KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent (CMC):

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has defended the appointment of his eldest son as this country's ambassador to the United Nations as being simply part of his administrations advancement of youth.

"I am looking to advance bright, young people, and this policy is continually being manifested," Dr Gonsalves told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) as he defended the appointment of Camillo Gonsalves in the face of opposition charges of nepotism.

Gonsalves said he would have understood the nepotism charges if the young Gonsalves was not qualified for the position.

terrible

He said that to deny his son the chance to serve his country, when he had been so recommended by Foreign Affairs Minister Sir Louis Straker, would have been "terrible".

"I would have been doing a terrible thing to discriminate against my son," Gonsalves told CMC.

"Camillo has been a good adviser to me, not as his father, but as an adviser to the Prime Minister, he has all the attributes," Gonsalves declared.

He said about eight months ago the Attorney-General suggested that 35-year-old Camillo, an attorney-at-law, be made the Solicitor General but he did not allow the appointment.

He said that when he was approached by Sir Louis about this opportunity for Camillo he could not stand in his Foreign Affairs minister's way.

Referring to recent key appointments of young people to influential positions, Gonsalves said once a young person had a good character and was capable and qualified his government would make the investment.

He referred to three of the four government senators - Rochelle Forde, Richard Williams, and Ronald Marks - all in their 30s, as examples of this policy.

He also cited the cases of La Celia Prince, 30, who was appointed as deputy to the Ambassador to the United States and Ellsworth John, Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States as examples of his administration's policy.