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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 VOLUME 110, No.09 www.thevincentian.com EC$1.50

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Stories by WILLIAM‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY

CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICERDr Simone Keizer-Beacheis stepping up herdepartment’s measures toensure that the Zika virusdoes not becomeentrenched here.

She outlined efforts byher Ministry during apress conference hostedby the Ministry of Healthand the Environmentlast Wednesday, one dayafter the first case of theZika virus was confirmedto be in St. Vincent andthe Grenadines.

Health Minister LukeBrowne broke the newsof the case duringTuesday’s session of theBudget debate.

Dr. Keizer-Beachehighlighted the need tofocus on “sourcereduction for, as sheindicated, “Once themosquito is here,everyone remains atrisk.”

She stressed onmethods of protection,including use ofrepellent, putting onlong- sleeved tops and

long pants, and nets inorder to minimise bitesby the Aedes aegypti,carrier of the Zika virus.

Epidemiologist in theHealth Ministry DrRosmond Adamsdisclosed that testscarried out by theCaribbean Public HealthAgency (CARPHA)confirmed that a 34-year-old woman from theSouthern GrenadinesDistrict of Union Islandhad contracted the virus.

He told the media thatthe woman reported

fever, headache, chills,cough, weakness to thelower limbs andvomiting.

These symptomssurfaced February 15,and she was seen by theDistrict Medical Officerthe following day. Hertemperature wasrecorded at 104.5 F. Shewas hospitalised for 2days and dischargedFebruary 18.

Dr. Adams noted thatneither patient nor anyother member of herhousehold had travelled

overseas recently,suggesting that the viruswas locally induced. Theoccupant of the househas a history of recenttravel. Transmission is,therefore, likely to beautochthonous.

Luis de Shong,Permanent Secretary inthe Health Ministry,stated that the InsectVector Control Unity has“scaled up environmentalsurveillance andmosquito eradication

Continued on Page 3.

CONSUMERS herewill be paying moreon a number ofitems.

That comes onthe heels ofmeasures to beenacted bygovernment as itmoves to raise itscurrent revenueneeds as per the2016 Budget for thiscountry.

Prime Ministerand Minister ofFinance, Dr. RalphGonsalves detailedthese measureswhen he presentedthe 2016 Budget ata sitting of theHouse of Assembly,last Monday,February 22, whichwas not attended by members of the Opposition.

Goods that were hitherto Value Added Tax(VAT) exempted or zero rated have beenreclassified.

VAT exemption, zero rate removed

The VAT rate of 15% will now be applied towhole chicken and chicken parts, except chickenback and wings. The same applies to table andcooking butter, as well as brown sugar.

Lentil and pigeon peas, which were exemptedpreviously, have also been added to the VATapplication lists, likewise cooking oils, excludingcoconut oil.

Shortenings, salt, yeast, and baking powderwill be taxed as of May 1, 2016.

According to the Prime Minister, $8M isestimated to be raised as a result of thesechanges.

He proffered that the benefit of these changescould translate in healthy lifestyles, e.g. the useof less sugar, salt and oils, which are known tomake their fair contribution to the incidence ofdiabetes and hypertension here.

“What we have done here is to help withhealth without burdening the people,” Dr.Gonsalves said in justification of the increases.


Dr. Ralph Gonsalves 2016Budget proposed no newdirect taxes and fees butincreased exiting ones.

PAYING MOREIN 2016

Dr. Rosmond Adamsdescribed thesymptoms the infectedpersons exhibited.

Dr. Simone Keizer-Beache stressed theimportance of sourceeradication.

Luis de Shong spoke ofthe activation of theZika Action Committeeand its actionreadiness.

2. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

NewsVTHANK YOU! From anappreciative Canadian

by BEN HARRISON and DR. SHEILA PENNINGTON

TORONTO RESIDENTS Normaand Larry Dawidowitz made alast minute decision to join theirfriends Anne and DavidChesterton for a short vacationduring the Chestertons’ annualvisit to St. Vincent and theGrenadines.

Being in good health andadventurous, Norma andLarry decided on theirsecond day last weekend, toclimb the La Soufrierevolcano. About half way up the

mountain, Larry realized hisleg muscles were not up to thetask, and wisely decided torest. Norma however wasdetermined to reach the top,and continued with their guideElroy Browne. Several feetshort of the 4000 foot summit,she slid on some scree, fell andbroke her ankle.

Fortunately, a Peace Corpsworker, Chris Cannito and twoother volunteers, all of whomare literacy instructors andteachers, arrived on the sceneand immediately, along withElroy Browne, sprang intoaction.

Chris dismantled anumbrella they were carryingand designed a make-shiftsplint. Using bamboo polesand binding, they alsodesigned a stretcher to carryher down the mountain; butsoon discovered the unevenground made the task not onlydifficult, but dangerous.Abandoning the stretcher,Chris and Elroy took turnspiggy-backing Norma downthe steep paths for the firstthird of the way until others

pitched in to help.Norma’s husband Larry

received word of the accidentby jungle telegraph (peopleand cell phones) and made hisway quickly to her side. Fireand Rescue met the group atthe parking area and droveher to the Georgetown MedicalCentre for triage.

Norma and Larry wereguests at the Paradise BeachHotel. Kim Halbich, co-ownerof the hotel, was notified, andshe immediately contactedmedical doctor Bori Aussi, whomet them in Kingstown at theMilton Cato Hospital where anexamination was made, x-raystaken and a plaster castapplied. Norma returned tothe hospital the following dayfor a cast adjustment allowingher safe airline travel. Theyleft for Toronto on Wednesday.

Though this was the firstvisit by these Canadians to St.Vincent and the Grenadines,they assured THEVINCENTIAN that it will notbe the last. They readilyagreed that if and when anaccident happens, you want

immediate access to caring,professional help. Theycouldn’t have asked for morewilling and caring assistance,and were quick to say thatthey will be back next year.

Tour guide Elroy, ChrisCannito and his Peace Corpscolleagues, Fire and Rescue,additional volunteers, Dr.Aussi, Kim Halbich and herstaff at Paradise, and theexcellent attention Normareceived at Milton CatoHospital underscore the caringattitude Vincentians havetowards people in general andespecially tourists and visitorsto our shores.

The Peace Corps whichbegan operating in SVG inOctober of 1967, have beenconsistently providingvolunteers who work and livein communities throughoutthe country, assisting in theadvancement of manyessential areas includingHealth, Agriculture, Fisheries,Youth and CommunityDevelopment and many otherinitiatives.

Chris Cannito has been one

of the Primary EnglishLiteracy Volunteers for thepast eight months. He has asecondary project as AssistantCoach of the St. Vincent andthe Grenadines Rugby Team.In his modesty, he was quickto dismiss his role in therescue, preferring to givecredit to all the other peopleinvolved.

Norma Dawidowitz showingoff her makeshift umbrellasplint.

Peace Corps Volunteer ChrisCannito carrying the injuredNorma Dawidowitz from thetop of Soufriere.

V News 3THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016. 3.

WITH THE WORLD HEALTHORGANIZATION (WHO),having declared the Zikavirus disease a PublicHealth Emergency ofInternational Concern onthe 1st February, 2016, theAmerican University of St.Vincent School of Medicine(AUS) took the initiative toeducate the Vincentianpublic about this disease.

On Thursday, 11thFebruary, 2016, a team ofdoctors, students andadministrative staff fromAUS joined the existingeducation campaign toincrease awareness of thisZika virus disease, whichsurfaced in Brazil in May,2015, and has since spreadto approximately twenty-two countries in LatinAmerica and theCaribbean.

The team, led by Dr.Shakel Henson, anAssistant Professor atAUS, focused primarily oninforming persons whowere around the vicinity ofthe Milton Cato MemorialHospital (MCMH) on the11th February, 2016,between the hours of 9:00a.m and 11:00 a.m, aboutthe aforementioneddisease.

Within that shortperiod, 185 surveys wereadministered by studentsof AUS to determine theperceptions andknowledge of theVincentian public aboutZika virus disease.Additionally, 200pamphlets, whichcontained information onthe disease as per WHOand PAHO (Pan American

Health Organization),were distributed.

Those with whom theteam interacted were veryreceptive of theinformation, anddemonstrated aneagerness to learn aboutthe disease, whichpresents similar symptomsto that experienced withChikungunya. Contrarily,the Zika virus disease is ofalarming concernmprimarily because of theassociated neonatal andneurological problemsmincluding microcephalyand Guillain-Barresyndrome.

The Zika Virus Disease

Zika virus disease istransmitted by the Aedesaegypti mosquito, the

same mosquito thattransmits viruses forChikungunya, YellowFever and Dengue Fever.Persons who have beenbitten by a mosquitoinfected with the Zikavirus may exhibitsymptoms that include

fever, rash, conjunctivitis,headache and joint pains.These symptoms may lastfrom 2-7 days and may notbe experienced byeveryone. Although thereare no vaccines or specifictreatment, persons candrink lots of fluid; get bedrest; and take painrelievers as needed. Thisdisease can be prevented,but individuals have toprotect themselves frombeing bitten; areencouraged to wear lightcoloured clothes; can useinsect repellents and bed

nets; and should dispose ofany containers, in theiryards or immediatelysurrounding theirproperty, that may collectwater.

AUS stronglyencourages the Vincentianpublic to increase theirknowledge about Zikavirus disease and toprotect themselves fromgetting this unpleasantinfection. (Submitted byDr. Shakel Henson,Assistant Professor,American University of St.Vincent School ofMedicine)

The AUS joined thenational Zika VirusDisease Awarenessdrive here.

Left: The Ministry ofHealth here hasintensified its foggingprogramme aimed atdestroying the Aedesaegypti mosquito, thecarrier of the Zikavirus.

AUS on Zika VirusAwareness drive

Continued from Front Page.

Increases in taxes and tariffsrelated to malta, beer, stout, wine,Vermouth, cider, cherry, mead,brandy, whiskies, Rum and Tafia,Gin Geneva, Vodka, Cordials andliqueurs have also been applied butthere is no further taxes oncigarettes because, in the PrimeMinister’s view, that will be anincentive for persons to heightencontraband activity.

He pointed out that the increasein beer was “miniscule” and was infact geared at harmonising theproposed rate on imported beer.

Other taxes and licences that willsee increases include: commercialproperties — 0.08% representing a0.02% increase.

Vehicle related charges

Fees and other rates related tovehicle use and ownership include:increase to $400 from $315 toregister vehicles not exceeding2000lbs; drivers’ licences - increasedto $100 from $75 for one year, and$275 from $200 for the three-year

option; tutor’s permit - increasedfrom $120.00 to $200.00; learner’spermit — a move from $65.to $100;vehicle inspection fee — increased by$40 to $100; international drivingpermits from $100 to $150;conductor’s licence — increased to$15 from $10.

Those who import vehicles thatare more than four years old willface varying degrees of increasedcharges. For example, a personimporting coaches, buses of aseating capacity for fewer than 21persons, will have to pay $4,000.00,an increase of $500.

Those bringing in vehicles for thetransport of goods have also beenhit with price increases.

Persons importing ConcreteMixer Lorries will incur a $500surcharge, taking their fee to$4,500.00.

Residency – Work Permits

CARICOM nationals seekingtemporary residence will now haveto pay $800, an additional $200.Commonwealth nationals have topay $1600.00, which is $400 more

than they paid before. All otherswill pay $2,400 every year,representing $600 more than it costlast year.

Work permits for CARICOMnationals will be $960.00 annually,an increase from $720.00.

Permanent residence here forCommonwealth and CARICOMnationals is now $2400.00, which is$600.00 more than previouslycharged. All others will be charged$3200.00.

An Alien Land-holding Licencehas been increased by $2,000 to$8000.

Persons becoming citizens bymarriage will be charged $2,000, anextra $500, while those obtainingcitizenship by registration will pay$3000.00 for that exercise, anincrease of $800.

Government’s projectedexpenditure for 2016 has been set atEC$912,897,311. The overallprojection includes a deficit ofrevenue over expenditure of someEC EC$11.9 million, down fromthat in 2015 which amounted toEC$28.5 million.

ZIKA is here:Everyone at riskContinued from Front Page.

programmes in communities, especially those withhigh indices.”

De Shong added that the Ministry was partneringwith other governmental agencies, the private sectorand the wider population, to promote source reduction.

A Zika Action Committee has been commissioned,de Shong assured.

The Committee is headed by the Minister of Health,and is tasked with overseeing the activation of theZika Action Plan which, in keeping with the OECSprotocol, includes: Monitoring and Surveillance;Eradication and protection actions; Care and CaseManagement; and a widespread Public EducationCampaign.

De Shong promised that the Ministry will continueto monitor the situation and keep the nation informedon developments.

Paying more in 2016


NewsV

Stories by HAYDNHUGGINS

DIRECTOR of PublicProsecutions (DPP) ColinWilliams has described therecent departure ofAssistant Supt. of PoliceSydney James, fondlycalled ‘Gold’, from theRoyal St. Vincent and theGrenadines Police Force(RSVGPF), as “thecountry’s loss.”

The DPP made theobservation whiledelivering remarks at aceremony held at HufflesRanch, Belvedere, lastSaturday, to bid farewellto James, who served asa detective for 30 of his35 years as a member ofthe local constabulary,and has been recognizedregionally andinternationally.

The event was hostedby the South CentralDivision where Jamesworked prior to his pre-retirement leave, whichbegan on February 15and will end September16.

“No other investigatorin St. Vincent and theGrenadines has achievedthe internationalaccreditation that he

has. He was recognizedin the region-wideAwards System that wasinaugurated two yearsago, as being the topinvestigator,” the DPPnoted.

James, the DPPcontinued, a formerCriminal InvestigationDepartment (CID) chief,was with the MajorCrime Unit (MCU) fromits inception in 2003, andpiloted it through its firstdecade.

Williams recalls whathe described as “theimpressive investigatingpartnership James hadwith another outstandingpolice investigator,Inspector Trevor ‘Buju’Bailey, referring to thepartnership as a versionof the popular detectivemovie ‘Starsky andHutch’.

“Truth be told, likeany human being, ASPJames must haveweaknesses orshortcomings. So be it.But he has immensestrengths, and hisdeparture leaves agaping hole throughwhich no doubt, thecriminals would seek todrive a horse and

chariot,” the DPPsuggested.

Williams cited themurder case involvingthe 2002 death of 12-year-old female pannistLokeisha Nanton of SionHill, as highlightingJames’ diligence andthoroughness ofapproach as aninvestigator, and themurder trial involvingthe death of police officerElson ‘Rocker’Richardson, some yearsago, as highlighting hiscredibility on the witnessstand.

“As a prosecutor, thereis no better witness onewould have batting intheir corner than ASPJames. His demeanor,his presence, his honestyare compelling.”

The DPP said thereare those who conducteda whisper campaign toundermine and destroy‘Gold’ by saying. “Hecan’t manage.

“Apparently, sometook to heart the word‘Force’ in the name RoyalSt. Vincent and theGrenadines Police Force.For them, therefore, theonly manner ofmanaging and governing

is to be commandist,dictatorial, authoritarianand all that comes withit. If one did not stand onceremony, insist on theirway being the right andonly way, then you arenot fit to manage.”

Though Williamsrecognized there areother police officers withsome potential, headmitted, “In somerespects, I feel first of alla sense of loss, with ASPJames being told to turnin his kit and leave, at atime when there is noone, absolutely no one forhim to hand the batonto.”

The DPP also feelsthat he had failed theveteran investigator innot registering with asufficient degree of

clarity, the necessity ofretaining his skills,knowledge and abilitywithin the constabulary,for which Williamsapologized.

In concluding histribute to the man whohas been considered bymany, includingmembers of the legalfraternity, to be the bestinvestigator in theconstabulary, the DPPlamented, “What is sadthough, is that the loss ofASP James to the RoyalSt. Vincent and theGrenadines Police Forceis not his loss, it is thecountry’s loss.”

Remarks were alsodelivered byCommissioner of PoliceMichael Charles, formerCommissioner Keith

Miller, Senior ProsecutorAdolphus Delpleche,Supt. Eric Browne, incharge of the SouthCentral Division, anddefence lawyer GrantConnell.

RECENTLY AWARDEDTraffic Cop of the Year2015, Constable KaliymWoods, has his eyes seton higher goals, includingbecoming head of theRoyal St. Vincent and theGrenadines Police Force(RSVGPF) TrafficDepartment.

Woods became amember of the PoliceForce on November 15,2010, and after a stint inBeat and Patrol, and theCriminal InvestigationDepartment, he wasassigned to the TrafficDepartment in 2012.

The honour wasbestowed upon him at theDepartment’s annual awardsceremony, held at the Central PoliceStation on Wednesday, February 17.This follows a similar award hereceived at the Police Force’s generalawards ceremony held at the PoliceCanteen in Kingstown, lastDecember.

Criteria for the honour rest on: anofficer’s deportment and discipline;timely submission of case files;distribution of summons; andeffective and efficient prosecution ofdefendants.

Woods is proud and honoured to bea police officer. Traffic policing, hesaid, is a very interesting andenjoyable experience.

“It is a great feeling to be a trafficofficer, and it takes knowledge, hardwork, discipline and dedication, toachieve the award of Traffic Officer ofthe Year”, Woods told THEVINCENTIAN on Tuesday.

In his opinion, The TrafficDepartment is one of the

departments that makeyou rounded in everyaspect of policing.

“You have to interactwith people on a day today basis, and very goodcommunication skills arerequired,” he explained.

Noting that trafficofficers are on the ballfrom sunrise to sunset, headded that duties notonly involve theprevention and detectionof traffic offences, butalso other types ofcriminal activity.

Woods attributes hisrecent achievement to themotivation he received

from his senior colleagues, includinghead of the Traffic Department Supt.Kenneth John, Station SergeantJunior Nero; as well as SergeantsHenry Providence and Lloyd Dopwell,and for the support he received fromhis other Traffic Departmentcolleagues, including CorporalsKenny Jones, Wendel Corridon andRenford Jack.

Now assigned to process duties,Woods boasted that working alongwith Corporal Corridon, who is incharge of that area, has resulted inthe Department seeing animprovement in the serving ofsummons.

Woods is encouraging hiscolleagues who did not receiveawards, to push harder in 2016, andhe appealed to motorists andpedestrians to be more cautious whileusing the road.

Constable Kaliym Woods is thebrother of Vincentian journalistKenara Woods, now residing in theUnited States.

ASP Sydney Jameswas lauded for the skill,diligence andthoroughness withwhich he pursued hisduties as aninvestigator.

DetectiveÊs departure,a national loss

Most OutstandingTraffic Cop aims higher

Constable KaliymWoods, 2015 TrafficCop of the Year.

RegionalV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016. 5.

SINCE THE United States and Cubaformally restored diplomatic relations inJuly 2015, with the opening of embassiesin each other’s capitals, the rate at whichcommercial, cultural, travel and educationexchanges have opened up, is nothingshort of phenomenal.

As expected, thousands of Cuban-Americans are lining-up to make theirreturn to the motherland, and‘inquisitive’ Americans are elbowing inline to ‘spend a holiday’ in this‘mysterious Caribbean paradise’.

Recent news of an imminentreintroduction of scheduled flightsbetween the US and Cuba has,expectedly, been welcomed with gleeand wide anticipation.

News from Washington indicatedthat an agreement was signed onTuesday 16th February, 2016 by two

officials from each country, includingU.S. Transportation Secretary AnthonyFoxx and Cuban Minister ofTransportation Adel YzquierdoRodriguez.

The signing followed months ofaviation talks that both countries hadinitially hoped to wrap up by the end oflast year.

The initial understanding that bindsthe new development has authorised110 daily commercial roundtrip flightsbetween the US and Cuba, to capitalHavana and nine other destinations inthe island.

Effectively, it allows for 20 dailyflights into Havana Jose MartiInternational Airport, and 10 dailyflights daily into each of the other nineairports.

The understanding also allowsCubana airlines —the nationalairline of Cuba -to operate futureflights into theUnited States,but none will beallowed in theearly period ofresumption ofscheduled flights.

Actual routeswill be finalisedwithin months, asair trafficauthorities workthrough thedetails.

Cuban airlineswill still have toobtain their own

licenses from USauthorities such as theTreasury Department andOffice of Foreign AssetsControl.

Upon the signing of theagreement, US authoritiesare expected to inviteAmerican airlines tosubmit applications tooperate these flights.

And at least two American airlines,United Airlines and JetBlue, haveexpressed their welcome of theagreement.

“United intends to apply to offerservice between some of its globalgateways and Havana through theDepartment of Transportation’s pendingroute case,” United airline said in anofficial statement, adding, “Assumingservice is approved, United customerswill benefit from United’s expandedglobal route network and newopportunities for leisure and businesstravel to Cuba.”

Cuba received a record 3.52 millionvisitors last year, up 17.4 percent from2014. American visits rose77 percent to 161,000, notcounting hundreds ofthousands of Cuban-Americans.

However, industryexperts are concerned theisland will be unable toabsorb an even greaterexpected surge that isexpected to be occasionedby the restoring of directcommercial air servicebetween the US and

Cuba.Notwithstanding the existing

authorised chartered flights betweenthe two countries, this developmentmarks the official restoring ofregular/scheduled air travel betweenthe two countries.

Commercial flights between Cubaand the United States were cancelled53 years ago, but since the mid-1970s,authorized charter flights have beenallowed under certain conditions.

And in what will be the first visit bya sitting President of the USA,President Obama announced last weekthat he will visit Cuba, March 21-22.

The last sitting US president to visitCuba was Calvin Coolidge, in 1928.

LAST WEEK Monday, thousands of persons,especially young persons across the Caribbean,would have been fixed to their televisions to take infirst-hand, the 58th Annual Grammy AwardsCeremony.

The USA-founded Awards Ceremony/Show isconsidered the world’s most acclaimed of its kind. Itrecognizes the best recordings, compositions andartists of the eligibility year which, for the 58thedition, is from October 1, 2014, to September 30,2015.

The 58th Grammy Awards Ceremony was nodifferent from previous years, as it threw up somepredictable winners mixed with some ‘not-sopopular’ choices.

Whatever happened andwhoever were declared winners,Caribbean people should holdtheir heads high, knowing thatone of their own was a judge ofthis year’s Grammy Awards.

That person wasinternationally acclaimed, St.Lucian-born musician Ronald‘Boo’ Hinkson, who became thefirst St. Lucian with votingrights at the Annual GrammyAwards.

‘Boo’s’ musical careerpinnacle came during his yearsof association as founder, leadguitarist and composer, with St.Lucia’s ‘Tru-Tones’ band.

The band went on to make aname for itself regionally andinternationally, with ‘Boo’attracting the attention of fans ,musicians, and producers.

When ‘Tru-Tones’ de-emphasized its recording and

live performancesschedule, ‘Boo’ continuedas a professional musician,refining his unique blendof Jazz and West Indianrhythms.

He soon became asought after performer ofhis Contemporary Jazzand Calypso/Socaproductions, for which hewrote both lyrics andmusic, and built his owncommand of stages athome, across theCaribbean, in the USAand in Europe.

To many, the recentelevation by the GrammyAwards is only fittingrecognition of hisremarkable ability andproven track record,following on hisconsideration for aGrammy Award in 2013,when he released hisalbum, ‘This is my Life’.

The St. Lucia Online news agency reported ‘Boo’as saying that he views the Grammy recognition asnot only a great achievement for himself, but for allSaint Lucian musicians, and that it gives localmusicians a greater profile internationally.

“I anxiously look forward to the day when I canvote a young St. Lucian as nominee and know that ayoung St. Lucian receives Grammy. I am reallylooking forward to that day…., (but) we have tocontinue to work assiduously at proving what we aredoing and be competitive with the rest of the world.”St. Lucia online reported him as saying.

ONE WEEK after the Barbados-based CaribbeanDisaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)placed several regional countries under immediatedrought watch or warning for 2016, anotherregional agency has issued an even more distantearly warning.

The Barbados-based Caribbean Institute forMeteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) last weekFriday, warned regional countries that they shouldbrace themselves for floods, as the droughtconditions which have affected the region since late2014 are expected to subside by the start of the2016 Hurricane Season.

The Hurricane Season in the Caribbean officiallyruns from June 1 to November 30.

CIMH said this latest forecast comes after manymonths of “warmer and drier than averageconditions in the Caribbean fuelled by El Niño, awarming of the eastern equatorial Pacific which hasimplications for weather patterns around the world,including drought in many regions”.

The Agency also said that after the forecastedweakening of El Niño, its counterpart, La Niña, acooling of the Pacific, may take over and affect theregion in the latter part of 2016.

“If the change in circumstance takes place, it islikely to result in higher than normal rainfall andstronger storm systems,” the CIMH said in its latestforecast, which it said will be further discussed at anews conference here on Wednesday.

Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) predicts Atlanticactivity in 2016 will be about 20% below the long-term average. However, the uncertainties associatedwith this outlook are large and forecast skill at thisextended range is historically low.

‘Boo’ Hinkson and hiswife, Vincentian bornDonna (nee Bobb), atthe 2016 GrammyAwards ceremony onFebruary 15, 2016, atthe StaplesCenter in LosAngeles, California.

St. Lucia’s ‘Boo’ Hinkson: Grammy judge

Ronald ‘Boo’Hinkson hasthrilledaudiences acrossthe globe withhis Jazz-Caribbean fusion.

Jose Marti International Airport in Havana ispreparing for a rapid increase in traffic.

Cuba expects that visitors from the U.S will furtherincrease with the new agreement in place.

U.S-Cuba restore dailycommercial flights

The Caribbean cango from this (drought) to this (floods) in a matter of months.

From drought to floods warning

LYLANA WILLIAMS, President of the WestSt. George Secondary School (WSGSS)2016 Young Leaders admonished hergroup that, “We have to adapt and growin our new positions while remainingmotivated and responsive to ourobjectives.”

She made the appeal in her addressat the launch of the School’s YoungLeaders 2016 project, on February 17.

In committing her group to helping“as many students as possible tobecome better individuals today andfor the future,” Williams reminded herfellow Young Leaders that “everyaction in our lives touches some chordthat will reverberate in eternity.”

Inspector of Police HawkinsNanton, Officer-in-Charge at thePolice Public Relations andComplaints Department, delivered thefeature address.

Taking cue from the regional themeof the RBC 2016 Young Leadersproject, ‘Me… You… We… A shared

vision for a better society’,Insp. Nanton explainedthat “Me, You, We, are three simplewords. Me is talking about yourself,You and We, are talking about ourfriends.”

Against that explanation, he said,“Our young people (Me… You) areengaging in illegal firearms, drugs andother illegal activities,” and urged “Wewe will have to protect our lives.”

In doing so, he referred the YoungLeaders to their teachers, who, hesaid, “help us to make a future in ourlives. They help our young people totake part in positive activities so thatthey can head on the right road.”

Attention and respect for teachers,and not wasting the “free education”that is accorded today’s youth, areingredients to becoming successful,Insp. Nanton told his audience.

The launch also heard remarks fromNational Co-ordinator of RBC YoungLeaders Ms. Fraser.

The Young Leaders alsorendered a song, and the Voteof Thanks was done byCherrianne Davis, Co-Ordinator of the WSGSS 2016Young Leaders. (Contributed)


YouthV

THE ST. VINCENT GRAMMARSchool 2016 Young Leaders visited 10six (6) primary and (four (4))secondary schools, throughout theisland, on Thursday 18th February,2016.

The primary schools visited were:Clare Valley Primary School,Lowmans Leeward Anglican School,Windsor Primary School, St Mary’sR.C School, Stubbs Primary Schooland Georgetown Primary School.

The secondary schools visited were:Buccament Bay Secondary School, StClair Dacon Secondary School,Mountain View Academy and St.Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua.

During their visits, the Young

Leaders spoke to the students abouttheir sub-theme,“#knowyourselfknowyourworth”,impressing upon the students thatself-identity is the recognition of one’spotential and qualities as anindividual.

The Young Leaders stressed that asense of identity has to do with ‘whoyou think you are and how youperceive yourself, which mirrors yourself-esteem or how you value yourself’.

The main purpose of this activitywas to share with the students thevalues of self — how looking atyourself could determine how otherslook at you. (Contributed)

WSGSS YoungLeaders ‘haveto adapt’

A St. Vincent Grammar School Young Leader sharing with Mountain ViewAcademy Form 3 students.

SVGS Young Leaders spreading their message

St. Vincent Grammar School Young Leaders meeting with the Clare ValleyPrimary School students.

The WSGSS 2016 Young Leaders. Inset: Lylana Williams,President of the WSGSS 2016 Young Leaders, delivering her address at her group’s launch.

NewsV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016. 7.

ONE OF THIS COUNTRY’S lawyers hasweighed in on the issue of developers of aresort on the Grenadine Island of Canouan,preventing locals from accessing one ofthe beaches.

According to Bayliss Frederick, one ofthese country’s elderly statesmen andlawyers, the matter was a simple oneand one that was straight forward.

He cited two bits of law, saying that itspelled out what the rights of the peopleare.

“Apart from the Constitution, thereare some laws that cannot be broken,”Frederick said.

He referred to the ‘Prescription Act’which states that: ‘No claim which maybe lawfully made at the common law bycustom, prescription or grant to anyright of way or other easement, or to anywatercourse or the use of any water tobe enjoyed or derived upon, over or fromany Crown land or water belonging tothe Crown, or being the property of anecclesiastical or lay person or bodycorporate, when such way or othermatter as herein last before mentioned,shall have been actually enjoyed by anyperson claiming right thereto withoutinterruption for the full period of twentyyears, shall be defeated or destroyed byshowing only that such way or other

matter was first enjoyed at any timeprior to such period of twenty years’.

The law states further: ‘..Where suchway or other matter as herein last beforementioned shall have been so enjoyed asaforesaid for the full period of fortyyears, the right thereto shall be deemedabsolute and indefeasible.”

Frederick also pointed to the ‘ThreeChains Act’ which states that ‘the publicshall continue to have and enjoy allrights of way through the said ThreeChains as now and heretofore used orenjoyed’.

“And there is no exception in theConstitution to say that certain thingscan be done, to defeat the supreme lawof the land,” he argued.

Frederick explained that the twopieces of legislation explained that thepath chosen by Vincentians to access acertain beach, becomes the right of wayover time – “that is the law, you cannotdefeat that.”

And the matter was particularlytroubling, he continued, because lawyersin the country have remained silent.

There are other bits and pieces oflegislation, Frederick said, thataddressed the protection of the rights ofthe people.

“I have seen so many breaches by

government that in other societies theywould have been torn into littleshreds…but why in St Vincent, theykeep the people in ignorance?” hepondered.

Residents on Canouan resorted toprotest action — open picnic — duringwhich they occupied one of the L’anseGuyac beach, after the developers on theisland had placed buoys along a sectionof the water, blocking access to the area.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves andHead of the Maritime Administration,Commander David Robin, both deniedthat the developers were givenpermission to set up an exclusive zone,with both men saying that the issue wasmore of one where regulations werebeing added for the use of the seascape,in the same way that land use isregulated. (DDD)

The L’anse Guyac beach, Canouan, to which accesswas denied by developers, according to locals.

Lawyer BaylissFrederick citedexisting legislationthat speak to theprotection ofpersons’ right ofaccess Crownland and water.

PM Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and Head of the MaritimeAdministration Commander David Robin denied that the developers were given any right of exclusivity overan beach in Canouan.

Lawyer speaks out –Knocks others for their silence

THE ULP GOVERNMENT has served ourpeople a merry-dance over the past sixteenyears, on the question of enlarging thecomplement of National Heroes, beyond CaribChief Joseph Chatoyer.

I have put together many thought-provoking articles in print, but not yetbetween hard-covers, which are relevant tothe issue.

Following is one such sterling contributionby my friend Jomo. Jomo has since joined theULP, and is now Speaker of the House ofAssembly.

‘Why I Resigned the Chairmanship of theNational Heroes Committee’.

By Jomo Thomas. In The Press in 2014.“When Governor General Sir Frederick

Ballantyne called to ask whether I wouldserve on the National Heroes Committee, Iviewed his request as a signal honour. In thepast, I had written and spoken extensively onwho our next heroes should be. However, onceI became a member of the committee, I knewinstinctively that I could not speak oradvocate for or against anyone who shouldjoin Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer, in thenational pantheon of heroes.

Drs Adrian Fraser and Kenneth John, atthe invitation of the UWI Open Campus,spoke persuasively for the elevation of GeorgeMc Intosh and Ebenezer Joshua to herostatus. Doctor Gonsalves apparently feltcompelled to make a case. He spoke on thetopic “The Making of a National Hero: TheLaw and Practice in St Vincent and theGrenadines”.

Some say that the lecture was brilliant.What else do they expect from RalphGonsalves? The man is an academic ofsuperior intellect. There was no surprisethere. If Gonsalves was able to translate hisacademic prowess into political I.Q, historywill look at him kindly. But alas, the muzzleof national service applied to everyone excepthim. By short listing who the next heroesshould be, Gonsalves failed to see the mostelementary point; that as Chairman ofcabinet, the final arbiter of the selectionprocess, he should not intervene.

Gonsalves’ lecture was with wilfuldisregard because respected opinion makers,the likes of PR Campbell Q.C, social activistRenwick Rose and News Paper editorialists,led the chorus against the Prime Minister’sintervention.

This takes me to Gonsalves’ case for Cato.Cato is far removed from anyone resemblinga national hero. This is not to say that he didnot make a contribution to the developmentof our country. He performed in the context ofhis time. His biggest weakness is that hedwelt on the limitations of small islandpolitics, and failed to grasp the enormouspossibilities open to the country during hisgovernance. He, more than any other leadersince 1951, saw our country through the eyesof our “traditional” friends.

But there is more. His 29 continuousyears in parliament and decades long tenureas leader of St Vincent Labour Party do notrecommend him for hero status. It must beremembered and considered that Cato and

his Labour Partyacted as a planterclass foil againstthe People’sawakening,empowerment and rebirth as represented byJoshua and his Peoples Political Party.

Gonsalves said that Cato was avant gardein terms of his initiatives and policies duringhis administration. The evidence does notbear this out. Most of Cato’s legislativereforms came on stream across the region. Togive Cato credit for these acts would besimilar to giving Mitchell for theliberalization of the media. But the mediawas liberalized across the region at virtuallythe same time.

PM Gonsalves gives Cato big credit for theintroduction of National Commercial Bankand the National Insurance Service. A quickstudy shows that these were neither uniquenor innovative acts. For example, theGrenada National Insurance Service caneinto being on 4th April, 1983. The NationalCommercial Bank of Grenada wasincorporated in September 1979. In St Luciathe NIS was formed in April 1979. In Antiguait was even earlier, April 1973. So much forthe P.M’s points that Cato was a leader of thepack in these areas.

But the area in which Cato’s image andlegacy take the greatest battering is the veryarea to which Gonsalves applies the mostwhitewash: Cato’s repressive tendencies,high- handedness and over-reaction when itcomes to the use of force, and his disrespectfor the civil and political rights of citizens.

The “Kill the Bills” struggles of 1981placed Cato and Tannis in very bad company.He was so arrogant and contemptuous of theviews of others, that in the 1979Independence period, he lambasted a group ofrespected nationals as a “bunch ofnincompoops”.

Many citizens still remember Cato’soverreaction to the 1970 Black PowerRebellion in Trinidad, the tear gassing ofteachers during their November 14, 1975march, and the Union Island Rebellion led by“Bomba” Charles in 1979. Citizens were notallowed to walk in more than twos, andBarbadian troops came onto our soil at Cato’sinvitation.

Cato’s political police also searched androunded up members of the buddingintellectual class, on the serious charge ofsedition, and dug up the yards of progressivesin search of ammunition. That was thepolitical atmosphere that Cato’s regimeengendered.

Did the PM try to rewrite history inspeaking of the tear gassing of teachers? Wethink he did. Beache, he said, told him thatCato and his cabinet were in session and hadnot given approval for the tear gassing of theTeachers’ march.

If this is true, why did Cato not order theimmediate release of the arrested teachers?Why did Cato have the teachers unionleaders spend the entire weekend in jail?


IF THE TRUTH be told, it would havebeen easy to predict some of the‘fiscal’ measures that the ULPgovernment would have considered,as it grappled with how it was goingto address another deficit budget,how it was going to raise therecurrent revenue that it estimatedfor Fiscal Year 2016.

It would have been easy, givenwhat has obtained in the recentpast, to predict that there wouldhave been increases in rates ofexisting taxes, licences, etc. Itwould have been ‘political suicide’to introduce any new taxes.

And increasing the VAT basketas against increasing the rate ofVAT was the only recourse as faras increasing earning under thattax regimen; since assuming thatthere would be any appreciableincrease in trade was not the basisof any assurance.

All of that said, the 2016Budget comes amidst what someassess to be a situation ofinequality of incomes, even amongthose who are asked to pay agreater share of what they earn,towards ensuring ‘quality’ servicesfor all.

Yet, it appears that, recognisingthis potentially volatile reality,those tasked with theresponsibility of framing ourcountry’s Budget have couchedtheir policies and measures asactions in favour of the poor ,though admittedly, this is arelative term.

What concerns this thought ishow the fiscal measures (notdetailed here) will impact on theincomes/lives of the lowest incomegroup. Measuring the incomes ofthe lowest group is not a simpletask, we will accede.

Notwithstanding, sociologistswho have actually studied the poordirectly and spoken with themabout their living conditions (aresearch method that economistsand governments use too little),have been puzzled by how the poorcould live on so little income.

On the heels of the 2016Budget, are we not allowed to ask:How can the poor and lowestincome group who live on incomesthat have not grownproportionately to real cost ofliving indices, be asked tocontribute more towards satisfyingtheir basic daily living needs?

It should be no surprise thatone of the answers to that questionis: the underground economy.

The underground economy thatsome like to think does not existhere, is, to the contrary, alive andwell, and is directly responsible formaintaining many householdsacross the state.Once upon a time, we associatedthis underground economy with

the sale of illegal commodities and the ‘contrabandtrade’ that was oftenmisinterpreted to be somethingconfined only to our sister isles,the Grenadines. This has sincegrown beyond these notions —these realities.

A whole new ‘class’ of operanthas entered this market, to whichthe status quo, as thoughrecognising the ‘need’ of society,has turned the proverbial blindeye.

The underground economycontinues to make an appreciablecontribution to sustaining what inreal terms, could well be anunsustainable life style here.

There is enough evidence withinthe region, in fact right here in theannals of our own history, of whatcontributes to increased activity inthe underground economy. Notleast among these contributingfactors are increased taxes, tariffs,licences, call it what you may, ongoods that are basic to living needs— to include recreational needs aswell.

It is nothing short of self-serving platitudes whengovernments and politicians bellowfrom their positons of immunityand comfort, about taking aposition in favour of the poor.

What else can that position bewhen it comes in the same breathas imposition of increased burdenon the poor and low income group.If there is nonsense in thisassessment, we stand corrected.

But is it folly to advance a viewthat fiscal measures that willincrease spending on daily liferequirements, will lead to alessening in what can be afforded,and/or a search for ‘holes’ in theeconomy that avail goods ataffordably priced levels?

And then, what of legitimatebusinesses? Are they not losers inthe immediacy and longer tenureof this disruption in mainstreameconomic/commercial activity?

In the circumstances, no pricedecrease at the shops andsupermarkets, the dry gooddealers, can be expected. Whichcommercial operator would be sowilling? None in this state ofunbridled capitalism!

In short therefore, while noright-thinking salaried citizenwould want to negate theirresponsibility to the state, on theother hand survival is of theessence, and desperate times stilldo demand desperate measures.

The question: Does the 2016Budget lean towards creating agraver situation of inequality inour midst?

And we still haven’t addressedthe issue of long-termunemployment. Or did we miss it?


ViewsV

Editorial

Managing Editor: Desiree Richards

Editor: Cyprian Neehall

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

Website: www.thevincentian.com

Email: [email protected]

Mailing Address: The Vincentian Publishing Co. Ltd.,

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

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

A budget perspective

National Heroes Day, 14th March, 2016

IT APPEARS to me that,given the protestfollowing the last generalelection in St. Vincentand the Grenadines, thatsomething is wrong withour election system. Infact, since 1998, therehave been concernsexpressed about thefairness of every election.There have beenaccusations ofgerrymandering andvoter registrationirregularities. Nothing,it seems, can satisfy thevanquished.

That said, I am of theview that where is anydegree of doubt, anydegree of questioning theelection system, we musttake a look at thatsystem.

Many persons withwhom I have spoken,have, not in as manywords, expressed theirdisappointment with thesystem. Many havingremarked that in oursystem, the incumbentholds a clear advantage,especially as it relates tothe use of the stateapparatus. But that isthe reality that we haveworked in since Godalone knows when.

So if today we find

that the elections systemdoes not satisfy ourexpectations, then isn’t ittime that we considerchanging it?

The proposed newconstitution addressedthis matter, but it wouldhave been side-trackedby so many other thingsin that proposal, that thepeople did not agree.

We need to begin anew conversation on

whether the electionsystem, and thestructure of parliamentsuit our expectations andmeans. Proportionalrepresentation possibly?

If we are notencouraged by thesystem, then let us dosomething about it, andif it means changing it,what do we have to lose?

Gregory Jones, USA

EDITOR’S NOTE: We printthis reader’sthoughts/opinion in thefull length as submitted. Itdoes exceed the ‘numberof words’ limitations forinsertion on this page, butwe have ‘bent the rules’ soas to present the view inits fulsome form.

I watch SVG-TVevening news, and I alsowatch the evening newsin Trinidad andGrenada. What strikesme most is not only thelack of professionalismon the local (St.Vincent)news, but what theycover and how muchtime they spend on eachstory, and where it ispositioned in theprogramme. Channel 9(SVG-TV) opened theother night with about15 minutes on the needfor washing your hands,and about another 10minutes, or more, on alecture delivered by aVenezuelanrepresentative on

manufactured excusesfor their ocean rightsgrab in Guyana andSuriname, and criticismof imperialist America’salleged demonic attemptto intervene inVenezuelan’s internalaffairs in an effort todemolish the Chavezrevolution. Well, thatwas a little more thanhalf the local hard newsfor the day.

Other countries’evening news is full ofpolice activity, crimes,arrests; governmentactivities, educationinnovations, and schoolbuilding or schooladministration problems,and how they are beingaddressed; port andmaritime operations;economic and financialnews; new businessopenings and expansions;job creation; establishedbusinesses folding orlaying off workers, andthe who and what ofthese happenings. The

latest activities in thevarious GovernmentMinistries are lookedinto and discussed, notjust reported. Import andexport problems arelooked at, with pros andcons intelligentlyrepresented, traffic androadway situations andthe real steps that arebeing taken to redressthe problems are shown,and banking operations,fees, and potentialclosures and layoffsattendant to that sectorand the likely impact tothe community theseentail, occupy much ofthe rest of the time.Sports is last. Thatseems reasonable.

Here, in St. Vincent,how about some personalinterviews with realpeople, educated workingpeople who have real,informed opinions– orare there just not any?The educated andinformed are too afraidto appear on camera, orhave left the country,and therefore the onlypeople willing to speakup are street folks whoshrug a lot, or havealready formed a biasedopinion, for or against

whatever milk-toastissue SVG-TV formulatesas a question: “what doyou think about cleaningup the streets? What doyou think aboutprotesters”, what do youthink about this orthat? Please, not justbad street recordings orinept muffled tapes ofexcerpted radiobroadcasts, but people ina studio, without outsidenoise totally obscuringtheir responses (old, bad,cheap mikes fromprobably the ‘60’s or badstudio board equipmentthat allows backgroundnoise to overwhelm{intentionally?} theinterviewee). Don’t youwatch the evening newsas broadcast in the restof the world? And aren’tyou ashamed?

Is there any coverageon how the businesscommunity isprogressing or in factregressing, or what isgoing on with the newstakeholders in theOttley Hall Ship Yard (orin fact, even who theyare)? What’s with thepromised bigdevelopment at Mt.Wynne and newinvestment at Little

Tokyo? Is there anyinvestigation into thecause of the surfeit oflobsters, or what is beingdone by the Governmentas regards beach accessin Canouan? Governmentproclaims “patience”, thepeople want access.Court cases andincarcerations andserious litigationinvolving theGovernment are notfollowed up in detail(“this is in litigation andtherefore we have nocomment”, says thepolice and theGovernment spokesmen,so who got off and who isappealing orincarcerated? What isreally going on with theprotests against the“official” results of thelast election? And whohas been appointed bywho, and who is relatedto who in the latestrounds of appointments?Government Ministriesexist to identify problemsand implement solutions.What is being done now,today, what action isbeing taken in therespective GovernmentMinistries in St. Vincentin this regard?

This is to just to ask.

So I really expect noimprovement. But thecitizenry should not onlyexpect it, but demandit–and this does notexempt the threenewspapers who havebeen lax, at best,intimidated at worst, inchallenging in pressconferences, andimplementing orexercising real, deep,meaningful investigativereporting. All have beenremiss and lazy, and bydefault complicit in thedearth of real knowledgeavailable to the St.Vincent public–too lateto say “electorate”, forwe’ve lost thatappellation already. Wehave lost the power ofthe vote. What next dowe lose?

But is it too late todemand that the local TVnews, and printjournalism, stand up,and stand forth to askand demand answers toexercise the loud, clearvoice of independentjournalism? God, I hopenot.

JOE

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016. 9.

LettersVIn want of an improved media practice

The election systemFather, Son and Cousin!I mean and the Holy GhostWith all that we see is happeningWe need God! We need God the most.

Politicians or just old criminalsWe see their lies and bold face deceit,Nothing is a conflict of interestMore and more payments, no recorded receipts.

We see Revolution after RevolutionNo survivor is left behindParents are carrying a heavy burdenPlaced on them each exam time.

Many students forced into a classroomOne teacher; they are all lostA revolution without analysisEducation, but at what cost?

We see more businesses owned by foreignersYet ‘local markets are said to be good’!Just look around you in certain areasThere are new faces in our neighbourhood!

Half of these owners can’t speak EnglishBut they drive and can’t read or writeBuilding and Loan has a list of foreclosuresYet we hear, ‘business is bright’

Many people on unemploymentA sad result of prostituting their soulsLittle did they know a political favourWould be a curse to what their future holds.

Nevertheless…..

We must always respect authorityThe longest rope, it has its endNo matter who wants to keep it in the familyPray….”Father, Son and Cousin”!I mean Holy Ghost!

Oh Lord, not again!

© Christopher J. Grant - 2016

Father, Sonand⁄⁄Holy Ghost?

MR. EDITOR, As you know, I am nota Roman Catholic. But you will alsoknow that I have had a longassociation with the Catholic Church,especially with the Catholic YouthOrganization of the late 1960s andearly 1970s, an organization, if mymemory serves me correctly, that you,Mr. Editor, headed for a number ofyears.

I recall that organization being oneof the leading groups in the wholeecumenical movement of the time,and I recall especially the EcumenicalStudy Group, mentored by Bro. OscarAllen, and through which many of the‘progressives’ in today’s SVG cut theirteeth.

But I am drifting away from thereal purpose of this letter.

I want to welcome the newCatholic Bishop, Bishop Gerard

County. But as I do that, I am movedby the fact that no VincentianCatholic priest has ever been made abishop. I am not sure about thecriteria, but I want to suggest thatthere must be at least one Vincentianpriest who could be considered.

But that is how the game plays outin the Roman Catholic Church, and Isuppose we have to ensure that thenew Bishop gets all the support hedeserves.

His predecessor caused quite someuncomfortable moments for the rulingregime back home, as he moved tobring his church into the real society.Let’s hope that the new Bishop willbe as courageous as his predecessor,and speak out against immorality,injustice and victimization.

Garnet, N. Y.

Welcome, Bishop County


ReligionV

IT WAS AN impressive, ‘open air’ceremony, which amember of theRoman Catholic (R.C.) faith heredescribed as, “a special momentin time.”

The occasion was theepiscopal ordination of Fr.Gerard Maximin County, CSSp,as the third bishop of the R.C.Diocese of Kingstown, and washeld at the SVG CommunityCollege, Villa, Saturday 20thFebruary 2016.

In attendance at Saturday’sceremony were members of thelocal and regional RC clergy andlaity, religious leaders of otherdenominations, parliamentarymembers and officials, familyand friends, includingparishioners from the area ofMexico where Bishop Countryworked as a priest.

The Most Reverend JosephEverard Harris, CSSp,Archbishop of Port of Spain,officiated at Saturday’sceremony.

In his handing over message

to Bishop Country, outgoingBishop of Bridgetown-Kingstown, Bishop JasonGordon, now Bishop of thesingle diocese of Bridgetown,described the occasion as amoment of transformation,given that the local R.C. Churchhas been given a permanentBishop, as opposed to a visitingone.

He noted that the newlyinstalled bishop is called “tocarry the church’s ministry in atime when mercy has become allthat is used to filter the gospel,”and urged him to “see again thisgospel that has been handeddown through the prism ofmercy.”

Bishop Gordon charged thenew bishop with theresponsibility of the cross…,“the cross of opening up yourselfto your people, and beingvulnerable and being wrong,and loving, and forgiving,” andreminded him that the mainvirtue for a bishop is truth, and

“truth is across that youwill have tocarry. And ifyou carry thetruth of thecross, you willfind salvationand lead yourpeople tosalvation. And if you do notcarry the cross of truth, it willbe ruinous to your soul.”

Bishop County was born onthe December 5th, 1960 inTrinidad and Tobago, and wasprepared for the priesthood atthe Regional Seminary of StJohn Vianney and the UgandaMartyrs, Mount St Benedict,Trinidad. He was ordained apriest in 1996 as a member ofthe Order of the Holy Ghost(Spiritan) Fathers.

For the last 19 years, FrCounty has been a missionarypriest in Mexico. He wasinvolved in several pastoralministries and administrative

offices of the Spiritans, andserved as the parish priest ofSan David Roldan Lara in theDiocese of Tampico, Mexico,from 2000 to 2009. Fr Countywas later elected ProvincialSuperior of the Spiritans inMexico, serving two consecutiveterms, from 2009 to October2015.Bishop-elect County was

born in Port of Spain.Bishop County says that he

has accepted his appointmentand will “trust in God”, andsimply “do my best.”

He celebrated his full mass toa packed Cathedral of theAssumption, Kingstown, seat ofthe Bishop, on Sunday 21stFebruary, 2016.

New R.C. Bishop ordained:Told to ‘open yourselfto your people’

Newly installed Bishop Gerard County (right) is presented tothe R.C. faithful by Archbishop Joseph Harris.

Inset: Outgoing Bishop Jason Gordon challenged the newbishop to always carry the ‘truth of the cross’. Photos: R.CKingstown Diocese Facebook

IT SEEMS LIKE morethan two years ago thatwe were advised thatBRAGSA, the authorityresponsible for roads,was going to be workingon the repair ofMurray’s Road within afew weeks. Long afterthose few weeks hadended without thesemblance of thepromised work beingdone, around July of2015, we were againtold, this time by FrancoConstruction, the firmwho had worked on thatproject a few yearsbefore, that they weregoing to commencedoing the work on the13th of September,2015. After all of that,and up to now, the workis still to be done.

Whether the reason

for the hold-up is thelack of funds, or (that)the authorities areawaiting the completionof the Argyle Airport, tomake the vehicles andmachinery available forthe work on the roads,the failure to repaintthe pedestrian crossingbetween the ThomasSaunders SecondarySchool and the NationalPublic Library is totallyunacceptable.

It somewhat parallelsthe exhibition of the“witless neglect” by thehierarchy of theMinistry of Agricultureand the Ministry ofFinance, with respect toaddressing the issue ofthe Black Sigatokadisease, resulting in thecrippling of the bananaindustry in St, Vincent

and the Grenadines.Considering the

number of schools inthat area, one hadexpected that the TrafficDepartment would haveseen the need to replacethat pedestrian crossingwith urgency.

The cost (financial) ofaddressing the issuemight not even matchthe cost of the wreathswhich the authoritiesmay feel obliged toproffer, if there is a fatalaccident in that area.

Dr. Gonsalves hasrecently made a strongcall for theenhancement of safetyon the roads. Let thatpedestrian crossing berepainted now. It isabout time!!

LeRoy Providence

“We need to strengthen research for

efficiently produced, healthy food,

while ensuring the availability of food

at affordable prices. This includes

improving logistics, infrastructure,

and transportation systems to ensure

those who need food are supplied with

it.” – Paul Bulcke, CEO of Nestlé

THE UNIVERSITY of the West Indies wasfounded in 1948 and had an enrolmentof 33 students. The “maiden campus”was located in Mona Jamaica. The St.Augustine Campus of the University ofthe West Indies (UWI), the second to beestablished, commenced operation in1960 and has been traditionallyconsidered to be the “Mecca” of trainingin agriculture for the post-colonialCaribbean. It was a merger of theUniversity College and the ImperialCollege of Tropical Agriculture (ICTA). TheBarbados-based Cave Hill Campus wasfounded three years later, in 1963. Thefourth campus, the Open Campus, waslaunched in 2009 and focuses onproviding higher education opportunitiesto the non-campus territories in theEnglish-speaking Caribbean. Thefounding fathers of the UWI hadenvisioned that this institution of higherlearning would provide “light, liberty, andlearning” to the peoples of theCaribbean. More than half a centuryago, they expressed confidence andcharted a course that would see theuniversity meeting the training needs ofits people; ensuring that its research,programmes, and activities are geared atmeeting the developmental needs of theCaribbean people. The Barbados-basedCentre for Food Security andEntrepreneurship (CFSE), inaugurated in2014, is one of the many initiatives thatthe university has embarked on to fulfilthis mandate.

Professor Leonard W. O’Garro ablymanages the CFSE. This Vincentianplant pathologist has a wealth ofexperience in research anddevelopment and in agriculturalproduction and management. Hereceived the Anthony N. SabgaCaribbean Award for Excellence(ANSCAFE) in Science and Technologyin 2012. This was in recognition forhis contribution to science in theEnglish-speaking Caribbean. He hasalso received awards from otherrecognized regional and internationalorganisations.

Professor O’Garro is a formercoordinator of the United NationsBiosafety Programme. He has awealth of experience in networkingwith international organisations andinteracting with professionals fromdiverse cultures. He also works closelywith sources of finance for investmentmainly targeting agribusiness andbiotechnology. This experience isalready bearing fruit at the CFSE.Professor O’Garro’s skill andexperience has assisted him inmoulding a team of competent andcommitted professionals. Togetherthey continue to focus on how best tochart a course that will providesolutions to the food security problemsin the English-speaking Caribbean.They continue to focus on how best todesign, implement, and manageprogrammes aimed at enhancing theperformance and outlook of theagricultural sector. In addition, CFSEplays a seminal role in aiding theleaders and managers at the Cave HillCampus of the UWI to achieve itsvision of having the campus achieve itsgoal of becoming a science andtechnology hub.

The University of the West Indies

continues to be indebted to the Charlesand Vanessa Edghill family ofBarbados for its kind donation of 28.5acres of agricultural lands (DukesPlantation) to the Cave Hill campus in2013. These lands, located in parish ofSt. Thomas, will be used to facilitatean environmentally friendly state-of-the-art agribusiness and science park.Among other things, this facility willprovide incubator facilities for start-upagribusinesses; provide homes andfacilities for the development of iconicagricultural value-added products (e.g.West Indian Sea Island cotton,Blackbelly sheep, specialty cocoa, etc.);fuel innovation and research anddevelopment support mechanisms; andprovide specialised training to enhancethe performance of agro-processorsand entrepreneurs. In addition, it isanticipated that the state-of-the-artconference facilities at St. Thomaswould be available to local, regional,and international participants.

Although considered to still be in itsinfancy, CFSE has already madesignificant strides in supporting theBarbados Blackbelly Sheep industryby forging an alliance with IslandLeathers Inc. To date, over 5,000cured sheepskins have been preparedfor being tanned to leather. Inaddition, CFSE continues to work onits project, the closely with theCaribbean Sail Cargo Initiative incollaboration with S.V. Ruth Limited

in its initiative to transportagricultural produce from countries ofsupply to countries of demand in theCaribbean cargo between theCaribbean nation states in anenvironmentally friendly manner (notusing fossil fuels). The arrowrootindustry in St. Vincent and theGrenadines, through a collaborateeffort involving the CFSE and thegovernment, have been able todislodge US$2.5 million for therestructuring of the arrowrootindustry. These projects provideample testimony of the tremendousbenefits that the CFSE has brought tothe agricultural sector of Barbados andthe Eastern Caribbean.

The University of the West Indiescontinues to play an active positiverole in the development of theorganisations and citizens of theregion. With continued visionaryleadership, the UWI endeavours tomeet the varied needs of theCaribbean nations. The CFSE isdestined to play a major role in theagricultural and entrepreneurialdevelopment of the sub-region;providing research and supportmechanisms for the agricultural sectorand inspiring citizens to engage invalue-added activities. We commendthe leadership and staff at the CFSEfor their commitment to this mostnoble initiative.

Send comments, criticisms &suggestions to [email protected]


ViewsVUWI Cave Hill Campus supportsRegional Agricultural Development

Pedestrian Crossing:It’s about time

THE ST. VINCENT andthe Grenadines/CubaFriendship Societywelcomes theannouncement of theproposed visit to Cuba byUS President BarackObama, scheduled forMarch 21/22, 2016.

That visit, when itmaterialises, will be thefirst such one by anAmerican President toits neighbouring island,since President CalvinCoolidge did so nearly100 years ago, in 1928 tobe exact. It is theculmination of a series ofsteps taken by PresidentObama since he tookoffice to normalize thehostile relations betweenboth countries that haveexisted almostthroughout the entire lifeof the 57-year old CubanRevolution.

The Obamaadministration hasrelaxed restrictions ontravel to Cuban by UScitizens and the ban onsending remittances torelatives. This hasresulted in an increase of54 % in the number ofAmerican visitors to

Cuba, though there arestill conditions for suchtravel. A major step inthis direction was takenlast week with anagreement to restoredirect flights betweenboth countries. Major USairlines have alreadyindicated willingness toschedule Cuba flightsand it is expected that upto 110 flights a day willsoon be operating theroute.

In December 2014,both countriesannounced thenormalization ofdiplomatic relations,implemented in thesummer of 2015 andPresident Obama’s visitis like the icing on thecake. President Obamahas followed up theannouncement of hisvisit by again calling onCongress to support himin his plan to close theodious prison for allegedterrorists that the USmaintains on Cuban soil,at Guantanamo Bay.

The maintenance ofthis prison, on Cubanterritory illegally held by

the USA even though itslease has expired, is butone indication ofcontinued differencesbetween the twocountries. The US alsocontinues with acrippling economicembargo on Cuba, evenpunishing third countriesfor engaging incommercial transactionswith the Cuban state.

THE SVG/CubaFriendship Society, whilesupportive of measuresto bring humanerelations between theneighbouring countriesand people, andappreciative of the braveefforts of the Obamaadministration in ahostile politicalenvironment, reiteratesthe call for the completelifting of the embargo,endorses the plan for theclosure of theGuantanamo prison, andstands with the Cubanpeople’s demands for thereturn of Guantanamo toCuban sovereignty.

Renwick RosePresident, SVGCFS

“We welcome Obama’sCuba visit” Statement by the SVG/CUBA

Friendship Society

A TWO-DAY media law workshopfor the region’s journalists endedon Wednesday in Barbados.

The aim of the workshop,hosted by The Improved Accessto Justice in the Caribbean(IMPACT Justice) Project,which is funded by theCanadian Government, was toincrease knowledge of the rightsof journalists, with respect tothe legal parameters allowed inthe environment in which theyoperate.

Among the topics presentedfor consideration were: TheRights of Journalists;Confidentiality of Sources;Defamation in the context ofMedia Law; Online Reporting;Parliamentary and Governmentreporting; and Reporting onFamily Matters and GenderIssues.

Presentations were made bya number of renownedCaribbean media persons,including: Julian Rogers,

Managing Director,MEDIAROBERS.AG INC.;Andrew Smith, Lecturer,University of Technology,Jamaica; and Julius Gittens,media and communicationsspecialist.

The IMPACT Justice Project

The Canadian governmenthas supported justice reform inthe region dating back to the1980s, Dr Margaret Gail Miller,Senior Director to theCaribbean Regional Programmeand Director for Canada to theCaribbean Development Bank,said.

“And we maintain thatcommitment today with fundingof just over BDS$62 million totwo projects delivered by tworegional institutions, theCaribbean Court of Justice andthe University of the WestIndies,” Miller said at theopening ceremony on Tuesday.

She further explainedthat the UWI - IMPACTJustice project was aimedat ensuring better access tojustice for communities thatwere vulnerable andmarginalized within theCARICOM region, and forgovernments, the private sectorand civil society.

“The project supports thedevelopment of model laws forthe region, improving access tolegal materials and to legaleducation by practitioners andthe public,” she said.

The project also promotes theuse of alternative disputeresolution mechanisms, to takethe burden off the courts andbuild peaceful communities,Miller continued. Previous stakeholderconsultations over the past yearhave indicated that there is theneed to address the role of themedia in informing the publicabout their rights, and to

address themedia’s ownneed forinformationabout theirrights andresponsibilities

in a changing world.“Long gone are the days whenthe print media and othertraditional news providers werethe predominant source ofinformation to the public,”Miller proffered.

According to Miller, with thegrowth of social media, and at atime when any member of thepublic, armed with a smartphone, can become the leadreporter of their own newscast,it has become more critical forjournalists and broadcasters toset the example of ethical,accurate and fair journalism.

Importance of journalists

Professor Velma Newton,IMPACT Justice RegionalProject Director, added thatsome of the project’s componentsinclude: the drafting of

legislation for the economic andsocial development of theregion, , exercises to improvethe legal professionalismthrough enhancing codes ofethics, disciplinary procedures,and to encourage barassociations to adopt continuinglegal profession programmes formembers.

“We want to hear fromjournalists how they see theirwork; what they perceive to betheir rights; what they considerresponsible journalism. We alsowant to hear from the persons,including who are notjournalists, where they seejournalists falling down; whatthey would like to see them dodifferently or better,” Newtonsaid.

Representation at theWorkshop came from all mediaforms in the CARICIOM Region.(DDD)


NewsV

(Foreground) Dayle Da Silva (left), THEVINCENTIAN, and Sheron Garraway (right),SVG BC, were among Vincentianjournalists who participated in theworkshop.

Inset: Dr Margaret Gail Miller, representingthe Canadian High Commission to

Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean,spoke of her Government’s ongoing

assistance to justice reform initiatives in theregion.

IMPACT JUSTICEhosts MediaLaw Workshop

DANNEKE BILLINGY, 28-year-old shoemaker of NewMontrose, is behind barsawaiting a May 18, 2016Preliminary Inquiry (PI)

into the death of Dennis‘Den’ Quintyn, 58-year-oldshopkeeper, who alsoresided in thatcommunity.

Billingy was takenbefore Chief MagistrateRechanne Browne at the

Serious Offences Courton Monday, charged withmurder. He is accused of

causing Quintyn’s death.Quintyn was shot

several times at NewMontrose on the night ofSeptember 29 last year.He succumbed to hisinjuries the following dayat the Milton CatoMemorial Hospital.

Billingy was notrequired to plead to thecharge, and wasremanded.

Quintyn’s death wasone of 25 murdersrecorded last year, ofwhich 11 were gun-

related.So far, two murders

have been recorded thisyear. (HH)


CourtVShoemakercharged withÂDenÊsÊ murder

Murder accusedDanneke Billingy

Caine heads forthe High Court MEDFORD CAINE, 50-year-old carpenter ofLowmans Bay, was on Monday, at the SeriousOffences Court, committed to stand trial in theHigh Court on a murder charge, in connection withthe death of 17-year-old Katisha Bess of LowmansLeeward.

At the conclusion of a Preliminary Inquiry (PI),Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne ruled that aprima facie case was made out.

The young female’s body was discovered in theKing’s Hill Forest Reserve on the Windward side ofthe country, July 1, 2015.

An autopsy showed that Bess died from blunttrauma to the head. She was last seen on June 29,2015.

Fourteen witnesses testified for the prosecution,including the investigator Sergeant Ashlyn SamuelBristol of the Criminal Investigation Department(CID), Sergeant Brian Archibald of the CriminalRecords Office (CRO) and Surgical Pathologist Dr.Ronald Child.

Caine was unrepresented. (HH)

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016. 15.14. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Story and photos by NELSON A. [email protected]; [email protected] CORRESPONDENT

TOP VINCY fashion designer, Kimon Baptiste, says she has received “excellent” response to her Kimmystic.Clo label, in

her maiden ‘Pop-up Shop’ in Brooklyn, New York last

Saturday. “The response was excellent,” said Baptiste in an exclusive interview with THE VINCEN-TIAN at AK Couture Boutique and Beauty Bar on Church Avenue in

Brooklyn, where she conducted her first ‘Pop-up Shop’ or ‘Trunk Show’ in the Big Apple. At a “Pop-up Shop” or “Trunk Show,” the public can view, buy or place an order of a particular merchandise. “I’m so grateful,” added the Murray’s Village, Richmond Hill, Kingstown native, who has taken the nation and some Caribbe-an islands by storm with her unique designs and fashions. “Caribbean people came out and supported the brand [Kimmystic.Clo]. It’s very good. “Today, was a kind of a dream come true,” added Baptiste, whose designed outfits have won the “Best Evening Wear” in the Miss St. Vincent Pageant in Vincy Mas for the past seven years. “I always wanted

this [‘Pop-up Shop’] to happen, and Zulema [George, owner and designer of AK Couture Boutique and Beauty Bar] made it happen for me.” Baptiste, who owns the Kimmystic.Clo Boutique at the Y deLima building in Kings-town and teaches clothing, textile and fashion, since last September, at the Girls High School, also complimented her New York liaison, Camille De Freitas, “in making today a reality.” With excellent response on Saturday, Baptiste, who “groomed and chaperoned” Miss St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the past three years, said the Kimmystic. Clo label will now be sold at AK Couture Boutique and Beauty Bar, 4516 Church Ave., Brooklyn, between 45th and 46th Street. Interested persons can call AK Couture at (347) 492-2522, or De Freitas at (347) 598-7398. Baptiste, who designed the gowns for Miss Anguilla and Miss St. Lucia last year, and Miss Carival this year, was named the “Island Designer” of St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the 2008 Caribbean Fashion Awards. Her highly sought-after, glamorous, non-traditional evening gowns are also distributed, with the Kimmystic. Clo label, in St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Anguilla.

The Cave Hill, University of the West Indies Bachelor of Science degree graduate in Management and Psychology, said she has been “intimately involved” in the fashion industry for over 16 years, “designing and sewing every piece of clothing neatly and flawlessly – from the fabric selection to the finished product.” Baptiste said, after her mother, Marcella Baptiste, who manages Kimmystic. Clo Boutique, taught her to use the “pedal” sewing machine at 8, she gradually began to develop her “God given talent of fashion design and dressmaking.” But, from 13, she said she has worked “tirelessly to perfect the art, with the help of her trusted friends, the sewing machine, scissors, books and magazines.” In 2007, Baptiste said she opened the doors to a “One-Stop Shop” Boutique under the label Kimmystic.Clo. She said her debut into the world of fashion and runway shows took place in December 1999 at the Fashion Caribbean show in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Baptiste, herself a former Miss St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has participated in several fashion shows, including the launch of the St. Kitts Fashion Week at the Harlem School of Arts in New York in 2008. Baptiste said her collections are “con-stantly evolving and reflect the Caribbean, our climate, nature and culture, as well as experiments with other materials, such as denim and natural fibers.” She said the collections comprise “relaxed yet fabulous clothing” that also feature accessories made in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. She has participated in the “Fashion has no Borders” fashion show in Canada and “Islands of the World” Fashion week in the Bahamas. In 2012, Baptiste said she was “afforded the opportunity to work intimately as an intern for three months with Fashion Run-way’s runner-up Victor Luna in Manhattan. There, she said she took on the role as

Luna’s assistant designer and “delved into the project heads on,” recalling that the experience was “truly an amazing one” that allowed her “front row view and insight” into the New York fashion industry. Baptiste said the designers’ love and respect for each other “blossomed into a beautiful friendship.” In 2014, she said Luna returned the compliment by collaborating with Kimmystic.Clo and showcasing his collection at her De Ja Vu Fashion show. “Patrons were wowed, and both designers delivered a show that was second to none, and solidified the fact that Kimmystic.Clo was truly in a league of her own,” Baptiste said. Incidentally, Baptiste said she was made “redundant”, as a junior accoun-tant at the Mustique Co., where she worked for six years, when she returned home after internship with Luna. “After that, I decided to go 100 percent fashion,” she said. “It was always a juggling act” [balancing her full time accounting job with her passion for fashion], she said. As she continues to dig deeper into her fashion hat, Baptiste said she is “fully aware of the need for perfectly suited clothing that are ready to wear,” stating that she has working women in mind, “who not only want to look professional by day but also able to transition into that diva at night.” She said the Kimmystic.Clo 2015 Jersey Collection, which already has been exhibited in Barbados, was recently featured at a “Strut for a cause” fashion event in the home of the Pitons, St. Lucia. The collection includes a number of chic and trendy pieces, fashioned from soft cotton. From her collection, Baptiste has also designed custom-made pieces for her client list, and has recently ventured into

Kimmystic.Clo Bridals. With the aim of revolutionizing and elevating Caribbean fashion, Baptiste disclosed that she “took on a small but coveted role” for Michael Costello at the 2015 New York Fashion week. She has also had the opportunity to “style” R&B singer Mya in two of her pieces from her Resort collection, while she worked as an assistant stylist on the set of Vincen-tian Soca sensation Kevin Lyttle, renowned for his mega smash hit “Turn me on.”

This year, Baptiste said she is focusing on producing evening gowns and wardrobes for pageants, but will not participate in chaper-oning, stating that: “Chaperoning is very exhausting. “It takes a lot of time and dedication for the ladies, especially if you’re a competitive person,” she said. Baptiste’s dad, Sebastien Baptiste, a mechanic, hails from the North Leeward village of Petit Bordel.

THE SVG Community College, Villa, was on Saturday 13th February, 2013, the venue for the return of Image Modelling Agency’s Fashion Caribbean, the annual runway show organized by the Image Modeling Agency. Patrons were wowed by the venue’s transformation, some even saying they felt as if they had been transport-ed to a new country.

The show began with a choreographed routine that featured fire spitting and spinning, fireworks, and hippie themed models decked out in Kathleen Bailey Swimwear. The four Fresh Face of Fashion designers kicked off the fashion show in fine style, with three womenswear collection and one menswear collection. The show featured 16 designers, and ran smoothly from Atelier Shernicia, all the way to the finale section, which featured Jamaican designer Reve Jewellery & Accessories. MC Laferne Fraser was not to be left out; she sported designs from Kimmystic Clo., Kimya Glasgow Designs and Atelier Shernicia. There were also two “celebrity” appearances,

the first by reigning Miss SVG and Miss Carival, DeYonte Mayers, who closed Kimon Baptiste’s Kimmystic Clo. Section, and the other by crowd favourite, reigning Soca Monarch Skinny Fabulous, who was a fitting finale for Vincentian label Peta Odini, a brand that has outfitted him for Vincy Mas 2015 and the recently concluded Trinidad Carnival season. Other notable collections were from Fashion Is Payne from St. Vincent, Sew Lisa from Trinidad, and Trefle from the BVI, whose vibrant collection was very well received on show night, as well as on the next day at the Fashion Caribbean Trunk Show. The Trunk Show was well attended, with many persons placing orders from their show favorites. Models for Soka adopted international runway trend by having the models take selfies of themselves while walking down the 100ft runway. The Image Executive, who engaged themselves in six months of planning and preparation for the show, expressed how pleased they were with the event’s outcome. In fact, they have been receiving positive feedback from the public, sponsors and designers, especially the regional ones, some who have already indicated interest in returning next

year. Image’s Managing Director, Monique Arthur, expressed gratitude to all the persons who attended, the designers and all the sponsors, many who have been involved in the production of Fashion Caribbean over the years. The show came to a close with a live art display, which featured artist Rashida Samuel, who spray-painted the model’s clothing on stage. This section was spon-sored by First Citizen Investment Services, and aimed to highlight the need to end violence against women. Other show sponsors included title sponsor LIME, SVG Tourism Authority, Grenadine House, Ciroc, Jergens, Viniq, Felly Belly, Oasis Spa, Maxin Digital Photography, Eyes R Us and Corona. Plans have already begun for the 2017 installment of the show, which will coincide with Image’s 20th Anniversary celebrations.

LIME Fashion Caribbean makes triumphant return!

Kimya Glasgow Designs from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Ecliff Elie from Trinidad & Tobago.

Right: J'Angelique from Barbados

Kimon Baptiste (R) with AK Couture owner and designer Zulema George (L) and Kimmystic.Clo New York liaison Camille De Freitas.

Kimon Baptiste at AK Couture and Beauty Bar.

Miss SVG/Carival 2015 De Yonte Mayers on the Fash-ion Caribbean Runway 2016, wearing her winning Miss Carival Evening Wear designed by Kimon Baptiste.

One of Kimon’s creations that was described ‘Sparkle Shock’ website as ‘simply superb’ with its use of ‘bold colours and prints’.

Baptiste receives ‘excellent’ response in NY

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St. Vincent, Sew Lisa from Trinidad, and Trefle from the BVI,

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section, which featured Jamaican designer Reve from Atelier Shernicia, all the way to the finale

The show featured 16 designers, and ran smoothly collection and one menswear collection.

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cellent’ response in N

show, which will coincide with Image’s 20th Anniversary Plans have already begun for the 2017 installment of the Spa, Maxin Digital Photography, Eyes R Us and Corona.

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“Today, was a kind of a dream come true,”

and supported the brand [Kimmystic.Clo]. and fashions. “Caribbean people came out an islands by storm with her unique designs who has taken the nation and some CaribbeVillage, Richmond Hill, Kingstown native, “I’m so grateful,” added the Murray’s a particular merchandise. the public can view, buy or place an order of Apple. At a “Pop-up Shop” or “Trunk Show,” ‘Pop-up Shop’ or ‘Trunk Show’ in the Big

develop her “God given talent of fashion sewing machine at 8, she gradually began to Boutique, taught her to use the “pedal” Baptiste, who manages Kimmystic. Clo Baptiste said, after her mother, Marcella finished product.”flawlessly – from the fabric selection to the sewing every piece of clothing neatly and industry for over 16 years, “designing and been “intimately involved” in the fashion Management and Psychology, said she has Indies Bachelor of Science degree graduate in The Cave Hill, University of the West


an islands by storm with her unique designs -who has taken the nation and some Caribbe

the public can view, buy or place an order of Apple. At a “Pop-up Shop” or “Trunk Show,”

develop her “God given talent of fashion sewing machine at 8, she gradually began to Boutique, taught her to use the “pedal” Baptiste, who manages Kimmystic. Clo Baptiste said, after her mother, Marcella

flawlessly – from the fabric selection to the sewing every piece of clothing neatly and industry for over 16 years, “designing and been “intimately involved” in the fashion Management and Psychology, said she has Indies Bachelor of Science degree graduate in The Cave Hill, University of the West

collection at her De Ja Vu Fashion Kimmystic.Clo and showcasing his compliment by collaborating with In 2014, she said Luna returned the beautiful friendship.”respect for each other “blossomed into a Baptiste said the designers’ love and industry.and insight” into the New York fashion one” that allowed her “front row view the experience was “truly an amazing into the project heads on,” recalling that Luna’s assistant designer and “delved

collection at her De Ja Vu Fashion Kimmystic.Clo and showcasing his compliment by collaborating with In 2014, she said Luna returned the

respect for each other “blossomed into a Baptiste said the designers’ love and

and insight” into the New York fashion one” that allowed her “front row view the experience was “truly an amazing into the project heads on,” recalling that

designed by Kimon Baptiste.ear Carival Evening W

wearing her winning Miss ion Caribbean Runway 2016,

onte Mayers on the FYYoDe Miss SVG/Carival 2015

fashion, since last September, at the Girls town and teaches clothing, textile and Boutique at the Y deLima building in Kings Baptiste, who owns the Kimmystic.Clo for me.”Boutique and Beauty Bar] made it happen [George, owner and designer of AK Couture this [‘Pop-up Shop’] to happen, and Zulema

the past seven years. “I always wanted Miss St. Vincent Pageant in Vincy Mas for have won the “Best Evening Wear” in the

added Baptiste, whose designed outfits “Today, was a kind of a dream come true,”

designed by Kimon Baptiste.

wearing her winning Miss ion Caribbean Runway 2016,

-onte Mayers on the Fash

fashion, since last September, at the Girls town and teaches clothing, textile and Boutique at the Y deLima building in Kings Baptiste, who owns the Kimmystic.Clo

Boutique and Beauty Bar] made it happen [George, owner and designer of AK Couture this [‘Pop-up Shop’] to happen, and Zulema

the past seven years. “I always wanted Miss St. Vincent Pageant in Vincy Mas for have won the “Best Evening Wear” in the

added Baptiste, whose designed outfits “Today, was a kind of a dream come true,”

show in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. December 1999 at the Fashion Caribbean fashion and runway shows took place in She said her debut into the world of Kimmystic.Clo. “One-Stop Shop” Boutique under the label Baptiste said she opened the doors to a scissors, books and magazines.” In 2007, her trusted friends, the sewing machine, “tirelessly to perfect the art, with the help of But, from 13, she said she has worked design and dressmaking.” develop her “God given talent of fashion

-Boutique at the Y deLima building in Kings

Miss St. Vincent Pageant in Vincy Mas for


show in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. December 1999 at the Fashion Caribbean fashion and runway shows took place in She said her debut into the world of

“One-Stop Shop” Boutique under the label Baptiste said she opened the doors to a scissors, books and magazines.” In 2007, her trusted friends, the sewing machine, “tirelessly to perfect the art, with the help of But, from 13, she said she has worked design and dressmaking.” develop her “God given talent of fashion

“After that, I decided to go 100 home after internship with Luna.worked for six years, when she returned tant at the Mustique Co., where she made “redundant”, as a junior accoun Incidentally, Baptiste said she was league of her own,” Baptiste said. that Kimmystic.Clo was truly in a second to none, and solidified the fact designers delivered a show that was “Patrons were wowed, and both show. collection at her De Ja Vu Fashion

“After that, I decided to go 100 home after internship with Luna.worked for six years, when she returned tant at the Mustique Co., where she

-made “redundant”, as a junior accoun Incidentally, Baptiste said she was league of her own,” Baptiste said. that Kimmystic.Clo was truly in a second to none, and solidified the fact designers delivered a show that was “Patrons were wowed, and both

collection at her De Ja Vu Fashion

to her Kimmystic.Clo label, in received “excellent” response Kimon Baptiste, says she has TOP VINCY fashion designer,

US CORRESPONDENThoo.com

[email protected]@v. KINGNELSON A

y y and photos bStor

Interested persons can call AK Couture at Brooklyn, between 45th and 46th Street. Boutique and Beauty Bar, 4516 Church Ave., label will now be sold at AK Couture past three years, said the Kimmystic. Clo Miss St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the Baptiste, who “groomed and chaperoned” With excellent response on Saturday, today a reality.”York liaison, Camille De Freitas, “in making High School, also complimented her New fashion, since last September, at the Girls

to her Kimmystic.Clo label, in received “excellent” response Kimon Baptiste, says she has TOP VINCY fashion designer,

US CORRESPONDENT

-a; erizon.net

Interested persons can call AK Couture at Brooklyn, between 45th and 46th Street. Boutique and Beauty Bar, 4516 Church Ave., label will now be sold at AK Couture past three years, said the Kimmystic. Clo Miss St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the Baptiste, who “groomed and chaperoned” With excellent response on Saturday,

York liaison, Camille De Freitas, “in making High School, also complimented her New fashion, since last September, at the Girls

collections comprise “relaxed yet fabulous denim and natural fibers.” She said the experiments with other materials, such as our climate, nature and culture, as well as stantly evolving and reflect the Caribbean, Baptiste said her collections are “conSchool of Arts in New York in 2008. of the St. Kitts Fashion Week at the Harlem several fashion shows, including the launch and the Grenadines, has participated in Baptiste, herself a former Miss St. Vincent show in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Boutique and Beauty Bar, 4516 Church Ave.,

Miss St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the

York liaison, Camille De Freitas, “in making

collections comprise “relaxed yet fabulous denim and natural fibers.” She said the experiments with other materials, such as our climate, nature and culture, as well as stantly evolving and reflect the Caribbean,

- Baptiste said her collections are “conSchool of Arts in New York in 2008. of the St. Kitts Fashion Week at the Harlem several fashion shows, including the launch and the Grenadines, has participated in Baptiste, herself a former Miss St. Vincent show in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

by day but also able to transition into that mind, “who not only want to look professional stating that she has working women in suited clothing that are ready to wear,” “fully aware of the need for perfectly her fashion hat, Baptiste said she is As she continues to dig deeper into passion for fashion], she said. full time accounting job with her always a juggling act” [balancing her percent fashion,” she said. “It was “After that, I decided to go 100

Kimmystic.Clo Bridals. by day but also able to transition into that mind, “who not only want to look professional stating that she has working women in suited clothing that are ready to wear,” “fully aware of the need for perfectly her fashion hat, Baptiste said she is As she continues to dig deeper into passion for fashion], she said. full time accounting job with her always a juggling act” [balancing her percent fashion,” she said. “It was “After that, I decided to go 100

colours and prints’.‘simply superb’described ‘Sparkle Shock’One of Kimon’

Kimmystic.Clo Bridals.

colours and prints’. with its use of ‘bold ‘simply superb’

website as described ‘Sparkle Shock’s creations that was One of Kimon’

Camille De Freitas.(L) Zulema George (R) Kimon Baptiste

with its use of ‘bold website as

Camille De Freitas.and Kimmystic.Clo New (L)

AK Couture owner and designer with (R)

ork liaisonYYoand Kimmystic.Clo New AK Couture owner and designer

in and Beauty Bar on Church Avenue TIAN at AK Couture Boutique interview with THE VINCENsaid Baptiste in an exclusive

Saturday.

and Beauty Bar on Church Avenue TIAN at AK Couture Boutique interview with THE VINCENsaid Baptiste in an exclusive “The response was excellent,” Saturday.Brooklyn, New York last her maiden ‘Pop-up Shop’ in

.and Beauty BarAK Couture Kimon Baptiste at

St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Anguilla. distributed, with the Kimmystic. Clo label, in non-traditional evening gowns are also Awards. Her highly sought-after, glamorous, Grenadines at the 2008 Caribbean Fashion “Island Designer” of St. Vincent and the Miss Carival this year, was named the Anguilla and Miss St. Lucia last year, and Baptiste, who designed the gowns for Miss 598-7398. (347) 492-2522, or De Freitas at (347) Interested persons can call AK Couture at

and Beauty Bar on Church Avenue TIAN at AK Couture Boutique

-interview with THE VINCENsaid Baptiste in an exclusive “The response was excellent,”

her maiden ‘Pop-up Shop’ in

AK Couture

St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Anguilla. distributed, with the Kimmystic. Clo label, in non-traditional evening gowns are also Awards. Her highly sought-after, glamorous, Grenadines at the 2008 Caribbean Fashion “Island Designer” of St. Vincent and the Miss Carival this year, was named the Anguilla and Miss St. Lucia last year, and Baptiste, who designed the gowns for Miss

(347) 492-2522, or De Freitas at (347)

There, she said she took on the role as way’s runner-up Victor Luna in Manhattan. intern for three months with Fashion Runthe opportunity to work intimately as an In 2012, Baptiste said she was “afforded Bahamas. “Islands of the World” Fashion week in the no Borders” fashion show in Canada and She has participated in the “Fashion has in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. clothing” that also feature accessories made collections comprise “relaxed yet fabulous

distributed, with the Kimmystic. Clo label, in

Awards. Her highly sought-after, glamorous,

Baptiste, who designed the gowns for Miss

There, she said she took on the role as way’s runner-up Victor Luna in Manhattan.

-intern for three months with Fashion Runthe opportunity to work intimately as an In 2012, Baptiste said she was “afforded

“Islands of the World” Fashion week in the no Borders” fashion show in Canada and She has participated in the “Fashion has in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. clothing” that also feature accessories made collections comprise “relaxed yet fabulous

list, and has recently ventured into designed custom-made pieces for her client From her collection, Baptiste has also fashioned from soft cotton. includes a number of chic and trendy pieces, of the Pitons, St. Lucia. The collection “Strut for a cause” fashion event in the home in Barbados, was recently featured at a Collection, which already has been exhibited She said the Kimmystic.Clo 2015 Jersey diva at night.”by day but also able to transition into that

for his mega smash hit “Turn me on.”tian Soca sensation Kevin Lyttle, renowned as an assistfrom her Resort collection, while she worked “style” R&B singer Mya in two of her pieces

New York Fashion week. coveted role” for Michael Costello at the 2015 disclosed that she “took on a small but elevating Caribbean fashion, Baptiste

list, and has recently ventured into designed custom-made pieces for her client From her collection, Baptiste has also fashioned from soft cotton. includes a number of chic and trendy pieces, of the Pitons, St. Lucia. The collection “Strut for a cause” fashion event in the home in Barbados, was recently featured at a Collection, which already has been exhibited She said the Kimmystic.Clo 2015 Jersey

for his mega smash hit “Turn me on.”tian Soca sensation Kevin Lyttle, renowned

ant stylist on the set of Vincenas an assistfrom her Resort collection, while she worked “style” R&B singer Mya in two of her pieces She has also had the opportunity to New York Fashion week. coveted role” for Michael Costello at the 2015 disclosed that she “took on a small but elevating Caribbean fashion, Baptiste With the aim of revolutionizing and Kimmystic.Clo Bridals.

village of Petit Bordel. mechanic, hails from the North Leeward Baptiste’s dad, Sebastien Baptiste, a person,” she said. the ladies, especially if you’re a competitive “It takes a lot of time and dedication for exhausting.oning, stating that: “Chaperoning is very pageants, but will not participate in chaperproducing evening gowns and wardrobes for This year, Baptiste said she is focusing on

for his mega smash hit “Turn me on.”tian Soca sensation Kevin Lyttle, renowned

-ant stylist on the set of Vincenfrom her Resort collection, while she worked “style” R&B singer Mya in two of her pieces She has also had the opportunity to

coveted role” for Michael Costello at the 2015 disclosed that she “took on a small but elevating Caribbean fashion, Baptiste With the aim of revolutionizing and

village of Petit Bordel. mechanic, hails from the North Leeward Baptiste’s dad, Sebastien Baptiste, a person,” she said. the ladies, especially if you’re a competitive “It takes a lot of time and dedication for exhausting.oning, stating that: “Chaperoning is very pageants, but will not participate in chaperproducing evening gowns and wardrobes for This year, Baptiste said she is focusing on

mechanic, hails from the North Leeward Baptiste’s dad, Sebastien Baptiste, a

the ladies, especially if you’re a competitive “It takes a lot of time and dedication for

oning, stating that: “Chaperoning is very -pageants, but will not participate in chaper

producing evening gowns and wardrobes for This year, Baptiste said she is focusing on

ALPHONSO RICHARDS is an Agent withMetroLife Agency Inc., localrepresentatives of Pan American LifeInsurance Group.

MetroLife Agency Inc. wasincorporated under the laws of St.Vincent and the Grenadines, on April28, 2011, and like Metrocint GeneralInsurance Co. Ltd., which wasestablished here on December 31,1968, by the renowned Edgerton‘Uncle Metro’ Richards, is a fullmember of the Meterocint Group ofCompanies.

Alphonso, otherwise known as‘Sleepy’, was wide awake last Monday,and rose to the top of ‘The LegacyPublic Speaking Competition, forMetroLife agents.”

Alphonso impressed the judges witha presentation in which he placed‘Uncle Metro’s’ foresight andaccomplishments in the category ofsome of the world’s greatestpersonalities, not least being theAfrican-American Civil Rights leaderDr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Alphonso pointed to the almostuncanny co-relations of the lives, pathsand impact of Dr. King and ‘UncleMetro’, who was five years old whenDr. King was born.

Alphonso alluded to Dr. King’sassassination in 1968, the same yearMetrocint Insurance Company, thiscountry’s first indigenous insurancecompany, was established, and a yearof the heydays of an awakening of

black consciousness across the globe,to which Dr. King contributed in nosmall measure.

The year 1968 was one year beforethis country achieved AssociatedStatehood, and some eleven yearsbefore independence.

Dr. King did not live to see hisdreams fulfilled, but Metro survivedtwo days after his 72nd birthday, andbuilt an ‘empire’ on the strength of hisvision, ingenuity and courage in theface of seemingly unsurmountableodds, said Alphonso, adding that heeven found the time to involve himselfin other entrepreneurial undertakings,including assuming ownership of THEVINCENTIAN newspaper.

Add to this his positions in favour ofthe underprivileged, and it speaks to astalwart of a man, Alphonso proffered.

“I feel very good about it(winning),” Alphonso admitted afterthe exercise.

He was satisfied that his efforts inresearch for the exercise paid off, andconsiders the exercise as “strategic” ingoing forward with the newundertaking (MetroLife).

Alphonso appeared in fifth positionamong six competitors.

All other competitors, according tothe judges, performed creditably.These included: Hollis Trotman whodescribed ‘Uncle Metro’ as being aheadof his time; Benjamin Samuel whocalled for National Hero status to beaccorded Edgerton Richards, was

second to makehis presentation,and he wasconvinced thatUncle Metro wasa great example,and he called forUncle Metro tobe designed anational hero,Ferrand Walterswho pondered onhow ‘UncleMetro’ couldhave condensedso many facetsinto one frame;Angus Martin who lauded ‘UncleMetro’ for his “insistence” on freedomof the press; and Mark Charles whoidentified Metrocint’s founder ashaving left an indelible legacy on theVincentian landscape.

Desiree Richards, ManagingDirector of the Metrocint Group ofCopmpanies, felt assured that ‘TheLegacy Public Speaking Competition’had achieved its objective of creatingan awareness with respect to thevision and development of MetrocintGeneral Insurance Co. and MetroLife.

She was especially convinced thatthe agents had demonstrated thatthey, together, are a solid foundation

on which to build the efforts goingforward. (WKA)


NewsVUncle Metro: up with the Greats

Alphonso ‘Sleepy’ Richards accepts hiswinner’s purse from Mrs. Noreen Richards,Director, Metrocint Group of Companies.

L-R: Agents: Hollis Trotman, Ferrand Walters and AngusMartin.

L-R: Agents: Benjamin Samuel andMark Charles.

NewsV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016. 17.

THE 2016 BEQUIAEaster Regatta,scheduled for March24 – 28, will beanother excitingweekend of races.

This is thepromise of newlyinstalled BequiaSailing Club (BBC)Commodore, Elrick‘Allo’ Ragguette.

The BSCorganizes andmanages theRegatta.

“A lot of skippers,sailors and boatowners haveexpressed interest inthe races, and theyare eager andexcited for the time to come around,”Ragguette indicated, adding, “In fact,we may well have a hike in boats thisyear, as compared to the last coupleyears.”

Ragguette, who was electedCommodore last November, describedthe Bequia Easter Regatta as the“Granddaddy of sailing events in theSouthern Caribbean, the biggesttourism product outside of Vincy Mas,in St Vincent and the Grenadines.”

The programme for the 2016Regatta remains basically unchanged:Thursday 24th March at theFrangipani Hotel — Registration andBriefing of skipper: Friday 25th March09.55am - Friendship Bay and J24Surprise Races; Saturday 26th March08.55am - J24 & Surprise Races and09.55am - Around Bequia Race;Sunday 27th March 08.25am —Hairoun Single-Handed AroundBequia Race; Monday 28th March08.55am - J24 & Surprise Races and09.55am: Admiralty Bay TriangleRace.

Sunday 27th March will also featurethe Lay Day activities like thesandcastle competition and the all-daybeach splash.

Patrons can also expect the On-Shore activities, held under thealmond tree in Port Elizabeth, toreceive added support, as the SailingClub will be increasing collaborationwith the On-Shore Committee.

These activities are expected toinclude maypole dancing and greasypig competitions, in addition to the

traditional sale of food, craft and otheritems.

“This is a new era for the BequiaEaster Regatta, and we intend to giveof our best to ensure that everyone ishappy at the end of it all.

“This year’s Regatta is going to putus in the position to have an evengreater event in 2017 and in the yearsto come,” Ragguette noted.

He is joined on the managementcommittee by: Leticia ‘Letty’ Browne -Vice-Commodore; Richard Ashton —Secretary; Raison Compton — PRO;and Joe Gabriel - Treasurer

The 2016 Bequia Easter Regatta isthe 30th edition of the activity since itwas rescheduled from the Whitsuntideweekend.

Persons can get more informationon the club and the regatta on website,www.bequiaregatta.com, or the newlyestablished social media pagesFacebook, Bequia Easter Regatta.

Bequia EasterRegatta in train

The yacht races in the Bequia Regatta are usually highlycompetitiveevents.

(L-R) Commodore Elrick ‘Allo’Ragguette and his Vice-Commodore,Leticia ‘Letty’ Browne

Model boat racing is a Bequia tradition, and forms part of the Easter Regattalists of activities.

by HAYDN HUGGINS

WHILE OMNIBUS drivershere are being criticized fortheir ill-discipline andlawlessness in using theroad, some of them could be

considered model busdrivers.

At the Royal St.Vincent and theGrenadines Police Force(RSVGPF) TrafficDepartment’s AnnualAwards Ceremony held atthe Central Police Stationon Wednesday, February17, four operators wererecognised for the mannerin which they conductedthemselves, whilerendering their service in2015.

Those receiving the

accolade were: AbdulMohammed of LargoHeight, owner and driverof the omnibus ‘Abdullah’;Clarence Pierre of GreenHill, owner and driver ofthe omnibus ‘Angel’;Trevor O’Garro, ofBuccument, owner anddriver of the omnibus‘Trevor’; and Olanzo ‘Dirts’

Browne of Stubbs, ownerand driver of the omnibus‘Dirts’.

The criteria forselecting the awardeesincluded the manner inwhich they drive,ticketing, generalcooperation and reportsabout their driving.

Head of the Traffic

Department Supt.Kenneth John told THEVINCENTIAN that theTraffic Department’sAnnual Awards Ceremonystarted in 2002. It isaimed at motivatingpersons to strive forexcellence and for othersto emulate the awardees.

A number of officers

attached to the TrafficDepartment also receivedawards at the ceremonylast week Wednesday,each being recognised forhis/her performance in aparticular area of duty in2015.

Constable KaliymWoods was named TrafficCop of the Year.

DIGICEL has rewarded two luckycouples in their #DigiInstaHeartsocial media competition.

Couples were asked to uploadtheir most romantic photos toInstagram, tagging Digicel SVG.The photo with the most likes wereawarded a night for two at theYoung Island Resort, inclusive of aromantic dinner and breakfast atthe resort.

The 1st place winners, Daryl-Anne Delpeche and her partner,enjoyed their night at Young Islandon February 14th.

“We were so excited when werealized that we had won with over300 likes on our photo. We areextremely thankful to Digicel forsuch a great promotion andopportunity in which we were ableto experience such a romantic nightat the Young Island Resort forValentines,” says Daryl- Anne.

The second placewinner, CameronAdams, won two ticketsto the ‘je t’aime’

Concert, February13th.

Digicel personnelsaid they wereextremely pleased withthe number of responsesthey received in thissocial mediacompetition, andchalked anothersuccess, in thecompany’s ongoingintention to please theirsubscribers.

It was quite thesuccess as personsposted their romanticphotos and encouragedtheir friends and familyto assist them in the


NewsV

Digicel brings Valentine’s cheer

Winners at Dinner at Young Island Resort.

Omnibus operators receive awards

Mini-bus drivers here have come in for recognitionfrom the traffic department, which is perceived astheir antitheses.

Inset: Supt. Kenneth John, Head of the TrafficDepartment, hopes others would emulate theawardees.

IN THE NEXT two months,contents of a draft Billaimed at keeping a checkon Credit Unions in theOrganisation of EasternCaribbean States, ought tobe ready for presentationto parliament.

However, RalphWharton, GeneralManager of theCaribbean Confederationof Credit Unions, is notsatisfied with the extentto which personsattached to the sectorhave been talking aboutthe matter.

He made his positionknown last weekThursday at FrenchesHouse, Kingstown, whilespeaking at the openingof a National CooperativeLegislation Workshop,organised under theauspices of the St.Vincent and theGrenadines Co-operativeLeague and theCaribbean Confederationof Credit Unions.

The theme of theWorkshop was ‘CreditUnion Laws andregulation compliance’.

Whartonacknowledged the broadpenetration thatCooperative CreditUnions have made inSt. Vincent and theGrenadines, butlamented the shortageof consultation onmatters as they affectCredit Unions here.

He noted the role ofregulators which, heassessed, was designedto making those entities“grow and develop insafe boundaries.”

However, the extentto which Credit Unionshave been speaking onthe matter is a concernto Wharton.

Frederick Stephenson,Minister withresponsibility for CreditUnions/Co-operatives,traced the Co-operativeSocieties Act (Number12 of 2012) and theDraft Co-operativesSocieties Regulations.He noted that the Billwas passed in the Househere, June 28, 2012.

Stephenson expressedoptimism that the Billarising from anOrganisation of EasternCaribbean Statescollaboration, would beproclaimed as law, andpointed to theimportance ofharmonised legislationin the wake of lossessuffered by citizens as aresult of the Clico/Baicofiasco.

As far as the Ministerwas concerned, lawswere needed to protectpatrons’ savings in ameaningful way, and hecalled on Credit Unionsand the FinancialServices Authority towork together in thisregard.

President of the SVGCo-operative LeagueKelvin Pompeywelcomed the Workshop,as it confirmed theLeague’s commitment tohelp affiliates to meethigher standards ofperformance andcompliance, in a stricterregulatory framework.

Pompey was pleasedwith the high level of

Credit Unionmembership in St.Vincent and theGrenadines, and enforcedthe fact that despite theeconomic challenges, theCredit Union sectorremains robust.

But, Credit Unionshave to stay ahead of thegame, and Pompeyhighlighted the need to“plan for the changingroad ahead.”

Like his regionalcounterpart, the League’s

president recognised theimportance of a“consultative andinclusive approach” inthe legislative process,and stressed theimportance of“cooperation among Co-

operatives,” and of“pooling resources andmoving forward withintegrity, competenceand service excellence,while remaining true tothe fundamentals ofcooperative ideals.”


FinanceVCredit Unions musttalk about laws

Ralph Wharton, GeneralManager of theCaribbean Confederationof Credit Unions, wantsmore talk among creditunions about the lawsand regulations thataffect the sector.

Frederick Stephenson,Minister withresponsibility for Co-operatives, pointed tothe new law as beingmindful aboutaddressing thelikelihood of turbulencein other areas of thefinancial sector.

Dear George,

MY HUSBAND is presentlyaway. He should be backhome in a few weeks.

We are renting one ofour houses to a singleparent tenant, and whenI went to collect the lastmonth’s rent, I wasstunned by her remarksto me. She slammed thedoor in my face aftertelling me to tell myhusband she is usingthat month’s rent andthe rent after that, topay for her visits to thedoctor, seeing she ispregnant with his baby.

Even as she blurtedthat, I insisted that sheshould pay the rent nomatter what, andreferred her to the signedlease. But she in turninsisted that she was notgiving me any money forrent now or after, andshe will not talk to me,only my husband.

This is the secondmonth’s rent she has notpaid, and I now knowwhy. What do I do now?

Furious Wife

Dear Furious,

Your tenant is boundby the lease agreement,and has an obligation topay up in accordancewith what she signed.

The matter of herperceived pregnancy canbe dealt with down theroad if she so chooses,and the burden of proofas to paternity will be onher. That matter,however, has nothing todo with the rent, and sheshould be cautioned to

pay up or face theconsequences as dictatedby law.

Business is business,and it ought not to mixedwith anything else.

George

Dear George,

MY WIFE has a bestfriend who visits ourhome regularly. To betruthful, she is the bestshaped woman I haveever seen, simplygorgeous, and I havesaid that to her manytimes.

There have been timesduring her visits whenthe three of us haveengaged in discussions ofa sexual nature, and shehas not been shy toexpress her preferencesand give indications asto her skills in bed. Sheis single and has

admitted to not yethaving found someonewho can match her inbed.

You wouldunderstand, therefore,that I have oftenfantasized about beingwith her. I know deepdown that I could be thatman who she is seeking,the one who can matchher in bed; but myquestion is: how do Icommunicate thatmessage to her?

Frankly speaking, Idon’t see how ‘going withthis fine woman’ couldaffect my relationshipwith my wife, seeing

that she would not befinding any of this out ifit is to happen.

Wishing Husband

Dear Wishing Husband,

That ‘fine woman’ youare fantasizing aboutcan be the very one todestroy thefriendly relationship thatnow exists between thethree of you, andeventually yourmarriage.

The grass oftenappears to be greener onthe other side, but youcan avoiddisappointment bykeeping your gaze onyour side of the fence.

You obviously hadsound reasons why youchose the wife you did.It would be useful at thistime to reflect on thosereasons, and make astronger effort torekindle the flame thatmay be showing signs offading in yourmarriage.

The more you focus onthis woman, the less ofyour wife you would seein terms of theexceptional qualities shepossesses.

The best time to startlooking away is today!

George


AdviceVRent versus pregnancy

Dear George,

I WENT TO MY neighbour’s house and warnedher to keep her mosquitoes away from my house,and she fired back at me that her yard andsurroundings were clean and I had no right toaccuse her of harboring mosquitoes. I thenexplained to her that the mosquito I was talkingabout was her husband, who has been messingaround with my wife.

George, he has been going to my house in myabsence and making advances to her. Differentpeople have told me that my wife has been having‘visitors’ while I am away at work, and advisedthat I should keep a closer eye on things.

My wife has denied being involved with ourneighbour, but could not give a good reason whyhe had to be at our house at all, and sofrequently.

Something is not adding up.

Suspicious

Dear Suspicious,

Instead of going raising concern with theneighbour about her ‘mosquito’, you ought to behaving that discussion with your wifeinstead. She was the one who invited this maninto her house, and should know how that couldeasily result in entangling her in a situation shecould live to regret.

She should exercise greater judgement andrefrain from entertaining individuals during yourabsence, especially persons like your neighbourwhose intention, it seems, is to cause discord inthe relationship with your wife.

To avoid further infestation, your house needsto be less ‘mosquito’ friendly.

George

A ÂmosquitoÊproblemKeep the focus on your side


LeisureVABOVE

1.Eleanor’s hubby’s

inits.4. Frequently,

in poems7. Munich’s

land (abbr.)10. Sailor’s

assent11. Terse13. Micro-

breweryproduct

14. Entreat15. Rise up

against16. Half of VI17. Shoshonean19. Sounded

like ahorse

21. Glisten23. Pro vote24. Over-the-

doorwindow

26. Reheat30. Fido’s doc31. Mah-jongg

pieces34. Tear apart35. Bowled over37. Enchant39. __ Plaines42. Actress

Perez43. Popular

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ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20)Travel will promote new romanticencounters and additional culturalknowledge. Travel for business will notonly bring you valuable information butalso profits as well. You are apt to meetsomeone special on your journey. Makearrangements to meet friends at yourlocal dance club.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21)Don't expect support from your mate.Your compassion will be appreciatedmore than you can imagine. Try not tohurt your partner's feelings. Sortsituations out as best you can. Watchyour spending habits.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21)You may want to take extra special careof your luggage if you are traveling thisweek. You should make special plansfor you and your lover. Romance will beon your mind, and chances for idealconnections are in the works. Don'tgive them the use of your credit card.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)You can look around for the right placeand enlist some of your friends to helpyou move. Someone you work withmay be emotional. You can't lock yourpartner up and if you keep restrictingtheir freedom you may be left out inthe cold. Outbursts of passion maycause arguments with your mate.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22)Your energetic personality will makeyou the center of attention at socialgatherings. Don't make large purchasesor investments. Partnerships withcreative people could lead to financialgains. You may want to make changesin your home environment.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23)Find ways to make extra cash. Startmaking things or reusing rather thanbuying ready-made. If it can make youextra cash, it will be even better. Do alittle investigating if there is someone

at work you don't trust. You could losemoney or precious belongings if youaren't careful.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23)Don't get involved in joint ventures. Youwill feel the limitations if you have beenoverdoing it. Arguing won't help. Dowhat you can to help them but don'tneglect your own family.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)Talk to someone you trust in order tosee the whole picture. Those you livewith may be experiencing problems.Someone envious of your popularitymay challenge you to a debate. Groupsyou belong to will not only enjoy yourcompany, but they will also share yourinterests.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21)Do things you enjoy instead of being achameleon. Don't draw too muchattention to yourself at work. Short tripswill be educational. Trips will be morethan adventurous.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20)Your ability to work with detail will bring recognition. Delve into worthwhilecauses that will show results if you put in the effort. Travel should be onyour agenda. Visitors may relieve thetension.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19)You will enjoy events that lean towardtheater, art, or music this week. You canlearn a great deal more if you listenrather than rant and rave. Partnershipscould prove to be lucrative. Let go of thepast in order to progress.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20)Don't expect support from your mate.However, you may not attract the kindof interest you had in mind. Romanceappears. Spending too much timetalking to friends or relatives could easilyturn into a debate that could lead toestrangement.

21. Became taller

22. “Me”, to Miss Piggy

24. Federal power inits.

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weapons36. Letters

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doctrine40. Western

lawmanWyatt

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diaries46. Narrow

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Continued from Page 8.

Why did Cato summon AttorneyGeneral Arthur Williams to lead theprosecution against the teachers? Dothese actions reflect the opinion of aleader who was not in support of thetear gassing, arrest and trial of citizens?

There is an affection and acclaimthat Mc Intosh and Joshua had thatCato lacked. The essence is gleaned fromthe names by which they were known.Among broad sections of the people, Mc

Intosh was “Dadda Mac” and Joshuawas “Pappy Josh”.

The muzzle of national service as amember of the National HeroesCommittee prevented me fromcheckmating Gonsalves’ sales pitch forCato. Do you still think Cato makes thecut? I hope you can see why I had toresign”.

The question is, does membership ofthe ULP now cause Jomo to see thelegacy of Cato in a different light?

National Heroes Day, 14th March, 2016

V THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016. 23.

by E. GLENFORDPRESCOTT

COACH OF THE ST.VINCENT and theGrenadines senior nationalmen’s Rugby team MikeJackson is confident thathis team will give a goodaccount of themselves, intheir 2019 World CupQualifier against Jamaica,scheduled for the ArnosVale Playing Field,Saturday 5th March.

Jackson, speaking atone of the team’straining sessions at theSion Hill Playing Fieldon Tuesday, said that,while they are going intothe game as underdogs,he was quietly confidentthat they would becompetitive against

opponents who are moreexperienced and possiblymore talented.

“I know you’ve got tobe guarded with yourconfidence, but I’ve beenworking with the boys fora while now, and they’vebeen coming on…hopefully if we doeverything right, whoknows what can happenat the end of the game,”Jackson said.

Jackson, an American,has been with the teamsince September 2015.

He admitted toknowing “a fair amount”about the Jamaicans,and described them as “agood team…….. they’vegot good individualplayers….a littleunstructured ..so that’s

an area that we canmaybe take advantageof….hopefully withoverconfidence cominginto it and with ushaving home fieldadvantage, we canmaybe shake them alittle and let them regretcoming here a bit toooverconfident.”

Jackson said that the relativelyinexperienced situationwith the SVG team mayprobably work to theiradvantage in Saturday’sencounter.

“ A lot of the teams inthe West Indies havebeen taught the old-fashioned way, and I’vecome in here and havetried to be more of acontemporary coach, so I

teach a modern game.And because these guyshave not been taughtthose old ways ofplaying, it has allowedme to introduce thesenew ways of playing tothem, and they’ve takenthem on quite quickly,and that certainly, Iwould say, is anadvantage,” he said as hedesperately attempted tocling on to any littlevestige of hope.

The players, the coachassessed, want to dogood, adding, “I cannotsee them just going andlying down on Saturday”.

He preferred not to

single out any player orplayers for specialmention, and insteadurged the public toattend Saturday’s match,set to begin at 2pm.

Should SVG get pastJamaica, they wouldenter a group withBarbados, Guyana andTrinidad in the nextphase of the play-offs.

Officials say the matchhere is being seen as animportant occasion forWorld Rugby, as itsignals the start of aprocess involving morethan 80 teams aroundthe globe, that will

eventually be reduced toeight qualifiers.

Those eight will jointhe 12 previouslyqualified teams for RWC2019 in Japan.

The March 5 match isexpected to be refereedby Nigel Owens, whotook charge of RugbyWorld Cup final 2015between New Zealandand Australia, inEngland last year.

In addition, thefamous Webb Ellis Cup,which is currently beingheld by the championsNew Zealand, will also beon display here.

THE QUARTET of Erasto DaSilva, Rogike Thorpe, NeiloThomas and Consolo Adams havehad part of their dreams realised.

Last Monday, they embarkedon new academic and sports livesat the Kingsborough CommunityCollege in New York, USA.

For Da Silva, Thorpe andThomas, all former students ofthe Thomas Saunders SecondarySchool, their dreams of enrollingat the college, began to lookpossible after they met with somestaff members during the PennRelays in April last year.

Each of the three has competedin the Penn Relays on threeoccasions.

It was then left to others hereto follow through on the initialcontacts made.

Physical Education teacher atthe Thomas Saunders Secondary,Godfrey Harry, related thatsystems were put in place to fasttrack the students’ departure.

He said a visit to St Vincentand the Grenadines by thecollege’s director of Athletics inJune/July last year, also helped tocrystallise the procedures.

Harry noted that SarahBlundred, who was here last year,did her part in assisting with theapplication to the college.

“She was in constant contactwith the students,” Harry stated.

He said that in the interim,several overtures were made

through centralgovernment, whichreadily bought intothe idea, as well asother entities.

“ The students wereaccepted mainly ontheir academicperformance, and inthe case of Da Silva,Thorpe and Thomas —the athletics talents ,while Adams is knownfor his Basketball,”Harry entailed.

“It also shows,contrary to what somepeople might think,going to the PennRelays is not a wasteof time... Now thatwe have seen somefruits, surely otherswill want to follow(in) their footstepsand get something to aim at,”Harry counteracted.

“ From this first batch ofstudents, I expect them to usetheir natural talent to good effect,as they will be exposed to a higherlevel of competition in differentconditions and more competitionas well,” Harry projected.

He believes that once the fourmake the best of theiropportunities, it will pave the wayfor others to find openings, notonly at Kingsborough, but atother tertiary educational

institutions in the USA. Harry is thankful to the

government of St Vincent and theGrenadines, in particular PrimeMinister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, for“making it happen” for thequartet.

Harry also mentioned the inputof the Kerosene Lamp Foundationand other individuals, whocontributed in the four makingthe trip, which sets them on apursuit towards higher educationachievement and a path ofdeveloping their sporting talents.

THE MALE national rugbyteam will face their sternesttest to date, when they takeon Jamaica in a First FoundQualifier of Rugby WorldCup 2019, Japan.

The Qualifier is set for a2pm start on Saturday 5thMarch 2016 at the ArnosVale Playing Field, andSophie Goddard, Presidentof the SVG Rugby Unionsaid, “Plans are going well.The Executive is workinghard to make sure theUnion and St. Vincent getfull exposure, and that theevent is a success for ourcountry. It is a very big dealfor us, but also for WorldRugby, and it is a greatprivilege that a small Unionlike ours has been chosen tohost this event.”

She added, “We’ve had alot of support from thegovernment, NOC and othersporting organizations in the lead up to matchday, so we thank you all for your help so far.”

Goddard confirmed that the Webb Ellis Cup,symbol of World Rugby supremacy, will arrivehere next Wednesday, as it makes its journeyaround the world on its way to Japan.

The Cup is expected to go on public displayhere.

Patrons to the Qualifier, March 5, can expectadded attractions, including a women’s tag rugbyshowcase, and demonstrations by the youthplayers involved in the Union’s ongoingdevelopmental programme.

“I invite all Vincentians to come out to thematch. Let us together make this event a greatone for St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” Goddardappealed.

Rugby President upbeat

Sophie Goddard,President of theSVG Rugby Union,is anticipating fullsupport for thisparticularly specialevent in the stilldeveloping annalsof the sport ofrugby here.

Erasto Da Silva (3rd from left), RogikeThorpe (4th from left), Consolo Adams (3rdfrom right), Neilo Thomas (right), in companywith Kingsborough Community College staffmembers.

Opportunities open forVincentian athletes

Coach Mike Jackson (2nd from left) gives instructions.

Rugby coachexpresses guardedconfidence

by E. GLENFORD PRESCOTT

WEST INDIES U19 opener, SVG’s GidronPope, has been called up by the WindwardIslands Volcanoes for this weekend’s matchagainst Guyana in St. Lucia.

Information is that Pope, one of theWest Indies standout players on theirway to winning the ICC U19 tournamentfor the first time, is set to replace one ofeither the out of form batsmen TyroneTheophile or Keddy Lesporis.

On Sunday, Pope stroked 44 in theNews Spartans 95 in their eight-wicketdefeat to defending champions TeamRivals, in the NLA T20 tournament.

Pope continued where he left off in theWorld Cup as he went after the bowlersafter a somewhat quiet start. Creditedwith five overthrows to get off the mark,the pugnacious lefthander then brutally straightdrove offspinner Casmond Walters for four, beforeshattering the “pane barrier” when he smashed thenext ball into a window in the Players Pavilion.

Pope then took the only points available in thebrief exchanges with the pacey Kesrick Williamstowards the end of the bowler’s spell. In his usualpredatory manner, he advanced down the pitch toWilliams, who on seeing his movement, went forwhat should have been a quick bouncer, only forPope, still moving, to hook for six in front of square.

With only four overs allotted per bowler,Williams could find notime to respond.

Pope, after hitting fivefours and two sixes, wascaught off the deceptiveRoneil Jeffrey with thetotal 63/4. Thereafter, itwas all downhill for NewsSpartans who caved infrom 86/5 to be all out for94 in 18.1 overs. Left-armspinner Asif Hooper 3/13,Orlanzo Jackson 2/15,Jeffrey 2/15 and Walters2/23 shared the wickets.

Team Rivals thenchased down the targetin quick time, as theyreached 98/2 in ten overs.Hooper completed a goodallround match with ablistering 53 off 28 balls,with six fours and threesixes, to send his teamunbeaten through thepreliminary round of thecompetition.

In another match,Victors ONE openerAtticus Browne continuedhis excellent season witha well chartered centuryagainst GuardianGeneral Saints, at themain Arnos Vale PlayingField on Saturdayafternoon.

Browne made 101 asVictors ONE reached163/5 in 20 overs. Hestruck seven sixes andfive fours and raised 103for the openingpartnership with MilesBascombe (38). KentishJacobs capitalised onVictors ONE’s later overspush to grab 4/30, as theylost four wickets for 15runs.

Guardian General Saints’ innings got off to theworst possible start when opener Joey Welcome wasfloored by a Ray Jordon bouncer that hit him on theside of the face. Groggy and visibly in pain, he wasforced to retire.

However, with wickets falling steadily, Welcomereturned to the crease to play a brilliant counter-attacking innings of 59*. He took on all the bowlersincluding Jordan, whom he cut over point for sixand slashed for fours to third-man. In all, he struckfour sixes and four fours in his entertaining innings.Browne led the bowling with 2/19 from four overs.


SportsV

No rewardsIT IS A PITY that sports personalities whoperformed with distinction over the past year willbe denied rewards for their efforts. So TevinSlater will not get the opportunity to be honouredfor his contribution to national development insports. For, had there been the routine, it wouldhave been difficult to deny him anything short ofthe Sport Personality for the Year 2015. However,the Football Federation had already made itschoice, and Tevin was their just recipient. But hisrecognition by the Football Federation served as aprelude to greater heights from the Clare Valleyborn youngster.

Tevin notched a tally of five goals in World Cupqualifiers, and was instrumental in helping St.Vincent and the Grenadines to progress to theGroup of Four.

In addition, Slater chalked up five goalsincluding a hat trick against Trinidad and Tobagoin the Olympic qualifiers. Those were enough totake St. Vincent and the Grenadines to the finalround where they were eclipsed by Haiti.

But there would have hardly been any stoppingof Tevin, had there been a [properly conductedAwards Ceremony.

No doubt there would have been clamours forShne Joachim who also returned someoutstanding performances in the swimming pool.

Perhaps the sporting bodies were side-trackedwith the campaign for the general elections whichtranspired December 9, 1015.

The results might also have thrown someorganiser off target. So getting things in placemay have been a little ticklish for some persons.

However, failing to submit recommendationsfor candidates to be in line for rewards is an act ofnegligence that could never be forgiven.

One hopes that the situation is ironed out onceand for all in time for next year, so that whenpersons put their blood, sweat and tears on theline in the interest of national pride, some duesaccrue to them.

For example, Gidron Pope has etched his namein the circle for some recognition next year. Butsuppose the sporting authorities decide to operateas tardily as they have done this year, he may beanother casualty of this laissez-faire approach.

So perhaps somebody can take the initiativeand reward Pope even before the ceremony isheld. Because even though other outstandingperformances unfold, there should be no denial ofPope’s outstanding achievements.

At the same time, the Vincentian CricketAssociation will have to encourage Pope in everyway possible, and stay by his side so that heengenders the support from home. He should notbe left to the whims and fancies of other forces.We have seen all too often whereby Vincentianshave been ostracised because of their verynationality. The treatment of Kenroy Peters isfamiliar. And he, after being belatedly draftedinto the West Indies squad having excelled fromthe Under 19, inevitably found himself in thecricketing doldrums, merely and more directlypurely because of the fact that he is Vincentian.

This National Sports Award has become toohaphazard, and sports personalities are left toponder if their efforts have any value.

The ruling authorities have stepped up on theirquest to provide the nation with facilities so thatsports are given some semblance of acceptance inthis country’s heritage. And the trend seems to becontinuing as regards providing the platform.When therefore sportsmen and women excel,every avenue ought to be explored to acknowledgethem.

Pope, Hooper, Browne,Welcome star in NLA T20

Joey Welcomerelaxes after aneventful afternoon.

Gidron Pope into one of his drives.

JASON DOYLE and KaiBentick had two titleseach, and Thandi Myersone, as host St Vincentand the Grenadines tookfive of the eight titles thatwere at stake in lastweekend’s Junior OpenSquash Tournament.

The tournament wasplayed at the NationalLotteries AuthoritySquash Centre at Paul’sAvenue.

Doyle copped the maleUnder-19 ahead ofBentick, and was alsoawarded the overall toptrophy, contested amongall participants.

Bentick topped theUnder-15 and Under-17,beating out GuyaneseShomari Wiltshire intosecond place, in bothinstances.

Meanwhile, Myerswas out front in thefemales Under- 17, withMakeda Harding ofGuyana taking therunner-up spot.

Harding, however,claimed the Under-15.In doing so, Harding leftJada Smith- Padmore inthe runner-up position.

ShomariWiltshire took thefirst place in themales Under-13,with AlexJerome—Stewart ofBarbados, second.

Wiltshire’steammate TaylorFernandes was thewinner of thefemales Under-19,with her fellowGuyanese LarissaWiltshire insecond.

Nineteen juniorscompeted in the three-day tournament, whichran from Friday toSunday.

Pleased with theparticipation of Guyana ,in this the second editionof the open tournament,President of the StVincent and theGrenadines SquashAssociation JamesBentick, said every effortwill be made to havemore countries in fornext year’s tournament.

He assured that hisAssociation was sparingno thought in developingthe tournament, so that

St Vincent andthe Grenadines can haveits own niche amongjunior Squash players inthe region and evenfurther.


ClassifiedsV

MAURICE FITZALLAN

SAYERS

ChurchBrighton

February, 20162:00 p.m.

HERMON BANCROFT THOMPSON

Church

24th February, 2016

3:00 p.m.

OMORON JULIUS ASKELONRODGERS

24th February, 2016

2:00 p.m.

IONA MARKSMAN

Church,

Saturday 20th February, 2016,

3:00 pm

SANDRA CAMELITA

RYAN-NICHOLS

Church of God


ALBERT EDWARD ABBEY

Church of God of Prophecy


Five Junior Squash titles for SVG

Jason Doyle Kai BentickThandi Myers

Manager of CWSAGarth Saunders(right) and EngineerBernard Maloneywere forthright aboutdecreased volumesof water at thecompany’s major intakes, and promised to notify the public early about anyresponses CWSA might have to take in the circumstances.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 VOLUME 110, No.09 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 ESTATEPembroke 3 bedrm property on 7,499 sq.ft. - $399,500.00

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Stories by KENVILLE HORNE

THE CENTRAL WATER and SewerageAuthority (CWSA), custodians of thewater supply and distribution in thecountry, is reporting that the water flowinto its main intakes is significantly low,and will continue to be so threatened asthe country braces itself for dryconditions well into the rest of the year.

Speaking at a press conference lastweek Friday, February 19, CWSAEngineer Bernard Maloney reportedthat all the company’s major intakeshave been affected. These includeMajorca, Jennings and Dallaway.

The Dallaway system, whichaccounts for service of 30% of thenational demand, has seen a 35%reduction over a five-year average,and this rises to 75% as far as theMajorca system is concerned, Maloneysaid.

Maloney attributes the drasticreduction in the water flow to reducedrainfall during the traditional wetseason, and even more significantreductions during the dry season.

“So there is cause for concern. It’squite scary. Even though we havebeen having periods of rain, it is notreally enough to recharge ourwatershed,” Maloney admitted, addingthat the situation could get worse

before it gets better, based onprojections for continued dry spellsinto the year.

But while the country will continueto be under drought watch into thetraditional dry season, the CWSA istaking measures to address thesituation.

“We are always under droughtwatch; we’re always planning the wayforward. We have been having highlevel technical meetings since lastNovember,” assured Maloney.

These meetings have addressed theneed to curb high consumption andwastage patterns, especially by publicbuildings; detect and deal with leaksin the systems, especially in highpressure areas, and monitor theintegrity of main and secondaryintakes to capture raw water.

Maloney was confident that theCWSA was positioned to deal with anywater shortage issues that may ariseas the dry season unfolds, and GarthSaunders, Manager of CWSA, gavethe assurance that his company wasmonitoring the situation and willupdate the public on any changes thatthe CWSA might have to execute, tomaintain as just a distribution aspossible, given the situation thatmight arise.

ROMAN CATHOLIC Bishop of Bridgetown,formerly Bishop of Bridgetown-Kingstown, JasonGordon, has apologized for what he said was awrong he committed.

Bishop Gordon extended the apology to PrimeMinister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves while addressing theordination ceremony of Bishop Gerard County, lastSaturday, at the SVG Community College, Villa.

The apology arose following what the Bishop saidwere comments he made in relation to contents of alecture the Prime Minister delivered recently tostudents at the Cave Hill Campus, UWI, Barbados.

The reference had to do with Dr. Gonsalves’apparent reference to the banana industry and themarijuana industry.

Bishop Gordon admitted that his comments werepredicated on what he had read in a newspaper,and given that that newspaper has since apologisedto Dr. Gonsalves for having misrepresented him, he,Bishop Gordon, had to, in the circumstances, alsooffer an apology.

He said, inter alia, last Saturday, “…. It is notthat what I said was wrong, but the context I wasgiven from the newspaper was wrong, and so I too,have to say sorry. …. , So the Prime Minister, sinceI said this publicly, that you wanted to exchangebananas for marijuana. …. so sorry.”

Bishop Jason Gordon

Bishop Gordonapologises

WATER RESOURCESTHREATENED

The current levels at CWSA intakes are not this encouraging.

february 26, 2016 volume 110, no.09 paying more in...

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