THE VINCENTIAN PDF - 09-04-21

FRIDAY, APRIL 09,

2021

VOLUME 115, No.14 www.thevincentian.com

Get vaccinated or...

Page 3

Church overcome by dirt Page 6

EC$1.50

Soufrière news Page 14&15

SOUFRIÈRE SHOWS SIGNS OF BLOWING

by DAYLE DA SILVA

SCHOOLS WILL REMAIN CLOSED until further notice.

This is but one of the measures indicative of a heightened national alert, occasioned by increased activity at and indications of an imminent explosive eruption of the La Soufrière volcano.

The nation’s students were set to return to the classroom on April 12, however, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves announced at a press

briefing on April 8 that due to the increased activity recorded at the volcano, and with the increased likelihood that there could be an explosive eruption, an evacuation declaration may be announced soon.

A declaration of a disaster alert was announced by Gonsalves and this was made based on information that there was increased activity and consultations with Professor Richard Robertson of the University of the West Indies Seismic Unit and

SHESO 40 years Page 13

Swarm raises alarm Page 28

Signs of increase emissions together with ‘heavier’ tremors give indication of something more explosive to the mortar.

head of the observation team, and Michelle Forbes, Director of the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO).

Up to press time, no evacuation order was announced although persons living in affected areas were told to be ready for an evacuation order.

According to Professor Robertson, a series of earthquakes and elevated levels of gases and steam were recorded

Continued on Page 3.

PUBLIC SECTOR SALARIES IN JEOPARDY AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC drags on and with low uptake of the in vaccines, it appears that St Vincent may just be in for a long road to recovery.

And if that is the case, and the economy continues to bend under the weight of its own internal challenges and the impact of a general slowdown in the global economy, the government might not be able in the next couple of months to pay salaries, and meet NIS and other pension commitments.

Left: Notice has been given that this country’ Treasury might not be able to provide for public sector workers’ salaries in the near future.

This candid interpretation of the extent of the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, was laid bare by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves on Wednesday morning, during NBC Radio’s Face to Face programme.

“In one or two months, or sometime if the strained economy activity continues, the government may not have the 30 million to pay civil servants and contribute to the NIS for pensioners payments,” Dr. Gonsalves stated with no ‘water in his mouth’.

He said that while his government had done well to hold the economy together, this was done under real pressure.

Continued on Page 3.

2. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

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News 3 Get tested/ vaccinated or go home!

Even if school reopened on Monday 12th April, based on the figures as quoted, they would have been under-staffed unless there was a swarm of teachers turning up for the vaccine before that day.

TEACHERS WHO ARE NOT TESTED FOR or vaccinated against COVID19, will barred from entering the school compound.

This is the policy decision taken by Government as teachers and students prepared to return to the classroom on April 12.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves made the announcement on April 7 on VC3 TV, saying that health and education officials were advising all teachers, or those who were yet to do so, to go to their respective health facilities during the remaining days leading up to the re-opening of school and get either tested or vaccinated.

“So, you go Thursday and Friday; when you go to the principal on April 12, if you have not then you will not be allowed to stay on the compound until you get either tested or vaccinated,” Gonsalves said.

He added that it had been arranged for health personnel to be on hand at schools on April 12 to facilitate testing.

The measure comes at a time when public sector workers unions are at loggerheads with the government over a Cabinet Memorandum, dated March 31,

2021, from the Cabinet Secretary and directed to the Attorney General, the Director General Finance and Planning, Chief Personnel Officer and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health.

The Memorandum informed that in accordance with a decision of Cabinet, Wednesday 24th March, 2021, “…. all employees of the State who have not been vaccinated are required to be tested regularly for COVID-19 infection, up to once every two week, based on risk levels as determined by the health authorities.”

The Memorandum went on to state: “Public Servants who have received their first and/or second dose of an approved COVOD-19

vaccine are to submit copies of their vaccination records to their respective Ministries/Departments or agencies, by 7th April, 2021.”

Union leaders have argued that the measure is unconstitutional and a breach of the rights and freedoms of workers, with President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union Oswald Robinson saying that its membership had made the decision that they would not subject themselves to any mandatory testing or vaccination.

According to the Prime Minister, the records show that, to date, some 331 or 17 percent of teachers had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

(DD)

Vaccines to be donated PRIME MINISTER DR. RALPH GONSALVES does not intend to sit by and allow the doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in this country’s possession, to expire.

Before that happens, he said, he will give the doses not taken to countries in the region.

In fact, Gonsalves said, St Lucia had requested a further 5,000 doses of the vaccine.

Reported via radio that as of April 6, 2021, a total of 11,787 persons had received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“This is not good enough,” Gonsalves said, adding, “If we go at this rate, the vaccines will expire, but I am not going to allow the vaccines to expire.”

According to the Prime Minister, the doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in this country’s possession were expected to expire at the end of June 2021.

But he said that he had instructed the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Simone Keizer-

Beache to provide a cutoff date, and if there was no marked increase in the number of persons opting to take the vaccine, he was prepared to give them to countries that were in need.

And that date could very well be close to the end of this month (April), Gonsalves said.

He clarified, though, that he had instructed the CMO to keep in stock adequate numbers of doses for those requiring the second dose. Remaining doses will be donated.

To date, this country received 5,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in February, 40,000 doses from India in March — of which donations of 5,000 each were made to Grenada and St Lucia and the first set of doses under the COVAX facility, 24,000 arrived this week with another 22,000 expected.

Once these doses were depleted, Gonsalves cautioned

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021. 3.

Soufriere shows signs of blowing Continued from Frontpage. on April 8.

The volcano was now showing signs of significant change with bands of tremors being recorded beginning at 3 am.

“It has entered into a heightened level of activity and therefore a period for it to move into an explosive phase has increased significantly,” Professor Robertson advised.

He admitted it was still difficult to indicate A declaration of a when there could be an disaster alert was explosive eruption, announced by PM saying that it could occur Gonsalves at a Press within the next few Briefing yesterday. hours or days.

Forbes announced that the communities were now at a stage of preparedness.

She noted that the list of shelters were already out, and she appealed to persons to begin the process of getting things ready for when an evacuation order was made.

The National Emergency Council was expected to meet at 2pm on April 12 to discuss and decide on further arrangements and to ensure that all things were put in place.

Meanwhile, Gonsalves said that he had been in touch with officials from the United States, Venezuela and Cuba, the Regional Security System (RSS) and that he had spoken to the Prime Ministers of Barbados and St Lucia, all in relation to lending support to an evacuation process and, in the case of Barbados and St Lucia, to accepting evacuees. (See related stories on Pages 14 and 15)

Public Sector salaries in jeopardy Any doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine not taken up before their expiration date by residents here, will be donated to neighbouring countries. that he was not sure how soon this country would be able to procure another batch of vaccines, because it was difficult to procure vaccines given the manner in which some countries were hoarding vaccines, even if other countries had the money to buy them.

Whatever the case, Gonsalves repeated his appeal to residents to take the vaccine. (DD)

Continued from Frontpage.

“We have held the thing down through all kind of difficulties but I am telling you, there is a real pressure on,” said Dr. Gonsalves, adding that in the first month of January the government revenue collections dropped by 15 million.

“Our revenue dropped by 15 million, and we recouped in February; that’s because there were a couple of big Alien Landholding License transactions from Mustique; there is a couple more in the pipeline…. where we collect for each of those transaction roughly about 17 percent of the value and they were very big ones, rich people selling to rich people and there is a couple more in the pipeline,” the Prime Minister explained.

The World Bank expects that St Vincent and the Grenadines’ economy would grow by 0.2 percent in 2021.

V Convicted murderer awaits sentencing 4. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Court

of 30-year-old Dexter ‘Captain’ Rodney The charge was substituted with that which she had of Ottley Hall, following a trial which of murder. requested, could COME April 16, 36-year-old convicted lasted about two weeks at the High In her closing arguments, Sam’s not be produced, murderer Denzil ‘Scammie’ Sam will Court Criminal Assizes. attorney, Kay Bacchus-Baptiste, and hospital know his fate.

Upon conviction, Justice Brian described the Prosecution’s case as records critical Sam was found guilty by a 12Cottle postponed sentencing to April being weak… one that could not be to the case could Convicted murderer member jury on April 1 of the murder 16 to accommodate a sentencing proved beyond reasonable doubt. She not be traced.

Denzil ‘Scammie’ hearing. argued that a statement Rodney had BacchusSam. Rodney was shot in allegedly given to the police at the Baptiste noted the stomach and arm hospital after he was shot, saying that that Sam gave around midday on it was Sam who shot him, was two statements to the police denying October 1, 2015, just concocted. that he shot Rodney, and he also made outside the plant shop Bacchus-Baptiste further contended this denial in his defence from the located on Lower Bay that Rodney had spoken to several dock.

Street, and owned by other persons just after he was shot, Sam had also accused the police of Head of the Cannabis including his two friends, the beating him and telling him to say REGARDLESS to what Revival Commission ambulance attendant, and the police, something to save himself, just before sentence is imposed on (CRC) Junior ‘Spirit’ but there was no evidence of him his first electronic interview. convicted murderer Cottle. telling any of these people who shot But Crown Counsel Rose-Ann Denzil ‘Scammie’ Sam, Rodney was taken to him.

Richardson who prosecuted the his conviction will be the Milton Cato The lawyer also pointed that critical matter, highlighted that what Sam appealed.

Memorial Hospital where records in relation to the matter could said in his second electronic interview Sam’s attorney Kay he was warded for about not be produced, including the notes of was in many ways different to his Bacchus-Baptiste made three weeks, and the investigator, Corporal Andy statements in his first electronic the confirmation to THE discharged. He was reJames, who claimed he had lost his interviews.

VINCENTIAN on admitted to the hospital notebook.

Bacchus-Baptiste had objected to Tuesday. about five months later She added that the station diary for the statements being admitted into A 12-member jury had and subsequently died. the relevant period in October 2015, evidence, but her objections overruled. on April 1, found Sam, Attorney Kay Bacchus36, of Ottley Hall guilty of Baptiste will appeal murdering 30-year-old Sam’s conviction and Dexter Rodney also of might also take legal Ottley Hall. action against the Sam will be sentenced Hospital were five persons in the vehicle, and CHIEF MAGISTRATE Rechanne on April 16 during a Administration. she needed to know the names of the Browne wants answers to certain sentencing hearing at the others and where in the vehicle they questions before sentencing Aniel High Court Criminal Assizes. were sitting.

Hazelwood on gun and ammunition Bacchus-Baptiste told this publication that she She also wants to know, what was possession charges. was not satisfied that her client got justice in the the behaviour of the driver, as well as Hazelwood, a 23-year-old technician matter, and in her view, the Court was too the others, when the vehicle was of Green Hill, pleaded guilty on prosecution oriented. intercepted.

Tuesday to possession of a .38 Smith The lawyer added that she was also The matter was adjourned to today and Wesson Speial revolver, and ten contemplating taking legal action against the (Friday) and Hazelwood was remanded rounds of .38 ammunition. hospital authorities, for giving the prosecution until then.

Hazelwood was one of the five access to her client’s medical records.

In his mitigation plea earlier, occupants of a vehicle police Bacchus-Baptiste said this was a breach of her Connell asked the Court not to impose intercepted at Halifax Street, client’s right to privacy and was against the ethics a custodial sentence, noting that Kingstown around 3:50 pm, April 5, of the medical profession.

Hazelwood had no previous convictions, acting on information received.

At the trial, the prosecution had stated that the cooperated with the police, expressed Hazelwood who had exited from the medical records did not support the defence’s claim remorse and pleaded guilty at the first driver’s seat, admitted that the gun that Sam was beaten. available opportunity. and ammunition, which were found in In his defence, Sam told the Court that the He pointed out that his client had an the vehicle after a search, belonged to police had beaten him when he was arrested in associate degree in Information him. connection with the incident.

Technology (IT), was gainfully After the facts were read and Bacchus-Baptiste had expressed surprise that Chief Magistrate employed, and was the sole the prosecution was able to gain access to her attorney Grant Connell completed his Rechanne Browne breadwinner of his family. client’s records, and the lawyer indicated that mitigation plea on Hazelwood’s behalf, delayed her decision Connell added that his client was the those records were not even in her (Bacchusthe Chief Magistrate stressed the so that she could seek son of retired Inspector of Police David Baptiste) possession. seriousness of the charges, but she answers to some Hazelwood, a former prosecutor.

Rodney was shot in his stomach and arm just contended that in order for her to make pertinent questions.

According to Connell, his client had outside the Plant Shop on Lower Bay Street of a proper decision she needed to have a complained of threats being made to Head of the Cannabis Revival Committee (CRC) clearer picture as to what happened and certain him and his family, and though Hazelwood did not Junior ‘Spirit’ Cottle, around midday on October 1, questions answered. make a report to the police, the information was 2015. He died about nine months after.

Browne said that according to the facts there documented on his client’s phone.

Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

Lawyer to appeal, and sue

Magistrate needs answers

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021. 5.

Diaspora

Vincy group Âvery proudÊ of relief shipment

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

of Health Wellness and the Environment, St. Clair Prince, at a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Conference VERNA ARTHUR, chairperson of the Room in Kingstown, on Mar. 22.

Brooklyn, New York-based SVG Relief, The donation included 39,200 Inc., says her organization was “very surgical (3 ply) face masks, 2,450 proud” of efforts made for the first KN95 masks, 10,420 kids masks, 300 shipment of relief supplies to St. Vincent N95 face masks, 5,500 gloves, 792 face and the Grenadines in the wake of the shields, 400 shoe covers and 100 caps. effusive volcanic eruption, dengue fever Arthur said the donation was made and the COVID-19 pandemic.

by Vincentians living in the United “SVG Relief, Inc. was very proud of States, through two Brooklyn-based the work that we have done for the organizations — SVG Relief, Inc. and first shipment, and we want to thank the St. Vincent and the Grenadines everybody who contributed to this Disaster Relief Platform (SVG-DRIP). effort,” Arthur, a prominent She said Fern Dopwell — a Brooklyn Vincentian community activist and resident, who is vacationing at home — cultural figure, told THE was present at the handing-over VINCENTIAN Wednesday morning. ceremony and gave “brief remarks on “We want to give special thanks to behalf of SVG Relief, Inc.” all those who made this come to Dopwell assured that “the fruition,” she added. “We’re getting organization will continue its efforts to ready to make another shipment seek opportunities to assist their soon.” fellowmen in SVG,” Arthur said.

Arthur disclosed that members of Prince thanked Dopwell, SVG her group spent the Easter weekend Relief, Inc. and SVG DRIP for their packing at least five commercial bins “generous donation,” Arthur said. of relief supplies, which will soon be She said Peters also thanked shipped to St. Vincent and the Vincentian embassies and consulates, Grenadines.

Vincentian Diaspora groups (SVG Arthur, though, referenced a Relief, Inc. and SVG-DRIP), and Keith donation of emergency supplies, Boyea of Amerijet, Gideon “Fessy” including facial masks and other Yorke, owner of the Brooklyn-based personal protection equipment (PPEs), Standard Shippers for storage and which was handed over to the St. shipping of the items, and other Vincent and the Grenadines’ Minister partnering organizations on the SVG joint relief effort, such as CARICONSVG in Canada; National Council of SVG Associations in the United Kingdom, and SVG Central Florida Organization, Inc. “for making this initiative a success.”

Arthur continued to appeal to the Vincentian Diaspora for relief donations, saying that “any donation would be greatly appreciated.”

She said donations can be shipped to SVG Relief, Inc., c/o Standard Shippers, 9502 Ditmas Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11236; “or you may contact O’Brien Simmons, at 347-446-1827, if you need someone to pick up your donation.”

Meanwhile, Sherrill-Ann MasonGarnes Byron with relief supplies.

Haywood, SVG-DRIP coordinator, said (Photo credit: Verna Arthur/SVG the group has “now mobilized persons Relief, Inc.) and groups throughout the Diaspora in the USA, United Kingdom, Canada, US Virgin Islands and St. Maarten to work together” in the “major, joint relief initiative.”

NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net US CORRESPONDENT

Donations received at Mask/Food Drive Event.

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6. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

A mountain in Deliverance Assembly’s yard

by GLORIAH… THE DIAMOND DELIVERANCE ASSEMBLY is, as its name implies, situated at Diamond, and has been since 2004. Its spiritual leader is Apostle Recardo Bascombe.

On hearing that the church was “having a problem,” THE VINCENTIAN reached out to Apostle Bascombe to seek some insight into the situation.

He outlined the problem thus: “Dirt is continually being thrown on the (church) property. This started about a year and a half ago, but recently it seemed as if they are involved with a contract concerning the ‘Express Hotel’. All the excavated earth from that project is just thrown on the land that is now about 25ft high and 150 long. They are throwing mold about 10ft from the church, in some areas.”

Even after cordial discussions with

the parties concerned, the dumping continued.

Now, according to Apostle Bascombe, “It is really a mountain that is building up there. ….. When the rain comes all the water goes to our sewage system. I’ve already gone to the Physical Planning and also to the Ministry of Health to lodge my complaint and up to today, no one has shown up, called or responded.”

Of further inconvenience to the congregation is that the doors of the church cannot be opened as all the dust goes straight inside.

“I do not know what is the motive for throwing the dirt there, but we really want to get rid of it,” the Church Leader said.

And on Wednesday of this week, the Pastor noticed a new development.

“Even on the electricity line,” he announced in frustration, “all their heavy trucks are on the line

Diamond Deliverance Assembly appears to be surrounded by mounds of dirt trucked into the site from elsewhere.

Inset: Apostle Recardo Bascombe’s a passionate plea for the dumping to cease has, to date, fallen on deaf ears. [underground]. This morning I went there and the electrical cable is exposed on the surface. They don’t care. Now, a lot of rats are around the area and it’s a health hazard.”

Interestingly, the Diamond Deliverance Assembly (church) is a designated emergency shelter.

“We are very honoured as a church to be chosen as an emergency shelter,” the pastor said, adding that in light of this designation, “We will like everything to be removed because it is a health hazard.”

He warned that as a result of increased dumping, “The area is very

slippery when the rain comes and having people here as an emergency shelter will cause real chaos and injury to the children, and that is wrong.”

It is clear Apostle Bascombe was expressing the unanimous concern of his congregation, and THE VINCENTIAN joins in supporting their plea for a cessation of the indiscriminate dumping.

Up to Wednesday evening, all efforts to reach persons involved in the dumping were unsuccessful.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021. 7.

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8. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Editorial

Rising from the ashes IF EVER THERE WAS a wake-up call, COVID-19 stands majestically among all comers.

For the last twenty or so years, we have taken things for granted .. leaving it up to government to set the country on a clear and unambiguous path to prosperity.

Along the way, we have been distracted by one political move after another, and have ignored what Dr. Kenneth John might refer to as the ‘underbelly’ of poverty and hopelessness.

Then, up came COVID-19, our wake-up call, and we had to bear with the displacement of workers, the closure of businesses, a myriad of other problems not least being the downturn in the economy, as per others small and large.

The New Year has entered its second quarter. It is not too late to redefine our anticipations for the year.

The leadership of this country — political, religious, and social — must work to engender first, a new sense of hope. There is life after COVID-19 and lest you think otherwise, there is life with COVID19.

As such, therefore, no leader must give even an inkling of indication that all is lost. The times are challenging but we are yet some way away from doomsday.

Yes, 2020 was a year of abnormality; 2021 must therefore be business unusual, where our focus, our energies and what resources we might still have at our disposal, must be aimed at shifting from doings things the same way — a paradigm shift of sorts — since we have to adjust, as the saying goes, to the ‘new normal’.

But why does it feel that we are stuck in the same muddy patch on an old road?

Why is it that our leaders — our politicians moreso - either shun their role as leaders or see their responsibilities with blinkers on, ending up with ‘policies’, which are in fact mere reactions, that serve their own political interests.

Regardless of what those in government and other likeminded organisations and individuals think, the clear majority of our people are complying with the COVID-19 protocols, like wearing masks and avoiding the temptation of partaking in mass activates.

All in all, though, they are eager for a return to some semblance of normalcy. They long to be able to welcome home their relatives and friends. They want schools to reopen fully with safety measures clearly defined and rigidly enforced. They want to see business booming again… money in the people’s pockets. They want government to enforce price controls on an expanded food basket.

(This is the 21st century for crying out loud!) They want some emotional healing.

All of this depends, or so the state would have us believe, on a stringent vaccination drive and compliance by the citizenry.

Not to cast doubt on our ability to rise like the Phoenix from the ashes, but if this is our desire and we continue to simply grapple with the ongoing vagaries of COVID-19, then we just might be in for the long haul, especially given the citizenry’s seeming indifference to the vaccine, and resistance to government’s veiled attempts to encourage the taking of the vaccine which is not far removed from making it obligatory.

The Columns and the majority of citizens want to see a return to something that is normal, whether new or different. In the interest of public safety, this Column has espoused a pro-vaccine position.

It has, however, remained stoic in its stance that there must be no legislation, no veiled, legal actions by the state, to impose it on any individual or category of public sector worker.

The year 2020 must not simply be a collection of memories; it has to be a launch pad for change if SVG is to become a place of success and prosperity.

Sir James Mitchell has spoken SIR JAMES has put in a word on the current political scene with an interview by his own son-in-law “Bing” Joseph on Tuesday 26 April, on BOOM 106.9. It was more than a mouthful.

It needs be said that, contrary to the weight of public opinion, I have never been a member of the NDP. I have been called KENDP by the Yulimo-UPM, and was once described by Patrick Hughes as a grovelling worshipper of Mitchell in unprintable language.

But I have followed Mitchell’s political journey in SVG from morning. I was a person who took Mitchell around in the early days to meet with Danny Williams, Doc Cordice, Duff James, et al, none of whom warmed to his idea of forming a Party with the volcano as emblem.

His party was run out of the Market Square by the PPP —Labour combination —“Archie Bruck them up”.

Mitchell then joined Cato’s SVLP and its battery of lawyers, which lost the 1966 election and won power one year later, 1967, after Sam Slater had turned coat and strengthened the Labour Party.

But Mitchell was ill-at-ease with Labour which he left, was formally expelled and contested the 1967 election when, as an Independent candidate, he won the Grenadines constituency holding the balance of power, from where he played a tight hand in eventually becoming Premier with the PPP contingent, a situation which I had forecast.

The Mitchell-PPP alliance collapsed in 1974 after the two Joshuas had switched their support to the Labour-Opposition, which won the 1974 and 1979 Independence election massively.

Meanwhile, Mitchell had formed his NDP in 1975, which was humbled in the 1979 election but grew by leap and bounds thereafter.

A fortunate eventuality, which has been grossly overlooked, is the fact that the Educational Forum of the People and associates had decided to throw their weight behind the Mitchell Movement which infused the NDP. So, this “I and I” thing is grandly over-stated, a complete misnomer.

The match was near-perfect: a team of young thinkers and radicals bursting forth to give fillip to “Son” Mitchell who had been blessed with noble leadership gifts.

Certainly, Eddie Griffith, Parnel Campbell, Marcus De Freitas and, especially John Horne, who provided the theme of the Independence Election in Becket’s “Horn Fuh Dem”, had almost by themselves made Kingstown safe today as yesterday NDP territory. Allan

Cruickshank, Yvonne Francis-Gibson and Jerry Scott who associated with ForumDFM added strength to this burgeoning movement.

This view cannot be over-estimated. It took such a team, reinforced later by Carlyle Dougan, St Clair Leacock and Arnhim Eustace, who contributed to “the House that James built”. The leadership was always crucial, but the followers provided the flood that kept the NDP on the go, so that when the NDP vehicle hit a deep pot-hole at the end of the century, it was natural that Prime Minister James Mitchell should give the nod to Eustace to carry on.

Neither Jerry Scott nor John Horne were original favourites of Mitchell. Mitchell had indeed originally selected David Bonadie and Stuart Nanton for the 1984 elections, before Scott and Horne. Similarly, Junior Kydd had been originally chosen over P.R Campbell to fight the 1987 by-election caused by Eddie Griffith’s sudden death.

In 2000, Mitchell chose Eustace who he claims at birth was first handled by his own mother, before the natural mother. He could have equally noted that Roy “Cappo” Eustace, Arnhim’s father, displayed a soft spot to Mitchell in his quarrel with the Labour Party in the early 1970s.

So if things did not quite work out as planned, there is no point sinking Eustace after five constituency victories and four national defeats, as two of them were by cliff-hangers and, in any event, might-have been caused by electoral fraud of which Mitchell, significantly, said not a word!

Our ray of hope is that he has stoutly defended a people’s absolute right to protest which could upset the whole apple-cart!

Finally, as I have repeatedly quoted Sparrow: “when a man finish, I think it’s foolish to play lickerish”. In short, the Mitchell era is closed for good. It cannot be resurrected.

So Sir James’ comment at the end of his interview belied all he has said about his present place in politics. Somehow he seems to believe he still has proprietary rights to the leadership of the NDP. So he wants windows opened to let in fresh air to deal with the stench of the dead apparently intended to be Eustace. Sir James has allowed himself to sink to the deepest abyss, and now sadly courts the disrespect which many Vincentians retained for him.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021. 9.

Letters

Care for our own, too Recognition MR. EDITOR, my people never cease to amaze me.

It wasn’t so long ago, that when I used public transport, when I went into the stores, the supermarkets, even the vegetable market, I observed that all the talk was about the kidnapping and murder of Andrea Bharatt, 23.

Mr. Editor, you would have sworn that they were talking about a Vincentian, but the young lady to whom they gave so much of their chatter, was a Trinidadian. She apparently met her death at the hands of some devilish men, who left her dead body in a forest.

Now don’t

misunderstand me have nothing against people expressing sympathy with anybody.

But, what amazes me is that we have not had the same outpouring of sympathy and concern expressed when young persons — more so young men — lose their lives to an ongoing use of guns here.

Look at the murder victims over the last two decades; young people make up the vast majority of those who have been murdered, and most have died at the wrong end of a gun.

As recent as the night of Good Friday, another young man was gunned down. I am yet to hear an outpouring of sorrow

and sympathy. It’s as though we take our own ‘evils’ for granted but are quick to castigate others for theirs.

And while I am at it, Mr. Editor, until we are prepared to show this sympathy in a public manner; until we demand something be done about the ease with which guns enter this country and the ease with which they end up in the hands of young men especially; until we come out and take action against those who the state knows to be involved in criminal activity, crime will slide along merrily, without any real concern for those who lose their lives in the process.

And as we remain in limbo as far as Carnival 2021 is concerned, and regardless of the ‘blackmail-type condition’ that the authorities have attached to determining whether or not we will have a carnival, I am hopeful that better sense would prevail and, like Trinidad, since we seem so concerned about what happens there, (that) we would decide now to ‘postponed’ Carnival 2021.

Perhaps we could use those days (Carnival) to reflect on our own situation as far as how we relate to one another.

Thomas

Those price increases I WANT to be honest and say that I have always been a supporter of the ULP. However, of late it appears to me that they have forgotten who they say they represent and on whose behalf they talk these days of ‘Lifting SVG Higher’. How could they increase the Customs Service Charge (CSC) when they know business people will just pass it on to us consumers? Worse, how could they increase this tax during this period of the COVID19 pandemic which, by the way, we have had to live through, so far, for well over a year.

I want to ask my government if they really care. I want to ask my government if they realize that the prices of goods have been increasing steadily long before the increase in the CSC? What do you think is going to happen now that the increase has been implemented?

During this year-long pandemic, many of us have either been put on shift or have been laid off. Those on shift get paid only for those days that you work in some cases.

Regardless of how much government says it is giving those

who have been displaced, what you could have bought for $100.00 in the supermarket last month, you will struggle to get half of that now. How many people can make it out of the supermarket with a full bag of groceries? It wasn’t so long ago now we can hardly make ends meet.

The food bill is killing many of us, including people like me who support the government. We can bear only so much. Can our Government do something urgently about it?

for the Nurses EVEN THOUGH there are signs of reductions in positive cases of COVID-19, we know that it is here with us and will be for sometime.

And in our effort to combat the pandemic, much praises, admiration and appreciation must be extended to the nurses and the other front line health workers, for their dedication and professionalism during this trying time.

The nurses and other health workers, like all of us, are exposed to possible infection by the virus.

However, I do believe that the nurses and other health workers are more exposed to it and are at a higher risk, unlike some other classes of public servants, who work from their homes.

And even amidst all the hard work and dedication, giving services in some cases beyond their hours of work, we do not hear the nurses complaining. Some work an entire week, without complaining. This is indeed honourable and worthy of the highest commendation. I wish that we had more public servants, teachers included, who were as dedicated as these nurses. These nurses and other health workers put their lives and that of their families at risk, and they do so willingly and without complaining.

I do believe that many give their services because of love and not necessarily the financial benefits. It is unfortunate that in spite of their dedicated service, they do not receive the appreciation they deserve.

We must, therefore, say a big thank you to these wonderful persons and also seek to love and respect them.

I strongly recommend that at some point, nurses and the health workers who gave and continue to give tireless services during this pandemic, be given some (form of) national recognition.

Let us continue to remember in prayer our nurses and other health personnel who continue to serve us in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kennard King

Francis, S

Money ran out

Is it really ‘better together’?

IT IS CLEAR that financial resources are scarce at this time.

The cost of paying Workers and Pensioners is high. Hard area Allowances, Travel Allowances, Pay in Lieu of Private Practice, Telephone Allowance, Entertainment Allowance, House Allowance, Poor Relief, Life to Live, School Feeding Programs, Distribution of Lumber, Galvanize and Cement, Love Box, Hand Outs, Theft, Cost Overruns, Absenteeism, Idling On The Job, Sick Leave, Vacation Leave, Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave, Long Leave, Clothing Allowance, Waste, Misappropriation of Funds, Breakdown of equipment, Late Arrivals and Early Departures, Legal Fees for Lawsuits that there is no chance of winning, Excessive Vehicular Repairs caused by Pot Holes, Outstanding Taxes, Tax exemptions, Duty Free Concessions, Low Productivity, Poor Planning, Poor Internet Service, lack of reading, Unavailability of Information, Building Rentals, Unnecessary Regulations, Excessive Paper Trails, among others, contribute to Anthony Stewart, PhD the financial strain.

IT CAN BE fairly argued that one of the best recent examples of “faking it until you make it is” is what I understand to be currently happening in St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the telecommunications company — Digicel St.Vincent.

I understand that, on the heels of its 18th anniversary and the myriad amounts of money and prizes being given away, that a fair number of people are being fired. In addition to this, persons have reached out complaining of the very late payment of salaries. There has even been a report supposedly of a woman returning from maternity leave, to hear that her services were no longer needed.

But there are issues that seem to be affecting mostly the Digicel St.Vincent Ambassadors. Today, March 31, 2021, many have not received what was promised to them.

Most importantly, we are currently under an orange alert, and our volcano — La Soufriere, may erupt at any time.

What then will they do? How are these workers going to be properly prepared?

Unfortunately and interestingly enough, as I wrote this article, the messages streamed in and I was informed that allegedly, today March 31, 2021, 5 workers were fired — 3 from the Call Centre and 2 from the technical team.

One of the Ambassadors finally had this to say: “Look all other workers already

There is no doubt that we have to reduce spending and increase productivity. For Education, we may have to examine the Cuban Model where apparently, students are not allowed to fail. Our Education and Training need to be more targeted to fill the specific needs of the country. We need to survey our communities to determine the needs so that we create and fill jobs at the end of short- or longterm training.

Freedom, decentralization, and privatization all lead to efficiency of production. Individuals must be free to pursue their own goals, take responsibility for providing for their own families and not forced to depend on others for handouts.

The role of Government is to create a climate for productivity.

The current environment does not lend itself to self-sufficiency and ambition. Students at school must be taught Industry and Entrepreneurship. We need to believe in our people and give them the opportunity to create their own work and contribute positively to their families, villages and country.

got paid twice on our heads …. Digicel keeps pushing the ambassadors to give them 110%, bring in the money, work hard, give them how much posts and sales they ask for in a day but can’t give us our cash when its demanded”.

Digicel St. Vincent and the Grenadines, you have given St. Vincent and the Grenadines 18 years of good service and most importantly, offered an option when there was none. But your workers are inevitably your first customers. “Better Together”, your slogan, should be paired with the saying “charity begins at home”. Your workers are your family members. You must first serve them and serve them well.

Please pay your workers!

Christopher J. Grant

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10. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

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Ensuring a safe working environment for state employees

Tax increase during COVID-19 pandemic (pt 2)

Introduction

(Excerpts of Dr. Friday’s Press Conference)

THE COVID-19 pandemic continues to exact enormous strain on the resources of this country by the continued necessity of having to invest more in the area of health and economic relief of citizens. This reality is further exacerbated by the reduction in government’s revenue as a result of significant fall-off in tourism and other sectors that have experienced major disruptions. A regular update of the government’s financial position offered

by Prime Minister Gonsalves indicates that there continues to be a decrease in revenue, while on the other hand the government continues to increase its expenditure in an effort to cushion the economic impact on individuals whose jobs were affected. In April of 2020, following the declaration of a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the government announced a stimulus and recovery package of in excess of $75 million to address the challenges brought on by Covid-19. While the opposition NDP clamoured for a closing of our borders and accompanying lockdown, Comrade Ralph and the ULP strongly resisted those calls, knowing the effects such actions would have on the ability for many to feed themselves.

It was against this backdrop that the recovery and stimulus package was crafted, offering income support to individuals in the tourism and other sectors whose jobs were affected.

With the new year came additional challenges, as a spike in cases attributed to the activities of the Christmas season, created a situation where a number of government departments and schools were now unsafe because of the high infections rates. This threat to the safety of public sector workers at their work place, including schools, prompted the government to introduce a rotation system across the public sector where the departments’ population were reduced by half at any given time to ensure social distancing. The introduction of these measures also meant that schools remained closed for the entire second term so as not to jeopardise the health and safety of students and teachers.

to ensure that our population would have access to medication that would help to protect us from serious illness and possible death. Taking nothing for granted, it is clear that this Comrade Ralph and the ULP would do everything possible to protect the health of Vincentians through the implementation of relevant protocols and through vaccination once available.

Duty to provide a safe working environment

One of the common law duties of employers, including the government (the single largest employer in this country) is to provide a safe working environment for its employees, in this case public servants and teachers. The resumption of normal working schedule for public servants and the plans to re-open school must be done in a manner to ensure that the working environment is as safe as possible for employees and the general public. To this end, the government is encouraging all public servants, teachers, police and nurses to get vaccinated to protect themselves and those they interact with, against this deadly virus. With close to 30,000 students getting ready to go back to school it is important that the school environment be safe. This can be achieved through inoculation of employees with continued adherence to the protocols and through screening for infections until every employee is finally inoculated. The government’s policy to regularly test employees throughout the system who have not been inoculated is a reasonable measure to ensure that the school and work bubble do not become infected by employees unaware of their status. It would be impossible for the government as the employer to provide a safe working environment if the same employees making these demands refuse to get vaccinated and tested. This is a wholly unreasonable position held by some employees and Restoring a sense of normalcy runs counter to the demands of Union representatives for safety guarantees, The recent announcement by the as well as the very reasonable Ministry of Education that the expectations of parents and the tentative date of April 12, 2021 has general public to interact in safety at been set for the reopening of school, is schools and government departments. welcome news to the thousands of The presence of vaccines on island students who have had their offers an excellent chance for all education disrupted since the start of Vincentians especially employees in this pandemic. Students have already the public sector to protect themselves missed an entire term of face-to-face and ensure that the working learning, having to rely on online environment is safe for everyone. teaching/learning that was less than ideal owing to a number of Conclusion circumstances. Similarly, the period of rotation for public servants ended At this point, achieving population with a return to normalcy for all immunity is key to restoring a sense departments with strict protocols of of normalcy in this country. The mask wearing enforced to protect restoration of our tourism sector, the workers from infection at the robust return of the local economy, the workplace. The country was able to holding of festivals that generate get to this position when we can much economic activity and the safe attempt to restore some normalcy for and effective re-opening of schools, students and the public service depend on the health and safety of primarily because of the management Vincentians. Protecting our of the pandemic after the spike. The population from Covid-19 takes swift action taken by the government community effort as each Vincentian to expand the protocols to include takes responsibility for himself/herself public transport, indoor and outdoor and at the same time considers the gatherings, entertainment spots and interest of the society as a whole. Now restaurants and mask wearing in more than ever, we are required to act public places, all proved effective in in the best interest of this nation that flattening the curve and eventually we love, by protecting ourselves and reducing significantly the spread of our work places. In these the virus. While doing this excellent circumstances, the encouragement work, the government vigorously from the employer is to get pursued the procurement of vaccines vaccinated!

THE PEOPLE of this country are going through hell right now. We are going through a period of great economic pain and great uncertainty, brought about by the mismanagement of the economy by this government, and there is uncertainty about what the immediate future holds. We were put in this position by bad financial management, which was made a lot worse by the COVID-19 Pandemic and the way the government has mishandled it. The current outbreak of COVID-19 with the reluctant acknowledgment by the government of community spread, has clearly set us back even more.

Economic activity is directly affected by how the COVID-19 pandemic is handled in any given country. Simply put, the safer the people of the country feel the more they are inclined to engage in the normal economic activity. The outbreak in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has made people insecure and unwilling to engage in the usual activities that keep the economy moving. That is understandable, because personal health and safety come first.

The government should not be imposing more taxes on people now.

The people and economy cannot bear it. You don’t do it because you have the power to do it; government must look out for the people, especially now.

Governments all over the world are looking for ways to put money into citizens’ pockets, not take money out of their pockets.

Why is the St. Vincent and the Grenadines government not doing same? The government is walking to the wrong beat of the wrong drum. In other words, it is not in tune with the times. This tax is evidence of a government that is out of touch with the real situation of real people.

sufficiently informed and comfortable enough to be vaccinated. We need to do it to get our lives back and to get tourism back. But no one should threaten you about vaccination.

Proper information and the experience of those vaccinated here, I believe, will lead most people to vaccinate. No one should make offers that seem to be more political than based on public health concerns.

Carnival enticement Further enticement to young people that if young people become vaccinated they might have carnival this year, is trivializing the important decision to be made in becoming vaccinated. It also fails to recognize the effort and planning it takes to hold carnival, and does not appreciate the difficulties and feelings of those people directly involved in the various components of Carnival. To reduce it simply as an enticement to the young people to take the vaccine. You know that I feel it is best for there to be widespread Vaccination. But people need sound information that takes their concerns and fears into account and addresses them. The government must take it seriously and stop sending mixed messages about what needs to be done and why it needs to be done.

Mental Health Rehab Centre COVID Outbreak

The outbreak of COVID-19 cases at the Mental Health Centre is very worrying. We have not had a good explanation for it. The authorities have failed to protect a vulnerable population. Over 106 cases including staff and patients. If there is a silver lining to the crisis at the Mental Managing COVID-19 Vaccination Health Centre, it is this: the crisis must be used as an opportunity to The COVID-19 situation in St. take a close look at the way we treat Vincent and the Grenadines is worse mentally ill people at the Centre and now than it was any time last year. in St. Vincent and the Grenadines Despite the downplaying of the overall. For a long time, concerns situation by members of the have been raised about the care government, we must all know that the situation is still very bad and may provided at the Centre. There is still not get much better anytime soon. We no psychiatrist at the facility. Though improvements were made to the must continue to do the things that Centre, there is still overcrowding. We make us safe: wear masks in public; should use this as an opportunity to social distancing; wash hands commit to treating mental illness as regularly and cough safely. an illness and seek to provide The best medical and scientific advice is to use vaccination to combat treatment for sufferers.

COVID-19. This is the safest and School disruption and reopening fastest way to get back functional society and economy. In other parts of There is discussion about reopening the world, especially Europe, USA and schools.

Very important that we do so Canada, the pace of vaccination has but it can only be done if it is safe to accelerated. Those countries are do so. The current upsurge in COVIDlooking to open their economies and 19 cases here, and death of ten (10) societies sooner rather than later, people have understandably despite recent setbacks.

I know people have concerns about frightened people.

Thank God most people have the vaccines, some reasonable and responded by taking the necessary some based on unfounded theories measures to protect themselves and and disinformation. We must take others, especially by using masks. The matters seriously and inform Minister of Education must say how ourselves about vaccination from reputable and knowledgeable sources. we are going to reopen safely. As I Ask those people here who have been understand it, this is what teachers vaccinated about the process and how and parents are asking for: it is what is required. How will lost time be they came to decide to be vaccinated. made up? All important issues but no Then hopefully you will feel leadership in government.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021. 11.

Views

Better Listening Skills

Facts, Fiction, Informed Consent and Law

“Strong listening skills can make a critical difference in the performance of senior executives, but few are able to cultivate them.” Bernard T. Ferrari (born 1948) – Former dean of the Carey Business School of the John listen at the same time. As a result, Hopkins University, United States of we can make a concerted effort to talk America. less so that we can listen more. In addition, when we put ourselves in BERNARD T. FERRARI, former dean of the place of the person who is the Carey Business School of John speaking, and we understand and Hopkins University and author of “Powerful Listening: Mastering the Most appreciate that they need to be heard (just as we do), we are more likely to Critical business Skill of All”(ISBN engage in active listening.

9781591844624), asserts that good The story is told of a psychologist listening is hard work. He reminds us that it is not a passive activity and that who once had a client who asked his it involves asking questions, challenging wife, “How would you rate my all assumptions, and understanding the listening skills?” Without hesitation, she replied, “You are capable of context of every interaction. He notes that such an approach would encourage perceiving sound.” And while this business leaders and managers to make response may seem humorous, it better decisions. Conversely, individuals describes the situation that exists in many relationships — even among the who lack such skills tend to create closest and most intimate contacts. and/or sustain chaos within Sometimes, we (I include myself here) organisations.

The importance of developing good can become so consumed by the activities that we are engaged in that listening skills is not confined to the we hear what is said but we are not world of work. Our homes, schools, listening. We can be so distracted by churches, civic organisations, and other places where people congregate our thoughts, tasks to perform, can be much more productive if/when pending assignments, and so on, that we neglect to listen to our spouses, participants engage in active children, parents, co-workers, listening. Many misunderstandings neighbours, and friends. could be avoided and relationships Concentrating on what we are strengthened if/when we focus on hearing will assist us in becoming enhancing our ability to listen better listeners. As we focus on what intently when others are seeking to the speaker is saying we are more communicate with us.

Dr. Stephen Covey (1932-2012), in likely to avoid the distractions that are likely to emerge. To assist this his book “The 7 Habits of Highly process, there is value in looking at Effective People” (ISBN the person that we are conversing 9780613191456), reminds readers of with (except when we are driving and the importance of seeking first to need to keep our eyes on the road). understand then to be understood.

Unfortunately, in many conversations, Such “little courtesies” go a long way in letting the speaker know that we individuals engage in efforts to get are interested in what is being said. their points across to the other Additionally, we need to develop the participant and (regrettably) do not discipline of avoiding the temptation pay enough attention to listening intently in an effort to understand or to “get in sideways” whenever the speaker pauses. As we develop the appreciate the other person’s contribution to the discourse. In such skills and discipline of listening for ideas and not merely words, we are situations, we can understand why a better able to discover and appreciate discussion or conversation can be prolonged or can erupt in unnecessary the thoughts being shared. In doing so, we enhance the quality of the arguments. Covey reminds us that discourse. very often we limit our listening to The ideas/suggestions shared here glean enough to be able to respond are not new. Dale Carnegie (1888rather than truly listening to 1955), the American writer and understand the other person’s lecturer, espoused many of these in perspective. He noted that, “Most people do not listen with the intent to his 1936 best-selling publication entitled, “How to Win Friends and understand; they listen with the Influence People” (ISBN intent to reply.”

Dr. Michael P. Nichols (born 1945) 9780091906818). Over 30 million copies have been sold world-wide. in his book entitled, “The Lost Art of Carnegie asserts that, “Nothing Listening: How Learning to Listen happens when there is no listening.

Can Improve Relationships” (ISBN Learning is driven only by listening 9781593859862) , reminds readers and doing.” He stresses that high that it is relatively easy for quality listening includes engagement conversations to “go off rails” when there are deficiencies in listening. He involving five critical factors: understanding, feedback, guidance, observes that this is a common occurrence among couples, co-workers, support, and approachability. Guided by these pearls of wisdom, we can friends, and family members. The create and sustain better embarrassing and hurtful situations that may occur when such conditions relationships wherever people congregate (i.e., homes, workplaces, are evident could quite easily be etc.) as we enhance our avoided if/when we slow ourselves communication skills by developing down to be able to listen more better listening skills. intently.

We can all benefit from improving Send comments, criticisms & our listening skills. However, it suggestions to requires our making a conscious effort julesferdinand@gmail.com to do so. We are unable to talk and

CARRY ON JABBING. That is the message from the family, in the United Kingdom, of a solicitor who died from a blood clot on the brain after taking the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. They urged the public to ‘keep saving lives’ by continuing to receive the jab.

Neil Astles, 59, died on Easter Sunday after suffering from 10 days of worsening headaches and loss of vision.

His sister, Dr Alison Astles, told the Telegraph Thursday his family was ‘furious’ but wanted the public to continue taking the vaccine because ‘fewer people will die.’ She said her brother had been ‘extraordinarily unlucky.’

According to the Telegraph, Mr Astles is the first-named person in the UK suspected of dying from side-effects linked to the AstraZeneca jab. The British authorities announced Wednesday that healthy under-30s would receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines instead of AstraZeneca’s after regulators concluded there was a ‘strong possibility’ it had caused deadly blood clots.

Now, this is how information flows in a democracy. This is the level of transparency demanded of public officials carrying out policy, particularly related to a medical experiment.

Informed consent demands nothing less. Sadly, however, here in SVG, any reluctance from any section of the population is met with ridicule from that section of the people that supports mass vaccination or with hostility or threats of disciplinary against public workers who choose to exercise their constitutional rights as regards the autonomy and integrity of their bodies.

The government has a responsibility to protect all of its people in an emergency. Since March 2020, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic. During this period, the duties of the authorities increase. But emergencies do not confer powers on the government to bully or run roughshod over the population. The citizenry maintains all of their rights, especially here where the government has not legally invoked emergency powers through the declaration of a curfew or a state of emergency.

The demands for governments to act increase where across the world, more than a million people have died, and economies have been crippled. The poorer sections of the population have felt the pain, and more sadness and death may follow if we don’t get back to normal soon.

But people still have rights even though they can be limited.

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and the Privy Council have both said that ‘the right to equal protection of the law affords every person protection against irrationality, unreasonableness, fundamental unfairness or the arbitrary exercise of power.’

This is the high hurdle any government has to climb over before it can attempt to rough up, pressure, punish or interfere with citizens’ rights.

Threats and warning may even move sections of the population to do as the government likes or demands, but will these actions meet constitutional muster if challenged by others?

From an administrative law standpoint, has the government done all necessary before it enforces its desires on sections of the population? Has it given the requisite notices? Are the proposed directives reasonable? Could it properly tell an employee or any citizen to divulge its private and confidential medical records? Does such a demand fly in the face of the constitutional protection of the right to privacy? Is

there a slippery slope from which the citizenry may never recover if the government’s actions go unchallenged or if the government does not climb down from its high but unsettled, unstable position?

Are the government actions and responses regarding citizens’ fundamental rights reasonably justifiable in a democratic society, or are they arbitrary, capricious? Prime Minister Gonsalves is cocksure that they are, but his record in administrative law proceedings are dismal.

If challenged, will the government’s actions meet the high standard laid out by the Privy Council as recently as 2013: 1. Whether the objective of the measure is sufficiently important to justify the limitation on protected rights.

2. Whether the measure is rationally connected to the objective.

3. Whether a less intrusive measure could have been used without unacceptably compromising the achievement of the objective.

4. Whether balancing the severity of the measure’s effects on the rights of the persons to whom it applies against the importance of the objective, the former outweighs the latter to the extent that the measure will contribute to its achievement.

Based on this test, any government that acts as our government does will have a hard time convincing a Court that its actions are reasonable and not arbitrary.

How does testing bus drivers, conductors, teachers, police and civil servants rationally relate to thought out policy to fight the disease? Is there a plan to test or card passengers who enter public transportation, a student that enters a school, or a citizen who comes into contact with a public employee at his or her place of work?

Any objective look at the government’s actions points to a thinly disguised attempt to pressure citizens to take the vaccine. A more mature government response will go a long way in assisting it to win the population’s support. Everyone wants to go back to normal. People want jobs, and they don’t want to be sick or see love ones die.

But education rather than the big stick of threats and intimidation is the way to go. Tell citizens they have a fundamental right to conscience. Tell them about the risk they face with vaccines. You may even say that the risk is small as the British family said following the loss of their loved one, Neil Astles.

Instead, supporters of the government mindlessly claim that 12,000 persons have received the AstraZeneca vaccines and there has been no deaths and no adverse effects among our population. Do we have a registry to log complaints or concerns from those who partake in the experiment?

AstraZeneca Vaccine has been flagged in more than 20 European countries. Some countries refuse to give it to persons over 65, others refuse to administer it to persons under 55 years, and others forbid that it be given to children. Here we give it to everyone.

No warning. This is not science. This is a heartless, thoughtless belief that blind faith will see us through.

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

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12. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

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US$110 million for science university, not new Kingstown

IT HAS BEEN announced that a new port will be built in Kingstown. According to THE VINCENTIAN newspaper of 20th November 2020, the ULP regime indicated US$110 million would come from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), US$32 million as a grant from the CDB-administered United Kingdom infrastructure fund and a US$43 million contribution from the government of SVG. The Leader of SVG Green Party, Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, questions whether there is an essential need to develop a new Kingstown port, and believes the US$110 million would be of better use if it was invested in a science and technology university in SVG to serve our youth.

Has a cost benefit analysis been done to establish whether there is a need for this new port? Where is the cost benefit analysis report to prove

that a new port is needed and that a new port would create revenue for the country? The current Kingstown port has been adequate for years and the Camden Park port is under-utilised.

The opportunity cost of wasting millions of dollars on a new port rather than building a university for the people of SVG will be huge. It would be a travesty of justice against the young generation of SVG to throw away US$110 million on a new Kingstown port and not build a Science and Technology University.

Will this new port in Kingstown be yet more millions of dollars wasted by the ULP regime? The ULP regime has a track record of throwing away millions of dollars. The predicted collapse of the geothermal project is a very recent example of this. The equipment being transported from Soufriere to Kingstown was a vivid

The Vigilantes

by CARDEN MICHAEL THE VIGILANTES are sleeping; they are not paying attention to the critical issues of the day, such as unemployment, high cost of living, and the folks on the street corner begging for alms. The powers that be, drinking milk and honey in SVG have deafened their ears from the cries of the sufferers who drink acid-water at rumshops daily.

As I was walking through the village of Troumaca, I overheard a ‘drunkard’ saying he felt like picking

up his ‘pow-pow’ to make a statement; because he couldn’t bear what was going in the country. I recalled that when a man drinks, that’s when he speaks his mind.

The Pressure The pressure is on; government has increased a taxes on those who work for a pittance a day. Fredrick Douglas, the Afro-American abolitionist said, “Taxation without representation is tyranny.”

Mr. Gonsalves, the poor are paying

opportunities of employment are immense. SVG’s children could get highly-paid jobs throughout the world. illustration of failure by the ULP Generational poverty can be regime. EC$1.5 billion was thrown away on Argyle airport, which does not eliminated if a child gets a university raise enough money to pay its light bill degree, as children of graduate parents are more likely to become graduates and other operational costs. themselves.

A new port is yet again a sign that An Education For All (EFA) report the ULP regime does not have a clue shows that education generates about how to move SVG forward and productivity gains that fuel economic create a strong sustainable economy. growth. The EFA report shows that for Our country is in an economic and every US$1 spent on education, financial mess. Poverty, between US$10 and US$15 would be unemployment and crime are very high in SVG. A new port will not solve generated in economic growth. this.

Give the young generation of SVG a According to the United Nations life opportunity and build a science Educational, Scientific and Cultural and technology university, rather than Organisation (UNESCO), education is a new Kingstown port. Warrant crucial to poverty eradication. Not only Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal BSc (Hons), is education important in reducing MSc, MBA, Leader of SVG Green poverty, it is also the path to wealth Party, says that a university is needed creation. Education can lift a poor in SVG, not another port in child out of poverty for life.

Kingstown.

With a university degree, the justice. One such critical voice is that of Ivan O’Neal, who highlights the legacy of slavery that ensues in Mustique. It is a fact that “negroes” are hired to serve, cook, and wash white people’s dirty laundry. However, A Returnee there are apathetic negroes, along with some white-folks on mainland St. As I pursue my grassroots journalism, I asked a returnee what he Vincent, who have the same Massa attitude to keep the unprivileged thought about SVG’s economy. “negroes” in their place. Remember, a His response: “Boy, the country man could only oppress you if you act hard .. people are suffering! Every like a slave. time ah walk through Kingstown, people keep begging me. Even though some may try to put on a good face by The Misguided Leaders trying to suppress the pain and Those nefarious politicians who anxiety that plagues the mind, they allowed Kingstown to be sold to are suffocating slowly by the hardship, foreigners who now have a big hand in implemented by the government the commerce in the city, yardstick.” have done a disservice to their The returnee is a Pan-Africanist; he country.

Those vile, wicked leaders transcends gutter politics and doesn’t could never be true patriots. They are get caught up in partisan politics. a hindrance to developing the nation.

For us to survive, we must become It Rough! entrepreneurs that generate capital to build a viable economy. We can’t In SVG, the unemployed seem to depend on the Lebanese, Syrians, equal to those who are employed.

Chinese or the Taiwanese to solve our I can see a tarnished look on the economic pollution. We will have to surrounding of many neighborhoods. find the solution. We can do it like Evidently, throughout the land, there people everywhere who find it are itchy dogs roaming the street necessary to reevaluate their lifestyle looking for something to eat. The and their attitude to the dollar, i.e. suffering people can’t feed the making the dollar work for them. vigilante-doggie that guards the yard I’m sure that if Chatoyer, George at night. So the malnourished dogs are Mc Intosh and Ebenezer Joshua were acting like bandits, eating the here, they would be displeased with struggling farmers’ animals to stay our hogwash leaders. alive. too many taxes in this country; the underprivileged are feeling the wrath of your taxation. I beg you, listen to the cries of the poor!

Kingstown Even Kingstown looks like it has been battered by a severe drought that has hit the farmland. Oh, yes, Kingstown stinks; it needs a bath. Our capital used to be a clean, decent city, full of good vibes. But the rich harmonic, rhythmical vibes have disappeared. Who is to be blamed for the deplorable conditions of Kingstank {Kingstown}? Some say it’s ‘Mitchie’ others blame ‘Gunzie’.

The Critical Voices We have heard the many critical voices — voices barking loudly for

The Proverbial Messenger Now that we have heard the cries and lamentation of the people, we must find the solution to ease the sighing and frustration caused by past and present misguided politician.

The only solution is unity.

Gonsalves doesn’t have the answers neither do the preachers who propagate a Europe-centric gospel. We can only do it by joining hand in hand, strengthening muscles to rebuild an economy damaged by corrupt leaders.

As we grapple with a high cost of living and taxation, it is time to reflect on the current situation bombarding this nation.

I leave with, One Love!!!

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021. 13.

Arts

Some members of the SHESO Inc. at last Sunday’s Church Service.

Creative Theatre on the decline

ONE OF THIS even further down a country’s cultural precipice than we are icons- David ‘Darkie’ right now,” Williams Williams is not asserted. impressed with the Williams reflected on current state of the times when St Theatre in St Vincent and the Vincent and the Grenadines’ Theatre Grenadines. was a beacon in the In fact, Williams, Eastern Caribbean. who has been in “At one point in the Theatre for the past history of the arts, in 47 years, expressed the past century, St a dim view of the Vincent and the artform, when he Grenadines was at the spoke with THE top of the OECS as it VINCENTIAN last related to Theatre and Tuesday.

Theatre was all forms “There has been a …The traditional steep decline in the culture of the people, quality of what we something you didn’t present and I don’t have to choreograph … know, and I The Tea Meetings, the certainly don’t want Mock Hangings and to apportion blame, things like that David ‘Darkie’ Williams but it is something …Throughout the lamented what passes for that I see developing OECS, St Vincent and ‘good Theatre’ in today’s among Vincentians the Grenadines was at SVG. now where they the top … SVG was know and therefore, responsible for hosting do not want to be taught,” Williams and encouraging several regional assessed. organisations for Theatre,” Williams Identifying some of the kinks in the reminisced. artform, Williams disclosed, “There “What we did as Popular Theatre are certain fundamentals of Theatre, back then is being used by several if you don’t know those fundamentals … if you want to continue in Theatre universities around the world as Community Theatre,” Williams then you should teach them.” informed.

In that regard, the veteran, And, although the gloom may seem versatile culture man disclosed that to be descending on the horizon, he has met strong resistance, Williams believes that this period of whenever he sought to pass on his the pandemic (COVID-19), is an wealth of knowledge. opportune for persons in the Ministry “Attempting to be the teacher has brought a lot of negative responses to of Culture to use for the good, by engaging Theatre groups in training me and there are several people who their members in the art of Creative in St Vincent and the Grenadines want to continue doing Theatre, but it Theatre.

Williams who is playwright, poet, is not something that can be done actor, drummer, pannist, dancer, has personally or singularly,” he pursued training at the University of complained. the West Indies, the Edna Manley “We are at a situation where once School of Performing Arts as well as people are capable of learning some the John F Kennedy School of words and go up on the stage and Performing Arts in Washington. recite them, you are supposed to He is also an Assessor for the accept that as the best the country has to offer as Theatre….. Unless that Theatre Arts Caribbean Examinations stops we are really going to plummet Council exams.

SHESO unveils 40th Anniversary plans THE SION HILL EUPHONIUM STEEL ORCHESTRA (SHESO) INC. will, until December of this year, host activities to commemorate its forty years of existence.

The theme for the Ruby Anniversary is ‘Celebrating our Culture, Preserving our Future’.

Plans for the list of celebratory activities were unveiled by Chair of the SHESO- Warren Knights at a Press Conference last Tuesday, at the Peace Memorial Hall, Kingstown.

Knights said that the anniversary celebrations commenced last Sunday with a Church Service at the Kingstown Methodist Church, with the Press Conference being the second.

Last Tuesday night’s episode of Round Table Talk on VC3 featured Knights, Tillal Webb, the orchestra’s Captain, along with founding members Earl Bennett and David ‘Darkie’ Williams, as they traced the journey of the organisation.

In outlining the rest of the plans, Knights disclosed, “On May 24th, Whit Monday, we are planning what is called a Night Mas Walk… We are hoping that by August everyone will be vaccinated and we can hold a Beach Splash at the Sion Hill Beach.”

The SHESO Inc. Chair related that the organisation will stay with its Graduation Ceremony of their Annual Summer Training Programme in the month of September.

“In October, we usually have our Pan Jamboree, but this year we will forgo that and replace it with a Beauty Pageant - we are hoping to crown the Queen of Steel… In November, we are hoping to have a Sports/Games Day….

Rodney Small

Warren Knights with emphasis on bring out families,” Knights explained.

A Pan Concert scheduled for 18th December will culminate the anniversary celebrations.

Knights underscored that the activities are all dependent on the COVID- 19 situation.

Meanwhile, President of the Youlou Pan Movement (YPM) Rodney Small, a former member of the SHESO Inc. commended the organisation for reaching its Ruby Anniversary.

“You have come to a very important milestone in your life and the life of the organisation... I urge you to take away the memories and experiences, do not take for granted what you’re accomplishing today,” Small advised.

And he challenged the organization, saying, “I challenge you to be professional, optimistic, practise of them promotes your plan. Be consistent, network, and continue to be community-oriented to the management of various communities …

As we look to the future, realize that you have the power to create a larger

vision for this institution and continue to manifest greatness throughout the upcoming year.”

The YPM President also urged SHESO to pay very close attention to the where the industry is heading and to align with the innovations within the industry.

Apart from Knights and Small, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture- Hon. Carlos James, Chairman of the Carnival Development Corporation — Ricardo Adams; Manager of FLOW SVG- Wayne Hull and former President of the Sion Hill Sports and Culture Club- Cleve Lewis, also gave remarks at Tuesday’s Press Conference.

The Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra Inc. was founded on 4th April 1981. The senior band prides itself in participating in every Panorama competition since its inception during which it has won eight senior Panorama titles, including a historic six consecutive wins from 2009 to 2014.

In addition, the Junior Orchestras became the first to complete a hattrick of wins, doing so in 2003 to 2005.

SHESO boasts an active membership of well over 150.

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14. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Soufrière Focus

Emergency Shelters and COVID-19

Below: If all goes according to plan, this type of mass gathering at an emergency shelter during the 1979 eruption, will be avoided.

Michelle Forbes, Director of Nemo, and host Theresa Daniel during the March 31st episode of Round Table Talk, during which the issue of COVID-19 protocols at emergency shelters was addressed.

Stories by GLORIAH...

explosive eruption of the La Soufrière Volcano.

The National Emergency NEMO Director Michelle Management Organisation Forbes, speaking on VC3’s (NEMO) has identified some 106 Round Table Talk on emergency shelters in the Wednesday, 31st March, constituencies of South Central looked at the measures put in Windward, South Windward, place to minimize the spread East St. George, West St. of the COVID-19 virus during George, Marriaqua, Kingstown, the evacuation process and at South Leeward, and Central the shelters.

Leeward, in readiness to “Definitely COVID-19 relocate persons in the Red and protocols will be in effect,” she Orange Zones in the first said. “We have already instance, in the event of an worked out with the Ministry

of Health, the Ministry of Education and all our shelters, because not only schools are emergency shelters. If you are going into the emergency shelters, the COVID-19 protocols will be in effect.

You have to wear your mask going to the shelter and while in the shelter also.”

She reiterated NEMO’s policy of encouraging keeping family members together (in one unit, and addressed the issue of spacing. “As for the spacing in the shelters, we have reduced the number of persons assigned to shelters because it’s in a COVID environment, and we have to avoid the overcrowding…,“ she explained.

When persons/families get to the emergency shelters, the shelter managers will assign them their space. Prescribed distances between individual family groups will be indicated, Forbes added.

Ms. Forbes advised that persons who have already had their vaccines and have to go into shelters, will have to show their vaccination card.

“You’ll be registered and entered into the shelter but other persons who have not had their vaccines, they will be given a rapid test, an

antibody test, to determine their status at that time,” the Director further explained.

Only after persons have cleared the protocol and are duly registered will they be directed to their designated spaces (in the shelters).

The Director took the opportunity to encourage persons to get vaccinated especially during this period when the volcano is still in an effusive state of eruption.

Speaking specifically to persons living in the Red and Orange Zones, Forbes pleaded, “In terms of the vaccine, if you are living in the Red and Orange Zones now, and you know that you will have to be evacuated, I will strongly recommend that you take the vaccine. ….. . You’re getting into shelters living in a communal environment, try

and protect yourself a little bit more ….. and (the vaccine) could reduce the chances of the virus affecting you… .”

Forbes also ensured that, “… shelter managers and persons who are volunteering within the shelter will also have their personal protective equipment to protect them.

We are just asking persons to cooperate: make sure that you have your mask, your sanitizer, you observe the protocols and the hygiene practice in the emergency shelters just as you would at home.”

No evacuation order or notice has been given but NEMO continues to encourage persons living in communities close to the volcano to heighten their preparedness, in case there is need to evacuate at short notice.

Communications: Vital during an eruption IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING that communication is vital during any natural disaster, and specifically as it relates to guaranteeing a successful and easier transition during an evacuation that is occasioned by an explosive eruption of the La Soufrière volcano here.

Preparation must be made for a possible downing mainstream communications, e.g. telephone, during a national emergency like a volcanic eruption.

Recognising that with the recent heightened activity at the La Soufrière Volcano, communities in the Red and Orange zones are now on high alert in the event that there is to be a short-notice evacuation order, National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) Director, Michelle Forbes gave viewers to VC3’s Round Table Talk on Wednesday, 31st March, some indication of the status of communications preparedness.

“There are two (local) radio stations that have been part of our emergency protocol,” Forbes disclosed, and named NBC Radio and WE FM accordingly.

She described these stations as “volunteering stations” since, as she explained, there is no law that makes radio stations obligated to joining a national emergency effort.

Information, Forbes added, could also be had from the social media pages of NEMO and The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI SRC).

Additionally, there is the CAP.CAP App which can be downloaded from Google Play and which gives out early warnings and alerts to communities, “consistently alerting people in time.”

This App is said to be “the fastest and the most reliable way of receiving important notifications.”

Ms. Forbes also made mention of radio frequencies.

“Any persons who have VHF radios, all agencies who are connected to our VHF system, we can actually give that blast if something has happened, across to everybody who has that particular radio.”

In an earlier broadcast (March 10), the NEMO Director informed that these radios had been installed in government vehicles (Police, NEMO, Ministry of Health, and attention was expected to be given to installing them at Police Stations and Health Clinics.

THE VINCENTIAN understands this measure to be part of NEMO’s Emergency Community Network which is still undergoing implementation and testing for efficiency.

Additionally, there is the network of amateur radio (Ham) operators who are grouped in a national organization - the Youlou Radio Movement (YRM), formerly the Rainbow Radio

League (RRL), of which Mr. Donald De Riggs is its Director.

When THE VINCENTIAN spoke to Mr. De Riggs he said, inter alia, that with an active membership of about fifty spread throughout SVG, they function mainly from their homes, but can also operate during an emergency from a car, boat or even a plane.

He explained that Ham radios are significantly important when or if the national telephone system collapses.

And in addition to keeping in contact with one another, De Riggs disclosed that, “Since the effusive eruptions began last December, the YRM has been in contact with radio operators from CDEMA’s Communication Unit and other regional Disaster Management organizations, twice daily.

“The main purpose is to keep communication lines open … and to have an

Donald De Riggs, Director of Youlou Radio Movement, pointed to the vital role Ham operators can play during a national disaster, especially when the telephone system breaks down. operating wireless connection with agencies that can assist,’ De Riggs said.

The YRM is a voluntary organisation which is a member of NEMO’s Telecom sub-committee.

V Earthquake activity heightens

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021. 15.

Soufrière Focus

THIS COUNTRY is said to have recorded close to 500 earthquakes between 6:30am and 4:00pm on Monday 5th April 2021, all associated with the ongoing activity at La Soufrière Volcano.

And while the experience was not new to persons in the North Windward area — Sandy Bay to Fancy - persons on the Leeward side, Chateaubelair in particular, reported feeling the earthquakes for the first time.

One resident of Sandy Bay confirmed that the quakes started around 6:00 pm and continued throughout the day, with one of the “heaviest”

coming at around 2:00 pm.

As a result, residents in the North Windward area are taking the alerts seriously and have readied themselves for a swift evacuation if the need arises.

Responding to the recent swarm, Professor Richard Robinson, Head of The UWI Seismic Research Centre Volcano Monitoring Team, Geologist, said that the most recent increase in seismic activity at La Soufrière volcano is an indication that the volcano is looking to become explosive.

Professor Robertson that what persons felt on

Residents of Sandy Bay reported feeling the quakes from as early as 6:00pm on Monday.

Left: Strengthened of the effusive eruption is informing the monitoring team about further possible activity.

Monday was Volcanotectonic (VT) earthquakes which are caused by magma or molten rocks from the

ground trying to get to the surface.

The swarm of VT earthquakes “are indicating to us that

there is a pool of magma that is trying to get through,” said the Professor.

He, however, calmed whatever growing fears there might have been, by assuring that based on Monday’s activity, the magma does not have enough energy to become explosive; it is just simply oozing out.

“Now if there is fresher magma… more

energy, more gas in it, there is a possibility that it could affect the speed at which materials are coming out and it could cause an explosion to happen,” Professor Robinson assessed.

That said, he reiterated that persons living close to the volcano should continue to be in a heightened state of readiness, to move at short notice.

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16. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

Soroptimists donate to female prisoners The presentation party (left to right) Aveng Murphy, Timothy Hazelwood Sup’t of Prisons, Ikarmola Laborde - President of Soroptimist Intl SVG and Cassandra McFee - Matron of Female Prison.

by GLORIAH…

Chapter of Soroptimist International (SVGSI), as FEMALE INMATES of Her part of the Chapter’s Majesty’s Prisons received project: ‘Standing up for donations of personal Women Behind Bars’. items from The St. Vincent The presentation was and the Grenadines made on April 1 by

SVGSI PresidentIkarmola Laborde and was received by Matron of the Female Prison Cassandra McFe, in the company of Superintendent of

Prisons Timothy Hazelwood and prospective Soroptimist International member, Aveng Murphy.

On accepting the packages on behalf of the female inmates, Matron McFee lauded the organization for its generosity and expressed gratitude for the gifts which, she said, will contribute in a meaningful way to satisfying the Personal needs of the recipients.

President Laborde told THE VINCENTIAN that the ‘Standing up for Women Behind Bars’ project was launched on 25th November, 2019, with the initial idea being to deal with health-related issues with the women and to teach them life skills.

With only one session completed, the project was interrupted with the

arrival of COVID-19.

But, LaBorde said, “We decided to continue reaching out to the women and as we knew that Easter is a special time for Vincentians, we decided as a club to give them toiletries, with COVID-Packs: sanitizers, masks and so on. All these items were donated by members.”

The President was quite emotional when she related her impressions upon handing over the items.

“This was a special donation because, to see the faces of the women and how grateful they were to receive these items; for them to know that, even though they are behind bars there are still people out there who will stand up for them, who will support them and help them to get

better, who will help them to fit better into society when they come out, that was special about that project,” she shared.

According to the Soroptimist International St. Vincent and the Grenadines Facebook page, “Soroptimist International is a vibrant, dynamic organisation for today’s professional and business women.”

The organization is “committed to a world where women and girls together achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in creating strong and peaceful communities worldwide.”

In that sense, Soroptimists are mandated to enable, educate and empower.

FCIB supports purchase of vaccines CIBC FIRSTCARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL BANK recently donated EC$54,000 to the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines, as the country continues its nationwide Covid-19 vaccination campaign.

This is part of the bank’s campaign around the region, through its charitable arm the FirstCaribbean International ComTrust Foundation, to support the purchase of vaccines in an effort to fight against the pandemic.

Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago have all benefited from donations to their respect national vaccination programmes.

“It is in these times that we come together and do what we can to assist the efforts of our nation to fight this pandemic. The fight against COVID19 is far from over so we see it as a responsible corporate citizen, to support the Government’s efforts in ensuring the safety of the people, many of whom are our clients, customers, our team members, our friends and our families,” said Country Head, CIBC FirstCaribbean St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Shelly Ann Samuel.

“It is imperative that we rally

Shelly Ann Samuel, Country Head, CIBC FirstCaribbean, St Vincent and the Grenadines Office (left) and Acting Prime Minister Montgomery Daniel at the presentation of the donation. behind the vaccination programme so that those persons who wish to be vaccinated can do so.”

Samuel also thanked the staff of the bank, whom she said, despite difficult circumstances due to the pandemic, continued to ensure that their clients and customers had access to their banking needs.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, the local branch participated in relief operations including distribution of supermarket/food gift vouchers to those in need. Regionally, the bank donated USD$250 000 last March spread across its 16-member regional footprint to assist health officials in purchasing testing supplies, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other supplies. (Source: FCIB)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021. 17.

Tribute

Wishing you were here, Suzie

pandemic and the effusive eruption of the volcano, I have been thinking of my sister Suzan, who we lost almost five years ago to Breast Cancer. What would it have been like to be restarting my life in SVG and having Suzan Skeete her around to help, to criticize, and to argue MOVING ON!!! We’ve always been fascinated by with, as I refurbished my how people actually do it. space in the family house. For those of you How does someone move on from loss, move who knew her, you know it would only be a matter on from heartbreak, of time before we clashed move on from and yes, she would have disappointment? Being good at “moving on” is an won as she always did.

One thing she always art - and one worth mastering if you want to knew how to do was win live a good, long life filled an argument with her brother. with joy, meaning, Cancer took her purpose, and gratitude. almost five years ago. I “To let go does not mean to get rid of. To let don’t mean to be callous go means to let be. When or insensitive to all the people who have lost we let be with compassion, things come someone from COVID-19, but I cannot help but ask and go on their own.” the question: Why a —Jack Kornfield.

All through the chaos vaccine for COVID-19 was developed in less of the COVID-19

than a year and we are still waiting for a cure for breast cancer? Could the answer lie in the fact that this is something of which 99% of its victims are women?

I am pleased to see that we have finally developed a treatment centre in Georgetown; a little late for her but it’s not only about me. I am still struggling to understand, the low level of care offered to those among us in need. It seems to me that we are not in this fight to win it.

We seem to have settled for “something is better than nothing”. We must be in it to win; it is not sufficient to go to bed at night and say, “Well, we did as much as we can with what we have”.

This month Suzan would have been 52 years old. I can’t help but think about everything that she missed since she was taken from us. I would give everything to have

an argument with her about wearing a mask and sanitizing her hands every time she turned around, Lol. I know now what she would have said about taking the “jab”; the smell of boiled moringa tree leaves, lemon grass, ginger and garlic would have been

all over the house. Yes, that would have been another argument between us, and my other sister Ophelia would have been no help to me either.

Most of all I miss her for all the small silly things we did together, and the moment when

we knew exactly what each of us was thinking without saying a word to each other, and the conversations that started, “I knew what you were thinking”.

Continue to sleep in peace my sister.

Horatio

18. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021. 19.

Regional

LIAT pilots: Ex-gratia payment not enough IN A MEMORANDUM dated April 1, 2021 and circulated to its members, president of the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA) Patterson Thompson described the ex-gratia payments, promised by the Barbados government, as falling short of what is due to the severed pilots.

In fact, Thompson accused Barbados and the three other LIAT shareholder governments - Antigua and Barbuda, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica - of leaving the regional pilots in the cold.

The promise of an ex-gratia payment was broached by Barbados’ Attorney General Dale Marshall, who told that country’s Parliament during its debate on the Estimates, that some of the terminated Barbadian employees who worked for LIAT and who should have been paid by the Antiguan government, would shortly receive an ex-gratia pay, the details of which he promised would be made known to the public in a few days.

But the LIALPA president is suggesting that Barbados and the other three major shareholder governments needed to do much more to ensure that all the pilots received the entitlements due to them.

“To be left in the cold by four governments who have used their power to find ways around the limited liability laws to keep an insolvent company operating, serving their purposes, and then hiding behind the same laws to avoid paying severance to the terminated workers, leaves an extremely bitter taste in our mouths…”

Thompson also observed that April 1, 2021 was one year since 77 pilots

Patterson Thompson, President of the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA), has reiterated a call for full payment of severance owing to LIAT pilots. (Photo Credit: Barbados Today) were temporarily terminated by LIAT 1974 Limited, and pointed out that in that period, more pilots met the same fate.

These dismissals were all in contravention of the collective agreement between the association and the company, Thompson contended.

Thompson also reported that an unproductive meeting was held with the Antigua and Barbuda government and the Administrator on the same anniversary date of the termination of the 77 pilots.

He said that while many questions were still unanswered, LIALPA had been assured that the government has replied to a letter from the union for additional information and that that correspondence was pending.

(Source: Barbados Today)

20. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021. 21.

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22. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

They donÊt care Dear George,

I HAVE BEEN under a lot of stress lately.

I told my father I was going to kill myself and he just looked at me then walked out of the room without saying anything.

I said the same thing to my step mother who told me that she has more important things to worry about.

I thought I could trust my parents to give me deserving attention, but I have found out they do not care whether I live or die.

It has been three years since my mom took her own life. She lived overseas at the time. Whenever the anniversary of her death comes around, I get very depressed.

Why do I get the feeling that I am living in a world filled with fake people? Maybe you can give me some answers and hope.

On the edge Dear On the edge,

The good news is there are people around who are real and would help you if only they are given the chance to.

The anniversary of the death of your mom can cause you to become depressed. It could be that your dad and step mom do not realize this and are taken up with their own issues.

I urge you not to stop reaching out for help. Get in touch with a counsellor immediately. The people at Marion House can assist you at this critical moment in your life. A counsellor will be able to help you communicate your feelings and need for attention from your parents.

Where there is life there is always hope.

George

What a friend!!!

I thought this man was my friend and I A MAN I trusted just did thought my girlfriend loved me beyond me the worse thing imaginable. He took my measure.

What else is there for girl away from me and me to do than go and sit worse, is pretending as n the prison? though it never happened. He continues Breaking point to laugh with me as though we are good.

Dear Breaking point, To be honest, I am thinking I should deal This friend of yours with both of them on her did not take your birthday, in such a way girlfriend. She went to that neither of them him. He could not take would be good for the her if she refused his other.

Dear George,

advances.

Taking matters in your own hands in an attempt to get even will not cut it. The pain would still be there and you will be worse off for it.

Take the high road and get someone who can return the love that you just might be still able to give.

If you need to talk about it some more then go see a counsellor.

Good luck.

George

Barking up the wrong tree Dear George, MY WIFE is over fiftyfive years old and counting. We are married for 28 years and yet she is not leveling with me as far as sex is concerned. All of a sudden, she is reluctant to have sex, her excuse being that it is painful.

How could sex be painful for her and she is not a virgin?

Another thing is she gets very angry at me for nothing. This tells me she is fed up with me.

Could she be seeing someone else?

Wondering Dear Wondering, Your wife is not seeing another man. Her complaints of pain

during sex could be valid as vaginally dryness can occur during menopause, and it is possible she could be experiencing menopause.

Do some reading on

menopause. With that understanding you will be able to support your wife rather than accuse her.

George

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Travel should be on your agenda. You may find that someone at work hasn't been trustworthy. Focus, and concentrate on yourself and your future.

Don't make mountains out of molehills if you want to avoid conflict.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) You should include children in your activities. You can make changes that will enhance your appearance. Stay out of other people's affairs. You'll find it easy to charm members of the opposite sex this week.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Try to keep any mood swings under control; they may result in alienation.

You may find that your plans will cost a little more than you had expected. This is a good day to check out your investments.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) You may have the day off but your thoughts will be on your work and your cash situation. Don't be too open or put your faith in unreliable coworkers. Your greatest enjoyment will come through social activities and pleasure trips.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Caustic language may cause you to want to get out of the house. You need to be careful not to make promises that you can't fulfill. Be inquisitive about unfamiliar circumstances. Opportunities to get ahead will be evident.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Go to the top if you're being harassed or held back. Chances to express your ideas and beliefs can bring popularity as long as you're not arrogant. You need some help this week.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You may want to tell someone how you really feel. You should consider submitting some of your written work for publication. You will find it easy to learn and excel. Travel may be confusing.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Get on with your life. You can get support from groups that you belong to if you're willing to step out on a limb and voice your opinions. You will be emotional with regard to your personal life.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Avoid getting involved with married individuals. You need to pamper yourself for a change. Sit back. This is a good day to check out your investments.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) A friendship might suffer if money becomes an issue. Educational courses will be stimulating and successful. Loved ones may be annoyed if they feel restricted. You would be best to work late in order to avoid such disharmony.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) You may be able to get some good advice about your personal problems.

Take a second look; difficulties with appliances, water, or electricity in your home may be evident. You can make money if you are careful not to let it trickle through your fingers.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Romantic opportunities are evident. Your depressed mood has been hard to shake.

A need to express yourself may come out in creative ways. Talk to someone with experience about budgets or consolidating debts.

ACROSS 1. Foldaway 56-Across 4. Crow sound 7. Urgent petition 11. Stand serving 12. Mecca inhabitant 14. Melon discard 15. Air on cable 17. Probabilities 18. Free (of) 19. Youthful fellow 21. Grocery wagon 23. Supervisors 26. Bonfire timber 27. Tall tales 29. Grid official 31. Fury 32. Request charity 33. Reef-dwelling fish 34. Writing instrument 35. Trombone metal 37. Shed tears 38. Lightning flash 40. Model sets 42. Relieved sigh 43. Military conflict 44. Thin branch 47. Stirs up 52. Regained consciousness 53. Lion’s neck hair 54. Digusted comment 55. Possessed debts 56. Sleep spot 57. Male child

7. Nudges 8. Pan cover 9. Final chapter 10. Commercials 13. Fits in 16. Do wrong 20. Braying pack critter 21. Apple centers 22. Hollywood representative 23. Fall apart 24. Upright 25. Clairvoyant DOWN folks rim Cup 26.

1. Household pet 28. Bible patriarch 2. Complimentary poem 3. __ Aviv, Mideast metropolis 30. Winged insect 35. Humorous 4. Dental target Arthur 5. Lacking rain a rink Used 36.

6. Had being

39. Stormed (about) 41. Rhyming Gershwin 43. Banquet quaff 44. Six minus four 45. Amazed exclamation

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021. 23.

46. 1950s President, familiarly 48. Chatter idly 49. Bathing fixture 50. Freudian interest 51. Bashful

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24. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Seventy-year-old cyclist completes Hill Climb

Leroy Constantine during his climb last Monday.

IT IS SAID, “If you fall down, get back up”, and that is what Leroy Constantine did last Monday, as he fulfilled his promise of mounting the steep Greiggs to Maroon Hill route.

The 70 year-old Constantine has

made this climb his annual contribution to mark National Heroes Day, 14th March, but was unable to do so this year, hence his effort last Monday.

However, mid-way into Constantine’s climb on Monday, he was unable to negotiate a pot hole and fell in the process.

Unfazed by the mishap, Constantine, after a routine health check, re-mounted his bicycle and continued his climb. When he reached the top of Maroon Hill, the clock had stopped at 7 minutes 15 seconds.

Despite the truncated ride, Constantine’s time showed an improvement over the 7 minutes 59 seconds done on 26th March, 2017.

At the end of the event, Constantine noted: “I am a man with determination so I was not giving up at all.”

That was his response as he reflected on the fact he fell about two-thirds on the climb.

Constantine disclosed that he felt strong enough to resume, as the support from his well-wishers, close friends, members of his family and co-workers gave him that extra zest.

Never daunted by the proposition, Constantine said he was physically and mentally prepared for the climb, a proposition by which he was never daunted.

“I did one or two training on some

Constantine (left standing first row), surrounded by well- wishers, family members, co-workers and close friends last Monday. hills … Up to yesterday (Sunday), I went up to Fort Charlotte and on Good Friday, I went Montrose (riding up) the big hill from NEMO, so I had confidence that I would have made it today by the blessing of the Almighty,” Constantine related on Monday.

Constantine, in a previous interview, revealed that he began riding (bicycles) in 1961 and first represented St Vincent and the Grenadines in the sport in 1982, at the age of 31.

Constantine is proud that he stuck to the sport, outlasting many of his contemporaries.

He is also elated that he is the longest serving cyclist and the oldest active cyclist in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The evergreen Constantine competed in a Hill Sprint put on by the SVG Cycling Union in June of last year, and promises to enter future races, once competitions recommence.

Cycling lessons for Bequia youngsters

Young cyclists putting into practice balancing techniques.

A GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS, mainly from the Paget Farm area in Bequia and who are part of Grassroots Cycling Programme on the island, have expressed delight with their recent exposure to the basic art of cycling.

Facilitated by the SVG Cycling Union, with financial help from the SVG Olympic Committee, the Programme

takes place once per week at the hardcourt and playing field in Paget Farm.

For Romaine Hutchinson, his delight is that he has learnt better control of his bicycle.

“Since I am in the programme, I have become a better rider, because I have learnt how to control my bike… I am able to ride

around corners better now,” the 13-year-old Hutchinson disclosed.

Similarly, 15-year-old Jordan Hazell is lapping up all that is on offer in the programme.

“It is a nice programme as it is getting more youths into riding… For me I am better at cornering and overall a better rider now,” Hazell expounded, adding that since he has been in the programme, he has been paying greater attention to safety.

“I make sure that I wear my helmet and always check my brakes before I go riding,” Hazell said.

Meanwhile, Royal Boatswain who views cycling as fun exercise, is nonetheless, grateful for the knowledge he is gaining from the weekly training.

Cyclists taking instructions on safety from Zefal Bailey (arm outstretched).

Unsure if he will take up Cycling as a competitive sport, Boatswain disclosed that with every session he is getting more enthused.

The weekly sessions are conducted by Zefal Bailey and Delano Wilson, both senior cyclists of the SVG Cycling Union.

President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cycling Union — Trevor Bailey revealed that the Programme will be extended in the upcoming weeks, to accommodate prospective young cyclists who live in Port Elizabeth and its environs.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021. 25.

Sports

Davis heads Caribbean Special Olympics Committee

TERRANCE DAVIS, well-known Special Olympics pioneer here and in the Caribbean, a Special Olympian himself, and a dedicated advocate on behalf of the Differently Abled, has been appointed Chairman of the Sports Training Committee of the Special Olympics Caribbean Initiative.

The Committee is mandated, among other things, to organize training programmes for National Directors, Board Chairs and Sports Directors serving National Special Olympics Associations across the Caribbean.

This recent elevation adds another prestigious achievement to Davis’s portfolio, who already holds the position of Sports Director for the Special Olympics SVG, and is the Athlete Representative for the Caribbean on the Northern American Athlete Leadership Council.

When THE VINCENTIAN caught up with Davis to congratulate him, he said he was honoured to hold such positions and was looking forward to continue to serve the sports and the athletes.

SOSVG Joseph hopeful activities will resume SEZEVRA JOSEPH, National Director of Special Olympics St Vincent and the Grenadines (SOSVG), is anxious to see the recommencement of activities for local-based Special Olympians/Special Needs Athletes.

“At the moment our athletes are at home. The most we are able to do with them is to make sure they’re healthy. Most of them would want to come out to play, but we know that with the COVID, we can’t really start,” Joseph told THE VINCENTIAN. And while the effort to promote healthy lifestyles with over 200 Special Needs Athletes is ongoing, Joseph said, “We are putting things in place to restart… so that when we do restart, we have to hit the ground Sezevra Joseph, running.”

National Director The Director for Special noted that as it Olympics SVG stands, sporting recognizes that disciplines for Special Needs Special Needs Athletes are Athletes here anxious to ‘get include: track and going’ but that field, football these are not (traditional and ordinary times. unified), bocce, floor hockey, swimming, tennis and the most recently introduced, floorball.

As for unified collaborations, sports that involved both abled and special needs players, Joseph pointed out that SOSVG “works with several schools,” to encourage this, but is looking to identify one or two schools with which to begin pilot programmes.

She pointed to football as the sport that attracts the easiest collaboration.

A training session for players involved in ‘unified football’ Football.

“Football makes for easy collaboration between abled and special needs persons,” Joseph explained.

Joseph is also hopeful that SOSVG would be able to send representatives to overseas activities, beginning with beach games scheduled for Curacao in November 2021, and the USA Games next year in Orlando, Florida.

SOSVG has not ruled out participation in the World Games in Berlin, in 2023.

“All of this and more depend on COVID-19,” Joseph admitted.

Founded in 1981, Special Olympics St. Vincent and the Grenadines sates it mission as: “To provide year—round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic—type sports for children and adults with an intellectual disability, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

It currently reaches out to more than 200 special needs athletes through 14 coaches, who give freely of their time and expertise.

Local special needs athletes had their first taste of international competition in 1987, when a contingent of 15 athletes participated in the International Games, South Bend, Indiana, USA. Stories I.B.A.ALLEN

“Firstly, it’s an honour to serve and it’s equally important because the Caribbean has a voice where we never did before, and St Vincent and the Grenadines has also continued to lead the way in A long time Special Olympian and putting athletes in coach, Terrance Davis can be seen (left leadership roles… waving) leading the SVG Contingent to we are setting the the Special Olympics World Games pace,” he said. held in Abu Dhabi, 2019.

“I am always pleased to give Inset: Terrance Davis has been handed back to this movement because the leadership position in another I have gained much Caribbean Special Olympics Committee. from it, and from and his achievement. He has been in the many persons who have helped me to get this far. All Special Olympics for a long time since he was a child. He has gone this is possible because as Paul (the through all training of being an Apostle) said, “I can do all things athlete and, in fact, is still an athlete. through Christ who strengthens me”.

He has been given this opportunity Sezevra Joseph, National Director because of his broader ability. We are for Special Olympics SVG, is happy here to support him,” Joseph told THE that Davis has been given the VINCENTIAN. opportunity to serve as Chairman of Joseph went on further to say, “We the Sports Training Committee of the Special Olympics Caribbean Initiative. expect him to perform well, as he has been doing over the years.”

“We are proud of Terrance (Davis)

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26. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

COMMENTARY

Awareness, transparency and concern FOOTBALL ENTHUSIASTS here have reacted to the results of the two World Cup Preliminary matches we have played to date. Unfortunately, much of the reaction has been ill-informed and show little awareness of the true situation.

I said before, listen to the health authorities only for guidance on COVID-19 and hoped that it would be applied to our football.

Notwithstanding, silence is complicity.

Do history and commemoration mean anything to the SVGFF executive and the voting affiliates? Have they learned from the past? Not knowing the history of any organization of which you’re a member, is like a captain and crew sailing without a compass.

Concern, awareness and transparency are very important to building ‘trust’.

The nation should not be waiting a few weeks before any event, be it election or an important game, to hear of decisions made by persons who say one thing to get elected and do something else when elected.

Interestingly, administrators are less knowledgeable than those who do the one-week FIFA coaching courses for coaches.

We are led to believe that this SVGFF administration has condemned what previous administrators had put in place, and the assistance they gave.

In 1993, SVGFF hosted a FIFA programme called “Futuro” — training programmes for coaches, referees and administrators. The then executive invited their friends to get what FIFA offered. I do not think this executive was interested then. Is there any record of what took place and who were the participants? I guess those participants are outdated.

I remember when one wanted to become an administrator he/she joined the Jaycees, and when you wanted to become a soccer administrator you sought FIFA’s help. Now administrators are learning to administrate on the job and yet we expect good results.

Training for the voting affiliates is imperative, so in the future they would make informed decisions as regards who is best suited to guide the sport’s development, e.g. what’s required for the players.

Since we first participated in the World Cup Qualifiers, we have had several presidents. We have had a pharmacist, educators, a contractor, politicians, technician, lawyer, banker and soon we will need a doctor, because the game is heading into a coma if it has not done so already.

None of the presidents has been an outstanding player who would have brought a firsthand understanding of what is required to assist the coaches and players to truly develop the game.

No one takes a vehicle to a building contractor, lawyer, politician or educator to have its engine repair. Why then do voting affiliates keep electing persons who seek their own benefits and still expect the sport to develop? It comes back to how knowledgeable affiliates are of the process of the sport.

We should not be saying, “The coach should not say what we said after the first match result,” Was he angry?

We have all right to be angry, but the executive and their voters are not angry. An apology is not necessary at this time. We must learn from your mistakes.

And we expect to be made aware of progress even the problems along the way.

To be honest, the majority of certified FIFA coaches are young and inexperienced. They attended a one-week FIFA coaching course and became an instant coach!!

If what we are seeing is bad, worst is yet to come. Trust me, we are not getting better soon.

Players and coaches associations are imperative.

National players, please give of your best. If you don’t understand what the coach is asking you to do, ask him to explain again.

Rollit

Vincy Heat needs mental toughness YET ANOTHER member of the Technical Team of Vincy Heat, this country’s Senior Men’s Football Team, has expressed confidence, albeit conditionally, about the team’s chances of qualifying for the next round of the CONCACAF Qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup. Alfred Grant, Assistant Coach of Vincy Heat, expressed that confidence but emphasized that qualification is only possible if the players become “tougher mentally.”

Following a 3-nil win over British Virgin Islands after a humiliating 5-0 defeat

by Curacao in the first

round of the qualifiers in their away games, Vincy Heat is in 3rd position on 3 points, behind Guatemala and Curacao on 6 points each, and ahead of Cuba and British Virgin Islands both on zero points.

Vincy Heat will next take on Cuba and Guatemala in June and need to win both games convincingly to advance, and hope that the two top teams lose their other matches.

Grant, 20-year standing coach of local club Park Side Rollers, stressed that once the team play smart football, they stand a good chance to

improve their chances.

“Our expectation is to go further than the last time but in order for us to do so, we have to have the right mind set, be mentally prepared for the challenge. We are good in terms of skills but we need to be mentally stronger, with good attitude, and maintain our composure for the 90 plus minutes,” Grant said.

Even though he conceded that “everything is not one hundred percent,” he complimented “the guys (players) for working hard to achieve the team’s

Alfred Grant – Assistant Coach of Vincy Heat, recognizes the talent but want to see a change of mind set among members of the National senior Football team. goal” and assessed that, “if we want to be the best we have to beat the best,’ but we “have to put our minds to it and keep working hard.”

I.B.A.ALLEN

CWI AGM set for April 11

CRICKET WEST INDIES (CWI) will hold its 22nd Annual General Meeting, in respect of the financial year ended September 30, 2020, on Sunday 11th April.

Due to the continuing travel-related effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting will take place virtually via video conference, as was done in a COVID-19 delayed meeting last year.

CWI President Ricky Skerritt said: “All arrangements are in place for a productive Annual General Meeting. This is not the first time that CWI is hosting a virtual AGM but it will be the first time that our leadership elections will take place virtually. We have everything in place to ensure a constructive and proper meet ing.”

As per the elections, Ricky Skerritt and vice-president Dr. Kishore Shallow seemed set to be returned to office at Sunday’s Meeting, since the team of Guyana’s Anand Sanasie (for president) and vice- Calvin Hope of Barbados (for vice —president) has since withdraw their candidacy.

Shareholder members are slated to receive reports from the Cricket, Commercial and Finance Committees and for the first time, audited financial statements which will be consolidated to reflect CWI’s acquisition of and interest in the Coolidge Cricket Ground.

Sunday’s meeting is in fact a re-scheduled one from the original date of Sunday 28th March. That meeting was due

(L-R): The team of Ricky Skerritt, President and Dr. Kishore Shallow, Vice-President, is heading for a return to office. to start at 10.00am but was adjourned as there was a lack of quorum.

The meeting could not proceed to business as the CWI Articles of Association stipulate that nine (9) representatives of the Full Members need to be present in person to constitute a quorum. All eight (8) representatives duly authorized to represent the Jamaica Cricket Association, Leeward Islands Cricket Board (LICB), Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) and the Windward Islands Cricket Board were present.

Despite having previously authorized their representatives to attend, when the roll was called, there were no representatives present from the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) nor the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA).

(L-R): Anand Sanasie and Calvin Hope withdrew their candidacy ahead of the April 11 meeting.

Attempts to reach the representatives from the BCA and GCB were unsuccessful.

The meeting was eventually adjourned at 10:50 a.m.

The CWI Board of Directors subsequently held an Emergency Board Meeting at on Sunday 28th March 2021, and decided that the AGM will resume on Sunday 11th April 2021 at 10:00am ECT. I.B.A.ALLEN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2021. 27.

Classifieds

ROSEMARY ANN JOHN JACK MOLESA JOHN Tuesday, 30th March, 2021 Revival Centre Church Murray Village Viewing: 9:00 a.m.

Service: 10:00 a.m.

Saturday, 3rd April, 2021 Apostolic Faith Mission Lowmans Hill Viewing: 9:00 a.m.

Service: 10:00 a.m.

Interment: Lowmans Hill Cemetery

ARTLEY QUASHIE a.k.a. Artley Williams Langley Park Church of Christ Georgetown Saturday, 3rd April, 2021 Viewing: 9:00 a.m.

Service: 10:00 a.m.

Interment: Georgetown Cemetery

SYLVIA DOREEN CREESE Tilda / Sylvie Saturday, 3rd April, 2021 Barrouallie New Testament Church of God Keartons Hill Viewing: 9:30 a.m.

Service: 10:30 a.m.

Interment: Glebe Hill Cemetery ISOLA CARMINA LIVERPOOL ARLINGTON LOTMORE

RENOLDO CHARLES Sunday, 4th April,2021 Paradise S.D.A. Church 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, 31st March, 2021 New Testament Church of God Wilson Hill Viewing: 9:00 a.m.

Service: 10:00 a.m.

Interment: Kingstown Cemetery

Tuesday, 30th March, 2021 6W *HRUJH¶V Cathedral Kingstown Viewing: 10:00 a.m.

Service:11:00 a.m.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 09,

2021

VOLUME 115, No.14 www.thevincentian.com

SWARM RAISES ALARMS

EC$1.50

Not even preEaster health advisory could stop the traditional movement of large numbers of persons to Bequia.

(Credit: ANN)

Gonsalves disclosed that he had been informed by Commissioner of Police Colin John of an incident AS FAR AS the issue of the swarm of people who where permission was sought for the use of a descended on Bequia over the Easter Weekend is private vessel by persons, who had planned to travel concerned, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves is to Bequia for the weekend. hoping that the police has photographic evidence of Permission was initially granted, however, when what transpired. it was later discovered that as many as four vessels And, he is bent on finding out whether there was were being used, approval had been withdrawn. a failure of policing and if there was, he alluded to Despite this being communicated by letter to the corrective measures being taken. relevant parties, they made the voyage nevertheless.

Reports from Bequia spoke of persons from the “I don’t know if some people feel that they are mainland going about their business without masks, special. I don’t know who those persons are, and having no respect for advice related to social distancing and generally ignoring all sensible protocols as they related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All of this stemmed from what observers said was open defiance of an advisory issued by health POLICE are officials prior to the start of the four-day Easter investigating the weekend, April 2 — 5. circumstances According to the advisory issued on April 1, there surrounding the shooting ought to have been no social gatherings, including death of Keon Scott, a cooks, limes, boat rides or parties, during the Easter 45-year-old labourer of weekend and that all activities associated with the Glen.

Easter weekend were cancelled. Among the The shooting is cancellations were the annual Bequia Regatta and reported to have taken Union Island’s Easterval. place on Saturday 3rd Wearing of masks and social distancing were April, at about 3:50 am. taken as now habitual practices.

Information received In the aftermath of the swarm of people to said that Scott was shot Bequia, health authorities are hoping that there is in his bed and at least not another spike in COVID-19, like the one in one person who lives in December. close proximity recalled “I know that some people are complaining about hearing one “very loud the people in Bequia who feel very upset, and they shot.” have all reason to be upset,” Prime Minister Dr. Another resident of Ralph Gonsalves said on NBC Radio on April 7.

Glen with whom THE Gonsalves said that he was disappointed that VINCENTIAN spoke, people failed to recognize the pre-Easter advisory said that he knew Scott issued by health officials.

Keon Scott was known had had run-ins with the “I understand very much that people are strained to the police, having law before, and had and anxious. I understand that and you want to served time for illegal served a jail term. have some jollification on the beach, but we are still gun and ammunition The resident recalled in a pandemic,” the Prime Minister said. possession. that Scott “become

by DAYLE DASILVA

persons can vex with me, but I have to speak my mind on it,” Dr. Gonsalves emphasised.

He reminded the public that the country was still living under a public health emergency and that there were instances of community spread of COVID-19 here.

ANOTHER SHOOTING VICTIM

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

famous” when he escaped while in police custody. while he was at the Serious Offences Court, and was of the opinion that his death might have been an act of revenge.

In fact, THE VINCENTIAN of November 16, 2016, reported that Magistrate Bertie Pompey had sentenced Scott to 12 months in prison, after he pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody.

He had been taken into custody on November 10 and was remanded on gun and ammunition charges, to which he had pleaded not guilty.

He made the dash through an open window

at the back of a prison vehicle in the Upper Bay Street area, sometime after 10am that day.

Scott was at the time being escorted by police officers from the Serious Offences Court to Her Majesty’s Prison, Kingstown, and said to have escaped unnoticed by the officers.

On November 15, Scott, accompanied by attorney Dr. Linton Lewis, turned himself in at the Central Police Station, Kingstown.

The resident who had recalled Scott’s escape, was of the view that his death might have been an act of revenge.

Scott’s death is listed as homicide #8 for the year.

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.