SWIMMERS SHINE – 35 meet records broken overall; three national records set

Grenfin Swim Team took first place
at their annual Invitational Meet.

LAST weekend, the Grenfin Swim Club in collabora- tion with Ribena and the Grenada Amateur Swimming Association staged their annual Invitational Swim Meet in the newly renovated Good Hope Swimming Pool.

Although there were moments of inclement weather conditions on the final day of competition, this did not dampen the spirit of the swimmers, quell the enthusiasm of the parents or even hamper the excellent execution of the event.

The annual swim meet is used as the National Trials for swimmers vying for a coveted place on Grenada’s swim team for the OECS Championships, which will be held in November, in Antigua.

Thirty-five meet records were broken overall, while three national records were set by Oreoluwa Cherebin during the weekend.

It was the consensus of officials and patrons alike, that based on the performance of the swimmers from Grenada, the nation’s future in com petitive swimming looks very promising indeed.

A total of seven swim clubs participated in the three-day event, which began last Friday afternoon. An impressive opening ceremony was held on Saturday morning. Present in the ceremony was the Chinese delegation, who made the renovation of the pool a reality. On the final day, Sunday, the events included several very exciting relays which were followed by the prize-giving ceremony.

Capturing the esteemed Championship Trophy was the host team – Grenfin Swim Club with 1929.5 points. Lightning Aquatics Swim Club, a powerhouse team from St. Lucia, placed second with 690 points. While another local club, Grenada Youth Adventurers (GYA), snatched the third position with 527.5 points. Swimmers from St. Vincent and Barbados also took part in the meet, which was a test of endurance and speed.

This year, for the first time, the event was title sponsored by Ribena, whose local distributor is Geo. F. Huggins & Co. (G’da) Ltd., whose representative George “Porgie” Cherebin urged the organisers to do all in their power to impress Ribena into a long-term relationship, by making the event mutually beneficial to both the swimming fraternity and Ribena.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Lightning Aquatics Swim Club – second place winners
with Charles Hood, Director of Huggins.

Age Group Winners

6 and Under: Naima Hazzell – St. Lucia and De’ Andre Blanchard – St. Lucia

7-8: Kimberly Ince – Grenada and Jenibi Benot – Grenada

9-10: Katie Lillie – Grenada and D’Andre Stephen – Grenada

11-12: Simone La Qua – Grenada and Kerry Ollivierre – Grenada

13-14: Ore’oluwa Cherebin – Grenada and Corey Ollivierre – Grenada

15 and Over: Valorie Andrews – Grenada and Kahlil John – Grenada

Overall champions

Girls: Naima Hazzell, St. Lucia

Boys: De Andre Blanchard, St. Lucia

Grenada Youth Adventurers (GYA) – third place winners.

Tourism officials attend annual cruise conference

AS Grenada prepares to welcome its first cruise ship on October 25 and at the same time face the reality that less ships are scheduled to berth at Port St. George’s, its tourism representatives are expected to make a strong bid for increased cruise bookings at the 19th Annual Cruise Conference and Trade Show.

Held in Curacao from October 1 to 5, 2012, the annual Cruise Conference provides an opportunity for tourism officials to promote their destination and to hold one-on-one meetings with cruise partners.

Tourism Minister, Dr. George Vincent, says negotiations for new cruise lines and investment opportunities for the tourism sector is his main focus at the conference.

“We have had severe competition from other destinations with the geographical advantage …however, I have no doubt that we can hold our own as a destination of choice and we will continue to  make a case for ourselves,” the Tourism Minister said ahead of the Curacao conference, according to a statement from his Ministry.

Agents for cruise liners have confirmed that there is a 20 per cent reduction in ships scheduled to visit Grenada for the 2012/2013 cruise year, which ends in April 2013. Among the ships reducing calls are Princess and Royal Caribbean.

Grenada is also expected to have representatives at the annual Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s State of the Industry Conference, scheduled for St. Kitts from October 10 to 12, 2012.

Tourism practitioners and policymakers will gather at the annual CTO State of the Tourism Industry Conference to review the state of the regional industry and at the same time identify ways and means of addressing concerns and challenges within the sector.

A statement from CTO said that the burning and vexing issue of affordable and reliable intra-regional travel will be the focus of attention when the new LIAT CEO, Captain Ian Brunton, makes his maiden appearance at the region’s premier tourism gathering. 

Brunton, who took over at the helm of the regional carrier at the beginning of August, will join a panel of creative thinkers and doers seeking to identify solutions to a problem which has plagued Carib bean travellers for a number of years. 

The session, “The Challenge of Regional Transportation – Where is the Solution?”, is one of several explosive and provocation plenaries organised for the Con ference. (LS)

Goat Dairy’s school project exceeds goal

ON Friday, September 28, the Grenada Goat Dairy Project’s Kickstarter campaign to fund its collabor-ation with the St. Patrick Anglican School, exceeded its goal of US$55 000, earning US$63 160 total. 

The Grenadian non-profit organisation, also known simply as The Goat Dairy, used the innovative crowd funding website, www.Kickstarter.com, to gain support locally and internationally from a total of 368 backers. Pledges from individuals, families, foundations and organisations in the diaspora ranged from US$1 to $10 000. The 45-day-long campaign became a community effort, drawing hundreds of people together to invest their time, money and voice for sustainable change. 

When the Goat Dairy first brought its proposal to Ms. Alexander, the principal of the St. Patrick Anglican School, she immediately recognised a philosophy of holistic education, which she also shared. As a nucleus for learning, the St. Patrick’s facility will offer endless educational benefits and dividends in practical science, math, language, home economics, responsible business practices, community ethics and the arts. Through both hands-on and classroom activities, students will learn the responsibilities associated with animal care, growing their own food, composting and record-keeping. To expand its impact, this community-wide programme will network with additional schools to create opportunities for other children and young adults in the surrounding region.

The Goat Dairy’s main education and demon-stration facility at the Belmont Estate has been supporting low-income farmers and families since 2008.

Programme helps Victoria School

REPUBLIC Bank has delivered on its promise to improve the learning environment for students at the Victoria School for Special Education.

A newly-constructed Restroom Facility, specially designed to accommodate wheel-chair students, was commissioned on Tuesday, October 2, 2012. This gesture cost the Bank $30 000, under its popular “Power to Make a Difference” Programme.

On commissioning the new facility, Manager Retail Services, St. George’s Cluster, Mrs. Garnet Ross, reiterated the Bank’s commitment to empowering those with physical challenges.

“Republic Bank recognises and understands the daily challenges faced by persons living with physical impairment, thus our unwavering commitment to helping persons who are faced with such challenges. The expansion of this restroom facility, which is tailored for persons with special needs, would certainly bring some measure of comfort to both students and teachers.”

Located in Bonair, St. Mark, the school caters to 38 children with special needs in the parishes of St. Patrick, St. Mark and St. John. Previously, the facilities were inadequate and ill-equipped to serve the special needs of the differently abled. This new facility boasts three students’ bathrooms, one of which is specially designed for the physically challenged, a teacher’s bathroom and a shower stall. (LS)

Government denies reports

By Linda Straker

THE Tillman Thomas administration is denying reports that there is direct political interference affecting a section of Grenada’s media and instead is insisting that media practitioners are blaming the state whenever independent media houses make decisions adversely affecting media workers.

“The administration notes with much concern, the increasing trend of appropriating blame to the State whenever independent agencies make decisions that may adversely affect par- ticular practitioners. Government is also alarmed that this trend is a deliberate attempt to tarnish the country’s image regarding its adherence to freedom of the media in all its forms,” said a release from Government in response to a statement from the Media Workers Association of Grenada (MWAG).

“We have maintained an unwavering obligation to media freedom and an atmosphere in which people can freely express their views, whether it favours Government or not,” the statement quotes Junior Information Minister, Senator Glen Noel, as saying.

Categorically denying any involvement in the removal of any media practitioner from their employment, the statement said that Govern-ment rejects, completely, intimations that it has harassed and or intimidated the membership of the MWAG.

“It must be noted that Minister for Information and Prime Minister, Hon. Tillman Thomas, has consistently assured the media, his countrymen and the international community of his Government’s adherence to a free and unencumbered media that recognises the basic tenets of professionalism, responsible and ethical behaviour,” said the statement, which called on “bona fide media workers” to insist that their profession not be used or “manipulated to settle vendettas and political scores”.

The association claims that media owners and workers are reporting of increased pressures by high profile officials acting on behalf of the administration of Prime Minister Tillman Thomas.

GAC seeking to fill void that will be left by BA

FACING the reality that Grenada as of January 2013 will have reduced flights from London, Minister for Tourism, Senator Dr. George Vincent, has confirmed that the Grenada Airlift Com mittee is in discussions with Caribbean Air lines (CAL) to service the Grenada/ London route. 

The disclosure follows the announcement from British Airways (BA) last week that its twice weekly summer flights to Gre nada will be reduced to Sundays only, beginning 2013.

“The Grenada Airlift Committee must be commended for its continued efforts, and we are confident that negotiations with Caribbean Airlines will bring about desired results and we will be able to soon fill the void created by British Airways decision,” Minis ter Vincent said.

British Airways cited a reassessment of the Caribbean routes as the main factor behind the reduction. According to BA, the capacity overhaul was undertaken as a direct result of the UK recession and the launch of the Las Vegas 2013 flights.

British Airways officials insist that the UK recession means a reassessment of capacity within the Caribbean and balancing that capacity to favour the islands with business traffic, and the launch of the Las Vegas 2013 flights means that BA now has to find the necessary equipment to service those routes.

The Tourism Minister pointed out that while it is of no comfort to Grenada, four other Caribbean islands are being affected by British Airways’ reduction or loss of service. Senator Vincent also gave the assurance that Grenada and British Airways has an agreed payment schedule. 

Flamboyant staff complete CARIBCERT training

The Flamboyant Hotel & Villas employees
at the CARIBCERT Award Ceremony.

EIGHT members of staff of the Flamboyant Hotel & Villas, electing to work toward certification under the GHTA-managed CARIBCERT Programme, were recently presented with their certificates.

This certification is recognised through- out the Region, North America and cruise lines. The programme is funded through the CARTFund by the UK funding agency, DFID, and administered by the Caribbean Development Bank.

The eight employees were Clovis Thomas, Ezekiel Thomas, Stevon Thomas, Anderson Thomas, John Buckmire, Leandra Lewis, Ketra Thomas, and Kendyson Thomas.

At the same awards ceremony, three of the hotel’s employees were honoured for their outstanding performance during the month of August. Every month, department heads nominate an employee who would have performed exceptionally well during the month. These employees are then judged using set criteria and three persons are selected. 

Employee of the Month

First Position: Jamol Livingston – Accounting Department. 

Second Position: Roger Hilliare – Maintenance Department.

Third Position: Neron Moses – Restaurant Department.