DR KENNY ANTHONY EXPRESSES "THANKS AND PRAISES AGAIN!"

Yesterday, was my birthday; I turned 72 years old.

 I have come to realize and accept that every succeeding birthday is more special and more precious than the previous one. Its not just me who feel that way. 

Dr Kenny Anthony

Its interesting to observe how  friends and loved ones  handle birthdays of those, who,  like me,  are in the final chapters of their lives.  Whether they realize it or not, they too add urgency to the occasion. They too understand that time is precious, even if they do not wish to admit it  or say so. We all celebrate with a knowing smile.

Inevitably, every birthday invites reflection. Mine was no different. 

We sometimes share our trials and tribulations, hurts and pains but hardly ever the many beautiful things or good things that have occurred or continue to occur in our lives. Despite my own pains, my regrets, my sorrows, there are so many wonderful things for which I give thanks and praise. Thanks to you, I have had an extraordinary and blessed life. 

And good things continue to happen!

Yesterday, and even the day before, many good things happened. I received some kind, generous,  soothing and even poetic birthday greetings, all in recognition and celebration of  my birthday. I don't know if I deserved all of it. What I can tell you is that your greetings, whether public or private,  made the occasion truly memorable,  special and beautiful. I could not ask for more.

Thank you one and all!!!!!

Source: https://www.facebook.com/100000425153803/posts/pfbid06zG1rSw7HxRBxBuWzDxbQaU7WFx42K1cjzgLzuDFGsimpRqwPnB7ACmgn7fSTCMKl/?mibextid=Nif5oz

What Should Emancipation Day Mean to the St Lucian Working Class?

A people without the knowledge of

their past history,origin and culture is

 like a tree without roots. ~ Marcus Garvey

The history of the New World since Columbus re-discovered it is one of conquest, pillage, exploitation and forced migration of a people. For more than three centuries millions of people were forcibly transported from their homes in Africa, across the perilous Atlantic Ocean to the New World, where they were forced to labour on sugar plantations for the rest of their lives.

This enslavement of a people continued until events in Europe changed the fortunes of the West Indian and North American colonies. Humanitarians started questioning the validity of slavery, there was competition from beet sugar producers in Europe, and the advent of the Industrial Revolution spawned the rise of a new group of influential men in the British Parliament who believed that slavery was no longer economically viable.

In 1833 Thomas Buxton presented The Emancipation Bill in Parliament. The Act was passed and came into effect on 1 August 1834. On that day, thousands of slaves in the British West Indies became free men and women. On 1 August 1838, enslaved Africans in the British Empire won their emancipation from slavery. Emancipation Day is now commemorated throughout the Anglophone Caribbean as a public holiday or national observance. 

One hundred and sixty four years later, on 1 August 1998 the government of St Lucia declared Emancipation Day a national holiday to commemorate the abolition of slavery.

Emancipation was not a gift from Britain or White abolitionists. It came from the accumulated covert and overt acts of resistance by enslaved Africans.

Emancipation Day sends a clear message to the St Lucian labouring classes that capitalism exploited their ancestors’ labour under chattel slavery and is doing the same to theirs under wage slavery.

Emancipation Day is a continued reminder of the need for British imperialism to pay reparations for the enslavement of Africans and colonial exploitation. 

Emancipation Day is a mocking memo to the African labouring classes that they live in societies in which they do not exercise political power over economic and social policies that impact their lives.

Emancipation Day is an annual announcement to the labouring classes that anti-African racism is still a source of oppression and exploitation in their their lives.

Emancipation Day is a painful reminder that working-class African women are still being clobbered by the (un)holy trinity of patriarchy, capitalism and racism. Slavery was a brutal regime of exploitation for enslaved African women.

Emancipation Day is communicating to the masses that they must organize to give birth to the Second Emancipation. This phase of emancipation calls for the elimination of racism, patriarchy, capitalism and other systems of oppression that affect the people’s lives. It also demands the self-organization of the masses.

While it is great for the people to commemorate Emancipation Day, this day must also be used to reflect, critique, assess, deliberate and plan for the next year of struggle.

August 1, 1838 or Emancipation Day tells us that humanity’s quest for freedom cannot be smothered by oppression.

(First piblished in 2018)

THE ECONONIC AND FINANCIAL FALL-OUT OF COVID-19

Be Warned!     By Jimmy James Haynes:

A brilliant piece taken from his Facebook page:

The economic and financial fallout of Covid-19 has been catastrophic for national and household finances. Recently, Covid-19 cases have begun to increase rapidly as we continue to relax our vigilance. While most of us suffer from Pandemic Fatigue, we've got to be disciplined and focus on the medium to long-term future of our economy. There will be serious social and economic repercussions if we do not behave responsibly. This call for behavioral change goes to our leaders as well as every citizen of this country. This is not the time to relax.

Hyperinflation and the rising cost of food are already exacting a heavy toll on household finances. This week, I saw a large can of Exeter corned beef on a shelf for EC$18.00! I had no choice but to refuse it.

We are going through what is typically referred to as a Double Whammy. Covid-19 and its attendant financial woes plus, lifestyle crippling inflation. This isn't the time for you to spend lavishly on frivolous cravings such as fetes, luxuries, Carnival, etc. Very soon, your salary, that is, if you've got one, will be worth only 80% of what it was worth a couple of months ago.

Salaries and wages are stagnant as the cost of living spirals out of reach of the majority of the population. We cannot depend on a government that has already thrown in the towel, to help cushion the debilitating impact of the rising cost of living. Be smart.

You are on your own. Review your spending habits. Reconfigure your household budget. Get rid of the fluff. Start a backyard garden. Grow some vegetables and green seasonings. Use your vehicle sparingly. Walk more often. Eats less meat. Adopt a frugal approach to spending. Focus, as we have not gotten to the bottom of this crisis yet.

You are warned!

 

THE TRUTH MATTERS - ALWAYS KEEP IT REAL!!

I’ve been analysing the different contributions by parliamentarians  during the recently concluded budget debate, and  it occurred to me that a lot of the information I was exposed to is potentially fake.

If not completely fake, it was presented in a way that is biased towards a particular belief or viewpoint in order to appeal to like-minded people to rally viewers, listeners and followers.

It seems to me that there’s an agenda behind this type of information sharing. And it’s not an agenda rooted in truth or honesty, which frankly, is a danger to the peace and unity of our shared island.

I always have to remind myself to question the context when I hear such rhetoric that seems one-sided or untrue or improbable. What else is going on? What happened before or after? What are the credentials of the presenter, and why should I believe him or her?

What concerns me is whether other people are actually questioning the things they see and hear. And how many of us run the risk of just swallowing the information as fact without healthy interrogation to make sure the full story is told?

We are living in a time of great division and intolerance. Power seems more than ever to be generated by people and “winning” by ensuring that others are “losing”. But why can’t everybody win? Life doesn’t have to be a zero sum game, does it?

In today’s tech-driven world we have unprecedented access to issues, images, clips, factoids, opinions, facts, news (real or fake). We can see a picture that somebody wants us to see, negative or positive, but how do we know if we are getting the whole picture?

What is behind the curtain? We can’t tell what is really happening by looking at one photo or viewing a video clip. We are all susceptible and vulnerable to being swayed by dishonest, misleading, or incomplete snippets.

I always want to ask myself questions about the motives of others, but I never want to become jaded, distrustful, angry, frustrated, fearful, or violent.

Pumped up by all the hype, people can start to believe their neighbour is their enemy simply because they disagree on who has the best team or what politician they voted for.

It’s all pretty confusing and sometimes overwhelming, when we are trying to cope with all the differing points of view, without the confidence that all the facts are on the table.

So, what do we do? All I know is what works for me. I do my best not to get sucked in and be influenced by all the noise and fanfare and the hype. I tell myself to stay true to the values I believe in, and more importantly, to the universal values of honesty, trust, authenticity, fairness, reasonableness, acceptance and compassion.

I do my utmost best, not always successfully, not to allow myself to get steered away from positive emotions.

I choose to be generous, joyful, thankful, curious, peaceful and loving.

This is just how I try to “Keep it Real”. I’d love to hear about yours.

IVANS CLARKE – A CHOISEUL CRICKET ICON PASSES

From a Rivere Doree player, to one of the best cricketers in Choiseul, Ivans Clarke has always been the man to whom Choiseuil has looked upon for a good start.

Ivans Clarke

Ivans Clarke aka Lakot was a cricket perfectionist; I can't actually remember when we first met but I am of the strong opinion it must have been during a cricket match where I must have been very  impressed with his batting

Our friendship grew, as we often discussed cricket over a few drinks at the 99 Pepperpot (where Matthias is today) where the boys talked cricket the local authorities hosted at the time -  the Inter Club Cricket tournament  or an upcoming match. 

During the 70s and 80s, Ivans Clarke  was one of the best orthodox opening batsmen I have seen in Choiseul. You can take this to the bank. His repertoire of stroke-play though limited but those he played distinguished him above the rest – remember his mastery of the late cut? That is how he got the name” Laykot” which was the way his fans thought of defining him because of this shot to backward point off the new ball.- That stroke was a site to behold as the ball sped away.

Along with being a good batsman, he is a gentleman too. If cricket is a gentleman’s game, then Ivans Clarke is the perfect gentleman that the game has ever produced. You tell him that he had played well and he will immediately tell you that somebody has played well too. He was that humble and selfless. 

     A TRIBUTE TO IVANS

Ivans, Clifton, Gamble and Dedan set the stage for a renewed and powerful Choiseul Team during the 70’s and 80’s. They took cricket to another level:

1. Batting/bowling were revisited by the introduction of a concrete wicket
2. Conditions of play were greatly improved – the wicket
3. A sense of purpose was inculcated into the players
4. The upcoming youngsters saw role models to pattern their game from

Ivans played a pivotal role in keeping the boys together and encouraging the killer instinct in the Choiseul team.  His close friendship with Rudy John was a motivating factor in that he and Rudy always argued about each other’s team being the best. So Ivans was a mentor to the team.

Choiseul Champions in the 70s and 80s - Ivans 4th R backrow

Gaspard Blaize, a Retired Hospitality Director describes Ivans as "One of the best inspirational and loyal friend I have ever encountered. Ivans was instrumental in my overall development and did so with a passion and genuine determination.  Good friends are hard find and surely Ivans has left this void that is irreplaceable.“

 In the  early 70s Ivans initially played for the Rivere Doree Team during the well-organized Choiseul local cricket competition. Earlier, he was blessed to have found his lovely wife  - Ula.  He was now living in La Fargue. Whatever transpired between him and Dedan, Ivans left the Rivere Doree team and joined the La Fargue team and in his first encounter against his past team Ivans wept like a baby after the La Fargue team defeated his home team.

SAMSON

SYLVESTER

                                                           Champions who have passed

        Mc Arthur remembers him for the late cut and an avid country and western dancer.   

                                              Rest in peace Ivans, Until!!

 

OKEDA - A CHOISEUL GEM GONE TOO SOON!

Okeda Stephen

Though news of Okeda's illness was not know by many, Bradly Felix's call for prayer a few days ago over his Facebook page surely took everyone by surprise. The prayer response was outpouring.

Okeda went to meet her maker today. Bradly posted, "They say it takes a village to raise a child, when a village has done its duty and it loses that child the entire village mourns. Today Choiseul mourns the lost of a real daughter, a down to earth, loved by many, young lady."

I first met her at Nicholas' Gas Station many years ago. She  immediately made a huge impression on me. Every time she came over to the gas station he would treat the Campion Crew boys to a great time and took part in our chat. Okeda was  a down-to-earth person who treated everyone each to his/her own. 

Delicia Mitchel posted: "Okeda Stephen, it is so sad to say good bye to a diamond gem, a good soul. We all are heartbroken, gone to soon, fly with the angels and your maker. You will never be forgotten, your memory live[s] on."

Choiseul on the Move  conveys deepest heartfelt condolences to Okeda's family and  friends. Choiseul mourns her loss.

                                                            Rest In Perfect Peace ”

Stop Dillydallying get AGM21 off the Ground - Here's what to do

There’s already complains over social media about the delay of the financial year’s AGM _ Is it Covid-19? Last year the AGM was held in August. Normally AGMs of this institution are are held most times during the second quarter of the year, most times in May or as early as April. Actually I cannot come up with any logical reason why the AGM was not held in April this year – all other major Credit Unions were able to have theirs. Why was Choiseul not able? Inquiring minds want to know!!

If their excuse is covid-19, well, as a tech minded guy I have come up with a strategy for the Choiseul Credit Union to have  an online AGM as early as October 2021.

They should plan their meeting carefully. Don’t hit ‘send’ until they have all the fundamentals in place. Here’s what they should do.

They need to allow enough time for people to not only get notice that an AGM is going to be held, but to consider any decisions that need to be made and get their votes in (by mail if necessary). Factor in time for at least one reminder notice.

Keep decisions to an absolute minimum. Avoid special business. If you must have special business, call for proxies on that, noting that any special business will have to be passed by a two-thirds super-majority. Include enough background information in their meeting papers to ensure people who can’t tune in to the meeting have enough information to make a decision.

Gilroy Satney - President

Do this electronically for those who’ve agreed to it, and through the post for everyone else:

• Your annual report
• A message from the chair about when and how you will hold an AGM, and why this mode of meeting has been chosen. Offer up a phone number (preferably the Chair’s) for people to call if they have concerns/queries. Be clear about timelines.
• Voting papers, and clear instructions on to where and by when they need to be returned.

 If they do decide to proceed with an online meeting, there are a number of useful software tools that may be used depending on circumstances, preferences, budgets, and their organisation’s existing systems.

Free tools such as Zoom and Skype may be used for video conferencing between up to 100 individuals and 50 individuals, respectively. (Please note that the free version of Zoom is limited to 40-minute meetings; this limit can be overcome by purchasing a subscription, but you may prefer just to hurry through the business).

Tools such as Slack and Microsoft Teams may be used for instant text communication, as well as video and voice calling. Text communication may be preferable under circumstances where a robust internet connection is not present, or where video or voice communication among a large number of participants is problematic. Text communication may also be preferable for record-keeping purposes.

If their membership is not online or really isn’t technology literate, they may offer the alternative of proxy voting by mail. Make sure you allow a decent amount of time for people to receive their papers and respond to them.

 As mentioned above, “Choiseul on the Move” thinks there’s zero chance that regulators are going to come down heavily on those who put the health of their members first by delaying an AGM or shifting it online, so long as you’re acting in good faith.

That said, “Choiseul on the Move” recommends that the Choiseul Credit Co-operative Union covers its backside by keeping meticulous notes about what they decided to do, and how they came to that decision (keep a record of the executive’s deliberations, your notices to members, and any attempts to contact your regulator, for example).

If they do hold an electronic AGM, keep meticulous records of that as well. Circulate the minutes to all members as soon as possible after the meeting, to give them the chance to amend the record and be prepared to ratify any decisions at a properly constituted AGM sometime in the future.

The takeaway, though, is that safety trumps regulation. The rules were made for different times. Right now, do what’s safe and what’s right; worry (or, even better, don’t worry) about the rules later.