Issue May 18

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 VOLUME 106, No. 20 www.thevincentian.com EC$1.50

Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

LESS THAN TWO WEEKS after beingdischarged from a murder charge, DevonAshton ended up behind bars again, afterfailing to pay the court forthwith forcocaine possession.

Ashton, 23, of Campden Park, was onTuesday fined $1,500 forthwith forpossession of four grams of cocaine,with an alternative of six months inprison.

Ashton failed to pay the fine and wastaken to Her Majesty’s Prisons.

Chief Magistrate Sonya Young hadconvicted Ashton following a trial at theSerious Offences Court on Monday.

Sentencing was postponed toTuesday at the request of attorneyGrant Connell.

Lawyer pleads for leniency

Ashton was not represented at thetrial, but following his conviction, heretained Connell to mitigate on hisbehalf. As a result, Connell requestedan adjournment.

Continued on Page 3.

SIGBERT PETERS was remanded toHer Majesty’s Prisons this week onmultiple charges in connection withtheft, violence and other offencescommitted against a number of foreignprofessionals residing here.

The 27-year-old farmer of NewProspect was charged with assaultingCaroline Taylor, a 24-year-old medicaldoctor of England, by raising a knifeat her, with intent to commit theoffence of wounding at Sion Hill Bay,

on April 24, 2012.He is also charged with assaulting

Sakunthala Wifesinghe, a 21-year-olduniversity student of England, byscratching her on her neck with aknife, and is further charged withindecently assaulting Wifesinghe.

Additional charges against Petersinclude: the theft of one Amazonkindle electronic book valued at 89pounds, property of Wifesinghe at SionHill Bay, on April 17, 2012;

unlawfully, and maliciously woundingGinel Garcia, a 43-year-old civilengineer of Cuba/Sion Hill Bay, bycutting her on her left wrist and elbowwith a piece of broken bottle; andunlawfully and maliciously woundingKenneth Sloggeth, a 63-year-old civilengineer of England/Diamond, byboxing him on his mouth, at Sion Hillon May 23, 2011.

Peters pleaded guilty to the chargeswhen he appeared in Court on

Monday andwas remanded,pendingsentencing.

SigbertPeterspleadedguilty to sixcharges.

Prospect farmer on multiple charges

Devon Ashton did not seem to makegood use of his ‘freedom’.

Attorney Grant Connell put in yetanother plea for leniency on behalfof a client.

2. FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN)THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN)

In celebration of the Inauguration of the 13th President and

Vice President of the Republic of China (Taiwan)





H.E. Dr. Ma Ying-jeou H.E. Wu Den-yih

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY

RAMNARESH SARWAN, the 31-year-oldGuyanese right handed batsman, wantsVincentian Prime Minister, Dr. RalphGonsalves, to help him to get back intothe West Indies cricket team.

The Vincentian Prime Ministermade the disclosure last Tuesdaymorning at a media briefing. He hasnot wasted time with Sarwan’srequest.

“I communicated with Dr. (Julian)Hunte,” Gonsalves stated. As far asDr. Gonsalves is concerned, he sees noreason for some former players’inclusion in the squad.

He made it clear that governmentsought not to be running cricket affairs.But he called for a “great deal ofbalance,” as it relates to the approachof those in charge of the region’s mostdelicate subject.

Dr. Gonsalves declared that “I don’twant to make headlines in cricket,”but when the final agreement betweenthe West Indies Cricket Board andChris Gayle is signed, Dr. Gonsalvesand Baldwin Spencer, the Antigua andBarbuda Prime Minister, will be thereto witness the decision.

Gonsalves’ comments came amidstcomments on the Chris Gayle saga.

The Vincentian PM paid tribute toSpencer, who is Chairman of CaricomPrime Ministerial Sub Committee.

“I did the donkey work,” Dr.Gonsalves mentioned.

He indicated that he could notspeak on the selectors’ behalf, butadded: “I expect Chris to be selected.”

The Vincentian leader outlined hisrole in the episode, which includedcontacts with Chris Gayle, while theplayer was in India, as well as withpersons in Jamaica.

Gonsalves looks forward to ChrisGayle being part of theWest Indies outfit for theOne Day Internationaland T20 series againstEngland, the seriesagainst New Zealand,and the InternationalCricket Council T/20tournament in Sri LankaSeptember.

“I don’t see whatroadblocks can be put inhis way,” the Vincentianleader pondered.

He established that hedid not want to “diminishthe authority of WestIndies cricket,” but hepointed to ongoing

“governance issues,” and cited the P.J.Patterson Report as a starting point toreforming governance structures andarrangements.

Dr. Gonsalves is “disappointed” thatsome players selected on the tour toEngland encountered visa problems.He saw it as an “embarrassment” tohave players “hanging around andcan’t get visas.”

“I don’t understand how thatbecomes a complex activity,” Dr.Gonsalves sighed.

V News 3THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012. 3.

WE WANT TO THANK FRANK DA SILVA, notedcommentator and philanthropist in his own right,for sharing this photograph with us.

The photograph, which Mr. Da Silva indicatesdates back to 1890, shows a view of Fort Duvernette(Rock Fort) and Young Island which was originallyreferred to as Young’s Island. The shot is takenfrom Calliaqua so that it presents a view that isgenerally rare among photographers of that period

and even today.Note the tranquility, even quaintness of

Calliaqua, with its spaced housing. Times have brought change to this land of oursn

and we are pleased, thanks to Mr. Da Silva in thisweek’s column, to offer readers the opportunity tojudge that change for themselves.

And while we are at it, we would welcomesubmissions from other readers, to this column.

Sarwan calls onGonsalves

Ramnaresh Sarwan sought theassistance of PM Dr. RalphGonsalves, following the PM’sintervention in the Gayle affair.

Dr. Ralph Gonslaves apparentlywasted no time in responding toSarwan’s request.

Continued from Page 1.

When the matter resumed on Tuesday, Connellbegged the court for leniency, stating that Ashtonwas 23, and his parents died when he was at atender age.

Connell also asked the court to take intoconsideration the fact that Ashton had beenremanded on a more serious charge for a long time,and was discharged from that matter by the samecourt.

Prosecutor Inspector Adolphus Delpleche did notrespond to Connell’s mitigation.

Caught in the act

Evidence at the trial revealed that around 10:30p.m. August 18, 2011, police officers from theCriminal Investigation Department (CID), on dutyoutside the Central Police Station, acted oninformation received and went in the area of the oldtemporary vegetable market at the ReclamationSite, on Bay Street.

Ashton was met sitting under a light with a pieceof board in his lap and a razor blade cutting upwhat appeared to be cocaine. He tried to run, butthe lawmen had already circled the area and he raninto one of the officers. He was subsequentlyarrested and charged.

In his defence, Ashton denied possession of thecocaine, saying that it belonged to another man whowas about five feet from him. Ashton said he wasstanding urinating when the police arrested him atgun point.

An earlier charged dismissed

On May 2, 2012, Ashton was discharged from amurder charge during the Preliminary Inquiry (PI)at the Serious Offences Court, after the police failedto locate the key witness for whom a bench warrantwas issued. A prima facie case could not be madeout based on the evidence presented by the otherprosecution witness.

Ashton was charged with the murder of O’KeefeLynch, 18, originally of Lowmans Leeward, whodied from a single bullet to the head betweenAugust 7-8, 2008.

Lynch’s body was discovered around 5:45 a.m.August 8, 2008 in the road leading to Joyette’sGarage at Murray’s Road, Kingstown.

Ashton behindbars again

by HAYDN HUGGINS

MICHAEL ‘Snowy’Wilson of Old Montrosewill be sentenced nextMonday, May 21, foraggravated burglary anddamage to property.

A nine-member juryfound Wilson guilty ofboth charges at theconclusion of a trial atthe Criminal Assizes lastTuesday, but sentencingwas postponed.

Wilson was alsocharged with wounding14-year-old MishkaSamuel with intent, but

Justice Wesley Jamesdirected the jury toreturn a formal verdict ofnot guilty on that charge.

The charges stemmedfrom an incident around10 p.m. on December 22,2011, during whichWilson broke into thehome of Beatris Samuelof New Montrose, armedwith a cutlass andallegedly choppedBeatris’ great-granddaughter Mishka,several times.

Winesses refrain fromtestifying

Mishka startedtestifying, but sheappeared to be ill, andCrown Counsel CarlWilliams, who wasprosecuting, asked thecourt to stand the casedown for a while. JusticeJames adjourned thematter for ten minutes,and on resumption,Mishka told the courtshe no longer wanted togive evidence.

Mishka’s aunt, KerryAnn Samuel, was calledto testify, but upontaking the oath,indicated that she didnot want to proceed.

It was when Beatriswas called that a graphicaccount of whattranspired was heard.

Beatris told the courtshe heard a noise like achopping and when sheawoke, she saw theaccused armed with acutlass peeping to seewhere Mishka was.

Beatris asked himwhat he was looking for.At that time, Mishka gotup. Wilson followed herinto the toilet, choppedher several times andleft.

Wilson had gainedentry by choppingthrough the front door.

When Crown CounselWilliams asked the

woman how she was ableto see Wilson, she saidthere was light from theliving room shining intothe bedroom.

When asked if she hadgiven Wilson permissionto enter the house orchop down the door, shesaid no.

Justice James gavedirections to the jurythat since Mishka didnot complete herevidence and wastherefore not cross-examined, they mustbring back a verdict ofnot guilty of woundingwith intent.

Wilson, who is notrepresented by a lawyer,has indicated that hewould be callingwitnesses to testify onhis behalf at thesentencing hearing.


CourtV

by HAYDN HUGGINS

TWO MEN wouldappear before a judgeand jury for aggravatedburglary andwounding.

Last Friday, May 11,Chief Magistrate SonyaYoung, sitting at theSerious Offences Court,committed Shane Blackof Cane Garden andAshroy Roberts of SionHill to stand trial inthe High Court. At theconclusion of thePreliminary Inquiry(PI), the ChiefMagistrate concludedthat a prima facie casewas made out.

The indictmentstems from an incidentNovember 1, 2011,when the home ofKamal King of CaneGarden wasburglarized, duringwhich King wasallegedly chopped witha cutlass. Several itemswere stolen including atelevision.

Five witnessestestified for theprosecution at the PIwhich had commencedat the Serious OffencesCourt on April 23.

Among them werethe complainant andinvestigator ConstableOrlando Collins.

Two tostandtrial

by HAYDN HUGGINS

A 34-year-old RichlandPark man was sentencedto seven years in prisonthis week for burglary.

Justice Wesley Jameshanded down the penaltyat the Criminal Assizeson Tuesday.

A nine-member juryhad found Lorenzo Lewisguilty at the conclusionof a trial on Monday.

Lewis was convicted ofburglarizing the home ofJenis Howard ofRichland Park.

Evidence presented bythe prosecution showedthat around 10:30 p.m.on October 23, 2011,Howard was returninghome from a neighbourwhen she met Lewisstanding at her gate. Heasked the woman forsome salt, and she went

to get it for him. Lewiswent into Howard’s yardand stood at her kitchendoor. However, as shewent to the cupboard forthe salt, she felt someonegrab her from behindand place a sharp objectto her neck. She lookedaround, saw it was theaccused and startedscreaming. He told her to‘shut up’, but shecontinued screaming andher daughter, Rea-DawnHoward, shouted fromupstairs and Lewis left.As he was leaving,Howard threw abroomstick in an attemptto hit him.

In his defence, Lewis,who was not representedby a lawyer, admittedthat he asked Howardfor salt and she offeredto give it to him. He,however, told the courthe heard gunshots andHoward was scared, sohe told her he wouldtake care of her.

Under cross-examination by CrownCounsel Colin John,Lewis said he did nothave a gun, knife or stickat the time.

When John asked himhow he was going to take‘care of the woman’, hesaid, “I was going to take

care of her just so.”Lewis admitted

hearing Howardscreaming and that hetold her to shut up, buthe denied entering herhouse and putting asharp object to herthroat.

The complainant andher daughter testified forthe prosecution, as wellas Corporal CliffordHarry and ConstableColin Pitt.

Lewis was alsocharged with assault, butthe jury found him notguilty of that charge.

Burglar jailed forseven years

by HAYDN HUGGINS

A 29-year-old labourer of Belair is into his fifthday of a two-year sentence for possession of 80pounds of marijuana, with intent to supply.

Chief Magistrate Sonya Young handed down thepenalty at the Serious Offenses Court on Tuesday,after Nashon Clete Exeter pleaded guilty theprevious day.

The Court heard that police officers of the RapidResponse Unit (RRU) were conducting a stop andsearch exercise at Keartons, Barrouallie, whenthey saw a jeep coming from the leeward end.

The occupants of the vehicle seemed to haverecognized the police, for the vehicle stoppedsuddenly and proceeded to reverse.

The lawmen entered their vehicle, gave chaseand caught up with the jeep. A search wasconducted, during which the drug was found intaped packages in the trunk of the vehicle.

Exeter was charged jointly with Nathan John,23, of Questelles. John maintained his innocence,and the prosecution withdrew the charge againsthim.

Attorney Grant Connell represented both men.

Labourer jailedfor ‘weed’

‘Snowy’ awaits sentencing

by KENVILLE HORNE

THE SPATE of burglaryand robbery seems toworry many Vincentianswho wish to go abouttheir business in peaceand comfort.

On Monday 14th ,around 11:45 pm, AndyPrince and his common-law wife, Shanny Hall,exited their jeep at ajunction in MurrayVillage .

They headed througha short cut to Paul Over.

Prince told THEVINCENTIAN that theywere half way homewhen an unknownassailant, masked andwearing a ‘hoody’,jumped out of the bushesand pulled a gun onthem.

“Shanny was sofrighten that she falldown,” Prince told THEVINCENTIAN.

Still shaken from theordeal , Prince said thatthe gunman then pointedthe gun at Hall and said,

“Ge me da bag ya .“ The assailant then

pulled Hall’s bag fromher shoulder and madehis exist through somebushes, into a dark alley.

Hall was relieved ofover two thousanddollars in cash that shehad planned to use topurchase an Airlineticket to Canada. Shealso lost a Blackberrycell phone valued at$1500 and otherimportant documents.

Prince is upset by

what transpired. Hebelieves the personmight have beenwatching and may havebeen waiting for him. Heis saddened by the factthat his common- lawwife had to suffer and hecouldn’t do anything.

“When the man waspulling off she bag, shewas screaming,screaming,” statedPrince.

The matter has beenreported to the policeheadquarters.

Another armed robbery in Kingstown

by WILLIAM KOJAH ANTHONY

WHEN THE HMS PROTECTORdocked at the Cruise Ship Berth,Kingstown, on Friday 11th May,its complement included twovery proud Vincentians,Jumar Parsons and DenroyCole.

The ship arrived at 2pm, and crew membershad time to experiencethe atmosphere atHeritage Square, withinwalking distance of theport.

And it must have beenquite something for thosemen who took time out toenjoy some Vincentianhospitality, for the vessel wascoming off duties in theAntarctic.

The vessel, an ice breaker,is the Ice Patrol Vessel for theRoyal Navy and the eighthship to bear the name. Itpatrols and surveys theAntarctic and South Atlantic,and has a high resolutionsounder installed to enablesurveying of the ocean floor.

Lieutenant CommanderPhil Payne reflected on theship’s four-month tour of dutyin the southern region. Herecalled that it was winterthere, and it being “almostdark, all day all night.”

For him, the Caribbeansegment was to “warm up.”

Proud Vincies

Parsons expressed pride -with being able to be at home. He sat uniformed on Saturdaymorning and seemed unruffled

by his experience. His family wasentertained on boardlater that day, and thePrime Minister was scheduledfor lunch.

Parsons was born in RosePlace, to the south of thenation’s capital. He grew up inBelair, to the eastern interiorsection of mainland St.Vincent.

A former St. Mary’s R.C.School, Bishop’s College andSVG Technical Collegestudent, he worked as a DataCollector with the AgriculturalMinistry and then as aSecurity Officer with theMustique Company, beforeenlisting with the Royal Navy.He had duties on the HMS

Glouster and HMSSouthampton, before the HMSProtector.

He is still getting used tobeing away from his family,but he uses available means ofcommunication to be in touch.

A fitness fanatic, Parsonsenjoys being in the gym, atrait he developed whileworking on Mustique.

He admitted to a life-longinterest in joining the military,and things seem to have falleninto place. Although he is noton the actual front line,Parsons is content that he isable to live up to his ambition.

He expressed gratitude tothe ship’s commander forallowing him to come homewhile still carrying out hisduties.

His advice is that “peoplewho get an opportunity to goaway must come back and putsomething into the country.”

Parsons’ compatriot, DenroyCole, had secured his vacationwhen the ship docked atKingstown ans was notonboard when THEVINCENTIAN visited.

He is also a formerTechnical College student andenlisted with the Navy afterattending a presentation by a

Recruitment Team in 2002. Cole captained this

country’s Under-19 Inter-Secondary School Volley teamfor three years.

From the area of Gomea inWest St. George, Cole is usingevery opportunity to broadenhis horizon, and looks forwardto continuing his “excitingcareer.”

While here, the officers andcrew of the HMS Protectoralso welcome one of theiroutstanding colleagues,Vincentain Louis Providence.Mr. Providence is a retirednaval officer having served for22 years in the Royal Navy.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012. 5.

PeopleV

L-R: Jumar Parsons with retired naval officer Vincentian Louis Providenceand Lieut. Commander Phil Payne.

ÂComingin fromthe coldÊ

The HMS Protector at the Cruise Ship Berth.

Inset: Jumar Parsons, one of the two Vincentians serving on the HMS Protector.


A NUMBER OF POLICEOFFICERS are into a three-weektraining stint at the OldMontrose Police Headquarters.

Superintendent of PoliceFrankie Joseph, Head of thePolice Training School,welcomed the participants lastMonday morning, and notedthat it was the first suchexercise for Junior Non-Commissioned Officers.

He described the course asfulfilling a mandate “to ensurethat officers are trained andequipped for the challengesthat face them.”

Joseph, recognizing that“this country is not endowedwith natural assets,”registered the need “to makeuse of the nation’s humanresources.”

The Superintendent pointedout that criminals were usingsophisticated methods in their

operations, and cautioned that“we cannot allow the Police tobe left behind.”

Course topics

The Police officers will bedrilled in areas like Tourism,Customer Relations, HumanTrafficking and Domesticviolence.

“This is not a holiday,vacation or time away,” Josephstressed.

The officers will also look atDuties and Responsibilities,Public Relations andComplaints, TimeManagement and Inter-personnel Management, CaseFile, Monthly Returns, amongother areas relevant topolicing in the broadest senseof the word.

“We want you to leave fullyequipped to face the

challenges,” Joseph vowed.

Training is critical

Commissioner of PoliceKeith Miller stressed theimportance of the exercise. Forhim, “training is critical to anyorganisation.”

Miller encouraged thetrainees to read a lot.

“You cannot stop reading,”the COP advised, andrecommended that the newlypromoted officers read thiscountry’s laws andnewspapers, and listen to andwatch news on radio,television and the internet.

His hope is for them to “getinvolved.”

Miller indicated an increasein the number of policemenand women holding collegedegrees, and urged theparticipants to “lift

themselves.” He pointed to training

opportunities available tomembers of the RSVCG PoliceForce, and reminded themthat they could perform theirnormal duties and study, andthat leave was an option forthose officers desirous ofattending classes.

Miller also reminded theofficers to ensure that they setgood examples for those undertheir command.

“You have to be smart,”Miller advised, adding thatofficers must “accomplish morewith less.

“The way you deploy yourresources is critical,” Milleroutlined.

“Take this trainingseriously,” he added, andencouraged them to “get itright.”

THE LOCAL RED CROSSSOCIETY continued its monthof activities with a Disaster

Preparednesstrainingworkshop onMonday.

Theworkshopcame twoweeks beforethe officialstart of thehurricaneseason.

Addressingthe more thantwentyparticipants atthe openingceremony atthe Red Crossheadquarters,Kingstown,Red Crosspresident,BernardMorgan, saidthe workshopwas “timelyandimportant.”

Morgansaid that atthe Red CrossSociety,disastermanagementis a year-longactivity, butthe workshopwould focus onthe state ofreadiness forthe 2012hurricaneseason, whichformally startson June 1st.

Thetraining

workshop examined thecountry’s early warningsystems, management ofemergency shelters,management of emergencysupplies, damage assessmentand search and rescue.

“It is essentially a refreshercourse for some of our groupleaders and volunteers, butnew material for most. I urgeyou to take this informationand knowledge from thisworkshop back to yourcommunities and share withthe people that you serve, toenable all of us to make betterdecisions before, during andafter a disaster,” Morgan said.

“The SVG Red Cross is

rolling out its strategic planfor the period 2013 to 2015 inwhich training would beaccorded the highest priority.We appeal to the groupleaders and volunteers toparticipate fully in thetraining programmes as weseek to build capacity withinour organization and ourcommunities,” the Red CrossPresident further stated.

Resource persons weredrawn from the Red CrossSociety and relevantgovernment agencies. Amongthem was Director General ofthe Red Cross Society,Bernard Marksman.


NewsV

Junior Non-Commissioned Officers were involved in the firstever local training for their ranks.

Red Cross focuses ondisaster preparedness

Police Officers in training

Red Cross Director GeneralBernard Marksman (left)leading a session at theDisaster Preparednessworkshop.

Right: Bernard Morgan,President of the Red Cross,emphasized that training wasa priority area of hisSociety’s endeavours.

“THE REGION has not seenits largest earthquake formore than a century. ….we are expecting one.”

This is the warningfrom Seismologist DrJoan Latchman, who isattached to the SeismicResearch Centre, UWI,Trinidad and Tobago,following last Friday’s(May 11) 4.0 magnitudeearthquake off Antigua.

Confirmation from theSeismic Research Centre,the official source ofinformation forearthquakes andvolcanoes in the English-speaking EasternCaribbean, stated thatthe activity occurred 50miles east of St. John’s,the capital of Antiguaand Barbuda.

Dr. Latchmanhighlighted that theregion has recorded amajor earthquake every100 years, and shebelieves since that timeperiod has elapsed, “weare expecting one.”

She warned inunambiguous language:“The region shouldexpect such anearthquake.”

According to Dr.Latchman, as reported inthe Antigua Observernewspaper, the patternin which earthquakeshave occurred in theregion has beenconsistent, and althoughauthorities cannotpredict when and where

it will happen, “such anearthquake is welloverdue.”

Reports are that therehave been a number ofsmall earthquakeactivities taking place offAntigua & Barbudaalthough they have notbeen felt by residents.

Dr. Latchmanexplained that, while theeffect of the smallerquakes has not been felt,“the big vaults which areaccumulating theirenergy have not releasedit.”

The head of theNational Office ofDisaster Services(NODS) Philmore Mullinagrees that Antigua &Barbuda is veryvulnerable toearthquakes.

This recent warningand sign come on theheels of an earlierwarning this month thatput the region on noticeto prepare for tsunamis.That earlier warningcame from theIntergovernmentalOceanic Commission ofUNESCO.

UNESCO IOCAssistant DirectorGeneral Wendy Watson-Wright had said then,“Lurking beneath theazure waters that washup on countless coastaland island beaches andvacation spots is thepotential for adevastating tsunami,”

adding, “it is not amatter of if but when atsunami will strike theregion.”

Since the Antiguaquake of May 11, 2012,at least 6 smallerquakes, 2.6 to 3.2magnitudes, have beenreported in the regions

around Puerto Rico,Virgin Islands.

The last majorearthquake to hit theregion was the Tuesday,12 January 2010 that

devastated Haiti. Itsmagnitude was said to be7.0.

The region is known tobe vulnerable toearthquakes.


NewsV

St. John’s, the capital of Antigua and Barbuda, has had its fair share ofquakes.

Antiguaquake raisesmore concern

The aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake inHaiti.


ViewsV

THIS IS EASILY THE MOSTchallenging column I have everwritten. At one stage, I was resolved tolift my bat and let the hostile deliverypass untroubled outside the off stump,clear of my head.

On second thoughts, I had to beman enough to deal with thedifficulties posed by thedeath of a true friend,genuine historical figure who turned out to beenigmatic and, in a sense, a victim of social forcesin the local scene.

The burial of Othniel Sylvester was scheduled totake place at Chauncey, the village of hisancestors, and mine, on Thursday morning at 10o’clock , 17th May. My maternal grandparentswere interred in the very cemetery where Othnielwill be finally laid to rest.

Othniel had grown up among the Villagers inthe Chauncey-Questelles complex. They knew himbest. It is a comfort zone. He was a pillar of thechurch. It is back to roots in the end, devoid ofpomp, ceremony, and show. Shorn of the borrowedrobes of society.

Othniel clearly considered me a fellow villager,first and foremost. Then we entered into a tighterembrace through the mutual friendship of DannyWilliams, who was most radical in outlook. Quitenaturally we were supporters of Joshua’s P.P.Pwhich in S.V.G was both the political expressionand vehicle of and for the toiling masses.

As a poor boy, Othniel had chosen the law ashis profession whereby he could promote the socialand political well-being of his people and, in theprocess, make a good living for himself.

When he returned to St Vincent as a lawyer, oneof his first briefs that catapulted him into theengine-room of local politics was his representationof Ivy Joshua in the ill-fated Public Works Enquiry(1963).

Followed soon the 1966 General Elections,which returned the P.P.P by 5 seats to 4, Slaterhaving won his North Leeward seat by 4 votes.

There was much political wrangling in the midstof the debate on Statehood which was scheduled for1967 in the first instance.

Then matters intensified in 1967 after Slaterhad crossed the floor and new elections were calledon May 19, 1967, in special conditions in the teethof P.P.P. opposition, which saw the Labour Partywinning Government 6 to 3.

Through it all, Othniel led the legal cases for theP.P.P which had intensified to the point where hehimself as Speaker of the House had journeyed toCommonwealth Office, along with Deputy -Speakerand P.P.P. nominated Senator Errol Layne, toclarify what should be the objective constitution ofposition to England .

As Opposition Leader Milton Cato pointed outthere was a clear case of conflict of interest in thatSylvester with Layne held a contract withGovernment that involved the Deep Water Pier“Scandal”.

Indeed, the newly elected Labour Governmentcancelled the Deep Water Pier contractimmediately on forming the Government, but werelater troubled with their new Ministers, J.L.Eustace and “Son” Mitchell, who were finallydismissed from the party.

In the ensuing elections results 1972, there wasa tie of 6 each for both P.P.P and Labour, withIndependent “Son” Mitchell who sided with P.P.Pto present the country with an AllianceGovernment (including Minister of Communicationand Works Othniel Sylvester) that lasted until1974 when the Joshuas threw their weight behindLabour and returned in a subsequent election aGovernment of ten-two-one is murder. Mitchell hadbeen sole survivor of the massacre.

Thereafter, the Labour —P.P.P, said to be “thestrongest in the world” conducted public affairsuntil its defeat in 1984 by the N.D.P. which hadbeen formed by Mitchell in 1975.

During the ten yearspreceding, Sylvestermostly concentrated onpractice of his professionwhich grew by leaps andbounds. He was a verydisciplined practitioner,concentrating on

property cases, a very lucrative and internationalbanking trade. He was by no means flambuoyantbut a stickler for hard and unrelenting toil whichpaid dividends aplenty.

Perhaps his most prized asset was a Casino andbeautiful lands at Pembroke purchased in anauction by a bank, the debtor a white planter forwhom Sylvester’s father had “Slaved” for many ayear.

With the N.D.P victory, Sylvester was thoughtto come into his own, the power behind the throne,the man who manipulated political events behindthe scene. Among other things, he immediatelybecame Solicitor of the National Commercial Bank,and he could celebrate with swinging party at hishome his conferment of a C.M.G. Finally, itseemed, he had inherited a Government that was“amenable.”

But the honey-moon period was shortlived. Theproblem arose over Government‘s intention topurchase Orange Hill Estate which Sylvesterrushed to purchase on behalf of a Danish Group.Undeterred, the Government acquired the estatefrom the Danes for the price which the Danes hadpaid the original owners.

From that moment, Syllo transferred hisallegiance from the N.D.P in search of a moresympathetic Government. It was a long time incoming and represented a Gonsalves M.N.U and afaction of old Labour which Syllo hoped will see theemergence of Ken Boyea. Instead, the U.L.P wasformed with Ralph Gonsalves having out- foxed allhis rivals to become leader of the U.L.P which hastaken control of the country.

The truth is that Syllo was of a generous andsympathetic nature: ask some lawyers who wereloaned money by him to settle emergencies. Whena young Registrar appeared to have erred inmisspending funds, Syllo chaired a meeting witheyes red like pepper from crying, havinganticipated the worst.

Note how he went out of his way to try andrehabilitate Mark Williams after his slippage fromthe straight and narrow way. Silky Da Silva andother octogenarian friends tell of the pleasant andeasy-going Syllo they knew.

Let the wretched of the earth in South Leewardspeak of the generosity of Syllo.

Syllo was expected to turn over his law firm tohis very able daughter and gradually move intocomplete retirement. After all, he had reached thepinnacle of his profession and as citizen. He hadlong been honoured with a Q.C; he had acted asJudge; he had earned the C.M.G, and above all, hewas named on a list of eminent personages whoadvised generally on the sensitive Caribbean Courtof Justice.

Then the troubles came, not single spies but inbattalions. First illness descended with heavy handon both Sylvester and his adoring wife whopredeceased him while in the throes of his ownillness.

Sad news also broke over his relations with theDanes who claimed that their lawyer hadwrongfully intercepted their compensation, andSyllo’s counter claim and defence were frownedupon and dismissed by Appeal Courts.

Perhaps Syllo could bear the materialdeprivation but not the loss of his pride anddignity- and friends who deserted him in his hourof need.

Syllo was stripped of every accolade society haddonned on him. No sweat. He brought nothing atbirth and he takes nothing to the grave with him.May his life be a lesson unto us. Au Revoir.

Editorial

Managing Editor: Desiree Richards

Editor: Cyprian Neehall

Telephone: 784-456-1123 Fax: 784-451-2129

Website: www.thevincentian.com

Email: [email protected]

Mailing Address: The Vincentian Publishing Co. Ltd.,

P.O. Box 592, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

‘Take warning, youbetter take warning’‘THANK GOODNESS HURRICANE Such and Such passed us by.Yo cyar see that God love SVG? We are the Land of the Blessed.’

And we can go on and on with expressions of how, evenwhy this multi-island state we call St. Vincent and theGrenadines has been spared, in recent memory, the realwrath of a natural disaster.

The danger though is that, if we continue in that vein, wewill continue in a vein that describes us as a people sufferingfrom ‘it-won’t-happen-to-me syndrome’, which could provemore deadly than if no mitigating measures were put inplace by the state, to address a natural disaster.

Sure, we have felt the trimmings of hurricane force windsrecently (Tomas 2010); for certain, we have witnessed thedestructive nature of water that takes all along its way tocarving its own path (floods of 2011); and for those who canremember, we have inhaled the sulphur spewed from avolcano (Soufriere 1979). And yet, through it all, we are bynature wont to disregard all warnings of a threateningnatural disaster.

The latest warning of a ‘possible earthquake in our region(see page 7) comes from our own backyard. It is not, as somewould want to say, from some distant persons locked awayin some distant land and, therefore, is of no significance.

This latest warning is not at all any further away from usthan the ones made by local authorities, who haveencouraged that we not rule out the likelihood of a tsunamiin our region.

We should, as a rational people, stand up and take note —rub our noses into it so that it stays with us.

Sadly, our memories don’t often run deep; as a people, weare known to forget very quickly (whether that is beingforgiving or simply forgetful is still up for grabs). But onewould not want to ever believe that the experience of Haiti,January 2010, has all but faded from our minds.

That we have moved forward and upward qualitatively inour efforts to manage and encourage preparation fordisasters, is beyond doubt. It can be said with somecertainty, that we are today better prepared for a naturaldisaster than we may have been before 1979.

In terms of being prepared for an earthquake, if ever apeople truly can be, we have to credit our policy makers withensuring that there exists a building code that speaks tothat reality. We have, even as we admit to thatcommendable effort, to hope that that code is beingimplemented without favour, without regard for personand/or place.

After all, as the vivid pictures of Haiti and Chile in theaftermath of earthquakes showed, buildings fall, and (they)fall on people. With the exception of a resulting tsunami, itis the tumbling of buildings that causes death and leaves inits wake the challenges of clearing up and of affording toclear up.

Worse when a nation, as susceptible as ours, is exposed tothe vagaries of not only natural disasters but to economicthreats occasioned in recent times by globalization, it has torespond to providing the material cost of addressing theaftermath of an earthquake. This cost is phenomenal (Haiti,Japan), and the matter of psychological damage is not evenfactored into the equation.

The road to recovery is long after any natural disaster,but this truism does not eliminate the need to ask thequestions: What new planning must be done to ‘weather’ theanticipated threats like the occurrence of an earthquake?Do we accept the responsibility as citizens to do our part inadvancing the protocols that are usually associated withdisaster mitigation measures?

No one wants to be accused of crying wolf but, if the truthbe told, it is no longer a question of if we are going toexperience a disaster; it is a question of when, and theanswer to that question is, anytime.

It follows that the best time to prepare is in times of quietand when we are in control.

It may yet be a few weeks away from the beginning ofwhat is described as the Hurricane Season, but it’s never tooearly to get prepared. Like the cub scouts say, it is alwaysbetter to be prepared.

Othniel Sylvester plain and simple


ViewsV

IT WOULD SEEM to me that AnesiaBaptiste has cut her own throat. Sheseemed definitely to be one for thefuture, but now that future seems to beso far away, that I cannot see heranywhere in the distance.

She should have known better thanto write, put on paper, all that shedid. It is foolish for anyone to believethat this letter would not havereached the public.

No one can say, as she did, thatyou cannot follow a ruling of anorganization you belong to, and expectto continue to be part of itsleadership. Now, it seems she is noteven a member of the party she chose

to join. All of this is of her ownmaking. What did she expect? ThatMr. Eustace would roll over and playdead?

The lady, a bright lady, if I maysay so, cannot eat her cake and haveit. She is either in on all conditionsor out if she objects.

And now she is calling for a thirdparty. Perhaps she should learn fromDr. Gonsalves who tried the samemove and ended up moving BACK tosomething which he had criticized foryears.

Dennis

Anesia cut herown throat

YOUR editorial of lastweek (May 11) got methinking about parentingand moreso aboutfathers and fatherhood.

The first thing Isettled on is that ourfathers need to recognizethat fatherhood is morethan being a spermdonor, i.e. simply provingthat you can reproduce,like some men like tosay, ‘that they havestrong sperm’.

Fathers mustunderstand and acceptthat children performbetter in school if fatherstake an interest in theireducation. It is proventhat children have moreconfidence when fathersspend time with themand show them affection.Children learn fromwhat they see, and theycan learn a lot from justwatching their fathers.The thing is that they,the children, should beseeing good exampleswhen they watch theirfathers.

Sadly, instead of goodthings, many childrensee men, young men,fathers, killing eachother, fighting eachother, cursing. Quickly,we lose the fathers,

whether to the grave orto prison.

Those fathers who aretempted to commit actsof crime, those fatherswho continue to ignoretheir children, thosefathers who run arounddropping their spermhere, there andeverywhere, need torealize that children whoare deprived of love, careand attention are morelikely to be tempted intoa life of crime anddestruction.

God knows that wehave enough alreadyinvolved in this type oflife. We don’t need toproduce any more.

Fathers, get involvedin your children’s lives.

J. Clarke

IT HAS BEEN sometime since I put pen to paper.Quite a lot has happened since and, as the old timecalypsonians said, ‘a lot ah ting air happen yet’.

Up here in the Big Apple, Ambassador Gonsalvesfound himself in a spot of trouble, not of his ownmaking, and it seemed to have been interpretedlike any Vincy issue is these days, i.e. down partylines.

I want to say that Ambassador Gonsalvesdeserved more respect than he got and in a broadersense, you have to be a black man living up here(USA) to understand how far-reaching theimplications are.

Funny thing, according to a friend, is that ablack ambassador clashed with a white policeman,in an America governed by a black president. Themore things change, the more they remain thesame.

So Anesia Baptiate got herself expelled from theHouse… not by the Speaker, but by her immediateboss. I’ll be honest and say that the reports I gotup here led me to believe that she was one for thefuture, but I must support Mr. Eustace on this one.If you can’t accept the rule of law, you are ruledout.

But there should be no rejoicing on the part ofthe ULP. Mr. Eustace showed firm leadership. Hedemonstrated that he was not afraid to take whatsome might think was an unpopular decision. Inthe end, it was a firm decision… decisive. He musthave worked out the repercussions, and I amcertain he would have figured out how best torespond to them.

And while I am on the business of the House, Ihope Mr. Eustace finds a female to replace thefemale he fired. He has got to keep the balance,you know. What about bringing back VynnyFrederick? One Love.

Garnet - N.Y

Gonsalves,Baptiste et al

Reaching out to fathers

MUCH SYMPATHY is extended to thefamilies of those who lost their lovedones tragically through acts of suicide.When tragedies like these occur, thepain is hard to bear, and requiresmuch support from friends andrelatives, to assist the families of thesevictims to pull through.

Many persons are critical of personstaking their own lives; they forget ordon’t know that the person sufferingto the point of wanting to take his orher own life, is the one who feels thepain. It is important that we learnlessons from these occurrences.

A person can be suicidal but yetcarries a smile and appears to benormal. That person will not letanyone know his/her plan if thatperson has reached the point ofcommitting suicide.

It brings to the forefront the needfor strong families. For when there arestrong families, there will be trust,good communication and love.

Many times, the suicidal personfeels there is no hope and sees nohope. A good understanding is neededin these cases, and being there forthem is also of importance. We shouldnot try to lecture the individual, butsimply be a friend and lend a goodlistening ear, while at the same time

showing understanding and empathy.Interestingly, the ages of three

recent suicide victims all end with 6.The ages were: 16, 26, and 36. Thereare those who will say it is significant,for it shows the mark of the beast,666. Be that as it may, we shouldnever rule out the possibility ofdemonic activity in these cases. Norcan we rule out the possible lack ofsupport and help when it wasrequired. Sometimes we see a personsuffering from a problem, but we areof the view that he or she would pullthrough.

It is important that if we have aloved one suffering emotionally orotherwise from a hard circumstance,that we give them moral support; bethere for them and even guide themtowards professional help.

The most important thing, however,is to understand that God loveseveryone and is willing to be ourfriend, if we allow Him. He cares andcan help us in our problems so that wedon’t have to suffer alone. We can takeour problems to Him in prayer.

Let’s continue to pray for thisnation. God bless.

Kennard King

Suicide victims, allages end with 6

WELL Mr. Editor, youcertainly step on onetrade unionist’s cornwith your editorial ofMay 04, 2012. To behonest, it’s not the firsttime that you step onpeople’s corn. The truthalways, always hurt, butit must always be said.

The nice thing aboutyou, though, is you neverseem to rant and raveabout who the cornbelong to; you neverbother with thepersonalities. You dealwith issues, and if theissues affect the players,fine, but is never anattack on the players.

Not so with the tradeunionist who continues,with the blessings of thegovernment, to enjoytime on our state-ownedradio station.

Last Wednesday hewent home on you, Mr.Editor, or at least hetried his very best. Inthe final analysis, in myhumble estimation, hedid himself more harmthan he might haveintended to cause you,Mr. Editor.

Try as much as hecould to stay to theissues, he had to not onlypreface his diatribeagainst you with themost disparaginglanguage his vocabularyallowed him, but hecontinued his best tobelittle you rightthrough his protractedoftentimes disjointeddiscourse.

And his sidekick: theless said about him thebetter.

The problem with

people like that tradeunionist is that he can’tsee the trees from theforest, or is it the forestfrom the trees? For himand others of his ilk, it’snever a question aboutthe message; instead,like those to whom hepays political homage,it’s a question about themessenger.

The poor tradeunionist showed his truecolours; may be now hecould show the samecolours when he says hebargains for workers.Then again, he mighthave a problem showinganything but one colour.

What a fellow, eh?Keep on doing what

you doing, Mr. Editor.Truth is on your side.

Felix

What a man!!!

* Whether COPKeith Miller wouldconsider grantingleave for thoseoverweight policeofficers to go to thegym?

* Were anyworkers/staff injuredin the fire at theBuccament BayResort?

* Are securityguards being made towork longer hoursthan they should atthe Buccament BayResort?

* Did the PM notknow that when heput his mouth in theGayle-WICB affairthat he opening it forothers to jump in,like Sarwan?

* Is this CuttingBack Programme forbanana fieldsinfected by the blacksigatoka just anexercise in cuttingthe trees but leavingthe (infected) plant inthe ground?


ViewsVThe issue

EARLIER this week, Prime Minister RalphGonsalves provided abundant informationof upbeat economic activities mixed withenormous continuing challenges for oursmall multi-island developing country. Inshort, things are looking better, but we arenot out of the economic woods.

In summary, Comrade Ralphhighlighted the following:

1. The preliminary data confirms theestimate that in 2011 there was realeconomic growth of 0.41 percent,following upon the previous years (2008-2010) of small negative growth. Theprojection for 2012 is 1.8 percent realeconomic growth.

2. The fiscal operations of the centralgovernment improved in the firstquarter (January to March) of 2012,compared to the first quarter of 2011.The basic facts in this regard are asfollows:

(a) The current account deficit for thefirst quarter of 2012 amounted to $11.06million compared to $28.18 million in2011.

(b) The primary balance moved froma deficit $16.8 million in January toMarch 2011, to a surplus of $3.07million in the first quarter of 2012.

(c) The overall balance (recurrent andcapital) improved to a deficit of $8.07million in the first quarter of 2012, froma deficit of $29.03 million in thecorresponding period of 2011.

Meanwhile, current revenueimproved in the first quarter of 2012compared to that of 2011, by 3.9percent. Although recurrent expenditurefell in the 2012 period comparatively, itdid not fall sufficiently to provide acurrent account surplus, given theexisting revenue situation. So, we mustcollect more revenue while holding therecurrent expenditure tighter. Capitalexpenditure fell slightly, but these areearly days yet.

Projects galore

There are many capital projects on-going and in preparation. In terms ofthe massive ones, we highlight three; (a)the on-going Argyle InternationalAirport project which is on target forcompletion by the end of 2013, foropening in early 2014; (b) plans areactively afoot for the construction of thenew city at Arnos Vale, with the draftmaster plan being drawn up, and atraffic study underway; and (c) initialstudy being completed for the upgradeand relocation of the Kingstown Port tothe Bottom Town area, and theredevelopment of the entire waterfrontarea.

At the same time, preparatory workis underway for six bundles of projects:

1. The US$5 million TomasEmergency Recovery Project financed bythe World Bank. Actual constructionwork is to commence on the followingprojects before the end of 2012: therehabilitation of the Hopewell andZenga-Hopewell river (EC$1.1 million);strengthening the Teviot river defence(EC$1 million); rehabilitation of theRose Bank and the Rose Hallcommunity centres (EC$1.4 million);rebuilding of the Georgetown SecondarySchool (EC$0.5 million); rehabilitationof the Troumaca-Ontario secondaryschool and the Rillan Hill communitycentre (EC$2.5 million) and thestockpiling of gabion baskets(EC$300,000).

2. The US$20.92 million RegionalDisaster Vulnerability Reductionproject. This is a four-year projectfinanced by the World Bank. Actualstart up is next year.

3. The 10th European DevelopmentFund (EDF) of ten million Euros (EC$36million) with the focal point beinghealth, with a B-envelope provision of1.425 million Euros (EC$5.09 million)for other infrastructure projects. In the

health sector, physical infrastructureprojects will amount to 5.827 millionEuros (EC$20.9 million) and willinclude the Buccament polyclinic, theMespo polyclinic, the rehabilitation ofthe Mental Health Centre, renovationwork at the MCMH, the Union IslandHostel, and doctors quarters atCanouan, Chateaubelair, Mespo andSandy Bay. The designs for all theseprojects are nearing completion andactual construction work will begin nextyear. For the B-envelope projects, theseare the rehabilitation of the GrandSable bridge, one bridge at Congo Valleyalong with repairs to the main andsecondary roads in that area. These willstart up before the end of 2012.

4. A project under the SFA 2008 ofthe European Union, namely theHospitality and Maritime TrainingInstitute costing 2.172 million Euros(EC$7.8 million). This will start up inJuly 2012 at Diamond. Nearly onemillion Euros (EC$3.6 million) will beprovided for equipment and supplies, inall a total of EC$10.4 million.

5. The 10 million Euros ( EC$36million) Banana AccompanyingMeasures, BAM, financed by theEuropean Union. Preparation iscurrently underway, the startup is nextyear, and the project will run for fouryears.

6. The Post-Tomas and April 2011Floods Project financed by a soft loanfrom the CDB amounting to US$12million (EC$32.4 million) for mainlyinfrastructure projects amounting toEC$28.455 million, to be implementedon the following: the London Jack feederroad; the Lowmans-Lauders main road,Sandy Bay sea defence, the Dark Viewsea defence, the rehabilitation ofshelters at the Mespo CommunityCentre and the Campden ParkCommunity Centre, the reconstructionof the Byera bridge, the rehabilitation ofthe Caratal and the Miss Jane Riverbridges, construction of sea defences atthe rivers at Grand Sable, Caratal,Langley Park and Miss Jane, and therehabilitation of roads at Jenningsvalley, Perseverance, O’Brien’s, as wellas the Gorse mountain road.

Meanwhile, the capital projects arecurrently on-going such as the ColonarieBridge, the Community College, androads. Houses are being built at ClareValley and some will shortly start-up atGreen Hill.

Saboto Caesar and the Ministry ofAgriculture are hard at work re-buildingbananas and non-banana agriculture,including cocoa.

Foreign Direct Investments areactively on display at Buccament,Bequia, Canouan and Mayreau. Localinvestment is occurring all over St.Vincent and the Grenadines. Confidenceis on show for our management of theeconomy, in the recent over-subscriptionin one morning, when SVG EC$40million bonds went on sale on theregional market.

The Bank of SVG has just posted aprofit of EC$5 million for 2011, of whichEC$1.6 million is being distributed. Thegovernment and the NIS will get overEC$700,000 in dividends.

The Comptroller of Inland Revenue isaggressively addressing huge delinquenttax payers, and a forensic audit is beingdone on five big firms in the state. A taxamnesty on interest and penalties is inforce until June 30th 2012, and theresponse has been good.

Good governance prevails, and ourgovernment is in the forefront ofdeepening integration.

IT SEEMS as though SVG is doomed tofailure under the leadership of this ULPadministration. There is no vision for thedevelopment of this country. It seems asthough our future is hinged on a singleproject; a project which sucks all of theavailable resources, leaving everythingelse to fall apart. We are told, that oncompletion of the international airport atArgyle, the economy of our country willtake off magically. In the meantime, weremain poised on the cusp of that magicaltake off.

The one project hope

The future successes, if any, of theULP administration are hinged on theinternational airport, and for somereason, the destiny of SVG seemslikewise to be hinged to this. Allaround us, everything is falling apart,be it the roads, the hospital, schools oragriculture, to name a few. Ournational bank has been sold and theproceeds poured into the airport.Reigate building has been sold tofinance the same project. We have noteven been extended the courtesy ofknowing the sale price of that property.Crown lands are being sold for the samepurpose. The Ottley Hall marina is upfor sale. The national debt inchesupwards by 2 and 3 million US dollarsat a time, to finance the airport project.

The wish for an airport has beenrecognised by the NDP a long time ago.Hence, a study was commissioned topoint the way forward. It is this samestudy which has been used by thisadministration for the construction ofthe airport at Argyle.

The question is though: Is it thatnecessary to complete the airport bynext year, to the detriment ofeverything else? If we do not have themoney, how are we expecting to do this?What about our other needs? And whathas happened to the ‘coalition of thewilling’? Was there really ever such agroup, or was it another act of tellingVincentians anything?

Roads

The condition of the roads in SVG isawful- absolutely shameful! Drivingfrom Kingstown to Layou is likerunning an obstacle race. TheWindward Highway now has manyholes and patches, as a direct result ofthe inferior work which was allowed onthe project after it was initiated by theNDP. Feeder roads, most of which wereconstructed by the NDP, have beenallowed to fall into such a state ofdisrepair, that some are now not evenpassable. The farmers are crying outabout the state of feeder roads, whichmakes it near impossible to farm in areasonable way, especially at reapingtime. One will recall when the ULPwas in opposition, they made a big issueof the road condition then- which wasnowhere near to what it is now. Whenwill some attention be paid to the roadsso that vehicle owners can reducevehicle maintenance cost?

Agriculture

It is now a well known fact that thisAdministration has killed bananas.There was no money to purchasespraying oil for the bananas which werebeing attacked by black sigatoka. Therewas a Minister of Agriculture and aMinister of Finance who decided not toaccept the blame for the ravishing of thebananas by disease; but instead, blameda public servant who was not in aposition to defend herself. According tothe Minister, it took him 3 months todiscover that the request for financingwas in the desk of a public servant.And even after that lie, it took about 3months before anything was done tohelp banana farmers. All the moneywas going into the airport project,whilst agriculture and farmers and thecountry were suffering.

We have reached a stage when ourcurrent Minister of Agriculture isecstatic, whenever a shipment ofbananas is made, regardless of thequantity. Look what we have come to!

And despite the other big lie thatbanana shipments were not suspended,it has finally come to light that itactually was suspended, and that wewere being lied to when the denial wasmade by the Prime Minister.

What effort is being made to improvethe production and marketing of otheragricultural produce in SVG? It hasbeen acknowledged that we need toincrease our production of agriculturalproduce if we are to ensure our own foodsecurity. We import produce which weourselves can grow, some from as far asCanada. Why is this so? As it stands,we import much more than we export,even though we have a relativeadvantage in our rich volcanic soil.How much longer can this continue?

The Milton Cato Memorial Hospital

Those who visit the MCMH often talkabout the deplorable state of thehospital. Some will even say they willnot risk being admitted there. In thelast 10 years, have you heard of aMinister of Government seekingmedical attention at MCMH? Or is itjust that there was never the need,because none of them were everhospitalised?

The place is dirty. The fans and otheraccessories for the patients’ comfort are,in the main, broken. Sheets andpillowcases- you better walk with yourown. Medicine- ask those who recentlywere there. Many essential medicationsare not available. In short, the hospitalneeds attention.

The MCMH was rebuilt by the NDP.It was expanded, creating new wings; amodern emergency room and operatingtheatre were some of the features. Theroof of the operating theatre developed aleak. But rather that fixing it, a bucketwas placed to catch the drip and theNDP was blamed for the leak whichdeveloped during the administration ofthe ULP.

Corruption

Corruption, it is alleged, is hale andhearty under this administration.Money which should be spent in theupkeep of services for the benefit of allVincentians, is apparently channelledelsewhere for the benefit of the few.Persons are paid handsome salaries andallowances for jobs they cannot do.Others are given a slap on the wrist forstealing from the Treasury.

What really is the plan?

It is difficult to figure the plan thatthe ULP has for the development of thiscountry. A few things are clear, butthey will not result in improving theeconomic status of Vincentians.

We are regularly fed with a healthydiet of Talk; of Fool the people; of Lies;of Distractions and Made- up storiesabout the Opposition.

We also know that many trips aremade overseas to make friends so thatwe can beg them for goodies. On thereturn from each trip, we are told whatwe got as gifts or more often what weare promised. Usually, this is aboutUS$2million or US$3 million at a time.We have become the beggar maids ofthe world, much to our embarrassment.But is begging a sustainable path todevelopment?

The NDP is waiting

The NDP has done it before. We cando it again. We need to institutepolicies to facilitate development of ourcountry for our people. Our youths needto be given a path that engenders hopefor the future. We implore you to resistlies, bribes and false hope, and to stopvoting against your own interest. Theinterest of the majority, and not of thefew, should take centre stage.

Upbeat economic activitiesby challenges still remain

Where is the vision for SVG’S development?


ViewsV“All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.” -

Cecil Frances Alexander

(1818–1895) Irish hymn-writer

wrote 400 hymns, All things

bright and beautiful (1848)

JUST KEYING IN THOSE WORDS fromthis very old hymn brings back manyfond memories of my school days.Many of the readers from my era willalso be able to reminisce about those“good old days”. We commenced theschool day by singing hymns, andprayers. On some occasions, theprincipal or the teacher who was incharge of morning prayer challengedstudents with stories that unearthedsome principle for fruitful living. Thatwas what it was like for me at theKingstown Preparatory School in the1960s. And even as we pause to “goback in time”, we are grateful for thoseschools that have retained the practiceof commencing the school day withprayer and thanksgiving. We commendthe administrators of thelearning/teaching institutions whereGod is still given prominence. Wecommend the teachers who live up totheir responsibility to lead our wardsalong the paths of righteousness andGodly living; who teach that God madeall creatures – great and small; whoencourage our children to wonder aboutHis greatness and majesty.

God is wonderful ... and full ofwonder. His creation daily remindsus of how good and how great He is.He is truly wonderful. I was recentlyreminded of this while conductingseveral Internet searches in relationto our galaxy. With the advancementof space travel and the improvementsto “telescopic exploration”, mankindis now able to see the vastness ofGod’s creation. And yet, as far as wecan see, there is still more to be seen.My curiosity then beckoned me to dosome research in relation to thewonders of the oceans. I was equallyamazed about the recent discoveriesthat we are making in relation to“strange creatures” that exist waydown at the bottom of some of thedeepest caverns along our ocean floor.But that is nothing compared to thenew insights that I have gained as Iseek to find out more about how theparts of my body work. In thisexploration of the parts of our body, Iam reminded that I am fearfully andwonderfully made. Think about it,with all of the advances in scienceand the “new knowledge” gained, it isimpossible to redesign man tofunction better than God’s creation.Can you think of a better way torepositioning eyes, ears, nose, hands,feet, and internal body parts? Man,

with all of his God-given knowledge,can never improve on God’s design.We are fearfully and wonderfullymade. Even with our defects andshortcomings, we are wonderfullymade.

God is wonderful ... and full ofwonder. He colours our world with amagnificent display of beauty. Wecan rejoice with the psalmist of oldwho encourages us to “Shout joyfullyto the Lord, all the earth; break forthin song, rejoice, and sing praises”(Psalm 98:4). Later in that samepsalm, we read that nature itselfjoins in: “Let the rivers clap theirhands; let the hills be joyful togetherbefore the Lord” (verse 8). Yes, youand I need to pause on a moreregular basis and just relax and enjoythe “embroidery of God’s earth”; thebeauty of the trees and forests, thewonders of the rivers and seas, theintricacies of the exquisite placementof the stars, and so many more. Godis wonderful indeed. Scripture alsoreminds us of God’s magnificence inthe creation of individual plants. Weread of the roses in the OldTestament book of Isaiah (35:1) andthe lily in the New Testament book ofMatthew (6:28). And we are filledwith gratitude, admiration, praise,and wonder.

Some readers may have anaversion to the foregoing comments.This writer is aware that there aresome who do not believe that there isa God. Some individuals refuse toaccept the idea that God created theearth and, by extension, mankind.There are still some who are morecomfortable with the “Big BangTheory” which advocates that theuniverse was once in an extremelyhot and dense state which expandedrapidly creating the planets as wenow know them to be. They seek todisprove the biblical record ofcreation by advancing the view thatthe Big Bang occurred approximately13.75 billion years ago — long beforethe Genesis record. But as for me, Ibelieve in the Genesis account. Ibelieve that God, in His infinitewisdom, created the earth, theplanets, the stars and all that we findin the many galaxies. And in all ofHis creation, he has provided us withthe capacity to wonder.

Send comments, criticisms &

suggestions to

[email protected]

THE RULING CLASSES aremasters of propaganda. Theyhave at their beck and call anarmy of media consultants(think Hans King, E.G Lynch,Elson Crick, Ernesto Cooke,Cecil Ryan, Junior Bacchus etal) who never stray from the officialparty line for fear of being ostracized(think Anesia Baptiste). They eagerlyand happily spread lies and half truthsin order to gain and then keep theirseats near the halls of power.

They have learned that the morelies they tell, the more lies we believe.And the more lies we believe, themore dependent we become.Conversely, the fewer myths, lies anddeceptions we succumb to, the lessdependent and freer we are. Asreggae legend, Bob Marley says,‘never let a politician grant you afavour; they will want to control youforever.’

Propaganda is the mind bendingscience of persuasion and control. Itspurpose is to forge allegiance to apolitical order or to ensure acceptanceand consumption of a particularproduct whether it is needed orbeneficial. Propaganda victimizes thepublic by changing and controllingpeople’s belief system, to the benefitof the political and economic rulingelite.

When gripped by propaganda’spower, otherwise intelligent andthoughtful people have had theirminds manipulated so that they actedagainst their own best interests.Organized and sophisticatedpropaganda is able to operate abovethe threshold of intelligence. In otherwords, without some imperative totrigger inquiry, very intelligent peoplebuy into lies and myths the same asthe general population. The lies andmyths then become conventionalwisdom. The human mind rarelyaccepts a challenge to conventionalwisdom.

When confronted with a challengeto the established belief system, themind closes off. When this happens,the individual employs avoidancebehavior, writes off the newknowledge as conspiracy theory andlabels it as kooky, insane or stupid.The information is then dismissed,never to be considered again, evenwhen the facts support the newknowledge.

The main purpose of propaganda isto get people to accept views andopinions which are objective againsttheir interest and that of theirneighbours or co-workers. The peoplewho use propaganda to persuade thepopulace against their best interestscreate myths and sell them asbenefits.

Some of us are old enough toremember when the propaganda fromthe New Democratic Party and the StVincent Labour Party was that leftist

politicians like Ralph Gonsalves, PRCampbell, Renwick Rose and othersin the United People’s Movementwere to be feared, opposed and votedagainst because they were heartless,Godless communists who will takeaway your property and give it to thepoor. Today, even with some effort,Gonsalves leads a government andcountry in which the majority of thepoor remains deprived.

Further, think deeply about whatpasses for information about healthcare. Medicalpropaganda emphasizes cures basedon mostly toxic ‘medicines’ ratherthan prevention based on propernutrition and exercise. With thissystem, the price of ‘medicine’continues to go through the roof asthe population gets sicker. Doctorsand the medicine makers enrichthemselves, while the medical systembecomes a tremendous burden on thebacks of the people. Medicalpractitioners have, for the most part,abandoned the real understanding ofhealth which says ‘let your food beyour medicine and let your medicinebe your food.’ Today, healthcare canbe more accurately termed‘symptomology,’ as what passes forhealthcare is the treatment ofsymptoms, not disease.

Part of the big lie is that processed,packaged food is healthy. The plaintruth is that we eat too muchprocessed and acidic foods andconsume too much sugar. Anincreasing segment of the world’spopulation suffers from full-bellystarvation. Our diet is high in caloriesand very low in nutrition. This is adiet that builds an obese and sickpopulation and leads to early death.Our diet too is acidic, and too muchacid in our body brings death. A dietof fresh fruits and vegetables andnuts and little or no meats (which arepacked with antibiotics and steroids)is more alkaline. This kind of dietleads to good health and long life.

Too often citizens arepropagandized into believing thatthey should abandon principles andvote for a candidate or supportpositions they instinctively know arewrong. As the lines in a popular poemsays ‘dey tryin to tek we mind today,dey tryin to tek we mind I say.Brother, nah mek dem tek yo mind,nah mek dem tek yo mind, next time.’

An undiscerning mind is anenslaved mind. We must never dropour guard in a world full of trickstersand fraudsters.

Send comments, criticisms &

suggestions to [email protected]

Masters of propagandaThe capacity to wonder

THE FINANCIAL statistics about the state of the SVGeconomy in 2011 were released on 11 May 2012. Thetable shows that under the incompetent Gonsalves, theeconomy is in free fall, and is in utter shambles. It’s theworst in SVG’s history.

The 6 most crucial variables in the economy -Current Revenue, Current Expenditure, CurrentBalance, Capital Expenditure, Capital Revenue andOverall Balance - are all in a massive and seriousfiscal deficit.

The table shows that in 2010 Gonsalves wasreckless, and that in 2011, he was even morereckless. Gonsalves does not have a clue what’sgoing on. He is mashing up the economy, bleedingbusinesses and the people dry, whilst not creatingjobs.

With the current balance, Gonsalves tells us inthe 2011 budget estimates that it will be minusEC$27 million. This is astounding. Gonsalves startsthe year by telling us that he will manage theeconomy so badly that at the end of the year therewill be a loss of EC$27 million. However, he is soclueless that the economy ends up much worse, witha loss of almost EC$43 million, almost 60 per centworse than he predicted. Horrendous!

The capital revenue income (investment fromabroad) is particularly worrying too. In the 2011budget estimates, Gonsalves told the people thatEC$79 million would come into SVG from foreigninvestors. In fact, only EC$38 million came in -EC$41 million less than Gonsalves predicted.

Foreign investment in 2011 was EC$60 millionless than 2010. This reduction shows that foreigninvestors have lost confidence in SVG and choose toinvest their money elsewhere. This means that theeconomy is shrinking and there is less hope of jobsbeing created by foreign investors.

The overall balance in 2011 descended to minusEC$67 million. This was an astounding 328 per centworse than 2010.

The Leader of SVG Green Party, Mr Ivan O’Neal,is a university graduate in finance from Oxford

Brookes University, England. Ivan O’Neal stronglybelieves that a gross lack of fiscal discipline and thefact that Gonsalves is not a university graduate infinance, are the major causes of so much economicrecklessness and financial blundering by theGonsalves administration.

Education cannot thrive without employment,and employment cannot strive without a strongeconomy. We need a strong economy so parents canget employment, and when parents are inemployment they can financially support theirchildren to get a good education.

Education is the catalyst for sustainabledevelopment in any country. In 2011, SVG sufferedthe worst Common Entrance Exam results in ourhistory; 1,116 children of the poor, including 56 percent of males, failed the CEE. Children of the poorcannot learn on a hungry belly nor do home work inthe dark without electricity.

SVG’s weak economy and a lack of investment inscience and technology education in school anduniversity, is a serious failure by Gonsalves.

In contrast, Singapore has invested in educatingits people in science and technology. According tothe United Nations Conference on Trade andDevelopment World Investment Report 2011,foreign direct investment (FDI) to Singapore morethan doubled to US$39 billion in 2010.

Gonsalves’ policy of begging and borrowing andfocusing on tourism is foolish, unnecessarily causingsevere pain and suffering to the poor, and threatensthe SVG economy with a sudden death.

The table shows that Gonsalves is highlyincompetent and should resign.

SVG Green Partywww.svggreenparty.org


ViewsVIs Gonsalves SVG’sworst Prime Minister?

table showing gonsalves’ economic blundering

Current RevenueTaxes income & profitsTaxes Domestic TradeTaxes International Trade Current ExpenditurePersonnel emolumentsInterest PaymentsTransfers & Subsidies Current BalanceCapital ExpenditureCapital RevenueOverall Balance

Budget Estimate

2011

504.78117.5117.2

194.44

532.07226.3653.26

159.89

-27.28176.6779.66

-124.29

actual 2011

454.62114.3698.83

172.57

497.51212.9845.49

148.24

-42.8963.0138.31

-67.59

actual 2010

489.96108.81105.93178.42

521.41203.8955.31177.1

-31.4583.5299.21

-15.76

difference actual

2011 to actual

2010 $ millions

-35.34

5.55-7.1

-5.85

-23.99.09

-9.82-28.86

-11.44-20.51

-60.9-51.83

Critique by Ivan O’Neal BSc(Hons), MSc, MBA

The Caribbean Women’sAssociation (CARIWA) held its21st Biennial Conference inSt. George’s, Grenada, overthe period 24-28 April, 2012,under the Theme “Creating aCulture of Peace in theCaribbean”. The Conferencewas attended byRepresentatives fromAnguilla, Barbados, Grenada,St. Lucia, St. Vincent & TheGrenadines, and Trinidad &Tobago.

Participants expressed deepconcern at the continuingincidence of crime and violencein its member countries, to theextent that the Caribbean hasemerged as the region withthe highest percentage ofcrime in relation to itspopulation.

It was recognised thatsocialisation is both a rootcause of violence and a meansof providing solutions. Theissues of increasing crime andviolence in society, cannot be

solved by law enforcementmeasures without attention tothe root causes. These arelocated both in social,economic and politicalexclusion, as well as in flawedgender values. Crime andviolence reduction musttherefore be addressed on allthese fronts.

The Conference issued acall to the CARICOM andOECS Secretariats, nationalgovernments, civil societyorganisations including non-governmental organisations,community basedorganisations, church andfaith based organisations,youth and women’sorganisations to support thecreation of a culture of peacein the Caribbean throughengagement in activities thatwill lead to an understandingof power, the pursuit ofspiritual power, and thepractice of non-violentlifestyles, through utilisation

of measures such as —(1) Unpacking gender issues

with a view to separatingtruth from myth, andunderstanding attitudes andbehaviours which lead totrivializing of early warningsigns of violent behaviour;

(2) Enforce existing lawsthat promote gender equalityand equity, and protectagainst violence, identify gaps,and revise or create new lawswhere necessary;

(3) Establish protocols ofconduct by institutions andlaw enforcement officers,health workers, social workersand care givers, to ensure thatthose seeking support aredealt with in a non-judgemental environment;

(4) Conduct research toestablish the prevalence ofviolence in all its forms, anduse the findings for continuoussensitisation programmes;

(5) Conduct awarenessbuilding programmes on

gender and violenceprevention, using provenmaterial and methodologies,such as popular theatre, whichare sensitive to people’s needs,especially those entrapped byviolence;

(6) Utilise formal and non-formal channels of educationfrom childhood, to reach alllevels of society throughgender-sensitive curricula andsocialisation with emphasis onboys and girls, towardseradicating bullying and otherforms of peer pressure thatremain deep seated and affectthem into adult life.

(7) Encouragingcommunities to confront howtheir tolerance of violenceagainst women by intimatepartners spills over intoviolence as an acceptedbehaviour for men, and part ofthe definition of theirmasculinity;

(8) Create safe spaces at

national and organisationallevels where victims andperpetrators of violence canhave conversations and receivecompassionate counsellingfrom trained personnel.

(9) Ensure that basic needsof food, clothing, shelter,health services, and gainfulemployment are met for allcitizens, and that savings andinvestments are protected.

Delegates from St. Vincentand the Grenadines joined inthe appeal to governments,donor agencies at national,regional and internationallevel, citizens from all walks oflife, to make sufficient human,physical and financialresources available to achievea culture of peace in theCaribbean.

Nelcia Robinson-HazellPresidentNCW

Creating a culture of peace in the Caribbean

THE MUSTIQUECHARITABLE TRUSTcontinues to impact thelives of children here inSt. Vincent and theGrenadines.

The Trust’s latestdemonstration of its

continuing commitmentin this regard came whenit presented a quantity ofbooks and games to theBequia Reading Club.

Mrs. Lavinia Gunn,Administrator of theTrust, made the

presentation on Saturday28th April, during aceremony held at the FigTree Restaurant. Some60 children were amongthose in attendance.

Mrs. Gunn expressedher Trust’s delight inbeing able to make thedonation, and in additionto complimenting thechildren for theirattendance of the Club’sprogramme, encouragedthem to read more and totake care of thematerials.

She impressed uponthe children theimportance of readingand how it helps inimproving performancesin other subject areas.

According to Mrs.Gunn, “The MustiqueCharitable Trust isalways pleased to give toworthy causes such asthe Reading Club, and

the Trust willcontinue to do itspart incontributing tothese necessaryand worthwhilecauses.”

The gifts fromthe MustiqueCharitable cameabout as a resultof a referral byMr. RichardRoxburgh, ofAction Bequia, abroad-basedgroup committedto support communityenhancing projects. Mr.Roxburgh was himselfreferred to the BequiaReading Club by Louiseand Martin Hurley.

Ms. Lucille Cozier, theTreasurer of ActionBequia, speaking at theceremony, recognized thecontribution volunteersmade to the Bequia

Reading Club’sprogramme and appealedto others to come forwardwith their service.

Time was taken torecognize the BequiaAction for its donation offive book cases.

As an expression oftheir appreciation, someof the children renderedappropriate songs, one

being the popular, ‘Leanon me’.

The Bequia ReadingClub was established onNovember 19, 2006, toencourage readingamong the children ofBequia. It holds anannual readingcompetition for schools,among other outreachprogrammes.


NewsV

Vision screeningprogramme for schoolsPRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLstudents here now have an opportunityto have any vision defects they have,identified and attended to professionally.

The opportunity presents itselfthrough the Student Vision ScreeningProgramme, a private-public sectorcollaborative effort, involving TheSpectacle Shoppe and the Ministry ofEducation.

The nationwide programme aroseout of a shared view by the SpectacleShoppe and the Ministry of Educationthat a high percentage of children inthis country’s schools are affected byvision problems, which if undetected

will place those affected at adisadvantage.

According to Management of theSpectacle Shoppe, “The aim of thisprogramme is to identify students withvisual problems, and provide follow upcorrection and treatment of disorders,in an efficient and affordable manner.”

That establishment has, as part ofthe Programme, developed a StudentSpecial Offer which makes further eyeexaminations and spectacles availableto students, at affordable rates.

This facility follows on theassurance of the Ministry ofEducation, according to Education

Official Elizabeth Walker, that “thestudent’s parent or guardian will benotified by the school, and the studentwill be referred for further evaluationand treatment if necessary.”

The Student Vision ScreeningProgramme took off in earnest at thebeginning of this school term, after apilot progamme in March.

To date, students of the Belair andDorsetshire Government schools havebeen screened.

Principal of the Belair GovernmentSchool, Joy Matthews, commented:“Having such a programme is mostwelcome and timely, and weappreciate the initiative and foresight

of the Spectacle Shoppe. We areaware of the high cost of doing thesetests and some parents’ inability tomeet such cost.”

Simone Harris, Optometrist at theSpectacle Shoppe, expressed delightwith the programme.

“I am happy to see that TheMinistry of Education has supportedThe Spectacle Shoppe in ensuring thatevery student in St. Vincent and theGrenadines has an opportunity to havegood vision,” said Harris.

The first phase of the StudentVision Screening Programme willconcentrate on primary schools.

Mustique aids in reading

Screeningexercises beingconducted at the

Belair GovernmentSchool.

L-R: Mustique Charitable Fund AdministratorLavinia Gunn, Bequia Reading Club Co-ordinatorCheryl Johnson, and Treasurer of Action BequiaLucille Cozier.

Children all excited over their books and games.

By Nelson A. King [email protected] CORRESPONDENT

THE BRONX, New York-based Garifuna Coalition,U.S.A., Inc. says it willsponsor this Sunday theparticipation of the ChiefJoseph Chatoyer GarifunaFolkloric Ballet of NewYork at the Bronx WeekParade.

The parade is part ofactivities marking the41st Bronx Week, when,residents of the Bronxand visitors from the tri-state region cometogether to celebrate thepeople, places, historyand businesses of theBronx.

“Bronx Week is theideal time to remind all

New Yorkers that theBronx is a great place tolive, work and play,” saidthe Garifuna Coalition ina statement.

It said Chief JosephChatoyer GarifunaFolkloric Ballet of NewYork was founded byFélix Gamboa, a formermember of theWanichigu DanceCompany, considered themost prominent Garifunadance company in NewYork during the 1990s.

The ballet’s goal isaimed at nurturing andpromoting the “Garifunaculture and identity inNew York City,” thecoalition said.

The company is namedin honor of theParamount Black Carib

(Garifuna) ChiefChatoyer in St. Vincentand the Grenadines orYurumein, the ancestralhomeland of theGarifuna people.

The coalition said thecompany has earned areputation as “one of themost acclaimedambassadors of Garifunaculture, promoting theuniqueness of the

Garifuna-Americancultural experience, andthe preservation andenrichment of theAmerican modern danceheritage.

“Participation in theBronx Week Parade ispart of the ‘GarinaguWagia Campaign’, withthe goal of creatingawareness andappreciation of theGarifuna culture and itscontribution to theculture and society ofNew York City,” thecoalition said.

On May 18, 2001, theUnited Nations

Educational, Scientificand CulturalOrganization (UNESCO),for the first time,awarded the title of“Masterpiece of the Oraland Intangibles Heritageof Humanity,” to 19outstanding “culturalspaces of forms ofexpression from differentregions of the world,” thecoalition said.

The Garifunalanguage, dance andmusic were among thosedeclared “Masterpiece ofthe Oral and IntangiblesHeritage of Humanity,”the coalition said.

On Mar. 22, BronxBorough PresidentRuben Diaz, Jr, issueda proclamation,designating Mar. 11 —Apr. 12, 2012 as“Garifuna-AmericanHeritage Month” in theBronx.

The proclamation wasalso in observance of the215th anniversary of theexile of the Garifunapeople from St Vincentand the Grenadines onMar. 11, 1797 and theirsettlement in CentralAmerica on Apr. 12,1797.


DiasporaV

Comber, NORTHERN IRELAND: Alarge selection of new cricket andfootball equipment has been receivedby the Consulate of St. Vincent andthe Grenadines (SVG) to NorthernIreland following a donation driveinitiative.

The donations are from individuals,businesses and supporters of SVG,including Podium 4 Sport and varioussporting clubs across NorthernIreland.

The new equipment has beenmarked for Youths aged 14-17 in SVG,through the Ministry of ForeignAffairs, Foreign Trade and ConsumerAffairs; the Ministry of Tourism, Sportand Culture, and the Ministry ofNational Mobilisation and Youth.

Arrangements are being made fortransport to Kingstown anddisbursement through the Ministry ofForeign Affairs, Foreign Trade andConsumer Affairs.

Dr Christopher Stange, Hon. Consulfor St. Vincent and the Grenadines,thanked the people of NorthernIreland for their generosity thatcoincides with the SVG Government’sstrong commitment towards health,wellness and engaging the youth, ofwhich sport provides an importantmedium.

This will be an ongoing campaign,and anyone who would like to

contribute or explore how they mayassist SVG are encouraged to contactthe Consulate directly or visit thewebsite: www.svgconsulate.co.uk.

Dr. Christopher Stange, Hon. Consulfor St. Vincent and the Grenadines toNorthern Ireland, the driving forcebehind the ongoing effort to solicitassistance for young people here.

SVG Consulate receives donation of sporting equipment

Part of the Chief Joseph ChatoyerGarifuna Folkloric Ballet of New York.

Garifuna groupsponsors Chief Chatoyer folkloric ballet


NewsV

by SHERON GARRAWAY

SOME 30 parents ofteenagers in the Greiggscommunity are currentlyengaged in a workshop toimprove their relationshipwith their youngsters.

The Parents ofTeenagers EducationProgramme which beganon 26th April will rununtil 14th June 2012 at4:30 p.m’.

The initiative is beingheaded by coordinator ofFamily Planning andAdolescents, SisterPrince, under theauspices of the Ministryof Health, Wellness andthe Environment.

Staff Nurse EugeneJacobs explained thatparents have beenlearning simple buteffective skills at beingbetter guardians at thecritical stage in theirteenagers’ lives.

The ultimate objectiveis to reduce teenage

pregnancy by helpingparents betterunderstand thecomplexities ofadolescence.

Jacobs noted thatmany parents find itdifficult to cope with thechanges of adolescence,and have foundencouragement in theprogramme which is held at the Doreen John Health Centre,Greiggs.

She elaborated,“Young people know a lotmore about sex, andseem to beexperimenting at anearly age. We giveparents the skills toknow how to talk withtheir teenagers so theyhave a betterrelationship and canadvise them on life’sconsequences andrewards.”

Staff Nurse Jacobssaid that the Parents ofTeenagers Education

Programme alsofunctions as a placewhere parents canencourage each other,and pointed out that at the end of the eight- week course,participants would alsoreceive a certificate of

completion.The Greiggs

community has also been

conducting a specificprogramme for teenagemothers, which has been

running for six yearscalled the GreggsAdolescent Group.

Staff Nurse Eugene Jacobs (furthest right) with other nurses at the DoreenJohn Health Centre Greiggs.

Greiggs tacklingTeenage Pregnancy

A LAST-MINUTE change ofheart by former opposition NewDemocratic Party candidate ElvisDaniel failed to impress partysupporters, during a candidateselection in the North Windwardconstituency last weekend.

Daniel, who unsuccessfullycontested the 2005 and 2010general elections, lost to cricketerLouren Baptiste.

Baptiste captured 23 of thevotes cast, Daniel 17 and younglawyer Adonis Coombs managedto get 3 votes.

New Democratic Party GeneralSecretary Allan Cruickshank saidearlier this week that over ahundred supporters turned out tothe meeting held at the Owia

Community Centre last Saturdayevening, but the majority of themwere not eligible to vote.

He noted, however, that mostpersons were shouting forBaptiste, making him by far themost popular among the threecandidates.

According to Cruickshank,Baptiste was required to get 75%of the votes but despite nothaving achieved that percentage,he was still given the green light.

He said that the situation wasreferred to the CentralCommittee for ratification, andadded that, even though theCentral Committee has anoverriding decision-makingauthority, it is normal that once

it is clear that the constituencydivision has made a choice, thatthat person will be accepted bythe Central Committee, and beallowed to contest the elections..

Cruickshank said thatpotential candidate ShefflornBallantyne, who had previouslyexpressed interest, was written tobut had failed to respond in theallotted time.

Responding to the issue later,Ballantyne appeared not to haveknowledge of the letter to whichCruickshank referred. He said,however, that “a policy” of theNDP “pushed” him out of theparty.

Baptiste for North Windward seat

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ANTHONY

IF THERE ARE DOUBTSABOUT HIS FITNESS, PrimeMinister put them to restlast Tuesday. “I am feeling quite well,”he said.

He outlined that hewas “back in full flow,”and that the only matterwas a “surgical incision,”

which needed healing. He testified that

doctors approved histravel schedule. Heannounced that he wastaking a retired nursealong with him toTaiwan.

She would dress theincision mornings andevenings.

Dr. Gonsalves will bein the South Asian zone

for the inauguration ofPresident Ma Ying-jeou.

Prime Minister gavean update on the ArgyleInternational Airport.The terminal Buildingwhich is being built bythe Taiwanese firmcalled OverseasEngineering andConstruction Company(OECC) is almost at thequarter way stage.

There willbe someexpansion tothe floorspace.Taiwan hascommittedUS $26.5 Mfor theterminalbuilding.AnotherTaiwanesefirm CECIEngineeringConsultantsInc wasawardedUS$3.9 M forthe designandsupervisionofconstructionof thelandscapefacilitiesincluding theCargoBuilding.

By Junenext year,earthworksat the ArgyleInternationalAirport willbecompleted,according toDr.Gonsalves.

$4.4 M has been spenton blasting with 300,000kilograms of explosivesignited. Contracts havegone to three companiesdealing with StoneCrushing, Quarrying andAirfield Lighting.

The Vincentian leaderexpressed disgust withpersons who lamentedthat “nothing happeningout there,”

He pointed to

commencement of seadefenses “later thisyear,” and continuationof Wind Studies todetermine the necessityof a cross field runway.

The revised cost forconstruction of theArgyle InternationalAirport was EC$652 Mannounced in PrimeMinister Dr. Gonsalves,2012 Budget Addressdelivered January 9,

2012. He alluded to an

agreement signed July21, 2008, betweenPresident Ma andhimself, in which Taiwan“pledged to givefavourable considerationto providing anadditional grant or softloan to help St. Vincentand the Grenadines withthe anticipated higherbuilding costs.”


NewsV

FORMER CHIEF GIRLGUIDE COMMISSIONERGWENDOLYN RUSSELL,will be speciallyrecognized when the GirlGuides Associationconvenes its annualgeneral meeting thisSaturday, May 19th.

Mrs Russell will berecognized for hersterling contribution to

guiding. She served asIsland Commissioner forSt. Vincent from 1976 to1994; was ChiefCommissioner from 1984to 1991 and President ofthe Association from2003 until herretirement in September2011. A gala ceremonywill also be held in herhonour later in the year.

Saturday's AGM willalso receive reports fromChief CommissionerRechanne Browne -Matthias, and TreasurerMichelle Samuel, amongother agenda items.

The meeting will takeplace at the Girl GuidesHeadquarters, LevelGardens, and begins atten in the morning.

GwendolynRussell to berecognized

PM back in full flow

Prime MinisterDr. RalphGonsalvesseemed back tohis usualenergetic selfafter a period ofincapacitation.

SOUTH EAST STEELORCHESTRA is coming offa successful concert,

dubbed ‘Hearts of Steel’, stagedat the Aquatic Club, April 26 and27. From all reports, the steelorchestra captured the hearts ofthe patrons with pan music theway it is supposed to sound.

The four- year- old steelorchestra, of circa 35 players,has been a contender from thevery beginning, with its debutappearances in both theJunior and SeniorPanoramas of 2010.

They returned in 2011,this time joining theranks of the first everPanorama for community-based Junior Orchestras.They also competed inthat year’s SeniorPanorama.

Graduating in a sense,their participation in 2011was concentrated in theSenior Panorama only.

This year, the orchestrais already gearing up forits fourth turn in thecompetition, this timewith a new musicaldirector/arranger, Ms.Marla Nanton.

Nanton, the holder of aBachelor of Liberal Arts(music) degree from StateUniversity of New York(SUNY), follows adistinguished line ofmusicaldirectors/arrangers,including Errol ‘Siah’Isaacs and Tillal Webb.

She brings a wealth ofexperience to the table,having been initiated intopan playing with anoutstanding foray atPotential Steel Orchestra’s1988 summer programme,a band she played with forthree years. She wascaptain of the Girls’ HighSchool Orchestra in themid -90s and played forten years with theRhythmix Steel Orchestra.

Her period of study inNew York afforded her theopportunity to become amember of Pantonic, a 75-person strong side, whichwas fronted then by thelegendary arranger CliveBradley. She was, in herown words, “better off for

that experience.”Nanton felt moved after the

Hearts of Steel concert tomake the following comment:“Pan must be elevated…, ithas not been given in recentyears, the recognition itdeserves.”

And maybe this commenthad something to do with thechoice of South East for thisyear’s Panorama: Skarpyon’s‘Pan Dream’.

The South East Steel

Orchestra membershipcurrently reflects an age rangeof 7 to 55 years.

Its youngest, 7-year-oldReneke Harry , according toNanton, “is fun towatch…barely making it over

the rim of the tenor pan.”Reneke was recruited after

an outstanding showing in thePan Against Crime initiative.She hails from Stubbs.

South East Steel Orchestrais a subsidiary of South East

Development Inc., whosemotto is ‘Promotingdevelopment through Sports,Education and Culture.’ Theyare also a member of theYoulou Pan Movement.


NewsV

Stories by COLIN KING

HAROLD ‘PLOOMIE’LEWIS, one of St. Vincent’smost outstanding bassmenand musicians, is back on thescene with a sure fire hit onhis hands, both in keepingwith post trends and newdevelopments in soca music.

This is a very experimentalalbum, and although he pullsshort on a couple of tracks, inparticular ‘Pum-Pum 2’ whichis repetitive, and maybe triestoo hard to embrace thatwhich is new in millenniumsoca, the rest of the album isa breath of fresh air, in thebarren wasteland that is‘musical genre original’ inVincy soca — (exceptionmaybe Madzart and one ortwo others).

‘I comin’ back’ is the bestthing on this album. It is notexactly Machel or Becket, butit is definitely traditionalmeets original. It begins witha dramatic orchestralsounding introduction,bringing to mind a majormotion picture epic soundtrack — giving way to a veryorganized structurereminiscent a bit of the bestin Vincy, Becket and hiscounterpart Frankie. Thereference to Garifuna in thistrack, and the irresistibletable rhythm — “So I went toFrankie to help me write thissymphony/ you could singflat/ you don’t need that/ sothen I went to Becky to seewhat advice he could giveme/don’t be discombobulated,

I am Garifuna resurrected….” The fused elements add up

to classic soca, capturing thespirit of our people and ourmusic at its best. (Includedare references to Kevin Lyttleand Olsen Peters also).

This album features afusion of minor elements ofR&B, Jazz-based soca insome tracks, also with atouch of Indian ethnic.

Two other tracks worthhighlighting are the patriotic‘Nice to be back’ and ‘Sweetlime’. ‘Nice to be back’ makesnote of Ploomie’s overseasexperience ‘Congregation forsegregation’ in reference torace separation (in the lyrics),and his desire for a return tohome.

The lyric reflects a sense ofpain and homesickness. ‘Imediate everyday, to theFather I always pray, askinghim for a sign, like I losingmy mind…..’

Consummatearrangements people thisalbum, elements ofcontemporary pop, on e.g.‘Vincy party/Now 2’, featuringsome diminished andaugmented chords.

There is even rap on thiscollection which is not satanicor overly suggestive.

One thing I absolutelyloved about this collection isthe lack of excessive,electronic enhancementgimmickry and commercialpretense in lyrical content.

A breath of fresh air in anera of noise pollution.

‘Ploomie’s album is worth a listen Harold ‘Ploomie ’Lewisreturns to the localmusic scene.

South East eyesPanorama2012

South East Steel Orchestra in concert under the directorship of Marla Nanton (back tocamera).

South East eyesPanorama2012


PeopleV

ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES REGIONAL DISASTER VULNERABILITY

REDUCTION PROJECTCredit No.: 4986-VC CFC – PPCR Grant No.: TF010206/ SCF Loan No.: TF010207

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTERESTStructural & Site Vulnerability Assessment and Evaluation of Functional Characteristics of National Emergency Shelters: (i) Dorsetshire Hill Gov-

ernment School; and (ii) Kingstown Government SchoolReference No.: SVGRDVRP – C – CQS – 5

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Regional Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. The consul-tant will perform a thorough vulnerability assessment of the two schools with the objective of (i) carry out site inspection, identifying structural and site vulnerabilities and functional shortcomings; and (ii) propose measures for consideration and possible inclusion in the rehabilitation / retrofit design of the shelters.

The Consultant will be required to prepare detailed methodology and work plan for carrying out structural & site vulnerability assessment. In concert with NEMO, the consultant would review and if need be revise, their functional evalu-ation criteria of buildings for use as an emergency weather shelter. Also they would be required to prepare a vulnerability assessment and functional evalua-tion forms, including sections on wind and seismic resistance and overall site vulnerability. Carry out the structural & site vulnerability assessment of the schools.

The Central Planning Division now invites eligible consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar condi-tions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.).

Firms should have experience in Structural analysis studies of older buildings with at least one successfully completed assignment during the past three years.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultants Qualifica-tion Selection (CQS) method in accordance with set out in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants] by World Bank Borrowers May 2004, revised October 1, 2006 and May 1, 2010.

Further information can be obtained at www.gov.vc under Web Classi-fied – Request for Expression of Interest or at the address below.

Further Information, Inspection of and Requesting Bidding Documents

The Director of Planning Central Planning Division Ministry of Finance & Economic Planning 1st Floor, Administrative Building Bay Street, Kingstown, St. Vincent Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address above (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) no later than 4:00 pm EST June 1st 2012.

ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES REGIONAL DISASTER VULNERABILITY

REDUCTION PROJECTCredit No.: 4986-VCCFC – PPCR Grant No.: TF010206/ SCF Loan No.: TF010207

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTERESTDesign and Supervision of Satellite Warehouses

Reference No.: SVGRDVRP – C – CQS – 1

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Regional Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services for Design and Supervision of Satellite Warehouses. Under Component 1 of this project, titled “Prevention & Adaptation Investment” it has identified a number of priority investments with the goal of reducing the country’s physical and economic vulnerability to adverse natural events through the piloting of adaptive measures to build resilience to current and future climatic changes. One of the priority investments is the construction of Two (2) Satellite Community Warehouses for storage of emergency equipment. The period of the consultancy is Eighteen (18) months.

The Central Planning Division now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar condi-tions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, CV’s etc.).

A consultant will be selected using the Selection Based on Consultants’ Qualifi-cation (CQS) selection method in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers, dated May 2004, revised October, 2006 and May 1, 2010.

Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Expressions of interest must be deliv-ered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by June 1st 2012.

Further information can be obtained at www.gov.vc under Web Classified – Request for Expression of Interest or at the address below

The Director of Planning Central Planning Division/Ministry of Finance & Economic Planning1st Floor, Administrative BuildingBay StreetKingstownSt. Vincent and the Grenadines

Tel: 784-457-1746 / 784-457-2182E-mail: [email protected]

THE 25TH ANNUALGENERAL MEETING ofSoroptimist InternationalSVG was held on 24th April2012.

Reports whichoutlined the mainactivities for the pastyear were presented bythe President, Secretary,Treasurer andProgramme ActionChairman, followingwhich Officers andCommittee Memberswere elected to manage

the business of the clubfor 2012/2013.

Those elected were:President — Miss EunaThompson , PresidentElect — Mrs. Gail Davis,Vice President Mrs.Miriam Roache,Secretary — Mrs. SalineBarbour- Stanley,Treasurer — Miss Josie—Anne Small,Programme ActionChairman — Mrs. NelciaPrimus, MembershipOfficer — Mrs. Kathryn

Cyrus, Public RelationsOfficer — Miss ShannonDurrant and CommitteeMembers - Mrs. LaviniaGunn, Mrs. ZeithaHadawy, Mrs. NicolaWilliams and Mrs.Annelle Thomas .

Mrs. Christine daSilva-DeRosa ,ImmediatePast President, was alsoelected to serve asFederation ConsultativeCouncillor for2012/2013.

Honorary Life

Membership wasawarded to Miss ShirleyCharles, a member whohas given dedicatedservice to theorganization over theyears.

SISVG will be

involved in activitiesfrom July 13th to 17th tomark the 25thAnniversary of the club.Soroptimists from theCaribbean Network aswell as others areexpected to join their

sisters from across theworld as they celebratethis great occasion underthe theme : “ONWARDTOGETHER, BUILDINGON SOLIDFOUNDATIONS” .

Soroptimist Club Officers and Committee Members elected for the 2012/13term.

Soroptimists electManagement Committee

by KENVILLE HORNE

JANINE JOHN, an employeeof Basil’s Bar andRestaurant, baked her wayto the converted prize ofoverall winner in the 2012ECGC National BakingCompetition.

John defeated twenty-one of the best chefs andbakers representingbakeries, cateringservices and restaurantsthroughout the country,in a test to showcase thebest baking products.

Addressing the closingceremony on Friday, May11, at the KingstownMethodist Church Hall,Marketing Manager atECGC, Martin La Borde,expressed happiness with

the overall presentationof the products ondisplay, and assured thecompany’s commitmentto the competition nextyear.

“I think it issomething that we as acompany mustchampion,” La Bordesaid.

The twenty twopersons participating in2012 was animprovement from lastyear’s nineteen, anddemonstrated a stronginterest in theCompetition, according toLa Borde.

He, however,cautioned against thepattern of samenesswithin the baking

industry.“We are in an

industry that has asignificant dynamismabout it, and weshouldn’t settle forthe same kind ofthing over and overagain,” Martinopined.

He boasted thatEGCG produces thefinest flour, andchallenged persons touse the local flour moreoften since, he observed,there was a tendency toimport foreign bakingproducts.

Partnership

Agricultural Officer inthe Planning Unit,

Colville King,recognized ECGC’simportance to theeconomy and society as awhole, noting that itplays a significant role inthe balance of trade andfood security.

He lauded thecollaborative effortinvolving the Ministry ofAgriculture and ECGCtowards establishing anational poultry project,saying that “ this projectwill create employment,reduce the highimportation of poultryprojects and encouragepersons to use ECGCproducts.”

King was impressedwith the presentation,and advised participantsto use their talent to linktourism and food, whileencouraging them tomake quality their trade-mark .

King concluded byurging participants toadopt ECGC’s motto“excellence through teamwork”.

The closing ceremonyalso witnessed thehanding out of individualcategory awards. JanineJohn took the award forBest in Cake with a RumPunch Mango CheeseCake; Jaima King, alsofrom Basil’s Bar andRestaurant, walked awaywith the prize for Best inBread with his PumpkinCoconut Coffee Muffins;Ricardo Gordon fromRems Bakery took theprize for Best in Pastrywith his Damsel Pie;Venessa Francis-Lewisfrom Macaroni BeachHouse Mustique liftedthe prize for Best Use ofspecialty flour.

Winners in eachcategory received $2,000, while the overallwinner received $3,000.


Industry V

Left: Colville King alluded to benefits to be reaped withthe new partnership between Government and the ECGC.

Participants in the 2012 ECGC National BakingCompetition.

Janine John, overall winner, receives an award fromMartin La Borde, Marketing Manager ECGC.

Janine John’s Rum Punch Mango Cheese Caketook the award for Best in Cake.

BasilÊs cops major ECGC prizeBasilÊs cops major ECGC prize


OpinionVA PRESS RELEASE from the EasternCaribbean Securities Exchange (ECSE)on April 27 indicates that there is anoversubscription of $285,000 on a SVGgovernment $40 million 10-year bondissue. Prime Minister Dr. RalphGonsalves boasts the oversubscription:“… it reflects the confidence of themarket in the management of theeconomy, even in these difficult andchallenging times. ” In response, ArnhimEustace, an economist and leader of theopposition, asserts: “So you just barelywent over the mark. … that is what isoversubscribed?!” Eustace also stressesthe importance of the public being clearabout what is happening with the bondissue. In fact, Eustace’s point isrelevant to the entire CARICOM regionand more specifically, the Organisationof the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Bonds versus shares and stocks

Bonds are debt investmentswhereby an investor lends a certainamount of money, for a certain amountof time, with a certain interest rate, toa company or country. Our exposureto the recent investment scandalswould help us appreciate better thatbuying stocks is a form of using ourmoney, with the hope of making more.It is for the same reason that peoplebuy bonds. However, buyingstocks/shares is buying part ownershipof the establishment offering theshares. In the case of buying bonds,we are offering a loan with an IOUarrangement. Bondholding is usuallybetween government and investor.Traditionally, stockholding hasprovided opportunities for long-termfinancial returns and bondinginvestments have provided incomestreams. On the basis that governmentcan usually raise taxes or createadditional currency to pay out at timeof maturity, bonds are considered saferthan shares in stock. A keycomponent of bond transactions isconfidence: governments can raisemuch needed capital without giving upmanaging control, and the investor’sincome stream is secured.

Risks in bondholding

We need to be aware of bondholdingrisks, also. Russia, in 1998, becamethe first notable case in point in recenttimes when it defaulted on its nationalcurrency debt. Declining productivityand chronic fiscal deficit have beencited as possible causes of that crisis —the Ruble crisis. Also reported is thatit had an unexpected effect on formerterritories (The Baltic region).

In 2012, bondholders of Greekbonds voluntarily participated in arather complicated bailout plan thatincluded swapping existing bonds fornew ones, in order to get 25% of theiroriginal bonds. Much like the Russiansituation, unrestrained spending andnational debts are also cited as causesof the Greek crisis.

Within weeks and closer home,holders of St. Kitts and Nevis bondshave suffered a similar fate as those ofGreek bonds. Barbadian SenatorGeoffrey Cave expresses concern at theprospect that investors, includingindividuals, governments and pensionschemes, face the prospect of onlygetting between $15 and $25 for each$100 of savings they had bought inthese bonds. Again, some blameexcessive and reckless borrowing bythe Saint Kitts government as apossible cause of the crisis. On amicroeconomic level, this sounds likepaying returns at a lower rate toinvestors from money other than profitearned by the government issuing thebonds.

Borrowing during recession

There is a school of thought thathas been used to justify governmentborrowing and spending in times ofrecessions. This is known as thecounter-cyclical fiscal policy which isaimed at reviving a depressedeconomy, particularly since peopletend to spend less. One of theunderlying principles of this belief isthat one person’s spending goestowards another person’s earnings.However, an Inter-AmericanDevelopment Bank economist EduardoCavallo (2011) has alerted that”without good initial economicconditions, countries have limitedscope to act.” He further clarified that“countries in which governments havesaved little during the commodityboom years will have limited scope toincrease spending to alleviate theupcoming recession stemming from thecurrent crisis.”

As we lay bare the bond issueimplication, the reservations andfindings of Eustace and otherobservers become more germane to theentire region. If Eustace’s reservationdoes not apply at the initial point of

the bond issue, it has to apply to thepossibility of SVG defaulting on itsbonds when they mature. In effect,Senator Cave has sounded similaralarm bells when he warns ‘a St. Kitts’“could happen in Barbados wherethere has been a $6 billion loan in sixyears as compared with $4 billion in40 years after independence. Hereminds us further “that countrieswhich borrow excessively can and willgo bankrupt, affecting the standard ofliving of everyday citizens for decadesafterward. It has happened manytimes in the past and, unfortunately, itwill happen again in the future.”

Indebtedness of the ECCU

Of more regional significance is Dr.Arnold McIntyre’s (2011) findings ofthe Eastern Caribbean CurrencyUnion (ECCU). McIntyre who is anIMF programme coordinator states,“ECCU countries are among theworld’s most highly indebted. All sixindependent ECCU countries (Antiguaand Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St.Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St.Vincent and the Grenadines.) rankwithin the 15 most indebted emerging

markets and developing countries, ofwhich three (Antigua and Barbuda,Grenada, and St. Kitts and Nevis)have a public debt-to- GDP ratios ofover 100 percent. All six countriesexceed the ECCU’s target debt-to-GDPratio of 60 percent. … About 10percent of the regional debt is inarrears, concentrated in Antigua andBarbuda.” Of some concern, too, mustbe that Antigua and Barbuda andSaint Lucia represent 48% of theEastern Caribbean economy.

Therefore, what is happening withthe bonds issue could be more perilousthan we can deduce from the ECSEpress release announcing anoversubscription of $285,000 on anSVG $40 million 10-year bond issue.Who would have expressed confidencein our economy has to be matched witha question about the purpose for whichSVG issued these bonds: to stimulatethe economy or pay old debts? Whatwould it mean for cost of living if ourgovernment could not meet itsobligations on any of its bonds?

Luzette King - Producer and Host,Global Highlights [email protected]

That last bond issue: Is it cheap politics?

WHY DID MINISTERS and WhalingCommissioners from the OECScountries huddle for two days at ahotel in Villa with only one othercountry — Japan — in preparation forthe June 2012 meeting of theInternational Whaling Commission(IWC)? And, why were the reasons forthis meeting shrouded in secrecy, withno official press release or‘Communiqué’ afterwards about whatwas discussed and how thediscussions benefit the people of ourcountry?

None of the OECS countries, exceptSt Vincent and the Grenadines, isknown to have any interest in killinglarge whales. At the meeting ourWhaling Commissioner boasted that“SVG is the smallest whaling nationand the only country in the OECSthat is a whaling nation.” No offenceto the Commissioner, but he shouldthink about bragging that ours is theonly Latin American and Caribbeancountry that is killing thesemagnificent mammals that nurturetheir young in the same manner ashuman mothers, is not to our credit.His disclosure that SVG is proposingan amendment of the quota to 24 from20, due to an extension of the quotaperiod, is a move in the wrongdirection. It is a backward move.

Food security.. Aboriginal hunt

Under the IWC rules, St Vincentand the Grenadines has permission totake 20 Humpback whales over theperiod 2008-2012. This allocation is inresponse to a claim that our“aboriginal” people in Bequiatraditionally depend on whales forfood. IWC quotas are meant to bebased on “relevant stocks from whichindigenous groups, whose needs havebeen recognized by the IWC, can takewhales”. However, the Government ofSt Vincent and the Grenadines hasnever provided a statement in supportof its “aboriginal” quota.

Evidence of SVG’s poor reporting onits whaling activities is the statementmade last year by the UKCommissioner to the IWC who saidabout St Vincent and the Grenadines:“We expressed our disappointment atIWC63 at the lack of adequate data tosupport the aboriginal hunts of North

Atlantic humpback whales off St.Vincent and the Grenadines”.

We also know that rules are notconsistently applied and enforced inSVG over how whales — and whatwhales — are hunted and killed. Forinstance, our country is specificallyforbidden to hunt and kill calves. Yet,it is normal for whalers to first targetcalves, wounding or killing them so asto attract their mothers, in utterviolation of the internationalguidelines under which whales shouldbe taken for food. The practice is ashameful stain on our nation.

Hon. Saboto Caesar, Minister ofFisheries, said at the opening of lastweek’s whaling meeting that whalingin Bequia is for the purposes of “foodsecurity.” How an average of onewhale killed per year could benecessary for “food security” inBequia, is very puzzling. What iscertain is that eating whale meat inBequia is not necessary for humansurvival there. The Minister also said,“Our whalers hunt in small openboats, using sails, and the objective isto secure our food.” That is a tale ofancient times, unrelated to whatactually occurs in modern day Bequia.He did not recognize that for years ithas been reported that speed boatsare used to assist the sail boats in thewhale hunt. Within the last two yearsabout one quarter of one of the whalesthat was caught, was not sold or usedin any way due to a disputesurrounding the catch. Surely if themeat was necessary for humansurvival, it would not have been left torot.

It is interesting to hear theMinister speak with such confidenceabout the manner in which the whalesare killed in Bequia. Perhaps on thatbasis, the Government will improveupon its reputation of not providingproper vital scientific information tothe IWC about the method andnumbers of our whale kills and strikes(a strike is when whale is harpoonedbut not landed).

In any case, the killing of whales inBequia, in my opinion, does notconstitute an aboriginal activity. Itbegan in 1875 with Scottish WilliamWallace, who learnt the practice fromYankee whaling ships. It began assuch in the Colonial period and not

with the indigenous Caribs or theGarifuna (most of who had been longexiled by this point).

Scientific research… Whale-watching

The pro whaling position of OECScountries and their support forJapan’s killing of whales under theguise of “scientific research” hasattracted the great disapproval of ourLatin American neighbours. Thesecountries are known as the “BuenosAries” group and comprise Argentina,Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico,Nicaragua, Panama, Peru andUruguay.

In Latin America, whale watchinghas become a popular tourism activity.Reports show that there are now 18countries in the region that promoteit, including Dominica. Whalewatching brings tourists, foreignexchange and employment to ourshores. Whale killing brings us a badreputation.

Today there is very little aboriginalwhaling around the world.The remaining true aborigines, live inharsh conditions on ice caps. They areChukots in Russia’s Siberia and Inuitsin Alaska. They do actually need tohunt whales to live. Definitely not soin Bequia.

It is past the time for us in StVincent and the Grenadines to stopthe killing of humpback whales. Butif whale hunting is to continue, thevery least that the Government shoulddo is ensure that whale hunting isdone in strictly regulated conditionsand with the proper recording of dataso that we do not further hurt ournation’s reputation in the worldcommunity or our image as a tourismcountry.

It is time to embrace conservation.The value of whales to our economy ismuch greater if they are alive thandead. Our Government should leadthe way in promoting andincentivizing our whale watchingindustry. The rewards to our peoplein jobs, foreign exchange earnings andstanding in the tourism industry arefar greater than in killing whales.

Louise Mitchell Joseph

Whale Hunting is a stain on our nation


LeisureV

Morning

6:00 CNN News9:00 Shepherd’s Chapel10:00 Caribbean

Newsline10:30 House Of Payne11:00 Entertainment By

Design

11:30 We Cooking

Afternoon

12:00 Headline News1:00 Challenge1:30 3D2:00 Burn Notice3:00 Pink Panther4:00 Chowder5:00 Jewel In The

Palace

Evening

6:00 New Life Baptist Church

7:00 SVG TV News7:55 A.P.I Presents8:55 3D9:00 Tele- Classifieds9:10 SVG TV Obituaries9:15 Book Review

9:25 Bold And Beautiful 10:00 Movie Act ‘R’

“Dirty Harry”12:15 Movie Com ‘R’

“Good Morning Vietnam”

2:40 Movie Com ‘R’“History Of The World Part 1”

4:30 CSI: Miami5:00 CNN News

FRIDAY SUNDAY TUESDAY

THURSDAY

SATURDAY WEDNESDAYMONDAY

THIS WEEK ON

Morning

6:00 CNN9:00 Shepherd’s

Chapel10:00 Caribbean

Newsline10:30 Vincy Carnival

Rewind11:30 Live Up

Afternoon

12:00 Headline News1:00 Still1:30 3D2:00 Las Vegas3:00 Youn4:00 Cat In The Hat4:30 Jelly Jam5:00 My Little Pony5:30 Martha Speaks

Evening

6:00 The Right Of The People

6:30 Yes There Is Hope

7:00 SVGTV News7:50 Caribbean

Passport 8:25 To Be

Announced8:50 3D/Lotto Draws9:00 Tele-Classifieds9:10 SVGTV

Obituaries9:15 Bold & Beautiful9:55 Super 6 Draw10:00 Movie Dra

‘Pg-13’“Flight Plan”

12:00 Movie Hor ‘R’“The Fly“

2:00 Movie Horror ‘R“The Fly II”

4:00 CNN News

Morning

6:00 CNN7:00 Your Destiny 8:00 Trinity In Touch8:30 Mik9:00 Bible Speaks9:30 Faith & Truth10:00 Movie Dra

‘Pg-13’“The Vow”

Afternoon

12:00 Paula12:30 Turning Point 1:00 Direction2:00 Movie Dra

‘Pg-13’“Gone”

4:00 Movie Dra ‘Pg’“What If”

Evening

6:00 Health Talk 6:30 Flash Back7:00 Children On

The Move7:30 Live Up8:00 My Child & I9:00 Movie Action

‘Pg-13’“Megamind”

10:45 Movie Adv ‘Pg-13’“The Eagle”

12:30 Movie Com ‘Pg’“Dr. Suess: The Cat In The Hat”

2:05 Movie Com ‘Pg-13’“Doctor Dolittle

4:30 CNN News

Morning

6:00 CNN News9:00 Shepherd’s

Chapel10:00 Untamed &

Uncut11:00 CSI: Miami

Afternoon

12:00 Headline News1:00 Las Vegas1:30 3D2:00 The Doctors3:00 Kick Buttowski3:30 Fish Hooks4:00 Phineas & Ferb4:30 Suite Life On

Deck5:00 Caribbean

Power Outreach

5:30 Girl Friend

Evening

6:00 Paula6:30 In Touch 7:00 SVG TV News7:55 Encounter8:25 The Law & You 8:55 3D9:00 Tele –

Classifieds9:10 SVGTV

Obituaries 9:15 Wwe Monday

Night Raw 11:00 Common Law12:05 NCIS1:00 CSI2:05 Movie Act ‘R’

“Dawn Of The Dead”

4:00 Law & Order CI5:00 CNN News

Morning



Newsline10:30 My Child & I11:30 Meet The

Brownes

Afternoon

12:00 Headline News1:00 Law & Order1:30 3D2:00 CSI3:00 Planet Earth4:00 The Cat In The

Hat4:30 Jelly Jam5:00 Jewel In The

Palace

Evening

6:00 To Be Announced

6:30 We Cooking 7:00 SVG TV News 7:55 A.P.I Presents 8:55 3D/Lotto Draws9:00 Tele-Classified9:10 SVGTV

Obituaries 9:15 Bold & Beautiful 9:35 Caribbean

Newsline 10:15 Movie Act ‘R’

“Magnum Force”

12:45 Movie Act ‘R’“Escape From L.A.”

3:15 Movie Com ‘Pg-13’“Bubble Boy”

5:00 CNN News

Morning



Newsline10:30 House Of

Payne11:00 Meet The

Brownes11:30 Caribbean

Passport

Afternoon

12:35 Headline News

1:00 House1:30 3D2:00 Modern History3:00 Youn4:00 Fish4:30 Deck5:00 Basia

Evening

6:00 Paula6:30 Serving The

People 7:00 SVG TV News7:50 Chronicles8:00 North Leeward

In Focus 8:35 Book Review 8:55 3D9:00 Tele-Classifieds9:05 SVGTV

Obituaries9:10 Bold And

Beautiful9:30 Caribbean

Newsline10:00 Movie Act

“Pg-13”“Red”

12:00 Movie Act “R”“True Legend”

2:00 Movie Action “NC-17”“The Doom Generation”

3:30 Movie Wes ‘Pg-13’“The Gundown”

5:00 CNN News

May 18h, 2012 May 20th, 2012 May 21st, 2012 May 22nd, 2012 May 23rd, 2012

May 24th, 2012

Morning

6:00 CNN7:30 Cubix8:00 Sonic X9:00 Yu-Gi-Oh10:00 Dragon Ball Z11:00 Tai-Chi:

Chasers11:30 Yu-Gi-Oh

Afternoon

12:00 The Young Icons

12:30 On The Spot1:30 3D1:35 To Be

Announced2:00 SVGTV Sports3:00 To Be

Announced3:30 Meet The

Brownes4:00 Basia (Baja)5:00 Inside Story

Evening

6:00 Ran6:30 Living Water

Ministries7:00 SVG TV News7:25 Sportweek7:55 Voice Of

Freedom8:25 F H Videos8:55 3D9:00 Guinness Rush

Hour10:05 Movie Com

‘Pg-13’“The American President”

12:05 Movie Act‘R’“Ronin”

2:15 Movie Sci-Fi ‘Pg-13’“Godzilla”

4:40 CNN

May 19th, 2012

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20)You may interest some of them ina service you have to offer. Bewary of those who have overlystrong convictions. Your practicalapproach to life may charmsomeone who has been observingyou. Your emotional partner maymake you angry this week.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21)You may have the opportunity toget involved in some interestingconversations. Make residentialchanges that will lift your spirits.Travel for business purposes maybring the highest returns. You willneed to take a look at therenovations that are necessaryand try to find the cheapest way toget things done.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21)You can accomplish a lot if youdeal with other people's money orpossessions this week. You mayexperience financial loss if youdon't use good judgment. Becareful not to lead someone on ifyou truly have no interest. You canmake a difference if you're willingto stand up and be counted.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)If you work in conjunction withsomeone else you may find they'retrying to steal your thunder.Opportunities for new and excitingrelationships will be yours if youget out and join groups.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22)Make plans to mix business withpleasure. Dinner with clients orbusiness associates should besuccessful. You should be trying toclear up legal contracts that havebeen pending. Take your time; donot make any decisions in haste.Your high energy and disciplinewill enable you to complete anyseemingly insurmountable tasks.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23)Don't take advantage of yourexpense account. You can't doeverything on your own. You mayhave difficulties with foreigners.You will encounter those who canhelp you further your goals if youattend functions that attractprominent people.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23)Make love, not war, and all will befine. You will find that socialactivities will be enjoyable and willpromote new connections. Theremay be opportunities to attendsocial functions that are linked towork. You will find that you canwork progressively at improvingyourself this week.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)Do what you can to help them butdon't neglect your own family. It'stime to reconnect with some of thepeople you used to know. Be sureto take time for old friends orrelatives you don't get to see thatoften. Think twice before youagree to take on any new projects.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21)Don't overspend to impress others.Confusion is apparent and you'llneed some sound advice if youwant to do the right thing. Yourideas can be put into action. Don'truffle the feathers of those youcare about most.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20)Keep an eye on your weight. Anydifficulties with peers could beunnerving. Your devotion will bepersuasive. Try to beunderstanding.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19)Have some fun, but draw the line ifsomeone tries to fast talk their wayinto your heart. Your mate maywant to pick a fight but if you'repersistent with your affections theiranger should dissipate. Socializewith friends, but don't overspendon lavish entertainment. Take careof the needs or responsibilities ofelders.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20)Business trips might proveunproductive. Don't give your hearttoo readily. You need to spendless time daydreaming and moretime accomplishing. You may findthat you can be the recipient ofvaluable information if you'rewilling to be a good listener.

ACROSS

1. Sharp point

4. Almost

closed

8. Engrave

initials

12. Greek letter

13. Peel

14. Zhivago’s

love

15. Biology, e.g.

(abbr.)

16. Andes native

17. Blind strip

18. King’s seat

20. Insurance

forms

22. FBI

employee

(abbr.)

23. Express

displeasure

24. “Star __”

27. “__ So Fine”

28. Business

degree

(abbr.)

31. Spanish

noblemen

32. Home

schooler’s

degree

(abbr.)

33. Commented

34. 1/60 of a

min.

35. Over,

poetically

36. Discontinues

37. Repulsive,

informally

39. Before

(prefix)

41. Crossword

heading

43. Protein-rich

bean

47. Designer

Chanel

48. “__Almighty”

50. Parisian pal

51. “__ keep”

(pro-

crastina-

tor’s

motto)

52. Hurry

53. Mao __ -

tung

54. Poor grades

55. Large

amount

56. Male heir

DOWN

1. Student’s

concern

2. Rash’s

feature

3. Matched set

4. Mimicking

5. Singer

Jackson

6. __ de

Triomphe

7. Arrived

8. Martinelli et

al.

9. Good-luck

charm

10. Study hard

11. Sombreros

19. Hardwood

trees

21. Fleur-de-__

24. Football

scores

(abbr.)

25. Fish eggs

26. Surround

27. Pronoun

29. Auction offer

30. Internet pop-

ups

32. Hot springs

33. Spotted

35. Finds

acceptable

38. Puts in the

fridge

LA

ST

WE

EK

’sS

OL

UT

ION

* Programme guide subjectto change.

39. Locale

40. Renovate

41. __ rain

42. Dove shelter

44. Creates

edging

45. “__Tired” (2

wds.)

46. Charge on

property

49. Kilmer of

“Batman

Forever”

A million $$ questionDear George,

I AM DATING this girl forjust over one year and Iwould like to marry her,but I just would like to besure that she is notmarrying me for mymoney.

I have recentlyinherited just under 1million dollars in assetsfrom my father, and sheknows this. I met herjust after I came into my

fortune. She says sheloves me, and I have notseen anything to thecontrary; but I justwould like to be surethat she wants ME andnot my money.

Is there a way tomake sure of this and toset my heart at ease?

Wondering Love

Dear W/Love,

It is natural toharbour the thought ofher probably professingto love you because ofyour good fortune. Afterone year, you ought to

have, at least, a goodidea of the authenticityof her love for you.

If you are still indoubt and would like tomove forward and marryher anyway, then Iwould suggest you do apre-nuptial agreement. Itwould not matter oneway or another for her ifshe truly loves andwants only you. Whilethis may create debatebetween you two, it isone sure way to give youthe peace of mind youseek.

George


AdviceVDear George,

I HAVE a big problem! I had a quarrel with mygirlfriend a week ago, and she threatened topoison me. It is not the first time she hasthreatened me but this time she has taken it toofar, I think.

She is daring me to eat another meal from her,and all of this came about after she accused me ofcheating on her. I am very honest in saying I havenever and will never cheat on her. She is a veryjealous woman, and this has been a problem in ourrelationship.

I need to know what to do about her and how toconvince her that I am not cheating on her.

Worried stiff,

Dear Worried stiff

When things get to the stage where deaththreats are issued, it is time to rethink yourposition.

I do not think you would want to wait around tosee if she is serious about her threats. Now is agood time to take an extended and indefinite breakfrom her. You need to have someone in your lifewho wants to help you preserve it, not end it.

Insecurity breathes jealousy, and that kind ofjealousy will cause enough stress in your life tomake you miserable as long as it exists. Now maybe a good time to run for your life.

George

Dear George,

MY HUSBAND is going about tellinghis friends and relatives, and myfriends and relatives, that I do notwant to sleep with him. He is evengoing as far as to tell them that hesuspects that I have another man.

George, this has hurt me deeply,and I am disappointed that myhusband would stoop that low. He isnot telling them that the reason forme not wanting to sleep with him isbecause he refuses to take a bath afterhe gets home from his work. Heworks in the field, and he smells tohigh heavens when he gets home. Heis telling me that he is my husbandand he should not have to take ashower if he does not want to. Hisposition is that, I should sleep withhim regardless to his condition. I amsaying no to that and I am standingmy ground.

I am very hurt by what he is doingand how he sees me, and each daythat passes, I am moving farther andfarther away from him emotionally

and otherwise.

Hurt

Dear Hurt,

Your husband’s immaturity andchildish behaviour will cause gravedamage to your marriage, and thesituation needs to be addressedimmediately before the damage sets inand becomes irreparable.

His lack of respect for you inwanting you to indulge with him inhis untidy state, to put it mildly, isalarming. He needs to be told that hisbehaviour is unacceptable, and itwould be a good idea for you to engagethe services of a marriagecounsellor. Let him know that thefuture of the marriage rests on hisdecision to seek counsel.

Good for you for taking the standyou took! Cleanliness in my book isan unspoken prerequisitefor a healthy relationship/marriage.

George

Girlfriendmakes threats

A case of not bathing


NOEL CASTELLO, known in theentertainment circles as ‘Defo’,is reveling in the popularity he isreceiving for his 2012 number,‘Woodlice’, but he would like tosee that enthusiasmtransformed into purchase of hisCD.

Defo is the composer andsinger of the song ‘Woodlice’which has been receivingmuch airplay on local radiostations.

Defo, with some 32 years ofinvolvement in the calypso artform, admits that, while hehas produced a string ofpopular songs like this year,

he is yet to be recognized onthe wider circuit.

Along with the ‘Woodlice,’Defo has ‘Mu clothes’, ‘OneCaribbean’, ‘Letter from underthe Ground’, ‘Natural disaster’and ‘Black mind’, on a CD hehas produced for Vincy Mas2012.

The recordings were done at

Jr. Studios in CaneGarden, run and operatedby skilled musician JuniorSutherland. Designs for theCD cover were by LanceChapman.

Defo is confident thatthis year will producesomething marvellous forhim.

“I have songslike any otherartiste. Sinceyou have twosongs, anythingcan happen. Firstof all you have togo through to thesemis,” Defoprojected.

He was amongthe finalists in theNew Song CalypsoContest staged atthe launch of theVincy Masactivities at theSolidarity Inc CarPark, Saturday,May 5.

He was notamong the topthree finishers, buthe contends: “I amthe people’s King.”

He explainedthat since the

launching, ‘Woodlice’ hastaken off.

“I am feeling happy withthe response I am getting fromthe public.” Defo said, but hewould like the appreciation togo deeper.

“Making fans is not all of it.I want them to have one ofthis,” he said, ” pointing to acopy of his CD.

A cellular phone ‘top-up’and confectionary salesmanwho plies his trade in thevicinity of the Bedford Streetbranch of Bank of St. Vincentand the Grenadines, Defomentioned that he “sacrificed”his business so as to financethe musical production.

Defo is a member of the2012 cast of the UpstageExperience Calypso Tent.


PeopleV

Noel ‘Defo’ Castello is happy withthe positive response to one ofhis songs for Vincy Mas 2012,but wants more support for hisCD.

‘Defo’ delivering his popular ‘Woodlice’ at theVincy mas 2012 launch.

Calpsonian ‘Defo’pleased with response

THIS COUNTRY’SLONE AGRO-PROCESSING clustergroup, VincyKlus, is nowequipped to start thebasic functions of itssecretariat.

Thanks to the Centrefor EnterpriseDevelopment Inc (CED),VincyKlus now has aDell computer to outfitits secretariat that willbe housed at the SVGBureau of Standardsoffice in Campden Park.The cluster group wasestablished by CED in2008, with a view tofacilitate the growth anddevelopment of new and

existing micro, small andmedium enterprises inthe agro-processing andservice industries.

Accepting thedonation, Ms.DesrieLewis expressedgratitude to CED,stating that it was timelyand note-worthy.

“CED have beeninstrumental in theconception of VincyKlus,and the computerdonated is but part of themany support servicesgranted by CED. Thesewill go towards theestablishment of asecretariat,” she said.“Additionally,

honourable mention ismade to the Bureau ofStandards which willhouse the secretariat,and key personnel havealready been earmarkedto fully operationalizesame. To this end, weconvey heart-feltgratitude to CED for itstremendous effortstowards the developmentof VincyKlus, for seeingthe cluster move frominception to maturity;and for being a championof the cause.”

VincyKlus wasofficially launched inNovember 2010.(Contributed)

by PATMOS RICHARDS

THE COMMUNITY OFKINGSTOWN HILL is givingearly notice of its intentionto compete in this year’sCommunity ChristmasLighting Competition.

Towards this end, agroup of residents,committed to this cause,met at the Ash’s familyhome at Kingstown Hill,some two weeks ago, toformalize plans for thecommunity’sinvolvement.

Mrs. Patsy Ash-Cumas, a Vincetiannational currentlyresident in New York,spearheads a committeethat includes Ricardo‘Puzzle’ Grant, Cecile

Cambridge, AlexBrowne, Richard andMarlon Cambridge youngsportsmen, MontyOllivierre, Rex Shepherd,Jeffrey Quashie andKenroy ‘Shaka’Shepherd.

According to aspokesperson for theCommittee, theinvolvement in theFestival is seen as aneffort aimed at: fosteringa sense of communityamongst the residents ofKingstown Hill; andrekindling oldfriendships and settingthe platform for forginghealthy relationshipbetween present andolder generations ofresidents of Kingstown.

Mrs. Ash-Cumas is thesister of the late KennethAsh, also originally fromKingstown Hill, who iscredited with havingpioneered the ChristmasLighting-up crusade. Hishome at Lowmans (Hill),adorned with thousandsof lights and otherChristmas decorations,became an attraction forpersons across the stateand even fromneighbouring islands.

Mrs. Ash-Cumas, wholeft St. Vincent recentlyfor her adoptive home inthe USA, is expected toreturn soon to rejoin theother members of thecommittee.

She sees her effort as“primarily one of putting

backsomething ofvalue to myhometown ofKingstownHill, but alsoas a mark ofrespect to mybrother,Kenneth, andalso to honourthe memory of anotherdeceased brother, Henry,who was originally partof planning for this

event.”The Christmas

Lighting Competitionforms part of the unique

Nine Mornings Festivalwhich has developed intoa major attraction forvisitors.


NewsV

General Manager of CED, Mr. Felix Lewis, presents the computer toVincyKlus Secretary, Ms. Desrie Lewis.

CED Donates Computer to VincyKlus

Kingstown Hillgives earlynotice

Kingstown Hillcould be another

outstanding addition tothe Community LightingFestival as DorsetshireHill (pictured here) was

last year.

WINDWARD ISLANDS LEFT ARM SEAMERKenroy Peters and national off spinnerDyke Cato helped their teams to honorsin matches of the National PremierDivision Cricket Competition played onthe weekend.

Peters, in his second season ascaptain, helped guide Saints to firstinnings honors over highly rated teamRivals. In a tense encounter at ArnosVale One, Saints were put into bat andreached 115. Peters topscored with 29,while Mozario Matthews hit 26. Theevergreen Olanzo Jackson took 5 for47 and Asif Hooper 3 for 20.

In reply, Team Rivals struggledagainst some good swing bowling andwere eventually dismissed for 75. AsifHooper led the batting with 32.Kenroy Peters led from the front,picking up 4 for 18, while Amral Bobbtook 3 for 6 and Romario Bibby 3 for27.

Saints, batting a second time,reached 152 for 9 when play ended.Timothy Warner was unbeaten on 31.Kenroy Peters hit 31 and Sunil Ambris27. Kesrick Williams took 3 for 33 andOlanzo Jackson 3 for 61.

At Arnos Vale Two, OLA BoutiqueRadcliffe recorded their first victory ofthe season when they defeated ASCOby an innings and 92 runs, a victoryset up by a five-wicket haul by DykeCato.

OLA Boutique Radcliffe batted first

and compiled 261 for 9 declared. AndyHarper stroked 75 not out, VebertKing 62, Delorn Johnson 34 andRodney Lawrence 28. Andre Huntetook 5 for 67. In reply, ASCO werebowled out for 155. Ragive Roberts hit22 and Elric Morris 21. Dyke Catobagged 5 for 59 and Andy Harper 3 for33. Asked to follow on, ASCO wereskittled out for a record low score of14. Delorn Johnson took 4 for 7 andAndy Harper 4 for 1.

In the First Division at Buccament,Bryden Frutee Youth United defeatedLOG Masters by 10 wickets. LOGMasters made 67 in their 1st innings.Basil Weekes hit 24. Joel O’Garrotook 4 for 19. In reply, Bryden’sFrutee Youth United managed 97 for 9declared. Keroy Roberts made 34.Delshorn Welcome picked up 3 for 17and Elvis Browne 3 for 19.

LOG Masters, batting a secondtime, made 48. Isaac Trimingham took4 for 6 and Keroy Roberts 3 for 24.Asked to make 18 runs to win,Bryden’s Frutee Youth United reached19 for no wicket.

At Stubbs, Belmont United won onfirst innings from Unique Warriors ina drawn game. Unique Warriors made117 in their 1st innings. OnikeEndeavour took 4 for 32 and AugustusMofford 3 for 26. Belmont Unitedreplied with 130. Nickie Antoine hit 53and Javed Cordice 32 not out. Calvert

Williams bagged 3 for 3 and JosephMedford 3 for 42. Unique Warriorswere 118 for 6 in their 2nd innings atthe close of play. Omar Williams made54 and Christroy John 25. McKinleyDelpesche took 3 for 13.

At North Union, Smashers defeatedRadcliffe Too by 6 wickets. RadcliffeToo posted 189 in their 1st innings.Michael St. Hilaire topscored with 52.Analdo Fisher made 50 and RomarioPierre 34. Marvin Small grabbed 6 for93 and Antonio Charles 3 for 52. Inreply, Smashers made 175. KenvilleSam led with 42, Redon Bentick hit 33and Curtis Joyette 25. Kamal Greenetook 3 for 23 and Daniel McMillan 3for 40. Radcliffe Too disappointed to

close at 114 all out in their 2ndinnings. Michael St.Hilaire hit 32andArnold Jake 31.Adolphous Charlestook 4 for 56 and Marvin Harry 3 for24. Asked to make 128 runs to win,Smashers reached 133 for 4. RonaldScott led with 61.

This weekend, in the PremierDivision, The News Spartans opposePolice One at Arnos Vale One, whilePolice Two face Saints at Arnos ValeTwo. In the First Division, Sion Hillclash with Victors Two at Buccament,and Radcliffe Too take on UniqueWarriors at North Union.

I.B.A.ALLEN


SportsVNational players shine

Kenroy Peters, captain of Saints,took 4 for 18 and hit useful inningsof 29 and 31.

Dyke Cato bagged an important 5 for59 for OLA Boutique Radcliffe.

Vitamalt donates toSVG Netball AssociationTHE ST. VINCENTBREWERY LTD.,through the Vitamaltbrand, continues to putits support behind youthnetball in this country.

The Brewery, again inthe name of Vitamalt,recently demonstrated

this ongoing commitmentwhen it donated some$3,000.00 to the SVGNetball Association, toassist with off-settingexpenses for theCaribbean Netball UnionJean Pierre CaribbeanUnder-16 championship,

hosted by SVG lastmonth.

A release from theBrewery recommits thebrand to continuedsupport of “wellness andfitness activities acrossSt. Vincent and theGrenadines.”

L-R: Mrs. Doris Mc Intosh, Secretary of

SVG Netball Association,receives cheque from Reneiro

Terc, Brand Manager at theSt.Vincent Brewery

Ltd.


Paul’s Avenue, P.O. Box 592, KingstownTel: 456-1821 Fax: 457-2821E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.metrocintsvg.com

V 30. FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Liverpool rolls over SVGEVEN IN THE FACE OF DEFEATagainst the Liverpool FootballAcademy, recently installed coach ofthe SVG Under-20 football team, PeteMorris, is satisfied with theperformances of his players.

Morris’ sentiment was expressedafter the Vincy lads went under 3 —1, in the match played last weekWednesday, May 9, at the ArnosVale Playing Field.

“Considering the time they hadtogether to gel and establishchemistry as a team, I am satisfiedwith the performance of theplayers,” Morris said in a postmatch rap.

Myron Samuel, captain of theSVG team, and who played againstthe Liverpool Academy two yearsago, said that the Liverpool teamthis time around may not havebeen as competitive, “but theyplayed with the same style.”

And in looking ahead, Samuelsaid, “I think as we prepare for theCFU qualifiers, we will have towork harder in the tactical areaand be more competitive.”

Samuel also voiced a concernabout the training conditions,saying that a better trainingground could improve the team’spreparation.

Mike March, Coach of theLiverpool Football Academy, intimatedthat the SVG team had “some goodplayers technically,” but more neededto be done in the tactical area of theirgame.

He indicated that his Academy wasalways on the lookout for new talent.

On the actual field of play, theLiverpool Academy made early

inroads into the Vincentain defenceand opened the scoring in the 17thminute through Jack Dun. JeromeSinclair incresed Liverpool’s lead inthe 56th minute, and John Mukendiput victory beyond doubt with anotherin the 77th minute.

SVG’s lone goal came in the 90thminute when captain Myron Samuelconverted a penalty.

During their stay at the BuccamentBay Resort, under whose auspices thevisit was organized, players andtechnical staff of the LiverpoolAcademy were also involved in minicoaching sessions for students fromschools on the Leeward side of theisland.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Pete Morris, coach of SVG Under-20s,expressed satisfaction with histeam’s performance.

Liverpool coach Mike Marchrecognized tactical deficiencies in theSVG game.

Myron Samuel, captain of the U-20’s,scored his team’s lone goal.

Liverpool on the attack.

Captain of the Liverpool Football Academy accepts trophy from Minister ofSport, Cecil Mc Kie.

by PAUL JAMES

MUSTIQUE BuildingCompany Limited(MBCL) registered thehighest total to date inthe Mustique T/20Championship when theyblasted Lion Gate for 193for 9 off the allottedovers.

Glenmore Edwardsscored a blistering 50 forMBCL. He was wellsupported by KenroyRichards who hit 27.

David Phillips did hisbest to restrict theassault. At the end ofhis 4 overs, he had theimpressive figures of 4wickets for 22 runs, in alosing effort.

Lion Gate neverlooked like a team readyto challenge, and were

quickly bundled out for95. The only batsman toget into double figureswas Claudius Murraywith a lonely 15.

MBCL’s GlenmoreEdwards and KisroyYoung captured twowickets each.

Man of the Match wasGlenmore Edwards.

Alumbrera Sweepersmeanwhile, continued to

sweep through thechampionship when theyeasily disposed of RockMasters Cricket team.

Batting first, RockMasters scored 117 for 7from their 20 overs. AndySpring scored 25 andSunil Lewis 17, to be themain contributors totheir team’s score.Keithland Cujo finishedwith the more thancommendable bowlingfigures of 4-1-20-4.

Cedrick Grant, 64 notout, and a no nonsense22 by Keith Laviahustled Alumbrera tovictory, closing on 120 for2 in 11.3 overs.

Cedrick Grant wasadjudged Man of theMatch.

Matches in theChampionship continuethis weekend at the lushMustique Playing Field.


SportsV

SHIMANO BAILEY recorded yetanother victory in the continuingroad race series organized by the

SVG Cycling Union.That victory came last Sunday in a

20-mile road race, during whichShimano was pushed every bikelength of the way by his youngerbrother, Zefal.

Shimano’s winning time wasdeclared to be 1 hr 12 minutes 49.49seconds, with his brother’s secondplace time set at 1 hr 12 minutes49.71 seconds.

The Mother’s Day event sawcyclists riding from Ratho Mill to theArnos Vale Roundabout five times,and finishing at the Howards Marinebuilding in Villa Flat.

Also on Sunday’s card was a 3.3mile time trial from Ratho Mill to theArnos Vale Roundabout three times.

Taking the time trial was CammieAdams in a time of 9 minutes 52.48seconds.

Zefal Bailey was second in a timeof 10 minutes 09.52 seconds, andthird was Shimano Bailey in 10minutes 32.93 seconds.

On Saturday, the Cycling Unionalso staged two races, a Power Climband a Hill Climb, both at Argyle.

Capturing the 300 meters PowerClimb was Shimano Bailey. CammieAdams took second place and AlbertQuammie was third.

The one-mile Hill Climb was wonby Cammie Adams, as Zefal Baileytook the second spot and LuckyAntrobus was third.

The local cyclists are using theraces as preparation for regionalmeets in the upcoming months.

THE BUCCAMENT BayResort has had its latestaddition in sportingfacilities- a grassedfootball field.

The football field,measuring one hundredand ten yards by sixtyyards, was officiallyopened last Saturdaywith a brief ceremony.

However, it will not bein use until the next fewmonths as there is somecompacting still to be

undertaken. Last Saturday’s

opening was addressedby Kevin Smith, GeneralManager of theBuccament Bay Resortand ParliamentarySecretary in theMinistry of Tourism,Sports and Culture,Elvis Charles.

The ceremony washeld to coincide with thevisit of the LiverpoolUnder-18 Academy

football team of England,who were on theirsecond trip to St Vincentand the Grenadines.

Before the opening ofthe field, the playersengaged youngfootballers from schoolsin the area, in acoaching session.

The grassed fieldcomplements the othersporting facilitiesalready in use at the

Resort. Among the othersporting facilities are anastro turf football field,the Pat Cash Tenniscourts and the Cricketnets, which came intobeing in March, in timefor the hosting of theWest Indies andAustralian cricket teamsthere.

The Buccament BayResort opened its doorsin 2010.

Shimano Bailey (right) leads the way in the 20-mile race, ahead of ZefalBailey (centre) and Lucky Antrobus.

Shimano Baileytakes anothercycle event

High score in Mustique T/20

Alumbrera’s batsmanCedrick Grant leavingthe field after his inningswhich sealed victory forhis team.

Andrew Pompey disappointed with the bat forRock Masters.

Buccament Bay Resort adds grassed pitch

Youngsters try out the surface at the new footballpitch at the Buccament Bay Resort.

REIGNING championsKnights Trading Aussies,JSM Salon RoyalChallengers and AdmiraltyTransport Youth Combinerecorded wins in lastweekend matches playedin the Bequia Twenty/20Cricket Championship, atthe Clive Tannis PlayingField, Port Elizabeth.

On Saturday, KnightsTrading Aussiesregistered anothervictory when they beatSouth Side United by sixwickets. Batting first,South Side United weredismissed for 122 in 17.4overs; Kenrick Cozier topscored with 29, OmarLavia, Mishack Williamsand Vernon Baptiste had

two wickets each. Inreply, Aussies reached125 for four off 13.1-overs; Julian Edwardsblasted 76 not out.Glendell Gregg with 2 for30 was South SideUnited best bowler.

JSM Salon RoyalChallengers beat MANI-COU by 10 wickets.MANI-COU were routedfor 85 in a matchreduced to 17-overs. Dr.Godwin Friday topscored with 33. PrimusNanton captured threefor 11 for RoyalChallengers. JSM RoyalChallengers replied with86 without loss off 12-overs; Donwell Hectorslammed an unbeaten70.

Admiralty TransportYouth Combine beatRBTT Carib Stars by 102runs. Youth Combineposted 160 all out in19.4-overs. ChelsonStowe topscored with 36,supported by Ellis Lavia

19, Dominique Stowe 18and McNeil Morgan 15.Cameron Lavia finishedwith four for 33 andShirlan Pompey claimedtwo for 26 for CaribStars.

RBTT Carib Starswere dismissed for 62 off11.3-overs. Allan Foylecaptured 3 wickets for 8runs, McNeil Morgan 3for 16 and GarvinOllivierre 3 for 30 forYouth Combine.

The Championshipwill continue thisweekend with anotherthree matches at theClive Tannis PlayingField in Port Elizabeth.

On Saturday, JSMRoyal Challengers willplay Christ WarriorsCanouan from 2 pm. OnSunday from 10 am,Imperial Pharmacy WestSide Knockers will takeon South Side United,and later at 2 pmKnights Trading Aussieswill oppose Christ

Warriors Canouan.

I.B.A.ALLEN

by KENVILLE HORNE

RSVG Police destroyedRudy’s Electrical lastSunday to move one stepcloser to retaining theNational LotteriesAuthority Bagga T-20Softball CricketCompetition.

The lawmen are intothe semi-finals aftertheir victory over Rudy’sElectrical last Sunday,May 13, at the Kearton’sPlaying Field, wherethey amassed 212 for 9in their 20 overs, SaleneGroege topscoring with56.

Ruddy’s Electricalwere made to genuflectunder the pressure of thelawmen, and were all outfor a measly 31 in7.1.overs. Rudy’ssuccumbed to theaccuracy of RolandoWright, 3 for 10, andKenroy Martin, 3 for 16.

Earlier on Sunday,Valley Boys continued intheir unbeaten vein asthey defeated Topsidaz

by 74 runs. Valley Boyschalked up 138 for 6 intheir allocated 20 overs,Romano Mc Millan hit32 run , with SebastienForde taking 3 wicketsfor 25 runs in his 4overs.

Consistent anddisciplined bowling nevergave Topsidaz a chance,and they were eventuallybowled out for 64 in 19.3overs. Romel Jackreturned the impressivefigures of 3 wickets for 3runs in 3.2 overs.

In matches onSaturday 12th, Suprizersdispensed with HairounWarriors by 4 wickets.Warriors were in deeptrouble at 36 for 6,before Winbert Mapp’sblinding 51 pushed themto 105 all out in 19.3overs. Godfrey Derrickhad bowling figures of 2wickets for 8 runs in 4overs.

Warriors looked to bechallenging, but afterthe departure of theirtop scorer, Dillon

Duncan, for 22, theyfolded in 18.4 overs.

In a North Leewardaffair, Summersetschooled the youthfulCircumstances, beatingthem by 27 runs.Summerset batted first,and it took theexperience of NoxellMichael, 26, and KevinSmall, 22, to push themto 100 for 7 in 20 overs.Ronique La Borde took 3wickets for 18 runs.

Circumstances, withlittle or no answer to adeadly Relon Mc Kie, 5wickets for 13 runs,were bowled out for 63 in15 overs.

In the semi-finalsscheduled for Saturday,May 19, Surprizers willdo battle against ValleyBoys from 12:30pm, andPolice will square offagainst Summerset from2:30pm. The final is setfor Saturday, May 26.

All matches are slatedfor the Kearton’s PlayingField.


SportsV

TODAY, Friday 17 is the second day of the Lordstest. There is a feeling of apathy by someCaribbean people.

They are convinced that the West Indies’ losingstreak will continue. The diehards harbournothing but optimism, and place every faith intheir team.

They are not bothered by the build-up to theseries, not visa problems, weather factors,selection concerns.

But they are so worried about the team’sbatting and their ability to adjust to Englishconditions.

There are also rumblings that, with the ChrisGayle impasse having come to a conclusion at leaston the surface, other factors of the earthquake areabout to shatter the tranquility reached with theburying of the hatchet.

Caribbean people seem to revel in conflict andthe Gayle saga brought out the best in the regionaltendency to kill and destroy.

Persons thrived on the controversy, and readinginto some people’s comments on the matterprovided an insight into their combative nature.

As the issue has come to a sudden finale, someelements seem bent on prolonging the agony of selfimmolation, and insularity will gain moremomentum as long as Sammy remains at the helmof regional cricket.

For with every other act of ineptitude displayedby the WICB, there rises the clamour for theresignation of the Board. But that will not solvethe problem.

And if the team does not win, there will be callsfor changes across the board.

The Three Test matches will be interesting. West Indies have always been the guinea pigs of

international cricket. Whenever a scapegoat isneeded, the lot falls on the West Indies.

The rule to limit the number of fielders behindthe bat on the leg side was to counter the effect ofLance Gibbs’ off-breaks.

When that law took root, West Indies foundanother weapon. Their four-pronged attackdismissed teams and completed victory in two andthree days, yet the rule was introduced to cater for90 overs in a day. That adjustment was aimed atdisrupting the West Indies fast bowling machine.

Instruments were banned from cricket groundsin the West Indies when this area was seen as theplace where cricket is a source of enjoyment.

The West Indies continue to be disregarded.There is little appreciation for our welfare, neitherin the alteration of the laws of the game nor in thescheduling of fixtures.

Other countries have series designed toaccommodate them. For the West Indies, noconsideration is given to their way of life.

But the region seems to thrive on adversities. This zone and its athletes and indeed cultural

icons played a critical role in the fight againstapartheid, a system which served as a rallyingpoint for oppressed people the world over.

During that era, it was the conscious actions ofthe regional stalwarts that helped to eliminateapartheid. This new generation must imbue thatelement of pride that marked the Clive Lloyd andVivian Richards segment.

Until we grasp that aspect of dignity, it willtake us more time to handle the subtleties ofinternational sports.

Thriving onadversities

The RBTT Female20/20 CricketCompetition will bowloff this weekend, asthe local CricketAssociation looks toselect a team toparticipate in the WestIndies Women’s 20/20Tournament, scheduledfor Jamaica later thisyear.

The competition thisyear will feature fiveteams: Garifuna Stars,J.G.Tigress, RisingStars, North leewardand United Survivors.

Opening matcheswill be played at theStubbs Playing Field,with J.G. Tigressopposing Rising Starsbeginning at 11:00am,followed by GarifunaStars coming upagainst 50 Oversdefending champions,United Survivors.

The Tournamentcontinues on Sundaywith Rising Starsopposing NorthLeeward, followed byNorth Leeward againstJ.G.Tigress.

This year’s 20/20tournament replaceslast year’s 50 oversformat.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Captain Cordel Jackwill be looking to leadUnited Survivors toanother title.

Femalecricketbowls off

Contrastingresults inBequia 20/20

Semi-finalists decided in Bagga T20

Donwell Hector hitanother half century ina last weekend match inthe Bequia T20Championship.


PeopleV

FRIDAY 11TH MAY was aspecial day for Roman Catholicshere. It was the day theywelcomed the Papal Nuncio toSt. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Papal Nuncio, HisExcellency Archbishop NicolaGirasoli is the permanentdiplomatic representative ofthe Holy See/The Vatican tothe Caribbean. The positionis officially known as anApostolic Nuncio.

On Friday morning ,Archbishop Nicola Girasoliwas greeted by students andteachers of schools located along NorthRiver Road and Fernside/Wilson Hill.These include the St. Mary’s RC

School, St. Joseph’s ConventKingstown, The School for Childrenwith Special Needs and St. Martin’sSecondary School.

The students lined the streetswaving the flags of St. Vincent & theGrenadines and also the Holy See.

Following his meeting with studentsin Kingstown, Archbishop NicolaGirasoli journeyed to the Marriaquaconstituency where he met with staffand students of the St. Joseph’sConvent Marriaqua, and accepted agift basket on behalf of all the schools.

Later that day, His Excellency con-celebrated Holy Mass at the Cathedralof theAssumption inKingstown.Among the largenumbers inattendance werePrime MinisterDr. RalphGonsalves andhis wife, DeputyPrime MinisterHon. GirlynMiguel, Ministerof EcclesiasticalAffairs Hon.MaxwellCharles, MP forCentralKingstown Hon.St. ClairLeacock and his

wife, and The Rt. Rev. Leopold Friday,Bishop of the Anglican Church.

The Papal Nuncio’s visit to SVGlasted three days, during which hepresented his credentials to theGovernor General and held discussionswith the Prime Minister.

He also met and celebrated with thelocal clergy.

His Excellency Archbishop NicolaGirasoli was accompanied during hisitinerary by His Lordship BishopJason Gordon, Bishop of Barbados andSt, Vincent and the Grenadines.Submitted by Enrico Deshong)

The St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua is located in the lush surroundings ofthe Marriaqua area.

Inset: Sis Jacintha Wallace is the first local Vincentian to head the School.

PAST STUDENTS OF THE MARRIAQUA SECONDARY SCHOOL, nowSt. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua, are for the first time in the history of theschool, planning a school reunion activity to take place during the week ofJuly 14-21, 2012.

The reunion is being spearheaded by a special Planning Committee ofthe Past Students Association. The main objectives are: to keep alive thevision of the late Sister Patricia-Ann Douglas for the school in theeducation thrust of this country; to allow friends to reconnect with eachother as a school family; and to raise funds to assist the school so that thecurrent students and those to come, can benefit in a tangible way fromthose who have passed through the halls of the school.

The School, in existence now for 44 years, has produced its fair share ofoutstanding, well rounded and highly educated citizens of this country,and it continues to do so with an unmatched focus on instilling discipline.

Some of the highlights for this year’s school reunion include: aMSS/SJCM Talent Show and Exhibition on Monday, July 16th; theinaugural Sister Pat Memorial Lecture to be delivered by MonsignorMichael Stewart on Wednesday, July 18th at the SJCM from 7pm; and aRecognition and Awards Dinner on Saturday, July 21st also at the school.

Several past students who have made significant contributions to thedevelopment of various sectors of our country will be recognized andawarded for their efforts, at the Dinner.

The 2012 Reunion is being held under the theme “Fulfilling the dream;Keeping the vision alive.”

The school is currently headed by Vincentian-born Sister of Cluny, Sis.Jacintha Wallace.

MSS/SJCM Past Studentsto stage a reunion

Archbishop Nicola Girasoli deliveringthe homily at the Mass held at theCathedral of the Assumption.

PapalNunciovisits

Time to share a hearty laugh with PM Dr. Ralph Gonslaves(right), MP St. Clair Leacock (left) and Mrs. MargaretLeacok.

Papal Nuncio, His Excellency Archbishop Nicola Girasoli (centre) stops to chat withstudents of the St. Mary’s R.C. School. Bishop Jason Gordon is also pictured.

PapalNunciovisits


TributeVby NELSON A. [email protected] CORRESPONDENT

VINCENTIANS in the United Statesrecently paid tribute to prominentbusinessman Egerton ‘Creech’ Wood,founder and CEO of the Brooklyn-headquartered Square Deal Shippers andMovers, who died in a motor bikeaccident in North Union, St. Vincent, onMar. 25. He was 65.

“When I got the news, I froze for aminute,” Maureen King, theDiamonds-born coordinator of thesubcommittee on the DiasporaDay/Week of Activities for the St.Vincent and the Grenadines DiasporaCommittee of New York, told nationalsat a Thanksgiving and MemorialService in honor of Wood, at St. Mark’sUnited Methodist Church in EastFlatbush, Brooklyn, New York, onApril 22.

“When I started a Day Carebusiness, ‘Creech’ was one of thosepeople who encouraged me,” sheadded.

South Rivers native Almira Rodgerssaid she was “so privileged to know‘Creech’ because his mother was myaunt. To me, ‘Creech was one of mybest cousins.

“He was the one who gave me mysecond husband,” she said to loudlaughter.

Joel Toney, a former St. Vincentand Grenadines’ United Nationsambassador, who was visiting NewYork after returning home onretirement, said “the economic impactof ‘Creech’ Wood is well recognized bythe Government of St. Vincent and theGrenadines.”

Edson Augustus, the Deputy NewYork Consul General, noted that Woodwas not only a businessman but also asports enthusiast and an activist — “asoldier who has gone to sleep just like

that.“Let us take this moment not just to

celebrate his life but to take anintrospection in our life,” said theformer Seventh Day Adventist Churchpastor.

The Rev. Alwyn Craig, pastor of theAbundant Life Christian Church inBrooklyn, said he had “worked under”‘Creech’s’ late father, Insp. StephenJohn Wood, as a police officer in theRoyal St. Vincent and the Grenadines’Police Force.

“Let us not look at what happened(how the younger Wood lost his life),but let the family be steadfast,” heurged.

The birth and contribution of SquareDeal

In 1974, Wood, who taught at theStoney Grounds Primary School for 10years and was employed for a fewyears as an insurance salesman,migrated to New York, at theinvitation of the predominantlyVincentian Cavaliers Sports Club, toplay cricket in Brooklyn.

Two years later, Carl Stephens,owner of BWI Shippers, on FlatbushAvenue, Brooklyn, employed him as ashipping clerk, teaching him theshipping business.

In 1977, Wood collaborated with hiswife, Ruby, and the late Envoy “Boots”Pereira in founding Early BirdShippers & Movers.

But four years later, Wood venturedout on his own, forming Square DealShippers and Movers.

“’Creech’ not only built a successfulbusiness and provided jobs andsecurity for others, he also gave backto his homeland, many otherCaribbean islands, and the tri- state ofNew York, New Jersey andConnecticut,” according to the Woodfamily in a bereavement.

“Square Deal Shippers has beeninvolved in the feeding ofunderprivileged schoolchildren and thehomeless; the adoption of severalKindergarten schools in the ruralareas of St. Vincent and theGrenadines; and the sponsorship ofseveral youth events throughout theentire Caribbean,” it added.

“As the CEO of Square DealShippers, ‘Creech’ contributed to, andensured the safe delivery of medicalequipment and supplies, refrigeratedmorgues for hospitals, computers forrural primary schools, and buildingmaterials for churches and schoolsworldwide,” it continued.

The family said “Creech” loved lifeand excitement, which were “clearlyreflected by his involvement in sportsand cultural events, both in St Vincentand in Brooklyn, New York.”

It noted that, in the sponsorship ofcalypsonians for “Labor Day” Carnivalparade in New York and “Vincy Mas”,the names “Creech” and “Square Deal”became “synonymous with culturaland social events.

“For many years, on EasternParkway in the Labor Day Parade,‘Creech’ would personally drive one ofhis trucks in front of the Square Deal-sponsored Vincy band, proudlydisplaying his Vincentian heritage,”said the statement, adding that Woodalso extended sponsorship to varioussporting teams, cultural shows andexhibitions.

The family said Wood will “foreverbe remembered for his contributiontowards the acceptance of biking as amajor sport in St Vincent and theGrenadines,” stating that he was “alover of motor bikes and formed theSVG Cool Riders Club — a recreationalclub, which conducts road and healthsafety classes at schools andcommunity centers, donates to schoolsand hospitals, and helps numerous

elderly peoplethroughout thecountry.

“Unfortunately,that love was sodeep that itprobablycontributed to histragic end,” itsaid.

Other tributes

The family saidWood will also be remembered as the“Heartbeat” of The Pembroke MotorBike Dirt Track Independence BikeFest Motor Cross, where thousandsgathered, bringing together bikersfrom St. Lucia, Grenada, Martinique,Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados,Tortola, Dominica, and Antigua andBarbuda.

“Many can still recall the stunts,which had them either screaming orpraying,” the family said.

Tributes were also paid in song andpoem, and on keyboard and steel panby, among others, pannist CalvinSeales; opera singer Colin Connell,who hails from Georgetown,; poetWendell De Riggs; and Trinidadian-born gospel singer Gerard Placide.

Caribbean AmericanCongresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, thedaughter of Jamaican immigrants;Grenadian American CouncilmanJumaane Williams and BrooklynBorough President Marty Markoitzalso sent messages and proclamations.

“Mr. Wood made a significantcontribution to shipping,” said Clarke,who represents the predominantlyCaribbean 11th Congressional Districtin Brooklyn.

“I want you [the family] to takecomfort that Mr. Wood is in a placewhere there are no more suffering,”she added.

Egerton ‘Creech’Wood

Vincies in U.S pay tribute to businessman

The

Sec

ret t

o In

cred

ibly

H

ealth

y H

air

Located on 3rd Floor, Baynes Building (Blue Building)

Done by Appointment ONLYBraiding and Weaving

The choice is simple ... Simplicity

N’Seya Beauty Salon

Contact number: 784-495-7246 /784-533-6229

Opening Hours : 9:00 a.m- 6:00 p.m

We specialize in all your Hair care

needs


ClassifiedsVLAND FOR SALE

At Mt. Pleasant, Mesopotamia

Tel:456-7613/457-1197

At Whim, BelmontTel: 4918802

At Mt. Pleasant,Mesopotamia going at

very good priceTel:

456-7613/457-1197

FOR SALEOne (1) LG 32”Flat Screen TV

$1,500.00 or nearestoffer

Call: 526-8618

FORRENT/LEASE

2-storey dwelling houseat North Union

Tel:495-5285/456-1159

FOR RENT3-bedroom, 2-bathroomunfurnished apartment

at Villa, walking distanceto the beach, easy

access to town, parkingavailable.

Call: 570-0514

Executive (shared)apartment, 1-3 bed-

rooms & en-suite bath-rooms at Harmony Hall

Call: Leytisha Jack430-8643

TRUCK FOR SALE

VOLVO FL10 - 320Serviced

New TyresLocation:

Cane GardenSerious?

Tel:458-1465/493-7137

LAND FOR SALE

12,001 sq. ftof land at Union

EstateCall:

533-2715/16457-2714

SPARKING electrical wires at the KingstownPreparatory School triggered an emergency responseby electricity provider VINLEC, the fire department, theGovernment’s Electrical Inspectorate Division and

officials from the Buildings Roads and General ServicesAuthority (BRAGSA) on Monday morning.

Teachers and pupils turning up to school shortlybefore 8.30 that morning, were greeted by the sight

of the emergency units on thecompound and an evacuation in progress.

Information received said that electrical wireswere observed sparking shortly after 8 o’clock andthe school’s authorities were quickly alerted.

Calls were then made to the emergency serviceswho responded quickly.

While officials investigated the source of thesparks, vehicular traffic to the KingstownPreparatory School and the nearby St VincentGrammar School was prohibited as police cordonedoff the route.

Some parents and guardians expressed interestin taking their children home or away from thescene and were granted permission to do so.Teachers were heard advising parents to take theirchildren home before the all-clear was eventuallygiven.

Despite a reduced student population, classesresumed later that morning.

There was no report of further electrical activitiesinterrupting classes.

FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 VOLUME 106, No. 20 www.thevincentian.com EC$1.50

Published by The VINCENTIAN Publishing Co. Ltd, St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines A.I. REAL ESTATEArnos Vale 3 bedrm Property on 4,862 sq.ft. - CALL - H802

Biabou 2 bedrm Property on 2,520 sq.ft. - $200,000.00 - H909

New Montrose 3 bedrm Property on 3,000 sq.ft. - $275,000.00 -H350

Other listings are availablePhone: 457-2087 Fax: 457-1382

Toll Free (USA): 866-978-0951718-732-0545

Email: [email protected]: www.aisvg.com

FOR

SALE

A MANHOLE left exposedwithout its grid for weeks isposing a threat to pedestriansand commuters at a bus stop onthe main road into Kingstown.

Persons awaiting buses at thebus stop opposite the Girls HighSchool complained earlier thisweek, that the hole had beenexposed for weeks, and that itwas time the authorities attend toit.

They expressed the fear thatthe authorities might not move toaddress the situation, untilsomeone is seriously injured fromfalling into the hole.

Information received frompersons familiar with the areasays that it was not the firsttime the situation occurred inthat area.

They expressed belief that thesteel grid, which was used as acover, was too small to properlyfit the hole which is close to 4ft x3ft.

Up to the time the danger areawas photographed this week, thesteel grid was still at the bottom

of the large drain which is about5ft in depth, from the surface ofthe sidewalk.

Manhole a danger to commuters

Uncovered manhole at bus stop and in close proximity to vehiculartraffic.

Students,teachers,parentsand othersoutside theschool,followingevacuationof thebuildings.

Police cordoned off the area and prohibitedvehicular traffic to allow emergency personnel toattend to the problem.

Personnel fromthe ElectricalInspectorateDivision take akeen interestas the Vinlecemergencycrew attends toan electricalmeter affixedto the building.

ELECTRICAL FIRE SCARE AT PREP SCHOOLELECTRICAL FIRE SCARE AT PREP SCHOOL

Issue May 18

Documents

Transcript of Issue May 18