THE VINCENTIAN PDF-22-10-21

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years of independence

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22,

2021

VOLUME 115, No.42

www.thevincentian.com

No new taxes, Wranglings delay please Jarvis’ case Page 3 Page 4

EC$1.50

CXC Candidacy down Page 33

APPLICATION TO REMOVE REEF REFUSED

Archery introduced to SVG Page 52

BACOL takes 1st round Page 56

COVID-19 VARIANTS ABOUND

by GLORIAH….

AN APPLICATION to the Physical Planning Authorities here seeking to remove a section of ‘dead’ reef, and placement of an artificial reef and imported sand at Indian Bay Beach, has been refused.

The Application was made by Raffique Dunbar on behalf of Syre Holdings Inc. — the owners of La Vue Boutique Hotel and Beach Club, formerly the Grand View Beach Hotel and Grill.

The application involved the area of seabed and beach in front of the Beach Club, formerly the Grill.

The Syre Holdings Inc. application, supported by an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conducted by Environmental Engineer Krystle Francis, detailed a proposal: to remove the “dead” coral reef along the beach front (approximately 350ft along the coast, 50/60ft from the high water mark and covering 17,500 sq. ft); the placement of a new artificial reef at about

HAVING ACKNOWLEDGED the presence of the Delta, Gamma and Mu variants of VOCID-19 in the country, Epidemiologist- Ms. Tamara Bobb, speaking at a virtual media conference hosted Epidemiologist- Ms. by the Ministry of Tamara Bobb, confirmed Health Tuesday, that the Gamma strain was October 19, now the dominant COVIDindicated that the 19 variant in SVG. Gamma variant of COVID-19 has now Below: Dr. Simone Keizerbecome the Beache, Chief Medical dominant strain in Officer, repeated with an circulation here in increased sense of St. Vincent and the urgency, her appeal for Grenadines. persons to get vaccinated.

“We are sending samples to the Caribbean Public Health Agency to be sequenced so that we know that variants are circulating in our country. A summary of those that we have received suggests that we have the Gamma, being the most dominant variant. We have 24 of the samples that were sent being identified as the Gamma variant; 15 being identified as the Mu variant; and 6 being identified as the Delta variant.” Bobb disclosed.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Simone Keizer-Beache, speaking at the same media conference, weighed in on the issue, giving similarities and differences of the variants and encouraging persons to protect themselves by practising protocols and getting vaccinated.

She explained, “Throughout the CARICOM countries the Gamma variant has been found to be the dominant variant …..the Delta is much

Continued on Page 3.

Continued on Page 3.

Below: The Indian Bay Beach showing some of its reef formation, the lower portion of which was the area earmarked for ‘development’ by the hotel owners.

(Photo Source: City Style and Living Magazine) Inset: Nascent stage of an elkhorn reef photographed on July 4, 2021. (Photo Credit: Nadia Huggins)

by KENVILLE HORNE

V Yuremei – Our Faith Will See Us Through 2. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Independence Message from the Governor General

and international travel and loss of employment as a result of the downturn in all sectors of the economy, particularly the tourism sector. The strain on the health system has been severe and our healthcare workers must be highly commended for their selfless service to those in their care. The problems presented by the foregoing were 021 has so far been an compounded by the eventful year. The volcanic eruptions in COVID-19 pandemic April, only to be followed has had far-reaching by the usual seasonal consequences on the lives, adverse weather lifestyles and livelihoods of conditions in August. The all Vincentians by causing challenges presented took major disruption and their toll on our national significant hardship in every institutions, on our facet of human endeavor, economy and on the and it continues seemingly populace as a whole. unabated.

The government, public We have seen drastic servants, NGOs, service decline in business organisations, community activity, prolonged closure volunteers and diaspora of schools, large scale groups must all be highly restrictions on regional commended for their

MESSAGE FROM HER EXCELLENCY DAME SUSAN D. DOUGAN, GCMG, OBE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES TO MARK THE 42ND ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE OF ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES 27TH OCTOBER, 2021

2

unwavering support through these difficult times. The government’s decision to assist the most vulnerable Vincentians among us with stimulus packages, other cash injections and incentives; along with housing support softened the impact of what was certainly an existential threat. But the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us and the effects of the volcanic eruptions are still lingering and will continue to do so for quite some time. In other words, the current hardships and travails will continue to affect our people.

The words of our National Anthem should be uppermost in our minds at this time, “What e’er the future brings, our faith will see us through.”

Despite the many challenges, Vincentians remain optimistic but with

a certain degree of uncertainty as to when the nation is going to get out of this ongoing complex crisis. We are known to be a people of strong faith who possess a fine fighting spirit and we know that once we can brush aside the annoying distractions that tend to get in the way of our facing this crisis as a united people, we are going to be alright.

As an independent nation now for forty-two years, we need to make a concerted effort to forge a much more united front to overcome obstacles and to value differences of opinion than we presently do. Moreover, these difficulties and setbacks will force us to, as it were, reshape our lives, reboot, re-energise and summon up the creative potential within us to find new ways of working and coping. This renewed vigour will lead to institutional strengthening and capacity building as, perhaps, never seen before; especially in education in order to improve the delivery of on-line programmes to buttress the quality of the home-learning environment. It will lead to infrastructure development, the acquisition of the requisite resources both in the education and health sectors and the application of modern, appropriate and innovative technologies for teaching, learning and communicating.

Our energies should be directed to national development and not to destroying those structures and strong

Her Excellency Dame Susan D. Dougan, GCMG, OBE principles that are part of us and who we are. We must continue to strengthen the systems in place to support the elderly, single parent families, where the sole bread winners have lost incomes and provide well thought out psychosocial support for our young people. Indeed, this may be the dawning of a new day for positive change.

This is what catastrophic events do to a people; they tap their inner resources and bring out from them, talents that they themselves did not even know they possessed.

I am aware that the most difficult time to muster faith is when we are down and faced with seemingly unsurmountable challenges but that is when we need to be most resolute in lifting ourselves up and facing

the future with confidence.

Faith helps us to support others when they encounter difficult times.

Empathy, tolerance and perseverance will lift them back up. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic and also with those who were severely impacted by the fallout of the eruptions of the La Soufrière volcano. Let us be hopeful, courageous and resourceful despite these adversities.

On this 42nd Anniversary of Independence let us all pledge to maintain peace, harmony and stability in our nation. God bless us all and God bless St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

My family and I wish you all a Happy Independence.

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lHE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. 3.

News 3 No new taxes, please

Dr. Godwin Friday - Leader of the Opposition does not want to see any new taxes imposed on an already overburdened Vincentian population.

SPEAKING ON THE OCTOBER 11 New Times Programme aired on NICE Radio, Dr. Godwin FridayPresident of the New Democratic Party (NDP) and Leader of the Opposition – called on the Minister of Finance to give a commitment that there will be no new taxes in the 2022 National Budget.

This followed his

reminder that, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Unity Labout Party (ULP) administration had increased the Customs Service Charge (CSC) from 5% to 6%, effective June 1st, 2021.

The CSC was a tax that “is applied to everything that comes into the country. So it

will spread to almost every item that is on the shelf and so, would affect everybody,” Dr. Friday explained.

That increase, Dr. Friday said, was expected to raise between EC$8 million and EC$10 million annually for the government.

He noted, that the expected revenue “… comes out of people’s pockets because that is collected when the increased service charge is incorporated into the cost of the goods that people buy in the shops.”

He added, “So it’s the ordinary citizens, who essentially, are paying it. We know that the government finances are squeezed but so too, are the finances of the ordinary people. …”

It was against this background that Dr. Friday called upon Finance MinisterCamillo Gonsalves to give an unequivocal commitment that there will be “..no new taxes in his new budget when

Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves is being called upon not to include any new taxes in the 2022 Budget.

that comes to the Parliament…”

By making such a commitment and fulfilling it, Minister Gonsalves would be indicating that he understands that “…. you cannot take money out of people’s pockets again at this time when they are feeling the pain. If you can’t put money back into people’s pockets, at least

leave them with what they have,” the

Opposition Leader suggested.

COVID-19 variants abound

in the Gamma versus the Delta, as both are aggressive less active in the variants. region and the Mu also is “The difference present as a variant of however, in terms of interest.”

Gamma versus She said that there is Delta, is not no significant difference significant. They’re both very aggressive, both very much, you know you can pass it on much more easily than say, the Alpha.,” the CMO said, adding that in earlier signs of infection, these two variants have been shown to be much more deadly than the Continued from Frontpage.

Clearly, someone was thinking assessment done by the original variant. developers and the claims that the there is value in preserving and As a result of this, she 100/150ft from shore; and the regenerating life in this zone. And reef at Indian Bay is dead. stated, the Ministry’s placement of imported sand to “There isn’t a single regeneration is VERY possible at approach, “would be the increase beach width. underwater image documenting Indian Bay. Without human same as if we had Delta As prescribed by law, the this claim. Everything was shot interference, I have witnessed being dominant. What application was advertised in the firsthand elkhorn coral regrowing from the sand,” she posted in a we are saying is, the local press and immediately direct response to what was in key spots throughout the bay. spread is the same, in presented by the developers. attracted objection.

Imagine what is possible if we terms of being very A petition to stop the Not least among the opponents actually put some real intentional infectious…. persons development was mounted. was visual artist-Nadia Huggins, effort into it and no, an artificial need to get the vaccine, a long standing resident of Indian reef is not the solution,” Huggins Whether this was responsible in they need to distance.” the main for the eventual refusal bay. added in her post.

The CMO reminded by the authorities is not clear, but listeners that whether In a Facebook post in July, She posited, “Some things are Huggins noted that she has been sacred and meant to be protected the strong opinion is that it the variant was Gamma helped along with the supporting swimming at Indian Bay since she for future generations. Reefs or Delta, it is highly documentation by Huggins and was a child. have the ability to regenerate. contagious and best other concerned citizens.

“Most importantly, I have Even a dead reef serves a very protection practices THE VINECNTIAN newspaper include masking, documented this beach, the reefs, important purpose in an has been unsuccessful in and people for the last 6 years in ecosystem.” sanitizing, distancing fine detail. This is what my Huggins also referenced a July contacting Huggins for a and getting vaccinated. comment. However, many people photographic practice has been 4, 2021, photo-shoot undertaken have expressed delight with the about,” she wrote. with photographer Stephan Death toll rises decision.

“What is also noteworthy is Hornsey.

One person commented that that this area (concerned) is part Several images were shot As of Wednesday, 20th “this decision should have been of the proposed South Coast within the yellow zone and she October figures issued by made at Adams Bay in Bequia, Marine Conservation Area. challenged the environmental the Health Services too.”

Continued from Frontpage.

Application to remove reef refused

Subcommittee, National Emergency Committee indicated that there were two more deaths attributed to COVID-19, bringing the total to 56.

These recent deaths were an 81-year-old male who tested positive for COVID-19 on October 16th, 2021, and died on October 20, 2021, and a 55-year-old female who tested positive for COVID-19 on October 19, 2021, and died on October 19, 2021.

Both died at the COVID-19 ward at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, and neither had any known underlying condition.

They were both unvaccinated.

As of the date referred, 4,637 cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and there were currently 1643 active cases.

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4. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Legal wranglings delay JarvisÊ trial

Bacchus-Baptiste said she had written letters to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) requesting disclosure of these items, along with a cellular THE STATE has been given phone which had belonged to Lawrence. until November 15, 2021 to Bacchus-Baptiste said she needed these items so hand over certain items to that the defence could properly prepare its case. the defence, in the murder “At first the DPP said the police could not locate case involving journalist, the items, and they will keep checking. When we and Public Relations insisted, they said they now have Jarvis’ the cellular Randy Lawrence is phones and iPad for Jarvis, but they have not been alleged to have died at Consultant Junior Jarvis.

Justice Brian Cottle forensically examined as yet, and that they needed the hand of Junior made the order at a Case time to have them examined,” Bacchus-Baptiste Jarvis.

Management Conference related. in the High Court on Friday, October 15.

“You have these items for three and a half years Jarvis is awaiting trial for the murder of 39-year- and they have not been examined, and now you old Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines want more time,” the lawyer questioned employee, Randy Lawrence, who was reportedly rhetorically. She lamented that it was sad that at shot several times around 7 a.m. February 14, 2017 this late stage, issues of disclosure were still (Valentine’s Day). hampering the start of the trial.

Jarvis was 44 at the time and resided at Meanwhile, the DPP’s Office has applied for key Redemption Sharpes. witness Arisha Pompey, who is out of state, to give Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday, evidence by video link, under the Witnesses Special Jarvis’ lawyer Kay Bacchus-Baptiste said that Measures Act. following her client’s arrest in February, 2017 the That application was filed on May 3, 2021, and police took certain items from him, including a key the Court is yet to rule on it. ring, two keys, two cellular phones and an iPad Pro (tablet).

Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

In addition to the murder charge, Jarvis is charged with the attempted murder of Josette Smith of Arnos Vale, using a firearm to aid in the Commission of Junior Jarvis has another an offence, and wait before he learns of a entering Smith’s date on which his trial will Apartment as a begin. trespasser, and at the time had with him a weapon of offence, to with a gun.

He is also accused of using force to compel Pompey from her home at Arnos Vale, and assaulting her, causing her actual bodily harm, These charges were also reportedly committed on February 14, 2021, are said to have arisen from the same incident involving Lawrence’s death.

Mother relieved of sonÊs harassment

Murder accused (from left) Rocaldo McMaster and Lebert King walked away as free men from the Serious Offences Court on Monday.

Two cleared in Baleine murder THE PROSECUTION has withdrawn the case against two men who were charged with the murder of a Grenadian, one year and three months ago at the Baleine Mountain.

Lebert King, 25 of Choppins, and Rocaldo McMaster, 26 of Harmony Hall, both farmers, were charged with the murder of Dwane Seaton, a 40-year-old farmer of Grenada, who was residing at Owia, St. Vincent.

The incident reportedly occurred between July 6 and 9, 2020.

When the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) was called at the Serious Offences Court on Monday, Prosecutor Renrick Cato informed the Court that he was instructed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to withdraw the charge, based on Section 68 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The men were unrepresented.

Seaton’s body was discovered in the Baleine Mountains on July 8, 2020. An autopsy had concluded that he died from multiple gunshots.

RAPHAEL SERGEANT, a 59-year-old labourer of Kingstown Hill, is into his seventh day of a one year and six months prison sentence for breaching a Court Order.

The Court Order prohibited him from entering the premises of his 88-year-old motherIlca Browne, who resides at Arnos Vale.

The penalty was handed down by Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne on Friday, November 15.

The Order was

imposed by the Family Court on June 17, 2019, after it was applied for by his mother, because of her son’s aggressive behaviour towards her.

However, on October 9 this year around 2pm, Sergeant went back on his mother’s premises and harassed her. He was seen in the yard overturning the garbage bins and was heard to be cursing. She made a report to the police and Sergeant was subsequently arrested and charged.

The facts were read at the Serious Offences Court on Wednesday, October 13 after Sergeant pleaded guilty to the charge, but sentencing was adjourned to the following Friday to have Sergeant’s antecedent record brought before the Court.

Sergeant’s record was not up to date, but he had several previous convictions, including some in connection to incidents relating to the harassment of his mother.

Youth remanded on burglary charge TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD Sjada Daniel was denied bail on a burglary charge, reportedly stemming from the deprivation of thousands of dollars in cash and items from an elderly woman of the United States.

Daniel, a labourer Prospect, has been charged with entering the Buttercup Cottage Apartment at Arnos Vale, room 5, as a trespasser, and stealing US$2,740, and EC$500 in cash, along with several items, including two cellular phones, a quantity of jewelry, and United States and St. Vincent and the Grenadines passports.

The cash and items combined amounted to value of US$5,280, and EC$1,090, the property of Gurlyn Williams, 62-year-old Nursing Aid of the United States.

The offence reportedly occurred between 3am and 4am on September

27.

Daniel, who was unrepresented, pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne at the Serious Offences Court on Monday.

In objecting to bail, Prosecutor Renrick Cato told the Court that the police had not recovered any of the items, and were seeking to at least recover some of them.

But the Chief Magistrate told the Prosecutor that it was already her intention to deny bail at this junction.

Browne said that while the defendant was presumed innocent until proven guilty, she was concerned about the recent spate of burglaries in this country.

She remanded Daniel until October 26 when the issue of bail will be reviewed.

Bail granted in bus terminal stabbing DAVID BURNETT, a 40-year-old labourer of Vermont who has been charged in connection with a stabbing incident at the Windward Bus Terminal, Kingstown, October 15, 2021, was granted $7,000 bail with one surety when he appeared in Court on Monday.

Burnett has been charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding 19-year-old Noel Harry of Petit Bordel, with intent.

Police reports are that Harry, a vendor, operating in Kingstown, was stabbed in his back around 4:45 p.m.

Burnett was not required to plea when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne at the Serious Offences Court on Monday. He was unrepresented.

Bail was granted on condition that he report to the Vermont Police Station every Friday, and that he has no contact with the virtual complainant.

He will return to Court at a later date.

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lHE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. 5.

Message from the Prime Minister

Independence at 42: Perilous times demand Resilience, Social Solidarity, Faith, Works and Quality Leadership

BY DR. THE HON. RALPH E. GONSALVES PRIME MINISTER OF ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

misfortune, not of our own making. The poor and sections of the working people, have endured real hardship despite our efforts at amelioration; but PERILOUS AND things could have been worse. We thank God for UNCERTAIN TIMES His mercies and blessings UR NATION’S 42nd even in our quite difficult anniversary of situation. Still, the manyindependence finds sided challenges before us us at perilous, uncertain which touch and concern cross-roads at which our Health, the Economic, the lives, living, and Social (including production have been Education), and Security convulsed and disrupted (HESS) will require by the novel coronavirus herculean correctives.

(COVID-19) since March The disruption caused 2020, and the volcanic to the education of our eruptions of April 2021. children and young Our nation as a whole has persons is quite painful, taken a monumental at the individual levels, beating from the twin and portends a festering calamities of the danger for our society pandemic and the over the next five-to-ten cataclysmic force of years if it is not handled nature. Every single family creatively and effectively in our blessed nation has by the principals, the suffered, though not in teachers, the parents, the equal measure, from the State, and the students slings and arrows of themselves. This matter

O

is being accorded especial choreographing deathly dances on the head of the emphasis by the proverbial pin to the government. accompaniment of a COVID-19 chorus of follies and sophistry, masquerading Since early August their mimicry of 2021 to October 19, 2021 unreason from outside, (the time of writing this with a troubling veneer message), the number of of innocence and persons infected by debilitating selfCOVID-19 have galloped righteousness. Do not geometrically; deaths expect them to change from the virus have sky- anytime soon. rocketed from 12 to 54, The bulk of the all of whom were persons who are unvaccinated; unvaccinated do not fall hospitalisations have amongst the anti-vaxxers jumped exponentially, or the permanently almost all of whom are hesitant (and thus, unvaccinated. The objectively, anti-vax).

Gamma and Delta Their mantra is often: “I Variants are ravaging am thinking about it” or our people; and there is “I am waiting”.

But what are you no end in immediate thinking about? The sight. We are facing a horrendous pandemic of evidence is overwhelming, the unvaccinated. scientifically-proven by Yet, the anti-vaxxers all established science, and those who are that the vaccines are safe permanently vaccine and beneficial to our hesitant are daily well-being; that the vaccines are the best tool in the toolbox to combat effectively the coronavirus. Thus, what are you waiting for? Are you waiting for more disruption of lives, illness, hospitalization, and/or death? The time is now to take the vaccine unless you are seized of a serious, relevant medical condition which restrains you, as objectivelydetermined by a sound professional, not a crusading anti-vaxxer or a permanently hesitant in medical clothing.

exception of Guyana which grew robustly because of oil discoveries); the economy of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is estimated to decline further in 2021 to the extent of 6.1 percent. A rebound in growth, in excess of 8 percent, is projected for 2022. But this projected revival is subject to downside risks of natural disasters, a continued lowto-modest uptake of the vaccines, a deterioration in the global economy, and a less-than-optimal execution of our nation’s rehabilitation and recovery efforts “to build back better and stronger.”

RESILIENCE, SOCIAL SOLIDARITY, FAITH, WORKS, AND QUALITY LEADERSHIP

In our recovery efforts from the pandemic and the volcanic eruptions, it is necessary and desirable that we draw on our historic resilience, inclusive of the heroic contributions of our forebears; engender meaningful and practical social solidarity; display strong faith accompanied by uplifting works; and provide demonstrably quality leadership in communion with the people, and in concert VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS with support from our The volcanic eruptions regional institutions and have caused many-sided the global family of nations, inclusive of the human suffering, United Nations, the dislocation, socioeconomic disruption, and World Bank, the International Monetary immense damage to the Fund, among others. We nation’s physical thank all those from the infrastructure. The region and World Bank has internationally who have preliminarily estimated been helping us in this that the volcanic eruptions have generated very difficult period. gross financing needs of We must extol social US $174 million (EC solidarity especially in $470 million) or 24.4 these times. Social percent of Gross Domestic Product; this is solidarity is based on an alive social individualism huge, and it compounds not on an abstract, the ravages of COVID19. In 2020, the economy meaningless, and dangerous atomised contracted by an individualism as, for estimated 3.8 percent example, parroted, in (the lowest decline in respect of not taking the CARICOM with the

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves vaccine, in the empty, imported slogan of “my body, my choice” – the very language of the absolutist abortion-ondemand advocates and the philosophical underpinning of individualistic, unrestrained “free enterprise” and global casino capitalism, both of which are inimical to the sustainable development of our society and the individuals therein.

Our national anthem correctly affirms that “our faith will see us through” our challenges; but that is only part of the story. The Book of James (brother of Jesus) eloquently teaches: “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works?

Can faith save him? If a brother or a sister is naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be yet warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not these things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

“Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

“––But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”

Continued on Page 6.

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6. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Message from the Prime Minister (cont’d)

Independence at 42: Perilous times demand Resilience, Social Solidarity, Faith, Works and Quality Leadership

the quality, goodness, and nobility which the Quality leadership is people may not as yet demanded now more know that they possess; than ever. It must stand a leader must not follow unequivocally for that which he knows to something; or it will fall be wrong, however, with, and for, nothing. noisily proclaimed by The leadership must be some. Importantly, the responsive and leader must do justly, responsible. It must be love mercy, and walk clear sighted and it must humbly with his/her God. know the times; it must be steadfast; leaders ACTIVISM SINCE MARCH must lead in the very 2020 way that teachers must teach, and prophets must Since the declaration prophesise. These are of the global pandemic on times for March 11, 2020, the transformational government of St. leadership, not pettyVincent and the fogging, weak, indecisive Grenadines has been leadership. active on behalf of our Quality leadership people in these troubling inspires in the sense of times. Among other putting in something things, our government valuable to his people; on the economic/fiscal but the leader must do front presented and much more: The leader caused to be approved by must draw out that Parliament two sets of which is of quality, Supplementary goodness, and nobility Estimates and resident in our people; Supplementary and oft-times to draw out Appropriation Bills – Continued from Page 5.

one set in April 2020 to address COVID-19; and another in May 2021 to tackle the aftermath of the April 2021 volcanic eruptions; and in January 2021, we passed the Estimates and Appropriation Bill for the financial year 2021.

Together these instruments contained a bundle of measures to stabilise and advance the socio-economic condition of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Elaborated therein were, and are, fresh initiatives, reflecting fresh ideas within sensible public policies, for the altered, and evolving, circumstances of our country.

The government also secured the passage of important pieces of legislation touching and concerning the pandemic and the volcanic eruptions. Last year, too, we conducted peaceful general

elections, reflecting the will of the people. Good governance has continued unabated.

Objective observers, regionally and internationally, have commended the outstanding performance of our government in this period. The public servants, other central government employees, and volunteers have all made it possible for the continuance of our nation’s good governance; so, too, all persons in the private or nongovernmental sector. I thank them all!

In these challenging, even perilous times, I expect even more productive labour from all Vincentians in the public and private sectors. It is up to us to build back better and stronger. We must not shoot ourselves in the foot, metaphorically speaking. Our tasks ahead are immense. Let

us do our very best. Now is not the time for useless bickering or the pursuance of personal agendas, inclusive of vaunted vanities, divorced from the people’s real conditions of life and living. I say to the general public: Do not allow anyone to mislead you or divert you from the public interests at his time of peril and uncertainty. And I simply ask of those employed in the central government and state entities: Much has been favourably delivered to you, much is expected of you; you have been protected, by and large, from the worst economic consequences of the pandemic and the volcanic eruptions; so, the general public expect you to pull your weight even more than ever.

And please everyone, take the vaccine!

Personally, I recommit

my all, my very being, in the service of our people of all walks of life and of all political persuasions.

But, I shall give no quarter to those who act against the public interest.

CONCLUSION In going forward, I ask that we all take heed of the wise advice from the Book of Ecclesiastes: “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

“––In the morning sow the seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: For thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.”

Please remember: Resilience, social solidarity, faith, works, and quality leadership.

Happy 42nd Anniversary of Independence, SVG!

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. 7.

Message from the Leader of the Opposition

Together, Let us overcome and Prosper ELLOW VINCENTIANS, FRIENDS, On our national birthday–our 42nd year of independence–let us stand together as One Nation, One People meeting the challenges that confront us and embracing the opportunities that come our way. By the grace of God, with our own hands and the help of friends, we will build a

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INDEPENDENCE MESSAGE 2021 FROM THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION HON, DR. GODWIN FRIDAY

brighter future for us all.

No matter how difficult the circumstances, we must always give thanks to God for what we have achieved and remain hopeful and confident that our future will be brighter.

When we celebrate our independence, it is important to remember those who preceded us in this our national project; those who gave their blood, sweat and tears to help us to get to where we are today. To be sure, our struggle for

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nationhood began long before the attainment of independence in 1979; it was waged in the time of Chatoyer and built upon by successive generations of our people. It is now our turn to do our part.

We have an obligation to honour the legacy of our forebears, not only in memory and stories, but in how we conduct our lives today and in the way we commit ourselves to shaping our future.

Together, is the best way forward. Our resilience as a people and the strength of our community have been tested greatly over the past year. We have learned, painfully, what the COVID 19 pandemic really means for us and the threat it poses to our lives, health, and way of life. Today, our situation is worse than ever. We have lost too many lives and others have suffered serious illness and longterm effects. Our way of life has been disrupted in ways that we could not have imagined. Our children have not been able to attend school in the classroom with their teachers and friends and have lost much in the process. Businesses and

jobs have been lost. We cannot celebrate the things that bring joy to our lives–to attend church as we wish, to truly celebrate weddings and birthdays, to enjoy cultural events like carnival and Easter regatta and to take part in sporting events like cricket tournaments and football games. Most painfully, we have been forced to bury our beloved dead without the usual large ceremonies, but only with a few to pay respects and witness last rites.

Too much is being lost during the pandemic, much of which can never be recovered. Let us recommit ourselves to limit and also prevent further loss. This means that we must all continue to protect ourselves and those around us. Let us continue to: wear a mask in public and to do so properly; wash or sanitize our hands frequently; protect others from our coughing and sneezing; social distance; avoid large gatherings; remain at home as much as possible; promote good health generally to strengthen our bodies; educate ourselves about available Covid19 vaccines and decide to get vaccinated. These are things that each of us can do to combat Covid19 and bring an end the pandemic. In so doing, we will free ourselves to engage again with one another and to rebuild our lives, hopefully better than before.

Also, we must not forget the ongoing struggle of the people who were worst affected by the volcanic eruptions.

They still need our help!

When the mountain exploded and people were forced to seek refuge elsewhere, we as a nation promised to stand by them, and ensure that they would not have to bear this heavy burden by themselves. In the early days of the eruptions, we were magnificent! Our people at home and abroad came together and opened our hearts and homes to help those who were displaced and in great need. Material

supplies, money, shelter, kind words and prayers came in abundance.

Many ordinary people in churches, NGOs, political organizations like our NDP helped to reach those in need. Together, we persevered.

Such generosity of spirit is the cord that binds us as a people and which gives us hope for the future. There is still a lot to be done for the people who have moved back to the northern communities. The resources raised by government to aid recovery must be put to use to help them to get back on their feet. Homes must be repaired, farms rehabilitated, livestock replenished and local businesses reestablished.

In the face of a global pandemic, a volcanic eruption, economic decline and poor governance, we are resilient and more determined than ever to overcome. In our crisis, we must persevere and rebuild. This will require a renewal in many aspects of life, including first and foremost a renewal of our faith in our Creator. It will also mean a renewed commitment to build a new SVG, with hope for a better future. It will include restoration in our nation, as we strive to restore broken relationships, our broken economy and our damaged businesses and shattered dreams. We must also seek to restore the less visible but equally important things in our lives: restore justice and equality, restore our humanity, and restore good governance in our country. Further, we must insist that the needs of our people remain front and centre not just at election time as some would have it, but at all times. Political leadership led astray by selfishness and arrogance must give way to the politics of humility and service. It is not too much to expect political leaders to submit themselves to the will and interests of the Continued on Page 45.

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8. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

Online classes interrupted STUDENTS and teachers engaged in online classes were dealt an unexpected blow on Wednesday, Oct. 20, when the internet service provided by Flow was

interrupted for the better part of four hours.

This extended interruption led to the cancellation of classes in the majority of schools across the state.

Road workers paid ROAD WORKERS from Kingstown and the Leeward have received their payments for work involved in cutting overhanging trees and cleaning roads in the constituencies, which fall within that area.

These workers were paid on Monday and Tuesday of this week, and followed similar payments made last week Thursday and Friday to workers from the Windward side of the island.

The Roads, Some of the workers who were involved in this phase of the Road Buildings and General Services Cleaning Project. (Photo Credit: BRAGSA) Authority (BRAGSA), under whose jurisdiction the work was Road Cleaning Programme, and which began on September 14, effected, said that 5,700 persons that work was done in all 15 lasted for seven days and cost and 100 truckers and conductors $2.5 million. (Source: BRAGSA) were involved in this phase of the constituencies.

This phase of the programme,

In a message that followed closely on when the interruption began, Flow said it was experiencing outages of its internet, fixed line and TV services across the island. It assured that its technicians were working to resolve No internet service the matter in the shortest possible time.

Reports were that the services were returned in some areas by 1pm.

Education Minister, in an earlier interview, had alluded to the continuing “challenges” that teachers and students were facing with respect to a reliable internet service for the online platform for teaching and learning.

President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Union Oswald Robinson, in an interview with SVGTV, had also expressed concern about the “reliability of the internet service,” and called on the internet providers “to take steps to improve their service.”

The two major internet service providers in SVG are Flow and Digicel. Flow is by far the leader in this market, inclusive of serving the education institutions at all levels.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020. 9.

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

Going into another year of Independence MONDAY 27TH OCTOBER 27, 2021 marks the 43rd Anniversary of our independence from Britain. It marked the day we “owned’ the right to explore new frontiers and forge new relationships in our quest to build a “Vincentianess”.

And as we forge ahead in that pursuit, we take with us some recent uptakes.

It is encouraging that government revenue, in the midst of unsettling times, has enabled it to meet its wages bill and support social services, though, it has warned of ‘trying times’ ahead that could threaten expenditure in some vital areas.

Once commerce remains steady, once the country remains open, we can weather the pending gloom.

And as far as being open is concern, not only have we welcomed the return of scheduled international flights into the Argyle International Airport (AIA), but only last week we added a twice weekly direct service by Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow Airport, UK. This promises to broaden the stayover visitor base and with a purported ‘exciting’ cruise ship season and the expectation that Sandals Resort will bring a new dimension to our tourism plant, government’s option that tourism is the mainstay of our economy will be served.

Fisherfolk, meanwhile, await with mixed feelings, the operationalization of Jamaica-owned Rainforest Seafood.

Government can smile as it reflect on these and other encouraging indicators, e.g. significant employment by Sandals, expanded (seafood) market offered by Rainforest, as it leads this country into its 43rd year of Independence.

Notwithstanding what we see as encouraging, there is no denying that we take some troubling realities into the immediate future.

We cannot sit in any real comfort knowing that violent crime abounds as per the indicator that intentional homicide rate currently stands at 28, not far off of the 34 recorded in 2016.

Worse are the daily increases in the number of COVID-19 cases, the number of tests that are unassessed and more frightening, the death toll. As per a report dated October 20, 2021, there were 4,729 cases reported since March 2020, 1,699 active cases, and 56 deaths.

Troubling is that we have registered just about 35,000 persons who are fully and partially vaccinated. Is the battle to convince persons to take the vaccine a losing one? Amidst this comes a legislated but still protested move to reclassify workers and mandate the vaccine for public sector workers, but which is yet to be assessed in terms of its impact.

Not unrelated to all of this, are the pending court cases against a number of citizens who had joined a protest against, among other things, making the vaccine mandatory. Those arrested and charged had first to endure the indignity of searches of their homes, with telling impact on young family members, by the notorious, alwaysarmed Black Squad.

Maybe the House of Assembly will meet to sugarcoat the occasion of another Anniversary of Independence.

This ought to be a genuine coming together in the interest of our nationhood, but can we deny that our House of Assembly is as divided like never before?

And while we credit the government for doing its best to hold the ship on an even keel, we must not deny that growth in the economy is slowing; that agriculture will struggle to make any significant contribution to the overall economy; and consumers will be burdened by what appears to be an ongoing upward movement of prices for goods at the supermarkets, occasioned, though not exclusively, by the increased Customs Service Charge..

Yes, we can celebrate our resilience on this the 42nd Anniversary of our Independence but we should not do so without making a commitment to unite to build a nation founded on the principles of truth.

It’s budget time again BUDGET OFFICERS worldwide have to face what some people would describe as possibly the most challenging budget year ever. It is almost impossible to develop a realistic revenue forecast, the cornerstone of any reasonable budget. The destruction of most emerging economies due to the global pandemic and, in our case, a volcanic eruption, make most forecasting tools used in the past useless.

Nonetheless, a budget we must produce. Over the years, I have found that the budget provides one of the best opportunities to educate our citizens. If we are ever going to use the annual budget process to engage our citizens, we must start sometime. Why not now? Therefore, allow me to be so bold as to ask the government to pick a sector, any sector, and begin to experiment with the participatory budget process.

A participatory approach can be a very productive tool. By way of suggestions, let us try this with the Healthcare sector. Why this department, you ask? Well, a few weeks ago, I recognized this sector (of workers) and thanked them for a responsible act of courage in defying their union’s call for a general strike during the pandemic. I think this level of commitment to put service over self in challenging circumstances, should be rewarded.

It’s time to recognize and support those who support us in time of need.

If that is considered too complex or too large a ministry, we can always go to the often forgotten sector of Sports and Culture. After all, as one minister told me many years ago, no one would die if I did not get funding for “my basketball courts.” By the way, we are still waiting for those courts, and he was correct - no one has died yet from not having an adequate home for Basketball.

So what do you say? Let’s try a little Participatory Budgeting. It is a valuable tool for the education and empowerment of our citizens. While it might sound like a complex process, it is not; it’s a simple four to seven-step process depending on how much engagement you allow to regular citizens. The most important part of each step is facilitating honest discussion with the citizenry.

Since participatory budgeting’s introduction to the world in 1989 by some local governments in Brazil, it has become widely popular, with over fifty percent of the Brazilian communities using this form of budgeting. Some of us feel like it’s an innovative way to involve citizens in policymaking. It’s an opportunity to ask citizens to help define which social and physical problems or opportunities should receive a share of the available resources.

In some democratic countries and many cities in the USA, a participatory budget is used to demonstrate government responsiveness to its people.

Horatio Editor’s Note: During its first administration (2001 – 2005) the ULP government did experiment with a participatory budget approach by involving citizens from the community/constituency level in making input that would inform the national budget. This approach seemed to have disappeared in time.

More recently, the Minister of Finance, during what is considered the budget preparation period, has been consulting with stakeholders (business and banking executives, etc.) to solicit their input as it relates to certain sectors of the economy/budget.

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10. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Independence greetings ON BEHALF of my family and myself, I would like to express warmest wishes to the Government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, my birthplace, on the occasion of the 42nd Anniversary of Independence.

In the years since Independence, we can safely say that SVG has had many achievements, not least being that we have kept in place a parliamentary democracy, an independent media that compensates for the loss of a nongovernmental voice.

We can also boast about forging a foreign policy that has been built on traditional and new and non-traditional relationships. Furthermore, we have established a positon among the power houses of the world with our seat on the UN Security Council.

I admit we are far from achieving the goals of eradicating poverty and creating full employment but we are getting there.

I wish the Government, communities and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines a happy and memorable 43nd Anniversary of Independence.

Paul from Jamaica

We playing the fool I DON’T CARE who vex, but we playing the fool with our children and their education. Yes, those big men and women who boast all kind of qualification in Education but haven’t spent any real time in a classroom, are playing the fool with the lives of our children.

I mean, they start with two weeks of online classes for everybody, and the Prime Minister told the children and the country that after these two weeks, they will have blended or hybrid learning and teaching. What the hell is all of this fancy language? One of my student friends told me that that meant he was going back to school, in person.

Any fool could have predicted that the COVID cases were going to increase. You see, I was one of those who always said that once we started doing our own testing, we were going to see a surge in the number of cases.

So think about it. Could these education experts not see that with an increase of Covid-19 cases all through September, that this was more than likely going to continue into October (which we now see has happened), and that we were going to put our children in harm’s way by having them use public transportation and mix up with all kinds of people from all over?

It’s already the end of October. This term is scheduled to close on December 17. Online classes will continue for another two weeks, minimum.

Why can’t we make a decision now, given that there is only one month and a little bit left of the term, to simply continue with the online classes?

I know this might not satisfy those students who are down to write the CXC, but I am certain that our ‘creative’ teachers can address that just like they did for the last school year.

In the meantime, it is not fair to be juggling the format of instructions for our children. We are either in it — online classes — or not. Stop fooling our children. Stop playing with their future!!!

Charles, Edinboro

Focusing on the registry THERE ARE many hardworking, professional and good public servants in this country. However, there are some who make the service look bad.

(While on this topic, I must compliment VINLEC and CWSA for their professionalism in dealing with customers.

The workers there deserve their pay and even bonuses, unlike many others who are paid to serve the public.

The nurses and healthcare workers are also doing a very commendable job and should be recognized.)

On the other hand, there are some who are in the wrong jobs in spite of their academic qualifications. The Registry comes readily to mind. Far too often there are complaints about the inefficiency of some of its workers.

Imagine someone

applying for a birth certificate and had to pay for it three times before it was correct.

I am aware of an occasion where someone applied for a marriage certificate and had to reapply for it on two separate occasions, simply because on each occasion the worker(s) made simple mistakes although all supporting documents were presented. First the applicant was told that it the information was not in the system, although an old copy was presented. The person making the application had to eventually locate the marriage officer and his records, and have them presented to the Registry, only to have the names misspelled. To correct the spelling and the other errors, the person had to reapply again.

Again all the documents were presented and yet they made other mistakes with the date and name of the marriage officer.

Again to correct that mistake the documents had to be presented and the person had to reapply again. So in all, the person paid $45 for one certificate. When the person who applied for the certificate tried to reason saying that a third application should not be paid for, i.e. $15.00, the person was met with a negative response.

This incident is just one of many such occurrences at the Registry; you wonder what is going on there.

Are those dealing with these things just careless or lazy? Imagine, sometimes it is someone of lesser qualification and rank who has to

Good for one, good for all THE HEALTH protocols require that I wear a mask for my safety. I comply.

The health protocols require that I wear a mask at the office for my safety. I obey.

The health protocols ask me to wash or sanitise my hands before entering any establishment, even though I would have done that with my own personal hand sanitiser right after I left the car.

I comply.

You ask me to stay at home for my safety — no church, no eating out, not even going to the beach. I obey.

You ask me to ‘social distance (six feet) even when I have to estimate that six feet. I do my best to.

I have been a responsible citizen even though, you will agree, to comply with those things to which I refer is downright annoying.

What is more annoying than to wear a mask for most of the day?

But I am prepared to put up with the annoyances in the interest of the national good.

What hurts me to the bone is when I see other citizens who simply

ignore the protocols.

It can’t be a situation There must be some of what is good for one is consequences that these not good for all. negligent citizens can face. It simply is not fair A mother that they go unpunished.

assist and see that what is requested is done correctly.

I think it is time that fair assessment be made of workers and that they be paid accordingly. We need no reminding that inefficient workers can retard the country and give it a bad name. It is time we improve our public service in this country and to do so we have to get rid of the bad eggs.

Happy 42nd Anniversary to SVG. Indeed, ‘our faith will see us through’.

Kennard King

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lHE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. 11.

Environment

Rats to be removed from Frigate Island On being trained, the locals will work alongside an expert in carrying out the actual removal of species (of rats).

It has been noted that Frigate Island was a very important habitat for nesting Barn Owls but

Frigate Island forms part of the Southern Grenadines. (Photo Credit: Jim Hooper)

Volunteers into collecting data as part of the May 2021 Biodiversity Survey on Frigate Island. (Photo Credit: SusGren) THE SECOND PHASE of the “Protecting Ashton Lagoon’s Biodiversity through the Eradication of Invasive Species” project, is set to begin soon.

This as St. Vincent and the Grenadines Environment Fund (SVGEF) has awarded SusGren a sum of US$19,358.89 to fund this phase of the project.

Work will focus on eradicating the rat population that threatens to overrun

Frigate Island, a small island in the Southern Grenadines connected to Union Island by the Ashton Lagoon causeway, and is under the administration of the SVG National Trust.

As part of this phase of the project, locals are expected to be trained in species removal methodology and basic biodiversity monitoring, e.g. identiafication of fauna and flora which is under threat.

Members of SusGren take to cleaning up Frigate Island. (Photo Credit: SusGren)

they have not been recorded on the island in more than a decade.

In an effort to reattract species like the Barn Owl, no rodenticides will be used in the removal exercise.

Techniques, instead, will

involve the use of box traps to catch and remove the rodents from the island.

The project will also include biodiversity data collection and the erection of information signs.

In a statement to introduce this collaboration, the SVGEF said it was proud to be associated with SusGren and the SVG National Trust in the preservation of Frigate Island.

(Source: SVGFF)

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12. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Flaws and imperfections

When dissent makes perfect sense

“If you don’t love yourself for your flaws and imperfections, you can’t expect anyone else to either. Sometimes the very thing we are most insecure about is the feature that people like the most about us. You’re not supposed to look like everyone else. We are each made differently, so find whatever flaw or imperfection you have and start embracing it because it’s part of you.

Goal: Be proud of your originality.

There’s no one else in the world that’s like you.” — Demi Lovato (born 1992) – American actress, singer and songwriter

LAST SEPTEMBER, a three-member appellate panel from the Australian Labour Board dismissed the appeal of Jennifer Kimber, a worker at a nursing home. Ms Kimber claimed unfair and wrongful dismissal. She claimed that in 2018 she suffered an adverse reaction to a flu shot and sought exemption from any further injections.

Even though Kimber offered medical proof of her condition, the Appeal Board was not impressed. In dismissing the appeal, the majority said, ‘We do not intend, in the circumstances of the current pandemic, to give any encouragement to a spurious objection to a lawful workplace vaccination requirement.’ See the entire decision here: https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/decisi onssigned/html/2021fwcfb6015.htm In a withering attack on the majority’s opinion, Lyndall Dean, the dissenting judge, made perfect sense.

In a final comment, he said, ‘Mandating vaccines for everyone is a lazy and fundamentally flawed approach to risk management and should be soundly rejected by courts when challenged.’

Dean argued that ‘Research in the context of COVID-19 has shown that many who are vaccine-hesitant are well educated, work in the health care industry and have questions about how effective the vaccines are in stopping transmission, whether they are safe to take during pregnancy, or if they affect fertility. A far safer and more democratic approach to addressing vaccine hesitancy, thereby increasing voluntary vaccination uptake, lies in better education, addressing specific and often legitimate concerns that people may hold, and promoting genuine informed consent. It does not lie in censoring differing opinions or removing rights and civil liberties that are fundamental in a democratic nation.

It certainly does not lie in the use of highly coercive, undemocratic and unethical mandates.

The statements by politicians that those who are not vaccinated are a threat to public health and should be locked out of society and denied the ability to work, are not measures to protect public health. They are not about public health and are not justified because they do not address the actual risk of COVID. These measures can only be about punishing those who choose not to be vaccinated. If the purpose of the public health authorities is genuinely to reduce the spread of COVID, there is no basis for locking out people who do not have COVID, which is easily established by a rapid antigen test. Conversely, a vaccinated person who contracts COVID should be required to isolate until they have recovered.

Blanket rules, such as mandating vaccinations for everyone across a whole profession or industry regardless of the actual risk, fail the tests of proportionality, necessity and reasonableness. It is more than the absolute minimum necessary to combat the crisis and cannot be justified on health grounds. It is a lazy and fundamentally flawed approach to risk management and should be soundly rejected by courts when challenged.

All Australians should vigorously oppose the introduction of a system of medical apartheid and segregation in Australia. It is an abhorrent concept and is morally and ethically wrong, and the anthesis of our democratic way of life and everything we value.

Australians should also vigorously oppose the ongoing censorship of any views that question the current policies regarding COVID. Science is no longer science if a person is not allowed to question it.

Finally, all Australians, including those who hold or are suspected of holding ‘anti-vaccination sentiments,’ are entitled to the protection of our laws, including the protections afforded by the Fair Work Act. In this regard,

THERE IS NOTHING INHERENTLY WRONG about striving for perfection. However, as we do so it is imperative that we understand and appreciate that there are times when we will fall short of our anticipations as well as the expectations of others. Students who study for long hours and sacrifice moments of pleasure as they seek a “perfect score” on their examinations must appreciate the fact that, even so, there is a possibility of misreading and/or misinterpreting a question thereby resulting in a less than perfect grade. The athlete who trains regularly, controls her diet, and engages in mental exercises to propel her to obtain her best performance must be aware that it is possible to pull a muscle on that special day, thereby resulting in a less than perfect performance. These scenarios remind us that while we may engage in best practices and discipline ourselves as we seek to perform at our peak, there are still situations that may emerge to hinder our pursuit of that perfect performance. Even as we are conscious of our flaws and imperfections these should not deter us from striving for excellence.

There are no perfect human beings.

We all have defects and shortcomings.

There will be times when we do not meet the standards that we set for ourselves. We should also be aware that we may also fall short of what others expect of us. This reinforces the reality that we all have the capacity to improve our various performances.

Athletes, musicians, and students know this to be true. Aided by coaches, teachers, and other concerned individuals they forever reach beyond themselves to enhance performance.

This is most admirable. Such approaches fit individuals for life and living. The best among us will forever challenge self and others to go beyond what we may had previously perceived to be our limits. Michael Jordon (born 1963), the legendary former American basketball player, reminds us that, “Limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” Many great accomplishments occurred after individuals challenged themselves to better their best efforts — even when conscious of their flaws and imperfections.

The recent CNN news coverage related to the “Facebook Whistleblower”, Frances Haugen, 37, revealed that, among other things, many young adult females develop or intensify their eating disorders as a result of pressures generated when their online experiences reveal that they have physical flaws and imperfections. This desire to be nothing less than perfect (my description) have prompted many to seemingly starve themselves in an effort to appear more attractive. This is most unfortunate. A preoccupation with the examination of our “imperfections” can so easily lull the innocent and unsuspecting into feeling devalued. While there is nothing fundamentally wrong with looking good or seeming to be physically attractive, it is so very important to realise that we

are all precious in our own way and fearfully and wonderfully made. The absence of good feelings about self could so easily result in feelings of depression and unhappiness.

Looking beyond our flaws and imperfections allows us to be able to generate positive feelings of self and to find some degree of happiness. We are not perfect. Life is not perfect. And, as paradoxical as it may seem, there is so much beauty emitted via our imperfections. The cracks in our façade allows light to shine through to dispel the darkness that so very often envelops us. It is often through the realization and acceptance that we are flawed that we can better appreciate and accommodate the flaws and imperfections of others. Life is flawed, people are flawed, and relationships are flawed. This is as true in our homes, as it is in our neighbourhoods, workplaces, and churches. We do not seek to excuse their existence and must certainly seek, as best we can, to eradicate or minimize them. However, the more we are able to accept our flaws and imperfections, and the sooner we do so, the more we can create personal and communal harmony.

Sometimes the observation of defects in the personalities and character of individuals may result in our avoidance of such persons. Occasionally this is considered necessary if/when there are revelations that they possess “serious character flaws” (e.g., dishonesty, whoremongering, drug addiction, and so on) and retain a non-repentant approach to life. However, there are times when we seem to “shut people out” as a result of infractions that are significantly less obnoxious that those that we possess. On reflection we realise that if we would care enough, love enough, we could aid their development and growth … and they could aid ours. When we care enough to intercept with intent we can look beyond the flaws and imperfections of others and reach across our differences to assist.

It would be remiss of us if we ended this discourse without commenting on the need that we often have to recognize our flaws and imperfections and still retain a love for self. Vironika Tugaleva, the Ukrainian author, poet, and feminist, reminds us that, “Self-love is not the process of ignoring things, paying attention to fewer flaws or forcing yourself to look away from the parts of you that you perceive as ugly or unwanted. Self-love is the process of expanding your awareness, of seeing those flaws and imperfections alongside the incredible potential of the universe flowing within you, alongside the eternal truth of life flowing within your veins in each second, alongside the flickers of creativity and opportunity present within each moment of your existence. Like this, the imperfections persist, but only as lovable quirks, like a bad doorknob on the front door of a cottage in paradise, like a few thorns on a beautiful rose, like a cloud in a sunset. Like this, what was once unwanted becomes essential, memorable, humbling.” Even with our flaws and imperfections, we are still God’s beautiful creations.

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

one can only hope that the Majority Decision is recognised as an anomaly and not followed by others.’

In a thoughtful and wide-ranging review of the literature, Dean cited the Great Barrington Declaration, a statement by infectious disease epidemiologists and public health scientists, which recommended an approach called Focused Protection. The GB Declaration includes the following: Current lockdown policies are producing devastating effects on short and long-term public health. The working class and younger members of society carry the heaviest burden.

Keeping students out of school is a grave injustice.

We know that vulnerability to death from COVID-19 is more than a thousand-fold higher in the old and infirm than the young. Indeed, for children, COVID-19 is less dangerous than many other harms, including influenza.

The most compassionate approach that balances the risks and benefits is to allow those at minimal risk of death to live their lives normally to build up immunity to the virus through natural infection, while better protecting those at the highest risk. We call this Focused Protection. Adopting measures to protect the vulnerable should be the central aim of public health responses to COVID-19.

Those who are not vulnerable should immediately be allowed to resume life as normal. Simple hygiene measures, such as hand washing and staying home when sick, should be practised. Schools and universities should be open for inperson teaching. Extracurricular activities, such as sports, should be resumed. Young low-risk adults should work normally rather than from home.

Restaurants and other businesses should open. Arts, music, sport and other cultural activities should resume.

People who are more at risk may participate if they wish, while society as a whole enjoys the protection conferred upon the vulnerable by those who have built up herd immunity.’

Since the GB Declaration was first made, over 860,000 scientists and health professionals have signed the GB Declaration.

Judge Dean also cited documents produced by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which said, ‘Governments have to make difficult decisions in response to COVID-19.

International law allows emergency measures in response to significant threats — but measures that restrict human rights should be proportionate to the evaluated risk, necessary and applied in a non-discriminatory way.

This means having a specific focus and duration and taking the least intrusive approach possible to protect public health.

Concerning COVID-19, emergency powers must only be used for legitimate public health goals, not used as a basis to quash dissent, silence the work of human rights defenders or journalists, deny other human rights or take any other steps that are not strictly necessary to address the health situation.’

Judge Dean makes the profoundly simple point, ‘Science is no longer science if a person is not allowed to question it... Mandating vaccines for everyone is a lazy and fundamentally flawed approach to risk management and should be soundly rejected by courts when challenged.’

We could not agree more.

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

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. 13.

Views

Tax Taiwan and the superrich of Mustique and Canouan AS REPORTED IN THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER, UK, in April 2021 USA President Joe

overseas, and agreed a worldwide minimum tax rate.

The proposals were designed to tackle the very low rates of tax paid by some companies that use complicated webs of companies Biden proposed sweeping global to shift profits out of major tax reforms to limit the ability of markets like the UK, where most of their revenues are corporations to shift profits earned, and into low-tax

jurisdictions like Ireland and the Caribbean. Economists estimate that the sums lost to exchequers around the world from profit-shifting have risen as high as US$427bn (£311bn) annually.

In October 2021, most of the world’s nations signed up to a historic deal to ensure big companies pay a fairer share of tax.

A hundred and thirty six countries agreed to enforce a global minimum corporate tax rate of at least 15% and a fairer system of taxing profits where they are earned.

UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak said, “We now have a clear path to a fairer tax system, where large global players pay their fair share wherever they do business”.

Tax evasion is disliked all around the world.

However, in SVG, Taiwan and the super-rich foreigners of Mustique and Canouan are getting away with not paying their fair share of tax.

Taiwan could well paying tax on fish its fishermen catch under licence from this country, and even with the Mustique Act No. 48 of 2002 and the Canouan Act, the super-rich foreigners of Mustique and Canouan do not pay their fair share of tax. The ULP regime allows this.

According to the Leader of SVG Green Party, Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, who is a university graduate in Accounting, Finance and Economics from Oxford Brookes University, England, the effect of these ungodly Acts perpetuates

poverty in SVG and weakens our economy.

Since the formation of the Green Party in 2005, Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal BSs (Hons), MSc, MBA has had the foresight to call for an end to the tax exemptions given to Taiwan and the super-rich of Mustique and Canouan; since this is grossly unfair to the black poor and indigenous people of SVG, and worse, they are counterproductive to sustainable development as there is no net benefit to our people and country.

Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal BSc (hons), MSc, MBA says that it is horrific that black Vincentians struggle to live under this apartheid tax regime, suffering high unemployment and poverty, while the super-rich foreigners enjoy tax and customs duty exemptions to import into SVG private jets, expensive yachts and all materials needed to build multi-million dollar mansions.

Many poor people in SVG have no electricity and water in their homes, and many children go to bed hungry.

Unskilled workers in SVG earn as little as EC$ 600 a month, yet Mustique charges up to EC$ 135,000 a week for their villas. Is tax paid on this?

See http://www.mustiqueisland.com/choosing_a_villa The tax apartheid must be abolished immediately and we must cut ties with Taiwan and the super-rich of Mustique and Canouan for practising apartheid in SVG. SVG needs change and it needs to modernise too.

Although SVG signed up to a global minimum corporation rate in principle, SVG actually needs to impose that tax rate on Taiwan and the super-rich of Mustique and Canouan.

They should be taxed the same rate as SVG companies.

V WPP conducts successful cardiology clinics 14. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Health

The clinic saw both follow-up as well as new patients. (Photo Credit: WPP)

WORLD PEDIATRIC PROJECT’S (WPP) diagnostic cardiology team successfully completed clinics in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday October 14th and Friday October 15th. The team, traveling for the first time since March 2020, evaluated 43 children at the Sion Hill Clinic, a new venue for WPP clinic.

Dr. William Moskowitz, Chief of Pediatric Cardiology for the University of Mississippi Medical Center and WPP volunteer, led the team and was excited to return to St. Vincent and the children awaiting care.

“The patients we saw are a lot of follow up, congenital heart disease, some un-repaired, some repaired in the United States and requiring follow up. Some are

newly identified with congenital heart disease which will be prioritized over the next year until they receive their intervention through an upcoming WPP team.”

WPP Executive Director for the Eastern Caribbean Lauren McIntosh said moving to Sion Hill Clinic due to limited capacity at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in the wake of COVID-19, was a smooth transition. “The staff has been very accommodating and helpful.”

Speaking of COVID-19 safety measures, McIntosh continued, “What we have done differently from previous years is schedule appointments for our patients in advance. This has helped us reach the most children we can while limiting the crowd

so we can continue to physical and social distance as well as implement hand sanitization and wearing of masks.”

She assured, “The change of location has gone well. Our families are always so grateful for the fact that we have a pediatric specialist on island and are happy to see Dr. Moskowitz.”

Dr. Shari-Ann DavisAndrews, the local partner pediatrician, said that while COVID led to seeing fewer patients than they would have in previous years, the clinic was still a success for Vincentian families. “I am happy we can provide that kind of support for families with conditions we cannot manage locally.”

Dr. Davis-Andrews noted the most frequently asked

question of both patients and parents was whether or not it was safe to take the COVID-19 vaccine with a pre-existing heart condition. “Yes, it’s safe.

Patients with heart conditions are at greater risk of severe symptoms or death from COVID-19 than those without. The

Dr. William Moskowitz examining a patient at the Sion Hill Clinic. (Photo Credit: WPP) vaccine helps prevent those symptoms, especially among those with underlying health issues.

WPP will continue to meet the needs of our children with the Urology Team set for

October 24, 2021 at the Sion Hill Clinic.

Individuals interested in supporting the work of WPP can contact the local office at 784-4512989. (Submitted by WPP)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. 15.

Message from the Commissioner of Police

„Triumph through the changing scenes‰

By Commissioner of Police, Mr. Colin John Y FELLOW VINCENTIANS – here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) and in the Diaspora, as we mark the occasion of our forty-second (42nd) year of Independence, I extend warmest greetings to you on behalf of the members of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) and its auxiliaries. The commemoration of our National Independence evokes pride and joy in our country. It is a time when we reflect on where we came from; where we are, and where we are heading as a developing nation.

Ladies and gentlemen, 2021 has been a very challenging year for the

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members of the RSVGPF. The year began with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This occurrence has adversely affected and is still affecting every community in SVG. It also brought about new duties where police offices have constantly been on the frontlines, both on land and sea, enforcing the COVID-19 protocols.

Then in April, we witnessed the explosive eruption of the La Soufrière volcano- which occasioned the relocation of over 20,000 persons from their homes in the Red Zones. And once again, as the primary law enforcement agency in SVG, the RSVGPF and the Coast Guard

rose to the occasion and successfully (with other stakeholders) spearheaded security, safety, and the transportation of those who were affected, to the Green Zones.

Then in July, three (3) police stations — namely, Owia, Sandy Bay, and Georgetown sustained damage to their roofs and windows as a result of Hurricane Elsa.

While these occurrences were overwhelming, they brought out the best in many of us including members of the Constabulary. It allowed us to showcase the leadership skills that exist in the police force at various levels. Never before, since 1979, have the resources and the

resolve of the police force been this tested. But with the help of the Almighty God and civicminded Vincentians, the RSVGPF has managed to surmount the seemingly unsurmountable.

The police regulations inform that the primary function of the police is to prevent crimes. While we took an oath to protect and safeguard the lives and properties of every citizen, preventing our citizens from becoming victims of crimes surpasses every other duty. To this end, the Police High Command continues to invest heavily in training and retooling our officers so that they can effectively discharge their duties.

To enhance their skillset, officers were trained in the following areas locally and virtually: Fingerprinting, Investigation of Sexual Offences, Basic Seamanship, Cybercrimes, Human Trafficking and Human Smuggling, Anti-Gang Investigations, Tactical Safety and Planning, Port Security Management Crisis and Incident Management, Incident Command System, Emotional Intelligence, Strategic Leadership and Management, Child Abuse, Intelligence Management, and Drug Investigations among others.

Moreover, in 2021, the RSVGPF recruited and trained 76 officers to assist in the execution of the force’s mission. These officers have been deployed all over SVG to serve the public.

Fellow Vincentians, societies everywhere contend with the issue of crime every day. This phenomenon has existed since the beginning of civilization. While we would wish that there are no occurrences of crime in our communities, this remains an aspiration. What the RSVGPF has done with some success is to ‘manage’ the crime situation so that it

would not escalate to uncontrollable levels. I am therefore pleased to announce a 22.5% reduction in crimes generally for the period January to September 2021, compared to the same period in 2020. A total of 3969 crimes were reported to the police in 2020 while 3076 were reported in 2021.

For this, I wish to thank and congratulate the hard-working men and women of the RSVGPF who go above and beyond the call of duty to engender peace and security in our blessed land. Equally, I commend the lawabiding citizens who continue to cooperate with the police on matters of law enforcement and community policing.

Permit me also to thank all of our partners who continue to donate and contribute to the wellbeing and development of the RSVGPF. We appreciate your generosity.

Ladies and gentlemen, COVID-19 is real. The pandemic has affected us negatively and changed our way of life. At the time of writing this message, there were 1643 active COVID-19 cases and 54 deaths.

Families have been devastated as a result of the loss of their loved ones from this deadly disease. The RSVGPF was no exception. I urge all Vincentians to comply with the COVID-19 protocols. They can save your life and others.

It would be remiss of me not to commend all of the organizations and

Commissioner of Police, Mr. Colin John frontline workers who have been battling COVID-19 from its inception. The situation could have been worse without you.

Sadly, the RSVGPF has lost three (3) police officers to COVID-19 so far in 2021; the Late Sgt. 569 Lawrence Thomas, Cpl. 584 Keith Matthews and Constable 702 Delano Robertson. They were excellent police officers and their deaths brought along profound sadness to their families (including the police) and their friends. Once again, on behalf of the members of the RSVGPF, I extend the deepest condolence to the families of officers Thomas, Matthews, and Robertson. May their souls rest in Peace.

Fellow Vincentians, on Independence Day, I encourage you to use the precious time to do some quiet reflection and introspection. Despite the challenges, we still triumphed and came out stronger than before.

Happy Independence!

May God’s perpetual blessings continue to fall on St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

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16. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Youth

Scouts participate in JOTA/JOTI 2021 ON SATURDAY, October 16, 2021 scouts radio and internet radio event and their leaders gathered at the Scout JOTA/JOTI 2021.

Association’s headquarters (HQ) at Arnos The involvement of the scouts and Vale, to participate in the world’s biggest their leaders was made possible with the professional guidance of members of the Youlou Radio Movement (YRM) JOTA/JOTI, which stands for Jamboree On The Air/Jamboree Over The Internet, is an annual event held during the third weekend in October, when more than 2 million scouts around the world team up with amateur radio operators to establish contact with Scouts and Girl Guides from 171 countries, creating new friendships, exchanging ideas and sharing their hobbies.

Originally, JOTA was strictly an ‘over the airwaves’ activity, but some years when the sun spot cycle is low, long distance contacts via amateur radio was limited to nearby countries or cities, thereby limiting the fun for these youngsters.

However, in recent times and with the advent of ROIP (radio over internet protocol) technology and a Scouts helping to set up HF antenna.

Scouts and leaders who took part in JOTA/JOTI2021 with YRM Sean Patterson - J88CU (seated right). more robust and reliable internet service, JOTI or Jamboree Over The Internet was included, opening up the entire world to communications whether or not there was HF propagation.

This was a strategic and welcomed dimension to the annual Jamboree event, as scouts from around the world were now able to engage in active conversations with their counterparts from all parts of the globe.

Contacts were made with Barbados, Grenada, Curacao, Canada, UK, and US. Stations heard but not contacted included India, Switzerland, Brazil, Ireland and Australia.

Despite the fact that HF (High Frequency) propagation was not good during the day last Saturday, the internet via the DMR and Echolink, IRLP and similar ROIP technology

was buzzing with activity until 10 PM local time.

Following on its collaboration to facilitate participation in JOTA/JOTI 2021, the YRM is in the process of training scouts and scout leaders leading up to a Technician Amateur Radio License. This training will also enable the scouts to earn a communications badge.

Sunday’s training was the culmination of scouting activities — camps, camp fires — that marked a weekend of activities.

The local HAMs performing Control Operator roles during JOTA/JOTI were Sean Patterson - J88CU and Donald De Riggs - J88CD, with Justin Da Silva - J88DA paying a courtesy visit during the event.

(Report submitted by: Donald De Riggs)

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lHE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. 17.

Message from the Christian Council

Our hope is found in our God

the aftermath of the explosive eruption of La Soufriere Volcano and the other trying experiences of our lives. Sometimes to us He may seem to be uncaring. We reiterate that we believe in a God who does not give easy answers but enters into our questions and gives Himself. Therefore, our Message to mark the are now celebrating our fellowship, courage, worthy of respect and difficulties, challenges, 42nd Anniversary of 42nd anniversary of bravery, fortitude, hope honour. and trying moments are Independence Message political independence. and resilience of our We encourage our intimately connected to from the St. Vincent and In 1979, in spite of the ancestors, especially our Prime Minister and the suffering of God. As it the Grenadines Christian challenges faced and when one and only named Leader of the Opposition is said: ‘He went not up to Council some may have thought national hero- the Rt. to see how best both joy but first suffered pain.’ that this would have Excellency Paramount parties can work together, It is important to note S WE CELEBRATE our seriously hampered the Chief Joseph Chatoyer. discern the things that that in trying times we 42nd anniversary of immunization programme Together we can rise from you agree on, like the can trust God for in spite independence we and delayed the the ashes of the volcanic COVID-19 vaccination, of what we are invite you to reflect on the achievement of our eruption and the COVID- and work out strategies experiencing, we are not following: On the 13th April, independence, that was 19 pandemic and all the and programmes for the losing life but finding it in 1979 the La Soufriere not to be. As a resilient other challenges of our betterment of our nation. a depth and richness Volcano erupted and many people we forged on; the lives as a nation. May we As calypsonian Ipa said, which we did not know people were evacuated from rest is history. always preserve the rights “Put your country before before. As Jesus says: what is now referred to as As we celebrate our and dignity of every your party.”

“Those who want to save the red and orange zones.

42nd anniversary of human being, for all are In conclusion, we their life will lose it, and Around that time an independence may we created in the image of believe in a God who those who lose their life immunization programme reflect on the solidarity, God and all people are suffers, a God who does for my sake will find it.” was set to begin. THE not give simple answers as (Matthew 16:25).

VINCENTIAN Newspaper of we go through pain and Therefore, in these trying Friday, May 18, 1979 trying times for we must times it is for us to trust reported that the focus was learn that there are limits God for God is faithful. on immunizing children and to the extent of our God is journeying with us adults against measles, understanding. We through these trying diphtheria, polio, typhoid, believe in a God who, by times. whooping cough, and other His gift of human freedom, Our hope in trying ailments. In spite of the has made us persons and times is not found in men challenges faced from the not robots and He is no matter what position volcanic eruption and in the journeying with us they hold, what status early stages of the through this pandemic, they have or how wealthy immunization programme, St. Vincent and the Grenadines attained political Independence on 27th October, 1979 and to all intents and purposes the immunization programme went quite well.

On the 9th April, 2021 there was the explosive eruption of the La Soufriere Volcano and many people were evacuated from the red and orange zones in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a vaccination programme against the virus. The explosive eruption, the pandemic and quite a large section of our population’s response to the vaccine have brought about several challenges in our nation even as we

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they are. Our Hope in the midst of trying times is found in God because God our almighty, eternal Creator is faithful. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega’, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

(Revelation 1: 8) As we celebrate our 42nd anniversary of independence may we be our brother’s and sister’s keeper, and rise out of the ashes of the challenges of the volcanic eruption, COVID-19 pandemic and all the other trying experiences of our lives, together. In the words of our national anthem: Saint Vincent, Land so beautiful, With joyful hearts we pledge to thee Our loyalty and love, and vow To keep you ever free.

Chorus: What e’er the future brings, Our faith will see us through.

May peace reign from shore to shore, And God bless and keep us true.

Happy Independence!

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lHE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. 19.

Opinion

Let us enhance our Taiwanese-Vincentian relationship

THIS MONTH, October, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Taiwan celebrate anniversaries of their independence as nations. For St. Vincent and the Grenadines, it is the forty-second and for Taiwan their 110th. These two nations which are island states have also this year marked 40 years (Aug. 15, 1981) of friendly relations, which were initiated by the late Robert Milton Cato, then prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Chiang Chibng-Kuo, Pthen President of Taiwan.

The farming community of St. Vincent and the Grenadines are very disappointed that our relationship with Taiwan has not resulted in the quality of development that had been anticipated in the earlier days of that relationship. The perception had been, that like St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Taiwan was an island state whose approach to development represented a good example for us, that with commitment and intelligently planning, we also could hope to develop and prosper to the degree that our people could have a rewarding life.

the transfer of technology never materialized so as to boost our productive capacity. There was even a time when our Taiwanese friends seemed to be competing with local farmers for market.

On reflection it seems reasonable to say that there was not an intelligent meeting of the minds, Taiwanese and Vincentian, to inform the best approaches for the advancement of our interests. We did not need wax apples, we needed to get our produce on the market to enhance our GDP. Our energy in agriculture was strong!

Our own undoing

But maybe the Taiwanese should not be blamed for this. They did in fact set up a plant propagation station at Rabacca and that seemed to have prompted our Agricultural Dept. to reduce their interest in the servicing of the propagation stations at Wallilabou and Dumbarton. The ultimate failure of the Rabacca Propagation station may well be to a The point of contact large degree traceable to the fact that our The initial contact of governments led by the Taiwanese with our James Mitchell and people was through Ralph Gonsalves had agriculture. They got taken the position that involved in assisting local farmers to establish agriculture was a thing of the past in St. Vincent small units of chicken and pig-rearing systems. and the Grenadines, and The Taiwanese personnel that Tourism was the way to go. involved in that Incidentally it was a programme were very “painful treacherous keen, committed and stab” to the farmers to reliable. learn that Renwick Rose, In the last several head of the Windward decades, however, that Island Farmers level of interaction with Association, also shared the farming community that view. has been disappointing to say the least. The Taiwan’s funding hoped-for “up-swing” in

So, despite the fact that the Taiwanese had up to a few years ago indicated their interest in assisting SVG with the re-vitalizing of our Banana Industry, we are now not exporting any bananas to the U.K. It is worthy of note that the Taiwanese have since made a significant contribution to the redevelopment of the Banana Industry in St. Lucia.

In the process, the

development of our people here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, they will not be happy. The time could have been better spent empowering our people through agriculture which would have seen the growth of thousands of Vincentians of the economic stature and intellectual confidence who would have been more effective in representing Taiwan’s cause globally. potential of the help of Funding the spurious the Taiwanese has been endeavours of politicians under-utilized, as our the characters of whom government’s interest is history will document as merely to have a source untrustworthy in the Taiwan: Will it be for funding shallow eyes of their own people, happy? schemes from which will not advance the there are hardly any honour of any country on It is my opinion that chances of effecting the the global stage. St. when the people of positive development of Vincent and the our society. It seems as if Taiwan come to reflect Grenadines and Taiwan on the approaches of the proffering and need to look critically at their representatives in receiving of cheques is their approaches. Long relation to the the prominent platform opportunities which were life and peace to them! that the Taiwan and Vincentian leaders share, on offer to impact LeRoy Providence positively the “almost every Monday morning”. The newspapers bear testimony to that!

The perception has been for some time now that the Taiwanese smilingly provide this “standpipe” service because it can comfortably be underwritten from the takings relative to fishing in the Atlantic. Our voicing of their moral right to be accepted as an authentic player on the world state is a worthwhile bonus.

V A time for reflection 20. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Independence Message from the Pentecostals

For example, meetings are held on Zoom continuously in our business places to avoid face-to-face contact due to the novel coronavirus.

NDEPENDENCE DAY is a In addition, churches are time to reflect on the taking full advantage of country’s social media to host accomplishments, where morning worship and we came from, the Bible study. The challenges we faced, and government is also fully peer into what the future utilizing the platforms. may hold. But, of course, At this time of reflection, looking into the future is we must remain united predicated on our present to stem anything that experience. Sometimes in may cause a divide. predicting, we focus on Although the eruption the positive. However, in of the La Soufriere most cases, the negative. volcano was not I am reminding us of unexpected, it impacted the chorus of our us in ways that we are National Anthem, still trying to “Whate’er the future comprehend. Our God, brings, our faith will see on the other hand, came us through. May peace through for us. As a reign from shore to result, we came to shore. And God bless and understand on a deeper keep us true”. level what Marshall We are living in a McLuhan meant when he different era. I never created the statement thought that Zoom would “the world is a global play such a significant village.” The outpouring part in our daily lives. of love and concern for

By Bishop Stephen Ollivierre, Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies, St. Vincent and the Grenadines District

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our country from the rest of the world was astonishing.

Our people also played their part. Resilience provided us with an opportunity to become excellent neighbours. It was incredible to witness our people helping each other in this time of need. We were able to adapt as we considered how to lower the level of uncertainty that many people were experiencing. Churches were also crucial in delivering resources to help people cope with their losses. Over time, the devastated areas began to reopen, and residents began to return home.

COVID -19 continues to influence our county negatively. Some of our people have died, and we mourn with the distressed families. The country is not at its best.

Many of our people have lost their jobs and cannot

take care of their families. There is this feeling of hopelessness and fear. Our country, we believe, is experiencing a downturn.

Our economy relies on visitor investment and employment to return to some semblance of normalcy. But according to the experts, for this to happen, a specific percentage of our population must be vaccinated.

Unfortunately, a number of our people are not convinced that the vaccine is safe.

With our natural sight, we conclude that we are in trouble. But we do not walk by sight;

we walk by faith.

And as Jehoshaphat stated in 2 Chronicles 20:12, ‘Lord, we have no power against these troubling situations that are against us, nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.’

We cannot allow the virus’s solution to divide us as a people. We must work together. What are the options for resolving these impasses?

Immunizations should not be made mandatory at the expense of people’s jobs. There has to be a way out. We continue to

Bishop Stephen Ollivierre pray and wait on our God for a solution.

Happy Independence Day, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

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22. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Business

Insurance Association host Training for Assessors SERVICE STANDARDS for insurance claims in SVG took a giant step forward recently, when a large number of Auto Body Mechanics, Recovery Experts, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Valuators, and Contractors were involved in the first ever Insurance Assessors

Training, conducted virtually from September 14th to 29th The training was arranged by the Insurance Association of SVG. Among the topics covered were: Basic Principals of Insurance; Motor Crash Investigations; Property

Insurance Adjusters; Customer Expectations;

Principles of Insurance St. Lucian Insurance Tutor Mrs. Riuh Lake conducted the session on ther Principles of Insurance, during which she took the participants

through areas such as: Insurable Interest, Utmost Good Faith, Indemnity, Subrogation, Proximate Cause in regard to Insurance Claims; Contract and Agency Law and the local Motor Insurance Act.

Motor Crash Investigation Mr. Eric Kipp, Director of Jaric ESH Ltd. Trinidad and Tobago, with effective use of case studies, some presented graphically, took participants through How to Investigae Accidents, Safe Recovery Skills and Evidence Capture, Damage Assessments, The Many forms of Fraud; Vehicle Parts, Police Reports, Dashcams and CCTV evidence, and SVG’s Road Traffic Act.

Customer Expectations

Jamaican claims manager Mrs Tammara Glaves-Hucey explained the skills which assessors need to demonstrate daily. These include Communication, Listening, Observation, and insurance Legislation.

In highlighting the customer’s expectations, she stressed the importance of prompt, helpful service and being guided by the ethics of the industry.

Participants were Property Insurance generally excited by the wealth of knowledge Adjusters shared and are Professional Insurance encouraged about their Adjuster Mr Brent prospects in the industry.

Phillip from Grenada The training shared his knowledge opportunity was another and experience in areas demonstration of the such as: How to Handle Insurance Association’s Hurricane, Earthquake commitment to and Volcanic Damage improving the quality of and how to Estimate insurance service in Claims Costs.

SVG. Given that many of The Executive of the SVG’s recent claims Insurance Association of related to the volcanic St. Vincent and the eruption were for Grenadines comprises: damage caused during Villette Browne clean up, Phillip led President; Vice President participants through a - Gilbert Porter; warmly received session Secretary - Jeremy on Wise Safe Methods of Charles; Treasurer removing Ash, How to Donamie Providence; identify Spalling, Wear PRO - Joe Sheridan; and Tear and other Pre- Social Secretary - Carro Existing Damage.

Cordice; Committee Floods, Burst Water Members - Rachel Pipes, Burglary and Fire Richards and Cecil claims were all Mckie; Immediate Past explained, ly, as well as President - Laureene the skills needed for Kirby.

Accurate Report Writing

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lHE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. 25.

Youth

Youth Advocates fortified YOUTH ADVOCATES Nafesha Richardson and Deaney Gellizeau returned to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines after a rigorous three days at the landmark Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition event in Milan, Italy over the period September 28-30th 2021.

The event focused on developing proposals across four (4) thematic areas and featured the presence of Climate Activist Greta Thurnberg and Vanessa Nakete, as well as the Ministers attending PreCOP26 and COP26.

It formed part of activities in preparation for the 2021 UN climate summit (COP26) in Glasgow, United Kingdom, where world leaders will resume negotiating the terms of reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the climate crisis.

Youth4Climate saw 400+ youth delegates from 189 countries convened to formulate a unified statement for climate action. It was a historic occasion and marked the first massive gathering of this nature since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event was also the latest attempt to answer the question, “what exactly should meaningful youth participation be?” and highlighted the right of youth to be included and involved in decisionmaking processes in addressing the climate crisis at the local, national and multilateral levels The key calls made included: complete eradication of fossil fuels by 2030; urgent just transition to renewable energy; transparent and accountable climate finance systems; capacity-building and finance for youth involvement in climate policymaking; and climate change integration into education curriculum.

Nafesha and Deaney worked with the other delegates to make demands to governments and corporations based on four themes: driving ambition; sustainable recovery; non-state actors’ engagement; and climate-conscious society.

Nafesha worked under the Youth Driving

Youth Advocates Deaney Gellizeau (left) and Nafesha Richardson made their presence felt on the world stage.

Ambition Working Group and Co-Facilitated the subgroup surrounding meaningful youth engagement at the National level.

Commenting on her experience, Nafesha said, “As a young person from a region highly susceptible to the dangers of climate change, co-facilitating this discussion not only allowed me to understand the concerns of my global colleagues, but ensured that the specific needs of SIDS were represented. To this end, I was able to input a clause in the document regarding guaranteeing funding and resource mobilization for youthled initiatives from SIDS and LDCs.” Deaney worked under the theme of non-state actors’ engagement, specifically within the group of Entrepreneurship. In this area, it was established that lack of knowledge transfer, capacity building, investment, access to data and technology and financial support were major issues hindering non-state actors from contributing meaningfully towards climate action projects.

For Deaney the experience “made me realize that to fight climate change, we have to do so on a collective forefront.”

He added, “It was an even more exhilarating experience to represent SIDS on such a global platform to highlight our struggles, especially in

such a time like this; this event marks a milestone for us here in SVG because now I am assured that there will be listening ears.”

Nafesha and Deaney look forward to pushing more initiatives aimed at Climate education as well as Capacity building, and urges every youth to do their part and be involved in an Environmental Club or Movement within their community today.

(Abridged version of a submission by the Youth Advocates.)

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lHE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. 31.

News

UK Showcase in aid of SVG

THE NATIONAL COUNCIL of St. Vincent and the Grenadines UK, in collaboration with Cari-on Canada and DRIP(USA), will stage a virtual musical showcase to raise funds to support small farmers from the Red Zone who were severely affected by the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano, and System 3 Sport Academy.

The event, dubbed the Youroumei Cultural Fiesta Showcase, is scheduled for Nov 7th at

2.00pm EST and 7.00pm GMT, and will feature the best from the Commonwealth in drumming, gospel fashion, steelbands, comedy, along with star studded entertainment from the likes of Vincentians performing artistes Skinny Fabulous, Sita D Lyrical Diva, Fireman Hooper, Fya Empress, Luta, Hance John, and UKbased Whizzy.

According to Kendol

‘Whizzy’ Wiseman of the Marketing Committee for the Showcase, the aim is “to raise US$75,000 to US$150,000,” and that funds raised for the farmers well be channeled through WINFA. The Showcase will be co-hosted by VC3 and a video house in the UK and Wiseman assured that preparations for the show are into their final phase and are proceeding smoothly.

Grammar School students get assistance ELEVEN YOUNG MEN began their pursuit of secondary education at the St. Vincent Grammar School began with some financial support from a number of former students.

Algermon King and Allique Murray from the Troumaca Primary, Rudino Roberts Kingstown Preparatory, Denrique Davis Fairhall Primary, Lemuel Richards - Paget Farm Government, Raj Prescod - Mary Hutchinson Primary, Machen Joseph - Langley Park Government, Kevin Franklyn- Dickson Methodist, and Rolanzo Louie - Bequia Anglican will each have a $1,000 cushion to take them through their first year.

Two other students each received bursaries in the amount of $500 Javier Francis - a former Kingstown Preparatory School student, and Baggio Jack - Barrouallie Government.

Deonty John, a fifth former, came in for special assistance.

The assistance to the student came from forty-three past students through a group known as Alumni Inc., which has among its Board of Directors Nikos Dougan, Geoffrey Hadaway and Ronald Marks.

Hadaway together with Earl Bennet and Garth Olliver deliberate as a Scholarship Committee. They were prominent at the presentation ceremony at the site of the original school compound last Tuesday.

Education Minister Curtis King was also in attendance.

In reminding about his relationship (past Headmaster) with the school,

Current students of the St. Vincent Gramnmar School who were the recipients of assistance from a group of alumni.

King acknowledged previous efforts at forming past student associations and expressed the hope that this platform, Alumni Inc., which is three years old, will prevail.

He urged the students to “make your foot print.” He admitted that the institution produced some of the “best of the best” and also some of the “best of the worst.”

He reflected that their admission was on merit, but implored that they maintain that level of interest and hard work. As far as he was concerned, “This is the beginning.

(WKA)

V Decline in 2021 CSEC/CAPE candidates Education

several issues amid the increased to 8.83 per cent. pandemic, including About 1,251 students being locked out of their applied to sit the exam countries. CXC was, at another time. however, able to For CSEC, 103,445 accommodate the students wrote the exam students. in 2021 compared to “We are trying as best 122,248 in 2020. About as possible to increase 11.23 per cent of electronic testing,” candidates did not show Manning said as she up for one or more of spoke about CXC’s fourtheir exams. year strategic plan to CXC received 15,179 modernise education in requests from CSEC the Caribbean. candidates to take the Officials and chief exam in 2022. invigilators have been Dr Nicole Manning, Manning said that trained to manage Director of Operations, 4,179 students chose to electronic testing, she Examination Services sit the exam in January said.

Division, at the CXC 2022, and 7,720 will sit About 27 per cent of outlined the decreases in June, while more than CAPE candidates and 84 in candidacy for the 3,200 students have not per cent of CSEC CSEC and CAPE exams. selected a time. candidates used some Candidates writing type of electronic testing FOR A SECOND-STRAIGHT the Caribbean Certificate this year.

YEAr, the number of of Secondary Level Acknowledging that candidates who registered Competence (CCSLC) Internet access and for the Caribbean increased to 9,043 in power outages were Advanced Proficiency 2021 from 5,852 in 2020. among the challenges Examination (CAPE) and However, the number of encountered, Manning Caribbean Secondary subjects taken by the noted that “no candidate Education Certificate collective dropped to would have been affected (CSEC) exams has 10,811. negatively”. declined.

Absentees decreased CSEC 2021 results Dr Nicole Manning, from a high of 70.3 per will be officially disclosed Director of Operations, cent in 2020 to 19.8 per here on Monday 25th Examination Services cent in 2021.

October. Preliminary Division, at the Manning noted that results for certain Caribbean Examinations staging the exams were subjects were released Council (CXC), revealed challenging since last week Friday. the statistics at the candidates battled (Source: Loop News) official Release of Results for the June/July 2021 CAPE and CSEC held in Guyana on Thursday.

About 27,750 candidates registered to write CAPE in 2021 compared to 30,398 in 2020.

Manning said this was the lowest number of CAPE candidates in The CXC team in Guyana where the official results for CSEC four years.

Absentees also and CAPE were announced.

lHE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. 33.

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34. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

Vincy ship damaged by fire ACCORDING TO A LOOP News article of Oct. 20, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has confirmed that the engine of a foreign cargo ship, owned by a St. Vincent and the Grenadines company ODIN TRADING, was badly damaged by fire during the early hours of Tuesday while it was moored at Gafoors Complex, Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara.

“No person was injured and firefighters were able to contain the fire to the generator room thereby averting the loss of the vessel.”

The GFS said that the cause of the fire was “determined as overheating of a generator in the forepeak of the ship which resulted in arcing and sparking” and that the generator was severely damaged and a quantity of rope destroyed.

The vessel, from its listing, is named “Sydney Marie” and bears IMO number 7432317 and official number 400913. It is used for aggregate

Fire on the MV Sydney Marie was reported to have been confined to the generator room. transport and captained by Vincentian, Richard Bynoe 56.

The GFS said that while it is still conducting investigations, there are several measures that could be taken to prevent fires on ships, including the prohibition of open flame on ships or in cabins, such as candles, cigarettes, or incense sticks unless they are lit in the presence of people and extinguished before leaving. (Source: LOOP News)

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lHE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. 35.

News

McIntosh pays tribute to Bacchus Frankie McIntosh spoke of Gregary Bacchus as creative and filled with musical ideas.

RENOWNED CARIBBEAN/VINCENTIAN musical arranger Frankie McIntosh has paid tribute to his compatriot musician

Gregory Ellsworth Bacchus, affectionately known as ‘Bacchie’, who died at St. Mary’s Hospital in West Palm Beach, Fl.,

on Oct. 3. He was 62.

In a prepared statement, McIntosh said: “I ll remember ‘Bacchie’ as a true philosopher, ardent musician and not to forget – clown – all combined.

But even when being facetious, his ideas were always strikingly creative and original – things only Gregory Bacchus could imagine.

For instance, he envisioned a government in SVG which would comprise musicians exclusively. One would not be allowed to hold political office unless he or she played an instrument.

This applied across the board – ruling party, opposition, it didn’t matter.

Parliamentarians would walk with their trumpets, saxophones, trombones, keyboards etc., and instead of lengthy debates, members on opposing

joke to be dismissed, but on listening closely, ‘Bacchie’ is demonstrating fabulous keyboard technique and rich musical ideas which could only issue from a brilliant mind. Some thought went into that.

I’ll miss the conversations, sides of an issue would many saw his Beethoven play solos. The public video which was recorded the hilarious phone messages which always would then decide whose presumably to brightened my day, and solos were best, and on demonstrate how that basis, acts would be Beethoven should really of course his music.

To the family I offer passed, legislation have composed the 5th my deepest condolences approved, burning issues symphony. and may Gregory be resolved in minutes.

Now on the surface blessed in the hereafter.”

I don’t know how this would appear as a

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. 37.

Message from the Evangelicals

Let us unite...Jesus is coming

Independence Day Message from the Association of Evangelical Churches (AEC) of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

LADY WENT to her psychologist and told him that her husband of 42 years was unfaithful to her. At first he could not get enough of her now she can’t see enough of him.

The psychologist calmly said, “Mid-life crisis”. So I went to the psychologist and told him I have been waiting 4½ month to get an endoscopy from our diagnostic hospital. The psychologist jumped out of his chair, opened the door

A

and said, “Don’t die in here”.

You may find this hilarious but it’s a sad reflection of the state of our beloved Hairouna. As we celebrate 42 years as an independent nation, we find ourselves more divided than ever. Politics has long divided our families and communities, now, with the help of the CORONA virus we are even more divided.

Differences over vaccination is causing strife and division even in the church of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “I will build MY CHURCH and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. Aren’t

our different opinions, understandings, feelings or fears not reflections of the gates of hell? Be reminded, the church is one foundation, there is one God, one faith, one baptism.

It is instructive to note that amidst the small pox outbreak in the Caribbean in 1902, there existed the same divisions over vaccination and quarantine that we see in the world today. The division was so great that it forced the then colonial powers to mandate vaccination until it became a requirement for infant. People’s opinions are shaped by their

backgrounds, experiences, education and socialization. That being the case, we should never expect everyone to agree on everything. Romans 12: 18 encourages us “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceable with all men”.

While we quarrel about COVID protocols and requirements, other critical elements of our nation are falling apart.

Are we going to address these or pretend that the emperor has clothes on when he stands naked before us? Why should someone be waiting five months for an endoscopy and we have a diagnostic centre on the island? Is COVID-19 responsible for

all the challenges in our health system?

While we are sleeping the enemy is sowing tears among our wheat (Matt.

12:25). Some persons are becoming tired and giving up, others are moving on voluntarily or involuntarily.

Sincere thanks and much love to Reverend Adolph Davis of the Methodist Church who has completed a short stint in SVG and is moving on. During his stint in SVG (his home land), he gave selflessly to the work of the Kingdom; he did not see denominational barriers only one St. Vincent needing to unite against ungodliness. The

Dr. Renold-Murray Association of Evangelical Churches wishes Rev. Davis and his family God’s speed and much grace.

So it’s our 42nd anniversary of Independence, quit ye like men, be strong, let us stand together against all forms of injustice, indignity of humanity, and divisiveness. AEC is 41 years old, we are not settling for the mid-life crisis excuse; we continue to serve our nation aggressively. The problem is, we are still operating as denominational groups so that the full impacts of our operations are not visible. Conservatively, member churches of the AEC provided in excess of five million dollars ($5,000,000) of support to Vincentians during the volcanic eruption and are still assisting with livelihood restoration.

Thanks to our brothers and sisters in Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago and international friends and brothers in the United States.

We are Vincentians serving St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Let us put aside our differences and prepare for the return of Jesus Christ. Jesus is coming again.

Happy Independence, SVG.

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40. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Independence Message from the CDW

“Calls to action and uncertain sounds of distraction” the shadows. To date, for example, the Hon. Ivy Joshua, a trailblazer in the field of Women in Politics who won her seat in five (5) successive ONG BEFORE elections, has not independence, leaders received her due respect had emerged in every Women in the forefront from women and men community in St. Vincent who were emboldened by and the Grenadines to lay The advancement of her relentless fight for the foundation for women in St. Vincent improvement to the lives development of the and the Grenadines is a of the poor and country, to which result of the stand of our underprivileged. It took successive political parties foremothers. With little an intrepid Theresa and Governments have resources and much Daniel to bring her out of made significant sacrifice, they endured the shadows in her book, contributions. the mockery of the many ‘The Political Path of Ivy We disrespect these who thought they were Joshua’. contributions when we acting “out of place”.

And the Callinago say, “Nothing has We, today’s women North of the happened” in the 42 beneficiaries of their Rabacca River, it took an Years of Independence. labours, pay tribute to all equally fearless Patricia Who can deny that the the women who Respect and Fraser to research her “Call to Action” by recognition contributed to the people who were “Still on fearless “ordinary people” women’s movement in the Fringes”, and bring has influenced our Women were their communities and them nearer to the governance today? These the country as a whole, heartened when 2021 centre, so that today, calls became the over 42 years of was declared by they enjoy, like all other generating nucleus to Government as the “Year citizens, enhanced independence. These build a critical mass for of the Domestic Worker”. services in education, include women working placing people at the COVID-19 restrictions in the home, domestic health, agriculture and centre of development. workers, vendors, artists, have stymied planned fisheries.

Respect is due to Black action, which will be hairdressers, Carib Chief of Chiefs carried forward to 2022. Distractions – some seamstresses, farmers, Joseph Chatoyer, and his craftswomen, those in Unfortunately, many way to go still brother Chief Duvalle, women leaders remain in political and medical and Sheriff Lewis and Unfortunately, the distractions from building on success are numerous. The continuing incidence of crime and violence, including Domestic Violence, requires strong advocacy and action from women’s groups.

Some measure of success came with the United Nation Platform for Action for the Advancement of Women in 1995, where Violence Against Women was listed as one of the twelve Critical Areas of Concern. This was the 16th year of Independence, and our government is a signatory to that

INDEPENDENCE MESSAGE FROM THE COMMITTEE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN (CDW)

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Bertha Mutt with her group of fifteen (15) women, both leaders of the people’s ‘revolt’ of 1935. We stand on their shoulders and those of many others.

fields, civil servants, age care workers and teachers, to name a few.

In this tribute, we must make mention of women pioneers like Earlene Horne, Valcina Ash, Sheila Duyon, Shirley Byron-Cox, Louise Charles, Agnetta Robertson, Cheryl Johnson, Gertrude Ferguson, Camalita Williams, Ancelma Morgan Rose, Chaddis Stapleton and Millicent Iton who led pre-school services from “Child Minding” in homes to the Early Childhood Education Centres we have today.

Platform.

Moreover, should the recommendations of a 2018 sub-regional project — Cultural Rights to foster Behavioural and Women’s Empowerment against Domestic Violence in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean — be implemented, significant changes will take place.

The failure of the constitutional reform can be likened to the fable of the two travellers going in different directions, meeting on a narrow ledge. The refusal of one to yield led to both crashing into the river below.

After a historic moment in Parliament of both sides agreeing to constitutional reform, the refusal of one to yield led to abortion of the effort.

The distractions were many and women lost the benefits of greater access to political participation and the electorate lost the opportunity of proportional representation in Parliament, both of which were proposed in the new Republican Constitution.

Service before self The spirit of “selfservice” pervades instead of the spirit of “sacrifice”.

I know a leader of a youth group who tore out his pants pocket to use to help light a fire at a youth campsite….

Sacrifice! He subsequently retired from a senior position in the Ministry responsible for Youth Affairs.

There are many appeals for the NGO Movement to be

Nelcia Robinson revitalised. The Chinese proverb beckons: “When sleeping women awake, mountains will move”.

Can women’s organisations be part of the generating nucleus to lead us out of these distractions to a better day, better times? Will our organisations engage in building a gentler, kinder society of which the Hon. Arnhim Eustace spoke? Can we contribute to building the Caribbean Civilisation and practise the good neighbourliness of which The Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves continues to speak?

There is another story of two travellers, again meeting on a narrow ledge. One laid down and the other passed over by stepping lightly on his back. They both went to their missions in safety.

As we celebrate our Independence, may we also see our interdependence in which lie real strength and benefit.

Are we up to such humility to play our part in leading our country to safety?

Nelcia Robinson Coordinator Committee for the Development of Women

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lHE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. 41.

Education

St. Vincent Brewery Ltd. give Rusha Bay Back to School Bursaries THE ST. VINCENT BREWERY LTD. is a company known for supporting and giving back to many communities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It is an esteemed establishment that continues to foster better community and company relationships while supporting the future leaders of our island.

Leadership by personal example is at the core of our culture. As a part of our culture, we have selected and recognized five (5) successful CPEA performers from our community of Rusha Bay to be awarded with back to school Bursaries.

The bursary holders were selected based on students who are residents of

Rusha Bay and the top five (5) CPEA performers from applications received.

Each student is rewarded a bursary of one off payments of EC $1,200.00.

Congratulations to the following students who were successful recipients of the St. Vincent Brewery Ltd Rusha Bay bursaries: • Joshua Morgan • J-Vique Kyle Lewis • Nickida Alana Matthews • Renee Soniah De Freitas • Timroy Ralph Jr. We wish them a productive school year and all the best in their future endeavors. (Submitted by the St. Vincent Brewery Limited)

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lHE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. 45.

Message from Dr. Friday cont’d

Together, Let us overcome and Prosper independence promised much more and expected people, for to do so is the that each succeeding very essence of generation would deliver democracy. on that promise.

Sadly, we have seen in So, when we demand recent months that our transparency and democracy is not secure. accountability in When confronted by government, we are citizens exercising their heeding that call and democratic right to speak delivering on that out and to stand up in promise. When we our streets in protest protest peacefully and against government resolutely in the streets policies and police of Kingstown against oppression, the state has draconian legislation and chosen to suppress that an emerging police state, expression, to invade the we are keeping faith homes and the office of with that promise. Such activists, and to actions must transcend prosecute perceived partisan political protest organizers and alignments and uphold participants. the common good.

We cannot accept in I am encouraged by our 42nd year of the willingness of our independence that our people to stand and be democratic rights and counted in our time of freedoms would be peril. When La Soufriere reduced to less than they erupted, when the were earlier in our Covid19 pandemic national journey. We emerged and now that it must not accept that the rages unabated among attainment of us, and when we independence, instead of recognized the attack on enlarging those rights, our democracy, including would diminish them. the use of excessive force That was not the hope of by the police, the people Robert Milton Cato and here at home and in our those who led this small far-flung diaspora offered and beautiful country their voices, their into nationhood. They treasure, and their believed that the prayers in service of attainment of fellow Vincentians and Continued from Page 7.

the nation. In this lies our hope for a secure and brighter future.

May God Bless us and keep us. One Nation, One People!

TTH THE HE EEMBA EMB EM EMBASSY MB BA ASSY ASS A AS SSSY SY OF SY OF THE TTH HE REPUBLIC REP EEPUBLIC PUB PU P U UB BL BLI B LIIC LLIC OF (TAIWAN) OF CHINA CHI CH C HINA (TA (T TA TA TAIWA AIW AI IIW IWA WA WA AN AN) N N)) Congratulates Con Co on ng gra gra gr a atu tu u ula la ates ate tees th the he p he peo pe people eo op ple p le off St. The Grenadines Stt. Vincent Vin V n nccce cen en nt and nt an nd Th nd T he Gre he Gr G ren en na na adi di din in nes nes on their Anniversary Independence th heir hei eiir 42nd 42 42n 2nd nd A Ann nn niv niv ive ver ers rsa sar ary ry y off In I Ind nde dep epe pen p en nden nde deen nce nce

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46. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Business

A bundle of joy from Digicel marked its first year as a Digital Operator.

„Customers loving Digital,‰ says Digicel DIGICEL IS DECLARING its relaunch as a Digital Operator one year ago a success as customers fully embrace the benefits of a digital lifestyle delivered on a supercharged network.

On 20th October, 2020, Digicel stepped out as a Digital Operator and committed to delivering customers 1440 minutes of digital experiences and engagement via its suite of apps, neatly packaged in data-packed Digicel Prime Bundles, along with a promise of simply more.

In a clear indication that homegrown digital talent and innovation can take on Silicon Valley and prevail. The success is showing up in the numbers with 70% of data users already using and enjoying Digicel Prime Bundles, and customer sentiment trending up with improving NPS (Net Promoter Score) numbers. Put simply, customers are loving digital.

Digicel’s commitment to delivering more is translating to a vibrant suite of content, entertainment and engagement-packed apps that are constantly growing and evolving as customers spend more and more time using and enjoying them.

That surge in popularity has seen the D’Music app song catalogue growing by 15 million to now offer 55 million songs..; TV streaming app, PlayGo, adding 140 live TV channels to now boast 160 live TV channels; messaging, marketplace, job vacancy posting app, BiP now features almost one dozen local affinity partners; and the GoLoud app, offering 7 local radio stations covering every popular genre and taste.

Digicel fastest growing app In fact, from a standing start, GoLoud has found a previously untapped audience in the region with its engaging blend of podcasts, local radio and local DJ mixes making it Digicel’s fastest growing app.

In keeping with its promise of simply more, each of Digicel’s suite of apps will be marking one year of Digital Operator success with prizes, gifts and free premium content galore.

This started last Wednesday 20th October with a guaranteed Shake to Win on MyDigicel app, and premium access plus a gift of 2GBs to use on that day.

Premium channels and a gift of 2GBs per day for all customers using PlayGo were made available from 18th to 22nd October plus; and a week of premium content and a gift of 2GBs per day for all SportsMax users - plus much more.

Commenting on one year as a Digital Operator, Digicel SVG CEO, Fanta Williams, said; “The last year has been about building a solid base of engaged app users and strongly promoting the benefits of a digital lifestyle via our apps and our superior network. That focus is paying off as customers spend more and more of the 1440 minutes they have in each day with Digicel.”

lHE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. 47.

Leisure/Advice

ARIES (MAR. 21- APRIL 20) You will find that money could slip through your fingers. Don’t hesitate to enlist the aid of friends or family if you have a big project to finish in your domestic environment.

LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT. 23) Try not to allow superiors or those in a higher position to take advantage of you.

Be careful not to push your luck or take too much for granted when dealing on either a personal or professional level.

TAURUS (APR. 21- MAY 21) Keep important information to yourself.

Older family members may try to make demands that are impossible for you to handle. You could have trouble persuading others to accept your ideas and opinions.

SCORPIO (OCT. 24 - NOV. 22) Find a way to consolidate. Your partner could also use some time alone with you.

Sports, physical fitness programs, exercise in general will make you feel better and show some pretty quick results.

GEMINI (MAY 22-JUNE 21) Travel should be on your agenda. Your emotional reaction will be dependent upon your partner’s responsiveness. A female colleague may cause problems for you.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) Plan a trip to the country or take a drive to the beach. You need to spend some time reflecting on past experiences and involvements. You can continue to make gains if you call a few people who can help you close an important deal.

CANCER (JUNE 22-JULY 22) Risky ventures may turn in your favor.

Social events held in your home will be successful and entertaining for all. Your outgoing nature will surprise others this week.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) You will learn a great deal from people with different cultural backgrounds.

Romantic relationships could be under pressure. They will jump at the chance to do something without you if it sounds like more fun.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 -SEPT. 23) Difficulties will result if you have to deal with controversial groups this week. You may find it difficult to communicate. Help an older member with a problem that faces them.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22.- JAN. 20) You can expect opposition at work. Don’t let your competition be privy to information that could be in criminating.

Be careful that you aren’t saddled with the responsibilities of others.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 21.- FEB. 19) There might be one who is quite willing to take the credit for your work. Do not expect too much from others. Make sure all of your travel and driver’s documents are in proper order.

PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) Be prepared to lose friends or alienate loved ones due to your stubborn nature lately. They didn’t fully understand what was expected.

A broken promise Dear George, I HAVE BEEN having an affair with a married man who promised that he would, in time, divorce his wife and marry me. He asked me to be patient. In the meantime, we continued to engage in unprotected sex.

I did not mind getting pregnant because I was confident there was a future for us. When I announced I was pregnant he went bunkers and told me how stupid I was. That was when he admitted he was not divorcing his wife and he only told me that to keep me interested because the sex was good.

He has avoided me since then. I hope he is reading this because I want to say to him that I just found out I am HIV positive. Let him have fun explaining that to his dear wife.

Angel in tears Dear Angel in tears, Life has a way of throwing curve balls at you.

You will now understand that it is wise to wait until a process is complete before you start planning a new life with anyone, moreso a man who is married and promises to divorce his wife.

Your HIV status is regrettable but hope lies in the fact that you can access the medical care that would treat you and your child. Make use of the counseling that is available from the AIDS Secretariat.

The lessons learnt from this experience could turn out to be priceless in the long run.

George

ACROSS 1. Deficiency 5. Delicate 9. Hurt 11. Rang 13. Benediction 15. Blood vessel 16. Favored student 17. Serene 19. Alike 20. African animals 22. Driveway type 26. Arctic 31. Kitchen furnishings 32. Political body 33. Wound up 34. Made tea, perhaps 35. Preserved, in a way 37. Boxer’s young 41. In a different way 42. Genetic info carrier 45. Join the navy, say 47. Supporter 49. Game equipment 50. Dough raiser 51. Remove 52. Gets wrinkles DOWN 1. Nordic native 2. Ground measure 3. Converse 4. E or G, e.g.

5. English knight 6. Seeded cereal grasses 7. Pet vampire 8. Condition 10. Like some goods at Customs 11. Censure

12. Coloring 14. Tracks 18. It might be vacant 21. Indy 500 venue 22. Pretend 23. “____ Loves You” (Beatles hit) 24. Trash 25. Welcome words 27. Lunch hour 28. Indy segment 29. Lunched or munched 30. Baseball broadcaster, Barber 32. Tough to climb, perhaps 34. Moral wrong 36. “Darn!”

37. Liveliness 38. Module 39. Kind of bargain 40. Under the weather 42. Short car race 43. Margin of

victory at the track 44. Little scurries 46. Interview 48. Bag contents, often

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. 49.

Afraid to be tested Dear George, I RECEIVED a call telling me that I was exposed to somebody who tested positive for COVID-19 and I must come in to get tested. I have not gone as yet because I’m afraid they might test me for HIV one time.

You see, a few of my colleagues have tested positive for HIV. I am afraid I will be told I’m HIV positive. I do not want to have

anything to do with any test of any kind.

I do not think I have the Covid; I feel just fine.

In addition to all this is not I cannot afford not to be at work. I really need the money. I’m in a real ticklish position right now and I need some advice.

Wondering

You wife is right Your wife had a right to be disappointed in your friend and you now have another name to MY WIFE reported that a friend of mine made a pass at her. She erase from your friendship list.

You have to validate your was very upset over the whole wife’s feelings about the incident thing and expressed and to let her know you will no disappointment in him. longer be keeping company with She ended by asking me what I that individual. intended to do about it and got He will get the very angry when I asked, “What can I do?” Your thoughts George. message soon enough that you now know what he No harm no foul knows.

Dear George,

Dear No harm no foul,

George

Dear Wondering, There is no other way around this but to go and get tested for both COVID-19 and HIV. Knowing your status gives you that added advantage in terms of receiving timely and appropriate treatment.

It is reckless to be still mixing with the general population knowing that you could very well be Covid positive. Do the responsible thing and get tested immediately. The health professionals will counsel you accordingly.

George

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52. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Williams to contest NOC presidentÊs race the St Vincent and the Grenadines National Olympic Committee (SVGNOC).

Williams joins Stephen Joachim of the SVG Swimming Federation and Vanburn Harry of the SVG Taekwondo Association, in the race for the top NOC position.

The race will be significant in that a new person will fill the position since longstanding President —Trevor ‘Sailor’ Bailey had indicated with early Wayne Williams, longnotice that he was not standing sports standing for re-election. administrator, is looking In a conversation with to move one step up in Williams this week, he the Executive of the introduced himself as NOC. one who has been “involved in the Olympic WAYNE WILLIAMS Committee for several renowned sports years,” adding, “Before I administrator, went to university I was businessman, motivational one of the original speaker - has declared his persons who met to get candidacy for President of

the organization off the ground in SVG.” In fact, Williams is the current Vice President of the NOC and confessed to supporting Bailey, but once Bailey declared his position and with indication of support from people close to him, he decided to run for president.

In addition to the administration expertise that he has been able to hone through the years — as a long-serving President of the SVG Basketball Federation, not to mention the overseas exposure to regional and hemispheric conferences, seminars, training - Williams is confident that these experience plus the years of intimate involvement in running the operations of the NOC as its Vice President, have redounded in giving him

a profound understanding of the challenges that confront the role of the NOC in the development of sports in SVG. He is further enhanced, he said, by the years of listening to and respecting the views of sports persons across the spectrum and is also bolstered, he added, by his knowledge of how to motivate and move persons from one level up to another, so that they can realise their true potential.

This, he said, is a fundamental attribute that any leader would want and should possess.

Once given the position, Williams said, “My intention is to try and build on what exists….. When people think of the Olympic Movement they think of the elite aspect but

another very important component that falls directly under the athletes’ development programme is about being active for life.

“Persons need to have knowledge it relates to managing the demands of the total Olympic movement, and I think I have checked all of the boxes and am equipped and prepared to do so,” Williams contended.

The former national basketballer player and still an active coach, enters the race convinced and mindful of the role and contribution of others.

He is convinced that, “we can always find ways of doing things better and that is what we strive for in life, finding ways to bring more value to the organization and members whom we are committed to serve.”

The incumbent Trevor Bailey will vacate the President’s chair which he has occupied dating back to 1997.

Candidates for the position of President will make their presentations on November 12th.

Nomination for the position closes on October 28th.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Archery joins sporting fraternity in SVG

Demonstration being done with members of the media, last Tuesday at Arnos Vale.

IF THE RECENTLY FORMED Archery Association of St. Vincent and the Grenadines accomplishes what it has set itself so to do in the short term, this country would be participating in a Caribbean Archery Championships slated for May, 2022.

This was disclosed by President of Archery Association SVG- Sanjay Jiandani, in an interview with the VINCENTIAN last Tuesday.

Jiandani, acknowledging that his recently formed Association was inducted last month as a permanent member of World Archery Federation, said his Association has set itself both immediate and long term goals.

“We have some small goals set for the first year, after that is development and getting people to the international level,” Jiandani said.

Zooming in on some specifics,

Jiandani expounded, “Our short-term goal is to prepare the coaches and judges over the next few months and within a year, we want to have archers shooting (from) thirty metres, which is a standard for beginners. …. If we can shoot consistently and effectively, within the first year that will be a big achievement for us.”

March is the deadline for the achievement of the minimum shooting range, and Jiadani is confident that they can attain this in time to participate in the Caribbean Championships for beginners, slated for May, 2022.

And towards getting the sport on ‘the road’, the Association is hosting a one-week course for coaches and judges. It is being facilitated by Phil Graves, a Level Four Coach and Chairman of the Development Committee, World Archery Americas.

This will be followed by the launch of an open programme beginning next month at the back of the Media Centre of the Arnos Vale Playing Field, the temporary home of the sport.

Looking further ahead, Jiandani projected, “Our main goal would be to eventually get somebody in St Vincent and the Grenadines to shoot at the Olympics… may be a World Championships or at a World Ranking

event for World Archery.”

He also shared that the Association is committed to implementing a system that will groom young athletes President of the Archery Association so that they can compete at SVG- Sanjay Jiandani. a level where they will be eligible for university scholarships.

And as for whether the sport is proving attracting to Vincentians, Jiandani informed that the Association is pleased with the response to the official introduction of Archery to St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“We have signed up and paid up members and its growing … We have different age groups, from 13 years to members over 60 years old … We have about a dozen juniors under the age of 18…, “ Jiandani stated.

Apart from Jiandani, the other members of the Executive include, Vanburn Harry, Melanie Banfield, Soreyna Miller, Nandani Bhagwansingh, Haydeen Charles and Odini Sutherland.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021. 53.

Sports

Senior players in SVG U-20 provisional squad PLAYERS with senior team experience have been included in the thirty-member provisional SVG Under-20 Male Football team, preparing for the Concacaf

Qualifiers next month in the Dominican Republic.

Among the internationally capped players are defender Nigel Charles,

Oryan Velox

Renson Sayers

Nigel Charles

Tristan Marshall

striker Oryan Velox, midfielder Renson Sayers and Canada-based defender Tristan Marshall.

Charles, a defender and Velox, a striker, and Sayers, a midfielder made their senior team debut earlier this year, when St Vincent and the Grenadines contested the World Cup Qualifiers.

Apart from the quartet, goal keepers Josh Stowe and Garwin Davis have had senior team tours but are yet to make their debuts.

The rest of the provisional squad include two other goal keepers — Tristan John and Samir Bristol.

The other defenders are Karanje Alexander, Zalpheus Medica, Khalique Bowens, Anthony Charles, Tyrese Bute, Figo Thomas and Iruel Matthews Midfielders named are Duvani Williams, Bishon Richards, Kosharie Lewis, Swashaun Browne, Saviola Blake, Kirtney Franklyn and Canada based- Micah Joseph.

Shemron Phillips, Osaie Delpesche, Jequan Adams, Kamal Griffith, Emroy Edwards, Steven Pierre and Denzel Bascombe, are the other strikers in the squad.

The squad will be trimmed to twenty for travel to the Dominican Republic.

Drawn in Group C of the qualifiers, the Bishon Williams-coached St Vincent and the Grenadines outfit will meet Puerto Rico on Nov. 6, Bermuda on Nov. 8 and Barbados, Nov 10.

Montserrat was named originally to Group C but has dropped out of the Qualifiers.

Head Coach — Williams, speaking at last Tuesday’s SVg Football Federation Press Conference at the Methodist Church Hall, Kingstown, was cagey about making predictions but expressed that he was satisfied with the squad’s preparations.

“I don’t want to say much about what to expect but I always believe whenever you prepare well it becomes easier,” Williams commented.

The provisional squad is in camp at the Brighton Technical Centre, ahead of their departure on 4th November.

Should St Vincent and the Grenadines emerge as winners of the group, they will advance to the Concacaf Men’s Under-20 Championships in the summer of 2022.

Mercury opposes World Cup every two years HEAD COACH of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Senior Men’s Football team- Kendale Mercury, is not in favour of a World Cup every two years.

He told the VINCENTIAN last Tuesday, “I don’t support

a World Cup every two years.”

His response has come in light of a proposal by FIFA to put in place a revamped 2024 international calendar.

His opposition to the proposal comes on many fronts but Mercury is

particularly concerned about it creating a further disadvantageous position for smaller nations such as St Vincent and Grenadines.

Addressing the proposition for a single qualification window in October, Mercury reasoned, “Basically, we will get to play faster, because the cycle is shorter, however, the proposal for one window, which is in October, so there will be less engagement with the national team”.

Her added, “.. a twoyear World Cup means that the cream will always be at the top, so the likes of Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, Canada, the USA, El Salvador and so on will continue to be the ones which will go to the World Cup… Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago and

Jamaica, will get a chance now and again.”

Looking at the financial implications of FIFA’s proposal, Mercury reasoned: “World Cup engagements are heavy financial burdens on smaller federations like St Vincent and the Grenadines, and this will not increase corporate support and if the team is not doing well, then that corporate support will not be forthcoming.”

And referencing the expanded participation in the 2026 World Cup the coach asked, “For example, if St Vincent and the Grenadines does not make it to the 2026 World Cup, would you see us making it in 2028 which basically gives us one year to prepare for the next set of qualifiers?”

That increased rotation was another

financial burden on the smaller federations like us, he assessed.

According to Mercury, the change would adversely affect coaches like him.

“We only prepare at competition time, so if it is October for the qualifiers, you may just find national associations only give short contracts to national coaches just for World Cup preparations, which does not fit well into a long range for us as coaches,” he contended.

As an alternative to FIFA’s proposal, Mercury countered with, “If they want to help the smaller nations which do not make it to the World Cup, then they can have a separate competition for them.”

At present, FIFA is

Kendale Mercury has voiced strong opposition to FIFA plan to increase the frequency of World Cups. (Facebook Photo) conducting surveys around the world soliciting opinions from the various blocks of affiliates and individual members.

FIFA’s proposals are set for a vote in December 2021 by its 211 member associations.

V

54. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Proof of the pudding WEST INDIES have to prove their mettle when the going gets tough starting tomorrow. Akeal Hosein replaces Fabian Allen, forced out by an ankle injury.

That makes room for the inclusion of Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai, the Guyanese left hand orthodox bowler. The updates were announced last Wednesday, and Motie had to go through the required period before joining the squad.

Analysts reduced West Indies from favourites following losses to Pakistan and Afghanistan in the Warm up phases. The results provide the ammunition for those upset by the selectors, and Gayle’s response to Ambrose, to revel in delight.

The tournament is into motion, and it is better to put negative obstacles aside.

There will be enough to discuss as the tournament progresses. It is a psychological battle as the days go by. T/20 Cricket has as much momentum swing as other forms of the game. The difference is the length of time. It could take a session or two to determine the outcome of a Test match.

There is no latitude in a T/20. Two or three balls are as long as it takes to alter the course.

West Indies have the ability to handle any situation.

It is a pity there is so much friction between past and current players. Once there was open conflict between the West Indies Board and players. That led to a lack of goodwill and commitment towards the sport.

The current Board is ensuring that players interest is priority. Chris Gayle is a drawing card on the international platform. Inconsistent as he may be, he can turn the tide in any moment. He ought to be allowed to justify his inclusion or prove his abandonment.

Infighting in West Indies cricket smacks of suicide.

We have to defend each other. We must show more diplomacy in our affairs. Life goes on after the World Cup. When the next squad is chosen, is there going to be another volley?

There is enough rivalry for hosting tournaments. The one with England will raise concerns by countries who missed out on the itinerary.

Some Vincentians may have fumed that Arnos Vale was not one of the venues. Hosting a country like England is like icing on the tourism cake.

Even with the Argyle Airport, infrastructure in support of accommodating a huge entourage is lacking here. In might be a blessing that SVG is not considered. We will be better off without the burdens of a foreign tour in the interest of our health security.

Vincentians take their freedom and give it their interpretation. It is hard to arrive at a consensus on how to tackle anything. Until there is an overwhelming tendency towards collective security, there will be this aura of mystery as it pertains to Vincentian nationhood, far more part of the regional integration movement.

Ambrose and Gayle in a tussle EVEN AS the West Indies team gears up for its first match against England – Oct. 23 - in defence of the ICC T20 World Cup title, reactions to and comments in relation to the team selected for that purpose continue unabated.

Former W.I. players are not excluded from those who have voiced opinions about the selection, zeroing on various players who in their assessments did not warrant their places in the squad.

Recently, former fast bowler Sir Curly Ambrose weighed in with a comment with respect to Chris Gayle.

Speaking on the Oct. 5 episode of the weekly radio cricket talk show, Mason & Best on VOB 92.9 FM, Barbados, Ambrose said Gayle’s exploits in the format in the last 18 months to two years “does not inspire confidence that he can play typically explosive innings of the past.”

And as for Gayle finding a place in an eleven who will take to the field in the World Cup, Ambrose declared: “No, he (Gayle) is not an automatic choice for me.

The few home series (West Indies) just played, he had no scores of significance, and I have said before that if he did not do well in those home series, he should not

Sir Curtly Ambrose (left) and Chris Gayle enjoy a go to the World cordial exchange in an earlier time.

Cup.” Ambrose’s view was shared by back the attention which he requires and which he needs.” fellow Antiguan and West Indies And he had direct and pointed pacer Kenny Benjamin who was ‘news’ for Ambrose and others, also on the Mason & Best saying, “We have won the programme. tournament twice and we will be Ambrose, though, admitted going for the third title. If the that if Gayle got it going on the past players continue being day, he can still be destructive, negative, I Chris Gayle Universe but stressed, “He hasn’t done Boss is going to be disrespectful, much in the last 18 months.” disrespectful verbally in their face and in the media as well. I am not Gayle response to Ambrose going to take anything from any As one cricket enthusiast said, senior player. Curtly Ambrose pull your socks up, alright?

“When mouth open story jump Support for West Indies, ok? out.”

It didn’t take long before Gayle, Support West Indies, that is the thing.” the self-proclaimed ‘Universe Gayle, who was a member of Boss’, vented his feelings about the W.I. 2012 and 2016 World Ambrose and other former W.I. Cup-winning teams, sobered a players. little and said, “This team has Espncricinfo.com reported been selected and we need past Gayle as saying, “I can tell you players to support us. We need personally that Universe Boss, that, we don’t need negative have no respect for Curtly energy. In other teams, their past Ambrose whatsoever.” players support their teams, why He added, “I highly respected can’t our own support us in a big him when I came into the West tournament like this?”

Indies team. I looked up to this The tournament is being played man. But I am now speaking from in United Arab Emirates and my heart. Those negative things Oman and runs from 17 October he has been saying within the press, I don’t know if he is looking to 14 November 2021. for attention but he is getting the Stories: I.B.A.ALLEN attention. So I am just giving

ÂCricketÊs franchise system not workingÊ THE SYSTEM is not working!

This sentiment was expressed by Dr. Kishore Shallow, Vice President of Cricket West Indies Inc. (CWI), as he spoke about a review of the Professional Cricket League franchise system that the CWI will undertake.

Speaking at a ‘Lets Rally — T/20 World Cup’ webinar programme hosted by the University of Trinidad and Tobago last week, Dr. Shallow said the franchise system had not translated into success at the international level, as far as players’ performances

were concerned, and that the regional body will assess the current programme with the view to making improvements.

While he noted that the performances as referenced have not been consistent, he felt that some progress had been made.

“We started the franchise system about six or seven years ago.

We have had tremendous gains, employing some 90 players plus staff.

Professional cricketers are being paid monthly.

We have these players playing cricket full-time.

It was a remarkable step

in the right direction,” he said.

However, he noted players coming out of the franchise system were still not showing the desired consistency at the international level.

“Following our fourday or Super50 tournament in which our players performed, they then move to the international level and then you can see the significant gap. So, we need to improve that franchise system so that by the time our players leave there, they are closer to the international standard or what is required at the

Dr. Kishore Shallow spoke openly about the factors that influenced the decision to review the CWI Professional Cricket League franchise system. international level for consistent performances,” Dr. Shallow added.

With that in mind, he stressed, “We have started a review and we have had a couple of meetings so far.”

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FIRST ROUND

There were further provisions made for the Applicants to respond by December 3, and for THE LAWSUIT brought against the Government of the Respondents to respond by December 17 Trinidad and Tobago by British American Insurance with an oral hearing on the application for Company Limited (BAICO) and Colonial Life Company special leave and the objections scheduled for Limited Policy Holders Group will commence in earnest. January 18, 2022.

Trinidad and Tobago withdrew its objections to But in a turn of events, on October 8 the the Application for Special Leave which was made Respondents indicated to the CCJ its decision and heard during a Case Management Hearing on not to pursue its objections to the Application October 6, and an order of the Caribbean Court of for Special Leave by the BAICO Policyholders Justice (CCJ) issued on October 11 cleared the and subsequently by order dated October 11, pathway for the filing of the lawsuit after. having regard to the position of the The Original Application, which sets out the case Respondent and noting that the Applicants by the BAICO policyholders grouped as BACOL, had satisfied all the requirements for the was filed on October 18 and now, BACOL’s legal grant of Special Leave, the CCJ ordered that team can proceed to file the claim with the CCJ in the previous order dated October 6 be recalled its original jurisdiction, and present the case before and the Applicants were granted leave to the Court that members contained in the lawsuit commence proceedings against the State of are entitled to restitution on par with that paid to Trinidad and Tobago. policyholders of Trinidad and Tobago nationals.

The Court also ordered that the Applicants At the Case Management Hearing on October 6, file their Originating Application on or before Senior Counsel Deborah Peake, representing the October 18 and that further proceedings in Respondents (Trinidad and Tobago) said that she the matter shall follow the CCJ rule. had been instructed to oppose the Application for The BACOL group is contending that in the Special Leave, asking the Court for direction for the 12 years since the collapse of the British American filing of n affidavit, or affidavits in opposition to the Insurance Company (BAICO), policyholders in the application.

Eastern Caribbean have been denied the return to Following this, Justice Adrian Saunders, their full investment made into the various BAICO President of the CCJ and who represented a threeAgencies, while their counterparts in Trinidad and member panel including Justices Jacob Wit and Tobago have had substantially most of their Winston Anderson, allowed the Respondents until investments returned to them. Policyholders November 5 to provide in writing its objection to the throughout the OECS have so far only received 14 application for special leave. cents on the dollar.

by DAYLE DA SILVA

This impressive British American Insurance headquaters in Barataria, Trinidad, was part of the company’s assets when it collapsed in January 2009.

This inequity has impacted negatively on the lives of policyholders from across the Eastern Caribbean with many having lost substantial sums of their savings, retirement, and pension benefits.

NEW COVID-19 MEASURES COMING referenced the current uptick in COVID-19 cases as “an alarming GIVEN the ongoing disregard some trend,” resulting from the action of too members of the public continue to many persons breaching the show for the COVID-19 protocols established protocols. already in place, Minister of Health “It’s an alarming trend of mass St. Claire Prince has advised that new gathering in public and private measures will soon be implemented settings, villages, and community here. settings,” he said.

Speaking at a virtual press And as he appealed to churches, conference hosted by his Ministry on public transport operators, bars and Tuesday 19th October, Prince restaurants to adhere to the COVID19 protocols, he said, “This is not just Health Minister St. Clair Prince has a health issue, it’s a national issue and given early warning that new it needs all sectors on board. We are measures will be implemented to not pleased with the large numbers help slow the spread of COVID-19 who still gather for funerals and here.

by GLORIAH…

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

weddings and soon we will propose new measures in our attempt to slow the spread of the virus.”

Prince made a direct appeal to promoters, entertainers, event coordinators and restaurant owners who are used to working with numbers greater than those stipulated by the protocols, to maintain the numbers recommended for masked gatherings.

He stated these protocol numbers as: “… no more than ten persons inside and no more than twenty persons outside” and reminded that the Ministry was not granting permission to exceed the recommended numbers.

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