26 April 2008
- Cuba: Recently got back from an enjoyable visit to Cuba (see my portfolio of photos which includes the Cuba images by clicking here Sample photos
Crime continues to escalate all over the Caribbean and St.Vincent is no exception. Again, I stress that the main mandate of this site is to provide news only on an exceptional basis as I get from friends.
BODY IN GRAVE IDENTIFIED
The body found in a shallow grave in Belair earlier this week has been identified as that of Lorna Small, a former Librarian at the Public Library. Small was a resident of Queen’s Drive. Police are carrying out investigations into Small’s death and a post mortem is to be conducted to determine the cause of death. Tony, I add this in for you - Small (nee Allen) is the sister of Oscar Allen, Errol Allen, Aunt to Andrew Cummings etc.
The source of this info is the Searchlight newspaper in St.Vincent. Those of us who have had our heads buried in the proverbial sand with regard to the crime situation here had it rudely yanked out on Wednesday evening.
Many of us have managed to maintain a measure of comfort amidst the spate of killings which has overtaken the country in the last couple years, thinking they were not random, but either drug or gang-related or crimes of passion.
We, those who walk the straight and narrow, the law-abiding citizens, were therefore safe. We consoled ourselves in the knowledge that it was those ‘gangsters’ and drug dealers alone who were involved. Perhaps if we are honest, we would even admit that the thought has crossed our minds that “they” would one day wipe out each other and leave us peaceful folk alone.
But when a retired public servant, a pillar of the society, a woman in her seventies who has given yeoman service in the development of this country, is found in a shallow grave, we have to ask: What is happening in this country? Is no one safe?
But, then, will this latest killing be just a nine-day talk? How conveniently soon we forgot about Stacey Wilson, who was so brutally and publicly beheaded at the bus terminal. What about the two Shallow sisters who were shot by their father in Sandy Bay? Weren’t they, too, innocent? It is almost as if as a society we have become desensitized and detached. What about Lokeisha Nanton, whose name is now forever etched in our collective memory, and Bertie Browne, who was also savagely beheaded in the Marriaqua Valley? Life indeed must go on and we have always been persuaded not to dwell “in the past”, but two points of view have become too glaring to ignore.
The first and most obvious is that the increase in crime, irrespective of what any “official” statistics may say, is matched now only by a growing depravity and disregard for human life. The second is that the average citizen cannot and does not feel safe on the streets or in his home anymore.
With these issues in mind, it appears that the average citizen finds safety in forgetting. There is a glaring lack of public discourse on how to combat this scourge, a lack of meaningful discussion on how to move forward with a plan to take back our streets and neighbourhoods. Instead, we are fed a daily diet of salacious tit-bits and a virtual torrent of abuse and counter-abuse on our radio call-in shows.
The point is that if we train ourselves to no longer feel outraged about crime, to no longer assess ourselves as a ‘law abiding nation’, if we choose not to acknowledge the problem for what it is, we risk the implosion of our society. The criminals will win because we have chosen to forget.
It’s time to take our heads permanently out of the sands.
NO ARREST IN FIU RAIDS
No arrests were made following yesterday’s raids on two business places by the police. Armed police officers swooped down on the businesses of P.H Veira and the St Vincent and the Grenadines Sales and Services offices. Senior manager at P. H Veira, Brian Alexander and manager at the St Vincent Sales and Services, Barry Shotte were questioned by members of the Financial Intelligence Unit, the FIU.
The FIU is the government arm with the responsibility of investigating money laundering and terrorist financing, under the Proceeds of crime and money laundering act.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT SHOULD RESIGN...
Lawyer Anthony Astaphan says the membership of the Chamber of Commerce should demand the resignation of its president, Jerry George.
George is reported to have posted on his website an interview between Margaret Parsons and Junior Bacchus, which is now the source of a legal battle between Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves and Nice Radio, which re-broadcast the interview.
Astaphan says George acted irresponsibly by posting the interview on his website without first getting a correct legal opinion.
Following a letter from Dr Gonsalves’ lawyer, Grahame Bollers, to the manager of Nice Radio seeking an apology and $500,000.00, the interview was removed from the website.
24 Feb 2008
New book entitled “Home Sweet Home: Musings on Hairoun” is edited by Dr. Kenneth John, Dr. Baldwin King and Cheryl L. A. King and was published in December 2007 by KINGS-SVG Publishers.
This volume is the third and last in a trilogy on the republication of essays and commentaries that appeared in “Flambeau” magazine between 1965 and 1968 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The first volume entitled “Search for Identity” was launched in July 2006 and focused on St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The second volume “Quest for Caribbean Unity: Beyond Colonialism” focused on the wider Caribbean as well as on philosophical and religious topics, among others and was launched in March 2007.
This volume contains the poems and short stories from Flambeau.The authors are mostly Vincentian-born but there are a couple of invited contributors from other Caribbean countries. The editors believe that these poems and short stories are still so compelling that republication is appropriate. For example, Tim Daisy’s poem “Home Sweet Home”
which provides the title for this volume, tells of his yearning for our blessed land, Hairoun, to renew itself. Fitz Dowers’ short story “The See-er Man” would still make you reel with laughter. There are also contributions by world famous Vincentian poet/musician, Ellsworth “Shake” Keane and poet/lawyer Danny Williams. Included in this volume are also some essays by Joyce Peters-McKenzie, as a tribute to her. She was a member of the Flambeau group and this volume is dedicated to her memory.
Storm Halbich (left) a Grade 5 pupil, presents an autographed copy of his book “My Homeland” to Bianca Porter, President of the SVG Hotel Association.
Staff Reporter 08.FEB.08
With what was a gala reception held last Saturday, February 2, Kim Halbich celebrated the opening of the Paradise Beach Hotel and the launch of her nine-year-old son’s book.
For the last two years, Storm Halbich, a grade five pupil, worked along with his mother to bring his book “My Homeland” to fruition.
The book was designed to be a simple, children friendly book that will teach readers about the natural beauty of St Vincent and the Grenadines, and according to Canadian Psychologist Dr Shelia Pennington, he (Storm) captured the essence of St Vincent and the Grenadines, in what is a shining portrayal.
Halbich said that the book will be an important tool in getting children to appreciate the environment and the need to protect it.
She gave honour to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, which paid for enough copies to be printed, so that each primary school could be given one.
Meanwhile the Executive Director of the St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Hotel Association Dawn Smith applauded Kim Halbich and her family for upgrading Paradise Beach Hotel (previously Paradise Inn).
Smith told SEARCHLIGHT she was impressed with the facility and was particularly pleased that the addition of a small conference room was part of the upgrading.
She noted that Halbich’s decision to get into the hotel industry is a brave one seeing that it could be a very challenging business.
For her part Halbich said that it wasn’t easy and required alot of hard work. (KJ)
My apologies for the sparse updates - this has been for health and other reasons.
Just as a reminder,
There are three major sectors to this website:
1.Oldies - information and photos in the past that are of some historical value to the folks who visit the site. In this area, I have run out of updates and in particular photos. If you would like this to be updated, I would need you to submit old images with as much info on those images and this should be sent by e-mail. Posting material to me (been done a couple of times) is risky and costly for the sender and for me to return the images. In my vision for the site I would really like this to be the major theme - somewhat like a "St.Vincent Museum on the Internet".
2. Obituaries - unfortunately I get fairly regular updates and this area has taken on a life of its own - a little too active for my liking.
3. Guest Book allows people to leave messages and information on how they can be contacted - a great way of reconnecting with old friends. Of course, you the viewers are in control of these updates and once in a while, I will clean up duplicate entries.
I do have some photos which are relatively 'current' but I would like to keep this to a minimum.
Even though I try to submit the odd items of news from and about St.Vincent, this is a difficult task living here in Canada and I don't want and I am unable, to compete with the current newspapers in St.Vincent. I do have various links on this page that allow you to get news about St.Vincent. When there are major events (earthquakes, Hurricanes) , I ocassionally get e-mails with info that I may post for the sake of expediency. I also try and support the dissemination of information from some Associations in North America about their programs when it is made available to me.
This is our site where I have spent hundreds of dollars of my own money and of course, there is no revenue coming in from advertisements etc. The time to keep it current is the hardest task over a 5 year period. Anyone out there that would like to partner with me to update it on a 'regular' basis' can send me an e-maill by hitting the 'e-mail me' button on the top left of this screen. You would need to have some very basic web skills.
Oct 17 2007
My extend sympathies to the Gunn and Noel families on the recent passing of Anthony Gunn (47) and Chris Noel (43) - both from cancer.
Please click on Oldies Update oct 17th 2007 globe for more information.
Oct 5 2007
While in Toronto on Sunday,8/5/2007, I heard that Julian Alexander fondly known to us as "BobWhite" had just passed away in Brooklyn, NY. He was so talented musically and we will miss him and his musical contributions. We extend sympathy to his siblings the Hon.Speaker Hendrick and Quita, and the other members of the Alexander family. May he rest in peace.
Thanks, Colville.
Old time sayings:
Man who eat many prunes get good run for money.
Man who drive like hell, bound to get there.
Man who fight with wife all day get no piece at night.
Joke:
A little old man shuffled slowly into an ice cream parlor and pulled himself slowly, painfully, up onto a stool. After catching his breath, he ordered a banana split.
The waitress asked kindly, "Crushed nuts?"
"No," he replied, "Arthritis."
Joke:
A man walked into a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Trinidad and
passed out" on the floor. People gathered around to help him by
fanning and doing everything they could to help him regain consciousness.
Someone peeled an orange and started squeezing the juice into his
mouth, whereupon the man suddenly came back to life, spit out the orange juice,
pushed the person away and yelled," If ah did want orange, ah would fall down in de
market."
8 Feb 2007
Notice to All St. Vincent and the Grenadines Nationals
SVG Honorary Consul in the Toronto Consulate General's office, Mrs. Jose Bonadie has requested
that we advise St. Vincent and the Grenadines nationals that as of August 1, 2007, only the new
Machine-Readable Passports issued by the Govenment of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
will be accepted as official travel document for our country.
The last day for using the old type of passports that are not machine- readale is July 31, 2007.
Please take the necessary actions to obtain your new St. Vincent and the Grenadines Passport.
The following rates apply for obtaining your new passport:
When applying in Canada - Cdn$102.00
When applying in the United States of America - US$105.00
When applying in the United Kingdom - 40 Pounds (Sterling)
When applying in St. Vincent and the Grenadines - EC$85.00
Please be guided accordingly and share the information with others.
2nd Jan 2007 : Spice your life up in 2007: Click here
3rd April: The government of St. Vincent now has a functioning web site.
Nov 2003
e-mail from Kerwyn Morris re page 115 on the web (Jesuit Massacre)
Hi Tony;
I am truly glad to see the abovementioned document making the site.
Several years ago as we approached Statehood I worked on publicising
this very document which was then known to only a few Vincies.
With the help of Frank Rojas and Johnny Alves I was able to convince
Mr. Joshua to commission the Govt. Printery to do the job.
One hundred copies were made and were given to Mrs Lorna Small of the Public Library.
What happened after that I do not know but I still have my tattered copy.
It was Alphie Roberts who first drew my attention to the document.
Kerwyn.
I offer my sincere sympathies to the family and friends of the following:
Theodora Stephens 14 April 2008 (STV
Mary "Bell" John 28 Mar 2008 (TOR
James Albert Steele (86) 20 Mar 2008 (NY Michael Veira (82) 20 Mar 2008 (TOR Dr Carlos Mulraine 20 Mar 2008 (Barbu
Winfield Williams 08 Mar 2008 (STV
Mrs Leila H Walker 27 Feb 2008 (NY
Dr. Gideon Cordice 21Jan 2008 (STV
Luenda Williams (88) 13 Jan 2008 (WINP
Cora Shillingford 27 Dec 2007 (StV
George (GT) Browne (73) ?? Nov 2007 (STV
June (Burnett) Thompson (55) 18 Sept 2007 (TOR
Conrad (Con) De Freitas 11 Sep 2007
Dorcas Labbay (102) 27 August 2007
Ulric Fareira 05 Aug 2007(NY
James Best 30 July 2007
Vibert DeShong 27 July 2007 (STV
Ken DeFreitas 24 July 2007 (STV
Tyrone Crichton 18 July 2007 (Tor
Louis Pierre 11 July 2007 (NJ
Ruby Phyllis Pemberton(95) 07 July 2007 (STV
Wilmoth Spence 03 July 2007 (STV
Clyde Sharpe 11 June 2007 (NY
Muriel Elizabeth Beache 08 Jun 2007 (StV
John Commissiong 07 Jun 2007 (TRI
Violet Daisley (97) 00 Jun 2007 (NY
Owen "Sap" Coombs 30 Apr 2007 (NY
Sheila Kirby 26 Mar 2007 (STV
Millicent Stewart Mar 2007 (Beq
Ira M Young 18 Mar 2007 (STV
Theophilus Jackson 15 Mar 2007 (STV
Sydney Gun-Munro(90) 01 Mar 2007 (Beq Bernard Marshall 17 Feb 2007 (JCA
Ardon Job 26 Feb 2007 (Ont
Walter G deFreitas 23 Feb 2007 (TRI
Simeon "Spita" Antrobus 15 Feb 2007
Hudson Soso 12 Feb 2007 (STV
Mary Caroline Layne (77) 01 Feb 2007 (STV
Julian Evans Feb 2007 (JCA
Winston Baptiste 30 Jan 2007 (STV
Retha Williams (85) 26 Jan 2007 (TOR
Vivienne Mandeville -- Jan 2007 (FL
Norma John Forde 23 Jan 2007 (STV
Lucien Saluche Small 14 Jan 2007 (STV
Wendell (Munchoo) Ash 13 Jan 2007
Mary Neverson Morris 12 Jan 2007 (NY
Alma Mayers 10 Jan 2007 (NY
Alfred (Vites) Herbert 06 Jan 2007 (UK
Grace Young 29 Dec 2006 (NY
Clemmie Viera-Evans 28 Dec 2006 (NY
Shirley Gibbs (68) 27 Dec 2006 (Mtl
Emmerson DaCosta 19 Dec 2006 (TX
Stacy Wilson 11 Dec 2006 (STV
Harold (Toney) Cockburn(73) 11 Dec 2006 (Ont
G Cornelius Quammie 10 Dec 2006 (Ont
Frederick John 28 Nov 2006 (NY
Enid (Phillips) Gibbs(74) 30 Oct 2006 (Mtl
Gwendolyn Richards(79) 30 Oct 2006 (Tor
Sylvia King 27 Oct 2006 (STV
Winston Carlisle Quammie Oct 2006 (NY
Jose Benjamin 23 Sep 2006(Ant
Cyril Johnson Sep 2006 (Tor
Noel Agard 11 Sep 2006 (Hamil
Sandra Greg (Guy) 6 Sep 2006 (NY
Col Sydney Anderson 29 Aug 2006 (STV
Monca Dalzine 27 Aug 2006 (TOR
Rosecleer Jack Aug 2006 (NY
Monica Dalzine 27 Aug 2006 (Tor
Carmelita W Adams 25 Aug 2006 (ATL
T.V. Keane 19 aug 2006 (STV
Val Haynes 05 Aug 2006 (TASM
Colbert Martindale 26 Jul 2006 (Tor
Roston Dougan(31) 13 Jun 2006 (STV
Verdine Cato Gurley 12 Jun 2006 (STV
Helen Punnett 15 May 2006 (Tor
Cecil Ellis 12 May 2006 (Bze
Elaine (Steele) Chapman 10 May 2006(NY
Hensley Weekes __ Apr 2006
Carl Charles __ Apr 2006 (NY
Owen Campbell 06 Apr 2006 (Tor
Sybil Nichols Ferdinand 06 Apr 2006 (STV
Theo Saunders 21 Mar 2006 (STV
Cecil Porter 20 Mar 2006 (STV
Brian Huggins 19 Mar 2006 (STV
Edison Paul (Paulo) 18 Mar 2006 (STV
Vilna Cox 08 Mar 2006 (Bdos
Glen Jackson 06 Mar 2006 (STV
Grace Mapp 11 Feb 2006 (NY
Joan Robertson Clarke 28 Dec 2005 (Tor
Marie Gillezeau Rojas(75) 22 Dec 2005 (VRG
Grace Allen 10 Dec 2005 (STV
Olga Stephens 09 Dec 2005 (STV
Osmond Ornon Venner 06 Dec 2005 (TOR
Lawrence "Babbs" Jones 26 Nov 2005 (NY)
Ruth Peters 17 Nov 2005
St.Aubyn Cato 16 Nov 2005 (STV
Lyndon Rose (31) 14 Nov 2005 (STV)
Marie Veira Cumberbatch 08 Nov 2005 (TOR)
Sarah (Phills) Stephens 22 Oct 2005
