20.NOV.09

Editor: Recently there was an incident involving a candidate for elections which caused shame and embarrassment to our country. I wish to say that this is not representative of a country whose rights and freedoms are being attacked in a Constitutional Reform process. It is not helpful and indeed did not show a good face or paint a good image of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.{{more}}

As a concerned citizen and Associate Director of a non-governmental organization with responsibility for human rights and freedoms education – The Thusian Institute for Religious Liberty – I would like to make a special apology to the Prime Minister, the Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, and to the European Union Officials who thought it fit to give funding to help with the development of the Tourism industry in this country.

I would like them to know that this behavior is not indicative of what this country believes and that we are a people who are indeed grateful for help and development from foreign countries like the Union they represent. I truly regret that this happened and wish all Vincentians to understand that this behavior is not helpful and is not to be encouraged even where a person may be aggrieved for one reason or the other. May God help us to do the right thing always.”

Anesia Baptiste, Associate Director, T.I.R.L Inc.