Saturday 5 November 2022
A Celebration of St. Vincent and the Grenadines at 43 in Ottawa
by Joy Osiagwu
Colorful displays of the rich cultural heritage of St. Vincent & the Grenadines characterized the celebration of the 43rd Independence anniversary of the island nation by members of the Association in Ottawa.
The online event with the theme: Our Resilience, Our Fortitude, Our People, took place on November 5, 2022.
The Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Honorable Ralph Gonsalves who joined the celebration online from the home country, noted that the legacies of underdevelopment from colonial rule continues to afflict the sustainable development of modern-day St. Vincent and the Grenadines, coupled with the impact of climate change. However, the people’s grit and resilience aligned well with the theme of the 43rd anniversary.
He recalled the extraordinary challenges of the past two years consequent upon the Covid-19 pandemic, the volcanic eruption of 2021, hurricane Elsa of July 2021 and other global turmoil. However, he said the objective responses from the government, members in Diaspora and other nations deserved commendations.
The Prime Minister noted that his administration had secured appropriate solidarity for immediate humanitarian and social safety net support through lateral and multilateral cooperation and solicited continued abiding faith from the Diaspora.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Honorable Keisal Peters congratulated all loyal partners as the nation continues to surmount local challenges.
She said the government of Canada, through the Royal Canadian Airforce assisted in transporting two hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars’ worth of personal protective equipment to aid in the fight against COVID-19; through a partnership between the governments of Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Pan-American health organization.
Canada also donated twenty thousand doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in 2021 to fight the covid -19 pandemic in the island nation.
Honorable Peters remarked that Canada’s swift response to the explosive eruptions of the volcano in 2021 must not go unmentioned. Peters added that the World Pediatric Project Caribbean received fifty thousand dollars to help meet the health needs of displaced children.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Red Cross also received a complimentary sum of ninety thousand dollars through the International Federation of Red Cross to support shelters for evacuees and provide relief supplies and first aid services.
“Canada has been a friend in times of need and a friend indeed,” said Peters.
Indeed, it was a night to celebrate the communal effort of the Diaspora. President, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Association, Ottawa, Suzette Small-Weeks, congratulated all members of the Association and the people at home on the island.
She acknowledged the valuable contributions of the members of the Association to the growth, vibrancy and diversification of the local economy and social development of the city of Ottawa. Small Weeks encouraged the members to keep up the excellent work and harness their creative efforts for the common purpose and set goals for the community in Ottawa and the people at home in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Joy Osiagwu is a Project Officer with Black History Ottawa. She has over two decades of experience as a broadcast journalist in Nigeria and North America. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Cumbria in the United Kingdom, plus a post-graduate diploma in Broadcast Performing Arts from the Columbia Academy, Vancouver, British Columbia.