The destruction that befell our country following the eruptions at La Soufriere volcano has been described as catastrophic and apocalyptic. Those persons who have not seen the loss and damage caused by the national disaster can be assured that the harm done to our physical infrastructure is enormous. Fortunately, no one lost their life, but it may be too early to gauge the health fall out from thee eruptions. And what a response demonstrating goodwill and solidarity it has been! Cuba, St Lucia and Venezuela, within days of the April 9 eruptions, formed a humanitarian bridge in conjunction with the…
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Eighteen (18) new COVID-19 positive cases were reported from one hundred and ninety-two (192) samples processed on April 30th, 2021 resulting in a positivity rate of 9.4%.Sixteen (16) of these eighteen (18) cases are evacuees in emergency shelters. No new COVID-19 cases wererecorded from forty-four (44) samples processed on May 1st, 2021.Twelve (12) new recoveries were noted over the reporting period. One hundred and forty (140) cases are currently active and eleven (11) persons with COVID-19 have died. One thousand,eight hundred and eighty-two (1882) cases of COVID-19 and seventeen hundred and thirty-one (1731) recoveries have been recorded in St. Vincent…
Increased surveillance at the local Customs and Excise department has caused some anxiety amongst importers here in recent times. According to Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, the checks that are being conducted as ordered by the Veterinary Divison should not be confused with what happens when the State confiscates contraband. Asbert News Network reached out to the Prime Minister for further clarity amidst rising confusion stoked, in part, by a particular news report which the PM’s Press Secretary, Sehon Marshall, described as a “factual contradiction.” Dr. Gonsalves explained, “basically as I understand it: the people at – and this has…
The St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF), through its Technical Committee, has embarked on a process aimed at forging a national identity for this country’s Football. Toward this end, the Technical Committee, last Saturday, hosted the first of a series of consultations involving Head Coaches and/or Technical Directors of Premier and First Division Clubs – affiliates of the SVGFF. Andrew Bramble, coach of the National Under-17 Female team and a member of the Technical Committee, explained , at the end of last Saturday’s session that, “The consultations are aimed primarily at Club Football in St Vincent and the…
Our beloved St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has suffered a major volcano eruption and Gonsalves is in THE VINCENTIAN Newspaper of 23 April 2021 telling the people what the international and regional organisations are doing to assist our country, but gives little about what he is doing to assist the black, poor and powerless indigenous population of SVG. Gonsalves could immediately help the people of SVG by abolishing the Mustique Act No. 48 of 2002, which gives customs duty and tax exemptions to the super-rich of Mustique, and imposing a windfall tax on the super-rich of Mustique and Canouan,…
Introduction The policies of this Unity Labour Party administration have, over and over again, proven to be necessary, relevant, timely and forward looking when assessed by their overall impacts on the lives of Vincentians. The way they coordinate to address the many aspects of national development, emphasizing the fact that a piece-meal approach to policy development can never work for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like ours. The eruption of the La Soufriere volcano has revealed in unambiguous terms the practical benefits of a number of government policies on resilience building. What has been displayed within recent weeks are for…
A release from the Canadian High Commission in Barbados made available on Monday, announced that the Government of Canada has pledged CAD$440,000 in immediate aid to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, in the wake of the volcanic eruption. The funds, to be channelled through Global Affairs Canada, are expected to provide for the basic needs of displaced persons, including those in shelters, with a contribution of $50,000 to support the work of Rapid Relief Team SVG. The World Pediatric Project (WPP) Caribbean will receive $50,000 to help to meet the health needs of displaced women and children. A sum of…
Desron Rodriquez, aka Lava Man, may not be off the hook just yet. According to Colin John, Commissioner of Police (CoP), investigations are still ongoing and the Police were working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to determine what charges – if any – could arise based on the findings. Rodriquez was arrested on April 20 and released during the late afternoon hours of April 22, without charge. Commissioner John confirmed that Rodriguez, as ordered to, reported to Police on April 26 when he was again interviewed and released pending further investigations. The 34-year-old became a…
In February, Dr Friday, president of the New Democratic Party (NDP), put together a team, called the Rapid Response Team, headed by Major St. Clair Leacock to manage the relief effort of the party in the event that there was an explosive eruption at the La Soufriere, Volcano. Major Leacock has tremendous knowledge and experience in disaster management, having undergone training, locally, regionally and internationally in disaster management. He was also in charge of the evacuation process of the 1979 La Soufriere eruption. We knew that the party would have a crucial role to play in the event that the…
When the Kingstown based Serious Offences Court reconvenes on Friday April 30, 21 years old Kelike Browne would be told of the Court’s decision regarding the outcome of the 5 gun related charges to which he pled guilty. The Glen man was arrested and charged on Monday April 26 after a party of Rapid Response Unit officers, led by Corporal 615 Williams, conducted a search of minivan HW 295 and found him attempting to conceal a Nike satchel. When his trial got underway last Wednesday, the Court heard that Browne consented to be searched and when nothing untoward was found…