HE La Celia A. Prince presented her credentials to President George W. Bush on June 6th, 2008. Prior to becoming Ambassador, she served as the Deputy Chief of Mission in the Washington Embassy from September 2005 until her appointment as Ambassador. She is also her nation’s Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States. Prior to her arrival to Washington DC, Ambassador Prince worked in multilateral trade negotiations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Geneva, and Brussels. She is a lawyer by profession, having studied at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus; Sir Hugh Wooding Law School, Trinidad; and Cambridge University, England. Ambassador Prince is currently the youngest foreign ambassador accredited to and serving in Washington, DC. The Diplomatic Courier caught up with Ambassador Prince to discuss her work, her country, and her experiences as a female ambassador.
***
[Diplomatic Courier:] What is a typical day like for you?
[Ambassador Prince:] Typical would suggest some measure of predictability, and in my job I don’t enjoy that very often. I have a responsibility as Ambassador to the USA, as well as Ambassador to the Organization of American States. And the role that I play is very multifaceted and diverse.
If I’m allowed to have a typical day, it would start with consultations with my capital, which normally begin before I leave home. I would have checked in with my principles and capital and reported to them. By the time I get to the office I would also receive briefs from members of my staff who have been deployed to various meetings, and I myself would have various meetings to attend with the United States federal government, with the Organization of American States, meeting with investors, reaching out to members of the diaspora who have needs as well. But, on any given day I can be required to drop by everything that I’m doing and respond to emergent issues.
Each day that I leave the office I have a to do list for the following day, but there are so many times that I’m not able to do that because there are pressing issues that have come up while I am asleep at night.
[DC:] What policy issues are you focusing on right now?
[AP:] Our major policy issues that we focus on here—both in the context of our relationship with the United States of America as well as the Organization of American States—focus on development, particularly the economy. With the United States of America we have been looking to engage more in the framework of trade and investment. The United States is one of our most important trading partners. We enjoy access to preferential regimes. But the benefits, which we would have derived under those regimes, have eroded over time, largely in part to trading arrangements with larger, more competitive countries. So we’re looking to expand the base of goods we can trade with the United States.
Foreign direct investment with the United States is also key to our development. We’ve had to engage with members of Congress regarding legislation that is being implemented in the United States, which can actually have a dire impact on our economy. Here I speak specifically about financial legislation, which would impact our financial services industries. The legislation would make it more difficult for citizens and residents of the United States to do business in our countries. It makes it more difficult for our banks to do their work. We’ve had to make representations to members of Congress educating them as to how that would impact our economy.
We also focus on matters related to security. That is very, very important for us. St. Vincent and The Grenadines, like other Caribbean countries, find ourselves squarely in the middle of the drug trade between North America and South America. Our countries are a transshipment point for many of these drugs. And concomitant with that drug trade is the shipment of illegal arms and small weapons, which find their way into our territories. There has been a rise in crime in our country accompanied with the use of drugs. So we work very closely with the United States of America and through the Organization of American States to see how we can make this hemisphere of ours more robust to fight against the drug trade.
Finally, one of the things that is at the top on our agenda as well is immigration reform, and how it impacts our diaspora. We have a very large community of Vincentians that live here in the United States. The course in which immigration reform actually manifests itself can impact their well-being. Deportations could be a consequence of immigration reform that is not done in a manner that is beneficial to them. And that would have its consequences on St. Vincent and The Grenadines. So these are some of the things that we work on a daily basis.
[DC:] How would you characterize the role of women in the development of St. Vincent and The Grenadines?
[AP:] Women make up more than half of the population of St. Vincent and The Grenadines and have always played their role in the development of our country. In the private sector, women account for a great deal of the cottage industries in particular.
We’ve also played a role in government. Specifically in the past decade we have seen more and more women involved in nation building through government. Most of our government ministries are run by permanent secretaries, which would be the equivalent of a Director in the United States system.
There are women as well who occupy a seat in government both as elected officials as well as in opposition.
A couple of years ago, in fact, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly of the Parliament was a woman, who incidentally was a classmate of mine. Right now the longest serving Attorney General in the history of our country is a woman. And about two months ago, the new permanent representative to the United Nations that was accredited is a woman. So we have had the privilege of playing a vital role in the development of our country.
In fact I recall some years ago on International Women’s Day when I was at the State Department, I said to Secretary Clinton: “I would love to see a Vincentian or a woman from the Caribbean represented as the awardees of the International Woman of Courage.”
And she said to me: “You don’t have the kind of problems that these women have—of the problems that they represent—which is to say inequality, or not having equal access to pay, and that sort of thing.” So we are very fortunate in St. Vincent and The Grenadines that women have been able to play a very vital role in the development of nation building.
[DC:] As a female ambassador, how have you personally contributed to the progress of your country in recent years?
[AP:] Well, as a female ambassador, I don't think my role has been unlike that of my predecessors. I think I’ve been able to build on the work that my male predecessors have accomplished so far. What I think might have distinguished my role as a female ambassador is not just that I’m female, but that I’m a young woman. I believe that makes people more interested in the work that I do. I’ve had the privilege to be able to mentor young people, particularly young women, both in the United States and back home.
They are now aware that the role of a diplomat, and more specifically to that of an Ambassador, is not confined to an older man. And so I think if I have been able to inspire young persons, especially young women, to become interested in the role that foreign policy, international relations, and diplomacy play in the development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, then I would have made a hallmark contribution to the development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
[DC:] What is the most challenging aspect of representing a small country in Washington?
[AP:] Well St. Vincent and the Grenadines is small in physical size, population and economy. We’re not an economic powerhouse. As I mentioned earlier I have responsibility here in Washington. D.C. as both Ambassador to the United States of America and with the permanent mission of the Organization of American States.
We are stretched for human and financial resources, covering a very broad gamut of responsibilities There are other countries here—in fact, 180+ countries in Washington. We’re all competing for the attention basically of the same set of power brokers in Washington. Some of these countries have the wherewithal to hire international government relations firms, and we do not. So it is difficult penetrating Washington.
What we have been able to do is to make use of our strategic partnerships. Specifically here I speak of our involvement as St. Vincent and The Grenadines—with other members of the Caribbean communities, CARICOM—and our approach to the United States Government and the Organization of American States is to seek to harmonize, to make the approach on a single platform. That is to say 14 sovereign countries speaking with one voice, and that helps us to leverage our ability to achieve our objectives.
[DC:] What is the foreign policy thrust of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Western Hemisphere?
[AP:] We are a small country, and we recognize that a policy of inclusion is what is necessary to make sure that we survive in this very competitive globalized world.
So, starting within our immediate region, we are a part of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. Other member countries include, for example, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts, & Nevis. This organization is based on harmonization of foreign policy to the extent possible, as well as functional cooperation. So, for example, this building where our embassy is housed also houses these other embassies. We advance a united front to members of the international community.
In this manner, St. Vincent and The Grenadines is a part of CARICOM, which I just explained to you. And we use the collective power to leverage our objectives.
Within this hemisphere, we’re a part of the Organization of American States. We’re members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (CELAC), which is a recent geopolitical configuration. We’re also members of ALBA. Our policy is basically one of integrating ourselves and ensuring that we have a seat at the table. We understand that within these fora, decisions are made which will affect our lives. So we have be there in order to have a voice at the table in order to shape our destiny as well.
[DC:] Is there a specific piece of technology that has contributed to the advancement of St. Vincent and the Grenadines?
[AP:] Oh yes, beyond any doubt that would be the internet. The internet has been transformational in the entire world, it has revolutionized the way we live daily, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines has not been an exception in this regard. It has helped in the development of our country in many ways.
I can think firstly of education. With the advent of the internet in St. Vincent and the Grenadines we have been able to provide education in a way that we’ve not been able to do before. One thing to note is that we are a small country that does not have a university. Most persons that want to take on a higher-level study—tertiary level education—have to leave St. Vincent and the Grenadines. They have to leave their families, leave their jobs. For those that do not wish to do so, they have the option of doing online university courses. We’ve been able to use the internet as a teaching tool in primary and secondary schools. And children are able to use the internet at home to do their homework. I think if a child can do their homework effectively from home on an evening instead of being out late at the library, although I’m all for library, but if they can get home safely at an earlier hour that will be great.
Now the internet has also been vital in advancing our e-commerce. Vincentians have been able to access goods and services very easily. It has also played an important role in the development of government services. We have an e-government facility with other members of the eastern Caribbean as well as helping to consolidate our democracy. There are many Vincentians who live in the Diaspora, and who through the use of internet based radio stations, have been able to use that tool in letting their voices be known in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in filtering their ideas that form a part of policymaking by the government. So it has really revolutionized our country.
[DC:] Looking forward, what are your goals for the next five years?
[AP:] Well, let’s begin with the short term. Right now I’m focusing on attracting foreign investment to St. Vincent and The Grenadines. My country is right now involved in the largest infrastructural project that we’ve ever undertaken, and that is the creation of an international airport. That airport will be inaugurated, if all goes well, by the end of next year. And so now I’m looking to find investors who can partner with St. Vincent and The Grenadines as the airport comes on stream.
I am also going to have the responsibility from January of next year for coordinating the CARICOM diplomatic corps here in Washington, DC. That will be a huge responsibility and during my tenure I would like to advance the work that has been done with lifting the profile and visibility of CARICOM countries here in Washington.
I should also say that I’ve been privileged to serve here at the embassy for a total of eight years. First, for three years as a deputy, then for the last five years as Ambassador. So I’m sure that through the course of the next few years I will be looking to build in the next professional chapter of my life.
[DC:] If I was planning my first trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, what would you suggest I do that I might not find in a typical tour guide?
[AP:] A little bit of information: We are a state of 32 islands and cays. So take your pick! You may not be able to see all of our islands and cays in just one trip. But St. Vincent and the Grenadines is really and truly a complete package. You have the mainland, St. Vincent, which has verdant, rugged topography. It is wonderful for those who are outdoor enthusiasts. Hikers have many places and trails to go to, including our volcano, which is going to overwhelm you with its beauty. And there are also many waterfalls that you can hike to.
The Grenadine islands, their topography is gentler: beautiful beaches, excellent for scuba diving, sailing, snorkeling, or just sitting on the beach and relaxing in the sun.
But you asked specifically what you may not know from the tourist guides. Well, when you come to St. Vincent and the Grenadines you should expect that your palate will be pleasantly surprised. What you may not find out from the tourist guides is that some of the most delicious, delectable foods are to be found in the small kitchens of restaurants and eateries that are located in the tiny villages off the beaten trail.
This article was originally published in the Diplomatic Courier's March/April 2014 print edition.
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Interview with La Celia A. Prince: Ambassador of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to the U.S.
March 6, 2014
HE La Celia A. Prince presented her credentials to President George W. Bush on June 6th, 2008. Prior to becoming Ambassador, she served as the Deputy Chief of Mission in the Washington Embassy from September 2005 until her appointment as Ambassador. She is also her nation’s Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States. Prior to her arrival to Washington DC, Ambassador Prince worked in multilateral trade negotiations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Geneva, and Brussels. She is a lawyer by profession, having studied at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus; Sir Hugh Wooding Law School, Trinidad; and Cambridge University, England. Ambassador Prince is currently the youngest foreign ambassador accredited to and serving in Washington, DC. The Diplomatic Courier caught up with Ambassador Prince to discuss her work, her country, and her experiences as a female ambassador.
***
[Diplomatic Courier:] What is a typical day like for you?
[Ambassador Prince:] Typical would suggest some measure of predictability, and in my job I don’t enjoy that very often. I have a responsibility as Ambassador to the USA, as well as Ambassador to the Organization of American States. And the role that I play is very multifaceted and diverse.
If I’m allowed to have a typical day, it would start with consultations with my capital, which normally begin before I leave home. I would have checked in with my principles and capital and reported to them. By the time I get to the office I would also receive briefs from members of my staff who have been deployed to various meetings, and I myself would have various meetings to attend with the United States federal government, with the Organization of American States, meeting with investors, reaching out to members of the diaspora who have needs as well. But, on any given day I can be required to drop by everything that I’m doing and respond to emergent issues.
Each day that I leave the office I have a to do list for the following day, but there are so many times that I’m not able to do that because there are pressing issues that have come up while I am asleep at night.
[DC:] What policy issues are you focusing on right now?
[AP:] Our major policy issues that we focus on here—both in the context of our relationship with the United States of America as well as the Organization of American States—focus on development, particularly the economy. With the United States of America we have been looking to engage more in the framework of trade and investment. The United States is one of our most important trading partners. We enjoy access to preferential regimes. But the benefits, which we would have derived under those regimes, have eroded over time, largely in part to trading arrangements with larger, more competitive countries. So we’re looking to expand the base of goods we can trade with the United States.
Foreign direct investment with the United States is also key to our development. We’ve had to engage with members of Congress regarding legislation that is being implemented in the United States, which can actually have a dire impact on our economy. Here I speak specifically about financial legislation, which would impact our financial services industries. The legislation would make it more difficult for citizens and residents of the United States to do business in our countries. It makes it more difficult for our banks to do their work. We’ve had to make representations to members of Congress educating them as to how that would impact our economy.
We also focus on matters related to security. That is very, very important for us. St. Vincent and The Grenadines, like other Caribbean countries, find ourselves squarely in the middle of the drug trade between North America and South America. Our countries are a transshipment point for many of these drugs. And concomitant with that drug trade is the shipment of illegal arms and small weapons, which find their way into our territories. There has been a rise in crime in our country accompanied with the use of drugs. So we work very closely with the United States of America and through the Organization of American States to see how we can make this hemisphere of ours more robust to fight against the drug trade.
Finally, one of the things that is at the top on our agenda as well is immigration reform, and how it impacts our diaspora. We have a very large community of Vincentians that live here in the United States. The course in which immigration reform actually manifests itself can impact their well-being. Deportations could be a consequence of immigration reform that is not done in a manner that is beneficial to them. And that would have its consequences on St. Vincent and The Grenadines. So these are some of the things that we work on a daily basis.
[DC:] How would you characterize the role of women in the development of St. Vincent and The Grenadines?
[AP:] Women make up more than half of the population of St. Vincent and The Grenadines and have always played their role in the development of our country. In the private sector, women account for a great deal of the cottage industries in particular.
We’ve also played a role in government. Specifically in the past decade we have seen more and more women involved in nation building through government. Most of our government ministries are run by permanent secretaries, which would be the equivalent of a Director in the United States system.
There are women as well who occupy a seat in government both as elected officials as well as in opposition.
A couple of years ago, in fact, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly of the Parliament was a woman, who incidentally was a classmate of mine. Right now the longest serving Attorney General in the history of our country is a woman. And about two months ago, the new permanent representative to the United Nations that was accredited is a woman. So we have had the privilege of playing a vital role in the development of our country.
In fact I recall some years ago on International Women’s Day when I was at the State Department, I said to Secretary Clinton: “I would love to see a Vincentian or a woman from the Caribbean represented as the awardees of the International Woman of Courage.”
And she said to me: “You don’t have the kind of problems that these women have—of the problems that they represent—which is to say inequality, or not having equal access to pay, and that sort of thing.” So we are very fortunate in St. Vincent and The Grenadines that women have been able to play a very vital role in the development of nation building.
[DC:] As a female ambassador, how have you personally contributed to the progress of your country in recent years?
[AP:] Well, as a female ambassador, I don't think my role has been unlike that of my predecessors. I think I’ve been able to build on the work that my male predecessors have accomplished so far. What I think might have distinguished my role as a female ambassador is not just that I’m female, but that I’m a young woman. I believe that makes people more interested in the work that I do. I’ve had the privilege to be able to mentor young people, particularly young women, both in the United States and back home.
They are now aware that the role of a diplomat, and more specifically to that of an Ambassador, is not confined to an older man. And so I think if I have been able to inspire young persons, especially young women, to become interested in the role that foreign policy, international relations, and diplomacy play in the development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, then I would have made a hallmark contribution to the development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
[DC:] What is the most challenging aspect of representing a small country in Washington?
[AP:] Well St. Vincent and the Grenadines is small in physical size, population and economy. We’re not an economic powerhouse. As I mentioned earlier I have responsibility here in Washington. D.C. as both Ambassador to the United States of America and with the permanent mission of the Organization of American States.
We are stretched for human and financial resources, covering a very broad gamut of responsibilities There are other countries here—in fact, 180+ countries in Washington. We’re all competing for the attention basically of the same set of power brokers in Washington. Some of these countries have the wherewithal to hire international government relations firms, and we do not. So it is difficult penetrating Washington.
What we have been able to do is to make use of our strategic partnerships. Specifically here I speak of our involvement as St. Vincent and The Grenadines—with other members of the Caribbean communities, CARICOM—and our approach to the United States Government and the Organization of American States is to seek to harmonize, to make the approach on a single platform. That is to say 14 sovereign countries speaking with one voice, and that helps us to leverage our ability to achieve our objectives.
[DC:] What is the foreign policy thrust of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Western Hemisphere?
[AP:] We are a small country, and we recognize that a policy of inclusion is what is necessary to make sure that we survive in this very competitive globalized world.
So, starting within our immediate region, we are a part of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. Other member countries include, for example, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts, & Nevis. This organization is based on harmonization of foreign policy to the extent possible, as well as functional cooperation. So, for example, this building where our embassy is housed also houses these other embassies. We advance a united front to members of the international community.
In this manner, St. Vincent and The Grenadines is a part of CARICOM, which I just explained to you. And we use the collective power to leverage our objectives.
Within this hemisphere, we’re a part of the Organization of American States. We’re members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (CELAC), which is a recent geopolitical configuration. We’re also members of ALBA. Our policy is basically one of integrating ourselves and ensuring that we have a seat at the table. We understand that within these fora, decisions are made which will affect our lives. So we have be there in order to have a voice at the table in order to shape our destiny as well.
[DC:] Is there a specific piece of technology that has contributed to the advancement of St. Vincent and the Grenadines?
[AP:] Oh yes, beyond any doubt that would be the internet. The internet has been transformational in the entire world, it has revolutionized the way we live daily, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines has not been an exception in this regard. It has helped in the development of our country in many ways.
I can think firstly of education. With the advent of the internet in St. Vincent and the Grenadines we have been able to provide education in a way that we’ve not been able to do before. One thing to note is that we are a small country that does not have a university. Most persons that want to take on a higher-level study—tertiary level education—have to leave St. Vincent and the Grenadines. They have to leave their families, leave their jobs. For those that do not wish to do so, they have the option of doing online university courses. We’ve been able to use the internet as a teaching tool in primary and secondary schools. And children are able to use the internet at home to do their homework. I think if a child can do their homework effectively from home on an evening instead of being out late at the library, although I’m all for library, but if they can get home safely at an earlier hour that will be great.
Now the internet has also been vital in advancing our e-commerce. Vincentians have been able to access goods and services very easily. It has also played an important role in the development of government services. We have an e-government facility with other members of the eastern Caribbean as well as helping to consolidate our democracy. There are many Vincentians who live in the Diaspora, and who through the use of internet based radio stations, have been able to use that tool in letting their voices be known in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in filtering their ideas that form a part of policymaking by the government. So it has really revolutionized our country.
[DC:] Looking forward, what are your goals for the next five years?
[AP:] Well, let’s begin with the short term. Right now I’m focusing on attracting foreign investment to St. Vincent and The Grenadines. My country is right now involved in the largest infrastructural project that we’ve ever undertaken, and that is the creation of an international airport. That airport will be inaugurated, if all goes well, by the end of next year. And so now I’m looking to find investors who can partner with St. Vincent and The Grenadines as the airport comes on stream.
I am also going to have the responsibility from January of next year for coordinating the CARICOM diplomatic corps here in Washington, DC. That will be a huge responsibility and during my tenure I would like to advance the work that has been done with lifting the profile and visibility of CARICOM countries here in Washington.
I should also say that I’ve been privileged to serve here at the embassy for a total of eight years. First, for three years as a deputy, then for the last five years as Ambassador. So I’m sure that through the course of the next few years I will be looking to build in the next professional chapter of my life.
[DC:] If I was planning my first trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, what would you suggest I do that I might not find in a typical tour guide?
[AP:] A little bit of information: We are a state of 32 islands and cays. So take your pick! You may not be able to see all of our islands and cays in just one trip. But St. Vincent and the Grenadines is really and truly a complete package. You have the mainland, St. Vincent, which has verdant, rugged topography. It is wonderful for those who are outdoor enthusiasts. Hikers have many places and trails to go to, including our volcano, which is going to overwhelm you with its beauty. And there are also many waterfalls that you can hike to.
The Grenadine islands, their topography is gentler: beautiful beaches, excellent for scuba diving, sailing, snorkeling, or just sitting on the beach and relaxing in the sun.
But you asked specifically what you may not know from the tourist guides. Well, when you come to St. Vincent and the Grenadines you should expect that your palate will be pleasantly surprised. What you may not find out from the tourist guides is that some of the most delicious, delectable foods are to be found in the small kitchens of restaurants and eateries that are located in the tiny villages off the beaten trail.
This article was originally published in the Diplomatic Courier's March/April 2014 print edition.
