HP DESKJET INK ADVANTAGE 2675 All-In-One Printer- $215.00 • Print, Scan, Copy, Fax • Easily print from your mobile device • Wirelessly print, copy, and scan • Compact design for easy placement • Print Speed (Black): Up to 20ppm Up to 20ppm rint Speed (Black): U 20 • P easy placement , and scan copy y, • Wirelessly print, • P AG ANT TA HP DESKJET INK ADV VA All-In-One Printer- $215 00 rint, Scan, Copy • Easily print from your mobile devic • Compact design f AGE 2675 0 The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019 VOLUME 113, No.36. www.thevincentian.com EC$1.50 by DAYLE DASILVA IT IS TO BE DETERMINED who the New Democratic Party’s candidate for the constituency of East Kingstown will be. According to General Secretary of the political party Tyrone James, they were in the process of doing that. Leader of the Opposition and President of the NDP Godwin Friday further told THE VINCENTIAN that it was a democratic process and that a number of persons had expressed interest in becoming the next candidate for East Kingstown. This latest development comes following the announcement by former Prime Minister and Political Leader of the NDP Arnhim Eustace last Sunday, that he was not going to contest the next general elections. While speaking at the NDP’s 41st Convention at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, Eustace first thanked the people of East Kingstown for their support. “In the last five elections, of which I won all in East Kingstown, I feel that it is very important for me today, on a day like this in particular, to say to the people of East Kingstown — my people — I say to you that to me, you are very dear, very important, I love the people of East Kingstown,” Eustace said. He continued, saying that the people of that constituency have demonstrated their commitment. Eustace recollected that on two occasions — following the 2001 and 2005 General Elections, East Kingstown and Northern and Southern Grenadines were the only NDP Parliamentary Representatives. “That is no easy feat, you know; look at all the other constituencies, West St George, East St George all over, and only East Kingstown had a seat. “We have to thank the people of East Kingstown for their faith in the New Democratic Party, their support for the New Democratic Party, when others have failed, they were always there,” he said. According to Eustace, he owed the people of East Kingstown a lot of gratitude, as they were the ones who taught him a lot about politics. “Without you in politics, I would be nothing,” he said. “And I want you to understand my appreciation for what you have done for the New Democratic Party and for the country.” The people of East Kingstown are the ones who kept the NDP alive over a period of time, and the party was about to enter into a new period, but one where he will not be there. Continued on Page 3. Former Prime Minister and Political Leader Arnhim Eustace has called it a day, politically. He thanked his supporters however for keeping their faith in him and the New Democratic Party.
The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019 VOLUME 113, No.36. www.thevincentian.com EC$1.50
by DAYLE DASILVA
IT IS TO BE DETERMINED who the NewDemocratic Party’s candidate for theconstituency of East Kingstown will be.
According to General Secretary of thepolitical party Tyrone James, they werein the process of doing that.
Leader of the Opposition andPresident of the NDP Godwin Fridayfurther told THE VINCENTIAN that itwas a democratic process and that anumber of persons had expressed interestin becoming the next candidate for EastKingstown.
This latest development comesfollowing the announcement by formerPrime Minister and Political Leader ofthe NDP Arnhim Eustace last Sunday,that he was not going to contest the nextgeneral elections.
While speaking at the NDP’s 41stConvention at the Arnos Vale PlayingField, Eustace first thanked the people ofEast Kingstown for their support.
“In the last five elections, of which Iwon all in East Kingstown, I feel that itis very important for me today, on a daylike this in particular, to say to thepeople of East Kingstown — my people — Isay to you that to me, you are very dear,very important, I love the people of EastKingstown,” Eustace said.
He continued, saying that the people of
that constituency have demonstratedtheir commitment.
Eustace recollected that on twooccasions — following the 2001 and 2005General Elections, East Kingstown andNorthern and Southern Grenadines werethe only NDP ParliamentaryRepresentatives.
“That is no easy feat, you know; look atall the other constituencies, West StGeorge, East St George all over, and onlyEast Kingstown had a seat.
“We have to thank the people of EastKingstown for their faith in the NewDemocratic Party, their support for theNew Democratic Party, when others havefailed, they were always there,” he said.
According to Eustace, he owed thepeople of East Kingstown a lot ofgratitude, as they were the ones whotaught him a lot about politics.
“Without you in politics, I would benothing,” he said.
“And I want you to understand myappreciation for what you have done forthe New Democratic Party and for thecountry.”
The people of East Kingstown are theones who kept the NDP alive over aperiod of time, and the party was aboutto enter into a new period, but one wherehe will not be there.
Continued on Page 3.
Former PrimeMinister andPolitical LeaderArnhim Eustacehas called it aday, politically.He thanked hissupportershowever forkeeping theirfaith in him andthe NewDemocraticParty.
2. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN
V News 3THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019. 3.
Embrace CBINANCY CHARLES, a senior official of theruling United Workers Party (UWP) hasrubbished the notion that a Citizen ByInvestment programme (CBI) is not alucrative idea with potential benefits forthe country.
Charles, while bringing greetings tothe New Democratic Party from itssister party, the UWP, during the 41stConvention last Sunday, said that shehad been hearing rumours, myths andmisconceptions about the CBIprogramme.
“I have never heard so muchnonsense in my life, that people willjust go, our leaders will just go andtake your passport and sell it topeople. Rubbish!” Charles said.
In St Lucia, the Citizen ByInvestment programme is on-going,she continued.
“And that is the change that I amtalking about.”
According to the St Luciangovernment official, there must besomething to attract investors.
“And so, your government willensure that reputable, credible peoplewho have money where their mouth is,and they can become citizens of thisgreat country,” said Charles.
Therefore, she was calling onVincentians to embrace theprogramme.
“I want you to speak to all of yourleaders here and tell them that yousupport it because we cannot continueto do things the same way that wehave been doing it over and over againand expect a different result.”
She then explained that in hernative St Lucia, the previousadministration — the St Lucia LabourParty implemented the CBIprogramme back in 2015.
But it was not until the UWP cameinto power that they have seen thegains to be had through such aprogramme.
Charles said that in 2017, theprogramme generated $27 million, in2018 some $67 million was generated,and the figure for this year was
projected to reach$65 million.
She furthernoted that themoney has beenused for the commencement of thenew national hospital, for themarketing of the country as a touristdestination.
Funding from the CBI programmehas also funded the nationalapprenticeship programme, whichtrains the young people and givesthem a skill in order that they go outand be able to help themselves.
“That is what we use it for.” “And so, I can assure you and I
can guarantee you that your newgovernment when they come intooffice, can learn from us.Whatever mistakes wemade, they can learnfrom it and tailor theirprogramme to suit thecountry,” Charles said.(Stories by DD)
Nancy Charles ofSt Lucia’s UnitedWorkers Party(UWP) has urgedVincentians toembrace theCitizen ByInvestmentprogramme.
We will make it right“WHEN WE TAKE UPGOVERNMENT, we aregoing to take thatlegislation (medicinalmarijuana) and put it inthe right way.”
So says ParliamentaryRepresentative for NorthLeeward, Roland ‘Patel’Matthews whileaddressing the NewDemocratic Party’s 41stConvention last weekSunday at the ArnosVale Playing Field.
According toMatthews, OppositionParliamentarianssupported the legislationto establish a medicinalmarijuana industry herebecause individuals likehimself coming from theconstituency of NorthLeeward understood theimportance of such anindustry.
But, the governmentwas yet to declare anamnesty period, theNorth LeewardParliamentaryRepresentativecontended.
No amnesty periodhad been granted;however, licences arebeing granted: “Theybreaking they own law,
and they ain’t even startyet,” Matthewscontinued.
Prime Minister DrRalph Gonsalves, whileaddressing members ofthe press last month andin response to lawyerGrant Connell who,during litigation in court,suggested that perhapsthe amnesty legislationwill come into effectduring the campaignleading up to the nextgeneral elections.
According toGonsalves, the amnestylaw took effect — andparticularly fortraditional farmers —when they were grantedlicences.
And there were sometraditional farmers whohad already beengranted licences tocultivate medicinalmarijuana.
“That’s when theamnesty kicks in,” hesaid.
The prime ministerexplained that ifsomeone who was caughtat sea with 40 pounds ofmarijuana, then amnestydoes not apply.
“How the amnesty
apply to that?” he asked. Under the Cannabis
Cultivation (Amnesty)Bill 2018, the periodbetween August 1, 2018to July 31, 2019 — ‘orsuch further period asthe House of Assemblymay determine byresolution, to personsengaged in thecultivation of cannabis,contrary to section 8 ofthe Drugs (Prevention ofMisuse) Act and anyother relevantenactment, who mayotherwise be liable tocriminal prosecution forcertain criminal offencesand other proceedingsunder that Act or anyother relevant enactmentin force’ is specified.
It continues thatduring the specifiedperiod, conditions forqualifying persons arethat they shall registerwith the MedicalCannabis Authority andsurrender all cannabis tothe Authority.
And requests foramnesty require that theapplicant submit to theAuthority informationincluding the location ofthe land on which the
crop is being cultivatedand the quantity beingharvested and stored,and the Authority may,for the purpose ofverification, cause threeinspectors — one of whomis a police officer notbelow the rank ofcorporal, to visit the landor premises to conductinvestigation andinspection in order toverify the information.
Successful applicantswill then be issued withan amnesty certificate.
Bacchus-Baptistewill fight for allUP UNTIL CLOSINGTHE DOORS to hercomfort profession, shereserves the right to fightfor all Vincentians — evenrapists.
So said OppositionSenator Kay Bacchus-Baptiste last Sunday atthe New DemocraticParty’s Convention, heldat Arnos Vale PlayingField.
She told the people ofWest St George, theconstituency for whichshe is the candidate forin the upcoming generalelections, that she wasthere to fight for them.
“I am not here to eat afood. I would be giving upthe comfort of the legalprofession,” she said.
In fact, it was by herputting herself to theservice of the people thatshe would be giving up her comfort, she said.
“I have fought for the dispossessed all my life;you wouldn’t get a bigger and better fighter.”
“But until I am elected into parliament, I reservethe right to fight for all Vincentians — even thoseconvicted of rape,” Bacchus-Baptiste said.
She said that she did not like rapists or thosewho broke the laws of the country, but the law saidthat an individual was innocent until provenotherwise.
“I am a lawyer, and until I close my doors andmy comfort profession, I reserve the right to fightfor all Vincentians because all people have a rightto be defended,” she said.
Senator Kay Bacchus-Baptiste said that sheintends to fight for thepeople of West StGeorge in the samemanner in which shedefended criminals,including rapists.
ParliamentaryRepresentative forNorth Leeward, RolandMatthews has againasked about theamnesty period fortraditional marijuanafarmers.
Continued from Frontpage.
He then announced that hehad already informed hiscolleagues within the partythat he was not going to be a
candidate. However, he stillintends to host radioprogrammmes and give hissupport to the party whereneeded.
Before entering politics,Eustace worked in the civil
service, being assigned to thepost of Permanent Secretaryin the Ministry of Agriculture.
Shortly thereafter, he wasrecruited by Sir WilliamDemas at the CaribbeanDevelopment Bank as an
economist. He was then assigned other
authoritative positionsincluding Director of Financeand Planning and FiscalAdvisor until his resignationfrom public office in 1998.
Eustace succeeded theleadership of the NDP andoffice of Prime Minister fromthen Prime Minister andPolitical Leader Sir James
Mitchell on October 27, 2000. The NDP then lost the
March 2001 general electionsto the ruling Unity LabourParty (ULP). However,Eustace remained asParliamentary Representativefor East Kingstown.
In 2016, Eustace steppeddown as leader of the party,handing over that role to DrGodwin Friday.
Eustace calls it a day
Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS
ATTORNEY Grant Connell isquestioning, what kind ofrat bit one of nineenvelopes containingsamples of marijuana in acase at the SeriousOffences Court onMonday.
Connell representedthe defendant JosiahClarke of Spring Villagewho was charged withpossession of 2,296grams of marijuana withintent to supply, onNovember 6, 2018.
Under cross-examination, CorporalLa Fleur Williams of theNarcotics Unit revealedthat a second samplingprocess had to be donebecause one of theenvelopes was bitten bya rat in the exhibit room.
Williams made theadmission after Connelldrew her attention to thedifference in the date on
the envelope to thatgiven in her evidence-in-chief.
“Four foot rat, two footrat; how do you know itwas a rat?” Connellquestioned.
“Now listen”, theMagistrate intervened.
But the lawyercontinued, “How long rateating drugs out there?This is not the first timethat rat eat the samplesand you have to changethe package. Why didn’tyou tell the Magistratethat you carried twotypes of samples to betested? You lied to theMagistrate”.
Williams did notrespond. The ChiefMagistrate, despiteobjections from Connell,granted SeniorProsecutor AdolphusDelpleche’s request forthe envelopes which hadsurfaced during thecross-examination to betendered in evidence.
“What are wetendering? How manyenvelopes?”, theProsecutor questioned.
Clarke was arrestedduring police stop andsearch duties at RoseBank around 2:20 pmNovember 6, 2018.
The drug, according tothe prosecution’sevidence, was found in abag Clarke was seenfidgeting with when thelawmen stopped theomnibus in which he wastravelling.
When the prosecutionrested its case, Connellmade a no casesubmission, arguing thatthe evidence of CorporalWilliams was at variancewith the date thesamples which weretendered in evidence andsigned by theinvestigator, ConstableOrlando Glasgow.
“If for some reason,the first set of sampleswere compromised, they
should have said so”,Connell said.
He further arguedthat the case was riddledwith inconsistenciesregarding the evidence ofGlasgow and CorporalGibbs McDowall.
In response, theSenior Prosecutor saidthat all that wasrequired was a medicalcertificate to show thatthe substance wasanalysed and proven tobe marijuana, and thiswas done. He, however,agreed that there weremajor inconsistencies inthe evidence of CorporalMcDowall and PCGlasgow in relation tothe position and removalof the bag from thevehicle, and theMagistrate ruled thatClarke had no case toanswer, based on theinconsistencies in theevidence of the twoofficers.
CourtV 4. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN
THE MAN ACCUSED of a vicious cutlass attackon his fellow villager, September 24, was deniedbail at the Serious Offences Court on Tuesdayafter Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delplecheinformed the Court that the victim Michael ‘Mike’Woods was warded at the Georgetown MedicalComplex in an unstable condition.
Lawrence Dabriel, 54, of Byera is charged withunlawfully and maliciously wounding Woods, 56of Byera with intent.
Woods was reportedly chopped with a cutlassacross the abdomen during an incident at Gorse,causing his intestines to protrude.
The charge was laid indictably, and thereforeDabriel was not required to plea.
Dabriel had initially appeared at theGeorgetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday, butthe matter was transferred to the SeriousOffences Court.
The Senior Prosecutor told the Court that whileWoods underwent surgery at the GeorgetownMedical Complex, he was not stable and had to befed through a tube.
Delpleche added that the victim was notmobile, and was being monitored closely bymedical personnel.
Delpleche asked that the accused be remandedat this stage pending a prognosis on the victim.
Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne granted hisrequest, and remanded Dabriel until October 8when bail will be reviewed.
HAROLD GodfreyRoberts, 56-year-oldlabourer of GunnHill, Lowmans Hill,is behind barsawaiting a January6, 2020 PreliminaryInquiry (PI) into astabbing incident onFriday, September27, which leftKenrick KenroyRoberts of GreatHouse, CampdenPark dead.
Godfrey Robertswas not required to
plea when he appeared before theSerious Offences Court on Monday,charged with Kenroy Roberts’ murder,and was remanded.
The 40-year-old labourer/farmerdied after reportedly being stabbedduring an incident at Great Housebetween 8 and 9 p.m
Senior Prosecutor AdolphusDelpleche informed the Court that theinvestigator told him she had about 12witnesses, and would be ready by theend of November.
Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne,however, listed the PreliminaryInquiry for January 6, 2020.
Rat attack at policeexhibit room
Bail denied invicious cutlassattack
Gunn Hill man charged with stabbing death
COMMISSIONER of Police Colin Johnsays the escape of murder accusedVeron Primus from Her Majestry’sPrison, Kingstown, was unfortunate,and has assured that LawEnforcement would put measures inplace to avoid a recurrence.
John declined to say what measureswould be put in place.
The Top Cop was speaking to THEVINCENTIAN on Wednesday afterPrimus, a Vermont man in his earlythirties, was sentenced to 16 monthsin prison for escaping lawful custody.
Primus had turned himself in at the
Central PoliceStation Tuesdayafternoon,accompanied byAttorney JomoThomas. He wasreported missingfrom the Male Prison around 10 a.m.on Tuesday.
John expressed gratitude for therole Thomas played in accompanyingPrimus to the Central Police Stationshortly after a wanted bulletin wasissued for the fugitive.
John also thanked members of thepublic for their assistance.
Top CoP thanks public, lawyer
Harold GodfreyRoberts
CoP Colin John
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04 , 2019. 5.
NewsV 6. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN
WHILE POLICE have arrestedand charged 56-year-oldHarold Godfrey Roberts ofGunn Hill for the death ofKenroy “Piggy” Roberts ofGreat House, Lowmans, thebrother of the deceased isstill mourning his loss.
Harold Roberts alsoknown as ‘Gunn Hill’,named after thecommunity in which hebelongs, was charged withmurder, for the death of40-year-old KenroyRoberts, resulting from analtercation in GreatHouse, over a cell phonewhich belonged to anotherman who was arrested with HoraldRoberts but later released.
When police arrived on the scene inGreat House, Roberts was found deadwith what appeared to be stabwounds. In an interview with THEVINCENTIAN, Christopher Roberts,brother of the deceased, describedtheir relationship as very close, statingthat they grew up together andmaintained the “closeness” up untilhis death.
Christopher last saw his brother onFriday evening,hours beforehis death. Theyhad taken aride to GreatHouse wherethey livetogether.Christophereventuallywent toKingstown topick up hisgrandson, whileKenroy stayedat home. “Aboutminutes to ten
on Friday night, I got a callthat somebody stabbed upme brother and he dead,”said Christopher of how helearned of his brother’sdeath.
“I felt down anddepressed, because it’s justlike I lose my hand and myfoot. He was everything tome, working together.Sometimes if I can’t go, Iwould send him, and Iknow he can go and do thework,” said the brother.Most times they do work inthe areas of farming,construction work orgardening.
According to Christopher, hisbrother left many thingsunaccomplished, including finishingthe family house and having a child.“A lot of things he wanted toaccomplish he didn’t accomplish,” hesaid, adding “I know he ain’t going bearound anymore to help me. I have towork double time. It’s going to be morehectic for me, because we work fasttogether and more things could haveget done.”
He said he wasn’t around when hisbrother got into the altercation, but “Iwould like to see justice for mybrother. I have nothing againstanybody and we all know each other.We go by the same shop andeverything,” said Christopher,concerning the guys who wereinvolved in the altercation.
“Finally, all I want to say is Godhold the keys to life and he is the oneto pass the final judgment, andeverybody have to meet theirjudgment for all the wrongs we donein life. Am not here to judge no one,am not here to condemn no one. Godknows it all,” declared Christopher.(KH)
Murder inGreat House
Kenroy “Piggy”Roberts was killedduring analtercation over acell phone.
ChristopherRoberts, brother ofthe deceased.
NewsV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04 , 2019. 7.
LAST TUESDAY, St. Vincent and theGrenadines began its three-monthobservation period of the SecurityCouncil. The country will officially takeup its two-year seat on the SecurityCouncil starting from 1 January, 2020.
According to a release from thePermanent Mission of St. Vincent andthe Grenadines, “The state uses thetools of diplomacy and multilateralismto advance its interests in the globalarena. The work being undertaken atthe Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesPermanent Mission to the UnitedNations is an important aspect of thisstrategy,” said the release.
“At a time when an ongoing climatecrisis touches the lives of millions ofpeople residing in low-lying coastalregions and on islands dispersedacross the world, the perspective ofSmall Island Developing States (SIDS)is crucial for ensuring that the globalcommunity considers the effects oftheir climate policies on our countriesand peoples. While SVG is small, thecombination of our history,experiences, and perspectives - whichwe refer to as a “small islandexceptionalism” - compels us to lift our
voices and shareour uniqueopinions on theissue of climatechange and itsimplications forglobal peace andsecurity. This iswhy at theUnited NationsGeneralAssembly(UNGA), 185countries electedSaint Vincentand theGrenadines for anon-permanentseat on the UNSecurity Council. We consider this notonly a privilege, but an importantresponsibility,” the press releasefurther stated.
The Permanent Mission said it willcontinue to lift SVG’s internationalprofile, as it works with their partnersto uphold international law and theprinciples of sovereign equality. “Weare friends of all, and we continue tostrive for a better world,” the release
stated.St. Vincent and the Grenadines on
Friday 7th June, became the smallestcountry to be elected to the UnitedNations Security Council. The SecurityCouncil is one of the bodies of the UNwhich addresses matters of peace andsecurity as well as conflicts across the
globe and how to resolve thoseconflicts.
It has five permanent members:China, France, Russia, the UnitedKingdom and the United States, and10 non-permanent members which areelected for two-year terms by theGeneral Assembly.
SVG begins 3-month observationperiod of Security Council
PM Ralph Gonsalves and Minister of Foreign Affairs Louie Straker (L-R-centre), pose with staff at the Permanent Mission of SVG at the UnitedNations.
THIS ARTICLE, first published on 28thOctober, 1989- nearly 30 years ago- is ourcontribution for 2004’s “Breadfruit Festival”in celebration of Emancipation Day.
Everybody knows the historicalbackground. The breadfruit was brought herefrom the South Pacific in days of yore toprovide cheap food for African slaves whopowered the plantation by the sweat of theirbrows.
It is a colourful history replete with themutiny of the Bounty, the ship that broughtthe first plants. The ship’s captain, Bligh, is ahousehold word in the West Indies,commemorted here in St. Vincent by a localrum which bears his name.
Suckers from the original plant stillproudly stand in the Botanical Gardenswhich were opened over 225 years ago,boasting highfalutin scientific names whichmean little to the local population. The tree,gnarled with age, and trapping much of ourhistory, is a great attraction for tourists.
The Breadfruit flourished in the tropicalclimate of St. Vincent, offering a plentifulsupply of carbohydrates to keep the humanmachines going on the slave estates. Someareas such as “Breadfruit Gutter” (nearVictoria Village) were appropriately named.
Although with a little effort a wide varietyof fish was available in the seas around, theofficial colonial policy was to import fromCanada the lowest grade of cod-fish that wasspecifically consigned for the West Indiesmarket. Breadfruit and saltfish (rationed attwo and a half pounds per slave per week)became a staple diet, and the latter-dayconcept of Breadfruit and Bull-Jowl was born.
With time, the breadfruit came to occupy acentral place in the average Vincentian’s life,offering food, shelter and recreation.
Board made principally from theBreadfruit tree, was supplied by slavemasters to help make doors and windowframes in the construction of the wattle-and-daub which housed the slaves. The practicesurvived slavery and has continued into theIndependence era among the poorest folk.Coffins made of breadfruit board are still acommon sign in rural districts.
Poor children at play “sold” theundeveloped breadfruit as Bread, the ripenedfruit as butter, while the more inventive cutthe bark of the tree and chewed the driedresin as gum.
Naturally, generations of cricketers andfootballers, past and present, had their earlytraining with “Breadfruit-balls”. And to thisday, sophisticated commentators show nodisrespect for the English language whenthey describe a well-set batsman as one whois seeing the ball “as big as a breadfruit!”
Indeed, declining sportsmen are oftenadvised from the bleachers to go on a diet ofBreadfruit and fish, to regain lost strength.And as late as the 1950s, whenever our
nationalfortunes saggedin football orcricket an aged man, Dory, used to appeararound the Victoria Park holding aloft afisherman’s rod with breadfruit and fishattached, accompanied by a string band ofadoring little children, all lustily chanting thevirtues of that particular food combination.Invariably if miraculously, St. Vincent’sfortunes would rise again following theimprecations of our mascot.
The Breadfruit Culture
The Caribbean masses virtually grew upon a menu of breadfruit, mangoes andbannanas. The latter two received popularrecognition donkey’s years ago. One recalls,for instance, calypsonian “Kitchener’s “MangoTree” and the beautiful “Mangoes” by OliveWalke’s La Petite Musicale. Similarly, theJamaican poem “Banana Man” proudlyhighlights the exalted place of that fruit inthe total life of the average Jamaican. But,not so with the Breadfruit.
This evolution and comprehensivenes ofthe breadfruit is of natural growth. One localcompany ECA built its business chiefly on thebreadfruit. At first, when one wasembarrassed to put the eating-habit ondisplay, it used to be smuggled overseas in-between intimate apparel, just like an illicitdrug on which one was hooked.
Recently an overseas-based calypsonian DeMan Age heckled Vincentians for constantlyspronging off the relatives abroad with “Sendthis, Send that”. CP in replying in kind fromSt. Vincent, noted that the very first thingthe Vincentian Americans request isbreadfruit, specifically, “a roast breadfruit”.
The Chamber of Commerce displayed theirown impressive “show case” as a tribute toour Independence. In the food and agriculturesection, prominently displayed was breadfruitbotanically titled “Archicarps” which sitssomewhere in the social hierarchy of thebreadfruit family of which “Coco bread” is thearistocrat of them all.
In order to emphasise the food shortage inthe 1930s, the Times Newspaper reported onthe long food queues gathered in the marketplace “even for breadfruit”. A month ago,vendors in the same market were cuttingstyle. To qualify for a breadfruit, one hadfirst to purchase another food item. TheBreadfruit had arrived!
The breadfruit also broke into the Englishlanguage, enriching its local branch. Forexample, social scientists have dealt with thebroad phenomenon of the deculturated Negro,a black person cut off from his roots. Butnothing quite captures its essence as thedescription “Roast Breadfruit”.
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
Climate changethreatens sport too The rise of the BreadfruitLAST WEEK IN NEW YORK, while theofficial representatives of the 193-member United Nations body wereengaging in debate on the pressingissues of the day, thousands ofyoung people from more than 150countries were involved in a massivemobilisation campaign to focus theattention of the world’s populationon the gravest threat to our planet.
The youths are campaigningaround the dangers of climatechange, a phenomenon of suchproportions that the UN itselfhosted a “Climate Action Summit”in New York on September 30. Itis not by chance that young peopleare in the forefront of the climatechange action, for their very futureis at stake.
Interestingly, young peoplehave a shared interest in a matterin which they are the principalparticipants. We refer here tosport, a unifying factor amongyouth, an area central to theirculture, to recreation andenjoyment a source of passion and,in today’s world, a provider oflucrative careers, for it is a globalbusiness worth some US $600million.
Today, however, sport, achallenge in itself, faces achallenge of a different sort and ofa global dimension. The spectre ofclimate change and all itsattendant negative impactsthreaten to disrupt sportworldwide and to wreak havoc asit does in other areas of humanendeavour. The impact of climatechange is multi-fold — highertemperatures, rising sea levels,more frequent and more intensestorms and floods. All of theseaffect sporting facilities (grounds,stadia, etc.) and also limit activeparticipation as well as spectatorattendance. As such, they presentchallenges to sporting engagementon a mass level.
This threat is set out in a study,The Game Changer Report, doneby a group called the ClimateCoalition. This study outlines thegreenhouse effect of globalwarming showing how it affectsrainfall patterns, climate andecosystems. It chose three sportsto illustrate such effects — football,cricket and golf, but points outthat in the context of globalwarming, it is winter sports thatare most affected.
Specific attention was paid to
the noted effects of climate changeon professional football and cricketin the UK where extreme weatheris more and more affecting andeven forcing cancellation of footballand cricket games, causingmillions of pounds in losses. Inaddition, major football teams likethe two big Manchester clubs (Cityand United) have alreadyinstituted programmes formitigation, involving recycling,irrigation, energy-saving andconversion of waste material tomake sports surfaces for football,tennis, basketball and athletics.
Cricket most vulnerable
Cricket is considered mostvulnerable, given its outdoornature and the duration of games.Cricket games are sometimeswashed out completely, causinghuge losses especially forinternational games. But inaddition, in countries like Englandand New Zealand, the changingweather patterns can causedisruptions, while tropicalcountries such as us in theCaribbean and Sri Lanka are moreand more prone to be hard hit byviolent hurricanes. Emissions ofcarbon dioxide in such countrieslike Pakistan and India affect bothvisibility and air quality.
The Game Changer Reportcomments as follows on the effectsof climate change on cricket:
“Climate Change is becoming ahuge factor. If we don’t take itseriously, it will fundamentallychange the game. It’s simple: theless cricket we play at every level,the fewer people will watch it, theless they will come to the groundand pay to enter, the less chancethere is for young people to beinspired to take up the game”.
There are some other issues,commented on recently by formerAustralian captain, Ian Chappell.He mentions how drastictemperature increases can add tohealth risks, the need to protectplayers from heat stroke and evenpossible skin-cancer. That is why,he says, day-night cricket isconsidered critical to the future ofcricket.
Chappell urges cricketadministrators, players, spectatorsand fans, to take the threatseriously. We should all heed hiscall and the global warnings.
THE PRIME MINISTER, Dr.Ralph Gonsalves, was intown last weekend, i.e.Brooklyn, New York, andhe addressed a town hallmeeting on Saturday,September 28.
I understand that theaddress was to focus onSVG’s attainment sincegaining independencefrom Great Britain in1979. However,according to a supporterof the ULP who attendedthe meeting, “I car lie,boy. De PM only talk‘bout wha’ happen sincehe took power in 2001.”
If that is the case, Imust fault the PM fornot being honest to our
history. But then again,the town hall meetingseemed to have beenattended on invitationonly and, that could wellmean that it turned outto be another ULPmeeting. So, the PMstuck to highlighting theaccomplishments of hisgovernment, especiallywith his eye on the nextelections.
But, Mr. Editor, thething that struck memost was when thissame ULP friendreported that Dr.Gonsalves said thatwhen he took overgovernment in 2001,agriculture was not the
dominant sector in oureconomy. If agriculturewas not the dominantsector in 2001, thenperhaps the PM can saywhat was. I know thatby that time, theeconomy was showingmuch more a diversifiedface with tourism,manufacturing and soforth, increasing theirshare to economicactivity. But I amcertain that all taken,agriculture was still thebackbone of the economy.
I understand now whyit was that Dr.Gonsalves, in wanting tocreate this new post-colonial economy/society,found a reason to turnaway from agriculture,
causing it to graduallyfade into the background.There has not, regardlessof how much money theULP will say that it putinto agriculture, agenuine desire orintention on the part ofthe ULP to ensure thatthe agricultural sectorremains intact.
Perhaps the ‘greatcannabis industry’ willreturn agriculture to itsdominance.
Garnet, NY
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019. 9.
LettersVThe ULP and agriculture
I AM WRITING on behalf of the majority of thesilent Vincentians. I am begging you not tocompromise our laws on buggery to accommodatethese two men who are emissaries of satan.
We have problems enough here and do not needthese guys to come here to exacerbate their evilwill on our people.
As a mother, I am sorry for their upbringing,suffering and pain, but my Bible says that, “Thewages of sin is death”, and their lifestyle is anabomination to God.
Unto now, after all the research and money putinto a cure of HIV, AIDS, there is no cure. Theprotease that they are given is a placebo whichonly delays the symptoms and delays deathinevitably. They die young. Send those patheticlost souls back from whence they came.
I am also expecting the churches that have beensilent on many injustices in this country, to take astrong stand against these men and their lawyers.
I have another peeve. The very filthy MiltonCato Hospital. I do not know how many people losttheir lives because of the dirty corridors filled withold moldy beds and other dust filled objects. Thewalls are dirty. The clinic just outside the gate hasa leak in the roof, and they put a plastic basinfrom the mold-filled roof, so patients have to walkaround the basin to go to the doctor.
Doe the Minister of Health Luke Browne evervisit this institution for which he is responsible?Or they all go abroad if their head even hurt?
Buggery laws must stay on the books.
Concerned citizen
Open letter to PMand lawmakers
SLAVERY was agenocidal scheme. Beingsuch, we deservereparations. On theother hand, my conceptabout reparations isdifferent.
As a school boy, Iremember leaning on theperimeter of the “IronMan” observing peoplegoing by. Now as anadult, I look at thenames of our fallensoldiers in the WorldWars inscribed on themonument. Thesesoldiers were partlyresponsible for thedestruction of Hitler andNazism. Nazism wasresponsible for the livesof 10 million Jewishcivilians. Genocide.What’s amazing is thatmany movies based onHitler, were responsiblefor the beginnings of thewealth of Hollywood.The 1965 motion pictureof the year, “The Soundof Music”, was based onHitler. Our country,through our soldiers,participated in thedestruction of Nazism,hence we alsoparticipated in thewealth of Hollywood. Ido not know how manycountries participated.
If marketing effortsfrom small, justdeveloping countries likeours who fought againstNazism, can attract theattention of Hollywood toat least provide $2billion U.S into some ofour treasuries, from timeto time, this would bevery welcomed. Themoney can be put intothe theatrical arts whereour actors and actressescan be paid handsomelyetc. How often we wouldget $2 billion, will
depend on our marketingefforts. Hollywood, assmall as it is, willremain the richest placein the world for a longtime to come. The moneywe can get from themmight be more than thereparations fromEngland, Spain andFrance combined. ManyJews are part of theHollywood world. Ourcountry, through oursoldiers, helped to defeatNazism. We participatedin Hollywood’s wealth,and this, together withsome elements ofbenevolence andphilanthropy onHollywood’s part, canmake things happen.
This would be anotherawakening.
Julian ‘Rockstar’Williams
MY FRIEND OwenRalph, the artist, justdied. We have lost amaster with a brush andpaint. He was certainlycutting edge, and hiskeen sense ofreproduction andadaptation made hisstylised scenes different.
His art can easily bedescribed as realismwith a touch of theabstract, and his coloursvibrant.
His carnival bandstook a page out of hiscousin’s (Roy Ralph)style and took it to thenext level.
R.I.P, my friend.
Paddy Corea
My friendOwen
Reparations
by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves
Introduction
SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES –ignored by the architects of the modernworld order – are now increasinglyindispensable to understanding and solvingthe challenges of our day. As the originalbuilders of our global economic andpolitical architecture descend intojingoistic isolationism, and succumb to thenarrowest pursuits of short term self-interest, it is the small, the poor and thehistorically marginalized states of ourglobal village that present the last, bestchance to restore the crumbling edifice ofinternational cooperation, and theprinciples on which that cooperation rests.
With multilateralism being batteredby a resurgence of base and dishonestpandering to narrowly-partisan interestgroups, and with great power intriguedriving nations further apart, SmallIsland Developing States, by necessity,will prove to be the glue that holds
together this internationalexperiment in unity, discussion, andjoint action.
Climate Change
The rapid acceleration of ClimateChange is the menacing manifestation ofa failed multilateralism. Faced with acommon threat, ample warning, andoverwhelming scientific consensus on thepast causes, future impacts and presentsolutions, the international communityhas dithered endlessly, and impotently.As emissions continue to increase,legally-binding limits are recast asvoluntary targets, and the worstoffenders hypocritically highlight thespecks of pollution in others’ eyes, todistract from the beam in their own.
At the same time, many moreneedlessly suffer and die whileindisputably urgent global action isintentionally thwarted by selfish short-termists and convenient climate-deniers.
Today we gather in the wake ofindescribable horror in the Bahamas,whose citizens and residents wereterrorised by Hurricane Dorian.
Weeks after the storm, hundredsremain missing. In recent UNgatherings, this tale has becomesickeningly familiar. Only the namesand locations have changed. Yet wecannot allow the steady drumbeat ofclimate catastrophes to becomebackground noise to our annualgatherings. We must remain attuned tothe urgency of vulnerable states in thepath of cataclysmic storms.
Every year, the ferocity of thesehurricanes increases. Every year, islandstates wait with bated breath, and hopeagainst hope that increasingly frequentstorms will thread their way betweenour countries without incident. Andevery year that we are spared, we grimlyacknowledge that our luck will not holdindefinitely.
Sadly, hurricanes are merely the mostviolent manifestation of climate change’sinsidious effects. The floods, landdegradation, droughts, landslides,coastal erosions, and unreliable weatherpatterns across our region, andelsewhere across the globe, placeincreasingly insurmountable dailyhurdles to life, living and production invulnerable nations, particularly SmallIsland Developing States.
World Peace
A different type of metaphorical stormis wreaking havoc on the bedrockprinciples that undergird thisOrganisation. The rising tide ofhegemonic, unilateral, interventionistinterference now threatens to inundateentire nations, while responsible statesstand askance from their responsibilitiesto speak and act in defence of centralCharter tenets. Everywhere — North,South, East and West — the hegemonicimperial hand is visible and oft-times
the metaphoric eagle threatens tounleash war and disorder inunilateralist vainglory. What all theworld’s peoples want is peace, dialogue,security and prosperity.
The sustained and coordinatedattempts to engage in externallyimposed regime change in the BolivarianRepublic of Venezuela is but oneegregious example of the current trend.We are witness to an illegal economicblockade, eerily similar to the oneagainst Cuba that we annually andoverwhelmingly decry as immoral andanachronistic. We are in possession ofindisputable evidence of extensiveforeign interference in the sovereignaffairs of the Venezuelan people, and thefrequent, unambiguous threats ofmilitary intervention. We are complicitin an international farce, where themembers of the UN General Assemblyseat one government as representative ofthe people of Venezuela while a self-described regional agency within theUnited Nations — the Organisation ofAmerican States — seats a different, ill-defined entity, a fictitious creation offoreign powers.
We are mute in defence of theprinciples that have bound us together,and steered us clear of World Wars forthe last 74 years. Principle, andinternational law, cannot be sporadicallyor selectively applied. Whatever thechallenges facing Venezuela, they areexacerbated, not remedied, by hegemonicinterventionism, and compounded by ourinconsistency. The solutions to theconflict in Venezuela are well known, asthey are in all other similar conflicts: thefacilitation of peaceful dialogue, thecessation of outside interference or thecessation of outside threats ofintervention, and firm adherence toCharter principles, including the respectfor sovereignty. Those who advance adifferent agenda are acting against theinterests of the Venezuelan people, andare becoming — willingly or unwittingly— co-conspirators in underminingmultilateral diplomacy.
The Middle East
Without hyperbole, we must now allrecognise that the Palestinian peaceprocess is mortally wounded, and neardeath. Our silence is complicity in theincreasingly brazen unilateralusurpations of international law.Neither the Two State Solution norregional peace can survive the ongoingdisavowals of bedrock agreements andthe enabling silence of our internationalcommunity. The Palestinian peopledeserve more than lip service and hand-wringing. The General Assembly, andthe Security Council, must be heardunambiguously on this matter.
The Africa Re-connection
This year, after separate visits to theCaribbean by the esteemed brotherPresidents of Ghana and Kenya thatcaptured the regional imagination, theCaribbean Community (CARICOM) hasapproved, in principle, the establishmentof an “ABCD Commission” for furtherpractical elaboration with the AfricanUnion, Brazil — the home of over 100million persons of African descent —, themembership of the Association ofCaribbean States and the AfricanDiaspora elsewhere particularly NorthAmerica and Europe.
The Africa-Brazil-Caribbean-DiasporaCommission places the fractured globalmight of peoples of African descentwithin a single institutional framework.Within that unity is undeniable anduntapped strength. This is a concreteproposal for further upliftment of thegoals and targets of the UN Decade forPeople of African Descent. Africa’scentrality is a core feature ofCARICOM’s public policy.
(Excerpts of Dr. Friday’s address atthe 41st Convention - Pt. 1)
CURRENTLY, our people are crying outabout how tough the country hasbecome. All over: Sandy Bay,Barrouallie, Kingstown, Bequia, UnionIsland and Mespo, people tell me theyhave never met it so hard in their life!
Even ULP supporters say so. Manyeven go so far as admitting that underthe NDP government, things werebetter for them. They couldcomfortably feed their families. Theycould send their children to schoolproperly dressed and eager to learn.They could fix the leak in their houseroof and buy tires or spare parts tokeep their vehicles on the road. Butall that has changed. Under Ralph,the place has become as tough asstone. And life is hard.
Accountability
The government continues to failmiserably when it comes to financialaccountability. We have noted beforehow they violate the Constitution andFinance Administration Act by failingto do what is required to ensurepublic financial accountability. Theleaders and apologists continue toheap scorn and contempt on thepeople, even when the most basiclegal demands for accountability aremade. Papa Gonsalves as PrimeMinister and Baby Gonsalves asMinister of Finance bear the greatestshare of the blame. They continue toflout their responsibility to uphold thenation’s Constitution and account tothe people.
I have said it before: “In a moderndemocratic society, public fundscannot be spent in the dark. The lawdoes not allow it, and we, hand inhand with the Vincentian people, willnot allow the government to break thelaw with impunity.”
When our people of all walks of lifetake stock, they see grossmismanagement of their affairs by thegovernment; they see violent crimethreatening the fabric of society; theysee nepotism, insatiable greed,corruption, exploited workers with norecourse (e.g. Ottley Hall); highunemployment, especially among theyouth; bad roads; poor health services;schools in disrepair that’s putting itmildly; increasing taxes such as VAT;increasing electricity prices,increasing food prices; declininghousehold incomes because so manyare out of work, and businessesclosing every day.
Our people see their lives gettingtougher by the day, while a privilegedhandful of people reap all the benefits.This is why we will continue to raisethe accountability issue, and the dayof reckoning is coming. Keep yourears to the ground, your eyes focussedand your pencil sharp. And when youget the chance, make it count byvoting them out. That is the surestway to punish their violations andhold them to account.
Yarabaqua Project and theunreliable contract
Gonsalves has further shown hiscontempt for the people of thiscountry in the recent Yarabaqua/CDBproject scandal. We brought thismatter to light and will continue todemand accountability for it from thegovernment.
This involves the serious matter ofthe declaration by the CDB of
misprocurement of contract in thework River Defense Works atYarabaqua done under the NaturalDisaster Management - Rehabilitationand Reconstruction (December 2013Trough Event) Project. The value ofthe contract is EC$ 1, 421, 567.00. Fora poor small country like ours, that isa lot of money.
You will recall that a year ago, on14th September 2018, Mr. CameronBalcombe Managing Director of Ballyand Bally Investments Limited, wroteto the Chief Engineer in the Ministryof Transport and Works, UrbanDevelopment and Local Governmentobjecting to the award of the contractin question to a company calledReliable Construction ServicesLimited. Bally and Bally was one ofseveral companies that put in bids forthe work because the winner of thecontract was a company that failed tomeet the criteria set out by the CDBfor the contract, having necessaryexperience in gabion basket and rivertraining work.
The government responded throughthe Chief Engineer, Mr. AlistairCampbell, saying essentially that theyhad hired a consultant, IBI Group ofCanada to, “further review of theexperience of Reliable ConstructionServices Ltd. And it confirmed theprevious conclusion of the consultantand by extension, the MTW.” So, theyrefused to change their decision, toaward the contract to ReliableConstruction Services Ltd.
However, the CDB did not taketheir word for it, and conducted itsown investigation. And what theCDB found was quite different fromwhat the government found. Theyfound that the procurement rules hadbeen violated in awarding thecontract, and the CDB cancelled itsfinancing of the contract.
Can you imagine that? Thegovernment reviewed the biddingprocess and said it found nothingwrong, so it said it would stick withits decision to give ReliableConstruction the contract. The CDB,on the other hand, found the violationof the procurement (bidding) processwas so serious that, for the sake of itsgood name and integrity, it had towithdraw from the project.
Then what was the government’sresponse to the CDB’s withdrawal?Instead of saying “Something stinkshere” and noting that the CDB wouldnot cancel without good reason, andthen resolve to get to the bottom of it,the government went into damagecontrol mode. And ultimately said tohell with the CDB, to hell with theother contractors who had an interestin the outcome to the matter, to hellwith Friday and the NDP, to hell withanyone else who might question them:we are going ahead as if nothing iswrong, and guess what: the moneywill come from government’s funds.The work would now to be funded bythe government, not the CDB.
But where is the money comingfrom? Parliament did not approve anyother money for it. So, the money willhave to be asked for separately. Willthis be another part of the spendingspree where the government spendsmoney without informing Parliamentand seeking its approval?
10. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN
ViewsVThe ULP’s contempt for the peopleExcerpts from the 2019 UN address
“No matter how frustrated,disappointed and discouraged we mayfeel in the face of our failures, it’sonly temporary. And the faster youcan stop wallowing in guilt, blame orresentment, the faster you can put itbehind you.” – Fabrizio Moreira (Born1982) – Ecuadorian politician andbusinessman.
WE HAVE ALL THOUGHT, said, and donethings that we regret. As imperfecthuman beings, we will periodically think,say, and do the wrong things. Some ofthese may have created embarrassingsituations for us having exposed ourfailures, foibles, and shortcomings.Depending on the magnitude of theinfraction and the sensitivity of ourconscience, the memories may linger fora relatively long time. They mayperiodically surface to haunt us withtheir tentacles of regret and remorse.
The thought of writing this essayemerged several months ago whilehosting the early-morning FellowshipBreakfast radio programme on PraiseFM (105.7 FM and 95.7 FM orwww.praisefmsvg.com). One of ourregular listeners (Mamasita) hadcalled in to share some of her insightsand experiences. She had commentedabout how foolish she sometimes feelswhen she revisits memories ofmistakes she had made over fourdecades prior. She mentioned“stewpsing her teeth” (a sign of regretand remorse) when she recollects howfoolish she had been. It then dawnedon me that she was not alone in suchthoughts. Like her, I can also lookback at my errors of judgement withdisappointment and regret. We allcan. However, regardless of themagnitude of the error, we all knowthat we cannot return to rewrite thepast. It is gone. We may have theguilt and the regret but, as best wecan, we must move beyond thesefeelings to ensure that they are usedto assist us and others in makingbetter choices. Sabaa Tahir, aPakistani-American young adultfiction writer, reminds us that, “Thereare two kinds of guilt: the kind thatdrowns you until you’re useless, andthe kind that fires your soul topurpose.” We accept the challenge toraise from the ashes of guilt andregret to ignite new fires of purpose.
Mark R.M. Wahlberg, the Americanactor, producer, businessman, model,rapper, singer and songwriter,provides us with some useful thoughtswhen he notes, “I did a lot of thingsthat I regretted, and I certainly paidfor my mistakes. You have to go andask for forgiveness, and it wasn't untilI really started doing good and doingright, by other people as well asmyself, that I really started to feelthat guilt go away. So I don't have aproblem going to sleep at night.”Therein lies a possible solution to ourreceiving some kind of release fromthose pangs of guilt — seekingforgiveness and focusing on doinggood; doing right. Repentance is auseful starting point on the journey toforgiveness. That forgiveness is oftenaccompanied by the warmth of a peaceof mind.
The sources of guilt and regret aremany and varied. Over the years,many writers have penned stories tosteer readers away from thetemptations of the eyes, the flesh, andthe pride of life that seem to so veryeasily lure and poison the innocentand the greedy. Two classic, heart-
wrenching, stories come to remind usof the various forms that may givebirth to feelings of remorse:Shakespeare’s Macbeth crafts a storyof Macbeth and Lady Macbeth beingconsumed by the remorse of theircrime. Students on English Literaturemay recall that Macbeth, a braveScottish general, had received aprophecy from a trio of witches, thathe was destined to become the King ofScotland. Consumed by ambition, andencouraged by his wife, Macbethmurders King Duncan and occupiesthe Scottish throne. However, he issubsequently haunted by guilt andremorse, having achieved the positionby foul means. In Victor Hugo’s 1862classic novel Les Misérables, JeanValjean, a prisoner who breaks parole,is moved by his guilt after havingstolen a loaf of bread to feed astarving nephew. In the case of theformer (Macbeth), we are remindedthat uncontrolled ambition and greedcan lead to paths of destruction andregret. In the case of the latter (LesMisérables), our “good intentions”could also result in generatingremorse. Regardless of the source ofthe guilt and regret, we do understandand appreciate that our reflections onthe past will periodically result in ourrevelations of thoughts, speech, andactions that can be categorized asregrettable.
Bible scholars would remind us ofthe folly on the great King David andthe guilt that surfaced following hisadulterous affair with Bathsheba (2Samuels 11). His “little sin” of lustingafter another man’s wife, resulted inpain and destruction for so manyothers. He was tormented by guilt fora relatively long time. The peace ofmind eluded him until he, through thewise council of a friend, repented forthe wrongs that he had done, andsought (and received) God’sforgiveness.
Many of the pangs of guilt andregret can be exorcised when we get tothe point where we learn to forgiveothers and to forgive self. Burdens ofguilt can be spiritually, physically,and emotionally debilitating. But theyneed not destroy us. We canterminate them when we get to thepoint where we face up to the realityof our errors … and seek forgiveness.The shame and guilt can be jettisonedwhen we own up to the infractions. Itmay mean facing someone that wehave wronged (or who wronged us andwe retain a sense of resentment), or itmay require our conversing with ourGod (through prayer) as we seek therelease. However, as we approach thecleansing or release, we must be big(mature) enough to be small (humble)enough to seek forgiveness and to turna new leaf in our lives … being trulyrepentant. This is as true for theindividual who reflects on “telling alittle lie”, as it is for the adulterer, thethief, the murderer, and so on.Whatever the infraction that wouldhave caused the heavy burden of guilt,shame, and/or regret, it is possible toobtain and retain a sense of releasewhen we are truly repentant.
THE CONSTITUENCIES OF SOUTHLEEWARD and East St George areinteresting in many ways. If one were tocompare them, we may find more thanmeets the eye. At the time of the lastelections, East St George and SouthLeeward were the two largestconstituencies. South Leeward beinglargely agricultural, working class andresidential, while East St Georgecomposed of a dominant middle and upperand professional class, a solidentrepreneurial base, with a dominanthotel and entertainment sector, yetpossessed with large pockets of poor andworking people.
There is more. In 2013, twoindividuals were thrust into the politicalarena. Camillo Gonsalves and yourstruly. We mirrored each other in manyways but differed in significant ways,most particularly, he being the PrimeMinister’s son. Camillo, was placed on afast track to political stardom, rising ashe did from Senior Crown Counsel inthe Attorney General’s chambers, toUnited Nations Ambassador, to ForeignAffairs Minister, to election in one of thesafest ULP seats in the country, then toFinance Minister with the PM chairbeckoning. Me, a much slower grind.
Camillo’s academic training mirrorsmine in every particular: First Degreein Journalism and Political Science,Graduate Degree in Political Economyand International Relations. We bothread for Law and became practisingattorneys in the USA before returninghome. In the 2015 elections, Camilloromped home to victory with well over3000 votes. He got every conceivableassistance to ensure that this victorywas secured. In contrast, there waspalpable utterings among a significantand influential cabal in the ULP thatthe South Leeward seat must besacrificed, if only to stymie my victoryand ascendancy. In South Leeward,most party supporters worked valiantly,but with tepid support from the party’scentre, some say sabotage, the partylost South Leeward by 118 votes.
South Leeward had always beenneglected and voters taken for granted.Dougie Slater promised the people aplaying field in 2005, and it wasdelivered 10 years later, just before the2015 elections. During this same period,a single Constituency got two spankingnew playing fields with floodlights andall, and another field was refurbished atChili. The playing field at Hope, was sopoorly designed that when it rains, avirtual river gushes onto the field andcovers a large portion of the grass withsilt. Locals warned against this veryproblem, but community buy-in wasdisregarded, the ‘experts’ knew best.
The Vermont valley is a fertilecommunity that produced an abundanceof agricultural products. The farmerslove the mountain slopes, but in the last25 years, the roads leading to and fromthese rich farmlands have becomealmost impassable. A commitment wasmade in June of 2014 to send tractors toclear the mountain roads in NorthLeeward, North Central Windward andthen South Leeward before the 2015elections. The tractors never got tomountain roads at Very Vine, Paradise,Gaskill and Queensbury. Four yearslater the tractors are yet to get there.Small wonder that farmer supportersfell off for the ULP in the 2015elections, as many families who dependon the land for a living lost enthusiasmand stayed away from the polls. Sincethe 2018 budget Very Vine mountainroads in Vermont were slotted forrepair. The people await the festival
slated for 2020 for some relief.No one can persuasively deny that
South Leeward has some of the worstroads in the country. Has anyone seenthe Zippers that were showcasedpatching up the roads in East St Georgein the run up to the 2015 elections? Theroad to the Vermont Nature Trailpresents a real-life adventure. Theoccasional patches in the roads are soshabbily done that they wash away withthe slightest downpour and amount toan absolute waste of tax payers’ money.
There are 5 community centres inSouth Leeward. At Campden Park, anew centre erected to replace the onewhose roof collapsed more than adecade ago, remains locked up,presumably until 2020 election feverbegins its destructive, corrosive roast ofthe people. The centre at Retreat,Vermont is dilapidated with neitherlight or water, a broken toilet andmissing windows. At Penniston, thecommunity centre is shuttered, almostswallowed up by a forest. At Rillan, thecentre is really a disaster relief outpostthat is not offered to the community fordaily use. A similar disuse continues atthe Clare Valley centre, except for thefact young children find refuge therewhile their parents work.
In South Leeward, there were thefewest Lives to Live projects. Once thenation rolled past the last elections,work stalled, leaving unfinished projectsand broken hearts. They too will get anew lease on ‘Life’ as 2020 electionsapproaches.
Youth unemployment is a hugeproblem in our country, but it takes ondeadly proportions in South Leeward.Police statistics indicate communitiessuch as Campden Park, Questelles,Rillan Hill and Vermont are hot beds ofviolence and crime. Of the 400 personsbehind bars, over 100, a staggering 25percent, are from South Leeward. Yet,there are few persons from thesecommunities working at the ports,especially that at Campden Park. Youwill have to go deep up the windwardcoast to find more than 50 percent ofthe employees at our ports.
What happened to the commitmentto transform Campden Park into the7th town? What happened to theproposal to move the Cruise ShipBerth? Why has the suggestion to bringit to Campden Park never gainedtraction, even though its construction atArnos Vale Bay, where the water depthwould have created an engineeringchallenge? What happened to thesensible idea to revive agriculture bymarrying idle hands with idle lands, orthe proposal to create Rapid RoadRepair Response units in every village?
Now contrast this sad tale with whathappened in the run up to the 2015elections and what has taken placesince. One constituency is in theascendancy while the other mires inhopelessness and despair. Benignneglect and or callous disregard impactnegatively on real flesh and bloodpeople.
Now, you see why I was made to losethe 2015 elections. I would have neverstood for this sad state of affair. I cannever stand for it.
CHIEF JOSEPH CHATOYER and thousandsof Garifuna brothers and sisterssacrificed their life protecting andpreserving our sacred land of St. Vincentand the Grenadines from foreigners. Theyare being betrayed now by the ULPregime as the ULP regime sells off ourlands to foreigners.
The sale of crown lands in SVG toforeigners, is terrible and not done ingood faith, in that, the ULP regime isgiving away billions of dollars of taxrevenue to the super-rich, whiteMigrants in Mustique and Canouanand to Taiwan too. This is running theSVG Treasury dry, and the ULPregime is using this outrageous andfoolish strategy as an excuse to sellCrown Lands.
SVG is not the private estate ofRalph Gonsalves, and Ralph Gonsalvesis not above the law of SVG 1979Constitution and the SVG Audit Act2005.
The table is of very serious concern. The analysis shows SVG is driven
by the inequalities becomingcommonplace in SVG.
We must do like Cuba and ban thesale of our lands to foreigners.Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer’sfight and death must not be fornothing. We must show respect andhonour for his sacrifice on our behalf.
We are losing our country to
foreigners at a very fast rate. If we donot stop the sale of our lands toforeigners now, there will be nocountry left for our children andgrandchildren. We must protect andpreserve our country for futuregeneration of Vincentians.
SVG has become like Australia.Our people are suffering the loss of ourheritage lands and unconstitutionaltaxation laws. Like the Aborigines, theindigenous people in SVG are beingtrampled on, and rich foreigners aretaking over our country. We must notallow Australia’s history to bereplicated in our beloved country ofSVG.
The socially conscious SVG GreenParty is calling for an immediate banon the sale of crown lands to non-Vincentians, and a land distributionreform system be put in place to avoidour people being driven further intodespair.
Future generations of Vincentianswill be born as foreigners in their own
country. Public land once sold is landlost to us forever. No government‘owns’ public lands - they hold it intrust for the people. WhenGovernments sell-off crown lands, theyare also selling our children’s future.
An SVG Green Party governmentwill end the sale of crown lands. Toomuch of SVG’s land has been sold toforeigners. This is counterproductiveand not a policy on which to sustainSVG’s economy. The lands of SVGshould be for Vincentians only. Whenour children grow up, they will want tobe able to build their own house ontheir own land. This will only bepossible after a change to a Greengovernment.
We don’t want to become secondclass citizens in our own country.
The ungrateful ULP regime shouldrespect the sacrifice by Chief Chatoyerand our Garifuna brothers and sisterswho gave their life defending SVGfrom being taken over by colonialism.Selling our country to foreigners is akick in the face by the ULP regime.
SVG Green Partywww.svggreenparty.orghttps://twitter.com/svggreenpartyhttps://www.facebook.com/SVG-Green-Party-154937087877631/
12. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN
ViewsVULP regime betrays ChiefChatoyer and Garifunaby selling crown lands
MusicV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04 , 2019. 13.
WisemanreleasesÂUp forReviewÊTO COMMEMORATE THECOUNTRY’S 40th year ofindependence, former leadsinger for Xadus, KendalWiseman has released analbum entitled ‘Up forReview’.
The album willofficially be released thisweekend.
“This month ofOctober is of specialsignificance for usVincentians as wecelebrate 40yrs of self-governance on October27th 2019,” Wisemansaid.
“As a born patrioticVincentian, I happenedto be fortunate to havewitnessed that specialmoment in Victoria Park40 years ago, thanks toGod Almighty for givingsustained life thus far.”
“I thought it is theright time toreflect/Review andcelebrate with myhomeland some of mymusic as it evolvedthrough the years,” hecontinued.
According to Wiseman,he had not too long
started his career asXadus’ front man,leaving behind ateaching career to“embark on an ambitionI desperately wanted topursue and excel.”
Apart from writingand recording many hitswith the band Xadus,Wiseman recorded andcompeted in the NationalCalypso Competitionduring the middle 1990’suntil migrating to theUnited Kingdom.
Some of these tracksare included in hisReview.
Making up thecompilation of Wiseman’shits over the years
includes ‘Jam inVincyland’, a trackrecorded back in 1984with the band ‘Gravity,’and which was arrangedby Frankie ‘The Maestro’
McIntosh, who wasfeatured on keyboards.
“It is Caribbean musicat its best, Soca! Reggae!Calypso and Ragga!” hesaid. (DD)
Right: FormerXadus bandmember andVincentianmusician, KendalWiseman hasreleased an albumcovering tracksover the yearsand one he sayscoincides with thecountry’s 40thIndependence.
THE DECORATION COMMITTEE of theRenewal at Forty exercise is planning tocreate a lasting impression throughoutthe nation, not just for this year’sanniversary of independence, but foralways.
Julian ‘Piling’ Pollard, Chairman ofthat Committee, envisages that “everynook and cranny” is going toexperience some of the “visualbranding” that will be displayed.
Pollard was speaking at theCarnival Development Corporation’soffice at Victoria Park last Wednesday.He promised that the entire nationwill be decorated.
Kingstown will have an intensifieddrive, including the FinancialComplex, House of Assembly Building,Vegetable Market and the MinisterialBuilding. Pollard is appealing topersons operating commercial venturesto “spruce up” their surroundings toadd to the drive.
Pollard pointed to the ArgyleInternational Airport where a varietyof activities will be based. Thoseinclude a 90 by 30-foot national flag onthe cliffs adjoining the runway.
Every effort is being made to make
visitors feel“comfortable”at the newlyconstructedfacility,Pollardindicated.
There willbe two areasof “nostalgicgardens,”according to him. One will reflect thenation’s phases, while other projectstrend to the next forty years. Pollardanticipates that the Gardens willattract students and the widerpopulace.
Counting down to National Wear
Sunday, October 27, 2019 will markan additional milestone on theVincentian calendar. Everyone knowsof its significance, first as AssociatedStatehood 1969, and ten years laterindependence.
Forty years later, Angenella Young,Marketing Officer at Invest SVG, isanticipating the rolling out of thiscountry’s national dress. Male and
female outfitswill be unveiled.
For Young,this will be theculmination of anarduous journey.
She is keen on witnessing the finalproduct, prototypes of which be ondisplay at the Geest Terminal inKingstown. That forms part ofcelebrations marking 40 years ofIndependence.
The countdown to that new attireintensifies from today with the closureof entries. The top three go into thefinal, following Cabinet’s approval byOctober 11.
Young gave details of thecompetition last Wednesday.
The winner earns some $2,000.Opening activities at the Everything
Vincy showcase will see a revisedversion of this country’s 2019 Carifestapackage. The programme varies withthe Cake Dance synonymous withUnion Island, and Rose HallDrummers.
Saturday’s session is dubbed: ‘Soca,Salsa and Steelpan.’
In addition to Vincy Soca vibes,there will be segments of pan as wellas exposure of Cuban and Venezuelaninfluences.
The Everything Vincy programmealso features fashions with 12designers on the catwalk, and ‘Gospel‘N Glory’ explosion. There is also anopening entitled Musical Maestro, atwhich legendary Frankie McIntosh isslated to appear. Budding musiciansRodney Small, Saeed Bowman andDarren Andrews will also appear.
Old people man
Elder citizens here can look forwardto some pampering from one who isjust about approaching the middleages. His name is Elvis Charles, andhe is the coordinator of the Renewal atForty exercise. That task is under thetheme: ‘With strength, honour anddignity, we stand resolute at forty andbeyond.’
Charles is placing emphasis on theaspect of “beyond’, for he is satisfiedthat elderly people may not haveexperienced the best of treatment
towards the twilight years of theirlifetime.
It is with that in mind that Charlesis reaching to members of that agecategory.
He is planning some trips for theelderly. As part of this year’sprogramme. Charles expressed hisviews last Wednesday at VictoriaPark, and declared that “Elderlypeople have been pushed aside for toolong.”
He has bus tours organised for 70persons from the Leeward district, andtheir destination will be the Windwardcoast.
A similar exchange is carded for 120persons from the Windward end for anexcursion to the Leeward side ofmainland St. Vincent.
Charles announced plans ofcelebrating this year’s event with“pomp fashion and style.”
According to him, “We want toprovoke that spirit of patriotism.”
Eat what you grow
Former Parliamentarian SelmonWalters, Manager of the ArrowrootAssociation and Chairman of theMadongo Festival, is looking at thepromotion of that festival as anoccasion for Vincentians to appreciatethe concept of local consumption.Walters is hoping that this year’sMadongo Festival, scheduled forChatoyer National Park Monday,October 28, will be anotheropportunity for Vincentians to partakein local production. There will beMadongo served fried, baked and asfungi, complete with fish broth. Inaddition, there will be spectrum ofsteamed, salted, fried, and black fish.
Walters was highlighting thebenefits of local productivity at lastWednesday’s launch of the Renewal of40 programme.
He is hoping that this festivalbecomes part of the national agenda,as it helps to solidify the prospect ofenhancing the local economy. As far asWalters is concerned, “Most times, wego for the foreign product.”
Walters urges residents to be part ofthe activities at Rabbaca. (WKA)
NewsV 14. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04 2019. THE VINCENTIAN
L-R: Elvis Charles, Coordinator of the Renewal and Forty exercise; SelmonWalters, Manager of the Arrowroot Association and Chairman of the MadongoFestival, and Angenella Young, Marketing Officer at Invest SVG.
Forty andforever
Julian ‘Piling’ Pollard,Chairman of theDecoration Committeeof the Renewal atForty celebrations.
SASHED AND CROWNEDas the Oldest Queen, 101-year-old Effie “Baby DinDin” Hazelwood washonored today by JoannaChristopher and thecontestants of theupcoming Miss YoungMothers Pageant.
With outwardreflections of emotions,
the contestants joinedEffie’s family in praiseand thanksgiving,through prayer andhymns, which wassometimes recited by thecentenarian.
A gift basket and afloral arrangement werealso handed over.
Effie Hazelwood, who
herself would have beena young mother, is themother of 16 childrenand several grand andgreat grand children.
The Miss YoungMothers Pageant isscheduled to be held onOctober 25th, 2019. (CD)
NewsV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04 , 2019. 15.
Hazelwoodhonoured
Chauncey Methodist Church makes donation of OtoscopeON FRIDAY20thSeptember,2019, theChaunceyMethodistChurchdonated anOtoscope tothe ClareValley HealthClinic, as partof its 2019MissionProject. Thechurch hasheeded the callof the HealthCenter for thisinstrument, andthe donation ofthis Ostoscopeis the Chauncey Methodist Church’s way of givingback to the community and ensuring that thepeople of Chauncey, Clare Valley and thesurrounding communites receive better care.
In 2018, a footpath was constructed for a blindresident in the Chauncey community. The Churchhas made other donations over the years: of ablender to the Clare Valley Government School andthe Bethel High School respectively; swings at theQuestelles Government School and the JyelsNatural Care Pre-school in Chauncey; and a railconstructed at the Golden Years Activity Centerlocated at Buccament.
Over the last five (5) years, the MethodistChurches in the Kingstown/Chateaubelair Circuit,have made several donations as part of their“Mission Projects” to various communities,individuals, and agencies in their communities.(Contributed)
Contestants of the upcoming Miss Young Mothers Pageant.
L-R: Anne Jones, Nurse NequetteDurham & Staff Nurse Culzac-James, Rev. Tui Nuku Smith(Methodist Minister), KennethAbraham and Sharon Browne.
NewsV 16. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN
THE LIONS CLUB ST.VINCENT SOUTH, incollaboration with the St.Vincent and theGrenadines Red CrossSociety, hosted a trainingsession inCardiopulmonaryResuscitation, commonlyreferred to as CPR, forresidents of the Enhams,Glamorgan and Mc Carthycommunities on Saturday28th, September 2019 atthe Club’s Den, located inEnhams.
Participants weretaught how to administerCPR, and how to respondto different emergencysituations. CPR is alifesaving technique thathelps maintain bloodflow to the brain andheart in an emergencysituation.
President of the Club,
Lion Noel Dickson notedthat it was Club’s way ofgiving back to thecommunities, and urgedparticipants to make useof the trainingopportunity. He took theopportunity to updateparticipants on some ofthe Club’s projects,which include fencingand upgrading of itshard court, which will beavailable for themaximum benefit of thecommunity.
The next plannedactivity to be held in thatcommunity is scheduledfor October 19, 2019,
which will take the formof a games evening onthe upgraded hard-court.
The Lions Club St.Vincent South is a notfor profit organisationwhich exists to serve itscommunities. The Club
is an affiliate of theLions Club International— the world’s largestservice Cluborganisation.
Participants CPRTraining.
CPR Simulation.
Lions Club St.Vincent South hosts CPR Training
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04 , 2019. 17.
by GLORIAH…
THE ST. MARTIN’SSECONDARY SCHOOL,through its EnvironmentalScience Club, wasrepresented at the coastalclean-up which took placeon a number of beachesthroughout St. Vincent andthe Grenadines onSaturday, 21st September.Science teacher andmember of the CaribbeanYouth EnvironmentNetwork St. VincentChapter (CYEN-SVG),Avanel Hector, along withstudent club member andPeer Counsellor, BrettCrick, joined other eagerenvironmental enthusiastsat the Arnos Vale Beach,with the aim to removegarbage deposited on thebeach. Among these alsowere volunteers from CocoCola, SVG Coast Guard,SVG Community Collegeand volunteers from thegeneral public.
THE VINCENTIANcaught up with Brett andsought to find out whyhe saw the need tobecome involved. Hewas clear that, “Forstudents, especially thosein Science andEnvironmental clubs, itis very importantbecause it helps you toknow more about yourenvironment and howpollution could affectplaces like our beaches.”Brett proposed the use ofpamphlets and rapsessions to bring themessage home tostudents who are notmembers of such clubs.
Science teacher Ms.Hector agreed, whilegiving a rationale forstudent involvement.“Students should getinto activities like thesebecause it starts fromthe youths, and in orderto bring awareness, wemust educate,” she said“Children are our future,and in order alleviateand combat some of theproblems we areexperiencing in theenvironment at themoment, we start withyoung persons becausethey would be the oneswho would be able tobring about the change,since they are thefuture.” She backed up
her comments byrevealing that a widevariety of garbage wascollected from the ArnosVale beach where theyassisted. She describedcollections of clothing,shoes, plastic straws andforks, toys, plastic andmetal bottle tops,seasoning bottles andvehicle tires. Sherecorded that the entiregroup, working from 9:00am to 12:00 noon,collected twenty largebags of garbage fromthat single area.
The coastal clean-upshave been organized bythe local chapter of theCaribbean YouthEnvironmental Networkwhich participates in theInternational CoastalClean-up endeavours.According to Ms.Clonesha Romeo,Director of the CYEN-SVG Chapter,International CoastalClean-up (ICC) iscelebrated annually onthe 3rd Saturday ofSeptember. She notedthat, “The Caribbean
Youth EnvironmentNetwork is dedicated toimproving the quality oflife of Caribbean youthby facilitating theirpersonal developmentand promoting their fullinvolvement in allmatters pertaining to theenvironment andsustainabledevelopment.” Theorganisation promoteseducation and training,Caribbean integrationand communityempowerment as tools todevelop an ethic amongst
young people, thatassists in theconservation andprotection of naturalresources within theWider Caribbean.
The Arnos Vale beachclean-up, therefore, wasonly one of the fifteenbeach clean-upsdesignated for Saturday
21st. These includedbeaches in theGrenadines. The CYEN-SVG Chapter intends tocontinue this project ofcleaning of beaches herein St. Vincent and theGrenadines as early asOctober 2019. Allvolunteers, includingstudents, are welcome.
NewsV 18. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN
SMSS assists in CYEN-SVG Beach Clean-Up
Clenesha Romeo, Director of CYEN-SVG.
L-R: Student club memberand Peer Counsellor,Brett Crick with memberof the CYEN St. VincentChapter Avanel Hector.
Continued fromBackpage.
AROUND 7 A.M. onOctober 1, the shift wasagain changed, andaround 10 a.m. that day,he was discoveredmissing.
An alarm was raisedand a report was made toSuperintendent ofPrisons Brenton Charles.
The matter was alsoreported to the police,and a wanted bulletinwas issued for him.
However, later thatafternoon, Primus turnedhimself in at the CentralPolice Stationaccompanied by AttorneyJomo Thomas. He wascautioned, but gave nostatement.
Primus said very little
to the Court, except thathe had turned himself involuntarily.
After the facts wereread, the matter wasstood down for a fewminutes, and thesentence was passedwhen the hearing wasresumed.
As aggravatingfactors, Browne notedthat Primus had escapedlawful custody, and didso while awaiting trialfor a very serious offence.
In the area ofmitigation, she notedthat no violence wasinvolved, and that heturned himself involuntarily. He had noprevious convictions.
Escaping lawfulcustody carries amaximum penalty of
three years in prison, butthe Magistrate used 22months as a startingpoint, and went up anddown as she weightedthe aggravating andmitigating factors.
She also took intoaccount Primus’ guiltyplea which earned him aone-third discount onsentence. He ended upwith a sentence of 16months.
While Primus wascommitted to stand trialfor Greaves’ murder in2017, the prosecutionhad withdrawn changesagainst him forkidnapping, and anumber of sexualoffences involving ayoung lady. THEVINCENTIANunderstands that the
charges were withdrawnafter the victim failed toshow up at thePreliminary Inquiry.
PeopleV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04 , 2019. 19.
The rise of the BreadfruitContinued from Page 8.
To call a man “Roast Breadfruit” is tosuggest that he is Black outside butwhite inside: Lloyd Best’s Afro Saxonand Fanon’s “Black Skins White Masks”,graphically converging in a vegetable!
Similarly, the essentiality of theBreadfruit to West Indian life has led tothe concept of the “Breadfruit Tree”. Tocut down a man’s breadfruit tree is towipe out the very means of his existence.
And so we come to the mostcontroversial usage of all, “TheBreadfruit Mentality”. The breadfruittree often springs up unplanted andneeds no watering, weeding orfertilizing. There is the kind of
ambitionless person who will not lift astroke to improve his lot, once he hasspotted enough breadfruit on the tree toassure him the next square meal. Suchperson is afflicted, in the words of ourPrime Minister, with a BreadfruitMentality. No more, no less.
One major political party has the goodsense to choose as its emblem thebreadfruit leaf. But for the practicalitiesinvolved, the breadfruit on our originalflag also showed commendable thought.
For there can be little doubt that themovement towards true Independenceand the evolution of the Breadfruit havehad their destinies intertwined. Westand or fall with the Breadfruit Tree.
Recaptured murder accused jailed
Continued fromBackpage.
She said that he didnot disclose to her anyplans for the rest of theweekend.
And although theylived at separatelocations, Iris said that itwas the norm for him topass by and ‘hang out’for a while.
So, she becameconcerned when he didnot show up at her houselast Monday andTuesday morning.
She said that shethought he was tired andhad opted to rest.However, she grew moreconcerned as time passedand he never showed.
“After I did not seehim, I called his phoneand he was notanswering,” Iris said.She then walked up towhere he lived, but didnot see him; so shereturned home thinkingthat he had gone to hislands, or lime with somefriends.
After some time, Irissaid that she went backto the house where he
lived and searchedaround — this time, shesaid that she met thecouple’s 19-year-old sonin the yard.
Upon looking around,Iris said that she metGeorge’s cutlass, waterboots and the keys to hisvehicle, suggesting thathe never went to thelands as she initiallythought.
She said she left aftervery little exchange withher son.
Iris later explainedthat she and her 19-year-old son did not have agood relationship aftershe was forced to call thepolice following somebehavioral problems.
Nevertheless, shequestioned him as to whochanged the curtains tothe house, and heresponded “Daddy.”
But Iris said that sheknew that George wouldnot have done such athing, so she went backhome.
She later went to anearby shop and asked ifanyone had seen George,‘Coban’ as he wasreferred to, but she got
the same response thatno one had seen theman.
“I said, this is fishybecause nobody sawhim.”
It was at this pointthat she then decided tocheck where he tied hisanimal.
She went back to thehouse where she said theoutside toilet was,checked, but nothing outof the ordinary wasdiscovered.
Then a suggestion wasmade to check a path atthe back of George’shouse, and as they madetheir way, she noticed anarea trampled down.Upon furtherinvestigation, some bloodwas discovered, and thenIris said that she got thestench of decay.
That was when anarea of fresh dirt wasdiscovered, with somebush spread over it.
At that point, thepolice were summoned.
“I feel sad because Idid not expect dat,” shesaid.
Investigations are on-going.
Evesham man discovered
Primus is also aperson of interest to LawEnforcement in theUnited States inconnection with thekilling of a 16-year-oldgirl, Shanel Nixon in the
United States in 2006,and was interviewed bydetectives from the New York PoliceDepartment (NYPD)while in police custodyhere in 2016.
Dear George,
MY HUSBAND has been physicallyabusing me since the day I married him.As a matter of fact, he hit me severaltimes when we dated, but he apologizedfor that and promised never to do soagain.
There is this guy who wants me todivorce my husband and marryhim. He swears he will treat me likethe queen that I am. Those were hisexact words. He wants me to leave myhusband right away, and move in withhim until the divorce. This guy is anice guy and I’m considering doingwhat he is suggesting. I do need aman who can treat me like a queen.
Tired and battered.
Dear Tired and battered,
You should never accept any form ofabuse from anyone, let alone yourhusband. The warning signs werethere during your dating period, butyou chose to ignore them, thinking
things would work themselves outonce he apologized.
I am strongly suggesting that youget immediate counselling, and makeit your business to demand that yourhusband does that as well. Yourcounsellor will guide you as to the wayforward from that point. If yourhusband does not receive professionalhelp, the abuse would not stop. It isyou who have to decide ultimatelywhether you continue with him ornot. As for that other guy, gettinginvolved with him at this juncture is abad idea. That would complicatematters. If you choose to get involvedagain, then you need to give yourselftime to heal properly and to be sureyou are not just rebounding.
George
20. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN
AdviceV
Dear George,
MY BOYFRIEND hassuddenly become overlyaggressive with me. I’mnot sure what’s going onwith him. He was a niceand gentle soul when I
met him, but now, he haslost it. Any argumentbetween us would endwith him threatening totake my life. Three timesin the same month, hesaid he would kill me. Henever apologized for that,
although I’ve begged himto do so time and timeagain. He just saidwhatever he said, hemeant it, so no need toapologize.
George, I find myselfunable to leave this man,especially when Iremember how great heis in bed. I can’t afford tolet another woman endup with him. I just wanthim to be that nice guyhe was before. Am Iasking for too muchhere?
Afraid and in love.
Dear Afraid and in love,
The reason why yourboyfriend would notapologize for hisbehaviour, is he is notsorry for any of it. Hehas admitted to you hemeant every word, andthat should be yoursignal to move on.Issuing threats is acriminal offence, and Iadvise you to take thisseriously and report thisto the police. Love isnowhere in the equationhere, and you need towake up. Do what youhave to do to detachyourself from this guyand move on. Youdeserve better.
George
Dear George,
MY GIRLFRIEND has made it clear to me that Icannot satisfy her anymore. This was after she gotback from staying just over a year in theStates. She has admitted to having a few flingswhile she was there, but has since asked me toforgive her. Now she is telling me I am much toosmall for her, and if I need her to stick around, Ishould get penis enhancement. I do love mygirlfriend, but do not see how in the world I canget to the place where I would be able to satisfyher enough. I believe my goose is cooked unlessyou have suggestions.
Worried
Dear Worried,
Relationships ought to be based on love andacceptance. Your girlfriend is not at that placeanymore, where she is willing to accept you justas you are. You should realize when someone isasking you to do the ridiculous. If your girlfriendcannot accept you as is, then you need to ask herto leave you be. Whatever happened in New Yorkwill forever be in the way of normal relationshipwith you. The writing is on the wall, you justneed to pay attention. Game over!
George
Give yourself time
CanÊt let anotherwoman have him
Game over!
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019. 21.
LeisureVACROSS
1. Crook catcher4. Sailor’s distress
signal7. Cafeteria aid11. Lyric poem12. He tells fibs14. Sharpen (a blade)15. Neither trailer16. “The Sun _ Rises”, book17. Finds a sum18. Large mats20. Song in church22. Shout of discovery24. “That’s fine!”27. City in Norway30. Perched on33. Room for scientific
research35. Opponent36. Pull by a rope37. Exert effort38. Merriment39. Foot encase40. Sound quality41. Mama’s hubby43. Throw on (a uniform)45. Even exchange48. State founded by
Mormons51. Andean metropolis54. Cob veggie56. Family vehicle58. Spoken59. Musical Clapton60. Slight shade61. Moderately hot62. 39-Across tip63. North Pole helper
DOWN1. Debate side2. Skunk’s scent3. 51-Across is its capital4. Knife cut
LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT. 23)Children could cost you more thanyou can afford. Don’t be afraid tomake a move if you aren’t happywith your emotional situation.Financial investments that deal withjoint money can be extremelyprosperous.
SCORPIO (OCT. 24 - NOV. 22)Your moneymaking opportunitieswill flourish. Unexpected bills willleave you a little short. A series ofmisunderstandings may be at fault.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21)Take care of any pressing medicalproblems that you or one of yourparents may be suffering from.Outbursts of passion may causearguments with your mate. Helpothers solve their dilemmas.
CAPRICORN (DEC 22.- JAN. 20)Go over your finances and figure outa solid budget. Be honest in yourcommunication and don’t lose yourcool. Prove your worth; concentrateon getting the job done and steerclear of office politics and gossip.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 21.- FEB. 19)Don’t overspend to impress someonewho interests you. Your own smallbusiness on the side sounds prettylucrative. Anger could lead toproblems.
PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20)Travel or short trips will probably beyour best outlet. Problems withfemales you live or work with will tryyour patience and cause temper flareups.
5. Italian-dressingingredient
6. Beauty-pageantribbon
7. Show gratitude to8. Curtain bar9. Furthermore10. Reply of assent13. Cowboy Rogers19. Syllable from Baby21. Floor wiper23. Pledged vow25. Choir participant26. Spun thread27. Light-switch option28. Broth-based dish29. Talented Horne31. Excessively 32. Had monetary
ARIES (MAR. 21- APRIL 20)Don’t let your mate talk you intogoing somewhere you’d rather notgo. You will find your vitality islowered. Problems with relativesand friends could surface.
TAURUS (APR. 21- MAY 21)You can ask for favors but don’t takethem for granted. Don’t be too quickto judge your position orsurroundings at work. Someone youlive with is ready to play emotionalgames.
GEMINI (MAY 22-JUNE 21)Expect your workload to be heavy.You’ll find it easy to charm membersof the opposite sex this week. Yourtemper could get the better of you ifyou confront personal situations.
CANCER (JUNE 22-JULY 22)Don’t get upset. Don’t be critical oroverly opinionated with dislikes; itcould cause disapproval andunwanted opposition. Don’t jumpthe gun; you may find yourselfgetting angry at the wrong person.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22)Those who have been toodemanding should be put in theirplace or out to pasture. You’ll meetnew friends if you try new activities.You will find travel and lecturesmost stimulation.
VIRGO (AUG. 23 -SEPT. 23)Your ideas are right on the mark andyour work commendable. Your needto put great detail into everythingyou do may cause you to miss theoverall picture.
22. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN
BALL BURNERS UPSETUPSETTERS to retain theirtitle in the DMG FurnitureEnterprises Ltd. NorthLeeward Women Softball T20Cricket Tournament, whenthey beat them by 3 wickets,in the finals of the competitionlast weekend at the FitzHughes playing field.
Batting first, Upsetters
posted 165 for 8 off 20 overs.Denel Creese top-scored with28, while Denella Creese andYolande Granderson hit 19each. Bowling for BallBurners, Vinisha King took 2for 21, Shenezia Daniel 2 for22 and Edely Turtin 2 for 55.
Ball Burners in reply,reached 166 for 7 off 20 overs.Kacy Johnson led the runs
chase with 66 and ZavianStephens 20. YolandeGranderson was the MostSuccessful Bowler forUpsetters, with figures of 2for 31.
Kacy Johnson was MVP ofthe Finals with her knock of66.
I.B.A.ALLEN
Ball Burners, NL Women Champions
Champions, Ball Burners.
V THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019. 23.
Trevor Bailey getsUCI RecognitionPRESIDENT OF THE ST. VINCENTAND THE GRENADINES CyclingUnion - Trevor ‘Sailor Bailey’, wasawarded the UCI Merit ofDistinction, for his work in Cyclinghere in St Vincent and theGrenadines, the Caribbean and theAmericas.
Bailey was presented with hisaward last Friday at the 188thAnnual Congress of the UnionCycliste Internationale (UCI), inHarrogate, Yorkshire, England.
Former UCI President BrianCookson, former UCI PresidentPat McQuaid and President ofthe Malta Cycling FederationJohn Zammit, were alsorecognised.
Reflecting on his recognition,Bailey said he was caught bysurprise, by the announcement ofthe award.
One who does not do things inreturn for accolades, Bailey,though, was grateful that hisefforts in the sport over the years,has been acknowledged.
“The award is not just for me,
but it is also for the people of StVincent and the Grenadines,cyclists, officials, and folksinvolved in cycling in theCaribbean and the Americas”, Bailey said.
Involved in Cycling for thepast 47 years, Bailey revealed therecognition ceremony touchedhim, as there was a throwback ofphotos of him, from his early daysas a cyclist at age 14.
Last Friday’s Congress saw theinclusion of two new members tothe UCI.
The participants voted infavour of the official affiliation ofthe Samoan Cycling Federationand the Maldives CyclingAssociation, bringing the numberof National Federations affiliatedto UCI to 196.
Trevor ‘Sailor’ Bailey, atcentre, is flanked by UCIPresident David Lappartient,at left and UCI Vice PresidentJose Manuel Pelaez (right).
Kacy Johnson, MVP of the Finals.
SportsV 24. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN
SESCO WON the Under-18Division, and Central All
Stars- the Senior Division,when the CentralKingstown Nine - A -SideFootball Competitionended last Saturday night.
Watched by a largecrowd under the lights,Silas Kirby scored thelone goal, in SESCO’sone nil win over SystemThree, in champing theUnder- 18 title.
More joy was to cometo the partisan homesupport, when CentralAll Stars won the Senior
title.Central All Stars beat
World XI 5-4 on penaltiesto win the SeniorDivision.
Both teams hadplayed to a nil-nil tie inregulation and extratime, before Central AllStars won on penaltykicks.
World XI’s EnriqueMillington was theSenior Division’s top goalscorer, with seven goals.
Following the successof the competition,organisers are planninga Youth Competition aswell as a VillageCompetition, as they aimat bringing a renewedFootball vibes to thecommunity.
Under-18 Winners- SESCO.
Footballtitles stayin Sharpes
Central All Stars- Senior Division champions.
Senior Division topgoal scorer- EnriqueMillington of World XI.
GOLAND GREAVES waselected as the newPresident of the St.Vincent and theGrenadines CricketUmpires Association(SVGCUA), when theAssociation held itsAnnual General Meeting(AGM) on Saturday 28thSeptember 2019, at theBishop’s CollegeKingstown.
A new Executive waselected to conduct thebusiness of theAssociation for the nexttwo years. Greavesconvincingly beat MariaAbbott to the post, with13 votes to 4. FormerPresident Roger Davisdid not contest re-election.
The other members ofthe Association areMichael St. Hilaire - VicePresident, Afron Byam -Treasurer, CorneliusEdwards - Secretary,Kaman Green - AssistantSecretary, Selwyn Allen -Public Relations Officer(PRO), Colbert McDonald- Committee Member.
In his acceptancespeech, the formerPresident expressedthanks for the support hereceived, and outlinedhis intention to move theAssociation forward.“One of my firstinitiatives is to get theConstitution revised,while bringing integrityback to the Association,and I will encourage allexecutive members tohave the same mindsetpertaining to integrity,”Greaves said. He alsoadded that he believesthat his executive willendeavor to do morethan what has been doneduring that period.
Greaves also believesthat educating theumpires in the everevolving world, is criticaltowards theirdevelopment, and he haseducation as one of histop priorities. “Firstthing is to update ourumpires with the newlaws - the 2017 codes.Since then, the lawshave been reviewed and,with the 2019 edition,our umpires have notbeen properly trainedunder those new laws,and one of the things I
am going to do before the2020 local cricket season,is to have at least oneworkshop, where ourumpires will receivetraining pertaining tothose laws. Umpiring isnot just about the laws ofthe game, it also involvescoping with pressure,match management,ground weather, andlight; so all these areasof umpiring have to betaken seriously”. I.B.A.ALLEN
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019. 25.
SportsV
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES drawswords with Suriname in the third Round of theConcacaf Nation’s Cup next week end. By the timeIndependence comes around, October 27, the stagewill be set for the final showdown. That time,Vincy Heat will welcome Nicaragua, and thenjourney to Dominica for the decisive encounter.
Similar scenarios face Suriname in the fourteams in that Group. One advances to League Aand a chance of taking part in the next Gold Cup.
The month of October bears special significanceto Vincentian football lovers and enthusiasts. Onewould recall it was around that time 40 years agothat a group of young men, without any formaltraining, undertook the task of engaging theirregional counterparts in a championship at whichwe were expected to just take part.
When the curtains came down and St. Vincentand the Grenadines placed second to Haiti, theworld had to take notice. That tournament was inSuriname, and St. Vincent and the Grenadineswas not supposed to pose any challenge toSuriname.
The South Americans had established a recordof dominance especially at home and with theirinternational image, St. Vincent and theGrenadines, unknown in the football circles, wereto have been swept aside.
Results have proven differently and in fact, thescenario was such that it unleashed a level ofrespect for this nation at the regional, if notinternationally.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines has seesawed inits performances since. But there is nodisagreement that this nation has distinguisheditself as one with pedigree in football.
In fact, our country’s prowess in sports has beenacknowledged. We churn out stalwarts in some ofthe most unpredictable spheres. Could it besomething about the natural psyche?
There must be some semblance of naturalability, and given this country’s terrain, there isthe logical cohesion. But life has progressedbeyond the natural realms, so teams, coaches andindividuals have to pay attention to other factors.Those entail aspects of technology and psychology.
Once we come to terms with those elements, wecould on be course towards accomplishing more inthe area of sports.
This year’s calendar of Independence activitiesshows some inclination towards sports. Gradually,the message has dawned on the respectivedepartments, that sports is more than a cursoryexercise. When one looks at the earnings ofpresent sport men and women, there is no puzzleif youngsters tend to gravitate towards sports.
But there must be the balance, for no matterhow dynamic one’s sporting career may be, thereis the reality that the sporting life cycle is limited.
Life continues after the times on the field ofplay. It will be paramount that the sportspersonnel get a full grasp of that image.
It will be more profitable to balance sportingand academic performances. In any case, it will beeaser to enlist on an academic platform, on thebasis of a foundation in sport. However, the needexists for there to be a delicate balance. That issomething that sports personalities present daywill have to contend with.
Academics and sports
Greaves, new President ofthe SVG Umpires Association
New SVG UmpiresExecutive.
Goland Greaves is thenew President of SVGUmpires Association.
Roger Davis outgoingPresident of SVGUmpires Association.
September 26th, 2019 Viewing: 1:00 p.m. Service: 2:00 p.m.
Interment: Kingstown Cemetery
GREGORY DARNLEY HUGGINS
Faith Temple Church
New MontroseMonday, 30th September,
2019Viewing: 1:00 p.m.
Service: 2:00 p.m.Interment: Kingstown Cemetery
CHARLES ALFANSO NOWELL
Chebar Evangelical
Assembly Rose Place, Kingstown
Saturday, 28th September, 2019
Viewing: 1:00 p.m.
Service: 2:00 p.m.Interment: Kingstown Cemetery
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WHILE MURDER ACCUSEDVERON PRIMUS is into thethird day of a 16-monthprison sentence forescaping lawful custody atHer Majestry’s Prison,Kingstown, police arecontinuing investigationsinto the circumstancessurrounding his escape.
When THEVINCENTIAN contactedCommissioner of PoliceColin John onWednesday, minutesafter the 16-monthsentence was passed onPrimus, he confirmedthat the investigationswere ongoing, and anumber of prison officerswere assisting in thatregard.
The probe waslaunched following areport to the police onTuesday that Primuswas reported missingfrom the male prisonaround 10:00 a.m thatday.
Primus, a Vermontman in his early thirties,was awaiting trial for themurder of Real EstateAgent Sharlene Greaves,36 of Dorsetshire Hill,whose body wasdiscovered with stabwounds, at her BijouReal Estate office onNovember 13, 2015.
Clad in blue jeans,black t-shirt and multi-coloured sneakers, avisibly calm Primus wasescorted to the SeriousOffences Court by Headof the Major Crime Unit(MCU), Inspector ElginRichards on Wednesdayto answer the escapinglawful custody charge.He pleaded guilty whenhe stood before ChiefMagistrate RechanneBrowne, and wasunrepresented.
In presenting thefacts, Senior ProsecutorAdolphus Delpleche toldthe Court that around 3p.m. on September 30,the prison was locked
down and Primus wasthere. Around 11 p.m.that day, the shift was
changed and Primus wasagain accounted for.
Continued on Page 19.
by DAYLE DASILVA
IRIS SAMUEL recalled themoment she discovered thebody of her 56-year-oldhusband George ‘Coban’Samuel buried in a shallowgrave on Tuesday night atEvesham.
The two did not livetogether, but stillmaintained a relationshipwhere they would spendtime back and forthbetween the two homesthey shared.
According to Iris, she
last saw George Samuel lastSaturday when he dropped her offat her daughter’s residence inGomea.
Continued on Page 19.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019 VOLUME 113, No.36. 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 ESTATEExecutive house with pool, Gunn Hill,
