FRIDAY, JANUARY 05, 2024
VOLUME 118, No.01
Device use and accidents Page 3
www.thevincentian.com
Man charged for murder Page 4
Former TT PM passes Page 9
EC$1.50
Tribute to Martin B Page 11
55th Homicide Page 20
Coast Guard and local fishermen searching for any wreckage of the plane.
Balliceaux, a 320-acre island owned by the Linley family, has been advertised for sale for some time now. The listing price is US$30 million.
PLANE CRASH IN BEQUIA:
GOVERNMENT NO SURVIVORS
EYES BALLICEAUX
acquisition of Balliceaux was something that the Government of GOVERNMENT IS SEEKING to St. Vincent and the Grenadines purchase or acquire Balliceaux. was prepared to give serious That is the indication given by consideration to, if the situation Prime Minister Dr. Ralph presented itself. Gonsalves while speaking on He assured then that radio on January 3. government was going to do its Gonsalves told listeners that he own valuation. had already requested a valuation “And if the case of all the of the island from the chief priorities and availability of surveyor, a pre-requisite to resources, that we cannot come to determining either an offer of a private agreement, well the law purchase by the government or, if gives provision to acquire at a there is no agreement as per particular price and if the purchase, to invoke the law in acquisition is done and you are relation to acquisition. not satisfied about the price, well While speaking at the National there is a judicial process where Heroes Day wreath laying that can be done,” he said on ceremony on March 14, 2023, March 14, 2023. Gonsalves said that the The prime minister disclosed Stories by DAYLE DASILVA
that he was in contact with the lawyer for the present ‘owners’ of the uninhabited island. “Naturally, that title would have to be interrogated to make sure that everything is in order,” Gonsalves said. And even though Balliceaux has been listed for sale for some time, Gonsalves had indicated that any non-Vincentian wanting to buy would first have to be granted an alien land holding license, which would not be granted so easily given the historical significance of the island. Balliceaux is regarded as sacred ground for the descendants Continued on Page 3.
THE ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Coast Guard has confirmed that there are no survivors after a light aircraft crashed into the sea, shortly after taking off from the J.F Mitchell Airport in Bequia. Information reaching THE VINCENTIAN said that a small aircraft, registration number N4023B owned and piloted by Robert Sachs of Bequia, crashed shortly after take-off from Paget Farm, Bequia around 12:11pm, en route to St Lucia. Commander Dion Henry of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard indicated that four persons (including the pilot) were on board the aircraft when it plunged into the sea. The Police have since confirmed that the passengers were: Mr. Christian Klepser, 51 years old from the United States of America, and his two (2) daughters, Madita Klepser and Annik Klepser, 10 and 12 years old respectively. A rescue mission, involving a Coast Guard unit and a number of local fishermen/divers, were able to retrieve the bodies of the passengers and pilot.
Moments after taking off, the aircraft experienced difficulties and plummeted into the ocean.