THE VINCENTIAN PDF-17-07-20

FRIDAY JULY

17, 2020

VOLUME 114, No.29

Hiccups over dead man Page 5

Attorney Kay BacchusBaptiste will lead an appeal against what she said is an illegal act and an act of victimization.

ATTORNEY-AT-LAW and Opposition Senator – Kay Bacchus-Baptiste told social

LIAT fallout Page 15

The HOT FM Saga Pages 16&17

EC$1.50

Irish couple charged Page 18

‘Butu’ soaks about racism Page 27

VENDORS’ EVICTION TO BE APPEALED

media audiences on July 9 that she intends to appeal an eviction notice that was fielded to several of the fruit and vegetable vendors, who ply their trade just opposite Massy’s Supermarket in Arnos Vale.

The appeal seems likely to be filed in the name of Romarl John who, along with

Romarl John operates a fruit and vegetable stall opposite Massy Supermarket, Arnos Vale, has been ordered to remove his stall.

www.thevincentian.com

his brother Jomol, are two of the vendors ordered to cease their operation, although, Bacchus-Browne alleged, no formal notice was presented to them at that time.

Earlier this year, Romarl made his debut political speech at Bacchus-Baptiste’s first public event at Gomea, in

her bid to represent the West St. George constituency.

According to the prominent lawyer, “One of the main problems that we face with this government is victimization. I am really seething tonight.”

Bacchus-Baptiste related, “A few days ago I got a call

from him (Romarl) … they all of a sudden decide that he must be moved. They said 3 days — Monday they tell him

by Friday ‘you have to move!’

So I said, ‘did you get a letter?’”

Continued on Page 3.

Some of the fruit and vegetable stalls that sprung up opposite the Massy Supermarket at Arnos Vale.

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2. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

Arts

Vincymas showcased in Baltimore

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

Rondy ‘Luta’ McIntosh, the ‘Crowd Motivator’ didn’t have a crowd to perform to but certainly would have moved those viewing the telecast.

VINCYMAS, the national carnival of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, was prominently highlighted last Sunday, July 12, during the virtual showcase of Baltimore One Caribbean Carnival.

The production was a collaborative one involving Shortmus Productions, owned and managed by Vincentian, Baltimore-based Kenley “Shortmus” John, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Carnival Development Committee (CDC) and VC3TV. An entire hour was devoted to promoting Vincymas, dubbed “the hottest carnival in the Caribbean,” on Baltimore One Caribbean Carnival Instagram and Facebook pages.

Vincymas 2020 was cancelled in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The recording of the Vincymas segment for Sunday’s presentation was done on Jul. 4, according to

organizers.

It featured top Vincentian calypso, soca, ragga soca and road march artists, as well as renowned pannist Saeed Bowman.

Performers, who were backed up by the K-Netik Band, comprised Reigning Calypso Monarch Shaunelle Mc Kenzie; Reigning Soca Monarch Magikal; 2019 Soca Monarch Fya Empress; Ragga Soca Monarch Hance; Parang and Road March King Luta; L Pank; Sitad; and King Jace.

Ten Times Soca Monarch Fireman Hooper was scheduled to appear on the show, but was unable to do so because of his involvement in a vehicular accident on Jul. 3, organizers said.

Masqueraders from the Oxygen Mas Band performed on stage while the artists performed.

“Vincymas 2021, we ready,” exclaimed McKenzie after her initial calypso rendition projected, “See you for Vincymas 2021.”

Hance queried: “Vincymas 2021, are you ready?

Then, dancing with

masqueraders, he belched out “It feels like ah been ya before”, the title of his rendition, before invited “every Vincentian in Baltimore (to) take this date down — Jun. 25 to Jul. 6 — book you ticket, book yo flight.”

Luta enchanted the audience with “Busy Tone”, “Tight Spot”, “Famalay” and “Jump on Charlie.”

“Baltimore, this is St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” he said afterwards. “If you want to experience the maddest carnival in the world, come to St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” he said.

Described as the “Whiner Man” by Master of Ceremonies Candy Man, L-Pank did not disappoint.

“It was a pleasure coming out here tonight,” L-Prank said. “Come out to Vincymas Jun. 25 to Jul. 6.”

Fya Empress appealed to viewers to “Own It”, and King Jace urged to “Wet it Up.” Bowman put the icing on the cake, prompting Candy Man to remark that he is “the magician on pan.”

The youthful Bowman beat

out Kevin Lyttle’s “Turn Me On” and “Coming Home for Carnival.”

“Phenomenal talent!” remarked Earl “Caba” Bennett, president the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Calypso Association, on a Facebook post.

In an earlier statement, Dr. Elaine Simon, president of the Baltimore/ Maryland One Caribbean Carnival, thanked St. Vincent and the Grenadines for “partnering with us for this momentous experience to showcase our carnival virtually.

Esworth “Ezzie” Roberts, CDC’s Marketing and Development Officer, said his committee “embraced this opportunity to market Vincymas 2021 via this means, which allows for the viewing by persons not just in Baltimore but by people around the world, “and thanked Kenley ‘Shortmus’ John and the Baltimore/Washington One Caribbean Carnival, Committee “for giving us this opportunity to showcase Vincymas in this way.”

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lHE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020. 3.

News 3 Vendors threatened sanitation, security and health

CONCERNS ABOUT THREATS to sanitation, health and security, and the fact that residents in the area had been complaining about the presence of the vendors for quite some time, were major contributing factors to a decision to remove fruit and vegetable vendors from plying their trade in an area opposite the Trinidad-owned Massy Supermarket in Arnos Vale.

This was advanced by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves in what

is now his regular segment in the Sunday morning interactive programme on We FM. In responding to the removal order handed down on the vendors by the Physical Planning and Development Board, the Prime Minister said, “There are some areas, where persons go and vend. If one or two persons vend there and the place is kept clean and so on, people may shrug their shoulder and say okay, even though they’re not supposed to

Preliminary CPEA results are out PRELIMINARY RESULTS of the 2020 CPEA were released by the Ministry of Education on Thursday, July 16.

The release informed that of the 1,915 students who wrote the examination, 1,650, comprised of 780 males and 870 females, met the prescribed standard.

The overall standard attainment represented 86.7% of the total registration, a decrease over last year’s 87.19%.

Three males tied as top performers: Kai Francis of the Kingstown Preparatory School, Matthew Wilson of the St. Mary’s Roman Catholic School and Ajani Neverson of the Windsor Primary School.

As for the top ten places, the St, Mary’s Roman Catholic School dominated, taking six.

The Kingstown Preparatory School took three with the other taken by the Windsor Primary School.

The St. Mary’s Roman Catholic School also provided the top performers in each of the subject areas assessed, albeit sharing one category.

Mathew Wilson was the top performer in Mathematics with a score of 100%; Najah Lewis did likewise in Science with a perfect score of 100%; Cristiano Fitzpatrick headed the field in Social Studies with 100%; and Isabella Sam tied with Anjai Neverson of the Windsor Primary School as top performers in Language, each scoring 98.67%.

According to the Ministry of Education release, 50 of the 68 schools which registered candidates for the exam, recorded a pass rate of 80%.

The CPEA is assessed in two categories: the School Base Assessment which counts 200 marks or 40% of the total score; and the External Assessment which amounts to 300 marks or 60% of the total mark.

Fifty percent of the total mark of 500 is the criterion for determining the required standard.

be there it’s tolerable —but when it becomes really, really problematic for a number of reasons…. .”

Not for the first time, the Prime Minister laboured the point of wanting to identify alternative space for use by vendors.

As far as the Arnos Vale vendors are concerned, an area in close proximity to the location from which they operated would be preferable, the Prime Minister suggested.

Last year, Minister of Transport and Works, Senator Julian Francis, whose portfolio includes the Kingstown Town Board, said that at least four places were identified as locations to which street vendors could be relocated.

These were named as the former vegetable and meat markets, the current meat market and a section of the Customs warehouse opposite C.K Greaves’ Supermarket on

Bay Street.

The latter is nearing completion and is likely to have its first occupants any time soon.

Meanwhile, there is a move afoot to challenge the removal order in the courts.

One of the carefully organized stalls that was made to remove from in front of Massy Supermarket, Arnos Vale.

Vendors’ eviction to be appealed Continued from Front Page He said then he had received no letter but according to the lawyer, “Today [July 9] he gets a letter.”

Bacchus-Baptiste proceeded to read from a letter that was dated July 9 notifying of the Physical Planning and Development (PP&D) Board’s intention to execute a demolition exercise on July 16, 2020.

The letter also referred to an enforcement notice purportedly served on the brothers “on the 23rd of February 2018,” and notified that the vendors had “a period of 7 days dated from the service of this notice to remove the unauthorized structure.”

Failure to comply with this notice, the letter warned, “would result in the demolition of the unauthorized structure by an agent authorized in writing by the Physical Planning and Development Board.”

The Johns were not the only vendors affected by the PP&D Board’s decision to exercise its powers under the Town and Country Planning Act, but Senator Bacchus-Baptiste is adamant that this ill-fate only befell Romarl because “they want to spite and victimize a young Vincentian entrepreneur.”

She offered as supporting evidence the fact that none of the other vendors’ letters named any of them, as was the case with the letter sent to the Johns.

Additionally the enforcement notice, a prescribed requirement by law, was purportedly served on the other vendors on February 23, 2020 — according to their letters.

“Well my research says that absolutely no enforcement notice was served!” Bacchus-Browne asserted.

The Town and Country Planning Act prescribes that an enforcement notice must be

served and done so within 5 years of when a person starts a business.

“Romarl has been there for over 8 years going into 9 years.

And they put this lie in the letter that they served him a notice — when? — on the 23rd of February 2018. This is a figment of their imagination,” Bacchus-Baptiste suggested.

“These people have been there for over 5 years — all of them! If you’re going to serve a notice in 2020 - what yo telling me? You know the 5 years gone! None of them could move! But Romarl was served — I am angry!”

She added sternly, “They are going to get a hell of a fight on their hands. Tomorrow DV [July 10], I am lodging an appeal under the Act. I am lodging an appeal under the Act! They must stop.”

There was no indication up to press time that an appeal had been lodged. jp.schwmon.vincy@gmail.com

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4. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Cop jailed for drugs, corruption of my observation.”

When the vessel blew its horn signifying its was ready to depart, the officers moved from the gate they were manning and went on to the vessel.

Sergeant Cato, who had testified before Patrick, told the Court that he saw Jacobs come through the gate with a bookbag over his back, and when Corporal James questioned him about it he said a “soldier” gave him it to carry on the boat. When James asked him for the identity and whereabouts of the ‘soldier’ Jacobs said, “I don’t know.”

The search was then conducted of the bag, revealing the two plastic bags of marijuana.

In his evidence to the Court, Jacobs said a man called ‘Snake’ told him to hold the bag for him while he (Snake) went to the nearby Massy Supermarket.

However, during cross-examination, the Senior Prosecutor asked, “As a Police Officer, when ‘Snake’ gave you the bag, why you did not ask him what was in the bag?” Jacobs did not reply.

Delpleche further questioned, “In Ian Jacobs your cross-examination of the Police Officers, you even put it to them that you got the bag from ‘Snake’?”

Jacobs said, “No,” and claimed he had pointed out ‘Snake’ to the Police Officers at the wharf.

The Court also heard evidence from Sergeant Gamal Bowens of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Jacobs had been suspended from duties A PRISON OFFICER who appeared in Court on pending the outcome of Thursday after being charged with wounding an the matter. However, inmate, was granted $2,000 with one surety, speaking to THE despite efforts by his lawyer Jomo Thomas for bail VINCENTIAN on in his own recognizance.

Wednesday, Kenson King, a Prison Commissioner of Police Officer with 15 years of Colin John said the High Command had written to service, has been charged with unlawfully the relevant authorities and maliciously regarding a course of wounding Dorian Mapp, action. a 23-year-old inmate of Her Majesty’s Prison, originally of Victoria Village.

The charge against to her mother.

King stems from an After the Jury returned the incident at Her Majesty’s verdicts on Tuesday, Bruce asked Prison on June 27 during Justice Brian Cottle to adjourn which Mapp was the matter to allow the defence reportedly beaten. He time to prepare for a sentencing sustained a cut over his Kenson King exercise. right eye which took five Bruce also asked the Judge to stitches, and is expected to make an order for a Social Inquiry be examined by an eye specialist.

Report. But Cottle told him that King pleaded not guilty to the charge when he when the accused is represented, appeared before Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett he would rely on their lawyer to at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. provide the Court with the Prosecutor Curlene Samuel did not object to necessary material. bail.

However, following a brief The Senior Magistrate’s refused an application conversation with his client,

by King’s lawyer Jomo Thomas for his client to be Bruce told the Court that he was granted bail in his own recognizance, assuring that withdrawing the application for Kingwould be ready to show up in Court whenever the Social Inquiry Report. the matter is slated for trial. He noted that King The sentencing exercise was has not been removed from his job, and is not then set for next week Thursday. going anywhere.

The matter was prosecuted by Crown Counsel Karim Nelson, The matter has been adjourned to October 20. assisted by Crown Counsel Rose (See more on Back Page) Ann Richardson.

which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison.

A POLICE OFFICER who attempted to “Using public office for the smuggle 234 grams of marijuana during commission of the offences, that is an excursion to Canouan nine months extremely serious,” she stressed. ago, was jailed on Monday.

Browne said she found no Constable 474 Ian Jacobs was mitigating factors in relation to the sentenced to eleven months in prison offences. But she noted that Jacobs ‘for corruptly obtaining property for had no previous convictions. She also himself on account of a transaction took into account his youthfulness and done by him in discharge of the duties the possibility of rehabilitation. of his office, while being employed in At the time of his arrest, Jacobs was the Public Service as a member of the attached to the Georgetown Police Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Station. He was arrested by Corporal Police Force, and being charged with Cliff James at the Grenadines Wharf the performance of his duties’. on October 13 last year, as he was The 24-year-old Chateaubelair man about to board the Gem Star for an was also sentenced to three months for excursion dubbed ‘Leg Go tin’, destined possession of 234 grams of marijuana for Canouan. for the purpose of drug trafficking, and A search of a shoulder bag he was two months for possession with intent carrying revealed two plastic bags to supply. The sentences are to run containing marijuana. The shoulder concurrently. bag also contained two cellular phones, Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne a toothbrush and a number of small had convicted Jacobs on all three zip bags. charges following a trial at the Serious Jacobs said, under caution, “That’s Offences Court on Mondary. a small scene.”

Jacobs conducted his own defence.

James was among several offciers In recommending a custodial who were assigned specifically to deal sentence, Senior Prosecutor Adolphus with the security aspect of the Delpleche declared, “Such behaviour excursion, including conducting cannot be tolerated. It corrupts our searches, and affixing wrist bands on system”, adding that a strong message persons with tickets. must be sent to those who think they James’ evidence was corroborated could continue that type of behaviour. by Constable Marcus Patrick and In handing down the penalties, the Sergeant Renrick Cato.

Patrick told the Court that while on Chief Magistrate told the suspended duty at the Grenadines Wharf around officer that policing is a noble 8 a.m on the date in question, Jacobs profession for which he had taken an approached him and asked for a job on oath.

“You are held to certain standards,” the security team.

“I told him we done full out already. she asserted.

“When you are not given a suitable I told him if he wants to go for the ride, to go to Sergeant Cato for a wrist penalty for the offence, you are allowed to go back into the society and band”.

Patrick said Jacobs went through do bigger things,” she contended. the gate several times.

“Even on the excursion you are a “I told him he can’t be in and out of Police Officer, and you have to act in the gate because he is not working. He accordance with the oath you have went about 200 ft. from me and taken..,” Browne pointed out. starting speaking to a Rastaman. I “Instead of preventing crime, you saw when the Rasta man give him a doing crime,” she lamented, adding bookbag. He turned away and went that official corruption, one of the towards Harbour Club, (an area next offences with which Jacobs was to the wharf), and I told Sergeant Cato charged, is a very serious offence Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

Assistant Pastor guilty of raping minor DELROY FRAZER, an assistant Pastor who was found guilty of having sexual intercourse with a girl from the time she was about 4 or 5 years old, will know his fate at a sentencing hearing at the High Court Criminal Assizes, next week Thursday.

On Tuesday, following a trial, a 9-member mixed jury found Frazer guilty on three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13. He is represent by attorney Israel Bruce.

Frazer committed the offences during the course of 2014, 2015 and 2016. He was slapped with one count for each year. The child was about four or five years old during the first ordeal.

The Prosecution’s evidence revealed that Frazer had committed several acts of unlawful sexual intercourse

against the child at a beach in Canouan, during the periods referred.

Also known as ‘Licker’, the assistant Pastor, who was attached to a Church in Canouan, had developed a good relationship with the child’s family, and was known to take the minor and other family members to the beach. There were also occasions when he would take only the child and his ‘little’ daughter to the beach.

According to the evidence of the victim, it was during the occasions when he took the victim and his daughter to the beach, that he had sex with her in the sea.

In 2017, there was a church function and the Pastor of the Church, while preaching, said that someone on the pulpit will be exposed. It was subsequent to this that the girl revealed her ordeal

Prison Officer charged with wounding inmate

V GrenadianVincentian died from multiple gunshots

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020. 5.

Crime

RELATIVES of a deceased man found recently in the Baleine Mountains, “with what appeared to be bullet wounds,” have been appealing for proper recognition of his heritage.

A bulletin, issued by the Royal SVG Police Force, identified the deceased as “a Grenadian national Dwayne Seaton who is believed to be in his forties.”

Dwayne and a sister were born to a Vincentian mother and Grenadian father, according to an ‘adopted’ sister Lorraine.

He and his sister migrated from Grenada when they were mere toddlers, and although they were not legally adopted, her parents took both children and raised them as their own, as was the custom of the times, Lorraine said.

According to Lorraine, “He grew up in St. Vincent. He did all his schooling here - primary and secondary,” adding that they spent much of their growing years in Edinboro, a fact that the RSVGF Public Relations Department acknowledged but was omitted from the only media update issued to date.

As it happens, this oversight is causing some problems for overseasbased relatives who are trying to make travel arrangements to come home.

“My siblings and other aunts who are coming from overseas.. their workplace is saying that the article said he is from Grenada so that is hindering them.

“Because they are asking for death certificate and all things to prove because in the article that went out he

is a Grenadian, they doubt that they’re actually coming here for that,” Lorraine said.

Dwayne was not an itinerant; he was living and farming in Owia for some time now, relatives said. In fact, “he was in a relationship with a young lady in Owia for the past 4 years,” according to his adopted sister.

Since his arrival here, he is said to have left “for a small stint” when he was in his twenties, in a quest to connect with his father’s side of his family.

He never left since his return from that trip a few months later.

Local police eventually released the deceased following an autopsy which confirmed that the 40-year-old Vincentian-Grenadian died from multiple gunshot injuries. The death certificate was released on Monday July 13 and listed Seaton as being “from Grenada/Owia” though there was some “issue with the date he was pronounced dead” which had to be corrected.

To date the family is still unsure as to who would want to hurt the farmer.

“The police said they’re investigating so we’re just waiting to hear if they come up with anything, because we live Edinboro and he was living in Owia,” one relative said.

Equally unclear is who gave the police the information relating to his Grenadian heritage as his relatives here are all adamant that neither of them who spoke with the investigating officer shared such.

“They ain’t question nobody here… is just like who they meet up there when them carrying out them investigations… but they did not confirm the information with the family before they released it,” Dawyne’s sister told us.

A candle light vigil to mark his 9 nights passing was set for Thursday evening “out Owia.” Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.

Meanwhile, a police communication disclosed that two males — Lebert King

Dwayne Seaton was born in Grenada to a Vincentian mother and a Grenadian father. of Choppins and Rocaldo Mc Master of Harmony Hall — were charged with causing the death of Dwayne Seaton. jp.schwmon.vincy@gmail.com

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6. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020. THE VINCENTIAN

Government

Stern warning: Stay in quarantine!!!

PRIME MINISTER Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has issued a stern warning to all those intent on breaching Covid-19 related quarantine.

“I am making an appeal for anybody — we are not making joke on this,” Dr. Gonsalves said on Sunday hours after the arrival of the first international flight — an American Airlines flight out of Miami - to the Argyle International Airport, since air travel was suspended following the outbreak of Covid-19.

“My first call this morning is to ask those persons who were given oral instructions or those given a document — an order from the court — that they must stay inside and do their

enter mandatory quarantine.

For those who were not tested, a PCR test would be administered locally and anyone testing positive will be required to be quarantined, as they awaited confirmation of their initial test from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), in Trinidad.

Results returned from CARPHA confirmed that there were six persons of the 155 who arrived on Protocols in place the AA flight last Among the protocols to Saturday, who tested guide the resumption of positive for the air travel was for coronavirus. arriving passengers to They are now 35 produce evidence of a reported cases of COVID PCR test done 72 hours in St, Vincent and the before arrival here, in Grenadiness, 6 of which order for them not to are active.

quarantine.”

Dr. Gonsalves said that he had received information that persons who arrived on flight AA945 on Saturday were seen at a restaurant, and others were seen attending church on Sunday.

“Those were persons on specific quarantine.. … instructed to remain in quarantine until they were notified by health officials,” he stressed.

Fines or jail?

Meanwhile the Prime Minister reminded citizens, returning nationals and visitors, that the Public Health Act as amended, provided for fines of up to $2,000 for each day that quarantined is breached.

He reiterated that each person had a responsibility to obey the order of the Chief Medical Officer, or other health personnel, and remain in quarantine if instructed to do so.

“I am asking everyone to listen to the Ministry of Health,” he said, adding, “The authorities do not want to take

Six of the 155 persons who arrived on the American Airlines flight on Sat. 11th July, tested positive for the coronavirus. persons to the court for them to obey the order to quarantine.”

He lamented that persons would listen to the officials in the United States, but refused to obey the local authorities.

And while contending that the state acted

properly and followed all the relevant protocols, he warned: “The only area where the state is to act is for the authorities to take up those persons (who have breached quarantine) and let them spend the time in the police station. (DD)

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020. 7.

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8. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020. 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

Taken for a ride?

at a time when LIAT shareholder countries would have been looking down the barrel of ARE WE TO BELIEVE PRIME drastic economic downturns?

MINISTER Gaston Bowne of Antigua If we are to believe PM and Barbuda when he said that Browne, then what is to prevent even before the meeting of us from further believing that all shareholders of LIAT that along our Prime Ministers, who purportedly supported the represent(ed) us as primary liquidation of LIAT, that side deals shareholders in this regional (read plots) were being made about airline, have not been the fate of the airline? forthcoming with the real facts, Is Mr. Browne’s assertion that figures and permutations for a more credible now that his terminated or revamped LIAT; colleague, PM Gonsalves, has choosing instead to make one admitted that he had been appeal after another for direct holding discussions with CAL cash injections into LIAT, to apparently before the referenced keep it in the sky, or was it to meeting of LIAT shareholders? ‘honour’ astronomical salaries Must we believe PM Browne and perks for LIAT’s executives? when he said that contrary to Now that LIAT has gone nose what PM Gonsalvees reported down, we, the real shareholders, about the decision to liquidate have been caught with our pants being unanimous, that that was down and being dragged in not the case? different directions.

Are we to believe him when he We have come to a point in said that his colleagues knew he LIAT’s long saga where it is now would never support liquidation a case of ‘to each his own’; ‘each ‘without the creation of a new man to his own order’.

LIAT’?

What is certain is that the Must we believe PM Browne quagmire regarding regional air when he claimed that his travel which our leaders have colleagues prevented him on two created for us is not an easy one separate occasions (though he to navigate, especially given that conceded on the first) ‘from we might not have all the making an intervention on a ‘new information on which to fashion LIAT’?

Must we, therefore, believe PM a new order.

The question that abounds: Browne when he told radio Was LIAT being all along listeners in Antigua that the plagued by serious differences second meeting addressed the and plots among its primary issue of ‘liquidation for LIAT’ and shareholders’ representatives the ‘implications for regional travel’ but nothing about …a new Prime Ministers of at least four territories — about which we, the entity’? real shareholders, knew nothing; Must we believe that long and which just might have been before PM Browne broke the among the major contributing news about LIAT heading for liquidation, that the directors had factors to LIAT’s perpetual challenges and eventual demise? ‘made a recommendation … ‘to If this be the case, those dismantle or liquidate LIAT’… leaders may just have a few and that it looked like it had questions to answer at the polls, found favour with some major and no amount of appealing by shareholders?

Must we, if we believe the time PM Browne to PM Gonsalves about uniting ‘to reorganize line deduced from PM Browne’s LIAT for the benefit of pronouncements, conclude that there would have been something Caribbean people’, will erase the demand by the electorate that unbecoming when voting monies our Prime Ministers come clean to assist LIAT even after before we go any further. liquidation of the airline looked We have to say enough is likely? enough. We shall no longer be Are we not to feel even more cheated when that vote was taken taken for a ride.

Blowing hot and cold Reprinted from 4th May, 2001 Final Part

Political partisanship: The engine of democracy “The intellectually-bankrupt and politically-tired NDP regime is understandably in quest of a political lifeline. So, they trot out the self-serving doctrine of “unity” whilst disuniting the people with their very policies; the NDP trumpets the call for “cooperation” whilst ruling essentially in the old commandist fashion, and that party, without a tinge of shame, seeks to wrap itself in the flag of “national pride” and “patriotism” whilst it sells out this country’s patrimony and citizenship to disreputable foreigners.

Their antics will not fool us in the ULP for we know that that so-called “patriotism” is the last refuge of scoundrels.

and the Grenadines. We have repeatedly detailed the essence of this crisis and its infestations. The only solution is to have fresh elections soonest and to replace the NDP with the ULP. The problem of governance in the country is not simply “technical” in nature to be solved by the “cooperation” between the more technically-competent political leaders.

The essence of the crisis is structural and political. It can only be solved with new, bold, creative, thoughtful and different leadership. That is what the ULP offers.

There cannot be a solution with any patchwork, provisional, temporizing regime of executive cooperation’ or a make-shift Beating the opportunist drums government of ‘national unity’. Those are formulae out of sync with the extant crisis It is an old political ruse to dress up of governance and the challenges and personal ambition or a personal agenda, not necessarily connected to actual politics, demands of the on-rushing new century.

They provide idle amusement for the as one of high principle. Invariably, the quest or the search for the high principle is chattering classes and mischief-makers but fruitless and what remains is seldom more the people will not be misled. They want two things now: Fresh elections and a than opportunism. And there is much scope now for all this given the succession ULP government! And so, the struggle problems facing the NDP consequent upon continues!” the impending departure of its leader, Sir Gonsalves’ turn James Mitchell.

Sir James’ agenda primarily concerns So that is how Dr. Gonsalves wants to himself. His priority is a successor regime dictate the situation: play a positive which will not disturb his own peace and opposition role in gratitude when tranquility in retirement. His favourable circumstances let him in the intermediaries or acolytes seek assurances formal political process in 1994 in an that he will not be dragged before a opposition of 3 against an NDP Commission of Enquiry like John Compton Government of 12; refuse to accept the in St Lucia and Dr. Kennedy Simmonds in results of the poll in 1998 which put the St. Kitts-Nevis. His interest in “executive ULP in Opposition despite its control of cooperation” relates almost exclusively to the popular vote. The serious attempt to this consideration. But no such assurances “render the country ungovernable” are forthcoming from the ULP. climaxed in the Grand Beach Accord and Thus, a complex of factors shapes the paid off handsomely with a ULP call by the NDP for “executive cooperation” “landslide” victory of 12 to 3. between the government and the ULP According to the gospel of Dr. opposition. Essentially, though, they Gonsalves, it is now time for true revolve around two issues: ambition and democracy to resume its seat. In particular, Eustace and company are now personal self-interest. There is nothing in called upon to act the part of a supporting it for the people, their development, freedom, democracy and good governance. cast, for which Ken Boyea and Stalky John had been accused, tried, and excommunicated.

Crisis of governance One hand can’t clap. The NDP will The ULP reiterates yet again that there remain in the wings, awaiting its next chance to take over the alternative is a crisis of governance in Saint Vincent government.

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The next election THE EDITOR: The Prime Minister has already said that he is not going into the New Year as far as calling the next election is concerned.

We know the PM likes Decembers, so don’t be surprised if we have another December election.

Whatever the date, we will go into the next election as we accustomed doing, complaining about how the politicians don’t have anything to offer and how the party in government is a failure and how the other fellas ain’t ready yet.

Yes, as I said before, we will go into the next election as we usually do. Some of us will vote for the party in power to carry on in the same old fashion — like they own the country. Some of us will vote for the other party hoping they would do better but deep down we know that the promises they make would be hard to keep, if they could keep them at all.

So, Mr. Editor, the way I see it is the same old melody with one or two changes to the lyrics and some of the people in the two main choirs.

What we need to realise is that none of the current political groups can solve our problems. We need an overall change to the system, a whole change in the culture if we are to deal with crime, favouritism, lies and lawlessness.

Not sure if I voting next election.

Meet the young people, Mr. PM AS A SUPPORTER of the ULP, I thought that if I went public with my humble advice, that the PM might listen. I also thought that it really didn’t matter if he knew my name or not. The important thing is the advice which I hope he will take to heart.

Now, Mr. PM, I notice that the Opposition Leader is making all kinds of visits to different constituencies during which he is

meeting with a lot of young people. From their reports, it seems he is getting a good reception and is striking up a rapport with the young people especially.

Young people, as you know Mr. PM, usually hold the sway and it is important that you give them an ear and show them respect.

I must say that I have not seen you doing your usual get out and meet the people tours. This

was your style and it worked in your favour. I hope that you have not abandoned it.

There are a lot of things happening on the ground which you might think are not happening and you need to hear about these firsthand. So I am calling on you, Mr. PM, to start a meet the young people tour very soon. These tours will bring you closer to the issues and social situations that are

bothering our young people.

Take my advice, my PM, and start your constituency tours soon.

Your Supporter

Yambou Road needs urgent attention

Sam on the Hill

Thank you America!!

I TRIED GETTING this to you in time for publication on Friday 3rd July, the day before the USA’s National Independence Day, July 4. Don’t know what happened, but my friend and your friend, Garnet, N.Y, shared your email with me so I hope that this reaches you eventually.

I, Mr. Editor, would like to acknowledge all American people on the 244th Anniversary of their Independence.

Unlike so many other migrants, I am not going to be a hypocrite and demonize Americans when, in fact, I owe this country my life.

If the opportunity to migrate to the USA had not presented itself, I might have been in prison, the Mental Health Centre or even my grave.

My life was on a oneway track — downwards — filled with drugs, alcohol, sex and crime. I have no doubt whatsoever, that moving to the USA, with all its

problems — racism foremost — saved my life.

By moving to America, my life took on a whole new meaning and path. I was able to get my High School diploma. That was the beginning. Whatever I could find to do as an honest day’s work I did, and was able, with some big sacrifices and resistance to temptations, to pay my way through night school and today, I am proud to say that I hold a Bachelor’s Degree.

Tell me, Mr. Editor, what would have been my chances of achieving this had I remained ‘at home’?

The USA is now my home, with all its challenges especially for a black man. It is where I found opportunities to be the best that I could.

I thank the USA for giving me a second lease on life and while it is not perfect place, this is where I’ll be for some time.

Anthony P. Brooklyn, N.Y.

you are travelling from Mespo. The height between the road and I AM QUITE aware that river is probably a there have been hundred feet. The bank discussions on fixing the is eroding (slightly) Yambou Road for a under the road; it is number of years. difficult to see it if you However, I am not are driving. sure that it was brought In addition, the bank to your attention that is held up by some refuse approximately three because it is a dumping weeks ago, there was a site, and the rains can landslide at Tambrand in easily wash away soil Yambou, and it has since that is meshed with eroded further. This garbage. area is located two In my opinion, this minutes walk before you situation is one that get to the gap for demands urgent Coconja. attention because of the There is a bridge like number of huge trucks structure on the right if that traverse this road Dear Pedestrians and Motorists,

every day.

In previous times, when it rained the truck drivers transporting aggregate would travel on the right hand side when travelling to Mespo, and instruct the other drivers to move to the left side. It makes sense because the other vehicles are light and would hopefully not slip over as easily.

Any vehicle with passengers can go over.

Students commute there in buses which are filled.

Someone can also slip over while walking, especially at night. There

Poor but not impoverished JESUS SAID, “The poor you have with you always.” This statement was not a command for us to create poverty but one for us to be compassionate.

On a visit to a certain community in St. Vincent, a five-year old remarked, “These people must be very poor.” The reason given was that there were no fruit trees around any of the houses.

With the advent and proliferation of Poor Relief, the spirit of selfsufficiency, independence, selfreliance and self-help are crying out for air to breathe.

History has shown that Vincentians have always been an independent people. Who has created such widespread poverty and for what purpose? Is Poverty the new culture?

Is this the designed hidden curriculum taught in our schools?

Traditionally, each family grew crops, kept poultry, sheep, goats, perhaps a cow, and possibly a donkey for transport. Those on the coastline or river bank had fishing skills. No one was hungry except the old and feeble. And even then, the family, neighbour and church played their role.

Although money was scarce, people were able to feed themselves and provide for important occasions like weddings and feasts. Those of us old enough to remember, long for the good old days. We wonder: “How long can we remain in our present impoverished and penniless state.”

Anthony Stewart, PhD

is no street light in this area.

I would also like to mention the huge rocks and bluffs which glide down from the banks on the journey from Mespo to Yambou.

We should not wait until there is a catastrophe before we attend to these serious issues.

I travel on this road everyday and I am quite cognizant of the situation. Those in authority, please assist the residents and the number of motorists who travel through the area but are unaware of the danger which lurks in the valley.

Thank you for your swift intervention.

Yours respectfully, A Concerned Resident

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The five STAR General

Introduction THE “SILLY SEASON” is fast approaching as St. Vincent and the Grenadines prepares itself for the next general election. Given the amount of talk on radio these days, and the conversations on Face book, it is clear that Vincentians are gearing up themselves for that date when Comrade Ralph will ring the proverbial election bell.

Indeed, among the many ULP supporters in the country, there is a sort of impatience that maybe the Comrade Leader is taking too long to ring the bell. There is a sort of feeling that it is time to put the opposition NDP, out of their misery. In fact, supporters of the NDP are preparing themselves for an election shellacking, whenever the time is ripe.

For sure, the person who will be delivering the election blows to the opposition New Democratic Party, will be the Five Star General, Comrade Ralph. Comrade Ralph is leading the ULP in this election, having been victorious in 2001, 2005, 2010 and 2015, four in a row. Now that Ralph Gonsalves has established himself as the leading Prime Minister in Caricom, with tremendous support from the international community, this five-star general is getting near impossible to beat.

The ULP track record The ULP boasts of an impressive record of achievements which is outstanding and unprecedented, and which have benefited every family in the state. These stretch from the much talked about Education Revolution which has touched every student in the country, to the construction of the Argyle International Airport.

In every area of development, the ULP, led by the Five Star General, has established a mark that is impressive, from housing to the economy, from agriculture to the environment, from health to national security, and from foreign affairs to the reduction of poverty. Everywhere, people are talking about how far this country has come, since the ULP assumed office in 2001. This progressive record has been tremendous, and the policies and programmes of the ULP, have served to uplift the quality of life of all Vincentians.

In the face of a one seat majority in Parliament, the ULP administration has been able to handle the affairs of government fairly well. There is no crisis, and the leadership that has been provided over the years, has been progressive and impressive.

The current Covid-19 pandemic is a case in point. In the face of all the issues affecting international countries, including issues related to border control and health, the consensus is that St.Vincent and the Grenadines has made a great response to the pandemic. The ULP administration has made a strong and progressive response to the crisis, including the provision of a stimulus package, to help those sectors who are affected by the crisis.

In the midst of all this comes the launch of the PRYME programme aimed at providing assistance to young entrepreneurs who have excellent business ideas, but who are

cash strapped. The ULP administration was able to roll out the PRYME programme in the middle of the Covid-19 campaign, with much success.

Now PRYME is the best thing to hit the business sector and the response has been great. In the response to this, the NDP could only trot out the half-baked idea about a development bank, without addressing the issues which have affected development banks in the State over the years. This is a further sign that the opposition New Democratic Party is bereft of ideas, with no clear understanding of the issues that affect the country, and no clear direction or policy, to sort out these issues.

No Previous Experience The fact of the matter is that the opposition NDP has no experience in relation to the affairs of governance in this country. There is no one among their 15 candidates who can boast about experience in relation to governance. So, if Vincentians are not careful, and don’t turn out to vote in their numbers, they could end up with a government without any experience, and who will be at sea if they are elected.

Thankfully, we know that the ULP will not lose the next general election when Comrade rings the bell. The fact of the matter is that none of the eight seats held by the ULP, are under any threat from the opposition New Democratic Party. At the moment, the NDP is unable to find candidates for three seats held by the ULP, and these include East St. George, Marriaqua and North Windward.

The NDP is scrambling to find candidates for these seats and its leader Dr. Lorraine Friday, is clearly at sea, with no idea where to go. And in the midst of all this we find the NDP’s founding father, Sir James Mitchell, trying to find a niche, so he could find a way to influence his party, in some form or fashion. But there is no place for him in their ranks and Sir James will be well advised to take himself back to Bequia, to continue his retirement.

Conclusion The people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines are getting impatient and are ready to welcome in the “Five Star General”, Comrade Ralph for a 5th term. The ULP has demonstrated over the years that strategic thinking and actions are its hallmarks.

The Five Star General, Comrade Ralph, and his young team, including Saboto Caesar, Camillo Gonsalves, Luke Browne, Carlos James and Randy Brewster, are all ready to go, and the fifth consecutive term is right around the corner. The five-star general is ready to lead his team to develop the new city at Arnos Vale, to begin the work to develop the Kingstown Port area, and to preside over the expansion of the hotel sector in the State.

Onward we go, five in a row!

NDP will solve the problems in education THE CSEC AND CAPE EXAMS have begun and the New Democratic Party (NDP) extends best wishes and good luck to all students who are sitting the exams. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the teaching/learning process, we believe that the teachers have done their best and students are well prepared for the exams. However, we continue to highlight the challenges that are confronting the education system in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and how we will solve them.

The much-vaunted ‘Education Revolution’ by the Unity Labour Party (ULP) is simply an empty slogan. The ULP government has failed to add and implement an effective ICT programme to the schools’ curriculum; our dropout rate is the highest in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; and our education system does not provide for the developmental needs of the country.

Speaking at a NDP’s virtual public meeting, the president of the NDP’s Women’s Arm made the following observation of the education system: “The government boasts of an ‘Education Revolution’, yet so many of our students are falling through the cracks. There are poor working conditions in the schools, high failure rates in illiteracy and numeracy, inconsistent methods of assessing the teaching/learning process and numerous behavioral problems exist in the system.

“We need sustainable remedial programmes for our students. As a former principal, I often become emotional when I see students reach Grade 6 and can’t read. My brothers and sisters, do you know what it is like when you can’t read? I see people cry long tears already when they can’t even make out their own names on a piece of paper. Ignorance is definitely not bliss! We can’t allow the system to fail our children. The future of this country depends on the structures we put in place today to facilitate the success of the next generation.”

They talk about the availability of scholarships and training but unfortunately when many of our students return from universities, they cannot find jobs. Many become very hopeless as they watch others unfairly filling positions that they are not qualified for, all because of political affiliation. Could you imagine that? An ‘Education Revolution’ can only be good when it helps to strengthen all citizens in society.

When all Vincentians can ‘breathe again’, and when equity and equality prevail across the education system.

We hear talks about adopting a classroom project where 347 primary school students are expected to receive cheques and book vouchers valued at $600. We also hear about PRYME monies sharing away. Some of the persons who receive monies, most people believe they do not qualify. This is so unjust! Why not put those monies where the pain is? Could all of this compensate for students who are unable to pay for all their CSEC subjects or those who have become frustrated and have ended up in the Mental Asylum? An NDP government would ensure that no student is left behind. All their CSEC subjects would be paid for.

The idea of technological integration in the schools’ Curriculum is an NDP initiative stolen by the ULP. They took it and ran with it but lo and behold, their style of implementation failed. It just couldn’t remedy the social factors hindering our teachers and students from performing at their best.

Why is it that all secondary schools in this country are not equipped with Science Labs and all students are not being given a chance to do foreign languages? Why is it that specialized teachers are not properly allocated across the secondary schools? Why are most of the Learning Resource Centres not opened after working hours to accommodate adults who want to develop skills? All these burning issues would be rectified under an NDP government. An NDP government would ensure that the Ministry of Education develops a philosophy for Optimum Education in this country. And our teachers, students and parents would be properly trained to execute required tasks including E-learning.”

We do not have a system for assessing students in order to identify those who may be falling behind their peers; and we do not have a targeted programme of remedial education for children who are so identified. In addition, many of our classes are not small enough for teachers to be able to give personalized attention to those falling behind. This means that too many of our students continue to fail and not reap the full benefits of the education system. When we have a 16-year-old still in Form 3 of a secondary school, something must have gone seriously wrong with that student’s primary and/or preschool education, a problem that is difficult to correct at the secondary level.

We will ensure that each child who enters Kindergarten is professionally assessed in order to facilitate early diagnosis of issues which may affect the student’s learning. Similar and appropriate tests will be conducted at strategic Grades in order to monitor students’ progress.

Further, relevant remedial programmes will be implemented in order to address the problems of literacy and numeracy before students enter secondary school. In order to implement these two key programmes, we will begin by reviewing the training of all our educators to see if we have sufficiently qualified people to start this assessment programme and remedial education. If we do not have these skills, we shall seek to develop them, with the assistance of aid donors, through a programme of training in assessment and in remedial education for teachers, with the initial aim of having at least one teacher with each of these skills in every school. This cadre of trained teachers will then be employed to train others.

We reiterate that despite the increased access to secondary education, enough is not being done to cater to the diversity of the expanded population or the varying abilities of students. The NDP will re-engineer our education system to cater for the needs of all our students.

V Ripe for rebuke

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“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background or his religion. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” –Nelson Mandela (19182013) – former President of South Africa POLITICIANS AND ASPIRING POLITICIANS throughout and beyond the region have been known to “trigger the race card”. Some have done so in an effort to galvanize votes by fueling what appears to be one of mankind’s most noticeable differences – skin pigmentation. A prejudice (prejudgement) can be very dangerous when ignited. It can create social and ethnic tsunamis that destroy homes, schools, workplaces, neighbourhoods, and churches. It is precisely because of its destructive capabilities why responsible citizens must be forever on the alert to rebuke the utterances and actions that are geared at generating and/or maintaining racial discord. Such thoughts, words, and actions are ripe for rebuke.

It is sad to observe how easily some individuals are swayed whenever a prejudice is kindled. Students of human behaviour will confirm that there is evidence to show how relatively easy it is to lead persons astray once they can become emotionally charged. Social unrest and revolutions gain impetus when passions flare and anger, fueled by intolerance, explodes. Once that racism genie is out of the bottle it is difficult to be contained. This has recently been quite evident throughout the United States of America (USA) immediately following the death (some would say that “murder” is a more accurate word to use) of George Floyd om 25th May 2020. Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer who placed his knee on George’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds thereby suffocating him. The demonstrations have not been limited to the USA. Protests in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, and so many other nations, confirm the utter disgust of the evil generated by racial prejudice … especially when generated by those who are meant to uphold the law. Citizens of all races are now demanding societal change in relation to colour prejudice. Citizens are demanding that politicians, business leaders, administrators of institutions, and many other “noble” professions and institutions are held accountable. And in instances where they fall short in relation to their utterances, behaviours, and policies they are called out and rebuked. And this is as it should be. We, as civilized people, must be more tolerant of each other.

Kofi Annan (1938-2018), the Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations (January 1997December 2006) reminds us that, “If tolerance, respect and equity

Sledging the poor, defending the powerful permeate family life, they will translate into values that shape societies, nations and the world.” It often begins in our homes and is reinforced in our neighbourhoods, schools, churches, and workplaces.

We, as a caring society, become increasingly stronger and more productive when we embrace the diversities that exist among us. Skin colour and nationality do not make one individual better than another.

We are all fearfully and wonderfully made. God makes no mistakes.

Our world is going through some tectonic social changes. People are crying out for justice and equity all over the world. Sporting associations and non-government organisations have joined the fray. Voices of “the invisible blacks” have surfaced and the crescendo is echoed by many caring whites. This is most encouraging as people of different races join together in an attempt to dismantle the mental and societal shackles created and sustained through slavery, indentureship, and colonialism. This is a mammoth task.

But it is not beyond us. Together, we can take the battle beyond removing statues and renaming buildings and streets. The dismantling must also take place in the minds of our citizens and a justice system that so very often seems unjust. These establishments and institutions are also ripe for rebuke.

Princess Diana (1961-1997), Princess of Wales, said it so well when she noted that, “The greatest problem in the world today is intolerance.” Ban Ki-moon (born 1944), the South Korean politician and diplomat who served as the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 2007 to December 2006 reminds us that, “Defeating racism, tribalism, intolerance and all forms of discrimination will liberate all, victim and perpetrator alike.” It is possible.

It is not beyond us. We can make this happen if/when we strengthen our resolve to embrace the wisdom of tolerating the differences among us.

As many CARICOM nations prepare for general elections over the next twelve months, this is as good a time as any for Caribbean citizens to be especially on the alert for those politicians and their supporters who may seek to galvanize votes by igniting unhealthy and destructive prejudices. All citizens have a right, responsibility, and privilege of independent thought. We may not agree with their political views and/or aspirations but they have a right to their views as we have a right to ours.

There is beauty in diversity. There is beauty in “healthy debates” on issues and policies. Those who advocate otherwise must be considered ripe for rebuke.

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

THE DECISION BY THE GOVERNMENT of SVG to order the removal of the vendors in front of the entrance to the Massy supermarket at Arnos Vale is a clear and distinct attempt to disrupt, destroy and dishonour the attempts of the poor among us, to make a living through their hard work and efforts.

In this hard season, made worse by the difficulties and disruptions brought on by the coronavirus, it boggles the mind that the government will choose this time to tell a group of vendors that because of sanitation, security and traffic concerns, it is forced to give them an ultimatum and warning to depart.

Anyone who knows that area well can easily dispute the reasons offered by government officials for the decision to chase the vendors. These vendors ply their trade in front of the entrance to the supermarket along a street that is supposedly open to one-way traffic, and there has not been any major complaints about traffic congestion, confusion or crime triggered by the vendors. On the contrary, the fact that vendors are effectively ‘at the back’ of the supermarket makes for a safer environment. The active presence of vendors offers an added boost to Massy’s security cameras.

The decision to remove the vendors at Arnos Vale is part of an all-out assault on poor people trying to make a decent and honest living. Frequently, vendors in Kingstown are told that they must get off the street because they make the town unsightly and create congestion on the sidewalk. No one stops to think that these vendors are making desperate attempts to make ends meet within the narrow confines of the law. They save or borrow a few dollars, buy some produce or depend on friends and family abroad to send basic foodstuff, personal hygiene products as well as clothing, which they spin into a small profit.

These vendors engage in disciplined work. Day after day they ply their trade sometimes making few sales. But they stick to their trade because they know that their next meal, books and school fees for their children, clothing and rent depend on them making a sale on the streets.

Some want the vendors removed because vending inconveniences the public and the stalls are unsightly to citizens and tourists. But there is rarely a situation in Kingstown where people cannot get by. There is no real obstruction on Back Street or Bay Street. The plan to offer ‘cubby holes’ to vendors in Kingstown demonstrate a major misunderstanding on the part of the authorities of what triggers vending.

No one goes into a building with produce unless there is a magnet that pulls potential shoppers into the structure. The attempt failed in the Kingstown market, and it is doomed to failure when these structures are opened to vendors.

decent living, by utilizing their own mind and sweat.

Therefore, to frequently assault the poor, send police to confiscate their products, beating and arresting some in the process are uncalled for and callous.

These assaults amount to an attack on some of the best entrepreneurs in the country, people with little or no resources spying an opportunity, setting up shop, and hoping beyond hope that they can turn over a few sales which allow them to feed and school their children, and buy much-needed medication for love ones.

Gonsalves wraps himself in victimhood.

A few weeks ago, a recording surfaced with the voices of police officers in a heated exchange. A female officer was being reprimanded by the Commissioner of Police and other senior officers for a post made on social media.

The Commissioner was heard repeatedly cursing the female officer.

Gonsalves, the Minister of National Security, was asked about the tape and he said he was not rushing to judgment; that he was awaiting reports from all the relevant parties before deciding.

Sadly, even as Gonsalves uttered those words, he proceeded to make excuses for the verbal abuse directed at the female officer. He claimed that police and military high command across the world have a habit of using expletives to their subordinates, and Randolph Toussaint, a former Commissioner of Police, was notorious in this regard. No comment as to the reprehensible nature of the practice particularly to female officers.

After saying that he awaits the facts before commenting, he disclosed that the female officer had been calling people apologizing for her actions.

Clearly, he was planting the seed that it was the junior female officer who was in the wrong.

Finally, and worse, when asked about the female officer’s allegation that she had sex with a high-ranking officer and she would not be facing punishment, Gonsalves did the most dastardly act. He claimed that women have the habit of weaponizing sex.

Everyone knows that this is foolishness and tantamount to an indictment of all decent women in SVG and beyond. Women have taken the most horrible abuse from men. Most suffer silently. Too often many are killed. Many have to expose their most private parts to politicians, employers and other men in authority in order to get or keep jobs, yet our Prime Minister, who initially said he was not rushing to judgment and was awaiting reports, condemned all women for having the tendency of weaponizing sex. This indictment of our women is misogyny on steroids.

Cognizant that some women have levelled sexual assault charges against him, Gonsalves wrapped himself into victimhood and defended the police high command. The fact that these comments passed without adverse repercussion show how far back we have gone as a nation. Hubris rules our nation.

These two issues demonstrate that Gonsalves is prepared to ramp on the poor and defend the powerful. Our people, especially women and the poor, need to connect the dots.

Middle Street is akin to a major commercial district say in Port of Spain, Kingston, Manhattan or Miami. All government needs to do is close the area to vehicular traffic and officially make an open-air marketplace. It is sad that a privileged or uninformed section of our people lends support to the political class calls for the removal from public spaces of those trying to make a living.

Many are in wild, mindless support for the government’s policy of offering a few hundred dollars to over 6,000 of our citizens. Clearly, we support the growing emergence of the dependency Send comments, criticisms & syndrome rather than defend the suggestions to jomosanga@gmail.com inalienable right of citizens to make a

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Replace Ministry of Tourism with Ministry of Technology ACCORDING to retired British Royal Air Force Engineer Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal, BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, Leader of SVG Green Party, tourism has never, and will never be the engine of the SVG economy. SVG loses more money maintaining tourism infrastructure, than is made from tourists coming to SVG. It is very foolish for our country to focus on tourism, as it is low paying, low skilled and a nil or very low rate of return on money invested.

If we want prosperity and sustainable economic growth in SVG, we must stop focusing on tourism and focus on science and technology. We should replace the Ministry of Tourism with a new Ministry of Technology.

Spending money on tourism in SVG is like throwing money down the drain.

Tens of millions of dollars were wasted building the Bequia airport. It is now dilapidated and costs more to maintain that it makes. About one and a half billion dollars was wasted on Argyle airport. That is rusting away and costs more to maintain that it makes. More money is wasted paying

airlines to fly to SVG, than is made from the people coming on those planes.

Over the decades, SVG governments have given LIAT tens of millions of dollars and that has all been wasted as LIAT is bust. Tens of millions of dollars were wasted building the cruise ship terminal. When cruise ships come, the income from the passengers is peanuts.

The common thing about all the billions of dollars wasted on tourism infrastructure is that they do not produce a net financial benefit to the country. Poverty and unemployment have been widespread in SVG for decades.

Technology and high-quality education are the driving force of rich countries with strong economies. The young people of SVG are the future of SVG and it is important that they are given all the resources they need to reach their full potential, so they can be great leaders and problem solvers.

Young people in SVG need a university, so that they can compete

with graduates from other countries for highly-paid jobs all over the world.

In the UK, graduate jobs have a starting salary of between roughly EC$80,000 and EC$200,000 a year. In most western countries, 50% to 75% of young people graduate from university. In SVG, only about 2% of young people graduate from university and this is a shockingly low number.

It is important to expose young people to new ideas, new technology and the innovation that is taking place all over the world, so that they can learn and be innovators themselves.

Home computers and internet access have become integral to the way many teenagers study at home. Young people can do research and their homework easier with free WIFI/internet access.

The internet is the gateway to knowledge and ideas and is an extraordinary resource for learning. It is important that there is free WIFI/internet in SVG, so that everyone, especially young people and children of the poor, have access to the internet.

A matter for the Police POLICE AND DOCTORS are the ones who make a country great. If we don’t get good service from them this could allow the devil to take full advantage of the country and can make it fall.

I went to Canada and stayed with my children

to relax and do some studying. What God has in store for me will materialize. On January 26, 2020, one of my son’s showed me a video with my truck battery cage broken off and the two batteries gone, and my ‘peck’ (pick axe) leaning on the cage. I recognized

the peck by a split on the handle. I told my son tell his cousin to keep the ‘peck’ until I returned.

I returned home February 5, I was walking inform to the ‘suspects’ home. I observed a person, partly hidden by a curtain, peeping through a

window. I pretended not to see anyone.

On the 13th February, I took the ‘peck’ and went to the suspect’s sister, and asked her if the peck was hers. She said, “Yes,” I asked her, “Where you got it from?”

She said, “I got it from the side of the road.” I told her that her brother is in trouble, because he ripped off the cage to my track’s batteries with the ‘peck’, and took my two batteries. She said, “Ah, that’s why I saw him leave to go to work with a bag on his shoulder.”

I informed her that I

The ULP regime has failed young people. After 19 years in office, all they have to offer young people is a jail or a life of unemployment.

Under a Green government with a Ministry of Technology, young people will be accorded training in Science and Technology through SVG’s own Science and Technology University.

This will enable young people to become entrepreneurs and technology innovators.

Science and Technology innovation is the foundation of richer countries’ economic success. Just look at the economies of richer countries. The more innovation we have in SVG, the richer our country and people will become.

A Green Government will build a Science and Technology university and provide free WIFI/internet access for everyone in SVG, so that Vincentian children can become experts in Science and Technology, obtain highly-paid jobs all over the world and are able to lead a life of prosperity.

Obtaining a university degree helps children of the poor break the generational cycle of poverty, and enables them to gain prosperity. SVG needs a Ministry of Technology.

was going to take the ‘peck’ to the police and that she can settle it with him. I assured her that we could still settle it even though I carry the peck to the Station.

They never settled with me.

At the station I told the police where the suspect worked. They said they would have to investigate the matter first. I gave the police a statement and left the ‘peck’.

Sometime after, I got a call from the police telling me that an officer had gone to the work site

I had given, but the people there said nobody works here by that name.

So, I went to collect the ‘peck’ only to be told I have to write the Commissioner of Police.

However, I went to the Officer of Public Relation and asked for permission to put the police in courts. I was told to go to the Commissioner. The Commissioner told me to speak to officer-in-charge at the Questelles Police Station.

On the 9th June, the situation went before the Police, and I asked for a comprehensive investigation. The police said it will be checked out. Then on the 16th June, I received a call stating that they had got enough evidence to charge the suspect.

I went to the Station and asked to have a look at the ‘peck’, but some misunderstanding took place.

I am going to write a letter to the Prime Minister to ask him to give me permission to put the Questelles Police in Court for not performing an accurate or competent investigation on my matter.

Alistair ‘Live-up’ Simon

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020. 13.

News

NIS Director addresses pensions Haynes, addressed the issue during an your pension at 60 then the pension interview on NBC Radio last Tuesday. will be reduced by 12% because you take your pension two years before The pensionable age was changed during the Pension Reform in 2014 but, as Haynes pointed out, the changes are taking place gradually.

“We changed it to move from sixty (60) because at the time of the Reform, that was the lowest retirement age in the region. Further, when we looked at the demographic developments we saw that persons were living longer, an increase in live expectancy, and at the same time that was happening we saw that there was a decline in fertility…… Also we suffered migration among the working population so all of that created a need for a change in the pensionable NIS Executive Director Stewart age,” said Haynes.

Haynes went to lengths to explain the “As we speak now in 2020, the changes regarding pension payments pensionable age is 62 and that will go that have become effective since the up after 2022,” said the NIS Director Pension Reform exercise in 2014. on how the process works.

He said that the change in INCREASE IN LIFE EXPECTANCY, pensionable age means that persons migration among working population and who retire at 60 may have to wait decrease in births were among the until they are 62 to receive their full reasons for moving the pensionable age pension. “However one can opt to from sixty to sixty-five years. receive their pension at age 60. If Executive Director of the National your age is 60 and you decides to take Insurance Services (NIS), Stewart your pension and you decides to take

Imperial Champions Toastmasters Club holds Handover Retreat ON SATURDAY, 11th July 2020, President Natalie Cummings and the executive members of the Imperial Champions Toastmasters Club hosted a Handover Ceremony and Planning Retreat The 2020 – 2021 Executive Members aimed at (L-R): Wendie Edwards-Wilson , Jacqui retaining English, Jenieve Cato, Natalie President’s Cummings, Leanna Sutherland, Tamira Distinguished Browne, Jackleen Wyllie, Alicia Kirby. status for the year 2020-2021.

The Right: Dr. Kenneth Onu, Distinguished Ceremony and Toastmasters, feature speaker.

Retreat were held at the administrative International for Board Room of the improved communication tasks were assigned to Beachcombers Hotel in the relevant personnel. and leadership in 2019Villa.

The Executive for the 2020, the Club is poised Distinguished new term is comprised to repeat the feat of Toastmaster (DTM) Dr. of: President - Natalie President’s Kenneth Onu was the Cummings; VP Distinguished status. featured presenter.

Education - Leanna In fact, the Club has He highlighted the begun the year with the Sutherland; VP importance of executive Membership - Jacqui objective and members understanding determination to even English; VP Public their roles, and Relations - Wendie surpass last year’s performing those roles to performance.

Edwards-Wilson; the best of their abilities.

Secretary - Jackleen The Executive was It is through the encouraged to work as a Wyllie; Treasurer excellent performance of team and to strive for Jenieve Cato; Sargeantour roles, members in at-Arms - Tamira progress and not turn will achieve the best perfection, with the Browne; Immediate Past results, Dr. Onu President - Alicia Kirby. underlying knowledge stressed.

The Executive’s year that consistent progress After attaining the runs from July 1, 2020 to can lead to perfection. goals set out by June 30, 2021.

The club’s success Toastmasters plan was completed and

your pensionable age and it is reduce by 6% per year,” Haynes further explained.

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14. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

Police

Those enlisted in the third Police Band Apprenticeship Programme.

Police Band enlist apprentices THE ROYAL St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force Band (RSVGPF), in collaboration with the Ministry of National Mobilization and Youth Affairs, officially launched the third series of enrollment in the Police Band Apprenticeship Programme with a ceremony on Wednesday July 1, 2020, at the Old Montrose Police Station.

The aim of the programme is to facilitate the training of young people who are qualified and musically inclined, for possible enlistment into the Police Band.

The Programme, an extension of the Youth Empowerment Service (YES)

Programme, was established by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Police Force and the Youth Affairs Division in the Ministry of National Mobilization.

Remarks were delivered by Band Master, Station Sergeant Vaughn Miller, Commissioner of Police Colin John, Youth Officer Mrs. Gwenneth Anthony.

The feature address was delivered

by Cuthbert James, the Director of US Peace Corps.

(Source: RSVGPF PR and Complaints Department)

Police issue warning re Stray Animals (Editor’s Note: the following is a News Release from the Royal SVG Police Force. It is carried verbatim)

of the said Act authorizes the owner on any lands, his servant or person acting with the owner’s authority to: * Destroy without undue suffering, any impounded animal found trespassing on his land that caused injury to other animals or plant; * Notify the owner of the animal that was destroyed; * Have or destroy the carcass within four hours; * If the carcass is not removed within four hours, bury it or cause it to be otherwise disposed of in a sanitary manner.

Section 21 (4) exonerates the owner of the land, his servant or any person acting on the owner’s authority from damages to the owner of an animal for any injury or damage done to such animal while trespassing on his land.

Against this backdrop, the Police are advising owners of stray animals to have the situation rectified by desisting from leaving these animals untied.

Actions will be taken within the confines of the law if these animals are not tied by an allotted time frame.

THE ROYAL ST.VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES POLICE FORCE is issuing a warning to the owners of stray animals throughout the length and breadth of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to have them tied.

These animals, mainly cattle and sheep, are usually left untied mostly in the areas of Buccament/Pembroke, Diamond (on the stadium tract) and Cane Garden; and can be seen wandering the streets freely hindering the free flow of traffic. The stray animals are also a nuisance to the general public on a whole destroying their vegetation, root crops and in some cases, damaging people’s property.

This situation if not remedied, creates the potential for accidents and conflict. According to Sections 3 and 4 of the Stock Trespass Act, Chapter 54 of the Revised Edition of the Laws of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) “the owner of any land may seize and impound any animal found trespassing thereon” and “the owner of any land may claim compensation from the owner of the impounded animals.”

Stray Dogs that room the streets and fields, and even dogs Further, that escape the confines of their homes, are known to Section 21 (1-4) attack and kill the stock of small ruminant farmers.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020. 15.

LIAT Feature

PM Gaston Browne and PM Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, colleagues for life regardless of sharp differences over the ‘future’ of LIAT. ALL SEEMED RIPE FOR ANOTHER FEUD between two CARICOM leaders but from for all reports, better sense prevailed.

Late last week, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne took umbrage with his colleague Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, for misrepresenting the decision of a recent meeting of LIAT’s major shareholder governments.

Gonsalves said on radio here that the decision to liquidate LIAT was a unanimous decision but Browne refuted that, saying that his support for liquidation was on the condition a decision be taken to move towards establishing a replacement, and that he felt betrayed by Gonsalves on this matter.

However, as time rolled on, Browne tempered his original outburst against Gonsalves, declaring to a special sitting of that country’s parliament on July 11, that he had no doubts that the two — he and Gonsalves — “will remain friends because I have every respect for him, every respect for his intellect and even LIAT fleet of for his commitment to

Caribbean integration.”

Gonsalves, though, beat his colleague to the line when previous to Browne’s July 11 sentiment, told a television interview that the LIAT issue won’t affect the relationship between himself and Browne.

“Gaston is my friend, he is my good friend. I like him very much,” and he alluded to a time past when he had to come to the support of Antigua and Barbuda with respect to a full UWI campus being set up in that country.

Profit from the new LIAT

Meanwhile, PM Browne continues on a path towards establishing a replacement airline for LIAT. The online news service Antigua News Room (ANR) reported that Prime Minister Browne had disclosed to his Parliament, ‘aspects of a plan that he intends to present to shareholder governments as an alternative to liquidation’.

In fact, when the Antiguan Lower House of Parliament met last Saturday, it was to debate the Companies Amendment Bill 2020, so as to, among other things, accommodate the option for the reogranisation of a company instead of liquidation.

While, according to ANR, Browne said the Bill was not geared toward LIAT, he proceeded to outline the benefits to reorganising LIAT “in terms of maintaining all its routes and its ability to trade in the USVI and Puerto Rico.”

He proffered, before the Lower House, that “if LIAT’s expenditure is reduced by 15 percent, LIAT could turn a profit, without any subsidy, could run a profit about 11 million dollars a year.”

Browne said that profit could also be realised “even with a reduction of traffic of 50 percent and revenue by 50 percent.”

The Prime Minister said by reducing 2020 operations by 50 percent based on lower demand for travel, and cutting expenditure by 15 percent, “the $11 million profit will be realised.”

LIAT made a loss of 14 million in 2019 to bring its total current deficit to $116 million.

Browne suggested that this can be reduced, if not resolved, if government’s who LIAT owes airport taxes, would wipe them off.

In addition to the tax wipe, Browne’s projection for a profit within a year would necessitate both a reduction in employees and a salary cut.

The proposal is for staff to take a 50 percent reduction in salaries “and that 50 percent can be put back into the company in the form of equity.”

Additional savings could come if arrangements were made for different rental space at Coolridge, the area in which the V.C. Bird International Airport is located.

Browne urged his regional colleagues to meet to accept the reorganisation plan instead of killing LIAT. A meeting of LIAT major shareholders scheduled for Monday 13th July was not convened because one Prime Ministers could not attend.

10 ATR’s are currently grounded and as one source said, not being cared for in anyway.

No liquidator yet for LIAT THERE HAS BEEN NO AGREEMENT reached on a liquidator for LIAT, contrary to what is being said.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said on Sunday on radio that he understood it was being said in Antigua that he had agreed with Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley on a liquidator, and that they had agreed on a US$2 million working capital up front.

“But that was not true!” Dr. Gonsalves said emphatically.

He explained that at the June 27 meeting, shareholder governments agreed that PM Mottley would submit one or more names of possible

liquidators, with their varying terms and conditions.

It was also agreed that a decision will be taken on this matter prior to the notice being issued for the ordinary shareholder meeting.

According to the Dr. Gonsalves, there was at least one liquidator making the request for US$5 million with US$2 million to be paid upfront, but nothing was agreed.

“In fact, that is completely out of order as far as I am concerned,” he said.

As for what has been played out as an impasse between himself and Prime Minister

Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda, Gonsalves rubbished this.

He acknowledged that the meeting of June 27 had four items on the agenda: to receive a financial statement on the condition of LIAT; to discuss the recommendations from the Directors; to address the issue of liquidation, and the matter of preparing for a meeting of the ordinary shareholders and creditors to consider the question of liquidation.

Gonsalves said it was true that Browne wanted to raise the issue of LIAT 2020 — a replacement airline, and that issue was raised.

He, however, reasoned, “But look at this - if you agreed at the shareholders meeting to liquidate the company, and at the same meeting you say that you are going to form 2020 to replace it, then it would be easy for a court to conclude that you are doing that because you want to avoid the indebtedness of LIAT (1974) Ltd.” (DD)

Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley has been tasked with inviting ‘tenders’ for a liquidator for LIAT (1974) Ltd.

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16. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

Boyea addresses Hot 97.1 reshuffle

LISTENERS TO THE POPULAR local radio station GHoy97.1 FM would have noticed major changes in the station’s on air personality line-up.

Managing Director Luke Boyea sought to give some clarity to what led to these changes, in an interview hosted by Vincentian podcasters Jagger Ranks and DJ Krash.

The wide ranging interview provided Boyea with the opportunity to weigh in on the current economic and political climate.

He dismissed the suggestion that tax breaks would have helped in staving off the adverse impact resulting from the economic fallout occasioned by Covid-19.

“If they [Vincentian government] had forgone things like PAYE [Pay As You Earn] that could have made a difference; if they had forgone VAT [Value Added Tax] that could have made a difference; if they had cut electricity prices that would have made a difference. But a tax break at this time wouldn’t make any difference because a tax is something you pay in the future,” Boyea posited.

Pay cut – stay home options As for the “impression” that his company laid off what amounted to over 50% of its on-air work force, he responded with, “That’s slightly, uh, that’s incorrect… well we didn’t lay off

anybody. We asked for a salary discount, a temporary salary discount … sorry … a reduction, and it was agreed by everybody…. Later it was decided by a number of the staff that they didn’t want to do that.”

Reports are that the management offered the employees the choice of accepting a 60% pay cut or 2 months off without prejudice. Several of the staffers who opted to go home have not returned as part of the station’s broadcast schedule.

In addressing the situation that led to the controversial pay cut proposal and the subsequent developments, Boyea said, “What had happened, in March we were already experiencing a massive decline in advertising revenue..... Brewery had basically stopped advertising, Corea’s had stopped — all the main advertisers had pulled back … . “… We forewarned the staff that this was happening, which they would have been able to see themselves because they’re running the ads. And we had a meeting with everybody and said, ‘we are facing a massive decline in advertising revenue and it’s going to be unsustainable for the company to keep paying everybody at their current rate’.

“So we offered a — or suggested a lower amount, a reduction; it was accepted…. … with the reduction taking place in April. Then in early

May, some of the staff came and had like a surprise meeting — an ambush meeting might be a better term — and said that they weren’t happy with it and some other grievances came up in the process… .”

A walk-out An allegation that the entreated pay cut was not asked of all staff was addressed as were requests for increased salaries amongst other issues in that meeting. But, as Boyea put it, “They walked out, leaving me with no staff for the 1 o’clock ‘til 4 shift, no staff for the 4 ‘til 7 shift and no staff for the 7 to 10 shift… Luke Boyea, Managing Director availed . So basically how I saw it, it was himself of an opportunity to “clear the air” on a numbers of “rumours, a kind of sabotage… .” suppositions” levelled at the station.

According to Boyea, those who stayed - Too Cool Kris, Blaze, He rubbished the supposition that Alex, Bones — stepped up and did he “always wanted to get rid of him” — double shifts. an allegation he said Pitbull The Hot 97.1 SVG boss described his reaction to the alleged walk out as “suggested” to him.

“I told Pitbull if that were true, “shocked,” since he thought he had a you’re late six/seven times per month, solid relationship with his staff, I could have gotten rid of you within a particularly with some of the more month. Three letters and you would senior people.

Boyea also took time out to address have been gone…. But the point and purported rumors that he had a “rough the truth is I never wanted to. Why would I want to fire Pitbull? …He was and tumble relationship” with the number one.” former host of the ‘drive time’ shift, Supadawg Pitbull. jp.schwmon.vincy@gmail.com

Former Hot 97.1 DJ’s have their say midmornings Monday to Thursday, told listeners to SVG’s newest podcast series, ‘Unmasked’, that he “wouldn’t say it’s a bad blood scene.”

He acknowledged that the job loss was precipitated by a “business thing” that “kinda got personal” which led him to “part ways” with the 19-year-old radio station.

DJ Maff TWO FORMER HOT 97.1 employees, DJs Maff and SupaDawg Pitbull, have opened up about what led to their ‘abrupt’ departure from that radio station.

DJ Maff, once heard

COVID-19 that forced management to drastically reduce wages, “we were given an option… well he (Managing Director Luke Boyea) gave us 2 options and we took an option. I guess he just didn’t like the way we went about doing things … figured he can’t trust anybody so he fired everybody,”Maff said.

The result was “everybody left the same day,” which was brought on because the negotiations between the affected former staffers and management were not bearing fruit.

No return “Forty percent, Bro, we still getting deducted late fee… it That said, Maff, been hitting yo hard,” Maff declared he would not reasoned. return to the Hot 97 “…. A workable percentage staff even if he was between us would have been offered a spot, saying 60% (of existing salaries),” he he felt undervalued added. and unapprised by his former bosses.

Lack of empathy He, along with eight former staffers, opted to stay at home Pitbull, who hosted the in lieu of a 60% pay cut. popular afternoon drive time 4 In the face of an economic — 7 p.m. shift, disclosed that it downturn triggered by took the reality of the actual

take home pay after the 60% cut and deduction of statutory fees like PAYE, to provoke the cadre of former staffers to demand wage renegotiations.

“Eight of us, it was originally 9 of us — decided to call an impromptu meeting with [Boyea] to discuss this because we remembered in the meeting him saying there wouldn’t be any deductions,” he added.

DJ Maff According to Pitbull, Boyea said he never agreed to that, explaining instead that what he said then was that he wasn’t going to make any deductions from people who owed money to the station.

Pitball admitted to be one such person.

“I was really disheartened by his (Boyea’s) lack of empathy and humanity,”

Pitbull said, and disclosed that one of the affected past employees welcomed a newborn child in the midst of the fray.

According to him, the group dropped their ‘pay bump’ request from 60% down to 50% only to be told that, “the Continued on Page 17.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020. 17.

News

Hot 97.1 to face possible legal action

SEVERAL OF THE RECENTLY SEVERED Hot 97.1 FM employees have indicated their resolve to exhaust all legal options, in pursuit of severance payments they claimed are owed to them.

To stem burgeoning losses occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, Hot 97.1. Managing Director — Luke Boyea, told social media audiences that his company offered its staff the

choice between a 60% pay cut and a temporary layoff, without prejudice.

No severance

one former staff. SupaDawg Pitbull, for example, told us, “We are telling the truth …..

We did not walk off the work.”

Pitbull shared a letter that Boyea purportedly provided in support of his (Pitbull’s) moratorium application to his creditors.

“The bank said I needed to get a letter from my boss stating the situation…… I went to him; he did not decline, he did not refuse,” Pitbull asserted.

The letter, inter alia, conveyed that the bearer had decided to “stay at home … and to resume employment when the economic conditions Hot 97.1 improve…. .”

SupaDawg Pitbull is adamant that he did not forsake his 14-year-old job and that the aforementioned letter, plus his recorded inquires about his job security, are proof that he expressed interest in returning to work, up until he realized his regular shift was rebranded, recast and reformatted.

Last May, it became apparent that the offer was not feasible even for the two month period for which it was first proposed, and eight radio personalities decided that the next best course of action was to stay at home, after attempts to renegotiate their salaries failed.

The former staffers were later terminated, in the face of attempts to ascertain that their jobs were safe.

To date, none of the displaced staffers have been able to collect any of their severance Continued from Page 16. payments, as accorded station isn’t making any money… he’s not going to go by local labour laws.

This, we were told, was broke to pay us.” due to Boyea’s stance So they explored the time off option as the next that they had viable step but then rumours surfaced that the abandoned their jobs station was on the hunt for replacements. and, as such, forfeited Another meeting was convened to sort that their rights to through and Boyea insisted that that was idle talk, severance.

Pitball reported.

Our attempts to secure a response from Labour Department Guidelines One thing leads to another Luke Boyea are as yet Pitball shared that, “The Labour unsuccessful.

In fact, Pitball asserted, the ousted crew was Department said - even before we reassured that their jobs were safe.

Abandonment or could get to that part where he said we Two weeks later, DJ Maff, on approaching the termination walked off the job — the Labor Managing Director to have a talk, was told he was no Department guidelines and longer employed with the station. DJs Swagga and His claims, though, regulations state if you cutting Sarda would be the next to follow. salaries you have to cut hours. That is This prompted Pitbull to email the radio boss as he have been vehemently denied by more than a legal clause in the Labor queried his employment

Former Hot 97.1 DJ’s have their say

status. That email remains unanswered to date.

A follow up WhatsApp message was dispatched and to that, we were told, Boyea responded claiming that the now dismissed staff “walked off the work, abandoned the station” and that they “tried to sink Hot 97.”

Pitbull, who had worked with the station cumulatively for 14 years, protested this spin on things.

He criticized Boyea’s handling of the time off process claiming, “As the Manager, he didn’t have that kind of intuition to ask us to give him time to set up, if he knew he wanted continuity of the station.”

Although his fate was still unknown following that most recent attempt to communicate with Boyea, Pitbull said he later learnt that his slot was rebranded and reformatted.

FM versus displaced employee Department… especially if you’re cutting such a drastic amount of pay, you must have a proportionate cut in the amount of hours of work which he did not do.

“And even further, under these pandemic regulations, what I’m learning is that, no one is supposed to be dismissed. If you’re dismissed, you are supposed to regain employment with that organization after whatever specified period,” Pitbull also reported.

Pitbull insisted he “is within his rights to demand post-employment compensation.”

Other displaced employees share a similar sentiment.

Stories: jp.schwmon.vincy@gmail.com

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18. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

Regional

Irish couple embroiled in racism tangle keys from Mr Smith’s van to stop him leaving, and his wife lightly pushed Mr Smith when he came towards her.

They, the Kananaghs, strongly deny any wrongdoing and say they have been caught up in international Black Lives Matter anger and agitation.

Donal Kavanagh and his 2:00 wife Sarah Hatton, have been Interestingly, both sides in the charged with ‘causing harm’ to ‘melee’, according to reports from a driver, Evan Smith.

Greanda, agree that Mr Smith ran The charge stems from a over the dog and continued a short report that the Kavanaghs distance to a construction site to drop allegedly hit Smith, who ran off workers, before being confronted by over and killed their fourAN IRISH COUPLE has become embroiled year-old dog, in an upscale the Kavanaghs. in what is being described as a Black One eye witness to the incident, neighbourhood in the Grenadian Lives Matter controversy in Grenada, when interviewed by local newspaper capital, St George. after allegedly beating a black man who NOW Grenada, said that the Mr Kavanagh apparently told the ran over their dog.

Kavanaghs did not assault Mr Smith, Irish Daily Mail that he grabbed the Donal Kavanagh and his wife Sarah have been charged with ‘causing harm to a Grenadian driver Evan Smith.

US visa restrictions on ‘election riggers’ THE UNITED STATES will be revoking the visas of individuals “responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in Guyana.”

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the sanctions during a live press briefing on Wednesday.

“Immediate family members of such persons may also be subject to restrictions,” Pompeo warned.

“The Granger Government must respect the results of democratic

elections and step aside.”

Pompeo had warned sanctions were coming at his July 1 briefing as he noted “Guyana’s election is long past due for a peaceful transition.”

Figures from the National Recount of Votes showed the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) received the most votes.

However, the process has been stalled due to legal challenges and even though the Chief Elections Officer’s has reportedly submitted his

report to the Guyana Elections Commission, that Commission has not yet made a ruling with respect to who was the winner of the March 3 general election.

(Source: Loop News)

Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State.

except for a brief shove by Sarah Hatton Kavanagh to stop him leaving his van.

Notwithstanding that account, the case has caused ‘uproar’ according and has ignited racial tensions in the country, according to the New Today newspaper in Grenada.

The Kavanaghs, the newspaper reported, have been the subject of an angry protest in which a crowd of people gathered outside their home chanting ‘No Justice, No Peace’ and carrying signs reading ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘Not In My Grenada’, and then proceeded to capital St. George’s.

The case has also led to hundreds of comments online, both for and against the Kavanaghs.

The Kananaghs, parents and two sons, have lived in Grenada for six years after moving there from Meath, Ireland, and in their own words, “have always had an excellent relationship with the country’s black majority.”

They own and operate a company in St George selling lifeboats and other sea safety equipment, The Kavanaghs are due to make their first court appearance on July 28.

Newspapers in Grenada have reported that Smith has filed a lawsuit against the Irish couple. (Sources: extra.ie, NOW Grenada, the New Grenada)

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020. 19.

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20. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020. THE VINCENTIAN

Opinion

LIAT: Overcoming its would-be conquerors

LEEWARD ISLANDS AIR TRANSPORT or LIAT was established in October 1956 on the island of Montserrat. The airline, as we know it today and which is on the verge of liquidation, was established in 1974 under the registered name LIAT (1974) Ltd. LIAT (1974) Ltd. was registered under the Laws of Antigua and was also headquartered in that country.

It was from that time onwards that Caribbean governments became major shareholders in a regional airline.

Since then, it would be an understatement but it

has to be said in all honesty, LIAT has failed to turn over any meaningful profit if any at all, but has stayed loyal to the region’s people, flying through all the losses and attempts to compete with it, if not replace it.

One such move, i.e. to compete/replace LIAT, was the airline CARIB EXPRESS, the establishment of which our own Sir James Mitchell played a pivotal role.

CARIB EXPRESS began operations in February 1995 with three impressive BAe 146-100s aircrafts, which

was marketed as shorthaul airliners, and therefore more than suitable for the short flights and limited runways that abounded in the region at that time.

From its base in Barbados, CARIB EXPRESS’ intention was to serve St. Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the first instance.

As far as its shareholders were concerned, CARIB EXPRESS boasted a 20% holding by BA, 70% by local/regional (private sector) investors, and a

When justice prevails, peace will reign in the land THE SAME PRINCIPLE of nonintervention, non-interference that is so often articulated relevant to the relationships between states, should apply in relation to matters of citizens’ welfare, so that their democratic rights are not impinged on by indifferent, insensitive, immature administrators driven by desire to show their power vindictively.

My thoughts are on the issue of the seemingly unreasonable approach of the Ralph Gonsalves led ULP government against Leon “Bigga Bigs” Samuel, Marcus De Freitas, Otto Sam and those “Three Teachers”. All of them are peaceful, law-abiding citizens who had been driven by a healthy desire to improve their lot and provide for their families. In that process, other peace-loving citizens have benefited from their pursuits.

In this package of injustice authored by a group of men whose previous years had not reflected an inclination to broad-based societal development, they have over an extended period been frustrating the lives of the aforementioned individuals, and the popular impression is that this injustice to law-abiding citizens is facilitated by the very institutions which nominally have been set up, established to ensure the fair administering of justice. What a life!

Recently it has come to the attention of the community the plight of an 83-year-old female citizen who in her younger days had worked hard and had selflessly contributed her time and resources to alleviate the suffering of the less fortunate in her community. She had prudently “saved for the rainy day”. She entrusted her savings to a reputedly trustworthy organization THE ST. VINCENT BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION that should have been a wise and commendable move and a good example for others to follow.

Where is the justice?

But now, in the almost late evening of her years and stricken by ill-health which demands the procuring of expensive medicines and the related services, this lady, who had worked so hard all her life, is being told by this “Building and Loan” that she cannot get her money because it had been converted to shares; and that was done without consulting her. And now exacerbating her agony, the relevant officer exhibits indifference and aloofness to the old lady’s predicament which the institution has burdened her with.

This is the same institution which the public learned had effected the payment of a very substantial sum to the matriarch of a prominent Vincentian family, mere hours before the critical limiting intervention by the Governmental body responsible for the regulating of such financial institutions.

On the WE FM programme a few days ago, Prime Minister provided some clarification on the matter relating to “Building and Loan”, and he seemed to be suggesting that Miss/Mrs Haywood’s matter could be treated as an extraordinary case which the Board of Building and Loan could consider as warranting special consideration.

The Vincentian public was happy to hear the Prime Minister’s opinion on the matter and anticipate hearing within a few days that Miss/Mrs Haywood has had her matter satisfactorily resolved. It is a beautiful thing when citizens are assured of justice in their native land.

There are not many young men who will remain unmoved in the face of naked injustice to their grandmother.

We have to be careful!

LeRoy Providence

combined 10% by the governments of Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Needless to say, CARIB EXPRESS didn’t last as long as ‘Miss Janey Fire’ and by 1996, it had folded.

The abrupt termination of the service left many passengers stranded across its market and, my understanding is that it was BA who met half the costs of repatriating stranded passengers.

LIAT survived that level of competition and remained for some time the only airline offering scheduled passenger service to the region.

And then came privately held and much heralded Caribbean Star Airlines Ltd., which was incorporated in January 2000, in Antigua, where the airline’s primary owner, Allen Stanford, the disgraced Texan

financier and sponsor of professional sports (including pioneering the T20 Professional cricket in the Caribbean), was welcomed, feted and allowed to indulge in misdeeds for which he was duly punished.

Its sister airline, Caribbean Sun Airlines Inc., based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, launched its maiden flight in January 2003.

Caribbean Star Airlines Limited and Caribbean Sun Airlines Inc. were affiliated but separate companies, or so we were made to believe.

When Caribbean Star was launched in 2000, it was admitted even then that it could not serve San Juan, a potentially lucrative market and other U.S. destinations.

Thus was born Caribbean Sun, with Puerto Rico and other neighbouring US territories cleared focused on its radar.

By 2007 — between January and June — both

Caribbean Star and Sun were no more.

Caribbean Star officially merged with LIAT by June 15, 2007.

Yes, LIAT once again withstood an aggressive onslaught by would-be competitors (destroyers?), to remain the only scheduled air travel passenger service available to Caribbean people.

After 46 years (some might prefer 56 years), LIAT’s demise seems inevitable.

Shareholders, i.e. all shareholders, will rubber stamp the proposal for its liquidation at a meeting still to be dated.

Whatever the outcome, generations of Caribbean people have much for which to say, “Thank you” to LIAT. How well I remember the $14.00 I paid as a student, for a seat on a LIAT plane to St. Lucia.

Thank you, LIAT. A Caribbean man

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020. 21.

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22. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

Protocol governing mass gatherings with amplified music

PHASE #1: July 3 to July 31, 2020 – Mass gatherings with amplified music: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Only outdoor gatherings with amplified music with a maximum of 200 persons will be allowed.

Temperature checks of all patrons must be done. Any patron found to have a temperature greater than 100.1’F MUST be referred immediately to the COVID-19 Hotline (534-4325).

Sufficient sanitizing stations at a ratio of 1:20 persons must be maintained through-out the event.

The outdoor venue must have sufficient space to allow for 3-6 ft physical distancing between patrons/attendees.

Facial coverings by a minimum of 90% of the patrons/attendees is strongly recommended/required.

All patrons must be encouraged to download the MOHWE Patient Reporting APP to facilitate the early identification of new suspected COVID-19 cases. (Ready by mid-July) Adequate toilet facilitates with hygiene practices sufficiently maintained must be available at all events.

All food safety protocols must be strictly adhered to.

Approval by the Health Services Subcommittee for the conduct of the event may require actual physical inspection by the Environmental Health Team.

PHASE #2 – August 1 to August 31, 2020 – Mass gatherings with amplified music: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Outdoor gatherings with amplified music with a maximum of 500 persons will be allowed.

Indoor gatherings with amplified music with a maximum of 200 persons will be allowed.

Temperature checks of all patrons must be done. Any patron found to have a temperature greater than 100.1’F MUST be referred immediately to the COVID-19 Hotline (534-4325).

Sufficient sanitizing stations at a ratio on 1:20 persons must be maintained through-out the event.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

The venue must have sufficient space to allow for 3-6 ft physical distancing between patrons/attendees.

Facial coverings by a minimum of 90% of the patrons/attendees is strongly recommended/required.

All patrons on entry must be encouraged to download the MOHWE Patient Reporting APP to facilitate the early identification of new suspected COVID-19 cases.

Adequate toilet facilitates with hygiene practices sufficiently maintained must be available at all events. (This will be ascertained upon application) All food safety protocols must be strictly adhered to.

Approval by the Health Services Subcommittee for the conduct of the event may require actual physical inspection by the Environmental Health Team.

(Issued by Source: The Health Services Subcommittee of the National Emergency Committee/COVID-19 Task Force, Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment.

Some promoters are saying that the Protocol governing Mass Gatherings, exclude the staging of any ‘soca fetes/concerts which attract very large crowds.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020. 23.

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24. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

A case of survival Dear George, I AM LIVING with my mother, who is not well enough to work, and two younger siblings.

Before COVID-19 I was the one bringing in some money but now I’m at home with no work. It is so bad sometimes we have nothing to eat.

In desperation, I have turned to offering my body to the highest bidder to earn some money. I hate doing this but it is a matter of survival.

Now, one of the men I’ve slept with is threatening to send videos he secretly took of me to his friends, even though he swore to keep things confidential, as a condition to me sleeping with him.

George, I would not be able to stand the shame if he does what he is threatening to do and worse, I cannot disappoint my mother.

I am so mixed up and depressed, I am thinking of taking my own life.

But if I do, what would happen to my mother and siblings?

I am between a rock and a very hard place and I need help.

Somebody please help me. I don’t want to die but what else can I do?

Final straw Dear Final straw, You must be complimented for

taking care of your family in these trying times.

I understand your plight and why you would consider suicide. But I also have a strong feeling that all you want is for this situation to go away and for you to continue living.

The good news is that help is available.

You took the first step by writing to me. The next step is to visit The Marion House and ask to see a counselor who would help you to identify alternatives, in the short, medium and long term, towards setting you on a new road.

Talk to your mother about your situation and explain to her why you did what you did. With her support and understanding it would be easier for you to handle the threats of exposure.

I suggest also that you talk to your area representative about your family situation.

Always remember, there is no harm in reaching out. Keep me posted on developments.

George

Move on, girl! the COVID-19 business, I agreed. We agreed to communicate by I HAVE BEEN calling my boyfriend to no avail. WhatsApp. All of this is now I asked one of his meaningless and I feel friends to tell him I’m very abandoned. Should trying to reach him.

I go, catch him in the What that persons told me shocked me. He said act and give him a piece my boyfriend was living of my mind? I really want to go and order with another girl.

George, I work at the that ‘skettel’ to leave my man alone.

Hospital so when my boyfriend suggested we Disgusted and not see me one another abandoned for a while because of

Dear George,

Dear Disgusted/abandoned, What you are thinking of doing simply does not make sense.

Your boyfriend ceased being your boyfriend the day he suggested you guys keep away from each other. Talking to you on the phone would certainly not give you the virus.

Your boyfriend has already moved on and now it’s time that you do.

George

He deserves the truth Dear George, Dear Hanging in, I am HIV positive. My boyfriend and I have protected sex. I make him wear a condom but I have not told him the truth about why he should. I tell him it is because I don’t want to get pregnant. We are in a serious relationship and this is the man I want to marry.

However, there are few married men who just would not leave me alone. I told them about my HIV status but they think that’s just to keep them off.

I am planning on giving them their heart’s desire by sleeping with all of them. If they do not know how to be faithful to their wives or whoever, I will give them a lesson they would never forget.

You boyfriend deserves the truth.

It is not enough to ask him to wear a condom.

Further, you are not being honest by not telling him but yet you have plans to marry him. Level with him and let him decide what he wants to do As for sleeping with those men who won’t take no for an answer, that is no way to make a point. You do not have to prove your status to anyone outside of your relationship.

Get on with it and talk your boyfriend and let the chips fall where they may. There is life after HIV and you do not have to be reckless and use your status as a revenge weapon.

Hanging in

George

Leisure

ARIES -(Mar. 21- April 20) Try to curb your tongue and let others at least get a word in. Don’t be afraid of opposition; your suggestions are valid.

You must be sure not to be frivolous, because as the saying goes, easy come, easy go.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Don’t let those close to you get under your skin. You need a change of pace.

Don’t let your personal dilemmas interfere with your goals.

Disappointments are likely if your mate embarrasses you in front of friends.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Control your emotions and everything will fall into place. You will expand your circle of friends if you join groups.

Uncertainties regarding your love life will surface if you have neglected your mate.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Try a barbecue or a day at the beach. It’s time to consider putting money into long-term investments. You may have ignored or neglected your mate lately.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Patience will be of utmost importance.

Express your interest if you want the relationship to progress. Travel will initiate new friendships or love connections.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Social activity with friends and relatives will be most successful. If everyone wants to do their own thing, let them.

Don’t let opposition from those envious of your talents daunt your progress.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Don’t confide in any relatives whom you know have a tendency to meddle in other people’s affairs. Empty promises will cause upset. A need to be in love may fool you.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) This will not be the time to give too much to your children. Get involved in groups that can offer intellectual stimulation. Advancement can be yours if you put your efforts into work related matters.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Don’t put your professional reputation on the line. You can accomplish a lot if you direct your thoughts toward starting your own small business on the side.

Don’t allow colleagues to stand in your way.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Secret affairs can only lead to devastating circumstances. Friends may not be completely honest with you. Don’t believe everything you hear. Past partners are likely to reappear.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Do your job and then spend some time with family; you’ll be glad you did. Get busy putting your place in order. Don’t count on your friends to be loyal when it comes to doing things.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Problems with appliances or electrical gad gets will drive you crazy. Mingle with those who have similar interests, and you should be able to start something. The great outdoors will allow you to teach youngsters some of the things you learned when growing up.

ACROSS 1. Green jewel 5. Refrigerate 8. Play divisions 12. Russian czar 13. Rocker Orbison 14. Boot or pump 15. Hoodlum group 16. Have debt 17. Tender spot 18. Quaint hotels 20. Possesses 21. Neptune neighbor 24. At a distance 26. Went swiftly 27. Kerosene-burning device 31. Juniper-flavored liquor 32. Profits 34. Expected 35. Basic part 37. Salaries 39. Tack on 40. Hate 41. Young ladies 44. Army stronghold 45. Guitarist Clapton 46. Rhyming prizefighter 47. Prayer word 51. Nevada locale 52. Small enclosure 53. Bat abode 54. Hollywood’s Damon 55. Price label 56. Sun product DOWN 1. Lively dance 2. Scene-stealing Gardner

3. Journalist Rather 4. Car motor 5. Branding tools 6. Mooing mamas 7. Potato bud 8. Put in order 9. Chinese dog 10. Shredded 11. Visualizes 19. Elbowed 21. Entreat 22. Train-track component 23. Skin blemish 24. Autograph seeker 25. Reply 27. Illuminated 28. Outer

boundary 29. Has regrets about 30. Bird shelter 33. Plain – simple 36. Team symbol 38. Connect 40. Performing 41. Cold cause

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020. 25.

42. District 43. Dryer debris 44. Caninebothering pest 46. Fitting 48. Film star West 49. Pretty Gabor 50. Tennis obstacle

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26. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

Tribute

A tribute to my friend Oliver Williams of Victoria Village

EARLY THIS MORNING, July with the sad news that my Bamboo, Sparrow, 10 2020, I was greeted friend, Oliver Williams (aka Ramotar) crossed over to

the great beyond. On wish to express our behalf of the John Family, I deepest condolences.

Most of his contemporizes called him Bamboo or Sparrow. I knew him by all three of his nicknames. Each had its own association. Each had its own meaning.

Bamboo was the tailor. In my youth, he was probably the Oliver Williams, had three most important nicknames applicable to his person in the major undertakings in life. neighborhood. He made clothes for Ramotar was a slow everyone, male and female. He was good. He medium pacer. He loved cricket as much as he was a quiet man; he spent countless hours at loved tailoring and steel band music. He adopted his home making trousers - long pants and the name Ramotar. He loved being called that short pants. Carnival season and the beginning name. Apart from being a great lover of the game, of the school year were he is recognized for his his peak periods. He contribution as a coach. worked tirelessly to There would not have please everyone and been a Spartans Cricket never complained or Club or the great Calder raised his voice. I don’t School Cricket Team know how much money without ‘Ramo’. He was he made but it never always present with seemed that his service was about money. It was other adults encouraging us and teaching us the his duty. It was his way. He was also a team service. player for ‘The Rest of Sparrow was a The World Team’, steelpan man. He was captained by North. the band leader for the In his later years, Victoria Village Oliver became more Steelband. I was not a spiritual and became an member of the band ardent member of Mr. because I never learned John’s Spiritual Baptist to play a pan, however, Church at Belmont. at Carnival I was welcomed to help pull the Every Sunday, rain or carts so that I would get shine, he journeyed up the hill to worship. A a free pass into Victoria fitting end to a life well Park. Sparrow was the lived; a man whose life leader, the tuner, the arranger and played the was dedicated to the tune (tenor) pan. He was service of others.

I am proud to have a proud band man, called him my friend. I bringing one of the few connected with him bands from the country about a month ago. into Kingstown for These were his last Carnival. On Carnival words to me: “Thank you Tuesday, the band was drawn on carts, pulled by for reaching out to me Scombo. My mind is little boys around the more on the grave than streets of Kingstown to on the living. Have the joy and mercy upon me Lord.” entertainment of the May his soul rest in onlookers. It was not Peace. about money. It was the service!

Hermus ‘Scombo’ John

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020. 27.

Wesley Charles speaks on racist encounters SPAT ON THE FIRST DAY he set foot in Ireland; called derogatory names; refused to be served by bartenders and challenged to fights. These are some of the encounters that former St Vincent and the Grenadines footballer- Wesley ‘Butu’ Charles endured while plying his trade overseas.

Charles, a brawny defender, recalled being greeted with his first act of racism in 1988.

“I had just got to Ireland and I was taken to see my new club- Sligo Rovers play.. . As I got to the stand, a white guy spat on me, showed me his middle fingers, and called me a black bastard,” Charles recalled.

The racist chants were to intensify once he took to the field, with his opponents referring to him as a black bastard.

“I will understood at times, it was a way of wearing me down psychologically, to get the better of me and my team, (but) they were taking it a bit too far and referring to me as a slave,” Charles said.

“This got so overbearing that I just unleashed my fist in a player’s face… I did not wait for the referee to issue me with a red, I just walked off the field…

My action would have cost me two weeks wages, but my coach understood what had happened and told me that he regretted that I did not hit the offending player harder,” Charles also relived for this interview, the time he went to a Pub to have a few drinks one Sunday night, with his fellow Sligo Rovers’ teammates.

“I called for a pint of Guinness. The white bartender looked at me and

walked off. I called the other bartender and he did the same thing…

It was when I was persistent in asking why I was not being served, that I was told that the bar did not serve blacks nor women,” Charles bemoaned.

Charles remembered that his team mates all walked out in support.

From Ireland to Russia The racist attacks would continue when Charles moved to another Irish club — Bray Wanderers.

He remembered an incident in 2001 when he was drawn into a physical showdown on a train, after being told that he was in Ireland to take away people’s jobs.

He had had enough of Ireland and moved to Russia where he played for the Russian club — Rostov, from 2005 to 2006.

The switch made little or no difference.

“I also got some (racism) while I played in Russia, as I was often called a niggar, and sometimes looked upon as a nobody… It was really, really rough,” Charles reminisced.

Not to wallow in his circumstances and what he called “mental torture,” Charles said he consciously made an effort to have a voice for blacks.

“After spending one year in Russia, I returned to Ireland where I joined Gallway United and I was made captain. I then chose to lead a campaign against racism”, Charles related, adding that a “Show racism the red card” campaign was started.

No hatred

Today, even after the most inhumane treatment of having someone spit on you, hurl insults against your skin colour, Charles has no hard feelings against whites, saying he has had some “very good” white friends.

“I have played in Canada with the Montreal Impact and was friends of many whites who never showed me any racism… Even in Ireland there were whites who warmed to me… I must say not all of the white persons that I met were racists,” Charles commented.

He revealed that some of the whites told him that he was the first black person that they had ever met in their lives.

“I recalled one elderly lady I met on the streets in Sligo, who took my hand and rubbed against hers… And, there was this youngster in a restaurant who was seeing a person with that colour skin for the first time, and was fascinated to do so,” Charles Wesley Charles related.

He underscored that while blacks are campaigning to stamp out racism of all forms, he had to deal with fellow Charles is advocating that whilst blacks, who themselves unleashed there is increased consciousness unsavory remarks about him. among blacks and the promotion of the The 44 year-old Charles played Black Lives Matter Movement, there more than 100 matches for St Vincent needs to be more education about and the Grenadines and is currently blacks. the National Under-20 male team “While in Ireland especially, I had coach. to be educating some whites about Previously, he served as the blacks as many never knew the history Assistant Coach of the Senior National of black people,” Charles said.

Men’s team.

Education

NOC looking out for its affiliates TREVOR SAILOR BAILEY- President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) needs no convincing about the importance of supporting affiliates of the NOC, despite the coronavirus

pandemic.

“In light of the current events, and the Global health crisis which shows no signs of stopping anytime soon, the safety and well-being of our athletes/sportsmen and women is top priority. We are in touch with our affiliates all the time.

Recently, we had an online General Meeting and they gave us updates on what is Left: Trevor ‘Sailor’ happening in their sports.

Bailey - President Some of the affiliates are very of the National active and everyone is using Olympic different platforms to have Committee (NOXC) meetings,” Bailey told THE has some VINCENTIAN. encouraging works He added: “The Women in for affiliates and Sports Commission had an sportspersons. online (virtual) session during

Olympic Week and there are lots of online courses in different sports.”

As far as collaboration with hemispheric and international bodies is concerned, Bailey pointed to representatives of SVG joining with 400 candidates from the rest of the Americas, in a virtual Pan Am Sports Psychology Seminar.

That seminar got going on July 10.

“Seminars like these are very important to our athletes especially around this time (when) some might be suffering from anxiety and frustration,” Bailey said.

And in rendering encouragement to affiliates

and individual sportsperson, Bailey said, “I want to give all athletes the assurance that the Olympic Committee will continue to provide opportunities for them, during and after Covid-19. More online sessions are coming very soon.

“I encourage our athletes to stay calm, stay safe, don’t quit and never give up, but to be focused. We all are in this together so let us work together, pray together and keep our eyes on the finish line. The days are indeed challenging but lets us ace them hard on.”

I.B.A.ALLEN

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28. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Local cricket resumes MALE AND FEMALE cricketers here will continue their battles for supremacy and top honours, both for their teams and individually, when the SVG Cricket Association Inc. (SVGCA) organized national cricket competitions resume this weekend, after a four-month suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to a release from the SVGCA, the decision to resume the competitions was informed by an assurance from the National COVID19 Taskforce, that it had “no objections to the resumption of local cricket.”

However, in a letter from Dr. Simone Keizer-Beache, Chair of the Taskforce, she advised that the Association should “ensure that all activities are implemented according to your developed protocols, and in a manner that protects against the risk of transmission of COVID-19.”

Dr. Kishore Shallow, President of the SVGCA, was obviously “pleased that we can resume cricket,” and elated at the prospect of completing the season.

The cricket president also echoed the need to remain cautious of COVID19. “It is still crucial that we act

responsibly while we co-exist with the virus.

Competition will resume with matches in the National Lotteries Authority (NLA) First Division competition and the SVGCA Women Super 40 tournament.

Saturday will see two matches in the Women Super 40: CJ Jules Anthony MSDA Northern Girls versus Radcliffe Girls at Arnos Vale 2, and JG Tigress and Sons taking on United Survivors at Arnos Vale 1. Both matches begin at 12.15pm.

On Sunday, the completion for the men resumes with four quarter final matches in the First Division.

Smashers will oppose CJ MSDA Jules Anthony Northern Stars at Arnos Vale; Vee Jay’s Roof Top & Bar North Windward take on Corea’s Distribution Belfongo at Park Hill; French Verandah SVG Community College are up against Keegan’s Bequia X1 at Arnos Vale 2; and Police One clash with Pollard Investment North Windward Combine at Sion Hill.

Playing fields across the state are expected to be awash with cricket action beginning this weekend.

The First Division quarter Dr. Kishore Shallow, finalists are divided into two President of the groups. Group A includes SVGCA, is elated that Smashers, Vee Jay’s Roof Top & cricket can resume and, Bar North Windward, French all things being even, Verandah SVG Community seen through to the College, Police One; and Group completion of all B - Pollard Investment North championships.

Windward Combine, Keegan’s Bequia X1, Corea’s Distribution Belfongo, and CJ MSDA Julius endorsement of the National COVIDAnthony Northern Stars.

19 Taskforce.

Competition in the 2020 National Cricket tournaments continue with the I.B.A.ALLEN

Football returns next Tuesday ALL SYSTEMS are in place for the restart of the 2019/2020 National Club Championships of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF).

When the Championships recommence next Tuesday, 21st July at the Victoria Park, seven matches are down for decision in the First Division and thirty- five in the Premier Division.

Third Vice- President of the SVGFF- Dwight Roberts, who is also head of the Tournament’s Committee, projects that “by next Monday, everything will be complete.”

Roberts noted that among the preparations and protocols to be enforced is the testing of all players, management staff, referees, match commissioners, office staff of the SVGFF, and media personnel.

This is in keeping with national protocols aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

“We are pleased with the (response to) testing, especially among the Premier Division clubs, but I must admit the First Division has been less cooperative,” Roberts related.

Roberts gave high commendations to the officials

from the Ministry of Health, for facilitating the testing process.

“We have certain protocols that have to be put in place… These include installing hand sanitising stations at the venue- the Victoria Park… We have to ensure that we stick to the guidelines set by the National COVID-19 Taskforce and adhere to all health practices,” Roberts assured.

With the absence of spectators, all matches will be beamed live on SVGFF’s Facebook page, while there will be radio commentary from Nice Radio.

Roberts said that this will enable the diehard fans, No Spectators resident here and overseas, to keep abreast with what is Dwight Roberts Roberts reiterated that no spectators would be happening with the allowed at the Victoria Park for next week’s restart championships. of the championships and ongoing, but is hopeful Kicking off the restart will be a First Division that that restriction will be relaxed sometime encounter between Volcanoes and K & R Strikers thereafter. from 5:30 p.m, with SV United and Greiggs battling “Again, there will be no spectators allowed at the from 7:30 p.m in the Premier Division. venue, but with the new developments with A double header in the Premier Division is carded permission to have amplified music, we are hopeful for Wednesday, and pits Camdonia- Chelsea versus that during the course of the matches, fans would be Hope International from 530pm, to be followed by allowed, even a limited number,” Roberts said.

Sion Hill against BESCO- Pastures from 730pm.

The Championships should wrap up next month.

Live Coverage

Two Squash Tournaments cancelled

THE EXECUTIVE of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Squash Association has been forced to cancel the SVG General Services Ltd Masters Open and the SVG General Services Open.

The Masters Open was set for the 23rd to 26th October and the SVG General Services Open, 5th to 8th November, Kevin Hannaway, President of at the National the SVG Squash Association, Squash Centre officially announced the at Paul’s cancellation of the Tournaments. Avenue.

Explaining the reasons for the tournaments’ cancellation, President of the SVG Squash Association- Kevin Hannaway, said that the main considerations were the likelihood of not many regional participants.

“With the COVID situation, many of the facilities in the region are closed , so many of the players have not been training as they should, and with the difficulties getting flights as it relates to LIAT, where there is uncertainty with regional travel,” Hannaway outlined.

Hannaway agreed that with those factors considered, his Executive did not want to compromise with mere local participation, as it

would have been the inaugural tournaments. “ We just wanted to have really good tournaments , so thought it best to have them next year, when everyone is back training, getting to their strengths, when they were peaking,” Hannaway commented.

Hannaway said that there was a seamless resumption of the Junior Development Programme on 2nd June, with the Advanced Group, while the Intermediate Group got going again on 7th July.

The SVG Squash Association has earmarked 27th to 29th August as the dates for the hosting of the National Junior Squash Tournament, and the Senior National Tournament, 22nd to 25th, September.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020. 29.

Sports

Start from scratch IF THE WEST INDIES are following coach Phil Simons’ advice, they will be into the second day of the second Test with the idea of nothing ever happened.

He wanted them to: “start from scratch.” Their mission will be to focus on the task at hand and build on what they have created. Captain Jason Holder was pleased with the reception from the Caribbean, engineered by responses from at least three Prime Ministers.

This is a welcome addition from the days of conflict and friction between the West Indies cricket authorities and political directorate.

The English are masters of the art of diplomacy, and their wizardry is absorbed in every test match. They might have been handicapped by some sequence of events. Holder acknowledged that Joe Root is a vital factor in the matter.

In any event, the home team banked on their home advantage to see them through.

They didn’t cater for the West Indies’ preparation. The display of solidarity at the start of the match to the ‘Black Lives Matter’ arousal, must have given the squad a sense of purpose.

The match was historic, if only for the fact that it was the first real cricket since Covid-19. There were no spectators on the ground, but one believes that there were more viewers around the world than ever before.

The absence of the crowd may have been a stabilising contributor. West Indies has shown the ability of neutralising the crowd, or silencing them. But there is no denying that the atmosphere can degenerate to potential paradox.

Critics of West Indies Cricket may have been surprised at the determination showed by the team. They have been taken to task for their miscarriages.

The team clicked and there was the impression that they wanted to win. Holder’s six wicket haul helped with the first innings restriction. The batsmen did enough to eke out a first innings lead, and when England threatened to take control, the bowling unit rose to the occasion.

England was in glee when the West Indies stuttered to 27 for 3 and John Campbell retired hurt. No one anticipated the Jermaine Blackwood story. He promised to deliver and having squandered in the first innings. Blackwood unfurled a furore which numbed the English bowlers and dumbfounded the analysts.

Even he when fell for 95, 11 runs short of the victory target, the British optimists envisaged a West Indies collapse.

Such has been their degree of dismissal for the Caribbean players. That surfaced with their attempt at uprooting the generation from Windrush, symbolic of 1948 rebuilding after the Second World War. But such mistakes are part of the British culture. They succeeded in luring King Jaja unto a ship ostensibly for purposes of negotiations only to kidnap him and banish him to St. Vincent in 1888.

The fact that present-day British society had to uproot symbols to slavery involvement showed the depth of their indoctrination. Countries the world over will find traces of their history and tradition locked in British museums.

The call for reparation still echoes. Those are reasons why perhaps Test matches between the West Indies and England bring out the spirit of the Caribbean.

Team Athletics expanding coaching programme WINNING the Sports Association of the Year Award has never been the primary focus of the year Team Athletics St. Vincent and the Grenadines (TASVG). Rather, the local Track and Field governing body has always concentrated its efforts, its programmes on fostering the overall development of the sport and persons so involved.

This was articulated by Keith Joseph - President of TASVG, in a recent conversation with THE VINCENTIAN. “In terms of developmental strategies, we have tried to facilitate greater engagement of our coaches.

We have spread the base of coaches and Chester Morgan, Technical Director TASVG, has been busy liaising with coaches across the state.

Keith Joseph, President of Team Athletics SVG, is pleased with what is in pleased to keep coaches and athletes motivated.

Chester Morgan has been moving around the country doing coaching courses and bringing more coaches into the coaching programmes, since he became the Technical Director,” Joseph explained.

Joseph is optimistic that, “…by the end of 2020, in spite of the coronavirus pandemic, we will have a significantly larger pool of coaches.”

As far as ongoing courses are concerned, Joseph alluded to a (recent) one-week Technical Officials Course for 25 coaches.

That phase of the course focused on managing events and will continue online for the next six to eight weeks, beginning July 9.

Joseph added, “In the meantime, we have tapped a number of sources, one such being the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which is also offering programmes online, which address such topics as sports psychology, marketing of the sport, and reliving history.”

The TASVG President admitted that in this time of Covid-19 pandemic, “There is little else you

can do because of social distancing….

So, what we ask our coaches to do is to have small groups at a time so you can manage and meet the requirements and the guidelines offered by the Ministry of Health.”

Administrators of the sport here, including the executive of TASVG, held a Retreat in February. THE VINCENTIAN understands that the Retreat looked at the existing programmes, identified what was not working, what was working and designed a programme accordingly.

Out of that, TASVG said it was better positioned to continue to keep athletics as the leading sport for individuals in the country.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Ballantyne’s Summer Camp is on THE THIRD EDITION of the Pamenos Ballantyne Summer Camp is in train.

According to the one time top OECS long distance/road athlete now a qualified coach, the camp caters to persons from across the state who are already into or desirous of becoming involved in middle and long distance running.

Ballantyne admits that the Camp has “a high percentage of athletes from the St. Martin’s Secondary School: the School at which he is resident coach.

And as for the focus of the sixweek Camp, Ballantyne said, “I will be focusing on building strength and endurance…focus on speed and technique will be later on in the season. Lots of mental preparation will also be going into the training along with motivation speeches that will stress the importance of sports and academics.”

The three-time There is no letting up as far as physical training is concerned at the Pamenos Ballantyne Summer Camp.

Olympian believes this (the school break) is the best time to training.

“Now is the best time to start the foundation which is key for building the athletes. If your foundation is not strong, you will not get a good season. With the talent around I am optimistic there are athletes here who can achieve more than I did and with the coming on stream of the new athletics track in Diamond, all athletes stand to benefit,” Ballantyne posited.

Pamenos Ballantyne and one of his cares in the 2020.

30. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020. 31.

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ROSE CECILE LIMBURG NEE WALCOTT

Saint Olive Spiritual Baptist Church Park Hill Sunday, 12th July, 2020 Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p.m.

Interment: Park Hill Cemetery

Barrouallie Evangelical Church Sunday, 12th July, 2020 Viewing: 1:30 p.m.

Service: 2:30 p.m.

Interment: Glebe Hill Cemetery

Questelles Seventh Day Adventist Church Sunday, 12th July, 2020 Viewing: 2:00 p.m.

Service: 3:00 p.m.

Interment: Chauncey Cemetery

JOB HENRY ALEXANDER Faith Deliverance Church Redemption Sharpes Saturday, 11th July, 2020 Viewing: 1:30 p.m.

Service: 2:30 p.m.

Interment: Kingstown Cemetery

HURIAS AUGUSTINE QUESTELLES a.k.a Durley Gomea Methodist Church Saturday, 11th July, 2020 Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p.m.

Interment: Belair Cemetery

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Service: 3:00 p.m.

Interment: Fitzhughes Cemetery

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FRIDAY JULY

17, 2020

VOLUME 114, No.29

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SANDY BAY WOMAN MISSING IN TRINIDAD Missing female Grace Roberts (foreground) pictured with her sister Symorne Roberts.

Grace and she continued on her way in the company of the taxi driver.

A SANDY BAY woman has been missing in Trinidad He didn’t get the number of the vehicle since Thursday 9th July and family members and but said it was a white motor car. friends are praying for her safe return.

Grace, Trinidad and Tobago Police said, Grace Esther Roberts, 24, was born in Trinidad to resided at LP#78 Andrew Trace, Blue Basin Vincentian parents. She was brought to live in Road, Diego Martin, a 15 to 20-minute drive Sandy Bay, St. Vincent when she was five, and lived to her work place. there until her return to Trinidad some two years The police also confirmed that she was ago. last seen in Diego Martin on Thursday 9th Now family members here are hoping for her July, 2020, and was reported missing on safety even as some of them fear for the worst.

Saturday 11th July, 2020.

Her sister, Symorne Roberts told THE Symorne, meanwhile, is hoping her sister VINCENTIAN that she last spoke to her via is alive, telling THE VINCENTIAN, telephone on Thursday 9th July, sometime around “Hopeful she is alive and we will see her 7:34pm, and she was at work in good spirits. soon. It’s a tough one because that’s not only She said that the last person “who we know saw my sister but my best friend we’re talking her was a male co-worker who told police in about.”

Trinidad and Tobago that they took the same taxi to She described her sister as fun loving, freeget home, after their shift had ended. spirited, straight forward and great company.

He said that he disembarked the taxi before “Whoever has her or wherever she is, I pray she’s

by KENVILLE HORNE

released safely back to us. I miss my best friend and this situation is too painful. But we, as a family, have put our faith in the Most High, God, because with Him anything is possible,” said Symorne.

PRISON OFFICER CHARGED FOR WOUNDING INMATE

Kenson King recent arrest pushed his layer to conclude that there is a pattern of harassment in train against his client.

PRISON OFFICER Kenson King of Park Hill was, for the second time in almost two months, picked up by members of the local constabulary on Wednesday July 15.

Reports are that King was on duty

at the Her Majesty’s Prison Kingstown, when he was taken into custody.

He was, according to a police source, subsequently charged for the offence of wounding an inmate at the Prisons, and was expected to appear in Court on Thursday.

A reliable source indicated that the inmate King is accused of wounding instigated the altercation when he slapped King while he, King was on duty. The officer retaliated in apparent self-defense and inflicted at least one blow which resulted in a swollen eye on the inmate.

According to our source, the lead investigator visited the prison compound on several occasions and was insistent that prison officer King journey to the Criminal Investigations

Department to “give a statement under caution.” We were also told that King was equally adamant that the incident report he lodged with his superiors ought to have been sufficient information for the police.

Sources allege that the lawyer who ostensibly wrote to King complaining of his client’s ill-treatment pushed for police involvement in the matter.

When this reporter reached out to King’s lawyer Jomo Thomas, he declared: “It’s part of a pattern of harassment against Mr. King. He is a prison officer. The State authorities know where to find him. He is not going anywhere. They could do their necessary investigation and then arrest him if they find reasonable cause to do so.

“There is absolutely no reason to

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

detain him pending the outcome of police investigation. From a jurisdictional standpoint, this latest police action regarding Mr. King, amounts to State overreach,” Thomas added.

King recently shot to national prominence after he was arrested for obscure reasons. To date no charges have been filed against him since his May 22 detainment which lasted for approximately 32 hours — some 16 hours shy of the mandatory 48 hours that a person can be held without charges being filed.

King’s lawyer confirmed that the promised legal action to challenge the police’s “unlawful detention” is still being prepared and assured, “it would be brought.” (See more on Page 4) jp.schwmon.vincy@gmail.com

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