Advertisement 87
Advertisement 323
Sen. Camillo Gonsalves. (IWN file photo)
Sen. Camillo Gonsalves. (IWN file photo)
Advertisement 219
The views expressed herein are those of the writer and do not represent the opinions or editorial position of I-Witness News. Opinion pieces can be submitted to [email protected].

Camillo Gonsalves, never write out of anger, never write about subjects which you have not fully researched; always take the advice of someone more learned. If you really want to write whilst you are angry, write poetry. You may have the credentials of being an attorney, solicitor, or whatever you wish to be identified as. Regardless to what you have been told by your father, that doesn’t make you the brightest on the block. There are many people in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as bright as you and perhaps several more qualified than you.

(Read also: Camillo Gonsalves’ open letter on his citizenship)

Many people have objections to your becoming anything in SVG when it is based on undue influence by your father, Ralph E. Gonsalves (daddy). It seems that daddy has made sure that you have had opportunities belonging to the state and therefore the citizenry, with no regard to other contenders, regardless of ability, suitability and experience. No one else was offered the opportunities that you were afforded. That, as far as most intelligent people are concerned, is a clear and perfectly established case of nepotism. Daddy has groomed you to take over his estate.

I am sure you are a very nice young man and I have met you on a couple of occasions, and your father on many occasions. Your father is from the old Marxist stable, fighting hard to now show that he is a practising Christian, reading biblical verses and such. But his behaviour does not match that of a true Christian. You must have observed his behaviour as closely or closer perhaps more than most others. Have you ever asked yourself, “Is that my father behaving like that, treating citizens in such a way and calling them nasty names and making nasty gestures? Is that really my daddy?” Well have you, or do you condone such behaviour because he is your daddy, or because he is creating a feathered nest future for you? Yes you may ask what has that got to do with you? In fact, it has a lot to do with you. You are a grown man, hopefully with an independent mind. As such, you must know that your promotion before others is wrong? But you have accepted that as being OK.

Nepotism is the showing of favouritism towards relatives, based upon that relationship, rather than on an objective evaluation of ability or suitability. For instance, offering employment to a relative, despite the fact that there are others who are better qualified and willing to perform that job, would be considered a form of nepotism.

Advertisement 271

Cronyism is partiality to long-standing friends or political allies, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications. Hence, cronyism is contrary in practice and principle to meritocracy. Cronyism exists when the appointer and the beneficiary are both in social contact, often the appointer is inadequate to hold his or her own job or position of authority. For this reason, the appointer appoints people who will not try to weaken his or her own job, or express views contrary to their own views. Or to return political favour

Camillo you pointed us to this clause from the constitution.

Persons born outside Saint Vincent on or after 27th October 1979.

92. A person born outside Saint Vincent after the commencement of this Constitution shall become a citizen at the date of his birth if, at that date, his father or mother is a citizen otherwise than by virtue of this section or section 90(3) of this Constitution. This is a mistake on your part and of little relevance seeing as you were born before 1979 — in fact in 1972.

This clause is not fully relevant to your situation; you should have related the whole matter to clause 90. That’s where your rights may stem from. Well, I suppose we all make mistakes, we will forgive you, if daddy does.

Of course your citizenship should be questioned, you are a public figure, as such the citizens have the right to know everything about you.

Camillo, I am in no doubt you are a fine young man and able to undertake any job that is now given to you by your daddy. That does not mean you are suitable or the best suited for such a job, or perhaps the person next in line for such a position.

As an American citizen at the time, I am not even sure your service as Ambassador to the UN was legal; it needs looking at. Did you get special dispensation, did they know at the time that you were an American citizen, because your citizenship status could have excluded you from diplomatic immunity.

Camillo, I really do not want you to think that I am disrespectful to you or your daddy. Although I dislike daddy because of what I consider his crass behaviour, I do not dislike you as long as you remain honest, decent and truthful.

Thank you so much for the personal information. I think that we should keep in mind, because you gave up U.S. citizenship could well mean that you have lost it forever. You can reapply, and because you were born there perhaps you will get it back. I have investigated for you and it seems that once you renounced the U.S. citizenship your situation will be like any other who is applying for a Green card for the first time. You would have to start up the immigration procedure from the very beginning. For that you can have a U.S. citizen-sponsor who is an immediate blood relative with sufficient income to support you would have to petition for you in the U.S. citizenship and immigration services (USCIS).

Your mother can petition before the USCIS on your behalf. It seems that you cannot initiate this procedure by yourself. It is better advised that you may consult with an immigration attorney who can give a proper guidance and speed up the proceedings.

I can point you in the direction of a Green Card specialist, perhaps you know of a Mr. Augustus. I am sure he can help you out for 5 or 6000 US dollars — cheap at half the price.

Peter Binose, self-appointed keeper of the whistle, and blowing hard

The opinions presented in this content belong to the author and may not necessarily reflect the perspectives or editorial stance of iWitness News. Opinion pieces can be submitted to [email protected].

7 replies on “A reply to Camillo Gonsalves’ open letter”

  1. mikailia edwards says:

    Boring n lacks real merit..it is a fact that camillo cud hav been more diplomatic by xcludin d name callin but he is human too n he has realised dat theee ppl includin u hav no real interest in svg but in pwer so he must defen himself..n u all just hate d fact dat he is ralphs son because u wish he didnt exist..but get used to it..d ppl will but him there..admisdt all d talk only d ppl who put ralph there can vote him out n dats d harsh reality for u sir madam so get with it

  2. Ras Ishaka Williams says:

    Cool down your temper, bro!

    When all is said and done here, what is omitted is of more significance. Even though Camillo has a right to determine which of the countries he prefers to link his allegiance to, what is of concern to me here is his display of arrogance in defending his case. If he was so determined to be nonchalant about it (knowing he was legally correct), why blaze about it now, likening himself to Obama in the process, and asserting himself as the intellectual giant who would be Prime Minister? Is he displaying conscientious integrity?
    Here is his omission: “The U.S. Department of State has adopted a uniform administrative standard of evidence based on the premise that U.S. nationals intend to retain their U.S. citizenship when they naturalize as nationals of a foreign state, declare their allegiance to a foreign state, serve in the military forces of a foreign state not engaged in hostilities against the United States, or accept non-policy level employment with a foreign government. This administrative premise is not applicable when an individual fills a policy-level position with a foreign government. In such cases, the Department of State will carefully ascertain the individual’s intent toward his or her U.S. nationality.
    On the other hand, because there is no administrative presumption that U.S. nationals who hold policy-level positions in foreign governments necessarily intend to retain their U.S. nationality, efforts are made to adjudicate fully such cases to determine the individual’s intent. Certain policy level positions are inherently INCOMPATIBLE WITH RETAINING U.S.NATIONALITY. Cases of this nature generally involve HEADS OF STATE OR FOREIGN MINISTERS. Except with respect to these positions, the Department will not typically consider employment in a policy-level position to lead to loss of nationality if the individual says that he or she did not intend to lose their U.S. nationality and if the individual’s actions were consistent with the retention of U.S. nationality.”

    Did Camillo so GENEROUSLY give up his U.S. citizenship? Or did he already know it was the easiest path? In any case, it will not be difficult for him to become a naturalized citizen of the U.S. in the future. His position and status will ensure that. So how legitimate is his claim of allegiance to our people? Politicians will continue to be about themselves and trust that the people are incapable of insightful thinking. Camillo leaves one with the impression that he walked in as a gentle sacrificial lamb and begged them to take away his U.S. citizenship. I despise dishonesty in politicians who choose acts of omission as their strategy for popular support! Fiah Bun!
    It is sad when our people continue to be “bamboozled” by the idea that our leaders must be lawyers, or that knowledge of Law is inherent in the ability to lead a people, particularly a people who have been so dispossessed, dehumanized, enslaved and colonized by lawmakers. How committed can a catholic be to the blackman’s liberation, or Pan-Africanism, without relinquishing his allegiance to the Pope of Rome? Certainly, it is not sufficient to relinquish it with the United Snakes, and not just with the queen witch of England either!

  3. Steve Huggins says:

    Peter, you just made my day !

    YOU really “brek” me up, with your final paragraph, there.

    LOL .

    ha, ha, ha, ha ………….

  4. Peter Binose says:

    What I think he has failed to tell us that to become a US attorney he was required to swear allegiance to the United States and the US Constitution. That under the terms of SVG’s constitution may of excluded him from being made a Vincentian senator. So why not tell us that, instead of going into a whole load of unnecessary long winded splurge about his birth right.
    26. (1) No person shall be qualified to be elected or appointed as a Representative or Senator (hereinafter in this section referred to as a member) if he-
    a. is by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.

    Its not about being born in the US its about what is contained in the above clause. That is why he gave up citizenship, because he had to.

    Why then write a whole lot of embroidered crap, It appears to me that he is sliding down the same slope as his father. Trying to bamboozle the public with a whole lot of legal jargon, all designed to hide the truth.

    The situation that he was in can in know way be equated to what happened to Obama.

    Camillo, God forbid that you get the same lable as your father. Just be straight and honest with the people, there is no need to be untruthful, we appreciate the truth regardless of what it is. The truth will earn you respect, lies will send you to the garbage bin of history.

  5. Peter,
    You are nothing short of an ignorant bafoon..it is the same ignorance that is dogging your party-NDP; hence, they will NEVER win an elections in SVG. Until world-class idiots such as yourself step out of the narrow mindedness NDP WILL continue to suffer at the polls.
    What you say about Glen Beache? Here is a talented, young man who was raised and groomed by his parents, who served this country and continue to serve. Peter you are hounding the very talent that will probably better this country in the next generation. How would you welcome a brain drain? Remember Camillo don’t HAVE to stay in SVG…it was by his choice, so be thankful and support this man- SVG need him and people like him.
    Thank the good lord that the Comrade did a fine job as a parent and a leader. Why do some people continue to criticize when they cannot create?

  6. JUNIOR, same crap from you. Are you really as stupid as you come across in your ultra ignorant writing and ill informed knowledge base.

    Buffoon is the word you were looking for, there is no such word in the English as bafoon.

    I have told you before and I will tell you again, seeing as your pea sized brain is unable to grasp what I have told you.

    I am not a ULP supporter, I am not an NDP supporter, and I do not support the Green Party. That doesn’t mean that I do not support or reject anything, any principles, or any qualities that any of these parties should adopt or have.

    My party was the old labour party which was hijacked, kidnapped, stolen or purchased by a Marxist party, then used like a trojan horse to attack the minds of ignorant people like yourself. They cloaked what the party really is, its quite simply an old fashioned Marxist party. Worse still the party is led by a self confessed liar, who I therefore find it difficult to accept anything that he says.

    Much of what comes from the ULP I reject, because in many cases what they bring to the public is distorted by the Marxist content. The NDP fare much better in my reckoning being led by a honest and decent man that doesn’t tell lies.

    The Green party I reject because I don’t like the policies which in most cases have no relation at all to being green.

    Go back and look at what the Beach boy did in having a local company with a similar or same name as one he dealt with in TT, one he dealt with in TT whilst being a minister. There has been plenty written about that, including his own explanation. His father has a lot to answer for with passing the Labour party over to a Marxist. I will say no more because its all recorded already in SVG’s modern history, its all being logged and recorded.

    You are right it is Camillo’s choice, but that still doesn’t alter the fact of his being here based in nepotism. He has job positions that were not open to other young people who did not have a daddy who is the prime minister.

  7. Peter Binose says:

    I submitted this and i am still hoping someone will publish it –

    CAMILLO GONSALVES, WHAT HE LEFT OUT, WHAT HE LEFT IN, DO THE HOKE- POKEY AND TURN AROUND.

    If you remember Camillo told us this [extracts] –

    “I have lived in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; attended primary and secondary school in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines”
    https://www.iwnsvg.com/2014/03/06/camillo-gonsalves-open-letter-on-his-citizenship/

    Yet elsewhere I found this –

    His early schooling was in Jamaica, where he attended the Priory School [email protected] and the Wolmers High School http://wolmers.org/
    [Both upper and middle class fee paying schools for the privileged child]

Comments closed.