THE VINCENTIAN PDF-05-02-21

FRIDAY, MARCH

05, 2021

VOLUME 115, No.09 www.thevincentian.com

47 families to relocate Page 3

IWD feature Page 5

EC$1.50

Vaccinations roll out Page 6

CXC EXAMS SCHEDULED:

The SVGTU panel at last Friday’s press conference (l-r): Andrew John, Oswald Robinson and Fiona Charles.

SVGTU RAISES CONCERN Stories by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES TEACHERS’ UNION (SVGTU) has registered its concern that local education officials have accepted the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) schedule for the 2021 the CSEC and CAPE exams, and the Council’s reversion to the pre-2020 format, without involving the Teachers’ Union in that decisionmaking process.

President of the SVGTU Oswald Robinson made the concern known during a press conference hosted by his Union last Friday, during which he also chided the CXC for being overly taken up with getting the exams done.

The SVGTU President is alarmed that negotiations are conducted “behind the back of the Union.” As far as Robinson is concerned, “children are being short-changed.”

For Robinson, one of the Union’s greatest strength is “silence.” He chastised the Education Ministry for its refusal to talk with the Union.

“Time longer than twine,” Robinson asserted. He outlined that when “push come to shove, that is the time you will understand the need for the Teachers Union,” Robinson predicted.

Continued on Page 3.

Digicel turns 18 Page 17

COVID-19 rocks MHRC Page 28

‘REPLACE MANAGEMENT AT MHRC,’ PSU SAYS THE PUBLIC SERVICE UNION (PSU), which represents workers across various ministries and departments of the Government (Public) Service, wants the management of the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre (MHRC) replaced.

And as far as Elroy Boucher, President of the PSU is concerned, Elroy Boucher, President of the PSU, articulated the management is the Union’s view of the “inept,” and he appealed to the Public Management in place at the Mental Health Centre.

Service Commission (PSU), which has responsible for appointment of public service officers, to act swiftly.

Boucher made the call and shared his opinion at a press conference the Union hosted last Wednesday at its headquarters at McKies Hill.

The call for a shake-up at the MHRC comes amidst disclosure of over 100 cases of COVID-19 at the Centre, up to Wednesday. (See article on Back Page.)

Boucher labelled the breakout as an “exposure of all the weaknesses,” at the institution, and posited that rectifying the management structure was one action towards not just ending the current problem, but addressing other deep seated problems at the institution.

Newly installed Industrial Officer of the PSUJoel Poyer noted the vulnerability of patients at the institution, and cited neglect of their health as contributing to the surge in COVID-19 cases there.

There were, according to Poyer, complaints that overcrowding at the institution was compounding the situation.

Complaints also surfaced about workers being refused protective equipment.

Notwithstanding the grievances the Union had, Shelly Ann Alexander-Ross, Public Relations Officer of the PSU, issued a public encouragement for members and the public at large to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

And while the MHRC occupied the great degree of attention at the press conference, Boucher also alluded to the increase in the Customs Service Charge.

While he recognised that the increase (5% to 6%) appeared minimal, its impact on food prices and the cost of living generally, would result in hardships on the people, Boucher said. (WKA)

V RBC Eastern Caribbean sale approved 2. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Business

THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN CENTRAL BANK (ECCB) has approved the sale of Royal Bank of Canada in the territories of the Eastern Caribbean.

On Friday 12th February, Governor Timothy Antoine of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank confirmed that RBC assets will be sold to a consortium of indigenous banks within the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) jurisdiction, viz. 1st National Bank (St. Lucia), Antigua Commercial Bank, National Bank of Dominica, Bank of Montserrat, and Bank of Nevis. The sale includes operations in Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Royal Bank of Canada continued to trade under the RBTT brand name.

The approval of the sale was granted at the 98th Meeting of the ECCU Monetary Council on Friday at ECCB headquarters in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis.

Governor Antoine said following that meeting, “On the question of RBC, the ECCB has approved the application for the sale of the RBC operations in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union to a consortium of indigenous or national banks. That process is now moving forward, and an announcement will be made in due course. But the idea is to conclude that transaction not too long from now. So that is moving forward. In fact, I can tell you only yesterday [on Thursday,

It is anticipated that this RBTT/RBC branch in Kingstown, St. Vincent will be rebranded.

11 February 2021] we submitted to the finance ministers a vesting order or vesting orders, which is an important legal instrument to transfer assets from one bank or banking entity to another. So that process is moving forward.”

The sale of RBC to Caribbean banks follows the similar acquisitions of Canadian based banks by Caribbean entities. In 2019, much of Bank of Nova Scotia’s (BNS) stake in the Eastern Caribbean was sold to Trinidad and Tobago’s Republic Bank.

In October last year, BNS declared that it had reached an arrangement for the sale of its services in Antigua and Barbuda to the Eastern Caribbean Amalgamated Bank Limited (ECAB).

That settlement is subject to

regulatory permissions and other conventional closing requirements.

The Governor also addressed the recent decision by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) that a majority stake in First Caribbean International Bank Limited (FCIB) would not be sold after a bid was rejected by Caribbean regulators.

“In terms of the sale of CIBC, I would simply confirm that regulators across the region considered it. Central Bank of Barbados is the lead regulator, based on the jurisdiction of CIBC FCIB. But all regulators, including the ECCB, were involved in that discussion, and came to that decision which has been conveyed and you are correct the application was denied.” (T&T Guardian, ECCB)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. 3.

News 3 47 Rose Place families to be relocated beach in Rose Place were given until March 31st, 2019 to make themselves known to the government. Those who presented themselves are the ones expected to move into the new houses.

Those who had also own small businesses are expected to receive a housing unit which accommodate the continuing operations of their business.

component of the Port Development Project and makes up just EC$4.2 million of the US$185 million/EC$500 modernization plan. Housing units for 47 families are expected to finish by September this year.

The housing project is being executed by more than one contracting firm and will include one and two-bedroom duplexes and one, two and threebedroom single houses.

Chairperson of the Port Modernization Project Steering Continued from Front Page.

Committee, Laura Anthony-Browne said The 2021 CSEC exams will take place from that four of the homes June 14 to July 16, and will consist of Papers 1, 2 are already completed, and 3/School Based Assessment (SBA) as per the Some of the duplexes nearing completion at the Lowmans Bay site to which but the outside will original format of CXC examinations. Results are the Rose Place families will be located. (Photo Credit: API SVG) remain unpainted for expected to be released by 2021. now as construction is The exams are to be conducted in a face-to-face FORTY-SEVEN FAMILIES who will be The first phase involves the still ongoing. Tiling, manner and Robinson did not refrain from making affected by the Port Project in Rose construction of a new cargo port that painting and other inside known his Union’s concerned about the health and Place are expected to move into their will also allocate land for expansion of works have already been safety issues surrounding the procedure. new homes at Lowmans Bay, later this the current cruise facility. The second completed. After the The SVGTU’s concern about the 2021 CXC year. phase will include construction of an houses are completed exams comes on the heels of similar expression by The port modernization project, inter-island and regional port. they will be handed over the Group of Concerned Parents of Barbados and estimated to cost US$ 185 million, is Both phases are estimated to take to the government who students in that country. Concern has also been funded by the Caribbean Development two-and-a-half years to complete. expressed in Jamaica. will then decide when Bank through the United Kingdom Developers have stressed the work will persons can move in.

Caribbean Infrastructure Fund, and be climate-resilient.

Graduate Teachers Persons living on the will take place in two phases.

The housing project is a small Other concerns raised by the Union included the non-appointment of graduate teachers.

In Robinson’s assessment, nothing has been done in relation to the appointment of those about severe teachers, even after pre-Budget consultation with allergic reactions government officials. also known as The President lamented the situation of anaphylactic Teachers’ non-appointment after 25 years in some shocks, he instances and pointed, not for the first time, to the reiterated that government’s failure to honour a Collective wherever COVIDAgreement agreed in 2005.

19 vaccines are Robinson was vehement in his condemnation of administered, the what he described as a government policy of agents will always appointing teachers who are not affiliated to the have a kit to Union. administer adrenaline to Online classes anyone who The AstraZeneca vaccine is widely available in experiences a Attention was also drawn to the online classes Dr. Jerrol Thompson SVG and at least one medical specialist said there severe allergic reaction. and the difficulties teachers have with reaching has been availing his should be no fear about having the COVID-19 And as far how long students during this crisis situation, especially expertise in public fora vaccine. the protection provided given that most teachers conduct their lessons to assist with allaying by the COVID-19 from their homes. fears and giving INFECTIOUS DISEASE He made the vaccines will last, Dr. Robinson cited the facts that some students are guidance as it relates to SPECIALIST Dr. Jerrol statement during an Thompson said on the not on-line, an internet service that is prone to the COVID-19 disease.

Thompson has made episode of the Face to February 25, 2021 breakdowns and electricity outages and in some known that people prone Face programme aired episode of ‘Round Table cases no access to electricity; as worsening the “I think that the studies to allergic reactions on NBC Radio earlier situation.

Talk’ aired on VC# TV, have shown that the The extra demands placed on teachers as a should have no fear this week. that it was too early to result of the new situation, did not escape the level of immunity that’s taking the COVID-19 Dr. Thompson, who say with any surety.

President’s attention. created by the vaccine, vaccine. was one of the first to be He gave the same He noted that members have to use more According to Dr. vaccinated here, said if a response to whether the this vaccine should last electricity, not to mention the cost of basic food many years. But I think Thompson, even persons person is to have an vaccine will have to be items cutting into their earnings. “Nobody has we’ll be hard pressed to prone to severe allergic allergic reaction to a taken annually, noting come to the assistance of teachers,” he pointed out. say definitively how reactions can take the particular medication, that the information He is asking that the authorities provide vaccine because the these reactions would available does not speak many years it would last teachers with help to build platforms at their Ministry of Health has more often than not with any definition to the for.” homes, to aid with the provision of lessons on-line.

He admitted that if a kits in place at all occur at the same time COVID-19 vaccine Robinson was supported at the press conference mutant strain does come vaccination centers, to medication is having to be by Public Relations Officer Fiona Charles and along, it may require a respond to those administered. administered annually, Industrial Relations and Research Officer Andrew booster to be created to situations should they While noting that like the flu vaccine.

John. deal with that. (KH) occur. some people are worried However, he posited,

SVGTU raises concern

COVID-19 Vaccine: Have no fear

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4. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Sentencing is a challenge MANY PERSONS who appear regularly before the Courts on criminal charges have been doing so since they were juveniles.

And most of them continue to create problems for the rest of society, despite everything the Court has done ranging from non-custodial sentences to custodial sentences.

The situation poses a challenge when the Court has to sentence such individuals.

On such case surfaced at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, and involved 37-year-old Renalto Bute of Edinboro, who pleaded guilty to stealing a brake pad valued at $57.50 from Richardson’s Motors at Arnos Vale, December 30 last year.

The brakes pad was not recovered.

Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett noticed that Bute’s record seemed not to be up to date, and turning to the defendant, he asked, “Mr. Bute, let me ask you something. What else can the Court do for you?”

Bute replied, “I don’t understand.”

“You have become a regular. The Court has done everything for you and you have not changed. Looking at your record, you entered the Criminal Justice System many moons ago, when

you were a boy, and that course of conduct was continued for your entire life,” the Magistrate explained.

Bute rebutted by telling the Magistrate that he was on drugs, and that he needed counselling.

But the Magistrate reminded him that, “Even though you say that you are on drugs in 2021, many moons ago you were before the Court for burglary.”

Burnett noted that Bute had a string of convictions for theft and burglary, dated as far back as his boyhood days.

“Even though you have been sent to prison on many occasions, that has not changed you, so sending you back to prison this morning is not likely to change you,” the Magistrate reasoned.

In relation to counselling, Burnett told him, “If you need counselling, why you don’t just walk off the street and get counselling. Why you wait until you commit a crime, and come before the Court to say you need counselling?”

Burnett contended that Bute knew exactly what he was doing.

At that point, Prosecutor Renrick Cato told the Court that when he became involved in the Court process in 2000, Bute was before the Courts then. He was not able then to pay a

fine or compensation.

“These guys are not working, and are making the lives of others a living hell,” Burnett said, adding that perhaps it is because they are not working why they make the lives of others miserable.

“It happens so often in this Court.

Persons who are committing crimes are unemployed, or have very little or no resources. Perhaps if they had resources, crime may not be attractive to them,” the Magistrate commented.

“Instead of sending them to prison, I wish I could have done something else, because there is work outside to be done. Let them work hard and receive zero dollars,” he suggested.

“Mr. Bute, I don’t know what else to do with you,” Burnett pondered.

And in responding to what some people might think is a simple undertaking, Magistrate Burnett declared, “Sentencing is a very difficult exercise to embark upon.”

When the Magistrate asked the Sales Provider of Richardson’s who was at hand, if the Company would be willing to employ Bute, she said no, because the security cameras had picked up images of him “sculking around the area” prior to the incident.

“The reason why some of these guys keep going back to prison is because

SOME PERSONS with mental health problems who take to the streets when they are supposed to be at the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre (MHRC), are creating problems for the rest of society.

Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett raised this concern on Tuesday during a sitting of the Kingstown Magistrate Court.

He was presiding over a matter in which 44-year-old Alvan Richardson of Diamond pleaded guilty to stealing a JanSport bag valued $400, containing $700 in cash and other items including a passport, all being the property of someone who was doing maintenance work at Browne’s Hardware, Kingstown..

The theft is said to have been executed around 12:05 p.m. on January 3pm.

Richardson was arrested following a report to the police and during a search of his persons, $500 in cash

was discovered folded and wrapped up in the leg of his trousers.

The complainant recovered the bag with the other stuff at Paul’s Avenue in the vicinity of VINLEC, but $200 was not recovered.

Richardson had been confined to the MHRC but according to Prosecutor Renrick Cato, the defendant is always on the streets of Kingstown and poses a problem especially when he is not taking his medication.

The Prosecutor informed the Court that Richardson was unemployed and would not be able to pay a fine or compensation.

“What do you do with defendants like these?” the Senior Magistrate questioned.

“He has a mental health problem, and when they are out on the streets, they create a problem for the rest of society,” he added.

Burnett pointed out that, “When someone is sent as custody of the state

to the Mental Health Centre, there should be some level of security.”

Noting that the first offence that landed Richardson before the Court was committed at the age of 14.

Burnett added, “So the problem we are seeing in this Court ain’t just come.

Most of them started their lives of crime when they were boys, but that is a story for the sociologists.”

Burnett agreed that, “He is going back out to do the same thing. I have to protect society from people like him,” and admiited that “the Court has to be mindful of the fact that this guy has a mental health problem.”

The Magistrate while recognizing that the defendant should be at the MHRC, also noted that but when he is sent there, he is back out on the streets.

Richardson was sentenced to four months behind bars, but his time on remand will be taken into account.

Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

from the time they go in, no one is willing to employ them,” the Magistrate deduced.

Bute told the Magistrate that he operated a cart sometimes, and asked the Magistrate Rickie Magistrate to allow him time Burnette while to pay back the raising concern about the impact of $57.50. The Magistrate gave prison sentences, conceded that he him the had no choice but opportunity to to act according to do so. the dictates of his He was position. ordered to pay the compensation by May 21, or go to prison for two months.

Bute was also sentenced to two months, but the four months he had already spent on remand would be taken into account. He was granted bail in his own recognizance on another charge of theft on condition that he report to the Central Police Station on Mondays and Fridays, until that matter is disposed of.

Mentally ill creating problems No show – Nigerian’s case adjourned

Conductor fined for obstructing police NEMROD LORRAINE, 26-year-old minibus conductor of Sandy Bay, was fined $200 on Tuesday for obstructing a police officer on duty.

Lorraine was ordered to pay the fine by April 24 or go to prison for 14 days.

Appearing at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, Lorraine pleaded guilty to obstructing Police Constable 62 Barnwell, she being a police officer acting in due execution of her duties.

The Court heard that on December 30 last year there was a traffic

congestion at Bay Street, Kingstown, in the area of the Geest Bus terminal, causing the police to intervene.

The driver of the minibus HP507 was causing that congestion and PC Barnwell, who is attached to the Traffic Department of the Police Force, asked the driver to remove the vehicle.

The driver was willing to remove the vehicle but the conductor took matters into his hands, and told the driver, “Do not move. We dey in de bus stop, is a box we waiting on.”

The Officer again spoke to the driver and the conductor said, “Don’t

move the vehicle from dey. We dey in de bus stop, so she can’t move we.”

Before handing down the penalty, Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett told Lorraine, “When you see the police doing their work, leave them alone.

When the police are exercising their duties, even if you have a problem with it, leave them alone.”

He advised that if the police did something that anyone has a problem with, there are the laws and procedures to deal with it.

CHIEF MAGISTRATE Rechanne Browne is expected to rule today (Friday) on a no case submission in the case of Nigerian national Eunice Dowers.

Dowers is facing 54 charges of dishonesty relating to allegations of fraud and theft from the owner of Star Garage- Bertille ‘Silky’ DaSilva, between September 2018 and January 2019.

The Chief Magistrate was expected to give her ruling last week Friday, but when the matter was called there was no show of Dowers’ lawyer Grant Connell, and the Magistrate indicated that he had communicated to the Court, by letter, that he would be before Justice Brian Cottle at the High Court that day, and was likely to be there for the next three days.

As a result the matter was adjourned to today.

Connell had made the no case submission following the closure of the Prosecution’s case, but Browne had reserved her decision.

Dowers initially came to these shores as a medical student and subsequently worked at Star Garage, first as a secretary then as a Customs Broker.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. 5.

News

International WomenÊs Day

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s equality.

Marked annually on March 8th, International Women’s Day (IWD) is one of the most important days of the year to: * celebrate women’s achievements; * raise awareness about women’s equality; * lobby for accelerated gender parity; * fundraiser for female-focused charities; The campaign theme for International Women’s Day 2021 is ‘Choose To Challenge’. A challenged world is an alert world. And from challenge comes change. So let’s all #ChooseToChallenge.

Jeannie Ollivierre, Director of Marion House, sees unemployment , among others issues, as negatively impacting the lives of young women here.

Vincentian Women Need Sustainability

More on Page 15.

Committee for the Development of Women (CDW)

Message on the occasion of International Women’s Day, 2021 THEME: A Challenge to Revitalise the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action ON SEPTEMBER 15, 1995, the Beijing Platform for the Advancement of Women was adopted by the United Nations. It was lauded as the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing women’s rights. As a defining framework for change, the Platform for Action made comprehensive commitments under 12 critical areas of concern.

It remains a powerful source of guidance and inspiration, and will greatly assist in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 — Gender Equality.

Yet, twenty-five years later, implementation of its Strategies and Actions proceeds at an alarmingly slow pace.

The first area for attention is education on its content. The resources for education outreach dwindled and became scarce following the passage of the Platform for Action, as if the work was done. As a result, the final content was not consistently passed on to the different sectors of the population as required by section 296 of the section, on national level institutional frameworks, which states, “A key activity should be to promote public awareness and support for the goals of the Platform for Action, inter alia, through mass media and public education”.

Therefore, it is new to members of the population born since 1995.

A determined plea for inclusion of a section on the Girl Child

moved the critical areas of concern from 11 to 12. These are — Women and Poverty; Education and training of women; Women and Health; Violence against women; Women and Armed Conflict; Women and the economy, Women in power and decisionmaking; Institutional mechanism for the advancement of women; Human Rights of Women; Women and the Media; Women and the Environment; The Girl Child.

The twelve critical areas of concern deal with every aspect of women’s lives and our role as contributors to the development of ourselves, our families, our communities and our countries. It deals with leadership roles, as well as our essential but undervalued roles as mothers, wives, and caregivers working in and outside of the home.

Section 39 of the global framework states that “The girl child of today is the woman of tomorrow. For the girl-child to develop her full potential she needs to be nurtured in an enabling environment, where her spiritual, intellectual and material needs for survival, protection and development are met……”.

Who is charged with this responsibility? Women and men.

Beyond doubt, many of our girls are nurtured and supported through challenges, and are blooming. However, too many of our girls are hindered from developing to their full potential when Mother is battered and bruised, when this girl child is sexually initiated by strangers, as

well as her father, male and female relatives. Where is the enabling environment when she then is likely to grow up believing this is the norm for women, and her brother grows up believing this is the norm for men and women? Education and Training to change such belief systems are limited and inadequate for some communities.

The key to equality, development and peace for women is to implement the Beijing Declaration and the Beijing Platform for Action in its entirety.

The urgent task of NGO’s and women’s organisations is to challenge ourselves and our governments to move away from repeated calls for data on situations that have already manifested themselves in all the Conferences on women, ending with the Fourth World Conference on Women that produced the Beijing Platform for Action.

The Hon. Prime Minister has declared 2021 as the Year of the Domestic Worker”, most of whom are women. The Beijing Platform also highlights both their contribution to the economy, and their exploitation, including minimal wages.

Here is one of the many areas in which insufficient work has been done. We need to move away from mediocre efforts where they exist, put our fingers in the soil, and revitalize the Beijing Platform for Action.

Nelcia Robinson Coordinator CDW

“SHERON, IT’S NOT EASY - Women are petrified and are in a daze!”

That’s the strong assessment expressed by Gender Specialist Jeanie Ollivierre when, last Tuesday, she was questioned about the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on women and girls in this country.

Her sentiments come as females across St. Vincent and the Grenadines join the rest of the world in commemorating International Women’s Day, March 8th, under the theme: Choose to Challenge.

Ollivierre, the Deputy Chair of the Gender Equity Commission, Human Rights Activist and Director of Marion House, a counselling centre and youth training centre, said while there are many issues - such as violence and abuse, affecting females - this country must “choose to challenge” the reality that young women are often unable to sustain themselves.

Unemployment, she underscored, was a socioeconomic phenomenon severely affecting especially young women, and causing them to belittle themselves.

She explained, “They are very much afraid. It’s not just about their financial status - but it’s also about their health, ability to feed themselves and their overall sustainability. Some don’t have basic food and other necessities which makes them more vulnerable to predators. I will fight for them, because we must uphold their dignity, because their dignity is part of the vision for sustainability.”

Ollivierre’s view was related to the current world by the UN Secretary General’s Antonio Guterres’ positon re the impact of Covid-19 on Women.

Guterres stated, “The pandemic is deepening pre-existing inequalities, exposing vulnerabilities in social, political and economic systems which are in turn amplifying the impacts of the pandemic.”

He emphasised, “...across every sphere, from health to the economy, security to social protection, the impacts of COVID-19 are exacerbated for women and girls simply by virtue of their sex.”

The UN Secretary General’s outlined three priority measures to accompany both the immediate response and long-term recovery efforts for women, as it relates to the Covid-19 pandemic: ensure Women’s Equal Representation in all Covid-19 Response and Planning; Drive Transformative Change for Equality by Addressing the Care Economy, Paid and Unpaid; Target Women and Girls in all Efforts to Address the Socio-Economic Impact of Covid-19. (SG)

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6. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Health

A section of the persons who turned out at Victoria Park on Wednesday for Day One of the roll out of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Deployment.

Persons manning the station set up at Victoria Park worked well into the afternoon of Wednesday.

Vaccinations roll out THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH launched its COVID-19 National Vaccination Deployment Programme on Wednesday at the Victoria Park.

This followed on the arrival of 40,000 doses of the Covishield

AstraZeneca vaccine on March 1 as a gift from the Government of India.

Speaking on the issue on February 28 on radio, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said that the arrival of the quantity of vaccines meant that the

Health Ministry was in a good position to unveil a national vaccination drive, which included the availability of the AstraZeneca vaccine at health centres throughout the country.

The national vaccination roll out is expected to include target groups, example the police, teachers and government departments, the prime minister said.

Gonsalves said then that he had spoken to the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Simone Keizer-Beache who had indicated that health officials met to plan for the national vaccination roll out.

The arrival of the 40,000 doses adds to the 5,000 doses this country received from Dominica in February with Gonsalves saying that the country is expected to receive another 45,600 doses under the COVAX arrangement by the end of May. Minus the 5,000 doses that this country has agreed to give to Grenada to aid that country’s vaccination programme, Gonsalves said that the country may need an additional 50,000 doses in order to ensure that the required number of persons are vaccinated, in order to achieve

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves sees the number COVID-19 vaccines that ASVG has received as of today, as quite an achievement. population immunity- which is about 70 percent of the population or higher.

Nevertheless, Gonsalves said that it was quite an achievement for the country to have received the number of vaccines at this stage as it did.

“So, we hope we do not have the vaccines and people refuse to take it,” Gonsalves said.

The decision to get vaccinated was a personal one, however Gonsalves said that it was unbelievable that some people opted to listen to those not trained in the health profession and refuse to get the vaccine.

However, the prime minister said that the sooner and the greater the number of those taking the vaccine, then the quicker the country would be able to return to normal.

He added that there was also some talk internationally about making it mandatory to be vaccinated in order to facilitate entry into some countries.

Persons were being encouraged to get vaccinated and they were able to do so by visiting the nearest health clinic to them or they can be vaccinated up until today March 5 at the Victoria Park. (DD)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. 7.

Diaspora

Members of SVG Relief, Inc. with packed items, left to right: Ynolde Walkin, Erline Williams-King, Consul General Howie Prince, Atiba Williams, Theo Marshall, Celia Bramble and Verna Arthur.

Vincies roll up sleeves for relief

Mark Lindsay, president of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Central Florida Organization, Inc. (SVGCFO), also told THE VINCENTIAN on AFTER launching and reviving relief Tuesday that his group conducted a efforts in the wake of unprecedented Mask/Food Drive on Saturday, in circumstances afflicting the homeland - Orlando, Florida, “to benefit the an active volcano, dengue fever and the people of SVG.” COVID-19 pandemic - Vincentian The event, Lindsay said, was held nationals in the United States Diaspora in collaboration with “our sister are already rolling up their sleeves to organization, the St. Vincent and the dispatch much-needed supplies to the Grenadines South Florida multi-island state.

Organization, which also held a On Saturday, Vincentian groups in Mask/Food drive in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl New York and Florida collected, sorted at the same time. and packed items for shipment.

“We are pleased to report the event Verna Arthur, chairperson of the was a resounding success, as several Brooklyn, New York-based SVG Relief boxes of food, masks and other Inc., told THE VINCENTIAN on supplies were collected, and several Tuesday that, ”On Saturday, Feb. 27, hundred dollars in cash donations a few members of SVG Relief Inc. were received — all of which will be came together at Standard Shippers to used to buy masks, sanitizers and pack containers in preparation for other supplies to be shipped to SVG,” shipment on Amerijet.” he said.

Arthur said with confidence, “I can Lindsay said all proceeds from the safely say we will have three drive will be shipped to designated commercial bins ready to be shipped charitable organizations in St. Vincent on Friday,” adding, “The objective is to and the Grenadines, including, SVG have some items in SVG by early Red Cross, Marion House and the March.”

Catholic Church.

Items ready for shipment include The event was made possible by the face masks, face shields, gloves and generosity of sponsors and donors, shoe protectors and, according to including SwiftPac and Standard Arthur requests have gone out for Shippers; Lynk784.com; Fins & collapsible jugs, cots (supports up to Things; SVGAFL; DJ’s Supa Eyes, M1 300 lbs.), mattresses, folding chairs, and Host TroublZ; SVG DRIP; and folding tables, battery operated lanterns, reflective vests, traffic cones Hairoun Lounge. and wheelchairs.

“Any donation would be greatly appreciated,” said Arthur, stating that donations can be shipped to SVG Relief, Inc., c/o Standard Shippers, 9502 Ditmas Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11236; “or you may contact O’Brien Simmons, at 347-446-1827, if you need someone Some of the hard-working members of the SVG Central to pick up your Florida Organization, Inc. (SVGCFO), who made the donation.”

Mask/Food Drive a success. (Facebook Photo)

by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net US CORRESPONDENT

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8. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 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

‘Buttuism’ THIS WEEK we borrow a word – ‘buttuism’ - from the Jamaica lexicon.

According to the Jamaican lexicon, the word ‘buttu’, derived from ‘buttuism’, is used to described, “an individual who consistently behaves in a crass, undisciplined manner, paying scant regard for established social norms such as politeness, tolerance, respect for law and order, common courtesies, not be a loud-mouthed moron who is selfish and constantly in your face.”

The phenomenon that arises from such behavior is referred to as ‘buttuism’.

Like the music, the dialect, the accent that we have adopted from Jamaica, it appears that we have also adopted their ‘buttuism’.

Here’s an example: You’re driving along peaceably when the vehicle in front of you stops suddenly. Is someone about to cross?

Is there an obstruction?

No way! The vehicle has stopped so the driver can have a conversation with the driver of an oncoming vehicle, which has by this time, stopped alongside the car in front of you.

Needless to say, as the conversation lengthens, you are wont to accost these selfish drivers for ‘holding up the traffic’ and for not having any regard for others. If you did approach the driver(s), you would most likely have been on the receiving end of abuse in the worst possible way, expletives and all and a word or two about your mother, if you retorted in any way.

Isn’t this but one example of 'buttuism' that is to be found regularly on our roads, where ‘harry-come-lately’ drivers flaunt themselves and their sporty vehicles, in a most selfish and dastardly manner?

Doesn’t this profile fit a growing number of young men in this country, who, think because the voted the party into power that they can act in a manner indicative of being above the law?

‘Buttuism’?

And then again, you’re in a line of traffic exiting onto a main road. There are two vehicles ahead of you and a minibus/taxi immediately behind you. The car at the front of the line is easing its way onto the main road, hoping that some polite motorist would ‘give them a let in’.

The driver of the minibus/taxi, going nowhere soon, begins to honk his horn as though that would make you and the two (vehicles) ahead of you get out any quicker.

The minibus/taxi driver has no other concern than to get out as quickly as possible, and he leaves his hand on his horn.

Doesn’t this unruly, impatient, indiscriminate minibus/taxi driver ever consider that honking his horn so incessantly and vociferously can cause the driver ahead of him, which is you, to panic and run into the vehicle ahead of you?

No care for himself and others — another ‘buttu-type-behaviour’.

And there are numerous other demonstrations of ‘buttu-typebehaviour’ among them being: functions starting late and no apology; the repair crew will be at your place on Wednesday but two Wednesdays pass and you’ll still waiting; the minibus stopping, without signal, anywhere to let off and pick up passengers.

These and more have spawned menacing clouds across our otherwise sun-lit landscape, and if we don’t take steps to curb it, buttuism will become the norm.

Admittedly, ‘buttuism’ is still a practice of the minority.

But it’s alive right now. Isn't it time the true, real Vincies stand up and tell the ‘buttus’ among us to ‘get outta here’?

Hopefully when we do, the law will protect us.

Of course, there will be those - politicians included - who will label those who are ‘anti-buttuism’, as acting in a manner motivated by class prejudice. Nonsense!!! Many Vincentians in the lower socio-economic bracket behave courteously to everyone.

Fighting ‘buttuism’ is not about class, it is about bringing back decency.

National Heritage Month 2018 (First published in THE VINCENTIAN Friday 16th March, 2018. It is re-published in keeping with the sentiments of Heritage/Heroes Month – March) FOR SOME 15 YEARS, the country has been promised a slate of National Heroes which, like other promises of the ULP, has simply not seen the light of day for simple party-political reasons.

In 2001, the ULP had virtually inherited National Hero Joseph Chatoyer, and set about the business of selecting two to three other persons to join him.

To cut a long story short, the ULP has not delivered. I personally argued the case of three persons: George Mc Intosh, Hugh Mulzac and Ebenezer Joshua. The continuing snag is that the PM will not budge without Milton Cato, whose selection has not the support of several stalwarts and friends of the ULP, including Oscar Allen, Caspar London, Renwick Rose, Jomo Thomas and Blazer Williams.

So, a ULP panel suggests, among other alternatives, that for the time being we make do only with Chatoyer, which incidentally, had been suggested by Ken Boyea a few years back and had been scoffed at by Gonsalves’ minions who saw the appointment of Cato as sacred to their cause.

Incidentally, during my extended period of unease, I had completely missed the ULP Sunday morning panel of the likes of controversial P John and Cecil Ryan, who are mere outriders of the Gonsalves chariot.

On this occasion they could not clear the path but recommend a lengthier roundabout route during which they and their leader will have surely faded from the scene.

This is also the season when respects are paid to women. At long last, Viola John nee Daisley has attracted official attention at 95 years old!

So years ago, Dr. Gonsalves attacked me for ingratitude in opposing the naming in West St George of a Learning Resource Centre in honour of Doris Mc Kie nee Adams. I certainly love Mrs Mc Kie, but not as much as Viola John and Yvonne Francis, both of whom had contributed more to the women cause and to West St George than did Doris Mc Kie. I concluded at the time, that Mrs. Mc Kie was being emblazoned in preparation of her son’s running for ULP, which in fact followed through.

Viola is a Black beauty, behind whom I love literally to walk, observing the graceful step and swinging hips. The lateness of her recognition I had attributed to knowledge that as a young teenager attending the GHS, she had hugged and kissed me, still in diapers, as she lived then in my home at Rose Place, ‘Bottom Town’.

Viola would excuse me for poking a little fun at her expense.

I recalled Afflick Haynes, a PPP minister of Government (about 98 years old at present), having allegedly said some nasty things about Viola who was a School headmistress at the time. Viola’s irate husband confronted Haynes on the new Deep Water Pier and publicly administered lashes with a ‘bull pestle’ on the back of the Minister!

I believe that, for whatever reason, the Labour supporting Viola had refused to support the insignia of JP offered by Mitchell’s NDP government.

As for Yvonne Francis-Gibson, who chalked many ‘firsts’ for women in public life , she now lives cheerily in her twilight zone, completely oblivious of the hurt which it was her lot to have absorbed.

Speaking of the award of JPs, the following were rudely ripped from their holders following the election victory of the ULP in 2001- Yvonne Francis Gibson, Alston Lewis, Urcelline Phillips, Garvin Seymour and Alexis Griffith.

In their place, the ULP honoured Hugh Ragguette, the Rev Duff James, the JP from Pembroke and such-like!

The other KJ, Keith Joseph, in his radio talk, highlighted the fact that it was a dozen years since the murder of Ralph’s Press Secretary Glen Jackson, and not a word was said by official ULP, as if there was never a “My Friend Glen”. I would not do an injustice to murky the atmosphere of the death surrounded by mystery and misery.

I will add only a personal bat when Ralph was at war with Glen, promising to descend to the gutters to meet Glen on his own turf, I questioned Ralph as to how he could be so brutal to the son of the nurse who had diligently assisted in his recovery after a near-drowning incident at Colonarie. Ralph, aghast, requested that I repeat the story.

I then explained that my own son-in-law David Robin was Glen’s step-brother. Ralph then exclaimed that from there on Glen can do no wrong. Their differences were quietly patched up and Glen became Press Secretary to Ralph until his death at the hands of friendly foes, which I get to believe pains Ralph to the quick.

Altogether, we have been living in depressing times with a dark cloud hovering over us. As an optimist and true believer, I think this is an exciting period in preparation of a glorious sunshine in the wake of a terrible social outburst of which the appointment of Adrian Saunders as President of the CCJ, is an early positive sign of things to come.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. 9.

Letters

West Indies cricket Ganja is evil!! going nowhere MR. EDITOR, in a recent edition of THE VINCENTIAN, Charles, Edinboro, one of your regular contributors to the ‘Letter to the Editor Page’, wrote something to the effect that, “it is not fair to those ‘replacement’ players to be fooled into believing that they have a future in the West Indies team.”

I want to take up where Charles left off and ask, what is the best reward we can give to those players who, in the absence of our ‘star quality players’, beat Bangladesh 2-0 in a recent two-test tour to that East Asian country?

In my opinion, the best reward is to include the outstanding performers in Bangladesh in the West Indies teams for upcoming series/tours, beginning with the home series against Sri Lanka.

And while I am at it, did those ‘star quality players’ refuse selection to the teams that recently toured Bangladesh because they didn’t want to be humiliated a second time? Yes, many of those who refused to make the most recent tour for reasons of the COVID-19 pandemic and for their own protection,

would have been part of the West Indies team that got mauled by Bangladesh on our previous tour. Was it a case of ‘once bitten twice shy’, a case of protecting one’s pride, perhaps?

And can hiding behind the COVID-19 pandemic really be plausible when some of the same players chose to go to Abu Dhabi for a tournament there, an area of the world that has a higher per 100,000 rate of Covid-19 than Bangladesh?

And now, as the selections move to welcome back all the ‘star quality players’, some exciting and reliable players, not only those who performed outstandingly in Bangladesh, but some who showed good form in the recent G.C Super 50 Overs Cup, the highest level of limited overs cricket in the West Indies for West Indian players, have been omitted on the grounds of ‘not satisfying Cricket West Indies Inc. criteria for fitness’. Some of the omissions on that ground, like Shirmon Hetmyer, certainly didn’t look unfit during the recent 50 Overs Super Cup. And is there one fitness standard for Antiguan Cornwall and

* For Christ’s sake, when is that piece of road overlooking the Grenadines Wharf, the road that leads to Cane Garden going to get some attention? Don’t people who live along that road and the residents of Cane Garden pay taxes? * And why can’t this road get some attention when recently the road leading to the Taiwan’s Ambassador’s residence in Cane Garden (owned

by Mrs. Eloise Gonsalves) was resurfaced? * What’s the use of having a temporary shift system in the Public Service when certain officers go on shift and there is no one to replace them? * Why is it that a person who travelled all the way from North Leeward had to hear, “The person who deals with that is not here, you will have to come back in two days’ times”? * Are supermarkets here sanitized regularly?

Not just the building but also their goods on their shelves, their checkout counters, cooler doors, etc.? Anybody checking on them to make sure that they do? * Is honking your horn incessantly and unnecessarily in traffic an offence? Has anyone had this experience with minibuses who are caught in traffic? * Is the sale of cannabis seeds for cultivation of cannabis for the medical cannabis industry in the hands of one businessman?

another for everybody else?

And how can you ever convince me, Mr. Harper, Chairman of selectors, that you selected a bowler based on performance in a past, past competition and overlooked the leading bowler(s) in the most recent test of form — the Super Cup. But then again, Mr. Harper probably left the rationale up the CEO of CWI who announced for the region to hear, that selection was not about form but it was about fitness.

What a statement!!

The man should have been saying that selection is all about

being in form and being fit, not one apart from the other.

West Indies cricket has far to go if it is to be returned to the glory days when we were the envy of the world.

Thomas

I KNOW that I am going to get a lot of licks for what I have to say, but I have to say it. Ganja smoking is evil!!!

Ganja destroys an otherwise good quality of life.

It makes the victims sick. It destroys the brain, the brains of people who could have been decent citizens who contribute meaningfully to their families and country.

Instead, I have seen ganja smoking, which can lead to doing harder drugs, turn good students into dropouts. It changes their whole lifestyle.

They sleep on the streets; become sexually promiscuous; become dirty in their outlook with their dirty clothes and rough looks; forget all about personal hygiene; and open themselves up to diseases.

I know that some of those who sleep on the street are forced to do so because their families might have put them out. But, I say, there is only that much a family can take from one of their members who has become a ganja addict.

But even as I say what I have to say about ganja, I am appealing for help for these poor souls before they completely lose their way.

We must be careful about legalizing the use of this drug that destroys innocent lives. I have felt the pain.

A Senior Citizen

Reopen the schools BOTH Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and Dr. Godwin Friday talk a lot about following the science as it relates to COVID-19.

So, if I understand the science correctly, it tells me that children (teenagers included) have strong immune systems and, even if they catch the coronavirus, they are not known to be ready transmitters of the disease to adults especially.

If we follow that science, then why are we not reopening schools so that the children can return to normal lessons?

Why are we continuing

with this online teaching which is good for some but I feel, not so good for the majority.

Our children need that in person interaction with their teachers; there is no better way, according to the science, for children to learn than to be exposed to a live and living, creative teacher who can excite them, who can draw their latent talents out from them.

Online classes take away the human element which is important also for the general development of our students. And further,

some teachers will never make it at this online teaching thing.

And by the way, I have no political axe to grind so I don’t care much for the position of the political parties on

the issue of online versus real classroom instructions.

Willie More on Page 12.

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10. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Protecting our people through vaccination Our plan for a stronger economy

Introduction OVER the last year, the world has encountered unprecedented challenges as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic with some nations impacted more severely than others. This country has had to deal with our share of the challenges affecting the health of our people and the resulting demands of the health system, the economic fallout that has resulted in job losses, the social impacts that have caused among other things the extended closure of our schools as well as security issues that have also arisen. For the most part, the protocols put in place by the Health Services Subcommittee within NEMO were able to keep the transmission rate quite low and manageable, but unfortunately, with the activities of the Christmas season, and with some Vincentians choosing not to adhere to the protocols, we started 2021 with significant increases in the number of Covid-19 positive cases. The revision of the protocol, to include a mask-wearing mandate and, stricter measures for churches, including hosting of funerals, the banning of indoor dining at restaurants and the reduction of the number of passengers in public vehicles to 2 persons per seat, were measures taken to slow the spread of the virus.

Over the past 4 weeks or so, there has been a consistent decrease in the positivity rate on Covid-19 infections, a positive occurrence as we continue to implement measures to reduce the spread of the virus.

and encouraging other citizens to take the vaccine as they become available.

Other officials within the Ministry of Health, including the Minister, Hon St. Clair Prince, the Permanent Secretary, and the Chief Medical Officer, all took the vaccine in a show of support for the process.

The recent arrival of 40,000 doses from the government of India, significantly increases this country’s ability to go much further in protecting its citizens through vaccination. The availability of the vaccines has enabled the Ministry of Health to make vaccines available to the 39 clinics, the 3 polyclinics, Health Centres and hospitals across the country, making it even more convenient for citizens in every community to be able to visit their nearest facility and request the vaccine. This makes the process of getting the vaccine much easier and more convenient for all Vincentians, especially the elderly and those with challenges to their mobility. The Ministry of Health has also rolled out a public vaccine fair at the Victoria Park in Kingstown beginning on Wednesday March 3, 2021, to allow individuals in and around the capital city to walk in and get vaccinated without prior registration, with plans to replicate this in other communities.

The advice is for everyone to get vaccinated to protect themselves and Vaccination - the next step their love ones.

The encouragement to get With news of the development of vaccinated is coming from leaders vaccines from manufactures in the throughout this country, from the USA, the UK, Russia and India, Governor General H.E Dame Susan finally, the world could see a light at Dougan, to political leaders, social the end of this very dark tunnel that leaders including church leaders, we have been traversing for the better radio personalities and various part of a year. Finally, there are artistes all using their voices and available vaccines that can be used to their platforms to promote vaccination inoculate individuals and offer yet against Covid-19 as a safe and another level of protection against the effective measure. corona virus. The government, headed

by Dr Gonsalves, acted promptly in Conclusion making efforts to acquire an adequate amount of doses of vaccines to begin Vaccination has been a normal, the process of vaccinating as many of medical practice of immunisation our citizens as possible in the shortest against many types of ailments that possible time. The efforts are being affect humankind for centuries. In made against the backdrop of what many instances, vaccines have helped was predicted by Dr Gonsalves to be a to eradicate a number of diseases that type of “vaccine nationalism” where before the development of said the buying power of wealthy countries vaccine, had been responsible for could make it difficult for developing severe illness, deformity and many countries to acquire much needed deaths world-wide. Many alive today, vaccines for their populations. To this have never witnessed a virus so end, we welcome the COVAX facility, deadly as the Covid-19, killing as that seeks to ensure equity in the many persons in such a short space of distribution of vaccines to all time and infecting millions of others. countries, but remain cautious, armed A virus as deadly, required a prompt, with the knowledge that to achieve aggressive response in developing a any form of equity would require vaccine that would provide protection much effort on the part of developed in the wake of the path of death and countries working together. destruction wrought by this virus.

So far, Saint Vincent and the Working diligently, scientists were Grenadines has received over 46,000 able to develop this vaccine, and now doses of Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines, it’s available to Vincentians, to mainly through the generosity of the provide much needed protection. It government of India. The initial doses would be such a waste, if with this life that came in two batches of 2500 and saving medication in hand, 4000, were used to begin the Vincentians ignore sound medical vaccination of Vincentians, with a soft advice and refuse to take the vaccine launch taking place on Valentine’s continuing to expose ourselves to the Day, February 14, 2021. Prior to this danger of Covid-19. The government however, Comrade Ralph and his wife has and continues to do its part in Eloise, had taken their first dose of securing the vaccines, now it’s up to vaccine at the Levi Latham Health us, to do our part and take it.

Complex in a show of leadership to Let’s do our part - hands, space, this country, making a clear face, vaccinate! statement that the vaccines are safe

and more jobs (Excerpts of Dr Friday’s Budget Presentation) WE ON THIS SIDE of the House have a plan to foster participation by all in the re-orientation of our economy, and provide the means for everyone to participate in the socio-economic development of our country.

One way of doing that is to reduce the tax burden from our people and find ways to raise revenue from international activities and nonresidents. The government has failed to grasp this concept and the only thing they can take from our proposals was to misrepresent our proposals; for e.g. descending to scaremongering about CBI. That is a vulgar interpretation of the broader need to re-orient our economy, just as other OECS countries have done, and others around the world continue to do in various forms of the programme.

We understand the government’s opposition. It indicates a complete lack of understanding of the structural problems in our economy. It shows a desire to keep our people poor, even dirt poor, and a plan that makes the country a beggar’s paradise. We are better than that and deserve better and a majority of our people agree with us, as shown by our majority support during the last general elections.

We have a plan to create a friendlier and dynamic investment climate in our country with focus on private individuals creating businesses and jobs; a plan in which our people have a bigger stake in the economy, providing not just labour but also capital, managerial functions and entrepreneurship - as Mitchell’s NDP did when they undertook land reform and promoted landownership and, in the process, transformed many people from labourers into farmowners, which led to more productive and financially beneficial agriculture, and transformed lives in a positive way throughout the country. A part of our plan is to foster an entrepreneurial spirit, especially in our young people and provide the institutional support to help them succeed, e.g. by re-establishing and improving a development bank to serve businesses, farmers, fisherfolk and others with affordable credit and other forms of institutional support.

I know the government’s understanding of entrepreneurship is the PRYME programme. But there needs to be follow up with supporting infrastructure to assist with marketing, financial management, quality or anything to make the ventures profitable and successful. Currently, there is no follow up. We also need to introduce the right intervention and encouragement in the school system to change the mindset of our young people, so that they become more business oriented and create an entrepreneurial culture.

Self-employment is currently listed in the top ten industries for employment in the world. This will complement the YES programme, but will also yield better results than that programme, which focuses only on getting a job and, in any event, pays the young people below the poverty line wages. This is another example of misalignment with what is required to have our young people become productive and indispensable partners in national development.

Re-develop Ottley Hall Marina When the ULP were in Opposition, they spoke about Ottley Hall all the time; to criticize and demonize Sir James Mitchell and the NDP. They said during an election campaign, belatedly, that they would fix it and get it working. I did not believe them then, and the Budget says nothing about Ottley Hall, so I was right not to believe them.

I have spoken about it many times because I know it can work and provide over 100 good jobs. I have a plan, based on a vision, of how the shipyard could be and how it could drive the economy of West Kingstown and South Leeward. We have enough boats in our domestic fleet to keep Ottley Hall busy throughout the year.

I have spoken to people in the shipping and yachting industries.

They tell me that Ottley Hall is what they need, and they can’t wait for it to be working properly. So, what is the Government doing? Still spiting Sir James Mitchell and the NDP by trying to make the project look like a failure? But the failure is the ULP government failing to do what is necessary to make it work. In 2019, the government finally said they would lease it and make it work. But nothing has happened so far.

Meanwhile our boat operators can’t dock and maintain their boats there because the government allowed the shipyard to mash up. The situation is worse for boat owners since Trinidad and Tobago is closed because of the pandemic. They can’t take their boats there for service.

Ottley Hall can create many good jobs. But this government in the past and present, and likely the future, has no plan in place for the Ottley Hall Marina; the minister has no role for it in his economic diversification and job creation plan. I do not see any allocation in the Estimates for fixing the dry dock at Ottley Hall. This means they do not intend to redevelop it; they intend to kill it! So sad! So pathetic! So corrupt!

Blue economy We will develop our fisheries to benefit our people, including larger boats for tuna and other longline fishing; invest in new equipment for our fisheries; reintroduce a credit system for fisherfolk; review marine resource management to ensure sustainability; improve ship registry to generate more revenue and jobs and help seafarers obtain certificates for jobs on ships, (complete Maritime & Hospitality Institute).

Agriculture We will encourage organic farming; encourage farm tourism to generate additional income for farmers; make more agricultural lands available to farmers; develop overseas markets for agricultural produce; support our banana industry with affordable credit, assured inputs and creative marketing; support poultry farming; reintroduce Marketing Boards to help farmers maintain earnings and obtain better prices; improve feeder roads to support agriculture and implement a zero-tolerance approach to praedial larceny.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. 11.

Views

Relax, Reset and Refresh

We nah dey good

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes…Including you.” –Anne Lamott (born 1954) – American novelist and non-fiction writer.

NO SECTION of the Vincentian population works harder than those in the lower classes. Sadly, these very workers are grossly exploited and end up spending their entire lives preparing to live. And in the main, they do so without breaking the country’s laws and dutifully serving those in whose charge they are committed.

We only have to look on the streets of Kingstown or the roadside across SVG to witness the entrepreneurial spirit, dedication, and commitment to the people’s hard work. We see it every day as they journey to the business houses or the homes of middle and upper-class people, to earn an income that is barely sufficient to allow them to keep body and soul together.

In December, during the festive holiday season, they leave their homes on Sundays to work in the businesses in Kingstown. The law requires that those engaged in Sunday work is entitled to ‘double time.’ How many business owners obey the law of the land and honour their responsibility to pay the workers justly for their inconvenience and labour?

We waited in vain for a trade union leader, the Prime Minister, or the Minister responsible for Labour to raise the issue and remind employers of the law.

Last week we read the sad tale of health workers going for three weeks without a salary. PM Gonsalves claimed that a worker called him to decry the inattention and mistreatment, and of course, he deflected the responsibility and blamed the bureaucrats.

But this disregard is nothing new.

For years, the least paid government workers are made to wait indefinitely for the government’s pittance. It is not unusual to go to the treasury and find a notice at the entrance which informs these workers that their payslip is not ready.

The plain truth is that the government rarely budgets for these workers, many of whom engage in parttime work, for example, two weeks on, two weeks off. Once government meets its month’s obligation to public servants and can continue its boast that these workers never failed to get their salary, to hell with meeting its financial obligation to those employees who ‘bank’ on payday to meet the demands of friends, neighbours and shopkeepers, from whom they credited basics to feed, clothe or send their children to school or an elderly parent to the doctor.

Small business people also feel the squeeze as the tax department presses them to pay their fair share. Some small businesses report being taxed hundreds of thousands of dollars and have their money seized from bank accounts without notice, negotiations or mercy. Inside sources tell us certain accounts are never touched, queried, investigated or audited because of their connection to the governing party.

We all know we can’t properly run the country in this manner, but too many of us mindlessly go along to get along.

This reality is compounded by the fact that the population, especially the poor, is burdened with a mountain of health problems, especially diabetes and hypertension. Yet, there is little effort to promote preventative health and healthy living by developing good

IN THIS FAST-PACED WORLD many individuals are experiencing the impact of physical and emotional burnout.

Individuals who work at more than one job are especially susceptible to exhaustion. The same is also true of those individuals who are bread-winners in their homes but also manage the various demanding home activities. The body can only sustain normal, healthy performance when it is well nourished and rested. Such individuals must regularly contemplate having a personal programme that enables them to avoid burnout; a life programme that enables them to regularly carve out some time for physical exercise, spiritual renewal, and a schedule to relax, reset, and refresh.

The Internet and modern technology have radically transformed our lives. These have enabled many businesses to improve efficiencies and effectiveness as efforts are regularly made to work faster and with greater accuracy to meet the ever increasing demands of customers and clients.

Companies now regularly seek to be more agile in order to create and sustain their competitive advantage.

However, these evolving systems, structures, and procedures often increase the stress levels for their designers, managers, and leaders who, unless they develop adequate coping mechanisms, run the risk of succumbing to physical and/or emotional fatigue.

We empathise with the many individuals (especially single mothers) who periodically experience severe stress levels as they seek to make ends meet. The COVID-19 pandemic has unearthed many of the vulnerable individuals within our society who have been living “hand-to-mouth”, from pay cheque to pay cheque. This is not unique to developing countries.

Recent CNN reports confirm that even in the United States of America, the richest country in the world, there are millions who live below the poverty line and are unable to generate enough savings to see them through challenging economic downturns. Such individuals struggle to make ends meet. These vulnerable members of the population are often unable to adequately feed the members of their families, pay their rent, cover the cost of medical bills, and so on. The elevated stress levels in such situations, and the inability to see a positive end to such scenarios, understandably generate a tsunami of mental and emotional stress that, if left unattended, may result in prolonged depression and mental illness. Even in such stressful circumstances there is value in being able to make the time to relax, reset, and refresh.

The scenario presented in the preceding paragraph may lead some readers to conclude that individuals faced with such challenges may find it impossible to “tune out”. After all, such situations demand that they must forever forage in order to feed and provide for themselves and their

families. However, even in such situations we need to make time for some form of relaxation; some means of engaging in physical exercise and “distractions” from the various life challenges. Activities such as playing games and gardening, for example, can be useful ways of releasing some of the pressures of life.

It can be argued that individuals who do not have access to yard space are excluded from the “gardening outlet” advocated here. This is inaccurate. Even individuals who live in apartments or occupy limited land space can engage in “bucket gardening”; growing vegetables in a relatively easily obtained bucket. In addition to providing a healthy distraction from the cares of life, growing vegetables enable growers to have a more healthy diet, generate additional revenue, gain a sense of achievement, and learn useful life lessons. The benefits are multiplied many times over if/when the children in the household are engaged in such activities. All segments of society can benefit from such an exercise as efforts are made to relax, reset, and refresh.

Laurie Helgoe (born 1960) is an American psychologist with a special interest in the relationship between personality development and culture.

She highlights the value of making time to periodically engage in activities that enable us to operate at a slower pace. She notes that societies such as those in Finland and East Asia value and benefit from times of privacy and restraint. She notes that, “The ability to reflect is associated with critical thinking and reasoning ability. And the capacity to be alone is one of the highest levels of development.” There is value in making time to get away from the hustles and bustles of life. That “get away” can be done on an individual basis or with groups of friends, family members, co-workers, etc. It is sometimes truly amazing how reenergized we become when we dedicate the time and effort to engage in activities that take our minds away from the many challenges of life. It is so very important to have a coping mechanism that allows us to mentally and emotionally defuse before we explode.

We all need to make time for rest and relaxation … and not feel guilty about doing so. These times can be priceless in helping us to prepare for a major task, recharge after hard work, work through grief, before making important decisions, in a time of distress, and to focus on prayer.

When we do, we discover that life appears to be so much more meaningful and rewarding … even amidst its varying challenges. There is wisdom in dedicating the time and effort to relax, reset, and refresh.

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

eating habits and exercise.

Added to this messy and depressing situation are the scourges of high unemployment, estimated to be over 40 percent among young people, and persistent poverty which is also close to 40 percent. These are troubling numbers because it means at least 4 in every 10 Vincentians are unemployed and live below the poverty line.

And if you think we are negatively massaging the numbers, Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves offers support for our contention that large sections of the population face serious financial problems. During his Budget Address under the banner Reducing Poverty, Protecting the Vulnerable and Combatting Inequality, the minister said ‘over 7,400 primary school children depend on the school feeding programme, 57 percent of the student body. In rural districts, over 90 percent of students use the programme. Indeed, in 8 of 13 school districts, more than two-thirds of the student relies on the school feeding programme. At 7 primary schools nationwide, 100 percent of students eat heavily subsidized nutritious meals. Those seven schools have 915 students.’

With school closure because of Coronavirus, he cautioned that SVG was not immune from a situation where some children could succumb to ‘acute malnutrition.’

One hundred and seventy-six years ago, Fredrich Engels, analyzing the conditions of the British working class, made this apt observation: ‘When one individual inflicts bodily injury upon another such that death results, we call the deed manslaughter; when the assailant knew in advance that the injury would be fatal, we call his deed murder. But when society places hundreds of workers in such a position that they inevitably meet a too early and unnatural death, one which is quite as much a death by violence as that by the sword or bullet; when it deprives thousands of the necessaries of life, places them under conditions in which they cannot live – forces them, through the strong arm of the law, to remain in such conditions until that death ensues which is the inevitable consequence – knows that these thousands of victims must perish, and yet permits these conditions to remain, its deed is murder just as the act of the single individual; disguised, a malicious murder, murder against which none can defend himself, which does not seem what it is, because no man sees the murderer, because the death of the victim appears a natural one, since the offence is more one of omission than of commission. But murder it remains.’

What Engels labelled social murder in 1845 rings true now more than ever.

But we have to think a little deeper because workers and the poor are made to believe that their lot in life is their fault. They are poor because they are lazy, don’t want to work or lack the necessary drive to succeed. Nothing could be further from the truth.

On multiply levels, we nah dey good.

It is time for us to address our many problems seriously.

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

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12. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Budget Estimates 2021 - more debt and more financial incompetence!

ACCORDING to the Budget Estimates 2021, the ULP regime plans to spend $1,212,601,578. The problem is the amount of money the government has coming in - revenue – is only $647,385,000. There is a substantial gap between the government’s income and their planned spending.

A government’s income figure is regarded as only taxes and other revenues. To make up for this massive gap between proposed spending and income, the ULP regime is resorting again to relying on begging and borrowing. The fiscal deficit for the year 2021 is set to be $565,216,578.

For years, the ULP regime has madly been digging a hole to fill a hole.

They are borrowing money to pay debts. The consequence of this desperate strategy is that public debt increases like a wild fire. It puts the entire economy more at risk to external shocks and collapse.

SVG Green Party Leader, Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, who has a BSc (Hons) degree in Accounting and Finance and Economics from Oxford Brookes University, England, believes that the budget illustrates that the ULP regime is hopeless and useless at managing SVG’s public accounts and finances.

Year after year, budget after budget,

virtually dead, tourism has been sinking for years, our fish industry is non-existent and capital has been wastefully spent on useless ULP we get the same pattern of financial The instability and volatility caused schemes that do not bring a net return incompetence and unfair taxation. The by the ULP regime’s financial on investment.

ULP regime has presented fiscal incompetence put off foreign investors SVG needs a change of government. deficits for 20 years, yet in all that from investing in our country. Research The longer we have a government that time, they have allowed the super-rich has shown that macro-economic is virtually broke, the longer our people of Mustique and Canouan tax and instability, investment restrictions and will have to suffer. The lack of financial customs duty exemptions. It will be corruption have a negative effect on competence is the core problem that is another tough year ahead for foreign investment. The lack of foreign killing the SVG economy.

Vincentians. investment in SVG means that fewer SVG needs competent Green Poor financial leadership and a jobs are created in our country. The economics to provide for the future of reliance on begging and borrowing have ULP regime’s financial incompetence is our children and the country. A Green caused high taxes and a rise in inhibiting investment in our economy government would set up revenueunemployment, crime and poverty in and the creation of jobs for our people. producing industries that will create our country. A shocking consequence of The ULP regime’s financial thousands of jobs. The people deserve this is that many poor households have incompetence is reflected in the fact prosperity and a crime-free nation. had their electricity and water cut off, that the SVG economy does not have an The ULP regime is operating by trial as they cannot afford to pay the bills engine. There are no economic sectors and error in managing our nation’s and put food on the table for their that provide sustainable sources of finances. The decades of fiscal deficits children, at the same time. revenue. The banana industry is are both unnecessary and dangerous.

Getting Me from Here to There THIS SERVICE is best provided by the Private Sector and best negotiated by the person using the service and the Service Provider. We can expect service to improve and prices to be lowered when there is healthy competition among Service Providers.

The role of Government is to provide a healthy atmosphere for competition to occur.

There was a time when I walked everywhere I needed to go. Then I acquired a donkey that met my travelling needs. Later, I bought a bicycle and it worked wonders taking me to school and church. My wife said that it was not looking good for me to be riding while she walked. So, we bought a car and our speed and efficiency of movement were enhanced.

Needless to say, each improvement came with increased cost.

Monopoly in transportation tends to lead to inefficiencies, waste, corruption and increased cost and unsustainability. In Sea Transportation, the Roll-on Roll-off boat owned by Government epitomized waste and met its natural demise.

Today, the Private Sector operates efficient, excellent sea transportation service at competitive prices, between St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Because of the efficiency and competitiveness, there is less demand for Air Services. Competition here can also lead to efficiency and the lowering of the costs and eventually a better product for the consumer. It is believed that because LIAT was not

subjected to market forces and privatization and competition, its demise was inevitable.

In Transportation by land, concerns for safety on the buses are placing the operators under undue financial pressure. Are the same restrictions placed on boats and planes? What alternative measures are feasible?

1. Have passengers temperature taken and hands sanitized; 2. Have all passengers wear face masks and shields; 3. Have all passengers wear protective clothing; 4. Encourage all to be vaccinated so that the country can develop herd immunity.

Poor Town and Country Planning has created a crisis in transportation where all roads lead to Kingstown.

Most schools are located there, and most of the workplaces are there. A concerted effort needs to be made to decentralize and make the other towns viable. In this way, there would be less traffic into Kingstown and a more efficient Transportation Service.

Anthony Stewart, PhD

say, with a vengeance in his voice, that this country was overrun by traitors, a whole lot of violent people, racists, hypocrites, two-tongued MR. EDITOR my friend, I ran into a mutual acquaintance (name withheld) people, deceivers, rogues, and persons recently and we got into talking. For who even the devil won’t trust.

When I thought he was finished most of the conversation it was a one naming all the ‘worst people in SVG, way street with our friend rambling he said, “And I ain’t even start on the on about how this country was filled politicians… dem is a class by deyself. with ‘bad-minded’ people and we didn’t have any nice people anymore. Dat is for another time.”

Mr. Editor, I thought I would share Our friend rambled on about the number of dishonest, conniving people this with you and hope that you who walk Kingstown on a daily basis. would publish it, so your readers and the public at large can see that there To him they were all crooks. are persons who walk, play and work Then he spoke of the number of among us, who seem to have lost faith people walking around and strolling in their own people. through high offices whose hands I wonder what would cause an were stained with blood. That one individual to be so bitter. You and I jolted me but before I could say “Be would know that this mutual friend careful,” he said that these persons with blood stained hands are the ones was not like this when we used to hang out. who will put a dagger in your back, Are there more like him among us? set you up for a fall, take away you I trust not, my friend. butter and bread, even your wife if you give them a chance.

Dave He was not done and continued to

A bitter person

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. 13.

News

VINLEC employee retires after 45 years According to Mr. Gibson, he is privileged to have witnessed the transition of the Company. He noted that it was a pleasure to share his knowledge and skills with others and

Mr. Edwin Gibson would have seen it all – the good, the bad and the indifferent at VINLEC but never walked away from a challenge and baulk from his sense of service to the people of SVG. THE LONGEST SERVING EMPLOYEE at the nation’s electric utility Company, VINLEC, Mr. Edwin Gibson, has retired after forty-five (45) years of service. He spent his last day on the job on Friday February 26th, 2021.

Mr. Gibson started working at VINLEC on July 6th, 1976 as a Trainee Fitter. He was promoted to the position of Senior Fitter in 1982.

On occasions, he worked as Project Supervisor for half-life overhauls on engines at the Company’s Power Stations. He also acted in the capacity of Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor. In September 2006, Mr. Gibson was promoted to Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor, a position he held up to the end of his tenure with the Company.

As per COVID-19 restrictions, the Company hosted an official send off for Mr. Gibson last Friday. He received many praises for being an outstanding leader, who was creative, diligent and loyal, and was described as a mentor for having helped to positively influence the lives of employees, in and out of the Power

Station environment.

Mr. Gibson recalled some exciting and challenging times at the organisation. He witnessed the transformation of the Company during his tenure.

At the time of his employment, less than 50% of the country was electrified. Today, that figure stands at approximately 98%.

He recalls the changes in the operations at the hydro Power Stations during the volcanic eruption in 1979. He was a member of staff just four months after the Cane Hall Power Station was officially opened and worked through the period where the Kingstown Power Plant ceased operations.

Mr. Gibson was also a part of the Generation Department during construction and commissioning stages of the Lowmans Bay Power Plant. He also was on hand to see the expansion of renewable energy in the Company, namely the Cumberland Hydro Power Station and the addition of solar energy at various locations to the generation mix.

provide leadership to many young employees.

Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Thornley Myers, Manager, Engineering, Dr. Vaughn Lewis were among other members of the staff

present to celebrate Mr. Gibson’s contribution to VINLEC. Mr. Myers thanked him for dedicating his entire working career to the Company. He commended Mr. Gibson

for this exemplary work and noted that his commitment contributed to the overall growth of the energy sector in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

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14. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

Simplifying home gardening in SVG

Contributed by Richmond Vale Academy (RVA) VINCENTIANS WISHING to get involved in ecological farming now have access to a free, user-friendly booklet to guide their efforts.

The booklet, ‘Make Your Home Garden Flourish’, is published by Richmond Vale Academy (RVA), and is described as ‘Your permaculture guide to crop rotation, companion plants and seasonal planting in St. Vincent…., which draws on traditional and scientific knowledge of gardening”.

RVA says that the booklet is especially useful for people who are new to home gardens, and who might have challenges starting out and deciding what and when to The information in the booklet is said to be plant. presented in a manner that would help those The booklet focuses on who are considering getting involved in home seasons – which season is gardening. best for planting, crop rotation – what crops to supported the making of several home plant after each harvest, and gardens in Barrouallie last year. companion planting – the benefits of However, the home garden project planting certain crops together. in Barrouallie was delayed because of It explains the impact of the moon the COVID-19 pandemic. on environmental factors, such as the The RVA is seeking funding to print amount and position of water in the the book so that copies could be soil, and how moon phases should be distributed to interested persons. used to guide when crops are planted In the meantime, the publication is or harvested. available free online via: the link: The booklet contains several pages https://richmondvale.org/images/2021/ of illustrated seasons’ calendars to publications/Make-your-home-gardenguide gardeners on when to plant and flourish-December_2020_Booklet.pdf harvest their crops, crop rotation, and companion planting.

It further details the impact of chemical fertilisers on the soil, and how intercropping, the use of crops to achieve nitrogen-fixing and natural pesticides, can be used in place of chemicals, which are harmful to the soil, environment, and human health.

The booklet also explains techniques that can be used to ensure more yield in a small space and the use of companion planting to improve the flavour of crops.

‘Make Your Home Garden Flourish’ is published as part of RVA’s Ecological Home Garden Movement, which is part of a 10year St. Vincent Climate Compliance Conference, 2012 — 2021.

The Conference focuses on food, water, and energy security, as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation.

It was produced with financing from the Canada Fund for Local Seasons – just one of the topic covered in Initiatives which has also the booklet.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. 15.

People

Vincentian designer featured on intÊl podcast

in Jamaica, Fashion Week Trinidad & Tobago, Tobago Fashion Week, Barbados Fashion Week, St Kitts Fashion Weekend and has shown in Mustique, St Lucia, Toronto and New York, with a solo showing in Martinique and has shown Kimya Glasgow – featured repeatedly at guest on an international Fashion podcast.

Caribbean, St Vincent & the VINCENTIAN Fashion Grenadines’ premier Designer Kimya Glasgow fashion event. has been featured on the Started in May 2020, international podcast the Shifting Perspectives Shifting Perspectives with weekly podcast Yolande Robinson.

Yolande Robinson is a challenges women “to fuel themselves with Canadian of Caribbean diversity about the way descent, and the daughter of Vincentian - they think, the way they work, the way they Hazel Thompson parent and the way they Pompey. She currently live their lives.” resides in Turks & Yolande is an educator Caicos.

Kimya is the founder, by profession with a Bachelor’s Degree in creative director and Education and a head designer of the Master’s Degree in Kimya Glasgow brand.

Educational Psychology She was born in St. from McGill University.

Vincent and the Grenadines and grew up She is an entrepreneur, in Trinidad and Tobago, educator and life coach, now turned podcast of both Vincentian & Trinidadian descent. She journalist.

The interview with holds an Associate Kimya Glasgow is the Degree in Fashion 37th in the podcast Design from the series, which has Barbados Community included previous guests College. like accomplished Ms Glasgow has Canadian shown collections in Actress/Writer/Producer Miami Fashion Week, Trey Anthony from the Dominicana Moda, Caribbean Fashion Week popular Canadian TV show - Da Kink In My Hair.

The episode with Ms Glasgow is an honest and intimate portrait of her as a Caribbean entrepreneur. In the podcast they discuss her journey into the fashion world and now into the world of fragrances, as the first Caribbean fashion brand to produce a signature scent. The conversation includes her life experiences, as Yolande Robinson – host well as the power of of the Shifting manifestation, Perspective podcast. exploring the idea of

following passions, building resilience and developing the skill of ‘bounce back’.

According to Ms Glasgow “It is crucial that as Caribbean entrepreneurs, especially

as women, that we speak the truth about our experiences. Especially during this global pandemic, it is so important to stay positive, but it is also important to show that

you can make it through disappointments and failures. I hope my honesty can inspire others to keep fighting.”

The Shifting Perspectives podcast is heard in 35 countries

and 271 cities around the world.

The podcast entitled “The Bounce Back” can be heard at www.yolanderobinson. com/episode37 (Source: Kimya Glasgow)

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16. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Commentary

La Soufriere Volcano: A Fear Factor From where I left off

As I mentioned in a previous article that I did on La Soufriere, the once green vegetation is now of a brown colorization.

Of late, I have noticed that the brown colorization is changing to a semi- charcoal appearance. Is this telling me the fireball is imminent? I blow my trumpet as the biblical prophet: Watch out, La Soufriere is smoking. It is not joking.

No one should THE BEST WAY to majestic La Soufriere climate, I have to make categorize La Soufriere volcano. She seems to be underestimate the power myself clear, knowing of nature. As ‘bad’ as volcano is moody. very moody. Sometimes the hooligans won’t some of us think we are, Since La Soufriere she looks tranquil and hesitate to inflict bodily became active, I have harm. I’m quite aware of inviting. Other times she we will have to be still if the volcano goes, BOOM! heard all sorts of things displays a monkey-face the snares and death All of us would have to — some amusing, some as a precautionary traps set for those who hide like rats and dive contradictory - being said propose Up-full-ness and warning to stay in my into our holes like by common folk, lane. oppose oppression and scientists, politicians and tyranny!

Above the crater rim I mongooses to save ourselves from its clergymen. The can see vapor, and rain Notwithstanding the wrath! amusement came often quite frequently covers view expressed (above), from those with ‘satirical from my perspective the the entire mountain.

My Community vibration’, who ‘bite’ But as I behold the most dangerous element their enemy with complexity of nature, it that confronts us is La The people of my taunting words. looks scary. I don’t want Soufriere volcano that community are still going Recently, a ‘political to raise any unnecessary has the potential to analyst told me the most obliterate everything — panic but it is what it is about their daily routines - working, gossiping, dangerous elements we human, animal and plant — a threat! backbiting, quarrelling. have to deal with in this life - within its path.

La Soufriere is a Others seek out the rumcountry are: Covid 19, threat to our existence bar and consume ‘the Dengue Fever, La here in this land of A Panoramic View local fire-water’ as a way Soufriere and the World warriors, saints, and to ease the stress.

Boss — Ralph Gonsalves.

From my residence in presumptuous The church goers warn Not my words!!!

Troumaca, I have a politicians, where the sinners to do right.

In this hostile political perfect view of the Gonsalves rules supreme.

And some still stubbornly insist that if Soufriere blows, they are not moving.

Mother Earth is crying out.

Something is wrong.

Could the abnormal weather pattern that we are experiencing be the result of the activity of La Soufriere? Then again, it could be the result of hacking of trees in the rain forest.

Any sane man or woman could tell that something strange is going on in the atmosphere.

The La Soufriere – sits quietly and exudes a sense of majesty. (Photo Credit: Carden Michael)

La Soufriere awakes with a force that reminds citizens that he is active. environmentalists say the earth has shifted; it needs to realign itself to its rightful place. The mischievous scientist knows that it is factual.

Christians, Muslims even the atheists are aware that Mother Earth is upset.

As a small underdeveloped nation, we cannot follow the capitalist hogs of the imperial countries or the globalists, who don’t have any regard for the well-being of Jah’s creation.

Therefore, it is we who must protect the Q&A landmarks of these 2x2 islands by not destroying What could have creation, and appeasing activated the dormant our guilty consciences by volcano? saying the destruction is Before the Geothermal in the name of project came to a halt, development. there were concerns Our ancestors toiled expressed relating to the on the plantations but likelihood of the drills survived chattel slavery. rupturing ‘a vein’ that They endured the whips connects to the volcano. and lashes for four This was a legitimate hundred years. The question, but given the progeny who have been rarity of transparency, ridiculed and scoffed at those in authority won’t will survive. We will tell us the truth. survive.

The scorched vegetation is an indication of the effects of what what La Soufriere can unleash.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. 17.

News

Digicel turns eighteen

Above: Digicel’s administrative/operat ional headquarters (pictured) at Fountain is complemented by a full commercial/sales outlet in capital Kingstown.

COME MARCH 24, 2021, Telecommunications Company Digicel SVG Ltd. will celebrate its eighteenth year of service to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

From day one, Digicel set the pace with a repertoire of services that so much so, by December 2018, it became the first telecommunications provider to introduce “blazing-fast” mobile speed on a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network.

This evolution of services began with transitions from merely offering a GSM network to providing GPRS or 2G then onto to EDGE. It subsequently moved to providing faster data on a 3G network.

By 2019, Digicel was offering its customers non-payment for incoming calls.

Additionally, in 2019, Digicel became involved in the implementation of the CARCIP National Broadband Project in the Caribbean, providing both increased access to broadband networks, and the advancement of the development of an ICT-enabled services industry in the region.

It also, in that year, rolled out its new fibre optic infrastructure, heralding a new era of global competitiveness and economic development in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, enabling it to provide a faster, more reliable Internet service.

And 2020 was a another milestone year for Digicel when, in October, it emerged as a Digital Operator, delivering a suite of eight apps and a promise of powerful digital experiences.

This established the Company as the only operator in the local market that could deliver sports, music, news, local radio, podcasts, messaging,

Fanta Williams, current CEO of Digicel SVG Ltd. looks back on the expansion of Digicel services, with pride and satisfaction. marketplaces, and cloud storage.

To mark its 18th Anniversary of leading-edge telecommunications service to the people of SVG, Digicel will offer a month of deals: Simply MORE deals on smartphones; Digicel Prime Bundles; Home & Entertainment packages and more!

New and existing Digicel customers also stand to win cash and other prizes every day, when they use the Digicel suite of Digital apps (MyDigicel App, BiP, Billo, PlayGo, D’Music, SportsMax, GoLoud, Loop).

Digicel, during its 18 years of service to SVG has “reinvented who we are as a company,” Digicel CEO, Ms. Fanta Williams said.

She added, “That’s what we did, and that was the standard operating model for …. most telecommunications companies.”

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18. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

People

Bunny Wailer is dead second stroke, Bunny has been in and out of hospital with one complication after another. The speculation is that he succumbed to those complications.

The Bunny, Bob, Tosh connection Bunny Wailer was christened Neville O’Riley Livingston. He was born on April 10, 1947, and spent his earliest years in the village of Nine Miles, where he was raised by his father, Thaddeus, who ran a grocery store.

It was in Nine Miles that he first met Bob Bunny Wailer’s passing brings closure to the trio Marley and they bonded who helped to catapult the reggae genre on to the from an early age. international music landscape.

Following the death of Marley’s father in 1955, LEGENDARY REGGAE SINGER BUNNY his mother, Cedella, moved in with WAILER died in the Medical Associates Livingstone’s father. The boys were Hospital in Kingston, Jamaica on Tuesday essentially raised as step-brothers, 2nd March, 2021. He was 73. especially after Cedella and Thaddeus Bunny’s manager- Maxine Stowe had a daughter (Pearl) together, Pearl. told OBESERVER ONLINE that he Bunny and Marley moved to Trench died at about 8:00am.

Town one of the largest inner city Since July 2020 when he had his

Bunny Wailer (3rd from right) in attendance at the first day of the working sessions of Regional Conference on Reparations held in SVG, Sept. 2014.

Park.

He would return to SVG, reportedly on the invitation of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, in September 2013.

Then, sharing the stage with Professors Sir Hilary Beckles and Verene Shepherd, he spoke and performed at the opening ceremony of a three-day Regional Conference on Reparations, which began on September 15.

Needless to say, his presence in SVG at that time aroused much attention on Rastafari and Rastafarians who came out in numbers to interact with him.

Among the tributes paid to Bunny immediately upon receipt of news of his death, was the following by Jamaican politician Peter Phillips: “The passing of Bunny Wailer, the last of the original Wailers, brings to a close the most vibrant period of Going out on his own Jamaica’s musical experience. Bunny was a good, conscious Jamaican Bunny left the Wailers in 1974 brethren.” (Sources: Jamaica (Peter Tosh had left a year earlier) to pursue a solo career after he refused to Observer, Barbados Today) tour freak clubs in the United States, stating that it was against his Rastafari principles. He had by this time, reports said, begun to pay much more attention to his faith, Rastafari.

His bestselling albums as a solo recording artiste were ‘Blackheart Man’, released in 1976, and ‘Rock ‘n’ Groove’ which came five years later. His hit songs (singles) include ‘Cool Runnings’, ‘Ballroom Floor’, ‘Crucial’, and ‘Bald Head Jesus’.

In 2017, the Jamaican Government awarded Bunny Wailer an Order of Merit, the country’s fourth highest honour.

The Government again recognised his contribution to Jamaican music in February 2019 with a Reggae Gold Award.

communities in Kingston, Jamaica, which, despite being the most ‘popular’ slums in Kingston, riddled with poverty, broken homes, dilapidated buildings and shacks, deplorable infrastructure, unoccupied youths and a history of crime, it was and is often referred to as the ‘Hollywood of Jamaica’ and the cultural bedrock of Jamaica.

It was in Trench Town they met Peter Tosh and formed a vocal group called The Wailing Wailers - because, “Marley said we started out crying,” was Bunny’s take on the origin of the name.

Both Marley and Tosh predeceased Bunny - Bob passing away of cancer on May 11, 1981 and Peter Tosh being gunned down in his home, September 11, 1997.

Bunny visits SVG Readers will recall that Bunny Wailer first visited this country in October 2005, solely for the purpose of performing, which he did at Victoria

Bunny Wailer performing at the opening ceremony of the Regional Conference on Reparations as referenced.

V Invest SVG prepares for the future

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. 19.

News

INVEST SVG HAS PARTNERED with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to effect a project for the institutional strengthening and capacity building of the state entity, whose mandate is to attract direct foreign investment to St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

“Invest SVG we are all aware of its mandate, it’s a very important entity in the scheme of things here, and as the investment agency we are facing different and challenging times.

COVID-19, which will be over at some stage, is a cause to pause and rethink and to adopt a strategy going forward,” Anthony Regisford, Chairman of the Board of Directors Invest SVG said at the project’s launch on February 18.

“We cannot sleep, we cannot go under our beds and hide, we cannot not turn up for work while the pandemic is ongoing,” he continued.

According to Regisford, while things had slowed down in certain sectors (e.g. tourism) we are not going to be living with the coronavirus pandemic forever, and now was a good time to

begin planning for that period.

The project is expected to develop a five-year plan, with particular focus on the next two years. It will, in essence, reflect the priorities of the policy makers and determine what Invest SVG must deliver.

“We are facilitators in this whole thing, and we have to understand the direction of the country — how is economic growth going to come about [and] what are the pillars and sectors that the government is looking at,” Regisford said.

Executive Director of Invest SVG, Annett Mark emphasized that in order to be competitive, even amidst the effects of COVID-19, the need for a development strategy with investment promotion and export development at its centre had become important.

“This development agenda will have to take into account consideration of a wide set of factors including the cost of establishing infrastructure through multiple islands and the impact of climate change,” Mark said.

Given the need to chart a new strategic direction as well as building capacity to execute a new vision, Invest SVG needed to reinvent itself, Mark added.

Daniel Best, Director of Projects at the CDB, said that the pandemic had not only impacted the economies around the world but has also impacted the United Nations’ Sustainable Achievement goals, and it has been becoming more and more difficult for small island developing states, like St Vincent and the Grenadines.

He said that it was the bank’s strategic plan to assist Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME’s) as they were critical to the ongoing effects to achieve sustainable growth.

“Our focus therefore is to craft programs that supports programs available to all countries,” he said.

Anthony Regisford, Chairman of the Board of Invest SVG, sees this period as one that allows the Agency to rethink and adopt new strategies.

Areas of support under this program he said included capacity development, finance and improving the business climate. (DD)

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20. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

I cheated on my husband Dear George, I HAVE been married for 11 years and have three children. One thing I can say for sure is that my husband is a good man and has never left us hungry for one day.

I decided to confess a deep, dark secret I have been crying for the entire time we have been married. My confession was that none of the three children is his.

The thing is that I cheated on my husband when I went to New York for a vacation. I ended up getting pregnant. That same guy visited me in St. Vincent a few times and each time he came he threatened to expose me to my husband, if I did not have sex with him. I gave in to him, got pregnant again, this time with a twin.

When I confessed to my husband, he went into a rage, then walked out the house and has not returned since.

He, however, sent me a text asking me never to speak to him again and that he would be proceeding with a divorce. He blocked my number.

George, I need him to at least give me something for the children because I cannot take care of them on my own, but he has vowed never to do that. This is too much for me. I want to know what can be done to ease my

situation.

Regrets Dear regrets, You must, first of all, understand your husband’s emotional state on receiving such devastating news. He, however, has a duty to continue maintaining the children until legal proof is presented that he is not the father.

I suggest you seek legal advice as to the way forward seeing that he has removed himself completely from the home and matters of the home. It is also advisable that you seek professional counselling so that you can successfully navigate your way through this difficult period.

Maybe, just maybe your husband might get over this whole affair. Until then, follow through on the suggestions given.

George

No use hanging around her or given her reasons to think that way. When MY GIRLFRIEND and I I asked her to retract were joking around when what she said, she refused and said suddenly things turn emphatically that she sour.

I told her that she can never will because “it is true.” count on me to be the George, I love this kind of man who will woman but I am not always be at home and going to be with anyone taking care of the home who does not trust me. I front, to which she replied that that was so am tired of telling her I am not her previous only because of COVIDboyfriend who jilted her.

19 and if there was no My days with her are COVID, I would be out “roaming around looking numbered but she does not know it. for women.”

That hurt me, because I have never cheated on Ready to roll

Dear George,

Dear Ready to roll, It appears that your girlfriend is unfairly making you pay for the sins of her ex-boyfriend.

She should know and realize from your actions that you are not her ex and you deserve a fair chance to represent yourself and show her how a woman ought to be loved and cared for. Anything short of that would be jeopardizing a perfectly good thing.

George

Hating the action, not the person Dear George,

Dear Concerned Mother,

I PUT MY FOOT down and banned my 11-year-old daughter from access to her phone and the television for one week. Boy was I shocked by her response.

“I hate you, I hate you and I regret having you as my mother,” she shouted at me.

Those words went through me like a dagger and I am very disappointed in her for saying it.

Now, I am here wondering what I would have done to cause my daughter to talk to me like that. Is this something I should worry about and how should I handle this?

I would not lose too much sleep over what your daughter said to you but I would still have a talk with her after things have cooled, and let her know the inappropriateness of her reaction.

Your daughter does not hate you; she only hates what you did — the disciplinary measures you took. She responded in a way that she knew would hurt you. Her words are her only weapon.

After the week is over and things get back to regular programming, you will again be the best Mommy in the world.

Concerned mother

George

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Try not to argue about trivial matters.

You may be able to impart knowledge that's innovative to those searching for a new angle.Don't go overboard; start small and work toward building it up slowly.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Take time to catch up on overdue correspondence. Your emotions may be hard to control if your mate is forcing you to undergo drastic alterations in your relationship. Mingle with those who can help you get ahead.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Spend some time with the one you love.

Pleasure trips will be satisfying. Take some time out. Just be yourself. You may find that you are a little lucky this week.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Beware of colleagues who don't have your best interests in mind. You are best to concentrate on work. Most partner problems are a result of both people not living up to their promises. Your mate will appreciate your honesty.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Your fight for those less fortunate is not likely to end in sweet victory. Take a close look at documents before signing on the dotted line. You may have difficulties while traveling or problems dealing with close friends or relatives.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Secret information will be eye opening.

Business partnerships should turn out to be quite lucrative. Don't deny yourself this week. Your philanthropic contributions will bring you praise.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) You can meet new and exciting lovers through work related projects. Pamper yourself this week. Look into the cost factor, but don't try to get backing yet.

Be honest with yourself before getting involved with someone who is likely to lead you on.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) You may be in an extremely passionate mood this week. You will be confused about the intentions of someone you work with. Problems with peers is apparent. Don't let your friends talk you into taking time off.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Don't believe everything you hear. You might be overly emotional concerning situations at work. Don't offer to pay for others. You must not let others talk you into doing things that will probably limit you financially at a later date.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Your passionate mood will be well received by your mate. There'll be difficulties if you spend too much. Your interests could lead you down avenues you never realized existed.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Unexpected bills may set you back. You can easily impress others with your generous nature. Don't let criticism upset you. Hassles will delay your plans. Time spent with family, children, or good friends will be regenerating and positive.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) You will be erratic and quite likely to make personal mistakes. Don't force your opinions on friends or relatives unless you are prepared to lose their favor.

You'll be tempted to spend extravagantly this week.

ACROSS 1. Grain morsel 4. Heavenly body 8. Casual talk 12. Winter malady 13. Pennsylvania neighbor 14. Per person 15. Seeded fruit 16. Opera heroine 17. Peru’s capital 18. Brought into life 20. Wooden hammer 22. Chinese dog 24. Rural tower 25. Temporary gifts 27. Explosive substance: abbr.

28. Paper tablet 31. Fitting 32. Mirror sight 34. In time past 35. Positive answer 36. Black goo 37. Hotel fees 39. Irritating critter 40. Ocean flow 41. Give help to 44. At liberty 46. Cope (with) 47. Grammy winner Fitzgerald 49. This minute 52. Grand lady 53. Coral growth 54. Likewise 55. Hill glider 56. Chair or sofa 57. Feminine pronoun DOWN 1. Not at work 2. Prizefighting great 3. Harbor vessels

4. Ride wind currents 5. Skinny 6. Financial support 7. Wandering 8. Violin cousin 9. Frozen rain 10. High point 11. The one there 19. Have title to 21. Modify 22. Pottery lump 23. Anticipate wishfully 24. Begin 26. Locations 28. Clinic visitors 29. Mellowed, as wine 30. Remedy

amount 33. Becomes proficient at 38. Lunched on 39. Stacked 41. Does sums 42. Arctic mammal 43. Identical

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. 21.

44. Canineannoying 39-Across 45. Lake float 48. Singer Brenda 50. Delighted exclamation 51. Utter misery

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22. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Training

SVGCC launches „Wellness is Wealth‰ initiative THE ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES COMMUNITY (SVGCC) has embarked on a month-long wellness initiative.

The initiative, dubbed “Wellness Is Wealth”, encourages Vincentians to be mindful of their physical, emotional and mental state by actively seeking wellness enrichment experiences.

As part of the initiative, the SVGCC will host a series of free Zoom fitness sessions on March 6th, 13th, 20th,

and 27th, 2021.

Director of the SVGCC, Nigel Scott, in commenting on the initiative, stated that it was a timely venture given the global confinement of people’s movement and activities as a result of the COVID19 pandemic.

The Communications & Marketing Manager of the SVGCC, B. Tedra Kirby, also commented, “We wanted to explore ways we can truly engage our community

that extends beyond the walls of the college. We sought a positive platform that allowed for the safe sharing of a common space with our students, staff, their families and friends, as well as the public. We know the negative effects of the current pandemic, so one of the many ways we’ve chosen to counter is by encouraging an attitude of wellness through these Zoom sessions, as well as the other aspect of the

initiative which entails wellness support offered by our Counseling Department.”

Continued on Page 25.

Vinsave re-commences training THE VINSAVE Early Childhood Training Programme will recommence on Tuesday 9th March 2021. The programme, which has been offered by the Agency for over 40 years, will for the first time be offered virtually, due to the Covid ’19 Pandemic.

Twenty (20) persons, drawn from Childcare Centres throughout the state, are registered to participate in the year-long programme, which has

both a theoretical and practical component.

Vinsave has made the necessary adjustments, brought on by Covid ’19, to accommodate the practical component of the programme.

The Course, made possible through financial support from the Skills for the Youth Employment Caribbean (SKYE) Project, will follow Levels 1 & 2 of the TVET Curriculum.

The Training Programme will give the student necessary skills and knowledge for working with the young child in the child development centres, and to be able to fill the need for trained Childcare Practitioners in private homes and other industries. (Source: Vinsave) Vinsave has been the backbone of Early Childhood Training and Education in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. 23.

ÂHomeÊ is ÂAwayÊ for Vincy Heat

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES’ Vincy Heat has given up its home advantage in the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers against the British Virgin Islands.

Originally set for 30th March here at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, that fixture will now take place at the Ergillo Hato Stadium in Willemstad, on the same date.

This was made known last weekend as CONCACAF finalised most of the fixtures.

Before meeting the British Virgin Islands, the Vincentians will take on Curacao as scheduled on 25th March.

Vincy Heat is drawn

in Group C of the Qualifiers, along with Curacao, the British Virgin Islands, Guatemala and Cuba.

The intention was for each teams to have two home matches and two away matches.

However, with the recent spike in COVID19 cases in the region, many countries have enforced stricter quarantine protocols, thus forcing some to play in neutral venues.

Curacao, though, has a more relaxed protocol whereby visitors, on arrival, need only to present a negative COVID-19 test taken a maximum of 72 hours at

an accredited laboratory, before departure.

This has led to St Vincent and the Grenadines and the British Virgin Islands deciding to play their “Home” match in Curacao. The British Virgin Islands will meet Guatemala on 27th March, also at the Ergillo Hato Stadium.

Other countries which have gone the route of giving up their home matches are Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, Canada, Aruba, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, Panama, Anguilla, Dominica, Barbados, Turks and Caicos , St Lucia, Belize, St Kitts

The Ergillo Hato Stadium in Willemstad, Curacao will be home away from home for Vincy Heat. and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago.

Apart from the Curacao venue, the Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida, along with the IMG Academy, Bradenton, also in Florida, the Inter Miami Stadium in Miami, and the Estadio Felix Sanchez and the Panamericano, both in Santo Domingo, are the other neutral venues for the qualifying matches set for 24th to 30th March.

Curacao will host five

matches and the Dominican Republic will

be the venue for eight matches.

Hope International in Group C of CCCS GUARDIAN GENERAL HOPE INTERNATIONAL will play in Group C of the 2021 CONCACF Caribbean Club Shield (CCCS), set for Willemstad, Curacao next month.

Hope International, the 2019/2020 Premier Division champions of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation National Club Championships, has been drawn alongside Fruta Conquerors of Guyana and Aruba’s SV Racing Club.

When the draw and fixtures were released last Friday, it showed that Hope International will meet Conquerors at the Ergillo Hato Stadium on 23rd April and take on SV Racing Club on the 25th.

Fourteen clubs are competing in the CCCS. Group A comprises RKSV Sherpenheuvel of Curacao, Flames United of St Martin, SV Real Rincon of Bonaire and Platinum SC of St Lucia.

AS Gosier of Guadeloupe, Olympique de Cayenne of French Guiana, AS Samaraitaine of Martinique and Sagicor South East FC of Dominica, are the clubs locked in Group B. Meanwhile, St Paul’s United of St Kitts and Nevis, Metropolitan

Shafiqua Maloney holds on to the baton used in her team’s winning 4x400m run, hopefully as another item in her memorabilia.

Maloney leads her team to victory Guardian General Hope International are proud representatives of SVG in the 2021 edition of the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield. of Puerto Rico and Suriname’s Inter Moengo Tapoe are the participating clubs lodged in Group D. The tournament format shows that the winner of each of the four groups will advance to the semi—finals. The match ups in the semi- finals pit the Group A winner against the winner of Group B, with the Group C winner engaging the winner of Group D. The semi-finals take place on 30th April, with the Third Place Play Off and Final carded for 2nd

May. The winner of the CCCS will advance to the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championships, provided that club meets the CONCACAF Club Licensing requirements.

The CCCS features the winners of national competitions in countries which do not have a semi- professional league.

Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, are the four countries in the Caribbean which run semiprofessional Football Leagues.

VINCENTIAN TRACK ATHLETE Shafiqua Maloney continued to contribute in significant ways to the early indoor season good form of the female track and field team (the Razorbacks), of the University of Arkansas.

Maloney is pursuing studies at the University of Arkansas on an athletic scholarship.

Last weekend, running a split 51.84 seconds in the third leg of the 4x400m relay at the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Arkansas, she helped her team to gold in that event.

This reporter, who had the privilege of viewing a video recording of the race, clearly saw that it was Maloney’s third leg, in which she opened quite a lead over her opponents, that accounted in great measure for her team’s victory.

Maloney also ran the 800 meters event where she finished 3rd in 2:03.12, bettering her previous best time of 2:04.65 for the event, which she had registered some two weekends previous.

I.B.A.ALLEN

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24. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Taylor remains committed to SVG football LENNY TAYLOR - USA Soccer certified Level ‘A’ Coach, US Soccer Federation ‘B’ License Coach, former St. Vincent & Grenadines Senior Men’s Football team HeadCoach, former St. Kitts & Nevis Technical Director is committed to the advancement of football in SVG. The top coach expressed these sentiments in a recent conversation with THE VINCENTIAN. Taylor is spearheading a virtual ‘Lenny Taylor Soccer’ Youth Soccer Coaching Certificate

Course for youth coaches, in collaboration with the SVG Community College Sports Department and System 3 Sports Academy. The Courses began last week.

Taylor, who resides in the United States, prides himself as having set the bar for what is considered a successful programme.

“I will continue to give as much as I can because I would love to see the country (SVG) return to the position of eminence that it once achieved,” Taylor said.

He explained the

background to the course, saying, “The idea behind the ‘Lenny Taylor Soccer’ Youth Soccer Coaching Certificate Course for youth coaches was conceived by me and detailed in discussion with Ian Sardine (of System 3), who in turn contacted Roxell John of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College, who thought that this programme fitted well in the College’s Physical Education programme.

And as for his expectation, Taylor shared: “I would like to

see the coaches take away from the session the ability to be able to shape the young minds of SVG; being able to teach the game in an academic environment placing emphasis on learning the game mentally while shaping the total package of mind, spirit and body, as the game is taught in many other parts of the world.”

The experienced coach stressed further that, “It is important to have college trained students, who will have the responsibility of teaching the young minds in

elementary school, equipped with the tools that are necessary to expose the young people to the knowledge of playing the game as it should in the 21st century.”

Taylor cautioned, “The game has changed and it’s important to keep up with the new changes.

Lenny Taylor had what Football is a science. In some here say was a order to remain relevant, productive attachment a long-term development to the national football strategy has to be team. initiated and I believe it is important to equip our knowledge to be imparted at the physical education elementary school level.” teachers with the

Layne aims for the top JEREMY LAYNE, the emerging player from the second edition of the Vincy Premier League (VPL2), is looking to continue to develop his game.

The former Windward Islands U-19 cricket, for the first time since his successful outing in the VPL2, spoke about his game and plans for the future.

“I was pleased with what I was able to achieve in VPL2.0 …. my team placing second, coming out as the emerging player and joint leading wicket taker (14 wickets) was definitely a good achievement,” Layne said.

He was quick to say, though, “I see it as a start, something to build on because there’s always room for

improvements. Hopefully, my all-round ability will be on show for the next edition.”

And just like any other young cricketer, Layne expressed an ambition to play at the highest level across all formats.

“I know I’m more suited for the shorter version of the game but I have what it takes to be successful in the longer format as well,” he said confidently and acknowledged, “The only way to get to the top is by working hard, no short cuts.”

During this challenging period of inactivity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Layne believes it is important that sportspersons stay focused.

“For me it’s not hard to stay

focused during these challenging times. …. I’ve been doing a lot of mental work in terms of learning new stuff about the game, thinking about ways to improve my cricket and putting in the practical work in training as well.

It’s important for me to stay fit and continue to work on my game because I want to be ready when there’s an opportunity to play some cricket again locally or otherwise,” Layne elaborated.

And he is looking forward to an opportunity “to play cricket outside of SVG…… in different conditions. ... I’d be able to showcase my talent to a wider audience and you never know

Jeremy Layne – a bowling all-rounder seen here in action in the PL2 - has his sight focused on playing at cricket’s highest level, across all formats. what other opportunities may come from it. … I’d definitely cherish any opportunity like

that, and look to grab it with both hands.”

Goalkeepers are pivotal to success KEVIN RICHARDSON SVG’s senior men’s football team’s (Vincy Heat) goalkeeping coach - has underscored the pivotal role goalkeepers play in the success of any football team.

Richardson, who heads a goalkeepers coaching group that includes Melvin Andrews, a former national goalkeeper, is presently working with five goalkeepers - Jadial Chance, Dwaine Sandy, Kizani Haynes, Garwin Davis and Josh Stowe — who have been included in the 23-man training squad announced by the SVG Football Federation (SVGFF), in preparation for the CONCACAF World Cup

Qualifiers.

“We resumed training two Saturdays ago at the Arnos Vale Playing Field when we focused on physical fitness as a first priority, before getting into the technical and tactical aspects of the training,” Richardson told THE VINCENTIAN. And while he recognized the goalkeepers for their willingness “to put in the work,” he was moved to recognise that the role of the goalkeeper has, for the most part, gone unnoticed, even though it carries great responsibility.

“Goalkeepers are very, very important players … their main role is to prevent the

opponents from scoring… he is the last defense as well as the one who sees the whole game,” Richardson said.

In the absence of warm-up matches before Vincy Heat’s first game, i.e. an away game against Curacao, March 25, Richardson said that his programme will focus on foot work, ball handling, crosses, one-on-one situations, set pieces as well as fitness.

“Practice matches are important before any competition but if this doesn’t materialize we will be working on every aspect, including the mental part, in order to get the guys in a state of readiness for our first game,” Richardson assured.

And for the team’s prospects, the goalkeeping coach reflected on the fact that, “We got to the fourth round in the last Qualifiers so nothing is impossible… we just need to be focused and for players to listen to the coaching staff.”

He did not think playing away and before empty stadiums would be a disadvantage since, as he preferred, “Football is played on the day so we just have to go and give it our best.”

Kevin Richardson - National Goalkeeping Coach.

STORIES I.B.A. ALLEN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. 25.

Sports

Hats off to Pollard HE MUST HAVE that kind of spirit which instills fear in bowlers, and inspires his team mates.

The West Indies play the second of the T/20 series against Sri Lanka today. Viewers should increase, aroused by the heroics and dynamics of the first encounter. West Indies secured a fourwicket closing at win 134 for 6, having overhauled their opponents’ 131 for 9.

Man of the Match was Kieron Pollard with 38 from 11 deliveries. He spent 18 minutes at the crease and hit six sixes, all in one over. That made him the third such person to accomplish this feat in modern day. Vincentian Obed McCoy was the pick of the West Indies bowling with figures of 2 for 25 from his allotment.

Scarcely any mention is made of Gary Sobers’ feat in 1968. That was in County Cricket in England long before One Day cricket and T/20 became the norm.

Pollard’s effort salvaged a precarious situation for his team. Having raced to 52 for the opening partnership, cricket turned up its uncertainty when the home team slipped to 62 for 4.

That was compliments an Akila Dananjaya hat trick which included Chris Gayle, appearing at number three, and Nicolas Pooran the third victim. The Sri Lanka leg spinner seemed on the verge of creating an eruption.

But Pollard’s response was swift and destructive. Even though the drama continued with Fabian Allen’s dismissal’s immediately following Pollard’s, the damage had already been done.

The T/20 version winds up on Sunday, setting the stage for the One Day Internationals, then two Test matches.

The agenda will be spliced with the burial of Phillip Lorenzo Anthony better known as ‘Tomato’. The Vineyard paid tribute to the departed brother in its February 12 edition.

The 68-year-old former Police Sergeant passed away February 7. He would have died perhaps with a smile on face, for that morning West Indies had accomplished what might have been something of a miracle. That was the completion of the Kyle Mayers/Nkrumah Bonner combination which laid the foundation for the recording breaking chase in Bangladesh.

I was thinking of relaying the information to ‘Tomato’, as much as he was going traversing to another phase of passage. I was just about going to bed, having absorbed the drama when I was jolted into the news of ‘Tomato’s ‘dismissal.

The result would have been a topic of discussion within the family. That has been the pattern over the years, induced by my father’s obsession with cricket and sports throughout his life. He set the pattern by encouraging villagers to his home when the West Indies played cricket in Australia.

They gathered around the radio, and as much as the commentary sounded like “fry-fish” at times, one heard the score every now and again.

It is in that context that I have to appreciate the tenacity of another sister called Marion. She had a system of scoring ball by ball from the radio. She kept some records, which I was able to share over the years.

Rest in peace ‘Tomato’.

Records galore at Gallagher Swim Championships THIRTEEN national records were erased when the 2021 Gallagher Invitational Swim Championships concluded last Sunday at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre, Ratho Mill.

Responsible for four of the new marks was Eltonique Leonard in the Female 9-10 age group.

She broke the 200m Backstroke with a time of 3 minutes 03.25 seconds, bettering the 3 minutes 08.05 seconds done by Kennice Greene at the FLOW Invitational in 2018.

Leonard also lowered the 50m Breaststroke to 40.75 seconds, from the 42.01 seconds set by Adiah Phillips at the OECS Championships in 2017.

The 200m Breaststroke was a race against herself and she set a new time of 3 minutes 17.99 seconds, beating the 3 minutes 29.32 seconds she had set at the SVG Nationals in 2020.

She also took the 100m Butterfly, erasing the existing record of 1 minute 23.91 seconds, clocked by Zariel Nelson at the SVG Nationals in 2019, with a time of 1 minute 22.87 seconds.

Accounting for three new records was Mya De Freitas. She became the holder of the records for the Females 15- 16, 200m, 400m and 800m Freestyle.

DeFreitas’ 2 minutes 13.98 seconds in the 200m replaced Shne Joachim’s 2 minutes 26.79 seconds, achieved in 2016 at the Townsend Fall Classic in Canada.

Her time of 4 minutes 48.86 seconds in the 400m splintered the existing record of 5 minutes 53.4 seconds done by Adora Lawrence at the 2014 OECS Championships.

And in the 800m, DeFreitas clocking of 9 minutes 47. 05 seconds broke Shne Joachim’s 10 minutes 43.04 seconds mark that had stood since 2016, which Joachim had done at that year’s Rodney Heights Aquatic Invitational in St Lucia.

Also in the Females 15-16, Tia Gun-Munro put her name next to the 200m Breaststroke record with a time of 3 minutes 00.93 seconds, erasing Jaynika Williams’ 3 minutes 49.18 seconds done at the 2019 SVG National Championships.

In the Male 15-16 age group, Kenale Alleyne rewrote the 200m Backstroke, from 2 minutes 23.71 seconds timed by Alex Joachim in 2015 at the Lime Invitational, to 2

Caghry Williams – Male 7-8 Champion

Kenale Alleyne – Male 15-16 Champion

minutes 20.32 seconds.

Meanwhile, Jamie Joachim ensured the Females 13-14 100m Backstroke record remained in the family, when she did 1 minute 11.70 seconds to outshine her elder sister’s (Shne’s) mark of 1 minute 13.02 seconds, posted at the Barbados Amateur Swimming Association’s Short Course event in 2015.

The Female 13-14 group Eltonique accounted for another record, Mya De Freitas – Leonard – Female 9-10 when Kevern Da Silva clocked 2 Female 15-16 Champion minutes 39.28 seconds in the Champion.

200m Breaststroke, to smash BMSC - 77 points.

Mya De Freitas’ effort of 2 Female 9-10: Eltonique minutes 42. 19 seconds, done last Leonard Black Sands Swim year at the SVG Nationals.

Squad (BSSS) - 135 points The two other records were in Male 9-10: Tyler Robinson — the 7-8 years age group. Kione De BSSS — 126 points.

Shong’s 1 minute 50. 80 seconds Female 11-12: Kathryn in the 100m Breaststroke, wiped Cumberbatch — BSSS - 119 points out the 1 minute 50.92 seconds of and Seth Male 11-12: Seth Byron Jayson Sandy set at the 2015 — BSSS - 115 points.

Lime Invitational. Caghary Female 13-14: Jamie Joachim Williams’ 46.84 seconds in the — BSSS - 106 points.

50m Breaststroke, clipped the Male 13-14: Brandon George — 48.49 seconds of Tyler Robinson BSSS - 121 points. set at the OECS Trials in 2019.

Female 15-16: Mya De Freitas — BSSS - 113 points.

Individual Champions Male 15-16: Kenale Alleyne — As for individual champions BSSS - 107 points. spread over five age categories for The championships, held over both male and female, the two weekends in keeping with the following obtained: COVID-19 health protocols, saw Female 7-8: Belle Adams - Blue BSSS tallying 2017 points, Blue Marlins Swim Club (BMSC) - 81 Marlin Swim Club — 584 points points. and South Lake Aquatic- 36 Male 7-8: Caghry Williams — points.

SVGCC launches „Wellness is Wealth‰ initiative 6th - aerobics with Lindon James (Be Fit Movement); March 13th Kirby also expressed her cardio-kickboxing with Keyon gratitude to Islandwide Fitness Constance (Islandwide Fitness Bootcamp, Be Fit Movement, Bootcamp); March 20th - aerobics Wild Thing Wellness and DS with Dilonie Sam (DS Fitness Fitness Club for their willingness Club); and March 27th yoga with to partner on the college’s Alexa De Riggs (Wild Thing wellness initiative.

Wellness).

Alexa De Riggs, certified yoga To participate in the SVGCC’s instructor with over 300 yoga “Wellness Is Wealth” initiative, training hours, and owner of visit www.zoom.us and enter the Wild Thing Wellness, expressed meeting ID 828 0495 3828. that yoga is not just flexibility Follow the SVGCC’s official and strength within the body, Facebook account for wellness but also within the mind. She updates throughout March. will lead the Zoom session on March 27th, 2021.

(Contributed by SVGCC) The Zoom sessions are: March Continued from Page 22.

26. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021. 27.

Classifieds

MHRC a COVID-19 cluster: “Negligence”, says Dr. Friday

Continued from Back Page.

One media agency here reported that some of the affected patients have since been relocated to the Glad Tidings Camp Site in Queens Drive.

The Opposition Leader, though, reminded his listeners that he had from the outset of the first spike in the numbers of COVID-19 cases, insisted that in order to bring it under control, the country must have proper isolation facilities.

There has been a slackening of in the number of new COVID-19 cases reported since the spike in December/January.

As per a release dated March 2, 2021 from Health Authorities, One thousand, six hundred and forty-five (1645) cases of COVID-19 have been reported in St. Vincent and the Grenadines since March 2020.

Nine hundred and forty-nine (949) cases have been cleared, six hundred and eighty-eight (688) cases remain active and eight (8) persons with COVID-19 have died.

ST. CLAIRE JAMES Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021 Grace Community Baptist Church Kingstown Park Viewing: 9:00 a.m.

Service: 10:00 a.m.

Interment: Kingstown Cemetery 26&$5 2¶1(,/ &2'28*$1 Sunday, 28th February, 2021 Salvation Army, Kingstown Viewing: 10:00 a.m.

Service: 11:00 a.m.

Interment: Kingstown Cemetery

9(521,&$ (/',(.$ %52:1( a.k.a. Shasar

&251(/,86 67$1/(< (':$5'6 Sunday, 28th February, 2021 Eden Memorial S.D.A Church Spring Village Viewing: 11:00 a.m.

Service: 12:00 p.m.

Interment: Spring Village Cemetery

Sunday, 28th February, 2021 :RUOG :LGH Mission Fitz Hughes Viewing: 10:00 a.m.

Service: 11:00 a.m.

Interment: Fitz Hughes VIDA FREDERICKS Saturday, 27th February, 2021 Hope Methodist Church Peniston Viewing: 10:00 a.m.

Service: 11:00 a.m.

Interment: Hope Methodist Church Yard

6+(5:$,1 2/$1'2 FITGERALD DOUGLAS Saturday, 27th February, 2021 St. Patrick Anglican Church Barrouallie Viewing: 12:00 noon Service: 1:00 p.m.

Interment: Church Yard Cemetery

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FRIDAY, MARCH

05, 2021

VOLUME 115, No.09 www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

MHRC A COVID-19 CLUSTER: “NEGLIGENCE,” SAYS DR. FRIDAY AS OF LAST Wednesday, Mental Health March 3, 2021, there were Rehabilitation Centre 107 confirmed cases of (MHRC) at Glen.

COVID-19 at this country’s Of that total, 94 were

The Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre (a refurbished section pictured) would have attained cluster status with its near 100 cases of COVID-19.

COVID-19 cases and according to a source, it patients and 9 were will have to move into a members of staff. lockdown mode, if it has The Centre has now been declared a cluster of not already done so.

INDIA DONATES COVID-19 VACCINES TO OECS THIS COUNTRY, last Sunday, took possession of 40,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine Covishield (Indian) AstraZeneca.

The vaccines are part of a shipment of 175,000 vaccines which landed in Antigua earlier on Sunday via chartered aircraft from Mumbai, for distribution to St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and are a donation made by India’s government to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Suriname.

The shipment follows a previous shipment received less than two weeks ago by Barbados and Dominica (who received 70,000 doses, a significant portion of which was shared with other OECS Member States).

India has been one of the first G20 countries to donate vaccines to developing countries and it now has a list of over 100 countries awaiting supplies

provided by India.

A Regional Security System (RSS) aircraft landed the vaccines at the Argyle International Airport where they were received by a party of government (Right to Left): Prime Minister Dr. Ralph officials including Prime Minister Gonsalves, Minister of Health St. Clair Prince and SVGIHF Rep. Dr. Arnold Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Thomas were on hand to receive and Minister of Health St. check the goods/vaccines. (Photo Clair Prince, Permanent Credit: API SVG) Secretary Ministry of Health Cuthbert Organization (PAHO) announced Knights, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Simone Beache, along with a the allocation of COVID-19 vaccines for Barbados and representative from the Indian High Commission and Dr. Arnold countries in the Eastern Caribbean, which will represent a Thomas of the SVG Indian population vaccination coverage Heritage Foundation. of 16 to 20 percent by the end of Meanwhile, on Saturday, the March.

Pan American Health

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

This ‘statistic’ has not escaped the attention of Leader of the Opposition Dr. Godwin Friday.

Speaking on the New Times Programme carried on NICE Radio on Monday, Dr. Friday referred to the outbreak at the Centre as the result of negligence on the part of health authorities.

He took umbrage with the authorities and inferred that if they were taking into account what was happening in other countries at institutions like the MHRC, prisons, homes for the elderly and other facilities that house people, instead of seemingly ignoring it, that it would have only been a matter of time before we had a breakout, like we did.

“How did this happen?

Where is the Minister of Health? Where is the Ministry of Health?

What are the protocols in place at the Mental Health Centre?” Dr. Friday questioned.

He wondered aloud: “How were they

Dr. Godwin Friday, Leader of the Opposition, reiterated his call for proper isolation facilities. managing out there?

Where are they isolating 92 people who have, within the last three days, tested positive for COVID-19 at the Mental Health Centre at Glen?

Where are they putting those people so that they are secure?”

As for answers to Dr. Friday’s questions, the Ministry of Health had indicated that isolation and quarantine measures were being implemented and additional testing to ensure containment of any further spread in the facility.

Continued on Page 27.

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