St Vincent and the Grenadines will join eight other UN Member States with no voting rights in the General Assembly at its 70th session.
A Member of the United Nations which is in arrears in the payment of its financial contributions to the Organization shall have no vote in the General Assembly if the amount of its arrears equals or exceeds the amount of the contributions due from it for the preceding two full years.
The General Assembly may, nevertheless, permit such a Member to vote if it is satisfied that the failure to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the Member. (Article 19 of the Charter of the United Nations)
Five Member States are currently in arrears in the payment of their dues . However, on 12 October 2015, the General Assembly adopted resolution 70/2 by which it decided that the following Member States shall be permitted to vote in the General Assembly until the end of its 70th session:Comoros,Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe,Somalia and Yemen
As of 22 January 2016, the following nine Member States shall not be permitted to vote in the General Assembly at its 70th session.Bahrain,Burundi,Dominican Republic,Libya,Mali,Marshall Islands,Saint Vincent and Grenadines,Vanuatu and Venezuela.
St Vincent minimum payment necessary to reduce the amount owed on it’s contribution would amount to US 2155.

Written from source news

Original Author Nelson King

President of the Brooklyn-based St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ex-Teachers Association of New York, Jackson Farrell, says he’s deeply troubled by what he characterizes as a “new low” in electioneering in his native land.

“We have taken the elections to a new low,” added Farrell in his prepared statement, taking the unusual step in commenting on the political status quo at home in his association’s official ceremony. “Tensions, divisions, character assassinations and destruction of property seem to be the hallmark of that event.

“What is even more troubling is the fact that the elections are over, but the saga continues.

“What happens to the least among us?” queried Farrell rhetorically. “What happens to nation-building? These seem to be foreign concepts at this time.”

In diverting from his script, Farrell said: “St. Vincent and the Grenadines is bigger than Ralph (Gonsalves, the prime minister), Eustace (Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace), the Red Party (Unity Labor Party), the Green Party, or any other party.”

“Those of us out here (in the Diaspora) really should be setting an example for folks back in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” but it seems to me that, in some ways, we’re worst, because of comments posted on Face Book and whatever. It’s ridiculous.”

In a recent press conference in Kingstown, the Vincentian capital, Gonsalves accused some United States-based nationals of directing terroristic activities against St. Vincent and Grenadines via the social media, primarily Facebook.

In this nexus, he said that he had informed the Barbados-based U.S. Ambassador to the sub-regional Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), which includes St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Jackson also described as “ridiculous” statements made on Face Book by some Vincentian nationals in the US, urging their compatriots to boycott Vincentian-owned businesses that are seemingly or perceptibly not supportive of their political views or stance.

“The message we should be sending is that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is bigger than any political party,” said Farrell, who was considered a militant in the teachers movement before migrating to the U.S.

“The [international] airport project is very important,” he added. “If we believe that will be the alpha and omega (the beginning and the end) of the country, that will not happen.

“If we don’t have the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines working together, we will not have development, because our greatest resources are the people,” Farrell warned.

Written from source information CLNP

Four persons were arrested and charged on January 20th for assembling together outside the precincts of the Electoral Office with intent to carry out a common purpose “disruption of the operation of the Electoral Office”.
According to police, Violet Joslyn-Hannibal, a 52 year old, vendor of Redemption Sharpes; Osborne Jack, a 30 year old, security guard of Level Garden; Sheridon Davis, a 42 year old, unemployed of Arnos Vale; and Susan Duncan, a 49 year old, unemployed of Georgetown, were detained at 12:10pm on Wednesday January 20th after reportedly conducting themselves in a manner as to cause persons in the neighborhood reasonably to fear that they will commit a breach of the peace of Kingstown.
One of the accused, Osborne Jack was also charged for without lawful excuse in a public place having had in his possession an offensive weapon, “an imitation firearm” at Bay Street, in Kingstown on January 20th.

Interested Vincentians and other investors in the diaspora are being urged to explore the possibilities of trading Vincentian produce.
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural transformation- Saboto Caesar has stated that the imminent opening of the Argyle International Airport will provide more trade routes.
The Minister noted that new trade routes to the United States, could effectively stabilize trade and increase the sale price of produce exported from SVG.
He however highlighted that this could only be done with hard work by interested Investors who understand the possibilities available.
The Minister added that The AIA would also make it possible for fish and perishable produce to be exported with better results.

Controversial figure Winston Gaymes according to reports has taken ill.information is that he had a stroke earlier this morning.

No other information is currently available,Gaymes the returning officer for Central Leeward was embroiled in scandals surrounding the outcome of the seat.

He was accused by Opposition Officials along with supporters of the party of not being true to the electoral process.

News784 will bring you more information as it comes to hand.

A stroke is a “brain attack”. It can happen to anyone at any time. It occurs when blood flow to an area of brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain such as memory and muscle control are lost.

How a person is affected by their stroke depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged. For example, someone who had a small stroke may only have minor problems such as temporary weakness of an arm or leg.

People who have larger strokes may be permanently paralyzed on one side of their body or lose their ability to speak. Some people recover completely from strokes, but more than 2/3 of survivors will have some type of disability.

Beekeepers across St. Vincent and the Grenadines are being urged to safeguard their Bee Farms when the Ministry of Health conducts its fogging exercises to fight against the Ades Aegypti Mosquito and the Zika viral illness.

Senior Environmental Health Officer- Danville Toney said with the increasing threat of the Zika Virus across the Caribbean, the Ministry of Health here is beefing up its surveillance to guard against the Virus.

The Zika Virus is a viral illness that is transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes Aegypti mosquito. The most common symptoms of Zika are Fever, Rash, Joint pain, or Conjunctivitis.

Mr. Toney said it has been reported in the past that the fogging exercise affects Bees and he is appealing to Bee Farmers to safeguard their farms

He however highlighted that the fogging exercises are important to eradicate the Ades Aegypti Mosquito which spreads the Zika Virus and other illnesses.

This country’s sole electricity company has allocated $18 million dollars to the rehabilitation of its hydro plants.

At a media conference,held at the company’s headquarters in Kingstown, Chief Executive Officer, Thornley Mayers said that the rehabilitation and reconstruction work has been ongoing over the last few years.

Mayers said that while some of the work was scheduled, some had to be carried out because of natural disasters like Hurricane Tomas and the flooding of 2013.

The CEO made mention of the fact that all the rehabilitation work is internally funded. He said that over the years the company has saved money from its operations and this is significant, because it meant there was no need for borrowing from financial institutions.

Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment, Luke Browne has said these are exciting times in the delivery of health care in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

He made this statement during today’s signing of an agreement for the purchase of medical equipment, to be used at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, under the Japan Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project

The equipment to be bought under the agreement includes 3 Bronchoscopes, 1 Fume Hood, Blood Bank Equipment and Urology Equipment. They are valued at ninety thousand U.S dollars, seven hundred and ninety two dollars and thirty one cents.

Minister Browne said the purchase of these equipment represents another significant step in the enhancement and modernization of the health sector to compliment ongoing work in this area.

Meanwhile Masatoshi Sato the Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of Japan, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago said his country continues to seek ways in which to deepen its bilateral relations with St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

He said the area of Health is one of which they continue to place significant emphasis in these relations and he outlined how the latest assistance will be used.

Local Health Officials have appealed to people in St Vincent and the Grenadines to work collaboratively with the Ministry of Health in its increased surveillance regarding the spread of the Aedes Egypti which is linked to the Zika virus.

Senior Environmental Healh Officer, Danvile Toney, told national media, that the Aedes Egypti mosquito, lives in an around homes; hence everyone must step in to help get rid of breeding sites for the mosquito.

He said the Health Ministry has increased surveillance at ports of entry as well as inspection of streams and rivers; but he has urged residents not to allow water to stagnate in and around their homes thus providing ideal breeding conditions for the virus.

St Vincent and the Grenadines does not have any reported cases of the Zika virus though it is reported to be present in some neighbouring territories.

The Primary Schools Performing Arts Festival (PRISPAF) 2016 will be launched at a media conference on Tuesday 19th January, 2016, at the
Kingstown Library Conference Room, commencing 1:00 Pm.

Remarks are expected from representatives of the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture, Ministry of Education, National Reconciliation and Ecclesiastical Affairs along with the Sponsor of the festival, East Caribbean Bottlers Inc.

A top United States general has expressed deep concern that a small number of motivated Islamic State fighters could commit acts of terror in Caribbean nations.

Gen. John Kelly, commander of the Miami-based U.S. Southern Command, or SouthCOM, told reporters Friday at the Pentagon that about 150 Islamic extremists left the Caribbean region to join Islamic State fighters in the Middle East last year, about 50 more than in the previous year.

However, he said, the biggest threat might not be the extremists who leave to train and fight with the Islamic State, but the ones who stay behind, according to the Voice of America (VOA).

Kelly, who oversees U.S. security in Latin America the Caribbean, said Islamic extremist groups seem to have a new message for would-be jihadists.

“And that [message] is, ‘Rather than coming here to Syria, why don’t you just stay at home and do San Bernardino or do Boston or do Fort Hood?’” he said, alluding to attacks in the U.S. perpetrated by Muslims sympathetic to extremist groups.

As recently as Thursday, a gunman claiming allegiance to the Islamic State ambushed a police officer as he sat in his car in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, VOA said.

The U.S. general said these would-be attackers largely come from former British colonies within the Caribbean and along its borders, and at least a few have been killed fighting for the Islamic State group, according to US News and World Report.

He estimated that about 150 radicals have attempted to join the Islamic State group as of this year, up from his estimate last year of roughly 100.