ST. LUCIA – The Government of Saint Lucia is heartened at the news that the Nobel committee has awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to US President Barack Obama. The Government shares in the joy of Caribbean people and persons of African decent in celebrating this achievement.
The Government notes that in granting the prize, the Nobel committee praised President Obama for helping to create “a new climate in international politics”. Further in announcing the award, the committee through its Chairman, Thorbjoern Jagland endorsed President Obama’s appeal that “Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges”.
Government believes that there is a strong message in such a pronouncement, which bears in it lessons for our approach to politics and national development in Caribbean nations like St. Lucia. President Obama’s statement quoted above can be adapted to our reality to read: “Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a national response to national and global challenges”.
The Government believes that the granting of this award can well serve as an inspiration to all peace-loving and patriotic St. Lucians to rise to current challenges and to invest their resources and effort in a concerted and deliberate manner to advance and safeguard national development.
The Government wishes to publicly congratulate President Barrack Obama on this achievement. Government is very mindful of the symbolism and hope that is embodied in this award and calls on all St. Lucians to continually strive towards the creation of that new climate envisioned by President Obama and in confronting the global challenges that face us.
The Government of St. Lucia will be officially communicating its congratulations to President Obama in the coming days.
