Letter: Independence from the Queen - dependence on ALBA and the G-2
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| Published on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 |
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Dear Sir:
Sir Louis Straker, Foreign Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines visited Iran on August 2008. During that visit St Vincent and the Grenadines established diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Following the talks with Iran, Sir Louis Straker signed a six point agreement with Iran and received a US$7 million grant towards the construction of the international airport now being constructed in St Vincent. Cuba and Venezuela also pledged financial and material assistance.
As Vincentians get ready to vote on the proposed new Constitution it's very important to make the right decision as you vote. This proposed Constitution states that the President will be elected by the National Assembly - not by the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines. Therefore, this is someone we must be able to trust. As the Head of State this person will be required to make major decisions as Commander in Chief and most likely playing a major role in Foreign Affairs. What if Dr Ralph Gonsalves is made President of St Vincent and the Grenadines - could we trust his judgment in these two sensitive areas - knowing that he is bent on carrying out a Socialist/Communist agenda in SVG.
Let us remember that when the International Airport was being built in Grenada, the US government accused Grenada of constructing facilities to aid a Soviet-Cuban military build-up in the Caribbean and to assist the Soviet and Cuban transportation of weapons to Central American insurgents. In March 1983, Ronald Reagan began issuing warnings about the threat posed to the United States and the Caribbean, by the "Soviet-Cuban militarization" as was evidenced by the excessively long airplane runway being built. The runway was 9,000-foot (2,700m) - which incidentally is the same length as the runway to be built in St Vincent. The US also questioned the oil storage tanks and said they were unnecessary for commercial flights.
It is now history - the Point Saline Airport (now the Maurice Bishop International Airport) was in fact used in 1983 during the 'rescue mission' as a Military Base by America - which perhaps proved their point that it could have been used as a Military Base.
Let us look at what's happening in the region right now. Venezuela is preparing itself militarily to defend itself because it claims the United States is setting up a Military Base in Colombia which will be a threat to Venezuela. Only last week Venezuela blew up two foot bridges across the Venezuela - Colombian border.
Cuba is preparing to hold a military exercise from next week Thursday to Saturday - in anticipation of an attack from the United States.
Iran's President Ahmadinejad this week is visiting Brazil, Venezuela and Bolivia - all members of ALBA.
What does all of this have to do with St Vincent and the Grenadines? Imperialism is Imperialism regardless of the players - American Hegemony is now being challenged in the Caribbean. Our soil could be used by forces who contribute to the building of our International Airport for military purposes - I say again 'there is no free lunch'. These 'oil rich emerging powers' are not just investing in our countries because they love us - we are strategically important to them - and they know our needs and our weaknesses so they are drawing us into their net. Independence from the Queen, but dependence on ALBA and the G-2 ( Iran and Venezuela.
Vincentians vote 'No' on Wednesday, November 25, 2009. 'Fear not.'
Amory Lashley
Vancouver, Canada | | | | Reads : 1108 | | | |
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