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FRIDAY,

MARCH 18, 2016

VOLUME 110, No.12

www.thevincentian.com

POLICE STEP UP ACTION AGAINST PROTESTORS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS here moved in on Friday 11th March, to quell what they say was an out of hand protest by persons who have been demonstrating their nonacceptance of the results of the general elections of Dec. 09, 2015.

EC$1.50

Police sources Protesters culminated their march through Kingstown in said that the law front of the Electoral Office, Bay Street. officers had taken action to remove process, a major a number of drivers the protesters after they vehicular encumbrance. expressing loud criticism had occupied the entire Vehicular traffic came of the protesters’ action. portion of Bay Street, to a standstill for a Kingstown, immediately prolonged period, eye Continued on Pages 2. in front of the Electoral witnesses reported, with Office, causing, in the

COP: ‘LAW AND ORDER MUST BE MAINTAINED’

by HAYDN HUGGINS

Law enforcement officers move in to clear protestors from interfering with the free flow of traffic.

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE Michael Charles has reaffirmed that the police will always act accordingly, to ensure that law and order is maintained.

In that light, Charles is urging persons who engage in protest action to do so within the confines of the law.

The top cop’s comments came while speaking to THE

VINCENTIAN on Tuesday.

Charles said that while protest action is a democratic right, and persons are free to protest, they must not engage in unlawful activities such as hindering the free flow of vehicular traffic and the movement of people going about their normal business.

“The police will always monitor the situation to ensure that

law and order is maintained”, the Commissioner assured.

Asked about comments made in comparing the recent attempts by protesters to block the road to that which transpired in 2000 against what was called the ‘Greedy Bill’, the top cop expressed the view that every situation occurs under the circumstances and conditions at the given time; therefore, one

Commissioner of Police Michael Charles has reaffirmed the duty of the police to ensure the unencumbered movement of pedestrians and vehicles.

Continued on Pages 3.

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2. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

News

SVG marks World Consumer Rights Day

Day. The stakeholders included the SVG consumer Association, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health, the Pharmaceutical Association, and the local Bureau of Standards, among others.

Tuesday 15th March is recognized as World Consumer Rights Day around the world, and this year’s activities focused on the use of antibiotics in food, under the theme, ‘Antibiotics off the menu”.

To sensitise the public here on this drive, the Foreign Affairs Ministry hosted a Malaika Glasgow, Officer in media conference on Charge of the Animal Health Thursday, March 10. and Production Division, said Director of Trade in the that limited farmers’ access Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to antibiotics could help in Cuthbert Knights, who chaired ensuring that our menus are the press conference, described free of antibiotics.”

World Consumer Rights Day as a platform to mobilize consumer actions. “It is used

by KENVILLE HORNE as a platform to promote and THE MINISTRY of Foreign Affairs, advocate for the rights of the Trade, Commerce and Regional consumers,” said Knights.

Various speakers Integration partnered with a number of stakeholders here, to highlighted the issue of the use of antibiotics. mark World Consumer Rights Among them was Keisha

Thompson, Pharmacist and Vice President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Pharmaceutical Association, who said that simply using antibiotics can create resistance to certain strains.

She warned against the over-reliance of antibiotics for ailments such as the flu.

According to a report from the USA Center for Disease Control (CDC), 50% of all the antibiotics prescribed for people are not needed or are not optimally effective.

Malaika Glasgow, Officer in Charge of the Animal Health and Production Division, said that antibiotics are used in livestock production to treat, prevent, and control animal diseases.

“However, there is concern that routine antibiotics used in livestock will contribute to antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, with repercussions for human and animal health,” she explained.

“Given these concerns, pressure to limit antibiotics uses for purposes other than disease treatment is mounting,” said Glasgow.

She said that because livestock and poultry are consumed for food, regulatory and veterinary oversight of the use of antibiotics needs to be particularly strict.

“While there is currently no antibiotic residual testing done locally, farmers’ access to antibiotics is limited and education and actions by the officers of the Division assist in ensuring that our menus are free of antibiotics,” she added.

Junior Bacchus, President of the Consumer Association in SVG, said that his organization is localizing the global campaign to get antibiotics off the menus at Bickles, KFC and Subway.

He said that meat, including poultry, produced locally is better for consumption, as opposed to that which is imported.

Local poultry rearing practices ensure that a finisher is used in the last two and three weeks of the birds’ development, to remove whatever growth hormone or antibiotics that might have been in the other feed (starter,

Junior Bacchus, President of the Consumer Association in SVG, spoke of efforts to keep antibiotics off the menus of fast food enterprise here. grower), the Consumer Association president said.

Other activities planned to mark World Consumer Rights Day include a non-interactive session today on NBC Radio from 10:30am and an interactive programme on WE FM on March 20.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also provided information to the Ministry of Education for dissemination to schools around the nation.

Police step up action against protestors Continued from Front Page.

The causeway is the primary route into the centre of capital Kingstown.

Friday’s protest had begun with a march through Kingstown and culminated on Bay Street. That march had at one point no more than 35 — 40 persons, but was marshalled by a police presence counted by a reporter with THE VINCENTIAN, to be twenty.

The march was said to be organised by a group of persons calling themselves ‘We the People’.

The group had called, in the buildup to Friday’s protest, for persons to wear orange, which, according to a

source close to the organizers, is the colour that results from mixing red and yellow, the colours of the two major political parties here.

In their attempt to remove the protesters, some officers, it is reported, may have employed more force than others, as the protesters stood their ground.

A number of skirmishes ensured and some protesters could be seen to be involved in physical exchanges with the officers, an eye witness told THE VINCENTIAN. One protester told THE VINCENTIAN on the following Saturday, that he thought “the police provoke the situation… it coulda get

Protestors exchange ‘niceties’ with law enforcement officers.

out ah hand… some body coulda get kill.

De police like they taking the wrong orders.”

Earlier in the day, resulting from what may have been an attendant protest action, popular radio announcer and proNew Democratic Party activist, Colin Graham, was detained and eventually arrested.

After what appeared to be a Colin Graham was made ‘to sit down and wait’ for protracted period in further action by the police against him. which party officials were unable to one of the organisers of the ‘We The discern the reason for Graham’s People’ protest, and had taken to arrest, he was released around 8:15 leading a slow-moving vehicular pm that Friday, and charged with: protest that Friday morning, during failing to remove motor vehicle PS915 the heavy flow of traffic into when requested so to do by a Kingstown. uniformed police office at Arnos , While leader of the NDP Arhnim March 11; willingly allowing said Eustace was seen among the gathering vehicle to remain stationary on the in front of the Electoral Officer, he told Arnos Vale road so as to cause a source that he was there to show unnecessary obstruction to the flow of support for the cause, but that the traffic; failing to comply with lawful protest was not organised by the NDP. direction given by a police officer; The protest continues amidst causing inconvenience to the public; hearing of Election Petitions filed by being the driver of said vehicle without the NDP, in which they are having renewed his driver’s licence, challenging the results of the Dec. 09 due on March 10, 2016. poll in two constituencies — North Indications are that Graham was Windward and Central Leeward.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. 3.

News 3

RBTT celebrates IWD: Desiree Richards among honourees DESIREE RICHARDS, Managing Director of The Vincentian Publishing Co. and Metrocint General Insurance Co Ltd., was among three women recognised

by RBTT Bank Caribbean Limited St. Vincent, to mark International Women’s Day (IWD), March 8, 2016.

Richards, along with Jennifer Chieverton of Jennifer Chieverton Wholesales, and Christine da Silva of Quik Print, were recognised for their individual business acumen, and the contribution they have made, and continue to make, to the growth of business/commercial activity/services in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The recognition was, according to a statement from RBTT Bank Caribbean Limited St. Vincent, in keeping with the bank’s commitment, ‘to creating equal access to opportunities for growth and development, to support the advancement of women across its workplace and the communities where it does business.’

THE VINCENTIAN is proud to have honoree Desiree Richards as its Managing Director, a position she assumed in 2001, in succession to her father, the late Egerton Richards — ‘Uncle Metro’ - who also founded the Metrocint General Insurance Co. which Ms. Richards has also headed since 2001.

She is a lawyer by training, holding a Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School, and is called to the New York and New Jersey Bar, as well as the OECS Bar. Her undergraduate degrees are a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Hunter College of The City University of New York.

She is a proud alumna of St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown, where she served as Head Girl.

Ms. Chieverton is a well-

Female Staff of RBTT Bank Caribbean Ltd St. Vincent with International Women’s Day Honourees (seated from left) Jennifer Chieverton, Desiree Richards and Christine da Silva. known wholesale and retail operator based in Kingstown.

She has built her success on hard and consistent work, first as a weekly trafficker to Trinidad. She continues to trade extensively with that country, and has built a national network of service

through St. Vincent and the Grenadines, assisting many others in their start-up businesses, from her humble base in Long Wall, Kingstown.

Christine da Silva heads Quik Print, founded by her father Reggie, and is, like her father, a past President of the

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Quik Print revolutionised printing and related services in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and remains a major player in that area of endeavour, with Christine prominently featuring in

guiding the company through the competition thrown up by an advancing technologydriven market place.

The three women were awarded plaques of recognition in a ceremony held at the Bank’s headquarters, South River Road, Kingstown, on March 9, 2016.

COP: ‘Law and order must be maintained’ Continued from Front Page.should not compare both situations to justify unlawful activity.

The Commissioner made it clear that, “The police have their legal functions to carry out, without fear or favour, malice or ill will, and once the law is being broken, the police will act accordingly”.

Since the December 2015 general elections, a number of persons have been arrested and charged in connection with occurrences arising from protests staged to challenge the results of the elections.

The most recent case involved popular

radio announcer Colin ‘The Hit Man’ Graham, who has been slapped with five charges stemming from occurrences during a protest involving a group of persons calling themselves “We the People”, around 8:45 am last Friday at Arnos Vale.

Graham has five charges laid against him. (See accompanying story) He pleaded not guilty to all five charges when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne at the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday.

Attorney Shirlan Barnwell, appearing on his behalf, made an application for full

disclosure of all material relevant to the case.

Browne ordered full disclosure within one week ,and transferred the matter to the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court for hearing on May 4.

That Magistrate’s Court has not been sitting following the January 29 reasignment of Magistrate Carla James to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) as Director.

Graham, who is also represented by attorneys Maia Eustace and Samantha Robertson, is on station bail.

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4. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Lawyer suggests new approach to sentencing together with a custodial sentence for firearm offences.

DEFENCE lawyer Ronald And he told the Marks has suggested that Serious Offences Court a new approach be that there are cases considered when where it would be sentencing for firearm and appropriate, in certain ammunition possession. circumstances, to impose Marks was speaking a fine along with a as a friend of the court shorter custodial during the surfacing of a sentence, and if the matter involving St. offender is unable to pay Lucian national Ricky the fine, he would have Philgence who, on to serve the balance of Tuesday, March 15, the sentence. pleaded guilty to “This new approach is possession of a Smith a win, win situation, in and Wesson 9 mm pistol, that it would take into 17 rounds of 9 mm consideration all the ammunition and 9 elements of sentencing, rounds of 9 mm such as the appropriate ammunition without retribution and licences. deterrent, and at the Marks acknowledged same time it would ease that the law allows for a the burden off the state, fine to be imposed, in having to house and Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

Defence lawyer Ronald Marks suggested that a change in sentencing for firearm and ammunition possession be considered, in certain circumstances.

maintain the offender over a long period,” Mark posited.

He indicated that information he had received from prison authorities here some years ago, said that it cost the state $11,000 a year to keep a prisoner.

He expressed the view that the cost should be much more today.

Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN after, Marks made it clear that he was in no way saying that imposing a fine and a custodial sentence together, for a firearm offence, would be appropriate in every case, since each case has to be judged on its own merits, But, according to him, the approach could be a useful alternative in

CID officer sets ‘swift justice’ example SENIOR PROSECUTOR Adolphus Delpleche continues to praise police officers who perform their duties with excellence.

At the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday, Delpleche lauded Corporal Gamal Bowens of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for bringing a matter before the court swiftly.

The matter involved Alexis Browne, 26, of Kingstown Hill, who was taken before the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday on charges of assaulting Ruth Charles of Frenches, causing her bodily harm and damaging her vest valued at $25.

Following the conclusion of a trial in which Browne was bonded and ordered to

pay compensation after being convicted, the Prosecutor told the Court that the incident occurred on March 13, 2016 and by March 15, Bowens had the matter fully investigated and ready for prosecution.

“This is what I call swift justice. Over the years, I have been advocating that matters of this nature should not be lingering in the

system for any long period of time,” Delpleche said.

He pointed out that not only was the file completed, but there were also witnesses before the court, and the prosecution proceeded.

According to the prosecutor, Corporal Bowens is an example for other police officers to follow with respect to expediting matters.

Delpleche has repeatedly complained about the long delays in matters coming before the court.

In fact, during an end of year interview with THE VINCENTIAN (December 23, 2015), the Senior Prosecutor said that his biggest problem in 2015, from a prosecutorial standpoint, was getting case files on time from some investigators. The tardiness in this regard had caused him, on several occasions, to make applications to the court for adjournments.

certain circumstance, especially when dealing with young offenders with no significant record of criminal activity.

Both Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche and Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne agreed that Marks’ suggestion was interesting, and worthy of consideration.

In mitigation, before Marks rose to make the suggestion, Philgence’s attorney Matthias Stewart had asked the court to consider a noncustodial sentence, noting that Philgence came here legally, and it was unfortunate that he found himself in this situation. He added that his client pleaded guilty and had no previous convictions.

Philgence, 32, was charged jointly with

Sean Carter, 33, also of St. Lucia and Dwight Bibby, 39, of Fountain, St. Vincent.

However, Bibby and Carter pleaded not guilty to the charges, and Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche indicated that the prosecution would not be proceeding against them.

The men were arrested last Monday when officers from the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) executed a search warrant at Bibby’s home at Fountain around 11:30am, and found the firearm loaded with nine rounds of ammunition, and 17 rounds of ammunition contained in a black sack in a drawer in the kitchen.

Philgence will be sentenced today (Friday) at the Serious Offences Court.

Policeman on more charges of deception POLICE CONSTABLE Elron Lewis returned to the Serious Offences Court Wednesday, March 16, on seventeen (17) additional charges of dishonestly obtaining money by deception.

PC Lewis had initially appeared in the same court the previous Wednesday on three charges of a similar nature.

The charges allegedly stem from a number of transactions in which several persons were, on different occasions over a 3-year period, relieved of Police Constable Elron money by deception, Lewis has twenty (20) amounting to thousands charges to answer. of dollars.

The 26-year-old Troumaca man pleaded not guilty to all 20 charges during his appearances before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne at the Serious Offences Court.

Lewis was remanded pending further investigatios,n and will return to Court next week Wednesday, March 23.

THE VINCENTIAN understands that more charges of a similar nature are expected to be brought against the police officer.

Lewis is currently on suspension from duties in relation to a previous matter.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. 5.

Regional

No stopping tourists pouring into Cuba

REPORTS FROM OFFICIALS in Cuba, March 12, 2016, said that that country had welcomed 1 million foreign tourists to date in 2016. The figure represents a 14.6 percent increase over the same period in 2015.

All of this comes in the face of ‘expert’ forecasts, not excluding some ‘experts in CARCOM, that the Spanishspeaking Caribbean country would not be able to sustain its remarkable upward trend it has been experiencing in the last few years.

The continuing upward movement in visitor arrivals is accounted for, Cuban officials say, by “continuous growth” in the number of tourists to

Cuba from such markets as Germany, Britain, the United States, France, Italy and Argentina.

Given the trend, Cuban tourism authorities estimate that in 2016 some 3.7 million foreign tourists will visit the Caribbean nation, 175,200 more than in 2015, when the country broke the previous record by receiving 3.5 million travelers.

They also predict that this year, accommodations in state hotel facilities will exceed by 12.3 percent the amount recorded in 2015.

Cuba boasts some 61,000 rooms, and this is expected to increase with ongoing foreign investment in the leisure/hospitality

This year, 2016, is forecast to be another recording-breaking year for visitor arrivals to Cuba. (Credit: en.granma.cu) Left: The Sports City Stadium will accommodate close to half a million patrons to a planned performance by the Rolling Stones. (Credit: Twitter photo) first since US president Calvin Coolidge inaugurated industry, which is now country’s National the pan-American considered the most Statistics and congress here in 1928. dynamic sector of the Information Office.

Closely following on Cuban economy, and the And as Cuba opens the US President’s heels second-strongest for more and more to the will be the iconic Rolling earning foreign currency, Western World, and Stones, who will arrive with revenues of $1.94 visitors especially from on Good Friday to billion in 2015, up 10.7 the USA line up to visit perform at a free openpercent over the previous the island since the air concert at the Sports year, according to the reopening of diplomatic City stadium. relations and other areas The concert organiser, of co-operation with the Osmani López Castro of USA, Cuba will host a the Cuban Music number of visitors who Institute, says he expects hitherto would have been 400,000 people to hear personae non gratae. the Stones, and reports Following on an that half the island’s earlier hosting of Pope security forces will be on Francis, Cubans prepare duty. to welcome US President And expect a number Barack Obama for a of other high-profiled historic two-day visit events to take place in beginning March 21.

Cuba this year.

Obama’s visit will be the Not least are

CARICOM remains firm with WICB CARICOM has no intention of backing down on having the recommendations of its Governance review (of West Indies cricket) implemented.

And, according to one Dr. Keith Rowley, a major political leader in CARICOM and leader of Trinidad and Tobago, one of the financial cricket powerhouses of the region, CARICOM is actively pursuing legal advice in Dave Cameron, its ongoing battle with President of the the West Indies Cricket Dr. Keith Rowley, PM of WIBC, has led his Board.

T&T, has disclosed that board in open Rowley is reported by CARICOM has requested defiance of the CMC/Trinidad Guardian its Secretariat to pursue proposal contained of Monday 14th March, to in a Review the parameters of legal have given this assurance commissioned by action against the WICB. late last week in Port of (Internet Photo) CARICOM. (Credit: Spain, T&T, in the face of espncricinfo) continuing rejection by try and save West Indies the West Indies Cricket cricket,” Rowley said Board of the proposals contained in a Rowley added: “CARICOM took CARCOM initiated Review of the state another decision which hasn’t been of regional cricket, particularly in making the news, and it is this: they relation to the overall governance of have asked the CARICOM Secretariat the sport. to get legal advice and support to The Review, led by UWI Cave Hill determine what is the legal position Principal Professor Eudine Barriteau with this product called West Indies and submitted last November, had cricket. proposed, inter alia, the “immediate “Because now that the board is dissolution” of the WICB. behaving in that way — virtually Rowley said further, as per CMC, telling the governments of the region that even though the WICB had taken to go to hell — the question arises with a hard line stance against CARICOM, the people of the Caribbean, what is the regional prime-ministerial West Indies cricket? grouping did not intend to back down, “That’s where the issue is now, and was pursuing other avenues. because it is clear to us now, and it “There’s been no change. The West should be to all of us in CARICOM, Indies Cricket Board has taken the that the board will not cooperate with position that they faced down Prime anything.”

Minister Patterson and the Patterson There will be no “walking away Report, they have now faced down from the problem,” Rowley promised.

Prime Minister (Keith) Mitchell and And even as the ‘political’ impasse the CARICOM Sub-Committee, and ensues, Rowley said that there was no now the Board has made it quite clear intention to deny the use of stadia that they won’t cooperate with any across the region for WICB negotiated attempt to reform themselves and to and endorsed series. (Source: CMC)

celebrations planned to mark the 50th birthday of Cohiba, the world famous brand of cigars manufactured only in Cuba from Cuban grown tobacco.

With the easing of commercial ties between Washington and Havana, this milestone is expected to earn millions of extra dollars for the firm in selling its products to the US. A Cohiba made in the year President Obama visits Cuba, will certainly be a collector’s item — one worth cherishing, not to mention it being an investment which could turn a pretty penny in years to come. (Main Source: prenza.latin.cu)

Russia contributes to the Caribbean IF PERSONS across the English-speaking Caribbean thought otherwise, Russian Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, H.E. Nikolay Smirnov, has affirmed that his country has contributed to the region through direct and indirect means.

Speaking on the first day of the fourth meeting between the CARICOM Secretariat and international development partners which took place in Georgetown, Guyana, (March 14 — 16, 2016), Ambassador Smirnov said that among other direct relations, his country has been doing with T&T, business that during the first half of 2015 had amounted to some US$126m.

In addition to that ongoing trade, Russia has contributed to debt relief for Cuba, Guyana and Grenada, the last named receiving relief for a debt amounting to US266,667 in November 2015.

“In addition to monetary assistance to Caribbean countries, Russia has donated (and installed) medical perinatal equipment to Grenada, and St Vincent and the Grenadines,” Ambassador Smirnov told regional media houses.

The Ambassador also referred to indirect channels of assistance, for example, through the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Special Fund, which Russia has supported to the tune of US20m over the last four years.

A not-very-oftenreferred-to RussianCARICOM partnership was formed in 2010, with the signing of a memorandum of understanding which established a Mechanism for Political Dialogue and Co-operation.

It is aimed at promoting interaction and exchanges in the economic, trade, financial, investment, technological,

H.E. Nikolay Smirnov, Russian Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, attended the recent CARICOM Secretariat and international development partners meeting in Guyana. scientific and technical spheres, as well as exchanges and training in the fields of culture, education, healthcare, sports, youth development and tourism.

“We view Caribbean countries as equal partners and are ready to strengthen trade and commercial cooperation, investment opportunities, student, youth exchanges,” Ambassador Smirnov assured. (Source: Trinidad Guardian)

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6. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Standards for tourism sector underscored THE TOURISM SECTOR can be quite profitable, but the stakeholders involved ought to understand their role, and the operations they execute MUST be guided by a set of standards and regulations.

And it was based on this premise that various stakeholders came together for a Tourism Service Standards and Licensing Regulations Sensitization Session, last week Thursday.

Faylene King, the Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority (SVGTA), said at the opening ceremony that overall visitor arrivals increased by 0.8 percent in 2015, and it was anticipated that there will be further growth in 2016. “[But] while we are extremely excited about the spike in visitor arrivals, we need to also be prepared with quality tourism services and products,” King said.

Tourism service standards were essential to the success of this country being a top destination, she continued.

And with the international airport on stream, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SVGTA, Glen Beache said that St Vincent and the Grenadines had to be better than good; it had to be excellent.

“And the standards that you will hear about are very important for us moving forward,” he said.

According to Beache, St Vincent and the Grenadines was both at an advantage and a disadvantage, when compared to some of its neighbours, with respect to marketing the country.

Other countries had the edge by getting their names out before; however, by getting in the game later means that SVG was in a position where they were able to learn from the mistakes of others.

And while certain complaints had to

Standards in the Tourism industry are important as this country tries to keep up with the competition. be taken with “a grain of salt”, Beache implored that “we also have to realise that when it comes to tourism, we are up against every country in the world for that tourism dollar.”

Customer service, he said, was important. “It hurts me when I get a complaint from somebody who writes into the Tourism Authority saying that a taxi driver charges them 50 or 60 dollars from the airport to Bom-Bom (Upper Cane Hall).

“People are not stupid, they know

the difference. Even when you do the conversion, it is ridiculous.” Beache cautioned.

This type of behaviour, he declared, was not just damaging to the individual’s business, but to the country as well.

“And yes, we have other sectors, but none of them bring in the sort of money that tourism brings in. It’s not an opinion, it’s a fact and we need to take it a lot more seriously,” Beache said. (DDD)

GermanÊs death: Heavy burden

THE TRAGIC event that transpired on March 4 when a German national was killed on board a yacht moored at Wallilabou on the Leeward coast of mainland St. Vincent, affects the business and marketing of St Vincent and the Grenadines as a tourism destination.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority (SVGTA) Glen Beache confirmed the notion, that many Vincentians had

perceived in the hours following the breaking of the news.

He was at the time speaking at the opening ceremony of a Service Standards and Licensing Regulation session last Thursday, when he further stated that the impasse between developers and residents of Canouan was also putting an additional strain on the officials charged with marketing the country as a tourism destination.

According to Beache, we had an unfortunate

incident in terms of a murder at Wallilabou, “and people might look at that and think it is simple, but it affects how we do our business and what we do out there.”

The SVGTA is responsible for marketing the destination, which includes looking for potential investment.

“And that investment is what helps run St Vincent and the Grenadines, its money coming into the destination,” Beache explained.

“And it’s not about the politics of it, it’s about us wanting to make sure that in times like this, that St Vincent and the Grenadines puts it best foot forward,” he continued.

Taking umbrage with the persons who particicpte in radio talk shows by sharing their opinions on how a matter (like this one) ought to be dealt with, Beache said, “But one of the things that we face within the industry is

that, once people have travelled, whether it be by plane or boat, or by anything else, they become an expert on tourism, they know exactly (what to do).”

(DDD)

Glen Beache, CEO of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority (SVGTA) alluded to persons on radio talk shows trivialising the solution to the backlash of the murder of a German visitor.

BUILDING COLLAPSES: Road blocked Continued from Back page.

Commuters looking to use the stretch of road on Back Street between the Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the old KFC Outlet, in the after dawn hours of Thursday 17th March, were quickly diverted.

One of the buildings — a building belonging to Jerome Burke - on that stretch of road, had collapsed. Most of the upper front face of the building had fallen forward, spewing debris of bricks and limestone unto the road’s surface.

An occupant of a nearby building told THE VINCENTIAN that he heard a “loud, crashing noise” at about 6:15 — 6:20, Thursday morning.

The ground floor of the building has been unoccupied for some time now, but reports say that the upper floor may have had some limited occupancy.

The covered sidewalk that runs in front of the building has become the location for vendors plying a trade in a variety of items. None of these vendors had set up their operations for the day, when the incident occurred.

Workers and equipment, mobilised by the Ministry of Works, were on site up to 10:00am Thursday, clearing the debris.

The Burke Building was one of a continuous threesome of originals buildings on that stretch of road in capital Kingstown.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. 7.

News

Dysfunctional homes breed bigger problems

by KENVILLE HORNE ANASTACIA BASCOMBEFRANCOIS, a trained Counsellor assigned to the Campden Park Secondary School, formerly the Bethel High School, is of the opinion that many of the problems affecting young persons, especially students, originate in dysfunctional homes.

THE VINCENTIAN spoke with Bascombe-Francois following the recent shooting of Andre James, a 4th Form student of that school.

Bascombe- Francois has been providing counselling at the school for 12 years. She is ably assisted by Andrea Jackson.

Bascombe-Francois was forthcoming with her description of some of the unbecoming tendencies of students. “Students are tuned in to the carnival shows and Block-Os, 11-year-old girls having sex, boys drinking alcohol, 11 and 12-year-olds going home 5 o’clock in the morning. School doesn’t mean much to them, and their parents send them for babysitting purposes. So it’s an uphill battle, because what we do here, they go back home where it’s unravelled.”

Problems precede secondary schools

The issues that students face at home and in their Problems manifested communities, are then reflected at school, the The Counsellors work with Counsellor said. students, their parents, and “So when a child comes in the communities, since, at 11 years old, into Form 1, according to Bascombeand he has serious behavioral Francois, “The problems do issues , he doesn’t know not begin with the students, manners and social skills, he that’s the end result, it really doesn’t know how to make beings in the home.” friends , he can’t integrate She highlighted that many with his peers, he doesn’t of the parents are young, and know how to play, he fights would have gotten pregnant rather than play, he doesn’t while in their teenage years, know how to wait his turn, he and are therefore not prepared doesn’t know how to ask for for parenting. what he wants, all those are “There is a lack of social skills that he does not (parental) supervision, poor have, so you tend to have discipline, which is what is friction rather than what we causing a lot of the problems. term as normal behavior,” They (children) just do Bascombe- Francois said. anything, and they get And the problem is not involved in a lot of things that confined to secondary schools. are destructive. That is why According to the Counsellor we have so many incidents of the problem extends down to the type that we had recently,” the primary school she added, referring to the environment.

Andre James shooting.

She disclosed that those

(students) entering Form 1, appear more troublesome, than the older ones, “which means the problem is even in the primary schools. If you coming to Form One and this is your behaviour, that means you brought it with you.”

Parents and homes

Anastacia BascombeFrancois, Counsellor assigned to the Campden Park Secondary School, was forthright in her description of the problems that manifest themselves among students.

Attempts to get parents to visit the school are often met with little interest.

“Some of them things to keep society (parents), when they do together. Without a come, are either sound family foundation, defensive, or if they we have nothing but agree to address the chaos,” said Bascombeproblems at home, do so Francois, adding that for a week, then return some of the parents are to their old ways,” trying, “but it is difficult Bascombe-Francois since they themselves lamented. grew up in dysfunctional The experienced homes as well.” counsellor then Se stressed it is highlighted what she important to continue Andrea Jackson, Counsellor Assistant, said was a major working with the parents. (inset) is very involved in delivering contributor to “We can’t get anything services to the students.

She feels that dysfunctional homes — done without their help; there is always time to ‘stop’ and ‘speak’ that of the absence of we must have their help fathers in the students’ with students, especially those who for things to work,” she exhibit some air of burden. lives. implored.

“Mother are left to It is also important struggle on their own, that society backs the parents, forcing them into different The school, Bascombeso that the students can start relationships. And stepFrancois said, continues to to change. “So we must work fathers might try to abuse the reach out to parents. A recent together, the community, the girl because she is not blood Parents Appreciation Day school, the parents, so that the kin .... there is no attachment sought to dispel the view of students can begin to change. bond, so he sees her now as a ‘We (school) against them … Unless you address the root wife, because he has to use his (parents)’. cause, you wouldn’t get much hard earned money to raise “We want them (parents) to success; so we must begin in another man’s daughter,” she understand that their role and the homes; that’s where the explained. responsibility as parents is change has to begin”, one of the most fundamental Bascombe-Francois contended.

Addressing the problems

Bethel High School to mark 40th Anniversary TO SOME, it will be forever the Bethel High School (BHS). To a more recent generation of graduates and the current enrolment, it is the Campden Park Secondary School (CPSS).

Whatever those who found guidance and knowledge in its classrooms choose to call their alma mater, the

School will, this year, 2016, mark its 40th Anniversary.

And to mark the 40th Anniversary, what is known as The Bethel High School Past Students Association-SVG has planned a programme of activities.

A Church Service is set to be held at the School, Campden Park, in April, to coincide with the date the school opened, Monday 5th April, 1976 at its original location on the road leading to Lodge Village.

A social event grouping past students and current 4th and 5th formers, is also on the cards, according to a release from the Past Students Association. The date is to be Bethel High School (BHS), Victoria Park.

announced.

A reunion picnic is slated for July, and a reunion dinner and dance will follow sometime later in the year.

The Past Students Association also plans to stage Best Classroom and Best Floor competitions during the year.

And those alumni who reside in New York, USA, will also get into the celebrations, when the Bethel High School Past Students Association USA stages a Dinner and Cocktail Hour on July 23, 2016, in New York.

The Bethel High School/Campden Park Secondary School was founded The Campden Park Secondary School by devout Seventh-Day replaced the BHS. Adventists Mr. Cornelius Victoria Park, circa 1978/79, before its Anderson and his wife Nita. relocation to Campden Park, at which The school relocated from its time it had already become a full original Lodge Village location to a government school. building funded by the Andersons, at

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8. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Editorial Building trust between citizen and police ‘BUILDING AND MAINTAINING community trust is the cornerstone of successful policing and law enforcement.’

We stick our heads out and say that the Royal SVG Police Force (RSVGPF) recognises and accepts that truism, especially given the repeated calls by one Commissioner of Police after another, for the ‘cooperation of the public’ in providing information that could assist with solving crimes here.

It is safe to say also, that the local constabulary recognises that building and maintenance of that trust require continuous and consistent effort which, if the truth be told, many officers have tried gallantly to effect.

Sadly, we must admit, the ethical work of the majority of local law enforcement officers stands to be eroded by the actions of just one unethical officer. In effect, the indictment of one officer translates into the indictment of all.

And so it came to pass, last week Friday, March 11, 2016, that one such unethical officer consciously or unconsciously fractured that trust with the community, when he commanded his subordinates, who had been mobilised to bring ‘order’ to a protest in Kingstown, to “turn and face your enemies.”

That, in any language, is an indictment of the officer; an indictment on the RSVGPF; and an indictment of government who are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the highest moral order of those entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding the peace and security of this nation and its people.

In the face of this officer’s ‘direct’ command, does it not bring into question the validity of the belief that community trust is an established and highly honoured relationship between an agency — in this case the Police - and the citizens it has been entrusted to serve?

More of these uncalled for, blatant anti-people outbursts can do nothing to enhance confidence in those who are called to serve impartially.

And the executive must bear primary responsibility for any degradation of integrity, legitimacy, fair play and competence among those who fall under its purview.

Commissioners of police and departmental supervisors are not to be excluded from the effort to build community trust. It is their responsibility to encourage an environment within and without their departments, that is characterised by ethical behaviour.

Each officer must be made to understand and accept that he/she is responsible for meeting that expectation, and no ill-advised

political influence must deter them from same, give or take a real threat to national security.

That is why it is paramount that commissioners and supervisors acknowledge misconduct, and respond appropriately when such misconduct occurs.

The public must not be excluded from this response. Including the public, in this recourse, will help to sustain respect and confidence of the citizenry in the law enforcement agencies in particular, and the judiciary in general.

Because officers occupy positions of trust and confidence in their communities, and are afforded awesome authority, some say too much authority in recent times, any excessive use of that authority can erode public trust, not to mention the harm it will do to whatever credibility communities hold for law enforcement agents and agencies.

Notwithstanding the officer referenced, we are wont to say that police officers here generally understand that they represent an entity — a critical entity in safeguarding the public peace and good. What is not assured is that they accept, a la the officer referenced, that they will be, or should be held accountable for both their good deeds, as well as their illfated ways.

It follows, therefore, that if those in command supervise and direct their subordinates properly, there will be no need, or lessened need, to employ remedial measures.

Training in direct policing methods that is not accompanied by a strong dose of what it means to be ethical, will amount to nought as far as producing an officer of skill and creditable character.

The state’s executive and the police administration must ensure that the ‘core’ values of fair play, impartiality, avoidance of use of force and abuse of authority are reinforced throughout all aspects of training, and ongoing departmental administration and delivery of service.

And this brings us to the recent ‘retreat’ held for police officers. The hope was that the ‘retreat’ would have been used as an opportunity for an honest, no holds barred outpouring of what is good and bad about the police service here.

There can be no building of community trust if there is any intent to sweep the inefficiencies and anti-people attitudes under the proverbial carpet, and still call that ‘good policing.’

To admit to one’s wrong is the first step to continuing to maintain the trust of one’s colleagues and, more importantly, the trust of the community.

Nuff said.

Glenn Jackson remembered A DECADE AGO, I wrote the following account of Glenn Jackson’s death; I now add these significant points.

Firstly, Glenn was cut down on the eve of detonating his promised “bombshell”.

Secondly, Ralph who was overseas at the time, deemed his surcease “an assassination”. Thirdly, Glenn’s wife ruled the sequel to her husband’s departure “scape-goat justice”. Fourthly, Glenn was granted an undeserved “State Funeral,” and a one-shot scholarship was granted in his name. And fifthly, Dr Gonsalves noted that Glenn was “irreplaceable” as a Personal Assistant”. In other words, no Hans King could really substitute.

“Glenn Jackson, Personal Aide and Press Secretary to Prime Minister Gonsalves, suffered a shooting death about three weeks ago.

The community has been left in shock.

Friend and foe alike have been stunned beyond belief. It took this columnist all of three weeks before he could put pen to paper on an event that was at once brutal, senseless, and crippling in its effect.

Everybody is reacting, some in predetermined ways following a course that they have deliberately charted. Let us look as objectively as we can to some of the issues involved, and come to a clearer understanding of the emergent picture.

For a conclusion, it is advisable to leave to the experts — the police, Scotland Yard and F.B.I., the lawyers and D.P.P and, finally, if a case does come off, to the jury of twelve men and true.

Was it a case of suicide? No weapon was found, though a third party could have moved off with it, as allegedly happened with Glenn’s cell-phone.

The victim was shot in the chest, the head being the preferred spot in the run-ofmill suicide. There was no note left. And, above all, Glenn was reportedly in high spirits and festive mood hours before the fatality.

Then, there are some people who claim that Glenn subscribed to a code of sexual orientation whose practitioners often carry out crimes of passion driven by jealousy and whatever. Assuming without accepting that Glenn was such a person, the case would yet fall flat.

Leroy Latchman, an experienced man versed in these matters and who, incidentally, was Glenn’s father-in-law, concluded that Glenn’s motor-car, found near to his home, could not be the locus of the slaying. It was a murder committed in cold blood elsewhere, with the body stripped, and surrounding circumstances made to look like a scene of passion.

Another theory posits that Glenn must somehow have got mixed up with the underworld, using his massive shows as a cover to camouflage money-laundering.

According to this line, it is a simple case of a deal turned sour, and a dead man who can tell no tales.

To this is appended a section which is more credible, that non-Vincentians were involved, who put on a disappearing act the morning after the night before. One recalls

the Abbey Ollivierre murder where a similar scenario was plotted, and ended up with the course of justice completely frustrated.

Certain supporters have suggested that the teaming-up of the “multi- talented” Glenn Jackson with the formidable and robust Prime Minister, has produced an unbeatable electoral unit, which threatened to drive the N.D.P into political oblivion.

Desperate, so this story goes, his opponents singled out Glen for removal from this combination. He was targeted because of his easy accessibility and generally a care-free and bohemian lifestyle which would provide his assailants with the necessaries of a cover-up.

Widely-held belief was that Glenn’s divorce from the U.L.P was only a matter of time. Pundits had begun to ask themselves why Glen, chief cook and bottlewasher of the Prime Minister, was not taken on important missions abroad recently. They rate Gonsalves’ responses as lame, suggesting that he had requested Glen to stay at home and mind the family store.

But, supposing for a moment that Gonsalves was to be taken at his word that Glenn meant so much to him, that “he is irreplaceable.” The sentiments expressed in a sweeping statement was enough to excite jealousy among the top brass of the party, especially those with vaulting ambition.

The question is, at the Final Curtain, would the murderers discover that they might have bitten more than they could chew, as Julian described in song Glenn’s fate to have been!

This column continues the searching public enquiry which Miss Sylvia Sutherland would rather see ended, for the sake of the bereaved family. The truth is that it poses the lesser danger in letting it all hang out.

Glenn’s widow has demonstrated that she is a giant of a woman, with steely convictions, fortified by a faith grounded in granite. She asks forgiveness for the perpetrators of the crime, who she knows will be revealed in the fullness of time.

Above all, she expressly mentions her revulsion to “any scape-goat” solution!

The tearless expression of a widow’s statement calling for forgiveness and reconciliation that is basic to Christian tradition, awoke little resonance in the P.M.’s speech, which was cut-and-dried and jarred with the theme of forgiveness, standing out like a sore thumb.

It is just possible that if the crime is solved at all, the Prime Minister may find himself facing an unpalatable truth. The moral of the story is that one must beware the kiss of death which political blandishment often administers.”

To the foregoing, we would only add: If Glenn’s death was mysterious, how would one rate the disappearance into thin air of Menelaus Jocelyn, “the Servant of the Lord”, who had been a constant humbug to the ruling ULP?

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. 9.

Letters

Everything is nice and dandy, eh?

GREATER “National Issues” seem to occupy Parliament’s time, like who shows up and who doesn’t, and “I wasn’t elected, I was appointed, but if I had been elected, I would have showed up”, while the really important “small stuff” creeps away from the spotlight. Like, the Chamber of Commerce is volunteering to clean up the waste dump that is Kingstown, and the CWSA (not a branch of the Government?) is begging the police to arrest and ticket, or at least provide some enforcement against the dumping of trash into rivers and streams, not just rurally but in town, which is creating not only pollution but flood risk. Coreas is going to clean up the river along North River Road. Else wise, Government isn’t hiding the PetroCaribe debt, just not declaring it, while the police are occupied with corralling “enemies of the state”, ignoring misdirected bypasses and detours on the Leeward Highway construction that lead to dead ends, or no signage back to the main road. Trucks are going the wrong way; cars (and ambulances) back up until a police car arrives to angrily re-direct the misguided.

What does the Government take responsibility for? Not health and sanitation, nor the demise of agriculture, accelerated by compelling traffickers to spend the money they earned selling St. Vincent produce in Trinidad on Trinidadian goods that are then subject to prohibitive customs duties upon entry to St. Vincent; not the spread of mosquito borne diseases which the country is abjured to clean up for themselves. We can be drowned, polluted, misled, or attacked by large rodents in a town that smells of urine every Monday morning, but repression of dissension and demonization of the opposition seem to be the most appropriate areas of priority for Government resource allocation.

That, and dynastic power assurance. Otherwise, everything is fine and dandy! Hip-hip-hooray for Fearless Leader!

JOE

SVG Florida organization ready to help TWICE IN 2015, our Board of Directors distributed funds to charities in St Vincent: The most recent gifts went to Liberty Lodge, St. Mary’s R.C. Church Soup Kitchen and St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua School.

Judge Alban I. Niles - President, Noel Clark 2nd Vice President, Ann Marie Sutherland — Secretary, Jonathan Daniel - Member, and Robert Rodrigues — supporter, were all in SVG contributing to bring our Organization’s cheer to persons at home.

Our team was able to see firsthand the continuing need for assistance from abroad, and we have since committed to redouble our efforts to aid our brothers and sisters in SVG. Any charity wishing to be considered for funds that we distribute in the future, should contact us, stating its charitable purpose and nondiscrimination practice.

Contact: SVG Central Florida Organization Inc. 4901 Washington Ave, Orlando, FL 32819 United States of America Tel: 323 — 775 — 8160 Email: SCGCFO@gmail.com Contact Person: Lydia Daniel, Public Relations Officer

What a mess!!

AS A SENIOR citizen of this country, a citizen who has watched this country through Joshua to Gonsalves, I think I have the right, moreso than others, to make a few observations about this little country of ours.

I am moved to say, that during my time, this country has not moved very far. Look at what is happening on our streets. One party has refused to accept the 2015 elections results, and its supporters have taken to the streets in protest. That is their right, but I get worried about the ‘right to this right’ when I see the police unleashing their

force on innocent persons, while the real crooks, vagabonds, drug traffickers and others walk free to poison our young people. I am moved to ask: Have our police failed us? Is there no proper supervision in the Force? Who is barking out the orders?

And if what I read in a VINCENTIAN newspaper Editorial a few weeks ago is true, (I have no reason to doubt it), our schools, even with all the Education Revolution, are becoming beds for illegal and immoral activity.

It seems that our politicians are also failing us. They appear

every five years begging for our votes and vying for the chance to run this country. But they are all actors — playing the part — and when they get elected, they behave as though they are in opposition — talk, talk, and more talk.

The religious people have also failed us; they are not reaching the people. All we get is a lot of talk from the pulpit; those who don’t come straight out and encourage their congregations to vote for this party or that, say things that are safe politically.

And don’t talk about those radio talk show

hosts. They are speaking to themselves more and more — and they speak loudly but say nothing.

What a mess the people of this country have sown for themselves! How I long for a return to the days of genuine leadership!

Clinton ‘Retiree’

It ainÊt easy here I WORK WITH a private company. I have been with them now for just over three years. I am being paid the same salary they paid me when I started with them.

When I hear the Prime Minister talking all this talk about he presenting a budget for the poor and hungry, I have to wonder who poor and hungry he is talking about. I wonder if because I work with a private company and I receive a monthly salary, that I am not one of the poor and hungry.

If this is how our Prime Minister thinks, then he is totally out of sync with what is really going on in SVG. On my salary, $1500.00 a month, I can hardly make ends me. By the grace of God, I meet my monthly commitments because I have given up a lot of what I would like to have.

Also I cut back on a lot of stuff. I thank God that I am who I am, and that I have not given into temptations to earn a fast, extra dollar.

With all the increases in food items, the Prime Minister has to be careful that he is not pushing people into

doing things they would not like to do, but do them to make ends meet.

My recent visit to a popular supermarket made me realise that the prices on some goods have already been increased. I thought that, with the low cost of oil, freight charges would have gone down, and therefore, prices of goods on the shelves would also decrease. It seems I wasted a thought. For it seems local measures, like VAT on new items, are keeping prices high and making some even higher.

And I have to wonder about whether we have a Consumer Affairs Department or not. If we have one, then those officers should be out in the field keeping a check on prices, to make sure that no one is getting ripped off.

I don’t know about others, but shopping here is a real challenge. I even have to walk with my calculator to make sure that I can pay for the goods I put in my basket. It not easy!!

Consumer

Unholy lifestyles BEWARE OF THOSE who call themselves spiritual leaders in the house of Yahuveh. Do not anger Yahuveh with unholiness, and your unholy lifestyle. Do not use Yahuveh’s (Yahushua,Jesus) name to hide your sins. For your sins will be revealed.

You teach that Yahushua is not Jesus, you lie. You teach that Yahuveh is not God the Almighty.

That is a lie straight from hell. You are like a dead cemetery.

1 Samuel 2:22 — Now Eli was very old and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with women that assemble at the door of

the tabernacle of the congregation.

You are like in Ezekiel 8 — all the abomination you do in secret, even your occult practice that you do in secret - the blood of the people is on your hand in your community . You better fall on your knees now and repent, while there is yet time.

Yahuveh will expose the wolves that have been devouring Yahushua (Jesus) sheep.

Remember, you are holy on every day, not just on the Sabbath.

Yah descendant

* What was the outcome of that vehicular accident that occurred on Back Street in late December 2015, and caused the death of a young man? Was anyone charged and prosecuted for the offence? What are the whereabouts of the driver? * Could somebody say what the situation with the arrowroot factor at Owia is? After all, did the Minister of Agriculture not say how this year was going to be a bumper year for arrowroot? * Is government getting nearer to appointing a replacement for Sir Vincent Beache as National Security Advisor? Do we really need to be ‘forking’ out money for a position like his? * Talking about the national debt. Is this country indebted to the University of the West Indies?

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10. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Politics

Excerpts from the Budget Address delivered by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves Part Three (i) Private Sector Investment MR. SPEAKER, the global environment for trade and investment is changing rapidly.

Competition for both foreign direct investment and trade is intense. For example, competition in tourism is increasing, both near home (for example Cuba and Dominican Republic) and further afield. Countries both large and small are looking at ways to reduce the cost of doing business and are continuously assessing and improving their investment climate.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has a number of selling points which make it an attractive destination for doing business. These include: * The significant progress made in reorientating the economy towards a broad service based economy, while maintaining and expanding the solid base of agriculture and fisheries.

Service sectors’ contribution to employment and exports has grown rapidly in the past decade or so. * The wide range of sites that are still available for the development of hotels and tourist facilities. In addition, St. Vincent and the Grenadines can provide one of the most diversified tourism offerings in the Caribbean. * St. Vincent and the Grenadines remains one of the most cost competitive countries in the region with significant cost advantages in terms of labour and general costs of living. * The general regulatory environment in St. Vincent and the Grenadines ranks very well. For example, the regulatory environment for anti-money laundering, on-shore and international financial services is on par with that in competitor countries. * St. Vincent and the Grenadines continues to invest heavily in infrastructure and in productive capacity. The completion of the Argyle International Airport will provide a significant stimulus for the further development of the tourism and other productive sectors.

targeting activities that matches these, while also promoting efforts to address weaknesses. Public and private investments are to be ramped up in order to achieve higher levels of economic growth and job creation.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has had, in recent years, above-average levels of foreign direct investment, as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), comparatively, across the Caribbean and Latin America. Domestic investment, too, has been on the rise in particular economic activities. Most of the private sector investment has been in the hotel and tourism sector.

Investment of a more modest kind has also been put into other sectors, especially wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, manufacturing, agriculture and fisheries, transportation, telecommunications, construction, real estate development, financial and other services, including educational services to non-nationals, and entertainment.

Among the major domestic investment initiatives in tourism are those of the Kelly Glass Group at Blue Lagoon and at two locations in Bequia, including the well-known Plantation House; and the Browne Group at Spring Estate on the Windward side of St. Vincent. Several local hoteliers, for example the Gunn family, have invested in refurbishing and expanding their hotels; and many local entrepreneurs have expanded, or constructed, apartments and guest houses for tourists and students attending the four medical schools. An increased number of building permits and appropriate concessions has been approved for hotel expansions, the construction of apartments and guest houses over the last two years.

Challenges

Joint Venture

Despite these significant attractions and possibilities, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is challenged in several areas. These include: * The relatively high cost of electricity which persists despite Government’s action in eliminating the demand charge and introducing volume discounts for commercial and industrial customers. The high cost of energy is mainly attributed to the high cost of imported fuel and difficulties in achieving economies of scale in power generation in a multi-island context; recently, the price of imported fuel has been falling but this is unlikely to last for any prolonged period. * A shortage in supply of sufficient trained personnel in certain sectors of the economy. * The relatively high cost of importing and exporting goods due in part to structural inadequacies and administrative inefficiencies at the Kingstown Port and Customs. * Relatively high rate of corporate tax despite progress in reducing corporate tax rates. Further progress towards lowering corporate taxes and simplifying the tax system will enhance competitiveness. * The challenges posed by climate change, the high cost of adaptation and mitigation measures and building physical resilience that are vitally important for growth and development.

The NIS and the Government Employees Cooperative Credit Union (GECCU) are engaged in a joint venture to pursue a housing and commercial development on some 65 acres of land at Peter’s Hope. This development project is being done in six phases over the period up to October 2020. The NIS is developing 102 lots of land, ranging from between 5,785 square feet to 11,657 square feet; and GECCU is involved in developing 142 lots.

Phase I of the project, the construction of a spine road, and drains, was completed in 2015 at a cost of $1.6 million. Phase II commences in March 2016 with further infrastructural work scheduled to be completed in July 2017, at an estimated cost of $3.1 million.

Land sales for middle-income housing and tourism/business facilities are being processed. This is an exemplary partnership between the NIS and GECCU which presages other appropriate joint ventures involving the NIS and other domestic investors.

I again appeal to our local entrepreneurs to engage our government, the NIS, and National Properties Limited in serious discussion on possible investment opportunities of a credible or bankable kind. Our government and its public enterprises are keen on investment partnerships with local entrepreneurs or in facilitating their investments. Both the NIS and National Properties Limited have separately been partnering with local investors; and they are interested in doing more.

Further, specialised agencies of the government such as Invest SVG, the Centre for Enterprise Development, the National Centre for Technology Innovation, the SVG Bureau of Standards, and the SVG Tourism Authority are available to assist our entrepreneurs in the areas of their responsibility.

Local Investment Invest SVG was created in 2003 to provide investment promotion, export development, business facilitation and research services to potential and existing local and foreign investors. As competition for overseas investment continues to increase, it is ever more necessary that Invest SVG and the Government as a whole become more proactive in identifying strengths and

Excerpts from Senator Zita Barnwell’s Budget Presentation IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE that I stand proudly here today as an appointed Senator of the New Democratic Party, the Better Team, to serve the people at the highest level in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Mr. Moderator, I would like to bring to your attention the 2016 budget allocations for the Ministry of National Mobilization, Social Development, Family, Gender Affairs and Persons with Disabilities, also I would like to bring to your attention the Budget allocations for Legal Affairs.

The other Honourable members of the better team raised the alarm that the 2016 budget is a fraud committed against the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A fraud in the sense that under the ULP administration, if nothing else, this government has consistently for many years run our country on deficit budget. More particularly, the Honourable members of the head table have explained that there is no way on God’s green earth that government is going to collect the one hundred and forty nine million, six hundred thousand, seven hundred and forty one dollars ($149, 600, 741) listed as other receipts to fill the gap between revenue and expenditure!

Under the Ministry of National Mobilization, Social Development, Family, Gender and Persons with Disabilities, another thing we can say with certainty is that the so called poor people’s government has been severely undeserving the vulnerable and economically disadvantaged. The government’s inability to provide social and economic transformative programs may very well explain the dysfunction that we see in families and communities across St Vincent and the Grenadines. Every day, you hear the cries of how things bad; people are frustrated, dejected and are increasingly poor.

At this point, I wish to take you to a few of the 2015 indicators of the Ministry’s performance. In 2015 this Ministry aimed to achieve among other things, the following: 1. Transition 5% of the socially excluded and poor through improved standards of living graduation programmes. The comment section indicates that this program is pending for 2016. What that really means is that it is incomplete; not done. Yet this Ministry’s mission is to engage in social transformation of indigent poor vulnerable families so that they can materialize empowerment 2. To increase protection coverage rates of Public Assistance programmes by 10% annually. The Ministry achieved 5%. What this means is that 5% less of the targeted indigent persons did not receive any public assistance.

3. Increase protection coverage of rates to the disabled by 10%. Eight percent (8%) was covered, but this represents only a total coverage of 20% of the national population of persons with disabilities. A whopping 80 % of the Nation’s disabled who need assistance remain marginalized.

4. Provide alternative support for up to 5% of the elderly. The Ministry says that this is pending for 2016.

Again, this simply means incomplete.

5. Provide therapeutic interventions to four (4) families and teenagers with behaviour and conduct disorder. Also, the Ministry aimed to conduct six (6) Parenting Workshops.

How many were done? Teachers complain day and day out about

conduct issues which are plaguing the schools. When you ask most teachers what is cause of the behavioural problems in the schools, they lay the blame fully and squarely at the parents’ feet. And here you have a government that is unresponsive to the cries of the teachers; the community and the parents.

6. Under the CAP programme, the Ministry proposed to provide behaviour modification, parental support for 800 children from poor families, but only 120 students were reached. This is a mere 15% of the students and families received this service.

7. To provide homework assistance to 6 communities — while the Ministry surpassed its target goal - it reach 9 communities —, the fact remains that there are 15 constituencies with an average of (7) communities.

Nationally, we have about 105 communities, so service to nine (9) communities across the entire country is way unacceptable. The Education Digest indicates that over the period 2009- 2014 there was a total of 1757 school dropout! 85% of those students are secondary school students! Apart from school drop outs, there are many students barely meeting the basic requirements for promotion to higher classes. They need our help urgently.

8. To empower through employment at least 5% of the unemployed indigent and poor 1.5% and out of that meagre number less than half of these people received employment.

According to the CIA fact book, St. Vincent and the Grenadines has a dependency ratio of 46.8% as of 2015.

What this mean is that our working age population and the overall economy is burdened to support and provide social services to 46.8 percent of our youth and elderly. But we have Budget that only allocates 3% of the total budget to this Ministry. But let us be reminded that Dr. Gonsalves bragged in parliament in his budget address that the$ 25.00 and $30.00 increase to public assistance for persons under 65 and the elderly respectively. While the government may boast about an increase in poor relief, what we know is that its track record shows that it is unable to increase its coverage rates for those who need social and economic protection. And my esteemed colleagues have passionately pointed out the government has no money to address the social and economic needs of our country!

And, I suspect that in these circumstances, what we can expect is a continuation of the government’s policy of party supporters first which only includes protection coverage for its party supporters for the meagre allocations that have been made. Let us look further at how the government fails to serve the country’s most vulnerable people under the Ministry’s capital projects/ technical assistance programmes.

Under the capital estimates and technical assistance, here too none of the projects will be funded by Capital Revenue rather, as Honorable St. Clair Leacock passionately highlighted, these capital projects will be funded by loans.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. 11.

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The University of the West Indies: A Beacon of Hope for the Region – Pt 1

“We all know that education in science and technology is critical to improving the economic well-being of the Caribbean.”— Professor Eudine Barriteau, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus.

CARIBBEAN CITIZENS have a lot to be proud of. The Caribbean has produced individuals who have performed creditably in every field. We have impacted the world for good in music and the performing arts, sports, science, business, and government. Some names readily come to mind. In the realm of music and the performing arts, we can identify individuals like Billy Ocean (Trinidad and Tobago), Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley (Jamaica), Robin Rihanna Fenty (Barbados), Shake Keane (St. Vincent & the Grenadines), and Ronald “Boo” Hinkson (St. Lucia), to mention a few.

Individuals like Usain St. Leo Bolt (Jamaica), Merlene Ottey (Jamaica), ShellyAnn Fraser (Jamaica), Sir Garfield Sobers (Barbados), Sir Vivian Richards (Antigua & Barbuda), Dwight Yorke (Trinidad & Tobago), and Brian Lara (Trinidad & Tobago) have blazed a trail in the field of sport. The Caribbean has also produced many internationally renowned scientists.

We are proud of the accomplishments of individuals such as the atmospheric physicists Professor Abraham Anthony Chen (Jamaica) and Roger S. Pulwarty (Trinidad & Tobago); microbiologist and pathologist, Professor Louis Grant (Jamaica); biochemist Dr. Marcia Roye (Jamaica), and analytical chemist Dr. Ivan Chang-Yen (Guyana). We can also add many names in the realm of business and government. However, the foregoing sentences provide ample evidence of the impact Caribbean citizens have had on the world. We also have home-grown institutions that make us equally proud.

The University of the West Indies (UWI) is one of the region’s institutions of higher learning that we can be justly proud of (but very often take for granted). It has had a positive influence on many of the region’s leaders in government and business.

However, its influence has also gone beyond the nations of the Caribbean.

Many of its alumni now play major roles in advancing the arts, sciences, and technology in many developed countries.

Unfortunately, many of UWI’s accomplishments appear to be trapped within the walls of its various departments (and hidden from the public’s gaze). UWI has pioneered innovation in many disciplines.

Students and faculty at this noble institution have blazed trails that make us proud. Over the next few weeks, this In Touch column will highlight several of the outstanding accomplishments that have emerged from the UWI Cave Hill Campus; one of UWI’s four campuses with a mandate to meet the needs of the citizens of Barbados and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). This first article focuses on the significant role that UWI has played in turning the “Sargassum Crisis” to create opportunities for environmental preservation and wealth creation.

The Chinese character for the word “crisis” is a combination of two drawings that represent “disaster” and “opportunity”. Sometimes a crisis appears to have the ability to paralyze us — to stop us in out tracks. We can focus so much on the “disaster” that we become immobile. However, it is often quite possible for us to look beyond the “disaster” to see and grasp the

“opportunities”. This holds true for the nations of the Caribbean that have recently been challenged by the invasion of the Sargassum seaweed.

The Cave Hill Campus now plays a leading role in extracting some of the economic potential of the Sargassum seaweed crisis.

The Sargassum Invasion in the Eastern Caribbean and along the West Coast of Africa commenced in 2011.

Understandably, many beach-front hotels have seen an immediate drop in their occupancy, once the seaweed appears. However, the seaweed has also caused major economic hardships for the fishermen who find it virtually impossible to maneuver their boats through the seaweed maze, risking damage to their outboard engines, should they attempt to cut through the brown mat of free-floating weed.

Dr. Janice Cumberbatch is a researcher and lecturer in Social and Environmental Management at the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES), UWI, Cave Hill Campus. Last August, she assisted in coordinating a one-day symposium to focus on the sargassum challenge/problem. Professor Hazel Oxenford was the keynote speaker. She provided regional participants with insights into the ongoing research that is taking place as regional scientists seek to predict the future occurrences in the Caribbean.

Dr. Winston Moore, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Economics of the Faculty of Social Sciences UWI, alerted participants to the possibilities of harnessing the Saragassum seaweed as a Green Opportunity. He noted that the seaweed can be used for bioabsorption in agriculture for plant growth, and as an input in the manufacture of soaps, creams, gels, and body washes. He is convinced that the economic benefits of harvesting the Saragassum seaweed can be quite lucrative.

It is interesting and encouraging to note that a student at the Cave Hill Campus, 22-year-old Tiffany Husbands, has devised a method of using this unsightly and smelly seaweed to be incorporated in the manufacture of cosmetics. Fellow students Mikhail Eversley and Kemar Codrington aided Tiffany as she explored the possibility of extracting “beautifying components” from the unsightly seaweed. These three brilliant young adults were guided by award-winning researcher Dr. Srinivasa Roa Popuri, a lecturer in analytical chemistry in the Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences at the Cave Hill Campus. Innovation is taking place at UWI. Students are also learning from real life challenges and crises. The obstacles that life would often present do not daunt them. They are learning to be critical thinkers and problem solvers. They are leading the positive charge to make the Caribbean a better place, one project at a time solving one crisis at a time. Encouraged and inspired by the platforms provided by the UWI, they are providing their own “Midas Touch” to convert crises and dangers to opportunities. They are beacons of hope for the region.

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

Hall of Justice and the Clean-up of Kingstown THERE IS A BIG PUSH to clean up Kingstown. It is not the first effort. But during the budget debate, Minister Francis spoke as a man on a mission.

He said he was walking behind a tourist in Kingstown and heard the man say, ‘Wow! This place is filthy.’ This has given added urgency to the clean-up.

I am all for a cleaner environment.

I am all for a cleaner Kingstown and a cleaner SVG. But as someone who has travelled extensively across this world, I want to say that I radically disagree with the notion that Kingstown is filthy. It is true that we need public toilet facilities, and that our men tend to urinate any place; but I dare anyone to point me to the public urinals in London, New York, Geneva, Moscow or Havana.

Clearly, any attempt to clean up Kingstown will include a solution for the Kingstown market and the vendors there. As it stands now, the million dollar market is really a huge, glorified storeroom. People vend mostly on the outside, and store their goods inside overnight. Minister Francis has suggested that a new place be found for a Caribbean style/type vegetable market, and floated the idea that the current structure be turned into a mall.

Clearly, the structure can be put to better use. However, rather than look for a buyer or someone with deep pockets to lease the building, the suggestion is for the market to be reconfigured, rehabilitated and reconstituted as the Hall of Justice. A Hall of Justice for SVG has been suggested for years, with a cost of EC $19 million. Clearly, we do not have that money, but may be able to borrow about $5 million to do this job.

We can rework this building to find rooms for the Court of Appeal, High Court (criminal and civil), Serious Offenses, Magistrate and Family Courts. There is sufficient room for the Registry. Currently, we rent space to house all of these except the Criminal Court which sits downstairs the House of Assembly.

A Hall of Justice in that location will not only be centrally located, with all of the Courts and Registry in one central place. It will also ease on the millions government pay in rent over the years.

The Hall of Justice idea has to do with reorganization.

Back to the effort to clean up Kingstown. It is true that toilets in the Central Market are in a deplorable condition. It is also true that Little Tokyo is disorganized, messy and badly in need of rehabilitation. But Little Tokyo is not Kingstown or SVG. Any tourist can walk from the Cruise Ship Berth to the Botanical Gardens along any of the three streets, and find no filth, piles of smelly garbage, or other unsightly obstruction. In fact, the most unsightly obstruction might be a few shabbily dressed homeless men.

Further, most of the tourists are from the United States and Canada, where the mentally deranged and homeless people litter the streets in far greater numbers.

I am equally opposed to removing the vendors from our streets and sidewalks. They are not and have

never been a hindrance to me or to anyone else. Vendors try to position themselves at places where they can make a sale. Some of them unreasonably place their wares too far in the streets; but that can be easily regulated.

Vendors can also be given a designated place where they can sell their products. All of Middle Street, from the Police Barracks up to Heritage Square, should be closed to vehicular traffic between 10 and 4 Monday to Saturday, to allow for vending.

Vending must be allowed because it is the sole means by which scores of citizens make a living. At the time of Independence, there were less than five vendors in all of Kingstown.

Today, many have discarded their ‘foolish pride’ and have taken up vending of fruit, vegetables and clothing in order to make ends meet.

Those of us with our nice jobs and high income, may frown on this activity; but many Vincentians feed and clothe themselves, send their children to school and, in some cases, build a roof over their heads from their enterprising activities in and around Kingstown.

Our economy is going through difficult economic times, and it is much preferable to see citizens trying their hand at enterprise, attempting to turn a penny into a dollar, rather than for them to engage in illegal activity.

Truth be told, much of the talk about removing vendors, is an attempt to appease foreigners. Many of these same people go to Bridgetown or Kingston or St George’s, and none of these capitals are cleaner or better organized that Kingstown. They all have vendors on the streets. In London, New York, Miami, Washington DC or Geneva, there is now the fashionable habit where restaurants place tables in the streets, especially during the warmer months, to attract their customers, and this is said to be cool.

Yet in SVG, where people have less access to resources, there is a big undercurrent to remove most if not all of the vendors. We must resist this lure. Kingstown can easily accommodate more vendors, once the Town Board offers clear, enforceable guidelines.

Markets all over the world, especially where immigrants assemble, are unsettled places. Some disorganization is inevitable, as can be seen in Brixton, England, or in the Bronx New York; so SVG is not unique. Let’s find ways to fix Little Tokyo and to organize the vendors, but please let us not mash up or throw away the people’s wooden tables. Such an action by the state will be both callous and wrong.

Clean up Kingstown if we must, but the central focus must be on our citizens.

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

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12. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

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Will SVG replace Haiti as the poorest country in the Caribbean?

EXTREMELY weak management of the Public Accounts is the main cause of the perpetuation of poverty and squalor in developing countries. In SVG, under the alleged Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves, who is not a university graduate in Accounting and Finance, the country is experiencing its worst economic and financial crisis in living memory.

Under the grossly incompetent and hopeless Minister of Finance Ralph Gonsalves, SVG is suffering from very high levels of unemployment, caused mainly by many businesses being forced to close, as money is not circulating in the SVG economy.

The SVG economy has been mismanaged, with massive Fiscal Deficits for eleven consecutive years 2005 to 2016. This equates to $1.127 billion of Fiscal Deficits under the grossly incompetent Ralph Gonsalves.

In the 2016 SVG Budget, of the $912 million, there is $139 million of Fiscal Deficits and $104 million in other receipts ($139m +$104m =$243m). About 26.6 % of the money in the 2016 Budget is not accounted for in real terms. It is money that the

ULP regime thinks will fall from the sky.

The SVG 2016 Budget is therefore only $912 million less $243 million = $669 million. After 15 years in office, Ralph Gonsalves and the ULP regime are still taking two steps forward and three steps backward with the economy. (Source: SVG Budgets; researched by Ivan O’Neal BSc (hons), MSc, MBA).

Ralph Gonsalves failed the audit of Public Accounts for 2008, 2009 and 2010. Given the huge scale of economic and financial incompetence under Ralph Gonsalves and the ULP regime, we have to wonder if SVG will replace Haiti as the poorest country in the Caribbean. Time will tell.

Agriculture is dead; the rural economy is dead; and incompetent economic and financial policy makers think that tourism can become the engine of SVG economy, even though tourism is killing all the other economies in the Caribbean.

High rates of unemployment, very poor living conditions, gross corruption and high rates of illiteracy and poverty

are the variables that stoke economic inequality and bring a country down to its knees. All of the above variables are highly prevalent in SVG, which is why it seems that SVG will replace Haiti as the poorest country in the Caribbean.

After 14 years of being in power, one should be able to see the results of a government’s economic plan. Under the ULP government, poverty, crime and unemployment have all increased.

The gap between the poor and the rich has increased.

Has the ULP government ever had a coherent economic plan? If so, is their plan to create chaos and increase social deprivation by increasing poverty, crime and unemployment? Is their plan also, to make the poor poorer and the white, super-rich foreigners and the party faithful richer, because that is what has happened during their time in government?

Under normal circumstances, the ULP government would be labelled economically incompetent. However, maybe increasing poverty, crime and

unemployment, and making the rich richer is what they set out to do from day one.

Maybe their plan has always been for SVG to replace Haiti as the poorest country in the Caribbean, because the poorer we are, the more the ULP regime can beg abroad for foreign aid and grants. They seem only capable of creating revenue by begging and borrowing.

Gonsalves and the ULP regime have shown that they are financially and economically incompetent. They will push SVG to a lower depth of poverty than Haiti.

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Budgetary response: Reality checks

by GODSON CAIN PART ONE THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION dismissed the 2016 Budgetary Estimates as nine hundred and thirtytwo pages of garbage. He promised an alternative budget. He presented his at Frenches House, two weeks ago, on Monday and Tuesday.

Mr Editor, what is the size of this alternative budget, and what are the fiscal measures proposed that are supposed to be superior to that presented by the ULP Administration, to engender growth and fiscal sustainability?

Like most Vincentians, I miss their contributions in the House. We all would have loved to hear NDP’s perspective on the Budget, as espoused by their leader and economics guru. I tried to listen to their presentations, and almost every member in their shadow portfolio confused the budgetary response. They seemed to espouse a theme, ‘Nothing good is happening in SVG’.

I wish to pick up on some critical issues raised, and offer a perspective on some of those issues.

The Leader of the Opposition claimed that the Ralph Gonsalves Administration has cut spending on capital projects by $100 million for 2016, and this does not augur well for the creation of jobs for young people in this country. The government is spending $197.6 million this year, $100 million less than in 2015. He asked: How the economy going to grow? A good question, I will agree.

But I am reminded of the rhetoric of the same political leader in previous budget debates when he would have

chided the Prime Minister over the presentation of a bloated budget, given the fact that, according to the Opposition, he could not spend such a large capital budget, because history has shown that only between 60-65% of the capital budget is spent or implemented in one year. What if, this time, the PM has heeded his cry, and spends what is realistically doable?

The PM claims the heavy outlays have already been done for the airport, etc,., why then lament about the size of the capital budget this time? Isn’t it in keeping with the need for fiscal consolidation? I find some inconsistency here.

We have come to learn that growth and development will come from the capital side of the budget, and that the more money put into the capital side of the budget the more the government will do for the people. In other words, the contention is : more money means more growth. However, this is often not the case. If this were true, USA would never have gone through the worst recession since the Second World War, despite pumping $75 billion per month into the economy for years. They went from QE1 to QE infinity before the “green shoots of recovery” emerged. Money is critically important in the growth and development process, but what is critical to growth is what the money is spent on. Not all projects have similar impact on growth. As a reputable economist, Mr Eustace should know which projects have the biggest bang for the bucks spent, and the implication for growth and sustainable development.

I am getting the impression that government is the institution that should create jobs and single-handedly

reduce the unemployment situation in the country. Given the constraint of running a small, very vulnerable and open economy that is becoming more and more service-driven, any government will be hard-pressed to create much more employment. Look at the size of current public sector emoluments and its share of revenue.

In 2016, it accounts for $281.8 million out of a total recurrent expenditure of $565 million - nearly 50% of recurrent revenue. Add to this amortization and sinking fund contributions of another $139 million. What is left is just to do a little housekeeping.

Mr Eustace, given his usual rhetoric, will say this is not sustainable, and that government should bring its spending in line with what it gets in revenue. He has been hinting at fiscal consolidation all the time. His fiscal consolidation, I am left to believe, is to cut that huge wage bill. However, due to the fact that this is a politically sensitive issue, he cannot be bloody, bold and resolute and say it as it is. Honestly, how many more) can we create in the public service? Not many. So, it is back to the questions: How is the economy going to grow? How are we going to create jobs for the young people?

Any meaningful job creation, then, has to come from the private sector, harnessed to the public sector. The challenge arises when we consider that the private sector is too trapped in merchandising to wake up and behold new opportunities afforded them by recent and proposed development projects in the public sector.

The real onus of the government is the development of infrastructure: physical infrastructure and the financial infrastructure/architecture to

foster growth and ultimately jobcreation. How do these infrastructural services foster growth? Here is where “going-for-growth” capital projects, such as the airport and the geothermal projects, come into the picture. With the implementation of these projects the infrastructural services derived from them enter into the production functions of various private and public sector enterprises, thereby raising the marginal product of both capital and labour. These should lead to lower marginal cost and better returns to the enterprises. Just imagine what significantly lowered electricity cost to businesses could do for them. We could become very competitive in energy production and usage. Our feeble manufacturing sector could take off, and exportation of made-in-St Vincent products could boost our earning potential. Mr Eustace, you are very silent here. Why? In the area of financial infrastructure/ architecture, ours is bank-based. There is need for capital market development to provide other financial instruments to wean us of our dependence on bank loans to finance start-ups or expansions. We need to move in the direction of share capital and bonds to foster growth.

Furthermore, financial market development is an index used to tell how well developed an economy is.

Here, Mr Eustace, your silence is deafening. Show your financial economics skills. I hear him lament about government not giving much incentives to the private sector. I want to declare that the best incentives to be given to the private sector is infrastructure development (physical, financial and legal), and they will run with it.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. 13.

News

Bynoe will not be kept down But he is a fighter, with a strong faith in CARLOS BYNOE, a former God, and said with calm, Ministry of Agriculture “So from then on, I start employee, continues to living a different live a productive life, lifestyle.” despite being diagnosed Once diagnosed with with kidney failure a year Kidney failure, he sought ago.

Dialysis services at Bynoe, who hails from Health Solutions, Biabou, was first Beachmont, where, diagnosed with according to Bynoe, the Hypertension and staff is “quite Diabetes. He said he competent.” never thought he would He pays $1000 for two have ended up being a sessions each week. This kidney patient. he supports from his He admits that he personal savings, with took the signs for the help of his wife, and granted until October with assistance offered 2014 when he fell through the Mustique seriously ill. Even then, Charitable Fund. his kidneys were not an “Being without the issue, but they would kidneys, there are a lot eventually become so, of things that will take when, sometime later, he place, but it does not was informed that his mean that you cannot two kidneys had, for all have a productive life,” purposes, failed. said the Biabou native, Bynoe recalls not adding, “You don’t just feeling any pain, but sit down and worry remembers not being about it… you just get able to differentiate up and go about it every between day and night day, putting God in when he found himself at front, so when I wake up the hospital.

I ask his guidance.”

by KENVILLE HORNE

Carlos Bynoe is taking his kidney ailments in good stride.

Bynoe’s advice to Vincentians is, “If you get to know that you are diabetic or hypertensive, it is good to take your medication or cut down on your diet, (and) do regular visit to the doctor, because diabetes is a sickness that you don’t take chances with.

Just look at what happened to me.”

Tid Bits on Kidney Failure THE STAGES of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD ) are mainly based on measured or estimated GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate). There are five stages and they are: * Stage 1 - Kidney function is normal. * Stage 2 — Kidney function is minimal. * Stage 3 - There is moderate reduction in kidney function. * Stage 4 - There is severely reduced kidney function. * Stage 5 - Patients more or less have lost 85% of kidney function and would be diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

* Birth Defects * Injury to the Kidney * Issues with the arteries feeding the kidneys

* Backward flow of urine into the It is at Stage 5 when patients would kidneys require treatment through Haemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis or * Autoimmune disorders such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus a Kidney Transplant to survive.

The two most common causes of * Other kidney diseases Kidney Failure are Diabetes and/or High Blood Pressure (Hypertension).

(Source: Pauline GarabedianPossible other conditions which DeFreitas, Managing Director at contribute to kidney damage are: Health Solutions Inc.)

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. 15.

14. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Garifuna group hosts successful inaugural National Heroes Day in NY

Marsena Ballantyne, President of the Garifuna Indigenous People of Vincent and the Grenadines, Inc. St. Vincent Stor y and photos b y NEL Story by NELSON A.. KING SON A naking@v erizon.net; kingn naking@verizon.net; kingnakaking2 10@yahoo.com ing210@yahoo.com US C ORRESPONDENT CORRESPONDENT

A Garifuna Gar Jersey.

GAMA Dance Company of New Jersey.

Sandy MARSENA BALLANTYNE, BALLANT YNE, the Sandy ear-old, Bay-born one-year-old, Bay-born president president of the one-y Brooklyn, Ne wY or o k-based Garifu New York-based Garifuna na People St. Vincent and the IIndigenous ndigenous P eople of S t. Vince nt a nd th e Grenadines, Incorporated (GIPSVG, Grena dines, Incor porated (GIPS VG, Inc.),

ccessful, la st has described a ery su has ass vvery successful, last e group’s ina uguSaturday’s sstaging taging of th Saturday’s the inaugucelebration in National Heroes Da ral National Dayy celebration Br ooklyn.

Brooklyn.

“The event, being the first to be held

in New York, is deemed a success,” Ballantyne told THE VINCENTIAN about the cultural variety show and dance that also marked the group’s first anniversary.

“The main objective of the event was to bring together Vincentians in New York and surrounding areas, to honor the heroism of the Right Hon. Joseph Chatoyer, Paramount Chief of the Garifuna and National Hero of Sections of the audience.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and to celebrate that which is distinctly special about us as a people – our Donnette Lewis, the group’s vice Garifuna heritage,” she added about president, also told THE VINCENTIAN the event that was held at the Friends that, “When members first discussed of Crown Heights Educational Center. the first anniversary and what will be “I am of the view that we accom accom-the ideal celebration, National Heroes plished that objective,” Ballantyne Day came to thought. continued. “We had a great turn-out, “It was beyond expectation,” she said and the presentations by the artistes about Saturday’s event. “The crafts, the and performers were outstanding. food, the performances, the drumming, “The audience was interactive, which the GAMA Dance Company, which is usually a good sign,” she said. “It was filled in at the last minute, were great to see among the audience extraordinary. representations from the various “The expressions on our guests’ faces, Vincentian associations in New York as they looked on, and the bobbing of and from the Garifuna community.” their heads to the music, and their Additionally, Ballantyne said the willingness to participate were quality of the production was of a “high overwhelming,” Lewis added. standard.”

Besides the Greenburg, New

Vincentian Heritage on d display isplay

Haydn Billingy, Billingy, founder of HB Collections. b y WIL LIAM ‘K OJAH’ ANTHONY by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’

Skarpyon entertains.

VINCENTIANS and other visitors to these shores have a new choice of quality apparel.

They can check into HB Collections, located Upstairs Marcole Plaza in Kingstown.

There you will find a variety of T-shirts, tinged with a patriotic fervour. They are the designs of Haydn Billingy.

He is from the Garifuna heartland of Orange Hill, and has taken his representation of the Garifuna heritage to the international arena. He works with the United Nations Development Programme. And that base has

inspired him into adding to the nation’s fashion landscape. Billingy works along with local graphic artistes, and he is keen on documenting the nation’s rich history.

“I decided to put it on T/shirts, so that people would be more sensitised as to who we are,” Billingy told THE VINCENTIAN. He was taking part in a Garifuna Village, displayed on Heritage Square as part of the celebration of this year’s Heritage Month (March) activities.

His emphasis is on the Joseph Chatoyer legend and his apparel, aimed at maintaining top quality, depicting Garifuna tradition.

He opened his business earlier this year, and considers response as surpassing expecta expecta-tions.

Billingy thinks that the Garifuna here has been treated as coincidental.

“Our history, our contribution to this country, has been under played,” Billingy outlined.

Heartbeat Resistance Drummers added its flair to the variety of Vincentian heritage on display for the commemoration. Mwata Byron and Godric ‘Slim G’ Nichols, provided informa informa-tion on the group, formed nearly six years ago.

“We build drums for sale,” Byron said, and there were samples of their production on offer.

As the name suggests, they are a full-fledged drumming outfit, and have recorded three tracks, including ‘Balliceaux’, and ‘Khula Mandela’.

Heartbeat Resistance Drummers has

represented this country in Venezuela and Suriname.

They are based in Kingstown Park, but are committed to broader community develop develop-ment, and have adopted the preservation of the Belair Spa as one of their civic duties.

The Garifuna Village revealed aspects of environmental conservation with a cultural and artistic tinge. This featured Banana Art, which has been the hallmark of Nzimbu Browne.

His stock boast pieces of the Banana Art, as well as goat skin drums and tie-dye fabrics.

Browne, a calypsonian of some vintage, is proud of his Banana Art production. “The farmer sells the fruit. I take the rubbish and export,” Browne explained.

“I use the banana bush to tell a story. I depict history, heritage, environment, social atmosphere, all the traditions.

I add volcanic energy to my work,” Browne added. He outlined that his designs were based on the “Rainbow.”

The display also featured items of pottery made at the Craft Centre in Kingstown.

The mounting of the Annual Heritage Village is a collabora collabora-tive effort between The Garifu Garifu-na Heritage Foundation and various government ministries and departments.

Chief Joseph Chatoyer Dance Company performs. donna, described as “the original first lady,” wowed the audience with her diverse selections, including Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song.”

After performing a number of hits, Evesham-born Skarpyon brought the house down with the ever-popular “Hammer.”

Local delicacies – such as cassava bread (chokee bam bam), farine, dukuna, and doughboy, breakfruit and

Jersey-based GAMA Dance Company, led by Garifuna Eleanor Bullock, other artistes and performers included Belizean singer and songwriter James Lovell, a Garifuna; Chief Joseph Chatoyer Dance Company; reggae artiste Afari Haywood; the United Vincie Cultural Group of Brooklyn; soca artiste Edson ‘Lively’

by WILLIAM WILLIAM ‘K OJAH’ ANTHONY by ‘KOJAH’ McDowald; the multi-tal multi-tal-ented Primadonna VINCENTIAN STUDENTS Bascombe; and cultural ambassador, soca and ragga are being encouraged to get soca artiste and calypsonian into the things that shape their lives. Aldia Dyer, Shernelle ‘Skarpyon’ Coordinator of the History Williams.

Expo pointed to the staging of Edinboro native Prima Prima-the Local History Expo, as helping students in this regard.

She was at Victoria Park last Friday where the Local History Expo and a Folk Festival formed part of the Heritage Month series of activities.

Besides the historical perspectives, emphasis was on the cultural foundation, and spear-Maxine Browne, who spear headed that aspect pointed to the participation of some 330 students and significance of the collaboration among An HB Collections T T-shirt -shirt depicting institutions. an aspect of the Garifuna story story..

Booths featured different themes of the nation’s history, Below: The unique Banana Art of and countries with ties here, Nzimbu Browne. strength-used the occasion to strength en their links. The Republic of China on Taiwan ensured that their presence was felt, as they took the opportunity to depict segments of their craft. There was also a Japa-presence of Lebanese, Japa culture/heri-nese and Cuba culture/heri tage.

Local companies took advantage of the opportunity.

The Eastern Caribbean Group of Companies and the St. Vincent Brewery both displayed samples of their products.

Schools showed their enthusiasm with displays of varying aspects of past Vincentian lifestyles.

The St. Vincent Grammar

saltfish, and callaloo soup – were on sale, as patrons washed them down with sorrel, mauby and fruit punch.

In addition, handicraft items – such as placemats, coasters and baskets – were on display and on sale; and artists conducted paintings.

Ballantyne said proceeds “will benefit the indigenous communities north of the Rabacca River.”

Students retell SVG’s stor storyy School revisited the age of old rotary telephones.

There were depictions of scenes of whaling in Bequia by schools from that Grenadine island, and the Barrouallie Secondary School did not miss out on the The rotary telephones – seems like only opportunity to yesterday they were the ‘in thing.’ drive home the importance of their institution as it celebrates its 45th anniversary.

The Troumaca Ontario Secondary School displayed tools, including a hand-made stone axe found while excavation works were being done at the Cumberland Playing Field.

Striking back to a long, long time ago The Petit Bordel a stone axe that was uncovered at the Secondary chose to Cumberland Playing Field. highlight ‘the foods of our ancestors,’ as they featured bush tea, songs and dances. roasted grindy, roasted There were other musical breadfruit, fried robin (fish), renditions and chorale and cassava bread. speeches.

The West St. George Secondary School ‘reinvented our You’re Y ou’re o not local cuisine’.

Vincy V incy unless History and you ‘embrace’ cuisine apart, a good there was a serving of progression of roasted presenta-- breadfruit and cultural presenta tions with a focus fried fish. on Garifuna oin

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16. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Giving back to the elderly

Senior citizens relax while being entertained by a karaoke singer at D Tunnel on National Heroes Day 2016.

MANY OF OUR SENIOR citizens would have made their contributions to nationbuilding and may just have become unnoticed and remain unheralded.

Not so for one restaurant operator here.

Wran Gould, Executive Chef and proprietor of D’ Tunnel Restaurant, Bar and Lounge, located at Campden Park, made sure that at least some of this country’s senior citizens received the recognition and love of which they are deserving.

Appropriately, on March 14, National Heroes Day, Gould hosted a number of senior citizens from various communities in the South Leeward constituency, for lunch and a session of entertainment at D Tunnel.

He not only made his facility available to the senior citizens, but he also ensured that many of them were transported free of cost to the location.

“They have contributed, so I, as the Proprietor of D’ Tunnel, decided that this will be the way of giving back to those who have made their contribution to the community; to give back to those whom we so often pay little attention to,” Gould said when questioned about his motivatiomn to host the event.

His commitment to ‘giving back’ dates back before his return home following a ten-year stint abroad.

Gould said that he previously worked alongside popular radio personality Randy ‘Randy D’ Dopwell, assisting him in his annual visits to the shut-ins, and the Mental Health Centre, and feeding the homeless on Heroes Day. But now that he is home, Gould said that he has decided to do some

charitable work on his own.

Gould deemed last Monday’s event to be a success, and he said with a degree of assurance, that he intends to make the event an annual one – but he will be doing something different each time.

“Next year, maybe I will do something for the sports people, or the young ones – whatever it is, it will be an annual event,” he said.

Readers will recall that Wran Gould also managed and spearheaded the Wran Gould Culinary Institute, from which a number of young persons

graduated on their way to finding employment in the local hospitality industry and with cruise lines.

D’Tunnel is open seven days a week, serving lunch and dinner daily.

(DDD) Wran Gould, proprietor of D’ Tunnel, says he has begun something which he intends to make an annual affair.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. 17.

News

Ministry of Health in active anti-Zika drive THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, Wellness and the Environment, with support from a broad range of stakeholders, continues to intensify efforts to control the Aedes Agypti mosquito here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, in an effort to prevent the spread of Zika here.

Following the first confirmed case of the Zika virus here late last month, the Ministry conducted a rapid epidemiological assessment on Union Island. As part of this approach, three sets of workers were deployed to the Grenadines, following the case confirmation, to clean, fog and provide the relevant psychological support, as needed.

Surveillance has been heightened on that Grenadine island and also throughout the entire country.

Health promotion and vector control activities are ongoing, while testing of samples from patients suspected to have the virus, continues.

To date, 30 samples have been sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for testing. Of the 20 which have been returned, one tested positive and 19 negative for Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika. The results of the other 10 samples are yet to be returned.

Following the first Laboratory confirmation of Zika virus disease in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday, February 23, 2016, the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, through the Zika Action Committee, intensified its targeted approach to effectively tackle the Aedes Agyepti mosquito vector and the Zika Virus.

The Zika Action Committee multistakeholder approach is characterized by the Ministry partnering with other governmental agencies, the private sector and the wider population to promote source reduction of the Zika

virus vector, the An all-out war has been mounted here against the Aedes Aedes mosquito.

National clean-up Agypti mosquito, carrier of the Zika virus. campaigns have reduction and containment of the Zika continued throughout the country virus include household inspections, organized by community groups, in fogging, educational initiatives in collaboration with the Ministry of schools, churches and communities, Health, Wellness and the among others.

Environment. A major island wide clean-up campaign was undertaken in What is the Zika virus?

Rose Bank. Clean-up activities will see action in the Glen, Calliqua, and The Zika virus is spread primarily Stubbs communities. through the bite of an infected Epidemologist in the Ministry Dr. mosquito. These are the same Rosmond Adams is encouraging all Vincentians to continue to examine in mosquitoes that spread other viruses like dengue and chikungunya. Only and around their properties, and to destroy all mosquito breeding sites as about one in five people infected with the Zika virus will feel sick. In those we continue to fight against the Zika that do, symptoms are usually mild virus. and can include fever, rash, joint pain Other clean up activities will and red eye. continue simultaneously across St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

(Contributed by: Ministry of Health, Additional measures aimed at source Wellness and the Environment)

18. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. 19.

News

New National Heroes: Four names advanced THE ANNOUNCEMENT of this country’s next National Hero may be imminent.

This after Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said on Monday at the wreath-laying ceremony in honour of the current National Hero, Carib Chief Joseph Chatoyer, at the Obelisk at Dorsetshire Hill, that the chairperson of the National Heroes Advisory Committee, Rene Baptiste, had written to the Governor General, Sir Frederick Ballantyne, and had sent a copy to him.

The letter contained the recommendations with respect to the work done in identifying persons for elevation to National Hero status.

“And recommendations are made in respect of the status of four persons, George Augustus McIntosh, Ebenezer Theodore Joshua, Robert Milton Cato and Dr. John Parmenas Eustace,” the Prime Minister reported.

While the letter containing the recommendations has been acknowledged, Dr. Gonslaves said that he was yet to discuss the matter with either the Governor General or his Cabinet colleagues.

“I report on the process which is ongoing,” he told the gathering at the Obelisk.

Gonsalves urged that people should keep in mind the legal framework involved in the process of naming a national hero -- this included that the candidate must have displayed exceptional or extraordinary leadership qualities, and that their work must have made a profound difference in the betterment of the lives of Vincentians.

Meanwhile, John Horne, who addressed the gathering on behalf of the New

Democratic Party, and who remains a member of the National Heroes Advisory Committee, reiterated his and his party’s view that only one other person should be named National Hero at this time.

It was Horne’s position, that given George A. Mc Intosh’s overwhelming and uncontested contribution to his native land, that he should be named singularly as this country’s next national hero.

The national discourse on the naming of other National Heroes has been ongoing for some time.

Interestingly, Dr. Gonsalves, in a public lecture in 2013, made out a case in support of Robert Milton Cato, following which Jomo Thomas, ULP candidate in the Dec. 09, general election, and current Speaker of the House, resigned his position as a member of the National Heroes Advisory

Committee, stating vehemently his objection to Cato being accorded this country’s highest honour.

Recently, some persons here have raised with THE VINCENTIAN the subject of a National Honours System to replace the current British System of Honours..

One ardent reader of THE VINCENTIAN, reminded that a Bill related to this subject had had two readings in the House of Assembly before the New Democratic Party lost the election in 2001.

That issue, according to the reader, has not resurfaced in any singular manner since the ULP assumed the reins of government here. (DDD)

George Augustus Mc Intosh (1886 – 1963)

Ebenezer Theodore Joshua (1908 – 1991)

Robert Milton Cato (1915 – 1997)

Dr. John Parmenas Eustace (1905 – 1989)

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20. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Rushing into a judgement Dear George, I HATE HYPOCRITICAL women! I took this girl out on a date, in an effort to get to know her better. I was terribly disappointed.

We went to a ‘nice’ restaurant. When the main menu was brought to her, she sent it back, stating that she does not eat what was served. I had the menu returned to her, but she insisted there was nothing on it that suited her fancy. I asked politely if she was not going to have something to eat, and she just rudely replied that she would have rather gone to a more “high class restaurant”.

George, this is an individual who I saw eating at some wishy washy places in the past. She does not know what I know about her, and now, here she is trying to pretend she is this and that at my expense.

Anyway, I told her it was too late to find another place, and that we should call it a night. I paid for what I had to eat, and we left.

I have not called that woman since, and neither would I ever call her again. You see how some women can be their worst enemy? She will be wondering why she is still single into her twilight years.

It may be a bit unfair to judge her as being hypocritical. This is not Dear Disappointed, the end of the world, and it won’t hurt to give it The evening may have another try. turned out better, had Maybe, and just you found a way to get maybe, on a different day information from her as and with a different to her likes and dislikes menu, sparks could fly in when it came to eating. In this way, the your direction. situation which you described could have George been avoided.

Disappointed

DonÊt give in! leave me alone.

He harasses me every day — begging me to kiss PLEASE TELL MY BOYFRIEND to respect him. And when he says kiss, he is talking about my decision not to kiss deep kissing. I have him or have sex with kissed him on the cheek him before we are many times, but that is married. I am not that not enough for him. kind of a girl, and I do I know myself; my not have to give him a “sample”, as he puts it. I blood is very close to my skin. I am afraid that if am very sure about my quality, and if he cannot I kiss him, things will go further. I do not want to deal with that, he can

Dear George,

be put in that situation, and my word is final.

He is threatening to walk if I don’t change my stance, but he will be waiting forever for me to give in.

Upset Dear Upset, It is very important that you and your boyfriend be on the same page as it relates to sex and sex before marriage. You have your own set of values, and it will be disconcerting, once the person you are with carries a completely different, opposing set of values.

You have made your position clear to him from the start, and if he refuses to respect where you are coming from, and insists on getting you to backtrack, then probably he is not the right mix. If he wishes to walk, then do not stand in his way.

George

Seven years is too long Dear George, IT IS GOING in 7 years since I got engaged, and every time I bring up the subject of marriage, my fiancé tells me he is not ready.

If you are not ready for marriage, then why engage me and have me thinking marriage is around the corner? I am 34 years, and I am not getting any younger. I get the feeling I am just being played. What do you think?

Impatient lover Dear Imp/lover It is reasonable to expect marriage between one and two years after an engagement. Seven years is quite a stretch, and if he is not seriously discussing his intention in satisfactory detail, then you have to follow your gut feeling.

If his response tells you that the limbo will continue, then it is time to straighten yourself and re-do your to-do list.

George

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Do not let lovers cost you money or take advantage of you. You have more energy than the rest of the people you live with anyway. Social evenings at your place will be highly successful. You may find it difficult to communicate with someone at work.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Your questions will help you ferret out secret information. Take some time to change your house around. Take a look at your legal position. Concentrate on yourself or your work.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Your passionate mood will be well received by your mate. Protect your interests legally if necessary. You might have some problems balancing your books. Be careful not to confuse issues when discussing the matters at hand.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Someone is trying to pull the wool over your eyes, and if you're gullible, it may cost you. Don't overspend to impress others. Take a short business trip if possible. New romantic partners will evolve through group endeavors; however, the association may not be likely to last.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Spend time with your lover this week.

You need time to make things better.

Romance is likely if you participate in unusual forms of entertainment. Your mate will appreciate your honesty.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) You are best to look into investments that will grow in value over an extended period of time. You need to get out and have some fun to reduce tension. Travel for pleasure will be enticing. You can accomplish a great deal.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You could pick up valuable knowledge through conversations with experienced individuals. Partnerships will be successful. Try to put your money away for a rainy day. Changes in your home will be positive.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Get together with those you find men tally stimulating. This is a turning point.

You can make money through real estate or by using your head when it comes to personal investments. You need to look into some private matters before you can proceed with your plans.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Try to include the one you love in your plans this week. You're on the right track and you can make money if you are willing to go out on a limb. Try to spend some time on your own. Try not to allow others to burden you with additional responsibilities.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) The home environment will be unpredictable this week. Be careful not to come on too strongly. You should get out and meet new people this week. For best results get out of the office and do your job en route.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) You need to make changes that will raise your self-esteem, such as a new hairstyle or a new image. If you're feeling uncertain, spend some time alone and re-evaluate your motives as well as your needs. Things may not be as they sound. This is a great day for a trip.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Entertainment should include the whole family or a lot of your friends. Things will be hectic and family members will be erratic. Romantic encounters will develop through group activity. You need to get out if you want to meet potential partners.

ACROSS 1.Mulligan __ 5. Load cargo 9. Crack aviator 12. Soccer legend 13. Religious picture 14. Soccer mom’s transport 15. Singer McEntire 16. Diagnosis tools (abbr.)

17. South Bend’s state (abbr.)

18. Pretend (2 wds.

21. Sounds from a poor orator 22. “Here __ again!”

(2 wds.)

23. Wasp wound 26. George Sand, e.g.

(2 wds.)

30. Neptune’s domain 31. __ and don’ts 32. Small boy 33. Drinking vessel 36. Toothed wheels 38. Boxer Clay,

today 39. Adder’s quest 40. Like a 33 1/3 record (hyph.)

45. Harden 46. Precious stone 47. Book part 49. One, in French 50. Housing payment 51. Cheney’s alma mater 52. Scold constantly 53. Snappish 54. Paving block

energy 20. Very long time 23. Grounded 1.Flowery jet (abbr.) season 24. Iced drink (abbr.)

25. Actor 2. Abound Ziering 3. Napoleon’s 26. Protective exile compartment island 27. __ loss 4. Sap (2 wds.)

5. Tree trunk 28. Spoil extensions 29. Bradley 6. Land unit Asner 7. Crocheted 31.and as Fell, items melting ice 8. Navy officer cream 9. Tel __ Topeka’s st.

10.Peppermint 34.

35. Clinton’s stick vice 11. Stop president 19. Unit of DOWN

(2 wds.)

36. Gal’s partner 37. Dickinson and Post 39. Like most potato chips 40 Actress Olin 41. Cassini of

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. 21.

fashion 42. Director Fritz 43. Actress Patricia 44. Big party 45. Pistol 48. Second mo.

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22. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Business

Digicel lends a helping hand

Hopefully any awareness which we as Digicel participate in will assist in reducing the burden of cancer and subsequently lower the number of deaths caused by ON SATURDAY, March 12th, the staff of Digicel headed out in their cancer.”

Digicel Staff at the beginning of SCORCH Cancer walk.

The SCORCH Cancer numbers to support the SCORCH Foundation’s mission is to Cancer Support Group’s “Blazing the trail” SCORCH Cancer walk. So assist persons to offset some of Right: Patrice Hutchins (left) receiving cash prize from Digicel representative Jo-Anne Olliviere. much so, the telecommunications their medical expenses associated with company received honorable treatment for mention for being the largest cancer. registered/participating group.

Digicel moved Digicel also sponsored prizes swiftly after its for the Iron Man and Iron Woman challenge that was held involvement with SCORCH to at the end of the walk.

Bequia, to assist Digicel Marketing Manager the Sunshine stated, “We believe that cancer prevention is key to lowering the School there, in their Bingo chance of getting cancer. In Night, organized addition to the physical and to raise funds emotional distress caused by towards the cancer, the high costs of care is operation of the also a burden to patients, their school. families and to the public….

(From left): Honorary Consul for the Netherlands Miss Camille Crichton, CEO of the SVGCIC Mr. Anthony Regisford, H.E, Ambassador Jules Biji, and President of the SVGCIC Mr. Wayne Hull.

CIC receives visit

by Netherlands Ambassador AMBASSADOR His Excellency Jules Biji and Honorary Consul Miss. Camille Crichton of the Kingdom of the Netherlands recently paid a courtesy visit to the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SVGCIC).

They met with the president Mr. Wayne Hull and Executive Director Mr. Tony Regisford.

The discussions held explored avenues in which the Kingdom of the Netherlands could be of assistance to the Chamber in providing business support, capacity building and stimulating growth in the private sector.

Of specific interest was the training in critical areas of business management for entrepreneurs, start-ups and persons in established businesses.

Both parties have committed to moving the discussions forward to a tangible outcome.

An invitation was extended to the Chamber to attend a conference in Aruba, March 22nd — 24th on Public Private Partnerships (PPP’s).

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. 23.

Campbell turns Scorpions’ sting around

by E. GLENFORD PRESCOTT

Vale Playing Field on the weekend.

Campbell, a former STATISTICIANS are still West Indies Under 19 busying themselves over player, had scores of 135 whether Jamaica and 83* against the allrounder John Campbell Windward Islands became the first player in Volcanoes, and took regional cricket, to score a 5/106 in the second century and a half century innings, to power his and take five wickets in team to a comprehensive the same match, a feat he nine-wicket victory in the accomplished at the Arnos PCL match, March 11-

Table Tennis achieves milestone THE ST. VINCENT and the Grenadines Table Tennis Association is basking in the accomplishment of having seven nationals successfully complete the International Table Tennis Federation Certified Level 2 Coaching Course.

The seven are Sean Stanley, Joseph Carrington, Rodney Caruth, Kendol Charles, Deighton King, David ‘Sky’ Llewellyn and Romano Spencer.

The course, conducted here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, making this country one of the very few countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region where the course has been held, also included participants Chris Wells of St. Lucia and Jason Stanislaus of Grenada. They joined the seven Vincentians in successfully completing the eight-day course, March 5 — 12, 2016.

Course conductor, Georg Silbersmidt of Switzerland, during a short closing ceremony, was moved to remark that it was a “record” in the Latin American/ Caribbean region, to have had so many persons, at a single sitting, being successful in this International Table Tennis Federation programme.

He alluded to previous courses, held elsewhere in the region, in which none of the participants was successful.

The course required participants to study a detailed course/training document prior and during the eight-day course, which also saw participants involved in carefully monitored routines and drills.

Tennis officials here are pleased with the outcome, and view it as another milestone in the Association’s ongoing effort to ensure that it has the capacity to drive the sport’s development and effectively deliver progammes.

Course participants also had to demonstrate their fitness to deliver what they had learned.

14, 2016.

SCORES: Jamaica Scorpions 445 &143/1, Windward Islands Volcanoes 233 & 350.

Opening the innings, Man of the match - John Campbell, a 22Campbell. year-old leftDevon Smith offers full face of the bat. hander, powered his way to a follow on, that Campbell (24); 58 for the third commanding century, stole the limelight with wicket with Andre made on a pitch which the ball, with 5/106 in McCarthy (20); and 53 offered some turn, but 37.1 overs, to help bowl with Jermaine was slow for the most them out for 350. Devon Blackwood (27). part.

Smith led the way with Devon Thomas, 122, “It was hard to drive on, and it was keeping a and captain Paul Palmer 126, Jelarni Robinson 64, Liam Sebastien 52* and Jr. 82 added 177 for the bit low at times…you Kavem Hodge 45. had to move towards the sixth wicket, to see the Smith and Robinson ball to get to drive…and Scorpions to their commanding first innings added 131 for the second even today still (fourth wicket, taking the total day) it is still not easy to total.

Delorn Johnson, 4/84, from 46/1 to 177/2. Smith drive…but I will still say batted 283 minutes, it was a good wicket,” he was the Volcanoes’ best faced 270 balls and stuck bowler. said minutes after eight fours.

The Volcanoes were lashing the winning Delorn Johnson, 4/84, Set 138 for victory, then dismissed for 233, boundary.

Windwards’ best His first innings score with Sunil Ambris’ even Campbell and Shacaya bowler.

50 being the top score.

Thomas (52) made light of 135 came in 267 work of the target in Debutant Gidron Pope proceedings. minutes off 192 balls, adding 133 for the first was bowled for 14 by Man of the Match with 15 fours and two wicket. But a boundary Nikita Miller. Damion Campbell batted 126 sixes. He featured in Jacobs finished with 5/95 by Blackwood and a flat- minutes, faced 97 balls three half century batted six into the Mike and struck six fours and partnerships: 72 for the and Miller 4/90.

Findlay Pavilion by It was when the four sixes in his second wicket with unbeaten 83.

Barbadian Kirk Edwards Volcanoes were asked to Campbell, ended

Umpire Butler pleased after first game STANDING in his first, first class match, the Windwards Volcanoes versus Jamaica Scorpions played at his home ground the Arnos Vale Playing Field, Vincentian umpire Deighton Butler is pleased with his showing, and is looking forward to a long career.

Butler, who played 5 One Day Internationals for the West Indies, and is a former Windward Islands captain, said he was expecting this, following good reports on his umpiring at the youth level.

His partner on his first, first class outing was Gregory Braithwaite of Barbados, an international umpire. Roger Davis was the reserve umpire.

“For me, it was a good feeling, especially after my international and first class cricketing days. I felt very proud to start my career at this level in front of my home crowd,” a beaming Butler said.

Butler believes the few games, e.g. West Indies age group tournaments, in which he stood on his way to this achievement, and the workshops he attended since retiring from regional cricket, equipped him with confidence going into this new

level.

“When I found out I will be doing a game on field this season, the feeling was wonderful… great, because that’s what I was looking forward to, ever since I started umpiring…making it onto the B panel,” Butler disclosed.

“I an always looking forward… to go as far as possible … to be the best I can be at all times,” Butler assured.

When asked what he could bring to the effort aimed at lifting the standard of umpiring here and in the region, Butler responded: “Umpires are human, and they will make mistakes; but personally, I work hard on my fitness so as to help me concentrate for four days, six hours per day. I believe I could bring something good to the table, that will help lift the standard in the West Indies.”

Deighton Butler began his umpiring career 2011.

I.B.A.ALLEN Deighton Butler has made a smooth transition from being an international cricketer to be a full-fledged cricket umpire.

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24. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Avenues and Volcanoes take National Club Football titles Avenues U-17 team and officials.

Volcanoes will taste Premiership football in the next National Club Championships.

AVENUES UNITED and Volcanoes claimed two of

the titles which have been 2016 St Vincent and the decided so far in the 2015- Grenadines Football

Federation National Club Championships.

Decision time last Sunday, March 13, at the Victoria Park, Avenues took the Under-17 title and Volcanoes the First Division crown.

Avenues saw off Layou 2-1 in extra time, after both were locked 1-1 at regulation time.

Trivis Fraser had put Avenues ahead with a sixth minute penalty, but Leon Wickham Junior, son of former national senior team member Leon Wickham,

equalised in injury time, to send the match into extra time.

Layou, though, suffered the agony of defeat when Ziani Samuel turned the ball into his own net.

In the second final of the day, Kingstownbased Volcanoes came away 3-2 winners over Richland Park Pride and Joy. Cruz Young, Casnell Duncan and Arthur LaBorde registered for Volcanoes, while Kelroy Frederick and Nalroy

Adams takes 32-mile cycling road race

Peter Durrant recorded his fourth consecutive win in the four races thus far.

COMPLETING his first race for the 2016 calendar of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cycling Union, Cammie Adams not only completed his first race for the 2016 Calendar of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cycling Union, but in doing so, claimed victory in that 32mile race last Monday, National Heroes Day. Adams was also the winner in the 2015 event, which then was contested over 28 miles.

His winning time on this occasion was 1 hour 53 minutes 48 seconds, just managing to pip second place Peter Durrant, who clocked 1 hour 53 minutes 50 seconds.

The two boxed out the Zefal

Bailey, who had to settle for the third spot this time around, after having won the three previous races. His time was 1 hour 53 minutes 57 seconds.

Canadian Charles Viel, riding for the first time in a local cycling race, clocked 1 hour 54 minutes 10 seconds in fourth place.

Placing fifth was Lucy Antrobus in 2 hours 02 minutes 09 seconds, and the last to complete the distance in s sixth position was Okeyra Sylvester. His time 2 hours 20 minutes 0. 78 seconds.

Peter Durrant again won the trophy for the Masters category. He was the lone one on the podium in this category.

Monday’s race took place in what

has become the preferred route of the organisers, as the cyclists circuited the Ratho Mill to the Arnos Cammie Adams – Vale Round winner of the 32About route mile cycling road eight times, race last Monday. with the finish line at Villa Flat.

The next event for the Cycling Union will be in April. The date will be announced in the coming weeks, as the SVG Cycling Union is still negotiating with a sponsor.

Lindon James, founder of and chief instructor at the Be-Fit programme.

fitness programme ‘Be-Fit, last year June 9th , the programme has attracted over 100 persons,” James added.

“My workout is complete body training which involves cardio, legs, stomach, core, upper body, aerobics, from Mondays to Thursdays,” he explained, quickly adding that, “I do it with a purpose, I do it smart. …. by channeling the same approach from cricket into the training.”

And how does he feel about the response? “I feel good about the progress. What satisfy me most is the number of persons who have joined the group since it started.

They have joined to improve their fitness and health benefits, and also the discipline,” he said.

“The results are amazing, and

Under-15 final cricket squad released

this is a reflection of the work the participants have been putting in.”

James expressed.

He has no doubt that the professionalism that characterizes the programme’s delivery, is also a major contributor to the success to date.

James believes that Vincentians are generally more health conscious today than ever before.

He encourages persons to get involved with fitness trainers and groups.

“This can only lead to healthier lives,” he advised.

Be-Fit movement sessions take place at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex from Monday to Thursday from 2.30 p.m each day.

A 20-man national Under 15 training squad has been selected to continue preparation for the upcoming Windward Islands Under 15 tournament, to be held in Dominica next month.

The early selection is a new approach to give the travelling players more time for specialized training with coaches.

The preparation of the Under 15 also includes a Mentorship programme.

The squad reads: Romando Browne, Jahiel Walters, Newton Browne, O’Jay Matthews, Devon Peters, Handel Roban, Dwayne Henry, Irvin Warrican, Jerdon Jacobs, Luke Wilson, Shamar Conliffe, Ronal Jeffery, Desroy Hooper, Camarlo Cain, Benzino Williams, Kimron Straugh, Azar Williams, Coby Dabreo, Zevron Bobb, Davian Matthews.

Training continues on Mondays and Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m., and on Saturdays at 9 a.m. , at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex.

I.B.A.ALLEN

I.B.A.ALLEN

JamesÊ ÂBe-FitÊ movement taking off FORMER Windward Islands and SVG cricket captain Lindon James is looking to make further contributions to SVG, this time in the area of fitness.

James, a regionally renowned wicket-keeper/batsman, who was a member of the then Stanford Elite T20 team, has decided to put his wicket keeping gloves and bats aside for a while, as he is now channeling his efforts in a total body fitness campaign.

His effort in this regard began with him assisting a few persons with their fitness. That has since developed into a leading fitness programme here.

“Basically, I started with a couple people who were trying to go into the army in England about three years ago,” James said.

“Since the official launch of the

Peters scored for Pride and Joy. Both Volcanoes and Pride and Joy head to the Premier Division of the next edition of the National Club Championships.

It will be the first time for Volcanoes in the top flight of local football, while Pride and Joy will return to the place they occupied in 2013.

Pride and Joy, First Division champions in 2012, was relegated after a lone season in the premiership.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. 25.

Sports

Just like that THE WEST INDIES swing into action again Sunday, March 20, this time against Sri Lanka.

With the Super Ten forming the quarterfinal, competition for the top two spots in each group will be brutal.

The tournament is building. The results reflect what has been said, and the glorious uncertainties continue.

No one could have expected that a total of 183 could have been made to look like a cake walk.

The day before, India, touted as potential champions, were humbled in their own backyard by a trio of New Zealand spin bowlers who were not expected to create any havoc.

Bangladesh was earmarked to show improvement, having emerged through the Associate ranks.

Yesterday, Sri Lanka faced Afghanistan who have turned out to be the dark horse in the race.

Australia kick start their campaign today against the same Kiwis who rocked the world in their opening encounter against India. England have a chance to shrug off the Gayle onslaught against South Africa today.

There will be more than cricket at stake when India and Pakistan meet in Saturday’s drama.

The West Indies play South Africa Friday March 25. Every match will be a final, and that’s how it will be for the semis. No one can say who the finalists will be. No team can believe that they will be in the final.

West Indian supporters will be buoyed by the result of the first match. There is no space for anyone to begin to feel complacent.

There could be interruptions from the weather, and situations can change.

Jamaica will be pleased with the pitch they encountered at Arnos Vale, and they took advantage of the conditions to pile sufficient runs to put the Windwards out of contention.

Their response was not a true reflection of the potential of Windwards players. They failed to grasp the situation, and that match ought to have been determined on one innings only. The Windwards displayed a lack of incision, and the Jamaicans cashed in. There was no reason why the Windwards batsmen ought not to have done the same thing. But a sense of carefree abandonment overtook the Windward batsmen, and they lacked the mental fortitude to adjust to the state of the game.

I missed out on Sunday’s version of the encounter. I was diverted to something of a tribute paid to former president of the North Leeward Sports Association Julius Anthony.

That event took place nearly in the vein that Jules would have arranged it, except that consideration for the match at Arnos Vale might have been more circumspect.

Nevertheless, with Heritage Day following, there was enough amplitude for activities to be staggered. So missing the Windwards’ opportunity to stage a recovery could be viewed as a sacrifice in homage to the changing of the guard. A new executive has been chosen to carry on the works of promoting sports in that district.

The decision to pay honour to their former president is testimony of their appreciation of the role he played over a period.

North Leeward has projected itself talent base.

There may be a sense of disenchantment when having to handle matters pertaining to North Leeward. Jules has relinquished the burden of task master in the district, satisfied that he has cultivated a cadre of individuals and culture on which they can build. The new crop has been nurtured, and with their energies and creativity, there is bound to be an infusion of novel activity.

The nation will benefit.

SVGFF completes executive committee

by E. GLENFORD PRESCOTT AFFILIATES of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) on Tuesday, elected the five Committee Members to bring the Executive to full complement.

The five members who were elected at a Special General Meeting at the Federation’s office are: Dwight Roberts, John Hinds, Ottnel Douglas, Wayne Grant and Yosiah Dascent.

Roberts and Douglas were returned from the Newly elected SVGFF Committee last executive, while Members (R-L): Dwight Roberts, John Grant, Hinds and Hinds, Yosiah Dascent, Ottnel Douglas Dascent are making and Wayne Grant. their debuts in national knowledge with our other football administration. members would make a good The five now bring the executive to 11members, as team,” Coombs said. stipulated by the organisation’s Meanwhile, the SVGFF will Constitution. host another Grassroots programme this weekend, as it A total of nine persons were continues with its plan to move nominated by Affiliates to fill the sport forward. the five spots.

The course will be conducted The unsuccessful candidates

by FIFA Instructor Lenny Lake were Dexter Walker, Earl and will run from Friday to Bennett, Lorson Lewis and Sunday, at the Arnos Vale Rosalo McKie. Playing Field.

President Venold Coombs, as well as vicepresidents Otashie Spring, Marvin Fraser and Wade Jackson, were elected at the Annual General Meeting in November. Committee members, Dominique Stowe and Dwight Baptiste were later named to the executive as the president’s Appointees, as per the Constitution.

Speaking following the meeting which was attended by 34 affiliates, Coombs welcomed the new members and made special mention of Hinds, whom he identified as being the Federation’s point man as far as refereeing is concerned.

Coombs said that with the completion of the executive, the SVGFF will now move forward with its plans and programmes.

“We have a lot of work to do to develop football here, and with these guys who I know as honest, hardworking and committed to football, we can do a lot….and their

President Venold Coombs (L) reiterated his intention to work with anyone who has the interest of football at heart, even his presidential rival, Michael John (R).

26. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016. 27.

Classifieds

DOROTHY DUBLIN New Grounds SDA Church Sunday 20th March, 2016 2:00 p.m.

BERTRAM LEONARD THOMAS Kingstown SDA Church Thursday 17th March, 2016 3:00 p.m.

GARFIELD EARDMAN CODOUGAN

FRANCINE FREDERICK DOUGLAS

Mt. Tabor Spiritual Baptist Church Sunday 13th March, 2016 2:00 p.m.

6W 3DWULFN¶V $QJOLFDQ Church Saturday 12th March, 2016 3:00 p.m.

F O R

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

S A L E

FRIDAY,

MARCH 18, 2016

VOLUME 110, No.12

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EC$1.50

BAICO POLICY HOLDERS STILL WAITING the amounts to which policy holders will be entitled. He laid out a LOCAL POLICY HOLDERS table of activities which in British American indicates that pay out Insurance Company should begin by (BAICO), will have to wait July/August. until August 2016, to see A number of factors if they are in with a affect that outcome, and chance of recovering on Glasgow was cautious their investments. not to raise hopes too That’s the information high when he addressed they received last BAICO policy holders Tuesday when they last Tuesday. attended a meeting with At best, members can Judicial Manager Brian get 27 percent of their Glasgow. investment, but even That session ended that will be determined with hopes that the by other factors. policy holders will be Glasgow expressed entitled to some of the disappointment with the investments they made knowledge that some of with the insurance the monies he company. anticipated would have But the August date been in the tranche for provides more hope than payment, have not been realistic expectations. forthcoming. He would Brian Glasgow have liked to have more expressed caution as to money to take care of

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY

investors with BAICO. Additionally, there are matters before the courts, and Glasgow expressed scepticism about the outcome of those battles. And though reluctant to detail the matters before the court, he did confirm that one such matter involved the Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (RBTT).

Attempts to secure as much of the assets of BAICO as possible have met with legal obstacles.

BAICO is registered in the Bahamas, with branches in members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. There are complications as to the legal apparatus through which claims on assets can be made.

Glasgow pointed out

that St. Vincent and the Grenadines had advanced its legal requirements, but other countries were yet to complete the process.

A number of meetings in the OECS this week will hopefully speed up the passage of legislation so as to harmonise the effort to realize payments to outstanding clients.

Sessions with BAICO policy holders were also held in St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Nevis, Grenada, Dominica, Grenada, Antigua and Anguilla.

Some policy holders who attended the session here were cynical about the proceedings. One person was “disappointed.”

Another was happy to know what was taking place, but he felt that the

Judicial Manager Brian Glasgow did all he could, given what he has to work with, to assure BAICO policy holders that some level of payment will be made this year.

information provided offered little hope of any meaningful recovery on their investments.

Glasgow was supported by KPMG’s Bermuda counterpart Mike Morrisson, and Vincentian colleague Reuben John.

The debacle involving BAICO stemmed from the collapse of its parent company Clico Financial Ltd, following which BAICO was put into liquidation in 2009.

Reimbursements to persons holding investments of EC$30,000 and less with

BAICO were paid in 2015. Expectations were then, that the higher end investors would have been dealt with by this time.

In the meantime, given the intricate jurisdictional system in which BAICO policy holders can operate, it is difficult for persons to lay their hands on any legitimate documentation that could advance their cause.

BUILDING COLLAPSES: Road blocked

Clearing the debris was still ongoing as THE VINCENTIAN went to press, Thursday morning.

The remains of the Burke Building after its frontal surface fell unto the road.

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

ROAD BLOCKS, it seems, have become a part of the Vincentian landscape.

And while, in fact, that may be characterised in the main by persons choosing to interfere with the free flow of

vehicular traffic as a means to a political end, the most recent road block was not occasioned by any such sentiment.

Continued on Page 6.

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.