Ambassadors from the USA and the Netherlands pay courtesy call on Prime Minister Harris
LEFT: Prime Minister Harris (left) and His Excellency Jules Bijl (right). RIGHT: Prime Minister Harris (left) and Her Excellency Linda Swarz Taglialatela (right)
(SKNIS): Prominent diplomats from across the world continue to pay courtesy calls on Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, to discuss relevant matters relating to the Federation.
His Excellency Jules Bijl, Ambassador of the Netherlands to St. Kitts and Nevis and Her Excellency Linda Swarz Taglialatela, United States (US) Ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis, engaged the Prime Minister Harris in meaningful and important discussions on Thursday, February 11, at his office at Government Headquarters, after presenting their credentials to the Governor General, His Excellency Sir Tapley Seaton.
Prime Minister Harris used the opportunity to express thanks to the Ambassadors on behalf of the Government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis, for their continued partnership and ensured them that his Government will continue to seek mutual partnerships with countries such as theirs that can help the Federation to achieve its national development goals.
The United States of America (USA) established diplomatic relations with St. Kitts and Nevis in 1983. Relations between the US and the Federation have historically been friendly, as the US seeks to assist the twin island Federation to develop economically.
U.S. assistance to Saint Kitts and Nevis is primarily channeled through multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank, and through the U.S. Agency for International Development office in Bridgetown, Barbados. Saint Kitts and Nevis also benefits from U.S. military exercises and civic action projects, including those through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.
The Netherlands consulate in Basseterre is the only Netherlands representation in Saint Kitts and Nevis and is one of 433 Netherlands diplomatic and consular representations abroad.
To date, a number of other prominent diplomats have paid courtesy calls on the prime minister, including Her Excellency Victoria Dean, British High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, His Excellency Ross William Tysoe, AO, High Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency Claes Hammer, Sweden’s Ambassador to CARICOM, OAS Resident Ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis, Terrance Craig and the Republic of China (Taiwan) Resident Ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis His Excellency Ambassador George Gow Wei Chiou.