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Dear Sir:

After reading the commentary by Mr Ian Francis entitled “The spirit and intent of regionalism and integration is understood by Gonsalves” I had to laugh! It seems like Mr Francis thinks the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) are total fools.

In principle, it all sounds good and Vincentians and Grenadians should all join together and sing kumbaya. Or is it only the Grenadians should sing kumbaya? Whereas Vincentians should continue to hold their heads and bawl!

The idea of regionalism and integration would have made sense if SVG was in a far better economic position than Grenada. However, SVG is economically worse off than Grenada.

SVG is the only nation in the western hemisphere with four consecutive years of negative growth. The likelihood of a fifth straight year of negative growth is staring down SVG head-on.

Secondly, SVG gave access to that money to pay for a 2% raise to civil servants in Grenada. Ironically, Prime Minister (PM) Gonsalves’ administration has been owing civil/public servants in SVG a legislative 3% salary increase for almost two years (which the civil/public servants were told to take it or leave it).

Please, Mr Francis, have you heard of the most recent nonsense told to the civil/public servants in SVG from the PM? Some foolishness about wait till me catch me hand! They have been waiting for almost two years.

In the meantime, cost of living continues to skyrocket out of sight in SVG. Earlier this year, there were increases in water, sewer, and solid waste rates. Still to come is the land and housing taxes increase that was recently voted on and passed by the government. More taxes on the people of SVG but no salary increases!

Should the people of SVG suck salt, while the people of Grenada harvest SVG’s access to the rainy day funds, all in the name of regionalism and integration? Torrential rains have been falling in SVG for over four years.

In the true sense of regionalism and integration, we would have seen the Grenada unions and people of Grenada saying to their government, “NO! Not until our brothers and sisters in SVG got what is due to them first, find the money elsewhere!”

Thirdly, where was the spirit and intent of regionalism and integration when former Barbados PM Owen Arthur asked to stem the tide of drugs flowing into Barbados from SVG? Also, where was that spirit when the term “Political HIV” was coined in St Lucia in reference to a female politician?

How come none of the members of the Grenada government or Mr Francis has said anything about the myriad of insults to the people of SVG by PM Gonsalves? Or publicly encourage PM Gonsalves to face his accuser of rape or his accusers of sexual assault in front of the judge/magistrate, no nolle prosequi by the Director of Public Prosecution for regionalism and integration sake?

Only when it comes to having access to money do you see people jump out and give praises to regionalism and integration. Come on! Charity begins at home!

Peace and justice and get real.

Lenford O’Garro
Washington

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Peter:

Mr OGARROW, just keep in mind that this man IAN FRANCIS is a fellow MARXIST from the MAURICE BISHOP Grenada revolution era.

Therefore like all the other MARXISTS such as HORACE WILLIAMS, BYRON-COX and all the other collaborators, we must dismiss whatever they write in support of Donkey GONSALVES.

Ian Francis, Toronto, Ontario:

Mr Ogarrow:

I refuse to become engaged in your petty approach, hatred and meme stories about St. Vincent and the Comrade Prime Minister. I have no problems with your individual hate.If you feel so strongly, then I urge you to disengage from your Sandy struck Capital and head to Kingstown to confront the Comrade Prime Minister.

Frankly speaking, the man is doing an excellent job and the International Airport will bring good benefits to the nation.

I think you have totally misunderstood my article. I addressed the issue of small states problems, regionalism and the integration movement, the comrade's depth and understanding of these topics.

Yes, there might be domestic internal problems. They have to be resolved by those affected including you. It is not my intention to comment or analyse the internal St.Vincent situation.

I stand firmly on the side of history. Again, let me reiterate that in my view and many other global observers, Ralph Gonsalves is a true Caribbean man, a regionalist and deeply committed to resolving regional disparity amongst small states in the region.

Long live a true and committed regionalist. Comrade Prime Minister is on the ball.

Richard Huggins:

Mr Francis, I suggest you yourself head to kingstown and observe how the true committed regionalist treats his own people. We vincies are part of the region aren't we? And if he treats his own people ths way, what makes you and anyone not living in SVG thinks he has the region's best interest at hand?

And its not just the people who oppose him that he insults every second day, its his very own supporters as well, most of whom are too afraid to speak up when he spits on them.

This is the same man who is a committed to the region who thought is was nice to refer to a couple St. Lucian business men, who wanted to do business in SVG, as Castries Mulattoes.

This is the same man who said the people of SVG will wrap up the new proposed constitution with "saltfish".

The man has levelled insults ofter insults on anyone who dare opposed him.

He threatened to close down businesses that did not support him in the general elections.

Mr Francis, book an Air Canada flight, transfer to a LIAT and head to SVG. Hang out for about a month, and I will bet the 1.5% he just gave us that you'll come away with a different view of the man.

If you can't love and treat your own people with respect, how in gods name are you expected to treat others?

Mr Francis, up there in Canada, would they elect an abusive father to head up the neighbourhood watch???? Let me know, please.

Ian Francis, Toronto,Ontario:

Richard Huggins:

Mr Francis, I suggest you yourself head to kingstown and observe how the true committed regionalist treats his own people. We vincies are part of the region aren't we? And if he treats his own people ths way, what makes you and anyone not living in SVG thinks he has the region's best interest at hand?

(R) This is purely an internal political issue. I do not have to visit St.Vincent to assess the treatment of the population. This is a matter that should be addressed by you and others who share such a narrow view. I think it is time that you and other Comrade Prime Minister Bashers focus your political hate in other directions.

And its not just the people who oppose him that he insults every second day, its his very own supporters as well, most of whom are too afraid to speak up when he spits on them.

(R) Again, if his opponents and supporters feel insulted, they have a democratic right to express their views. I do not believe for one moment your unsubstantiated and bias position.

This is the same man who is a committed to the region who thought is was nice to refer to a couple St. Lucian business men, who wanted to do business in SVG, as Castries Mulattoes.

(R) I have never seen,read or heard any such comments. Therefore, I am not in a position to respond to your comments.

This is the same man who said the people of SVG will wrap up the new proposed constitution with "saltfish".

The man has levelled insults ofter insults on anyone who dare opposed him.

He threatened to close down businesses that did not support him in the general elections

(R) Like above, I am not in a position to respond to the above comments. You might have this information but they seem very "FUZZY".

Mr Francis, book an Air Canada flight, transfer to a LIAT and head to SVG. Hang out for about a month, and I will bet the 1.5% he just gave us that you'll come away with a different view of the man.

(R) I do not have to visit St.Vincent to form any opinion. In an age of information technology and rapid exchange of information within the region, it is not difficult to develop a credible perspective on the situation in St.Vincent. If your alarming comments have any shred of credibility, I have no doubt that the next General Elections, these comments might resonate in the mind of voters that will influence their voting pattern.

If you can't love and treat your own people with respect, how in gods name are you expected to treat others?

Mr Francis, up there in Canada, would they elect an abusive father to head up the neighbourhood watch???? Let me know, please

(R) I think Gonsalves is not only committed to the people of St.Vincent but to the region. He understands the regional integration concept and this is why he worked with the ECCB and was able to respond to another small state problem.

Comrade Prime Minister acted responsibly as a true Caribbean man and regional integrationist. Gonsalves is not a Johnny come late about the regional integration movement.

It is very unfortunate that you have skirted the problems of Caribbean small states and the role of a true regional integration movement. What I got from you is a barrage of anti-Gonsalves bashing. IT IS NOT FAIR..
________________________________________

Richard Huggins:

Mr. Francis, why is it that when points out the flaws of Ralph, it has to be some political axe to grind? You, in fact sounds like Ralph himself with chain of thought. Please, explain to me what political axe i have to grind if i point out the PM has been rude and out of place to the entire country of SVG. You have no idea if I voted for the man or not. Mr Francis I voted for Ralph and quite frankly I am totally disgusted with his behaviour since taking office.

Mr Francis, it seems like you are not familiar with any of my above statements regarding Ralph, so I encourage to be a responsible Journalist and investigate these claims and get back to me. In the meantime i will leave you with a few more....

When the local telephone company suspended the accounts of the government offices, he referred to the head of the company as a 'little boy'.

Speaking of political axes, Ralph on numerous occasions referred to the opposition leaders skin color. One of his famous ones is that George Bush cannot see the leader opposition at night.

He asked the voters of SVG to look at the face of his opponent and decide if he's Prime Minister material.

During the last election, things got a little testy, lots of violence. The opposition leader asked the Prime Minister for them to make a joint statement asking the nation for calm. The Prime Minister said he's not doing it because he does not want the opposition leader to look good standing nex to him.

Again i leave you with this question: Would you up there in Canada, let an abusive father head up you neighbourhood watch?

Peter:

IAN FRANCIS, are you going to praise GONSALVES regardless of what he say or does?

Showing facts is not showing hate towards the man. In fact he himself is a man of extreme spite and hatred towards anyone who opposes him.

1/ Under this SVG MARXIST regime times have got so hard that people cannot earn a living in SVG.
2/ People are frightened of the police who beat and torture admissions of guilt from people, police get convictions from forced false admissions.
3/ Rape is out of control, with even prime minister Gonsalves being accused of such.
4/ Murder is out of control.
6/ Police shoot to kill, and ask questions afterwards.
7/ It is common for women to be beaten and even chopped with cutlass by their men and boyfriends.
8/ Child rape and buggery of little boys is common.
9/ Huge amounts of cash in US dollars regularly flows into the island. to be shared by the ULP hierarchy.
10/ Hospitals commonly have no drugs, wrong drugs, no medical dressings, scanning machine and ultra sound not working, hospital dirty, more chance of dieing in hospital than out of hospital.
11/ GONSALVES and all his ministers seek hospital treatment abroad whilst other citizens have to use fifth rate medical treatment in SVG.
12/ Business’s are being opened by ULP members to launder dirty money
13/ Poor home and mental institution joined as one, homeless people having to endure living with mentally sick people. The home feeds nasty food that should only be fed to pigs. Not enough beds and people sleep on urine soaked mattress’s on the floor.
14/ People who don’t vote for the Unity Labour Party cannot get government jobs and are treated as second class citizens.
15/ Any one who speaks out against GONSALVES or conditions in SVG is subjected to political spite in their workplace, village and home.
16/ When there is storm damage only ULP members get their homes repaired

1 GONSALVES WAS ACCUSED BY AT LEAST FIVE DIFFERENT WOMEN OF SEX CRIME AGAINST THEM.

2. A CANADIAN HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER CLAIMED AND CHARGED GONSALVES WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT

3 A VINCENTIAN LADY POLICE OFFICER CLAIMED GONSALVES RAPED HER AND LAID A CHARGE AGAINST HIM OF RAPE.

4 GONSALVES TOLD US MORE THAN ONCE THAT HE IS HERE TO FINISH THE WORK OF THE DEAD MARXIST COUP LED LEADER OF GRENADA.
Maurice Bishop came to power via an illegal Marxist coup, supported and assisted by Cuba and Russia.
Maurice Bishop locked up hundreds of Grenadian citizens without trial, some for upwards of four years.
Bishop tapped and recorded citizens telephone calls. He locked up church leaders and on the advice from the Cubans, then sort to control the Church's by state control. He shut down newspapers and took away democratic rights generally of all the citizens. Suspended the constitution and replaced it with his own draconian laws and regulations. On the instructions of the Russians and Cubans he instructed the central committee that two sets of books should be kept to fraudulently deceive the IMF, World Bank and buyers of Grenadian Bonds, and those who provided loans to the country. On the instructions of the Cubans he tried to drive out the St. Georges Medical school. There were Cubans working and controlling every government ministry. Rastafarians many of who were the main fighting force of the coup and promised trips to Ethiopia and the liberalization of marijuana laws in their favor, were targeted for . They were not allowed to keep their government jobs or get government jobs unless the had their locks cut off. Their children were refused schooling unless the had their locks cut off. The change in marijuana laws turned out be a lie on the part of Bishop and never took place. Thousands of Rasta's were rounded up and interned in what one would describe as a gulag or concentration camp.
The airport that was being built at Saline was for military use by the Cubans and Russians. Enough arms and equipment to fight a sustained war in whole Caribbean for at least ten years was imported and later impounded and removed by the Americans.
Bishop increased the house and property tax which harmed the whole economy of Grenada.

5 GONSALVES SAID IN PARLIAMENT THAT HE DOES OBEAH FOR THE LORD, ITS IN THE PARLIAMENTRY RECORDS, CAST IN STONE FOREVER. GONSALVES HAS NEVER APOLOGIZED FOR THAT STATEMENT OR WITHDRAWN IT. THEREFORE HIS ADMISSION STANDS, HE WORSHIPS OBEAH.
In Christianity Obeah is considered a taboo, and the term has pejorative associations. Obeah is associated with both benign and malignant magic, charms, and with mysticism in general, and some say Satanism and devil worship.
The practice of harnessing supernatural forces and spirits for one’s own personal use, known in some parts of Africa as ‘Obeye’ (an entity that lives within witches), has taken on many names in the Caribbean islands, such as Shango (Trinidad), Santeria (Cuba), Vodun or Voodoo (Haiti), Ju-Ju (Bahamas), Obeah (Jamaica),. Obeah is usually practiced for "evil" or rather self-interested, instrumental purposes, this faith is also said to aid as a source of strength and clandestine resistance. The practice of Obeah is the belief that one can use certain spirits or supernatural agents to work harm to the living.

6 GONSALVES IS A SELF CONFESSED LIAR, HE TOLD US SO HIMSELF, “I sometimes tell lies” “show me a liar and I will show you a thief” THOSE ARE HIS VERY OWN VERY STUPID UTTERANCE’S.

7 GONSALVES HAS NEVER SUCCESSFULLY EXPLAINED THE MILLION US DOLLARS IN CASH THAT HIS COUSIN FRANCIS TOOK TO THE BANK TO CHANGE INTO EC DOLLARS.
In 2010, a bag full of cash, US dollars turned up at the NCB bank, a million US to be exact, or there about. The bank was asked to change the money into EC$s, after due consideration the called his relative and told him to take the US$s away, refusing to change it. Days and weeks afterwards ULP relatives and friends began turning up at banks with smaller sums of US money and banking it. ULP government official walked about with a huge roll of US$ bills in his pocket, removing it occasionally to pay bills in bars and shops.

8 GONSALVES HAS STAYED AWAY FROM CANADA NOW FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
Since the Canadian lady laid charges against GONSALVES for sex crimes, he has never been to Canada. He has been invited by Canadian Vincentians, but has chosen not to visit the country since.

9 GONSALVES TOOK US INTO ALBA, A MARXIST -LENINIST ORGANIZATION.
The ALBA is a vitriolic anti-American organization which made common cause with Muammar Gaddafi of Iraq, it continues to make common cause with Mahmud Ahmadinejad of Iran, encouraging the setup of "popular and protagonist democracies"; with joint UN ambassadorial support for thug and mob rule by ruling parties of ALBA member regimes.
ALBA is largely a regional infrastructure designed to support the radical MARXIST revolutionary processes inside member countries. ALBA members consider this as one chapter of a global revolution. CUBA and VENEZUELA have brought ALBA member countries into contact and cooperation with other revolutionaries the world over—the principal of these being Iran but also including Hezbollah, Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias Colombianas (FARC), the Spanish Basque terrorist group Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA), and the Colombian Ejercito de Liberación Nacional (ELN) among others which include North Korea. The purpose of this international revolution is, as President Chávez has stated, “the creation of a new world order.” According to ALBA foreign policy, the current institutional order must be brought to its knees in order to allow a new “multi-polar world” to emerge.
Essential to this is the collapse of the United States as a global superpower.
Under GONSALVES, we are part of this MARXIST revolution.

10 GONSALVES HAS ALIGNED US WITH IRAN.
Iran is the most despised country in the Middle East, a country that is looking for war with Israel, a country that is looking to build nuclear weapons. A country who only last week Canada cut off diplomatic relations, sending home the Iranians from Canada and bringing back Canadian diplomats. They have closed the Iranian embassy.

11 UNDER GONSALVES ADIMINISTRATION CRIME IS OUT OF CONTROL.
Under Gonsalves and the ULP, rape and serious crime is out of control.
Under Gonsalves watch police officers convicted of serious crimes were reemployed to beat and torture the Vincentian youth.
Gonsalves was adamant about removing legislation that controlled the police 'PACE', this was like giving the police a license to torture our citizens.
Vincentian women are raped, beaten, chopped up with cutlass, then running for safety to Canada.
a/ Under this SVG MARXIST regime times have got so hard that they cannot earn a living in SVG.
b/ People are frightened of the police who beat and force admissions of guilt from people, police get convictions from forced false admissions.
c/ Rape is out of control, with even prime minister Gonsalves being accused of such.
d/ Murder is out of control.
e/ Police shoot to kill, and ask questions afterwards.
f/ It is common for women to be beaten and even chopped with cutlass by their men and boyfriends.
g/ Child rape and buggery of little boys is common.
h/ Huge amounts of cash in US dollars regularly flows into the island.
i/ Hospitals commonly have no drugs, wrong drugs, no medical dressings, scanning machine and ultra sound not working, hospital dirty, more chance of dieing in hospital than out of hospital.
j/ GONSALVES and all his ministers seek hospital treatment abroad whilst other citizens have to use fifth rate medical treatment in SVG.
l/ Business’s are being opened by ULP members to launder dirty money
m/ Poor home and mental institution joined as one, homeless people having to endure living with mentally sick people. The home feeds nasty food that should only be fed to pigs. Not enough beds and people sleep on urine soaked mattress’s on the floor.
n/ People who don’t vote for the Unity Labour Party cannot get government jobs and are treated as second class citizens.
o/ Any one who speaks out against GONSALVES or conditions in SVG is subjected to political spite in their workplace, village and home.
p/ When there is storm damage only ULP members get their homes repaired.

12 IN 2001, GONSALVES ISSUED OR CAUSED TO BE ISSUED A DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT TO A VINCENTIAN CANADIAN MAN CALLED REUBEN MORGAN, HE WAS NEITHER A DIPLOMAT OR EMPLOYED BY THE SVG GOVERNMENT. SUBSEQUENTLY IN 2004, MORGAN WAS ARRESTED AT A LONDON AIRPORT CARRYING A KILO OF COCAINE IN HIS LUGGAGE, HE WAS TRAVELING ON THE VERY SAME DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT THAT GONSALVES HAD APPROVED OR ISSUED TO HIM AFTER THE 2001 ELECTIONS.
In 2010, Reuben Morgan opened a Chinese restaurant with his Canadian Chinese business partner in SVG at Villa. In 2011 Morgan’s Chinese wok cooking expert said that they were going to open a casino at the new Argyle Airport, they could only do so with the blessing of GONSALVES.
The Chinese Canadian having made that statement, GONSALVES got real angry, and said he would never sanction a CASINO.
One night the Chinese restaurant closed and all the equipment moved out during the early hours of the morning. Everything was shipped out to Saint Lucia, where they have now set up business.

13 GONSALVES BESIDES BEING A VERBAL LIAR, HE IS ALSO WRITTEN ONE AS WELL
He signed a contract with the teachers, fully well knowing at the time of signing that it was unconstitutional and unenforceable. He told the teachers at the time it was the best contract they ever had.
Later when the teachers found out the truth, Gonsalves said he new the contract was unconstitutional and unenforceable and declared the contract as inspirational only.

HERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS FOR GONSALVES

Ask about the US$1 million in cash was it dirty money, ask about the UN vote conspiracy, ask about blood money for the airport, ask why employees and suppliers have been allowed to plunder the airport funds and revenue, ask about out of control crime, ask about ministers on the take from Buccament, ask about all the thieving in ministries, ask about illegal activities by ULP MP's, ask about said drug lord payment to ULP, ask about 60 farmers whose land was taken for the airport and its still not paid for, ask about the Gonsalves rape charges that have never been to court, ask about being taken into ALBA without the peoples approval, ask about the hundreds of treasury bills and bonds issued, ask about the bankrupting of the country, ask about the forced sale of the bank, ask about the forced sale of the supermarket, ask why the Viegy highway has never been finished and where is the money, ask who gets free vegetables grown at Bell Isle Prison, ask about the employment of criminal police officers, ask why the police force is out of control, ask why the police have a shoot to kill and take no prisoners live policy, ask why the police torture detained people in interview rooms and cells, ask why the government support police torture, ask how many complaints have been made about police planting evidence on people, ask Gonsalves why he wanted the PACE police rules abolished, ask about Glen Beache's company that had the same or similar name as a government supplier, ask about the Spunker of the House's son robbing his government employers, ask about the continual flow of lies from Gonsalves and his paid IT supporters, ask about Gonsalves sons arrogance in the UN police officer incident, ask about Chavez coming to SVG and calling US President names on our soil, ask about the volume of cocaine passing through SVG from Venezuela, ask about the airport at Argyle now carrying the name Christian Blood Airport, ask about the curse brought to the island for supporting the slaughter of Christians in Iran, ask about our links with IRAN and NORTH KOREA and other crap states, ask about our giving ALBA 1% of our funds, ask about what happened to the $1 million gift and the $3.5 million loan from Gadaffi for the Diamond stadium, ask why the NIS has been almost bankrupted by being forced to put money into the airport that can never show a return, ask why the airport was started without funding, ask why we were lied to about the coalition of the willing, ask why we have a bank account in Cuba where Iran pays money in for SVG, ask about bank accounts held in Saint Lucia by ULP Ministers, ask why people were bribed to vote ULP at the last election, ask why Gonsalves states he is here to finish the work of Maurice Bishop, ask why Gonsalves has spent millions of dollars traveling, ask why prisoners convicted of serious crimes have been released before their due time, ask why Gonsalves as Minister of Finance under funded the Ministry of Agriculture resulting in the total loss of our banana industry, ask why Gonsalves has employed at great expense an ex pupil of his to act as Legal adviser, prosecutor and defender in both Government and personal business, ask why he punished the people of the Grenadines by charging them a departure tax to leave Kingstown by ferry, ask why travelers going to the Grenadines are harassed with their box's and bags, ask why the Rastafarians were lied to, ask why Gonsalves lied about the Venezuelans paying the Cubans wages at the airport, ask why only a handful of Vincentians got jobs at the new airport project, ask why Cubans got all the jobs that Vincentians could do at the new airport project, ask why we were told that all the equipment from Venezuela was a gift, ask why we need to take loans from petrocaribe and ALBA for the airport when we were told Venezuela were paying, ask why VINLEC have been supplying the airport project with diesel and thus facilitating the need to charge electricity users excessive electricity bills, ask why we were lied to by Francis and Gonsalves when they told us that the airport would cost the SVG tax payer nothing and when it was finished no debt would be left. ask who shared in the US$1 million in cash and how they qualified for a share, ask why some people arrive at the airport without going through immigration or customs control, ask why some boxes and baggage go through the airport without customs control, ask why only ULP supporters houses get repaired after hurricanes and floods, ask why there are still NDP supporters who are living in damaged houses, ask why Gonsalves son was not charged prosecuted over the motorcycle incident, ask why Gonsalves needs dozens of plain clothes police body guards, ask why we were lied to about repairs to the roof of the official prime ministers house by omission to tell us that there was a fire, ask why Gonsalves has got a whole fleet of expensive cars for his own use, ask why Gonsalves spent up to 6 million dollars to try and ram through a yes vote for the referendum, ask why Gonsalves is accused of heaping spite on people who cross him, ask why Gonsalves calls people dreadful names, ask why Gonsalves needs to make obscene gestures, ask why Gonsalves cannot act in a way conducive to his office, ask why Gonsalves needs to personally interview girls and boys before giving them scholarships, ask why Gonsalves is so well known for his Saturday morning interviews at his offices in Bay Street, ask why Gonsalves needs his unelected and unelectable cousin Francis to be a member of Government on a continuing basis, ask why the people in the Diaspora are on a continuing basis lied to and mislead on almost everything Vincentian, ask why Gonsalves insisted on electing Chatoye a National Hero when the man was a citizen of France, a General in the French army and traded in and kept and worked slaves, ask why local newspaper reporters are frightened to ask Gonsalves pertinent questions and rely only on press releases, ask why the Judiciary recluse themselves from anything to do with what Gonsalves or the Government do wrong, ask why Colin Williams the Director of Public Prosecutions was chosen for that position when Williams was or had recently been a partner or member of Gonsalve's law firms chambers and also a member of the ULP central committee, ask why Colin Williams has always disallowed any case against Gonsalves or member of Government, ask why Gonsalves sought to change the very laws that he was accused of breaking regarding electoral rules. ask why the fire service has been so grossly under funded that the have never been able to put a fire out, ask why Gonsalves was charged with rape and accused on more than one occasion of sexual crimes, ask why he never went before a court to clear his name, ask why Saint Vincent and the grenadines main income in now scrounging from other countries, ask why Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has been turned into a prostitute state, ask why in the last eleven years no new industry has been created in the state, ask why we have lost most of our industrial base in SVG, ask why the streets are filled with beggars, ask why uniformed school children are begging in the car parks for bus fairs and food money, ask why some government worker were not paid at Christmas and their children went hungry, ask why on several occasions poor relief payment was several weeks late and caused people to starve, ask why government owe private companies and contractors over 40 million dollars for the last 4 years, ask why there are always hundreds of people paid their salary weeks late, ask why the government can't pay its utility bills putting a further burden on the private householder, ask why there is no money to repair our roads, ask why school girls are prostituting themselves for phone cards, ask why the Catholic church and the Salvation Army are feeding hundreds of homeless and poor people every day, ask why business’s are closing down, ask why the Gonsalves need to open a Café when they are very rich and there are numerous café’s nearby struggling to earn a simple living, ask why there is a ULP minister who was broke before coming to office and now has several cars several houses several woman and several children, ask why most of the important members of the police force come from Gonsalves constituency, ask why people go into small grocer shop and buy 1 egg, ask why farmers animals are being stolen weekly in the hundreds, ask why the Cross Country road has not been built and where the money is, ask why Gonsalves shouldn’t be regarded as a cult leader, ask why in many government jobs you have to be a ULP member, ask why a man that is a self confessed liar should be paid huge court settlements in cases he says damages his name and image when his name and image is damaged by his lies and accusations of rape and sex crimes, ask why Gonsalves he employ’s some of his old friends in jobs that pay up to 87 times more a month than the average worker gets, ask why the hospital and clinics are more frequently without drugs and dressings than with, ask why people at the hospital often have to supply their own towels sheets pillows and covers, ask why the death rate at the hospital is so high for usually simple procedures and illness’s, ask why there are less bed at the mental home than patients, ask why patients have to sleep on urine soaked foam mattress on the floor, ask why the food at the hospital and mental home is only fit for pigs, ask why people at the hospital have to bring in their own food if they want to eat, ask why Kingstown and every village is littered with starved diseased dogs covered in scabs, ask why new passports were issued to people who changed their names and no page in the passport to show their previous names, ask why serious numbers of our youth is using crack cocaine, ask why the police are given books of penalty tickets once a week and told to issue enough tickets to pay their salary, ask why up till last year there were Cubans working in every ministry department, ask why Gonsalves has never been to Canada since a Canadian lady claimed he tried to force her to have sex with him, ask Gonsalves why the Cubans Venezuelans and some other ALBA members are currently keeping him at arms length, ask Gonsalves about his uttering’s exposed in several Wikileaks documents, ask Gonsalves if he is related to Antonio Gonsalves the Portuguese Madeiran sea captain who took the first African slaves from the North West African Coast and kicked of the Atlantic slave trade,
Ask Gonsalves about how he ran away when the Jamaican demonstrations developed into riots with 6 people killed and US$20 million of property bus’s and vehicles destroyed, ask him about his ongoing fight against cowardice, ask Gonsalves why he was fired from his lecturing post in Barbados, ask him how many countries he was made person non gratis of at one time, ask him about his trips to East Europe during the cold war, ask why he appears in the recently released Czechoslovakian secret police records, ask why he appears in records of the Grenada Marxist revolution.

In fact IAN FRANCIS, in your writing you have exposed yourself as a man of distorted views and a man of supporting the same old MARXIST crap that you have followed all your life.

D. Markie Spring:

Charity begins at home – indeed!

This is an all round good articles by Mr. O’Garro. Let me say that it does not pay to be biased – please respect this, but this is how I interpret Mr. Ian Francis’ comments. Ian who I (greatly admire) did not do a good job defending himself or the Comrade. While regionalism is important like Richard Huggins purported we must get to the meat of what is happening.

Intuitively, I will not repeat what the authors commented, but will add a little to the commentaries; there are relevant issues raised.

First, O’Garro: you are right we must take care of our own before we assist unless in dyer situations. Grenada’s position is even better than SVG’s yet we are giving them while we continue to suffer. The PM’s decision is like you giving your neighbor money to pay his monthly bills while your services are being disconnected because of lack of payment. In essence, the PM’s decision and action do not complement or define regionalism.
People who suffered from the flash floods are still homeless – imagine giving your neighbor money while your own is suffering.

Second, Richard Huggins: All of your claims are in line with what should be done and what is happening in SVG. According to Mr. Francis’ responses, he seemed not to have knowledge about what is happening in SVG and what; yet he is ‘bigging up’ Ralph as the ultimate. Like O’Garro manners begins at home. How can you treat your fellow soldiers like ‘crap’ then claim regionalism? It’s just not possible. Richie Huggins also asked an important question, “would you put you put your abusive father as head of the neighborhood watch? I don’t think so!

But let’s get to the bottom of what Mr. Francis is implying. It is true that Ralph has contributed much interest in regionalism. The truths behind Ralph’s contributions are two hold:

The first, Ralph has invested millions in LIAT – more than any other Caribbean leader, why? If LIAT stop flying Vincentians and visitors alike leaving and going to SVG will be stuck. Therefore, it’s in the man’s interest to pump millions in keeping LIAT in the skies – smart move I must say.

The second, Ralph is pushing the single market economy (CSME), Why? He cannot provide jobs at home, therefore, if a single market exists, Vincentians would be able to seek jobs elsewhere, thus, the burden of job creating is reduced. Other than these two factors, the man doesn’t give a darn about regionalism – true Caribbean man? That’s a concocted statement.

It is time that we address the issues because the status quo does not lie and there are not enough words in the dictionary to modify such phenomenon.

Together O’Garro and Huggins summed it up well.

Ian Francis, Toronto,Ontario:

Too long winded. You have and continue to repeat the same foolish stories about Gonsalves.

I think it is unfair to abuse the genrousity of this medium with such fool fool and brango

Look how long Bush demitted office

Simon Anderson:

Ian, do you see the kind of nonsense we have to deal with, here in St Vincent.

These empty barrels just continue making excessive noise, and are getting nowhere, fast.

These individuals, as you can see, vary in nature, from a hole who is full of himself, to a semi-illiterate who knows nothing about political systems, but writes a response with one paragraph of 110 lines.

They compound all of this with feeble attempts of chronic lying, and simply make public fools of themselves.

These clowns just escaped from someone's pack.

Peter:

IAN FRANCIS, ARE YOU SAYING THAT WHAT IS WRITTEN ABOUT GONSALVES IS UNTRUE OR THAT EVEN IF TRUE YOU DO NOT CARE AND EXTEND YOUR MARXIST COMRADESHIP REGARDLESS?

HOW ABOUT THIS WHICH HAS APPEARED IN SEVERAL PUBLICATIONS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

Here is an idea about the NICE RADIO money that GONSALVES wants to get his little fat hands on. GONSALVES should use it to pay reparations for his ancestors creation of the Atlantic Slave Trade. Antonio Gonsalves a sea captain of Madeira and Portugal was responsible for the start of the Atlantic Slave Trade. Gonsalves is also related to Christopher Columbas.

GONSALVES wants the British to pay reparations, his family is as responible as the British, so let him pay reparations.

Any apologies and reparations should be made by the Portuguese government and in particular the Gonsalves family.
The Portuguese sea captain Antonio Gonsalves took 8 Africans into slavery from the South West African Sahara coast. He was part of the Gonsalves of Madeira family.
Also a member of the Gonsalves family of Madeira by marriage was Christopher Columbus, who was responsible for the deaths of millions of Caribbean and American indigenous Indians. And thereafter the shipping of African slaves to the Caribbean and Americas.
1418 -
Madeira Portugal:
This was the beginning of the Portuguese slave trading era that much later affected Saint Vincent and changed the World. The official history of the Portuguese Island of Madeira and the following Caribbean slave trade starts with the discovery of the island of Porto Santo by João Gonçalves (John Gonsalves) a Jew (1392-1460). Also called O Zarco “the cross-eyed” and his fellow officers Bartolomeu Perestrelo and Tristão Vaz Teixeira in 1418. The next year they settled Madeira island which was just 38 kilometres (23 miles) away from Porto Santo.
The Portuguese claimed the island of Madeira.
John Gonsalves (João Gonçalves ) discovers Madeira.
As a reward for this Prince Henry nominated him the first donee captain of Funchal. On Madeira, he named a certain area “Câmara de Lobos” due to a number of sea lions found in a cave there.
(Note: In Portuguese, sea lion is lobo marinho, which translates literally as sea wolf.)
[Gonsalves see also p3 1441, p4 1442, p5 1444, p5 1450, p6 1499]
1441 -
Africa:
In 1441: Off the West African coast, an occurrence that later affected the World this was the year that the international slave trade began with Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal, when his sea captain Antão Gonçalves (written as Gonçalves but pronounced Gonsalves [Antonio or Anthony Gonsalves], in this recorded historical fact Antão can be found both as Gonsalves and Gonçalves, variations in the name due to anglicizing etc. Search the internet under either spelling with the same results. Gonsalves is a recent phonetic spelling of the name Gonçalves, historically there was no such spelling as Gonsalves) kidnapped ten Africans as slaves and delivered them to Prince Henrique (Henry) who gave them to the Pope as gifts.
Antão Gonçalves (Antonio or Anthony Gonsalves), intending to acquire a cargo of animal skins and oil to sell in Europe, landed on the shores of West Africa. The ten Africans he abducted were almost an afterthought. Whilst trading glass beaded necklaces for skins with the Africans, he beckoned to them and said “vindo ao papa” (come to Papa), when they approached they were overpowered and manacled and taken aboard his ship. When he returned to Portugal, Gonsalves delivered the captives to Prince Henry, who in turn presented them as a gift to the Catholic Pope, then as much a powerful political figure as religious leader. The gesture so pleased the Catholic pontiff that he granted Prince Henry licence to a broad chunk of West African territory for slave taking. Hence the start of the African/European commercial slave trade. For some time thereafter, the Portuguese dominated the African/European slave trade with the continent of Africa and the peddling of its inhabitants. Long a part of history throughout much of the world, the practice often enslaving others now entered a new era, the so-called “Commercial Age.” Thousands of Africans during this period were herded into cramped, unsanitary quarters and shipped across the Atlantic Ocean for sale. Within two decades of Antão Gonsalves’ voyage, the African slave trade had become a highly profitable venture for the Portuguese.
Antão Gonçalves (Anthony Gonsalves) a Portuguese captain a son of João Gonçalves (John Gonsalves), abducted ten Africans at Rio do Ouro on the West African coast. Antão Gonçalves (Portugal, dates unknown) 1441: Travels to Rio de Oro and brings the first cargo of African slaves to Portugal. In 1443, 1445, 1447, Anthony Gonsalves makes three more voyages to Rio de Oro.
The first shipment of African slaves were sent directly from Africa to Portugal. With the complicity and blessings of the Catholic Church the Portuguese would come to dominate the African gold, spice and slave trade for almost a century before other European nations became greatly involved.
Portugal: The Gonsalves (Gonçalves) family were Marranos [secret Jews because of Jewish persecution by the Catholic church] they played a leading role in introducing sugar cane cultivation to the Atlantic islands of Madeira
The start of the African slave trade as known in the Caribbean and Americas.
Later that year Portuguese captains Antão Gonçalves and Nuno Tristão capture 12 Africans in Cabo Branco (modern Mauritania) and take them to Portugal as slaves. Portuguese sailors entered the international slave trade, with African negroes at Cape Blanc.
African slaves were sold in the market at Lisbon, the slaves were taken to the market place and openly sold in the market at Lisbon.
The Arabs Moors had delt in Africa slaves for many centuries and possibly thousands of years. They also traded in white slaves, which is often forgotten, this white trade was at one period as big or even greater than the African slave practice.

Simon Anderson:

MR IAN FRANCIS, I apologize for the ignorance you are experiencing from these individuals who call themselves Vincentians.

Unfortunately, we too, have our share of ignoramuses. "Forgive them, they know not what they do."

These clueless clowns are full of hate, and all have political axes to grind, as you, and the other readers have recognized.

Let them continue to wallow in their ignorance...one day, they will recognize the folly of their ways.

Floyd:

Simply amazing!!
I cannot believe that people who are purporting to be educated cannot differentiate between domestic and regional issues.
I would comment further, but the material put forth is not worthy.

Peter:

PINK FLOYD, or should we say RED FLOYD. How whatever is stated can remain regional or local or international in today's world I am at a loss as to your observation.

take a quick look at this and tell us what you think

http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/topstory-Letter%3A-How-to-install-a-Marxist-Leninist-dictator-in-a-small-Caribbean-state-13423.html