BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, June 4th, 2012 (CUOPM) – With the closure of the OECS High Commission in Canada last year, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Sam Condor says there ought to be a renewed role of the national groups in Canada.
Expressing a willingness to engage the various organizations in discussions on ways in which there could be more cooperation, Mr. Condor spoke of the vibrancy, innovation and untapped potential of nationals in the Diaspora that could achieve that extra-ordinary something, for the benefit of all.
“Our people possess the brain-power, the skills, and must be given the opportunities. Certainly, as a Government, we must re-think how we perceive development; and find ways to incentivize our Diaspora communities, to become genuine partners in development,” he told the 15th Reunion of the Anguilla Nevis St. Kitts Associations from around the world.
“We must move away from the traditional assistance associated with our Diaspora; such as remittances, sponsorship for heath care, donations to our various social institutions,” he told Anguillans, Nevisians, and Kittitians from various national groups in Canada, Anguilla, the United Kingdom, Nevis, the United States, Europe, St. Kitts, Bermuda, the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.
Deputy Prime Minister Condor called for a new practical and strategic partnership between governments and their peoples with a collective obligation to fashion a new mindset about partnership, about Caribbean Citizenship and about inter-Caribbean Co-operation.
“You are strategically placed and have the power to make the difference needed for a renewal, a rebirth if you like, of progress and love through unity; or as you have put it, through ‘Togetherness,” he said, suggesting the use of “our skills-set; our political and economic access; our resources and awareness of common cause, to develop the types of relationships that will transform our Caribbean Region; in terms of human development and economic opportunity.”
“We must come together to wrestle with the intricacies of surviving the Economic Downturn, caused by greed and self-centeredness. This is time for togetherness not disharmony. I know that you, the sons and daughters of our Great Nation, are passionate about the progress of our Native Land, and have prepared yourselves in a variety of ways, to engage the world from a local or global stand point,” Mr. Condor told nationals of the three islands living around the world.
He expressed great faith in their capacity and willingness to work together for a new approach to diversification in pursuit of rebuilding their economies in the midst of one of the World’s greatest economic downturns.
“We are called upon to hold on to the gains we have made for our peoples and countries; and to contend for a share of what is yet available in the Global Economy. This Event therefore, can be viewed as a gathering of compatriots, imbued with a quest for National Prosperity, believing that joy can be derived from working together, for the good of all.
It is my belief that we all have a keen sense and knowledge of the vision, dreams, aspirations and achievements of our Founding Fathers; those ordinary men, who achieved extraordinary things, in their struggle for the advancement of our peoples and countries,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.
He said the Diaspora-Homeland unity must remain one of the corner- stones of the assistance to and strengthening of the ANSAR Communities, pointing out that due to the unity, “we have as a people, been able to overcome numerous ordeals and to embark on a path of stable development.”
“We have undoubtedly experienced phenomenal progress over the years, and in many instances, have been creative and positive trendsetters in the Region. It is of course a dynamic system, requiring flexibility, as we consider the many changes and developments taking place in the International Arena.
But when one considers the fact that our Nationals with varied expertise, are assisting in the modern development of Countries all over the world, we know that we can and must devise new strategies.
We must work in collaboration the with State, political, cultural, scientific, and other circles in the Homeland and Diaspora, to search for and to implement new fields of endeavour,” said Deputy Prime Minister Condor.
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