SVG’s representation at Summit of the Americas uncertain

This country’s Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves will not attend the upcoming Summit of the Americas unless Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua are invited.

The United States is expected to host the Summit of the Americas meetings in Los Angeles from June 6-10.

However, the host country has opted not to invite the three Latin American countries; Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua citing issues relating to human rights and democracy.

“There was an agreement on core principles regarding that the summit must be inclusive, no one must be excluded and that the president of the United States government doesn’t have the right to exclude anyone,” Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves said on the ‘Good Marnin’ show hosted by the Agency for Public Information (API) yesterday morning.

Gonsalves, who recently returned from attending the ALBA Summit in Cuba last week, said unequivocally that he will not be attending the next week’s summit.

And he said it was still “up in the air” as to whether St Vincent and the Grenadines will be represented at any lower level.

“As presently advised, I don’t see how we should go, but I’ll have further discussion with my cabinet colleagues and also my colleague Heads. I find it just a terrible idea to exclude people. We should be having conversations with one another and we shouldn’t be so — sometimes we’re still so preoccupied with 20th century conflicts and battles in the 21st century. We have now entered the third decade of the 21st century. We have to resolve these problems,” the prime minister said.

Gonsalves noted that some leaders from Latin American and Caribbean countries have decided to attend at the leadership level, while other countries have opted to attend at lower levels.

He added that the Argentina’s president, Alberto Fernández, who is also president of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) has opted to attend the Summit principally to protest the US’ decision to exclude the three countries and speak on why the Summit should be inclusive rather than exclusive.

The prime minister noted that the reasons surrounding Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua’s exclusion are related to that of lack of democracy and human rights issues.

He said however, that, “the point about it is this; there are counties which will be going that have human rights challenges and issues”, including the US.

Gonsalves did not express high hopes for the US relenting on its decision to exclude the three Latin American countries and said “…I can say certainly the Prime Minister will not be attending unless these three countries, Cuba ,Venezuela and Nicaragua are invited”.

“And presently, as far as I am advised, I don’t think we should go at all,” the prime minister said.

The Summit of the Americas has taken place at least once every three years since 1994 and is known for being the only meeting that brings together all leaders from the countries of the North, South, and Central America and the Caribbean.

According www.state.gov, this meeting looks to promote cooperation towards region-wide, inclusive economic growth and prosperity based on nations’ shared respect for democracy, fundamental freedoms, the dignity of labour and free enterprise.