RHONDA Highland-Alleyne of Parkinson Field, Pinelands, St Michael, is in need of urgent help for her 22-year-old quadriplegic son.And when members of the St Michael South East Constituency Council toured the area, she informed them of her plight, and chairman Patrick Tannis promised to do something to help her.She said her son Xavier was stabbed in the neck about four years ago and since then has been unable to get around on his own. And with Highland-Alleyne not having the financial means, he’s been at home all along.“We do need help,” she said. “We went asking for help, but some of the places said that he was too old for the help – at that time we needed assistance until he was about 17. The Variety Club aided us out a lot . . . we would get a bit of assistance from the Welfare Department, but basically that is it.”She was particularly concerned about care for him while she was at work because “he’s still young and he needs his education”. She also mentioned the need for a laptop, saying “ours is broken and that is what keeps him busy during the day”.The single mother said that a Transport Board bus service was available but sometimes the drivers were very inconsiderate: “When he get up he has to relax for a while; he gets dizzy spells and sometimes the drivers would say ‘Hurry up! Hurry up! I only have five minutes’.”Highland-Alleyne disclosed that although Xavier had regained all the feeling on his right side, and “he is trying”, only his left diaphragm worked. “If he were getting the therapy he needed he could have been further,” she lamented.Highland-Alleyne would not go into the details of the stabbing incident as the matter is sub judice, and is scheduled to be heard at the sitting of the Continuous Assizes.
Mia suggests changes to elections
BARBADOS should have a fixed election date – not one that Government can determine as it sees fit.Leader of the Opposition Mia Mottley, made this suggestion in the House of Assembly yesterday.But during a speech in which she called for some changes in the laws governing elections and other elements of governance, she ruled out changing Barbados’ “first-past-the-post” electoral system to proportional representation.Mottley told the House the time was ripe for Government to consider an “an appropriate framework” on governance, taking into consideration such factors as the timing of elections as well as the financing of political parties and political campaigns.She said British Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg had pledged new fixed-term, five-year parliaments — replacing a system in which the prime minister decided on the date of elections.Trinidad and Tobago and other Commonwealth countries were also considering the shift, she reported.However, Mottley said she did not favour dumping the “first-past-the-post” or “winner-takes-all” electoral system because proportional representation placed too much power in the hands of political parties and a few people.Mottley made the comments as the House debated two bills introduced by Prime Minister David Thompson, who is also the Minister of Finance: the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill and the Charities (Amendment) Bill.Taking up a point raised by Opposition MP, Dr William Duguid (Christ Church West), Mottley said she was worried about the possibility of charitable donations being abused to benefit politicians.She called for a cap on political donations so that no one person had disproportionate influence. Mottley suggested that the review of governance legislation consider the fact that parliament failed to be an “effective check” on the executive arm of government, with the largest block in the House being the Government’s front bench. This meant, she argued, that Prime Ministers “get their way effectively in Cabinet, the Cabinet then gets their way in Parliament and Parliament ceases to be an effective check and balance on the Executive”.She wanted a joint select committee established to look at parliamentary reform, campaign financing and political party financing, saying there was a need to secure democracy for future generations. (TY)
New Fire Chief to work on three-point plan
A REGIONAL DISASTER mechanism, a regional training college and increased customer service are what new Chief Fire Officer Wilfred Marshall will be working towards.Marshall made these revelations on Monday during a media conference at the Barbados Fire Service headquarters in Probyn Street, The City.“Most of our training is done internationally, and I want to see a situation where we can go to a college which would focus on situations you would find in the Caribbean and not in New York,” he said.Marshall said he also wanted to see a regional disaster mechanism established for firefighting and rescue, as well as a regional response framework for natural and unnatural events that may go beyond the capacity of the affected country.“It is my intention to work with the Caribbean Association of Fire Chiefs and the Caribbean Association of Fire Fighters towards the development of fire officers in this region and the attainment of these goals,” he said. As for improved customer service, Marshall said his vision was to develop a fire service driven by efficiency, with the outcome measured not only in statistics but also in service excellence.In addition, he said he wanted to see public sector reform made a part of the future of the service.“I want the service to be technology-led and in particular to capitalise on the benefits of information technology to provide innovative solutions in areas such as training, communication, record keeping and certainly in my decision making process,” he said.Marshall identified some pending additions to the service in the form of a new water tanker, which would primarily be used to bring water to areas where they had difficulty sourcing it, and a new crash tanker, which would be stationed at the airport to combat airfield fires. Concerning the airport station, he said personnel were getting ready to move in, “hopefully” this year, as some repairs were still taking place. (CA)
NORTH BOOM
by WADE GIBBONSGOVERNMENT WILL OVERSEE a massive housing development project in St Lucy that appears set to transform the parish’s physical landscape.In a ministerial statement yesterday in the House of Assembly, Prime Minister David Thompson said a group of local, Caribbean and United States entrepreneurs and other interests, operating under the name North Ridge Development Company Limited, was scheduled to commence the project on 200 000 square feet of land at Pickering this year. The major initiative will involve the construction of 1 161 residential units.Thompson said the project would include a 200-unit hotel, a private day-care centre, a primary school to accommodate 350 pupils, recreational amenities, heritage parks, greens, lakes, tree-lined boulevards, an amphitheatre, bus terminal and a sewage treatment plant.Among the other areas of the project which will be finalised over a nine-year period are doctors’ offices, health clinic, pharmacy, professional offices, beauty and barber shops, supermarkets, convenience stores and a cinema.Thompson said central to the development were the green theme ambience, aesthetics and creation of a holistic community which would provide a safe, comfortable environment for Barbadians.He said provision would be made for low and middle-income earners to access affordable housing and the size of the houses would compare favourably with other residential units.“In addition, the selling price per square foot has been projected to be lower than the affordable middle income product ranges now being offered,” he said.Thompson explained that this was as a result of lower land costs, advanced building methods, and the benefits of concessions to be obtained from Government which would be passed on to the purchasers.The Prime Minister said an agriculture component was included in which 20 acres of land would be used. He also indicated that 75 000 square feet of land would house a light industrial facility.Thompson said the project, which is to be built on Pickering Plantation lands which went on sale in 2007, would make use of the connection of National Heroes Dr Charles Duncan O’Neal and Errol Barrow to the parish. He said they would be the focus of a major heritage civic centre on 12.94 acres that would reflect their lives.“The development of Pickering has the potential to provide the socio-economic base which is required to ensure that the future development of St Lucy is harmonious and sustainable,” he stated.Thompson said Government stood to realise increases in revenue during and after the construction phase from payroll and property taxes, income tax, transport services and VAT.It was anticipated that 600 full-time jobs would be created at peak construction periods and sustainable employment opportunities would be provided for 300 people to support the residential and business aspects of the [email protected]
MARKET VENDOR: Dis tournament, we all win
THE AUSSIES came, they saw and they conquered, well almost, as over the past few weeks we saw the good the bad, the awful, and the magnificent as the I.C.C. T20 Cricket tournament came to town and people like Amurcan troops in Iraq came to the Mecca, Kensington Oval.And while I don’t want to put Tony Cozier out of wuk, I have a few observations on this tournament. Ah said it before and ah say it again, this is the new game of cricket, the one that will bring out the fans and create new ones, youths male and female are following this form of the game, it is entertainment and finally the old lady of sports is providing it. Every time a four or a six get hit my eyes glued to the mini stages round the ground as the dancing girls rotate and gyrate,Mac and Gravy with the brass band working the stands, Stabby the guard shirtless and with the body to match dancing and jamming for four days nonstop, he don’t need no gym for six months! And the characters, every day a new set, friendly rivalry between fans, food and drink flowing and West Indies, as usual losing. There were oohs and aahs as amazing feats of aerial acrobatics brought balls out of the sky and sent batters, the new term, back to the pavillion, mighty, lusty balls blazed all over the ground and in the air, clearing the stands as the batters beat ball all over. There were pretty girls from all over the globe and here at home. The Trinis sent some of their best to represent and they did! I swear that the girls in the party stand rub down with snake oil, them girls could wine! At the final, I meet a gorgeous young attorney of Asian descent who told me she could support four teams, Sri Lanka where her mother came from, West Indies where she was born, England where she lived and studied and India where her ancestral roots reside. Only a lawyer could work that one out! Poor me I was stuck with the West indies!The bad and the ugly I won’t dwell on, enough has been said about the West Indies already! Losing is one thing, appearing to lose without the fight is another! In a sense, the final had only winners. It was a great game and when two sides play well, everyone remembers a great game and tournament!The organisation was impeccable, the volunteers working without pay truly made us proud. Everything worked, I mean everything, even the bathrooms did not require rubber boots and gloves before entering. Courtesy was the order of the day and helpfulness the password. Of course there will always be someone looking to be a spoiler, as a fella became an unsolicited volunteer for the I.C.C and sought to retrieve one of the stumps at the end of the men’s final, obviously for safe keeping, but not armed with the appropriate authority to do so, was brought down by a member of the local constabulary. The officer then proceed to put him in an arm and head lock that would have made any professional wrestler proud. Do not mess with the Royal Barbados Police Force. In any event where was he going to go after he had taken up the stumps! The ladies final was a good match too, and those of us who stayed were not disappointed and it went down to the last ball. Minister Richard Sealy must be smiling from ear to ear as the visitors swarmed all over Bubbadus, take a bow Guyana, take a bow St. Lucia and take a bow Bubbadus. This was a T20 World series to remember, I leaving Tony Cozier to talk bout the Windies team and what to do but as for me, I making plans now for the next IPL series in India and iffing I can persuade Paul Skinner from Bubbadus who is a big maguffy in that tournament to get de seats, then don’t be surprised if you see me Market Vendor, minus tray, dancing and singing, hands in the air like the locals shouting and screaming on TV. I am an unrepentant convert.
I Market Vendor gone fuh now. You have a blessed and a wonderful day, yuh hearrr!
Overwhelmed by caring people
Dear Christine, I can’t believe there are so many people who care.
I wrote to you about two weeks ago, about my dad’s death and how I just couldn’t cope with it. I saw your reply in the column Hard Time Coping With Dad’s Death dated Wednesday, May 12 and the very next day, I just couldn’t believe the number of very caring people who responded.
I realise that people do care. I want to say thank you readers for caring so much. You all don’t even know me, but found it in your heart to care. A big thank you to readers. I’m trying to take one day at a time.
Christine, I finally realised that I would have made a big mistake taking my life. I felt so guilty. I thought of all the people I would have hurt, if I had done it – all the people I would have hurt if I had killed myself, the people who care about me, whom I overlooked.
At this moment, I promised myself that I wouldn’t even think about doing something harmful to myself ever again. The pain still wouldn’t go away and I can’t sleep at night. But I know it will get better. Sometimes I would just burst out crying, but I will always remember all those caring readers who responded.
Thank you again. Christine, you are indeed one of a kind – caring, you a healer and a comforter. Thank you again and again and I wish you all the best. – CARING.
DEAR CARING, You have made my day. I am so happy that you changed your mind about taking your own life. It will get better. And yes, there are many caring people out there. I have given you the number for the Bereavement hotline if you want to talk to someone, but if not, feel free to write me at any time. I do hope that things continue to get better for you. Do keep me posted. – Christine
THORNY ISSUE: Time for heads to roll
When there is consistent failure in any sporting discipline it usually signals that there is time for change and for some to be relieved of their posts.The West Indies latest failure in the just concluded T20 World Cup was yet another reflection of sustained inconsistency, but it also brought into focus that we didn’t select our best team.The selectors should be made to answer. Even before the ink was dried on the paper they wrote the names of the 15 to represent the West Indies. It was evident that the absence of Dwayne Smith and Lendl Simmons was a wrong move.The subsequent reason given by coach Ottis Gibson for the exclusion of Smith was widely questioned and might haunt him for a long time to come. If Smith was targeted for not being able to handle pressure in certain situations the World Cup proved that there were quite a few of his colleagues who also fitted into this category, but still made the team. Simmons, like Smith, is multi-skilled and his inclusion should have been automatic. He was also missing from the ‘A’ team’s tour of Bangladesh, so there could be more in the mortar than the pestle.I honestly believe there is a need for frank disclosure by the authorities in matters such as these so that the public can make a clearer assessment of the situation instead of having to speculate.For argument sake, if you have to juxtapose the exclusion of Smith and Simmons against the inclusion of Wavell Hinds then there is even greater reason for the selectors to be held accountable.Hinds looked lost when he got his chance, but he didn’t pick himself. Some suggest he may have been the captain’s pick, but if there was a preference for another Jamaican in the squad it should have been Carlton Baugh who could do no worse than Denesh Ramdin or Andre Fletcher as a wicketkeeper-batsman.There is nothing wrong in having horses for courses and in a case where his immediate rivals were found wanting in recent competition. Baugh would have been the better choice in my opinion.But for Barbados’ baffling handling of Patrick Browne in the past two seasons there could have been a role for him too. I don’t think there is a role for Chanderpaul or Sarwan in this form of cricket, but we tend to go with the traditional in all things. Surely, based on who we have, the two will be first options in the game’s longer versions but T20 appears to be a bit too rushed for their style. Overall, we still seem a little short of commitment on the field and unless individuals find a goal on which to focus I think we will continue to struggle. For me, the biggest motivation has to be the defence of our rich cricketing legacy. No amount of money can buy that – only a knowledge of history and a dedicated responsibility to defend what has been achieved by their predecessors, will make a major difference in the way West Indies perform in the future.Nevertheless, congratulations to the respective winners England in the men and Australia in the women. For all we know they may have gotten their selection right to begin with!• Andi Thornhill is sports editor of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation.
LIME/ UWI forum looks to future
TOP DECISION-MAKERS in the commercial sectors will get together and hear what other social partners and unions have to say when UWI/LIME hosts its inaugural CEOs Forum in the CARICOM Research Building, Cave Hill Campus this morning.Alex McDonald, country manager, LIME Barbados, said the event would incorporate those in certain areas of expertise in discussions, while trying to find solutions on how best they could move forward and be creative and fresh in the 21st century.McDonald said it was felt that there was a need to hear what confidence industry leaders had for the future and for them to collectively get together and rethink strategies for their businesses.“In the turn of the [last] century, we sent Bajans out to Panama and they sent their money back into the island helped to float the island out of a recession. After the war, we sent them to London where they became bus drivers and once again they sent home their monies and that again helped the island to stay afloat.“So we are looking for modern strategies to counter this latest recession and ways we can best move forward with these things,” he said.Among those attending the forum and addressing the seminar will be Dr DeLisle Worrell, Governor of the Central Bank, who will give an overview of the current economic situation and implications for the future; Sir Roy Trotman, general secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union, on the Role Of Labour: Past, Present And Future; Sue Springer, executive vice-president, Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, representing the tourism sector; Keith Laurie, representing the agricultural/agro-industrial sectors; and Randolph Sandiford, CEO of Matrix Marketing Inc., representing the manufacturing sector.McDonald said there would also be discussion on new and emerging industries. Mark Hill, chief innovation officer, of Innogen Technologies will also speak on the alternative energy sector. (CT)
Proving ground
by HAYDN GILL in AntiguaA YEAR AGO, the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground was the subject of embarrassment after a sandy outfield forced the abandonment of a Test match.A week ago, West Indies and South Africa were also embarrassed after crashing out of the ICC World Twenty20 Championships at the Super Eights stage when the expectations of both were higher.All three will come under the microscope from today at the start of the Digicel Series that bowls off with back-to-match Twenty20 Internationals.The outfield, a disaster last year for the Test match against England that was called off after ten balls, appears to be in good shape.After a one-year ban imposed by the International Cricket Council, it has gone through remedial work, staged a regional first-class match in January, and passed an inspection a few weeks ago. A walk across the ground yesterday revealed no sign of sand.From a Caribbean stand-point, the main concern is whether Chris Gayle’s team can quickly put the disappointment of their World Twenty20 campaign behind them against opponents who themselves have a point to prove.“We have something to try and regain. It is going to be challenging. We are up against a top team. It is going to be difficult. “At the same time, we have to try and apply ourselves and rebound,” Gayle said yesterday before an afternoon training session at the match venue.“We have just got back as a group. Twenty20 is a pressure situation. The guys should be able to cope with it. It’s not the big occasion, meaning the World Cup, but it’s a tough team. We should be ready physically and mentally.”After coming through the preliminaries of the World Twenty20 with victories against Ireland and eventual champions England, West Indies were unable to get it together in the Super Eights and lost two of their three matches to Sri Lanka and Australia.South Africa also failed to make an impression in the second stage where defeats against England and Pakistan prevented Greame Smith’s men from advancing to the semi-finals.It was the latest instance of South Africa failing to make an impression in a global tournament.“It was a very disappointing performance that we put in the T20. The team has taken a lot of flak and rightly so. We’ve got to take responsibility for that,” Smith said.“The team has really worked hard in the last few days that we’ve had here in Antigua. It’s now up to the team to perform well and regain [the] faith [of] the public back home.”While South Africa have made a few changes from their World Twenty20 squad, the West Indies selectors have virtually rubber-stamped their squad, dropping only Wavell Hinds and not bringing in anyone else.Some might see it as an endorsement of the team’s performance and others might see it as the selectors giving the players another chance to come good.“It should be a wake-up call. It is a pressure situation,” Gayle said.“During these couple of days off, it let players look into themselves a bit more . . . [We have to] step up against South Africa.”While Gayle identified the shortcomings among the batsman as the main reason for the World Twenty20 failure, Smith didn’t narrow it down to any area.“We just never hit our straps throughout the tournament. We just never played to the levels that we’ve been able to perform at over the last few years. There are always a thousand things you can look at,” he said.“We’ve obviously got to look forward now. It’s an important tour for us to bounce back. We’ve got a few new players who have arrived. The guys have worked hard. Confidence is a big thing; we really need to find it.”While attendances for the World Twenty20 was encouraging at all the match venues, pre-match sales for these matches here have been nothing to shout about.
THORNY ISSUE: Dottin, Sammy seize spotlight
VERY OFTEN, the world stage throws up individuals who rise to the challenge and others who falter. I think it would be true to say that the West Indies have seen the emergence of two players in the ICC World Twenty20 tournament who have flourished in the spotlight. Surely, the most outstanding individual performance in the tournament has been registered by 18 year-old Barbadian all-rounder Deandra Dottin. Her swashbuckling, historic century against South Africa was stunning and announced her as a player with a considerable amount of ability. The manner of her demolition of the South African attack was in the vein you would associate with the likes of a Chris Gayle, a Virender Sehwag or an Adam Gilchrist.This is esteemed company, you would reason, but the statistical brutality of her knock vindicates the comparison. Her 112 came from a mere 45 balls, the last 50 off 13 deliveries, a grand total of nine sixes and seven fours. This was an innings of authority and one that would give Dottin and by extension her team a psychological advantage when she goes to the crease against the opposition.Actually, I believe she is saving another special delivery for the semi-finals and, hopefully, the final.I know she has received accolades from various quarters but I still think that the local authorities should make it a point to do something special for her. This is where the talent was harnessed with the help of coaches like Richard Clarke, Alfred Campbell and Sherwin Campbell. The onus is on us to highlight and reward her remarkable feat. I remember Dottin as a very shy but determined field athlete with good skill in the discus, shot put and javelin. She was good enough to medal at the CARIFTA Games. She is now poised to make her mark in world cricket.And on the men’s end, have you noticed the pep in the step of Darren Sammy? The St Lucian all-rounder is revelling in the World Twenty20 atmosphere. Two Man Of The Match awards in the preliminary rounds sent the media seeking him out for interviews and he has been up to the task. His words are measured and he has humbly deflected the attention away from himself to the team effort. His contribution to the West Indies’ vital victory over India shouldn’t be underestimated, as he was very visible in motivating the players in the field on Sunday.Should he continue to get the selectors’ nod in all forms of the game, could he be a serious contender for the leadership in time to come? Made to live in the shadows of other regional all-rounders in the past, Sammy has always been an honest, committed player who gives his all on every occasion. What more can you ask especially at a time when the work ethic of some of his colleagues is questioned? The Sammy model, if emulated, can be the path for the revival we need in West Indies cricket. It is that plain for the world to see.• Andi Thornhill is sports editor at the Caribbean Brodcasting Corporation. He can be reached at [email protected]