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FRIDAY,
MARCH 11, 2016
VOLUME 110, No.11
www.thevincentian.com
EC$1.50
The tranquillity of the Wallilabou Bay was ruptured by a gruesome and fatal attack on persons aboard a yacht moored there.
VINCENTIANS AWOKE on Friday, March 4, to the news that a German national had been killed and another injured, after two masked men attacked them on aboard their yacht, anchored at Wallilabou, on the sheltered North Western coast of mainland St. Vincent. Wallilabou is famous as a major location in the first of the four ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ films to date. The police here confirmed that the German national, Martin Griff, 49 years old, died from gunshot wounds to his throat. Also wounded in the attack was Reinhold Zeller, the 63-year-old captain of the yacht. Zeller was shot in the arm, police say, and was treated and warded up to Monday, March 7, at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, Kingstown, this country’s main hospital. Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves took to the radio waves in a nationwide address on Friday, March 4, and described the incident as
a “terrible stain” on St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He assured the nation that he had visited with Captain Zeller and other occupants of the yacht and expressed profound sorrow on behalf of the government and people of St. Vincent. Dr. Gonsalves said, inter alia, that the two masked men had disturbed the peace and tranquillity of persons on the yacht and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and that the crime will “cost millions of dollars becasuse we sell peace, security, tranquillity.. .” He said further that he will be contacting the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, to express deep regret for the incident. Information disclosed here Tuesday, March 8, said that the Prime Minister had received correspondence from the German Ambassador in Trinidad and Tobago, H.E. Dr. Lutz Gorgen, who is also credited to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Ambassador described
the incident as “tragic and gruesome” and “difficult to bear for Germans as well as Vincentians.” He thanked the Prime
Minister for reaching out personally to the family of the deceased, and wished “the police force in St. Vincent and the Grenadines success in
bringing the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice.” Up to Wednesday, March 9, the report of a post mortem on the
deceased was not yet available, and no arrest had been made in connection with the incident. Continued on Page 3.
CONCERN OVER YACHT VIOLENCE (Leeward) section of the country. “On the Atlantic side there is no anchorage, but clearly on the sheltered Caribbean Sea side, clearly something needs to be done,” Horne said. He, however, acknowledged the difficulty in
by DAYLE DA SILVA A FORMER PARLIAMENTARIAN has weighed in on the recent killing of a German tourist, murdered on a yacht while it was anchored on the Leeward Coast last week, saying that something needs to be done to deal with the problem. John Horne, former Minister of Culture and Education in the Sir James Mitchell-led New Democratic Party (NDP) Administration, said on Monday, when he called in to the ‘New Times’ radio programme, that the police/coast guard should consider putting a station along the North Western
John Horne, former NDP Minister of Government, has called for a coast guard station on the Leeward coast of mainland St. Vincent. Right: Dr. Godwin Friday traced a picture of decreasing visitors by yachts to SVG.
patrolling the area, adding that there was a similar situation in the Grenadines, with yachts being broken into; but stressed that the authorities needed to come up with creative ways of dealing with the issue. “Because it is bad publicity, one is bad, furthermore a history,” the former minister said, referring to other similar incidents which occurred previously. “It is a very serious matter, and I am not hearing any suggestions,” Horne continued. He was reacting to the most recent incident where a tourist was killed by two armed assailants who boarded a yacht anchored in the vicinity of Wallilabou Bay, around 1:35 last Friday morning, killing a 40 year-old German national and injuring the captain of the vessel in the process. Continued on Page 3.
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2. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN
People/History
Garifuna represents a bridge, says Gibbons
THE GARIFUNA STORY is a link between aspects of the Caribbean before Columbus arrived and what transpired thereafter. That’s how Rawle Gibbons sees it. He was the keynote speaker last Wednesday at a Symposium staged by the Garifuna Heritage Foundation. It was held under the theme ‘Living the Garifuna Heritage and Culture in St. Vincent and the Grenadines/ Garifuna diaspora relationship as a reflection of the Caribbean indigenous experience’. Gibbons is a Trinidad and Tobago citizen. He spent part of life studying and working in Jamaica before he returned home to lecture at the Centre for the Creative and Festival Arts, UWI, St. Augustine. March 14 marks the highlight of the month’s activities. This country’s only National Hero, Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer, was killed March 14, 1795. This year marks 221 years since his death, but the story and memory of his existence take on greater significance with each anniversary. Chatoyer’s passing heralded
a period of unrivalled atrocity, the results of which the world continues to grapple. It signalled the expulsion of a major plank of the Garifuna nationhood two years later. But their survival serves as inspiration to many who may be faced with extinction. Gibbons prefaced his presentation with excerpts from one of the compositions of Derek Walcott, the St. Lucia born 1992 Nobel Prize Winner in Literature. For Gibbons, Walcott’s poems reflect on his ongoing and immediate experience. Gibbons cited attainment of independence for Caribbean states, which mushroomed flollowing the collapse of the Federation in 1962. He noted, however, that besides the change of flag and anthem, it was business as usual, in that most of the citizens of the newly independent nations remained alienated from the centres of power. The Africans were disempowered, so were the Indians, Gibbons pointed out, and the Whites were fearful and
many went to Australia. Gibbons looked at the Garifuna experience and their history of resistance to slavery, genocide, and colonial repression. He lamented the scenario that many of us do not want to remember our history, pointed to a sense of shame and defeat surrounding our history, and that “we know more of Europe than of the Caribbean.” Gibbons described the Garifuna as an original Caribbean people - a mixture of African and indigenous stock, and hailed their victories, when they were achieved, as indication of how they used the available resources against superior technology, to overcome the odds. He looked at the movement of the Garifuna people as coincidental to the Caribbean pattern of a transitory people. The Garifuna in exile has created a memory, Gibbons said. The Performing Arts — inclusive of the use of oral traditions — song, stories - was
A number of secondary school students heard Rawle Gibbons call for an embracing of our traditional practices. Inset: Rawle Gibbons lamented that many Caribbean people do not want to remember their history. important tools in retaining those memories. Aspects of oral tradition stories, songs - keep those memories alive, Gibbons noted. Other areas of Caribbean history accounted for segments of Gibbons’ address. The Haitian revolution/experience and the Garifuna claim to Yurumein as the ancestral homeland form significant parts of the Caribbean heritage, as far as Gibbons was concerned. Gibbons pondered on the plight faced by Dominicans of Haitian descent and the threat to deny those people their citizenship.
Frenches remembers Glenn
by HAYDN HUGGINS
GLENN JACKSON, the man who revolutionized talk radio in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, taking it to the streets, and using it as a vehicle for championing the cause of the masses, was remembered at a touching ceremony at Frenches, last Sunday evening. The event, held to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Jackson’s death, was hosted by the Frenches Unity Labour Party (ULP) group, and was the brainchild of the group’s chairperson Daffodil ‘TT’ Small, a close friend of Jackson up to the time of his death. The activities included prayers and tributes, and a wreath-laying ceremony at Jackson’s grave at the Kingstown cemetery. The veteran journalist and talk show host, was appointed Press Secretary to Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves following the 2001 general elections, and held that position up to the time of his shooting death, ten years ago. Jackson’s nude body was discovered in his vehicle, parked on the roadside at Cane Garden, a short distance from his home, around 2 p.m. March 6, 2006. He died from a bullet wound. Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday, Small explained that she would show her respects on the anniversary by visiting his grave, clean it and decorate it with flowers. But Small always had, in mind, to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Jackson’s death in a special way. She held discussions with other members of the party group, as well as Jackson’s family members about it, and the event became reality on Sunday. The group decided there was no place more fitting for the event than Frenches,
the community in which Jackson grew up and spent a considerable part of his life. Even after he had moved to live in other communities in the latter part of his life, Jackson still considered Frenches to be his home, and would visit the area frequently to eat, drink and chat with his friends. In fact, Small said that on March 5, 2006, the day before Jackson’s body was found, he visited her home to chat with her. “Before he left, he broke the seal of a bottle of cranberry juice, took a drink from it and he said, ‘Don’t touch that until I come back’”, Small recalled with laughter. Of course, Jackson never returned. The bottle of juice was not reopened until 40 days after his body was found, and each member of the party group drank a glass of it in his memory. “Glenn’s memories would live on as long as I am around, whether at a major celebration, or just going to his grave to show my respect, because life is a journey and death is the continuation of that journey”, Small declared. Small is of the view that more could and should be done, not only on the part of government, but by other entities, to remember the life and work of Jackson, who not only played a significant role in the development of the media, but the nation as a whole. Small’s sentiments were shared by the group’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Stanley ‘Culture Man’ Walker, who was also a close friend of Jackson. Though Jackson had a special love
The question of reparation for genocide and enslavement is one that Gibbons believes that CARICOM will have to handle. Gibbons’ delivery formed a prelude to presentations by Vincentians Dr. Adrian Fraser, Dr. Cleve Scott and Curtis King on the topic: ‘Revisiting History: The impact of the 1797 expulsion of the Garifuna on the development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines as nation state’. A number of students from various institutions attended the Wednesday session. They mixed with a gathering of adults who used the opportunity to point out spheres of Vincentian culture. (WKA)
Daffodil ‘TT’ Small, Chairperson of the ULP Frenches group, addressing the gathering at Frenches. Inset: Glenn Jackson’s mother also addressed the gathering. and passion for radio and journalism, he also made significant contributions as a school teacher, trade unionist, promoter, and political activist. He left a teaching career to join the staff at the state-owned NBC radio where he developed his skills in radio and journalism, a profession that would later distinguish him locally, regionally and internationally. In 1998, he joined the privately-owned WE FM, from where he founded the popular ‘Shake Up’ interactive programme aired on that radio station, the hallmark then of talk radio in SVG. Sunday’s event heard tributes from a number of persons including his former wife Susan, his mother, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, ULP General Secretary Senator Julian Francis, ULP caretaker for the area and Minister of Health Robert Luke Browne, Cecil ‘Blazer’ Williams, Daffodil Small, Julian Small, and Stanley ‘Culture Man’
Glenn Jackson rose from the classroom to become a prime minister’s Press Secretary.
Members of the ULP Frenches Group laid wreaths on the grave of Glen Jackson. Walker. Raquel Holder chaired the proceedings.
V News 3 National Debt is in crisis
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. 3.
THIS COUNTRY’S DEBT is inhibiting the economy’s ability to grow, and is placing an adverse effect on the government’s ability to create jobs. So said Leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) Arnhim Eustace in his response to the 2016 Budget last week Monday. Eustace also claimed that the national debt, which Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said had now reached EC$1.5 billion, was inaccurate. According to Eustace, the government is not including what is owed to PetroCaribe which he said amounts to an additional EC$900 million, taking the total to EC$2.4 billion. “Our debt, while not the
worst in the region, is getting worse - they say it is improving, but I know what the calculations are,” Eustace said at the event held at Frenches House. The government was now making payments in excess of EC$100 million a year on principal and interest payments, but the figure that was presented does not include what is owed to PetroCaribe, Eustace purported. Eustace has raised the issue before, and he acknowledged this, but reminded his audience that when he had raised the issue, Gonsalves responded that this country’s debt was in the vicinity of EC$140 million. Since that time, the Bank of Nova Scotia revealed that the
debt owed by beneficiaries of PetroCaribe, amounted to a cumulative total of $27 billion. “If the Bank of Nova Scotia is right, it means our debt is not $1.5 billion, but $2.4 billion when you add it on,” Eustace explained. This means that with a population like ours, every man, woman and child owes EC$21,950, he said, because it was the tax payers who were responsible for helping to repay the public debt. And with such a large debt, it was difficult for the economy to grow and for jobs to be created, Eustace explained. Gonsalves in his 2016 Budget address said that there was a 0.3 percent decrease in the public debt when compared to the figure in
December 2014. He, however, noted that the ratio of public debt as a percentage of GDP had risen modestly, and assured that the government intended to arrest the trend, once the period of high capital expenditure that was associated with the construction of the international airport and disaster rehabilitation had tapered off. All of this, Gonsalves claimed, would unfold within the context of an expanding GDP.
Arnhim Eustace, Leader of the Opposition NDP, claims that the national debt of SVG is a lot higher that what PM Dr. Gonsalves purports.
Concern over yacht violence German yachtsman killed Continued from Frontpage.
Continued from Frontpage. Vincentians, home and abroad, though, took every opportunity of call-in radio programmes here, to condemn the act, and to express concern about how it could affect this country’s tourism industry, especially the yachting sector. And out of adversity comes some good, as Leader of the Opposition, Arnhim Eustace, joined in condemning the act, describing it as “another nail in the country’s economic coffin.” Eustace said that the incident “makes it even more difficult to attract people to our shores, and the yachting sector is not like cruise ships; they spend money and they contribute.” St. Vincent and the Grenadines has had its fair share of incidents of crimes committed against yacht persons, but efforts continue to heighten surveillance of ports preferred by yachts persons, both here on the mainland and in the Grenadines, even as Tourism officials mount ongoing promotions to sell the peace and tranquillity of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
But the country has been plagued with a number of incidents of yachts being broken into in the past. According to Horne, the concern was the country’s reputation, particularly now that the numbers of yacht visitors have been dwindling within recent years. He compared St Vincent to St Lucia and Dominica where the industry has been doing well, saying that while the Grenadines is a paradise, it was nothing superior to what the other neighbouring islands had to offer. “So yes, we have the Grenadines, but don’t let us fool ourselves; people are competing and the price is important,” Horne said. During his response to the 2016 Budget last week Monday, Parliamentary Representative for the Northern Grenadines and Opposition shadow minister for tourism, Dr Godwin Friday, disclosed that statistics have shown that back in 2000, St Vincent and the Grenadines was doing far better than the
other OECS islands, with respect to the yachting industry. He pointed out in 2000 SVG welcomed 75,763 visitors by yacht, with a peak of 91,862 in 2001. However, by 2014 the number of arrivals had decreased to 42,750. Friday posited that decrease in the sector had nothing to do with what was going on internationally, but had to do with the poor management of the local sector, and SVG, moreso the Grenadines, was considered a haven for supported his argument yachts in the OECS. by comparing the for years, and it was totally said. figures for St Lucia during He said that he has seen ignored. Eventually they the same period. got a boat and a year after The statistics provided by the repercussions in his they said that break-ins constituency, where a Friday revealed that while went down. in 2000, when SVG was by number of businesses that “A lot of the business has far the best destination, St provided services in the yachting sector have closed since gone to other Lucia recorded 16,069 destinations, (like) over the years. arrivals; by 2010, the “The thing that puzzles Grenada, which is smaller, number had risen to 42,750 but the sector (there) is on me is that you have an and in 2014 the number authority and you see these the rise. So if we don’t take and increased further to things are happening, and some drastic action, the 46,932. yachts will come yes, but there is no alarm, no “That is more than we had. So when you hear me concern in trying to reverse they will go to the Tobago Cays, they come, spend the the situation,” he said. talking about it and day and they will go out,” “For years I complained complaining, I am not just about security on the water, Friday said. blowing smoke,” Friday
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4. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN
News
Body shop operator urges:
„Clean up your act‰ AUTO BODY MECHANIC Mark Abdon Sardine is encouraging others involved in the trade to clean up their act, in order to protect the environment. “I have a major problem in St Vincent. As a body shop owner I want to ask every other
auto shop owner, not to dump the toxic waste in our soil,” Sardine appealed. Sardine has been plying his trade for a number of years locally, and has also done so in the United States. He explained that the
Drums that Sardine suggests could be used for storing paint thinner, etc.
consequence of this indiscriminate dumping is that food safety is affected, and he stressed that the health of those people who consume food crops grown in polluted soil, will be affected by the toxins that accumulate in the soil. “There are (also) animals eating the grass on these premises, but no one is concerned,” he added. “All that I am asking in St Vincent and the Grenadines is to stop dumping this waste each and every day into the soil,” Sardine appealed. It’s an eyesore when travelling around the country, Sardine said, adding that most auto body repair shops are not properly disposing of their waste. As a boat enthusiast, he has been witness to something that he described as a very
embarrassing situation – a dumping site at the back of Young Island. “We depend on tourism…don’t turn our country into a dump,” he said. As an island nation, we depend heavily on the sea, and toxins have a negative impact on marine life, the concerned auto body mechanic related. “This is not about government, each citizen has a part to play,” Sardine said. The authorities need to start enforcing the law geared at preventing illegal dumping, as far as Sardine is concerned.
Mark Sardine visited with THE VINCENTIAN to express a concern about the disposal of waste by auto body repair shop operators.
“Fines for persons charged and convicted for illegal dumping can be invested to employ individuals to carry out patrols throughout the country, to ensure that people are adhering to the laws as they relate to the proper disposal of waste, especially harmful toxins,” Sardine suggested. And Sardine is offering another solution to auto-body repair shop owners, saying that they
can utilize some sort of item, preferably a large drum, to collect items, including paint thinner and the newspaper used when painting vehicles. Once the thinner or paint is disposed of properly into the drum and left there for a week, once no flammable item is used, then it becomes safe to burn the residue,” Sardine explained, adding that this was something he learned while working in the US. (DDD)
Essay Competition launched THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN Affairs has once again partnered with telecommunication company Digicel, to present its annual essay competition. The competition was launched at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conference room on Thursday 3rd, in the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sir Louis Straker, Marketing Executive at Digicel Danielle Cupid and other personnel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The essay completion is divided into two groups. Group One, opene to students 15 — 20 years old, invites essays on the topic ‘Human Rights and Human Trafficking’. Group Two, a more open category, invites submission from persons 20 — 30 years on the topic, ‘The tourism service sectors have been identified as the major economic earner of the country within the 21st century. In this context, and with the increasing impact of climate change on small island Developing States (SIDS), what strategies can be implemented to ensure our tourism industry is both sustainable and safeguarded from climate change ?’ Prizes for both groups are as follow: 1st place - a trophy, a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4, and a cash prize of $500; 2nd place — trophy, Smart Phone and $300 cash; 3rd place — trophy and cash prize of $250. Deadline for submission is The global concern of Climate Change will attract the addition of essay writers here.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Sir Louis Straker pictured with Danielle Cupid, Marketing Executive of Digicel, was happy to welcome Digicel aboard, once again, as a major sponsor of the Essay Competition. June 15, and a prize giving ceremony is scheduled for July 17. Cupid commended the organizers for once again hosting this event, and for the topics chosen for the discussion. “Temperature change, for example, has the potential to be an existential issue for us living on small islands. By asking persons to write on these topics, forces them to think them through and be versed with their implications so as to inform their peers and wider community,” said Cupid.
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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. 5.
Regional
Eldest brother of Cuban leaders dies RAMÓN CASTRO, eldest brother of Cuban leaders Fidel and Raúl, former and current presidents of Cuba, passed away last week Tuesday, at the age of 91 years. For most of the Western world, news of the death of one Ramón Castro was a shock, moreso because many outside of Cuba did not know of the Castros having an older brother. This is due, in the main, to Ramón’s preference for the ‘quiet life’ of tending crops and livestock, over the revolutionary life and the notoriety that comes with a government office. Born on Oct. 14, 1924, he studied agricultural engineering at the University of Havana. The eldest Castro, reports said, was a lifelong rancher and farmer, who bore a serious physical resemblance to his younger brother Fidel. In fact, he spoke to those who knew him well, of the many occasions on which people insisted on how much he looked like his brother Fidel, to which he would reply, “I am older. Fidel actually looks like me.” Like his more famous brothers, he attended Roman Catholic schools in eastern Cuba, where their teachers complained about their pranks and trouble making, prompting their father, Angel, to pull them out of classes for some time. Once grown, Fidel and Raúl headed off to Havana for studies. There they became steeped in revolutionary politics, and played leading roles in the failed 1953 attempt to overthrow dictator Fulgencio Batista, who had seized power in a 1952 coup. During this time, Ramón Castro was content to remain in the village of Birán in eastern Cuba, where he helped his father with the family business. Though removed from the centre of the revolution, Ramón remained
CHRISTOPHER BURNS, a columnist with the Sunday Jamaica Observer, has called in contact with his on Portia Simpson-Miller, siblings, and wrote party president and political several letters to Fidel leader of the People’s National in prison when he and Party (PNP) to resign. Raúl and other followers Burns, writing in last were arrested after their Sunday’s edition of the unsuccessful 1953 attack Observer, stated, ‘In light of on a military barracks, the election defeat, I expect Christopher Burns that launched their the party president, the four spared no armed struggle. vice-presidents and, soon punches as he Stories abound about thereafter, the secretariat to laid the PNP’s Ramón sending, on and resign en bloc, so the defeat squarely at off, a ham or a box of rebuilding of the party can the feet of Portia cigars along with the commence in earnest and Simpson-Miller. correspondence. immediately. There should be (Photo Credit: Following the 1959 no pussyfooting or vacillating, triumph of the Cuban Jamaica Observer) no posturing or spewing, and revolution, Ramón often no stubbornness or delay’. Then Cuban President Fidel Castro (2nd L), worked as a consultant Portia SimpsonSimpson-Miller led the his brother Ramon (L) and his sisters for the government PNP to a narrow defeat in the Miller is said, by Angelina (2nd R) and Agustina Castro (R) ministries of agriculture some observers, February 25, 2016 general stand together in the yard of what used to and sugar. In the early to have struggled elections. On recount, the be their parents’ home in Biran, east of 1960s, he oversaw sugar to come out from elections were declared in Havana, in 2003. (Photo Credit: Reuters) production in eastern the shadow of the favour of the opposition Cuba, where he helped ‘undeafeatble’ P.J. Jamaica Labour Party, 32 increase output. Patterson, from seats, to the PNP’s 31. up from his father at age 12. Although he had no desire to whom she took The defeat meant that the Ramón’s 91 years, he would have hold any top government office, the PNP had lost some eleven over leadership of said, was due to his family’s older Castro was a founding seats to the JLP. longevity. Their father lived until the PNP. (Photo member of the Communist party of According to Burns, Credit: Cuba, and served as a deputy in the 82, and there reportedly was at ‘…Portia Simpson Miller least one aunt who lived past 100. Telegraphy.co.uk) country’s parliament, the National should be the first to resign. (Source: Cuba.gov’t news; Assembly. As prime minister, Portia Telegraph.co.uk; Reuters). But simply foolishly allowed her handlers to being the imprison her behind the walls of president’s Jamaica House. She decidedly brother often separated herself from the media brought him into and people of this country in the contact with most unacceptable and reckless high-profile fashion’. visitors, political Burns blamed the defeat on and otherwise. what he described as a Reports are ‘miscalculation’ by ‘going to the that he preferred polls earlier than was necessary’. wearing big He advanced the view that the PNP was not cowboy hats, ready for a February election; that its organisation riding horses was not ready, and that it did not build a convincing and inspecting message for continuity. cattle. Focusing his wrath on Simpson-Miller, Burns Francois Mitterrand (centre), then leader of the Although wrote that ‘She certainly lacked passion and energy French Socialist Party, walks in 1974 in Havana Fidel quit during her stump speeches. Her performance with then Cuban leader Fidel Castro (L) and his smoking cigars throughout the campaign was underwhelming. The in 1986, Ramón eldest brother Ramon (R), one of the few campaign was without direction, flavour or maintained the occasions when Ramon was seen in public with a purpose.” habit he picked top ranking political figure. (Photo Credit: Reuters) To him, Simpson-Miller was ‘totally hands-off and too timid to lead from the now done. market. This has encouraged front or take The Venezuelan government has increased ‘black market’ activity, decisive made it a crime to publish the resulting in significantly higher actions on a street trading rates — ‘black market exchange rates, according to host of issues’. rates’ — since, in the government DolarToday. In other view, this will reverse the “official” The government maintains words, Burns exchange rates, which are far more multiple “official” exchange said, favorable to the government. rates, which differ depending People queue at a currency exchange Simpson– ARS Technica website reported on what purpose the foreign office in Caracas, Venezuela, to do Miller and her that DolarToday, in defending its currency is needed for. business at one of the rates set by the PNP took the right to publish the rates, claims it Usually, the black market CBV. (Photo Credit: www.bbc.com) people for does nothing more than call exchange rate, at least granted. currency traders on the according to DolarToday, is Forty-threeexperiencing skyrocketing inflation, Venezuelan-Colombian border, to significantly higher. year-old and the Associated Press quoted find out what the exchange rate is And since it is illegal to publish Andrew the CVB President as saying that between bolivares and pesos, ‘black market’ rates in Venezuela, Holness was converts the pesos to dollars to find the government has blocked access the country would be printing sworn in as larger bills to ‘accommodate the out the market rate between to the DolarToday website. prime rising inflation.’ bolivares and dollars, then The Venezuelan economy has minister, However, much to the publishes that figure. been in something of a tailspin in Thursday 3rd disappointment of those who would That practice continues amidst recent years, and moreso since the March, 2016. Venezuela’s strict currency controls drastic decrease in the price for oil, want to see an implosion of the (Source: Bolivarian Revolution overseen now since 2003. One such control is the country’s main export and Jamaica by President Nicola Maduro, that its currency cannot–at least foreign exchange earner. Observer) Venezuela has not defaulted on its officially–be traded on the open Reports are that the country is debt. (Source: BBC, Telegraph.uk)
Venezuela and DolarToday at it again THE CENTRAL BANK of Venezuela (CBV) has filed another civil complaint against DolarToday, a US-based website known for being an exchange rate reference to the Venezuelan bolívar, and for monitoring the Venezuelan economy. The Venezuelan government has been at variance with DolarToday for some time, first filing a complaint in the USA in late 2015 to stop the website from publishing a daily unofficial exchange rate between American dollars and Venezuelan bolivares. That complaint was ruled on last month when US District Judge Gregory Sleet ruled in favor of DolarToday’s motion to dismiss. Judge Sleet found that the CBV lacked standing, and dismissed the case. However, he allowed the CBV to file an amended complaint within seven days, which it has
Portia should go!!!!
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6. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN
Court
Prosecutor commends police officers
Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delplesche has, once again, lauded the good work of police officers.
by HAYDN HUGGINS SENIOR PROSECUTOR Adolphus Delplesche admits there are some excellent police officers in the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF). Delplesche, a former police officer who currently heads the summary division in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), told THE VINCENTIAN that in recent times, there has
been excellent work done by some officers in relation to the apprehension of persons carrying firearms and ammunition. “I must commend those officers for their dedication and commitment, because some of them take very serious risks in pursuit of their duties,” the Senior Prosecutor said. Delplesche had high praise for Constables Marcus Patrick and Justin Cupid who earlier this year, after a high speed chase, apprehended Curt John, 29, of Georgetown, who was driving a car and carrying a firearm with one round of ammunition in the magazine and one in the breach ready to be fired. “That was an excellent piece of work by Cupid and Patrick. The driver
did a great job and Cupid kept the defendant under observation while Patrick and the defendant were both driving at high speed,” Delplesche said. According to the
Senior Prosecutor: “These are things you normally see in detective movies.” Cupid and Patrick’s action led to John being charged with possession
of a firearm and ammunition. He was found guilty on both charges at the conclusion of a trial last Friday. (See Story on backpage) Delplesche had in
previous interviews with THE VINCENTIAN, lauded other police officers for their excellent work in apprehending persons with firearms and ammunition.
Investigations into attacks ongoing “THE POLICE are working hard; we haven’t given up.” This is the assurance given by head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Superintendent of Police (SP) Ruth Jacobs, with regard to the on-going search for the perpetrator of three attacks on three women last month. When contacted on Wednesday, SP Jacobs told THE VINCENTIAN that the police were currently Superintendent of Police (SP) Ruth Jacobs, Head of the CID, says the police are still pursuing their investigations into the recent attacks on three women here.
searching through for all the intelligence that they were able to attain, towards making an arrest. The police had picked up an individual shortly after the attacks, which occurred on February 15, but that individual was subsequently released. Jacobs further stated that no arrests were made following an incident when one Silbert Peters was beaten in the Sion Hill area, days after the attack on Sarah Badnock, Josette St Hillaire and Sherisse Veira. Police issued a statement on February 19, that Peters was “not of interest to the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force at this time, in respect to the attack on three females recently.” The attack on Peters came after it was being circulated on social media, that he was the perpetrator of the assaults. That matter, according to Jacobs, is also being investigated. (DDD)
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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. 7.
News
Invest SVG strengthening its capacity THERE IS NOT A DEVELOPED country throughout the entire world that is not working to attract foreign investment. However, it has become not only more competitive, but countries are now competing for less foreign investment currency. That is why it is important for agencies, such as Invest SVG, to remain on the cutting edge, and to be able to compete with other similar organisations from around the region and the wider world. That is the impetus for a training workshop for the staff at Invest SVG. “An investment promotion company is a lucrative source for economic growth and sustainable development within any national economy,” Bernadette Ambrose - Black, Executive Director of Invest SVG said at the launch of a training workshop aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of Invest SVG. According to AmbroseBlack, when she first assumed her position at Invest SVG, she immediately discovered that the organisation was not functioning anywhere close to where it should have. She said that the operations then could have been more strategic and aggressive. A concept note was drafted, and a grant was obtained through the regional body Compete Caribbean, for strengthening and further developing the capacity of
Invest SVG. “The training is one component of the project,” Ambrose-Black explained, and will include some areas of the company’s mandate, e.g. business facilitation, after care services and policy advocacy. Bernadette Ambrose Camillo Gonsalves, Black, Executive Minister of Economic Director of Invest SVG, Planning, Sustainable says that Invest SVG Development, Industry, has to be more strategic Information, Technology and aggressive in and Labour, noted the fulfilling its mandate. importance of direct foreign investment to attracted USD6 small, billion in 2014, developing but those states like St numbers have Vincent and been decreasing, the and, according Grenadines. to Gonsalves, it “It is is getting important for tougher. this country, if “You want it seeks to volume and grow at the quality,” he rate we would Camillo said, adding that Gonsalves, like to grow, it was Minister of to attract anticipated that quality Economic the investment, commissioning Development, and for us to of the underscores the exploit that international importance of investment in foreign airport will be a such a way so investment to game changer as to bring small developing for the country benefits to the states like SVG. in its effort to people of the attract foreign country,” investment. Gonsalves said. “But if we are talking And in comparison to about a country poised for other members of the growth, we have to talk OECS, Gonsalves pointed about repositioning Invest out that SVG has not been SVG to take advantage,” doing too badly in he said. attracting foreign Long gone were the investment – ranking days, he said, when number one in 2013 and persons would sit at a 2014 in terms of direct booth at a trade fair and investment in proportion wait for potential to the country’s Gross investors to make the first Domestic Product (GDP). move. (DDD) Collectively, the region
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8. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. 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 National Hero status: The ‘consideration pot’ IN ADVERTORIAL SPACE allowed in this issue, Barrister-at-Law R. Theodore L.V. Browne repeats his case for Dr. John Parmenas Eustace to be accorded National Hero status. Mr. Browne predicates his submission primarily on the basis of stipulations contained in Section 10 of the National Heroes Act of this country. He advances the view, some might be wont to say an unpopular view, that persons like “Ebenezer Theodore Joshua, Robert Milton Cato, George Mc McIntosh and Hugh Mulzac and others fail jointly and severally, to meet the test or qualification standards of Section 10 of the National Heroes Act. They all fall short, some more so than others.” It is timely that Mr. Browne should provoke with his question about who should be named a National Hero to sit alongside this country’s only proclaimed National Hero, Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer; for next Monday, March 14, we will mark another National Heroes Day, which would be ‘celebrated’ once again, with a wreath laying ceremony at the Obelisk at Dorsetshire Hill. The wreath laying ceremony remains the only national act of honour accorded to our National Hero. And some observers have been moved to label this ceremony an apology, rather than a sincere and informed demonstration of the homage which we should be paying our National Hero. For certain, Mr. Browne lists the criteria which he thinks Dr. Eustace more than satisfies, making him (Eustace) a more than worthy candidate for elevation to National Hero status. That aside, let’s throw a few things and avoid throwing some other things into the ‘pot of consideration’ as we reflect, at this most appropriate time, on who next could be named National Hero. In understanding why someone should be made a National Hero, we must accept first and foremost, that a Hero symbolises goodness. Not simply a protracted period during which a person might have done some good, but a goodness that permeated the very being of the person; a goodness that spread far and wide, and impacted indelibly on the people’s psyche; a goodness demonstrated without fair or favour, without prejudice and class bias; a goodness rendered ‘in thunder, lighting and in rain’. And how does this goodness unfold? It follows that consideration
towards according this status should be weighed, to a greater extent, in favour of if and how a person ‘fought’ for the freedom of his people — not necessarily in a physical sense, but in ways that accorded his people the tools which they used to demand if not win their own freedom, from the shackles of physical and mental encumbrances. So, a person could well have fought quietly, unselfishly, used his/her intelligence, talents, skills and meagre resources, to advance the cause of his/her people to become custodians of their own destiny, thereby impacting in overwhelmingly national proportions. But we come back to throwing somethings into the pot of considerations. One school of thought is that only dead persons should be considered; very much unlike a neighbouring Caribbean country among whose current day population some of their National Heroes still trod. But for sure, we will not throw into the pot the manner in which that person died, for to be influenced into a decision based on a manner of death, is to give into the temptation of accepting (in law) that only a dramatic death warrants Hero status; and that the sedate death of an otherwise uncompromising advocate on behalf of the people, wipes away all the good that that person might have done on behalf of a disenfranchised people, like the people of this country who were once caught in the grips of colonialism. Nature of death must not outweigh contribution, for in our context, we cannot lose sight of the quiet contributions made by some, and which would have led, whether directly or indirectly to the attrition of colonialism. Then there is the consideration of the extent to which the person under scrutiny displayed an unconditional love for his/her country — for its people. This is exemplified in the degree of sacrifice a person might have made to help advance the cause of unearthing the worth and dignity of a people. If we accept even an iota of the preceding, then the criteria for a National Hero must be a contribution which has made a profound and lasting difference to St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Vincentians. If this is accepted, and we are honest to ourselves, then contributions in the political arena cannot be the only consideration. Would Dr. John Parmenas Eustace meet this criteria? Theo Browne thinks so!
National Heroes Day- 14th March Editorial of coming booklet AS A POOR BLACK nation who was permitted to declare its independence on 27th October 1979, it is clear that we need to have at least a small coterie of National Heroes to whom we can look up for inspiration whenever the chips are down. Everybody seems to understand the crying need, and we moved fairly briskly in settling on our First National Hero who was unanimously chosen as Joseph Chatoyer, Carib Chief, in 2002. Since that initial burst of national fervour, we seem to have lost our way as to whether we should settle on Chatoyer to be the only hero for some time yet, or whether like a collegiate we could make do with three to six more. Over the years, the discussions have ranged far and wide, until they have been threatened with a political input that should be ruled out altogether. We had anticipated the thorny problem, and had invited the new ULP Government to consider some three persons, George Mc Intosh, Hugh Mulzac and Ebenezer Joshua. Mc Intosh and Joshua seem to have forged ahead in the fascinating public debates, with Dr. Parmenos Eustace replacing Mulzac as a favourite claimant. The political element forced an entrance largely through Dr. Ralph Gonsalves who pushed the case for Milton Cato clearly because he had inherited a substantial rump of Cato’s Labour Party in his ULP, and had manoeuvred his son Camillo as the next ULP Candidate in Cato’s former stronghold of East St George, and further hoped that with his winnings, Camillo will eventually replace the father as President of the ULP and hopefully Prime Minister. But at the present moment, the plan seems badly flawed, and even some old “Comrades” - Jomo Thomas for example cry shame on the Prime Minister for pursuing this fault line. But this is running ahead; the compilation tells fascinating tales of the course of the debate and exposes all there is to say about Heroes and their role. In particular, John Horne and Adrian Fraser, in their different styles, say much about Chatoyer and George Mc Intosh. Adrian’s pioneering work on Chatoyer, who was before our time, was especially impressive and significant. My own contribution stresses the historic role of Joshua and the reasons that Cato falls short, on which Jomo confirmed and enlarged. We are indebted to Vin Samuel who sold us Parmenos Eustace as a new product in a way that makes us all ashamed for not assessing Doc’s stellar role in broadening education. The last entrant truly became something of a front-runner. Even moreso are we to heap praise on Conley Rose and company for launching the search for our true identity on such a massive scale as to involve Government and our banished brethren to Belize under one
all-embracing tent. The editor does not envisage the National Heroes Debate stretching beyond National Heroes Day 2016. Either a decision has to be made whether to settle on Chatoyer as sole Hero for the time being to put a stop to the raging party political squabbles, or acceptance of our recommended trio- Dada Mac, Papa Josh and Doc Eustace. At the Independence parade 2014, the PM did suggest the original three plus Parmenos Eustace and Milton Cato as his choices. We repeat our principled rejection of Cato. Articles carry their author’s names attached, four of them. The others all have been supplied by me, the editor, from a stock selected from submissions to the “Vincentian” under the “This Week” Column since October 1982. The publication does possess a few weaknesses such as repetition and confusion of dates, which betrays its origin in past essays over the years, as well as exposed the unfulfilled promises to produce a biography of Ebenezer Joshua. For all its admitted flaws, the booklet will represent a most positive and thoroughgoing attempt to come to terms with the exciting, sometimes vexing problem of selection national heroes in a small backward country. The following is the table of contents of the coming Booklet:
Ps: I have just been informed that the Prime Minister Gonsalves has recommended to the Governor General a slate of four new Heroes —Mc Intosh, Joshua, Dr. Eustace and Milton Cato, whose choice had been publicly opposed by Oscar Allen, Renwick Rose, and Jomo Thomas who wrote recently inter alia that “Cato is far removed from anyone resembling a National Hero”
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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. 9.
Letters
The fleecing of Vincentian Action hurting people of consumers – „Bating and switching‰ Canouan IS THERE A Consumer Bill of Rights in St. Vincent and the Grenadines? Does a written, signed contract bear any weight in SVG? At which governmental department does a consumer seek redress when he/she is wronged? An obvious case of “bate and switch”: In February 2015, having responded to a newspaper ad for granite countertop at $90 per sq. ft (VAT and installation included), I travelled miles to the location of the company as advertised. At the company, I was informed that there was none (countertop) at the advertised price, but several “At a lot higher price”. I was pressured by the manager to purchase the higher price item but adamantly refused and decided to leave when, Io and behold, a few sheets at the ad price were found and offered. I then chose a colour,
agreed on the price installation and paid a 50% deposit on February 24, 2015. From that date (February 24, 2015) until February 14, 2016, dealing with this company has been an utter nightmarish disaster. Both managers have been dishonest, untrustworthy, and extremely insensitive to customers’ need/complaints. From day one of the installation, it was noted by the company’s employees and myself, that the top was mismatched and of different colours. It took 7 weeks of attempting to match the colours — which was never done. The top was poorly installed - the glue poorly applied and easily separated. I requested at least 8 times that the top be removed from my property with no compliance by managers.
Learning from Jamaica
From February — July, 2015 I had no use of my kitchen. On July 2nd 2015, poorly installed countertop started sinking. The manager visited and agreed it was dangerous and would be removed — yet it took 7 months (on January 17th 2016) before the disaster was removed. Therefore from February 2015 — February 2016 I did not have the use of my kitchen, and lived in the constant danger of the broken granite. Whilst the company and their negligent and insensitive managers used my deposit, almost $4000, to further their business, their negligence and insensitivity. I asked for a return of my deposit, plus interest and compensation for the loss of use and damage to my cabinets, but the managers refused and never offered even an apology for the whole charade. It is my hope that others who have suffered
similar fate would now come forward, and it won’t be long before we see a lawsuit as consumers seek justice. It is never over until the fat lady sings; and success always eludes the dishonest. Vincentians, beware of this company and others like it. S. Lawrence
AS YOU ALL KNOW, the last few weeks have been very tumultuous with the issues created by Terry Bynoe and others that led up to many blockages of access to the Resort. This irresponsible behaviour, in addition to being in violation of law and court orders, has severe long-term negative implications for all of us. Clients come to Canouan to enjoy a peaceful and safe stay in a beautiful island, populated by welcoming and friendly people. Without respect for rules and laws, no investments can be made and no progress can be achieved. Due to the recent circumstances, the Resort had to stop all negotiations with hotel operators, and delay the formal launch of the hotel. Obviously this has severe negative consequences for us at CCA: the Resort is our main customer and brings along with it many other customers and investors. Without them, we have no work. Until peace and stability are restored, the present conditions of instability no longer attracts and retains investors. We are therefore, forced to significantly lay off employees in order to survive this crisis. We are surprised that the Canouan community is allowing this to happen. We are deeply saddened that a few individuals can damage a community and other people’s lives without thinking of the consequences. We are in hope that peace, safety, respect for property and people will be restored soon, so that the reputation of this island and the business can come back as they were. Josee Atkinson CEO - CCA Limited
We havenÊt dealt with crime
I AM FASCINATED with the people of Jamaica. If what you hear and believe about Jamaica is true, people there should have been ‘shooting up’ one I AM NOT SAYING that all the blame another following the elections in that country. must fall on the government we have I recall all the reports about violence associated had since 2001, but I must say that with political parties in that country. But it seems since that time, crime — all sorts of that Jamaicans have turned over a new page. A crime — has increased beyond any new government was sworn in there, with a one seat majority. Sounds familiar? It does to me. You see, for those who just might have forgotten, it wasn’t too THE PLANTS are what the Satanists call them. long ago that the ULP was A spirit of the occult has risen up in the full gospel returned as winner of our general elections, with a one seat majority. churches because of these plants. But when you see them, you will know them. For Yahuveh has given But unlike the people of Jamaica, who we thought were so divided by you the true church of Yahushua Ha masmiach (Jesus Christ), with new eyes to see, new ears to hear, a bold politics and would take up arms to mouth to speak, and new hands to drive them out. solve their problems, the one-seat These plants preach Yahuveh word to mock majority government was sworn in Yahuveh, but they know not Yahuveh - the Word that without any bother whatsoever. was made flesh. Satan knows the Word; do not be You might say our situation is deceived. And does he fear it enough to stop his evil? different in that the ULP was No, and neither will the plants, for they have sold being returned to power while the their souls to Satan and will reap destruction they new government in Jamaica is have sowed. formed by the opposition. I say to Some are evangelists who profess to be leading those who might use this souls to Jesus Christ, but it is a different Jesus of argument, same difference! which they preach. Before too long, the people turn to So, unlike Jamaica, my people worshiping the leaders, and this is your sign. They have failed to accept the one-seat stop seeking Yah rules and words. They seek the victory for the ULP and have words from a mere man. They care not about offending the one and only Yahuveh Almighty the staged protest after protest, and great ‘I am’, but instead worry about offending the even filed petitions in the court to pastor. have the results turned over. Soon confusion, hopelessness, rebellion, To be honest, I will be the first to admit that the result in Jamaica destruction, poverty, lying, deceit reign, for even the little faith Yah’s sheep had is stolen. was confirmed after a full recount. Yah grieves for His children and the elect that are You think we could have deceived. He is a God full of mercy for those who are something like that here, so we His. That is why Yahuveh is raising up a mighty could put all this argument and Gideon’s army to take back his sheep with a new protest and court business to bed anointing. Some of you have already noticed. once and for all? Yah descendant Charles
The evil plants
doubt. You would think that in a two by two country like ours, with just over 100,000 people, dealing with the crime situation wouldn’t be such a difficult task. But, given what we have been experiencing, we have to think again. With all the talk of progress in this area and that area, education revolution included, crime continues to increase, so much so that many, many residents of this country have become prisoners in their own homes. And even that is not any assurance that you will be safe since, I understand, there has been a number of incidents where armed persons have invaded the homes of innocent citizens. Why, we must ask, has government been unable to deal with the crime situation? Is it that they have a piecemeal approach — which allows some criminals to run free while the small ones pay the crime? As far as I see, there are no police patrols. Perhaps there is need for a restructuring of our Police Force. There are many persons out there who can help the police to devise crime control systems if only we would put aside our political biases, and accept that the fight against crime calls for an effort by all of us. Once the government continues on its path of favouring only those they think support them, and entrust those kinds of persons to direct our police force, we will get nowhere in truly beating back the criminals. Crime Watcher
* Did the government have to pay LIAT for that landing at the Argyle Airport during the height of the election campaign? *Did LIAT have to fork out special coverage ($$$) for the aircraft and pilots on that landing? * What benefit can the family of Tyrone ‘Tweety’ Spence expect from that extravaganza that was held last Sunday in the former national footballer’s name? * Is Ms. SVG 2015 missing in action or is this just an indication of how much winning the title means to the CDC and other state agencies? * Is the Traffic Department aware that mini-buses reverse, especially during the morning, from the top of Wilson Hill, sometimes on the sidewalk, to North River Road? Are there too many ‘sleeping policemen’ on this stretch of road or what?
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10. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN
Politics
Excerpt from the 2016 budget address PART TWO Summary of Capital Projects for 2016 IT IS USEFUL to provide a summary of the major capital projects earmarked to be implemented in 2016. These include: (1) The Argyle International Airport: $30.8 million, inclusive of a $3 million contribution to the Argyle International Airport Capitalisation Fund; (2) The Regional Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project: $9.3 million; (3) Caribbean Regional Communications Infrastructure Programme: $3.0 million; (4) Geothermal Development Project: $10 million; (5) South Leeward Highway: $12.0 million; (6) Natural Disaster Management Project — Hurricane Tomas and April 2011 Flash Floods: $5.9 million (7) Natural Disaster Management — Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project — December 2013 Trough Event: $11.5 million; (8) Rehabilitation of Roads and Bridges/Road Construction: $4 million; (9) Housing Reconstruction/ Rehabilitation Project: $5.5 million (10) Agricultural Modernisation and Development Programme: $4.6 million; (11) Rural Development-Community Development — BNTF7: $5.0 million; (12) Rural Development-Community Development — BNTF8: $3.0 million; (13) Improvement of Fishery Equipment and Machinery: $10.1 million; (14) Farmer Support Revolving Fund: $3 million (15) 10th EDF Modernisation of Health Sector: $11.8 million; (16) Modern Medical Complex, including Equipment: $5 million; (17) PAHO Smart Health Care Facilities: $3.5 million (18) Technical and Vocational Education and Training Development Project: $5.7 million (19) Tourism and Private Sector Development Project: $1.3 million; (20) Support for Education and Training (SET) Programme: $2.0 million; Economic Growth and Job Creation It is to be noted that the total cost of these twenty projects, excluding the Argyle International Airport, amounts to approximately $660 million, the bulk of which remains to be spent over the next three-to-four years. Additionally, there are other capital monies - grants and soft loans - which are likely to become available during this very period, up to 2020, and beyond. I repeat: All of these capital projects, and more, contribute to economic growth and job creation, among other things. To be sure, there are challenges connected to the full implementation of the capital budget of $197.7 million. These challenges include centrally: the timely draw-down of the grants and soft-loans; the inadequate or insufficient capacity in the public and private sectors in implementing the capital projects; and the unavailability on a sufficiently timely basis of local counterpart contributions to the particular capital projects. Our government is confident that the streamlined capital budget for 2016 and the actual state of the projects’ preparation for implementation, ensure that the implementation challenges will be met, at least with more than moderate success. In the public sector outside of the central government, continuing significant investments are planned to be carried out by VINLEC, the Central Water and Sewerage Authority, National Properties Limited, the National Lotteries Authority, and the National Insurance Services in partnership with a local credit union. The recurrent budget’s direct contribution to employment is selfevident from the basic facts: The allocation for wages and salaries totals $281.9 million; and pension payments for retired public servants and the government’s NIS contributions for its current employees amount to $64.0 million. Thus, in the aggregate, the recurrent spending in 2016 on current and retired employees of the central
government amounts to $345.9 million or 60 percent of a total recurrent budget of $576.55 million, exclusive of Amortization and Sinking Fund Contribution. Given the huge sums spent on public servants’ salaries, wages, and retirement benefits, the public have a reasonable and legitimate expectation that all categories of public servants would improve further their delivery of services to the public who pay them. This is an important subject for an informed national conversation. I intend to initiate such a conversation with the public servants and the general public. In the recurrent budget for 2016, it is to be noted, too, that $85 million or 11.9 percent of the overall recurrent budget has been allocated to the category “Economic Affairs”. Additionally, through the statutory bodies and other public enterprises, there is significant employment and local value-added. Indeed, the 2016 Budget provides substantial contributions to these statutory entities and public enterprises, including: The Financial Services Authority ($2.35 million); Invest SVG ($1.30 million); SVG Community College ($13.1 million); Local Government Bodies ($3.6 million); BRAGSA ($13.0 million); and SVG Tourism Authority ($15 million). Moreover, the 2016 Budget and an array of public policies undoubtedly facilitate the private sector, local and foreign, in their quest to create wealth, grow the economy, and increase employment. First and foremost, an efficient and effective system of public administration or management assists and engenders private sector development. By and large, the public service and statutory bodies or public enterprises deliver on their obligations to provide services efficiently and on a timely basis at competitive prices. Still, there are too many legitimate complaints by the general public and businesses of an uneven delivery of service particularly in vital areas of the public service. Accordingly, I am urging public servants, police personnel, teachers, professionals and other workers in the health and educational sectors, and employees in the many public enterprises to be more productive and customer-friendly. I reiterate that I intend to work closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that we lift “lift our game” uniformly in the delivery of public services. We are all in this together as a small country. The Private Sector Secondly, it is well-established that the fiscal and other public policies of our government encourage and facilitate private sector development. At the same time, the private sector ought not to expect that this facilitation and encouragement mean that its private interests must be accommodated to the exclusion of other reasonable public policy concerns and those connected to the public interest or welfare. In order to assist further the private sector, our government will soon cause to be appointed an Office of Private Sector Development within the Ministry of Economic Planning and Sustainable Development. One of our government’s central aims this year, in the interface between the private sector and state agencies, is to improve markedly our performance on the “Ease of DoingBusiness” criteria. We simply must become more competitive in this modernised, global economy which does no favours to anyone, particularly small economies on the periphery of globalised capitalism. Our government intends, too, this year, to appoint a Coordinator of Cultural Industries in order to boost wealth and job creation by our cultural artistes and entrepreneurs in the promising field of cultural industries. To be continued….
Sports and Youth Affairs (Excerpts from the Hon Nigel StephensonÊs Budget Presentation) I TAKE THIS opportunity to thank the wonderful people of South Leeward for the privilege of representing their interest, in and outside of parliament. I made the point ‘in and out of parliament’ because the work of a parliamentarian is not confined strictly to parliament. In fact, as members of parliament, we are least effective in parliament, as precious little of our arguments is ever implemented, regardless to how important it may be to the people we represent. One day, I visited an area in my constituency where residents had been without electricity for more than 20 years. In a discussion with them, they outlined their efforts to get electricity, including the thousands of dollars that each household had to pay. As their MP outside of government, I worked relentlessly to see how I could assist, cognizant of the fact that it was going to be a herculean task. The grace of God led me to the right persons, and the conclusion of the matter is that every household in the area has electricity today. That is just one example of the work my colleagues and I do which is often not talked about. I hope that puts to rest the assumption we can only give effective representation inside the hallowed walls of parliament. Looking at the substantive issue of the budget, we recognise that the central theme of the budget is “Economic Growth, Job Creation, Zero Hunger and Fiscal Consolidation Amidst Global Uncertainties”. For the young people who are looking to the 2016 budget for hope, I can tell you in no uncertain terms, that one thing that is certain about the budget is that very little jobs will be created, if any at all. The government is essentially living above its means because it is short of $150 million on its current account, and has allocated $100 million less than its 2015 provision to carry out its capital programme. That scenario is clear evidence that the government will not be able to arrest the unemployment crisis, and it is no wonder that the Minister of Youth Affairs was audacious enough to appeal to the private sector to take on some persons on the YES and SET programmes. It must be noted that the ULP government owes the private sector in excess of $50 million, representing years of bad credit coupled with its policy of arbitrarily garnishing the accounts of businesses, mercilessly cutting off the life flow of cash as opposed to profit which has a debilitating effect on growth. No wonder businesses are barely limping along and laying off workers. How then can this heartless government still appeal to the private sector to create employment when they are, by design, ensuring that the engine of growth in the economy, the private sector, is obliterated? The ULP is intent on creating a mendicant society where everyone has to line up with their begging bowl and ‘come to Papa’. What young people need is not handouts or a zero hunger trust fund. To the contrary, they need sustainable jobs that will allow them to earn an income, and take care of the needs of their families. What passes for
government here has failed the young people and turned them into social outcasts, because our country has become a virtual dead end to many. The lack of opportunity has caused many to risk their freedoms and lives to go to the hills to make a living, thereby presenting some with an insatiable appetite the opportunity to pursue them until they no longer exist. The NDP, through its manifesto, promised that we will create at least 500 jobs in the field of information technology in our first year of governance, which would have tackled the chronic unemployment situation that confronts our young people. This government is all talk and no action. They boast about the reduction of poverty, but there is very little to show for their colourful rhetoric. The Redemption Sharpes playing field has been presented in the budget as a poverty alleviation project, at an estimated cost of $400,000 since 2011. It appears once more in 2016, except that the allocation for this year is a grand total of $10. Is this a government that is concerned with the reduction of poverty? This is further exacerbated by a Ministry of Finance line item National Strategy Reduction, that has an allocation of $0 for 2016. Since 2001, the young people have been promised a national stadium but, once in office, it became clear that that was only a campaign gimmick. This year’s budget shows a nominal allocation of $10 to be spent on the national stadium. The indoor sports complex did not appear in the budget. Also there was no Sports Award in 2015. According to the Minister of Sports, the associations did not submit the names of the awardees. This represents a total disconnect between the Ministry of Sports and the national associations. No wonder sport is on life support in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The NDP has developed an SOS framework that is designed to create the impetus to revive sports. We will upgrade at least one playing field in every constituency that will accommodate the staging of regional tournaments. The facility will be fully lit and have stands and change rooms. Some surfaces will be laid with synthetic tracks to accommodate track and field until the commission of a national stadium. Furthermore, all hard-courts will be refurbished and new ones built throughout the country. Each of them will be fully enclosed and properly lit. The NDP will allocate a fixed percentage of funds from the National Lotteries Authority and make it available for sports development in SVG. Funding will be provided to properly constituted national sporting organisations, coordinated through the Ministry of Sports, via an annual subvention. Funding will be available to train referees, umpires and other sports resource personnel. That will ensure a better working relationship between the Ministry of Sports and the various associations.
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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. 11.
Views
Honourable, Honest and Moral
“Have you ever asked yourself why one person is honorable and another dishonorable; why one is honest, another dishonest; why one is moral, another immoral? Most individuals do not intend to be dishonest, dishonorable, or immoral. They seem to allow their characters to erode by a series of rationalizations, lies, and compromises. Then when grave temptation presents itself, they haven’t the strength of character to do what they know to be right.” Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) American church leader, secretary of agriculture 1953-61 - “Be True to God, Country, and Self,” Young Adult Fireside, Logan, Utah, 11 February 1979. “HONOURABLE” is a designation that is affixed to the names of Members of Parliament (MPs). However, within recent times, some MPs have been engaged in activities that have resulted in citizens being seriously challenged to address the malefactors as “honourable”. After all, their words and actions were assessed to be most dishonourable. When MPs engage in sexual activities with minors, homosexual encounters, white-collar crimes, and so on, it becomes very difficult to address them as honourable. This is especially so when their foibles have become public knowledge. In some societies (like in the United Kingdom and Japan) the offending MP would readily resign rather than bring their respective political party, parliament or parliamentary colleagues into disrepute. However, in other societies, even when the public misbehaviour is known, every effort is made to retain their position of influence. It is as though these MPs have concluded that the public misbehaviour will be forgotten in a relatively short time (e.g. the nine-daywonder) and life will return to normal. Many Caribbean nations appear to have nurtured MPs who lack or suppress the sense of integrity. Many national newspapers highlight infractions that should really generate a sense of shame. However, in so many cases, efforts are made to coverup the offence or have them totally disregarded by their respective leaders. Such responses create multiple challenges within and beyond the local communities. Individuals who are involved in calling right wrong and wrong right, create and maintain a sub-culture that embraces corruption as a normal, acceptable, way of life. In so doing, they lead the process of unravelling the moral fabric of the society. Society is calling out, crying out, for leaders in business, government, the church, and society who are committed to walking the high moral road. These honourable men and women help to place a stay of moral decadence. These courageous individuals provide moral bright lights in dark corners of the society that appear to attract and train immoral and dishonest societal assassins. We have to be constantly on guard for those “small voices” that seem to entice us to compromise our principles. We have to be on the lookout for those situations that seem to invite us to rationalize deviant behaviours. The time-tested principles of purity, integrity, honesty, kindness, and so on, still have a valuable place in society. Those who live by these principles are truly honourable. They
Learning to question ‘A true patriot must be wary of every dream and every nation, even his own. Perhaps his own nation more than any other, precisely because it was his own.’ Ta-Nehisi Coates, “Between the World and Me’
avoid the temptations to swim along with the tides of dishonesty and immorality — they swim against these tides and cope with the pressure that seems to make cheating look good or acceptable. They do not take “sick days” from work when they are not ill. They do not justify stealing office supplies or taking time off to do their personal shopping during regular working hours. They do not fabricate stories to make themselves look good or their colleagues look bad. These are truly honourable, honest, and moral individuals who refuse to compromise principles for personal gain. These are individuals who are comfortable within their own skins, and do not need to have their egos massaged by venturing into the dark side. Temptations will always surface to seek to lure the unsuspecting to engage in immoral or unethical activities. It should also be noted that the greater the level of responsibility and power the individual has, the more lucrative the temptations appear. However, society calls for leaders who will not succumb to such enticements. Society is seeking leaders who are truly honourable, honest and moral. Bob Marley (1945-1981), the great Caribbean musical icon, reminds us that “The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.” Michelle Obama, wife of USA’s 44th President Barack Obama, reminds us, “We learned about honesty and integrity that the truth matters... that you don’t take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules... and success doesn’t count unless you earn it fair and square.” These two powerful quotations beckon us that honesty and integrity are priceless possessions. We need to instil these values in our children and, by our example, impress upon them the priceless value of these principles. The Methodist Minister, Reverend Adolf Davis, delivering the homily at the Inland Revenue Department Church Service on Monday, 7th March, 2016, stressed the need for a concerted effort to be made to stamp out corruption and selfishness throughout the society. He expressed concerns that too many citizens are seeking to legitimise dishonesty and, as a result, end up being broken, damaged, wounded, and empty. He cautioned listeners to avoid the temptation to seek to rationalise or justify cheating and stealing. The words of Bob Marley, Michelle Obama, and Reverend Adolf Davis beckon us to live lives that reflect purity and integrity. We expect our leaders in business, government, the church, and society to champion the process. Many do. We join with them and recognize that we have a responsibility and privilege to walk the moral high road. We build and retain better societies as we portray lives that are honourable, honest, and moral. Send comments, criticisms & suggestions to julesferdinand@gmail.com
WHEN DID WE LOSE our ability to question? How did this assassination of our very selves occur? We all know of the brutal honesty of children. Why do we train our children or indeed ourselves to lie? We are socialized through and by the many stabilizing societal institutions (courts, prisons, government, legislature, business, churches and schools) to act in particular ways, most times against our individual or group interest, once such actions put up a good face for the society in which we live. But how do we go back to what the ancients taught ‘to thyself first be true’? How do we stop committing suicide by refusing to choke on our thoughts? How do we take the wise words of former Jamaican PM Michael Manley who instructed us ‘to walk on our feet and not on our knees’? We can get to this point of redemption if we embrace the wise words of Ta-Nehisi Coates. Coates demanded that we be wary of every dream. To be wary of every dream, we have to begin the truly revolutionary act of interrogation of everything we hold dear. Coates commands us to be wary of all nations, even our own ‘more than any other precisely because it is our own’. What a revolutionary and soulsearching command! We are socialized to say my nation right or wrong. That is what we mean when we say we are 100 percent Vincy, as if this rock is better than that called Jamaica or Grenada. There is no room for the other. Flawless! Perfect! But are we without fault and blemish? The answer is a clear no. So why then do we lift up our leaders and our institutions, and place them beyond reproach? Why do we confuse and conflate the views of our leaders with the national interest? Is it so difficult for us to conclude that our leaders could be wrong? Do we envisage a possibility that there can be friendly amendments to our views that can make them more useful and beneficial to our nation? Our leaders should push us away from second hand answers, even answers they themselves believe. They must encourage the entire society to go off in search of answers of its own. Sometimes we may not find answers, but in asking the question, we are essentially going into our own mind in search of self. We must develop the habit where the desire to question becomes a ritual; a refining of an earlier thought/ question. The art of learning to question must be conceived and perceived as exploration rather than a search for certainty. Our commitment to questioning everything is destabilizing yet revolutionary. This is what the brilliant South African revolutionary Chris Hani had in mind when he said: ‘True revolutionaries are never satisfied with the progress and advances that are taking place in the lives of the people. True revolutionaries only have to look at the conditions under which
so many people live, to be knocked into a reality of dissatisfaction. To be satisfied, therefore, is conservative, reactionary even, because satisfaction is a call for the maintenance of the status quo. And status quo is the least revolutionary position a fighter for the people can adopt or approve.’ Only ‘the privileged elite’ who never understood what it meant to be deprived of basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter, or the politically jaundiced, who holds true to an outdated notion that every government policy or initiative must be opposed, will deny the many people- centered policies of the ULP government over the last fifteen years. But it is equally true that too many government officials and supporters speak as though SVG is moving along swimmingly without a bother in the world. Yes, our country has reduced indigence from 1 in every 4 Vincentians to 3 in every 100; but the harsh truth is that 30 percent of our people still live in poverty, and with little chance of getting out. We celebrate the fact that SVG is very attractive to foreign direct investments and may become even more attractive following the completion of the Argyle International Airport; but are we at the same time willing to listen to workers who complain that at Buccament Resort they work long hours, and frequently fail to collect their entire pay packet when it becomes due? Are we prepared to check the records of the Labour Department or the Court docket to witness the grievances of our brothers and sisters, or to listen to their charges of racism meted out to them as they honestly work for their living? Are we prepared to ask for proof when opposition leaders tell us the elections were fraudulent? How could it be counterrevolutionary to critique the weaknesses or shortcomings that we see in the education, housing or health revolutions amidst the amazing progress? This is why Chris Hani warned against complacency because satisfaction is a call for the maintenance of the status quo. And status quo is the least revolutionary position a fighter for the people can adopt or approve. Once we engage in the high art of self interrogation, we will become even more convinced that a better world is not only possible but necessary. Then we go out bravely before the world with the knowledge as Zoe Williams says: ‘If you want to paint a picture of a truly different way of doing things, you won’t be able to prove that it’s realistic...You cannot fact-check the future. You cannot perform a five-point credibility test on a vision. If you won’t speak your dreams until they’re fully costed, you’ll end up living in someone else’s nightmare.’ Too many of us live the dreams of others. It is time we dream the dreams we can live. Send comments, criticisms & suggestions to jomosanga@gmail.com
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12. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN
Views
SVG must never become the Australia of the Caribbean
WHITE ENCLAVES are bad for our country. The white enclaves in Mustique and Canouan are expanding, and turning the black indigenous people of SVG into second-class citizens in their own country. Not content with creating segregated areas on land, rich foreigners are now also trying to create segregated sea space. They are claiming sea space around Mustique and Canouan, and stopping Vincentians from using the sea space. The super-rich, white migrants of Mustqiue and Canouan are shooting themselves in their foot, claiming the sea space around Canouan and Mustique in the name of tourism. Segregating Vincentians from parts of their own country creates disharmony and very strong resentment. The fatal shooting of a tourist last week should
serve as a blunt warning to all of us, that tourism perpetuates poverty and stokes gun crime. Tourism does not offer wealth creation to our country and our people. On the contrary, Mustique and Canouan are just parasites sucking the economic blood out of our country by not paying tax and customs duty. The white enclaves in SVG act like they are a state within a state, and black Vincentians are often treated poorly and with little respect. In Australia, the Aborigine people were crushed and trampled by white invaders, and had their lands and country taken away from them overnight. The treatment of the Aborigine people in Australia should be a strong and serious warning to all Vincentians, that the
white migrants want to use mass tourism as a springboard to ‘thief’ our country. Mass tourism threatens the land security of our people. If we lose our land to foreigners, then we will lose our country to foreigners. The white enclaves in Mustique and in Canouan are destructive by nature, and damage our societal values. These white enclaves should be dismantled, and the claims by white foreigners to sea space stopped. It is stupid and shortsighted of politicians to have their hands greased in return for selling our crown lands to migrants. We must do like many other countries, including Cuba and Singapore, and ban the sale of land to foreigners. If foreigners want to set up business
in SVG, they must lease land for a maximum of twenty years, renewable. For SVG to move forward and create a strong and sustainable economy, we should focus on high-quality education, and build our own science and technology university. With a highly educated population, we will attract foreign investment. We need our own central bank and our currency to give us economic flexibility and adaptability. We should move away from mass tourism and focus on agro industries and exports. We must preserve and protect SVG for our children and grandchildren. This includes the land and the sea space. We must not let white migrants rampage and trample upon our country and take our land. SVG must
not be pushed over and become the Australia of the Caribbean. It is a big and unnecessary disaster selling our lands to foreigners. SVG Green Party www.svggreenparty.org
Find us of Facebook and Twitter Editor’s Note: The views expressed in this column, and the other political columns, are not necessarily the views of this publication.
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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. 13.
News
Dramatic launch to ANEW Programme FOUR STUDENTS in the Access to another Nexus in Education (ANEW) workforce development programme, drove home the value of that exercise last Tuesday, March 7. Usually, the entertainment segment of the launch of a programme of this nature is aimed at relaxing those attending, and prepares them the feature presentation. Last Tuesday, however, the four students of the Barrouallie Technical Institute, Diniqua Stapleton, Sangie Garrick, Lenzy Millington and Vornel Lewis, used the medium of a dramatic presentation to highlight the ANEW programme and its potential benefits. Diniqua played the role of a mother babysitting her grandson born to her daughter portrayed by Sangie Garrick, who is on a hunt for a job. Diniqua is offered a job. Her daughter will have to find another baby sitter. Lenzy Millington is cited as Diniqua’s baby father, and while Diniqua is contemplating taking him to the Family Court for child maintenance, Millington
has his mind on the court, as well, to establish whether or not the child belongs to him. It is Vornel Lewis who influences Diniqua to attend the Access to another Nexus in Education (ANEX) training. With a stipend paid to students for transportation, plus money to take care of babysitting services, Vornel is sure that the programme has great value to those taking part. Diniqua is persuaded after some initial queries about the authenticity of the provision.
An exciting time in education The performance of the quartet was so impressive that newly installed Education, National Reconciliation and Ecclesiastical Minister St. Clair Prince admitted that he was impressed by the students’ presentation. For Prince, the ANEW platform, is another offshoot of the Education Revolution, and is testimony of his government’s efforts of completing the cycle of education here. As far as Prince was
concerned, “This must be an exciting time as far as education is concerned in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.” He was satisfied that “a lot is happening” and he urged that the ANEW programme be given maximum publicity. As far as Prince was concerned, the “educational landscape is flourishing with opportunities.”
The Programme
(L-R): Vornel Lewis, Lenzy Millington, Diniqua Stapleton and Sangie Garrick, the four BTI dramatists that gave a lift to the launch of the ANEW programme. where they can access training in Electrical Installation, Furniture Making, Plumbing, Data Operations, Food Preparation, Food and Drinks Services, Welding, and Small Engine Repairs. The programme targets single parents, unemployed, and heads of households. Endall Johnson, TVET’s Senior Education Officer, encouraged trainees to endure the ten months training requirement. He promised that efforts will continue to enhance the counselling aspect of the programme.
St. Clair Jimmy Prince, Minister of Education, described the prevailing situation as an exciting time in education in SVG.
The programme, supported by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) runs for four years. Over that period, 1000 persons between 17 and 45 years old will be trained. They have the choices of attending Technical institutes at Barrouallie, Campden Park, Georgetown and Kingstown
Chief Education Officer Lou Anne Gilchrist pointed to the opportunity for students to get a skills certificate which will enable them to secure jobs wherever they go in the region. Deidre Clarendon, Division Chief, Social Sector Development with the Caribbean Development Bank, was happy to confirm her institution’s investment in the programme. Clarendon was satisfied that TVET was standing up as an important part of this country’s development, and encouraged students to, “Stay with it. See it through to the end.” Some 188 persons are enlisted in the first phase of the programme. (WKA)
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. 15.
14. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN
YOUL OU ARTS FOUNDATION: FOUNDA YOULOU UNDA ATTION: TI 2nd Annual Ar Artt Show
caroline ‘booops’ sardine calls this piece ‘haiku’, perhaps in recognition of Japanese traditional art/poetry art/poetry..
‘bludletinn’ by caroline ‘booops’ sardine.
‘welcome na deee shine’, an assemblage by caroline ‘booobs’ sardine.
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Jere Jeremy Payne seemed especially moved by his piece ‘Downtown’.
on show here. Their paintings leaned more into contemporary styles, with daring detours into the realm of modernism, expressionism and surrealism. Each artist called the day a very sensitive one, as their inner emotions were being shown to the world through their work.
Caroline Sardine caroline ‘booops’ sardine is a painter and sculptor whose work pays caroline ‘booops’ sardine and Jeremy Payne, heavy homage to her culture, through featured artist in the recently staged ‘INside story-telling on canvas and in assem assem-Show. OUT’ Art Show. blages. The un-indoctrinated onlook onlook-er could easily be left gasping at the by by GLORIAH… GLORIAH… boldness with which she expresses her emotions. She told THE VINCENTIAN, TWO T WO OF ST. ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENAGRENA“I call myself ‘an arts-alive’ artist,” DINES’ foremost artists, foremost and adventurous adventurous ar tists, explaining that she simply represents prefers ers tto o caroline ‘booops’ sardine , who pref art and life, “(and) never wants to exist have ha ve her named represented represented in particular-in a box or to be categorized particular letters, small-cased lett ers, and Jeremy Jeremy ‘Enigmat‘Enigmatly.” Payne, collaborated deliver ic’ P ayne, collaborat ed to to deliv er an art art Special among her exhibits was a exposé, removed e xposé, not ffar ar remo ved from the the series of assemblages that was her way epitome excellence. epit ome of e xcellence. of dealing with troublesome, painful This ‘different’ exposé, was staged issues. “My art is personal,” she last Friday, 4th March, and entitled investi-expounded. “It uses imagery to investi ‘INside OUT Art Show’. It was curated some-gate certain issues, and portrays some by Alexandra Grant and was held at a what of an incomplete solution to which ‘place with a difference’, the old Empire the onlooker is welcome to speculate. I Cigarette Factory in Arnos Vale, a am motivated by my emotions and my fitting location for the exhibition of such feelings. Some of these pieces are like an extraordinary display. literally hauling out the heart,” as she The display featured a number of referred to a piece in which she said the paintings, several mounted and of heart is tired of being broken so it is almost ceiling-to-floor proportions, and ripped out, so that its owner could no others un-mounted on canvas and other longer feel its pain. Then, it is sutured everyday fabric. to effect a form of proper functioning. assemblag-There was also a collection of assemblag es – three dimensional elements affixed Jeremy Payne on a defined underlying substance. The artists boasted neither realism Jeremy Payne prefers to be called a nor the form of art accustomed to be put
multi-disciplinary artist. “I do different forms of art, but for the art show, I’m exhibiting predominantly paintings. My work is strictly mixed media and paint on canvas.” He explained that, caroline is his mentor and greatest influence in terms of art. “She acts like my advisor when it comes to my work: whenever I stumble on a hiccough, I consult with her just to get her feedback,” he was grateful to express. Jeremy described his pieces as modern and contemporary but influ influ-enced sometime by a lot of different styles of art. “I like working with figures because they are figurative on one hand and manifest themselves as somewhat self-portraits. I also like surrealism and just working with a lot of the same elements like patterns, colours, shapes and textures,” he acknowledged. He felt that these elements stuck and are easily portrayed in different ways in different paintings. He explained one of his pieces. “‘Downtown’ is the example of a piece which I fought to do, just getting it to a point where I felt comfortable without giving away too much of the down time I was experiencing, although it’s healthy to put those feelings out,” he stated, and ended with, “But (I) used a lot of colour to lighten the seriousness of the subject.”
The Curator Alexandra Grant was ecstatic with what she had put on show. Firstly, she felt the venue, a building over 200 years, set the pace for the activity, with its interior actually complementing the display. The lighting was perfect.
on’, a diverse piece by Bing Dynasty W Won’, Jeremy Payne. Jeremy Payne’ s ‘And Other T ragedies’. Payne’s Tragedies’. Secondly, she was happy that the reprepresenters were brave enough to represent their emotions in such a profound cs may critics manner, regardless of how criti interpret them. “How many times would an artist paint a hibiscus or Young Island for that matter,” she speculated. “These artists approach their pieces with all their emotions, packing them with personal life experiences, some of them very difficult to communicate.” She looks forward to other such collaborations. ‘INside OUT’ pledges to donate 15% of revenue from sales to the SVG National Trust. Jeremy Payne seemed especially moved by his piece ‘Downtown’.
THE SECOND ANNUAL Art Show and Sale organised by Youlou Arts Foundation took place from February 26th to March 9th, 2016 at the Curator's House in the Botanical Gardens. The opening reception and benefit was held on Saturday evening, February 27th 2016. This festive event was well attended by long-time supporters of the organiza organiza-tion. There were food and entertainment, and wonder wonder-ful gift certificates were auctioned to raise funds for the establishment of an Art Centre. A number of persons played roles in organising the event, none moreso than Lenore Layne, Sean Roache, Camille Crichton, Ruth Knights, Eleanor Astaphan, Kenlyn Alves, and Camille ‘Perspectives’ Musser. by Christine Planning for this event started last October when a Browne. call to all local artists in St Vincent and the Grenadines Right: ‘Let her Shine was announced. Eighteen Through’ – artists responded and Shanique participated in this year's Stewart. show. The show featured a wide range of art including decorative, practical objects made from driftwood and local fibres, to delicately hand embroidered dolls. Also in the show were paintings on canvas, photography, some of it printed on canvas, and banana leaf art. Many of the artists chose themes which dealt with nature and family. For the artists, the show was a welcome opportunity to display their work, since opportunities to do so do not come around very often. Artists displaying work in this year's show were Merle Gellizeau, Sean Roache, Christine Browne, Joy Celestine, Collette Jones - Chin, Tipipi Punnett, LeeAndra Thompson, Shanique Stewart, Nzimbu, Cecile Comblen, Marc Erdrich, Shonette Bynoe, Leslie Gonsalves, Nadia Huggins, Kay Wilson, A. Erdrich, and Camille Musser. Donors who helped to make this event a success were Fantasea Tours, Sailor's Wildness Tours, SVG Players Mas Band, Gonsalves Liquors, Jankie Glass, Cafe Soleil, Vee Jay's, and Brio Che. The Youlou Arts Foundation was established by Vincentian artist Camille Saunders-Musser. It is a non-profit, non-governmental organ organ-istion created to develop, promote and preserve the art and culture of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In addition to its now annual Art Show and Sale, the Youlou Arts Foundation, from its inception, has hosted an Annual Summer Arts/ Craft programme for children across the state, which climaxes with a Memory of a Good friend – Cecil Comblem . Children’s Art fair.
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16. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN
Pharmacy Feature
The importance of living a Healthy Lifestyle LIVING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE may mean something different from one person to the next. For some, health is defined by living a disease-free life. For others, healthy is being able to play with grandchildren or perhaps adhering to a weekly exercise schedule. Though the definition of healthy may differ between people, living a healthy lifestyle is a fundamental component to achieving your optimal mental and physical well-being.
High cholesterol does not cause symptoms, but over time too much cholesterol may lead to a buildup of plaque inside the blood vessels (much like the grease build up in your kitchen sink). This obstructs the blood flow to vital organs - brain, heart and kidneys - making it a major risk factor in the development of heart attacks and strokes. High cholesterol levels are also implicated in gallstones, impotence and Let us review High Cholesterol dementia (becoming senile). – one the major contributors to How do detect it? an unhealthy body. Your doctor can diagnose high cholesterol with a simple What is cholesterol? blood test called a fasting lipid profile, which requires that you We may associate cholesterol not eat or drink anything from with fatty foods, but most of this about 10 pm the night before waxy substance is made by our you are scheduled to do this own bodies. The liver produces test. 75% of the cholesterol that circulates in our blood. The What is the doctor looking for? other 25% comes from food. At normal levels, cholesterol is The results of the test show used by the body to maintain your levels of “ bad� cholesterol, healthy cells and manufacture “good� cholesterol and essential hormones and triglycerides: vitamins. Unfortunately, some * High-Density Lipoprotein people inherit genes that trigger (HDL) is considered the “good� too much cholesterol production; cholesterol because it helps keep for others, diet is the main the arteries clear of the clogging culprit. “bad� LDL cholesterol. In most people, high HDL helps protect Would you feel sick if your against heart disease; cholesterol levels are high? * Low Density Lipoprotein
(LDL) is considered “bad� cholesterol. It can clog the arteries and is a major risk factor for heart disease; * Triglycerides are another type of fat found in the bloodstream .The body converts the excess calories into triglycerides and stores it in our fat cells. The doctor also looks at your total cholesterol which is a sum of all three components.
oil and coconut oil help to raise good cholesterol. E. If you are into juicing, carrot, celery and beet are a good combination.
2. Temper your intake of meat and dairy products A. Fatty fish - salmon and tuna - are high in omega 3FFA and are great options for protein in your diet. B. Avoid red meat and remove the fat from chicken and High cholesterol? What should I do? turkey before you bake, steam or grill it. Firstly don’t panic. Stress C. Choose reduced-fat milk. makes everything worse. Diet offers a powerful way to 3. Make other lifestyle changes optimize cholesterol levels. Here A. Do regular aerobic are a few guidelines. exercise. Choose an activity that boosts your heart rate such as 1. Embrace a plant based diet running, swimming, or walking A. Take in plenty of fiber — briskly, and aim for at least 30 e.g. ground provisions such as minutes on most days of the sweet potato, cassava and yams. week. Add to that oat bran and brown B. Quit smoking. rice, which are among the best foods for lowering cholesterol. 4. Consider using supplements B. Add bananas, grapefruit A. Certain dietary apples to your fruit bowl. supplements may improve C. Include more peas, beans cholesterol levels . These and vegetables on your plate. include flaxseed oil/powder, fish D. Know your fats and oil and high dose niacin ( understand that not all fats are Vitamin B3) 300 mg daily equal. The fats found in lard, margarine and fried foods tend 5. Medications to increase bad cholesterol and A. If high cholesterol runs in lower the good kind. Fats such your family, diet and exercise as that found in avocados, olive may not be enough. In that
Managing your cholesterol intake is crucial to maintaining a healthy body. case, your doctor may prescribe statins which are usually the first choice for primary and secondary prevention. They block the production of cholesterol in the liver. This option should be discussed with your doctor as there is ongoing debate in relation to the guidelines for prescribing cholesterol lowering drugs.
Exercise is also a heathy lifestyle habit.
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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. 17.
18. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. 19.
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20. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN
Advice
Get tested Dear George, I WATCHED MY BOYFRIEND enter the house of a woman he claimed he had nothing going on with, and stay there for over six hours. After he left the house, I went and knocked on the door, and the woman, wrapped in only a towel, answered the knock. I just told her that when my boyfriend comes to visit again, he can stay as long as he wants, because I do not want him back. She looked at me and said that I can have him now because she had already given him what she had for him. When I inquired what she meant, she said if I want to find out, I should go and get myself tested. George, I do not know if she is just playing with my mind, but it has me worried. I have dumped my boyfriend since that time but have not gone to the doctor to find out what is what. I just dismissed it as she was just saying that to play with my head.
Unsure Dear Unsure, Moving on from your two-timing boyfriend was probably a wise move but, at the same time, it would not hurt to go and get tested, just for your own peace of mind. It is the only way you can be sure and then be free to give of yourself fully to another man.
George
She was wrong Dear George,
with this guy as though he was her husband, and even saw him putting his hands around her shoulders a couple of times. When I was ready to leave, I went over to let her know. She informed me that her ex would take her home. I am left wondering whether my wife and this guy still had something going. She got home about 3 hours after me that night, and gave no explanation for getting in that late. The drive from the reception venue to our house would take approximately 20 minutes. What am I supposed to conclude?
MY WIFE RECENTLY embarrassed me and dismissed every effort by me to convince her that she was wrong. We attended the wedding of a family friend. Our car was at the repair shop, so we rode to the church with my cousin, who had said that he was not going to the reception, but that we could get a ride there with his brother. Just when we were about to get into the car, an ex-boyfriend of my wife approached and suggested we ride with him. I proceeded to my cousin brother’s car, with the expectation that my wife would follow. To my surprise, she poked her head into the car and informed me that she was going with this ex. Wondering No effort on my part to convince her Dear Wondering, to do otherwise worked. At the reception, she sat at the It is very obvious that you and table where her ex was sitting. She your wife were not on the same came to my table once to ask me what time I would want to leave. I page that day. asked her to sit, and explained to her what she was doing and how upset I was at her actions. Instead of understanding my position, Dear George, she stormed off to this guy`s table, but not before telling I BUILT UP a relationship via the me that I was internet, with a girl in Barbados. overreacting. For the rest of that evening, I saw her sitting After six months or so. I decided to visit her in the flesh. That weekend visit was a mixed bag. I stayed at her two-bedroom home which she shared with her younger sister. My friend, as beautiful as she was, could not measure up to her sister who was a total knockout. I was immediately attracted to the sister. My friend noticed how distracted I was by her sister, and asked me if I was interested in her. I told her yes`. There and then, she said that she was not going to give me up, and if I wanted her sister she, if would have to accept a package of two. That weekend, I had both sisters to my pleasure and leisure, and could not believe my luck. Things changed rapidly not too long after I returned home. I received a phone call telling me that both sisters were pregnant for me, and that they were planning to come
The wishes of an ex should never override that of a spouse. That invitation by her ex to ride with him should have been graciously turned down, - unless one of them still had a foot in the door. Your wife should not be doing things that would cause suspicion or emotional hurt to you. She should acknowledge her display of poor judgement, and start making efforts to reassure you that she is not in any way allowing herself to be distracted by a man, who had his chance and probably blew it. Have a talk with her. Let her know how much her actions affected you, and suggest to her how she could have handled things differently. This should help her to avoid causing you embarrassment or emotional trauma in the future.
George
You chose to get trapped look for me in St. Vincent. I am very suspicious about this pregnancy story. There is no way I am going to accept this ridiculous attempt to trap me.
Unmoved Dear Unmoved, It is interesting how you did not think it ridiculous for your girlfriend to insist that you have her and her sister as a package. You had no problem sleeping with the two sisters, yet you seem to have one, with each of them stating that she could be carrying your child. You were an equal participant in that weekend fling, and must, therefore, accept whatever responsibility that is thrust on you, until you can prove otherwise. About the sisters trying to trap you; if you saw it and willingly walked into it, then you cannot claim you were trapped.
George
Leisure
ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) You can clear up important legalities and sign contracts this week. Maybe it's time to look into ways you can improve your health. Direct your energy into physical exertion. Residential moves will be favorable. You will impress others with your initiative and ability to accomplish while on short business trips. TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Erratic behavior may confuse others, and mood swings may result in isolation. Be prepared to neutralize any threats. Don't confront the situation if you don't feel you can keep your cool. A series of misunderstandings may be at fault. GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Don't blame others for your own stubbornness. You should socialize with clients or upper echelons of your industry if possible. Emotional disputes will only end in sorrow. One of your female friends may try to disrupt your day. Stand up for your rights. CANCER (June 22-July 22) Travel will entice you; however, a tendency to overspend is quite possible. You may find that relationships are not going as well as you'd like. Try to ease any disappointment by making amends. Question your mate if you must. LEO (July 23-Aug 22) You can meet new and exciting friends who will provide mental stimulation. Catch up on your correspondence and reading. The existing problems must be dealt with one way or another. Try to spend some time on your own. VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) You will have the ability to capture the interest of others. Do something constructive outside. Help elders in your family. Try to stay calm and do the best you can.
LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Try not to take everything so seriously. You won't be able to keep a secret. Try not to make waves. Ask family members for help and you will be able to complete the projects more quickly. SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Problems with in-laws may cause friction in your personal relationship. You're apt to make a move or experience changes at home. Relationships will become stronger. Don't use emotional blackmail on someone you love. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Investments will not be as they appear this week. Do not blow situations out of proportion. You have a real need to be vocal. Enjoy a quiet dinner for two and discuss some of the plans you have for the future. CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Try to get away with your mate. You're in the mood for love. You need to concentrate on solving existing problems. Avoid any intimate involvements with co-workers or employers. AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Be careful; you may say something you'll regret later. Travel will also be very informative. Travel and learning should be on your agenda this week. You can open up to your mate and let them know what you expect out of this relationship. PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) You really can't do anything to change matters this week. Don't let friends convince you that you should contribute to something you don't believe in. You can make changes to your living quarters that should please family members. You have two choices; Get out on your own, or bend to your mate's whims.
ACROSS
35. Root vegetable 1.Pet rescue 36. Hannah of org. “Kill Bill” 5. Physicians 38. Frying (abbr.) liquids 8. Scored 100% 39. Admirals, 12. “Pequod” e.g. (2wds.) captain 43. Hawaiian 13. Classic car cookout 14. Satisfy fully 45. Runway 15. Temporary 49. “The civilian doctor __” armies (2 wds.) 17. Retirees’ 50. Writer accts. Clancy 18. Tactful 51. On a __ person 52. Early 20. Filter video game 22. Not yet 53. Holy ones 10. Seventh Greek married (abbr.) letter 25. Property 54. Conform 11. __ Moines 26. Matured 16. Overturn 29. “Bali __” DOWN 19. Newsman 30. Toiling Roger __ insect 1.Uncle __ 31. Used 2. Greek letter 20. 12/25 visitor mucilage 3. Pres. 21. Amuse 32. Wind Coolidge 23. Soothes direction 4. Tolerated 24. Cut (abbr.) 5. __-dry calories 33. South6. Not western counterfeit 25. Sing high praises Indian 7. Average 26. Capp and 34. Russia (hyph.) Pacino between1917 8. Flu type 27. Gloomy __ and 1991 9. Turn end 28. Poet’s (abbr.) over end
31. 35. 37. 38. 40. 41. 42.
“always” Guzzle Small café Juvenile WWII org. Hit makers Ruckus Tentacles
LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION
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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. 21.
43. Gloss recipient 44. GI’s club 46. Pilfer 47. French island 48. Thickness
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22. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN
Business news
Coreas staff to join in clean-up campaign
COREAS DISTRIBUTION Limited (CDL), one of the newest Companies in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and a former Division of Coreas Hazells Inc. (CHI), is joining the fight to clean up Kingstown and to get rid of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, the carrier of
the virus that causes Dengue (fever) and Zika. This Saturday, March 12, the staff of CDL will set aside their sales and marketing skills, take-up their water boots, rakes and shovels, and delve into cleaning a portion of the North River. Staff members are
The North River mouth at Rose Place beach is usually polluted. Coreas staff members will embark on an effort aimed at cleaning this and other portions of the river.
expected to collect all the He appealed to the disposal of their garbage, community to join the garbage in that portion of general public to be more and urged other fight to clean up our the river from the area of responsible with the members of the business environment. Block 2000 down to the point, between McCoy and Linley Streets, where the river opens into the sea in Rose Place. CEO of CDL), Mr. Jimmie Forde said that the staff of CDL feels a sense of responsibility to assist in the clean-up of the environment and aid in the eradication of these dangerous mosquitos. “An outbreak of Zika will seriously affect the productivity of our labour force”, Forde declared. Forde also said that everyone has a role to play in keeping St. Vincent and the Grenadines clean, so as to avert a health crisis.
UWI continues Town Hall meetings THE UNIVERSITY of the West Indies Open Campus, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Site, continued its series of Town Hall Meetings last Tuesday, March 8, in Canouan. The meeting, held at the The UWI Open Campus here has stepped up its efforts Canouan to provide information on the UWI, its courses, entry Government School, requirements and more. shared general information on available programmes and courses, admission procedures, and AFTER A VERY successful Boat Ride dubbed scholarship “Eclipse 2” held on February 27th, Digicel Social opportunities at the Club used proceeds from that venture to fund and University of the West donate food baskets to families in need. The first Indies with students, individual to receive assistance was Denesha parents and generally Stapleton for her daughter Addeah Miller of Keartons. Denesha received over $500 in interested individuals in groceries. each community. Donations to persons in need will continue in It also provided an the coming weeks. opportunity for “We take our social and corporate community leaders and responsibilities very seriously, hence we are organisations to share getting involved in a lot of Community Outreach with the Open Campus, Programmes,” says President of the Digicel Social the training and Club, Jomari Rogers. academic needs of their In related news, Digicel announced this week area. that it will once again sponsor the 2016 Essay The series of Town Writing Competition, organized by the Ministry of Hall Meetings is in Foreign Affairs, Trade, Commerce and Regional keeping with the Integration. University’s mandate to On Monday, March 3rd at the Press Conference engage important held to launch the opening of the 2016 Essay Writing Competition, Digicel’ s Marketing stakeholders on Manager Danielle Cupid stated, “Communication underserved educational is at the heart of our business at Digicel. We and training needs in provide the technological tools for persons to our communities. communicate, and we seek to ensure they have the The next meeting will best and most up to date telecommunication take place at the Bequia Anglican Primary School technology so that seamless exchange of information can occur accurately and speedily.” on Thursday, March In addition to The Impact of Climate Change on 17th at 6:00 pm. Small Island Developing States, other topics of The Open Campus choice for the 2016 Essay Competition include extends an invitation to Human Rights, Human Trafficking and the residents of these Impact on Tourism from increasing impact of communities to attend climate change on Small Island Developing States. the sessions.
Digicel in action
V Jamaica downs SVG in Rugby Qualifier
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. 23.
ANY HOPE OF THE SVG Male Rugby team creating an upset of all upsets was shattered last Saturday, when the team went down to regional rugby powerhouse Jamaica, 46 – 0, in a World Rugby Qualifier. Saturday’s match, played at the Arnos Vale Playing Field in front of a modest crowd, a mixture of locals and ex-pats, was this country’s first ever participation in Rugby at this level. The victory for Jamaica means that they advance to the next round, where they will face their arch rivals Trinidad and Tobago, as both teams jockey for a place in the 2019 World Cup finals, scheduled for Japan. While conceding defeat, captain of the SVG Rugby team Andrew Phillips felt assured that he and his team had “tried their best”, but admitted further that their best was not good enough against the Jamaicans who were visibly stronger. “The team and everyone put in a lot of work. We prepared very hard for this match, but it was a case where we didn’t have any answer for the powerful Jamaican forwards, even with our best effort,” the captain said. “It’s a very technical thing and we function well in that area; but the strength and experience of the Jamaica was too much throughout the game,” Phillips admitted. He intimated that, “Not much study went into the opposition because it was
The victorious Jamaicans roar over the William Webb Ellis Cup, after earning victory in what captain Hubert Thomas (inset) said was an improved performance over their last year’s outings.
SVG gave up as losers in their first time participation in World Cup Rugby, but captain Andrew Phillips (above) assured that his team gave of their best.
Vincentian opposition, Thomas She remains undaunted, and remarked, “The Vincentian commits to continue building team stood up very well to us the sport at all levels, crucially difficult to performance than last year and I must put up my hands for at the grassroot and youth get because we came here having the Vincy team.” levels., and especially through material,” trained hard. It was also great President of the SVG Rugby the SVGRU’s school-based ‘Get and that we won because we now get Union (SVGRU) Sophie into Rugby’ programme. explained that his team, in the a chance to move on to the next Goddard looked beyond The sport of rugby was circumstances, had simply to go round, which brightens our Saturday’s defeat to concede introduced to St. Vincent and on their opponents past chances for Japan 2019.” that more has to be done to the Grenadines in 1998. perforamnces from which to The elated captain further develop the sport here and to devise a game strategy. expressed, “We will be going win the public support. I.B.A.ALLEN “We are very proud to host a back into World Cup qualifier, and it was training for good to have the opportunity we the next had to perform in front of the round, which home crowd,” Phillips will be continued, and quickly moved to against a more optimistic attitude, Trinidad and saying, “Regardless, there are Tobago, who still good things ahead for rugby will be a in SVG.” stiffer Hubert Thomas, Jamaica’s opposition.” Action in last Saturday’s Jamaica-SVG World Rugby Qualifier, the first captain, said it was a good team With effort. “It was a much better respect to the Qualifier to be played in this country.
LIME Radcliffe are NLA T20 champs Captain Lindon James and his Lime Radcliffe teammates never needed a LIME RADCLIFFE are second asking, and into their first week as openers Romano Pierre reigning champions of and Kadir Nedd, both national T20 Cricket. former SVG U19 captains, They earned this wasted little time in honour after beating putting runs on the board. three-time defending They raised 80 for the champions Team Rivals, first wicket in nine overs in the final of the National before Pierre (39) was Lotteries Authority T20 caught off the bowling of competition, at the Park leg spinner Olanzo Hill Playing Field last Jackson, trying to flick Sunday March 6th, in through the onside. front of a reasonable Century-maker in the crowd. semi-finals against News SCORES: Lime Spartans, Jomo Toney Radcliffe 185/6 (20 overs) (one) did not last long, as Team Rivals 159/6 (20 he was caught at the overs). wicket off the pacey Winning the toss in Keswick Williams. Toney, good batting conditions, with little conviction, had Team Rivals chose instead tried to hook a bouncer to field, citing their but managed only gloved batting depth and the fire it to the ‘keeper’. power to chase down Rodney Lawrence (10) targets. joined Nedd in adding 73 by E. GLENFORD PRESCOTT
for the third wicket, with the latter stepping on the pedal. But Lime Radcliffe lost three for eight in the middle, as Lawrence, James (six) and Nedd (72) fell in the search for more runs. Nedd, who dealt with spin and pace with the same disrespect, was bowled by left-arm spinner Asif Hooper when he missed a long hop. He struck five fours and five sixes. Williams finished with 2/30, but Jackson was the best bowler with his four overs only going for 19 runs. There were 30 Extras, inclusive of 19 wides. Team Rivals, who were pushed into the ascendancy by the opening pair of Hooper and Marvin Small most times during the tournament, were once
again put in a good position with an opening stand of 45 in six overs. Hooper (25) was first to go when he was caught off medium pacer Westrick Straugh. Small (24) and Hyron Shallow (one) then went with the addition of eight runs. Casmond Walters (18) and Harley Skerritt then added 52 for the fourth wicket but at a less than ideal rate. Walters went at 107/4 and Roneil Jeffrey (four), who used up a lot of balls, departed at 123/5.
NLA T20 Champions, Lime Radcliffe. Left: Lime Radcliffe’s Kadir Nedd drives during his 72.
A late barrage of blows by Skeritt and Deighton Butler (14) created some excitement but never threatened the target. In the end, Skerritt was left
unbeaten on 65, with his team 156/6, still 29 runs short. He struck four fours and four sixes. Straugh finished with 3/26 and James 2/27 to seal victory for Lime Radcliffe.
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24. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN
Sports
T/20 more
THE WEST INDIES begin their quest for the 2016 T/20 Cup against England Wednesday March 16. By then, the Super Ten would have been decided and who advanced would have been cause for celebration. Given the heist they pulled off last Wednesday, everyone will keep an eye on Oman. They achieved a dream start with a win over Ireland. One would have expected it to be normal business for Ireland, and having taken down some big scalps before, overcoming Oman was supposed to have been a formality. But that’s not the logic of T/20 Cricket. Any squad with adequate preparation and belief can pull off the unlikely. So the established nations will be advised to take seriously any opposition in this tournament. Oman will be in action today Friday, and the Netherlands will not be taking anything for granted. Oman, buoyed by their success over Ireland, will be keen to continue the rampage, and they will have nothing to lose. By Sunday, Oman will know if their dream continues. Whatever the outcome, they would have left a mark, and things will get better for them. The Oman victory has added interest to the tournament. The West Indies meet Sri Lanka, Sunday March 20, and they have a week to psyche up for the other qualifier. Everyone expects the West Indies to be in the semi-final, March 30 or 31, and for them to progress naturally to the final, Sunday April 3. Some mouth-watering fixtures are on the cards, and there will be interest in every game. There are the big eight: New Zealand, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka, and West Indies, to be joined by two others. Bangladesh and Zimbabwe might have considered themselves automatic choices for the two spots up for grabs in the Super Ten. But there can be no judgement cast, and teams will have to turn up for every game. That includes the West Indies. It will be a busy sporting calendar for Vincentians. They have a range of activities to choose from. Traditionally, the arrival of the Jamaicans for a cricket encounter here would have been a moment of great anticipation. It might still be, but given the intrigues of regional cricket, persons might be tempted to follow more exciting prospects. By the time March 25 comes around, persons will have realised that St. Vincent and the Grenadines would not have been the only nation taking part in a sporting event. The sentiments of taking part in a sporting event on Good Friday would have disappeared, for with Pakistan and Australia lined up in the T/20 World Cup, plus a West Indies/South Africa showdown, the platter would have been full. By Tuesday March 29 when Vincy Heat plays their away fixture in Trinidad, the line-up for the T/20 semi-finals would have been determined. My nationality leaves me in the West Indies corner in this competition, but they will have to realise that they will be up against it. They will have to put aside all other distractions, and ensure that they are ready for all 120 deliveries in those matches. And they will have to discipline themselves to ensure that there are no free hits on offer, neither any wides. Once they summon the pride, they can accomplish the accolades that their junior colleagues set for them in the recent Under 19 tournament.
Cordice rips ÂOpportunities open for Vincentian athletesÊ
by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; kingnaking210@yahoo.com US CORRESPONDENT
JAMES CORDICE, the man behind SVG’s participation in the illustrious Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has taken issue with an uncredited article that appeared in THE VINCENTIAN, Feb. 26, 2016. Cordice described the article as “real foolishness.” The article, captioned ‘Opportunities open for Vincentian athletes’, stated inter alia, “The quartet of Erasto Da Silva, Rogike Thorpe, Neilo Thomas and Consolo Adams have had part of their dreams realized,” and that “last Monday, they embarked on new academic and sports lives at the Kingsborough Community College in New York, USA.” But James Cordice, the Clare Valley-born former president of the Philadelphia-based St. Vincent and the Grenadines Organization of Pennsylvania (SVGOP), told THE VINCENTIAN, in an exclusive interview Sunday night, that some information in the story was inaccurate, and that the article, as a whole, was misguided. “I feel this thing is real foolishness; some of the facts are inaccurate,” Cordice said. “Up to now, I don’t have a full synopsis. No one has taken the time to have a full conversation with me. I don’t feel our parents should pay to send their children to school [college in the United States] if they can run [demonstrate athletic prowess].”
Aim of Penn Relay participation The humanitarian and community advocate, who is a senior executive member of Team Bickle Jamaica, the group that provides meals for Caribbean athletes at the three-day Penn Relays at the University of Pennsylvania, said that the Vincentian Penn Relays effort, which he initiated almost singlehandedly in 2011, is aimed at being “a vehicle to enhance or obtain academic goals. “This is the purpose of us taking this journey,” he said. “I believe that, if we bring these children up to this level, then the school who wants them must be able to recruit them with a scholarship. “Our community should not pay, the Diaspora should not pay, and the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines should not be forced to pay, because the children [athletes] have a talent that is desirable of a scholarship,” Cordice added. “That’s their reward. “Then, if they have to pay [athletes have to pay tuition], then what’s the purpose of bringing them to the Penn Relays?” he asked rhetorically. “They come to the Penn Relays to get exposure and then to get a scholarship. “But to initially start off that they [athletes] have to pay and to hope that this school [Kingsborough Community College] will ensure them a scholarship to another college or university, that is sheer stupidity,” Cordice declared. “That does not make sense. What if they can’t get an athletic scholarship, it’s going to come back to the community, because you’re going to put pressure on the community to help out.”
Secure scholarships But Cordice said, while Kingsborough
James Cordice has taken umbrage with an article, published in THE VINCENTIAN with respect to a quartet of young athletes finding education/ sporting opportunities in the USA.
Community College has not awarded any scholarship to the athletes, TSSS athletes were “exposed to three universities on their 2014 visit to Penn Relays,” claiming that TSSS officials “missed opportunities to foster relationships with those schools. “I am hoping that the school [TSSS] still reaches out to those universities, where athletic scholarships could be obtained, instead of paying tuition for those children [athletes],” he said. “This is real stupidness,” stressed Cordice about the recruitment of the “quartet” without an athletic scholarship. “And people don’t have the decency to come clean and have a discussion.” At the same time, Cordice pointed to the success of star athlete Brandon Valentine-Parris, who was among the initial TSSS Penn Relays contingent, now on an athletic scholarship at Claflin University in South Carolina. Cordice said, if Vincentian athletes who initially compete in the Penn Relays are unsuccessful in obtaining a scholarship in the US, they should then attend the local Community College and return to the Penn Relays as a member of the college team. “This is way forward,” he said. “That is what the discussion was about, even when Otis Jack [late athletic director at the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College] was alive.”
Appeal to parents Cordice also urged parents to ask “serious questions” when approached by potential recruiters to “bring their children [to the US without an athletic scholarship]. “They [parents] have to ensure that their kids [athletes] are kept in a safe environment,” he said. “Bringing the kids to live in people’s home is a big joke. How are they going to be sustained?” In addition, Cordice said Vincentian community leaders in the US should also be informed about any athletic recruitment, adding: “If people have true intentions of helping us, they should not dictate what we do. It’s wrong.” He urged all sporting stakeholders in St. Vincent and the Grenadines — coaches and officials — to work harmoniously in the interest of nationbuilding, saying that the athletes ultimately suffer the most when there are constant tugs-of-war and enmity.
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. 25.
26. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN
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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016. 27.
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FRIDAY,
MARCH 11, 2016
VOLUME 110, No.11
www.thevincentian.com
www.aisvg.com
EC$1.50
SIX YEARS FOR FIREARM POSSESSION John pressed hard on the accelerator and sped off in the direction of Kingstown. The court heard that the police gave high speed chase. In his evidence, Patrick said the police transport was doing about 60 to 65 miles per hour, while the car could have been doing about 70 to 75 miles per hour, all the time overtaking vehicles. When the vehicles reached at North Union, John apparently lost control of the car, it ran off the road and plunged into the gutter. According to the evidence, John threw the firearm out the window and it fell in a grassy area. The police retrieved it, and found one bullet in the breach and another in the
Marcus Patrick were on mobile patrol in the Colonarie area, when they CHIEF MAGISTRATE Rechanne Browne received information that John was handed down yet another heavy penalty driving a motor car and was carrying a at the Serious Offences Court on firearm. Tuesday, for firearm and ammunition The officers immediately went on possession. the lookout for the car and spotted it Curt John, 29, of Georgetown, was at Colonarie, just beyond the Colonarie sentenced to six years for possession of Police Station. the firearm, and six months for having PC Patrick, the driver of the police two rounds of ammunition without transport, pulled up the vehicle licences. The sentences will run alongside the car, bringing it to a stop. concurrently. P.C Cupid, who was at the time a John was found guilty at the member of the Criminal Investigation Serious Offences Court last Friday, Department (CID), identified himself March 4, at the conclusion of a trial, to the defendant, who was the driver but sentencing was postponed. of the car, and the lone occupant. The prosecution’s evidence revealed Cupid informed him about the that around mid-morning January 1, information they received, and police Constables Justin Cupid and requested a search. On hearing that, by HAYDN HUGGINS
Single male parent living in fear discover that “a truck was trying to steal fuel” from a tank that stored ASQUIETH BLUGH, a father of fuel for use by the tractors that three, lives at Diamond, on the South serviced the landfill. Eastern coast of mainland St. According to Blugh, the Security Vincent. Guard told him that it was not his He considers himself an business. experienced man, but there is a Blugh and the Security Officer problem confronting him, and he has clashed on another occasion, and that difficulty coping with it. matter led to a court hearing which At age 51, he is trying to avoid any was eventually thrown out. dubious forces, but he finds himself With the continuing threat embroiled in niggling situations. hanging over him, Blugh has found Blugh lives close to the Land Fill himself with an additional burden. at Diamond, and he is living with The mother of his 17-month-old son some anxiety occasioned by threats has abandoned him and abandoned that have been coming his way. He her son. recounted one on Thursday, March 3 “She just gone,” Blugh outlined. by a Security officer. He is now ‘bogged down’ with He recalled that the Security taking care of the infant, and has not Officer promised to chop off his neck worked, since he has to devote his and kill his youth. time to caring for his son. He disclosed that his worries with Yes, he has opportunities for work, that security officer stemmed from an but he cannot grasp them unless he incident that unfolded one night. can find someone or somewhere to That night he heard his dogs tend to his son. barking. His enquiries led him to He admits that he was seeking by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY
Asquieth Blugh with his son on a visit to THE VINCENTIAN, during which he related his ordeal. assistance to send him (son) to a Day Care. Even as the single parent fears for possible termination of him and his son, he contends has passed through the worst with his son. His hope is that the threats cease, and that he gets help to send his child to Day Care so that he can work on a regular basis. Another story of a life on the brink of disaster? (WKA)
Published by The VINCENTIAN Publishing Co. Ltd, St. Vincent and the Grenadines;
magazine. John had to be assisted out of the vehicle through the front passenger window. In his defence, John told the court that when the police pulled up alongside him, he saw Cupid pointing a gun at him, and he (John) Chief Magistrate sped off en Rechanne Browne route to the has been consistent North Union with her stiff gas station penalties for gun and where people ammunition would be possession. gathered, so that if the police were to shoot him, people would be around. He denied throwing a gun out of the vehicle’s window. John’s lawyer, Grant Connell, in his closing arguments, told the Court there were discrepancies in Cupid and Patrick’s evidence as it related to how the gun was retrieved. In mitigation, Connell asked the Court to impose a fine or suspended sentence. He noted that his client was a young person who had no previous convictions, and asked that he be given the opportunity to continue to walk the straight and narrow road. John was also fined $1000 forthwith for reckless driving. The Chief Magistrate has been consistent in her imposition of stiff penalties for firearm and ammunition possession. A magistrate has the power to impose up to seven years in prison for firearm or ammunition possession. Eleven of the 25 murders recorded last year were gun-related. (See related story on Page 6)
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