Archaeological Volunteers Sought

Monday, May 30, 2011  
By Margarita de Guzman and Jode MacKay
In June 2010, a team of Canadian archaeologists spearheaded a public archaeology program on the island of St. Vincent, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), one of the southernmost island chains in the Caribbean. The archaeological program was designed to give volunteers hands-on experience on a professionally run excavation, as well as a unique immersion into Caribbean culture, while at the same time rescuing and recording a significant archaeological site prior to the construction of an international airport.
The SVG Public Archaeology Program was developed in June 2010 to conduct an excavation at the site of Argyle 2. This program had developed from previous work in 2009 and 2010, where team members had participated in archaeological projects at the site of Escape, managed by Bison Historical Services and later the University of Calgary. Both projects had proved to be highly significant in archaeological terms, resulting in the discovery of 36 burials, a large quantity of pottery, and over 700 archaeological features, which were highly indicative of multiple prehistoric and/or historic structures, including a longhouse (previously undocumented anywhere else in the Caribbean).
Site of Argyle 2 rich in archaeology
In 2010, a brief survey of Argyle 2 was conducted, along with Mrs. Kathy Martin of the National Trust. It became apparent that the Argyle 2 area was rich in archaeology, with multiple features, burials and a large quantity of pottery, as well as other types of artefacts such as stone tools, beads and food remains present on the surface and in eroding cutbanks.

The SVG Public Archaeology Program was subsequently designed to conduct professional archaeological excavations at Argyle 2, whilst raising the profile for the SVG National Trust, such that future archaeological finds on the island could be recorded and preserved in a systematic fashion.
Volunteers from around the world (including Canada, Greece and the United States) assembled and journeyed to St. Vincent to participate in the archaeological project, raising funds for both the public program and for the Argyle International Airport Contributory Fund, as well as the SVG National Trust Heritage Fund.  These contributions helped to repay the people of SVG and the IADC for allowing the archaeological work to continue, as well as to provide support for the continued development of this small country.
Continuous occupation for up to 2,000 years
The archaeological site of Argyle 2 extends from the coast one kilometre inland and half a kilometre north to south, on the leeward coast of St. Vincent. In 2010, preliminary surface surveys indicated that occupation at Argyle 2 spanned from the Saladoid period (ca. 500 BC – AD 545), through Colonial times and up to the present, demonstrating continuous occupation for up to 2,000 years.  Investigations conducted during the SVG Public Archaeology Program in 2011 mapped 147 archaeological features, such as post-holes and small pits, and identified a total of 19 burials (six of which were previously identified by Mrs. Kathy Martin and Mr. Roydon Lampkin between May 2010 and January 2011). It is from these burials that the most significant archaeological findings have been recovered thus far.
Significant burials

Of particular significance are two related burials, Burial 8 (B8) and Burial 11 (B11).  B11 appears to be a primary, extended burial, in complete articulation. In comparison to other burials at the site and throughout the area, B11 is significant because of its specific nature; this burial was identified face-down on its stomach and may indicate a rather hasty burial. No artefacts were recovered in direct association with B11; however, B8, which is a secondary burial, was located directly above the lower limbs of B11. B8 is disarticulated, i.e., its bones are not in anatomically correct position, and also not deposited in any particularly specified manner.
B8 was recovered with 17 lithic (stone) artefacts, and two ground stone tools, as well as a number of pottery sherds that would later be reassembled to form a complete pot.  This reassembled pot was highly significant for the site because its construction and decorative style placed B8 definitively within the Saladoid period. Furthermore, this particular ceramic vessel form has not yet been documented in St. Vincent; preliminary discussions with other Caribbean archaeologists indicate that this form has not yet been identified elsewhere in the Caribbean.
In an adjacent area of the site, a group of burials (Burial 13 – 19) were identified in rather close proximity to one another. Amongst them was another intact pot of the same new vessel form as B8, though this second pot was smaller in size and left undecorated.  Further investigations in the area by Mrs. Kathy Martin and Mr. Roydon Lampkin, former Cultural Officer of the IADC, recovered a number of pottery fragments that appear to belong to a similar vessel form and may be associated with yet other burials. The recovery and restoration of both complete pots (from B8 and from B13 to B19) is highly significant for its contribution to ceramic style and function, and has provided excellent specimens for the national archaeological collection operated by the SVG National Trust.  They are currently being housed in the National Trust Museum in Kingstown, St. Vincent.

Given the significance of these findings, and the extent of archaeology that remains under threat of impact by airport construction, the IADC has kindly approved the Program to continue at the site of Argyle 2, for the 2012 field season.  The site of Argyle 2 is currently fenced to prevent vehicular traffic and preserve the remains of the archaeological materials.
The SVG Public Archaeology Program has been a continued and growing success and has raised awareness for archaeology among the Vincentians, as well as on an international scale.  The continuation of the SVG Public Archaeology Program will continue to increase this awareness, but would not be possible without the hard work and contributions of volunteers.
Volunteer information for 2012
Dates: The 2012 archaeology program will commence on January 3, 2012 and will run until January 25, 2012, with three 1-week sessions. Each session will be seven days in duration, with the first five days assigned to field work on the site; the sixth day will be an excursion day within the island of St. Vincent or further afield into the surrounding Grenadine islands.  The seventh day will be work-free to allow for errands, shopping and travel.  Within each session, Saturdays will be planned as a Public Day for local Vincentians to visit the site and participate in the on-going excavation.
Cost: Volunteers will pay a mandatory fee, which will cover room and board, as well as a weekly excursion in SVG.  Included in this fee will be a $100 US per person donation to the SVG National Trust Heritage Fund, in order to promote preservation and recording of archaeological sites, as well as an additional $100 US per person donation to the Argyle International Airport Contributory Fund.  Not only will this project provide monetary benefits to the people of SVG, it will provide contiguous support for further development of local cultural heritage.  The project aims outside of the interest of archaeology, include promoting the beauty of St. Vincent and the Grenadines internationally as a tourist destination, as well as providing Vincentians with a deeper sense of place and pride about their nation.
Anyone wishing to participate should visit www.svgdigs.com and follow the appropriate links.
This project will be affiliated with Dr. Richard Callaghan of the University of Calgary, who has worked extensively in St. Vincent in the last decade; the project itself will be run by its co-directors, Margarita de Guzman and Jode MacKay, both consulting archaeologists from Calgary, Alberta.  The SVG Public Archaeology Program would like to thank Dr. Richard Callaghan for his continued support, Mrs. Kathy Martin and her dedicated team at the SVG National Trust, Dr. Rudy Matthias and his fabulous team at the IADC, Rhona and her team at Rhona’s Apartments, Shirley and the Roti Hut for the fabulous meals, our archaeologists Taylor Graham, Kristin Soucey and Meghan Simper, and, last but not least, our wonderful volunteers: Kate Beaucage, Alan Rae, Joan Connor, Andy Ciofalo, Kristen Chew, Theofania Tsempera, Sue Graham, Dave McGrath and Sandra McGrath.



Read more >> http://www.pasthorizons.com/index.php/archives/05/2011/archaeological-volunteers-sought-to-help-uncover-st-vincents-past#ixzz1NsFtMl3V
Read the Archaeology News - then buy the Trowel at Past Horizons Tools

Mea Culpa

For the last couple of years, and especially the last few months, I have been neglecting this blog because I've been writing a book. A bit over 50 years ago I started trying to make sense of the way we were acting. If you remember, we were fighting in Vietnam with the people who are now our trading partners. That sort of thing did not strike me as sensible. I invented new ways to mathematically describe behavior and that allowed me to describe the way we have behaved from the distant past to the present. In recent days I've been trying to figure out the future, and May day 2011 seems to be the turning point. If you are interested in the details, go to {http://mayday.karleklund.net}, download the zip file and zip it open. If you don't want all the details just read the preface and Chapter 20.

In any case I'm finished with that for a bit so I'll be able to concentrate on this blog. We'll be going up to the states for a while to see old folk's doctors for our chronic illnesses, but we'll be back in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the fall. I'll post some photos I took in the past and just stashed, read and review some books I just listed, and stuff like that.

The purpose of all this is to arouse interest in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. There doesn't seem to be a lot of income in growing sugar, copra, arrowroot and banana, the traditional tropical crops. Coffee grows well here (search on coffee for a local brand), as does cacao, and nutmeg, but they are all tree crops that take a while to establish. So whatever we do for a cash crop agriculturally, we are going to have to get some tourist income and that means drawing attention to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. That's the purpose of this blog.

If you see anything on the internet, or elsewhere in the media, that's about St. Vincent and the Grenadines, please call my attention to it. If you can, send a copy as a text or PDF file, or a picture, to: Karlek76@gmail.com

I can't offer you anything but a mention of your name, but who knows, that may catch the eye of a billionaire who you helped when he was poor.


After I posted this the demonstrations at "Occupy Wall Street" started, and the Republican Presidential Primaries started, and I tried two versions of the book after Mayday and I'm still not satisfied. Then the NY Times discovered SVG and I had to update
this because people will be searching it. So don't believe any promises made before New Years 2012, and take any promises made in 2012 with a grain of salt. - Jan. 7, 2012

Postcards

"The Picture Postcards of St. Vincent And The Grenadines" by J. Chin Aleong is a carefully cataloged pictorial collection of postcards of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Comrade

A political autobiography of Dr. The Honorable Ralph Gonzalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Well supplied with photographs, including one of the Belmont Viewpoint from which I took the pictures in a previous blog. It was published by SFI Books which is located around the corner from where we live. I'll include a review once I get a chance to read it.

Eureka

Eureka is the greek word that Archimedes was reputed to have run down the street shouting, after he discovered that an object immersed in water (he was bathing at the dive) displaces the same volume of water as the volume immersed. It enabled him to determine if a gold crown was diluted with copper. It literally means "I have found it"

The pictures below are from the Eureka Medical Lab in Arnos Vale

Law Revision – In tune with the times

Author: Hadyn Huggins Published in The Vincentian: 05/19/2011
 

Dr. Gonsalves, also responsible for the ministerial portfolios of National Security and Legal Affairs, was speaking at an official ceremony on Tuesday at the House of Assembly Chambers in Kingstown, to launch the the laws of St. Vincent and the Grenadines revised edition 2009.

Dr. Gonsalves noted that Campbell Q. C. completed the work of Arthur Williams and Grafton Isaacs, both former Attorneys General under the St. Vincent Labour Party (SVLP), under whose leadership a lot of work was done at the AG’s office to get the 1990 law ready.

“I want to say that Mr. Campbell of the then government (NDP) did this country a great service by having the laws revised in 1990, and I give full credit to the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mr. Parnel Campbell Q.C. That is the base on which we have built this revised edition,”  the Prime Minister told a packed Chambers, including members of the legal fraternity and Police High Command.

What obtained in the past

Prior to the 2009 law revision exercise, the laws of SVG were last revised under the Law Revision Act 1987, titled the Laws of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Revised Edition 1990, which consisted of eight bound volumes.  Prior to this, the last edition was 1926.

Dr. Gonsalves, a lawyer by profession, reflected on the situation in the past, giving young lawyers an insight as to what it was like to be a lawyer then.

“Now, many lawyers will know this. You had the publication for each particular law after 1926 and certainly after 1990, and then at the end of the year, you put them within one bundle volume for that particularly year.

“Now it was fairly easy to get single copies because they would print them at the time but you would not know always when you had the laws assented to, and sometimes you may miss a gazette or two in which they are published, and it is only after they are published we know that the law becomes operational.”

Dr. Gonsalves recalled further:  “So what many of us did,  I for instance, I had somebody at the printery. I wouldn’t say that he was on a retainer, but I facilitated him in practical ways to ensure that I got the laws on an ongoing basis. Those who were not wise enough to do that suffered a great disadvantage.”

 He added, “Sometime they only printed limited copies of the bound volumes at the end of each year and sometimes they printed them six months late. They put them together six months late, so you were at a disadvantage.”

The new system

Dr. Gonsalves explained that with the new system, everything is going to be put on, and as soon as the laws are assented by virtue of a contract with the publishing company LexisNexis, USA, they will appear on the website. Copies would still be available at the Printery since not everybody has access to the computer and the internet.

The PM disclosed that the cost to LexisNexis is $1.4 million and $300,000 to get 50 volumes ready for the judges.

As an innovation from the previous edition which was printed and bound in hard covers, the laws in the present edition are arranged in subject areas and are published in 15 loose leaf sets. They will be updated annually.

The laws are expected to be operational from June 1, 2011.

The 2009 law revision process was spearheaded by the Attorney General’s Chambers in compliance with the Law Revision Act (Number 9 of 2009) which makes provision for the revision, consolidation and the creation of an electronic database of all existing laws of SVG.

Published in 2010, the Laws of SVG Revised edition 2009 represents the compilation of each statute and subsidiary legislation in operation in SVG as at January 1, 2009.

The Laws of SVG Revised Edition 2009, once proclaimed, will supersede the laws of SVG Revised Edition 1990. 

New Bat on SVG

Abstract 
We describe and formally name a species of big-eared bat (genus: Micronycteris), collected from the Lesser Antillean island of Saint Vincent. The new species is distinguished from its closest relative, Micronycteris megalotis, by its large size, distinct craniodental features, and by mitochondrial DNA variation. The distribution of the new species is restricted to the island of St. Vincent, southern Lesser Antilles. Relaxed molecular clock analyses indicate the most recent common ancestor between the St. Vincent species of Micronycteris and mainland populations of M. megalotis is less than 1 million years. Rising sea levels during the late Pleistocene likely contributed to the geographic isolation and subsequent allopatric speciation of this new species. Our data reinforce previous hypotheses regarding unrecognized species diversity within the M. megalotis

(PhysOrg.com) -- At first glance, the bat captured in St. Vincent looked like a common type found in South America.
But after closer inspection, Texas Tech University biologists discovered a new species found only on the Caribbean island and whose origins probably trace back to a dramatic marooning after glaciers receded and sea levels rose.
The discovery was made by Peter Larsen, a post-doctoral research associate in the Department of Biological Sciences, and Lizette Siles, graduate student of zoology. It was featured in the online version of the peer-reviewed journal, Mammalian Biology.

Read more on : http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-05-species-st-vincent-island.html

(Thanks to Cheryl King)

Obama Visits UK

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13518279

(Thanks to Cheryl King)

Orchids

These orchids happen to be in bloom 05/23/11



I've posted orchids before on earlier posts.

Guardians

Left: Polly, Right: Zeus; Back: Lucy

Polly is the smallest but her bark is the most piercing.

Careenage

Part of Caliaqua Bay where sailing ships were careened (tipped over) so the hulls could be scraped.

On the Road to Mespo

About halfway between Arnos Vale and Mespo you cross the lip of the immense volcanic crater that Mespo sits at the bottom of. Recently they built a viewing platform there, but this was the first chance I had to take pictures







Those above are toward Mespo, down in the crater. The ones below are looking back toward Arnos Vale, the airport and the cricket stadium.




There are more pictures to look at if you go to Flickr and look for the "Karlek" page.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/karlek/

Photos of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

I ran across some on:

http://travel-images.com/saint-vincent-grenadines.html

Eureka, Once More

Indeed, as they promised, I got my results this morning, the day after I had my blood sampled. We'll be going back to the states in early June, so I'll get my blood tested again (we go back to see doctors for old geezers diseases) If there's an exciting discrepancy I'll tell this blog.

St. Vincent receives revised laws

2011-05-20

KINGSTON -- Homage was paid to persons in the legal fraternity, as Vincentians welcomed the new, revised version of the laws of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Prime Minister and Minister of Legal Affairs Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, along with Attorney General Judith Jones-Morgan were among those singled out for acclaim, as the members of parliament, senior government officials, lawyers and members of the public gathered at the House of Assembly this week, for the handing over of the documents.

Jones-Morgan was lauded by Gonsalves, as well as her staff members for her passion and commitment, and for initiating the move to have the laws revised.

They were last revised in 1991.

The longest serving Attorney General in the country's history was presented with a plaque and bouquet by her staff at the end of the ceremony.

Morgan made a presentation of her own: handing over her very own publication, which chronicles the work of her office over the past ten years, to the prime minster.

Gonsalves also paid tribute to a number of persons whom he believes were fundamental in the achievement celebrated on the day, including the work of Morgan and her staff, as well as another former Attorney General, Parnel Campbell Q.C, who was responsible for the nation's laws being last revised two decades ago.

The documents, which cost $1.4 million to be published, were delivered by LexisNexis representative Petrus Compton, a former Attorney General in St. Lucia, who congratulated the present administration for its law revision; calling them a shining example in the region and the commonwealth.

The documents, which were updated up to 2009, are presented in 15 loose leaf editions, which would make them easy to update.

They also include a comprehensive word index, chronological table of facts and have been published to international laws.

The documents could be had in hard copy, as well as available online to subscribers any part of the world. (Searchlight)

From Barbados Today

Eureka! A New Medical Lab!

I went over to Eureka Medical Lab, a new facility over in Arnos Vale, to have a couple of blood tests dome (I'm diabetic and have atrial fibrilation) and I was astounded. Not only did the phlebotomist do the best job I've had in twenty years of blood testing, but the small lab is crowded with automatic analytical machinery. I highly recommend them if you have lab work to do. Their phone is (784)456-4758 and their email is eurekalabs@vincysurf.com Their headquarters, and a number of labs, are in Guyana www.eurekalabgy.com

This is their message about the new St. Vincent lab. More when I pick up the results.


by: Andy Boyle Sun Mar 13, 2011
Category:
We are pleased to announce that professionals from Guyana and St. Vincent, through a massive collaborative venture would soon be opening a spanking new entity in St. Vincent. This entity is expected to provide employment opportunities for five local, qualified personnel; they, together with trained expatriates are expected to provide quality and efficient medical laboratory services.

Eureka, having been established for more than sixteen years, has very strong affiliations and connections with laboratory service providers in the UK and USA. It is therefore expected that tests and procedures that are not possible locally will be facilitated overseas. Vincentians will soon therefore, be able to access state of the science laboratory services at reasonable costs without even having to leave St Vincent! This will become a reality when “Eureka” opens its doors to the public in April 2011. “Eureka” uses the Schuynet (Lab Information System) which affords the various doctors affiliated with it, easy access to their patients’ results - with just a click of a button, in the comfort of their offices and in real time. This service, which is relatively new to the Caribbean, allows for greater efficiency and most certainly will enhance the quality of health care available to Vincentians as a whole.

There will be a wide range of tests offered: routine clinical chemistry tests, haematology, endocrinology, parasitology, (microbiology, soon to come on board) and serology. In addition to these basic tests, exotic tests such as; Allergy, DNA Paternity, heavy metals etc. will easily be facilitated by counterparts from the USA. The results for these tests done overseas would be forthcoming in merely a few days and clients/ patients can be assured that these will be quite reasonably priced, comparable to all the local assays being offered.

At “Eureka”, we look forward to helping you live longer, healthier lives…

Dig in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

If you have always wanted to experience archaeology, and especially wanted to do it on St. Vincent and the Grenadines, now's your chance. You can apply for the 2012 season. I got this email from Margarita de Guzman





Just wanted to let you know that The SVG Public Archaeology Program is set for another season in January 2012. Maybe you can post it on your blog? Please check out our new website! www.svgdigs.com

Margarita J. de Guzman, M.A., Principal Archaeologist
403.891.5617 | www.linkedin.com/in/margaritadeguzman
www.circleconsulting.ca | www.thecircleblog.ca | @circledigs

Come dig with us in the Caribbean! www.svgdigs.com

St Vincent and the Grenadines concludes UN human rights review

News Publisher 5/16/11 6:31 AM
Reprinted from Caribbean News Now!

GENEVA, Switzerland -- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) made concluding remarks before the United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday, becoming the 172nd country to have its record on human rights reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review process that began in 2008.

SVG’s progress in education, housing, health and development was praised by members of the Human Rights Council.

However, some countries also asked SVG to consider abolishing the death penalty, and to remove any legal provisions against the crime of buggery. Countries also asked the government to strengthen its protections of the disabled, juveniles, and victims of domestic violence.

The Universal Periodic Review involves a review of the human rights records of all 192 members of the United Nations. It provides an opportunity for all countries to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to overcome challenges to the enjoyment of human rights. The countries are evaluated based on a national report provided by their government, as well as information from the reports of independent human rights experts and groups, human rights treaty bodies, and non-governmental organisations.
The two-person Vincentian delegation to Geneva, Switzerland was led by Ambassador Camillo Gonsalves of the Permanent Mission of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations. He was joined by Doris Charles, Minister Counselor of SVG’s High Commission to the United Kingdom.

SVG presented its national report to the Human Rights Council on Tuesday, 10 May, 2011. In introducing the national report, Gonsalves told the Council that SVG was proud of its “rapidly developing and improving post-independence human rights record.” The ambassador reminded the Council that SVG’s history was scarred by both slavery – “that most inhumane of human rights violations” – and the genocide of the Garifuna. However, he pointed out that “In modern times, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has largely solved, and spectacularly so, many of the ethnic and racial tensions that bedevil other States.”

“The descendants of the slaveholder, the enslaved and the indigenous live in peace and relative harmony with each other, and with the more recent immigrants from Asia, the Middle East and Europe,” said Gonsalves.
He also pointed out Ambassador Betty King, who was in the Council chamber to hear SVG’s presentation. King, the Vincentian-born Ambassador of the United States in Geneva, was called an “illustrious member of our Diaspora” by Gonsalves.

The Vincentian ambassador told the Council about the growth of democracy in SVG since independence. He recounted the free and fair elections and peaceful transfers of power that have been typical of the country’s development. He also told the Council about the diversity of successive Vincentian governments, which have featured women, the youth, and prime ministers of different ethnic backgrounds.
Gonsalves also described the fundamental rights and freedoms protected by the Vincentian Constitution, as well as the additional human rights protections that were included in the proposed new Constitution, which was defeated in the 2009 referendum.

“Unfortunately, the required referendum on the Constitution became a political football as the scheduled 2010 General Elections approached,” said Gonsalves. “The opposition, which formerly supported the Constitutional reform effort, withdrew from the bipartisan process, and the discussion of the document took on a sharply partisan political tone that made sober and informed debate unexpectedly difficult.”

“On reflection, the State too, could and should have done more to ensure that the constitutional debate did not become hostage to more short-term political calculations,” said the ambassador.

In a rigorous two-hour question-and-answer session between Gonsalves and the members of the Council, 33 countries asked questions and made recommendations to SVG.

Responding to questions on the death penalty, Gonsalves explained that recent judicial decisions made it extremely difficult for executions to take place in SVG, where the death penalty has not been applied in over 15 years. He later asserted out that a majority of the world’s peoples still live in countries that impose capital punishment.
A number of countries called on SVG to repeal all laws that criminalise sexual activities between consenting adults. However, Gonsalves pointed out that Vincentian laws prohibited incest, prostitution, buggery and other sex acts that could involve consenting adults, and that there was no public or legislative appetite to revise any of those provisions.

Many Council members congratulated SVG for its poverty reduction strategies and focus on health and education. They also praised the government for the construction of the new Belle Isle Correctional Facility and economic development.

The Human Rights Council made 92 recommendations to SVG for national action and consideration.
In wrapping-up the week-long Universal Periodic Review process on Friday, May 13, Gonsalves thanked the Council for “the warm expressions of support, solidarity and recognition of the strides and efforts being made by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the field of human rights; and the progress we have achieved in national development and the ennoblement of the Vincentian people.”

He told the Council that SVG could immediately accept 49 of the 92 recommendations, many of which were already being implemented by the government. He explained to the Council that another 26 recommendations would require further study by the government and wider consultation with the Vincentian public before making a response. The remaining 17 recommendations, which dealt mainly with the death penalty and laws relating to buggery, were not accepted by the government.

The president of the Human Rights Council praised SVG for its progress in the field of human rights and congratulated the delegation for their comprehensive responses to the questions and recommendations of the Council.

Ambassador Bente Angell-Hansen of Norway, who represented one of three countries with primary responsibility for recording and reporting the positions of SVG, extended her “sincere appreciation to Ambassador Camillo Gonsalves for the effective and constructive participation of his country in this review.”

Copyright© 2004-2011 Caribbean News Now! at www.caribbeannewsnow.com All Rights Reserved For permission to republish, please contact editor@caribbeannewsnow.com
http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/news/newspublish/home.print.php?news_id=6352

Photos of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

There are collections of photographs of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the internet. In fact there are lots of photos of everywhere, but I've only run across a couple by accident.



Sorry, these weren't very good.

Photos

Fantasea Tours has a nice page of photos at:

http://www.fantaseatours.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=55

PM On Diplomacy

By CMC - Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011.

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves Tuesday defended his administration’s decision to establish diplomatic ties with countries like Taiwan saying that the changing global environment made it imperative for St. Vincent and the Grenadines to have diplomatic relations with countries that would further enhance the island’s socio-economic development.
“Foreign relations is a highly sophisticated…business. There are some people who want to look at foreign policy as in the Cold War,” Gonsalves told a news conference following visits to a number of countries like Taiwan and Britain in recent days.
He told reporters that those persons, whom he did not name, “haven’t gotten out of that old mode and they have blinkers on their eyes.
“As you know that has not been the position of this government which looks at a policy to enhance our capacity to deal effectively with our external environment in the interest of our own people,” he added.
The Prime Minister said that he held talks with various officials on the future development of the island that is recovering from a number of natural disasters in recent weeks and would be meeting with the Taiwanese diplomat here to discuss the modalities of promised financial and other assistance to the island.
During his lengthy news conference, in which Gonsalves discussed issues ranging from assistance from the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to the marriage of Prince William and his wife, Kate, the Prime Minister also disclosed that he would be writing a letter to United States President Barack Obama on the recent capture and death of the terrorist, Osama bin Laden.
The leader of the al-Qaeda group, who had been blamed for a number of terrorist activities worldwide, including the September 2001 attack on the World Trade Center in the United States, was killed after a small team of US operatives raided his residence in Abbottabad, Pakistan
Gonsalves said that he would congratulate the United States leader on the “magnificent assault on the accommodation of the terrorist” in Pakistan, adding that developing countries like St. Vincent and the Grenadines understood the “adverse effects” of terrorism on their economies.
“We are very pleased to have this success,” he said, noting that developing countries have had to shift much needed revenue to deal with issues like poverty eradication to upgrading air and sea ports as part of the efforts to deal with terrorist activities.
Gonsalves told reporters that he would be leading a delegation to Brazil on Friday “to sell St. Vincent and the Grenadines as an investment local” adding :it is not easy in today’s world, the economic circumstances continue to have an impact on us”.

PM speaks to UK Diaspora

HIGH WYCOMBE, England -- Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) addressed Vincentian nationals, friends of SVG and other interested parties on developments in the country, at Buckinghamshire New University in High Wycombe, England.

The event was attended by Sir Frederick Ballantyne, Governor General of SVG; Cenio Lewis, High Commissioner for SVG to the UK; Eloise Gonsalves; Dr Christopher Stange, Hon. Consul for SVG to Northern Ireland; Cllr Jane White, Mayor of High Wycombe; other dignitaries; nationals and the respective chairs of the various SVG National Associations in the UK.


Gonsalves updated the standing room only audience about all sectors of the economy in SVG, particularly around the world economic crisis and what the government is doing proactively to create a better future for all Vincentians.

He opened with a briefing on the recent floods during SVG’s dry season, which has created mass devastation from Byrea to Rabacca with current estimates of repairs and removal of debris at approximately $100 million.

“This is a vital set back as we have still not fully recovered from the damage caused by Hurricane Tomas last October and this has had a knock on effect,” he said.

Gonsalves then spoke about the “spaces that exist within international relations” and the government’s commitment to its foreign policy, explaining the relationships and assistance received from both traditional and non-traditional allies.

SVG is a small country that needs to be creative and look for opportunities, “being friends of all and enemies of none,” he said.

He thanked those countries that have offered scholarships to Vincentians and the active part they have played in the education revolution. Half of the 30,000 laptops for every child have been received from Portugal and the Ministry of Education plans to distribute these at the primary level in the coming month.

There are large scale direct foreign investment tourism projects in St Vincent, Bequia, Canouan and Union Island for the benefit of all Vincentians. The Taiwanese company OECC will be starting the Argyle International Airport terminal in the next few weeks and all earthworks are to be completed by the end of this year, with the airport fully operational early 2013.

The wellness revolution is alive and well and as a developing country SVG is making tremendous efforts in having fully functional imaging and diagnostic equipment locally and, in the very near future, a kidney dialysis unit at Georgetown. In addition, the improved infrastructure of having various medical facilities stationed around the island will help improve access to care for everyone and take the main focus away from Milton Cato Hospital.

Gonsalves finished speaking about interconnectivity including the national airline LIAT, telecommunications, agricultural diversification, including potential cocoa production, and transport.

“Today is about celebrating the responsibility we all share as Vincentians to be involved in the country and its economic and social development. While some Vincentians have left the country and sought out different paths, please don’t forget your homeland and keeping attached to your roots,” Gonsalves said.

Published on May 2, 2011

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