In his keynote address at the national flag-raising ceremony, Prime Minister Godwin Friday called on all Vincentians to practice daily community unity and challenged business owners and public institutions to physically uplift the country.
Reflecting on the green in the national flag, Prime Minister Friday noted that it represents not only the island’s lush vegetation and agriculture, but also the enduring vitality and resilience of its people.
He pointed out that Vincentians have repeatedly overcome historical adversity—including volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, and pandemics by helping one another “hand in hand”.
The Prime Minister urged citizens to extend that spirit of community care into daily interactions beyond the month of October.
He issued a direct national challenge to business owners in Kingstown and across the island to beautify their properties: “Put on a coat of paint. Let’s nice up the place… fix up the little flowers around the place so that they look ornamental and not just accidental”.
Prime Minister Friday extended the challenge to the public sector, calling on public servants to deliver high-quality service and instructing police leadership to clean up and refurbish police stations nationwide.
Framing independence as a time of renewed hope under a new administration, Friday pledged to build upon existing foundations to move the country forward.
He paid tribute to historical leaders such as Joseph Chatoyer (Kato) and urged the youth to carry forward a legacy that past generations would be proud of.
