Successful Conference held on New York City

Vincentian nationals living in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Washington DC gathered in New York City on May 9th for the first of a series of Diaspora conference that are being held in preparation for the National Homecoming Conference scheduled for October 21-23, 2009.

Participants at the conference discussed a wide range of issues from the social, financial and economic imperatives to the question of good governance.  The discussion was focus and deliberate, with a framework for action prepared by the planners providing the basis for the deliberations.

Maxwell Haywood, the General Secretary for the Vincy Homecoming Planning Committee of New York expressed great satisfaction with the level of commitment displayed by all participants as they engaged in spirited discourse to arrive at compromise and eventual consensus on some complex issues.

The Chairperson of the Vincy Homecoming Planning Committee, Ms Verna Arthur also spoke about the bond that Vincentian in the Diaspora have for home and said that she saw a revitalization in persons to once again organize and work for the good of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Representatives of the various organizations who spoke on a panel discussed ways to improve on the communication flow between St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Diaspora so that there would be a greater understanding for the needs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and a greater appreciation for the Vincentian Diaspora.

Ambassador John thanked the organizers for their good work.  Special thanks was given to Dr. Joyce Toney who traced the history of Vincentian in the Diaspora and Felix Miranda who spoke on behalf of the Garifuna community.

The next Diaspora Conference will be held in Toronto on May 16th

 
 

Homecoming to Questelles

This news item was extracted from the Vincentian, dated April 30th, 2009

The Vincie Homecoming Initiative, co-ordinated by the Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit (RIDU) in the Prime Minister’s Office, is aimed at attracting.

It is especially intended to have non-resident Vincintians home for  the 30th Independence Anniversary Celebrations in October of this year.

Towards this end, communities all across the country are getting themselves ready for such an historic occasion.  Communities are encouraged to put on activities that would involve a wide cross-section of their members, providing avenues for unification among those at home and abroad.

The community of Questelles, with its surrounding areas, is very much ‘on the ball’ with activities to commemorate Vincy Homecoming, 2009.  The group spearheading these activities, the Questelles Community Development Organisation, aspires to create a body of unified community members which allows for integration of foreign-based nationals and places emphasis on the positive involvement of the youths in the area.

During a programme of activities from April, 10th right down to December, this community will be involved in a series of activities geared towards achieving these goals.

The Easter weekend was used to kick off these celebrations.  Five-a-side soft-ball cricket and seven-a-side floodligh, football competitions were held among groups from Campden Park, Chauncy, Questelles and Clare Valley on Easter Saturday.  Easter Sunday saw a karaoke session among members of the community.  To round off the weekend, there was netball and basketball on Monday.

This area is in for an extended period of working together, enjoying each other’s company and improving the look and status of the community.  Included in the activities planned are: team and individual games; days of fun; clean-up campaigns; steelband concerts; a church service to welcome returnees; a recognition ceremony for local community members; health talks; talent shows; and nine mornings activities, are planned.  To culminate the celebrations, an event called “De Way We Knew It” will come off towards the end of the year, where old time games and other activities would be performed throughout the community.

It is clear that the Vincy Homecoming, while geared towards the return of our nationals overseas, will accrue benefits to even the smallest community member.  It could be a good time to bring back those old time values that the returnees would have left upon their departure.  What better time for our inherent good values and attitudes to come home to us?
And of course, it will be quite a tussle as the participating communities vie for the “Best Village Award”.

In the meantime, mobilization work continues with community consultations scheduled for East Kingstown, Tuesday May 5, and Park Hill Thursday May 7.

 
 

Preliminary Activities For Homecoming Conference Kicks Off

 

Theme: As one people in many lands, we shape our nation with many hands 

As a part of the Vincy Homecoming 2009 initiative a National Homecoming conference is schedule for the 21st - 23rd October, 2009. The conference is a platform for Vincentians at home and in the Diaspora to dialogue on issues pertinent to our development.  

The outcome of the conference would be a draft framework of action between Vincentians at home and abroad  as a means of cultivating and sustaining greater co- operation and stronger partnership. The first two days will focus on financial, social and economic issues that affect Vincentians at home and abroad. The third day of the conference would be a business forum which would be an avenue to showcase opportunity for business development in St.Vincent and the Grenadines and in the Diaspora. It will also be an occasion to identify some practical start - off projects where there can be meaningful collaboration.  

The Diaspora is presently planning preliminary conferences which would feed into the National Conference in October. The United States of America (New York) on the 9th May, 2009, Canada (Toronto) on the 16th May, 2009 and United Kingdom (High Wycombe) on the 6th June, 2009 Several local organisations / institutions have been invited to make a presentations on opportunities to develop and strengthen business relationship with the Diaspora. There would also be opportunity for Vincentian products and business ideas to be exhibited. 

The October conference is premised on the notion that the diaspora contibutes significantly  to national development in various ways. Contributions include direct remittances, investment in property and businesses, donations to institutions and organisations, inputs into discussions and dialogue on national development issues, etc. 

It is undoubtable that diaspora contributions have grown significantly and is  more diversified so much so that it has impacted on the national developmet policies of the government (the implementation of the RIDU, controlled migration - the nursing programme). Vincentians therefore  are of the view that these contibutions in whatever form should be made more structures and sustained. The questions is: What is/are the most effective way(s) of doing so ? This fundamental question is what the October conference seeks to address. 

The objectives of this conference therefore include:

 

  1. To increase the understanding of the forms of collaboration between Vincentians living at home and abroad and how to strengthen them;
    2.  
  2. To increase the understanding of how Vincentians at home and abroad may increase their interest and involvement in local organisations and their contribution to development areas of education, health, sports and others: 
  3. To increase the commitment of Vincentians at home and abroad to work together to find additional ways to pool finacial resources as a source of investment capital. 
  4. To reflect on our history and the lessons learnt. 

The principal tasks of the conference therefore is to examine the various forms in which Vincentians living abroad contribute to national develoment, and find the most effective modality or madalities that will enable more sustained, structures and expanded productive engagement. 

To undertake this task and fulfil the objectives, the methodology for the conference engagement should include a combination of well researched presentations with practical suggestions for action, best practice case studies with practical ideas for action, and small group sessions to examine and workout best options for moving ahead.
 

Canadian Vincy Homecoming Committee to host Mini Conference in Toronto

The Toronto Vincy Homecoming Committee of St. Vincent & the Grenadines will host its Vincy Homecoming 2009 Diaspora Conference on Saturday 16th May in Toronto, Canada. Vincentians in Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary, and Edmonton will be travelling to Toronto to participate in the one-day conference which would focus on capacity building and empowerment of the Canadian Diaspora to enable greater participation in the development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

montreal gathering

National Promotion and Investment inc, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Chamber of Commerce, the National Insurance Service, Gecco Ltd and RIDU have been invited to make presentations to inform the participant regarding investment opportunities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

 
 

UK Vincy Homecoming Committee to host Mini Conference in High Wycombe

The UK National Committee of St. Vincent & the Grenadines will host its Vincy Homecoming 2009 Mini Conference on Sunday 7th June at the Buckinghamshire New University, High Wycombe commencing at 11.00 am.

It will be an all day event and it is expected that Vincentian Nationals in the UK Diaspora will make presentations on the following topics in the agenda:

  1. SOCIAL: Education, Health, Sports & Culture Arts
  2. ECONOMICS: Investments & Business
  3. POLITICS: Participation in public policy in SVG
  4. MEDIA: Newspapers, radio stations & Diaspora internet.

It is expected that a member of the Regional Integration Diaspora Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister, St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be attending and we look forward to this historic event where Vincentian Nationals will take this opportunity to participate and contribute to the development of St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

A further Press Release will be made nearer the date of the conference.

 
 

Over 300 returned to Layou for Homecoming Reunion.

A group of Vincentians from the Layou Diaspora was successful in mobilizing over 300 citizens of Layou to return home for a follow-up of a reunion that was first held in 2006. Most of the returnees came in from the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom. At a dinner held on December 29th for the Layou Diaspora, the principal organizers, Clem Dopwell and Jimmy Antoine, expressed satisfaction with the success of the mobilization.

The National Vincy Homecoming 2009 Committee, which is coordinated through the Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit, worked closely with the local Layou community to organize events to welcome home their Diaspora and also to showcase Layou to the rest of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Some of these events include a lunch for the shut-in on December 30th; a candle light march through the streets of Layou on Old Years night, organized as a collaborative effort of the churches and the committee; a cultural showcase at the playing field on January 1st, 2009 and a back in time evening on January 2nd. The popular Layou band from the 1980’s, Astericks, has been reunited for the Vincy Homecoming 2009 celebration and would be the featured act at the cultural showcase held at the Layou playing field on January 1st from 7 p.m.

Ambassador Ellsworth John, Director of RIDU and Chairman of the National Vincy Homecoming 2009 Committee, when commenting on the Layou reunion said that the success or failure of the reunion should not be judged only by level of participation and enjoyment at the Homecoming activities, but by whether an effective mechanism was put in place for the Diaspora and the local Layou communities to work together for the long term growth, development and economic viability of Layou.

During 2009, communities throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines would be organizing similar events to showcase what is positive about this country.

 
 

Bequia launch Vincy Homecoming 2009 activities.

The Bequia Homecoming Committee officially launched their activities for Vincy Homecoming 2009 with an Interfaith Church Service on Sunday April 5th. Preachers from ten (10) of the churches in Bequia participated in a very inspirational service as they gave praises and thanksgiving for every aspect of Vincentian life. The theme of the service was Coming Home. The members of the organizating committee expressed their satisfaction with the response from the community to this initiative and indicated that they were looking forward to a similar response on Easter Monday when they would organize shore events during the Bequia Regatta.

Events planed for the regatta include the greasy pig, the laughing competition, the crying competition, ring games, greasy pole and maypole dancing.

The National Vincy Homecoming 2009 Committee, which is coordinated through the Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit, praised the the members of the Bequia Committee for their enthusiast response to Vincy Homecoming. Vincy Homecoming 2009 is designed to bring all Vincentians together to reflect on our challenges and successes as a people, and to use this information for plan for the future.