Category : News and Sports
The elected representative of South Leeward the Hon. Nigel Stephenson said the government has a deliberate plan to keep Vincentians poor.
Stephenson made the statement yesterday on the Newtimes program indicating that many Vincentians are living in fear and hopelessness under a self-serving government whose objective is to offer handouts to poor people before an election is called. He added that the ULP is sinking this country’s economy into a bottomless pit and unless it does not receive a shot in the arm the economy will not be revived.
Stephenson reiterated that the objective of the New Democratic Party is not to keep Vincentians poor but to ensure that at least one person in every household is employed.
He said it saddens him to know that there are many households in St. Vincent and the Grenadines that does not have a family member who is employed, which is a contributing factor to the frustration people undergo everyday.
The National Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (NTRC) will be hosting an open day at the Redemption Sharpes Communtiy Center on 22nd May, 2012 from 9:00 am to 5:00pm. This activity is to sensitize the public on the free wireless connection which is now available at this location and 27 other locations including 12 Learning resource centers.
Officials from the Adult and Continuation Education Department and the NTRC will be on hand to provide demonstrations in computer appreciation, Microsoft Word and Excel and other basic operations. Persons will also learn how to create a face book and twitter page.
Senior officials from the NTRC will also be on hand to provide information about the work being done by the NTRC and the Universal Service Fund (USF) in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Farmers in the areas of West St. George, West Kingstown and Central Kingstown will converge in the Fisheries Conference room on Wednesday to attend a workshop discussing agricultural issues.
A release from the Ministry of Agriculture says the workshop will highlight among other things issues relating to Sustainable land use which has been a topic of concern relating to agricultural production in these areas.
The workshop will begin at 9 am.
Activities to mark Fisherman’s Day 2012 continue here today, with the staging of the annual event Japan Day. Japan Day is held each year in appreciation of the invaluable contribution of the Japanese Government to the development of the local Fishing Industry here.
According to *Kei Kasaka, the day is carried jointly by the Japanese Overseas Volunteers and the JICA Alumni, the latter comprising locals who received training in Japan. Japan Day is portrayed through the hosting of an exhibition which is used to expose the culture of the Japanese people to the people of St.Vincent and the Grenadines among whom they reside. Persons attending the event which starts at 10:00am on the compound of the Kingstown Fisheries Centre, will be expected to see the following:
1. Japanese Cultural Entertainment Booths with displays of calliagraphy and accessories
2. A display of japanese pictures, souvenirs and Kids’ toys
3. Presentation of an Animation
4. Cultural food and drinks of Japan
Japan’s Day will be opened by a short ceremony with performances from the Scotia Bank South East Steel Orchestra, a Display of the Karate Artform and a Japanese Song rendered by one of its nationals.
In addition to the educational display will be other forms of entertainment done by the volunteers. The evening will come to a close at 3:00 pm.
Ten Pre-Schools will display their talent at the Peace Memorial Hall today as the country continues to celebrate the Fisherman’s month of activities.
The pre-schoolers production called “Tots in Marine Life” will begin at 10 in the morning. This follows the Fish Nite celebration which took place at Calliaqua yesterday.
The Owia Sports and Cultural Organisation will be hosting Carnival activities in Owia for the very first time this year. It will be a showcase of the talent and creativity that can be found in the Owia community. The event will begin with a Princess and Calypso show on May 25th, Jouvert on the morning of the 26th, A T- Shirt Street Party on the evening of the 26th with a Foam fete to culminate the day’s activities and a River Lime on Sunday 27th to cool down.
The Princess Show will see seven young ladies vying for the prestigious title of Mis OSCO Princess. Representing the various areas in Owia will be:
Darian Lavia, Miss Bloody Bridge- Sponsored by Karib Kable
Aaliyah Lavia, Miss Point Village- Sponsored by Poppies Pop Corn
Mariah Hoyte, Miss Bottom Town- Sponsored by Coca Cola
Alovenell Lavia, Miss Coleman Gutter- Sponsored by Sheepen Disco
Anika Pollard, Miss Hill Top- Sponsored by Alvin Merryn Investments England
Kimmorah Sutherland, Miss Barrack- Sponsored by S Dot Investments
Kiera Lavia, Miss Owia Saltpond- Sponsored by Hitz FM
The Calypso Show, which will see eight calypsonians competing for the crown, will follow immediately after the princess show.
Plans are now in place to put emphasis on sensitizing the citizens of OECS member states on the benefits to be derived from the OECS economic union.
This comes about as the seventh meeting of the OECS Commission was held in St. Lucia on May 15-16 to prepare for the meeting of the OECS Authority which would be held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on June 10-12 and the inaugural sitting of the OECS Assembly scheduled for June 15 in Antigua and Barbuda.
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who has assumed chairmanship of the OECS Authority from June 2012 to May 2013, was present as the OECS Commissioners considered the work plan, budget and the work force plan for the next financial year which begins in July 2012 for onward submission to the OECS Authority. The Commissioners also took the opportunity to meet with the staff of the Commission, which is headquartered in St. Lucia.
The Commission was established under Article 7 of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre, establishing the Economic Union as a critical element of its new governance structure.
The Commission is comprised of the Director General, who convenes and presides at meetings of the Commission and one Commissioner of Ambassadorial rank from each of the Member States.
The Commission has responsibility for keeping the functions of the organization under constant review and reporting its findings to the relevant authorities.
The Commissioners are the focal points in their member states for ensuring the implementation of the mandates of the OECS Economic Union.
One of the first activities to signal the start of the Cocoa Project here in St.Vincent and the Grenadines gets on the way tomorrow, Thursday 17th May on the windward coast of the island.
On Thursday, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, officials of the St.Vincent Cocoa Company, the St.Vincent Chapter of the Amajaro Co., will launch the start of the island wide Cocoa Rehabilitation Program at San Souci.
The officials will gather at the 5 acre Cocoa field of farmer, Mr Bryan Dasent, to launch the start of a massive pruning exercise that is expected to rehabilitate in the first instance, 150 acres of cocoa fields.
This activity follows on the heels of the hosting of 3 farmers meetings yesterday (Tuesday 15th May) at Colonarie, Mesopotamia and Wallilabou. At these meetings close to 115 farmers signed on to the rehabilitation program and were given the opportunity to learn more of the cocoa project and voice their concerns.
Tomorrow’s activity will hear addresses from the Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar and Mr. Peter Hadley, of the St.Vincent Cocoa Company. This will be followed by a demonstration of some of the activities involved in pruning of cocoa. It begins at 11:00 am.
Opposition Leader the Hon. Arhnim Eustace is maintaining that efforts should be made to get an external grant from the European Union to assist banana farmers here.
Eustace again stressed this need following a visit to farms on the Leeward side of the island. The Opposition Leader who called into the Newtimes program earlier today said it is not enough to talk without putting proper plans in place that can be implemented.
He added that there is a need for a comprehensive plan that will properly cover the industry that will eventually aid in stimulating the economy.
Mr. Eustace said the more he sees the more concern he becomes about the current state of the banana industry and the pressure being felt by farmers and their families.
Kingstown, St. Vincent- May 16th, 2012- Independent observers and calypso aficionados have acclaimed that the Upstage Xperience cast for 2012 is the best ever in the history of calypso tents here in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Upstage Xperience features ten artistes upon whose heads a crown has been placed, whether as calypso, ragga soca or soca monarch.
Calypso
The tent features three National calypso monarchs in Lord Have Mercy, Poorsah and Joy C. Poorsah has won calypso, soca monarch and road march titles since his entry into this multi-rhythmic art-form 34 years ago. Along with Becket and Skinny Fabulous – both Upstage alumni, Poorsah is perhaps SVG’s best recognised artiste abroad. His music is still as fresh as ever despite his many years in the business and his record speaks for itself.
Bridgette “Joy-C” Creese has won both the Calypso queen and calypso monarch titles on at least two occasions. In a major way, she adds both breadth and depth to the slate and one can look forward to her usual biting, affective and well put- together lyricisms.
Lord Have Mercy is one of the very few artistes who won the calypso monarch title on his very first shot at national competition back in 1980. He returned last year to the fold after being away for too long. Once again, he is asking searching questions in his songs.
Also in the line-up are the 2012 and five-time New Song Calypso King – Brother Ebony; the 2011 winner (and this year’s Ragga Soca title-holder) – Queen B; calypso princess – Shaunelle McKenzie, Tobago’s queen of calypso – Fire Empress, as well as consistent performers of immense quality such as Lil’Bit, Ron B, and Observer. Multiple winner of the soca monarch title – Delroy Fireman Hooper joins the Upstage cast this year and in addition to his soon to be released soca hits, he has produced a witty calypso that had the crowd at the Biabou Hard- Court on Sunday, May 6 calling for more.
And then there is Skarpyon. He is perhaps the best rounded and most consistent artiste in SVG today. Last year, he competed in five competitions and won or placed in four of the five. He too is expected to thrill music lovers at the Upstage Xperience shows scheduled for Keartons Hard court on Sunday May 20, Aquatic Club on May 26 and then Victoria Park on June 8. On a related note, Skarpyon, (like Poorsah, Maddzart, and Bomani), has added the Road March title to his long list of accomplishments.
Seasoned calypsonian Defoe is also making great raves with his Woodlice song. This song is getting maximum airplay on local radio stations and will surely go down well with tent lovers from Barrouallie to Aquatic to Victoria Park. The tent also features some bright prospects in Troublous, Niquette Bess and Sade- Junior Calypso Monarch.
Ragga Soca and Soca
A Who’s Who in SVG’s soca and ragga soca kingdom will be appearing on stage with Upstage this year. Bomani, Fireman, the Fete King Maddzart, Poorsah and Skarpyon have one thing in common – they have all won the national soca monarch or Ragga Soca monarch competitions. They are not only household names in St Vincent and the Grenadines but they have represented this country well at numerous events in North America, the Caribbean and also in Europe. They are joined in the Upstage Xperience by magnificent and energetic artistes such as Shaunelle Mckenzie, Galanaire, Fire Empress, Lawyer Boy, Mad Skull, and reigning New Song winner – Strong.
Judging by reports from those who know, and those who attended the tent’s launch at Biabou on May 6, patrons are in for a wonderful treat at the remaining shows of this dynamic tent. There is heart-touching, thought –provoking, melodic and humorous calypso. The soca is fresh, quite lively and entertaining. It’s a great cast and a great experience is in store from Upstage for fans of calypso and soca this year.
The next Upstage show takes place in Barrouallie this Sunday at 5:00 pm.
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