by DAYLE DA SILVA

THE ONLYCONSOLATION forthose who knew 37-year-old Garth Pompeyof Chili Village,Georgetown well, wasthat his body wasrecovered.

It was a usualfishing expeditionthat went sour,said Omoro Horne,one of the two menwho were withPompey last Fridaywhen the tragedyoccurred.

The men went toMount Young, inthe vicinity of theBlack Point tunnel,“to catch some fishwhich they wereintending to cooklater on,” Horne toldTHE VINCENTIAN.

He explained thatthe water was rough,and that it had gottenprogressively worsewhile they were outlooking for a nice catchto take back.

At a particular areaaround 1pm, Horne said,

they decided to throwtheir line out from therocks.

About an hour afterarriving in the area,Horne said that Pompey

went to clear his line,when he was knocked offby a wave, which camecrashing against the rockon which he wasstanding.

“At first, I thought hewould be alright becauseI saw him coming backtowards us. He wasn’tcalling out to us oranything,” Horne said.

But while attemptingto make his way back,Horne said that he waspulled away and anotherwave slammed himagainst the rocky coast.

There was very littlehe or the other guy couldhave done, except toleave the scene and seekassistance from lawenforcement authorities.

Pompey’s lifeless bodywas discovered atColonarie, the followingMonday morning.

Memories will live on

He is remembered asone who died while doingsomething he loved.

Horne said that heknew Pompey all his life,but that last Friday wasthe first in a while thathe had gone fishing withhis lifelong friend.

He was remembered asa kind person throughouthis community.

“Anything he hah, henah fraid fo give yo,”Randolph Billy, residentof Georgetown told THEVINCENTIAN.

“He polite — he wasvery good to know…hewas a good man, he goneand we go miss him,” hecontinued.

Second family tragedy

Pompey’s death is thesecond tragedy to haveoccurred in the family —they lost one of theirbeloved, MicheleBernadette Pompey, inthe fatal road accidentwhich occurred onDecember 31, 2009, whena mini-bus overturnedwhile travelling along theArgyle road.

He was the second offour children for hisfather, Ivan Dellimore.

Dellimore said that hehad returned to StVincent in Decemberafter a stint in St Croixin the US Virgin Islands.

Pompey would visitregularly, he said — “healways home. Me talk tohe down to Friday beforehe dead (and) he tell mehe go come down deSaturday — he nevercome,” Dellimore said.

“Is me son, I love meson,” he continued.

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The waters at Mt. Young-Black Point beach are known to become rough at any given time, especiallyalong the rocky coastline.

Inset: Garth Pompey became the second person within the space of six days to be taken by the sea.

Omoro Horne, one ofthree men who went onthe fishing expeditionthat went sour.

Ivan Dellimore, father ofthe deceased, expressedprofound love for hisson.

Continued on Page 3.

2. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

NewsVÂHazÊ Samuel is 2015CaribbeanLaureate VINCENTIAN BORN Herbert ‘Haz’Samuel has joined an eliteCaribbean alumni.

Samuel, an energyconsultant and entrepreneur,was inducted into the AnthonyN. Sabga Hall ofAccomplishment, when he wasnamed one of four 2015recipients of the prestigiousAnthony N. Sabga CaribbeanAward for Excellence in theEntrepreneurship, the firsttime an award was being madein this field.

He joins three others in theawardees list for 2015, theothers being: Dr. PalomaMohamed, Poet, Playwright &Academic from Guyana - Arts& Letters; Prof Suresh Narine,Bio-technologist from Guyana -Science & Technology; andProf Patrick Hosein, ComputerScientist from Trinidad & Tobago -Science & Technology.

A profile on Samuel posted on theAnthony N. Sabga Caribbean Awardfor Excellence websites, says thisabout Samuel: ‘His company,Welectricity Inc, is developing andmarketing innovative solutions toreduce domestic energy consumption.Welectricity’s main product is theWelectricity web app (available atwww.welectricity.com) which allowshouseholds to track, compare andreduce their electricity consumption,without the need for any additionalmeasurement devices in the home’.

That same profile said that ‘TheWelectricity app was conceived in2009 and funded by an IDEAS EnergyInnovation award from GVEPInternational and GiZ, was built andlaunched in 2010. It has subsequentlyattracted international attention, hasreceived new global innovation awardsand now has registered users from 111countries. In 2010 the UK-basedWWF, the world’s largest independentconservation organization, namedWelectricity as a Green game-changer;GE awarded its Best Idea for theMillennial in its 2010 ecomaginationsmart grid challenge, and in 2011 itwas judged Best New SustainabilityInnovation in theKnowledge@Wharton/WiproInnovation Tournament at theWharton School at the University ofPennsylvania’.

Samuel is an Industrial Engineer,having graduated from the UWI in1982. He was SVG’s first ever EnergyOfficer attached to the Ministry ofFinance and Planning from 1982 —1986. He also served as an engineerand project manager, from 1986 —

1989, with this country’s lone powercompany, VINLEC, before moving onto work with the Caribbeanengineering consulting firm CEP Ltdand with the Caribbean ElectricUtility Services Corporation(CARILEC).

Since 2007, Samuel has been anindependent sustainable energyconsultant and entrepreneur.Samuel joins two other Vincentianswho have been awarded the AnthonyN. Sabga Award for Excellence since2006, when the first laureates werenamed.

The other Vincentians to have beenaccorded the accolade are PlantPathologist and Geneticist ProfessorLeonard O’Garro in 2012, andGeologist and Volcanologist Dr.Richard Robertson in 2014.

When THE VINCENTIANcontacted Samuel to congratulate himand to solicit a comment, this was hisresponse, much in keeping with thehumble person we know him to be:“I am honoured, excited and humbledto join the distinguished company ofmy fellow laureates in the region, andI thank everyone who has supportedme, in one way or another, in myongoing journey.”

The Anthony N Sabga CaribbeanAwards ‘is the only programme in theCaribbean which seeks out andrewards outstanding nominees in Arts& Letters, Public & CivicContributions, and Science &Technology, and as of 2015Entrepreneurship. It has been inexistence since 2005, and was, till2010, a biennial award, at which timeit became an annual award. Theprizes are worth TT $500,000 each,and each laureate receives a medaland citation at a ceremony in April’.

Herbert ‘Haz’ Samuelis the thirdVincentian recipientof an Anthony N.Sabga CaribbeanAward forExcellence.

V News 3THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. 3.

Airport completionby year end?

by DAYLE DA SILVA

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION, ArnhimEustace, is maintaining the view thatdespite the assurances given by PrimeMinister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, theInternational Airport at Argyle will not becompleted this year.

Continuing where he left off duringhis presentation at the 2015 Budgetsession, Eustace asked, again, on hisNew Times Radio programme onMonday, “When will the airport beready? For me, that is a fundamentalquestion. When will it really be ready?”he questioned.

He questioned further, “Why are wemaking projections about arrivals andall these sorts of things, we have notcome to any negotiations with anyairlines at all, why are we makingthese statements? Why are we givingour people the hope of employment;that the airport will contribute to othersectors of the economy, and the airportis not ready? Why are we doing it? Iunderstand the politics? Why are wefooling the people?”

Even in the face of the Prime

Minister detailing completed worksand giving schedules for completion ofongoing works, Eustace was adamantthat the international airport will notbe completed this year and ready foroperation by year end.

He had heard a lot of datesannounced, he said, but he did notbelieve any of them.

Eustace followed up on Monday,saying that the international airport,once opened, was expected to generateactivity which will in turn benefit theeconomy. One such activity was theexpectancy of increased stay overarrivals in the country.

However, Eustace said, that up tothe present, there was no indication ofany airline showing an interest inoperating here.

“So how in the hell could you expectto project an increase in arrivals?”Eustace questioned.

“The year will pass and the airportwill not be opened, and there will be noincrease in stay over arrivals,” theleader of the opposition said.

Construction work on the project isincomplete, and discussions withairlines have amounted to nothingthus far, Eustace contended.

According to Eustace, it was obviousthat there were no negotiations held todate with any airline, and there wasno commitment.

“People book their holidays monthsbefore they travel. They can’t book tocome to Argyle now, so how ourarrivals for 2015 going to go upbecause of the airport? Does it makeany sense at all, and you are sellingthat to the public, raising people’sexpectations and worse, raisinginvestors’ aspirations as to what toexpect from their properties,” he said.

Minister of Tourism, Sports andCulture, Cecil Mc Kie, in August lastyear, admitted that it was not yetdetermined which airlines areinterested in flying here.

CEO of the Tourism Authority, GlenBeache, whose responsibilities includeleading talks with potential airlines,said in a press briefing in December2014, that this country would have toassist airlines with some of the risks.

There is no convincing the Leader ofthe Opposition, Arnhim Eustace, thatthe International Airport at Argyle willbe completed by the end of 2015.

by KENVILLE HORNE

PASTOR OF THE STREAMS of PowerChurch, Dr. Errol Daniel, declared that thechildren are controlling the parents, and as aresult, fewer parents are taking their childrento church.

The Pastor expressed the view whileresponding to a question from THEVINCENTIAN, during the press launch forthe 50th Anniversary Celebrations of thechurch, last Monday, February 9, at theStreams of Power Church, Sion Hill.

“A lot of parents allow their children tohave their own way,” said the veteran pastor.

He noted that the children of church goersare getting a type of teaching where it is okfor them to be left on their own alone to maketheir own decisions for themselves.

Daniel revisited a time when parentswould demand that their children attendchurch. “However” he said, “these days, someof the parents that we have, are allowingtheir children to make the decisions, and if we allowthat to happen much longer, then the whole nationwould be in a lot of problems.”

Wife of Errol Daniel, Carmalie Daniel, who isalso a Pastor, said that parents when approached onthe situation, give various answers.

“You hear things like, ‘They do not have anychurch clothes,’ ‘There is one shoe for school and it’snot very good’,” stated Mrs. Daniel.

The female Pastor said that is the reason whyher church visits the homes. “If you have a familyand you see half coming to church, then there mustbe a reason why the other half is not coming. So wego for the other half of the family.”

Pastor Errol Daniel urged the parents to rise upand take charge. He admitted it “takes hard work,but it is worth it,” repeating that, “it begins with theparents.”

Pastor Errol Daniel and Mrs. Daniel both spoke to theneed for proper parenting, including guidance to theirchildren as far as the place of church in their lives isconcerned.

‘No way’, says Eustace

Pastor Daniel: ‘Children gettingtheir own way’

Continued from Front Page.

Regrets

Ivan Dellimore went on to say that Pompeyand his older sister, Deonice Dellimore, were veryclose.

She said, when THE VINCENTIAN contactedher on Wednesday, “He was my favourite, I usedto do anything for him — there was nothing Iwouldn’t do for him.

“We had a good relationship — nothing too goodfor him to give me.”

Dellimore said that she spoke to her brotherFriday morning. Now she regrets not being ableto express to him how much she loved him.

She told THE VINCENTIAN that sheunderstands that her brother’s girlfriend is“expecting soon,” and that she was requestingthat she remain close to the family.

“So that I can give the same love I had for mybrother to his child,” she said.

Pompey’s death is the second drowning to haveoccurred within a week. His death followed thatof 17-year-old Cauldric Williams who drowned atPetit Byahaut, on the Leeward Coast, whileattending a church picnic on January 31.

Pompey is expected be laid to rest nextSaturday, February 21, in Georgetown.

Fishing expeditiongone bad

4. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Law V

Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

THE HIGH COMMAND of the Royal St. Vincent and theGrenadines Police Force has launched investigationsto determine why two police officers, who form part ofthe process police staff at the Serious Offences Court,were not on duty on Monday, February 9.

Frankie Joseph, A ssistant Commissioner ofPolice (ACP) in charge of crime, made theconfirmation to THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)Glenford Gregg, who is in charge of the ProcessOffice and second in Command of the CriminalInvestigation Department (CID), has beenmandated to investigate the matter.

The Process Office comprises police officers whowork at the Serious Offences Court, KingstownMagistrate’s Court and Family Court.

The Serious Offences Court was adjourned

prematurely on Monday because of inadequatepolice staff.

One of the five police officers assigned to thatcourt fell ill in court and had to leave, while twoothers, who had performed miscellaneous dutiesover the weekend, did not turn up for court duty.

When contacted on Tuesday, ACP Josephexplained that the miscellaneous team comprisespolice officers from Police Headquarters Office,located on the floor of the Commissioner of Police’sOffice, Central Police Station Office which runsbeat and patrol, Police Public Relations andComplaints Department, Human ResourceDepartment and Process Office. The purpose of themiscellaneous team is to create a stronger policepresence on the beat, one weekend per month.

The Assistant Commissioner stressed thatmiscellaneous officers do not work the 11pm to 7amshift. They would have to work any of the two

other shifts, 7am to 3pm and 3pmto 11 pm.

It is against this backdrop thatthe investigations are beingcarried out to determine why thetwo officers did not turn up forusual court duties on Monday.

When contacted, ASP Greggdeclined to comment, saying thathe was mandated to investigatethe matter.

Adolphus Delpleche, SeniorProsecutor in the Office of theDirector of Public Prosecutions(DPP) and Prosecutor at theSerious Offences Court alsodeclined to comment whencontacted.

NO FOUL PLAY is suspected inthe death of 17-year-old CauldricLevan Williams Jr. , who drownedat Petit Byahaut January 31,according to Frankie Joseph,Assistant Commissioner of Police,in charge of crime.

Williams had gone swimmingwith two other persons at PetitByahaut, a bay located betweenBuccament and Clare Valley,when he disappeared underwater. His body was laterdiscovered at the bottom of thesea. The trio was part of a groupon a church picnic, on a beachalong the Leeward coast. Theyhad travelled aboard a catamaran,

Reports are that on their wayback, the group stopped at PetitByahaut to snorkel.

A post mortem done last weekWednesday showed that Williams

died from drowning. Speaking with THE

VINCENTIAN this week, ACPJoseph used the opportunity toadvise persons to take moreprecautionary measures whileusing the sea.

“You may be a good swimmer,but sometimes you may not haveknowledge as to how the tideoperates at certain beaches,”Joseph said.

“The greatest of swimmers canencounter problems”, he stressed.

Joseph also cautioned personspicnicking to pay closer attentionto each other while using the sea.He noted that a person or personsusing the sea in crowds couldeasily disappear unknowing toothers present.

Williams is the second personto have lost his life at sea in just

under a week.The body of

GarthPompey, 37,of ChiliVillage,Georgetown,was washedashore at theColonariebeach Mondaymorning.

A postmortemrevealed thatPompey diedfromdrowning.

Pompey was reportedlystanding on a rock when a waveknocked him into the sea after hehad gone on a fishing trip withothers at Mt. Young February 6.

POLICE here are said to beinvestigating thecircumstances surroundingthe death of St. Clair Billyof Chili Village,Georgetown.

Billy’s body wasdiscovered submerged inthe river at North RiverRoad, Kingstown.

The dead man, believedto be in his fifties, wasdiscovered approximately9a.m. on February 11th,2015, by sanitationworkers.

Police say thatpreliminary examinationsdid not identify any visiblesigns of injury.

A post mortem wasexpected to be conducted onthe body yesterday,February 12, 2015.

LESS THAN a week after three Lowmans Leewardyouths were jailed on a number of firearm andammunition possession charges, a Green Hill youthreceived a prison term for a similar offence.

Deshawn Slater, 17, was on Tuesday sentencedto three years behind bars for possession of afirearm, without licence, make and serial numberunknown.

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthiashanded down the penalty at the Serious OffencesCourt after Slater pleaded guilty.

Slater was arrested at Green Hill last Sunday,after police searched a sack he was carrying andfound the weapon. He told the court he found theunloaded gun while digging dasheen, and was goingto take it to the police. The Magistrate did notbelieve him.

Last Friday, February 6, twins Mike and MichaelPrescott 24, along with Showayne Phillips, 18, all ofLowmans Leeward, were each sentenced to sixyears in prison for possession of, without licences, aLakefield Mossbery 12-guage shotgun, and sixyears for having, withoutlicences, a firearm, make andserial number unknown. Theyalso received a one-year prisonsentence each for having,without licences, five rounds of12-guage shot gun ammunition.

The sentences, handed downby Chief Magistrate RechanneBrowne-Matthias at the SeriousOffences Court, will runconcurrently.

Mike was also sentenced to sixyears for possession of, withoutlicence, an Aciato Vichor 12-guage shotgun and six monthsfor having without licence, tworounds of 12-guage shot gunammunition.

The sentences will runconcurrently and concurrently tothe sentences on the jointcharges. The trio will therefore,serve six years behind bars. Theywere convicted, February 6,following a trial which startedthe previous day at the SeriousOffences Court.

The guns and ammunitionwere found during a search of ahouse at Buddy Gutter,Lowmans Bay around 5:40 a.m.January 30, 2015 during anaction by the Rapid ResponseUnit (RRU).

Frankie Joseph,AssistantCommissionerof Police (ACP)in charge ofcrime,confirmed thatmiscellaneousofficers do notusually work an11pm to 7amshift.

Police officersÊ absenceprompts investigations

No foul play suspected in teen’s death

No foul play issuspected in thedeath of CaldricWilliams Jr.

Teenager jailed forfirearm possession

POLICE Corporal 723 NolanDalloway and his team havebeen rewarded with acontribution of EC$2,500 fortheir effort in clamping downon illicit firearms and drugrelated activities on theLeeward side of St. Vincent, apolice release stated onWednesday.

According to the release,the reward came from amember of the businesscommunity who prefers toremain anonymous.

The presentation was madeduring an Officer CorpsMeeting of the Royal St.Vincent and the GrenadinesPolice Force, February 6,2015.

“Dalloway demonstratedcapable leadership whichyielded results that helpedthe Commissioner of Policeachieve his dream,” thebusinessman told theGazetted Officer.

During the periodDecember 12 to 13, 2014,

Dalloway, who is assigned tothe Layou Rapid ResponseUnit (RRU), led a team ofofficers on routine patrol,which included stop andsearches, the result iof whichwas that 13 persons werecharged with firearm andmarijuana possession.

During that same month,the team made a total of 54arrests, with most of thosecharged found guilty whenbrought before the court.

In accepting thecommendation, Dalloway isreported as saying, “A lot ofpeople think that I am rough,but I am not rough. I just liketo see things go the right wayand law and ordermaintained.”

He praised his teammembers for their effort,noting, “Whether they aretired or not, they are alwaysready to go.”

Dalloway, who has receivedtraining in Antigua, Belize,the Dominican Republic and

Trinidad andTobago, willbecelebratinghis 10thanniversaryas a policeofficer in2016.

He saidone of hismostmemorableoccasions asa policeofficer washeadingTradewindsin Antigua,a U.SSouthernCommand —sponsoredtraining exercise which helpsnations in the region to betterrespond to natural disastersand land and maritimethreats, including illicittrafficking, the releasecontinued.

Dead manfound inNorth River

Police Corporal723 NolanDallawayrecognised themen under hiscommand asbeing ready atall times torespond to acall to duty.

Businessman rewards policeman and his team

ROBERT ‘BOB’ MARLEY diedin 1981. Few before and sincehave had such impact acrosscultures — across ethnicities — inlife and in death.

If he were alive and ‘troddingthe tenement yards’ in Kingstonlast week, he would have beenpleased on two counts:

One, that his naïve Jamaicahad taken a first step towards,what many hope, is thelegalisation of marijuana, theuse of which he practisedopenly; (See story on this page)

Second, he would havemarveled at the transformationof his old matte-blue 1977Series III Land Rover.

Bob’s Land Rover had falleninto disrepair following hisdeath. It was, to many, onlyworth a few dollars at the scrap

yard.Not so!!Thanks to Caribbean resort

company Sandals ResortsInternational and its Jamaicanaffiliate car company ATLAutomotive, ITC — the regionaldistributors for Land Rover —Bob’s Land Rover has beencompletely restored from clutchto chassis.

Adam Stewart, chiefexecutive officer for SandalsResorts International, said thathe was immensely honoured andproud that his team could givesomething back to a man whohad given so much to the world.…. Marley’s Land Rover is oneof the most famous vehicles inautomotive history, and we weredelighted when the opportunityarose to b e a part of its

restoration.”Those involved in the

restoration in Jamaicaworked intensely withITC representatives onthe two-year renovationproject, to source partsas far afield as Africaand England.

Interesting, the(new) engine came fromEthiopia. Other partswere sourced fromEngland, and those thatcouldn’t be found werehand crafted andrebuilt by Jamaicans,Stewart is reported ashaving told the media.

Stewart also recognised Bob’sdaughter, Cedella, who gave thevehicle the Marley touch,designing and upholstering the

interior in a modern Rastaaesthetic.

Bob’s vintage Marley’s LandRover was expected to bereturned to the legend’s home-turned-museum located at 56

Hope Road in Kingston,Jamaica, to mark what wouldhave been his 70th birthday(February 6). (Source:Caribbean news Now and more)

RegionalV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. 5.

Jamaica Senateapproves newmarijuana law

WHILE THERE HAVE BEENCALLS for CARICOM to takea harmonised approach tothe easing of lawsgoverning the use ofmarijuana in the region,Jamaica has taken a firstand individual position onthe matter.

In Jamaica on Friday[Feb 7], one day after thebirthday of Jamaica’sReggae icon Bob Marley,who was an advocate forthe use of marijuana, theSenate passed theDangerous DrugsAmendment Act 2015,following two weeks ofdebate.

According to reports,the new law will make thepossession of up to twoounces of cannabis a non-arrestable offence.Possession of smallamounts of marijuana will

now be a ‘ticketable’infraction, whichwould require thosefound guilty to paya fixed monetaryfine, outside ofcourt.

The amendmentwill also allow for ascheme of licences,permits, and otherauthorisationswhich will enablethe establishment ofa lawful, regulatedindustry formarijuana formedical,therapeutic,scientific andreligious purposes,the latter relatedthe use andcultivation of the‘herb’ by theRastafarian

community.The Bill will be debated

by members of the Houseof Representatives in thenew parliamentary year.Parliament is expected tobe prorogued next week,paving the way for thestart of the newparliamentary year, whichwill see the tabling of theEstimates of Expenditureand the Budget debate,after which, it is expected,the ‘ganja debate’ willbegin.

In a related issue, theJamaica Observer quotedthe Minister of Justice,Senator Mark Golding, assaying, “Regulationsguaranteeing automaticremoval of an offender’scriminal record forconvictions relating to thesmoking or possession of

small quantities of ganja,are currently beingdrafted by the Ministry ofJustice and should beready next week.”

Senator Goldingstressed the importance ofthese regulations, citing

the seriousdisabling effect acriminal recordfor thepossession ofsmall amountsof ganja had on persons’ability to gain

employment, and gettravel visa for certain

countries. (Source:Jamaica Observer)

Under the amended legislation, to be made law whenapproved by the House of Representatives, Rastafarians willhave the right to cultivate and use marijuana for religiouspurposes only.

REPORTS COMING OUTof Venezuela last Fridaysaid that VenezuelanPresident, NicolasMaduro, had ordered thetakeover of a privatesupermarket andpharmacy chain, Dia aDia, by the state foodagency.

In addition, Dia a Dia’sdirector, Manuel Morales,was reported jailed andaccused of “boycott anddestabilisation” of theeconomy.

News reportscontinued by saying thatsoldiers and governmentworkers were sent tobranches of thesupermarket andpharmacy chain tosupervise sales.

Speaking on television,President Maduroaccused Dia a Dia of foodhoarding amid huge linesand shortages in thecrisis-hit country, anaccusation that thedirectors have rejected.

He did not say whetherthe move amounted to anexpropriation, but he saidthe government’s PDVALfood distribution agencywould take over “allservice of this chain that

was waging war againstthe population”.

This latest action wasthe President’s latestattempt to combat whathe has dubbed an“economic war” waged bythe private sector and theopposition, to destabilizethe recession-hit country.

It was not the firsttime he had accusedprivate companiesof hoarding goodsto keep “thepopulationirritated, suffering”in order to fueldiscontent againstthe government.He also accusedthe privatecompanies ofcolluding with thepolitical oppositionto oust his government.

President Maduro’saction comes asVenezuela, already inrecession since 2014, isriddled with inflationsoaring at 64%.

The situation iscompounded as oil pricesdropped drasticallythroughout 2014, forcingthe government, which isreliant on the country’soil resources as its main

revenue earner, to makebudget cuts.

It is well known thatPresident Hugo Chavez,whom Nicolas Madurosucceeded, expropriatednational and foreigncompanies in varioussectors of the economy,which the oppositionblames for a drop inprivate investments inthe country.

A wave of violent anti-

government protestsrocked the country earlylast year, but Maduroweathered the storm.

Shortages of food andmedicine have worsenedin Venezuela this year,causing longer lines thanusual. (Sources: BBC andGulf Times)

Members of theVenezuelan militarymoved to take control ofall the supermarket andpharmacy outletsoperating under the Diaa Dia name. (Photosource: wsj.com)

Inset: Once control washad, sales at Dia a Diasupermarkets weresupervised by soldiers.

Bob Marley’s Land Rover restored

Bob Marley’s Land Rovershowing signs of seriousdisrepair.

The restored Land Rover once owned bythe legendary Robert Lester ‘Bob’Marley.

Another take-over in Venezuela

Senator Mark Golding,Minister of Justice, openedthe debate on the DangerousDrugs Amendment Act 2015.

Story and Photos byNELSON A. KINGnaking@verizon.netUS CORRESPONDENT

JAMES CORDICE, themastermind behind St.Vincent and the Grenadines’participation in theprestigious Penn Relays, atthe Franklin Field Stadium,University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia, says the lateOrtis Jack played a key rolein jump-starting theinitiative.

Lowmans Windward-born Jack, a former coachand sports coordinator atthe St. Vincent and theGrenadines CommunityCollege, died on Jan. 26,at 11:09 pm, at CooperHospital Medical Centerin Camden, South NewJersey, Cordice said.

Jack, 46, was interredon Thursday at LowmansWindward cemetery.

“Amongst so manyother things that Jack wasinvolved in, he found timeand got involved in effortsto bring SVG (St. Vincentand the Grenadines) highschool athletes (ThomasSaunders SecondarySchool — TSSS) to attendthe Penn Relays,” said thePhiladelphia-basedCordice, who becameJack’s close friend, andassisted him up to hisdying moments at CooperHospital Medical Center.

Ortis was the link

Cordice —a Clare Valleynative and a formerpresident of thePhiladelphia-based St.

Vincent and theGrenadines Organizationof Pennsylvania (SVGOP),— recalls that, in thesummer of 2007, he(Cordice), along with twoof his daughters, travelledhome primarily to engagelocal sports officials andstakeholders in getting aVincentian team toparticipate in the RelayCarnival.

This was the thirdconsecutive year Cordicesaid, he tried to convincesomeone that “sendingstudents to the PennRelays is good forthe physical, mental andacademic well-being of ourchildren, and also toenhance St. Vincent andthe Grenadines’ tourismproduct”.

Cordice said his search

led him to the CurriculumOffice in the Ministry ofEducation and Sports,where he “met and spokeextensively” with Jack,who promised that hewould help. Correspon-dence with Jack continuedfor the next two years.

During the staging ofthe 2010 Penn Relays,Cordice said he was upsetbecause “opportunitieswere passing St. Vincentand the Grenadines”.

So Cordice said hecomplained, about thenation’s lack ofparticipation in thegames, to the editor ofTHE VINCENTIAN andto Jack.

He said Jack promisedto “intensify the search”;and, by May 1, 2010,TSSS Head Coach Godfrey‘Fuzzy’ Harry contactedhim.

“After Coach Harry andI talked, I was convincedthat something was finallyhappening,” he added,stating that he, Harry,along with SVGOP andTSSS, “started workingtogether; and, by April2011, Mr. DunnistonWoods (Philadelphiaresident and Questellesnative) and I were pickingup TSSS athletes atPhiladelphia Airport.

“Ortis Jack was thatvital link that connectedHarry and TSSS to meand SVGOP,” Cordiceasserted. “I will never letthat go unnoticed”.

Dealing with hisailment

Over the years, Cordicesaid he and Jack remainedclose friends.

“I urged him each yearto attend the Penn Relays;and, each year, herecommended Director ofPhysical Education, Mr.Nelson Hillocks, for thetrek,” Cordice said.

In mid-2013, Cordicesaid Jack called him fromnearby New Jersey, wherehe had travelled to“handle a health issue”,later informing him thathe had done a “procedureand was recovering” there.

Jack and Cordice bothtravelled to New York,before heading for thehomeland at the end ofJanuary 2014.

But three months later,

Jack “needed re-examination”in New Jersey,and he askedCordice toaccommodatehim.

“I washappy to pick him up atthe airport,” Cordice said.“He resided at my home. Iaccompanied him on mostof his medicalappointments until he wascleared to return to St.Vincent and theGrenadines in May.

“Jack was told that hewas ok, and he shouldreturn for a check-up insix months,” Cordiceadded.

While in the US,Cordice said Jackattended, among otherthings, the Penn RelaysCarnival and The TeamJamaica Bickle AwardsCeremonies at FranklinField Stadium, andaddressed the receptionfor TSSS athletes at theCalabash Restaurant onLancaster Avenue inPhiladelphia.

At the reception lastyear, Jack pledged theCommunity College’sparticipation, for the veryfirst time, in the PennRelays.

On Dec. 3, Jack,accompanied by his long-time girlfriend, Kendra-Ann Primus Bennett,returned to the US forfollow-up medicalappointments and stayedat Cordice’s residence inPhiladelphia.

But Jack was greetedby “bad news” a few dayslater, when medicalofficials informed him that“the cancer was back,”Cordice said.

“We sat empty andsad,” he said, adding that,while, on his last visit tothe US, Jack washospitalized twice, beforehis eventual demise, fromblood clots.

A man of high hopes

Cordice said Jackwanted to accomplishmany things, and wasdeeply concerned aboutothers before he went tothe Great Beyond.

“He was concernedabout his children, aboutKendra, about cricket,about his students,”

Cordice said. “He wantedto share his knowledgewith all Vincentians.

“He wanted to see OJ(his son) grow up,” headded. “He wantedto finish fixing the truckso that Kendra could enjoyit without it breakingdown on her. He wantedto run with his daughter’schild.

“He wanted to bring thecollege (Community) trackteam to the Penn Relays.He wanted the sportsstadium in SVG built. Hewas so hyped. I did notknow that those deepconversations we had somany times would sosoon become memories ofa profound man,” Cordiceintimated.

Among other things,Jack was coach of the St.Vincent & the GrenadinesWomen’s Cricket Team(2001-2003) and St.Vincent & the GrenadinesUnder 19 Cricket Team(2007-2008), andconducted trainingsessions for PrimarySchool Teachers in KiddyCricket Skills (1999).

He was also EducationOfficer, PhysicalEducation and Sports,Ministry of Education(2008 — 2011); andAssistant Secretary, St.Vincent & the GrenadinesCricket Association (2002).

6. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

PeopleVJack: Key player inSVG participationin Penn Relays

Ortis Jack, who addressed areception for TSSS Penn Relays2014 team in Philadelphia, wasdescribed as the link that madethe school’s participation a reality.

James Cordice repaidJack’s support by beingthere with him throughhis period of ill-healthand up to the time of hisdeath.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. 7.

I WRITE PRIMARILY of three persons, ofwhom the youngest was 76 at the time ofdeparture. They are Gideon Steele, PearlAnderson-Herbert and Geraldene Adams.

Gideon had been my neighbour from birthat Rose Place. He was the grandson of myaunt Mary Steele, who with her two sistersEllen Maule and Arabella John (my mother)became refugees from Fancy following thevolcanic eruption of la Soufriere in 1902.

They grew up in the Questelles area; Ellenstayed and married Hugh Maule. Arabellaended in Rose Place, married to FrederickJohn, with Mary Steele as a neighbour.

Gideon’s mother had been Elaine, and hewas born in Rose Place like me and severalplaymates, notably Errol Agard, Lorna andPearl Anderson, Stanley Smith,VibertDeshong, Cameron King, the last-named andI being the only survivors.

Of that group, Gideon had been born inpoverty-stricken circumstances; he did notobtain secondary education like the rest of us.But he always remained a pleasant fellow,played with us, and fought the good fightbravely and confidently.

I recalled his working at the “Vincentian”newspaper, and his striking up a greatfriendship with Arthur Guy of Glen, whichlasted until death.

Somewhere along the line, he was lucky toescape to the USA where he worked in thefield of trade unionism, and was able to gainseveral awards. He was also a ferventChristian who contributed his fair share ofpreaching.

Gideon and I were particularly close, thebond going way beyond our blood relationship.About fifteen years ago, he presented my wifeand me with a beautiful, thoughtful andlasting gift: a leather case bearing theChristian cross, which my wife takes tochurch every Sunday with our bible, prayer-and-hymn books securely tucked in. Itcertainly would outlast our earthly existence,as it was probably meant to!

Pearl Anderson-Herbert was appropriatelythe jewel of our Rose Place gang that togetherenjoyed our youth at play: checkers, cards,hide-and-seek, Sergeant O’Grady, skipping,nine-mornings, carnival and the rest.

In our teens, we enjoyed parties andbeach-picnics, at which one Fred ‘Vites’Herbert was Pearl’s favourite. In fact, theymarried later and are blessed with two sonsRon and Nigel and a daughter Nicole whoshares similar qualities to my own daughterAndrea with whom she seems bonded.

Pearl in her hey-day, was an outstandingnetballer. I have memories of her, as a felineDefence, helping to keep at bay the guilefulJean Pierre, T&T’s ace-shooter from our goalin St George’s, Grenada in 1957. She hadlearnt the ropes from her neighbour Grace‘Snatch’ Daisley, both of whom played alongwith my sister, Rita, for “Dodgers” in the localcompetition.

I visited Pearl living at Willesden in

London, England whither she had gone in herpursuit of her vocation of librarianship. Shewas then Mrs. Herbert, a mother of three andno longer the Tom-Boy I knew in our riotousdays.

Today, she is no more, predeceased by herhusband, sisters Lorna and Kay, and brotherRaymond. Only the first, Elton bravely carrieson, despite many setbacks. May she rest inpeace.

I went to Stubbs Government School in1947, where I met students: Gerald Adams,Dorothy Trotman, Merle Trotman nee Gilkes,Celitha Wiltshire-Davy, and Myrtle Richards,among others. Strange, I can recall the boys’names of only Leroy Roache and AlstonFindlay.

My old headmaster, Cadman Fraser, tookme along following an exchange of head-teachers: Nelcia John of Stubbs to theKingstown Methodist and Fraser vice-versa. Ieventually resided in Stubbs at the residenceof Gladys Hutchinson, mother of AlstonFindlay.

The student-body was a gallant lot welltrained by Nelcia John. Geraldene Adamsreflected all the virtues that had beenimparted by Nelcia - Cristian, virtuous, hard-working and honest.

I recalled that at school we kept a kitchen-garden of ground-nuts which we sold andbought amenities for the school.

At home in Kingstown, I was known as“Finny Hands,” at Stubbs I leant to plait amat and could also make a reasonable enoughbamboo broom.

The “House” into which the school wasdivided took turns in tidying the schools onevenings, so that all was in place and ready tostart the next day promptly at 9.00 clock.

Clearly, Geraldene imbibed these traitsand more, particularly her commitment to theChristian Faith to which we genuflected eachand every morning without fail, before thestart of formal instruction.

I have generally known Lennox Adams foryears, as a disciplined athlete and cricketerand, latterly, as a doctor, but was unawarethat Geraldene was his mother, even when herelated to me the varying state of her healthcondition.

Now I know that the Christian medic withthe distinct feel for humanity and reverencefor the Almighty, had to be the son ofsomeone like Geraldene. It’s never too late.Lennox, accept my empathy, and continueyour life which in so many respects representan extension of your mother’s.

Finally, I salute the passing of “Nappy”Hinds, Gunny’s brother, formerly of BottomTown, and of Kenneth Wyllie in the USA, thebrother of Hugh Wyllie and Frank Da Silvia,with all three of whom I have had healthyexchanges on social matters. Vive ladifference.

LONG HAS THE EXPRESSION ‘the common good’ been with man. And as long as it has been, the concept of ‘the common good’ has had different connotations, more often than not,influenced by the setting.

Take for example the ancient Greek societies. The common goodmeant that the state was central, and that the individual could beexpendable, if it benefitted the larger good.

In Judeo-Christian thinking, the common good meant thatindividuals have what is necessary to fulfill their ambitions and toflourish

Outside of text books on political thought and theology, the OxfordDictionary defines it as “the benefit or interest of all.”

In this sense, it comes over as a utilitarian ideal that advocates for“the greatest possible good for the greatest possible number ofindividuals.”

Still, others define the common good as the ultimate goal of theState, and it requires the promotion of basic personal rights along withthe opportunity to form one’s own life in pursuit of virtue.

Interestingly, the Roman Catholic Church comes closest to situatingthe person at the centre of what is meant by the common good, withthe document ‘Gaudium et Spes, (Joy and Hope), promulgated on 7December 1965, as one of the four Apostolic Constitutions resultingfrom the Second Vatican Council. The document defines the commongood as “the sum of those conditions of the social life wherebyindividuals, families and groups more adequately and readily mayattain their own perfection.” (GS, 74)

So, what does all this have to do with a national budget? A lot,since the Budget is the nuts and bolts response of the state in itsobligation to serve and fulfill the common good.

The Budget is a test of the degree to which the state facilitates orenables each and every Vincentian to fulfill his or her ambitions, andhow, as a people, they can work together to foster meaningfuldevelopment that will benefit all, regardless of how much that soundsutilitarian.

So we budget this amount and that amount for social services(health, education, housing, welfare); infrastructure (road constructionand maintenance, airport development (Argyle); production(agriculture and manufacturing); service sectors (tourism, culturalindustries), and so forth.

Year after year, as we go through this ritual we call The Budget, weare cautioned, as though to make excuses that the common good is nota factor in the scheme of things, that a fiscal and financial crisis loomsafield and that will bear down negatively on us.

If this exercise, this ritual was anywhere near in intention to servethe common good, why is there no real political dialogue towardsindentifying a path forward? Instead, partisan dynamics blocks thecrafting of solutions that will genuinely address the enduringproblems, and set us on a path to serving the common good.

Never, it seems, have major proposals been allowed to be tabled forgenuine remedy of our financial state and a development path that wecan afford.

One side tables a remedy; the other sees it as ‘off the table’. Thosewho deem the remedy ‘off the table’ counter-propose and the other sidecloses its ears to anything that has the slightest semblance of realsense.

The Budget is nothing short of a stalemate in which the eventualpolicy is dictated by impasse rather than by a genuine search forcompromise on solutions that will serve the interest, the common good,regardless of the definition, of all Vincentians.

The budgetary ritual is as much an exercise in crafting numbers, asit is political in nature and/or implications. But, it also concerns deepmoral questions; questions about who we are as a society: how we viewour future, and whether, as a people, we can look beyond our own self-interest (like a government looking to hold on to authority) to theinterest of the larger society.

Not to sound theological, but the real reason for our political leaders’inability to forge workable solutions to the real budget dilemmas, is theresult of a serious lack of a common moral frame of reference.

To savour the political implications of the budgetary exercise overfounding financial and fiscal policy on sound moral reference, is toforego a commitment to safeguarding the common good.

Ask yourself: How much is the 2015 Budget in keeping with thisreference?

8. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. 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 Budget and the Common Good

A grand farewell to aselect band of associates

HOW ARE YOU? Previously, you said you were in St. Vincent since

1988, being respected and treated with dignity. Ipersonally have never heard you, my friend Mr.Perry, say anything before that was negative about

Islam. I take it that you arefrom America where millions ofMuslims live.

You came to my homeland,where you were accepted withopen arms by the peaceful andloving people of St. Vincent, andlive comfortably, you and yourfamily. We, Muslims, form partof the population of St. Vincentalso, and have never disrespectedyou nor anyone else in St.Vincent, to my knowledge.

However, here we find you, aman who has never beendisrespected, now have hisreligion disrespect anotherperson’s religion, yet you claim tobe a follower of Jesus and thebible; the very bible which saysto love your neighbour as youlove yourself; and so if you don’tlove me, your neighbour, whomyou see every day, then you alsodon’t love yourself, according tothe bible.

The bible also states that, inorder for you to claim that youlove God, you first have to loveyour brothers, the men you seeevery day walking the streetsand dwelling amongst you.

I also wish to ask you to pleasemake a correction to the claimyou made, stating that I said toyou that I am not a Muslim. I

never said that to youduring our conversation.I told you that I ampractising Islam and Iam doing studies inIslam. I even asked youto follow me to meetsomeone who is morelearned that I am in thesubject, which youagreed to. You did followme in your vehicle, andyou were not forced uponto do so. So please, mybrother, preach love andnot hate of another’sbelief and faith.

On the subject ofJesus, his name is foundmore in the Quran thanthat of Mohammed, andany Muslim who says that they don’t believe inJesus, isn’t a Muslim.

On the topic of the Quran: There is only oneversion. If you compare the one you have with theone we have, you will see that it is the same, wordfor word.

This shall be my final and last response to you onthis subject, my brother, though you have said thatyou are not my brother. I, however, say that you area creation of God and a son of Adam, therefore, youare my brother.

I will also like for the reading audience to go tothe internet and check the miracle of Islam anddecide for yourselves. Let as unite as one as Godintends for us to do.

Allah (Islam) — meaning God; Yahweh (Hebrew) —meaning God; Elohim (Hebrew) - meaning God;and Jehovah (Hebrew) — meaning God.

Follower

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. 9.

LettersVI AM PASSED three score and ten andmy life’s journey is almost complete.My only regret is that my Mom did nottake a millionaire sweet-man with myDad (laugh).

My life started to unfold in 1952when I came upon the book ‘Pilgrim’sProgress’, categorised in any libraryas Christian Literature. It is a storyof Christian and a friend (bothhuman) who, on realizing they aredoomed, set out to reach this‘Celestial City’, a city of peace andharmony ruled over by a prince wholoves his subjects. The book was, ineffect, a dream written by JohnBunyan, while serving a prisonsentence. But it is also the wholeBible written by one author. Sir,many preachers today have neverread or heard of it, even though it’sconsidered the second largestpublication after the Holy Bible.

My life’s next lesson came from thebook ‘Universal Spelling Book’ andthe chapter ‘The stone that rebound’.That taught me self-esteem.

Next, from the Royal Reader, Ilearned about managing time andlaziness from ‘Solomon Slow’, whofailed to catch the stage because heoverslept.

Then from the West Indian Readerseries, I learned about manners from‘The Old Woman and the Crab’. Thatstory is about two crabs who wentwalking. The first met an old womanby a well, who asked for a drink ofwater. The crab gladly obliged theold lady and was rewarded withriches. When the other saw that, hetoo went to the well and met thesame old woman. But when sheasked for water, he insulted the old

woman, who then took up a stick andwhacked his back. The crack fromthat whack is still there today for allto see.

From the same series I alsolearned about stupidity, from ‘A cowjumping over the moon’, and ‘Awoman using a ladder to push a cowon to the roof to eat the grass’.

Of tremendous impact on mygrowing-up, again from the RoyalReader series, was ‘The Judge andthe Prince’. A prince ordered a judgeto set his friend free. The judgerefused, whereupon the princeslapped him there and then, in court,right there on the spot. The judgeresponded by sentencing the prince toprison. When the prince becameking, years after his release, he senthis royal carriage to bring the nowaging judge to the palace. The Judgewas afraid for his life, but the Kinghonoured him instead, making himhis chief advisor with these words,“To this empire, thou are a wise andfaithful citizen of character, (whom) Iam proud of”.

Sir, I have not yet met a modernday author who has given me a bookthat teaches one civilities. Too manypublications today are abouttechnology advancement, failing toteach good character and life-longlessons.

I particularly wish and pray thatall persons in position over thecommon man, and who profess to carefor others, should get the essence ofthe lesson, ‘The Judge and thePrince’.

Hutchie

LifeÊs lessonsYOU KNOW something,Mr. Editor, I have towonder what all thosewho oppose the ULPgovernment reallysinging.

I mean, it must bethat they miss going tothe standpipes forwater, now that they allhave house borne water.

It must be that theymiss signing up for aday work and notturning up to do thework.

It must be they vexwith the emphasis thisgovernment is placingon education. Theymust be like beingilliterate. They must belike the days when ill-discipline reignedsupreme in the schools;when teachers had toput up with a multitudeof unmanageablechildren.

It must be that theylike the time whenforeigners could walkinto this country andplunder us — walkingaway with millions ofdollars from our banks.

It must be …. I muststop here and hope theyget the message.

HD

What theyreally want?

I AM STILL a young man. I can’t recall thedebates in the House of Assembly before say 1987or thereabout.

However, based on what I can recall, I cannotremember another time since that point when theHouse of Assembly, the highest law-making body inthis country, was brought into such disrepute as ithas been, since the appointment of Mr. HendrickAlexander as Speaker.

Now, everybody knew a long time ago (I foundout only recently) that Mr. Alexander was asupporter of the St. Vincent Labour Party, andautomatically became a supporter, if not a member,of the Unity Labour Party. He was deep into hispolitics, and someone told me recently, he mighthave been considered at one time, as a candidatefor the Labour Party.

What appears to me is that the Speaker has notleft his politics at the door. Clearly, his attempts toquell uproars in the House have left manywondering about whether in fact he can managethe duties of his office.

This is not to say that the Members of the Housedon’t provoke the situation, and I mean both sides.But it seems that there is a tendency to favour oneside over the other.

Can anyone tell me if there have been morewalkouts of parliament under a previous Speaker?There have been so many during Mr. Alexander’stenure that I have lost count. Then there are thenumber of times members have been thrown out.

Mr. Editor, I wonder if the Speaker and theMembers of the House realize that people acrossthe world are listening to them. And please, don’ttell me that is what goes on in every parliament.That is no justification. That is like saying thereare thieves all over the world, so why complainabout those we have here. This is St. Vincent andthe Grenadines, and we ought to be setting our ownstandards, as far as how we conduct the business ofthe House is concerned. As it appears, we have nostandards, as far as that is concerned.

I am, simply put, ashamed of these men andwomen whom we have elected to guide ourdevelopment and make laws on our behalf.

Maybe the designation ‘Honourable’ should beremoved from the names of all MPs.

John, S

Ashamed ofthe House

Response to Mr. Allan Perry

In the Searchlight of 16/1/15, thewriter said: “If we can realize thateverything is not economic orpolitical or social, then we, maybewill find our way or bearing out ofour present dilemma, where a lot oflies have been told and are beingtold to cover up our oversightedmistakes.

The A.I.A claims that the runwaywill be operational by May 2015.Impossible!! Are all the engineers upthere ignorant to construction laws,such as designs and purposes?

Let us look at basic standards foran airport. Most important is therunway’s capability in deadweightand transit weight when differentaircraft land with different weightand at different speed. On the actualrunway, what was the P.S.I beforeand after compaction? For stability,what if the concrete slab thickens,what ribs are used to hold sametogether? Is it steel or BRC, andhow many layers? What method isused to slow the process of curinguntil the next batch is married intothe previous? Why and when will therivers be covered? They cannot becovered and properly compacted intwo months; we are now in

February.I am a 75-year-old Vincentian,

self-taught engineer, who is boldenough to say that the method usedat the head of the runway should bestopped and that portion enclosedwith piles. We always suffer fromthe rough Atlantic seas, and thatalone will remove all those loosestones used.

I have worked under Britishengineers and grasped theirconcepts. I also worked on PearlsAirport and Maurice BishopInternational Airport (formerly PointSaline) — Grenada, and GrantleyAdams Airport — Barbados, so Iknow what I am saying.

Be warned of your constructionmethods. I warned you about theLowmans Hill stone back wall; youput the cart in front of the horse andyou are doing likewise on theLeeward highway drain slabs,without ribs. You did the sameabove Dr. Cyrus clinic corner. Wehave had an earthquake recently.Have you checked the number ofcracks that are widening?

Taxpayer

Airport debate in context

The issue

As promised last week, we continue thechronology related to the developments inthe health sector, based on the 2015budget address delivered by PrimeMinister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

Mr. Speaker, on the capital side ofthe budget we estimate to spend $25.2million on health in 2015. The majoritems of capital expenditure in thehealth sector for 2015 include:

* The Modernisation of the HealthSector under The 10th EDF: $14.2million;

* The Modern Medical Complex atGeorgetown: $ 4.1 million;

* Improvements to Primary HealthCare [Equipment and Furniture]: $1.5million;

* General Upgrading of the HealthFacilities for Clare Valley and Mayreau,and other clinics: $1.0 million;

* Purchase of Equipment at MCMH:$0.7 million;

* Purchase of Ambulances: $0.5million;

* PAHO/WHO: $0.5 million.Permit me to highlight the details on

the first two of these items of capitalspending which are directed todeveloping further and modernising thehealth sector by improving andexpanding the physical plant,equipment and other infrastructure.

Through the financing of theEuropean Union’s 10th EuropeanDevelopment Fund, which we agreed tobe utilised largely to modernise ourhealth sector, there are seven projectscurrently on-going costing $22.4 millionwhich are expected to be completedbetween February and October 2015.These projects includes :-

* Alteration and upgrading ofMCMH: $5.8 million, with a completiondate set for August 2015.

* Alteration and upgrading of theMental Health Centre: $3.8 million,estimated to be completed in October2015.

* The Union Island Staff’s Hostel:$2.6 million, slated to be completed inAugust 2015;

* The Sandy Bay Doctor’s Quarters:$0.39 million, with a completion dateset for February 2015.

* The Canouan Doctor’s Quarters:$0.57 million with a completion date ofFebruary 2015.

* The Chateaubelair Doctor’sQuarters: $0.48 million, with anestimated completion date of February2015;

* The Buccament Polyclinic: $4.5million, set for completion in June 2016.

Additionally, the construction of theMesopotamia Polyclinic is expected tocommence in the first quarter of 2015 ata cost of $4.6 million and is scheduled tobe completed by October 2016. TheBuccament and MesopotamiaPolyclinics will thus join the StubbsPolyclinic as a trio of polyclinics to serveexpanding population centres. Thesepolyclinics are intended to provide awide range of diagnostic (including X-Ray facilities) and other health serviceson a 24-hour basis.

The Modern Medical Complex

Mr. Speaker, at Georgetown, theimpending completion in 2015 of theModern Medical Complex will addsignificantly to the hospital plant in St.Vincent and the Grenadines. ThisMedical Complex will be twinned withthe existing 22-bed “Smart Hospital” atthe immediate adjoining location. TheModern Medical Complex will offer afull range of hospital services, includingdiagnostic and surgical facilities.Additionally, it will provide the onlyState-operated haemodialysis facilitiesfor kidney patients.

The Chief Engineer recently advised

me that the Modern Medical Complex isnow approximately 92 percent completewith an expected completion time ofMay 2015. This completion date isbased on the delivery of the physicalbuilding and does not include theinstallation of equipment and furniture,and the appurtenant road works andparking areas.

Several of the finishing activitiessuch as painting, countertops andceilings are well underway and are nowon schedule. One area of concern hasbeen the Electrical Installation due tothe inability of the Electrical Contractorto fulfill the contractual terms on atimely basis. The Ministry of Workshas opted to procure skilled electriciansfrom Cuba to push the work to anexpeditious conclusion.

Mr. Speaker, on December 09, 2014,the President of Cuba, Army GeneralRaul Castro, in a bilateral meeting withme, reaffirmed the Cuban government’searlier commitment to provide themedical equipment necessary for theModern Medical Complex. We thankCuba, yet again, for its selflesscontribution to the development of St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

Chikungunya etc.

Two other capital projects ofsignificance in the health sector relatefirst, to building preparedness,readiness, and response capacities totackle the threat of the Ebola virus; andsecondly, to continuing the fight againstChikungunya, and the control of rodentsby way of a public health project.

A provision of $250,000 is made inthe 2015 Capital Estimates for theEbola project. Indeed, after theapproval of the Estimates in December2014, the Government of the Republic ofChina (Taiwan) gave a grant of US$100,000 (EC $270,000) for the Ebolaproject. A provision of $200,000 hasalso been made towards the publichealth project in respect ofChikungunya, and rodent control.

Mr. Speaker, a Special Meeting of theConference of Heads of Government ofCARICOM was held on November 04,2014, in Trinidad and Tobago, on Ebolaand Chikungunya. Therecommendations and conclusions ofthis Summit are being implementednationally and coordinated regionally.This CARICOM Conference followedswiftly upon the heels of an ALBASummit on Ebola in Havana, Cuba.Cuba’s assistance on this matter hasbeen critical; so, too, the initiatives ofPAHO and WHO.

Training of a sufficient number ofhealth personnel (doctors, nurses,technical persons in various medicalspecialties) is a requisite for any properfunctioning health system. Ourgovernment is dedicated to this venture.Far more doctors, general practitioners,and specialists have been trained in thelast dozen or so years than at any otherperiod of our country’s history.

A similar process has been evident inthe training of nurses and othertechnical medical personnel. Thenursing shortage in the decade prior,and up to 2001, is a thing of the past.Our government actually trains morenurses than are needed for our healthsystem; thus, our programme ofmanaged migration of nurses. Nursingstudents in St. Vincent and theGrenadines are paid a monthly stipendof just over $1,000 to go to NursingSchool; and they receive their nursingtraining free of cost to them!

PETROCARIBE

A few weeks ago, as I have done severaltimes since its inception in 2005, Iagain express concern about thePetroCaribe operation. At the outset,this concern was based on myunderstanding of the Organization ofPetroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).This organization does not allow any ofits members, and Venezuela is amember of OPEC, to reduce the price ofoil to its customers. So when thegovernment here announced thatPetroCaribe will mean lower prices forfuel here in St. Vincent and theGrenadines ( SVG), for cooking gas (LPG)and lower prices for electricitysurcharge, I know that could not be true.

What Venezuela did in fact charge,and what the consumers did in factpay, was the market price for oil. Inaddition, they are allowing thegovernment to retain, in some cases,up to 50% after 50% of the oil sale, asa loan to be repaid over twenty yearsat one percent (1%) interest. Thesewere generous terms. We must notethat the fuel surcharge and the priceof diesel and LPG were not reduced.The government did get the loan, andthey used it for purposes theydetermined. The bottom line,therefore, is that the government usedthe funds as they saw fit.

In a recent analysis of the PetroCaribe published by the Bank of NovaScotia in Toronto (and) captioned“PetroCaribe Noose or Lifeline”, muchinformation was provided with respectto the Petro Caribe debt. At the endof 2013, the total PetroCaribe debt torecipient countries was US $11.0billion or EC$ 29.7 billion. The sameanalysis indicated that SVG’s share ofthat debt was about 3%, which will bethe equivalent of EC$900 million. Butone was not able to find the level ofdebt in the schedule of the nationaldebt in the estimates of 2015.

The government has since statedthat the debt for SVG from PetroCaribe amounts to EC$140 million.When one looks at the domestic debtschedule of the 2015 estimates, onlyEC$62 million was recorded asPetroCaribe loan, and that went tothe International Argyle DevelopmentCompany (IADC), and it was at 6%interest and not 1%. There isobviously, a very large gap betweenthe EC$140 million as stated by thegovernment as per that stated by theBank of Nova Scotia’s study, and this,of course, remains a big area ofdispute. Government has sinceindicated, as part of its explanation,that it has established two companies,jointly owned by Venezuela and SVG,through which most of the money sofar was being passed.

We in the Parliament of SVG, havenever been able to see the auditedstatements of these companies. I am,therefore, not in a position tocomment meaningfully on the state ofaffairs of these companies, and we arereally unable to know, without thatinformation, the true size of the debt.What we do know, is that the debt hasto be repaid by SVG, and the greaterpart is not in the public debt schedule.Also, what we do know is that thedebt to GDP ratio of SVG will behigher when this is taken into accountand, this ratio is critically analyzed bythe international community whenassessing our country’s financialstatus.

I have heard the Honourable Prime

Minister say, with respect to thePetroCaribe, that he attended a recentmeeting aimed at maintaining theprogramme to keep PetroCaribeintact; but rational thoughts though,would suggest that one will thinkmore deeply on this matter in light ofthe prevailing circumstances of theVenezuelan economy and the PetroCaribe beneficiary countries, such asSt. Vincent and the Grenadines.Venezuela’s economy is now officiallyin recession, having declined in thelast three consecutive quarters. Theofficial inflation rate is over 60%. TheBolivar is trading on the black marketin excess of 113 Bolivar to one UnitedStates dollar, as compared to theofficial rate of 6 Bolivar to one USdollar. There are shortages of manybasic goods, even toilet paper. Therehave been businesses closures. Mostimportantly, President Maduro hasannounced severe cutbacks in publicspending. When the Venezuelanbudget was done for 2014, it wascalculated on the assumption thatthey will get US$99 per barrel ontheir exported oil. Now, the oil isUS$60 per barrel. Oil represents 95%of Venezuela’s export earnings and58% of its revenue.

In addition to that, Venezuela hasborrowed thirty (30) million UnitedStates dollars from China to be repaidwith oil, and they have bought largequantities of arms from the SovietUnion, again costing large sums ofmoney. In these circumstances, andthere is no increase in the productionof Venezuela oil since 2005, theVenezuelan authorities took thedecision to cut back public spending.In fact, they have to cut back theirbudget. So for the Government of StVincent and the Grenadines topretend that all this is not real andwill not affect Petro Caribe isunexplainable. Indeed, the lower theprice of oil is, the less money we willget from Petro Caribe. Normally, weget a loan from this portion of the saleof oil above US$40 per barrel. Whenthe price was US$100 per barrel, wecould get a loan of US$60 per barrel.Now that the price is US$60 perbarrel, how much loan could we get?Our Prime Minister continues, likethe proverbial ostrich, by burying hishead in the sand when dangerapproaches, without giving duerecognition to the seriousness of thissituation.

During the estimates on the budgeta few weeks ago, he said Venezuelahad not sold any of the PetroCaribedebt, especially in the case of SantoDomingo where the debt was US 3.5billion dollars; but we havestatements from reputable writingsfrom financial papers as well as fromthe Finance Minister of Jamaica,which indicated that Jamaica hadbeen approached to sell theirPetroCaribe debt. I am indeedreminded of the story that Nerofiddled while Rome burned.Gonsalves may fiddle while Venezuelasells their Petro Caribe debts. Weshould all be reminded that such debtwill be sold at a great discount; butthe Petro Caribe member whose debtVenezuela sold, will be required topay the full amount to the privatesector entity, which will see it simplyas a business transaction.

10. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

ViewsVExcerpt from the Hon. Arnhim Eustace’s2015 Budget Presentation

The untold story of the developmentsin the health sector (Cont’d)

“WHEN THE EURO CRISIS began half adecade ago, some economistspredicted that the austerity beingimposed on Greece and the other crisiscountries would fail. It would stiflegrowth and increase unemployment –and even fail to decrease the debt-to-GDP ratio. Others – in the Europeancommission, the European Central Bank,and a few universities said that austeritywas just what was required if thesecountries were to grow and prosper.

But we hardly needed another test.Austerity had failed repeatedly, from itsearly use under US president HerbertHoover, which turned the stock-marketcrash into the Great Depression, to theIMF structural adjustment programsimposed on East Asia and LatinAmerica in recent decades. And yet,when Greece got into trouble, Moreausterity medicine was tried again.

Greece largely succeeded in followingthe dictate set by the “troika” (theEuropean commission the ECB, and theIMF): it converted a primary budgetdeficit into a primary surplus. But thecontraction in government spending hasbeen predictably devastating: 25%unemployment, a 22% fall in GDP since2009, and a 35% increase in the debt-to-GDP ratio. And now, with the anti-austerity Syriza party’s overwhelmingelection victory, Greek voters havedeclared that they have had enough.

So, what is to be done? Greece couldbe blamed for its troubles if it were theonly country where the troika’smedicine failed miserably. But Spainhad a surplus and a low debt ratiobefore the crisis, and it too, is indepression. What is needed is notstructural reform within Greece andSpain, so much as structural reform ofthe euro-zone’s design and afundamental rethinking of the policyframeworks that have resulted in themonetary union’s spectacularly badperformance.

Greece has also once again remindedus of how badly the world needs a debt-restructuring framework. Excessivedebt caused not only the 2008 crisis, butalso the East Asia crisis in the 1990sand the Latin American crisis in the1980s. It continues to cause untoldsuffering in the US, where millions ofhomeowners have lost their homes, andis now threatening millions more inPoland and elsewhere who took outloans in Swiss francs.

Given the amount of distress broughtabout by excessive debt, one might wellask why individuals and countries haverepeatedly put themselves into thissituation. After all, such debts arecontracts — that is, voluntaryagreements — so creditors are just asresponsible for them as debtors. In fact,creditors arguably are more responsible:typically, they are sophisticatedfinancial institutions, whereasborrowers frequently are far lessattuned to twist and turns of themarket, and the risks associated withdifferent contractual arrangements.Indeed, we know that US banksactually preyed on their borrowers,taking advantage of their lack offinancial sophistication.

Every developed country has realisedthat making capitalism work requiresgiving individuals a fresh start. Thedebtors’ prisons of the 19th centurywere a failure — inhumane and notexactly helping to ensure repayment.What did help was to provide betterincentives for good lending, by makingcreditors more responsible for theconsequences of their decisions.

At the international level, we havenot yet created an orderly process forgiving countries a fresh start. Even

before the 2008 crisis, the UN, with thesupport of almost all of the developingand emerging countries, has beenseeking to create such a framework. Forexample, there is a fear that if Greece isallowed to restructure its debt, it willget itself into trouble again, as willothers.

This is sheer nonsense. Does anyonein their right mind think that anycountry would willingly put itselfthrough what Greece has gone through,just to get a free ride from its creditors?If there is a moral hazard, it is on thepart of the lenders — especially in theprivate sector — who have been bailedout repeatedly. If Europe has allowedthese debts to move from the privatesector to the public sector — a well-established pattern over the past half-century — it is Europe, not Greece, thatshould bear the consequences. Indeed,Greece’s current plight, including themassive run-up in debt ratio, is largelythe fault of the misguided troikaprograms foisted on it.

So it is not debt restructuring, but itsabsence, that is “immoral”. There isnothing particularly special about thedilemmas that Greece faces today; manycountries have been in the sameposition. What makes Greece’s problemsmore difficult to address is the structureof the euro-zone: monetary unionimplies that member states cannotdevalue their way out of trouble, yet themodicum of European solidarity thatmust accompany this loss of policyflexibility simply is not there.

Seventy years ago, at the end of thesecond world war, the allies recognisedthat Germany must be given a freshstart. They understood that Hitler’s risehad much to do with the unemployment(not the inflation) that resulted fromimposing more debt on Germany at theend of the first world war. The allies didnot take into account the foolishnesswith which the debts had beenaccumulated or talk about the costs thatGermany had imposed on others.Instead, they not only forgave the debts;they actually provided aid, and theallied troops stationed in Germanyprovided a further fiscal stimulus.

When companies go bankrupt, adebt-equity swap is a fair and efficientsolution. The analogous approach forGreece is to convert its current bondsinto GDP-linked bonds. If Greece doeswell, its creditors will receive more oftheir money; if it does not, they will getless. Both sides would then have apowerful incentive to pursue pro-growthpolicies.

Seldom do democratic elections giveas clear a message as that in Greece. IfEurope says no to Greek voters’ demandfor a change of course, it is saying thatdemocracy is of no importance, at leastwhen it comes to economics. One hopesthat those who understand theeconomics of debt and austerity, andwho believe in democracy and humanevalues, will prevail. Whether they will,remains to be seen.”

This column by Joseph E Stiglitz, aNobel laureate in economics, andprofessor at Columbia Universityappeared in the February 4, 2015 issueof the Guardian.

Send comments, criticisms &suggestions to wefirst@aol.com

“Many of us have a tendency to forget

the Gracious Hand which has

preserved our nation, enriched it,

strengthened it. Many of us imagine

in the foolishness of pride, that our

manifold blessings are due not to

God's goodness, but to our own

wisdom and virtue. Too many of us

have been so drunk with self-

sufficiency and no longer feel the

need of prayer.” - Ezra Taft Benson

(1899–1994) American church leader,

Secretary of Agriculture 1953-61.

STRUGGLES, FRUSTRATIONS anddisappointments seem to have a way ofbringing us to our knees ... andreminding us that there is a God. So,very often, we see an improvement inour prayer life and church attendancewhen we are faced with life’s variedchallenges: a sick child, dwindlingfinances, rejection, betrayal, and so on.However, it so very often happens that,as we receive favour, and learn to smileagain, we readily forget the promisesthat we may have made to God shouldHe grant us the relief that we sought.Yes, we sometimes forget to even saythanks for the new growth that takesplace in our lives, as He moves us out ofthe “wilderness experiences”.

We sometimes see suchforgetfulness demonstrated at anational level. It is readily evidentthat we are a “Christian nation”.Whenever there is a disaster ortragedy, the radio stations all playhymns, and the announcers soundvery solemn as they encourage thelisteners to pray and seek God’s face.However, as so often happens,whenever the tragedy is averted orthe mourning has ceased, some of thesame radio stations take on a totallydifferent image — one of vulgarity and“gyration”. Some of the announcersappear to forget that there is a God ...until the next tragedy is in sight.This need not be the case. We shouldall regularly carve out time to praiseGod and to give Him thanks for Hismany blessings. We have so much tobe thankful for — as individuals andas a nation.

Individuals and nations that praiseGod and give Him the honour that Heis due, will be blessed. He willprovide for those who worship andhonour Him. There are so manyexamples of this in the bible. God hasnot changed. He is still the God ofprovision. He is still the God ofmiracles. We sometimes forget Hispower and His grace. The same Godwho provided a way through thewilderness for His children of old, canprovide a way for us too. The sameGod who fed His children as theywent through the desert andcommanded ravens to feed hisprophet, can provide for us too. Thereis no limit to His power and Hisprovision. We sometimes forget.

May our faith be renewed as wereflect on God’s might, His grace, andHis mercy. May we commit (and re-commit) to praising Him more, andspending more time in worshiping theKing of Kings. He deserves ourpraise. He deserves our worship. Wesometimes forget.

We have so much to be thankfulfor. Even the ability to read thewords that appear on this page is

enough for which to give God thanks.There are so many persons who do nothave this privilege. Some never hadthe benefit of learning to read.Others have physical challenges thatprevent them from being able to seethese words. We are blessed. We aretremendously blessed to not havethose problems. Yes, we have otherchallenges that gain our attention.Life will be boring without challenges.But even amidst those setbacks anddisappointments, we still have somuch for which to be thankful. Wehave such a privilege to be able togive from the “little” that we think wehave. We are blessed. We have goodreason to rejoice. I like the way theAmerican religious leader Howard W.Hunter (1907-1995) puts it when hestated, “We have every reason in timeand eternity to rejoice and givethanks for the quality of our lives andthe blessings we have been given.”We sometimes forget.

God has been good to us as anation. God has been good to us asindividuals. We have been protectedand preserved in so many ways. Wehave seen His hand of protection andprovision in some very uniquecircumstances. It is enough for us topause and give Him thanks. Hedeserves it. And when weacknowledge God’s Gracious Hand (asa nation or as individuals) He willbless. He will enrich us. He willstrengthen us. Ezra Taft Benson’sintroductory quotation reminds us ofthe danger of personal and nationalpride. The two concluding sentencesneed to be repeated here: “Many of usimagine in the foolishness of pride,that our manifold blessings are duenot to God's goodness, but to our ownwisdom and virtue. Too many of ushave been so drunk with self-sufficiency and no longer feel the needof prayer.” May God forgive us forthose moments when we incorrectlyconcluded that the blessings that wenow enjoy are solely a result of ourtalents and abilities. Oh, for thistimely reminder that it is all becauseof God’s grace and His mercies. Wesometimes forget.

As individuals and as a nation, weneed to periodically pause and reflecton God’s goodness, His grace, and Hismercies. There is so much to bethankful for. We have beentremendously blessed in so many way.So we pause, we slow ourselves down,we reflect, we introspect ... and werealise that as we count our blessingsone by one, we do appreciate what Hehas done (and continues to do) in ourlives. We are re-energized. We re-focus. We go forward knowing thatour situations could have been somuch worse ... but for the grace ofGod. We are thankful for theblessings and for the reminder of howprivileged we are. We appreciate thereminder ... for we sometimes forget.

Send comments, criticisms &

suggestions to

julesferdinand@gmail.com

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. 11.

ViewsVThe economics of Debt and AusterityWe sometimes forget

SVG Green Party is very sceptical about Prime MinisterGonsalves’ statement that VINLEC made a loss in 2014,with revenue of EC$137.4m and operational costs ofEC$137.9m. Parliament should be recalled to examineVINLEC’s Financial Statements for 2014, so thatVincentians are fully aware of the real reason for VINLEC’salleged operating loss in 2014.

Parliament should also be recalled to examinewhether the ULP regime and the VINLEC Board ofDirectors are in substantial breach of the law, theElectricity Supply Act CAP 404, by buying oil underthe pretext of oil for VINLEC to produce electricity,when in fact, this oil is given to IADC on credit, andused instead in the construction of the misfit ArgyleAirport.

It is virtually inconceivable for VINLEC to make aloss. VINLEC is doubly protected by legislation.Firstly, VINLEC has had an exclusive licence — amonopoly - in SVG for the supply of electricity for over40 years. Secondly, VINLEC is shielded from loss bythe fuel surcharge in section 10 of the ElectricitySupply Act CAP 404.

Is VINLEC being driven to ruin under thefinancially incompetent ULP regime? Gonsalves is not

a university graduate in finance, and in 2008, he killedthe National Commercial Bank (NCB) with a massivebank overdraft of EC$185 million (Source: AuditReport 2008; researched by Ivan O’Neal BSc (Hons),MSc, MBA). Will VINLEC end up being bankrupt andsold like the NCB?

Gonsalves should tell the public the total number ofgallons of oil VINLEC bought in 2014 to produceelectricity, and the price paid per gallon by VINLECfor the said number of gallons of oil bought by VINLECin 2014.

On Friday 5 July 2013, in THE VINCENTIAN,Gonsalves explained that every month theInternational Airport Development Corporation (IADC)is supplied by VINLEC with diesel, to the extent ofEC$350,000 to EC$400,000, and at any one time youwill find always that IADC is owing VINLEC.

Gonsalves noted in May 2013, that IADC owedVINLEC EC$5.1 million. How many millions doesIADC still owe VINLEC, and is this the real reason forVINLEC’s operating loss? The incompetent ULPregime seems hell bent on building an airport fortourists at any cost, even if it means leavingVincentians without electricity.

Parliament should be recalled to pass legislation toprevent IADC from killing VINLEC by giving IADC oilon credit for the Argyle Airport.

Vincentians are being kept in the dark aboutVINLEC’s financial dealings, and may now be left inthe dark, because of the ULP regime’s financialincompetence. VINLEC’s 2014 financial statementshould be made available to the public, so thatVincentians can be made aware of the real reason forVINLEC’s operating loss in 2014.

Vincentians pay one of the highest prices in theCaribbean for electricity, so it seems unfeasible forVINLEC to really be making a loss. The public has aright to know how much money is being taken out ofVINLEC to buy oil for the Argyle airport project. Onemust ask also, how much does the ULP governmentowe VINLEC?

A Green government will phase out the use of oil,and instead use renewable energies to produceelectricity, to make electricity cheaper and bringfinancial stability to VINLEC.

SVG Green Partywww.svggreenparty.org

12. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

ViewsVRecall Parliament to examineVINLEC’s alleged 2014 loss

THANK YOU for a littlespace to respond to theProphet from Marriaqua.

“Godson falls short inthe area of gainingpolitical acceptance. …Godson is not supremelyfit for current political life.… Like Sister Girlyn, he isnot anymore (a) young andvigorous giant.”

These are excerpts of ajudgment passed upon meby a cabal in last week’spaper. This is thepronouncement of aProphet, and I set out toprove that this is notprophecy but nothingshort of endorsement ofone, Jimmy Prince. It isalso a directive given bythe Prophet to ULP card-carrying members so to

do.“Countless numbers in

Marriaqua political circleshave agreed that St Clair‘Jimmy’ Prince is the mostimportant attending ULPnominee”. Says who?Where is the consensus onwhich this judgement isbased? From the cabal inthe backrooms and rumshops, where, in order toelevate Jimmy to publicacceptance, they set aboutdenigrating Kirk and meto nothingness, whilebeing impervious to theslurs going around abouthim? I would havebelieved the “consensus” ofthe cabal constituting“Marriaqua politicalcircles” and king-makers,if the Prophet had said,

“Countless numbers inMarriaqua had said so,” asauthenticated in a goodopinion poll. Mr Prophet,how representative is“countless numbers” in thecabal out of a votingpopulation of nearly 7000registered voters, or some3500 ULP supporters?

On ‘Selection Day’, howimpartial will the cabal bewhen you constitute theCandidate SelectionCommittee? For all intentsand purposes, you haveshown your hand, aspromised. You are tellingthe ULP electorate tochoose the hitherto NDPJimmy, over trusted, hard-working comrades withyears in the politicaltrenches behind them.

This is now creatingmischief, dissention anddivisiveness amongsoldiers in the trenches.

To use your ownphraseology: “If politiciansin Marriaqua were to behanged for lack ofperformance, Ken wouldhave been hanged.” Ifpoliticians or would-bepoliticians were to behanged for inconsistency,cowardice and dithering,as exemplified by hisfrequent and recentutterings, “Ah dem waywant me,” “I ain’t like thisthing,” “Not me.. “ etc.,your dear anointed wouldbe hanged. Ask the peoplewith whom he comes intocontact, and they will tellyou that you can’t even get

a definite answer fromhim. It appears that he isbeing forced into politicallife, against his will.

Mr Prophet, how canyou claim that “Jimmy isthe most important ULPnominee,” when he has tobe brought forwardkicking and screaming?You are building a theoryon the assumption that,because of Jimmy’s longtenure on GIS, API and onSVGTV, he is easilyrecognizable and known.(O’Neal is also easilyrecognizable and known).Known for what? Theassumption is: I know you:I vote for you. You ignorethe fact that people areasking the question: Whathas he done forMarriaqua? You tried tomake a case for him. Thecitation done in his name,toward the end of theletter, even Jimmy knowsit is falsehood. Whatpolitical decision makingdid he influence inMarriaqua? It can’t be hisreluctant, haphazard andforced entry intoMarriaqua’s politics?

Jimmy’s entry intoMarriaqua’s politicsCANNOT rival Girlyn’s —not even now with thebruises as a result of her‘representation’. Mr.Prophet, you cannot beserious. He does not havethe stature and aplomb.Compare like with like.This is a case of chalk andcheese. You have oversoldJimmy, and your prophecyappears ragged, and leadsone to question yourpolitical judgment.

Jimmy does not havepolitical popularity. Hispopularity or‘recognizability’ is fromtelevision… pure andsimple. You are assumingthat he can convert histelevision ‘popularity’ intoelectoral votes. That willbe good. Prophesy on thatone. May I remind youwhat one lady reportedly

told him, “Mr. Prince, Ionly know you on TV, butI don’t know you.” So, ifthe assumption is, ‘I knowyou; I’ll vote for you’, thinkagain!

People in Marriaquawill make similarpronouncements of us.People want to know usbeyond face value, to trustus. We are closed books.We need to be honest andopen up to (the) people; letthem turn the pages anddiscover, beyond a shadowof doubt, what we arecapable of. Our people aretoo wise to simply judge abook by its cover. This isthe reason for an expose.

People want answers togive them hope; to restorethe ‘bread basket” toeconomic health. We havebecome an effigy of ourformer selves. Imagine, in1992, some $112 millioncame to us as income fromthe export of bananas.Some 60% or $66 millioncame to farmers inMarriaqua. Thereafter,there was a steady declinein output and the death ofbanana industry, as weknew it. Ground provisionis a very poor cousin tobananas, and we havebeen facing the challengesof survival in these times.People want us toengender hope, articulatetheir felt needs, and takethem to a sustainableequilibrium.

This is the job of aneconomist. Mr. Prophet,ask your anointed if hehas the capacity to delivermore and better. Please,Mr Prophet, don’t dismissme because I am olderthan the rest by two or soyears. Remember, ‘Theolder the fiddle, thesweeter the tune’. I amsure that I can playsweeter developmenttunes than the rest. I havethe capacity and training.

Godson Cain

Rumble in the Valley: Godson responds to the ÂProphetÊ

DiasporaV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. 13.

More support forStella Boyea-Ashby Story and photos byNELSON A. KING naking@verizon.netUS CORRESPONDENT

Editor’s note: After wepublished a story lastweek on calls for StellaBoyea-Ashby to benamed SportsAmbassador, there wasan out-pouring ofpositive reaction,primarily from theDiaspora. We nowpublish a follow-uppiece, based on thatreaction.

VINCENTIANS IN THEDIASPORA have reactedpositively to calls forformer national netballcaptain Stella Boyea-Ashby to be named asports ambassador, inlight of her yeoman serviceto the nation.

“Ms. Boyea-Ashby has

been a netball star for aslong as many of us haveknown her,” ex-nationalnetball star Karen Markstold THE VINCENTIAN,stating that she first metStella “when she wasgracing the courts,representing Girls’ HighSchool.

“Her on-court workethic and drive were alsopresent in her day-to-daydealings,” Marks said.“Ms. Boyea-Ashby alwaysaims for the sky andnever gives up. “Not onlyhas she helped foster mycompetitiveness andskill, but now she wasinspiring me to do more.

“Stella Boyea-Ashbyhas been and always willbe an exemplary SportsAmbassador for St.Vincent and theGrenadines,” Marksdeclared further. “Ithank you for allowing

me to speak about mymentor, inspiration andfriend, and I hope thisinspires other young menand women from theisles of SVG (St. Vincentand the Grenadines) togo on to do great things”.

Retired RegisteredNurse and Colonel in theUS Army Reserve CeliaBramble, who hails fromEvesham in theMarriaqua Valley,lauded the initial storyon Stella Boyea-Ashby.

“Great story on StellaAshby!” said Bramble, aformer president of theBrooklyn-based St.Vincent and theGrenadines NursesAssociation of New York,Inc. “She deserves thishonor; she exemplifies a‘Woman ofSubstance’ spiritually,socially and culturally. Iam 100 percent in favor(of Stella becoming a

Sports Ambassador).”Rose Place, Kingstown

native Dr. Stanley Johnsaid it would be “indeeda well-deserved gesturefor Stella”.

Ancilla Friday, formerpresident of theBrooklyn-based culturaland educational groupClub St. Vincent, Inc.,was grateful for “raisingawareness” on StellaBoyea-Ashby.

“Great article!” saidthe Ratho Mill native,who now serves as publicrelations officer of ClubSt. Vincent, Inc.

Celia Ross-Latham,Director of Sales, St.Vincent and theGrenadines TourismAuthority in New York,said: “I wholeheartedlysupport the proposal forStella to be namedSports Ambassador. Shetruly deserves it.”

Maxwell Haywood,

chairman of the St.Vincent and theGrenadines DiasporaCommittee of New York,said he, too, fullyendorses calls for Boyea-Ashby to be named aSports Ambassador.

“She still gives herenergy and time topromoting sports andwider communitydevelopment,” said theUnited Nations socialdevelopment officer, whohails from New Grounds.“Her sports andprofessionalachievements areexceptional indeed.”

Former NewDemocratic Party (NDP)South Windwardcandidate Stephen‘Scombo’ John said hewas privileged to seeBoyea-Ashby in action onthe netball court.

“Truthfully, I havenever seen anyone else

play at that high level,”he added. “Together withthat, Stella has been a‘natural ambassador’ forour country by theexemplary life she hasled. Selecting her asSports Ambassador willbe the honorable thing todo.”

Boyea-Ashbycaptained the nationalnetball team from 1974-80 and again from 1983-84. Jose Providence wasthe captain from 1981-82.

Stella Boyea-Ashbycontinues to receiveoverwhelming supportamong the VincentianDiaspora in the USA, forher elevation to SportsAmbassadorial status.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. 15.14. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

SWIMMER SHNE JOACHIM is this country’s 2014 Sports Personality of the Year. Shne was not on hand to receive her rewards last Saturday at Spring Gardens Estate, when the National Sports Council held its annual awards ceremony. She is attending school in Canada.

Her selection to the most prestigious sports title in SVG stemmed from her choice as the 2014 Junior Sportswoman of the Year. It was the second year running that she was adjudged top Junior Sports-woman. Shne copped the titles on the basis of some high calibre performances. Those included: six gold medals at the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Champion-ship in St. Lucia; silver and bronze medals at the Caribbean Islands Swim-ming Championship in Barbados; and bronze at the Carifta Swim Champi-onships, making her the first Vincentian to have medalled at this champion-ship. Her double award was a crowning moment for the SVG Amateur Swimming Association. For the second consecu-tive year, that Association was adjudged the Associa-tion of the Year, and national swim coach, Kyle Dougan, continued the trend, when he took his second straight award as

Coach of the Year. And the accolades were still forthcoming, with Nikolas Sylvester taking his first hold of the Junior Sportsman of the Year. Nikolas’s seven gold medals at the OECS Championship tilted the balance in his favour. Like Shne, he was a member of the swim team that represented this country at the 2014 Com-monwealth Games held in Glasgow, Scotland. The young man, a fourth form student at the St. Vincent Grammar School, attributed his performance to “hard training,” includ-ing early morning sessions at the Swimming Pool at Shrewsbury House, about ten miles away from his residence in Questelles. He is also a musician, having already record one CD featuring him playing the steel pan, and finds time to play football and involve himself in track and field. And as far as coach Dougan was concerned, the strides made in swimming here have much to do with what he describes as the

“collective strength” of the Swimming Association. That may well have been recognised by those who made the adjudica-tions on behalf of the National Sports Council.

Senior Sportspersons of the year The senior categories of the Sports Awards were left to cricket and track and field.

Cricketer Sunil Ambris took the Senior Sportsman of the Year Award, with track athlete Kineke Alexander taking the female category.Ambris, who was also absent from last Saturday’s ceremony as he was on duty with the Windwards team in the current Four-day Regional Profes-sional League, burst onto the regional cricket scene in 2014, with a century

in his debut match against Guyana. He followed that up, after consistent scores in between, with another century in the final against Jamaica. The Marriaqua native was the recipi-ent of the Cricket Association’s Cricketer of the Year Award, when that association held its recognition

ceremony last year. A former Windward islands and West Indies Under 19 and current West Indies A Team player, Ambris has been earmarked, by many, for higher duties in interna-tional cricket. He secured the judges nod as Senior Sportsman of the Year over Garwin Phillips (Body Building), Cameron Adams (Cycling), Cornelius Stewart (Foot-ball), Jules Snagg (Squash) and Mikhail Charles (Taekwando). Alexander took her second straight Senior Sportswoman of the Year Award after a string of top performances in 2014. These included: gold medals in the 200m and 400m at the OECS Invita-tional in St. Kitts; places in the finals of the 400m at the Commonwealth Games,

Glasgow and the Central American and Caribbean Games, Mexico; semi-final place in the 200m of the Commonwealth Games; fourth place in the 400m in the Pan Am Festival, Mexico; setting a new 200m meet record at the indoor Reville Indoor Invitational, USA. Alexander won from a field of nominees which included Greta Primus (Squash), Mary–Ann Fredericks (Netball), Akiria Samuel (Football) and Samantha Lynch (Cricket). The 2014 Sports Awards, the second to be hosted at the Spring Gardens Estate, was held under the theme, ‘Fostering Lasting Friendships Through Sports’, and heard an address by guest speak-er Giselle Peters, lawyer and former national netballer.

THE NATIONAL LOT-TERIES AUTHORITY (NLA) has borrowed $6.5M from the National Insurance Services. That money will be used for the refurbish-ment of sporting facilities here. A National Implemen-tation Committee will be established to manage the expenditure, and an engineer is expected to be dedicated to the projects. This was disclosed by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves when he addressed the 2014 National Sports Awards Ceremony, held at the Spring Garden Estates, last Saturday evening. This initiative takes the responsibility off the National Sports Council (NSC), which the Prime Minister described as not being able to “do it all.” In fact, the Prime Minister held back no punches, and referred to the NSC as not having “the resources and they don’t have the person-nel..,” to manage the

maintenance and refur-bishment of all the sporting facilities in the state. Notwithstanding the new initiative, the Prime Minister called for persons in the communi-ties to be more directly involved. More is needed to carry out such works according to the Prime Minister, and he pointed to the need for an engi-neer. Dr. Gonsalves echoed the government’s policy that national sports persons ought to be at school or working, and stressed that it was the duty of the Associations and individuals to “demand that the policy be implemented.” When persons are offered scholarships abroad, Dr. Gonsalves would encourage such recipients and their associations to liaise with the government so as to ensure that maximum use is made of the opportunity.

Speak-ing

to

those procuring Athletic Scholarships, Dr. Gon-salves urged them to “make use of the facilities of the state.”

Swimming dominates Sports Awards

NLA borrows for sport facilities development

PM Dr. Ralph Gonsalves spoke of the National Sports Council’s inability to effec-tively manage the mainte-nance and refurbishment of sport facilities here.

Shne Joachim- Sports Personality

of the Year and Junior Sports-woman of the

Year.Sunil Ambris- Senior

Sportsman of the YearKineke Alexander- Senior Sportswoman of the Year

Nikols Sylvester Junior-Sportsman of the Year

Kyle Dougan- Coach of the Year

Stories by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY

4 Spor1y’s 20this countrCHIM is AWIMMER SHNE JOS

Swimming dominates Sports Awards

prestigious sports title in Her selection to the most

ts 4 SporCHIM is

Swimming dominates Sports Awards

And the acCoach of the Year.

prestigious sports title in Her selection to the most

Swimming dominates Sports Awards

colades were And the acCoach of the Year.

Swimming dominates Sports Awards

Swimming dominates Sports Awards

Swimming dominates Sports Awards

Swimming dominates Sports Awards

Award

Swimming dominates Sports Awards

school in Canada. ceremony. She is atty

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easonality of the YYeerP4 Spor1y’s 20this countr

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.earts 4 Spor

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of Eastern Caribbean medals at the Organisation

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choice as the 2014 Junior SVG stemmed from her prestigious sports title in

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that represented this member of the swim team

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Sportsman of the Year.his first hold of the Junior

ylvester taking coming, with g

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crowning moment for the Her double award was a ship.medalled at this championfirst Vincentian to have onships, makinthe Carifta Swi

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to “hard training,” includattributed his performance Vincent Grammar School, form stude The youyf d

Glasgow, Scotland.monwealth Games held in

crowning moment for the Her double award was a

-medalled at this championfirst Vincentian to have

ng her theim Champi-p

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Barbados; and bronze at ming Championship in

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whobeen

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having already record one He is also a musician, residence in Questelles.

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imming Pool atmorning sessionsg

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Alexander taking the track athlete Kineke of the Year Award, with took the Senior Sportsman Cricketer Sunil Ambris

eYYeSportswoman of theKine Senior neke Alexander-

Indies A Team player, Under 19 and current West islands and West Indies A former Windwaceremony last year.y y

A f dtook the Senior Sportsman Cricketer Sunil Ambris

Sportsman of the Nikols Sylvester Junior

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ear

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Indies A Team player, Under 19 and current West islands and West Indies A former Windward

ethe YYeKyle Dougan- Coach of

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national swim coach, Kyle tion of the Year, and was adjudged the Associative year, that Association For the second consecuAssociation.SVG Amateur SA

crowning moment for the

pl h

what he describes as the here havestrides mah h

Dougan was concerned, the And as far as coach and field.involve hitime to plathe steel pCD featurh l

having already record one

second straight award as took his

nued thek h

national swim coach, Kyle tion of the Year, and

-was adjudged the Associative year, that Association

- For the second consecu

SVG Amateur Swimming crowning moment for the

field.to crithe S The senior categories of

the ySeniSenith

National Sports Council.tions on behalf of the who made the adjudica

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ade in swimming muc

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k d k d

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yearior Sportspersons of ior S

National Sports Council.tions on behalf of the

-who made the adjudica

followed that up, after against Guyana. He in his debut match

in 2014, with a century the regional cricket scenesional League, burst ontogh l k

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h

Ambris, who was also female category.g yA b h

Alexander taking the

(Taekwando). and Mikhail Charlesball), Jules Snagg (Sgg

d kh l Ch l

Cornelius Stewart (FootCameron Adams (CyPhillips (Body Buildip yC Ad (C

the Year over Garwinnod as Senior Sportsph G

He secured the judges tional cricket.higher duties in interg

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earmarked, by many, for Ambris has been Indies A Team player,

followed that up, after

in 2014, with a century

sional League, burst onto -

absent from last Saturday’s

Samantha Lynch (Cricket).Samuel (Football) and Fredericks (Netball), Akiria (Squash), Mary–Ann included Greta Primus field of nominees which Alexander won from a USA.Reville Indoor Invitational, meet record at tMexico; setting g

d

the Pan Am Fesfourth place in ph A

Commonwealth Games;

squash)q

-Cornelius Stewart (Footycling),ing), g

l

n sman of

He secured the judges

-higher duties in internaearmarked, by many, for

Indies A Team player,

Samantha Lynch (Cricket).Samuel (Football) and Fredericks (Netball), Akiria (Squash), Mary–Ann included Greta Primus field of nominees which Alexander won from a

Reville Indoor Invitational, the indoora new 200mh d

stival, the 400m in

l

Commonwealth Games;

held its recognition when that association of the Year Award, Association’s Cricketer ent of the Cricket

-native was the recipi The Marriaquaq

h

against Jamaica.century in the final between, with another consistent scores in followed that up, after

A borrows for sporNL

the Commonwealth Games, the finals of the 400m at tional in St. Kitts; places in 400m at the OECS Invitamedals in the 200m and These included: gperformances in 2014p

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Award after a string of top Sportswoman of the second straight SeniogS f h

Alexander took her (Taekwando).

when that association

Association’s Cricketer

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followed that up, after

t facilities development A borrows for spor

netballer. and former national er Giselle Peters, lawyer an address by gThrough Sportsg p

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h S

the Commonwealth Games, the finals of the 400m at tional in St. Kitts; places in

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gold4.

Award after a string of top Year or

Alexander took her

t facilities development

and former national er Giselle Peters, lawyer

-guest speaks’, and heard

k

ships me, ‘Fostering

h

Gardens Estate, was held hosted at the Spring Awards, the second to be

portsch (Cricket).

t facilities development

tation Committee will be A National Implemenhere. ment of sporting facilities used for the refurbish That money will by

d f h f b h

Insurance Services. $6.5M from the National (NLA) has borrowed TERIES AUTHORITY THE NATIONAL LOT

A borrows for sporNL

More is needed to involved. ties to be more dir

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tation Committee will be - A National Implemen

ment of sporting facilities -h

be h

$6.5M from the National

TERIES AUTHORITY -THE NATIONAL LOT

t facilities development A borrows for spor

More is needed to

ties to be more directly -persons in the communi

Minister called for new initiative, the Prime Notwithstanding the

sporting facilities in the bishment of all the

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t facilities development

t facilities development

This initiative taklast Saturday eveningy g

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Spring Garden EstateCeremony, held at thyS G d

National Sports Awards addressed the 2014 Gonsalves when he Prime Minister Dr. R This was discloseddedicated to the projects.engineer is expected texpenditure, and an p

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and individuals toduty of the Associy

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Dr. Gonsalves echoed neer.to the need for an engiMinister, and he paccording to the Pg

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National Sports Awards

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dedicated to the projects.engineer is expected to be

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Dr. Gonsalves echoed

-to the need for an engipointed

Primecarry out such works More is needed to

tively manage the maintes inability to effecCouncil’

spoke of the National Sports . Ralph Gonsalves PM Dr

tively manage the mainte-s inability to effec

spoke of the National Sports . Ralph Gonsalves

nel..,” to manage the don’t have the personp

l ” h

“the resources and ththe NSC as not havin“ h d h

punches, and referred to Minister held back no In fact, the Prime being able to “do it all.”Minister described as not (NSC), which the Prime National Sports Counthe responsibility off p y

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This initiative takes

opportunity. is made of the ensure that maximthe government sg

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associations to liaise with recipients and thewould encourage g

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When persons are be implemented.”“demand that theb l d ”

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-don’t have the personheyng gh

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of the state.” “make use of the facilities salves urged tScholarships, p

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those procuring Athletic

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When persons are

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sport facilities here.nance and refurbishment of tively manage the mainte

AH’ ANTHONYOJKIAM ‘y WILLStories b

“make use of the facilities them to Dr. Gon-h

those procuring Athletic

sport facilities here.nance and refurbishment of

-tively manage the mainte

AH’ ANTHONY

16. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. 17.

18. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. 19.

Dear George,

I WENT TO MY wife’s workplace to give her the newsthat I had won somemoney. I wanted to makesure she had nobody inthere, so I peeped throughher office window. I wasshocked to see my wife`sboss kissing her on themouth, and then slippedsome money into herhand. She kissed him backand then held hands for afew seconds. 

I hurried away beforehe came out. I wanted tohave the upper hand inthis situation. If I hadentered the room, therewould have been twodead persons. Instead, Ileft a message with thereceptionist to tell herthat I had stopped by.

When she got home, Iasked her if she was in ameeting with her bossduring the day. She saidher boss was out of thecountry for meetings. Iconfronted her, sayingthat he had to be somekind of a magician to beaway in another country,and still able to kiss her

earlier in the day. She broke down in

tears, insisting that shedid not know what I wastalking about. When Itold her that I was goingto go to his house to askhis wife when he wasexpected back, shebegged me not to dothat.

There and then, I toldher I was leaving her to

her boss`s pleasure. Ihave already initiatedthe divorce proceedings,but my head is still in aspin, and I need someadvice on what to do.

Hurt bad

Dear Hurt bad,

It seems your mind isalready made up with

respect to yourmarriage. Just be surethat you are not makinga hasty decision.

I would advise you togo see a marriagecounsellor to talk thingsover. That will also helpyou to get out of thatemotional tail spin youmight be in.

George

Dear George,

WHEN MY HUSBAND was datingme, he did not consider me as fat; butnow that we are married, he islabelling me as a “fat woman”. Webeen married now for just about ayear and have no children.

Neither my dress nor bra size haschanged since our marriage, so I donot know what he is talking about.

What has me writing to you is, Icaught him cheating with anotherwoman who is about three times mysize. When I asked him about that, hereplied that she may be fat, but atleast she has good features. I wasnever more humiliated in all my life.

What he does not know is that I amplanning on going back to my ex-boyfriend who is a lot bigger andfatter than he. I want to see what hewould say then. Men!!

JQ.

Dear JQ,

Your husband may have otherissues floating around in his head, andhe is just using the size argument as asmoke screen. Being revengeful is notgoing to solve anything; instead, itwould only create more conflict andlead to the possible demise of yourmarriage.

It is interesting thatyou are even consideringhaving a fling with your‘ex’, just to get back atyour husband. If it isyour wish to get yourmarriage back on levelground, then I advisethat you leave your ‘ex’out of it.

Both of you need tohave a candid discussionabout what yourexpectations were beforegetting married, andwhat they are for thefuture. It is a good ideato get some counsellingto get you past this.

George

20. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

AdviceVLeaving her to her boss

Dear George,

IT HAS BEEN one month since my husbandwalked out on me and our two children. We havenot heard from him and I am worried, not somuch for me, but for the children. Every day theyask ‘Where is Daddy?’ and I cannot answer.

We had a fight the night before he left, andsince then, I have not seen him. He has notshown up for work either. I know his ex-girlfriend was here visiting from New York, andwhile I don’t want, I keep wondering whether hehas gone to New York with her.

The fight we had was over her. She called andtold him she was coming by the house to bring apackage that one of his friends sent for him; but Iwould have none of it. He said he was going toget it. I said no to that as well.

I really do not know what to do at this point.Help me, George!

Sad &Angry

Dear Sad &Angry,

Seems like you have some insecurity issueshanging around. You need to deal with that.

Your husband needs to know, from youractions, that you are not worried about himcheating on you with his ex or anyone else.Unless you have sound reasons not to trust him,then you ought to show him that you do.

As to where he can be, that could be anyone’sguess. In such a case, it would not hurt to file amissing persons report with the police, and thenwait to see what or who would turn up.

The children need not be dragged into this, andit is entirely up to you to keep them sheltered asbest as you can. It could be very easy for you topass on your anxiety and anger to them; this youmust guard against.

Get a professional (counsellor)to sit with you tohelp you through this trying period.

George

Missinghusbandand father

A question of size

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. 21.

LeisureVACROSS

1.Golden calf, e.g.5. Record players

(abbr.)8. Address abbr.11. Clinton AG

Janet12. Warmth13. __ Lancelot14. Brown meat15. Merchant

who buysfrom foreign

sources17. Unburden19. Shuns20. Needle and __23. Dick Cavett’s

home st.24. Color25. Actress Foster27. Groups31. Designation

indicating a shortened

word33. Numerals

(abbr.)35. Command to

a fly36. Designer

Mizrahi38. Choose40. In the past41. “__, hum

bug!”43. Actress Merle

45. Invent48. Topeka’s st.49. Fingerprints,

e.g.51. Lowers the

lights55. Cul-de-__56. Religious

portrait57. Nights

beforeholidays

58. Elected ones59. Actress

Cannon

DOWN

1.Taxing agcy.2. Low grade3. “Snakes __

Plane”(2 wds.)

4. Actor Peter5. JFK’s party

(abbr.)6. Geisha’s home7. Cooking

appliances8. __ spumante9. Competed10. Goes astray12. Undisclosed16. Lounging

garments18. “I think,

therefore__” (2 wds.)

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20)Be a leader, not a follower! Keepbusiness dealings at a high level ofintegrity. When connecting withloved–ones make allowances ratherthan expect too much. Money is on theincrease, stay positive. To understandwhat a friend is going through, listen towhat they are not saying.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21)If you want to change your life, youneed to change your life – take action.Work is demanding, but don’t letspending extra hours at the office causeyou to neglect your health. A friendlyheart–to–heart chat with someone closecan prepare them for what’s to come.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21)Look for solutions, not problems. Whenyou have a positive attitude, it canimprove every area of your life. Tightenthe purse strings – this is not a week tobe extravagant. At work, use yourcommon sense to stand out from thecrowd.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)Love and work can connect when youleast expect. Say “yes” to businessevents. Your perfect partner could becloser than you think. Don’t back awayfrom a challenge; it’s what keeps yourspirit alive. A financial hic–cup will beshort lived.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22)For love to last, you need anunbreakable connection of trust andrespect. Be optimistic at work, withlucky stars on your side, anything ispossible. Beautifying your home createsa sense of peace and harmony forfamily closeness to grow.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23)Love and money often connect, andhow you deal with this combination willdetermine the outcome. Don’t getconfused, business is business, even ifit does fall in to the personal area ofyour life. At work, don’t let a pastincident have influence over thedecisions you make today.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23)Be diplomatic. Watch what you say andhow you say it. A sensitive comment canbe taken the wrong way. Beware ofbeing tempted to indulge in anout–of–control retail therapy splurge.Great things are happening; the best isyet to come!

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)Finish what you start. If you’re feeling

overwhelmed at work, deal with onething at a time. With money, be patientand finances will turn in your favor. If themoment of truth has arrived in your lovelife; it may be time to give someone thekey to your heart.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21)It can cause mistrust when you keepsecrets from a sweetheart. If you havesomething to say, don’t hold back.Divulge how you feel to clear the air.With money, check the fine–print. Youare in control of your life, keep it thatway.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20)Your career life is headed for the top;you can take a giant step ahead now.The right people will step forward to helpyou – look for the sign posts ofsynchronicity. Love and friendship gohand–in–hand. With money, beoptimistic.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19)Passionate love moments can have yourheart racing. Couples can tie the knot.Singles can meet someone wonderful.Work life is up for review with change onthe horizon. People you meet now canmake life–changing decisions. Thinkcarefully about your next moves andthose you share life with.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20)Be career smart – focus on the details tosee what’s really happening. It is easierto make money when you arepassionate about what you do. Whendiscussing a sensitive topic, treadcarefully, someone close could beemotionally fragile.

20. Siamese21. Wheel

centers22. C&W singer

McEntire26. Muck28. Burn the

outside29. Take-out

phrase (2 wds.)

30. Shortly32. Fanatical34. Out loud37. __ point

(2 wds.)39. Schedule

abbr.42. From this

time44. Called it

quits45. Lucie

Arnaz’s dad46. “__ Almighty”47. Tayback and

Damone

50. Rollaway52. Princeton wall

covering53. “Oh, give __

home…” (2 wds.)

54. ID digits

LA

ST

WE

EK

’sS

OL

UT

ION

THE GOVERNMENT OFJAMAICA has given approvalto the proposed mergerbetween the Jamaicansubsidiaries of Cable andWireless (CWC) andColumbus Communications.

CWC trades in Jamaicain the fixed and mobiletelephone services market

as LIME, and ColumbusCommunicationsInternational Inc. offerscable television,broadband and telephonyservices as Flow Jamaica,under two companiesColumbusCommunications JamaicaLimited (Flow) and

Columbus NetworksJamaica Limited (CNJL).

The merger of the twosubsidiaries is part andparcel of a wider US3billion buyout ofColumbusCommunicationsInternational Inc. byCWC.

Announcing theapproval in January,Jamaica’s Minister ofScience, Technology,Energy & Mining, PhillipPaulwell, said a numberof restrictions had beenplaced on the deal,including: existinginterconnect termination

rates to remain in effectuntil a new fixedtermination rate isestablished; CWC mustcomply with anylimitations of the licencesbeing transferred fromFlow; customers shouldhave the option to keeptheir existing package ortransfer to a morefavourable one; customersopting to terminate theircontracts should beallowed to do so withoutpenalties; CWC shouldprovide access tointernational bandwidthon a non-discriminatorybasis; LIME and Flowshould be ready to enablethe implementation ofnumber portability by 31May 2015; and CWCshould ensure that otherlicensees are providedwith non-discriminatoryaccess to infrastructuresuch as ducts, poles andlanding stations whichcould act as a competitivebottleneck.

The CWC-Flow mergerwas met with oppositionin certain quarters, notleast being from Digicel,which competeswith LIME and Flow inJamaica and a number ofother Caribbean markets.Digicel had called for themerger to be blocked,citing competition groundsand a possible return to amonopoly situation in thetelecommunicationsservices market, especiallyin the English-speakingCaribbean.

In what wasinterpreted as a responseto issues raised by Digicel,Minister Paulwell isquoted by news agenciesin Jamaica as saying, ‘theTelecommunications Actdid not expresslyauthorise me to imposeconditions in relation tothe transaction’.

He admitted that ‘therewas little the JamaicanGovernment could do toblock the multibillion-dollar merger’.

The Minister assuredJamaicans that he hadsought the advice of theOffice of UtilitiesRegulation and theAttorney General, inarriving at his decision.

Opposition wants more

Meanwhile, theOpposition JamaicaLabour Party took theopportunity to register itsconcern about theextremely slow pace of

reforms in theInformation andCommunicationsTechnology (ICT) sector.

While saying that hisparty had taken carefulnote of the developmentinvolving CWC andColumbus, OppositionSpokesman on Science,ICT and Digital SocietyDevelopment, Dr. AndrewWheatley, cited theimplementation of a newICT Act and the SingleICT Regulator asinitiatives that will go afar way in addressingexisting regulatory andlegislative weaknesses.

Dr. Wheatley said theannouncement byMinister Paulwell broughtinto sharp focus the needto table and implementICT legislation, andpursue policies that are inkeeping with currentindustry trends.

He also claimed thatthe Minister gave noguarantee against‘monopolistic practicesand abuse’.

Jamaica is the firstcountry in the region toapprove the acquisition ofColumbusCommunications holdingsby Cable & WirelessCommunications (CWC).

Approval by Jamaica isonly the second in a seriesof hurdles for proposedacquisition. It is alsosubject to regulatoryapproval in Trinidad andTobago and Barbados, aswell as the approval of theUS anti-trust authoritiesand that country’stelecommunicationsregulator.

No approval is neededfrom the regulatoryagency for the EasternCaribbean, the EasternCaribbeanTelecommunicationsAuthority (Ectel), onbehalf of Dominica,Grenada, St Kitts andNevis, St Lucia and StVincent and theGrenadines. (Source:www.TeleGeography,www.newsjamaica.net andrjr.news)

22. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

BusinessVJamaica approvesCWC-Flow merger

Phillip Paulwell,Jamaica’s Minister ofScience andTechnology, claimedthat there was little thegovernment could do toblock the merger.

V THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. 23.

Stories by E. GLENFORDPRESCOTT

RECORD-BREAKERS WindwardsVolcanoes will be looking tocontinue their good form and, inthe process, exact a measure ofrevenge on Jamaica, when thetwo teams meet for the secondtime in the 2014/15Professional Cricket League thisweekend at the Arnos ValePlaying Field.

The Volcanoes went downby 13 runs in the first matchin Kingston after squanderinga golden chance for victory.

They went on to losematches against tournamentleaders, Guyana Jaguars, and

defending champions.Barbados Pride, with a victoryover Leeward IslandsHurricanes splitting thosedefeats.

And following theresumption of the tournamentafter the break for the NagicoSuperr50, the Volcanoescrushed Trinidad Red Force byan innings and 148 runs. Itwas their largest ever marginof victory in the history ofmodern regional first classcricket, dating back to 1966.

They were pushed to theirvictory by the bowling of left-arm pacer Kenroy Peters, whohad 5/21 in Trinidad’s 177,and 3/11 in their second

innings of 75. Off-spinnerShane Shillingford enjoyedfigures 3/42 and 4/25. TheWindwards had declared on400/8 in their only innings.

The 75 was Trinidad’slowest score ever in themodern regional game againstWindwards.

The Windwards finishedwith 20 points — the first timea team has picked upmaximum points since the newpoints system was introducedtwo years ago.

On Friday, the Windwards,with home advantage, will beentering the match with theirconfidence very high, on thebasis of their most recent

success, while their opponentswill be looking to overcome a105 loss to Guyana.

It was only the second timein ten years that Jamaica hadsuffered an outright defeat atthe hands of the Guyanese inregional first class cricket.

The Volcanoes will takeheart from the fact that boththeir openers, JohnsonCharles and Tyrone Theophile,have scored their maiden firstclass century in the currentcampaign. Charles scored 151against Barbados at the ArnosVale Playing Field inDecember, and Theophile hit136 in a Man of the Matchperformance against the TnT

Red Force. They, however,

may experiencesome level ofunease with a line-up that has beenwoefully exposedagainst qualityspinners,especially leg spinbowling. And inthe Jamaica attackare two legspinners, DamionJacobs and OdeanBrowne, who havecreated no ends ofworries for theVolcanoesbatsmen. In fact,Jacobs has takenfifteen wickets intwo inningsagainst them,while Browne, whohas just returnedto action, has alsodone well over theyears.

Analysts are predictingthat, with the absence of theexperienced and technicallysound Romel Currency, whowas mystifyingly omitted fromthe last match, the Windwardswill struggle.

Led by test player Peters,last year’s leadingwickettaker, and therejuvenated Shillingford, theWindwards are expected toacreate their own problems.

Alston Bobb, who earnedthe man of the match in thefirst match against Jamaica,has also come under the axe.However, with the Arnos Valepitch predicted to be on theslow side, pundits here areexpecting that Bobb willreplace seamer MervinMathew in the final eleven.

Windwards and Jamaicameet at Arnos Vale

DESRON MALONEYfought a lone hand amid thecarnage, as defendingchampions, Team Rivals,crushed a hapless and whatappeared to be adisinterested Carl JosephLaw Firm ASCO by tenwickets, at the Sion HillPlaying Field last weekend,to gallop into the semi-finalsof the Neil Williams T/20Cricket competition.

A few hours before,Victors ONE had brushedaside Police ONE by sixtyruns, to edge towards thesemi-finals, but were onlycertain after the TeamRivals victory.

A win for ASCO could haveeliminated Victors ONE on runrate, since both would have lostone match.

ASCO, needing to win to securea semi-final berth, won the tossand chose to bat. They were inearly bother, with the first wicketsall handed to the fielding teamthrough big swipes to leg-threebowls one LBW. Maloney lookedon from the other end in utteramazement, his advice to theincoming batsman seeminglygoing unheeded.

Despite this, he batted sensiblyin putting away whatever badballs came from Team Rivalsexperienced bowling unit and triedto turn over the strike withwhoever faced more than six balls,

which was an achievement initself. When he pulled a short ballto be well caught by CasmondWalters over his head at deepsquare leg, to be last man out, hehad scored 32 of his side’s 49 runs,striking three sixes and two fours.

Walters took 2/3, RolandWilkinson 2/8, Olanzo Jackson2/10 and Deighton Butler 2/ 11.Team Rivals then pranced theirway to 52/0 in five overs.

In the earlier encounter, VictorsONE easily disposed of PoliceONE in a match reduced to 13overs because of rain.

Batting first, Victors ONEmade 126/ 7, with Atticus Browne,37, Miles Bascombe, 27, leadingthe batting, while medium pacerGareth Henry took a hattrick toend with 3/20, and Kevin

Abraham, 2 for 28.Police ONE ended on 66/4, with

Sylvan Spencer being the topscore.

In the other weekendencounter, Guardian GeneralSaints lost to Police TWO by sixruns, at Arnos Vale TWO.

SCORES: Police TWO 116/8 (17overs) Salvan Browne stroked 37,Timothy Warner 3/13, AndrewEmtage 2 for 18 and RolandoWright - 2 for 21; GuardianGeneral Saints 110/6 (17 overs),Jeron John 37, Zane Edwards, 25.

The semi-finals set for February21st will see defending championsTeam Rivals meeting LIMERadcliffe and Guardian GeneralSaints opposing Victors ONE.

Irrepressible Rivals continue titlesurge

Jamaica’s leg spinnerDamion Jacobs is expectedto attract intenseconcentration from theWindwards batsmen.

Alston Bobb (left) and Romel Currency were axedfrom the last match.

ASCO’s Desron Maloney attacksthe leg side.

Victors ONE trio (From left): ChrisroyJohn Donwell Hector and ShacquilleBrowne take close interest in TeamRivals/ ASCO match at Sion Hill PlayingField

24. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

SportsV

IF PRIME MINISTER Dr. Ralph Gonsalves’advice is heeded, there will be renewed interest inthe sport of Boxing here. He sees Boxing as aSport at which persons can excel, without havingto resort to sophisticated facilities.

One of this country’s Commonwealth Gamesmedals is from Boxing, by a Vincentian who wasoverlooked by his adopted country and fell back onhis roots.

Our citizens are used to the art of self-defencefrom early. It forms part of the instinctive survivalmeasures. Facilities or not, athletes have to adopta regime of training. Potential boxers must befound, nurtured and encouraged.

The call for better use of the Shooting Range atArnos Vale injected a tinge of irony in me. WithShooting as an Olympic Sport, there is the thoughtthat Police Officers, in particular, could beencouraged to take up this sport and represent thenation at the Olympic level.

It will be interesting to see to what extent thePrime Minister’s words are given anyappreciation.

The officers may be more concerned with otherpriorities rather than exerting their energies onthe Shooting Range for sporting purposes.

Fencing is also named in the category of newsporting disciplines. Introducing Fencing will beground-breaking, from base up. How quickly itwill take to become entrenched depends on anumber of factors.

Perhaps there was an attempt to justify theshortage of some basic needs in North Leeward.The Cumberland Playing Field is expected to getsome attention beginning in March.

There is the hope that there will be no furtherdelays so that the North Leeward people will feelthat they have a stake in the nation. Cumberlandmust be the main part of the show if anything ison the road.

The village of Troumaca has been left on thefence since the late 1960s. That was when thePlaying Field, as crude as it was, found itselftransformed for construction of the TroumacaOntario Secondary School. Parliamentaryrepresentatives have attempted to appease thevillagers with efforts at restoring the Playing Fieldin the community. But those attempts havefloundered, once the elections are over.

Older folks of the village live with memories ofthe Playing Field, while the younger ones dream ofsomething of their own.

Getting the show on the road will see arestoration of those facilities so that the people canbuild on the foundation their forefathers created.

Troumaca has moved into a near disaster zonecaused by erosion at several points. The assault isnot restricted to the German Gutter enclave.Places such as Madame Oget, Murray and BottomVillage are under close scrutiny, and so too is anarea known as Back Piece to the eastern strip ofthe settlement.

People have been brought to the edge of alooming danger. Alternative housing must befound for some residents if the erosion is notstopped immediately.

My hope is that it is not allowed to reachproportions such as what happened at Rose Kank,for there to be an acceptance of the gravity of thesituation.

The problem may have persisted whether or notthe Playing Field was removed. The erosion atBack Piece is away from the line of danger spurredby the erosion from the disruption of the PlayingField,

However, the repairs would have been lesscostly if the landscape had not been ravaged.

North Leeward has to look like it matters. Ifthey are ignored on issues relevant to their day today interests, they will continue to wonder if theyare in for serious consideration.

The ball’s in your courtby E GLENFORDPRESCOTT

THE ST. VINCENTAND THEGRENADINESFootballFederation hasplayed host to yetanother footballcoaching course,as it seeks toeducate andcertify the manypersons who areshowing interest inenhancing theirworth as coaches.

The latestprogramme wasan Olympic Solidarity sponsored course conductedby FIFA Instructor, Richard Bate of England, andsaw just over 20 participants going through arigorous week of classroom and on field training.

The course covered tactics and teamwork as wellas developing good communications skills andattitude.

Bate, who has conducted programmes in anumber of countries, is hopeful that the one-weekstint will be worthwhile enough to see someimprovement over a period of time.

“I know that these short programmes are not themost ideal to impart heavy stuff, but again, weexpect that the people who come to these coursesare coming mostly to add and improve what theyhave learnt over the years. We have nationalcoaches here and some people who are attendingtheir first training course …so what we are hopingis that those with the experience will assist theothers over time,” he pointed out.

Bate said that the programme is not “hard andfast”, but more tailored to suit the needs of thecountry in which theprogramme is conducted.

A former TechnicalDirector of Malaysia andCanada, Bate has alsofeatured heavily in the youthprogramme of his nativeEngland, being in charge of anumber the country’s currentstars, including ManchesterUnited’s Wayne Rooney, intheir formative years.

He believes that for acountry to make stridesin any sport, and inparticular football, theremust be a properstructure commencingwith the schoolsprogramme, aided by theconstruction of qualityfacilities, as well asgetting the players tounderstand the technicalaspects of the game.

“You have someinnate or natural talenthere, but that is not allto becoming a goodfootball country. Youhave to have good clubstructure; academies totrain young players;your national teamshave to be handled in aprofessional manner,and they must playagainst top classopponents on a regularbasis; and once you have

all these covered, then you are making the startthat is required for development.”

President Venold Coombs, who would be up forre-election come April, said that his executive iskeen about education and development, and byhosting another Course on the backs of the two Dlicence courses, there was no doubt that their workhere is appreciated by FIFA and CONCACAF.

Coombs also pointed out that SVG has anothertwo CONCACAF/FIFA Match Commissioners in thepersons of Dominique Stowe and Yolande London.

He said that London is the first female MatchCommissioner from SVG, and is part of an elite listof females from the English-speaking Caribbeancountries.

Stowe was last year appointed the Single Point ofContact for St.Vincent and the Grenadines in MatchManipulation and Integrity.

The elevation of Stowe and London brings to fourthe number of Match Commissioners from SVG,with Earl Bennett and Trevor Huggins being theother two.

IAN ALLEN, Vincentian born long-standing coach of the WindwardsIslands Senior Cricket Team, isexpected to join the technical team of

the St. LuciaZouks.

The St LuciaZouks are therepresentativeteam of SaintLucia inthe CaribbeanPremier League(CPL). It wasone of the sixteams createdin 2013 forthe inauguralseason of thetournament.

THEVINCENTIANhas been

reliably informed that Allen will serveas Assistant Coach to Zouks headCoach, Stuart Williams, in the 2015edition of the CPL.

Allen should find his duties muchlike being ‘at home’, since the Zouksare led by Windwards All-rounderDarren Sammy, and include anumber of members of the Windwardsquad currently campaigning in theregional Four-day professional league,under his guidance.

Vincentians Sunil Ambris and RayJordon were part of the Zouksfranchise in 2014.

The franchises down to compete inthe 2015 CPL are the BarbadosTridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors,Jamaica Tallawahs, St Lucia Zouks,Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel and anew St. Kitts and Nevis franchise,which replaces the Antigua Hawkbillswhich campaigned in 2013 and 2014.

Ian Allen will join aCPL franchise forthe first time.

Allen joining the Zouks

Former England youth coachconducts coaching course

FIFA Instructor Richard Bate in discussion with coaches.

Coaches busily noting information.

by EARL W. ROBINSON

THE FIRST MEN’S CRICKET WORLD CUP competitionwas held in England in 1975. Then, there were only sixTest nations - Australia, England, India, New Zealand,Pakistan and West Indies (WI) - to compete for thePrudential World Cup. A mere fifteen matches werecontested. The WI, by virtue of winning five matches, allthree at group stage, one semi-final and the final, liftedthe cup, under Clive Lloyd’s leadership.

Many so-called fanatics have failed toacknowledge the facts that led to the team’s success.

In 1975, there was no official limited overscompetition in the region. The first was held thenext year, under the banner of Gillette Cup.However, many West Indians were honing theirskills at county clubs. Of the twelve WI playersappearing in the World Cup, some had theexperience of representing counties in the late1960s, the others in the early 1970s.

Roy Fredericks (Glamorgan), Deryck Murray,Alvin Kallicharran, Rohan Kanhai and Lance Gibbs(Warwickshire), Lloyd (Lancashire), Viv Richards(Somerset), Bernard Julien (Kent), Keith Boyce(Essex), Vanburn Holder (Worcestershire), AndyRoberts and Gordon Greenidge (Hampshire), allplayed Gillette Cup, John Player League andBenson and Hedges Cup domestic competitions inEngland.

Before the World Cup, West Indies had appearedin only two one-day international matches, in 1973.No preparation whatsoever for an internationalcompetition to be held two years later. Nobodyblamed the WICBC, because the team won.

Interestingly, Richards, Roberts and Greenidgehad never appeared in a one-day internationalbefore that inaugural tournament.

Roll forward to 2015. The eleventh edition of thisprestigious tournament will commence in NewZealand and Australia later today, Friday 13thFebruary, when New Zealand take on Sri Lanka,and Australia host England at Melbourne.

The million dollar question for us is: Will WestIndies win the cup?

In Jason Holder (23), the team has a captain withonly five matches in that capacity. Mind you, Lloydhad not led West Indies in an ODI match before thefirst World Cup. Kanhai was the skipper in 1973.

One issue which the current WI selectors havetried to address is one of the team having too manyso called all-rounders.

For some time now, we have considered DwayneSmith, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, KieronPollard and Dwayne Bravo as all-rounders. Somebits and pieces cricketers receiving great accolades,might be nearer to the truth.

As it stands, this squad has six specialist bowlers,three so-called all-rounders and a ‘buffet’ bowler inMarlon Samuels.

In the last thirteen months, three of the sevenfastest centuries were recorded against most ofthese bowlers. Abraham (AB) de Villiers (31), CoreyAnderson (36) and Jesse Rayder (46) have broughtup triple-figures in less than fifty balls.

The batting line-up has five specialists, namely,Chris Gayle, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, LendlSimmons and Marlon Samuels.

Gayle, Samuels and Smith will have to scoreheavily for this team to challenge

In the last World Cup,2011, WI victories wereagainst Netherlands, Bangladesh and Ireland. Theygot only 112 in the quarter-finals against Pakistan,and were knocked out of the competition.

Prize money

Over the last five months, West Indies cricket has

reached its lowest ebb. Narcissistic leadership onand off the field has left many supportersbewildered. Lymphatic performances on the fieldhave compounded the woes and problems.

So what is needed to motivate this current groupof players?

In 1975, the prize money earned by the WI wasapproximately US$9,000.00. They played with pride.In 2015, the winner will receive US$3,750,000.00 asthe basic. If that team plays unbeaten throughoutthe tournament, it will earn a bonus ofUS$270,000.00. If it loses only one match, thatbonus will decrease to US$225,000.00.

On March 29, we will know which team takes the

trophy and the largest share of the pie. Thefavourites are South Africa, and Sri Lanka and thetwo hosts.

Every night Captain Holder goes to bed, he maybe hearing Deniece Williams singing “It’s gonnatake a miracle”. India did it in 1983.

The convener of selectors, Mr. Lloyd, is theappropriate person to guide this cherubic tyro. He(Lloyd) was at the helm when West Indies lost atLords. No hat-trick for the skipper, Greenidge,Richards and Roberts.

How will this team commemorate the fortiethanniversary (1975 — 2015) is anyone’s guess.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. 25.

Sports Feature VICC Cricket World Cup

26. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

NewsVNorth Leeward youthget ICT trainingby KENVILLE HORNE

OVER 20 YOUNG PERSONSfrom the North Leeward willbenefit from an intensecomputer trainingprogramme.

The programme isaimed at increasing ‘thecapacity of the localInformationCommunicationTechnology (ICT)industry, and bridging thedigital divide by linkingICT with youthdevelopment and ruraltransformation’.

Spearheaded byGeneration Next Inc., anon-profit (charitable)organization based inNorth Leeward, theprogramme is financed byColumbus Communication(Flow), and executed bythe St. Vincent and theGrenadines NationalCentre of TechnologicalInnovation (SVGNCTI)

During six weeks oftraining, participants willfocus on practical sessions

in database fundamentals,digital media, andcomputer and web designfundamentals. There willalso be a job readinesscomponent as part of thetraining programme.

During the launching ofthe programme at theNCTI headquarters inKingstown, Carlos James,one of the Coordinators ofthe IT project,acknowledged that theparticipants wouldexperience difficulty intravelling to and fromNorth Leeward, and hepromised that theprogramme would bemoved from Kingstown toa more convenient locationby the end of the week.

He commended Flowfor partnering with theNCTI to facilitate the

training.Corey Garrett,

Columbus CommunicationMarketing andCommunicationsManager, said that fromthe moment he receivedthe request for funding,the words ‘bridging thedigital divide’ jumped outat him. Those wordshelped to inform thedecision to support thisprogramme.

A cheque in an amountof $4,000.00 waspresented to GenerationNext Inc.

The facilitators for theprogramme are BeverlyBuchanan, who willconduct the Job Readinesscomponent, and MarloBrowne will execute theIT aspect.

Corey Garrett, Flow’s Marketing Manager (4th fromright) presents cheque to member of GenerationNext and co-ordinators of the programme.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015. 27.

ClassifiedsV

ORMOND BERKELEY HUNTE

SDA ChurchKingstownSunday 8th

February, 20152:00 p.m.

SUNNY PIERRE

Mt. Hallibeth Spiritual Baptist

CalliaquaFriday 6th

February, 20153:00 p.m.

AUGUSTINE WILLIAMS

Glad Tiding Tabernacle

GomeaThursday 5th

February, 20153:00 p.m.

LUCY R. WILLIAMS

Layou SDA Church

Sunday 8th February, 2015

2:30 p.m.

ST. CLAIR RUFUS PETERS

SDA ChurchBiabou

Sunday 8th February, 2015

2:00 p.m.

ODEL OSWALD ROBERTS

Chebar Evangelical AssemblyKingstown

Saturday 7th February, 2015

2:30 p.m.

The tele-communicationsprovider LIME haslaunched a newmobile applicationcalled, “MyLIMEMobile App”.

The new Appallows postpaidand prepaidcustomers toperform a host oftasks, right fromtheir handsets.

For postpaidusers, The“MyLIME MobileApp” gives theprepaid customerthe freedom to paybills, check databalances, andcheck bill history.

Prepaid customers, who download the App, cantrack call and text usage, top up their smartphones, add bolt-ons and check data balance.

LIME says that the new app is simple to installand use, with only about three quick steps forandroid users and four for Iphone owners.

IOS or iphone customers canuse bit.ly/MyLIMEforApple to get the MY LIMEmobile app on their device, while our Androidcustomers can use bit.ly/MyLIMEforAndroid.

The development of this new app now savescustomers from coming in store to pay theirpostpaid bills, which saves them, time and money, arelease from LIME says.

With this new app, it could well mean that theprocedure of texting *129# could soon become athing of the past since, prepaid users who have theapp will no longer need to leave the comfort of theirhomes to get a top up.

MyLIME application launch

Lauch day for the newMyLIME App.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 VOLUME 109, 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.

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines A.I. REAL ESTATEStubbs 6 bedrm Property on 6,658 sq.ft. - $385,000.00 - H870

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FOR

SALE

Editor’s Note: The

following is presented in

unabridged and unedited

form.

MY TRIUMPH in the PrivyCouncil in England on18th December 2014, withmy Appeal against Bias inthe St. VincentCommission of Enquiry,consolidates justice anddemocracy in theseislands. Caribbean courtsfailed to recognize biasand shortcomings in ourjudicial procedure over theyears, except in oneinstance - ordering retrial.My successful appeal hasbecome Case Law in theCommonwealth andaccessible around theworld on the Internet asCase ID: JCPC2013/0067.I have also registered thejudgment for circulationthrough ourInterActionCouncil.org

The Commissionproduced a reportentitled “Possiblecriminal acts andoffences by certainindividuals”, sent it tothe Director of PublicProsecutions, with me aprime target, withoutever seeing or hearingme, or inviting acomment from me.Retroactive legislationwas enacted with theaim of depriving me oflegal costs.

Throughout the periodof the enquiry, theservices of the marinaand shipyard wereadvertised regionally andinternationally, eventhough labeledconstantly by the newGovernment as a failed

project.The Enquiry centered

on the Ottley HallMarina and Shipyard,built during myadministration, fundedas Export CreditGuarantee by the ItalianGovernment, with fundsfrom a consortium ofEuropean banks, led bythe German Bank WestLB. The project aimed tostimulate yachtingtourism and shipmaintenance to help easethe strain with thepending loss ofpreference from theEuropean Union underWTO rules on the vitalBanana Industry.

The singular difficultywith the project was thedenial of final paymentsto complete the ancillaryfacilities and whichimpacted on the parentshipyard in Italy.

I secured a 50% debtrelief from the ItalianGovernment before I leftoffice. The Shipyard andMarina functioned whileI was in office, hascontinued to generatemillions, and is capableof earning many moremillions if managedproperly. All alone, Ifought this battle for 12years. I remained

determined to protect myname, my family’slegacy, my Party’sreputation, and mycountry’s image. Mytenacity never wavered.In the end, I secured aunanimous verdict fromthe Law Lords in theJudicial Committee ofthe Privy Council (JCPC)as follows:

“The Board will adviseHer Majesty that theAppeal be allowed….theRespondent(Commissioner ofEnquiry JudgeGeorges) should takeno further part in theCommission…pay allcosts before the Boardand in the Courtsbelow.”

An abiding truthhas now beenestablished that thelongest serving Headof Government in theCaribbean did not getjustice from nineCaribbean judges.Where is our justicewithout the PrivyCouncil? Mysuccessful Appeal tothe JCPC, a rightenshrined in thesanctity of ourConstitution, now posesa challenge to all thosewho seek to jettison

appeals to this PrivyCouncil as a disdainfulrelic of colonialism. Thushave I won victory for all

the people in theseislands, redeemingjustice and democracyand, in its wake,

confidence in security ofinvestment, aprerequisite forenhancing our quality oflife. My victory permitsVincentians to pronouncethat on my watch theircountry was justlygoverned.

I await response to myill-afforded costs, asadvised to Her Majesty.

My tilting towardsjustice affects no waningof my enthusiasm forpolitical union amongour islands. Union andjustice are facets of thesame coin. The PrivyCouncil should only beremoved by consent ofthe people in areferendum.

SIR JAMES MITCHELL

Sir James Mitchell and his daughter Louise, on their way to hearing SirJames’ Appeal against Bias in the St. Vincent (Ottley Hall) Commission ofEnquiry, by the Law Lords in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council(JCPC).

MY LONGROAD TOJUSTICE

The Ottley Hall Marina and Shipyard, at the centre ofa Commission of Enquiry, continues to offer servicesto a local, regional and international clientele.