BASSETERRE – History was made in Basseterre when His Excellency Nicolás Maduro Moros, President of Venezuela, made his inaugural visit to St Kitts and Nevis in a quest to strengthen ties of cooperation and solidarity, on Wednesday.
Dr Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis and other government officials, welcomed Maduro to the Federation during a ceremony at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport.
“It is a distinct honour for me to welcome the president to the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis,” said Dr Harris. “M. President, your visit here highlights a major strategic approach of the Government of St Kitts and Nevis’ foreign policy outlook of boosting relations with our friends with whom we share a long history of friendship, while simultaneously forging new alliances.”
Prime Minister Harris said the Government is proud that Venezuela is among some of the Federation’s most time-honoured international partners. The two countries established diplomatic relationships in the early 1980s, St Kitts and Nevis and since then, the relationship has strengthened.
Dr Harris highlighted the many areas in which the country has benefited, including the establishment of the Venezuelan Institute which provides training in the Spanish language and culture in the federation, as well as assistance in healthcare, education, energy transportation, agriculture as well as housing.
One particular aspect that stood out was the contribution made by the PetroCaribe Agreement.
“Through PetroCaribe, your government continues to demonstrate a long-lived commitment to the cause of my government and that of fellow regional governments,” said Prime Minister Harris, adding that the Government of St Kitts and Nevis and other Caribbean islands, have been able to more adequately cater to its social and economic development agenda.
“The government has achieved poverty reduction and improvements in the condition of life of our people.”
While on the island, His Excellency Maduro assisted in the symbolic distribution of cheques to former sugar workers and their families and signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding bilateral cooperation in a number of developmental areas including housing, infrastructure, law and order, education and training, agriculture, health, energy and technical assistance. (SKNIS)
