Some diplomats do a lot while others do nothing says Sir Louis

Some of the country’s overseas diplomats have come under criticism by former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sir Louis Straker.

Sir Louis spoke about slackers in some of the overseas missions of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), while heaping praise on SVG’s High Commissioner in the United Kingdom (UK), Cenio Lewis.

“…some of these people, when you send them abroad, they like to go and sit down behind a desk,” the former minister said.

“They dress up and they go to ceremonial functions. They are not thinking- what can I do for the poor people in my country apart from what government is doing.

“They don’t think that way,” Sir Louis charged at the annual function for the presentation of bursaries to students granted by the SVG Friendship Foundation (UK), which took place at the Methodist Church Hall, Kingstown, on August 16, 2024.

He said High Commissioner Lewis has done a lot for the children of SVG and has even come up with a plan to continue helping when he leaves office. He said the UK-based SVG Friendship Foundation has a sister organization in SVG so when High Commissioner Lewis retires, he can still mobilize funds to keep the bursary programme running.

Sir Louis said that earlier this year, the organization contributed EC$25,000 to children involved in music and sports, and also distributed soccer paraphernalia.

“There is no mission that has done more for the children of SVG than the High Commission in London,” Sir Louis declared, adding, “sometimes I fear that those who come might be so focussed on the monies they are receiving that they have had very little time to reflect on those that have worked hard to mobilize the funds so that you can get it, and that would bring a smile on your face.”

During the ceremony Sir Louis also took was critical of civil servants while speaking about issues with the public assistance programme, and the way several of the local charities and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) aimed at helping the needy are set up.

Sir Louis, who is also Chairman of the SVG friendship Foundation (UK) encouraged the recipients of the various bursaries to spend the money wisely.

“Not everybody can spend money wisely you know. People get money and they forget there is a tomorrow and they just go and spend wild and tomorrow they say ‘me nah have nothing’ because they did not spend wisely.

“…spend wisely, spend it on your children, not to top up your telephone or pay your bills in arrears. You will do a disservice to your children, a disservice to the Foundation, a disservice to Cenio Lewis, and all those who look after funds for you to have them, so please make sure you spend the money on your children,” Sir Louis pleaded.

He also sang the praises of SVG’s Honorary Consul in Germany, Rudy Ackerman; and Honorary Consul in Cairo, Egypt, Mohammed Maged El Menshawy who he said fund the SVG friendship Foundation (UK).