FRIDAY, DECEMBER 04, 2020 VOLUME 114, No.49 www.thevincentian.com EC$1.50 Tri-tri SKN forgives PM warns ACE 2 Watchman Warning LIAT NDP relocates thinking twice Page 3 Page 5 Page 6 Page 14 Page 28 PARLIAMENTARIANS SWORN IN Stories by DAYLE A SILVA ALL TWENTY-TWO MEMBERS of parliament - fifteen elected and seven appointed members - were on November 30 sworn in during the 1st Session of the 11th Parliament. New members were sworn in on both sides. Carlos James, Curtis King and Orando Brewster took their oaths as newly elected Parliamentary Representatives for the governing Unity Labour Party, along with Julian Francis, Keisal Peters, Rochard Ballah and Ashelle Morgan as Senators. Morgan also took the oath of Deputy Speaker of the House. Fitzgerald Bramble committed to Shevern John – the first woman of There were only two new faces on continue the good work of Arnhim Garifuna lineage to sit in the SVG the Opposition side — Fitzgerald Eustace, his predecessor as MP for parliament - extended a hand of Bramble, newly elected Parliamentary East Kingstown. cooperation to the MP for North Representative for East Kingstown, Windward. and Shevern John, the New Brewster said during the segment Democratic Party’s candidate for the allocated for congratulatory remarks. Representative for Central Leeward North Windward Constituency in the He congratulated all the elected paid tribute to those who served in the 2020 General Elections as Senator. members of Parliament, but singled “It is an honour and privilege to be out those who were elected for the first Continued on Page 3. standing in this House as a new Orando Brewster, in making his time. member and to be the youngest,” maiden speech in the House of The first-time Parliamentary Photos Credit: S. Ollivierre/API Assembly, recognized those who had served in the last parliament but have since retired. FORDE CONFIRMED AS FIRST FEMALE Rochelle Forde, the first female Speaker of the SPEAKER House, will be a testing undertaking, as have most Speakers before her. ATTORNEY AT LAW Rochelle Forde is this country new Deputy Speaker after an Speaker of the House of uncontested vote, it is a double Assembly and the first female first for the country with to fill that position.Forde, females now occupying both nominated by the Government the Speaker and Deputy side, garnered 14 votes to the Speaker for the first time. Opposition’s nominee Kay Bacchus-Baptiste’s 8. Continued on Page 3. Ashelle Morgan – Deputy Speaker of And with Senator Ashelle the House. Morgan being installed as 2. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 04, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN V News 3 lHE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 04, 2020. 3. Tri-tri warning THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, materials from the Park Wellness and the Hill cemetery that are Environment is appealing washed into it. to the general public not Needless to say, the Tri-tri is a sought after to purchase tri-tri from warning also extends to delicacy by Vincentians persons who have consumption of the tri-tri home and abroad. harvested such fish from from the contaminated the Colonarie river. Colonarie River. This, Further, many The warning was health officials households here are contained in a release emphasize, presents a known to freeze the tri- made available by the significant public health tri for preparation in Ministry. risk. June-July (Carnival) and The Ministry went Tri-tri, especially December (Christmas), further and reminded prepared as what is when most The Colonarie persons who have referred to as ‘tri-tri nationals/relatives return traditionally made use of cakes’, is a delicacy River is quite home for the associated inviting but recently the Colonarie River for apparently unique to St. festivities. tri-tri harvesting and Vincent and the persons have been Many persons here avoiding. other purposes, to desist Grenadines. It forms believe that tri-tri is from doing so. such an indelible part of abundant in Health officials our culture, that our rivers advised that the Vincentians residing during the Colonarie River abroad are known to months that Forde confirmed as first continues to be request their families to end with ‘er’. contaminated by send them tri-tri (cakes). female Speaker nation, fails to follow its own rules?” she quipped. Parliamentarians Continued from Frontpage. “I am humbled by your “Thankfully, I comfortably actions that my name be rest in the confidence and In congratulating both etched in the historical ability of you the members females, PM Gonsalves said archives as the first female securing the knowledge that sworn in Opposition’s set in the House. of Forde, Speaker of the House of such an irony will not And newly elected Opposition “You have grown into a Continued from Frontpage. Senator, Shevern John began Assembly in St Vincent and disturb this august body,” more settled maturity with the Grenadines,” she went on Forde said, and she urged her comments by congratulating greater wisdom and sure Friday for his hard work and to say. Members not to resurrect the previous Parliament, including: many years of practising law his predecessor Sir Louis dedication to the people. She And while she noted that old stereotypical myth which Straker, who he said was a good also thanked him for her despite your young age of 44, it was indeed a time of equates a particular gender friend, mentor, brother and Senatorial appointment. that you will apply your celebration, she posited that with weakness. guide; Cecil Mc Kie and former “I am a proud Garifuna heart to wisdom… that you it was of greater importance And towards setting the Leader of the Opposition and woman who stands here today, will serve well.” to have an exemplary tone of what she anticipates, former Parliamentary the first Garifuna woman from Morgan, the he noted, had Parliament in the way it Forde told the House that in Representative for East North Windward to serve the some training in state conducts its affairs. agreement with Prime Kingstown Arnhim Eustace. people of North Windward and administration during her “In great part, our Minister and the Leader of Bramble also used the by extension the people of St stint on the Tenders Board Parliament has performed the Opposition, she will occasion to congratulate all the Vincent and the Grenadines,” and from that, she would creditably, however, in some convene a private meeting John said. other Members of Parliament. have some understanding of instances the journey ahead with sitting “This is my first time serving She thanked her colleagues how governmen t worked. still remains a long one,” she parliamentarians and staff in the Parliament, so I look saying that she looked forward The Leader of the told the House, and stated forward to the challenges and to working along with them, and only, on December 17, Opposition said that he was that she was “looking forward during which new members look forward to working with to carrying out her duties to the looking forward to working to healthy, constructive, best of her ability. will be familiarised with and everyone in the House to with the newly elected lively debates, fused with overcome those challenges as we She also congratulated her returning members Speaker. moments of levity.” refreshed about the Standing work to make the country a political opponent in the 2020 “We are in a Parliament, better place,” he said. General Elections, Montgomery She cautioned members Orders of the House. which is a place for us to be that the business of the THE VINCENTIAN He thanked his colleagues and Daniel on his appointment as talking, and so debates ought the Deputy Prime Minister, House will be conducted congratulates Ms. Forde on Leader of the Opposition Dr to be allowed to represent Godwin Friday for the saying that although they were within the confines of the her elevation to the motivation and guidance he political rivals, they were not fully the people on whose Standing Orders of prestigious but challenging received during the campaign. enemies and extended a hand of behalf we have been sent Parliament and decency. position of Speaker of the Bramble also paid brief co-operation in anticipation of here,” Friday said. “What a distasteful irony House, and wishes her an tribute to Eustace saying that he them working together to serve In her response, Forde it would be if Parliament, the unfettered and successful will be guided by the example the people, whose cause they are thanked all who elected her. law-making body of our tenure. which the former Leader of the committed to advance. 4. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 04, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN V Court No Christmas behind bars Stories by July 7, a party of officers from the Rapid Anomalies in the law HAYDN HUGGINS Response Unit (RRU) were conducting stop and search duties at Richmond, when they Connell said that those who once scorned and RANDOLF WILLIAMS, 41-year- signaled a white Toyota Corolla which was scorned persons who come before the Court on old father of one, will not be travelling towards Chateaubelair, to stop. marijuana charges, are today benefitting from what spending Christmas behind The driver complied. is referred to as Medical Marijuana but he added, bars for marijuana possession. The men were asked whether they had “It is one and the same herb.” The Lowmans Leeward anything to declare, and they all said no. As he has repeatedly done in the past, Connell man was on Tuesday fined A search was conducted on their persons, again took a swipe at the Drug Act. $9,900 forthwith or ten but nothing illegal was found. The vehicle “The Law as it is, is harsh and unconscionable,” months in prison for was then searched, and two sacks he echoed.