Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
St Vincent and the Grenadines becomes first CARICOM nation to lead CELAC
Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves addressing the closing ceremony of CELAC VII in Argentina
Breaking News
January 25, 2023

St Vincent and the Grenadines becomes first CARICOM nation to lead CELAC

St Vincent and the Grenadines has assumed presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the first CARICOM country to elected to the position.

The Eastern Caribbean nation was unanimously elected to lead the 33-nation bloc at the VII CELAC summit which ended in Argentina on Tuesday night.

The pro tempore presidency is for a term of one year and is the institutional, technical and administrative support body of the CELAC. The post, which was most recently held by Argentina, is on a rotation basis.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Dr Ralph Gonsalves said he would rely on all CELAC’s members and organizations to help SVG in “this very important task”.

He assured the group that “things are not falling apart, the centre is holding and we are not just having passion. We have commitment and that is very important.”

Gonsalves ended his address with a verse from poet Robert Frost: “I shall be saying this ages and ages hence. Two roads diverged in the woods and I, I took the one least travelled by and that has made all the difference.”

The country was represented at the summit by Gonsalves, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Keisal Peters, SVG’s Ambassador to Venezuela Gareth Bynoe and SVG’s former Ambassador to Venezuela Andreas Wickham.

In December 2022, Gonsalves informed Vincentians of the country’s intention to seek presidency of CELAC, which he said “would be an extraordinary achievement” if it happened.

“It is a very important position for a progressive country like St Vincent and the Grenadines to aspire to, in a period with all the challenges which we are having in the world,” he stated.

CELAC is made up of 33 countries, of which 18 are Spanish-speaking, 12 English-speaking, 1 French-speaking and 1 Dutch-speaking.

The group was created on February 23, 2010 in Mexico. Subsequently, at the Caracas Summit (Venezuela) held on December 2-3 2011, the organisation was definitively constituted. The First Celac Summit was held in Chile in January 2013.

The bloc forms a political dialogue to deepen Latin American integration. CELAC is the successor of the Rio Group and the Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development (CALC).

RELATED STORY: National Holiday to celebrate SVG’s election to UN Security Council

{"carousel":"Carousel"}
  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Jones ought to be found guilty, says Prosecutor
    Front Page
    Jones ought to be found guilty, says Prosecutor
    Webmaster 
    October 3, 2025
    THE PROSECUTOR in a court case where Radio DJ, Christopher Jones, aka 2-Kool Chris, has been charged for wounding, has argued that Jones’ actions were...
    Defense counsel argues ‘2-Kool Chris’ acted in self defense
    Front Page
    Defense counsel argues ‘2-Kool Chris’ acted in self defense
    Webmaster 
    October 3, 2025
    THE LAWYER representing Christopher Jones also known as ‘2 Kool Chris’ in a wounding matter, asked the court this week whether his client was supposed...
    Free Movement Legislation gets full nod of approval
    Front Page
    Free Movement Legislation gets full nod of approval
    Webmaster 
    October 3, 2025
    ON MONDAY, September 28, 2025, Members of Parliament gave full support to two pieces of legislation having to do with the free movement of people amon...
    Prefab homes being erected in the Southern Grenadines
    Front Page
    Prefab homes being erected in the Southern Grenadines
    Webmaster 
    October 3, 2025
    SEVERAL ISSUES in the Southern Grenadines relating to land ownership and terrain have been identified as being responsible for slowing the government’...
    Flag raising and fireworks kick off Independence Month celebrations
    Front Page
    Flag raising and fireworks kick off Independence Month celebrations
    Webmaster 
    October 3, 2025
    A FLAG RAISING and lighting ceremony on Wednesday evening, October 1, 2025 marked the start of month-long activities to celebrate this country’s 46th ...
    PM concerned over growing US-Venezuela tensions
    News
    PM concerned over growing US-Venezuela tensions
    Webmaster 
    October 3, 2025
    PRIME MINISTER, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, has expressed concern about “dire consequences for our region” should there be any escalation in tensions between ...
    News
    PM concerned over growing US-Venezuela tensions
    News
    PM concerned over growing US-Venezuela tensions
    Webmaster 
    October 3, 2025
    PRIME MINISTER, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, has expressed concern about “dire consequences for our region” should there be any escalation in tensions between ...
    Maduro says Venezuelans are calm, but ready to defend themselves
    News
    Maduro says Venezuelans are calm, but ready to defend themselves
    Webmaster 
    October 3, 2025
    DESPITE THE PRESENCE of warships from the United States of America on its doorsteps, and at least one nuclear submarine, life goes on as usual in Vene...
    Dr Friday promises no victimisation under his NDP Administration
    News
    Dr Friday promises no victimisation under his NDP Administration
    Webmaster 
    October 3, 2025
    AS GENERAL ELECTIONS in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), draws closer Leader of the Opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), Dr. Godwin Friday is pr...
    Lawyers to engage secondary school students as part of Law Week activities
    News
    Lawyers to engage secondary school students as part of Law Week activities
    Webmaster 
    October 3, 2025
    THIS YEAR, as part of the local law week, students from six schools will be given the opportunity to engage lawyers on topics of their (students) choo...
    HR Executive and Leadership Coach launches bite-size advice series and online Hub
    News
    HR Executive and Leadership Coach launches bite-size advice series and online Hub
    Webmaster 
    October 3, 2025
    HUMAN RESOURCES practitioner, Karen James, last weekend launched her long-anticipated BiteSize advice series, a collection of nine impactful books des...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok