The political contest in South Central Windward has intensified as opposition candidate Israel Bruce demands incumbent Saboto Caesar to clarify allegations surrounding Bruce’s removal as a teacher from North Union Secondary School. Bruce, representing the New Democratic Party (NDP), challenged Caesar during a radio interview on Hot 97 FM, urging him to disclose the details he has hinted at. This marks Bruce’s second attempt to unseat Caesar, who is vying for a fourth consecutive term. Bruce dismissed the allegations, stating that teacher transfers are a routine matter under the Ministry of Education’s policies and do not require justification. He further challenged Caesar to produce his employment records, emphasizing that the Ministry maintains staff files. The rivalry between the two candidates has grown increasingly personal, with Caesar criticizing Bruce for his legal representation of individuals accused of robbing Caesar’s wife in 2018. However, Caesar did not mention that his wife later withdrew the charges voluntarily. Bruce, in turn, accused Caesar of neglecting the needs of South Central Windward, particularly regarding unemployment among young men and challenges faced by farmers. The exchange highlights the deepening animosity between the candidates as the election approaches.
标签： Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
圣文森特和格林纳丁斯
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Kalia Wyllie awarded BOSVG Netball Scholarship
Kalia Wyllie, a standout graduate of St. Vincent Girls’ High School, has been named the 2025 recipient of the BOSVG Netball Scholarship. Wyllie, who captained her school’s championship team during the 2024 Schools’ Netball Tournament, has consistently demonstrated exceptional talent and leadership in the sport. Her achievements were further recognized at the school’s 2025 graduation ceremony, where she was honored as the Most Outstanding Netballer. Additionally, she was awarded the title of Most Promising Player at the conclusion of the 2025 BOSVG National Netball Tournament and was selected to represent St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the 2025 Windward Island School Games. Beyond her athletic prowess, Wyllie’s academic excellence was highlighted by her outstanding performance in the CSEC examinations, showcasing her dedication and discipline. The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association (SVGNA) expressed confidence in her ability to excel both academically and in netball. Patricia John, Marketing and Communications Manager at BOSVG, presented Wyllie with a cheque for EC$4,000 to support her college journey, emphasizing the bank’s commitment to empowering talented young women. Natasha Baptiste, President of the SVG Netball Association, praised the bank’s partnership, noting its dual focus on sporting excellence and academic advancement. Wyllie’s achievements serve as an inspiration, and she is poised to make the most of this significant opportunity.
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Seamoss Storefront and Interpretative Centre opens in Bequia
In a landmark move for sustainable economic development, the Seamoss Association of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has unveiled the region’s first dedicated Seamoss Storefront and Interpretative Centre in Bequia. Funded by the Government of Canada through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), the centre represents a significant stride in empowering local communities and preserving cultural heritage. Shavorn Stephens, the association’s founder, hailed the opening as a historic milestone, emphasizing its role as a symbol of economic empowerment, cultural pride, and resilience within the sea moss community. The facility offers local producers a specialized retail space to showcase a diverse range of products, from raw and dried sea moss to innovative value-added items like teas, gels, and skincare products. Additionally, the centre features an interpretative section that educates visitors on the history, cultivation practices, nutritional benefits, and cultural significance of sea moss, while paying tribute to the pioneering contributions of women like Ann Bernard Harvey. Jessica Mackie, representing the Government of Canada, underscored Canada’s commitment to supporting sustainable, community-driven initiatives, while Chief Fisheries Officer Jennifer Howard-Cruickshank praised the project for its role in advancing the blue economy. The centre is poised to enhance local income opportunities, promote food security, and position St. Vincent and the Grenadines as a leader in sustainable marine resource development.
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Taiwan’s participation in the ‘Global Mutirão’ on climate transition
Taiwan is taking decisive steps to address the escalating challenges posed by climate change, aligning its efforts with global initiatives to limit temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius. In 2025, Taiwan faced severe flooding due to consecutive typhoons and torrential rains in its southern and eastern regions, highlighting the urgent need for robust climate action. As a proactive member of the international community, Taiwan has outlined a clear Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2035, setting ambitious goals for a low-carbon transition. The country is also publishing regular National Inventory Reports and Biennial Transparency Reports to ensure transparency and accountability in its emissions reduction efforts. President Lai Ching-te’s National Project of Hope, launched in 2024, emphasizes green growth and a 2050 net-zero transition. This initiative is supported by five key strategies: intelligent green energy development, dual-track industrial transformation, fostering sustainable lifestyles, government leadership, and ensuring a just transition. In June 2024, the National Climate Change Committee was established to drive societal momentum and dialogue on climate governance. Taiwan has set mid-term emissions reduction targets of 26-30% by 2030 and 36-40% by 2035, with a long-term goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The Climate Change Response Act enshrines this commitment in law, while the Comprehensive Carbon Reduction Action Plan mobilizes ministries and agencies to implement mitigation programs. Taiwan is also advancing carbon pricing through a combined fee system and emissions trading scheme, aiming to reduce emissions by 37 million metric tons of CO2e by 2030. Additionally, the country is enhancing climate adaptation efforts through a National Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan, focusing on critical infrastructure, water resources, and public health. Taiwan’s submission of its NDC 3.0 and participation in COP30 underscore its commitment to global climate action and its call for international support in achieving a net-zero future.
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Gonsalves calling people greedy is ‘ironic’ — Trinidad PM
Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar has vehemently dismissed claims by St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves that her party’s financiers are meddling in the upcoming SVG elections. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Persad Bissessar refuted the allegations, calling them baseless and ironic, given Gonsalves’ family’s involvement in a luxury apartment acquisition controversy in Trinidad. She urged Gonsalves to address his 24-year tenure in power instead of deflecting attention onto her United National Congress (UNC). Persad Bissessar also criticized the trend of Caribbean leaders interfering in neighboring countries’ elections, warning that such actions could destabilize the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The dispute stems from Gonsalves’ accusations that UNC operatives are supporting his political opponents in SVG’s November 27 general election, allegedly motivated by access to land deals. Persad Bissessar denied these claims, emphasizing that the UNC does not engage in such practices. Meanwhile, Gonsalves has reiterated his allegations at campaign events, accusing the UNC of seeking to exploit SVG’s economic growth for personal gain. The controversy has intensified as regional leaders, including those from Barbados and Dominica, have openly supported Gonsalves’ re-election bid, further fueling tensions between the two nations.
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What comes out of our mouths defiles, and sometimes defines us
Amid the relentless wave of political discourse dominating media and social platforms, I initially intended to remain a passive observer. However, the troubling narratives emerging from the campaign trails of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) in constituencies traditionally held by the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) have compelled me to speak out. The ULP’s repeated assertion that these communities have endured “neglect” for 25 years due to opposition representatives is not only misleading but also a damning admission of the ruling party’s failure to fulfill its constitutional obligations. While I may harbor personal reservations about the performance of certain opposition MPs, it is crucial to clarify that public assistance and constituency development fall under the purview of the executive branch, not the opposition. Opposition MPs lack control over budgets, ministries, social programs, or state resources. Civil servants are tasked with serving the public, not political parties. Thus, when ULP politicians boast that constituencies were denied assistance because they “did not vote ULP,” they are not critiquing the NDP but confessing to 25 years of deliberate neglect—a blatant form of corruption. A government is elected to serve all citizens, not just its supporters. By strategically withholding attention, projects, and social support from communities based on their voting patterns, the administration not only penalizes its political opponents but also inflicts harm on the nation. This selective neglect exacerbates poverty, widens inequality, and undermines national development. High poverty rates, far from being confined to specific constituencies, permeate every sector—education, health, crime, taxation, and the economy—straining national resources and weakening the middle class. Independent reports have highlighted persistently high youth unemployment and rising poverty levels in several areas of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) over the past two decades. When a government deems entire constituencies unworthy of development due to their political allegiances, it erodes the foundations of democracy and good governance. Worse, it abandons its own supporters within these communities, treating them as collateral damage. This strategy has predictably backfired, as evidenced by the ULP’s declining support across multiple election cycles. Citizens who feel marginalized and undervalued do not forget neglect; they endure it daily. The irony of the ULP’s campaign slogans, such as “Labour Loves You, Labour Is Wuking Fo We,” is stark. How can a government claim to “love” and work for the people while openly admitting to withholding public assistance from entire communities? These phrases, designed to project care and unity, are deployed in constituencies where the government has confessed to denying development and support solely because the people “did not vote for them.” This is not love; it is propaganda aimed at controlling the narrative and shifting blame onto the very citizens who were deprived. Such messaging seeks to convince people that their hardships stem from a lack of loyalty, when the true betrayal lies with those who exploited public office for personal gain rather than national progress. A government that exacts political retribution on its citizens for exercising their constitutional right to vote demonstrates a dangerous disregard for public integrity. It is an affront to the hardworking people of SVG who strive to build stable lives under systems that should protect, not hinder, them. Like Sanballat and Tobiah, who sought to obstruct the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls, we are witnessing leadership more focused on obstruction than nation-building. SVG needs leaders who refuse to weaponize public resources and instead commit to uplifting every community without malice, favoritism, or conditions. Silence is not an option. These issues demand public scrutiny, honest discourse, and accountability. Democracy cannot flourish where citizens are punished for their votes. Public office is a sacred trust, and when it is wielded as a tool of exclusion, it becomes treason.
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Team Rubis donation motivates Marriaqua Gov’t School students
The Marriaqua Government School recently became the beneficiary of a generous donation from RUBIS West Indies Ltd., as the company reaffirmed its dedication to fostering educational excellence. On November 4, the school witnessed a heartwarming ceremony where EC$3,000 worth of essential school supplies were presented to students and staff. Fifteen students received bookbags stocked with necessary items, while the school itself was equipped with critical resources such as printing paper, files, white markers, erasers, folders, exercise books, notebooks, pens, and pencils. This initiative underscores RUBIS’s ongoing commitment to supporting education and ensuring students have the tools they need to thrive. Elroy Edwards, RUBIS Accounts Executive, emphasized the company’s mission, stating, “We are proud to contribute to the learning environment at Marriaqua Government School. Providing students and teachers with the right resources not only supports academic achievement but also inspires and motivates students to reach their full potential. At RUBIS, we are committed to giving back to our communities and fostering a brighter future for the next generation.” Headmistress Susan Joyles expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the school community, highlighting the transformative impact of the donation. “Your generous contributions have made a meaningful difference, helping our students feel better equipped and motivated to learn. Acts of kindness such as yours create a positive learning environment and remind our children that there are people and organizations who care about their education and well-being. We are sincerely grateful for your continued support and partnership,” she remarked. This initiative is part of RUBIS’s broader efforts to invest in local communities, demonstrating its commitment to education and social responsibility while positively impacting the lives of both students and educators.
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PM Gonsalves’ wife, children’s properties being investigated in Trinidad
An investigation has been initiated in Trinidad and Tobago concerning the acquisition of two properties and the rental of another by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves’ wife, Eloise Gonsalves, and their adult children, Storm and Soleil Gonsalves. The properties were obtained through the state-owned Housing Development Corporation (HDC), with Gonsalves asserting that all procedures were followed without any special favors or preferential treatment. He has referred the matter to a senior counsel in Trinidad and Tobago for further review.
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Unpaid and overlooked: Mental Health staff deserves better!
In an anonymous letter, several staff members from the nation’s sole mental health facility have raised concerns about an unresolved issue that has persisted for months and warrants public scrutiny. Earlier this year, a group of mental health professionals were tasked with providing care to a mentally ill inmate at the Belle Isle Correctional Facility, a high-risk environment that required them to step beyond their usual responsibilities. To motivate their participation, the government promised an incentive payment. The staff fulfilled their duties, delivering professional care and ensuring the safe management of the patient. However, despite their commitment, the promised payment has yet to be disbursed. When questioned, the government dismissed their request as “too much,” despite having initially proposed the terms. This response has left the staff feeling undervalued and disheartened, especially as significant funds are being allocated for election-related events, including hiring foreign entertainers. The mental health sector in the country is already strained by staffing shortages and poor working conditions. The failure to honor the agreement has further demoralized the frontline workers, who are not seeking charity but fairness, transparency, and the fulfillment of a promise made in good faith. The staff entered the prison because the patient needed them, upheld their oath, and honored their commitment. The question remains: Is this a government that truly cares for its essential workers? It is imperative that this matter be addressed promptly.
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Betrayal of trust: a therapist’s deceitful role in our relationship
In a shocking revelation, a personal account from St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) exposes a deeply troubling breach of professional ethics within the mental health sector. The author, whose identity remains protected, shares a harrowing experience involving a therapist who not only failed to uphold ethical standards but actively manipulated and betrayed her clients. This story underscores the urgent need for accountability and reform in mental health practices, particularly in regions where stigma and lack of oversight prevail. The therapist, visiting SVG periodically to provide services, initially appeared to be a trusted professional. However, her actions soon revealed a darker agenda. She became intimately involved with one client, Bertram, while simultaneously divulging confidential information between partners. Her casual dismissal of the betrayal, captured in voice notes, further highlights her disregard for ethical boundaries. The therapist exploited her position of power, prioritizing her personal desires over the well-being of her clients. This case raises alarming questions about the safety of vulnerable individuals seeking mental health support. The author has reported the incident to relevant authorities and urges others to remain vigilant against professionals who misuse their roles. This story is not just a personal account but a call to action for systemic change in mental health care.