Prosecutor ÂNO COMPROMISE!Ê - COP · Certificate. There are currently 14 MCT Bursary recipients...

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2019 VOLUME 113, No.49 www.thevincentian.com EC$1.50

Prosecutoroverworked

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7-year-olddrownsPage 5

U.I. Uprising-40 Years

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New TheatreArts Awards

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Heritage Squareshooter charged

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ÂNO COMPROMISE!Ê- COP

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE(CoP) Colin John, last Monday,made the issue of the three (3)police officers who wererecently arrested and chargedfor various criminal offences,inclusive of rape, trespassingand assault, (see accompanyingstory), the basis of an address toa gathering of police officers.

The Commissioner used the

occasion of ameeting held atthe Old MontrosePolice StationLecture Hall andattended bymembers of thepolice highcommand, gazettedofficer’s corps andrank and file members, toaddress what he described as“some pertinent issues thathave affected the integrity ofthe organization,” ala the three officersreferenced above.

“Under nocircumstances willthe organizationcondone anyunlawful acts beingperpetrated by amember of theRoyal St. Vincentand the GrenadinesPolice Force,” Johntold his officers,and reminded themthat as policeofficers “we took anoath and have avestedresponsibility toprotect the citizensof SVG and all ofthe visitors to our

country.”With a stern turn of voice,

the Commissioner made itclear that he was not going to

compromise the integrity ofthe organization for anyone.

He reminded his fellowofficers about the

consequences of being caughtup in corrupt practices merely

Continued on Page 3.

Commissioner of PoliceColin John made itabundantly clear that he wasnot going to compromise thePolice Force for anyone,period.

It was a packed house of police officers of all ranks who turned up to hear the Commissioner.

POLICE HERE havearrested and chargedthree of their fellowofficers for offences of

rape,burglaryandcriminal trespasses.


THREEPOLICEOFFICERSCHARGED L-R: Corporal Derrick Humphrey – answers to a rape charge;

Corporal Michael Lynch – answers to a rape charge, andCorporal Enkem Richards – answers to charges of trespassingand assault. (Photo Source: Facebook)

2. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

V News 3THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2019. 3.

Vincentiancrowned ReggaeStar in BarbadosST. VINCENT AND THEGRENADINES reggae artisteJomo Bynoe, currently residing inBarbados, has claimed the covetedtitle in the Bajan Reggae StarsCompetition.

Jomo Bynoe, who goes by thestage name Justice Immortal -The Musical God, defeated 14other finalists in the competitionheld at The Cove in SaintLawrence, Christ Church,December 1.

Justice, who hails from Paul’sAvenue, Kingstown, walked awaywith the first prize of aninternational recording contractand distribution from FE FEEntertainment LLC USA.

In an interview with THEVINCENTIAN since, the reggaeartiste said that he feels goodafter winning the competition.

“Winning makes me feel good,winning the crown means a lot tome. It’s an opportunity for I tomove forward my talent and turnit into a career and spread mymessage to the wider range ofpeople, and still own something,”said Justice.

He said that he was confidentthroughout the competition. “Iwas confident … I been singinglong time. I been singing since I isa youth because I grow up aroundmusic, but I officially started to doit from the age of 16.”

Justice is among the morerecognized Vincentian reggaeartistes. For a period of time, hedominated the reggae landscapehere, along with Abuza andYapthu before migrating toBarbados where he started afamily.

Among his more popular songsare ‘Thing tuff’, ‘Never sell mysoul’ and ‘Same man’.

He told THE VINCEENTIANthat he is looking forward toproduce great music because henow has an internationalrecording contract. “Look forwardto see great things coming,”Justice promised, before addingthat he has dedicated most of hislife to music.

Speaking on Facebook Liveafter lifting the crown, Justicethanked all the people whosupported and wished him well. (KH)

Jomo Bynoe, aka JusticeImmortal, is looking to build onthis achievement.

MCT hands out more bursaries FOUR MORE STUDENTS of theOpen Campus (SVG) of TheUniversity of the West Indies(The UWI) have been added tothe list of Mustique CharitableTrust (MCT) bursary recipients.

The four: Natalia Gill -Bachelor of Science: ManagementStudies-Tourism & Hospitality;

Araya Horne - Bachelor ofScience: InternationalManagement; Zaphia Joseph -Bachelor of Science: ManagementStudies-Tourism & Hospitality;Ashene Peters - Bachelor ofScience: Social Work

They received their awards forthe 2019 — 2020 Academic year ata ceremony held on Saturday 9thNovember, 2019. Each awardcovers 60% of a student’sacademic fees, and each recipientis gifted with a laptop computer.

Remarks were made byDeborah Dalrymple and CamilleLakhram of The UWI OpenCampus. They both thanked theMCT for their significantcontribution to the academicendeavours of the selectedstudents.

Dularie Malcolm of the MCTrecognised Mrs. Dalrymple andMrs. Lakhram for their supportand dedication to the programme,and urged the bursary recipients

to utilise the support programmeat UWI Open Campus when theyface challenges.

Ikarmola LaBorde, former UWIOpen Campus Graduate,Valedictorian and Entrepreneurwas the featured speaker. Shefocused on highlighting theimportance of time managementand overcoming challenges as shedirected her address to thebursary recipients.

Since 2010, MCT has awarded3-4 Bursaries each year with 17MCT Bursary recipients havinggraduated thus far- seven withFirst Class Degrees, three with`Upper Second Degrees, six withLower Second Degrees and oneCertificate.

There are currently 14 MCTBursary recipients pursuingstudies at UWI Open Campus (St.Vincent).

MCT 2019 Bursary Recipients (with bags in hand) with UWI and MCTofficials.

Continued from Frontpage.

for a few dollars, and the risks involved tothemselves, their families, their colleagues.

And as though recalling his previous position ofDeputy Director of Public Prosecutions here, Johnheld up the tenet of the trial system, declaring that,like every other suspect, the officers who werecharged are deemed innocent until proven guilty bya court of law, and that the law should be allowedto take its course.

Notwithstanding the concentrated focus ofinquiring eyes on the Police Force, John thankedthe hard-working members of the organization fortheir support, and implored them to commit to thequest to rebuild the trust between the public andthe police.

Among the ongoing efforts made by the police toreach out to the public are: the Pan Against CrimeProgramme; Police Youth Clubs; the Police BandSummer Programmes and Christmas Concerts; theCoast Guard Summer Programme and the DAREprogramme. In addition, the police are activelyinvolved in national sports competitions andactivities.

John also took the opportunity to highlight thatcrime generally has been on the decrease. Hedisclosed, for example, that up to November in2018, there were thirty (33) reported murders.That figure, he said, had dropped to 19 for the sameperiod up to November 2019.

He attributed this reduction “to thecommendable effort and dedication of members ofthe organization to the prevention and detection ofcrimes.”

Continued from Frontpage.

A release dated 29th November 2019 from thePublic Relations and Complaints Department of theRoyal SVG Police Force, confirmed that threeserving police officers were arrested and charged;two with the offence of rape, and the other with theoffences of burglary and criminal trespasses.

The charges were laid against the officers onThursday, November 28, 2019 and on Friday,November 29, 2019.

THE VINCENTIAN reported in its issue ofFriday 29th November 2019, that one of thosethree, Corporal Derek Humphrey, had been chargedwith raping a 15-year-old girl on November 24.

According to information received then, he wasalso charged with indecently assaulting a womanon a separate date.

When Humphrey appeared before the FamilyCourt last week Thursday, he was not called uponto plead because the offence is an indictable one. Hewas granted bail with one surety.

One of the other two, identified as CorporalMichael Lynch of Peter’s Hope, appeared before theFamily Court last Friday charged with rape. He isalleged to have raped a woman during the time shewas in protective (police) custody. He was grantedbail.

Meanwhile, the third officer concerned, identifiedas Corporal Enkem Richards of Colonaire, appearedbefore the Serious Offences Court, Kingstown lastFriday, charged with entering his neighbour’s houseas a trespasser and assaulting the neighbour.

Richards pleaded not guilty to the charges, andwas granted bail. The matter was transferred tothe Colonarie Magistrate’s Court.

The release referenced earlier, confirmed thatthe three officers have been placed on suspension.

Three Policeofficers charged

‘No compromise!’- CoP

English prisoner diesin Vincy hospital

CourtsV 4. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

KEVIN SLAUTER, a 57-year-old boatcaptain of England, who was incustody at Her Majesty’s Prisons,Kingstown, awaiting sentencing onthree drug-related charges, died atthe Milton Cato Memorial Hospitallast Saturday.

Up to press time Wednesday,efforts by THE VINCENTIAN toascertain the results of theautopsy, or to reach theSuperintendent of Prisons provedfutile.

However, THE VINCENTIANunderstands that Slauter wastaken to the hospital afterswallowing his dentures andcutting his wrist at the Prison. Hewas admitted to the Hospital andunderwent surgery.

Earlier this year, he had

pleaded guilty to possession of 404pounds of marijuana with intentto supply, possession for thepurpose of drug trafficking, andattempting to export the drug. Hewas also charged with conspiracy,but he had pleaded not guilty tothat.

Slauter was charged jointly, onall counts, with Javed Chetram ofGrenada and Kezroy Edwards ofRose Bank.

Chetram and Edwards pleadednot guilty to the charges, and thematter was set for trial.

The case was last called at theSerious Offences Court last weekWednesday.

When the call was made inCourt for Slauter, the prosecutioninformed that Court that hewould be coming from elsewhere.

Attorney Grant Connell,

representing thethree men, thentold the Courtthat Slauter wasin hospitalawaiting surgery,and would not becoming.

The matterwas thenadjourned to January next year.

When contacted on Tuesday,Connell told THE VINCENTIANthat he learned of Slauter’s death,and described it as unfortunate.He, however, declined to commentfurther, saying that the matterwas still subjudice.

The three men were arrested inJune this year, after reportedlybeing intercepted aboard a yachtat Richmond on the Leewardcoast.

SHAHID STAPLETON, a 22-year-old Petit Bordelman who was remanded since November 26 on awounding with intent charge, was granted bailwhen he returned to the Serious Offence Court onMonday.

Stapleton is charged with wounding LesroyDegrad, 29, also of Petit Bordel, with intent,stemming from a stabbing incident in thatcommunity shortly after 1 pm. on November 21.

When Stapleton initially appeared in Court onNovember 25, he was denied bail on the groundsthat the victim was warded at the Milton CatoMemorial Hospital nursing two stab wounds to hisside, and was having respiratory problems,resulting in a tube having to be inserted into hisbody to extract fluid.

However, when Stapleton returned to Court onMonday, Prosecutor Curlene Samuel indicated thatthe victim was discharged from the hospital, andthe prosecution was no longer objecting to bail.

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne then grantedStapleton bail in the sum of $7,000 with one surety,on condition that he report to the ChateaubelairPolice Station every Monday between 6 am. and 6pm. He was also ordered not to have contact withthe victim.

The matter has been adjourned to March 2, 2020.

AT LEAST ONE defencelawyer here feels thatSenior ProsecutorAdolphus Delpleche isoverworked.

Attorney GrantConnell made his feelingknown on Monday whenthe prosecution requestedan adjournment in amatter, on the groundsthat the SeniorProsecutor who hadcharge of the case wasabsent.

The case involvedConnell’s client AdryllSylvester, who is chargedwith possession of fourpounds of marijuana withintent to supply.

“Mr. Delpleche isoverworked in this court, and when he is sick,there is nobody else to pick up,” Connell declared.

He pointed out that there were three competentprosecutors at the bar table, and the matter inquestion had been before the court since February,and the drugs were tested since July.

“You can’t hinge everything on Delpleche; he isoverworked,” the lawyer insisted.

Connell noted that his client had his receiptfrom the cannabis authority to show that he hadapplied for a traditional cultivator’s licence to getinvolved in the Modern Medicinal MarijuanaIndustry.

But Crown Counsel Rene Simmonds told theCourt that the Senior Prosecutor had charge of thecase, and in the interest of justice, the prosecutionshould be given time to present its casecompetently.

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne did notagree that competence was the issue here, but shegranted another adjournment to December 10.

SHAMAI HAZELL, theman who has beencharged in connectionwith a shooting incidentin Canouan, November23, which leftbusinessman JudsonJacobs of Arnos Valeparalysed, has againbeen denied bail.

Chief MagistrateRechanne Brownefurther remanded the 23-year-old Bequia residenton Monday, followingstrong objections to bail

by Prosecutor CurleneSamuel.

Samuel told theSerious Offences Courtthat informationreaching her, indicatesthat Jacobs is stillwarded at the MiltonCato Memorial Hospital,and his condition seemsto be getting worse.

Hazell was notrequired to plea to thecharges of woundingJacobs, 26, with intent,and robbing him of

EC$10,000, and wasfurther remanded untilnext Tuesday, when theCourt is expected toreceive a comprehensivemedical report on thevictim.

The chargesreportedly stem from anincident at Canouanaround 11:20 am. onNovember 23.

The businessman wassaid to have gone to thatSouthern Grenadineisland to purchase

conchs.Reports are that

during the allegedrobbery, Jacobs was shotin the neck. The bulletwent through the leftside of his neck andexited through his rightshoulder, resulting indamage to his spine,causing paralysis fromhis waist down.

Hazell was first takento Court on the charges,November 25.

Kevin Slauter

Senior Prosecutor overworked

Senior ProsecutorAdolphus Delpleche.

Peto mangranted bail

No bail in Canouan shooting

by KENVILLE HORNE

A 7-YEAR-OLD GIRL ofVermont was, up toWednesday, this country’slatest drowning victim.

On Tuesday this week,the body of RoshannaBaptiste, of Francois,Vermont, was removedfrom the river in Pennistonsometime around 4 p.m.

Reports are thatBrowne, a student of theBuccument GovernmentSchool, went to the river tobathe after school had beendismissed, with two of hercousins.

According to a source,the cousins ran to callRoshanna’s great auntafter Roshanna began toexperience problems in thewater.

Roshanna’s grandmotherlater arrived on the sceneand was overheard, according to a source assaying she felt like taking her life as she could notdo without her granddaughter.

According to a close friend of the family, thegrandmother, a farmer, was supposed to go toPenniston Tuesday afternoon to pick her up. Thegrandmother, known as Mary Browne, is said tohave told Roshanna to wait for her at a shop inPenniston after school.

“Mary pay the shopkeeper money for Roshannato get food when she come from school, but likeshe na show up, and like she choose to go by shecousin,” the family friend told THE VINCENTIANon Wednesday.

Police are conducting an investigation into thematter.

CAMILLOGONSALVES, Ministerof Finance, Technology,etc., is confident thattechnology is the bestsolution to counter ourlimited resources.

The Minister made thecomment whiledelivering the featureaddress at the Nov. 15Graduation Ceremony ofthe Caribbean RegionalCommunicationsInfrastructureProgramme CARCIP),hosted by the NationalCentre of TechnologicalInnovation (NCTI).

The ceremony washeld at the MethodistChurch Hall, Kingstown.

“We can’t solve aproblem by throwingmore people at it,because we don’t have alot of people. Thesolution ….. istechnology. We are notgoing to build a bridgefrom St. Vincent toBequia or from Bequia toPalm Island …. But wecan connect ourselveswith the bridge oftechnology. It doesn’tmake sense we have tenexcellent math teachersthat those ten teachershave to work in tenschools ….. we canconnect schools usingtechnology,” said

Gonsalves. Referring to CARCIP,

the Minister said that itsincubation programmewas a model not just forthe region, but also forthe World Bank.

Among the majorprojects taking placeunder CARCIP is theLaying of underseacables to connect theGrenadines, as well asGrenada and St. Lucia.

“When we did it, weasked the World Bank tocarve out about $4million for us to grant topersons who either areICT businessesentrepreneurs or peoplewho have businessesthat use technology insome way in theirbusiness,” said Gonsalves

According toGonsalves the WorldBank complimented SVGfor the manner in whichthe programme wasimplemented here.

Speaking directly tothe graduates, Gonsalvespointed to a grant facilitythat was opened tobusinesses that wereIVCT reliant, andreminded them that theprogramme gave them agreat opportunity toadvance.

“All of you are nowpositioned beyond yourlocal colleagues andcompetitors, and (are)among the elitesregionally and indeedinternationally with thecertificates you received.You will have opened adoor for yourself in doingthis course work,” saidGonsalves.

The finance ministersaid that he is excitedabout the future of SVG.

“The governmentcontinues to invest intraining young people.

…. We believe that thebest way forward, thefastest way forward, themost efficient wayforward, is to bet onyoung people who areinnovative and arewilling to use technology,to advance themselvesand their families , andto advance thiswonderful country of St.Vincent and theGrenadines,” Gonsalvesdeclared.

NewsV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06 , 2019. 5.

TOWARDSsharpening theirskills and inkeeping with theincreaseddemands on andby directors,supervisors andregulators,Directors of theSt Vincent Co-operative BankLimited and othersrecently participatedin a three-daytraining course onCorporateGovernance.

The training course was facilitatedby Dr Chris Bart and Ms Lisa Charlesof the Caribbean Governance TrainingInstitute.

Dr Bart posited that there is a direneed to raise the standards ofgovernance and practices oforganisations throughout theCaribbean.

To date, his Institute has trainedthe Executives of the EasternCaribbean Central Bank, the Cabinetof the Government of St Lucia andover 900 directors in the region.

The course ran from Monday

November 25 to Wednesday November27 and covered a range of topicsincluding: the Principles ofGovernance; Roles, Responsibilities,Accountabilities and Culture; TheEssentials of Financial Oversight;Developing Strategic Thinking vsStrategic Planning; Risk Managementand Good Boards need Good Directors.

All the Directors sat and passed thequalifying examination that markedthe culmination of the course and indoing so, have earned the right to usethe internationally recognizeddesignation “Chartered Director”(C.Dir). (Source: SVCB)

Corporate Governance Training held here

Participants in Corporate Governance Training Course(Standing from left): Samuel Goodluck, MarcusBallantyne, Zhinga Horne-Edwards, Maxim James,Suzanne Joachim, Heather Sardine, Matthew Ferrari,Julie Lewis and Albert Porter. (Seated from left)Course facilitators Lisa Charles and Dr Chris Bart.

Technology, the best solution,says Gonsalves Minister of Technology

Camillo Gonsalveswas upbeat andoptimistic in hisaddress to graduatesof the CARCIP.

7-year-olddrowns

Roshanna Baptiste,pictured here at agraduation fromPre-School, mayjust have runcontrary to hergrandmother’sinstructions.

Story and photos byNelson A. [email protected];[email protected] CORRESPONDENT

A POPULAR Vincentian-born singing evangelisttwo Saturdays agomesmerized enthusiasticpatrons at a fundraisingPrayer Breakfast, at theFriends of Crown HeightsEducational Center inBrooklyn, New York, aimedat assisting nationals inSt. Vincent and theGrenadines.

LaFleur Durrant, thelone featured artiste, setthe house on fire andbrought it down withheart-wrenching gospel

songs during the 8thAnnual FundraisingPrayer Breakfast of theBronx, New York-basedchurch, St. MatthiasCharities, Inc.

Durrant — a youthleader at her father’s,Cecil Durrant, church,Bethany DeliveranceChurch of God, on RogersAvenue in CrownHeights, Brooklyn —teased patrons mid-waythrough the PrayerBreakfast.

She belched out “HoldMy Hands”, “Look to theFather”, “Sweet Name”,“In the Sweet”, “TheLord Will Make a Way”,“In the Cross” and “ISing Hallelujah”.

After the mouth-watering, sumptuousmeal comprising

Vincentian delicaciessuch as saltfish andbreadfruit, smokedherring, tri-tri cakes, andfried jack fish andballahoo — she broughtthe house down with “IAm Your Child” “I WillNot Be Denied”, and“Stumble and Fall.”

“Look to the Father”,“I Sing Hallelujah” and“I Am Your Child” werewritten and produced byAllan “Tom” Doyle,owner and producer ofSans Souci Studio in theCanarsie section ofBrooklyn. Doyle wasamong patrons revelingin Durrant’sperformance.

“It was a very excitingexperience being amongVincentian people,”Durrant told THEVINCENTIANafterwards. “It’s alwaysgreat to feel at home. Ifelt the warmth and thelove coming from theaudience.”

Durrant said shemigrated to New York atwhat she described as “ayoung age” and “began anew chapter” in her life.

She said she facedmany challenges, but,

with God’sgrace, sheovercamethem.

She alsodisclosed thatshe won “thefight withcancer” andhas dedicatedher life to“ministeringthe gospelthroughsinging andmusic.”

“To God bethe glory forHis grace andfavor!”Durrantexclaimed.

BishopMertonCumberbatch,the Belair-born pastor ofSt. Anthony’s DivineChurch of Healing in theFlatbush section ofBrooklyn, brought theword at the PrayerBreakfast, urgingpatrons to “Stop Hidingand Arise.”

Rose Bank-bornPastor Simeon King, ofthe Mission of GodMinistries in Brooklyn,also prayed for thepeople of St. Vincent andthe Grenadines andpatrons’ adopted country,the United States ofAmerica.

The Prayer Breakfastbrought together not onlyVincentians butnationals from otherCaribbean islands, suchas Jamaica, Trinidad andTobago, Guyana, theBahamas, Grenada, St.Lucia, Aruba, and St.Kitts and Nevis.

Neeka Isaacs, theJamaican-born Directorof Communications inthe Ministry of Health inSt. Vincent and theGrenadines, applaudedSt. Matthias Charities,Inc., for its missions tothe nation.

Isaacs, who is marriedto a Vincentian and hadjust returned fromTaiwan, said she couldnot miss the event foranything.

Pastor RobertMcBarnett, a

Georgetown native andfounder and president ofSt. Matthias Charities,Inc., said all proceedsfrom the PrayerBreakfast go towardshelping his compatriots.

“We believe everyhospital in St. Vincentand the Grenadines musthave an EKG machine,”he said, stating that hisphilanthropic group,since 2012, has furnishedmedical and othersupplies to hospitals,clinics and the widercommunity in his nativeland.

“From 2012 to now, webrought in 11, 40-ft.containers (of supplies)to St. Vincent and theGrenadines,” he added,as he appealed to patronsfor financialcontributions to purchasemore EKG machines.

Patrons instantlyobliged, donating US$656.41.

In April 2020, he saidthe St. MatthiasCharities, Inc. will holdanother fundraisingevent — its AnnualDinner — at the Friendsof Crown HeightsEducational Center inBrooklyn.

DiasporaV 6. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Evangelist LaFleur Durrant electrifiespatrons at FundraisingPrayer Breakfast.

Pastor Robert McBarnettaddresses patrons.

Neeka Isaacs, Directorof Communications atthe Ministry of Health,SVG, addresses thegathering.

Evangelist singsfor good cause

HistoryV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06 , 2019. 7.

Union Island December 7 Armed Uprising:40 years ago!

by STEVESTEWARTAttorney-at-law

Introduction

1979 TURNEDout to be not somuch a year toremember, asone not sopossible toforget.

It was a dramatic yearindeed for the sub-regioncharacterized by naturaldisasters (the eruption ofSt. Vincent’s LaSoufriere and thedevastating impact ofHurricane David onDominica); attainment ofpolitical independence(St.Lucia and St. Vincent& the Grenadines);political instability(St.Lucia and Dominica);and, a coup d’état and anarmed uprising (Grenadaand Union Islandrespectively).

Like Grenada,Dominica and St. Luciabefore it, St. Vincent andthe Grenadines soughtits own developmentalpathway throughpolitical independenceamidst significant socialand economic challenges.Just a little more than amonth into its “politicalfreedom” and a mere twodays after the first post-independence generalelections (Dec. 05, 1979),

the multi-island nation,led by newlyminted PrimeMinisterMilton Cato,faced its firstmajorpoliticalheadache.

Grenadaalso made

history with its March13, 1979 armedoverthrow of the EricGairy Regime by MauriceBishop’ New JewelMovement. It is perhapsfair to say that theprogress made in eightmonths across the tri-island state of Grenada,Carriacou and PetitMartinique as aconsequence, might havehad significant influenceon the Union Island coupleaders as theyattempted to removecontrol of Union Islandfrom mainland St.Vincent.

The Uprising

Lennox “Bumba”Charles, leader of theinsurgents, was deeplyconcerned about the lackof basic social amenities,the economic hardshipsand the apparent neglectby the Cato Government.In September 1978, he

was part of UnionIsland’s delegation at theIntroductoryConsultation Meeting onthe Social Problemsaffecting the Grenadinesheld in Bequia. Morethan one year later,nothing was done, and sothe Island’s social andeconomic fabricdeteriorated further.Faced with economic andsocial stagnation, UnionIsland together with itscoup leaders under thecommand of Charlesentered into the annalsof history on December 7,1979, with its armed

uprising. The take-over came

early in the morning,with no resistance by thefour policemen housed atthe Ashton PoliceStation, which wasbombed and caused thelawmen to flee. With theuse of a PA systemobtained from a localchurch, residents wereinformed of the uprisingand urged to remainindoors. The insurgentstook control of allimportant governmentbuildings and essentialfacilities. However, thesecontrols were short-livedas the insurgents lateron abandoned theirposts.

The Government’sResponse

The initial euphoriafollowing the St. VincentLabour Party’s landslidevictory, quickly subsidedas the country, still in“constitutional diapers”,found its new sovereigntythreatened by insurgentslocated 48 miles awayfrom mainland St.Vincent.

Cato declared a stateof emergency andimposed a dusk-to-dawncurfew throughout St.Vincent & theGrenadines. He called onthe United States,Britain and the region tosend troops to assist.Only Prime MinisterTom Adams of Barbadosresponded by sendingBajan soldiers to Vincysoil, which provokedserious debates in theBarbadian Parliament.The view was that theUnion Island Uprisingwas an internal matter ofstate and ought not to besubjected to foreigninterference by othercountries.

Some forty policemenunder the command ofInspector Ruthford Cox,a Unionite, were sentfrom St. Vincent toregain control of theIsland. They spent mostof the day on nearbyPalm Island since theywere uncertain as to theexact location andstrength of theinsurgents. Later thatday, the policemen cameashore and restored lawand order. One man waskilled in Clifton, andanother disappeared at

sea under mysteriouscircumstances.

More than fortyinnocent persons,including prominentsenior citizens, werearrested, brought tomainland and detainedat Fort Charlotte. Mostof them were releasedwithout charge thefollowing year, havingspent the Christmas inthe dungeon. For all ofthem, it was threetorturous weeks of beingbeaten, drenchedregularly with coldwater, and made to lie onthe cold floor with littlesleeping materials andlittle to eat. Charles wasarrested by theGrenadian authority andhanded over in late 1980,where he was tried,convicted andimprisoned.

Reflections

It is a fact thatsocietal identity, likeindividual identity, isshaped to a certainextent by the past, a pastwhich cannot bechanged. The sharedexperiences andmemories of theDecember 7 event bythose who were involvedand even those who werenot directly involved, arequite likely to foster agreater bond amongst allUnionites, which wouldprovide them with animplicit collective frameof reference.

That said, one mustalways be very mindfulthat distorted andcareless use of memorycan lead to negativeperceptions and abuse ofpeople. Representationsof what was presumed tohave happened farremoved in time, areparticularly prone tothese forms ofdistortions, as the effectsof these reconstructionsaccrue across succeedinggenerations.

Tomorrow marks fortyyears on from theuprising. Some of thepersons who werearrested have passed on;others have migrated;and some are stillaround. No doubt, allUnionites, particularlythose who were oldenough to remember theevent, would reflect(some with deepemotions) on theactivities before, duringand after that day: wherethey were; how they felt;and they would perhapsalso seek out answers toquestions on why theuprising; was it worth it;was it justified; and whatimpact, if any at all, didit have on succeedinggenerations or on theUnion Island society as awhole. The emotions andresponses to thesequestions may vary, butone thing all would agreeon, is that the past canalways be used toimprove or better thepresent and thusinfluence the future.

Ashton, Union Island in 1979.

PM Milton Cato and hisLabour Party had ashortened period forcelebrating their victoryat the polls.

The bombing of the Police Station left a hole at therear of the building.

The Tom Adams administration in Barbadoshastened to send troops to assist his colleague(Milton Cato) in quelling the uprising.

More than 40 persons – male and female – weretaken captive, shackled at the hands and anklesand brought to Kingstown for eventualimprisonment at Fort Charlotte.

Lennox ‘Bumba’ Charles- leader of the Uprising -had attended the 1978IntroductoryConsultation Meeting onthe Social Problems,and articulated theUnion Island situationwith accuracy andpassion.

(A reprint)

“FOR WHATEVER REASON-HISTORICAL, societal or cultural, ourcountries have been led for the most partby strong men who dominate and rulewith an iron hand, even in case ofbenevolent despotism.

Whatever the cause, Caribbean politicalsociety in the latter 75 years of the lastcentury was marked by the emergence ofstrong local figures who fill the vacuumcreated by a departing colonial power.

A German political sociologist, MaxWeber, found a term to describe thephenomenon. Charisma- the gift of grace,was attached to a number of our earlyleaders who generally came out of theTrade Union Movement or, likeSalvationist Vere Bird of Antigua, sprangfrom a religious source.

These leaders, exemplified byBustamante of Jamaica, Bird of Antigua,Bradshaw of St. Kitts, Joshua of St.Vincent, Gairy of Grenada, Butler ofTrinidad, Jagan in Guyana, were larger-than-life figures who were idolized andworshipped by their people.

Later, this leadership type was replacedby more formally educated persons whoco-existed with them for a time, buteventually inherited the mantle, if not theaura of their forbears.

It was the age of the emergence ofNorman Manley, Grantley Adams, EricWilliams and Forbes Burnham and a hostof lesser lights in the other islands whoseeducation was largely confined to the law.

The stark fact is, however, that thehistorical legacy had created its ownmomentum which had by then requiredthat all leadership display a quality ofwhat was seen as strength andforcefulness.

The politicians obliged, and one-manisngrew to form the centre- piece of ourpolitical culture, virtually becominginstitutionalised over time, coaxed andmolly-coddled by the very constitutionsthat were fashioned with the set goal ofensuring a better spread and dispersalpower.

That is why Dr. Gonsalves can boldlystate today that his “ULP is not in office.It is in power”.

Before the ULP, Prime MinisterMitchell easily dominated the politics ofSVG in a sort of benevolent dictatorshipthat was glossed over and disguised by thewilling support of his Ministers and Partyhierarchy.

The current Ottley Hall enquiry hasshattered our faith in these cosyarrangements, but the present ULP has

equallysurrenderedits judgementto itsMaximumLeader who, while decrying the formerNDP approach, is actually pullingtogether all aspects of power in unitarypoints, presided over virtually by anelected King.

Keith Joseph notes that to date, Dr.Gonsalves has spoken for well over eightypercent of the time taken up by theGovernment in parliamentary debates.

Dr Gonsalves makes all the majorspeeches in all the Ministries, bar none.

Dr. Gonsalves, courtesy the newtechnology, governs by remote controlwhen he is abroad, without regard towhoever is on the ground supposedlyacting as Prime Minister.

Eveything was revealed during the mix-up over the last NDP march and rally inKingstown. Dr. Gonsalves who was inTaiwan, ran the show, ruling by proxy asif there was neither acting PrimeMinister, Minister of National Security ofCommissioner of Police.

Indeed, the ultimate was reached whenDr. Gonsalves entered the precincts of aPress Conference ostensibly staged byMinister Vincent Beache, took it overcompletely and, with the assistance ofGlen Jackson, ran it aground. All this,because the Prime Minister had no reasonto believe that on a sensitive issue, Beachewas about publicly to depart from theGonsalves script which defines theGovernment line.

In the circumstances, the conventionalwisdom is that every effort be madeconstitutionally to cut down the awesomepowers granted to our Heads ofGovernment.

Equally, however, there needs to be amassive educational assault to reduce thelimits to which the people allow the PM tolord it over the society.

That is why this column has pouncedon so simple a symbolism of subjecting thePM as well as the GG to the same trafficlaws that apply to all lesser mortals.

Instead the trend is towards anintensified genuflection to the politicalelites of the nation. The slave mentalitystill needs a Massa. The matter of numberof photographs of the PM appearing inissues of the local Press becomes relevant.It is not trivia.

With Dexter Rose as Editor, there is agrowing sense of political proportion andbalance at the “Searchlight” newspaper.



ViewsV

Editorial

Managing Editor: Desiree Richards

Editor: Cyprian Neehall

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

Website: www.thevincentian.com

Email: [email protected]

Mailing Address: The Vincentian Publishing Co. Ltd.,

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

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FinancingElection campaigns Fostering a personality cultAL JAZEERA, the English Languagetelevision news channelheadquartered in Doha, Qatar(Middle East), ‘stirred up a hornet’snest’ in the Caribbean with itsrecent exposé, alleging thatpoliticians in the Caribbean (focuson Dominica and Grenada) wereinvolved in a corrupt trade ofdiplomatic posts in exchange formoney.

The exposé also highlighted thelikelihood that much of the moneythat was alleged to have beenpaid to certain Caribbean primeministers for diplomatic positions,have been channeled into thecoffers of the prime ministers’parties, and used (successfully ifnot unethically) to finance generalelections campaigns.

The focus of the actual misuseof political power in a broad senseis for another time. This piecefocuses on (illegitimately gotten)finances for use in generalelections campaigns.

This Column recalls that it wasin 2013 when then President ofTrinidad and Tobago, AnthonyCarmona, in addressing theceremonial opening of Parliamentin that country, made a“powerful” call for regulation ofelection campaign financing.

He said then, “Electioncampaign financing is a veritablejuggernaut that results infinanciers arrogating politicalpower onto themselves andthereby undermining the systemof governance.”

He also said when politicalparties were in opposition theylobbied for transparency incampaign financing, but whenthey were in power “theyconveniently neglect” to deal withthe problem.

Now, there is no questioningthat election campaigns here overthe last two decades have beencharacterised by wanton, opendisplay of free spending, with noobligation on the part of politicalparties to account for thesource(s) of their financing.

The Al Jazeera exposé raisedone likely source of that financeand, interestingly, there has beenno denial or rubbishing of the AlJazeera finger-pointing, by any of

the otherwise vocal primeministers who have beenimplicated.

Unfortunately, while someleaders are wont to wield theirinfluence to facilitate means toensure longevity in office, theordinary citizen appears obliviousto the fact that there is nocampaign financing legislation;there is no law/rule to regulatethe amount of money a party canattract, and spend, and theimpact that could have on theresult of a general election.

There no telling, therefore, thereal people calling the shots.

It is not too late for an honestgovernment to do somethingpositive about election campaignfinancing and, while they are atit, to do something positive aboutthe wider issue of electoralreform.

No one wants to cry doom andgloom on any country or people,but if we in these small islandnations especially, continue tomake ourselves subservient to therich and not so famous of thisworld, we could well be headingdown a path of national unrestand even anarchy.

But then again, to ask, forexample, the ULP to make thismove, even if it’s on the singleissue of election campaignfinancing, is to ask it to shootitself in the foot.

It was Mia Mottley, whileLeader of the Opposition inBarbados, who proffered that,“the threat posed to democracy byillegal and unregulated financingof political campaigns is a realand present danger.”

As we can see, there is no lackof support for the introduction ofelection campaign financinglegislation across the region.

To continue in a climate thatallows the party with the greatestfinancial resources, raisedwithout questions of sources, torailroad and manipulate a stillfragile electorate into handingthem victory, is to speak ofbuilding a Caribbean Civilizationwithout the fundamentalprinciples of honesty, fair play,accountability and transparency.

Is that what we really want?

SOMETIMES I wonder,Mr. Editor, whetherSydney ‘Pumpkin’ Josephis the only face and voicein this country keepingthe issue of HIV/AIDS onthe national agenda. Imean, I haven’t heard,subject to correction,anything serious andongoing from the fullystaffed AIDS Secretariatin the Ministry ofHealth for a very longtime.

But, I heard VinAbbott on NICE Radiolast Saturday, sayingthat he is awaitingstatics from the Ministry

of Health regarding howmany people are livingwith HIV/AID, howmany were infected thisyear, how many havedied, etc. Abbott said hewould address the issueof HIV/AIDS in SVG onlywhen he gets thesestatistics. I await hispiece on that.

In the meantime,‘Pumpkin’ raised a veryfrightening happening inthis country, in the piece(page 14) you carried inthe last edition. Hespoke about personswantonly, i.e.deliberately spreading

the virus here. Now ifthere is anythingfrightening, it is that!To think that there aremen and women literallypassing death sentenceon somebody they hadsex with is terrifying,Mr. Editor.

Long ago, when a manwent by a doctor or evena druggist for aninjection because he felthe had contracted theclap (gonorrhea), he hadto cough up the name ofthe girl he last had sexwith before he got thatinjection. I see that‘Pumpkin’ is calling for

making this a must, asfar as HIV/AIDS isconcerned, and I supporthim fully.

And if we knowpersons who arespreading this deadlyvirus, we should reportto the authorities so thatthey can be charged. Iam certain there is a lawunder which we cancharge them.

To think that a manstill getting charged forhaving a few grams ofweed in his possession, isa ‘crime’, when we thinkthat persons who spreadthe HIV/AIDS aregetting away scot-free.

Charles - Edinboro

WHO IS he? Where was he born? Where does he live?Why does he have a first, middle and last name? Wherecould I find him? Every name has a unique meaning,and Quid Pro Quo is no exception. His name means ‘afavour or advantage granted or expected in return forsomething’. While his movements are shady, one surething about him is that he has a lot of money.Therefore, to find him, we must follow the money trail.

First, let us look for him in the church. He is notlikely to be found there because “the love of moneyis the root of all evil,” (1 Timothy 6:10), and thefolks there are as poor as church rats.

The next place to look is the school where, itappears, the girls spend significantly more moneythan the boys. They must be more familiar withQuid Pro Quo. Further investigation shows thateach student passing 5 or more subjects, includingEnglish and Math, receives $500.00. Is this moneygiven as a reward to inspire better performance?Some research suggest that tangible rewards are a

disincentive and lead tolower performance. Sincethis is the case, perhapsQuid Pro Quo may havean answer.

We follow the moneytrail on the road wheredelivery trucks areoffloading free lumber,galvanize, and cement.Who is behind thesteering wheel? Itappears to be Quid ProQuo. The news seem tosuggest that Quid ProQuo changed residencefrom New York to Florida. But since there appearsto be a money trail here, has he taken up residencyin our country?

Anthony G. Stewart, PhD

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2019. 9.

LettersV

* Now that wemoving in on thosepolice officers whoare alleged to havecommitted rape, isthere any chance ofreopening some ofthe ‘cold cases’(rape)?* Is it true thatArnhim Eustace willhave the last say asto who will replacehim as the NDPcandidate in EastKingstown?* Will there be aninquiry into thedeath of that Britishman, or will we justsweep in under thecarpet because hewas convicted for anoffence in ourcountry?* Or because itmight open upmouth and ‘tory gojump out?* And, by the way,whose fault it is thatpeople arelanguishing onremand? Not thePrison authorities,eh?

Quid Pro QuoSINCE BECOMING a member of the SVGTeachers Union in the 70s, I have neverencountered such a high-handed President. I donot know what hold she has on other executivemembers who are aware that all is not well withthe union, but are afraid to speak up. Is it a caseof them not wanting to miss their meeting stipendand lunch?

Questions abound: Are decisions made by thepresident outside of constituted meetings? Do thepresident and the general secretary want to haveall the say, while the other executive membersappear dumb? Have the original staff beenrelieved of their regular duties, to the point offrustration? Are major financial matters executedwithout the knowledge of the elected treasurer?Do executive members occupy local hotel roomsduring regional conferences hosted in SVG, andthe union has to foot the bill?

Indications are that: school stewards have beenside-lined and replaced by social media; a pastexecutive member who failed to function duringhis tenure, now performs the unofficial duty ofadvisor to the president; scrappy minutes andreports are presented to general meetings with nofinancial statements; the president wants topropose that executive members be paid for theirtime, and that the so-called “branch steering”committees be remunerated when they convenemeetings.

Members pay their dues so that there could bethe continuation of this noble organization; but itseems that this present team, aka “dream team”,don’t know what is or don’t respect properaccountability. Many of us retired teachers keeppaying our membership fees because we believe inthe organization’s longevity to assist our childrenand our children’s children.

At this rate of functioning, and with the crop ofindividuals who are at the top presently, I amafraid that the union may not have too far to gounless a drastic change is made. I have decided,however, that before my pressure escalates, I mustwithdraw my monthly thirty dollars, and put ittowards my health.

Sorry, I must leave, effective December 31,2019.

Concerned retired member

Sorry, I must leave

I support ÂPumpkinÊ

AMIDST the many efforts andpromises to effect the contrary, theprices for vegetables are rising steeplyfor the final quarter of the year(October, November and December), inthe old traditional way. The followingare the prices which obtained at theCentral (vegetable) Market and on thestreets of Kingstown, on Friday 15thNovember: * Tomatoes $7.00/lb, * Cabbage $6.00/lb, * Carrot $5.00/lb,* Sweet Pepper $6.00/lb,* Cucumbers $4.00/lb.

Along with the high prices of thevegetables, there is a felt shortage.Hence, there is a scarcity, and thispushes the prices for the commodityupwards. The above scenario reflectsa failure, failure, failure to meet atarget. It has long been recognizedthat the difficulty lies in our failure toproduce vegetables out of season,especially with respect to theproduction of tomatoes, the hardestvegetables to grow. As a result, theuse of under-cover (GreenHouse/Controlled Environment)vegetable production, involving largesums of money with foreignassistance, was introduced. TheMinistry of Agriculture once positedthat fifty (50) properly functioningunder-cover vegetable units can meetour needs. And just about two yearsago, the government expressed the

vision of producing enough vegetablesfor export through the use of theunder-cover structures. However, weare still afar off.

I invite readers to monitor thesituation regarding the availability ofvegetables at suitable prices, as we gothrough the Christmas season. It ismy view that the prices will go higherand higher as per past years.

High food prices are a major causeof people not eating healthy. It leadsto malnutrition and a sick nation. InSt. Vincent and the Grenadines, theindicators are telling the story - risesin obesity, diabetes and amputations.These are regularly discussed atworkshops and conferences andreported in the media.

The Ministry of Agriculture, et al,and the Ministry of Health, Wellnessand the Environment must continue towork hard. The former will enhancefood security, while the latter will dealwith the promotion of healthy eatingpractices within the nation.

Home/backyard gardening and therevitalization of school gardening canhelp to maintain a supply ofvegetables throughout the year.

We cannot afford to ignore what thenegative indicators of good health aresaying.

Joseph MappPresidentMarriaqua District Health Team

Those rising vegetable prices

Introduction

IT’S THE MONTH of December 2019. Thedecade is coming to a close, and theULP administration is getting busy,finalizing plans for the New Year, 2020.Already the ULP administration isengaging the public servants in thepreparation of the estimates of revenueand expenditure for the 2020 fiscal year.This will form the basis for the 2020Appropriation Bill, commonly known asThe Budget.

These discussions are expected tobe very intense, given the workprogramme of the ULPadministration, and the many projectsto be completed, with a start date of2020. Already one of the issuesidentified by the ULP, is the ability ofthe state enterprise, to carry out thenumber of operational activities, tocommence the workload related to theprojects that have been announced.

Already Prime Minister Dr. RalphGonsalves has said that theimplementation of these projects willchallenge the resources of the State.Indeed, the Minister of Finance,Camillo Gonsalves said during hisbudget address last year, that “wecontinue to be challenged by a limitedpool of qualified local contractors, allof whom are overstretched…”. Thegeneral feeling is that there areconstraints in the public and privatesectors, but the ULP administration iscommitted to battling theseconstraints, to ensure that projectsare executed in a timely fashion.

2020

It is clear therefore that there willbe a high level of construction work invarious parts of the State. Work onthe Mt. Wynne-Peter’s Hope projectwill get underway in 2020, as well asthe government hotel at Diamond.The project to expand Port Kingstownwill take on some energy, with the re-location of some residents in theBottom Town area, and the privatesector projects at Blacksand in theKeartons area, and the Royal Millhotel in the Calliaqua area, will getunderway.

In the case of the Central Leewardarea, some 300 million dollars will bespent between the Marriot project,and the Blacksand resort. This is afinancial and economic boost for thepeople in this area, as well as folksfrom the constituency of NorthLeeward, and even South Leeward.There will be jobs for labourers,masons, carpenters, plumbers andelectricians.

People in the Calliaqua area arealready seeing the construction workas the Rain Forest Seafood Companyout of Jamaica, prepares the site forits operations. This will be a majordevelopment in the blue economy, andalready our fisherfolk are gettingexcited over the opportunities on offer.

Amidst the big ticket items in theeconomy, will be a drive to empowerour young entrepreneurs, to providethem with the business skills to maketheir enterprises more successful. TheEducation Revolution has given anumber of our young Vincentians theknowledge to create their ownbusiness opportunities. But in thecontext of our economy and oursociety, this knowledge could onlytake them so far. What is required isa type of mentorship programme togive them the additional knowledgeand skills. In some cases, we simplyhave to hold their hands.

Social Sector

Budget 2020 will also focus someattention on the social sector, and theareas of health, education and pensionreform will come into focus. The ULPadministration, with its “people-centered development focus”, willalways seek to put people first in allits development work. The elderlymust be protected, and the ULP willalways ensure that a safety net is inplace for this purpose.

Education will occupy a pride ofplace in the 2020 budget. Never beforein the history of St. Vincent and theGrenadines has a government spentmore on the educational sector, andthe ULP must take pride of place forthis effort.

Today, there are more institutionsoffering children preschool and earlychildhood education; more childrenentering and graduating fromsecondary schools; more childrenattending and graduating from theCommunity College; more childrenreceiving Government scholarshipsand assistance; and more studentsattaining university degrees than atany point in our history. We also enjoymore schools, more teachers, andmore trained educators than everbefore.

That the Education Revolution hastouched every household in SaintVincent and the Grenadines is beyonddispute. That this Government hascommitted, forcefully andunambiguously, to investing in thefull development of our untappedhuman potential is an unassailablehistorical reality that is known to allVincentians.

Conclusion

To continue the transformation ofour economy, we must increase ourproductivity. We must work hard andsmart. We must build resilience. Andwe must creatively capitalise oneducation and training to adapt to arapidly-changing local and globalenvironment.

Looking ahead, we are excited bythe massive activity scheduled for2020, as projects in the formativestages this year blossom into full-fledged implementation. We have acountry to build, and Budget 2020accelerates our timetable for creatinga modern, competitive post-colonialSaint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The process of social and economictransformation is neither effortlessnor linear. In the 40 years since wereacquired our independence, theglobal political and economic orderhas been rewritten. The financialarchitecture has been restructured,and our previous resilience to weatherevents has been all but removed. As aSmall Island Developing State withhigh vulnerabilities and limited

capacity to insulate ourselves —economically or environmentally — thetask of transformation is doublydifficult.

Finally, Budget 2020 will reflectthe efforts of the ULP administration,to give a good account to theinternational community, as thecountry takes its seat at the SecurityCouncil of the United Nations, thesmallest nation to do this.

ON 5TH DECEMBER, 2019, the NewDemocratic Party (NDP) celebrated its44th anniversary. It is the oldestpolitical party in St. Vincent and theGrenadines. The NDP governed St.Vincent and the Grenadines forseventeen years. During its tenure inoffice, the NDP transformed St. Vincentand the Grenadines.

The main objectives of the NDPare, to raise the standard of living ofthe people of St. Vincent and theGrenadines through the developmentof the economic resources of thecountry in a manner that providesequal opportunity for all; to ensurethe highest standard of rectitude inpublic life; to guarantee the maximumexpression of democratic liberties byall citizens; to lead in the building of adynamic society and to encourage theorganization of citizens intoresponsible groups for theadvancement of their causes.

The founding father, Sir JamesMitchell, led the party to victory ingeneral elections of 1984. Vincentianssaid ‘Enough is Enough’ to anoppressive and corrupt Labourgovernment. The impressive teamNDP and a message of hope propelledit to victory in the general elections ofthat year. They met a country inshambles, and set out to fix itimmediately.

With well-defined objectives, a clearvision, effective policies, astuteleadership and sound financialmanagement, the NDP governed St.Vincent and the Grenadines from1984 to 2001, having won generalelections in 1984, 1989, 1994 and1998. In 1989, the party won allfifteen seats. However, a graveinjustice was done to the people of St.Vincent and the Grenadines, whenthe life of the NDP government (1998)was cut short by the ‘Road BockRevolution’.

During the period in office, theeconomy was booming. There was anaverage of 5% economic growthannually. All the productive sectorscontributed significantly to theeconomic development. Agricultureplayed the dominant role, inparticular the banana industry. In1990, St. Vincent and the Grenadinesearned $120 million, and in 1992,$112 million from bananas.Vincentians enjoyed an improvedstandard of living. A middle class wasdeveloped and unemployment was atits lowest.

The flag ship of the NDP was itsland reform programme; where landswere given to the landless. Forexample, Rabbacca, Colonaire, SansSouci and Diamond estates weredistributed to the poor and workingclass.

There were also major develop-ments to the infrastructure of thiscountry. We saw the construction ofhundreds of miles of feeder roadswhich the farmers used daily.Vincentians showed greatappreciation and welcomed thedevelopment of the village roadswhich the Labour Party called ‘goutitrack’. And there was a markedimprovement to housing stock.

Vincentians saw the transformationof the Central Water and SewerageAuthority and the St. VincentElectricity Services. When the NDPleft office, 90% of the country hadelectricity. The NDP providedelectricity to the villages north of the‘Dry River’ and built the main roadfrom Fancy to Georgetown. Some ofthe other accomplishments of theNDP were the Financial Complex,Little Tokyo, the Cruise Ship Berth,

The Central Vegetable Market, TrafficLights, Ottley Hall Marina, Sion Hillintersection, reconstruction of theMilton Cato Memorial Hospital,construction of airports in Canouan,Bequia and Union Island, and theCanouan Development Project whichpresently employs hundreds ofVincentians.

Women made significantadvancement during the period.Among other things, the NDPestablished the Gender Unit, and theDepartment of Women Affairs wascreated. It was the NDP that clearedthe obstacle of unequal pay throughthe passage of the Equal Pay Actwhich allowed women and men to bepaid equally. Women were also therecipients of lands at Orange Hill. Asa matter of fact, 38% of landsdistributed at Orange Hill was givento women. The NDP also repealed theCoutts Agreement which requiredfemale teachers to resign uponpregnancy. And married womenstarted to file Income Tax Returnsindependent of their husbands.

Extensive work was done todevelop the education system. It wasclear that the structure ofadministration and management ofeducation was as irrelevant andoutmoded as was the antiquatedEducation Act of 1937 and relatedregulations, which were guiding thesystem. The following necessary andurgent steps were taken immediately:the combined posts of PermanentSecretary and Chief Education Officerwere separated; a Chief EducationOfficer was appointed; an EducationPlanner was chosen and a PlanningUnit created. In addition, aCurriculum Development Officer wasappointed and a CurriculumDevelopment Unit was establishedand, with a keen eye on evaluation,the ministry set up a Testing andMeasurement Unit.

Among the earliest results of thework of the new Education Plannerwas the startling revelation that 60%of our school plant was grosslyovercrowded. It is now history: theNDP government implemented a shiftsystem in schools to facilitate an on-going rehabilitation and expansion ofschools programme without having toclose any school. The result of theexercise was the rehabilitation of 40%of the nation’s school plant by acommitted NDP government. It mustbe mentioned that the NDP beganpaying the Economic Cost for allstudents attending the UWI,introduced the Student Loan Scheme,and constructed phase one of theCommunity College.

On our 44th anniversary, we saluteour leaders, Sir James Mitchell, theHon. Arnhim Eustace and Dr. theHon. Godwin Friday. To our members,supporters and all those who havecontributed and worked tirelessly tobuild the party, we express oursincere gratitude to you.

As we look forward to take onceagain the reign of governance in thiscountry, let us redouble our efforts tothe cause. We are inspired by thequality candidates that the partycontinues to attract, and enthused bythe mass movement of persons fromall strata of society especially theyouth who are joining the party.

The NDP will make SVG work forall Vincentians.


ViewsVNDP celebrates 44 yearsThe ULP is ready for 2020

“Every successful individual knowsthat his or her achievement dependson a community of persons workingtogether.” Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa(born 1952) – South African politicianand the fifth and current President ofSouth Africa.

IT IS OFTEN QUITE AMAZING TOREFLECT on childhood observations andexperiences that have created valuablelife lessons. Many of this column’sreaders can attest to the fact that theyhave been blessed by the guidance thatemerged from observing the traits andpositive attitudes of individuals whocared enough to teach them basic lifeskills – the principles that keepsocieties strong. Parents, guardians,and teachers are often at the top of ourlists of individuals to encourage us toexcel. This reality recently emergedduring a conversation held with Dr.Daniel Garraway, one of the prominentmedical doctors in St. Vincent and theGrenadines. He shared valuable lessonsof individuals who encouraged him toexcel: the scout master who providedselfless community service to the boysin his rural community; the members ofhis 4-H Club who shared insights aboutmaking the best better; the classmateat medical school who patiently assistedhim to understand science-basedsubjects; and so on. Examples thatremind us that our successes are theresult of a community of personsworking together.

The idea of working together andpausing to assist each other alonglife’s path should be encouragedwithin our homes, workplaces, andthe wider community. We shouldregularly reflect on the fact that noone of us is as good as all of us(working in unity). Additionally, wemust understand and appreciate thatwe each have an important role toplay in keeping the fabric of societystrong. Observing my step-grandfather while just a little boy,often created and sustained many ofthese useful life lessons.

Arthur Billinghurst was married tomy maternal grandmother. Theylived in a two-storey house inFrenches (just north of Mills’ FuneralHome). The bedrooms were on theupper floor. The ground floor housedthe kitchen, dining room, and ashower. In addition, it provided workspace for my grandmother’s shop andmy grandpa’s workshop. He was apopular multi-talented artisan who,among other things, repaired watchesand clocks. As a little boy, I enjoyedsitting on the staircase leading to theupper floor and peering in to hisworkshop as he repaired clocks.Sometimes, as a result of the limitedspace in his workshop, he would bringthe mechanical time pieces into thehallway adjoining the staircase. I amnot aware that he had any formaltraining in clock repairs, but heseemed to have been able todismantle these intricate machines,clean and/or repair the parts, andreassemble them in a relatively shortspace of time. Many of the clocks thatthe owners had presumed to havebeen dead, were given new life in mygrandfather’s workshop.

Observing grandpa fix watches andclocks taught me a useful life lesson.

Each of these timepieces relied onsome very intricate (and seeminglyinsignificant) parts working together.One little cog out of place or brokencould prevent the timepiece fromworking. The big cogs played theirrole. But the little cogs had theirvalue too. None of them could makethe timepiece work independent ofeach other. This is also very true inlife — we all have important roles toplay. Some may have to play rolesthat put them in the limelight, buttheir tasks cannot be successfullyaccomplished without those who workbehind the scenes. Sometimes weforget this to be true; we each have arole to play in our homes, schools,workplaces, and churches. The levelsof responsibility will vary, but everytask is important — even those thatappear to be insignificant.

The truth that is captured in thepreceding paragraph should help tokeep us humble. We should neverassume that we are more importantor valuable than another because weperform a different task. In addition,the content should inspire us toperform each task to the best of ourability, knowing that it will enhancethe overall performance of the home,workplace, or church. There areseveral passages in the Bible thatencourage such an approach. Forexample, in Ecclesiastes 9:10 we read,“Whatsoever your hands find to do, doit with all your strength …”.Similarly, in Colossians 3:23 we arereminded that, “Whatever you do,work heartily, as unto the Lord andnot unto man …”. We create andsustain more productive home andwork environments when we portraysuch attitudes. Each of us, focused onbeing the best that we can be, willenhance overall performance. And inthe process, we create a greater senseof accomplishment and self-worth.The personal and corporate benefitswill be tremendous.

As we end this week’s discourse, itis probably useful for us to remindourselves to avoid gazing at whatothers around us are doing (or notdoing). When we focus on being thebest that we can be, regardless of howinsignificant we may considerourselves to be, we discover that welive happier and more successful lives.Returning to the example of mygrandfather’s clock, we understandand appreciate that the “long hand” ofthe clock has its own work to performas does the “short hand”. There is noneed for envy and/or jealousy to begiven birth or to be nurtured (as oftenhappens when we look at others). Inthis scenario, we readily understandthe futility and danger of eitherwanting to be like the other. Theyhave different roles to play, and whenthey do so correctly (and in harmony)many can benefit from theircoordinated effort. There is value inworking together for a common good.

Send comments, criticisms &suggestions to

[email protected]


ViewsVGrandfather’s Clocks

ACROSS THE WORLD there is growinginequality. It matters not whether wespeak of Australia or Zimbabwe, Russia orBotswana, England or SVG. The moneyedclass will celebrate while the majority ofpeople find it difficult to care for theirfamilies.

As the US stock market continues toset records, and the economy createsmillions of new jobs, many Americansare forced to settle for low-paying workand meager benefits.

Wall Street has witnessed one of itsmost robust earning seasons on record,unemployment is at its lowest rate in 50years, while many corporations areswimming in cash. But, as so oftenhappens in the shady world of businessand markets, all is not as it wouldappear.

Just below the shiny surface of WallStreet’s epic success story, an epictragedy is unfolding as millions ofworkers are silently strugglingpaycheck to paycheck, doing what theycan to make ends meet while raising afamily. The numbers are sobering.

According to data released by theBrookings Institution, 53 millionAmericans between the ages of 18 to 64fall under the category of “low wage.”Their hourly pay comes out to around$10.22, while median annual earningsare $18,000. Most startling however, isthat this group of wage-earnersaccounts for 44 percent of the entire USworkforce.

In other words, it may be a bit tooearly to start popping the champagnecorks just yet. And it gets worse. Manyof these low wage workers are not thestereotypical teenagers flippinghamburgers at McDonald’s for someextra spending cash on weekends. Infact, the majority of people who fall intothis category are adults in their “primeworking years,” and low paying work isthe “primary way they supportthemselves and their families,” thereport revealed.

Other research supports the findingof the study. According to a neweconomic metric called the Job QualityIndex, 63 percent of all jobs that werecreated since 1990 were low-salary jobs,many of them part-time. Today, the realUS average wage, that is, the wageafter calculating for inflation, hasapproximately the same purchasingpower it did 40 years ago. And whatgains were made inside of companiesmostly went to the highest-paidexecutives.

There are many reasons for thisintense inequality, not least of all thecollapse of labor unions, which onceupon a time gave employees a realdemocratic voice inside of theworkplace. Also to blame is the decades-long exodus of US corporations toforeign shores in their eternal quest forcheap labor and high profits.

Some analysts conclude it was thisconcern over the hemorrhaging of well-paid manufacturing jobs, many of themto China and Mexico, which largelypropelled Donald Trump into the WhiteHouse in 2016. However, Trump’s claimabout wanting to drain the swamp, hasturned out to be all crocodile tears withno real concern for those at the bottomof the income scale. America is beingmade great for the rich and powerful,not working people struggling to carefor their families. In fact, the USgovernment economic policies, especiallythe current trade war with China, mayonly succeed at sinking the USeconomy, while dragging down the rest

of the global economy with it.With regard to dwindling US

paychecks for increasingly unattractivejobs, the danger here, aside from thevery real risk of future social upheaval,is that if the number of ‘have-nots’reaches a certain threshold of thepopulation, then the overall health ofthe economy will begin to sufferaccordingly. After all, workers are notjust workers. They are also consumers,an integral part of any moderneconomy, and if their jobs start payingless, they will naturally consume less,thereby appearing as a storm front onthe economic horizon.

At the same time, it is important tonote that it is not only the health of theeconomy that is at risk. Judging byrecent data, a surplus of low-wage jobsappears to be having a direct impact onthe health and wellbeing of the averageAmerican.

According to a report released thismonth by the National Center forHealth Statistics, life expectancy in theUnited States fell between 2016 and2017, fueled by drug overdoses andsuicides, continuing a downward trendfor the last three years. Today,Americans can expect to live 78.6 years,a decline of three-tenths of a year since2014.

“We’re living in a developed countrywith a fairly sophisticated health caresystem and lots of resources… and nowall of the sudden it seems to (have)reversed,” Robert Anderson, chief of theMortality Statistics Branch at theNational Center for Health Statistics,told US News and World Report.Anderson called the decline“concerning.”

It would be very difficult to arguethat there is no connection between theongoing mental and physical health ofpeople and the amount of money theyare earning to support themselves andtheir families. That expensive burdenseems at least partially to blame for theprecipitation of drug abuse, domesticviolence, and even suicide in the US.

How to reverse the trend ofdecreasing low-wage labor in the UnitedStates is another question. AlthoughTrump seems right in wanting toreinvigorate America’s manufacturingbase, that is a massive project that willnot occur overnight, if at all. In themeantime, one possible answer is anincrease in the minimum wage, orhigher taxes on US corporations inorder to provide more assistance tothose Americans now falling throughthe cracks of one of the most cutthroatcapitalist societies ever created.

If the majority of Americans continueto be treated as economic outcasts intheir own country, it is difficult to seehow the Wall Street traders andinvestors will continue to celebrateevery holiday with heavy bonuses.There is a wolf on Wall Street, and it iscalled inequality. Wall Street needs toslay it if it wants the good times tocontinue. The corridors of power andprivilege across the world will similarlyhave to address the numerous problemsfaced by their own people if massivesocial explosions are to be avoided.

Send comments, criticisms &suggestions to [email protected]

Social Explosion is coming

ROAD TAX is very high in SVG, and weask ourselves’ “What are we paying roadtax for”?

Throughout SVG, the roads are bad.Many potholes are left for years to getbigger and deeper before they arefixed, if ever. The low quality of theroads is very damaging to people’svehicles. People are incurring extra,unnecessary expenses to fix theirvehicles after they have been damagedby the road.

Some areas are so bad that whenyou drive along the road, the bottom ofyour car can scrape the roadoccasionally, as the potholes are soterrible; the road to Indian Bay is anexample of this, but there are manythat are far worse. Take a drive toIndian Bay and see how bad the roadis. You get the impression that SVG isa failed state.

According to Retired British RoyalAir Force Engineer Warrant OfficerIvan Bertie O’Neal, BSc (Hons), MSc,MBA, Leader of SVG GreenParty, poor quality roads in any

country is a sign of deep poverty andslums. Seems like the ULP regime istrying to turn SVG into Haiti in everyway possible.

Road tax money

Where is all the road tax moneygoing anyway? It’s clearly not beingspent on fixing roads.

Vincentians’ money is leaking out ofour economy as it goes abroad topurchase spare parts to fix vehicles.This is wasted money that should begoing into the SVG economy andsupporting SVG businesses.

We are being more exposed toaccidents on some roads, becausesometimes you need to drive on theother (wrong) side of the road to avoida big pothole on your side (of the road).

Many farmers have complained toWarrant Officer Ivan O’Neal that thelack of good feeder roads meansfarmers often cannot get their produceto market. The feeder roads are so badin some areas, that many farmers

have stopped growing produce,because they know they will not beable to get their produce from the fieldand down to market.

Farmers have said that the ULPregime has failed to maintain existingfeeder roads, and these roads havefallen into such a state of disrepairthat they are practically unusable. Inother areas, the ULP regime has failedto build new feeder roads needed by

farmers to get their produce to market.SVG’s roads are symptomatic of the

neglect this country has sufferedunder the incompetent ULP regime.Unable to create sustainable sources ofrevenue, the ULP regime has letroads, schools and other essentialinfrastructure fall in to ruin and statesof severe disrepair. This we can seethroughout the country, and it isdisgraceful for the government to treatthe people this way.

A Green government would properlymaintain SVG’s road. The roads areimportant for trade and transportingpeople and goods around the countryin a timely manner. Good roads arevital for our economy.


ViewsVHigh road tax,low quality roads

I RECENTLY read thecommunique publishedafter the 94th meeting ofthe Monetary Council ofthe Eastern CaribbeanCentral Bank (ECCB)held in October, and Iwas somewhat surprisedto read that the foreigncurrency reserve backingratio was almost 100%.The reason for thatsurprise stems from anarticle in TheSearchlight of 17thNovember, 2017, titled“ECCB considers usingportion of foreign reservefor economicdevelopment”. That storymade me feel then that —at long last — the ECCBwould be fully embracingits true role as a regionaldevelopment institution.So when the recentcommunique stated thatthe foreign reservecurrency backing was99.3%, I wasdisappointed. Thecommunique made nomention of the status ofthe proposed 2017initiative — and it all leftme wondering whetherthe matter is still “underconsideration” orwhether it was just“talk”!

The problem is: this isnot a new issue. Wayback in 1988 (thirty-oneyears ago), I publishedan article in the then-popular (but nowdefunct) regionalnewspaper EC News toaddress this very issue.The piece, entitled “TheCrux of ProtectivePolicies” referred to anaddress by Dr D.Budhoo to the GrenadaChamber of Commerce inwhich he “accused the

ECCB of not fulfilling itsdevelopmental role inthe East Caribbean” andthat it “was probably theonly Central Bank in theworld which had 100% ofits reserves in foreigndeposits.”

My 1988 article gave abrief history of theSterling ExchangeStandard, the monetaryframework of the Britishcolonial system. Underthis standard thecurrencies issued in thevarious colonies had astheir backing (up to 110percent) securities of theUK or othercommonwealth countries,but not of the countriesthemselves. With theend of the second worldwar came a renewedinterest in thedevelopment of theBritish Colonies and anincreased scrutiny of thecolonial monetary andfinancial machinery.“The main criticism ofthe [monetary] system”, Iwrote, “relates to themobilization of a colony’sreserves in the required100 percent reservebacking. The essentialfeature of the sterlingexchange system wasthat the reservescorresponding to theconsumption foregone inorder for a country toincrease its holding ofcurrency, were notretained within the sameeconomy. Therequirement that the UKgovernment or otherCommonwealthgovernment securities beheld against issues ofcurrency notes meant, ineffect, that thosereserves were lent to

overseas governments. “It was not surprising

therefore that insearching out sources offinance for economicdevelopment in countriesoperating this currencysystem, attention wasgiven to modifying thesystem in a way thatwould enable some of theresources locked up incurrency reserves to beused for its owndevelopment. Thequestion as to whatproportion was to bebacked by local securitiesthat is lent to thegovernment itself was tobe based on that part ofthe currency issue thatwould never bepresented forconversion.”

So, it was a logicaland sensible provisionfor the ECCU to make,when in Article 42 of theECCU Agreement (1976)a minimum foreigncurrency reserve backingrequirement of 60percent was set. Therationale being that thiswould allow, in thewords of Mr Antoine,“the Central Bank toplay the role of financierof economicdevelopment.” But inthe same sentence (asquoted) he went on topoint out that “this hasnever been done.” And henoted that the provisionhas been included in thebank’s strategic plan. Sothe question is: is itgoing to be done? Therationale for doing it isclear and present. Or, isthis all just talk?

Claude C. Samuel

Is this just talk?

EducationV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06 , 2019. 13.

FOREIGN STUDENTS who recentlycompleted programmes at the RichmondVale Academy (RVA) said that they wouldcherish the memories and knowledgegained during their time there.

They admit to be better equipped tomake a positive impact on theircommunities.

One such course at the RVA is aone-month Climate ComplianceCourse, which is a shortened version ofsix-month and ten-month courses alsooffered at the RVA.

Mckeefe Davis, a teacher at theAcademy, said the one-month focusesfirst on the theories and concepts ofclimate change, then a practicalaspect. Topics covered include ClimateChange, Global Warming and its

Effects, Climate Refuge, ClimateMitigation and Adaptation.

Student graduate with acertificate which is said to berecognized around the world.

Jamie Huggins, a soldier in theSt. Kitts and Nevis Defense Force,was the third person from his countryto have attended RVA. He wasselected to attend the Academy tofurther his knowledge in farming,something that he does part-time. Hewas impressed with the differentmethods of farming to which he wasintroduced, and recognized thebenefits they could bring to his ownefforts, and to those of the DefenseForce’s effort to develop a farmingproject aimed at decreasing its food

bill.Nicola Wynne of the United

Kingdom and a first time student toorganic farming and related subjects,praised RVA for bringing peopletogether.

“It’s been really fulfilling. We havelearned a lot in the short time since wehave been here. We started offworking on site at the Richmond ValeAcademy; there was an organic gardenand a kitchen garden in which wewere practising our skills to take intothe community afterwards,” she said.

Wayne’s team focused on thecommunity of Chateaubelair wherethey planted food crops andestablished a compost shed.

Romana Rainer is from Austria.She said that she was able to seefirsthand the effect of climate, saying,“It was a good experience to see the

impact of climate change. We haveseen a lot of places where the stormand water created destruction and wetalk to people who witnessed thestorm.”

“I have other perspectives now, andI am looking to integrate it in my newproject back home,” she said of herexperience.

Both Rainer and Wynne agreed thatone of the most challenging aspects ofbeing at RVA was living incommunity, to which they had neverbeen exposed.

Over time, they learned to deal withit, and admitted it was “notchallenging like we were necessarilyuncomfortable about it. We were quitelucky; we all got along and we allenjoyed each other’s company. So wemade it all work,” Rainer said. (KH) SHANIA LESLIE of

Bequia, a member of theTrinity School ofMedicine Class of 2023,has been awarded theTrinity VincentianScholarship for 2019.This award comes fromTrinity School ofMedicine, in associationwith the Government ofSt. Vincent and theGrenadines.

Shania, who hasalready completed herpre-med education andone term of the tenterms in the medicalprogramme at Trinity,will receive: $13,900USD or $37,366 ECD foreach of the first fiveterms, and $15,200 USDor $40,860 ECD for eachof the remaining fiveterms.

Obviously elated ather achievement, Shaniagave a background to heraccomplishment. “Istudied really hard atpre-med and at my oneterm of MD beforeapplication,” she said,“and think that Ideserved it!”

Gaining thescholarship, she said,acts as a way of givingback to her parents, whohave worked hardthrough their lives toprovide the best for theirchildren.

“Basically, I wanted togive my parents an easeon their finances. Myfather would work dayand night to facilitate us,

so I’m just working hardto give back to them inthis way,” she explainedthen added, “I have ayounger sister whowants to be an architect,and my parents will nowonly have to deal withthat!”

To be eligible for thisaward, candidates,among other things,must be accepted foradmission to TrinitySchool of Medicine,having achieved a 3.2GPA or United StatesEquivalent inprerequisite courses asdefined by Trinity Schoolof Medicine.

As far as Shania wasconcerned, even afterhaving satisfied all therequirements, she wasstill in doubt aboutwhether or not she wouldbeat out her competitors.

“The Vincentians atTrinity are smart, so thecompetition was greatand I’m sure there arestudents here as smartas I am, or evensmarter,” she admitted.

With this accolade, theeager Trinity futurephysician is cognizant ofthe fact that there arecertain expectations towhich she will have tolive.

She, having been avery hard worker fromthe onset, admits thather journey intoexercising commitmentwill now become morestrenuous.

Acknowledging this,

she said, “Many peoplehave been looking up tome — the first doctor inmy family; as aVincentian in a schoolthat is predominantlyAmerican… all thehousekeepers andsecurity guards all lookup to me, alwayswanting me to do well.You could imagine that Ihave to continue to workharder, putting in morethan the already sixteenhours a day. I neitherwant to disappointanyone nor myself. Iwant to be a doctor firstand foremost!”

Under the terms ofthe award, the successfulcandidate is expected toreturn to St. Vincent andthe Grenadines to offerservice. Shania islooking forward to thatday when she can do justthat.

Bequia resident gainsTrinity scholarship

Shania Leslie is awareof the expectations thatshe now has to fulfil.

(L-R): StudentsJamie Huggins,Nicola Wayne,Romona Rainerand teacherMckeefe Davis.

Foreign studentshappy with RVA

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06 , 2019. 15.

Commercial Land for sale: TMV Zone 2 ‘Motor Mall’, Corner of Churchill Roosevelt Highway and Trincity Central Road, Trincity, Trinidad & Tobago

Land for sale on Michael Rahael Boulevard, San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2019. 17.16. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

by JP [email protected]

LAST WEEKEND, the drama club of the St.Vincent and the Grenadines CommunityCollege Performing Arts Society opted tostage an adaption of Zeno Obi Constance’sone act play “Dorothy’s Challenge”, as theircontribution to the 2019 Bank of SVGsponsored National Theatre Arts Festival.

The opening exposition was shroudedin much hilarity as long time friendsMildred (Dianna Cain) and Dorothy(Simesha Millington) engaged in somemust be shared gossip. This first sceneestablished three of the overarchingthemes that are treated in theadaptation - Calypso, Rum and Comess —functions of a Caribbean reality.

Transition well executed

As Blackie (Zanique Andrews) isintroduced, the audience gets to meet acalypsonian of some local renown andappreciation. The assembled are eager tohear her latest rendition and after someprompting, she indulges, which moves

the story forward in a unique sequence.Not only does time lapse, complete withappropriately used lightning cues, butthere is a complete change ofcircumstances as the family and friendsgathered onstage now become a group ofemployees under threat of losing theirjobs.

This transition was very wellexecuted, as the refrain of the calypsobeing performed by Blackie becomes themantra that the protest leader (also

played byAndrews)chants assheencouragesherworkmatesto stay thecourse and

fight against the injustices, real orimagined, that forced them onto theprotest line. The pace quickens as thesole dissenting voice (Alisha Decaul)against the protest meets with a fatalend at the hand of a uniformed policeofficer (Alejandro Tesorero). Here againwas another well performed transition asthe scene now changes to an Afrikaanstate evidenced by the aptly illustratedaccent changes and somewhatstereotypical mannerisms. One almostgets the sense that he is caught up inone of Blackie’s calypsos.

A few pointers

While the colouration that went intothe characterisations presented lastweekend were quite laudable, a fewpointers can only serve to improve theperformers’ craft. Sarwan Gibsonportrayed a convincing drunkard, for themost part, though his love for his liquid“appetizer” could have been betteraccentuated at times. Further, hisperformance would have benefitedimmensely had he paused for a few beatsto allow for the audience’s raucousreactions to die off before continuingwith his deliveries. The result is thatmuch of his follow-ons from punch lineswere lost. Being able to hold moments ismuch easier said than done, but practiceforms immutable habits, and thecollaboration of the onstage cast wouldgo a long way to maintain themomentum.

When the actor is attempting toestablish and maintain control but failsto command his movements, they mimicnervous tics. The vocal authority beingprojected, then, becomes indeliblyweakened as in the case of Tesorero’swhite supremacist cop, who is seenbarking South Afrikaan propaganda atblack Afrikaans before ordering theirdeaths in a mass shooting. As the storymoves on, yet again, into a starvationravished Ethiopian ghetto where thedead lay out in the open, it becomessuccinctly clear that Dianna Cain, inher latest role as the African Mama,is quite aware of the differencebetween merely reciting lines andemoting on delivery. Theinconsolable anguish, the raw painand ringing desolation could all beheard and felt as she proclaims “Iwould never be comforted!”

Black outs and ‘missing’ props

The post intermission action gotunderway with some faltering in thehitherto cohesive momentum. Whereprevious scenes transitioned smoothly,disguised in onstage action, new sceneswere demarcated by black outs. Theeffect is somewhat negative, given thefact that the pace suffers as recycled castmembers must find themselves in newpositions, with some slight costume andsometimes character changes. Theintended effect does not quite hit thespot if only because the timing betweeneach scene is relatively drawn out, givenwhat pertains as the lights come up.

During some of these black outs, thewriter juxtaposes media reports withonstage action as the opening jovialitygives way to more weighty socio-economic concerns. This was mirrored inhis treatment of civil unrest at home andabroad as workers protest againstthreats of retrenchment and activistspersevere in conditions of dire povertyexemplified by extreme starvation.

A flashback to Blackie as sheattempts to continue writing her calypsocan be seen as a timely reminder thatthe audience is being treated to a form ofstorytelling from a calypsonian’sperspective.

Though relatively minor, in the scaleof the production, it must be said thatthe tendency to overlook articulatedprops should stop. One scene, vaguelyreminiscent of a calypso’s bridge, takesplace at a Customs Officer’s desk as he isprocessing some returnees; they makesuch a fuss about a non-existent cakethat it was a total disappointment whenthe cast failed to produce the prop.

There were several instances wherebetter timed reactions could have beenmore potent, so much so that the end ofthe play, when it came, would have beenall the more appreciated.

The SVGCC PAS should be proud oftheir efforts all told. Attempting such anaugust piece would have undoubtedlyhad its own challenges but to be able topresent this conversation on Caribbeanfoibles, more or less coherently, is indeedpraiseworthy.

Reeja’s Theatre Alliance would bringthe festival curtains down this weekendjust before the festival committee stagesits first National Theatre Awards onSunday 8th December.

Theatre ArtsV 18. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Theatre Arts Festival Review

DorothyÊs Challenge-An SVGCC PAS treat

White supremacist cop kills blackprotestor.

Dorothy collars one of her daughters.

Anti-retrenchment protest.

Theatre ArtsV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06 , 2019. 19.

National Theatre ArtsAwards set forSunday Nightby JP [email protected]

WITH THE CURTAINS SET TOCLOSE on the 13th edition ofthe Bank of SVG sponsoredNational Theatre Arts Festivalthis weekend, the organisingcommittee is poised to honourfestival participants by way ofwhat is to become an annualNational Theatre Awards.

Reeja’s Theatre Alliancewould take to the PeaceMemorial Hall stage on Fridayand Saturday of this weekendwith their much anticipated‘The Mistress of Wholesome’production. Then on Sundayevening, the general public isinvited to share in the Awards

Ceremony. Admission is free,and potential audiencemembers can expect a fewsurprises by way of theproposed entertainment.

The National TheatreAwards would feature,amongst other categories, aNational Critique Awardwhich is to be nominated bythe local theatre critics whohave published their reviewsin either of the localnewspapers, two LifetimeAchievement awards plus twoFestival Partner Recognitionawards.

Other new features includean upgrade from Dramatist ofthe Year to a Spirit of theFestival Award. Only

nominees in lead roles wouldqualify for this tribute. Thetask of selecting the winningcandidate rests on theshoulders of several judges aswell as random surveys ofselected audience members.

Judges would also name aProduction of the Year whichwould depend on which club’spresentation “captured thewhole essence of the festival.Looking at the theme whichwas ‘feel the passion,experience the excitement’…all of the elements of theproductions… front of house,set, the actors, the flow — if anMC was used how was he ableto flow — as well as the generalresponse of the audience in

terms of satisfaction,”according to the Festival’sPublic Relations CoordinatorSean Frederick.

This novel format comesseveral years after the conceptthen dubbed “The Drammy’s”was discontinued. This newformat is expected to grow toinclude productions stagedduring Vincy Mas, as well asother productions outside ofthe National Theatre ArtsFestival which is generallyhoused at the Peace MemorialHall annually.

“It [The Drammy’s] wasmainly discontinued becausethe organisations wanted totake a new direction, wantedto refresh, reenergize in terms

of the way forward. Similarlytoo as of next year — thesuggestion was made andstrongly accepted for us tohave a theme maybe toproduce all classics and thefollowing year to do allCaribbean writers and thefollowing year to do maybeAfrikaan plays… the year tocome would see usapproaching the Festival fromdifferent angles,” Frederickalso said.

Sunday night’s NationalTheatre Festival Awards showwould begin at 7:30 p.m.

Sean Frederick,2019 Theatre ArtsFestival’s PublicRelationsCoordinator,speaks of thechanges in 2019Awards, andglances atpossibly evenmore far-reachingchanges in thefuture.

EntertainmentV 20. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

THE AMBIENCE aboard theM.V. Gem Star lastMonday was fit for a‘moonlight’ cruise to theGrenadines but that wasnot to be. Instead, invitedguests and mediapersonnel boarded theboat at the GrenadinesWharf for the medialaunch with a difference ofSteel Expressions 8.

Steel Expressions 8 isset for December 28, atthe main Arnos ValePlaying Field, under thetheme: ‘Where MusicLives’.

Once again, organizersare promising an excitingif not thrilling evening ofentertainment. Billedact, Rodney Small,pannist extraordinaire,will be joined by localartistes Brian Maloney,Ronnie Richardson,Samuel Toka, TamaraJackson, Saed Bowman,Dynamite, Gallanaire,Fireman Hooper, KathyMillar and Lil Chris.

Jamaican reggaemusician Michael ‘Ibo’Cooper and soca artisteTeddyson John of St.Lucia will add furthervariety to the evening’sentertainment.

Rodney Small,Executive Producer andArtistic Director of RSProductions, addressingthe gathering, pledged to“…lift the bar evenhigher…, this year thetrend continues andpromises to take it toanother level.”

Small explained that,“This year we are takinga modernized approachto our production, wherewe are going toincorporate a lot oftechnology and focus alot more on delivery andexperience. A lot ofMultimedia work will bedisplayed as we show theevolution of Productionsacross the globe. Our Barand Food area will becompletely digitized,creating a betterexperience for ourpatrons and (there willbe) a major step up inour security and parkingareas.”

The Producer alsoannounced that part ofthe proceeds from SteelExpressions 8 will go tothe World Paediatric

Programme (WPP),which continues toprovide the nation’schildren with the highestlevel of health carepossible.

Lauren McIntosh,Executive Director/WPP,was on hand to expressthanks on behalf of WPPfor having been selectedby RS Productions as its2019 Charity Recipient.

Also making briefremarks was RoddyDowers, Captain ofStarlift Steel Orchestra,who described Small “..asthe beacon for steel panin SVG,.. and SteelExpression as a “majorhousehold event.”

Kevin Rodriquez,Managing Director ofAgape Performing ArtsTheatre, who said that “..Steel Expressions hasbecome more than a panshow .. it has become amovement.”

Ricardo Adams,Chairman of theCarnival DevelopmentCorporation (CDC) noted

that, “It’s good thatRodney is making thisevent part of our charitycalendar,… and CDC ishappy to partner withRS Productions.”

Following theaddresses, a‘contribution’ washanded over to the WPPby the FLARECommittee, and KPMGsealed their sponsorshipof Steel Expressions forthe 3rd straight year.

The launching alsowitnessed performancesfrom pannist SaeedBowman and reggaeartiste Ibuza. (KH)

Steel Expressions8: ‘Where MusicLives’

Rodney Small, Executive Producer and ArtisticDirector of RS Production, (right) seen hereaccepting a sponsorship cheque from a KPMGrepresentative, promised that Steel Expressionswill take entertainment to “another level.”

NewsV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06 , 2019. 23.

Alliance Française turns 50by JP [email protected]

OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS, l’AllianceFrançaise de St Vincent et les Grenadineshas been fulfilling its mandate to promotethe French language and culture here.

The non-profit organization foundroots here in 1969, through the efforts ofLennox John, former Headmaster at theSt. Vincent Grammar School andBishop’s College Kingstown; butperhaps better known for hiscontribution to the administration ofcricket in SVG.

In 1969, while in England on a one-year Commonwealth scholarship “tostudy the teaching of French [at] theUniversity of Manchester,” John tookadvantage of a six-week training coursefor foreign French teachers by l’AllianceFrançaise of Paris.

From a car trunk to an institution

Upon his homecoming later that sameyear, John decided to start his ownversion of an l’Alliance Française whileteaching French at the St. VincentGrammar School. Then theFrancophiles numbered amongst thelocal business folk, French teachers and“simply friends who had a commoninterest in the French language.”

Without a home of its own, LennoxJohn’s l’Alliance Française roved frommeeting place to meeting place, followingits inaugural get-together at the PeaceMemorial Hall. The Cobblestone Inn,Grammar School, members’ privatehomes and even car trunks all hostedthese pioneering French lovers who justwanted “to share the pleasure ofspeaking French.”

Today, l’Alliance Française is anestablished entity here, known for itscommitment to teaching the language toVincentians of all ages at any level ofproficiency. Such classes are offered onschedule with all secondary schoolstudents being able to avail themselvesat the Girls High School. Private orspecific classes for groups (such as taxidrivers, Custom Agents, etc.) are alsoavailable on demand. And each year, atthe end of studies, l’Alliance Françaisefacilitates DELF/DALF exam sessions -

for both adults andjuniors — put on by theFrench Ministry ofEducation. This allowsfor French languagestudents to be awarded“an internationallyrecognized diploma inFrench.”

l’Alliance Française’srich history evolved onthe strength of fundingfrom the Frenchgovernment in the early80s. This enabled theassociation to disbursescholarships and initiatean educational missionwhose the core objectivewas to train secondaryschool French teachers.

Following adevastating fire in 1989which obliterated all ofthe organisation’s recordsup to that time, and intensenegotiations, l’Alliance Françaisesecured its first real home — theCarnegie Hall (Old Library) inKingstown, 20 years after Lennox Johnbirthed it into fruition.

A local Director and a varied programme

Although these negotiations providedfor the full renovation of the OldLibrary, complete with a museum on theground floor, it was met with muchopposition by local agitators, despite thefact that the venue was hitherto overrunby vagrants.

The French government continued toexpress direct interest in the operationsof the local l’Alliance Française, andappointed several directors over theintervening years up until 2008, whenanthropologist Vanessa Demirciyanbecame the first locally appointedDirectrice de l’Alliance Française.

Building on the organisation’s legacyof promoting cultural diversity whilereinforcing ties between SVG and Frenchspeaking countries, Demirciyan and herteam of volunteers continue to bringtogether partners both here and abroad.Overtime, hip hop and dancehall danceworkshops, theatre productions - inFrench, art exhibitions and poetry/essay

writing competitions havebeen produced. Localmusicians benefit from theArtists Club and its

monthly staging at l’Alliance Françaiseon Wednesday evening, though there hasbeen some setbacks with this initiative.

Mindful of the challenges budgetconstraints can have on l’AllianceFrançaise endeavours, the directorapplauded a few of their local partnersfor their continuous contributions. Theyinclude (but are by no means limited to)Sweetie Pie Bakery on Mustique, theMinistries of Culture andEducation, Gonsalves Liquors, KiddiesKorner, Garifuna Heritage Foundation,SVG AMP and Dolphin Gymnastics.

Not an embassy

Directrice Demirciyan reminded THEVINCENTIAN that contrary to ongoingpublic perception, l’Alliance Française isnot an embassy or any other form ofdiplomatic mission.

“We generally help with translationsof all types of documents, and we mayfacilitate some services and on some veryrare occasions may assist with somelevels of diplomacy if called upon; but weare not an embassy or anything likethat,” she stressed.

Though the half century hallmarkwas officially recognized on November13, celebratory festivities would not berolled out until March 2020 when theglobal community is invited to

commemorate InternationalFrancophonie Day. To this end, a mixedbag exhibition is being planned - fashion,dance, visual art and musical recitals,photo display — to coincide with theobservance of Heritage Month.

Looking ahead, Directrice VanessaDemirciyan envisions a continuing rolefor l’Alliance Française locally as shesays “the region is opening up… a lot ofsources about the Garifuna are inFrench, more people would need to betrained in French to help withtranslations… diplomacy, in journalismor any trade really.”

The General Assembly, though, isexpected to meet in December to ‘fleshout’ the forward path for l’AllianceFrançaise.

Vanessa Demirciyan the first locallyappointed and still Directrice del’Alliance Française with some of herstudents.

MINISTRY OFEDUCATION officials onThursday last week,commended a Peace Corpsprimary school literacyproject that is coming toan end, and expressedstrong support for anotherone to be developed. “ThePrimary English LiteracyProject has been quiteeffective through theyears,” said Mrs. AldiaGumbs-Dyer, a SeniorEducation Officer. Shewas speaking at a meetingorganized by the PeaceCorps Eastern CaribbeanProgram supported by theGovernment of the UnitedStates. The meetingreviewed the progressmade by the project in thelast five years, and began

discussions on developinga follow-on project. Mrs.Gumbs-Dyer added,“Today is proof that weare committed to itssuccess and continualimprovement.”

In addition to seniorstaff from the Ministry ofEducation, meetingparticipants includedprincipals, teachers, PeaceCorps Volunteers andPeace Corps staff,including the senior PeaceCorps staff member inSaint Vincent, CuthbertJames, and the PeaceCorps Eastern CaribbeanDirector of Programmingand Training, PatrickTriano, who is based inSaint Lucia. Mr. Trianogave a presentation on the

progress achieved in thelast five years, and thensought feedback that willbe used to develop an evenmore effective secondphase. “I am heartened bythe commitment of thestakeholders,” he said.“The insights offered atthe meeting will go a longway to developing an evenstronger new project.”

The goals of the projectinclude improving studentliteracy levels in gradesone through three,introducing new literacyinstructional methods toteachers, and improvingschool, family andcommunity partnershipsin support of literacy. Theproject is a collaborativeeffort of Peace Corps, the

Ministry of Education,USAID, and OECS. Theproject also has beenworking in Grenada, SaintLucia and Dominica.

A Senior EducationOfficer noted that PeaceCorps presence in SaintVincent and theGrenadines hashistorically been verypositive. She recalled thatas a young girl shebenefited from thepresence of a Volunteer inher community.Addressing the Volunteerspresent, she said, “Let mesay that you may neverknow the extent or depthto which you touch thelives of others. But it iswonderful work you aredoing.”

In the EasternCaribbean, Peace Corpshas been present since itsinception in 1961. Thegoals of Peace Corps focuson supportingdevelopment andpromoting interculturalunderstanding andfriendship between

Americans and the peopleof the countries whereVolunteers serve. Thereare currently 20volunteers living andworking in Saint Vincentand the Grenadines.(Source: USA Embassy,Barbados)

Peace Corps Literacy Project commended

Lennox John –spearheaded theformation of what isnow known asl’Alliance Française deSt Vincent et lesGrenadines.

Dance workshops have become part and parcel of l’AllianceFrançaise’s programming.

Program and TrainingManager, Patrick Triano,fields a question from oneof the participants.

Dear George,

I AM MADLY in lovewith someone whomeverybody tells me Icannot have.

From the moment Isaw this catholic nun, Ifell in love with her. Ihave been attending theCatholic Church just toget closer to her. I don’tknow how to tell her Ilove her. I believe shemay be just looking for achance to have anotherlife, and I could be theone to draw her out. Itwould be a waste for herto remain a nun for therest of her life. She ismuch too pretty and sexyto be wasting herselfaway in the church.

Keeping hope alive.

Dear Keeping hope

alive,

I do not know whatwould make you thinkthis catholic nun is nothappy where sheis. Why would you sayshe is wasting herselfaway in service to thechurch?

We all have ourchoices to make in life,and she has made hers.

I would caution younot to allow your lustfuldesires to lead you tothink you can convertthis Nun from herdevotion to a God andthe church to join you.

It’s good that you aregoing to church, but it’ssad that you do so for thewrong reasons. Get outof it now!!!!!

George

Dear George,

SOME PEOPLE in the country are sohypocritical!! I feel like exposing them ifthey don’t reveal their real selves.

The recent march in Kingstownprotesting this homosexual rightsthing got my attention. I understandthose people who marched becausethey do not want certain laws to bepassed in our society, but not thosewho are involved in the same thingthey are marching against. I saw menmarching who are on the other side,and married women who havegirlfriends on the side.

I saw this married woman, astaunch church-goer, marching who iscurrently involved with me. It’s timethey get real and march for what theybelieve in. Such hypocrisy!!!

Disgusted

Dear Disgusted,

Unfortunately, we do not live in aperfect world. Some people willalways pretend to be what they arenot. However, living in a society thatis ready to judge , does not make iteasy to reveal their true selves.

It is not for you to expose anyone,especially knowing that such actionwill not make life any easier for thoseindividuals concerned.

Have a talk with the individualwith whom you are involved, andmaybe after you learn of their fears,you will be better positioned to helpthem.

George


AdviceVHypocrites at large!!!!

Dear George,

I HAVE BEENdismissing stories aboutmy wife two-timing me,bring a man to myhouse. In fact, I havedismissed stories thatthat man was my bosswho, as I reflect, wouldgive me increasedresponsibility so I wouldnot leave work before7pm while he goes to myhouse and makes outwith my wife.

As it turned out, Iwent home unexpectedlyand caught him and hisfriend at it with mywife. I have all the

pictures. I asked themto own up to their wivesor else I will have to givethem some help to doso.

As for my wife, I havetold her she is free to gowhenever she pleases. Ido not want acounsellor. I am talkingto a lawyer right now.And it’s time theseworthless businessmenstop theirnastiness. Fire bunthem!

Hurt bad

Dear Hurt bad,

While you think you

do not need a counsellor,it may be worthwhile, allthings considered, totalk this over withsomeone. Sometimes webelieve we are fine,when in truth and infact we are affected inways unknowing tous. Whatever decisionyou are about to make,make certain you crossyour T’s and dot your I’s.

You have the right todecide on what’s best foryou but just use all thecounsel available to you,before you act.

George

A two-timing wife

Chasing a wild dream


LeisureVACROSS

1. Horse pace5. PTA member8. Jumps on one foot12. Pasture measure13. _ de Janeiro14. Child of Eve15. Toll16. Loving verse17. State south of Minnesota18. Track circuit20. Remainder21. Deli roll24. Those folks27. Watchful28. Sound catcher29. Keg spigot32. Aries symbol33. Wash lightly35. Color tint36. “Cheerio!”37. Blasting powder: abbr.38. Singer Black40. Inquires41. Sample (a food)42. Sky twinkler45. Egyptian snake46. Heap together47. Lass49. Eternally53. Prayer end54. Slick liquid55. Spring flower56. Call from a 4-Down57. Attempt58. Base stealer’s favorite

word?

DOWN

1. Space between teeth2. Snoopy, in his WWI fantasies3. Lyricist Gershwin4. Bank clerk

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23)You may find yourself interested in morethan one person. Spend some time onyourself. Put your efforts into your workor money making ventures rather thanyour emotional life.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)Travel could include delays and otherminor problems. You can solidify yourrelationship if you plan a special eveningwith your mate. Take special care in anyhome improvement project you work onthis week, you’ll be glad you did.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21)Do not force your opinions on others theconnections will be short lived. Take timeto listen to the problems of familymembers. Travel is evident, but becautious while in transit.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20)Take time to listen to children and helpthem with projects that seem impossibleto them. You must lay down ground rulesso that you can complete a job. You canmeet interesting new friends if you joinworthwhile groups.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19)Someone you work with may be trying tomake you look bad. Make changes thatwill heighten your appeal. A long, quietwalk alone may help you sort out yourthoughts. Try not to be too lavish withyour lover.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20)Concentrate on spending quality timewith children. You will meet exciting newpeople through interest groups orfunctions that you attend with yourchildren. Offers of joint ventures arelikely.

5. Plummet6. Assist7. Forest animal8. Far from bald9. Thin woodwind10. Church

benches11. Wooden strip19. Tips off21. Nasty remark22. See 47-Down23. With 43-Down,

moment for a kickoff

24. Camp shelters25. Owns26. Builds

(a house)29. “_ is

ridiculous!”30. Mom’s sis

31. Sampras oftennis

34. Squid squirt39. Jacket flaps40. Fail to be42. Reach over43. See 23-Down44. Emcee Trebek

45. Loyal friend47. With 22-Down,

escaped48. Balloon

contents50. By means of51. North Pole cutie52. Dark bread

LA

ST

WE

EK

’sS

OL

UT

ION

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20)Look into family outings or projects.Control your emotions and everythingwill fall into place. Hassles with closefriends or family will put a damper onyour day and result in isolation andloneliness.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21)Exercise is always a good way to relievestress. Problems with your partner couldbe reaching a high level of concern.Chronic health problems are likely tosurface if you are keeping your problemslocked up inside.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21)There’s a good chance that they won’tcome back. Join a choir or a drama club.You may be considering moving to largerquarters. You will easily charm membersof the opposite sex. Don’t get involved injoint ventures.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)Take care of the needs or responsibilitiesof elders. Put your emotional energyinto passion not anxiety Opportunities toget together with people in powerfulpositions could help you get ahead. Firstfind out if they’re married.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22)You’ll find it easy to charm members ofthe opposite sex this week. You will beable to make favorable changes in yourliving quarters. Don’t be afraid to pushyour beliefs and attitudes.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23)You need to mingle with people who canspark enthusiasm and confidence in you.You will do extremely well if you getinvolved in competitive activities thisweek. Your lover will be extremelysensitive and it may not be a good timeto make changes that they won’t like.

FeatureV 26. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Global response to Climate Change:Taiwan can be a valuable partner

Statement by MinisterChang Tzi-chin,EnvironmentalProtectionAdministrationExecutive Yuan, R.O.C.(Taiwan)October 2019

CONCENTRATIONS OFATMOSPHERIC CARBONDIOXIDE recorded at theMauna Loa Observatory inHawaii hit a historic highof 415 parts per million inMay 2019. The WorldMeteorologicalOrganization has alsoreleased data showingthat June 2019 was thehottest month in history,breaking records from NewDelhi to the North Pole. AsPresident Hilda Heine ofthe Marshall Islands, anally of Taiwan, has urgedthe world, it is not wortharguing or debatingwhether climate changewill come to pass, for it ishappening right now.

As a member of theglobal village, Taiwan isstriving to combatclimate change andprotect the Earth.Indeed, we are playingan indispensable part in

the vital task ofbequeathing asustainable environmentto future generations.

As a result of thecurrent internationalpolitical situation,Taiwan has been barredfrom participating in theConference of the Partiesheld under the UnitedNations FrameworkConvention on ClimateChange (UNFCCC).Taiwan not daunted byopposition

Nevertheless, wecontinue to pursuemeans of makingcontributions to theinternational community.We have passed theGreenhouse GasReduction andManagement Act, settinglong-term goals forTaiwan’s reduction ofgreenhouse gases, andformulated NationalClimate Change ActionGuidelines and aGreenhouse GasReduction Action Plan.We also drew up aGreenhouse GasReduction EmissionControl Action Plancovering Taiwan’senergy, manufacturing,transportation,residential andcommercial development,agricultural, andenvironmental sectors.With a clearly outlinedroadmap for nationalcarbon emissionreductions, the keypoints of this planinclude promoting energytransformation; assistingmanufacturers to becomegreen, low-carbonenterprises; developinggreen transportation andexpanding the use of low-carbon vehicles;upgrading energy-savingdesign standards for the

exteriors of newbuildings; helpinglivestock farms recyclebiogas; andstrengthening methanerecycling from wastelandfills and industrialwastewater. Moreover,the approval of aGreenhouse Gas ControlImplementation Planproposed by localgovernments shows howTaiwan is responding toclimate changecollectively, from acentral level to a locallevel.

Our government hasmade significantprogress in developingTaiwan’s renewableenergy sector in recentyears, actively pursuingpolicies designed toreduce coal-fired powergeneration, increase ouruse of natural gas, andpromote greendevelopment. By 2025,we expect solar- andwind-power generation toproduce 20?GW and6.9?GW of electricity peryear, respectively, andwe are also launchingnumerous power-savingpolicies and actionsunder our Forward-looking InfrastructureDevelopment Programand similar initiatives.Meanwhile, our GreenFinance Action Plan isfocusing on such areas asfinance, investment,fundraising, and talentincubation, supportingthe development of thegreen energy sector byboosting financialincentives. In terms oftechnological researchand development,Taiwan’s greentechnology policy coversenergy development,energy storage, energysaving, and systemsintegration, drawing onforward-lookingmaterials, sustainabletechnology, advancedenergy-saving, smartsystems, and similarareas to engage industrywith the fruits ofresearch in the academicworld. And since thelaunch of our FormoSat-3satellite in 2006, Taiwanhas amassed over 10million items ofmeteorological data,which it has provided,free of charge, to expertsand scholars around theworld for use in theirscientific research.Furthermore, data

gathered following thisyear’s launch of theFormoSat-7 satellite willnow improve accuracyeven further when itcomes to predictingsevere weather events,making a greatcontribution to globalweather forecasting andclimate change action.

Taiwan has broughttogether the relevantcentral governmentagencies to formulate aNational Climate ChangeAdaptation Action Plan,constructing a resilientsystem that responds toeight aspects of climatechange: disasters, basicinfrastructure, waterresources, homelandsecurity, coastlines,energy and industry,agriculture, and health.In the field of healthcare, we are placingspecial emphasis onmedical hygiene andepidemic prevention,disaster reduction, andemergency and disasterrecovery capacity,safeguarding nationalhealth and prioritizingthe protection of ourmost vulnerable citizens.In terms of conservation,we will sustain ouragricultural productionresources andbiodiversity, bolstermonitoring and early-warning mechanisms,strengthen naturaldisaster rescue andinsurance systems, andintegrate technologiesdesigned to boost theresilience of theagricultural, forestry,fisheries, and animalhusbandry industries.We are also operatingand managing naturereserves, establishinglong-term ecologicalmonitoring systems, andstrengthening theconservation andappropriate use of ournation’s species and

associated geneticmaterial. All of this isaimed at safeguardingfood safety andestablishing sustainableagricultural practicesthat are well adapted toclimate risks.

A Global Solution toClimate Change

According to PatriciaEspinosa, ExecutiveSecretary of theUNFCCC, more than10,000 extreme weatherincidents occurredglobally between 1997and 2016, takingcountless lives anddestroying homes. As theworld continues to faceclimate change crises,this global issue requiresa global solution. Thatmeans that every person,as a member of ourglobal community, mustjoin in and search for asolution.

It is unfair for Taiwanto be excluded frominternationalorganizations on thebasis of politicalprejudice. Our exclusioncontradicts the spirit ofrelated climate

conventions, which urgeall nations to worktogether to combat globalclimate change, andoverlooks both theconcept of climate justiceemphasized in the ParisAgreement and thesignificance of calling onall nations to takeclimate action. Thisbreach of the UNCharter weakens ourinternational frameworkand harms the entireworld.

Taiwan is aresponsible and sincerefriend to theinternational community,and is ready tocontribute. We would bepleased to share ourexperience in goodenvironmentalgovernance, disasterprevention and early-warning systems,upgrading to energyefficient technologies,and high-tech innovationand its applications. Weare striving to make theworld a better place, andbelieve that Taiwan canbe a valuable partner inthe global response toclimate change.

EnvironmentalProtectionAdministration MinisterChang Tzi-chin. (PhotoCredit: Taipei Times)

Taiwan’s first offshore wind turbines begancommercial operations in the first quarter of thisyear. (Photo Credit: Swancor Holding Co.)

Taiwan’s FormoSat-3 satellite has amassed over10 million items of meteorological data, which ithas provided, free of charge, to experts andscholars around the world. (Photo Credit:directory eoportal.org)

Huoyanshan tunnel in Miaoli,Taiwan, was constructed to leaddebris flow across traffic road.(Photo Credit: geoace.com)

V 27. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Canouan Government Schoolstages Annual Sports

Story and Photos byDON DE RIGGS

MORE AND MORE PRIMARYSCHOOLS here are opting tostage their annual Trackand Field Meet during thefirst term of the school year.

This change, from thesecond term, allows gamesteachers to have a ‘longerperiod’ during which toprepare their athletes forthe Inter-PrimaryAthletics meet, normally

held during the secondterm.

The change alsolessens the competitionfrom Secondary Schoolsfor the use of playingfields.

This was the case of theGovernment School whoheld their Meet on Friday29th November.

The playing field nearthe fisheries complex,normally used for soccerand cricket, had to be

specially marked for theevent. Officials from theSports Departmentassisted with marking thetrack the day before.

Competition was heldamong three Houses: SunFlower House — Yellow,Grasshopper House -Green and ‘Rose House’ -Red.

Following the MarchPast where the PrincipalKetty Rhynd took thesalute, there was an

opening prayer, followedby the National Anthem,Athletes’ Pledge andOfficials’ pledge. Thegames were duly declaredopen by retired teacher,Donald De Riggs, who was

invited to cover the eventfor the local press. (DeRiggs is also a freelancejournalist / photographer.)

The March past waswon by GrasshopperHouse.

The track and fieldevents began in earnestaround 11:00 AM, with arefreshment break at 1:00PM. Competition spannedthe age categories Under7, Under 9, Under 11, and11 and Over.

The track eventsincluded the 50 metredash for the Under 7s and9s, and an 80 metre dashfor the Under and Over11s. There were also racesover 150, 200 and 300metres as well as relays.

Field eventsincluded a ballthrowing contestfor the Under 9category, whilefor the fun racesthere were thesack, needle andthread, andpotato races.

At the end ofthe competition,Sun FlowerHouse emergedwinners with 394,closely followedby GrasshopperHouse with 390points. RoseHouse followednext with 351points.

The Meet’s

Victor Ludorum wasJoshua Snagg (26 points)of Grasshopper House andthe Victrix Ludorum wasSomiah De Roche (22points) of Rose House.

Games Master, IanRhynd commended theathletes for theiroutstanding andentertainingperformances, andthanked the support staff,parents, games officials,sponsors and the Ministerof Education for theirassistance,

Due to the fact that theathletics meet ran late,the official prize-givingceremony was done thefollowing week, during aschool assembly.

Winners row in the Under 9category.

Outa Trouble retains SoftballCricket TitleCOUNTRY MEETTOWN OUTATROUBLE, lastSunday at theGreiggs CentralPlaying Field,successfully defendedthe Caesar’s RealEstate/ HairounBeer/FLOW/NarFren Dem GreiggsTwenty/20 Softballtitle, with a 12-runwin over HardHitters.

Outa Troubleposted 107/ 6 fromtheir 17 overs, as thematch was reducedfrom 20 overs because of a latestart.

Javid Harry led with 27 not out.Shawn Williams was the pick ofHard Hitters’ bowling, taking 2/7and Kenson Dalzell had 2/34.

In reply, Hard Hitters fell short,reaching 95/9 from their 17 overs.

Junan Baptiste top scored with22, while Davian Barnum grabbed4/17, bowling for Outa Trouble.

Barnum was named Player of theFinal.

Before the final, Sion HillTallawahs took the third place overCaesar’s Real Estate Nar FrenDem.

Sion Hill Tallawahsbatted first and made 148/

8 from their 20 overs; MarlonBaptiste- 43 and Teroy Roberts- 35.Wayne Garraway took 4/26.

Nar Fren Dem’s responded with89 all out from 18.6 overs; ShamorieBaptiste 20. Shamic Roberts pickedoff 4/15, as Sion Hill Tallawahs wonby 59 runs.

Outa Trouble won the first prizeof $ 2500; Hard Hitters- $ 1500, andSion Hill Tallawahs- $1000.

Awards

Nar Fren Dem’s Ceon Phillipswon the award as the competition’s

Most Valuable Player for his 494,which included six half centuriesand a century. He also copped theBest Wicket-Keeper award for his 8catches and 2 stumpings.

His teammate Wayne Garrawaytook the Most wickets — 16. CordiceOliver also of Nar Fren Dem, wasadjudged to have taken the BestCatch in the Competition.

Receiving the Most LoyalSpectator award was Julian Joyles,and Lennox James- the BestUmpire Award.

Rasfarco was named the MostDisciplined Team, and Israel BruceSmashers Inc. were the March Pastwinners.

MVP Of theCompetition -Ceon Phillips.

Country Meet Town Outa Trouble.

Houses in the March Past while GamesMaster Ian Rhynd (right) looks on.

The sack race alwaysprovides good fun.Note the racers caughtin mid-air.

Right: The 11 and OverGirls on their marks forthe 200m.

THE CENTRAL LEEWARD SECONDARY SCHOOL are the2019 Junior and Senior Champions of SecondarySchools Football here.

They earned the double accolade last Sunday atVictoria Park.

In a repeat of last year finals in the JuniorDivision, Central Leeward outplayed the St VincentGrammar School.

Two goals each from Oryan Velox and KylanAdams accounted for Central Leeward’s 4-1 rout ofthe Grammar School, whose goal came from the bootof Lesborn Robinson.

It was harder work for Central Leeward in theSenior Division, as they were pushed to the very endby a spirited Georgetown Secondary School.

The back and forth was broken in the 61stminute when Jahiem Charles turned one in for thedefending champions. That goal, the only one of theencounter, handed Central Leeward their 3rdconsecutive championship title in that division.

Third Places

The Bethel HighSchool secured the third spot in the Junior Division,with a 3-1 undoing of the Sandy Bay Secondary.Bethel’s goals came from

Imani Miller, Omario Warren and AaronFerdinand. Mario Baptiste scored Sandy Bay’sconsolation goal.

And in the Senior Division third place playoff, O’Brien Joseph was the lone scorer in the TroumacaOntario’s one- nil win over West St George.

Awards

Central Leeward took all the individual awards inthe Secondary Schools Division.

Copping the Most Goals Award in the JuniorDivision was Oryan Velox with 13 goals, and TrivisFraser with 9 goals going likewise in the Senior

Category.Velox and Fraser

were also adjudged theMVPs of the respectiveFinals, played onSunday.

Both CentralLeeward’s GoalKeepers copped theBest Goal KeeperAwards - Garwin Davisin the Junior Divisionand Jellando John theSenior Division.

SportsV 28. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

IT TOOK THEM five years to return tothe top Primary School Football here, butthe Kingstown Preparatory School (KPS)is reveling in glory.

They were crowned 2019 championswhen, last Sunday at Victoria park, theygot the better of Buccament Governmentby 1-0.

Jomoni Douglas was the lone scorer inthe match.

It was a crowning momemt for theKingstown Preparartory School which hadplayed unbeaten throughout thecompetition.

In their last hurdle before theirencounter with Buccament Government inthe title decider, KPS beat the GreiggsGovernment School 3-0 in the semi- finals.

Buccament Government earned their final berthwith a penalty shootout win (5 —4) over Owia Government.

Owia Government took thethird place, as GreiggsGovernment did not show up forthe play off last Friday.

Among the outstandingindividuals in the 2019

Championship was Shemron Baynesof the Buccament Government. Hewas the leading goal scorer with 11goals.

The Kingstown PreparatorySchool’s OmarieDelpesche was namedthe Best Goal Keeper.

The CW PrescodPrimary School won thetitle in 2018.

SHAD THOMAS, a formermember of the Blue ChipBasketball Academy, ismaking imprints in his newBasketball environment atthe Salem Baptist ChristianSchool in North Carolina,USA.

Last Saturday, Thomaswas one of his team’s(known as the Vikings)standout performers, with25 points, 9 rebounds and 4steals, as his schooloutplayed BishopMcGuinness 83-48, to takethe Thanksgiving Classic Tournament.

His performance earned him selection to All-Tournament Team.

Thomas, a former student of the Union IslandSecondary School, left St Vincent and theGrenadines earlier this year, on anAcademic/Basketball scholarship to the SalemBaptist Christian School.

Speaking of his new environment, Thomas said:“I am so excited to win my first tournament, withmy new school and teammates… That put us 10-1in our season, but I think we deserve to win everygame we played, as we worked hard every day,and in every game that we play”.

Thomas’s entry to the US Basketball systemwas made possible through the efforts of KishonBishop, founder of the Blue Chip BasketballAcademy.

Excited about Thomas’s progress thus far,Bishop commented: “They love him here, andhopefully he can be an inspiration for others backin St Vincent and the Grenadines.”

Bishop is confident that, with the impressionleft by Thomas, other players from St Vincent andthe Grenadines will be sought after in the verynear future.

BasketballerThomas makingimprints

Shad Thomas

Central Leeward SecondarySenior Football Team.

Central Leewardrules SecondarySchools Football

The victorious Kingstown Preparatory School.

Omarie Delpesche (left) - theChampionship’s Best GoalKeeper.

Top GoalScorer andPlayer ofthe Final-ShemroyBaynes.

KPS are Primary Football champs

Retainers of the JuniorDivision- CentralLeeward.

Oryan Velox – MostGoals in the JuniorDivision.

Trivis Fraser - MostGoals in the SeniorDivision.


SportsV

That’s where the action has been overflowing forthe past three months as regards the JulesAnthony Vinlec North Leeward T/20championship. Ten teams lined up at the startand it has boiled into the ultimate showdown.That features defending champion Police andRuddy’s Electrical.

Police earned their berth at the expense of RoseBank Big League. The Lawmen reached 174 for 5in 20 overs, fortified by Benniton Stapleton 62 off38 balls, supported by Rickford Walker 35 andDeon Bynoe 20.

Big League were 74 for 2, but folded for 79 in13.3 overs. Ozico Williams 26 gave Big League thehope until Kemron Strough 4 for 12, ensured histeam was in the final.

Ruddy’s Electrical shocked Rose Hall FutureLegends. Future Legends might have been lulledinto a false sense of security with 226 for 2 in 20overs. That was built on an unbroken 190 runthird wicket stand between Deon Browne andMiles Bascombe.

Browne blazed 131 from 61 balls, including 13sixes, and eight fours. He joined Bascombe at 36,and raced to his second century in as many weeks.He must be the most disheartened centurion thereever was.

Bascombe dropped anchor with Browne on therampage, or so it seemed.

The Ruddy’s response was real. The missionwas clear.

Chrisroy John fell for 29 after an opening 62run stand with Hyron Shallow. Daron Greavesjoined Shallow and kept the momentum with a 78run partnership. When Shallow went for 65, thescore was 140.

Donwell Hector joined Greaves and that pairsimply turned up the voltage with 77 betweenthem. Greaves fell for 55 off 36 balls to giveFuture Legends a glimmer of hope. But Hectorwas not going to surrender, and even though SeonSween was run out in the final over, Roger Gibsonfound the boundary in his first delivery to seal thevictory with Hector 54 not out.

It was a dramatic final over with seven needed.It was reduced to four with five balls remaining,compliments two wides and a two. Sween was runout going for a second run which brought inGibson.

The final is at Cumberland Playing FieldSunday December 8. That will follow the grandfinale from a series which featured Ball Butners,United Survivors and North Leeward Women in aclash.

Groundsmen at Cumberland should be pleasedwith the conditions they provided. The pitch istrue and lively for a good seam bowler, and thereis enough space for spinners to ply their craft.

If the tension raises at Cumberland, that willtake beyond seismic proportions. In any event,there are lots at stake. This will not be a drawnout exercise. It will be punches from over one.

Cumberland presents the most idyllic settingthe Caribbean can provide for a sunset. Thecricket fits into that scenery.

There is everything to treasure at this final.For with the present weather pattern, conditionsare pleasant.

This is a tribute to those who have gone before,whose groundwork has provided a platform forcontinued sporting and social development in thecommunities.

Cumberland

NORTH EAST are the new champions ofT20 Masters Cricket in SVG.

They earned the title when theydefeated defending champions MustiqueCompany Masters by 4 wickets, in thefinals played at the Sion Hill playingfield last Sunday.

Mustique Company took first strikeand posted 140 for 7 off 20 overs,Captain Oneil Thomas leading with 48and supported by Nicholas Baptiste 27.Veteran leg spinner Olanzo Jacksonpicked up 4 for 17 and WinsbertSpringer 2 for 31.

North East Masters replied with 141 for 6 off19.1 overs, Deighton Butler top scoring with 57 notout and Dyke Cato getting 25. Caswell Dorsettetook 2 for 30 and Oneil Thomas 2 for 24.

Earlier, North East disposed of Joseph Da SilvaMemorial Funeral Home North Leeward Masters by3 wickets to earn their berth in the finals. Scores:North Leeward Masters 129 for 4 off 20 overs,North East 130 for 7 off 19.3 overs.

In the prize-giving ceremony that followed thefinal, winners North East collected a cheque in anamount of $1,200.00 and a quantity of LOGEnterprises products. Runners-up MustiqueCompany earned $800.00 and a quantity of LOGEnterprises products.

Oneil Thomas, captain of Mustique Masters was

the runaway MVP of theCompetition with a totalof 325 - the highest inthe Competition - and 13 wickets,just one less than leading wicket-taker Orlanzo Jackson of NorthEast.

Deighton Butler was adjudgedPlayer of the Finals for his 57 notout.

Awards were also made to theMVPs of each of the competingteams, as follows: Stubbs -Kessinger Mclean; North East -Orlanzo Jackson; AR& G TruckingP’Tani - Alfred McKenzie; Belfongo

- Junior Bacchus;Bequia - Daniel Williams; Glamorgan -Dexter Small; La Croix - Sobers Thomas;North Leeward - Alfie Gould; Pastures -Anthony Charles; North Windward -Gareth Wilson; Police - Gosnel Cupid;Sion Hill - Conard Jack; Mustique

Company - OneilThomas; Park Hill -Recaldo Thomas.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Ruddy’s Electrical andRSVG Police will contestthe finals of the JulesAnthony Vinlec NorthLeeward Super Finals atthe Cumberland playingfield this Sunday.

Ruddy’s Electrical,two-times champions,beat RobertsonSurveying Rose HallFuture Legends in theirsemifinals by 4 wickets,last weekend.

The RSVG Police

Force did away withRose Bank Big Leagueby 95 runs to earn theirspot in the finals.

Scores in the RuddyElectrical — FutureLegends match: FutureLegends RuddyElectrical 226 for 2 off 20overs - Dean Brown 131(his second century inthe competition), MilesBascombe 63 not out;Ruddy Electrical 229 for4 off 19.4 overs - Hyron

Shallow 64, DarrenGreaves 55 and DonwellHector 54 not out.

Scores in the othersemifinal: Police 174 for5 off 20 overs - Beninton62, Rickford Walker 35.Shangi John 2 for 14 off4 overs; Big League 79off 13.3 overs - OzicoWilliams 26, KemronStrough 4 for 14 off 4overs.

I.B.A.ALLEN

ELRON LEWIS has replaced hisnamesake David Lewis asPresident of the SVG RefereesAssociation (SVGRA).

He was elected to the topposition when the SVGRA held itsCongress last Monday, at theSVGFF Headquarters. DavidLewis did not stand for re-election.

Others elected to serve on theExecutive for the 2020 — 2022period were: Shesford John - 1stVice President; MaxianRichardson - Secretary; MahaliaThomas - Treasurer; John Hinds —PRO; Debbie Jordan, MichaelWilliams and Elron Poyer -Committee Members.

Speaking to THEVINCENTIAN since his election,Lewis has committed to working

to outfit all match officials so theycan be clearly and easilyidentified.

He is also bent on workingtowards increasing the number oflocal referees on the FIFA list.There are currently threeVincentians on that list.

Lewis, readers will recall, tookthe award for the Most PromisingReferee for the 2018/19 localfootball season.

He contended that it wasimportant for his Association andExecutive to work with allstakeholders. “We will also belooking to work closely with thenew executive of the SVGFF toencourage the staging of moreworkshops for our referees andother officials”, Lewis said.

Newly elected President of the

SVGFF CarlDicksonaddressed theCongress.Among hisother urgings,he encouragedthe newexecutive to lean on the seasonedand senior officials for supportand guidance.

SVGFF Technical Director,Keith Ollivierre also addressedthe Congress.

I.B.A.ALLEN

North East takes Masters Cricket title

North East - new SVG T20Masters champions.

OrlanzoJackson tookthe mostwickets, 14.

MustiqueCompany – losingfinalist and lastyear’s champions.

HyronShallowmade ablistering 65to helpRuddy’sElectrical tovictory.

DeanBrowne hithis secondcentury butin a losingcause.

RuddyÊs – Police in finals clash

Another Lewis heads Referees Association Elron Lewis,new Presidentof the SVGRefereesAssociation.

Continued from Page 8.

In last week’s edition,there were 3 photographsof the Prime Minister,which is reasonable in thecircumstances. He wastaken in the same frameas Barbados’ Owen Arthurin attendance at thefuneral of Dominica’sPrime Minister, PierreCharles; a photo of DrGonsalves also appearedat his opening of theSerious Offences Courtand, on the back-page, hewas seen featuring at thehanding over of “BabyDorsettte’s house” fairenough.

“The News” on theother hand, came up with5 photographs. Two at“Serious Offences”, twoincluding a Back-Pagepresentation at funeral ofPierre Charles, and onesigning the book ofcondolence. Less thanhalf-a-dozen all told: notbad.

My own host founditself in the invidiousposition of having beenpaid to carry an NCB hypethat highlighted eleven

pictures of the PMpresenting awards.

In addition, the paperflashed the PM on itsFront-Page at Charles’funeral, as well as on theBack-Page in the companyof Kenny Anthony, withthe double effect of hisreading a copy of St Lucia“Voice” newspaper thatcarried Dr. Gonsalves’photo on their Front-Page.

Finally, Gonsalvesposed for a picture of himfeeding “Baby Dorsette”with sweet biscuit, as ademonstration of the carehe has for the hungry anddefenceless.

As between Dr.Gonsalves and Eustace,last week, the picturesshowed twenty-five to nill.Enough perhaps to movethe media to take a good,hard look at itself with aview of redressing theimbalance.

Intended or not, mediahouses run a grave dangerof sponsoring a personalitycult by over-exposing theirpolitical favourites, whichover time etch their imageon the collectivesubconscious of thenation.

Always, we must guardagainst creating our ownslave master.”

Last week’s “JustAnother Look” by KeithJoseph fully demonstratedthat a subconsciouspartnership between himand myself still flourishes;

he now points out the cultof personality as being thekey which Dr. Gonsalvesuses to abuse and terrifythis land, as repeatedlymentioned in “This Week”.It is my personal beliefthat the days of scourgeare very much numbered.


ClassifiedsV

MAXWELL RICHARDS

Fountain Seventh Day

Adventist ChurchSunday,

December 1st, 2019

Service: 2:00 p.m.Interment: Belair

Cemetery

SIMENA ANGELLA GOULD

St. Patrick Anglican Church,

BarrouallieMonday,

December 2nd, 2019

Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p.m.

ELMA VENITA CHANDLER

Full in the Spirit Pentecostal

Church, Ottley Hall

Sunday, December 1st,

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

Interment: Kingstown Cemetery

CAMILLE ONICA GARRICK

Kingstown Methodist

ChurchWednesday,

4th December, 2019

Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p.m.

MR. MICHAEL FRANCIS-JEFFREY

Questelles S.D.A ChurchSunday,

December 8th, 2019

Service: 2:00 p.m.

MRS. ELAINE E. OLLIVIERRE

Anglican Church,

CalliaquaSaturday, November 30th, 2019Viewing:

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

Fostering a personality cult

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2019 VOLUME 113, No.49 www.thevincentian.com EC$1.50

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

A.I. REAL ESTATERef: H121 The Museum on 18,000 sqft Historic house near Botanic Gardens

Appraised at 905,000.00 Owners would pay ALL closing cost. This deal

expires December 31st, 2019.

(784)- 457-2087 office (784)-533-0431 whatsapp(784)-493-9431 cell (718)-807-4376 [email protected] www.aisvg.com

facebook.com/airealestatesvg

FOR

SALE

by DAYLE DA SILVA

GOVERNMENT is devising an action plan for SaltWhistle Bay in Mayreau.

So said Minister of Finance and EconomicPlanning, Camillo Gonsalves as he addressed the

issue (erosion) affecting Salt Whistle Bay, in aresponse to a question put by OppositionParliamentary Representative for the SouthernGrenadines, Terrence Ollivierre, during a sitting ofParliament last week Tuesday.

Gonsalves said that the plan would be to protect

the isthmus from further erosion and avoidadaptation solutions that detract from the idyllicbeauty of the beach. He also pointed to action thatwould use natural materials.

Whatever, the intention was to devise a solutionthat was quickly implementable, Gonsalves said.

According to the Minister, there were two optionsbeing explored: the construction of a barrier to bebuilt along the isthmus, or building on top of theexisting reef.

As it was, the water was rushing over the reef,the result of rising sea levels.

The solution being preferred, therefore, but whichwas still subject to further study, was to build ontop of the existing reef, using material that wasreadily available, e.g. conch shells.

“They are readily available and relatively cheap,so we’re looking to use the conch shells to build upthe reef.. that is more attractive than using concretetetra pods, and is more attractive than placing aseries of boulders along what is a beautiful beach,”the Minister of Finance explained.

The Minister promised that resources would bemade available during the next budget cycle in2020, for a study to be done.

Once the technical information was deduced,there would be a clearer idea as far as what could bedone, what would be provided, and the cost of theundertaking.

According to Gonsalves, Salt Whistle Bay was anecological treasure. “It offers important protection tosailors travelling through the Southern Caribbean,”he said.

Salt Whistle Bay, though, was in jeopardy, withthe isthmus rapidly shrinking and separating thebay from the Caribbean Sea.

A rise in the sea level had caused an alarmingincrease in coastal erosion, Gonsalves disclosed, andthis threatens the existence of the beach which inturn affects the livelihood of the people of Mayreauand the island as a whole.

by HAYDN HUGGINS

TYSON SPENCER, it appears,considers Heritage Square to behis playground.

On Friday 29th November, the30-year-old Green Hill man wasarrested and charged inconnection with a shootingincident at Heritage Square,which occurred a week before,Friday 22nd November.

Spencer is known to the Courtsand the Police here, he havingbeen charged with the murder ofBelair resident Clevedon ‘Junior’Chewitt, 26 at the time, in 2011.Chewitt died on June 25th, 2011after receiving a stab wound tothe left side of his neck atHeritage Square.

In his latest run-in withthe law, Spencer was chargedwith one (1) count ofAttempted Murder and two(2) counts of Wounding withIntent.

When he was broughtbefore the Serious OffencesCourt last Monday, he wasnot required to plea to thecharges of attempting to murderKurtland Jackson of CampdenPark, wounding Dwayne Peters ofKingstown with intent, andwounding Deron Quashie ofChoppins with intent.

In objecting to bail, ProsecutorCurlene Samuel told the Courtthat Jack was still warded at theMilton Cato Memorial Hospital incritical condition. THE

VINCENTIAN understands thathe is confined to the IntensiveCare Unit.

She asked the Court to denybail at this stage, pending acomprehensive medical report.

The Chief Magistrate allowedthe application, and remandedSpencer until next Tuesday.

ACTIONCOMINGAT SALTWHISTLE BAY

Tyson Spencer has earnedhimself another round beforethe courts here.

MAN CHARGEDWITH HERITAGESQUARE SHOOTING

The situation of erosion at Salt Whistle Bay issuch that it can cause a split in the island,according to MP Terrence Ollivierre.

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