St. Vincent & the Grenadines Joins ALBA

St. Vincent & the Grenadines is among three Caribbean nations joining the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA). The other countries uniting with the principles of the Venezuelan initiative are Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica.

In Kingstown, St. Vincent, prime ministers from all three nations signed an official Memorandum of Understanding with the sponsor of the regional integration project, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

St. Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves hosted the meeting, during which he noted the principles of solidarity, cooperation, peace and justice defended by ALBA, and said, “No one should be against countries which join efforts to benefit their citizens.”

Joining ALBA is seen as a way for Caribbean countries to promote a rapprochement and mutual aid between their peoples and those in Latin America. ALBA is being touted by the Venezuelan leader as the alternative hemispheric Free Trade Area to rival the free trade of the Americas (FTAA) being championed by the United States.

By establishing cooperation links with Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Venezuela (nations grouped in the ALBA) the Caribbean hopes to strengthen economically, politically and socially.

An example of their common interest in strengthening Caribbean-Latin American links was Chavez’ visits to Dominica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines over the past weekend.

During his brief stay, Chavez called on these states to work for Caribbean unity and jointly defeat those he said are trying to divide and conquer the Caribbean. He also toured local facilities that are part of Petrocaribe program funded by Venezuela.

One of the key aspects of the ALBA for the Caribbean is the Petro Caribe cheap oil deal which in part exchanges oil at below market price levels for a variety of services.