Celebrate, honour the invaluable and lasting legacy of our blessed SVG
INDEPENDENCE MESSAGE from Her Excellency, Dame Susan D.
Dougan GCMG, OBE, Governor General of St. Vincent and the Grenadines – To mark the 46th Anniversary of Independence of St. Vincent and the Grenadines: 27th October, 2025
FELLOWVINCENTIANS. As our nation celebrates its forty-sixth anniversary of Independence on the 27th of October, 2025, under the theme “Celebrating Our Identity – Inspiring Our Future,” it is an opportune moment to celebrate and honour the invaluable and lasting legacy of our blessed St. Vincent and the Grenadines – our history, traditions, heritage, and values, along with that deep sense of belonging that unites us as a people and defines us as Vincentians, both at home and in the diaspora.
When our beloved nation attained Independence in 1979,Vincentians stepped forward with determination and hope to retrieve our identity and dignity and to build a nation that promotes civic engagement, cultural expression, dialogue, and inclusion. It was envisioned that these ideals would help us to strengthen our resilience, foster better relationships and empower us to achieve prosperity and national progress.
Today, we applaud the vision and optimism of our founding fathers who, through courage and conviction, secured for us the political freedom and independence that we continue to cherish. Their foresight reminds us that Independence is not merely a historical milestone, but an ongoing journey – one that calls upon us to reflect on how far we have come, to envision where we wish to go, and to determine how each of us can contribute to the continued development of our Vincentian identity.
How then do we celebrate our identity, which is a work in progress, and continue the mission of those generations of patriots who worked to transform this nation?
We must each do our part to build upon the strong foundation they have laid – by embracing our differences, listening to one another, supporting each other, and working together for the further development of St.Vincent and the Grenadines.
We must remain mindful of the importance of our national symbols, our language, our shared history, and our cultural heritage, all of which strengthen our national consciousness, remind us of the ideals we stand for, and help us to determine our identity.
Our national coat of arms is a powerful emblem of identity, “embodying our nation’s heritage, values, and aspirations.” It represents our “sovereignty and unity, and captures the essence of our history, our culture, and the natural beauty that surrounds us.”
The motto, Pax et Justitia – Peace and Justice – continues to serve as a moral compass, reminding us of the principles upon which our nation was built.
The symbols of our nation – our National Anthem, National Pledge, National Flag, National Bird, National Dish, and National Flower – all hold deep meaning and significance.
They reflect who we are as a people and remind us of the values and aspirations that bind us together.
To truly celebrate our identity, we must also honour our ancestors – the Garifuna and Kalinago peoples, the Africans, the East Indians, the Portuguese, and those of European descent – whose collective struggles, sacrifices, and resilience have shaped the rich fabric of our Vincentian society.
This remarkable blend of ethnic backgrounds has given rise to a vibrant and diverse culture that is distinctly our own – a culture we now celebrate with pride and gratitude.
In the languages of our ancestors, their stories, wisdom, traditions, and values are passed down to generations of Vincentians.
Their words and expressions enrich our folktales, our gatherings such as tea meetings, nine mornings, and moonlight games, as well as our folk songs all of which continue to preserve ancestral wisdom and the guiding principles that have sustained us as a people.
The expression of our identity also shines through in our cuisine and the creative use of local products – from madungo bakes and fungie made from arrowroot, to tri-tri cakes, roasted breadfruit, and ducuna. Our traditional foods tell the story of our resourcefulness, our love of the land, and our deep connection to community.
Our creative and cultural heritage lives through us and connects our past to our future. As our ancestors once did, we continue to express ourselves through music, dance, storytelling, and craft. From the use of locally grown materials such as coconut and bamboo – fashioned into hats, mats, baskets, and roofing – to handcrafted jewellery made from seashells and beads, our artistry speaks to the enduring creativity and industriousness of the Vincentian spirit.
While we celebrate our identity, we must acknowledge that there are negative societal forces threatening to derail us from our development path. From time to time we witness elements in our society that seem intent on dividing us as a nation and distracting us from what should be our main focus, that is nation building. We must discourage such negative features from taking root in our society. One such feature is the scourge of criminal activity. Thus, we must continuously look for innovative ways to not just reduce it but wipe it out completely.
As we look to the future, we must ensure that our children and grandchildren appreciate and value their heritage and proudly embrace the symbols of our identity. Our traditions, stories, and cultural expressions must continue to live through them. As a nation, we must encourage our schools, communities, and organisations to promote our festivals, national celebrations, and civic engagement providing opportunities for young Vincentians to use their creativity to preserve and celebrate who we are. We should also build industries around our local foods and crafts, transforming our cultural heritage into avenues for innovation and growth.
May we move forward together and be proud of who we are, united in purpose, and inspired to build an even stronger and more vibrant St.Vincent and the Grenadines.
Happy Independence.
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