SVG 33rd Independence Anniversary Supplement

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2012. 1a.

2a. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26 , 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

MESSAGE FROMHIS EXCELLENCY SIRFREDERICK N.BALLANTYNE, G.C.M.G.,MD, DScGOVERNOR-GENERAL OFST. VINCENT AND THEGRENADINESTO MARK THE 33RDANNIVERSARY OFINDEPENDENCE OF ST.VINCENT AND THEGRENADINES27TH OCTOBER, 2012

MY FELLOW VINCENTIANS,we celebrate our 33rdAnniversary ofIndependence at a timewhen the world isundergoing one of itsworst economic crises.

This crisis isnegatively impacting thelives of all Vincentians,and we are all, by now,familiar with the closureof many business places,and the significant

increase inunemployment.

We need to be awarethat any adverse effect ofthe economy hits mostlythe poor, and it behoovesus all to recommitourselves to theprinciples of toleranceand generosity at thiscrucial period of ourexistence.

More than ever, all ofus, individuals, familiesand Government, need towork together to fashionplans to see us throughthis difficult period,emphasizing always thatwe need to work hand inhand to accomplish whatwe need versus what wewant. It is my view thatthe adoption of thissimple concept can guideus towards determiningour economic survival.

As a young Nation wehave a lot to be proud of,with significant gains inall indices measuringdevelopment over thepast thirty-three years.

We need to bereminded constantly ofthose who fought for ourfreedom andIndependence, andequally to celebrate the

vast number of personswho continue to strive tomake sure that weprotect the hard wonfreedom.

As we celebrate thisanniversary, let us takethis opportunity to thankthe many persons whowork long and hard inthe interest of St.Vincent and theGrenadines. The list ofthese persons or groupsis too long to detail, butwe must never forgetthose in the Diaspora,Vincentians and non-Vincentians, who all loveSt. Vincent and theGrenadines andcontribute through theirorganizations to fosterour development.

I am honoured andproud to be a Vincentian,and have faith in thegoodness of all ourpeople. It is my hopethat the generosity ofspirit which has guidedus over the past yearswill become more evidentas we face the yearsahead.

May God continue tobless us all onIndependence Day andalways.

THE VINCENTIAN. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2012. 3a.

GovernorGeneral, Sir FrederickBallantyne

We can overcome

Governor General’s Message

INDEPENDENCE DAYMESSAGE – 2012PROGRESS ANDOPTIMISM INCHALLENGING TIMESBY DR. THE HON. RALPHE. GONSALVESPRIME MINISTER OF ST.VINCENT AND THEGRENADINES

FELLOW VINCENTIANS, athome and in the Diaspora,it is with tremendous prideand happiness that Ideliver this IndependenceMessage.

On October 27, 2012,St. Vincent and theGrenadines celebratesthe thirty-thirdAnniversary of NationalIndependence.Independence is indeed

symbolic because itreminds us of themagnificence of oursovereignty and thefreedom which we enjoyin a constitutionally-grounded democraticsociety. Independencefor us as a strugglingpeople means thepromise of hope for abetter future, a futureguided by the teachingsof the church in ourdevelopment of morality,peace and justice.

Our distinguishedheroes from HisExcellency, ParamountCarib Chief, JosephChatoyer, to our nation’sFounding Father, RobertMilton Cato, havedelivered, and the legacyof our ancestors has

enriched and ennobledgenerations ofVincentians.

Our outstandingStatesmen, includingGeorge Augustus McIntosh, EbenezerTheodore Joshua, SirJames Mitchell, and SirVincent Beache, have allcrafted a magnificentpath in our nation’shistory. They stand outas beacons in ournation’s annals for theirinvolvement,commitment,contribution and service.

Our blessed nation hasalso benefited from theenormous contribution ofother outstanding sonsand daughters in allspheres of life. Many ofthem have left us for the

great beyond, but theycontinue to live on in ourmemories. Dr. EarlKirby, Dr. GideonCordice, Mr. FrankMason, our latecommunity and churchleaders and publicservants, doctors,farmers, fisherfolk andbusiness professionals.We will continue to liftthem up in our prayers.

Fellow Vincentians,the policies of thegovernment embody thedreams and aspirationsof our founding fathers,and our nation’scomprehensivedevelopment planembraces reforms in allspheres and prioritiesthe enhancement of thehuman condition.Indeed, thetransformation of thenational economytouches every facet of lifeand production. This33rd anniversary ofIndependence of St.Vincent and theGrenadines, however,comes at a time whenour nation is feeling thebacklash of the globalrecession.

Additionally, severalother ills which hinderhuman developmentcontinue to plague ourcitizens in the form ofbreakdown in families,domestic violence,teenage pregnancy,disrespect for authorityand property,obstructionist messagesfrom talk radio,consumerism,intolerance, ill discipline,all of which areunacceptable.

Importantly, theserecurring challengeshave placed tremendousstrain on the socialservices and the church.

Despite the setbacks,our nation is full of hopeand optimism, theunbridled enthusiasm ofour citizens at home andin the Diaspora, thecreative potential of ouryouth, the numerousopportunities created forour people through theeducation revolution, theadvances in science andinformation technology

in the production andsocial apparatus, theconfidence in thenational and citizensecurity initiatives, theexcitement and creativityshown in the thrust toprovide world classcompetitive air andmaritime transportsystems, all serve toencourage us to continueto fashion St. Vincentand the Grenadines intoa nation in which itscitizens will haveboundless pride.

This year, AlmightyGod has been good to us;with the abundance ofrainfall to fortify ourcrops, a fairly calmhurricane season, thewherewithal to assistparents in sendingchildren back to school; aplan to stimulateemployment withincreased activity at theArgyle InternationalAirport, and in thehousing sector. Thetourism sector hasreceived severalaccolades abroad, andwith the new thrust inagriculture, our farmersare reinvigorated to fightthe diseases which infecttheir crops.

As we reach anothergreat historic milestone,let us continue to beinspired by those whohave used little toachieve much, and in thewords of scripture “becareful for nothing, butin everything by prayerand supplication withthanksgiving, let yourrequest be made knownto God”. Philippians,chapter 4, verse 6.

In these turbulenteconomic times, let us

strive for peace in ournation, and for thecommon good. Let us allbe our brothers’ keepers.Let us return to ourstrong religious values toguide our thoughts,ideas, convictions,concepts, and code ofconduct which will helpus to respond to all sortsof circumstances;continue to value self,family and nation.

In closing, I urge thecitizens of this nation,whether in the publicsector, private enterpriseor self-employed, here athome and in theDiaspora, to workdiligently and smartly,strive for high ideals,value your contributionto nation building byworking individually andcollectively.

Our nation is small,but we can have bigdreams and achievemuch greatness. On thisIndependence Day,continue to have strongfaith in God, love of oneanother, and in thewords of Phillipians,chapter 4, verse 8:“Finally, brethren,whatsoever things aretrue, whatsoever thingsare honest, whatsoeverthings are just,whatsoever things arepure, whatsoever thingsare lovely, whatsoeverthings are of good report;if there be any virtue,and if there be anypraise, think on thesethings.”

May God bless our nation!

4a. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Prime Minister Dr. Hon Ralph Gonsalves

Prime Minister’s Message

Progressing in theface of challenges


Independence Message 2012HONOURABLE ARNHIMEUSTACE, Leader of the OppositionSt. Vincent and theGrenadines

TOMORROW, St. Vincent and theGrenadines will mark 33 yearssince we broke free of colonialrule to determine our own pathas a people.

Many Vincentians are tooyoung to remember day-to-daylife as subjects of the BritishEmpire. The irony of longingto determine our own affairswhile singing “God save theQueen!” and beseechingAlmighty God in anthem to“make the nations see, Thatmen should brothers be, Andform one family, The wideworld ov’er” while observing

that our colonial masters weresomehow “more equal” thanwe were in our land.

Our political and economictrajectories were largelyplotted by British technocratsand colonial ideologues. Butbecause we longed for self-determination and worked enmasse toward the same, ourcolonizers had to contend withand ultimately defer to ourwill to be masters of ourselves.

Thirty-three years later, ourgovernment celebrates thegrant of loans or gifts fromcountries either moved by pityfor us or seeking to expandtheir influence in our region.We no longer boast of havingsecured major contracts fortrade. We have becomebeggars where once we were

architects and builders of ourown destiny.

Thirty-three years on,farmers who once traded ingreen gold, wait desperatelyfor CESS, and strain theireyes for the outline of a sprayplane on the horizon. Thepreviously industrious dependon “poor relief”. Parents choosebetween feeding their childrenand sending them to school.

We are told this situation isto be expected because theeconomies of most countriesthe world over are in decline;that all over the world, peopleare losing jobs and making dowith less. But manycountries are still growing, butnot St. Vincent and theGrenadines. We are the onlycountry in Latin America andthe Caribbean with four (4)

consecutive years ofnegative growth,and possibly a fifth.

Yet, countriesthe world over arefighting to remainindependent bycutting costs andputting measuresin place tostimulate growth,create jobs andincreaseopportunities forfurther educationand training.Countries fight so as not to bebeholden to any bigger andwealthier country.

Perhaps, the refrain in ourown anthem, “And God blessand keep us true!” is toopassive. Perhaps, we haveforgotten that we must earn

our blessings. It would appearthat we should ask God to“grant us strength for the hardfight to achieve and keep ourfreedom.”

May we keep ourIndependence!

Message from the Leader of the Opposition

Keeping ourIndependence

Hon. Arnhim Eustace, Leader of theOpposition

SVG GREEN PARTY INDEPENDENCE MESSAGEfrom IVAN O’NEAL BSc(Hons), MSc,MBA Leader and co-founder of SVG GreenParty

IF SOMEONE HAD SAID TOVINCENTIANS on 27th October 1979,that in 33 years’ time SVG would beworse off, the thought would have beenunbelievable. The truth is though, thatSVG is much worse off now than on 27October 1979, due to decades of poorvision by government.

High quality education is the wayfor all countries to gain realindependence. Three years afterindependence from England, Singaporehad built three science universities.Thirty-three years after SVGindependence, SVG has not built oneuniversity.

Our ancestors fought for ourfreedom and independence, but ourpeople are enslaved in poverty andhardship. Where is the independenceand dignity in relying upon handoutsfrom foreign countries? It is suicidal

for our nation to rely upon foreignloans with arms folded, and expectprosperity.

History has shown that this doesnot work wherever and whenever thepeople are poor and there is highunemployment and crime.

No uneducated nation can ever be agreat and prosperous nation or aneconomic power, and I urge our youngpeople to campaign for their education.Youths are the prized gems of ournation, and as long as they wish tostudy, the sky should be the limit asfar as what the government is willingto provide.

Without education, the seeds ofindependence and prosperity willnever be nurtured. In 2011, a record12,000 Singaporeans graduated fromuniversities in Singapore. In China,every year, seven million graduatefrom universities. In 2011, noVincentian students attended our SVGuniversity.

There is an overwhelming cascadeof graduates entering the global jobmarket and our children cannotcompete if they have no education. Theonly way to compete is by training our

people, developing expertise andcreating innovation.

For this, SVG needs free educationfrom pre-school to university, and tobuild three science and technologyuniversities, so we can createinnovation and obtain lucrative scienceand technology contracts from abroad,to bring revenue to the country.

However, the veiled apartheidexcreted upon us by the ULP regimefor the benefit of the super-rich ofMustique, Canouan and Taiwan,obstructs our people’s path toindependence and prosperity.Apartheid is keeping our childrentrapped in the chains of poverty.

Education and innovation areneeded to convert dead capital into livecapital in SVG. SVG could export freshwater in tanker loads, export a wholevariety of agro-products, userenewable energy to make electricitysignificantly cheaper, and createinnovative Green products.

True independence will only comewhen we have a strong Greeneconomy. A Green government willinvest $200million annually ineducation and build three science and

technology universities, so our peoplecan be prosperous and independent.

The independence of our childrenhangs on our endeavours. SVG needsnew leadership, able to carry out boldand decisive measures to convert deadcapital into live capital and create newproducts, thousands of new high-paidjobs and surplus revenue.

May a new direction and God’sblessing be our strength. Happyindependence anniversary

Ivan O’neal, Leader of the SVG GreenParty

6a. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Message from the Leader of the SVG Green Party

High quality education for allis true independence

2012 INDEPENDENCE MESSAGE –COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

AS WE CELEBRATE ANOTHER YEAR ofIndependence and development as anation, I am moved to comment on some ofour developments as a Police Force(Service). It is so important that our PoliceForce develop alongside our Nation, seeingthat security, law and order and tranquilityare necessary for the development of ourNation.

In ensuring this development, thePolice Force, in 2012, continues to be therecipient of a number of very importantassets/equipment, training for personnel,and are engaged in discussions inrespect of Law reform.

Equipment

For example, we are now inpossession of a Hydraulic Shears, whichis used for the destruction of obsoletefirearms and persons have been trainedto use and maintain same. In the past,the method of destruction was ofconcern; the Shears is recommended as amore suitable option. We are also inpossession of a DOT Peen FirearmsMarking Machine. Personnel were alsotrained in the use and maintenance ofthis. It enables us to insert, in additionto the Manufacturer’s Identificationmarks, our unique identification on theDepartment’s firearms, and all otherfirearms imported into the state will beengraved. This process will assist witheasy identification of all markedfirearms.

The electronic system to recordinterviews of accused/suspects forserious offences, and its supporting lawsand training for personnel, must be seenas a means through which the credibilityof our investigators who interviewaccused/suspects, would not be tarnishedby allegations of inhumane treatment,threats and promises during theinterviews, which sometimes led to voirdire in Court. It will help the Court tounderstand both the conduct of Policeand the accused/suspect during theprocess of interviews.

We have commenced discussions andpreparation for the setting up of theElectronic Fingerprint Machine andDatabase. This will help with theinstant processing of the relevant bio-data of prisoners both locally and aroundthe region, give the networking that will

develop with others islands. Our two (2) new Interceptor boats, the

Radio Communication system, a vehicleand other assets were received from theGovernment of the United States ofAmerica, under the Secure Seas andCaribbean Basin Security Initiative(CBSI) programmes. The construction ofthe Coast Guard Base in Canouan willenhance our Coast Guard personnel andmaritime capability.

We have also received a GlobalMaritime Distress and Safety System(GMDSS). This system is a relativelynew technology. It was implemented onFebruary 01, 1999, through amendmentto the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)Convention. It is the international radiosafety system mandated by theInternational Maritime Organisation(IMO) for ships at sea. The primarypurpose of the GMDSS is to automateand improve emergency communicationsfor the world’s shipping industry. TheGMDSS is really an internationallyagreed-upon set of safety procedures,types of equipment and communicationprotocols used to increase safety, andmake it easier to rescue distressed ships,boats and aircrafts. It consists of severalsystems, some of which are new, butmany of which have been in operationfor many years. The system is intendedto perform the following functions:alerting (including positiondetermination of the unit in distress),search and rescue coordination, locating(homing), maritime safety informationbroadcasts, general communications, andbridge-to-bridge communications.Specific radio carriage requirementsdepend upon the ship’s area of operation,rather than its tonnage. The systemalso provides redundant means ofdistress alerting, and emergency sourcesof power.

Service expansion

The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit(ATIPU) was established on March 07,2012 and officially launched on April 13,2012, as a result of the Prevention ofTrafficking in Persons Act No. 27 of2011. Its main functions are: toinvestigate possible cases of Traffickingin Persons; to prosecute suspectedtraffickers; to train law enforcementagents in combating Human Trafficking;to inform the general public throughawareness campaigns about Trafficking

in Persons; to submit annual reports tothe Minister of National Security on allpertinent matters concerning Traffickingin Persons.

Its establishment and roles so far,amongst other initiatives by theGovernment, have mitigated the threatby the United Nations to place St.Vincent and the Grenadines on tier threeof the watch list. The Unit continues toassist in fulfilling the mandate under theAct, to ensure that St. Vincent and theGrenadines is not black-listed for nottaking the necessary action against thisand other related crimes.

Training and Personal Advancement

Our personnel continue to takeadvantage of training that becomesavailable, whether they aredepartmentally or personally driven.During this year so far, personnel wereexposed to training locally, regionallyand internationally in areas such as:Caribbean Defence and Security, LawEnforcement, Small Arms Trafficking,Cyber Security and Cyber Crime,Trafficking in Persons and PerformanceManagement and Development System(PMDS), while others are presentlypursuing either Associate or Degreeprogrammes at Institutions around theregion, the United States of America orEngland. Special mention must be madeof the Explosive Ordnance Device (EOD)training being pursued in the UnitedStates of America by a member of theCoast Guard Service. Although thistraining concentrates mainly onMaritime explosives, the learningacquired will be able to complement ourK-9 unit when it is called-out for duty.

Mention must be made also ofpersonnel who are making use of onlinestudies. For this year, another seven (7)persons have registered for theUniversity College of the Caribbean(UCC) degree programmes inInformation Technology (IT) and HumanResource Management. This brings thetotal to twenty (20) persons who havedecided to advance themselves via thismedium.

It is believed that more personnel areinclined to pursue academic developmentto take advantage of the AcceleratedPromotion Policy, either for acceleratedpromotion or the increase in salarywhich will soon be available under theGraduate Allowance, or to be able to

operate in a more professionalenvironment which is facilitated throughthe Graduate Entry level. Theexperience gained from higher self-development and the level ofprofessionalism of personnel will assistour men/women to better understandand perform their roles more effectivelyand efficiently, and the public will placemore confidence in our ability to do so.

Welfare and new initiative

While we encourage personnel todevelop themselves, we continue toensure that their welfare is taken care ofas we are very concerned about ourmen/women’s diet. For this reason, theservices of the Canteen have beenextended to include the catering offreshly prepared meals, at a reducedrate. We also encourage personnel tojoin our Group Insurance to ensure thatthey take advantage of the benefitsunder the Policy, which includes life,health, dental and vision. Our children’seducation is not left behind, seeing theyare taken care of under the ScholarshipFund Policy.

Discussions are continuing in respectof Cyber Crime Laws to curb crimescommitted via the internet, andamendments to the Motor Vehicle andRoad Traffic Laws to address problemson our streets, given the influx ofvehicles and the reckless conduct ofsome drivers on our roads, as well as toimprove the safety of road users.

These are some initiatives which havebeen realized or in pursuance in aneffort to ensure that our Nationcontinues to mature and develop withminimal criminal/assault on its progress.

Let us work together as a Nation toensure the continuing development ofour Nation and our Police Force. HappyIndependence!


Developing our Police Force to ensure thecontinuing development of our Nation

Message from the Commissioner of Police

Commissioner of Police, Keith Miller

8a. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Independence messageBy BISHOP SONNY E.WILLIAMSPresiding Bishop –Pentecostal Assemblies of the West IndiesSt. Vincent and theGrenadines District

WE ARE GRATEFUL for anotheroccasion to celebrate ournational Independence. This is agolden opportunity to pause andreflect on our blessings, as wellas to commit ourselves tomaking our nation productiveand prosperous. Consequently,Independence Day for our futuregenerations of Vincentians willbe celebrated with even morereasons to express gratitude.

It is imperative that weloudly celebrate ourachievements and blessings,as silent gratitude isn’t muchuse to anyone. Someone hassaid, “No duty is more urgentthan that of returningthanks”.

So often, we are perturbed

by what remains to be doneand forget to be thankful forall that has been done. Eventhough we don’t have all wewant, we are grateful for whatwe’ve escaped and what wehave.

We are thankful to God forallowing us to live in thisbeautiful, peaceful country.We still have the freedom ofworship at a church of ourown choosing every day oronce a week, or not at all. Wecan still express our opinionsin open fora such as meetings,rallies, on radio and televisionand in newspapers. We stillhave the choice to ownproperty, and are free to moveabout the country. We stilloffer prayer in schools andpublic offices, and the Bible isregarded as a divine book. Westill regard the sanctity ofmarriage, that it is arelationship between a manand a woman.

There are many more areaswe can be thankful to God for.

Psalm 136:1 reminds us to,“Give thanks to the Lord forHe is good”. Our blessings didnot come from our parliament.They came and come for Godalone. The Epistle of James isof this view: “Every good giftand every perfect gift is fromabove and comes down fromthe Father of light” (James1:17). Whatever we enjoy inlife that is good genuinelycome from God.

Our founding fathersunderstood that perfectlywhen they enshrined in ourconstitution that our nation isfounded on the belief of theSupremacy of God. The writerof our national anthemcaptures this in the line,“Whate’er the future brings,our faith will see us through”.

We must always recognizeand honour the source of ourblessings. God’s warning toIsrael is timely and apt.“When you have eaten and arefull, then you shall bless theLord your God for the good

land which He hasgiven you. Bewarethat you do notforget the Lord yourGod”. (Deut. 8:10-11).

PresidentAbraham Lincolnreminded his peoplethat God is the truesource of blessing,nationally andindividually. Hestated, “It is theduty of nations, aswell as men, to owntheir dependenceupon the overrulingpower of God…..and to recognize thesublime truth,announced in theHoly Scripture andproven by allhistory, that those nationsonly are blessed whose God isthe Lord”.

The Pentecostal Assemblesof the West Indies, St. Vincentand the Grenadines District

salute the nation on its 33rdAnniversary of Independence,and join the many in thankingGod for His provision,protection and preservationover this nation.

Give thanks

Message from the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies

Bishop Sonny Williams

INDEPENDENCEMESSAGE BY THEPATRIARCH OF THESPIRITUAL BAPTISTARCHDIOCESE SVG, HIS EXCELLENCY THE

RIGHT REVERENDEDMUND ERDLY JOHN

“IN OUR DECLARATION OFINDEPENDENCE, we holdthe following truths to beself evident: All men arecreated equal. They areendowed by their creatorwith certain alienablerights that among theseare life, liberty and pursuitof happiness. WheneverGovernment becomesdestructive towards theseends, it is the rights of thepeople to alter or abolishthe government andinstitute a new one.”Abraham Lincoln.

Fellow Citizens andVincentians within theDiaspora, myArchbishop, myChancellor, Council menand women, ministersand members of theSpiritual BaptistArchdiocese:

Today I lend my voiceto the swell of thehallelujahs of thisnation’s 33rd year ofindependence. Alas! Thedumb man mighteloquently speak, thelame man with hiscrutches might leap forjoy and the man withfailing eyesight mightsee the light that shineseven in the darkestnight, giving him areflection of our nation’sindependence. Thisindependence shouldallow us an opportunityto renew our faith inGod, for it is onlythrough faith we can seethe invisible, take hold ofthe intangible andbecome spiritualvisionaries to providethis nation with analternative to not beingovercome by evil byovercoming evil withgood. Through faith inGod, we can build thisnation, just as Jesusbuilds his churches onone man’s testimony that‘Jesus Christ is the Sonof the living God’. Jesussaid “Upon this rock;upon this confession offaith I will build mychurch, and the gates ofhell shall not prevailagainst it.”

In the glory of God

Let us praise Almighty

God, even as we recallour identity, our history,and our destiny ‘for allah we’. We mustthankfully acknowledgeGod’s great goodnesstoward this nation, alongwith the furthergoodness that we expectand hope for. Whatevergood things God gives us,it is His will that wemake the mostcomfortable use we can ofit and in return, offer ourbaskets of first fruits,that is, giving backsomething to God.

Today we tell thecommunity about themen and women of greatvision and courage whosecured our liberty,giving us equal chance ofliving, and enumeratethe many milestones thatthis country has crossed.However, I must arguethat it is high time tochange this nation forthe glory of God; for eachof us to experience theawesome move of God inour lives, replacing ourstony, empty, wicked,deceptive and bad-minded hearts with love,compassion andconsideration for ourbrothers, sisters,mothers, fathers, elderly,children and the youthsof this nation.

Many are the cries

Fellow citizens, theblessing of thisindependence should beenjoyed by all; butunfortunately, while thissunlight has brought joyto some, it has broughtfear and hopelessness,discrimination and deathfor others. I can hear thehopeless cries of the 5-15year-old-children who aresexually molested amidstthe jubilant shouts ofindependence. I can hearthe agony of those youthswho have committed andare attempting suicidebecause of the unfairdemands placed uponthem by society. I haveseen the increasingexpulsion-revolution inthe schools, that is beingmistaken for aneducation revolution, asyouths are put outindefinitely from schools.with no hope for thefuture. Yes, I can hearthe silent, hopeless cry offarmers who toil all dayand are unpaid, unableto maintain theirfamilies because their

crops and livestock areeaten up by disease andthe unpredictableweather, or stolen byunscrupulous people.Yes, I hear, loud andclear, the cries of thosepersons who, because ofpolitical interference andon-the-job jealousy, havelost their jobs and haveno redress. I have seen

the increase inimmorality perpetratedeven by officers ofindependence. Aren’t weashamed?

Our calling

It is now clear that wehave waited too long toask the right questions,and we are going too

slow to address theconcerns that threatenour nation’s people.

I am appealing to ourgovernment, our peopleand the Spiritual Baptistcommunity to respect,protect, preserve andsupport this nation andour SpiritualArchdiocese, bydenouncing, condemning

and eradicating thechaos of immorality andviolence prevalent amongus.

Let each of us playhis/her part to make thisnation of St.Vincent andthe Grenadines thestrongest of all nations,as we seek to be a peoplethat God blessed andcommissioned.


ÂGive God the gloryÊ

Message from the Spiritual Baptist Archdiocese











20 a . FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2012. 21a.

22 a. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN






by ADRIANWRIGHT

I’M SO PROUD tobe a Vincentian,Though this landhas no gold ordiamond,The warmth of thepeople surround,Your heartdrowned in all thelove shown.

Breadfruit andJackfish ournational dish,The SoufriereTree our nationalflower.Take a romanticwalk in theBotanic Gardens,Experience thecaptivating floraand fauna,The VermontNature Trail, orTable Rock,Or take anexhilarating kisson top of LaSoufriere Volcano.

Explore thebeauty of SaintVincent and theGrenadines,Represent theBlue, Gold andGreen, like theAmazonaGuildingi,Take a drive toone of the waterfalls, Baleine or Trinity,Explore the gems of the Antilles, feel the tropical breeze.

Breathe the fresh air, relaxing in a hammock underthe shade of the trees.

Take a sip of the cultural wine; get drunk from thefun,Carnival Festivities, jump around in the July sun,Everything in moderation is good, and everyone iswelcome.Vincy to the Heart, big up the whole crewworldwide,Sunset, SLR, Hairoun or Ju-C, raise your glasseshigh,And let’s toast to the best Caribbean Isle.

Land of the Blessed, forever my home, even thoughI may roam,To distant places, among strange faces, I’m neveralone.A loving mother and child relationship, nothing canbreak that bond,Just ask Jamesy P, Alston Becket Cyrus, or KevinLyttle why,And you will understand that this connection isvery strong.

Phyllis Punnett and Joel Miguel reflected this inour anthem,Our Country, Our Home, Songwriters andMusicians inspiration given,Sitting upon golden sandy beaches watching thesun rise, over the mountain,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, this is a littlepiece of Heaven.


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On October 27th, 1979, St. Vincent became an independent nation.Many Vincentians still do not realize the significance of this. TheFathers of Independence declared the goal of National Indepenedence.There were struggles, preparation and planning involved in achievingthis important objective of self determination.

Likewise, many business owners/entrepreneurs declare their goals togrow their businesses or increase profits, but too often they fail towage the battle necessary to ensure those goals are met.

This independence, let us reaffirm our declarations and move forwardwith a plan to develop the economy of St. Vincent & the Grenadinesthrough business development.

To the Government & People of St Vincent & the Grenadines From the Management & Staff of the

Centre for Enterprise Development Inc.

Moussa Building Grenville Street, P.O. Box 2343, Kingstown

Tel: 451-2235/6 Fax: 451-2235 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cedsvg.com

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‘Our Country, Our home’

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A thought for independence



A treatise by PATMOSRICHARDS

SINCE ITS ATTAINMENT ofIndependence on October 27th,1979, St. Vincent and theGrenadines has made some socialand economic progress underdifferent political regimes, datingback to the Milton Cato and SirJames Mitchell ledadministrations, and including thecurrent Dr. Ralph Gonsalves era.Each period has been marked bythe respective leader’s inimitablestyle of governance.

However, it cannot begainsaid that our presentpolitical dispensation is takingus to a higher level:Infrastructure has mushroomedtremendously with the adventof new housing schemes,learning resource centres, theupgrading of health facilitiesacross the country, theimprovement of some roads andof course, the biggest capitalproject undertaken by anygovernment, the construction ofthe Arygle InternationalAirport.

Education advancements et al

Education is virtually thegovernment’s flagship. With theintroduction of computers toprimary and secondary schoolchildren in addition to theincreased number ofscholarships offered to pursuehigher education, there is aturning point in our educationalmobility. Naturally, aneducated nation will be aproductive nation.

And as we prepare tomaximize production and use ofa trained and educated humanresource base, it is vital thatthe private sector recognize andfulfill its role as an integralstakeholder in the process ofnation-building, to includeamong other things, thecreation of jobs, a harmoniousindustrial climate, and anavoidance of unbridled partisanpolitics.

Sadly, most of thecommercial entities thatcomprise the private sector inSt. Vincent and the Grenadines,have not done enough to impacton the national landscape.They, for example, could investmore in sports development.

Community action andnegative attitudes

In this our 33rd year ofIndependence, as we seek toconsolidate our gains and build

on them, we must move toensure and encourage greateractivity at the community level.The revitalization ofcommunity-based groups, whichwere prevalent in the 1970s and1980s, should begiven someseriousconsideration.That period wascharacterized by aspirit ofvolunteerismwhich contributedpositively to socialand economicprogress at thecommunity level.

Moreimportantly, as weuse this period ofreflection on whatwe haveaccomplishedsince October 27,1979, we need togive attention tochanging ournegative attitudes,since these(attitudes) areimpediments toreal nation-building.

An example ofour negativeattitude is thevandalism of ourpublic facilities.The dilapidatedstate of our publicutilities at LittleTokyo is a perfectexample. Toomany citizens, forinexplicablereasons, takegratification inwriting obscenegraffiti on publicbuildings. Weneed to desistfrom thesenegative practices.

Moreover, weneed to approachnation-building asa collective. Theconstabulary, forexample, needs toforge links withcommunitiesthroughout St.Vincent and theGrenadines, in itsefforts to preventand possiblyeliminate crimes.Crime, we know,can adverselyaffect our tourismproduct, and if weare not careful,

SVG can become a place to beavoided.

We have the potential, thecapacity and the political will tomove forward as a nation.However, this will only be


Nation-building andIndependence achieved with a change in our

negative attitudes. It is imperative that, as we

focus on the way ahead, we doso with positive attitudes.That should be our resolutionon this the 33rd anniversaryof our independence.

OVER THE PERIOD 14 –21st October, 2012, theCasper/Maria MarshallCentre will continue itsseries of educationalactivities under the Theme“The Emancipation Story –Tell it to our Children”,with a focus on ElmaFrancois and Bertha Mutt,two stalwarts of the labourmovement in St. Vincent &

The Grenadines. In honourof these women, theCentre will host story-telling sessions, drummingand distribution of leafletsand other educationalmaterial, at the BerthaMutt Library, GeorgeMcIntosh CommunityMarket, Paul’s Avenue.

ELMA CONSTANCE

FRANCOIS

October 14 marks thebirth of one of the mostoutspoken Afro-centricactivists in the history ofTrinidad & Tobago. Sheis Elma ConstanceFrancois, who was bornin Overland, St. Vincent& The Grenadines, on14th October, 1897. In

her youth she receivedprimary education up to5th standard, and thenworked alongside hermother picking cotton.From an early age shestruggled for thebetterment of her peoplesince life was hard forlabourers. Some womenworked in the cottonfields, others as domestic

workers, while othersworked at the Mt.Bentick Sugar Factory.The outspoken Elmaquickly set about tryingto organize the labourersof Mt Bentick SugarFactory where sheworked, and waspromptly fired.

Elma Francois thenmigrated to Trinidadwhere she worked as adomestic. Reading bookslate into the night, Elmaeducated herself andproceeded to educate thepeople on labour andpolitical matters.

When asked where shehad acquired suchknowledge, she said “Youmust read, and youmustn’t read stupidness.”

She was a foundingmember of the NationalUnemployed Movementwhich was later renamedas the Negro WelfareCultural and SocialOrgnisation (NWCSA).

The NWCSAorganized many ‘hungermarches’, and followingthe 1937 uprising, theNWSCA instigated thefirst strike in Port ofSpain. Demonstrationsand strike fever’ spreadthroughout the wholecountry, and for her role,Elma Francois wasarrested and chargedwith sedition. Shedefended herself and wasfinally acquitted. Whenthe prosecutor asked herwhy she persisted inmaking speeches whichwere causing disaffectionamong his Majesty’ssubjects, she replied “Idon’t know that myspeeches createdisaffection, I know thatmy speeches create a firein the minds of thepeople so as to changeconditions which nowexist”.

On September 25,1987, forty-three yearsafter her death, ElmaFrancois was declared anational heroine ofTrinidad & Tobago forher role in drawingattention to humandignity and effectingradical change towardseradicating massunemployment andhunger. Shedemonstrated politicalwill, temerity to speakup in public, tenacity ineducating herself, and inusing that education fora cause.

BERTHA MUTT

October 21st marks

the 77th Anniversary ofthe 1935 uprising in St.Vincent & TheGrenadines, as adispossessedpredominantly blackpopulation protestedtheir condition ofpoverty, hardship anddegradation.

A small group of groupof fifteen Vincentianwomen abandoned theirdaily chores to protestagainst the rising cost ofliving. This action wassparked by an increase ofcustoms duties on basicitems, among them oiland matches. Thewomen stormed theCourt House inKingstown, brandishingsticks and stones. In theprocess they freed fifteenprisoners. Bertha Mutt,a Vendor, was one of thewomen in the forefront ofthe uprising. She isreported to have led themarch into the courtyardand prison. Among herother sisters who tookpart in this activity wereErmine Potenor, LydiaLaidlow, Hermina Oliver,and Beryl Ollivierre. Thewomen were soon joinedby two hundred men,also armed with stones,sticks, sledge-hammers,cutlasses, knives andpieces of iron. Theprotestors smashed thecourt house windows,over-turning cars, andfreeing prisoners as theywent on rampage. Whenthe uprising was quelled,George McIntosh wassingled out as the keyfigure and was chargedwith treason-felony- acharge which was laterdismissed for lack ofevidence. The womenwere given prisonsentences of eighteenmonths to four yearshard labour for their rolein the events leading upto the uprising.

The uprising signaledsignificant change in thesocial conditions ofordinary working people,and according to Dr.Ralph Gonsalves“marked the beginningsof the democraticevolution in St. Vincent& The Grenadines, andlaid the basis for thecountry’s democraticawakening”.

James Street, P.O. Box2405, KingstownEmail:[email protected] #: cell #492 9393

and cell #454-0866


Vincentian heroines


Towards abrighter futureCongratulations to the people of St. Vincent & the Grenadineson 33 years of Independence.


Developing theresolve that matchesour responsibilityUNDP CYTTINDEPENDENCEMESSAGE FOR ST.VINCENT & THEGRENADINES INCOMMEMORATION OF 33YEARS OF POLITICALINDEPENDENCE

by JAMAL BROWNE

OCTOBER 27TH, 1979marks a historic momentfor the people of St.Vincent & the Grenadines.For some, it is seen as theculmination of a century ofstruggles towardscomplete politicalautonomy, and for others,it is also viewed as thebase of a self-determinedclimb to the zenith ofnational development.Hypothetically, we arethirty-three years into thisclimb, and many are thenotions of our progressthus far.

Our politicaltransition from CrownColony to a fullyindependent nation is initself a remarkable story— a synthesis of lives andprocesses — processesdriven by ordinarypeople makingextraordinarycontributions. The tale ofour post-independenceexperience maintains thesame; however ournation has struggledimmensely amidst therapidly changing globalscenarios of the pastthree decades.

As a nation, we haveencountered the unstable

and slippery slopes ofstruggling dominantindustries, the ruggedtrails of fluctuatingglobal commodity prices,the turbulent hillsidewinds of naturaldisasters, and thecounter-productivegravitational pull ofsocial and moral decay.Nonetheless, the climbcontinues, and it isimperative that thepeople of St. Vincent &the Grenadines remainhopeful.

It was hope thatfueled the ambitions ofthe pioneers of thismulti-island nation’spolitical self-government,and it is this very hopethat would take usforward, even wheregrim global prospectsdefy.

As the mantle of self-government was handed

down to succeedinggenerations, ourpredecessors are likely tohave taken for grantedthat their successorsclearly understood thatthe responsibility mustalways be matched bythe resolve in order toattain absolute success.

I am instantlyreminded of the theme ofthis year’s CaribbeanYouth Day, ‘YouthHarnessing PositiveEnergy for CaribbeanDevelopment’. It is atheme that acknowledgesthe optimism, vibrancy,and creativity of youth —linking these todevelopment within aregion so severelyimpacted by foreigndynamics.

Given the legacy of thepioneers of our politicalindependence, and themany lessons learnt afterthirty-three years of self-government, the messagehere should be crystalclear. As the time drawsnear for the nextgeneration of leaders andcitizens to take on themantle of self-government, we mustfirst develop the resolvethat matches ourresponsibility to ournation and to our people.Happy 33rdIndependence: To thepeople and Governmentof the State of St.Vincent & theGrenadines.

Message from the UNDP CYTT

Jamal Browne: Member

of the UNDP’s

Caribbean Youth Think

Tank for St. Vincent &

the Grenadine.

byPATMOSRICHARDS

AS WE COMMEMORATE our 33rdanniversary of Independence, this writerwould like to salute all the sectors ofthis nation who would have contributedsignificantly to nation-building, duringthe pre and post Independence era.

However, an important sector,often overlooked, that has made

invaluable and imperishablecontributions to the development ofnation-building, is the sportingcommunity.

From time immemorial, sportsmenand sportswomen here have beenlaboring with an indefatigable energyto take our country to glorious

heights. The unflagging zeal andcompetitive spirit of our sportingpersonalities should be recorded andpreserved as valid legacies forfuture generations to cherish.

Sporting icons not recognized

That said, it is unfortunate tonote that many of our sporting iconsare denied the recognition theydeserve. Apart from PamenosBallantyne of athletic fame, whoenjoys the honour of having theLondon Playing Field in Sandy Baynamed after him, there is absolutelynothing in communities across St.Vincent and the Grenadines toremember or recall the exploits ofour sporting icons.

Continued on Page 38a.

SVG Football Team1979:(Back row L to R):

Tyrone Barrow, Basil‘Bung’ Cato, (AssistantManager), Keith ‘Slick’Bonadie, Ali Munroe,Elliot ‘Morrie’ Millington(captain), John Horne(Executive Member),John Cato, SydneyMandeville,( Middle row: L-R): PeteMorris, SheenMillington, AshleyBaptiste, Raltie Lowe,Stanley ‘Luxie’ Morris,Guy Lowe. Sylvester‘Scobie’ Taylor(Manager)(Front row: L – R):Marcus Young, BlinconSoso, Rudy Boucher(coach), Rudolph‘Ounce-ah-Beef’ Mayers(trainer), Raymond‘Chip’ Ballantyne, DorianPhillips, Gideon Exeter(Executive member).

INDEPENDENCE QUOTES onwhich to ponder

“Belize, with the help of God andthe support of its people, will standupright and will do its duty and helpbring peace, stability and prosperityto our region and to wider circles ofour planet Earth.” (George Price,First Prime Minister of Belize)

“You are on your own in a bigworld, in which you are one of manynations, some small, some mediumsized, some large. You are nobody'sboss and nobody is your boss.” (Dr.Eric Williams, First Prime Minister ofTrinidad and Tobago)

“I believe that as an independentpeople, Jamaicans could so managethemselves as to demonstrate, oneday, how by making their greatmotto, 'Out of Many, One People',come to speak the truth aboutthemselves, they could become aworthwhile and shining example ofthe sort of world men sometimesdream to live in." (Sir WilliamAlexander Bustamante, First PrimeMinister of Jamaica)

“We will not regard any greatpower as necessarily right in a givendispute unless we are convinced ofthis, yet at the same time we will notview the great powers with perennialsuspicion merely on account of theirsize, their wealth, or their nuclearpotential. We will be friends of all,satellites of none.” (Errol Barrow,First Prime Minister of Barbados)

“A year ago Guyana becamepolitically free and independent. Sheassumed the untrammeled right tomake her own decisions on whatought to be done or ought not to bedone within her border. Since then,hers has also been the right to decidewhat course she would take and tostate her views and opinionspositively in the fora of the world. Aswe celebrate the first anniversary offreedom, it is our duty to take accountof what we have achieved or what wehave failed to do, to note where wehave done well and what we ought tohave done better.” (Forbes Burnham,First Executive President of Guyana)


Sports Personalities

Sports personalities inan independent SVG


OCTOBER 15 is observedas International Day ofRural Women, a daysomewhat overlooked bythe observance of “GlobalHand Washing Day” on thesame date, and WorldFood Day on the followingday, October 16.

The first InternationalDay of Rural Women wasobserved on 15thOctober, 2008. This newInternational Dayestablished by theGeneral Assembly in itsResolution 62/136 of 18thDecember, 2007,recognizes the criticalrole and contribution ofrural women, includingindigenous women, inenhancing agriculturaland rural development,food security anderadicating ruralpoverty.

In most parts of thedeveloping world, ruralwomen participate incrop production andlivestock care, providefood, water and fuel fortheir families, andengage in off-farmactivities to diversifytheir families’livelihoods. In addition,they carry out vitalfunctions in caring forchildren, older personsand the sick.

The United NationsSecretary General hastherefore said that“Empowering ruralwomen is crucial forending hunger andpoverty. By denyingwomen rights andopportunities, we denytheir children andsocieties a better future”.

This year’s Theme forRural Women’s Day is“Claim Your Space inMitigating and Adaptingto Climate Change”.This important Theme,invites a sustainededucation programme incommunities, a processwhich will be morepowerful when combinedwith the Theme forWorld Food Day —“Agricultural Co-operatives — Key to

Feeding the World.” The United Nations

has recognized thatwomen are “the linchpinof families andcommunities, and have apositive multiplier effect— using their income andresources, when giventhe necessary tools, toincrease the well-being oftheir children andfamilies, and thus play acritical role in reducingfood insecurity, povertyand socio-economiceffects of climatechange”.

Introducing a UNReport on Women andClimate Change at the17th Conference of theParties (COP17) inDurban, South Africa,UN Under Secretary-General and UNEPExecutive Director,Achim Steiner, said:“Women often play astronger role than menin the management ofecosystem services andfood security. Hencesustainable adaptationmust focus on genderand the role of women, ifit is to becomesuccessful”.

The United Nationsrecently launched aprogramme to empowerrural women andenhance food security .The US Congressaddressed this situationthrough the introductionof a Bill which recognizesthe disparate effects ofclimate change onwomen, and calls forefforts to empowerwomen in the process ofdesigning and evaluatingstrategies to mitigateclimate change and itsimpact.

Will governmentproduce a policy on ruralwomen that will includeinvestment in ruralwomen’s initiatives thatpromote sustainableagriculture andbiodiversity, andstrategies for mitigatingthe impact of climatechange?


Womenin action

Women of Sandy Bay, involved in a vegetablecultivation project in their village, maintain atradition of women playing an integral role in theagriculture sector of this country.

Focus on our women

Continued from Page 35a.

There is no billboard, for instance, with aportrait of Layou’s Marcus Young, the Morrisbrothers, Pete and Stanley Morris, nor arethere any billboards in Sion Hill with aportrait lionizing the Millington brothers,Elliot and Sheen. Nothing has beendocumented about: the legendary RudyBoucher, a footballer of exquisite class andgrace; the Lowe brothers, Guy and Raltie, whoimpressed with their unblemished style offootball, of playing quality football; DorianPhillips, perhaps the best goal-keeper; not toforget nothing in honour of Tyrone Barrow,Raymond Ballantyne and Fred Trimmingham.

The captioned 1979 football team (see Page35a), created local and regional history whenthey gave a sterling account of themselves inthe inaugural CFU tournament, finishingsecond to Haiti in a field that also includedSurinam and Trinidad.

Hall of Fame and more

This writer is appealing to the Ministry ofSports and the private sector to launch acollaborative plan for the establishment of aHall of Fame and a documentation centre, tohighlight the achievements of our sportingpersonalities, both past and present.

Undoubtedly, this gesture would foster asense of national pride and patriotism in ouryounger generation of sportsmen andsportswomen, who presumably would want toemulate their predecessors.

An important third party in thiscollaborative scheme would be the Ministry ofEducation. With a competent managementstaff there, the Ministry, as the majorstakeholder in education, can ensure thatbiographical material on our local sportinglegends is available to all primary andsecondary schools.

Renowned businessman, Randolph Russell,has taken the initiative to establish a Hall ofFame which features politicians and some toppublic servants of the past and present. Thisgesture is commendable and must berecognized for the precedent that it is.. Can’tsomeone take the initiative to establishsomething deserving for our sportingpersonalities?

It would be remiss of me, as my conclusiondraws nigh, if I didn’t mention my formercolleague at youth cricket level, WinstonWalter Davis, and his record-breaking 7 for 51against Australia in a 50-over encounter. AndI must repeat my call to the relevantauthorities for the late Frank Odel Mason tobe lionized by naming a pavilion in his honour.Mason’s last appearance on the cricket fieldwas in 1962 when he bagged 9 wickets for 13runs to secure a victory for SVG cricket team,against a formidable Dominican cricket team.These two icons should earn a decent, well-deserved place in the annals of St. Vincent andthe Grenadines cricket history.

We need to pay more respect to our sportingpersonalities, some of whom would have takenSt. Vincent and the Grenadines to arespectable status on the world sporting stage.


Clinton sends best wishes to SVGTHE FOLLOWING IS THETEXT of a greeting fromHillary Rodham Clinton, USSecretary of State, on theoccasion of this country’s33rd anniversary ofIndependence.

“On behalfof President Obama andthe people of the UnitedStates, I am delighted tosend best wishes to thepeople of St. Vincent andthe Grenadines as youcelebrate 33 years of

independence thisOctober 27.

“The United Statesand St. Vincent and theGrenadines have a longand close friendshipbased on shared valuesand ties of kinship.

“Our shared supportfor democracy, rule oflaw, and universalhuman rights remain asstrong as ever.

“We continue to worktogether to ensure our

region’s security andeconomic stability andour citizens’ health andprosperity through suchprograms as theCaribbean BasinSecurity Initiative andthe President’sEmergency Plan forAIDS Relief.

“As you gather withfriends and family acrossyour “Land of theBlessed” to celebrate thisspecial day, we wish you

all a peacefulIndependence Day and asuccessful year ahead.”

Hillary Rodham Clinton,US Secretary of State.

Sportspersonalities in anindependent SVG

VERTICAL TRICOLOURof blue-yellow-green,the yellow being doublethe width of each of theother two, and withthree green lozenges,two and one in themiddle of it. SaintVincent and theGrenadines is one ofthose rareCommonwealthcountries that did notadopt the Britishensign system and usesone national flag for allpurposes. The ratio isalso not quiteaccording to Britishtraditions.

After a localcompetition failed toproduce a satisfactorydesign, the problemwas submitted to aSwiss graphic artistwho suggested what isnow the currentdesign.

The Swiss graphicartist who designedthe current flag of StVincent is the lateJulien van der Wal.Among manycreations, he is alsothe author of thecurrent flag of theCanton of Geneva.

Julien van der Walwas the Swissdesigner of the SaintVincent andGrenadines flag(source: article in theEncyclopediaBritannica, byWhitney Smith).

The present flag ofSaint Vincent and theGrenadines came intouse officially on MondayOctober 21, 1985. Thatmorning there was aceremony at the WarMemorial in Kingstownto mark the change over.According to a leafletproduced in 1985 at theGovernment PrintingOffice in Kingstown, thesymbolism of the flag isas follows:

The green diamondsare shaped in a V for St.Vincent, and reflect theplural nature of the

many islands of St.Vincent and theGrenadines. These gemsdefine St. Vincent andthe Grenadines as thegems of the Antilles. TheBlue represents the skyand sea. the gold is forwarmth, the bright spiritof the people and thegolden sands of theGrenadines. The Greenrepresents the lushvegetation of St.Vincent’s agriculture andthe enduring vitality ofthe people. The Flag maybe called “The gems”.


Fact Corner

The flags of SVG

3 Jan 1958 - 27 Oct 1979

27 Oct 1979- Mar 1985

Mar 1985- 22 Oct 1985

Adopted 22 Oct 1985

1762-1877

1877-1907

1907-1940

1 Jan 1940- 8 Jan1958


Documents

SVG 33rd Independence Anniversary Supplement