South Leeward highway renamed after Mandela

Nelson Mandela represents the fight for freedom not just for South Africans, but for all peoples, and the decision to rename the South Leeward Highway the Nelson Mandela Highway is a tribute to the great man.

On Thursday, the South Leeward Highway was officially renamed the Nelson Mandela Highway during a ceremony at the Chauncey bus stop.

The highway, which is about five miles long, stretches from the gas station in Pembroke to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) in Kingstown.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said Nelson Mandela was a great man who fought for all peoples and not just South Africans.

He said that in Cabinet’s decision to rename the highway, they did not think it necessary to consult or hold a referendum, because the matter was self-evident, and they
collectively felt they were acting on behalf of the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) and the Caribbean.

Also present during the ceremony were Minister of Transport, Works, Urban Development and Local Government Julian Francis, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sir Louis Straker and High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to SVG Her Excellency Xoliswa N. Gwevela.

Her Excellency Gwevela said that it was an honour to be in SVG for the occasion. She said that South Africa does not own Nelson Mandela, as he belongs to the entire world.

She added that Mandela has done his job and has left a wonderful legacy, and we must continue the fight for what we think is right.

If Mandela were alive, he would have been 100 years old on July 18.