PM Gonsalves defends Qatar amidst ‘deranged and unhinged’ criticism over World Cup

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, is defending Qatar amidst criticism from some western nations over its internet hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which opened on Sunday and can run for a month.

Qatar is the primary Arab nation to host a FIFA World Cup competitors.

“Qatar’s historic achievement on this regard is really spectacular for a small, although rich, Arab nation.  It’s a mark of the rising stature and affect of the State of Qatar within the international political economic system,” Gonsalves stated in an announcement.

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He stated it’s, subsequently, “unlucky, and prejudicial to international peace, safety, and progress, that Qatar has confronted unjustified, even deranged and unhinged, criticisms as hosts of the FIFA World Cup, emanating from some non-governmental organizations and ‘tabloid’ journalists positioned in North Atlantic nations resembling Britain, the US of America, and Western Europe”.

Gonsalves stated the majority of the criticism, “dressed up as excessive precept, is laced with Islamophobia, racism, anti-Arab sentiment, hypocrisy, and profound disrespect, derived from the notion {that a} small Arab nation like Qatar ought to by no means aspire to international affect”.

He stated critics sneer at, and mock, Qatar’s small inhabitants dimension of three million, of which solely about 400,000 are Qataris.

Gonsalves stated the remainder of Qatar’s inhabitants are migrants, “who by and enormous, benefit from the host nation’s hospitality.

“The reality is that Qatar is an incredible nation that’s hovering to larger heights!” stated Gonsalves, who has made various official visits to Qatar, the most recent being in February.

“Certainly, the unjustified and jaundiced criticisms of Qatar as hosts of the FIFA World Cup land the critics at a spot the place they appear to suppose that the one nations to be eligible to host the World Cup   are these which have a watered-down Christian heritage or no spiritual core values in anyway, and which subscribe to a common tradition of atomized individualism (as distinct from that of an uplifting social individualism), nihilism, and a globalized tradition of neo-liberalism amidst all its malcontents/discontents,” Gonsalves stated.

“Thus, the State of Qatar is pilloried for its restrictions on alcohol consumption; its opposition to homosexuality, and sexual permissiveness; its stance towards wanton abortion; its embrace of Islamic values unconnected completely to any type of homicidal violence; its tightly-knit household methods; its rejection of a future decreed by the cultural tsars of western modernity with their nihilistic venture and jaundiced relativism; and its promotion of Arab nationalism inside an acceptable common area.”

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines prime minister, the longest serving chief inside the 15-member regional integration grouping, CARICOM, stated Qatar has chalked up “some very spectacular achievements” that are “compelling” in its internet hosting of the FIFA World Cup.

He talked about a “very excessive” Human Improvement Index (HDI) assessed by the United Nations Improvement Programme, a nominal, annual per capita gross home product (GDP) of US$83,000, ranked outstandingly at fifth on this planet.

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves stated Qatar has a historical past of internet hosting regional and worldwide sporting and cultural occasions, together with the Asian Video games in 2006 and is a extremely refined and arranged nation with top quality training, administration, governance, science, and know-how however grounded in Islamic and hereditary traditions.

Qatar additionally has “a really excessive stage of civilization in central materials particulars,” Gonsalves stated, including, “by the way, its Museum of Islamic Artwork is one in all world renown; so, too, its universities, well being system, housing, bodily infrastructure.”

He additional talked about Qatar’s rating because the “World’s Most secure Nation” and its institution, consolidation, and growth of the Al Jazeera community, a world communications entity.

Gonsalves stated Qatar is a extremely revered member of the worldwide neighborhood which subscribes to the basic tenets of the Constitution of the United Nations and a multilateralism of peace, safety, and progress for all humanity.

“St. Vincent and the Grenadines is an unbiased nation with a functioning liberal democracy however with a symbolic exterior colonial remnant (The British sovereign) as nominal Head of State. Qatar is a semi-constitutional monarchy headed by a home-govern Government authority, the Emir,” Dr. Ralph Gonsalves stated.

“There are, in fact, variations within the two nations’ governance apparatuses and authorized regimes. Nevertheless, in our sophisticated and interconnected world, we’re all obliged to respect one another’s developed methods of governance and financial preparations.  Undoubtedly, all methods of governance proceed to evolve of their folks’s pursuits and because the circumstances admit.”

He stated folks in St. Vincent and the Grenadines “rejoice the superb spectacle and sporting excellence on show in Qatar on the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

“It’s an obligation of the world’s peoples to hitch on this celebration as a contribution to international friendship, peace, safety, and progress. To make sure, there are limitations and weaknesses within the endeavor, however allow us to not make perfection the enemy of the great.  The strengths and prospects are immense,” Gonsalves stated, including, “we’re certain that Qatar will proceed to be magnificent hosts of World Cup 2022!”

He stated his island has pleasant relations with Qatar “though we wouldn’t have any sensible bilateral packages.

“Our two nations work nicely collectively on international affairs in all of the related worldwide fora. Qatar is a power for good in our troublesome and sophisticated world.  We contemplate Qatar to be a good friend of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  And we thank them but once more for supporting our nation’s profitable candidacy for the United Nations Safety Council on which St. Vincent and the Grenadines sat as a non-permanent member in 2020-2021.”

“We’re associates of all, we try for a greater world. Let World Cup 2022 go on with out the mountain of humbug by the hypocritical critics.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines affirms its solidarity with Qatar,” Dr. Ralph Gonsalves added.

CMC/