§ Sir John Rodgers (Sevenoaks)I have to report that the delegation, given leave of absence by the House on 17th December last year, to visit St. Vincent and, on behalf of the House, to present a parliamentary library has discharged its duty. The delegation consisted of the hon. Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Hamling), a senior clerk of the House, Mr. Donald Limon, and myself as leader.
The gift of the library was intended, as the letter from you, Mr. Speaker, to 1170 the Speaker of the House of Assembly in St. Vincent stated, to be a symbol of the Parliamentary tradition cherished by the people of our two countries and to mark St. Vincent's attainment of complete internal self-government and associated status with the United Kingdom within the Commonwealth. I was requested by the Speaker of the House of Assembly in St. Vincent, on behalf of himself and the whole Assembly, to thank you, Mr. Speaker, for your letter.
Our delegation was received every where with the utmost warmth, friendship and courtesy, not only by the Speaker, but by the Governor, the Premier, several of his Ministers, the Leader of the Opposition and by elected and nominated members equally.
The presentation ceremony took place on 11th February and was a deeply moving experience for us all. While we were in St. Vincent we were able to see both the windward and leeward sides of the island and to talk with officials and the ordinary people up and down the island. We learned a great deal about the difficult problems facing that small country which relies so much on its main crop, bananas, and to a decreasing extent on the other staple product, arrowroot, for which the island is famous.
With a rapidly increasing population, there is an urgent need for the island to diversify its industry and especially to develop tourism. In neighbouring areas, such as Barbados and St. Lucia, we saw how much tourism, in its widest application, can mean to a country such as this and we were delighted that our visit coincided with a visit by the Chairman of the Commonwealth Development Corporation. We must never forget, Mr. Speaker, that it is to this country, with which they have been associated for so long, that they look for advice and help, both public and private. I hope that we shall never let them down.
The House of Assembly is a small but lively parliamentary body and, judging by the number of strangers present, our visit aroused considerable interest. The Premier, Mr. Milton Cato, informed us that he would be printing the speeches made at the handing over ceremony, with appropriate photographs, and I hope, Mr. Speaker, that when you receive your copy 1171 you will approve of what was said on that occasion.
It gives me the utmost pleasure today to convey the greetings of the Premier and other dignitaries of St. Vincent to their fellow Parliamentarians here.
After leaving St. Vincent, we were privileged to pay brief visits to St. Lucia and Barbados. Again, we met the Speakers of the two Assemblies there, the Governors and Ministers. I am sure that all of us came away grateful to the House for providing us with the opportunity of visiting these most friendly and beautiful islands. One thing above all others was obvious, namely, the warm and genuine friendly feelings between our countries and the trust which they repose in us.
§ Mr. SpeakerI should like to thank the hon. Gentleman for his report, to acknowledge the greetings which he has conveyed to the House and to thank him and his colleagues for the excellent way in which they carried out the mission entrusted to them.