It is conservatively estimated that SVG has been losing over $500 million annually in tax and customs duty exemptions to Mustique, Canouan and Taiwan since 2001. Something is seriously wrong in our country. The opportunity cost of the $500 million in revenue losses annually to our beloved country is catastrophic. The $500 million annually could have been used to build factories, a fish canning plant, new hospitals, a science university and much more, all of which together would have created wealth for our country and thousands of jobs for our people. A mother of two children residing in Kingstown told…
Author: Admin
In every community, there are persons who are incapacitated in one way or another. What is our responsibility towards them? The elderly sick often needs care-giving. While it should be the responsibility of the family members to meet this obligation, sometimes this does not happen. Some say that they should be placed in the “Poor Home”. That is not the solution as the “Poor Home” may be oversubscribed. In any case it is much better that they remain in familiar surroundings where they would have lived their lives and contributed. Churches and community groups sometimes provide some assistance. Another solution…
The Vincentian society is in a state not far from lawlessness. Our roads are populated with unruly and lawless drivers many of them, mini-bus drivers who don’t seem to accept that they “carry” the lives of citizens in their buses. I have checked with at least one traffic officer and he confirmed that many of the traffic offences are being committed by mini-bus drivers. The fact that there are traffic laws but this group of road users feel they can break them when they feel like, is enough to conclude that we are a lawless society. But the bus drivers…
By Jomo Thomas Last April, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) marked its 17th year of existence. Established on April 16th, 2005, the court has long established its bonafide as an institution that delivers sound judgments that stand the test of time, contribute to the development of Caribbean jurisprudence and make justice much more accessible. Yet most Caricom countries continue to maintain the British Privy Council as their highest court. Currently, the citizens of Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and Guyana, whose governments delinked from the British Privy Council have the CCJ as their highest court. Soon, St Lucians, whose government cleared…
A 28-year-old man of Dickson, Georgetown, currently serving prison time for burglary and wounding was on Monday freed on charges of rape, as well as assault, causing bodily harm. Clydon ‘Savage’ Cato, also called ‘Neko’, was acquitted after a 9-member jury, comprised of 7 women and 2 men, found him not guilty on both charges. Cato, who conducted his own defense, had been charged with the rape, and assault, causing bodily harm, of an adult woman on May 2, 2019. Assistant Director of Public Prosecution Karim Nelson led the case for the Crown. Cato’s acquittal came following a short trial…
In the implementation of directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and in the presence of the Honorable Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves; Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) Board of Directors Chairman, H.E. Ahmed Al Khateeb, signed today, two loan agreements worth $16 million with Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Information Technology of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Honorable Camillo Gonsalves, to construct a primary care center in the South Rivers…
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Conservation Fund’s Farmland Restoration Project in North Leeward closed its first phase of year-long activities with a “Project Achievement” event on May 22nd at the Cumberland Recreational Facility. The project was implemented by local civil society organisation Hand2Earth and focused on soil regeneration and erosion prevention in farmlands. The project farmers, graduates of the project’s Vetiver Systems Technology training program conducted in June-August 2022, were praised for their continued participation in project activities over a year-long period and presented with locally produced natural pesticides and fertilisers, spray cans and a laminated aerial photograph of…
Approximately 1- thousand first year students of the SVGCC and 15 hundred fifth form students of Secondary Schools are expected to receive Asus Laptops Chrome Books, compliments the Government of the Republic of China on Taiwan. The handing over of the devices took place at a ceremony at Cabinet Room.Minister of Finance Hon. Camillo Gonsalves said government remains committed to providing quality education, modern devices to enhance students’ learning and proper Information Technology (IT) support for both students and teachers. “They are more than laptops, they are tablets, they’re designed to be sturdy, rugged, durable, light – 2 and half…
(Excerpts of Dr. Godwin Friday’s Presentation at the Hope Rally Pt.2) Young People Young people, I have a special message for you. You are here tonight in great numbers. I want you to realize that you have the power to change things in this country. You have that power! When you are motivated and decide to move together for change, you are an unstoppable force that no one can ignore. I believe that you have arrived at that point. I met a young man recently. We spoke briefly, and I listened to him intently. At the end of our talk,…
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 138 of the Banking Act No 4 of 2015 of the laws of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has appointed a Receiver for First St Vincent Bank Ltd (FSVB) with effect 26 May 2023. FSVB has been providing banking services to the people of Saint Vincent and Grenadines since 1909. As at 31 March 2023, FSVB reported $46.8 million in total assets, which accounted for 1.6 per cent of the total banking assets ($2,953.4 million or approximately $3 billion) in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. As…