SVG Diaspora and Development Conference to be held in New York

The St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Diaspora and Development Conference will be held on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at The Kingdom Life Ministries International, 770 Park Place, Brooklyn, New York.{{more}}

The conference is organized by the SVG Diaspora Committee of New York Inc, in partnership with the Consulate General of SVG in the USA, the Council of SVG Organizations, USA, Inc, and the Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc.

The objectives of the conference are: (1) To provide an opportunity for the Vincentian diaspora in the US to focus on the development challenges and opportunities facing SVG and the diaspora in the USA; (2) To strengthen the unity in the Vincentian diaspora in the US; and (3) To promote the implementation of the Vincy Diaspora (USA) Framework for Action, which emerged from the St Vincent and the Grenadines Diaspora Homecoming Conference held in 2009, and which called for a Diaspora and Development Conference every two years, a release from the organizers said.

“The SVG diaspora and Development conference is a reflection of the need to lift SVG’s diaspora relations to a higher level. This Conference comes out of decades of experiences of Vincentians migrating to the USA. During this time, Vincentians in the diaspora have significantly contributed to SVG by providing economic, financial, and positive social remittances. The Vincentian diaspora in the USA has been making outstanding contributions to the American society as well,” the release said.

In this context of decades of development, the Vincentian diaspora is on the verge of lifting itself to a higher level. The potential is limitless. It is important that Vincentians living in the USA meet periodically as a community with Vincentians living in SVG to reflect on these achievements and seek to improve them so the full potential of diaspora relations could become a reality. This conference provides the opportunity for the grand periodic meeting of Vincentians at home and abroad in the USA.

To hold comprehensive discussions, the conference will bring together the Head of State of St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Prime Minister Dr the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves; several institutions in SVG; organizations in the Vincentian diaspora in the USA; and members of the Vincentian diaspora in the USA.

Institutions in SVG that would participate in the conference include Invest SVG, Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Non-State Actors Advisory Panel.

The discussions during the conference will look at ways to develop diaspora relations between Vincentians living in the USA and Vincentians in SVG. The spotlight will be placed on business and social development aspects of diaspora relations.

The conference is sponsored by LIME and AI Real Estate, owned by Vincentian entrepreneur Don Providence.