Secretary General of Socialist International Louis Ayala has said that the success of member parties of the political grouping was because people wanted more efficient government.

Ayala made this statement responding to a question from SEARCHLIGHT at a press briefing called at the residence of the Prime Minister Thursday February 10 . {{more}} The briefing was called shortly following a meeting with Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, his deputy Louis Straker and the General Secretary of the Unity Labour Party Senator Julian Francis.

The Prime Minister met with Ayala and his colleagues in his capacity as leader of the Unity Labour Party.

Ayala said that Socialist International which has 60 member parties that presently form governments world-wide, has been a movement for change. He noted that many of these governments, such as those in St. Kitts and Barbados face the challenges for peace which are regional in nature, but can become global in character. He pointed to the need for markets for countries for the banana and sugar cane industries.

The Chilean was on a swing through the Caribbean which had already taken him to Barbados before going on to St. Lucia for talks with that country’s Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony.

Ayala commended the government for the work it has been doing pointing to the Low Cost Income Homes as one example among others.

Socialist International is an international grouping of political parties which are grounded in the philosophy of social democracy.

He noted that the organisation has a membership of 168 political parties including the Unity Labour Party which has been a member since 1994. He called Socialist International the single largest international political entity in the world.

He said that social democratic and socialist parties are also leading successful and new democratic governments in twelve of the fifty one African countries. This success he noted, can also be seen in the Caribbean where political parties are in governments including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Jamaica, St. Lucia Dominica and St. Kitts and Nevis.

The Secretary General disclosed that people are looking for more efficient and responsible government and these parties have been providing such things.