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FRIDAY,

NOVEMBER 13, 2015

VOLUME 109, No.46

www.thevincentian.com

by DAYLE DA SILVA PRIME MINISTER and Political Leader of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) Dr Ralph Gonsalves is promising the electorate of this country a campaign that is focused solely on the issues.

Speaking at a rally last Saturday at the Grammar School Playing Field, Gonsalves said that the candidates on his side will be dealing with the issues and not petty personalities.

“We are not going down in the gutters,” he said.

Clad in a black suit, which signalled that that was going to be the occasion when the much anticipated election date was going to be announced, Gonsalves told party supporters that the elections were not going to be about lies, innuendoes, scurrilities nor empty slogans posing as policies.

Continued on Page 3.

PM asks for forgiveness ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.

So said Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves at last Saturday’s Unity Labour Party (ULP) political rally at the Grammar School playing field.

He told party supporters gathered that he was instructed by God that he must build on what was good in him, to confess and to seek forgiveness.

“And I have gone to Him and to thank Him for all the blessings that He has given to me and our country,

and to say how sorry I am that we have not done better, even though we have done our best.”

He continued, “To those whom we have helped, I say it is our duty to have helped, and we thank God for giving us the strength and the resources to have helped. And where I have wronged anyone, anyone who is close to me, anyone in my family or comrades or people of St Vincent and the Grenadines, I know that you know that my heart is good; that my mind is strong, and that I go to my

Father who is in heaven for additional guidance and strength for the journeys ahead.”

He said that the party had done well, but that there was always better to be done, and that despite the human frailties and resource limitations, the journey has been a good one. (DDD) Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves appealed to those he might have wronged, to recognise the goodness in his heart and forgive him.

EC$1.50

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2. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Digicel APPSEEKER and more now available

The fully redesigned My Digicel App allows you to manage your mobile device easier, providing you with everything you need in one place.

DIGICEL CUSTOMERS across the globe can discover and enjoy the latest and greatest apps, with the launch of Digicel AppSeeker.

Available as a free download from Google Play and pre-loaded on Digicel-branded DL810 and DL1000 smartphones, Digicel AppSeeker is a new fully

customisable app which makes navigating the world of apps easy.

By helping customers get to the content they really want quickly, and suggesting apps they might be interested in based on their preferences, Digicel AppSeeker is a handy tool for all customers looking to enhance their

smartphone experience.

And in other apprelated news, Digicel is also pleased to announce the availability of the My Digicel self-care application on the Apple App Store.

John Delves, Digicel Commercial Director for the Caribbean and Central America, explains; “With Digicel AppSeeker and the My Digicel app, we are opening up the world of apps to our customers, and helping them to get the best out of their smartphone experience.

Whether it’s educational, leisure, information, music or entertainment apps the customer favours — they are all available and easy to find. With app suggestions made based on user preference, featured apps and top app charts, customers have a wealth of content

Digicel AppSeeker makes navigating the apps world so much easier. available to them, and can unlock their digital potential with a simple tap of the screen.”

The apps can be found as follows: MyDigicel on Apple App Store at https://itunes.apple.com/ us/app/mydigicel/id10394 60951; AppSeeker on Google Play at https://play.google.com/st ore/apps/details?id=com.i ronsource.appcloud.appst ore.digicel

Lewis Punnett Home receives donation THE MEN AND WOMEN housed at the Lewis Punnett Home have benefited, once again, from the benevolence of a New York-based group.

Jems Hope for Home, a philanthropic organization headed by President Mrs. Carol Simmons, recently donated care packages to that institution.

The care packages, which included wheel chairs, walkers, toiletries, adult pampers, cleaning products, etc., were handed over by Deputy Health Planner in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, Miss Tamara Bobb, on behalf of the group.

Sister Ellen Wilson, Departmental Manager at the Lewis Punnett Home, accepted the donation and expressed gratitude for the timely donation.

New York-based members of the Jems Hope for Home group raise funds that are used to benefit Vincentians.

In the recent past, the group has made several donations, inclusive of nebulizers for use at several health centres, to the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment.

The packages were shipped with the kind assistance of Standard Shippers.

Sister Ellen Wilson, Departmental Manager at the Lewis Punnett Home (right), accepts the donation from Tamara Bobb, Deputy Health Planner in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. 3.

News 3

Illegal voters Not a fly-by-night company, says Stewart thrown off list

by DAYLE DA SILVA

extremities of the mainland, particularly in the Northern STEWART ENGINEERING is no-fly-by sections of both the Leeward night company. and Windward side of the So said Managing Director of the island. company, Glenford Stewart, in Consultants from Stewart response to a comical drawing of the Engineering were sent to modern hospital proposed for collaborate with experts in construction by the New Democratic the United States, Canada, Party (NDP).

Trinidad and Tobago and the He was speaking at a press United Kingdom, he said. conference held last Wednesday by “So tell me, when we the NDP. design something, don’t go “Over two years ago, we started and take our design and botch Glenford Stewart (2nd from right), makes his case in support of his gathering information and began it up and say it comes from consulting with professionals Farmville nonsense, rubbish,” Company’s integrity, with his son, Johann Stewart (right). around the world, on the design of a he asserted. state of the art hospital in St Stewart cautioned the Vincent and the Grenadines,” Arnhim Eustace. creator of the drawing, saying that Stewart said.

“When I take instructions, I that individual would pay the price He was responding to a drawing of self-shame and self-pity. deliver,” Stewart said. which appeared on the social media Another principal of Stewart He further stated that while the website Facebook, in which company depended on its reputation Engineering, Johann Stewart, a someone had ‘photo-shopped’ the to survive, he was not going to take Civil/Structural Engineer and son of design of the facility for it to the Managing Director, added that any legal action against the resemble a farm building on the the company had developed a individual who was responsible for popular game ‘Farmville’. reputation over the years, and has botching the design.

According to the Managing worked on a number of local and Most of the company’s clientele, Director, specific attention was regional projects. he said, and over 80 percent of the given to the lack of proper access to income generated are from clients He explained that the design for health facilities to persons living in outside St Vincent and the the hospital was done from scratch. the Grenadines and in the “We know that a person took a Grenadines.

“They keep us alive, so we photo of the back view, ‘photo shopped’ it (and) put Farmville on are not going to waste our it. This is so comical; the animals time to go after the technician who botched, who are taller than the building, so you took some photo-shop of our know it is fake,” he said.

“We consider this highly project and tried to rubbish it. I am not concerned about dishonest and disrespectful and something to defame a company him and his ability to do that has been adding to projects that, but of his future,” and works to this country for some Stewart said.

He further contended that time,” Johann Stewart continued.

Last week, Leader of the the design was a Opposition Arnhim Eustace comprehensive one, and An artist impression of the state of the that it was speeded up for responded to the posting by inviting art hospital proposed for construction those who doubted the authenticity completion some six under an NDP government, that was of the design to view the drawings months ago, on the made fun of on Facebook. instructions of NDP leader, first hand.

by DAYLE DA SILVA

Hospital location not disclosed

LEADER of the Opposition and Political Leader of the New Democratic Party Arnhim Eustace has revealed that five of the six individuals whom he exposed on live radio earlier this year, have been removed from the voters list.

The six were identified by Eustace, Parliamentary Arhnim Eustace, Representative for East Political leader of Kingstown, as having been the NDP raised registered to vote in that concern about constituency, but were not continuing eligible to do so. attempts to He went public with the names on the August 31 edition register persons outside of their of the ‘New Times’ radio programme, aired on NICE correct radio. constituencies.

And while speaking on the said programme on Monday of this week, Eustace confirmed that five had been taken off the list.

The Leader of the Opposition had initially threatened to take legal action against any individual who was discovered to have registered in a constituency where they were not eligible to do so.

However, Supervisor of the Elections, Sylvia Findlay subsequently said that in her opinion, legal action was not relevant, saying that there have been instances before where concerns have been raised over the legality of the registration of individuals, and they have all been dealt with by the Office of the Supervisor of Elections.

Meanwhile, Eustace continued on his programme, stating that proper checking was not being done by the registering officers.

He further charged that the practice of attempting to register individuals in constituencies to which they do not belong was continuing in selected zones.

He identified South Leeward, where he said there was a large number of transfers and new registrants, as one being targeted.

Eustace further stated that he had received a telephone call from a Vincentian national who resides in the United States, who informed him that she was approached to vote in that country.

“We agreed that nothing would be done up there, but the individual said that she was approached last weekend…so all sorts of things are going on,” Eustace said.

He said that he had written to the Supervisor of Elections notifying her of the information that he had received and urging her to find out what was going on in the US.

MEMBERS of the New reasons.” mentioned that the facility East St George. (DDD) Democratic Party (NDP) The NDP unveiled a will be placed in the are remaining tight-lipped design for a modern constituency of East St on the precise location of medical facility, estimated George, however, an exact the proposed state of the to cost $75 million, at a location was never art modern hospital. political rally at the mentioned.

The NDP’s Shadow Calliaqua Playing Field on Cummings, while Minister of Health and October 31. addressing members of the Continued from Page 1. and not about character assassination, Parliamentary At that meeting, it was press and supporters at he posited.

Representative Wednesday’s He proceeded to announce that the “These [elections] are about the for West briefing, referred to a next General Elections would be held public welfare, not private warfare; Kingstown, report of the findings on December 9, and that Nomination these are about jobs and safety, not Daniel of a consultation Day was set for November 20. about sex and dutty commess, not about Cummings, said conducted here and He assured that he had already who is gay and who is straight,” at a press consented to the Governor General to funded by the World Gonsalves said. dissolve Parliament.

The elections, according to briefing on Bank, published in “We in the ULP, we are not going Gonsalves, are about selecting suitable Wednesday that July 2014, but was down that road; you will not hear any of candidates to govern the people for the the party had never made public. us pulling down anyone on the NDP next five years, and not about their identified an According to (New Democratic Party) slate or its spouses and the like. exact location Cummings, the platform. We are not going to do that.

“When it is over, we must be able to in the consultants had “We will not make any personal look back with pride on our endeavour,” constituency of identified several attacks on anyone; you will not hear and he cautioned the people not to get East St George ideal locations for the from our platform who is sleeping with too worked up as there was life long for the facility, NDPParliamentary Representative for placement of such a who, or who is after this man or after the season had ended. but said that facility.

West Kingstown, Daniel Cummings woman, and who beg who for sex,” he Finally, he made an appeal not to try they were not One location (left) with his colleague MP St. Clair continued. to win the elections at all costs. going to disclose Leacock, addressing last Wednesday identified was in The elections are about the issues “Such a win would not be worth it; it “for obvious the constituency of press conference. relating to roads, education, and health, let us win with dignity,” he said.

Gonsalves promises a different type of campaign

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4. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Seven charges of manslaughter formally laid involved in the accident; the conductor Ehud THREE MEN were taken Myers, also a pastor of before the Serious that church; and the Offences Court on driver, Ravanan Nanton, Wednesday charged on of Fancy, made a brief seven counts of appearance before Chief manslaughter by Omission, Magistrate Rechanne in relation to the horrifying Browne-Matthias, January 12, 2015 Rock shortly after being Gutter tragedy. formally charged.

Colbert Bowens, The trio has been Principal of the Fancy charged with, by an Government School and Omission, caused the Assistant Pastor of the deaths of Glenroy Fancy Apostolic Faith Michael, Jamal Edwards, Mission, the church Jamalie Edwards, which owned the minibus Anique Alexander,

by HAYDN HUGGINS

Racquel Ashton, Shanstacia Stay and Simonique Ballantyne, all students of the North Windward village of Fancy.

The men were not required to plea to the charges, and were each released on $20,000 bail.

The matter was adjourned to January 21, 2016 when the men will return to the Serious Offences Court.

Attorney Duane Daniel appeared on Bowen’s behalf. The

Ravanan Nanton others were unrepresented.

A five-member jury at the conclusion of a Coroner’s Inquest at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on November 3, arrived at the verdict that the students’ deaths were the result of Manslaughter by Gross Negligence, for which Bowens, Nanton and Myers were culpable.

The trio were each released on $20,000 bail to show up at the Central Police Station at

Dickson for post-election day in court Dickson was scheduled to appear at the Kingstown NOEL DICKSON, the Magistrate’s Court on man contesting the South Windward seat for November 5th to answer a civil action brought the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) against him by in the upcoming general Questelles resident Akiyama Johnson, for elections, will have to damages caused to her face the court the day vehicle. after the elections.

by HAYDN HUGGINS

However, when the matter was called, Magistrate Carla James indicated that Dickson’s lawyer, Kay BacchusBrowne, had requested, by letter, an adjournment, as she was out of the country.

The matter was then adjourned to December

Win, lose or draw, Noel Dickson will have to answer to the Court.

10, the day after Vincentians go to the polls.

The law firm of Marks and Marks is representing Johnson who claims that on December 17, 2014, Dickson negligently drove his vehicle causing it to collide with her vehicle in the Sion Hill area, causing extensive damage and necessitating the replacement of parts. As a result, she had to use alternative transportation.

According to the claim form, she had sought compensation in the sum of $5,215.50, but, to date, Dickson has failed and/or refused to compensate her. As a result, she instructed her solicitors to take legal action.

Colbert Bowens 9am, November 10, to be processed and formally charged.

The charges were laid on Wednesday by Station Sergeant Junior Nero of the Traffic Department of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSPF).

The charges stemmed from an incident January

Ehud Mayers 12 at Rock Gutter, an area between Fancy and Owia, in which a minibus, travelling from Fancy in the direction of Georgetown, ran off the road and plunged into the sea, claiming the lives of the seven students. Several others sustained injuries.

Resort guest robbed at gun point PAULA PHILLIPS is a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago. She arrived in St. Vincent around 2 pm last week Friday, and less than 48 hours into her stay, Phillips reported that she was robbed in the room of the resort where she was staying.

According to Phillips, the incident took place around 2 am on Sunday. She was relieved of a cell phone and a “handbag with all my money.”

Phillips contacted THE VINCENTIAN by telephone last Tuesday, from her home in Trinidad.

Speaking in a hoarse voice, she recounted the ordeal. She disclosed that she “bawled” for 15 minutes and after that, a security officer arrived.

She is not satisfied with the measures to ensure patrons’ safety at the resort, and bemoaned the absence of security cameras, and the inadequate lighting.

The distraught woman contends that the windows in the room which she occupied cannot be opened from outside, leaving her to speculate that someone had left the window in a manner, so as to facilitate the robber’s entry.

According to Phillips, three other rooms were invaded during that period, but she takes no consolation in reporting that, “I was the one they point the gun to.”

When contacted, the person with whom initial contact was made, indicated that they had no report of the incident involving Phillips. THE VINCENTIAN was directed to someone who might have been able to assist.

However, that person was unavailable when the lines reopened. A promise was made to contact THE VINCENTIAN. An officer from the Layou Police Station indicated that a report on the incident was lodged at that station.

He mentioned, however, that the information had to be relayed via the Public Relations and Complaint Department. (WKA)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. 5.

Regional

Barrow creates history in Belize:

Opposition Leader steps down DEAN BARROW has been sworn in for an unprecedented third consecutive term as the Prime Minister of Belize, making him the first third Prime Minister in that country’s history.

The historic win for Barrow and his United Democratic Party (UDP) came in the November 4, 2015 general election, a snap election called by Barrow in September.

He was sworn in at the end of last week in a brief and far from lavish ceremony at Belize House in Belmopan. The country’s other elected representatives are expected to be sworn in this week.

Barrow led his United Democratic Party (UDP) into victory, winning at least 19 seats in the 31-seat Parliament. The main opposition People’s United Party (PUP) won 11, and up to press time the final constituency, Stann Creek West, was still being recounted.

And even as Barrow was being sworn in, another ‘ceremony’, perhaps of equally public interest, was being held.

At a press briefing at the PUP headquarters, the same afternoon of Barrow’s swearing-in, Francis Fonseca, leader of the PUP, made what observers said was a surprise announcement that he was stepping down as party leader after four years at the helm, and would not seek re-election after his current term as a MP. “I think, given the results of [Wednesday’s] elections, it is right and appropriate that I stand down as the leader of the People’s United Party. ………… This has been my last election. I am still in my 40s, but I think I will have to find another way to contribute to the development of Belize. I will, of course, serve out the term working for the people of Freetown, but I do not intend to seek re-election,” Fonseca said.

But while he is giving up leadership, Fonseca was not abandoning the party which he has led into two elections, including the most recent one.

“I will serve in whatever capacity I have to. In the interim, as Leader of the Opposition if necessary; whatever capacity I need to do until a new leader is Dean Barrow takes the oath in place,” he told the of the Office of the Prime media, adding that Minister for a third he will oversee the consecutive time. (Photo functions of the Credit: c.journal.com) party until a new

leader was elected.

The PUP has not won a general election since its victory in 2003, under the leadership of Said Musa who stepped down after the 2008 election defeat.

Musa had served as PUP leader for 10 years.

Barrow, at the helm of the UDP since 1998, led the party for a fourth consecutive election.

He, too, had given indication during the campaign leading up to the November 4 poll that that would be his last as party leader.

Francis Fonseca, 48 years old, resigned as leader of the People’s Unity Party, Belize’s oldest (64 years) political party, after the party suffered its second loss under him.

(Photo Credit: channel5belize.com) Eighty-nine candidates contested the November 4 election for which 196,587 persons were registered to vote.

Preliminary figures indicate that 142,881 persons cast their votes, with the UDP getting some 71,453 votes (50.52%) and the PUP 67,566 (47.77%). (Partial Source: Caribbean 360)

Trini IS fighters send messages home FOR THOSE Trinidadians, and those in the wider Caribbean, who harbored doubts about Caribbean nationals fighting alongside the Islamic State (IS), last Friday’s revelations put all doubts to rest.

That revelation was a video, some 11 minute, 20 second long and entitled, ‘Those who Believe and Made the Hijra’, which was posted on social media.

Carolyn Kisson, writing in the Trinidad Express of November 6.

2015, reported that the video was purported to have been produced by the Ar-Raqqah Province of the Islamic State (IS), and featured what reliable observers say were at least four IS fighters from Trinidad and Tobago.

Ar-Raqqah, according to the 2008 census, was the sixth largest city in Syria. It was said to have been overtaken by IS fighters.

One of those fighters, Abu Zayd al-Muhajir, flanked by his three children, called on Muslims in

Trinidad and Tobago to join in the fight.

He said that he knew he had to leave Trinidad and Tobago since, contrary to what many thought, he could not practise Islam 100%, and he was not prepared to watch his children grow up in ‘this land’.

Zayd al-Muhajir assured that his three young sons were Abu Zayd al-Muhajir, in the company of his attending school children, declared that the practice of the learning Mathematics, Muslim faith is restricted in T&T. English and Islam.

Another of the Almighty?” he is said to ask, and Trinidadian fighters, one Abu stated categorically that ‘the Khalid, reiterated his colleague’s Islamic State was created by view that Muslims in Trinidad Allah and would continue to were restricted. expand’.

Khalid said he was raised as a Abu Mansour al-Muhajir, the Christian, but guided to Islam. “I fourth, speaking in English as his always looked at the way the colleagues before him did, said Muslims care about themselves… they were fighting against the after I started to recite certain allies of Satan. verses from the “..Allah,” he said, “is inciting us Qur’an …. I to fight the friends of Satan for started to they are weak… . . As we speak understand that today, over 60 nations of this fighting is world sign on to wipe out us, but something that has Allah, Glorified and Exalted be been prescribed He, is with us.” upon Muslims,” he In October 2014, the Trinidad said. and Tobago government, through Abu Abdullah, its then Minister of National another of the four, Security Gary Griffith, confirmed is described by the that “several nationals” were Express article as fighting alongside supporters of ‘sending a the Islamic State in Iraq and message’ to his Syria (IS). It was estimated then “brothers” in that there could have been at Trinidad and least 30 (Trinidad nationals) who Tobago. “What will would have already become IS Abu Zayd al-Muhajir’s children in school we tell Allah the fighters at that time. somewhere in the IS caliphate.

Great and

Private sector should invest in farming MIKAEL BARFORD, Head of the European Union delegation to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, says the private sector should have a major role in the investment of the farming industry.

Speaking at the Caribbean AgriBusiness Forum at Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in Barbados last week, Barford said: “Public funding is very unlikely to be sufficient. Farming is a private sector activity, and the private sector should assume a larger role in guiding it, and most importantly investing in the sector.”

He added the agri-food sector and expanding market were very high on the EU priority list in the region for many reasons, including: eradicating hunger, increasing food security,

expanding the tourism sector, reviving the rural economy, and creating jobs for the youths.

Barford said the tourism industry, as well as supermarkets, should provide a growing and reliable market for local production.

He said in 2010, the EU had committed more than 70 million euros in supporting producers’ organisations.

Ambassador of the Eastern Caribbean States to the European Union and co-ordinator of the ACP SIDS platform, Len Ishmael, joined in support of Barford’s call, saying she would like to see local produce used in the region.

Ishmael, who represents St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines,

Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis, pointed to bananas and sugar as being grown and manufactured in the Caribbean, and should be used in the region.

Recently farmers in Brussels lost money, and protested by bringing their tractors to the middle of the city, Ishmael added.

“They wanted formal compensation, and the very next day, the EU announced that Dr. Len Ishmael, they would get 580 million in former OECS euros in subsidy.

Director General, “So I tweeted poor farmers in also called for the Caribbean have absolutely greater support no subsidy. There is no one they for farming in the can call on for subsidy,” Ishmael region. (Photo oted. (Source: Trinidad Credit: Guardian) ww.iisd.ca)

Mikael Barford, EU Delegation, Head based in Barbados, says the EU has committed millions of dollars to producers organizations in the region. (Internet Photo)

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6. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Diaspora

Phillie group honours 3 Penn Relays.

Cordice, an executive member of TJB Philadelphia, is the mastermind behind St. THE PHILADELPHIA-BASED St. Vincent and the Grenadines Organization of Pennsylvania, Inc. (SVGOP) Vincent and the Grenadines’ honoured two individuals and a group for their Members of the St. Vincent and exemplary service to the community, at a gala banquet, participation in the the Grenadines Organization of annual relays. held on Saturday night, to mark the nation’s 36th Massachusetts, Inc. receive “In the spirit of ‘One anniversary of political independence. award. (Inset): Irwin Clare The group bestowed the special awards on ex-St. Caribbean’, we are receives plaque and making a donation of Vincent and the Grenadines police officer Linford proclamation, flanked by SVGOP US$500 to aid [in St. “Kenny” Lewis; Jamaican community organizer president Lorenzo DeCaul and Vincent and the Irwin G. Clare; and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ SVGOP vice president Yvonne Grenadines Association of Massachusetts, Inc., at the sell-out event that also served as SVGOP’s 20th participation in the Penn O’Garro.

Relays]”, Clare, who was anniversary celebration. born in St. Ann, Jamaica, disclosed after receiving In addition to Vincentians residing in the ‘Outstanding Citizen Community Leader award.

Pennsylvania, others journeyed from South New “Team Jamaica Bickle is ‘One Caribbean’ spirit, Jersey, Massachusetts, New York and Washington, which we are committed to,” he later stressed in a D.C., to be part of the occasion.

Grenadines; and Arlette Dopwell-James, of VINCENTIAN interview. “We work together as one Richmond Hill, Kingstown. group, so we’re committed as one community.”

Honorees US Counsel General Selmon Walters delivered SVGOP also presented pens, as “tokens of brief remarks, and Harvard-educated Vincentian appreciation,” to foundation members — Lorenzo De “I thank SVGOP for recognizing me; I’m very Assistant Professor of Biostatistics at Drexel Caul, the Biabou-born current SVGOP president, proud that they recognize me tonight,” said Lewis, University in Philadelphia, Dr. Loni Philip Tabb, and former presidents Cordice, of Clare Valley; who was born in Fancy, the most-northerly village delivered the feature address at the gala ceremony.

Kenrick Mitchell, of Canouan in the Southern of mainland St. Vincent, and later lived in Georgetown, in his very brief acceptance speech.

“I really appreciate that they considered me to be honoured in a very special way,” the very taciturn Lewis, a member of SVGOP, who received the “Outstanding Member” award, subsequently told BUILDING and President A N Jack Dear THE VINCENTIAN. maintaining strong reading Prime Minister Evesham-born Monica Laborde, president of the families, empowering Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves’ 20-year-old St. Vincent and the Grenadines youth through education, message. (Photo Association of Massachusetts, Inc., said her group and giving back to the Credit: Tony Hadley) was “pleased, honored and humbled to accept this community inside and award. … To the president and members of outside St. Vincent, are SVGOP, with great gratitude, I join with my some of the ways in which the Vincentian nation members to extend a heartfelt thank you and can set itself on a path to achieve success, health congratulations of 36th Anniversary of and prosperity over the next 36 years.

Independence to our blessed nation,” said Laborde, The advice came from Ottawa-based lawyer who resides in Newton, Massachusetts.

“Despite all the adversities facing our people at Taisha Lewis, JD., in her feature address to the St home, we are still a blessed people, a blessed Vincent and Grenadines Association of Montreal nation,” Laborde added. “My people, that is why we (SVGAM) 36th annual Independence Banquet and here in the Diaspora need to continue working Ball held on the 24th of October, 2015, to mark this together to ensure this happens. country’s 36th anniversary of Independence.

“We need to set aside our political affiliations and Lewis’s address, throughout which she held her differences for the common good of our people — to audience in rapt attention, was captioned ‘Onward make sure the island of our birth remains safe and and Upward: A Toast to the Next 36 Years’, and maintains the spiritual principles that it was built Keynote Speaker was delivered to a larger-than-expected turnout of on,” she continued.

Ms Taisha Lewis Vincentian nationals and well-wishers, at Schofield Clare — the co-founder and managing director of JD. delivering her Hall in the Town Mount Royal (Montreal). the New York-based Caribbean Immigrant Services, address. (Photo According to Executive members of the SVGAM, Inc. (CIS) and founder and chief executive officer of Credit: A.N. Jack the attendance surpassed expectations, given that Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB) that caters to Jamaican Dear) a mega banquet celebrating the 50th anniversary and Caribbean athletes at the prestigious Penn of the founding of the Association was held in May. Relays in Philadelphia — said that, over the years, That aside, Lewis’s address was a resoundingly he has been holding discussions with SVGOP, well received cap to an evening that also heard: A particularly former president James Cordice, on the message from Prime Minister the Honourable Dr Ralph Gonsalves read by President of SVGAM Mr. Alfred Dear; a message from Consul General Fitzgerald Huggins read by H. Nigel Thomas; and Mr. Dear’s address on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of independence.

The occasion was also used to honour two members of the SVGAM: Ms. Rosmond Ryan for her work in education and various community organizations; and Ms. Carleen Francis for the exceptional service she has rendered to the many functions the Association puts on annually.

Ms. Angela Gurley received flowers for helping President A N Jack Dear presenting plaque to to organize the banquet.

Carleen Francis for her outstanding contribution An entertainment package including renditions to the advancement and well- being of the from singers Cortez Goodgie and Gregory (Pufty) SVGAM. (Photo Credit: Tony Hadley) McDowall, a quiz on the history of SVG led by Archdeacon Jim Bennett (better known as Father Linford “Kenny” Lewis receives plaque and Jim), drawing of door prizes, dance music provided sumptuous dinner.

All in all, according to organisers, it was a proclamation, flanked by SVGOP

by New Concept Crew and the hilarity of Master successful and very enjoyable evening, and a fitting President Lorenzo DeCaul and SVGOP vice of Ceremonies Tony Hadley, ushered in a tribute to the occasion. president Yvonne O’Garro.

Story and photos by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net;kingnaking210@yahoo.com US CORRESPONDENT

SVGAM celebrates amidst a strong message

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. 7.

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8. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. 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 Negative advertising in our politics IN THE FACE of being ‘labeled’ idealistic, this Column calls on the political parties involved in the campaign leading up to the December 9, 2015 general election, to desist from the use of negative advertisements and social media postings, and unbecoming public utterances against their opponents.

Try as much as we have over successive electoral campaigns, it seems that the call to desist from employing ‘foul means’ to unsettle one’s political opponent, has fallen on deaf ears.

As the campaign heightens, mudslinging has become, once again, a ‘national sport’, some being so much more adept than others at the game.

For what it’s worth, here is a ‘no no’ about negative advertising/promotions in election campaigns.

Negative adverts are hardly ever productive, and display a sense of immaturity on the part of the persons employing such means against their opponent. After all, negative advertisement could well be craftily fabricated lies, designed by one candidate or party to make a candidate or party look better than their opponents.

Heaven help if there are those among us whose intention is to use such tactics to spread lies and deceit among the electorate, instead of properly informing their (voters) decision. The uninformed are wont to listen to the wrong people and pass on the misinformation to others, resulting in ‘a bar load of stupefied voters’.

Oh for the day when only facts could be presented in political campaigns/elections; only then we might have better leaders in this country.

Besides, have those who employ such means ever stopped to think about all that money spent on producing and airing these advertisements? Could this money not be put to better use?

Negative advertisement stops just that short of being political slander and if this is what characterises our politics, then maybe we should just forget about this ‘thing’ we call democracy. See why some of us say we live in an immature democracy?

Further, negative advertising could well be interpreted as a way to deflect the candidates’ own shortcomings, in order to capitalize on their opponents.

Should a candidate’s intention not be to get supporters to accept that he/she is honest, insightful and well-intended? That is why, idealistic as it sounds, a candidate should be man or woman enough to focus on his/her main goals to accomplish while in office, instead of bashing another candidate. To do the latter is to give a clear indication of one’s weakness.

Elections should be about policies. Voters need to be clear about what a party stands for, in order that they might make informed voting choices. How can they do that when campaigns focus so intently on the (perceived) negative attributes of the opposition parties and the individual politicians that comprise them?

Our political system is broken, divisive and we dare say, corrupt enough as it is. Harassing potential voters with countless negative advertisements just makes them want to go home and never vote again.

This is not what our country should promote, and it’s disgusting to even think that we would.

To remain silent in the face of this onslaught on our intelligence, is to give tacit support to the practice.

It is a sad day when, in our projection to the world about the fairness and freedom of the election process in our land, the outcome of an election could be determined by whoever (which party) has the most money to produce such negative advertisements, and who can better utter unfounded descriptions of their opponents.

That an election could be decided on such childish games, is just not right, and is an affront to us as a twenty-first century people.

Believe it or not, there are many who would rather hear honesty than sensationalism, which is not far removed from hogwash.

Instead of resorting to believing that they are ‘uncovering some skeletons in the other candidates’ closets (as might be used as justification) parties and their candidates should remain fixed on telling the electorate: what they are going to do to improve the economy; the ideas they have to reform government assistance so that the taxpayer isn’t getting the shaft, while the ‘lazies’ are watching flat panel HD televisions and driving new cars; how they are going to take the focus off patronage and cronyism, and put it back on an honesty day’s work and how we can work together; what they are going to do to help the education system perform in a way that results in holistic development as against producing a pool of high test scores.

Are we prepared to practise real politics and stop the personal attacks?

The upcoming 2015 elections AT LONG LAST, the bell has been rung amidst much chatter, glitz and glamour in style costing much money that the U.L.P can easily afford.

Nomination Day is Friday the 20th November, and D-Day, Wednesday 9th December. I had targeted rightly the Election Day which I positioned some eight weeks ago as falling within the second week of December; the 9th is smack in the middle of week two in December.

I had also given my predictions at 11 to 4, give or take a seat either way, which meant that at best for the N.D.P, a return of 12 to 3, like U.L.P’s majority in 2001 and 2006, or 10 to 5 in favour of the N.D.P at worst.

I think that I understand politics, especially Vincentian politics, on which I wrote a PhD thesis way back in 1971, 44 years ago.

Owing to illness, I could not move around, and so missed many events that are so vital to vote forecasting. So I fell back on my gutfeeling, a simple fact broadcast by Ralph that no local party had broken the sound barrier of three consecutive terms, that, in any event, if a party were to venture in this record-breaking exercise, it must at least have a new leader, since it is well known that power, particularly in a one-man band, corrupts absolutely.

So, although the parties strain to represent themselves as ideological, the people see only practical, pragmatic parties, and safeguard their own interests by playing them off against each other, in an in-and-out game. In this scenario, a party which enjoyed three administrations in a row, has certainly exhausted its quota. Time for a change. Try something new.

Then looking objectively at both teams, it becomes obvious, as pointed out by a popular calypsonian, that N.D.P has the better team in terms of academic brain-power, wisdom and practical know-how in a comprehensive package.

The N.D.P front-line is constituted of about half-a-dozen post-grads, followed by three down-to-earth PhD’s, and the indefatigable Major Leacock and multitalented Cummings. And their known expert backers and the brilliant engineer Glenford Stewart, who entered the Boys Grammer School at the same time with De Comrade!

De Comrade can claim that he chose a pair of old men as advisors for their wisdom, Vincent Beache and Louis Straker, on both of whom I will comment in reverse order.

Louis Straker is bad news. Returned to S.V.G at the turn of the 1990s, he easily won Central Leeward for the opposition U.L.P in 1994, 1998 and 2001. He was a notorious activist in the road-block revolution. He backed Ralph for the leadership, on discovering Ralph’s mastery of Political infighting.

In government as Minister of Foreign Affairs, he lamely did Ralph’s bidding, and twice took the front in defending Camillo whom he had recommended for Foreign Affairs service in a political mishap, as well as championed Camillo’s return as senator and Prime-Minister’s under-study.

Straker has returned to politics at the

behest of the P.M, in Central Leeward, as well as to provide sure support for Camillo’s eventual rise.

Straker was knighted for the foregoing reasons after the ascendancy of Beache, who had surrendered the Labour Party leadership to Ralph and is heavily recompensed by Ralph in kind and cash where, at 85 years old, he commands a variety of posts netting him about $12,000.00 monthly!

De Comrade is a boss at phrase-mongering and a master at sloganizing. The latest sweeping the country is “Labour Love,” and could be misleading.

To begin with, Ralph first associated himself with groups like the Young Socialist Group (Y.S.G) and the United People’s Movement (U.P.M), on whose ticket he ran in 1979.

Then he formed the M.N.U (Movement for National Unity), for which he contested national elections in 1984 and 1989 as a leader.

It was only in 1994, twenty years after entering politics in 1974, that Ralph merged his Movement with Labour which he earlier despised, so much so that there was a royal battle over the new name. Both Ralph and “Blazer” wanted to distance themselves from “Labour”.

That’s why they rejected the “United Labour Party” but finally settled for the “Unity Labour Party”, in order to protect their party “Unity” in the combined name.

How come Ralph is so let-up about “Labour,” whereas the original SVLP, alone of Labour parties, did not spring from a Labour union?

It is a misnomer, an election gimmick, pure and simple.

The long and short of the matter is that the former Sugar Daddy who could not play Test cricket but only ‘Beache ball’ with his coconut bat, now as Sir Vincent he lords it over the country from numerous assignments, milking a groaning country of exorbitant salaries. Are we at long last approaching the end of the road?

All things being equal, N.D.P should confirm the two Grenadines seats, the three Kingstown seats (East, Central and West), the two most Northern seats (Windward and Leeward), the two St. George seats, (West and East).

The out-going Government will retain North Central, South Central and South Windward, with the Central Leeward seat tipped to fall either way. The N.D.P has to watch the conduct at the polls with eyes of a hawk.

After all, in 2001, Ralph did advise his supporter where he commanded a large majority, to switch some voters to constituencies in which his U.L.P narrowly lost. Typical of Ralph, he advised that the illegality must be committed “legally.”

Already, Arnhim Eustace has demonstrated that 5 persons were wrongly registered in his constituency in East Kingstown, with more to come. And also there is a report that several Nigerian students have been wrongly registered in East Kingstown. We hope that all these matters will be cleared up before Election Day.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. 9.

Letters

ULP and ÂThe CityÊ SO THE BELL has been rung. We go to the polls on December 9, 2015.

Before us, we have a choice, no offence meant to the Green Party, between the incumbent Unity Labour Party (ULP) and the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP).

As a ‘Town Man’, I want to say that, regardless of how much some commentators would want us to believe that we have passed the stage of ‘Leadership Politics’, as in the days of E.T, Joshua and Milton Cato, many people from ‘town’, if not the majority, will tell you that they voting for Dr. Ralph Gonsalves or Arnhim Eutsace.

The truth is: People still vote first because of who the leader is.

I recall the days of Joshua and Cato when it appeared that

‘Country People’ voted for Joshua, and ‘Town People’ voted for Cato.

If I am correct, things haven’t changed a bit since the last election clearly showed that we have gone back to those days, with ‘Country People’ voting for the ‘Country Man’ Dr. Gonsalves, and ‘Town People’ voting for the ‘Town Man’ Eustace.

This is no surprise since, if the truth be told, as the Editor of THE VINCENTIAN likes to say, the country over the last two decades or so has been divided between ‘town’ and ‘country’. I cannot, as a ‘Town man’, say that the ULP government has given Kingstown and its environs a fair share of their attention.

Look how hard it is to get the roads repaired. Look at the state

of the hospital. Look at Little Tokyo. Look at the state of public buildings except those that the ULP claims to have built, even though plans would have been there before them. Look at the state of vending on the street — there is hardly room for pedestrians on the sidewalks.

Look at crime in the city? Look at the traffic congestion. And I can on and on.

From where I sit in Kingstown, I cannot say that the ULP, a party and government that put people first, has been kind to us ‘Town People’.

So what do you expect I will do on December 9?

Remembering ‘Tweety’ Spence

TYRONE ‘Tweety’ Spence was from ‘Down Town’, and I was an ‘Up Town Boy’. Whether it was sports, culture, academics or what have you, there always was a sense of rivalry between the ‘Down Town Boys’ and the ‘Up Town Boys’.

But ‘Tweety’ somehow always seemed to be able to bridge whatever divide there might have been between the two groups.

I never played football at the level ‘Tweety’ did, but I understood the game well enough to know that this man, as slender as he was physically, was no mean defender. What he did not have in size, he made up for with a great sense of the game on the actual field of play, and an athleticism and agility that left many any opponent Charles spellbound.

He was also simply a humble human being, who knew what skills he possessed, which was so much more than the who pays what to whom, but with average person his age, UNLIKE a lot of fellows who just Indies cricket. our players. They just don’t seem yet he never was come, I have been following West I don’t know what this Board Indies cricket since Frank Worrell did or did not do, but whatever it to have the attitude needed to boastful, nor did he use perform at the highest level. captained the team to Australia in was, it did not interfere with the this to belittle anyone. men from the West Indies They seemed more concerned 1960. I recall staying for hours In fact, I do not recall performing at a level that cricket about themselves and how much well into the morning to make an occasion when we they will make, rather than to be sure I didn’t miss a ball. had never seen before. I think encountered one concerned about the fact that they another, when ‘Tweety’ That tour began the rise of there might have been problems represent a whole nation — the that the players might have had West Indies cricket. We was anything other than eventually rose to dominate world with the Cricket Board, but those Caribbean nation of people. cordial and encouraging. seemed to have been cast asunder No Board member takes the cricket under Clive Lloyd and And those attributes he whenever our boys took to the field. It is the player who does. then Vivian Richards. From the took with him as an The game is won on the field, not late 1970s well into the early field. employee at the in some office.

1990s, no one had the answer to Today, we have a Board, all Kingstown Post Office.

The quicker the players admit our wealth of fast bowlers and the kinds of committees and full time I could never thank that they are not as skilled as officers running cricket, and we skill of our batsmen. Australia, ‘Tweety’ Spence enough are not far from the bottom of the they believe or are made to England, India, Pakistan, believe, and accept that they need for the joy he brought to whoever, suffered at our hands. pile. me as a spectator of If we consider the situation help, and forget about the Board, Now the interesting thing football during the glory about this period, i.e. when we when we were kings, and compare the quicker we will get back on days of the 1970s those times to now, the problem is the track to supremacy. ruled the world of cricket, was especially, at Victoria that we did so in spite of whatever not with how we administer Park. cricket — who controlled what and Cricket Enthusiast Cricket Board governed West My sincerest * Is there a special condolences go out to his speed limit for family and friends. minibuses using the I hope that he has a Cane Garden route? send-off befitting a * When is the MOST VINCENTIANS government we deserve. will you be regretting, you elected this year? national sporting icon.

Traffic Department can read (maybe), but What do you again, being ashamed, going to patrol the most Vincentians don’t– think you deserve? again, of the Government Joe Garnet, N.Y. Cane Garden road, a fact. Whether in the The new (or re-elected now that they have newspapers, or on the old) government will be allowed minibuses Internet, critical your voice and your information, relevant to image that we, the to use that route? how and why we should electorate of St. Vincent * Can we expect a COMRADES, let us rekindle the stage, as the opposition leader once vote, is ignored by a vast will have chosen to statement from the passion we felt for this groundstated in Campden Park, want to majority of the represent us for the next Christian Council breaking campaign of LABOUR take us backward. We want to move Vincentian populace. Tell five years. It will be on the nature of LOVE, and turnout in large numbers SVG forward.

Do not be distracted by me I’m wrong. who we are to the world, advertisement and An informed electorate a reflection of your sense, on December 9th to repel/fend off the their devious and dangerous tactics other public media NDP, who are ready to “turn back the and actions. is the basis for any our sense, of what our use by political clock” at all costs, as they have said Oh, ye Pharisees, in your attempt democracy. TV news is Government should be. parties involved in over and over. I am warning you that to discredit the Prime Minister, you edited, foreshortened, Is Ralph Gonsalves the campaign for NDP appears to want to seize control are destroying a country and its and positioned to provide who and what this the December 9 a visual entertainment country needs, what you of the government for their individual people. “Let you who are without sin election? acceptable to advertisers, need, what we need, and personal gains, for their selfish cast the first stone”. Remember, you * Who is going to be with a modicum of what our children need, purposes, and to settle a personal have cast the first one.

Head of Security at intellectual content, and to be our country’s vendetta.

Comrades, what made the the Argyle in a nation where there moral, economic, and You who are reading this, I need movement possible, are people and International is only one broadcast TV diplomatic for you to go into your warriors like so many of you. What Airport? Is that station, whose licence representative to the neighbourhoods, go to your made it possible for us to be in person more continues at the world for the next five workplaces and your churches, to the government, and for SVG to be the qualified and sufferance of the years, and to institute barber and beauty shops, into the nation state that it is today, are Government, it’s news the imperative changes experienced for the ordinary Vincentians like you, and content must necessarily in education and medical villages and highways, the bars and job than another restaurants, and the corner shops.

Go Vincentians throughout our history be circumspect. care and infrastructure former police officer who worked hard to make our country The information most modernization and public and share the good news of what who applied for the Labour has done, and tell them too more inclusive and more just. As our of the electorate receives safety that are so job? that we’ve got more work to do; the Prime Minister always says, “We are in St. Vincent is via the desperately needed, after * Any takings yet time for action is now. “It’s not the not better than none, and none are television and radio (I 3 terms of failing to for Duty Free Shops man, it’s the plan,”….. to quote the better than us”. This is what we must say, she says, neither of effectively and at the Argyle late actor and activist Ossie Davis. continue to believe. us thinks or considers or meaningfully deliver on International Comrades, let us not be mistaken; Labour loved you then, Labour reflects or researches– promises in those critical Airport? Are shops loves you now, and Labour will we just “say our mind”– areas? It’s in your hands the other side has a plan too. It’s a there being reserved ”ignorant ass that I am, and fingers when you plan to turn back the clock on every always love you. for foreign here be what I vote. bit of progress we’ve made. The guys operators? think!”) We will get the Five years from now, over there, those actors on the NDP AMW

Cricket Board not the problem

Remember: A Government is your voice

Guarding the Change

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10. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Remembering those who served Right: The Red Poppy or the Flanders’ Poppy seen here on display at the cenotaph, Kingstown, is a lasting memorial symbol to those who fell in the World Wars.

THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICES made by several Vincentians during the First and Second World Wars were recalled at the Annual Remembrance Day Parade, held on Sunday, November 8th, 2015.

Prime Minister Dr.Ralph Gonsalves and

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves on his way to laying a wreath.

Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace attended the ceremony held at the cenotaph, Kingstown. Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hendrick Alexander, Attorney General Judith Jones Morgan, Senator Julian Francis as well as Major St. Clair Leacock

of the Opposition also attended the moving ceremony.

Commissioner of Police Michael Charles was joined at the event

by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Reynold Hadaway, as well as senior members in representing the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force.

Among those in attendance were local dignitaries, members of the clergy, the high court and the diplomatic corps.

Remembrance Day was first observed in 1919 throughout the British Commonwealth, and was originally Left: Commissioner of Police Michael Charles lays a wreath.

Units of the local constabulary, Coast Guard and the Cadet Corp at attention, at this year’s Remebrance Day ceremony.

called “Armistice Day” to commemorate the agreement that ended the First World War on Monday, November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m. — on the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month.

(Contributed)

Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace in silence after laying a wreath.

Corpus Christi parish off to a strong start THE FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE of the new Parish of Corpus Christi, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kingstown, was made on Sunday 8th November 2015 at the Annual Family Fun Day, at Arnos Vale.

Although fun was the operative word, the event started at 9:00 am with the recitation of the rosary, followed by liturgical dancing and the celebration of Holy Mass by His Lordship Bishop Jason Gordon.

Bishop Gordon, among his exhortations to the faithful gathered, urged all Catholics to conduct themselves with maturity and responsibility during the run-up to the forth- coming elections.

The new Parish chose Royal Purple as their parish colour and performed royally, gaining the second highest points among the Parishes in the sports events.

To celebrate and mark the occasion, the three Communities which comprise the new parish, - Corpus Christi in Villa, St. Martin de Porres in Stubbs and Our Lady of Lourdes in Argyle - held a Chinese Auction of a cake made by one of their members.

On it was emblazoned , ‘Corpus Christi — One Body, One Family’.

Prize winner, Loyola Alexander of the Holy Family Parish of Union Island, with Corpus Christi Parish Priest, Fr. Peter Okonkwo.

The final bid to meet the $300.00 target was made by Ms. Loyola Alexander of Union Island, who happily displayed her prize it with Fr. Peter Okonkwo, the Parish Priest, who is assisted in the parish by Fr. Boniface Ogonna. Both priests are here on mission from Nigeria.

(Contributed)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. 11.

Views

Forward we go: Four inna The State of Health Care in SVG row with Labour Love (Excerpts from the Hon. Daniel Cummings’s Address at the NDP’s Rally at Calliaqua)

Excerpts from the address delivered by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves as he announced the election date….

THESE ARE THE FOURTH successive general elections in which I am accorded the honour of leading the Unity Labour Party (ULP). In March 2001, in December 2005, and in December 2010, the voters of St. Vincent and the Grenadines first elected, and then twice re-elected, the ULP to constitute the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We come again to ask you for your support, and your vote, to consolidate and extend the tremendous gains which our country has made thus far.

Support from Vincentians Our request for your support and your vote is based on seven main grounds: 1. The ULP has the people-centred vision, the philosophy, the historical sensibilities, the policies and the programmes to uplift further the quality of life of Vincentians of all walks of life.

2. The ULP has chalked up a record of outstanding, and unprecedented, achievements which have benefitted every family, and the nation as a whole. These accomplishments have been secured in the most challenging circumstances.

3. The ULP has a supremely talented team of candidates, containing diverse talents and a proper admixture of experience and youthfulness. Moreover, we are, and have been, since your election of us in 2001, a united and integrated whole, devoid of internal squabbling and confusion.

4. The ULP possesses a quality leadership which has been tried and tested in the extremely difficult circumstances of the worst global economic crisis for 100 years, and multiple natural disasters. The ULP’s leadership has made an immense difference for the better.

5. The ULP has kept its promises to the people in every area of public policy and thus has made St. Vincent and the Grenadines a much better place in which to live than before.

6. The ULP has a profound love for the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, individually and collectively, unmatched in our country’s history.

7. The ULP offers continued hope to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines accompanied by a reaffirmation of our faith in God, made manifest in the deeds of our people, in tandem with each other and their leadership, so as to enable us to achieve mighty things, individually and collectively, as a nation.

The ULP’s vision is centred on our people; our philosophy is that of social democracy fashioned from universalist principles and grounded in our own Vincentian and Caribbean historical and contemporary circumstances; our socio-cultural outlook is premised on the self-evident truth that we in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are a magnificent component of our independent, authentic Caribbean civilisation which has its trajectory for further ennoblement in the interest of our people’s humanisation; and our policies and programmes in every area of governmental endeavour are creatively designed and implemented to uplift the lives of our people.

All of this is well-known and is instinctively in the consciousness of our people. It resonates even in the

hearts and minds of the Opposition, as was made plain in their leader’s public response to a query about their fifteen-year plans for St. Vincent and the Grenadines: “ASK RALPH!” Our government’s 12-year National Economic and Social Development Plan 2013-2025 is available to the public on the government’s website and in hard copy.

What the ULP has Delivered The ULP has delivered on its promises, and pledges to uplift markedly the condition of life of our people and our nation in the following twenty central policies and programmes, among other things: * Jobs and Wealth Creation in the Real Economy (Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism, Manufacturing, ICT, Assorted Services); * Reducing Poverty and Undernourishment; * Instituting and implementing the Education, Health, and Housing Revolutions; * Strengthening Citizen Security; * Improving the climate for doing business, including the facilitation of domestic and foreign investment; * Ensuring fiscal consolidation, and stability of the financial sector and monetary system; * Building up the country’s physical infrastructure including roads and bridges, seaport development, airport development (Canouan Jet Airport and the Argyle International Airport), sea and river defences, and road stabilisation; * Revolutionising the many-sided arrangements for Comprehensive Disaster Management in the context of the harmful effects of adverse Climate Change globally; * Putting Science and Technology, including ICT, at the centre of socioeconomic life; * Strengthening the National Insurance Services (NIS) and the Social Safety Net systems; * Lifting real wages for workers in the private and public sectors; * Reducing the incidence of taxation; * Strengthening the delivery of Electricity, Water, Sanitation, Solid Waste Disposal, and Telecommunications Services; * Boosting Sports and Culture; * Developing special areas such as the Grenadines and areas north of the Dry River; * Protecting and Improving the conditions of life of workers, farmers, the elderly, youths, women, sportsmen and women, cultural and creative artistes; * Delivering good governance in every material particular, including clean and efficient government. * Integrating our nation at home and in the Diaspora. * Deepening and extending regional integration and further ennobling our Caribbean civilisation; * Enlarging the scope and efficacy of our Foreign Policy; Over the next five years, the ULP pledges to consolidate and further extend its existing public policies and programmes, which have been so beneficial to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

To be continued…..

A HEALTHY POPULATION is an essential prerequisite for the economic growth and stability of a nation. This is a statement of reality, tested and vindicated in every country, in every culture, in every continent around the world.

The constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO) enshrines the attainment of the highest standard of health as a fundamental human right.

This right to health includes unfettered access to timely, acceptable, and affordable health care irrespective of age, gender, socio-economic status or personal or religious persuasion and, I might add, political allegiance.

Between the period 1950 and 2000, St. Vincent and the Grenadines made gigantic strides in improving the health of the population. During that period, infant death rates were slashed by 75% (from 115.6/1000 to 26.7/1000 live births); communicable diseases, such as small pox, typhoid fever, dysentery, yaws, leprosy, and worm infestations, were virtually wiped out; and life expectancy increased by more than 20 years.

This progress was achieved on the back of effective public health policies, improved health practices, expansion in the scope and range of health facilities, and rational deployment of trained staff at all levels of the health system. In those good old days, health was regarded as a public good to be accessed by all, and not the preserve of a privileged class or a favoured few.

However, since 2001, the health report card for St. Vincent and the Grenadines has not been good, and many of the hard won gains of the past are now in jeopardy. The naked truth is that the health services of this country have been placed in intensive care over the past 14 years, and is now battling for survival. The health system is badly fractured in fundamental areas and is crying out for visionary, caring, and competent leadership.

The Health Care Burden The Monitoring and Evaluation Report, 2014, put out by the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, is a litany of woes about the state of the health services. This is a public document that everyone interested in the direction of the health of the nation should study. I summarize some of the key challenges for your consideration.

The Epidemic of Chronic NonCommunicable Diseases Chronic non-communicable diseases in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have assumed epidemic proportions and the situation is worsening daily. This cluster of disease conditions now accounts for 75% of all deaths annually.

Put in layman’s terms, three out of every four deaths in this country are now due to diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and cancer.

Another depressing factor that emerges is the rapidly escalating number of amputations secondary to diabetes, that is in evidence. Recent reports put out by the Ministry of Health indicate a near doubling of the number of diabetes-related amputations between 2008 (59) and 2012 (110).

Altogether, there were 434 amputations during that five-year period. The level of illness and suffering, disability and death, and loss of productive years place chronic non-communicable diseases as the leading public health problem facing St. Vincent and the Grenadines at this time. The problem is enormous and urgent and cries out for attention.

The Ugly Face of Communicable Diseases It is a sad indictment of the health care system of St. Vincent and the Grenadines that in this enlightened information age, with unprecedented availability of antibiotics and other prevention and treatment modalities, that communicable diseases remain one of our five leading causes of death. It is a national embarrassment that lines up alongside Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. But what does the report of the Ministry of Health tell us about this ugly face of communicable diseases? In 2013, 100 persons died from communicable diseases, up from 82 deaths in 2009. About one-quarter (24) of these deaths were due to AIDS with septicaemia, respiratory infections and worm infestations also featuring prominently.

In the case of AIDS, the most conservative estimate is that there are at least 1,000 persons living with the disease in St. Vincent and Grenadines.

(The actual number could be several times higher since only a small percentage of the sexually active population knows their HIV status). In 2013, 47 new HIV cases were enrolled in the health system and 50 persons began treatment for AIDS. Altogether, there are 269 persons being treated for AIDS in the public health system, with an indeterminate number being treated by the private health sector.

Perhaps worse than anything else, is the fact that people in this country still die from worm infestations. It is a national embarrassment and is tantamount to criminal negligence.

The New Plague – Mosquitoes and Rodents For the records, the aedes aegypti mosquito is the vector that carries dengue fever and chikungunya disease; while rats and mice transmit leptospirosis — all of which feature among our morbidity statistics. For example, in 2012 there were 248 reported cases of dengue fever and 24 cases of leptospirosis; and we all know about the recent chikungunya outbreak that wreaked havoc on this country. The Ministry of Health report also makes some stunning admissions: It states that “the high incidence of dengue fever is directly related to the high household mosquito index of 45.67”. This is nine times higher than the 5% threshold to prevent outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya set by WHO. Although prevalence data are not available, we all know that there are as many rats walking the streets of this country causing damage to property, food and agriculture, and placing human health and lives at risk.

The Twilight Zone of Mental Health In 2009, WHO produced a damning report on the state of Mental Health Services in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Among other things, it reported: that no mental health policy, no human rights policy or human rights review body exists, and none of the mental health treatment facilities ever had an external review/inspection of human rights protection of patients with mental disorders.

The NDP reminds all eligible Vincentians to get registered. Ensure that your name is on the voters list, and on Election Day, go early to the polls and vote solidly for the NDP whose symbol is the key. WE READY!

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12. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Public Figures and the Right to Know

employment (especially for young people). Voters wish to know about plans for agriculture, health, tourism, infrastructural development, and so on. However, many citizens also desire to find out as much as they can about the various candidates who vie for the position of being their respective Member of Parliament. They want to know details about their work experience, competence as managers and/or leaders, family values, character traits, and so INDIRA RAMPERSAD, a lecturer in on. This is normal. This is Political Science and International desirable. The question often Relations at the St. Augustine emerges in relation to just how Campus of the University of the much information the general West Indies, writing in the public should have, and how Saturday Express of 25 July, 2015, relevant that information is in raised the issue when she asked relation to guiding their choice and answered the question, “Can for the area representative. one really separate the personal Information technology, from the professional politics? It especially the Internet, now is certainly possible in political makes it possible for voters to science theory as one analyses know a great deal about the political issues from the candidates who are vying for individual, state or international their votes. With very little perspective in praxis, especially effort and in a quite speedy when one examines the speeches manner, citizens can find out of politicians on the platform.” details about their respective A multitude of questions families, sexual preferences, and emerge whenever a political religious beliefs. The question election draws near. Citizens that often emerges, however, is, are curious to find out what the “How much does the public various political parties have to really need to know about the offer. They specifically want to private lives of candidates?” hear about plans to create and This debate will be unending. sustain high rates of However, we should be assured “I think once you offer yourself for public service, then you have to be prepared to live a life that is almost above scrutiny. We are not all perfect that is true; but you always have to ensure that your conduct, whether it is in the public domain or in the private domain, can stand scrutiny. You can stand up to public scrutiny, and you can come out clean.” — Indera Sagewan-Ali, Economist and Executive Director at the Caribbean Centre for Competitiveness, UWI, St. Augustine.

that go beyond their lifetime. We can use the analogy of planting, and visualise those individuals who germinate and care for mahogany trees, knowing that their true value may not be seen of the fact that the population until long after they (the needs to have a clear indication planters) have died. They in relation to whether the invest in the generations yet candidate seeking to be their unborn. They may plant some representative in the highest short crops that will generate decision-making body of the cash flows in the here and now. land, has the competence and However, they also have the character to do so. wisdom, the prudence, to engage It is insufficient to look good in activities that they may not and talk well when seeking be around to personally benefit political office. While these from. The public has a right to attributes have value, they question and probe to ascertain should not be the sole if the political candidates that considerations when make themselves available to determining area serve the constituency and the representatives. Individuals nation, possess such insights. must possess the managerial They have a right to know. skills and a reputation for There are some religious honesty and integrity. These groups that refuse to participate must also be cemented with in political debate, and even good portions of humility and insist that they should not take kindness. No candidate who part in political elections. This makes herself/himself available is their right to choose, and for political office will be perfect. individuals who hold opposing However, it is imperative that views should respect their they end up having high scores decision to abstain. Some in these areas if they are to be persons have argued that these good stateswomen and individuals, along with those statesmen. Such individuals who have decided that they will must not be merely focusing of not vote on Election Day, should gaining or retaining power for therefore not comment in the allotted five-year slot. Their relation to any of the candidates vision must go beyond this that may vie for political office. relatively short period to plan This writer begs to differ — and implement programmes every citizen (even those who

will not vote) has a right to know as much of the history of the candidates as possible.

After all, these are the individuals who will be entrusted with the task of making the major decisions that will impact the nation for good or evil. Everyone has a right to know whether the public figures have the mental capacity, the emotional stability, the spiritual maturity, and the physical stamina to meet the demands of such high public offices.

Public scrutiny has its value.

It should not be considered invasive when enquiries are made in relation to their family values, their moral remit, their religious beliefs, and their ethical persuasions. People need to know where their political representatives stand on the major issues that confront society. This is not limited to the concerns about the economy, health, agriculture, crime, and tourism.

The public also has a right to know their views on the moral issues (corruption, white collar crime, bribery, incest, etc.) that challenge society. Public figures must understand and appreciate that these aspects of their lives will become public, and that it is the people’s right to know.

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

What are they going to do for Calliaqua?

WITH THE ELECTION now called for December 9th, and the ruling United Labour Party (ULP) favoured by many to win an unprecedented fourth term in office, the question I hear from our fellow citizens of Calliaqua is: "What are they going to do for Calliaqua?"

If all politics is indeed local, what commitments are our political candidates prepared to make to the people of Calliaqua in return for our support at the upcoming polls?

Anyone wishing to represent this battleground constituency must be willing to articulate a clear vision for development in this town, over the next five years. I would like to propose my personal four-point empowerment plan for Calliaqua township, as per housing, education, economic revitalization and flood prevention.

options for development.

Moreover, with so many of our residents struggling to make ends meet, they do not have the resources to purchase the land on which they live.

Consequently, the quality of housing has stagnated for decades.

I propose that the next government use the power of our national treasury to purchase these privately held lands, demolish the existing structures, and invest in a capital plan to construct a series of modern, affordable housing developments for Calliaqua residents.

Under my plan, current residents will have the first option to qualify for long-term, low-interest mortgages, thereby enabling them to purchase their own homes in the town where many of these families have lived for generations.

One of the major landowners, is already receptive to the idea of Housing turning over his properties. In the unlikely The quality of housing event that some private in much of Calliaqua is in landowners are reluctant need of improvement. The to sell, I am confident, reason, as we all know, is that with the right that so many of our people leadership, they can be are living on rented land, persuaded to do so for the which severely limits their public good.

In addition to revitalizing the entire town of Calliaqua and raising the overall quality of life for many of our working poor, this plan will also empower many of our families, for the first time, with the opportunity to build equity in an asset they own, and cultivate an economic stake in the community where they live. In so doing, we would also have created for the first time, an economic ladder to the middle class for many of our fellow Vincentians.

Education To its credit, the ULP government has prioritized the importance of early childhood education in the past oneand-a-half decades since taking office. Wherever a new public elementary school has been built during its tenure, the government has also constructed a nearby preschool to give our youngest children the head start they need to succeed academically and to successfully compete in later life. Preschool is when kids first learn to work together in teams, to resolve problems, to listen

and cooperate — all skills that directly come into play in the workforce. And the earlier society invests in children, the greater the return we get.

Unfortunately, our children in Calliaqua are yet to harvest the full fruits of this national investment in early education. The property adjacent to our local public school is privately owned and thought to be unavailable for construction of an adjoining preschool. My own investigation suggests that this may no longer be the case. I propose that immediately upon taking office, the government should open negotiations with a view to acquiring this property for construction of a public preschool that is free to all families.

Economic Revitalization The third pillar of my four-point empowerment plan will require a comprehensive reimagination of our main thoroughfare in Calliaqua — for example the mostly galvanized P.H. Veira building. Long-time residents will recall that this building once housed

a plastics factory. It closed its doors when it became no longer viable.

Since then, it has served as temporary home to a succession of transient and struggling businesses.

As a result, the building remains an eyesore and a public embarrassment to the people of this historic town, Calliaqua.

I propose that the next representative should open talks immediately with the Veira family, to encourage or persuade them to demolish that structure and replace it with a modern building befitting our stature as a major town. A modern building would be especially attractive to clients such as medical and legal offices, barber shops, beauty parlours, and other small stores. I can envisage a hardware outlet along the likes of an ACE Hardware serving as an anchor store. These businesses will help stimulate commercial activity in the surrounding areas and energize the economic potential of Calliaqua.

Flood Prevention Businesses will be reluctant to invest in a

town prone to floods, and residents will continue to suffer major losses on a regular basis because when it floods, most of Calliaqua is under two feet of water.

Geographically, Calliaqua is at the mercy of the two rivers that border it, and the problem is one of inadequate infrastructure.

Both bridges that span the two rivers have two culverts each, but the culverts are too small and are easily blocked with debris, which results in the rivers backing up and emptying their waters into the town. These should be replaced with a single, larger culvert under each bridge. The new government must make this infrastructure improvement a priority.

With the upcoming election, I can think of no better time than now to put these ideas out into the public sphere for discussion, and to the candidates for their consideration. And since it is already well known that I am an avowed supporter of Camillo and the ULP, I would encourage him to add these planks to the party's platform.

Vaughan Toney

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. 13.

Views

White settlers must not sell lands to foreigners

and does not alleviate generational poverty. Mass tourism brings pollution MANY VINCENTIANS living on the SVG Green Party believes that we more white enclaves, like in Mustique to our environment, higher water and leeward side of St. Vincent have must ban the sale of lands to and Canouan, which make Vincentians electricity prices, and perpetuates expressed their deep concern about foreigners, as is the case in Georgia, second class citizens in their own prostitution. hundreds of acres of land in Peter’s Cuba, Thailand, Singapore, Sri Lanka country. We don’t want a second SVG must ban the sale of land to Hope, South Leeward, being sold to and many other countries. phase of colonialism. foreigners, so that our land goes to our foreigners. They say that this will make it South Africa is now proposing to If this land in the green belt area is children, and we have enough good harder for their children and ban the sale of land to foreigners. developed for tourists, we will lose agricultural land to grow our own food. grandchildren to buy land in St. Vincent, South African President, Jacob Zuma, many trees, and this will cause more We must focus on providing and that Vincentian children are being says the reform is aimed at addressing flooding, more landslides, increase sustainable, long-term jobs for our pushed out of their own country. ‘the need to secure our limited land for devastation and poverty, and reduce people, creating sustainable sources of White settlers in SVG were given food security, and address the land our water supply. We will be more like revenue for the SVG Treasury by hundreds of acres of Crown Lands injustice of more than 300 years of Haiti. setting up our own tuna fishing without paying one dollar, during the colonialism and apartheid’.

If this land in the green belt area is industry, building factories for fish period of colonial rule. Now, it seems, He said, ‘In future, foreigners - who developed for tourists, we will destroy canning and agro-processing, and a whole new set of white settlers are to currently own some five to seven prime agricultural lands, and this will taxing the super-rich, and increasing be gifted lands for which locals now percent of South Africa’s land - would increase the threat to our food our human capital by providing our lay claim to through ownership by be allowed only to lease property for security. SVG will be forced to import children with free, high-quality government. White settlers were not between 30 and 50 years, and may be hundreds of millions of dollars of food, education from preschool to university. successful in the sale of the Orange required to cede land considered and this will significantly increase the We must build our own university to Hill Estate to foreigners, and they strategic’. We must do the same in price of food and make it much harder empower the younger generation. must not be successful in Peters Hope SVG and save our land for our for poor households to feed their On Election Day, vote Green Party. too. children. children.

Put your X next to the Telephone, to A Green government would take The proposed plan to sell of Mass tourism is bad for our stop the sale of land to foreigners, and back the land and distribute it to the hundreds of acres of land in the green country. It only offers seasonal, lowto save the lands for our children. Vote people of SVG, rather than see it sold belt area of Peter’s Hope to foreigners paid jobs for our people, where our Green Party to stop the destruction of to foreigners. People have said that the for the building of luxury homes, is a people must be subordinate to our beautiful country.

ULP regime is planning to sell the dangerous prelude to the long-term foreigners doing the cooking, making colonial gifted lands to foreigners, so destruction of our beautiful country. up the beds, cutting the grass and SVG Green Party foreigners can build expensive, luxury We must not destroy our country for being the security guards. This form of www.svggreenparty.org homes. the sake of tourism. We do not want development will destroy our country, Find us on Facebook and Twitter

Reparation claim gets support A VINCENTIAN social and political activist residing in the UK has urged the Afro-Caribbean community in Britain to lend support to the claim made by CARICOM, for reparations from the British government for centuries of native genocide, slavery and colonial oppression.

Brother Rashid Rose, now a Muslim but formerly known as Clintel Rose of Stoney Ground, Kingstown, made the call in a recent address to mark Black History Month. That commemorative month is observed in February in the western hemisphere, but in October in Britain. The event at which Rose spoke, was held in Preston in the north of England, and organized by the Afro-Caribbean community of that town.

In his address, Rose quoted extensively from Professor Hilary

Beckles, Head of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, and devoted much of his address to what is called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This condition refers to the lingering social and health disorders suffered by black people in the West today, as a result of centuries of slavery and colonial oppression.

It is manifested especially in behavioural disorders as well as the chronic health diseases, which continue to plague black people in the Caribbean and North America, arising from poor dietary choices, such as addictive consumption of sugar and salt. These are contributory factors to high incidence of diabetes and hypertension.

The Muslim activist, in giving his support to the CARICOM demand for reparatory justice, said, “The British

Parliament owes the people of Barbados (and the Caribbean) an education and health initiative”.

Rose told his audience that the CARICOM 10point Plan for Reparatory Justice “addresses these development issues,” and is “an invitation to Britain to demonstrate leadership within the legal, moral and Rashid Rose( left) and meeting organiser Ahmad diplomatic culture of the James. world.”

Urging Caribbean people living in the UK to “The claim,” he said, “will not go away, throw their full weight behind the but, rather like the waves on our reparations claim, Rose expressed the beautiful shores of the Caribbean, they view that the 21st century will be the will keep coming until reparatory century of global reparatory justice. justice is attained.”

Vincentians celebrate Independence in Northern Ireland THROUGH the Consulate for St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to Northern Ireland, an evening reception was held to commemorate SVG’s 36th Year of Independence.

The event was held at Windrush Island Cafe, and included Vincentian army personnel based with their families, serving in Northern Ireland.

The evening’s programme commenced with singing of the SVG National Anthem, and opening statements from the Vincentian Diaspora.

Dr Christopher Stange, Hon. Consul for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, delivered an address on behalf of the SVG Government, conveying sentiments from Governor General

Sir Frederick Ballantyne, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Foreign Minister Senator Camillo Gonsalves, High Commissioner to the UK H.E. Cenio Lewis, with an update on developments in the country.

A vote of thanks was provided by Mrs Yolande Robertson-Greene and Mr Joseph Ricketts to end the formalities and the start of a Vincentian banquet of food and refreshments.

Some of the Tourism items were kindly supplied Vincentian Diaspora by the SVG Ministry with Dr Christopher Stange, Hon. Consul of Tourism and St. Vincent and the provided to all Grenadines to nationals.

Northern Ireland.

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14. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Commissioner comfortable COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, Michael Charles is comfortable in his position.

“I have no problem. I do my job to the best of my ability, so I have no problem at all, whatsoever,” Charles asserted.

CoP Charles was responding to questions related to a recent call for his resignation by the Leader of the Opposition, Arhnim Eustace.

Charles said that after he had heard about the Opposition Leader’s call made on media outlets here, he (Charles) decided to lay the issue to an early rest. “So, I won’t be entertaining any other thing about that situation,” said

Charles.

In a letter dated October 26 and addressed to the Governor General, Eustace claimed that the Commissioner “…frequently and blatantly plays a partisan and political role. He has resorted to wearing ULP colours at party and other public events.”

Eustace also made reference to the Commissioner playing Ole Mas during the carnival festivities, in which he ridiculed opposition members of parliament.

“Your Excellence, I request that you use your best efforts as Head of State to resolve this

recurring situation. In fact, I am of the view, Your Excellency, that the Commissioner should resign as his behaviour is inimical to the best interest of the security of the state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” the Opposition Leader further stated in his letter.

The Commissioner told THE VINCENTIAN that he has never received a letter of concern from the Opposition Leader, and his knowledge of the letter to the Governor General has been gleamed from the newspaper.

Asked whether he has spoken to the Governor General on the issue, the

by HAYDN HUGGINS

Commissioner of Police Michael Charles does not intend to make an issue about the Opposition Leader’s call for his resignation.

Commissioner said he preferred “not to comment on that.” (KH)

DNA testing required IT IS TOO SOON to make a determination of the human remains that were discovered at the King’s Hill Reserve on Saturday.

Hunters had alerted police to an already decomposed human skeleton, after it was discovered around 11 am on the said day.

The headless remains were discovered about 300 metres from the main road, and the skull about 120 feet from the rest of the remains.

„Remarkable reduction in crime,‰ says Jacobs

According to ASP Sydney James at the Calliaqua Police Station, a DNA test would be required to make such a determination.

However he was not able to confirm how soon samples would be leaving the state for testing.

That being the case, James did not speculate as per the remains being that of any person reported missing, and urged the public to do ASP Sydney James did likewise.

Saturday’s discovery is not speculate as regards the identity of the second time within the remains. months that human remains have been discovered in the King’s Hill reserve.

Back in July, the body of 18-year-old Katisha Bess, formerly of Lowman’s (Leeward), was found there. Medford Caine, a 49-year-old, has been charged for his involvement in that young woman’s death. (DDD)

FROM JANUARY 1, 2015 up to press time Wednesday, there has been a remarkable reduction in crime overall, compared to the same period last year.

This is according to Head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Supt. Ruth Jacobs, during an interview with Supt. Ruth Jacobs, THE VINCENTIAN on head of the CID, has Wednesday. lauded the work of At press time, 23 the Major Crime Unit murders were recorded so of the Royal SVG far for 2015, compared to Police Force.

34 over the same period last year.

Thirty-eight murders were recorded last year, the highest count for one year in this country’s history.

Up to press time, ten of the murders recorded so far this year were gun-related, while 11 were still under investigation.

Twenty-seven of those recorded las t year were gun-related, and up to the end of that year, 28 were still under investigation.

THE VINCENTIAN was unable to access the statistics for the other offences, as they were not readily available; but according to Jacobs, figures have been showing that there has been an overall reduction in crime.

The CID Chief lauded the Major Crime Unit (MCU), under the leadership of Sergeant Atland Browne, for the excellent work they have been doing to ensure that St. Vincent and the Grenadines continues to be peaceful and safe. She also held high praises for other members of the CID of which the MCU is a unit.

Jacobs is of the view that, while the police have stepped up patrols, the public’s support and assistance have continued, primarily because of the ongoing educational programmes of the CID and other police units.

Jacobs urged her colleagues to continue to work diligently to keep St. Vincent and the Grenadines safe. She is also appealing to the public to continue supporting the police in the fight against crime.

Jacobs, the first female to be appointed head of the CID in this country’s history, is also director of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. 15.

News

Female Reverend has message for SVG

REV LYLIAN SLATER of the Vermont Mt. Bethel Spiritual Baptist Church is not going to make the same error twice.

According to her, “I am aware of the story of Jonah.”

That story, of course, is recorded in the Bible, and tells of Jonah receiving a calling from the Lord to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh, where he lived; but chose, instead, to board a ship to the city of Tarshish, an island across the sea.

His disobedience brought punishment upon himself and others around him, for after he had boarded the ship to Tarshish, there was a great storm.

When, as Rev. Slater said, she had indication from the Lord on May 2, 2013 of a disaster to happen in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, her own doubts about the calling led her to remain

quiet about her message.

As happened, St. Vincent was wrought by torrential rains that brought flooding and caused destruction to property and loss of lives.

This time, November 2015, strengthened by her “faith in the Lord,” cognizant of the story of Jonah, and equipped with a better understanding and Rev. Lylian Slater is making acceptance of her sure that Vincentians get her role in service to her message this time around.

Lord, Rev Slater is bringing a new Her vision, she says, message to the people of gives a picture of the St. Vincent and the “land being covered by Grenadines. water,” and she repeated “I am appealing to all her plea for prayer to the churches, pastors, Lord. fathers, mothers and “I plead with all of St. children, to go down in Vincent and the prayer to avert a threat Grenadines to get down of another disaster in in prayer to the Lord,” this land.” she repeated.

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16. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Tribute

Tribute to a dear friend Elizabeth Amelia Medford –Ambrose

Passing: Sunday 25th on Murray Road and October, 2015 in Toronto, killed on the spot. That Canada. left his wife, Elizabeth, a widow with seven ELIZABETH, Liz as she was children to care for, the fondly known to her family youngest being a baby. and friends, was the She eventually moved daughter of Frederick back to Paul Over with Allan Medford and Ella her family, to be with her Maude Medford of Paul mother.

Over, Kingstown, St. Her life changed in Vincent. Her father, 1959 when, for the first Frederick, built the time, she became a Apostolic Faith Church in working woman. Mr. Paul Over and was the first David Gamble, who was Pastor there. As expected, the first manager of all of the family were British American faithful members of the Insurance Company, church and had a good arrived here from Christian upbringing. Liz Bermuda to start played the organ at the operations. He heard of church until she migrated this lady who had to Canada after her tragically lost her husband’s tragic death. husband, and went to see Liz was married to her to offer her a job. As Percival (Percy) Ambrose Liz later told me, she of the Ambrose family of said to him that she had Upper Middle Street, never worked in her life Kingstown. Those of us except as a mother and who were around in housewife but, was those days will willing to take up the remember what a great challenge. This she did, photographer he was. and this is where I first Photography was his met and became a close main hobby after work at and lifelong friend of Liz. John H. Hazell’s & sons.

I had just recently left He never missed taking the Girls’ High School pictures at a Carnival and had begun working Queen show, and it was in the Civil Service. while returning from However, I felt that there that show in 1957 that was no challenge in the tragically, he was particular environment knocked down by a car to which I was assigned,

so when I heard that the Manager of British American was looking for a Manager’s Secretary with shorthand and accounting skills, I decided to apply for the job. My after school classes with Mrs. Iris Mc Kie when I was in sixth form at G.H.S proved to be time well spent. I went for the interview and was told I could begin as soon as I was available. I started work in November 1959 and Liz and I had a wonderful relationship from then on. She was a friend, sister, mother all in one; even though there was a twenty-odd year difference in age, this never mattered and we became each other’s confidant. But, if you knew Liz, you would know that she could get along with the devil himself! She was a great and caring listener.

Moreover, despite her financial limitations at that time, she always had something to give to those in need. She had the most generous of hearts. When she migrated with her family to Toronto, Canada in 1964, she carried that same generous and

loving spirit with her.

She just had to hear that you were from St. Vincent and she would “look out for you”. I know that once she even persuaded her boss to employ someone who had come to Canada and desperately needed a job.

In conversation one day, I found out that she was a Girls’ High School past student; she wanted to know why there was no longer the Debutante Dance (now Graduation Ball) for outgoing students. The Old Girls’Association was not functioning at the time.

She got together with Mrs. Freda Allen and other “Old Girls” of her era and they revived the association and organized a Debutante Dance for 1960. I was one of the girls involved and that occasion bonded our relationship even more.

Liz was very much a part of my early married life and she embraced my family as part of hers, continuing to keep the bond especially with my first born Alana, who continued to keep in touch with, and visit her ‘Auntie Liz’ over the years. Whenever my

family visited Toronto, it was expected that we would be staying at Liz, even if we had other persons to visit. Liz not only loved talking with people, but was the perfect communicator, always writing letters and sending greeting cards on special occasions. She didn’t forget birthdays or anniversaries and I was always kept updated about the family and all the new additions. Both Alana and I have so many precious photographs of not only her children, but every grand and great grandchild that was born, and of family activities.We chatted frequently on the phone until more recently when she was unable to do so.

There was always the question, “When are you coming to visit me?” and then in her usual jovial manner, she would outline to me her physical condition and ailments, but always being thankful to her Saviour for blessing her with a good life.

My last visit was about two years ago and I have pleasant memories of that occasion, even though it was a bit sad to see my spritely Liz now unable to work, as she was used to, in her beautiful garden or to move around as easily. We had a great time recalling old times, and I always remember vividly, the joy of being there for that week and the fun we had. In typical Liz style, she refused to

use her walker or stick to go down the stairs, and made it a point to show me how she did it. She would get down on her backside, crawl down until she got to the bottom, and break into a loud laugh at her achievement. That was our Liz! She had a remarkable sense of humour and always had a joke to share, even if it was on herself.

Elizabeth would have been ninety-nine (99) years of age on October 28, 2015. She died on the 25th. Regrettably, I was unable to attend her funeral but was there in spirit.

To her children Frederick, Ella, Arlene, Elizabeth, Desmond, Cecilia and Merill, seventeen grandchildren, thirty- two great grandchildren, her sister Margaret, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and numerous friends, I extend deepest sympathy from my family to all of you. Liz lived a good and happy life. Treasure the fond memories you have of her and always remember her laughter and love for others and her constant faith in her God. That is how she would want to be remembered.

The Girls’ High School Alumnae Association of St. Vincent and the Grenadines also express our sincere condolences to the family on the passing of their loved one.

May she rest happily in her Saviour’s arms, and those of us whose lives she touched and blessed, honour her by living to follow her example.

Annelle Thomas

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. 17.

News

Dorian remembers ‘Tweety: Recalls their playing days He never secured contract to play football professionally, but disclosed that a French coach DORIAN ‘DOE DOE’ PHILLIPS and Tyrone ‘Tweety’ once showed interest in him.

Spence go back a long way. They were teammates with Phillips credits his development as a goal keeper Avenues Football Club before they both linked up with to the training he acquired under Seymour ‘Rollit’ Roseans Football Club.

Waldron. In fact, he said, Waldron trained both him There was a natural understanding between and former national goal keeper Winston Soso. them.

Phillips and Soso travelled the same path to “That is my number one stopper. Anytime you national goal keeping. They both played in the ‘B’ beat ‘Tweety’ is my ball,” Phillips, who gave 14 Division for one year, and the following year were years of service to the national football team, drafted into the senior national squad. reflected with a sense of nostalgia.

He developed a technique which still befuddles many. Fans recall seeing Phillips execute the ‘Pick off the feet’.

Strikers would pull back the trigger to unleash a shot to goal, only to discover that the ball was no longer there.

“I just develop it off my own,” Philips recalled.

“I diving on the ball, and I twist towards your instep, so you can’t get to kick,” Phillips explained.

His stint in the goal was not without horrors.

He admitted having cracked two ribs, received a fractured skull, a broken wrist on the right hand, and a broken little finger on the left hand.

In fact, Phillips played with the broken little finger for some months.

“I didn’t even know it break,” he confessed.

“I used to just (an) ‘noint it,” the former national custodian recounted.

It was not until he was nursing an injury to another finger that he realised that the little finger was broken.

Phillips has memories of his sojourn on the field.

He reflects with pride on a standing ovation he received in Antigua, when the national team went there for that country’s Independence celebrations.

“That is the best piece of saving they ever see in Antigua,” Phillips admitted.

He recalled having to leave the field five minutes before the end of the match owing to injury, and his substitute, Paul O’Garro, being bombarded by the marauding Antiguans.

That was a Friendly match, Phillips reflected, and named Mervin Richards, brother of cricketfamed Sir Vivian Richards, as one of the Antiguan strikers on show that day.

There were other outstanding performances against teams in Guadeloupe and Martinique, Phillips mentioned.

His worst memories came against a Cuban team somewhere around 1979. He recounted that five goals were scored on him that day when he played for a President’s XI. Phillips remembered taking the field after a day’s work with the Surveys Department. But, he still enjoyed the game.

Phillips is recently retired from LIAT where he served for 29 years.

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY

As for Spence’s death, Phillips moaned: “I Goal-Keeper Dorian Phillips (right) feel that played most of his football with one bad.”

Tyrone ‘Tweety’ Spence as his main The defender. popular veteran footballer was laid to rest yesterday.

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People

Vincentian professor: ÂWest Indian culture shaped my characterÊ “It was at that moment I began to do some self-evaluation to see if what others actually saw in me is what I see in myself,” said Dr. Philip-Tabb, who spoke on the topic, “Change for the A HARVARD-EDUCATED Vincentian Challenge.” professor in the United States has “It’s not enough for others to point pointed to the West Indian culture of out your strengths and weaknesses, hard work, strong morals and penchant but also for one to acknowledge those for giving back to the community in distinct characteristics in yourself,” helping to shape her character. she added. “No one can tell you what’s In delivering the keynote address best for you as an adult — although Saturday night, at the 36th some people try; you may decide that Independence Anniversary gala for yourself.” banquet of the Philadelphia-based St. After completing a Master of Vincent and the Grenadines Science degree in Applied Organization of Pennsylvania Mathematics at Drexel University in (SVGOP), Dr. Loni Philip- Tabb, the 2005, with a full scholarship, Philipdaughter of a Vincentian mother and a Tabb said, two years later, she Grenadian father, said her Caribbean graduated with another Master’s — experiences and memories Master of Science in Biostatistics — at significantly shaped “who I am today.” Harvard, with also a full scholarship.

“I try to instill these things in my She said her dissertation work own children and even share with my focused on building multilevel husband all the fond memories of statistical models applied to both growing up in a Vincy and Grenadian environmental and health disparities home,” said Philip-Tabb at the settings. ceremony held at the VincentianIn particular, she examined the owned Calabash Banquet and effect of neighborhood poverty on Catering House on Lancaster Avenue mortality rates in the city of Boston. in Philadelphia.

Philip-Tabb said this work Philip-Tabb’s mother, Patsy Philip, allowed her to “not only measure the who introduced her daughter by health and social disparities present in reading from Philip Tabb’s biography, this city but to also map these hails from Park Hill in North Central disparities at a neighborhood level.”

Windward.

Philip-Tabb, who obtained her Ph. No easy breeze D degree in Biostatistics in 2009 from the Ivy League Harvard University in Immediately after obtaining her Ph. Massachusetts — considered among the D, Philip-Tabb said she was offered a top universities in the world — said her professorship in the Department of path to her “scientific experience” Epidemiology and Biostatistics at actually began in business school at Drexel University.

Drexel University in Philadelphia, She said her experience at Harvard where she’s currently a tenured-track taught her a number of things.

Assistant Professor of Biostatistics.

“I had to realize that every chapter She said she had begun studies in in one’s life is not going to be fun, easy business administration, concentrating breezy, and comes free of charge,” she in accounting and finance, but said. “My work ethic had to change. switched to mathematics at the urging What was good before needed to be of her trainer. great. What I did in the past helped Story and photos by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; kingnaking210@yahoo.com US CORRESPONDENT

Dr. Loni Philip-Tabb delivers feature address.

“Never allow anyone or anything to deter you from reaching your goals,” she said.

At the same time, she said striking a balance was key to enjoying “your success”.

“This balance is difficult to find, but it’s worth the effort to find this hidden gem,” Philip-Tabb said.

She said a challenge for her was “painstakingly working through that Patsy Philip reads her dissertation that will leave a solid daughter, Dr. Loni Philip Tabb’s, contribution not only the scientific biography. world but [also] to the public health community that will hopefully reap the me get to that point to enter the benefits of my novel methods in doctoral program. scientific research.”

“But what I need to do to get beyond Philip-Tabb disclosed that some of that point to obtain my Ph. D in the recent public health challenges Biostatistics required even more that she faced in her research were dedication, even more due diligence, dealing with “pressing issues in some and even more passion,” she added. of our most vulnerable and “Stay true to your faith, morals and disadvantaged neighborhoods,” such as beliefs,” Philip- Tabb continued. alcohol and violence.

“Never allow anyone or anything to She said her research focuses on not alter these things, and use your faith, only measuring these issues using morals and beliefs to help you in statistics, but on using maps to difficult challenging times.” “visually see where the most pressing She also stressed that “success public health issues are. doesn’t come easy — it comes at a cost,” “These are all challenges that both adding that that cost may mean “not you and I have endured, but what was going to that party on Friday night, key was how we all adapted and how and, instead, focusing on my we all changed for the challenge,” coursework or my thesis.”

Philip Tabb said.

She said the change doesn’t mean Striking a balance forgetting where you come from or forgetting “your Vincy culture to Philip-Tabb, who lives in Delaware assimilate here in the States; or, for with her husband, Thomas, and their me, to forget everything my parents two children, also urged patrons to instilled in me to ultimately reach my “finish what you started. own destiny.”

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. 19.

The tears flowed freely as the curtains came down on activities to mark the three scores and ten years (20+20+20+10) of the life of Olmroy O.T Mayers, who announced that he had rededicated his life to Jesus Christ, and asked for the prayers of his loved ones and friends on his new journey.

During an emotionally charged thanksgiving service, held on October 18th, the final day of the three-day celebrations that took place at Diamond Estate, O.T revealed that he had turned over a new leaf, and made the plea for those present, and those who had received his autographed copy of his book “OT Mayers’ Relay Race,” to reach out to him as a sign of encouragement.

O.T, a former evangelist of the Apostolic Faith denomination, admitted that he had fallen from grace, after “backsliding” many years ago, and had not received calls or encouragement from the religious leaders of the day, some of whom he identified in the audience.

He pointed out that he did not want a repeat of what took place back then.

“I am a target again for the devil; he is going to throw some darts at me, but I promise you tonight, regardless to what my Goliath will be, I am prepared to face it, and I beg of you who have the book, the phone number is there… I want you to call me and ask me ‘How yo making it?’

“I might be going through a period.

Please don’t leave me out there like the first time. Call me and ask me ‘How yo making it?”

In what was considered his first sermon since his new walk with the Lord, O.T indicated that he had planned this special day for years, and that he had “bargained with God,” that if he should achieve the biblical milestone of threescore years and ten (Psalm 90:10), that he would live the rest of his life to the glory of God. During his delivery, which was filled with humor, tears, and hard truth, O.T gave a timeline of his spiritual journey, which was brought to an end because he had put people and things before God. He said that since his birthday, which he celebrated on October 12th, he has considered himself a ‘babe’ in Christ.

“I have come to age. I come to the point that, ‘whatever the idol be, tear it from thy throne and worship only thee,’” O.T said, stating that though it

was heartbreaking to part from the idols of his life, he preferred to grasp the treasures of his God. “The Spirit ask me ‘Lovest thou God more than these?” O.T revealed to the congregation, referring to the wealth and other pleasures of life, which he had acquired throughout his life.

“I bring you here to hear me answer: ‘Yes Lord!’

“I bring you here to see that now I am different. God has done a work in me.

“I don’t know what is your ‘these’, I don’t know what is dangling before you, but if you love them more than God, it is your idol, and it is recorded that you mustn’t worship idols.”

At the end of his delivery, a tear filled O.T asked his long time friend, Pastor Errol Daniel to pray for him, and invited the congregation to join him at the altar, where many openly wept with O.T. Sunday’s event brought an end to the three days of celebrations, which began on Friday 16th, with the Launch of O.Ts book, then on Saturday 17th, family members and friends celebrated with food and drinks.

On Sunday 18th, a number of persons paid tribute to O.T on reaching his remarkable milestone; some in speeches, others in heartfelt singing, including his eldest son Omri Mayers (I surrender All), Jasmine Prescott (I’m Still Here), and friends from Bequia, who performed “Others” and “I Need the Prayers of Those I Love.”

And of course in fine O.T style, members of the audience were treated to gifts of wood engraved pens and coffee mugs, as well as non alcoholic beverages and snacks, following the service.

O.T crowned his wife Lenora (Lenny) the queen after 25 years of marriage on Saturday July 10th, 1993.

Tributes to O.T Mayers

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OWEN MAYERS

I must say thanks to our Father in heaven to give our congrats and our tributes to my father. I am the youngest of the first crop from his wife, the queen Lenora Mayers.

I must say that being the youngest one, I can tell you from my memories growing up, looking at him was like a hulk; a man strong in his mind, strong in his faith in God, and strong in his love for his family. I was the mommy boy.

My father is a serious disciplinarian and I have no regrets being disciplined by him; the licks I can’t remember, but his stern words used to shake me more, and bring tears to my eyes.

I must say as a man and a father, he set a great example for me to be better... he was not a perfect man, his imperfection was like any man, and he never hid his imperfection, and he never hid his good deeds, and his love for family is something that has been instilled in me and the other three brothers and the other families; his crops that he has grown, part of him would be passed on and all of us have the blessing from God. I must say Daddy, thank you for meeting my mommy and not stopping at the second child.

The three of us are pillars, and with the strength and love that my father instill in us, we gonna keep strong, and we appreciate you and will give our best, and we will continue to contribute to St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the world!

OMRI MAYERS Daddy, we love you, and I know that the journey for you aint finished yet; you have lot more to give to society than you have already given, and I believe that it will come from your intellect, so even though you may not be as active in physical body , still be active in mind, still let the ideas flow and still be an inspiration to everybody.

Omri also gave a tribute in song; “I surrender all.”

JASMINE PRESCOTT- on behalf of Finishing and Furnishing Among all that was said here this evening, I want to continue to pray for my brother, thanking God for him. 20, 20, 20, and 10. He would have gone through a lot, he would have been down in the valley, he would have been up in the mountain top, but all, in all we thank God for him, and we pray for God’s continual blessing on him, and I would like to thank God also for the bread that O.T has provided for my family and for us as workers over the years. Praise the Lord!

Staff of Finishing and Furnishing performed “There shall be showers of blessings.”

WAVENEY HORNE; on behalf of O.T TYRE LTD. Today we are gathered here with Family, Friends, Loved Ones, Co-workers and Well-wishers to celebrate with Mr. Olmroy OT Mayers, the joy of achieving this milestone Three Scores & Ten. You are a living example of how a person achieving this milestone should be, Humble, Loving, Caring, Thoughtful, and most of all God Fearing.

The way you lived your life has greatly inspired everyone who have come in contact

with you. Your hard work, dedication, enthusiasm and determination have played a significant role in shaping the lives of many persons present here today.

In closing, I will like to leave these scripture verses with you: Isaiah 41:10 which says “Do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God, for I will strengthen you and will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Philippians 1: 6 “He who has begun a good work in you is able to keep you until the Day of Jesus Christ return”.

Staff of O.T Tyre performed “Great is thy faithfulness.”

PEARLINA SCOTT

Had it not been for my brother Olmroy, I would not have become somebody.

I remember when you was going to get married you come to me. I couldn’t sew but you trust me and you bring your wife to me and you bring the money to me, (I didn’t even know how to spend money).

But praise God, I spend the money in a good way, and I make you a man.

When I was making the dress for the wife, I cried, because I didn’t know how to do it, but I found a paper with a bride picture on it, so I sit down, and I pattern that and I make the dress.

On the day of the wedding, I cried because I know people was going to come and look at me, but hallelujah , instead of looking down at me, they lift me up, and then I became one of the best seamstress; they say they never see a dress so.

Had it not been for my brother Olmroy, I would not have been somebody.

Olmroy, I love you from the depths of my heart.

JOEL JOHN It seemed like it was only last year that a young lad was brought to the office for being rude to his instructor. When I asked the lad to explain his side of the story, it wasn’t that he was rude but he was outspoken. I explained to this young lad that being outspoken is not a bad thing, but at times, you have to know what to say, how to say it and when to say it. From that day, I had a son. If you don’t believe me, you can ask his biological father.

A few weeks later, I met this lad’s father, and we had a little chat about his son. Over the years that followed, we continued to have our little discussions on all aspects of life, and we still do up to today.

From our discussions, I learned a lot about this man who came from humble beginnings; his life as a boy growing up, his employment at Public Works, his love for his family, how he started his business, and how he expanded it.

This gentleman gained my respect and admiration, and whenever I was giving a motivational lecture to my students, at the Campden Park Multi Purpose Centre, now the Campden Park Technical Institute, I would use this man’s name as someone that SVG could be proud of because he was one of our pioneers.

One day after giving a motivational lecture to a new batch of students and using this gentleman’s name, I said to myself, why am I calling this man’s name and telling his story when I am sure he can speak for himself. When I asked him to assist the institution by giving a motivational lecture to a new batch of students from the Bethel High School, he accepted, and from that day forward, I knew we had found someone that we can rely upon to encourage and inspire our students on a yearly basis.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure that many people did not know this side of this gentleman, and so, on behalf of all those students that he employed, the many students and instructors whose lives he has touched, including mine, I

would like to say a hearty Thank You to O.T Mayers. ‘The Educator’.

BISHOP WENDELL ROBERTS

It is a distinct privilege to congratulate my school contemporary on this special occasion, your 70Th birthday.

Indeed this is a great milestone. Your life was a very remarkable one, and you are an extraordinary person. I know that you are fully conscious that God has been very good to you, and like David would have said to Israel in 1 Chronicles 28: 4 …… and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel, it is quite fitting for you to share his sentiment. You are liked by God. Your life is indeed a perfect example of what can be achieved in the life of one who has dedicated himself to hard work to lift himself out of abject poverty into which you were born. I know that you have expressed gratitude to God for empowering you with the skills, strength and wisdom to make the success you enjoy possible.

To God be the glory!

Your generosity is widely known, and we at New Life Ministries have been the recipient of the same. Your contribution to our ministry in its infancy was well received, and we are extremely grateful for your help.

The rededication of your life to the Lord at this milestone is timely. Indeed to whom much is given, much is required. I anticipate your dedication in making Christ known as effectively as you have done in the past.

Once again, my heartiest congratulations, and God’s richest blessings on this leg of the journey.

DR. LENNOX R. ADAMS Congratulations to OT Mayers on achieving this 70th birthday milestone. OT is an icon in the local manufacturing industry, and an inspiration to many across St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He is confident and forthright yet personable - a proven leader.

His philanthropic spirit is legendary. I wish him all the best as he embarks on the next stage of his life in his service to God and humanity.

MRS. DAWN EDWARDS Please permit me to speak on behalf of a group of friends referred to by their own friends and family as “Crazy People”: Culture Man, Mr. Gill, Mrs. Edwards, Bootie, Mr. Johnson, Beard, Mann and Denise.

OT, the man of the night, this group of persons hold you in high esteem.

We feel that you are a strong leader, genuinely caring, helpful and thoughtful of other people’s situation, protective and reassuring.

We your walking partners along with all present are extremely happy to be celebrating with you. Your past has been written for all to read, the present you’re now living. This group is happy to be some of the people you start your day with. The future – well we do not know what it holds.

Your’e inspirational. Keep on being O.T. We wish you the best of health for the bonus years, so we can continue our walks for as long as we all can make it.

We love you, and may the good Lord bless you!

AVIS BREWSTER First I want to congratulate you Mr. O. T Mayers on attaining your 70th birthday, and for all of your accom-

plishments over the years. I certainly know that without the blessing of the Almighty God you could not have made it thus far. You are truly an amazing phenomenal human being. A man of the soil, a man with a heart of gold. This is quite evident from the kind things you have done for many before, and from what we all have seen exhibited here over the past three days of celebrating with you.

I have known you before. My first encounter with you was some sixteen years ago when I went to Finishing & Furnishing to purchase a bed. I remembered, jokingly telling you that I wanted a bed that won’t make noise, and you said, “I have the right one in the back here for you, come let me show you.”

Most of you here would know me as a businesswoman in the field of auto parts, having started with my garage in Campden Park.

As fate would have it, the person who gave me that big break was you, Mr. O. T Mayers. In 2010, I got the opportunity to rent a space from you through your son Orbil on Mc. Coy Street where I am presently located. Two years later, I got a call that you wanted to see me. Fearing the worst, I thought you were going to raise the rent or throw me out.

You then said to me in your usual friendly manner… “You remind me of how I came up. I does be over here and see how hard you working, always sweeping the road in front the shop, nothing is demeaning for you to do, always early. Yo see that building there? That is where I started. It is a blessed corner, I want you to have it. I don’t know your standing, am not putting it on the market, am giving you the first preference”.

I looked at you and as you can remember, the tears just flowed from my eyes. You said to me, “Don’t cry go home and talk to your family about it”. Today the rest is history.

So, today am giving you and Almighty God all the thanks for changing my life. I started to read your book, and I can equate my life in part to yours. Again, I want to say to you that you are an amazing human being. May God continue to bless and give you health and strength throughout the rest of your days.

ANGELA JOHN

ERROL DANIEL

Years ago when I was working at Sporting Goods, and Sporting Goods had closed down and I was owing for a piece of land through the bank, I didn’t have anywhere to turn, so I went to “Uncle Olmroy” and I asked him for a job in the shop and he said “Miss ,I don’t have anything for you. Is only men working here,” and I said no problem, and he tell me to come back the next week, and when I go, he set me up on a lathe and a couple weeks after he shift me to a martis… then I shift over to the sanding area and I was a first class sander.

I say all this to say that my piece of land that I own right now is all because of “Uncle Olmroy.”

When I thought it was impossible for me to have a shelter over my head years ago and there were others who were discouraging me, OT came around and said “All things are possible.”

I had a parcel of land but it wasn’t in a proper place to put a house. One of my concerns was whether or not I was going to be able to get a vehicle up in the yard, and OT said “You can do it.”

I took his advice, and with his help we built our home on that steep hill.

And the first vehicle that ever drove up in the yard where I’m still living was OT’s vehicle; a green Volkswagon, and he said “You see what I’m telling you.”

It is possible to park three vehicles in the yard now, and OTs encouragement and advice helped to make it possible, and I want to say thanks to God for him.

When the house was finished, O.T furnished it, and I said “How much I have for you?”, and he said “Look, let those things stay in your house and anybody come to your house and they sit in your sitting room, and they sit on these chairs, just tell them where to get chairs like this.”

And I want to publically thank brother OT for accompanying me to different parts of St Vincent to preach the gospel. OT was one of the most outstanding preachers in our conference, and he is making his comeback.

I want to stretch open my hands to him today, not at his eulogy when his eyes are closed in death, but when his eyes are wide open to say O.T thank you very much!

DAVE CHARLES I would use a saying that was said to me: “You always land where you take off,” and I’m going to read a portion of scripture from Phillipians 1:6 “Be confident of this very thing that he which began a good thing that he would perform it until the day of Jesus.”

The reason I say land where you took off, it’s because you started strong in the gospel, and now I charge you to finish strong.

This is a new beginning, and God is going to finish the work he started in you. God bless you O.T. BERNARD JOSEPH

Congratulations to OT, and thanks for allowing us to celebrate your milestone together. This is who you are you are, not selfish, you are a people person, and I want to say that I am really thankful that I get the opportunity to say this while you are alive.

You are a gift given to us

by God, you are a gift to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and you would have touched many lives, you would have sown many seeds… and you have done so for me without knowing me.

I want to say thank you OT, and trust in the Lord with all your heart.

I was looking at television one evening some years ago about a ceremony at the St Mary’s RC School and they were thanking him for making space available to them for school, and OT went up and he stretched out his hand to Sister Ivy, and Sister Ivy refused to shake his hand, she hugged him. It was the first time I saw that. He was hugged by a nun, so he is blessed.

OT is a powerful brand.

One Saturday we were walking through Stubbs and somebody spotted OT, and all of a sudden the message was spread and everybody in the village came out to see this man.

Don’t take this man for granted, he can stand in any part of the world.

Congratulations O.T!

VELMA COTTLE

VINCENT DASILVA

In 1979, the Apostolic Faith church had an evangelistic crusade in Clare Valley. At the time of the meeting, I had not yet accepted Christ as my eternal savior.

Mr. O.T Mayers was the speaker during the week of evangelistic services.

The Friday and last night of the crusade, the topic was “Don’t let anybody stop you.” As a teenager listening to the sermon, I concluded that the world has nothing to offer. I felt the hand of God in my life, and I went boldly to the front and accepted Christ… and here I am this evening still serving the Lord!

In Matthew 13, Jesus speaks about the sower. I am happy that I am one of the seeds that fell in good ground. Thanks be to God for His grace, strength and mercy.

O.T and I grew up together, we were in class at one time.

I remember in the mid 70s I was to build a house. I got the land but it was on a slope. I remember I approached O.T , and O.T say “Once you building the house, I will give you help.”

When I was ready to put the roof on for that house, O.T came a Sunday, and three of us put on all those gables and thing, and in two days we finish that whole roof, galvanize and everything.

O.T has done a lot of great things for me. I must say that we are still like brothers today.

Thank you O.T, and may God continue to bless you.

STEPHANIE JAMES

RAWLE ALLEN I’m honored to stand up here to speak something that OT spoke into my life many years ago.

During my primary school days, as little boys, my brothers and I used to run across the workshop break time and lunch time, and we would grab a piece of sand paper and wood and do some funny things.

One day OT said “I want to see you and your brothers,” and when we got to the workshop, he said to me “I notice when you all come around here that Rawle you like to write and Byron like to take up the tools and cut wood, Nicholas he want to fix everything and Lennox would measure everything.”

So he said to us “You guys are interested in furniture building, but this is not your field.”

And he point to each and every one of us and he said Rawle you are a pen and paper man, here is not for you. Nico you love to fix things, you will be a mechanic.

“Byron you saw everything, you going to be a builder. Lennox you take measurement and want to cut, you are going to be a tailor.”

I stand here today to tell you exactly what he spoke, we are!

I want to thank you so much OT. I don’t know what’s next in your life, but may the blessings of God be upon you in all your endeavors. God bless you.

ALLION QUASHIE O.T is one of my best friends. O.T has been like a father to me; a very wonderful man.

We became friends over 16 years ago. I remember some years ago my wife had prob-

lems having children. We had to go to Barbados and it cost a lot of money, but O.T stood by me, he said “I ain’t leaving you alone to go down in this,” and even the house I live in he see the land before I get it.

O.T, he who began that good work in you would bring you to perfection.

I want to say thank you for the person you’ve been to me, and may God bless you.

VALERIE BURGIN I remember some years ago I was planning to burn someone house, but something say ‘go church’, and I went to Apostolic Faith church and this Brother John talked about past, present and future, and when he talked, he make me change my mind. That’s how powerful he is.

I’ve worked at Finishing and Furnishing for years, he is the one who used to embarrass me as an employee.

O.T has a side you won’t want to mess with, because his one or two “F” words would hit you so fast and furious, you will think lightning struck you. In spite of all this, his good outweighs the bad.

I put this together for you: O- Observant.

L- Loving.

M- Meek R- Reliable O- Open Minded Y- Yeoman T- Thankful M- Mercurial A-Ambitious Y-Yappy E-Embullient R- Rigorous S- Simple (Servant to all and his maker.)

May God bless him.

MICHAEL DASILVA This man had a vision and he pursued it. And he didn’t keep it all to himself, because hear from many people about how good he was to them, and whenever we meet there is always a good word; always something to share.

God has really been good to you. God has used you to bless others, and he is not finished with you.

May God continue to bless you as you bless others.

WARRICAN JAMES 20 years ago my wife suffered from asthma.

We went to the hospital but could not get what the hospital said I needed because I didn’t have the money. So I come from the hospital, pass by the drug store and I met Brother John (O.T) there, and I put my story to him.

He said “You have no problem.”

This cost more than a house, it cost more than a vehicle, it cost more than a property (this is life), and Brother John put his hand in his pocket, take out that money, and gave it to me so that I can buy this medication.

I wonder how, when or where we are going to get another O.T John like this man; a very special man.

May God continue to bless you Brother John!

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Independence

US congratulates SVG on Independence Anniversary

by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net;k ingnaking210@yahoo.com US CORRESPONDENT

your beautiful United States Congresswom waterfalls, an Yvette D. rugged Clarke mountains promised to and the The United States has work for musical extended congratulations storytelling of increased to the people of St. assistance to your Vincent and the Caribbean Calypsonians,” Grenadines on their 36th States. said US year of political Secretary of independence.

State John Kerry in a Congresswoman Yvette “The warm spirit of statement, on behalf of D. Clarke, who the people of your President Barack represents the 9th archipelago entices Obama. visitors from around the “This year, the United Congressional District in Brooklyn, told a gala in world to enjoy the golden States reaffirmed our US Secretary of State sands of the Grenadines, partnership with your John Kerry vibrant nation through Independence Luncheon the Caribbean Energy at Grand Prospect Hall Security Initiative in Brooklyn, that “St. (CESI) and the Vincent and the Caribbean Basin Grenadines is uniquely Security Initiative (CBSI) ,” he added. “We positioned to benefit” from President Obama’s also work together to “genuine partnership reduce the incidence of with CARICOM (the HIV/AIDS and other Caribbean Community). communicable diseases.

“As a member of the “As you celebrate Energy Committee [in another year of independence, know that the US House of the people of the United Representatives], I will US Secretary of State States wish you a joyful continue to work for the John Kerry gave day and a strengthening allocation of resources assurances of the USA of the friendship between [for Caribbean States],” commitment to said Clarke, the our countries,” Kerry continued partnership daughter of Jamaican under the CESI and the continued. immigrants.

United States CBSI.

CARICOM congratulates SVG CARICOM has congratulated the Government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines as they celebrate the country’s 36th Independence Anniversary today [Oct 27].

The Theme “Working Together to enhance National Pride” is quite fitting, CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque said in his congratulatory message to St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

He said the people have much to be proud of, as the country has moved steadfastly along the development path over its 36 years of nationhood.

The message said, “On behalf of the Caribbean Community [CARICOM], I extend warmest congratulations to you and the People of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the occasion of your country’s Thirty-Sixth Anniversary of Independence.

“The theme, ‘Working Together to enhance National Pride’ is quite fitting. There is much for the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to be proud of over thirty-six years of nationhood, as the country has moved

steadfastly along the path to development with unyielding determination.

“One of the significant aspects of an independent St. Vincent and the Grenadines has been its unwavering commitment to CARICOM regional integration and active participation in the Organs and Institutions of the Community.

“CARICOM joins the Government and People of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in celebrating this ThirtySixth Anniversary of Independence and extends best wishes for the continued progress and sustainable development of the country.”

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. 31.

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32. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Cassava Stakeholders meet

by DANE JACK

Some of the UISS students who received bus passes from the Roland Peters Scholarship Foundation.

UISS students get transportation aid TEN STUDENTS of the Union Island Secondary School (UISS) received bus passes that will allow them to travel to and from school for the rest of the school term, at no cost to them.

The passes were provided by the Roland Peters Scholarship Foundation, which was founded by Roland, a registered nurse from Coulls Hill, who holds a Master’s degree in Nursing with specialization in education.

According to Peters, the mission of the Foundation is to “empower youths by increasing access to an education”.

Peters is a past student of the UISS and an alumnus of the class of 2002.

The Principal along with recipient and parents expressed their gratitude to the Foundation for the gesture.

At the start of the current school term, the Foundation handed over a quantity of books and uniforms to students in Coulls Hill. (Contributed)

Right: Participants at the first round of discussions about linking cassava farmers with agroprocessors.

EFFORTS ARE AFOOT here to link cassava farmers to processors.

One such activity/workshop towards assessment of the this end, and involving farmers, processors and extension personnel cassava sub-sector.

The meeting is of the Ministry of Agriculture, was part of a regional held on Thursday 5th November, programme looking 2015, at the Fisheries Conference at the overall Room. development of the Co-ordinated by the FAO in collaboration with the Ministry of cassava value chain.

Agriculture, Rural One of the major Transformation, Forestry, outcomes of the Fisheries and Industry, the workshop was a session reviewed the findings of discussion the assessment of the current status of the cassava sub-sector in involving various cassava St. Vincent and the Grenadines, stakeholders, formulation and monitoring of and discussed and agreed on an aimed at setting up a National activities aimed at the action plan to improve the Cassava Working Group. This development of the cassava cassava supplies from farmers to group is expected to assist in the subsector. the first buyer.

Facilitators for the meeting were Vermaran Extavour and Keeley Holder from the FAO, A CALM AND and local consultant COLLECTED Yolande Norville Abraham, who Richards collected her has, over time, been Lotto jackpot prize of collating information EC$161,000 on Monday towards preparing a 9th November. comprehensive Richards was the lone winner of the Lotto draw of November 3.

The News Editor at the state owned radio station, the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), told the members of the press gathered to witness the receipt of her winnings at the Yolande Richards being presented with her National Lotteries Authority headquarters, ceremonial cheque by the NLA’s Anthony Dennie.

Paul’s Avenue, that she is not a constant player, but decided to admitted.

Richards said that she has no purchase a quick pick. immediate plans for the money, but “I was really surprised when I was grateful to the Lottery. asked if there was a jackpot winner, “I know that it has been supporting and was told yes. When I checked my a lot of projects in St Vincent, and I ticket, I realised that I had the would encourage everyone to continue winning numbers,” she said. to support the National Lottery,” she There was no hurry in coming said. forward to claim her prize, Richards

Media person wins Lotto jackpot

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) You can make career moves that will be prosperous. Moneymaking ventures may just turn your life around. Don't let co-workers interfere with your objectives. You are going through a period of questioning.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) You need to do more things that you enjoy. Think hard before going into business with friends or family. Social activity should be on your agenda.

Don't let children or elders put demands on your time.

business with pleasure. Lowered vitality could affect your work. You may want to talk to your boss about your future goals. You can easily impress others with your generous nature.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Opportunities for advancement at work are apparent. You may divulge private information without realizing it this week. Your tendency to overreact could get you into trouble. You may have taken on a little too much, but you will enjoy every minute of it.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Your charm will be captivating.

Residential moves will be favorable, and larger quarters the most probable direction. Try not to argue about trivial matters. Don't hesitate to talk to your partner about rekindling your relationship.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Don't overspend on children or on large purchases. Don't turn down an invitation or a challenge that could enhance your chances of meeting someone special.

Real estate investments could be prosperous. Do not force your opinions on others the connections will be short lived.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Abrupt action will cause difficulties with relatives. You are best to keep your cash in a safe place. This may not be the time to lend or borrow. If you have treated them equitably, you might be able to count on their loyalty.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Not everyone will be pleased with your plans. Don't let relatives stand in the way of your personal plans. You will do your best work on your own. You don't owe anyone an explanation. Do your own thing, you need time to yourself.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) You will have a childlike approach this week, big hearted and full of spunk.

Your ability to talk circles around your colleagues will help you forge ahead in the workforce. Be ready to explain your actions. Romantic opportunities will be plentiful if you get out and mingle.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Be sure to question any detail that you feel could leave you in a precarious position at a later date. Get out and rub shoulders with people in high positions if possible. You are able to make changes in your home that will be favorable to all involved. Good friends will give you honest answers.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) For now just do the best you can. Be cautious while traveling to foreign countries. If you're feeling uncertain, spend some time alone and re-evaluate your motives as well as your needs. Do things with your children and avoid situations that make you feel as if you've neglected the ones you love.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Sudden trips may take you by surprise; try to include your mate, mixing

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Be aware that minor accidents or injury may prevail if you are preoccupied. Stick to your work and avoid emotional confrontations. Social events should be the highlight of your day. Get involved in a competitive sport that will bring the challenges you thrive on. You can win points with children if you take the time to show interest in their accomplishments.

ACROSS 1. No, to Yuri 5. Fade 8. Agent Scully (“The X-Files”) 12. Geste or Brummel 13. Self-esteem 14. Arden et al.

15. Senior citizens’ org.

16. Deteriorate 17. “__ Las Vegas” 18. Recede 20. “__ Paris” (2 wds.)

22. “Gosh!”

24. Three strikes 25. “The Jetsons” son 26. Riled up 30. Family __ room 31. Treasury dept. bureau 32. __Claire, Wisconsin 33. Usher’s chore 36. Store for future use 38. Not present (abbr.)

39. Anne Frank’s work 40. Crooner Mel 42. Tachometer letters

43. Author John Dickson __ 44. Company exec (abbr.)

46. Against (prefix) 50. Skipper’s direction 51. Knockout number 52. Heavy burden 53. Walk wearily 54. Witness 55. Word on a waffle box DOWN 1. Hoop group (abbr.)

2. Affirmative 3. Listening requirement 4. Elvis’s birthplace 5. Kentucky__ 6. “ _to Pieces” (2 wds.)

7. Courtroom requests 8. Direct one’s effort to a cause 9. Tel __ 10. Actress Campbell 11. Big __ house (2 wds.)

19. Journalist Nellie __

21. Haul 22. __ club 39.

23. Killer whale 40.

25. Pausers’ sounds 41.

26. La Plata’s locale 43. (abbr.)

27. __ admiral 28. “Piece of cake!”

29. Teen’s retort 31. Beetles, e.g.

34. Surfaced a road 35. Computer co. inits.

36. Use a straw 37. Mexican

specialty Hive member Having height Cookie from Nabisco Tooth

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. 33.

covering 45. Shoe width 47. Holiday party drink 48. “You’re it!” game 49. “Honest __” (2 wds.)

34. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. 35.

Sports

Schools Tennis gets first time ever champions FOUR SINGLES and three team champions were decided when the curtains came down on the 2015 Schools Open Table Tennis Championship, last Friday, at the West St. George Secondary School.

Cream of the crop was Leah Cumberbatch of the Kingstown Prep School.

She defeated Zola Fraser of the Gomea Methodist School, 11/9, 11/3, to be crowned this country’s first ever Girls Primary Schools Singles Champion.

Renson Sayers of the Brighton Primary School joined Leah as a first time ever champion, when he defeated his schoolmate, Leroy Phillip, 11/9, 11/5, on his way to becoming the Boys Primary Schools Singles Champion.

In the Girls Secondary Schools Singles category, Aliah John of the Girls’ High School copped the title by defeating Vedel Charles of the St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown, 11/7, 11/4, 13/11.

As expected, Andre Mitchell of the St. Vincent Grammar School

added the Boys Secondary Schools Singles title to his National Junior title. He dropped one game on his way to putting aside Rondre’ John of the Dr J.P. Eustace Memorial Secondary School, 11/7, 11/5, 7/11, 14/12.

In the battle for Teams Championships, Layou Government School defeated The Gomea Methodist School 3 games to nil, to take the Girls Primary Teams title. Sunica Clarke (Layou) beat Zola Fraser (Gomea) 10/12, 11/7, 11/9; Karissa Moses (Layou) beat Shelecia Joseph (Gomea) 11/5, 11/8; and Latisha Hendrickson (Layou) beat Shekeria Jack (Gomea) 11/8, 11/8 In the Boys Primary Teams Finals, the Belair Government School got the better of the Layou Government School Team 2, 3 games to 2.

Oryan Velox (Layou) be at Jelani Cumberbatch (Belair) 11/5, 9/11, 13/11; Bennie Waldron (Belair) beat Rashaad Wallace (Layou) 11/3, 11/7;

Andre Mitchell – National Junior Champion and Boys Secondary Schools Singles Champions.

Leah Cumberbatch first ever Girls Primary Schools Champion.

voted the MVP among Primary Etheon Harrris Alanzo Jeffers (Layou) School girls; Renson beat Jolanzio Patterson (West St. George) 11/5, Sayers among the (Belair) 11/5, 7/11, 11/7; 11/8; Andre Mitchell Primary Boys; and Andre Bennie Waldron (Belair) (Grammar Mitchell for the School) beat Wayne beat Oryan Velox Secondary Boys.

Bacchus (West St. (Layou) 11/5, 11/7; and Organizers expressed George) 11/7, 11/3; Jelani Cumberbatch delight with the Jethro Saxon (West St. (Belair) beat Rashaad successful completion of George) defeated Tavinor the Championship.

Wallace (Layou), 4/11, Forde (Grammar 11/8, 11/8.

Sean Stanley, PRO of In the Secondary Boys School) 7/11, 12/10, 11/9; the SVG Table Tennis and Andre Mitchell beat Association and one of Teams Finals, the St. Vincent Grammar School Etheon Harris 12/10, the major organisers of dispensed with the West 11/2 the Schools As far as Most St. George Secondary Championships, Valuable Player (MVP) School, 3 games to 1. commended those awards were concerned, Mikael Hazelwood persons who worked and Leah Cumberbatch was (Grammar School) beat continue to work with Renson Sayers – first ever Boys Primary Schools Champion.

students at the Primary Schools level.

“This level of commitment made it possible to host and complete a Primary Schools Table Tennis Championship for the first time ever in SVG, and we must recognise those who worked tirelessly with the students.”

The successful completion and exposure afforded the young tennis players, can only augur well for tennis in SVG, Stanley told THE VINCENTIAN.

Team SVG performs well at OECS swim meet part of 25th installment of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Swimming Championships.

In addition to Halbich, Vincentian Mya De Freitas copped the first place in the Female age 9 to 10 category, and it was one, two, three for the trio of swimmers, Tyrell Ragguette, Kenus Tally and Jonelson Cruz Halbich (left) - overall winner in the Compton, from inaugural OECS Open Water Swimming Bequia United Championships.

Swin Club in the VINCENTIAN CRUZ Male 15 to 16 age group.

HALBICH inked his name as Other good performances the overall winner at the came from Shne Joachim, who inaugural OECS Open Water was second in the Female 13 Swimming Championships, to 14 age group, and staged in Antigua last Alexander Joachim who weekend. Halbich also docked in second in the Boys pouched the top performer in 11 to 12 age group. his age category.

Meanwhile in the pool, The Open Water Swimming Team SVG returned with 36 Championships was held as medals, comprising 8 gold, 16

silver and 12 bronze in the OECS Championships.

Leading the Vincentian tally of gold medals was Shne Joachim, who collected four , to go with her two silver and two bronze , in the Girls 13 to 14 age group.

Reports say that Shne broke the OECS records in the 50 Metre Breaststroke and the 100 Metre Breaststroke events. She also won gold in 50 Freestyle and the 200 individual medley events.

Nikolas Sylvester, swimming in the Boys 13 to 14 year-old age group, won a total of ten medals - two gold, six silver and two bronze.

He also placed second overall.

Kennice Greene, swimming in the Girls 8 and under, won

The Open Water Swimming contingent.

Left: SVG Boys 11-14 Relay Team four silver medals and a bronze, while Shane Cadogan, in his debut year in the Boys 13 to 14 yearold age group, won two silver and one bronze medal.

Others to medal for Team SVG were Adiah Phillips who had one silver and one bronze medal (8 and under Girls) ; Gerard Geowarsingh-

one silver and one bronze swimming in the Men’ s 18 and over); and Kyle Dougana solitary gold in the Men’s 18 and over.

Also, Eltonte Leonard and Jamie had one bronze each Leonard in the Girls 8 and under and Joachim in the Girls 8 and under.

St Vincent and the Grenadines will host the 26th edition of the OECS Championships, carded for the newly refurbished Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre, in November 2016.

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36. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Ambitious “Vincy Heat” battle mighty USA

by E. GLENFORD PRESCOTT ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES senior footballers –“Vincy Heat” will this evening take on the USA in their away leg in the CONCACAF Zone Russia 2018 World Cup Qualifiers in front what is expected to be a packed stadium in Missouri.

The Vincentians go into the match as clear underdogs against the USA, who have made regular appearances at the final stages at football’s showpiece since 1990.

SVG gained acceptance to FIFA in the mid1980s and only began competing in world cup matches in 1992. They have struggled to get beyond the second stage of the Qualifiers. They have also suffered some heavy defeats at the hands of their more illustrious Central American foes, with a 0-11 drubbing and 3-11 scoreline against Honduras being their most resounding losses.

They did, however, give Mexico a scare by fighting them tooth and nail in a hard fought 0-1 loss in the 2006 Qualifiers, at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

But subsequent heavy defeats to the more established teams in the zone over the years, have

The SVG football contingent just before their departure on Sunday for the USA. left pundits believing that the minnows from SVG will be trying to punch above their weight, with little success in the foreseeable future.

And coach Ezra Hendrickson was fully aware of this reality when he spoke just prior to departing the ET Joshua Airport last Sunday.

“I think we are prepared….we have been working on some things over the last few weeks….the players have been trying hard; they are into it…..it’s a formidable foe with the States being one of the top nations based on the FIFA Rankings……but we feel we are up to the task”, he said.

The former national defender said that the

players were very focussed on the preparation, and “once you prepare well, then you should be ready for the task at hand.”

The team was affected by injuries to top players as well as the denial of US visas to at least two selectees. While disappointed, Hendrickson is relieved that there was a quick solution to those setbacks.

“Yes, we really would have liked to have had all of our best players making the trip to the USA, but it was not possible….but we have a deep bench and were able to get some quality replacements who we hope can fill the void”.

The Vincentians will be playing in conditions low temperatures and an artificial surface - which many have never experienced.

“We go there a week ahead of the match, and hopefully the guys can, get acclimatised and get used to the weather….but its not all that cold ..it’s

by KENVILLE HORNE world power in football, reaching the last seven going to be in the high 50s…but coming from an 80, World Cups. They are also five-times CONCACAF 85 weather, it’s going to feel much colder; but we A 32- MAN St. Vincent and the Grenadines football champions. have the proper gear, the proper mindset,” contingent, comprising 22 players and 10 Technical However Ezra Hendrickson is relishing the Hendrickson he said with a half smile. staff, departed the ET Joshua airport on Sunday underdog status. In an interview on How confident is Hendrickson?

8th, and via Trinidad, arrived in USA on Monday WWW.USsoccer.com, he said, “There’s no pressure “We are very confident… but most importantly 9th to prepare for battle with the USA in the 2018 on us. Everyone expects the U.S. to win, and World cup Qualifier today, November 13, at the everyone is looking forward to a U.S. victory. I think the players are very confident. At the end of the day, we as coaches make sure that the necessary Busch Stadium St. Louis, Missouri. we can surprise a lot of people. …… We’ve done preparation is done ..We have lifted the confidence The players are : Dorren Hamlet (Captain), enough to prepare the guys, and it’s just a matter of the team.. and the game against Antigua helped a Reginald Richardson, Nazir McBarnett, Tevin of, on the given day, executing.” lot”.

Slater, Oalex Anderson, Kyle Edwards, Winslow Hendrickson assured, “… we’re not over “They are a strong team, but I can say we are a McDowall, Romano Snagg, Terron Millar, Kenyan confident, but we believe in ourselves. At the end of strong team as well….and there is a reason why the Lynch,Vasbert Ledger, Danroy Edwards, Seniard the day, that’s all you can do”. game is being played because nobody knows the Bowens, Juma Jilkes, Glenford Ashton, Million The Vincy Heat team, along with the USA, result”, Hendrickson concluded.

Prescott, Roy Richards,Lemus Christopher, Akeeem Guatemala and Trinidad comprise Group C of the Williams, Shandel Samuel, Kevin Francis and semi-final round of the CONCACAF zone for the Azhino Solomon.

2018 Russia World Cup. The Technical Staff includes: Cornelius Huggins Following today’s match, which begins at 7:30 (Head Coach),Wesley Charles (Assistant Coach #1), pm, Vincy Heat face-off against Guatemala on Wayde Jackson (Assistant Coach #2), Ezra Tuesday 17th November, at Arnos Vale.

Hendrickson (Technical Adviser), Keith Ollivierre (Technical Director), Dale THERE WERE two outright victories and one by Browne ( Fitness Trainer), Lenford Foster default in last weekends fixtures of the SVG (Kit Manager),Kevin Richardson (GoalMasters 20/20 cricket competition. RYB Keeper Coach), Otnell Douglas (Team challengers Masters defeated Manager), and Dominique Stowe (Team Pastures Masters by 3 wickets to move up to Co-ordinator). third, with 12 points, in the standings in Zone B, Team Coordinator Stowe, in an which is led by RSVG Police on 24 points. interview with THE VINCENTIAN earlier Pastures Masters made 141 for 6 off 20 overs, this week, said that since the team’s thanks to a half century (57) from Rohan Ash. arrival in the USA, “they have been getting Desmond Duncan was Challengers’ best bowler a lot of support from Vincentians in the with figures of 3 for 22. Challengers replied Diaspora, especially those in New York.” with 142 for 7 off 17.4 overs. Captain Uzzah Pope Stowe reported that the team held its led with 40 and Wayne Matthews contributed 33 first training session on Tuesday at the Players in rapt attention during one of the daily video not out. Titmus Trimingham and Robbie Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. sessions.

Hackshaw grabbed 2 wickets each.

The second practice session took place on North East Masters recorded victory over Wednesday between 10am -12pm.

Stanley Browne’s Stubbs Masters by 34 runs, to When quizzed about the team’s join P’tani Masters at the top of Zone A standings, preparation and familiarity with the US on 24 points. players, Stowe said preparations were North East put up 148 for 9 off 20 overs, to coming along well, and that video sessions which Stubbs replied with 114 for 6 in 20 overs. are scheduled daily as a means of giving Peter Campbell, 24, topscored for North East, the players an understanding of their with Nixon McLean, 46, doing likewise for Stubbs. opponents.

Park Hill United Masters won by default Vincy Heat has advanced to the Semifrom Marriaqua Masters and earned 4 points to final Round of CONCACAF World Cup move one notch up the standings into 4th position qualifying, four cycles in a row from 1994in Zone A. 2006.

Cato’s Heavy Equipment Glamorgan face However, the nation has missed SemiBequia in the only match scheduled for this final Round qualification for the 2010 and weekend, to be played at Park Hill, beginning at 2014 World Cups. The nation’s most 10am. notable accomplishment to date, is an Members of Vincy Heat pay close attention to instructions appearance at the 1996 Gold Cup. The I.B.A.ALLEN during their training session on Tuesday, at the Southern USA, on the other hand, is considered a Illinois University, Edwardsville.

Vincy Heat in the USA

North East, Challengers win in Masters 20/20

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. 37.

Sports

The test begins ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES’ date with the USA is/was today, November 13, depending on what time you read this article. For some persons online, it might even have been tomorrow, for they would have logged on as soon as the connection came late Thursday.

It is a moment of suspense when you have no statistics. This is the first meeting between the two countries. The differences are far and wide. The rankings tell its tale: Friendlies, exposure, competition experience. It seems like a mismatch.

Whatever the configuration, St. Vincent and the Grenadines have a right to be in the group. They earned their spot by real sweat.

They were not granted any favours except the appeal by Guyana over St. Vincent and the Grenadines having fielded a player without a valid Vincentian passport.

That matter was dealt with by Fifa, and SVG advanced by virtue of the away goals following two all and all draws.

A two nil win at home against Aruba suggested that the journey was continuing. The Arubans rallied at home and notched up two goals at the start of each half to keep the encounter delicately poised with six minutes remaining.

That was when a familiar figure chipped in.

There is a feeling that Tevin Slater is yet to finish his nettings. He is from the rural village of Clare Valley. Tevin does not hide his business of spear fishing. Clare Valley is a fishing community north west of capital city Kingstown.

Although a short distance from the city, there is no playing field in Clare Valley. There is a space on the grounds of the Clare Valley Primary School.

Having travelled the hard road, Tevin has become used to being the saviour. That started half hour after he entered the arena in the first match against Guyana. He scored the equaliser in the 84th minute.

He has a knack for dying moment’s intervention.

His 84th strike in Aruba is perhaps his most valuable so far.

Tevin scored the equaliser last week Wednesday in a warm up with Antigua/Barbuda at Victoria Park.

His 79th minute equaliser balanced Tevaughn Harriet’s 17th minute goal which put the visitors ahead.

Shandell Samuel, making a return to national colours, justified his recall with a header in the 84th minute to seal the Vincy Heat win.

Conditions in Missouri will be different from what the Vincentians are used to. And they will have to be back at the Arnos Vale Playing Field to continue the journey against Guatemala Tuesday November 17.

Thereafter it will be a slight sojourn, until December 15 when Costa Rica turns up for a Friendly.

The Vincentians showed improvements at Victoria Park.

Whether Coach Michael Olivierre’s regime was too hectic, the players appeared to have strengthened their fitness. The Missouri battle will be a classical one. No one knows what is going to happen. The US coach Jurgen Klinsman made his confession.

The Vincentians will have no doubt as to where they are from, the moment to arrive in Missouri.

There will be banners and signs to drive home the message.

45,000 persons are expected to pack the stands. A few of them will carry the Vincy flag. Sympathy will come from CARICOM countries, as well as neutral supporters. Vincy Heat will attract attention, especially how they acquit themselves in the first fifteen minutes. If by the half hour mark the USA has not scored, there will be creeping frustration on the US fans.

The Vincentians will be aiming to keep a clean sheet for as long as possible.

The weather will be crucial. How long will they be able to shrug off the chill, will be a test of their endurance.

A nil/nil result will be a morale booster for Vincy Heat. That will be a replica of the last encounter the US played at that very venue November 4, 1989.

After that, the USA stormed to Trinidad and that November 19, 1989 result still reverberates.

USA will have time to focus on their Trinidad aspect four days after the Vincy sojourn. And that will be in Trinidad, nearly 26 years after.

For the moment, the focus is on St. Louis.

Chatoyer 10K attracts major participation THE 2015 NACAC Chatoyer Endurance International 10K Road Race, dubbed ‘The World’s Most Challenging 10K’, and scheduled for Sunday 22nd November 2015, beginning at 3.00pm, will have an air of internationalism about it.

World renowned Kenyan athlete, Kenneth Rotich, heads the list of international runners and other leading athletes from the region.

Rotich, fresh off 2015 victories in the St. Louis, USA Half marathon; the Trinidad OWTU 20K, and the Hamburg (Germany) Marathon, is expected to match skill and endurance against the likes of local ace distance runner Pamenos Ballantyne, seasoned Trinidad and Tonya Nero, T&T multiple record holder Tobago runner Curtis Cox and will be looking to leading runners from Grenada, Kenneth Rotich of impress.

Astrl Clovis of Martinique, Guadeloupe and Haiti.

Kenya is heading Haiti is something Grenada’s representation among for SVG and the of an unknown the males is expected to come from Tallman James.

Chatoyer 10K. quantity, but is Martinique is set to send Yahia Hajji, and expected to battle Guadloupe Fabien Michineau and Eddy Boulate.

Martinique, in bringing an it out among the A lone participant, 44-year-old Astrel Clovis, will international level of international journey from Haiti. competition to female distance participants.

Tonya Nero, the Trinidad and Tobago national running in SVG. record holder of the 5,000m, 10,000m, Half The race starts in Marathon and Marathon titles, heads the list of Cumberland and ends at the Chateaubelair Playing athletes expected to add some flare to the female Field, according to host Team Athletics St. Vincent category, and even provide some competition for the and the Grenadines (TASVG). A top purse of male runners.

Nero will be joined by Kenisha Pascal of Grenada US$1,000 is up for grabs in the international race and Fabienne Massolin and Fanjanteino Felix from categories — male and female.

Grenadines Basketball begins in earnest THE DIGICEL GRENADINES Basketball Championship bounced last Friday, November 6, at the Canouan Hard Court on in front hundreds of patrons.

The 16-day competition, involving four teams Bequia All-Stars, Canouan Islanders, Mayreau Kings and defending champions Union Island AllStars - runs from November 6th to 21st at three venues, the hard courts of Bequia, Canouan and Union Island.

The finals and trophy presentation is slated for Bequia, November 21.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Digicel representative Stacey McGuire expressed her company’s delight in being associated with the development of sports in the Grenadines. She encouraged the players to play as a team, and committed Digicel to continued partnership with basketball in the Grenadines.

Sabrina Mitchell, President of Bequia Basketball and one of the co-ordinators of the Championship, congratulated each team for their ongoing participation, with special recognition of the team from Mayreau. She expressed thanks to Digicel for the three-year sponsorship and to Mr. John Clark, and all the other tournament sponsors.

In the first of the opening matches played on Friday, Bequia defeat Mayreau 89 to 51. Leading scorer for Bequia was Xavaughn Dennnie with 23 points. Tarik Ollivierre led the scoring for Mayreau with 16 points.

In Friday’s other match, Union Island defeated home team Canoaun, 86 to 54. Dwayne John of Canouan was the game’s high scorer with 19 points, with Elton Joseph leading for Union island with 17 points. Joseph also had 8 rebounds.

Saturday’s first games featured Union Island versus Mayreau and produced a relatively high scoring encounter. The defending champs converted

98 baskets (points) to Mayreau’s 71. Union Island’s Dario Glasgow dominated with 23 points. Nemiah Alexander led for Mayreau with 15 points.

The second match on Saturday between Bequia and Canouan threw up a much closer encounter, with Bequia eventually easing past their opponents, 66 to 63. Leading scorer for Bequia was Keithroy Lavia with 19 points. Damian Harry had 24 points in Canouan’s losing cause.

On Sunday, Bequia closed the weekend on a high note, when they defeated Union Island 78 to 61.

Leading scorer for Bequia Keithroy Lavia, 19 points, led once again, with Steveon Taylor, 16 points, doing so for Union island.

In the weekend’s closing fixture, Mayreau suffered their third defeat at the hands of Canouan.

Damian Harry, with 24 points, 7 rebounds, led Canouan’s total of 88. Devon Stevens with 21 points, 8 rebounds was Mayreau’s top performer in their score of 77.

Action in the Championship continues this weekend in I.B.A.ALLEN

38. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

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EUSTACE REFUTES CLAIMS MADE BY PRIME MINISTER order that nobody saw that it was he, since he LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION, Arnhim Eustace has did not want to interfere accused Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves of lying to with the student’s the public when he (Gonsalves) spoke of some of the chances of benefiting actions of the New Democratic Party (NDP) would take, from the service. should they win the upcoming General Elections.

With respect to Speaking on Monday on the ‘New Times’ PetroCaribe, the NDP programme, Eustace said that the comments made leader claimed there by the Prime Minister and Political Leader of the were no records, and Unity Labour Party (ULP) were lies. that the concern was While addressing supporters at a rally last about the loan portion of Saturday, Gonsalves said that the NDP would first the agreement, how that off halt construction of the Argyle International was going to be repaid, Airport, examine it and come back to it in 2020. and whether the loan He said that the NDP voted against the would be registered in education revolution, the economically the books and the disadvantaged student loans and the ‘Lives to Live’ estimates of St Vincent programme; and disassociated itself from and the Grenadines.

PetroCaribe; and would cut the Farmers Support Eustace said that his Company which offers financial support to farmers. party was not opposed to Gonsalves also alluded to the NDP stopping the Low and No-income projects, including the geo-thermal initiative, and Housing Programme, proposed projects like relocating the cruise ship pier but objected to the and relocating and modernizing the port among length of time given to other things. pay the loan.

But Eustace responded, saying that he never said According to Eustace, that he would wait until 2020 to re-visit the the period of repayment international airport project. was 30 years, “so by the He explained that the NDP’s position was that time you repay Arnhim Eustace, Political Leader of Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has moved to because there was a lack of a proper audit to show the NDP took the Political leader of something that cost warn voters about indications by the the spending on the project, his government would $60,000 to $70,000 over the ULP Dr. Ralph Gonsalves to task NDP that they plan to remove and/or for what he (Eustace) said was lies first hire consultants to spend some time, a month stop a number of initiatives taken by that period, you end up about the NDP’s intention to do the ULP government. or two, to review the situation, immediately after paying three times that away with a number of projects and which work will resume. cost. We did not say we programmes.

“Not in 2020, that is a bare-faced lie. Nobody will stop it, but make it said anything like that,” Eustace said. easier to pay.” income.

He went on to the economically disadvantaged He did not comment on the ‘Lives to Live’ And with regard to the Farmers Support loans, saying that it did not make sense for such an Programme or the distribution of housing lots, but Company, Eustace said that it was clear that the important programme to be stopped. spoke on the Youth Empowerment Service (YES) NDP had a comprehensive strategy for agriculture.

Eustace recalled taking a student to participate programme, saying that it would be a stupid thing “Our proposal is to do more,” he promised. in the programme, adding that he, had to hide in to cut such a project that offers young people an

by DALE DA SILVA

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