His remarks come in light of the 37 year- Independence milestone, on Thursday, October 27, 2016, of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
“Let us continue to stand strong for what is right like our mountains, while shining brightly like the sun that brightens our skies in our homeland St Vincent and the Grenadines and by extension our adopted home the British Virgin Islands. Happy Independence!” he said in a statement.
Letteen noted that Independence is symbolic because it puts into focus a people’s ability and strength to be self-reliant while enjoying the rewards of working together in harmony and to serve as a reminder of the struggles of their forefathers, who fought for the freedom which today allows for the enjoyment of a peaceful society.
“This significant milestone must move us to reflect, renew and revitalise our efforts to maintain our beloved country Hairoun, Home of the Blessed and this beautiful country and society that we love which allows us to continuously exercise our democratic rights and freedoms without fear of prosecution, and where we can uphold the rule of law,” the statement continued.
Furthermore, the St Vincent and the Grenadines Association of the BVI pointed out that SVG nationals should be proud of their successes and importantly, they must be reminded to treat their fellow Vincentians, other Caribbean and international citizens with respect, valuing the differences in opinion of others while continuing to help build a sustainable society for all to enjoy.
“We have shown that we have the ability to overcome our differences while working with our brothers and sisters to build a strong community,” he said.
He is also asking the expatriates to avoid turning a blind eye to the ills that continuously threaten to erode the fabric of our society such as, but not limited to, the disrespect for self and authority, negative messages distributed through social network/media, rise in criminal activities and disregard for the symbols of their identity such as their National Flag, Pledge, and Anthem.
