FRIDAY, DECEMBER
31, 2021
VOLUME 115, No.52
Bicyclist in coma Page3
www.thevincentian.com
Charged with murder Page 4
EC$1.50
Vincy jurist convicted Page 10
Tributes to Sir James Pages 13-24
Point again! Page 36
15-YEAR-OLD ABDUCTED AND KILLED road in Fenton Mountain. He appeared to have been shot. The T-ROY ‘TIMELESS’ PETERS, a 15discovery was reported to the year-old male resident of Arnos Vale police. and a student of the Bishop’s A mother in grief College Kingstown, was on his way, Peters’ mother, Diana Wilson, sometime between 12 noon and was at her work place, a 1pm on Thursday 16th December, to veterinarian clinic in Arnos Vale, meet his girlfriend outside the when she got the news, around Massy’s store in Arnos Vale, when 5pm, that the first of her two he was reportedly abducted by a children (boys) was found dead. number of men in an unidentified She told THE VINCENTIAN vehicle. that she recognised the body of a The abduction is said to have person lying on a road in a photo taken place in the vicinity of the on a lady’s phone, as that of her Thomas Wholesale. son. A report reaching THE On seeing the picture, Wilson VINCENTIAN indicated that said, “…as I see the picture and I Peters’ lifeless body was done recognized that was my discovered by a farmer around son….. I just drop on the ground 3pm that said day, lying on the and started to bawl.” She recalled last seeing her son alive around noon that day when “he passed by me….. I give him his lunch money.” Wilson confirmed that police officers visited her at her work place that very day after which she journeyed to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital hoping to see her son. “I didn’t get to see him until Monday and officially identify the T-Roy Peters turned 15 last body,” Wilson month, November. complained vehemently. offered a possible explanation as “…. because he know a lot Why was T-Roy killed? being, of people or he know certain people. I feel that is why they Diana Wilson is picked up me child to get some puzzled as to why someone would want to information.” She added, “He don’t get in kill her son who had Stories by KENVILLE HORNE
T-Roy Peters and his mother, Diana Wilson, in happier times.
just turned 15 in November, though, she
Continued on Page 3.
Istah Mack was attacked on Boxing Day. This followed a similar attack on him in 2017.
CHESTER COTTAGE FAMILY TARGETED AGAIN THE ATTACKS on the Mack family in Chester Cottage continued with the shooting of Istah Mack, 37 year old, on Boxing Day, Sunday 26th December. It was the second time Istah was escaping death. He has a bullet lodged in his body from a previous attempt in 2017 on his life, in what was believed at the time to Inesha Mack has be a reprisal attack. complained about Istah was shot about four the lack of times on Sunday allegedly by interest on the members of a gang call part of the police. ‘Soowoo Crew’ that operates in the community, and whose leader, it is alleged, has returned on holidays from overseas. Recalling what happen last Sunday, Inesha, Istah’s sister, told THE VINCENTIAN that her brother was at the gate of his mother’s home sometime around 8pm, when he saw three men, whom he recognized, conversing. She said that her brother told her that he then noticed two of the men had disappeared. “He say he then hear one of them say something and from that, ah shots he start to Continued on Page 3.
2. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN
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News 3
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 . 3.
Bicyclist remains in a coma
AS OF WEDNESDAY, December 29, Kruz Lowman, according to his mother Eunatlie Bowens, remained in a comatose state,. The 11-year-old Kruz, a resident of Langley Park and a Grade 5 student of the Langley Park Government School, was hit by motor vehicle PH985, a white Suzuki Grand Vitara owned and driven by Veneo Da Souza of Overland, while was he riding a bicycle on December 26 — Boxing Day. According to Bowens, the accident occurred just before 8 pm and occurred near Lowman’s home. She was at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital when THE VINCENTIAN caught up with her. She admitted that the past few hours have been rough. “It is not easy to see that he is in a coma,” Bowens said. She said that he had showed some movements in his hand on December 28, but he was not
The bike and the vehicle at the scene of the accident. responding to anything. according to his mother, and that he may have also sustained some damage to the brain. She also said that there was some internal bleeding, and that the ideal thing was for her son to seek medical attention overseas. However, based on the condition that he is presently in, this was difficult, she said. Bowens further disclosed to THE
Chester Cottage family targeted again Continued from Front Page. receive…. four shots. Thank God the bullet exited his body, ” said the sister. Istah was shot once in the back, twice in the right hand, and once in the right leg. He was taken to the Georgetown Hospital where he was treated, warded and discharged on Monday morning. Since 2017, the police have been telling the family they would “take over the case,” Inesha said, adding that no arrest has been made. She also complained that since her brother was shot on Boxing Day, the police have not visited the scene and reported that a gang member known as ‘Dumpling’ had picked up the bullet shells that would have provided evidence for the police. In April 2017, Istah was rushed to the hospital after he sustained gunshot injuries. On Aug. 5, 2017, Istah’s brother, Zeno, was shot in the chest outside his home but he survived. Some hours later on that day, the Mack brothers’ nephew came under gunfire outside the house, but escaped unscathed. Additionally, the Mack family house was shot up in the past. As it stands, the family is wondering what if anything, the police would do following the Boxing Day shooting. “Ahyo shoot up me mother house, ahyo go free. Ahyo shoot up me brother in 2017, ahyo go free. Now ahyo shoot up me brother again and it look like the police them in G-town want ahyo to go free again but there is a God above and we will get justice from him,” Inesha posted on a Facebook page following the shooting of his brother.
VINCENTIAN that as of December 29, no arrest had been made. She said that she was told by the police that the driver was taken in and questioned but was released. The distraught woman added that the driver, up to the said date, was yet to check in on her son’s condition and his overall wellbeing. The police reported that the driver of the
vehicle remained on the scene and was cooperating with the investigation Back in 2011, 14-yearold Stephen Cruickshank of La Croix succumbed to the injuries he sustained following an accident which also occurred on Boxing Day. Cruickshank was riding his bicycle when he was hit by a vehicle. No charges were formally brought against the driver and his death was
Kruz Lowman remains unresponsive warded at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. (Photo Credit: One News St. Vincent) ruled as ‘Death by Misadventure’, during the coroner’s inquest which followed.
The matter involving Lowman is under investigation according to the police. (DD)
15-year-old abducted and killed family. them?” the mother asked concern that the police “We already make in frustration. have not been plans for the Christmas “I really, really miss communicating with her. trouble. He might be season… How I suppose my son. It was me and She said that when hanging out with people to enjoy Christmas… to him tugging all the time her son was killed he who might have issues even think about until I had a son two had a book bag and a with other people. …… Christmas? I have to go years ago and he did love tablet in his possession. he don’t thief, he don’t now and find some kind his little brother so These were never interfere with people, he ah finance to bury my much,” Wilson said recovered. Wilson is ain’t going and bring no child. How could between tears. hoping that the violent talk to anybody somebody just kill a 15Now, even as Wilson authorities might be able … or anything like that.” year-old child who ain’t waits on the police to do to put a tracer on the Peters attended the do them nothing, who a proper investigation, device as part of their CW Prescod Primary ain’t interfere with she expressed strong investigation. School before moving on to Bishop’s College where he was described as jovial, outgoing and friendly. Two years ago he represented System 3 POLICE ON WEDNESDAY night took stimulating a man’s penis with the Sports Academy in a man into custody hours after a video mouth for sexual pleasure) he had Barbados circulated on social media showed him ever had. His mother related, Reports are that the child is 4 years “Sometimes I walking in instructing a child, said to be his daughter, to perform oral sex on him. old. town and all I hear is, ‘TThe man, originally from Sion Hill, Reports also claim that the child’s Roy mommy’.” was arrested at a house in mother was taken into police custody She admitted that, as well. “He got a little stubborn Mesopotamia which he shares with …. wanted to do what he the child’s mother. The two share one child while the wanted sometimes...” In what appears to be a video call to mother is said to have two boys from a past relationship. a woman, the man, whose face A sad Christmas THE VINCENTIAN understands eventually appears on camera, could be heard telling the woman (partially that the Sexual Offences Unit of the According to Wilson, Royal SVG Police Force is managing visible) that the child said she was her son was looking enjoying what she was doing, and that the ongoing investigation. forward to enjoying it was the best felattio (the act of Christmas with his Continued from Front Page.
Paedophile arrested
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4. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN
Court
Bodyworks man charged with murder: Yaphato clears the air
Jomo Poyer will return to court on Feb. 22, 2022.
Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS Yaphato, wellknown local reggae artiste, brother of the accused, was taken up by police but released the same day.
JOMO POYER, a 40-year-old auto body technician (bodyworks man) of Murray’s Village, has been charged with the murder of his cousin and fellow villager, Leon ‘Turtle’ Lee, 35-year-old fisherman. Lee died after reportedly receiving several chops and stabs about his body, during an altercation he had with Poyer around 7:15am on December 27, at Murray’s Village, in a house which they both occupied. Poyer was not required to plea when he appeared at the Serious Offences
Court on Wednesday. The matter has been adjourned to February 25, 2022 for Paper committal proceedings. Attorney Ronald Marks is representing Poyer. In a related development, renowned local reggae artiste, Yaphoto Poyer, was also taken into custody by police, in relation to Lee’s death. Jomo Poyer is Yaphato’s younger brother. According to Yaphato, the police took a report from him and released him the said Monday, saying that they had discerned that he had nothing to do with his cousin’s death. Upon his release, Yaphato took to the radio waves to, as he said, “clear his name.” He told listeners to Monday’s
episode of Hot 97.1. SV AM MAYHEM, that he did not know what caused the altercation and what happened during that melee. The generally soft spoken Yaphato related that the fatal altercation was the result of a long and sustained contention even hostilities among the three relative. He recalled how he had to move out of the family house which the three shared, after he could no longer take the “torment and threats” from his cousin, ”including threats to kill me and my brother.” Regular reports were made to the police and even though they would detain Lee for a night or so, the torment would begin all over the moment he was released, Yaphato said.
Yaphato recalled that it was after he had returned from the nearby shop where he purchased cigarettes that he would come upon what had happened. In the immediate aftermath of the fatal altercation, the reggae artiste said he could hardly make sense of what his brother, who was crying profusely, was trying to say to him. Yaphato made it clear to his listeners that he was not a witness to the altercation that resulted in his cousin’s death, nor was he part of any quarrel with his cousin that day.
Lawyer calls for public assistance shake-up LAST Tuesday’s discharge of former Ministry of National Mobilization employees, Derville Thomas and Learie Johnson, on charges of defrauding and stealing from the Nation’s Public Assistance Fund, four years ago, has prompted Johnson’s lawyerGrant Connell, to call for a shake-up of the Public Assistance system. Thomas, a former police of Bridgetown, Biabou, who was 42 at the time of the incident, and Johnson, a retiree of Lowmans Windward who was 62 at the time, were both discharged during the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) at the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday, December 28. The two were cleared of all charges, after Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne ruled that there was not sufficient evidence to make out a prima facie case, at this stage, for both men. The ruling came after Connell made a no case submission on Johnson’s behalf. Thomas was unrepresented. Connell submitted that there was no evidence to show that Johnson created a false instrument, and that the prosecution failed to show the nexus between the monies taken from the defendants when they were arrested, and what was allegedly handed over as public assistance payments by authorized individuals. Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN on Wednesday, Connell said, “Based on the evidence that came out during this case, the system needs to be modernized. If someone is deceased ten years ago, and their monies are still being sent to the treasury for payments to be made to them,
and monies are released, somebody is not doing their job properly. If things are not put in place, the rats will continue to nibble away at the Treasury. This is something the Prime Minister should take a close look at, because it could result in significant loss to the Treasury.” Thomas, a chauffeur with the Ministry of National Mobilization who had his services terminated in 2016, and Johnson, who was also an employee in that ministry, had been charged separately on multiple counts of making and using false instruments, in the names of several deceased persons. Thomas was charged with conspiring with Johnson and others to steal thousands of dollars in cash, the property of the Government of St. Vincent
and the Grenadines. The men were also charged jointly with the theft of thousands of dollars from the Government, and obtaining cash by deception. It was alleged that the offences were committed on February 7, 2018, during the payment of Public Assistance at Owia. The Preliminary Inquiry, which lasted several months, was prosecuted by Crown Counsel Rene Simmons. The matter had attracted much public attention on August 20, 2020 during one of the hearings, when Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne admitted that the conduct of prosecution witness Nerissa Gittens-McMillan, then Permanent Secretary (PS), in the Ministry of National Mobilization, was unacceptable.
Gittens’ conduct had come into question when Connell complained to the Court that the PS had come within his personal space, unknown to him, and made an utterance, and he asked the Chief Magistrate to find out from the PS what was said, and to whom it was Derville Learie directed. Thomas Johnson When the Magistrate asked Gittens-McMillan what agreed with Connell that such behaviour she said, she admitted that was unacceptable. she told Connell, he was an The Court also heard “evil man”. evidence from the relatives Gittens-McMillan had and caretakers of a number of encroached on Connell’s personal space, as she walked deceased persons whose names past the Bar Table on her way were still on the Public Assistance list. to the Magistrate’s Clerk’s The investigator Sergeant desk, to sign the notes of evidence which had been read Malcolm Alexander was the last witness to testify before back to her on completion of the Prosecution. Connell’s cross-examination. The Chief Magistrate
Medical students caught stealing of $901. The girls initially appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court last week to answer the charges. They pleaded guilty and were remanded pending sentencing. The facts revealed that around 11am on Nafisa Nayhayo Ruth Omachi Simisola Babatunde December 21, the loss prevention officer at the THREE FEMALE supermarket, acting on information she Nigerian medical students who were received, informed the three girls who caught stealing from Massy had entered the business place as Supermarket, Kingstown, Tuesday, shoppers, not to put any items into their December 21, were spared prison shopping bags, before paying for them. sentences when they returned to Court But the girls continued putting items last Tuesday. Nafisa Nayhayo, 19, Ruth Omachi, 23 into their bags, before going to the cash and Simisola Babatunde, 25, all second- desk. They paid for some items, which were not in their bags, and proceeded to year medical students here, were each leave the supermarket without paying bonded for one year. In breach of the for the items which they had put in their bond, they would each have to pay the bags. They were stopped by security Court $1,000 forthwith or go to prison personnel, and the police were alerted. for three months. The girls were taken to the Criminal The students were charged with Investigation Department (CID) at the stealing a variety of items from the supermarket, amounting to a total value Central Police Station where they were
formally arrested and charged. On their return to the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on December 28, the students maintained their guilty pleas, and attorney Grant Connell mitigated on their behalf. Connell noted that the defendants had no previous convictions, were remorseful, and pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity. He added that they were all of good character and were very young, with one being a teenager. He said they were all second year medical students here. Connell pointed out that there were sentencing guidelines for theft, and that the offence carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison. But the Senior Magistrate, in reference to those guidelines, told the lawyer, “I know them out of my head,” and hastened to add, “You know what is most aggravating about this case? Before the act was completed, they (defendants) were warned by security not to do what they were doing.” Continued on Page 5.
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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. 5.
News
South Rivers woman wants out of Vermont Vernice Horne has had it with Vermont and the harassment from a neighbour after twelve years of residence in that South Leeward community.
VERNICE HORNE has been living in Vermont for the past 12 years. Now, she wants to leave. Horne said that she left South Rivers because of a family problem and
Beaver survives gunshots AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into a shooting incident that occurred along the Lowmans Leeward public road, which left one man currently warded at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. The man is said to have received multiple gunshots to his body but is reportedly in a stable condition. According to reports, on Wednesday 29th December, 2021, at about 7:30 am, Alaskie ‘Beaver’ Samuel was driving along the Lowmans Leeward public road in motor vehicle P9070, a Suzuki jeep belonging to him. Some unknown person(s) reportedly shot at the motor vehicle injuring Samuel in the process. Samuel drove himself to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. According to a reliable source who was at the
hospital when Samuel arrived, “He drove himself to the hospital and as soon as he came out the vehicle, he fell on the ground and had to be assisted.” Samuel is no stranger to the law. In 2017, he was arrested and charged along with Obandelle ‘Bandell’ Neverson with a massshooting that resulted in the death of Gregory ‘Woody’ Abraham. However, Richard ‘Shrek’ McFee, the main witness in the case, withdrew his statement about who he initially said were responsible for Abraham’s death and the wounding of nine other persons on October 14, 2017, at Diamond. McFee had initially given police information that led to Samuel and Neverson being arrested and charged. Last year, Samuel was
Alaskie ‘Beaver’ Samuel is no stranger to law enforcement here in SVG. charged with having over £25,500, EC$2,400 and US$81 in his possession, reasonably suspected of being stolen or unlawfully obtained. (KH)
Medical students caught stealing Continued from Page 4. But, according to Connell, “This is not within my instruction.” The lawyer told the Court, “They have spent six days in jail, (on remand), six horrifying days. They must understand what they did. All the items were recovered, in a condition that can be accepted. I am asking the Court not to impose a custodial sentence. They, having spent six days of torment, had time for reflection. Many who come before the Court did not have time for reflection. I ask to give them a chance. They have suffered enough.” But the Magistrate contended that he had no intention of imposing a custodial sentence, nor was he going to impose a fine. Connell asked the Court to apply section 37 of the Criminal Code,
which gives the Court the power to discharge a guilty person, without recording a criminal conviction, but the Magistrate said that he was not going to apply this section. Prosecutor Curlene Samuel was of the view that the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating ones, but said she did not have a custodial sentence in mind. She noted that all the items were recovered, that the girls had expressed remorse for their actions, and had no previous convictions. But she described the students’ action as being serious, and asked the Court to impose an appropriate penalty, taking everything into account. “I know what I am going to do. I am going to impose a bond,” the Magistrate said before handing down the penalty.
she did not have anywhere to go. “I end up in Vermont after a man by the name of Maloney took me down there to live,” Horne related. She explained that she lived with the man for 12 years relatively undisturbed. However, her life has become a living nightmare after one of Maloney nieces, who lives in the same yard but in a separate house, brought a man to live with her. Horne said that some stray cats that she looks after became a bone of contention between herself and the man. “ I take care of about seven cats and he said he don’t want any cat come over where he is, even though
he has been living there for only two months. He running down the cats with big stone and say he go burst up them head and I say he can’t burst up them head and he can’t kill the cat them.” But the man did not take lightly to her challenge and began threatening her. “He say he go kill me and me man and that he come from Layou and he walk with his big gun with him, and he going shoot me and me man and them go pick up me and me man somewhere dead.” She said that her boyfriend reported the matter to the Vermont Police Station about two weeks ago but they are still being harassed. “I
can’t wake up in the morning and pray or talk…. He is coming out and cussing me and saying I throwing word give him,” she explained. “Me fraid and me scared and me heart a dey a blow up when me see him,” said Horne, adding that a friend who usually comes and helps them is now afraid to visit because of the man’s attitude. I just want to get out of down there because I am scared for my life and I would like to ask anybody if they have any place to rent because I am a hypertensive woman. When I see him I am very scared … I just want to get out of down there,” Horne pleaded. (KH)
V „⁄Give Love on Christmas Day⁄‰ 6. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN
Message
Christmas Message 2021 by Commissioner of Police, Mr. Colin John, LLB (Hons)
FELLOW Vincentians and members of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) and its Auxiliary Force. As we celebrate yet another time, the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I wish you joy, peace, good health, and prosperity for this and many more Christmas’ to come. Christmas indeed is ‘the most wonderful time of the year’. On no other occasion, you would see, feel and experience the kind of love, care, warmth, and togetherness of people everywhere. It is a time when we endeavour most to evoke smiles on the faces of family, friends, children, and the most vulnerable in our communities. So, as we celebrate this Christmas, I encourage every Vincentian and visitor to our beautiful island to give whatever little that you have to make someone else’s Christmas ‘merry’ and bright. 2021 has been a very challenging year for the members of the RSVGPF. By now, some of the reasons are well known. The continuance of the COVID-19 pandemic, the eruption of the La Soufriere Volcano in April of this year — securing our citizens and the maintenance of law and order have tested us the most. But through it all, and under very difficult circumstances, the men and women of the RSVGPF performed commendably well. Accordingly, I wish to thank them very much for dedicating their lives, time, effort, and energy to the safety, stability, and protection of the SVG and its citizens. I am tremendously pleased to announce that crimes continue to trend downwards. Once again, there has been a marked reduction in crimes and criminal activities in SVG over the corresponding period in 2020. More importantly, 2021 has seen the lowest crime rate ever recorded over the last fourteen (14) years. At the time of writing this message, there were a total of 3,562 crimes reported for 2021. This shows a reduction of 31% over the
same period in 2020 which recorded a total of 5,148 crimes. This reduction came about as a result of different factors including: improved detection, investigation, and prosecution of crimes, a more determined and focussed police force, improved police, and public partnerships, and undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic among others. The men and women who I am honoured to lead will continue to do their best to maintain a level of security in SVG where everyone can feel safe and comfortable while conducting spiritual, cultural, social, and business activities daily. Gun-related crimes and the proliferation of illegal firearms and ammunition have been a major concern for law enforcement over the years. In 2021, law enforcement successfully seized 29 illegal firearms and 484 rounds of ammunition in comparison to 33 and 220 respectively in 2020. A firearm in the wrong hands, (especially an illegal one) can wreak unimaginable injury, pain, and death. Accordingly, I call on all persons in possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition to hand them over to the police immediately. I gave the assurance that you would not be prosecuted for doing so. The RSVGPF continues to modernize its functions to better serve the public. On March 30, 2021, the Legal Policies and Research Unit (LRPU) was launched. This unit is charged with carrying out professional legal analyses, research, training, vetting, and the implementation of policies among other things. It is the main liaison between the RSVGPF and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Training and development are of paramount importance to the Police High Command. The development of the human resources of the RSVGPF is most critical to citizen safety and the maintenance of law and order. In 2021, a total of 76 recruits received their initial training. They have been deployed throughout the organization to complete their probation. Moreover, over 3 police officers attained degrees from the University of the West Indies this year - and many more are currently pursuing higher learning at different levels. In the first quarter of 2022, the RSVGPF will implement the RSVGPF Email Policy. Under this initiative, every police officer, police station, department/branch will be issued an email address.
This will be spearheaded by the Information Technology Unit (I.T Unit). Among the benefits that will be derived from this project are: 1. Improved operability in the force 2. Faster and more efficient communication between members and departments within the organization. 3. Reduction in operational costs i.e less printing of documents 4. Fewer documents to store, thus freeing up storage space. In short, the organization would be using less paper going forward from 2022. For this holiday season and going forward, I urge all Vincentians and visitors alike to comply with the COVID-19 protocols — be alert and do not make yourselves targets for opportunistic criminals. Work along with the police, as we seek together to make SVG a safer and more prosperous country. On 22.12.21, the Police Band held its first Virtual Christmas Concert via the RSVGPF Facebook Page. It was a success. Over five thousand persons viewed - while hundreds commented and shared the Livestream. I take this opportunity, to thank every member of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police and Auxiliary Force (including the SVG Coast Guard Service) for their support, loyalty, and commitment to duty during the past year. I also applaud those officers who served the organization and have retired or resigned in 2021. Your service to SVG is very much appreciated. To the families of those officers who we lost during the year, we continue to mourn with you. May their souls rest in eternal peace. A joyous Christmas and a New Year filled with opportunities, success, and achievements to everyone.
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. 7.
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8. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN
Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Managing Editor: Desiree Richards Editor: Cyprian Neehall Telephone: 784-456-1123 Fax: 784-451-2129 Website: www.thevincentian.com Email: vinpub@thevincentian.com Mailing Address: The Vincentian Publishing Co. Ltd., P.O. Box 592, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Editorial
We have much to do NEW YEAR’S DAY has been universally accepted as a day when each of us makes our own resolutions - a promise to live a healthier live, an honest and better life, and to live happily with family and others. Sadly, not many of us broaden the ‘promises’ to include a resolution to make our community/village, our nation a better place in which to live. The question abounds: Why can’t we work together with a new resolve: to make our homes and neighbourhood, our village or town, and our nation a better place in which to live? But, as we venture into the New Year, we are wont to reflect on the year that has just ended. It was a difficult year — one characterized by economic uncertainty if not crises, sociopolitical tensions if not upheavals, and a worrying continuation of political deadlock in the face of mounting challenges and calls for compromise.. Perhaps more overwhelming was the battle for turf on the social networking platforms by one opinion or the other, that served, in the long run, to keep government on its toes, producing reactions that were often not pleasant to the workers and the displaced. All in all, as aid poured in from an unimaginable myriad of source, the economy slowed, production laboured if not all but ceased in certain sectors, and for a moment there, inflation edged up, the impact of an increased Custom Service Charge. And, amidst inflows of cash and other humanitarian aid, the talk of corruption moved centre stage. Yes, in as much as we have been encouraged that “things will improve’, the indications from reputable agencies speak to a scenario far removed from anything that resembles a return to normalcy. There are those who will suggest that we not be downcast; after all, countries and economies go through cycles and we must accept (that) downturns can be followed by upturns.
The task before us is clear. We must address the new concerns that have arisen while remaining steadfast in our commitment to put the nation on a development path, which ensures rapid, inclusive and sustainable growth. Those responsible for our welfare, for the development of the nation, must resolve to provide an honest and more efficient government, a more productive, competitive and robust economy and a more equitable and just social and political order. The singular greatest challenge that demands our attention is Economic Security. Economic Security comes from having an economy that can produce the material output and can generate the productive jobs needed to satisfy the aspirations of the workforce To reach this level we will have to ensure rapid growth is accompanied by adequate job creation. Rapid growth is also necessary to generate the revenues we need to finance our livelihoods. Yes, the 2022 Budget might attempt to give reason for us to be satisfied with the nation’s economic performance, but it would be wrong to conclude that it can set the nation on a path of rapid growth. Have we defined our growth potential? There is much we have to do if we want to return to a state of economic growth in the years ahead. That is why, as we edge towards sustained growth we need to usher in an agricultural revolution of sorts; one that ensures the revival of and sufficient growth in rural incomes. The economic base has to be broadened. And then there is the issue of tending to our democracy which is often frustrating - both to those who are in government and to those who expect it to be more efficient, effective and humane. But our democracy is our strength. It is the basis of our unity. It is also the most important guarantor of internal security. Any threat to it must be beaten back with resolve and commitment.
Comparing National Debt to GDP could be deceptive TODAY, I will talk about government spending/investment in the economy. The political opposition chooses to attack government spending in the context of the National Debt. They are now comparing the National Debt to GDP, and I supposed the desired result of that comparison was to create a sense of panic. So let’s examine these facts in more detail and help the man on the street understand any reason for panic. For example, someone taking a loan to purchase a house will pay between 3% and 4.5% in the United States. This assumes your total annual debt is not more than 35% of your yearly income. You are considered a reasonable credit risk for most banks. Sorry, I had to use a USA example, but that’s because our local banks will not tell me how they objectively measure my credit risk. Now it’s different for governments, but the concept is very similar. For example, a well-managed city in the USA could get an infrastructure loan for between 1% and 3%, for twenty years. Last year, Dr. Friday pointed out that our debt coverage ratio was about 1.38 or up to forty-two cents ($0.42) of every dollar we earn will be used to pay our debt. Now in any context, this debt to revenue ratio is not good. It is incredibly unsettling when we consider our already high consumption tax rate. The trouble is that these numbers do not tell the whole story. So please, someone on either side of the political aisle, tell us something valuable and honest. This year, Dr. Friday chooses to discuss debt in the context of debt to GDP. Why? What is a GDP? Gross domestic product (GDP) is the total market value of all the finished goods and services produced yearly. As a broad measure of overall domestic production, it functions as a comprehensive scorecard of our economic health. Comparing what we owe to what we produce reliably indicates our ability to pay back our debts. The general interpretation of this ratio is the higher the debt-to-
GDP ratio, the less likely the country will pay back its debt and the higher its risk of default. However, government spending can be a beneficial economic policy. Governments can use fiscal policy to stimulate the economy to avoid recession or get out of one. An increase in government spending directly increases the demand for goods and services. Which, in the short term, can help increase output and employment. My concern is how our government spending is financed? And how much government spending is enough? When the government chooses to borrow money, they create national debt that must be repaid. During the Prime Minister’s presentation to parliament, he indicated that borrowing the money to finance the Deepwater Port was as easy as asking for it. And since we have secured the loans for this project, it is fair to say the international money market is not too concerned about our ability to repay. They certainly do not share Dr. Friday’s concerns about our ability to repay the loan. The PM also took time to say how cheap it was to borrow these funds, which means that the interest rate on these loans was low. However, I don’t remember him saying precisely the actual annual interest rate; after all, the term low is relative. My concerns about the total debt are: What is the average length of debt? What is the effective rate of interest on all of our debt? How much short-term borrowing do we do annually? Are we doing like the United States and simply using shortterm debt to replace expiring shortterm debt? (Speaking of the USA, the current debt-to-GDP ratio is around 134%). How much is our annual sinking fund payment? My experience tells me that when a lender requires a sinking fund reserve, it is a sign that they are not confident in our ability to repay outstanding debt. Horatio
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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. 9.
Letters
Poor political judgment on state workers ALLOW ME to question the judgment of the Prime Minister to dismiss workers of the State of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, for having failed to take an experimental vaccine at a deadline he imposed. Editor, I am a graduate teacher who has been serving my country and people for the past twenty-two years. My qualification (university degree) has allowed me to teach in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions here. I did not take the vaccine for several reasons, among them being uncertainty about the medical risks, and
also taking a stand, on principle, against being coerced and threatened with ultimatums if I did not take the vaccine. Editor, after having received, like many others, a dismissal letter, the judgment of the Prime Minister has undoubtedly threatened many of our civil servants with economic collapse and bankruptcy. I was faithfully servicing a few loans, among them a mortgage and a car loan; the greater part of those loans is still to be paid. I supported my elderly mother with the payment of utilities and household commodities. I have a
young dependent in primary school whom I care for as a single parent. All of this I was doing with my single source of income as a teacher. Editor, these precarious conditions, with which I find myself suddenly confronted are not unique to me, and are experienced by several hundred hardworking Vincentians, many of whom supported local financial institutions and other business entities of the State, not to mention their families. This single act of judgment by the Prime Minister has set in motion a widening economic ripple, which
Thanks and best wishes MR. EDITOR, it is with a sincere heart that I extend best wishes to you and your staff for the New Year. You have been kind to me especially, as you continue to publish my ‘letters’ which, I must admit, are my true, true feelings. And needless to say, with your help my writing has improved considerably. I am even using words that I never knew before and my general expression, as you noted, has shown improvement. I am more confident about my writing thanks to you. I am of the view that your newspaper remains a balanced one which
doesn’t always rely on the sensational news items to reach the public. THE VINCENTIAN always seems to be able to provide a different take on things and is consistent in your stance. Your editorials in particular are refreshing. As we look towards 2022, I cannot see any relief from COVID-19 coming anytime soon. Like you I would urge people to get vaccinated but I would also appeal to government to do like their counterpart in Antigua, and withdraw this ‘mandatory thing’ from around the necks of frontline workers.
And before I go, allow me to extend thanks and best wishes to a friend, who wishes to remain unnamed. He calls me regularly after he reads my letters. We don’t agree all the time but he is a source of support and inspiration. I hope we can continue our relationship in the New Year. And lest I forget, my prayers are with those frontline workers who have had to see a December without salaries. Once again, Mr. Editor, accept my best wishes and thanks. Charles, Edinboro
Christmas Message from CED THE YEAR 2021 turned out to be much of a continuation of the uncertainties and anxieties that characterized the previous year, save for an escalation of COVID-19 cases and deaths and the explosive eruption of the La Soufrière volcano. These two events led to much economic and social disruptions/dislocations and negated hopes of an immediate postCOVID recovery in 2021. The fallout from the pandemic has led to among other catastrophic consequences — rising cost of living and chronic shortages of goods and services globally. This has been having quite a negative impact on businesses locally and especially the micro/small business sector, where the higher input cost is affecting their competitiveness and by extension the erosion of profit margins. While we look forward to 2022 with cautious optimism, we are forever mindful of the ominous clouds and head winds that threatens our post COVID recovery, which could be prolonged due to the proliferation of COVID virus variants. At the Centre for Enterprise Development Inc (CED), we continue to laud the resilience displayed by the small business operators in trying to weather the economic storms. We are equally aware of their own vulnerabilities resulting from diseconomies of scale and lack of
capital resources. In this regard, we remain firmly committed to working with critical stakeholders in mitigating these challenges. During the year, we have successfully partnered with the Government through its income support initiatives as well as the Embassy of China (Taiwan), in providing critical financial and technical support services to the more vulnerable lowincome small business owners. These programmes will continue in 2022 and we expect to see much needed relief support provided to the micro/small business sector. The work of the CED has also been negatively impacted in 2021 and some of our objectives have not been met. During this period, we turned our attention internally to promote institutional strengthening and staff development initiatives which will be further developed in 2022, in order to retool and prepare the organization for the challenges ahead and the new realities of a post-COVID environment. I take this opportunity on behalf of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of the Centre for Enterprise Development to wish all our customers and the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and less challenging 2022. Bernard Hamilton, Chairman
may very well bring about an irreversible financial collapse, never before seen in the history of this country and the Caribbean. With these dismissals, is the Prime Minister not compounding the already ‘extreme poverty’ situation in this country of which he spoke publicly? Editor, generally speaking, many of us ‘live month to month’. Now, we cannot pay our bills, service our loans or put food on the table for our families. Is the intention of the judgment of the Prime Minister to confine
us to destitution, starvation and death? Is this our punishment for opting not to take the questionable vaccine until further research? Will history record the judgment of the Prime Minister as meanspirited, vindictive and desperate? I do not know. But I am calling on Prime Minister Gonsalves, if he believes that the sustained livelihood of this nation’s citizens is much more important than an experimental vaccine, to issue an immediate return to work order for all of the State employees
who were dismissed in what was categorically poor judgment. Teacher X.
some homes several persons received. Can you imagine persons who are elderly, some in their eighties, never received a THE INCOME SUPPORt eruption of La Soufrière. cent, while persons very to fisherfolk and farmers, Sadly, the distribution young got every month? has left much to be along with the This is such a shame. desired. There was no contribution to some So while politicians proper management nor evacuees from the World beat up their chests citing proper execution of this Food Programme, is programme. There was no the millions of dollars commendable and would have brought joy to many. proper investigation done. spent on these various programmes, remember However, the distribution Can you imagine several there are a considerable persons in one home was not fairly done; it number of persons who receiving cash displayed biasness. We know, for example, individually? The hurtful are disappointed and feel abandon because they of many persons who are thing is that some of the never received a cent. persons were not neither farmers nor evacuees, but would have This to me is sad and fisherfolks but got their shameful. resided at some point in farmers or fisherman’s Let me take this the red or orange zone, ID. On the other hand, but would have migrated, opportunity to wish you, there are many persons Editor and all our readers yet still they got funds, who are farmers and a blessed Christmas and a while persons who really fishers who never prosperous New Year. I received an ID. I know of needed it never got any. sincerely thank you for I have known of cases cases where persons who are active farmers applied where persons were even allowing me space to air my two cents on various interviewed by the WFP for their ID only to be matters. I look forward to and yet to this day have denied. The same can be your cooperation in the not received a cent. It said of the fishers. coming year, and trust should have been every The World Food that we all would have Programme (WFP) ought households receiving the productive year. support. Far too many to be commended for giving financial support to households never even Kennard King received a cent, while in families affected by the
Income Support
dance halls for Nine Mornings fetes. Christmas is pagan in origin and capitalism in philosophy. The working class is conditioned to spend all they work for and began the New year in another round of ‘wage slavery’. The birth of the Messiah has nothing to do with Christmas, if only no because no one has any recording of His birth. It has everything to do with government. “…… a child is born ….. a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder”. (Isa. 9:6-7). The angel confirmed this to His mother in Luke 1: 31-33). The only way to make Christmas real is to put the law of our Creator God into practice — the laws of His Kingdom. By doing so all good things would be added to our lives — world peace, the end of coronavirus and the end of divide and rule by present day world bosses — world leaders. So our wish to all of us, is to play it safe as we end 2021 and prepare to rebuild our nation by forgetting our religions, our political parties, our differences, and see one god, one people, one nation, working together for 2022 and beyond. Be real.
Is Christmas real? THE ROMAN CHURCH began formally celebrating (pagan origin) Christmas on the 25/12 in 336 AD, during the reign of the Emperor Constantine who decreed Christianity the religion of the Roman Empire. Nine Mornings is an Afrocentric culture practice started in St. Vincent and the Grenadines during the reign of England over us, and when the Roman and the Church of England (a break away from the Roman Church) held nine early mornings indoor church service. The Afrocentric would go serenading for those nine mornings. They did this with vocal, drums, string bands and steel pans. By 4-5am the bands would be on the road and people would be out in their sleeping clothes. A band from Stubbs played to Argyle, to King’s Hill, then back to base at Stubbs by sunrise. Another band began in Brighton to King’s Hill then back to base in Brighton. A band from Calliaqua would play to Arnos Vale, back to Ratho Mill and return to base in Calliaqua by sunrise. By then 1970s, with the advent of the electrical, musical bands went into
Christian Democrat
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10. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN
Views
We must ditch Taiwan in 2022 FOR THE SAKE of our people and our economy, we must ditch Taiwan in 2022. Cutting ties with Taiwan is one way to create mass employment in SVG, since we will stop Taiwan from draining our country of revenue by using our tuna fishing licence. In early December 2021, Nicaragua became the latest country to cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of China. Hurray! Hurray! Taiwan’s list of international allies has dwindled since May 2016, with many countries - the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, The Gambia, Sao Tome and Principe, Panama, The Dominican Republic, Burkini Faso and El Salvador - all ditching the Taiwan in favour of China. They have all come to realise that Taiwan is holding them back and the best way to boost their
economies and create mass employment is to link up with China. Tuna is needed locally in SVG for local food security and public health. Tuna could supply over 25% of our local fish needs by 2025. From food, livelihoods and cultural traditions to multi-million-dollar businesses, it’s clear there’s a lot riding on tuna. History has shown that having diplomatic relations with Taiwan has not been, over the long-term, in the best interests of SVG. Taiwan is a parasite in SVG and is bleeding our country dry. Taiwan is killing the life opportunities of our people. We must ditch Taiwan and create our own SVG tuna fishing and canning industry, NOW! It is purported that Taiwan
creams-off about EC$2 billion annually from SVG’s Atlantic Ocean tuna fishing licence and the use of SVG’s national flag on its fishing vessels in international waters. Taiwan is holding back our economy as it does not pay any tax. All the countries ditching Taiwan believe that their new relationship with China will lead to better trade, investment opportunities, and in particular, the exporting of more goods from their country to China. In contrast, Taiwan has failed to invest in SVG and create strong sustainable industries. Taiwan has been in SVG for over 40 years and not built one factory here. Taiwan is technology-advanced, but has not provided SVG with any technology transfer. Taiwan has not set up any
trade deals to help SVG companies export to Taiwan. When Taiwan came to SVG over 40 years ago, they said they would help us boost agriculture. Today, the agricultural industry is virtually dead. SVG needs partner countries that will help Vincentian companies to export. We should cut ties with Taiwan to boost our economy and create thousands of new jobs. Warrant Officer Ivan O’Neal BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, Leader of SVG Green Party, says a Green Government would immediately cut ties with Taiwan and open ties with China. It will be a Happy New Year for our people, if we ditch Taiwan in 2022.
Vincy jurist convicted
system since about 2006, first as a Kings County Civil Court Judge, and then, starting in 2011, as a Kings County Supreme Court Justice. MCU is a non-profit financial SYLVIA ASH, a Trinidad and Tobago- institution headquartered in New In or about January 2016, United born justice of Vincentian and States Attorney for the Southern York, New York, which is federally Grenadian parentage, of the New York insured by the National Credit Union District of New York said Ash was State Supreme Court and former chair Administration (NCUA). appointed as the presiding judge in of the Board of Directors of Municipal the Kings County Supreme Court’s MCU is the oldest credit union in Credit Union (MCU) in New York, New York State and one of the oldest Commercial Division. was convicted for conspiracy to After the charges in this case were and largest in the country, providing obstruct justice, obstruction of justice banking services to more than 500,000 unsealed, he said Ash was suspended and making a false statement to a US members, and with more than US$4 from her position. federal agent. Ash served on MCU’s Board from in billion in member accounts, each of Damian Williams, the Jamaicanor about May 2008 until on or about which is insured for at least American United States Attorney for Aug. 15, 2016, when she resigned. US$250,000 by the National Credit the Southern District of New York, From in or about May 2015 until Union Share Insurance Fund, which is said two Mondays ago, “These charges administered by the NCUA. her resignation, Ash served as the arose from a scheme to impede the chair of the Board. Membership in MCU is generally federal criminal investigation into She resigned after a complaint was available to employees of New York fraud and corruption at MCU, a nonCity and its agencies, employees of the filed against her by the New York profit, multibillion-dollar financial State Commission on Judicial federal and New York state institution, including misconduct Conduct, arising from a conflict of governments who work in New York committed by Kam Wong, the former interest between her position as a City, and employees of hospitals, chief executive officer (CEO), and state judge and her membership on nursing homes, and similar facilities Joseph Guagliardo, a former New MCU’s Board, Williams said. located within New York State. York City Police Department Officer Williams added, “Ash had been MCU was overseen by a Board of and member of MCU’s Supervisory instructed to resign from MCU’s Directors (the Board) and a Committee.” Board by the Advisory Committee on Supervisory Committee (the Wong and Guagliardo were charged Supervisory Committee), each of Judicial Ethics, which instruction she separately and previously plead guilty which was composed of members of disregarded.” to embezzlement from MCU. MCU, who were not supposed to be Williams said Ash, 64, who lives in compensated. No report of reimbursements, gifts Brooklyn, New York, and the “As a result of severe deficiencies in daughter of the late Rudolph According to Williams, from at least the Board’s and the Supervisory “Fireman” Ash of Kingstown Hill, was Committee’s oversight of the credit in or about 2012 through 2016, while convicted after a two-week jury trial serving as an MCU Board member union, which came to light in before US District Judge Lewis A. and while Wong was chief executive connection with the federal Kaplan, and is scheduled to be officer, “Ash received annually tens of investigation, the New York sentenced on April 20, 2022 by Judge Department of Financial Services thousands of dollars in Kaplan. reimbursements and other benefits (DFS) removed the members of the Williams said, “As the jury from MCU, including airfare, hotels, Supervisory Committee in May 2018 unanimously found, Sylvia Ash took food and entertainment expenses for and the Board in June 2018,” repeated steps, over multiple months, Williams said. “Subsequently, DFS her and a guest to attend conferences to seek to obstruct the federal criminal appointed NCUA as the conservator both domestically and abroad, annual investigation into financial misconduct for the credit union.” birthday parties at a minor league at MCU that took place during Ash’s baseball stadium, payment for phone tenure as chair of the Board of Ash’s tenure with MCU and cable bills, and electronic devices. Directors. Obstruction of justice, “Even after her resignation from particularly by a sitting state court Ash is a sitting New York State the Board, Wong continued to provide judge, is a serious crime, and Ash now Supreme Court Justice in Kings or cause MCU to provide Ash with faces punishment for her obstruction County (Brooklyn) and has served as a benefits, such as Apple devices and scheme.” judge in the New York State court sports tickets,” he said. “As a sitting by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net US CORRESPONDENT
MCU has status
Sylvia Ash, who has been on suspension from her judicial duties, is to be sentenced in April, 2022. state judge, Ash was required to report both her board service and gifts and benefits she received from any outside sources on an annual state disclosure form. “But between at least 2012 and 2018, Ash never reported her board service nor any gifts or benefits from MCU,” Williams said. In January 2018, after Wong, MCU’s then-chief executive officer, had been approached by federal law enforcement agents investigating apparent financial misconduct by Wong, “in an attempt to protect Wong, Ash agreed to and did sign a false and misleading memorandum purporting to explain and justify millions of dollars Wong had received from MCU,” Williams said. “Wong subsequently provided that false and misleading memorandum to federal agents in an attempt to demonstrate that the millions of dollars had purportedly been orally approved for him to receive by Ash in June 2015, when she was chair of the Board,” he added. “However, in truth, neither Ash nor the Board had approved the payment of those funds.”
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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. 11.
Views
New Year’s resolutions that really matter
Covid: the gift that keeps giving
“Let your New Year’s resolutions be this: we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word.” – Goran Persson (born 1949) Swedish politician who served as Prime Minister of Sweden from 1996 to 2006.
THE COVID PANDEMIC has turned nine big pharma executives and investors into billionaires. They now have a combined wealth of $20 billion. But there is more: Eight other big pharma investors who were already billionaires have increased their wealth by another $32 billion. Topping the list of new billionaires who cashed in on the Covid vaccines are the CEOs of Moderna and BioNTech, each with a wealth of over 4 billion. This is despite the fact that taxpayers paid for the vast majority of the fund for the Moderna vaccine. In August 2020, Texas democratic congressman Lloyd Doggett warned that the power of the pharmaceuticals industry combined with fear was driving the extraordinary public spending in vaccine research and development. He cautioned about pandemic profiteering. ‘It’s a rosy time ahead for the pharmaceutical industry,’ Doggett warned. Here’s a glimpse of the price gouging that has occurred. Remdesivir, which Doggett said was ‘pulled off the scrap heap’ to become a significant revenue earner. Remdesivir, a repurposed drug that failed to gain approval as a treatment for hepatitis and Ebola, became a product in high demand until its ineffectiveness was laid bare. The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review noted that the raw material to produce Remdesivir cost $10. It is sold for $3,400 per dose. Many in the pharmaceutical industry knew that the effort to secure an effective cure or treatment for covid would be elusive. Dr Robert Gallo, co-founder and international advisor to the Global Virus Network and one of the world’s leading virologists, worried that ‘the unique characteristics of Covid 19 will make it hard for any traditional vaccines to have ‘durability.’ ‘You look at the structure of the proteins and it’s a lot like HIV. Similar antibodies do not last. So said so done. But Maderna, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson and Astra Zenaca all offered up false claims that their vaccines had an efficacy rate of 90 plus percent. We now know that the vaccine’s effectiveness wears off between 4 to 6 months. As a result, Israel is on its fourth shot, and the UK and the USA follow closely behind with the recommendation that their citizens take the 3rd shot. Yet the governments, mass media, and major institutions remain unwavering in their commitment to vaccines. Israel’s attorney general announced last Monday that the government will continue to pressure unvaccinated people and lock them out of everyday activities even though ‘the epidemiological value of such actions are questionable. PM Gonsalves dismissed hundreds of workers early this month because they refused to take the vaccine. Austria, Australia, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands insist on restrictive measures in the face of widespread opposition from doctors, epidemiologists, scientists and large sections of their population. To understand the cash cow that Covid has become, consider this fact: the nine new billionaires created through the sale of vaccines have a combined wealth greater than the cost of vaccinating the world’s poorest
MANY OF US PAUSE to reflect on our lives at key points along the path called “aging”. Some individuals appear to panic and/or become depressed as they near certain “age milestone” (e.g., nearing the 50-year mark). However, we need to remind ourselves that “life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away” and that we should therefore not exert unnecessary energy on non-essential numbers such as age, weight, height (or lack of height to be more accurate). Although we may be able to influence our weight and size (and some of us really need to pay more attention to this as we strive to engage in healthier lifestyles) we can do nothing about the advancing years. Thus, why worry about something over which we have no control? We could use our time much more wisely if we focus on those aspects of our lives that we can do something about. This should be the general focus of our New Year’s resolutions. Let me pause here to admit that I am not one of those persons who concentrate on drawing up a list of New Year’s resolutions. I am a firm believer that each and every one of us should regularly engage in selfexamination and introspection so that we constantly focus on how we can improve our selves — constant and never-ending improvement should be our motto and constant guide. The end of the year is as good a time as any other to pause and do the “personal stock taking” and to plan a course of action to become better individuals. My challenge should revolve around how I can be a better husband, father, son, uncle, brother, co-worker, neighbour and friend. Relationships add spice and value to life and we are so often guilty of not paying enough attention to these and the positive impact we can have on those around us. The end of the year is an ideal time to renew our commitment to search out and strengthen relationships that we have allowed to go astray or fester. Regardless to how traumatic the experiences may have been, many can be rekindled if both parties desire to bridge the chasm. Many of us in the business and professional world are guilty of becoming so occupied with our own activities that we neglect the value of sharing valuable time with the significant others around us. We neglect to make the time to laugh and, if we are not careful, we could become grouches who are difficult to be around or to communicate with. Let us resolve to take time off to “sharpen the saw” and relax in the company of those persons who mean so much to us. We need to let them know how much we appreciate their company and how much they mean to us. The value of constantly learning must be retained in our focus as we approach the New Year. I have heard persons say that it is too costly to advance their academic development and I pause to reflect on the words of one of America’s great speech writers, Robert Orben, who said, “If you think education is expensive — try ignorance!” We must never get to the stage where
we think that we have acquired enough knowledge or that it is too expensive to advance our education. There is so much more out there for us to learn — education is a journey; not a destination. We all have at least one passion that we can pursue more vigorously by constantly learning more about it. Imagine how much more accomplished we can all be if we concentrated on learning just that little more about one of our favourite areas of life. So many persons make New Year’s resolutions in relation to their health. We know that we should smoke less, consume less alcohol, and exercise more. However, so many times we talk ourselves out of taking action and moving in the direction of eliminating bad, unhealthy habits, and replacing them with more desirable traits. Sometimes we make the mistake of looking at the enormity of the challenge (especially those persons who are addicted to smoking) that we fail to realize that one-one-will-fill-the-basket and that the longest journey begins with a single step. For example, a person who smokes five cigarettes a day may wish to strategize to reduce that number to three per day in the first week, two in the second, etc. until he eventually gets it out of his system. To look at a total and immediate elimination may not be very realistic in such a case. Those of us who are challenged to lose weight or engage in a regular exercise programme can develop a similar strategy. Let us use walking as an example: We may start off by walking for ten minutes every other day for the first two weeks and gradually build up to where we can walk for an hour each day. The longest journey begins with a single step! We need to pause and celebrate the small victories as they appear. Additionally, we need to ignore those negative persons who may see us making an effort to improve our lives and throw out heckles or “sly comments” aimed at distracting us from our accomplishments at self-improvement. They have their place in our growth strategy too. Let us be so determined and committed that we remind ourselves “people throw stones at fruitbearing trees” (get the message?). New Year resolutions revolve around setting goals. However, the major challenge is really not so much the goal setting but how to implement them and ensure that they are sustained. Like any other assignment of this nature it is imperative to write them down, set out some milestones along the way, and monitor the process on a regular basis. It is as simple as that. It is much more likely that we will move in the direction of our goals and dreams and sustain our focus on accomplishing them when we make the time to record them. Each of us can use our fertile and vivid imagination as we commit ourselves to ensuring that we invest the necessary time to introspect and commit to being new and improved versions of our old selves as we exit 2021 and embrace the challenges and blessings of the 2022. Send comments, criticisms & suggestions to julesferdinand@gmail.com
countries. Anna Marriott, Oxfam’s Health Policy Manager, said, ‘What a testament to our collective failure to control this cruel disease that we quickly create new vaccine billionaires but totally fail to vaccinate the billions who desperately need to feel safe. These billionaires are the human face of the huge profits many pharmaceutical corporations are making from their monopoly on these vaccines. These vaccines were funded by public money and should be, first and foremost, a global public good, not a private profit opportunity. We need to urgently end these monopolies so that we can scale up vaccine production, drive down prices and vaccinate the world.’ According to UN Population 2020, the population of countries considered ‘low income’ or the world poorest is 775,710,712. The wealth of the new billionaires could vaccine all lowIncome countries 1.3 times. The population of India (according to UN Population 2020) is 1.38 billion, and the increase in wealth of the eight existing billionaires could vaccine everyone in India 1.2 times. Understand as well that countries like Brazil, India and South Africa have been pleading to the rich countries to disregard the patent and break the monopoly to allow for cheap production of these drugs. The G-8 countries have stoutly resisted any such move, thus guaranteeing that their pharmaceutical companies continue to reap huge profits. The saddest part of this tragicomedy is that, as Dr Gallo and others predicted very early, the vaccines have not lived up to the skilled marketing hype for efficacy and safety. The public was sold the idea that if they took the vaccines, they would not become infected and could not infect others. They were told that they would not need to wear masks or social distance. They would not become sick or die, and that life will return to normal for them. A whole year after the vaccine roll-out, the most vaccinated countries in the world are the same states with huge spikes in Covid infections, mounting hospitalisation and death among the vaccinated. Last month the Atlantic magazine carried a piece titled ‘Covid: Pandemic of the vaccinated.’ What a sharp turn from President Biden’s presumptuous declaration in July that Covid was a pandemic of the vaccinated. In Africa, where less than 10 percent of the population is vaccinated, there has not been a severe or deadly Covid scare in any 54 independent states. Even as the mild symptoms of the Omicron variant swiftly go from country to country, the public is treated to scare-um tactics intended to sell even more vaccines. No one in authority stops to think, plan and emphasise treatment. To the delight of the pharmaceutical companies, there remains a permanent vaccine gaze. In this season of giving, Covid remains the gift that keeps on giving. Send comments, criticisms & suggestions to jomosanga@gmail.com
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would have to stay aboard the yacht that day while the rest HE FIRST THING I of the gang went ashore to REMEMBER Daddy teaching explore whatever island we me to do was how to swim happened to be anchored at. I and then to sail. It did not take recall reciting a speech from much to get me swimming Shakespeare’s Hamlet while which, living on the beach, sitting on the deck of seemed as natural as walking. Sapphire, anchored in the He commissioned the building of Tobago Cays, the wisdom of a Bequia double-ender which guides me to this day: named Pumpkin, made from “Those friends thou hast, local cedar and imported pine, and their adoption tried, on which my sisters and I learnt Grapple them to thy soul with how to sail in Admiralty Bay. hoops of steel; Proud son of a sea captain, But do not dull thy palm with teaching us how to sail was of entertainment utmost importance to him. To Of each new-hatch’d, unfledg’d tack and come-about, trim the comrade.” sails and shift the ballast stones, how to read the wind— On those sailing trips in the these were things we learned. Grenadines, we had three Navigation was also important, places where we always and he showed us every reef stopped, Canouan, Tobago between Canouan and the Cays and Salt Whistle Bay, Tobago Cays. He taught us the Mayreau. Every time we importance of having the sun anchored, Daddy would grab a behind you when approaching a mask and snorkel and jump reef so that you could see the off the boat to check the colours of the water. Our sailing anchor, and either Sabrina, trips on Sapphire, a 36-foot Grettie or I would accompany ketch he owned with Uncle John him. He dove to confirm that and Uncle Junior, and later the anchor was deeply Pelangi a 44 foot sloop were imbedded in the sand so that the cornerstone of our childhood when night came and the memories with Daddy. When winds picked up, he could Uncle John wasn’t with us, sleep soundly knowing that Daddy would bring along a good the boat was safe and the friend to help run the boat. In anchor would not break free. the early days it was St. Clair Hence, when I hear the hymn, Robinson (better known as “Will Your Anchor Hold”, I Robbie) and Kelvin Bunyan and always think back to Daddy in later years his mates were and his obsession with the Bamo Stowe and Gaston Bess. I anchor’s purchase. remember Daddy saying “up the On one of those trips to the road Robbie, up the Road,” as Tobago Cays, Daddy and I we beat the rough seas in swam ashore to his favourite easterly winds under Petit island, Baradal, and as usual Canouan headed back to climbed up on the eastern side Bequia. where you have a spectacular On those sailing trips, there view of the horseshoe reef was a tradition that my father around the Cays. Looking out, developed, which was to Daddy said, “My eyes will require each of his daughters never tire of the beauty of the to memorize a poem from one Grenadines.” I sensed in that of the English Romantic poets. moment that Daddy’s Nearing the end of the trip, attachment to these islands there was a formal recital on ran as deep as any emotion in deck when each one of us had him ever would. to perform a poem to perfection. There were II consequences of getting a line As a family, we had one wrong–it meant that you overseas vacation together where we explored Canada’s beautiful West, including visiting places like Banff Springs Hotel where Mummy had waitressed in her teens and learnt the hotel business enough, to embolden her to establish their own hotel together many years later. So Sir James with daughter Sabrina. rare was this
by SARAH LOUISE MITCHELL
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experience for us that each one of us recalls every detail of that visit to Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise like if it were yesterday. Soon after that our days at boarding school began, and family vacations were put on hold indefinitely. They were replaced with us accompanying Daddy on state visits–Taiwan for me, Japan for Sabrina, and Kuwait for Gretel. Gabija travelled with him as a former PM to Cartagena. On my trip with him to Taiwan in about 1988, we visited a monastery located in the most beautiful mountain setting. I was mesmerized by the place, its tranquility and sense of peace. I made a comment to Daddy about how inspired I was by the monastery and before I knew it he was speaking to the officials in the delegation, making arrangements for me to stay there for a few months, saying what a wonderful experience it would be for me. I had to stop him and say, “Daddy, I find it interesting but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to take up life as a monk!” My father always had a love of travel and supported each one of us on our journeys exploring new countries and cultures– whether it was me going to Egypt to live and work for a year, or Grettie to France, or Sabrina to St. Pierre and Miquelon.
III Daddy’s own journey was shaped by the decision of his mother when he was but 10 years old. It was shortly after his father Captain Reg had disappeared at sea north of Cuba that she remarried and moved to St. Lucia with his brothers George and Junior, and his sister Gloria, leaving him in the care of his paternal grandmother, Sarah Ollivierre, on Bequia. However, as he was attending the St. Vincent Grammar School, his mother and grandmother relied on the kindness of strangers in
Louise Mitchell, pictured with her father- Sir James. Kingstown to take him in. He lived in five different homes in different parts of Kingstown during his time in Grammar School. One of the first to take him in was a lady named Nelly Cropper, daughter of Maggie Cropper. The only other child in the household was Elsa Velox, and she welcomed him into their household on Middle Street. That child is here with us today and we all owe her and the other guardians that nurtured Daddy during those formative years; thank you Elsa. It was that decision of Granny to leave Daddy behind, for whatever reason she did, that led him to grow up as a Vincentian and not a St. Lucian, and have his political career in St. Vincent. My earliest memory of my father’s political life is hearing
him sing the hymn “O God Our Help in Ages Past”. Usually, I would be at home in Belmont and hear his voice bellowing the hymn from across Admiralty Bay when he was having a political meeting either in Hamilton or under the Almond Tree. My father was such a bad singer; hearing him sing this hymn and drag out the words as he did was terribly embarrassing for me as a youngster. He always encouraged us to attend his political meetings. But I always waited until he had finished singing the hymn before I walked up the harbour to the meeting. I would be sure to arrive after the singing was over. It was not until many years later that I grew to appreciate the words of that hymn, the hope Continued on Page 15.
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and then in Shrewsbury House, he never felt at home. Any gift that was that they presented and the meaning given to Daddy, whether a piece of art they had to my father and to the or a bunch of flowers, he inevitably seafaring people of the Grenadines. As took with him on his next trip over to we today face this Covid Pandemic, Bequia. What made these houses these verses resonate more than ever: happy places were the friendships we had with the security guards, as they O God, our help in ages past, were his family when we were not our hope for years to come, around, and when we were they were our shelter from the stormy blast, and our family. Men like Sampson of our eternal home; blessed memory, Gordon and Pompey–you were the ones who not O God, our help in ages past, only kept Daddy safe but became like our hope for years to come, family members. We thank you for still be our guard while troubles last, your service. and our eternal home. For Daddy, legacy was everything. When I asked him, when he was in IV ICU in Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Another childhood memory that Barbados, why he was always talking stands out is sitting around the to me about what trees to plant, he kitchen table at the Frangipani Hotel said “legacy.” Daddy’s greatest legacies with our transistor radio listening to were (1) creating a property-owning election results. And of course the democracy through land reform–he moment when somehow Daddy knew said, “The love of country begins with that the election was won, somehow owning a piece of it” and (2) the the whole of Bequia seemed to know at creation of the New Democratic Party. the same time as within minutes the Frangipani was bursting at the seams V with people coming to celebrate. I Fast forward to his last few years. recall the morning of the 1984 election, Daddy lived for 90 years, long enough travelling on the ferry with Daddy and to feel the love of Vincentians from my sisters up to St. Vincent, when he every corner of this country. In these was greeted by a jubilant crowd, which years, he journeyed to St. Vincent lifted him up and carried him from every Friday and often several times where the ferry docked to Bay Street. in the week. During those trips he His feet literally never touched the would visit the market and of course ground. It was a scene that I would C. K. Greaves. Everywhere he went never forget. people showered him with love and Years later, when he won the told stories about how he helped them elections in 1998, I accompanied him to own land or to get a job. You who to Parliament to be sworn in. This spoke to him gave him love, you made time was very different. The New him feel worthy. He would retell the Democratic Party had won the election stories with tears in his eyes. He lived but lost the popular vote, and we drove to be loved by the people of St. Vincent through angry crowds shouting and and the Grenadines. hurling objects at our vehicle. We sat Daddy’s retirement allowed him to inside the car, just the driver, my Dad enjoy the company of friends and and me. I don’t remember him saying family. He became gentle once again. a word. That moment stayed etched in The man that used to “bark” at us as my mind forever. children softened. Daddy thrived And so it came as no surprise around people. He developed new when, perhaps just over a year later, I friendships like that with Alicia Lavia, was at work at a law office in and cultivated old ones like Sir Phillip Charleston, South Carolina, and my Greaves, Sarah Blundred, Sir Kennedy father called to tell me that the Simmonds, Ali Medjahed and Artis Opposition had blocked the roads, and Davis to name a few. He took great business had come to a standstill in pleasure in spending time with people, Kingstown. He said that he had lost be it someone who used to work with the support of some of the men closest him who travelled to Bequia for the to him, which pained him greatly, day and bumped into him, or some sensed that the tide had turned lady he met on the ferry for the first against him in the country and that he time. He embraced every person’s was considering cutting short his term. story and enjoyed being allowed into Daddy asked what I thought and I told their lives. him that he would know what is best What will we miss about him? I will to do. Soon after that the Grand Beach miss him showing up at my house with Accord was made, and the rest as they a new sapling to plant, or more likely say is history. finding him in my garden planting it Daddy always knew that power was himself without seeking my permission transient. Living in the different prime as to where it should go. His most minister’s residences, in Kingstown recent gift to me is a plumrose tree he Continued from Page 14.
This speaks for itself.
planted next to my Belmont home in Bequia. My children James, Tai and Chavez will miss the stories he told them and their friends when they descended on him in Bequia and took over his house for a weekend. He loved watching them interact with each other; he loved the spirit and energy of youth. At my son James’ 16th birthday, he had an audience of about two dozen young people and he told them about how his best friend in Grammar School was from Questelles and how he used to walk to school every day and asked which one of them would do that today? Bing will miss his daily two-hour conversions, catching up on everything political and of course my father trying to tell Bing what he should say on the radio the next day! Of course, those conversations would be followed by several emails and articles that would be sent in early hours of the morning, just in case his point was not heard!
VI When we flew him on air ambulance to Barbados and we settled him in at the ICU, a brilliant Dr. Michael Fakoory there told us that he had days, weeks or months to live. Sadly, I knew he meant days. In Barbados then he talked a lot about his beloved party and beloved Caribbean. He also said to me, “Tell the people of St. Vincent that I was always honest with them, and I never left them.” Thank you, the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, for allowing our father to live his dream, and that was to be a successful prime minister and statesman of this country. This dream of his could not have been possible without the support of the Rock of Gibraltar–the community of Paget Farm, Bequia. You stood firm behind Daddy and brought the rest of Bequia along with you. To the Rock of Gibraltar, and to Bequia I salute you. You made Son Mitchell a hero. To the people of the Southern Grenadines–Canouan, Union, and Mayreau–you too lit your candle for Daddy and kept it lit for the last 55 years. I thank you. To the people of North Leeward, you always held a special place in Daddy’s heart because you were the first constituency on the mainland to vote for the NDP and he never forgot this. I thank you. To the people of North Windward, Daddy asked me to drive him to North Windward to see the damage of the 2021 eruptions. He left us before I was able to. Know that you were in his heart and he never forgot you. And to every other constituency in St. Vincent and the Grenadines who gave our father the greatest honour ever bestowed on him, which was to allow his party to win every seat–I thank you. My father came close to death many times, but most of the persons who saved him, such as my mother, are now gone. But today I can tell one
The girls were never left without the adventures their father spearheaded, like this successful fishing venture. story of someone who did, as he is with us here today, Mr. Alston Lewis. Thank you Mr Lewis for hiding Daddy in your home, when a car with gunmen were on the lookout for Son Mitchell, and thank you and to the people of Greiggs who patrolled the house with cutlasses until daybreak to ensure that he was protected. When Daddy fell ill, and was hospitalized in the Bequia Hospital, and then Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, he was pleased with the love, care and attention he received from the nurses, the interns and the doctors. He begged me to get everyone’s name as he wanted to send each one a thank you card when he got better. He felt nothing but love in the last days of his life. I want to thank everyone for the love and care given to him. I want to thank Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and his Government for the unstinting support through Daddy’s illness and for going the extra mile to ensure that he got the best medical attention possible. I thank you Prime Minister from the bottom of my heart. Also, I wish to thank Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados for receiving Daddy at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados and its exemplary medical team that looked after him there. It’s no surprise that the first morning that Daddy woke up at QEH he told me, between dreaming and waking, that he had achieved Caribbean unity, with Jagan, Eugenia, Compton, and with Mia at its centre. I want to thank the NDP family for rallying to give him blood when it was needed. My father, in the Continued on Page 17.
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Sir James withStephen Joachim and Garcia Cato.
Sir James in the company of Dwight ‘Bing’ Joseph and Prime Minister Dr. Hon. Ralph Gonsalves.
A family photo op to be treasured- Sir James and family at the Frangipani Hotel, Bequia.
Sir James enjoys a light moment with Bengt Mortstedt, operator of the Bequia Beach Hotel. Sir James with daughter Gabija and her mother Jeannette.
Sir James Mitchell is pictured on arrival at the Imperial Palace, Tokyo, to attend the ‘Sokui no Rei’, Emperor’s Enthronment Ceremony, Nov. 17, 1990.
Below: Sir James Mitchell in chateaubelair at vote no campaign.
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by ANNELLA DEROCHE ODAY WE MOURN the loss of a Son of our Soil. A genuine, loving, dedicated, respectable human being, who embraced everyone, regardless of their political affiliation. He was a people’s person, who loved giving sound advice and guidance. We were privileged to have him as our Representative in the Grenadines for a number of years. On his many visits to Canouan, he would be up before the crack of dawn to walk the beach for his morning exercise. In the early days there were no electricity, no bank, no telephones, airport or proper roads. His most favourite means of transport to the other Grenadine Islands was by small f1shing boats without engine, facing the rough seas, but he was determined to provide a better way of life for the people he represented. He was a true Nation builder. Gas lamps and the moonlight were the only means of light when Sir James started his political career in the Grenadines. His theme song at meetings was “0 God our help in ages past. Our hope for years to come.” He gave us hope. On one of his
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Government retreats in Canouan, Sir James swam ashore from the Coast Guard and waited on the shore to welcome his Cabinet members. He was a seafaring man. Canouan hosted many other VIP functions of Sir James’ tenure, including the 21st meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government, from July 2nd to 5th 2000. Prime Ministers Dame Eugenia Charles of Dominica, Sir John Compton of St. Lucia and Sir James Mitchell were very close, and we were privileged to host them in Canouan on various occasions. Because of Sir James many Dignitaries graced our shores. I was privileged to attend Reunion 1988 in Dominica as a guest of Dame Eugenia Charles, because of her stay with me in Canouan. I was honored to be her guest. All this was made possible because Sir James recommended that she stay with me at Crystal Apartments in Canouan. She liked it so much that she returned on two other occasions with friends. On 24th August 1993, Sir James, on behalf of the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines, signed an agreement with Gesfid-
Canouan Resorts Ltd, known as the Developers. That Project provided employment from 1993 to present date not only for the people of Canouan but people from the length and breadth of St Vincent and the Grenadines and even from the region and beyond. In a town hall meeting to introduce the project, Sir James encouraged the people of Canouan to capture the rental market, by building apartments, adding to their homes or fixing their basements for rent. Money was made available as soft loans for that purpose. The local residents embraced the opportunity and are now reaping the benef1ts of their investments. Time will not permit me to list the achievements of Sir James, but it is there for all to see. The special bond which Sir James shared with the people of the Grenadines was built on genuine love, respect, admiration and caring, because previous administrations totally ignored us. Hence the reason the people of the Grenadines always supported again and again the Party founded by him, showing their appreciation and saying...Thank You.
Sir James (right) led his cabinet on many retreats at the Crystal Sands Hotel, Canouan.
Tribute to My Father
When Sir James was in the Grenadines, he needed no Security. As a true Agronomist, plants are one of his loves. Sir James supplied me with lots of plants. The two large flowering Flamboyant trees at the north and south boundaries of Crystal Apartments and all the bearing coconut palm trees were planted by Sir James. We treasure them. On October 25th, Sir James was very excited. He sent me a text. I quote...”I finished writing my book of Memoirs. Canouan got a lot of attention. On computer now to go through editing here and overseas. Aiming to publish in London around mid-next year.” How sad, little did I know, that would have been my last text from him, as he either text or call every week or more. On November 2nd, I received a call from Nurse Yvonne Compton Alexander (a cousin of Sir James) informing me that he requested she call me and bring me up to date on his condition. I was very concerned especially when I learned he was flown to Barbados a few days later. His daughter, Sabrina, called me from QEH in Barbados, and my husband and I spoke to
him via video. We were very worried when we saw him. I told him we prayed for him that morning in church and would continue praying for him. I spoke to him again on his return to Bequia. My heart sank when I saw him and especially when he said, “I am still here, but I am struggling.” Those were his last words to me, as he passed two days later. We are truly thankful for the sterling service Sir James provided to us. We would also like to thank his four daughters - Sabrina, Louise, Gretel and Gabi, for sharing their Dad with us. We certainly appreciated it. We in the Grenadines held Sir James in high esteem, because of who he was. Despite adversities, provocations and various problems he encountered,
he never indulged in character assassination, but just stated the facts as he saw them and was a man of impeccable character - a role model for many to follow. He was a man of whom we are proud. When he was badly treated, we felt the pain in the Grenadines. He walked among Kings and Queens, but never lost the common touch. “Heights of great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they while their companions slept were toiling upward in the night.” God gave us life. He takes it away. He is the potter.. we are the clay. “Oh what a Sunrise it is going to be, Death will lose its sting and the grave its victory.” Continued on Page 18.
It was not uncommon for Sir James to sail, and captain the vessel, to Canouan.
– SIR JAMES FITZ-ALLEN MITCHELL
talking with one of my friends, Neysha Soodeen, with whom I was staying. He end, as he did in 1989, had the whole said to her, “Thanks for taking in country behind him. He knew that. He Sarah Louise.” It was the first time in felt love, and after the jubilation of the my 51 years that my father ever called victory years and the humility of his me Sarah Louise. I knew then that he party losing power later, he ended his was leaving me. There was something political stewardship as he began, a so sweet in hearing him call my full man loved by his people. What more name. can one ask for? And finally, I owe Daddy this one. You all would know me as Louise. Please Vincentians, get vaccinated, But my name isn’t actually just and wear your masks consistently and Louise. Louise is my middle name. My properly in public places. Both of these first name is Sarah, after my father’s things are acts of kindness and love. paternal grandmother Nen Sarah Do these to help the world recover, to Ollivierre. When I was at Daddy’s help us love and be together. hospital bed in Barbados, he was Continued from Page 15.
Sir James in the company of Anella Deroche (right).
VII I will close by saying Daddy wanted a musical farewell, and asked that the flugelhorn be sounded at sunset when he is being laid to rest. The same flugelhorn played by Shake Keane that sounded in the hills of Petit Bordel, when Daddy, with a constitution drafted by Emery Robertson, held the first convention of the New Democratic Party. That same flugelhorn will sound in Bequia this evening when the Royal St. Vincent and Grenadines Police Band gives him the musical farewell that he wanted, and closes the circle of his life.
I know that as you say goodbye to Son Mitchell, former Prime Minister of this country, you are feeling that you too are saying goodbye to a father. We as a family are comforted to know that we do not grieve alone, that you grieve with us, and as you comfort us, we too will seek to comfort you. I end with a line of the song that I sang for Daddy in the last three weeks of his life. No matter how much in pain or uncomfortable he was, he would fall asleep when hearing this song: “Sweet dreams, Daddy, until sunbeams find you.”
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Lady Janice Compton enjoyed a lasting relationship with Sir James. They are pictured here in 1989 going to visit a Cambodian refugee camp. stories are so interwoven, our stared histories have created these ties that bind us together. Son Mitchell and John HERE ARE MANY PERSONS Compton were friends to the who will speak today about end. They grew up in the the different aspects of Sir Grenadines knowing the James Mitchell’s life and of his hardships of life in these amazing contribution to the islands, but they also grew up development not only of SVG but loving the sheer beauty of also of the wider Caribbean and them, loving the strength and especially the Eastern determination and Caribbean, and so I shall speak togetherness of those who a little of his enduring friendship never forgot that these little with my husband. gems are the place where their When my husband, the late navel strings are buried. Sir John Compton, passed John would end up living in away, among the many St. Lucia and make his main messages of sympathy I contribution there, but he received was a short but very never abandoned SVG, touching letter that has stayed returning time and again to with me. It was from Lee revel in the pursuits of his Kuan Yew, the late Prime childhood - swimming, sailing, Minister of Singapore. Harry fishing and the camaraderie Lee, as we knew him, had he enjoyed here. studied in the UK around the Their early shared same time as John. Harry’s experiences would stand them letter would speak of how “our in good stead in the years that common Colonial heritage followed and would influence made for good friendships”. them both in their roles as And so it is, in similar vein, in Prime Minister of St. Vincent these small islands where our and of St. Lucia. Son and John shared another history as well. In the first part of the 19th century Sir William Snagg, who owned Carenage Estate in Canouan, brought out a gentleman from East Meon in Hampshire in the UK, to teach ship building. His name was Benjamin Compton. He Sir James shares a light moment with Sir would teach John Compton. St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Bequia, Saturday, 18th December, 2021 Janice, Lady Compton
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ship building from Anguilla in the north to Carriacou in the south. One young gentleman from Bequia would go to Canouan to learn from him - his name was William Alexander Mitchell and he would fall in love with Benjamin’s daughter and marry her and so began this rich history of boating and boat building that the Mitchells and the Comptons are so well known for. In the ensuing years Son and John never lost their love for a nice sail. At one time they, along with Son’s brother Reginald, owned a yacht together named Colibri- which was then sold for a bigger one, Sapphire. In these casual times together it was possible to share their dreams and hopes for these islands and to plan how they could make a diference. Sometimes they were joined by The Most Excellent, The Rt Hon Errol Barrow, then Prime Minister of Barbados. I can remember them racing in the Carriacou Regatta one year. What a crew! On these occasions Dipper Barrow, as he was commonly known, was the cook - and gourmet cook he was - for that was one of his passions! On another occasion I recall them meeting in Petit St Vincent with The Hon. Eric Gairy, then Prime Minister of Grenada, to discuss freedom of movement, the first steps in their dream of political union and eventual OECS unity something about which they were so passionate. In later years, along came Dame Eugenia Charles from Dominica and Dr. The Rt. Hon. Sir Kennedy Simmonds from St. Kitts and they all became firm friends. Eugenia, Son and John were all born under the sign of Taurus. In fact, Son and Eugenia shared the same birthday. It made for a strong and lasting friendship between the three because they understood each other and their goals for these islands were similar - in the words of the late Cheddi Jagan ‘towards one common goal of democracy, regional integration, unity in diversity and social progress”. Together, they crisscrossed Europe to explain the plight of our bananas, fighting the might of the Latin American lobby and some European countries. They weighed all the problems of the OECS together, as they did when Grenada and Guyana went
Sir John Compton (left) was a member of Sir James’ party when he was knighted in 1998. The other person pictured is Butch Stewart. through their terrible trials, and they worked together to support developmental projects in their respective countries. So strong was their bond that Son could say that their faith and confidence I each other allowed them ‘to trust the destinies of our respective countries to the hands of a colleague’. After Eugenia’s retirement we all headed to Dominica to attend a dinner in her honour and I recall a young lady singing a song explaining that OECS meant, ‘Only Eugenia, Compton and Son’. I always added Kennedy Simmonds to the ‘S’! To quote Son: ‘One of the greatest things we have going for us in the Caribbean is the fraternity among the leadership’. Son would also say in those years that (and again I quote) ‘people will look back on these years as the halcyon days of the OECS’. It was a time when we had less but we had much more simply because we had more time for one another, were more respectful of one another, when we seemed more responsible and giving
rather than endlessly demanding rights that should be earned. When John and I married, we decided to sail to Bequia for our honeymoon. The weather was foul and at daylight we discovered that we had passed Bequia and that she was to starboard, a distance back. Son had, as a mariner would, stayed up the night to check to see if we had arrived. How idyllic Bequia was - and still is! The only vehicle on the island was Geoff Wallace’s Land Rover and he used to drive along the beach at Frangipani on a morning. You could leave your house open and go out because everything would be safe. In those days I got to know Son more as we sailed to Mustique and spent time together. In the years that followed he would arrive at our house with little kind gifts into which he put so much thought - a jacaranda plant or one time he arrived with a coffee table and beamed with pride that it was made by Vincentian craftsmen - for he was always so proud of Continued on Page 19.
Tribute to Sir James Fitz-Allen Mitchell Continued from Page 17. Looking at Sir James in his casket in the House of Assembly was a sobering moment,. As I reflect, we are only here for a moment. So any good deed or act of kindness we can render to anyone, let us do it now. Tomorrow is promised to no one. So let us remember the Golden Rule and apply it to our daily lives and don’t forget...God is watching us…from a distance... We loved Sir James well, but Jesus loved him best. May the Angels accompany him to the New Jerusalem. May your Soul rest in Perfect Peace.
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Ambassador Dennie Wilson (pictured here with Sir James Mitchell and wife Idica) served as SVG’s Permanent Representative to the UN under the Sir James/NDP Administration. by AMBASSADOR DENNIE WILSON IR JAMES F MITCHELL was an extraordinary man and a true national leader. I first met him in 1966 in Union Island. He was new to the island, and he knew that for him to win (an election) in the Grenadines, you must come out of the Southern Grenadines with a victory. During that period in our history, there was only one constituency known as ‘The Grenadines’. He braved the elements and presented his candidacy to the public. They embraced him with open
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arms. The rest is now history. My mother was chosen to officiate at his ‘coronation’. And on the platform at his launching, she placed a crown on his head with the insignia, ‘King for Life’. He remained and became an institution and a true representative for the people of the Grenadines. I was privileged to serve in two Administrations. In 1981, former Prime Minister Robert Milton Cato invited me to join his party. I knew that that would have been ‘suicidal,’ because what runs through the veins of the Wilsons on Union Island is the ‘DNA’ of Sir James. I reached out to him for advice, and without skipping a beat, he immediately gave me his blessings. I got elected Speaker of the House of Assembly in 1982. In 1984 and the run up to the General Election, Sir James did what turned out to be nothing short of a miracle. The then Prime Minister Robert Milton Cato dissolved parliament unexpectedly, and called for a fresh mandate by going to the polls. He had every confidence that his party would win. Sir James was the only elected Parliamentarian in the opposition; he was left flat-footed or so it seemed. The night of its launching, the Labour Party ‘s main speaker said to the crowd, “Comrades, we caught him with his pants down.” The crowd was ecstatic, clapping, waving, and jumping up and down as they loved what they heard. The next night without skipping a beat, Sir James had his launching with his candidates, most of whom had never held public office. He said to the crowd, “Comrades, they say that they caught
me with my pants down but I caught the regional banana industry would them with their pants off.” He won the cause great social disruption, as election, winning 9 seats out of the 13- various sectors of society (including seats in parliament. A historic victory farmers, transporters and suppliers of fertilizer) were dependent upon income indeed! The fact is Sir James was a man of generated from the industry. The the people and for the people, and they Government of St Vincent and the had confidence that he was capable of Grenadines therefore, provided various incentives to promote banana leading the country to economic production and diversification efforts. growth after the country gained This includes the formation of land independence. policy, which provides land for the Sir James was first elected to parliament in 1966 as the St. Vincent landless as a means of building ownership, while increasing Labour Party’s representative for the productivity. Grenadines. He was re-elected the Sir James was committed to the following year. In 1972, he successfully Caribbean integration process. At the contested in the general elections as 8th Meeting of the Conference of an independent candidate. With the election ending in a 6-6 draw between Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community in 1987, he expressed the the SVLP (St.Vincent Labour Party) and the PPP (People’s Political Party), ultimate ideal when he said, “As I see Sir James struck a deal with the PPP’s it, we must have one flag, one anthem and freedom of movement of people, Leader E.T Joshua and became services and capital.” premier in the Alliance Government. Notwithstanding his public duties, he Two years later, the SVLP regained found the time to write and has power when they won ten seats at the published general elections. In December 1975, Sir James founded the New Continued on Page 20. Democratic Party (NDP). Sir James was one of the longest serving prime ministers in Caribbean history. He retired voluntarily as Prime Minister in 2000. As a regional leader he helped to form the Caribbean Agricultural Regional Development Institute (CARDI) to aid farmers and others involved in the development of their produce. Today CARDI continues to address climate change in relation to agriculture development programmes. As a professional agronomist, Sir James’s interest in agriculture has extended beyond the borders of his native land. In his opening address at the 1st Caribbean Agricultural Technology Conference (CATC) held in St Vincent and the Grenadines in 2000, his message Sir James, pictured with fellow Prime was “agriculture must thrive” Ministers Sir John Compton (St. Lucia) despite the challenges facing the (left) and Sir Kennedy Simmons (St. regional sector. Kitts/Nevis), was described as a He indicated that the demise of committed regionalist.
Tribute for The Rt. Hon. Sir James Mitchell, KCMG, PC giving rather than endlessly demanding rights that should be support developmental projects in earned. their respective countries. So strong When John and I married, we was their bond that Son could say that decided to sail to Bequia for our their faith and confidence I each other honeymoon. The weather was foul and allowed them ‘to trust the destinies of at daylight we discovered that we had our respective countries to the hands passed Bequia and that she was to of a colleague’. starboard, a distance back. Son had, as After Eugenia’s retirement we all a mariner would, stayed up the night headed to Dominica to attend a dinner to check to see if we had arrived. How in her honour and I recall a young idyllic Bequia was - and still is! The lady singing a song explaining that only vehicle on the island was Geoff OECS meant, ‘Only Eugenia, Compton Wallace’s Land Rover and he used to and Son’. I always added Kennedy drive along the beach at Frangipani on Simmonds to the ‘S’! To quote Son: a morning. You could leave your house ‘One of the greatest things we have open and go out because everything going for us in the Caribbean is the would be safe. In those days I got to fraternity among the leadership’. know Son more as we sailed to Son would also say in those years Mustique and spent time together. In that (and again I quote) ‘people will the years that followed he would look back on these years as the arrive at our house with little kind halcyon days of the OECS’. gifts into which he put so much It was a time when we had less but thought - a jacaranda plant or one we had much more simply because we time he arrived with a coffee table and had more time for one another, were beamed with pride that it was made more respectful of one another, when by Vincentian craftsmen - for he was we seemed more responsible and always so proud of his Vincentian Continued from Page 17.
people and of their ability. His friendship with John would continue long after John retired as Prime Minister. They would speak frequently. As a matter of fact, we almost missed our last flight to New York because John was on the phone to Son! After John’s passing, Son continued to look out for me. It is something I shall never forget - his words of advice, his endeavours on my behalf, his WhatsApps to keep in touch. One thing is certain, he loved his St. Vincent & The Grenadines and the people St Vincent with a passion. His last WhatsApp to me was to celebrate St. Vincent’s Independence Day on October 27th. Son’s other passion was his children and grandchildren. He always glowed with immense pride whenever he spoke of any of them. I never, ever heard a word of criticism, regret or disappointment when speaking of them. Today we are here mourning this terrible loss but today we must also
celebrate his life and his untiring e�orts and achievements on behalf of these islands, the fruits of which we all enjoy. Today we give thanks that he came and touched our lives and we know that his legacy will long remain with us because it is all around us and cannot be encapsulated in a simple obituary. In closing I would like to borrow Longfellow: a few words from Henry Wadsworth Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime And, departing, leave behind us Footprints in the sands of time Footprints, that perhaps another Sailing o’er life’s solemn main A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again. Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, It is what Son would wish of us — Rest in peace, my friend
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Ambassador Kingsley Layne served as an Economist, Permanent Secretary and Ambassador to the OAS during the NDP’s period of administration. by AMBASSADOR KINGSLEY C.A. LAYNE, C.M.G. on Nice Radio SVG Tuesday, 21 December, 2021 ELLOW VINCENTIANS; Friends of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Members of the Mitchell family; Ladies and Gentlemen: I wish to thank the Honourable Dr.Godwin Friday, Leader of the Opposition and President of the New Democratic Party for availing this opportunity to those who were scheduled to deliver tributes to the former Prime Minister, Sir James Mitchell, at the formal state event on Saturday 18, but were unable to do so due to constraints of time and logistics. In a way, it is fortuitous, because it presents an opening for a more fulsome treatment of one’s recollection and reflection on the association and interaction with a “Titan” of Vincentian public service and political achievement. On the morning after Sir James’ political party swept the polls winning all fifteen (15) seats in the historic election of 1989, I spoke to the victorious leader and offered my congratulations. I told him that it was a rare and unique achievement in a practising democracy, and that I did not believe it could be reprised in the foreseeable future in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He graciously accepted my comments and said that the result presented its own special set of
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challenges. Not since George Charles’ Eighth Army of Liberation won all (8) eight seats in St. Vincent’s first election under Universal Adult Suffrage in 1951, had the country seen anything like this at the polls. He said he’ll be in Kingstown later that morning, and no one who witnessed it can easily forget the triumphal welcome he received from the enthusiastic crowd, who lifted him on their shoulders like a conquering Roman general returning from battle. Before taking his leave on the phone he quoted a cryptic statement by a well- known British politician, Enoch Powell: “All political lives, unless they are cut off in midstream, at a happy juncture, end in failure, because that is the nature of politics and of human affairs.” An altar boy in his youth, he oftentimes reminded those around him of the Holy Week experience. Sir James Fitz-Allen Mitchell, our much loved and esteemed second prime minister, was a pragmatist, a wise and meticulous individual. He was a voracious reader of volumes in the areas of History, Politics, Governance, and the major players therein. He himself was a past master of the art and practice of statecraft and politics. He used these skills liberally in the service and elevation of the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the wider Caribbean. As Premier and Minister of Agriculture and Trade in the 19721974 Alliance Administration he had to navigate one of the cataclysmic events of the 20th century, the emergence of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (O.P.E.C.) as a powerful player on the world economic stage with the determination and strategic nous to use their near monopoly to extract their demands. On one memorable occasion in 1974 the oil companies demanded a steep increase in the delivery price of petroleum products. We were close to empty in our national stocks. There were frantic negotiations involving the representatives of the petroleum companies, local retailers
and the Government. There was deadlock. Oil tankers en route to SVG were ordered not to deliver their vital cargo and park outside our waters. Sir James actively led the government team, which included Arnhim Eustace, then the youngest permanent secretary in the Civil Service, Jeffrey English and Vincent Yorke, senior Customs officers, and this writer, economist in the ministry. The team was supported by the legal dept. At what appeared to be the final throw of the dice we arrived at an agreement late in the night before local supplies were due to run
out. The formula worked out in those hectic days still forms the basis for the setting of local oil prices. Sir James’ vision of an efficient and qualitative agricultural sector was many-faceted, focusing on enhanced management of, and cooperation with, the St. Vincent Banana Growers Association, and the creation of a new, commercially- driven, non-traditional sector, utilizing local exotic fruits and produce. This was championed through the establishment of an Import Substitution Committee, which included eminent practitioners in home economics, like the
legendary Mrs. Adeline John, et al, who worked assiduously to produce the Import Substitution and Local Production Bill of 1974. This was the legislative vehicle which set the template for the development of a wide range of local products including jams, jellies, condiments, local manufacturing and other artisanal industries, including high value furniture making. In opposition, 19741984, after the collapse of the alliance government, as the only real opposition member of parliament, he performed a monumental, but sometimes overlooked task of keeping the self-
proclaimed “strongest government in the world” on their toes, and held them accountable to the electorate for the governance of the country. By so doing he preserved the functioning of parliamentary democracy in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This service was not lost in the eyes of the Vincentian people who increasingly regarded him as the only serious opposition force in the country. He founded the New Democratic Party in 1975. It went on to topple the incumbents 94 in 1984 with an inexperienced but highly motivated team of Continued on Page 21.
Remembering Sir James Fitz-Allen Mitchell Continued from Page 19. articles and books on agriculture, including studies on fungicide usage and land reform, and also on the problems of Caribbean society. Sir James back in the 80s was the most sought out leader in the Caribbean. He was a champion and a man with a mission to bring some form of balance to our Caribbean civilization. Grenadians are grateful for Sir James role during the 1983 invasion of Grenada that toppled the government of Marxist revolutionary Maurice Bishop, who led a coup that overthrew the GULP regime headed by Sir Eric Matthew Gairy. There were what appeared to be doubt among leaders in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) as to what should be the next step after the implosion of the revolutionary government in 1983. Should we continue dialogue with General Austin the presumed leader of the Grenada Revolutionary Army or not? Sir James was asked to give an opinion on Radio Antilles, a leading Caribbean station based in Monserrat, and he told Prime Minister Milton Cato who was the current Chairman of the OECS, “that he needs to put his pride in his pocket and do the right thing.” The army suffered a major blow in their pursuit of becoming a legitimate organization. According Dr. Keith Mitchell, current Prime Minister of Grenada , “Sir James’ support for Grenada is embodied by his attendance of the official ceremony for the elected government in 1984 after the invasion, and he remained a friend of the country until his death.” A leading Political leader said that Sir James Mitchell was a
‘titanic warrior’ who had the will to succeed at whatever he did. And I am calling on Vincentians to put aside political divisions to applaud Sir James Mitchell’s “monumental contribution” to St Vincent and the Grenadines. He travelled throughout the world to monitor elections .We will remember him as a man of uncommon grace and compassion, for whom abandoning bitterness and embracing adversaries was not just a political strategy but a way of life. In 1994 Sir James called me in New York to join him as this country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. And let me state unequivocally here, Sir James was a true statesman, a great leader, a visionary, a thinker and a man with the courage of his conviction. And although he was in the eyes of many a renaissance man, he never lost the common touch which made him a teacher, a father, a mentor and friend to all. Sir James never gave up on St Vincent and the Grenadines. He had a deeper understanding of the culture of the people and thinking, and understood their dreams and aspirations. He will remain a fitting reminder to everyone of a man who was well ahead of his time. His work touched many lives across the West Indies, making him a true Caribbean man as well as a champion of regional integration, and a great advocate for change to improve the process that unites the people not only in St Vincent and the Grenadines but the Caribbean and beyond. He mobilized Vincentians to become engaged in the upliftment of their community and self, by the care and order he maintained, which earned their love and loyalty in return. Was Sir James born to serve? What we certainly know is that
from a very early age he made a conscious decision to serve and immersed himself in the way of life of the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines. And what an extraordinary accomplishment he acquired. Sir James saw in St Vincent and the Grenadines people whose lives were desperately in need of transformation. But he saw in them also a genuineness, an inherent goodness, a creative instinct and a boundless capacity that would enable them to lift themselves out of the mire of poverty, if the opportunities were provided for them to do so. What was so amazing about this political genius was that he never lost sight of the reason why he entered politics, and that was to help the have-nots join the ranks of the haves. We pay tribute today to a conscious leader, a statesman, a thinker, a man of dignity and a man of untiring spirit and courage of conviction. I will always remember that in 2019 when my wife and I and the Hon. Glenford Stewart journeyed to Bequia to pay what turned out to be our last personal encounter with him. We had a great conversation, and one of the things we talked about was his time in office and some of the remarkable achievements that he had. But he also said that he made mistakes. Who doesn’t? Then he said, “I did not get everything I wanted, but that’s OK, I accomplished a lot.” You see the ability to acknowledge his own imperfections, only makes the man that much more remarkable. At every level of his historic service from the Grenadines to the Prime Minister’s residencehe not only made history, but made progress for our nation. Sir James was all about helping people and a great role model for all to aspire. Rest in Peace.
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. 21.
officials suggested changing the nomenclature of the organization to “citizen activists.” The NDP won the reflect reality, after Sir James received next (3) General Elections in SVG the unanimous support of his fellow before the third term, 1998-2003, was heads of government for the financing cut in half due to opposition-led of the Bequia Airport from the regional insurrection in 2001. component for transportation projects Many will reflect on the in the European/ACP development performance and achievements of the allocation. They suggested that the James Mitchell led NDP term: MDC should be changed to More administrations from 1984-2000, when Disadvantaged Country from More he demitted office as party leader and Developed Country; and LDC to Less prime minister, I choose but a few: Disadvantaged Country from Less Transformation of the image of SVG Developed Country. The issue of the in sub-regional, regional, hemispheric airport was dealt with exclusively by and global institutions. Our country Heads in Committee. It remains a rare had cultivated the reputation of a example of collaboration at that level, place-holder delegation, with visiting and a potent demonstration of Sir occasional representatives, who James’ standing among his colleagues. seemed at sea with many of the issues They remained engaged up to the on agendas. grand opening of the facility in May In his remarks at the official 1992, at which many of them were in opening of the country’s Embassy in attendance, making their first visit to Washington DC and Permanent the Grenadines. Mission to the Organization of American States in 1992, Sir James 2) Building Bridges Through said, in his inimitable style: “We have Personal Relationships: taken a while to open offices in this city, from 1979 to 1992. It is Maybe as a consequence of his expensive to operate here. We expect collective memory during his sojourn positive results. I say to Ambassador as an independent candidate in the Layne, who wears many hats, also Grenadines, his experience in the representing us at the United Nations cabinet of 1967-1972, when he was in New York, and his staff: We do not viewed as somewhat of an outlier, his have much in SVG. We have to make tenure as Premier in the Alliance the most of the little we have. So, in Administration of 1972-1974, and his closing I say again, If you can’t bring decade-long solitary existence, and home the bacon, leave the little bit we survival, in opposition, Sir James have at home in SVG!” placed a high premium on friendship The government prioritized prompt and fidelity. Whenever he visited a payment, as assessed, in full, to all the country, especially in the Caribbean organizations of which SVG was a region, he always looked up old friends member, so that no one could and colleagues. In Grenada, it was Sir challenge our right of recognition Eric Matthew Gairy, during his postwhenever we asked for the floor or any coup return to the country, when he other procedural entitlement. SVG was usually ignored by erstwhile became a serious and respected associates; in Guyana he insisted on participant. seeing his old friend Dr Cheddi Jagan, On a lighter side, as a result of and informed the government growing strength, confidence and accordingly; so too Hugh Desmond stridency, from top leadership down, Hoyte after his fall from power; also the Organization of Eastern Caribbean Basdeo Panday in Trinidad, and Dr. States (OECS) became the Kennedy Simmonds in St. Kitts and organization of Eugenia, Compton and Nevis. At the height of his Son/Mitchell after Prime Ministers incumbency he invited the Rt. Eugenia Charles, John Compton and Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, James Mitchell of Dominica, St. Lucia Barbados’ first prime minister, then in and St. Vincent and the Grenadines opposition, to address the convention respectively. of the NDP in Bequia. The occasion In another forum, secretariat and the venue meant much to the late National Hero of Barbados, whose father served in the Grenadines as a pastor at the time of his birth. This was the man, “Son” Mitchell, a principled friend for all seasons. Continued from Page 20.
4) The Establishment of a full Ministry of Women’s Affairs. The repeal of discriminatory legislation like the Coutts law, which mandated the dismissal of pregnant unwed women in government service, and then denied them re-employment, after the birth of their children. Many pieces of liberating and progressive laws were enacted by the NDP administration. 5) The Repatriation of the Tobago Cays through delicate negotiations with the family that held legal title. These deliberations were conducted by the office of the prime minister and the embassy of SVG in Washington under the aegis of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) of the World Bank. Thus one of the most beautiful parts of the national territory in the Grenadines was secured, in perpetuity, for the people of SVG.
I am sure that others who were due to pay tribute on Saturday 18 but were unable to do so will reveal their experiences, in due course, and bear further testament to the Herculean efforts of our second prime minister in “the development of SVG for the benefit of the people of SVG.” It will be remiss of me not to mention some of the deceased prime minister’s most loyal and durable supporters, who seek no acclamation, confident in the righteousness of their commitment to his and their common cause: Allison Lewis, Lorraine George, Conrad Charles, Norma Smith, Leroy Cupid, Joe Louis, Six Piece, Aria Laidlow, Almartin Duncan, Sam Allicott, Malcolm Garraway, Dennis Smith, whose father, John “Cherry” Smith, gave the party its name, and Calder Williams, the first elected candidate of the NDP on mainland St. Vincent. I can go and on. Suffice it to say, “You know who you are!” Sir James’ parting exhortation to his daughters was to play and reflect on the haunting themes of the popular song, “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.” The performance of the Kingstown Chorale as the casket bearing the mortal remains of the late prime minister was solemnly taken from the Kingstown Methodist Church will long be remembered by those who heard it. The song is the lament of Eva Peron exhorting the people of Argentina not 3) The flagship achievement of the to mourn for her after her death in NDP administrations was the creation 1952 at age (33) thirty- three. But who of a property- owning democracy was this woman EVITA? through the targeted acquisition, by She was the iconic wife of Argentine purchase, of large family-owned President Juan Domingo Peron. estates, and distribution to formerly Coming from humble beginnings she landless estate workers. This left a legacy of service and social initiative, now under stress, laid the elevation to the least esteemed and foundation for widespread poorest members of Argentine society, participation in the economic life of the the so called “Descamisados, the country. Shirtless Ones.” To them she became their secular saint. She left a This program was highly regarded foundation that endures to this day, by the World Bank and other and remains the popular base of the multilateral agencies, and the Director Peronist political movement in of Planning was invited to write a Argentina. document detailing the planning and One of my prized possessions is a implementation of the project, as an signed copy of a portrait of Maria Eva example of best practice. Duarte de Peron, ‘Evita,’ given to me
Ambassador Layne recalls the stoic role Sir James played in navigating SVG through an impasse that developed because of the oil crisis of 1973/74. by an Argentine ambassador with whom I served at the Organization of American States. (6) I believe Sir James was telling us, the Vincentian people, in parting, that genuine and sincere work for the advancement of people needs no epitath. “Just look around you.” The legacy lives on. There was a poignant moment at the conclusion of the service for Sir James at St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Port Elizabeth, Bequia. His beloved and loyal people of the island were understandably peeved that they could not see his face one last time. Their parliamentary representative and party president, Hon. Dr. Godwin Friday, was at pains to explain to them that the tightness of time and protocol precluded this. They nevertheless prepared a large poster with a picture of Sir James, complete with signatures in the back, and presented it to their representative. Dr. Friday received and revealed the token as a final act before the cortege left the church. I say to the people of Bequia and the Grenadines, “Be proud. You have nurtured a great son and shared him with the country, the region and the world. Indeed he bestrode the world stage like a colossus. When tranquility and life were threatened in Grenada he recognized the portentous nature of the evolving situation, and was the first Caribbean leader to call for the use of superior force to stabilize the island. In the aftermath of the liberation, he was there to help rebuild the institutions of democracy. The international community called on him to lead important missions in Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe to establish democracy and the sanctity of free and fair elections. Thank you for sharing your treasure with the world.”
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I believe in you Journey of a lifetime by RAS HUTCHINSON T WAS ABOUT TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO I was befriended by Sir James. I left Union Island at the behest of my grandmother who said to me, “Go to Bequia, God will work it out for you.” You see I was struggling between choosing to go to the United States of America to join my relatives there or stay home. “Come to the United States and realize the American dream.” I have always found that statement to be foolishness for the simple fact that I was Vincentian-Trinidadian, the only true dream I would ever have would be Vincentian. As a result, I took my grandmother’s advice.
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Frangipani on a Thursday Night The sweet steel pan music on a Thursday night at the Frangipani resonated in the hearts of Vincentians, and the signature frangipani rum punch was quite a favourite with most visitors. I sat at the bar and noticed Sir James making his rounds greeting people and shaking hands. As he approached me, I turned and introduced myself. On learning that I was and from Union Island, he invited me to his table where we had a light dinner and conversation. We talked for about one hour and a half before I thanked him for his hospitality and bade him good night.
The Hamilton Road Project Months after, I saw an advertisement requesting a quotation to reconstruct of the Hamilton road which had
been destroyed during a hurricane. With an old beat up Toyota pick-up and a small concrete mixer in my name, I decided to put in a bid. I had almost forgotten about that bid until I encountered Sir James at the wharf in Bequia. We made eye contact; he gave me that addictive smile and motioned that I join him some distance away from the crowd. He stood in front me with squared shoulders, penetrating my mind with his stare as he looked me straight in the eyes and said, “We are giving you the Hamilton Road Project to do. I had a lot of opposition and was encouraged not to give you the project, but I believe in you. Don’t let me down.” Take a moment to understand what happened to me at that time. I felt a surge of energy like electricity running up and down my body. “I believe in you,” he said. For the first time in my life I began to see things clearly. I felt all powerful. I felt I could achieve anything. It seems to me that nothing, absolutely nothing in my life was impossible. It was the answer to the continual struggle I had within me for all these years, I understood that it’s not only the environment but the inner conviction that will carry me through. I don’t have to go anywhere I said to myself, the power was within me… to believe in myself. As I looked up at the towering person I saw he was smiling as to say, “I got you.” It was he knew my inner struggle and what I needed to discover the will to believe in myself. As I looked at his smiling face I thanked him and
Ras Hutchinson, wife Persha Hutchinson and Sir James after dinner and a drink. his footstep and get into politics; and the pride that he had in Sabrina to navigate her way through life. He spoke about his granddaughter’s poetry, his visit to foreign countries, his time and experience in politics. He The relationship grows always saw a bright future for SVG and he From then, Sir James always talked about the books that he was remained a constant in my life and we developed writing. He also voiced his disappointment In a a close relationship. list of persons whom I When he retired our will not mention here. relationship became All in all, he wanted closer and stronger. I the best not only for his looked forward to those children and the country, morning calls which but for individuals who went like: “Morning could stand up to the test Ras.” “Morning Sir James.” “Well boy…” and of the flame. continued for anywhere from fifteen to forty-five I missed his birthday minutes for fifteen years.. It was the 16th of May Sir James never and I had missed Sir James’ birthday. I was missed my birthday. working in the hills of St. Every 15th July Sir James called to wish me Vincent and forgot the date. In the evening “Happy Birthday’ and the conversation would when I returned home, will continue into several my wife called me and asked, “Ricky, yo call Sir different directions. James for his birthday?” One thing that was “No,” I said. “Well it was very clear was the love yesterday”, she reminded and care he had for his me. children and equal to That evening I caught that the love for SVG. the ferry and headed to To be honest the love Bequia. I went straight was indistinguishable to Sabrina’s Vintage between the two. The same expression of pride for his children will resonate in the expression of love for his country. He spoke of Louise and his wish that she would follow in promised I will never, never let him down. “I believe in you” he repeated as we parted ways. Needless to say I completed the Hamilton Project before time and within budget.
Outlet and asked her to give me a bottle of Sir James’ favourite wine. With that, I headed to Mt. Pleasant. As I approached the entrance of the house, I saw Sir James standing in the walkway, I felt bad that I had missed his birthday knowing he never missed mine. As I handed him the wine and said, “Happy birthday Sir James, sorry I missed it yesterday,” he smiled and said, “Don’t worry Ras I know you’re a busy man. Come in and have a glass with me. I am not drinking this alone.”
man should be able to pass his wealth to his children and the government has no rights to lay claim at his death. In order to grow wealth from generation to generation death dues had to be abolished. … That was an old colonial law that was used to steal the wealth of people and push their children backward, even backward into poverty. I am glad I got rid of it.” The second thing that was important to him was the acquisition of the Orange Hill Estate and to make lands available to Vincentians at the lowest cost Three important things possible. I remember him say, As we sat on the deck “In order to get St. next to the pool looking Vincent farmers out of towards the East sipping poverty it was necessary the wine, we discussed to give them or make many things. But the thing that stuck with me them land owners. Farmers have been were the three things working to enrich other that he said were very people but not important to him. He began, “Ras, three themselves, so the land reform project as with things I am glad to see Orange Hill was happen in my lifetime. necessary to lift them out One is the abolition of of poverty.” death dues.” The third thing that And when I asked was important to him what was that, he explained, “Well it’s a tax was the acquisition of the government levy on Continued on Page 23. you when you die. A
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. 23.
Journey of a lifetime Continued from Page 22. and the making the Tobago Cays a National Park. “Those islands belongs to us,” he said, “and we and our children should have the right to enjoy it. It should never be in the hands of foreigners.” To be honest I thought he was going to talk about great infrastructure such as Ottley Hall, the Vegetable Market, Financial Complex, Cruise Ship Berth but NO. The achievements he mentioned to me that day was in service to others and not service to self. I sat there and listened attentively to his wisdom; every word had a lot more meaning. If you think about it, those three things are intertwined: to have wealth and die only for the government to take it from your children; to have lands that you cannot leave for them; and no place for them to relax and enjoy if Tobago Cays was in the hands of foreigners. To me Sir James was much more than he appeared. He left me wondering: What else is hidden in this great man’s mind? What else can he share with me for my own development? Then I realized he had already given me all that I needed in my life to be whatever I want to be. He had already lit my candle from his flame that faithful day when he said to me on the Bequia wharf, “I believe in you Ras. Don’t let me down.” One thing I learnt from fire, from the flame of one candle you can light a thousand candles from that one flame yet the flame is never diminished nor divided. It starts a new flame and lights the flame within you. How often we as parents would speak words of death to our children? To the little boy behaving miserably and giving the mother trouble, she, in anger and frustration turns to him and say, “You, you will be just like your father.” The little boy looks around and sees a failure for a man and a disappointment for a dad standing behind him, he begins to believe he can become nothing different
from what he sees in his father. At age 14/15 years he starts on the path of his father drinking, smoking, laziness, incompetence, in and out of prison and a menace to the neighbourhood. Little did the mother realize that it’s her words, rather her curse, had created this little monster twith whom she has to live. It is Jesus that said to his disciple, “The words that I speak unto you, they are power and they are life.” Sir James speaking these word to me,“I believe in you,” has the same resonant effect as Jesus’ words. Sir James said “I believe in you Ras. Don’t let me down.” It is time we understand the eternal impact we can have on someone’s life, by the words we say unto them. As you listen to some radio stations, you can hear the curse that they portray, the constant hatred, descent, anger, lies and incitement; the constant bile that permeates the atmosphere resonating at a frequency through every home in SVG. There is no love, no forgiveness, no kindness, no meekness, no gentleness, no peace. People are being rallied to hate instead of love and as a result the entire society has been polarized and descends into hatred for one another. This hatred permeates the entire world through news organization, movies radio, Television, the internet and its media platform (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.). Have you ever wondered why the coronavirus is spread from within us? We breathe in life, but our hate has manifested into the corona- virus where we breathe out death. “I believe in you,” Sir James said to me many years ago and that guided me into a different path.
The Wedding I was getting married, I was overly excited. Coming from Union Island, it was my dream to get married in Tobago Cays, I chartered the boat Jaden T to take the guests to Tobago Cays. As the boat departed the
Bequia harbor, I looked around to see if Sir James was on board, but he was not there. “I will be there Ras,” he said to me earlier, “I promise.” As we l departed, I told myself that he got caught up in other business and couldn’t get away. But, as the Jaden T landed in Tobago cays and the wedding ceremony got on the way, I saw Sir James standing among the guests on the beach. As he congratulated me and my wife for a wonderful wedding and for inviting him, I was excited when he said to me, “Ras, I promised you I’ll be here so here I am. I missed the boat, but I will never miss the wedding.” He added, “Don’t forget I have my own yacht. I just grabbed the captain Bamo and said, “Boy we going Tobago Cays, Ras getting married today and I cannot miss that wedding” and as he sailed down to Tobago Cays. “I believe in you. Don’t let me down” kept resonating in my mind.
Sir James was set to publish another book in the new year which might well contain, in his own style, a lot of the wisdom that he imparted to Ras Hutchinson.
No party!” I knew Sir James would call as he had done in the past and I decided not to turn my phone off. I awoke at my usual time (4:00am) and did my first session of meditation. Then I went downstairs and was doing some reading when my phone rang. It was Sir James. “Morning Ras.” “Morning Sir James,” I replied. “Happy birthday my friend,” Thank you, Sir James.” “What you plan to do today?” he asked. But Trials and Tribulation before I could reply he said, “Yo know what, I’m Sir James never coming to St. Vincent stopped fanning my and I am taking you to flame. He constantly dinner.” kept checking in on me, Now who can argue in addition to the with that? Here it is Sir chanced meetings on the James is willing to leave ferry, on the road, or at whatever he’s doing for a function, he called to that day, to come to St. see how I was doing and Vincent only to take me always expressed an to dinner. So out the door interest in what I was went the meditation and doing. fasting. “What project yo I felt it was a great working on? Yo getting honour and one of the paid from the best birthday gifts ever government?” to have my friend come And when I answered and spend a few hours with a no, he would with me. Little did I advise, “Well hang in know what was in store there, boy. Don’t let for me. “I’ll pick you up them push you out.” at 7 at your office,” he Almost every said. conversation that we will At 6:00pm I was have will end in a similar dressed and in Calliaqua. way, At no time in my At 6:30 I was by the road relationship with Sir leaning on my jeep, James did he ever waiting for Sir James. mention anger, hatred, About 7:05 he pulled up. vexation; he always “Yo ready?” he asked encouraged me to be “Follow me. better. I jumped into my jeep and followed him as he My 50th birthday took. He took a right by Dougan shop corner and I was turning 50. I headed in the direction of told my wife and family Kingstown. On reaching members, my staff and the Aquatic Club gap he colleagues, “We are not made a 360 degrees turn having any birthday and headed back towards party this year. I want the Calliaqua. I did to go to North Union at likewise. He passed my home and enter into Calliaqua straight and meditation and fasting.
head and looked at me then grabbed hold of my hand. He was holding my hand so tightly that my wife commented, “Sabrina, look how tight he holding Ras hand, the man still ha plenty strength in him.” He tried to say something to me, but because of the mask and the chest congestion his words were not clear. Sabrina was interpreting but by his grip I was hearing and feeling much more. Here lay my friend, my guide for the past 25 years, the only man who had ever been a constant in my life: the one who lit my candle from his flame; the one who believed in me when I didn’t have the strength to believe in myself; the one who kept a check on my well-being by calling me so often to see how I was am doing; the one who encouraged me to be better and to rise above all my challenges, not only to overcome them, but to come up over them and be a better person in my life. Here my friend was getting ready to meet his maker and my mind went back over the past twenty-five years. I could still hearing him saying to me on that faithful day when we stood on the Bequia wharf ,challenging me as a The final night steel will challenge the flame, “I believe in you.” The night before he As he fell asleep and I, passed I went to his bedside. Sabrina who overcome with grief, left was standing at his the room, went into the bedside turned to him car park and wept and said, “Dad, look Ras” bitterly. and with that he tried to Thank you, Sir James, lift himself up into a for lighting my flame and sitting position.My wife may God help me to light and Sabrina went to his the flames of others. “I aid and fluffed his pillow believe in you. Don’t let making him more me down.” comfortable. To my beloved father As I moved to the side and friend, Sir James, of his bed, he turned his from Ras Hutchinson.
on reaching the Blue Lagoon gap, took a right and went into the Blue Lagoon’s car park. He was alreadyout of his vehicle by the time I got a park. As we walked and talked slowly he asked me a question, and before I could compose and Sir James has disappeared but not before leading me into the darkness of the beach bar where my wife, friends, family and colleagues were turned on the lights in unison wished me Happy 50th birthday! The next day my wife said to me, “Ras, we had made this grand plan for your 50th birthday, but when you mentioned you going to do meditation and fasting, we were stuck, we did not know how to get you to your birthday party and surprise you at the same time. “There are only two people in this world I know that will get you to abandon your meditation and fasting, one is Dr. Godwin Friday and the other is Sir James. When I asked Sir James and was telling him my plans before I can finish he said and I quote, “Don’t worry I’ll get him there.” “I believe in you” kept resonating in my mind.
24. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN
Reflections on a legendSir James Mitchell PC Sir James gave expression to the experiences from which he drew, in shaping this critical perspective and insights on our island-state’s The transition to elder condition and its future within statesman the wider Caribbean nationality, for which he May I however anticipate, advocated with passion, when by asserting here, that the in his essay on “Our Rights of outward modality of his Passage” which he first transition, from the prepublished in 1976, but eminent role as PM to elder republished in his anthology of statesman, after a storied Speeches titled “Caribbean political career, will forever be Crusade”, he left us these saluted as a profoundly poignantly cautionary edifying precedent in our reflections: national life. It reflected Sir “The real threat to our James’ attainment of personal liberty today is not from the growth as a leader, with grandiosely styled admirable sensitivity to the “Metropolitan presence in the wider national interests. Caribbean”, but from tyranny The veritable political firewithin the narrow confines of storm which followed the 1998 the island state. For all its General elections, marked by evils the legacy of colonialism heightened militancy among includes certain institutions public sector unions, provided whose function is to protect an irresistible opportunity for the rights of the individual. As the Opposition to fuel and the independent authority of exploit dissent. In this milieu, these institutions withers Sir James for a variety of away, gradually but not so reasons, some personal no subtly, we are creating a doubt, but others clearly vacuum. One day someone will political, graciously announced fill that vacuum for us, and we his intention to demit office as will be starting all over again. PM, a decision on which he My experience as Premier, acted in October 2000. involved as I was and continue By doing so, he to be with the Caribbean acknowledged that the country scene, revealed to me clearly the degree to which our and its people are bigger and institutions are threatened by more important than he was. the ready and unruffled And that their interests acquiescence of our people. In should be given paramountcy November 1973 in my miniover any sense of personal destiny which he entertained. state address I spelled out the problem in these words: “Make no mistake about it, His vision and caution horrors of hatred, the denial of reason, the loss of a sense of beauty or the right of personal choice, and the collapse of our fundamental freedoms may well take our indifference and complacency by surprise. . . “ Caught up in the momentum of independence, the former anti-colonial politician acquires the art of control, an art that continues to be refined after independence. At some state we have got to ask the question, how do we reconcile government’s quest for control with the citizen’s pursuit of freedom? The pursuit of independence is the pursuit of home rule. Sir James (3rd from right) and his legal team in London on November 17, 2014, including his We indeed end up with daughter Louise Mitchell (2nd from right), Ramesh Maharaj, SC (second from left) after a ruling in rulers who are preochis favor by the Privy Council in which bias was proven on the part of the Commissioner of the cupied with ruling Ottley Hall Inquiry.
administrations throughout the period that I served as an N CONVEYING SALUTATIONS to Opposition Senator from 1984 Sir James on the occasion of and as Political Leader of the his ninetieth birthday last SVLP from 1992 until it May, I made the observation transformed to the ULP in that clearly, in his approach to 1994, and my exit from active the passage of the years, he politics in 2001 having failed shared the wisdom of that in to be reelected MP for East renowned English Philosopher, St George as the PPM’s Bertrand Russell, in that he lived Candidate. as if he saw his life: So we experienced many “…. like a river growing points of tension and conflict, wider, the banks receding, the but in later years, we stayed waters flowing more quietly, in touch, sharing mutual and without any visible break, respect and our interests in becoming merged in the sea public affairs. Today, I join in increasingly, in the universal celebrating the life of a life, still at work, but knowing national leader, one that has that others will carry on what made an enduring he can no longer do and contribution, not just to his content in the thought, that native land SVG but also to what is possible was being the Caribbean Region. done and will be done............” I have been asked to speak An epic public life career from the vantage point of my personal association with this Since his lamented passing, legendary public figure, to many eloquent encomiums whose life and service to the have been deservedly nation, we pay homage today. showered on this Vincentian icon, from far and near. His The context & dynamic of our journey in public life was epic. association Accounts of the ups and downs are legion and are now part of Our association was marked the Vincentian folklore. by the inherent tensions of As a young Opposition adversaries on matters related Senator, one had ample to public policy and to our opportunities to challenge and respective partisan political interrogate close-up, the agendas, which for a period, relatively consummate presented existential threats political titan that Sir James towards one another. Sir represented at the zenith of James was in the opposition his career and to observe and when I entered the political probe his political astuteness. arena as an SVLP Even as he boldly embraced Government Senator in 1983, his many successes in public and he was at the pinnacle, as life, he was defiant in his PM, in successive NDP defence of those episodes for by STANLEY (STALKY) JOHN
I
which he received criticisms. Yet history will be the final arbiter of the true measure of his contributions.
Stanley ‘Stalky’ John speaks of tension and conflict with Sir James in earlier years, and how that was transformed into mutual respect and staying in touch in later years. rather than the proper administration of our affairs. It is in this context that we need to understand how our system should work, and to recognise the failures of our institutions, and so to determine the courses of action which can guarantee our freedom. For no final refuge will exist in the right language of a constitution when the institutions upholding it have collapsed.” Hopefully, the significance of those observations will inform our consciousness as we negotiate the challenges ahead.
Condolences I repeat today sincere condolences expressed privately to his daughters Louise, Sabrina, Gretel and Gabija, on behalf of my family and I, that as you mourn the sad passing of your departed father, in your moments of shared grief, may you, your families and those loved ones who survive him, find comfort in God’s blessings and grace and in the fond memories which you shared with him. Be assured that he was an outstanding man who stood tall among his peers and that he gave distinguished service to his generation. His memory will endure in the numerous lives that he touched, many of whom today share your loss. Rest eternal grant unto Sir James O lord and may light perpetual shine upon him. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
V Taiwan donates Rapid Tests Kits to SVG
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. 25.
News
From left: His Excellency Peter Sha-Li Lan, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonslaves and Health Minister St. Clair Prince at the handover ceremony. AS THE COVID-19 pandemic continues its surge globally, the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines continues its effort aimed
people of the ROC, in particular the Mayor of the Kaohshiung City Hon. Chi-mai Chen, Chairman of Eternal Materials and Co. Ltd Wednesday December 22, presented the donation to Kuo Lun Kao and 2021, received a donation Prime Minister Dr. the Chairman of of 10,000 rapid test kits Hon. Ralph Gonsalves Kaohshiung City (5,000 packs of antigen and Minister of Health International Exchange rapid test kits and 5,000 Hon. St. Clair Prince. Affairs Association Yi packs of antibody rapid Prime Gonsalves Heng Chen who test kits) from the expressed his gratitude attended the ceremony Government and people to the Government and virtually. (Source: API) of Republic of China (Taiwan). were received by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines at Cabinet room. In a brief ceremony held in Cabinet Room, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to St. Vincent and the Grenadines His Excellency Peter Sha-Li Lan, on behalf of the Government of Kaohsiung City (Taiwan) along with Eternal Materials Co. Ltd.,
at curbing the spread of the virus here. And as a boost to this effort, the government, on
Right: (from left): Chairman of Eternal Materials and Co. Ltd Kuo Lun Kao, Mayor of the Kaohshiung City Hon. Chi-mai Chen and Chairman of Kaohshiung City International Exchange Affairs Association Yi Heng Chen attended the ceremony virtually.
BBO members organized the children so that there was an orderly distribution of gifts.
SOL’s staff extends Christmas cheer
Julia Simmons, Operations Manager of the SVG Red Cross Society (right), accepts a cheque from Steve Francis, manager of SOL.
Steve Francis, Manager/SOL, hands over cheque to Lauren Mc Intosh, WPP Executive Director – Eastern Caribbean (right).
SOL has made donations of $4,347.00 and $8,694.00 to the SVG Red Cross and World Pediatric Project (WPP) respectively. The donations were made possible as part of the Social Investment Programme of Parkland
deem fit to both charities. Steve Francis, GM, of SOL indicated that the charities were chosen on the basis of their outstanding work in the communities and programme areas that they serve.
Fuels Inc. of Canada, the majority shareholder of SOL. Each employee of SOL can pledge monies to be donated to selected charities. Employees can pledge all their allocation to any one charity or apportion it as they
Ms. Lauren Mc Intosh of WPP, and Ms. Julia Simmons of the SVG Red Cross, both thanked Sol’s staff for their contributions and agreed that the funds would assist in offsetting expenses. (Source: SOL)
BBO hosts Grab & Go AN ATMOSPHERE of glad tidings and cheer overwhelmed the occasion of the Becket Benefit Organization’s distribution of gifts to Pre and Primary School Children at the Layou Hard Court, Saturday, December 18. The activity was a replacement for the annual Children’s Christmas Party during which children would not only have received gifts but would have been feted with snacks and drinks and involved in games. The replacement activity, dubbed ‘Grab and Go’ was in keeping with the Ministry of Health’s enforced COVID-19 protocols, not least the one discouraging gatherings of large numbers of persons. Notwithstanding the protocols, the Layou Hardcourt was awash with jubilant children eagerly awaiting their toys, as most of them got to the Hard court before the members of the BBO. In a brief conversation with BBO founder Alston Becket Cyrus, he requested we use this medium to thank contributors, especially Brent Cyrus of the USA. According to Treasurer, Irie Hannaway, over three hundred gifts were handed out allowing children not from the targeted Layou Primary and Pre Schools, to also receive gifts. President Vernon Mc Dowell used the occasion to remind all that the next BBO fund-raiser (Soup Sale) should be held at the end of January, 2022. (CD)
V HIV/AIDS still a concern 26. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN
News
by GLORIAH... THE PLIGHT of persons living with HIV/AIDS remains a great concern especially with the continued presence of the COVID-19 virus its variants. Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment, St. Clair Prince, while speaking at the opening of a Health Fair hosted by his ministry on December 1, World AIDS Day, expressed concerned for this group of individuals. The activity was held under the theme: “End equalities, end AIDS”. Minister Prince espoused the view that AIDS could end by 2030 if work on all inequalities proceeds assiduously. He looked at hindrances towards this end as a “prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and a spiraling social and economic crisis.” With 2021 coming to a close and the New Year swiftly approaching, THE VINCENTIAN spoke with Mr. Sydney ‘Pumpkin’ Joseph, Peer Animator HIV/AIDS/STI Prevention within the
Sydney ‘Pumpkin’ Joseph, Peer Animator HIV/AIDS/STI Prevention within the Ministry of Health, want to see increased support for nutrition and basic hygiene for HIV/AIDS persons so that they can fight against the COVID-19 virus.
Health Minister St. Clair Prince assured that persons living with HIV/AIDS were still much a concern for Government and the society as a whole. Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, to get another look at this group of persons and the prospects for their welfare. ‘Pumpkin’, himself a person living with HIV/AIDS, believes that in his little corner, he works towards achieving the goal of eradicating inequalities for persons like himself. He has responsibilities which necessitate him working along with the clinical staff of the Ministry, to follow-up and work with HIV/AIDS person to ensure they adhere to clinic dates and Antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. In responding to a question about his work during 2021, he stated, “2021 was a very challenging year with the high level of COVID19 present in the country, so mentoring my peers was very challenging. The contents of this new virus and the little education of its behaviour seem to cause people who are living with HIV/AIDS to be
more attached to their behaviours concerning the protocol for COVID19.” As for the New Year, he had this to say: “Going forward to 2022, I think it would be good for the persons living with HIV/AIDS to get more support for nutrition and basic hygiene .. so they can fight against the COVID19 virus. With this together with the they will be able to build their immunity, so that they may have a high Cd4 count and suppression of their viral load.” This, he explained, keeps the HIV/AIDS virus at bay. Persons living with HIV/AIDS will continue to be a group of concern. Will all hands get on deck to do the work to which Minister Prince hinted? Could a countrywide effort join forces with a global effort to eradicate this virus by 2030? Meanwhile, Joseph’s focus in 2022 will continue to be one of advocating on behalf of the health and safety of those living with HIV/AIDS.
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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. 27.
News
SMSS: First recipient of ÂIndianÊ history book delivery of instructions a priority. MINISTER OF EDUCATION Minister King told the CURTIS KING paid a gathering how inspired he was by Mr. Thomas’ courtesy visit to the St. Martins Secondary School work, especially as the “details of our own story on 15th December. He was provided by the was welcomed by experiences of our own Principal, Mr. Yohance people.” Gibson, teachers and He added: “Our students, who were in the problem with the books, process of conducting the most of them that we school’s end of term have, is what we call assembly. The Minister thanked books written by other everyone for their warm people telling us about ourselves.... How can welcome, and said that he was using the visit to somebody else tell you about yourself? If we are hand over the first ten going to understand who copies of the book — we are, then we have to ‘Stories from our Indian tell the story ourselves Elders’ - written by and hence, that is the Vincentian Dornald importance of works like Lenroy Thomas. The this one.” handover was being Aside, the Minister done, he said, on behalf told THE VINCENTIAN of the author. that having read the The Minister stated book, he found it to be an categorically that his historical record of a choice of the SMSS as number of elderly Indian the first recipient was persons who came to St. easy as the Principal, Vincent and the Vice Principal and staff Grenadines in the early had shown phenomenal part of the 20th Century, commitment to and the writer, being of education, not least East Indian extraction, being that the school had felt that a better made the integration of understanding of his technology into its beginnings would be had by GLORIAH...
Donald Lenroy Thomas – author of the book ‘Stories from our Indian Elders’ one must put all the stories together,” the Minister said. The books were received by Principal Gibson with the Form Four Honor Roll students representing the student body. Ten thousand copies of Hon. Curtis King (left foreground) hands over books to Principal Mr. Yohance the book are slated for Gibson, in the company of Honour Roll students and their teachers. distribution to schools across the country. The history. with each having their from the people distribution will continue “SVG being a plural own stories, and to get a apace during the new themselves - what were good understanding of their experiences, where society have many term which commences our Vincentian history in India they came from different ethnic groups on January 3. and what would have been their experiences coming over to work as indentured workers.” He said that most of the elders were first-born of first-generation settlers. King also said that he found the writings to be an “excellent source of Indian history in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and by extension an excellent source of Vincentian
‘Bigger’ wants support for dismissed workers MR. LEON ‘BIGGER BIGS’ SAMUEL, a born and bred Vincentian whose trials, tribulations and suffering are public record, is appealing for a fund to be setup to financially cushion the frontline vaccinehesitant workers, who recently received dismissal letters in keeping with an S R & 0. Following on this, the salaries of the dismissed workers have been withheld for the month of December. In a recent contribution to ‘Determination and Strength’ an interactive segment of the CTVIEW Saturday Show on Nice Radio, ‘Bigger’ appealed to the listeners, host Carlyle Douglas, and owner of the station Douglas De Freitas, to take the lead in promoting a fund-raiser
on behalf of those who are now feeling the realities of unemployment. To strengthening his appeal and show empathy for the dismissed workers, ‘Bigger’ retraced the devastating experience that he endured after his lucrative mining and blocks-making enterprise was forced to be closed by an S R & O, instigated by the Unity Labour Party government led by Dr. Ralph Gonslaves. He recalled that the period when his business closed and there was hardly any income coming to he and his family, he, as a single father raising twin daughters, had to bathe in the nearby Mesopotamia river after the water mains to his home was disconnected.
Leon ‘Bigger Bigs’ Samuel brings his own experience to bear on his appeal for support of dismissed frontline workers. In ‘Bigger Bigs’ assessment, the dismissed workers, with the loss of their jobs and source of income, are in no different situation from what he found himself having to endure. (CD)
28. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN
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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. 29.
Court
„Jumbie on me,‰ thief claims by HAYDN HUGGINS MYRON VELOX, a 32-year-old resident of Redemption Sharpes who embarked on a life of crime since he was a little boy, told the Court last week that ‘jumbie was on him’, and that he could not get work. Velox’s explanation came at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court during a conversation with Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett, before being sentenced to 12 months in prison for burglary. Velox had pleaded guilty to entering the Department of Health in Kingstown as a trespasser, and stealing seven boxes of Christmas lights valued EC$70, one pair of red, white and blue sneakers valued EC$50, one pair light blue and white sneakers value EC$50, and one white Digital thermometer value EC$50 total EC$220, the property of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He also stole one bottle of coffee creamer value EC$15, one bottle of Maxwell House Coffee value EC$20, one case of Coco Cola value $EC68, three Hairoun soft drinks value EC$9, two Vita Malts value EC$10, one white Samsung charger and white
micro USH cord valued EC$38, the total value EC$160.50, the property of Yolande May of Pembroke. The offence was committed between December 8 and 9, 2021. “When you out of jail what do you do? Based on your record, you appear to be more inside than outside?” the Magistrate asked the defendant. “They have a woman above me put jumbie on me. She done tell me so.” When the Magistrate asked him why, he said that he and the woman’s daughter had a disagreement. “My Lord, you feel I coming back before you?” Velox asked. “You asking me if I feel you coming back before me? The answer is yes.” the Magistrate responded and asked further, “What year did she put jumbie on you?” Velox replied, “Say between 2015 and 2016.” At this point the Magistrate reminded him that based on his record he had committing crime since he was a little boy, and had 40 previous convictions many for offences of dishonesty. “As soon as you are out, you are back in,” Burnett remarked.
“If you claim a woman put ‘jumbie on you’, when you come out the jumbie will still be on you. You are better off inside, Myron, you are better off inside,” Burnette reasoned. When the Magistrate drew to the defendant’s attention that the stolen items were not recovered, Velox informed the court that somebody stole the stolen items from him. The incident had occurred sometime between 12 midnight and 2am. “At that time you should have been sleeping. Look at what you chose to do,” Burnett said. “When you are a free man you commit crime,”, the Magistrate observed. “If I have a work I will not do these things,” Velox responded. Burnett again reminded him that he had 40 convictions recorded, and had gone to prison on several occasions for offences of a similar nature. “Is the system you know,” Velox told the Magistrate, adding that “not all (convictions) is mine”, seemingly blaming the system for convicting him for offences he did not commit. “How much of these (convictions) belong to you?” Burnett asked.
“Couple well,” Velox replied. “Give me a figure,” the Magistrate requested. “About twenty something,” Velox claimed. Burnett noted that Velox’s conviction sheet not only included offences of theft and burglary, but also assault and damage to property. “I am taking everything into account. I am not too sure you can be rehabilitated,” the Magistrate contended, adding that the system had tried everything. He noted that in the past Burnett was fined, bonded, given suspended sentences, and even strokes with the cane. “I can’t get work, no work, so whey fo do? I ha fo eat, I ha fo drink, I ha fo wear clothes,” Velox pleaded. But the Magistrate told him, “I am going to give you a period to reflect.” Burnett then handed down the 12month prison sentence. The term will run consecutively to a nine-month sentence Velox was already serving for a similar offence. It means that Velox would be eligible for release after serving a total of 21 months behind bars.
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30. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN
Advice
Lacking in what matters Dear George, I READ the riot act to my husband a few days ago. I am fed up with the way things are going and I cannot pretend any longer. My husband is a nice man but nice will not cut it anymore. I have told him what is wrong with him and if he didn’t make an effort to correct them, I did not see us continuing. George, he is lacking with the package he was born with and I cannot ignore that fact anymore. Whatever he has he still does not know how to use it and he refuses to do anything to learn new ways and techniques. He does not believe sex should take place on Sundays, religious holidays (Easter, Christmas). He avoids me like the plague when I’m on my menstrual cycle and would touch me, if I am lucky, 7-10 days after. For a man with such a deficit package he sure is pushing it. I am not happy and I will not remain in an
unhappy marriage.
One Foot In. Dear One Foot In, I have always maintained that marriage is not something that is to be entered into lightly. It is very important that there be adequate premarital counseling. Topics such as sex, children, finances and religion ought to be discussed thoroughly. The issue affecting your husband should have been known to you long before you committed to marriage. I strongly suggest that you and your husband see a sex therapist to help iron out or address the sexual issues you have described. Let’s hope that both of you would be able to find some middle ground sooner than later.
George
Time to dig deep Dear George, I AM IN a very dark place at the moment. I am a mother of 4 children, the youngest is 5 years old. I am or I should say WAS gainfully employed as a teacher. My heart pained me when I couldn’t explain to my children that they would not be getting their Christmas gifts as per usual. Worse, I am here wondering how I am going to meet my mortgage payments and my bills. Each day I reflect on why I am being perceived as a monster just because I refused to be vaccinated. After all that I have done for this nation’s children, including taking my own money to assist the children to purchase material and lunch — this is cannot be right! George, the thoughts that have been running through my head lead to one of two options; going to jail for life or to my grave. Let my name go down in history as the fired teacher who jump off the deep end without a safety net. Let my spirit haunt them evermore
and my blood stain their future.
who can help you to devise a plan to help you out of this crisis. It is also important that you End of Lesson be around relatives and Dear End of Lesson, friends who can encourage you while you I have heard you and I execute your plan. feel your pain. In your situation, Undoubtedly, you are there will be a faced with an uncertain compelling temptation to future and because of focus only on yourself, that, you may have every forgetting about your reason to believe it is the children and others who end of the line for you. love and care for you. However, I am going But this is the time to to challenge you to dig deeper and find that exercise a bit more inner strength that has patience and advise that always been there just you capitalize on waiting for you to tap in. available counselling You are stronger than services offered at The you think and more Marion House. creative than you know. It is important that you sit with someone George
Leisure
ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) You may find that your mate is well aware of the circumstances. You don't want to give anyone fuel for the fire. You may be out of sorts if you have been extravagant or have let children or friends take advantage of you financially. TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Don't expect the whole family to be overjoyed. You are best to keep your cash in a safe place. Your courage and willpower will enable you to get rid of destructive habits as well. You can't make things better if you don't know what to fix. GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Talk to someone you trust if you need advice about broaching the subject. Efforts made to improve yourself will turn out to your satisfaction. Your mind will be wandering to exotic destinations. Don't let your partner goad you into wearing your heart on your sleeve.
LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You will be highly entertaining when in contact with your lover. Don't get so wrapped up in being rich that you overlook the fact that your plan may not be as solid as you thought. Talk to someone you trust in order to see the whole picture. SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You need to keep everyone on your domestic scene too busy to complain. You should try to elaborate on an idea you have regarding a product or service for the home. Get back down to earth and to basics. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) You need to put some trust in others. Don't be too quick to judge your loved ones. Your mate may want to pick a fight but if you're persistent with your affections their anger should dissipate. Coworkers may not be giving you all the pertinent information.
CANCER (June 22-July 22) Take a look at investment opportunities. Your emotional stability may influence the changes taking place in your personal life. Put your energy into home renovations. You might find that delays will cause setbacks and upset.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) You might want to spend some time by yourself in order to decide exactly how you feel. Take care of the needs of elders in your family. Listen to the advice given by others. Emotional deception is evident.
LEO (July 23-Aug 22) It might be best not to spend your money on luxuries this week. Make sure that you get legal matters checked out thoroughly. Keep your wits about you and be sure that you can trust those you confide in. Try to visit a country that excites you.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Regardless of your first reaction, the outcome will be favorable. Ask family members for help and you will be able to complete the projects more quickly. Don't make any rash decisions that may affect friendships.
VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) If you haven't already, consider starting your own business. You can certainly gain popularity; however, don't do it by paying for everyone else. If you put your mind to it, you could entertain or host a multitude of social events.
PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Your diplomacy will be of utmost importance this week. Don't point your finger unjustly at others. Do not jump to conclusions concerning your romantic partner. Don't let children hold you back from doing things you enjoy.
ACROSS 1. Break suddenly 5. Grant 9. Workout facility 12. Beer buy 13. Short distance 14. Glutton 15. Pipe problem 16. Olfactory’s business 17. Absorbed, as a cost 18. Finds functions for 19. Bait 20. Guys 21. Put chips in the pot 22. Purview 23. Biting insect 24. Shrewd 27. Jamboree shelter 29. __-man show 30. Salon job 31. Flake off 33. Cringed 36. Sly animal 37. Darwin’s interest 39. ___ if I care! 41. Started a fire 42. “Can you say that again?” 43. Sign of a past injury 44. Function 45. Gridiron move 46. Angel’s topper 47. Great deal 48. Manipulator 49. Column 50. Objective 51. Contact ___ 52. Existed
DOWN 1. Cancel a space trip 2. Sickness 3. Holdings 4. Cats, dogs and hamsters 5. Break 6. Withstand 7. Make a basket, e.g. 8. Give an ultimatum to 9. Medicine man 10. Mighty 11. Insurance broker 25. Pedicurist’s concern 26. Forbidden 28. And (abbreviation) 30. Pointed _____,
Motown group 31. Corrupt 32. Make a vacation longer 33. Enfeeble
LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION
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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. 31.
34. Slip away 35. Wheeler-___ 36. Piccolo’s cousin 38. New moon, e.g. 40. Undermine 43. Display
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32. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN
Young prospects praise TennisÊ virtues
L-R: Sari Mc Intosh, Afe Lucas and Jaydealeah Chambers. SIMPLY GETTING INVOLVED in tennis was the intention of some members of the Love All Tennis Academy (formerly, X-Cel Tennis Academy) however, over time the soft skills they acquired along the way have outpointed the initial objective. Three young people - Afe Lucas, Sari Mc Intosh and Jaydealeah Chambers — took the time out to express their views on the impact sports has had on their lives According to Lucas, “For me, tennis is a great game… For example, it teaches you how to manage your time,
discipline, you must learn how to follow instructions”. Pinpointing one area of her life which tennis has impacted positively, she said, “I used to have a bad way of thinking… I never used to be obedient but Tennis helped me to listen to people.” Already showing signs of going far, Lucas, said that she intends to reach as far as possible in the sport. Similarly, Mc Intosh expressed that her engagements with the One Love Tennis Academy have been fruitful
“If you have an opportunity outside of the court like in school, for example, if you have an exam and you didn’t study properly, you still have to try your best, and reach for your goals, just like reaching a ball that has been played short,” Mc Intosh reasoned. Chambers, for her part, shared, “I have been playing (tennis) for about a year and a half… I have met a lot of people and I feel like my skills have improved greatly.” Chambers cited the soft skills of being a better communicator, working with others and time management, as worthwhile derivatives from being a member of the Love All Tennis Academy. The trio’s responses were in keeping with the ideals of long-standing Head Coach of the academy- Kebajah King, who reiterated the need for the players to not only acquire tennis skills, but “life- skills.” and positive. King has been a ‘fixture’ of sorts at Noting that her playing days began the tennis coaching at the National in Preschool, she credited coachLotteries Authority courts at Kebajah King, for instilling some Richmond Hill, formerly known as values in her. ‘The Triangle’. “Coach has helped with a lot of From that base, King and stuff: time management, growth and Samantha Goodluck spearheaded the development and responsibilities … I formation of the X-Cel Tennis have learnt a lot,” she admitted, Academy. adding that these values have spilled Goodluck has since parted ways over into her personal life. with X-Cel triggering, according to Mc Intosh analogized that the challenges of reaching a “short ball” on King, the name-change to Love All Tennis Academy earlier this year. the court, with writing exams.
Swimmers attain PBs at World Championships
Mya De Freitas
THE FOUR SWIMMERS who represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the 15th edition of the FINA World Swimming Championships which took place in Abu Dhabi from 16th to 21st December, all recorded their Personal Bests in their respective events. Making the best of the outing were Mya De Freitas, Kevern Da Silva, Bryson George and Eltonte Leonard. Sixteen-year-old De Freitas clocked 28.03 seconds in the Women’s 50m Freestyle, to finish 66th of 68 competitors. She also ended in 67th
Kevern Da Silva
Bryson George
position of 85 swimmers in the 100m Freestyle. De Freitas’ time in the 100m event was 1:02.05. Da Silva competed in the 50m and 100m Backstroke and returned times of 32.17 and 1:10.71 respectively. The 14-year-old Da Silva placed 43rd of 55 in the 50m and was 45th of 48 in the
100m. In the Men’s segment, 15year-old Leonard contested in the 50m Men’s Freestyle and the 50m Butterfly. Leonard’s Freestyle clocking 24.52 seconds placed him 69th of 99 competitors, and his 26.90 second in the Butterfly, earned him a 66th placing among 84 swimmers in that
Eltonte Leonard event. And George, 17, was 41st of 51 in the Men’s 50m Breaststroke. His time was 29.99 seconds. He also swam in the 100m Breaststroke, clocking 1:07.73, finishing 53rd of 57. The Vincentian contingent was accompanied by Coach Kyle Dougan.
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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. 33.
Sports
System 3: More than football SYSTEM 3 Sports Academy, one of the more structured academies for young men and women here, has shifted its focus somewhat, so as to ensure that it continues to effectively address the sporting as well as the personal and academic development of its members. Founder, Coordinator and Coach of the Academy — Ian Sardine, a retired teacher, certified football coach and former President of the SVG Football Federation, outlined the route the Academy is taking. “We have adjusted and modified our approach over the years mainly to meet the basic needs of the kids. We have shifted the focus from local competition (football). Not that we don’t take part in local tournaments, but the focus and emphasis is no longer on competition locally, instead, it’s on developing the players to prepare them for opportunities more than those of playing the sport. “Towards this end, we have been responsible for sending kids to universities and colleges in the United States on a consistent basis. Recently we have also sent a
number of young athletes to the Jamaica College, Jamaica. We want to continue that trend of sending the kids out for their development academically and also to expose them to a higher level of football.” Sardine said that he considered “Jamaica as a stepping stone in the development of our kids.” He identified Jamaica has one of the best System 3 Sports Academy is headquartered at the Richmond Hill Playing training programmes in the Field where it also conducts its on field training programme. world that will assist students Ian Sardine, Founder, to decide on their future, Sardine is development, the development Coordinator and Coach whether to pursue football of the football skills continued hopeful that those of System 3 Sports professionally or pursue full who get an apace. Academy is renowned university degrees. During the COVID-affected opportunity to for his untiring work He explained, “So I find period when as Sardine said, hone their skills with and on behalf of opportunities for the kids, “Locally we have not played and pursue young people in SVG. usually in junior college … any football for two years,” the academic they spend two years to get Academy was able to organize programmes sport which their associated degree but a visit to Jamaica College overseas would give back to will be great. At some point most importantly, it builds up where they engaged in some their communities. we might have to make it credit that they could use for competition. “First of all, it is their own mandatory once everything their university education and “To have an opportunity for personal development, but on goes well,” he said. it reduces the cost...” the kids to go and play in their return, they will bring a Notwithstanding the Jamaica was pleasing,” more professional approach to I.B.A.ALLEN emphasis on overall the clubs, community and the Sardine remarked.
SVGTTA President ready to pack up SITTING President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Table Tennis Association (SVGTTA) - Orville Haslam OD, will prefer not to seek reelection at the next occasion his organisation convenes the process. Elected to the top position four years ago, Haslam told THE VINCENTIAN: “I have told everyone that I will be stepping down… I hope not to, I am trying to see around if I can find someone to replace me (and) I am sure that there are people out there.” Haslam noted that it is not his responsibility to hand pick his successor, but he suggested, “You need someone with new ideas… The sport is changing and there are greater demands.” Jamaica-born Haslam said that whilst he is ready to step down from the presidency, he will be available to help the sport and lend his expertise and knowledge when and if needed. Looking back on his four-
year tenure as President, Haslam was forthright in stating that there were many issues which he did not attend to, which if done could have advanced St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Table Tennis. “I could have been a bit more forceful in some areas”, he conceded even as he posited that the sport has seen some upward movement under his charge. And for why he chose this juncture to step down from the helm of table tennis here, he cited, as a major reason, that he wanted some personal time to do a few things, hence he did not want the burden of presidency to hinder his plans. Speaking of his many years of involvement in Table Tennis, Haslam related: “I have been around for a long time, as a player, coach and an administrator, so it is time to move on.” The 77-year-old Haslam was a dominant Table Tennis player in the Caribbean in the 1960s and 1970s.
Between 1967 and 1971, Haslam stashed five straight Singles titles, three Mixed Doubles titles and three Men’s Doubles titles. Delayed Elections Haslam was elected to head the SVGTTA in November, 2017 meaning that elections of a new Executive should have already taken place. “Because of COVID Orville Haslam and so on, we were not OD. Current able to hold elections President of the …I called for an SVGTTA, will election earlier via gladly make Zoom, but this was not way for a agreed on,” Haslam suitable said. replacement. Haslam assured that the Annual General Meeting of the SVGTTA will be Secretary; Female Table Tennis has made a welcomed convened at the earliest returned during Haslam’s tenure. Nixon convenient time in 2022. Louis Apart from Haslam, the Assistant SVGTTA Executive includes: Stanley and Montgomery Secretary; Terrance Dennis Gaymes - Vice Howard - Committee Marksman — Treasurer; Sean Members. President: Asquith Ballah —
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34. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN
Sports
Ready for the blast Next Monday, January 3, the West Indies Under19 squad rounds off its preparation for the World Cup which will be determined February 5. The West Indies will look to lift that trophy, but so will be defending champion Bangladesh and the other 14 challengers. They will have to make it to the semi-final in the first stage. That will mean taking care of Australia, Scotland and Sri Lanka in their Group and finish off with semifinal and final honours. There was no crowd at the Arnos Vale Playing last Tuesday, December 28, and perhaps the absence of fans may have inspired the squad to an emphatic eight-wicket win. That was unlike the outcome at Cumberland in the first match staged December 26. The West Indies collapsed in their chase of a 149 target, causing outbursts as explosive as the volcano which stands some distance north of the Cumberland Playing Field. It is significant that the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association chose Cumberland and Arnos Vale for the four-match Warm-up session. Commentators, players, spectators gave their verdict on Arnos Vale. It remains the pristine regional delight and has served the West Indies in good stead. With the Bequia Channel forming the outline to the Grenadines chain of islands, the playing field on the base of a plain gently rolling into the surroundings hills. Cumberland, on the northern coastline, is overlooked by the village of Coulls Hill from the north. A former estate, decorated with coconut trees and other tropical vegetation and splendour, the terrain spreads inwards to a shield into the spring Village community. At Cumberland, fans looked at the cricket without having to be checked by security at the gate. The South Africans would have been pleased to return to that venue yesterday, December 30,for the third encounter. The West Indies on the other hand would have wanted to prove to the North Leeward fans their mettle having rebounded at Arnos Vale. Up till yesterday, it was all to play for. The West Indies would have hoped for a Cumberland win and complete the preparation with a series victory at Arnos Vale. The matches were healthy ground work for the squad, getting to gel and knowing what to look for. They will realise that they are who they are and cannot be compared to others, past or peers in the international arena. It is up to the affiliates to make sure there are programmes to nurture the talent that is available. Avenues to develop those youngsters must be provided. There is this era of uncertainty that affects everything. Measures previously regarded as harsh have become the order of the day. Chances have been taken in efforts to normalise things, but the reality is forcing everyone to take a good look at the situation. The question of health has never before been such a crucial factor. The last two years have given us the platform on which we have to build, not just better communities, but a region, and universe.
West Indies U19s pull one back WEST INDIES Under-19 cricket team put in a much-improved performance against their South African counterparts, to level the four-match ODI series 1-1, going into the last two matches. This, after an 8-wicket win on Tuesday in the second encounter played at the Arnos Vale Playing Field. The WI Under-19s bounced back from an 18-run defeat by South Africa Under-19s at the Cumberland Playing Field in the first match, Dec. 26. Both teams are using these matches as preparation for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 World Cup, to be held in the Caribbean early next year. In last Tuesday match, the WI won the toss and invited South Africa to bat. They soon had the visitors on the back foot taking three wickets in the first 6 overs. South Africa eventually closed
on a disappointing 103 from 32.3 overs with a top score of 24 coming from Mickey Copeland. Aadile Simelane and Asakhe Tsaka each made 14 to be the only other batsmen to get to double figures. Jaden Carmichael was the best West Indies bowler with figures of 3 for 25. Anderson Mahase took 2 for 34 and McKenny Clarke 2 for 12. The West Indies made a positive start led by opener Mathew Nandu, whose stroked and unbeaten 42 including four fours. He was supported by Captain Ackeem Auguste, 28 not out; and Teddy Bishop, 25. They raced to their victory target, 104, for the loss of two wickets. In the first match, WI won the toss and inserted the visitors. They were bowled out for 146 from 34.2 overs, led by Jade Smith, 34, and Ethan
Mathew Nandu top scored for WI U-19 in the second game.
Giovonte Depeiza top scored for WI U19 in the first game.
Cunningham, 30. Mahase was the pick of the WI bowlers with figures of 4 for 23, while Onage Amory and Jaden Carmichael captured 3 for 34 and 3 for 19 respectively. In reply, the West Indies crumbled to 128 all out in 34.4 overs after being 121 for 3 at one stage. Vice-captain Giovonte Depeiza top scored with 39. Captain Akeem Auguste got 27 and Teddy Bishop, 24. Dewald Brevis was the visitors’ best bowler with 3 for 36 and Andile Simelane bagged 2 for 5.
Lara joins IPL Sunrisers
Brian Lara is looking forward to the challenges of his first major stint as a batting coach. INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE (IPL) Franchise- Sunrisers Hyderabad, has brought West Indies batting legend Brian Lara onboard, ahead of the 2022 IPL season. The 52-year-old Trinidadian has been named strategic advisor and batting coach for Sunrisers that has also hired South Africa’s
Dale Steyn as their pace bowling coach. Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralidaran will continue as spin bowling coach. This will be Lara’s first major stint as a batting coach and he had this to say on Instagram after his appointment: “Humbled by @sunriserhyd faith in me. This appointment as strategic advisor and batting coach gives me the opportunity to do a job I have always yearned to do, and that’s to pass on what I know about our wonderful game of cricket to its future star. … I look forward to the challenge with the same energy and zeal as my playing days.” Australian Tom Moody has returned to the head coaching role after serving as director of cricket
with Trevor Baylis as head coach. Moody’s return followed Sunrisers’ poor showing last season. Moody coached the franchise for seven seasons between 2013 and 2019, leading them to the title in 2016, and reaching the knockout stages on five occasions. Lara and company will have their hands full in attempting to turn the franchise’s fortunes around. Last season under Bayliss, Sunrisers Hyderbad won just three of their 14 matches to finish last in the eight-team tournament, and failed, in the process, to make the playoffs. The franchise had made it to the IPL playoffs in each of the five previous seasons.
Invaders take Rugby Series INVADERS were in sparkling form and as expected dominated the three-match five-a-side Rugby series, organized by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Rugby Union and played last weekend at the Cane Grove playing field. In the first game in the Senior Division, Invaders 2 defeated Sharks 2 by a 37 - 25 margin. Try scorers for Invaders were Ajay Delpeache with 3, Klyvbert Browne 2 and Adrian Sam and Kaif Westfield 1 each. For Sharks 2, Gidroy Theobalds had two tries and there was one each for Mekhi Smith, Dwane Jackson and Jayshorn Primus. In the Juniors Division match, Invaders were even dominant when they outran Sharks 40 points to 24 points. For Invaders, Kaif Westfield and Klyvbert
Browne had 2 tries each and Ezroy Edwards and Rod Laborde 1 each. Gidroy Theobalds and David Butler had 2 tries each and Jashorn Primus and Dwayne Jackson 1 each for Sharks. In the final open encounter Sharks 1 were able to turn the tables when they beat Invaders 34 points to 15. Tries for Sharks came from Paul The Senior Invaders Rugby Kirby 3 and 1 each team. from Brian Alexander, Kevin Cain, Gidroy Theobalds and Klyvbert Brown 1. Kareem Cain. For Invaders, Kaif Westfield scored 2 tries and Stories: I.B.A.ALLEN
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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021. 35.
Classifieds
Point Village makes it nine straight
Continued from Backpage. Hall second, Chateaubelair at Mission Following Point Corner third and Troumaca at the Cross Second to Point Road, fourth Village in the overall competition was Sion Other results Hill at the Intersection. Third was Richland Park Other announcements (Davis Square) and on Friday, the last day of fourth, Rose Bank at the the Nine Mornings Village Square. Festival at the Victoria These four emerged as Park, disclosed that their respective Zonal Coreas Hazells Inc. City winners. Store (Kingstown) had Point Village won won the Best Lit Zone Four, ahead of Sans Commercial Building Souci, Owia at the School prize, beating Jax Ground and Diamond Enterprises into second Village in that order. position. Sion Hill trumped The Roseau Zone Three. Chauncey at Recreation Park took the the Junction was second top spot for the Best - Questelles was third Nativity Scene, with with Calliaqua (between Jimmy Samuel’s Dougan’s Bar and the residence at Rillan Hill ULP Office) placing taking away the Best fourth Richland Park Light Home title. took Zone Two followed Andrick Arthur won by Cotton Ground, the Best Lit Bicycle second, and Carriere at category and Eldreth the Junction. King Best Decorated Taking Zone One was Push Cart. Rose Bank, with Rose
Securing the Best Christmas Outfit was Jaheem Baptiste and displaying the Best Facemask was Sonia Joseph. Keneil Alexander won
the Bring Yo Song and Come contest with his ‘Small Change’. The theme for this year’s festival was’ ‘A Festival of Lights: Hope in a Darken World’.
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER
31, 2021
VOLUME 115, No.52
www.thevincentian.com
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POINT VILLAGE’S MAKES IT NINE STRAIGHT POINT VILLAGE rose from the cover of La Soufrière’s ashes to cop the 2021 Vinlec National Community Lighting Competition. With a lighting design that adhered to the theme, ‘Arwe Christmas Vincy Christmas: From Ashes to Lights, Together We Rise’, Point Village, in 2021, made it their ninth straight victory. For Deslyn Daniel, one of the driving forces behind the production, it was a sweet victory, given the travails of having to endure the ravages and displacement occasioned by the volcanic eruptions in April of this year. Keneil Alexander - winner of the 2021 Bring Yo Song and Come Contest.
Part of the Coreas Hazells Inc. City Store (Kingstown) that won them the Best Lit Commercial Building top prize.
The Point experience
Point Villages theme in full glow across the night’s sky.
“It was kind of rough for us, because we lost our shed… It broke down from the ashes, but we were able to save some of the lights from the years before, and we brought back some of the stuff we used from previous years,” Daniel related. To add to their woes, the late announcement that there would have been community lighting this year, placed Daniel’s small group in a predicament. Daniel revealed, “When we got the news (that there will be lighting), everyone in Point was telling us just throw up some lights because there was no judging, so we did that.” But once there was confirmation of
a competition, the Point team got down to serious business. Daniel noted it was not until four days before their date for judging on 21st December, that they put together the theme and went about pulling things together. “We involved the children to give us some ideas… So, we based everything on the volcano and with our small team just a few of us, it was a round the clock affair,” Daniel pointed out. She thanked all who supported their effort, which turned to be a victorious one for Point Village, once again. Continued on Page 35.
Jimmy Samuel’s residence at Rillan Hill was the Best Lit Home for 2021.
Published by The VINCENTIAN Publishing Co. Ltd, St. Vincent and the Grenadines;
Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.