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The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY,

APRIL 06, 2018

VOLUME 112, No.14

NO SHOW OF ÂSANGAÊ, SUSPECTS DISCHARGED

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

Colin David

The incident occurred around midday.

McFee remains in custody awaiting THREE MEN WHO WERE CHARGED in connection with High Court trial in connection with the the October 15, 2017 shooting of Paul’s Avenue shooting death of nine-month-old Mozarie resident and businessman Jawanza ‘Sanga’ Fraser, Lee; the unlawful and malicious were discharged on Tuesday when the Preliminary wounding with intent of the baby’s father Inquiry (P.I) was scheduled to commence at the Serious Mozart Lee and mother Shelly-Ann Offences Court.

Durham, and the attempted murder of Colin ‘Cocoa’ David of Fair Hall, Ricardo ‘Shrek’ Belmont resident, Monty Hillocks, all of McFee of Villa, and Jomarno ‘Small Man’ Tash of which occurred on October 7, 2016.

Rockies were charged with attempting to murder McFee is indicted jointly, on all counts, Fraser and using a firearm with intent to murder with Martin ‘Jahson’ James of Villa.

Fraser, while David and McFee were additionally The Chief Magistrate had discharged charged with possession of a firearm to endanger the men in connection with that matter Fraser’s life. at the Preliminary Inquiry on April 25, Fraser, the virtual complainant in the matter, 2017, but the then Director of Public was not present when called to take the witness Prosecutions (DPP), Colin Williams, stand onTuesday. subsequently applied to the High Court Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delplesche informed for a ‘Voluntary Bill of Indictment’ for the the court that Fraser was served with notice to be men to stand trial on those charges. there but did not show up, and therefore the The application was granted after a prosecution could not proceed. As a result, Chief Judge in Chambers concluded that there Magistrate Rechanne Browne discharged the was sufficient evidence. defendants on all counts.

Just after David, McFee and Tash However, while the men were discharged, the were discharged on the charges Ricardo McFee Jawanza Fraser matter was not dismissed, as Preliminary Inquiries, connected to Fraser’s shooting, David which are not trials, cannot be dismissed. received prison sentences in the same a 9 mm firearm, and two and a half years for having Fraser was reportedly shot several times while in court for firearm and ammunition possession the vicinity of the bar he operates in Paul’s Avenue, stemming from the search of a vehicle on Lower Bay 36 rounds of ammunition.

Both sentences will run concurrently. when occupants in a vehicle that pulled alongside, Street May 2017. opened fire on him.

He received a five-year sentence for possession of

by HAYDN HUGGINS

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2. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

News

C&W get involved in Village Doc programme WITH ITS focus centred on giving back to the community, telecommunications company Cable and Wireless (C&W) collaborated with the St Vincent Rotary Club in its Village Doctor programme.

Members of the Corporate team journeyed to the community of Barrouallie with members of the Rotary Club and a team of doctors on March 26 as they set out to provide medical service to

members of that community free of charge.

Garcia Cato, Head of Corporate Sales, said that the activity was a success, with over 200 persons being attended to.

She explained that the event was an indication that the company was committed just not to contributing to initiatives such as the Village Doctor

programme, but also by its employees investing time and getting involved.

Patients awaiting attendance from the team of doctors present.

Corporate Department and Village Doctors.

Volcano-Ready communities project to launch IN AN EFFORT to increase awareness of the risks associated with a volcanic eruption at the community Residents of at risk level, communities, such as stakeholders and Chateaubelair, will take part in members of the an exercise aimed at increasing public will knowledge and awareness of convene at the volcano and multi-hazards risk.

Sandy Bay Government Primary School today from at 4:00 p.m for the official launch of the Volcano-Ready Communities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines Project.

The project is a collaborative effort of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) and The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC) with the primary objectives of the project being to increase knowledge and awareness of volcano and multihazards risk and to enhance adaptive capacity in communities throughout the country.

“Community engagement is at the core of the project, which will seek to improve and expand the capacity of the communities to be more resilient beyond the life of the project,” Professor Richard Robertson, Director of UWI-SRC said.

The project specifically seeks to reduce vulnerability to the multi-hazard environment of the Soufriere Volcano through a combination of activities designed to enhance response capacities.

It also seeks to increase resilience of 12 communities located in what has been designated high risk zones of the volcano.

The target communities for this two-year project have been separated into two groups and include Fancy, Owia, Sandy Bay, Overland, Big Level, South Rivers, Park Hill and Colonarie on the Windward side of the island and Fitz Hughes, Chateaubelair, Rose Hall, and Spring Village on the Leeward side.

The project is being funded under the Community Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (CDRRF), which is administered by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. 3.

News 3 Junior artistes ready to rumble

Kristiana Christopher

I. A.’ Alexio Edwards from the Gomea Methodist School is doing the song ‘Youths wake up.’ Tevanjay Joseph (Sandy Bay Primary), ‘I can’t be you,’ is keeping the North Windward cultural flag flying.

Daniela Hinson is a student of the New Prospect Primary School which has been a feature at the calypso finals.

Her number is ‘In these times.’

The seventh competitor is Danique Edwards from the Greiggs Government with ‘A.I.A. is good.’

Danique is into the Soca category with ‘Sugar in Soca.’ Her school is represented in the Soca category with Tyrell Rodriquez doing ‘Vincy love to party.’

Defending Soca monarch M’Riah ‘Young Saiah’ Robertson from West St. George will be determined

to retain her title.

There are eight finalists in the Soca clash. St. Vincent Grammar School’s Rashide Rocque: ‘Soca Vybe,’ and THE BID FOR ROYALTY at the Junior Tyrique Thomas: ‘Good life,’ Kevisha Calypso and Soca level has centred Richardson: Biabou Methodist; around one family in recent years.

‘Carnival is my time,’ made the cut.

Kristian and Kristiana Christopher are Delisha Brackin: Sandy Bay the Primary and Secondary Schools Secondary School is ‘Vex’. She placed defending monarchs respectively. third last year in the Soca section and Kristian will be looking for his will be keen to improve. The other fourth consecutive title. But Kailey Cyrus from the C. W. Prescod Primary contender is Teshika Thomas from will want to do something about that. Bishops College Kingstown: ‘Cut dem off.’

His number is ‘Discipline.’ Fidel The Secondary School Calypso Cyrus: Kingstown Anglican School ‘Way day dey?’ is making his play, and contest throws up some attention, with seven aiming at Kristiana ‘Singing so is Matthew John from Stubbs Kristy’ Christopher. A former Junior Government School with ‘Welcome A.

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY

Soca winner, Singing Kristy failed to make this year’s Soca clash.

Young Saiah from West St. St. George Secondary finds herself in the calypso category and will be eyeing the double.

Her calypso is ‘Minivan lover.’

Damian ‘Bony Man’ Noel placed second last year behind Singing Kristy and he will want to make amends with ‘Silence never.’

His school mate Christopher Bacchus: ‘Caribbean dream,’ will be looking to complete his vision at Victoria Park July 3.

The Sandy Bay Secondary School and the district, have engraved themselves as a cultural base, and there is hardly an aspect without their presence.

Dale Ann Nero was third last year in the Calypso segment and will entertain thoughts of moving up. With Delisha Nero singing ‘Who is politricks?’ Sandy Bay will be hoping

Kristian Christopher for the crown.

Chachanie Morgan from the Girls’ High School: ‘Conflict resolution’ is trying to cement her name. Tyrique Thomas from St. Vincent Grammar School with ‘War,’ completes the Calypso category. He is also on the

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4. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

ÂCocoaÊ escapes High Court sentencing initially set for a Preliminary Inquiry (P.I) COLIN ‘Cocoa’ David may hearing, but was have received a much subsequently reduced to heavier penalty from a a summary trial.

High Court Judge on In December 2017, firearm and ammunition Chief Magistrate charges for which he was Rechanne Browne, committed to the High sitting at the Serious Court for sentencing, but Offences Court, found had the matter sent back David guilty on both to the lower court. charges, but Senior In the remitted matter Prosecutor Adolphus on Tuesday, the Fair Delplesche told the court Hall man was at the that the prosecution was Serious Offences Court seeking to make an sentenced to five years in application to have the prison for possession of a matter sent to the High 9 mm firearm, and two Court for sentencing and a half years for because of the having 36 rounds of 9mm aggravating factors of ammunition. The the case. sentences will run David’s lawyer Grant concurrently.

Connell strongly The matter was objected, arguing that his

by HAYDN HUGGINS

client waited nine months for a P.I to be heard, and asked Browne not to entertain the prosecutor’s application since it would amount to an abuse of process.

The Chief Magistrate however agreed with Delplesche and sent the matter to the High Court for sentencing.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of seven years in the Magistrate’s Court, but 20 years in the High Court.

When the matter of sentencing involving David came up before the High Court, THE VINCENTIAN understands that Crown Counsel, Karim Nelson

had raised certain issues in relation to the law, and Jurisdiction to the case, and Justice Brian Cottle remitted the matter to the Magistrate’s Court.

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne handed down the sentences on Tuesday, following a mitigation plea from Connell and a response from the Senior Prosecutor.

David’s sentencing came after he, Ricardo ‘Shrek’ McFee and Jomarno ‘Small Man’ Tash were discharged at the same court in connection with the October 15, 2017 shooting of Jowanza ‘Sanga’ Fraser.

He has another gun and ammunition matter before the court, which is being heard before Magistrate Bertie Pompey at the Mesopotamia Magistrate’s Court.

David created headlines on at least two occasions some time ago, having been acquitted on two murder charges in relation to separate incidents.

Slashing accused to reappear in court

Couple on gun ammo charges; man guilty A GEORGETOWN man will return to the Serious Offences Court next Monday, April 9 for sentencing on a number of gun related matters.

When Deron Franklyn appeared at the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a .38 revolver, three rounds of .38 ammunition, two rounds of .32 ammunition, and unlawfully discharging a firearm at Alaska Humphry. Those offences were reportedly committed at Fitz Hughes, Georgetown last Saturday.

Franklyn also pleaded guilty to unlawfully and maliciously wounding Sam Douglas of Georgetown, at Georgetown on March 9.

Franklyn will however appear before the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court April 16 to answer that charge.

On the firearm and ammunition possession charges, Franklyn was charged jointly with Tricia Horne, who pleaded not guilty and was granted $15,000 bail with one surety.

As part of her bail conditions, she would surrender her travel documents and report to the Georgetown Police Station every Friday.

Stop notices will be placed at all ports of entry and exit, and she is not to leave the state without the permission of the Serious Offences Court or a higher court.

She will also return to court next Monday.

Franklyn was remanded pending sentencing.

(H.H)

Fitz Hughes man jailed on multiple charges

JEREMIAH ASHTON, a man who discharged a firearm into the house of another, damaging his television set, will spend the next three and a half years behind bars.

The 38-year-old labourer of Fitz Hughes was, last CHANTAE JAMES is week Thursday, sentenced to three and a half years expected to return to for possession of a 12 guage shotgun; eight months court on Monday, after for having six rounds of 12 guage ammunition; 12 she was charged on months for entering the home of Calvin Harry of March 28 with the Fitz Hughes, as a trespasser with intent to commit wounding of Sakaina an offence; 11 months for unlawfully discharging a Sam of Lowmans firearm, and six months for damaging the television.

Leeward.

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne handed down She appeared before the sentences at the Serious Offences Court. They Senior Magistrate Ricky are to run concurrently.

Burnette at the Serious Ashton had pleaded guilty to the charges at the Offences Court.

Serious Offences Court March 25, but sentencing The 19-year-old was adjourned. He was unrepresented. accused, a resident of The facts showed that around 5 a.m. on March Old Montrose/Block 25, Harry made a report to the Chateaubelair Police 2000, was granted bail Station about damage to his property, and discharge when she appeared in of a firearm at him. As a result, police officers were court the day after she dispatched to his home where he showed them the allegedly attacked Sam damaged television. in Paul’s Avenue, in the Police then conducted a search, and found vicinity of the Bishop’s Ashton. When cautioned and interviewed, he told College.

That incident occurred the lawmen, “Me have a gun, me go hand it over to the police”. last week Wednesday, Ashton then took some officers to an area where March 27 when, he claimed he hid the firearm under some bushes. A according to reports, Sam, a student at the St search was conducted, but it was not found. He was further questioned, and said, “Officer, me give the Vincent and the gun to a man to hold”. He then took the police to Grenadines Community one Abdon Stapleton, who admitted, “Me have de College, was slashed multiple times about the ting”, and took the officers to an area in ‘Dark View’, went to some bushes and removed the gun face during an which was contained in a plastic bag, along with the altercation with James. ammunition. (H.H) (DD)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. 5.

News

Celebrating Easter at VINSAVE The SVG Save the Children Fund (VINSAVE) was a hive of activity on Wednesday 28.3.18, as the children, staff, parents and friends from the three (3) centres

(Byera, Kingstown and Layou) came together for the 2018 Parade of Hats.

The children proudly displayed an array of hats, to the delight of all

present. The hats which varied in sizes, shapes and colours, were made by their parents.

The activity provided the opportunity for the

yearly get together of the Vinsave Child Development Centres, and is a yearly feature of

VINSAVE. At the end of the programme, which also saw the awards of prizes for best hats,

Fitz Hughes man jailed on multiple charges JEREMIAH ASHTON, a man who discharged a firearm into the house of another, damaging his television set, will spend the next three and a half years behind bars.

The 38-year-old labourer of Fitz Hughes was, last week Thursday, sentenced to three and a half years for possession of a 12 guage shotgun; eight months for having six rounds of 12 guage ammunition; 12 months for entering the home of Calvin Harry of Fitz Hughes, as a trespasser with intent to commit an offence; 11 months for unlawfully discharging a firearm, and six months for damaging the television.

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne handed down the sentences at the Serious Offences Court. They are to run concurrently.

Ashton had pleaded guilty to the charges at the Serious Offences Court March 25, but sentencing was adjourned. He was unrepresented.

The facts showed that around 5 a.m.

on March 25, Harry made a report to the Chateaubelair Police Station about damage to his property, and discharge of a firearm at him. As a result, police officers were dispatched to his home where he showed them the damaged television.

Police then conducted a search, and found Ashton. When cautioned and interviewed, he told the lawmen, “Me have a gun, me go hand it over to the police”.

Ashton then took some officers to an area where he claimed he hid the firearm under some bushes. A search was conducted, but it was not found.

He was further questioned, and said, “Officer, me give the gun to a man to hold”. He then took the police to one Abdon Stapleton, who admitted, “Me have de ting”, and took the officers to an area in ‘Dark View’, went to some bushes and removed the gun which was contained in a plastic bag, along with the ammunition. (H.H)

Children displayed their hats.

everyone was treated to food and drinks.

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6. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

News

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 Commendable performance, despite⁄ This week, St. Vincent and the Grenadines erupted into virtual euphoria with the historic wins at the 2018 CARIFTA Games.

Team SVG, comprising 12 athletes, clinched three gold medals: two in track and field and one in our newest competitive sport, swimming. Fifteen-year-old Handel Roban won the Under-17 800M, and the Female 4x400 relay team of Annicea Richards, Shafiqua Maloney, Tamara Woodley and Zita Vincent also won a gold.

In swimming, fourteen-year-old Alex Joachim won the gold in the Under-17 200 breast stroke, a silver in the 100M breast stroke, and a bronze in the 200M butterfly.

Congratulations to the medalists and to all the other competitors.

The youth’s accomplishments at the CARIFTA Games gave us a stark reminder of the unlimited potential that lies in the youth of our country, who, once given the opportunity, could blaze a phenomenal trail.

The power of sports to uplift our youth, to unite our country, to curb crime, stem the rise in gun culture, to create a fit and healthy St. Vincent and the Grenadines, to improve our quality of life, is still under-tapped.

Even with the stellar accomplishments we are seeing, there are so many more talented youngsters who may never uncover the medals within them, and who may succumb to negative societal forces.

In our modern Vincentian society, we need to use this powerful and underutilized tool of sport to transform our country.

Our youth have demonstrated that they will seize the moment, once given the opportunity, oftentimes despite the lack of resources to allow them to perform against some of the best from around the region.

On the team’s return on Tuesday, coaches Michael ‘Lord Have Mercy’ Ollivierre and Rawlson Morgan spoke of the lack of a synthetic track here, for example.

But let us look at swimming, our newest competitive sport, as an example.

Several years ago, few Vincentians would have dreamed to compete in international swim meets.

Now, our youth are blazing trails around the region and holding their own in international meets.

As we go to press, four are competing at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, and several more will compete in St. Lucia at the Regional Swim meet.

What did it take to achieve this? A visionary coach supported by a team of coaches, committed parents, and a good executive.

Swimming is becoming main stream, with opportunities opening up to the wider and more underprivileged youth.

Soon, St. Vincent and the Grenadines will see the effects by wider international representation. While this result is exciting, there are many youths who are not exposed to the opportunity to participate.

The 21st Century agenda for sports in St. Vincent and the Grenadines must shift its paradigm.

The public and private partnerships must be encouraged whereby the unlimited talent and dedication of persons in our society with vision must be combined with the support of government to provide a sports environment that is unrivalled.

It is one of the best investments that we could make in our country; the rise in juvenile diabetes is frightening.

Let us transform our country, create a proactive sports agenda, whereby our young people can aspire to maximizing their talents in a supportive environment.

Andrew - a man of many parts ANDREW CUMMINGS came naturally from good stock. The Cummings were in most salubrious ways the pride of Chateaubelair and the region roundabout. One of his uncles was, for instance, the Island Schol winner who went on to become a doctor in the UK of the 1940s where he remained.

In fact, Andrew’s sister Tricia Cummings followed in her uncle’s footsteps to become a recognized cardiologist who ended up plying her trade in Trinidad where I was once her patient, as were other Vincentians, mostly ‘Diamondites’ whence the maternal family sprang.

In fact, Pauline Young of GHS fame and his own mom, Ercelle were glittering gems of Diamond, setting standards of life in the village community.

Later, in Kingstown Pauline was a role model as a teacher at the GHS, and Andrew’s mother set a good pace for women in the public service, as well as helped to beautify Hairouna with her flowered home garden that she later extended to flower shops.

Incidentally, their brother Eardley was bestman at my brother Fred’s wedding in Curacao, as well as godfathered for my nephews.

The mother of three died and the father, Andrew’s grandfather, who was a successful farmer in the village of Diamond, contributed to the politics of the country, mainly through Mc Intosh’s Working Men’s Association, married again to produce two sons, Errol and Oscar, both of whom lived exemplary lives.

Life in Chateaubelair in his father’s time was best captured in one of Andrew’s first class eulogies in which he virtually enriched the English language with an encomium to one of the many outstanding Primary School headmasters to have blessed our path, GCH Thomas.

The brothers, “Chick” and Saville took the BGS by storm and went on to serve the country, largely as accountant and auditors par excellence. The Uncle was a good sportsman allround, but Andrew’s father was rather indifferent. He compensated by staging cricket at his home at Mountain Cabbage, at which the cream of the public sweated out their frustration - Frank, Henry and Moulton Williams, Clem Iton and the rest.

Andrew took note and advanced soft-ball, street cricket to a new level near his home in New Montrose which opened up in his time Andrew, Joel Providence, Kingsley Layne, the Iton boys, visiting Adrian Saunders and Monty Eustace. The games naturally extended to include football and table tennis.

I returned to SVG in the mid-1960s to learn

that Andrew was in his prime. At the BGS, Andrew cut a very large figure as fine debater and spokes person of the youth, and excelled in sports with three Victores Ludorum in a row. Our current CARIFTA heist is a tribute to his passing.

Not surprising, his merry band went with him from secondary school to UWI, pursuing especially law where not only the gift of gab was exposed, but moreso the excellent speechifying of Andrew and company, particularly Kingsley Layne, Adrian Saunders and Kay Bacchus and Gillis Francis and Monty Eustace, Parnel Campbell, who operated at the level of lecturer, alighted on them.

The troupe returned home full of heart and promise, but was quickly scattered by the divide and rule policy of Vincentian politics.

Andrew performed well, partly because he operated out of the powerful law chambers of Hughes and Cummings. He was able to extend outwards owing to his gifts of elocution, sense of balance and a sharp wit that was seldom matched in SVG in his time. He was brilliant in the practice of his profession, using his deep knowledge, sense of fairness and even his style of the punch line softened by an accompanying piece of witty jugglery. So far as the masses were concerned, Andrew Cummings was a QC the day he first donned the legal livery.

So Andrew came, saw and conquered. A great soul who was invariably urged on by no less striking a dear wife as is Jacqui.

Andrew’s children, the trio Jarand, Anique and Jadric, are themselves a formidable team who carries on their father’s tradition, a third son Bradley who is family in every material particular.

In bidding au revior to a distinguished friend, I leave our mutual friends with these three offerings.

Andrew was the first in a group that launched the first “Searchlight” as a government radio programme that introduced radio talk shows. The others were Rev George Frederick, Father Howell and yours truly.

Andrew’s support was crucial in the controversial appointment of Colin Williams as DPP. That the ‘Letter from the Ground’ by Candy Edwards which sought to put a spoke in the wheel of the ULP caravan, was really a warning brain storm of Andrew Cummings, I allege.

The camouflage employed by Andrew was a specialty borrowed from his eternal friend Bassy.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. 7.

News

St. Vincent and the Grenadines at CARIFTA 2018 I THINK St. Vincent and the Grenadines had a fair showing at the CARIFTA Games 2018.

There are certainly some positive signs that we can take from it, and which augur well for the development of local track and field. In the first place, I welcome enthusiastically the fact that we had a much enlarged contingent of athletes for CARIFTA this year. In 2017, only one solitary athlete went to these Games in our name. This time around, we had a team that was 11 members strong! It could of course be that there was a sudden explosion of talent or, as is more likely, there might now be a more appropriate recognition and rewarding of talent which always existed.

This may have come in response to a public outcry that followed last year’s decision by the responsible sporting organisation to select a bare minimum squad and in the process exclude many good prospects.

The exposure to high level competition as offered by CARIFTA, is indispensible to the optimal development of

athletes. The CARIFTA Games is a well established breeding ground for future Caribbean Champions of the Olympics. Naturally, we have to keep an eye on both quantity and quality. Importantly, therefore, the home side demonstrated in ample measure that it can win gold medals. We took gold in the Under-17 Males 800m race, and also in the Under-20 4x400m relay for Females. In swimming, Alex Joachim reigned supreme at the 200m breaststroke for Underseventeens. We took other medals in swimming, and some of the athletes who didn’t make the podium still gave a good account of themselves. Ulanda Lewis, for instance, qualified for the finals of the Under-17 female 100 metres and 200 metres, despite the fact that she is only 14 years old. I expect Ulanda to reach far, so long as she remains focussed, disciplined and has the right support and training regime. I commend her coach Chester Morgan for the work he has done with her to date.

We also have some upand-coming athletes who were not at the Games this year, either because they are still too young or for some other reason, but who will likely feature in CARIFTAs of the future. I also think that we are developing a cadre of coaches doing their best in the circumstances: some of the names that readily come to mind are Pamenos Ballantyne, Garth DeShong, Michael Ollivierre and a little known gentleman from Georgetown by the name of Lawerence Arthur. We should recognise and support the efforts of these persons who are obviously passionate about what they are doing and making a solid contribution in their own right.

I was especially impressed by the athlete who brought home for us gold in the 800m — Handel Roban. The young Roban led the pack almost from the start of the race all the way to the finish line. He showed an extraordinary grit and determination to stay ahead at every stage of the race. I like the attitude he displayed on course to victory. Every

time someone tried to overtake him, he was like, “where are you going?” and then he turned up the speed to maintain and even extend his lead.

Congratulations to the young man. Handel Roban showed to all the world an unbreakable and indomitable Vincentian spirit. In the lyrics of a recent popular soca song, “We Vincy don’t back down from nobody.”

Let us celebrate all our athletes and their achievements. We are building a strong Vincentian track and

field brand and tradition — Vincy Gold! The athletes returned to the state on Tuesday night and were received by the Minister of Sports, the media and a wider entourage. The Minister organised for them a reception in the VIP lounge at the Argyle International Airport as a token of our national gratitude and appreciation. This of course is not the end of the road. The successes of CARIFTA 2018 would no doubt spark a conversation about the future of track and field in this country. One of

the main topics of discussion will no doubt be the putting down of a synthetic track. I am a longstanding advocate for such a track, and I will say more about it on another occasion.

Honourable R. T. Luke V. Browne

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8. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

The NDP, caught in the slips again

A case for citizenship by Investment Programme for SVG (Part 2)

Introduction THE RECENT furor about the operations of Cambridge Analytica and the use of Facebook accounts for political campaigns in the United States, has captured the imagination of social commentators in the State. Cambridge Analytica is a UK-based company that combines data mining and analysis, with strategic communication activities, aimed at influencing electoral process.

It was created in 2013, as an offshoot of its parent company, Strategic Communications Laboratories, SCL. We are familiar with SCL, the “mind-bending company” who has been operating in the Vincentian political circles for a number of years.

They were engaged by the opposition New Democratic Party, in the attempt to influence the Vincentian voters.

They were successful in the 2009 referendum campaign, which resulted in the defeat of the proposed 2009 Constitution. But one year later, they could not persuade the Vincentian voters to elect the NDP, despite a dastardly campaign, aimed primarily at the leader of the ULP, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

All this is old news for some of our readers. But the recent revelations in the UK-based magazine, The Spectator, throws a different light on the activities of SCL, as they relate to elections in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the opposition New Democratic Party.

Eustace was seen reading from a manuscript, clearly provided by SCL. So where did all this information come from? Eustace clearly states that he was involved in talks with all these investors, but he cannot provide concrete information as to who the investors are. All this of course was a farce, perpetuated on the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, all in the vain effort to sell the citizenship of the country. As we now know, and as Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has said, Eustace was being directed by the SCL who had their own agenda. Let him now come out and deny this.

The Gaston Browne Call

On top of all this, was the information which surfaced last month, about the telephone conversation between Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda, and the leader of the NDP, Godwin Friday. During a call to Gaston Browne, an excited Friday was trying to seek the identity of the strategist who masterminded the election victory for Gaston Browne, obviously thinking that that individual was from the USA, or the UK. Clearly, Friday did not like the answer, which indicated that Browne The Kalin Interview was his own strategist!!!

To crown it all off, Friday was The Spectator tells the story of the prepared to hire a strategist at all political activities of Dr. Christian cost, because “money was no Kalin of Henley and Partners, the problem”, since the NDP needed to world leaders in passports and citizenship and the parent company of win. Well this shows how desperate the NDP is, in their drive to capture SCL. The Spectator reports that “the same year, SCL and Kalin worked on the treasury of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. His statement that the another election campaign, this time NDP needs to win in St.Vincent and in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. the Grenadines contradicts his party’s There they worked with Arnhim Eustace, the leader of the opposition. position, that the ULP stole the 2015 SCL billed Eustace’s New Democratic general elections. And naturally, Friday has no defense for these Party, more than US$4 million, admissions, except to say that his including US$100,000 for ‘counter operations’”. No one knows whether or comments were taken out of context.

All this is embarrassing for the not this money was paid. opposition NDP, and their The Spectator goes on to state that propagandists on Nice Radio are Kalin went on to suggest to Eustace striving to put a good face on all this. things he might want to say in his Needless to say, the internet crazies, campaign. For example Kalin lists most of whom are based in the United various investments that Eustace States and Canada, do not know what could count on, if he won the to make of this situation, and it seems elections. These include “a large as though they have decided to go residential and hotel development company, a new chain of retail banks underground. from an important international Conclusion banking group, a construction group to invest in major infrastructure While the NDP is trying to explain projects as well as input from a global away its troubles, the ULP is basking player in private aircraft services”. in seventeen years of remarkable Readers will remember December progress in St. Vincent and the 2010, when the NDP called an Grenadines. Truly, this is the best impromptu media conference, to period of governance in the history of announce certain so-called important the country, with huge success stories plans. It is no secret that the from the Education Revolution, the information provided by SCL, and cornerstone of the “people-centered mentioned by Kalin in his interview development strategy”. with the Spectator, is the same Vincentians are indeed proud of the information that Eustace provided at long record of achievements by the the media conference. It must be Unity Labour Party. The party and its remembered that the NDP had to broad base will flock to the Calliaqua Playing Field for a rally to mark the adjust their manifesto in 2010, to include this information from SCL. In record seventeen years in office. Long live the ULP and Comrade Ralph. fact, during the media conference,

THE FOLLOWING Caribbean countries have legislation authorizing the procurement of citizenship after making a substantial investment: Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica and St. Lucia. Antigua Citizenship by Investment Programme was launched in 2012; Dominica started their programme in 1993; Grenada commenced theirs in 2013; St. Lucia in 2015; and St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme was launched in 1984. It is the oldest and most established.

The Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Programmes are appealing as the countries are all politically stable with Westminsterstyle democracies and well established legal and regulatory frameworks.

Also, they have stable currencies backed by the US dollar, and they are all located near major markets with daily direct flights to and from Europe, Canada, and the United States. Furthermore, the process is expedited. Via one of the Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Programmes, a second passport can be secured in three to four months after undergoing due diligence background checks and making a minimum investment of US$200,000 not including government processing and due diligence fees.

St. Kitts and Nevis had the vision of introducing the Citizenship by Investment Programme just over one year after gaining political independence in 1983. The primary objective was to increase their revenue after attaining independence from Britain. The International Monetary Fund( IMF) stated that in 2014 the Citizenship by Investment Programme amounted to 14% of St. Kitts GDP and account for a substantial amount of the government’s revenue in recent years.

This is significant and has a positive impact on the economy and citizens of that country.

Grenada too is benefitting immensely from their Citizenship by Investment Programme. The island boasts of attracting investors of outstanding calibre and great wealth.

In early 2017, the Grenadian government cited fourteen (14) projects directly related to the Citizenship by Investment Programme. The tourism sector has benefited tremendously, with a significant increase in hotel rooms. In fact, there have been more than ten (10) hotel projects in Grenada as a result of the citizen by Investment Programme. St Lucia, Antigua and Dominica are all benefitting greatly from the programme.

Furthermore, Kaisha Ince, Chairperson of the Citizenship by Investment Programme in Grenada, sums it up this way: “Under the CBI Programme, there are two options for the grant of citizenship: a US$200,000 donation to the National Transformation Fund or a US$350,000 investment into an Approved Project. The prices are for a family of four as Grenada’s CBI Programme is family focussed. All persons granted citizenship under the Programme enjoy the same rights as born Grenadians.

The Programme is run by a Committee of seven persons with an administrative and operations unit.

All approvals for the grant of citizenship are made by the Cabinet.

In 2017 Grenada’s Programme was highly successful, with a 108% increase in received applications over 2016. 375 applications were received.

Total receipts from the Programme were in excess of EC$140,000,000.

Over the life of the Programme,

some EC$150,000,000 has been invested into the Approved Projects which are categorised as real estate in the tourism sector and agribusiness and aquaculture projects. Through the Approved Projects, thousands of jobs have been created and opportunities have arisen for service providers and suppliers. The projects provide investment in key sectors which lead to economic growth and development.

Developers of Approved Projects are both Grenadian and foreign nationals.

In 2016, a total of EC$82,000,000 was deposited into the National Transformation Fund and used for social programmes, special projects, educational programmes, special needs programmes, infrastructure and payment of sovereign debt. Grenada has in place rigorous due diligence and security vetting measures to ensure the strength and integrity of the Programme which has been lauded by the IMF as being the gold standard for transparency and strong legislative framework in the region.”

Why St Vincent and the Grenadines has not introduced the programme? It is difficult to understand. Dr. Gonsalves over the years has not been able to give a reasonable explanation for opposing the Citizenship by Investment Programme. He stated, “We start from the simple proposition that the two most important books in a house, in any house in St Vincent and the Grenadines are the Bible and the Passport, and we have spent a lot of money on the passport, upgrading it, modernising it.” Dr. Gonsalves was also critical of the programme at the heads of government meeting in 2016, when it was reiterated that individuals who obtained citizenship through the citizen by Investment programme of a Caricom member state have the right to live in any other Caricom member state. And in May of 2016, while addressing the launch of a financial fair hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Gonsalves reiterated that his government remains opposed to the idea of Citizenship by Investment.

The economy of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is ailing. It is still reeling from the effects of the global financial and economic crisis. In addition, recent natural disasters have plagued St Vincent and the Grenadines. The failure to attract much needed foreign direct investments. And, an ever increasing unemployment rate, deficit budgets, a high national debt in relation to the country’s GDP are all valid reasons why St. Vincent and the Grenadines should implement the programme.

The benefits of the programme to St. Vincent and the Grenadines are incredible. We will see an increase in foreign direct investment; an increase in government’s revenue and most importantly it will reduce the tax burden of Vincentians; thus, fuelling economic growth and development which will ultimately benefit the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Our leader, Dr. Friday, had this to say on the subject; “I think this is something where we are losing a lot of opportunities and everyone else is moving ahead when we are falling behind.”

The New Democratic Party continues to express its commitment to implement the Citizen by Investment Programme which will bring economic growth and development to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. 9.

Letters

Caribbean Women in Science and Technology (The Epilogue)

Long live Winnie Mandela

“CARIBBEAN PEOPLE HAVE taken pride in recording and promoting the achievements of outstanding nationals, particularly in sports, culture and the arts. Relatively little, however, has been done to recognise the work of persons of similar standing in the scientific and technological arena, and particularly the accomplishments of our women scientists and innovators.” Jwala Rambarran, Chair, Board of Governors of the National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology (NIHERST), Trinidad and Tobago.

It is truly amazing how many females shared their insights with me in relation to the two previous publications in this In Touch column (Caribbean Women in Science and Technology — Parts 1 and 2).

Conversations with female engineers in Trinidad and Tobago confirmed that women continue to play a major role in professions and sectors previously considered to be “male domain”. They assured me that an examination of the student intake at the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the University of Trinidad and Tobago will confirm that the female student population in the Faculty of Engineering, Chemistry, and Information Technology now outnumbers the males. The same is likely to be true in relation to the other tertiary level institutions throughout the Caribbean.

It should also be noted that females are performing quite well in the various fields of science and technology. They are just as competent as their male counterparts.

Some readers may even venture to suggest the females are more competent than their male colleagues.

Several commentators indicated that females continue to hold prominent positions in many of the oil and gas companies in Trinidad and Tobago.

This is most commendable. We are assured that our Caribbean women are making their mark in the field of science and technology.

While researching this topic, I was tremendously blessed as I unearthed some most interesting information about the outstanding accomplishments of our Caribbean women in the field of science, technology, and innovation. The two previous publications featured the outstanding accomplishments of Lois Oliver of Barbados; Ayanna Samuels of Jamaica; Petal Punalall-Jetoo of Guyana; Dr. Jeanese Badenock, Deputy Dean of the Department of Science and Technology at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies; and Dr. Camille Wardrop Alleyne, of Trinidad and Tobago. This epilogue brings the curtain down (if only temporarily) on this series of articles. The three-part series must therefore be seen as the “tip of the iceberg”. There are many other accomplished Caribbean women who deserve honourable mention.

Outstanding women like Frances Chaldler (Agronomist); Hilary Ann Robotham Westmeier (Analytical Chemist); Camille Selvon Abrahams (Animator); Shirin Haque (Astronomer); Dolly Nicholas (Chemist); Patricia Camillo (Construction Manager); Kim Mallileau (Electrical and Computer Engineer); Rosemarie Wright (Endocrinologist); Gail Bacchus-Taylor (Food Technologist); Yolanda Thompson (Forensic Scientist); Patricia Martin-De Leon (Geneticist); Sally Ratdord (Geologist); Marilyn Crichlow (Hydrologist); Michele Monteil (Immunologist); Diane Calridge (Marine Mammalogist); Jean Springer (Mathematics Professor); Joan Roach (Microbiologist); Christine Carrington (Molecular Virologist); Zulaika Ali (Neonatologist);

‘IT’S EASY TO CONDEMN IN HINDSIGHT. Yet we have forgotten what it actually takes to overthrow such tyranny when the legal and moral force of a sovereign state was on the side of white supremacy. Columnists did not cut it.

Activists could not have done it.

Peaceful protest did not do it. Sports boycotts, books, badges and car boot sales did not do it. It took revolutionaries, pure and simple. People willing to break the law, to kill and be killed.’ Afua Hirsch, British writer.

Winnie Mandela, one of the greatest revolutionary fighters of all times, passed on Monday after battling heroically with illness. She was 81 years old. And what a life she lived. What an outstanding example of courage, commitment and sacrifice. In Winnie Mandela, the poor and suffering masses of South Africa, indeed all of Africa instinctively knew they had a champion fighter. In the 20th century, only Fidel Castro, of all the revolutionaries who lived past 50 years comes close to matching her steadfastness and iron clad determination to see the struggle through to the end.

Winnie Mandela never compromised with racism, oppression and exploitation, and for that she suffered immeasurably. When the apartheid regime, with the connivance of the American CIA, captured Nelson Mandela, along with other top ANC leaders and jailed them for decades, Winnie Mandela was the voice of freedom and liberation. When Steve Biko, the revolutionary fighter, who, in defiance of the evil of apartheid, proclaimed that he was for black consciousness, and was tortured and thrown from his cell to his death, it was Mama Africa’s voices that brought news of the grotesque assassination to the world.

When the Apartheid racist security forces gunned down hundreds of innocent school children in 1976, it was Winnie Mandela who fearlessly told the world of the massacre at Soweto. When the major money and political capitals in the USA, Britain and the European Union disregarded black lives and entered into what they regarded as ‘constructive engagement’ with the ignoble and despicable regimes in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, Winnie Mandela’s voice was most prominent in condemnation.

You see, Winnie Mandela was no ordinary woman. In fact, as Maya Angelo said, she was a phenomenally, a phenomenal woman. The racist Apartheid mis-leaders Vorster and De klerk understood the persuasive power of Winnie Mandela. They jailed her for speaking and protesting and demanding freedom for her husband and other revolutionaries. They exiled her far away from her homeland, and yet she rose. She broke the barriers of her confinement.

She fought an exemplary fight. She died with the war cry in her throat because she never bought into the compromise that her former husband Nelson helped to negotiate. She knew instinctively that if the African masses were not given back their lands and wealth, they would remain mired in poverty. Winnie Mandela knew that power of, for and by the people meant revolution. She knew that for the Black African majority to live in decency and freedom, the economic power of the local and foreign white ruling class had to be broken.

And she was right. Look at South Africa today, a quarter century after the formal ending of Apartheid. Black

Charmaine Henry (Physiologist); Wendy Yawching (Pilot); Grace SirjuCharran (Plant Biochemist); Rosalind Ambrose (Radiologist) and Esther De Gourville (Virologist) are but a few of the names of other outstanding Caribbean women who have blazed a trail in the field of science, technology, and innovation. Their professions are also listed here as we seek to encourage our youth (including our girls) to pursue their varied interests with passion. They have so many positive examples and role models to follow.

We are encouraged by the number of initiatives that have emerged throughout the Caribbean, as efforts are made to stimulate interest in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Several of the women mentioned in this three-part series of articles have played, and continue to play, a major role in exciting and energizing girls to participate in such initiatives. In addition, they make themselves available to mentor these young, intelligent minds. We are forever grateful.

We also pause to commend the various government ministries and departments, non-government organisations, and international agencies as they play useful roles in such initiatives. For example, the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) jointly sponsor programmes aimed at stimulating interests in the STEM initiatives through mentorship programmes. In addition, the NASA-based astronaut Dr. Camille Wardrop Alleyne now spearheads an initiative to encourage girls throughout the Caribbean to pursue interests in science and technology.

We are also encouraged by the visionary leadership of the education administrators and pre-school staff as they seek to sensitize children at a very early age. For example, one of this column’s regular readers, Kemby Ross-Jones, shared some wonderful insights in relation to how Discovery Centre (pre-school) in Trinidad and Tobago utilizes STEM programmes as part of their teaching (www.kidsinkeringstudio.com).

These visionary Caribbean citizens are focused on the development of “little scientists”.

It would be remiss of me if I neglected to mention some of our local (Vincentian) females who also make us justly proud in their pursuits of careers in science and technology. We pause to recognize the contribution of individuals like Judy Lewis, who was employed as an engineer at East Caribbean Group of Companies; Lisa Williams and Nadine Richards, who commenced their careers as engineers at Central Water and Sewerage Authority (CWSA); Inga Jackson, the Plant Engineer responsible for the Cane Hall Power Station and Hydros operated by St. Vincent Electricity Services (VINLEC); Marla Mulraine, Sharika Mandeville, and Julianna Francis, engineers at the Ministry of Transportation and Works; and Louise Bowman, a Vincentian engineer now employed at Microsoft in the USA. They make us proud.

These outstanding ladies reassure us that our Caribbean women have done extremely well in the field of science and technology.

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

Africans are still landless and homeless and without work. True, a small minority among the black population benefited. Nelson Mandela morphed from ‘communist revolutionary’ into a darling of the international moneyed class. He was feted by the leaders of the Western developed countries because those leaders were convinced that Nelson Mandela engineered a compromise that left the wealth in the hands of whites. He was baptised from terrorist to saint. The current president Cyril Ramaphosa went from trade union leader to business magnate worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

But even in death, the western media tells us that she was a ‘bully, murderer and kidnapper.’ None of these descriptions fit Winner Mandela. She loved the people and was prepared to defend and die for the people. She was imbued with a kind of sublime madness which says ‘I may not win this fight, but I am as sure as night follows day that my cause is just’.

It is absolutely amazing that most of the western media reports about the life of Winnie Mandela remind us that she was convicted for kidnapping and killing a 14-year-old boy. But Black lives don’t matter to them. None of the reports reminds us of the demonic and devilish system she was forced to fight. These reports remind us of Winnie Mandela’s weaknesses, they fail to highlight her strengths.

But Winnie Mandela is a hero, for the simple reason that she fought to the very end for the liberation of African people. Without her effort and sacrifice, Nelson Mandela would have died in prison, and the apartheid regime might have still been in existence.

Peaceful protest did not end apartheid: it took revolutionaries. And it shouldn’t be difficult to choose between a system of racial supremacy and a person who helped overthrow it.

As Afua Hirsch reminds us ‘Winnie Mandela was a leader in a struggle for liberation and she survived — during more than 35 years of apartheid — surveillance, threats, harassment, arrest and imprisonment, 491 days in solitary confinement and eight years in exile. The methods of torture used against her included, according to one account, denying her sanitary products so that she was found, in detention, covered in her own menstrual blood.’

That’s pedigree. That’s the metal of which legends are made. She should not be denigrated. She should be lifted up and celebrated. It is on her shoulders the next generation of revolutionaries must stand.

Julius Malema, Leader of the Economic Freedom Party of South Africa, declared last Wednesday that Winnie Mandela was supposed to be President of South Africa, but the men in the ANC were threatened by a woman and the whites were threatened by an African woman. The mother of the nation would have restored the dignity of Black people.

That’s why they did everything to destroy her. We harbour no doubts that Winnie Mandela would have died trying. Rest in Power, Mama Africa.

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

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10. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

ULP regime like a fish out of water

MANY PEOPLE have said to the Leader of SVG Green Party, Warrant Officer Ivan O’Neal, BSc (hons), MSc, MBA, that SVG is at its lowest point in living memory, and the ULP regime has run out of ideas. They say that the country is not moving forward, but getting worse.

The ULP regime is like a fish out of water, gasping for oxygen and flailing around uselessly, in their effort to prevent a sudden collapse of the SVG economy. That is the impression a number of Vincentians have of the state of things in SVG. They say that the ULP regime has run out of ideas and the country needs a change of government.

Agriculture has been virtually killed by the ULP regime. Many lands that used to be abundant with produce have now been taken over by grass.

The agricultural sector contributes very little to the SVG economy or job creation in SVG. The rural economy is dead and having a substantial negative impact on families in rural areas.

People say they were told by the ULP regime that the Argyle airport would boost the economy; but the airport has made no positive difference to the economy. In fact, rather than boost the economy, the Argyle airport is draining the economy. People say that life is still tough.

The manufacturing sector has failed to grow under the ULP government.

Businesses have not been supported, and many businesses struggle or have closed down.

The service sector has failed to grow

under the ULP government. With the rise of the internet and faster data transmission speeds, the past decade was a great time to boost the service sector in SVG, but nothing is happening. Again, the ULP regime has failed to support SVG businesses to enter the global service sector.

A Vincentian businessman based in New York, told the Leader of SVG Green Party, Warrant Officer Ivan O’Neal, that the ULP regime’s selfproclaimed ‘education revolution’ is a flop. In SVG, only about 1% of children who enter the education system go on to university. This failure in education has meant there has been little foreign investment in to SVG. Throughout the country, we have high levels of poverty and unemployment, thousands of households without mains water and electricity, and thousands of households living in destitution and struggling to feed themselves.

Since 2001, the ULP regime has shown that it is utterly hopeless and unable to move the SVG economy out of the gutter and into prosperity. They are bankrupt of the ideas and knowledge needed to create economic growth. Not one individual in the ULP regime is qualified to, or capable of, putting together an economic plan to

lift our country out of extreme poverty and debt.

In comparison to other past governments, the ULP regime is the ‘worst by far’. Their begging and borrowing is not moving SVG forward, and SVG is sliding quickly over an economic precipice. The leadership of

SVG Green Party has demonstrated beyond any doubt, that they have the ideas and the ability to move this country forward.

SVG needs change.

SVG Green Party www.svggreenparty.org https://twitter.com/svggreenparty https://www.facebook.com/SVGGreen-Party-154937087877631/

Colorectal Cancer Awareness THE MONTH OF MARCH is designated as Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Awareness Month in many countries.

Why? Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and the second in women worldwide. While almost 55% of the cases occur in more developed regions, the mortality rate is 52% higher in the less developed regions of the world, reflecting a poorer survival in these regions. (source: IARC) Historically, the Caribbean region has enjoyed relatively low cancer rates, especially CRC. However, as the Caribbean nations move towards developed status, and away from traditional diets of unprocessed vegetables, fruits and fish, to a more sedentary lifestyle and a ‘Western’ diet of highly refined and artificially processed foods, cancer incidence is likely to increase.

Who is at risk? Those with: * Inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis * A personal or family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps Those who: * Lack regular physical activity * Consume a diet low in fruit, vegetables and fiber, and high in fat * Are overweight * Consume alcohol * Use tobacco CRC is “preventable, treatable, and beatable’ Early detection is key. Early detection carries with it an almost 100% survival rate. Unfortunately, in its early stage, CRC has few, if any symptoms, and the symptoms can be vague and mis-diagnosed. As the cancer develops, the common symptoms are: a feeling of fullness, bloating, change in bowel habits, blood in the stool, low and unexplained hemoglobin counts, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue.

Screening saves lives. Who should be screened?

At one time, CRC was considered an old person’s disease. And while that may still hold true for the majority of cases, many new cases are being diagnosed in people as young as in their 20’s. Screening allows early detection and treatment.

Traditionally, the recommendation was to screen at age 50, younger if there is an existing family history, or if symptoms exist. The trend for younger adults being diagnosed is changing the age requirement.

What are the screening tests?

The gold standard screening test has been, and still is, the visual colonoscopy. This procedure not only

allows a specialist to properly view the entire length of the colon, but to remove any polyps at the same time.

CRC almost always starts with a polyp. Not all polyps turn cancerous, but more than 95% of colorectal cancer starts as a polyp.

Survival rates Survival rates depend largely on the stage of the cancer, and of course, the treatment. As with other solid tumour cancers, CRC uses a staging scheme (complete information can be found at: https://www.cancer.net/cancertypes/colorectal-cancer/stages). Suffice to say, the more advanced the tumour, the lower the survival rate. The worst case scenario is when the cancer has metastasised (spread). Common sites for CRC metastasis are the liver and lungs (and sometimes the ovaries for women). Left untreated the metastases can further spread to the bones and ultimately the brain.

Treatment Treatment plans differ somewhat, depending on whether the cancer is deemed to be colon or rectal. Usually, surgery is performed to remove the tumour and nearby lymph nodes. Pre and/or post-operative radiation therapy may or may not be recommended, again depending on the tumour location. Finally, chemotherapy is recommended postsurgery to eliminate any possible cancerous cells still circulating in the body. A temporary or permanent colostomy may be the result also, especially for rectal cancer. Currently, the available chemotherapy cocktails are quite numerous, and the oncologist will prescribe and try different drugs depending on the patient’s age, overall health and tolerance levels.

Regional Challenges Treating cancer is expensive; challenging even for the most developed of countries. Therefore, prevention and early detection are of upmost importance, via: * Awareness and education of the disease for both health professionals and the public * Continued and expanded efforts in education on diet, exercise and healthy living * Ensuring the availability of gastroenterologists, colorectal surgeons, oncologists and endoscopy clinics. * Creation of a national screening programme.

Ivona Bradley – 10-year survivor

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. 11.

Views

Easy Sky was not stopped says CEO

Hadley Bourne, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Argyle International Airport denied that the airline Easy Sky was ordered to stop operating at the facility due to non-payment of landing fees.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER of the Argyle International Airport airline from landing in that country out of safety Hadley Bourne has denied that Honduran airline, Easy Sky concerns. (DD) was asked to cease operations at the Argyle International Airport because of non-payment.

Bourne said further that he was not aware of any plans by the airline to resume operations here.

However, while speaking at a press briefing on March 26, Bourne said that the management team at the airport had no objections to such a decision, as long as the airline adhered to the safety and security requirements.

“No one has said anything to us that they are coming,” Bourne told members of the media.

He repeated the point that the airline was not stopped, this when asked whether or not the airline owed moneys to the airport for outstanding landing fees.

“At no point in time was Easy Sky stopped from landing at AIA, was Amerijet stopped from landing at AIA; this is an airport, and airplanes are supposed to land,” Bourne explained.

“Anytime you hear anybody in the media say that an airport stopped an aircraft from landing, you can add the rest on to that statement,” he continued.

The airline has been operating here since June 2017 bringing shoppers from Cuba here and to Guyana, but in December last year had ceased operations.

It had been reported in the local media, however, that the airline had owed moneys to the airport.

The airline also abruptly ceased operations in Guyana, but it had been reported that the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) had suspended the

The Honduran airline had been operating here since June 2017 bringing in Cubans who purchased goods for resale there.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. 13.

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14. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

News

A large crowd attended the Digicel Gospel Fest.

Digicel Gospel double double the the credit credit Fest hailed double d do uble the the talk talk a major success by organisers

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THE 2018 EDITION of the Digicel Gospel Fest got off to an exciting start last Sunday, April 1st at the Victoria Park, with over 1,500 persons in attendance.

“Digicel is committed to enhancing the National Gospel Festival year after year, having been a strong sponsor of the event for the past 15 years and staying true to our promise to connect our customers to the things they love most — in this case gospel music,” Fanta Williams, Digicel’s Chief Operations Officer (COO) said.

“Patrons can expect to see added attractions at this year’s Festival including: exclusive top up offers, opportunities to win phones, drinks and services among other things,” she continued.

Michael Peters, Chairperson of the National Gospel Festival Committee, thanked Digicel for always supporting the Festival, adding that the attendance had also grown as a result of Digicel’s input, through its special promotions around the event.

Ahead of Sunday’s Festival launch, Digicel customers had the opportunity to win over 50 tickets, by participating in a number of social media competitions. Customers also got free tickets when they paid their bills in full and/or activated a Quick Pick bundle in stores.

He added that by all appearances, patrons had a great time at the opening concert and were pleased with the combination of local and regional line-up of performers who included: J Prince out of Trinidad and Tobago, ‘De Warrior’ out of Barbados, Caywama Edwards, Ronnie Richardson and others.

The Digicel Gospel Fest concludes on April 29; persons interested in attending other events on the calendar can check out Digicel’s social media pages for further information.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. 15.

News

Kid Companions bring Easter egg hunt to children interact with them and formed relationships, we could see that they were happy; so every time we came, we saw that they recognized our faces. They would happily greet us and go to their favorite person. It makes us feel good to know that we’re a positive influence and a friend.”

First time companion Maria Guarda was elated that she had made the time to come.

She had worked with disabled children before and was impressed with what she had seen. “I’m very impressed with this orphanage, what I’ve seen so far,” she gushed, “I enjoy doing this so much. The children are very happy. I introduced myself to them and gave them the colors they wanted to decorate their bags, then I helped take them out to the park.” The experience had been well received, and was deemed worth repeating.

THE CHILDREN OF THE St. Benedict By and large, Trinity Student Children Home and the Bread of Life Government Clubs engage in activities Orphanage in Georgetown were treated that promote interaction with the local to a brand new experience when the community. Both parties benefit.

Trinity Kid Companions Club arrived on Additionally, President of Kid Saturday, 24th March, laden with Companions, Sam Brosman, was numerous shiny eggs to conduct the happy that their activities Easter Egg Hunt.

As with each activity, sat with their continuously fulfilled the ideals from Trinity School of Medicine’s companions around a large table and watchwords of, “Challenge. Inspire. with colored pencils in hand, they Empower.” He admitted, “We inspire decorated bags with their names and just by coming here and playing with prominent patterns of their choice.

Even as this was taking place, a group the kids, being a part of their life. We inspire them to do something great of companions had quietly gone to because living in an orphanage is not lodge the gleaming eggs around the park between the two facilities. They easy. Hopefully, the fun we provide brings a smile to their lives.” made sure that, with the sun He similarly agreed about resonating on the eggs, it was not “empowerment”.

“We do empower. It going to be too difficult for the children involves building up these kids with to find them. activities like these,” was his opinion, Then, with all eggs installed, collection bags decorated and the rules “We always see kids trying to go of the hunt explained, the companions beyond what is normal for them, especially in those with physical took their charges to the park to disabilities who always try harder to gather their bounty. Upon finding achieve.” As far as the “challenge” their first eggs, there were whoops of goes, he was sure that the students delight as they were excitedly tossed weighed in on that one. “The into the bags. The eggs, laden with candy, were then opened, and squeals challenge goes to the students,” he acknowledged, “when we come here to upon squeals of pleasure ensued. do this, we put aside time to spend In explaining the preparation and time with kids that are much less execution of the activity, companion fortunate than we are. Maybe after Caylee Arcara called it an easy feat. we see these kids, it becomes less of a “Preparing for this was rather easy,” challenge and our problems are not as she said, “we had visiting relatives big, after we see them.” bring us the plastic eggs then we got With the phenomenal work done the candy to fill them and the bags to with the children of the St. Benedict put them in.” Caylee was ecstatic Children Home and the Bread of Life about being a companion to the children. “Being a companion to these Orphanage, the members of Kid Companions will continue to create children makes me feel really good”, activities that will inspire, empower she assured. “When we first began to and challenge all concerned.

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16. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Carnival

Tribal Journey ‘From Sunrise to Sunset’ happens between sunrise and sunset. When you sleep, you dream, and it will either be a good dream VINCENTIAN MAS lovers can look or a nightmare, and after sunset you will have moon forward to an interesting and and stars”, bandleader Fernando Serieux told THE exciting journey in artistry with VINCENTIAN, adding that the section Midnight the mas band, Tribes, when it Magic depicts what is traditionally perceived to be hits the streets for Vincy Mas associated with midnight.

2018.

The band is catering for 350 masqueraders, The eight sections to be including contingents from St.Lucia and Martinique. featured in its 2018 production, Though Tribes has never placed in the top three From Sunrise to Sunset, are positions in the Band of the Year competition, Sunset, Sunrise, Moon and Serieux is of the view that it portrays a very high Stars, Heat, Dreams, standard of mas, and has assured that this standard Nightmare, Rain and Midnight will be maintained.

Magic.

During its ten years of competitive mas, the band “We just want to show what was most successful last year, placing sixth in the

by HAYDN HUGGINS

Band of the Year competition, and receiving a trophy for the most improved band.

Continuing its all-inclusive parade on the streets this year, Tribes is expected to launch the production later this month, but Serieux has indicated that information will be subsequently provided, in relation to the date and venue of the launch.

Serieux is also asking persons interested in going Nightmares to St Lucia for Carnival, to be held the week after Vincy mas, to contact Tribes.

WhizzyÊ among releases for Vincy Mas 2018 THE FIRST in a series of releases from the former lead singer and writer Ken ‘Whizzy’ Wiseman, ‘Carnival Fever’ is out tomorrow.

The lyrics are simple, but the message is clear — it has been far too long, and Ken ‘Whizzy’ Wiseman, former lead singer for the band ‘X-A-Dus’ has caught the ‘Carnival Fever’.

Over the years, Wiseman has been credited with the composition of some of the band’s major hits including ‘Don’t Bend Down’, ‘Swivel Dance’, ‘Bilah Sanka — just to name a few.

This year, he makes a return, and the first track for 2018 Vincy Mas is Last year’s entitled ‘Carnival Fever’, participation was and is scheduled to be Wiseman’s first in Vincy Mas, he said, in officially released tomorrow, Saturday. over 17 years.

The United Kingdombased Wiseman has been rather quiet, noting that ‘X-A-Dus’ reunion last year at the ‘Clash of the Bands’ show was his first visit to St Vincent and the Grenadines and involvement in Vincy Mas in 17 years — and quite fitting, it being the 40th anniversary since the changing of Vincy Mas from the pre-Lenten period to July.

He is back this year, with the first of three tracks set for release; fans can look out for more around the May Day weekend when he said the other two tracks will be released.

Wiseman describes the melody and lyrics for the first of his 2018 releases as one that “depicts what Vincy Mas is all about.”

“The composition, originality and melody combined, is the ideal track to set the pace for Vincy Mas 2018,” he said.

‘Carnival Fever’ is a Hunta Flow Production, based here in SVG. (DD)

V Prominent Vincy sports club celebrates 40 years

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. 17.

News

by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; kingnaking210@yahoo.com US CORRESPONDENT

A POPULAR VINCENTIAN sports club that dominated Brooklyn, New York’s Caribbean Soccer in the 1980s and 1990s and was dubbed the “Kings of Brooklyn Caribbean Soccer” is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

According to Hairoun Sports Club’s long-standing president, Stanley “Luxie” Morris, a St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sports Ambassador, the club, among other activities, will celebrate its milestone with a gala awards ceremony on Aug. 17 at the Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center, 668 Logan St., Brooklyn.

Morris — a former St. Vincent and the Grenadines national soccer captain and coach and erstwhile coach of Team SVG-USA (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) in Brooklyn’s Caribbean Soccer Cup — said the event will be held under the auspices of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ New York Consulate General.

He said “soccer legends” of Victoria Park, in Kingstown, the Vincentian capital, will be honored, as well as “legends of 79 of Arnos Vale.”

Among the honorees will be Notre Dame’s “Fab 4” — Jeff Bailey, Rudolph “Rudy” Boucher, Douglas Doyle and Norbert Hall. Notre Dame was one of the leading soccer teams in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Morris said a Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Basil “Bung” Cato, a former president of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Association, now Federation, who managed the St. Vincent and the Grenadines 1979 soccer team, the 1992 World Cup squad, and the Under 19 Cable and Wireless teams.

Cato had coined the phrase, “Soccer, the game of the people.”

Derek Dupont, the Hairoun striker, who “transformed the game of soccer in Brooklyn,” will be the “Recipient of

Deserving Honor,” Morris said.

In addition, he said special honors will be bestowed on Gladstone George, “Notre Dame and St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ erstwhile fan at Victoria Park in the 60-80’s.”

Morris also said former national soccer players — “Babs” Jones, Sydney Mandeville, Keith “Slick” Bonadie and Dr., Brother William Muckett — will be honored posthumously.

Additionally, Morris said about 30 current and former soccer stars players will receive Certificates of Recognition.

“It will be a night of storytelling, fellowship, laughter, food and drink, catching up, players with players, fans from far and wide, with old idols from Victoria Park,” said Morris about the gala cerebration on the night before the annual, massive Vincy Unity Picnic in East Islip, Long Is. Morris said Hairoun Sports Club will next year honor some former netballers at the Nutricia Center and the cricketers at the St. Vincent Grammar School — both in Kingstown.

“Hairoun SC (Soccer Club) was the ‘voice’ of Vincentians in the Diaspora during the 1980s through the1990s, through its dominance in the sport of soccer in Brooklyn, New York at our ‘home away from home,’ the Boys and Girls stadium, slotted in the middle of Central Brooklyn,” Morris said.

“Hairoun SC brought joy to the thousands of Vincentians on the weekends; games were played every Saturday and Sunday,” he added.

Morris said Hairoun first participated in the Five Boro Soccer League, winning the championship from 1981 to 1983, then moved to the newly-formed Central Brooklyn Soccer League (CBSL) in 1984, where it held the championship title for over two decades.

Hairoun players dominated Team SVG-USA when the Caribbean Soccer Cup was launched in 1992.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Hairoun team.

“Hairoun dominated CBSL, and Team SVG-USA destroyed the other 11 countries in CCI (Caribbean Cup, Inc.) with an emphatic hattrick of championships from 1993 —1995,” Morris said. “Both teams continued their dominance well into the 2000s —

Hairoun to 2008, Team SVG-USA to 2014.

“SVG, we love you, and that’s why we did what we did for so long,” he added. “We kept the flag (St. Vincent and the Grenadines’) flying highest for four decades.”

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18. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

News

After death, starts love again Dear George, HOW SOON AFTER the death of your spouse should you start loving again and even getting remarried? My cousin is red mad at me because I started dating again almost one year after the passing of my wife. She is saying that it is too soon and it does not look good, and people will say that I am happy that she has passed, etc. George, it is nothing like that. I loved my wife, and I feel the time is right for me to move on. My wife and i discussed this before she passed, and she wanted me to be happy, even if it means finding someone sooner rather than later after her passing. I told my cousin that it is no business of hers to be passing judgment on me, and she ought to mind her own business. Is my cousin right?

Need to know Dear Need to know, You are the one who should be the best judge concerning the time frame to start loving again; it is not your cousin or anyone else. This decision is entirely up to you! You do not owe any explanation to her or anyone else for that matter. You have said it is what your wife would have wanted, and in addition to that, if it is what you want, then all power to you. Get on with your life and focus on what makes you happy, disregarding the naysayers elements of distraction.

George

Woman attracted to my husband Dear George, I DID THE unthinkable, which was, going to the woman my husband is having an affair with, to ask her what is it that is attracting him to her. I did not go to her with any vexation, and because of that, she told me what I needed to know. It was painful listening to her, but I ended up thanking her for being so honest with me. She explained that he is really into oral sex and anal sex, and he enjoys everything being done to him in return.

She told me how they would have sex for long periods exceeding an hour. This is not the situation with me. My husband cannot last for 10 minutes with me, and I am shocked that he is able to go for such long periods with this woman and not with me. I want my husband back, and I need to know what can I do to achieve this. Please help me, George.

Wishing and waiting Dear Wishing and waiting, Thank you for your letter. There are some men who are affected negatively in their sexual performances, depending on the atmosphere at the time or their feelings towards the person they are with. If there are unresolved issues between you and your husband, that could be an obstacle to him fully surrendering to you the way you would like. It is always good to know what excites the other person and to do your best to please them, and as you do that, more often than not there is reciprocity. Let your husband know that you

are not pleased with him stepping outside of the marriage, and the excuse he is holding unto does not validate his actions.

Let him know also that you are willing to be more open- minded, but it may take some time to come around to where he needs you to be. He should also know that there should be the

element of compromise and you may need for both of you to meet each other half of the way if it should come to that.

Engage the services of a marriage counsellor to help both of you get back to the place you were before these issues surfaced.

George

Wife has spoken the truth Dear George, THIS MAY NOT seem like a big deal to you, but it is to me, and I simply want your opinion on it. I asked my wife a hypothetical question, and her answer astounded me to the point where I am questioning her love for me. I said to her.

“Suppose someone was holding me hostage and had a knife to my throat in front of you, and they asked you to have sex with them in exchange for my life, what would you do?” She said to me that she would let them kill me because she was not going to have sex with another man other than me. I stressed the point that it is my life we are talking about and she repeated her answer which was she was not going to do it and she would be able to live with herself after that, knowing that I was dead and she was able to stay true to her vow not to be with any other. I could not believe her answer, and I told her that I do not believe that she loves me in the way a wife ought to love her husband. She did not agree with me and just brushed it off by saying she spoke the truth.

Upset and thinking Dear Upset and thinking, You are not the first person who asked for the truth and when it is given, you cannot handle it.

You have to keep in mind that you and your wife were both dealing with a hypothetical scenario, and you ought not to read into it too deeply.

Should that situation really play out in reality, the response from her may be a very different one. Do not waste any more time snorting over this, but get on with the business of loving her like you ought to. All she did was to respond to your hypothetical question with the truth, and I guess you were not quite ready for that. The greater issue here is examining the reason why you would pose such a hypothetical question to her.

George

News

Aries (Mar. 21- April 20) Go on business trips if at all possible. You may have a problem with coworkers if you try to tell them what to do. Some time spent with that special someone should be your intent. Loved ones may be annoyed if they feel restricted.

Taurus (Apr. 21- May 21) Put financial speculation with family members or friends on the back burner for now.

You can make favorable changes in your home environment. Channel your efforts into achieving your goals. Travel and learning should be on your agenda this week.

Libra (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Be professional, and you will advance much more quickly. This may not be your day if you are overly melodramatic and unnerving everyone around you. Children may be difficult to handle. Don’t exhaust yourself or minor health problems will set in.

Scorpio (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Discrimination will be in order. Control your temper when dealing with your emotional partner. Emotional up and downs have caused doubts in your personal life. You will be overly generous with children this week. You’re in the mood to spend money.

Gemini (May 22-June 21) Don’t let your lover put demands on you. Be sure that you lay your cards on the table.

Don’t be afraid of opposition; your suggestions are valid. Get domestic chores out of the way early.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Sentimental feelings may make it difficult to get much done at work. Exercise programs will be effective. Set your goals and stick to your guns. You may have problems with children.

You’re undergoing changes.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Make alternate plans just in case you need to make a career shift. You will be looking for creative ways to make a little extra cash. Do your own thing. Get out and enjoy some entertainment.

Capricorn (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Get involved in groups that will help you meet established individuals. Organize all the responsibilities that have to be attended to and make sure everyone knows what to do.

Your hard work will payoff; advancement looks positive.

Leo (July 23-Aug 22) Your mate will be pushing you to do things that you really don’t want to do. You may come down with minor infections if you have allowed yourself to get rundown. If you can’t get away, make plans to do something special with friends or relatives. Keep busy and let them fume while you’re not around.

Virgo (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Voice your opinions and contribute to the de bate. You will feel compelled to do some traveling. Make sure that you make reservations early. You will gain a lot if you listen.

Aquarius (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) You can continue to make gains if you call a few people who can help you close an important deal. You can make excellent career moves if you are open to the opportunities that exist. You must lay down ground rules so that you can complete a job.

Pisces (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Don’t ruffle the feathers of those you care about most. This will not be the day to have minor surgery. Don’t make financial contributions in order to impress others. Jealousy may be a contributing factor to your emotional ups and downs.

ACROSS 4. Snakelike fish 8. Large burrowing African mammal 11. Narcotic 13. Exploit 14. Flagrant 15. To yield 17. Greek goddess of the dawn 18. Serpents 19. Enthusiastic 21. High-pitched 22. Dash 24. Observation 27. Strike breaker 29. Terminal digit of the foot 31. Floor covering 33. Islamic chieftain 35. Tiered shelves 36. Exclamation to express sorrow 38. Brandy 40. One of the two equal sections of a cone 42. Great quantity 43. Apiece 45. Sharped like a knob 49. Definite article 50. Part of verb to be 51. Bronchiol 52. Asian prince DOWN 1. Tap 2. Remove silt from river 3. Evening 4. Mistake 5. Supplements 6. Raise

7. Causing a mess 9. Seaward 10. Period of human life 11. Clock faces 12. Young dog 16. Long fish 20. Speed contest 21. To endure 23. Title 25. Positions 26. Festive occasion 28. Prejudice 29. 23rd letter of the Hebrew alphabet 30. Supplement 31. Capital of Bahrain

32. Long narrow strip of fabric 34. Rumpus 35. Repeat 37. Flood 39. Son of Jacob 41. Reflected sound

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. 19.

44. Norse goddess 46. Exclamation of contempt 47. Brassiere 48. Monetary unit of Japan

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20. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

SVG copped Gold at CARIFTA

Members of the Females 4X400 meters THIS COUNTRY HAS SECURED two gold medals on the track at the just concluded 47th Flow CARIFTA Games in the Bahamas on the weekend. A large crowd was on hand to welcome the victorious team on their arrival at the Argyle International Airport last Tuesday.

Middle distance ace runner Handel Roban copped the first gold for SVG in the 800 meters Under-17 Males in a time of 1:56.83, while the team of Anesia Richards, Shefiqua Maloney, Zita Vincent and Tamara Woodley secured the gold in the 4X400 meters U20 Females in 3:48.24 seconds. The team also broke the national senior record from 1998. SVG, who finished the race in the third position in the 4x400 meters, eventually were crowned the winners upon review by the officials. The Jamaicans were disqualified for a baton mishap on the final leg, while the Bahamas were also disqualified for not showing up in the call room when the event was announced. Based on the IAAF rules, once a team doesn’t show up in the call-room when they are called, they will not take part in that race.

Tamara Woodley who ran the final leg, said they were very happy to have won the bronze medal, but after realizing they were awarded the gold following the disqualification of Jamaica and the Bahamas, they were ecstatic and elated.

Handel Roban, upon returning, spoke to THE VINCENTIAN, “Going into the race, I was very calm where my thinking was about getting the first gold medal for SVG on the track.

When I saw the line up, I smiled because I went into the race with the second fastest time and that gave me some motivation. I believe hard work and training hard paid off, and I was very excited when I won the race, but couldn’t show it at the moment because I was tired and exhausted. It was a good feeling to beat especially

their dreams.

“Despite training on grass, we can still produce gold medals at CARIFITA’s however, we are committed (the Government) to provide the athletes with the standardized surface so our athletes can train Rawlson Morgan coach of the better to continue SVG team. to compete with the best in the the Jamaicans.

My teammates world”. Also addressing the athletes was Vice President of were very excited”, Roban Team Athletics Michael Ollivierre. stressed. The humble young I.B.A.ALLEN who took the gold. man said his Handel Roban took gold in the 800 meters. focus now is to continue to work hard and see how far he can reach.

Rawlson Morgan, coach of the team, said he is elated and believes it’s his biggest achievement as a coach at the regional level. “I feel really proud knowing that I just have Handel for a short time and his achievement, but I am happy for him and the entire squad where a number of them gained personal best in their events. We were competing, and that was a plus SVG Contingent to the CARIFTA Games. where we stayed focused”, Morgan commented. The coach is grateful to Team Athletics for the opportunity to attend three qualifiers before the athletes made the standard for the Carifta Games. He believes the gold VINCENTIAN BORN- GEORGE Manners, a Weightlifting. medals will raise the former Weightlifting medallist at the He revealed status for SVG, and Commonwealth Games, wants to see a revival that he plans to especially the way of the sport in St Vincent and the Grenadines. host some they the athletes Manners is hinging his hopes on St Vincent workshops in St performed, and with and the Grenadines’ participation at the XXI Vincent and the most of them still Commonwealth Games currently taking place Grenadines, as a eligible for next year, in the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, starter in getting he is looking for that would rekindle some interest among young persons involved again in the greater things. He is Vincentians living at home.

George Manners “I am hoping that, with St Vincent and the sport of also thankful for the Grenadines participating in this year’s Weightlifting. other coaches who (Commonwealth) Games, some interest would “You have to start young, and hopefully I can would have worked be derived”, Manners projected. get someone who can continue practising them with the athletes Manners has been instrumental in having after”, Manners indicated. leading up to the Reyan Cupid, who was born in England of event, and believes, Manners’ journey in Weightlifting once the coaches work Vincentian parentage, compete at the ongoing Commonwealth Games, thus making her the Manners said that he took to Weightlifting, together, the athletes first woman to do so for St Vincent and the after migrating to England in 1957, but credits and the country will Grenadines. though his start in bodybuilding in St Vincent benefit.

“I have been trying to get to this stage for and the Grenadines, cultured by Freddie Cecil McKie, the last sixteen years… I have invested time Ballantyne.

Minister of Sports, and finance before, but it never happened”, Ironically, according to Manners, “Cricket congratulated the Manners explained. though was my first love, and I got involved contingent and Manners, who is also Cupid’s coach, with a team in England, but I found the ball encouraged the however, does not want it to be a one-off , as stinging my hands because it was too cold, so I athletes to continue to he is seeking to get more persons to get to love chose to go indoors”. work hard to achieve

George Manners pumping for SVG’s revival of Weightlifting

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. 21.

Sports

Sandy Bay Sec retains Cricket Title George Stephens Secondary runners up.

SANDY BAY SECONDARY School retained the 2018 Massy Insurance Under-19 Secondary Schools championship when they beat George Stephens Secondary by 62 runs in the finals last week at the Arnos

Vale playing field.

With both teams from the Windward side of the country, the expectation was high, as spectators from both sides filled the stands to support their students.

It was Sandy Bay Secondary who batted first and made 194 from 38 overs.

Javed Baptiste steadied the innings with 22 at the top of the order despite wickets falling steadily; but it was a brave rearguard action by Danwayne Baptiste 28 not out and Delonzo Lavia 38 in the lower order that brought back some respectability to the eventual score. Kyle Bobb with 4 for 16 and Daniel Gonsalves 2 for 30 were George Stephens best bowlers.

George Stephens Secondary in response were bowled out for 132 off 24.1 overs with Cordam McDowal 33 and Daniel Gonsalves 35 as the principal scorers. Defaneo

Sandy Bay Secondary champions Lavia with 2 for 17, Danwayne Baptiste 2 for 35 and Sheldon Baptiste 2 for 26 proved too much for George Stepehens batting line up.

In the individual awards, Frankie Baptiste of Sandy Bay

Cato is new National Selector DYKE CATO, FORMER national off spinner, has replaced Romel Currency on the Senior National Selection panel following the resignation of Currency who reached the decision on the basis of conflicting commitments.

Cato, an experienced cricketer, and one of the most successful offspinners in the history of local cricket, has represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines in sub-regional tournaments, will replace Currency who became a selector in 2016 and also served briefly as Chairman of the Youth Selection panel.

Cato, a teacher by profession,

who represents the Radcliffe Cricket Club, is a trained cricket video analysis, coach, and scorer.

The former player expressed his appreciation for his new role. “Any opportunity to serve cricket is a great honour of mine, and this is just another way for me to give back to the game in my country,” said Cato.

On the appointment of Cato, Dr. Kishorne Shallow, president of the SVGCA Inc., was enthusiastic about the new appointment. “Dyke is an exciting addition to the panel, with almost two decades of experience as a player and also an astute cricket administrator, he

will serve with distinction, I am certain”, Shallow commented.

The first task for Cato will be to select the Female Senior team later this month, and then the Male team for the Windward Islands tournament in May. President Shallow conveyed gratitude to Romel Currency for his tenure. “Romel in his tenure has done a creditable job, and on behalf of my executive, I thanked him for his professional service,” expressed Shallow.

I.B.A.ALLEN

SVG represented in six disciplines at XXI Commonwealth Games ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES is being represented in six disciplines at the XXI hosting of the Commonwealth Games, which opened last Wednesday night, in the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

The disciplines are Swimming, Track and Field, Cycling (Road), Table Tennis, Squash and Weightlifting.

Representing swimming are Dillon Gooding, Nikolas Sylvester, Cruz Halbich and Sylvester Cyrus, while for track and field, the athletes are Kineke Alexander, Kimorie Shearman, Kasique Oliver, Kemroy Cupid, Akani Slater and Jumonne Exeter.

The representatives for Table Tennis are Andre Mitchell, Carlton Daniel and Romano Spencer, with Zefal Bailey and Enroy Lewis, representing Cycling.

Making up the Squash team are Jason Doyle, Jules Snagg, Othneil Bailey and Omari Wilson.

And, Reyan Cupid, who is of Vincentian parentage but resides in England, competes in Weightlifting.

Kyle Dougan is the team leader and coach for Swimming, with Chester Morgan performing that duty for Track and Field.

Secondary scored the most runs 154. Tijourn Pole had the second most runs 137, and Handel Roban the third most 118. Danwayne Baptiste of Sandy Bay Secondary took the most wickets 18. He also copped the MVP of the tournament scoring 98 runs. Kyle Bobb captured the second most wickets 17, and Daniel Gonsalves the third most wickets with 14.

Sandy Bay Secondary now won four titles from the last six years reaching the finals. They won on 2013, 2014, 2017 and Dyke Cato national selector 2018. Fourteen teams took part in the competition.

Orville Haslam has travelled as Manager/ Coach of the Table Tennis team, while Kevin Hannaway is in charge of the Squash unit.

Emmerson Holder and George Manners are in as the Cycling and the Weightlifting coaches, SVG’s contingent to the XX1 Commonwealth Games, taking respectively. place in the Gold Coast, Australia.

Jacintha Ballantyne is the Chief of Mission and Rohan as the British Empire Games.

Thomas — General Manager.

Elton Anderson and Godfrey Roberts were The Vincentian contingent was part of a the two athletes who represented the country glitzy opening ceremony last Wednesday in the debut outing. evening held at the Carrara Stadium, in which But it took St Vincent and the Grenadines this country’s most decorated athlete- Kineke until 1970 to earn its first medal, when George Alexander was the flag bearer.

Manners collected a bronze in Weightlifting, in St Vincent and the Grenadines is among the the Games held in Edinburg, Scotland.

71 countries contesting the Commonwealth Then in 1974 at the Games held in Games which will see participation from over Christchurch, New Zealand, Frankie Lucas 4500 athletes during the eleven days of pouched a gold medal in Boxing. competition.

And in 2010 in Delhi, India, Natasha The games are set to conclude on Sunday Mayers, albeit fortuitous, collected a gold April 15. medal in the 100m, after she had placed third, St Vincent and the Grenadines first but two disqualifications, presented her with participated in the Commonwealth Games in the first place.

1958 in Cardiff, Wales, which was then known

Frankie Baptiste most runs 154

Danwayne Baptiste most wickets 18 I.B.A.ALLEN

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22. FRIDAY, APRIL 06, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Game changer The 2018 CARIFTA Games will be remembered as perhaps the game changer in Vincentian athletics.

Handel Roban achieved what was regarded as unlikely. He won the Under 17 version of the 800M ahead of two Jamaicans.

From the North Central Windward district, Roban has carved out something of a phenomenon in sports. He represented the nation at the Under 15 level at cricket.

His athletic prowess must have been spotted, and his transfer to the St. Vincent Grammar School was engineered so as to enhance his ability.

If the Gold medal is anything to go by, Roban has paid handsome dividends.

What he has done is to break down the barrier of doubt that might have been harboured.

Marvette Collis shocked the region when she blazed her way to gold in the 200 M in 1989. But that never served as an example.

It was a tribute to the coaching fraternity that their persistency turned up some success with Roban.

It could have been despondent having nothing to show over the years at the competitive level. And with the argument raging over the lack of stadium, fingers were being pointed as to the reasons for the low medal count.

This year, someone can say there it is. And not just Roban. Our Under 20 Female squad secured gold in the 4x400M event in Bahamas.

The quartet of Annicea Richards, Shafiqua Maloney, Zita Vincent, and Tamara Woodley found themselves in a position of rags to riches.

The squad was already bubbling with satisfaction, having placed third in the live action.

But Jamaica was disqualified for a change-over breach, and Bahamas, who came second, was running for pride, having failed to meet the prerace requirements.

The Vincentian success came amidst the debacle of the fall out of the improvised Pakistan tour by a West Indies squad. The appearance of the contingent turned up eyebrows and raised some questions. Was it another example of West Indies’ desperation to appease any country, or to provide something for their players?

The debacle proceeded on the heels of the World Cup qualifiers. Some people have become so incensed that they preferred to have seen the West Indies eliminated from the event in England next year.

Many were annoyed that the West Indies seemed to have made heavy weather of the exercise.

People have been so inflamed that they don’t care about waiting to see what happens at the main event. They have settled within themselves that the West Indies will be a waste of time. There is the under-dog syndrome that has often proved prevalent.

Plus West Indies have been known to rise to the occasion. People from beyond the boundary have to join in solidarity with the squad and don’t try to engage in actions that overwhelm their passion.

The Vincentian squad timed: 3 minutes: 48.24 seconds, ahead of Guyana, and St. Kitts.

Those results have the potential of unleashing an interest in athletics which hitherto seemed uninspiring.

Coaches can point to something and use it as a benchmark. The absence of a track also might have been a contributor to the atmosphere of lethargy. The recent gold medal accomplishments will be reasons for celebration.

Football needs a home to develop local talent VENOLD COOMBS, President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation is of the view that football in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has made many positive strides over the years, but there have been a few blemishes along the way.

Coombs at the time was addressing the Extra-ordinary Meeting of Affiliates convened to discuss a number of critical matters, among them Football Facilities, the Development of Women in the sport, Tournaments Scheduling and the Calendar for 2018, and the Strategic Plan and Technical Development Plan. He informed the representatives present that he is not happy with the global ranking of Vincy Heat.

However, CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani said that they have been communicating the importance of developing their own Confederation Ranking Index to better reflect the ranking of all Member Associations, including the non-FIFA Members in all official and friendly matches

played from 1990 to the present day.

In addressing the issue of football facilities, the President noted that the Federation now has a building to house its administrative operations, but needs a home where the talent of the players can be properly developed. He confirmed that the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has given the land to construct the facility, but there are some negotiations to be done regarding the building, which is situated on the Brighton property.

The land which has been given to the SVGFF by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the old landfill at Sion Hill, about eight acres, but advised that there will be studies undertaken before actual construction will commence.

These studies will include environmental and structural, despite the fact that in relation to the land donated to football associations in other islands in the region, St. Vincent and the

Grenadines got the better deal. SVGFF president Coombs said that monies Venold Coombs, have already been allocated President of the for construction SVGFF. of the foundation, adding that in regard to Brighton, “There is no future in Brighton.” A number of issues were highlighted, among them the damaging of the fence by persons unknown; security, accessibility, and the restrictions on further development of the playing surface to bring it to FIFA mandated standards.

The SVGFF president cautioned the affiliates’ representatives that it is imperative that there is a home, not just to develop the talent, but the economic benefits, which could be derived from having a playing field of international standards.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Professionalization of football is critical United Football club THE PROFESSIONALIZATION who met the criteria of the sport of football administration, the club licensing for a Domestic Club Licence, and that they programme, establishment of a are taking the Caribbean Professional League, were among items discussed when necessary steps towards Cristhian Tonelli, a Professional acquiring Regional Football Coordinator with Club License. Tonelli CONCACAF, met with football officials of the St. Vincent and the encouraged the Avenues United FC Grenadines Football Federation representatives to use last week.

Cristhian Tonelli, CONCACAF the club’s Caribbean Club Shield CONCACAF is moving ahead Official meets with SVGFF with the professionalization of the participation’s experience, to lift officials. administration of the game in the the club’s level of football, and to become that model for other clubs proper channels are followed, with Caribbean. Matters discussed to emulate. were the Club Licensing partners and sponsors coming on Devon Poyer, GeneralRegulations, and the Club board, and the affiliates, the Secretary (acting), added: “2018 Licensing Processes were clubs, the leagues, and by reviewed, along with the processes and beyond, promises to be an extension the country, embracing exciting one for football in to aid the transition from the vision and plans for a better SVG…and we should see the possessing a Domestic Club tomorrow in the sport”. standard and level of the game Licence to securing to a Regional reaching new heights, once the Club Licence, and identifying I.B.A.ALLEN areas needed to strengthen club administration. Also discussed were the possible criteria for a NATIONAL TWO-DAY champions while FLOW Radcliffe opposes Caribbean Professional Victors One will lead the points Providence Electronics Solutions League, and the standing following the resumption of North Leeward at Cumberland. suggested League’s the Premier Division 50 Overs Strategic Objectives. The National Cricket Competition after First Division potential strengths and last weekend’s break for the Easter. weaknesses of the Victors One leads the standing on Belfongo and Police One will take suggested Caribbean 40 points from 5 matches, ahead of on each other at Arnos Vale Two in Professional League, Flow Radcliffe in second on 30 points the final quarterfinals match to improvements for all from 4 matches. complete the four-team list for the local leagues, and Team Rivals and Police Two are on semi finals. In the first semi finals, engaging both the private 20 points each from 4 matches, while Smashers will face Radcliffe Two at and public sectors and North Leeward is on 10 points from 4 Sion Hill. The teams who have their subsequent roles in matches in fifth position, with already qualified are Smashers, support and sponsorship General Guardian Saints on 10 from North Windward and Radcliffe Two. also formed part of the 5 matches in the cellar position. discussion.

This weekend, Team Rivals will I.B.A.ALLEN Tonelli’s had high play Police Two at Arnos Vale 1, praise for the Avenues

National Cricket resumes this weekend

V

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FARMERS TRAINED IN MEDICAL GANJA CULTIVATION IT IS NOT GOING to be business as usual for farmers wanting to be involved in the production of marijuana to be used in the medicinal marijuana industry.

Farmers will have to adapt to some new methodologies, including the limited use of fertilizers and other chemicals.

They were also told that they needed to learn how to produce marijuana in a controlled environment, using green houses and other methods in order that maximum extracts could be obtained.

This was the word coming from Reginald Spaulding, a Director of the Company Acres Agri — a locally registered company specializing in the development and marketing of cannabis by-products.

Spaulding was addressing the 120 farmers gathered at the Sans Souci

Learning Resource Centre on Tuesday for a four-day workshop aimed at giving them the specialized tools that the medicinal marijuana industry demands.

And although the legal framework was yet to be laid in Parliament for the setting up of a medicinal marijuana industry here, it was explained that Acres Agri is one of the companies interested in conducting business here.

Once the appropriate legislation was enacted, it was important that farmers are properly trained to carry out the best practices under the expert guidance to ensure that the correct yield is obtained.

“What sense would it make to tell me that

Reginald Spaulding speaking on the issues with the farmers.

you have ten pounds of marijuana to sell, but two pounds of this are seeds?”

Spaulding questioned.

“You the farmers must learn about the marijuana plant, its properties, how to use the proven scientific methods, so that when someone enquires about who and where the marijuana plant was grown, how it was grown; St Vincent and the Grenadines’ reputation as producing quality marijuana plants for medicinal purposes will be at the top of the ladder,” he said, adding that there were many opportunities within the

industry.

Following today’s conclusion, there will be a selection process before the company begins to embark on putting all the necessary structures and mechanisms in place to ensure that the multi million-dollar industry is properly developed.

Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar was on hand at the opening of the event earlier this week, he explained that the workshop was to explore ways to create employment within the industry.

A section of the farmers assembled at the workshop.

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