THE VINCENTIAN PDF-09-07-21

FRIDAY, JULY

09, 2021

VOLUME 115, No.27

Jail not helping Page 4

by SHERON GARRAWAY WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CARNIVAL TUESDAY with masqueraders partying in the city of Kingstown, turned into a street affair with a different type of masked gathering.

Protesters took to the streets, most of

www.thevincentian.com

Minutes not amended Page 7

them wearing masks to adhere to Covid-19 protocols, fueled with resentment over issues affecting the country, in particular what many said was the erosion of the rule of law by the current administration.

Continued on Page 3.

Police Officers tried to no avail to stop the protestors from pushing the barricades to the ground.

Remembering Dr. Kenneth John Page 8

EC$1.50

Elsa’s impact Page 13

Mental Health Woes Page 28

An Incensed protestor even threw herself on to a truck to prevent it from making its way along Back Street.

V

2. FRIDAY, JULY 09, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Honours

Roban makes JCÊs HonourÊs Roll

Handal Roban- earning honours on the track and in the classroom.

ONE OF ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES’ most promising Track athletes- Handal Roban, is showing that he is not only good at the sport, but is notching up accolades in the classroom.

Roban, a sixth form student of the Jamaica College, has earned a spot on its Honour’s Roll. He was among five students from the Faculty of Business who maintained an

average of between 80 % and 100%.

His courses of study are Management of Business, Entrepreneurship, Sociology and Caribbean Studies.

The young man was obviously elated in achieving the academic award.

“I am just happy that I can make my mother proud,” Roban said.

He noted that the recognition is one that he cherishes and stated, “It gives me that goal to continue doing so.”

Roban moved to Jamaica two years ago, to advance his academics and refine and develop his athletic abilities.

A former student of the Georgetown Secondary School, the St Vincent Grammar School and the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College, Roban is the holder of the national Under-20 800 and 1500M records, and is part of the quartet that holds the 4x

400M best time.

At the Inter Secondary School Athletics Championships level, Roban is the custodian of the Intermediate 400, 800 and 1500M records.

Regionally, Roban earned back-to-back medals at the Junior Carifta Championships.

In 2018, he won the Under-17 800M and got a Bronze over the same distance at the 2019 edition, when he moved up to the Under -20 category.

Also, in 2019, he took the Under-18 800M bronze medal at the North American, Central American, and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Under-18 and Under-23 Championships staged in Mexico.

Roban will be in action in Costa Rica this weekend, as he is part of a six- member St Vincent and the Grenadines team at the same NACAC event. This time, he will compete in the Under-23 800M.

Farmer honoured on his birthday Cooperatives’ by the President of Alternative Holistic and Organic Cooperative Society Ltd. (AHOCS-SVG )- Conley Rose, who presented a locally made plaque to Balcombe.

Present at the ceremony were Balcombe’s daughter and husband visiting from Florida, and a few close friends including Ken Da Silva.

Allison Balcombe Allison Balcombe displays managed his grandfather’s the plaque presented by estate at the age of 24 years AHOCS-SVG) in and developed his farming recognition of his skills and experience over six contribution to agricultural decades in farming, rising to the top as Manager of the development in SVG. Arrowroot Association of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

ALLISON BALCOMBE, a During an emotional thank farmer of over 6o years, was you address Balcombe shed recognised for his tears even as he thanked the contribution to farming and Cooperative (AHOCS-SVG ) agricultural development in for the recognition accorded St. Vincent and the him.

Grenadines, on his 73rd Greetings of solidarity birthday celebration, held on Saturday 3rd July 2021 in his with and best wishes to Balcombe extended by hometown Georgetown, St. Newton George of the North Vincent and the Windward Cooperative, and Grenadines.

Andre Liverpool of the The award was presented Goodwill Fisherman’s on International Day of Cooperative.

V

News 3

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

Protest Tuesday

almost made a pregnant mother and Steal barricades were placed in child die. We know front of the House of Assembly which the Red Cross and was in session that day. It was their role.” noticeable that the gates to the In due course, Parliament Building were locked, and Opposition New not even media could enter the Democratic Party compound as security forces manned Members of the compound inside and outside.

Parliament — St. Clair As the frenzy among the protestors Leacock, Central heightened, they took to pushing the Kingstown and barricades to the ground and even to Fitzgerald Bramble, blocking vehicular traffic on Back East Kingstown — Street. joined the protestors One of the protesters, Rohan in a march up Back Simmons, a former Auxiliary Police Street and on to Bay Officer, was identified as wearing a Street. Loud chants of bullet proof vest. Law enforcement “”No justice! No officers picked him up, some say in not peace!” could a very polite manner, took him to the be heard Central Police Station where he was coming from made to remove the vest, which was the marchers. then confiscated. Wearing a bullet Leader of proof vest, or to be in possession of the The Prime Ministers official same, is said to be illegal.

Opposition transport was blocked and THE VINCENTIAN spoke with Dr. Godwin pelted as it tried to make its Simmons. He said that given his Friday also way on to back Street. training (policing), he wore the vest so joined and led as to protect himself from any the march.

Left: Police dispersing crowd potential discharge of firearms during Of of protestors to make a the protest. particular pathway for a truck.

As time progressed, the Prime concern Minister’s official transport with during the Below: Engine problems or outrider emerged from the parliament protest was protest stalling move? compound on to the White Chapel that a number Road, and insisted on pushing its way of protestors through the protestors, on to Back complained Street. aloud that a Some protestors hauled water senior police conciliatory approach bottles and other debris at the officer had ordered those under his to protestors. transport even as they noticed security command to shoot protestors.

As far as THE officers entering the vehicle as it was The complaint reached VINCENTIAN in motion. This prompted some Superintendent of Police Trevor ‘Buju’ understands, no one protestors to voice loudly that Prime Bailey, who was on duty. He gave the was hurt and no Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was not assurance that no such order could be arrests were made in the vehicle and may have taken the given and that the police had no during and as a result route over McKies Hill, to avoid the intention to shoot protestors. of the protest and now increased number of agitated Supt. Bailey was credited, by a march, which petered protestors. protestor who appeared to be a ‘person out peacefully.

Tensions heightened even further of influence’, as being one of “the few” and at one point protestors blocked vehicular traffic along White Chapel Road and even blocked a truck as it tried to make its way along Back Street.

A large number from the contingent of law endorsement officers — drawn from various branches and units of the Police Force, formed a bulldozer like formation and vigorously pushed the protestors on to the sides of Back Street, clearing the way for vehicles to p[ass.

Protestors claimed that they were shoved, slapped, punched and kicked by the officers in the process. At one point a woman was seen to pick up a rock, but she quickly put it down.

The rage of the protestors was evident as they continued to block other vehicles from moving along back Street.

However, in what one protestor said was a show of humanity, the protesters allowed the Red Cross vehicle to drive through. One protester could be heard saying, in reference to the Unity Labour Party led road block, “...we not going to do like they did in officers who Opposition Leader Dr. Godwin Friday (2nd from left) and Parliamentary representative St. Clair 2001 and block the ambulance and exhibited a Leacok (2nd from right) leading the protest march that made two circles around Kingstown.

Continued from Front Page.

V

4. FRIDAY, JULY 09, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Teachers conned by fake BRAGSA man

Jail not helping Prosecutor Cornelius Tittle expressed concern that if Delpleche KESIA FERGUS, a teacher at the School was not sent to prison, he would for Special Needs, Kingstown, who was continue to commit similar offences. relieved of $300 by a man who tricked “Well he will eventually have to the school’s authorities into believing come out,” Burnett responded. that he worked for BRAGSA, is of the “I will be happy not to send him view that jail has not worked for the back to prison, but what do we do with culprit. him?” he queried.

Fergus, one of four teachers who Burnett said that many of the suffered losses at the hands the man, adults who came before him on an voiced her feelings at the Kingstown almost daily basis started their lives of Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where crime many, many moons ago. the defendant, Jason Delpleche, a 24The Magistrate then ordered the year-old Edinboro man, pleaded guilty 24-year-old man, who said he was a to stealing $300 from her at the caretaker, to pay compensation to the school, on September 9, 2020. four teachers: $500 to Carol Douglas Delpleche also pleaded guilty to of Queen’s Drive; $300 to Kesia Fergus dishonestly relieving sums of money of Sion Hill; $200 to Kendra King, also from three other teachers - Carol of Sion Hill; and $50 to Nadia Windsor Douglas, Kendra King and Nadia of Fountain.

Windsor - at the Sion Hill Primary Delpleche is to pay Douglas, Fergus School, on September 14, 2020. and King all the monies by August 31 Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett with an alternative of 4 months in had called Fergus and the other prison, in default of each payment. teachers to the stand to hear from In addition, he was sentenced to 12 them before sentencing Delpleche, as months imprisonment on each count, the issue of compensation had arose. but those sentences were suspended But Fergus, a Sion Hill resident, told for 12 months. the Court that the question was what He was also ordered to compensate the Court should do with Delpleche, as Windsor by August 31 with an imprisonment had not helped. alternative of 2 months in prison, and Burnett had disclosed earlier that sentenced to 6 months imprisonment Delpleche had several convictions for with that sentence also being theft and burglary committed in suspended for 6 months. various communities across the Before handing down the penalties, country, and that he had entered the Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett Criminal Justice System as a juvenile, explained that if Delpleche was sent to his first offence being theft. prison as punishment for the offence “I agree with Miss Fergus that while compensation was ordered, he prison has not helped, and is not may not be able to pay, as he would be helping. Something went on in his life in jail. at a very young age. Where were his He reasoned that the complainants parents then?” the Senior Magistrate would therefore have to wait until he questioned. is released to file for civil action.

Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

THE Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday, heard that on September 14, 2020 shortly after midday, Jason Delpleche, a 24-year-old selfproclaimed caretaker of Edinboro, went to the Sion Hill Primary School and introduced himself to the Principal, Verona Richards, as Kevin Browne, a representative from BRAGSA. He informed the Principal that he had come to do Lejah ‘Soups’ the markings for the installation of electric fans.

Alexander – murder The pupils were taken out of their classrooms accused. and Delpleche proceeded with his business, having been given the right away by the school’s authorities.

On returning to where they kept their belongings, Carol Douglas, Kendra King and Nadia Windsor, discovered that they were missing $500, $200 and $50 respectively.

They approached Delpleche who showed them his wallet, in an effort to convince them that he did not MURDER accused have the money.

Lejah ‘Soups’ He subsequently left. The money was not found Alexander’s next Court and a report was made to the police. date is September 30, The facts also revealed that on September 9, 2021.

2020, Delpleche had gone to the Kingstown School That’s when his for Special Needs, Wilson Hill, between 9:30 and Preliminary Inquiry 11:20am, and stole $300 from Kesia Fergus, a (PI) into the death of teacher at the school.

Raheem ‘Scatter’ On his arrival there, he informed the security Durham, which officer that he was a representative from BRAGSA, occurred June 29 at and that he was assigned to install air condition Glen, will commence. units.

Durham, 20-year-old While he was still on the compound, Fergus’ labourer of Glen, was purse with her money was discovered missing. reportedly shot twice in Delpleche showed her where a purse was in the the head during an bathroom. He denied knowledge of the stolen incident in that money, and left the compound. Some of the community. He was students were searched, but the money was not rushed to the Milton recovered.

Cato Memorial Hospital Delpleche was arrested in Union Island. He gave where he was a statement admitting to all the offences, and pronounced dead. pleaded guilty to all four charges of theft when he Alexander, a Glen appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on resident in his mid-30s, Monday. appeared at the Serious He told the Court he was once attacked and Offences Court on struck in his head, and to date, suffered from Monday, charged with seizures as a result of the injury.

Durham’s murder. He But the Magistrate, upon scrutinizing his was not required to plea criminal record, reminded Delpleche, “Most of the when he faced Chief time you are in jail. It is only when you come out Magistrate Rechanne that you do these things, so it seems as though you Browne, and was are better off in jail.” remanded.

Delpleche had a string of previous convictions for offences of theft and burglary committed at various parts of the country, including a burglary at the Attorney General’s Office.

When Douglas took the stand at the Magistrate’s request, she said that before this incident she would leave her bag anywhere in RICARDO JOHN, 39-year-old the school and nobody ever stole anything fisherman of Union Island, has from her.

Principal Vernona Richards, who was also until December 20 to pay the Court $4,300 for possession of called to the stand, said she could have been 5,448 grams of marijuana with killed because at one point he asked her to lend him a hammer, claiming that he left his intent to supply. at home.

In default, he would go to Delpleche pleaded with the court not to prison for six months. send him back to prison. He asked to be John, who was not allowed to repay the teachers instead, as he represented by a lawyer, recently got a catering job. He tried to no pleaded guilty when he avail to convince the Magistrate that he appeared before Chief would change his life.

Magistrate Rechanne Browne “While the complainants will want back at the Serious Offences Court their money, I have to send a message to on Tuesday. He begged the society and others like him,” the Magistrate Magistrate to impose a fine Ricky Burnett declared. and give him time to pay.

After careful consideration, Burnett came According to the facts, up with the orders for compensation, along police, acting on information with the suspended sentences. received, arrested John after Delpleche was also charged with giving a executing a search warrant in respect of control drugs, at his false name, to wit Kevin Williams of Edinboro, to a police officer at Union Island Union Island home, around on September 18, 2020.

6:46 p.m. on July 5.

That charged was withdrawn on Monday before proceeding on the other charges.

Continued on Page 26.

‘Soups’ charged with murder’

Fisherman fined for weed

V

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

Diaspora

Cultural ambassador pens first novel

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

Vincentian-born, Taiwanbased writer, poet, journalist and cultural ambassador Peggy Carr has written her first novel, ‘Shape of a Warrior’.

Carr — a former Deputy Chief Information Officer in St. Vincent and the Grenadines before migrating to Taiwan at the end of 2000 — told THE VINCENTIAN that ‘Shape of a Warrior’ is an “historical fiction novel” that is “set in the Caribbean in the preColumbian era.”

She said the novel is “a captivating tale about the indomitable spirit of a young adventurer and her unlikely friend, in the battle-centered world of the indigenous Kalina people.”

Written for a young adult audience, Carr who has been working for many years as an editor at Taiwan’s premier media organization, the Central News Agency — said the story behind the comingof-age “Shape of a Warrior” is told in “soaring language about the escapades, struggles and challenges of the two main characters, Yurubi and Aloo, on the island of Hiroon.”

Carr said, “For Yurubi, who dreams of boat building, Aloo grows to become a friend like no other, although he’s terrified of the sea.

Together, they secretly explore the forest near his cave hideout, learn to make weapons and tools, play wrestling games, hunt, and build small river boats.

“But their world of adventure crumbles when Aloo is forced out of hiding and as Yurubi’s unwomanly skills become apparent,” she added. “Under the cryptic eye of the village shaman, Yurubi and Aloo struggle against their anguish, fears and misgivings to fight for a place on an island that’s home to some of the most fearsome warriors on

Earth.”

In the Author’s Note, Carr — who also worked as a librarian at the UWI Open Campus and Kingstown Public Library in St. Vincent and the Grenadines — says the story was inspired by her “deep desire to know what life was like for the indigenous people of her home country, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Hiroon), before the arrival of the Europeans.

“Almost every account I had read of the Kalina Peggy Carr was written by a European — a sailor, a soldier, a missionary or a Carr, whose poems have settler — and obviously been published had been filtered worldwide. through the lenses of ‘Shape of a Warrior’ is their own cultural and available in Kindle and societal norms,” she says. paperback formats on “There was very little on Amazon marketplaces record that reflected the internationally and in perspective of the early bookstores in St. Vincent Kalina people. and the Grenadines.

“That led me to It can also be ordered ponder the words of directly from Carr at American author Toni writerbernie@gmail.com, Morrison: ‘If there’s a or from the Dominicabook you want to read, based publisher, but it hasn’t been Emmanuel Publishing written yet, then you House, at must write www.Emmanuelpublishinghouse.com. it,’” adds

6. FRIDAY, JULY 09, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

V House minutes not amended

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

News

Friday was suspended from that sitting after he and Speaker of the House Rochelle Forde became embroiled in an altercation, arising out of Dr. Friday’s insistence that Senator Ashelle Morgan not be allowed in Parliament given her alleged involvement in an incident during which a businessman from Diamond was shot.

The Speaker of the House explained that she had received a document from the Opposition Leader on the morning of the July 6 Meeting of Parliament.

However, she did not have time to peruse the document in detail and allowed Friday to explain his position at the start of the segment ‘Confirmation of the Minutes of the Rochelle Forde, Speaker of the House Sitting’ held on May 11. allowed Leader of the Opposition Dr. Dr. Friday told the House the Godwin Friday to make his case. minutes should be amended on the basis that the decision to suspend him LEADER of the Opposition, Dr. Godwin was invalid and contrary to the Friday was unsuccessful in his bid to Standing Orders. have the minutes of the May 11, 2021 According to Friday, there were sitting of the House amended.

serious consequences following the suspension of a member of the House.

“There is the risk of longer, more onerous suspension of the member, then there is also the fact that remuneration for the member ceases under the Standing Order,” the Leader of the Opposition explained.

He further contended that the proper procedure for suspending a member was not followed, to wit: the Speaker did not call a minister to move the motion; he was not identified by name as the one being suspended; the Speaker was to put the motion to the House for a vote, instead she ruled that a division be taken — or that each member present in the House at the time state their individual position opposed to a collective vote.

“Given that there are serious consequences following a suspension, .. it is imperative that any action taken to suspend a member must follow the procedure,” Friday said, adding that he wanted the Speaker of the House to

make a ruling as to whether the minutes would be amended.

Prime Minister and Leader of the House Dr Ralph Gonsalves interjected saying that in compliance with Standing Order 15(1), the Confirmation of the Minutes, he was going to move for the confirmation of the minutes.

Following which, he said, if there was anyone who felt that the minutes needed to be amended, then it would be up to the House to determine whether the amendment would be accepted.

“If the Honourable member wishes to move an amendment, he can proceed to move one based on his own recollection,” Gonsalves said, with which the Speaker concurred.

However, the House had passed that and was now at the point of the confirmation of the minutes, the Speaker said, and if anything was to be done further they must follow the procedure to do so. (DD)

Temporary school for E.J. Joshua CONSTRUCTION of a temporary school facility at the old E.T. Joshua airport continues apace.

The facility will accommodate some 550 students from the Thomas Saunders Secondary School, to allow for major refurbishment and retrofitting at the school compound at Richmond Hill.

This undertaking, according to Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves, cannot be completed between May and September.

The temporary facility, when complete, will allow for the students to return effectively to face-to-face instructions as per the other secondary institutions in the state.

Minister Gonsalves and Education Minister Curtis King visited the site on Tuesday 25th June.

Speaking at the site on that day, Minister Gonsalves confirmed that while what was unfolding at the old E.T. Joshua Airport was a temporary facility, “it’s a

massive structure that is being built.. . “We putting up 12 classrooms, staff room, principal’s office, tuck shop, bathrooms and in the front.., they will have some eating facilities…, and it’s not going to stay here.”

The Minister assured that, “We won’t leave any foot print here obstructing what we plan to do with the new city.”

He added that some schools are larger than others and would require more repairs. “It is not

Works continues with as degree of urgency on the temporary facilities at the old E. T. Joshua Airport. the kind of repairs that you can do during the summer months. You can’t just do it starting in May and ready for September. Schools like Thomas Saunders need months and months of work and you can’t do that work while the students are in the school. So we have to take the students out while we do the work on Thomas Saunders (School).”

Another such facility is being constructed at the Grand Sable Estate in Mount Young to house students from the Sandy Bay Secondary School, which was severely affected during the volcanic eruption.

“So we are doing some temporary buildings and we doing a series of school repairs throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” said Camillo.

Some of the other schools earmarked for repairs are the St. Vincent Grammar School, Girls’ High School, St. Clair Dacon Secondary School, Bequia Community High School and the Barrouallie Government School.

The Finance Minister disclosed that there were seven different contractors working on the buildings. (KH)

Cabinet to consider lowering alert level CABINET was expected to consider whether to change the alert level for the La Soufrière volcano from Orange to Yellow.

Director of the Seismic Research Centre at The University of the West Indies (SRC UWI), St Augustine Campus in Trinidad- Dr Erouscilla Joseph wrote to Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves encouraging him to consider downgrading the alert level to Yellow.

He read the letter in Parliament on July 6. It indicated that seismic activity had steadily decreased since the last explosion which occurred on April 22, with the average number of earthquakes recorded decreasing from 354 on April 22 to 13 in May. The alert level was lowered on May 6 from Red to Orange, and since then there has been a steady decline in activity, the letter indicated.

However, the scientists warned that

despite the decline in activity levels, the volcano continued to be in a state of unrest.

The unrest included: ongoing sulphur emissions; occurrence and threat of lahars; localized areas of venting steam (surface hotspots) and sulphurous gas emissions; remobilization of ash.

The occurrence of lahars have become frequent since the beginning of the rainy season, Joseph stated in her letter.

In addition, there are some ongoing hazards associated with the hot degassing near the surface of the summit. These include theatric explosions in the summit crater as water interacts with the hot rocks.

The SRC UWI also advised that there may be an instance where activity begins again without warning as a result of an influx of magma, which rises to the surface.

The frequency of lahars - like this one in the Wallbou valley – could well increase in the rainy season. (Photo Source: volcanodiscovery.com) Monitoring of the volcanic activity monitoring, the SRC UWI encouraged continues apace and given the state of lowering the alert level to Yellow.

(DD) the volcano as assessed from the

V

8. FRIDAY, JULY 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

Dr. John: He REMEMBERING taught me much DR. KENNETH JOHN

THE IMPACT DR. KENNETH JOHN had on the lives of Vincentians here and abroad is recorded in the short expressions of condolences carried below. They express an abundance of sentiment in very few words.

Dr. John was a columnist

in THE VINCENTIAN for the better part of thirty-nine years. H passed away on Saturday 3rdJuly, 2021.

The management and staff of THE VINCENTIAN extend condolences to his wife, children and other relatives.

May he rest in peace.

On the passing of Dr. Kenneth John THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES OPEN CAMPUS, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Country Site, wishes to express condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Kenneth John on his passing. Dr. John served as the first Resident Tutor for The University of the West Indies Department of Extra- Mural Studies in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, from 1964 to 1967.

During this period, he was instrumental in initiating several outreach activities including the introduction of ‘O’ Level Classes in the rural areas. He spearheaded a series of panel discussions and lectures on local, regional, and international affairs. He also founded a magazine titled “Flambeau”, of which he was editor and which later became part of the Extra-Mural activities. The magazine later gained recognition

regionally in literary and intellectual circles.

Dr. John continued to support the work of the University Centre, as it was often referred to, long after he left. He attended numerous lectures and participated in workshops held by The University of the West Indies. In 2013, he delivered a lecture on National Heroes as part of the Open Campus’ contribution to the conversation on Heroes and Heritage.

Dr. Kenneth John will be remembered for his many articles on various aspects of Vincentian history, especially on its political history. He was a proud alumnus of the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies. May his soul rest in peace.

UWI Open Campus St. Vincent and the Grenadines

I WRITE, MR. EDITOR, to express my condolence to the family of the late Dr. Kenneth John.

I did not know Dr. John in a personal way but it seemed that we built up quite a relationship through his decades of writing in your publication in particular. I looked forward week in week out to his THIS WEEK column.

He wrote on a wide range of topics, varying his style to suit the broad issues on which he would comment. This kept his writing fresh. He could never be accused of not be reader-friendly.

I will forever remember him as being stoic and daring in his political support for a particular party, always ready to make predictions of general elections results. Those predictions often turned our far from the actual result but he stood firmly behind them and never apologized.

He simply kept on going, teasing but enlightening as he went along what is undoubtedly an enviable outstanding literary pathway.

Needless to say, I would miss his writing for I have learned much from him.

I pray that his family would remain strong in this time of bereavement and the good Lord would look over them and cover them with his kindness.

May the good Lord also take Dr. Kenneth John into his bosom of everlasting grace.

Retiree

Thank you Dr. John ALLOW ME TO EXTEND my deepest condolences to the family of Dr. Kenneth John — in particular his wife and his children.

Long before I became a regular reader of his column in THE VINCENTIAN, I was, so to speak, a student of Dr. Kenneth John.

Regularly on Friday evenings I would leave home, even though I was still in school, to go to the Market Square to listen to Dr. John and others like Eddie Griffith, of the Educational Forum of the People (EFP). I admit that I considered these guys more of part

of the Black Power Movement than politicians but they taught me a lot about the history and politics of SVG and, in the long run, I would like to think that they helped to raise my consciousness as a black youth.

I followed Dr. John though his journey from Resident Tutor of The UWI Extra-Mural Department right up to when he returned as a lawyer.

His knowledge of our history and politics continued to impress me and of course, taught me even more.

He never won a seat in our Parliament but

that is not to say he didn’t try, thereby showing a desire to represent his people by being more that a lawyer.

I will miss his writings. I knew that he had taken to bed and was unable to produce any new work recently. I thank the editor for reprinting some of his earlier work.

Thank you for all that you taught me even if in later years I might have not agreed with your politics.

RIP, Dr. John.

Charles, Edinboro

V

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

Letters

Help! Help! Our children can’t read!

I WISH to bring national attention and outcry to the serious plight of illiteracy in our schools. During this week of National Diagnostic Reading Assessment, it has become glaringly clear that students are struggling to read, and in many cases just cannot read.

Mr. Editor, as a teacher, I have the privilege of speaking with some level of authority to this disturbing issue.

Can you imagine, Editor, a Grade-four

child in our schools today, a year and some away from doing the external CPEA exams, not being able to read at grade-one level? How could a child in Grade Four go through several grades yet is only able to read at pre-primer level?

Why would a child in Grade Four be at alphabet level? Yet many of these cases exist in our own schools.

How could we think that this is acceptable?

Or react as though nothing is wrong? How could we expect more

from our citizens when they fail to have basiclevel skills, such as reading?

I am calling on the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Ministry of Education, Head Teachers and teachers, and parents to rethink their strategy.

This is a serious indictment on all of us as a people. Illiteracy cripples an entire nation.

The people will not progress as fast as they should nor reach as far as they could.

Editor, blame needs to go around. People, systems and strategies need to be held responsible and accountable: cognitive problems, lack of parental support, poor teaching skills, defunct syllabuses, and the list goes on.

However, I want to point finger mostly at the syllabus in lower-end primary school. Is enough time being spent on developing the reading and writing skills of students at

Grade K and Grade 1 levels? Is the syllabus really cut to suit our demographic? Are those lower levels doing too much unnecessary work and subject areas at the expense of the development of reading and writing which serve as the primary focus and foundation for everything else?

Does the child proceed out of those grades with sterling phonemic awareness, brilliantly skilled in segmenting and blending to decode

words, shining in the recall and spelling of high frequency words, and so on?

Editor, no child should leave Grade 1 and not know how to read and write. I am crying help because I have seen the plight of illiteracy with my own eyes looming beneath the surface, to one day rear its ugly head as the monster we created against our nation’s children. I am sounding the alarm, before it’s too late.

Teacher

‘untouchable’.

Come on Mr. Prime Minister, the damage has been done.

Regardless of what will be the outcome of the trials, Morgan, advised that they be changed, on the grounds of allegation i.e. that their services be alone, an allegation that has terminated? advanced her out front for I say all of this, Mr. Editor, reasons not at all becoming, to say that Ashelle Morgan and given that she has no could be terminated as a intention of demitting office as Government Senator as easy as a senator on her own, you, Mr. she was appointed. In her case PM, can save us the egg in our the power to dismiss rests face by advising that she be squarely and only with the removed from the House of Prime Minister.

Assembly.

It boggles me when the Prime Minister gives us the Thomas impression that Morgan is

Morgan can be removed MY UNDERSTANDING about the appointment of senators to sit in our Parliament is that the Leader of Government advises the Governor General on those who will sit on the Government benches, and the Leader of the Opposition advises the Governor General about those who will sit on the Opposition benches.

If that is how it works, then isn’t it that a senator is given their position by the Leader of

Government Business, i.e. the Prime Minister, on the one hand, and the Leader of the Opposition on the other? Isn’t it a case, therefore, that if I advised on your appointment that I can also advise about your termination?

I recall that during the very first administration of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) that the originally appointed Government Senators were changed in mid-stream. Who

Take the jab GOVERNMENTS worldwide, including SVG, are using many random incentives for residents to take the COVID-19 vaccine. In my view, they seem to be losing the battle.

Vaccination numbers around the world are steadily falling. The option to voluntarily take the “jab” has been available long enough so that those who want a “jab” could have had the “jab”.

Now let me restart my plea to all Vincentians who are not immunocompromised: Please take the vaccine. Yes, it does not provide 100% protection from the virus. Nothing in life is 100% pure.

Some states offer free beers in the USA, while others provide milliondollar lottery tickets and many other prizes in-between. Therefore, I am not going to be critical of our government for trying. However, I am not going to support allowing employers to terminate workers for not taking the vaccine.

Once again, I would like to employ the many community leaders to use their trusted positions to do the right thing and convince their followers to get vaccinated. I read almost every week union leaders using their platform to argue against variation and testing with deep despair.

Here are some excellent reasons you should take the vaccine regardless of how you feel about the Government and the Prime Minister:-

* The rapid vaccine development does not mean it’s unsafe. According to leading epidemiologists, the current vaccines available were tested in as many patients as any other approved vaccine in history. * We do not know how long the vaccine will provide immunity. Too soon to tell. Some say that natural infection provided better protection than vaccines; I am not going to argue that point other than to say, in my opinion, that option is more dangerous. * The vaccine enables you to protect yourself and others. Be realistic with your expectations; vaccination, wearing a mask, and socially distancing give us the best option. * The more vaccinated people, the safer the world will be, and the sooner we will be able to focus on rebuilding our economy.

Finally, if you are still uncertain, do your research, and yes, that means listening to arguments against and in favor of the vaccine. Vaccination will not solve all of our problems. It will not reinstate our economy to the way it was. I am not sure we want to do that anyway.

However, being listed as a “vaccinated nation” will undoubtedly allow us to re-enter the newly reconstituted world after Covid-19.

Let’s give ourselves a chance.

Horatio

An account for you IN 2016, each student of the Graduating Class of Union Island Secondary was given 50 shares in a Credit Union. The value of this gesture should not be underestimated.

There are too many working young people without a savings account. Banks requiring many individuals to close their savings accounts probably exacerbated this situation. We hear now that they are requiring organizations to close their savings accounts also.

We are told that we ought to save for the rainy day. This is good advice. But it appears that we are living in the “now for now generation”. We spend all our income and borrow from our future.

Many workers are reluctant to contribute to the National Insurance Services so that they can have a retirement income in the future.

Farmers, Fishermen, Construction Workers, Domestic Workers, and any other categories of workers should be given

all assistance to pay into the NIS. School Cooperatives were designed for students to develop the habit of saving but apparently, they are not meeting their objectives.

Short falls of wellmeaning programmes should spark new policies that would result in accomplishing our goals. Encouraging each primary and secondary student to have an account at graduation would help to solve the problem.

The compulsory Disaster Fund has proven its usefulness.

There should also be surplus in the Country’s Budget to provide for

counterpart financing.

Pension Funds (management) should be insulated from political interference and allowed to function with input from a collective of workers’ organizations.

The need to social distance in this pandemic is an opportunity to help recipients of funds to set up their own account, to which all payments can be channeled. Payouts can then be scattered to all the financial institutions. Wise policies should result in all our young people owning an account.

Anthony Stewart, PhD

V

10. FRIDAY, JULY 09, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

CARICOM Week: Reflection on Regional Integration Introduction THIS WEEK, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines joined with the 13 other members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), in celebrating CARICOM Day. The week of activities locally, began with a flag raising ceremony on Monday July 5, 2021 and also included a lecture by Prime Minister Dr Hon Ralph Gonsalves on the topic “From Federation to CARICOM, the Story of Regional Integration”. This country remains at the forefront of regional integration and our foreign policy reflects the seriousness with which we treat issues of integration. The support for the CARICOM project flows from the head of government; Comrade Ralph, the region’s foremost proponent on integration, through to the Cabinet of Ministers, and the strong political will is evident as SVG remains a consistent strong proponent of regional integration.

The activities this week, occurring on the sidelines of the meeting of the Heads of Government of CARICOM, remind us that while as a group we have been able to overcome some of the challenges of the previous attempt at integration, we still do have much work to do. The Unity Labour Party administration is very aware of the many challenges to regionalism, but the government led by Comrade Ralph understands that as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) much can be achieved through collective efforts that may not be available through individual pursuits. As such the leadership of this country recognises the importance of the institutions of CARICOM and actively supports these institutions to ensure their viability and sustainability.

One of the very important actions taken by this ULP government that signaled the importance it places on regional integration, is the creation of the Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit (RIDU). This unit is placed in the Office of the Prime Minister and has a director of ambassadorial rank, who serves as SVG’s Ambassador to CARICOM and the OECS. Placing RIDU in the Office of the Prime Minister is very strategic and sends the very clear signal that this unit has the political weight necessary to address issues on integration with the full backing and direction of the leader of government. The fullystaffed unit functions collaboratively with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in implementing the government’s regional agenda and is a main point of contact for CARICOM and the OECS. It may have escaped us that the passport currently used by citizens of the country, although issued by the Immigration Department on behalf of the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, is in fact a CARICOM passport. While each individual member-state issues its passport, each passport boldly displays the logo of the Caribbean Community, even as the name of the individual memberstate is also listed on the cover. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was the second member-state to begin using the CARICOM passport, an indication of the confidence in the organisation and this country’s commitment to supporting the institutional arrangements.

Through CARICOM, there are a number of institutional arrangements in place to assist member-states in dealing with various issues collectively. In his lecture delivered on Tuesday July 6, 2021, Prime Minister Gonsalves underscored the importance of a few of the institutional arrangements that exist as a result of the regional integration

project. He stressed that in the specific circumstances of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, we couldn’t tackle the Covid-19 pandemic without the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), we couldn’t tackle the La Soufriere eruption without the UWI Seismic Research Centre, and the importance of the Caribbean Climate Change Centre (CCCC) in assisting us in the fight against the impacts of climate change. These and other very vital institutions of CARICOM are required since not many (if at all any) of the member states, possess the financial and technical capacity to deal independently with all of the issues that each of these arrangements are intended to address. It therefore cannot be over emphasised how important it is that the leaders of the member-states of CARICOM ensure the unequivocal institutional and financial backing of these arrangements to ensure that they continue to provide the support they currently offer to member-states.

It is with this in mind that the visionary Government of this country took a bill to parliament to deal with the automaticity of financing from 10 agencies/bodies within CARICOM. The intention of the Bill was to ensure that these agencies are given the necessary financial support in a timely manner, as this country seeks to live up to its obligation to support the agencies. To achieve this financing, the government increase the Customs Service Charge (CSC) from 5% to 6% with the increase used specifically to finance the specific agencies mentioned. This action allows for two things: (1) the raising of projected funds by the government from a specified source, and (2) the ring-fencing of the funds for a specific purpose. Having had to rely on CARPHA, UWISRC and RSS, specifically within the last 15 months at varying points and in varying degrees, and recognising that the assistance provided by those agencies to this country far outspent our level of contributions, reiterates the need for this country to ensure their sustainability through political support, but also through our financial contributions.

Conclusion There is no question that Comrade Ralph is one of this region’s most outspoken supporters of the CARICOM regional integration project and this support is evident in the way this country deals with issues of regional integration. The Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines understands that as a Small Island Developing State, regional arrangements are necessary in our quest for sustainable development and the benefits to be derived from regional integration are many. The government supports whole-heartedly the process of regional integration and expresses its commitment politically as well as financially, ensuring that vital institutions/arrangements are able to function through timely and adequate contributions. Let’s continue as CARICOM nationals to support the process of regional integration and do our part as we celebrate CARICOM Day.

SVG is falling apart ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES is falling apart. That is the consensus of most Vincentians. The Unity Labour Party (ULP) has failed the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. And, eight months after the general elections, most Vincentians are demanding that the ULP must go.

On July 6, Vincentians took to the streets in an NDP-led protest, to express their dissatisfaction with the ULP government. They are angry as a result of the manner with which the alleged shooting of Mr. Cornelius John is being dealt. They are angry because the government has failed to manage COVID-19 effectively, and they are angry with the poor management of the eruption of La Soufriere.

Vincentians have had enough of the: lack of accountability, high rate of unemployment, increasing crime, deplorable conditions of our roads, demise of agriculture, poor health care, high cost of living, mismanagement of this country’s economy and the serious allegations of corruption that are levelled against state officials.

The people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines want jobs. After twenty years of the ULP government, unemployment has skyrocketed. The overall unemployment rate has increased from 20 percent to 26 percent and 46 percent of young people are unemployed. Those figures were before COVID-19 and the volcanic eruption. We were told by the Minister of Finance that since COVID-19 the situation is worse; that 420 businesses have been closed and 2,754 jobs have been lost to COVID19. The ULP government has no clue as to how to solve the current unemployment situation.

The ULP government is not working in collaboration with the private sector. It would appear that they are against private sector development. After 20 years, the ULP government has not created jobs in Vincy businesses. According to the World Bank, it has become harder to do business in St. Vincent and the Grenadines under the ULP government. Our ranking has fallen from 103 in 2015 to 130 in 2020. The report reveals we are one of the hardest places in the world for businesses to find credit and register property.

The ULP has neglected fisheries and agriculture. They have taken them for granted and have failed to deliver on their promises to support these crucial industries. Agriculture once provided 30 percent of our (GDP) but now it struggles to reach 3 percent. For twenty years, the ULP has failed to remove the blacklisting of St. Vincent and the Grenadines from selling fish to the European Union.

Our balance of trade in agriculture is the worst it has ever been as many key crops are in decline. Many farms that once produced bananas are now covered in bush and are unproductive.

There has not been an agricultural census in over twenty years, so the ULP does not know where our farmers are, what they are growing, how they can help them to improve their yields or even what land is available. The ULP government received some $37 million from the European Union to assist in diversifying agriculture after the

removal of preferential treatment for bananas. The projects are still incomplete and are yet to help farmers.

The ULP can be described as a lawless government. It has little or no regard for our laws governing financial accountability and financial management. It is said that the matter of accountability is fundamental and critical, as it goes from the top to the bottom of the business of government. It crosses all sectors and it connects to everything else that happens in the business of ‘running the country’. The lack of accountability erodes public confidence in government.

We recall the problems associated with the Petro Caribe funds; the $112 million that were left off the books according the International Monetary Fund; the misuse of the overdraft facility; the abuse of the Special Warrants during the years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, where the government spent over $100 million under Special Warrants and failed to come to parliament in a timely manner to get approval for the money; and, the lack of accountability during the construction of the Argyle International Airport.

Further, the people of the Orange Zone are dissatisfied. The government has told them to return to their homes, up to the Dry River on the Windward side and to Petit Bordel on the Leeward side. We have already begun to hear many accounts of shortcomings in the process of returning people to their homes.

Though many have returned home, most will continue to live in those temporary facilities away from home for some time to come. We have a duty to make every effort to make their lives comfortable.

The partisanship must stop. They have a right to expect support from the government. So, any cases where people are made to feel that they are not entitled to the support provided by so many donors at home and abroad must be exposed and rooted out. No partisan consideration should be used to decide who gets help, when they get help and what sort of help they get.

In other words, the donated supplies must be given out according to need.

It should not be that the best is given to some politically favoured persons and the remainder to the rest of the people.

The same goes for the supplies bought by the government with the money allocated for the purpose by parliament in the Supplementary Estimates. For example, the allocation of $1 million for purchasing appliances for persons whose appliances were destroyed or damaged, and the $6.5 million allocated to repair and rebuild homes: who will get those appliances? Whose homes will be rebuilt or repaired first or at all? How much will politics determine the answers to those questions?

These issues and more forced Vincentians on to the streets of Kingstown. Undoubtedly, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in a crisis. It is falling apart.

V

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

Views

Peril and Possibilities

High Society always protects its own

“In a time of domestic crisis, men of goodwill and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics.” - John F. Kennedy (19171963) – American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States of America.

EIGHT YEARS AGO, a Plain Talk column titled ‘Lawyers on Trial’ noted that high society always protects its own. In the spotlight then was the forced resignation of lawyer/registrar Tamara Marks and the apparent decision by Attorney General Judith Jones-Morgan to start disbarment proceedings. Miss Marks was never formally disbarred here but was disbarred in the UK, where she was also a registered barrister.

Marks was never made to do the ‘perp walk’ (show up in handcuffs and walk into the court as poor people are compelled to do) like all high society people. She was allowed to resign and leave the jurisdiction rather than be suspended and arrested, as is the fate of ordinary Vincentians accused of far less egregious acts. Marks was eventually tried and found guilty of misappropriating money left in her care as Registrar of the High Court.

Her penalty was akin to a parent wagging her finger while intoning naughty, naughty, naughty. A similar courtesy was accorded by ULP senator Ashelle Morgan and Assistant DPP Karim Nelson.

If you have strong ties with the ruling elite, is a member of the political class or rich and powerful, bet your life your treatment will be far different from that of an ordinary citizen who runs afoul of the law. You will never see such a person being brutalised or dehumanised, as is the lot of the poor and vulnerable.

When David Ames of Buccuma Resort was charged with stealing millions of dollars from his workers and the government, he was never arrested. Police high command never demanded for him to be in court. On the assigned date to appear, the magistrate accepted a mealy-mouthed excuse for his absence. No ordinary Vincentian would have been offered such a courtesy.

As the heat mounted on Ames and the public demanded that he be detained, someone somewhere with connections spirited him out of the country. After Ames had made his way to England, Camillo Gonsalves entered into fevered negotiations with Ames to ensure that workers, some of whom had not been paid for months, get their money. The workers never did, but the disclosure exposed Minister Camillo Gonsalves as willing to negotiate with a felon and fugitive from Vincentian justice, rather than demand his extradition. Somebody was in someone’s pocket. It is for the people to decide whether Ames was protected because his pocket, though shallow, appeared deep to ULP big wigs.

Barrister Samuel Commissiong raised eyebrows when he forged the Registrar’s signature and illegally placed the government seal on a document. Rather than face certain disbarment, he was made to pay a measly $5,000.

Add to these woes the primary complaint of citizens that attorneys will take their money and not perform the required work. Worse is the instant where attorneys dip into funds entrusted to them then boast to

A PERIL/CRISIS can bring out the worst or the best within and among us. Viktor Frankl (1905-1997), the Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, author, and Holocaust survivor highlighted this in his book “Man’s Search for Meaning”. Frankl was imprisoned in four Nazi camps, including Auschwitz, during the period 1942 and 1945. His parents, brother, and pregnant wife did not survive the harrowing ordeal. They perished as a result of the inhumane treatment meted out by the German overlords and the Jewish “supervisors” they had empowered. Amidst these perils that had been orchestrated by their merciless masters, Frankl was still able to observe and record rewarding possibilities as acts of selfless kindness were displayed. The peril of the Holocaust created opportunities for some of the most inhumane treatment that one human can extend to another.

But amidst this, there were individuals who portrayed selfless acts of kindness, giving what little they had to ease the pain and suffering of their fellow man.

The Oxford Dictionary defines a peril as “serious and immediate danger”. This conjures up an image of an event that is likely to generate hurt to self, others, and/or communities. These could occur naturally (as in the case of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and other acts of God).

However, some perils could be very personal (as in the case of accidents, diseases, betrayal, etc.). Regardless of the causes, perils can generate and sustain anxieties and fears. These are natural/normal responses to life’s varied challenges and threats.

Most perils are very traumatic.

These may appear as physical and/or emotional setbacks. They may emerge when we least expect them.

Individuals who have been confronted by various dangers can testify of how readily these may have seemed to stop them in their tracks. Fears may have arisen causing them to doubt their ability to cope, to survive the onslaught of what may have seemed to be such a misfortune. It is normal to experience trepidation when a disaster strikes or a crisis erupts in our lives. In such instances the brain will process the extent of the risk and the likely options to reduce and/or eliminate the danger. It is often at this stage (i.e., the processing of the peril) that the possibilities for coping with and/or resolving the challenges emerge.

Sometimes the perils that we face could emerge from choices that we have made. On other occasions the circumstances may be generated by forces in our external environment.

However they are formed or sustained, they often have the capacity to rearrange our focus and redirect our energies. As we engage in objective analysis of the situations we may discover that they are “blessings in disguise”. A situation that initially appears to be daunting can provide multiple opportunities for

growth. Perils are not all bad if/when we consider the numerous possibilities that they create.

Perils are often pregnant with possibilities. This holds true in instances when the peril may be an act of God, man-made, or very personal as in the case of a divorce, disease, or accident. Even when situations appear to be devastating and/or destructive, there are often priceless learning opportunities and occasions for rebuilding. For example, when Hurricane Ivan, as a category three storm, struck Grenada on 7th September 2004, it utterly destroyed buildings, bridges, roads, and other infrastructure. This large Cape Verde hurricane was the ninth named storm for that Atlantic hurricane season. It was the fourth major hurricane for that season. The financial cost of this disaster was estimated to be in excess of US$900 million, almost twice as much as Grenada’s GDP. Reports confirmed that only two of Grenada’s seventy-five (75) public schools remained undamaged. However, the peril created by this devastating hurricane provided the government and people of the Spice Isle with the opportunity to rebuild using better engineering practices. The replacement structures were much sturdier than the ones that they replaced.

The April 2021 eruptions of the La Soufrière volcano on St. Vincent was considered most destructive to structures and agriculture in the northern 20% of the island. However, we are confident that, as was the case of Grenada’s rebuilding during the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, better structures will replace those that have been destroyed. In time, the agricultural activities will see a rebirth. The peril of the eruptions will morph to reveal numerous possibilities for growth. Planners and decision-makers in government, the private sector, and local and international donor organisations will emerge to make this a reality.

The thoughts shared here are not intended to trivialize the personal and community perils that will periodically confront us. They are meant to remind us that even when life’s challenges appear to be extremely difficult we do have the ability to look beyond these, and to see the possibilities that may lie ahead. Aretha Franklyn (1942-2018), the undisputed Queen of Soul, sang the George Michael lyrics in 1987 to remind us that “When the river was deep, I didn’t falter. When the mountain was high, I still believed.

When the valley was low, it didn’t stop me.” Amidst the various life challenges we have the capacity to survive. Life’s varied perils will not maim us when we look from behind our eyes to see the glorious possibilities that are still ours — even after the “devastations” that the perils may bring.

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

the aggrieved client that she will never find a lawyer in St Vincent who is willing to take his case.

Governments officials who turn a blind eye to evidence of wrongdoing make it easy for the general public to successfully cry foul and label the government’s inaction as a sanction of corrupt practices.

The different strokes for different folks attitude and actions so prevalent in SVG explain why the handling of the case involving Senator Morgan and Assistant DPP Nelson PM Gonsalves, Police Chief Colin John and DPP Sojilla Mc Dowall does not sit well with a large section of the Vincentian public.

Any objective observer will conclude that Mr John’s charges of being beaten, threatened and shot sound credible. If he had indeed threatened or attacked Deputy Speaker Morgan with a cutlass, why did she not report against him? Mr John would have been immediately arrested if either Morgan or Nelson had reported the threats to the police.

Why did it take two weeks for the story to break? Why did it take Mr John, the supposed aggressor, to break the story? If Mr Nelson had to shoot Mr John to protect Ms Morgan from injury, why did Morgan immediately call PM Gonsalves and not the police? Why was a crosscomplaint lodged only after Mr John complained against Morgan, whom he recognised and two others?

And then, there is the issue with his statement to the people at the hospital. Mr John insisted from the very beginning that Morgan was the only person he recognised. Why would he not make that disclosure when he presented at the hospital? Why would he tell nurses and doctors about two men whom he did not recognise and not disclose the name of the person he recognised?

Why did the police investigation take so long in a case that reaped such minor charges? If Mr Nelson is charged with shooting and wounding Mr John, why is Morgan not similarly charge as one acting in concert with Mr Nelson? Are we witnessing a situation where if someone were to go down, it would be Mr Nelson alone?

Why is the witness who went to Mr John’s assistance within minutes after being shot not called to give evidence by the DPP? More questions than answers.

This entire case does not pass the smell test. Someone is being protected, and in the effort to protect some, the whole judicial system is being corrupted.

High society will always protect its own. We, the citizens of this country, have the responsibility to protect our democracy.

Send comments, criticisms & jomosanga@gmail.com

V

12. FRIDAY, JULY 09, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

SVG is at a precipice THE ULP REGIME has focused on mass tourism for over 20 years and that has pushed our people and country further into poverty. Again recently in a newspaper article, the ULP spoke of focusing on tourism. However, if we want prosperity we must focus on Green economics, as this has shown to lead to prosperous and sustainable societies.

Unfortunately, both the ULP and NDP have favoured mass tourism that has ruined our economy.

The case against an economy based upon tourism Over the past 7 years, the global economic slowdown and then Covid-19 has wreaked havoc on the region’s tourism industry. People in richer countries are travelling to the Caribbean much less.

How can the ULP regime be talking about tourism when parts of our country are still covered in ash? The priority here should be to help get the

people who live in the areas worst affected by the volcano eruption back in their homes. Then we need to help them re-establish their livelihoods.

Tourists are not going to want to come to SVG to look at piles of volcanic ash. Will tourists want to come to St. Vincent if they fear that ash will be in the water supply, even if this is not so?

Let us not forget also, that LIAT has gone bust and there is no regular regional airline service. Therefore, how are tourists going to travel around the Caribbean region?

Even before the volcano eruption, we have seen fewer tourists coming to SVG. Many hotels in SVG did not have guests and taxi drivers would have been lucky to get one trip/tour a week.

Tourism is a failure in SVG.

The case for a Green economy The US green economy is estimated to generate over $1.3 trillion in

revenue per year, representing 16.5% of the global green economy, according to a new study by University College London, October 2019. The means the global green economy is estimated to generate over $7.88 trillion in revenue per year.

The green economy - broadly defined as an economy that is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive - is a major source of jobs in the US, employing an estimated 9.5 million people. The strongest areas of growth in the US are in the renewables sector, particularly consultancy and wind energy which saw increases of 9.36% and 8.56% in economic value respectively in 2015/16.

According to The Leader of SVG Green Party, Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, providing free university education for our people for the development of core business, engineering and ICT skills, can give them high-paid job

opportunities all over the world. This will help raise families out of poverty, and help our entrepreneurs and SVG businesses get into the global green economy. It will create mass employment in SVG. Under the ULP regime, our country is on a path to long-term poverty. This is because the ULP regime’s mass tourism plan over the past 20 years has failed to create revenue for the country, and instead, created high unemployment, high crime rates, devastating poverty and a weak economy.

According to The Leader of SVG Green Party, Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, the 1950s mentality of the ULP, refusing to educate our children to university level, means our children will not be qualified to get high-paid Green jobs. SVG needs a change of government now. Let us not fall off the precipice.

The message of the grass in the drains IT WAS SAD that the Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Dame Janice M. Pereira, at the opening of the 2021 Law Year, in her address to the nine-member states and territories of the Eastern Caribbean, St. Vincent and the Grenadines included, falling under the juditorial umbrella of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, felt duty bound to report that, “….. Over the last year we witnessed un-warranted and vitriolic attacks on the judiciary as an institution and on judges as individuals; by members of the public”.

This was according to a report in the Searchlight newspaper of 21st January 2021 under the caption — “UNWARRANTED ATTACKS ON JUDICIARY by the public increased in 2020”.

The Chief Justice continued “….The frequency of these attacks is becoming alarming with the potential for causing great harm to the safeguards which are entrenched in our constitutions, for preserving and

upholding the rule of law”.

The newspaper informed, that there had been apparently many times last year, when the Bar Associations and legal practitioners had had to speak out against this.

The Chief Justice stated — “I wish to remind legal advisors, as officers of the court, and who seemingly stay silent in the face of these un-warranted attacks, that they become enablers and complicit in the undermining of justice”.

From the mound on which I sit, I like many other citizens of this land, am aware, that there have been more than a few instances in which it seemed that “officers of the court” had been distinctly indifferent to the interests and the welfare of lawabiding citizens who sought the intervention of the Court, as was their constitutional right to do, when they were faced with circumstances which threatened to abrogate their rights as citizens.

Since having read the Searchlight

newspaper, I have been wondering, if the distinguished Supreme Court judge has been, because of her office, so insulated from “the thorns and nettles” of societal life, that she might have no inkling of the discomfiture that has been caused to people because of the machinations of some “officers of the Court”. A few note-worthy issues come readily to mind.

1. The acquisition of Marcus DeFreitas’ property, in a manner which is not in harmony with democracy in pursuit of peace and justice. Up to now, that man who is recognized in the society to be peaceful and law-abiding, has not been compensated by the government.

Violence is very often provoked by injustice! We have been boasting of having the distinction of serving on the Security Council of the United Nations. How could we be depended on to address issues of injustice in remote lands, when we are so blatantly exhibiting callous indifference to justice for our own citizens’ right here at home? It seems to me, home, that we have by our presence polluted the Security Council of the United Nations.

2. Then we have the issue of the Election petitions. Were they not to have been addressed expeditiously by the Court? Have the matters been so addressed by the Court? Has there been any statement by the Court appropriately advising the citizens on the matter?

3. There was also the issue of those three teachers, who on the strength of an agreement signed by their Union, they contested elections and were to be re-employed, if they were not successful at the polls. Despite the fact that that agreement was signed

by Prime Minister Gonsalves on behalf of the Government, when the teachers sought to have the terms of the agreement effected, the agreement was pronounced to have been merely

“aspirational”. Superlative untrustworthiness! Where were the officers of the Court?

Did the officers of the Court attempt to address those issues in any way, in the interest of the protection of the society? Was there nothing they could have done?

Interestingly, the PM Gonsalves is strongly critical of the Bar Association, for not condemning the lawyer who ventured her opinion on the recent unfortunate Deputy Speaker of the House of Parliament in an alleged incident of criminality in which a man was shot in his foot. These happenings make me wonder about the chances of the OECS Assembly ever being able to effect any meaningful endeavours, in advancing the wellbeing of the citizens of the sub-regions, when one reflects on the reality, that Madame Rene Baptiste, the person who heads the Bar Association of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, is indeed the Speaker of the OECS Assembly.

The current exhibition of the shallow immature and arrogant response of our administration, to the unfortunate and seemingly selfdestructive excursions of one of our promising female professionals, is evidence enough, that Ralph Gonsalves has not been successful in honouring the pledges he had made to the people at the beginning of this century. He has failed; that is irrefutable!

The evidence of neglect is pervasive, grass grows vigorously in the drains of our capital Kingstown from the Ministry of Agriculture to the gate of the cemetery in Rose Place. Benjamin Marshall the Headteacher of the Troumaca Government School in the 1940s often quoted the proverb which is still relevant today — “Man dead, grass grow ah e door”.

LeRoy Providence

V

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

News

Hurricane Elsa – not nice at all At 2:30 p.m or there about on Thursday 1st July, 2021, residents of St Vincent and the Grenadines were advised of a national shut down on Friday 2nd July, as Tropical Storm Elsa approached the multi-island state.

All but essential services were ordered closed for the day.

Indications from the meteorologists said the country would begin feeling the impact of the

storm by 6am on Friday, and an estimated 8 inches of rain were forecast for a 48-hour period.

By 8 a.m on Friday, while the country was in shutdown, Tropical Storm Elsa was upgraded to a hurricane, and the Tropical Storm Warning issued the day before was immediately upgraded to a Hurricane Warning.

At that time,

Sandy Bay feeling the brunt of Hurricane Force winds.

Hurricane Elsa was said to be located just south of Barbados travelling on a west North West course, with maximum sustained winds at 75 mph.

Between 10:45 and 11:00 a.m, Elsa made landfall especially over the north region of mainland St. Vincent, leaving a trail of destruction in its path.

The heavy rainfall accompanying the hurricane, caused rivers to overflow their banks and paths of gushing water opened in areas not usually known to accommodate this.

Roofs were blown away by the hurricane force winds, with National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) reporting that the Sandy Bay and Owia Police Stations were included among those building that had lost their roofs.

The Owia Government School sustained severe damage including to its roof.

As of Friday afternoon, NEMO was reporting that it had received 43 reports of roof damage.

Reports also came to hand that some dwelling houses had shifted under the force of raging water, with at least one report of a house actually be demolished by a falling tree — one of many that would be counted.

All in all, communities were affected not only by the hurricane force

Even the Police Station in Owia could not withstand the force of Elsa.

A dwelling house in Ashburton crumbled under the weight of a fallen tree. winds but also from the impact of heavy down pours of rain and gushing water that had taken its own course.

There were reports in some areas of lahars in many areas prone to river overflows.

Reports also said that a number of electricity poles were down resulting in power outages that lasted for as much as four hours ibn some communities.

The Central Water and Sewerage Authority (CWSA) had issued a notice very early on Friday that all its water supply sources were on shutdown, as a precautionary measure against mudflows.

Water supply was temporarily interrupted in many communities across the state with areas like Georgetown being without water well into Thursday, this, however, being the direct result of damage to a CWSA transmission main line in Perseverance.

By 2 p.m on Friday, the Hurricane Warning for SVG was downgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning as hurricane forced-winds were no longer forecast.

At 5p.m, the centre was located near 14.2N 63.7W or approximately 180 miles west North West of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Hurricane Elsa continued on a path over Cuba where it wrought extensive damage, as it headed into the Florida Cays.

Roof damage in Owia – one of many houses that suffered similar damage.

A mudflow that formed its own oath down into the coastal communities.

V

14. FRIDAY, JULY 09, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Community

RED CROSS as active as ever since the initial eruption of April 9, SVGRCS staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly reaching over 1,500 affected families and providing them with drinking water, food parcels, essential household items, hygiene and cleaning kits, cleaning tools, financial aid, and other emergency relief items.

Bernard Morgan, President of the SVGRCS, noted that in times of crises, strengthening community resilience is important. Towards this end, he said that as evacuees slowly return to their homes, Red Cross volunteers will be immersing themselves in the communities to continue assisting persons.

And as that takes shape, SVGRCS continues to educate, inform and assist persons concerning the Getting ready for another health effects of round of distribution. the ash fall and

THREE MONTHS AFTER THE EXPLOSIVE eruption of the La Soufrière volcano, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Red Cross Society (SVGRCS) continues to impact the lives of hundreds of Vincentians, through relief aid and other humanitarian efforts.

Working alongside the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO)

Red Cross volunteers put their backs into getting relief supplies (water in this case) carefully organised for distribution.

Left: A satisfied recipient of Red Cross assistance makes her way home. with other people, practising social distancing and how to cope after natural maintaining good hand hazards. hygiene to prevent the With respect to the spread of Covid-19. latter phenomenon, and He reminded all that following on the heels of the rainy season was in the passage of Hurricane full effect, and urged Elsa, Friday July 2, Red persons to be extra Cross teams will be vigilant in ensuring that working throughout the there is nothing around country to raise the their homes and awareness regarding surroundings that can hurricane preparedness encourage the breeding and other hazards such of mosquitos, especially as floods and landslides. the mosquito that carries Morgan, in a release the dengue virus. circulated earlier this The SVGRCS week, took the recognised and extended opportunity to encourage thanks for the persons to secure their overwhelming support it homes; by ensuring that has received, especially their roofs, doors and from the International windows are secured.

Federation of Red Cross He cautioned that the (IFRC), the Partner fight against COVID-19 National Societies, and Dengue was not Vincentian business over. He stressed the entities and individuals importance of wearing a home and abroad. mask when in contact

RSVGPF receives essential boxes THE ROYAL ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Police Force (RSVGPF) was yet again on the receiving end of a donation of essential food and other supplies, this time from the Rapid Relief Team (RRT), a not-for profit organization.

The RRT — a Christian-based not-for-profit organization handed over thirty-five (35) boxes to the RSVGPF - twenty-five (25) food essential boxes and ten (10) baby essential kits, for distribution to persons/households affected by the explosive eruptions of the La Soufriere volcano.

RRT’s local team- leader Kenley Ward stated at the handing over stated that since the initial eruption of the volcano, his organization has provided sixteen thousand, two hundred and thirty-eight (16,238) food boxes and fourteen thousand (14,000) cases of bottled water to the

people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

He noted that his organization chose the RSVGPF as a partner because they are the first to interact with persons when there’s a crisis.

Commissioner of Police Colin John thanked the group for using the police force as a conduit and recognized that in making such donations, the RRT is fulfilling its Christian service to the communities here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Commissioner John also noted that the opportunity afforded by the RRT to interface with persons in the communities, will enhance the relationship between the RSVGPF and the citizenry.

Commissioner of Police Colin John (left) accepts donation from Kenley Ward of the RRT. Deputy Commissioner Frankie Joseph is also pictured.

The handover was held at the Central Police Station Kingstown on 23rd June 2021. (Source: API)

(L-R): Executive Director WPP Lauren McIntosh, Permanent Secretary Myccle Burke and Chief Education Officer Elizabeth Walker at the handing over.

WPP donates to MOE RECOGNISING THAT ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES is still in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, and that many families may not be in a financial position to purchase or access appropriate health and hygiene supplies, especially for the children, the World Pediatric Project (WPP) has come forward with assistance in this regard.

On Tuesday July 6, 2021, WPP handed over to the Ministry of Education (MOE) a quantity of items geared towards ensuring that students are safe and protected as they to go into their examinations.

The handing over took place at the Ministry of Education, where Permanent Secretary Myccle Burke and Chief Education Officer Elizabeth Walker accepted the items from Executive Director of WPP Lauren McIntosh.

The items and quantities handed over included 800 face shields, 1200 face masks and 120 (16oz) bottles of hand sanitizer.

Some 1900 students who are registered to sit the 2021 Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA) examination, are expected to benefit from the donation.

In related news, WPP surgical teams, after a break occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, are set to recommence their visits to this country by September.

V

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

Civic Society

New Board for Lions Club of Kingstown-SVG

INCLUDED AS AN AGENDA ITEM of a meeting of the Lions Club of KingstownSVG held on Tuesday 6th July, 2021, was the installation of its new Board of Directors for the Lionistic Year July 2021June 2022.

Returning to the helm for a second year was President Lion Rhandez Browne, who is joined by Immediate Past President Lion Andrea James; Secretary Lion Tonnyia Browne; Treasurer Lion Sabita Jacobs; 1st Vice President Lion Pauline Robertson; 2nd Vice President Lion Ianthi Burke and 3rd Vice President Lion Colin Haynes. Rounding off the slate are LCIF Coordinator Lion Alson Jack; Membership Chairperson Lion Yvette Daniel; Marketing and

Communications Chairperson Lion Gaynor Stowe; Tailtwister Lion Shimano Bailey and Tamer Lion Sylvia DeFreitas.

This year, the local arm of the prestigious organization also includes Zone Chairperson Lion Maria Burke, with responsibility for the clubs in St. Vincent, Union Island and Grenada.

At the ceremony, President Lion Rhandez Browne was presented with the International President’s Award for Distinguished Achievements, the result of the club’s exemplary effort in providing relief to displaced individuals here, as a result of the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano on 9th April, 2021.

Lion President Rhandez Browne (furthest right) and some members of the new Board of Directors of the Lions Club of Kingstown-SVG. President of the Lions Club of Kingstown-SVG Lion Rhandez Browne being presented with her Certificate of Achievement by Past District Governor’s Communication Specialist and LCIF Coordinator of the Lion Club South, Lion Dionne John MJF.

Theme “Serving from the heart with kindness”, the

members of the club are dedicated to continue fulfilling the

International organisation’s mandate “To Serve”.

Rotary Club closes another year

Under the Lions District Governor’s

Lions recognized for their hard work The 2021-2022 President- Janelle Allen (4th from right front), Executive Members and Directors of the Rotary Club of St. Vincent.

Dr. Roger Duncan receiving his award from Lion President Cornelia Moses.

Task Force.

On Sunday 27th June, 2021, Lion Junior Bacchus was accorded the status of Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow (PMJF) for his commitment to Lion Junior Bacchus now has PMJF humanitarian service, particularly for status, the highest level of distinction his work with the ongoing disaster relief in the Lions fraternity. efforts associated with the eruption of the La Soufriere Volcano in St. Vincent AT THE INSTALLATION CEREMONY and the Grenadines. of the new Board of Directors of the Lion Dionne John, MJF and LCIF Lions Club St. Vincent South, held on Coordinator presented the award to Lion Saturday 26th June 2021, Lion Cornelia Junior Bacchus PMJF on behalf of Lion Moses, President, presented an award, Maureen Graham PMJF, District on behalf of the Club, to Lion Dr. Roger Governor of Multiple District 60B. Duncan for his outstanding work in the Lion Junior Bacchus PMJF is the management of the COVID 19 pandemic Coordinator for the Lions and Leo Clubs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. in St. Vincent and the Grenadines as Lion Dr. Roger Duncan is the Medical well as liaison to the Multiple District Officer of Health and serves on the St. and Lions International on disaster Vincent and the Grenadines COVID 19 relief.

THE ROTARY CLUB of St. Vincent celebrated the end of another Rotary year and the installation of a new Rotary Board with a cocktail reception at the Sunset Shores hotel on 1st July 2021.

President of the outgoing Board, Annette Mark, in addressing the gathering, highlighted some of the Club’s projects which were brought to fruition despite the challenges faced by the Covid-19 pandemic and the eruption of the La Soufrière Volcano.

Among these were: the Young Employees Socialisation programme; the Back to School Supplies Project; donation of COVID-19 Care Packages to the Private Sector; providing hot lunches to approximately 200 homeless persons; donation of over 14,000 disposable masks to the Ministry of Health; donations of wheelchairs through partnership with District 6960 Florida and the Wheelchair Foundation; ‘fun day’ and dental checks for children from the Salvation Army Children’s Home; packaging and distributing volcanorelated relief supplies.

The new Rotary year (2021 -2022) commenced on July 1, 2021, under the theme “Serve to Change Lives”. It will be led by new president- Janelle Allen, Director, Regional Project Implementation, University of the Commonwealth Caribbean.

She will be assisted by Immediate Past President Annette Mark Executive Director, Invest SVG; Vice

President Mikasha Ramsaran Barrister-at-law & Solicitor; Treasurer Dawnette Constance Manager of Personal Banking, Republic Bank (EC) Limited; Secretary Felicia Cumberbatch, Customer Service Supervisor, St. Vincent Cooperative Bank; SergeantAt-Arms Joe Sheridan - The Insurance Brokers; and President Elect Daniel Campbell, Civil Engineer and Consultant.

Directors who will serve on the Board for the new Rotary year include: Kirk DaSilva - Youth Service; Reuben John -Vocational Service; Sherry Ann Evans — International Service; Francois Truchot Community Service; Earl Tash - Club Service; Committee Chairs: Michker Edwards - Public Image; Joe Sheridan - Service Projects; Annette Mark Membership; Brian Glasgow- Rotary Foundation; Shandel Ramkumar Club Administration.

The focus for this Rotary year would include the fight against childhood obesity, the empowerment of girls and women, the growing of the membership of the organisation with focus on being more inclusive thus creating diversity.

The Club brought the curtains down on the 2020-2021 year with the induction of its newest members.

Chartered in 1971, the Rotary Club St. Vincent will celebrate its 50th year of existence in August 2021. (Source: Rotarian Michker Edwards - Public Image Chair)

V

16. FRIDAY, JULY 09, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Business

SVG moving to DCash age

THE ONSLAUGHT of the COVID19 pandemic, plus the awakening of the Soufriere volcano has hastened new ways of doing business. Vincentians will soon be able to join others in the Eastern Caribbean doing business without raw cash. That comes with the introduction of a digital version of the Eastern Caribbean currency dubbed DCash.

No date has been fixed for the unrolling of the facility here, but indications are that

by August 1, all systems will be clicking.

Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Timothy Antoine sees the new venture as contributing to the “rebuilding of St. Vincent and the Grenadines one digital payment at a time.”

The ECCB is fine-tuning the operations of the new payment system having seen

the completion of a Pilot project in four territories.

DCash is a faster, cheaper and safer payment option to physical cash and other payments options, the ECCB contends. They point savings for storage, security, transport and handling with DCash.

“The ECCB remains committed to safety, soundness and integrity of the financial system even as it diversifies and seeks to build greater competitiveness and resilience in the ECCU,” Antoine indicated.

“The bank has been careful to observe and incorporate industry standards and best practices as it relates to cybersecurity,” the Central Bank Governor indicated.

“Users can track all their expenditure and will no longer have to wonder where their money went or was spent,” the

ECCB promises.

The new project allows for exchange of DCash for physical cash via the DCash Teller Network.

“These authorised entities will facilitate DCash to physical cash exchanges, thereby allowing faster, safer and cheaper cross-border person-to-person remittances,” Antoine adds.

“Emphasis will be placed on establishing the DCash merchant network with focus on getting essential service providers DCash-ready,” the ECCB stresses.

Other DCash users will be able to send funds directly to recipients in SVG. Using the DCash Wallet Apps, users can make inperson or remote transactions to and from other DCash Wallet holders

Timothy Antoine, Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, may well consider the DCash as further diversification in the financial system in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union. or merchants.

The DCash Merchant App allows businesses to manage consumer and business to business transactions, vendor payments, e-commerce, and internal cash or DCash management.

Antoine indicated that the hovering covid 19 pandemic has accelerated the process of digital transformation.

This new measure does not

require users to have accounts at any financial institution.

Persons can have a valuebased wallet (VBW) through an agent authorised by the ECCB. That will be of at least $2700 EC. One of the entities working along with the new financial drive is the Kingstown Cooperative Credit Union (KCCU). Chief Accountant Eron Evans. (WKA)

Republic Bank empowering small businesses

REPUBLIC BANK, in its continued efforts to fuel small business growth and support national economic development, has unveiled its most recent product of guaranteed loans of up to EC$300,000 for small businesses and up to EC$100,000 for StartUps. This is made possible through a partnership with the ECCB and the World Bank under the Eastern Caribbean Partial Credit Guarantee Corporation, (ECPCGC).

The ECPCGC provides guarantees to participating financial institutions to assist Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), to access loans financing.

With the signing of this Partnership agreement, Small Businesses which are viable yet unable to meet normal lending criteria, can now access through Republic Bank, 3 guaranteed loan products, namely start-

up loans, working capital loans and loans for general business operations and growth.

Managing Director Michelle Palmer has welcomed this partnership stating that “Partnering on this initiative gives us tremendous opportunities to have wider reach and impact to stimulate economic growth and development in our operating territories. It also allows us to empower through financing, a key sector of our economy - our Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) which make up 70 to 85 percent of businesses in the Eastern Caribbean, generate 50 percent of national employment and contribute up to 70 percent of GDP” Small Businesses in St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada are encouraged to call

Republic Bank’s Managing Director Michelle Palmer anticipates that the Bank’s new product will bear positively on the growth of MSMEs in the Eastern Caribbean. and speak to a Business Banking Manager to discuss how Republic Bank can assist with their various unique needs. Customers and potential customers can also visit (www.republicbankec) for further information on our small business portfolio. (Contributed by RR(EC))

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

Hurricane Safety tips plenty of fuel and water.

Have several days supply of food and water for each family member.

If called to evacuate, do so immediately.

re-Season Preparation

P • • •

• • •

• Enter the season prepared.

Know all evacuation routes if you live close to the coast.

Make sure your home meets building codes for withstanding hurricanes, and they have storm shutters.

Have proper tools, supplies, and a first aid kit.

Have plenty of batteries and flashlights Always have plenty of non-perishable foods on hand.

When a watch or warning is issued • •

Leave low lying areas.

Protect windows with plywood boards, or storm shutters.

Secure outside objects.

Make sure you have

• •

•

During the storm •

Stay in Secure Room.

Stay away from windows.

Do not use the phone, or candles.

Monitor Weather and Civil Service Bulletins on either regular or NOAA radio.

Have supplies on hand.

Remain indoors when the because the storm will resume shortly.

• • •

• •

If you have to Evacuate DON’T PANIC. An orderly, but immediate evacuation will help ensure that you arrive safely at your destination.

Source: www.hurricaneville.com/safety.

stranded by the storm.

Evacuation Kit (Things to carry if going to a Shelter): •

Take Evacuation Kits.

Gather your important documents: insurance papers with the name and phone number of your agent, medical records, driver’s licence, property photos, inventory check list, etc.

• Turn off water, gas and electricity.

• Lock all windows and doors.

• Call friends and relatives to inform them of your destination. When you arrive, call again to let them know you are safe.

• Leave the area, but not the region. Roads may be congested and the more time spent on the road, the greater your chance of being

Source: geology.com

• •

Make sure that all is definitely clear outside,

• •

Storm Names

•

After the storm •

and the storm has completely passed before going out.

Report downed power lines, and stay away from them.

Use stored water and food.

Be patient. Things will take a while before they get back to normal.

• • • •

•

• • • • • •

Blankets/sheets for each member of the family.

Identification cards for everyone.

Important documents secured in water tight containers.

Medicines and prescription drugs.

Books, games, playing cards, etc., (this may be an extended stay).

Soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, toilet paper, feminine products, paper towels, etc.

Extra clothes, shoes, etc.

Baby food (if necessary) Food for 3 days.

Drinking water Foam mattresses.

Cash

2021 Hurricane Season Ana Bill Claudette Danny Elsa Fred

Grace Henri Ida Julian Kate Larry

Mindy Nicholas Odette Peter Rose Sam

Teresa Victor Wanda

18. FRIDAY, JULY 09, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Inspecting and protecting your home y following the suggestions below, your home will have a better chance of surviving severe weather.

Start at the top: Check for any loose sheetings or loose nails on your roof. Make sure the gutters are tightly hinged and that they drain freely. Check the storm drains for any clogging.

Work your way down: Check all windows and doors to ensure there are no loose panes/hinges. It is highly recommended that you install approved hurricane shutters over windows and doors to protect your home against strong winds.

B

• If the power goes out, turn off your water heater, air conditioner, electrical appliances to reduce the chance of damage.

• Do not leave your house until it has been confirmed that is safe to do so. It may seem as if the storm has passed, yet you could be in the calm eye of the hurricane.

• If flooding occurs, turn off all electricity at the main breaker box.

•

• Do not use your computer or any electrical device during the storm.

Make sure your car has a full tank of gas.

• Withdraw money beforehand - the storm may knock out power at ATMs.

How to protect your business during the storm ountless businesses have been wiped out, both physically and monetarily due to hurricanes. Here are some ways to protect your business during the storm:

C

• Create a Disaster Plan.

• Post a copy of the Evacuation Routes on each floor of the building.

• Fax a copy of the Evacuation Routes to clients, customers and vendors.

• Designate a meeting area in the event telephone lines are down.

• Practice evacuation/fire drills annually with employees.

• Contact clients, customers and vendors when you return to your place of business after the storm.

Update them on your company’s status.

• Have your business appraised every 4 years.

Storing Food I

DEALLY, you should have enough non-perishable food items on hand to sustain your family for 1 week.

High energy, high-nutrition foods are best. If the power goes out, eat the • If a hurricane poses a threat, foods in the refrigerator first, before secure your windows and doors. eating food in the freezer. Only open the refrigerator and freezer doors • Back up all data files and store when needed - the longer the door them in another location. stays closed, the longer the food lasts.

Non-perishable foods are to be used • Make provisions to work without primarily after the perishable food electricity, water, sewerage and items from your refrigerator and telephone service for up to 2 weeks. freezer are consumed.

• Have your building inspected annually by a certified building inspector.

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

20. FRIDAY, JULY 09, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

General Hurricane information originates over tropical or subtropical waters and has a closed low-level circulation.

Cyclones with wind Hurricanes are speeds that exceeds 74 tropical cyclones - storms mph (64 knots) and that rotate counter circulate clockwise with wind (counterclockwise in the speeds in excess of 74 Northern Hemisphere mph (kmh). and clockwise in the Most hurricanes form Southern Hemisphere) over warm seas near the are referred to as equator. They are hurricanes in the created when the sun Atlantic, and typhoons in heats the ocean surface, the Eastern and Central causing heated water Pacific Oceans. The vapor to rise, condense classifications for all and form clouds. These tropical cyclones are: clouds begin to spiral as * Tropical the earth rotates. More Disturbance: A rotary air is pulled underneath circulation in the upper and a large vortex is atmosphere that formed. produces little to no effect on the surface.

Stages of a Hurricane: They are fairly common occurrences in the A tropical cyclone is a tropics. rotating, organized system of clouds and * Tropical Depression: thunderstorms that

hat exactly is a Hurricane:

W

A low-pressure area that produces some rotary circulation on the ocean’s surface. Tropical depressions have sustain wind speeds of less than 39 mph. * Tropical Storm: A low area with a distinct rotary circulation.

Tropical Storms have winds speeds of 39 to 73 mph. * Hurricane: a lowpressure area with a pronounced rotary circulation. Hurricane wind speeds are at least 74 mph and can reach over 200 mph in strong Category 5 hurricanes.

Many hurricanes measure 300 miles across, but they have been known to span a 600 mile diameter.

Advisories

Advisories warn us of impending danger from tropical cyclones. Here are the advisories to note during hurricane season. * Tropical Storm Watch: Sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph are possible within the specified area within 48 hours. * Tropical Storm Warning: Sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph are expected within the specified area within 36 hours. * Hurricane Watch: Sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are expected within the specified area within 48 hours. * Hurricane Warning: Sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are expected within the specified area within 36 hours.

V

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

News

Elsa’s damage significant THE EXTENT of the damage sustained during the passage of Hurricane Elsa on July 2 is yet to be determined.

According to Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves as he addressed a Sitting of Parliament on Tuesday 6th July, the damage has not been “overwhelmingly severe” but it was significant.

Between 150 and 200 houses were damaged, this was based on reports received from Parliamentary Representative for North Windward/Deputy Prime Minister Montgomery Daniel and the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO).

The damage to these houses range from severe to not that severe and

World Bank supports SVG Recovery THE WORLD BANK BOARD of Executive Directors approved today US$50 million in Supplemental Financing for the Second Fiscal Reform and Resilience Development Policy Credit (DPC) for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. This quickdisbursing operation aims to help the country cover a large unexpected financing gap and address emergency needs caused by the La Soufrière volcano eruption, which began in March 2021. The original DPC was approved in June 2020.

“The volcanic eruption began as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was still coping with the devastating socioeconomic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean. “The eruptions displaced close to a quarter of the island’s population and severely impacted livelihoods. We value our strong partnership with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the World Bank remains committed to supporting the people in their efforts to manage the impacts of both COVID-19 and this crisis.”

The volcano eruption, and the ensuing ashfall, mudslides, and pyroclastic flows have had devastating impacts on people’s livelihoods and the economy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

This supplemental financing to the DPC approved last year will help the government address emergency response and recovery needs, while also supporting long-term development goals. The operation supports the country’s program to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthen fiscal sustainability, and enhance climate and disaster resilience.

The financing, which is from the International Development Association (IDA), is interest-free with a maturity of 40 years, including a grace period of 10 years.

World Bank Group COVID-19 Response Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Bank Group has committed over $125 billion to fight the health, economic, and social impacts of the pandemic, the fastest and largest crisis response in its history. The financing is helping more than 100 countries strengthen pandemic preparedness, protect the poor and jobs, and jump start a climate-friendly recovery. The Bank is also providing $12 billion to help low- and middle-income countries purchase and distribute COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments. (Source: World Bank)

the information coming from the Agriculture Minister Saboto Caesar is that there has been significant loss of production, particularly for plantain and bananas.

Hurricane Elsa has also been blamed for damage caused to some

main and side roads, Gonsalves continued — especially in the North Windward area - due to the heavy rainfall which

accompanied the system.

“There is no exact dollar value, but it is going to run into the millions of dollars,”

Damage to agriculture

by Hurricane Elsa is severe but not yet given a dollar value.

Gonsalves said. (DD)

V

22. FRIDAY, JULY 09, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Choose one!!!

Dear George,

I AM DATING two girls right now and want to seriously settle with one of them but do not know which one to choose.

I started out casually dating both of them with the intention of selecting the right one, but I fell deeply in love with both of them. They both have the qualities I am looking for and I do not want to part with either of them.

I did a stupid thing by promising each of them a “forever” relationship. I guess I was hoping one of them would mess up and give me an excuse to choose the other.

A small voice is telling me to choose one of them and keep the other one as a side chick but I guess neither of them would want that side chick role.

I need your help on this one.

Between 2 roses Dear Between 2 roses, Since both of these girls possess the qualities you are looking for in a prospective bride, then no problem: CHOOSE ONE OF THEM!!!

I think your problem stems from your desire to have both women. So, put your cards on the table face up, let these women know where you stand and watch the chips fall where they may.

George

Affairs with the same woman

Dear George

I THOUGHT I was doing the right thing by letting my wife know I had been sleeping for a little over three months with her good friend, who is also a family friend. What a shock it was when my wife admitted to me that she too had been having a sexual relationship with the same friend, and was hoping I never found out.

I have never felt so stupid. I never knew my wife was that way.

When she asked me what I wanted to do, I

strongly objected to her seeing this woman. Her response was that there was no way I was going to stop her and suggested I should join them or give her space.

I do not want to share my wife with anyone.

My fling with her friend was temporary but it seems her affair with her is of a more permanent nature. I want my wife back.

Still hoping Dear Still hoping, Both you and your wife have succeeded in making a mockery of

your marital vows. You cannot have it both ways; you are either in the marriage or out.

Suggest to your wife that you and she see a marriage counsellor.

Both of you need to be reminded what brought you together in the first place.

As it stands now neither of you is engaging in behaviour that would strengthen your marriage, but the tide can change for the better once there is a renewed commitment to get back on track.

George

Forget about him Dear George, MY BOYFRIEND used to beat me for tea, breakfast and dinner. I finally decided to leave him and have since found a man who respects me and treats me like a Queen.

However, now that I have moved, my ‘Ex’ is doing all he can to get me back.

He told me he regretted treating me the way he did and begged me to forgive him and give him another

chance. He even cried once when speaking to me and I have never seen him cry before.

He appears to be genuine and a changed man but I am not so sure if to believe him or not.

Very hesitant

for you when you were with him. He blew that chance and it is a little too late to be shedding crocodile tears.

Maintain your focus on the relationship you are in presently and leave your ‘Ex’ to deal with his new status.

Dear hesitant,

George

Your boyfriend needs to understand that the horse has already bolted. It would have been better for him if he had an appreciation

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Female members of your family may be difficult to deal with. Look into career choices and courses being offered.

Concentrate on spending quality time with children and friends.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) You may not have the same ideas when it comes to what you both enjoy. Friends and relatives can give you good advice.

Do what’s best for the people you love most.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Make sure that you have covered yourself legally and try not to let your temper get out of hand. You may need to make a few alterations to your living arrangements.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Social events may lead to a romantic interlude. Overexertion and negligence will be your worst enemies. Use your own ideas to further your interests.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Spend time getting into physical activities with your lover. You can make money if you pursue your own business. You will be best suited to doing things around the house.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Don’t overextend yourself in order to add luxury items to your entertainment center. You may want to make changes that will turn your entertainment room into a real family affair.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You will be able to borrow money in order to invest. Be sure to organize events that will keep the children busy. Romance may be likely if you travel.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Your ability to do detailed work will dazzle those who are less creative. You may find that your plans will cost a little more than you had expected.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Your main concern will be to spend as little as possible of your own cash in the process. Be cautious who you deal with financially. Do your work at home, if you can.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Be sure to catch up on overdue correspondence and help those you love find solutions to their dilemmas. You could be misinterpreted if you’re not careful. Avoid extravagance or risky financial schemes.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) You can sell your ideas to those who have the money to back them. Get involved in competitive sports. Friends will appreciate your attention and playful nature.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) You may want to take another look at the investment you are about to make. You haven’t been totally honest with yourself and it’s time to review your motives.

ACROSS 1. At _, finally 5. Milky stone 9. Jupiter or Mars 12. Norwegian capital 13. Extended narrative 14. _ Grande 15. Michigan neighbor 16. Intersection 18. Convened 19. Nutritious grain 20. “Cast Away” star 21. 60-minute span 23. Informal greeting 24. Greasy streak 26. Angeles intro 27. Tone after fa 30. Picnic area 31. Mr. King Cole 32. May follower 33. Affirmative answer 34. Tree-cutting tool 35. Monetarily punished 36. Sty resident 37. Points (at) 38. Basic furniture piece 41. Gentlemanly title 42. Cured pork 45. Kerosene-powered items 47. Gaming cubes 48. Assist 49. Travel by yacht 50. Freshly 51. Exhibit nosiness 52. Kind 53. First Lady Truman DOWN 1. Weaving frame 2. Tennis player Arthur 3. Moves like a snake 4. Overly

5. Writer Wilde 6. Segment 7. Long, long _ 8. Plies a whip 9. Look happy 10. Swine grunt 11. Barking pets 17. Express verbally 19. Your and my 22. Acorn source 23. Highly spiced 24. Intelligence agent 25. Silver screen legend West 26. Judicial field 27. Daylight 28. Nine minus eight 29. Was a pioneer 31. Remind persistently 32. Comic Carrey

34. Most aching 35. An evergreen 36. Big success 37. Wedding walk 38. Applaud 39. Head strands 40. Actor Garcia

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

V

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

41. Scissors stroke 43. Talented pilots 44. Kitten sounds 46. Music great Charles 47. Apply (paint)

V

24. FRIDAY, JULY 09, 2021. THE VINCENTIAN

Vincy Heat out of Gold Cup VINCY HEAT, St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Senior National Male Football Team, were dealt a severe blow in pursuit of advancing beyond the preliminary round of qualifying in the Concacaf Gold Cup. They were humbled 6 — 1 by Haiti in a match played last week Friday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Albeit Vincy Heat fielded a depleted squad with no specialist gold keeper, and even though makeshift goalkeeper Nigel Charles produced some brilliant saves, it was clear that Haiti was too good for the Vincentians.

Charles was undoubtedly the

Kyle Roberts - Vincy Heat lone goal scorer.

Alfred Grant assistant coach of Vincy Heat.

standout for Vincy Heat even though the Haitians put 6 pass him.

Midfielder Kyle Edwards, who plays for USL club Rio Grande Valley FC., converted Vincy Heat’s lone goal in the 42nd minute, a consolation of sorts as Haiti converted in the 26th, 33rd, 37th, 59th, 72nd and 90th minutes.

Notwithstanding

another drubbing, Vincy Heat’s Assistant CoachAlfred Grant was pleased with the effort from the team.

“They performed better than expected, especially the stand-in goalkeeper Nigel Charles. The team showed plenty heart, determination, strength and willpower to complete the game with

Makeshift goalkeeper Nigel Charles making one of his many moves to keep the Haitians at Bay. (Photo Courtesy Miami Herald) a respectable score line,” he said after the match, adding that, “Once the players build on what they did well in the game, we will be good for the future.”

As for the immediate future, Grant is advising that the players take some time off to reflect on the past few months, so that they could return

to training with a fresh mindset.

Next on Vincy Heat’s tinerary is another installment of the Concacaf Nations League.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation in a release since Friday’s match, stated inter alia, “We are extremely proud of the

effort and energy that the team injected into the engagement at the Gold Cup, and when they are given the all clear from the medical authorities with regard to quarantine, they will be duly recognized by the executive committee and the technical team.”

I.B.A.ALLEN

Local leg of Caricom 10K staged Open 10K, staged last Sunday afternoon from Prospect to in front of the First Caribbean International Bank on Halifax Street, in capital, Kingstown.

Edwards won in 38: 01.12. Mc Dowall’s winning time was 42: 18.8. Both winners represented the IT DAT Academy.

Second to Edwards was Ziel Spring (39:36.37), with third place taken by Pamenos Ballantyne (41:53.43). Zita Vincent docked second to Mc Dowall in a time of 57: 15.75), with Dr. Jozelle Miller, third in 1 hour 6 minutes13.58 seconds.

Linda Mc Dowall with Sunday’s also saw a 5K her winning trophy. run which started in the vicinity of Dr Ackie’s Clinic Left: Katriel at Arnos Vale. Winning the Male Bailey out front category was Saige Caesar with in the 5K and Katriel Bailey, trumping the Female stayed in that category. position up to The Caricom Open 10K, one of the finish line. the major events on the regional athletics calendar, had to be cancelled for a second year because of MARKIE EDWARDS won the Male the Covid-19 pandemic. The Caricom segment and Linda Mc Dowall the Open 10K staged here was a local female component of the Caricom

Saige Caesar (right) Male 5K champion, gets his medal from Director of Physical Education and Sports- Nelson Hillocks. version of the annual race.

St Vincent and the Grenadines was set to host the 2020 edition of the Caricom 10K. The last Caricom 10K was held in St Lucia in 2019, when the Vincentian duo of Linda Mc Dowall and Junior Ashton, copped the Female and Male

Markie Edwards closes in on the finish line at last Sunday’s 10K. categories, respectively.

The Regional Diaspora Unit, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and the Caricom Youth Ambassadors, hosted Sunday’s race.

The Caricom Open 10K (local) was scheduled so that coincided with the opening of the 2021 Caricom Week of Activities.

V

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

Sports

Creese will compete in Paralympics IT IS confirmed: Swimmer Dexroy Creese is heading to the 2021 Paralympic Games to be staged in Tokyo, Japan, from August 24 to September 5.

Creese qualified as a wild card entrant in the 50M freestyle, after placing third in a time of 47.35 in that event at the World Para Swimming Series held in Berlin, Germany, in late June.

He was the lone Vincentian and Caribbean swimmer at the Germany event and was also registered in the 100M freestyle at the Germany Games, but had to pull out after he “wasn’t feeling well,” he said.

Reflecting on his experience in Germany,

Creese said, “As the only athlete from the Caribbean, I got a kind of break down because no one was there to support me. I asked God to help me get through this and to give me a good position so I just pushed forward and did it.”

After that feat and the wild card, the young man, who has only one full leg, is looking forward to do much better in the upcoming Games in Japan.

“I am pushing real hard,” he assured.

And even though he recognises that he has only a year or so of swimming behind him and that he is competing at the highest level for

the first time, he said, “I feel so good about myself.

I just want to represent my country and the Caribbean…. I am resuming training soon and I am going to push for a gold medal but that will depend on me being in good condition.”

Creese’s coach Rickey Deane was happy with his swimmer’s achievement especially, he said, as one considers the little time he had to train and prepare for the event.

“It means a lot to him as he was the only black person from the Caribbean and the first from SVG competing against athletes from the likes of Germany, Russia, Mexico, Ukraine,

France, Romania, Slovakia, to name a few,” Deane said.

“Even though he didn’t make the qualifying time, I still feel good getting someone with to the Paralympics finals.

That, to say the least, is quite an achievement for Dexroy and myself,” Deane added.

THE VINCENTIAN congratulates Dexroy on his achievement and wishes him and his coach a successful outing in Japan.

I.B.A.ALLEN Dexroy Creese has written himself into the annals of Paralympic sports in the region.

Tyhra aspiring to great things TYHRA CHARLES, one of this country’s up and coming junior athletes, has her eyes fixed on a career in track.

The young lady, a Lowmans Windward native and a second form

student of the Girls’ High School, was outstanding in the heats of the 2020 Inter Secondary Schools Athletics Championship, the finals of which were aborted because of the emergence of the

coronavirus.

Undaunted, Tyhra is looking to test her prowess against older and better athletes, and has since enrolled with the IT DAT Academy.

“Once I got involved in

training with the academy it was great. I started to get comfortable with the other athletes. I began seeing some improvement in my technical skills.”

SVGFF bidding to host U-17 Female Qualifiers ON THE BACK of cancelling the 2020/2021 National Club Championships, the Executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) is bidding to host Group C of the Concacaf Under17 Female Qualifiers in August.

This was disclosed by General Secretary of the SVGFF- Devron Poyer at a recent virtual press conference recently.

Poyer announced: “We would (have) requested of Concacaf for us to host here in St Vincent and the Grenadines…We are awaiting their

feedback on it.”

In August 2017, St Vincent and the Grenadines hosted Group E of the Qualifiers at the Arnos Vale Playing Field. The group also included St Kitts and Nevis, as well as Jamaica.

This time around, St Vincent and the Grenadines is drawn alongside Belize, Barbados and Curacao, in what is considered a tough Group C. Poyer said that the local Under-17 hopefuls have already begun training for the competition.

St Vincent and the

Grenadines is among sixteen countries which be part of the Qualifying phase.

The others are St Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Dominica and the US Virgin Islands, which occupy Group A. Group C contains Honduras, the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands and Anguilla, with Group D made up of Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia, Guyana and Gudeloupe.

The winners of the four groups from the qualifiers will advance to meet the twelve teams which emerge

Devron Poyer, General Secretary SVGFF. from the Group phase.

Comprising another sixteen countries, the Group phase will see the three top teams advancing to the Knock Out Round, which will be a single match elimination.

The first, second and third places will qualify for the 2022 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup Finals to be hosted by Indian in October.

She referred, for example, to how her coach helped her to keep her arms closer to her body instead of flinging them wildly.

As it stands now, her pet event is the 400M. However, she is looking forward to working towards adding the 800M and 400M hurdles to her repertoire.

She shared that it is her commitment to continue the family legacy, built on the back of her father who was a track and field athlete.

“I will like to go further and make my mother, father and my family proud. I want to travel and represent St Vincent and the Grenadines but I know it will take hard work and commitment, and I need to be more punctual at training,” she admitted.

Even with the restrictions enforced because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tyhra continues her training to suit. She is equally committed to making sure she stays on top of her school work.

Tyhra Charles is committed to developing her ability as a track athlete and to be the best that she could be.

“I working hard to remain focus. I pray asking God to guide me and help me to manage my time between sports and academics.”

And is there anything else that she has on her mind? “In addition to aspiring to be a top athlete, I want to become a doctor and overall to be a good example and role model for others,” she responded.

I.B.A.ALLEN

V

26. FRIDAY, JULY 09, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Tribute to Ken John I CAME INTO contact with him early in my life.

He was one of those who shaped my foundation.

His writings in the ‘Flambeau’ shed a light on my inner consciousness. He lived as militant in Vincentian politics, a trait he maintained. When the Democratic Freedom Movement challenged the status quo in the 1970’s era Kenneth was one of those who was an object of ridicule. His views were not the formal royal content. He swayed on the side of Africa and against the forces that carried that message of not even subtle, but blatant oppression of blacks notably in the hotbed of apartheid South Africa, which extended to Rhodesia, South West Africa, Mozambique and Angola.

Kenneth has never been fond of the British Royalty, nor his colonial trappings.

His patriotism was misunderstood in some circles. He was not afraid to make his position known on any aspect. The fluency and depth of writing revealed a level of incisiveness and creativity which students of his era developed through their quest for the elevation of humanity.

Kenneth had a style of writing which linked many topics in a chain so smooth that his lyrics flowed in mystical artistry.

His range was expansive and he put a lot of research into his personations.

He loved family connections and traced generations for many associated with him. As a lawyer, he stood in defence of the members of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Union of Teachers which peaked with the teargas Friday activity November 14, 1975.

The dust of that era continues to settle /like those of ash falls from both the 1979 volcanic eruption, and that of 2021, but in April.

His affinity to spots was a natural progression from his growing up and he did not hide his accomplishments as a cricketer. He used his connections on the field of play top project his vision of regional solidarity. There was no doubt as to where he stood on the question of Caribbean unity.

He cherished his overseas tours as a cricketer, and revelled in the relationships he saw which evolved.

His analysis on many sporting activity went beyond superficial. He was on the cutting edge of literary proficiency His column in the Vincentian newspaper was like the corner stone of Vincentian heritage.

His presentations seemed timeless and could be relied upon for factual structure however long after. Kenneth’s repertoire left one to wonder how he channelled that intensity into one body.

His views on politics were respected, even though one might have differed from him.

He was a cultural aficionado who saw the appreciated the link between culture and one’s way of life. He was a genuine Vincentian article, embracing the broader picture, that of the Caribbean region and global humanity on a whole.

God bless you Kenneth. Condolences to his family, loved ones near and far.

SVGOC rejects FINAÊs ban on ÂSoul CapÊ THE ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (SVGOC), on behalf of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Swimming Federation (SVGSF), has written to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), registering its abhorrence with respect to the banning of the ‘Soul Cap’ in Swimming Competitions.

General Secretary of the SVGOC — Keith Joseph, in a letter dated 2nd July, and addressed to Deputy General of the IOC- Pere Miro, noted the decision taken by the world governing body for Swimming- FINA, works against black athletes.

According to Joseph’s letter, “Our understanding of the Fundamental Principles of the IOC’s Charter speaks to a vehement

rejection of discrimination of any sort in the field of sport”.

He affirmed that his organisation’s interpretation of the ban on a cap that adequately addresses the hair and hairstyles of black athletes in particular, constitutes a breach of the fundamental principles of the Olympic Movement.

The ‘Soul Cap’ essentially makes provision for mainly black athletes with dreadlock, plaited and afro hairstyles.

Taking the lead on the matter, the SVGOC‘s letter reasoned: “Our analysis suggests very strongly that the decision of FINA to ban the ‘Soul Caps’ falls within the growing tendency to infringe on the rights of individual athletes of a

particular ethnic grouping which has been using it for their unique circumstances… In today’s world, we continue to see signs of a resurgence of systemic racism evidenced in newer yet sinister forms”.

The letter went on to state that there is no scientific basis on which to justify FINA’s action and that FINA’s dare to state that the ‘Soul Cap’ does not follow “the natural form of the head” must be seen for the discrimination that it really is. It exposes the organisation’s seemingly inherent bias.

The SVGOC’s also reasoned that there was never any determination that swim caps should follow, ”the natural form of the head”.

The SVGOC requested

PART TWO

knowledgeable about the responsibilities of the position he is about to take.

Every player should learn his responsibilities.

When a player finds himself chasing the ball or an opponent and ends up in a different position, does the player stop and return to his position remembering he is playing to a plan?

From the outset it is worthwhile to understand that a number (on your jersey) does not make you a player. Properly executing your responsibilities makes you a player — a good player.

When you are contracted to play for another club here or overseas, don’t expect to get a number you want.

You will be told to get out there and play, and you will get more and new responsibilities which suit the composition and plan of the team.

The U-20 coach said after the team failed to qualify, “The players cannot carry out instructions”. Then the coach of the senior men said after they lost to Curacao, “The players cannot implement instruction”.

Who is at fault? Who is responsible?

Implementing is where our problem lies.

No amount of excuses will change that or fool anyone.

It is a given that the squad discusses the plan, i.e. how they are going to play, and receive clear instructions. All should agree and understand their roles. Next, they spend whatever time is necessary implementing the plan, making it permanent until close to perfect.

It is during friendly matches and not after a

The ‘Soul Cap’ as displayed by a nonCaucasian person.

(Source: BBC) an urgent analysis of the situation and urged the rejection of the decision

by FINA to ensure that the ban is not implemented at this year’s Olympics in Japan, and in the sport itself under any circumstance.

The next level of football WHEN YOU begin playing football and want to be a goalkeeper, you learn you are responsible for: not letting the ball pass you and go into your goal; assisting your defence by keeping them aware of their marking, especially those on the blind side; delivering the ball to a player who should be able to deliver the ball to another of his teammates, and continue that way.

If you want to be a forward, your essential responsibility is to score goals.

To be a midfielder you learn that your tasks are to create opportunities for the forwards; support both forward and defenders, win tackles and also score goals.

Defenders make sure no shots are taken on the goal.

But both defenders and midfielders ‘must’ join the attack so there can be depth in attack.

There is never too much support while having possession and preparing to attack.

Coaches are expected to refine the skills of the players according to their positions.

When a substitution is made, it is assumed that that substitute is

tournament that the coach looks for those players who are not carrying out or implementing the instructions.

Understand though, every plan has a transition period,’ a period of analysis that leads to adjustments and modification.

This message is not approved by the SVGFF executive and friends, so we can continue to not qualify.

Rollit

Fisherman fined for weed Continued from Page 4.

The search revealed a bucket under a bed in his bedroom. It was opened in his presence, uncovering the herb. When cautioned, he said it belonged to someone else whom he identified by name.

Before handing down the penalty, Browne told John that because he pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, he would benefit from a onethird reduction in sentence. She also noted that he had no previous convictions and appeared to be remorseful, and highlighted the fact that the defendant was found with “local vegetation, as opposed to the white powdery processed stuff”, all factors that would go in his favour.

But she informed him that the value placed on the marijuana with which he was found was $6,500, and added that when the police found the substance at his home he did not accept responsibility but instead, played the blame game.

Browne explained that in sentencing, she had to follow the guidelines of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. She then proceeded to do the calculations, weighed the mitigating and aggravating factors before arriving at the fine.

V

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

Classifieds

MHRC workers withdraw services

Continued from Backpage.

Last month, matters came to a head and 90% of the workers signed a petition calling for the removal of all management personnel at the Centre.

The Ministry of Health, to whom the

petition was sent, is reported to have redirected the petition to the management at the institution.

It was at that point that the workers, acting through their Union, gave notice that they were going to withdraw their services.

In keeping with the

Essential Services Act, the Union wrote to the Governor General informing her of the worker’s intention. The letter was copied to the Ministry of Health.

The original plan was to take the action well into the week, but when the Union received a prompt response from the Governor General, it advised its members to return to work last Wednesday.

The Ministry of

EDSON JOSEPH BRANCH Kingstown Evangelical Church Monday, 5th July, 2021 Viewing: 10:00 a.m.

Service: 11:00 a.m.

Interment: Kingstown Cemetery

JOSEPH AUGUSTA FOYE a.k.a. David Thomas S.D.A. Church, Questelles Sunday, 4th July, 2021 Viewing: 9:30 a.m.

Service: 10:30 a.m.

Interment: Chauncey Cemetery

Health’s failure to respond to correspondence and to meet with the Union to discuss the concerns and requests, amounted, , Boucher said, to blatant disrespect for the workers and patients at the MHRC. He warned: “If our concerns are not addressed, and there had been ample time given to the authorities, the Union will take further action.”

RODNEY CADOUGAN Choppins Fundamental Church Sunday, 4th July, 2021 Viewing: 9:00 a.m.

Service: 10:00 a.m.

Interment: Golden Vale Cemetery

852< %$<1(6 $.$ ³%8&.<´ 6W -RKQ¶V Spiritual Baptist Church Ashton, Union Island Friday, 2nd July, 2021 Viewing 10:00 a.m.

Service 11:00 a.m.

LUCAS GOODGIE a.k.a. Lucas Oliver Barrouallie Evangelical Church Sunday, 4th July, 2021 Viewing: 11:30 a.m.

Service: 12:00 noon Interment: Glebe Hill Cemetery

SONJA DIANNA HINDS known as Dyee New Testament Church of God Wilson Hill Thursday, 1st July, 2021 Viewing: 10:00 a.m.

Service: 11:00 a.m.

Interment: Kingstown Cemetery

In our last publication dated 2nd July, 2021, the names and funeral details of two persons were inadvertently switched, please see the correction below. We apologize for any inconvenience which resulted from this error.

ELDA ROLITA CONNELL Barrouallie Evangelical Church Sunday, 27th June, 2021 Viewing: 10:30 a.m.

Service: 11:30 a.m.

Interment: Glebe Hill Cemetery WINSTON PETER WARREN Emmanuel Baptist Church Sunday, 27th June, 2021 South Rivers Viewing: 10:00 a.m.

Service: 11:00 a.m.

Interment: Park Hill Cemetery

AI REAL ESTATE Golden Vale 12,165 sq.ft 2 $16.00 p.sf. - $194,640.00 - BB287 Ottley Hall 9,117 sq.ft @ $8.50 p.s.f. - $77,494.50 - BB232 Rivulet 11,229 sq.ft @ $11.00 p.s.f. - $123,519.00 - BB800 Fair Hall 3 bedrm Property on 8,163 sq.ft.

- Open to offers - H110 (784)- 457-2087/(718)-807-4376 office (784)-493-9431/(784)-533-0431 whatsappcell donp@vincysurf.com

FRIDAY, JULY

09, 2021

VOLUME 115, No.27

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

MENTAL HEALTH WOES ARE REAL

by DAYLE DASILVA THE COMPLAINTS of the workers at the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre (MHRC) at Glen have not been addressed by the relevant authorities.

So said Diana Bailey a former person-in-charge (2014 - 2017) at the MHRC, who also said that she was on a mission to seek some redress for the workers at the facility.

And even as Bailey stated her intention last Monday, July 5, sixty-five (65) percent of the workers at the MHRC on the very day, took strike action; action which has been sanctioned by their union, the Public Service Union (PSU).

But Minister of Health, St Clair Prince refuted claims made by the Union that a litany of concerns were not addressed, saying that he had been advised that the Permanent Secretary had addressed the concerns.

Speaking on the basis of some 17 years of service at the MHRC, she insisted that there were a number of issues affecting both members of staff and patients at the facility.

The facility has a capacity for 130 patients, but the numbers have hovered around 200 plus, and there are all types of patients — those with a forensic history of mental illness, old and young people. And the young ones often perpetrate violence against some of the more vulnerable groups.

There have been instances of assaults, both physical and sexual and there were some patients who were unable to help themselves, Bailey said.

She informed that there were patients with physical and mental challenges, all housed together, and that intimidation measures taken by persons in managerial positions was not uncommon.

Bailey cited that more than 50 percent of the population at the centre had no support from the outside.

Diana Bailey – a former person-in-charge at the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre – insisted that there are a number of burning issues at the Centre that call for immediate attention.

staff has taken action, about issues of safety as there will be only a skeleton staff on duty.

“If the staff is not happy, then patient care is Among the issues going to be an issue,” Bailey stressed.

A call for dialogue There was a draft Mental Health Action plan However, Bailey told THE VINCENTIAN that done in 2017 which was submitted to Cabinet for the fundamental issue for her was that the staff had All in all, there were a number of concerns but approval. There has been no response to date. launched a grievance against the management at the authorities have refused to sit with staff Bailey pleaded with the authorities at the the MHRC, and nothing had been done. members. There has been no dialogue.

“I don’t believe in washing dirty linen in public, According to Bailey, she tried, while at the helm, Ministry of Health not to feel as if the allegations but it is frightening to me that the Ministry (of to have some concerns addressed but with no action, are violations against them.

The concerns of the staff were being disregarded Health) has not shown an interest in trying to the situation has gotten out of hand. and she just wanted the officials to work with them. redress the issues,” Bailey continued.

And she is concerned now that 65 percent of the

MHRC WORKERS WITHDRAW SERVICES

by KENVILLE HORNE OVER 60% of workers at the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre (MHRC) withdrew their services last Monday and Tuesday, in a show of dissatisfaction after their litany of concerns fell on deaf ears, according to Elroy Boucher, President of the Public Service Union (PSU), the workers’ bargaining agent.

Speaking at a press conference at the PSU headquarters, McKies Hill, on Tuesday, Boucher said that the Union had written a number of letters to the Permanent Secretary in the

Ministry of Health, highlighting serious concerns about management and other issues affecting workers at MHRC. In a letter of March 2020, the Union raised, among other concerns: junior employees not being equipped with kits to protect them from the coronavirus; hygiene issues among patients (one soap for multiple persons, mixing laundry items); cases of scabies among the Centre’s population.

That letter called for dialogue on the issue. With no response forthcoming, letters were dispatched in May and July 2020 and June 2021

(L-R): PSU’s Joel Poyer - Industrial again Relations Officer, Shelly-Ann urging discussions towards resolving Alexander-Ross – Public Relations the issues.

Over time, conditions at the MHRC Officer and Elroy Boucher – President at last Monday’s Press exacerbated, according to Boucher, Conference. with an outbreak of COVID-19.

“Over 100 patients and staff came down with COVID-19 and one patient patients.

“Nothing has change… the problem died,” Boucher told the press conference, adding that the Union had continues,” Boucher declared. emphasized that management had Continued on Page 27. failed to protect the workers and

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

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.