The government of St Vincent and the Grenadines has appointed a new Consul General and Deputy Consul General for its Toronto mission as part of a wider effort to strengthen ties with the Vincentian diaspora in Canada and expand overseas engagement.
Foreign Affairs Minister Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble announced the appointments during the “Invest SVG: Home Is Where the Heart Is” diaspora outreach event in Toronto on Friday.
He said cabinet had approved the appointments earlier in the week, with educator Dr Roderick McKree selected to serve as Consul General. Broadcaster and community activist Lavern ‘Gypsy’ Phillips will serve as Deputy Consul General.
“We have appointed a consul general and a deputy consul, and both of them will be in place by next month,” Mr Bramble told Vincentians attending the event.
The Toronto consulate, which serves one of the largest Vincentian communities overseas, had previously been headed by Fitzgerald Huggins.
Mr Bramble urged members of the diaspora to work closely with the newly appointed officials.
“Please, let’s work with our officials. Let’s work with our new CG and our new deputy to get our diaspora to where it should be,” he said.
The appointments form part of broader diplomatic changes announced earlier this year by the administration of Prime Minister Godwin Friday, which included new ambassadors, high commissioners and consular representatives.
Officials also outlined plans to expand staffing at the Toronto consulate through the addition of a diaspora officer and an investment officer, aimed at strengthening investment links and improving engagement with Vincentians living abroad.
Mr Bramble said four additional officers were also expected to be recruited within the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, including positions focused on diaspora liaison and project coordination.
The Toronto engagement formed part of the government’s “Invest SVG: Home Is Where the Heart Is” initiative, which seeks to connect overseas Vincentians with government agencies, financial institutions and private-sector representatives involved in national development.
The outreach programme began in London in April before continuing to Tortola and Toronto, with a final stop scheduled for New York later this month.