Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Visits Cuba
Feb 14 (AIN) The Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph E. Gonsalves is scheduled to begin a visit to Cuba on Tuesday.
During his stay, the distinguished Eastern Caribbean visitor and his accompanying delegation will hold talks with Commander in Chief Fidel Castro and carry out an intense program that includes several meetings with Cuban leaders and visits to places of social and economic interest.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an independent state in the southeastern Caribbean Sea, consisting of the island of Saint Vincent and the northern islands of the Grenadines group. It has a population of approximately 120,000 people; English is the official language. Agriculture dominates the economy and bananas are the primary crop; tourism has become a growing industry.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a member nation of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM and of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM). The NAM will hold its 14thSummit in Havana in September of this year. Cuba and San Vincent and the Grenadines established diplomatic relations on May 26, 1992.
Prime Minister Ralph E. Gonsalves was born August 8, 1946 inColonarie, San Vincent and the Grenadines. After more than two decades dedicated to the political and social struggles of his country, he became leader of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) in 1998.
In March of 2001, the ULP won the general elections and Ralph E. Gonsalves became prime minister, announcing that his government’s priorities would be employment and education. Dr. Gonsalves was reelected prime minister in December of 2005, when his party won 13 of the 15 seats in Parliament.