KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has dismissed criticisms of the appointment of St. Vincent and the Grenadine’s youngest minister of foreign affairs, saying it is “a simple question of green elemental jealousy.”
Senator Keisel Peters was sworn into the position the last weekend, replacing Prime Minister Gonsalves.
“Their criticism resides in a common matter written repeatedly in the Hebrew Bible and into the New Testament, a simple question of green elemental jealousy. I am speaking very openly and frankly,” said Gonsalves, adding that he had heard some of the criticism.
“For some reason, they feel that their class somehow gives them a divine right or some inside track to be the first woman to be a foreign minister. Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you. It is Keisel Melissa Peters,” Gonsalves said of the 36-year-old lawyer.
Insisting that he is not using the swearing-in ceremony “to preach politics,” Prime Minister Gonsalves said, “I’m talking policy because we have to speak the matters frankly, and very honestly.
“I honest advert to a matter which had all the hallmarks of gutter politics, nastiness, entirely false. And when I spoke about it, we brought that subject to an end,” he said, adding that people who are “the originators of the falsehood feel that I have done a disservice by rebutting the error and because I have spoken about the tale, I only give their additional lie wings.
“That is a cockeyed view of the truth,” Gonsalves said, adding that he rebutted “the falsehood,” and his rebuttal is known to the world.
“And the fact of the matter is this: I know that my word in the world counts far more than those who seek to tarnish the good name of Keisel Melissa Peters.”
Gonsalves said there are some people who “misunderstand what truth is about.
“Hypocritically, they conceive of truth not just as a virtuous lady — because she is a virtuous lady, truth — but they feel that this virtuous lady they must surround it, they must protect it by a bodyguard of lies. It only means you’re a sophisticated liar if you seek to protect the virtuous lady called truth with a bodyguard of lies. That’s all it means.”
“I am duty bound, as their leader, and because I’m much older than they are, as their veritable patriarch, to defend them when they are maligned. And I will do so with all the skill that God and experience have devolved upon me,” he said.
“We have an extensive visit to do together at the United Nations General Assembly. It will be your first one. It would be an excellent experience for you,” Gonsalves told Peters, adding that “I’m sure that you would continue to do your work with the level of commitment, savvy, and competence
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