The Prime Minister, while presenting an update on his trip to the Eighth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, he reiterated about the region’s concern on matters pertaining to climate change, citizen security and finance development. The CELAC summit’s objective was aimed at bringing all of the Latin American and Caribbean nations together in order to enhance political discussions, promote social and cultural integration, and raise the standard of living of the people living in the region.
He reported that currently St Vincent and the Grenadines will transition the Pro Tempore Presidency to the incoming President- Honduras, and this marks the first time that an Organisation of Eastern States (OECS)country has held the CELAC post. Earlier, on February 28, PM Pierre attended the 46th Regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), in Guyana.
On the homefront, the prime minister spoke on the recent appointment of Jeremiah Norbert as the Minister for Crime Prevention and Persons with Disability.
“It is the first time that a government is recognizing the role of people with disabilities in Saint Lucia,” PM Pierre told reporters on Monday.
“There are many people in the country who suffer from disabilities and they need a voice,” he added. “They need a voice to see about their wellbeing. A voice to see about their facilities to see about their accessibility, to see about their educational opportunities for themselves and for their children.”
Pierre said, persons with disabilities need an “inclusive voice” and to generally get them included in societal matters.
The prime minister said that the appointment of Jeremiah Norbert to this new post, reflects the government’s interest in looking after the welfare of these people.
Pierre continued, “Jeremiah Norbert is an embodiment of what someone with a physical disability can do.”
He informed that other regional territories have also appointed a Minister of Crime Prevention, and this administration was in no way trying to re-invent the wheel.
Detailing Norbert’s ministerial duties, Pierre said: “He is tasked with bringing together all the organisations, all the ideas, and everyone who knows about crime suppression and he can prepare a national plan, which will be in for tweaking and changing to deal with citizen security in this country.
Pierre noted that the new Crime Prevention Minister will bring a more ‘hands-on approach’ to the task at hand. “He will have more time to deal with the issues as they arise, since he himself was a law officer,” the prime minister said.
Alternately, the crime prevention minister will be able to reach out to all concerned citizens and groups willing to suppress the escalation of crime in the country.
The National Security Minister explained that Mr Norbert will work closely with the national security department.
The National Security Minister asserted: “His job is to come up with a National Plan based on consultation and based on dialogue with all these various groups …who have answers, and solutions and who have methods to suppress crime, or prevent or reduce crime.”