Vincentians feel spirit of motherland

Extraordinary!

This is Edroy “Ras John” John’s perspective on Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves’ leadership skills.

John, a businessman, and Clive “Bish-I” Bishop, an agronomist, were a part of Gonsalves’ delegation which recently travelled to Libya and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the spiritual home of Rastafarians.{{more}}

Gonsalves, on his second trip to Ethiopia as this country’s leader, made John and Bishop full members of his delegation as a tribute to Rastafari.

The other members of the party included the prime minister’s wife Eloise Gonsalves, and Camillo Gonsalves, this country’s Ambassador to the United Nations.

“The man is a leader. Not a normal leader. He is an extraordinary leader,” said John, to the media on Monday, February 8, 2010, while sharing his experience of being a part of the prime minister’s delegation.

He noted that he was impressed by Gonsalves’ presentation at the 14th Summit of the African Union and the high esteem in which Gonsalves’ is held by international leaders.

John told the media it is his desire that Gonsalves remains leader of St.Vincent and the Grenadines until 2020.

The Rastafarian told the nation via a live broadcast Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace cannot match the leadership qualities that Gonsalves possesses.

Bishop on the other hand said he was taken aback by the wealth and poverty in Ethiopia.

“You get a feeling that you are in a spiritual place when you go there,” said Bishop.

“Our experiences were great,” said Bishop.

Bishop, however, brought back several ears of black corn which he wishes to distribute the local farmers.

He noted that the corn was given to him by Ras ‘Bandi’ Payne, a Vincentian living in Ethiopia.

“The reason he gave it to me is that he planted seven different types of corn and the weather was terrible. There was a famine and drought and the only crop that survived the entire drought was the black corn,” said Bishop.

Regarding his trip to Libya, Bishop said he was impressed with the cleanliness of the city; the promotion of African unity; and meeting Colonel Muammar Ghadafi, the Libyan Leader.

In 2005, Gonsalves headed a nine member delegation, comprising his wife Eloise Gonsalves; son Camillo Gonsalves of the Attorney General Chambers then; St.Clair “Jimmy” Prince, Director of the Agency for Public Information (API); Ambassador Ellsworth John, the then Permanent Representative to Washington; and four Rastafarians, Ronald ‘Ras I Man I’ Hypolite; Nigel ‘Ras Ni-E’ St.Hillaire; Philbert ‘Ras Izaros’ Bascombe, and Uldrick ‘O.T’ Delplesche.