Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Dame Billie Miller presents Antoine Houdebine with his Commission of Appointment as the new honorary consul of France. Permanent secretary Teresa Marshall (left) and the French non-resident Ambassador to Barbados, H.E. Charley Causeret, were in attendance. (GP)

MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dame Billie Miller, met yesterday with Antoine Houdebine who received his Commission of Appointment as the newly appointed honorary consul of France.

Dame Billie presented Houdebine with an Exequatur, officially recognising him as the duly appointed honorary consul of France in Barbados.

Houdebine is the managing director of Remy Cointreau Caraibes and its affiliate Mount Gay Distilleries.

He replaced Maxime Baretge whose tenure as honorary consul ended on March 23.

Dame Billie welcomed Houdebine to the Honorary Consular Corps.

She also expressed Government's appreciation for the longstanding service rendered by Baretge, who served as honorary consul of France for some 25 years.

In response, Houdebine said he was looking forward to his assignment and making his contribution to the further strengthening of the relations between France and Barbados. (BGIS)