标签： Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

In a significant policy shift addressing long-standing labor concerns within the Vincentian police force, National Security Minister St. Clair Leacock announced Monday that officers performing corporal duties without corresponding compensation will finally receive proper payment starting February 1.

The minister, drawing upon his extensive background in military command and human resource management, characterized the practice of extended unpaid acting appointments as systemic exploitation. “This constitutes nothing less than the exploitation of people’s labour and service,” Leacock stated emphatically during his address.

Leacock revealed that there are currently 112 corporals in the police force, many of whom have been performing elevated responsibilities for periods ranging from three to eight years without appropriate remuneration. The minister condemned this tradition as fundamentally unjust, particularly within an organization that should exemplify proper employment practices.

The newly installed New Democratic Party administration, which assumed office on November 27, has moved swiftly to address this issue. Leacock announced the government’s decisive resolution: “We have made the decision that everyone must be paid their corporal’s pay, come the first of February.”

Establishing new procedural guidelines, the minister asserted that any reasonable probationary period for such appointments should not exceed six months. Beyond this timeframe, organizations must either formally confirm the appointment with proper compensation or return the officer to their previous position. This policy aims to prevent the exploitation of dedicated personnel who have accepted additional responsibilities in good faith.

Senior legal professionals in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are raising urgent concerns about systemic delays plaguing the judicial processing of child sexual offense cases, warning that prolonged timelines are causing secondary trauma to young victims.

Bar Association President Shirlan “Zita” Barnwell highlighted the alarming pattern during a special High Court session, noting that cases involving children under 13 face particularly egregious delays. While acknowledging the anecdotal nature of the evidence, Barnwell cited concrete examples where victims aged 8 at the time of violation reached 11 years or older before their cases reached trial.

The procedural bottleneck creates devastating consequences for victims who must relive their trauma years after the incidents. Barnwell emphasized that teenagers often face additional psychological barriers including shame and reluctance to testify, potentially compromising justice. She called for systemic reforms to ensure cases are resolved within two years to minimize retraumatization.

Attorney Grant Connell reinforced these concerns with disturbing accounts of child sexual abuse, including a pregnant 11-year-old victim rendered nearly catatonic by her experience. Connell advocated for strengthened legislation and enhanced police powers to address what he described as rampant abuse against minors.

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Duane Daniel acknowledged the regional nature of the problem, citing limited court capacity with only one criminal High Court currently operational. However, he noted that some delays stem from necessary psychological assessments to determine victims’ readiness for testimony, emphasizing the balance between expediency and preventing retraumatization.

The legal experts collectively emphasized that addressing the crisis requires coordinated improvements across investigative, prosecutorial, and judicial processes, with particular attention to vulnerable child victims.

Bradley “Party Dawg” Huggins, a soca musician whose rising career was abruptly interrupted by incarceration, has delivered a powerful cautionary message about prison life following his recent release. The artist, who served over six years for a 2015 armed robbery conviction, characterized correctional facilities as places of unending torment where basic comforts and genuine human connections are scarce.

Huggins described the brutal reality of incarceration in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, revealing that prisoners endure overcrowded cells housing up to nine inmates in confined spaces. The daily routine involves minimal nutrition—primarily consisting of what he termed “the national dish in jail”: rice and stewed chicken—and limited recreational time. He detailed how inmates typically receive bread with tea for breakfast, the ubiquitous rice dishes for lunch, and light evening meals accompanied by herbal tea.

The artist revealed that survival in prison requires adopting protective personas, noting that “everybody wearing some kind of mask” and genuine relationships are rare. He explained that marijuana serves as a coping mechanism for many inmates, while interactions are often transactional rather than authentic. Huggins admitted to learning how to “become a snake” to navigate this dangerous environment where insincerity prevails.

Despite these challenges, Huggins found opportunities for personal growth through reading and reflection. He emphasized his determination to avoid reoffending, citing parental responsibilities toward his 11-year-old daughter as primary motivation. The artist maintained communication with his daughter throughout his sentence using contraband cell phones, demonstrating his commitment to remaining present in her life.

Huggins acknowledged his personal responsibility in the robbery incident while noting that peer influence and alcohol contributed to his poor decision-making. He expressed no bitterness toward his accomplices, revealing that both have reformed their lives since release—one operating a taxi business and the other abandoning previous negative behaviors.

The musician confirmed plans to revitalize his music career, with new recordings expected for the 2026 Vincymas celebrations. During his incarceration, prison authorities had permitted him recording studio access, indicating institutional recognition of his artistic potential. Huggins concluded that while prison constituted a “very rough experience,” it provided invaluable lessons about personal accountability and life priorities.

A group of nursing students has come forward with devastating allegations against their educational institution, describing a six-year ordeal characterized by systemic exploitation, psychological abuse, and institutional failure. What began as hopeful pursuit of medical careers has transformed into what they describe as an oppressive system designed to break rather than educate future healthcare professionals.

The students detail a pattern of being used to address hospital staffing shortages without adequate training or support, then being blamed when they struggled under the overwhelming pressure. They report facing intimidation, humiliation, and unexplained failures despite their dedication to the profession. The most alarming revelation is a claimed 100% failure rate that should have prompted institutional accountability but instead resulted in retaliation against those seeking answers.

Communication breakdowns form a central part of their grievances, with exam results allegedly delayed for months without justification. The students characterize this silence as a deliberate control mechanism rather than an administrative necessity. Many report severe mental health consequences, including sleep disturbances, financial strain, and difficulty providing for their families while carrying the psychological weight of their educational experience.

In a warning to prospective students, they describe the environment as ‘cult-like’ where submission is valued over competence and fear dominates over learning. Despite these challenges, the students emphasize their continued commitment to nursing as their ultimate calling, while calling for fundamental reform in how educational institutions treat those entering care professions.

In a historic achievement for Caribbean media, Ari Shaw has become the first journalist from St. Vincent and the Grenadines to secure placement in the International Center for Journalists’ Professional Fellows Program in the United States. This competitive selection process drew media professionals from 25 nations across Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States.

Shaw brings a decade of extensive media experience to the program, having served as a radio announcer and host at WE FM, reporter at Searchlight newspaper, news editor at IKTV & BOOM FM, and host of the “Off The Record” podcast. Currently, he serves as communications officer for the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Volcanic Eruption Emergency Project and Beryl Emergency Resilient Recovery Project.

The fellowship, which commenced this Wednesday and continues through February 19, offers participants immersive professional development opportunities. Fellows will collaborate directly with U.S. media organizations, develop entrepreneurial initiatives, and enhance their technical capabilities in investigative journalism, fact-checking, and podcast production. The program additionally focuses on building sustainable business models for media enterprises.

According to the U.S. Embassy in Barbados, the initiative facilitates professional exchanges that strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation between the United States and partner regions. Shaw’s participation is anticipated to significantly advance his expertise while contributing to the enhancement of innovative broadcasting and media practices within St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Shaw noted: “I’m both honored and grateful to be the first Vincentian accepted into this program. I perceive this as a valuable opportunity to refine my skills while engaging with international journalism professionals. I eagerly anticipate meaningful contributions to SVG’s media landscape and the broader region.” Shaw received his media training in Taiwan, adding international perspective to his professional background.

The small Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has been rocked by another deadly shooting incident, resulting in two fatalities and raising the nation’s homicide count to three for the year. The violence occurred Friday night at a commercial establishment in the West St. George community of Belair, marking the second such shop shooting in the St. George’s area to claim multiple lives within a year.

Victims of the latest shooting include 26-year-old Anil Greaves, who succumbed to his injuries at the scene, and Quinn Greaves (also known as “Huncho”), who later died at a medical facility. Quinn was the son of prominent radio personality and artist Donnie Prince Collins, who expressed profound grief on social media, stating: “A man shouldn’t have to bury his son. I should grow old with my sons to carry my casket. RIP is something I never dreamt of saying about my son.”

The incident represents a disturbing pattern of violence involving individuals previously charged with firearm offenses. Anil Greaves had been charged in 2022 alongside Tevin Miller and Carl Quow for possession of an unlicensed homemade firearm. Notably, Quow met a similar fate, being fatally shot on February 6, 2025, in an attack that also injured 17-year-old student Jolani Thompson.

This shooting bears grim similarities to a previous tragedy less than a year prior, where 69-year-old businesswoman Lesline Davis and two of her patrons, Demeon Cumberbatch and Haynesly Browne, were shot and killed at Davis’ Shop in Belmont. Two individuals, Leon John and Kesroy Ryan, currently await trial for these murders while remanded in prison.

Meanwhile, Kyle Providence and Joel Williams, both 21 and from Ottley Hall, have been charged with murder in connection with Quow’s death and attempted murder regarding Thompson’s injury. They remain incarcerated pending their next court appearance scheduled for January 26.

The recurring nature of these incidents, particularly the targeting of commercial establishments and individuals with prior firearm charges, highlights growing concerns about public safety and gun violence in the island nation.

In a landmark ruling at the Kingstown High Court, Justice Rickie Burnett has sentenced 41-year-old Kashaka Holder to 19 months imprisonment for causing the death of 13-year-old cyclist Dezy Lavia through dangerous driving. The fatal incident occurred on May 14, 2023, beneath the Orange Hill bridge, where Holder—simultaneously operating his vehicle and using a mobile phone—struck the teenage victim.

Holder, a construction worker and former taxi driver from Byera, pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving resulting in death. Court proceedings revealed that he was driving at excessive speed on the wrong side of the road when his vehicle, HV-112, collided with Lavia’s orange BMX bicycle around 6 p.m. The impact inflicted catastrophic injuries that proved fatal at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital later that evening.

An eyewitness testified to observing Holder both speeding and engaged with his mobile phone immediately before the collision. Police investigations confirmed the absence of lighting on the bicycles and noted the particularly dark conditions of the area where the tragedy unfolded.

Despite Holder’s emotional appeals to avoid incarceration—including reports of his profound grief and sleepless nights—Justice Burnett emphasized the irreversible void left in the Lavia family. The court also imposed a two-year driving prohibition following Holder’s prison release, noting his already-suspended license at the time of the incident.

The sentencing process incorporated both aggravating factors (including Holder’s phone use and wrong-side driving) and mitigating considerations (his guilty plea and cooperation with authorities). From a starting point of 2 years and 5 months (35% of the maximum 7-year sentence), the final 19-month term reflected these balanced deliberations.

Dezroy Lavia, the victim’s father, expressed forgiveness toward Holder while criticizing systemic judicial delays that prolonged the family’s anguish. He noted particular emotional struggles during family-oriented occasions like Mother’s Day and acknowledged temptations toward vigilante justice during the extended pretrial period.

Legal representation included Grant Connell for the defense and Crown Counsel Devon Bute prosecuting the case.