Sir Louis late in congratulating Obama

20.FEB.09

EDITOR: SVG Foreign Minister should hang his head in shame in being 15 days late in congratulating President Barack Obama on his historic inauguration as the first African-American President of the USA.{{more}}

In response to soaring public opinion, Sir Louis Straker, Foreign Affairs Minister, made a late congratulatory statement in Parliament on February 3, 2009, to recognize the historical significance of President Barack Obama’s inauguration as the first African-American President of the USA on Tuesday, January 20, 2009.

Sir Louis Straker went to Iran in 2008 to cement relationship between Iran and SVG and on his return he was quick to hold a press conference about a big cheque he received from Iran. Remittances from the USA and Europe keep SVG’s economy from going down more quickly. More importantly, the people of SVG have blood ties with the African American ancestry.

Sir Louis Straker’s late recognition of the importance of President Obama’s inauguration is outright shameful, disrespectful, distasteful and unacceptable.

Sir Louis Straker should hang his head in shame if or when he meets President Barack Obama in Trinidad on April 17, 2009.

Ivan O’Neal
Leader – SVG Green Party