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By Caribbean News Now contributor

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent -- In a letter to the editor published today, St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) prime minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, has responded to what he described as unreasonable criticism over assistance given by his government to the cash-strapped Grenada government.

Dr Ralph Gonsalves

On Monday, the public relations officer of Grenada’s ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Arley Gill, publicly commended Gonsalves for assisting Grenada with loans over the past few months.

The money was said to have been made available to Grenada through a borrowing facility at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank.

The Public Service Union (PSU) in SVG criticised Gonsalves for lending Grenada money to pay civil servants, saying that this was money that should have been used to pay Vincentian public servants an increase.

However, Gonsalves clarified that this was not a loan by St Vincent and the Grenadines to Grenada but, rather, a decision to permit Grenada to use part of the allocation for St Vincent and the Grenadines available for it at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).

“Let me, for public information, explain the process by which the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines permitted the government of Grenada to use a part of its allocation in the recent past,” he said.

Gonsalves explained that, at the beginning of each fiscal year, the ECCB allocates, on the basis of a formula, access to financial resources for each member country with very clear limitations and conditions as set out in the ECCB Agreement. When countries reach that limit they can only have access if another country or countries make(s) available a part to the country in need. The country which receives the allocation has to replenish it as soon as possible but definitely by the end of the fiscal year before new allocations are made.

This facility has been in operation since the establishment of the ECCB in 1983, and has been used by countries with a pronounced short term volatility in revenues, which affects their cash flow and liquidity. This is part of the normal operations of a central bank in a currency union; that is, mutual assistance to maintain monetary and fiscal stability

“Last year, September 2011, the Minister of Finance of the government of Grenada requested permission from me the use of $5 million of St Vincent and the Grenadines' allocation at the ECCB. I gave permission for this to be done on the undertaking that the monies be replenished in five months time; the replenishment was done by Grenada. In July 2012, a similar request was made of me by Grenada in the sum of $4.5 million to be replenished before the end of October 2012. I again acceded to Grenada's request,” Gonsalves said.

“The only real risk to St Vincent and the Grenadines attendant upon my decision to assist Grenada as aforesaid is that if the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines were to have urgent need of those funds, prior to Grenada's replenishment, they would not be available for the use of St Vincent and the Grenadines. The idea that Grenada would fail and/or refuse to replenish is unthinkable for members of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). In any event, at the end of each year, when accounts are rendered, the replenishment will occur as a matter of course,” he explained.

Gonsalves went on to say that Grenada is not the first or only member-state of the ECCU to which St Vincent and the Grenadines has extended a helping hand in their time of extreme fiscal distress.

“I had never, hitherto, made such help publicly known since I consider it to be a solemn unspoken obligation of solidarity with other member-states of the ECCU. That is part of what a currency union is about!” he said.

Gonsalves urged public servants to view the issue of the promised salary increase to them as quite separate and distinct from any assistance by the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines to Grenada through the ECCB or otherwise.

“Please, let us not demean ourselves further by traversing a path, wrong-headedly prepared, with selfishness, a lack of regional solidarity, and plain falsehoods. My government remains committed to pay the promised increase of salary,” he said.

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Simon Anderson:

PETER, AH MEAN, BRIAN ALEXANDER, should I, or would someone else FLUSH YOU and your garbage down the toilet?

ONE QUESTION: What do you have against Ralph Gonsalves?

Why can't you and your band of clowns recognize intelligence and true greatness when you see it?

Why do the USA, the IMF, the World Bank, World Leaders, other Caribbean Prime Ministers, international intellectuals and Caribbean nationals see what YOU ARE INCAPABLE OF SEEING?

Those who have eyes, will see.

You, Brian, have eyes, but no vision.

Peter:

Well GONSALVES has come direct to us with a load of clever nonsense. Whatever way you explain it this was a loan from SVG. It was money allocated to SVG that went to Grenada instead of SVG, but SVG remained responsible to repay it. The fact that Grenada had it meant that SVG did not have the use of it.

GONSALVES you must of known it was wrong to carry out such a transaction, otherwise why keep it as a secret from Vincentian citizens, only to be exposed when Arley Gill, publicly commended Gonsalves for assisting Grenada with loans over the past few months.

Arley Gill sees the amounts as loans,and desribes them as such, Gonsalves says they are not loans, GONSALVES quit the twisting and turning and downright lies. This was a loan by SVG to Grenada.

This was not unreasonable criticism by Vincentian citizens, and certainly not unreasonable criticism by the PSU.

The problem I have is in trying to prove the truth of what GONSALVES writes, I personally believe little of what GONSALVES writes or speaks, because he is a known and self confessed liar.

The Public Service Union (PSU) in SVG criticized Gonsalves for lending Grenada money to pay civil servants, saying that this was money that should have been used to pay Vincentian public servants an increase. They are quite right, why should our workers take second place to Grenadian workers, even if the amount was split equally it would of been more digestible.

Remember these transactions were done in a secret and sneaky way.

Wherever this money came from, if it was earmarked for SVG and we were responsible to repay it, it was a loan by us. Just quit the crap and spin on words.

We note your explanation GONSALVES and reject it as crap.

The length of time this facility has been in place, as you say since 1983, has no bearing whatsoever on this matter.

GONSALVES, you said “Last year, September 2011, the Minister of Finance of the government of Grenada requested permission from you to use of $5 million of St Vincent and the Grenadines' allocation at the ECCB. I gave permission for this to be done on the undertaking that the monies be replenished in five months time; the replenishment was done by Grenada. In July 2012, a similar request was made of me by Grenada in the sum of $4.5 million to be replenished before the end of October 2012. I again acceded to Grenada's request,”

GONSALVES I don't believe a word of what you write, I think it is just another bunch of lies. I believe that Grenada wanted to borrow money from SVG and you came up the formula of using the ECCU fund that was allocated to SVG. I think you were shocked when Arley Gill exposed this situation publicly for the first time, your little secret is out.

We also know your not adverse to putting you name to the written word such as the 1964 teachers contract, knowing it to be unconstitutional and therefore unenforceable. Since you did that, I cannot trust anything that you write and put your name to.

GONSALVES, you say that "Grenada is not the first or only member-state of the ECCU to which St Vincent and the Grenadines has extended a helping hand in their time of extreme fiscal distress". How dare you, you arrogant little fat man, you have been lending money to other states without telling the Vincentian people.

You further said “I had never, hitherto, made such help publicly known since I consider it to be a solemn unspoken obligation of solidarity with other member-states of the ECCU. That is part of what a currency union is about!”. How dare you come forward and admit such a thing. Its no wonder that worker sometimes cannot get paid on time, sometimes going unpaid for weeks and months. With Kingstown traders owed between $40 and $60 million and can't get paid. Some sixty farmers that cannot get paid for their land at Argyle, taken for the airport. A hospital that cannot treat people because of no drugs or dressings. And you GONSALVES are using our money as if its your own to do what you wish with, without any reference to the people.

GONSALVES, I personally consider you a scoundrel, a liar and the worst thing that ever happened to the Vincentian people.

Remember GONSALVES, you told us that your here to finish the work of Maurice Bishop, that dreadful Grenadian MARXIST.

Peter:

SORRY FOR THE MISTAKE I HAVE CORRECTED THE DATE

We also know your not adverse to putting you name to the written word such as the 2004 [1964] teachers contract, knowing it to be unconstitutional and therefore unenforceable. Since you did that, I cannot trust anything that you write and put your name to.

Ian Francis:

Peter or who you are:

You published the same RHETORIC yesteray. You seem to have a problem with your Comrade leader.

Lets leave the GARBAGE POLITICS FOR A WHILE. Can you show me where your Prime Minister has been wrong in supporting Grenada's request?

I am not a supporter of Thomas, However, Comrade Prime Minister displayed his true REGIONAL COLOURS AND COMMITTMENT.

STOP YOUR FOOLISHNESS AND JOIN THE REGIONAL INTEGRATION MOVEMENT.

Peter:

FRANCIS, it seems to me that your just another jerk who supports GONSALVES regardless of what he does or says.

You wrote "Can you show me where your Prime Minister has been wrong in supporting Grenada's request?"

Are you that stupid that you don't understand that SVG is broke, bankrupt, skint. Unable to pay poor fund on time, unable to pay government workers on time and sometimes months late. Vincentian traders and suppliers owed between $40 and $60 million and can't get paid. Some sixty farmers that cannot get paid for their land at Argyle, taken for the airport. A hospital that cannot treat people because of no drugs or dressings.

If we were Trinidad or even Barbados, with some cash flow, great, lend money and help whoever you can. When you haven't got money and you lend money that should be used on your own citizens, that is a criminal and immoral act, its a disgrace. And you el jerko FRANCIS ask what GONSALVES did wrong, are you blind as well as stupid. You come here to help support this kind of behavior, which until now GONSALVES had listed as a state secret. The word he used "SOLIDARITY" the old MARXIST cry.

It is an established fact that GONSALVES is a liar, I believe he is a serial liar, unable to tell a lie from the truth, unable to tell right from wrong. GONSALVES told us himself that he tells lies, he said it, his own words not mine.

I am beginning to believe we would be better off with a 'worthless dirty dog' than GONSALVES. That is one of GONSALVES favorite phrases when describing some Vincentian citizens.

Ian Francis:

OH PETER OR WHO YOU ARE

YOU HAVE gravitated to a LOW that just not justify a response. STAY IN THE GUTTER and abuse this forum

Peter:

OH IAN OR WHOEVER YOU ARE

SO WHATS WRONG WITH THE TRUTH

AT LEAST IM NOT DOWN TO LEVEL OF THE TROUGH LIKE YOU.

Simon Anderson:

IAN, on behalf of the vast majority of Vincentians, I sincerely apologize for this clown's behaviour.

The "short-man" is a bag of wind. He is an empty barrel. He is nothing of value or worth. The man is a complete ignoramus.

There is nothing between his ears. The guy needs help. He has a political axe to grind.

If I wrote like that, I would be too embarrassed to let anyone know. But this guy has no shame...he is a fool.

Just look at the quality of his posts....

Peter:

COOeeeeeeeeeeeee! ANDY PANDY HORATIO BLOW YOUR HORN WILLIAMS, you must be more polite, its not becoming of someone of your stature or standing in MARXIST society to dirty your name to protect another who is worse than yourself.

I know I make you angry when I post the truth, its very obvious, because you never address the matter on what I write, which is an acceptence of the truth in what I write. You only attack me, which I take as a compliment from someone as richly red as you.

Homeland Security, safe houses.

Android:

Come on now gentlemen. Ease up. I think St Vincent is almost in bad shape as Grenada. The only difference is you people in St. Vincent work hard, but these dam lazy good fur nutten Grenadians are useless. They write garbage, they are all politicians and have an answer for every problem but, they can't solve their own or help themselves. I think its a shame Grenada had to borrow or beg and accept money from St.Vincent. Maybe soon in the near future they may be looking for more assistance from St. Lucia, Antigua and Dominica. They never re-invest in themselves or future. Its all about me, me, me. This is disgusting. GONSALVES it is about time you let Grenada attempt and try to do something for themselves. I still think so,and I know what I say is true. Don't care what anyone says. BLACK people do not have the ability to govern, nor do they have the knack to take care of themselves.

Peter:

Origin Embassy Bridgetown (Barbados) Cable time Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:10 UTC Classification CONFIDENTIAL Source
09BRIDGETOWN685, 09BRIDGETOWN689, 09BRIDGETOWN690 Referenced by 09BRIDGETOWN774

¶5. (C) Turning to land forces, Gonsalves noted that he had previously increased police salaries by more than forty percent, resulting in improved morale and an increase of better educated candidates entering the force. He also lauded the good work of his elite police unit (the "Men-in-Black") as well as the Financial Investigations Unit, which had been successful in going after drug traffickers by following the money trail. The Charge welcomed these measures, and noted that we were stepping up our support to his FIU in recognition of its effectiveness and strong leadership.

According to GONSALVES in WIKILEAKS the SVG Police had by 2009 got a wage increase of more than 40%, was this the truth, or was it another GONSALVES lie.

Where was the FIU when the ULP had a big US dollar share out. Where were they when FRANCIS took a million US dollars in cash to the bank to try and change them to ECdollars?

Someone needs to ask the Yellow Stripe Donkey some questions