BY
DR. THE HON.
RALPH E. GONSALVES
PRIME
MINISTER OF ST. VINCENT AND THE
Twenty eight years ago, on October
27, 1979,
Despite the praiseworthy progress
generally on the material and social fronts, there are disturbing areas of
weaknesses in the social behaviour of some of our
people, albeit a small minority, particularly regarding crime and
violence. As a nation we must not give these criminals any space
whatsoever to commit their criminal acts. To be sure, we must seek to
bring them into the mainstream of the law-abiding and productive
community. The battle against crime and the task of bringing the
criminals onto the straight and narrow path belongs to all of us: the
family, the parents, the schools, the churches, the civil society organisations, the state institutions, political parties,
and every single individual. We must all redouble our efforts in this
regard. Greed, bad-mindedness, and an absence of a sufficient restraint
are among the immediate triggers for serious crimes. But the sources of
these maladies run deeper in sociological and psychological terms. We
must constrain, drain and dry up the sources and impulses which precipitate
serious criminal misconduct.
Our nation’s material progress since
independence has not, unfortunately, lifted everyone out of poverty.
Indeed, in 1996, an authoritative study, commissioned by the then government,
found that a whopping 37 percent of our population was living below the poverty
line, 25 percent of whom were chronically poor or indigent. Since my
administration came to office in 2001, we have made poverty reduction a
principal focus of government’s policy and practice. Since then there
have been improvements and there has been a reduction in overall poverty but
much, much more needs to be done. Currently, a Poverty Assessment Study
is being carried out to assess, among other things, the extent of poverty
today. The results of this Study will undoubtedly assist in the
re-engineering of the government’s Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy, for
further positive action.
There is, of course, another poverty
which invades the minds and hearts of too many of our people, the poverty of
the spirit. This condition is not related to material poverty.
Indeed, this poverty of the spirit resides among some who are materially
comfortable. Too many of our people, including some who ought to know
better, have too little or no love, caring, compassion, or consideration for
their fellow human-beings, for their neighbours.
To be sure, we are basically a good-natured people but a selfish, dog-eat-dog
attitude sometimes undermines this beautiful good-naturedness
which is at the core of our beings. On the occasion of this twenty-eight
anniversary of our nation’s independence, we ought to recommit ourselves to
eradicating material poverty and ridding ourselves of this debilitating poverty
of the spirit. We can triumph on both these fronts if we try a little
harder. It is not beyond us. It is within us to do, with God’s help
and guidance.
As leaders we have an especial role
to play in this regard. Further, leaders, especially political leaders or
representatives must never get it solidified in their heads that they are above
the law or that they are other than mortals. While they may be accorded
courtesies because of their office, they must never demand special
treatment. And when they err, it is right and proper that they say
“sorry” and correct such behaviour. Obviously,
any serious or repeated offensive conduct ought to incur the most telling
consequences. In short, we must all be sensible and balanced in what we
say and do.
This year, 2007, has been a good year
for the economy. Indeed, there has been robust economic growth in three
of the last four years, including 2007, in excess of 6.5 per cent, according to
the figures put out by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. It is true,
though, that not every sector of the economy has grown robustly and not
everyone has done equally well from this economic growth. Thus, we cannot
be complacent. Accordingly, we must continue on our quest to build a
modern, competitive post colonial economy which is at once national and
regional, in the interest of our people’s humanisation.
In the process, it is most prudent to
be mindful of the downside risks which attend our material progress and
economic growth. These include the rising price of oil
internationally: the rising price of imported food especially grain,
milk, chicken, beef, and canned foods; the uncertain economic rumblings in the
world economy, including the U.S.A; political instability and wars overseas;
the ever-present threat of natural disasters at home, made worse by global
warming and adverse climate change; and the on-going challenges of trade liberalisation, especially regarding our banana
industry. It is for these reasons, and more, that we ourselves much
redouble our productive efforts in the national and regional economy.
This year, 2007, has witnessed, too,
many important advances in our country’s physical infrastructure, including the
bridge over the Rabacca River, the Jet Airport in Canouan, the on-going preparation for the International
Airport at Argyle, the Cross-Country Road, roads generally, primary and
secondary schools, low-income houses, learning resources centres,
police stations, the commencement of the Modern Medical Complex at Georgetown,
the Modern Library, rebuilding of the Arnos Vale Cricket Facility, and a host
of other important physical infrastructure projects.
This year, too, immense progress has
been made in “the Education Revolution” and in the process of historical
reclamation and cultural advance. Of significance, also, are the
preparatory steps for the launch of a comprehensive “Wellness Revolution”.
As we come towards the end of the
year, 2007, nurses, public servants, teachers, policemen/women, and other
public sector workers can look forward to an enhancement in their salaries,
wages, and working conditions for the years 2007 and 2008. As always, I
will make sure that some of the fruits of our material progress be spread to
the poor, including those on public assistance, the elderly, children, and
pregnant women. Everyone must be reasonably treated; and no group ought
unreasonably to expect more than their fair share of the commendable economic
growth, thus far.
Vincentians overseas
constitute a most vital component of our nation. They continue to excel
and to do good generally in all fields of endeavour.
They contribute, too, materially to their families at home, and to the
nation. We thank them. They are always in our thoughts and prayers.
At a personal level, I recommit
myself to you, the magnificent people of
Let us all have a wonderful,
commemorative independence anniversary and prepare ourselves for further
productive tasks ahead.
And may Almighty God continue to
bless us all!
UWI Student Makes History
Web Posted - Wed Nov
21 2007
By Khalil Goodman
A TWENTY-TWO-year old UWI Cave Hill student from
Robert Luke Browne, a National Scholar for
He was one of six students short-listed this
year for the prestigious scholarship, and after several hours of long
deliberations, was named the eventual winner. The announcement was made
yesterday at the residence of His Excellency Sir Clifford Husbands, Governor
General of
Visibly elated by the news, Browne told the
assembled Barbadian media that he will be contacting his parents as soon as he
left the main hall. "They have supported me, not only in this process, and
have had a lot of input in my development," he said.
Calling the intensive interview process "character
building", the new Rhodes Scholar noted that all six of the short-listed
students were extremely capable and he stated that he believed that they would
all be actively working as leaders in the region.
For his part, Browne said he will be pursuing a MPhil in Development Studies
with the hopes of acquiring a Ph.D. in the same field.
Once called "a bright and popular... future
leader" by SVG Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves,
Browne stated that he hopes to be able to work in the region in a leadership
role.
"I think I would like to get my Ph.D. and
continue thereafter to get qualified in law and... return to the
The other students from the Eastern Caribbean
short-listed for the Rhodes Scholarship were Maria Kodilinye
from Barbados; Hazra Media from Antigua; and Stephen Punette, Kerolyn Chairsingh and Andre Coombs from Trinidad and Tobago.
The selection committee consisted of Sir
Clifford as the Chair; Secretary of the Rhodes Trust for
NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Trevor
Blake
TEL: (869) 466-7192
FAX: (869) 465-3798
Toll Free:
1-800-744-9238
E-mail:
info@ecseonline.com
www.ecseonline.com
Government
of
Oversubscribed
The Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines 91-day, sixteen million Eastern Caribbean dollars (EC$16M) Treasury bill issue, auctioned on the Regional Government
Securities Market using the primary market platform of the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange (ECSE), was oversubscribed.
Licensed intermediaries placed a total of 16 bids, ranging from $25,000 to $5,000,000 with an aggregate value of $17,395,000. A competitive uniform price auction
methodology was used and the resulting discount rate was 5.82%.
The brokerage firms of Bank of St Lucia Ltd, National Commercial Bank Ltd, National Mortgage and Finance Company of Dominica Ltd, and Republic Finance and Merchant
Bank Ltd participated in this auction.
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Published on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 |
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