Prime Minister Gonsalves Engages
Brooklyn’s Vincy Diaspora at Town Hall Meeting, Gospel Concert
BROOKLYN, NY, Sunday, September 19 2010: –
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves spent an active weekend in Brooklyn,
engaging New York’s Vincentian Diaspora in advance of his weeklong
participation in activities at the United Nations. Prime Minister
Gonsalves was the feature speaker at a packed town hall meeting as
well and was the specially invited guest at a gospel concert to
benefit persons suffering from kidney ailments. Surrounded by scores of enlarged photographs
illustrating government accomplishments over the past decade, a
standing-room-only crowd of over 400 persons heard Prime Minister
Gonsalves mix politics and policy in his town hall address. The meeting, which was held on Saturday 18th
at the Friends of Crown Heights Educational Centre, was broadcast
live on Vincentian and Brooklyn radio stations. Speaking at the town hall meeting, Prime
Minister Gonsalves detailed major accomplishments of his government,
including poverty reduction, infrastructural development, and the
successful “education revolution,” which revolutionlised access to
education in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He also discussed
projects that are ongoing, including the medical diagnostic centre
at Georgetown, access to early childhood education, and the Argyle
International Airport. Speaking on the eve of an intensifying
political season in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister
Gonsalves reminded the audience that elections are constitutionally
due by March, 2011, and asked them to encourage their friends and
relatives back home to reelect the incumbent Unity Labour Party
(ULP). The Prime Minister discussed the background and
qualifications of some of the first-time ULP candidates, and
contrasted the fresh faces and ideas of his government with the
candidates and policies of the opposition New Democratic Party
(NDP). Prime Minister Gonsalves also highlighted
the NDP’s embrace of foreign elements to assist them in their
efforts to unseat the incumbent government, including British
company Strategic Communications Laboratories and American dot-com
millionaire Dave Copps. The Prime Minister admonished the NDP for
their claims that democracy is under threat in Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines and questioned whether the opposition intended to “save”
democracy or “sell” it to the highest foreign bidder. Deputy Consul General Cyrill “Scorcher”
Thomas and United Nations Ambassador Camillo Gonsalves also made
brief remarks at the town hall meeting. A lengthy question and
answer period followed the Prime Minister’s address. On Sunday, the Prime Minister attended the
annual gospel concert that is held in Brooklyn to benefit
Vincentians who suffer from renal failure and other kidney ailments.
In remarks to the audience, Prime Minister Gonsalves detailed the
advancements being made by his government in the treatment of kidney
ailments, including the construction of the medical diagnostic
centre at Georgetown, which will include ten (10) dialysis machines. Pastor Wendy Mitchell, the concert’s
headline performer, invited Prime Minister Gonsalves to join her for
a spirited dance and singing of some popular gospel songs. |
 |
|
