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Delivering the feature address, Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said that he had a history of good relations with Mexico and mentioned the special friendship he shared with Former President Vincente Fox.

Dr. Gonsalves said that St. Vincent and the Grenadines was the first country in the Eastern Caribbean which obtained undergraduate scholarships to pursue studies in Mexico.

Looking back at 2013, he said 12 bridges were either severely damaged or destroyed, and several road networks were disrupted. He also said that when he campaigned during the last elections, (2015); he told the people of Spring Village and Charles Village that in 2016, the bridge and river defenses would be started.

“We are keeping our promise to the people, I told you that I had 5 million US dollars,” he charged.

Soon after 2013, by January 2014, he contacted the Mexican Government and got a quick response of a pledge of 5 million US dollars to reconstruct one of the damaged bridges. He referred to the Leeward side of the country as Latin American side as most of the bridges reconstructed in areas on that side were through funds from Latin American Governments.

Ecuador has built three in North Leeward and one in South Leeward and Mexico, one, also in North Leeward. “Latin America is taking care of five of the 12 bridges,” he said.

The launch was also addressed by Mr. Geoff Wilson of UNOPS and Mr. Rameshwar Mahabir, Managing Director of Trinidad Contractors, Project Contractor.

SOURCE: API