Prime Minister Gonsalves addressed the United Nations General Debate on Friday. The Prime Minister's speech was very well received, and dealt with a number of important topics including the genocide in Darfur, climate change, rising food prices, the financial crisis in global markets, hemispheric tensions, financing for development, illegal small arms, Taiwan, and the role of the United Nations in peace and prosperity. The speech was broadcast on local radio in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Prime Minister also spoke at two other United Nations events. He addressed a High-Level meeting on Africa's Development Needs and a second meeting on meeting the Millennium Development Goals devoted to eradicating Hunger and Poverty. In total, the Prime Minister made an unprecedented three speeches at the United Nations in the space of five days. The active engagement at the United Nations helped to raise Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' international profile.

Another high-profile United Nations event was Prime Minister Gonsalves' co-chairing of a Roundtable on Africa's Development Needs. UN Secretary General set aside an entire day to discuss African development, and the centerpiece of this day was a set of roundtable discussions with world leaders. Each of the four roundtables had 2 co-chairs - one from the African continent, and one from another part of the world. Prime Minister Gonsalves, who co-chaired with President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, was therefore one of only four non-Africans to be honoured with a co-chairing assignment.

Bilateral Diplomacy

The Vincentian Delegation was heavily engaged in bilateral diplomacy, holding one-on-one meetings with an unprecedented 12 heads of state, ministers and other representatives. Prime Minister Gonsalves led discussions with the Presidents of Austria, Ghana, Iran, the Philippines, Portugal Turkey and Uganda. The Prime Minister also met with the First Vice President and Foreign Minister of Cuba, and the Private Secretary of the Queen of England.

Sir Louis Straker met bilaterally with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Canada, and the Foreign Ministers of Algeria, Bulgaria and the Dominican Republic.

Discussions with the various ministers and heads of state centered on scholarships for Vincentian students, cultural exchanges, and developmental assistance, including the Argyle International Airport. [For more information on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' bilateral meetings during the 63rd UN General Assembly, click HERE]

Diplomatic Relations

Other Meetings

In addition to official United Nations duties, the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines delegation remained busy with a host of other important diplomatic and political meetings.

Prime Minister Gonsalves met with the Prime Ministers of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and the foreign ministers of the remaining CARICOM countries in a caucus to discuss matters of mutual interest. Prime Minister Gonsalves also attended and addressed a Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. Additionally, Prime Minister Gonsalves spoke at an Editorial Board meeting of the Carib News newspaper, and answered questions from the board.

Foreign Minister Straker, attended a meeting with United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, along with other CARICOM foreign ministers. Additionally, the Sir Louis attended a Commonwealth Foreign Ministers meeting and a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Group of 77 (G-77). The Foreign Minister also held discussions with officials from the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO).

Mrs. Eloise Gonsalves was also busy, attending a symposium with US First Lady Laura Bush on advancing Global Literacy. Mrs. Gonsalves also attended the United Nations World Focus on Autism Event, which was moderated by CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour.

Ambassador Gonsalves attended a meeting of the CARICOM Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR).

Diaspora Engagement

The Prime Minister also made a priority of interacting with Vincentians in the Diaspora. He hosted a well-attended reception at the Metropolitan Club of Manhattan, which was graced by hundreds of New York based Vincentians, Prime Minister Denzil Douglas of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the Taiwanese Ambassador, and other diplomatic representatives.

Prime Minister Gonsalves also traveled to Brooklyn to meet with Vincentians at the Red Bress bar and nightclub. The standing-room only crowd was so large that it spilled out onto the sidewalk and streets. Prime Minister Gonsalves addressed the crowd and answered questions from the audience. The event was broadcast on radio in New York and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Advancement Through The Private Sector

Prime Minister Gonsalves held three meetings with private companies, all aimed at spurring investment and development in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. PM Gonsalves traveled to the construction site of 700 foot tunnel being constructed under New York's Harlem River. Prime Minister Gonsalves met with Area Manager Robert Stier of Kiewit Construction Company, which is constructing the tunnel for the ConEdison Electrical Company. The Prime Minister discussed the proposed tunnel under Cane Garden Point, and invited Kiewit to visit St. Vincent to evaluate the site and offer technical advice.

Prime Minister Gonsalves also met with former New York Governor George Pataki and members of the Pataki-Cahill Group, which specialises in renewable energy projects, offshore financial investment, and project financing. Additionally, the PM met with representatives of GoodWorks International, LLC, a company focused on development projects in Africa and the Caribbean. The Prime Minister and Ambassador La Celia Prince discussed a number of projects with GoodWorks, including the Argyle International Airport. The PM also met with officials from One Caribbean Radio Station.

Social Events

The Vincentian delegation was invited to a number of receptions, dinners and other social events during the week at the United Nations General Assembly. Among the events attended were a reception hosted by President George Bush and his wife Laura; a reception hosted by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon; and receptions hosted by Austria, Turkey, Ghana, the Netherlands and Singapore.

Prime Minister Gonsalves also held a luncheon for the staff of the Permanent Mission to the United Nations and members of the SVG Consulate in New York.

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The Vincentian Delegation comprised of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and Mrs. Eloise Gonsalves, Foreign Minister Sir Louis Straker, Ambassador to the United States and OAS La Celia Prince, Permanent Representative to the United Nations Camillo Gonsalves, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Lennox Daniel, and Minister-Counselor in the Permanent Mission to the United Nations Nedra Miguel.

[To view/download this Press Release as an Adobe .pdf document, click HERE]