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Prime Minister's Press Secretary
Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - Prime Minister Dr Kenny D. Anthony has been
honoured by the United States Congressional Black Caucus for his outstanding
contributions to the development of his country and the entire Caribbean
Community.
The honour was bestowed on the Saint Lucia Prime Minister last month to coincide
with activities to celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the Carib News
Multinational Business Conference, which was held in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin
Islands.
The plaque honouring Prime Minister
Anthony was signed by the current Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and
was dated November 11th 2005. It was unveiled at the gathering of top US Black
political and business leaders in Christianstead, St. Thomas, which was held
between November 11th and 13th and was attended by some twenty members of the
Congressional Black Caucus.
However, two days earlier, on November 9th , 2005 ranking member of the Black
Caucus, Democratic Congressman Charles B. Rangel of New York, delivered a speech
at the first session of the 109th Congress, in which he placed on the
Congressional Record, the text of the proclamation to be awarded to Prime
Minister Anthony at the conference.
It was cited as “A proclamation
Celebrating the Accomplishments of Dr. Kenny Anthony for his Outstanding
Leadership and Service to the people
of Saint Lucia, the Caribbean region and the International Community.”
Congressman Rangel said that by
honouring the Saint Lucian Prime Minister, he and his Congressional colleagues
were following “an established and honoured tradition.” This tradition, he said,
was one that allowed for “elected officials to recognize the outstanding
contributions of those persons whose leadership, scholarship and total life's
work have helped to transform people's lives for the better, especially in their
own countries and region.”
He said such leaders “are reliable foundations on which sustained economic
growth and human development are built, paving the way for a better standard of
living for all, particularly the poor, and are therefore an inspiration to
people at home and abroad.”
The ranking New York Democrat told the US Congress that Prime Minister Anthony
“is obviously one such leader and a dedicated public servant.”
Citing the St. Lucia Prime Minister's professional accomplishments and his
leadership in Government, Congressman Rangel noted that Prime Minister Anthony
“has served as head of the Government of Saint Lucia at a time when the
country has gained international recognition for its pace of human development.”
He said Prime Minister Anthony “has led Saint Lucia with distinction for almost
a decade while directing much of the work on the historic creation of the
Caribbean Court of Justice.”
He said: “Saint Lucia has given the world two Nobel Prize Winners, one in
economics and the other in literature” and is thus “contributing even more to
the improvement of the human condition.” he said that showed that “a small
nation can be a showcase of talent and intellect, while being an example when it
comes to adhering to the rule of law and parliamentary democracy.”
On that basis, the Congressman said, it was an honour for he and his fellow
Congressional colleagues, to “salute and commend Dr Kenny D. Anthony for his
leadership on the national and international stages, within CARICOM and the
countries which belong to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).”
Over the past decade, the annual conference has brought together elected
officials, civic leaders, entrepreneurs and executives of major corporations to
explore opportunities for growth and expansion in the emerging markets and
developing economies of the Caribbean.
According to Congressman Rangel, the conference “has significantly contributed
to the building of closer working relationships and personal ties between
Caribbean leadership and the Member of Congress who have participated.”
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