THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025
VOLUME 119, No.31
More jobs coming Page 3
www.thevincentian.com
DPP moves up Page 4
EC$1.50
Protecting our music Page 10
Buggery Laws quashed Page 16
Mayhem in Owia Page 24
Many of the ten villas begin in the first phase remained incomplete well into 2025, some eight years after the groundbreaking. (Source: St. Vincent Times)
THE GOVERNMENT OF ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES HAS officially severed ties with PACE Developments, the Canadian company behind the stalled Black Sands Resort project at Peter’s Hope, an investment that was expected to be in the region of US$65 million. The severing was confirmed by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves during his appearance on last Sunday’s edition of WE FM Issue at Hand programme. The Prime Minister stated inter alia that the government will pursue the process of acquiring the project, and he indicated that towards this end, the appraisal of the property had already begun. PACE Developments has already been notified of government’s intention.
Another Marriott The acquisition, according to the Prime Minister, will clear the path for a new Marriott (Hotel) development which will feature 300 rooms. The government in 2019 had announced plans to build a Marriott hotel at Mt. Wynne which border’s Peter’s Hope. My. Wynne One and Two boast two of the best black sand beaches on mainland St. Vincent and perhaps in the Caribbean. The Mt. Wynne hotel was projected to be a 250-room facility, and government had indicated then that it had secured a loan of some US$50 million from Taiwan to fund the construction. There was no clarity with respect to whether this “new Marriott development was to be one in which government would stand the coast of construction and enter into another management consultancy with Marriott International as per the one at Mt. Wynne. Continue on page 3
A villa showing advanced stages of construction would have been used as promotion to entice investors. (Source: NBC Radio Facebook)
2. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025. THE VINCENTIAN
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THE VINCENTIAN. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025. 3.
News 3 Employment boost for SVG NEW INVESTMENTS IN TOURISM-RELATED projects on the Leeward side of mainland St. Vincent, are anticipated to create ‘major employment opportunities and position this country as a leading Tourism destination’. Prime Minister Dt. Ralph Gonslaves gave this indication who, during a radio appearance on Wednesday 28th July. He noted that Sandals Resorts International (SRI) has already inked an agreement to construct a Beaches Resort. This investment is projected to be in the vicinity of ES$375 million, boasting approximately 375 rooms and requiring at least 1,500 workers. Executive Chairman Adam Stewart had in May this year, announced the Beaches Resort project for St. Vincent, during a keynote address at Trevello’s 2025 “Momentum” conference in Montego Bay, Jamaica. He expressed confidence in Sandals’ future in St. Vincent, noting that “business is thriving there and that guest response has exceeded expectations.” The Beaches Resort will add to the Sandals Resort that was opened here on March 27, 2024. While the exact cost of the entire project isn’t explicitly stated in available documentation, at least one source put the investment in the resort at a value of approximately USD $100 million, In addition to the Sandals (new) investment,
Beaches in Jamaica: A Beaches Resort located in Jamaica. according to the Prime Minister the Marriott Hotel at Mount Wynne, a 300-room complex which will be funded by a US$50 million loan from Taiwan, will further boost the employment opportunities, bringing the number to approximately 2,000 between the two investment. All of this comes with the news that the government is moving to acquire the stalled Black
Sands Resorts development at Peter’s Hope. (See Front page story) That project started in 2017 but to date there are no signs of phase one of the construction being anywhere near completion, supporting the view that the developers have failed to satisfy any of the conditions and expectation of the project.
Another Resort Failure: Black Sands goes under
Joseph Romano was the face of PACE Development and its principal investor. Another David Amnes? (Source: Facebook) combination of private villas and hotel - took place on Thursday 19th January, 2017. Government had cleared the way for the development by selling 36 acres of land at Peter’s Hope to Pace The ground-breaking party, January 10, 2017 for the beginning of Development for the mere sum construction of the Black Sands Resort. (Source: SVG TV) of XCD$7 million. Continued from front page The project in its entirety promised 400 rooms in the form of a hotel and about 50 villas, 10 in the Black Sands Resort – stalled first phase. AS FAR AS THE BLACK SANDS PROJECT was The project was initially expected to be completed concerned, as of the date the Prime Minister within 24-30 months of breaking ground in 2017, announced that his government had severed ties meaning the first phase was due to be finished by with the developers, the project had shown signs of 2020. being a stalemate with only an initially promised By 2022 it was clear that the project was “going ten villas of a promised 50 up, but whose extent of nowhere”. Government accepted the explanation for completion could not readily be discerned. the “delay” as factors such as delays in delivery of Readers will recall that the ground-breaking materials given the shipping challenges thrown up ceremony for the Black Sands Resort — a by the Russia-Ukraine war; the Covid-19 epidemic
that grew to international proportions; further delays occasioned by the volcanic eruption; and some difficulty raising capital. News also broke in Miami in July, 2022 that Star8 Corp. (OTCPK: STRH had announced that it had signed a Letter of Intent (the “LOI”) to acquire a group of St. Vincent operating under the name Pace Developments St. Vincent Inc. through a plan of exchange with an expected closing in the current quarter. It appeared that this never panned out and though it must have recognized that the project was behind schedule even before the COVID-19 and the volcanic eruption, government in 2023 granted the developers of the Black Sands Resort, Pace Development, a three-year extension on their alien landholding license, to complete the first phase of the resort.
Another Sandals However, with no visible signs of any real progress as 2024 came to an end, government accepted that the project was heading nowhere and notified the developers of its intention to acquire the development. There was some public concern that the project was going to be turned over to Sandals However, the Prime Minister put spend to this when he disclosed that his government was preparing to sign an agreement with Sandals Resorts International, for the development of a Beaches Resort in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. With no information with respect to where the Beaches Resort would be constructed, the Prime Minister posited completion by 2027. And while all that is playing out with government attempting to sugar coat the fallout of another foreign investment debacle, there remains a number of concerns about government’s plan to “build’ another hotel, and the concessions that drive Sandals rapid expansion in this country.
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4. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025 . THE VINCENTIAN
Court
Legal fraternity lauds new Vincentian Judge
Newly appointed High Court Judge Sejilla McDowall (left) receives a hug from Shirlan Barnwell, President of the Bar Association. Stories: HAYDN HUGGINS NEWLY APPOINTED acting High Court Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) Sejilla McDowall has been praised for her performance during her tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The praises came on Wednesday during a Special High Court sitting, to officially close the Criminal Assizes, as well as to congratulate and bid farewell to the outgoing DPP. McDowall, the first female to hold the position of DPP in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, was recently elevated to act as High Court Judge of the ECSC, and will be assigned to Dominica from September 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026. However, the general feeling of those who follow the Court process with keen interest is that the acting position will eventually be confirmed,
as has been the norm for most Judicial officers here who have been elevated. Justice Rickie Burnett, who presided over the sitting, said McDowall’s recent appointment did not surprise him as he knew that it would have been only a matter of time before McDowall was elevated. He expressed confidence that she will do well, and wish her well. Congratulatory remarks also came from Crown Counsel Renee Simmons, attached to the DPP’s office, President of the local Bar Association Shirlan Barnwell, as well as attorneys Ronald Marks, Grant Connell, Tonya DaSilva and Christon Frazer, of the Private Bar. The Court also heard from a law student doing his interment at the DPP’s office, and the Jury. Simmons, on behalf of the DPP’s office thanked McDowall for her guidance. “We know she is going to excel and do well”, Simmons said, adding that while the DPP’s office is sad to lose McDowall, her elevation will contribute significantly to the expansion of the Caribbean jurisprudence, as McDowall has a wealth of knowledge and experience. Barwell said she was, “Very pleased, and happy for McDowall”. “We had high hopes working together”, the Bar President said, acknowledging the need for bringing more cohesion between the DPP’s
office and the local bar. Barnwell said she hopes McDowall finds some balance when she takes up her new post, as she had worked almost exclusively as a prosecutor over the years. Marks said that when McDowall took up duties at the DPP’s office several years ago, she was very timid, but she is now a ‘tigress’, apparently referring to her style of prosecuting. Marks said he is sure that former DPP Colin Williams, now High Judge of the ECSC will be very proud of McDowall, as he likes to take the credit for “breaking her out of her shell”. Marks wished the new Judge well, adding, “I am very happy for her and the Caribbean Jurisprudence”. In her remarks, McDowall said, “It’s not really about me, it’s about the progression of the office”. She described the DPP’s office as a nurturing institution, and explained that, “by virtue of being effective it must be what you are”. She pointed out that “we have been in the trenches. The Prosecution Services have never been withdrawn one day”. She underscored that, “The seat of the office of the DPP is not mine, I did not buy it”. In response to the detractors, McDowall said, “Rather than commess and controversies, let us give commendations”.
Lawyer slams colleagues for hypocrisy ATTORNEY Grant Connell has slammed his colleagues for being hypocritical. “My lord, I am no hypocrite. Some of my colleagues can attest to that. I tell it as it is. “We are a fraternity riddled with hypocrisy”, Connell told the High Court on Wednesday during a special sitting to mark the official close of the Criminal assizes and to congratulate Sejilla McDowall, who has been recently elevated from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to acting High Court Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC). Connell, who gave his remarks after a number of his colleagues had already done so, lashed out against what he described as a mass exodus from the DPP’s office, as well as the deplorable conditions of the police stations, including the Central Police Station. “There seems to be a mass exodus from the DPP’s office, and when
that happens, justice pays the price. I don’t know if it’s because of salaries or pressure”, Connell said, referring to the increasing number of lawyers who have been leaving that office. He noted that former Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Karim Nelson and Crown Counsel Rose Ann Richardson, two outstanding prosecutors, have recently left, and he understands that others are soon to leave. Connell added that, “I don’t see Counsel Maitland”, referring to Richie Maitland, a Grenadian attorney who served as Crown Counsel in the DPP’s office here. “He (Maitland) had a tremendous impact on the Prosecution because he stood up in cases that other members of the office did not. Connell said that Crown counsel Rene Simmons is the most senior lawyer at the DPP’s office currently. “I don’t want her to drop down in this court because of pressure”, the
outspoken lawyer said. “When this office is affected, Justice is infected”, he lamented. Connell also took issue with the deplorable conditions of the police stations, describing the conditions at the one in Vermont as similar to a goat pen, due to its size and dilapidated state. He suggested that the Commissioner of Police experience a night at one of these stations. Connell added that he was informed that the Ministry of Health had to close down the interview room at the Central Police Station because it had been infected with mold. Connell said he is familiar with that interview room because he has been there many times. The lawyer has repeatedly described the police stations as the ‘accident and emergency of justice’. “If you get it wrong there and the investigations have a leak, sometimes it cannot be cured.
Attorney Grant Connell was his usual, frank and forthcoming self. “We have to get it right there, or justice can go begging”, he told the Court. Connell, however, admitted that there are good police officers who operate with limited resources, and made reference to Assistant Superintendent of Police Nolan ‘Grandpa’ Dalaway, who made an arrest in a high-profile matter, and secured exhibits within 15 minutes. Connell’s remarks were made in the presence of the police top brass, including Acting Commissioner Enville Williams.
She added that, “We don’t need to be deciding whether you are green, yellow or blue, what we need to know is that you are human”. Responding to the issue of balance, McDowall said, “To be a prosecutor is to be balanced, so I really don’t plan to be leaning on one side or the other because I like my spine”. She explained that Prosecution is not persecution; it is ensuring that justice is served. McDowall obtained a Bachelor’s of Laws degree (LLB) with Honours from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados in 2007, and is a graduate of the Hugh Wooding Law School, Trinidad and Tobago, where she obtained a legal education certificate in 2009. McDowall was called to the Bar of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in October 2009. In 2022, she obtained her Master’s of Law Degree in Legislative drafting (with distinction) from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. She has been a practicing Barrister-atLaw and Solicitor for over 15 years, and has worked almost exclusively with the DPP’s office since 2010. McDowall had acted as DPP since 2018 following then DPP Colin Williams’ retirement to take up duties as a High Court Judge in Belize. Her position as DPP was later confirmed by the then Chief Justice of the ECSC Janice Pereira.
First female High Court Bailiff appointed RETIRED Corporal of Police Nelica Kirby is this country’s first female High Court Bailiff. Word of Kirby’s historic appointment came during a High Court sitting on Wednesday. She is no stranger to the Court process, and has worked for most of her policing career as a Court Clerk, both in the Nelica Kirby) – Magistrate’s Courts and the stamped her High Court, and was assigned name in the to the High Court up to the annals of the time of her retirement. Court’s history in Kirby has a wealth of SVG. experience as she has been a member of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) for about thirty (30) years. She worked in every department of the constabulary, with the exception of the Special Services Unit (SSU) and Immigration. She retired in January 2024. Speaking to THE VINCENTIAN on Wednesday, Kirby said, “I am elated. I have always done my job to the best of my ability, and I pledge to continue to do my best at all times”. She described her appointment as ‘history in the making’. While there have been bailiffs at the Magistrate’s Courts, there were none at the High Court prior to Kirby’s appointment.
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THE VINCENTIAN. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025. 5.
Arts
SVGDF, YAF collaborate on: ‘Hold on to your roots’ The SVG Drum Foundation (SVGDF) in association with Youlou Arts Foundation (YAF) will host an evening of local cultural showcasing under the theme, ‘HOLD ON TO YOUR ROOTS, at Memorial Hall on Saturday 20th September, 2025, starting at 4 pm. Admission to the event is $20.00. The evening is partly in a show of support for the SVG Drum Foundation mission to retrieve Garifuna cultural heritage and stimulate national pride. A release from Youlou Arts Foundation, founded in 2000 by Camille SaundersMusser, says“Youlou Arts Foundation is delighted to be collaborating with the SVG Drum Foundation in the presentation of a cultural evening filled with poetry, drumming, craft and artwork from fifteen local visual artists. It promises to be a very special evening, a unique opportunity for the public to witness all three art forms on full display, the visual arts, the performing and literary arts.” The SVG Drum Foundation, born in 2013, has a membership that includes: New Dynamic Rhythm, Art and Creative Dance Organisation (NDRACDO); Kamktr Couture and Culture —
Diamond; Naked Roots Cultural Organization; Yourumi Drummers — Calliaqua; Resistance Heartbeat Drummers — Kingstown; Rose Hall Drummers; Garifuna Drummers; and Jim Maloney Drummers. Its current executive is: Sullian JonesPresident, John Oliver Vice President, Zando Rogers - Treasurer, James McDonald Secretary, Wendel ‘Ras I’ Lewis and Georgianna ‘Aunty G’ Nanton — Committee Members. The Foundation has not been daunted by its meagre resources, and continues to transcend multiple challenges; yet another example of the resilience of Vincentians. Over the last decade, it has initiated and/or involved itself in efforts aimed at reviving, promoting and developing the art of drumming in schools and communities, through education, entertainment, training sessions and mentoring. The Foundation stresses the benefits of strong alliances. In that vein, mutually beneficial outcomes have resulted from partnerships with the SVG Association of Music Professionals (AMP), Richmond Vale Academy (RVA), the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Greenhouse Lab SVG, and the Youlou Arts Foundation. Drumming was a form
The New Dynamic Rhythm, Art and Creative Dance Organisation (N-DRACDO) group in a live session in Georgetown.
of communicating among enslaved Africans. In 1983, it was outlawed by the British colonial government.
Members of the Drum Foundation ready for travel on another mission to promote drumming and an appreciation of its heritage.
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6. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025. THE VINCENTIAN
Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Managing Director: Desiree Richards Editor: Cyprian Neehall Telephone: 784-456-1123 Fax: 784-451-2129 Website: www.thevincentian.com Email: thevincentianpublishing@gmail.com Mailing Address: The Vincentian Publishing Co. Ltd., P.O. Box 592, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Editorial
Our political campaign IN OUR POLITICAL culture characterised by a two-party history and a heavy dose of adversarial politics that is marked by noise and distractions, it is obvious that the government/incumbent Unity Labour Party (ULP) will choose to campaign on what it would describe as substance, i.e. record of good governance, transformative development and a vision for the future of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Given the adversarial nature of our politics, it is only natural that the opposition New Democratic Party’s (NDP) line will speak more to the incumbent’s insecurities (as they relate to, e.g. Citizenship by Investment, Direct Foreign Investment (David Ames, Black Sands developers); and of (them) politicizing development. That is the expected discourse of any opposition. If the truth be told, the very idea that a ruling party should not campaign on its achievements is not only absurd, but could well be considered anti-democratic. Governance and campaigning, after all, are not mutually exclusive, especially when a government wants to point to what it assesses to be visible, measurable and even lifechanging progress it has fostered. The opposition, therefore, must guard against criticising infrastructural development as routine government functions–or worse, question its relevance with cynical catchphrases such as, “you can’t eat roads,”. They have to be careful that they do not set themselves up for ignoring the proven economic logic and social benefits of capital investments. There is a legitimate question though, which the Opposition might seek to ask: Did the government shift recurrent expenditure in favour of capital spending or visa versa? Did any of these shifts cause the economy to stagnate under the weight of shortsighted financial planning and a ballooned bureaucracy? If we are to take the election campaign to a higher plain so as to avoid the unnecessary rhetoric, piccong and downright childish behaviours, we might want to ask: Under the ULP, has the country undergone a meaningful, wholesome transformation? Or is the transformation of which the incumbent is wont to boast, and understandable so, in effect cosmetic and not structural? The government will counter with expressions that speak a world of good
about, e.g. the refurbishment/expansion of the road network, opening of and promises of even more advanced, modern health facilities. It will boast of having delivered and will promise to deliver real value to the people. The Opposition, meanwhile, has to avoid being impulsive in response and strategy, for it must recognise that roads and health facilities, like other services, are vital arteries of economic activity and social mobility; they are not vanity projects, they are tangible benefits that can be quantified–and felt. To downplay them is to open oneself to be assessed as unprepared for the assumption of national, country-building responsibilities. Then there is the card of a shift in party sentiment. Either side will point to “evidence” of growing numbers of members from the other side who have changed their allegiance and endorsement. Those referenced might not be readily forthcoming to declare their ‘change of heart’ in public, but it does not mean that the ‘change of alliance’ will not be referenced publicly, even without substance. It is likely that those who have shifted from the incumbent to the opposition would not want to make a public declaration of their alliance change nor have them made for them, for fear of reprisals before or after the general elections. Whatever the new endorsements, they must not be considered as simply being opportunistic. They must be accepted as having come from a place of conviction and carries with it a genuine sharing of the party’s vision for national development. And lest either party forgets, they must be, in the interest of peace and stability, commitment to not employing neither encouraging action that would mar the general elections process. In this regard, the activation of the National Monitoring and Consultative Mechanism’s Code of Conduct, as overseen by the SVG Christian Council, is an urgency not a pastime. All in all, what stands before the electorate on one hand is a government/incumbent who will point to a “proven” record of infrastructural expansion, economic growth and even democratic renewal. On the other stands an opposition in waiting for twenty odd years, purportedly reformed in its image, operational structure and programmatic platform, offering itself as a viable alternative.
It’s about what happened on the field EVEN IN THE “goat match” cricket world, where the stakes are on who is buying the drinks, passion runs deep; scoring just twenty-seven runs in any innings is downright unacceptable. Some of you might be scratching your heads, wondering why I even care about cricket. Well, truth be told, I don’t. I’ve made that abundantly clear in the past. However, I greatly respect the athletes who dedicate themselves to this sport; I fully understand the extraordinary skills and peak physical fitness required to thrive at the highest levels of this (any) sport. My issue with cricket is personal. I refuse to support a sports team whose administrators prioritize their interests above all else–all for me, none for you. Although the team has been continuously provided with the necessary resources, its administrator blames others instead of owning up to its failures. I sometimes wonder what the state of some other sports in SVG would be if our government had invested the same amount of money into them as it did in cricket. Well, in a country as poor as ours, it’s safe to say we will never know. The one thing about the humiliating loss by the West Indies cricket team did for me, is that it reminded me of how forgiving we are as a people, and generally our unwillingness to hold those in positions of authority accountable. The comments by the leadership of West Indies cricket and the speed with which they are ready to move on are remarkable. Dr. Shallow, now is not the time for another summit to evaluate what’s wrong with cricket; anyone paying attention can see and tell you what they are. And no, stop feeling sorry for yourself and Coach Sammy. You actively sorted out these jobs and were considered the most qualified when elected/hired. A manager of mine used to always summarize a text from Luke 12:48 in the Bible, which states, “….From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded ….”. This quote usually came after a team member failed or performed miserably. You see, the higher you rise in an organization, the higher the standard of accountability you will be measured against. Now, Dr. Gonsalves has called for
you and the rest of the board to resign. While it will be easy for folks to dismiss this as local policies, it is difficult to see how you, the board, and Coach Sammy can survive this disaster. No one could have serviced such a colossal failure in my work world. And no, this call for drastic measures has nothing to do with you coming from the “small islands”. If you genuinely want us to take you seriously as a decisive leader, fire the coach immediately. This one is easy: return him to being the coach of the entertainment arm of cricket, which the world now calls “white-ball” and ODI. Take responsibility for the failed experiment of consolidating the coaching position. A move like this would give you room to control the narrative, accept responsibility for some of the failure, and leave you firmly in charge of your destiny. You cannot be seen as indecisive or overly concerned about your position. Your decision to elevate Coach Sammy led to all game elements being unsuccessful. A good leader takes responsibility for his actions and the appropriate corrective action as soon as possible. A failure to do so will result in his sure demise as a coach in the region. Your legacy as a clear-headed, decisive leader would be remembered. For me, this isn’t just a matter of personal or political agendas, despite what Doctors Gonsalves and Shallow might want us to think. In the world of sports, it’s practically a tradition that coaches and administrators of underperforming teams get fired– and this is not just a rare occurrence. Take a journey through European soccer, American football, and basketball from last year, where over twenty coaches were shown the door during or right after the seasons wrapped up. And this year, some coaches were ousted even after successful winning seasons. Just look at the Denver Nuggets basketball team, which boldly fired its coach in the heat of the playoffs despite reaching the finals the previous year.
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THE VINCENTIAN. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025. 7.
Letters
We still have many Âhave-notsÊ “THE RICH get richer, and the poor get poorer.” Mr. Editor, I find it difficult to get this saying out my head. With all the talk of how well this country is doing, i.e. continuing economic growth, increased tourist arrivals, increased employment, increased capital expenditure/capital projects, I am not convinced that the gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ is getting
any narrower. In fact, my observations tell me that the gap keeps widening. Recently, we have seen public servants being put on the breadline. We have seen a significant increase in the number of persons on “poor relief” and an increase in direct income assistance to hundreds of households by government. If this is government’s response to the need to improve the lives and
Somebody needs a bath WE JUST GOT our tails whipped 3-0 in the test series, played here in the West Indies, by the Australians. When all is said and done, it looks like we have a bowling attack that can hold its own, but our test batters seem hopelessly behind the rest of the world. After all, we bowl down the Australians (all out) in their six innings at the crease. Now, as I write this, we are already 4-0 against the Australians in a five-match T20 series. In this case, it is the bowling that is way below standard. Our T20 batters (some of them real “voppers”) not doing too badly. The point is, even with a whole different T20 team, the Australians are whipping our tails, and we have, except for the bowling attack, quite the same faces for some time now on our T20 team. I will get to the point: I don’t know who we going to bathe, whether is the board, Sammy and his coaching crew or all the players, but we have to bathe somebody between the “fresh and the salt’. Then again, we probably have to bathe all of the above. Somebody like they put a blight on West Indies cricket, and it seems only ‘divine intervention’ could take us out of this shameful situation. Charles, Edinboro
PEOPLE ARE ASKING: * Could the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) help parents to explain to their children what is a “Rum and Rhythm” show? * When are we going to get a figure of how many visitors we had for Vincymas 2025? Does the CDC here know that St. Lucia has already said that they had a record 24,500 visitors even though their carnival finished after ours? We still counting or what? * Could the New Democratic Party name a Shadow Cabinet so the voters could have something of what to expect if they win the general elections.? * Has BRAGSA forgotten about the roads in the so-called big shot’ areas like Cane Garden and Harmony Hall or is BRAGSA simply acting on government policy? * What percentage of the personal and corporate taxes is collected from residents of these two areas?
livelihoods of the ‘havenots’ in our country, then heaven help us; this is merely a plaster on a festering sore. And what is this ‘relief’ in the face of spiraling cost of living? The food basket of the ‘have-nots’ is not getting any bigger while the ‘haves’ can afford all the luxuries of life to a standard on par with countries of greater economic size and
capacity to grow. And the sorry thing is that hundreds of children are caught up in this ‘mix’. I hope the people who we have elected and those we will elect to ensure our welfare will wake up and make decisions that benefit the lives of those citizens who find themselves at the sticky end of the national purse. If those in whom we have
entrusted our welfare continue to ignore the fact that there are thousands of people in this country who live day to day and month to month, they are guilty of abusing the trust of the people and will pay the consequences. Regardless of what others — so called learned people — would say, poverty is a breeding ground for crime. To those elected and
those who will be elected I ask: Are you listening to the cries or even understanding the hardships of the ‘havenots’? Before you come canvassing a vote, you need to put yourselves in the shoes of the less fortunate in our society, for only then would you be able to truly understand what so many in society are going through. Thomas
Cricket and politics I didn’t know that West Indies Cricket (CWI) could play politics. In comes Shallow to bowl to Gonsalves, and this one chokes Gonsalves, took an edge and he is out, caught in the slip by the people for a not-too-wellplayed 25. Instead of P.M. Gonsalves sending off all that venom on the CWI, we would have preferred to hear: “We are going to the length and breadth to establish institutions in SVG to collaborate with CWI, to organize with the Venezuelan people and government to have them train some youth teams (male and female) in Venezuela. After the training, we will have an annual competition involving both Venezuela and Guyana, with the final matches at Arnos Vale. This will be in keeping with the AIA Peace Accord regarding
the Venezuela-Guyana border dispute.”
Talk about Sport Tourism!!! Gonsalves’ government has caused a fading of cricket in our country and planted the seeds of division. Instead of PM Gonsalves calling for CWI management to resign, he should call on the Minister of Agriculture to resign for destroying our economic backbone, agriculture, and having us import the food that we used to export and failing to keep the arrowroot and cassava factory above the Dry River running. Gonsalves should himself resign for failing to use the heavy-duty tractors that worked on the AIA to create more farm roads, thereby creating more employment, increasing
food production towards reducing poverty and crime; and for taking close to ten years to build the AIA, which was supposed to be built in four years, and giving no public account as to the full cost of building the AIA. No man is indispensable. We had Joshua, Cato, and Mitchell, and when they left the political frontline, they journeyed back to civil life and were able to live and move freely among us. Would Gonsalves feel free to live among us after the upcoming general elections? In the meantime, we want to thank the not-too Hon. Gonsalves for where he brought us from, with some structural development, but with very little human development in terms of conscious minds.
In closing, the character portrait by our Prime Minister is like a father who receives a report from his wife that his children had failed their exams, and he stops finances for the wife and children. Resign and leave. Christian Democrat
Teenage pregnancy and more LAST WEEK’s article on Teenage Pregnancy (Page 10 THE VINCENTIAN of Fri. 25th July) caught my attention. I want to say that schoolgirls and teenagers getting pregnant should warrant great attention, more so than the attention we still give to weed smoking and even all the talk of junk food and sugary drinks. I take it that most of these pregnant schoolgirls/teenagers end up in the hospitals or clinics to have their deliveries and thereby these births are recorded as births by teenagers, so that the government can know and use these figures. The funny thing is
that while these records will record the names and ages of the mothers, we never hear of the men (or boys) involved in these pregnancies. Many of these girls could well be below the Age of Consent (15 years) but we never hear of the men who impregnate them being brought before the court. If they are they must be going to the Family Court where things are barred from the public. But I say, they should be dragged before the ‘big courts’ for everyone to know about their wickedness. But what can we expect when our society has been dragged down to a situation in which we think it is OK for grown men to take
advantage of our girls. And what can we expect when all we encourage is a whole set of partying, winning on one another, young people almost having sex in the open. I am sorry to say it, but it seems the mothers of these teenage girls who fall victims to early pregnancies can’t control their girl
children. It’s time that we charge people for statutory rape in this country. We can’t say we are Christian and continue to kill Christ. We must call out what is wrong and stop claiming everything we do is part ‘ah ar-we culture’. A vexed male
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8. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025. THE VINCENTIAN
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More good news on the economy and society of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Emancipation Cricket Festival THE CENTRE-PIECE of Emancipation Month 2025 is the Emancipation Cricket Festival which runs from the night of Thursday July 31st to August 3rd, at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex. On August 1, 1838, enslaved African bodies in the British colonies, including SVG and those in the rest of the Caribbean, were declared legally free by an Act of the British Parliament. As Eric Williams compelling showed in his book Capitalism and Slavery, slavery had become a brake on the further development of British capitalism; so, it had to be abolished, in Britain’s interest. And as Richard Hart cogently argued in his aptly-titled book (two volumes) The Slaves Who Abolished Slavery, the oppressed themselves freed themselves through their own personal and collective rebellions against slavery which made its continuance untenable in the economic circumstances. To be sure, the moral advocates for abolition of slavery in the British Parliament made their contribution to the cause, but without the requisites of “free enterprise” capitalism and rebellion by the enslaved, slavery would not have ended when it did. Still, at slavery’s end the British government compensated the slaveowners for “their property” (the enslaved persons), but accorded nothing in recompense to the enslaved themselves. In SVG, and elsewhere, native genocide and the enslavement of African bodies by British and other national variants of European colonialism, have caused debilitating legacies of underdevelopment for the peoples of our region. Thus, the unanswerable and just demand for reparations. This year, the government of SVG has decided to conjoin, centrally, emancipation and cricket. Cricket in the West Indies has been an instrument for national liberation and a major plank in the further advance of our Caribbean civilisation. In the current situation of cricket distress in the West Indies, this conjoining is appropriate. So, let us celebrate and commemorate splendidly! Good News!
resources and vulnerabilities to external shocks, our lack of a sufficiency of resilience to deleterious climate change, and the harsh knock-on effects of the contradictions within the condition of the global political economy. Still, we have laid a solid base, allround, to launch ourselves ambitiously on a quest to achieve a “First World Status” in human, economic, social, and technological development in our lives, living, and production, and to do with inclusiveness, harmony, far greater equality, and peace than what exists in many, if not most, “first world” countries. Our next strategic goal: First World Status for the Vincentian component of our Caribbean civilisation. This is achievable within the next 25 years. Our young people especially must prepare for all this, from today! Good News!
Fiscal condition of SVG holding well
As at June 30, 2025, the fiscal out-turn of the central government of SVG is holding-up pretty well despite downside risks arising from our extant vulnerabilities, including those induced by external factors such as climate change and the challenges arising from the global political economy, and those generated internally from anti-social behavioural tendencies of a tiny minority of our people, for example, violent criminal conduct, lack of productivity, and rank selfishness. The revenue side of the government fiscal situation is performing well; at the same time its expenditure is rising sharply due to the requisites of the recovery from Hurricane Beryl and the extent of spending on big infrastructure projects (modern port, acute care hospital, schools, sea defences, housing, sports and cultural facilities, etc.) which are necessary and desirable for our development and our thrust towards a “first world” status in the people’s benefit. The core fiscal data at June 30, 2025, compared to June 30, 2024, is as High human development in SVG followed: Revenue and grants up by 23 percent at $457 million; current revenue Annually, the United Nations up 18 percent at $427.15 million; total Development Programme (UNDP) publishes its Human Development Index expenditure up by 27 percent, at $601 million, of which current expenditure is (HDI) of countries, globally, including up 14 percent at $427.4 million and SVG. It ranks countries according to capital expenditure up 74 percent at $173 “values” based on a range of human development matrices (education, health, million; and the current account deficit is down by 98 percent, at just under minus average income per head of population, life span, etc.). It has four broad levels of $0.25 million. It is to be noted that the rankings: Low, Medium, High, and Very fiscal out-turn for capital spending is understated because a significant slice of High Human Development. In 2001, SVG was at the medium level; during the actual capital expenditure has not yet come to account at the time of reporting. time of the ULP government, SVG A downside risk surrounds the extent climbed to a high level; according to the of borrowings required for capital 2023-2024 HDI Report, SVG is on the expenditure, but it is manageable on cusp of “very high level of human account of the fact that economic growth development.” Under the ULP government, SVG has continues to be robust at about 5 percent made extraordinary progress through its annually, on average, in the recent four years. Correspondingly, job-creation is at many-sided transformative policies and an all-time high, and unemployment at programmes to advance our people’s an all-time low. Good News! But we human, economic, and social development. We have done remarkably cannot rest on our laurels or “change the doctor” as Tajoe sings. well, thus far, in our near-25 years of progress, despite our historical legacies of Continued on Page 18 underdevelopment, our limited material
Invest in our local cricket (Excerpts of the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Dr Godwin Friday’s Presentation on the Bill to provide for the conferral of citizenship on the surviving members of the 1975 Men’s West boundaries. So conferring Indies World Cup Cricket Team) citizenship on one of them here or all of them here or in some other THE GREATEST contribution that we country, all of that is small reward can make to that legacy of for what they have given to us as a champions is for us to give the region. We don’t question that. confidence to those legends that we However, it is the manner in will put in place that which is which these things are done, they required for us to build champions have to be inclusive. And they have again, so that we can continue that to be done in a way that elevates legacy that they have left us. the cricket and the stature of those That to be a member of the West persons whom we’re seeking to Indies team, to be a supporter of honour. When the Prime Minister the West Indies team doesn’t mean asked, “Why now?”, I asked myself that you have to take a back seat the same question, why now and to anyone. That you can hold your how should we do it? head high and say we were So, I ask in this opportunity for champions then, we are champions us here to be inclusive and to be now, and we will always be together and say that we are champions. Not only because we honouring these legends, who do win because being champions is we include to be a part of that also in how you play. That you are process? Was Cricket West Indies capable on any day of beating any informed, invited, or in any way a team. I would like to see that we part of this process of honouring honour the legends in that way. By the legends who are a part of that investing in our local cricket to institution, built that institution, ensure that it is again widely and were built by that institution? played. From my understanding, they were Some years ago, I was involved not! How can it be that we would with starting a T20 league in honour what is regarded as the Bequia. I wanted to play cricket pinnacle or the beginning of that still and I got involved in pinnacle, the dominance of West organizing it. And we went on for a Indies cricket, without involving number years, about 10 years. Part the institution itself that gave rise of what we did, we introduced a to the teams and which sustain rule, on my insistence, that you them and honour them over the had at least a place for two junior years and more recently at the players on each team, and they 50th anniversary? How can they must play in every game; as a way not be a part of this? And why are of encouraging the younger players they not a part of it? That is a to get experience. I thought there question that needs to be would be pushback from the teams answered. And if you’re thinking and senior players that want to get about what is driving this initiative on the field and they want to be as here today, we have to ask ourself competitive as possible. that question: Why an alternative But the problem came that when to Cricket West Indies rather than you wanted to find the two junior together with Cricket West Indies players for the teams, you couldn’t management? That is strange, to find enough players to fill the two say the least. spots on each team. We had six I would like to think that the teams. You ask the youngsters to legends who are mentioned here come and play, they asked, Friday would not wish, in any way, to be what kind of cricket are you involved in the local politics of any talking about? Hardball? I said, particular country in the region. yes. And that was it. Most of them So, we must be very careful to keep didn’t want anything to do with them out of it and not to have any that. They wanted to play kind of appearance that somehow, basketball or football. That is they are being embroiled or where the problem lies. If we don’t brought into our local disputes. To have our best athletes playing the me that diminishes them and game, then we will lose out to other diminishes the stature of the sports and cricket will continue to legends that they are, across the struggle. region. And it pains me in my But we are talking about legacy. heart. I cannot bring myself to say That’s what this whole debate is anything that is against or critical about, the legends. It’s about the of any those members of the team. legacy of West Indies cricket. And I I just cannot do it. am happy to see that Cricket West They are too much a part of my Indies recognized this and sense of who I am as a Caribbean honoured them with a spectacular person and of my love of the game ceremony to celebrate the 50th of cricket. Anything that causes me anniversary of the West Indies to doubt that and to feel somehow team winning the World Cup. That ambivalent about something that was appropriate and it had the I’ve always had a very clear vision support and involvement of the and view of, worries me and whole establishment of cricket. troubles me and makes me feel And, I dare say, the national that it ought not to happen. This governments. That is how it should exercise here causes those concerns be, because these players, these to well up within me and it makes legends, they transcend national me not just sad.
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THE VINCENTIAN. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025. 9.
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A clean scale: A lesson in integrity
“Live according to the ethics of excellence, and you can always stand proud. Pride - not vanity, but dignity and self-respect - should carry a lot of weight in helping you make decisions. Let pride help you decide.” - Price Pritchett, Ph.D.; US psychologist, author, chairman-CEO of Pritchett Rummler-Brache. MY MOTHER had been a shopkeeper for most of her adult life. She died on 7th July 2025 – three months before her 96th birthday. Her day often began before dawn and ended after dusk. But she loved what she did and was a beacon of encouragement and inspiration to those who visited in search of her mauby, bread-and-cheese, bread-and-sausage, and a variety of basic household items. The email and WhatsApp messages sent following the announcement of her death confirmed that she had assisted many. Her generosity was also highlighted at her funeral ceremony that was held at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Kingstown on 17th July 2025. My two brothers and I can testify that “The Ferds”, as she is fondly called, never really put much pressure on us in terms of performing duties in the shop. However, we each gravitated to do “shop duties” at various stages in our lives and can testify of the tremendous learning opportunities that emerged when we did so. The shop is an ideal place for learning the principles of business, hospitality services, and character building. I am forever grateful for the privilege that I was afforded to learn so many of the “basics of life” while observing and working with my mother in her little shop. There are so many stories that I can share in relation to my sojourn as shop assistant; experiences that showed me the value of empathy, honesty, patience, perseverance, kindness, and so on. But the one that I am compelled to share at this time would relate to my days as a youngster assisting with the weighing, wrapping and packing of the one-pound and two-pound parcels of rice, sugar, and flour. Those were not the days of the now popular plastic bags; the one-pound packages of the commodities were weighed on sheets of paper (approximately eleven inches wide and twelve or thirteen inches long) which my mother then skilfully wrapped. That was an art that I subsequently prided myself in learning. The two-pound packets were weighed in small brown paper bags. And it is while weighing the latter that I learned one of life’s lessons about character. Let me explain: Many readers will be familiar with the old-time shop scale (usually red in colour) that was made of cast iron. It had a case of hardened steel pivots and bearings and a half-inch wide cross beam in 1/8 ounce increments. The shop scale would have a weighing pan (called the scalepan or bason) at one end. This is where the item being weighed would be placed. And the other end of the scale/balance would have a circular metal platform upon which a combination of 1, 2, or 4-pound metal weights would be placed. My task would then be to place the desired weight (usually 2-pounds) on the metal platform and seek to pour rice, sugar, or flour in the opened paper bag that
was placed in the scalepan. As can be expected, even the steadiest of hands would occasionally miss the mark as attempts were made to use a scoop to transfer product from the bulk bags to the paper bags. On reflection, the scoop’s mouth was just about the same width as the bag’s opening. Thus, product will periodically spill into the scalepan. Over time we learnt to perfect our aim so that the “grains” went directly into the bag (and not spill into the scale). However, our hawkeyed mother (no offence intended) would make sure that we regularly cleaned the scalepan. For some time, we could not understand why she had to be so meticulous about the cleanliness of the scalepan. After all, it would make sense to wait until all of the weighing was done and do “one final clean”. But we were being taught more than about cleanliness and the steadiness of hand. She was also teaching about honesty — the extra weight in the scalepan would mean that the customer was paying for more product than she/he was receiving. For example, if there was an ounce of spilled product in the scalepan as you sought to weigh a pound of rice, the scale would balance (reach equilibrium) when there was only 15 ounces in the paper bag. Yes, there was wisdom in keeping the scalepan clean. And, as simple as it seemed, the scale and the scalepan taught us some powerful principles and life lessons about cleanliness, honesty, and integrity. My mother stood proud on those principles of honesty and decency as she attended to the needs of the lowincome residents in the Paul’s Avenue area. She stood out as an icon in this small community. She sliced the ounce of cheese and the ounce of salami for those families that must daily purchase in such small weights as they experience hand-to-mouth (no offence meant) existences. Everyone knew that her ounce is 1/16 of a pound. She lived according to the ethics of excellence and treated others with dignity and respect. And her children experienced that pride too. I was always amazed when I presented my passport to an immigration officer in Antigua or St. Kitts and he paused to examine my face more closely before disclosing that he was Vincentian and that my mother, Miss Ferdie, showed this or that act of kindness to him when he attended one of the schools in the vicinity of her shop. Other former shop attendants (now adults) reflect on the fact that there was a time in their youth when Miss Ferdie gave them a “hold on” in the shop on afternoons and/or during their vacation, so that they could make some extra income to purchase household items or school supplies. And, in the process, they also learnt about the principles of business, the principles of excellence, and the value of honesty. They can therefore identify with this episode about the clean scale and various other lessons in integrity. Send comments, criticisms & suggestions to julesferdinand@gmail.com
Politics, Sports, Education and Fiscal Irresponsibility ‘Blood thicker than water and politics makes the thickest mix of all.’ local folklore. A HIGH-LEVEL ULP official told me that politics and sports should never be intermingled. I asked him if he was sure of his conviction, and he replied, ‘without a shadow of a doubt.’ I told him that if we take his views on sports and politics to their most logical conclusion, apartheid South Africa should not have been isolated to pressure the racist regime into submission. He said that it is different. I asked what about Attorney General Grenville Williams leading the AG’s chambers while actively campaigning for a seat in the parliament of St Vincent and the Grenadines. He replied that it was different. I questioned him about his views on Dr. Grace Williams contesting on a ULP ticket while collecting a salary as Administrator of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. He said that, too, was different. I circled back and asked him if Dr. Kishore Shallow was president of Cricket West Indies and announced his intention to contest the next election on a ULP ticket. He lowered his head and fell into a sheepish grin before eventually saying that it may pose a problem. In law, that kind of questioning is intended to build what’s referred to as a ‘Chinese Wall.’ By the time you realise where the questioner is going, you are completely boxed in. However, whichever way you answer, you tend to raise eyebrows. Any so it is with the ULP propaganda machine. It collapses onto itself. The keenly observant citizens get to see that the emperor has no clothes. It all boils down to a case of ‘do as I say and not as I do.’ That’s the level of smallmindedness that the governing party has displayed since Dr. Kishore Shallow, president of Cricket West Indies, declared his alignment with the opposition New Democratic Party. The respected son of the soil, true representative of our education revolution and Caribbean civilisation, swiftly morphed into the small, shallow man who is so corrupted that Cricket West Indies must fire him. A full-scale forensic inquiry should be launched in the entire affair of this ‘private entity that threatened to usurp a public good.’ Tribal politics at its worst. Disagreeably vulgar and divisive, which no one serious about the proper development of our nation should countenance.
party stand for free! As one renowned newspaper man in SVG famously says, ‘Way allyo get he from?’ And there is more, the expense of Gonsalves’ extravaganza! Last Tuesday morning, compelled to respond to the reputational damage inflicted on his governance as the national elections approach, Gonsalves took to the BOOM 97 airwaves to peddle his worn-out yarn. PM Gonsalves dropped a bomb that should destroy what is left of the ULP’s election chances. Asked how much the ‘cricket festival’ will cost, Gonsalves disclosed he does not have a final figure, but US$750,000 was a back-of-the-envelope number. First things first. If Gonsalves says US$750,000, we can safely assume that the actual figure is closer to twice that amount. The US$750,000 was more like a trial balloon to gauge the response of the people. The most reasonable response to this announcement is that this expenditure is unjustifiable. We knew this was coming because Gonsalves and his clansmen began playing defence, claiming that ‘some of us knew the price of everything and the value of nothing.’ Ask Vincentians whether they preferred that money to be spent on Gonsalves’ cricket festival rather than efforts to create more jobs, purchase drugs in the hospital and clinics, lower poverty rates, more assistance to the poor and vulnerable, for better schools and a safe security environment? The answer would be overwhelming and obvious. No to Gonsalves’ reckless misuse of the public purse. Therefore, when faced with the collapse of the public infrastructure, the government’s emphasis on the cricket festival demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the demands of the moment. The festival amounts to a misplaced priority. It disclosed that the ULP is out of touch with the pressing needs of the people.
Education
Vincentian policymakers and educators should pay close attention to a radical change in the education system in Jamaica. When the new school year begins in September, students in Jamaica will no longer be automatically promoted to the next grade level regardless of their academic performance – a major Sports shift aimed at tackling long-standing issues in literacy and numeracy. This is the context in which Dr. Adrian Stokes, Chairman of citizens should view the so-called the Education Transformation Emancipation Cricket festival. To Oversight Committee (ETOC), said, attempt to put a national unity, ‘Students who are not at the emancipatory spin on this requisite level will be placed on a misadventure is outrageous as it is mendacious. It is almost sacriligious pathway that allows them to remediate the learning challenges for Gonsalves and his clansmen to they are experiencing. Individual involve our legends of yesteryear in learning plans will be developed for our partisan political milieu. The legends of Caribbean cricket made us these students to ensure proper proud and gave meaning to the words targeting of learning challenges.” We have similar problems here, ‘rally round the West Indies, now and where a significant percentage of forever.’ The ‘festival’ is an attempt students are either unable to read or to use our legends as mascots. Cricket lovers must not reward such read way below their age level. Here again, the upwards of EC$2 million a disgraceful manifestation of that the ULP regime is wasting this mockery. weekend on its cricket festival could Here’s a first. Never in living memory do I remember a time when have been used to hire a cadre of there was cricket and the authorities remedial teachers aimed at correcting the serious problems had to mobilise an advertising confronting our students. motorcade across the country to The foregoing offers undeniable drum up publicity and support for proof that the ULP has long outlived the event. This is a clear sign that its usefulness and should be kicked the government realises that its out of office whenever PM Gonsalves ‘cricket festival’ lacks authenticity. calls the next elections. So it is forced to resort to Send comments, criticisms & gimmicks. Children free! Wear your suggestions to jomosanga@gmail.com Monday Mas t-shirt and occupy the
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10. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025 . THE VINCENTIAN
Opinion
Remembering Pat Prescod with honour PATRICK EUGENE PRESCOD – GCTI, LRSM, ITCL, OBE was one of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ most distinguished sons of the twentieth century. He was born on the 17th day of March 1932 and died on the 11th of July, 2013. His funeral service was held at the Kingstown Methodist Church on the 18th of July 2013. His father, Christopher Wilberforce Prescod, was a prominent Vincentian educator and community
leader. He was the first primary school teacher to be appointed Inspector of Schools. Pat was a graduate of the St. Vincent Grammar School and served as Music Teacher when I was a student there. I still distinctly remember his first singing lessons with my class when he taught us the song in French — “Il pleut, il bergers rentrez petite mouton, allons ma chaumiere, berger vite allons” translated — “It is raining shepherds,
gather the little sheep, let us go to my hut, shepherds let us go quickly”. It was under the directorship of Pat Prescod that the Grammar School Quartet placed second in the distinguished national Music Festival of that decade, which was held at the Memorial Hall. Ardon Bess, Lawrence Collymore, Fred Prescod, and LeRoy Providence were the members of that quartet. Mr. Patrick Prescod
went on to represent us honorably in the Caribbean, and he played a critical role in the development of the cultural national treasure, “The Kingstown Chorale”, which has, over the years, represented our country beyond our shores with honour and still today is playing an important role in our societal cohesiveness. I was surprised and somewhat pained that when we celebrated our Independence last year, we did not use the Kingstown Chorale and others of that ilk to enhance the social spirit. I seemed to see a lack of maturity in the leadership of those responsible. It is indeed
pitiable that these days the ‘Vincie spirit’ seems to be ‘parcelled in vulgarity’. In recalling that song which Pat Prescod taught us in the 1950s, I seem to see an appeal to the persons in the society who are entrusted with the responsibility of looking out for the welfare of the society, to be mindful of the prevailing circumstances negatively impacting our society. There are still men and women in this society who can, like Patrick Prescod, make positive contributions to the healthy development of our nation. Let them not be intimidated by the machinations of untrustworthy men. “Shepherd protect your
Patrick Eugene Prescod (1932 – 2013). sheep”! May our brother Pat Prescod continue to rest in peace. LeRoy Providence
Protecting our musical work
I FIND THE lackadaisical approach by the guardians of the cultural endeavors in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to be detrimental to our music industry. It seems that they do not intend to enforce compliance with the copyright laws that require permission from the creators to use their music property. Many songwriters and composers are suffering from the indiscretions of music users and broadcasters. The Commerce and Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) has designated the Eastern Caribbean Collective Organization (ECCO Inc.) Lance Chapman the sole authority to issue licences on behalf of creators, local, regional, and international, yet the music users and broadcasters appear to be unwilling to show respect for the law and the creators. This is not a lawless country. I went to the head, and I asked for his help to deal with this, and this is what he said to me: “The law is there, put them in court.” So that is what we will do. But that approach means that we will need lawyers, and while a creator might take up the battle in court and win, that would come only after much wrangling and expense. The copyright law here in SVG are written in such a way that it mandates the court to decide on a verdict in each case. Whereas in other countries, the law is clear. It states that if one party wishes to use the work of a creator, that party (user) must first have a music licence. Uses of the work of creatives here, do the right thing and comply with the law. Guardians of the work, do what you are mandated to do. Lance Chapman Digital Creator/Singer/Songwriter Director of ECCO Inc.
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12. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025 . THE VINCENTIAN
News
Citizenship for cricket legends: Opposition abstains
Dr. Godwin Friday, Leader of the Opposition, gave a different approach to honouring the legacy of the victorious 1975 World Cup squaand led his side in abstaining from voting on the Bill. THE SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE victorious 1975 West Indies men’s World Cup Cricket team are now eligible to apply for citizenship of St Vincent and the Grenadines. This after a Bill to provide for the conferment of citizenship to the surviving members was passed in Parliament on July 28. The members of the opposition opted not to vote on the Bill. The passage of the Bill opens the way for the remaining 12 players on that squad to apply for Vincentian citizenship. With Roy Fredericks and Keith Boyce now deceased, the opportunity was made available to Clive Lloyd (captain), Maurice Foster, Lance Gibbs, Gordon Greenidge, Vanburn Holder, Bernard Julien, Alvin Kalicharran, Rohan Kanhai, Collis King, Deryk Murray, Vivian Richards and Anderson Roberts.
Lloyd accepts.. hope for more Dr. Gonsalves, in presenting the Bill, noted that there was some consideration given to honouring the 1965 Test team, which was declared the unofficial Test match champions after defeating Australia in the West Indies. “But the team led by Lloyd in the inaugural World cup captivated the region,” he said. “It brought pride, recognition and glory to the region,” Gonsalves continued. There was some discussion
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves goes on record as having tabled the Bill that will give the surviving members of the 1975 World Cup squad the right to apply for Vincentian citizenship.
Gonsalves said, with Lloyd, who responded positively to the offer. However, it was not certain how many other members of the winning team, if any, would take up the offer. “Perhaps none of them may do so, or some,” he said, but expressed the ho[e that at least some will take up the offer.
Opposition.. build confidence In his response, (From left) Deryck Murray, Sir Viv Richards, Lancelot Gibbs, Sir Andy Roberts, Sir Clive Lloyd, Opposition Leader Collis King, and Alvin Kallicharran, from the 1975 squad, were able to attend a recent Dr Godwin Friday, honouring by CW Inc. while acknowledging the elevated the stature of the players and of all politics,” Friday told Parliament. importance of cricket to the region and the game itself, Dr. Friday added. He said that he and his colleagues its people and the significance of the He questioned whether Cricket had discussed the Bill and that under World Cup victory, questioned the West Indies was invited to be a part of the circumstances, he did not think he motive of the government. the process saying that it was highly could embrace it. He too spoke of the decline of the inappropriate to omit the West Indies “I wish I did not have to vote on West Indies team, and the lack of cricket team’s governing body. this matter in the manner in which it interest in cricket by some of the “It is time to rally around the West is,” he said. “Citizenship is the least of nation’s youth. Indies, everything we do has to come what we can do. I want to see as we According to Friday, the spirit of together as one.” go forward that we make a dominance was unlikely, however “we It should not appear as though one commitment as government, seek to be able to compete on any entity is competing with the other, parliament to honour them. That we given day with any team and feel that Friday contended, adding that he did will invest in creating future we have an even chance to win.” not like the approach saying that it champions and we will invest in them So intended, Dr. Friday posited, “I appeared as though those living in the future. As it is for now, I will think that the greatest legacy or legends were entering into domestic have to withhold my vote either way contribution that we can make to that politics. on this Bill.” (DD) legacy of champions is that we can “And you have to ask give the confidence and give that the question, what is which is required to build champions driving this. We hear of again, so we can continue that legacy a cricket tournament, that they have left us.: can the government drive cricket better than Honouring must be inclusive Cricket West Indies?” He said that he was pleased to see that Cricket West Indies had honoured Politically motivated – the players saying that that was no vote appropriate and had the support. And as far as Dr. “Those players transcended Friday was concerned, boundaries, so conferring citizenship is the whole activity was a small reward for what they have politically motivated. given to us as a region,” the leader of “I do not want those the opposition said. memories to be Whatever was done to honour the associated with doubt or The s West indies eleven that took the field in the players needed to be inclusive and anything negative, least finals of the 1975 World Cup.
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THE VINCENTIAN. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025. 13.
News
Another Garifuna Yurumein Summer Workshop that introduced students and adults to the Garifuna Language and Culture closed in Clare Valley this week Cricket Legend Sir Clive Lloyd arriving at the AIA last Wednesday for the Emancipation Cricket Festival – July 31 to August 03
When all is said and done, there is nothing that pleases the soul as much as a sunset in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Another busy day at the Grenadines Wharf but a certain truck driver thought he could bypass the ferries and make his own way to the Grenadines
Just another day in Kingstown and its traffic that calls on drivers to exercise patience which they will tell you is fast running out.
Donald ‘Duck’ Llewellyn, a sport and cultural icon in his own right, and a notable member of the Rose Place community, left us for heavenly pastures this week.
The Playing Filed at the Clare Valley Government School, which also serves the community, is not at all a welcome with it ditch patches and ‘pot holes’.
14. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025 . THE VINCENTIAN
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16. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025 . THE VINCENTIAN
Regional
Buggery laws struck out in St. Lucia Kenita Placide, Executive Director of the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality saw the ECSC’s action enforcing the right of all Caribbean peoples under the law. (Internet Photo)
THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SUPREME COURT (ECSC) struck down a colonial-era law in St. Lucia that criminalized gay sex in a ruling Tuesday celebrated by activists in the largely conservative region. The court found that the island’s socalled buggery and gross indecency laws were unconstitutional. Raise Your Voice St. Lucia, a nonprofit
organization, called it a “monumental step for human rights in the Eastern J’Moul Francis, Legal Officer Caribbean.” in the Foreign Affairs “It comes as a Minister for Antigua and beacon of hope amid Barbuda, believes more still recent setbacks, such needs to be done to ensure as disappointments that progress is real. in St. Vincent and (Internet Photo) the Grenadines as well as Trinidad and Tobago, that have tested our region’s commitment to equality,” the group said. St. Lucia’s colonial-era law penalized gay sex with up to 10 years in prison. While the government didn’t enforce the law, activists and legal experts say it remained a threat to the island’s LGBTQ+ community. “The mere existence of this provision is itself a violation of human rights and underpins further acts of discrimination,” according to Human Dignity Trust, a U.K.-based legal organization that helped work on the case. In 2019, the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality filed five legal challenges against such laws in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia In 2022, courts in Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis struck down those laws. Last year, a court in Dominica did the same. “Today’s ruling is not just a win in the courts, it also represents a step towards justice for the many lives lost to violence simply for being themselves,” said Kenita Placide, the alliance’s executive director. “It signals that our Caribbean can and must be a place where all people are free and equal under the law.” Only five Caribbean nations still penalize gay sex: Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago, where an appeals court earlier this year overturned a ruling that decriminalized gay sex. Members of the LGBTQ+ community have fled those islands following violent attacks. The UNAIDS Caribbean office celebrated Tuesday’s ruling, as did J’Moul Francis, Legal Officer in the Foreign Affairs Minister for Antigua and Barbuda. “Human rights in the Eastern Caribbean continue to advance as the colonial legacies of these unconstitutional provisions continue to fall,” he wrote on X. “However, more still needs to be done across the region to ensure that progress is real, practical, and effective for LGBTQ+ individuals.” (Source: CNW)
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News
More good news on the economy and society of St. Vincent and the Grenadines from Page 1
Big announcements shortly Sometime over the next four or so weeks, big signings would take place on two huge private sector investments in hotel development: (i) Sandals and the government is expected to sign the agreement to build a Beaches Resort (the family brand of Sandals) at “private” Mt. Wynne Bay. The initial investment is slated at US $375 million for 375 “keys” to rooms, requiring upon completion in late 2027, 1,400 workers; (ii) Marriott Hotel at Peter’s Hope (300 rooms; investment of US$200 million jointly by the main investors from Jamaica and the government of SVG; on completion in late 2027, 600 workers would be required to run it). Massive developments on the entire Leeward side and the whole of SVG. Note: Other significant investments are in
the offing. Stay tuned. Good News! And in Parliament on Monday July 28, 2025; Saboto Caesar made big announcements on the further development of agriculture and fisheries. Good News!
Big victory at International Court of Justice (ICJ) Last week, the ICJ delivered its “Advisory Opinion” on the climate change issue brought to the Court by small-island developing states from the Pacific and the Caribbean, including SVG. It was a big victory for our countries; the Advisory Opinion can now be used to strengthen our negotiating hand with the major emitters of green-house gases (global warming) for appropriate “climate financing” and/or to facilitate further litigation at the ICJ for damages. Good News! Please read at least the summary of the Advisory Opinion online!
Leisure
ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Avoid any erratic behavior or it could cause isolation at home. You can make drastic changes in your professional direction this week. You may have difficulties with foreigners. You should consider submitting some of your written work for publication.
LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Make amends if you can. A better diet, exercise, or a change to a relaxed atmosphere could be ways to soothe your nerves. You can pick up some overtime this week. Do not trust others with important information.
TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Confronting a situation will only result in indignation and misunderstandings. People you live with will not be terribly happy with you regardless of what you do this week. You may be looking through rose colored glasses. Be creative in your efforts.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Don't let others know about your private affairs. Don't put all your cash in one place. Underhandedness will affect your reputation. Don't expect support from your mate.
GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Sort situations out as best you can. Watch your spending habits. Try not to take others for granted. Tempers could get out of hand this week. Do things for them but don't allow them to make unreasonable requests. Social gettogether will bring you in contact with intelligent new friends. CANCER (June 22-July 22) Don't be too open or put your faith in unreliable co-workers. Your partner's a little jumpy. Be cautious while traveling to foreign countries. You will be emotional with regard to your personal life. LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Deception will play an important factor in relationships. Lend an ear to children; it can make a difference. You're best to channel your energy into work. Rest and relaxation will be more favorable than you think. VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Don't rely on others to handle the workload. You will be emotional about your personal life. If you're feeling uncertain, spend some time alone and re-evaluate your motives as well as your needs. Do not let them blow situations out of proportion.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Help with your aspirations is likely, and profits could follow. Don't be too quick to judge those you live with. You may have to explain your actions to your family. If you take on too much, you will find yourself in martyrdom. CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) You may have a hard time relating to children this week. Sit back and observe, regardless of how hard that might be. Don't spend too much in order to impress others. You may want to pull out some of those unfinished project you've got tucked away. AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Talk to someone you trust in order to see the whole picture. Instant romance could be yours if you go out with friends. You can stabilize your personal relationship if you're willing to communicate honestly. Your personal life is going through a state of confusion. PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Secret affairs can only lead to devastating circumstances. You can get phenomenal returns if you present your ideas to those who can back your interests. Hold your temper and refrain from doing anything that might cause injury. Travel will turn out to be far more exciting than you imagined.
ACROSS
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prophet 41. Cape __, MA 44. Falsifier 46. __ quartz 47. Author Bagnold 48. Go aginst orders
LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION
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THE VINCENTIAN. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025, 19
49. Student’s concern 50. Campaigned 51. Not Dem. or Rep. 52. ‘30s relief agency (abbr.)
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20. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025 . THE VINCENTIAN
Project Motion SVG gets full endorsement contact on a daily basis. programmes, designed to develop with: DRUMS referring to Developing He lamented, “Our society is not young people holistically [to] focus on Resilient Unique Minds through a ‘disciplined’ society. Our kids are sports, TVET and literary arts, vital Sports; KICKS- Knowledge, coming to us without any sort of tools in the crime fighting”, Peters Imagination, Communication, control or behaviours; their added. Kindness, and Storytelling; and MAKE language is inappropriate, their As such, the call cards DRUMS, - Mastery, Apprenticeship, Knowledge, behaviour to each other is KICKS and MAKE have emerged Empowerment. inappropriate… .” As a consequence of their actions, Sardine assessed, “They are basically struggling to find self-worth and self-esteem, so we need to give them incentives to show that they have worth. They can do it by acquiring skills to demonstrate that they Ian Sardine – Founder/Director of System are able to compete.” Sardine’s stance got Three Sports Academy. support from other speakers, including Louanne Thomas, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security; Dannylee Francis- Marketing and Communications Manager at the General Employees Credit Union; Nahjme Mc Kenzie of Capstone Inc.; Xavier Stapleton, a Professional Chef; and Dianne King One of the sessions of the training programme held at international studentthe Clive Tannis Hard Court on Bequia athletes, Chad Haynes included on the 2025 training programme, AN INITIATIVE BY THE Technical and Renson Sayers. King revealed that it all started in 2024. Department of the St. Vincent and the Timora Peters - Director of the Director at the NCCP“Last year when they had the Netball Grenadines Netball Association (SVGNA), to NCCP. Timora Peters, who is Programme, I saw someone posted it on their host a five-day training programme on spearheading the PROJECT MOTION SVG, AN WhatsApp status; I made contact with Bequia, could well result in a youth team implementation of Project emerging to enter the 2026 National UNDERTAKING BY the National Sharlene Wyllie to get some of my girls in for Commission on Crime Prevention (NCCP) Motion, gave an overview Tournament. at least two days but that did not The programme was staged from Monday materialize, but they made the commitment which aims to use the avenues of Sport, of the project. “At the National July 21 to Friday, July 25, 2025, at the Clive to come to Bequia in 2025, and this they Technical/Vocation Education and Commission on Crime fulfilled”, King disclosed. Tannis Hard Court, and featured current Literary Arts as means of inculcating Prevention, we believe Wyllie is the Second Vice-President of the national players as facilitators. proper, and law-abiding attitudes among SVGNA and the point person for Grassroots During the five days, over twenty that building safer the youth, has received unanimous and Youth Development. communities doesn’t begin attendees, between the ages of 8 and 18, endorsement from partners and Encouraged by the support, King were instructed in the Basics of Netball, at the prison gate. It stakeholders. committed to play her part in the revival of begins in our homes, our Value of Netball, Nutritional Health, Life This was evident at the official the sport on the island. schools, our playing fields, skills and Personal Development as well as launch last Monday, July 28, 2025, “Since they have grasped the basics, we Safeguarding Awareness. and in the hearts and that took place at the La Vue Hotel. need to keep pushing so that they can get Coordinating the event was Bequia native minds of our young The venerable Ian Sardine, head better at it. For me, I would like them to Dianne King, who lauded the undertaking people. Crime prevention honcho of the almost three-decades old enter the Developmental Division so that and the interest shown by the charges. System Three Sports Academy, one of must be proactive, not “I appreciate it because Netball is a dying they can gain more knowledge in the sport. reactive. That’s exactly the partners of the project, in Also, I think the schools on the island should sport on the island; it is not played on the what Project Motion SVG island. I wished we can have this a little extending support for the initiative, get more involved; we have a few students is all about… prevention more often, but we will settle for the one noted that it was timely, given the who attend schools on the mainland and they current need to re-culture many of the with purpose,” Peters play a little Netball and are showing interest week for now”, King commented. related. young people. in it”, King proposed. King, who represented Admiralty “This initiative is Following the success of the Bequia leg, Attackers in the SVGNA Tournament, is “I am glad to be part of this rooted in the simple but grateful that the national Netball authorities attention will shift to the mainland at the initiative and extremely happy to powerful idea that when Kingstown Netball Centre, August 4 to 15, responded to the call, as the training endorse Project Motion and the we invest in our youth, we programme served to complement some of when another training session will be initiative to have Youth Development convened. the work she has started, which included are investing in the future as a pillar of our society,” Sardine The hosting of the camps and training has “bringing the girls on a Saturday, and trying remarked, before he made reference to of this nation. Project to give them most of the little about Netball been funded mainly by the St. Vincent and Motion SVG is anchored some general unwanted traits of the the Grenadines Olympic Committee that I know”. on three core youth, many of whom he comes into (SVGOC). Relating to the genesis of getting Bequia
Bequia welcomes Netball training
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Sports
Tough going for SVG in WISG standings with 317 points with St. Lucia some distance away on 220 and Dominica, 215. The host’s woes continued on Sunday July 27 in Male Volleyball played at the Girls High School hard court, when they went under to Dominica 0-3, (18-25, 18-25, 14-25). St. Lucia edged out Grenada 2-3 (2426, 25-23, 20-25, 25-15, 15-11). Also on Day Two, in Female Basketball played at the Basketball Facility- New Montrose, Dominica saw off SVG 77-26 and Grenada defeated St. Lucia, 51-28. The Vincentian footballers recovered some home pride when they defeated Dominica 2-1 at the Brighton Playing Field, where Grenada outplayed St. Lucia, 7-2. The ‘tough going’ for the host was prolonged on Monday, July 28, as the female volleyballers took to the GHS hardcourt, only to be outdone by Grenada, 16-25, 23-25, 21Shaquania Jacobs, 25. Dominica overcame St. SVG, won the Lucia, 25-21, 25-21, 25-23 on Female 200m.
WITH THREE DAYS of competition completed, it has been tough going for host St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in the 2025 Canadian Bank Note CBN Windward Islands Schools’ Games. When the multi-discipline events got going on Saturday, July 26, at the Diamond Track Facility, SVG ended in last place on 207 points, in Track and Field. Perennial winners Grenada led the
SVG’s Teron Muckette took Gold in the Male High Jump.
SVG’s male volleyballers in action versus Dominica. the same day. More defeats in Basketball were visited upon the Vincentians, as the males were blown away 105-34 by Dominica. Grenada, meanwhile, continued its ascendancy march with a 90-72 win over St. Lucia. But SVG ended Day Three in a triumphant mood, defeating St. Lucia 49-12 in Netball at the Kingstown Netball Centre, where Grenada beat Dominica, 39-17. Listed for Day Four, Tuesday, July 29, Female Basketball at the Chilli hard court, Georgetown: Dominica versus St. Lucia, and SVG versus Grenada. Also at the hardcourt, Dominica was slated to meet St. Lucia and SVG against Grenada in Netball. Also on Day Four, Football at the Chilli Playing Field: Dominica up against Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines versus St. Lucia. Day Five, Wednesday, July 30, Male Basketball at the New Montrose
Facility: Dominica against St. Lucia and SVG versus Grenada. In Female Volleyball, GHS Hardcourt: St. Lucia versus Grenada and SVG versus Dominica; and in Male Volleyball, Grenada against Dominica and SVG against St. Lucia. Day Six, Thursday July 31, features SVG versus St. Lucia and Dominica along with SVG against Dominica in Netball and in Football, Dominica plays St. Lucia and SVG opposes Grenada. The final day, Saturday August 2, Female Basketball: Dominica faces Grenada, and SVG meets St. Lucia. Dominica takes on St. Lucia and SVG plays Grenada in Male Volleyball and in Female Volleyball, Dominica entertains Grenada and SVG meets St. Lucia. When the last edition of the WISG was held in Grenada 2023, St. Vincent and the Grenadines finished last. St. Vincent and the Grenadines last won the title in 2010.
Roban eyes World Championships New Greiggs 10/10 champions – Owia Strikers.
Owia Strikers: Greiggs 10/10 champions OWIA STRIKERS beat RSVG Police by 20 runs last Sunday, July 27, at the Greiggs Central Playing Field, to lift the 2025 Caesar’s Real Estate Greiggs Nar Fren Dem 10/10 Competition. Owia Strikers, with a depleted line up, posted 117 for 5 from their allotted 10 overs. Leading the way was Hyron Shallow who struck 49 inclusive of 2 fours and 6 sixes, and Denson Hoyte and Osnet Cato who each struck 22. Hoyte then picked off 3 for 17, as Police reached 97 for 5 from their 10 overs. Rickel Stapleton was Police’s lead batter with 37. Owia Strikers walked away with the $1500 cash prize and the winner’s
trophy, while Police collected $1000 and a trophy. Third place- Sion Hill Tallawahs, gained $500 and a trophy. The player of the Final was Hyron Shallow. Owia Strikers’ Dillon Douglas with 93 runs and six wickets, was named Player of the Competition. Desron Maloney of Police scored the most runs- 205 and his teammate Jelani Danzell took the most wickets8. RSVG Police was adjudged the Most Disciplined Team. Eight teams competed in the competition. There was also an over-40 component, which was won by Icons. The 20/20 competition opens Sunday, August 17, 2025.
FRESH OFF another national 800m accolade in the recent National Track and Field Championships, and with a “consistent” outdoor season to date, SVG’s Olympian and national 800m record holder Handel Ronan has his eyes on qualifying for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in September this year. In this regard, Roban said, “I was injured for the indoor season so I didn’t really run, but outdoor has been a pretty good year… broke the national record (800m) like three times. I been Handel Roban, national consistent at 1:45, so I really feel like I can run 800m record holder, is determined to continue the (World Games) standard, and I am very competing at the highest level. confident on that.” He added, “I didn’t have the Olympics (Paris, 2024) that I
wanted but it was a personal experience and I feel like over the years I have gained experience. Right now I am focusing on the event in front of me which is the World Championships in September.” That aside, Roban expressed how pleased he was to be home to compete in the National championships, but especially so for the opportunity to witness the Windward Islands Schools Games, which he described as a “.. stepping stone in my journey to grow my career.” And his advice for the young athletes, “Just enjoy every moment and don’t worry about the destination.” I.B.A. ALLEN
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Needle and Razor I HAD A FRIEND who clarified an argument between Needle and Razor. It ended with a mutual agreement. Razor told Needle that he had a point. The needle gave the edge to Razor. In many a discussion, it comes across as respect for each other. One might think that there is not much respect shown across the border for each other, especially in the realms of politics. Everyone is entitled to his interpretation of events, and they are free to come up with their version. Situations like those surfaced at the House of Assembly during last Monday’s debate on the Bill surrounding possible citizenship for members of the victorious West Indies squad at the Cricket World Cup played in 1975. There is no disagreement as to the pride Caribbean people feel have at the success of their cricketers. Caribbean people walk with their heads high when we beat England in cricket. Fans the world over will tell you that the West Indies is their second team, after national patronage. Some fans embrace the West Indies at the expense of their national squad for many reasons. That many national squads are selected on false claims and an agenda that persons find it acceptable to link with the West Indian party. It might be owing to colour. It is as glaring in cricket as a sport. Black footballers are used to abuse worldwide. Some turn the haunts into f inspiration and silence the detractors with spectacular performances. Vivian Richards maintained that air of consciousness throughout his life. There was a sense of dignity with which conscious persons took to their sport. It is with heavy hearts that one recalls the plight that Moeen Ali endures for the stance he took in solidarity with the people of Palestine during one of their sieges. Ali suffered the indignity so much so that his playing days for England faded. The world was astounded and embarrassed by the West Indies’ Cricket dominance on the world stage. It is with regret that that era phased. What accounts for the change of fortunes might be uncovered as the Emancipation Cricket Festival closes at the Arnos Vale Playing this weekend. There is a chance of revival in the fortunes of regional cricket. There has to be a spark in cricket. It can’t be business as usual. There must be concern about our level of consciousness. It is true that Cricket is a colonial Masters creation. It is natural that in the Caribbean, the wider population had to be engaged in cricket if only to fill the quota. And there came a type of flamboyance with which the regional players make it a work of art. It took years for the black man to be accepted as an equal part in cricket. Even today, there are attempts to down play the role and capability of black sporting icons. So the arguments will persist as to who has more of the edge whether they have a point or not.
St. Lucia remains unbeaten TWO BATSMEN recorded centuries for St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), but it was St. Lucia who remained unbeaten after two round of matches in the ongoing Windward Islands Senior Men’s Super50 Tournament in St Lucia. At the Mindo Phillips Park, SVG posted the highest total thus far, 405 for 7 from 50 overs, to beat Dominica, the defending champions, by 151 runs. SVG innings was built centuries from Sunil Ambris, 120 from 99 balls, and Dillon Douglas, 124 from 92 balls, his first at this level. Keron Cottoy hit 52. The pick of
Dillon Douglas recorded his first century in the Windwards 50 Overs tournament.
Cameron Greene, Player of the T20 series.
Dominica bowlers was J Joseph 3 for 65. Dominica in response were dismissed for 254 from 41 overs. Jelarni Robertson hit 38, Alick Athanze 37. Jeremy Haywood had 2 for 5 and for Ethan Gibson took 2 for 19 to be SVG standout bowlers. At the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium, host St Lucia defeated Grenada by 48 runs. St Lucia posted 307 from 48 overs, Ackeem Auguste 51, Shadrack Descarte 45, Keon Gaston 43. Darel Cyrus 3 for 51, Kirt Murray 2 for 48, Kistsen Murray 2 for 48 led the bowling for Grenada, who replied with 259 from 45 overs, Darren Nedd 59, Kirt Murray 50, Kirtsen Murray 37. Shawnil Edward 2 for 40, Keon Gaston 3 for 30, Shadrack Descarte 2 for 53, Jayden Elibox 2 for 33 shared the spoils for St. Lucia. In the second round of matches, St. Lucia copped a second win when they defeated SVG by 5 wickets at the Mindo Phillips Park. The Vincentian were rolled over in 39 0vers for 211, Desron Maloney 61, Asif Hooper 44, Keron Cotty 32. Keon Gastan 5 for 45 was St. Lucia’s top bowler. St. Lucia eased to 213 for 5 in 26 overs, Noel Leo 55, Akeem Auguste 48, Shadrak Descarte 39.
Sunil Ambris continued to show his class with an innings of 120 for SVG. Jeremy Haywood scalped 2 wickers for a costly 72 runs. In the other second match played at the Darren Sammy Ground, Dominica beat Grenada by 119 runs. Dominica set a formidable challenge when they posted 354 for 5 from 50 overs, Alick Athanaze 91, Kavem Hodge 77, Stephen Pascal 79. Grenada’s victory chase ended at 229 after 36 overs, Teddy Bishop 64, Darren Nedd 39, Kirt Murray 35 with Hodge claiming 3 for 41. I.B.A. ALLEN
The Australian team that whipped the WI 5-0, n the T20 series.
AUSSIES make clean sweep
AUSTRALIA completed a men’s T20I five-match series whitewash for the first time as they reeled in their target of 171 with three wickets in hand and 18 balls to spare, in the final T20 of the Australia-West Indies series in St Kitts. In the process, Australia became the second full-member nation team to win a five-match series 5-0 in T20Is. India was the first to do so in 2020 against New Zealand in a home series. The victory capped off a superb tour for the Australians, who won all eight matches (including three tests) they played. In the 5th T20, the hosts were put into bat at Warner Park in St Kitts and Nevis and managed 170, with Shimron Hetmyer hitting 52 from 31 balls, as Australian bowler Ben Dwarshuis took 3-41. The Windies were given hope
of a win when they reduced Australia to 25-3 but Cameron Green, Tim David and Mitch Owen got their side back on track. Green scored 32 runs from 18 balls, David smashed four sixes in a 12-ball 30 and Owen raced to 37 - including three fours and three sixes - in 17 balls. Aaron Hardie added 28 from 25 balls as Australia reached their target with three overs to spare. “I didn’t expect 5-0 at the start of the series,” said Australia captain Mitchell Marsh. “But we played some great cricket. It was something we spoke about after the fourth game. “We knew no Australian team had completed a clean sweep. We’ve had guys come in and played different roles for us.” As for W.I. skipper Shai Hope, he put his team’s dismal performance down to not being
able to “… put together a proper batting display. … We either started well and finished poorly or the other way around. When you’re playing against quality opposition like Australia, you’ve got to put things together for a more complete game.”
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THE VINCENTIAN. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025. 23.
Classifieds
Mayhem in Owia watersÊ From Backpage
hope of finding her brother alive. She said her brother did not deserve to lose his life in such a tragic manner, and the family’s greatest pain is for his twin sons. According to Williams, her brother, a fisherman and boat captain, was simply providing transportation after being begged to assist, unaware of what was truly involved. The RSVGPF meanwhile, said it is committed to transparency, therefore certain details must be withheld at this stage to protect the integrity of the investigation and ensure the safety of those involved. “We ask for the public’s patience and understanding as investigators work diligently to determine the full circumstances surrounding this incident,” said the police statement. In February, Young was fined EC$16,000 on cocaine charges — EC$6,000 for possession of the drug and EC$10,000 for possession for drug trafficking. The charges were laid after Young was found in possession of 5,539 grams of cocaine in Kingstown, on February 06. Up to press time Wednesday, the men were still categories as missing.
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THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025
VOLUME 119, No.31
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MAYHEM IN OWIA WATERS Hollis ‘Pargy’ Young was the only persons to be injured while at sea, in what is believed to be an attack by persons in another boat. Stories: KENVILLE HORNE A VINCENTIAN man who made it back to shore in the North Windward community of Owia with gunshot injuries while two of his compatriots are missing, is now the centre of a police investigation. The Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) said it is actively investigating a shooting incident that occurred in the waters off Rock Gutter, Owia, on the afternoon of Sunday, July 27, 2025. According to a police statement on the shooting, between 4:55 p.m. and 5:10 p.m., police received multiple reports of gunshots heard at sea. Officers were promptly dispatched to the area, where they encountered an adult male suffering from gunshotrelated injuries. He was assisted and
transported for medical treatment. “Preliminary reports suggest that the injured man, Hollis Young aka Pargy, was one of three occupants aboard a vessel when they came under fire from another boat carrying multiple individuals. Police have since learned that the two other occupants, identified as Withfield “Biggis” Williams of Owia (believed to be the vessel’s owner) and Dominique Alexander of Chateaubelair, are currently unaccounted for,” the police report noted. There are allegations that the shooting incident stemmed from a drug transaction gone wrong. Whatever the case, the relatives of the missing men are heartbroken and are seeking closure even as some of them hold out hope that they will found. However, Suzette Williams, sister of
Families grieving for missing men SUZETTE WILLIAMS, sister of Withfield “Biggis” Williams of Owia , one if the two men who went missing on Sunday 27th July, 2025, following a shooting incident off the coast of Rock Cutter, Owia, is seeking closure and praying that her brother’s body will be found. Williams said her brother did not deserve to lose his life in such a tragic manner, and the family’s greatest pain is for his twin sons. According to Williams, her brother, a fisherman and boat captain, was simply providing transportation after being begged to assist, unaware of what was truly involved.
“He don’t deserve this, and whatsoever they do him, we leave it in God hands. God will give us our justice,” said the grieving sister, adding that all the family wants is his body to bury. She said that her brother has left his family behind, with “light bill, water bill, internet bill… how she going to make it,” said Williams as she spoke about the hardship the mother of her brother’s children will have to endure. She told the media that Young approached her bother in a last minute bid to take him out to sea. “He didn’t know he was going to get his
Dominique Alexander the third occupant of the boat that was attacked, is also missing. Williams, appeared to have given up
Continued on Page 23
Withfield Williams of Owia, one of the missing men, was said to be the owner of the boat that came under attack.
Suzette Williams, sister of one of the missing men. death,” Suzette said. The sister said that she received a report that her brother was shot in the back and fell into the water. “He was in the water swimming and the Lucians (men in the other boat) just finished him in the water. Then they took his boat and carry it to St. Lucia. We had a call yesterday and they say the boat is in St. Lucia and
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the engine is off,” Suzette related. In Chateaubelair the atmosphere was similar with many calling for justice for Dominique Alexander, a well-known resident. “I don’t think he is alive, but we need to find his body,” said a close relative of the missing man. Police say they are investigating the shooting.
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