2006 – YEAR IN REVIEW – APRIL – AUGUST

APRIL

• More than half of Grade 2 students at the CW Prescod Primary were found to be unable to read at their class level in a recently conducted National Diagnostic Reading Test

• Cable & Wireless restructures, axing nine top executives

• Government releases White Paper on VAT and urges businesses to be prepared

• Controversy rages as the gay film Brokeback Mountain hit local cinema screens{{more}}

• After an almost two-year hiatus media workers try to organise themselves into an association on the heels of Glenn Jackson’s death.

• A Cuban medical team arrives to continue the Vision Now Programme.

• Sophia Young joins Silver Stars as a member of the WMBA.

• Vincy Heat launches its website.

• The national 20/20 cricket competition named after local cricketer, Neil Williams, who died in St Vincent.

• The cost of LPG was increased after an agreement was reached with Texaco which threatened to cut off supply if there was no price increase.

• Sparks fly at a meeting with property owners who have to relocate to make way for the Argyle International Airport. They want a better compensation package.

• Georgetown Government School wins the Karib Cable Word Up “Spelling Bee” competition.

• A survey revealed that one in every five babies in SVG were born to teenaged mothers.

• A LIAT and Caribbean Star aircraft collided at the ET Joshua Airport grounding the flights and standing passengers. There were no injuries.

• Consumers warned to brace themselves for higher electricity bills.

• A man from Sion Hill taken into custody and assisting police with investigations into the death of Glenn Jackson.

• Malaysian PM Adbullah Ahmad Badwani arrived for an official visit

• A shortage of construction workers may lead to importation of Haitian workers, one contractor said.

• PM Gonsalves reported an increase in government revenue for the first quarter

MAY

• Francis “Prickle” Williams, 23, of Sion Hill charged with the murder of Glenn Jackson. He was remanded until July 24.

• Malaysian PM ending official visit in SVG urged local business to explore trading opportunities with his country. SVG names Honorary Consul in Malaysia

• Malaysia and SVG to explore bio-diesel project

• A successful Gospel Fest ’06 was hosted

• A training workshop for masmen held as Carnival nears

• Sean Stanley elected as unopposed as president of SVGTTA

• Green Party Leader, Ivan O’Neal, invited to be part of official delegation for reciprocal visit to Malaysia

• Angry workers of the St Vincent Marketing Corporation went on strike protesting the redundancy of 40 colleagues.

• Aretha Shallow retained the New Song Title winner for 2006. Derek “Sick” Alexander won the 2006 Calypso New Song Title.

• An infestation of dog ticks temporarily closed the J.P. Eustace Memorial School for four days.

• Sellin Henry of Sandy Bay hit the National Lottery Jackpot of $245,000.

• Journalist Hans King tipped for the post of press secretary to the Prime Minister

• The cash strapped Marketing Corporation Supermarket is to be renamed National Properties Food City.

• Continuing industrial action at the St Vincent Marketing Corporation was called off after government decided to hand over management to the National Properties Limited.

• NDP promises closer working relationship with the media.

• Authorities threaten large fines for illegal dumping.

• Girl’s High School celebrated its 95th anniversary.

• Shivern Peters confirmed to represent SVG at the Miss Universe Pageant.

• Union Island hosts Annual Grenadines Basketball Tournament.

• Town Planner said that some people were misled into objecting to the operation of a block making factory at Cane Grove.

• PM Gonsalves report death threats.

• Hans King announced as new Press Secretary to the Prime Minister.

• Police shuts Bomani benefit concert.

• Vector Control declares war on city rodents.

• Sheridan Lewis, Miss Roy’s Inn, was crowned Miss SVG 2006

• A 23-year old Vincentian-Canadian, Jahmaal James, was among 17 busted in an alleged terror plot in Canada.

• “Set for Life” winner in the National Lotteries competition complains that all is not well with the property and utilities.

• SVG Cycling Union came up trumps with a successful staging of the Villa Lodge OECS Cycling Championship.

• Four young men were charged with the rape, at La Soufriere, of two American teenagers.

• Bequians protest the sale of crown lands.

• Nine families left homeless after a strong tropical wave passed the island.

• Consultant Pediatrician at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital said that at least nine out of every 10 teenaged mothers were impregnated by older men.

• Boys making a comeback in common entrance examinations, narrowing the gap this year with the performance of the girls.

• Nine-month pregnant Vanessa Williams, 23, of Lower Questelles shot and killed.

• Police promise to clamp down on praedial larceny

JUNE

• Entrepreneur of the Year Ken Boyea returned to Court fighting a multi-million dollar lawsuit against former employer Eastern Caribbean Flour Mills

• Drug traffickers warned that they are being watched from the sky. PM Gonsalves said that the RSS c-26 drug patrol aircraft was responsible for more than half of the drug interdictions.

• After a $700,000 e-government upgrade, less than one-third of the civil servants are using the new computer system.

• New OECS flag was hoisted.

• Musicians took to the streets in a protest, calling for an end to music piracy.

• It was tie for the Primary School Calypso crown which went to Latifah “Singing Lily” Richards and Amunik “Singing Nickie” Martin. But some teachers were unhappy with the judges decision.

• Police called on people with illegal firearms to turn them in.

• Problems with the transfer of Western Union MoneyGram to another agent met hiccups leaving Vincentians cash-strapped.

JULY

• Fireman won the International Soca Monarch Champion of SVG for the fifth time.

• LIAT and Caribbean Star join forces to bid for official airline of ICC Cricket World Cup 2007

• Assistant Commissioner of Police with responsibility for crime Lenroy Brewster became a victim to a pick-pocket while attending a Soca Monarch Show.

• Bequians form the People’s Action Alliance of Bequia to fight government’s plan to sell crown lands.

• Government announce plans to build town houses, targeting young professionals.

• The firebug struck razing the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court.

• Fire Chief calls for more water hydrants to assist in battling blazes.

• Shivern Peters returned from Miss Universe without a crown but with a wealth of experience.

AUGUST

• Acting Chief Magistrate Sharda Sinnan-Bollers was asked to recluse herself from presiding over the Preliminary Inquiry into the Glenn Jackson murder case. The defence moved the motion.

• Culture Minister Rene Baptiste called for a big 2008 celebration to mark emancipation from slavery.

• Green Party has joined the call protesting the sale of crown lands in Bequia.

• PM Gonsalves celebrate his 60th birthday.

• Work started to sensitise Vincentians on a new Building Code to come into effect in 2007.

• Sabrina Mitchell resigned as general secretary of the Basketball Association.

• Government and the People’s Action Alliance of Bequia squared off on the sale of crown land. The two meet to discuss the issue but not behind closed doors, rather in front of the media.

• Teenager, Alisia Akers, appeared in Court to answer murder charge arising out of the death of another teenager.

• Communications Coordinator of the National AIDS Secretariat Deborah Rodney quit ending months of what sources in the Ministry of Health described as a tumultuous relationship.

• NBA basketballer Adonal Foyle said he will host basketball camps on mainland St Vincent from 2007.

• A faulty generator at VINLEC plunged the country into darkness, throwing the spotlight once again on the efficiency of the operation of the power company.

• New security measures went into effect at the ET Joshua Airport banned liquids and gels onboard flights after a terror plot was discovered in Britain to blow up aircraft enroute to the United States.

• The National Omnibus Association called out its members on a wild cat strike to pressure government for a fare increase.

• PM Gonsalves said management reforms were stilled need at VINLEC. His comments came after a blackout days earlier.