KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) – As St Vincent and the Grenadines celebrates its 43rd anniversary of Independence on Thursday, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves highlighted the resilience of its citizens and the progress made by the nation despite seemingly insurmountable odds.

In a recorded message played at a virtual flag-raising ceremony held by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission to commemorate the anniversary, Gonsalves said the government and people were embracing fresh hope after a period of immense difficulties for the country.

“This fresh hope is conjoined with an abiding faith made manifest in works and an unbreakable love for our country — a love that looks on tempests and is never shaken. In all this, the following will see us to victory: our resilience, our existential spirit to triumph over seemingly impossible odds; our hard and smart work; our strength of commitment to bedrock values of upliftment; and our reaffirmation that this nation is founded on the belief in the supremacy of God and the freedom and dignity of man and woman,” he said.

Director General of the OECS, Dr Didacus Jules, in extending congratulations to the nation on its 43rd Independence anniversary, said St Vincent and the Grenadines had shown distinguished and active leadership in several spheres.

‘’The Commission looks forward to the continued active participation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the work of the Organisation and in particular, engagement on the already approved OECS Development Strategy to further advance in a phased and structured way, implementation of the OECS Economic Union,” he said.

St Vincent and the Grenadines attained political independence from Britain on October 27, 1979.