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The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019 VOLUME 113, No.07 www.thevincentian.com EC$1.50

by DAYLE DA SILVA

HEARING IN THE MATTER of two 2015election petitions was expected to enterits fifth day today.

Cross examination of the witnesseson behalf of petitioner BenjaminExeter, the New Democratic Party’scandidate for Central Leeward in theDecember 9, 2015 General Elections,ended on Wednesday.

Among those cross-examined

included Exeter, lawyers MaiaEustace and Zita Barnwell, and anumber of agents employed by theNDP on election day.

Eustace, in explaining her role as aroving agent for Exeter, said thatagents were given notebooks to recordany objections, the number of votes onthe count and any disagreement withthe count.

Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes,lead Counsel for the respondents,

inquired whether tally sheetswere provided to the agents, towhich Eustace responded thatthis was to be provided by theelection officers at the count.

Both the notebook and tallysheet used by Eustace weresubmitted as evidence by thepetitioners.

Eustace and the count

Mendes asked Eustace if shehad been able to determinewhether or not any of the otheragents had indicated that theircount differed from that of thepresiding officers.

She responded that theyseemed to be in accordance withthe scores of the presidingofficers.

Eustace added that she waspresent at the final count whichtook place on December 10,2015, one day after theelections, and despite somereluctance by the returningofficer, they were provided withcopies of the count.

“There was not sufficienttime to record all theinformation,” Eustace told thecourt, but she said that she was

able to record some notes on the finalday.

She testified that there wereinstances where the number of namesrecorded in the Form 16, thedocument containing the final count,differed.

According to Eustace, there wereinstances where it was evident that afigure was written over another, andcited polling station CLC, in whichshe said got 412, based on her count,but the document had 307.

“But it seems like the 307 iswritten over something,” Eustacesaid.

In relation to polling station CLB,she said she recorded 350 — 238 votesbetween the candidates, 111 unusedand I spoiled ballot. But thedocument (Form 16) had 238, andhere too, it appeared that it wasprinted over another figure, Eustaceproffered.

She was unable to indicate,however, if her numbers matched thatof the other agents.

Mendes said that based on thesubmissions made by Eustace, theresults on the tally sheet matchedwhat was recorded, such as in pollingstation CLB1, where the tally sheetand Eustace’s notes corresponded.

Petitioner takes the stand

When petitioner Exeter was calledon Tuesday, his cross- examinationfocused on his allegation that theballots were pre-printed with theofficial mark, contrary to the law.

But his evidence, photographstaken of ballots, did not show, aslead Counsel Mendes said, that theyhad any stamp on them.

When Exeter insisted that hisallegation had weight, he was drilledby Mendes and at times the judge, asto whether he was disregarding the

Supervisor ofElections SylviaFindlay-Scrubb’ssworn affidavit,in which she said that she had madean error in saying the stamp andofficial mark were pre-printed, whichamounted to a retraction of astatement to the contrary that shehad made earlier.

He gave no clear response to thisinquiry.

But in a later response to Mendes’cross-examination, Exeteracknowledged that his polling agentswere shown the ballots before votingbegan.

The Senior Counsel brought it tohis attention that he had notpresented any evidence to say thatany of his agents had admitted toseeing any stamp pre-printed on the

Continued on Page 3.

Left: Maia Eustace remainedsteadfast even under the

PetitionerBenjamin Exeterwas not ascomfortable asthis when hewas cross-examined.(SVGTV Photo)

NewsV 2. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

THERE WAS no reasonoffered as to why the NISConference Room wasselected as the venue forthe 2015 ElectionPetitions hearing whichgot underway on Monday.

Kay Bacchus-Baptiste, member of thelegal team for thepetitioners, said thatshe believed that thechoice of venue was adeliberate act toprevent people fromhaving access to thehearing.

During crossexamination of thepetitioner’s firstwitness Maia Eustaceby Counsel for therespondents SeniorCounsel DouglasMendes, on Monday, Lead Counsel forthe petitioners, Queen’s CounselStanley John reminded the court ofthe concerns expressed with respect tothe NIS Conference Room, during acase status hearing last month.

It was also revealed that the courtitself had some reservations about thealternate venue.

As far as the venue wasconcerned, issue was taken with thefact that both elevators, which hadbeen out of order before Monday, hadstill not been repaired. The questionof the number of people that could beaccommodated was also raised.

According to John, assurances weremade that access by wheelchair boundpersons would also have beenconsidered for and the presidingJudge, Justice Stanley John, to allowindividuals to stand.

Justice John responded, saying thatit was important that members of thepublic have access to the proceedings,as the hearing was dealing with amatter of public interest.

He said that he had been advisedthat the relevant action was taken toensure that persons who were unableto use the stairs would have access to

another elevator locatedat the back of thebuilding, but questionedif persons were(actually) being deniedaccess into theconference room.

Justice John saidthat he intended to dealwith the issue of thepublic when the courttook its first break at10:30am, but waspersuaded to look intothe matterimmediately.

At the resumption,John Q.C said that hewas told that a numberof individuals weredenied entry, after theyrefused to be searched.

But whileacknowledging that it

was unfortunate that some individualshad been tuned away, Justice Johnsaid it was important that the securitydo their work and that people enteringare searched.

“The searches were for the good ofall of us,” Justice John said.

Bacchus-Baptiste, more recently,told THE VINCENTIAN that thesituation as it related to parking wasproving problematic.

She explained that it was difficultfor members of the legal team whohave had to make other transportationarrangements to get to the NISbuilding.

The restroom facilities were also anissue, with Bacchus-Baptiste sayingthat there were two on the floor, butthat one was locked and the other wasnot functioning. She thought that itwas disrespectful how this matter wasbeing treated.

“I think it is a deliberate effort toprevent people from hearing what isgoing on,” she reiterated.

The matter involving the parkingwas reported to the High CourtRegistrar, Bacchus-Baptiste said, butas of lunch time Wednesday, she hadnot gotten a response. (DD)

Issues raisedabout NIS venue

Justice Stanley Johnseemed to haveunderstood the concernsand hoped that they couldbe addressed.

The NIS Conference Room is more comfortable, but it cannot accommodateas many persons as the Court House, and access is cumbersome.

Continued fromFrontpage.

ballots, when they wereshown them on themorning before votingbegan.

“I am confused, “Exeter said, seemingly inexasperation.

That seems to have allbut summarized Exeter’stime on the witnessstand.

Other witnesses made

uneasy

Barnwell, who was atthe final count onDecember 10, also tookthe stand on Tuesday,and found herself atvariance with astatement she made latein her cross-examination,to one she had madeearlier. This was inrespect of a certain ballotwhich she purported tohave examined during

the final count. Ethron Creese also

testified on Tuesday.Paul Creese, NDP

agent at polling stationCLB1, took the stand onWednesday.

He confirmed that hewas present during thecount, but said that hewas unable to determineif the stamp and initial ofthe presiding officer wereon the ballot.

Creese told the courtthat he was focusing ontallying the votes.

“I was looking for thevote and not the stamp,”he said.

He said that he wasaware of the importanceof the ballot having thestamp, but did not payany attention to thatdetail.

Mendes pointed out tohim that in hisstatement, he said thatthe ballots had no stamp,this after saying that hedid not look for thestamp.

Creese repeated thathe made notes about

things going on, but didnot think that the issueof the stamp on theballot was a critical one.

“When did you thinkthat it became a criticalissue?”, Mendes asked.

The following day, heresponded, when theissue of some ballots nothaving stamps wasraised, and said furtherthat he then rememberedthat there was no stamp.

Agent Esla Sam,employed as an agent forExeter in polling stationCLA1, said the lists didnot correspond.

Sam explained thatshe used a system whereshe assigned numbers tovoters in the order inwhich they entered thepolling station.

Mendes then asked forher to identify and affirmif the final number wason the last page of thedocument submitted byher.

Upon doing so, SeniorCounsel Mendes thenasked her to determinewhether or not she

repeated numbers, towhich Sam said shecould not recall.

However, Mendes saidthat when he checked,she had in fact repeatedsome numbers and hewent ahead and gave thecourt two examples ofwhere it was done. Inaddition, he said, Samrepeated numbers on 10occasions.

Mendes also pointedout to the court that Sammissed numbers, forexample, there was nonumber 30, he said.

“It went from 29 to

31,” Mendes said. Also missing among

the numbers assigned,according to Mendes,were 25 other numbers,which he listed for thecourt.

Sam, in her defence,said that she hadsomeone else assist herwhile she was allowed totake a short break.

But Mendes said thatthat individual stated onrecord that she wasassigned numbers 204 to218, and that Sam wasthere to the end.

V News 3THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. 3.

Petitions hearing gets going

Douglas Mendes S.C., Counsel for theRespondents, drilled the witnesses to a point ofconfusing some of them.

The team for the Petitioners exchanging a fewthoughts, pre-hearing.

ACCORDING TO MAJOR ST.CLAIR LEACOCK,ParliamentaryRepresentative for CentralKingstown, 1979 was aspecial year in the annalsof Vincentian history.

Member of Parliamentfor the CentralKingstown constituencySt. Clair Leacock saysthat 1979 was a specialyear in Vincentianhistory, and he calls forthe government to honorthe 1979 football teamthat placed second in theCaribbean FootballUnion Cup in Suriname.

Among the referenceshe made to support hisassessment were: the

year that La Soufrierevolcano erupted; the yearSt. Vincent and theGrenadines gainedindependence fromBritain; the year whenKenneth “VibratingScakes’ Alleyne sang oursecond anthem ‘Ournation is born’; the yearthat saw the start ofsignificant workingpapers for the formationof the SVG Coast Guard;the year of the UnionIsland uprising; and theyear SVG came second inthe Caribbean FootballUnion Cup in Suriname.

“It was a break-through year, and I wantto pause on that, because

many of our outstandingsportsmen from that eraare still around. And ifnothing else is done thisyear, I want the GuyLowes, Raulty, Barrow,Dorian Phillips, PaulO’Garro and the wholeshebang … I want themto be honored this yearfor what they brought toSt. Vincent and theGrenadines,” saidLeacock during hiscontribution inParliament onWednesday 6.

He showed theParliamentarianspresent in the Housethat day acommemorative coin that

was minted tocommemorate the 50thAnniversary of the SVGCadet Corps Band,adding that he wasasking for somethingsimilar to be done for thefootballers whorepresented SVG in

1979.He reminded the

House that the teamreturned in 1981 andperformed well in PuertoRico.

Leacock, a formerPresident of the St.Vincent and the

Grenadines FootballFederation, reminded theHouse that when he lefthis post as president,SVG was ranked 1st inCONCACAF and 73 inthe world. Today theteam is ranked 180th inthe world. (KH)

SVG Football Team 1979: (Back row L to R): Tyrone Barrow, Basil ‘Bung’Cato, (Assistant Manager), Keith ‘Slick’ Bonadie, Ali Munroe, Elliot ‘Morrie’Millington (captain), John Horne (Executive Member), John Cato, SydneyMandeville. (Middle row: L-R): Pete Morris, Sheen Millington, AshleyBaptiste, Raltie Lowe, Stanley ‘Luxie’ Morris, Guy Lowe. Sylvester ‘Scobie’Taylor (Manager). (Front row: L – R): Marcus Young, Blincon Soso, RudyBoucher (coach), Rudolph ‘Ounce-ah-Beef’ Mayers (trainer), Raymond ‘Chip’Ballantyne, Dorian Phillips, Gideon Exeter (Executive member).

Leacock:ÂHonour 1979Football teamÊ

Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

ALMOST six and a halfyears after 36-year-oldLayou resident JosephEvans ‘Tuffy’ Lynch wasgunned down in hishometown, someone hasbeen convicted, and isawaiting sentencing forthe murder.

At the High CourtCriminal Assizes onTuesday, a 12-memberjury, comprised of sevenfemales and five males,found 34-year-old AndyQuashie of Layou guiltyof Lynch’s murder,following a trial whichstarted last weekThursday. Quashie wasalso found guilty ofhaving a firearm withintent to aid in the

commission of an offence.A sentencing hearing

has been slated forMarch 8.

Laynch was shotmultiple times aroundmidday on September 1,2012 at Cashville, Layouin the ‘Swamp Gutter’area.

According to theProsecution’s evidence,there was an ongoingdispute between Lynchand Quashie and on thedate in question, Lynchpassed and called him‘pussy’.

Quashie was in thecompany of Billy Adams,now deceased, andothers.

Adams asked Quashie,“Boy, you go tek dat?” towhich he replied, “Leywe go down for de ting

dem”.The men left and

returned with guns, andwere on a hill looking atLynch who was insomeone’s yard.

When Lynch left theperson’s yard, Quashieran through a short cut,intercepted and shot himmultiple times in thepresence of severalpersons.

The evidence furtherrevealed that Lynch, whofell to the ground andwas lying face down,tried to move, butQuashie fired anothershot, ending the victim’slife.

The Prosecution, ledby Crown Counsel KarimNelson, called sevenwitnesses including twoeyewitnesses.

However, whileone of theeyewitnesses toldthe Court hewitnessed theshooting, the othersaid he only sawwhen Quashie ranthrough the shortcut with the gun,following which heheard the sound ofgunshots.

In his defence,Quashie denied shootingLynch. He told the Courthe heard explosions, thensaw people running, andwent to see whathappened. He said hemoved through the crowdand saw Lynch lying onthe ground. He then leftand went home. He saidhis mother later told himthat the police werelooking for him in

connection with theshooting. He called twowitnesses to support hiscase.

Quashie wasrepresented by AttorneyGrant Connell whosought to establish a caseof mistaken identity.

Initially, Quashie wascharged jointly withLayou residentsAdolphus Foye, 17 at thetime of the incident, andBilly Adams who was 26.But the charges againstFoye and Adams weresubsequently withdrawnand they were madestate witnesses.

However, Adams wasshot and killed at LayouJuly 27 last year.

Layou resident JoelKing has been chargedwith Adams’ murder, andTHE VINCENTIANunderstands that Kingwas subsequentlycommitted to stand trialbefore the High Court inconnection with thatmatter.

A WOMAN who told theCourt on Wednesdaythat a friend gave her aportion of marijuana tosell so she could getmoney to buy (cooking)gas, was fined $900 for

possession of the herb.Appearing before the

Serious Offences Court,Sharmorn Chance, 35-year-old domestic ofSouth Rivers, pleadedguilty to possession of

534 grams of marijuanawith intent to supply.

A patrol of policeofficers from theColonaire Police Stationarrested Chance atSouth Rivers around

10:45 a.m. on Tuesday.The Court heard that

Chance and two menwere sitting on a wall atSouth Rivers, in an areacalled Pasture.

On spotting the police,they began actingsuspiciously. The Officersexited their vehicle,approached them andrequested a search, towhich they consented.Nothing illegal wasfound on the men, butwhen Chance stood up,the lawmen noticed thatshe was sitting on ablack plastic bag. It wasopened in front of thewoman, revealing themarijuana.

When cautioned, shesaid, “Officer, is a mangey me piece a weed toburn.”

But the woman toldthe Court on Wednesdaythat on the day inquestion, she didn’t haveany gas at home toprepare meals for herchildren, so she went to afriend to ask forassistance. The frienddidn’t have any moneyeither, so he gave her themarijuana to sell to raisefunds to purchase thegas.

Chief MagistrateRechanne Browne tookinto account Chance’sguilty plea, and that shehad no previousconvictions, but stressedthat the woman tried toconceal the drug bysitting on it, in order toavoid detection andarrest.

Chance was ordered topay the fine by February22 or three months inprison.

CourtV 4. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

AS PREPARATIONSare being made for theestablishment of amodern MedicinalMarijuana Industryhere, following thepassage of theMedicinal CannabisIndustry Bill and theCannabis Cultivation(Amnesty) Bill inParliament December11, 2018, policecontinue to takepersons before theCourt, on an almostdaily basis, for theillegal possession of theherb.

On Wednesday,Adryll Sylvester, 40-year-old fisherman ofOttley Hall, appearedbefore the SeriousOffences Court,charged withpossession of 5,540grams of marijuanawith intent to supply.

Sylvester pleadednot guilty and wasgranted $9,000 bailwith one surety. Thematter was adjournedto March 15.

Sylvester’s arrestreportedly stemmedfrom a recent policeaction at Edinboro.

Fishermanheld onganjacharge

JUSTICE Brian Cottle did not order a SocialInquiry Report on murder accused Andy Quashie,following his convictions at the High CourtCriminal Assizes on Tuesday, but Quashie’sAttorney Grant Connell would seek the instructionsof his client in relation to the preparation of hismitigation plea.

A 12-member jury had found the 34-year-oldLayou man guilty of the September 1, 2012 murderof 36-year-old Joseph Evans ‘Tuffy’ Lynch, also ofLayou, and possession of a firearm with intent toaid in the commission of an offence.

Upon conviction, Connell, in seeking anadjournment, requested a Social Inquiry Report onhis client.

Such a report is sometimes ordered by the Courtto form part of a sentencing hearing.

In this case, Justice Cottle sought answers as towhether such a report would be necessary.

“What would the report do that would tell youwhat you don’t know?” he asked Connell, whoexpressed the view that it could be helpful. He alsotold the Judge that he would need time to preparehis mitigation.

Justice Cottle said he was quite aware that thelawyer would need time to prepare, but asked himwhether he would not be better positioned toconduct his mitigation on the basis of instructionsfrom his client, rather than having state agenciesprepare a Social Inquiry Report.

Connell then told the Court he would seekinstructions from his client, following which JusticeCottle adjourned the sentencing to March 8.

AndyQuashieawaitssentencing,having beenfound guiltyof causingthe death ofJosephEvans’ Tuffy’Lynch.

Layou man guilty of 2012 murder

ÂWeed was for gas moneyÊ

Lawyer to seekinstructions from client

PRICKED and thrilled bythe encouragement anddemands of their loyalmasqueraders, the LynxMas Band will be part ofVincy Mas 2019, with theirpresentation, ‘Come FlyWith’, with actualdepictions beinginfluenced by the airlineindustry

At the closure of VincyMas 2018, Lynx BandLeader- Cornelius “Pete”Thomas, had told theVINCENTIAN, that theband was staying out ofthis year’s festivitiesbecause, among otherreasons, securingsponsorship was provingto be extremely difficult.

Interestingly, theannouncement cameagainst the backdrop ofthe band’s best

placement to date — third- in the Band of the Yearcompetition.

Now, Thomas hasadmitted to THEVINCENTIAN, that hehas had a change ofheart, and the band willparticipate in Vincy Mas2019.

“The reason why weare returning for 2019, isbecause lots of the fanskept telling me that wehave stepped up thegame, and we shouldpush for it and go for theBand of the Year title,”Thomas explained.

He admitted that the2018 third place, with apresentation entitled‘Devastating Elements’,was achieved with theband’s smallestcomplement of

masqueraders for anyone year.

The veteran masmanattributed this success tothe fact that scaling backthe numbers allowed himand his team more timeto ensure “a finishedproduct.”

“We are ready to goagain, and are gettingthings in place,” Thomasassured, adding that heis confident that theband’s 2019 presentationwill be a “special one.”

Thomas envisages alarger band with thisyear’s presentation,notwithstanding the factthat there are noindications that thesituation with respect tosponsorship wouldimprove.

An official launch of

the band is expected tobe staged soon.

Lynx Mas Bandentered the ‘mas scene’here in 2005, and hasbeen consistent withtheir presentation,except for 2013 and 2014

when the band opted outof participation in VincyMas.

ArtsV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 , 2019. 5.

Lynx Mas Band hasa change of heart

Cornelius “Pete”

Thomas.

by KENVILLE HORNE

THE DECOMPOSED body of a Belmont

man was removed from an area in WhimRoad, Fair Hall last Sunday.

The body was later identified as

that of Darrel Burgin, better knownas ‘Dutty Cup’, who was last seen byfriends in early December 2018,when he told them he would bemoving to a different location.

Reports are that a boy discoveredthe decomposed body while he waslooking for coconuts sometimearound noon on Sunday.

“There was barely any flesh lefton the body, it was mainly justskeleton,” said one person who hadseen the body before it was removed.

That person also said that thepersonal items discovered in thevicinity of where the body was found,convinced villagers that the bodywas that of Burgin, who wasdescribed as an unkept but humbleand smart man.

A friend of Burgin said that hewas homeless for a while, but wasallowed to occupy a shed by theowner of a large parcel of lands onwhich the shed was located.

More recently, he was sleepingunder a tarpaulin in the same vicinitywhere the body was found.

The friend said he found Burgin tobe a “cool person,” adding, “Iremember he used to live in Biabousome years ago before he went to FairHall.”

As far as that friend knew, Burgindidn’t have a family of his own nor didhe know of any relatives who wouldhave visited him.

He recalled, though, an occasionwhen two adult females and somechildren visited with him. Thespeculation that arose then was thatthe females could have been hisdaughters, and the children hisgrandchildren. This was neverconfirmed, the friend said.

Marley ‘Ram’ Harry, another friend,said that he did not know too muchabout his friend’s background, but hedescribed him as “ a good fella “ whowas positive, liked to cook and was

never known to be someone who stolefrom others.

Harry is hoping that the matterwould be looked into, “because he(Burgin) was no troublesome person.”

Another friend, who gave his nameas Tom, and who operates a butchershop where the deceased, Harry andothers would congregate, said thatBurgin was a humble person whodidn’t give any problem. “He usuallybe around with us all the time andthen he just come and say he goingaway,” said Tom. “People wereinquiring about him, but nobody seemsto know where he was.”

Police confirmed that they hadmounted an investigation into thecircumstances surrounding the deathof Burgin. They were, up to press timeWednesday, awaiting an autopsyreport.

NewsV 6. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Decomposed body found in Fair Hall

The Whim Road area, off the BelmontMain Road, where (foreground)Darrel Burgin’s decomposed bodywas discovered.

by HAYDN HUGGINS

CUSTOMS AND EXCISEDEPARTMENT Supervisor JuliaPhillips, facing charges of theft andofficial corruption, will have to wait awhile longer to know her fate.

The 49-year-old Bequia woman wasslated to return to the MesopotamiaMagistrate’s Court on Tuesday. ThatCourt was at the time sitting in thesame room in which the KingstownMagistrate’s Court sits, which iscurrently not sitting.

When the woman took the stand,Magistrate Bertie Pompey indicatedthat he had received communicationfrom Phillips’ lawyer Grant Connellrequesting an adjournment, as he wasengaged in a High Court matter.

Senior Prosecutor AdolphusDelpleche told the Court that he wasalso informed of Connell’sengagement in the High Court, whichtakes precedence over the lowerCourts. The matter was thenadjourned to next Wednesday,February 20.

The woman had initially appearedbefore Pompey January 16, afterChief Magistrate Rechanne Brownerecused herself from hearing thematter.

She hadinformed theSerious OffencesCourt of herdecision when thematter was calledbefore her onJanuary 14, andthe case wastransferred.

Phillips ischarged withstealingEC$43,626.91 incash, the propertyof the Governmentof St. Vincent andthe Grenadines.She is also chargedwith corruptlysoliciting andreceiving property, to wit,EC$43,626.91 in cash, for herself, onaccount of anything to be afterwardsdone or omitted to be done by her inthe discharge of her duties asSupervisor of Customs and ExciseDepartment, Bequia Branch.

Both offences were allegedlycommitted between August 14 andSeptember25 last year.

Phillips has maintained herinnocence on both charges.

Customs official case adjourned again

Julia Phillips –facing theft andofficialcorruptioncharges.

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURESaboto Caesar says that thegovernment has not importedany marijuana seeds. Heconfirmed, however, thatpersons in the private sectorhave done so legally.

Caesar was respondingto a number of questionsasked by oppositionSenator Kay Bacchus-Baptiste during thequestions for oral answerssegment of thePresentation of the 2019Estimates in Parliament,January 29.

The female senator hadasked the Minster:Whether marijuana seedsare being imported into St.Vincent and theGrenadines for medicalmarijuana. Whether or notthe seeds or seedlings beingnurtured at the tissueculture laboratory atOrange Hill are alsoimported. And if so, from

where and at what cost.In his answer, Caesar

said categorically that thegovernment of SVG “hasnot imported anymarijuana seeds into thecountry. The private sectorand private individuals areallowed under the law toimport marijuana seeds,and this is pursuant toChapter 2: 8 4 of the DrugsPrevention of Misuse Actwhere in the definition itstates that cannabis doesnot include seeds afterseparation from the rest ofthe plant.”

He said that the role ofthe Ministry of Agriculturein the matter is to ensurethat the requiredphytosanitary standardsare met, as required for theimportation of all seeds.

The Minister noted thatthe Tissue Culture Lab atOrange Hill has beennurturing seedlings which

were obtained locally.The Cannabis Research

and Development Unit(CRDU) set up in theMinistry of Agriculture,according to Caesar, is inthe process of establishinga seed bank of local seedsand a Germplasm of localstrains of cannabis.

Entities wishing toconduct scientific testingmay apply to the CRDU forpermission to conductresearch, through thePermanent Secretary in theMinistry of Agriculture forpermission. If granted,they can be supervised bythe Unit, the Bureau ofStandards and/or theUniversity of West Indies.

In asupplementaryquestion, theSenator asked theAgricultureMinister what wasthe quantity of

marijuana seeds importedin the last 8 months.Speaker of the House JomoThomas interjected andreminded Bacchus-Baptistethat the Minister said thatthe Government did notimport marijuana seeds,and he did not think thatthe government would havethe answer pertaining toprivate importation.

Dissatisfied, the Senatorresponded, “Persons haveto get phytosanitarycertificates so they shouldhave the information, notso?”

Caesar accented togetting the information andpromised to pass it on tothe senator.

ParliamentV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 , 2019. 7.

Gov’t has not imported ganja seeds

Saboto Caesar,Minister ofAgriculture couldnot say on January29, 2019 thequantity ofcannabis seedsimported by theprivate sector.

Kay Bacchus-Baptiste,Opposition Senator,quipped that therewas a process fromwhich the Minister/Ministry could havededuced an answer.

AN APPEAL has been made tothose farmers already involvedin the informal cannabiscultivation and the cannabistrade generally, to takeadvantage of the amnestyprovisions as outlined under the(Amnesty) Bill recently passedin Parliament.

They have also been urged tomake themselves ready toparticipate in and benefit fromthe Medicinal Marijuana Industrythat is expected to take root here.

The appeal came from Minister ofFinance Camillo Gonsalves onMonday during his 2019 Budgetaddress.

Such farmers, he said, shouldremain open-minded about thepossibilities of the legitimateproduction and eventual legalexportation of medicinal cannabis.

The Amnesty Bill passed inParliament late last year, gives thoseinvolved in the illegal cultivation ofmarijuana an opportunity to give uptheir involvement without beingprosecuted.

A date for the commencement ofthis amnesty period was previouslyset, but scrapped and revised, so as itnow stands, a date is to bedetermined by the Minister of LegalAffairs, Prime Minister Dr RalphGonsalves.

The Act provides for the crop to be‘turned over’, and once it meets therequired standard and quality, it willbe exported as medical marijuana.

As a result, Minister Gonsalvesstated that a decision had been takento remain conservative indetermining the projected revenue forthe fiscal year 2019.

“This year, we have taken into

account the time required to establishand operationalize the Authority(Medicinal Marijuana); the stepsinvolved in conducting due diligenceof applicants; the licensing and theestablishment of cultivation andproduction facilities that can meetnecessary legal and technicalrequirements; and the actualproduction and export of medicinalproducts,” Gonsalves said.

It was cited that revenuesgenerated under the sector will bederived primarily from licensing fees.

St Vincent and the Grenadinesbecame the second CARICOMmember country, behind Jamaica, toestablish the legal framework for amedicinal marijuana industry.

But there were a number ofchallenges - international treatycompliance, correspondent bankingrelations, logistical hurdles, newburdens on local education and healthcare apparatuses, Gonsalves said.(DD)

ÂTake advantage of ganja amnestyÊ

Persons involved in marijuanacultivation here are beingencouraged to make use of theprovisions of the Amnesty Act, andto consider the benefits ofinvolvement in the medicinalmarijuana industry.

(The Vincentian April 19th, 2002)

“A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL declaration,conferring the honour of National Hero ofSt. Vincent and the Grenadines on the Rt.Excellent Chief of the Calinago people,Joseph Chatoyer, was laid on the table ofthe House of Assembly on Wednesday, April16, 2002 by Tourism and Culture MinisterRene Baptiste.

The Minister was at the time giving areview of the celebration of NationalHeritage Month, held from 1 March withthe Declaration of Heritage Square inKingstown.

She pointed out that the conferment waspenned by young Vincentian historian,Cleve Scott of New Montrose, who iscurrently doing post graduate studies at theHistory Department of the Faculty of Artsat UWI.

The Tourism and Culture Ministerrecalled that, the official declarationconferring the honour of National Hero of StVincent and the Grenadines on the Rt.Excellent, Paramount Chief of the CalinagoPeoples, Joseph Chatoyer, was held on thenight of the 13th March. The exercise, heldat the Victoria Park, was attended by theworld representative for the Garifuna WorldOrganisation, Mr. Oswald Robinson and theHon. Consul for Belize, Mrs. Zolia EllisBrowne.

Historic

Minister Baptiste stressed that it was thefirst time ever this country had celebratedNational Heritage Month, and shecongratulated all those who participated,assisted, or in any way helped to make thefirst national history month a success.

Ms. Baptiste recollected variousprogrammes including a workshop fortraining writers of living (oral) history, acultural show entitled Caribbean Roots,several school programmes that werefeatured in the month of activities.

The Tourism and Cultural Minister alsohighlighted that the Ministry of Educationhosted the first ever history symposium onthe writing of the national history of StVincent and the Grenadines.

Other activities during Heritage Monthincluded the official launching of the HistoryTeachers Association, the cycling classic,and the annual road relay held on 31March.

Three works by Vincentian authors werealso launched during National HeritageMonth- People On the Move by Dr. EdgarAdams; Chatoyer, the First National HeroBy Dr. Adrian Fraser; and Readings fromMarcia Harold Hinds,The Saga of Hairouna.

The Tourism and Culture Minister alsopointed out that there were rallies in Sandy

Bay, and fournew bookletsdealing with thecountry’sheritage weresponsored by UNESCO and the Ministry ofCulture. “The grand finale,” Ms. Baptistedeclared, “was the pilgrimage to Balliceaux-the spiritual journey from WashergunnyBay to the Mount of Stones - for thebeginning of the spiritual journey andPilgrimage, and the building of a nationalmonument in memory of the thousands whoperished there, of our Calinago peoples, whowere on their way to exile.”

Appendum

I was simply rummaging through someold newspaper when I stumbled upon THEVINCENTIAN of 17 years ago within anarticle on the anointing of our First (andonly) National Hero, Callinago Chief JosephChatoyer. He was a popular choice.

Since that time, we have laboured in vainto find him company, but it has all beenbogged down in these crucial times, if notburied on account of politics.

I had suggested a team of Captain HughMulzac, George Mc Intosh, Ebenezer Joshuaand added a fourth, Dr. Parmenos Eustacewho initially had been recommended byother persons.

The inter-necine a political for fifteenyears stood firmly against recognition of afull slate. Now following their death, I askadditional for recognition of Yvonne FrancisGibson and Oscar Allen.

Chief Chatoyer’s elevation was celebratedduring a historical and culturalremembrance where interested folks wereinvited to make a contribution. It issignificant that the top three - EdgarAdams, Adrian Fraser and Marcia HaroldHinds - had all been members of the“Flambeau” group of which I had beenfounder and editor of our publication.

I had sent to the new ULP Governmentthrough Minister Mike Browne, a nephew ofmine, a list of four articles on the topicseventeen years ago, suggesting that threerelevant ministers join in the venture to bepublished by them. I was curtly rebuffedand told then, a proper History of StVincent was being prepared by a group ofchosen writers.

So much for the concept of “TogetherNow” which the ULP rode as their mantra,ripped to shreds by my own loving nephewwho later christened me “KenDP”,identifying me with a political party that INEVER JOINED!

I end for now, but noting that personssuch as Mike and, especially BlazerWilliams, should beware, the road to hellcould be paved with good intentions?

IN WHAT IS FAST BECOMING a typical SVG Budget Presentation, theMinister of Finance announced a ‘small surplus, proposed a few ‘new’spending projects/areas, and announced a small package of new fiscalmeasures. .

In the main, any increased revenue, and a 5,6 percent increase inCurrent Revenue was projected, was going to be the result ofincreased vigilance on the part of the tax collectors, this, even in theface of the small collection of new fiscal measures, i.e. increases inexcise duties on tobacco, alcohol, sweetened beverages, gasoline anddiesel.

It may be that we missed it, but the Budget did not appear tohave had any sense of direct examination of the economy, with aview of encouraging diversification and therefore, support for abroader range of endeavours that speak to the future development ofSVG.

Somehow, there was no sense of really investing in the future togenuinely address the needs of an ageing population and an overlyexcited younger generation; to making SVG a comfortable if not anideal place to live and work.

Further, if it missed us, we apologise, but the Budget gave noconnection to caring and sharing — to better support children, youngpeople with care, protection and real opportunities; to relieve thefinancial burden of the middle class families who have to live frompay cheque to pay cheque, and who are fooled into a false sense ofsecurity; and to support the underprivileged and vulnerable so thatthey could effectively escape the mire in which they find themselves.

We are yet to see, to feel, if the approach of maintaining a fiscalsurplus has served this country well. One school of thought says ithas not; that it is a fiscal tool that appeals moreso across thepolitical spectrum rather than to the real living standards of thepopulation.

As such, those who were again expecting change, have had toendure more of the same. ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ could bestdescribe the 2019 Budget.

And for business generally, there was not much over which to getexcited; no significant tax incentives or reductions were announcedand, if the truth be told, could not be especially in the face of adependence on direct taxes from that sector.

More and more we seem to be moving towards a full-fledged ‘renteconomy’, one in which we collect from what we buy, rather thancollect from what we produce and sell.

Then there is the financial sector which was ignored, andunderstandably so, since this area must be, mindful of what andhow we are obligated to protocols within the sub-region (OECS).

Notwithstanding, there will have to come an effort to place thebusinesses and industries as well as state-owned enterprises likeVINLEC, on the bond market/security exchange.

On the issue of unemployment, the Budget was described as ‘a jobcreation budget’. This was meant to be encouraging and to bringhope in an otherwise worrying situation. We must be mindful ofwhat we are creating. We are thankful for employment in the shortterm which government sees itself as offering. But what is so muchmore important is stable and long term employment withappropriate benefits.

That the economy can absorb the greater proportion of thoseseeking employment is, as the Budget proffers, an untenableexpectation. The export of trained workers will have to includemore than nurses. How many of the trained workers would theeconomy be able to maintain? Will there be an exodus of workerswho see no future in a state that legislates salary and benefitincreases which the private sector swallows as the given?

Overall, this was a ‘safe’ Budget — directionally safe — maybe evena conservative budget. It was far from being an ‘election budget’.

What it indicated was that the ULP government’s fiscal policyhas remained unchanged, and is unlikely to change in the comingyears. Is there anything new and different that can be done toinject a new life into and hope in the economy? Time will tell.

8. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

ViewsV

Editorial

Managing Editor: Desiree Richards

Editor: Cyprian Neehall

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

Website: www.thevincentian.com

Email: vinpub@thevincentian.com

Mailing Address: The Vincentian Publishing Co. Ltd.,

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

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

The 2019 Budget – A layman’s comment Chatoyer’s honor tabled in Parliament

THERE IS A THREAT ofa 3rd World War at ourdoorstep, and if it is notaverted, we will be hardhit. Why? Our governmentstated widely its supportfor thesocialist/communist side.This support is forVenezuela, Cuba, Russia,and company.

History has informed usthat after the abolition ofthe Transatlantic SlaveSystem (on paper) in the1800s, we had two worldwars - World War 1 from1914-1918 and World War2 from 1939-1945. Inbetween those wars, wehad the Octobercommunist revolution inRussia in 1917. At theend of World War 2 camethe establishment of theUnited Nations WorldCourt.

After World War 1,world politics wascontrolled by two mainelements, capitalismheaded by the USA and

UK, and communismheaded by Russia andothers.

If there is any militaryattack on Venezuela bythe EU/UK/USA, Russiaand China may not standoff. They will want the useof Argyle InternationalAirport on behalf ofVenezuela, who assisted inits construction. The UKwill lay claim because theGovernor General is herrepresentative, and nodoubt our airport could beblown up (possibility).

Our take on Venezuelaplight is that theVenezuelan governmentcould be dividing andruling its people andcausing the unrest. That

does give the right for anymilitary aggressionagainst that government.

Allow our people in theCaribbean and LatinAmerica to investigate theconditions in Venezuela.From there, let us and ourleaders call for militaryhelp if needed.

We cannot trust theleadership of the bigAmerica, and especiallyDaniel Trump. We mustremind ourselves aboutPresident Bush (US) andPrime Minister Blair (UK)who went to war withSaddam Hussein, claimingthat he had weapons ofmass destruction. To thisday, no weapons of massdestruction have ever been

found.We have friends and

relatives living inVenezuela, and we wouldhave had over forty yearsof friendly relationship.We are calling on allVenezuelans to demandtheir equal rights andjustice to live as a freepeople.

Peace, not war inVenezuela.

Christian Democrat

I JUST CAME ACROSS some news thatset me thinking. The news I got wasthat a member of parliament for thegovernment side in Antigua, recentlyaccused the government of neglectinghis constituency. That MP apparentlymade his feeling known during a sittingof the House of Representatives in thatcountry.

The MP said that his constituencywasn’t getting a fair share ofcommunity development money. Hereminded his government colleaguesthat his constituents were sons anddaughters of Antigua, who pay theirfair share of taxes. The MP describedthe neglect as an injustice, and said itwas not fair.

I couldn’t help but think somethinglike this could never happen in thiscountry. For a member of governmentto criticize the government in ‘dis hereland’ is a NO NO. The sky will haveto fall in on us before something likethis could ever happen here.

You see, Mr. Editor, the people whorepresent people here seem to have no

consciences. They take all theprivileges they get, and forget thatthey were elected to represent people.Is like we vote them in so that theycould better themselves and forgetabout the people.

When something is wrong, we mustsay it wrong. We must be afraid ofour con-sciences,not othermen.

Paul -Kingstown

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. 9.

LettersVIt could never happen here

WITH THE KIND permission of the editor, Icontinue with my contribution of bringing to theattention of the general public, some commonerrors in the use of the English Language.

I hope that those persons who make theseerrors would read or be referred to my effort tocorrect them.

I begin this week with the word innovation. Iwas taught, and I think it still stands, that thisword means ‘something that is new and original’.It follows, therefore, as far as I am aware, thatone should not use the word ‘new’ beforeinnovation.

I often think, whenever I hear very learned,highly qualified men and women in high positionslike marketing officers, talking and writing withassurance about a ‘new innovation’.

Then there is the issue of one’s appetite. Wenever ‘wet your appetite’, we whet your appetite.

And what about a sneak preview which weoften refer to as a ‘sneak peak’. A ‘peak’ is the topof a mountain. The correct word is ‘peek’ whichmeans a quick look. So please, you can give aperson a ‘sneak peek’ of your letter to the editor,not a ‘sneak peak’.

Now to an area of major concern - Subject-VerbAgreement.

The subject and verb of a sentence must agreewith one another in number whether they aresingular or plural. If the subject of the sentence issingular, its verb must also be singular; and ifthe subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.

Example 1:Incorrect: An important part of my life have

been the people who stood by me.Correct: An important part of my life has been

the people who stood by me.

Example 2:Incorrect: The two best things about the party

was the food and the music.Correct: The two best things about the party

were the food and the music.Then there is the matter of compound subjects

joined by ‘and’ and ‘or’.Subjects joined by ‘and’ carry plural verbs.Incorrect: The lawyer and his client was kept

waiting by the prosecutor.Correct: The lawyer and his client were kept

waiting by the prosecutor.Incorrect: The piano or the bookcase have to

go.Correct: The piano or the bookcase has to go.And while I am at it, when the subjects are

joined by “or” or “neither/nor,” the verb agreeswith the subject that is closest to the verb, e.g.

* The piano or the bookcase has to go.* The piano or the tables have to go.* Neither the pillows nor the curtains match

the couch.* Neither the pillows nor the blanket looks good

in this room.I will continue next week, permission being

granted.

Retiree – Arnos vale

Some commonEnglishLanguage errors

Peace, not war in Venezuela

* On whoseprompting was thehearing of theElection Petitionmatter moved fromthe Court House?Didn’t thoseresponsible notknow that theupstairs of theCourt House wasgoing to be vacant?* How areinvestigations goinginto the murders ofShania Johnson andAntonia “Toni”Rose-Carter? Areleads being ignoredin theseinvestigations?* Like Bigga Bigskill the ULP whitefowl or what? Whythey picking on himso?* Are teachers andcivil servants goingto simply accepttheir back pay and1% increase, puttheir tails betweentheir legs andreturn quietly totheir comfort zones?

Excerpts from the 2019 BudgetAddress: Part Two

Introduction

Global, regional and local economicenvironment

The Global Environment

FORECASTS for the prospects of the globaleconomy are mixed, but becomingincreasingly pessimistic. The health andgrowth of Saint Vincent and theGrenadines’ small, open economy isdirectly affected by global economictrends. As such, these worsening globalforecasts are not simply of academicinterest. Our own growth and developmentprospects are inextricably bound up withthose of our neighbours and the widerinternational economy.

In October 2018, the InternationalMonetary Fund’s World EconomicOutlook9 predicted that global growthin 2019 will be 3.7% — a 0.2 percentagepoint reduction from an estimateprovided by the IMF six months earlier.The prospects for the developedcountries most directly connected to theVincentian economy — the United Statesof America and the United Kingdom —are less positive, driven by uncertaintiesrelating to trade wars, rising oil prices,increasing levels of debt, local politicalissues and Brexit. Similarly, in LatinAmerica, growth prospects remain tepid.Projected 2019 Growth in the UnitedStates (2.5%), the United Kingdom(1.5%) and Latin America and theCaribbean (2.2%) all fall well below thepredicted global average.

The World Bank’s more recent GlobalEconomic Prospects10 Report, subtitled“Darkening Skies,” was released inJanuary and presents a more soberingforecast. The Report’s ExecutiveSummary begins with the sentence“[t]he outlook for the global economyhas darkened.” It predicts global growthin 2019 of 2.9% — almost a fullpercentage point below the IMFestimate. While its 2019 predictions forUnited States’ growth (2.5%) are in linewith the IMF forecast, its projections forthe United Kingdom (1.4%) LatinAmerica and the Caribbean (1.7%) areless optimistic.

The Local Environment

Preliminary estimates indicate thatthe economy of Saint Vincent and theGrenadines grew by at least 2.3% in2018, exceeding projections of a yearago. Growth was driven by improvedperformance in the tourism, fishing,construction and manufacturing sectors.A full analysis of the past year’sperformance is annexed to this BudgetStatement as the “Saint Vincent and theGrenadines Economic and SocialReview” for 2018.

For 2019, the International MonetaryFund projects growth of 2.3%, animprovement on its 2018 estimate,which proved to be slightly conservative.This growth is expected to be driven byincreased tourism arrivals and tourism-related activities like hotel constructionand expansion. As with last year, weconsider the IMF’s projections to beconservative, and premised on status-quo levels of implementation of ourcapital programme, which we hope toimprove markedly in 2019.

In keeping with their more guardedview of the global economy, and oursubregion in particular, the World Bankforecasts that growth in the Vincentianeconomy will be a more modest 1.6% in2019, while ECLAC’s preliminaryprediction is 1.5%.13 Notwithstanding,the imprecise nature of the forecastingmodels and the underlying statisticaldata, we consider these predictions to beunduly pessimistic at this stage, barringsome unforeseen event.

As always, the grave and gatheringmenace of climate change and natural

disasters looms as a direct threat togrowth and development prospects. Themassive 14% contraction in theDominican economy last year, post-Hurricane Maria, is indicative of theever-present threat of frequent andsevere climate events. Other exogenousthreats could include weaker-than-expected performance among ourdeveloped economy trading partners,rising oil prices and tightening globalfinancial conditions. A specific threat isthe European Union’s continued war onthe viability of the financial servicessector in Saint Vincent and theGrenadines and the wider Caribbean.The bullying hypocrisy of theextraterritorial imposition of EU lawwill undoubtedly impact the sector inways that are difficult to forecast.

Closer to home, the IMF’spredictions15 of flat growth in our mainregional trading partners of Barbados (-0.1%) and Trinidad and Tobago (0.9%) —if accurate — may pose challenges tospecific sector prospects in theVincentian Economy. The bellicosesabre-rattling of those external forcesspoiling for robust intervention andregime change in Venezuela hasrecently reached near-crisis levels,raising the real threat of militaryconfrontation and widespread social andeconomic fallout across the southernCaribbean.

Sectoral summary

The Budget presented this year is, asalways, an interconnected set ofinitiatives and compromises thatrepresent the Government’s bestcollective judgment about how toeffectively move Saint Vincent and theGrenadines forward on ourdevelopmental journey and improve thelives of Vincentians. While the Budget,as a developmental roadmap, is greaterthan the sum of its constituent parts, itis useful to spend some time providing anon-exhaustive synopsis of the majorinitiatives within certain sectors of thesociety and economy. The respective lineministers will undoubtedly haveopportunities to expand on the sectorswithin their direct responsibility.

Agriculture and Fisheries

Saint Vincent and the Grenadineshas long understood the developmentalpotential of the agricultural sector, andthe transformative power of farmingand fishing in the lives of Vincentians.As the largest exporter of food and liveanimals in the Eastern CaribbeanCurrency Union, our farmers andfisherfolk continue to be leaders in theproduction of the healthy and high-quality agricultural produce consumedthroughout our region.

In 2019, we recommit to the farmersand fisherfolk as the indispensablecornerstone of our productive economy.As other countries in our region havedrifted away from agriculture as anemployer of citizens, as a generator ofwealth and as an engine ofdevelopment, we choose instead todeepen our emphasis on agriculture inVincentian life and economy. Over time,the crops may change, the manner ofproduction will differ, and the exportmarkets shall evolve; but the centralityof our farmers and fisherfolk in the lifeand economy of Saint Vincent and theGrenadines will be a constant guidinglight. More than any other occupation inSaint Vincent and the Grenadines,farming has freed many citizens tolive lives that their parents andgrandparents could only imagine.

To be continued…

(Excerpts of Dr. Friday’s Budgetpresentation)

MR. SPEAKER, the Minister says thatthe government is borrowing US$50million to build a 250-room resort at Mt.Wynne, “which will be managed by aninternationally-recognised brand.” It willbe the largest hotel in the country thatwill be “unique and standard-setting.”

For years now, they have promisedthat a hotel was coming at Peter’sHope. I recall, for example, that inthe 2007 Budget debate, thenMinister of Tourism, Glen Beache,said with unwavering conviction sofamiliar on that side of the House,that for sure a hotel was coming thefollowing year, 2008. Well, it didn’t.But now they know that elections arearound the corner, they have decidedto show that something is happeningin tourism. They want also to showthat there is something coming tosupport the Argyle InternationalAirport (AIA), which cost us over$1billion.

A couple Budgets ago, in thisHonourable House, the PM lamentedthe fact that the government was notable to interest the private sector toparticipate in a public/privatepartnership, to build a hotel on themainland. That’s why the governmentis going it alone.

Having listened to the FinanceMinister’s Budget statement, whereour economy was said to be so well-managed as to be compared only toTrinidad and Tobago’s economy, asthe only two countries to have avoidedIMF prescriptions, and SVG has beena regional leader in attracting foreigndirect investment, and given theimpact of AIA in attracting visitors, ashe sees it, you would have thoughtthat private investors would bejumping to get into the hotel businessin SVG. But that is not the case! Thegovernment can’t get investors tobuild the hotel, so it is doing it itself.And another $130 million will beadded to the public debt, whichalready stands at $1.61billion!

The idea of a hotel project atPeter’s Hope did not start with theULP. It was the brainchild of SirJames Mitchell and the NDP. TheNDP government bought the landfrom the Casson family, thinking thatit might be a good place to locate amajor hotel on the mainland. In fact,Sir James had the foresight torelocate the leeward highway furtherinland from the coast, so the newhighway would not run through theland that could be developed as theresort.

However, Sir James and the NDPnever intended the project to be agovernment owned and built project.They knew that that would sink thegovernment deeper into debt, andthey were not prepared to risk scarcepublic funds in that way. The ideathey had was to invite privateinvestors, local or foreign, to developthe property. Ideally, they hoped thata major international brand wouldcome in and build the hotel andoperate it, using their own resources.

However, this ULP government hasdecided to borrow and build. Theysaid they have an internationally-recognised brand who has agreed tooperate the hotel once it is built, andthat the entity is now providing inputon how to design and implement the

resort. But we still don’t know who itis! What we do know, from experience,is how risky hotel projects can be, e.g.the Buccament Bay Resort.

Recently, in Trinidad and Tobago,the risk was made clear when Sandalssuddenly pulled out of a large hotelproject the government had plannedfor Tobago. That project was plannedon a similar principle to the one here.The government signed an MOU withSandals. The government wasproviding the land and build the hotelat its own cost. The cost of buildingthe hotel was approximately US$300million.

The Trinidad and Tobagogovernment was in negotiations withSandals about the design and qualityfeatures of the project, among otherthings. Then, Sandals suddenly pulledout, citing too much negative publicitythat was tarnishing its corporateimage. So, it is important that we inParliament and the people generallyknow who the business partner of thegovernment is, i.e. the company thatwill run the hotel.

It is time that we know who we aredealing with. I thought the Ministerwas going to break the silence andgive us the good news as to who it is.But Nothing! The loan Bill to raiseUS$50 million came to Parliamentlate last year. There was a lot ofdebate on it in this HonourableHouse.

We in the Opposition raised seriousconcerns in the debate of the Bill. Inthe end, we supported it after hearingmore about the project from thegovernment during the debate. Butwe made it clear that we hadreservations about the project, and westill do. So, our support for the Billand the project was not unconditional.We essentially took a chance when wesupported the loan Bill late last year.Some people, fully aware of thegovernment’s bad spending habits andpoor record of accountability, were notso generous and felt the project shouldnot be supported.

But we supported it, because wewant to see hotel development on themainland, if possible. We supported ahotel project in principle, though wepreferred to see it as a wholly privatesector development. However, theMinister can’t expect us to go furtherinto the project without knowingmore, and he can’t expect us to rely onthe government forever when theysay, in effect: “Trust us. We knowwhat we are doing”.

Dr. Gonsalves has said, more thanonce in this House, that he did nottrust Mr. Eustace when he wasOpposition Leader and does not trustme either! Of course, he has nothingto base that distrust on; but as usualhe plays to his crowd. But now, hewants us to trust him unconditionally.We can’t trust in the way they wantus to. In order to trust, we must beable to verify, and we can’t do thatwithout basic information.

The people of this country expectus, the Opposition, to ask searchingquestions and to hold the governmentaccountable. And we won’t let thepeople down!

10. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

ViewsVGovernment hotel at Mt. WynneThe Economic Outlook

“The difference between a successfulperson and others is not a lack ofstrength, not a lack of knowledge, butrather a lack in will.” ? Vincent ‘Vince’Thomas Lombardi (1913-1970) -American football player, coach, andexecutive in the National FootballLeague.

JOHN CALVIN COOLIDGE JR. (1872-1933)was an outstanding American politician.This accomplished Republican lawyerhad a passion for serving people. Heentered the political arena and foughtmany political battles to become thegovernor of Massachusetts andeventually the 30th President of theUnited States of America. He has left usmany worthwhile quotations that igniteour passions and provide energy topursue noble ambitions. He once said,“Nothing in this world can take the placeof persistence. Talent will not; nothing ismore common than unsuccessful menwith talent. Genius will not; unrewardedgenius is almost a proverb. Education willnot; the world is full of educatedderelicts. Persistence and determinationalone are omnipotent. The slogan PressOn! has solved and always will solve theproblems of the human race.”  Hereminds us, so long after his death, thatpersistence is one of the most significantvariables in determining the positiveoutcomes that we seek. We need tocreate and sustain that doggeddetermination, that iron will, even as weface great odds.

The richness of the thoughtsappearing in the introductoryquotation by Vince Lombardi and theJohn Coolidge quotation in thepreceding paragraph, became quiteevident during my recent viewing ofthe 1994 American adventure filmentitled “Iron Will” — a movie that wasdirected by Charles Haid and featuredoutstanding stars Mackenzie Astin andKevin Spacey.

The breath-taking story is set in theearly 1900s and revolves around ayoung man, Will Stoneman (played byMackenzie Astin), who lived on a farmin South Dakota, United States ofAmerica. He had a strong desire topursue a university education.However, several months before hewas due to leave for college, his fatheraccidentally falls into a river offreezing water and dies. Will was thenfaced with the challenge of not beingable to finance his academic pursuits.He was also concerned that his motherneeded his help and support on thefarm at this critical and verytraumatic period of her life (eventhough she encouraged him to go).

Will is aware that his father hadintended to raise some of the moneyfor his education, and to save thefinancially-strapped farm, by enteringa dog-sled race that commenced inWinnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He wasdetermined to take his father’s place inthis gruelling race that traversed somevery treacherous terrain underfreezing conditions. The ten thousanddollar prize had attracted the best dog-sled athletes in North America andEurope. The challenge was furthermagnified by the fact that he was theyoungest and least experiencedparticipant in the event.

Will was heckled as he joined theparticipants in the pre-race briefingsession. He seemed doomed to be leftout of the competition when hediscovered that he did not have enoughmoney for the registration fee.However, a newspaper reporter, Harry

Kingsley (played by Kevin Spacey),encouraged by Will’s optimism andconfidence, paid the fee on his behalf.Throughout the race, this samejournalist kept the general publicabreast with Will’s capacity to race forlong hours over several days. Theyoungster endured brutal cold,treacherous river passages, steepmountains, and a host of obstacles ashe struggled, determined to win and tohonour his father’s memory.

Will retained the lead for most ofthe race. However, as so oftenhappens in the pursuit of noble dreamsand ambitions, some of the othercompetitors engaged in activities tosabotage his efforts. The most tellingincident was when his maincompetitor, Borg Guillarson (played byGeorge Gerdes), orchestrated to kill hislead dog, Gus. That incident showed anew side of Will’s character as he laterconfronted the perpetrator, knockingthe older and stronger man to theground with a punch. As Willreturned to his sleeping area for amuch needed rest, one of the wealthyspectators who had been following therace via the comfort of a train ride,approached him. He offered Will theequivalent of half of the prize money ifhe would quit. Interestingly enough,that individual had previously placed alarge financial bet that Will could notwin. His offer, then, was an effort tosecure his own prize money and notthat he really cared for the youth.Will, although unaware of the truemotive for the offer, declined. Tiredand noticeably ill, he persisted.

As the race neared its end, on thelast day of the race, the newspaperjournalist, aware of the toll that theevent had taken on the young man’sbody, tried to convince him todiscontinue his efforts and to seekmedical attention. However, Willrefused to do so. He was committed toseeing it through to the end. Severalcompetitors passed him a few milesfrom the finish line. It then seemed asthough his hopes were being dashed soclose to the end. It was then that hisarchenemy (Borg) invited him to takea dangerous shortcut through a ruggedterrain and along a turbulent river.Horrified by the memory of his father’sdrowning death, Will musteredtremendous courage to follow Borg’ssuggestion. Shortly after the tworivals ventured along the dangerouspath, Borg’s dogs turned on him for hiscruel use of the whip on themthroughout the race and especially atthis final stage of the competition ashe sought to win the coveted prizemoney.

Will’s decision to take the shortcutpaid off. He arrived at the finish linetired, sick, and completely exhaustedfrom lack of sleep, improper diet, andillness. He collapsed as he neared thefinish line. Several competitors againvied to overtake him. It again lookedas though his efforts would be futile.However, it was then that one of hisfather’s close friends, who had beenwaiting at the finish line, whistled atune that inspired his father’s lead dogto reenergize the rest of the pack. Willwins! His determination, his iron will,lead him to victory. A useful lesson indetermination for us all.

Send comments, criticisms &suggestions to

julesferdinand@gmail.com

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. 11.

ViewsVIron will

THE APPARENT INTENTION of thegovernment to appeal the two recentcourt decisions rendered against it, ishighly regrettable. Although there isnothing procedurally improper or illegalabout the government’s decision toappeal, such course of action delays anyserious effort to fix the gross deficienciesidentified by Justice Henry in the PublicService Union (PSU) case.

As regards the ‘NDP teachers’ case,an appeal to the Privy Council may beevidence that officials, high in the stateadministration, are nothing more thansuckers for punishment, since thechance of overturning that decision isremote at best and suicidal at worst.

In the decision about the state of thepublic service, the shocking disclosure isthat the Public Service Commissiontendered no evidence to meet or counterthe case mounted by the PSU. Courtwatchers knew, long before the decisioncame down, that the Public ServiceCommission (PSC), and by extension thegovernment, would ultimately suffer a‘black eye’.

Therefore, Justice Henry’s conclusionthat the PSC ‘failed to comply with theregulations in respect of promotion’appeared all but inevitable. Even moredamning was the Court’s ruling that theBlazer Williams led PSC ‘failed toobserve principles of fairness,transparency and objectivity’ in respectto promotion of civil servants.

There is little or no chance that theCourt of Appeal will find reason totrouble any finding of Justice Henry orto reverse her ruling in any way. Sadly,the decision to appeal may delay JusticeHenry’s order which commands the PSC‘to establish and implement forthwithand maintain an efficient, transparentand effective performance appraisal andpromotions regime within the publicservice, including a robust andfunctional monitoring and correctivemechanism.’

The finding and orders are sodevastating that rather than wastingtime and money with an appeal that isbound to fail, the government shoulduse its energies to clean out the PSUand put in place the machinery that willshore up sagging morale, and rebuild acivil service fit for these pressing anddemanding times.

In its purported appeal against theNDP teachers, the government will havean even more daunting task. In thetrial, Justice Cottle found the teachers’case was ‘entirely hopeless’ with nochance of success. On appeal, a three-judge panel comprising judicial heavyweights Chief Justice Janice Perriara,Justice Gertel Thom and JusticeDavidson Baptiste, found that:

‘there was nothing in the provisionsof article 16 qualifying the appellants tobe elected to parliament. It was open tothe government to initiate the requisitesteps for parliament to prescribeexceptions and limitations to thedisqualification imposed by section26(1)(d) of the constitution. The factthat this was not done does nottransform a provision granting leave tocontest a general election into one thatviolates the constitution. Further, theprovision of article 16 speaking to thereturn to teaching posts or post ofequivalence to the public service,without loss of benefits, cannot be saidto violate the constitution.’

That was the fatal dagger right there.But there was more. The court foundthat the teachers had a legitimateexpectation that article 16 of thecollective bargaining agreement allowedthem to return to their post or one of

equivalence if they failed to gainelection. The court also found that byrefusing to rehire the teachers, thegovernment violated their constitutionalright to property. The government wasordered to pay on assessment damagesfor breach of the teachers’ propertyrights as well as cost of the appeal andin the court below.

Central to the government’s thinkingabout the appeal, may be the fact thatthe Court did not find bad faith. Thisline of reasoning may be akin to ‘fool’sgold.’ The Court did not say that therewas not bad faith. What it did say wasthat the teachers did not exhibitsufficient evidence to prove bad faith.The Privy Council may find otherwise.It may go ‘global’ and conclude thatapart from what the appellants offered,there was the failure of the governmentto use the machinery of the state totweak the exceptions and limitation insection 26 of the constitution.

The government heralded theCollective Bargaining Agreement as atriumph for its pro-labour policies andthen walked away from the Agreement.The government, through the PSC, putup section 26 as a bar to the teacherswhen they applied for leave. But, as thecourt opined, the government ought tohave known the law of the land.Therefore, its fall back position that theAgreement was purely aspirational mayirk the Law Lords. Taken together, thePrivy Council may contextualize theentire matter, disagree with our Courtof Appeal and find bad faith.

A Privy Council ruling that upholdsthe Court of Appeal decision could be amortal wound if it is rendered aselectioneering for 2020 reaches feverpitch. It can be even worse if the PrivyCouncil finds the government guilty ofbad faith. But that is not all. It couldget worse. The teachers argued thatthey were constructively dismissed. TheCourt of Appeal made no ruling on thispoint. The Privy Council could agreethat the teachers were forced to resign,once government refused to honour itspromise. If it does, the government willnow be compelled to pay even moremoney to these teachers whose teachingcareers were cut short because of thegovernment’s refusal to rehire themafter the 2010 elections.

There may be method to thegovernment’s decision to pursue theseappeals. Remember the Solnegotiations; the argument then wasthat Sol should have been ‘danced’ alittle more. If the intent is simply tomake the teachers dance, it will amountto callous disregard for the lives andlivelihood of citizens. These mensuffered enough and should beimmediately made whole.

Otto Sam lost his salary, and as aresult could not care for his family. Hisfamily’s health and house insurancelapsed. He was unable to pay hismortgage and almost lost his home. Yetthe government appealed the MasterMoise’s award of just over $100,000 indamages. The teachers, Daniel, Johnsonand Thomas, would have gone through asimilar hell.

Their nightmare should be endednow. The cost of the appeals and thecontinued suffering is too much for oursociety to bear.

Send comments, criticisms &

suggestions to jomosanga@gmail.com

Law and Politics

(Continued from last week)

NOTES to the SVG Green Party SVGBudget Estimates 2019

r) The main point of this budgetestimates is the substantialinvestment in education. Many schoolsin SVG are dilapidated and badly inneed of refurbishment. The ULPregime invests only 1.41% ofexpenditure on our children’seducation, only EC$15,090,010. AGreen government would investsubstantially more in education, anamazing EC$450 million, andundertake a massive refurbishment ofschools program and build preschools,so all children can get free, high-quality education from preschool touniversity.

s) Social protection is needed forpersons with disabilities, elderlypeople and victims of domestic abuse.Elderly people and people withdisabilities often need equipment toenable them to do everyday activitiessuch as washing, dressing and to bemobile. They may also require carers

to help them. The ULP regime investsa pittance on social protection, onlyEC$24.5 per person in SVG, based ona population of 110,000. A Greengovernment would invest substantiallymore to cater for our people’s needs.

t) The cost of electricity isoutrageously high, and using oil toproduce electricity is the reason.

A Green government will invest ininfrastructure to make electricity100% from renewable energy. The fuel— sun, wind and water — is free, andthis will enable the Green governmentto cut electricity prices by 50% andabolish the immoral fuel surcharge.This will help thousands of poorhouseholds to obtain mains electricity.Households will have more disposableincome and businesses loweroverheads.

u) A Green Government will providefree, wireless internet accessthroughout our country. The internetis the most powerful resource forinformation. In 2011, there were over4.7 billion google searches of theinternet each day. Our people must be

a part of this growing internet era andhave free internet access in their ownhome. Children of the poor must havefree internet access or else they will beleft further behind. Free internet isimportant for business innovation.

v) A Green government will investheavily in supporting ourentrepreneurs to set up and run theirown business. Small businesses arethe beating heart of a healthy, strong,growing economy. A Greengovernment will provide incentives tohelp small businesses move up thesupply chain to provide value-added,innovative goods and services that canbe exported.

w) A Green government will takeback the SVG fish licence from Taiwanand set up our own SVG deep-sea tunafishing and canning industry. This willinclude leasing or buying ships andbuilding factories. This will bringbillions in to our economy and createmass employment.

x) In regional and internationalcompetitions, SVG under-achieves. Weshould be winning medals like other

small nations do at sportscompetitions. A Green governmentwill upgrade and modernise sportsand leisure facilities, to enablepeople to take up sports, and oursportspeople to win medals atregional and international events.

y) Our hospitals need to bemodernised and we need morehospitals. SVG needs a healthypopulation to have a working andindustrious population.

z) The global Green market isworth more than £4 trillion, aseconomies around the world investin low-carbon technologies across abroad range of sectors. A Greengovernment will help SVG smallbusinesses to get a slice of this bigGreen pie.

aa) Every day, thousands ofgallons of freshwater flow from ourrivers into the sea. This is watergoing to waste and is money goingdown the drain. This fresh waterthat could be sold in bulk tankerloads to countries abroad needingdrinking water. A bulk tankerwater export industry would createhundreds of new jobs and be amulti-million dollar industry. Thisindustry can help bring prosperityto our people.

bb) In order to stop deforestationin SVG and protect the watersheds,we must urgently plant a milliontrees. This will help reduce floodsand landslides in times of heavyrain, and make our agriculturalland more fertile.

cc) Many buildings inGeorgetown are dilapidated, andthere are not many public servicesin Georgetown. A Greengovernment will moderniseGeorgetown centre and provide ourpeople with more and better publicservices.

dd) Many buildings in Layou,Barrouallie and Chateaubelair aredilapidated and there are not manypublic services in Layou,Barrouallie and Chateaubelair. AGreen government will modernise

Layou, Barrouallie and Chateaubelaircentres and provide our people withmore and better public services.

ee) Much of the publicinfrastructure in the Grenadines hasbeen neglected by the ULP regime andfallen in to a state of dangerousdisrepair. A Green government wouldrepair and modernise infrastructure inthe Grenadines to improve people’squality of life.

ff) Section 72 (1) of the SVG 1979constitution mandates that there shallbe provisions for a contingency fund toprovide for unforeseen expenditure.However, Gonsalves has ignored ourconstitution: there is no contingencyfund and our economy is broke.Whenever we have damage fromhurricanes and tropical storms, ourpeople suffer because SVG has nomoney left to provide everyone withimmediate assistance.

gg) An SVG Green Partygovernment will build a science andtechnology university so that all ourchildren — poor and rich — have accessto free university education.

hh) A Green government willmodernise agriculture and reverse thedangerous trend of hundreds ofmillions of dollars being spent on foodfrom abroad, so that we are virtuallyself-sufficient in food production. Wewill revive the rural economy. Thereare plenty of alternatives, includingorganic farming; building factories toproduce and export tea, baby food andfruit juices; coffee production andexporting other agro-products. Thesemeasures will provide thousands ofnew jobs.

ii) A new ministry, the Ministry ofScience and Technology needs to beestablished to formulate sciencepolicies and to coordinate thedeployment of the nation’s scientificand technological manpower. There isalso an urgent need for the re-structuring of the educational systemto provide the requisite technicalmanpower. SVG needs a supply ofskilled people.

jj) A Green government would setup a School of Navigation andSeamanship to train Vincentians inseafaring, and the principles ofseamanship, navigation and nauticalastronomy, so they can serve on-boardvessels worldwide and captain SVGtuna-fishing trawlers.

kk) We have had 18 years of fiscaldeficits under the ULP regime. AGreen government would befinancially competent and responsible,and ensure a fiscal surplus every year,to make our country financially stableand our economy strong.

Conclusion

After over 18 years of the ULPregime, our country is in a mess. SVGneeds a Green government. Green isprosperity.

12. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

ViewsV

SVG GREEN PARTY - ULP REGIME COMPARATIVE SVG BUDGET ESTIMATES 2019

Green Party SVG Budget Estimates 2019

by KENVILLE HORNE

“THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL BATTLE‘Bigger Bigs’ is fighting for any party.What I am fighting here is for myeconomic survival and to be allowed tocontinue to make my part for thedevelopment of my loving country and forthe workers who were working for meand up to now ain’t get nothing.”

These were some of the sentimentsexpressed by Leon “Bigger Bigs’Samuel during an interview withDwight “Bing” Joseph on his “OMG”morning show on Boom FM lastMonday.

According to a notice received bySamuel, BRAGSA was expected tocommence a survey of his Rabaccaproperty last week Thursday. NeitherBRAGSA personnel nor surveyorsturned up.

While Samuel had been embroiledin a protracted battle over hisownership of the land and his miningoperation at Rabacca, and even thoughthat seemed to have been settled,contention remained over the use of aan access road used by framers, a roadwhich Samuel said runs through hisproperty.

There is a way

Samuel has blocked the entrance tothe access road, citing that thegovernment had enough time toaddress the issue on behalf of thefarmers, but failed to do so.

Farmers should not expect him toallow them access to their land, butshould instead direct their angertowards the government, Samuel said.

While he recognizes the farmers’right to make a living, it must not be,he said, at his expense, since he was

“ruined economically because ofgovernment’s spitefulness. For 8 yearsI have lost everything financially. Atone time I could not have evenprovided food for my own family. Idecided that 8 years is enough, and Ihave the law on my side,” Samuelasserted.

The businessman said that he wasprepared to remove the barrier whichhas been installed, including an irongate and a container, if thegovernment gave him $1000 and acourt order, if the farmers pay him$10,000 a month, which amounts to$120,000 a year, or if the governmentpromised to rebuild the original roadwhich began in the area of the LangleyPark Boxing Plant.

But Samuel expressed vehementlythat he did not trust the governmentbecause of what they did to him in2011.

Government’s action

Two months after the 2010 generalelection, Government authoritiesrevoked his mining licence, citingenvironmental concerns. This actionled to the closure of the miningoperations and a related blocks-making operation, putting some 45 to60 persons out of work and sinkingSamuel into a mire with his bank.

He noted that the government saidthat the issue at Rabacca was atechnical one but the Prime MinisterRalph Gonsalves made it political. “Itwas never political until when RalphGonsalves introduce that bogus SR&O(Statutory Rules and Order, No. 2 of2011) they made it political. Now thegovernment wants to put boundary onmy property that was never there,”said the businessman.

He said that according to theoriginal plan, “the accessroad is around theLangley Park BoxingPlant and goes westaround my property.”

As far as he was aware,the original road waswashed away around2005, but he is unsureabout the exact datebecause he did not ownthe land at that time.

He said after the roadwas destroyed, the landthat he now occupies wasused as the access road,with GESCO paying the

previous owner on a monthly basis.

Counter claims and solution

But Leon Edwards, who works onKent Black’s nearby farm, challengedSamuel’s claim that he owns the landto the access road. He said that theroad was there before Samuel occupiedthe land, and farmers used to traversethe access road and utilize thereserved land which Samueleventually claimed when he took overthe land.

But Samuel countered, stating thathis deed and original plan of the areadid not show that.

Meanwhile, tractor operator andfarmer Zerah Sutherland said that theissues needs to be addressed urgentlyso that farmers can carry on theirbusinesses.

The solution, he suggested, lay withSamuel and the government becausethe most viable access is throughSamuel’s property.

According to Sutherland, analternative road would necessitate the

construction of abridge that willhave to be at aheight of about100ft.

“Somebodyneeds to comeand talk to‘Bigger’,” saidSutherland,adding that“farmers are notsupposed to meetwith ‘Bigger’ (butwith) therepresentativefor this area andthe Transportand WorksMinister.”

IndustryV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 , 2019. 13.

ÂBigger BigsÊ facesnew battle

Zerah Sutherland,farmer and tractoroperator, says thatsomebody inauthority shouldseek Samuel outfor talks.

Leon ‘Bigger Bigs’ Samuel,whose mining and block-makingoperations were forced intoclosure, is preparing for anotherbattle with respect to his propertyat Rabacca.

Additional blockage to the access road is provided by this container.

The gate installed by Samuel that blocks accessto a road through his lands that farmers are saidto have used to get to their lands.

NewsV 14. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Learners Programmetakes to the road

by GLORIAH…

THE USAID/OECS EarlyLearners Programme

(ELP), in conjunction withthe Ministry of Education,held an ELP Literacy RoadShow through the streets

of Kingstown last Friday,8th February.

Students and teachersfrom schoolsparticipating in theprogramme, parents,interested persons, well-wishers and officialsfrom the USAID/OECSEarly LearnersProgramme and theMinistry of Educationcomprised the marchthat began at the PeaceMemorial Hall, travelledalong Bay Street, turningon to Higginson Streetthen onto Back Street,and culminating atHeritage Square.

As the processionmoved along its path, theharmonic strains of thevoices chanting theactivity’s theme of,“Literacy on the Go:Read, Learn, Grow”,seemed to have thedesired impact as thefaces of onlookers andpassersby took on a

questioning attitude. This set the platform

for providing informationon the programme’sgoals, its work and itsneed for the generalpublic’s assistance inpromoting reading at a

national level. Thesewere laid out at theculmination of the marchat a rally at HeritageSquare.

The ELP: Goals andAchievements

The ELP is a readingprogramme gearedtowards students fromKindergarten to Grade 3.Its main focus is its

Continued on Page 15.

Part of the procession featuring the early learnerswho donned the costumes of their favouritereading book characters.

Some of the marchers found relaxing accommodation for the rally atHeritage Square.

TWO MALE AMAZONAGUILDINGII, Vincy parrots,that were born in Germanyfrom parents that weredelivered from St. Vincentunder an agreementbetween the governmentof SVG and the Associationfor the Conservation ofThreatened Parrots (ACTP),will be flown home at theend of March.

Amazona Guildingii isendemic to St. Vincentand the Grenadines andis the flagship species ofthe country, having beendeclared the country’sNational Bird in 1979.

The species are said toinhabit the interiorMontane Forests andRainforest areas of the133 square milemainland of St. Vincent.The main population islocated within a 10,400-acre sanctuary,established by thegovernment in thecentral core of the island.

A population censusconducted in 2010estimated the number ofbirds to be 850-900 a farcry from the 3000-plusbirds that inhabited theforest during the 1960s

and 1970s.The St. Vincent and

the Grenadinesgovernment along withforestry officials realizedthe need for theconservation of theendangered birds.

And so, in 2006, ACTPof Germany presented aproposal to theGovernment of St.Vincent and theGrenadines, to enter intoa technical partnershipto conserve the nationalbird, both within andoutside of its naturalhabitat.

Over the next 5 years,the relationship betweenboth parties evolvedgradually, giving time fora solid partnership todevelop. ACTP fulfilledall expectations of theGovernment regarding aworkable strategy for thenation’s flagship species,and the conservation ofthe species wasentrusted to them in2011 as per anagreement for technicalcooperation on October 7,2011.

On December 16,2011, ACTP received 15St. Vincent Amazona

guildingii. This markedthe first phase of themovement of birds underthe Breeding LoanAgreement (BLA). It wasalso agreed that a secondphase will allow for thereciprocal transfer of anumber of birds fromACTP to the St. VincentGovernment.

Senior ForestrySupervisor CorneliusRichards said that the 7-year relationshipbetween the governmentof St. Vincent and theGrenadines and theACTP has evolved to thestage where thereciprocal transfer ofbirds can commence fromGermany to St. Vincent.

“This will be the firsttime in over 40 yearsthat any St. VincentAmazona GuildingiAmazon parrots will bereturned to its nativecountry,” he said.

Richards added thatthe Government of St.Vincent and theGrenadines“acknowledges that the

current conservationfocus to reciprocate theSt. Vincent Amazon isnecessary, practical andtimely, and that it isbeing undertaken withthe understanding thatthese birds will serve toenrich the local genepool, thus ensuringviability of the local stockon the island.”

The birds that wouldbe arriving willeventually be integratedinto the local stock,forming two viable pairs.“More birds are to followas the breeding in bothcountries advance,further enriching thelocal breedingprogramme,” Richardsprojected.

He also spoke to a newagreement for furthertechnical cooperationwith ACTP. Theagreement will address,among other things:continue improvinghabitat and wild speciesconservation for theparrot by demarcatingthe St. Vincent Parrot

Sanctuary, rehabilitatingprotected habitat andstrengthening the in-situparrot managementprogram generally; allowfor the WildlifeProtection and LawCompliance andEnforcementprogrammes to developand implement In-situand Ex-situ speciesresearch and monitoringprogrammes including apopulation census for theAmazona Guildingii;improve on the existingex-situ captive stock forthe St. Vincent Parrot atthe Nicholls WildlifeComplex in the BotanicalGardens; ensure theviability of the project byupgrading existingbreeding facility.

With these new areasof focus, Richards saidthe future of the nationalbird is secured. (KH)

NewsV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 , 2019. 15.

The Amazona Guildingii that were bred inGermany.

Cornelius Richards,Senior ForestrySupervisor, says thebirds bred in Germanywill ensure viability ofthe local stock on St.Vincent.

Two Vincy parrotsto arrive fromGermany

The aim of the conservation and breedingprogrammes is to return the population of theAmazona Guildingii to the levels of the 60s and70s.

Continued from Page 14.

belief that students who learn to readat their grade level or higher inprimary school, will ultimately bebetter prepared to master work athigher primary school levels and insecondary school.

To deliver this programme, whichhas also been implemented in Antiguaand Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St.Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia, overfour hundred local teachers in theindicated grades have been trainedover the past two years.

Addressing the gathering assembledat Heritage Square, Chief EducationOfficer Ag., Mrs. Elizabeth Walker,lauded the programme and expressedthe Ministry’s excitement with it.

She noted gains achieved thus far,mentioning the seventy-one primaryschools on stream. Additionally, shestated, “Just yesterday, the ELPawarded ten persons who participatedin the Write-to-Read competitiondesigned to encourage Vincentians andcitizens of other member states, to puttheir creative abilities into practice bywriting and publishing their pieces.

“I am pleased to add that two

persons, Ms. Anna Warrican, formerKingstown Preparatory Schoolstudent, and Mrs. Phyllis Ducnan-DaCosta, a teacher at the LowmansWindward Anglican School, wererecipients of regional awards in theChildren and Teacher categoriesrespectively.”

Mrs. Sisera Simon, Head of theEducation Development ManagementUnit OECS Commission in St. Lucia,congratulated SVG on its regionalwinnings, before she focused on thechildren, encouraging them to neverstop reading. She left them with aquote by Dr. Seuss, “The more thatyou read, the more things you willknow; the more that you learn and themore places you will go.”

In her feature address, educator Ms.Gloria Williams registered herexcitement for the programme, usingthe first verse of Rachael Platten’s‘Fight Song’ to describe its impact: “‘Like a small boat on the ocean,sending big waves into motion; likehow a single word can make a heartopen; I might only have one match butI can make an explosion.’ ”

Williams likened the ELP-trainedteacher to the “small boat”, and the

students to “the ocean”, with greatpotential in her classroom.

“This teacher,” she continued, “thengoes about making ‘big waves intomotion’ by igniting her ‘one match’fuelled by the ‘word’ expertise shegained from her training in the ELP.With receptive, ‘open hearts’, ‘anexplosion’ of children acquiringreading and literacy abilities iscreated, that stretches out across theentire nation.”

Williams implored members of thegeneral public to get on board, asthere was room allocated for theirinvolvement.

“There is room for persons likeyourself to continue this readingprocess out of school. Just visit theschool and dialogue with the teacher.Help to make your child an avidreader,” she encouraged.

To add to what went before, Mrs.Licha Goddard told her own readingsuccess story which took her from anon-reader to an entrepreneur.Students of the C W Prescod PrimarySchool gave two enlightening andentertaining performances, thenchildren from a number of schoolsparaded in costumes of characters they

had read about in books, asteacher/educator Maxwell ‘Tajoe’Francis sang his own compositiondescribing the pivotal role of a teacherin programmes like the ELP.

The goals for the event had beenachieved. It was left to the membersof the public to get involved.

Learners Programme takes to the road

(L-R): Feature Speaker GloriaWilliams (left), CEO (Ag) ElizabethWalker (2nd from left) and Head ofthe Education DevelopmentManagement Unit OECS Commissionin St. Lucia, Sisera Simon (right)addressed the rally.

Bequia FocusV 16. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

ACTION BEQUIA this week, saidthat in the last twelve months, ithad collected more than450,000 plastic and metal drinkcontainers on Bequia.

These containers were thenwashed, sorted andtransported to AIR (All IslandRecycling) in Campden Park.AIR provides recyclingfacilities for all of SVG and fora wide variety of materials.

Lucille Cozier, ProjectDirector of Action Bequia’sRecycling Programmecommented, “We are amazedand proud that this part ofour programme has been sosuccessful. The plastic bottlesand metal cans are collectedfrom our recycling bins whichare located all over the islandplus. We also have a teamwho collect from homes andrestaurants. We send one ortwo truckfuls to AIR everyweek. Each load is weighedand the number of drinkcontainers calculated fromthat weight.”

Action Bequia Inc is anSVG Not for ProfitCorporation, founded in 2011,that manages communityprojects on Bequia.

Its Recycling Programme,which started in 2014 and ispart funded by the UnitedNatuions DevelopmentProgram and throughgenerous donations fromindividuals, is not just aboutplastic bottles and metal cans,but also includes crushingglass bottles for use inconcrete blocks, and recyclingbatteries.

Other Action Bequiaactivities include building andmaintaining walkways, trailsand other infrastructure,environment andbeautification efforts.

For more information onAction Bequia, see,www.actionbequia.org, emailinfo@action bequia.org orcontact Lucille Cozier on 526-2386.

OF NOTE COMING out of Bequia,Mount Gay Music Fest 2019, was theperformance of the Bequia Kids on PanEnsemble.

Beautifully costumed in white shirtsand gold bow ties, the group opened the

show on Sunday with an impressiveperformance.

Pan in Bequia had its genesis over tenyears ago when Elvis Seales, a renownedpannist, began teaching the rudiments ofplaying the steel pan to two young

persons.Now, many years later, with the

addition of teacher Kesslon Wilsonand under the management of LeviWalker and his committee, andwith the support of LeafInternational, the Bequia Kids onPan has grown into an impressive

group of young pannists, totaling over 40players, ranging from ages 6 to 20.

The group now enjoys its space in thecultural landscape of Bequia and assuch, promises to be a staple act infuture Bequia Music Fests.

And while on the one hand the annualBequia Music Fest can boast aboutblooding new musical acts, it is also aproven go-to event for regional as well asestablished local music acts, whethersingle acts or bands.

According to the Fest Committee,musicians who took part continue toacknowledge the high level ofprofessionalism, timely execution andexceptional hospitality offered by theCommittee. This year, from all reports,was no exception, with a smooth runningevent, staffed completely by volunteersand producing one of the best events inthe region on a very small budget.

450K drinks containerscollected in Bequia

Recycling in Action in Bequia. (Photo Credit: NicolaCornwell)

Blooding the young musicians

A section of the Bequia Kids onPan Ensemble performing on theSunday Event of this year’s MusicFest.

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

CommunityV 18. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Athletesget checked

“THIS IS AN INITIATIVE that others canemulate. Trinity School of Medicine issetting a very good example for howfuture physicians and practisingphysicians could give back to thecommunity.”

This was a comment made byDeputy Headmistress of the Girls’High School, Mrs. Athalie Caine-Soleyn. Her statement came on theoccasion of medical checks for athletesof the school, conducted by faculty andstaff of Trinity, as part of therequirements for participation in theschool’s annual sports meet.

The Ministry of Education in St.Vincent and the Grenadines hasmandated that each athleteparticipating in a sport meet mustundergo a medical check. The medicalchecks still hold, even as theMinistry’s proposed student healthinsurance service has not yet beeninstituted.

It was to ensure that therequirement is met that students andfaculty of Trinity visited the St.Vincent Girls High School for two days— Tuesday, 29th and Wednesday, 30thJanuary, to conduct medical checks.

According to Caine-Soleyn,registered athletes and students whohad been involved in practices and

who would act as stand-in athleteswere checked. “As a result,” she said,“almost one half of the studentpopulation of 671 girls was seen.”

Student athletes were checked forheight and weight, vision and hearing,temperature, blood pressure and pulseat rest and after a period of exercise.Cardiovascular and chestexaminations were also completed.

Alongside these checks, the schoolcontinuously encourages the girls toeat properly, hydrate their bodies andget adequate rest and sleep.

The Deputy Headmistress agreesthat the checks are necessary as theytake care of preventable incidents onsports day.

As it stood, the medical checkscleared athletes for the activities inthis year’s sport meet, but they alsocovered the athletes’ participation inpre-meet events like the annual roadrelay, heats and preliminaryqualifications.

Trinity School of Medicine continuesto provide its future physicians withearly clinical experiences that offeroccasions to practise skills learned, orobserve procedure that will positivelyimpact their medical careers.

Equally, students eagerly embracethese opportunities and makethemselves available for eachoutreach.

After a check, a chat with the athletecan provide other relevantinformation.

A concise record is kept on eachstudent who is checked.

THE NEWLY FORMED Shella PosseCharity Organization, headed by SocaArtiste Ricardo “Recka” Wilson, wasvery busy during the past Christmasseason.

Operating under the Island BoyEntertainment Brand, theorganization held its 5th annual “2Christmases in 1” Charity event onSunday, December 16th, 2018 - aChristmas Party for the students atthe Stubbs Government School andchildren from the communities ofBiabou and Brighton.

The effort extended to the widerStubbs community with the donationsof bags of groceries to many lessfortunate individuals and families.

The organization continued its

Christmas Charity programme duringthe month of January when itreturned to the Stubbs GovernmentSchool to deliver the remainder of 731toys to children who did not receivetheir gifts during the Christmasparty.

Shella Posse Charity Organizationalong with Sister Elizabeth Medfordalso visited the St. Mary’s RC Schooland the Kingstown EvangelicalChurch Pre School during the monthof January, to make donations ofschool supplies, toys and cleaningsupplies to those two institutions.

The group says its charity workwill continue throughout this yearwhen they will visit different schoolsto make donations.

Shella Posse Charity donates

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 , 2019. 19.

A workplaceof cheatersDear George,

I AM CONVINCED that there is notone faithful woman left in SVG! 

There are about eleven femalesat my workplace and to the bestof my knowledge, not one of themis faithful to their partners. Sixof them have men on the side, andthree of the other five each has a manand a woman on the side. Theirreasons for this when I asked is, “Thebills have to be paid.”

Based on what is happening at myworkplace, I am beginning to wonderif my girlfriend is doing the samething where she works. I will admit…I have had my doubts and fears whenit comes to my own girl.

Worried.

Dear Worried,

It is not fair for you to conclude thatall women in SVG are unfaithful totheir partners, simply because your co-workers have openly showed theirinability to remain faithful.

If your girlfriend has not given youreasons to believe she is cheating,then you should keep your focus anddo not stir any unnecessary conflictwith her. See your girlfriend as thatindividual who is different and faithfulto you, and be happy about yourrelationship.

George

20. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

AdviceV

Dear George,

MY WIFE has beencheating on me for thepast 2 months. I havewatched her get into herboss’s car on more thanone occasion. I havefollowed them as theydrive to his house andremain there until lateinto the afternoon. Hewould then take her backto work just aboutclosing time and shewould come home likenothing has happened.

I did not make a fussover it. I am HIVpositive, the result of anaffair with a woman whois not from here. Mywife knows about theaffair and I thought we

had gone past that.I do not intend to

make an issue out of mywife’s unfaithfulness,since, as I see it, her bossis already getting whathe deserves. I am justsorry for his innocentwife who I’m sure by nowmust be infected.

I hope he would behappy with his packagewhen he finally gets toknow what is in it.

Sweet Justice

Dear Sweet Justice,

The game you areplaying with your wifeand her boss is not agood one You need tostop it immediately!

Deal with this issuehead on. Let your wifeknow that you are awareof her cheating ways.You owe it to your wifeto reveal your HIVstatus to her and toencourage her to gettested. She could bepractising safe sex withher boss, and thisintervention by you couldsave him and his familyfrom getting infected.

I would suggest thatboth of you go see acounsellor to help youdeal with this as it canand most likely will getworse before it getsbetter.

George

Dear George

MY WIFE does not know that thereason why she cannot get me to goto church with her, is because theSecretary of that church, who is myvery good friend, told me that she ishaving a sexual relationship with thePastor of that church. As a matter offact, my friend said that my wife isnot the only one with whom he ishaving an affair.

I prefer not to argue with my wifeover this. I know what I know, andthat is that. I just want her to stopbugging me about going to thatchurch with her.

Fed up

Dear Fed up,

This just sounds like an excuse fornot attending church. If you have thedesire to attend church, then youshould grow up and level with yourwife. Tell her what you know, andgive that as the basis for your refusalto attend that particular church.Suggest attending another church ifit comes to that.

This is an opportunity for you toimprove on your communicationskills which, in the end, would helpyour relationship. Do not let thatPastor’s behaviour negatively affectyour relationship.

George

No time for playing games

Not that church!!!

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. 21.

LeisureVACROSS

1. Chair cushion4. Jazz singing style8. Numbers class12. Ended a fast13. Horseback game14. Butter substitute15. Gloomy American

author16. Polish (text)17. Conduct guide18. Kitchen garment20. Fruit spread21. Mormon state24. Blame‐absolving

utterance27. Sonny and _30. Ball dress32. Convent lady33. Musical tones34. Buffalo‐hide dwelling35. Coffee server36. “Beat it!”37. Mental image38. Strike callers39. Coast (along)41. Prescribed substance43. Spoil44. Snapshot48. Open somewhat50. Egyptian snakes53. Tease54. Social engagement55. Foot protection56. Possessed bills58. Held onto59. Agreeable reply

DOWN

1. Daddy2. Draped over3. Gentle beast4. Paid (money)5. North Atlantic fish

LIBRA (Sept. 24 ‐Oct. 23)You may find that depression is causingyou to feel lonely and insecure. You maywant to make plans to take a vacationtogether. You can’t live your life forothers. Try to include friends andrelatives in your activities.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 ‐ Nov. 22)Conflicts over joint finances are likely.Any renovation or decorating to yourhome should include the whole family.Consider a trial separation if you andyour mate just can’t come to terms.Don’t invest too much of your ownmoney.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 ‐Dec. 21)Your determination may make you a littleoverbearing when dealing with others.Try to join groups of interest such asballroom dance classes or perhaps aninternet organization. Think about yourbudget before booking a trip.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.‐ Jan. 20)Don’t be too quick to voice your

opinion. Listen to others carefully. Thiswill not be the best day to try to pushyour ideas or concerns. You will be ableto work in fine detail and present thebest possible proposal.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.‐ Feb. 19)Groups and organizations that indulge insocial events to raise money will beconducive to meeting new and excitinglovers. You may make someone else lookbad. Sudden changes in your financialsituation are likely. Your partner couldalso use some time alone with you.

PISCES (Feb. 20‐Mar. 20)Art investment will pay big dividends inthe long term. Tempers will mount if youare too pushy at work. You may need agood friend to lean on. Don’t push yourluck with authority figures.

6. Ms. MacGraw7. Walking baby8. Virtuous9. Foil material10. – Aviv,Israeli

destination11. Garden

implement19. Created by us20. “Plain” girl22. Ripened23. Expected25. Hiccup cousin26. Country

lodgings27. Drain problem28. Move by truck29. Smart guess31. Sport (clothing)34. Cake segment38. Disgusted

comment40. Had the nerve42. Disturb

emotionally45. All right46. Ocean current47. Track figures

48. Major fuss49. Mouth bone50. Query51. That duchess

or dame52. Firecracker

noise

LA

ST

WE

EK

’sS

OL

UT

ION

ARIES (Mar. 21‐ April 20)You will reap the benefits if you putmoney into upgrading your residence.Don’t count your chickens before theyhatch. You would be wise to socializewith as many people as possible.

TAURUS (Apr. 21‐ may 21)Consider the source before you believewhat you hear. You could bedisillusioned if you let relative in on youremotional thoughts. Your involvement insports or entertainment will lead to newromances.

GEMINI (May 22‐June 21)Proceed with caution if operatingequipment or vehicles. Sign up forseminars that will expand your businessawareness. Unrealistic promises will onlyget you in trouble. Your personal life isgoing through a state of confusion.

CANCER (June 22‐July 22)You may be confused regarding yourlove life. Problems with your mate willdevelop if you don’t let them have theirway. You may have ignored or neglectedyour mate lately. Put your efforts intophysical fitness programs or competitivesports.

LEO (July 23‐Aug 22)Don’t be too quick to spend money. Talkto your emotional partner about yourintentions. Your temper may erupt if youhave allowed others to cost you toomuch money. You may find thatrelationships are not going as well asyou’d like.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 ‐Sept. 23)Property investments should payoff.Pamper yourself for a change. Don’t letpeers distract you or push their workyour way. You can learn from those whohave had similar experiences.

IS IT THAT Chatoyer’sblood has run thin in St.Vincent and theGrenadines? This is theonly excuse which willjustify the lack of action ofPublic Servants followingthe judgements in thecourt for the PSU and ElvisDaniel in their separatematters.

In the Public ServeCommission matter,

some public servantssuccessfully brought acase against the PublicService Commission.They argued that despitetheir experience andtraining, they were notpromoted in the servicedue to a lack of theimplementation of properstandards and bestpractices. The judgeagreed with this

assessment andinstructed the PublicService Union to keep aSeniority list and also tostart evaluations. This isto ensure that allpromotions are fair andno one is overlooked.

This is a phenomenalruling in that it,providing the PSC abidesby the judgement, levelsthe promotion playingfield. It ensures that allpromotions aretransparent and be doneby a measurable rubricand not based onfriendships, politics orbehind the scenes

wheeling and dealing.Every public servant whois above board shouldrevel in this judgementbecause it holdsimplications for careeradvancement and fairtreatment. Moreover, itplaces the Public ServiceCommission underscrutiny and forces it towork as intended, as aseparate body from thegovernment and notsubject to the whims andwishes of thegovernment.

Elvis Daniel et al v PSUand Attorney General

Matter

In the run-up to the2010 Election, threeteachers wrote to thePSC asking that theprovisions put in place inArticle 16 of thecollective agreement beenacted for them. Thisarticle 16 agreed thatteachers, although publicservants, will be allowedto contest the generalelections as candidatesdespite Section 26(1)(d)of the Constitution.Article 16 of thecollective agreement wasagreed upon by thePrime Minister of thiscountry in 2005 whilebeing fully aware of therestrictions laid out inthe Constitution.

The teachers ended upresigning from theirpositions as publicservants, expecting fullyto be reemployed afterthe elections if their bidswere unsuccessful. Theywere not re-employed,and sued. They lost thecase and appealed. Theirappeal was successful.

However, theramifications of thissuccessful judgementmust not be takenlightly. The judgebasically agreed that theargument thereappointment of theteachers to the publicservice will beunconstitutional, to benonsense. Good faith wasnot demonstrated by thegovernment in honouringthe collective agreementthey signed with thetrade union. In thebroadest sense, thewording of Section26(1)(d) of theconstitution allows forArticle 16 of theCollective agreement.

What does this allmean for Public Servantsin St. Vincent and theGrenadines?

* It highlights acomplete lack of respectfor the Trade Unions inthe country and byextension, the peoplethey represent.

* It points to apatronising attitude bythe PM and persons inpower to the rest of thePublic Service. Efforts tohoodwink, belittle anddemonstrate a lack offaith to Public Servantsshould not be lauded ormuch less pursued.

* It holds implicationsfor the future governanceof the country. With sosmall a population, anyreduction in the eligible

pool of persons who canlegitimately contestelections is significant. Inthese changing times,any country wouldrequire fresh ideas whichreflect the needs of awider cross-section of thepopulace. It stands toreason that while thearchitects of ourconstitution had theright idea to limitcorruption in theelections process, theyalso foresaw that specialcircumstances will arise,and made provisions forit in the wording ofSection 26(1)(d).

Shame on you Mr.Prime Minister and allthose who aided you inpursuit of theseactivities. The irony isthat as public servants,they too have beenhelping to prime thebarbecue pit upon whichElvis Butcher and theother Claimants were tobe roasted. Old peoplesay, Today for me,tomorrow for you.

Unfortunately, theimportance of thesejudgements have beenlost between politicalagendas and pettyramblings. Now is notthe time for Unions tobecome bedfellows withany political party. Nowis the time for all PublicServants, regardless ofgrade, experience andaffiliations, to recognizethat it is in their bestinterest that the Unionsbe respected as therepresentatives of thepeople that they are.Has Joseph’s Chatoyer’sblood really run thisthin?

Many are afraid tomeet or even protestbecause they are afraidthat their breadfruit treewill be cut down. Manypublic servants havemortgages, loans or arecurrently studying inhopes of getting a payincrease. Pleaseremember that the samegovernment that agreedwith your Unions to backloans or higher pay for adegree, is the samegovernment that haschosen to ignore parts ofan agreement it madewith the same Unions. Ifthey can ignore one, howlong before they ignorethe other? Yourbreadfruit trees arebeing cut down. The sawmay be smaller but it ishappening. Time to actlike Chatoyer’s heirs andrise up.

C.F

22. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

OpinionVRise up!!

V THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. 23.

Correcting arecent footballwrongby SEYMOUR ‘ROLLIT’ WALRON

BELATED AS IT MIGHT BE, letme say ‘Happy New Year’ tospectators, sponsors, well-wishers, fans, the media,businesses, and government fortheir support of sports.

Without your support,sports and sportsmen andsportswomen would be in acrisis.

Let me also appeal to you touse your influence to helpkeep sports persons here onthe straight and narrow, sothat they might developpositive attitudes to theirsport and others around them.

This piece, however, servesto correct what appears to besome misinformation as itrelates to footballadministration here.

Let me say from the outsetthat I, Seymour Waldron,played football in SVG and theUSA. I also coached andattended coaching clinics here

and in the USA. I also did anadvance coaching course inBrazil.

Through my effort and thatof my club, the first youthcoaching clinic for boys andgirls was established.

A nine-a-side competition, aform of football which wasplayed throughout SVG andother Caribbean countries,was also established hereunder my direction andbecause of my initiative.Interestingly, England hadmade a nine-a-side progammemandatory since 2012. It wasconsidered a vital componentof their youth developmentprogramme.

A Masters programme andcompetition followed the nine-a-side initiative.

I must say here that itappears that SVG footballexecutives were the only oneswho cannot recognize howbeneficial these programmesare to the development of

football generally. Peoplebecome confident in what theysee, and then follow, andthat’s why soccer is so popular.

In administration, SeymourWalrond is probably theyoungest person to haveserved as President of theSVG Football Association, nowthe SVG Football Federation.

I held the position in 1976,‘77, and ‘78. During mytenure, the first application forSVG’s membership to FIFAwas processed in 1977. Byvirtue of this application,provisional status was grantedto SVG so as to allow clubs toparticipate in the CONCACAFClub Championship in the 80s.

SVG also became a memberof CFU — Caribbean FootballUnion - on the 21st October1978.

In 1978, the Associationreplaced the tabling of aTreasurer’s Report with apresentation of full FinancialStatements, confirmed by anauditing firm. This was one ofthe requirements formembership to FIFA.

SVG became a full memberof FIFA in 1988. SeymourWalrond, Clive Bishop andLloyd Small were executors inthe initial process of SVG’smembership to FIFA. That isa historical fact, not somefabricated fairytale.

If you read or hear a

different story, that is way outof order — far from the truth.

And by the way, all threemen referred to are alive inSVG.

The poor performances andresults SVG has experiencedand endured since receivingthirty years of technical,educational and financialassistances from FIFA, reflectthe shortcomings of localaffiliates (voters) and theexecutives they elect, not theplayers.

Until the voters becomeknowledgeable of the sport’sprocess of development, theywill continue to elect personslike themselves, and oursoccer will constantly suffer.

Table tennis squad in trainingTHE ST. VINCENT ANDTHE GRENADINESTable Tennis Associationhas invited 13 players tojoin a training squad forpossible selection to theNational Team for thisyear’s Caribbean TableTennis Championships inGuyana from 25th to31st March, and the PanAmerican Games 2019 inLima, Peru from26th July to11th August.

Those invited are:Akeil De Roche, CalebHoward, Juwan Howard,Andre Mitchell, MichelCreese, MikelHazelwood, DamionDublin, Romano Spencer,Kavir Gaymes, Rondre’John, Joshua Joseph,Leah Cumberbatch andVedel Charles.

Joseph “Jose”Carrington, Level 2Table Tennis coach whois conducting the

training, explained thatthe thirteen include sixcadets and two juniorplayers, along with theseniors.

The squad is expectedto be trimmed within thenext three weeks.

Carringnton is pleasedwith the turnout totraining sessions, saying,“I am particularlypleased to see most ofthe players come to thesesessions in good shape

compared to previousyears, especially thejuniors.”

He has no doubt thathis team will have towork hard, but he islooking to thechampionships withoptimism.

Leah Cumberbath, animproving nationalJunior player, is lookingforward to thechampionships.

“I feel great being partof a national trainingsquad. In 2017, Ibrought back a bronzemedal from Jamaica.That was a great feelingwinning a medal forSVG,” she said.

The training “istougher that before”, sheadmits, especially withthe emphasis on physicalfitness and playingagainst the seniorplayers.

This, she said, “willonly make us theyounger players better tocompete well at thetournament and qualify.”

In more recent news,the SVGTTA announcedearlier this week that ithad selected a three-person team toparticipate in the St.Lucia National TableTennis Association’s2019 National PremierLeague.

The three are DamionDublin, Romana Spencerand Akeil De Roche - a16-year-old student ofthe St. Vincent GrammarSchool who will be

making his debut as arepresentative of SVG.

The team will begintheir outing in St. Luciatoday, Friday, and theywill join Barbados as theonly other country in theLeague, which alsofeatures four clubs fromSt. Lucia.

SVG’s final match inthe preliminary round isscheduled for March 9.The final is slated forMarch 16.

I.B.A.ALLENSome members of the national training squad.

Joseph Carrington –SVGTTA head coach.Leah Cumberbatch –

top junior female player.

Seymour ‘Rollit’ Walron Clive BishopLloyd Small

THE ST VINCENT GRAMMAR SCHOOL(SVGS) won gold in the Male Under-20 4x400 metres, at last Saturday’s BarbadosRelay Fairs, staged at the BarbadosNational Stadium.

The Grammar School’s quartet ofNellie Ambriton, Derron Edwards,Malik Ferdinand and Handal Robanclocked 3 minutes 20.2 seconds, enroute to their first place.

This was to be the SVGS’s onlypodium finish.

In the Male 4 x100m Under-20, theywere ninth in a time of 45.2 seconds

and finished eighth in the 1600 metresMale Under-20 sprint medley, inwhich they clocked 3 minutes 55.2seconds.

Meanwhile, the Thomas SaundersSecondary School (TSSS), the otherVincentian educational institutionwhich participated in the Relay Fair,was ninth in the Male Under-20 4 X400m, in a time of 3 minutes 34.6seconds.

The TSSS female contingent faredbetter. They finished third in theFemales Under-20 4 x 400 metres in a

time of 4 minutes13.1 seconds, andfourth in the Under17 Females 4 x 400metres, clocking 4minutes 38.5seconds.

Both the StVincent GrammarSchool and the Thomas SaundersSecondary used Saturday’s Relay Fairto fine tune preparations for theirparticipation in the Penn Relays,which takes place in the USA in April.

SportsV 24. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

TEAM ATHLETICS SVG’sRelay Classic held recently at

the ArnosValePlayingField,attractedwiderpartici-pation fromoutside theregularTrack andField units.

Onenotablegroup ofentrantswasmembers ofthetrainingsquad of StVincent

and the Grenadines SeniorMen’s Football Team- VincyHeat.

The participation of thefootballers was an initiativetaken by Head Coach KendaleMercury.

“Our participation in theRelay Classic was basically forteam building, as well it wasgiving the players anopportunity to get somephysical training,” Mercurysaid.

He also noted that theteam’s participation had to dowith providing a differentenvironment, away fromFootball.

Featuring two teams inSwedish Open Relay, thefootballers finished third andfourth, and took fourth placesthe Open Men’s 4 x 100 and 4

x 400m, to tally 24 points. Mercury revealed that he

has plans to have the playersengage in future track eventsput on by Team AthleticsSVG.

When the points werecounted, the HighPerformance Club, sportingthe largest contingent,emerged ahead of the otherten units, with a tally of 262points.

Second to High Performancewas the IT DAT Academy with138 points, and third theTroumaca Ontario SecondarySchool on 129 points.

They were followed by TheThomas Saunders SecondarySchool who compiled 66 pointsand the X- Cel Track Club- 61points.

The St Martin’s Secondary

School, 35 points, and StVincent Grammar School, 34points, followed in that order.

Also participating in theRelay Classic were the

Chatoyer Sports Club, 15points, the X- Ceed SportsClub, 13 points, andSpeedforce, 10 points.

MEMBERS of the Senior St Vincentand the Grenadines Male and FemaleCricket teams will have to undergo aseries of fitness tests, as a prerequisitefor selection.

They had their first exposure to theYo Yo Test last Tuesday at the ArnosVale Netball Complex.

Physiotherapist Denis Byamconducted the session.

The Test involves players shuttlingbetween cones/ lines over a distance of20 metres.

The shuttles progress throughvarious levels of intensity, with arecovery period of 10 seconds between

each level.At last

Tuesday’stest, thefemales’accepted levelwas 20, whilethe males hada level of 40as theiracceptedfitnessmeasure.

Chair ofselectorsRolandWilkinson,who is also aCommitteeMember ofthe StVincent andthe

Grenadines Cricket Association Inc.,indicated that the Yo Yo Test is amandate of the Cricket West Indies.

According to Wilkinson, “TheAssociation is taking fitness seriously,and the players’ ‘Yo Yo’ has to be at anaccepted level, in order for them to beselected.”

Wilkinson disclosed that the testwas introduced last year but was notapplied as a prerequisite for nationalteam selection. He assured it wouldbe this time around.

The Chair of selectors noted thatthe Association has acknowledged thatthe players will be at different levels offitness, and have made somemodifications to the test.

The Yo YoEndurance Testwas developed byDanish FootballPhysiologist- JensBangsbo.

Following lastTuesday’s first test,the players will beat it again onMonday at thesame venue.

St Vincent andthe Grenadines isset to host theSenior MaleWindward IslandsCricket Tournament in April.

SVGS U-20 4 x 400m gold medalteam (L-R): Nellie Ambriton,Derron Edwards, Malik Ferdinand,Handal Roban.

SVGS bags gold atBarbados Relay Fair

Relay Classic attracts wider participation

Athletes competing in the Female Under-20 4 x 100M at TeamAthletics SVG’s Relay Classic.

Head Coach ofthe St Vincentand theGrenadinesSenior Men’sFootball Team-Kendale Mercury.

Sunil Ambris, Romano Pierre and Gidron Pope, enduring theYo Yo Test, last Tuesday at the Arnos Vale Netball Complex.

Chair of theSelectionCommittee-RolandWilkinson.

National cricketers put to the test

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. 25.

SportsV

ENGLAND SALVAGED some pride with a win inSt. Lucia, the final Test in their three-test seriesin the Caribbean.

They desperately needed something to showand even with their consolation victory, there wasa sense of disgust with what transpired.

Captain Joe Root reflected on their four wins intheir last six matches. One could only imagine theelation he would have exuded had it been five outof six or, as it was expected, another clean sweepsuch as what happened in Sri Lanka.

The Englishmen’s wake-up call came with theirdemolition at Kensington, and having beengrounded into the dust with Jason Holder’sdouble century, England found themselves in ashock.

The result in Antigua gave them morenightmares and their preparation, for the Ashesseries was sent in a tailspin. While the Ashesloomed large, there was a case of matter at hand.And England had succumbed to a West Indiessquad, which they least expected.

They got it going in St. Lucia. When a bowlercan strike five times in 50 balls, that will turn outto be a match-winning performance. And so itwas. The only way that action could have beenneutralised would have been a reversal in thebatting display second time around.

By then, the odds had piled up against theWest Indies. Holder’s absence had long beenforgotten, and everyone settled for hisreplacement in Keemo Paul. After the battingcollapse, further misfortune followed the WestIndies with Paul’s forced departure from theaction until the dying moments to see RostonChase to his century.

The Guyanese all-rounder picked up 2 for 58 inEngland’s first innings, and had 1 for 11 in fiveovers. His exit added gloom to the squad, whichfuelled a spirit of despair.

The bowling attack was dismantled, andEngland revelled in the dearth. But the damagewas already done, and West Indies had indeedwrapped up the series.

It would have been icing on the cake with athree-nil, but given the path we have travelled inrecent history, I will take that outcome with asmile.

The One Day Internationals will haveparticular focus, with the World Cup clockrunning out of seconds. The opportunity is therefor the West Indies to fine-tune its contingent.With the tonic of a Test series win under theirbelt, players will have some positive platform totake off from.

There can’t be any room for distractions, andplayers will be advised to keep their comments asmuted as possible. Terms and conditionsgoverning the operation of matches are changing.Players ought to be aware of the focus on themevery step along the way.

Each motive, every gesture, every word, everyhint, could be a violation of whatever code. Andthe International Cricket Council seems anxiousto bring the guillotine out on the West Indiesanytime they cross the line.

And that represents a thin line between loveand hate. As liberal as we are in the Caribbean,we have to accept that with all the complicationsthat formed our history, we have to be guarded onhow we progress.

Smiles ahead

THE BAT TOOK its domination of theball into last weekend’s round ofmatches the NLA Premier DivisionCricket Competition.

In the Team Rivals-Police Twoclash, Hyron Shallow blasted 160not out (18 fours, 9 sixes), andLindon James an unbeaten 121 (9fours and 3 sixes) in Team Rivals326 for 3 declared in reply to thelawmen’s first innings of 189, inwhich Keswick Williams top-

scored with 50and mediumpacer DeightonButler snared 6for 70.

The lawmenfared even worsein their secondturn at the

crease.Their totalof 100handedTeamRivalsvictory byan innings and 37 runs.Butler again weavedhis magic with 5 for 25to finish with matchfigures of 11 for 95.

The other match between FlowRadcliffe and North WindwardYouths belonged to Radcliffe’sGidron Pope.

Pope lashed 101 (12 fours and 2sixes) in Radcliffe’s 235 in reply toNorth Windward Youth’s 198, inwhich Othneil Thomas top scoredwith 77 and Pope had returnedthe enviable figures of 7 for 29with his off spin.

North Windward Youths made194 in their second innings,

thanks mainly tohalf centures from Dillon Douglas,57 and Othneil

Set 157 to win, Flow Radcliffereached 158 for 5, with DeronGreaves racing to 74 and Popecontributing 20.

I.B.A.ALLEN

RENRICK WILLIAMS andAndrea Hunte hit unbeatencenturies to push Edward ConliffeCoreas Distribution Ltd Belfongoto a comprehensive 257-run winover Ruddy’s Electrical UniqueWarriors, in a NLA First DivisionCricket Competition fixture lastweekend.

Belfongo amassed 422 from 47overs, thanks to Hunte with 127not out (10 fours 11 sixes) andWilliams 100 not out (6 fours and7 sixes).

Roger Gibson with 5 for 61 off7.3 overs and Reginald Jeffrey 4for 48 off 10 overs were Warriors’best bowlers.

Ruddy’s Electrical Unique

Warriors, perhaps daunted bythe mammoth Belfongo total,were bowled out for 165 in 22overs.

SVGCA Inc Women Super 40

In an all-Leeward clash,Attacker Girls got the betterof their rivals Julius AnthonyNorthern Girls, beating themby 2 wickets in a closeweekend encounter in the SVGCAWomen Super40 CricketTournament.

Northern Girls made 136 from37 overs, Shannel Mackie top-scoring with 43. Phernel Charlestook 3 for 10 off 4 overs. Attacker

Girls replied with 137 for 8 from30 overs. Kayan Charles led with26 and Phernel Charles 21. VenolSamuel took 4 for 30 off 6 oversand Yolanda Granderson 2 for 19off 7 overs.

I.B.A.ALLEN

RICHAND HOYTE and GabrielleBenn reign supreme as the Maleand Female Individuals TennisChampions respectively, of the

SVG Community College at the2019 Individuals TennisCompetition.

Gabrielle Benn had the betterof her sister Amarlia Benn, with adominant 6-3, 6-3 win in theFemale finals.

The Male finals was anotherepic battle between archrivalsRichand Hoyte and Arnel Horne.Horne took a commanding 4-2lead in the first set, before Hoyteturned the match on its head towin the next four consecutivegames and win the first set 6-4.

The second set was ascompetitive as the first, withHoyte holding on to oneinvaluable break of service thatgave him the second set 6-4, tocop the male title for the secondconsecutive year.

Alexi Humphey and KeshawnButcher placed 3rd in the Femaleand male categories respectively.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Two matches, three centuries

HyronShallow hit160 not out.

LindonJames hit121 not out.

DeightonButlerbaggedmatchfigures of11 for 95.

Gidron added a 7-wicket haul to hisrun total of 121.

Century makers Renrick Williams(left) and Andre Hunte.

Hunte, Williamsquell Warriors

Hoyte, Benn: SVGCC Tennis Champions

Richand Hoyte fought his way tothe Individual MaleChampionship title.

Gabrielle Benn is the IndividualFemale champion.

26. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. 27.

ClassifiedsV

EARL ELMO YOUNG

Mt. Hallibeth Spiritual Baptist

ChurchSunday, 10th

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

WILLIAM MELVILLE MCDONALD

Layou Seventh-Day Adventist Church

Sunday, 10th February, 2019

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

MR. HERBERT WILLIAMS

Our Lady of FatimaLowmans Windward

Saturday, 9th February, 2019

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

OSMOND HUGH CAMERON

The Church of the

NazareneArnos Vale

Saturday, 9th February, 2019

Viewing: 12:00 noon

Service: 1:00 p.m.

RUDOLPH AUGUST CARR

Mesopotamia Seventh Day

Adventist ChurchSunday, 10th January, 2019

Service: 2:00 p.m.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019 VOLUME 113, No.07 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.

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FOR

SALE

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY

DANIEL CUMMINGS, Opposition NewDemocratic Party ParliamentaryRepresentative for West Kingstown andShadow Minister of Health, is of the viewthat Health officials here are not comingclean with the tuberculosis situation.

Further, he reiterated hiscondemnation of the government’shandling of the health care generally,at a press conference staged at theOffice of the Leader of the Opposition,Democrat House, last Wednesday.

The West Kingstownparliamentarian was particularlyupset by the government’s(mis)handling of a situation at theMental Health Centre, located at Glen.

Cummings defended his principle ofprotecting the persons from whom heacquired his information. But he wasadamant that there are concernssurrounding the way tuberculosis (TB)is being dealt with by the Healthofficials.

TB-related death

The tuberculosis matter and morehad, earlier this month during the2019 Budget Debate, triggered clashesbetween Cummings and Minister ofHealth Luke Browne, to whom he saidhe had given the opportunity “to comeclean” on the questions of health, but

that “their (government) concern washow the Unity Labour Party will look.”

Cummings spoke abouttuberculosis-related deaths at theMilton Cato Memorial Hospital, andurged the media to investigate andverify this matter for themselves.

He lamented the situation wherebythe staff at the Mental Health Centrewas checked following the death of apatient from that institution.

Cummings alluded to informationhe secured from medical sources datedJanuary 30, 2019, which he contended,contained information about thetuberculosis concern.

The West Kingstownparliamentarian expressed his desireto “protect people’s privacy,” butblasted the government for “denying”the existence of tuberculosis, andcontended that 80 persons testedpositive for tuberculosis from a total of200.

Further tests will be needed, headvised.

According to him, conditions atplaces like the Mental Health Centre,prisons, hospital, were breedinggrounds for the spread of tuberculosis.And with the death of a patient fromtuberculosis related infection, anumber of at-risk persons must havegone without any clue as to what theymight have been exposed to.

He decried the situation whereby

doctors treating “active tuberculosiscases, were constrained by theirprofessional ethics.”

For Cummings, the situation cannotbe “pushed under the rug,” neither cancitizens be given “half-truths andinnuendos.”

More health woes

In essence, the West Kingstown MPpainted a dismal picture of the Healthaffairs here, and alluded to shortagesof Tetanus vaccines for at least threemonths in 2018.

He repeated his statement of theabsence of tetanus-related medicinetreatment he made in the House ofAssembly and which was denied by theHealth Minister.

Cummings described thegovernment as “recalcitrant” in itspayments to the PharmaceuticalProcurement Services, and outlinedthat as a factor contributing to theshortage of tetanus supplies.

The Chief Medical Officer also camein for some lambasting fromCummings. He coated his commentsby acknowledging respect for parentsof the officer, and declared that “thePublic Service had a responsible role

to play.” Cummings questioned the

legitimacy of the government, threeyears after its return to office, and hechided the ruling regime for“protecting the ULP’s image, by anymeans necessary.”

For him, the disturbing pattern ofactivity was made more “strident” withthe appointment of Senator LukeBrowne as Health, Wellness andEnvironmental Minister.

Cummings and Browne were ateach other’s throat during the BudgetDebate, with charges and countercharges as they relate to the healthsituation.

He was particularly vocal on thesituation where “everybody must becoerced into saying all is well.”

Challenged as to whether theopposition NDP was hell bent onremoving the government, Cummingsalluded to a situation when thegovernment apprised them of asituation at the then NationalCommercial Bank, and that theOpposition kept its word so as to avoida run in by patrons. Cummingswondered why would they want to dosuch a thing with health.

ALL IS NOT ‘WELL’WITH HEALTH

Daniel Cummings, lead NDP MP on Health, has pushed the Minister ofHealth Luke Browne (back right) into a defence mode. If not into a catch-upsituation.