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The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019 VOLUME 113, No.20 www.thevincentian.com EC$1.50

Left: Persons gathered infront of the central PoliceStation to catch a glimpseof the man who hadcaused shots to be fired.

by KENVILLE HORNE

PERSONS WHO WERE in Kingstown, inthe areas of the Kingstown Fish Marketand Little Tokyo last Friday aroundmidday, were thrown into a state ofshock and panic after at least threegunshots rang out.

Persons were seen taking cover,others seemed uncertain about whatto do as the shots echoed.

When the dust cleared and therewas a semblance of calm, the interestof the many persons in the area wasdrawn to a man being taken intopolice custody.

It was a strange tale of events thatled up to the shooting, some sayindiscriminate shooting.

According to a very reliable source,the shooting developed out of anincident that transpired in theKingstown Town Board Office, locatedin the Kingstown Vegetable Market.

A dreadlocked man is said to haveapproached a Justice of the Peace (JP)at the KTB office to witness (sign) adocument for him.

The JP refused on the grounds ofnot knowing the man, upon which theman fell into a rage and begandestroying appliances and items in theoffice.

The door to the office was closed allthis time, so other workers were not

aware of what was taking place.They sensed that something was wrong

when the man, very agitated, rushed out ofthe general office, andheaded in thedirection of the P.H.Veira Supermarket.

The JP shouted tostop the man, but hehad already left the

compound of the Market.Notwithstanding, the KTB Warden, along

with a security officer, gave chase and wereable to apprehend him.

He was returned to the JP’s office wherewhat had transpired there was recounted, towhich he responded by threatening to kill theJP.

Thereupon, he was told that he would betaken to the Police Station located a shortdistance away from the KTB Office.

On the way to the police station, the manmanaged to escape his captors and ran offtowards in the direction of the Kingstown FishMarket. It was then that the warder drew hisfirearm and discharged three shots into theair, in an effort to get the man to stop.

But he changed course andcontinued running, only to beconfronted by a junior securityofficer who tripped the ‘culprit’,brought him under control, andcalled a police officer who marchedhim off to the Police Station.

The police confirmed that a male,Dunstan Nichols, 54-year-old residentof Glen, was taken into custodyfollowing the incident on Friday.

Nichols appeared at the KingstownMagistrate’s Court before MagistrateBertie Pompey on Tuesday and wasfound guilty to the charge of damagingproperty he knew not to be his own.

Continued on Page 3.

This street light was said to have caughtone of the bullets fired into the air duringthe chase.

2. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

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V News 3THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. 3.

A MOTION WITH RESPECT to electoralreform is down for debate during today’s(Friday 17th May, 2019) sitting ofParliament.

The motion was proposed by theLeader of the Opposition Dr. GodwinFriday and seconded by ParliamentaryRepresentative for Central Kingstown,St Clair Leacock.

However, when it became clear thatdebate on the motion would have gonebeyond the stipulated time for suchdebates, i.e. 5pm, the Leader of theOpposition accepted a suggestion byPrime Minister Dr. Gonsalves, and theHouse approved it, that the debate bescheduled for a sitting today.

The Electoral Reform Motion, foundits impetus in the aftermath of theprotracted Election Petitions processthrough the Courts.

While the ruling went against thepetitioners, opposition candidatesBenjamin Exeter (Central Leeward)and Lauron Baptiste (NorthWindward), the questions whichsurfaced prompted the opposition intoanother action.

According to Dr. Gonsalves,members on the Government side ofthe House were “anxious” to have sucha debate.

“Of course, we are satisfied that ourelectoral system is sound, and thecountry and the world know that and

we can have thatdebate,” the PrimeMinister continued.

The motion seeksto bring support fornecessary anddesirable changes tothe elections processby the amendment ofthe Representation ofthe People Act, andby adopting otherpractical andeffective measures toensure free and fairelections, and torestore publicconfidence in theelectoral system.

Dr. Friday had earlier mentionedthe NDP’s plan to bring the motion tothe House, but had hinted then that itwas in doubt as to whether or not themotion would be debated.

He explained that the Rules ofParliament permit private motions tobe brought forward by the opposition,however history was not on their side.

According to Friday, something hasalways come up to prevent theprevious motions — such as integritylegislation and the social redemptioncharter — from being debated.

The proceedings are expected tobegin at 9. (DD)

Family told to seeklegal helpRELATIVES OF DALE DABREO, thementally ill man who was shot andkilled by police in April on Canouan,have been advised to seek legalassistance, and to make sure thateverything is done in accordance withthe law.

Prime Minister and Minister ofLegal Affairs, Dr Ralph Gonsalves,speaking during the obituary segmentin Parliament on May 9, said that hegave this advice to the relatives of thedeceased man.

On April 15, the Royal St Vincentand the Grenadines Police Forceissued a press statement stating thaton April 14, Police on Canouanresponded to a report that thementally ill man was attackingresidents on the island.

On arriving at the scene, the manattacked the police with a knife andwas subsequently shot, the policestatement said.

Dabreo was taken to the CanouanHealth Centre where he died.

However, relatives of the man spokeout against the shooting death, sayingthat the details included in the policerelease were false.

Dr. Gonsalves said that when thematter was reported to him, heimmediately contacted Commissionerof Police (CoP), Colin John.

He reported that he told the CoPthat in such instances where there is asudden or unnatural death and whereit is not reasonably accepted that acriminal act has been committed, thenthe information must be sent to theOffice of the Director of PublicProsecutions (DPP) and the districtcoroner’s office, in order that acoroner’s inquest be conducted.

Before the Prime Minister spoke onthe issue, ParliamentaryRepresentative for the SouthernGrenadines Terrance Ollivierre hadcalled for an investigation into theman’s death. (DD)

Electoral reform to bedebated

THE COMING ON STREAM of aGeothermal Electricity facility herewill not mean that the existing fuelsurcharge attached to electricityconsumption will be removed.

This has been made clear by theCEO of VINLEC Thornley Myers.

Myers delivered the ‘alert’ duringhis address at a ceremony held atBamboo Range on May 6, to mark thecommencement of drilling in theGeothermal Energy Project, located atBamboo Range on the slopes of LaSoufriere.

What Myers did say was thatVINLEC will use less diesel in itsgeneration of electricity, once the

Geothermal plant becomes operable.He admitted that the cost of

electricity in SVG was among thehighest in the region, even thoughsome 16% of the power here isgenerated from hydroelectricityplants.

When it is at its maximum, theGeothermal Facility could account forup to 50% of the electricity needs ofthis country.

According to the GeothermalProject document, four wells are to bedrilled. The drilling process,according to a source associated withthe project, is expected to be completeby December.

Shots fired in KingstownContinued from FrontPage.

He was fined $300.00to be paid in three weeksor serve two months in

prison, and ordered topay $120.00 incompensation to the KTBfor a fan that hedamaged beyond repair.

According to a senior

police officer there wereno charges laid withrespect to the dischargeof the firearm, since theWarden of the KTB is alicensed firearm holder.

Drilling in the Geothermal exploration process began here on May 6,2019.

Surcharge to remain

The SVG Parliament will divert from its usual agenda to debate anOpposition tabled Motion on Electoral Reform.

EfducationV 4. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

KPS Kai Franciswins Math Quiz A 10-YEAR-OLD boy who aspiresto being the top performer in the2020 CPEA, is this year’sNational Math Quiz Champion.

Kai Francis of theKingstown Preparatory Schoolovercame eight otherchallengers in the finals of theQuiz held last Wednesday atthe Girl Guides Headquarters.

The confident Kia amassed141 points out of an overall150 points during the fourrounds of the competition.

For his exploit, he receiveda laptop computer, andaccepted the championshiptrophy on behalf of his school.

Speaking with THEVINCENTIAN after theclosing ceremony, Kai, whohails from Sharpes Dale, said“I feel very proud… . It wasvery good and I think it is agreat opportunity for me.”

He admitted to being“worried at first, frighten todeath, but it eventually gotbetter over time, so I mightjust enter another one.”

In his spare time, Kia saidhe enjoys making computergraphics. His favorite subjectsare Mathematics and Science.

When asked what he ishoping to achieve on hiseducational journey, Kai, whohad his early beginning inEngland before migrating toSVG, responded with, “Well, Iam hoping when I go to grade

6, I will come first place in theCPEA examinations.”

Second in the Quiz wasSkye Johnson of Fair HallGovernment with a total of126 points, and AndreQuamina of St. Mary’s RomanCatholic was third with 119points.

The other competitors inthe finals were ZaheimMichael- Fancy GovernmentSchool; Damian Branch-Windsor Primary School; ,Jurnee Massicot- GeorgetownGovernment School; DaronnoLouie — ChateaubelairMethodist; Kaiden John-Dickson Methodist andAshanique Shallow of thePamelus Burke Primary.

Each participant received atrophy, a medal and aCertificate for reaching thefinals.

Speaking at the closingceremony, Byron Wilson,representative of sponsorHodder Education, a leadingpublisher of learning andteaching resources material,expressed gratitude to theMinistry of Education forallowing his organization topartner with them on yetanother important activity.

He said that they justconcluded anothercollaboration — the WritingCompetition.

Aldia Gumbs — Dyer, SeniorEducation Officer CurriculumDevelopment Unit in theMinistry of Education, alsoaddressed the closingceremony and reminded thegathering that the Quiz existsfor students to seemathematics in a fun way aswell as to improve theirperformance.

Fifty-one primary schools,represented by Grade Fivestudents, participated in thepreliminary round.

While there was a majorityof female participants at thepreliminary round, it wasnoted that boys outnumberedgirls, seven to two, in thefinals. (KH)

Grammar School tops National Science QuizJOSHUA BROWNE AND NICOLAIWILLIAMS of the St. VincentGrammar School are the winners ofthe inaugural National ScienceQuiz.

Sponsored by Facey Trading(SVG)Ltd. in the name of /AmericaFresh Powder Laundry Detergent ,one of its product lines, the Quizwas organized by the Ministry ofEducation .

The finals took place on May13th at the Girl GuidesHeadquarters, Kingstown, andwhen the results were announced,the SVGS was adjudged the overallwinner, ahead (in the followingorder ) of: St. Joseph’s ConventMarriaqua (Jared Nichols andShaniel Richards); GeorgetownSecondary School (Mariah Laviaand Leona Lorraine); CentralLeeward Secondary School(Maurice Whyte and Kalifa Bulze);and Intermediate High School (AfiLucas and Ozika Browne).

In remarks before he presentedthe prizes, smart watches, tabletsand vouchers, and complimentary

America Fresh ShoppingBag filled with samplesof America FreshPowered LaundryDetergent, HarryGibson, Managerof Facey Trading (SVG)Ltd., said that he waspleased with the numberof schools thatparticipated in the Quiz,and was very happy tosee the number ofpersons at the finals.

He also highlightedthe “keen excitement” which hesaid characterized the completionfrom the zonal rounds.

Gibson reported that the brandowners of America Fresh have beenfollowing up on the Quiz, and haveconfirmed that they will be sponsoragain next year.

The Manager pointed out thatthe decision to marry AmericaFresh Powder to the Quiz was inkeeping with the fact that theproduct is safe and has nophosphate to damage the

environment, which was a scientific“plus’ that made the sponsorshipappropriate.

Deputy Chief Education OfficerActing, Mr. Dixon Findlay,speaking on behalf of his Ministry,said, “I am smiling this afternoonbecause with the sponsors on boardnext year, it will be bigger andbetter.”

His hope is that all 26 schoolswould participate next year.

Participating in the Quiz wasconfined to the Form 2 level ofsecondary schools here.

Participants get down to doing their sciencedemonstrations for the judges at last Friday’sfinal.

(L-R): Joshua Browne and Nicolai Williams ofthe St. Vincent Grammar School, winners ofthe National Science Quiz, collect their prizesfrom Mr. Harry Gibson, Manager of FaceyTrading SVG Ltd., sponsors of the Quiz.

Byron Wilson –representative ofsponsors HooderEducation –highlighted hisparty’s ongoingcollaboration withthe Ministry ofEducation.

Kai Francis, winner of the 2019National Maths Quiz for Primaryschools.

Right: Finalists in the Quizproudly display their trophiesand other rewards.

FocusV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 17 , 2019. 5.

THE AMNESTY period offered totraditional cannabis cultivators isexpected to begin soon.

So said Minister of Agriculture,Saboto Caesar who said in Parliamenton May 9, that the CannabisCultivation (Amnesty) Act (2018) wasexpected to be gazetted on or beforeJune 3 and then fully operationalized.

Caesar’s indication came in

response to a question posed byParliamentary Representative forNorth Leeward, Roland Matthews, forthe Minister to update the nation onthe status of the medicinal marijuanaindustry with specific reference toamnesty, licensing, land and thenumber of investors, both local andforeign.

The Amnesty Bill was passed inParliament in December 2018,however no precise commencementdate had been affixed.

Under the Act, traditional farmerscan be granted amnesty for a durationof time, and for further periods as maybe required for persons engaged incannabis cultivation contrary toSection 8 of the Drug Misuse andPrevention Act.

But, according to Caesar, there werestill a number of things to be done

before the amnesty period could betriggered.

He said that the police — who areexpected to play a critical role in theentire medicinal marijuana operationshere — were working on the practicalframework as to how the amnesty willfunction.

“The cannabis to be received willhave to be processed and we have toensure that the facilities are there inplace to receive the cannabis,” theagriculture minister said.

There was also the issue of banking,which Caesar said was slowing downthe pace at which cannabis-relatedmatters were moving.

With respect to the licensing, heexplained that individuals wishing toapply for a licence can do so at theheadquarters that has since been setup at Rivulet.

The cost for application is EC$100,but there is no fee attached to thelicense for a period of two years,Caesar said.

He also mentioned that an outreachprogramme to facilitate those who maynot want to journey to Rivulet, wasalready in place, and that the first onetook place in North Leeward, known tohave a large concentration oftraditional farmers.

According to Caesar, there werepresently 75 applications made bytraditional farmers from the NorthLeeward area— 50 applied during theoutreach and another 25 journeyed toRivulet.

And regarding the investors, therewere eight foreigners and four localswho have expressed interest inbecoming involved in the cannabisindustry. (DD)

LAST WEEK Thursday, May9, The Cannabis Bill 2019 waslaid before the NationalAssembly of St. Kitts andNevis.

But on May 7, two daysbefore the tabling of the Bill,two members of a purportedinternational-regionalconsortium established withthe aim to invest in thecannabis business in theEastern Caribbean, weredetained at the Robert LBradshaw InternationalAirport, St. Kitts.

Alkivaides “Alki” David,Greek Coca Cola heir, and hisfellow billionaire business

partner Chase Ergen, heir tosatellite fortune, arrived in St.Kitts by private jet. Butinstead of a quick passagethrough immigration andcustoms, they spent the nextseveral hours in policecustody.

The first ‘news’ coming outof St. Kitts and Nevis saidthat the men’s arrestreportedly stemmed from “amisunderstanding about aquantity of cannabis-relateditems they had brought withthem”.

The two were released afterwhat was said to be anintervention of former Prime

Minister Dr. DenzilDouglas.

A full search of theprivate jet, however,discovered a largequantity of hempcloned plants (5000)and seeds, and Davidand Ergen werearrested on Monday,as they attempted toleave St. Kitts. The value ofthe heist was set at $1.3million.

David was taken to court toanswer to charges ofpossession with Intent toSupply, possession ofcontrolled drugs,and importation of a controlleddrug into the Federation.

The Greek heir is said tohave posted $300,000 bail andordered to surrender his traveldocuments. But he departed StKitts on-board his private jeton Tuesday, a day after hisarrest. A subsequentstatement from his legal teamsaid that he had cleared upthe situation with theauthorities in St. Kitts-Nevisand his passport was returnedto him.

Ergen remains in hospitalon the island for unspecifiedreasons, although it isunderstood he has familylocally.

When he was released afterhis initial detention at the

airport, Davidwas reported tohave launched“a damninganddisrespectfulattack” on thecountry’s Prime Minister, Dr.Timothy Harris.

He is also reported to haveused a press conference onMonday to continue hisprofanity-laced attack on thegovernment of St. Kitts andNevis.

Local and internationalpress reported that Dr. DenzilDouglas was at that press

conference which was carriedlived on radio and socialmedia.

David hit the internationalheadlines this month after hewas forced to pay $11 millionto a former employee afterlosing a sexual harassmentlawsuit.

(Sources: Caribbean NewsNow, gov.skn, Mail Online)

Cannabis Amnestyperiod set for June 3

Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesarhas promised operationalization ofthe Cannabis Cultivation AmnestyAct by June.

Alkivaides “Alki” David being taken into police custody at theRobert L Bradshaw International Airport, St. Kitts. (PhotoCredit: Caribbean news Service)

ÂCannabis investorsÊdetained in St. Kitts

(From left): Alkivaides “Alki” David, four-time St. Kitts-NevisPrime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas, and Chase Ergen on thetarmac at the Robert L Bradshaw International Airport, St.Kitts. (Photo Credit: Mail Online)

Alkivaides“Alki” Davidspeaking at apressconference atwhich Dr.DenzilDouglas waspresent.

Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

A MAN WHO was charged with unlawfullyand maliciously wounding a SecurityGuard in the Marriaqua Valley five yearsago, was found not guilty by a jury onThursday, after a trial which began onMonday, at the High Court CriminalAssizes.

The trial had proceeded in theabsence of the victim, who was shotand killed mere weeks after thePreliminary Inquiry (PI).

Mervin Richardson, 30-year-oldlabourer of Collins, Marriaqua, at thetime of the incident, was charged withunlawfully and maliciously woundingReynold Bascombe of Carriere,Marriaqua, with intent. Bascombe wasthen 59. He walked free on Thursday.

Richardson was also charged withpossession of a firearm with intent tocommit an offence, and unlawfuldischarge of a firearm, all arising froma report of a shooting incident atCollins, March 29, 2014.

Bascombe’s evidence was the mainplank of the prosecution’s case, as hewas the only witness, who gaveevidence at the P.I at the SeriousOffences Court November 6, 2014, inrelation to Richardson’s involvementin the incident. Attorney GrantConnell represented Richardson at theP.I.

However, Bascombe was shot andkilled at Carriere in December 2014.

To date, nobody has been charged withthat homicide.

As a result of this development, theprosecution, led by Crown CounselKarim Nelson, assisted by CrownCounsel Rose-Ann Richardson, madean application to the High Court forBascombe’s deposition at thePreliminary Inquiry, in the woundingcase, to be read in evidence at thetrial.

Justice Brian Cottle upheld theapplication, despite objections fromAttorney Israel Bruce, whorepresented Richardson at the trial.

The law makes provision for thisprocedure.

Bascombe had told the SeriousOffences Court that around 3:30 p.m.on the date in question, he went insearch of a goat. He entered thebanana field of one Hugh Stewart,didn’t see the goat there, andproceeded to the riverside.

He heard an explosion and when helooked around, saw Richardson about15 yards from him with a gun in hishand. He shifted it from one hand tothe other. The attacker was dressed inblack and wearing a hoody.

“I saw him crank the gun, and Ibegan to run, and he ran behind me.He fired three shots”, Bascombe saidat the P.I.

One of these shots caught Bascombein the left side of his abdomen. He,however, continued running, and

Richardson gave upthe chase.

Bascombe waspicked up by a relativeand taken to the LeviLatham HealthCentre, before beingtransferred to theMilton Cato MemorialHospital..

Bascombe said he knew Richardsonsince he was a youth, and nothing wasblocking his (Bascombe) sight thatevening. He said he recognized theaccused, even though he was wearinga hoody.

He recalled that in February 2014,based on a message he received, heapproached the accused and asked himabout the information. Richardsonresponded, “You ain’t pick up nothing”,and Bascombe said, “Like what?”

Richardson’s reply was, “Leave it atthat”.

The only other witness, whotestified for the Prosecution at theHigh Court was the investigator,Sergeant Delroy Tittle, who was at thetime Corporal.

Under cross-examination, he toldthe Court that during theInvestigations, searches wereconducted of Richardson’s person, carand house, but nothing of evidentialvalue was found. He also revealed thatno gunshot residue test was done.

During an electronic interviewconducted by the Investigator andConstable Hadley Ballantyne, as wellas in his defence to the Court onTuesday, Richardson insisted that hehad no knowledge of the allegation.

According to him, he was inKingstown when the incident was said

to have occurred,and called his barberMichael ‘Gabby’ Caesarto testify on his behalf.

However, Crown CounselRichardson, in her closing arguments,said there were major inconsistenciesin the accused’s version of the events,and gave examples to support herargument. She referred to Caesar asnot being a credible witness, andasked the Jury not to accept hisevidence.

But Bruce, describing SergeantTittle’s investigations as atrocious,said the investigator did nothingduring his investigations to destroy hisclient’s alibi.

Bruce said Tittle made no effort tovisit or speak to any of the persons atthe places where his client said he wason the day of the incident. He argued“Mr. Reynold Bascombe is mistaken asto who did the shooting on that day”.

But Bruce stressed that he wasunable to challenge Bascombe’sevidence, by cross-examination, as thevictim was deceased, which, in hisview, greatly prejudiced the case forthe defence. He also noted thatmembers of the Jury were unable toask questions in relation toBascombe’s evidence, because he couldnot be there.

CourtV 6. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

MERVINRICHARDSON, a manwho was on trial at theHigh Court this week,for wounding withintent, in connectionwith a shooting incidentat Marriaqua five yearsago, told the Court hedoes not like firearms,even though he bore thetatoo of a gun on his leftarm.

In his defence to theCourt on Tuesday, theMarriaqua man said henever owned, held or

discharged a gun, anddoes not like firearms.

However, under cross-examination by CrownCounsel Karim Nelson,Richardson admittedthat he bore the tatoo ofa firearm on his left arm,and showed it to Nelson,when the state lawyerasked him to.

When Nelson askedhim what type of gun itwas, Richardson saidthat he didn’t know, andexplained that he got itduring his time at High

School some years ago.When Justice Brian

Cottle asked him why hechose to have a firearmon his left arm,Richardson said, “I usedto think a different waythat time.”

Crown Counsel Rose-Ann Richardson raisedthe tatoo evidence duringher closing arguments,but attorney IsraelBruce, representing theaccused, argued that itwas not unusual forpersons to have tatoos atone stage, but to moveaway from that status byhaving them removedover a period of time.

Richardson wascharged with unlawfullyand maliciouslywounding with intent,Reynold Bascombe, 59-year-old Security Guardof Carrierre, Marriaqua.

Richardson was a 30-year-old labourer ofCollins, Marriaqua, atthe time of the incidentwhich occurred atCollins, March 29, 2014.

Bascombe was shot inthe left side of hisabdomen.

THE SERIOUS Offences Court journeyed to UnionIsland on Wednesday, to conduct a PreliminaryInquiry (PI) into a shooting death which occurredon that Southern Grenadine island, October 3,2018.

The matter involves Joel Barker of Penniston,charged with the murder of Kareem Bowens ofRichland Park.

Bowens died after being shot in the chestduring an incident at Clifton, Union Island,October 3, 2018.

A number of witnesses testified on Wednesday,and the matter was adjourned to a later date.

Attorney Grant Connell is representing Barker,while Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche isappearing for the Crown.

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne presided.

Court journeys to Union Island

Accused doesn’t like firearms

The evidence givenduring the PI byReynold Bascombe,shown here in April2014 on his bed atthe MCMH, was readinto evidence at theHigh Court Trial.

MervinRichardsonwalked awaya free man.

Dead man’s evidence didn’t matter

Vincy MasV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 17 , 2019. 7.

Fya Empress bringshouse down Story and photos by NELSON A. KINGnaking@verizon.net;kingnaking210@yahoo.comUS CORRESPONDENT

FORMER ST. VINCENT AND THEGRENADINES Calypso MonarchFya Empress brought the housedown Saturday night during thelaunch of Vincy Mas in NewYork.

Fya Empress, whose realname is Lornette Reid,mesmerized the crowd atFriends of Crown HeightsEducational Center inBrooklyn, with a number ofhits from her repertoire.

The 2017 Vincy CalypsoMonarch had patronsjumping and whining to,among others, her signature‘I am a Vincy’; ‘Ah Catch It’;‘No Money No Wuk’; ‘InExcess’; and ‘Rum Please’.

Besides being an erstwhileVincy Calypso Monarch, FyaEmpress was Ragga SocaMonarch and Road MarchWinner, and three-timeTobago Soca Monarch.

Her performance Saturdaynight was preceded byperformances by calypsoniansfrom the Brooklyn-basedDynamite Calypso Tent, thelone Vincentian calypso tent inNew York.

Ron Pompey, who iscelebrating 40 years ofcalypso, rendered ‘Ruck DeParty’; ‘Miss Ting Ting’;‘Whine Maria’; ‘BananaPolice’; ‘Shake’; ‘Sit Down, SitDown’; ‘Ah Bussing It’; and

‘The Fireman’.John ‘D Truth’ Dougan,

president of the DynamiteCalypso Tent, sang ‘So Glad IWaited’; Hibiscus, whotrekked from Philadelphia,sang ‘Things Not So BadAfterall’; Hilford Hurst wasconcerned about ‘Text Maniac’and urged patrons to ‘Let’s DoIt’; Wise Guy told the crowd,‘We’re Going to Have SomeFun’; Leon criticized ‘DemInternet Crazies’, evokingboos from some oppositionNew Democratic Party (NDP)supporters; and Man Kemmy,a former Junior CalypoMonarch in Vincy Mas,

proclaimed ‘AhFeel to Soca’.

Man Kemmyalso brought much poignancyto the event when hecollaborated with 11-year-oldZacary James, of theEdmonton, Alberta-basedMelisizwe Brothers, for animpromptu rendition ofMachel Montano’s ‘Too Youn’.

Man Kemmy told patronsthat he was at Zacary’s agewhen he began singingcalypso, stating: “This is thenext generation.”

The Melisizwe Brothers,with their Vincentian-bornparents in tow, were surpriseguests at the event. The otherbrothers are Marc James, 16,and Seth James, 13.

The almostday-long eventalso featuredlive steel pan music byBrooklyn’s Century SteelOrchestra; costume displaysand modeling; food vendors,offering authentic Vincentiancuisine; a Kiddie Cornerfeatured face-painting, games,arts and craft, photo booth,and costume mask-making;entrepreneurs with Vincyproducts, beauty products,fashion bags and books andPopular Brooklyn-basedVincentian DJ Supa Eyes whoprovided music.

Other displayers includedthe St. Vincent and theGrenadines New YorkTourism Office and Caribbean

Airlines. The Brooklyn-based SVG

Diaspora Committee of NY,Inc. and its affiliate, theCultural Association ofVincentians in the USA(CAVUSA), in collaborationwith the St. Vincent and theGrenadines CarnivalDevelopment Corporation(CDC), hosted the event.

Sherrill-Ann Mason-Haywood, chairperson of theSVG Diaspora Committee ofNY, Inc., told THEVINCENTIAN that the launch“attracted scores of

Vincentians and non-Vincentians alike.”

L-R: Leon taunts the “Internet Crazies”and Ron Pomey belches out “BananaPolice”.

Five Calypso tents to do battle THE QUEST is on to this year’scalypso crown. That will be decidedJuly 7 at Carnival City Victoria Park,where four-times Monarch Zamfir‘Man Zangie’ Adams will aim at afifth title.

Five Calypso Tents, including theBrooklyn-based Dynamites, will facethe judges in preliminary rounds.

Dynamites

The Dynamites cast comprise Errol‘Man Age’ Rose, Kenroy ‘Jakie’ Jack,John ‘D Truth’ Dougan, DennisBowman, Earl ‘Exposer’ Isles, Allan‘Field Marshall’ Marshall. Michelle-Ann ‘Lady Hibiscus’ Hillocks, Marvin‘Bobb MC’ Bobb, Daniel ‘Dan Radix’Providence, Delahanty ‘Singing Della’Isles, Lornette ‘Fya Empress’ Nedd,and Ramon ‘Jose Juan’ Diaz. Theyface the judges June 8, accompaniedby the band Matadors.

The locally run outfits areWindward Calypso Tent, Graduates,On Tour, and Up Stage Experience.

Windward

Those of Windward are Sylvanus

‘Ras Simple’ Jacobs, David ‘MorgieRanks’ Morgan, Trevor ‘MightyStranger’ Grant, Stevie ‘Gaya’Stephen, Donte ‘Donye’ Peters,Gregory Cato, Clifton ‘Mighty Tinker’Hoyte, Elvis ‘Prime Minister’ Green,Joseph ‘Isajah’ McKie, Francis ‘Sir D’Mayers, Joel ‘King Buffer’ Benjamin,Dealfa ‘Walvoo’ Ellis, AtelbertNanton, and Winston ‘Barks’ StHillarie. They test their fate June 14at the Spotlight Stadium inGeorgetown.

Graduates

The Graduates feature: Glenroy‘Sulle’ Caesar, Sylvorn ‘Lady Gem’Lavia, Denise ‘Lady D’ Stephens,Cleopatra Hendrickson, Phylicia‘Nubian Empress’ Alexander, Damian‘Bony Man’ Martin, Hance John,‘Wynner,’ Glenroy ‘Homey’ Delpesche,Chewalee Johnson, Kingsley ‘Hero’Roberts, ‘Shaka’ Shepherd, ‘Ranking,’Michael ‘Black Messenger’ John,‘Singing Lala,’ Maxwell ‘Tajoe’Francis, ‘Johnny Rebel’ Hall,Kosinski ‘Busta Ski’ Adams, Nigel‘Broom’ Lyttle, and Glenford ‘Bump I’Richards. They have a June 11 date

with the judges.

Upstage

The Upstage Experience face thejudges June 12: Their cast includes:Michael ‘Lord Have Mercy’ Ollivierre,Fitz ‘Iceman’ Ragguette, Jerome‘Parry’ Samuel, Joanna Christopher,Shaunelle McKenzie, Shena Collis,M’riah ‘Siah’ Robertson, Briana ‘Bria’King, Gillian Smart, Omari Cupid,Ronella Lavia, and Theo ‘Rich Kydd’Glasgow.

On Tour

The On Tour cast includes:Grantley ‘I Pa’ Constance, Robert‘Patches’ Knights, Kenneth ‘VibratingScakes’ Alleyne, Elvis ‘Abijah’ Abbey,Elvis ‘Rootsman’ Gordon, Wendell‘Spleshie’ Goodridge, Wendell ‘RastaMan I’ Lewis, Lancelot ‘Da Vincy’Chapman, ‘Stacy,’ Junior ‘Marshie’Marshall, Vivian ‘I-Come’ Miller,Ronald ‘Chico B’ Cato, ‘Breary,’Rolmina ‘Rolie,’ Matthews, ‘Moesha’and ‘Dosha.’ On Tour has a June 13date to make it to the semi-final.(WKA)

Only Jeffers Alexis ‘Mighty Sheller’Alexis, with seven Calypso Monarchtitles, has won more (titles) than reigningmonarch Zamfir ‘Man Zangie ‘Adams,who currently has four.

Right: Fya Empress traversed hermany hits to rousing responsefrom the audience.

Man Kemmy and Zacary James, 11,of the Melisizwe Brothers.

Live Streaming

IT WAS MOST APPROPRIATE that theChairman of the CarnivalDevelopment Corporation took theopportunity of a public functionhosted by telecommunicationsservice provider FLOW, to announcethat there will be no live streamingof the 2019 Miss SVG Pageant onmainland St. Vincent, but will remainavailable to residents in theGrenadines and those in theDiaspora.

The Chairman reported thatthe CDC had come to the starkrealization, that since theintroduction of the live streaming,actual patronage of the Pageanthas shown a ‘progressive’ decline,perhaps now reaching alarminglevels (depths).

The service, interestingly, wasprovided by FLOW, at a charge.

FLOW is classified a platinumsponsor of our annual carnival —its contribution apparently valuedboth in cash and in-kind.

It is these designations(platinum, gold, etc.) attached toour carnival sponsors, and how farwe are prepared to acquiesce totheir ‘demands’, that have nowsurfaced for our attention.

How in Zeus’ name could wehave allowed a platinum sponsorto offer a service which, fromevery conceivable angle that couldhave been considered at the time,would have thrown up thelikelihood of a damning impact onthe Pageant? We now have toresort to remedial action whichshould also respond to live and/ordelayed television broadcast.

Given the demographiccharacteristic of each of the officialcarnival ‘shows/competitions, itmust be worn on our badges thatwe cannot afford any competitionto ‘gate receipts’, even if thatcompetition is packaged by one ofthe festival’s major sponsors.

There is a story on file thatspeaks of a sponsor who offeredjust short of $50,000 in cash andin-kind (a startling amount at thetime), in exchange for exclusivityof its product range for the officialperiod of Vincy Mas. That offerpaled against the estimated cost ofstaging that year’s carnival, not tomention that it flew in the faces oftraditional benefactors. Theanswer was loud and strong — ourfestival was not for sale.

This was not a case of ‘bitingthe hand that feeds you’; it was acase of being real in a realbusiness world in which the playerhas to be always mindful about

how to protect andgrow his worth.

Carnival must never be ‘sold’ tothe highest bidder… it must flowsmoothly and impartially acrossthe full commercial landscape.

Pole City

Pole City, Arnos Vale, wasallowed to take root and expandunder the ‘watchful’ eyes of ournational administrators andexpert planners.

Even as LIAT and otherairlines made full use of thefacility at the adjacent E. T.Joshua airport, there was no effortto bring the expansion of Pole Cityto a halt. No politician whosought to represent that area inthe National Assembly, wasprepared to forego a possible blockvote that could mean thedifference between victory anddefeat.

It was too, a sanctuary for whatsociety would deem miscreants,but whom politicians were morethan ready to use to further theirends.

So, there grew between the E.T. Joshua airstrip and the GreatHead River a community offamilies, primarily of youngpersons, some earning honestwages others involving themselvesin misadventures.

Now, in response to a politicallymotivated bellow for governmentto bring electricity to Pole City,government has answered with avociferous NO!!

The residents of Pole City willbe relocated, government says;when and to where stillimaginary.

The ‘where’ must first beattended to before the ‘when’ canbe decided.

In the meantime, the Ministerof Housing speaks of the pendingMecca of a City for Arnos Vale andthe threat of the river. But yet hegives not even an iota of anindication of when the new citywill commence, choosing toreference the river as the primaryreason for relocation

Can we expect that acommunity that has by nownurtured its own dynamics, setdown its own code of conduct andmade do with sharing innovativesurvival mechanisms, will beuprooted just like that?

In this reality of uncertainty,the human thing to do is to bringelectricity to the City and ensure asanitary environment.

‘Light up the city, light it up.’

THIS PIECE OF WRITING is made withmuch difficulty. It marks my final farewell tothe younger brother I never had biologically.Yes, John Horne was certainly one of mygreatest friends. This article is a brief accountinexcusably, intensely personal.

Perhaps I should have named it “LoveConquers All”, a sub-theme of John’s sojournon earth the evidence richly supplied by somany from all works of existence.

At the Anglican Church Service to usherhim on to paradise, his three daughters by hisloving wife Jeanne, told it all. They spokepassionately of the tight embrace whichwrapped all five siblings, and they personifiedthe love of their father which was extended tojust about everybody.

The trio of Eulogists were Oneka, Zinghaand Candae. Once I was invited by John tosee an African film “Dingdaker”, from whichwe extracted the name “Oneka” to apply to hisfirst daughter, and my last child born out ofwedlock, Zingha is my god-daughter and myson Adrian is John’s god-son.

When John’s family was quite young, Iventured to use my own experience andoffered some advice on child rearing: I toldhim to stay very close to his girls who wouldmature and seek their own independencebefore he could wink twice. And, so for a fewyears he brought all three daughters to myhome in Villa every Saturday, where weenjoyed a sea-bath.

To jump ahead somewhat, the “BridgeBoys” of which John was a noted member inlater years, visited the Villa beach for a gameof soft-ball cricket in which Bernard “Supe”Hewitt revelled as a batsman. At the end ofthe games, they would invariably pass by myhome for a chat, drink followed by a speech ortwo.

The Bridge Boys was an institution oflargely Bottom Town youths of spontaneousgrowth when I touch-lined and gave publicityby publishing in Flambeau, leaflets and otherpublications of their deeds, for example JohnHorne featured in their winning carnivalbands.

An outgrowth of the Bridge Boys was theEagles club which tackled many sports inwhich John featured. I was invited to lead thecricket team which did reasonably well.

When John had finally made up his mindto enter politics on behalf of the NDP, it wasafter denying me thrice while I hungrilysought out a fitting candidate for WestKingstown, where I was defeated on thetickets of the DFM in 1974 and UPM in 1979.

This time, John bowed to a people’sdemand led by Ainsworth White a taxi driveradopted by my girlfriend Mother EdnaHoward of Edinboro. After that, it was plainsailing, with “Horne Fuh Dem”.

I had been chairman of every singlemeeting John held, last of which was held inEdinboro where I persuaded Henry Williams,John’s father-in-law, to say a few words.

At the time, Ralph did not take Johnseriously; he regarded his first ministry,Education and Culture, as a “Mickey Mouse”

ministryappropriatelyallocated. A few months later in a privateconversation with me, he said of the newgovernment that he “listens only to Mitchell,Parnel and Senator Stuart Nanton.”

Ralph simply could not deal with themassive outpouring of love, loyalty andsympathy displayed on John’s passing. Howcome he offered no reprisals at the funeralservices of Yvonne Francis whom he deprivedof the JP’s insignia and maltreated theTeachers’ Union up to the time of her death?

Ever since the Hornes had begun to liveseparately, I have been a persistent bug-in—their rug, despite my own admitted failure inmy camp. Especially, I used her leadership inthe famed Kingstown Chorale where sheguided his singing to taunt him (the comas),one such mischievous occasion occurred a fewyears ago at the funeral of Festus Toney inGeorgetown.

It so happened the couple found themselvestravelling back to their several homes, withme as their passenger. I was prim and properuntil we got to Argyle, then I addressed themconfidentially: “For old time sake, park asideand settle your differences. I won’t see ahthing, I won’t talk”. Jeanne maintained adignified silence while John has lost hisloquacity until he dropped me off in Villa andwished me happy riddance.

It was at that point I chose to recall that Iput them together in the first place. Ithappened that I was chatting with some girlsat Mary Seacole Hall at UWI Jamaica when Imentioned to Jeanne that I understand thatshe carried on a secret love affair with myfriend John Horne. She hotly denied thestory, and on her holiday visit to SVG-Grenada was her home at the time-confronted John with her story! The long andshort of the matter was that soon they gotmarried. As the old saying goes, “Man rushesa woman until she traps him”.

I saw the couple two years ago when wecelebrated big time John’s 75th birthday. Myfinal meeting with John was at thematrimonial home guided by his wife in thepresence of our great friend Father UlricJones. John lay still in bed communicatingonly by the occasional flash of the eyes, thesqueeze of the hand that told the story of hisfleeting recognition of me.

At his funeral, Bassy, who kept me abreastof John’s failing health, and Leroy Providencepresented Eulogies of our greatest Eulogist ofall time.

There were Jeanne’s two sisters, Evile and Erlene, whose songs were famous during the days of the Mikado and Gondoliers in which John starred.

My unseeing eyes behold joy, and John’sfuneral approached human perfectibility as iforganised by the living John himself. It wouldbe invidious to seek to select any outstandingindividual, group, band or choir. I was simplytransported by the entire event.

Glory of it all.

8. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

ViewsV

Editorial

Managing Editor: Desiree Richards

Editor: Cyprian Neehall

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

Website: www.thevincentian.com

Email: vinpub@thevincentian.com

Mailing Address: The Vincentian Publishing Co. Ltd.,

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

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Au Revoir to John Horne

Live streaming and a Pole City

THE GOSPEL of Jesusis about government(Isa. 9: 6-7). “The time isfulfilled and theKingdom of God is athand”. Mark 1:15. AKingdom is agovernment. A Kingdomor government is dual.

A King, leader orruler, rules over people,subjects and citizens.They also rule overterritory, and in bothcases make and designadministrativesystems/bodies throughwhich to enact thoselaws. Thesesystems/bodies could bea family, a Congress,House of Lords andCommons.

A Family-ruling,family, e.g. Congress,Houses of Lord orCommon, CentralCommittee, Cabinet,Government etc.

There are three mainfunctions in anygovernment:

1. Legislative: Thefunction of making,alternating, repealingand or amending laws.This function is carriedout by the Legislature,Legislative Council,Parliament, House ofAssembly.

2. Executive: This isthe function of policy-making, enforcing andadministrating the lawsin the society.

3. Judiciary: Thefunction of interpretingor explaining the law ofthe state, government,kingdom as the case maybe. This function iscarried out by the Law

Courts, Courts of Justice,and is presided over byJudges and Magistrates.

One good thing weneed to understand isthat law applies to everygovernment/system -capitalism, communist,Islamic, etc.

Jesus said that he didnot come to destroy thelaw (Matt. 5:17).

True Christians arenow finalizing ourtraining as kings/queensand priests to take overpolitical, religious andeconomic power from thegovernments of thisworld.

Once the spirit ofGod’s love is in you, theKingdom of Heaven is inyou. You are going tolead God’s people soon.

Be not afraid, it isyour Father’s greatpleasure to give youleadership in HisKingdom.

Christian Democrat

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. 9.

LettersV

* Do these‘evangelists’ whovisit us and holdcrusades pay anywithholding tax ontheir collections?* Should they betreated like thoseforeign soca anddancehall artistes?* Is there going tobe a fixed price forseafood like conchand lobster, once theRainforest peopleget going? Who isgoing to inform thatprice — Governmentor Rainforest?* Who is going toensure that there isno over-fishing, oncethe demand forseafood increaseswith Rainforeststarting theirbusiness? * Does anybodyknow what rate ofreturn ReykjavikGeothermal isexpecting from itsinvestment in thatGeothermal projectat La Soufriere?

IF THE TRUTH be told, as you like to say,Mr. Editor, our society is homophobicbecause we have been moulded intobeing so by our parents. We have beenraised by parents who have instilled inus a belief that the worst thing a personcan be is a homosexual. We have beentaught that it is our duty to make certainthat those whom we deem to behomosexual are belittled and devalued.We have been told to make them feel

worthless anytime, anyplace.It is so bad, i.e. the extent to which

we have been instilled with thisvenom, that even our students usehomophobic references to ridiculestudents of other schools, especiallywhen schools are locked in some sportbattle.

Fights, I understand, have brokenout among students when one set (ofstudents) accuses another set (of

students) of being “homos’.I am not a homosexual, nor do I

encourage the practice, but I will nottreat someone I know to be ahomosexual any less than a person Iknow to be heterosexual.

The way I see it, Mr. Editor, being ahomosexual doesn’t make you any lessvaluable, any less able to undertake agiven task, and definitely it does notmake you any less capable of

achieving your goals and evengreatness.

I am reminded that James Baldwin,that great Black American writerwhom we hold in such high esteem,was a homosexual.

And I am also reminded thathomosexuality is not some contagiousdisease.

Afraid of being branded

Joining the homosexuality debate

MR. EDITOR, as we getcloser to the annualCPEA, my mind lingerson the hundreds ofclassroom teachers wehave in our system.

Now, there have beensome excellent classroomteachers throughout theyears - before my time asa teacher, during mytime as a teacher and thetime since I left theprofession.

In my time, there wasa desire on the part ofteachers to be the bestclassroom teachers theycould be. Unfortunately,I note that these daysthere is a mad rush byclassroom teachers tobecome administrators.The attitude seems to be:the quicker I get out ofhere (classroom) thebetter.

There is somethingabout the system today,or should I say what is

being encouraged by thestate administration,that says the excellentteacher cannot remain inthe classroom and informchanges necessitated bythe changing times, forexample, the proper useof computer technology inthe school system.

It is like saying that aclassroom teacher whodoes not aspire to becomean administrator is notambitious. Oh, what asad mistake!

Many schools herehave suffered from the

sudden uprooting ofmany of their bestclassroom teachers whoend up pushing somepapers and pens behindsome desks… wieldingaway their time inunproductive exercises.

If it is that teachersyearn for administrativepositions because theremuneration packagesare more attractive, thenit is time that we think ofreordering theremuneration packagesfor our classroomteachers, so as to keep

them doing what they dobest, i.e. teach.

On a slightly differentnote Mr. Editor, there isa need, given what I havebeen told by many, manypersons who I thinkshould know, for a veryhard look at those we arepaying to be teachers.Teaching is more than anoccupation; it is avocation, and those whoare in it for the ‘ride’should seriously seekalternate occupation.

Retiree

Our classroom teachers The Kingdom

ANOTHER LABOUR DAY (May 1,2019) has come and gone, and I askmyself: what have we done to improvethe cause of workers, those citizenswho, according to the OxfordDictionary, “exchange their labour orservices in return for payment orreward”.

As important as we workers are, wehardly care about ourselves. Weassociate with politics, churches, sportsgroups, but shy away from associatingwith ourselves.

Worst, many workers do not considerthemselves as workers. The vendors,cart pushers, farmers, fisherfolks, evenlawyers and doctors, for example, donot identify themselves as workers inthe true sense of the word.

We have never placed emphasis oneducating and informing people aboutthe purpose and importance of being aworker. And, like a plague, the fear ofthe unknown continues to prevent usfrom moving forward.

We have deliberately refrained fromeducating, informing and empoweringpeople. Those with authority knowthat knowledge is power, knowledge isstrength, and strength is virtue, and ifthis is achieved, it becomesdifficult to manipulate theworkers and keep themblind and ignorant, andthey will no longer bedependent on the systemfor their every existence.

The mobilization oflabour is essential ifdevelopment is to become areality. But improvementin the quality of life ofpeople must come throughself-reliance, i.e. a kind ofpower which will liberatethe people so that they canmake full use of theopportunities and resourcesaround them.

Until we do such, we are doomed toperpetuate the malaise in whichpolicies do not recognize the needs,rights and benefits of the under-privileged.

I had the rude awakening when Ifound out that the domestic workersand garden helpers are not recognizedunder the Protection of EmploymentAct 2003. How could a nation be thatcallous in not providing basicprotection for some of its mostvulnerable workers? Is this a mistake?Was it done on purpose? This has tochange. We have to advocate for thechanges of such laws. A nation isknown for its development andintegrity based on the way it treats itslowly, underprivileged and challengedcitizens.

Jobs and better working conditionsgo hand in hand with the rights andprivileges of all workers. I hope myramblings would jolt some minds andspur action to address these injusticesto workers.

So Long,Man-on-the-go.

The need to empower workers

WISDOM is the fear ofthe Lord. He is thebeginning of wisdom,experience andknowledge which gatheralong with power whenwe apply them.

Let us look at thequiet wisdom from somefascinating creatures onthe earth, whose habitscan teach us importantlessons about wisdom, ifwe only stop to noticethem.

Here are fourinconspicuous specieswhose traits displaywisdom, which wasspoken of in Proverbs30:24-28.

1. Ants plan for longwinters by storing upfood during the summer.

2. Rock badgers buildsecure nests in thestrongholds of rock.

3. Locusts move inunison without anobvious leader.

4. Spiders do suchskillful work on theirwebs.. they live in Kings’palaces and get food.

These creatures, thatwe kill every day, seemto have more wisdomthan us. Their foresight,resourcefulness,teamwork and excellenceare inspiring traits. Ifanimals can exhibit suchqualities, why can’t weas human beings,created in God’s image,excel in our work? Weare so divided in ourhomes, parliaments,communities, and evenour churches!

We judge each otherevery day, and we can’tcome together for a

common purpose. It isalways ‘me or I, I do this,I want the glory’.However, we will not getit. It belongs to God.

Look at the Caribbeanwhere some say that thepresident of the U.S.Awants to divide us. Thisisn’t true. We have beendivided a long time now.He knows that, andthat’s why he can dothat.

Look to God forwisdom, and He will giveit to us.

Bishop Ezekiel Creese

Wisdom

Introduction

THE OPPOSITION NDP continues todemonstrate what a nasty dirty party itis, with its latest version of the so-called “tough love” campaign.Basically, this a move by the NDP tovictimize ULP supporters, in a particularway, so as to get them to change theirvoting pattern. In 2015, a caller to NiceRadio on the New Times programme,said that he had informed his motherthat he would stop all remittances if shedid not vote for the NDP.

Present in the studios of Nice Radioat the time of the call, were the thenleader of the NDP, Arnhim Eustace,and Vice President St. Clair Leacock.It came as a shock to most personsthat the two NDP officials encouragedthe caller to send the money to theNDP account. They made no effort toencourage the caller to send theremittance to his mother, despite thepolitical differences between them.

Vincentians did not pay enoughattention to this concept of “toughlove” at the time, despite the fact thatit was highlighted by a number ofradio talk show hosts, includingFrank Da Silva. Now the situationhas come full circle following therecent NDP town hall meeting inToronto, Canada.

The tough love concept

It was the representative for theconstituency of South Leeward, Nigel“Nature” Stephenson who presentedthe “tough love” concept at the townhall meeting in Toronto. Stephensonhighlighted the importance ofremittances from Vincies living in theDiaspora, to their relatives andfriends back home. He reasoned thatthese remittances don’t make anysense, if they are sent to relatives andfriends who support the ULP ingovernment.

So, Stephenson wants the NDPsupporters in Canada, to provide theirrelatives and friends in St. Vincentand the Grenadines with anultimatum - support the NDP or noremittances. This concept has shockedmost right-thinking persons in St.Vincent and the Grenadines. It isdownright wicked and sinful towithhold remittances, all because ofpolitical differences. So Friday andcompany are saying to theirsupporters in Toronto, New York andLondon, place your relatives injeopardy, send them no money, noChristmas barrel, if they don’tsupport the NDP.

The whole scenario is frighteningand horrible. ULP supporters arebeing placed in a compromisingposition because they support amodern progressive party that isbringing untold benefits to thecountry. ULP supporters are to bevictimized because they support thepolitical party that has provided thebest governance in the history of St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

The NDP has become so desperatethat they will sink to this level, in thevain effort to win an election in thiscountry. They will make Vincentianssuffer, particularly supporters of theULP whose relatives in the Diasporasupport the NDP. They would havetheir supporters refrain from sendingremittances to help their relatives andfriends, all because of politics andtheir drive to win an election.

This is all wicked, deceitful and

inhumane. How could you put yoursupporters through such a concept,asking them to deprive their relativesof money for school fees and books, forrent, mortgages, car payments andmedical bills? And this is a party whoclaim that they love Vincentians?

Desperate times

These are desperate times for theNew Democratic Party. They havetried a number of things in their bidto attract a following, but these havenot been successful. Godwin Fridayand company cannot provide a clearnarrative, to tell the Vincentian voterabout their plans to develop thecountry. In fact, their only strategy isto beat up and criticize the plans andprogrammes of the ULPadministration.

And they have returned to theirpolicy of telling lies in a big way. Forexample, Daniel Cummings, theMember of Parliament for WestKingstown, astounded the audience inToronto, when he lied on the hard-working nurses in the country.Cummings said that our nursesrequest from patients the identity ofthe political party they support whenthey are being admitted to the MiltonCato Memorial Hospital. This ofcourse is a dastardly lie.

This lie by Daniel Cummingsattempts to serve two purposes. First,it tries to indicate that the nurses areunprofessional in their work, and thatonly those patients who state thatthey support the ULP, will get goodcare at the MCMH. Secondly,Cummings is trying to create a falseopinion, that this is a policy of theULP administration, and that theULP is victimizing supporters of theNew Democratic Party, when they goto the MCMH. Nothing could befurther from the truth.

There is no policy by the Ministryof Health for patients to state theirpolitical preferences. Equally, there isno policy for nurses to put thisquestion to patients. It is all false,and is another ploy by the NDP, tomake the ULP look bad. But it willnot work.

Conclusion

The impressive work that the ULPadministration is currently conductingin the state, is throwing the NDP intoa tail spin. There is the exploratorydrilling exercise at Lot 14, that hascaptured the imagination of allVincentians, including supporters ofthe NDP. The people of CentralLeeward and North Leeward areactively awaiting the start up of workon the government hotel at Mt.Wynne/Peters Hope. Then there is theRain Forrest project which will seemore development in the fisheriessector, and the country is lookingforward to the construction of theexpress hotel in the Diamond/Brighton area.

So many things are happening herein St. Vincent and the Grenadines,under the supervision of the ULPadministration, and all the NDP couldfind to talk about, is an evil conceptcalled “tough love”. What a shame!!!

THERE HAS BEEN much discussionabout the electoral process in St.Vincent and the Grenadines followingthe 2015 general elections. Numerouscalls have been made by the NewDemocratic Party (NDP) and localcommentators for electoral reform. Withgeneral elections fast approaching, itwould appear that the government isreluctant to make any changes to theelectoral laws. As a responsibleopposition party, the NDP has tabled amotion on Electoral Reform inparliament, which is to be debated onFriday 17th May, 2019.

The following is the motion: “WHEREAS public confidence in

the electoral system to deliver freeand fair elections is vital todemocracy;

AND WHEREAS the electoralsystem in our country has revealedserious problems over the years andmost recently in the 2015 generalelections that have shaken publicconfidence in it;

AND WHEREAS the Special VoterRegistration Period and the lack ofimpartiality among election officialshave been highlighted as being amongsuch problems;

AND WHEREAS electionobservers, including those from theOAS and the CommonwealthSecretariat, have noted some of theproblems and recommended changesto improve the elections process;

AND WHEREAS in 2017 theLeader of the Opposition wrote to thePrime Minister to seek to addressthese serious problems in a bipartisanmanner;

AND WHEREAS general electionsin this country are approaching;

AND WHEREAS it is necessaryand desirable that the seriousproblems in the electoral systemincluding those specifically notedherein be addressed before the nextgeneral elections by, among otherthings, amending The Representationof the People Act;

BE IT RESOLVED that thisHonourable House supports a motionto bring about necessary and desirablechanges to the elections process in ourcountry by amending TheRepresentation of the People Act inlike or similar terms to those set outin the draft Bill outlined below and byadopting other practical and effectivemeasures to ensure free and fairelections and restore public confidencein our electoral system.”

One of the major concerns is the15-day registration period after thegeneral elections are announced.Successive supervisors of electionssince 2001 have advised that thisspecial period of registration shouldbe abolished. Also, in 2015 the OASElectoral Observation Mission, TheCommonwealth Election ObserverTeam, CARICOM ElectionObservation Mission and the NationalMonitoring and ConsultativeMechanism (NMCH) recommendedthat the 15-day registration period beabolished.

The OAS Electoral ObservationMission claimed that the special 15-day period to register (just prior to anelection) overloads the work of theElectoral Department. It is thereforesuggested that the admission of newregistrants to the voters list be closedin advance of the elections, perhapson the date on which the generalelections are announced. This willgive more certainty to the electionsand will reduce the workload of theElection Department, which will beable to devote more time to theorganization and logistics of theElection Day and thus improve thesystem and results.

The observers also recommended

that an independent electionscommission be established. Further,the OAS Electoral ObservationMission recommends thatconsideration be given to theestablishment of an IndependentElectoral Management Body, whosemembership should be comprised ofindependent actors with a strongtechnical focus. In keeping with bestpractices across parts of the OECSand the wider CARICOM area, such abody ought to be endowed with astructure and a range of powers thatwill speak to its autonomy andindependence.

Campaign Financing was anotherissue that observers felt neededattention. The CommonwealthElection Observer Team recommendedthat a regulatory frameworkgoverning campaign financing bedeveloped prior to the next election, inorder to promote fairness,transparency and accountability.

For years, the NDP has beencomplaining about the size of theVoters List and has held severalmeetings with the former supervisorof elections to discuss the issue. Anattempt was made prior to the 2015general elections to cleanse the voterslist, but there were problems.However, the OAS ElectoralObservation Mission has encouragedthe Electoral Authorities to continueupdating and cleansing the VotersList, and further recommended thatthe Voters List also include thephotograph of each citizen, so that theidentification process is easy andimmediate. Such a move will alsohave a positive impact on issues ofcivil registration and citizenship.

Other recommendations from theobservers include: that the voterregistration process be reviewed andappropriate changes made well beforethe next general election; therecruitment of Returning andPresiding Officers be made moretransparent, by the development ofrecruitment guidelines and theadvertisement of the positions;standardized procedures and trainingfor poll workers; the NMCM shouldendeavour to have monitors presentat the final count following theelections; the law should be reviewedand amended to provide clearguidelines for the formalannouncement of election results tothe voting public by the ElectionSupervisor, before a new governmentcan be officially formed; the NMCHshould make a concerted effort tohave continuous dialogue with thepolitical parties and the police duringthe campaign process. And reduce thenumber of electors to a polling stationfrom approximately 600 to a moremanageable figure of approximately300 electors per polling station.

The recommendations made by theorganizations which observed the2015 general elections, ifimplemented, will enhance theelectoral process and inspireconfidence among the electorate ofthis country.

Will the government amend theelectoral laws or adopt the Bill thatthe NDP presented to parliament?Undoubtedly, there is need forelectoral reform in St. Vincent and theGrenadines. The NMCM also agreedthat there is need for electoral reform,and stated that reform will ensuretransparency and confidence at alllevels.

10. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

ViewsVElectoral Reform needed in SVGThe NDP practising tough love

“Many persons have a wrong idea ofwhat constitutes true happiness. It isnot attained through self-gratificationbut through fidelity to a worthypurpose.”– Helen Adams Keller (1880-1968) American author, lecturer, andpolitical activist.

THE THOUGHTS THAT EMERGED whilereading the Helen Keller quotation thatwas used to introduce this essay mayhave created a yearning, a strong tug, forthe re-reading of the same. The wordsseem to beckon us to extract maximumwisdom from these two relatively shortsentences – especially the latter. For,indeed, all of us are on a quest forhappiness. Unfortunately, sometimes webecome frustrated when it appears to beso very elusive and/or short lived.However, Keller advances a possiblesolution – we need to focus (and re-focus) on our fidelity to a worthy purpose.

The quotation also invites us toconsider what things, activities, and/orpersons would create and sustain ourhappiness. As we contemplateresponding to these, we may readilydiscover that the things and/orindividuals that generate happinesscould be transient. Happiness, likelife, can be so very fragile. Today it ishere and tomorrow it is gone.

As we meditate on these things, wemay realize that deep happiness canbe created when we focus on selflesslygenerating happiness in others and/orgiving ourselves over to a noble cause.As paradoxical as it may seem, wemust be prepared to give happiness ifwe are to be truly happy. Seeking togain it, especially at the expense ofothers, may result in its flight. It is somuch better, and wiser, to focus on thepursuit of a worthy cause (such ascaring for others or engaging inmissionary work), if we are to beblessed by its warmth and embrace.

The pursuit of our noble dreams(whatever they are) seems to producean extra sense of joy. There is a senseof accomplishment and purpose as wejourney towards that desirable end. Inaddition, we often bask in the warmglow of happiness when we achieve thegoal. This is true for the student whostudies hard for an examination andreceives a top grade. The sense of self-actualisation creates a natural highthat words are unable to describe.This happiness is magnified when theachievement is acknowledged bycolleagues, friends, and relatives.Similar emotions are evident in theathlete whose mental, emotional, andphysical discipline results inoutstanding achievement in her areaof athletic interest. Misery, the flipside of happiness, is often the result ofan abandonment of our worthy causeor the inability to find somethingworthwhile to pursue.

In our quest for happiness, wesometimes lose sight of how close it isto us. Some look for happiness inmaterial possessions. While these mayoften create conduits to enjoyment,they can also be the source of multiplemiseries. This is especially so if/whenthese possessions are obtained byfraudulent means. The print andelectronic media regularly sharesstories of individuals in business,government, the church, and thesociety at large, who have soughthappiness through dishonest andunethical means. Many of theseindividuals have become societalderelicts. These individuals, oftenintoxicated by selfish greed, wouldhave abandoned the path of righteous

living and grasped for the mirage thatmimics true happiness. That truehappiness is often wrapped within self,and elucidates the person and thepersonalities whose lives are anchoredin principles such as honesty,integrity, helpfulness, empathy, and soon. These individuals are often theones who find and exude truehappiness.

In his self-help book, “Acres ofDiamonds”, Russell Conwell (1843-1925), provides a useful reminder thatthe thing that we may be looking for tobring us happiness may be residingright beneath our feet. Sometimes werun off on a quest to find “treasure”(happiness) in a far-away country,when the source of our “wealth”(happiness) could be right within ourreach. These statements are notintended to deter our pioneering oradventurous spirit. Far from that. Wedo need to venture forth to discovernew lands at times. However, wemust not lose sight of the fact that oursource of happiness could very well bewithin our very selves, our homes, orcommunities; latent talents andabilities that we are not using orunderutilising to generate thehappiness that we long for; networksand relationships that we are notleveraging to create and/or sustainwin-win positive results. We may belonging to be happy, but losing sight ofwhere that happiness really resides.

As we engage in the quest forhappiness so much depends on thethoughts that we entertain. Thosewho invite misery and self-pity, willfind happiness a most elusive mirage.For certainly, a man is as miserable ashe thinks he is (Seneca). It is possibleto possess relatively little earthlypossession and bask in the glow ofhappiness — seeing it radiate beyondus to impact others for good. On theother hand, there are those who mayhave a tremendous amount of wealth,associates, titles, and worldlypossessions, but discover that they aremost miserable and unhappy. Ourfocus, our thoughts, so very oftendetermine our level of happiness. It isnot what we have but who we reallyare, that determines our level ofhappiness.

We all desire to be happy. Itspursuit is addictive and natural.However, for many of us, happiness isdelicate — an elusive state that quicklyvanishes “like a flash in the pan”. Itmay seem to vaporise after a transientvisit — leaving taunting memories thatit has been present. Despite this, wemust admit that almost all of ourdesires are somehow linked to ourpursuit of happiness. This is reflectedin our pursuit of love, bonding withfriends, academic pursuits, jobenhancement possibilities, and so on.The chase for happiness, and thesecurity that it generates, appears tobe that catalyst that often drives somany of us.

There is nothing inherently wrongto yearn for happiness. As we pursueit, as we long for it, we should becognizant that it is often found in ourfidelity to a worthy purpose.

Send comments, criticisms &suggestions to

julesferdinand@gmail.com

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. 11.

ViewsVThe Pursuit of Happiness

THE BIGGEST WINNER in the SouthAfrican elections was Julius Malema,the radical leader of the EconomicFreedom Fighters (EFF). The EFFelectoral clout was increased by 4percentage points while the ANC votecount decreased by 4 percentagepoints. The EFF gained 19 seats in theparliament to take its count to 44, whilethe ANC seat count was reduced by 19.It is safe to say that Julius Malema’smovement gain was the ANC and theDA’s loss. Malema, 39 years old,campaigned on the radical platform ofnationalizing the money making leversof the country’s economy, such as themines and the banks, as well asreturning the lands stolen from thepeople by the apartheid racists.

The African National Congress, thenationalist movement that endeareditself to the masses of South Africansduring the long and brutal struggleagainst Apartheid, lost, even thoughit has won all of the elections sinceone man one vote came to SouthAfrica in 1994. The ANC which wonmass support based on its leadershipof the struggle, tipped its hand as tohow it will govern when NelsonMandela committed, in principle, tomerge with De Klerk’s brutal,fascistpro-Apartheid National Party.Mandela’s commitment toreconciliation reverberates to this. Itwas an early signal that the radicalwing of the movement had lost thestruggle for leading, directing andcharting the course of the postApartheid South Africa.

During the long years of struggle,the ANC political platform called forthe nationalization of the economy,the return of the lands to the toilingmasses. By 1994, these democraticprinciples gave way to pragmatismbest reflected in the emphasis ontruth and reconciliation. But the truthand reconciliation was a farce. Thesingle most targeted and tarnishedindividual emerging from thereconciliation exercise was the antiapartheid giant, Winnie Mandela. DeKlerk shared a Nobel Peace Prizewith Nelson Mandela. The murderouscriminals in the military and securityforces never even bothered to testify.No one demanded they did, butWinnie Mandela was hounded andtarred as a kidnapper and murderer.Most importantly, white local andforeign moneyed interest maintainedcontrol of the economy.

A few blacks, best typified by thecurrent president Cyril Ramaphosa,were allowed into the boardrooms andgiven an opportunity to makemillions. A tiny black bourgeoisiegained ascendancy. Meanwhile NelsonMandela was feted in all of the majorcapitalist centres as an iconic figure.The international business class knewthat they were safe with Mandela atthe helm. And they were right. Theyhad to do one simple thing and theydid it with aplomb. They organizedthe assassination of Chris Hani, thedynamic revolutionary leader, whowas second in popularity only toMandela.

Mandela was succeeded by ThaboMbeki, who proudly declared that hewas a Thatcherite, a protégé ofMargaret Thatcher, the reactionaryformer British Prime Minister.Thatcher, along with Ronald Reaganwere the most important politicalleaders in the rise and triumph of theneoliberal economics which haveravaged the world. Mbeki was

followed by Jacob Zuma, who baredhis past revolutionary spurs to winthe presidency and then engage in aseries of corrupt and immoralpractices that further embarrassedthe ANC and sent it reeling.

The ANC 57 percent of the vote inlast week’s elections was lowest it hadreceived since the democratic vote wasoffered in 1994. The murder of 69mine workers in Marikina in 2012and the emergence the pro businessRamaphosa, who was a director of themining company where police shotand murdered striking workers,ensures that the ANC support willcontinue to dwindle. The ANC’s voteshare peaked in the 2004 nationalelections, when it received 69.69percent of the vote, but it dropped to65.9 percent in 2009 and to 62.15percent in 2014. It has lost 12percentage points between 2004 and2014.

The other major party that suffereddefeat in the elections was theDemocratic Alliance. The DA, a rightof centre political outfit is dominatedby the white South African middleclass and a section of the industrialand banking elite. After the lastelections, the party tried to win someblack African support by electingMmusi Maimane, a black man asleader. But the DA which got 22percent of votes and 89 seats in the2014 elections, saw its share of thevotes drop by 2 percentage points. Itgarnered 5 seats less this timearound. The Black masses refused tobe duped even though a black facewas given the mantle of leading theparty.

Why do we characterise Malema’sEFF performance a victorious defeat?Of the major parties in South Africa,the EFF is the only one that gainedground. The ANC parliamentary seatcount dropped from 249 in 2014 to230. The Democratic Alliance also lostground. Malema’s EFF garnered 1.8million votes to the ANC 10 millionand the DA 3.6 million. Both the ANCand the DA were well financed whilethe EFF was scoffed at from itsinception and had to struggle realhard to finance a national campaign.Lesson: Dare to struggle. Dare to win.

After the 2019 elections, no seriousobserver in South Africa willdownplay the influence or relevance ofthe Economic Freedom Fighters andits leader Julius Malema. If thetrends continue and they are likely toso do because of the pro-business, neo-liberal lock which the economic elitehas on the ANC, the people willcontinue to experience dire hardships.Unemployment and poverty remainhigh. Increasingly, the people areseeing that the vote by itself will notbring freedom from deprivation andwant. They can see clearer than everthat health problems, especially HIV,poor sanitation, lack of pipe bornewater and corruption plague the landwhile a few, especially a white localand foreign elite, along with a fewBlack faces continue to liveluxuriously.

Malema’s EFF has a bright futureand can become a king maker by the2024 general elections.

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

A victorious defeat

12 MAY 2019Your Excellency:

STRONG CALL for a public enquiry into the severedamage inflicted on the SVG Economy by theMUSTIQUE Act NO 48 OF 2002, which isunconstitutional and in breach of Section 13 of TheSaint Vincent and the Grenadines 1979 Constitution.Section 13 states: “No law shall make any provisionthat is discriminatory either of its self or in its effect.”

The 1979 Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesconstitutionally appointed Director of Audit failedPrime Minister Hon Dr Ralph Gonsalves on Audit ofPublic Accounts for three consecutive years - 2008,2009 and 2010.

The table herein shows that the incompetent ULPregime has given away more taxes to the superrichin Mustique, Canouan and Taiwan than revenuegoing into SVG Treasury.

The Public Enquiry is an instrument in LAW toconfirm nothing is unique about the Mustique ActNO48 of 2002 in the gross Mis-management of PubicAccounts.

Though, Table 2 shows where the ULP regimehas thrown away 3.581B EC Dollars in eighteenyears, to the benefit of migrants.

1. Mentally ill and otherwise challenged personsof the indigent black population eat from bins incapital Kingstown to survive, whilst the superrich inMustique and Canouan eat caviar and drink Italianwine with free SVG tax money. The situation isinhuman with no justice for the suffering poor, blackindigenous people of our country.

2. In 2018, school children had to be sent homefrom schools which were not safe.

3. Crime is highly rampant. The ULP built a newjail and not a university to address the causes ofcrime.

Warrant Officer Ivan O’Neal, a graduate fromBrookes University Oxford England, stronglycontends all of the money set out in Table 2 are to

the benefit of superrich of Mustique, Canouan. andTaiwan

As a nation, we are shooting ourselves in the footwith the Mustique Act NO48 OF 2002 and failing torewrite the Fisheries Act CAP 59 so as to allow us toretain EC$1 billion surplus revenue every year toinvest in sustainable development and set thecountry on a path to prosperity. The opportunitycosts of Mustique ACT NO 48 OF 2002 andconcessions to Taiwan are too great to ignore. Wewill overcome.

Yours faithfully,

Retired British Royal Air Force Engineer WarrantOfficer Ivan Bertie O’Neal, BSc (Hons), MSc, MBAand Leader of SVG Green Party.

CC TO:Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second -Constitutional Head of Saint Vincent And TheGrenadines. Prime Minister Hon Dr. Ralph GonsalvesLeader of The Opposition Hon Dr. Godwin Friday His Excellency Secretary General of the UnitedNationsHon President The Privy Council, London, EnglandHon President CCJ, Trinidad and TobagoHon Chief Justice of OECE Saint LuciaHon President of the United States of AmericaHon President of ChinaHis Excellency The President of SingaporeHer Excellency The President of TaiwanHon Secretary General of Caricom, GuyanaHon President of the World BankHon President of IMFHon President of Caribbean Development Bank

12. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

ViewsVAnother Open Letter to the Governor General

Part One

THE 21ST CENTURY DAWNEDunfavourably for our tiny Hairouna.The Collapse of WIBDECO wassucceeded by the annihilation of theBanana Industry - the green gold ofthe Windward Islands had run out.Attempts to recover our economyusing the tourism sector came to ahalt with the Global Economic crisisthat commenced in 2008. During thisperiod, agricultural productiondeclined, and many farmers soughtemployment in the ConstructionIndustry. St. Vincent and theGrenadines in 2019, is now a rock ofopportunity with the completion of theArgyle International Airport,advancements in the TourismIndustry, improved Education, andbooming Construction, Agricultureand Fisheries Industries.

IMF Article IV report

The 2018 IMF Article IV reportconfirms this by reporting, “Theeconomy of St. Vincent and theGrenadines has been in recovery …..The Growth outlook is positive. Staffexpect real GDP growth to reboundfrom 0.7 percent in 2017 to 2 percentin 2018, and further to 2.3 percent in2019.”

A favourable IMF report is a letter

of invitation to investors. All Reportssuggest that we are headed in theright direction; but are we doing it theright way?

The present phase is characterisedby a myriad of investmentsopportunities - from new hotels, tomedical marijuana, a geothermalproject, seafood exports, a newarrowroot factory, a new port, a newhospital and a new city at Arnos Vale.We welcome all these initiatives.Unfortunately, this also represents atime when we can get ourdevelopment foundation wrong.

Agricultural production hasincreased, and tourist arrivals havefollowed similar trends. This is largelydue to challenges in neighbouringislands, and for agriculture inparticular, encouragement fromWinfresh, the Fair Trade programmeand increased trafficker export. Wecommend them for their contributionto our development.

In Fisheries, the Agriculture InputWarehouse Kingstown Fish Market,Bequia Seafoods, Mark Jacobs and histeam at Owia, CALFICO and all otherfishing organizations that constitutethe National Fisherfolk Organisation(NFO), have skyrocketed seafoodexport activity since 2017. Wecommend them for their contributionto the development of this sector of thecountry’s economy.

In the main, therefore,developments in the Seafood Industryhave been more buoyant than inAgriculture, with the MedicalMarijuana Industry still in its earlystages.

Fish Packaging Facility signed

On Tuesday 9th April, 2019, anagreement for the establishment of aFish Packaging Facility in Calliaquawas signed by the Government ofSaint Vincent and the Grenadines andRainforest Seafoods. RainforestSeafoods, a Jamaican company, is theCaribbean’s largest processor andsupplier of premium quality seafood.Approximately nine million dollarswill be invested here for theestablishment of a Fish ProcessingPlant. Thank you, Rainforest Seafoodfor coming to our shores. Our boomingtourism industry will now have moreoptions for seafood, local fishers willexperience greater demand for theirproduct, and employment for thoseinterested in the sector is available.We cannot forget that temporaryemployment will also be availablewhile the facility is being constructed.We are happy about this new prospectand its potential contribution to ourjourney for improved quality of livingand wealth.

We are, however, troubled by the

culture of overfishing in The Bahamasand Jamaica, the home turf ofRainforest Seafood. In fact, as ofMarch 1st, 2019, a ban on conchfishing was enacted by the JamaicanMinistry of Agriculture. Jamaicacannot export any conch for one yeardue to overfishing.

With a purported EC$10 milliondollar investment, what volumes ofproduct will Rainforest be exporting torecover this investment and in whattime frame? Is this sustainable? Arewe about to follow the footsteps ofJamaica, and Bahamas?

We are not saying this is the case,we are very cautious about thisprospect. High demand of fish canresult in an increase in the price offish on the local market, as fisherswill now sell to the highest bidder.What body exists to regulate theprices at which fishers can sell theirproduct? What exists to ensure thereis no price discrimination as per thetraffickers and farmers? How do weknow if we are overfishing or notoverfishing? What is our productioncapacity for seafood and seafoodproducts? These are some questionsthat come to mind.

We commend the Ministry ofAgriculture for exploring increasedopportunities in the Fishing Industryhere, but are we running ahead ofourselves?

Sustainability, Productivity and Seafood!

GrenadinesV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 17 , 2019. 13.

Keeping ourcountry clean!!

A STRONG APPEAL has gone outfrom a son of the soil to keepour country clean.

That appeal has come fromTony Benn, a VincentianMarine engineer who iscurrently on vacation with hisfamily.

Benn is very disappointedwith the amount of litter leftat several locations by visitorsand locals alike.

On May 13, 2019, Benn,originally from Hamilton,Bequia, hiked to the highestpoint in Bequia known as ‘MaPeggy’ Hill, which sits some855 feet above sea level, and

which affords apanoramic view, amongother sights, of PortElizabeth, capital ofBequia.

He was upset withthe amount of garbageleft at this site, andmade a passionateappeal to all visitors tothat scenic spot, toensure that they returnwith all the solid waste,including plastics,which they would havebrought with them ontheir trek.

Benn, who is also aradio operator - KC2ADI(Ham radio call), was sharing

his experience withseveral radiooperators whilehiking, duringwhich he picked upmost of thegarbage withinreach, on his tripdown the hill.

One of the radio

operators, Albert Browne —J88CT, who was in radiocontact with Benn, and whosegreat, great, Grandmotherwas ”Ma Peggy”, noted thatthe disgusting practice ofleaving garbage was alsoevident on Petit Nevis andIsle a Quatre, two small,inhabited islets off the coast ofBequia.

Browne joined with Benn in

appealing to all hikers,visitors and tour guides toensure that they collect alltheir leftovers and garbage,and leave our country in thepristine condition in whichthey would have met it.

Report submitted by: Donald De RiggsPhotos by: Tony Benn – KC2ADI

Bequia to Host a Caribbean FirstSINCE 1967, volunteersRegional/Urban DesignAssistance Teams (R/UDATs)from the American Institute ofArchitects have helped morethan 150 communities createaction plans for the sustainabledevelopment of their towns. OnMay 30th, the first R/UDATteam to ever assist a Caribbeancommunity will arrive inBequia.

Each R/UDAT project isdesigned as a customizedapproach to communityassistance that incorporateslocal realities and the uniquechallenges and assets of eachcommunity. Each DesignAssistance Team is assembledwith the goal of bringing an objectiveperspective to the community andproviding an independent expertanalysis and technical advice that servesthe public interest.

The American Institute of Architectshas a four-decade tradition of designingcommunity-driven processes thatincorporate substantial public input.This approach allows the DesignAssistance Team to build on thesubstantial local expertise alreadypresent and available within thecommunity and leverage the bestexisting knowledge available informulating its recommendations.Community outreach is currentlyunderway in Bequia, and a survey isbeing taken to gather as much inputfrom the Bequia public as possible.

In 2017, a broad-based local steeringcommittee in Bequia submitted a formalapplication for a R/UDAT project to theAmerican Institute of Architects. Theproject was evaluated and accepted, andthe “Bequia Waterfront DevelopmentPlan” will be the very first R/UDATproject to take place in the Caribbean.

As the project application stated,“Our problem is: How to sustainablyreinforce the identity and utility of PortElizabeth’s waterfront area as a‘gateway’ and a focus of public activityfor residents and visitors alike.”

Last summer, an initial visit wasconducted by Joel Mills and Erin

Simmons of the American Institute ofArchitects to meet key stakeholders,refine the scope of work, and determineneeded expertise for the R/UDAT team.In the following months, a team ofexperts in the required fields wasrecruited and provided with a variety ofmaterials – ranging from a schematic ofthe existing drainage in Port Elizabeth,to a copy of the never instituted 2007“Bequia Harbour Front DevelopmentPlan”, to CAD drawings of the currentspace use – to study before theirarrival.

The R/UDAT team will be in Bequiafrom May 30th through June 3rd. Whileon the island, they will undertake acomprehensive tour of the project areaand a series of key stakeholdermeetings, and hold a “town hall”meeting open to the public. Times andvenues of public meetings will beannounced shortly.

At the end of their visit, the R/UDATteam will provide a comprehensive probono report including a series of keyrecommendations that the Bequiacommunity can prioritize movingforward to achieve its aspirations for thePort Elizabeth waterfront area. TheR/UDAT team’s report will be shared ina public presentation as well as inpermanent form.

If you’d like to know more about thisproject, please contactgretel.mitchell@grenadinesstudio.com(Contributed)

A section of Part Elizabeth, Bequia, that willbe included in the overall “Bequia WaterfrontDevelopment Plan”.

Tony Benn and a bag of litterhe collected on his trip downthe ‘Ma Peggy’ Hill.

A better view of the type oflitter that Tony Benn foundon ‘Ma Peggy’ Hill.

The view of Port Elizabethfrom ‘Ma Peggy’ Hill.

PhilatrophyV 14. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Horne donates to WestwoodMethodist School

JOURNALIST ANDCOMMUNITY ACTIVISTKenville Horne has cometo the assistance of theWestwood MethodistSchool’s poultry project.

Last week Wednesday,May 8, Horne journeyedto the school in NorthLeeward, to personallyhand over 36 boilerchicken, water bottles,feeders and a quantity ofpoultry feed, that will gotowards getting theproject off the ground.

During the briefhanding over ceremony,Horne, a full-timereporter with THEVINCENTIAN, andfounder/co-ordinator ofthe Kenville HorneSports Academy locatedin Rose Hall, promisedcontinued assistance tothe project, even as heappealed to others to

“come forward andassist.”

Directing hisremarks to thestudents, he toldthem that thepoultry projectoffered them theopportunity to be“independentlyminded.”

He spoke tothem of the projectearning moneyand paying for itsown upkeep andturnover, but onlyif they, thestudents “takegood care of thechickens.”

One of thesedays, Horneprojected, “some ofyou might even

start your own poultrybusiness, because of theexperience you gain fromthis project.”

Clarence Crook, whooverlooks the project,described Horne as aperson who is always onthe lookout to come tothe aid of communities inNorth Leeward. “Heanswered our call and ishere today donatingthese items to us,” saidCrook.

Principal of theWestwood Methodist,Pearlette Harry,expressed thanks toHorne for histhoughtfulness. “It wasquite a short notice, andhe just stepped in andoffered to give assistancewhich we very muchappreciate,” said Harry.

Speaking on behalf ofthe students, Grade 6

student Garvin Farrellexpressed thanks toHorne. “We will befeeding them every dayand take good care ofthem, so we can earnmoney and buy stuff forthe school,” promisedFarrell.

How he was moved

As for how he wasmoved to make thisdonation, Horne relatedhow he was scrollingthrough his Facebookfeed when he came uponan appeal for assistancefrom the WestwoodMethodist School.

“It appealed to meinstantly .. a schoollooking for help to start apoultry project was notan everyday thing.

“I also reflected on thefact that when thestudents go on vacation,they, more often thannot, remain idle. Thisproject, I thought, couldbe an opportunity tokeep then occupied,”Horne added.

“I just felt compelledto help, and set aboutactivating a network ofdonors to assist,” Hornerelated, adding that hecontacted the schoolofficials who providedhim with a projectbudget.

The school compliedbut, “I wanted to givemore than they hadasked for, and I amhappy that I was able togo the extra mile,” saidHorne.

Another motivatingfactor Horne cited was

that he felt this could bethe beginning ofinculcating a businessmindset among thestudents.

“I felt I could help inencouraging a sort ofbusiness mindset amongsome young people… sothat they may be led toconsider self-employmentas an option when theyleave school, sincehaving to manage theproject would also help toinstill a sense ofresponsibility andindependence in them.”

Horne, readers willrecall, was this country’sfirst recipient, in 2014,of an award under theQueen’s Young LeadersProgramme (QYLP). Hewas recognized as an

“exceptional leader” inhis community, RoseHall, where he had

started a sportsprogramme for boys andgirls.

The donated broilers thatcomprised the first batch ofchicks in the project.

Police receive ‘equipment’ boostVINCENTIAN TONYBROWNE, retired policeofficer of York RegionalPolice (YRP) in Canada,has once again come tothe assistance of theRoyal St. Vincent andThe Grenadines PoliceForce (RSVGPF).

The aim of the latestdonation is to aid with

the development andexpansion of thecommunicativecapabilities of theRSVGPF.

Browne, with the kindassistance of the YRP,the Ontario PoliceTechnology InformationCo-Operative, andTelequip

CommunicationsCanada, made a recentdonation of several itemsto the organization.

Among the latestdonations were nine (9)mobile radios; two (2)radio communicationsrepeaters and supportaccessories; a 32-inchtelevision and a DVD

player for the SexualOffences Unit; a printer;and other essentialequipment aimed atboosting thecommunicative efficiencyof the organization.

Browne previouslyassisted SVG with twopolice cars, 19 laptopsand other items.

According to a pressrelease from theRSVGPF, Brownecommitted to worktowards enhancing theRSVGPF resources sothat the localconstabulary can offereffective and efficientservice, whichadvertently aids toalleviate crime andprovide safercommunities.

Browne thanked thosewho had assisted him inacquiring the equipment,

and extendedappreciation toCommissioner of PoliceColin John and others ofthe RSVGPF foraffording him theopportunity to contributeto his country in ameaningful andworthwhile manner.

Assistant

Commissioner of Police,Christopher Benjaminreceived the items andthanked Browne onbehalf of the RSVGPF forkeeping the Organizationat heart.

He promised that theequipment donated willbe put to good use.Some of what comprised the latest donation made by Tony Browne to the

RSVGPF.

(L-R): Tony Browne, retired police officer of YorkRegional Police (YRP), Canada, hands overequipment, etc. to Assistant Commissioner ofPolice Christopher Benjamin.

Kenville Horne (left foreground) hands overdonation to Clarence Crook, overseer of theProject.

Garvin Farrell, Grade 6student who expressedthanks on behalf of thestudents.

A happy moment for Headteacher Pearlette Harry,Horne, Crook, another staff member and thestudents.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 17 , 2019. 15.

FocusV 16. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

A TWO-DAY DYSLEXIA AWARENESSWorkshop for teachers commenced hereon Monday, May 13th, 2019, at FrenchesHouse, Kingstown.

The Workshop, hosted by the RotaryClub of St. Vincent and organizedthrough the Ministry of Education,was the third such collaboration on thesubject of Dyslexia between theparties.

In his remarks at last Monday’sopening, President of the Rotary ClubSt. Vincent Reuben John said theproject was high on the Rotary Club’sagenda, and added that the aim is forknowledge and insight gained fromthis symposium to be disbursed intothe classrooms. He emphasized thatthe involvement of parents was key inassisting persons with Dyslexia.

John also took the opportunity to

highlight his Club’s othercollaborations with theMinistry of Educationover the last ten years.These included: the Foodand Nutrition Quiz; theYouth Empowerment (YES)Programme and the George PhillipAward for over ten years.

Representative of the BarbadosDyslexia Association and facilitator ofthe Workshop Sandra Cadougan,noted that the mission of the workshopwas for participants to gain insightinto how to cope with dyslexicstudents.

Netta Thomas, representing the

Ministry of Education, encouragedteachers to share information gainedfrom the symposium with othermembers of staff, and to put what waslearnt into practice.

Day One of the workshop catered to

Primary School Teachers, while DayTwo was given over to the SecondarySchool Teachers.

Dyslexia is a learning disorder thatinvolves difficulty reading due toproblems identifying speech soundsand learning how they relate to lettersand words. (Source: API)

WHAT IS DYSLEXIA?Dyslexia is defined as aspecific learningdifficulty that affects theliteracy skills, such aswriting, reading, andspelling. Unlike alearning disability,intelligence is notaffected. Those who arediagnosed with dyslexiaoften find it difficult tosee or hear a word andbreak it down intoseparate sounds toassociate to each soundand letter that make upthe word. Though, asidefrom that, people withdyslexia also struggle inother areas, such as the

ability to concentrate,short-term memory,personal organization,time management, andthe ability todifferentiate left fromright. They can alsostruggle with numbercalculations and writing.

Dyslexia is a lifelongproblem that can presentchallenges on a dailybasis.

On a global scale,between 5-10% of thepopulation are sufferingfrom dyslexia, but itcould go as high as 17%,and of people who arehaving readingdifficulties, around 70-

80% of them are morelikely to have dyslexia.

A dyslexia friendlyclassroom begins with adyslexia friendly teacher(who) understands howdyslexia impacts a child’sability to learn and whatthe main symptoms are.

As a teacher, you mayworry about neglectingthe rest of your class asyou institute changes forone or two students withdyslexia. You probablyhave at least one studentwith dyslexia andpossibly there areadditional students thathave never beendiagnosed. Thestrategies you implementin your classroom forstudents with dyslexiawill benefit all of yourstudents.

Changes you can makein the PhysicalEnvironment

(a) Have an area ofthe room designated as aquiet area.

(b) Place analog anddigital clocks on thewall, right next to eachother.

(c) Set aside severalareas of the board fordaily information. Posthigh frequency wordsand information that isused often around theroom.

(d) Have children withdyslexia sit near theteacher.

Teaching Methods

1. Use slower speechand simple sentences.

2. Provide worksheetsfor organizinginformation for writingassignments.

3. Do not require astudent with dyslexia toread aloud in class.

4. Integrate differentways for students toshow their knowledge ofa subject.

5 Use multi-sensorylessons.

Assessments andGrading

Allow students withdyslexia to use electronichelpers when completingclass work or tests. Donot take off points forspelling. Offer oral

testing and extendedtime for formalassessments.

Working Individuallywith Students

1. In the beginning ofthe school year, workclosely with students toassess their knowledge ofphonics and phonemes;set up a plan and specificpractice sessions to helpstrengthen weak areas.

2 Assess a student’sstrengths andweaknesses. Childrenwith dyslexia may havestrong reasoning andproblem-solving skills.

Build on strengths.3. Use positive

reinforcement programsinstituting rewards andconsequences.

4. Praise a child’sachievements no matterhow small.

5. Supply a scheduleof the school day. Foryounger children includepictures.

Above all, rememberthat students withdyslexia are not stupidor lazy.

Lynden PunnettBA.Cert.Ed.Dip.TEFL.DipSpLD (Dyslexia)

Participants in Day One of theDyslexia Awareness Workshop.

Teachers get insight into DyslexiaRueben John, Presidentof the Rotary Club of St.Vincent.

A typically dyslexia friendly classroom (PhotoCredit: Caribbean Dyslexia Centre)

How to create a dyslexia friendly classroom

Dyslexic students are encouraged to work ingroups with other dyslexic students and studentsnot affected by the disorder. (Photo Credit:Caribbean Dyslexia Centre)

NewsV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 17 , 2019. 17.

THIS YEAR’S top Fishermen in the annualFisherman’s Day Competition will receivecash prizes.

In Class One, the person with theheaviest catch will take home$10,000, while $5,000 will go thesecond place. Third prize is $2500,with $1500 for fourth.

The Class Two winner, i.e. heaviestcatch, will net $4,000, the second$2,000, while $800, and $400 go tothird and fourth places respectively.

The changes, from outboard enginesto cash prizes for the top prizes inClasses One and Two were announcedlast week Friday by Chairman of theFisherman’s Day Committee Raoul

Lewis, during thelaunch of theAnnual Fisherman’sDay Month of Activities.

Lewis acknowledged dangersfishermen face and appealed for morehelp for them. He contends that thefishermen will be “happier with thecash.”

Activities over the month leading upto Fisherman Day’s culmination June10, begin tomorrow, May 18, in

Barrouallie and continue in variouscommunities throughout the state,including a May 26 — June 1extravaganza in Calliaqua.

The Goodwill Fishermen’sCooperative, based in Kingstown,winds up their communityprogramming on June 8.

Fisherman’s Day Activities thisyear, the 44th edition, is being heldunder the theme, ‘Climate Changeaffects the ocean. Fish responsibly tosustain the industry’, supported by theslogan, ‘We fish it, you dish it’.

A Rowboat competition June 5,Beach Seine activities from June 3 to7, Female and Junior Fishingcompetitions June 8 are also on theagenda.

Friday’s opening heard from SabotoCaesar, Minister with responsibilityfor Fisheries. He alluded to a“realignments” in the Fisheriesbusiness, with the establishment of aBusiness Development Unit.

The Unit, the Minister said, isgeared towards ensuring that carefulattention is given to enhancement ofthe business side of the industry.

Caesar is anticipating an increasein exports of fish and fish products,and expects the Fishermen’sCooperatives to play a role in thisregard.

Chief Fisheries Officer JenniferCruickshank-Howard alluded to theimpact of Climate change, and herdepartment’s role in ensuring that“appropriate measures formanagement of aqua resources are inplace.”

Cruickshank-Howard outlinedmeasures of adaptation and mitigationto include measures to shore up safetyat sea, decrease incidents and “foster aculture of safety.”

The Fisheries Division is “obligated”to working with “Fishermen” inensuring that the industry thrives, shesaid. (Stories by WKA)

THE CALYPSONIANSAssociation’s efforts atstaging this year’s Queenof Calypso competitionseems stacked withstatic if not conflict.

Prongs of the discordsurfaced lastWednesday’s at the officeof the CarnivalDevelopmentCorporation (CDC) atVictoria Park.

President EarlBennett trod cautiouslyon the matter, sayingthat “a regrettablesituation” had occurredand “we have to workwith the hand that wasdealt us.”

He gave no furtherdetails.

Vice President of the

Calypsonians AssociationRobert ‘Patches’ Knightsalluded to “obstacles”and “hiccups” and of“developments notconducive” to theadvancement of thecultural machinery.

The President,though, anticipates thatthere will be fourteenwho will try to wrest thetitle from Joanna‘Nubian Princess’Christopher.

Christopher had, infact, defeated 14 othercontestants in the 2018competition which wasreintroduced after ahiatus of close to 13years.

Registration closesthis afternoon, Friday17, and auditions arescheduled for May 22 atthe CDC Office.

An ensemblecoordinated by Robert‘Patches’ Knights andfortified with brass fromthe Police Band willaccompany the ladies.

Chairman of theQueen of CalypsoCompetition OrganisingCommittee is ChewaleeJohnson.

Minister with responsibility for Fisheries Saboto Caesar (right) and ChiefFisheries Officer Jennifer Cruickshank-Howard at the launch.

Fishermennet cash

Chairman of theFisherman’s DayCommittee RaoulLewis.

Calypso QueenCompetition is on

Earl Bennett, Presidentof the CalypsoniansAssociation, might havehinted at some static,but anticipates anotherrecord entry ofcontestants for the 2019Calypso QueenCompetition.

Joanna ‘NubianPrincess’ Christopher,2018 Calypso Queen,accepts her title trophyfrom Kenneth ‘VibratingScakes’ Alleyne,Founder/Manager of theCaylpso Theatre Tentwhich was the originalorganisers of theCalypso QueenCompetition in SVG.

NewsV 18. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

St. Vincent and theGrenadines will be hostingPhase 2 of ExerciseTradewinds from June 14 –21, 2019, and thedecommissioned E.TJoshua Airport at ArnosVale will be utilized for theduration of the Exercise.

Members of theGeneral Public aretherefore asked to takenote of the following:

1. The Royal St.

Vincent and theGrenadines Police Force(RSVGPF) in conjunctionwith the TradewindsSecretariat will takepossession of the entireE.T Joshua Airportcompound from Monday20 May to Sunday 30thJune 2019.

2. The Airportcompound including theparking lot will be off

limits to the GeneralPublic from the 19 May2019.

3. Owners of livestockwho graze animals onthe E.T Joshuacompound must cease todo so from 19 May 2019.Failure to do so willresult in the animalsbeing impounded.

(Source: RSVPF)

SOCIAL activist/auto racing enthusiast MarkSardine has hailed last week’s launch of the ‘Stage1 ICE’ a success.

The launch, Sardine said, was intended to getthe younger ones, from as early as the age of 4,enthused about auto racing.

The vehicle was launched to a small crowd atGrand View Hotel last Saturday.

The ‘Stage 1 ICE’ requires the individual tomove the vehicle utilizing pedals, and resemblesthe same set up as a bicycle.

But it, like the ‘Junior Dragster’, has a numberof safety features and was designed specificallywith the nation’s youth in mind.

Sardine told THE VINCENTIAN that thevehicles were well received, and he is planning abigger event at Heritage Square in Kingstown at adate to be determined.

“Once I feel comfortable, this will be about inthe public,” Sardine said.

And as was promised, a number of local auto-racing stalwarts were recognized for theircontribution to the sport here.

Sardine had indicated that his reason forsaluting those individuals was to give somethingback for the inspiration they gave to him.

Among the individuals recognized he said wereTony Sardine, Ozzie Veira, Fyzad Moussa, DrPerry DeFreitas, John Barnard, David ‘Stumpy’De Freitas, Gregory Ferrari, Paul MacLeish, ArtHuggins, Korie Williams, Dennis Joshua, VanEdmunds, Jack Joachim, Sonny DeFreitas, SteveOllivierre, Tony Abbott, Steve Oliver, Lennox‘Becks’ Gonsalves and Fitz Richardson. (DD)

The entire compound of the decommissioned E. T. Joshua will be closed topublic use in order to accommodate Exercise Tradewinds.

Old Airport out of bounds

The Stage 1 ICE (foreground) and the JuniorDragster on show at the Grand View Hotel lastSaturday.

Stage 1 ICElaunched

Old Airport out of bounds

THE THIRTY-FIVE new entrants into theMinistry of Mobilization’s Single ParentsProgramme have been encouraged toembrace the opportunity that has beenafforded to them.

LaFleur Quammie-Harry,Coordinator of the Gender AffairsDivision (Ag), made the appeal as she

addressed thegroup at theorientationexercise onWednesday.

“We wish thatat the end of thesession, we canall meet outobjectives, whichis to familiarizeourselves withthe programmeand tounderstand whatto expect,” shesaid.

The SingleParentsProgramme was

implemented in 2016following the nationalpoverty assessment thatwas conducted in2007/2008, when it wasdetermined that 30.2percent of the populationwas categorized as poor.

Of that 30.2 percent,it was furtherdetermined that 55percent were headed bysingle parents.

“Therefore, thisprogramme wasdeveloped as a responseto this assessment,”Harry explained.

And single parents, bytheir nature, aredisadvantaged in termsof being able to meettheir basic needs andthat of their families.

So, the programmewas designed toempower suchindividuals and to equipthem with the requiredskills to move away frombeing dependent on thestate, and to becomeself-sufficient.

Jemima George,attached to the Ministryof Mobilization,explained that there wasa need for such aprogramme, based onthe fact that singleparents may bestretched financially andemotionally, which inturn can have an impacton the children.

“So then, if we in theministry can thenprovide the needs of thesingle parents, then we

can change thelife of a childand by extensionthe family,”George said.

She explainedthat theparticipants areusuallyindividuals thathave beenreferred to, orhave walked inand asked forassistance.

And duringthe two yearsthat they areparticipating in the programme, theyare exposed to various trainingopportunities.

For example, George said,participants receive training onparenting, and in the process, “Weimprove communication in familiesand decrease the incidents of childabuse and neglect.” (DD)

TrainingV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 17 , 2019. 19.

Particpants and others at last Wednesday orientation exercise of the SingleParents Programme.

Thirty-five on single parentsprogramme

LaFleur Quammie-Harry

Jemima George

Dear George,

MY GIRLFRIEND asked me to be theMaid of Honour at her wedding, but Ithink I will have to turn down the requestsimply because I have a thing for theman she is about to marry. 

I have not told him about myfeeling, and I am wondering if Ishould. Suppose he is the man of mydreams? Must I allow him to slipthrough my fingers just like that?

The wedding is three months away.I know I am already late with myanswer, but I do not know how to tellmy friend no.

As far as I am concerned, it’s downto deciding either allowing her tomarry the guy I am so madly in lovewith or laying a claim to him and loseour friendship.

I am tired of settling for 2nd placeand being always the ‘good guy’ andyou know what they say about ‘goodguys? They finish last.

Hard choice

Dear Hard Choice,

If this person is your friend as yousay, then choosing to share in herhappiness should not be such adifficult decision to make.

Your friend has more than a “thing”for the man she has decided to marrywhich is what you need to have if youever wish to settle seriously withanyone.

Stop your daydreaming and say yesto the request, and be that friend inneed to your girlfriend. There isnothing wrong with being the ‘goodguy’; you need not buy into thatmisleading cliché that says ‘nice guysfinish last’.

George

20. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

AdviceV

Dear George,

I STUPIDLY agreed to sleep with this(older) married woman whenever sheasked. I admit, at first the idea wasgreat, but now she is getting toodemanding.

She started out calling on me onceper week, then it moved to twice perweek. Now, it’s up to sometimestwice per day depending on herfeelings.

I talked to her about opting out ofthe arrangement, but she threatenedto reveal everything to my girl if Idid.

I have never done anything likethis before, and I am afraid that if mygirlfriend finds out, she will dump meimmediately. She always says shehates liars and cheaters, and rightnow, that is exactly what I haveturned out to be.

Afraid to make a move

Dear Afraid to make a move,

By your own admission, you havesaid what you did was stupid. Do notfurther compound this act of stupidityby covering it up indefinitely.Chances are your cheating schemewill be uncovered down the roadanyway, at which time trying to saveyour relationship might prove futile.

If you truly regret committing thisgrave error, then man up and confessyour shortcomings and beg forforgiveness. Your girlfriend mayindeed hate cheaters and liars, butshe may also have an appreciation formen who know how to admit the errorof their ways, and who have agenuine intention and motivation todo better. It is incumbent on you todo everything in your power to theone you love in your life.

George

Dear George,

I HAVE BEEN datingmy boyfriend for oneyear, and in that year,he has not rememberedmy birthday. He claimedhe did not have time toget me a Christmaspresent, and said he hadthe wrong date for whenI told my folks he wascoming to the house to beintroduced.

I am getting theimpression that he is notreally into me with hislame excuses and notfollowing through onpromises.

My parents have toldme I should drop him;however, I am caught

between taking theiradvice and giving himthe benefit of the doubt.Your thoughts?

Need to know

Dear Need to know,

That is quite a recordfor the first year! Oneyear is still a short timeto expect a close toperfect record, but it isquite a big deal when thelove of your life says to

you that he did not havetime to get yousomething for Christmas.

Also, meeting yourparents is an importantevent, and he ought toknow that being a no-show would cause youserious embarrassment.

I would advise thatyou take a few stepsback and give a moreattentive ear to whatyour parents are saying.

George

Stop the daydreaming

Married woman ÂbluesÊ

What a boyfriend!!!

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. 21.

LeisureVACROSS

1. Chin bone4. Panhandle7. Barbecue rod11. Dessert‐menu words12. Wall‐climbing plant13. Auto extra14. Portable 55‐Across15. Beavers’ project16. Dubuque native17. Work (bread dough)19. Winter malady20. Mourner’s emotion22. Sanctuary tables26. Heaps of blown snow28. Sheep‐pasture sound29. Brass‐section biggie32. Bolt fastener33. Mail (a letter)34. Go gray, maybe35. Straight‐ forward37. Different moon stages39. Horned beast42. Burnt residue43. Pleasing odor45. Bat one’s eyes48. Angeles intro50. Jay‐Z’s music51. Senate runners52. Astound53. Definite article54. Approach55. Sleeping site56. Ate (lunch)

DOWN

1. Mr Nicholson2. Accompanying3. Bath filler4. Auction Participant5. TV star Gabor6. Exercise facility7. Teapot mouth8. Fido’s “foot”

Libra (Sept. 24 ‐Oct. 23)Use your charm, but don't be phony.Someone close to you may need help.Travel in pursuit of pleasure andknowledge. The locks, stove, gas, orelectric wires may not be secure.

Scorpio (Oct. 24 ‐ Nov. 22)Don't trust a deal that looks too good, ora lover who appears to have it all. Besure to take advantage of theopportunities that exist. Pushy peoplemust be kept at arm's length.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23 ‐Dec. 21)Take things slowly, especially for the sakeof those you love. You will bemisinterpreted if you get involved inother people's problems. This is a greatday to beautify your living quarters or toentertain at home.

Capricorn (Dec 22.‐ Jan. 20)Do not make rash decisions about yourpersonal life. Your diplomatic nature willhelp you in straightening out unsavorysituations. Don't spend too much onproducts that promise amazing cosmeticresults.

Aquarius (Jan. 21.‐ Feb. 19)It might be best to work on your own; ifpossible, do your job out of your homethis week. Someone you live with maycause drastic alterations in your usualroutine. People who try to persuade youto do things their way will annoy you.

Pisces (Feb. 20‐Mar. 20)Your ideas are right on the mark andyour work commendable. Travelopportunities look positive, but becautious while driving. Don't blowsituations out of proportion or you couldfind that others will misinterpret whatreally happened.

9. GeorgeGershwin’s

brother10. Four plus six13. Window

ledges18. Verdi title

role19. More obese21. Complete23. Actor Vigoda24. Dashed25. Sorrowful27. Coat trim29. Pat lightly30. “Disgusting!”31. Arthur on

“Maude”33. Move with a

spoon35. Office

furniture items

36. Pursued38. Less irrational40. Up, on a map41. Nebraskan

city

44. Did imitationsof

45. Bar46. Tell fibs47. Lovely Lupino48. Science room49. Be obligated

LA

ST

WE

EK

’sS

OL

UT

ION

Aries (Mar. 21‐ April 20)Relatives will be cordial. Get into fitnessprograms to keep in shape. Yourambitious mood may not go over wellwith loved ones. Don't get into heateddiscussions. You can expect changes inyour living arrangements.

Taurus (Apr. 21‐ May 21)This could be a serious relationship.Overindulgence may be a problem. Beconfident in your endeavors and otherswill believe in your efforts. Takeadvantage of the opportunities thatpresent themselves.

Gemini (May 22‐June 21)Try to avoid being extravagant this week.If you haven't planned a vacation, thenat least try to get away for the weekend.They won't get away with it. Changes inyour domestic scene are evident.

Cancer (June 22‐July 22)You may be able to impart knowledgethat's innovative to those searching for anew angle. Problems with peers isapparent. Get on with your life. Yourideas are good and career moves can berealized.

Leo (July 23‐Aug 22)Based on your excitement, serious‐minded individuals will be more thaninterested in backing your ideas. Taketime to help a friend who hasn't beenfeeling well. You can get ahead if youpresent your ideas to superiors.

Virgo (Aug. 23 ‐Sept. 23)Join a club to work off that excessenergy; but consider ways of doing thatwithout spending the money. You willaccomplish the most in the workenvironment this week. There's lots tobe done and if you meet your deadlineyou'll be in your boss's good books.

22. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

V THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. 23.

UNDER-15 VINCENTIAN fastbowler Solomon Bascombe hasbeen selected to the Under-15West Indies squad named for atour to England later this year,for an ICC sanctioned youthtournament.

Bascombe, a right arm fastbowler, is one of threeWindward Islands playersselected to the Wi. Squad, theothers being Grenadianswicketkeeper Divonie Josephand medium pacer DevinTyson.

The squad was selectedfollowing the CWI Under-15Tournament which was heldin Antigua last month.

Bascombe, speaking to THEVINCENTIAN since he gotword of his selection,admitted, “When I received

the call and was told I wasselected to represent theWindies U-15 team, I feltrelieved to know that my hardwork had paid off. You neverexpect to be selected, but youdo always hope for it, and nowthat it has happened, it is stillhard to believe. However, it isanother step in a long journeyto the highest level of thesport, which I do hope to get toeventually with hard work andsupport”.

The young man, a graduateof the local Lennox JohnNational Cricket Academy anda member of the PremierDivision cricket team VictorsOne, said he is lookingforward to the new challenge.

“It is a big burden to

carry… representing so manydifferent people and cultures,but I will try to keep a clearand calm head while enjoyingwhat I do in order to representthem as best possible.”

Currently enrolled at the StVincent Grammar School,Bascombe was grateful tothose who played an importantpart in helping his cricket toreach thus far.

He said, with an air ofhumility, “I have to thank GodAlmighty for the talent he hasgiven me; my parents whohave been at every match andtraining session possible andfor their little words of advice;my coaches and managers fornever giving up on me andgiving a push when necessary,

and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Port Authority for sponsoring me new gears that helped me perform in Antigua.”

THE VINCENTIAN

congratulates Solomom on thismilestone, and wishes himnothing but unencumberedprogress on to the highestlevel of his chosen sport.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Football Festivals lauded

IAN SARDINE, theYouth DevelopmentOfficer of the SVGFootball Federation(SVGFF), has lauded thestaging of the GrassrootsFootball Festivals, athrust of the Federation.

Festivals were heldover the last twoSaturdays at the HopePlaying Field in Vermontand the Campden ParkPlaying Fieldrespectively, with thefinal one set for thisSaturday at the Brighton

Playing Field, for schoolsand teams on theWindward side of theisland.

“The timing might bea little off because ofexams, and although youwill not get totalparticipation, the turnouthas been great”, Sardinecommented at lastSaturday’s Festival.

Outlining the aims ofthe Festivals, Sardinesaid: “These Festivalsare a means ofencouraging people to

participate as well asto improve theirskills, to competeagainst others,attract new personsto the sport ofFootball, as well asto assess thedevelopment ofstudents who areenrolled in thevarious programmesdirectly under theSVGFF or with thevarious clubs andother communityorganisations.”

The Festivalsinvolve participantsin workout sessions,skills challenges andsmall side matches.

Future Plans

Sardine acknowledgesthat these Festivalscannot be one-off.

“These Festivals haveto be continued ….For itto be successful and bearfruit, it has to be over aperiod of time , thereforewe are going to doFestivals again in theSummer and includecoaching sessions aswell.”

He emphasized that,“We are going into areas,

set up the zones … Weare going to assist theclubs in developing theircoaching staff to cover allthe areas becausewithout that, we are still

going to struggle in thefuture.”

But a cautious andrealistic Sardineproffered, “It will beanother three years

before you can see thetrue results of what istaking place now… Foryou to see the finishedproduct, it will takeabout three years.”

Solomon Bascombe is now a West Indies Under-15 fastbowler with his eyes set on even greater achievement.

Bascombe inWest IndiesU15 Team

Ian Sardine – Youth Development Officer of the SVGFF(right), and Michael Harris, Assistant Coach of the SVGSenior Men’s Team, looking on at last Saturday’sFestival.

A small side game as part of last Saturday’s Grassroots Festival.

A Female component was part of last Saturday’s Festival at the CampdenPark Playing Field.

THE WEST ST GEORGE SecondarySchool was the venue for the SheishinKarate Club’s internal championships,last Saturday.

It was an affair of kicks andpunches, out ofwhich emerged anumber of agecategory winners.

In the 6 to 8 yearscategory, DariusHumphrey won boththe Kata andKumite, with EthsonProvidence followinghim in second in the

Kata, and Amiyah Bascombe doinglikewise in the Kumite.

Christian Joseph won the 9 to 11years Kata, ahead of DavanteRobinson, who in turn took the Kumiteahead of Jonathan Wood.

Taking the first places in the 12 to15 years Kata and Kumite wasTerrance Providence, with JamalWilliams second in the Kata, andJoshua Richardson second in theKumite.

Claude Bascombe Jr. won both theKata and Kumite for Males’ adults 18years and above.

Second to Bascombe Jr. in the Katawas Seon Stronghold, and in theKumite, it was Gregg Francois.

And, Allyson Bascombe followed herhusband, by taking Kata and Kunite

first places forFemales 18 yearsand Over.

Zalika Henrywas runner-up toBascombe in theKata, withShazelle Isaacstaking secondplace in theKumite.

LastSaturday’sinternationalchampionshipswere the thirdhosted by theSheishin KarateClub.

SportsV 24. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

PARTICIPANTS from eight countries,including St Vincent and the Grenadines,wrapped up the 2019 Pan AmericanGymnastics Union’s (PAGU) four-dayintroductory judges’ course here onMonday.

It was the second time the St.Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG)Gymnastics Association (SVGGA) andthe PAGU were collaborating instaging a course of this nature. Thefirst was held in April 2018.

LaPrise William, Technical Directorof the SVGGA explained that thosewho participated in last year’s coursehad agreed that they wanted to makethe sport of gymnastics betterthroughout the region.

“And we are working hard to dothat,” she said while speaking at the

opening ceremony heldlast Friday at theBeachcombers Hotel.

“We are toiling forthe benefit of outathletes,” shecontinued.

According to William,the course was organized as anothermeasure towards ensuring thatgymnastics keeps developing andimproving in years to come.

The sport was introduced here somethree and a half years ago, andalready, William said, SVG had beenmaking strides in gymnastics, and theathletes have been doing well.

St Vincent and the Grenadinesbecame the first country to host theevent, she said, and it was a pleasure

to be hosting it again this year. Helen Laliberte, President of the

Women’s Technical Committee of thePAGU, and facilitator of the course, inher opening remarks, noted thatstaging the event was a big step forthe region.

She commended the sponsors,saying that it was important for thesupport of the athletes.

Among the key objectives of thecourse are: to certify judges with

officialaccreditation;educate judges byinforming them ofthe rules of theFederation ofInternationalGymnastics, andto provide accessto material forjudges in order forthem to developskills. (DD)

THE 2019 KIRK DA SILVA,St Vincent and theGrenadines FootballFederation, Expose SVGMarriaqua Football League,has broadened geographicalreach.

Dubbed ‘Rep Your Village’,this year’s league is notrestricted to teams from theMarriaqua Valley and itsenvirons. It now extends to

participation by teams from asfar away as Kingstown.

Among those village teamswhich are outside theMarrialqua Valley are WestKingstown, CentralKingstown, RedemptionSharpes, Lodge Village, FairHall, Largo Height, Gomea,Enhams and Glen.

They join village outfitsfrom the Marriaqua Valley:

Mesopotamia, Richland Park,Carierre, Glenside, Freeland,Hill 16 and Cane End, inmaking up the lot.

The competition will runthe next four months withmatches at the Cane EndPlaying Field.

As far as the Cane EndPlaying Field is concerned,First Vice- President of theSt Vincent and the

Grenadines FootballFederation- OtashieSpring, speaking atlast Sunday’s briefOpening Ceremony,committed hisfederation to seeingthat that playing fieldbecomes, “the firstastro-turf Football fieldin St Vincent and the

Grenadines.”Until such time as that

comes to fruition, players willhave to contend with the dustas the field remains partiallygrassed.

The 2019 league got off inearnest on Sunday, withRichland Park beating WestKingstown 3-2 in a Zone Amatch.

Scoring for Richland Parkwere Orlando Trimmingham

with two and Amien John, theother.

West Kingstown’s goalscame from D’ Neilson Lewisand Caldero Duantyre.

Apart from the SeniorCompetition, there will be anUnder-15 Division.

Matches will be playedSunday to Thursday, withdouble headers on Saturdaysand Sundays.

Participants and local and hemispheric Gymnastics Officials in thesecond Introductory Course for Judges held here in SVG. Helen Laliberte,course facilitator, is second from right.

LaPrise William,TechnicalDirector of theSVGGA, ispleased with theprogress ofGymnastics sinceits introductionhere.

SVG hosts PAGUjudges’ course

Claude Bascombe Jr. (left) andGregg Francois (right) in the finalduel of the 18 and Over MalesKumite.

Sheishin Karate Club hosts championships

Christian Joseph-winner of the 9 to11 years Male Kata.

Terrance Providencewas first in the Male12 to 15 Kata andKumite.

West Kingstown, oneof many new teams inthe Marriaqua FootballLeague.

Richland Park makes winning start to the Marriaqua League.

Marriaqua Football League broadens its reach

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. 25.

SportsV

SUNIL Ambris’ 148 against Ireland last weekSaturday breaks a jinx that marked St. Vincentand the Grenadines. We have produced one of thebest wicketkeepers ever, in the person of MichaelFindlay.

Alfie Roberts set the framework when he wascalled up to the West Indies at an early age. Hisstint in the arena was short-lived, as Robertsseemed to have been attracted to other interests.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines produced a fewfast bowlers in the likes of Ian Allen, WinstonDavis, Cameron Cuffy, Nixon McLean, KenroyPeters, Kesrick Williams, Delorn Johnson, RayJordan, Obed McCoy, and one or two others inbetween. They followed a legacy left by one FrankMason who legend has it ought to have been anautomatic selection to the West Indies squad.

But the pattern of discrimination as it relates toSmall Islands has been established. So it is knownthat cricketers from St. Vincent and theGrenadines normally find it harder to breakthrough at the higher level of West Indies cricket.

It is in that regard that Sunil Ambris’ selectionwas greeted after a long pounding at the selectors’doors. His opening salvos provided the scope forsome adjustment. And having to endure the dramaof the continual abuse of Small Island cricketers,Ambris went through the typical orientation.

Perhaps the change in the guard at the WestIndies level acted in Ambris’ favour and he wasgiven an opportunity to be part of the Tri Series inIreland involving Bangladesh.

Dawnley Joseph might have been the closestcandidate to fill the batting category as far asVincentians were concerned. It was unfortunatethat Joseph was not allowed the latitude ofovercoming the nerves of examination pressure.There are subtle ways of making life difficult forthe sportsman.

Mike Findlay will tell you about an occasionwhen two wicket keepers were put in the squad,when it was obvious to all that Findlay was thelogical option. People will remind of Findlay’snervousness which inevitably served in concedingthe spot.

Some Vincentians have flirted at the regionallevel but somehow missed out on the ultimateelevation.

Lance John would have been an automaticchoice, had it not been for the dominance ofDesmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge. LintonLewis was more focussed on getting his degreesthan vying for a place in the West Indies team.There is no doubt about his grit as an openingbatsman.

Albert Tesheira still displays his wares at theMasters stage, having come through theWindward phases.

A host of other Vincentian batsmen, spinners,and all-rounders plied their trade in the circles.Miles Bascombe enjoyed a stint, Orlando Jacksonknocked on the doors of regional section but foundhimself discarded even at the Windward stages.

Persons like Alston Bobb and Roland Wilkinsonwere in sight of further progress, had it not beenfor the intrigues of Windwards cricket.

Kishore Shallow’s ascendency to the VicePresident of West Indies Cricket should engendera resurgence in cricket here. Shallow has theopportunity of cementing his programme to theextent that maximum benefits are derived.

Ambris’ burgeoning in the spotlight serves as afeather in Shallow’s cap. They both havesomething to complement each other. Ambris hasan opportunity to stake a claim for inclusion to theWorld Cup squad. The West Indies need batsmento counteract the threat of the Bangladesh attack,and indeed all in the World Cup.

The Tri Nation series served as a reminder thatwe have some work to do ahead of the World Cup.We have to face that competition head on, onegame at a time and build a momentum to the idealclimax.

World Cup questRETIRED national openingbatsman Miles Bascombeand recently W.I. Under-15call-up fast bowlerSolomom Bascombeshared the limelight in theNLA Premier Division 50Overs Cricket Competition,last weekend.

The Bascombes,helped their team —Victors One - to victoryover New Haven FuneralHome North Windward,in one of last weekend’smatches played at ArnosVale.

First, Solomoncaptured 6 wickets for 44runs in a sustained spellof fast bowling to helprout North Windward for148. Then Miles hit atypically aggressive 102(13 fours and 4 sixes) tosend Victors to a victorytotal of 151 for 5 wickets.

In another weekendgame played at ParkHill, Team Rivals beatPolice Two by 5 wickets.

Perhaps overburdenedby their normal duties,the lawmen were takenapart by DeightonButler, 6 for 26, for apaltry 88.

Team Rivalsresponded with 89 for 5from 13 overs, LindonJames hitting 34.

National T20

In the most recentround of matches in theNLA Neil Williams,Team Rivals beat VictorsOne by 4 wickets.

Victors One made 129for 8 from 18 overs,Atticus Browne gettingKensey Joseph, 3 for 23,Deighton Butler, 2 for

14, were the chiefwicket-takers forTeam Rivals.

Team Rivalsmade 130 for 4 from15 overs, Josephleading this timewith the bat with 51.Alston Bobb took 3for 22.

At Stubbs,Guardian General Saintsbeat Strike Eagles by138 runs. Saints made179 for 5 from 20 overs,Jeremy Layne top-scoring with 98, RayCharles took 4 wickets.Strike Eagles could onlyreach 51 from 12 overs intheir reply.

Flow Radcliffedefeated Victors Two by60 runs. Flow Radcliffemade 141 for 2 from 15overs. Gidron Pope ledwith 80 not out and

KadirNedd hit41. VictorsTworepliedwith 81for 5 from15 overs.DenisByam ledwith 32.RasheedFredericktook 2 for 4.

I.B.A.ALLEN

DEFENDINGchampions Smashersand MSDA JulesAnthony Northern Stars willcontest the NLA First DivisionSunday Leagues 50 Overs final.

Northern Stars claimed theirfinals berth when they defeatedKeagan’s Bequia X1 by 4 wicketsat Arnos Vale 2, last Sunday.

Bequia X1 took first knock and

registered 205 from 31.5 overs,Razine Browne top scoring with44 and the in form, Shem Brownegetting 31. Shamon Hoopercaptured 3 for 42 to help keepBequia in check.

Thanks to a maximum-laden 96(11 sixes and 4 fours) by openingbatsman Leshawn Lewis,Northern Stars paced themselvesto victory, getting to 206 in 31.2overs, for the loss of 6 wickets,with Dean Browne accounting for4 of those wickets for 63 runs.

Smashers made certain thatthey were poised to retain theirchampionship title when theydispensed with Police One in theother semi-final played at SionHill last Sunday.

Police One, first at the crease,disappointed with a lackluster165 all out in 31 overs. ElmoreAlexander contributed 43 of thoseruns but was one of Jabid Harry’s4 victims which he claimed at theexpense of a mere 34 runs.

Smashers wasted no time.They raced to 166 in 25.5 overs,for the loss of four wickets, withopeners Kirton Lavia, 61, andRonald Scott,40, setting the pacewith an opening stand of 65 in 7.4overs.

The finals will be contested thisSunday beginning at 10am at theCumberland Playing Field.

I.B.A.ALLEN

JULES SNAGG held on to his claim as thiscountry’s number one male squash player when hetook the (male) title in National Squash Classic

Championships, which wasplayed over three-days lastweek, at the KingstownSquash Centre, Paul’sAvenue.

He beat Othniel Bailey 12-10, 11-7, 11-7.in the final.

Amber Glasgow took thefemale category of theChampionshuip when shebest Dr. Sherian Slater, 11-7,11-4, 11-7, in the final.

Consolation Play Offs

Apart from the Main Drawfor the Males, there was a

Consolation Plate.In the Play Offs, Rashid

Constance beat MikhailQuashie 11-9, 12-10, 11-5,while for those in the 50 years

and Over age category, Paul Cyrus defeated CollinAlexander 11-2, 11-9, 11-7.

The Championships, hosted by the SVG SquashAssociation, was used to assess the local players’readiness for the OECS Senior SquashChampionships, to be held here from 6th to 9thJune.

From the OECS Championships, the sub-regional team will be selected for the SeniorCaribbean Area Squash Association Championships,slated for Guyana.

MilesBascombehit 102 forVictors One.

SolomonBascombecelebrated hisW.I. U-15 call-up with a six-wicket haul.

JeremyLayne, 98,top scoredfor Saints.

Two Bascombes lightup National 50 Overs

Smashers set to defend titleSmashers’Leshawn Lewisfollowed up hisquarter-final halfcentury withanother in thesemi-final.

Snagg takes Squash Classic

Jules Snagg,winner of the MaleDivision of theNational SquashClassicChampionships.

A WOMAN who, via asocial media, postedvideo May 14, wasshowed to be lying onthe floor of theAccident andEmergency Unit of theMilton Cato Memorial Hospital, wastreated and admitted to a ward at thehospital for continuing observation andcare.

This according to a Press Releasefrom the Ministry of Health lastWednesday.

The video in focus, showed thewoman clearly prostate and scantilyclad in clear view of nursing and

hospital attendant staff but who, inwhat the video captured, gave scantvisual regard if any to the woman, far

less to offer a ‘caring’ hand ofattention as one wouldexpect of the profession.

In the release, theMinistry of Health expressedits abhorrence with thecontents of the video, andregistered its regret,deeming the whole affair“unacceptable.”

According to the release,the Minister of Health andhis Permanent Secretarymet on Wednesday morning“with relevant staff, andrequested urgent reportswhich would be forwardedthrough the PermanentSecretary to the ServiceCommissions Department,and form the basis for anyfurther action if necessary.”

The Ministry promised a“thorough investigation … toascertain the full facts.”

26. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Hospital act unacceptableThe MiltonCato MemorialHospital hascome in for itsshare of attack.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019. 27.

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EMOLINE DOUGLAS

Layou SDA ChurchSunday, 12th

May, 2019Viewing: 1:00 p.m.Service: 2:00 p.m.

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Kingstown Methodist

ChurchFriday, 10th May,

2019Viewing: 2:00 p.m.Service: 3:00 p.m.

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St. Mary’s Star of the Sea

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May 2019Viewing: 1:00 p.m.Service: 2:00 p.m.

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Saturday, 11th May, 2019

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Sunday, 12th May, 2019Viewing:

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FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019 VOLUME 113, No.20 www.thevincentian.com EC$1.50

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FOR

SALE

THE GOVERNMENT of Antiguaand Barbuda confirmed Friday9th May, 2019 that it hadofficially submitted a documentto authorities in Barbados,indicating its interest inpurchasing the shares thatcountry owns in the cash-strapped regional airline LIAT.

This is according to a reportcarried in the online AntiguaObserver news service of thesame day.

The Observer reportedPrime Minister of Antigua andBarbuda Gaston Browne assaying that the proposal wassubmitted last week Tuesday,though as of Wednesday oflast week, the Barbadosauthorities said they had notyet received a formal proposalfrom Mr. Browne about thepurchase of shares.

Barbados owns 49.5% of theshares in the regional airline,making it the largest singleshareholder. It will bedisplaced from that position byAntigua and Barbuda if thattwin island nation issuccessful in its bid to buythose shares.

Notwithstanding who sentwhat and who got what when,PM Browne told the Observer,“We are looking towards thesustainability and viability ofLIAT. We now have to await aresponse from Barbados, andthen we will develop an actionplan on the way forward.”

The confirmation of PM

Browne’s offerfollows an April 30meeting of LIAT’sshareholdergovernments inAntigua, where itwas agreed that aproposal from PMBrowne regardingthe direction of theairline, would beexamined.

During themeeting, Brownepresented theproposal, albeitorally, whichinvolves apparently,among other things— a way to financethe keeping of thethree LIAT planesowned by theCaribbeanDevelopment Bank.

There was asuggestion prior toBrowne’s proposal, that theplanes be sold as part of thedownsizing of LIAT. Thatseemed to have initially wonconsensus among someshareholders who opined thatthis matter merited seriousconsideration.

The Antigua and Barbudaproposal now seemed to havetaken precedence as far as thediscussion going forward isconcerned.

All of this discussion on thefuture of LIAT stemmed froma request by the shareholder

governments for an injectionof some US $5.4 million intothe cash-strapped regionalairline, that services 15Caribbean countries.

The request was describedby some to be a plea ofdesperation.

St. Kitts-Nevis, Antiguaand Barbuda, Dominica,Grenada and St. Vincent andthe Grenadines respondedpositively to the call, withTrinidad and Tobago offeringto assist in ways other than adirect cash input.

Also surfacing last week

was indication thatbusiness/aviation tycoon SirRichard Branson would beopen to considering investingin a restructured LIAT. Therewas no confirmation that thiswas down for anyconsideration by LIATshareholder governments,though officials of theGovernment of Antigua andBarbuda had spoken in publicabout the matter.

Meantime, recent pressreports disclosed that Grenada

has joined Antigua andBarbuda, Barbados, Dominica,and St. Vincent and theGrenadines as a principalshareholder in LIAT.

And as CEO/LIAT Ms. JuliaReifer-Jones had asserted inApril before the meeting inAntigua, LIAT remains in theskies and fulfilling most of itsschedule.

No word, though, on theongoing impasse with theairline’s pilots over a proposedsalary cut.

LIAT: ANTIGUA MAKESOFFER TO BARBADOS

Could LIAT be looking at a new shareholder configuration?