23rd April, will test the readiness of clubs, as the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) plots the return of

Football at the national level. Tomorrow’s Festival takes place at: the Campden Park Playing Field for teams/clubs in Zone A; at Victoria Park for affiliates from Zone

B; the Stubbs Playing Field for teams/clubs from Zone C; and the London Playing Field for Zone D teams and clubs. The Festival is intended to set the tone for the Male Youth

Vincy Heat opens against Bahamas

These youngsters will be part of the SVGFF’s age group competitions. Competitions, which are scheduled to kick off on 30th April, with the staging of the Under-13 Division. Eligibility for the Under-13 Competition is restricted to players born in 2009 and after. The Under-15s, with a cut off birth year of 2007, will commence their competition on May 15.

The other age group, the Under-17s, which allows for a cut off birth year of 2005, is earmarked for a 4th June commencement. In related news, the SVGFF has agreed to set aside the period June to September for the hosting of the various rural and community leagues.

The leagues are expected to operate in zones: Zone One is groups North, Central and South Leeward; Zone Two - East, West and Central Kingstown; Zone Three - West and East St. George, along with Marriaqua; Zone Four, from South Windward to North Windward. All of these competitions are expected to be the precursors to the 2022/ 2023 National Club Championships, slated for October. The 2020/2021 National Club Championships which got going in November 2020, was halted after four rounds of competition in the Premier and First Divisions. The abrupt end was occasioned by a spike in the cases of COVID-19 across the state. The 2019/2020 National Club Championships were also affected by the coronavirus, to the extent that some of the competitions had to be shelved.

THIS COUNTRY’S NATIONAL each of the groups in SENIOR FOOTBALL TEAM Vincy Heat, has just about five League B, head to a play off for weeks to prepare for their opening Group C fixture in the a Gold Cup spot, with the Concacaf Nations League last-place (CNL). teams demoted The schedule released last week shows St. Vincent and the to League C. From Grenadines facing the Bahamas Vincy Heat, the National Senior Football Team, is expected to League C, on Friday, 3rd June in the intensify and streamline their training now that they know which contains thirteen teams Bahamas. their schedule for the next round of their CNL fixture. The following Monday. June in four groups, the group winners gain promotion to 6, the Vincentians will host League B, as well as enter into four groups, the top places will offs. Nicaragua at the Arnos Vale advance to the Gold Cup, while The last places in the four a play off for a possible Gold Playing Field. the four other places will join groups of League A will be Cup spot. Back-to-back matches the runners-up of League B and demoted to League B of the In League A, which is made against Trinidad and Tobago on 10th and 13th June, home and up of twelve teams divided into the group winners of League C, next CNL. to make up the Gold Cup play away respectively, complete Vincy Heat’s matches in this window of the CNL. The second window kicks off in March, 2023 when Vincy Heat will host the Bahamas and face Nicaragua in Nicaragua. ST. VINCENT AND THE Right: Lady Heat Vincy Heat, The GRENADINES’ National pictured just before Bahamas, Trinidad and Senior Female Footballers, they departed for one Tobago and Nicaragua affectionately referred to as of their overseas comprise one of four Lady Heat, lost their final matches. groups of League B of the match of the Concacaf World CNL. Cup Qualifiers, when they went came from the boot of The winner of each under to Honduras 2-1, in Denella Crease in group goes directly to the Honduras, Tuesday 12th April. extra time. next edition of the Kendra Haylock opened the This meant that Concacaf Gold Cup, as scoring for the home team with Lady Heat finished well as gain automatic a 26th minute strike and their outing in Group home in a 5-1 mauling of the away fixtures. promotion to League A of Gabriela Garcia converted a 53- E with one victory and three British Virgin Islands. They the CNL. minute strike which eventually losses. lost to Cuba, 3-0, and were I.B.A. ALLEN Meanwhile, the proved enough for the host to Their one victory game at humiliated by Haiti 11-1, in second-place teams in secure victory. SVG’s lone goal

Lady Heat loses final Qualifier

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022. 21.

Sports

TNT wins Female Under-19 T20 series Trinidad and Tobago Under-19 Female Cricketers went under to their Windward Islands counterparts in the first of a five-match series played in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but thereafter played unbeaten. The 4-1 series win, installed the Djenaba Joseph was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker.

Zaida James made the most runs in the tournament. Trinidadians as the first holders of the Ann BrowneJohn/Nadica McIntyre trophy, which was up for grabs in this inaugural series. As far as outstanding individual performances were concerned, Zaida James, captain of the Windward

The victorious Trinidad and Tobago U-19 female team.

Islands, scored the most runs of the upcoming West Indies Women’s tournament, 155. Djenaba Joseph Under-19 competition in July, from Trinidad and Tobago took the scheduled for Trinidad and Tobago. most wickets of the tournament, 11. For her 11 wickets and a total of 68, Joseph was named Trinidad and Tobago’s Player of the Tournament. James was similarly awarded for the Windwards with her 155 runs and 8 wickets. The series was organized by the Trinidad and Tobago and the Windward Islands LITTLE TOBAGO Islanders and Buccoo Reef Cricket Boards to assist Divers were crowned joint winners of the 2022 with the teams’ Chief Secretary’s Bago T10 Blast, after rain preparation ahead of the forced the title match to be abandoned at the Cyd Windward Islands U-19 Gray Sports Complex in female team. Roxborough, Tobago, on Friday night. But not before Asif Hooper, national allrounder, was able to claim the accolade of being the Tournament’s leading wicket-taker, having snared 11 wickets playing for Divers. Hopper was among a Vincentian contingent of four invited to participate in the Tournament, fresh from their involvement in the VPL 10 4.0. The other Asif Hooper was invitees were opening pleased with his batsman Gidron Pope, fast outing in Tobago. bowler Ryon Williams and all-rounder Shaman Hooper. Reflecting on the Tournament and finishing with the most wickets, Hooper told THE VINCENTIAN: “It was a decent tournament with players also coming from Trinidad. It was a pleasure to be part of another T10 tournament Irvin Warrican, head coach of the representing another Divers team after being the La Soufrière Hikers VPL 4 captain of the Grenadines Divers in the Vincy champions, is a happy man, Premier League VPL.” understandable so. In addition to be especially pleased with his bowling, Hooper said he contributed 30 runs from regard. … I think it’s a showcase 16 balls in the final. for the players and I can see “All in all, it was a good tournament for me improvement. Vincentians should and the others (Vincentians) who did fairly ok. I be proud of the product while must say thanks to Tobago Cricket Association for keep building from here.” the invitation extended to us and to the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association Stories I.B.A. ALLEN as well.”

Hooper – most wickets in Tobago T10 Blast

Warrican: „One game at a time‰ AFTER LOSING their first two matches in the 2022 VPL T10 4.0 series, defending champions, La Soufrière Hikers, regrouped and thereafter took “one game at a time.” That was how head coach Irvin Warrican described how his team adjusted and went on to retain their title. Warrican described the winning effort as “a total team

effort” and said he could not be happier with the performance. He singled out “…my Captain Desron Maloney for his leadership. He is very innovative, he has very good understanding of the cricket game and is a very good leader, mature in his thinking, communicates well, is very receptive, willing to learn by seeking help when necessary.” The coach also had commendation for his overseas player Kavem Hodge, the MVP of the tournament, who he said led from the front, as well as for the team’s new manager - Daniel McMillian. He noted the inclusion of development players, who each played one game, as a move in the right direction, and did not omit the ground staff for praise for the quality pitches they prepared. As for the tournament, Warrican described it as “…very competitive with the inclusion of the overseas players contributing in this

22. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022 . THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Davis stands out at Carifta WHEN THE HISTORY of Vincentian athletics is documented, the name Keo Davis will appear in big print. The record will depend on the time of publication. Davis secured two medals at the Carifta games staged in Kingston, Jamaica, which ended last Monday April 18. Running in the Under-17 category, Davis placed second in the 200 metres, to follow up on his third place in the 100 metres earlier in the meet. The second silver medallist was Uroy Ryan who leapt 7.52 metres in the Under-20 long jump. Verrol Sam returned home with a bronze medal earned in the Under 20 section having placed third in the high jump. The fifth medal for the Vincentian contingent came from Amal Glasgow who showed potential by placing third in the Under 20 400 metres. The Vincentians placed 14th on the medal table which was dominated by Jamaica with a haul of 92 medals. That comprised: 45 gold, 29 silver and 18 bronze. Bahamas was a distant second with 17 medals made of four gold, six silver and seven bronze. British Virgin Islands registered an impressive third spot with seven medals. They were propelled to that spot by four gold medals, two silver, and one bronze. Trinidad and Tobago notched up 23 medals but with two gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze, they had to settle for the fourth position. Fifth spot went to Guyana whose two gold, three silver and two bronze medals guided them above the United States Virgin Islands who occupied the sixth position. They had two gold, and a silver in their medal count. Barbados placed seventh with one gold, four silver and six bronze in their harvest. French Guiana with three medals placed eighth. They had one gold, and two silvers in the haul. Cayman Islands with one gold and silver, along with two bronze placed ninth on the medal table with Dominica: one gold and one silver in the tenth position. Grenada, one gold and five bronze was 11th, ahead of Antigua and Barbuda one gold and two silver, and Curacao one gold were the countries above SVG. The other countries on the medal table were Bermuda, St. Lucia, Belize, St. Kitts/Nevis, Turks and Caicos, Suriname, Guadeloupe, and Martinique. The next edition of the Carifta Games will be staged in the Bahamas. The Caribbean, with its penchant for sport has seen the transformation of many sports personalities into the political arena. Everyone knows about Grenada’s Keith Mitchell who was one of the earlier players at the newly opened Arnos Vale Playing Field. Vance Amory might have appeared at the Arnos Vale, for he made his debut for the Leeward in 1968 as a teenager. Amory went on the play for the Combined Islands from 1969 to 1981. His stint at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus exposed him to the wider Caribbean including St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He was frequent visitor to the New Montrose area in Kingstown St. Vincent where he formalised earlier family relationships. Amory served as Nevis Premier from 1992 to 2006 and again from 2013 to 2017. He died in his home town April 2. He earned the respect and admiration of the wider St Kitts/Nevis combination. Amory played 35 first class matches and had a highest score of 88 against the Windward.

Greiggs Primary bosses MFA Football GREIGGS PRIMARY SCHOOL finished as the lone unbeaten team, when the inaugural Memorial Funeral Home Marriaqua Football Association (MFA) Primary Schools Football Competition concluded last Wednesday at the Cane End Playing Field. Greiggs tallied 19 points from six wins and one draw. On the final day of competition, Greiggs Primary needed to avoid defeat to claim the title. They confirmed their dominance with a 2-1 win over Marriaqua Government, their goals coming from Daveson Williams and Kimon Pope and Marriaqua’s via an own goal. This was Marriaqua’s first loss but they secured second place with 14 points from four wins, two draws and one loss. Richland Park Seventh Day Adventist Primary, with 13 points from four wins, one draw and two losses, docked in third. The rest of the standings saw Cane End Government (13 points), Belmont Primary (4 points), Richland Park Government (3 points), and Evesham Methodist (1 point).

Awards

Daveson Williams - MVP of the Competition

Delano Jones Best Striker

Not only did Greiggs Primary win the title, but it left the venue with the most individual awards. Among these: Most Valuable Player- Daveson Williams; Best GoalkeeperKevorn Philips; Best StrikerDelano Jones; and Best Defender- Kesson Durrant. Richland Park SDA’s John D Prescott was the leading goal scorer with 12 goals, while Carlon Timothy of Marriaqua Akiah Sutherland Government took the Best - Lone Female Midfielder award. Among the female awardees scorer were Akilah Sutherland of Marriaqua Government, who was the lone female to score in the competition. Juliana Williams of the Argyle Primary, was the only female captain. Also rewarded were the MVPs of each of the eight participating school teams. The recipients were Dillon NichollsEvesham Methodist; Kayay Mars- Cane End Government; Carlon Timothy— Marriaqua John D Prescott Government; Ryan Top Goal Scorer Williams- Richland Park Government; Delano Jones- Greiggs Primary; Isiah Nelson-Argyle Primary; Alex JordanBelmont Primary; and John D Prescott — Richland Park SDA. Plans are afoot to make this Competition Champions: Greiggs Primary School team celebrates with trophy. Sponsors representative - Elizabeth Walker is right. an annual affair.

Bronze for SVG in TT Championship MICHEL CREESE and Caleb Howard secured bronze medals in the Junior Doubles and Damion Dublin was among the last sixteen of the Senior Open Singles, at the 20th French Antilles-Guyane Table tennis Championship which concluded in Fort de France, Martinique, last weekend. The other member of the team - Akeil DeRoche, didn’t make it out of his group. And in addition, Howard and Michel Creese lost at the quarter finals in the Junior Open Singles. The performance of the team and the accomplishment by Creese and Howard in particular, were even more exceptional given the difficulty and the resulting mental and physical trauma the team experienced in getting to

Martinique, an official of the Table Tennis Association said. Given the travel issues experienced, the team, which comprised both senior and junior players, arrived three days after the commencement of the Championship and was restricted to competition in the open singles and doubles only. The team was expected to return home last Wednesday. I.B.A. ALLEN

Bronze medalists Michel Creese (left) and Caleb Howard.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022. 23.

Classifieds

JOHNATHAN ADOLPHUS PARSONS

DESMOND KEON FIDDLER

Saturday, 16th April, 2022 Retreat Church of Christ Viewing: 9:00 a.m. Service: 10:00 a.m. Interment: Penniston Cemetery

Saturday, 16th April, 2022 New Testament Church of God Diamonds Viewing: 9:00 a.m. Service: 10:00 a.m. Interment: New Adelphi Cemetery

SYLVESTER ROACHE a.k.a. Boy Ben / Uncle Ben

BISHOP ORMOND KING

Kingstown Baptist Church Saturday 23rd April 2022 Viewing: 9:00 a.m. Service: 10:00 a.m. Interment: Kingstown Cemetery

Sunday, 17th April, 2022 Mt Zion Christian Pilgrim Church Sion Hill Viewing: 9:00 a.m. Service: 11:00 a.m. Interment: Kingstown Cemetery

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FRIDAY, APRIL 22,

2022

VOLUME 116, No.16

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

SVG NETS FIVE JUNIOR CARIFTA MEDALS Keo Davis– double medallist – one silver, one bronze.

IN ONE of the country’s best showing at the Junior Carifta Games, St. Vincent and the Grenadines ended the 49th edition of the regional spectacle at the Jamaica National Stadium last Sunday night, with five medals. Leading the way was Keo Davis, who secured silver in the Under-17 Boys 200m in a time of 22.19 seconds, and bronze in the 100m in which he registered a time of 10.77 seconds. The other silver medal was pouched by Uroy Ryan in the Boys Under-20 Long Jump, with a leap of 7.52 metres. He missed out on another medal,

Verrol Sam – bronze medallist

docking fourth in the High Jump, with a best clearance of 1.95m. Verrol Sam took the bronze in the Boys Under-20 High Jump clearing the bar at 2.00m. He managed a fifth place in the Pole Vault with a clearance of 3.6m. Topping off the list of medals was Amal Glasgow who gained a bronze in the Under-20 Boys 400m. His time was 47.89 seconds.

Other Vincentian performances Apart from the medal winners, St. Vincent and the

Amal Glasgow – bronze medallist

Grenadines was represented by nine other athletes. Shonte Matthias reached the finals of the Under-17 Girls 100m and 200m, finishing seventh in both races. She clocked 12.25 seconds in the 100m final and 26.04 seconds in the 200m. Also reaching the finals of two events was Jamaica-based Nellie Ambriton. He earned a seventh place finish in the Boys Under-20, 800m final with a time of 1:55.51, and took fifth place in the 1500m with a clocking of 4:06.92. Grenisha Thomas was fourth in the Under-20 Girls 400m Hurdles, while Kodi Grant placed eighth in the Boys Under-17 Long Jump. Neither Jahiem Harry, 51.65 seconds, nor AJ Delpesche, 51.11 seconds, advanced out of the Under-17 Boys 400m heats. Delpesche also finished seventh in the High Jump and fifth in the 800m for that age group. Neither Kyle Lawrence nor Devonric Mac advanced to the final of the Under-20 Boys 100m. Their times in the semis were 10.77 and 10.80 seconds respectively. And their fates were no different in the 200m. Mac’s 21.95 seconds could not earn him a place in the final, and Lawrence’s 22.1 seconds could not get him beyond the heats. Competing in the Under-17 Boys 100m , Sacri Sobers got as far as heats with his 11.36

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

seconds in the 100m and 23.38 seconds in the 200m. Gailann John placed sixth in the Girls Heptathlon with 3661 points. Kirk Hamblet Jr did not compete in the last event (1500m) for the Boys Octathlon and was not given a place on the official list. And, SVG contested the 4 x 400m for Boys Under- 17 and Under-20. The Vincentians finished fifth in both races. Delpesche, Davis, Harry and Sobers timed 3:23.97 in the Under-17. The Under-20 Boys, represented by Mac, Glasgow, Lawrence and Ambriton in that order, clocked 3:16.14. The Vincentian team was accompanied by Chester Morgan, Michael Ollivierre and Chantel Legair. Host Jamaica finished the Games with 92 medals (45 gold, 29 silver and 18 bronze). Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands won the Austin Sealey Award, the symbol of the single most outstanding achievements at the Games. She took gold in the 100m, 200m and Long Jump in the. Girls Under-17

Uroy Ryan – silver medallist category. The Bahamas will host the 50th edition of the Games in 2023.

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