420 businesses closed
St. Vincent and the Grenadines was not spared a trail of business closures.
While there has been ongoing reference to and speculation about the number of businesses here that have closed because of the economic/commercial downturn occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, that figure has now been given some meaning.
Responding to a question tabled by Fitzgerald Bramble, Member of Parliament for East Kingstown, Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves told a sitting of Parliament on Tuesday 29th January, that that figure was 420, representing a wide variety of sectors of the economy.
The closure of 420 businesses had accounted for 2,754 being displaced to the breadline, the Minister added.
Sion Hill resident celebrates her 100th birthday
EVELIN WALDRON BEING presented with gifts from Clyde Fitzpatrick – president of Friends of Sion Hill SVG Social Share
SION HILL RESIDENT Evelin Waldron last Sunday, January 31, reached the ripe age of 100.
The centenarian, who is still alert and with all her faculties in near perfect standing, acknowledged the occasion when well-wishers showed up at her Roseau residence last Sunday.
A brief exhortation, prayers and thanksgiving engaged Waldron, who lapped up the celebration by joining in and giving thanks to Almighty God for long life.
She interjected as well by humming,“I must have my saviour with me, because I dare not walk alone.”
Fitzgerald Bramble Social Share
The Unity Labour Party-led administration has come in for criticism from a parliamentarian on the Opposition side of the House for not implementing in its 2021 Budget what he considers to be “more meaningful solutions” that will benefit the local business sector.
Fitzgerald Bramble, the parliamentary representative for East Kingstown made his contribution to the 2021 Budget debate on Wednesday afternoon and like several of his colleagues, he expressed dissatisfaction with the presentation made by finance minister Camillo Gonsalves earlier this week.
“This budget reflects a poor effort of what I call a paradigm shift…from political polarisation to real efforts at national development. It’s disappointing, very disappointing. I cannot support it,” he said.
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On Tuesday of this week, the nation bade farewell to a veritable cultural icon, Ferrand ‘Randy D’ Dopwell. He was the second of what is called the “Golden Generation of broadcasting” to depart this life in the space of a few months, following Bernard ‘EB” John last year.
Randy and EB, both very popular figures in their own way, had much more in common than broadcasting and NBC Radio in particular. Both were very much involved in the cultural and entertainment life of the country as was evidenced by the key roles they both played in promoting calypso and calypso tents at Carnival time, being themselves outstanding MCs.