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The park offers a commanding view of St. Vincent island. (Photo: Bequia Tourism Association.)
The park offers a commanding view of St. Vincent island. (Photo: Bequia Tourism Association.)
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Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has urged mutual respect between the expatriate and local population in Bequia amidst conflict over a recreational site in Spring, an upscale community in the northern Grenadine island.

Speaking on NBC Radio on Wednesday, Gonsalves noted that citizenship by naturalisation is not infinite and can be revoked, even as he urged born-Vincentians not to assume that people who have a different view and are of a different ethnicity are racists.

The prime minister, who has ministerial responsibility for Grenadines Affairs, said he had received a number of emails “concerning certain attitudes and the use of a place where the community will go and some people don’t want community to go there.

“… And I don’t like some of the things which I read,” Gonsalves said.

“I’m just saying to everyone, St. Vincent is a welcoming community. Through the fever of history, we have fashioned a civilisation of nobility. I repeat that, metaphorically, we are the songs of the indigenous people — the Calinago and the Garifuna, we are the rhythm of Africa, we are the melody of Europe, we are the chords of Asia and we are the home-grown lyrics of the Caribbean.”

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The prime minister said that Vincentians built institutions and a culture of tolerance.

“And our civilisation is harmonious. To the extent that you will have dissonances in any symphony, we have evolved institutions and cultural practices and norms and forms of behaviour, attitudes to deal with these dissonances and to deal with them properly.”

Gonsalves, who has ministerial responsibility for citizenship matters, said he welcomes everyone who comes to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“I welcome those who have been granted the privilege of citizenship in our country — permanent residents or temporary residents. We welcome those who we give work permits because we see you as important partners, all of us, in our development.

“I’m asking you, however, not to take our hospitality and our welcoming for granted. I’m urging you not to abuse it. Wherever there are differences, I urge you to resolve them within the spirit of how our civilisation has evolved this magnificent island civilisation of the Caribbean, the Vincentian component. I want to make that plea, first of all.”

Gonsalves said he had received a report, which might not be correct, that two persons who have gotten citizenship by naturalisation or registration told a Vincentian-born citizen during a conflict, ‘Do not think any of you can get me out of here. I am a citizen, like you, and I can say what I want and I can do what I want.’

“I want to say to such persons: don’t talk like that, because it’s not so. I also want to say to our Vincentian-born citizens, don’t throw it in the face of others who come amongst us. Let us be civil and let us all resolve our disputes together, sensibly.”

The prime minister read “for those who are under any misapprehension” what the law says about citizenship naturalisation, or registration and how it might be revoked.

“Remember, I start in talking about our civilisation. I’m urging all those who come here as citizens — don’t think you’re better than us. We’re not better than anybody but nobody is better than us.

“And don’t come with some old plantation attitudes and don’t come with an attitude as though you had taken the side of the South during the Civil War in the United States.

“This country, if you don’t know it, has been forged through the crucible of genocide, native genocide and the enslavement of Africans as we have suffered from indentureship, both those who came from Madeira and those who were brought from India.”

He, however, said that the nation has developed “a remarkable tolerance even with colonialism and imperialism that sought to downpress us.

“And as a good Christian and welcoming people from this remarkable civilisation, we love you and we want you to be here. Do not take our tolerance or welcome for granted.”

He also said that Vincentian-born citizens must not assume conflict among person of different ethnicity is “ethnic-based”.

“And don’t jump at the first opportunity to say that the person is racist. Maybe the person might be. Keep a patience and a calm; get a settled view. Because the person with whom you’re dealing might be a very decent and good person with whom you have a conflict about something which is not based on ethnicity, but which might be identified as though it is one of ethnicity.

“I want the persons in Bequia to know that I’ve read the emails and I’ve heard the complaints and I’ve spoken to people who I consider to be responsible. The issue which is happening at Spring, you can resolve it and resolve it sensibly. I hope I don’t have to say anything or do anything further,” Gonsalves said.

iWitness News has received copies of emails which suggest that some residents of Spring view the recreational area as private.

In one email, a resident complained about going to the recreational area with a guest one night and meeting about 30 people from a local church having a prayer meeting there.

The resident complained that it would have been impossible to have a private barbeque there, had that been the intention.

However, in a press release on Wednesday, the Spring Property Owners Association (SPOA) said that it wanted to set the record straight.

It said that Spring Park was owned since the 1960s by Always Sprint Ltd., which, in 2012, legally handed over management of the land to SPOA “to ensure that rules regarding its special status were strictly maintained”.

The press release said that in January 2013, SPOA instructed the persons who built in the land, without approval, not to construct any further buildings.

SPOA also removed the “Private Property” sign with one that read, “Spring View – Please use responsibly, SPOA”.

The press release said:

“SPOA wishes to remind the citizens of Bequia that Spring Park remains open to all, and is available for the people to sit and enjoy the natural beauty. SPOA have asked all local authorities to assist with key holding for the building if anyone wishes to use the facilities.”

The release further said that Spring Park is a nature reserve located in a residential area and to ensure that the beauty of the site is maintained, use of the premises and facilities is subject to St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Parks terms and condition.

6 replies on “PM comments on ‘conflict’ among expats, locals in Bequia”

  1. Across the Miles says:

    “I repeat that, metaphorically, we are the songs of the indigenous people — the Calinago and the Garifuna, we are the rhythm of Africa, we are the melody of Europe, we are the chords of Asia and we are the home-grown lyrics of the Caribbean.”

    This Prime Minister really has a way with words. I felt a bit of pride once more as a Vincentian just reading those words. So poetic.

  2. Nathan Jolly Green says:

    Vincentians are owed reparations from the ruling dynasty family of SVG, for hardships and failure to look after us properly, create jobs and wealth for is, while they live the life of Riley.

  3. Nathan Jolly Green says:

    Vincentians are not even in the class of field or house slaves, they are more like the leg chained black road gangs of early America.

    We are living in 2020 a worse life than Vincentian slaves lived. Beaten regulary by the ploice. Forced to cut the verges besides roads just to pay for our childrens school books.

    Do you think for one moment the Gonsalves or Francis would ever have to do that? No this is n***er work only, reserved for n***ers by the white masters. Is there one of them who is jobless and pennyless, hungry, thirsty?

  4. Rawlston Pompey says:

    TOLERANCE OF THE PEOPLE

    None shall ‘…trample on the ‘…Tolerance of a people’ who were once subjected to;

    (I) …Deemed ethnicity property;

    (ii) Sold into Slavery;

    (iii) …Exploited by ethnicity;

    (iv) …Their labor and certain pleasures.

    You have said it ‘PM.’

    They shall know that a people moved to anger could cause ‘…hell to break loose.’

    They shall respect and have due regard to our;

    (a) ‘….Civilization;

    (b) …Independence;

    (c) …Sovereignty; and

    (d) …Our hospitality.’

    The people are no longer enslaved. No war shall be started, race or otherwise.

    Irrespective of their wealth, they shall all co-exist peacefully.

  5. Call Them Out says:

    Based on what I am reading here and the pronouncements of the Prime Minister on this matter it would appear as if he has no knowledge that [two persons] have converted a public road – Choppins road into their own private property. The consequence of all this translating into the denial of access of Choppins people to their home, since [one of them] has blocked the road from February 2020. The sad part is the ares representative, Mr Camilo Gonsalves, son of the Prime Minister is quite intimate with the issue and is siding with [one of them] when he said on someone Facebook post that the road was planning and the land was sold on that basis. On investigation of the area representative statement planning has denied any such thing because they do not deal with the re-routing of roads. So, you see how life goes, some citizens can deny others human right of access to their home when they are cozy with the ULP and the area representative, while others are remind what would be the consequences of their actions. If you asked me what is the disconnect between Choppins and Spring in Bequia issue – I will say is plain and usual Ralphie and ULP hypocrisy at work.

  6. Pm,,we not blinded by your sugar coated fancy talks,,we growing very tired of this,,we already see what u all about,,thoes talks don’t help us,,u have failed to represent the hard and honest working people of SVG,,in the Grenadines , at boccument workers are being ill treated rights trampled upon ,,when the people complained u boast about the laws u have in place which u never enforce,,u never stood up against the opression of our people,,
    Don’t get me wrong u did some good for SVG but u can do much better,,wake up! We Tired!

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