I-Witness News

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – A 10-working-day trip overseas this month is on the calendar of a still-ailing Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, as he returns to the public spotlight after being hospitalised last month in Barbados, where he was treated for an abscess. The 66-year-old head of government will on Wednesday leave St. Vincent for … Continue reading »

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – The Vincentian economy grew in 2011 after three years of decline, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr. Ralph Gonsalves announced Tuesday. Gonsalves said at a press briefing that the economy grew by 0.41 per cent last year and government economists are expecting growth of 1.5 per cent in 2012. “… … Continue reading »

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – The government is extending by one month an amnesty on interest for unpaid taxes even as it announced Tuesday a lottery to encourage greater compliance with the nation’s value-added tax (VAT) laws. The state is waiving up to 80 per cent of tax interests and penalties dating back to 1999 as … Continue reading »

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – The state-owned National Insurance Services bought EC$5 million of the EC$40 million in government bonds auctioned last month while the Trinidadian firm contracted to help with the sale retained half of the instruments. The private sector bought the remainder and, “That’s all you need to know,” Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves … Continue reading »

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – The government has instructed its representative on the board of directors of the Eastern Caribbean Group of Companies (ECGC) to support the firm’s bid to purchase Bottlers (St. Vincent) Ltd. Bottlers, makers of the soft drink “Ju-c”, remains closed almost one year after Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said last June … Continue reading »

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – Former acting High Court Judge, Queen’s Counsel lawyer Othniel R. Sylvester will be buried on Thursday during a private ceremony, the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) reported Tuesday, citing Sylvester’s daughter, lawyer Nicole Sylvester. Sylvester died on Saturday after a long battle with cancer. He was a Speaker of the House of … Continue reading »

TAIPEI, Taiwan– A seasoned career diplomat with nearly 30 years’ experience will replace Tom Chou as this Asian nation’s representative in St. Lucia. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson James Chang confirmed his appointment to the Central News Agency but said he has “to discuss with Ambassador Chou about the handover process”. He, however, said the … Continue reading »

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – President of the West Indies Cricket Board Dr. Julian Hunte sent condolences to the wife and family of former St Vincent and Windward Islands player Frank Mason who passed recently. “It is with regret and a deep sense of sadness that I sent condolences on behalf of the West Indies Cricket … Continue reading »

By Wade Kojo Williams, Sr. Well somebody “likes” Anesia Baptiste and wouldn’t mind her being a (political) partner. Who else would like Anesia Baptiste before she has undergone a complete transformation? The Guerilla Leader, of course. Two (political) fools are about to collide. Neither of them have any respect for authority and they each want … Continue reading »

By Wade Kojo Williams, Sr. ‘F.O.’ at Arnos Vale I was less than 10 years old when I first saw F.O. Mason bowl. My father took me to a game played at the old Arnos Vale Cricket Field, which was located at the old racetrack, at the area where the Arnos Vale Methodist Church is … Continue reading »