Press Release

No case made against longstanding GPWU Officer

admin — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 11:00:01 +0000

No case made against longstanding GPWU Officer

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admin Thu, 06/08/2023 - 11:00

Friday, May 26, 2023

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NOW Grenada

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No case made against longstanding GPWU Officer

The Grenada Public Workers’ Union (GPWU) duly informs that on Tuesday, 20 May 2023, a Committee set up by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to investigate a complaint on grounds of dismissal against a longstanding Public Officer concluded that “there was a failure by the Public Service Commission, to set out a charge against the Officer, “pursuant to Public Service Commission Regulations 1969, 74 and 88(2)(a) and or the Standing Orders, standing order 31.

“For this reason, there was no case made out against the Officer.”

The member first brought the matter to the attention of the Union on 7 March 2023, when the officer was directed by the PSC to proceed on Administrative Leave, pending response to a non-specific charge, by a given deadline. To date, the officer remains on Leave until 31 May 2023.

After submitting a response, the officer was placed on further Leave and was notified by the PSC of the intention to institute proceedings for dismissal according to SR&O 88, and that in light of the recent report about a “Leak from the Division of Youth, Sports and Culture of the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture”, the PSC had decided to investigate the officer’s tenure as a public officer, dating back to 2007; a span of 15 years.

The matter was heard on 12 May 2023 before a Committee chaired by Justice Rosalyn E Wilkinson (retired) – Chairman, Mr Reginald Lord – Member (retired Labour Commissioner), and Mrs Aine Brathwaite – Member.

The GPWU member was represented by Attorney at Law, James Bristol KC., as the Union deemed it necessary to provide the best possible representation for our beleaguered member, given that the PSC was seeking specifically to ‘Dismiss’ the officer after 25 years of pensionable service.

As stated in the Committee report, “It is to be noted that it is only under regulation 88 that specific reference is made to the appointment of a committee for an inquiry, where for misconduct, consideration is being given to dismissal of an officer”.

The Committee, in its findings, also concluded that no particular or specific charge of misconduct described as required by regulation 88{2)(a) was provided by the PSC and that “The Committee must be mindful of exposing the officer to a situation of double Jeopardy”.

Regarding the infractions prior to 2023, Counsel for the officer raised the issue of waiver of the PSC’s right to at this time, to refer to those matters as over the course of the period and noted the commendation, note of appreciation, congratulatory letter, recommendations for promotions, acting appointments, and promotions on the officer’s personnel file. Mr Bristol KC also referred the Committee to Banning v. Wright (Inspector of Taxes) a197212 AX ER 987 for a description of a situation of ‘waiver’.

The GPWU congratulates the officer on securing their job and livelihood but takes this opportunity to once again remind its members and ALL public officers to take care to be guided in the conduct of your duties and professional life by SR&O 1969 and in particular, Regulation 31, that, “No public officer may, without the written approval of the Minister concerned, make public or communicate to the Press or to unauthorized individuals any documents, paper or information which may come into his possession in his official capacity, or make private copies of any such documents or papers.”

The Union also strongly advises officers to maintain vigilance in keeping personal personnel records and to remain knowledgeable with the contents of your personnel file (pf) as maintained by your ministry or department. The Union notes that to ensure vindication of the charge brought against them by the PSC, the officer was able to provide copies of letters and documents to the Attorney, which were not discovered on the personnel file at the PSC, and which were central in the officer’s defence.

The GPWU, without prejudice, remains committed to advocacy and sound representation in the best interest of our members, as we aim to safeguard livelihoods and better the lives of workers.

“In Unity Success is Assured.”

GPWU

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Beacon assists Calliste Government School

admin — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 21:00:01 +0000

Beacon assists Calliste Government School

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admin Wed, 06/07/2023 - 21:00

Friday, May 26, 2023

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Beacon assists Calliste Government School

On Wednesday, 17 May 2023, The Beacon Insurance Company Ltd., generously donated $1,000 to assist the Calliste Government School with its School Feeding Programme.

Molly Roberts, Branch Manager at Beacon Grenada, presented the cheque to school principal Antoinette Lewis, in front of faculty and students at the school.

Speaking at the handover, Roberts said Beacon was happy to make the contribution as the company strives to make a positive impact on the lives of students within the communities they serve. The programme serves a healthy breakfast to approximately 30 students and lunch to approximately 160 students every day. Beacon chose to assist the Calliste Government School after a period of careful review as the school is one in need.

Upon accepting the donation, Lewis expressed her sincere thanks to Beacon. “On behalf of the teachers and students at the school, we thank you sincerely!” Principal Lewis went on to speak about the positive effects of well-nourished students. “Breakfast is important! Lunch is important! Children that have a healthy, nutritious breakfast in the mornings, will have them focused, attentive and will also increase their attendance at the school.”

Beacon has pledged to enrich and enhance the lives of those in the communities in which it operates through the creation of opportunities for development and growth. The company has been in the insurance industry for over 40 years, with operations spanning the region. Their headquarters are in Trinidad & Tobago, with branches in St Lucia, Grenada and Barbados. They also maintain agencies in St Vincent, Dominica and St Kitts & Nevis.

Beacon Insurance Company Limited

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Outpatient clinic relocated to General Hospital building Phase 2

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Outpatient clinic relocated to General Hospital building Phase 2

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admin Wed, 06/07/2023 - 17:00

Monday, May 29, 2023

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Outpatient clinic relocated to General Hospital building Phase 2

The Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Religious Affairs advises that effective Tuesday, 30 May 2023, the following outpatient clinics will be conducted at the new hospital building (Phase 2).

Gynaecology
Orthopaedic
Maxillofacial
Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)
General surgery
Urology
Internal medicine
Neurology

The management of the Ministry and staff at the General Hospital thank all of their valued clients for their understanding and support as they strive to provide improved healthcare to all.

GIS

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Never stop learning

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Never stop learning

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admin Tue, 06/06/2023 - 05:00

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

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Never stop learning

Sandals Grenada Resort recently awarded 13 new hospitality inductees with certificates of completion through their Hospitality Training Programme (HTP).

The programme involved 10 weeks of on-the-job practical exposure and theoretical customer service sessions across various departments. For 20-year-old Sheridon James, a Cook, and past student of New Life Organisation (NEWLO), the journey was challenging but worthwhile. He shared, “coming into this, we had to adjust to the specifics of Sandals, which is a bit different from what I expected, but now at the end of it I have a better understanding and I feel more confident.”

During the programme, the trainees were also exposed to Service Excellence training offered through the West Indies School of Hospitality (WISH), giving candidates an edge in the very robust and rapidly expanding local hospitality job market

WISH Training Director Diannethea Bain guest speaker at the certification ceremony, advised the HTP cohort to continue learning throughout their professional journey. “This industry will give you the world of exposure, and no matter your career path, there is a role for you in hospitality. Regardless of where you are in your career, give your very best; even if your role today wasn’t part of the plan, execute it with excellence. This discipline is what will mould you for bigger and better opportunities down the road. Take the journey seriously and invest in your learning and development- it will take you far.”

Detailing further, Assistant Learning & Development Manager Shanice Seale shared, “as young aspiring hospitality professionals, this course enabled the trainees to learn more about the fundamentals of the service experience cycle, including poise, empathy, resourcefulness and customer care. Additionally, the certification from Sandals and recommendation letter from our General Manager is a bonus for their resumes. The combination of both theory and practical will serve as an invaluable asset as they continue to learn and grow.”

Eleven of this group’s participants were offered roles at Sandals Grenada Resort at the end of the programme.

Persons interested in the HTP, aged 18–30 years, can apply via email to [email protected] with the subject Application for HTP.

Sandals

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CCRIF 2023 Scholarship and Internship Programmes for Caribbean Nationals

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CCRIF 2023 Scholarship and Internship Programmes for Caribbean Nationals

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admin Tue, 06/06/2023 - 05:00

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

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CCRIF 2023 Scholarship and Internship Programmes for Caribbean Nationals

CCRIF invites Caribbean nationals to apply for its scholarship and internship programmes for 2023 (https://www.ccrif.org/scholarship and https://www.ccrif.org/ccrif –uwi –scholarships for scholarships and https://www.ccrif.org/regional internship –programme for internships).

Since 2010, CCRIF has been providing undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships to Caribbean nationals in areas related to disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, meteorology, environmental management, and civil engineering among others. In 2015, the Facility launched its flagship internship programme for Caribbean nationals by partnering with regional organisations and governments to host these interns and provide them with the opportunity to integrate their academic knowledge with the work environment.

In addition to being the world’s first risk pool providing parametric insurance to its 24 members, (19 Caribbean Governments, 3 Central American Governments and 2 Caribbean public utilities), CCRIF is also committed to building capacity and resilience in disaster risk management among its members. This is done through the CCRIF Technical Assistance

Programme, whereby support is provided to member countries and regional organisations in the development and implementation of disaster risk management and climate change adaptation projects and programmes. The CCRIF Scholarship and Internship Programmes are also part of the TA Programme. The CCRIF TA Programme operates as the Facility’s corporate social responsibility programme and consists of 4 components.

At the launch of this year’s scholarship and internship programmes, CCRIF CEO Isaac Anthony said, “As a development insurance company, CCRIF is committed to creating a more sustainable future for the region we call home. The scholarship and internship programmes were designed to build a cadre of professionals who can effectively contribute to comprehensive disaster risk management and reduce the vulnerabilities in the region, build resilience and fulfill the ambition of making the Caribbean the world’s first climate-resilient region in the world.”

Since the first scholarships and first internships were offered in 2010 and 2015 respectively, CCRIF has provided 165 scholarships for postgraduate and undergraduate study totalling US$1.7 million and 152 internships totalling US$409,000.

For 2023, CCRIF will continue to provide 4 scholarships of US$8,000 each to UWI students for their second and final years of their undergraduate degree. At the postgraduate level, CCRIF will provide 6 scholarships of US$11,000 each to students at Caribbean universities, including The UWI (Cave Hill, Mona and St. Augustine campuses), University of Technology Jamaica, University of Guyana, and University of Trinidad and Tobago among others. Eligible areas of study include but are not limited to Geography/Geology, Disaster Risk Management, Natural Resources Management, Climate Change, Civil Engineering, Meteorology and Land Management.

The deadline for 2023 applications to both scholarship programmes is 3 July 2023.

CCRIF’s Regional Internship Programme is designed to provide opportunities for recent university graduates who have degrees in the areas of disaster risk management, environmental management, actuarial science, geography, climate studies and other similar areas to be assigned to national and regional organisations in the Caribbean where their educational experience can be enhanced through practical work assignments.

Host organisations have included national disaster management and meteorology agencies as well as regional entities, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Association of Caribbean States (ACS), Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD), Office of Disaster and Emergency Management (ODPEM) Jamaica, and departments and centres within The UWI, among many other organisations. CCRIF provides stipends to all its interns and accommodation allowances when interns are assigned to organisations outside of their home country.

The deadline for 2023 applications to the regional internship programme is 9 June 2023.

The CCRIF Internship Programme is one of the largest in the Caribbean Region for areas related to disaster risk management and is welcomed by both young graduates and host organisations. Kenneth Kerr, a former Climate Specialist at the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service, had this to say after hosting interns for a few years: “The programme continues to grow the local scientific community footprint/talent in many ways and provides opportunities to foster relationships through mentorship and training. It allows for building a stream of young and qualified talents and offers them scope to try out different avenues along their career paths.”

Some of the benefits of the internship programme are:

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Office Closure: Ministry of Mobilisation, Implementation and Transformation

admin — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 23:00:02 +0000

Office Closure: Ministry of Mobilisation, Implementation and Transformation

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admin Mon, 06/05/2023 - 23:00

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

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Office Closure: Ministry of Mobilisation, Implementation and Transformation

Please be advised that the staff of the Ministry of Mobilisation, Implementation and Transformation (MIT), will be working remotely tomorrow, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 due to ongoing modification work.

Staff can be contacted via email [email protected].

The Ministry sincerely apologies for any inconvenience caused and anticipates your kind understanding.

GIS

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SVG Coast Guard Youth Development 2022 Summer Programme to begin July 11

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SVG Coast Guard Youth Development 2022 Summer Programme to begin July 11

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admin Sun, 06/19/2022 - 20:00

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

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SVG Coast Guard Youth Development 2022 Summer Programme to begin July 11

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard Service (SVGCGS), in collaboration with the Bank of St. Vincent and Grenadines, Sagicor Life Incorporated, and Wind and Sea Tours Ltd., will be conducting its Annual Youth Development Summer Programme from Monday, July 11, 2022.

“The programme is geared towards uplifting our youths and caters for participants between the ages of 14 and 18. This year’s programme will be held under the theme “Shaping our youths for life’s high seas” and will cover a wide variety of topics,” a release from the SVGCGS said.

The SVGCGS informed that forms for this year’s Youth Development Summer Programme will be available from Thursday, June 16, 2022 at the Coast Guard Base in Calliaqua. Forms can be collected between 09:00 am and 4:00 pm by parents or guardians of persons wishing to attend this year’s programme. Forms are limited and will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

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Cases of hand, foot and mouth disease confirmed in SVG schools – Ministry of Health

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 20:00:01 +0000

Cases of hand, foot and mouth disease confirmed in SVG schools – Ministry of Health

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admin Sun, 06/19/2022 - 20:00

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

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Cases of hand, foot and mouth disease confirmed in SVG schools – Ministry of He…

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment is closely monitoring the current situation of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD)as there have been confirmed cases in educational institutions in the country. Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease is a common viral illness among infants and children under the age of five years, but can also occur in adults.

The disease is caused by a group of viruses known as Enterovirus. The virus can spread from person to person through:

close personal contact, such as hugging an infected person
the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, contact with feces, such as changing diapers of an infected person or touching contaminated surfaces like door knobs, then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth before washing your hands

HFMD usually starts with fever, sore throat, reduced appetite and a feeling of being unwell. One or two days after the fever starts, painful sores can develop in the mouth. They usually begin as small red spots, often in the back of the mouth that blister and can become painful. A skin rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet may also develop over one or two days as flat, red spots, sometimes with blisters. It may also appear on the knees, elbows, buttocks or genital area. Generally, a person with hand, foot, and mouth disease is most contagious during the first week of illness. People can sometimes be contagious for days or weeks after symptoms go away. It is important to drink enough liquids to prevent dehydration.

The Ministry is advising persons to take the following precautionary measures:

- Wash hands frequently with soap and water, especially after changing diapers or using the toilet, before feeding children, preparing or eating food
- Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing
- Thoroughly clean contaminated surfaces and soiled items first, with soap and water and then with disinfectant.
- Avoid sending children to daycare and school if they are suffering from HFMD
- Follow safe food hygiene and water practices
Avoid close contact such as kissing and hugging infected people. Monitor children for early detection and symptoms and take those who have persistent fever and blisters on hands and feet to your healthcare provider for treatment.

Contact your doctor if mouth sores or a sore throat keep your child from drinking fluids. And contact your doctor if after a few days, your child’s signs and symptoms worsen.

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VINLEC to offer some relief on June’s electricity bills

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 20:00:01 +0000

VINLEC to offer some relief on June’s electricity bills

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Wednesday, June 15, 2022

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VINLEC to offer some relief on June’s electricity bills

FUEL SURCHARGE RATE APPLICABLE ON JUNE’S BILL

For immediate release

14th June 2022

KINGSTOWN: St. Vincent Electricity Services Limited (VINLEC) released a statement approximately three weeks ago, addressing the increasing cost of fuel and its impact on the Fuel Surcharge Rates on customers’ electricity bills. At the time, it was indicated that further increases in the cost of fuel would lead to an even larger increase in the Fuel Surcharge Rate. Regrettably, over the past month this trend has continued and it has resulted in the company paying approximately Nine Million dollars ($9,000,000.) for the fuel used to generate electricity during the period. This figure represents the highest cost that VINLEC has ever paid in a single month for fuel used in the generation of electricity. The result of this is a calculated Fuel Surcharge Rate of 72.52 cents per kWh.

The Board of Directors of the Company and the Government have come together to offer some relief to customers by an injection of funds that will result in customers having to pay less than the actual cost of the fuel used during the month. This injection will reduce the Fuel Surcharge Rate applicable on June’s electricity bills to 65.79 cents per kWh down from the calculated 72.52 cents per kWh.

We are mindful that while this effort does bring some relief to customers, the fuel surcharge rate is still higher than the previous month. Like all countries worldwide the company is negatively impacted by the high cost of petroleum products. We are aware that it is not possible for many of our customers to reduce their electricity consumption, but encourage those that can conserve electricity to do so as it will assist in mitigating the impact of a high monthly fuel cost.

Customers are reminded that this decision is applicable only to electricity bills for June 2022. VINLEC will continue to monitor fuel prices and the likely impact on our customers and update you as this situation develops.

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Arrowroot farmers to get $800,000 payout from Government

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 19:50:01 +0000

Arrowroot farmers to get $800,000 payout from Government

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admin Sun, 06/19/2022 - 19:50

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

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Arrowroot farmers to get $800,000 payout from Government

Government is expected to pay out over $800,000 to Arrowroot Farmers. Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves made the announcement today in an interview with the Agency for Public Information.

Dr. Gonsalves said the arrangement is being made and should be finalised “within the next few days, maybe as early as tomorrow…”.

The decision was made as arrowroot farmers were unable to reap their last crop because of eruptions of La Soufriere and the Arrowroot factory also suffered immense damage.

The Prime Minister said “they had arrowroot in the ground” and the amount of support given would be decided based on the sales they made the previous year and Government will give “… 50 per cent of what they would have made and what they would have sold …had they been able to reap and sell.” (API)

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