At The Pumps This Weekend Maximum Price ULG per gal 01/06/10 DELTA $14.40 SHELL $12.34 Year 53 NO. 03BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, W.I. FRIDAY, JUNE 11TH, 2010 EC$2.00 TEXACO $11.84 Music Festival ticket prices slashed By Melissa Amsterdam Mr. Stanley Franks Jr. The St. Kitts Music Festival goers should Music Festival will now be staged be excited this year – not only at the Warner Park Football will the three night line-up be Stadium. At this venue there will spectacular, but ticket prices be two stages, one for the night’s have been reduced. musical acts. The other will be During a press briefing this used to showcase cultural acts. week at the St. Kitts Marriott Lawrence explained: “The Resort the big announcement second stage is guaranteed to was made by Chairman of the St. create added enjoyment and Kitts Music Festival, Mr. Faron amusement. During some of the Lawrence. changeovers, patrons will be able “St. Kitts Music Festival is to enjoy steel band, string band, pleased to officially announce big drum, masquerades, mocka that admission to the festival on jumbies, clowns and more”. any of the three nights is The exciting line-up for the EC$100,” Lawrence disclosed. three night festival was also “This sizeable reduction in revealed by Director of the admission is in response to Productions, Mr. Adrian Lam. the economic challenges all of He points out that there are a us are experiencing. It is our total of nine (9) local artistes from hope that patrons will now seize the Federation who will be the opportunity to attend the showcased in this year’s festival every night as the line- production – St. Kitt’s most up offers something for decorated calypsonian and everyone every night,” bandmaster, King Starshield; Lawrence also mentioned. Grand Masters; Ellie Matt, Jah Fire, This year’s entrance fee of SMI, Pepper Ranks, C-Money, (L-R) Seated at the head table: Mr. Allister Williams, Mr. Stanley Franks, Mr. Faron $100 is by far less than last year’s Rolhensha and Sizzla. Lawrence, Mr. Saju Ng’ galla, Mr. David Lake and Mr. Adrian Lam. which was $135. The line-up for the first night, A change in venue was also Thursday June 24th, is as follws: divulged by the Chairman of the Third World, Grand Masters, Faye Ann Lyons and Capleton. feature some very notable Stage and Logistics Committee, Starshield, Ellie Matt, Bunji Garlin, Friday, the second night, will muscians such as: Fethi Tabet, (cont’d on page 3) Hon. Sam Condor nominates Peruvian counterpart to preside at OAS assembly BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JUNE 8TH 2010 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Labor, Immigration and Social Security, Hon. Sam Condor has nominated Peruvian Foreign Minister His Excellency Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde to preside over the 40th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) during the first session of the Assembly, held in the Museo de la Nación. Following the nomination by Hon. Sam Condor and seconded by Costa Rica and Ecuador, the Peruvian Foreign Minister was elected by acclamation. Until then, the Interim Presidency was filled by Chilean Foreign In this group photo of the OAS Ministers of Foreign Affairs, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Labor, Immigration and Social Security, Hon. Sam Condor is seen (cont’d on page 3) extreme right in the second row. (Photo is courtesy of the OAS) PAGE 03 PAGE 05 COMMENTARY BY PAGE 27 * THE THINKING CITIZEN GREEN PASSPORT NO PAM’s 1967 * VIEW PIONT LONGER ACCEPTED overthrow plans * SOTTO VOCE * EARL CLARKE 2 - OPINION / LOCAL NEWS - The Labour Spokesman FRIDAY, JUNE 11TH 2010 Farmers’ plight receives attention of Dr Harris THE SPOKESMAN - ESTABLISHED MAY 1957 On Tuesday evening, 08 June 2010, the Fahies Agricultural Women Cooperative Society hosted a meeting Published by: The St. Kitts-Nevis Trades & Labour Union with Dr Timothy Harris, Senior Minister in the Federal Government of St Kitts and Nevis, who, inter alia, holds the portfolio of agriculture. Ag. Managing Editor: Dawud Byron The very frank, open and cordial meeting was held at the Newton Ground Primary School and drew a large Masses House, Church Street interactive audience comprised primarily of food crop farmers, with support from some livestock farmers and P.O Box 239 . Basseterre . St. Kitts . West Indies other members of the Newton Ground and neighbouring communities. Tel: (1 869) 465-2229 <> Fa: (1 869) 466-9866 A wide ranging list of issues was ventilated, by the farmers, at this event, and included the following Email: [email protected] matters: ? Destruction of crops by stray animals, mainly cattle. Website: www.labourspokesman.com ? The menace and plague of praedial larceny. ? Perennial damages caused by the prevalence of monkeys. ? The devastation of crops by wild pigs. ? Police cooperation and assistance in dealing with perpetrators, human or animal, of farm crimes Editorial ? Increased involvement of farmers in policy creation. ? A need for expanded development of agro processing. ? Adequate maintenance and repair of feeder road and pathways. Grant’s desperate ? Provision of appropriate legislative framework to combat criminality against farms. ? A call for livestock farmers to do more to properly fence and tether their animals. ? The concept of farmers establishing homes on the farm lands. cling to power at any ? Non-utilization of lands allocated for farming. and all cost The Minister of Agriculture comprehensively responded to the several problems and concerns that were raised by the farmers, and he, with assistance from his proficient team of public officers, outlined the necessary His megalomaniac aspirations of becoming the next Prime Minister courses of actions that will be undertaken to either fully or substantially resolve these pressing issues. of St. Kitts and Nevis has convinced Lindsay Grant, Leader of the While offering the total support of the Government and its agencies, in particular the Department of People’s Action Movement (PAM), that he must desperately cling to Agriculture and the Police, Dr Harris urged farmers to be even more proactive in the management of their power at any and all cost, even when more noble and honourable leaders farms. have stepped aside in their political careers. Overall, the participants expressed the view that the meeting was very meaningful and purposeful, and But Grant’s losing game has not being afforded the privilege of a that it was a fundamental first step in ensuring that, collectively, real remedial action will be taken soonest to level playing field. He has not been straight with his own colleagues. deal with their plight. In a letter written to Mr. Sidney Osbourne, Chairman of the PAM, the Senior Minister Harris’ team was comprised of Mr Thomas Jackson - Acting Director of Agriculture, Ms. “Gang of Five” (Glenroy Blanchette, Roy Angus Fleming, Bernard Welsh, Jihan Williams – Crown Counsel in the Attorney General’s Chambers, Inspector Lyndon David of the Royal St Junie Hodge, Ronald Louis Williams) said that they loved their party but Christopher and Nevis Police Force, Mr Clyde Thompson – Director of Cooperatives and Mr Donald Cable – that they had “become concerned about the sentiments of a vast number Consultant. of PAM supporters who believe that Mr. Grant should step down as political leader”. The disgruntled five said that Grant’s “errors in judgment during the 2010 General Election have significantly hurt the party”. CONGRATULATIONS Daryl The dissenting five went on to say that the US $1.7 million bribery scandal at the Marriott Hotel damaged the party’s chances at the polls. Saturday 15th May 2010, Daryl as well as of the St. Kitts and Nevis performance was noticed by They raised serious questions about the lack of transparency and Rawlins of Conaree Village, St. Association. everyone he worked with. accountability with campaign finances, and there were other allegations Kitts, graduated summa cum Throughout the time he was At the end of his time at UVI, not in the letter, that Grant accrued most of the campaign finances for his laude, (with highest honours) and President of the Future Business during the Pre-Commencement personal agenda and used it in his constituency. completed this tertiary level Leaders of America, he represented activities, Daryl received an award The letter also stated that “Grant’s disappearing act after the General education, receiving his Bachelor UVI in many acclaimed business for his outstanding leadership, Elections and his failure to provide leadership to the thousands of of Arts Degree in Accounting from competitions; wherein he hard work, dedication to his supporters who put their lives and jobs on the line for the party” is the University of the Virgin Islands showcased his intellect as he education and involvement in among the sufficient reasons why Grant should step down immediately. (UVI) St. Thomas Campus. contended against many extra curricula activities. Grant’s decision to postpone the National Annual Convention and During his tenure there, Daryl universities across the continental Daryl is the son of Lynette Caucus was unconstitutional, the rebellious five said, and that candidates was very active on and off United States. Foster of Conaree and William have been excluded from the decision-making process with respect to campus, where he held various Daryl also attended a number Rawlins of Molineux, St. Kitts. party affairs. positions, including: President of of Leadership Conferences which His mother Lynette joined The point was also made that Grant’s overall poor leadership during the Future Business Leaders of took him across the United States. Daryl, his father and other members the 2010 General Election campaign is another reason that suffices for America, Senior Senator of the Ultimately, in 2008 and 2009,, he of the family in St.