Yachtsmen visiting Bequia continue to face theft of their belongings while anchored in various bays on the Grenadine Island.
CSSN reported that a catamaran docked off Princess Margaret Beach was boarded while its owners slept onboard.
The burglars broke into the unsecured salon, stole cash from a wallet/handbag, and snatched iPhones.
A police report was filed.
Vincentians are being reminded to take the National Emergency Management Organisation’s (NEMO) warnings and watches seriously and not become complacent in disaster preparedness plans.
Stakeholders in local disaster preparedness debated the country’s readiness on the SVGTV Viewpoint Programme on June 23, 2024, with a warning to complete preparations in advance.
Dr. Idelia Ferdinand, Senior Education Officer, asked individuals to pay attention to NEMO recommendations and be aware of their shelter locations in case of an emergency.
Assessments are undertaken to ensure that school plants are ready to accommodate persons who may need to escape from their homes.
Kenson Stoddard, NEMO’s Deputy Director, defended the agency’s position on disaster preparedness, noting that work is completed well ahead of the start of the hurricane season in June.
He emphasised that it is not solely the responsibility of NEMO to ensure that disaster mitigation measures are implemented, but that everyone must stand up and develop an emergency plan.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has responded to a letter that was copied to him by a group of concerned residents of the Cane Grove community.
The concerned residents have expressed their deep objection and profound concern regarding the use of land by Radioactive Ltd. or a related corporation or person for hosting parties and secular events near the Penniston Cemetery, between Cane Grove and Penniston.
The parties and events will host up to or more than 10,000 people. “This matter strikes at the heart of our community’s values, particularly given the proximity to a site of immense spiritual and cultural significance,” concerned residents stated in a letter.
See Gonsalves unedited response below.
Something has come into the public domain. Which I can’t comment on properly because it is before the physical planning board.
That is, whether or not an event is to take place for a carnival by a particular promoter in the valley.
I have spoken to two of the people who sent in a petition. One was sent to me. So naturally, it is my duty to be responsive. I spoke to them and found out what the details are and what they expect from what they’re hoping for, but they’re going through the process with their objections before the planning authorities and the planning board will no doubt meet and make their decision.
And I’m sure the promoter is also working with planning authorities, and it would be invidious of me and inappropriate for me to comment. There’s no trigger for the executive to be involved in this matter. But I will just say that generally, everybody has to be engaged in an exercise to have the reasonableness to live and let live.
Promoters have to be mindful of people’s rights, a bundle of rights surrounding the quiet enjoyment of their property. And of course, property owners take cognizance of seasons and public interest, and our promoter can behave reasonably. And these balances exist in a democratic society where you have institutions like the physical planning authorities to help make those judgements.
And of course, if one side or the other is dissatisfied, there is an appeal process. You can go to court, you know, if you feel your constitutional rights are being infringed, but in a small country where we are in each other’s faces, so to speak, in terms of the space that we have, everybody has to balance everything. Im not in this way indicating one way or the other; I’m just saying it’s a balancing question.
The SVG Players International Mas Band’s leader, Julian “Pilling” Pollard, a well-known cultural figure in St. Vincent, died.
From the early 1970s until now, Pollard has been an essential component of this funfair. He collaborated with Blondie Bird of Dragons and seasoned mascot Roy “D Dragon” Ralph.
He was the artistic director and designer of SVG Players International. A keen historian, he incorporated historical context into the band’s designs.
With the theme “Asserting Our Culture: Celebrating Ourselves,” Pollard oversaw the creative direction of the Vincentian contingent at CARIFESTA XIII, which took place in Barbados from August 17 to August 27, 2017.
Pollard participated in the SVG 40th Independence Celebrations as a member of the Decorating Committee.
Ralph Gonsalves, the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, has expressed satisfaction with the $38 million budgeted for upgrades to the Arnos Vale Sports Stadium.
The renovations account for 70% of the budget, with six modern, up-to-date lights installed.
Gonsalves believes that the new lights will enhance the stadium’s visibility at night and during the day.
He also noted that the development of a three-story building for ICC guests was not enough to sacrifice the Party Stand, which overlooks the Caribbean Sea.
Despite delays, Gonsalves credited the 2007 renovation of the facility for the completion of the work required for the Arnos Vale facility.
He thanked all those involved in renovating the stadium, stating that this work enhances sports development in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
(Press Release) – On Tuesday 28th May, 2024, the Sunset Shores Conference Room was the venue for the SVGHTA’s annual Hurricane Preparedness Workshop. In previous years, the Association’s In-house Trainer conducted this Workshop annually. This year, a request was made of NEMO to conduct the workshop. The NEMO workshop, however, went beyond Hurricane Preparedness and covered Disaster Manager generally.
The workshop of 19 participants across the association’s accommodation and allied membership was facilitated by Ms. Michele Forbes and was well received. Participants generally left ‘on a high’ armed with critical information and guidance on managing disasters. Topics covered included: hurricane, volcanic eruption, earthquakes, etc.
It is anticipated that this NEMO workshop will become an annual feature on the Association’s Training Calendar, and the SVGHTA looks forward to strengthening its relationship with this critically important organization.
The SVGHTA wishes to publicly thank NEMO for its contribution to the SVGHTA and by extension to the SVG Tourism sector.
The case between Adriana King and the Charge of obstructing the Prime Minister has been dismissed.
King was charged that on August 5, 2021 in Kingstown, being a stranger, did obstruct Mr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister and member of the House of Assembly, from going to the House of Assembly contrary to Section 25(a) of the House of Assembly Privileges, Powers, and Immunity Act.
Leader and Founder of the SVG Green Party, Ivan O’Neal passed away at his Home in Harmony Hall earlier today.
Ivan Bertie O’Neal is a Vincentian politician and leader of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Green Party (SVG Green Party). Ivan is also the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Green Party East St. George candidate for 2020 Vincentian general election.
O’Neal served as treasurer of the Unity Labour Party before breaking ranks with the party in 2000 to join the now-defunct People’s Progressive Movement (PPM). He contested the North Central Windward constituency as a PPM candidate during the 28 March 2001 general election and received 30 votes.
O’Neal earned a BSc in accounting and finance from Oxford Brookes University, an MSc in Macro Economics, Policy and Planning from the University of Bradford, and an MBA from the University of Leicester.
In the 2005 general elections, he contested the East Saint George constituency seat representing the SVG Green Party and was defeated, winning only 14 votes. In the 2010 general elections O’Neal ran in Central Kingstown, where he won 12 votes.
THE SVG INDIAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION COMMEMORATION OF INDIAN ARRIVAL DAY 2024
(PRESS RELEASE) “Mr Junior Bacchus, President of the SVG Indian Heritage Foundation, all Executive members, supporters and friends of the Indian communities in SVG and the Diaspora are pleased to present the commemoration of Indian Arrival Day 2024.
Saturday June 1st 2024 will mark the 163rd anniversary of the arrival of 2,474 Indians from India to SVG during the years 1861 to 1880.
For many years the SVGIHF held re-enactments of Indian arrival at Indian Bay, where a boat arrived with persons of Indian descent and friends dressed in Indian wear, were given their certificates of assignment to various estates in the State. An official ceremony followed, with addresses from Dignitaries, breakfast, sharing and a photo session.
IAD 2024:
This year, the SVGIHF will be collaborating with the Calder Neighbourhood Watch Committee to host a National Cultural and Educational Rally in Calder. On the recent visit of the then President of India a road in Calder was named “India Drive.”
The programme will include:
HISTORY OF THE ARRIVAL OF INDIANS IN SVG:
Following the passage of the 1833 Slavery Abolition Act, many formerly enslaved people left their enslavers. This created an economic chaos and shortage of labour for European planters in the Caribbean and Indian Ocean.
East Indians were then brought from India to the Caribbean in large numbers as indentured labourers, and the introduction of the indentureship system in most of the islands ensued.
The Indians were hustled aboard the waiting ships, unprepared for the long and arduous four-month sea journey. Many of these were brought away from their homelands deceptively. Many from inland regions over a thousand kilo meters from seaports, were promised jobs; they were not told the work they were being hired for, or that they would leave their homeland and communities. Poor economic conditions in India led many Indians to look for sources of work elsewhere.
The hard work in hot, humid farms required a regular, docile and low-waged labour force, which led to the creation of the Indian Indentured system. In this system, Indians were taken to British, French and Dutch colonies around the world, including in the Caribbean, and SVG to work on cash crop plantations.
The working conditions for the indentured Indian workers were abysmal, due in large part to the lack of care among the planters. They were confined to their estates and paid a pitiful salary. Any breach of contract brought automatic criminal penalties and imprisonment. They were treated with great and unjust severity.
European planters enforced work in sugarcane and other farms so harshly, that the decaying remains of immigrants were frequently discovered in sugarcane fields. If indentured labourers protested and refused to work, they were not paid or fed by the planters.
An estimated 2.5 million people in the Caribbean are of Indian origin. Many have ethnically blended with migrants from other parts of the world, creating a unique syncretic culture.
HISTORY OF THE SVGIHF:
The Foundation is grateful to the Government of SVG for the passing of an Act of Parliament on March 26th 2007, recognizing June 1st as Indian Arrival Day, and October 7th as Indian Heritage Day. Special thanks to Hon. Rene Baptiste, the then Minister of Culture, who was instrumental in its passing. She continues to be a strong supporter and friend of the Foundation.
The SVG Indian Heritage Foundation was officially launched on July 20th 2006 at the P’Tani Resort Argyle, where the first formal Executive was elected. Some of the members of the original Executive still serve on the present Executive, namely Junior Bacchus, Denzil Bacchus, Anna Baptiste Insanali and Cheryl Rodriguez.
THE WORK OF THE SVGIHF:
The Foundation continues to conduct interviews with Seniors and outstanding Indians in the Diaspora in an effort to document their fascinating stories and pass them on to this and the next generation. The stories assist persons to find their roots and connect with persons with whom they never knew they were related. It is an exciting and worthwhile experience, and we thank all the persons who agreed to share their stories. They are available on the Foundation’s website: svgihf.org and on YouTube.
So far, since 2020, the Foundation featured twenty two (25) outstanding Vincentian Indians in SVG and the Diaspora: Walter Bacchus, Samuel “Sonny” Deane, Eleise Louisa Williams, Patrick Deane, Sadie Bowman, Noel Soleyn, Winston Bacchus, Theresa Jack, Egbert Thomas, Noel Soleyn, Eleise Morgan Rodney, Neta Lewis, Dennis Deane, Avil Bullock, Bertram Lewis, SVG, Teroy Thomas UK, Edward Williams UK, Doctor Gideon Lewis USA, Doctor Rudi Bailey USA, Peter Moore USA, Shawn Bullock Canada, Noel “Noey” Thomas UK, Lenroy Thomas Turkey, Kennard King, SVG, Agnes Amelia Perrera Williams UK.
We will present Berkeley Alexander, Jannis Deane, Anton “Tookie “Bowman and Arnold Deane in the month of June 2024.
We thank Mrs Cheryl Rodriguez, our Treasurer, for initiating and co-ordinating the programmes, and Mr Colvin Harry, our PRO, for conducting these interviews.
The Foundation also honoured a number of persons who have been supporters since its inception: Doctor Gideon Cordice, Randolph Russell, Osley Baptiste, Rene Baptiste, Ambassador K J S Sodhi Suriname, Doctor Junior Bacchus, Aliena Baptiste, Kanhai Kangal TT, Purushottum Singh TT, Anton “Tookie” Bowman, Haniff Sutherland, Pearlie Marks.
Later this year, the Foundation will launch its educational assistance programme to needy children; which will be an exciting time for students across the country.
The SVG Indian Heritage Foundation takes this opportunity to: