Caribbean celebrates historic Obama victory

By Oscar Ramjeet
Caribbean Net News Special Correspondent
Email: oscar@caribbeannetnews.com

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: History was created on Tuesday night when 47-year-old Senator Barak Obama defeated 72-year-old Senator John Mc Cain to become the 44th President of the United States of America and the first African-American to move into the White House.

The Caribbean Diaspora, especially in New York, California, and Florida, turned out in full force to support the Illinois Democrat following calls by regional leaders in Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and St Kitts and Nevis, amongst others, to support Obama, who in his victory speech pledged to unite America. He repeated the speech he made at the Democratic Convention more than four years ago when he said there is no blue state or red state but a United States

In his concession speech, Mc Cain said it was an historic election and America today is different, since the country has come a long way to see a African-American as president. He pledged to work with Obama and called on all his supporters to rally behind the President-elect and to bridge the differences and work towards improving their country.

McCain expressed regret that Obama's grandmother, the woman who moulded his life, did not live to see him elected as president.

Obama, in his victory speech, said that McCain has made a lot of sacrifices for his country and said that he is looking forward to working with him in rebuilding the nation. He said that there are many challenges ahead. He referred to the two wars and the financial crisis being experienced in the country.

He spoke out against partisan attitudes and said that he will be the president for all America, even those who did not support him.

Political commentators and analysts said that a large number of Latinos supported Obama, which assisted him to win Florida, one of the key states along with Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Thousands in Caribbean stayed up until the early hours of Wednesday morning, following the election results and listening to the concession and victory speeches. The Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) made special arrangements with the US Embassy in Barbados to report on the election.