Issue 14th September, 2012

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY,

SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

VOLUME 106, No. 37

Story on Page 3.

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

DPP: ‘I haven’t seen an affidavit’

by KENVILLE HORNE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS, Colin Williams, has stated categorically that he has never seen an affidavit sworn to

by Uroy ‘ Laybay’ Robertson, in which Robertson claimed that he lied under oath while giving evidence, as a state witness, in the Lloyd ‘Lazarus’ Samuel murder trial.

“I have never seen such an affidavit,” Williams told THE VINCENTIAN. Williams’ response came on the heels of the murder of Robertson on Sunday, September 2.

Asked whether he believed Robertson was murdered because he gave evidence in the

Left: Jason Kenney, Canada’s Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister, citing submission of ‘unreliable documents’ as contributing to the decision to introduce a visa requirement.

Continued on Page 3.

Vincentians will now have to get something like this to be allowed into Canada.

Right: Uroy ‘Laybay’ Robertson, star witness, was shot to death.

Colin Williams, Director of Public Prosecutions, put spend to the ‘rumour’ that Uroy ‘Laybay’ Robertson had sworn that he lied under oath.

2. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

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News 3

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. 3.

Canada introduces visa for Vincentians

visit Canada. countries who are in transit to Government of Canada remains committed to Canada at the time the visa VINCENTIANS wishing to visit preserving the security of our Reaction requirement took effect, Canada will now have to get a borders and immigration received a Temporary visa.

A cursory Resident Permit on arrival in system, and to protecting the Prime Minister Dr. Ralph inquiry of some Canada, free of charge, if they safety of Canadians.”

Gonsalves made the disclosure were not otherwise Dr. Gonsalves, at last persons on the last Tuesday, during a press Tuesday’s press conference street here, inadmissible to Canada. conference. noted that Vincentians have threw up a bag But while Dr. Gonslaves been applying for Canadian Factors leading up to visa of mixed said then that no “formal citizenship for some time, and reactions. policy announcement had been one method of approach was to One person made” and no date set for the claim “that they were facing And while Prime Minister wondered implementation of the new harassment at home.”

Dr. Ralph Gonslaves pointed whether this travel arrangement, and that According to Dr. Gonsalves, country would to the documented efforts the visa requirement had not made by Vincentian nationals “A number of persons claimed ever introduce (up to then) been officially that their husbands or to secure ‘refugee status’ in the same communicated to the boyfriends had been abusing Canada as a major requirement for government of St. Vincent and contributing factor in them. Others claimed that people from the Grenadines, a release from advancing the implementation they were facing Canada and the Foreign Policy and discrimination on racial or of the visa requirement for America, while Diplomacy Services political grounds.”

Vincentians, another, even another could Department of the Canadian He spoke of having to more damning reason has find no fault Government gave indication rebuke Vincentian officials been given by the Canadian with the that the “new policy”, took who sought to jump on the Government.

Canadian effect from last Wednesday, refugee claim bandwagon.

The Canadian Citizenship, government for September 12, 2012.

Whatever the reason or Immigration and introducing the That release advised that Multiculturalism Ministry has reasons for the introduction of requirement.

Vincentian nationals would be given as a key reason for the visa requirement by the One very required, as of that date, to imposing the visa requirement Canadian government, the vociferous submit their applications by onus is now on Vincentians, to ‘respondee’, on St. Lucians and mail or in person to the Vincentians as the submission satisfy visa officers “that their politically Canadian visa office in Port of of “unreliable travel visit to Canada coloured it Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves cited Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. is temporary and they will documents.” appeared, the unscrupulous behavior of some The release also provided a not overstay their authorized It goes on to say, “In blamed “all dem Vincentians and their advisors as having link to a website that offers stay; have enough money to particular, criminals from NDP people who contributed to the introduction of the visa. guidance and further cover their stay; are in good these countries can legally gey SVG a bad information on the process. health; do not have a criminal name when dey change their names and Wednesday 12th September, The release came almost record; and are not a security try to geh a stay as refugee.” acquire new passports. In in a diplomatic note, dated simultaneously with news risk to Canadians,” according some instances, people who Official notification from the September 12, 2012, from the reports in the Canadian press were removed from Canada as to Canadian immigration Canadian government on the Canadian High Commission in of last Tuesday, which quoted security risks later returned regulations. new visa requirement for Bridgetown, Barbados. It Citizenship, Immigration and using different passports.”

These requirements are the Vincentians was received by stated that the new policy took Multiculturalism Minister, same for anyone who wants to the Government of SVG, on And Minister Kenney immediate effect.

Jason Kenney, as saying that reinforced this “beginning at 12:01 a.m. EST when he is quoted today (Wednesday 12th in the Canadian September, 2012), citizens of press as saying, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and “These the Grenadines, Namibia, requirements will Botswana, and Swaziland now better protect the Continued from Page 1. were persons in the Police Force Witness wanted to leave require a visa to travel to safety of Canadians who did not like him and failed to Canada.” by preventing Lloyd Samuel case, the DPP offer him protection.

The DPP also disclosed that THE VINCENTIAN foreign criminals downplayed such a suggestion, Robertson wanted to leave the understands that for the first from coming to and reminded that Robertson had country after giving evidence in Witness protection 48 hours, or until 11:59 a.m.

Canada in the first given evidence in other cases. the Samuel murder case, since “he September 12, citizens of these place. …The “Why would anyone wait until In the wake of Robertson’s knew he would not be safe in the the guys were sentenced? Killing murder, the DPP made a call for a country.” the witness (then) wouldn’t make witness protection system, saying, There was approval by the sense,” he posited. in fact, that “there is an urgent Ministry of Security to protect On the question of protection need, for such.”

Robertson, Williams said, and for the witness, he confirmed that explained that after travel Williams conceded that justice when Robertson was shot in the protection, which includes witness documents were organized, the hand earlier in the year, he money to purchase the ticket was protection, “is very expensive,” but identified the shooter, but he “it is also very important.” not forthcoming. wasn’t protected.

He believes that if persons pay “People who should have Williams also corroborated their taxes, Government might protected him did not give him information that threats had been the kind of support,” said have enough money to fund the made against Robertson, and witness protection programme.

Williams. admonished the state mechanism Notwithstanding, the DPP Information reaching THE for not supporting Robertson. admitted, “We as a nation would VINCENTIAN indicates that “We did not provide the have to provide in our budget, the Robertson had provided necessary measures,” the DPP financial support for the witness information to the police on stated. protection.” numerous occasions, but there FROM PAGE 1.

DPP: ‘I haven’t seen an affidavit’

V

4. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Witness: ‘Williams urged supporters to take Parliament’ commenced on Tuesday afternoon before Senior Magistrate Donald Browne, at the CONSTABLE Godwin Kingstown Magistrate’s Charles of the Special Court. He was expected Branch, a prosecution to leave the state on witness at the Burton Tuesday night but can be Williams trial, told the recalled if needed. court on Tuesday, Williams, who September 11, that unsuccessfully contested Williams had called on the South Windward seat persons at an opposition for the NDP in the New Democratic Party December 13, 2010 (NDP) led protest march general elections, has and rally in Kingstown, been charged with, that January 28, 2011, to join within the precincts of with him and “take the the House of Assembly Parliament.” behaved in a manner in Following his call, which a breach of peace Charles testified that Williams and others used was likely to be a police barricade to ram occasioned contrary to the parliament precinct’s section 15 of the Public Order Act, Chapter 396. main gate, which was Williams is also closed and chained. accused of attempting to Constable Charles is the first and only witness damage property. That charge was brought to have testified, so far, under section 315(1) of at the hearing which Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

the Criminal Code, Chapter 171 of the Laws of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Williams is represented by lawyer Andreas Coombs attached to Attorney Dr. Linton Lewis’ law firm along with lawyers Olin Dennie and Emery Robertson.

Crown Counsel Colin John leads the case for the prosecution.

Dennie and Robertson were unable to attend Court on Tuesday.

Williams recorded and pictured Constable Charles testified that on Friday, January 28, 2011 he was dispatched to the NDP led protest march and rally, which was aimed at forcing government to

pull back the Criminal Procedure Code Amendment Bill and the Representation of the People Act. The former was passed close to midnight that Friday, while the other was put to a select committee.

Constable Charles recalled that he was standing in the vicinity of the House of Assembly and the Building and Loan building when he heard Williams making certain statements.

According to the evidence, Charles was in possession of a white Olympus digital voice recorder and a black canon digital camera. He said Williams was standing next to a blue Hino truck upon which the public address system was attached, in the same vicinity. He

Witness cross-examined in politician’s trial ALTHOUGH prosecution witness Constable Godwin Charles testified on Monday that there were police officers on the scene when opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Burton Williams and others used a police barricade to ram parliament’s main gate, January 28, 2011, during an NDP led protest march and rally in Kingstown, Williams was not arrested on that day.

During his cross-examination of the witness, Williams’ lawyer, Andreas Coombs, asked if a police officer who sees any criminal act taking place, whether he is duty bound to make an arrest or to act, in order to prevent any criminal activity, whether he is in plain clothes or not.

P.C. Charles replied in the affirmative.

Coombs suggested that the reason why the police officers on duty did not arrest Williams on that day was because there was nothing to arrest him for.

Charles disagreed when he was re-examined by Crown Counsel Colin John. “I did not arrest Mr. Williams because the crowd was aggressive and the crowd was becoming violent,” he explained.

John further asked, “Is it every time that an offence is committed that a police officer would arrest for that offence?”

Charles replied, “No, your honour.”

“When would a police officer not arrest?” John inquired.

“They would not arrest if the situation is beyond their control,” the witness said.

During further crossexamination of the police officer, Coombs asked why it was not mentioned in his report that he had a digital camera as was said during his testimony.

“You recalled making a report on January 30, 2011, in relation to the matter?”

“Yes Sir,” Charles replied.

“This report that you made was two days after the incident Crown Counsel Colin John (left) and Defence allegedly lawyer Andreas Coombs go head to head in the occurred. Two Burton Williams case. days after, the information would “If the NDP had a previous have been fresh in your mind as rally, what is there to say that to exactly what happened and they (photographs) were taken on what you did?” Coombs asked.

January 28?” Coombs asked.

Charles replied in the “I only had the camera on affirmative.

January 28, 2011 and on the “Why was it not mentioned in your report that you had a digital other dates I did not have a camera,” the witness responded. camera?” Coombs insisted.

“Now P.C. Charles, there were “Because I was writing my other persons who were around report toward the transcripts,” the barricades at the time. Did Charles answered. other people not pull the “Why then does your report refer to other things? How would barricades?” Coombs asked, and we know that you are the person noted that the pictures showed who took the photographs, when other people around Mr. Williams. it was not mentioned in your “Other people pulled the signed report?” barricades as well,” Charles “I took the photographs replied. because I was about 12 feet from Holding up one of the Mr. Williams,” the witness said. photographs, Coombs said, “This Noting that P.C. Charles’ picture does not show Mr. signature had been affixed to the Williams pulling on the main statements that were barricades.” extracted from a recording, But the officer insisted that Coombs asked, “But how come Williams pulled the barricades. that was not done to these Crown Counsel John indicated photographs, they are just blank?

Mr. P.C. Charles, I am suggesting that he was wondering where to you that you had nothing to do Coombs was going with that line with these photographs.” Charles of cross-examination, because the fact that other persons may have disagreed. done similar things, “does not Coombs further questioned prevent Williams being guilty of whether the NDP had held a committing the offence.” protest march and rally prior to January 28, 2011, during which The matter has been adjourned they congregated next to that to September 25. parliament.

Burton Williams (right) in conversation with prosecution witness Constable Godwin Charles, after Monday’s court proceedings. Andreas Coombs, Williams’ lawyer, is also pictured (left). recorded Williams’ statements.

Charles said he handed over the voice recordings to Sergeant 321 Simmonds and they were transcribed. He was able to access those transcripts and could identify them by his signature.

“The photographs were printed by me and I had them in my possession,” he added.

According to him, they were not altered or edited by anyone.

Gate rammed Charles testified that Williams proceeded to the main, southern gate of the House of Assembly, located opposite the Kingstown Vegetable Market.

“I notice Mr. Williams and other persons began trampling the police barricades erected on the outer perimeter of the House of Assembly, and as a result I began taking pictures,” he recollected.

P.C. Charles added, “I also observed Mr. Williams and a few other persons took up one of the police barricades and began to ram the main gate of the House of Assembly. That gate was closed and chained.”

When Crown Counsel John asked him to describe how Mr. Williams and others rammed the gate, P.C Charles replied, “Violent and aggressive.”

Charles said Williams stated, “My brothers and sisters, I tell you what is happening here today.

My brothers and sisters, I tell you what is happening in the people’s parliament”.

At this point, Coombs inquired whether the witness was paraphrasing.

Charles replied that he was giving a synopsis of what was said.

He recalled that Williams further stated, “They are trying to pass

the bill in one day. My brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that under section 48(2) they can have the bill read three times, passed and become law today.”

P.C. Charles reported Williams as continuing with, “We have to kill the bills, kill the bills. My brothers and sisters, they just read the bills for the first time.”

The witness testified that Williams added, “I want to inform you that they have just read the bills for the second time.”

Charles revealed that at this point, Williams appeared to be in a rage and shouted, “We have to storm the parliament.

It’s not Ralph parliament, it is the people’s parliament,” and shouted further, “Let’s take the parliament.”

According to the police officer, Williams threw the microphone he held in his hand onto the ground, ran into the street between the parliament and the Vegetable Market, and pulled at a barricade, causing it to fall. The crowd joined him by pulling down the barricades and Williams repeated, “Let’s take the people’s parliament,” and he grabbed onto a barricade.

Charles said a few persons picked it up and, along with Williams, began ramming the parliament’s gate.

P.C. Charles was expected to leave the state on Tuesday night.

However, the Senior Magistrate informed that if the court needs him, he can be recalled.

The matter was initially adjourned to today (Friday), but that date was subsequently changed to September 25.

The prosecution is expected to call seven additional witnesses.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. 5.

News

Dominica launches ÂBring-A-Friend CampaignÊ SOME CARNIVAL watchers here are saying that the Carnival Development Corporation “boys should take a leaf out of the Domincans’ book.”

The reference is made to the recently launched ‘Bring-a- Friend Campaign’ in that fellow OECS partner country.

The Campaign is aimed at enticing Dominicans and their friends to the island during the island’s flagship events.

According to a release, “The campaign is geared towards encouraging the Dominican community abroad to ‘bring a friend’ when they travel to Dominica for the World Creole Music Festival and Carnival.”

Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival is held in late October, to Independence in November. Carnival is celebrated in February/March as a Pre-Lenten festival.

Word is that the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) has partnered with hotels, restaurants, car rentals, tour operators and other companies to provide discounts on their services for two weeks during the festive season.

Dominicans in the Diaspora are being deliberately targeted, encouraging them to ‘Bring a Friend’ when they travel to Dominica. In return, they can receive coupon books for discounts at participating stores, restaurants and other service providers.

Dominica’s Director of Tourism said, “It is believed that Dominicans living abroad travel to the island largely during the festivals and thus this is the perfect opportunity for them to explore the island and experience some of the cuisine, tours, and activities that the island has to offer. …….with discounts in hand and a friend to show around, we hope that this will drive

Barbados: The Americas’ first African Society IF PROFESSOR HILARY BECKLES has his way, Barbados, long known as ‘Little England’, could well become known and accepted as ‘The First African Society in the Americas’.

The Professor made the claim in a lead up to him being the feature speaker at this month’s African Diaspora Heritage Trail Conference to be hosted in Barbados, by that country’s Ministry of Tourism.

Professor Beckles, Principal of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill campus, explained, according to Caribbean Net News Now, that “”Barbados occupies a very special place in the making of the African Diaspora. Reflections on its relation to Africa within the public imagination and historical discourses have revolved around geographic rather than its demographic factor.”

He continued, “What is of special importance,

the largest and leading African society in the 17th century.”

Barbados, purports Beckles, was by this time, “...the only society in the Americas where African women were a majority during most of the slavery period and after. This demographic fact has had a striking social and economic impact on the making of Barbados as a society.

Within the network of Africa’s Diaspora, the entire island can thus be classified as a site of Professor Hilary Beckles makes a claim memory in the for Barbados being the transatlantic slave trade.” first African society in Barbados, therefore, the Americas. in the view of Professor Beckles, has a great deal however, is that Africa to teach to other parts of found in Barbados the the African Diaspora. first place where a The African Diaspora society was constituted Heritage Trail upon the majority Conference is scheduled principle.” to be held from Professor Beckles, a September 17 to 19. A historian of wide acclaim, pointed out that number of local, regional and international by 1660, Barbados had speakers are slated to already emerged as the address a wide range of “first society in the topics relevant to the Americas with an African majority; and as African Diaspora.

The main stage of the World Creole Music Festival has featured the likes of internationals star Maxi Priest and Morgan Heritage, and more importantly a host of local stars. them to do the activities knowing that talk about marketing,” commented one they can save.” carnival maker here in SVG. “Now that’s what we mean when we

JACK remains in Cabinet AUSTIN JACK WARNER has survived another round in what seems to be an unending effort to run him into the ground.

At least, this was the comment of one Trinidadian with whom THE VINCENTIAN spoke earlier this week.

In his latest battle to avoid “being made to drop to his knees,” according to our source, Jack ‘lived to fight another day’, when his government colleagues voted 91-6 to defeat a motion to have him removed as a member of the Cabinet of the Government, of his native Trinidad and Tobago.

A motion to have one of the constituent groups, the Congress of the People (COP), force the Peoples Partnership Government to have Warner removed as Minister of National Security and the cabinet, failed to get anywhere at a weekend conference of the COP. The motion had been tabled by vicechairman of COP, Vernon De Lima, who had also threatened to have COP disassociate itself from the People’s Partnership Government if his motion was unsuccessful.

His motion proved futile, and the

Left: Austin jack Warner just seems to wallow untouched through the barrage of claims made against his person.

COP proceeded to affirm its commitment to the People’s Partnership Government, of which Warner’s United National Congress (UNC) is a component.

The COP, however, called, in a counter motion, “for the police to conclude, as speedily as is possible, any criminal investigations in relation to that Minister (Warner), so we can have a final resolution in relation to any criminal charges or not on this. It is fair to all to have a final and quick determination on this issue,” according to the Trinidad Express, which attributed the fore-mentioned quote to COP leader Prakash Ramadhar.

The investigation into the ‘dealings’ of Warner stems from an alleged bribery charge made by FIFA, during a meeting of Caribbean football officials in Trinidad in 2011.

V

6. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Senator Frederick charged with perjury

informed him that she would be transported to the Magistrate’s Court.

THE THREE CHARGES of However, after midday perjury brought against arrived and the female Opposition Senator senator had not appeared Vynette Frederick are at the court, he returned politically motivated, to the CID to inquire according to Frederick’s about the delay. He was father Bayliss Frederick. informed by the The senator was investigating officer, released on bail on Sergeant Hesron Wednesday 12th after Ballantyne, that the appearing in the police were awaiting Kingstown Magistrate fresh instructions.

Court before Senior “They are playing Magistrate Donald politics , either internal Browne, where she or national politics, pleaded not guilty. because it does not follow Senator Frederick had the rules of the Criminal reported to the Procedure Code, that Kingstown Police Station says, once you have earlier that day, charged an individual , responding to a request you are to take him to so to do. court as soon as possible, According to Bayliss and the practice is within Frederick, the Senator’s 24 hours after he is father and himself an charged,” Bayliss attorney, he had been Frederick said. with his daughter at the In a highly charged CID until officers manner, the elder Stories by KENVILLE HORNE

Opposition Leader and President of the NDP Arnhim Eustace was on hand to offer support to the Senator, but refused to comment to this newspaper. attorney declared, “Sergeant Ballytyne is clearly working as a

robot. What he was asked to do, he did. He had questions laid out for him …... He had to make a report back to somebody.”

Frederick expressed a view that “Ballantyne has nothing to do with what transpired,” and reiterated that the matter was a politically motivated exercise.

The charges of perjury against Senator Frederick arose as a result of evidential material the senator

A seemingly unperturbed Senator Vynette Frederick leaving the Court last Wednesday.

Left: Bayliss Frederick sees nothing but politics being behind the charges laid against his daughter. submitted in a matter of defamation she had brought against Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

Attorney Nicole Sylvester, who was at the CID office with Senator Frederick, stated that Frederick “was not

broken at any time, since she knew the charges are baseless,” adding that “this is the price for democracy.”

Senator Frederick, before leaving the precincts of the court said, “I am doing better than they thought”.

No head table address for Leacock ST. CLAIR LEACOCK, Member of Parliament for Central Kingstown, was not allowed to address the National Consultation on Vending, held at Victoria Park last Tuesday, September 11.

And the action to prevent Leacock from speaking from the head table, taken by Senator Julian Francis, Minister of Transport, Works, Urban Development and Local Government, was met with strong objection.

Minister Francis had just finished addressing the gathering when Leacock appeared at the head table to make an St. Clair Leacock, MP for impromptu speech. But Central Kingstown, seen Francis stated over the public address system, leaving Victoria Park “Mr. Leacock would like after he was refused to speak, but I am permission to speak insisting that Mr. from the head table at Leacock speak from up last Tuesday’s there (were some consultation.

microphones where located for the vendors to use) and not down here (at the head table).”

Francis told persons present that the meeting was arranged by his ministry, “and I am the minister. I am not going to allow Mr. Leacock to address this gathering after me.”

His comments drew loud disapproval from the crowd, with some persons seen leaving the venue in disgust.

Francis reminded the gathering that the consultation was arranged a week and a half ago and he had had no indication from Mr. Leacock that he was desirous of addressing the gathering.

“Leacock should have contacted me or the Permanent Secretary to get a seat at the head

table. I cannot have a parliamentary representative behaving in such a manner and expect to hijack this morning meeting,” he said.

One vendor in the audience told Francis that he should have allowed Mr. Leacock the opportunity to speak, and his refusal to allow the area representative the opportunity was belittling his (Leacock’s) position.

the duly elected representative, therefore, Francis’s statement that he needed to seek permission to address the function, should have been the other way around. “ I think Francis is out of context,” he stated.

Mr. Leacock admitted that the issue of street vending was not a new one But things were now on the other foot, Leacock implied, adding, “The ULP is getting a taste of Leacock responds their own medicine since, when they were in This was the said oppostion, they sentiment expressed by encouraged persons to Mr. Leacock when THE VINCENTIAN contacted stay out of the market.

They bad-talked it.” him.

He explained that the According to the issue was brought to him opposition member of by vendors who wanted parliament, the discussions were based on his assistance, after they were being removed from issues affecting the business galleries in Kingstown, and he was

Kingstown.

Leacock disclosed that he held discussions with the Prime Minister, the Warden of the Kingstown Town Board and the manager at the Bank of SVG, seeking to resolve the issue of vending under that bank’s gallery.

Leacock said that he was asked by the vendors to represent them at the consultation, but he had no knowledge of how the Park would be set up.

He refuted Francis’s statement that he had just arrived at the venue when he indicated his desire to speak.

“It’s contentious and a way to score political points and belittle me, and therefore, I just left the place without contention, so it was a missed opportunity,” Leacock concluded.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. 7.

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8. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. 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

A Witness Protection Programme SPECULATION IS RIFE: Uroy ‘Laybay’ Robertson put his life on the line to testify against two of his associates who were charged with the murder of Lloyd ‘Lazarus’ Samuel.

No one, it seems, took seriously the issue of protection of this witness; no one thought for a moment that Robertson was in mortal danger.

Now, Robertson is dead, and the fingers are pointed abusively at those in immediate authority over the case.

Consider: It must have been an agonizing period in the life of Robertson as he sat deliberating over the decision that led him to eventually turn star witness against his associates. No assumption is made that he was coerced; we give the benefit of the doubt to better judgement prevailing in the circumstances.

Whether or not Robertson was threatened before he even took the witness stand is further speculation. Maybe some indication of this would be revealed during the hearing of the case against twenty-year-old Kenny Lewis, who has been charged with causing the death of Robertson. What might also be revealed is some exactness with respect to whether or not Robertson was fatally shot as ‘revenge’ for having turned against his associates.

What is accepted, even at this point though, is that his murder brings into focus concerns about the safety of witnesses in serious criminal cases — murder included of course.

That the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has called for the formalization of a Witness Protection Programme here in SVG, is enough to speak to an acceptance that this country has joined the ranks of fellow Caribbean countries, - Guyana, Trinidad and Jamaica — in the horrific reality that criminals will stop at nothing short of murdering witnesses, to beat the judicial process.

For what it is worth, THE VINCENTIAN supports the call by the DPP. Notwithstanding, we have to say from the outset that any Witness Protection Programme must be designed to cater specifically to key individuals who can provide essential and impacting evidence, in relation to the most serious crimes. That is to say, the Programme must, in its execution, not be used willy nilly so as to become an inordinate burden on the national purse and manpower resources of the Police and other related national service providers.

It is a given that in addition to direct financial support for the upkeep of persons while in Witness Protection, the Programme will call for specialized training of Police Officers and appropriate compensation for their services.

The DPP is correct when he gives strong hints that a Witness Protection Programme is a costly undertaking; one which the citizens must be prepared to support if we are to combat the farreaching tentacles of criminals who harbor propensities for crimes which we think exist only in the movies.

That is why it is important that citizens understand that the Programme will be selective in deciding whom it should protect.

Implicit therefore, is the proviso that the witness who is offered this protection must be determined to be open to a substantial threat against his/her life.

Those who would qualify are those persons, like Uroy Robertson who themselves are criminals but who have turned against their unsavory associates and/or victims of crime, and even innocent bystander(s) who would have witnessed a crime as it unfolded.

Yes, even as we endorse the call for a Witness Protection Programme, we are mindful of its cost and involvedness (including the displacement of and disruption in the life of the witness). That is why we accept that it must be resorted to, only in extreme and substantiated cases.

Let us accept that a Witness Protection Programme is an effective tool in the war against organized crime. The benefits of such a programme have been catalogued by many countries who have introduced and used the approach. We can learn from them.

Before the unwarranted dispensation of key witnesses become another widening blotch on our social landscape, it would serve us well to act now to encourage witnesses for the prosecution by offering protection for those persons brave enough to come forward.

The Political gamesmanship of the OECS THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE first heard about unity of the West Indian islands around the 1930s.

England was somewhat embarrassed by her ownership of many dependent countries in the fast approaching era of decolonisation, and so they dreamt up different ways of allowing their colonies some measure of freedom, especially after the spate of rioting locally and the Second World War internationally.

For the West Indies, the preferred route was by way of the federal principle, because it was not then thought that these territories could become Independent, Sovereign nations on their own.

In the 1930s and 40s talk was knocking down the place over federation with rallies and demonstrations aplenty. There was a serious conference in Jamaica in 1947 leading ultimately to a Federation of ten Caribbean Countries, which was inaugurated in Port-of —Spain Trinidad in 1958.

But the Federation collapsed in a short three years, after which both Jamaica and Trinidad struck out on their own, declaring their individual Independence in 1962, and Barbados joined in 1968, after failing to hit it off in a Little Eight federation. Sir Arthur Lewis’ “Agony of the Little Eight” was instructive on the causes of its still-born death.

Just as Sir Hugh Springer and Sir John Mordecai had told the earlier tales respectively of the Failure of the First West Indian Federation and The West Indies: The Federal Negotiations, both insightful publications.

In short, both publications had decried the self-centredness of the unit territories as a whole, warning that the West Indies should have plugged for a unitary State or at least for a strong Federal Government as Eric Williams had recommended in his “Economics of Nationhood”. His office charged that “Only a powerful and centrally directed economic coordination and interdependence can create true foundations of a nation. Barbados will not unify with St Kitts, or Trinidad with British Guiana, or Jamaica with Antigua. They will be knit together only through their common allegiance to a central government. Anything else will discredit the conception of Federation and leave the islands more divided than before.”

Perhaps that most brilliant publication that treats with problems of the West Indies, covering the place and role of the federation though difficult of attainment, is that of Professor Gordon Lewis, “The Growth of Modern West Indies”, published in 1968.

At least three years before, the “Flambeau” group was enlightening our people on our political condition. Gordon Lewis made several references to the Flambeau in commending its general “Quest for Caribbean Unity”. He singled me out for a direct quotation in noting that “the advocates of loose federation often argue about our cosmopolitanism when we are eighty percent Afro-Asian, they speak about our differences, of our various identities when we are fairly homogenous in terms of religion and language, they talk glibly of economic disparities when we are all poor, and of our separation by the sea when a sun-jet can run through the entire West Indies archipelago inbetween two successive meals”.

To this day, the political class makes a fetish of our petty differences, at the expense of the rather broad area of commonality which is never stressed.

Since 1968, the smallisland politicians have become intoxicated by their leadership of Independent territories which have been allowed to become in their own right sovereign nations in the New Dispensation.

There was a brave, courageous and commendable attempt to bring the islands together following a clarion call by Vincentian Prime Minister James “Son” Mitchell in 1987. It nearly worked. Taking advantage of the chemistry of feeling that existed among fellow heads of Government in the Windward Islands at the time - Mitchell, Compton, Eugenia Charles and an unlikely oppositionist, George Odlum who saw the big picture, Mitchell all but pulled it off.

Little did he know however that he had first to contend with a sub-regional Opposition Group _SCOPE_ comprising Julian Hunt, Rosie and Michael Douglas and Ralph Gonsalves.

They had been totally obstructionist, using their brains to scuttle the exercise, in their own partisan-political interest.

The political arguments against unification as adumbrated by members of Scope was that it must not be rushed “hot and sweaty”, that it was a mere scheme to provide jobs for the boys, that it was not of spontaneous growth but had been ordered by the Anglo-American bosses etcetera.

In 1987, Mitchell in his Tortala speech had opened up the possibilities which Willie Demas had enlarged in his masterpiece of a landmark speech, pleading that we “seize the time” which was then opportune, but drifting away.

Instead, the magic moment was allowed to slip from our grasp, and even the idea of federalism seemed to regress. The economic argument has been pushed at the expense of the political which it vitally needed. It provides a classic case of putting the cart before the horse.

A related and fatal consequence is that an elite has taken control of the show, and the people, the real flesh and blood of all political contrivances, have reverted to being what Gordon Lewis has termed “the darkened theatre audience whose only role is to gaze at and applaud a galaxy of stars as they perform on the public stage.”

So, the important matter of Freedom of Movement has been botched, and is limited to a well-chosen few of the professional and commercial classes, with the others to follow sometime in the misty future.

For, apparently, there still lurks an irrational and unfounded fear that hordes of outsiders will invade and flock to the one or two places that seem progressive. And so we court the danger of locking ourselves into a cul-desac, a historical back-water, devoid of growth and incapable of expansion.

This is not to say that the present managers of the process do not want the best for the islands as had been dreamt of by the old fathers of integration. But it is to say that one must tread warily for “the road to hell is paved with many a good intention.”

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. 9.

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That Âgoat thiefÊ issue again

I DIDN’T MEAN to contribute to the discussion on this ‘goat thief’ business because I didn’t think it would mean anything to the authorities, if I carried the ‘rope a little longer’. But when Garnet, who sits miles away in the US, found it appropriate to respond to the Frank da Silva piece, I re-thought my position and decided, ‘leh me tek de rope a little further’.

Those who continue to steal the livestock and small rudiments of our farmers, and even our households, have got

to be the most detestable specie of human beings. How on earth can any rightthinking human being sit idly by, wait until another man’s animal is fattened, and move in for the kill?

We boast of having a variety of qualified and gifted Vincentians among us, but it seems we also can boast about a variety of despicable ones among us.

I am aware of many farmers losing large numbers of animals to these lazy (no

apology) so called human beings. How else can you describe them other than lazy!!! They do nothing to advance themselves — they hardly ever think about doing an honest day’s work — instead they rely on the hard-working farmers to do it for them.

And before I forget: Those who continue to purchase these animals, knowing full well that the persons from whom they purchase these animals are not farmers or even have a goat in their

In support of Obama I WANT TO SUPPORT what last week’s letter writer said about, keeping Obama in the White House.

I recall President Obama proposing what he called the Americans Jobs Act. Through action proposed therein, the President hoped to boost the US economy with a combination of tax cuts and spending increases.

ROMEO says in Independent analysts Shakespeare’s Romeo envisioned that an and Juliet as he gazed upon his Juliet peering estimated 1.3. million jobs would have been through her window: added by 2012.

“I wish I were a glove Unfortunately, the Bill upon thy cheek that I didn’t get very far. It may touch thy cheek.” was blocked by the I am inspired by Republican majority in that verse to wish: I Congress. Now, those wish I were the same (bold faced) consciences of those What does BRAGSA Republicans point day in who pass themselves day out to “disappointing” really stand for? This is off as political leaders my question to that job numbers, and declare of this country, that I entity which carries that the President to be a may prick them when acronym. failure. they speak with forked If I am being asked How on earth can tongues. what it stands for, I something be judged to would say Buildings, have failed when that Roads and General That’s All something never got the Services Authority. But opportunity to offer itself according to the ads that up to be tested! are placed in the I say the Republicans newspapers by that have been nothing short Authority, it stands for of being obstructions to Roads, Buildings and General Services much of what Presdient Authority. (BRAGSA).

Obama would have liked * Is it true that a Can someone from to have implemented in certain senator that entity please correct his first term of office. agreed to hand over me. Which is the right Give him another his stipend to a one, Buildings, Roads former teacher turned term. and General Services candidate in the last Authority (BRAGSA), or Vincy in New York election, as the is it Roads, Buildings condition under which that senator was named? * Now that this I WISH TO publicly thank the Directors, ‘goat thief’ thing has Management and Staff of Coreas/Hazells Inc. for a been taken a little recent generous donation to my ongoing efforts to further, would we provide for myself. have to go overseas to I was, recently, a thankful beneficiary of a charge a very high quantity of materials from that company, which ranking person for enabled me to reconstruct a chicken pen which having done the same forms a major requirement of my poultry project. thing?

Donations like this prompt one from Coreas/Hazells Inc. reassure me that the corporate * Why are community continues to demonstrate a calypsonians so quiet commitment to the poor and especially, the about that speech challenged persons in our society. In my case, I am their president gave totally blind, but with the assistance from entities at the CDC prizelike Coreas/Hazells Inc., I am able to fend for giving ceremony? myself.

Don’t they agree that Thanks again to Coreas/Hazells Inc for your kind she sounded as and generous donation. I wish you continued though she was success. representing one tent?

Stanley Richards - Georgetown

A wish

yards, are as guilty as the thieves.

I recall the ‘big do’ about the Rural Constable programme introduced under the watch of the Police Force.

Is this all smoke and no fire?

How many of these ‘goat thieves’ have been arrested, charged and jailed under this programme?

May be it is time that we return to the type of community action to which Garnet referred in his letter, since the authorities don’t

Barnett

Witness protection Mr. Editor, the killing of Uroy ‘Laybay’ Robertson, a key witness in a recent murder trial, raises the question of how safe witnesses are in this country.

My concern is now that we have started getting rid of the witnesses, like Trinidad and Jamaica, how long is it going to be before there are no witnesses, especially for the state? I know there are people out there who would say I am talking foolishness; but tell me, which one of you wants to stand up in court and point their finger at a known criminal, especially one with gang connections, knowing that you stand the chance of being bumped off or if not you, some

BRAGSA OR RBAGSA?

Thanks to COREAS/HAZELL INC.

seem capable or willing to do anything about this ongoing crime. Then again, if a community takes action, the first thing that might happen is that some of the members of this community might be charged for taking the law into their own hands.

But I ask the question: When the law becomes silent or is ignored, is it wrong for citizens to take action to curb a crime?

and General Services Authority (BRAGSA)?

If it is the latter, then it can never be BRAGSA; it has to be RBAGSA, and that does not make sense to me.

What if our Common Entrance students should get a question on this? What should be the correct answer?

Please, BRAGSA, get it right.

member of your family?

This is not far-fetched. We have got to the point when the criminals in this country are not afraid of letting loose on anyone, regardless of age and sex. Remember what they did to that old woman in Lowmans Hill?

I tell you, this place is just too small to even talk about a witness protection programme. Places like America which have size can put somebody in witness protection and even change their whole life history.

If we have to put people in witness protect, we may have to think about sending them to some other country.

George

Get Daniel back in the system

I MUST ADMIT that I have seen some improvements in education, especially when it comes to opportunities to pursue studies abroad.

However, I am puzzled when I see some of the things going on in education at this time.

I think, instead of the Minister of Education saying ‘no child shall be left behind’, she should have been saying, ‘some teachers will be left behind’.

I speak of the three teachers who are still at home and have not been rehired by my government.

SKIM I want to single out one of these teachers at this time for good reason...that teacher is Elvis Daniel.

We all know by now that the Mathematics results at the CSEC level this year are poor. We Oh how she cries so also know that Mr. Daniel has taught Math at silently, the secondary level for over 20 years, with a All alone day after day. great degree of success.

She just couldn’t Why is Mr. Daniel left behind in this understand education revolution?

Why someone she loves, Am I to believe that there is not even one post Will treat her this way. available for him in 26 secondary schools in the Many nights she will go to country? bed When you combine the number of Math And has to sleep all alone. passes at the secondary schools in Sandy Bay, Wondering all to herself Georgetown, Colonarie, North Union and Where has her lover gone?

Adelphi, you get less than 10 passes.

Outside she paints a picture All of these schools are close to where Mr. Of smiles and happiness all Daniel lives in Georgetown. Why can’t he be the while, sent to one or even 2 of these schools to teach But silently within her Maths? heart, Alternatively, why cant he be sent to the Oh how she cries and cries. Community College where his services are just She tries very hard day as needed? After all, he taught at this after day institution before, so he has the experience To wipe her silent tears necessary. away, If Mr. Daniel is not included in the But not matter how hard Mathematics programme at one of the many she tries levels in our country, then this will finally Those tears just won’t go convince me that we are TALKING education away. revolution, but we are not WALKING the TALK.

Silent tears

Sydney K. Morgan © 2000

Plain minded

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10. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

ULP administration and back to school readiness The Issue Getting the education system and apparatus in good order for the new school year is not an easy task. The ULP administration has been doing this for a number of years, and in the process, the whole affair looks relatively easy to the ordinary layman, and those “nay sayers” who support the opposition NDP. But the reality calls for a lot of planning, coordination and hard work.

For this, the ULP administration must take its hat off to a number of institutions, including the Ministry of Education, BRAGSA, the Ministry of Works, and some private contractors here.

The process begins long before the new school begins. The Ministry of Education makes an assessment of the existing state of the education system in the country, to determine what needs to be done for the new school year.

First of all, there is the need to make changes or repairs to the physical structure of the buildings which have deteriorated during the past school year. Then there has to be a determination as to the number of pupils who will be attending school in the new school year. In this case, issues such as staffing and accommodation will take centre stage in the planning process.

Armed with this information, the Ministry of Education is well placed to develop its plan to get the education system in a state of readiness for the new school year. In the mix will go the finances necessary to pay for the repairs to schools, and to meet the salaries for teachers and other related costs. In all, the ULP administration spent some two million dollars in getting the education apparatus ready for the 2012-13 school year.

make last minute plans to go on study leave, and this is a challenge for the Ministry. Then there are requests for transfers, and of course some teachers get pregnant and have to proceed on their maternity leave. Still some teachers have to proceed on their holidays and long leave, creating additional challenges.

Added to this is the concept of “furniture bashing” that occurs at the end of each school year, particularly among boys who might not be returning to that school. The level of destruction is cause for concern, since the ULP administration must replace the furniture, and this will lead to additional cost. We must appeal to the students to desist from this practice.

The ULP administration is impressed with the way in which the Ministry has responded to these challenges. And yet there are persons who find it necessary to “beat up” on the senior officials from the Ministry.

Sister Girlyn Miguel and her officials are quite competent, and the Education Revolution is in good hands.

More work ahead

Still there is more work ahead for the Ministry of Education.

Immediately, issues related to the performance of our students in the subject areas of Mathematics and English must be addressed. We expect other stakeholders to be involved in this assessment, as we find different ways and means to improve the performance of our students. It may become necessary to examine the The 2012-13 school year performances in other subject areas such as the sciences, history and IT. The Ministry of Education must We have already detailed the take credit for the fact that all the massive expansion now underway at primary and secondary schools in the the Community College, particularly country, opened on time, without any under the 9th European Development serious hiccups. Of note must be the Fund/ICT Project. effort to restore the Kingstown We have to continue to address the Government Primary School, after the issue of enhanced quality training for fire last month that destroyed part of our teachers, so that they can deliver the building. in their classrooms. We have to Kingstown Government opened its enlarge and secure a more committed doors on time. There were some minor role for parents, in their children’s issues with several schools, but education. education officials were on the road The Ministry has to continue to early in an effort to meet these further integrate the subject area of challenges, and provide solutions.

ICT in the teaching and learning Prime Minister Dr. Ralph process. This is very critical, as we Gonsalves himself took to the road prepare our students for professional and visited a number of primary and careers after their graduation. secondary schools in the state, mainly Equally important is the in the Kingstown and Windward development of a quality core areas, to get a firsthand view of these curriculum in primary and secondary educational institutions, and where schools in the State. Expansion work required, to sort out any minor for the secondary schools at problems. These were few and far Troumaca, George Stephens, between.

Buccament, Sandy Bay, and Thomas Generally speaking, right-thinking Saunders, will be done this year, at a Vincentians understand the cost of EC$1.5 million. preparation process that the Ministry More Early Childhood Centres will of Education must undergo, and the be established, and the book loan problems that may arise. For example, scheme will be expanded so that more there is the issue of sudden students, especially those from poor resignations from the Teaching homes, can benefit.

Service which may create a void in The Education Revolution is schools here and there. The Ministry moving upwards by leaps and bounds, has to respond swiftly to assign thanks to the hard work of all staketeachers to fill these vacancies. holders, teachers, students, parents There is also the issue of teachers and most of all, the Ministry of going off on study leave. Even with Education. the best of intentions, some teachers

NDP will make things better for all “The Southern Grenadines Plight” EDUCATION is often a person’s most valuable asset. It is indeed the most powerful tool for escaping poverty and increasing one’s personal welfare. That is why the people of the Southern Grenadines have been lamenting the difficulties faced in the quest to achieve access to secondary and tertiary education. Undoubtedly, it must be noted that the financial cost is much higher for students from the Grenadines, especially Canouan and Mayreau, to access quality secondary and tertiary education on the mainland. Thus, mechanisms should be put in place that will seek to level the playing field and improve access and quality to those in rural areas.

Indeed, emphasis must be placed on leveling the playing field in the education sector, since an expanding gap between those who have and those that do not have could negatively affect social cohesion, and potentially worsen inequality and aggravate crime.

Thus, it is of major concern that many students from Canouan are faced with difficulties to gain access to secondary education. Indeed, a high percentage of children are faced with many social problems in addition to the high financial cost incurred. In some instances, parents cannot meet the financial needs of their children, as well as students who cannot cope with some social and other problems soon drop out of some of the most prestigious schools in the state.

Similarly, students from Mayreau also faced financial constraints to access secondary education on the island of Union. Indeed, parents could do with assistance with the transportation cost from Mayreau to Union Island and back on a daily basis. Without a doubt, the boat charge is not the only transportation cost borne by parents of students from Mayreau who attend secondary school in Union Island, but also a transport cost via bus from the dock to school and back is also borne. Many parents find it difficult to meet these needs in addition to other obvious costs. As a result, some parents were unable to meet the transportation cost of their children last term. So what are they to do without any assistance from government?

We have often heard the phrase, “no child will be left behind.” This statement has no meaning to the children of the Southern Grenadines, particularly those from Canouan and Mayreau, since they are fighting to keep up with their cohorts in other parts of the country in access to secondary education.

The people of the Southern Grenadines had anticipated that the opening of the new school year would have brought renewed hope to parents and students alike. They had expected that many of the problems experienced in the quest to access quality secondary education would have been given urgent attention.

However, the many problems persist, and frustration and disappointment have continued to be experienced by students and parents alike. The call for secondary education on the island of Canouan has been denied, and worse yet, no assistance has been offered to assist parents to meet the need of educating their children.

Furthermore, these are not the only problems affecting students in the Southern Grenadines. The fact is that some schools in the Grenadines as in other places in this country, are in poor conditions, thereby affecting

the teaching and learning process.

How can teachers and students be expected to perform under such poor conditions? The hallmark of any education system is definitely students’ positive outcomes and high achievements. Consequently, the environment must ensure teacher efficacy and improve students’ performance. Cognizant of this fact, much is desired of the physical environment of the Stephanie Browne Primary School located at Clifton, Union Island. In one section of the school, the roof is rotten, louvers completely missing and the building is in derelict condition. It is a wonder both teachers and students are functioning in such an environment.

Indeed, that section of the school is in need of complete renovation. At the other section, the doors cannot lock and the physical environment is not aesthetically pleasing. The Mary Hutchinson Government School located in Ashton, also suffers from water situation which affects the operation of the school on a regular basis. The big concrete tank has been leaking for years now, but nothing was done to correct this small problem. Thus, the struggle continues for both teachers and students as the measure taken does not adequately meet their needs.

Cognizant of this, if the children of the Southern Grenadines are to reach their full potential, then there must be improvement in the quality of primary education to ensure that all students are sufficiently prepared for secondary school, when they transition from one level to the next.

Inevitably, in today’s world, it is crucial that all young people receive the opportunity to complete secondary education that fits their needs. This brought into question the Union Island Secondary School, the only secondary institution in the Southern Grenadines. In the pursuit to successfully implement universal secondary education and ensure that it is rewarding, the quality of education offered as well as the curriculum is extremely important.

Students accessing education at the Union Island Secondary School can only pursue certain career paths, since the curriculum does not cater to varied needs and abilities. It is of concern that students at this institution cannot write certain subjects since the teachers required are not available. Thus, when students meet the requirements of the colleges, they have to change their chosen career path. This is definitely not acceptable. Nevertheless, the Union IslandSsecondary School which is the only secondary school in this constituency should be well equipped to cater to the needs of students from the Southern Grenadines in terms of both human and physical resources.

In view of all these problems, the ideal scenario would have been to effectively plan during the holidays for the new school year. In an ideal world, this was the period to get all the small things right. The opportunity was missed, and we are left wondering when improvements will be forthcoming to fix the many problems in education in the Southern Grenadines.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. 11.

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Before I die

“Be not as one that hath ten thousand years to live; death is nigh at hand: while thou livest, while thou hast time, be good.”

- Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121-180) Emperor of Rome 161–180, distinguished Stoic philosopher

IT HAS BEEN APPROXIMATELY four years since this column featured an article entitled “The Bucket List”. The writing was based on the movie by the same name and revolved around a black, blue-collar mechanic named Carter Chambers (portrayed by Morgan Freeman) and a white billionaire hospital tycoon, Edward Cole (portrayed

by Jack Nicholson). Their paths crossed in the hospital after both were diagnosed with cancer and were required to share the same hospital room. Cole initially objected to sharing the room with Carter, but eventually accepted the hospital’s cost-cutting policy. The two men became friends as they underwent their respective treatments. Carter was a gifted amateur historian and family man whose ambition was to become a history professor. However, this career was never realized due to his lack of financial resources while growing up.

Cole, on the other hand, was a corporate magnate, weird loner, four times divorced, who enjoyed nothing more than irritating others. As the movie progressed, the two men agree to create a list of things they wanted to do and places they needed to see before they “kick the bucket”; their “bucket list”.

A colleague recently provided me with the link to Candy Chang’s presentation on TED.com that caused me to reflect on what I had shared via “The Bucket List” article (http://www.ted.com/talks/candy_chan g_before_i_die_i_want_to.html). But it beckoned me to go beyond that; to pen these words inviting each reader to contemplate the noble things that we all need to place on our “To do list” of things to accomplish before we die.

The thought of death and dying will immediately turn some persons off. It is therefore not surprising that, at this juncture, some readers are contemplating whether they should discontinue reading this article and more on to some more pleasant reading (concluding that death is equated with unpleasantness). However, you are invited to stay with me. Let us explore some thoughts that may enrich our lives as we consider some of the tasks that we should perform before we die.

Many have discovered that thinking, talking, or writing about death can be quite sobering. We are reminded of our frailty and the inevitability of this “date with destiny”. But this article is not intended to generate feelings of vulnerability and/or depression. Far

from that! It is intended to remind us that we cannot get out of life alive (paraphrasing a Les Browne expression). And though some may anxiously and expectantly look forward to the second return of Jesus Christ and the privilege of “meeting Him in the air,” we clearly understand that the majority of us will taste death — most of us will not be alive when He comes again.

Now, let’s do a little exercise here.

What are the ten most important things that you will want to do if you discovered that you would die ten days from now? No, don’t skirt around the question. There is value in responding. Make your list. What are the ten most important tasks that you would want to perform if you knew that you only had 240 hours to live? Some of us will consider a change in lifestyle. Others may seek to mend relationships with close relatives and/or friends. Others may seek to pay off all their debts, while some may venture to collect all monies owed to them. Some may even venture to withdraw funds from their savings accounts and visit distant lands or “have a nice time”.

What would your list look like?

An “appendix question” now surfaces: what is keeping you back from doing the things that are on your list? Life is fragile. You and I can be much closer to death’s door than we think. It therefore behoves us to do what we must ... while there is still life. Let us fuel that spirit to be proactive and move in the direction of implementing positive tasks and projects.

It will be remiss and irresponsible of me if this article ended without inviting readers to consider yet another question. A question that is more important than the two previous ones: if you were to die now, where would you spend eternity? The Bible clearly indicates that it is appointed unto man once to die and that after death there is judgement (Hebrews 9:27). We know that all have sinned and come short of glory (Romans 3:23) and that because of this we all deserve wrath. However, we also know that God commended His love to us in that, while we were sinners, Jesus Christ died to save us (Romans 5:8). All we need to do is to accept His gift of love and accept His grace, and that simple act of faith will be our passport to spend eternity with Him. This is no fable. This is no fairy tale. However, I am assured that this decision must be made on this side of life ... before I die.

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

The enablers must be condemned

If the truth be told, the persons directly responsible for the decision by the Canadian government to impose visa restrictions on Vincentians are unscrupulous immigration attorneys and consultants.

These ‘professionals’ knew that chances were slim to none for Vincentians to obtain legal status on the basis of humanitarian, human rights and refugee grounds .

But make no mistake about it, leaders of the opposition NDP, especially Arnhim Eustace, St. Clair Leacock and Vynnette Frederick, played a key enabling role in encouraging Vincentians to make meritless claims to Canadian immigration officials.

Most of us distinctly remember the way the political opposition greeted the claim published in the Toronto Star that St Vincent and the Grenadines might be the worst place in the world to be a woman. The Star reported that thousands of Vincentian women were ‘breaking down’ the doors of immigration offices in Canada seeking refuge from rapaciously brutal Vincentian men, and the lack of response from a political and economic system that harboured little or no care about their plight.

The fraud was made easy because, once refugee or humanitarian status was claimed, the unscrupulous lawyer, who ought to have known that his clients had no chance, was paid by the state. The more claims the lawyer filed, the more money she makes.

Health and other economic benefits also flowed to the applicant. Because the applicant used none of her own money to file, she became even more prone to a decision that would prove to be penny wise and pound foolish.

Lost in the political bacchanal was the fact that many of these applications will fail because neither international Refugee Law or Canadian Humanitarian Law permitted entry nor the legalization of status based on economic hardship.

Where political persecution is alleged, proof has to be sound. These truths were disregarded as government was wrongly condemned for making economic times so hard and unable to control killings through gang violence.

Those seeking refugee status were supposedly literally running for their lives.

We distinctly remember Opposition leader Eustace and St Clair Leacock admitting on radio that they had done recommendation for persons who sought refuge in Canada. PM Gonsalves’ plea to Vincentians to refrain from filing bogus claims was dismissed as the sweet words of a leader unconcerned about the plight of nationals. Dr Richard Byron Cox, an outstanding international expert, his forthright statement that based on his study and understanding of international human rights and refugee law, most if not all, of these claims will fail, was laughed at and condemned. Plain Talk also warned against a backlash from excessively frivolous applications. We too were mocked and scorned.

Yesterday’s news of the new Canadian visa requirement is a stern reminder that those who disregard the wailing sound of high winds will certainly reap the whirlwind. Now

another safety valve, exit to Canada, has been closed. Vincentians, who could without restrictions travel to Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Calgary must first obtain visas before entry into Canada.

It is not an easy life when you are from the lower classes of a poor developing country. In good times as in bad ones, the government will never be in a position to adequately take care of its most needy citizens.

So the immigrant story is the story of these Caribbean islands, indeed the world. We are particularly incensed by what has happened because of our own story. Mom travelled to New York 41 years ago on a 6 months visa. She left 7 children, ages 3 to 15 years behind. We never saw her again for ten years. To hear her tell her story of loneliness, hardship, fear, confusion is to love her more. But against the odds, she persevered because she wanted a better life for her children.

But most of our politicians or their mouthpieces could not care less. Once a given reality can be exploited for political gain, they will jump at it without thinking through the repercussions. They rarely have little to lose. Most of the elected ones and their relatives are part of the political and economic elite. They can live quite well here. Except for the occasional visit to the metropoles for medical checkup, they live First World lives in Third World SVG. When we play politics with the life chances of the most vulnerable sections of the population, people get hurt.

The poor desperately need the avenues where they can travel to destinations of ‘greener pastures.’

Most of us migrate in search of a better life. Apart from the convenience of travel, it is much cheaper. Visa applications are not free. The cost is difficult, especially for the people who are least able to pay.And that is why the enablers who pushed our citizens to slamming the door shut on themselves must be condemned.

Further, those who can see no further than their party’s allegiance should be shocked into a new consciousness by the Canadian decision. Sometimes, many of the things you support, in the name of party, are anti-national and objectively in contradiction to your own personal interest.

But rather than accept that we may have gone too far with our narrow partisan politics, some in the political opposition refuse to take any blame at all for their folly. They now say that government must take some of the blame for creating the economic hardship that forced people to run.

Who advise them? Are they too ignorant to know that economic hardship is not a basis for refugee status?

We pay to learn. Hopefully, Vincentians would have learnt a hard lesson.

Send comments, criticisms & suggestionsto wefirst@aol.com

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12. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Opinion

The economic tables turned against PM

creates productive economic sectors.

THE ECONOMIC tables have turned against PM bulk tankers of fresh water, and agro-products like SVG Green Party Gonsalves. Twelve years of gross economic tea, juices and baby food. It is crucial that SVG www.svggreenparty.org incompetence, coupled with poor vision, has seen the SVG economy damaged to dangerous levels. The people of SVG are paying a heavy price, enduring much pain and suffering because of Gonsalves’ incompetence.

Gonsalves’ gamble of driving the SVG economy

by Frank E da Silva On January 23, 2012, Mr when he uses his political platform to send subliminal Matthew Thomas, wounding up with a foreign policy of begging and borrowing was AGED READERS of this paper messages about those African (Did I say wounding?) expressed a never sustainable and was foolish. Gonsalves’ may remember a weekly column features that do not fit the white similar view. “Mango on tree, begging targets - Gaddafi of Libya, Chen of Taiwan, with the above caption. The man’s criteria for beauty: ‘pickyeveryone else stoning but the Badawi of Malaysia and Manning of Trinidad and columns were written by Mr M M head gal’, ‘ugly and too dark for NDP, they waiting it for it to ripe Tobago - have all been kicked out of office.

Scott, a proud North Leeward white man to see’?” and drop.” man — from the village of Coulls Ms King, I challenge you to Begging is no way to run an economy, and this Now we go way back. Back to Hill. produce any recording of Ralph The Vincentian, December 9, policy has placed the livelihoods and future of A response by Garnet of New Gonsalves using the term “picky 2005 to Mr Kenneth John: If the Vincentians at risk.

York (07 09 12 pg 9) to my piece, head gal”. Further, Ralph ULP won the elections, then am The safe and responsible way to manage “Goat Thief” (31 08 12 pg 12), Gonsalves said, “… would ask prepared to band my belly and government resources is to invest in projects that inspired me to take a trip down him who the fellow next to him pray to Heavens for a change of bring returns, and then use the returns from these “Memory Lane” for my rendition is.” How does that translate to heart in the ULP, which is barely of Mr Scott’s original. As the title “ugly and too dark…?” Ms King? possible. Eustace will bow out of projects to modernise infrastructure such as implies, I will deal with several politics, after a year or so. If there hospitals, schools, factories and roads. This way, issues.

Sewer rats is an 8 to 7 either way, I predict a thousands of long-term jobs are created and the Still on page 20, but August 24, 4 year round of tumult which the economy is strong and stable.

Unorthodox sexual unions two pieces, one by Concerned society can hardly bear.

Gonsalves’ economic incompetence was illustrated On page 9, last week’s issue a Citizen, “Whether goeth the Patrick, the year is 2012 and letter writer Paul Jackson Opposition in Parliament” and by him wasting over $100 million in building the there is an 8/7. Any ‘tumult’? exhorts, “Keep Obama in office.” the other by Helen Alexander, But country men, Eustace in road from Fancy to Kingstown, before investing in to him, “Obama, the “The NDP Silent”. conversation with an NDP risingprojects that bring returns. The $100 million should According first black president, was taking Concerned citizen wrote: On star he was about to dump based have been wisely invested to build new factories, so over… at a time when Bush had the 23rd July, I listened to the on nasty rumours, said to him, “I SVG could export goods and bring money into the taken the country into the opposition leader getting all have no overwhelming desire to pits…Whatever he did would excited in announcing to the country on a continual basis. Money earned from be Prime Minister. It was never have been unpopular because public that there would be exports could then be used to build roads. an ambition that I have…if it they might not have effect parliament on the following come, it come.” That was July Does Gonsalves not know that you cannot export immediately. But what he did Tuesday; he seemed like a man 2005. a road? SVG cannot earn money from abroad from must be given time to work, and that was going on a joyous that road, because that road can’t go anywhere. that is why Americans need to adventure…what I heard in The Vincentian vote him back ….The fact that the parliament was shameful…Just That $100 million was killed by incompetence.

And now to Garnett of NY, a US (the real name of the country recently, we saw the replacement little lesson on my connection to Likewise with the Belle Isle jail, money was wasted —not USA) is not yet out of its of an opposition senator with a The Vincentian. My first Letter to as the jail brings no returns from abroad and the economic constraints does not ‘cook-up’ opposition prohibition, the Editor appeared here around jail cannot be exported. mean that Obama must not be and this has helped to set up an 1968 or 69, under the pseudonym, The sources for begging have dried up and the given credit for what he has done, environment for more chaos and “Curious”. I was a teacher and my or tried to get done, when his personal showboating…I am money has dried up. writings, as usual, were about opponents ruled both the ashamed of all of them...the Gaddafi of Libya, Chen of Taiwan, Badawi of things political. My inspiration? L American Congress and Senate.” bullies, cowards and opposition Malaysia and Manning of Trinidad and Tobago was A Providence (Avil Cupid is not Huh! Mr Jackson, Sir, the Hollywood actors…the opposition playing with a full deck) and a Gonsalves’ attempt at an economic plan. Now the American Congress is two-tiered must purge itself of the Grenadian, Alister Hughes. I felt tables have turned, the ripple effect of economic — House of Representative and leader/leaders. the “black-power movement” was Senate. Mr Jackson, Sir, for the incompetence is highlighted all around SVG, with And wrote Helen Alexander: akin to hoola-hoop and first two years of Mr Obama’s “Mr Eustace in failing to take many businesses closing down, no money communism with all its supposed term, both House and Senate advantage of issues raised circulating, and rampant unemployment and crime. equality was a farce. An article, were controlled by Mr Obama’s …demonstrates his lack of “Some Questions for Review” In September 2012, SVG experienced three party. Mr Jackson, Sir, as of leadership qualities. The challenging assertions made by murders in five days. Is this Gonsalves’ idea of today’s date, the Senate is still Honourable Arnhim Eustace Jim Maloney and others about economic and social success? controlled by Mr Obama’s party. needs to step down as leader…

Chile’s communist President Are you a Christian?

Do you We need real change.”

A Green Government will invest wisely and build appeared here. But even A few weeks ago, I got this text Allenda, projects that bring continual returns. We will create support unorthodox sexual though I was vociferous in my unions? from a friend after I sent him a thousands of new, long-term jobs, economic growth Mr Jackson, Sir, we do not text message which I had sent to opposition to the views of BLAC, OPCA or whatever name they and continual surplus revenue. Then, with the know your political affiliation in some members of the NDP: continual surplus revenue, a Green government will SVG, but should the NDP have Frank, I wish you luck. They are called themselves at the time, I challenged the ULP in 2005 or as organized as sewer rats set on was outraged when Marcus invest incrementally in the infrastructure that our “Racan” James — supposedly even again in 2010? Since “ULP fire. country badly needs. involved in the killing of Attorney was taking over…at a time when Mr Patrick Ferrari, writing SVG needs new products and new markets, and the NDP….” We should give the elsewhere, penned this: The NDP General, C A E Rawle — was gunned down and left like a roadwe urgently need factories. Our economy needs ULP “credit for what” they “tried has not yet recovered from the kill in Edinboro . My piece leadership that can competently manage SVG’s to get done”, like the cross2010 loss and I do think they appeared here: Who killed country road, we suppose? want to…right after they said finance. A SVG Green Party government has the Marcus James? election coming they said that expertise to competently run our economy to bring My mother was afraid I would Picky head they were ready.

Ready, my arse! revenue into the country and prosperity to the lose my job. Forty years later, I Page 20 is becoming a page to … the most immoral people. remain unafraid. watch. Again in the government… the most fraidy Next week, more “Bits and A Green government will modernise the SVG aforementioned edition, we have opposition…. I get the feeling that Pieces”. I will detail my Ms Luzette King and her Global they (NDP) are going around in economy to be an export-driven economy. SVG can connection to E M Richards, Highlights, she wrote. “How can circles pinning their hopes that only increase revenue and create thousands of new owner of this paper. we ever trust Dr Gonsalves to Ralph will give in to their cry for jobs by exporting new products such as canned fish, interpret our African history him to go.

Bits and Pieces

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. 13.

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14. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Arts/Diaspora

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. 15.

Court

Youth charged with ÂLaybayÊsÊ death at Arnos Vale.

Lewis was not required to plead to MURDER ACCUSED Kenny Lewis was the charges when he appeared before remanded on Monday, September 10 Senior Magistrate Donald Browne at while a gun allegedly found in his the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on possession would be sent abroad for Monday. examination.

Prosecutor Inspector Glenford Lewis, 20, of Campden Park, has Gregg informed the court that the gun been charged with the murder of would have to be sent abroad for former state witness Uroy ‘Laybay’ examination.

Robertson, who was shot in the left The matter was transferred to the side of the head, while reportedly Serious Offences Court for September sitting at the roadside at Walvaroo, 19.

Sion Hill with two other men, on Robertson was the star witness in September 2. He died on the spot. the murder trial involving Che ‘Ragga’ Lewis is also charged with Bute and Azari ‘Nines’ Ash, both of possession of one 11ama 9mm pistol, Redemption Sharpes, who were earlier serial number unknown, without licence, at Arnos Vale on September 6. this year sentenced to life He is also accused of having 14 rounds imprisonment for the murder of Lloyd of 9mm ammunition on the same date ‘Lazarus’ Samuel of that community.

Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

Magistrate: ‘What’s going on in SVG?’ “WHAT’S GOING in St. Vincent and the Grenadines?”

That’s the question Senior Magistrate Donald Browne asked rhetorically, when Tywon John of Campden Park, who gave his age as 16, appeared before him on Monday on charges of firearm and ammunition possession.

The Senior Magistrate noted that just last week three murders were committed in five days.

“And look who have the guns,” the Magistrate lamented, referring to young men.

“They become trigger happy with the guns,” Browne added.

“This is a very serious matter; he shouldn’t even get bail. He should go to the High Court to get bail. Look one youngster was just charged with murder,” the Magistrate said.

Senior Magistrate Donald John had earlier Browne wondered aloud pleaded not guilty to about who has the guns in possession of a .38 SVG. revolver without licence, and six one week until he gets rounds of ammunition. somebody to bail him.

He was remanded for

Accused lied about education status A YOUNG MAN of Campden Park, facing charges of firearm and ammunition possession, untruthfully told the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday that he is a student of the Bethel High School.

Tywon John, who gave his age as 16, has been charged with possession of a .38 revolver without licence, and six rounds of .38 ammunition.

The Principal of the Bethel High School was not available when THE VINCENTIAN contacted the school on Tuesday; but an official there confirmed that John is not a student of the school.

The official, however, indicated that he was enrolled as a student in 2008,

but left in 2010.

John pleaded not guilty to the charges when he went before Senior Magistrate Donald Browne on Monday.

Bail was open to him, but up to the time of the court’s adjournment, nobody turned up to bail the accused.

The Magistrate remanded him for one week until he gets someone to bail him. His bail conditions are yet to be imposed.

The matter has been adjourned to September 19 and transferred to the Serious Offences Court.

John was arrested on September 9 at Richmond Hill, Kingstown.

Kenny Lewis (centre) being led away to remand after being charged for murder.

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16. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Foreign Affairs

Canada slams door on illegal immigrants

by BEN HARRISON International Correspondent CANADA’S IMMIGRATION Minister Jason Kenney announced on Tuesday that, beginning at 12:01 a.m. EDT Wednesday, nationals of five countries, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia, will require a visa to travel to Canada.

Kenney stated, “We continue to welcome genuine visitors to Canada; however, these visa requirements will allow Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and its partners to screen more travellers for security risks prior to their arrival in Canada.

And will help reduce the risk that individuals engaged in organized crime or the trafficking of persons could gain entry to Canada.”

A key reason why the Government has imposed visa requirements on St. Lucia and St. Vincent is unreliable travel documents. “Criminals from these countries can legally change their names and acquire new passports. In some

instances, people who were removed from Canada as security risks later returned using different passports”.

In an exclusive interview with THE VINCENTIAN, Sandra Sutherland, well known Vincentian born Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) with offices in Toronto, stated that, while she was unaware of the timing of Minister Kenney’s announcement, she considered it was inevitable and imminent.

Compared to many other countries, including Barbados and Antigua, St. Vincent has a reputation to be a relatively easy place to obtain a passport, with many criminals using a newly acquired Vincentian passport as a stepping stone to Canada. She has even heard stories of persons from other countries, who could not get a visa in their home country, gaining entry to Canada by first coming to St. Vincent where a passport was issued. She feels that if St. Vincent and the Grenadines had

Canadian, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. established tougher rules on passport issuance, none of this would have been necessary.

The new visa policy change means that nationals from St. Lucia and St. Vincent, (as well as three African countries, Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland) who want to travel to Canada will first need to apply for a visitor visa and meet the requirements to receive one.

‘The die has been cast,’ says Minister FROM THE TIME the announcement was made last Tuesday that a visa was now required for Vincentians desirous of entering Canada, there has been a flurry of activity by Vincentian officials.

Foreign Minister Douglas Slater spoke to the media at a press conference last Wednesday afternoon, and conceded that the “the die has been cast, ….the decision has been made. We have to try our best to see how we can manage.”

In addressing the reasons proffered for the introduction of the visa requirement, denied suggestions that the “reliability” of the Vincentian travel document was the key factor, and dismissed the claim that applications by persons for refugee status was the main cause.

The Minister was kept

rescinded.”

While he highlighted the visa application and processing charges of $150 and 75 for an individual and $400 for a family of six, the Minister also lamented the additional costs occasioned by applicants having to go to Trinidad and Tobago to present themselves to the Canadian Visa officials there.

Slater pointed to “excellent relations” with Dr. Douglas Slater, his Canadian Minister of Foreign counterparts, but Affairs, says he was admitted that the kept busy maintaining “implementation could contact with his Canadian counterparts. have been better managed,” even as he dismissed the view that busy over the last three the measure came days as he kept in suddenly. contact with Canadian But of direct worry to government officials.

He expressed the view the Foreign Affairs that “St. Vincent and the Minister was the number of Vincentians en route Grenadines may have been given a harsh deal,” to Canada at the time but he held out the hope the new strategy was that the decision “will be enforced.

V Feeder roads to get attention

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. 17.

News

Right: This road in Montreal leads to farm lands in the area and could be in for some attention.

FARMERS who may have been experiencing difficulty in getting to their lands because of the condition of the roads, may be in for some relief.

Five million dollars ($5m) have been set aside for repairs to secondary roads. The announcement came last Tuesday by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves as he hosted a press conference at Cabinet Room.

He admitted that there were some areas “in need of substantial repair.”

Roads to be tackled and the extent of the works will be disclosed in

the progress of time as technical details are worked out, which Dr. Gonsalves cited as “fundamental to road repairs.”

The question of ‘hotmix’ also occupied attention. If things go according to plans, representatives from government and the private sector would visit the site at Lake Asphalt in Trinidad and Tobago to coordinate aspects of sourcing material for road repair and refurbishment projects.

Dr. Gonsalves used the occasion to encourage road users to pay their licences.

Taiwan technical mission visits A FIVE-MEMBER technical mission from Taiwan is expected to meet with officials in the Ministry of Agriculture today, to report on their findings following visits to various parts of the country to examine soils and pig farms.

The delegation, which arrived here last Sunday, comprised an expert in pork processing, a soil analysis expert, an artificial insemination expert, project manager and the head of the mission.

The team visited the Leeward side of the island on Tuesday and the Windward side on Wednesday to look at pig farms.

According to information received, the mission had high praises for a pig farm in Evesham owned

by Nick Ross of Paul’s Avenue. That farm was said to have been the best of the farms visited.

On their return from visiting the farms late Wednesday afternoon, the members of the technical mission visited Ross’ jerk pork operation at Paul’s Avenue.

The team of experts is expected to leave here tomorrow.

Members of the Taiwanese Technical Mission visits with Nick Ross (2nd from right).

He noted that the charges did not cover the costs for road repairs, but he highlighted the legal requirements.

On a related matter, Dr. Gonsalves disclosed that $3M will also be spent

between Independence and Christmas in the

quarterly Road Cleaning exercise. (WKA)

18. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. 19.

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20. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Youth

Donation being made to mother of Chequanna Gilkes at the Lions Den, Kingstown.

Leo Club reaps awards

THE LEO CLUB ST. VINCENT, which is in its 27th year of existence, remains one of the leading youth-based community service organisations in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

As part of Zone 3C which includes clubs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada, the club was, for another year, recognised for its achievements at the Zone Meeting held in Grenada in March, 2012. Awards were received for: Most Efficient Leo Club Secretary-Zone 3C; Most Outstanding Leo President for the Zone; and Most Outstanding Leo Club of the Zone.

Additionally, at the District Level, which encompasses countries from Jamaica in the north to Guyana in the south, the Club was recognised for its outstanding contribution in the area of Health and Wellness, at the Multiple District Convention held in Trinidad and Tobago in May, 2012.

Working under the theme ‘Doing is Believing,’ the new Lionistic year which began in July, promises a full slate of activities. First on the agenda was a donation to physically challenged Chequanna Gilkes on July 31st, to assist with travel to Trinidad and Tobago for surgery to replace her back brace.

Also benefiting from the club’s main initiative to aid the less fortunate was a Form 1 student, who was provided with school supplies at the beginning of the new school term. This donation was made on August 29th, 2012. The recipient whose family hails from Caruth, Mesopotamia was very grateful for such assistance.

During this first half of the Lionisitic year, the club will undertake several of its signature projects.

Members continue to be mentors to students of the Liberty Lodge Boys’ Training Centre through their weekly visits. The club will also continue with its monthly Feeding of the Homeless activity.

Also well into its planning stages is the club’s major project, ‘The Annual Primary Schools’ Literacy Competition’, scheduled to take place in October-November.

To culminate the activities for the first half of the year, the Annual School for Children with Special Needs Christmas Party will be held in midDecember.

Throughout the coming months, the club will also take part in other projects such as a beach clean-up and the improvement of the living conditions for two geriatrics.

The Leo Club St. Vincent, being a charitable service organisation, is dependent on the assistance of the general public and the corporate sector. The club wishes to thank the sponsors of the recently held ‘Luau’ pool party and other organisations which have pledged assistance to The Annual Primary Schools’ Literacy Competition.

Through the assistance of the general public and various business places, the club is able to make a greater impact on the lives of the disadvantaged in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. 21.

V Bank rates interest Gonsalves 22. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

People

HE MADE IT PLAIN that he cannot “legislate the lending rate” and that the “market has to decide that,” but Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, the Vincentian Prime Minister, has called for interest charged by banks here to be reduced.

He made the call and chastised the lending institutions here for “still charging interest rates like the old days,” during a press conference held at Cabinet Room, Tuesday 11th september.

Referring to the share holding composite of the

Teachers, public servants will wait MEMBERS of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Union (SVGTU) and the Public Service Union (PSU) have decided to wait until another end of year to receive a salary increase overdue by more than 18 months. The decision was taken at a recent general membership of the SVGTU meeting held at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, and one of the PSU held last week Thursday, September 6.

While the SVGTU has not indicated any proposed action in the event that government fails to meet the end of year deadline, the PSU membership has directed the executive, according to a release from that Union, to “prepare for and institute appropriate industrial action(s) across the public sector

institutions if the government fails to pay the 3% owing to public servants by December 2012.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr Ralph Gonsalves had promised the teachers and other public servants that the 3% salary increase, due since January 2011, would have been paid retroactively at the end of June, 2011, on condition that the economic condition improved.

After government failed to meet its obligation, the Prime Minister further promised payment would be made at the end of 2011. Again the salary increase was not paid, and in the January 2012 budget presentation, he promised that the salary increase would be paid in the middle of the year.

On the back of four years of negative growth, the government again failed to meet its commitment, causing the SVGTU, the Public Service Union and other bodies to raise concerns on behalf of their members who were affected.

The unions met with Prime Minister Gonsalves more than a month ago and, it is understood that the unions suggested that if the government was unable to pay the 3% , then half of it could be paid and the balance paid later. That suggestion proved fruitless.

The PSU and SVGTU are expected to meet later this month. The unions are scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Gonsalves in November.

The Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines - 51 per cent ownership by East Caribbean Financial Holding of St. Lucia, 40 percent by the Government of SVG and the reminder between the National Insurance Services and bank staff - the Vincentian leader advanced the view that steps could be made to influence the interest rates here.

“We have to argue for reduced interest rates,” Dr. Gonsalves outlined.

Dr. Gonsalves outlined that 21 miles north of

LIME awards scholarships A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME which serves children of LIME employees has reached the $785,000.00.

Established some 31 years ago as part of an agreement with the Commercial Technical and Allied Workers Union (CTAWU), LIME employees’ representative, the programme has, to date, catered to some 86 full scholarship winners and dozens bursary recipients.

It currently serves 28 students to a tune of $42,000.00 annually.

While scholarship awardees are chosen from among those

Left to right: Ahmar Delpesche, Webser Roban and the Graham sisters at the scholarship award ceremony at LIME.

employees’ children who do well at the Common Entrance Examinations, bursaries are awarded to children of economically challenged parents.

This year, full scholarships were awarded to to Ahmar Delpesche and Webser Roban. They will each receive $1400.00 from Forms one to three and

LIME parts ways with 15 workers rounded out the persons addressing the conference.

LIME GENERAL MANAGER “We’re here today because the Leslie Jack assured the public separation of employees was done that LIME was looking on a mutually agreed basis,” Jack favourably into the future, even told media personnel. as he announced that 15 more Each person separated employees were being separated received a package of from the company’s staff compensation. complement.

While two of the more profiled Jack addressed a number of senior individuals, Fitzgerald pressing and speculative issues ‘Fitz’ Huggins and Cicylin affecting the future of the Joseph, were confirmed as company at a press conference on leaving, the other staff members Tuesday 11th September. comprising the departure list General Secretary of the were left unnamed.

Commercial, Technical and Allied On the topic of negotiations Workers’ Union and the restructuring, Bonadie (CTAWU) Joseph ‘Burns’ said that “the consultative Bonadie and Makaela Williams, mechanism on the restructuring

by KARISSA CLARKE

(L-R): Joseph ‘Burns’ Bonadie, Leslie Jack and Makaela Williams shared the head table at a LIME press conference that announced further retrenchment of workers.

mainland St. Vincent, in St. Lucia, First Caribbean Bank had lowered lending rates. According to the Vincentian leader, borrowers had rates of almost six percent on their interest charges in St. Lucia.

He pondered why cost of loans to borrowers was so high here, especially, though not exclusively, in light of the fact that, there was a “favourable mortgage market in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.” (WKA)

between the CTAWU and LIME worked. While trade unions and management are usually seen as adversarial, negotiations between the CTAWU and LIME progressed smoothly.”

Bonadie recognized Jack’s appointment as general manager as a great achievement, and said that “Vincentians should have a sense of pride that within our community we have upcoming young people who came years after, have been trained and have the capacity to take on the jobs.”

Jack, who is one month away from celebrating his first year as General Manager of LIME, thanked his colleagues for their support and contribution

to the organization, and emphasized that LIME will continue to work with the CTAWU as a key stake- holder in the business.

Makaela Williams and Garcia Cato, who are already with LIME, are expected to assume the responsibilities previously held by Huggins and Joseph respectively.

$1600.00 from Form 4 to A-Level.

Bursaries of $300.00 each were awarded to Zariea DeSouza, Afreeca Graham and Zawadie-Tu Graham According to LIME’s Head of Human Resource, Mrs Sandra Matthews, recipients of assistance “are asked to provide a certificate of good conduct and their Exam Index number during the life of the scholarship. Whereas LIME provides the financing, we expect the students to maintain regular attendance and excel academically.”

Among previous recipients who have made themselves, their parents and LIME proud are Charlene Douglas, and Fidel Neverson, both island scholars.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. 23.

Opinion

Compulsory History classes equals ennoblement Even though Oscar strongly resents the idea of labeling him one of a “bright mind”, he cannot deny the fact that many Vincentians admire him THE CURRENT Searchlight for his intellect and simplicity newspaper exchange between in life. Dr. Gonsalves, who Oscar Allen and Dr. The declares himself the blackest Honourable Ralph Gonsalves on Prime Minister SVG has ever ‘The End of Slavery In SVG and had, is also well known for his Our Commemoration 2012’, is a political activities. Prior to prime example for why ‘History – becoming prime minister in Must Be A Compulsory Subject 2001, he was a criminal In Our Schools’. lawyer. By virtue of his Peter N. Stearns, a history studies at doctorate level, he is professor of George a political scientist. Most Washington University, notably, these two men have a contends that the study of longstanding relationship history helps develop a wellwhich was established since informed person who, among boyhood days and that other things, is able to continued during their understand change and how political struggles in the ‘black the society we live in came to power days” of the 1970s. In be ,and is likely to become a a nutshell they understand good citizen with moral each other politically, understanding and a sense of academically and otherwise. identity. Above all and more The fact that Gonsalves and applicable to what is Allen seem to have conflicting happening in SVG, the interpretation of the historical student of history will be account on this matter takes exposed to “factual little away from their strong information about the knowledge base. For background of our political example, in response to Allen’s institutions and about the claim that Gonsalves’ values and problems that monograph did not include affect our social well-being”. voices of those whose lineage

By Luzette King Producer and Host, Global Highlights globalhighlights@gmail.com

of “the exchange relations externally”.”

Gonsalves continues, “The failure and/or refusal to disaggregate them sufficiently is that one is open to making the “infantile leftist” error of equating all societies across the historical sweep which are Highfalutin and distant subservient to external capitalist exchange relations, As if this reference list is not heavyweight enough, there despite their different internal modes of production. This is is the highfalutin language. why some simplistic persons Here is an example: Allen say that there is still slavery states, “I may be wrong, but I in St Vincent and the get the sense that, taking the Grenadines today because of case of plantation slavery, the the external dominance of author is too strict in making monopoly capital. From this the internal slave mode of error flow wrong strategies production, a relationship or and tactics, in economics and entity separate from the politics, for the continuing capitalist exchange relations process of national liberation.”

In between the ‘la-di-da’ externally. I think that local language, one detects that slavery is integrated into the Gonsalves is none too pleased external/overseas enterprise.

It is one business, one colonial with Allen. However, those of us trying to follow them, slave mode of production.”

To this, Gonsalves responds especially parents, should be even more incensed at the “Oscar’s analytic preference ‘saying-nothingness’ of this seems to be to lump discussion. We boast about everything together … . The an ‘education revolution’, but problem with this lumping how many of our children have together is that it the wherewithal to understand insufficiently disaggregates and assess any part of this “the dominant mode of dispute? The answer probably production” and the character lies in the 2012 examination

are linked to the enslaved, Dr. Gonsalves boasted his reference to the work of a number of exemplary scholars, politicians and political activists. To reproduce that list would be a lesson in itself.

Charade by our political leaders…

LAST WEEK, I ended with an appeal: “WAKE UP VINCENTIANS - let us take a closer look at the dangers of the actions of our leaders of both the government and opposition parties as they build a false alliance to buttress themselves against their own people. God, open our eyes to the truth and the reality of hidden pestilences that await us, our children and their unborn.”

I repeat that appeal and point you in the direction of a few instances when grave harm was committed against us.

Do you remember when we heard from the opposition party that one (1) million US dollars cash was deposited into the people’s account at the NCB? Yes, the opposition asked the question, but did they ever get an answer? NO! Instead a ‘whistle blower’ was punished for speaking to her true BOSSES. i.e. the people.

The opposition capitulated.

Do you remember when the Prime Minister was accused of rape, and the people demanded a court appearance, so that the accused could get her justice? Did you remember who went at a ‘RALLY’ to defend her master? Yes, it was the same elected OECS Assembly Speaker! Did Mr. Eustace and his party forget or was it simply a matter of diplomacy? Shame on you all!

Do you remember two Attorneys General, of past NDP administrations, and their alleged dishonesty? Do you remember they were pressured out of office by the then opposition party?

Are we going to sit idly by as more harm is committed against us, and revel as our leaders are paraded in front of us at OECS Assemblies?

OUTSIDE CARIBBEAN INTERVENTION to have fashioned the Grand Beach Accord (signed in Grenada.), which curtailed the tenure of an elected government.

In those times, the government feared the people, now?

There is no need to take up arms in order to regain our Liberty. We can use the voting booths at every election. We can speak out in Reclaiming our authority numbers to show our disgust, To take action would mean or we can march on the streets in peaceful protest. (for some of us) moving We are known to have against our very own elected officials, but their power cleaned house before - get rid of the old regime which we instills the fear in us, so we thought to be detrimental to won’t. TYRANNY! We are led like sheep to the our development — and put slaughter. Hence we are now into place a new crop of politicians who we thought known as the ‘Sheeple’ would have understood the people who unquestioningly accept as true whatever their basic principle of democracy political leaders say or who — that Cato and Joshua once practised. Instead we ended too afraid to speak up and up with foreign-influenced out. We live in fear of our ideologies at our doorstep. governments and oppositions We, together with here and in the region; they can do and say as they will Dominica, Antigua and St. Kitts, have aligned ourselves against us to maintain the to ALBA. In my humble status quo. opinion, ALBA is using subtle Gone are the days where the masses rallied against the diplomacy to capture our government to stand up for gullible politicians through what they believed was right. the back door of the OECS. The people once had an effect..

That was called LIBERTY Demand that they serve us when Glen Jackson, the trade The Government and the unions and Gonsalves brought the city of Kingstown to a halt opposition are there to serve us all, not to hoodwink us and the then opposition used

Part 2

with diplomacy! The sooner we get back to that base, the sooner we can begin to control the political hypocrites who have captured the minds of many persons who now believe that they are now our earthly gods.

A friend of mine who died a few years ago said, “This battle for control stays between the opposition and the government, and the people are always the losers.”

His words ring very true today.

We must hold the opposition to account; we have to be equally concerned about them as much as the ruling regime, because in time they can hold the reign of power over us. But we must never again allow a regime to RULE over us. They must be made to serve us. We must demand respect and accountability from our political servants here in SVG, the OECS and the wider region.

That political charade in Antigua and contempt for us by these OECS leaders without proper consultation must be the last ever!

Below are two related links. http://www.oas.org/en/medi a_center/speech.asp?sCodigo= 02-0024 http://leaks.hohesc.us/?view =09BRIDGETOWN471 Concerned Citizen

results for Common Entrance and CXC. For there to be a more “well-informed” citizenry with the necessary skills as suggested by Stearns to make sense of the conversation “End of Slavery in SVG”, there would have to be a complete revamping of the education system.

If only….

One wonders, too, if more Vincentians were equipped to evaluate the conflicting interpretation of our history as evidenced in this exchange, would Gonsalves be so confident with his assertion that only “simplistic persons” would contend that there is still “slavery in St Vincent the Grenadines today”? How does one describe, for example, an ‘education revolution’ without history as a compulsory subject and mainly produces a waged workforce under a leader who once touted “People’s Ownership and Control”? What is in place to encourage entrepreneurship when farmers, before 2001, were economically strong, independent, and formed the backbone of our economy now lining up for government assistance - ‘poor relief’? For many of them and their families, $200 per month is their main source of income, and has replaced their previous weekly earnings of $1,000, in some cases. They are at the mercy of a financially-strained, government treasury.

Do black people need to be in physical chains before they are considered enslaved? By the way, should we question the timing of Dr. Gonsalves’ monograph with that of the Inter-American Human Rights Commission report to the July 6, 2012 CARICOM Heads of state meeting on the ‘The Situation of People Of African Descent in the Americas’? “In the Caribbean, racial discrimination towards Afrodescendant people is linked to the darkness of the skin, poverty, and the control of economic resources” (para.

100).

Since 2013 is the start of the United Nations Decade for People of African Descent, there can be no better time for a national debate that would include more than Gonsalves and Allen on the thesis “The End of Slavery In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines .. “. There can be no better time to demand that history becomes, with immediate effect, a compulsory subject in our schools and through which our children can see themselves graphically.

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Be careful that you don't overextend yourself. This is not the time to lend or borrow money or possessions. Minor accidents may occur if you don't concentrate on what you're doing. You may enjoy doing something musical for entertainment.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) You can get good solid advice from relatives or close friends you trust.

Don't be too pushy or demanding, or you may find yourself all alone. You have been going through a period of change that no doubt caused problems with your loved ones. You may have to explain your actions to your family.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Your mind is on moneymaking ventures. It would be in your best interest to stay away from any intimate involvement with a client or coworker.

Set the ball in motion and be relentless until you complete the project. You must look into your options.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Residential moves look hectic and sudden changes in your life are likely.

Be careful not to get involved in other people's personal affairs. You will accomplish the most through or. Look before you leap.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Avoid friends or acquaintances who drink too much. Travel will be favorable.

Resist overspending on luxury items.

Concentrate on your career and on making money. Find out all you can; secret enemies may lead you astray.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Your diplomacy will be of utmost importance this week. Try to take some time to listen to their complaints, and in turn, do something to appease them.

You may want to pull out some of those unfinished project you've got tucked away. Upgrading at this point is not a

bad plan.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Your communication skills will bring you popularity and increased self esteem.

You can't make things better if you don't know what to fix. You can make excellent investments if you are in the right place at the right time. You can invest in profitable ventures.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Communication will be your strong point and you should be able to persuade others to see things your way. Don't be disappointed if you don't get your way emotionally. Don't be disappointed if you don't get your way emotionally. Leave your checkbook and credit cards at home.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Romance will be on your mind, and chances for ideal connections are in the works. You may need to make a few alterations to your living arrangements.

Don't be alarmed. Personal alterations will be in your best interest.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Don't hesitate to enlist the aid of friends or family if you have a big project to finish in your domestic environment.

Your energy will be high. Avoid getting too close to coworkers or employers.

Family responsibilities are mounting.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) You may have a problem with coworkers if you try to tell them what to do. You may need to lend an ear to an old friend.

Involve yourself in group endeavors.

Romantic encounters will develop through group activity.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) You may be offered opportunities that will result in a higher earning potential.

You may find that your documents are not in order. Don't let others bait you into arguments. Deception may cause disputes you can do without.

ACROSS

es a right 46.Token of friendship 1.Crowd 49.Convict’s 4.Interfere home 7.Switch 50.Time period settings 10.Fifi’s friends 51.Lemon 12.Charlotte of meringue __ “The Facts of 52.Woody Guthrie’s son Life” 53.Upperclass13.Exclamamen (abbr.) tions 54.Dance like 15.Mournful Astaire sound 16.Uneducated 55.Bark like a Pomeranian 18.Rib eyes and T-bones DOWN 20.Small-minded 21.Unrelenting 1.Blob 24.Silky fabric 2.Fail to use 3.One with a 26.Renders large appetite defenseless (2 wds.)

31.”Peter Pan” pirate 4.Crystal object 32.Actor 5.”___ Doll” Chaney 33.Carnivore’s 6.Yearning 7.Wicked giant delight 34.Samurai, for 8.Shipshape 9.Delivered eone mail 36.Factions 11.More tree37.Orchestra lined conductor 14.Piggery 39.Shred 43.Relinquish- 17.Makes a

choice 19.Topeka’s st.

22.Worship 23.Author Anais __ 24.Compass pt.

25.Med. group 27.”__ the Beautiful” 28.Doctor’s success 29.Wrestler’s pad 30.Holy ones (abbr.)

32.Mauna ___ 35.Mischiev-

ous ones 36.Train depot (abbr.)

38.Use a broom 39.”___ King” 40.Passable grades 41.___ Admiral

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

V

24. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

42.Showery mos.

44.Jazz singer Fitzgerald 45.Pig food 47.Relevant 48.Sportage manufacturer

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. 25.

Advice

BoyfriendÊs mother wants a big wedding say much to her, but after we left her house he began telling me how MY BOYFRIEND and I intend to get married and I he does not want his mother to interfere in his went to his parents to wedding and to take inform them of our intention. His mother was everything over. I asked him why didn’t he tell clear in her opinion. She her so, and he just said wanted us to get married on the date she selected, he did not have to.

I told him that we are tell us how many of her going to have the people to invite, totally wedding we can afford, disregarding the size of and we have given his wedding we could afford. parents almost one year I do not like the way notice. It is up to them she is imposing on us, to show up and to and she is not talking participate in the way we about giving up any expect them to. I do not funds. I told her about need any extra stress in the estimated expenses the planning of this of the wedding, and she wedding or else I might just said, “You all will just flip out. get through by God’s grace.�

Future Bride.

My boyfriend did not

Dear George,

contribute to facilitate that. Other than that, go ahead and have the A wedding should be a wedding that is within your means. ceremonious occasion, Your boyfriend is the and you are correct in saying that you do not best person to need the “extra stress.� communicate to his You did your duty in mother, and he needs to notifying your boyfriend’s firmly put his foot down parents. You can politely on matters now, before suggest to his mother his mother gets the idea that if she wants the that your relationship is number of people to a free for all and she can attend, then she would jump in and out when have to financially she feels like it.

Do your best to work with his parents, but if that proves too stressful, then back off and do your thing the way it suits you and your boyfriend.

Dear Future B,

Move away from the smoke Dear George,

Love Bite.

I ALWAYS SAID that I do not want a girl who smokes, and that is for several reasons. There is the health reason and also, I cannot stand the smell of smoke on another person.

Having said that, I met this girl at a conference and she bowled me over completely. All through the conference, she kept looking at me, and at the end of it all, she walked up to me and formally introduced herself.

She turned out to be single and seems to be looking for a steady boyfriend.

I started going out with her until one night she lit up a cigarette. I was so shocked to see her smoking. She also disclosed that she smokes the “occasional marijuana stick.�

I am caught in the middle here because I have never met such a sexy and attractive woman, but there is the smoke factor. I asked her if she would be willing to give up smoking for me, and she said yes she will and I believe her. I am still asking you for your opinion.

Dear Love Bite, Here is what we read you to be saying: You have outlined what you do not want your woman to be like, and yet you are willing to forego all of that simply because of her physical appearance.

This is a trade, in that you will regret in the end. Stick to your guns and find a woman who is smoke free.

That is a lot less stressful than trying to make the one you have smoke free.

George

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George

Eyes on my daughter’s man Dear George, MY DAUGHTER is dating this guy who is 5 years younger than she is. My daughter is 26. To be truthful, this guy looks ‘yummy’ to me. He goes to the gym and has firm and big muscles, and I always like a man who looks like that. He reminds me of a guy I had years back. I think he knows I am looking at him in a certain way and I know if I push he will come to me without hesitation. In fact, I have been flirting with him and it feels good.

Would it be so wrong to take things to the next level and have just one harmless fling with him? I want this guy so bad, George! It has been a long time for me.

Desire Dear Desire, There is no such thing as a “harmless fling�, and you need to stay away from this man. He is not yours, and you should give your daughter the respect and leave her man alone. In doing so, you will also be respecting yourself.

Look for someone in your age group and leave these two young loves to pursue their happiness.

You should be contributing to their happiness, not taking away from it.

George

V

26. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Artists offered room to exhibit work Stories by Gloriah…

VERY SOON, artists and craftsmen in St. Vincent and the Grenadines will have another avenue to display their works of art, free of cost. This will come in the form of an Art Shop and Gallery located in Kingstown.

According to Mrs.

Camille SaundersMusser, proprietor of the Art and Craft Theo Saunders Shop, the aim is “to create a gallery where artists and crafts people can come in and exhibit their work and sell it too.”

Saunders-Musser, an artist herself and founder of the Youlou

Arts Foundation, said that this will be made possible since she has recently secured new premises that are a bit more spacious.

The art shop previously conducted business from the upper floor of the Pet and Sons building on Bay Street.

It was a project started

by her late mother, Mrs. Theo Saunders. The new location is on Bonadie Street, next to ‘Fragrances’.

Even as the interior décor was still being attended to, SaundersMusser told THE VINCENTIAN that she has reserved three walls of the room for the artists who wish to take up her offer. She also intimated that she plans to affix wheels on some of her showcases so as to be able to manoeuvre them to different

locations within the shop, to accommodate influxes of visitors from time to time.

The Art and Craft Theo Saunders Shop is currently inviting artists and craftsmen to register in its ‘Artist Book’, giving details of identity, type of art they produce and contact information.

Those persons registering will also benefit from involvement in ‘special function’ which the ‘Shop’ intends to host.

In addition to offering

a facility for display of artistic work, the ‘Shop’ aims to be a supplier of art and craft resource items for artists throughout the country, and on that basis, “it is only fitting to extend this invitation, which is open to all, to exhibit what they produced,” Saunders-Musser said.

This is surely an excellent opportunity which artists and craftsman should readily take up.

Toastmasters compete to represent SVG

Camille Saunders-Musser will open her Art and Craft Shop to artists to display their work.

The Caribbean Toastmasters will hold their Annual Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contests at this year’s Regional Conference to be held at the Grand Anse Resort in Winners and participants in the Area 19 Toastmasters Grenada, on the Humorous and Evaluation Speech Contest (from left) weekend of Cheyenne John, Josette Greaves, Jacinta Thomas-Elliot, Friday, 19th to Reynold Baptiste and Keisha Johnson.

Sunday 21st with Cheyenne John taking second October.

To fill the position of representative place and Josette Greaves coming in third. of St. Vincent and the Grenadines at these two contests, competition has Area 20 competition been rife among the Toastmasters Clubs here in SVG, as the two This contest took place at the Toastmaster Areas held contests newly renovated Community Centre among their member clubs last in Mustique.

All competitors hailed weekend. from the Mustique Professional Toastmasters Club. The Humorous Area 19 competition Speech Contest heard from two competitors: Corannie Charles and In Area 19, the contest took place at the Paradise Beach Hotel at Villa, Karen James. The Evaluation Contest saw Karen James, on Sunday, 9th September. The competitors in the Humorous Speech Simonnique Benn and Karel Ryan as contests were: Keisha Johnson of the competitors.

Corranie Charles was adjudged Achievers Toastmasters Club; Jacinta winner of the Humorous Speech Thomas-Elliot and Inga Jackson of Contest, and Karen James winner of the Creative Thinkers Toastmasters the Evaluation Contest.

Club. Jacinta Thomas-Elliot placed first, with Keisha Johnson coming in Territory competition second.

In the Evaluation Contest, All winners in the Area competition was seen between Competitions will now move forward Reynold Baptiste of the Achievers to the Territory Contest, which will be Toastmasters Club; Josette Greaves held on 23rd September, at the Peace and Cheyenne John of the Creative Memorial Hall.

Thinkers Toastmasters Club; and Toastmasters and other followers of Ruth-Ann Richards of the Imperial Champions Toastmasters Club. Ruth- the speaking art, eagerly look forward Ann Richards was announced winner, to see who the representative from St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. 27.

Arts

Vincy youths exposed to film-making Vincentian film makers, playwrights, producers, THE FILM PRODUCTION actors, directors and COLLECTIVE (FPC) is poets, who are interested hopeful that more young in ensuring the persons in this country development of the local would be encouraged to creative and cultural get involved in filmindustries, particularly making. the local film industry.

This comes on the He urged persons to heels of the FPC hosting embrace the arts as an of the ‘Camp Innovate It’ avenue for making a Film Summer Camp, living, but warned, “You held from July 16 have to be dedicated, and August 4 at the Green no one can be a slacker if House in Pembroke. the product is going to be The Camp attracted successful. The thinking participation by 25 that we cannot survive persons. from the arts, Participants were particularly film, is exposed to the rudiments false…we need to create of film production — a vibrant film industry. editing and filming It will also develop one’s storytelling/writing and character of how to work dramatic production. as a team towards a Facilitators included finished creation.”

UK-based Rachel His hope, as the camp Meyrick, Yona “Bo” came to an end, was that Wiseman and Duncan the participants would Pickstar and Vincentians have come to realize the David ‘Darkie’ Williams difference between and Creative Arts working on stage and graduate Ackley Olton. working before the camera.

Towards a local film Describing herself as a industry film enthusiast, member of FPC Vynnette Williams, a Director of Frederick assured that FPC, told THE the organization was VINCENTIAN that FPC steadily working towards is made up of a group of creating a nucleus of

by SHERON GARRAWAY

Participants learning while doing.

young film makers.

She said the participants of the “Camp Innovate It” Film Summer Camp were aged 10-18 years and they have been encouraged as young people to document their world on film.

Young persons in a studio session.

thrilled to see it become reality.

Talent spotted Meyrick pointed to the different disciplines such Filmmaker Yona “Bo” as interviewing, news Wiseman said she loved reporting, promos and teaching children who old fashioned film wouldn’t otherwise get production, among other the opportunity to be aspects of film doing film. “The avenue production, and explained that the was a wonderful way of building confidence while participants were divided into groups accordingly. developing the creative This, she said, afforded side,” she said.

Wiseman also pointed out that there were many roles in the production of a film, which gave persons the opportunity “to shine” away from the camera, as there was need for essential background roles such as make-up artistes and costume designers.

Wiseman’s colleague Rachel Meyrick, a film maker/editor, said she and Frederick birthed the idea of the Camp years ago, and was

her the opportunity “to spot some talent among the Vincy youth.”

The other UK-based facilitator, Duncan Pickssa, reinforced Meyrick’s view. “I observed raw talent among the group, and hoped that we (at least) sowed the seed to encourage the participants to develop their skills,” he reported,

and was in high praise of the FPC initiative.

UWI Fine ARTS Film graduate Ackley Olton said he was overwhelmed by the opportunity to share his knowledge with the children of ‘Camp Innovate It’.

Word from the FPC is that the intention is to make the camp an annual affair.

V

28. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Business

Business manageme n t consultant praises CED

Thirty-three delegates from a wide cross-section of businesses participated in the Project Management Seminar.

At the end, participants were able contact the CED to list the various tools and techniques office at 451of project initiation and planning; 2235/6 for more THE RECENT collaboration between the Management,” Marville cites.

Centre for Enterprise Development Inc. Noting that the seminar had thirty- monitor and evaluate risks associated information on with projects; and implement this programme.

(CED) and the Barbados Institute of three (33) participants, the BIMAP (Contributed) strategies to help manage time and Management and Productivity (BIMAP) lecturer on Project Management also to host a Project Management Seminar commended the level of participation. cost in various phases of the project.

Charles Marville, BIMAP Lecturer/ Meanwhile, CED Training here has been commended by a regional “It was very well attended, not only Project Management Consultant.

Coordinator, Keisha Phillips, urged consultant. in terms of numbers, but it was also participants to further Barbadian Charles Marville, who able to attract a wide cross-section of develop their knowledge facilitated the two-day seminar on the business community, including and skills in project August 21 and 22, says that in some Government agencies; and I successfully hosting the exercise, know sometimes Government does not management by enrolling CED has started to build and add to see itself as a business enterprise, but in the BIMAP Certificate in Management Studies the platform which will prepare the it is and most probably the biggest (BCMS) programme Vincentian business community to single business enterprise in the through CED. The BCMS launch out and take advantage of island,” Marville stated. offers specialization in opportunities in the region and further The Project Management Seminar Project Management, afield. catered to managers, project “The participants showed great coordinators and persons who have an Management of Human interest in the subject of Project interest in projects, whether they work Resources, Supervisory Management on two levels: (i) They in private, public or non-governmental Management, General saw how they could apply some of the organizations. It equipped participants Management, Tourism Management, and tools which were demonstrated to their with the necessary tools to improve work and recreational lives and; (ii) their ability to initiate, plan, cost and Production and Operations Management. some started thinking of pursuing evaluate the risks involved in project Interested persons can further studies in this area of Project activities.

L-R:Mrs. Cherry-Ann Browne, (collecting for Charles Browne), Vance Garraway, Marketing Executive of Karib Cable, and Mr. Robert Bradley at the prize-giving ceremony at Karib Cable’s headquarters, Kingstown.

THE ASSOCIATION OF third in the series of Neverson delivered MUSIC workshops being hosted sessions on web-based PROFESSIONALS

by AMP. During the programmes, Contact (AMP) is continuing its two-week period of July Management tools that mandate to advance the 24th and 2nd August, assist managers with the development of its AMP held a training tasks they undertake for “I WAS IN TRAFFIC when I received a phone call members. workshop for Artist their clients, and Open from Karib Cable. … I am very surprised to have Towards this end, it Managers in an effort to Source and other free won because I have been a Karib Cable customer will hold a special expose them to financial tools that minimize costs for just about two years, since I moved to St. seminar for persons in organizing and the use of to small businesses Vincent. I just want to say a heartfelt THANK all disciplines of the Information technology. without infringing YOU to Karib Cable, and may they continue the creative and cultural Presentations were made copyright by hacking the good work.” industries. This activity by Mrs. Ronette Lewis, known ‘big brands’. She This was what Robert Bradley said on receiving will take place at the who dealt with financial also shared some a brand new LCD television receiver from Karib Thomas Saunders matters and the Facebook tips.

Cable.

Secondary School on methodology needed for To further deepen the Orande ‘Bomani’ Bradley, a resident of Fairhall, was the most Saturday, 15th managers to organize understanding of what Charles, President of recent winner in Karib Cable’s ‘Update Your September and will business structures for was being discussed, the AMP, recognizes Account and Win’ promotion. commence at 9:00 am. themselves and their local manager, Mr the need to provide And there was more to come from Karib Cable This seminar is the clients. Mrs. Felicia Hernic Horne gave when Charles Browne, of Diamonds, won himself a highlights of some of his information on an Kindle Fire in the company’s ‘Back to School’ experiences. His insights ongoing basis. promotion. acted as a guide to his formalize its structure, Prizes were collected at the Karib Cable Office, fellow managers.

Kingstown, on September 5.

President of AMP, Mr. hence this third workshop.

Vance Garraway, Karibe Cable’s Marketing Orande ‘Bomani’ Principal of the Executive, in brief remarks at the handing over Charles, has indicated Thomas Saunders ceremony, thanked “ all our customers who were that the sessions Secondary School, Mr. involved in making these promotions a success.” highlighted such a John Renton, has According to Garraway, the giveaways don’t end wealth of information, expressed his pleasure at here, since Karib Cable customers and subscribers that there was much have a chance to be entered in a draw for an iPad, that should be passed on hosting the sessions, as his school has been by simply signing up for the company’s Internet to all persons in the seeking to expand its Service, the Kids Connection or the Cable TV creative fields. As a relationship with the service. result of this, AMP is creative and cultural Karib Cable and its parent company Kelcom partnering with the community, in a quest to International are, this year, marking fifteen years Department of Culture of service to the people of St. Vincent and the in an effort to spread the enhance its delivery of music and art to its Grenadines. message that the Participants in session during the recent twoCreative Sector needs to students. (Contributed) week training workshop for Artist Managers.

AMP to hold workshop

More winners with Karib Cable

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. 29.

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30. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Rising Stars accepts Senior Division Champions Trophy from Tournament Organizer Kenville Horne.

Lennox Lampkin (l) hands over trophy to Troumaca, U-15 Champs.

Rising Stars, Troumaca: Small Goal Champions

RISING STARS of Rose Hall are the 2012 St.Vincent Brewery Small Goal Football Tournament senior division champions.

They took inaugural bragging rights after defeating Predator FC of Fitz Hughes in a penalty shootout in last Sunday’s final, played at the Rose Hall Playing Field.

Ninety minutes of regulation time produced no goals, though there were a number of opportunities that went a-begging, not least among them being: Yata

Browne of Rising Stars shot wide of the Predators’ goal in the 20th minute after beating two defenders to put the goal at his mercy; and Predators Akeem Charles shot over the cross bar in the 42nd minute after receiving a well delivered aerial pass.

The second half produced some powerful shots from Rose Hall striker Yata Browne and the athletic winger Winston Samuel, but it was the Predators FC

passing and dominance on the ball that were more obvious.

That resulted in a golden opportunity for John Williams in the 65th minute, but he failed to put his team ahead, as his side foot shot narrowly missed the mark.

Winston Samuel, in the 70th minute, and Yata Browne, in the 89th minute, failed to put Rising Stars ahead in regulation time, after having what appeared to be easy opportunities to

goal.

In the ensuing penalty shootout, Predators FC’s Kareem Joyette failed to convert his try to hand victory to Rising Stars.

Unde-15 and awards In the first game on Sunday, Troumaca under-15 defeated a dominant Fonando Forces of Rose Hall, 2nil, to claim the championship trophy in the Under-15 division.

Fonando Forces took early control of the game

Narrow escape for Pink House Tags CRICKET RETURNED to the Mustique Playing Field last weekend after a protracted break in the 2012 Twenty/20 Cricket Tournament on that Grenadine isle.

In last Sunday’s game, the tournament came one step closer to completion when Pink House Tags faced off against Mustique Building Construction Ltd. (MBCL), in the third place playoff.

A large crowd, swelled by the presence of workers from mainland St. Vincent, witnessed Pink House Tag amass 155 from their allotted 20 overs. Vibert Williams scored a brisk 47. He was assisted by Julian Sutherland who scored 29.

Cornelius Williams captured 3 Pink House Tags’ wickets for 30

runs in his four overs.

It seemed a foregone conclusion to many spectators as MBCL raced to 91 for 1, only to have their batsmen make heavy going of their chase, to close at 152 all out in 19.5 overs.

Cornelius Williams proved his allround value to MBCL when he contributed a hard fought 51.

Kelroy Richards was the next best MBCL batsman with 31.

Julian Sutherland recorded a good allround performance, taking 3 MBCL wickets for 32 runs, to add to his innings of 29.

As expected, Cornelius Williams was adjudged Man of the Match.

The much anticipated battle for first place comes off this Sunday, September 16. It features Alumbrera Sweepers and Milsom

Cornelius Williams – Man of the Match in the third place play off match in the 2012 Mustique 20/20 cricket competition.

but failed miserably to convert any of their chances.

Not to be outdone by the superior ball possession of Fonando Forces, Casroy Miller and Javert Louie made sure they registered for Troumaca, in the last five minutes of regulation time.

In individual awards handed out at a closing ceremony that followed the games, Delanzo Williams of Fonando Forces was named Most Valuable Player in the Under-15 Division. His teammate, Julian Prince, with four goals, was that Division’s highest gaol scorer.

Keymell Bowens of Predators FC was named the Most Valuable Player in the senior division.

Winston Samuel, four goals, was that division’s top scorer.

In remarks at the closing ceremony, Kenville Horne, the tournament’s organizer, called on all concerned to rally around the effort so as to ensure its continuity.

“We must now focus on the way ahead in order to build on the success of this tournament,” he told a large gathering at the Rose Hall Playing Field.

Support for the tournament came from

Keymell Bowens - Most Valuable Player in the senior division.

Delanzo Williams - Most Valuable Player in the Under-15 Division. the St. Vincent Brewery, main sponsors; Premier Distributors, Randy Supermarket, the SVG Football Federation, The Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Ministry of Sports and community activist Lennox Lampkin.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. 31.

Sports

Ollivierre: Local coaches lack vision MICHAEL OLLIVIERRE, renowned track and field coach whose curriculum vitae shows a tenure of working with some of Jamaica’s top athletes, believes there is a lack of vision on the part of local athletics coaches.

This, he purports, is the reason for the poor standard of the athletes, especially at the senior level.

Ollivierre, now attached to a national

training programme here, was frank and telling in his assessment of the local coaches.

“I blame it (the poor standard) on the whole attitude of the coaches and what their projections are, and even their lack of vision,” he told THE VINCENTIAN. He backed up his statement by alluding to the fact that there are over 100 qualified coaches, “but they are

just beating their chests… some will train kids a few weeks before Interschool Sports as their major target.“ This approach to coaching, Ollivierre contends, indicates a poor standard set by coaches for themselves, which will not bring any benefit to the athletes.

And even though some of these coaches have been involved in courses facilitated by the

National Olympic Committee, this is not bearing fruit because of the fundamental flaw in the coaches’ approach, Ollivierre said.

And on the question of calls for a synthetic (athletics) track, Ollivierre recognizes such a track as “a good thing,” but warns that “a track without the passion and commitment of the coaches would hardly make sense.”

He admonishes those coaches who cite the absence of such a track as major justification for the poor standard among athletes here.

Since he began his programme here some two years ago, Ollivierre says he has seen a daily increase in the number of young persons involved.

However, he is worried that some of these young and promising athletes could well be lost to the sport since there are a number of coaches “who don’t want them to train with

Michael Ollivierre, former national sprinter and now a coach, has identified the poor attitude among coaches as a debilitating factor in the development of athletes here. other coaches.”

All is not lost though as far as the former top national sprinter is concerned. “I am hopeful that there will be an

(From left): Elroy John, Country Manager CIBC/FCIB, hands over sponsorship cheque to Selwyn Allen in the companyof bank officers Francis Llewellyn and Aliethea Dickson.

Bailey inspires Police win

THE LOCAL BRANCH of CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank is partnering with the SVG Masters Cricket Tournament Organising Committee, as a sponsor in this year’s Cricket Masters Competition.

The Bank recently presented its one thousand dollar sponsorship cheque to Committee Chairman Selwyn Allen, to assist in the hosting of the 2012 competition.

This is the seventh year running that the competition is being organised.

Some fifteeen (15) teams from communities throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines are registered for this year’s event.

CIBC First Caribbean Country Manager, Elroy John, says the bank is pleased to contribute to this important sporting initiative and to the overall development of sports in the country, in keeping with the institution’s corporate mandate and commitment.

A PATIENT INNINGS by opening batsman Trevor Bailey earned Police Masters a 9-run win over Rudy’s Electrical in one of five weekend matches of the 2012 SVG National Masters 20/20 cricket competition.

Batting first, Police posted 128 for 9 off 20 overs, led by Bailey’s 65. Bertram Stapleton took 3 for 16.

Rudy’s Electrical Barrouallie Masters in reply were reduced to 119 for 5 off 20 overs. Bertram Stapleton led with 27 and Ian Allen contributed 21 not out.

Sion Hill Masters defeated Cato’s Heavy Equipment Glamorgan Masters by 10 wickets. Cato Heavy Equipment Glamorgan Masters made 78 all out off 20 overs. Augustus Mofford hit 35. Augustine Victory returned figures of 3 for 12. Sion Hill Masters replied with 82 without loss off 11 overs, Colbert McDonald on 32 and Keyon Jack, 25.

Computec Belfongo Masters defeated Da Silva La Croix Masters by 45 runs. Computec Belfongo Masters made 128 all out off 18.5 overs. Elton Williams hit 34 and Jesima Browne 30.

Norman Robinson took 5 for 27 and Raymond Ryan 4 for 23.

DaSilva La Croix Masters were

CIBC/FCIB supports Masters cricket

bundled out for 83 in 17.4 overs.

Norman Robinson led with 28 and Elmondo Shoy 21. Junior Bacchus grabbed the phenomenal figures of 6 for 6 and Samuel Holder took 2 for 17.

Log Enterprises Kingstown Masters defeated Joyette’s Auto Slater Development Pastures Masters by 10 wickets. Joyette’s Auto Slater Development Pastures Masters made 78 for 5 off 20 overs. Jomo Thomas made 20 while Bradley Brooker took 2 for 14. Log Enterprises Kingstown Masters made 79 without loss off 12 overs. Bradley Brooker hit 35 not out and Joseph Carrington 37 not out.

Stanley Browne’s Stubbs Masters defeated C.K.Greaves Vintage Arnos Vale Masters by 7 wickets. C.K.Greaves Vintage Arnos Vale Masters made 74 for 7 off 20 overs. Stanley Browne’s Stubbs Masters made 76 for 3 off 16 .5 overs. Leon Samuel made 29 and Dawnley Joseph 23.

The competition continues this weekend. On Saturday at Arnos Vale One, Computec Belfongo oppose Stanley Browne Stubbs from 10 a.m, and C.K.Greaves Vintage Arnos Vale oppose St Vincent Cooperative Bank P‘tani from 1.30 p.m.

Also on Saturday, at

improvement in the attitude of the coaches,” he said.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Trevor Bailey hit a half century to assure Police of victory.

Buccament, North Leeward Combined play Joyette’s Auto Slater Development Pastures beginning at 10 a.m, and RSVG Police face Sion Hill from 1.30 p.m.

On Sunday, Bickles Fun face DaSilva LaCroix from 10am at Buccament, followed by Log Enterprises Kingstown against Rudy’s Electrical Barrouallie from 1.30 p.m.

I.B.A.ALLEN

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32. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Saluting the century makers

Regional glance JAMAICA is the Caribbean hope for any presence at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. But they must advance from this third round of the Concacaf group. Even though Antigua and Barbuda has no realistic chances of progressing, there will be no treaty signed when the two clash on October 16.

That would mark the end of Round Three.

Jamaica will be away to Guatemala in what will be a virtual final for a spot in the Fourth Round.

Both teams would be wary of the USA who will be in Antigua for what will be Antigua’s last forage. Antigua and Barbuda had a promising performance in their opening fixture in the US. The home team came away with a 3:1 win, but when Pete Byers converted to make it 2:1, it was an awakening for the World Cup giants.

The USA may not be in any mood to experiment on this return leg, October 12. A lot has transpired since Antigua and Barbuda played spoilers when they held Jamaica to a goalless draw in Antigua.

The Jamaicans rebounded to sting the US. The US party will not be taking anything for granted.

Antigua gave up six points to Guatemala away and at home. There was a short term tremor when Pete Byers again scored in Guatemala, but the joy was cut short.

The Antiguans will have to maintain their composure, keep their nerves, and be persistent.

There was no illusion that the transition would have been automatic. But Antigua and Barbuda and Guyana have something to show for their Third Round campaign.

Guyana salvaged a draw in El Salvador, but that Central American nation clinched three vital points in an enthralling 3:2 rematch in Guyana. El Salvador jumped in to second spot in Group B, with Mexico on maximum twelve points and already assured of a place in the hexagonal.

Those three points could have benefitted Guyana in huge proportions.

It is a straight fight when Costa Rica travels to El Salvador October 12. The team which picks up three points there will be assured a place in Round Four.

If El Salvador wins, it will put them on eight points, out of reach of Costa Rica with one match remaining.

El Salvador will have the task of breaking the Mexican winning streak if they have to rely on more points in their round.

Costa Rica then could perhaps count on full points having to host Guyana. But by then, it could be all over if they lose in El Salvador.

Cuba improved in their fourth match but remain without goals, points or of hope of advancing.

Panama, Honduras and Canada toss up for two spots in Group C. Panama plays Honduras at home in what will be a decider. Canada will be at home to Cuba at the same time.

That Group winds up with Honduras hosting Canada, while Panama will be looking to strengthen their stocks in Cuba.

Emerging from a Concacaf Zone is an arduous task. So the three teams from this region to make it to the World Cup final ought to be in some flow when they are slotted into first round fixtures.

Donwell Hector hit 112, 128

Darren Greaves, 115

Otis Matthews 100 not out

Jerome Samuel 100

Sunil Ambris 137 THE VINCENTIAN is pleased, once again, to salute the century makers in this year’s national cricket competitions.

There were a total of six century makers and seven centuries recorded in the National Lotteries Authority Premier and First Divisions of the competition.

In the Premier Division, Windward Islands batsman Donwell Hector stroked the most two, 112 against Saints and 128 against Police One. Others in that Division were: Sunil Ambris, 137 for Saints against ASCO; Darren Greaves, 115 for ASCO

TBPO Softball 20/20 heats up OLDER BOYS recorded a comfortable win over Sunset Strikers when matches in the National Lotteries Authority TBPO Softball 20/20 cricket competition continued at the Dauphnie Playing Field, last weekend.

Older Boys posted 162 in 19.1 overs, led by Alfred McKenzie 23 and Jerome Samuel hit 21.

Randy Warner took 4 for 31, while two wickets apiece went to Marcus Fraser and Akim Cumberbatch. In reply, Sunset Strikers were held to 102 for 9 from 20 overs. Ian Bushay and Anthoniel Palmer hit 15 each. Junior Bacchus took 5 for 21 and Rohan King 2 for 21.

CGM Novices defeated Simple Boys by 24runs.

Novices made 138 for 3 from 15 overs. Rodrick John made 15. Simple Boys replied with 114 for 8 from 15 overs. Desron Maloney top scored with 33, Casmon Walters hit 27. Chris King took 4 for 26, Andre Hunte 2 for 20 and Rodrick John 2 for 32.

Nar Fren Dem beat ASCO by 10 runs. Nar Fren Dem made 110 for 7 from 20 overs. Varnado Primus took 3 for 29, Kevin Harry 3 for 35 and Jerome Nero 2 for 4.

ASCO could manage only 100 for 8 from 20 overs. Damian Chance top scored with 26, Ashburn Franklyn 21.

Kenford Collins took 3 for 13 and Travis Peters 3 for 20.

Dr. Thomas defeated

Bangers by 21 runs. Dr. Thomas made 121, led by 40 from Kesron Ashton. Raymond Sears took 2 for 7 and Rafique Sears 2 for 27. Bangers replied with 100 from 19.1 overs. Rodulph Davis topscored with 29 and Brian Cunningham 27. Ronique Daniel took 4 for 27 and Kesron Ashton 3 for 6.

Clinchers beat RSVG Police by 42 runs.

Clinchers made 87 for 4 from a reduced 10 overs.

Donwell Hector led with 44. Demris Daniel took 2 for 11. Police were reduced to 45 for 7 from 10 overs. Renrick Cato made 23 not out.

The competition continues this weekend.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Miles Bascombe 102 not out against Saints; Otis Matthews, 100 not out for News Spartans against ASCO; and Miles Bascombe, 102 not out for Victors One against Police One. In the First Division, Jerome Samuel hit 100 for Belmont against Radcliffe Too. I.B.A.ALLEN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. 33.

News

Police scholarship recipients better equipped OVER 200 students on scholarships and bursaries provided by the Royal St.Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) are better equipped to strategically choose career paths, having participated in a career guidance lecture.

The lecture, organized

by Commissioner of Police, Keith Miller to better prepare students assisted by the RSVGPF for the job market, and held on Tuesday, September 11, involved some 187 RSVGPF scholarship recipients and 31 students on assistance, along with their parents and guardians.

They were sensitized by motivational speaker, Dr. Jules Ferdinand, about a wide array of non-traditional careers along with the traditional ones, that the students can pursue.

Dr. Ferdinand introduced the substance

of the lecture by speaking of a major challenge that he had to overcome as a student.

He told the students that he had failed when he wrote the St.Vincent Grammar School entrance test, but never allowed it to be a stumbling block in his path to success.

He warned the students not to focus primarily on pursuing careers because of money, power, and fame, but rather as a means of developing their country, and advised then not to “pursue a career merely because your friends are interested in that career or simply because your parents wish this for you.”

According to Dr. Ferdinand, too many parents are directing their children away from agriculture, but there are several opportunities that can be capitalized

Vending issue discussed, again From backpage “The vending issue started a long time, during the building of the present Central Market,” he declared, adding that “persons were placed on the street since the old central market was closed down.”

The Minister proclaimed, “The Central Market has become the major problem in Kingstown. The design, the layout, the style, everything was wrong, but it cost in those days , twenty million,” he said to loud applause.

He suggested structural changes to the building in order to resolve the issue of excessive vending.

“We have as much open floor space uncovered, as we have covered. The market is too congested with mass blocks, and they need to be removed ,” Francis added.

“I suggest to you all, let’s utilize the verandah, put colors on them, break down the side of the steps to create space,” he advanced for consideration.

And as far as regulation was concerned, Senator Francis alluded to the introduction of a system of zoning for vendors, and warned that “failure to comply will result in consequences”.

Vendors have their say An open plenary allowed for the vendors to have their say.

The clear majority who took the opportunity to voice their concerns agreed that the capital, Kingstown, needed to be kept clean.

Some voiced strong objection to the approach the Town Board and government used in removing them from certain areas, making special reference to the BOSVG area.

One vendor accused the Minister of reneging on a promise to take strong action to ensure the city was clean.

Another reminded the Minister about the plan, initiated two years ago, which called for vendors to have ID cards. That person called for serious pursuance of that measure.

At the end of the day, Minister Francis recommitted his government to an all out effort to keep Kingstown clean and to regulate vending. He assured that the authorities will keep in contact with the vendors and inform them before hand, of action to be taken.

on in this field.

When deciding on a career, this should be based on one’s skill or competence,” said Dr. Ferdinand, as he implored the students that they should be realistic, investigative, enterprising, and artistic.

Students were exposed to career options such as those in the fields of informatics, telecommunications, software, hardware, lifestock, forestry, fishery, mining, and

geology, etc.

“Think what are the needs of the country; think strategically about the opportunities that the new airport will bring. What are the career possibilities in that,” urged Dr. Ferdinand.

Commissioner Miller encouraged the students to wisely utilize the resources provided by the RSVGPF and to aspire to great heights to become doctors and respected leaders in the society.

He spoke of new

measures introduced under his tenure, such as the continued provision of scholarships to children of police officers, who died during service.

Commissioner Miller also mentioned that children of retired police officers, who continue to make their contributions to the RSVGPF Credit Union, will be eligible for scholarships and bursaries.

(Contributed.)

Commissioner of Police, Keith Miller, encouraging scholarship recipient, Jemisha Delpesche, to pursue her studies all the way to the doctoral level.

34. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Paul’s Avenue, P.O. Box 592, Kingstown Tel: 456-1821 Fax: 457-2821 E-mail: metrocint@vincysurf.com Website: www.metrocintsvg.com

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. 35.

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VENDING ISSUE DISCUSSED, AGAIN

alluded to the Referendum on Constitutional Reform (2009) and the general elections (2010) as factors that THE ISSUE OF VENDING in Kingstown has surfaced again as a major problem, delayed the process.

Notwithstanding, government, with some businesses entities openly according to Senator Francis, effected calling for the removal of vendors some corrective measures, and cited operating under and/or in front their the area on Bay Street in front of C. business places and on the sidewalks.

K. Greaves Supermarket and the Port On Tuesday 11th , vendors, Authority as an example.

Kingstown Town Board and Central “We did a little at Heritage Square, Government persons had an not as much as I want to do,” he also opportunity to address the issue said. together, when the Ministry of He noted that “everything was Transport, Works, Urban going fine until the problem under the Development and Local Government verandah of the Bank of St.Vincent hosted a National Consultation at and the Grenadines (BOSVG),” and, Victoria Park.

Hudson Nedd, Permanent Secretary given that there are safety doors and a in the Ministry concerned, noted that deposit box under the area where the meeting was called for the purpose persons vend, “there was always going of soliciting views on the way forward. to be a problem.”

While he recognized persons’ need The lead address was left to to earn a living, he cautioned vendors Senator Julian Francis, Minister of to take individual and collective the host ministry. responsibility to keep the town clean, and free of encumbrances.

Some progress, new problems

by KENVILLE HORNE

Senator Julian Francis (inset) admitted that some action has been taken to address the issue of vending in Kingstwon, but there was much more to be done. Concerned individuals and vendors gathered to air their views once again.

Senator Francis reminded the gathering that there had been four previous meetings at which workable plans were advanced.

“Some have been implemented and some have not,” he admitted and

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

That Vegetable Market But it was the Kingstown Vegetable (Central) Market that came in for the Minister’s ire.

Continued on page 33

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.