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
      • 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
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Our Readers' Opinions
November 1, 2013

The cenotaph on Facebook

Fri Nov 01, 2013

Editor: An American friend who saw my August 2013 article on the cenotaph’s vandalism asked me if it had been cleaned yet. He was surprised when I told him “No.” That the cenotaph rests within view of the Police Station, but the vandals aren’t caught, neither is an officer deployed to protect it during carnival are points he marvelled at.{{more}} My friend couldn’t believe that none of the dignitaries whose pictures are taken as they lay wreaths at the base of the pedestal every year seem to care about the glaring, ugly splashes of red and blue paint that mar its surfaces. He asked me to take pictures of the laying-of-the-wreaths so he could put it on his Facebook page. He is doing a slideshow for 2013 Caribbean Remembrance Day ceremonies. So, I will be there with my camera.

My friend wondered if the descendants of the World War soldiers don’t lobby to have it cleaned and why the money collected from the sale of the poppy pins wasn’t used to clean the monument. He then asked me why I don’t get some thinners and clean it myself, since it bothers me so much. I couldn’t speak for the relatives and I do not know who gets the poppy sale money – but I am not touching the monument, because I was told by a reasonably reliable source that if ordinary persons started scrubbing the statue, they could well find themselves arrested for vandalism/destruction of public property! (I found that really ironic.)

Apart from the fear of arrest, you have to know what material the memorial is made from. Soap, baking soda, peroxide, water, lacquer/paint thinner, paint stripper etc all remove paints, but some may cause damage to the memorial’s stone. Maybe that is why none of the relevant authorities have bothered. Maybe they don’t know what the pedestal is made from either. May I humbly suggest that the authorities call somebody in England and find out? After all, the various World War memorial cenotaphs located in the Caribbean, (Barbados, St Kitts, Trinidad, Jamaica etc) can be traced back to England, so somebody there could offer advice on cleaning. Alternatively, ask around the Caribbean, as their cenotaphs are kept in pristine condition. While you are asking about removing the paint, please ask about removing the black stains at the top of the pedestal, caused by the run-off from the statue’s metal.

We must foster a sense of pride and respect within our nation regarding the significance of the cenotaph. The enclosure is NOT a bedroom for vagrants; the fence is neither a seat nor for sale; the cannons are NOT seesaws; the hedges are NOT garbage disposals; and the pedestal is NOT a canvas. Please start televising the Remembrance Day parade/service similar to what is done for Independence Day. The commentators and speakers can then spread this message to a wider audience. Please let the cenotaph enter the 100th anniversary of the start of World War 1 with a clean slate.

Lisa

  • 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