Archive | February, 2012
It has recently emerged that this country has been removed from a French blacklist of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said that the Ministry of Finance welcomed our removal from the list of tax havens, adding that there was no merit in placing St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the blacklist in the first place.
Gonsalves disclosed that the move by France to blacklist this country was an unjustified decision which resulted from an initiative by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which is the official body which oversees tax transparency worldwide.
Last year, France blacklisted 18 countries as being uncooperative on tax issues and advised that it will impose punitive taxes on French companies operating in these countries. St. Vincent and the Grenadines was among nine Caribbean countries blacklisted including Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Lucia.
There are efforts being made to create an umbrella body for a civil society movement in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This as a workshop was held on Monday to build consensus among civil society stakeholders here.
The workshop saw a number of non- state actors and members of the general public coming together to put plans in place towards the development of an umbrella civil society movement here.
SVG Non- State Actors Coordinator, Ideisha Jackson said the workshop was the perfect opportunity to create an umbrella civil society organization in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Jackson said the main purpose of the workshop was to set up an interim committee to advance the umbrella organization, where there would be multiple organizations representing the various Trade Unions, Chamber of Commerce, organizations in the Health sector among others.
Renwick Rose, who chaired the workshop, said there have been several attempts to create such an organization, but they have not been able to operate consistently as a combined national body.
Rose said the opportunities for civil society’s participation in the work of the government at the regional and international levels are more prevalent at present, in comparison to three decades ago.
Fresh from his recent victory in the general elections of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Union, President Oswald Robinson is already putting plans in place for the development of the Union.
Robinson said emphasis is now being placed on getting all the branches of the Union functional at the required standard, adding that he along with other members of the executive will be working assiduously to revive each of the ten Union branches.
The Union President disclosed that there is a long list of programmes and strategies in place for the advancement of the Union. Robinson said that the Executive cannot work in isolation of its membership, stating that the Executive needs a general council to give guidance and to ratify certain decisions.
Robinson stressed the importance of having follow up programmes to ensure the proper functioning and sustenance of the branches. He also said that an initiative will be established to provide incentive to the outstanding branch to encourage excellent work.
Robinson further stated is a reservoir of human resource with over fifty retired members and this resource needs to be utilized properly.
A three day workshop targeting small firms or professionals producing any type of service in the local market and who are interested in exporting their products will commence here today.
The export development training workshop for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES) in the services sector aims to provide participants with a Roadmap to Exporting Services; to take participants through the 4-stage process of the SME roadmap, and to gain better understanding of their potential for exporting services.
It will be facilitated by Enabling Environments Ltd in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Consumer Affairs. The workshop is made possible with the support of the European Commission and is funded by the ACP-MTS Programme.
The workshop will end on Friday March 2nd.
The Hon. Arhnim Eustace, the opposition leader for the New Democratic Party is calling on persons who are trying or who made statements that talk show host Edwardo “EG” Lynch’s position be worsen, to reflect on the statements they made.
Mr. Eustace said it is disgusting when people wish bad for others simply because they are affiliated to a particular political party. Lynch who has been asking for donations to assist with his eye surgery in the US has been coming under fire lately along with the NDP for not being able to take care of his medical expenses.
Mr. Eustace opined that we do not all have to support the same political party, however when it is in regard to humanity it is a different matter all together.
Using Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves as an example, Eustace noted that when Dr. Gonsalves was involved in a vehicular accident, Mr. Lynch used his program to allow well wishers to express their sympathy. The same treatment he added should be meted out to Lynch in return.
Vincentians will soon have the opportunity for another year to witness a grand showcase of talent by the Christian community here, in what is termed as the Premier Christian event on the cultural calendar in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This as the 10th Anniversary of the SVG Gospel Festival was officially launched here yesterday.
The month long festival will open on the 31st of March and will continue throughout the month of April of April, under the theme “A Glorious Celebration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ”.
Speaking at yesterday’s Press Launch, Chairman of the festival Mr. Fidel Taylor said a grand celebration would be staged this year to mark the 10th anniversary of the festival.
The Chairman further asserted that he believes the way out of the economic depression which is troubling the world economies including SVG, is through praise and worship to God, an opportunity provided through the annual gospel festival.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Reconciliation and Ecclesiastical Affairs, Rosita Snagg agreed with Taylor’s remarks, stating that the gospel festival also aids in the reconciliation process by bringing people together in showcasing their talent and creativity.
Also making brief remarks, Cultural Officer Anthony Theobalds said the Ministry of Culture continues to support the festival, which impacts positively on the development of Christian principles and values in the country.
The SVG Gospel Festival will be staged throughout the country in several zonal showcases before climaxing on April 28th and 29th with two nights of national showcases. On those nights, the best of SVG will gather at the Victoria Park to showcase their talents in song, drama, dance and sermonette, while Guest Artistes Damitha Haddon and Jessica Reedy of the USA and Bishop John Cline of the BVI will complement the local acts.
After a period of dormancy, the Land Surveyors’ Board in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is now operational once more. This is following the approval granted recently by Cabinet, in accordance with the Land Surveyors’ Act of 1974.
The Board currently comprises of the Permanent Secretary, the Chief Surveyor, a practicing private surveyor and an attorney at law. The Board is required to concern itself with the conditions for the granting of a surveyor’s license, the gazetting of a surveyor’s license and the maintenance of a register of the Board.
Also, the Board will see that its disciplinary powers are carried out properly, the process of Appeal, the revocation or suspension of a license, and the termination of suspension of the license, with the corresponding grant of a new license.
At the most recent meeting of the Board last week Thursday, Minister of Housing, Informal Human Settlements, Lands & Surveys and Physical Planning, Hon. Montgomery Daniel attended and participated actively in the deliberations made.
The Chairman and members of the Board expressed satisfaction with the support offered by Daniel and the passion demonstrated for the forward movement of the Board.
.B Punette, a social entrepreneur, is urging Vincentians to consume less fast food and to pay closer attention to their health. Speaking as a guest on the Newtimes program yesterday, Ms. Punette said that a lot of Vincentians, particularly young people, are being influenced by the fast food crave that they have been witnessing on television, which is now taking a toll on their physical development.
Punette said the excessive thighs, breasts and rear end on some young people can be attributed to the hormones injected in animals that are used to prepare fast-food.
She added that the lives of many people are at risk because of the amount of fast-food they consume, while stating that at present a lot of males look as if they have women’s breasts and are in need of bras, Punette said.
She is calling on Vincentians to consume more local foods in order to decrease their health risk.
GUIDELINES:
• Must promote environmental awareness depicted in at least three (3) ways
• Must accompany a summary description along with a title of the poster:
• Posters size should be 22” x 28”
• Entries will be judged on the following criteria: Creativity, relevance to the theme, content, layout/design
• Entries must be accompanied by: Country, Name of Student, Date of Birth, Address, Telephone, School, School Address, Principal, School Telephone number
Categories:
Junior Division- 12 and under (contestant may not have passed his/her 13th birthday by March 12th, 2012)
Senior Division- 13-16 yrs (contestants may not have passed his/her 17th birthday
by March 12, 2012)
1st prize US $3,000
2nd prize US $1,500 3rd prize US $ 1,000
Winning Students’ School will also receive monetary rewards.
Deadline for submission of posters to the Ministry of Tourism, Sports & Culture March 23rd, 2012
PLEASE CONTACT THE MINSTRY OF TOURISM, SPORTS & CULTURE ON 2nd FLOOR, NIS BUILDING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Tel: 457-1502.
The Florida Cruise Association (FCCA) is inviting students of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to participate in the 2012 FCCA Foundation for the Children’s Environmental Poster Competition.
The competition is opened to children in the Junior Division, 12 years old and under and the Senior Dividion13 to 16 years old.
A monetary reward will be given for the poster that has been selected to represent St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The competition seeks to promote and stimulate environmental awareness among students and effectively educate younger generations on the importance of environmental protection.
The deadline for submission of posters to the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture is Friday 23rd March, 2012
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