Dig a Caribbean holiday

About the Project:
The SVG Public Archaeology Program, affectionately known as SVG Digs, provides volunteers with an opportunity to be an archaeologist on a highly unique and significant site on the island of St. Vincent in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). This program was created out of the desire to rescue and record significant archaeological sites from being destroyed during construction of the new Argyle International Airport. Prior to 2009, no large scale excavations had taken place in St. Vincent and, to date, there is no local archaeological presence on the island. The work of SVG Digs raises awareness for archaeology both locally and abroad, and helps give Vincentians a fuller understanding of their prehistoric past. At the same time, volunteers are provided with an unforgettable experience, doing work that many people only dream of.


What to Expect?
Volunteers receive training in the major principles and practices of archaeology, with a small daily lecture on topics such as archaeological survey, artifact identification, artifact illustration and recording, survey and mapping, including the use of a total station, and some minor exposure to the use of GIS in archaeology. This is followed by on-site, hands-on experience for five full days on the site of Argyle 2, cleaning surfaces and identifying, exposing and mapping archaeological features, excavating postholes and burials, and exposing, identifying and collecting artifacts. This work is quite relaxing, and occurs in the hot Caribbean sun in the middle of winter.
 
After work, if weather permits (likely), volunteers can go swimming or walking in the local area, before a home-cooked Vincentian meal. They can also opt to participate in the cleaning and cataloguing of artifacts, or they can simply relax with the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. Participants are also taken on an excursion into the Grenadines as part of their experience. This can be a catamaran ride complete with snorkeling, swimming and relaxing on white sand beaches, or it can be a day trip with fishing and dolphin and/or whale watching. The high ratio of archaeologists to volunteers also allows for a maximum learning experience both on and off site. Not only will you learn to work as an archaeologist, you will learn all the ins and outs of living as one.

Other Details

http://goo.gl/VIUnS

Tears of joy for Manning

By Susan Mohammed susan.mohammed@trinidadexpress.com
January 27, 2012
PRIME MINISTER of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, yesterday wept as he spoke of his visit to see former prime minister Patrick Manning at the San Fernando General Hospital.

Speaking at the hospital following his visit, he said he was happy to see Manning recuperating after suffering a "mild" stroke five days ago.

"These are tears of joy for seeing him and see how he is recovering", Gonsalves said as he wiped the tears from his eyes. "It's a remarkable recovery for somebody who has had a stroke, but of course there is still a journey to travel. We must give him his time to rest and heal. He is obviously getting excellent treatment".

Gonsalves said Manning was equally happy upon his visit. "His eyes lit up. He smiled. I wouldn't tell you about what he spoke about. The bond is there, there was a lot of joy. He will get better", he said.

Gonsalves arrived at the hospital around 11 a.m. and was greeted by Manning's son, David, People's National Movement members Joan Yuille-Williams and Gary Hunt, as well as Chief Executive Officer of the South West Regional Health Authority a (SWRHA) Anil Gosine, and SWRHA Chairman Dr Lackram Bodoe.

A smiling Gonsalves waved to the public and the media on his way in and said:"I hope you all praying for Patrick, eh. We all have to pray for our brother."

When Gonsalves emerged from the hospital he seemed emotional when asked about the visit.

"I should tell you I love Patrick", he said. "You know I love him. He has been my friend since university. We played pan together. We did a lot of things together. We worked well when he was in government. I have remained his friend through all the ups and downs of politics. He is my brother. I didn't spend a long time with him. I just wanted was for him to see my eyes and for him to see my eyes, and the love we have for each other."

Gonsalves said he prayed with Manning and gave him two books — an autobiography which contains some pictures of both of them, and the other a diary which Gonsalves wrote about a ten-day visit at Mount St Benedict in 2005.

He said yesterday's visit was a special concession by Manning's family, since visitors were limited.

Of Manning as a political leader, Gonsalves said:" He is a revered political leader of Trinidad and Tobago and the region. The fact that he lost an election does not mean that he is not a person of extraordinary merit. And worse, we have this thing that when people lose elections, they don't have merit. That is an old fashioned colonial notion. We have to value our people".

Gonsalves said he was spending one day in Trinidad and Tobago, and hoped later yesterday to visit a calypso tent and Desperadoes panyard.

The San Fernando East MP suffered a "mild" stroke on Monday night and was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital. His wife, Hazel, said Manning sat up for the first time on Thursday and asked the doctors to go home. He asked about the nation's development and wanted to know what was happening to him.

Manning was assured that he was on the road to recovery and is expected to be back on his feet in three to six months time.

Doctors were unable to say when the former prime minister would be allowed to go home.

A bulletin issued by the San Fernando East constituency yesterday at 5.44 p.m. stated that "Manning continues to improve daily" and that he "sat up, spoke, read the newspapers and is in good spirits".

The bulletin mentioned that Manning was visited by Gonzalves who received "clearance from the Chief of Medical Operations for a brief visit this morning".

It added: "Internationally, we have received well wishes from many countries including the Office of the President of the United States and Foreign Missions for China and Cuba."



Trinidad Express Newspaper National News of Trinidad and Tobago
Originally printed at http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Tears_of_joy_for_Manning-138241614.html

Prime Minister Gonsalves accepted 3.42 million EC dollars.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves accepted three cheques that amount to 1.274 million US dollars, which is equivalent to 3.42 million EC dollars. Dr. Gonsalves said this money will go towards civic development projects, along with flood rehabilitation work following heavy rains which impacted the north eastern side of St. Vincent last year.

Gonsalves outlined that these civic projects include rehabilitation work to the Langley Park River Basin and the construction of the Vermont/ Francois Bridge.

Taiwanese Ambassador, Weber Shih said he was delighted to present monies to St. Vincent and the Grenadines to help with the rehabilitation work after the destructive flash floods and civic development projects.

The Taiwanese Ambassador said these projects will assist in the development of the particular areas where they are found. He further added that Taiwan will continue to assist us here with the Youth Empowerment Service (YES) programme, which goes a long way in the development of the nation’s youth.

Palm Island Photos

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147379-d148234-r123114084-Palm_Island-St_Vincent_and_the_Grenadines.html

has a number of photos of Palm Island Resort

St. Vincent and the Grenadines, A Hidden Gem!

January 10, 2012     by Valerie Caulin

Royal Caribbean has announced a series of 11-night cruises setting sail for the islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  For three months beginning Dec 2012, the Vision of Seas will take 2000 lucky passengers on an 11-night cruise  to this largely unknown, definitely  unspoiled group of islands,  made famous as the location where all three Pirates of the Caribbean movies were filmed as well as serving as a Caribbean getaway for both British Royals (Princess Margaret) and Rock Royals, (Mick Jagger) among others.

Secluded beaches, private cays, legend of both real and Hollywood pirates – this is St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Located near Barbados,  St. Vincent and the Grenadines is composed of 32 islands, only  9 of them inhabited. It’s capital Kingston will be the port of call for the Vision of the Seas. Kingston is a delightful mix of wonderfully restored colonial architecture, with shops filled with local goods and handcrafted items. And it is not a typical Caribbean port of call.

St. Vincent, The Island of Pirates

 Throughout the centuries,  the many cays and beaches of St. Vincent and its 32 islands have been irresistible to the many pirate ships sailing the waters of the Caribbean. Rumors of hidden treasures have existed since 1500. Pirates from Henry Morgan and Annie Bonny to Jack Sparrow have trod the beaches.  But, in  October 2002,  cast and crew descended on St. Vincent to film the first of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie, bringing the biggest treasure of all to St. Vincent, Hollywood gold.  And yet, St. Vincent has dealt with their new-found fame in a way that has not destroyed the charm and history of the islands. 
 
Best way to spend a day –  St.Vincent

As one of the Vision of the Seas ports of call in the Caribbean for winter 2012 -13, St. Vincent will welcome you with an assortment of activities. A surprisingly perfect blend of sea, sun, and sand, St. Vincent will no doubt be the highlight of your cruise Long a favorite of the yachting set, St.  Vincent offers an unspoiled Caribbean  -  Hiking, bird watching, turtle, whale and dolphin watching compete with simply  lounging on the beach. A journey to the west side of the island brings you to a botanic park where descendants of bread-fruit trees brought to St. Vincent by Captain Bligh after his second, less mutinous sailing to the South Seas still grow.
  
Royal Caribbean has created a series of shore excursions, designed for every level of activity imaginable. For a more physical challenge, sign up for water sports or snorkeling and diving activities.  Hire a boat and driver to take you to Mopion,  a small sand spit of an island,  all sand, about ½ mile off shore. For cruise passengers who prefer something a little drier, a sightseeing boat tour in Kingston Harbor or an inspection of  Fort Charlotte will fill the bill.  And walking the cobblestone streets will  provide a photographer many interesting sites, and shoppers a great assortment of non-typical trinkets and items. Foodies will love the small restaurants crowding the harbor, each with spectacular views and the freshest fish you can imagine.   

St. Vincent is what the Caribbean should be, hassle free, an escape to the past.  Enjoy and have fun in St. Vincent and the Grenadines while cruising aboard the Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas.

See: http://www.facebook.com/Vcaulin

New Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean

Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean: Who Is Larry Leon Palmer?
Monday, January 16, 2012
The United States will soon have a new ambassador to the Caribbean island nations of Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. President Barack Obama nominated Senior Foreign Service member Larry Leon Palmer on November 1, 2011. If confirmed, Palmer will be the first Foreign Service officer to serve in this post since President Jimmy Carter sent Frank V. Ortiz, Jr., in 1977.

The son of a minister, Palmer was born in Augusta, Georgia, and graduated from T.W. Josey High School as valedictorian in 1966. He earned a scholarship to Emory University and graduated with a B.A. in history in 1970. Shortly after graduating from Emory, Palmer joined the Peace Corps and served as a volunteer in Liberia from 1971 to 1973, teaching high school biology, science, chemistry, physics and American literature. Back in the U.S., he received an M.Ed. in African History at Texas Southern University in 1973, and then began an academic career as assistant director of financial aid at the University of Virginia from 1973 to 1974.

Returning to Liberia, he taught history as an assistant professor at Cuttington College in Suakoko from 1974 to 1976. He earned an Ed. D. in Higher Education Administration and African Studies at Indiana University in 1978 and then taught at Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, North Carolina, from 1978 to 1981.

Palmer entered the U.S. Foreign Service in 1982. He served as vice consul at the embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from 1982 to 1984, and then as personnel officer at the embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay, with concurrent responsibility for personnel posted to Asuncion, Paraguay, from 1984 to 1986. Returning stateside in 1986, Palmer served as staff assistant to the Assistant Secretary for African Affairs from 1986 to 1987, and then served a tour in Africa as counselor for administration at the embassy in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from 1987 to 1989.

In 1989, Palmer became a Pearson Fellow, serving as assistant to Diana Natalicio, the president of the University of Texas at El Paso, with the task of promoting the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), creating faculty and student exchange opportunities in universities throughout Mexico, and serving as university consultant for International Affairs. At the end of his two years as a Fellow, Palmer served as personnel officer at the embassy in Seoul, South Korea, from 1991-1994, and then returned to the embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, as counselor for administration from 1994 to 1998. From 1998 to 1999, Palmer attended the State Department Senior Seminar. He returned to South America in August 1999 to serve as chargé d’affaires at the embassy in Quito, Ecuador, remaining until July 2002.

Palmer began his first ambassadorship on September 9, 2002, as ambassador to Honduras, where he served until July 2005. He was then named president of the Inter-American Foundation, an independent agency that provides grants to Latin American communities to foster economic development, serving until June 2010.

On June 28, 2010, President Obama nominated Palmer as United States Ambassador to Venezuela, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the nomination. However, in September 2010, Venezuela announced that it would not allow Palmer to enter the country because at his Senate hearing Palmer had testified that morale in the Venezuelan army was low and that members of Venezuela’s government had ties to leftist Colombian rebels. (All nations have the right to approve foreign diplomats; for example, Vatican City in 2009 rejected three American nominees for being insufficiently anti-abortion.) On December 28, 2010, Venezuela confirmed the finality of its rejection of Palmer’s nomination, and the next day the U.S. revoked the visa of Venezuela’s ambassador, Bernardo Álvarez Herrera.

Palmer and his wife, Lucille, have one son.

From Wikipedia?

SVG on ABC

ABC morning feature on SVG

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/weekend-window-st-vincent-grenadines-9523772

Peaceful Caribbean Conference

Peaceful Caribbean Conference
Barbados April 20, 2012

Who among us does not yearn for a return to the peaceful, serene Caribbean of yesteryear?

With this in mind, the Peaceful Caribbean Initiative, in association with Caribbean News Now, is holding its first regional conference in Bridgetown, Barbados, on addressing the increasing problem of crime in the Caribbean, featuring top personalities from the Caribbean and the US, as well as the publication’s editors and contributors. There will be key addresses and panel discussions on the major issues confronting peace and stability in the Caribbean. It promises to be a hugely important event for anyone interested in the future of the Caribbean as a place to live and visit.


Speakers/Panelists/Moderators

Dr Ralph Gonsalves
Prime minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Barry Randall
Managing editor of Caribbean News Now


Nicholas George
Superintendent (retired) in the Dominica Police Force, attached to the Special Service Unit

Spence Finlayson
Internationally recognized expert in the area of personal and professional achievement

Rebecca Theodore
Conference Director, featured speaker and Caribbean News Now columnist and senior editor

Contact Us
Write directly to us at info@peacefulcaribbean.com, or by fax to 1-206-339-3648


http://www.peacefulcaribbean.com/