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GRENLEC Rewarding Customers With Year-long Promotion

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Vol. 23 No. 01 - January 2013<br />

<strong>GRENLEC</strong> <strong>Rewarding</strong><br />

<strong>Customers</strong> <strong>With</strong><br />

<strong>Year</strong>-<strong>long</strong> <strong>Promotion</strong><br />

BILL<br />

FOR<br />

FREE<br />

Tel: (473) 435-0981/5685<br />

Email: barnacle@spiceisle.com<br />

www. barnaclegrenada.com<br />

THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT: PrUDence<br />

GreenidGe (riGHT), GrenLeC’s<br />

cOrPOraTe cOmmUnIcaTIOnS<br />

manager, eXPLaInS TO a cUSTOmer<br />

HOW THe PrOmOTIOn WOrKS


02 BARNACLE JANUARY 2013


www.barnaclegrenada.com<br />

News<br />

<strong>GRENLEC</strong> rewarding customers<br />

with year-<strong>long</strong> promotion<br />

The Grenada Electricity<br />

Services (<strong>GRENLEC</strong>), in<br />

keeping with the spirit<br />

of the holiday season<br />

in extending Christmas<br />

greeting to customers.<br />

In addition, as a New <strong>Year</strong><br />

reward, the electricity<br />

provider has launched a<br />

promotion program called<br />

Bill for Free (BFF).<br />

It was launched on December<br />

19 by Prudence<br />

Greenidge, <strong>GRENLEC</strong>’s<br />

Corporate Communications<br />

Manager; and Customer<br />

Service Manager,<br />

Casandra Slocombe.<br />

“We want to reward<br />

customers for making the<br />

effort to keep their accounts<br />

current and paying<br />

their bills by the due date,’’<br />

Slocombe told reporters at<br />

the BFF launch at GREN-<br />

LEC’s Corporate Headquarters.<br />

“It has been a tough year<br />

and high fuel costs have<br />

negatively impacted the<br />

price of electricity and we<br />

heard our customers’ complaints<br />

about how difficult<br />

it was to manage. This is<br />

one way for us to demonstrate<br />

that we value all our<br />

customers and appreciate<br />

the opportunity we have<br />

to serve them,’’ Slocombe<br />

added.<br />

Greenidge said the BFF<br />

initiative is designed to assist<br />

domestic or residential<br />

customers of <strong>GRENLEC</strong>.<br />

“We are excited to be<br />

kicking off this year-<strong>long</strong><br />

promotion,’’ Greenidge<br />

said. “We are inviting our<br />

customers to enter to win a<br />

chance.’’<br />

Under the program, said<br />

Greenidge, “<strong>GRENLEC</strong><br />

will pay one customer’s<br />

electricity bill for an entire<br />

year and one monthly bill<br />

for 14 other lucky winners’’.<br />

She added: “As we end<br />

2012 and prepare for 2013,<br />

we wish our customers the<br />

very best and continue to<br />

encourage customers to<br />

manage their energy consumption<br />

by understanding<br />

their bills, monitoring<br />

their usage, conserving<br />

and building good habits.’’<br />

The Bill for Free promotion<br />

will run from December<br />

2012 to November 2013,<br />

with one draw every<br />

month.<br />

<strong>GRENLEC</strong> is inviting customers<br />

to drop vouchers in<br />

for payments made in December<br />

and in the months<br />

GrenLec’S cUSTOmer<br />

service manager,<br />

casandra slocombe<br />

in 2013, up to November.<br />

To Qualify for BFF:<br />

1.<strong>Customers</strong> must update<br />

their <strong>GRENLEC</strong> contact<br />

information<br />

2. Pay their electricity bill<br />

by the due date<br />

3. Make their account current<br />

4. Drop the top panel of<br />

their bills (name, address,<br />

meter number) into the<br />

treasure chest at any<br />

<strong>GRENLEC</strong> Customer Care<br />

Centre by the end of each<br />

month.<br />

RULES and CONDITIONS<br />

of BFF:<br />

• The promotion is open to<br />

all domestic (residential)<br />

customers. <strong>GRENLEC</strong><br />

staff and immediate family<br />

are not eligible.<br />

• Prizes are non-transferable;<br />

award will apply to<br />

account for which winning<br />

voucher is drawn. Monthly<br />

payments limited<br />

to amount of bill up to<br />

$400. No additional credit<br />

or cash will be issued for<br />

bill values of less than<br />

$400. Awards will be limited<br />

to current bill values.<br />

• <strong>GRENLEC</strong> reserves<br />

the right to publish and<br />

distribute the names and<br />

images of the winners, in<br />

connection with publicity<br />

for the competition, their<br />

entry, the prize or otherwise.<br />

THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT: PrUDence GreenIDGe, GrenLec’S cOrPOraTe<br />

communications manager, eXPlains to a customer How tHe <strong>Promotion</strong><br />

worKs<br />

BARNACLE JANUARY 2013 03.<br />

• <strong>GRENLEC</strong> will not be liable<br />

for any circumstances<br />

beyond its reasonable<br />

control that prevent the<br />

competition being fulfilled,<br />

a winner or winners being<br />

chosen, or any prize being<br />

taken up or fully enjoyed<br />

by a winner. <strong>GRENLEC</strong><br />

excludes liability to the<br />

extent permitted by law for<br />

any cost, claims or losses<br />

howsoever caused that<br />

arise by reason of any person’s<br />

entry into a competition<br />

or the award, or non<br />

award, to them of a prize.<br />

• If any winner is unable<br />

to take up a prize for any<br />

reason, or <strong>GRENLEC</strong> has<br />

not been able, after making<br />

reasonable efforts, to<br />

make contact with the winner,<br />

<strong>GRENLEC</strong> reserves<br />

the right to award that<br />

prize (without notice to<br />

the first winner chosen) to<br />

an alternative winner, in<br />

which case the first winner<br />

chosen shall not be eligible<br />

for any share of the prize<br />

whatsoever. <strong>GRENLEC</strong><br />

shall not have any liability<br />

in such eventuality.


04 BARNACLE JANUARY 2013<br />

The Business and Sustainability Forum<br />

John (Johnny) n Telesford<br />

research sTudenT-InsTITuTe<br />

for ManageMenT, socIeTy and<br />

governance (IMages), roberT<br />

gordon unIversITy, scoTland<br />

A very hot topic electrifying<br />

the airwaves<br />

in recent times is<br />

the announcement<br />

by the majority<br />

shareholder in the<br />

<strong>GRENLEC</strong> to sell<br />

their shares in the<br />

company. The Government<br />

of Grenada<br />

(the government)<br />

has the first option<br />

to buy.<br />

Many influential<br />

groups and individuals<br />

ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF SUSTAINABILITY ECONOMY~ ENVIRONMENT~ SOCIETY<br />

Will the purchase of<br />

<strong>GRENLEC</strong> by Government<br />

bring electricity prices down?<br />

feel that if the government<br />

buys the shares<br />

then the price for<br />

electricity will automatically<br />

be reduced.<br />

But is that really so? If<br />

the government buys<br />

and continues with the<br />

same monopoly, prices<br />

will not be reduced<br />

and if it is, it will not<br />

be sustainable. In this<br />

brief piece I suggest<br />

why electricity prices<br />

will not be reduced and<br />

share some thoughts<br />

on what I think should<br />

happen if prices are to<br />

be reduced.<br />

The price of electricity<br />

is hinged on the<br />

price paid for fuel<br />

on the international<br />

market, which changes<br />

drastically, based on<br />

factors such as wars,<br />

severe cold weather,<br />

oil reserves, etc. These<br />

factors are generally<br />

out of our control in<br />

Grenada. So when the<br />

price of fuel goes up,<br />

the price Grenadians<br />

pay for electricity goes<br />

up and vice versa. The<br />

trend in the prices for<br />

fuel on the international<br />

market shows<br />

that since 1996 the<br />

international prices for<br />

fuels have been rising.<br />

So whether the government<br />

or a private<br />

entity owns the GREN-<br />

LEC, the way the pricing<br />

system or the tariff<br />

currently works has a<br />

very big impact on the<br />

prices that are paid for<br />

electricity. And this<br />

price is only going to go<br />

up in the future.<br />

Secondly, a government<br />

owned GREN-<br />

LEC will not guarantee<br />

a sustained reduction<br />

in the price for<br />

electricity. In fact if<br />

government owns the<br />

<strong>GRENLEC</strong> and continues<br />

with the same legal<br />

and regulatory system<br />

in place, price reduction<br />

will not happen.<br />

And if it does, it will<br />

only be from government<br />

meddling which,<br />

can be detrimental to<br />

the operations of the<br />

company in the <strong>long</strong><br />

term. <strong>With</strong> a government<br />

owned GREN-<br />

ELC the temptation to<br />

reduce prices to ensure<br />

that the citizens and<br />

businesses are not unduly<br />

hurt can be great.<br />

Presently the government<br />

is buying fuel at<br />

concessionary rates<br />

through the Petrocaribe<br />

arrangement, which<br />

gives the government<br />

some flexibility to adjust<br />

prices, despite the<br />

current tariff. But this<br />

will not be a sustainable<br />

approach to the<br />

business of generating<br />

and supplying electricity.<br />

The management of<br />

an electricity plant as<br />

<strong>GRENLEC</strong> requires<br />

high operational and<br />

maintenance costs.<br />

Large investments in<br />

plant equipment and<br />

materials and frequent<br />

maintenance are<br />

required to maintain<br />

high reliability and<br />

quality of electricity<br />

supply. Therefore playing<br />

with the pricing<br />

can hamper the returns<br />

on investments<br />

required to sustain the<br />

quality of operations<br />

and maintenance of the<br />

company. The inability<br />

to effectively and<br />

efficiently manage the<br />

<strong>GRENLEC</strong> can plunge<br />

Grenada back into<br />

the dark ages of poor<br />

quality electricity and<br />

blackouts.<br />

But if the government<br />

decides to buy the<br />

shares (or even if they<br />

do not) the first order<br />

of the day is to revise<br />

the current Electricity<br />

Supply Act of 1994<br />

(ESA). In this regard,<br />

the government has<br />

to use the opportunity<br />

to remove the current<br />

monopoly. The electricity<br />

market cannot<br />

continue to function<br />

under a monopoly-<br />

public nor private. Any<br />

government ownership<br />

therefore has to be<br />

sufficient (temporary)<br />

to allow for a regulatory<br />

system to be put<br />

in place. This should<br />

subsume the ESA and<br />

create a more realistic<br />

and level playing field<br />

for the functioning of<br />

the market.<br />

Some key functions of<br />

the regulatory sys-<br />

tem will be to develop<br />

a more competitive<br />

pricing system and to<br />

adjust prices for electricity<br />

from all sources<br />

of energy. Also, in a<br />

regulated electricity<br />

market investments in<br />

renewable energy technologies<br />

will become<br />

more attractive. While<br />

concerns such as the<br />

removal of subsidies for<br />

fossil fuels, if they exist;<br />

the development of<br />

policies and regulations<br />

to encourage renewable<br />

energy technologies<br />

and energy efficiency of<br />

equipment and buildings<br />

will be addressed.<br />

In conclusion, the only<br />

benefit I can see that<br />

should come out of a<br />

government purchase<br />

of the <strong>GRENLEC</strong> is<br />

the opportunity for the<br />

government to redesign<br />

the market through<br />

appropriate legislation.<br />

This will provide<br />

for effective and efficient<br />

operations of the<br />

market to include all<br />

sources of energy. Also<br />

the prices for electricity<br />

will become competitive<br />

and affordable<br />

in such a regulated<br />

market. Falsely believing<br />

that electricity<br />

prices will automatically<br />

be reduced if the<br />

government owns the<br />

GRENEC and continues<br />

in a monopolistic<br />

market will only<br />

pro<strong>long</strong> the suffering of<br />

the electricity consumers<br />

and further hinder<br />

the sustainable development<br />

of Grenada.<br />

Comments, frets and questions to:<br />

John n telesford<br />

P. O. BOx 906, Grenville, St. Andrew’S<br />

John.telesford@yahoo.Com<br />

tel: 1 (473) 442 4563/405 5981


www.barnaclegrenada.com<br />

BARNACLE JANUARY 2013 05.


06 BARNACLE JANUARY 2013<br />

News<br />

GCNA spending $1,000,000 to assist nutmeg farmers<br />

arlon Clyne, As Genral<br />

Manager of the<br />

renada Cooperative<br />

utmeg Association<br />

GCNA): Clyne’s responibility<br />

is to make recmmendations<br />

to, and<br />

mplement policies of<br />

he Board of Directors<br />

f the Association.<br />

lyne became manager<br />

f the Association in<br />

uly 2010, discusses the<br />

tate of the nutmeg inustry<br />

with Barnacle’s<br />

an George.<br />

CNA says it has a<br />

lan to assist farmers<br />

ith their fields. Tell us<br />

bout that plan.<br />

armers have been asking<br />

for help to replant and<br />

maintain their fields since<br />

the destruction caused by<br />

hurricanes Ivan and Emily<br />

in 2004/5. Unfortunately,<br />

the Association was not<br />

in a position to respond<br />

positively to the calls of<br />

our farmers. In fact, in<br />

about March 2011 our<br />

situation deteriorated to<br />

the point where we could<br />

not purchase nutmegs for<br />

cash on a daily basis; our<br />

basic operational function.<br />

Interestingly, it was also<br />

the beginning of the most<br />

successful period of trading<br />

since 2004. It signaled<br />

the start of a period that<br />

propelled us to the realize<br />

$7.1 million dollars net<br />

MARLON CLYNE<br />

surplus financial year<br />

ended June 2012.<br />

It therefore means the Association<br />

is better placed<br />

to reach out to farmers<br />

because we have had a<br />

relatively good financial<br />

year. We are able to direct<br />

some money to assist in replanting<br />

and maintenance.<br />

Part of that assistance<br />

would be $1,000,000 we’ve<br />

identified to help farmers<br />

in different areas including<br />

drainage, weed control,<br />

pruning, fertilizer and<br />

the distribution of young<br />

plants.<br />

What is the payback<br />

GCNA is hoping to get<br />

from this investment of<br />

$200,000 into farmers?<br />

The payback will mainly<br />

be in the form of increased<br />

production down the road.<br />

Once we have increased<br />

production, we have<br />

increased raw material for<br />

sale, it would allow us to<br />

take advantage of higher<br />

prices. It would allow us<br />

to try and regain some of<br />

the markets that we would<br />

have lost. The quicker we<br />

are able to return to the<br />

market, the quicker we’ll<br />

be able to engender confidence<br />

in our current and<br />

former buyers who have<br />

not returned to us because<br />

of limited supply. Some<br />

of our buyers would have<br />

switched to Indian and Indonesian<br />

nutmegs. So, the<br />

more help that we can give<br />

to farmers to return to the<br />

field and to boost their<br />

production, it would augur<br />

well for us in the future in<br />

terms of increased availability<br />

of the product to<br />

sell and in regaining lost<br />

market.<br />

Which comes first –<br />

increased revenue or<br />

increased production?<br />

Increased production<br />

comes first although that<br />

can have its drawbacks if<br />

we don’t have solid financial<br />

backing, indeed this<br />

is what we experienced in<br />

the first half of 2011. we<br />

were always confident that<br />

once the production come<br />

in, the revenue will come<br />

in as well because we had<br />

solid sales contracts but<br />

we did not have production.<br />

By increasing prices<br />

to farmers by almost 100%<br />

production then surpassed<br />

all expectations.<br />

How many farmers<br />

are expected to benefit<br />

from the $1,000,000 assistance<br />

program?<br />

We’re trying to spread<br />

it around as much as<br />

possible; we’re trying to<br />

give everybody something.<br />

Of course, we<br />

would have liked for it to<br />

be more. Based on our<br />

continued profitability, we<br />

would try to increase the<br />

amount more and more.<br />

There are some farmers<br />

whose yields do not allow<br />

them to reinvest in their<br />

fields as they would want<br />

to and they are in a vulnerable<br />

position and need<br />

help. And, it’s not just the<br />

$500,000. Throughout the<br />

year we’ll be having different<br />

activities; we want to<br />

stay active in helping the<br />

farmers.<br />

The GCNA is now in<br />

the news. What has<br />

spurred this resurgence<br />

of media interest in the<br />

GCNA?<br />

It’s the increased rates to<br />

farmers. Nutmeg production<br />

has become attractive<br />

to our population once<br />

again and given the situation<br />

in our economy, given<br />

the reduced activity in<br />

some of our other sectors,<br />

nutmeg is gaining people’s<br />

attention. When you look<br />

at what nutmeg farmers<br />

are realizing, it is the best<br />

rates they have ever been<br />

paid in the history of the<br />

industry. So, it is creating<br />

a stir; it is creating attention;<br />

and the media will<br />

pick up on things that are<br />

happening, and nutmeg<br />

is definitely happening<br />

these days with the kind of<br />

prices that we are having.<br />

Tell me a little bit about<br />

the recent Nutmeg<br />

Festival. What has been<br />

the experience? Going<br />

forward, what are some<br />

of the things we can<br />

expect?<br />

It was the first and we<br />

learnt a lot from staging<br />

the festival. We had good<br />

responses and one of the<br />

biggest pluses was working<br />

with other sectors and<br />

seeing the possibilities<br />

that we could have with<br />

other sectors, especially<br />

the tourism and hotel<br />

industries. We had chefs<br />

from some of our top hotels<br />

here making recipes with<br />

nutmegs and spices; they<br />

came up with some pretty<br />

creative recipes. There are<br />

some lessons we would<br />

have learnt. The hope<br />

going forward is that we<br />

could put together a team<br />

of people from the GCNA,<br />

Ministry of Agriculture,<br />

and the tourism sector to<br />

plan bigger and better for<br />

next year.<br />

There will always be ups<br />

and downs in the price of<br />

agricultural raw materials.<br />

But, we can cushion<br />

the impact of the fluctuation<br />

in commodity prices<br />

if we create alternative<br />

uses for nutmeg, especially<br />

if we can do it locally. It<br />

means that we’ll be able<br />

to manufacture various<br />

products and be able to<br />

sell value-added items<br />

locally and to the rest of<br />

the world. However, we<br />

have been talking that<br />

for a very <strong>long</strong> time. We<br />

need to create a better<br />

environment that will<br />

foster that kind of change.<br />

At the GCNA’s level, we’ll<br />

try as much as possible to<br />

sustain the prices that we<br />

have paid to our farmers<br />

over the past year.


www.barnaclegrenada.com<br />

The Business and Sustainability Forum<br />

John (Johnny) n Telesford<br />

research sTudenT-InsTITuTe<br />

for ManageMenT, socIeTy and<br />

governance (IMages), roberT<br />

gordon unIversITy, scoTland<br />

As the tourism<br />

season heats up the<br />

importance of the<br />

environment and its<br />

links to tourism is<br />

brought into focus.<br />

In essence this link<br />

is embedded in the<br />

fact that the environmental<br />

attributes of<br />

our island, mainly<br />

sand, sea and sun<br />

(3S’s) and scenery<br />

(landscape) are a few<br />

of the main reasons<br />

why tourists visit the<br />

island.<br />

As citizens of Grenada<br />

therefore we are<br />

constantly urged and<br />

encouraged to ‘keep the<br />

environment clean’ for<br />

ourselves and for the<br />

tourists. This is always<br />

one of the key messages<br />

broadcasted during the<br />

tourism season. But<br />

what does ‘keep the environment<br />

clean’ really<br />

mean?<br />

Considering the environment<br />

to be our<br />

general surroundings,<br />

including air, plants,<br />

animals, marine, land<br />

and seascapes and<br />

people, this message<br />

becomes a very weak<br />

one. Or in many cases<br />

keeping the environment<br />

clean can be<br />

detrimental to the<br />

environment itself.<br />

Firstly, every single<br />

person or organization<br />

that speaks about<br />

the importance of the<br />

environment to tourism,<br />

reiterates the need<br />

to ‘not litter’. This is<br />

good, but just encouraging<br />

persons not to litter<br />

will not go anywhere<br />

far in ensuring a clean<br />

environment. Litter<br />

is generally waste<br />

ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF SUSTAINABILITY ECONOMY~ ENVIRONMENT~ SOCIETY<br />

The Environment and<br />

Tourism- A weak Link<br />

generated from human<br />

activities. We buy<br />

sweets and the wrapping<br />

becomes litter to<br />

be discarded. We cook<br />

food and the uncooked<br />

parts become litter.<br />

And so on. So litter is<br />

constantly created and<br />

discarded. When it is<br />

discarded in an unwanted<br />

area, such as on<br />

the side of the road it is<br />

no good for the environment<br />

and for tourism<br />

by extension. However,<br />

if it is thrown into a<br />

trash can and carted<br />

to the landfill then it is<br />

good. The ‘do not litter’<br />

message therefore simply<br />

alerts us to dispose<br />

of waste appropriately.<br />

However, this waste<br />

still gets into the environment<br />

and most of it<br />

remains there for such<br />

<strong>long</strong> periods of time.<br />

The waste is still detrimental<br />

to critical and<br />

delicate unseen parts of<br />

the environment, such<br />

as air and sea, which<br />

supports tourism.<br />

In essence therefore<br />

encouraging persons<br />

not to litter is weak,<br />

because waste still gets<br />

into the environment.<br />

What is needed is an<br />

approach of looking<br />

upstream, that is, by<br />

preventing waste creation<br />

in the first place.<br />

A closer look at the activities<br />

embarked upon,<br />

the things we import,<br />

etc, must be reduced<br />

as far as is possible.<br />

Preventing waste creation<br />

is the approach<br />

one needs to consider if<br />

the environment is to<br />

be kept clean for us and<br />

for the tourists.<br />

Another activity that is<br />

embarked upon when<br />

such campaigns are developed<br />

are the famous<br />

beach and river clean<br />

ups and the cutting<br />

of trees and the debushing<br />

of roadsides.<br />

Beach clean-ups can be<br />

a disaster to the environment<br />

if they are not<br />

properly supervised as<br />

many essential animals<br />

and plants can be<br />

removed in the pro-<br />

cess. Tree cutting and<br />

de-bushing makes the<br />

road way look appealing<br />

and nice, but some<br />

of the methods used are<br />

causing more harm to<br />

the environment than<br />

good. Loss of top soil<br />

and biodiversity can be<br />

real <strong>long</strong> term problems<br />

that can occur from<br />

continued, uncontrolled<br />

de-bushing.<br />

So the link between<br />

the environment and<br />

tourism is presently<br />

weak, since it is not<br />

addressing the fundamental<br />

concern,<br />

which is mainly waste<br />

prevention. Secondly,<br />

balding the sides of the<br />

road and felling trees<br />

BARNACLE JANUARY 2013 07.<br />

indiscriminately in an<br />

effort to have a clean<br />

environment can be<br />

more detrimental to the<br />

environment than good.<br />

The weak link therefore<br />

is characterized by the<br />

importation of waste<br />

and then hiding it in<br />

landfills and other areas<br />

away from the tourists.<br />

It is also shaped by<br />

the culture of foolishly<br />

cleaning the landscape<br />

and the felling of trees<br />

to enhance the environment.<br />

If this weak link<br />

is not addressed it will<br />

eventual break leading<br />

to ‘environmental<br />

collapse and the demise<br />

of tourism’; and we will<br />

only have ourselves to<br />

blame.


08 BARNACLE JANUARY 2013


www.barnaclegrenada.com<br />

BARNACLE JANUARY 2013 09.


10 BARNACLE JANUARY 2013<br />

Commentary<br />

<strong>GRENLEC</strong>’S PRIVATIZATION WAS GOOD IN PRINCIPLE<br />

Dr. Lawrence A.<br />

Joseph<br />

For the purposes of<br />

this article privatization<br />

refers to the<br />

process of transferring<br />

ownership of a business<br />

from the public<br />

sector (or state controlled<br />

sector) into the<br />

private sector. The<br />

opposite of privatization<br />

is nationalization<br />

which refers to the<br />

process of transferring<br />

ownership of a business<br />

from the private<br />

sector into public<br />

ownership by a government.<br />

The ownership of<br />

the business which first<br />

provided electricity<br />

services to Grenada in<br />

1928 was in the hands of<br />

the public sector. That<br />

business was owned by<br />

the Public Works Department<br />

of the Government<br />

of Grenada. In 1960 this<br />

enterprise was privatized<br />

after the establishment of<br />

the Grenada Electricity<br />

Services Limited (“Grenlec”).<br />

The Commonwealth<br />

Development Corporation<br />

(CDC) which was based in<br />

London, owned the majority<br />

of its shares and the<br />

government of Grenada<br />

owned the minority. This<br />

privatized status of the<br />

company lasted until it<br />

was nationalized by the<br />

People’s Revolutionary<br />

Government in 1982.<br />

In 1992 the then<br />

Nicholas Brathwaite government<br />

took the decision<br />

to privatize the company.<br />

This approach was in<br />

keeping with the general<br />

trend of Western democratic<br />

countries to shy<br />

away from the principles<br />

of nationalization which<br />

seemed to have bolstered<br />

up the socialist objective<br />

that the state should control<br />

all means of production.<br />

The Brathwaite administration<br />

did not abide<br />

by this socialist principle.<br />

Moreover, at the time,<br />

Grenlec apparently could<br />

not keep up with the ever<br />

increasing demand for<br />

the supply of electricity<br />

and there were numerous<br />

outages for lengthy<br />

periods. As a consequence<br />

of this phenomenon,<br />

there was a dire need for<br />

the injection of adequate<br />

capital into the enterprise<br />

for the purchase of new<br />

and advanced machinery<br />

and other equipment. The<br />

nationalized status of<br />

Grenlec seemed to have<br />

been incapable of provid-<br />

ing this lifeline.<br />

Nationalization<br />

presents its own problems.<br />

This is why liberal<br />

democratic countries in<br />

recent times have abandoned<br />

this approach and<br />

instead opted for privatization.<br />

Prior to 1979, the<br />

United Kingdom possessed<br />

one of the largest<br />

public enterprise sectors<br />

in the whole of Europe<br />

especially under the then<br />

socialist oriented Labour<br />

Party. This party generally<br />

followed the path of<br />

nationalization of key<br />

industries. Since then<br />

however, successive governments,<br />

especially the<br />

Conservative Party under<br />

Prime Minister Margaret<br />

Thatcher undertook the<br />

path of privatization by<br />

privatizing most, if not<br />

all, of the state controlled<br />

enterprises and allowing<br />

competition. This position<br />

holds, even to this day.<br />

In Jamaica, when<br />

Michael Manley won<br />

the general elections in<br />

1972, he followed the<br />

path of nationalization,<br />

in an attempt to follow<br />

the Cuban model.<br />

Subsequent to that, the<br />

Jamaican economy took a<br />

nose dive and Manley felt<br />

compelled to seek interna-<br />

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tional assistance in order<br />

to straighten out the<br />

economy. During the 1989<br />

elections campaign, Manley<br />

conceded that he had<br />

made mistakes and that<br />

he had learnt from those<br />

mistakes. Since then the<br />

process of privatization<br />

made significant strides<br />

to the present period.<br />

<strong>With</strong> regards to the energy<br />

sector, privatization<br />

is the keynote approach<br />

and there is open competition<br />

for the generation<br />

of electricity in Jamaica.<br />

Nationalization is<br />

characterized by certain<br />

distinctive drawbacks.<br />

<strong>With</strong> nationalization, governments<br />

generally have<br />

a monopoly so that having<br />

a profit motive is not high<br />

on the agenda. The highest<br />

objective usually relates<br />

to providing a social<br />

service which sometimes<br />

does not contemplate the<br />

cost-effectiveness of certain<br />

actions. Enterprises<br />

for example may become<br />

labour intensive in order<br />

to suit political purposes<br />

giving scant regard for<br />

efficiency. Additionally,<br />

governments do not have<br />

or are reluctant to put<br />

in significant capital for<br />

technological advancement<br />

because money is<br />

also required by competing<br />

sectors such as<br />

health, education, and<br />

agriculture. This is why<br />

it is generally accepted<br />

that governments should<br />

shy away from operating<br />

important enterprises.<br />

Based upon the above<br />

discussions, the Nicholas<br />

Brathwaite government<br />

ought not to be blamed<br />

for taking the decision<br />

in principle to privatize<br />

Grenlec. However, a lot<br />

of blame has to be leveled<br />

at that administration for<br />

the haste with which they<br />

went through with the<br />

1994 sale of 50% shares<br />

in the company to the<br />

United States based WRB<br />

Enterprises Inc for the<br />

paltry sum of US$5.6 Million;<br />

the <strong>long</strong> monopoly<br />

status which Grenlec is<br />

to enjoy; the prohibitive<br />

compensation package<br />

that has to be meted<br />

out by any government<br />

wanting to reacquire the<br />

company if even for an interim<br />

period until privatization;<br />

and the lack of<br />

sufficient protection for<br />

electricity consumers.<br />

Notwithstanding, it<br />

would not be fair to allot<br />

blame to WRB for seizing<br />

the opportunity. That<br />

company is controlled by<br />

seasoned business people,<br />

who at the time and even<br />

now have successfully<br />

managed enterprises in<br />

different parts of the Caribbean.<br />

A golden spoon<br />

was offered to them by<br />

the Brathwaite administration;<br />

they grabbed and<br />

ran away with it. However,<br />

the sale attracted<br />

much criticism from the<br />

then Opposition in Parliament<br />

which threatened<br />

to reacquire the company<br />

when once it got back into<br />

government. As a consequence<br />

of this threat,<br />

the government seemed<br />

to have been forced to<br />

execute the one-sided Sale<br />

Agreement and to pass<br />

legislation which strongly<br />

favoured WRB.<br />

The Electricity Supply<br />

Act N0. 18 of 1994<br />

(“the Act”) was therefore<br />

passed in Parliament.<br />

Its Preamble makes it<br />

clear that it was an “Act<br />

granting exclusive licence<br />

to the Grenada Electricity<br />

Services Limited (“Grenlec”)<br />

for the performance<br />

of functions relating to<br />

the supply of electricity<br />

throughout Grenada and<br />

for connected purposes<br />

and making provisions in<br />

the event of the revocation<br />

of the licence”.<br />

Section 3 of the Act<br />

provides that “the company<br />

shall have a sole<br />

and exclusive licence to<br />

generate, transmit, distribute<br />

and sell electricity<br />

in Grenada until December<br />

31st 2073”. Section<br />

5 provides that during<br />

the continuance of the<br />

licence, no person except<br />

the company shall generate,<br />

transmit, distribute<br />

and or sell electricity in<br />

Grenada without a sublicence<br />

being granted. A<br />

literal interpretation of<br />

those sections means that<br />

an ordinary citizen who<br />

finds it more cost effective<br />

to operate a gas generator,<br />

a wind mill or a photovoltaic<br />

system (which<br />

uses solar energy), in<br />

order to generate electricity<br />

to his or her residence,<br />

will find that these activities<br />

are in contravention<br />

of the Act.<br />

Section 28 of the Act<br />

provides that government<br />

may repurchase the company<br />

either after thirty<br />

years or fifty-five years to<br />

the date of the sale and<br />

section 29 makes provision<br />

for a special formula<br />

to be used for calculating<br />

the compensation to be<br />

paid to shareholders if<br />

government decides to<br />

reacquire. This compensation<br />

package seems to be<br />

more of a “punishment”<br />

being meted out to any<br />

government which has<br />

the audacity to reacquire.<br />

It amounts to be a quite<br />

prohibitive sum. Reacquisition<br />

of Grenlec by government<br />

does not seem<br />

to be a feasible option, as<br />

according to section 6 of<br />

the Grenada Constitution,<br />

there must be “prompt<br />

payment of full compensation”<br />

once this is done.<br />

As a consequence<br />

of the lop-sided Sale<br />

Agreement and the Act,<br />

electricity consumers<br />

in Grenada are caught<br />

in a bind as the cost of<br />

electricity continuously<br />

keeps going upwards.<br />

Besides other reasons,<br />

Grenlec’s path situation<br />

makes it incumbent that<br />

they rely upon the use of<br />

diesel which world market<br />

prices continuously<br />

keep rising. Grenada,<br />

with an electricity cost of<br />

approximately EC$1.10<br />

per Kilowatt Hour, has<br />

one of the highest cost for<br />

electricity in the Caribbean<br />

with Trinidad having<br />

the lowest. Any attempt<br />

by consumers to relieve<br />

this ever increasing cost<br />

of electricity by utilizing a<br />

renewable energy technology<br />

(RET) such as a wind<br />

Mill or Photovoltaic system<br />

brings on the wrath<br />

of Grenlec. Paradise Bay<br />

Resort in La Tante in<br />

St. David owned by one<br />

James Post which utilized<br />

a windmill in 2007 to<br />

generate electricity felt<br />

this wrath.<br />

Therefore, as indicated<br />

in a previously published<br />

article, which seemed to<br />

have stirred up a lot of<br />

interest in Grenada, the<br />

only option which seems<br />

to be available to electricity<br />

consumers is for an<br />

application to be made to<br />

the court by an association<br />

of electricity consumers<br />

asking the court for a<br />

Declaration that sections<br />

3 and 5 of the Act are<br />

unconstitutional. It is<br />

posited that section 11 of<br />

the Constitution has been<br />

contravened making those<br />

sections unconstitutional,<br />

as electricity consumers<br />

are being prevented from<br />

“protecting their interests”<br />

which action is not<br />

“reasonably justifiable in<br />

a democratic society”.<br />

10th Dec.2012.


www.barnaclegrenada.com<br />

BARNACLE JANUARY 2013 11.


12 BARNACLE JANUARY 2013<br />

News<br />

Mixed report on quality of Grenada journalism<br />

The outgoing president of<br />

the Media Workers Association<br />

of Grenada (MWAG)<br />

wants something done about<br />

the wages paid to local journalists.<br />

Rawle Titus is appealing for<br />

greater attention to be given to<br />

the remuneration currently offered<br />

to media workers.<br />

“Grenadian law does not cater<br />

for minimum wage for media<br />

workers,’’ Titus said at an<br />

MWAG function in St. George’s.<br />

He is relinquishing the presidency<br />

after two terms as head of<br />

the association, which is to elect<br />

a new executive in January.<br />

“It is heartrending, pathetic and<br />

downright disappointing that in<br />

2012, a journalist in Grenada is<br />

working for $700 a month EC. I<br />

challenge the incoming executive<br />

to continue the work we<br />

have started by making this issue,<br />

including the social security<br />

of practitioners, one of priority,’’<br />

Titus said at the 7th annual<br />

MWAG awards at the Trade<br />

Centre Annex.<br />

Telecommunications provider,<br />

Digicel, was the main sponsor<br />

of the awards’ ceremony whose<br />

theme was, “Media in a Challenging<br />

World’’.<br />

Country Manager Patricia<br />

Maher, who headed the Digicel<br />

delegation to the event, was<br />

accompanied by other company<br />

officials including Marketing<br />

Manager Kirk Seetahal and<br />

consultant, Jerry George.<br />

George, who was one of the<br />

event’s speakers, promised that<br />

Digicel will be introducing new<br />

technology in 2013 to improve<br />

telecommunication services in<br />

Grenada.<br />

Other speakers at the ceremony,<br />

which included a live band performance,<br />

were Prime Minister<br />

Tillman Thomas, Association<br />

of Caribbean Media Workers<br />

Introducing…<br />

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Media Personality of the year shere ann noel<br />

receiving her award from digicel’s Jerry george<br />

(ACM) official Peter Richards,<br />

and Jamaicans Dr. Canute<br />

James and Faye Ellington of the<br />

University of the West Indies.<br />

Thomas said his government,<br />

which recently repealed the<br />

country’s criminal libel law, will<br />

also be addressing seditious<br />

libel.<br />

“Not too <strong>long</strong> from now we’re<br />

also going to repeal seditious<br />

libel,’’ the prime minister announced<br />

to the audience that included<br />

public and private sector<br />

representatives – many of them<br />

sponsors of the MWAG awards.<br />

Thomas defended his administration’s<br />

record in advancing<br />

media, democracy and democratic<br />

institutions.<br />

“We recognize the importance<br />

of the role of media,’’ the prime<br />

minister said. “The only time I<br />

take issue with journalists or<br />

the media is when they’re being<br />

dishonest or deceptive.’’<br />

Richards, the ACM representative,<br />

reminded MWAG<br />

members of the soon-to-be-held<br />

general elections in Grenada,<br />

and appealed for the production<br />

of work that will be beyond<br />

reproach.<br />

“The ACM expects high levels of<br />

professionalism from every media<br />

worker in Grenada during<br />

the election campaign,’’ he said.<br />

“In this regard, we are working<br />

with MWAG to help develop<br />

the skills of the media worker<br />

by bringing to St. George’s a<br />

Canadian-based trainer early in<br />

the New <strong>Year</strong>. I am hoping that<br />

MWAG would see to it that as<br />

many media workers as possible<br />

take advantage of that opportunity.’’<br />

Ellington, a veteran journalist<br />

and communication consultant,<br />

warned journalists against engaging<br />

in payola – the practice<br />

of accepting cash or other secret<br />

gifts to provide positive coverage<br />

of an individual or organization.<br />

“Payola comes in many shapes<br />

and forms. We must work to<br />

rid ourselves of this awful<br />

and dangerous practice,’’ said<br />

Ellington, a lecturer at the Caribbean<br />

Institute of Media and<br />

Communication at the UWI’s<br />

Mona Campus, Jamaica.<br />

She said media in the Caribbean<br />

are challenged in attracting<br />

“quality persons’’ with the ability<br />

to think critically, conceptualize,<br />

analyze and debate.<br />

“These are necessary skills for<br />

journalists but also for every<br />

citizen,’’ said Ellington, adding<br />

that too many young people<br />

want to work in media for the<br />

wrong reasons.<br />

“A few wish to work in sports<br />

and other so badly want to be<br />

on air – that’s radio and television<br />

– until they discover that<br />

the brain needs to be engaged<br />

before putting mouth into<br />

gear,’’ she complained.<br />

Shere Ann Noel and Jennel<br />

Andrews of FLOW CC6 were<br />

among multiple award winners.<br />

Andrews’ prizes included<br />

the Digicel-sponsored award<br />

which was inaugurated in 2011<br />

in memory of the late radio<br />

personality, Anthony “Jericho’’<br />

Greenidge.<br />

Among Noel’s awards was<br />

leading television personality,<br />

which was determined by votes<br />

cast by guests attending the<br />

MWAG function.<br />

Other award recipients included<br />

Cheavron Benjamin, Gennil<br />

Reuben, Ria Murray, Keyshawn<br />

Thomas, Mike Alexis,<br />

Janice Augustine, Lew Smith,<br />

Sherry Ann Blackman, Rawle<br />

Titus and Lincoln Depradine.<br />

MWAG also honoured late<br />

Grenadian journalists, Alister<br />

Hughes and Leslie Seon.<br />

Adjudicators based at CARI-<br />

MAC were invited to judge<br />

more than 100 media entries<br />

from radio, television and<br />

newspaper practitioners who<br />

were vying for awards.<br />

Some entries were “simply<br />

outstanding’’ and “there continues<br />

to be steady improvement<br />

in the quality of Grenadian<br />

journalism,’’ said Dr. James,<br />

the chief adjudicator who presented<br />

a judges’ report to the<br />

function.<br />

“The judges were happy to have<br />

again been asked to assist with<br />

this important effort to improve<br />

and strengthen the quality<br />

of journalism and media<br />

production in this stunningly<br />

beautiful country.’’<br />

Dr. James, who was appointed<br />

CARIMAC director in 2009,<br />

identified shortcomings comings<br />

in some of the work presented<br />

for judging.<br />

“Too many entries were overwritten<br />

and over-worded,’’ he<br />

reported.<br />

The judges, he added, were also<br />

“somewhat disappointed in not<br />

finding any entries that were<br />

deserving of awards’’ in the<br />

business news story and political<br />

news story categories.<br />

“Business stories are not<br />

just for business people,’’<br />

he explained, saying it’s the<br />

responsibility of reporters to<br />

“demythify, demystify, interpret,<br />

translate, explain and<br />

add context’’ to the business<br />

information.<br />

“The story is not a story until<br />

it is understood clearly by the<br />

reader, listener, viewer and<br />

surfer,’’ said Dr. James.<br />

He is a former Caribbean correspondent<br />

of the Financial<br />

Times of London.<br />

“Given the nature and the<br />

degree of political engagement<br />

in this country in recent<br />

months, the judges were also<br />

disappointed at the nature of<br />

the coverage as reflected in the<br />

entries,’’ Dr. James said.<br />

“There was much that was<br />

reported; but the judges found<br />

none that went beyond the<br />

faithful recitation of what was<br />

said. The judges want to use<br />

this opportunity to suggest that<br />

the coverage of politics goes<br />

beyond ministerial and party<br />

political statements and rejoinders<br />

from the other side.’’<br />

Speeches and statements from<br />

politicians, Dr. James said,<br />

should be considered “raw material<br />

that the journalist should<br />

use to examine the consequences<br />

of these statements and the<br />

consequences they have on the<br />

lives and livelihoods of those to<br />

whom, and for whom, they are<br />

reporting’’.


www.barnaclegrenada.com<br />

BARNACLE JANUARY 2013 13.


14 BARNACLE JANUARY 2013


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16 BARNACLE JANUARY 2013 www.barnaclegrenada.com<br />

BARNACLE JANUARY 2013 17.<br />

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18 BARNACLE JANUARY 2013<br />

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you have all been<br />

eagerly anticipating<br />

is here. Today is the<br />

day that each of you<br />

receive what you have<br />

prepared for. Your<br />

presence here is a perfect<br />

example of preparation<br />

meeting opportunity.<br />

Each of you<br />

went out, purchased<br />

the required two Blue<br />

Band packets and<br />

took the time to submit<br />

your entries. This<br />

is preparation and<br />

when the draw dates<br />

arrived your names<br />

popped up against all<br />

the other odds.<br />

I wish to sincerely thank<br />

everyone who participated<br />

in our national Blue<br />

Band promotion and,<br />

also special congratulations<br />

to all of our very<br />

fortunate winners. We<br />

thank you for your loyalty<br />

and support towards<br />

Blue Band Margarine.<br />

Blue Band has been<br />

house hold name<br />

margarine in Grenada<br />

for decades. It is a<br />

daily source of essential<br />

nutrients that help every<br />

family member to grow,<br />

develop and thrive. Blue<br />

Band is made from high<br />

quality vegetable oils,<br />

so it is an important<br />

source of essential fats<br />

and vitamins such A, D<br />

& E for which there are<br />

not many other dietary<br />

sources. For many<br />

families Blue Band is<br />

a part of a daily breakfast<br />

routine used as<br />

a spread. And many<br />

chefs, housewives can<br />

attest that it is the key<br />

ingredient in making the<br />

perfect cake.<br />

You may not know this<br />

but Blue Band is a world<br />

renowned brand that<br />

was first launched in<br />

Pakistan more than 20<br />

years ago. And it has<br />

since become a leading<br />

margarine in Central<br />

and East Africa and the<br />

Caribbean. George. F.<br />

Huggins is therefore<br />

very proud to represent<br />

such a prestigious<br />

brand and so was very<br />

happy to implement the<br />

promotion.<br />

On September 17th<br />

we enthusiastically<br />

launched the Buy Blue<br />

Band and Win Kitchen<br />

Appliances promotion<br />

where customers has<br />

the opportunity to win<br />

prizes such as Pyrex<br />

dish gift set, pot sets,<br />

pressure cookers,<br />

blenders, microwaves,<br />

Kitchen Aid cake mixers<br />

and stoves. In order to<br />

participate, shoppers<br />

were simply required<br />

to submit two empty<br />

Blue Band 227g wrappers<br />

a<strong>long</strong> with name,<br />

address and telephone<br />

numbers and place into<br />

entry boxes which were<br />

located at supermarkets<br />

nationwide.<br />

This promotion ran for<br />

eight (8) weeks and<br />

concluded on November<br />

16th. Two draws were<br />

held, the first was Octo-<br />

ber 18th which was held<br />

live on Wee FM radio<br />

and twenty (25) lucky<br />

persons were selected.<br />

The second draw was<br />

on November 23rd at<br />

the Foodland Supermarket<br />

located at the<br />

Kirani James Boulevard<br />

where an additional ten<br />

(10) persons won more<br />

fantastic prizes including<br />

the two (2) grand<br />

prizes, which is the 30<br />

inch five burner stove<br />

equipped with Broiler<br />

and Rotisserie . In sum<br />

I am proud to say that<br />

the Blue Band promotion<br />

saw thirty-five (35)<br />

lucky winners. And participation<br />

was beyond<br />

expectation with over<br />

three thousand (3000)<br />

entries. We were still<br />

receiving entries even<br />

after the deadline.<br />

This morning I must<br />

mention that there are<br />

three (3) outstanding or<br />

very blessed winners<br />

among you. First is Esther<br />

Telesford who won<br />

in both draws, in the first<br />

she got herself a Pyrex<br />

dish gift pack and then<br />

in the final draw she was<br />

selected for the Black &<br />

Decker blender.<br />

The other two winners<br />

are members of<br />

the same household<br />

–a Mom and daughter<br />

team- Joanna Baptiste<br />

and Rolanda Baptiste.<br />

Mom, Joanna started<br />

the race and was selected<br />

in our first draw for<br />

the prize of a seven (7)<br />

piece stainless steel pot<br />

set. Daughter, Rolanda<br />

brought home the winning<br />

baton by seizing up<br />

one of our grand prize<br />

– the STOVE. I must<br />

say that Rolanda dad<br />

was a very wise man<br />

when, he chose to have<br />

Rolanda submit the<br />

entry instead of himself.<br />

Rolanda is our youngest<br />

winner who is only nine<br />

(9) years old. According<br />

to Rolanda she likes<br />

Blue Band because it<br />

tastes good. She also<br />

enjoys running and her<br />

favourite colour is red.<br />

I must also recognize<br />

Anne Gilbert from St.<br />

David’s who, is our 2nd<br />

grand prize winner.<br />

I know she was very<br />

happy when I told her of<br />

her fantastic prize.<br />

Once again I wish to<br />

thank everyone who<br />

participated in this activity;<br />

it would not have<br />

been possible without<br />

your support and loyalty.<br />

Also, remember to keep<br />

Blue Band as part of<br />

your Christmas tradition<br />

this year, use it in your<br />

black cake, fruit cake<br />

or any of your favourite<br />

cake for your family<br />

this holiday. Make your<br />

family Christmas special<br />

with Blue Band Margarine.


www.barnaclegrenada.com<br />

Feature<br />

LIST OF WINNERS<br />

PIREX DISHES:<br />

Patricia Paul<br />

Yvonne Mckenzie<br />

Alma Drakes<br />

Wendy-Ann collins<br />

Hilary Brizan<br />

Annette Clement<br />

Leselle Pierre<br />

Shimicha Depradine<br />

Daniel Gibson<br />

Lydia Andrew Duncan<br />

Anne Pivott<br />

Esther Telesford<br />

POT SETS:<br />

Janet Lewis<br />

Joanna Baptiste<br />

Yolande Modeste<br />

Ennis Charles<br />

BARNACLE JANUARY 2013 19.<br />

PRESSURE COOKER:<br />

Denise Matthew<br />

Anika Phillip<br />

Patricia Martin<br />

Kervis Renaud<br />

Margaret Robertson Thomas<br />

BLENDER:<br />

Stephon Phillip<br />

Ester Telesford<br />

Rose Anna Zeno<br />

Elvis Noel<br />

MICROWAVE:<br />

Barbara Frazer<br />

Lorraine Licorish<br />

Merle Hayes<br />

Nikysha Belgrave<br />

KITCHEN AID CAKE MIXERS:<br />

Merle St. Paul’s<br />

Brenda Noel<br />

John Johnson<br />

Stacy Telesford<br />

STOVE:<br />

Rolanda Baptiste<br />

Ann Gilbert


20 BARNACLE JANUARY 2013


www.barnaclegrenada.com<br />

BARNACLE JANUARY 2013 21.


22 BARNACLE JANUARY 2013<br />

Health and Fitness<br />

Sickle Cell Anemia<br />

How Is Sickle Cell<br />

Anemia Treated?<br />

Sickle cell anemia has<br />

no widely available cure.<br />

However, treatments can<br />

help relieve symptoms<br />

and treat complications.<br />

The goals of treating<br />

sickle cell anemia are<br />

to relieve pain; prevent<br />

infections, organ damage,<br />

and strokes; and<br />

control complications (if<br />

they occur).<br />

Blood and marrow stem<br />

cell transplants may<br />

offer a cure for a small<br />

number of people who<br />

have sickle cell anemia.<br />

Researchers continue to<br />

look for new treatments<br />

for the disease.<br />

Infants who have been<br />

diagnosed with sickle<br />

cell anemia through<br />

newborn screening are<br />

treated with antibiotics<br />

to prevent infections.<br />

Their parents are educated<br />

about the disease<br />

and how to manage it.<br />

These initial treatment<br />

steps have greatly improved<br />

the outcome for<br />

children who have sickle<br />

cell anemia.<br />

Specialists Involved<br />

People who have sickle<br />

cell anemia need regular<br />

medical care. Some doctors<br />

and clinics specialize<br />

in treating people<br />

who have the disease.<br />

Hematologists specialize<br />

in treating adults and<br />

children who have blood<br />

diseases or disorders.<br />

Treating Pain<br />

Medicines and Fluids<br />

Mild pain often is<br />

treated at home with<br />

over-the-counter pain<br />

medicines, heating pads,<br />

rest, and plenty of fluids.<br />

More severe pain may<br />

need to be treated in a<br />

day clinic, emergency<br />

room, or hospital.<br />

The usual treatments for<br />

acute (rapid-onset) pain<br />

are fluids, medicines,<br />

andoxygen therapy (if<br />

the oxygen level is low).<br />

Fluids help prevent dehydration,<br />

a condition in<br />

which your body doesn’t<br />

have enough fluids.<br />

Fluids are given either<br />

by mouth or through a<br />

vein. Your doctor may<br />

prescribe antibiotics if<br />

you have an infection.<br />

Treatment for mild-tomoderate<br />

pain usually<br />

begins with acetaminophen<br />

(Tylenol®) or<br />

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory<br />

drugs (NSAIDs),<br />

such as ibuprofen.<br />

If pain continues or<br />

becomes severe, stronger<br />

medicines called opioids<br />

may be needed. Talk<br />

with your doctor about<br />

the possible benefits and<br />

risks of taking strong<br />

pain medicine, especially<br />

if the medicine will be<br />

used for a <strong>long</strong> period.<br />

Hydroxyurea<br />

Severe sickle cell anemia<br />

can be treated with a<br />

medicine called hydroxyurea.<br />

This medicine<br />

prompts your body to<br />

make fetal hemoglobin.<br />

Fetal hemoglobin, or<br />

hemoglobin F, is the<br />

type of hemoglobin that<br />

newborns have.<br />

In people who have<br />

sickle cell anemia, fetal<br />

hemoglobin helps prevent<br />

red blood cells from<br />

sickling and improves<br />

anemia.<br />

Given daily, hydroxyurea<br />

reduces how often painful<br />

sickle cell crises and<br />

acute chest syndrome<br />

occur. Many people taking<br />

hydroxyurea also<br />

need fewer blood transfusions<br />

and have fewer<br />

hospital visits.<br />

Doctors are studying the<br />

<strong>long</strong>-term effects of hydroxyurea<br />

on people who<br />

have sickle cell anemia.<br />

Early studies in children<br />

suggest that the medicine<br />

may help improve<br />

growth and preserve<br />

organ function, but this<br />

has not been proven.<br />

Hydroxyurea can reduce<br />

the number of white<br />

blood cells in your blood.<br />

(These cells help fight<br />

infections.) This can lead<br />

to an increased risk of<br />

infections.<br />

People who take hydroxyurea<br />

must have<br />

careful medical followup,<br />

including blood tests.<br />

The dose of this medicine<br />

may need to be adjusted<br />

to reduce the risk of side<br />

effects.<br />

A doctor who has knowledge<br />

about hydroxyurea<br />

can tell you about the<br />

risks and benefits of taking<br />

this medicine.<br />

Preventing<br />

Complications<br />

Blood transfusions are<br />

commonly used to treat<br />

worsening anemia and<br />

sickle cell complications.<br />

A sudden worsening of<br />

anemia due to an infection<br />

or enlarged spleen<br />

is a common reason for a<br />

blood transfusion.<br />

Some, but not all, people<br />

who have sickle cell<br />

anemia need regular<br />

blood transfusions to<br />

prevent life-threatening<br />

problems, such as stroke,<br />

spleen problems, or<br />

acute chest syndrome.<br />

Having routine blood<br />

transfusions can cause<br />

side effects. Examples<br />

include allergic reactions<br />

and a dangerous buildup<br />

of iron in the blood<br />

(which must be treated).<br />

In general, the blood<br />

supply is fairly safe from<br />

infections such as hepatitis<br />

and HIV.<br />

Infections<br />

Infections can be a major<br />

complication of sickle cell<br />

anemia throughout life,<br />

but especially during<br />

childhood. Often, infections<br />

can be prevented or<br />

treated.<br />

To prevent infections in<br />

babies and young children,<br />

treatments include:<br />

• Daily doses of antibiotics.<br />

Treatment may begin<br />

as early as 2 months<br />

of age and continue until<br />

the child is at least 5<br />

years old.<br />

• All routine vaccinations<br />

(including a yearly<br />

flu shot), plus the pneumococcal<br />

vaccine.<br />

If your child has sickle<br />

cell anemia and shows<br />

early signs of an infection,<br />

such as a fever, you<br />

should seek treatment<br />

right away.<br />

Adults who have sickle<br />

cell anemia also should<br />

have flu shots every<br />

year and get vaccinated<br />

against pneumonia.<br />

Eye Damage<br />

Sickle cell anemia can<br />

damage the blood vessels<br />

in the eyes and the<br />

retinas. The retinas are<br />

the thin layers of tissue<br />

at the back of the eyes.<br />

Regular checkups with<br />

an eye doctor who specializes<br />

in diseases of the<br />

retina can help detect<br />

eye damage.<br />

Strokes<br />

Stroke prevention and<br />

treatment are now possible<br />

for children and<br />

adults who have sickle<br />

cell anemia. Starting at<br />

age 2, children who have<br />

sickle cell anemia can<br />

have routine ultrasound<br />

scans of their heads.<br />

This is called transcranial<br />

Doppler (TCD) ultrasound.<br />

These scans are<br />

used to check the speed<br />

of blood flow to the brain.<br />

TCD scans allow doctors<br />

to find out which<br />

children are at high risk<br />

of stroke. Doctors can<br />

treat these children with<br />

routine blood transfusions<br />

to reduce the risk<br />

of stroke.<br />

A doctor who has<br />

knowledge about blood<br />

transfusions and sickle<br />

cell disease can tell you<br />

about the benefits and<br />

risks of this treatment.<br />

Treating Other Complications<br />

Acute chest syndrome<br />

is a severe and lifethreatening<br />

complication<br />

of sickle cell anemia. If<br />

acute (sudden) failure<br />

of the liver and kidneys<br />

also occurs, it’s called<br />

acute multiple organ<br />

failure.<br />

Treatment for these<br />

complications usually<br />

occurs in a hospital and<br />

may include oxygen<br />

therapy, blood transfusions,<br />

antibiotics, pain<br />

medicine, and balancing<br />

body fluids.<br />

Leg ulcers (sores) due to<br />

sickle cell anemia can<br />

be very painful. Ulcers<br />

can be treated with<br />

cleansing solutions and<br />

medicated creams or<br />

ointments.<br />

Skin grafts may be<br />

needed if the leg ulcers<br />

are ongoing. Bed rest<br />

and keeping the legs<br />

raised to reduce swelling<br />

are helpful. If you<br />

have a lot of pain from<br />

leg ulcers, your doctor<br />

may recommend a strong<br />

pain medicine.<br />

Gallbladder surgery may<br />

be needed if the presence<br />

of gallstones leads to<br />

gallbladder disease.<br />

Priapism (a painful<br />

erection in males) can<br />

be treated with fluids,<br />

medicines, or surgery.


www.barnaclegrenada.com<br />

BARNACLE JANUARY 2013 23.<br />

Happy<br />

New <strong>Year</strong>!


24 BARNACLE JANUARY 2013


www.barnaclegrenada.com<br />

News<br />

As the tourism season<br />

heats up the importance<br />

of the environment<br />

and its links to<br />

tourism is brought<br />

into focus. In essence<br />

this link is embedded<br />

in the fact that the<br />

environmental attributes<br />

of our island,<br />

mainly sand, sea and<br />

sun (3S’s) and scenery<br />

(landscape) are a few<br />

of the main reasons<br />

why tourists visit the<br />

island.<br />

As citizens of Grenada<br />

therefore we are<br />

constantly urged and<br />

encouraged to ‘keep the<br />

environment clean’ for<br />

ourselves and for the<br />

tourists. This is always<br />

one of the key messages<br />

broadcasted during the<br />

tourism season. But<br />

what does ‘keep the environment<br />

clean’ really<br />

mean?<br />

Considering the environment<br />

to be our general<br />

surroundings, including<br />

air, plants, animals,<br />

marine, land and<br />

seascapes and people,<br />

this message becomes<br />

a very weak one. Or in<br />

many cases keeping the<br />

environment clean can<br />

be detrimental to the environment<br />

itself. Firstly,<br />

every single person or<br />

organization that speaks<br />

about the importance of<br />

the environment to tourism,<br />

reiterates the need<br />

to ‘not litter’. This is<br />

good, but just encouraging<br />

persons not to litter<br />

will not go anywhere<br />

far in ensuring a clean<br />

environment. Litter is<br />

generally waste generated<br />

from human activities.<br />

We buy sweets and<br />

the wrapping becomes<br />

litter to be discarded.<br />

We cook food and the<br />

uncooked parts become<br />

litter. And so on. So litter<br />

is constantly created<br />

and discarded. When it<br />

is discarded in an unwanted<br />

area, such as on<br />

the side of the road it is<br />

no good for the environment<br />

and for tourism by<br />

extension. However, if<br />

it is thrown into a trash<br />

can and carted to the<br />

landfill then it is good.<br />

The ‘do not litter’ message<br />

therefore simply<br />

alerts us to dispose of<br />

waste appropriately.<br />

However, this waste<br />

still gets into the environment<br />

and most of it<br />

remains there for such<br />

<strong>long</strong> periods of time. The<br />

waste is still detrimental<br />

to critical and delicate<br />

unseen parts of the<br />

environment, such as air<br />

and sea, which supports<br />

tourism.<br />

In essence therefore<br />

encouraging persons not<br />

to litter is weak, because<br />

waste still gets into the<br />

environment. What is<br />

needed is an approach<br />

of looking upstream,<br />

that is, by preventing<br />

BARNACLE JANUARY 2013 25.<br />

GHTA HONOURS SIR JOHN WATTS<br />

waste creation in the<br />

first place. A closer look<br />

at the activities embarked<br />

upon, the things<br />

we import, etc, must be<br />

reduced as far as is possible.<br />

Preventing waste<br />

creation is the approach<br />

one needs to consider if<br />

the environment is to be<br />

kept clean for us and for<br />

the tourists.<br />

Another activity that is<br />

embarked upon when<br />

such campaigns are developed<br />

are the famous<br />

beach and river clean<br />

ups and the cutting of<br />

trees and the de-bushing<br />

of roadsides. Beach<br />

clean-ups can be a disaster<br />

to the environment<br />

if they are not properly<br />

supervised as many essential<br />

animals and<br />

plants can be removed<br />

in the process. Tree<br />

cutting and de-bushing<br />

makes the road way look<br />

appealing and nice, but<br />

some of the methods<br />

used are causing more<br />

harm to the environment<br />

than good. Loss of<br />

top soil and biodiversity<br />

can be real <strong>long</strong> term<br />

problems that can occur<br />

from continued, uncontrolled<br />

de-bushing.<br />

So the link between the<br />

environment and tourism<br />

is presently weak,<br />

since it is not addressing<br />

the fundamental<br />

concern, which is mainly<br />

waste prevention. Secondly,<br />

balding the sides<br />

of the road and felling<br />

trees indiscriminately in<br />

an effort to have a clean<br />

environment can be<br />

more detrimental to the<br />

environment than good.<br />

The weak link therefore<br />

is characterized by the<br />

importation of waste<br />

and then hiding it in<br />

landfills and other areas<br />

away from the tourists.<br />

It is also shaped by<br />

the culture of foolishly<br />

cleaning the landscape<br />

and the felling of trees<br />

to enhance the environment.<br />

If this weak link<br />

is not addressed it will<br />

eventual break leading<br />

to ‘environmental<br />

collapse and the demise<br />

of tourism’; and we will<br />

only have ourselves to<br />

blame.


26 BARNACLE JANUARY 2013<br />

Special Feature<br />

Digicel brings smiles<br />

to needy children<br />

From about midday<br />

on Saturday,<br />

December 8, buses<br />

laden with excited<br />

children began<br />

arriving at Digicel’s<br />

Point Salines’<br />

headquarters for the<br />

much-anticipated<br />

Digicel annual<br />

children’s Christmas<br />

party.<br />

On that day the<br />

company’s car park<br />

on the Maurice<br />

Bishop Highway was<br />

transformed into a<br />

gateway for music, fun<br />

and frolic; children from<br />

some of the nation’s<br />

special needs centers<br />

converged on the venue<br />

to celebrate Christmas<br />

the Digicel way.<br />

No one had to mention<br />

it but everyone knew it;<br />

that the theme of the<br />

party was “smile’’. Every<br />

aspect of the four-hour<br />

<strong>long</strong> party was a reason<br />

to smile.<br />

The bouncing castle<br />

station gave the kids<br />

lots of reasons to smile.<br />

Those who chose to<br />

squeeze their way<br />

through the small space<br />

that allowed entrance<br />

to the castle found out,<br />

when they got inside,<br />

that there were lots<br />

of room to release<br />

themselves as they<br />

bounced their way to<br />

good time.<br />

Some of the more<br />

adventurous ones<br />

took turns riding on<br />

horseback, under<br />

the watchful eyes<br />

of Digicel’s Country<br />

manager Patricia Maher.<br />

For others, the occasion<br />

was one to enjoy<br />

pulsating music as<br />

provided by Waggy-T<br />

music system. They<br />

were in step with the<br />

latest music, the latest<br />

rhythms, and the latest<br />

dance moves. Others<br />

took time to have their<br />

favorite character<br />

painted on their arms<br />

and faces.<br />

The highlight of the<br />

day was an opportunity<br />

for the children to<br />

meet and receive gifts<br />

from “Santa” – a role<br />

so suitably played by<br />

Digicel’s Marketing<br />

Manager Kirk Seethahal.<br />

The Digicel family<br />

treated the kids to tasty<br />

dishes, sumptuous<br />

ice cream and other<br />

wonderful goodies that<br />

were compatible for the<br />

occasion.<br />

At every juncture, and<br />

in everything that was<br />

done, the kids were<br />

treated with love, care<br />

and appreciation. The<br />

kind of love and warmth<br />

that were sure to bring<br />

out the smile in all those<br />

wonderful children.<br />

The children and their<br />

parents and guardians<br />

were most satisfied with<br />

Digicel’s outpouring<br />

of love and affection.<br />

However, none was<br />

more grateful than<br />

Methyl Raymond,<br />

principal of the St.<br />

Andrew’s School for<br />

Special Education.<br />

“Digicel is such a great<br />

contributor to us, and<br />

no matter what we are<br />

having, Digicel is always<br />

there for us,” she told<br />

the Barnacle.<br />

“They gave to us for our<br />

sports meeting; they<br />

have painted our school<br />

and this party today will<br />

definitely bring smiles to<br />

the children. They are<br />

really excited. All they<br />

wanted to do is to have<br />

fun,’’ she noted.<br />

Children from the Bel-<br />

Air Home, the Queen<br />

Elizabeth Home and the<br />

Dorothy Hopkin Home<br />

joined in the wonderful<br />

celebration. In the end<br />

they all had loads of<br />

smiles the Digicel way.


www.barnaclegrenada.com<br />

Special Feature<br />

BARNACLE JANUARY 2013 27.


28 BARNACLE JANUARY 2013<br />

CARIBBEAN PRIMARY EXIT ASSESSMENT PRACTICE QUESTIONS<br />

HISTORY<br />

Read the questions carefully. Choose the correct answer and blacken the circle with the corresponding letter. Please follow this example:-<br />

1. The Olympic Games are held every ----years. (a) two (b) four (c) ten (d) five (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

1. Which one of these is associated with Caribbean Slavery?<br />

(a) stone carvings (b) estate great houses (c) Fort George (d) dug out canoes (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

2. What is the origin of the following names:- Bonair, La Fillette, Beausejour, LaTouche? (a) British (b) French (c) Spanish (d) Dutch (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

3. The journey from Africa to the West Indies is called the ------------ .<br />

(a) The Middle Passage (b) The Great Triangle (c) Middle Pass (d) The African Route (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

4. Which one of these arrived in Grenada first? (a) French (b) Caribs (c) British (d) Arawaks (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

5. During the 19 th Century Indian workers arrived in the West Indies as ---------------------- .<br />

(a) slaves (b) contract workers (c) slave drivers (d) indentured servants (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

6. Which of these is not an example of Amerindians? (a) Caribs (b) East Indians (c) Arawaks (d) Mayans (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

7. An Amerindian group who inhabited Grenada the ------------------------- . (a) The Mayans (b) The Incas (c) The Arawaks (d) Aztecs (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

8. The main crop that was grown on plantations during the period of Slavery was --------(a) coffee (b) tobacco (c) sugar-cane (d) cotton (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

9. Which of these is a religious organization that fought for the abolition of slavery?<br />

(a) The United Nations (b) The Quakers (c) CARICOM (d) The United States (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

10. Which name is associated with a rebellion in Grenada? (a) Uriah Butler (b) Keith Mitchell (c) T.A. Marryshow (d) Mighty Sparrow (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

CULTURE/SPORTS<br />

1. Persons sharing food and drinks while working together without pay is called a -------------? (a) maroon (b) fete (c) service (d) task (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

2. Which of these require a ball and a net? (a) cricket (b) athletics (c) volley ball (d) chess (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

3. The way of life of a people, their food, music, and language all refer to ------------- . (a) method (b) life (c) style (d) culture (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

4. A household with a husband, wife and their children is a -------- .(a) joint family (b) stem family (c) nuclear family (d) extended family (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

5. In which of these games are English speaking Caribbean countries well known as a team?<br />

(a) cricket (b) football (c) Olympics (d) netball (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

6. The acceptable ways that people should behave in every culture is called ---------- .(a) norms (b) role (c) actions (d) behaviour (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

7. Which of these is not popular in the Caribbean? (a) calypso (b) football (c) rugby (d) carnival (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

8. Where does the big drum have its origin? (a) Africa (b) India (c) Canada (d) South Americas (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

9. In which of these countries is a different language spoken? (a) Guyana (b) Carriacou (c) Martinique (d) Jamaica (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

10. Fish Friday is celebrate in -------------------- . (a) Victoria (b) Grenville (c) Willis (d) Gouyave (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

COMMERCE/ECONOMY<br />

1. Which of these Caribbean countries export both petroleum and asphalt products?<br />

(a) Jamaica (b) Trinidad & Tobago (c) Guyana (d) Barbados (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

2. The Caribbean Grouping established for social, technological and economic development of member<br />

states is called ------------------ . (a) CARICOM (b) OPEC (c) OAS (d) OECS (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

3. Belize and Guyana supply Caribbean countries with ----------------- .<br />

(a) Beef & Pork (b) oil & sugar (c) lumber & timber (d) rice & cement (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

4. Which of these countries use the E.C dollar currency? (a) Monsterrat (b) Martinique (c) Barbados (d) Cuba (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

5. The ------------make the hunting of certain animals prohibited by law.(a) conservation (b) closed season (c) open season (d) game (a) (b) (c) (d)


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BARNACLE JANUARY 2013 29.<br />

CARIBBEAN PRIMARY EXIT ASSESSMENT PRACTICE QUESTIONS<br />

6. When goods are scarce, prices will (a) fall (b) rise (c) fluctuate (d) stabilize (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

7. The E.C. dollar is the official currency of Grenada and ----------------------- . (a) Guyana (b) Dominica (c) Jamaica (d) Barbados (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

8. Most of Grenada’s foreign exchange comes from (a) tourism (b) petroleum (c) oil (d) bauxite (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

9. Which of these is a taxation measure undertaken by government? (a) license fees (b) loans (c) grants (d) bonds (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

10. Grenada needs foreign exchange to buy (a) charcoal (b) fish (c) nutmeg (d) cement (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

POLITICS/GEOGRAPHY<br />

1. Which of the following occurred first in the Caribbean/<br />

(a) Political Independence (b) Associated Statehood (c) Federation (d) Crown Colony (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

2. Which set of islands is different from the rest? (a) Antigua/Barbuda (b) Trinidad /Tobago (c) Grenada/Carriacou (d) Barbados/Bequia. (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

3. Where will you experience the <strong>long</strong>est winter? (a) Arctic Circle (b) Rain Forest (c) Tropics (d) Equator (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

4. A politically independent country must have all of these national symbols except (a) flag (b) anthem (c) pledge (d) bird (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

5. The head of State in Grenada is the ---------------------- . (a) Attorney General (b) Prime Minister (c) Governor (d) Governor General (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

6. Which period is free from the threat of hurricanes?<br />

(a) September –November (b) January – March (c) May – July (d) July – September (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

7. Grenada, Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados are all ---------------------- .<br />

(a) monarchies (b) presidential states (c) independent states (d) republics (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

8. The hot melting material which rolls down the sides of a volcano is called ----------------- . (a) silt (b) rubble (c) lava (d) magma (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

9. The two bodies of water which wash the cost of Grenada are the Caribbean Sea and the ---------.<br />

(a) Orinoco River (b) Atlantic ocean (c) Gulf of Paria (d) Gulf of Mexico (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

10. Which is the largest island in the Caribbean? (a) Jamaica (b) Cuba (c) Puerto Rico (d) Haiti (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

NATURAL SCIENCE – ANIMALS<br />

1. Birds and fish both lay eggs and have ---------------- . (a) wings (b) feet (c) scales (d) fins (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

2. A tick has ---------- pairs of legs. (a) two (b) three (c) four (d) five (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

3 . An animal that captures other animals for food is a ------------------ . (a) predator (b) prey (c) omnivore (d) cannibal (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

4. Which one of these animals can be destructive? (a) Honey bee (b) termite (c) earth worm (d) butterfly (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

5. Which one is not a mollusk? (a) snail (b) conch (c) oyster (d) crab (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

PLANTS<br />

1. Which is not a main part of the plant? (a)stem (b) root (c) root hairs (d) leaves (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

2. Green Plants take in ---------------- in the presence of sunlight. (a)carbon dioxide (b) oxygen (c) nitrogen (d) air (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

3. Cabbages and lettuces are green, leafy ----------------- . (a) vegetables (b) roots (c) shoots (d) trees (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

4. The male reproductive part of the plant is the ------------ . (a) stamen (b) ovary (c) stigma (d) ovule (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

5. The green pigment in the plant is called ---------------- . (a) chlorophyll (b) perennial (c) odour (d) colour (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

PHYSICAL SCIENCE<br />

1. The process of ----------------- changes a liquid into a gas. (a)condensation (b) evaporation (c) melting (d) precipitation (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

2. These two will form a solution when mixed. (a) water & salt (b) water & chalk (c) sand & water (d) oil & water (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

3. The instrument used for measuring atmospheric pressure is the ---------- . (a) thermometer (b) barometer (c) anemometer (d) meter (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

4. The two points of a magnet are called the magnetic ----------- . (a) poles (b) fronts (c) marks (d) edges (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

5. Paper clips, pins and needles can all be attracted to a (a) cushion (b) magnet (c) bed (d) plank (a) (b) (c) (d)


30 BARNACLE JANUARY 2013<br />

CARIBBEAN PRIMARY EXIT ASSESSMENT PRACTICE QUESTIONS<br />

HEALTH SIENCE<br />

1. Which one of these affects the respiratory system? (a) polio (b) bronchitis (c) typhoid (d) hypertension (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

2. To which bodily system does the heart be<strong>long</strong>? (a) circulatory (b) respiratory (c) excretory (d) digestive (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

3. Flossing is one of the measures that help to prevent ------------------ . (a) hair loss (b) obesity (c) tooth decay (d) germs (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

4. The outer layer of the skin is called the (a) dermis (b) cuticle (c) papillary region (d) epidermis (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

5. Vitamin C helps to prevent (a) common cold (b) night blindness (c) polio (d) mumps (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

EARTH SCIENCE<br />

1. The sea, rain, wind and air can cause rocks to be turned into ---------------- . (a) humus (b) silt (c) soil (d) gravel (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

2. Which one of these is a satellite? (a) moon (b) sun (c) earth (d) mars (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

3. The ------------ system includes the sun, planets and satellites. (a) solar (b) luner (c) water (d) heavenly (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

4. Day and night is caused by the earth’s ---------------. (a) spinning (b) rotation (c) revolution (d) movement (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

5. A fertile spot in a desert is a/an ---------------------. (a) pond (b) axis (c) oasis (d) shade (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

LANGUAGE ARTS<br />

1. On Saturdays I ------- some housework to help my mother. (a) do (b) did (c) does (d) am doing (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

2. Where did he -----------? (a) went (b) go (c) gone (d) going (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

3. When I turned the corner I -------------- a dog in the road. (a) was notice (b) notice (c) noticed (d) notices (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

4. She was sure that he did not -------------- the money. (a) stole (b) steal (c) stolen (d) stealing (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

5. John and Mary ------------ listening to the radio. (a) likes (b) like (c) do likes (d) does like (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

6. The doctor is well known for his ------------- qualities. (a) humane (b) anxious (c) revived (d) relay (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

7. Usain Bolt achieved a remarkable --------- in the 2008 Olympics. (a) feat (b) gift (c) task (d) feet (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

8. soldiers were sent into the town in order to -------- the riot. (a) quench (b) quell (c) quit (d) quilt (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

9. Friends do not ------------- their friends when they are in need. (a) desert (b) delve (c) develop (d) question (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

10. We should not -------------------- on the rights of others. (a) encroach (b) insist (c) defy (d) encourage (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

MATHEMATICS<br />

1. A way of writing 3 divided by y is ------------------ . (a)3/y (b) 3xy (c) 3+y (d)3y (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

2. The missing number in the sequence 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ------- is (a) 36 (b) 41 (c) 50 (d) 55 (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

3. The number that lies midway between 2.7 and 3.0 is --------. (a) 2.85 (b) 2.8 (c) 2.9 (d) 2.5 (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

4. Choose the one that is arranged in ascending order from least to greatest.<br />

(a) 2.05, 0.52, 2.50, 0.25 (b) 0.25, 2.50, 0.52, 2.05<br />

(c) 0.25, 2.05, 2.50, 0.52 (d) 0.25, 0.52, 2.05, 2.50 (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

5. Litres can be used to measure all of these except (a) oil (b) cloth (c) gasoline (d) fruit juice (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

6. 1500 hours is the same as (a)3:00pm (b) 3:15pm (c) 3:15am (d) 3:00am (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

7. The square root of 36 is (a) 6 (b) 3 (c) 9 (d) 18 (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

8. Express 48 as a percentage of 60 (a) 125 (b) 80 (c) 20 (d) 12 (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

9. The L.C. M. of 12 and 20 is (a) 120 (b) 60 (c) 48 (d) 400 (a) (b) (c) (d)<br />

10. Two identical triangles can form all of these except<br />

(a) pentagon (b) square (c) rectangle (d) rhombus (a) (b) (c) (d)


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BARNACLE JANUARY 2013 31.


PRINTED BY THE NATION PUBLISHING CO. LTD., FONTABELLE, ST. MICHAEL, BARBADOS FOR<br />

THE BARNACLE OF VALLEY VIEW DRIVE, MT. PARNASSUS, ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA, PUBLISHERS.

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