St. Vincent Has Made ‘Remarkable’ Socio-economic Strides: PM

NEW YORK, New York, CMC – As Vincentians in the United States celebrate their 34th anniversary of political independence from Great Britain, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves says the country has made “remarkable” socio-economic strides.

In his independence message to the diaspora, Gonsalves said a “compelling factual story of improved standards of material living is available to be told” in a number of “central areas.”

He identified, among those areas, “enhanced” income levels; education; health; housing; sanitation; water; electricity; telecommunications; car ownership; road transportation and airport infrastructure; travel by air and sea; social equality; poverty reduction; culture and the arts; sports and recreation; science and technology; and broadcasting and information.

The Vincentian leader also hastened to add that there have been “disappointments and even regression” in other spheres, such as “increased criminal conduct, especially crimes of violence; a disturbing coarseness in public and private discourse; a weakening of citizen security, despite improved levels of policing and the strengthening of security apparatuses; unhealthy behavioral habits, which lead to chronic non-communicable diseases and widespread sexually-transmitted diseases, mainly HIV/AIDS.”

Concerning the economy, Gonsalves said since the global economic crisis in 2008, economic challenges facing the nation have intensified.

He noted that these have been exacerbated by the meltdown of the Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO) and the British American Insurance Company (BAICO), and a “succession of natural disasters, occasioned substantially by climate change.”

As a result, he said the multi-island state endured three years of negative economic growth, from 2008-2010, followed by two years of “slow, hesitant” recovery in 2011 and last year.

“Despite all these awesome difficulties, our nation has survived and thrived,” said Gonsalves, pointing out that his administration has not reduced expenditure in “critical areas” of education, health, social safety nets, and citizen security; nor has it laid off workers in the public sector.

He noted that, even in the “challenging” economic environment, Kingstown has embarked upon the largest capital project ever, the Argyle International Airport, which, he said, should be completed by “this time next year.”

Newly-appointed United Nations Ambassador, Rhonda King, who was among Vincentian dignitaries at a church service to mark independence celebrations in New York, noted that her compatriots are a “praying people,” adding that “we have not yet separated church and state.

“We are Hairouna – Land of the Blessed!” she affirmed. “We must not be daunted by how far we have yet to go. We must not be distracted by the disadvantages inherent in our unique circumstances, because the Lord has rejected all of that.

“Instead, remember that we are a praying people,” added King, who then invoked the words of the late Nobel Peace Prize winner, Mother Teresa, a renowned Catholic nun and missionary: “The fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service (and) the fruit of service is peace.”

The Brooklyn, New York-based umbrella Vincentian group in the United States, Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Organizations, U.S.A. Inc. (COSAGO), collaborated with the New York Consulate in hosting the gala Independence luncheon on Sunday, Independence Day.