Author: user user

Lankan digital economy estimated at Rs. 1.3 t

Sri Lanka’s digital economy is estimated at Rs. 1,342 billion, accounting for 4.5% of GDP, according to the Institute of Policy Studies’ (IPS) Annual State of the Economy 2025 report.

The report said digital businesses and online platforms are driving innovation, creating new products, and reducing transaction costs, while supporting sustainable economic growth and competitiveness.

The IPS noted that information and communication services have become a key driver of Sri Lanka’s services sector, contributing steadily to the economy in recent years.

The digital sector’s upward trajectory has been accelerated by the global shift towards digitalisation, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which expanded demand for digital solutions.

The report said the ICT-BPO sector experienced rapid expansion between 2015 and 2020, with the number of firms tripling and the workforce doubling. ICT and BPO-related services generated about $ 850 million in revenue in 2020.

According to the last available census survey conducted in 2018, the workforce grew 51% over five years to 124,873, recording an annual growth rate of around 10%. Projections indicate the ICT, BPO, and BPM workforce will reach 300,000 by 2025, generating $ 2 billion in export earnings.

‘Sri Lanka’s ICT-BPM industry is also expected to foster the development of over 1,000 technology startups, further solidifying its position as a dynamic digital economy,’ the IPS report said.

The size of the digital economy, based on Central Bank data, is dominated by information and communication activities valued at Rs. 606.7 billion, or 2.03% of GDP, and e-commerce estimated at Rs. 735.2 billion, or 2.47% of GDP.

The report noted that the e-commerce value was calculated by doubling the total card-based transaction volume on the assumption that cash payments account for half of all online purchases.

E-commerce has become a notable driver of digital engagement in Sri Lanka.

‘Many Sri Lankan businesses have established an online presence through e-commerce platforms, social media, and dedicated websites,’ the IPS said. Rising internet penetration, improved payment gateways, and digital literacy have helped the sector grow rapidly.

In 2024, total e-commerce transactions via debit and credit cards amounted to Rs. 367.8 billion. The overall value of e-commerce transactions was estimated at Rs. 735.2 billion and is projected to grow annually at 10.8%, reaching an estimated $ 3.9 billion by 2029.

The report said consumer behaviour has also shifted in favour of online purchases, with around 52% of internet users making online purchases at least once a month.

Digital advertising plays a strong role in influencing buying decisions, with 58% of users reporting they bought products online after seeing digital ads. The most commonly purchased items were clothing at 43%, personal care and beauty products at 23%, and electronics and accessories at 22%.

The IPS identified e-services as another fast-growing area, reshaping how citizens access services such as food delivery, education, transportation, healthcare, and Government transactions. ‘E-services are becoming increasingly integrated into the daily lives of Sri Lankans, particularly in urban areas,’ the report said.

The e-services sector is forecast to expand at an annual rate of 15.7%, reaching a market volume of $ 1.9 billion and 6.4 million users by 2029. User penetration is expected to reach 23% of the population by 2025, driven by internet access, smartphone usage, and consumer receptivity to digital platforms.

The IPS said the continued evolution of e-services and e-commerce will be central to enhancing service delivery, improving efficiency, and promoting inclusive digital growth.

‘The expansion of these sectors will be key to reducing friction in economic transactions and supporting broader goals of digital inclusion and economic modernisation,’ it said.

CRICKET-BAN/WIS-RESULT West Indies defeat Bangladesh by 16 runs -1st T20I

West Indies defeat Bangladesh by 16 runs in the first T20 International here on Monday.

SCORES:

WEST INDIES 165-3 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 46 not out, Rovman Powell 44 not out, Alick Athanaze 34, Brandon King 33; Taskin Ahmed 2-36).

BANGLADESH 149 in 19.4 overs (Tanzim Sakib 33, Towhid Hridoy 28, Nasum Ahmed 20; Jason Holder 3-31, Jayden Seales 3-32, Akeal Hosein 2-22).

France determined to assist Cyprus for a successful EU presidency, says Minister delegate for European Affairs [VIDEO]

France is determined to assist Cyprus in any way to make its EU Presidency a successful one said Minister delegate for European Affairs, Benjamin Haddad, who is visiting Cyprus on Monday.

Haddad met with Cyprus Deputy Minister for EU Affairs Marilena Raouna who spoke of an upgrade of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

In press statements before the meeting, Raouna pointed out that Cyprus and France share a longstanding, excellent partnership.

“We are working upon instructions from our Presidents to upgrade this strategic partnership,” she noted.

Today’s agenda included issues related to the steadfast support to Ukraine. Raouna said that the Russian aggression against Ukraine is a European issue, “is an issue that pertains to the European architecture, and this resonates very strongly here in the European Union’s last member state under military occupation”.

They also discussed the negotiations for the new multi-annual financial framework security and defence, which will be a core priority of the Cyprus presidency and enlargement.

Haddad in his statements noted that the aim of the visit is to continue to deepen and upgrade the very strong relationship between France and Cyprus.

“And we will be finalizing a document which will lead the way to a strategic partnership on all areas encompassing industrial, economic cooperation, energy, and strategic matters to really deepen our partnership,” he said.

As regards the upcoming Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, the French Minister noted that we indeed have very important challenges in front of us.

“The support for Ukraine against Russian aggression, the competitiveness agenda where we need to accelerate the implementation of the Draghi report and data reforms by simplifying our rules, by supporting investment and innovation, by deepening the single market, by protecting our industry against unfair competition and the pressure from abroad”, he said.

Haddad also spoke of the need to upgrade the European industrial defence base at a time when we need to reduce our dependencies on external actors and we are facing geopolitical challenges.

“On all these areas, Cyprus can count on France as a strong, steadfast ally and friend, (something) which is also embodied by the relationship of respect and friendship between our two Presidents. And we’ll be here also preparing an upcoming visit from President Macron”, he said in his press statements.

Haddad was also received later on by the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides.

ST. VINCENT-POLITICS-OECS, CARICOM congratulate St. Vincent and the Grenadines on independence anniversary

The Director General of the St. Lucia-based Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Dr. Didacus Jules, Monday extended congratulations to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as the member state of the sub-regional grouping celebrates its 46th anniversary of political independence from Britain.

‘Today, we gather as one people to celebrate 46 years of independence. Forty-six years of perseverance, pride and progress. Our theme this year, ‘Celebrating Our Identity-Inspiring Our Future,’ captures perfectly the essence of who we are and what we continue to strive for: a nation confident in its roots, united in purpose, and hopeful for tomorrow. ‘

Jules said that St. Vincent and the Grenadines has always been more than a cluster of islands, saying it is the heartland of the Garifuna people, whose fusion of African and Indigenous heritage gave birth to a proud identity forged in resistance and courage.

‘It is the land of roasted breadfruit and fried jackfish, symbols of our resourcefulness and our joy in the simple pleasures that make us who we are. As we look back on these 46 years, we see not just the passage of time, but the progress of a people- steadily defining their place in the world while never losing sight of what makes them Vincentian.’

Jules also recognised the island’s achievements in healthcare and investment in education, position it as a model of resilience and transformation within the OECS region.

‘The future of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines depends on how it educates, empowers, and inspires its citizens, especially our youth. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines leads the OECS in investment in education, and in healthcare, especially in critical areas such as pediatric and diabetic foot care.

‘May this Independence remind us that we are the heirs of a proud legacy and the architects of an even brighter tomorrow. Together, we can continue to celebrate who we are, and together, we will keep inspiring the future we deserve,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General, Dr. Carla Barnett said that the regional integration grouping ‘continues to benefit from the leadership and contributions of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

‘Your recent implementation of the full free movement regime, alongside three other CARICOM member states, clearly demonstrates your country’s longstanding commitment to regional integration. This complements the staunch advocacy for intra-regional connectivity that St. Vincent and the Grenadines holds responsibility for as lead Head of Government for Transport (Maritime and Aviation) in the CARICOM Quasi-Cabinet,’ Barnett said in a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

Stay the course on Mannar wind power project

Renewable energy, particularly wind and solar, offers a pathway not only towards environmental responsibility but also towards national independence and economic stability. Yet, recent protests against the Mannar wind power project threaten to derail this progress, echoing the misplaced opposition that once delayed the Norocholai Coal Power Plant by nearly two decades.

The reasons behind the protests in Mannar remain unclear. Some claim concerns about possible impacts on fisheries and marine ecosystems, though no conclusive evidence has been presented. Others see familiar patterns of manipulation, where vested interests use misinformation to turn communities against national projects. This is reminiscent of the Norocholai experience where local protests, supposedly led by religious leaders, were later revealed to have been instigated by private diesel power operators. These groups, benefiting from lucrative contracts for thermal power generation, sought to prevent the State-owned coal plant from coming online.

When Norocholai was finally commissioned, the doomsday predictions of environmental catastrophe did not materialise. Instead, the power plant now supplies over 900 MegaWatts roughly a quarter of Sri Lanka’s total installed capacity and has significantly reduced the cost of electricity generation. It stands today as a reminder that while public debate and environmental caution are necessary, they should not be manipulated to serve private profit at the expense of national progress.

The case of Mannar bears troubling similarities. The region’s wind corridor has been identified by experts as one of the most promising in South Asia. Harnessing even a fraction of its potential could make a decisive contribution to Sri Lanka’s renewable energy targets. Yet, vague fears about damage to fisheries, unsubstantiated by rigorous scientific evidence, are being amplified. The result is confusion, delay, and the risk of losing foreign investment and technical expertise in a sector that Sri Lanka desperately needs to expand.

Sri Lanka’s hydroelectric potential, once the backbone of its power supply, has reached its peak. Climate variability, prolonged droughts, and siltation in major reservoirs have made hydropower increasingly unreliable. In the coming decades, some of these large reservoirs may even face decommissioning. The diversification of energy sources is not just an environmental priority, it is a matter of national economic security.

Wind and solar energy are the twin pillars of this diversification. Together, they can provide clean, affordable, and decentralised power to communities across the country. The Mannar Wind Power Project, for instance, is already demonstrating impressive performance, with capacity factors among the best in the region. Expanding such projects could stabilise the grid, reduce dependence on imported oil and coal, and help Sri Lanka meet its international climate commitments.

This is not to say that environmental concerns should be dismissed. Every project must undergo a thorough Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and mitigation measures must be implemented to minimise harm to ecosystems and local livelihoods. However, once the assessments are complete and the science is sound, the Government must have the courage to proceed. Development cannot be held hostage by misinformation or the hidden agendas of those who profit from the status quo.

Our country’s path to energy security and sustainability will not be without challenges. But history has shown that resistance often precedes progress. We cannot afford another 20-year delay like Norocholai. The world is moving rapidly towards clean energy. To hesitate now would be to fall behind economically and strategically. It is time for the Government to stay the course, invest boldly in wind and solar power, and ensure that the light which powers our future is both green and secure.

France determined to assist Cyprus for a successful EU presidency, says Minister delegate for European Affairs (2)

France is determined to assist Cyprus in any way to make its EU Presidency a successful one said Minister delegate for European Affairs, Benjamin Haddad, who is visiting Cyprus on Monday.

Haddad met with Cyprus Deputy Minister for EU Affairs Marilena Raouna who spoke of an upgrade of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

In press statements before the meeting, Raouna pointed out that Cyprus and France share a longstanding, excellent partnership.

“We are working upon instructions from our Presidents to upgrade this strategic partnership,” she noted.

Today’s agenda included issues related to the steadfast support to Ukraine. Raouna said that the Russian aggression against Ukraine is a European issue, “is an issue that pertains to the European architecture, and this resonates very strongly here in the European Union’s last member state under military occupation”.

They also discussed the negotiations for the new multi-annual financial framework security and defence, which will be a core priority of the Cyprus presidency and enlargement.

Haddad in his statements noted that the aim of the visit is to continue to deepen and upgrade the very strong relationship between France and Cyprus.

“And we will be finalizing a document which will lead the way to a strategic partnership on all areas encompassing industrial, economic cooperation, energy, and strategic matters to really deepen our partnership,” he said.

As regards the upcoming Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, the French Minister noted that we indeed have very important challenges in front of us.

“The support for Ukraine against Russian aggression, the competitiveness agenda where we need to accelerate the implementation of the Draghi report and data reforms by simplifying our rules, by supporting investment and innovation, by deepening the single market, by protecting our industry against unfair competition and the pressure from abroad”, he said.

Haddad also spoke of the need to upgrade the European industrial defence base at a time when we need to reduce our dependencies on external actors and we are facing geopolitical challenges.

“On all these areas, Cyprus can count on France as a strong, steadfast ally and friend, (something) which is also embodied by the relationship of respect and friendship between our two Presidents. And we’ll be here also preparing an upcoming visit from President Macron”, he said in his press statements.

? statement issued by the Secretariat of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU after the meeting says that the two Deputy Ministers also exchanged views on common Mediterranean issues, with emphasis on migration and the new Pact for the Mediterranean, as well as on the importance and possibilities of strengthening coordination between them to promote common goals.

In this context, the Deputy Minister informed him about the initiatives that the Cyprus Presidency will undertake to strengthen EU relations with countries in the region.

Raouna also informed Haddad about the latest developments in the Cyprus issue and the efforts by the Greek Cypriot side to resume UN peace negotiations on the basis of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, as well as about the progress in the process for Cyprus’ admittance in the Schengen area.

JAMAICA-WEATHER-Prime Minister Holness outlines plans for Jamaica’s quick recovery from Hurricane Melissa

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has outlined a multi-layered strategy for Jamaica’s quick recovery, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa that is expected to move over the country on Monday night and early Tuesday.

The category 5 hurricane, packing sustained maximum winds of 165 miles per hour (mph) is expected to travel across southeastern Cuba Tuesday night and across the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness

The hurricane is located about 145 mils of Kingston and is moving toward the west near three mph.

‘A slow turn toward the northwest and north is expected later today, followed by a turn toward the northeast and a faster forward speed on Tuesday. A northeastward motion is expected on Wednesday and Thursday. On the forecast track, the core of Melissa is expected to move over Jamaica tonight and early Tuesday, across southeastern Cuba Tuesday night,

and across the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday,’ the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest bulleting.

In an address to the nation, Prime Minister Holness said that the government has created a comprehensive multi-layered disaster risk financing framework that will ensure a quick and effective post-disaster response.

‘We have the National Natural Disaster Risk Fund and the Contingency Fund, which we will use to start the relief and recovery process. Beyond these, there are additional layers of insurance protection that are triggered once specific impact thresholds are met, along with contingent credit facilities,’ Holness said.

He said additionally, the National Works Agency (NWA), Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), in collaboration with local government and the island’s utility companies, are prepared to reopen roads, restore access and reinstate service to ensure a quick recovery.

‘The Ministry of Labour and Social Security, supported by the JDF, is fully prepared to lead the humanitarian relief effort and the data gathering for damage assessment. Please play your part in having your identification and other documentation ready if you have to apply or register for relief,’ Holness urged citizens.

He said that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining is ready to offer support to farmers and fishers to ensure that they are back out in the field as soon as possible, and the Ministry of Health and Wellness is making plans for major mosquito- and other vector-control initiatives immediately after the hurricane, to avoid outbreaks of diseases, especially dengue.

Prime Minister Holness in his broadcast recognised front-line workers and healthcare professionals ‘who will be out there risking their lives to protect ours and to serve us’.

He also appealed to the public to maintain peace and observe the laws and the various orders issued but assured that ‘the security forces will ensure there is no break in public order during and after the hurricane’.

While urging citizens to prepare for the worst, Holness encouraged the population to find strength in faith and prayer.

‘While we must prepare for the worst, let us also pray for the best. In every adversity, we have found strength, not only in our resilience but in the power of prayer,’ Holness said, encouraging families to gather and pray for protection, calm and each other, expressing trust that God will carry the nation safely through the storm.

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Desmond McKenzie, Monday reiterated that shelters across Jamaica are safe spaces for people who live in communities vulnerable to severe weather events such as Hurricane Melissa, and is urging them to go to these facilities to see out the impending weather system.

‘I am aware of reports in the media today, which indicate that some people are concerned that they will not be secure if they use the shelters. I want to put everyone at ease where this is concerned. Every one of our over 881 shelters across Jamaica is run by a shelter manager who has a support team, and they are at the facility before, during, and after the Hurricane,’ said McKenzie said in a statement.

He said that men and women are housed separately, except where whole families are being accommodated at the shelter and that the shelters are clean and are provisioned with all necessary supplies to ensure that all hygienic and public health standards are maintained.

‘It is critical that persons, especially in vulnerable areas, use these shelters, which have been selected and prepared to ensure their safety from the hurricane. I urge you not to be crippled by fear, or discouraged by rumours. The only purpose of the shelters is your safety. Your Government is not callous or dismissive of your anxieties about leaving your homes for what could be a few days at least.

‘However, I urge you to remember that personal, community, and national recovery from this historically serious hurricane is only possible if you are alive and well to make it happen. We want every single person in this country to be alive and accounted for when Melissa is over,’ said McKenzie.

‘I therefore call on you to co-operate with the agents of the ODPEM, the disaster co-ordinators and the security forces if you live in a specially vulnerable area. Please lock up your houses, take the things you need and move out temporarily. If you can stay with friends or relatives, please do so.

‘If this is not possible, please take whatever supplies you need, including food, water and any medicines, use the buses being provided, and go to the shelter nearest to you to see out the passage of Hurricane Melissa. These facilities are literally your shelter from the storm, and I call on you to use them,’ McKenzie said in the statement.

Meanwhile, the NHC said that a hurricane watch is in effect for the southeastern and central Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, while a tropical storm warning remains in effect for Haiti, and the Cuban province of Las Tunas

The NHC said that some fluctuations in intensity are likely before Melissa makes landfall on Jamaica on Tuesday.

‘However, Melissa is expected to reach Jamaica and southeastern Cuba as an extremely powerful major hurricane, and will still be at hurricane strength when it moves across the southeastern Bahamas.

Tropical storm conditions are occurring in Jamaica, and catastrophic and life-threatening hurricane-force wind conditions are expected to begin tonight and continue into early Tuesday.

Within the eyewall, total structural failure is likely, especially in higher elevation areas where wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hills and mountains could be up to 30 per cent stronger.

Melissa is expected to bring rainfall of 15 to 30 inches to portions of Jamaica and additional rainfall of eight to 16 inches for southern Hispaniola through Wednesday.

Swells generated by Melissa are expected to affect portions of Hispaniola, Jamaica, eastern Cuba, and the Cayman Islands during the next several days, and the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Bermuda later this week.

DFCC Bank’s ‘Wyapara Hamuwa’ strengthens banana farming in Thambuttegama and small businesses in Kegalle

DFCC Bank PLC has expanded its flagship DFCC Wyapara Hamuwa program to Thambuttegama and Kegalle, supporting banana farmers and small business owners with financial knowledge, market insights, and practical tools to strengthen livelihoods and fuel regional economic growth.

Conducted in partnership with Rajanganaya A-Park Ltd., the sessions provided farmers and entrepreneurs with guidance on financial literacy, entrepreneurship development, and sustainable business practices. Designed to move beyond theory, the programme offered practical solutions to common challenges such as limited access to finance, market linkages, and the need for modernised operations.

DFCC Bank Vice President – Business Banking Pradeep De Alwis said: ‘We are delighted to be involved in progress from the grassroots itself. Through Wyapara Hamuwa, we offer more than financial access. We support farmers and small businesses in building confidence, strengthening livelihoods, and becoming active contributors to national growth. Supporting banana cultivators in Thambuttegama and entrepreneurs in Kegalle means nurturing the roots of rural economies, ensuring that communities and future generations can thrive.’

Participants also gained exposure to expert-led sessions on cluster-based business development, sustainable farming, and financial planning. These practical insights are intended to help them compete more effectively in dynamic markets while fostering resilience in their communities.

With overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees, DFCC Wyapara Hamuwa is being recognised as a vital platform for grassroots entrepreneurship-linking financial literacy with opportunity and innovation. For DFCC Bank, the initiative reflects a long-term strategy to strengthen Sri Lanka’s MSME and SME sectors, while fostering inclusive growth that uplifts households, communities, and regions alike.

CANANEWS AND SPORTS SCHEDULE AT 1200 ECT

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Monday, October 27, 2025

KINGSTON – Hurricane Melissa, a category 5 storm with winds in excess of 160 miles per hour (mph) is inching towards Jamaica on Monday and is expected to move near or over the Caribbean island on Tuesday.

PORT AU PRINCE – Haitian authorities were on Monday urging people to remain vigilant as Hurricane Melissa, a category 5 storm could bring life-threatening flash flooding and landslides in southwestern Haiti this week.

GEORGETOWN – The Guyana police Monday released a video showing a man placing a bag at a gas station following an explosion that left one person dead and several others injured on Sunday night.

CARACAS – Venezuela Monday urged the Trinidad and Tobago government not to allow the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country to be dragged into ‘a dirty war’ involving the United States warning ‘we will defend our sovereignty without hesitation.

WASHINGTON – An increasing number of United States legislators are expressing deep concern about President Donald J. Trump’s unilateral initiative in conducting military strikes and military build-up in the Caribbean Sea.

NEW YORK – Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves is urging nationals to ‘own the future’ as St. Vincent and the Grenadines Monday celebrates its 46th anniversary of political independence from Britain.

SPORTS:

CHATTOGRAM – West Indies won the toss and elected to bat against Bangladesh in the first T20 International here on Monday.

ST. VINCENT-POLITICS-St. Vincent celebrating 46th anniversary of political inndependence

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves is urging nationals to ‘own the future’ as St. Vincent and the Grenadines Monday celebrates its 46th anniversary of political independence from Britain.

‘My simple message to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the occasion of the 46th anniversary of our country’s reclamation of its independence on October 27, 1979, is: ‘Own the Future”, Gonsalves said in a message to nationals in the Diaspora.

”Own the Future’ in love, in solidarity, in unity and caring, in our collective interests. Remember always an elemental truth: Of all time, only the future is ours to uplift further, or to desecrate; the present is the past; and the past possesses satisfactions and dissatisfactions, triumphs and defeats, successes and failures,’ said Gonsalves, who is expected to deliver his Independence Day message at a rally in Kingston later on Monday.

‘To be sure, we cannot alter the past; we must use the past and the present to uplift ourselves further in the future and avoid its desecration. These are vital considerations always, but especially so at a time when in-the-not-too-distant future, the people will be called upon to exercise the democratic choice in general elections to elect a government to lead us into the future’.

Gonsalves said that elections have consequences ‘for good or ill’ and that by nothing, the future would be desecrated.

‘Do everything to facilitate the uplifting of our future. So, choose wisely; take no risks; take no chances; make no gamble in these challenging times of turmoil around us generated from external forces, amidst our country’s fragilities and vulnerabilities arising from the condition of being a small-island developing state.’

Gonsalves said that since the country’s reclamation of independence in1979, ‘the Family of Labour (the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Labour Party and the Unity Labour Party) has been in government for nearly 30 years thus far, out of the 46 years of independence and sovereign control of governance.’

He said that, during this period, the Labour administrations under the founding father Robert Milton Cato and himself have, ‘in communion with the people, chalked up impressive achievements in the life, living, and production of the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.’

The prime minister said ‘Labour’ has constituted the government in almost two-thirds of the years since independence.

‘Almost everything of great value in our country has been built under the leadership of ‘Labor’ in communion with a determined, resilient, and magnificent people,’ he said, stating that he has been prime minister for nearly 25 years – more than half of the country’s ‘independence years.’

During this time, Gonsalves said ‘amazing uplifting transformations have occurred to the people’s enduring benefit.’

He said previous prime ministers including the late Sir James Mitchell and Arnhim Eustace of the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDPhave also made their contributions.

‘Sir James, sadly, is no longer in our Earthly City, and cannot aid his successors in the NDP as he did in the previous five elections since 2001. They are on their own; the people will judge them soon, by themselves, without any crutch whatsoever.

In ‘Owning the Future’, he said leadership matters, adding that ‘elections have consequences in facilitating a further upliftment of the future or its desecration.’

Gonsalves said the leadership required must have ‘energy and will, vision and skill plus the X-factor of drawing out of the people their high qualities, goodness, nobility, and solidarity, oft-times doing so in circumstances in which the people may not as yet know that they possess such goodness, nobility, and solidarity for individual and collective advancement.

‘Such a leadership must encourage, always in practical terms, the young people to soar like eagles with their wings unclipped; must assist in lifting the consciousness of our people to know and affirm that although we are not better than anyone, no one is better than us; and must seek, always, to engage the people in their acceptance that, despite their satisfactions, they ought, in solidarity, to lift their game so as to ensure an even better life and living,’ he added.

‘Only tried and tested leadership, armed with the requisite skills and possessed of a compelling developmental narrative, who have been beaten on the anvil of experience and forged in the cauldron on struggle can assist, optimally, in continuing to achieve these mighty deeds.

‘Selfish individualism must be eschewed; an uplifting social individualism, in solidarity, ought always to be promoted,’ he said.

‘We must develop our God-given talents and gifts; take advantage of the abundant opportunities for education, training, and work; avoid indolence and laziness; work in a disciplined and productive manner, and insist on just economic rewards for your labour; be good-neighborly, law-abiding, peaceful, caring, and God-fearing. And please take care of your family, and those who depend on you,’ Gonsalves said.