FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2025
VOLUME 119, No. 35
Theft in Union Island Page 3
www.thevincentian.com
No third eye Page 4
Scholarships galore Page 7
EC$1.50
CannaBliss launched Page 14
CSEC Improvement Page 28
PARCEL SERVICE TO U.S SUSPENDED THE ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES POSTAL CORPORATION (SVG Post) has announced the suspension of packet and parcel services to the United States, citing recent controversial tariff changes that could dramatically impact global ecommerce. Effective immediately, SVG Post will no longer accept parcels and packets destined for the United States, responding to a sweeping executive order that fundamentally alters international shipping protocols. The decision stems from a July 30, 2025 directive that eliminates the long-standing dutyfree treatment for low-value imports.
What this means The new regulations mean that: goods valued under $800 will no longer receive automatic duty-free entry; consumers may face additional duties ranging from 10% to 50%; potential extra charges between $80-$200 per item; possible significant delivery delays and unexpected fees. Continued on Page 3.
SVG Post has joined with a number of countries across the globe and has suspended parcel service to the USA. (Facebook Photo)
JOURNALIST THREATENED Ashford Peters remains committed to fulfill his calling as a journalist, even in the face of threats on his life.
by KENVILLE HORNE
NOT FOR THE FIRST TIME, a journalist here has reported a threat on his life. Ashford Peters, the man behind Facebook news siteCaribbean Independent Broadcasting Service (CIBS), and is a reporter for THE NEWS newspaper, in an interview with THE VINCENTIAN, said that he was recently informed of the threat on his life and reported the matter to the police, who promised to initiate an investigation. According to the journalist, the man who made the threat is someone who is known to the police and he was overheard making repeated
threats to kill him. Specific details of the threat remain confidential so as not to infringe the ongoing investigation, Peter said that he suspected the threats were made because of a news story he had published. Up to press time, he has not heard anything further from the police, so he is uncertain about the status of the police investigation. This is not the first time Peters has been threatened for doing his work as a journalist. He recalled that in 1997, while working with THE VINCENTIAN, a known criminal threatened to kill
him. He recalled the persons saying, on entering the office which was then situated on the ground floor of the newspaper’s current location, “Prepare to defend yourself, I will kill you.” That threat like any other was taken seriously and the police were called in. They apprehended the person making the threats and secreted Peters safely away from the scene. Peters recalled, “This man boasted about killing people before.” Despite the threats and the inherent risks involved in covering crime-related and
court matters, Peters, with some three decades of reporting to his credit, remains true and steadfast to his profession. Journalists are essential in a society because they inform the public, providing factual and contextualized information to help people make informed decisions. In that way, journalists also play a critical role in facilitating social change and shaping public opinion so as to foster full participation in a democracy. They must be allowed to do their work free of harassment and threats whether those come from individuals or state institutions.