Statement by the Honourable Louis Straker, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs held at the Organization of American States

 

Washington DC on Friday 21't September, 2001

Mr. Chairman, it was not until late in the evening of Tuesday 1 11h , 2001 that I found out that my son, Louis Junior, who worked in the World Trade Center. New York City, was safe. Fortunately, he started work late that day, or I might be speaking today about the murder of my son, a victim of those cowardly acts, perpetuated by persons who strike against innocent people without warning or for no logical or communicated reasons. No grievances can justify this callous disregard for human life.

As I watched the event unfold before my eyes via the television, despite my son's safety, I could not shake the feelings of personal loss that consumed me because I realized that this was not an attack on the United States of America only. These shocking and detestable acts represented an attack on the pursuit of freedom and democracy that we in the Americas took for granted. We have all suffered a loss of our innocence and basic faith in the innate goodness of all people.

Mr. Chairman, the government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines are horrified by the images we saw on television and we are here as a show of support and in solidarity for the government and people of the United States in their efforts to heals the wounds, while at the same time working to ensure that the guilty parties and their support mechanisms are never again able to mobilize and carry out similar acts.  

Mr. Chairman, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a small country. Our population is just over 120,000. We in the Caribbean are the third border of these Unites States. These terrorist acts have struck a serious blow to our already fragile economies. We hear the words of concerns about the negative effect of these acts on the economy of the United States and we worry because we know that any downturn in this economy would affect St. Vincent and the Grenadines and indeed the broader Caribbean. United States of Amenrica are our biggest trading partner, but more than that a friend, who has and continue to work side by side with us in the fight against the transshipment of illegal drugs and money laundering. These acts have strengthened our resolve to close any loopholes that would allow for the transfer of funds by criminals and terrorists while at the same time providing an avenue for legitimate businesses to operate on our shores.