Issuu

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY,

FEBRUARY 09, 2018

VOLUME 112, No.05

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

Supporters of the Opposition New Democratic Party demonstrated their dissatisfaction with recent developments here as they pertain to Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves and the Unity Labour Party as a whole.

BOOS DRAW REACTION FROM PM Empty chairs!! Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves (inset) delivered his maiden Budget Address to a sitting of the House of Assembly from which Opposition members absented themselves.

OPPOSITION MPS CHIDED He told the House that he understood and appreciated “WHAT ARE THEY GETTING paid for the decision of the members this month?” who said they were not going to This was a question put to the debate themselves, and rebuked House of Assembly last Tuesday the Opposition for having stayed by Finance Minisiter Camillo out of Parliament for what he said Gonsalves, as he chided the was inarguably the most Oppostion members for walking important week in the out of the House following the Parliamentary calendar. delivery of the Throne Speech on Gonsalves commented further Monday. that although he was usually not Minister Gonsalves rose to in agreement with the positions wrap up the debate on the put across by members of the Appropriation Bill subsequent to Opposition, for example a decision by the government side, Parliamentary Representatives not to proceed with ‘debating for East Kingstown and former themselves’, in the absence of the Opposition Leader, Arnhim Opposition. Eustace or St Clair Leacock, he Stories by DAYLE DA SILVA

valued their contribution to the debate process. “That is the purpose of opposition, although it (their argument) doesn’t carry, it can shape policy. “All of them are being paid today, at the end of the month, all of them will get a pay cheque, for what?” he questioned. “What are they getting paid for this month? Did they come for the Estimates? No, are they going to come for this entire week? No, but they are in good conscience going to open their pay packet and go to the bank and deposit their cheque Continued on Page 3.

PRIME MINISTER Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has reacted to Monday’s protest action outside Parliament, during the presentation of the 2018 Budget presentation. “I think I speak on behalf of the entire nation, when H.E (Governor General Sir Frederick Ballantyne) took the salute, he was booed by a handful of persons who were brought for some protest or the other,” Dr. Gonsalves said. But what was worse, according to the Prime Minister, was that the booing continued even during the National Anthem. “I made both points to the Leader of the Opposition. I did not tell him what was. I did not tell him what was his obligation, but I thought that before the commencement of the proceedings, Continued on Page 3. Right: The protests did not deter Governor General Sir Frederick Ballantyne from delivering the Throne Speech.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has vented his strong feelings of disgust and disappointment with the reception Governor General Sir Frederick Ballantyne received from the NDP protestors.

2. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

News

FLOW addressing network problems in the Grenadines TELECOMMUNICATIONS company Flow is assuring its customers in the Grenadine islands to expect more reliable and stable service in the coming weeks. This is in response to degraded services experienced by customers on both the broadband and TV platforms, where customers on the several islands have experienced some disruption. According to Engineering Lead Marlon Bibby, he explained that since late into 2017, customers in the Grenadines have been experiencing some challenges with their services. He explained that the challenges have been experienced by customers on the Legacy Lime and Legacy Flow networks. The Islands’ system, he said further, have been hampered by some power related issues caused by faulty equipment. Assuring that plans are already in the pipelines to resolve this issue, the lead engineer stated that his team is assiduously working along with the customer experience team to effectively inform the affected customers. He pledged that customers should receive more reliable and consistent broadband

Marlon Bibby, FLOW’s Engineering lead, acknowledged the problems faced by customers in the Grenadines.

Duane Samuel, Head of FLOW’s Customer Experience team, assured that all was being done to return and improve services in the Grenadines.

service by the end of February. Head of the Customer Experience team, Duane Samuel, noted that his team has been working closely with the technology team, towards resolving the issue in a timely manner as well as keeping them updated. As far as future projects that are in the pipelines to positively impact the Grenadine islands, the Customer Experience Head highlighted that presently, the team is working on a power project. This, he said, is expected to improve the power systems as well as

the reliability and up time of these systems. He added that the company is also working on a Grenadine radio project to improve the capacity to deliver bandwidth in the Grenadines, as well as an additional radio project to improve the quality of video in the Grenadines. The Customer Experience head assured customers that the company is not disengaged from what they are experiencing on the islands. He thanked them and apologised for the inconvenience caused over the last few months.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. 3.

News 3 New date for reopening of Buccament Resort

EARLIER INDICATIONS were that the Buccament Bay Resort, which fell into bankruptcy in 2016, was expected to be re-opened for business for the 2017/18 tourism season. That is no longer on the cards, and Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves, during his maiden Budget Address on Monday, said that the Resort will now reopen in advance of the 2018/19 tourist season. Gonsalves told the Parliament that the Bankruptcy Trustee had indicated that a plan for the management of the Resort had been approved and was in the final fine-tuning stage, following discussions between the investors and creditors of the facility.

Referring to the earlier pronouncements on the Resort’s reopening, the Finance Minister described those as “unduly optimistic estimates,” adding, “Those estimates were based entirely on our conversations with the principals involved in the legal proceedings to navigate the hotel through the bankruptcy and insolvency process.” The final management agreement, according to Gonsalves, was expected to be signed in the coming weeks. The resort, he assured, will re-open for business following a three-month period of rehabilitation to the existing facility. The closure of the Resort, the Minister acknowledged, had a

negative impact on tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom, with those figures falling by 295 since the closure. The Buccament Bay Resort, financed through Harlequin Property whose principal was UK national David Ames, began operating in 2011, but was closed in December 2016 after it started experiencing financial problems, giving rise to employees not receiving their salaries, a bludgeoning debt to local electricity providers burden, among other areas of incurred debt. VINLEC and a multimillion dollar tax arrears (DD)

Opposition MPs chided on the government side made the decision that in the absence of the at the end of the month. members of opposition, they were Shameful,” Camillo Gonsalves not going to debate themselves. said. Members of the Opposition, led “And they want to talk about by Leader of the Opposition Dr economy and priority and budget? Godwin Friday walked out of the The priority should be if you don’t House - as they did on January 29 come to work, you don’t get pay.” during the laying of the 2018 Camillo Gonsalves then made Estimates of Revenue and the comment that the members of Expenditure - on Monday the Opposition New Democratic immediately following the Throne Party (NDP) cited ideological Speech delivered by H.E Sir reasons for their absence, and Frederick Ballantyne, this urged the Speaker of the House, country’s Governor General. Jomo Thomas to pay attention to On Tuesday, Leader of the the number of days they were House Prime Minister Dr Ralph absent. Gonsalves indicated that the As it stood, the 2018 members on his side of Appropriation Bill had an Parliament would not be engaging extremely easy passage in the in any debate. House on Tuesday when members Continued from Front Page.

“Since the Budget address delivered by the Minister of Finance represents the views, positions and policies and programmes of the entire Cabinet and members on the government side, we all simply ask him (Camillo) to wind up the debate so that we can all go on and do other things,” PM Gonsalves said. According to the Prime Mminister, by walking out, the opposition had missed an opportunity to speak on the Estimates and Appropriation Bill. “And it is very interesting that they had submitted a motion of ‘No Confidence’ which dealt with precisely every single issue that is found in the Estimates and Appropriation Bill,” he continued.

Below: The Buccament Bay Resort was considered the flagship of tourism plant development in SVG, and was utitlised by government for regional and local conferences, seminars, etc.

Boos draw reaction from PM the opportunity then, in Parliament, and certainly not this morning on radio, when he handed you a as I had been advised, to letter, in the presence of a say sorry for the nation. packed gallery and in “Have we reached a front of diplomats, that stage now in leadership either reside or are where a handful of people accredited here, that he could behave in any would have risen to the which way they want, occasion to say that when verbally abuse the the Governor General is Governor General when taking the salute, he he takes his salute and represents the entire shout and protest when nation,” he said. the national anthem is Furthermore, he being played? We must contended that during the stand askance against playing of the National this sort of conduct and Anthem, there ought to be even when followers silence and some respect behave like that, you are shown. a leader when you stand “I felt deeply saddened up and tell them they are at the event, and I am wrong, if not, the profoundly disappointed proverbial tail is wagging that the Leader of the the dog,” Dr. Gonsalves Opposition did not take said. Continued from Front Page.

4. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Defendant overreacts to PM’s remarks? generally, but was referring to the mother of CALVERT ‘Shaka’ Cupid, no stranger to the courts here, the person who was told the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday that assisting the police with he was only reiterating Prime Minister Dr. Ralph their investigations, as he Gonsalves’ call for the public to protect the medical was not pleased with Rickie Burnett, Senior students, when he was arrested at Pole Yard last year. what was reported to Magistrate, exercised Cupid, a resident of Pole Yard, originally of have happened. leniency in passing Redemption Sharpes, was charged with assaulting According to Cupid, he sentence in a matter Police Inspector Sherol James and obstructing her was reiterating what the involving obstruction while executing her duties as a police officer at Pole Prime Minister had said and assault of a police Yard, March 3 last year. He pleaded not guilty to during a meeting of the officer. both charges, and was represented by Attorney House of Assembly. Grant Connell. “The Prime Minister James testified on Tuesday that on the day in tell we to take care of the students, so I could not question, she was among a party of police officers support what happened,” Cupid said, referring to who went to Pole Yard, assigned to do investigations the report of the acts committed against the medical in which someone in the area was assisting, in students, which the police were investigating. relation to a report of criminal offences committed “I was angry over the situation in which they against some medical students. dealt with the foreigners,” he added. James said Cupid pushed his hand in her face In her closing submissions, Prosecutor Curlene and said, “Your informant son get lock up, ley me Samuel contended that the prosecution had proven see you free him now.” its case beyond reasonable doubt, and asked the James recalled that the police transport then Court to find the defendant guilty on both counts. moved to another location in the area, and the But Connell argued that it was not quite clear as to officers were communicating with residents, when what his client did to obstruct the police officer in Cupid approached her again, pushing his hand in the execution of her duties. her face and making remarks. She asked him to In his ruling, Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett desist from assaulting her. He stepped aside for a concluded that the assault charge was made out, but short while, but returned and continued his action. dismissed the charge of obstruction. James said it became overbearing, and she Burnett expressed the view that Cupid, hearing arrested him. the statement made by the Prime Minister, got Connell suggested to James, during crosscaught up in that and overreacted. examination, that she was the one who assaulted In mitigation, Connell pleaded, “I am asking the Cupid by holding onto him, because she didn’t like court to forgive him because from the depth of his what he said. James denied this. heart, he meant good.” James was one of three police officers who Prosecutor Samuel was of the view that Cupid testified for the prosecution, including one who was knew what he was doing in respect of the assault among the party of officers on the scene that day. charge, but she did not think that it warranted a Cupid, in his defence, denied assaulting or custodial sentence. obstructing Inspector James, saying that he was The Senior Magistrate exercised leniency and about 12 ft away, and there were police officers in bonded Cupid for six months. In breach of the bond, front of the police vehicle. He said he was speaking he will pay the Court $1,000 forthwith or three months in prison. Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

Students charged with rape THREE secondary school male students were each granted $8,000 bail with one surety when they appeared at the Family Court on Wednesday, charged with having unlawful sexual intercourse with a female secondary school student. The boys, ages 15, 16, and 17, are accused of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13. Reports are that the alleged victim, age 12, was raped on the compound of a secondary school on January 31. The boys were not required to plea when they appeared before the Family Court on Wednesday, as the charge was laid indictably. The matter has been adjourned to May 10. Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13 carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Legal help saves runaway convict A 22-YEAR-OLD MAN of Barrouallie/New Montrose who risked his life to elude police custody last year, was spared a custodial sentence on Tuesday, following legal help from attorney Grant Connell. Elson Gloster was sentenced to six months imprisonment, but that sentence was suspended for 12 months. Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett handed down the penalty at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court after Gloster pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody. Gloster had pleaded not guilty to the charge when he initially appeared in court, but was seemingly having a problem deciding what course of action to take when he returned to court on Tuesday. As he proceeded to tell the Magistrate his version of the events, Burnett asked attorney Grant Connell, who had turned up in court for another matter, to assist Gloster, who was unrepresented. Connell spoke to Gloster for a few minutes, following which Gloster returned to the dock and entered the guilty plea. In presenting the facts, Prosecutor Curlene Samuel told the court that around 11am on November 26 last year, Gloster was taken into custody at the Central Police Station in relation to a report of theft. However, while two police officers were escorting him along the balcony to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Gloster threw himself over the balcony and ran through the sentry gate. An alarm was raised, and the Sentry pursued and caught Gloster, not far from the gate. A scuffle ensued, resulting in the sentry receiving injuries. Mitigating on Gloster’s behalf, Connell said that luckily, Gloster’s act of throwing himself over the balcony did not result in death or injuries. He pointed out that if this had happened, the situation would have been different, and the police would have been blamed. Connell said the incident should be a lesson to the police that they must not become complacent while bringing prisoners into the police station. He noted that Gloster was extremely remorseful, and asked the Magistrate to exercise leniency. The Prosecutor stressed the seriousness of the offence which carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment. She, however, noted that Gloster has been in custody since November. Burnett also stressed the seriousness of the charge before handing down the penalty.

Suspect in abusive calls probe released A MAN WHO was detained this week in connection with a series of threatening phone calls made to various radio stations over a period of time, was released pending further investigations. The offensive calls also included the use of expletives and other forms of abusive language. THE VINCENTIAN understands that the suspect was taken up on Tuesday. He was interviewed by the police, and a search was conducted on his premises before he was released on Wednesday. Investigations into these phone calls have been ongoing for some months now, and this individual was detained before, and released in connection with the probe.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. 5.

Regional

President-elect clears the air “I THINK IN TERMS of the State and the law, all citizens and all persons under the protection of our jurisdiction should have equal treatment whatever their gender, whatever their sexual orientation, whatever their race; we need to have absolute equality across the board in terms of State obligations and constitutional rights.” She has not yet assumed the office of President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, but President-elect PaulaMae Weekes has given early insight to her view on the role of the State and the Law. President-elect Weekes made the

profound statement in a conversation with the Trinidad Guardian last Monday, February 5. She was, inter alia, asked to respond to a more direct question about her sexual orientation, when she was moved to extend her reading of the situation. The situation was that a particular posting on social media had brought the issue of the President-elect’s sexual orientation into focus. In an effort to have the matter addressed by the person so focused, the Trinidad Guardian asked her up front whether she was a lesbian.

Sir Viv to get a pension SIR VIVIAN RICHARDS, former captain of the West Indies cricket team and one of two living heroes of Antigua and Barbuda, is set to receive a pension from that country’s government. Measures are already in place, says Information Minister Melford Nicholas, to have the appropriate legislation introduced in the Parliament in the coming weeks. Nicholas assured that the Office of the Attorney General, Steadroy ‘Cute’ Benjamin, was at an advanced stage with the legislation. The Antigua Observer newspaper reported that Nicholas, speaking at the post-Cabinet media briefing on last week Thursday, noted that “Sir

Vivian’s exploits on the international stage meant that he would not have qualified for government benefits. “There is a degree of deference that we have to someone like Sir Vivian Richards, and I believe that the type of benefits that would accrue to him as part of what we want to do would include a pension. I don’t think Sir Vivian would have had the type of income stream to enjoy a pension from either of the pension streams,” Nicholas added. Sir Lester Bryant Bird, the country’s second prime minister, is the other living hero of Antigua and Barbuda. Nicholas noted that Sir Lester is already entitled to a pension as a result of

Former West Indies captain and legendary batsman, Sir Vivian Richards. (Photo Credit: ARY Sports) his years in government service was not considered at this time, for a pension similar to that which is forthcoming to Sir. Vivian. (Source: Antigua Observer)

“No, I am not a lesbian,” was her response. Ms Weekes had found fascinating, as she told the newspaper, that that “was of interest.” She wondered “…why of all the things you would want to know about the person who is likely to be your next President is that. I should think there are far more important things that you would need to know.” The President-elect expressed the view that at the end of the day, people will realise what really matters is whether or not she can get the job done effectively. When inaugurated, Ms. Paula-Mae Weekes will become the sixth and the first female President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. In fact, she will become the first head of State dating back to that country’s independence in 1962. (Source: Trinidad Guardian)

Paula-Mae Weekes, President-elect of Trinidad and Tobago, found it appropriate to put to rest the speculation surrounding her sexual orientation. (Photo Credit: Caribbean 360)

6. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Diaspora

ÂSinging EvangelistÊ honored Right: Evangelist Shirley Browne receives plaque from Sis. Glendore Williams (L) and Sis. Claudette Muckette (widow of the Rev. Dr. Williams Muckett).

Story and photos by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; kingnaking210@yahoo.com US CORRESPONDENT THE CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn, New Yorkbased Attributes of Christ Ministries, on Jan. 13 honoured Evangelist Shirley Browne, otherwise known as ‘The Singing

Evangelist’, at a memorial service for the church’s late pastor and founder, the Rev. Dr. William Muckett. In presenting the plaque to Evangelist Browne, at the Miracle Temple Ministries in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, Sis. Glendore Williams said, “‘The Singing Evangelist’ was with Rev. Muckett from the foundation — Movers of

Christ,” adding that she is a “humble virtuous woman — one who can bless you in the ministry.” Browne then responded: “We truly thank Bro. Muckett [as the Rev. Dr. Muckett was affectionately called]. He was truly a warrior.” She immediately afterwards brought the house down with two popular selections, ‘I am a Warrior’ and ‘I am Getting Ready’. “I thank God, and I thank Sis. Muckett [Rev. Muckett’s widow] and the Attributes family for honouring me in this way,” Evangelist Browne told THE VINCENTIAN in a post-service interview. “I am very glad to receive such an honor.” The memorial service was held on the fifth anniversary of Dr. Muckett’s death. The Frenches-born Rev. Dr. William Muckett, who represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines in football (soccer) as a stout defender, before becoming a Born-Again Christian. He did at SUNY Downstate Hospital in Brooklyn, on Jan. 13, 2013 after a prolonged illness. He was 65. Dr. Muckett had founded Attributes of Christ Ministries shortly after migrating to New York in 1998, and was the pastor until his death. He had also founded the radio ministry, ‘Movers in Christ’, which broadcast throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the singing group that bore that name. Evangelist Browne, who was born in the village of Carriere in the Marriaqua Valley in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, was a member of the Carriere Streams of Power Tabernacle at an early age. It was there that she met Dr. Muckett. They formed a bond, and along with other brothers and sisters in Christ, the Movers in Christ Ministry was formed, with Dr. Muckett as the group leader. The group toured the length and breadth of St. Vincent and the Grenadines — from Fancy in the north to Chateaubelair in the West on the mainland, and also the Grenadines and Barbados. During that time, Evangelist Browne said she ministered both in the word of God and in singing, gaining the title, ‘The Singing Evangelist’. In addition, the group ministered in the United States — in Florida and Tennessee — and made a guest appearance on the TBN television program. Evangelist Browne remained a

member of the Movers in Christ Ministry until Dr. Muckett migrated to the United States. Although the group is no longer together, Evangelist Browne said she continues her “service for the Lord in ministering the word and in singing.” In related news, the Most Rev. Dr. Russell Mc Callahan, Archbishop of the Province of St. Peter in Florida, and head of the Tallahassee, Florida-based Evangelical Episcopal Theological Seminary — which boasts 4,000 churches world-wide — announced he will be establishing a scholarship fund, known as the William Muckett Memorial Fund, in Muckett’s honour.

Evangelist Shirley Browne sings ‘I am Getting Ready’.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. 7.

News

Thomas explains his decision SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Jomo Thomas said that his decision to allow Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves’ submission to amend the opposition New Democratic Party’s (NDP) motion of No Confidence during last week’s sitting of Parliament, was based on his belief that the arguments presented by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves were “sound.” “I thought the presentations which were offered from the government side were quite cogent and organized, and this is why, at the end, I told the Prime Minister that the views expressed were sound views,” Thomas’s said on Tuesday, just as the proceedings of the Appropriation Bill debate were about to be adjourned. Parliamentarians on both sides were embroiled in a heated exchange over Thomas’ decision to allow for the opposition’s No Confidence motion to be amended. Leader of the Opposition Dr. Godwin Friday, who had submitted the No Confidence motion, led the other Opposition Parliamentarians in walking out of Parliament on January 29, when the 2018 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure was presented. The House was suspended and resumed on January 31 for the wrapping up of the

debate on the Estimates and to deal with the No Confidence motion. Gonsalves cited Standing Order 25 and was allowed to table an amendment, on the back of the Speaker’s ruling, for there to be a debate. The Opposition objected on the grounds that the amendment Jomo Thomas – Speaker of the negated their No Confidence House – sought insight on the issue of an amendment to a No motion. Confidence motion after he had “This was not politics for allowed its passage. me… it was an involved in an effort to attempt to understand be knowledgeable to deal what our constitution with the issue if it were said,” Thomas said, to ever arise in the adding that he since future. sought the opinion of “We can learn from others on the matter. the luminaries, but we “I spoke to a lot of cannot think on whether people across the region. the person sides with us I spoke to judges, I spoke or not, the important to other Speakers, I thing is that we educate spoke to lawyers and got ourselves so that down their views as to how the road…we can make this section should be judgments in favour of read,” he continued. moving the country The issue was new for forward,” he said. the majority of those The Speaker’s present in the House, he explanation during said, except for Prime Tuesday’s sitting of Minister Gonsalves and parliament appeared to Deputy PM, Sir Louis have followed a posting Straker, who have been on his Facebook page in in the House since 1994. which he admitted that But he said that it he may have erred in was important that the allowing the amendment views of some of the to the No Confidence regional experts become motion. (DD)

Unemployment figures inaccurate THERE IS NO TRUTH to the report that there is a 46 percent unemployment rate amongst the youth in this country. Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Camillo Gonsalves told members of the business community last week that as the minister responsible for statistics, he wanted to apologize for the data getting out into the public domain. “It was some data that was still being scrutinized and not ready for release and it is actually not accurate,” he said. There was a report that surfaced in

the media stating that the latest International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) report had indicated that the overall unemployment rate was 25 percent and that the number reached to as high as 46 percent among the nation’s youth, ages 15 to 24. The report, as was reported, stated that unemployment was highest among secondary school graduates. But Gonsalves explained that the census was done at a time when students were returning home and were not yet employed. “[There were] some other data collection issues that we faced,” he said, adding that the number was inaccurate and that it was unfortunate that it got out to the public. (DD)

8. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Managing Editor: Desiree Richards Editor: Cyprian Neehall Telephone: 784-456-1123 Fax: 784-451-2129 Website: www.thevincentian.com Email: vinpub@thevincentian.com Mailing Address: The Vincentian Publishing Co. Ltd., P.O. Box 592, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Editorial A Budget should inspire confidence ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES welcomed, in a sort of official manner, its second Minister of Finance since the Unity Labour Party assumed the reins of Government in 2001. Camillo Gonsalves made his maiden Budget Address last Monday, February 5, and certainly it would have been a ‘red’ letter day in his still maturing political journey. For all intents and purposes, it would have been unfair to the young man to have expected him to deliver some overly exciting and enticing list of fiscal measures that would have set us on what has been previously and repeatedly miscalculated as an economic cusp. The 2018 Budget was just about what one would have expected, given both the internal and external considerations that impact our economy. If the truth be told, in our reality, one informed by the making of the incumbents as well as other contributing parties, the minister of finance faces a perennially daunting task of presenting a national budget that spreads the already thin national purse across listless competing interests, and one that injects new pace into a tiring economy. Aside to all the numbers and numerical permutations, when taken as a whole, the least we anticipate, even as we consider the resource constraints, is that the fiscal plan, implicit in the budget, should inspire confidence in the economy. Put another way, that fiscal plan must carry, without prejudice and/or favouritism, the entire nation’s hope and optimism that we can perform a balancing act of allocating little available resources to rejuvenate growth and moreso, create new jobs — the operative words being new as much as jobs. As always, any country requires significant fresh capital to stimulate the productive sectors. There is no question that an insufficient amount of real capital is flowing in terms of direct foreign investment. This could be due to a number of reasons including perceive country risk, inadequate labour expertise, debt arrears and reservations about some of Government’s policies, and the cynicism among investors. Other sources of liquidity such as lines of credit, have also not been performing well due mainly to almost similar reasons, while

inflows from the Diaspora are too little to create the liquidity required to drive the economy in a productive sense. As always, when the main sources of funding become largely constrained, the responsibility falls on the National Treasury to devise ways (bonds?) to create liquidity, necessary for driving the economy and even for maintaining reasonable activity in areas of recurrent and capital undertakings. Some economists might suggest that in those circumstances, the option would be to borrow. This might not be feasible. But the task remains one of building productive capacity and attracting investment. And who knows: we may just need to change our political policy; the economy cannot work when investors are discouraged. Then there are linkages between economic sectors so that when/if we talk of recovery in agriculture, we cannot do so in isolation of the other productive sectors. A fiscal plan must include meaningful relevant measures to revive and modernize agriculture to feed raw material into manufacturing, which would reduce imports, create new jobs and create more tax revenue. A National Budget that simply indicates what ministries will get what, which would mainly be paying salaries, etc., often time leaving some ministries without capacity to fulfil their true mandates. At the end of the day, a finance minister would declare modest economic growth, if any, since, politically speaking, it would be suicidal to deduce anything less. In our case, that has already been declared and additionally, a mathematical surplus has been touted. But at the true, true end of the day, the taste of the budget lies in the degree, if any, to which it inspires confidence and optimism among the entire population and more particularly among the work force - the base upon which any economic growth is founded. For the 2018 National Budget not to have inspired confidence, is to discard all the numerical calculations and macro-economics as having flown in the face of reality. Is our 2018 National Budget inspiring?

SVG tragi-comedy stage of the ULP THE FIRST ISSUE, that issue that we tackle, is that concerning Yugge Farrell, charged with abusive language. Apparently, there was the possibility of a more serious charge of Blackmail which was held back for some particular reason. Yugge pleaded not guilty and, after her plea, was sent to the Mental Health Centre for evaluation. This was done in open court, with no evidence at all showing any sort of deranged behaviour. Most importantly, absolutely no explanation was given to Yugge or her lawyer, Grant Connell, who had appeared pro bono. When she next appeared in court at the end of her twoweek evaluation, Yugge acted strangely and was sent back to the psychiatric ward for further evaluation. Within a short time, however, she was sent back to court and released by the Magistrate on remand until December 2018, 11 months later. A hue and cry was raised nationally concerning the injustice that was being done in her case. The alarm was sounded with regard to the treatment metered out to ordinary citizens who ran into conflict with the Royal family of Gonsalves’. Camillo’s wife (the Prime Minister’s daughter-in-law) having been the virtual complainant in this case, and Camillo himself being the probable plaintiff in the blackmail, stayed tight-lipped for whatever reason. Camillo, the Minister of Finance, was urged by the Leader of the Opposition that he needed to make a statement to his employers- the people, but he has refused to do so, buoyed by the Prime Minister, his father, that he must maintain a “dignified silence”. This led the Leader of the Opposition to make some request of Camillo before parliament, which met in budget sessions, starring Camillo as the new Minister of Finance, as well as entertained a no confidence motion. And as well; it turned out to be a vote of confidence in the ULP Government which the target (ULP) had “amended” to shower praise on itself, the complete opposite of the original motion. The NDP stormed out of the House, taking their grievances and message to the streets. Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House, who as a member of the ULP had unsuccessfully competed in the last general election, tried his best to show why the ULP amended Motion had been misconceived. But under the bombardment and pressure of the Prime

Minister and his team, especially Carlos James, instead of “naming them”, finally conceded. After overnighting, the Speaker suddenly became lucid as he jogged, and contacted the media to relate the story that he had given a wrong judgement the previous day, and if he were given the opportunity to rehear the matter, the result will be completely different. All hell broke loose with tongues wagging everywhere as to what should or would happen. For the ULP’s part, their Deputy Speaker is calling for the head of the substantive Speaker, while others mourn the departure of Hendrick Alexander who followed automatically the biddings of the Government. While there is one Government M.P Saboto Ceaser during the course of the happenings in the House declared that without permission, Gonsalves could not speak for him on anything legal. This declaration is bound to have its repercussion further down the road. For the time being,NDP seems to have ignored Parliament by answering the Budget though Nice Radio which carries the speeches of its ‘shadow’ ministers and the rest of the elite. Over-shadowing all this bedlam is a court ruling which hangs over the ULP like the sword. In fact, the ULP Government for all its bragging, have existed over the last seven years on the tenterhook of a mere seat, having amassed 8 seats as against 7 in both 2010 and 2015 which is still to be determined. That there were questions about voting irregularities is no doubt. As far back as 2005, you had Ralph in a speech asking those constituencies which had helped ULP win hands-over, to siphon some votes to ULP in weakened constituencies. In a later contribution, I will touch on the part being played by former members of the UPM half-century later - Ralph Gonsalves, Parnel Campbell, St Clair Leacock, Jomo Thomas, Renwick Rose, Adrian Fraser, Kenneth John and Cecil Ryan. Does it mean the more things change, the more it remains the same? Damocles.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. 9.

Letters

Powerlessness and poverty

THE SITUATION of three women caught my attention over the past three weeks, and caused me to reflect on the role of our social work institutions and our community based organisations. The first woman is one who has a 13-year-old daughter who, she said, lives on the street. Her appeals to the Police do not bring results, as she is told that they can do nothing. This is a 13-year old who needs nurturing, should be under the care and protection of parents, and under the Rights of the Child — should also benefit from an education. If what the Mother said is true, the state machinery is guilty of child abuse and neglect, when the relevant Divisions do not intervene. The second woman is living with HIV and AIDS, and is also a Diabetic. Having survived these incurable diseases for 20 years and one year respectively, this woman can die of malnutrition. Her appeal for support from the State has been ignored, perhaps because of the stigma that people living with HIV and AIDS have to endure. As a survivor, why can’t she benefit from the resources specifically allocated to fight this disease? She is living proof that the medicines work. If the facts are correct, the state and NGO machinery can be deemed guilty of neglect and manslaughter of a vulnerable citizen. The third woman is a single mother who left her young children in hazardous conditions — in a space with an open flame. This made them victims and virtual prisoners in the disaster that took place, when fire broke out. The State machinery has acted, and this woman is in prison charged with child neglect, and subject to a charge of manslaughter, if an autopsy shows that one of the children died as a result of the fire. What is this woman’s situation? Is she unemployed? Was she renting premises? Was there electricity? Did the candle cause the fire, or was there an electrical fault? Why did she leave the children alone? Did she go to work or to seek food for them? All these questions and more should be answered before the social work machinery. In all these cases, there is a common thread of powerlessness and poverty. In all these cases, there is no mention of a father or other male support for these women and children. A few years ago, the Theme for International Women’s Day was “More Support Services for Women”. As Women’s Day approaches, I urge state machinery and non-governmental organisations to pay some attention to women’s practical needs, with a view to assisting them to help themselves and to access the help they need. I particularly want to thank the Media for their investigative journalism, as in the case of the second woman, which brought her plight to the attention of many.

A journalistÊs take SO, SOMEONE at THE VINCENTIAN newspaper has accused me of not having anything good to say about that publication. I will clarify here on my position on all three of the newspapers published here. THE VINCENTIAN is definitely an old school publication, and has the least resources of all three. As regards the general tone of all three newspapers, we have to take into account the readers- and Vincentian citizens all have one thing in common, they hate anything which criticizes them and their accepted way of lifesuch criticisms can kill the circulation of newspapers here. This is least true of THE VINCENTIAN, in that many old school readers with better values than the new generation readers are more flexible. THE VINCENTIAN has the best approach to things cultural and social, both in terms of its handling of matters of culture, social education, viewpoint

columns and opinion offerings. THE VINCENTIAN, with limited writing staff and contributing writers, continues to stay afloat. THE SEARCHLIGHT newspaper comes across as having a certain political slant. On children and other issues affecting society, it occasionally goes the extra mile with more manpower and a keen editor who knows how to sell. Is features and soft news angles are variegated, interesting, if overly complimentary and soft. THE NEWS hits hard and courts sensationalism rabidly. It too is politically biased. It does not tackle affective issues diplomatically or objectively. This is the mark of ‘tabloidism’. However, we live in a tabloid society where scandal, controversy and extremism apply to the decadent direction in which citizen consciousness is headeddownhill. All three papers are ineffective in terms of (a), challenging the

Colin King

McFee demits SVG Green Party I, KADMIEL MCFEE, here declare that I have resigned from the SVG Green Party and, therefore, from my substantive position as deputy leader. In so doing, I call on the nation to support me as an independent political candidate. My resignation has been occasioned by my conviction that Ivan O’Neal is not serious about steering the course so as to attain office (government). We as a nation have witnessed what appears to be continuous internal wars within various political

parties, leading one to wonder what’s the real chance of the major parties actually achieving any of their goals. My major goal is to deliver SVG into a complete democratic nation — one with equal opportunities for all, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, etc., that will take SVG to its natural course to prosperity. Kadmiel McFee Independent Politician/ British War Veteran politicianmrmcfeekd@gmail.com

EXCUSE ME while I slam on the brakes!!

dared to go no farther, and slammed on the brakes. And I do mean I put the pedal to the floor. Why should I continue to drive when I cannot see the road? What if it curves a little, that would have serious consequences to my tires or frame. What if an Nelcia Robinson - Coordinator - CDW animal was on the road, or more importantly think could be done to address what if a human them. stepped out? Unfortunately, our PRs and Where did the road MR. EDITOR, never before in our politicians seem to continually turn go? This time it is not history have we had the freedom to deaf ears to the voice of the people, the fault of the pothole express our views on so many issues. and continue on their ways which say, fixers, or lack of The radio waves are ‘liberalised’, and “We know best.” material of whatever it our newspapers offer a fair and The truth is that many of the is that they fill those balanced take on national affairs. problems that PRs face have been holes with. The road On the flip side, the opening up of around for a long time. Maybe that is was there, just before I the internet and all the social media so because those we elect and those that it brought with it, have presented who would like us to elect them, really was blinded by the fog some cause for concern, given how our don’t have the slightest regard for the lights of the oncoming people use it. views of those they represent or would vehicle. When is the Notwithstanding, there has never last time we had fog like to represent. been a time before now when our here? Do we really While the people’s attitude might people have had the opportunity to need these lights? have changed, it appears that the suggest to their parliamentary Then there are the mindset of our politicians has not. representatives (PRs) and politicians unregulated, in general, what they (the people) unnecessary, unfocused, think on certain issues, and what they GA, Kingstown untrained LED bright

They donÊt listen

status quo, in terms of institutions failing to stem the tide of gargantuan problems crime, child abuse, satanic infiltration of culture, the decline of cultural standards, especially in terms of music. THE VINCENTIAN fares best here. In a personal anecdote, I was once working on a story on workplace discrimination by LIME, and was advised by management, that stories like this should be dropped, since LIME was a major advertiser with the paper. This speaks to the aphorism: ‘Commerce over truth’ at the heart of the problem in the writing and agenda of all three newspapers. The Cyber-Crime Bill now in place, will no doubt hamper ethical, moral and truthful journalism in years to come. I would love to see an editorial in any of the three papers on that issue!

EXCUSE ME while I slam on the brakes!! Especially if you were driving behind me. At least my brake lights are red and maybe you would understand. It is just the road in front of me became invisible, undetectable, and just maybe wasn’t there. I

headlights. Who allows them on the road? They are absolutely blinding to young and old. I thought it was my age, but when young passengers complain about not being able to see, it really is the bright lights. When I can’t see the road, I am going to STOP, middle of my side of the road, quickly, and unexpectedly. Oh, since when did turn signals become white? Or parking lights green or blue? What about the van that has the whole front grill covered with these dangerous to other drivers LED lights? Maybe he can see better, but I am slamming on the brakes. Come on, police, these are easy to spot on the road at night (and during the day), and handing out tickets, or impounding vehicles will make money for SVG

* Is there deliberate profiling by ‘security personnel’ at the AIA? * Is the ‘procedure’ of searching the private areas of male passengers a standard practice, or is this reserved for a selected few? * Is Yugge Farrell still under observation? * What percentage of VINLEC and CWSA subscribers are in arrears? How is that divided between commercial and domestic consumers? government. It might just prevent someone from rearending me. Blinded Driver

10. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

The Opposition disappoints again

Crisis in Governance

Introduction

(Excerpts from Dr. Friday’s press conference)

SO, THE DEBATE on the 2018 Budget is over, and the country never got a chance to hear the views of the opposition New Democratic Party, who failed to offer any serious contribution to the debate on the budget. When the House of Assembly resumed on Tuesday, February 6th, 2018, at 9am, the Opposition found itself absent from the chambers of this hallowed house. So Vincentian taxpayers, the people who are responsible for the salaries of the opposition, were short-changed once again, and Friday and company will again collect their salaries at the end of the month, for work that they have not done. This is absolutely amazing, in a modern-day democracy like the State of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It is even more amazing, that a political party that complains that it was cheated out of an opportunity to debate a vote of no confidence, did not avail themselves of the chance to debate the same issues which were contained in the motion of no confidence. But then again we know that these are not serious people. These are people who are hungry for power, who have an unquenchable thirst for power, to the extent that they are ready to destroy some of our important institutions in the State. We have witnessed how their supporters disrespected the office of the Governor General, when he arrived for the opening of the Parliament. We witness their attitude to the playing of the national anthem, a most disrespectful and reprehensible action on the part of the NDP supporters. Where is the leadership? Where is the respect for Her Majesty’s representative, and where is their respect for that important symbol of our nationhood, the national anthem? Their thirst for power has led them to disrespect the office of the Supervisor of Elections, simply because the people ignored them in 2015, and asked the ULP and Comrade Ralph, to run the affairs of the ship of State called St. Vincent and the Grenadines, for the next five years. They fail to understand a clear mathematical concept, that eight is more than seven.

THERE CURRENTLY exists in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) a crisis in governance. This is due in part to the unsettled and unresolved state of affairs related to the results of the general elections that were held on December 9, 2015 and various troubling events which have come about as a consequence of the mal-administration by the Unity Labour Party (ULP) Government of Dr. Ralph Gonsalves that have destabilized constitutional government and democratic processes in the country, coupled with pervasive incidence of evident socio-economic decay, with the off-shoots of joblessness and prevalent serious crime among our youth. A significant section of public opinion now believe that the only solution to the calamity that has engulfed the country is the holding of free and fair elections at the earliest. The crisis manifests itself in the following conditions:(1)The legitimacy of the single seat majority ULP Government is in doubt, due to the widespread electoral irregularities and even fraud, perpetrated on and before Election Day, which have invalidated the results giving eight seats out of fifteen to the ULP in the elections held on December 9, 2015. And this state of affairs is being exposed and highlighted in the two election petitions by which candidates of the New Democratic Party have challenged this result and which for over two years have been moving at a snail’s pace before the Courts, and in the course of which photographs of the ballot papers used in the elections have been put into evidence, showing that they were not designed in compliance with the electoral laws and the top election officials having made sworn statements admitting that they counted hundreds of illegal ballots in one constituency. And furthermore, the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court has in an appeal brought by the NDP petitioners, handed down its judgment, in which it found the judge before whom the petitions were heard initially was biased in favour of the respondents (i.e. ULP candidates and Government officials) when he struck out the petitions and ordered that they be reinstated and heard before a different judge. (2)Anticipating that fresh elections must be called in the coming months and having previously announced that he would not lead the ULP into another election, PM Gonsalves in a desperate attempt to create a political dynasty, installed his son Mr. Camillo Gonsalves, as Minister of Finance, in preparation for having him elevated to succeed as Prime Minister despite severe public opposition. Moreover, widespread domestic, regional and international condemnation and uproar have been waging over recent weeks, as a result of what has been described as a most cynical, manipulative and unethical action by the State, when a 23-year-old female model of a socially under privileged background, who allegedly had a sexual affair with the Minister of Finance for over three years, was charged with using abusive language to the Minister’s wife, and upon the insistence of the prosecution was detained by a Magistrate in a Psychiatric facility for three weeks, ostensibly for evaluation. Also, the Minister’s refusal to give any

32.5 percent to 30 percent. Personal income tax will also move from 32.5 percent to 30 percent. Then there will be a positive movement in the standard deduction for income tax from EC$18,000 to EC$20,000. All this means that workers in the State will take home more money from their pay packet. Business too will have more disposable income. It should be noted that when the ULP arrived in office in March 2001, the threshold for the deduction of personal income was EC$12,000. The lowering of the tax rate and the increase in the tax threshold will cost the government approximately EC$12 million in revenue. This development is even better than a salary increase, and will be much appreciated by all. In fact, this measure is a sign of the commitment of the ULP administration to provide an economic stimulus, so as to improve in a tangible way, the condition of the Vincentian worker.

Opportunities

This is the 17th consecutive budget of the ULP administration. It is crafted under the mantra “Continuity and Change: Job Creation, Resilience, Sustainable Development and New Opportunities in a Rapidly Changing Global Environment”. Clearly, even in the headwinds of global change and uncertainty, this budget represents tremendous cause for optimism, progress in further developing and deepening people-centred policies, along with genuine opportunities for innovation and growth. Because we have had things fairly easy over the last seventeen years, many Vincentians think that running government is a piece of cake. Nothing could be further from the truth. Many of our neighbours have been forced to slash public sector workers, and social safety nets, but our country lost no jobs. Salaries arrived like clockwork, including those of the opposition, even when our neighbours were struggling to pay their workers. The 2018 Budget When countries were forced to trade and sell their citizenship, our The 2018 Budget, in the form of the government, led by Comrade Ralph, 2018 Appropriation Bill, has been resisted this, and by the sweat of our approved by the House of Assembly, collective brow, we continued to eat without any input whatsoever, from our bread. Indeed, we must be the nine members of the opposition. The ULP administration, through the thankful for the leadership provided by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, Minister of Finance, Camillo Gonsalves, has presented a bundle of who, as the country’s longest serving plans and strategies to provide for the Minister of Finance, successfully navigated the country, through some socio economic development of the difficult economic conditions and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2018 and beyond. This natural disasters. is a budget of love and caring, a Conclusion budget that shows how the ULP administration is concerned about the Despite all the talk by the welfare of Vincentians. Over the next naysayers, the Vincentian economy few weeks, the ULP column will continues to frustrate those who feel address some of the fiscal measures that it has collapsed. Many of the contained in the 2018 budget. But NDP supporters and leaders talk let’s look at three of the fiscal down the economy, every day, even measures outlined by the Finance while they enjoy the successes which Minister. The Finance Minister outlined that come from the hard work of the ULP administration. History will judge there will be a reduction in the them harshly. standard rate of company tax from

explanation to the public or the Parliament in relation to these allegations, despite calls from the Opposition and responsible agencies of public opinion that he should do so, is regarded as contemptuous and disrespectful of the citizens whom he purports to represent. (3) Statement on the dire socioeconomic conditions…. [Statement by the IMF Report] Furthermore, there has been an outpouring of public reaction against the unconstitutional ruling which was made by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, largely as a result of the undemocratic obstruction by the Prime Minister and other ULP Government members, to frustrate and undermine debate on a Motion of No Confidence in the ULP Government, which was tabled by the seven Opposition representatives in the House of Assembly of Assembly.

Unconstitutional Obstruction of Motion of No Confidence During the intense exchanges that took place in the House of Assembly on Wednesday January 31, 2018, this outrageous statement was made: “Mr. Speaker, with great respect …I have already said that the opposition can bring a motion of no confidence only if the government acquiesces or agrees. ….” “Unless you have this initial step, which has to be overcome, you are going to have chaos in the Parliament………,” These assertions were made by Prime Minister Gonsalves in addressing the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Honourable Jomo Thomas. The Prime Minister was stridently resisting the Speaker’s indication that debate should proceed on the Motion of No Confidence in his Government that was signed by the seven elected Representatives of the Opposition (out of the total of fifteen Representatives in the House). It was the first such Motion of No Confidence to be proposed over the past seventeen years that the NDP has been the Parliamentary Opposition in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Speaker of the House, in disagreeing with this absurd contention by the Prime Minister, referred to occasions in Hansard (the official records of the House of Assembly), when the ULP was in the opposition between 1994 and 2001; during which time the PM was Leader of the Opposition for the latter two years, where several motions of no confidence in the NDP government of the day were presented to the House; all of which were debated, including one that went to debate at a time when there were only three elected opposition lawmakers. PM Gonsalves retorted that he was then able to secure a debate, only because the Government acquiesced. The outcome of his relentless resistance, which ensued over a period of three hours, was that the Prime Minister successfully bludgeoned the Speaker into making a ruling, that thwarted the Opposition’s motion of no confidence, via an amendment that effectively flipped the question being proposed, from the House resolving its lack of confidence to a motion by which it was asked to express Full Confidence in his Government.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. 11.

Views

Nothing exhausts the logical space

Perseverance

“No one wants to suffer, but without testing, there is no perseverance. And without perseverance, there is no spiritual growth and the eternal reward that comes with it.” - Tim Gustafson writes for Our Daily Bread and Our Daily Journey and serves as an editor for Discovery Series. As the adopted son of missionaries to Ghana, Tim has an unusual perspective on life in the West. LIFE IS FILLED with trials, tests, and a variety of challenges. Sometimes we are faced with obstacles that invite us to give up on our noble goals and dreams. However, these are often the times when we need to strengthen our resolve to continue the journey – even when co-workers, friends, or relatives do not share our vision. Troubles come in various forms, and they may seem to test us to the core. Rejection, abandonment, various misunderstandings, financial distress, accidents, and illnesses are but a few of the situations that require our attention and grit. Sometimes these situations invite us to give up and “accept the inevitable”. But it is quite often that these very situations were designed for us to discover new capabilities, faith in our abilities to cope, and renewed insights about God’s ability to provide a path through the wilderness or an oasis in the desert. The challenges are often not as difficult as they may have originally seemed when we place them in God’s hands and be determined to persevere. Each of us will have our moments when life will test us to the core. There is often a thin line between victory and defeat. We have to be so very conscious of the thoughts that we entertain and the voices that we listen to when we are most vulnerable - when we have those mental debates in relation to whether we continue the journey or give up on our efforts. Those are defining moments. Think of the boxer who has been battered and bruised. He sits on the stool being refreshed, spitting blood in the pail that has been placed between his feet, being wiped and sponged with water. He hears many voices. Some in the crowd shout at him to quit. Others in his corner whisper in his ears, beckoning him to continue the fight; assuring him that he can still win; that he has what it takes to step back into the middle of the ring and defeat his formidable foe. He now determines which voice he will listen to. The thoughts he entertains will determine whether or not he perseveres. Life sometimes orchestrates a similar scenario for us. Financially battered, emotionally bruised, spiritually drained, we contemplate whether we should endure or throw in the towel … accepting defeat. We are often much stronger than we think. We often have the capacity to bear heavier burdens than we previously thought possible. So often it is that “mind game” that will determine whether we accept defeat (and float downstream like a dead fish) or strengthen our resolve (and swim against the current). We determine! We decide! We choose

whether or not we persevere. We have to be so very careful whom we listen to when life’s challenges appear. We can reflect on the Old Testament hero, Job. He was a wealthy man in the land called Uz. The Bible records that he had a large family and extensive flocks. We are also told that he was “upright” and “blameless”. After losing his wealth, the children that he loved, and being plagued with a serious illness, his wife suggested that he should curse God and die. His “friends” contemplated that he had to have done something seriously wrong for God to punish him in this manner. However, Job strengthened his resolve. He demonstrated perseverance. His faith in God and his determination to live a righteous life (regardless of his circumstances) paid off. In time, he recovered from his illness and regenerated his wealth. Sometimes, we give up prematurely. We may end a relationship because of one form of “discomfort” or another. We may even contemplate giving up on life because of an obstacle that life places in our way, or a detour along the road that results in distress. These situations are very often temporary. Dr. Robert Schuller reminds us that when life’s challenges appear as mountains in our path, we need to develop the resolve to climb over them, tunnel through them, dig under them, or swerve around them. The old people tell us that when life sends us lemons, we need to develop the skills in using them to make lemon juice. Yes, a crisis may scare us when we contemplate the pains and dangers that they bring. However, they are often accompanied by opportunities if we would only look long and carefully enough. We are reminded that tough times never last, but tough people do. We often have the capacity to persevere … and flourish. The quotation that was used to introduce this essay probably needs a revisit. It is pregnant with wisdom: “No one wants to suffer, but without testing, there is no perseverance. And without perseverance, there is no spiritual growth and the eternal reward that comes with it.” Job realised this truth. We, too, can be encouraged as we face our varied testing. We can imbibe this wisdom when finances are scarce and the cupboards are bare; when relatives or friends abandon us; when accidents occur or sickness invades our body. Regardless of the circumstances, we have the capacity to persevere. We can strengthen our resolve to fight one more round, to run one more lap, to attempt one more test, to climb one more hill, to try one more time. Perseverance invites us to join her. She whispers in our ear to remind us that hers is the voice that we should listen to … and that all will be well as we persevere. We have what it takes to overcome. Send comments, criticisms & suggestions to julesferdinand@gmail.com

THE NARROW PARTISAN nature of our politics is retarding our country. That much can be gleaned from events of the last few days. Issues that confront legal scholars and academics for days, are resolved in SVG in a matter of minutes, once a leader in either the government or the opposition says so. It was amazing to witness the ease with which leaders and supporters of the governing party warmed to the idea that a motion of No Confidence can be disposed of without having a debate before the vote. The simple response was that’s all the Constitution demands. Issues such as history and tradition, optics and the health of the polity were disregarded for political considerations. Similarly, it’s shockingly frustrating that leaders and members of the opposition hold to the view there can be only one way to read our constitutional provision regarding votes of no confidence. No matter what is said, once anyone reads the provision differently, there must be some mental defect or evil intent lurking somewhere. The truth is that neither of those positions exhausts the logical space. There is room for debate. In fact, this is the view of many legal luminaries in St Vincent and across the region. So why then are we the way we are? How did we become this way? This simple truth is that leaders of the parties do not encourage critical thinking. They prefer a mindless discourse that amounts to the demonization of one side or the other. This conclusion is evident from the fact that if you ask members of either party for their understanding of the issue involved, most will be hardpressed to string two coherent sentences together without mentioning NDP or ULP. This is a sad state of affairs. One good outcome from last week’s parliamentary debate is a commitment by PM Gonsalves, opposition leader Dr Friday and the Speaker of the House to refer the matter to our Court of Appeal for a definitive ruling on the issue.

Medical marijuana The issue of medical marijuana is finally getting attention. Finance Minister Gonsalves has declared that legislation will be tabled at the next sitting of parliament in March. Significantly, he said that scientific polling shows significant opposition by some sectors of Vincentian society to the legalization of cannabis. There was similar opposition to some forms of legalization of marijuana in Antigua, Belize and Jamaica, where the governments are addressing the marijuana issue. In many American states opposition can be found. Yet the governments have decided to take the issue head on. It will be improper to view marijuana cultivation only for its financial advantages. This issue will benefit us if we go in search of a holistic response. We have been trapped in seeing marijuana use as a criminal justice problem rather than a health problem. Most of the prejudice against marijuana has built up precisely because for generations the dominant culture and the state have demonized the herb. The state is therefore very late in coming to the realization that it had a wrongheaded view on the use and

utility of the herb and cannot now appear to be willing to exploit the useful and medicinal properties in the plant simply for financial rewards. Too many citizens have been demonized, brutalized and institutionalized for use of the herb. Any situation that allows for the exploitation of marijuana, for whatever useful purposes, that does not involve a complete review of the injustices meted out to citizens for possession and use of small quantities of marijuana will leave a ‘bad taste’ in the mouth of many citizens with political ramifications. Last year, the Jamaican government offered an apology to Jamaicans, especially Rastafarians, who were stigmatized and brutalized in the past. There was even an offer of compensation for properties destroyed by the state. Last week, the City of San Francisco in California pardoned and wiped the criminal record clean of those persons who were convicted for small quantities of Marijuana, going as far back as the 1970s. Uruguay, Portugal and the Netherlands have implemented enlightened policies and witnessed startling results in use, treatment and infection rates of users. We in St Vincent can do no less than to study what has been done across the world, and adopt the best practices suited to our society. We can begin with a second chance initiative which cleans the record of many young people who have a criminal record for small amounts of marijuana and or cocaine. We should also decriminalize the herb so as to allow for possession of up to 48 grams for recreational use. Our mental health professionals have found a direct correlation between marijuana use and persons who end up in their care. These professionals also know that correlation is not causation. Therefore, with the move towards medicinal marijuana, some studies must be done to see if some of the properties which will be extracted from the marijuana plant cannot be useful in treating some of the mental issues which plague many of our young people.

Used Vehicles The decision of the government to ban the importation of used vehicles that are more than 12 years old, is a move in the right direction. Its decision to increase the environmental tax on vehicles older than 4 years, is also a good move if we are to do our small part in protecting our population environmental hazards. However, government should encourage citizens to buy new vehicles which are much more environmentally friendly. Therefore, it should offer a tax concession to owners of new vehicles, of about 10 percent. In all of these matters, we have to avoid being penny wise and pound foolish. We have to put the people above politics or the extra dollar. Send comments, criticisms & suggestions to jomosanga@gmail.com

12. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Opinion

SVG Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves should resign CAMILLO GONSALVES is not a university graduate in Accounting or Finance, and his appointment as the SVG Minister of Finance is a gross insult to our country and people. When it comes to ministers of finance, SVG is now out of the frying pan and into the fire. Gonsalves should never have been appointed as the SVG Minister of Finance. The recent Budget Estimates and Budget Debate clearly show that he is out of his depth. The budget is just the same old crap we have been hearing since 2001, i.e. a strategy for oppressing the indigenous black population in order to subsidise the lifestyle of the super-rich, migrants of Mustique and Canouan. Gonsalves failed to announce in the budget any cash cows or new productive sectors to generate revenue for the country and to create mass employment for our people. Our country will continue to be poor and have high unemployment. Gonsalves failed to announce in the budget any clear plans to attract foreign investment into SVG. We need foreign investment to help create jobs. SVG ranks very low in the World Bank’s ‘Ease of Doing Business’ rankings. This puts off foreign investors, but Gonsalves seems to have

no plan to change this. Gonsalves failed to announce in the budget any plans to stop corruption. There have been a number of allegations and cases of misuse of public funds and abuse of public office whilst the ULP has been in government, yet no plans to stop this. If Camillo Gonsalves was a university graduate in Accounting or Finance, he would have the knowledge needed to put in place the appropriate effective accounting mechanisms to prevent public funds from being misused and used for personal gain. Preventing public funds from being misused should be a high priority. Gonsalves failed to announce in the budget any clear plans about clearing the government’s debt. Our country has a substantial amount of debt, and this is hurting our people. According to Warrant Officer Ivan O’Neal, begging for debt relief is a clear indicator of financial incompetence and lack of accounting knowledge. Gonsalves failed to announce in the budget any plans to abolish the tax exemptions given to Taiwan and the super-rich migrants in Mustique and Canouan, which amounts to about a EC$3 billion loss to our country annually. These are the main ‘tax

The Ministry of Finance is partly about marketing: marketing to the delinquents’; chase them! outside world and potential donors and According to Ivan O’Neal, who has a investors. However, Gonsalves’ grasp BSc (Hons) degree in Accounting and of economics matters is seen to be Finance and Economics from Oxford wanting. You just need to listen to him Brookes University, England; an MSc talk about economic issues to degree in Macro-Economic Policy and appreciate this. This is the minister Planning in Developing Countries who is supposed to talk to potential from Bradford University, England; investors. and a Master’s in Business This nepotism is bad for our Administration from the University of country. Leicester, England, the budget shows For the sake of our people and that Gonsalves is highly incompetent country, the Leader of SVG Green as the SVG Minister of Finance, and Party, Warrant Officer Ivan O’Neal he should resign as the SVG Minister BSc (hons) MSc, MBA, is making a of Finance. very strong call on Camillo Gonsalves We can expect SVG to fall into to resign as the SVG Minister of much deeper poverty and destitution Finance. with Gonsalves as the SVG Minister of Finance. SVG Green Party

Rachel Barton Pine: Inspiring a renaissance Part Two by COLIN KING BUT CLASSICAL music, isn’t that a white man’s cultural terrain? The 18th and 19th centuries represented the crystallized era when classical music established its most viable structure; finalisation of form and modes; precursing music from the Romantic and Modern periods in classical music which followed. These are reflected in composers e.g. John Williams (Star Wars movie soundtrack), Benjamin Britten (Young persons’ guide to the orchestra), American Aaron Copland and others. This was the said period (18th and 19th centuries) during which the majority of African people were second class citizens/slaves.

Classical music includes African Through the Barton Pine Foundation, I first discovered the music of Joseph Bologne le Chevalier De St. Georges (1745-1799), a remarkable music life story hailing from Guadeloupe in the Caribbean, in the slavery era. On one of Barton Pine’s websites, the following capsule bio reads: ‘(Joseph Bologne) le Chevalier de saint-Georges was born on the island of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean, the son of a slave and a French plantation owner. He moved with his parents to France when he was six years old. When he was thirteen, he began fencing lessons and he rapidly became one of the most famous swordsmen in Europe. His early musical training was in school, but he later studied with wel-known French composer Joseph- Francois Gosset. He made his solo debut as a violinist at age twenty- seven and founded his own orchestra.’ (You tube commenters and related online performance reviews, hail Bologne,as the Black Mozart.) The Rachel Barton Pine Foundation has retrieved and collated black classical music, which did have relevance and notability outside of the limits of black enslavement in the classical music period, beyond the popularized legacies of perceived greats of the era, Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Weber. Also featured on the website is African (Ghana) composer J.H. Kinabera Nketia born in 1921. He studied at Trinity College of Music, London, among other locations. That College’s alumni included our own dearly departed Patrick Prescod - a writer himself. Nketia’s music implicitly documents as Classical African music. Can classical music help the young?

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V Rodney Alexander: Tall man, tall vision

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. 13.

People

The third child of a family that includes three brothers and one sister, Rodney recalls that he has always been taller than his siblings and children his age. He credits his current height from the fact that, “The two sides of the family have tall people: my father is very tall, and my uncle on my mother’s side is about six feet. I also have tall cousins.” To date, though, none of these have stood head to head with Rodney. His slim body frame allows him to boast a 190 lbs. weight, supported by a size 15 shoes. He buys clothing which is much too large for his height, then has them altered to accommodate his body size. This added expense, he acknowledged, is now eased with the advent of Amazon.com and eBay.com.

Tall vision

Rodney, as the saying goes, can eat food off the top of Gloria Williams’ head. Inset: Rodney Alexander ‘barely’ navigates through the doorway to the Physiotherapy Unit at the MCMH. by GLORIAH… RODNEY ALEXANDER, twenty-nine years old of Largo Height, is a simple and ordinary man. He works at the Store Room of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital and, like many young men his age, he seeks to keep the momentum going, where life is concerned.

Tall Man The thing that makes Rodney so different from young men his age, however, is that he stands a whopping 6ft. 10.8ins. off the ground. He says that he easily “out-views” his coworkers and friends, and humorously admits that he is often told, “Boy, everybody does see you in a crowd”; but what they don’t realize is that, “I does see everybody before they see me!”

The humble young man is not only tall in physical stature but also in his vision for the future. Rodney related that upon the death of his mother when he was about nine years old, he was taken in by an aunt who did not have all the financial resources necessary for extending total care of him and his siblings. As a result, he never had good shoes, which caused him to dislike going to school. He, therefore, flunked school early, failing to gain a place in secondary school and choosing instead, to look for work. “I had a little knowhow but just because I had no documents, I couldn’t get anything. Everybody keep saying I needed certificates to show,” was how he explained the impetus for his drive for success. He later applied with the YES Programme and was attached to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital as a male attendant for two months. This fostered his determination. His drive was noticed and this time was extended. When the period allowed under that progamme came to an end, Rodney volunteered to work on the hospital’s ‘grocery van’, and as soon as the position in Stores became available, he was offered it. Today, it has been five years there. Additionally, his lost educational opportunity had to be revisited. He started taking courses at the then Technical College in 2014, graduating from the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration class. In 2016, he ventured out again, this time taking Electrical Installation at the same institution. “I didn’t just stop there,” he remarked enthusiastically, “I still motivated myself and did my driver’s licence: P and R first, then HT.”

When asked why, as he had no vehicle, he proffered, “I’m just holding them, especially the HT for when an opportunity arises!” Currently, Rodney has moved on to CCSLC, preparing to conquer Math and English this year.

Mentor But Rodney is ‘looked up’ to by many of his peers in his community. They call him “TallBoss”, “TallMan” and “Frame,” and he’s quite happy with these. He added, “To be honest, what continue to motivate me too is that some of the young men in the village always tell me how they like how I keep on working without complain. I want to be an example, not a bad influence!” A young man with such ideals is to be constantly encouraged. Our

Rodney Alexander towers over two of his co-workers. country could do well with many more like Rodney “TallBoss” Alexander.

14. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Carnival

ÂUp your gameÊ, ÂMarshieÊ advises

Calypsonian Junior ‘Marshie’ Marshall, pictured at the office of THE VINCENTIAN, admits to being re-energised after a recent visit to Trinidad and Tobago. CALYPSONIANS HAVE BEEN ADVISED to improve the content of their songs. That advice has come from Junior ‘Marshie’ Marshall, who has endeared

himself to calypso enthusiasts here with his biting lyrics laced with skilful use of double entendre. ‘Marshie’ is of the opinion that some composers were “writing without dictionary.” He contended that, “They don’t know what they are saying,” and observed that the content of some calypsonians was “poor.” He made two appearances with the Rainbow Calypso Tent in Trinidad and Tobago over the 2018 carnival build-up in that country, during which he rendered ‘Donkey for car,’ and ‘Tie tongue,’ two of his more popular numbers here. ‘Marshie’ also took the opportunity to expand his knowledge of the art form by attending a workshop organised by the Calypso Review. According to ‘Marshie’, the workshop was “extremely well attended,” with over two hundred participants, who were exposed to, among other topics, composing and the use of grammar and vocabulary, payment of royalties, and the business of publishing. He also had what he described as a privilege meeting and interacting with some of the “greats” (calypsonians),

including Chalkdust, Funny, Bally and Rio. All in all, his time in Trinidad and Tobago was “a memorable experience.” He was happy to serve in an ambassadorial capacity during his trip to the twin island Republic, and remarked that he “feels re-energised” as a consequence of that trip. And he is putting the Vincentian audience on alert. “Yo expect stronger lyrics from this year,” he promised. One of his compositions will be ‘My sympathy,’ of which he gave a sneak preview and had THE VINCENTIAN’s reporters room in stitches. ‘Marshie’ came to national attention in 2012 with ‘Sit down and wait,’ a commentary on the quality of services at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. Since then, he has retained his place in the calypso limelight with numbers like ’Last ride,’ ‘Bowlers,’ and ‘Play yo’ role’. Before he left the office of THE VINCENTIAN last Tuesday, ‘Marshie’ joined in extending sympathy to the family of the late Ralph ‘Struggler’ Richards, a fellow member of the On Tour Calypso Tent, who was laid to rest last Sunday February 4, in his home village of Stubbs.

‘Marshie’ (left) was overwhelmed to be in the company of Dr. Hollis ‘Chalkdust’ Liverpool.

‘Marshie’ in the company of calypsonians ‘Bally (left) and SVG own Brother Ebony who served as a resource person for the workshop. He also expressed profound thanks to Stephen Joachim for assisting financially with his visit to Trnidad and Tobago. (WKA/CD)

‘Bird’ coming scary, but real by HAYDN HIGGINS VINCENTIANS WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE of the scary times in which they are living, are expected to come to grips with this reality when BMC Agencies, Beacon Insurance, 103.7 Magic FM, Blondie Bird and Friends Mas Band hit the streets, come Vincy Mas 2018. According to band leader Elroy ‘Blondie Bird’ Boyde, the band’s 2018 production — ‘Phobia’, to be launched at the Sion Hill Intersection Saturday, February 10, will reflect these scary times, with creativity and craft. Boyde promises the usual high standard of mas, and is confident of regaining the Band of the Year and Night Section titles this year. He placed second in the Band of the Year competition last year. This year’s production features ten sections, designed by veteran designer Oswald ‘Ossie’ Constance. These include: Darkness, Lightning and Thunder, Halloween, Technology, Fire, and Future. ‘Phobia’ is the band’s 24th production. During that period, it has secured

‘Future’ – one of the sections from Blondie Bird and Friends 2018 presentation ‘Phobia’. Inset: Elroy ‘Blondie Bird’ Boyde is determined to regain supremacy among mas bands here. twelve King of the Bands and seven Queen of the Bands titles, and has won the Junior Band of the Year competition on the last five occasions. The 2018 production caters for 500 masqueraders, including children sections, and will compete in all competitions for mas bands. Meantime, Boyde is supporting a return of the Mardi Gras Parade/Competition to Victoria Park as the main judging point. That point was relocated to Little Tokyo last year and was met with mixed reactions.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. 15.

Art

Youlou Art Centre – taking art to another level type of painting, how to use water colour paints, and exploring water colour techniques. And in keeping with its diversified programming, the YAC will offer a Basic Sewing Workshop, starting Saturday, February 24. This

The ‘Let’s Paint Tonight’ – A Valentine’s Day event – is an innovator approach to encouraging expressions through art. NOTWITHSTANDING THAT VINCENTIANS have found comfort in the traditional expressions that characterize Valentine’s Day – February 14, the Youlou Arts Centre (YAC) at Villa is taking the bold step of offering an activity that varies from that comfort zone. Come February 14th, 2018, Valentine’s Day, there will be a special event at the Youlou Art Centre — a ‘sip and paint’ event titled ‘Let’s Paint Tonight’. According to a release from the YAC, the event is a special evening for adults to be creative in a relaxed atmosphere. Participants will be given a canvas and paints, and will be coached into producing a work of art even as they ‘relax, socialize and flex their artistic muscles’ in an ambience that said, ‘Love is in The Air’. The management of the YAC said that the intention is to offer this event on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. That Valentine’s Day event is but one of the activities that the YAC intends to roll out for 2018. The December Show — a display of ‘unusual’ paintings by local artists, will continue into the middle of February. February will also mark the resumption of Art classes and workshops. ‘Hello Art’ — an

introductory to art workshop for children 5 to 12 years old, began last Saturday, February 3. The participants are being exposed to a variety of mediums such as water colour painting, print making, painting, ink wash, and paper crafting, under the professional guidance of Ms. Youlanda Holder Woods, a practising artist and graduate from the The Stony Brook University, New York. The first round of Adult Art classes/workshops began last Tuesday, February 6 and will run until March 13. Participants are being taught the Basics of Drawing, Value Systems, Recognizing Shapes and various drawing techniques. The Colour Theory workshop for adults, a sixweek programme, begins on March 20 and is scheduled to end on April 24th. In this workshop, particicpants will learn the basics about colour theory, the various types of colour, colour groups, and colour intensity. And come May 1, the YAC will open its Water Colour Painting sessions for adults. They will indulge in this specialized art form until June 5th, learning what is water colour, the difference between water colour and other paints used in art making, the various water colour paper used for this

Workshop will teach the fundamentals of garment construction. The instructor is Ms. Annella Campbell. All the programmes offered by the YAC will be held at the Art Centre at Villa. For more details, call the centre at 457 4493 or

The YAC programmes for children are as much about teaching art as it is about encouraging appreciation of the environment.

16. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Entertainment

Morgan Heritage to headline Roots and Rhythms Festival 2018 THE SECOND EDITION of the St. Vincent Roots and Rhythms Festival has been launched with another dynamic cast and new exciting events. The 2017 Festival marked the return Home of Kevin Lyttle and an all-star homegrown cast of talent, featuring Luta, Dynamite and Rodney Small at the Cruise Terminal. Alongside guests Romain Virgo and Eric Donaldson from Jamaica, Edwin Yearwood from Barbados and Sugar Aloes from Trinidad & Tobago. “With an ever evolving programme, the 2018 festival promises to be even more fantastic, with a lineup of internationally renowned artistes, more events at various venues, providing a longer and more vibrant cultural experience in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” explained one of the Festival’s partnering Producers-

Orlando Newton. The festival, scheduled from March 2 to 17, 2018, will be a mix of music and film, guaranteed to be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike, and fulfilling the festival’s mission to highlight the diverse beauty of St. Vincent and the Grenadines communities. Festival enthusiasts can look forward to Caribbean films in the Leeward and Windward sides of the mainland St. Vincent, as well as Roots Fusion, a new Caribbean Jazz Event featuring Barbados’ acclaimed saxophonist Arturo Tappin and St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Rodney Small and Darron Andrews on Steel Pan and violin/keytar respectively, on March 10th at the picturesque Botanical Gardens. Trinidad’s Soca Princess Nailah Blackman, along with Barbados’

Morgan Heritage, an internationally acclaimed reggae act, will headline the climax of the Festival, on March 17. (Photo Credit: Matooke Republic) Bashment Soca King Stiffy and the Red Bull Freestyle Champion DJ Puffy with SVG’s own Dynamite, will host the first ever Beach Ball, a Beach Party with Cabanas, at the Rawacou Recreation Park. The festival will climax on Saturday March 17 at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex, with the Grammy Award winning Royal Family of Reggae Morgan Heritage, fresh from their

Avrakedabra European Tour. The SVG Roots and Rhythms Festival will be the group’s second stop on their Caribbean Tour. Crowned International Rhythms, festival goers can also look out for electrifying performances from Soca Stars Skinny Fabulous from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad’s rising Star Voice. (Submitted)

Tickets are available from online Box Office www.ticketpalcaribbean.com and by reservation. For further information about the festival, please contact the Festival Office at (784) 531-9997 or email the festival at svgrootsrhythmfest@gmail.com or follow us at https://www.facebook.com/svgrootsrhythmsfest

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. 17.

News

WPP’S ophthalmology and plastic surgery mission

Dr. Nadia Blanchet (left) performs plastic surgery on a child at MCMH.

ONCE AGAIN, the World Pediatric Project (WPP)will have a team of twelve outstanding medical professionals arriving at AIA this Saturday 10th February. This ophthalmology and plastic surgery team will be led by two veteran doctors: Ophthalmologist, Dr Donna Brown, and Plastic Surgeon, Dr Nadia Dr. Donna Blanchet. Brown gives The team will also ‘thumbs up’ after successful include two urologists, Dr Robert Brown and Dr surgery at MCMH.

Kent Rollins. This year, the ophthalmology team is expected to see thirty-five (35) children from St Vincent and the Grenadines at the clinic on Sunday 11th February. The plastic surgery team will be on the island for two weeks, and will hold two clinics on Sunday 11th February and Sunday 18th February. This team will see approximately sixty

(60) children, with eighteen (18) coming from the region. The clinics will be held at the outpatient ward at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. As WPP rolls out its aggressive Transformation 2023 Plan that looks to achieve 100% access to critical services to every child in the Eastern Caribbean, we now all realize it has begun!

SVG is too cash dependent

ST. VINCENT and the Grenadines, perhaps with the exception of one other country, is the most cash dependent country in the region. This country’s Minister of Finance, Camillo Gonsalves made the point last week Thursday during a function hosted by the SVG Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SVGCIC). He was responding to a point made earlier by President of the Chamber, Wayne Hull who said that among the drives of the Chamber this year is the penetration in the area of electronic payments, i.e. working with the banking sector to increase the number of point of sales throughout the country, and lowering of interest rates not just for the business community, but for all users.

“I am glad to hear the banking sector was mentioned….. . We have to do more to make St Vincent and the Grenadines more consumer friendly from a banking standpoint,” Gonsalves said. “We are the most cash dependent nation in the Caribbean,” he continued, explaining that we had the least number of ATM machines, point of sales units and e-commerce. But there was no reason why this country should be lagging behind, Gonsalves opined. “In fact, as a multi-island state, we should be ahead,” he said. And with the number of tourists likely to increase: “they will come with their cards, and we have to be ready to take advantage of this,” he said. (DD)

18. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. THEâ€ˆVINCENTIAN

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. 19.

Tribute

A tribute to Glenford Prescott

Right: Glenford ‘Pressy’ Prescott

School where ‘Evening Classes’ were held. His English Language tutor was I KNEW AND GREW UP with Glenford Mr. Leroy Mulraine. He also pursued Prescott in our native community of Sion English Language courses at the UWI Hill in the early 1970s. I was always Extra Mural Centre (now the Open impressed with his forthrightness and Campus), under the distinguished uncompromising stance. Occasionally, tutelage of Cameron King. we had ‘bashing’ encounters, but these In the course of time, he became a ‘bashing’ bouts never reached to the commendable table tennis player. state of holding malevolence against Glendford did odd jobs, including each other. offering himself as a manual labourer I recall Winston Davis, former SVG at several building sites, before he and West Indies fast bowler, Glenford found a place at the Income Tax and I vying for supremacy in Department which predated his entry Language Arts skills, with special into the media. He joined the staff of emphasis on vocabulary development. NBC Radio and established himself Two buzz words that emanated there as a doyen in sports reporting, regularly from Glenford’s vocabulary rising to the position of Sports Editor. were ‘narcissist’ and ‘pragmatist’. He Another distinguished media house, identified himself with the latter, ‘THE VINCENTIAN newspaper, also disassociating himself completely from benefitted from his professional the former. services. Competing for word power was an As a sports journalist, Glenford enjoyable academic activity which we Prescott was thorough as he was teenagers integrated into our social provocative. Criticisms from persons pastime. My home in Sion Hill was the opposed to his views did not faze him. venue for academic and intellectual In fact, he continued to ruffle many a debates in addition to participating in feather with his unapologetic, other pastimes like dominoes and assertive stance on sports and social draughts. Another youngster, Earl issues. ‘Cabba’ Bennett, who would, in his Always an astute observer and adult years, become Glenford’s best commentator on things cultural, friend, was one of the regulars at my perhaps informed by the heightened home. cultural expressions of his native Sion Glenford obtained his formal Hill, it was no surprise that he became education at the Sion Hill Government an adjudicator for carnival-related and the St. Vincent Boys Grammar activities, finding a niche in giving School. His premature exit from the judgement and interpretation in mas Grammar School did not deter him competitions. from continuing his education. Imbued In retrospect, those teenage years of with self-assurance, he enrolled for exchanges with the likes of Glenford English instructions at the Grammar Prescott, Cuthbert ‘Longie’ Webb, by PATMOS RICHARDS

SVGFF: ‘Pressy Was A Walking Encyclopedia’ THE ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Football Federation (SVGFF) is deeply saddened by the death of sports journalist Glenford Prescott. ‘Pressy’, as he was affectionately known, passed away on the morning of Tuesday 30th January, 2018 at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. He died quietly, at peace with his Maker, the Creator, GOD Almighty, his heart and soul joyful in the knowledge that he held no ill-will towards his

fellowmen. This he made known to us who visited him, leaving us with the profound message that peace with our fellowmen is much more important than strife and discord. A journalist dedicated to his craft, Glenford E Prescott was a no nonsense individual when he made his views known. A very knowledgeable individual, ‘Pressie’ was a virtual walking encyclopedia on sports, and sports-related events in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

He held steadfast to his views on sports, the role of the media, and role of sports in the overall development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines - the country of his birth that he loved very much. The President and Executive, the Staff and Coaches, the General Body/Affiliates of the SVGFF, and the sportsloving public, extend sincerest condolences to the wife, children and family of Glenford ‘Pressy’ Prescott. May his soul rest in eternal peace!!

Terrence Cuffy, ‘Dobad’ Clarke, remain indelibly etched in my psyche. And then there were the times when we indulged in constructing underarm cricket pitches in Earl ‘Cabba’ Bennett’s yard, to bowl off our test series. Glenford has gone on, but has left a remarkable legacy: a tremendous wealth of knowledge on the game of cricket in particular. I sympathise with Glenford’s wife, Jennifer, his children, stepchildren, his brothers and sisters, relatives and friends on the loss of an outstanding son of the soil. Glenford, who died two months

before his 60th birthday, will be laid to rest on Monday 12th at the Kingstown cemetery, following a church service at the Kingstown Methodist Church. Many will mourn his loss but will also celebrate his outstanding legacies. And the many from Sion Hill who will mourn his passing, will remember him as one who supported every progressive venture organized by organizations in that community.

20. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

He needs help NOW!!! Dear George, I AM AFRAID to even talk to another man much less receive a phone call from one. My boyfriend is overly jealous and I want to know how to handle it. One time, I was giving my cousin from England a hug and he saw me, and gave me two slaps for that after we got home. I can forgive him for that because he did not know it was my cousin. I love this man, George, but it’s just the jealous problem I have with him. He told me that, once we are married and he knows for sure I belong to him, then he won’t be so jealous and things would change. Am I a fool for believing him? My friends say I am.

Sadly in love

Dear Sadly in love, Your boyfriend is an abuser who needs to admit to this and reach out for help. If he understands he is hurting you when he is like this, then the love he says he has for you should motivate him to get professional help. Getting married to you is not going to solve that problem at all. Love is not abusive, and you should definitely press pause at this juncture and give him time to get the professional help he needs.

George

DonÊt give up on him Dear George, MY HUSBAND reminds me every day that he is the man in the house, and I should never do anything without his “expressed approval.” We argue over this night and day. He thinks that treating me like a doormat and insulting me in front his friends is being a man. I’m finding myself loving him less and less every day.

Tears Dear Tears, Your husband has got this one dead wrong! A real man loves his wife to the point where he would hurt when she hurts. He would always put her feelings before his and would never insult or embarrass her publicly or otherwise. He needs a reminder of his marriage vows. Suggest to him that you both go for couple counseling. Let him know that you are not happy with his idea of being a husband, or a man, for that matter.

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All is not lost in your case, and things should be different when your husband hears from you what is your idea of a real man. He needs to

hear that, and with a third party present, it should be a learning moment for him.

George

CanÊt wait Dear George,

I HAVE BEEN seeing this man for two months now, and would you believe he has never kissed me or slept with me? He has nothing against sex before marriage, but his excuse is sex should be reserved for special occasions. I asked what about kissing, and he said kissing also should be reserved for special occasions. George, that was when I realized I was in deep trouble. I am a woman whose blood is close to the skin and I am a born kisser. I don’t think this man would cut it, but I do not know how to tell him.

Fireball Dear Fireball, If this man does not meet your expectations and requirements, and you have come to realize you two are a mismatch, then you ought to tell him, and tell him now. Do not waste anymore of your time or his. This one seems like it’s a no go, and once you are feeling that way, it’s best to let him know then let him go.

George

Leisure

Aries (Mar. 21‐ April 20) You will have a childlike approach this week, big hearted and full of spunk. You will not be pleased with family members who try to put demands on you when you just don't have the time. Don't put your professional reputa‐ tion on the line. Your interest in helping oth‐ ers may take you back to school.

Libra (Sept. 24 ‐Oct. 23) Use your creative talent in order to accomplish your goals. Your unique contribution to the organization will enhance your reputation. You will need to do a lot of research if you wish to get to the bottom of things. Satisfy your pas‐ sionate mood.

Taurus (Apr. 21‐ May 21) Kick your shoes off and relax. Recognition will be yours if you meet your deadline. Your per‐ sonal secrets may be revealed if you let coworkers in on your family dilemmas. Digestive disorders will be a result of family squabbles.

Scorpio (Oct. 24 ‐ Nov. 22) Opportunities to travel will be favorable in terms of moneymaking connections. Self‐ deception about relationships is a problem. Your colorful conversation may attract new mates. Go with the flow and don't be con‐ cerned about your own job.

Gemini (May 22‐June 21) Exaggeration or deception coupled with overindulgence might be a problem. You can make alterations to your appearance that everyone will admire. You should be able to get a lot done. Include the whole family or those you love.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23 ‐Dec. 21) Your home may be in an uproar and you are best to stay out of the line of fire if at all possi‐ ble. Think before you act if you wish to avoid friction. You must take care not to over exert yourself if involved in sports. Any contributions you make to organizations will enhance your reputation and bring you offers.

Cancer (June 22‐July 22) Take the time to help old friends or relatives who have had a stroke of bad luck. Don't let other people meddle in your private affairs. You will not be pleased with family members who try to put demands on you when you just don't have the time. False information from someone trying to start problems is like‐ ly. Leo (July 23‐Aug 22) Contracts will not be as lucrative as you think. Your efforts will be rewarded handsomely. You may have a rather hectic day due to events that children are involved in. Beware of colleagues who don't have your best inter‐ ests in mind. Virgo (Aug. 23 ‐Sept. 23) You can make money through your creative efforts. You can finish projects early, which will bring you praise from superiors. You need to clear up some important personal docu‐ ments before the end of the year. Try to calm down and listen to your partner's complaints. Compromise may be necessary.

Capricorn (Dec 22.‐ Jan. 20) You may have more to do with children this week; keep an open mind. Your charm will attract someone special. You can expect to have some problems with skin, bones, or teeth if you haven't taken proper care of them. Your emotions have been pulled out of shape and you need to do a little backtracking. Aquarius (Jan. 21.‐ Feb. 19) Try not to lend or borrow money this week. You will be extremely sentimental, and if pushed by others you may hold a lasting grudge. Try to have patience and refrain from being judgmental. Unique forms of entertain‐ ment could capture your attention and bring about a romantic interest. Pisces (Feb. 20‐Mar. 20) Put aside any decisions concerning your posi‐ tion at work. You can expect sorrow to evolve from the information you discover. Travel will be in your best interest. Eliminate situations that are no longer to your advantage.

ACROSS 4. Roman goddess of plenty 8. Dance of Cuban origin 11. Relaxation 13. Wood sorrel 14. Peninsula in the NE Soviet Union 15. Stream of air 17. Soak 18. Equipment 19. Having an edge 21. For each 22. Mountain goat 24. Automobile 27. Hindmost part of an animal 29. Evergreen tree 31. Incline head 33. Raised platform 35. Small yeast cake 36. Scent 38. Pearlescent 40. Small islands 42. Ostrichlike bird 43. Mild oath 45. Drew forth 49. Period of human life 50. To endure 51. Formerly Ceylon 52. French clergyman DOWN 1. Fall of rain 2. River in W Central Africa 3. Writing fluid 4. Abalone 5. Agreement 6. Provide food 7. Approaches 9. Sour

10. Organ of hear‐ ing 11. Enthusiastic 12. Jamaican pop‐ ular music 16. Something that is owed 20. No longer living 21. Cushion 23. Capital of Shaanxi province, China 25. Domesticated cattle of India 26. Deities 28. Person who lies 29. Legendary emperor of

China 30. Used to be 31. Sounds 32. Deal out sparingly 34. Conceptual framework 35. Sweetheart 37. Royal

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. 21.

39. Color 41. Narrative of heroic exploits 44. Lair 46. Taxicab 47. Flow back 48. Coloring material

22. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Opinion

THE FIRST ANTI-CANCER VACCINE: A response to Anesia Baptiste

PART 6

by DR. JERROL THOMPSON MD/MPH Infectious Disease Specialist

that there is huge value of saving even a handful of lives. Dr. Diane Harper continues to publish research about the IN A 2013 INTERVIEW with Ben effectiveness of HPV vaccines, Goldacre, Harper again disavowed the including a recent one that reported way her statements about Gardasil and studies have underestimated the HPV vaccines were being characterized vaccine’s effectiveness against some by some in the press and antivaccine HPV types. In other words, the vaccine groups. These groups characterised her works. corrections as being pressured, stating: 7. ANESIA BELIEVES THE “But not long after clearing her THEORY OF HERD IMMUNITY IS conscience on this important issue so BASED ON A LIE. Her article quotes: that she could sleep at night, Dr. Harper “Herd immunity says you must basically retracted all of her statements, vaccinate all in order to protect all” … claiming that media reports citing them No Anesia, it does not mean that. were made up. What? either the vaccine There are always unprotected persons, industry or some other power apparently such as those exempt for medical & got to Dr. Harper and convinced her to religious reasons (3%) and those who change her story or that she is absolutely refuse, are home schooled, schizophrenic. She also told Goldacre get a doctor to falsify immunization that ‘I fully support the HPV vaccines. I records or may be unvaccinated believe that in general they are safe in visitors. This is what Herd Immunity most women.’ She said ‘We do not know (HI) assumes and caters for. The more how long the protection from the of us vaccinated, helps stop infections vaccines will last, and this might affect a being passed on with close contact cost-benefit decision about the with others. When an infected person vaccine’.” Here, she was not saying that physically contacts an adequately it’s a safety vs. benefit question, merely protected person, they block the that the cost of an HPV immunization spread of the infection. It is when program, if the effect of the vaccine is effective immunization levels falls not long enough, could mean boosters, below 80-90% that HI starts losing its and that it is too expensive for the impact and there are enough expected results. I would disagree, in unprotected persons to catch and

continue the spread. Blaylock was a primary critic of HI and his treacherous idea to allow kids to catch disease naturally. We are continually improving protocols to ensure the greatest protection at the age the individual is most vulnerable. 8. VACCINE ADJUVANTS are used to enhance the immune response to a vaccine. They include aluminium salts, used for over 60 years. One way adjuvants are thought to improve the immune response is by keeping the antigen(s) near the injection site so that they can be readily accessed by immune cells. The use of aluminium adjuvants in vaccines means that less vaccine antigen is required and fewer vaccine doses are needed. The amount of aluminium that moves from muscle into the blood is very small. Contrary to Anesia’s claim, many studies have been done separately and combined with vaccines. In response to these concerns, a 2015 FDA review of all the available studies of aluminiumcontaining vaccines (HPV, diphtheria, tetanus & pertussis - either alone or in combination) found that there was no evidence that Aluminium Adjuvants cause any serious or long term adverse events. Vaccines aluminium exposure was far less than that received from

diet or medications (antacids). Other studies reported fewer reactions with aluminium-containing vaccines than those without aluminium. However, there are still several recurring myths. MYTH 1: “The risk to infants by the total aluminium exposure received from the entire childhood vaccines series in first year of life is worrisome”. Actually no, the risk is extremely low: http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsB…/Scie nceResearch/ucm284520.htm MYTH 2: “There haven’t been any studies done to evaluate aluminium adjuvants. There have been many safety studies over the last 60 yrs. e.g. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubm ed/22001122. Also, the FDA conducted analysis of many studies on aluminium adjuvants safety: http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsB…/Scienc eResearch/ucm284520.htm MYTH 3: “I just don’t like the sound of aluminium. Hasn’t it been linked to Alzheimer’s, breast cancer and brain damage? No links found as Aluminium is a light metal not a heavy metal. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxguides/tox guide-22.pdf

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. 23.

GHS, SVGS stage Road Relays

MOFFETT HOUSE of the Girls’ High School and Reeves House of the St. Vincent Grammar School will go into their respective annual Track and Field Meets with added confidence. Those two Houses were victorious in their schools’ road relays, traditionally staged prior to the Meets. The relays, sponsored by Kingstown Cooperative Credit Union (KCCU), were held last week Tuesday. The route saw the athletes starting at the Grammar School lawn, along New Roads into Cane Garden from the Sion Hill Inter-section, and back to the starting point. The Girls ran the route twice, consisting of three legs in each round, while the Boys did the route three times, each round consisting of two legs. Moffett House, comprised of Briane Nash, Daisyanne Kenedy, Aalyah Frederick, Ashantae Williams, Weslicia Bennett andf Anastacia

White, clocked 44 minutes 24.27 seconds in their winning run, ahead of Head Mistress House, 44 minutes 44.57 seconds, Staff House, 46 minutes 17.85 seconds, and Grimble House, 47 minutes 53.03 seconds. Meanwhile, Reeves House captured their third consecutive road Reeves House – SVGS 2018 Road Relay Champions relay title, with a team comprised of Jahj Moffet House - GHS 2018 Road Relay Champions. again. McDowald, Denelson James, Rashide Rocque, Verrol Sam, Joel Quashie, and Jerry Cato. Their winning time was THE LAYOU-BASED HIGH Martin’s Secondary showed 20 and Over, competing in the 4 x 50 minutes 30.10 PERFORMANCE Track Club prowess in the Boys’ Under-15, 100, 4 x 400 , a Swedish Relay seconds. dominated last Saturday’s Relay and the St Vincent Grammar and the 1600 Medley. Crick House was Classic, staged by Team Athletics School in the Boys’ Under-17 and The Relay Classic, which is second in 52 minutes SVG at the Victoria Park. Under-19. emerging as the national track 22.60 seconds ahead of High Performance, led by Team IT- DAT Academy outclassed and field body’s marquee event, Lopez House in 56 Athletics SVG’s Technical the others in the 20 and Over age also saw participation from Club minutes 47.67 seconds, Director- Chester Morgan, was group events contested on the X- Cel, the Thomas Saunders and Miller House in 57 able to field teams in all age day. Secondary School, the St Joseph’s minutes 49.35 seconds. groups except the 20 and Over, The Under- 9s contested the 4 Convent Kingstown, the St Mary’s The 2018 Track and and topped most of the categories. x80m Shuttle and the 4 x100m, Roman Catholic, and the newest Field Meets for the With the largest contingent on with the Under-11s running the 4 track and field club- Speed Force schools will be held show, High Performance won all x 100 and 4 x 200m. Track Club. jointly on February 14 at relays in the Under-9, Under-11, Set aside for the Under-13 were The last has Garth De Shong at the Arnos Vale Playing and Under-13 for both sexes, as the 4 X100, 4 x 200m, and the the helm. Field. well as the Girls’ Under-15 and Swedish Relay, with the Under-15 Under -17s. and Under-17, I.B.A.ALLEN On the other hand, the St Under-19 and

High Performance tops Relay Classic

Brereton House: Prep School’s Athletics Champions BRERETON HOUSE (YELLOW), having amassed a total of 494 points, captured the 2018 Athletics title to emerge as new Athletics champions of the Kingstown Preparatory School, when that school’s Track and Field meet was held at the Arnos Vale playing field last week. They dethroned defending champions Eustace House (Green) who finished third with 420 points. John House(Blue) with 487 points finished second with Wilson House (Red) 358 points, in the cellar position.

In the individual awards, Deandrea Archibal of Wilson House was the Girls Under 9 champion with 24 points, while Rashad Samuel of Brereton House took the Male category with 6 points in that same division. In the Under 11 Division, Saronique Forbes of John House champed for Girls with 32 points, and Joenaldo Payne of Brereton House did likewise among the Bboys also with 32 points. The Over 11 Division threw up a tie among the Girls, The children gave it their all at the 2018 Prep with In Sky Williams and Mya Peters, both School’s Track and Field Meet.

High Performance Track Club that dominated last Saturday’s Relay Classic. Below: The St Vincent Grammar School in the lead in the Boys Under – 17 4 x100m. Brereton House led in the march past and also claimed the 2018 Championship title. from John House and totaling 25 points taking that honour. Karime Davis — Brereton Housetook the title for Boys with 34 points. Davis was the Meet’s Victor Ludorum and Forbes the Victrix Ludorum. I.B.A.ALLEN

24. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Alex Joachim making waves in Canadian pools EMERGING VINCENTIAN swim talent Alex Joachim, last weekend pouched three gold medals and a silver, while competing at the Central Region “A” Swimming Championships in Toronto, Canada. The 14- year-old Joachim, who is being schooled there, competing for Oakville Aquatic Swim Club (OAK), won an individual gold medal in the 100-metres Butterfly. His one minute 2.3 second, put him at the top of the podium, and ranked him as the fifth fastest in Canada in his age group, for the 2017/2018 season.

Joachim also teamed up with other members of OAK to win gold in the 200-metres Freestyle (relay one minute 46.65 seconds), and the 200metres Medley Relay (one minute 59.79 seconds). His silver medal came in the 100metres Breaststroke, in which he stopped the clock at one minute 13.64 seconds. Joachim’s latest performance assured his qualification for the Eastern Canadian Junior Swimming Championships in April. Additionally, Joachim possesses four official qualifying times for the Ontario

Provincial Championships to be held in early March. Vincentians will have an opportunity to see Joachim compete here, when he returns to participate in the CGM Gallagher Invitational Swimming Championships on the 16th to 18th February, at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre. Joachim, a member of the local swim unit Black Sands Swim Squad, has also made the cut to be part of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines team at the CARIFTA Swimming Championships set for Jamaica from 31st March to 3rd April.

Teen footballers vie for a Man. U. experience DENZIL BASCOMBE and Oryan Velox are one step away from gaining a once in lifetime visit to Manchester United Football Club in England. But to do so, they first have to pit their skills at the regional finals of the FLOW Ultimate Experience in Trinidad and Tobago, in March. Bascombe and Velox made the final cut from among 56 youngsters between the ages of 13 and 16 years, when the Vincentian leg was hosted at the Campden Park Playing Field, last Saturday. They beat the others. When the scores were tabulated, the two beat out the others as far as their individual times and ability to control the ball were concerned. Bascombe, a Form Three student of the St Vincent Grammar School, and a member of the System Three Sports Academy, said he was looking forward to show his talent against the others from the region. A multi- talented young sportsman, Bascombe also plays Cricket for his school, is a competent Table Tennis player, and was a semi-finalist in last December’s SVG Road Tennis Blast.

Velox was equally happy with his selection. The Form Two student of the Central Leeward Secondary School, said he had trained hard for the local leg, and it paid off . Like Bascombe, Velox is also active in other sporting disciplines; he plays Table Tennis and does track and field for his Layou based club- High Performance. On their next stage, Bascombe and Velox, Oryan Velox accompanied by their coaches, will have a two-day skills session in Trinidad and Tobago. This includes one-on-one training with coaches from the Caribbean region and Manchester United FC. The two top performers, accompanied by their coaches and one of their parents, will then move on England where they will be engaged in a talent development camp, courtesy Manchester United FC and

TASVGÊs AGM deferred

Denzil Bascombe FLOW. In addition to St Vincent and the Grenadines, the other Caribbean countries involved in the FLOW Skills Football Experience are: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

North Leeward netball gets going EIGHT TEAMS in the Senior and four in the Junior division will contest the 2018 edition of the North Leeward Sports and Cultural Organization Netball Tournament. The tournament officially opened at the Petit Bordel Secondary School Hard Court last Saturday, in front of a large crowd. Two matches — one in

either division — followed the opening ceremony. Both matches involved Star Girls. In the Senior Division match, Star Girls edged past Troumaca Strugglers 18-16. The match was as close and as entertaining as the crowd would have wanted it; the first three quarters closing at 3-2 in

Alex Joachim is now ranked among the top five 100-meter Butterfly swimmers in Canada, in his age group.

favour of Star Girls, 7-all in the second and 11- all in the third. The defending Champions in this division are Dynamic Strugglers. In the first division match played earlier, Star Girls went under to Troumaca Struggles 136. Strugglers led at the end of each of the first

three quarters: 4-1, 6-2, and 8-5. The teams registered to compete are: Senior Division - Troumaca Attackers, Star Girls, C. Park Warriors, Dynamic Strugglers, Layou, Petit Bordel Secondary School (PBSS), Spring Village and Dynamic Warriors; Cont’d on Page 25.

AFFILIATES who want to find out the conduct of affairs of Team Athletics SVG for the past four years, will have to wait a while longer to know. This, after the Annual General Meeting which was set for tomorrow, Saturday 10th February, was postponed. The reason given for the deferral is that a request was made for same by some affiliates who are travelling this weekend to Barbados to participate in the annual Keith Joseph has Relay Festival held in keem the President of that country. the Track and Field Notwithstanding, the governing body in AGM is highly SVG for some time anticipated. now. A critical part of the AGM is the election of a new executive. To date, though, not many persons within the Track and Field circles have indicated their intent to seek positions on the executive. TASVG last held an AGM on 14th December 2013 at the Xpert Computer Centre Conference Room. At that meeting, long-standing president Keith Joseph was returned unopposed to that office; Rosmund Griffith was elected as Vice —President, with Tyrone James- the General Secretary and Andrea David-Latchman — Assistant General Secretary. Also returned were Jacintha Ballantyne and Rawlson Morgan as Treasurer and Games Secretary respectively. Elected as Committee Members were Alrick Wright, Samantha Goodluck and Debbie Jordan. Theon Gordon was then named the coaches’ representative, Josh Hamilton - athletes’ representative, and Sheva Butcher as alternate to Hamilton. Team Athletics SVG later appointed Chester Morgan as its Technical Director. Since then, a number of those elected exited their offices as they failed to carry out their substantive duties. Team Athletics SVG, though, announced the resignation of General Secretary -Tyrone James.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. 25.

Sports

United we stand, divided we ⁄⁄ WEST INDIES Under 19 cricketers surrendered their title in New Zealand earlier this month, and it hardly shook the radar. Emphasis has been on efforts to derail and disrupt the impetus of the game. Our youths have proven themselves as good as their peers. Whereas those from other countries move into the higher circles with an almost seamless transition, we play that cycle of uncertainty and lose sight of the purpose. It is not an easy road through the turmoil of those days in any part of the world, far more the Caribbean. Tales of conflict are too widespread for anyone to believe that everything is smooth. But youngsters have to be prepared to fulfil their end of the bargain. It could not be such a situation that no one has the interest of youths at heart. India took the Under 19 title, having maintained their position as favourites. Memories of the previous final haunted them, for even though we took it for granted, the Indians must have felt peeved by the thought of a West Indies Under 19 title holder. The lesson is that we have to continue to build. We are hell bent on grinding our cricket to the dust. The issue of insularity has overtaken us to such an extent that we are more concerned with the national approach than entrenching ourselves as a unit. We take the view that we have nothing to offer the world when, on reflection, the template of the European Union has as a trendsetter, the CARICOM outlook. Despite the departure of Britain from the European Union, and threats by other entities to engage in such drama, unity provides the best option for any region. But not the Caribbean. We gloated in the aura of the three titles we held in 2016, but those came at a price. We have a record of complacency. And the rewards for such intransigence ends up with us losing our soul. We might have earned the world in the process. But what will it matter? Time will be when sportsmen and women will be guided by their consciences, and even though principle will never take them to the grocery, pay bills, or provide luxury, greed will not make life stable or secure. West Indies face the qualifiers which expose them to the frailties of cricketing scenarios. They have to be a unit. However talented one may be on the field, there calls for a burst of ingenuity in the execution of every plan. Things can change, and we have to be adept to the peculiarities. The West Indies Board has been chastised for their arrogance. The players are viewed superstars and untouchables. People defend the players. Past players like Vivian Richards put everything out for their team. His contribution has been praised worldwide, but his outlook, spirit and determination are still to be replicated. Times are changing, and there are priorities. We have to revive West Indies cricket. It is too important to the region. Qualifying for the World Cup is a good springboard.

Charles begins umpire’s career PHERNAL CHARLES, former West Indies cricketer, has her eyes set on becoming a top umpire in the region and beyond. Charles, who stood in her first official match in the SVGCA National Women’s Super 40 tournament last weekend at the Arnos Vale 2 playing field in a match between United Survivors and JG Tigress, said she has

always had a passion for umpiring. This, she added, was an opportune time to begin what she anticipates would be a long and successful career aa an umpire. “It has been a while I wanted to get into the actual technical part of the game. After being a player and seeing the decisions the umpires made, you want to go

Phernal Charles (centre) standing as umpire in her first national cricket competition match.

and get a firsthand experience, so it’s a learning process,” she told THE VINCENTIAN. As for her first outing in charge, she said, “I felt overwhelmed, especially to be partnered with experienced umpire Goland Greaves who is one of the better umpires in the Windward Islands. It has really been an honor.” And how did she grade her first stint? “Looking back at my first game, I would grade myself 5 from 10, because the team players you know them from playing competitive cricket, and sometimes they will expect you will be a bit lenient, but you have to be guided by the law and rules of the game.” A confident Phernal declared her ambitions this way, “I am hoping to reach as far as the West Indies level and the international panel. My playing experience, I

believe, will be an added advantage”. She recognized the achievement of Maria Abbott, who was recently certified as a West Indies level umpire, as a motivating figure. “I am hoping to come up to par with Abbott and beyond,” she said. Not unaware that umpiring is still a male dominated undertaking, Phernal is not daunted. “Once I apply myself and be familiar with the rules and the laws, I think I can keep up and be on par with the men, even though it is a challenge because most people are accustomed seeing men. But, I thinks as a woman I will get more respect from the male cricketers,” she quipped. THE VINCENTIAN wishes Phernal all the best as she pursues her umpiring career. I.B.A.ALLEN

HazellÊs century crushes ASCO A CENTURY by Belfongo’s Danroy Hazell was too much for Carl Joseph Law Chambers ASCO, and they suffered a crushing 106-run defeat as a result, in one of last weekend’s matches in the NLA First Division Cricket Competition. Playing at the Stubbs Playing Field, Belfongo posted 255 from 29 overs, led Danroy Hazell with 165. Nelron Shortte was the best bowler for ASCO with 4 for 59. ASCO were dismissed for 149 from 26 overs, Oheyon Toby topscoring with 27. Travis Cumberbatch took 3 for 44, Dean Browne 2 for 28 and Calbert Simon 2 for 20, bowling for Belfongo. At Park Hill, E&J Robertson Construction North Windward Youths put up 147 from 37 overs against Radcliffe Two, who, chasing a revised target because of rain, claimed victory when they closed on 131 for 4 from 14 overs. Sealroy Williams, 28, led the batting for North Windward Youth,s with Handel Roban grabbing 4 for 8 for Radcliffe Two. Clavert King scored an even 50 for Radcliffe, with Sealron Williams, 4 for 41, being North Windward Youths’ best

bowler. At Arnos Vale One, Smashers beat Keegan’s Bequia X1 by 61 runs. Scores: Smashers 179 from 40 overs, Rawdon Bentick 41 and Ozico Williams 31, Jenry Ollivierre took 3 for 35; Bequia X1 112 from 26 overs, Cosmus Hachshaw 39, Darren Russell 8 for 48. Police One beat Sunrise Bakery Glamorgan United by 9 wickets. Glamorgan United made 109 from 36 overs, Kenny Stapleton leading with 29 and Nimroy Laborde doing some damage with 5 for

17. Police One cruised to 110 in 13 overs losing only one wicket in the process. Peter Morris top scored with 54. Combined Youth crushed Strike Eagles by a whopping 270 runs. They posted a formidable 341 from 49 overs on the backs of Marlon Farrell 66, Vincent Cupid 57, Oneil Endeavour 49 and Jordan Samuel 44. Adrian Stapleton took 4 for 53. Strike Eagles were bundled out for 57 from 15 overs, Kevin Samuel capturing 7 for 32. I.B.A.ALLEN

Danroy Hazell smashed 165 for Belfongo.

North Leeward netball gets going Continued from Page 24.

and Layou.

Junior Division - Troumaca Attackers, Star Girls; PBSS

I.B.A.ALLEN

Action in the opening senior match between Star Girls and Troumaca Strugglers.

26. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. THEâ€ˆVINCENTIAN

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2018. 27.

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S.D.A Church Kingstown Sunday 4th February, 2018 Viewing: 1:00 p.m. Service: 2:00 p.m.

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Stubbs Seventh Days Adventist Church Sunday 4th February, 2018 Viewing: 1:00 p.m. Service: 2:00 p.m.

St. James Anglican Church Layou Thursday 1st February, 2018 Viewing: 1:00 p.m. Service: 2:00 p.m.

SHAVEIL PAMOLUS STRAKER Vermont Miracle Tabernacle Sunday 4th February, 2018 Viewing: 1:30 p.m. Service: 2:00 p.m.

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

F O R S A L E

FRIDAY,

FEBRUARY 09, 2018

VOLUME 112, No.05

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BUDGET OFFERS SOME TAX RELIEF by DAYLE DA SILVA VINCENTIANS WILL HAVE TO LOOK back to almost a decade for the last time government offered some tax relief. They can, however, look forward to some this year. Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Finance, announced some new tax initiatives that make up the 2018 fiscal measures. In delivering his maiden Budget Address last Monday, February 5, he announced that the business community can expect to see a reduction in the standard rate of company taxes, from 32.5 percent to 30 percent. Additionally, individuals can expect to retain more from their monthly earnings as Gonsalves announced a reduction in the rate of personal income tax, also down to 30 from 32.5 percent. It was also announced that there will be an increase in the standard deduction for personal income tax from EC$18,000 to EC$20,000. “This means that the first EC$20,000 earned by Vincentians will not attract any income tax,” he explained. And while it was announced that an $8 levy was being placed on hotels and guest houses for short term stay-overs — money to be used to capitalize the Contingency Fund — the hotel sector can expect a tax break with a 1 percent reduction in income tax, taking the rate to 29 percent. This lowering of the tax rate and the raising of the threshold were

expected to cost the government EC$12 million in lost revenue, Gonsalves said, adding though, that an internal analysis determined that it was now time to do so. Continuing on the issue of tax, Gonsalves assured that the government did not intend to forego the $12 million loss, saying that he advised the Inland Revenue Department to pursue tax delinquents.

Vehicle ban and surcharge In keeping with government’s intention to address the issue of the number of vehicles being imported, as of May 1, a ban will be imposed on the importation of used motor vehicles over 12 years old, and the surcharge on vehicles older than four years old will be increased. “Over the years, the importation of used cars, older than four years, has increased tremendously,” Gonsalves said. This phenomenon, he said, had contributed to increased traffic congestion and an increase in the number of derelict vehicles left abandoned on the road sides. “The time has come to address this,” he said.

“This means that all VINLEC’s domestic customers who consume 150 units or more monthly will be required to pay VAT.” The new threshold is expected to add an additional 13 percent to the list of consumers on the potentially ‘vatable list’. “While this measure is expected to provide an estimated EC$1 million in additional revenue annually, we anticipate that as consumers continue to implement more energy-saving measures in their households, the level of electricity consumption would decline, thus reducing the number of domestic customers Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves who will fall within the VAT delivered a Budget that promised some threshold,” Gonsalves said. direct relief to workers and the hotel industry.

Electricity VAT Also effective May 1, a reduction in the kilowatt hour threshold for Value Added Tax (VAT) down to 150 kWh from 200 kWh will be enacted.

The gallery was well patronized, as usual, for presentation of the Throne Speech and the Budget Address.

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

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.