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
BEST WEEK EVER:
The week that was
January 26, 2016

BEST WEEK EVER:

Falling fuel prices have given VINLEC customers their best week since 2004. Because diesel prices are plunging globally, the much-hated VINLEC fuel surcharge is now under 21 cents per unit, less than half of what we were paying just one year ago. Even better than the lower electricity bill is VINLEC’s ongoing multimillion dollar investment{{more}} in upgrading our hydro-electric infrastructure, which will provide even cheaper, greener power to SVG. Low fuel surcharge, more hydro, and the promise of geothermal energy in the not-too-distant future spell good times ahead for Vincy homes and businesses.

Runner-up:

The Marion House shepherded another 30 young men and women through their Youth Assistance Programme last week, and hopefully put them on a path to a brighter future. The programme targets at-risk youth who either dropped out of school, ran afoul of the law, or lacked marketable job skills. The Youth Assistance Programme, which has been steering teens towards more productive pursuits for the last 27 years, is precisely the sort of initiative that must be celebrated and expanded. With a growing youth population and an inhospitable economy and job market, SVG has to plan and prepare to meet the needs of young people and give them a helping hand when it’s needed. Programmes like these are far cheaper than the cost of jail cells, “poor relief” and hospital bills that inevitably follow large numbers of disenchanted young people. Kudos to Marion House director Jeanie Olliviere and her team!

WORST WEEK EVER:

Holders of licensed firearms must have been scratching their heads last week after PM Gonsalves – our Minister of National Security – made some confusing and illogical comments about when and where you could carry your weapon. According to the PM, you can’t show up at a meeting or protest with your gun, even if you have a licence to carry. Going further, he described “meetings” in such broad terms, that basically any gathering of a couple people should send you scurrying back home to lock

your gun away in the safe. The PM is famous for his tortured and politically-influenced readings of the law – from sedition to “causing alarm” – but his views on gun licences almost make the licences themselves useless. If you can’t protect yourself in a potentially hostile crowd, when can you?

Runner-up:

Speaking of confusion, what exactly is the deal with the National Sports Council (NSC) and its proposed “user fees” for public playing fields and other facilities? After an abrupt and baffling declaration that the NSC would start charging user fees, no one is sure how to answer the questions of how much, where, why and why now. It’s unfair to spring expensive fees on organizations that use the facilities, if those organizations never paid fees before. And will the casual jogger, soccer player or netballer have to walk with an extra five-dollar bill in their pockets when they want to “buss a sweat” or do some after-work exercises? How much money is really going to be raised from these nuisance fees? Isn’t this what we pay taxes for?

If I had a question in SVG Parliament

…I’d ask the Leader of the Opposition to tell me less about his plans for the time and location of his next protest and more about his plans for succession. With the high-profile budget debates coming up, Eustace should be making the first steps of what we hope will be a graceful exit from the political stage, not clinging desperately to faded dreams of electoral triumph.

Media Watch

People get arrested at demonstrations. Picketers, journalists, even bystanders sometimes. It happens around the world, from university campuses, to street corners of the most liberal democracies in the world. So, maybe we can stop the breathless reportage of “was anyone arrested today?” and instead analyse the popularity and purpose of these endless lacklustre protests.

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Free movement of  people in 4 Caricom states begins tomorrow
    Front Page
    Free movement of people in 4 Caricom states begins tomorrow
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Many Vincentians and other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals are welcoming the decision by four CARICOM governments to institute the free moveme...
    ‘Unprincipled  non-state operators in Europe seeking to pollute” elections in SVG – PM Gonsalves
    Front Page
    ‘Unprincipled non-state operators in Europe seeking to pollute” elections in SVG – PM Gonsalves
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, told the United Nations (UN) General Assembly a few days ago that entities in the international sphere are seeking...
    Bramble promises $1 million from CBI money for 50  businesses in East Kingstown
    Front Page
    Bramble promises $1 million from CBI money for 50 businesses in East Kingstown
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    The opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), moved its campaign to Sion Hill last Saturday, September, 27,2025 as it seeks to retain its hold on the Eas...
    PM calls at U N meeting for better deal for Taiwan, Haiti
    Front Page
    PM calls at U N meeting for better deal for Taiwan, Haiti
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves renewed his call at the United Nations for the inclusion of Taiwan in the organisation’s specialised agencies. Deli...
    Over EC$700,000 paid to VincyMas 2025 Winners
    Front Page
    Over EC$700,000 paid to VincyMas 2025 Winners
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    More than EC$700,000 in prize money was handed out to the 2025 VincyMas winners, on Sunday night, September, 28,2025, at Carnival City, Victoria Park....
    Caribbean launches Shelter Working Group to boost Disaster Preparedness
    Press Release
    Caribbean launches Shelter Working Group to boost Disaster Preparedness
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    As the Atlantic Hurricane season reaches its peak, more than 47 disaster management professionals from across the Caribbean and beyond have joined for...
    News
    Rose Place woman  remanded for threatening to “blow out” man’s head
    From the Courts, News
    Rose Place woman remanded for threatening to “blow out” man’s head
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    A woman who resides at Rose Place was remanded after threatening to “blow out” a farmer’s head. Rasharma Pollard appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’...
    Court grants father’s request for jail time for his son
    From the Courts, News
    Court grants father’s request for jail time for his son
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    A father’s request was granted when his son, who had pointed a gun at him, was imprisoned. Simon Simmons appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court ...
    Cervical cancer initiative launched in SVG
    News
    Cervical cancer initiative launched in SVG
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented and even eliminated, provided that countries strengthen their vaccination, screening, ...
    Prayer sustains woman  caring for her husband who has Alzheimer’s Disease
    News
    Prayer sustains woman caring for her husband who has Alzheimer’s Disease
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    The world recognized Alzheimer’s Day on September, 21, 2025, but for the Muhammad family, of Largo Height, Alzheimer’s is an everyday reality that is ...
    Librarian and Poet uses  spoken-word as a relief Valve
    News
    Librarian and Poet uses spoken-word as a relief Valve
    Webmaster 
    September 26, 2025
    Often times, people’s struggles, insecurities, physical issues and inner pain are masked by an exterior that looks strong, poised and well put togethe...

    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