Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves has made it absolutely clear that no one will be allowed to dictate how St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), operates.

He was at the time delivering the opening address at the VIII summit of the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC), where he used the regional platform to send a clear message about the country’s foreign relations.

“Those whose instincts drive them towards Imperial or hegemonic rule… this country St. Vincent and Grenadines will never permit any other country to dictate to us. We will never allow anyone to choose for us, our friends and allies.

“And we do not for those who think that we can be bought with blandishments, we do not put a for sale sign in our metaphoric shop window. And determinedly we are not for sale as a small country. I need to emphasize this so that the message can get clear that we are not like that.”

He said that SVG is a nation that while it treasures solidarity with other countries, holds sovereignty in high regard.

“We are indisputably an integrated whole. We are part of an island…a land of liberty and civilization made by our own hands and brains in solidarity with our friends and allies, and we guard our independence and sovereignty jealousy and we treasure solidarity.”

He furthered his point, adding that the Caribbean and Latin American region does not need to be schooled by those outside the region on “civilized living”.

“Even without own burdensome travails and setbacks, we have advanced tremendously. We are ordered societies with thriving civilizations, we do not need lessons from anybody about we having civilized life and living.”

The 33-nation bloc, PM Gonsalves said, has committed to keeping the region a zone of peace through continued dialogue.