LIAT pilot and admitted drug trafficker Keith Richard Otway Allen escaped a long prison term and should be back home in St Vincent and the Grenadines today after paying fines totalling $1/4 million yesterday.
The fines were about twice the value of the 65 pounds of cannabis which Allen was arrested for smuggling into Barbados on November 23.
The sentence, handed down by Magistrate Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell in the District “F” Magistrates’ Court, brought an end to a matter that featured two Methodist preachers appearing as character witnesses for the pilot, and several adjournments after Allen’s guilty plea.
Through his attorney Sir Richard Cheltenham, Allen (pictured here leaving the court) paid the fines as is evidenced by the receipt from the court.
The Ministry of Education held a consultation on the development of a new Education Sector Development Plan at the Methodist Church Hall last evening.
The consultation aimed to canvass the views and opinions of stakeholders in education so as to make a qualitative assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, challenges and priorities of education in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Consultants Professor Errol Miller and Dr. George Forde led the discussion.
“Wireless Internet will be implemented in all Police Station and Health Centers across the country”. So says Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves while delivering the key note address at the Caribbean conference of Police association at Murray heights hotel.
Gonsalves said he would do the same as all educational institution and install wireless internet in the 20 plus Police Stations and 43 Health Centers this year, as a means of improving education at all levels.
Gonsalves said as he is making provision to raise the standard of the police force here in SVG, putting in place a desk top in all Police Stations are some of the measures to be taken. There was Representation from the regional Police forces at the conference.
Additionally, Courses in real time are now being offered to working class people at the St Vincent & the Grenadines community college and will also be available to persons of all interest and back ground. He made known of the 40 million dollar project that was funded by the E.U to enhance the infrastructure.
Efforts are in the pipeline to offer mega free program at the community college. He said he wants a protocol work out with the community college and the police training college.
Honorable St Clair Leacock Parliamentary representative for Central Kingstown is concerned that his constituency is the only one that does not have a health Care center.
While speaking at the NDP press conference this week he explained that it put his constituency at a disadvantage having to journey to The Milton Cato memorial hospital; where persons who would have gone there 8 am, would not leave until 2 am.
Leacock said that the line there is too long and something is needed to be done and a better facility is need.
Meanwhile Minister of health wellness and the environment Cecil Mc Kie does not share the same views. He explained that the Milton Cato hospital is available and does not need a health clinic in Central Kingstown.
time Minister of Transport Senator Julian Francis said that they are in the process of implementing new programs to assist in the recovery of hurricane Thomas that has caused some damages.
He made the announcement at the Eastern Caribbean Climate resilience. He said several areas were severely damage by the hurricane and April Flood which has uprooted several areas.
Francis said despise everything, the Government has secured finance in the rehabilitation of work; in the aftermath of the storm. U.S, 1.5 million in Grand funds were provided by the republic of china and Taiwan for rehabilitations.
In one of the rivers 1.6 million loan from ECB, 5 million from the world bank for rehabilitation of the two rivers and a road in the Hopewell area and 6 emergency shelter for rehabilitation. They are at the point of getting the project implemented.
The islands of Bequia and Mustique will be filled with the sound of blues during the next few days. Blues festival kicked off in Mustique last Wednesday night and get on the way in Bequia last evening.
The festival held on the two islands has been able to draw a number of visitors and international artiste from across the globe with the likes of members of the royal family presently vacationing on Mustique.
Vincentians who are unable to travel to Bequia and Mustique will be able to enjoy one night of blues at the Aquatic club compliments business man Basil Charles.
The Hon. Arhnim Eustace the opposition leader of the New Democratic Party is concerned about how the property tax will be affecting persons living in rented houses and apartments.
At a press conference held earlier this week by the NDP the opposition leader said an increase of 15 percent on property tax will cause landlords to raise the amount that renters have to pay. This he said is only fair on the part of the landlords; however the renters will also have to bear the brunt of this increase, especially at a time when there is a salary freeze.
In his budget speech property tax was among the increases that Vincentians will have to deal with for 2012. Recently the CWSA informed Vincentians that they will have to pay an additional increase of 5 to 7 dollars on their water bill, beginning next month.
Everad Horne, a resident of Georgetown is the second person for the year to lose his life while riding a bicycle. In what can be considered as a freak accident, Horne fell off his bike Wednesday evening and broke his neck.
According to information reaching Nice Radio, Horne who is in his late 70’s was heading home to Chili when the accident occurred. Persons who were in the vicinity when the accident took place are still in shock and wondering what could have caused Horne to fall off his bicycle.
The management and staff of Nice Radio extend sympathy to the Horne family during their time of bereavement. Horne was an ardent listener of Nice Radio.
. As carnival is heating up in Trinidad and Tobago St Vincent 6 time Soca Monarch Fireman Hooper is in preparation for Soca monarch in Trinidad and Tobago.
According to Hooper, he is confident that he will win and bring back the crown to St Vincent & the Grenadines, he said he didn’t get any since carnival finished, as he was touring and preparing. He is now receiving support from Skinny Fabulous, raising funds and putting all the pieces together to make it a success, as its very costly going in to Trinidad.
Hooper said although there are talks of being difficult to make a win in TNT Hooper said that he was born as a success and winning has always been on his mind.
Hooper’s management, Lime Soca Dans, and other local artiste are all putting hands on deck and throwing their support with an entertaining campaign dub “Road to TNT.”
A number of local artistes on Saturday will journey to the Leeward side for the big event. Hairoun is the major sponsor, and on Sunday all roads lead to Georgetown, by the Bus terminal, this as a means of raising funds.
At the NDP media conference held on the Tuesday 24th January 2012. Member of Parliament for Central Kingstown, the Hon St. Clair Leacock indicated that his constituency is the only one in the country without a health care facility. This is indeed a fact, as most constituencies have an average of three (3) Health centers. Few, for example, North Leeward have up to five clinics and one hospital. It is time for Central Kingstown to have a primary Health care facility.
This story was carried on SVGTV News on Thursday 26th January 2012. The News also indicated that an interview was done with the Minister of health, and he stated that there is no need for a health center in central Kingstown, as the hospital will take care of the health of the people of that constituency. I want to let the Minister of Health know that a clinic and a hospital have two different functions. A Health Center/Clinic is a primary health care facility where as a hospital which is national is classified as a secondary and tertiary health institution. It is very unfortunate that the Minister of Health don’t know the difference between the different levels of health care facilities. Any way we have to excuse him as he is not trained in that field.
We therefore need a primary health care facility in Central Kingstown as it is the first point of entry in seeking health care. Primary health care services play a very important role in the local community. When one goes to the primary health care clinic in the community and there is need for further treatment or follow up. The patient can be referred to the hospital from the primary health Doctor where they can be seen by a specialist or consultant at the hospital. So Mr. Minister the Hospital is not the first point of entry in seeking medical attention. We therefore need to ease the burden at the Hospital.
I therefore join with the Member of Parliament for Central Kingstown in calling for a Health Center in the constituency to meet the basic health needs of the people of that constituency.
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