Overwhelming number of congrats messages – PM

Newly sworn in Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has received an overwhelming number of congratulatory messages on his and the Unity Labour Party’s (ULP) election for an historic fourth consecutive term.

Congratulations have been pouring in swiftly and voluminously from governments, ambassadors, international and regional organizations, non-government groups, business entities (local, regional, and international),{{more}} and individuals at home and abroad.

Among the persons offering congratulations was president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, who offered the full support and commitment of the Bolivarian Revolution to advance in consolidating the strategic partnership between St Vincent and the Grenadines and Venezuela, by strengthening the joint development plans and projects that have been promoted as brotherly nations.

President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Ma Ying-Jeou, in offering his congratulations, reminded Gonsalves of their 34-year-old relationship. Ying-Jeou described SVG as an ‘indispensable partner in national development’ and extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Taiwan to exchange views on issues of mutual concern and to further ensure the welfare of both peoples.

Speaking on behalf of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Christian Council, Monsignor Michael Stewart also offered congratulations to Gonsalves. In his letter, he disclosed council’s confidence that the Prime Minister would be able to make the transition from “being leader of one party, to being leader of one people; creating an environment where ALL feel valued, respected and with an authentic sense of belonging.

“The victory of the [Unity] Labour Party is historic, marking the first time that a party has won four consecutive elections in St Vincent and the Grenadines,” said Irwin Larocque, Secretary General of CARICOM.

He added that “The Caribbean Community will continue to benefit from your wise counsel and experience as one of the longest serving members of the Conference of Heads of Government. As secretary-general, I have come to value highly the insights you have shared with me and the guidance that you have so often generously provided.”

Other persons offering their congratulations included:

HE Mr Mao Chi-Kuo, Premier of the Republic of China (Taiwan);

HE Mr Baushan Ger, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan);

HE Mr Raul Castro Ruz, President of the Republic of Cuba;

HE Mr Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary General of the Commonwealth;

Dr The Rt Hon Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada and of the OECS;

Mr Serge Dupont, Executive Director of the IMF;

Mr Dominique Simard, Mission Chief to SVG from the IMF;

Mr Alejandro Werner, Director, Western Hemisphere Department of the IMF;

Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of the UWI;

Dr Luz Longsworth, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UWI Open Campus;

Dr Warren Smith, President of the Caribbean Development Bank;

HE Mrs Victoria Dean, British High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean;

Hon PJ Patterson, former Prime Minister of Jamaica;

HE Mr Mikael Barfod, Ambassador and Head of Delegation to the European Union;

HE Mr Luis Manuel Lopez Moreno, Ambassador of Mexico;

Mr Don Rojas, Institute of the Black World;

Mrs Jacqueline Roberts of the St Vincent Second Generation (SV2G);

Mrs Stella Boyea-Ashby;

Mr Ashook Ramsaran, President of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO);

Monsignor Vincent Blackett, Barbados;

Mr Phil Bentley, CEO of Cable and Wireless;

Mr Chris Crichton, St Vincent and the Grenadines Association of Florida;

Mr Ladd Winsboro and Mr Tony Durrant of the SVG Association and Friends of London, UK;

Mr Dorbrene O’Marde, Chair of the Antigua-Barbuda Reparations Support Commission;

Expressing her congratulations in a unique way, Marcella Dublin, a resident of Diamonds, wrote a poem entitled “Four inna row, forward we go!” stating her confidence in the Government’s ability to further develop SVG.

The Public Service Union (PSU) has also declared their willingness to contribute towards the development of the nation and strengthening of democracy, as disclosed in a congratulatory letter issued by PSU president Elroy Boucher.