St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Consul General to the United States, Roland Patel Matthews, delivered his maiden address at the fifth annual flag-raising ceremony held at historic Bowling Green in New York City to commemorate the nation’s 47th anniversary of independence.
Addressing an audience of city officials, diplomatic representatives from Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, members of the Garifuna community, Monroe College students, and Vincentian nationals, Matthews extended greetings on behalf of the government, the citizens of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the staff of the New York consulate.
Reflecting on the country’s trajectory since gaining independence on October 27, 1979, Matthews paid homage to past generations of farmers, public servants, teachers, cultural pioneers, and community leaders whose sacrifices laid the nation’s foundations. He commended the enduring spirit and resilience of the Vincentian people through economic challenges, natural disasters, and the severe disruption caused by the 2021 eruption of the La Soufrière volcano.
Highlighting this year’s national theme, “Hand in hand and rebuilding our nation,” Matthews emphasized that national recovery extends beyond physical infrastructure. Rebuilding, he noted, involves restoring confidence, strengthening social unity, and ensuring that every Vincentian has a stake in the country’s future.
A significant portion of the address was dedicated to honoring Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer, the Garifuna leader who spearheaded resistance against British colonial expansion during the First Carib War in 1795. Matthews recognized the historical plight of the Garifuna people following their mass forced deportation in 1797 to Central American regions—including present-day Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and Nicaragua—praising their preservation of language, music, dance, and traditions over centuries of exile. Addressing Garifuna representatives directly, he declared that their ancestral homeland remembers them and welcomes their ongoing collaboration and involvement in national development.
Matthews also called upon the Vincentian diaspora across the United States to deepen their connection with their homeland by investing, sharing professional expertise, mentoring youth, and engaging in community development projects.
He concluded the event with independence greetings and a call to move forward collectively toward a brighter future
