SVG joins in celebrating birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

St Vincent and the Grenadines joined the United Kingdom and other countries of the Commonwealth on Saturday in celebrating the 90th birthday of the monarch of Great Britain, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second with a parade at the Old Montrose Police Station.

Although the Queen’s birth date is April 21, 1926, she celebrates an official birthday on a Saturday in June every year.{{more}}

Speaking at a reception ceremony after the Queen’s Birthday Parade, Commissioner of Police Michael Charles commended the Queen on her milestone and on her 64th year as Queen of Great Britain and the Commonwealth.

“It’s amazing how this magnificent lady is being loved throughout the world by her humility and she is loved not only in Great Britain and throughout the Commonwealth, but the world over,” said Charles.

In his remarks, Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr Ralph Gonsalves stated that the Queen has been a stabilizing force in Britain and the Commonwealth.

“My experience as Prime Minister over the last 15 years plus is that the communications between ourselves and [Buckingham] Palace has always been very dignified and respectful and I happen to know from personal conversation with Her Majesty and other officials in the Palace that Her Majesty holds in high regard the people of the Caribbean, including St Vincent and the Grenadines,” Gonsalves said.

“She has been given long life; she is the longest serving monarch, longer than the former record holder, Queen Victoria, after whom we have called Victoria Park,” he added.

Gonsalves noted that there are millions of Caribbean people and persons of Caribbean descent in Britain, “so that it is now, as is said a multicultural world and we’ve come to celebrate her 90th birthday and to thank her for her service.”

The Prime Minister said although he is not a monarchist, Queen Elizabeth is the Queen of St Vincent and the Grenadines, “and as her Prime Minister, she must be accorded every single respect and her rule as to be acknowledged and supported.

“I want to wish her longer life and I want to have to communicate to her that we admire her very much and that we love her as we love the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines,” Gonsalves added.

The Police Commissioner also noted that Saturday was the first time in the history of SVG that a female police officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Juliana Charles, was the commander at the Queen’s birthday parade.

He further noted, “I’m honoured to say that for the first time in the history of St Vincent and the Grenadines, the parade commander is the wife of the Commissioner of Police.”

The Governor General’s Deputy, Susan Dougan, as the Queen’s representative, raised a toast to the Queen. Also present at the brief ceremony were High Court Judge Brian Cottle, Speaker of the OECS Assembly René Baptiste and Lady Gloria Antrobus, widow of former Governor General the late Sir Charles Antrobus.(AS)