Prime Minister Dr Ralph E. Gonsalves and Deputy Prime Minister Sir Louis Straker had predicted that Howie Prince would be a tremendous asset to the nation with his appointment as the new St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ consul general to the United States.
Moreover, barely four months into his New York-based position, Prince, the former head of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), is demonstrating just that.
“I accepted the position because it represented a challenge to function at a different level, yet providing services to the people of SVG [St. Vincent and the Grenadines],” said the multi-skilled Prince in an exclusive Caribbean Life interview.
In the short time since assuming the position on Sept. 1st, 2016, he has facilitated a trade and investment meeting with investors in the US, Agriculture Minister Saboto Caesar and newly-appointed SVG Ambassador to the US and the Organization of American States (OAS) Lou Ann Gilchrist, a former chief education officer.
The consul general said he has also organised and facilitated the launching of Vincy Mas 40th Anniversary Celebration in New York; organised and promoted the launching of the SVG Diaspora Unit Mapping Project in New York, and facilitated the mobilisation process for relief to SVG consequent on the November floods.
Additionally, Prince said he had streamlined the Consulate General “for more efficient provision of services, ease of doing business, a more available consul general to the public, and a more transparent and accountable internal market monitoring system.”
The new consul general said he has also strengthened relations with Diaspora groups in the US.
The charismatic Prince said he is assisting with the organisation of charter flights for the opening of the Argyle International Airport on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, as recently announced on local radio by Gonsalves.
In what is considered to be a “very tough town” among Vincentians in New York, Prince said Diaspora groups and individuals had received him “cordially,” and that he has, to date, attended more than 90 percent of the myriad groups’ annual galas and awards ceremonies in the “Big Apple;” Boston, Ma; and Philadelphia, Pa.
“I was received with open arms,” he said. “There is an air of expectation for a higher level of representation and engagement, which I am endeavouring to provide.”
Story adopted from Caribbeanlifenews Written By Nelson King
