At The Pumps This Weekend Maximum Price ULG per gal 23/11...

Year 54 NO. 47 FRIDAY, APRIL 20TH, 2012 EC$2.00

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BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, W.I.

COMMENTARY BY* THE THINKING CITIZEN* VIEW POINT* REV.CANON PERCIVAL* EARL CLARKE* SOTTO VOCE

PAGE 05

PAGE 12

PM Douglas: The role of the magistrateis key to ongoing efforts to preserve andenhance humane, just and democraticsocieties



BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS(CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’

with Social Services” and “TheMagistrate as FamilyPsychologist.”

“These sessions underscorethe seriousness with which thisconference takes social andpsychological implications of theonerous responsibilities that theregion’s magistrates haveassumed, in an attempt to helpbuild a more stable, more just, andmore productive society,” thePrime Minister told the legalfraternity.

He noted that the impact of the

(Left to right) - Her Ladyship Justice Louise Blenman; His Excellency the Governor General Dr. SirCuthbert Sebastian; Justice of Appeal Her Ladyship Justice Janice Pereira and St. Kitts and Nevis’Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and participants in a photo session.

The St. Kitts – Nevis PrimeMinister, the Rt Hon. Dr. DenzilDouglas was invited to deliver thewelcome remarks by Chief Justiceof the Eastern Caribbean SupremeCourt, His Lordship Sir Hugh

Rawlins. In his remarks Dr. Douglas

singled out the sessions on “AFamily Court Approach: Working (cont’d on page 9)

Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr.Denzil L. Douglas has underscoredthe seriousness of a three-dayMagistrates Conference whichopened here in Basseterre onWednesday (April 25th).

Taiwan Partners WithGovernment To ShedNew Light OnRenewable Energy

Basseterre, St. Kitts (SKNIS): The Government’s efforts at promotingrenewable energy in the Federation on Tuesday of this week (April24th) received a boost in a brief handing over ceremony held at theEmbassy of the Republic of China.

Minister of Public Utilities Dr. Hon. Earl Asim Martin was on handto receive a cheque to fund a pilot project that would see the installation

(cont’d on page 4)

PM Douglas seeks debt forgivenesson loan from US Government forDr. KennedySimmondsHighway

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS,APRIL 26TH 2012 (CUOPM) – St.Kitts and Nevis has begun

discussions withofficials in the UnitedStates TreasuryDepartment pertainingto the remaining US$2million debt for theconstruction of the Dr.Kennedy Simmonds


The Labour Spokesman FRIDAY, APRIL 27TH 20122 - OPINION / LOCAL NEWS -

THE SPOKESMAN - ESTABLISHED MAY 1957

Published by: The St. Kitts-Nevis Trades & Labour Union

Masses House, Church StreetP.O Box 239 . Basseterre . St. Kitts . West Indies

Ag. Managing Editor: Dawud Byron

Tel: (1 869) 465-2229 <> Fa: (1 869) 466-9866Email: [email protected]

Website: www.labourspokesman.com

Editorial

East Basseterre NoticeThe EAST Basseterre Labour Branch will hold

A General Meeting of the Branchon Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012 at the Constituency Office

on Stainforth Street, New Town, starting at 8:00p.m.In attendance will be the Parliamentarian for

EAST Basseterre, Dr. the Hon. Earl Asim Martin.All constituents of EAST Basseterre are invited

to attend and be punctual.

A word to the wiseshould be sufficient

Under our constitution we have what is known as the right of freespeech, otherwise called freedom of expression. This is one of the manyrights for which peoples of all nations have fought long and hard, andfor which many have made the supreme sacrifice. Indeed, two worldwars have been fought for this very right, during the course of whichmillions of lives were lost and an unquantifiable amount of blood wasshed.

This right must therefore be considered as sacred. Most certainly itis one that is very dear to all persons. It is not to be trifled with, and hasto be safeguarded at all times.

However, along with rights go what are known as responsibilities,for the very simple reason that people have different interpretations ofall matters and individuals cannot be allowed to ever believe that theirunderstanding of their rights allows them to trespass on the rights ofothers.

As we go about our daily activities we have the right to swing ourarms ‘freely’, but if that meant that we could ‘freely’ swing them into thefaces and bodies of others what type of society would we have?

It is for such reasons that we have laws, rules and regulations. Andthese extend to the exercise of free speech. We simply cannot go aboutdefaming, slandering and libelling people as we like. Were that the casethe question must again be asked: what type of society would we have?

For some weeks now this paper has been calling our citizens’ attentionto the highly irresponsible calls for and incitement to violence loudlyand brazenly shouted from the platform of The Peoples Action Movement(PAM), repeated time after time, and by several of its well knownsupporters and activists calling in to radio talk shows, day after dayafter day. We have asked you to observe, record and remain vigilant.

We wish to bring to your attention another dimension of all of this.Given the nature of the Prime Minister’s office and of the manifold

responsibilities which it carries there are those who will argue that it isevery citizen’s right to criticize him if they find it necessary to do so. Weagree. But we feel ourselves compelled to ask the question: does thisinclude fabrications and unfounded, unsubstantiated statements?

For months on end callers and writers of e-mails to the daily talkshow of a certain radio station have openly indulged in attacking thePrime Minister of this country by making utterances which are clearlydesigned to malign and place him in the worst possible light in the eyesof the people of this country, the region and the world.

What we have also observed is that the callers and writers of e-mailsare always the same persons. Their attacks are always lined up in thesame manner, and the ‘criticisms’ always follow a certain pattern. Theyare known supporters and activists of PAM. This simply cannot be anyco-incidence.

In a previous editorial we also pointed out the practice of a certainhost of the show to allow callers to say what ever they wish, no matterhow outlandish and illegal, and then, under the guise of being‘democratic’ and having respect for ‘freedom of speech’, to state thatthe station does not necessarily agree with the callers statements butthat as a free country the callers cannot be stopped from saying whatthey wanted. Of course, in each case, the damage had already beendone.

The caller is wrong about that which he says, and perhaps the timehas come to make the station act responsibly about all of this by takinglegal action against the station whenever it steps out of line and breaksthe law relating to slander and defamation of one’s character.

We are of the view that the whole show isdesigned to advance the nefarious politicalagenda of PAM and the Rescue Crew who, unableto objectively criticize Labour and its programmesfor the development of this country, are resortingto that which they do best, misrepresenting whatthey cannot afford to speak truthfully about. Inother words they are being themselves. Putanother way, they are running true to form.

It is also to be noted that the duration of thatparticular show has now been lengthened by 30minutes (a half of an hour).

There is also the case of the station allowing acertain individual, night after night, to spend end-

less hours doing nothing more than attacking Dr Douglasin a most personal and vicious manner, again by makingstatements that are without fact or foundation, but whichare clearly designed to defame the Prime Minister. Muchof it is also for personal reasons.

The owners of the station need to understand that,just as it is with other media (the print media), they cannotexpect to sit back and allow these acts of defamation andslander to be carried on endlessly. They are accountableand, if they do not shoulder their responsibilities, theywill have to be called to account.

We also feel that the Prime Minister would be wellwithin his rights to seek legal redress.

A word to the wise should be sufficient.

PM Douglas says that he has accepted thenomination of his Labour Party Branch tocontinue as National Political Leader

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS(CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr.Denzil L. Douglas disclosedWednesday that he has acceptedthe nomination of his St.Christopher 6 Labour Party Branchto continue to served as NationalPolitical Leader of the governingSt. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party(SKNLP).

“Of course, I will run for theleadership of the Party at theupcoming (80th Annual)Conference in May,” said PrimeMinister Douglas responding to aquestion from WINNFM’s CliveBacchus at his monthly PressConference.

“My Party goes intoConference on the third Sundayof May. At the moment membersof my constituency (St.Christopher 6 Labour Branch)have nominated me again to be theleader of this great Party,” said Dr.Douglas, adding: “In theConference and unless otherwiseI am told, I shall be standing forthe leadership of the Party.”

“In standing for the leadershipof the Party, of course it is part ofthe preparation for the nextelection. As to whether I would bethere, it’s only the people of myParty can tell. I await theirjudgement,” said Prime MinisterDouglas, the second longestserving National Political Leaderof the 80-year-old St. Kitts-NevisLabour Party.

Elected as the ParliamentaryRepreseentative for St.Christopher 6 in March 1989, Dr.

Douglas was elected in May thatsame as year as National PoliticalLeader of the St. Kitts-Nevis

Photo: St. Kitts and Nevis’Prime Minister the Hon. Dr.Denzil L. Douglas atWednesday’s Press Conference(Photo by Erasmus Williams)

Labour Party following theretirement from active politics ofSir Lee Llewellyn Moore.

Dr. Douglas rejuvenated theLabour Party and took it asweeping victory over thegoverning People’s ActionMovement (PAM) of then PrimeMinister the Right Hon. SirKennedy A. Simmonds in July1995.

A six-term parliamentarian whohas been re-elected unopposed asLabour Party Political Leader atevery annual conference since1989, Prime Minister Douglas hasled the St. Kitts-Nevis LabourParty to victory in fourconsecutive General Elections –1995, 2000, 2004 and 2010.

Dr. Douglas, who wasappointed as one of Her Majesty’sPrivy Councilors last year, is thelongest serving Head ofGovernment in the Caribbean.

Machel Montano to headlineopening night of this year’s‘Sweet 16 Music FestivalBy Charles Miller Jr

Earlier this week, anotherannouncement regardingperforming artistes for this year’sannual Music Festival were made.International Soca artiste, MachelMontano of Trinidad will beperforming on the opening nightof the highly anticipated festival,Thursday, June 28th.

It announced via Facebookthat the international Soca artisteMontano and Team HD will bejoining the line-up of the Festival,which is dubbed “Sweet 16”,celebrating its consecutive 16 yearrun.

Machel, who has recently won


The Labour Spokesman FRIDAY, APRIL 27TH 2012 3- NEWS -

SKELEC: Island WideBlack Out Scheduled

For SundayBasseterre, St. Kitts — The St. Kitts Electricity Company Limited

(SKELEC) has scheduled an island wide black out in order conductinspection of its distribution system.

SKELEC’s Public Relations Officer Gawain Fraites said, “the islandwide black out is scheduled for Sunday, April 29th, commencing at4:00am and ending at 2:00pm. Our distribution system is connected tobus bars and these will be inspected and if repairs are necessary, theywill be carried out. This exercise will assist us to provide even morereliable service to our customers.”

Fraites further stated, “it is important for us to share this informationwith our customers in advance, especially our stakeholder partners:the Police, Hotels, Restaurants, and Ports Authority so that they canbetter prepare for the ten-hour black out. We at SKELEC appreciatethat our customers operating in these major industries will need timeto make the necessary arrangements for smooth operation of theirstandby systems including making arrangements for sufficient fuel tooperate them for the ten-hour period.”

The St. Kitts Electricity Company Limited regrets anyinconvenience, which these interruptions in electricity supply maycause. It is important for all consumers to note that not-withstandingthis notice supply may be restored at any time without prior warning.

Black San’s Bang aLang concludes withLast Lap and ParadeBy Drizel Hanley

It was an explosion of color,music, revelry, and creativity as thecurtains came down in grand stylewith pulsating rhythms from theKollision and Lightz Out bands atthe Black San’ Bang a Lang LastLap and Parade on Saturday, April,21.

The streets saw the Deep WestPhunn Makers ‘Hypnotica BlueCoral’; the Banker & Bucksey’s‘Estates of Sandy Point’ & ‘EasterBunnies’ (kids) and the YoungMass Revelers ‘Broadway’ troupesparading through the streets ofSandy Point.

Several folklore groupsincluding the Bull, Masquerades,Mummies, Mocko-Jumbies andClowns were parading the streetsof Sandy Point.

After a hours of impressivefolklore troupes, spectacularcostumes and pulsating music therevelers made their way to the GSpot Night Club in Sandy Point for

the Black San’s wind down-Lastlap Fete.

The fete saw a number of localartistes and Deejays includingChester B, DC of Lock off Records,Mainy, Hot Rod, MixclusiveSounds, DJ Six-a-Clack and DJWoodis, Ecstasy Sounds out ofNevis, DJ Shaggy and theKollision Band.

“On behalf of the entire SandyPoint community, S.P.I.R.I.Textends sincere thanks to our 2012BLACK SAN’ Sponsors, partners,donors, participants and patrons,”said Che-Raina Warner, PublicRelations Officer for S.P.I.R.I.T.

“No duty is more urgent thanthat of returning thanks. Gratitudeis when memory is stored in theheart and not in the mind, wethank you for your continuedsupport and also take thisopportunity to re-invite everyoneto Black San’ Bang a Lang 2013,”she added.

Ministry of Culture mourns deathsof cultural icons

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS(CUOPM) – The Ministry ofCulture and the Department ofCulture are mourning the loss oftwo of the Federation’s culturalicons.

Culture Minister, the Hon.Marcella Liburd joins calypso fansin St. Kitts and Nevis mourning theloss of two popular calypsoniansand expresses condolences to the

family of the late Andrea “SingingAngie” Walters and Alfred “Kingof the 29 Fellows” Doyling.

“Singing Angie, one of thelong standing female calypsonianshas the distinction of being thefirst female to win the ‘Best of theRest Calypso Competition’ and theGreen Valley Calypso KingCompetition. A regular participantin the Legends Tent, she providedback up vocal accompaniment tomany other calypsonians,” theMinistry said in a news releaseWednesday.

A late comer to the Calypsoarena, “King of the 29 Fellows”while in his 70’s was able to winover the hearts of calypso fansthrough his unique style of

presentation, on stageperformance and musical lyricswhich always told a story abouthis life and love of women.

“King of the 29 Fellows waswell respected by his youngercalypso compatriots and at theheight of his career earned thereputation of always being the starof the calypso tent,” the Ministrysaid.

The mother of three “SingingAngie” hails from the communityof Lodge Village, St. Kitts. Shepassed away on Wednesday ofthis week, April 23rd, at the age of41.

King of the 29 Fellows hailsfrom the community of Conareeand is the father and grandfatherof several children. He died onTuesday of this week at the age of95 years. He last appeared onstage during the staging of the2010/2011 calypso finals at WarnerPark when he was recognized andreceived an award doe hislegendary and outstandingcontributions to the calypso artform.

The Labour Spokesman joinsin extending its sincerecondolences to the bereavedfamily members of these calypsoicons.

both segments – Groovy andPower – of this year’s InternationalSoca Monarch competition as wellas Road March in his hometownof Trinidad and Tobago duringtheir Carnival season earlier thisyear is expected to give theaudience a high energy show, onewhich he is known and respected

Octane, Dancehall artiste Popcaan,Soca band Krosfyhah, English Jazzmusician Chris Pine, and R&Bartiste Omarion and the iconicRoberta Flack. The 3 – day musicalextravaganza ends on Saturday,June 30th, 2012.

for across the globe.The Music Festival Facebook

page on Wednesday night (April25th), held a casting call for allfemale models at local night spotCloud9 located in Port Zante fortheir “Fantastic Four” girls.

The model search whichstarted around 7:00 pm saw manyrecognizable faces auditioning fora position in the Music Festivalproject.

The line – up of internationalartiste for this year’s festivalincludes Morgan Heritage, I-

MachelMontano......(cont’d from last page)

The Labour Spokesman FRIDAY, APRIL 27TH 20124 - NEWS -

TRADE UNION NEWSBy: Batumba Tak - General Secretary

of 100 LED Smart Lights along the Kim Collins Highway and a portion ofthe Frigate Bay Road.

In giving brief remarks, Head of Taiwanese Mission in St. Kitts andNevis His Excellency Ambassador Miguel Tsao said as no country canstay away from the tide of the world’s development, Taiwan is happy toshare the competitive edge in the development of renewable energy.

“According to preliminary studies from specialists in renewableenergy” said Ambassador Tsao, “this kind of light can produce 70%savings of energy and last quite a long time. All the street lights arecomputerized and each light can be intensified according to the need ofthe respective area and time.”

The Ambassador also added that although relatively small, there isgreat benefit to be derived from this pilot project as it is a stepping stoneto protecting the environment and leaving a better Federation for ourchildren. The move supports Government’s energy policy of achieving60% energy generation from green energy sources.

Minister Asim Martin, in accepting the cheque, expressed his thanksto the Ambassador and people of the Republic of China for theirunderstanding in working with the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis toimplement the Government’s overall policy on renewable energy.

“We expect that this project will start very shortly, the completiondate we expect to be some time in maybe mid to the end of August” saidMinister Martin, “so we are looking at between May and August havingthe Kim Collins highway right up to the Sugars building being lit withLED street lights.”

Minister Martin also said that he has been assured that once thispilot project is successful, similar projects will be implemented in otherareas around the country.

Taiwan Partners With..(cont’d from page 1)

Know Your Rights AtThe Workplace.

The St. Kitts/Nevis Trades & Labour Union’s history of tomorrow isbeing written today as we continue to carry on its 72 plus years traditionof fighting for social, economic and industrial justice for its members,and by extension all working people.

In the 30’s part of the struggle was to win the right of workers toorganize a Union without interference or intimidation from their employers.Our forebears also fought to achieve income security for our old age,because they fully believe and understand that the Union was the onlyforce capable of looking after best interest of the ordinary commonworking people.

We continue the fight for the right to organize and defend ourmembers’ rights at the workplace, because as long as there are peoplewho work, there will be Unions, and the St. Kitts/Nevis Trades & LabourUnion will continue to be a Union that fights for the interest of its membersand by extension all workers.

In the words of Mr. A. Phillip Randolph, “Freedom is never granted;it is won. Justice is never given; it is exacted.”

Know Your Rights At The Workplace.Working people have certain basic rights at the workplace, such as

the right to minimum wage, safe working conditions and to be free fromdiscrimination and intimidation.

But these rights have so many exceptions and loopholes that themajority of the ordinary common workers are left unprotected. Somepersons claim that some of these rights are limited because of the size ofthe workforce, the length of service of the worker or they come up withmany other conditions as to why the majority of the ordinary commonworking people are left unprotected and denied their basic rights at theworkplace.

But they forget that we have laws to protect the ordinary workingpeople at their workplace and all the have to do is know his/her rights athis /her workplace.

Health and Safety at the workplace. According to the InternationalLabour Organization (ILO) Convention and Recommendation everyworkers have the right to a safe workplace and every employer arerequired to provide a safe workplace free of recognized health and safetyhazards.

You have the right to file complaints at the Department of Labour ofHealth Department, to bring job safety hazards to your employer’sattention without retaliation and to get information from your employerabout hazardous workplace exposures.

Overtime. Many ordinary common working people keep complainingthat they don’t quite understand how they are being paid overtime whenthey are asked to work overtime, so they prefer not to work overtime.

Employers are required by law to pay overtime at the rate of one-and-a-half time the normal rate of pay if any worker works more than eight (8)hours per day or over forty (40) hours in any week.

However, mony workers, such as managers, professionals, sales

persons and certain othercatagories, overtime are built intotheir salaries, so even if they don’twork overtime they still receive it.

Equal Pay is another concernto many ordinary workers whoperform equal task, but receivedifferent pay. Some employersmay refuse to pay equal wages tomen/women who perform jobs thatrequire substsntially equal skill,effort and responsibility, and thatare performed under similarworking conditions within thesame company.

When you join and become amember of the St. Kitts/NevisTrades & Labour Union and helpto organize your fellow co-workersinto the Union equal pay is one ofthe issues that the Union willprotect and make sure that youreceive equal pay for equal work.

Some of the other workplaceissues that the Union will help toprotect and promote is a workplacewithout discrimination andintimidation, a workplace withoutsexual harassment, collectivebargaining rights and many otherworkplace issues.

The St. Kitts/Nevis Trades &Labour Union is sending out astrong signal to all workers tocome and join us and help to shapethe future for you, your co-workersand your family by joining anorganization with a rich history anda solid foundation.

As I take my leave today, Ileave you with a Union song byJohn Warner and composed byJohn Hughes. This song could be

sing to the tune of “Bread of Heaven”, or “Guide me oh thou GreatJohovah/Redeemer.”

Join Your Union.By John Warner.

Chorus:Join your Union, join your Union,Friends, we need our Unions now,Friends, we need our Unions now.

Thieves growrich and liars prosper,Milking profit’s sacred cow,They make war to make their money,How we need our Unions now.

One man’s pay for three men’s labour,Bosses’ powers enshrined in law,When our rights are torn and trampled,How we need our Union’s now.

Women’s rights and women’s wages,Fiercely fought and barely won,Children’s care and education,Go where all our hopes have gone.

Shake the souls of Union leaders,Shout the message clear and plain,Leave the desk, desert the boardroom,Fight the workers’ cause again.

Quiet words did not avail us,Patience only earned defeat,Unity’s our only answer,Join your Unions on the street.

Stand with us and swell the numbers,We are the majority,Sing in chorus, raise the banners,Union in Victory.

ECCU Accounting Professionals Receive AdditionalTraining in International Financial Reporting Stand-ards (IFRSs)

Accounting professionals from theEastern Caribbean Currency Union(ECCU) member countries willparticipate in the second Train theTrainers Workshop on theInternational Financial ReportingStandards (IFRSs), at the ECCBHeadquarters in St Kitts and Nevisfrom 30 April to 4 May.

The IFRSs are a set of accountingstandards developed by theInternational Accounting StandardsBoard (IASB), which are being

adopted globally for the preparation of public company financial statements.The objective of the workshop is to develop the capacity of regional financial

reporting trainers to provide training in the use of the IFRSs. The areas to becovered during the five-day workshop include: the main principles of each IFRSand the main applicable estimates and judgements; accounting for insurancecontracts and financial instruments; and reporting financial performance inaccordance with the IFRSs. Mr Michael Wells and Mr Andrew Hyland of theIFRS Foundation, and Mr Darrel Scott, Member of the International AccountingStandards Board, will conduct the sessions.

The workshop, which is a partnership among the Institute of CharteredAccountants of the Eastern Caribbean (ICAEC), the IFRS Foundation and theEastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), is part of a World Bank sponsoredproject. The first of such workshops was conducted during the period 16 – 20May 2011.


The Thinking CitizenA recent edition of the Democrat newspaper carried an article entitled“Donley Saunders Victim of a Justice System”. The article attempts tocast aspersions on our justice system (the High Court Judge and Jurors)and also on our highly regarded Prime Minister. How often must oneremind PAM of its nasty habit of falsely accusing innocent people of thewrong-doings that the PAM party itself had been doing?

The late E. St. John Payne applied for the position of Housing Officerat Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, West Farm, sometimein the early 1990s. His application was successful and he was appointedto the position by Dr. Robert Ross, the owner and founder of theuniversity.

One Sunday night St. John Payne spoke at a political meeting inBasseterre, held by the Labour Party. It is alleged that a certain high-ranking member of PAM called Dr. Ross’ office in New York and reportedthat St. John Payne was attacking PAM at a political meeting in NewTown and therefore St. John should not be working at Ross University.

Early next day, Monday morning, St. John Payne received a faxedmessage from the New York office of Ross University terminating hisappointment with the University. All that St. John Payne had done wasspeak at a Labour Party meeting in New Town.

Several years before this event, and after he had lost his seat in the1984 General Elections, St. John Payne applied for a position with theChamber of Industry and Commerce. He was successful and was told toreport for work on a certain day.

On the day in question when St. John Payne reported for work hewas told that a mistake had been made and as a result he could not getthe job. Now what had St. John done? His only sin was that he had beena Minister in the Labour Government and as such, he had to be punishedand his pension, as a former Parliamentarian delayed, unduly.

I don’t understand the point of the Donley Saunders’ story in theDemocrat. It seems to me that neither Dr. Robert Ross nor Dr. DenzilDouglas had anything to do with Donley Saunders’ case in the HighCourt. And neither the High Court Judge nor the jurors in the case have

PAM seeks to retry Donley Saunders in theDemocrat and cast aspersions on the Courts.

anything to do with DonleySaunders’ employment at RossUniversity International School ofNursing.

The story that Dr. Douglaspaid a visit to Dr. Ross at his NewYork Office to report on DonleySaunders is hard to believe for tworeasons. In the first case, Dr. Rosswas in the habit of paying regularvisits to St. Kitts every year. Dr.Douglas did not have to go to NewYork to meet with Dr. Ross.

In the second case, if Dr.Douglas wanted Donley Saundersout of his job at the School ofNursing, Dr. Douglas would havetried to get him out within the firstcouple of weeks or so. Not waituntil some matter arose betweenDonley and his business partner along time after the start of Donley’semployment at the School ofNursing.

The writer of the article in theDemocrat is simply attempting tobig-up Donley and pull-down Dr.Douglas, but the writer has failedin his attempt. People in Basseterrehave tracked Donley’s career

throughout its various stages. Noone can fool us on that. We alsoknow that Dr. Douglas had nothingto do with the mess that theDemocrat is trying to drag him in.Leave Dr. Douglas out please.

The article in question is a re-trial of Donley’s case in the pressand a comic effort to manipulateinformation so as to prove thatDonley was unfairly and unjustlydealt with in the High court. Hereis something that the writer said:-

“The charge (against Donley)was fraudulent conversion, atechnical and complicated legaljargon that the twelve jurors,ordinary working people in allprobability never understood”.

“Fraudulent Conversion”occurs when a person makeswrongful use of another’sproperty. There is nothingtechnical or complicated aboutthat. Any Primary School boy orgirl is capable of understandingthat. It is an insult to theintelligence of the regular readersof the Democrat to tell them thatthe jurors sitting on Donley’s casedid not know what “FraudulentConversion” is.

The Democrat does not have

to re-try Donley’s case within itspages. The Democrat shouldadvise Donley to take his matterto the Appeal Court.

The only way to prove that Dr.Douglas acted wrongly, that thePolice acted wrongly, that theJudge acted wrongly and theJurors acted wrongly in Donley’scase, is to take the matter to theAppeal Court.

It is ludicrous, ridiculous andpreposterous to see how far theDemocrat has taken a plain andsimple matter in order to prove thata person, who is accused of acrime FRAUDULENTCONVERSION, has been foundguilty wrongfully.

If the Democrat really believesthat the High Court has erred, andthat Donley Saunders is not guilty,then the Democrat should urgeDonley Saunders to take thematter to the Appeal Court.

The Democrat is not stupid.The Democrat knows full well thatDonley Saunders received a properand fair trial. In spite of that,however, the Democrat is preparedto damage the reputation of otherpeople in order to prove in thepress that Donley Saunders isinnocent.

Let Donley prove hisinnocence to the public, not in theDemocrat, but in the Appeal Court.

STEP programme formarginalised and at-

risk youth successful todateBASSETERRE, ST. KITTS,

APRIL 24TH 2012 (CUOPM) - Acomprehensive update on theprogress of the Skills Training andEntrepreneurial Programme(STEP), designed to deliveragricultural and entrepreneurialskills to marginalised and at-riskyouth in St. Kitts was presentedto Cabinet on Monday.

The STEP programme is beingjointly coordinated by theMinistry of Social Development,the Ministry of Education and theSTEP Foundation. Moreparticularly, the STEP Foundationis comprised of a number of leadersfrom the private and publicsectors, with varying skills andlevels of involvement in business,education and training, andagriculture.

Minister of SocialDevelopment, the Hon. MarcellaLiburd was immensely pleasedwith the success of the programmeto date and took tremendous pridein the development and theadvancement of the youngpersons involved in theprogramme.

“The Minister (Liburd)revealed that over 15 shadehouses equipped with technologyfor hydroponic agriculture had

been built and that the traineeswere displaying high levels ofmastery of the technology.Moreover, Cabinet was pleasedthat the first crop of lettuceproduced under the project wasrecently harvested andsuccessfully marketed,” saidMinister of Information, Sen. theHon. Nigel Carty.

He said Minister Liburdemphasised that the STEP

Photo: Hon. Marcella Liburd,Minister of Social Development(Photo by Erasmus Williams)

programme was designed to be atool to help change riskybehaviour into productivebehaviour, and that such aprogramme needed critical day-to-day oversight and supervision.

He said that Minister Liburd

informed Cabinet that Mr. LeroyGreene, former AgriculturalScience Teacher and formerDirector of Sports, had beenselected from among a number ofinterested candidates to supervisethe project whilst receiving

ongoing programmatic supportfrom the Ministry of SocialDevelopment and Gender Affairs,the National Skills TrainingProgramme (NSTP) in the Ministryof Education, and the Ministry ofPolice and Defence Force.


NEDD hosts CommunityBusiness Meeting

By Drizel Hanley

meeting, representingvarious fields includingtourism, agriculture, foodand beverage, health andwellness, and IT services.

Some attendeesencouraged other personsin similar fields to workcollaboratively andconsider forming acooperative.

“Several of thosepersons have since visitedthe NEDD offices to getmore insights as to how

A series of communitybusiness meetings, hostedby the NationalE n t r e p r e n e u r i a lDevelopment Division(NEDD) of the Ministry ofInternational Trade,Industry, Commerce andConsumer Affairs,continued here in Old Roadyesterday, Thursday, April25, 2012.

The communitybusiness meetings,according to BusinessDevelopment Officer, PhillipBrowne, increased itsoutreach to advance

economic growth, diversification and competitiveness byfostering small business development.

Topics discussed included presentations designed toaid potential and current entrepreneurs as they explore howto write a proper business plan, securing financing optionsfor small businesses, details on government’s incentiveprogramme, among other topics.

Officials from First Caribbean International Bank joinedrepresentatives of the Development Bank of St. Kitts andNevis in making the above presentations at the CommunityBusiness Meeting.

Mr. Browne noted that the first meeting that was held,on Thursday February 16 at the Edgar T. Morris PrimarySchool in Tabernacle was quite successful.

“It was well attended and the discussions were lively,”he explained, noting that there was a good balance betweenmales and females as well as those in business and thosewishing to be,” he said.

Twenty five (25) persons attended the February business

they can move a step closerto making their dreams areality,” the businessdevelopment officerrevealed.

According to Mr. PhilipBrowne, the NationalE n t r e p r e n e u r i a lDevelopment Division isthe lead executive supportagency for domesticinvestment and home-grown small enterprises..

“This governmententity (NEDD) is designed

to assist micro, small, andmedium-size businessowners to develop theirideas, products, services,and business models,”noted Mr. Browne. “NEDDoperates by providingextensive technicalassistance aimed atmodernising andstrengthening businesses atthe start-up, existing, andexpansion stages,” hestressed.

So Tell MeBy Jean Thomas

I still feel the sameway

I thought that I hadovercome this problem –not necessarily my problembut other people “wastingmy time problem”.

I thought that I had builta fence around me, and thatI would not get upset, andthat I did not care, when Imake an appointment andthe other party just do notshow up on time or at all.These days there all kindsof telephone and sometimesthe other party would noteven call to say (“sorry I amrunning late, and I will getthere in ten minutes”).Nothing - just silence.

Them when the partydoes show up, I get upset

the reaction is “What yougoing on with?” I do notlike people wasting my time.I feel very strongly about it.You see, we do not have allthe time in the world. Weare living on the time Godhas allotted to us and towaste time is just terrible.

I have a problem withsome workmen. You have asmall or large job to be doneso, you agree with theworkman, and set a time letus say for eight a.m. to get ajob done, and it is notunusual that he will show uplate sometimes hours late,and sometimes not at all!

What annoys me is thatthey show no remorse inturning up late. It is for them”cool to be late”.

Another thing thatupsets me is when somemotorists will stop in frontof you to talk to someoneelse in another vehiclegoing in the oppositedirection.

So tell me, what is wrongwith pulling off to the sideof the road and either of thedriver gets out to talk to theother person, thus allowingthe free flow of traffic?

That too is wasting mytime. The same way youhave something to do withyour time. I also have thingsI wish to accomplish in mytime. So why are youwasting my time.

I really thought that Ihad become a trueCaribbean where it is saidthat we are always late andthat we are working toCaribbean time. Whatnonsense. Time is time andI respect other people’s time.So let us respect eachother’s time.

From Where I SitBy xSpeaks

I’m parked up outside a particular playing field waitingfor my little brother to finish football practice and a heavyset young lady, aged about seventeen or eighteen (I wouldsay) approaches my vehicle.

She says, “Hi, what’s your name?” I give her what sheasks for. I assume she’s just really friendly and I begin toeven feel a little good, patting myself on the back thinkingthat I look approachable. Then she asks where I’m from –general questions. At the same time, I happen to have somecash visible. I notice her eyeing my cash but I say nothing.I was going to take it up but I didn’t want to make it obviousthat I realized that she was counting my money from adistance.

But then she asks if I “have anything to give her”. Oh!That’s what this was all about. I tell her the money isn’tmine. She questions what I say, figuring that I’m beingdishonest. Then I move to take up my paper cash and exposesome silver coins. I realize the only way I’m going to get outof this situation without running over her foot or beingbeaten to the ground by a two hundred and fifty poundwoman is if I give her something. So, of course, I give herabout two dollars and fifty cents. She takes the money,looks it up and down, counts it in her head, begins to assumea disgusted upturn in the right corner of her mouth andasks calmly, “You really only goin’ give me bus money?”

The audacity of some beggars!This woman that I don’t know from Adam; have never

seen in my twenty years of life is cursing me about howmuch of MY money I chose to give her solely out of the

goodness of my heart. MYmoney. Not hers.

Some time in her lookingor in her counting,something magical musthave happened or beenexchanged between us, andsuddenly she felt as if wewere now joined by marriageand so what was mine,became hers.

MY money.Now let’s dissect this

beggar. Let’s venture to themind of this very intelligentpanhandler. First she looksfrom a distance, observingher victim. She then decidesif it’s worth it, I suppose, andproceeds. She begins withpetty talk – all working upto the kill – making victimscomfortable and attemptingto gain trust. When she’ssatisfied, she finds a way toask the big question. Sheeven goes as far as tobargain with the money-owner if charity given isn’tup to her standard.

Imagine – this lady is

(cont’d on next page)


.....Where I Sitquarreling about how much of MYmoney I decided to give her. I workall week for pay, and whatever littleis left after bills, children, food etc.is all I have in my name. Thiswoman – who probably earns herliving from other people’s earnings– begs from me and relies only onthe hope that her assumption ofmy kindness is correct, but then

quarrels when my giving doesn’tmeet her standards of receiving.And eyes my money withcontempt!

I have absolutely no problemgiving to the less fortunate. I don’tmind donating clothes or what littleI have to a cause. But now,beggars are at the up side of thecontract and they decide howmuch or what for. Hmm. Well, Iguess beggars can be choosers.

(cont’d from last page)

Light at the end of thetunnel for nearly 4,000BAICO policy holdersin St. Kitts and Nevis.

Company (BAICO) in recent years.“The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister

pointed out that the ECCUgovernments through theMonetary Council of the ECCBapproved in early 2011 the use ofUS$30 million from the LiquiditySupport Fund to recapitalise andprepare the sale of BAICO’straditional insurance business,”said Minister Carty.

He recalled that the LiquiditySupport Fund is derived from theCARICOM Petroleum Fund thatwas established by Trinidad andTobago in 2004 to provide relief toCARICOM Member States whichwere experiencing economichardship resulting frompersistently high internationalprices for crude oil and petroleumproducts.

“In assessing the kinds ofinsurance policies which were tobe recapitalised and sold,traditional policies including wholelife, endowments and term lifepolicies were identified. However,Home Life Service, Ordinary Lifeand Universal Life policies havealso been included,” said MinisterCarty.

He disclosed that theFederation’s Minister of Financegave notice that a number ofbidders who had demonstrated aninterest in the purchase of therecapitalised portfolios ofBAICO’s business were beingengaged with a view to concludingthe sale transaction during thecourse of the current year.

“It was further reported that18,700 policy-holders would

benefit from this important steptaken by the governments of theECCU, with St. Kitts and Nevishaving, 3,960 beneficiaries, thesecond largest number ofbeneficiaries in any one countryin the ECCU,” said Mr. Carty.

He said the Cabinet authorisedPrime Minister Douglas, in hiscapacity as Minister of Finance tosign the required papers to effectthe necessary transactions to helpbring the extended ordeal ofpolicy-holders in St. Kitts andNevis to an end.

Minister Carty said Cabinetmembers applauded the Rt. Hon.Prime Minister for his sterlingleadership on this specific matterand recognised the efforts of otherleaders throughout the ECCU.

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (CUOPM) - Some 4,000 policy holders ofBritish-American Insurance Company (BAICO) are expected to benefitfrom the continuation of their policies following a US$30 million LiquiditySupport Fund approved by the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union(ECCU) to capitalize and prepare the sale of BAICO’s traditional insurancebusiness.

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Information, Sen. the Hon. NigelCarty in a Post Cabinet Briefing following Monday’s Cabinet Meetingsaid Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Rt. Hon. Dr. DenzilDouglas, updated the Cabinet on the efforts of the governments of theEastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) led by the Eastern CaribbeanCentral Bank (ECCB) to assist policy-holders who suffered immenselyas a consequence of the collapse of the British American Insurance

St. Kitts and Nevis andSt. Maarten PrimeMinisters talk at PJIA

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ PrimeMinister the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and his Dutch St. Maartencounterpart, the Hon. Sarah Wescott-Williams on Friday last (April 13th)discussed a number of issues affecting the economies of both countries.

During the meeting at the VIP Lounge of St. Maarten’s PrincessJuliana International Airport the St. Kitts and Nevis leader updated thatisland’s first female Head of Government on the status of the InternationalMonetary Fund-backed new home-grown economic programme, andthe outcome of the debt restructuring exercise, within the framework ofthis new programme, and which was concluded just two days ago.

Again the Creditors both external and domestic came in for highcommendations from Prime Minister Douglas who highlighted that the

enormous success in this exercisewas due to the support from thestaff of the Ministries of both theFederal Government and the NevisIsland Administration, led by theFinancial Secretary, her Deputyand the Trustee; the Barbados-based Caribbean DevelopmentBank (CDB) and the St. Kitts-basedEastern Caribbean Stock Exchange(ECSE).

Prime Ministers Douglas andWescott-Williams looked at thegrowth prospects of botheconomies for the succeedingquarters of this fiscal year havingthe task of overcoming theprolonged economic crises andgrowing the economies this yearand beyond.

Both Prime Ministershighlighted the growth sectors

that are being targeted andrecognised the common approachtowards diversifying the tourismproduct especially in the area ofmedical tourism, and exploring newdestination markets in LatinAmerica and the Middle East giventhe interest shown in the St. Kittsand Nevis Citizenship byInvestment Programme fromresidents in the United ArabEmirates and other regional

countries.Prime Ministers Douglas and

Wescott-Williams who havedeveloped an excellent workingrelationship over the years sincethey have been in office, alsodiscussed the need to attract moreforeign direct investment fromnon-traditional marketshighlighting in particular Asianand Latin American, especiallyBrazilian markets.

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St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L.Douglas(right) and Prime Minister of St. Maarten, the Hon. SarahWescott-Williams in talks at the Princess Juliana InternationalAirport in St. Maarten on Friday morning.


St. Kitts and Nevis expectsto go to Rio+20 UNConference on SustainableDevelopment

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis is expectedto be represented at the upcoming Rio+20 United Nations Conferenceon Sustainable Development.

Set for Rio de Janeiro on 20-22 June, the Conference on SustainableDevelopment hopes to “secure renewed political commitment forsustainable development, assess the progress to date and the remaininggaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits onsustainable development, and address new and emerging challenges.”

The Conference will focus on two themes: a green economy in thecontext of sustainable development and poverty eradication; and theinstitutional framework for sustainable development.

Sustainable development has been the overarching goal of theinternational community since the 1992 United Nations Conference onEnvironment and Development in Rio de Janeiro.

It emphasizes a holistic, equitable and far-sighted approach todecision-making at all levels and “rests on integration and a balancedconsideration of social, economic and environmental goals and objectivesin both public and private decision-making.” It also recognizes the specialdevelopment challenges and concerns of small vulnerable developingstates such as those in the Caribbean.

The Rio Conference has the potential to be transforming for itsmember states, but that depends largely on the political commitment ofboth developed and developing countries. Regrettably, such commitmentmay waver in the face of global economic and geopolitical realities:Developed, rapidly developing and developing nations are now grapplingwith huge fiscal challenges and massive debt levels. Political electionsin seven EU countries, including France with the second largest economyin Europe, will also usher in new political thinking that will definitelysway the dialogue on new avenues or envelopes of financing. Suchdialogue may not necessarily be in favour of Small Island DevelopingStates (SIDS) such as those which comprise CARICOM. Arriving at anyconsensus on new envelopes of financing will be a sticking point.

It is against this background that the Special COTED on environmentand sustainable development will have to shape its agenda for itsGeorgetown meeting on Friday. CARICOM ministers will need to establishand agree on clear regional priorities as well as a concrete approach onhow they intend to engage their counterparts at the Rio+ 20 Conference.

The issue of our approach to developing the green economy has tobe at the top of the agenda. The concept of green economy focusesprimarily on the nexus between the environment, the economy and thesocial realities facing the Caribbean region. The underlying challengefor CARICOM is to determine how its focus on a green economy, in thecontext of sustainable development and poverty eradication, can fosterregional development and a better quality of life for its peoples.

In this regard, the 39th COTED held recently discussed and adoptedan approach to developing a green economy and be ready to articulatewhat it considers the minimum architecture for the green economyframework to guide us in the next decade.

For it to do so however, all Member States have to be in the choir,singing from the same hymn sheet regarding a common understandingand approach to developing a green economy. This must be done beforethe Rio de Janeiro Conference where a cleaner definition will beestablished.

In preparing for Rio+20, CARICOM Environment Ministers will alsoneed to address the structural issues that impact its poverty alleviationand eradication efforts within the Caribbean Region.

The Region needs appropriate financing mechanisms, policies,regulations and governance framework to be able to implement anysustainable development strategy that it develops. We also need toaddress the challenging issue of escalating energy and labour costs aswell as the cost of raw materials. In the absence of new financingmechanisms, as part of the Rio strategy, the COTED may need to look athow it can re-shape existing funds disbursement and present a plan ofaction to the conference.

Institutional reform of the global architecture for sustainabledevelopment is also a burning issue, as countries within the prevailingeconomic climate grapple to decide which or what form ofintergovernmental system is best suited and equipped to take onsustainable development and to address the implementation deficit whichhas posed a challenge for CARICOM over the years.

This deficit has become even more pronounced in light of the complexand defused issues surrounding sustainable development. The COTEDwill need to examine these carefully.

The anticipated outcome fromthe 39th Special COTED thereforecannot be any “urging,” it mustbe a decision for a clear regionalagenda for sustainabledevelopment. If we fail to set ourown agenda, then someone elsewill do so through their owncountry development assistanceprograms. The region is only toofamiliar with the notion that “onesize doesn’t fit all.”

For this COTED therefore, itcannot be business as usual; itmust spawn a foolproof strategyon how CARICOM is going to theRio+20 to help shape the future wewant for our children and theirchildren.

Brazilian official to sign off soon onPartial Scope Agreement

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas(right) and Brazil’s Resident Ambassador His Excellency MiguelMagalhaes, (Photo by Erasmus Williams)

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS(CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevishas received good news fromBrazil on its negotiations with thatSouth American nation on thePartial Scope Agreement.

St. Kitts and Nevis’ PrimeMinister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L.Douglas has been personallyinformed by Brazil’s ResidentAmbassador His ExcellencyMiguel Magalhaes that a Brazilianofficial will be arriving shortly inBasseterre to sign off theconclusion of negotiations of thelong awaited Partial ScopeAgreement between St. Kitts andNevis and Brazil.

“That will be a most historicday for the Kittitian and Nevisianmanufacturing sector which willnow have the scope to access thehuge Brazilian market with ourelectronic products manufacturedhere in St. Kitts and Nevis,” saidPrime Minister Douglas.

He said St. Kitts and Nevisexpects that an expansion in thisenclave manufacturing sector,“will provide greater employmentopportunities for our young menand women who have done sowell over the years with their highquality products that havepenetrated markets around theworld and projected St. Kitts andNevis as the largest exporter fromthe Eastern Caribbean to theUnited States.”

Prime Minister Douglas said itwill also lead to the diversificationof the international exportsstrategy for St. Kitts and Nevis,enhance the country profile ininternational trade and providegreater profitability and financialsecurity for manufacturingfacilities operating in theFederation.

“We must be grateful to theGovernment and the People ofBrazil as this developmentprovides the basis for thecontinued improvement andexpansion of the CARICOM/MERCUSOR relationship,” saidPrime Minister Douglas.


Caribbean Church, the Caribbean family, the Caribbean school and theCaribbean way of life has become ever more diluted.

“And this, among other reasons, helps to explain many of the vexingissues with which you have been grappling in recent years, and which,in an especially concentrated form, you will be grappling throughoutthis entire conference. For example, the social causes of sexual offences,the cultural causes of sexual offences and importantly, the genderdimensions of these offences,” said Dr. Douglas.

He pointed to the socially destabilising issue of family violence – itssocial, psychological and gender dimensions, which he said are allpressing issues, where the administration of justice is concerned.

“And all, I was pleased to note, to be addressed over the next threedays, as you strive to improve the region’s judicial response to thesepressing issues. Until a flaw is acknowledged, it cannot be corrected.And so this conference’s open acknowledgement, as reflected in youragenda, that gender stereotypes do, indeed, influence the administrationof justice, access to justice, and the rule of law and it reflects a laudablecommitment to self-assessment – and self-correction. And this is, indeed,commendable,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

He pointed out that in addition to serving as Prime Minister, he isalso Federation’s Minister with responsibility for National Security.

“In St. Kitts and Nevis, as is the case elsewhere in the Caribbeanand, indeed, throughout the world, pockets of youth alienation andyouth violence have been manifesting themselves in the form of gangs.

And, quite troublingly, these gangs seem to have a single approachto resolving conflicts and settling scores. Even as we, in the Federation,continue to meet our own traditional responsibilities in the area of lawenforcement, then, we are also keenly aware of the importance ofintervening in the lives of misdirected youths before they becomehardened criminals, indeed, even before they even commit their firstserious offence,” said Dr. Douglas.

He noted that 50 years ago, when he was a boy, or forty years agowhen he was a teenager, a juvenile delinquent was, perhaps, someonewho often ran away from school.

“Or maybe that juvenile delinquent was someone who was oftencaught stealing mangoes from somebody’s tree. Not only is the term‘juvenile delinquent’ hardly ever used any more, but even if it were, itwould quite often refer to young people who, for one reason or another,manifest, in far more serious ways, their own alienation from society, andwho, therefore, now present a far more complex challenge where theadministration of justice is concerned,” said Dr. Douglas.

Dr. Douglas noted that because of the changed reality that nowfaces magistrates everywhere, the solutions, the approaches, and eventhe custodial arrangements that may have been appropriate and effectiveforty years ago, may no longer be either appropriate or effective today.

“What then, as this conference’s final session on Day Two asks, arethe options open to Magistrates when dealing with youth in conflictwith society – and with the law? This is a question which, increasingly,has to be asked by those concerned about the administration of justice- all around the world and not just here in the Eastern Caribbean,” he toldthe magistrates.

Dr. Douglas said it was important that as each country or regioncrafts their answer, they do so in the context of what, for their owncountry or region, would be effective - based on the cultural realities ofthat country.

“What would be viable - based on the human and material resourcesavailable to that particular country. And what would be appropriatebased on the dictates of domestic and international law – and thestandards that the society in question has set for itself,” said PrimeMinister Douglas, who hoped that their deliberations on these veryimportant issues will yield insights and approaches that will help toadvance the administration of justice in this region, for many, many moreyears to come.

“The role of the magistrate is key to ongoing efforts to preserve andenhance humane, just, and democratic societies everywhere,” said Dr.Douglas.

The three-day conference which ends today (Friday, April 27th) ishosted by the Judicial Education Institute of the Eastern CaribbeanSupreme Court in collaboration with the United Nations Entity for GenderEquality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the UnitedNations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and magistrates are attending fromAnguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kittsand Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

PM Douglas: The role ofthe magistrate is key.......(cont’d from page 1)

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The Labour Spokesman FRIDAY, APRIL 27TH 201210 - ADVERTISEMENT -

The Labour Spokesman FRIDAY, APRIL 27TH 2012 11 - ADVERTISEMENT -


Minister Carty meets withgovernment officials, academiciansand local students in Taiwan

Efforts continue for anew Labour Code inSt. Kitts and Nevis

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (CUOPM) - Work is continuing for theadoption of a new Labour Code for the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevisand a broad-based committee has been appointed to submit finalproposals.

Deputy Prime Minister andMinister of Labour, the Hon. SamCondor informed Cabinet onMonday that he had earlier soughtthe intervention of the Director ofthe Caribbean Office of theInternational Labour Organisation(ILO) in the identification anddispatching of a legal consultantwith the appropriate skillset andexperience to assist St. Kitts andNevis in the review of its LabourCode.

Minister Condor informed the Cabinet that he had charged theconsultant, Mr. Clive Pegus, with the examination of the current LabourCode to identify gaps when viewed against international standards, atask he undertook by way of consultation over a three-week period witha number of local stakeholders.

“The consultant was able to glean a number of importantdevelopments over the years which precipitated the need for significantreform of the Labour Code,” said Minister of Information, Sen. the Hon.Nigel Carty.

He said the new Labour Code will result in a change in the businessenvironment consequent upon the shift from preferential marketarrangements to trade liberalisation and open competition, and the demiseof the sugar industry.

“The change in the strength of organised labour and the trade unionmovement, the rise of the services sector and its particular requirements,the changing nature of work with regard to tenure, to address casualworkers and outsourcing, the freedom of movement of people within theRegion, the changing role of labour administration and the importanceof dialogue and tripartism, and the advent of international labourstandards including modern provisions for the health and safety ofworkers,” said Minister Carty.

He said the discussion of the consultant’s report was led by LabourMinister Condor who highlighted some of the subject matters of highpriority for his Ministry.

“These included the establishment of an independent tribunal forthe settlement of labour disputes, the reform of the severance fund toimprove its sustainability, transparency and efficiency of operation, hoursof work and related entitlement, holiday pay: how it ought to be identifiedand calculated; uncertified sick leave, and termination of employment;among others,” the Information Minister disclosed.

Mr. Carty said Cabinet approved the appointment of a broad-basedcommittee consisting of representatives from the government and civilsociety to review the consultant’s recommendations and to put forwardfinal proposals for enactment of a new Labour Code.

Minister of Education, Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty (fifth from left),Ambassador Her Excellency Ms. Jasmine Huggins and with some ofthe Kittitian and Nevisian students studying in Taiwan.

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS(CUOPM) – Talks aimed atsending St. Kitts and Nevisstudents to Taiwan for vocationaland technical training have beenexplored by the Federation’sMinister of Education, Sen. theHon. Nigel Carty.

The Education Minister andhis Permanent Secretary, Mrs. IoneLiburd-Willet and Taipei-based St.Kitts and Nevis Ambassador tothe Republic of China (Taiwan)held discussions with HisExcellency Dr. Wei-Ling ChiangPh.D., Minister of Education in theRepublic of China (Taiwan) duringhis visit to that country onTuesday April 17,2012.

During the meeting, MinisterCarty discussed the possibility ofcorporation programmes with theMinistry of Education in Taiwan,particularly in the field ofvocational and technical training.

“We have identified a gap inour educational system as itrelates to vocational and technicaltraining and would wish to explorethe possibility of developingpartnerships with your country toassist us in developing that sectorthrough scholarships or teachertraining or through any othermethod that would be mutuallybeneficial,” Minister Cartymentioned.

In response, Minister Chiang

stated that his Ministry was ready to assist in whatever manner deemedappropriate by the both sides, including awarding more scholarships tostudents from St. Kitts and Nevis.

Minister Carty also met with principal Hsu of the National TaichungIndustrial High School and toured the institution which has become oneof the premier industrial high schools in Taiwan.

Additionally, while visiting the Central Training Center, Bureau ofEmployment and Vocational Training, Minister Carty exchanged ideaswith the Director of the Center about possible training for citizens fromthe Federation.

Minister Carty also held discussions with President Yao of NationalTaipei University of Technology who was enthusiastic aboutcollaborating with the St. Kitts and Nevis Ministry of Education throughthe Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan to bring students to hisuniversity for further education.

President Yao also mentioned the possibility of teacher training atthe University.

During a visit to Taiwan’s Public Television Service, and Radio TaiwanInternational (RTI), Minister Carty, who is also Minister of Information,used the opportunity to speak about the TVET program and the earlychildhood program in the Federation.

RTI will air an interview withMinister Carty later this month.

Prior to his departure fromTaipei, Minister Carty also met

with students from the Federationof St. Kitts and Nevis studying inTaiwan.

Photo # 1 (left to right) Meng-Liang Tsai, Director; Hon. NigelCarty, Minister of Education and Information; Permanent Secretary,Mrs. Ionie Liburd- Willett and Ambassador, Her Excellency, Ms.Jasmine Huggins at the Central Training Center in Taichung.


VIEW POINTBY

V. E. INNISS

Some of us Christians have no grasp of God’s grace. The root of thetrouble seems to be mis-belief about the basic relationship between aperson and God. This mis-belief is rooted in the heart, simply because,most often than not, it is mistaken for the truth.

There are four crucial truths in this realm which the doctrine of gracepresupposes. Once they are not acknowledged and felt in one’s heart,clear faith in God’s grace becomes impossible. Regrettably, the spirit ofour age opposes them as best it can.

The four truths are: -The moral ill-desert of man. Today men and women who are

conscious of their tremendous scientific achievements have resort to ahigh opinion of themselves. Material wealth has taken the place ofmoral character. In the moral realm these people are resolutely kind tothemselves, treating small virtues as compensating for the great vicesand refusing to take seriously the idea that, morally speaking, there isnothing much wrong with them.

Bad conscience in themselves and others are dismissed. This is asign of disease and mental aberration rather than an index of moral reality.It is the acceptance of some modern men and women that despite theirpeccadilloes - drinking, gambling, reckless driving, sexual laxity, blackand white lies, sharp practice in trading, dirty reading and the like, theyare at heart completely good citizens for God’s kingdom. They believethat God is a magnified image of them, and that He shares in theircomplacency.

The retributive justice of God. Today modern men and women turna blind eye to all wrong doing as long as they safely can. They toleratethis behaviour in those they love, feeling that, there, “but for the accidentof circumstances, go themselves.” Parents hesitate to correct theirchildren; teachers cannot discipline their pupils. The public puts upwith vandalism and antisocial behaviour of all sorts. Today, the acceptedmaxim is, “as long as evil can be ignored, it should be.” Punishmentshould only be meted out as a last resort and then, it ought to be exercisedas far as is necessary to prevent the evil from having too grievous socialconsequences. For most, willingness to tolerate and indulge evil up toa limit is seen as a virtue, while living by fixed principles of right andwrong is censured by some as doubtful moral.

In our pagan way, we feel doubly sure that God feels as we do. Theidea that retribution might be the moral law of God’s world and anexpression of His holy character seems to be quite fantastic. Those whouphold it find themselves accused of projecting onto God their ownpathological impulses of rage and vindictiveness. It is the Bible, whichinsists though that, this world which God in His goodness has made isa moral one and retribution is as sure as breathing. The Bible makes itclear that God is not true to Himself unless he punishes sin (see Genesis

FulfillingFulfillingFulfillingFulfillingFulfillingthe Law of Christthe Law of Christthe Law of Christthe Law of Christthe Law of Christ

downfall. Many needful reproofslose their efficacy by given inwrath. But when they are managedwith tenderness and from sincereconcern for the welfare of those towhom they are given, they arelikely to make a strong impression.

A very good reason why thisshould be done in meekness theApostle says “consideringthyself, lest thou also be tempted”.This will dispose us to do byothers as we desire to be done byin such a case. That seems to beaddressing the moral and ethical,holier than thou TITANICSeverywhere. “Do not use a hatchetto remove a fly for your friend’s/your neighbour’s forehead”.

Have we lost that loving feelingand compassion we once had as acaring people? Any technician/carpenter will tell us that the useof a screw driver to makeadjustment where necessary ismuch better and more appropriatethan the use of a hammer orhatchet. Chopping tools should beavoided. They are destructive.

Bearing BurdenA burden is a load; something oppressive and worrisome. I the

scripture it is used figuratively of cure: “Cast thy burden upon the Lordand He shall sustain thee.” Ps 55:22).

The word so rendered in the Old Testament is derived from a rootwhich means to “lift” or “carry”. It has the two senses of an actualburden and a prophetic utterance. In the former sense the word suggeststhe pressure of something hanging on a peg. (Num 11:11).

In the New Testament it carries the idea of pressure and load of life.(Matt: 20:11) for an exacting or even legitimate charge upon others; forthe imagined difficulties of following Christ (Matt 11:30) we are all familiarwith our Lord’s sayings ... “My yolk is easy and burden light”.

With that said, we are admonished in our study today to “Bear oneanother’s burden”. That places the challenge at our door step; to theneighbour next door.

Sadly, we tend to see burdens in terms of problems to be solvedrather than in terms of people to be loved. Bearing is not something wecan do for a few minutes, a few days, a festive time of year and have itover with. Bearing suggests a commitment to long-term caring and thatnot without pain and sacrifice.

Here is an eye opener. We often think we have failed unless weeliminate the burden. It is noteworthy that the Bible does not say“Remove one another’s burden”. It says bear them.

Many people in our society are hurting and going through reallytough times. The recession, lay-offs, redundancies, high cost of living,burdensome taxes and the like cannot be disputed. If were living inbygone years when communities were closely knit, when neighboursshared their bounty and blessings. The pain would be less severe. Itseems that gone are the days. For heaven’s sake, let us bring them back.Burdens would be eased. No band aid.

The Law of ChristNote the admonition of Paul to the Romans. “We then that are strong

ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves(Rom. 15:1). We have already seen the importance of bearing oneanother’s burdens.

What does it mean to fulfil the law of Christ? This is to act agreeablyto the law of His precepts, which is the law of love. It would also beagreeable to His pattern and example which have the force of a law to us.

Though as Christians we are freed from the Law of Moses, yet we areunder the Law of Christ and therefore, instead of laying unnecessaryburdens upon others, it much more becomes us to fulfil the law of Christby bearing one another’s burdens.

I observed something else Paul mentioned as a cautionary note:“For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, hedeceives himself” (Gal 6:3). That is chilling.

The Apostle being aware how great a hindrance pride would be tothe natural condescension which he had recommended earlier takes careto caution us against this. He supposes it as a very possible thing for aman to think himself as “Mr Big Stuff” – when in truth he is nothing.Bubbles burst.

Such a one does but deceives himself while he imposes on others,by pretending to what he has not and puts the greatest cheat uponhimself. He is neither freer from mistakes, nor will he be the more secureagainst temptations for the good opinion he has of his own sufficiency.What he/she does not know is that he is rather more liable to fall intothem.

Self-conceit is but self-deceit. There is not a more dangerous cheatin the world than self-deceit. Consider this. Lying to ourselves is moredeeply ingrained than lying to others. Selfishness is the greatest curseof the human race. Let us try to fulfil the law of Christ.

The Root of theTrouble

18:25).The spiritual impotence of

man. In his work “How to WinFriends and Influence People,”Dale Carnegie, has almost givento the world a modernunderstanding of the Bible. Thewhole technique of businessrelations that have been built upin recent years on the principle ofputting the other person in aposition where he cannot decentlysay no, has given assertion tomodern men and women in thefaith. It has animated paganreligion ever since to believe thatwe can repair our own relationshipwith God by putting God in aposition where He can no longersay no. The overall point is thatthey are not perfect. For themrespectability is what willguarantee them God’s acceptancewithout repentance, in spite ofwhatever they have done.

The Hymn Writer concurs withthe Bible in his belief that manwithout God is helpless when hepenned these words:

Not the labours of my handCan fulfill my Lord’s demandsCould my zeal no respite know,Can my tears for ever flow,All for sin could not atone.

He ends another verse in thisway, Thou must save, and thoualone.

The apostle Paul reminds allthat no man or woman will bedeclared righteous in God’s sightby observing the Law (seeRomans 3:20).

Once one impairs hisrelationship with God, it is beyondhim or her to mend thatrelationship to regain God’sfavour. It is God’s doing thatrestores faith in grace.

The sovereign freedom of God.

Here is a timely and relevant admonition. “Bear ye one another’sburdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2).

The word “BURDEN” jumped out at me as I read the text. I mustconfess that this text requires some in-depth analysis to understand itstrue meaning. I shall attempt to do just that in this study today; sothanks for joining me.

By way of background, the Apostle in the opening part of the chapterappears to be giving several practical directions with respect to our dutyto one another. For example, he is admonishing us to deal tenderly withthose who are overtaken in a fault. (V1 “If a man/woman be overtaken ina fault, brought shame, reproach and ridicule by the surprise oftemptation, we should be compassionate.

It is one thing to overtake a fault by contrivance and deliberationand, another thing to be overtaken by a fault. Great tenderness shouldbe used. Elsewhere the same Apostle warned “Let him that thinketh hestandeth firm take heed lest he fall.”

The manner wherein this is to be done: “With the spirit of meekness”– not in wrath and passion, as those who triumph in another person’s

Ancient paganism thinks that each of its gods is bound to his worshipersby bond of self interest, because he depends upon their service andgifts for his welfare. Modern paganism still holds at the back of its mindthe view that, God is somehow obliged to love and help us, even thoughwe do not deserve it. After all says one French freethinker, “That is Hisjob.”

The Psalmist reminds us that God does not depend on His childrenfor His well-being, (see Psalm 50:8; Acts 17: 25). We can only claim fromGod’s Justice. God always allows justice to take its course. No one canforce God’s hands. God’s action depends upon Him and Him alone.

The root of the problem is fixed when one is in the right relationshipwith God and he or she begins to grasp the biblical view of grace.

Humbly Submitted byAlson B H Percival (Rev Canon Dr)ChairNevis Regional CouncilAndNevis Christian Council


Labour DepartmentCelebrates World Dayfor Safety and Health

Basseterre, St. Kitts (SKNIS): The Department of Labour is on themove to underscore the importance of promoting safety and good healthin the workplace for 2012.

This department is, in this period, partnering with the InternationalLabour Organization (ILO) to undertake a number of activities leadingup to “World Day for Safety & Health at Work” on April 27 (today).

Ms. Shernel James, Senior Labour Officer at the Department of Laboursaid activities surrounding the 2012 theme “Promoting Safety and Healthin a green economy,” are intended to promote green jobs in today’seconomy, educate the public on risks at work, highlight safety and healthin the workplace and promote the realities of decent work.

“World Day for Safety and Health is basically to promote safety andhealth in the workplace” said Ms. James. “It is a day that the InternationalConfederation of Unions chose some time ago to commemorate thosewho died in occupational accidents. This year’s theme - Promoting safetyand health in a green economy is basically highlighting how safety andhealth can be molded into green jobs, to sustain development, grow theeconomy and protect the environment.”

Activities marking the week kicked off on Thursday April 19 withrandom labour inspections of businesses in key economic sectors withinthe labour market - Hotel and Tourism, Retail and Wholesale, Banking &Insurance, Manufacturing and Construction.

Ms. James also said the department intends to use the conduct of

general inspection as anopportunity to promote green jobsin St. Kitts and Nevis.

“Basically, we are going intoworkplaces to conduct health andsafety inspections and we areusing the opportunity to promotegreen jobs - how employers cantake existing jobs and make themgreener” explained Ms. James.“For example, recycling, turning offlights when you are no longerusing the room, preserving water,using alternate energy such asgeothermal energy, wind energyand using green pesticides thatcan better sustain theenvironment, the land usage andnot contaminate water.”

Other activities will featuretalks in schools on the importanceof safety and health in theworkplace, erecting of posters anddistribution of pamphlets on theissue. The week will culminate witha national radio broadcast tocommemorate World Day forSafety & Health at Work 2012 bythe Hon Sam Condor, Minister ofLabour.

The search is on for theCIBC FirstCaribbeanInternational Bank2012 Unsung Hero

Basseterre, 23rd April, 2012 – Members of the public in St Kitts andNevis are invited to nominate persons in their communities that seek tomake the lives of the disadvantaged and underprivileged better for theCIBC FirstCaribbean 2012 Unsung Heroes Award.

At a media launching held at the Ocean Terrace Inn on 16th April2012, CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank Country Manager, G. PeterEdmunds, drew attention to the bank’s Unsung Heroes Programme whichbegan in 2003. He stated that the programme had uncovered manyworthwhile causes, not only in St. Kitts and Nevis, but throughout theregion; and continued to showcase the work done by ordinary men andwomen, who go about their work without consideration of being rewarded.Mr. Edmunds stated that those persons are living examples of the bestthat we could be.

Inviting the public to submittheir choices for Unsung Hero inSt. Kitts and Nevis, Mr Edmundssaid that the community played asignificant role in the programme,as Unsung Heroes are personsrecommended by the members ofthe communities. He urged thepublic to participate in theprogramme, giving them theopportunity to be formally

recognized for the work they weredoing.

Local Coordinator for theProgramme, Mr Gerard Pereira,highlighted that these UnsungHeroes distinguished themselvesthrough one outstanding trait –they made positive things happenfor others. According to Mr.Pereira they were enablers andtherefore stood out as shining

examples in their communities.The search for the 2012

Unsung Hero will continue untilthe closing date for nominations,June 30, 2012. Members of thepublic can participate bycompleting an Unsung HeroesNomination form which is availableat all CIBC FirstCaribbeanbranches and on the bank’swebsite www.cibcfcib.com

Speaker rules: “No apologyneeded” Tells Opposition Leader hemust be responsible andtransparent

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS,APRIL 26TH 2012 (CUOPM) –Speaker of the St. Kitts and NevisNational Assembly, the Hon.Curtis Martin ruled Thursday therewas no need for Prime Minister theRt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas to

apologise for comments madeabout the monies approved by thelawmaking body for an office forthe Leader of the Opposition, theHon. Mark Brantley and a moniesbeing paid to a secretary for theholder of that office.

Mr. Brantley had complainedthat based on radio reportsattributed to the Rt. Hon. Prime

Minister, he had written to theSpeaker and the Rt. Hon. PrimeMinister demanding an apology.

Prime Minister Douglas said hehad no reason to impute impropermotives towards the Hon. Leaderof the Opposition and there wasno need for an apology as thequestions raised were legitimateones being asked by the public.

Prime Minister Douglasrepeated verbatim what he said atthe March 29th sitting of the St.Kitts and Nevis NationalAssembly.

“Mr. Speaker, every single yearsince he (Hon. Mark Brantley) hasbeen the Leader of the Opposition,thousands of dollars are beingpassed in this Parliament for theOffice of the Leader of theOpposition. The question thatpeople must ask him, “Is there anyoffice? And what happened to themoney?” That’s what should beasked of him. Is there any officefor the Leader of the Oppositionwhere money has been voted forevery single year in this Parliamentand what happened to the money?

Leader of the Opposition, Hon.Mark Brantley listens toSpeaker of the NationalAssembly Hon. Curtis Martin

Speaker of the NationalAssembly, Hon. Curtis Martinspeaks to the Hon. Leader of theOpposition

(Photos by Erasmus Williams)



BY EARL CLARKEDear Reader: When I was a very young boy, there was a man calledAndrê. People claim that he was from St. Barths, French West Indies.Andrê claimed that he was a prophet. People also claimed that he was aprophet because he would point his first and second fingers up in the airand proclaim that these days are perilous days.

Andre has died many years ago, but his predictions still hold true.In 1967, we lived through perilous days when our freedom was

threatened. The business places and the sugar estate owners, alongwith some black people who had long ago lost their identity wanted tore-enslave us in the 20th Century. They wanted to stifle the progressand impede the social programmes which Mr. Bradshaw and the LabourMovement had instituted for us.

The new Education Act, giving access to the children of porters,cane cutters, fishermen, street cleaners, drain cleaners, domestic servantsand any other ordinary folks, was too much a progress step for thosefolks who thought that Secondary Education should have been aprivilege for the privileged few ad not a right to be enjoyed by the vastmajority of ordinary folks.

This piece of legislation galled them. They took their children awayfrom the High Schools and sent them to Antigua, Barbados, Englandand Canada. They did not want heir children of high breeding to mix withthe children of ordinary people. Mr. Bradshaw and the Labour PartyMovement were out of place to bring about this fantastic SocialRevolution in St. Kitts. They upset the apple cart. They have destroyedthe status quo. Things would not be the same again forever. We, theprivileged cannot stomach this change.

Having stated all these historical facts, I am aghast when I hear theoff springs of the ordinary folks who were of the poorest of the poor andwho have benefitted tremendously from this great social revolution,trying to compare the history of PAM, with the historical struggles forthe upliftment of black people in St. Kitts; A total disgrace to the personswho initiated that social revolution; Distorting the historical facts of our

country and the struggles of ourbrave and heroic leaders andcomrades.

Those who perished in the1935 Buckleys Riot in order todawn in a better life for those of uswho were coming up and thosewho were yet unborn - Shame onsuch distorters of our history.

Dear Reader, apart from theEducation Act, Mr. Bradshaw andthe other members of hisgovernment went on a world tourin order to place this 68 squaremilled island on the internationalmap.

The Democrat newspaper, thenewspaper of disloyalty,negativity, treachery, mocked theefforts made by the HonourableComrades and hoped and prayedthat it will be a total failure. Theirmockery, their hopes, their prayers,their wishes were totallydestroyed, when on the return ofthe Comrades, they related thesuccess of their trip and theinvestors who had shown a keeninterest in getting to know St. Kitts.

I can attest to the success ofthe tour, because, as a Taxi Driver,I was privileged to have drivensome of the dignitaries who cameto visit the island to see what itwas like, it was quite a revocationto learn how our business peoplethink about us, our leaders and thecountry. One would certainly besurprised to learn of the SouthAfrican Apartheid mentality whichexisted in the minds of ourbusiness community in the 1960s.They wanted to keep the ordinaryfolks in our places.

In the 1960s, a domesticservant went to her boss todiscuss buying a fridge he wasselling. He asked her what shewanted a fridge for. All she had todo was to get a board box, line itwith some thin galvanize, buy ahalf block of ice every day andplace her items in it.

Imagine that, dear reader? Just40 years ago and this thinkinghave not changed whatsoever.The colouring might have changedin the business landscape, butMassa spat into the mouths of thisnew colourful businesscommunity, thereby making theminheritors of his policies eventhough we are living in the 21stCentury.

Their main concern is, not toenhance the economy by creatinggrowth in the country, but to wagewar with any Labour Governmentwhich is catapulted into power bythe majority of the electorate. Thatis their main objective, their maingoal.

So, dear reader when they

discovered how successful Mr. Bradshaw’s trip was and the advancementthe country would make if all those investors were to invest here, theyfinanced the coup aided and abetted by PAM and some Anguillians tooverthrow the 1966 lawfully elected Government of Mr. Bradshaw.

They got their international right wing friends to slander Mr.Bradshaw’s reputation, calling him a cane cutter, a bicycle mechanic, adictator, a tyrant, a Papa Doc from Haiti and all manner of brutal names.

Then, on the 10th of June 1967, the perilous days which Andrepredicted years ago, visited us. St. Kitts became stagnant. Allinvestments were halted. When the attempted coup failed, all the Estateowners refused to plant sugar cane. They wanted us to starve and thegovernment to be devoid of revenue to continue its social programmes.Does 2012 and 1967 sound familiar? Same scenario, some of the sameactors - The 1967 criminal minds still exist.

In 1967, dear reader, a certain firm in down town Basseterre, ordereda set of 100 gallon water tanks, some of these water tanks were to betaken to the South Eat Peninsula where certain families owned land andproperty and where they would have access to good drinking water,while they ride out the confusion of the coup which they themselveshad supported morally and financially. What was the reason for the 100gallon water tanks and why were they transported to the South EastPeninsula area?

One of the actions of 1967 was to blow up the oil depot at PondsPasture, totally wiping out the total population of New Town, Basseterreproper right down to Sandy Point. We must all thank the Mr., who wasassigned that task for becoming weak and faint hearted when he realizedthe carnage his actions would have caused.

Those criminal minds do not care one iota about people, includingtheir supporters. If the good gentleman did not panic, both Labour andPAM supporters would have been burnt up in the holocaust - Sacrificed.Both PAM and Labour supporters. PAM forsook its members and friends.PAM betrayed its members and friends for political expediency.

PAM does not care about people. No party which cares about peopleor its supporters could concoct such a dastardly plan. Only criminallywarped minds could hatch such a plan. Only depraved men, lacking inthe likeness and image of God the Master and the Creator could descendto the animal kingdom within them to dream up such a plan. Wipe out thewhole or almost the whole population of a country just to achieve politicalpower?

But that is not the worst part you know. I have been rambling onabout everything and almost forgot to tell you that plan (2) or plan (b)was for the criminals in PAM to poison the water at Old Road and LaGuerite. The criminal gang, who were privy to this plan, ordered theirwater tanks well in advance. Again, I must point out to you that PAMbears no love for people and its supporters.

When they poisoned the water services, were they going to tell theirsupporters who could not afford to buy a bucket, never mind a 100gallon water tank not to drink the poisoned water? PAM supportershave Labour families and friends and the secret would have leaked out.So, the best and the surest pathway to take would have been to sacrificeboth Labour and PAM people in order to achieve their murderous end.

So, when you read on SKN Vibes that a prominent PAM supporter issaying that it is time for labour people to be given a dose of cyanide,which is a deadly poison and can be placed in drinking water, yourecognize the criminal mind of the 1967’s.

Do you, dear reader, whether you are a supporter of Labour or asupporter of PAM, do you, in your heart of heart, believe that if cyanidewas to be placed in our water systems that only Labour supporterswould drink? If you are a PAM supporter and you read this on SKNVybes could you continue to support PAM? Do you have Labour familiesor Labour friends? Do you have a conscience? Do you agree with theuttering of your party big wigs, calling for the removal of Dr. Douglasand the Labour Party at all cost, including violence?

Are we definitely reliving the days leading up to June 10, 1967?Where is the voice of the Church in all of these things? I could rememberthat, in 1967, not a sound was heard condemning the attempted coup.As a matter of fact, it is true to say that some church leaders rejoiced.Where are the voices of condemnation for these utterances coming fromthe Bar Association? Where are the voices coming from the ChristianCouncil or The Evangelic Association? Are they burying their heads inthe sand like the Proverbial Ostrich, pretending that they are not of thisworld?

I have not heard any announcements or witnessed any signs thatGod has come for his world and, therefore the church has beentransported to the heavenly kingdom.

Where are the voices of our so-called decent and respectable peoplein the community? Are you, or will you be sure of your safety? I havepointed out two scenarios earlier, depicting PAM as owing no allegianceto anyone. When a mother centipede has young ones and some cigaretteashes are sprinkled on her, she turns around and devours all of heryoung ones. That is the nature of the beast called PAM. It does not carewho stands in its party. It would wipe them out; PAM, Labour, CCM orNRP. Incarnate Lucifer – We are definitely living in perilous days.

Beware of PAM and its1967 Criminal

Elements

NAAP celebrates 60thobservance ofAdministrative ProfessionalsWeekBy Drizel Hanley

The National Association ofAdministrative Professionals(NAAP) – St Kitts Chapter iscelebrating the 60th observanceof Administrative ProfessionalsWeek.

Administrative ProfessionalsWeek is being observed here fromApril 22nd to 28th under the theme“Embracing Diversity Critical toOrganizational Success”.

Minister with responsibilityfor Health, Cultural and GenderAffairs and Social andCommunity Development, theHon. Marcella Liburd in declaringthe week’s celebrations officiallyopened expressed sincere thanksto the National Association ofAdministrative Professionals(NAAP) the St. Kitts Chapter fortheir invaluable contribution totheir respective organizations andthe wider society.

The Minister stressed that notwo persons are alike; we eachbring different skills and abilities,different temperament and styles,different ideas and perspectivesto the task that is to be executed.

“It is these differences andvarieties when pooled together thataccount for successful operations,successful execution of the task athand,” the Health Minister opined.

“These diversities must bewisely molded, harnessed, utilizedand managed in order to achievepositive and constructiveoutcomes in order to ensure, as thetheme states, “organizationalsuccess”, she added.

Activities for the week includedan administrative professionals’leadership training seminar onTuesday 24th April at the St KittsMarriott Resort and a Gala dinnerheld on AdministrativeProfessionals Day, Wednesday25th April at the Nirvana Restaurant(old Fairview Inn).

The leadership training seminarwas facilitated by experiencedspeakers who dealt with taking theleap from administration tomanagement, individualperformance and developmentplanning.

This week which is observedglobally is usually used torecognise administrative staff andcelebrate their achievements andcontributions to theirorganisations.


Local law enforcementofficers hone skills incombating illegal firearmstrafficking

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (CUOPM) – Two local law enforcementofficers are among Caribbean colleagues attending a 10-day trainingcourse on combating illicit firearms trafficking.

Police Officer Sgt. Macky Smith of the Royal St. Christopher andNevis Police Force and Sgt. Marvin Payne of the St. Kitts-Nevis DefenceForce are in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad attending the sessions orgainsedby the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, through itsRegional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in LatinAmerica and the Caribbean (UNLIREC).

UNLIREC said the regional Inter-Institutional Training Course onCombating the Illicit Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition and Explosives(IITC) will train more than 50 security sector and law enforcement officersfrom Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica,Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent andthe Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The participants, who are security sector officers of the Caribbeanregion will learn interactive firearms investigation techniques, technicalaspects of weapons and ammunition identification, intelligence gatheringand crime scene management, tracing and preparation of evidence incriminal proceedings, as well as practical disarmament measures such asweapons destruction and stockpile management.

The course also covers cross–cutting issues related to the use offorce, gender awareness and child protection. The sub-regional coursewill introduce new issues, such as maritime security, container searchand identification of armed individuals.

Since 2004, UNLIREC has trained over 3,000 law enforcement officersin Latin America and the Caribbean, strengthening the capacities ofStates in the region to address the problem of the proliferation of andtrafficking in illicit firearms.

This training course is part of UNLIREC’s Firearms AssistancePackage to Caribbean States, which began in 2010, with the financialsupport of Canada and the United States.

Nevis Environment Minister callson Nevisians to treat world kindly;start in their communities

NIA CHARLESTOWN — Environment Minister in the Nevis IslandAdministration (NIA) Hon. Carlisle Powell called on Nevisians to bemindful of how they treated the earth and they should start in theircommunities. His urging came as he delivered an advance televisedaddress on April 20th on Nevis Television on channel 8 (NTV8), asNevis joined the world in observance of Earth Day on April 22, 2012.

He stated that the fight for a clean environment should take root incommunities on the island, since climate change had become increasinglyimportant in the world today.

“Working together we can make a positive difference in preservingthe natural resources we all enjoy and share with visitors to our shores…

“Help write many more victories, many more successes into ourhistory by keeping your streets and villages litter free. Let us use energysaving light bulbs and appliances. We must use water wisely and fixleaking taps and other equipment. Use fuel efficient vehicles and controlour land based activities to prevent waste water run offs that can polluteour ground water and ocean. We should use the beaches smartly andleave the sand for future generations to enjoy,” Mr. Powell suggested.

The Minister, who is also responsible for Nevis’ natural resources,noted that the NIA through its water services programme would continueto educate the public on those important matters and over time, wouldwork with local, regional and international organisations and institutionsto help bring about behavioural change in those areas.

Looking to the future, Mr Powell said building a clean, healthy, greenenvironment for generations to come meant protection of the island’sground water and public water system, air pollution control, beachmonitoring, pesticide control and solid waste management.

He also made specific mention of the NIA’s thrust in the developmentof geothermal energy and noted though they had some distance to gothe sitting Administration had advocated greater emphasis on renewableenergy.

“The government granted very generous concessions on solar waterheaters. The Wind Farm at Maddens and our continuing thrust intogeothermal energy have attracted the attention of the entire world asRenewable Energy enthusiasts have acknowledged that the governmentand people of Nevis are playing our part in protecting and preserving

Man charged in a four-yearold murder case,two cruise passengersarrested and fined for drugpossession and Delta Squadseizes Glock in Nevis search

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (CUOPM) – Police make an arrest in afour-year old murder case, confiscated a firearm and conducted anoperation in which over 100 vehicles and 94 persons were searched.

Police say an overnight operation in the Frigate Bay and surroundingareas of Basseterre resulted in 94 persons and 106 vehicles beingsearched. 45 tickets were issued and four arrests made – two forpossession of Cannabis and two for immigration purposes.

Police also arrested a prisoner in custody. Craig Halliday of FortThomas Road was charged for the alleged murder of Leon Westermanalias “Gars” which was committed on January 28th 2008 in Charlestown,Nevis.

Police also disclosed that two American citizens on board the visitingcruise ship “Carnival Victory” on Friday were arrested after the ship’ssecurity and the local Customs Department carried out a search of acabin in which a quantity of vegetable material suspected to be cannabiswas found.

Lena Lugar and Chad Brown both of Richmond, Virginia in the UnitedStates were held by police and taken before the Magistrate in SandyPoint where they both pleaded guilty. They were each fined EC$800.00)forthwith or 30 days in prison. The fines were paid and they weretransported back to the ship.

In Nevis, an operation by the Delta Squad led to the arrest of DaishJames, after he was stopped and searched at Cotton Ground Road forillegal drugs, arms and ammunition.

One Glock 22 pistol and nine (9) hallow .40 rounds were found in hisback sack.

the earth,” he said.Notwithstanding, Mr. Powell

said no matter how small the effortswere he encouraged all to begin todo something to protect andpreserve the earth sincesucceeding generations woulddepend on this generation.

Nevis joined more than onebillion people across the globe onSunday to stand united for asustainable future and to drawattention to the importance ofenvironmental issues on Nevisand the rest of the world.

Minister responsible for theEnvironment and NaturalResources on Nevis Hon.Carlisle Powell (file photo)

The Labour Spokesman FRIDAY, APRIL 27TH 2012 17 - NEWS -

To pray or not topray: Why attackthe Church?By Llewellyn Parris

fasting (if they are able to) at homeand abroad. I will join as one.

“I believe God answersprayers. He may not alwaysanswer the way we wish but Hedoes answer. He is not a respecterof persons so it matters not whocalls for the prayer and fasting. Itmatters not the political affiliationor such schisms.

“I believe it is enough that weseek His guidance in prayers andsupplications and the islands willbe better off for it.

“We’ve become too heavyladen with debt and withdivisiveness and the divisivenessis on all sides and the debt burdenis borne by all.

“Seeking forgiveness isbiblical. Those who suggestotherwise have made themselvesto be more knowledgeable thanGod.

“Here in New York on Monday,I will stand in solidarity both inprayer and fasting for the good ofour island.

“I have no political party inprayer. There is God and one Nevisso I will join with my fellowNevisians in entreating Him to healour land in His way.”

The day Monday April 16 wasobserved by a large section ofNevisians and residents, andNevisians in the Diaspora as a dayof prayer and fasting. The climaxwas the service officiated byPastor Dalton Grenyion at the

Charlestown Methodist Church.The fact that the day was observed as Premier Parry had requested

of his people, it did not go very well with CCM sympathisers. On Tuesday(April 17) evening Senior Lawyer Theodore Hobson boasted on theLet’s Talk programme on Voice of Nevis (VON) Radio: “And I am notquite sure what happened at the prayer and fasting. I certainly had mybreakfast, lunch and dinner.”

But having said he was not sure what happened at the prayer andfasting session, he went ahead to shoot himself in the foot by admittingthat he had gathered some information: “When I asked about how peopleturned up at the church they tell me very badly attended, so I do notknow. Mr Stanley, I know you are a very religious person, did you go?”

“Unfortunately I forgot,” replied the temporary programme host MrEdric Stanley. “It was mentioned at our Church on Sunday (April 15) andhonestly I would have been there if I had remembered. Monday I had alot of things to do and by the time the afternoon came, I went back homea little tired and I completely forgot, but I would have been there.”

He told his colleagues on the programme and listeners alike that hehad heard that it was a national church service “to bring healing to ourcountry. Only this morning on the news I heard that it was organised bythe NRP, but in my view, I would have gone anyway. Barring NRP, Iwould have gone simply because it was a spiritual gathering.

“I am a church person and wherever church service is, and I have thetime, I will attend. I can always compute my own way of disassociatingor associating in whatever way or justifying my presence or my absence.But as I said, if I did not get tired, I would have been there to pray to theLord and hope our nation would be spared from hurricanes and all theother ravages and also protect our people, and to make our communitya better place for of us to live.”

The programme’s humorist must have been Mr Elton Marcus Hull,who when asked if he attended, blurted out: “I can say Stanley, I prayevery day. I do not need Mr Parry or anybody else to tell me to pray.What I am praying for Stanley?” That is a severe case of ‘Doctor, healthyself’ syndrome.

However, the sad part of it was when Mr Theodore Hobson took itup himself to hurl unsubstantiated accusations at members of the Nevisianclergy by stating that many of them were paid advisors of governmentand were being used to cover up for government by holding the service.

“Many of the pastors are of course either advisors or are peopleconnected with the government and collecting vast sums of money inremuneration and so forth,” said Mr Hobson. “They are interested intrying to cover it over with a church service.”

According to Mr Hobson, who is a former chairman of the ConcernedCitizens Movement when it was the party in government, the church isbecoming less and less important or relevant because of the activities ofthe members of the clergy.

The CCM has failed Nevisians after it would have been given thechance to mend broken fences but stubbornly turned it down. Theyhave refused to learn from Jesus Christ who demonstrated that he hadno time for tribal politics of His day by asking for a drink of water from aSamaritan woman when Jews were not supposed to mix with theSamaritans.

Nevisian inNew Yorkdonates toAlexandraHospitalandFlamboyantNursingHome

NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS— A Nevisian who resides in theUnited States continue to donateitems to the Alexandra Hospitaland the Flamboyant NursingHome on Nevis.

On April 19, 2012 Mrs. MarilynWalters-Drew of Rawlins Village,

personally presented a gift including bed linen, toiletries and pantryrelated items to Nurse Adrienne Ward for those health facilities on Nevisand explained the reason behind the gesture.

“I visited my mother at the Alexandra Hospital in 2012 and recognisedthe need for some white sheets. I spoke to Matron Dias and told her ofmy wish to help and that I would like to donate some white sheets. Shetold me the size and on my return to New York, I purchased them.

“While on Nevis I also spoke to Miss. Myris Morton at theFlamboyant home and she gave me an idea of the sort of things I could

As a dutiful leader guided by Christian principles, Premier of Nevisthe Hon Joseph Parry declared Monday April 16 as a day of prayer andfasting for the nation’s challenges, beseeching Nevisians to “dropeverything and fold your hands to pray.”

The service, which was to be held at the Charlestown MethodistChurch, was billed as a non-denominational, apolitical, Christian prayermeeting that was to be hosted by a committee chaired by Mrs PatriciaHanley. Two members of the said committee had broached to PremierParry the idea of observing a day of prayer.

The Good Book, in 2 Chronicles 7:14, guides humanity on how tomaintain the best relationship with its Maker: “If my people, who arecalled by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my faceand turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and willforgive their sin and will heal their land.”

The Good Book says all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.No one is without sin. The invitation was sent to all Nevisians andresidents. However, immediately the invitations were received, a sectionof Nevisians disregarded what was a calling by the Maker and recoiledinto political cocoons where only those opposite them sin. The CCM,through Press Secretary Mervin Hanley, quickly issued a press statementwhich even left their members flabbergasted.

“As a Party founded on Christian principles which has always hadas its core belief a sense of decency and morality, the CCM and itssupporters continue to seek justice and the preservation of law andorder. As a Party, we recognise that we always need to invoke God’sdivine intervention,” stated Mr Hanley in part.

That is precisely what the Premier was asking Nevisians to do. Butbecause the call was first made by the Nevis Island Administration,which is led by the Nevis Reformation Party, Mr Hanley said that CCMwould not take part in the day of prayer. God is the Author of all democraticprinciples known to man, and He never forces anyone to worship Him.

Reading between the lines, even the blind can decipher the message.The CCM, citing what they termed as injustice, saw Parry’s call to prayeras being the proverbial olive branch. But they refused to accept it becausethe colour of an olive branch is green. Fresh olive branches have neverbeen known to have any other colour but green.

Not all Nevisians listened to the CCM. Immediately the informationhit the internet, a Nevisian of goodwill, Manhattan-based lawyer, MrCarl Nisbett appealed to all Nevisians to heed to Premier Parry’s request.The following was his appeal, which was posted on the SKN list onSaturday April 14:

“I certainly hope all Nevisians and Kittitians join in the prayer and

purchase for the home. About aweek ago, I was able to post thosethings home,” she said.

In response, Nurse Wardregistered gratitude on behalf ofthe patients at the Hospital and theresidents of the Home andthanked Mrs Walters Drew for herkind gesture.

She said the items came at agood time and would be used inthe interest of both patients andresidents.

The gift was handed over onthe Hospital compound in thepresence of HospitalAdministrator Ms. Grace Elliott.

Nevisian Mrs. Marilyn Walters-Drew (r) hands over gift to NurseAdrienne Ward for patients of the Alexandra Hospital and residentsof the Flamboyant Nursing Home on Nevis. Hospital AdministratorMs. Grace Elliott (extreme left) looks on

Gift items for the Alexandra Hospital and the Flamboyant NursingHome from Nevisian Mrs. Marilyn Walters-Drew a resident of NewYork City

The Labour Spokesman FRIDAY, APRIL 27TH 201218 - SPORTS -

Development Bank renews NewtonGround Ballers’ sponsorship

BASSETERRE ST. KITTS —As the St. Kitts Amateur BasketballAssociation (SKABA) 2012 leagueenters its second round, topcontenders in the junior leagueDevelopment Bank NewtonGround Ballers have received amajor boost following the renewalof their sponsorship.

Ms Enist Parris, DevelopmentBank Newton Ground Ballers’coach, in thanking theDevelopment Bank of St. Kitts andNevis for renewing thesponsorship, has indicated thatthe boys are energised and witheight wins and only one loss sofar, she feels that the team willclinch the under-20 league title inthe 2012 SKABA championships.

“We sat out last year and didnot participate in the SKABAleague because I was ill,” saidEnist Parris, a former basketballplayer who was grounded byinjury, but kept the game alive byforming the Newton Ground team.“This year we have come backstronger and so far we have playednine games and won eight. Thechampionship is in sight now.”

Ms Parris made the remarks onThursday April 19 when shereceived a sponsorship chequefrom Ms Danienne Brin, ExecutiveAssistant to the bank’s GeneralManager Mr Lenworth Harris. Shepointed out that since their onlyloss was to Molineux Strivers whohave themselves lost threematches, they are better placed tolift the championship.

“The boys have the ability totake the junior championship,” said

Ms Parris. “The one loss was a wakeup call for them and now they are amuch focused team and hence the reason I am sure they will take thetrophy this year. I am very grateful to the Development Bank and I wishthe guys would win the championship this year so as to compliment thesponsor.”

Ms Parris, who was accompanied by the assistant coach Mr NorvinRawlins, and players Glencav Garnett, Cedrin Williams and DishonHeyliger, said that the team is also involved in community outreachprogrammes. The new sponsorship will go a long way in boosting theoutreach programmes.

“With this new sponsorship, we are getting polo shirts, a cooler,balls and shoes for a number of the players,” stated Ms Parris. “We needthe polo shirts because the team goes out to events like the church anddifferent functions in the community including funerals. We need theshirts so we can look like a united group with a purpose.”

While making the presentation, Ms Brin observed that theDevelopment Bank was happy to partner with the country’s youths intheir efforts to make their communities better places to live. Accordingto Ms Brin, the management of the bank was encouraged becausemembers of the team are active even away from the court as they engagein community projects.

“The Development Bank’s mandate is to empower communities in aholistic manner,” said the bank’s Executive Assistant. “These youngpersons have shown promise both on the court and outside the court. Itis our hope that they will clinch the title this year. That will help boosttheir morale as they go back to serve the Newton Ground community.”

Ms Danienne Brin, Development Bank’s Executive Assistant (secondleft) presents the bank’s sponsorship cheque to Ms Enist Parris.Others in the picture are, from left Dishon Heyliger, assistant coachNorvin Rawlins, Cedrin Williams, and Glencav Garnett.

Where is the money going? Oh.There is also Mr. Speaker, an officeto be paid for, a secretary to bepaid for, where is the secretary?And I can tell you the money goesout of the Treasury every singlemonth.

“There is no secretary. There’sno office. But every single monthmoney goes out of the Treasuryfor that office. But where is thesecretary? And then they talkabout corruption and talk aboutcutting back on people’s salary?Eh? He is responsible for thesecretary. Where is the secretaryworking? Where is the money thatis being collected from theTreasury for the Secretary?” Dr.Douglas repeated.

He told the House onThursday: “That’s what I said andtoday I stand with those questionsbeing asked. I think an opportunetime has been provided for theHon. Leader of the Opposition toanswer the questions that Iposed.”

The Speaker told Mr. Brantleythat he himself translated theremarks of the Prime Minister fromthe official records of the Houseon March 29 and they are identicalto his response.

“As far as I see it, taking wordfor word, you have listened to itand I have not in my view see thepoint where you said that he isactually saying that monies arepaid to you. He has put it in theform of questions, which I thinkshould be answered because inthe same light that the publicdemands from a government, anadministration to be transparentand to be responsible andprofessional, it is the same way itis in my view, the view of the Chair,that the Opposition and the Officeof Leader of Opposition must alsobe responsible and transparent.”

“I am speaking of the principle.Monies are in fact voted for andapproved for the Office of theLeader of the Opposition, whichunder my understanding isrepresented jointly by the People’sAction Movement and the

Concern Citizens Movementbased on the outcome of the lastelection with two seats each. Iwould assume that it was anegotiated arrangement with aSenator from the People’s ActionMovement. The principle ingeneral is that if there is providedmonies for a national office for theLeader of the Opposition thatshould have been taken care of,”said Speaker Martin.

He told the Leader of theOpposition that the fact that thatmonies are being paid for asecretary, who does not occupyan official office, creates somedoubt.

“For example, the question iswhere is that secretary working?It is a relevant question and toavoid issues and avoid problems,you must deal with the principle.The very same way the public isasking the government to betransparent likewise the public canask the opposition to provideproof as to what work thesecretary is doing and what ishappening in the realm of theOffice of the Opposition,” said theHon. Speaker.

Speaker rules:(cont’d from page 14)

educate itself on agriculture, its benefits as well as forward suggestionsto the department on how products can be improved.

“I would encourage persons to come out because it’s an opportunitywhere the Agriculture Department can interact with the public and thepublic can explain to us what they think is not being done properly andto suggest to us what things we can to make improvements.

“We would really appreciate hearing the public’s point of view,” headded.

Ian Chapman, Chairman of the two day activity, gave the vote ofthanks, expressing gratitude to local farmers and everyone who madethe event possible.

The importance of healthy eating, food security and “buying local”was reinforced by entertainers such as “SP Finest” who encouragedpersons to make decisions which would promote the agricultural sector.

The Agriculture Open Day attracted a number of dignitaries withdifferent interests in the field of agriculture including: Deputy PrimeMinister, the Hon. Sam Condor, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry ofEducation, Mrs. Ionie-Liburd Willet and other of members of the ConsularCorps.

The open day also saw feature performances by local artistes Footsyand the Lights Out Band, along with Plant Nursery Sales and Horsebackriding.

Viewed as the one of the largest agricultural event of the year, theAgriculture Open Day attracts thousands of students and residents onboth St Kitts and Nevis.

This Open Day and Exhibition is held each year to highlight on-going development in agriculture and to introduce new approaches tothe general public.

It ends today, Friday 27th with music and a fashion Show.

Department ofAgricultural host OpenDay......... (cont’d from page 19)

Amended Premier Division FixtureThe SKNFA wishes to advise that the times and venues for the

Premier Division matches scheduled for this weekend have beenamended, and will now be played at the Warner Park Stadium as follows:

Saturday 28th April6:00 p.m Mantab vs. Conaree8:00 p.m S.L Horsford St. Pauls vs. St. Thomas/Trinity StrikersSunday 29th April5:00 p.m Delphic Newtown United vs. Cayon7:00 p.m Rams Village Superstars vs. Harris Paints St. Peters

2012 SKNFA FA CUP –Quarter-FinalsThe live draw for the

quarterfinals match up wasdone on ZIZ’s Action Sportsand the matches will be playedas follows:

determined by the toss of a coin.

Tuesday 1st6:00 p.m Rams Village Superstars vs. Newton Ground8:00 p.m St. Thomas/Trinity Strikers vs. CayonWednesday 2nd6:00 p.m Harris Paints St. Peters vs. Delphic Newtown United8:00 p.m UDC Garden Hotspurs vs. S.L Horsford St. Pauls

The following rules will apply to this round of matches.QUARTER-FINALS- Each match shall have a winner and only the winner shall advance- Each match shall be 70 minutes regulation time, i.e., 35 min per half witha 10 minute interval.- In the event of a tie at the end of regulation, the best of five penalty kickswill apply.- If at the end of the best of five penalty kicks there is still a tie, suddendeath penalty kicks shall be taken by those players who have not taken penaltykicks before until a winner is determined.- If there is still a tie at the end of sudden penalty kicks, the winner shall be

The Labour Spokesman FRIDAY, APRIL 27TH 2012 19

- COMMENTARY -

By: Vigilante

- NEWS -

Highway - self-named by theformer Prime Minister of the twin-island Federation in the early1990’s.

Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr.Denzil L. Douglas said Wednesdayat his monthly press conferencethat in an effort to further reducethe national debt, he held talks lastweekend while in Washington,D.C., with U.S. Treasury officialspertaining to the existing debt thatSt. Kitts and Nevis has incurredwith the United States.

The entire South EastPeninsular Road – the Dr. KennedySimmonds Highway - was builtwith loan funds from the UnitedStates Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID) and theamount outstanding is about US$2million.

“I engaged U.S. Treasuryofficials to set the tone of thediscussions that will take place inParis next month when St. Kittsand Nevis appears before the ParisClub to negotiate with them areduction in the debt that we havewith members of the Paris Club,”said Prime Minister Douglas inresponse to a question on whetherthere were further initiatives toreduce the national debt which waslowered by one-third following therecent debt restructuringprogramme.

Dr. Douglas met with theTreasury official on the sidelinesof the IMF/World Bank SpringMeetings in Washington, D.C.

He said the United StatesGovernment and the UnitedKingdom Government were theonly two members of the Paris

Club that St. Kitts and Nevis areindebted to.

Dr. Douglas intimated that thediscussions tried to feel outwhether or not there can becomplete debt forgiveness of theUS$2 million, secondly, whetherthe existing debt can berestructured within the frameworkof the recent debt restructuringprogramme and thirdly whetherthe life of the loan can be extendedwith reduced monthly payments.

The delegation from theMinistry of Finance and the debtadvisors - which he will head inhis capacity as Minister ofFinance, will sit before the panelof the Paris Club members tonegotiate with the United Statesand United KingdomGovernments.

“We will know next monthwhat is the final chapter in our debtrestructuring exercise that wasstarted last year,” said PrimeMinister Douglas.

The highway has been proneto rock fall on the road at TimothyHill and a temporary bypass roadis been used to facilitate vehiculartraffic.

The condition of the highwaywas the major talking point atrecent meeting of the St. Kitts andNevis Cabinet.

The Hon. Dr. Earl Asim Martin,Minister of Public Works, Utilities,Local Transport and Housing,accompanied by the Director ofPublic Works, Mr. CalvinPemberton, two engineers from thePublic Works Department, andrepresentatives and engineersfrom an engineering firm, ADeBConsulting, presented acomprehensive report of his

ministry’s plan to improve thepublic roads in parts of Basseterre,Frigate Bay and the South-EastPeninsula.

“Resurfacing of the road fromthe Bay Road in the vicinity of PortZante, along Sandown, along theFrigate Road and to the thirdround-about at Frigate Bay,resurfacing of the road from thethird round-about at Frigate Bay,along the South-East Peninsula(Dr. Kennedy Simmonds Highway)to the Sea Bridge at Majors Bay,and to Cockleshell Beach, theconstruction of a major round-about at the intersection of the KimCollins Highway, the Frigate BayRoad and the Bird Rock Road andthe construction of a 150 metredrive-through tunnel at TimothyHill to address the issue of thefalling of rocks from the hillside onthat part of the road particularlyas a result of erosion due to heavyrainfall over time,” said MinisterCarty.

Mr. Carty further disclosedthat engineers agreed that therewas significant deterioration onthese segments of the roadnetwork, and that given theincreasing traffic on them over theyears, it was critical from aneconomic as well as safetystandpoint to make majorimprovements to the identifiedroad segments.

“It was revealed that there isneed for only surface work alongspecific points of the road but thatwork would have to be done to thesub-stratum in other areas giventhe damage done to it due to theseepage of rain water over theyears,” said the Minister ofInformation.

(cont’d from page 1)

* In his desperation and determination to hold on to power atall and any cost, de embattled and hopeless PAM leader haslaunched his own weekly radio programme on the PAM/FMstation – defying the mounting number of calls from dissidentPAM supporters to step down.* Dey say he say it’s his money paying for de programme. Isgrudge dey grudge him, and they too damn ungrateful. Theycould talk til they drop dead, he not stepping down as PartyLeader for no crook or traitor.* And, he say there is nothing they can do to stop him fromleading the PAM team into the next General Elections.* But wid all de big talk he got, the April deadline announcedat the PAM Convention has long passed and he cannot finda full slate of candidates as yet. Everybody chasing him away.* And, de word out of Sandy Point is that his deputy there isthreatening to back out as a candidate next time around.De word is that he is seeking to get back his US papers andhe say that PAM is in the reverse gear; he has no future withLindsay Grant as the leader.* Dey say de handpicked host of the so-called weekly radioprogramme say she get a lot of knock bout from Little BoPeep and she party, but she was promised the Speaker jobafter being brushed aside for the Senator post.* The poor host is so frustrated and confused after all thatknock bout, that she called the failed PAM leader by the wrongname (Fitzgeral) when she was introducing him on the radioprogramme last week.* The PAM meeting in St. Peter’s on Sunday night was anotherbig failure for Sleeping Hammy, Little Bo Peep and the PAMteam. Less than 3 dozen people turned up to de busing match.* Dey say even Donley is disappointed and annoyed withSleeping Hammy for the great disservice he has done to himin the Democrat and on the platform Sunday night – throwinghim under the bus.* Dey say he say if Sleeping Hammy really cared about him,he would have waited until the sentence hearing and placehim at the mercy of the court, using the Church Minister andother reputable persons in the country to beg for him.* Some directors of the PAM/FM station are saying that theVoices host is doing far better job than the General Manger.They complain that he’s too professional for the job they wantthe station to do (getting rid of Douglas and Labour).* People in Nevis are saying the tape with the former NevisPremier giving the assurance that the CCM was not going toappeal against the judgement of Justice Jones was doctored.* And, they are wondering if the tape recording referred to bythe Sheriff in de House yesterday was doctored as well.* People want to know how de big PAM Rescue Crew fellowcould spend so much time preaching about morality, respectfor women and integrity in public life, when he has nonewhatsoever in his home and family life. Dey say he needs tobe reminded that charity begins at home.* Dey say he up and dung complaining his other half to people,but she say he’s an ungrateful man; he forget all wha shedone do for him, especially when he had to run out of decountry.* De busted Rescue Crew chief blue vex wid de loudmouthedSheriff for making a thorough fool of himself in the Houseyesterday; with all de big talk about getting an apology fromde P.M., he was the one who had to back down and withdrawhis statements.* The truth is he fraid Douglas bad and he only could talkbehind Douglas back; face to face he’s no match – he’s acoward.

By Drizel Hanley

nation to feed ourselves in asustainable and healthful manner.

Director of Agriculture,Thomas Jackson, pointed out thatAgriculture is an integral part ofour existence, noting that the OpenDay provides a goldenopportunity for the public to better

Department of Agricultural hostOpen Day to promote local crops

Under the theme, “theTransformation of the AgricultureSector: Farm to Fork Approach”,the Department of Agricultureopened its grounds yesterday,Thursday, April, 26 to showcaseand sell various vegetables, fruits,fish, animals and horticultural andagro-processed productsproduced by our local farmers.

Speaking at the OpeningCeremony held at La Guerite,

Minister with responsibility forAgriculture, the Dr. Hon. Timothy

Harris congratulated theDepartment of Agriculture on itspledge of greater service to thefarmers and all stakeholders andpartners.

The Senior Minister furthersaid that the two-day event isutilized to display a sample of thefruits, vegetables, and agroprocessed products that areproduced here as we strive as a (cont’d on page 18)

The Labour Spokesman FRIDAY, APRIL 27TH 201220 - ADVERTISEMENT -

At The Pumps This Weekend Maximum Price ULG per gal 23/11...

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