Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Groove to govern business with extra conditions
News
April 30, 2010

Groove to govern business with extra conditions

Tighter restrictions may soon become law here, concerning the sale of alcohol in school zones.

This disclosure was made by Minister with responsibility for Planning, Saboto Caesar, following the public outcry about plans to locate a bar in the vicinity of the National Lotteries Tennis Court at Richmond Hill.{{more}}

The Minister had his say on Wednesday, joining other politicians and officials who have weighed in on the matter since it was brought to the public’s attention by Headmistress of the Girls’ High School, Andrea Bowman, in a letter to SEARCHLIGHT two weeks ago.

Caesar indicated that he was aware that there are persons who are selling alcohol in school zones during school hours, and this is not acceptable.

“We will be looking carefully to ensure that there is a regulation that persons in the vicinity of schools are brought in line and are not allowed to sell alcohol before 7pm,” Caesar said. “The sale of alcohol in these areas is a very sensitive issue.”

Concerning the “Lover’s Lane” establishment as it is now being called, the Minister refuted allegations by Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace, who on Monday said that it was his understanding that permission was not granted by the Physical Plannning Division to have the bar placed in the vicinity of two primary schools and three secondary schools.

Speaking on the New Democratic Party’s New Times programme on Monday, Eustace said that placing the bar there is not a good move by those responsible and that work in the area should be stopped immediately.

“The question of putting a bar near the tennis court… in an area where thousands of school children congregate on a daily basis, in an area where there are many schools… I am totally opposed to putting such facillity in that area, and that is the postion of the NDP (New Democratic Party).

“It is inappropriate, even if they are going to sell liquor after a certain hour. That is not a site for that kind of facility.”

According to Caesar, permission was granted for businessman/ radio announcer Earl ‘Groove Governor’ Abraham to operate in the area under certain conditions.

“A request by an entrepreneur to the Town Board for authority to use the space to place a trailer for the sale of food, snacks and confectionary, with alcohol to be sold after 7pm, was approved,” Caesar said.

“There must be proper signage that no alcohol must be displayed or sold before 7pm,” the Minister stated.

He continued: “There will be strict supervision that the entrepreneur is acting withing the law. If he goes outside of the conditions… the same way permission was granted, it can be taken away.”

Abraham, the man at the center of the storm of controversy, agreed with Caesar that there was a misconception that the space will be used for the setting up of a bar which was due to his association to such an establishment during the Carnival festivities.

“This was sold as a rum shop by some people,” Abraham related. “In everybody’s mind they are thinking that food will be selling and the bar will be open all day, all night. This is totally untrue!”

“I can assure you that no alcohol will be sold, much less be displayed, before seven o’clock.”

Still somewhat upset that he had not been approached by persons who have aired their concerns about the venture, Abraham says that he is willing to discuss the matter in an effort to ensure his intentions are clear.

Despite the setback, Abraham indicated that he is looking forward to setting up shop; but first the fine details must be sorted out and a number of measures put in place.

“As a man with children, I would never condone the sale of alcohol to children. That is not my standard,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bowman, whose letter originally sparked the debate, said that she is still skeptical about the assurances being given, though agreeing that one had to ‘wait and see’ what the outcome would be.

“They are asking me to believe that an entity of that nature is going to be disciplined enough not to sell alcohol before a particular time. Obviously it can happen, but I just don’t trust them to have that kind of discipline.”

The Headmistress said while she welcomed the suggestion that regulations may be put in place to restrict alcohol sales in school zones, the fact that alcohol is currently sold in school zones does not justify placing another such entity near to schools.

“Granted that we live on a small island and we have small spaces and we have to cater to as many different concerns as possible, but I really still feel that in the vicinity of schools, we have to be extremely careful and we have to make some sacrifices.”

“I think alcohol should have never been in the mix at all… If you tell me a smoothie bar or something like that… but not that kind of entity at all.”

“I know what I have to deal with on a daily basis. I know what happens there, and that is without the alcohol.”

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Villa woman in  hospital after being stabbed over 20 times
    Front Page
    Villa woman in hospital after being stabbed over 20 times
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Police are said to be carrying out investigations into the stabbing of Rafia Sardine, a 20-year-old female of Villa. Reports are that Sardine, a FLOW ...
    RSVGPF most hacked of gov’t agencies
    Front Page
    RSVGPF most hacked of gov’t agencies
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    In St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), an analysis has found that the most hacked government entity was the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Polic...
    Event staged locally to mark Africa/ Caricom Day
    Front Page
    Event staged locally to mark Africa/ Caricom Day
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Leaders of Governments and institutions from countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the continent of Africa, gathered at the weekend for ...
    PM, proud of his constituents
    Front Page
    PM, proud of his constituents
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, is proud of the persons in his constituency who continue to aim for higher education. Dr Gonsalves is the parliame...
    Van conductor to be sentenced for beating pregnant ex-girlfriend
    Front Page
    Van conductor to be sentenced for beating pregnant ex-girlfriend
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    A van conductor, who beat his five- months pregnant ex-girlfriend after she refused to get back with him, has been remanded pending sentencing. Onez J...
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    To the haunting timeless reggae melody of Jimmy Cliff’s classic ‘Journey’, Curtis King, who was selected as the candidate for the Unity Labour Party (...
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    To the haunting timeless reggae melody of Jimmy Cliff’s classic ‘Journey’, Curtis King, who was selected as the candidate for the Unity Labour Party (...
    Steel wielding Lowman’s Hill man to be sentenced tomorrow
    From the Courts, News
    Steel wielding Lowman’s Hill man to be sentenced tomorrow
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    A Lowman’s Hill man who struck another villager in his head with a piece of steel will know his fate tomorrow, September 10, 2025. Kevin Roberts, 25, ...
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    News
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Climate Change Resilience Network (CCRN) in collaboration with the Youlou Radio Movement (YRM) recently embarked on a disaster preparedness initia...
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    News
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, is to obtain three more Heamodialysis machines as part of the revolution in the healthcare secto...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok