Minister Ablonczy to Deepen Canada’s Relationships with Caribbean Nations

May 10, 2013 – The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs), will begin a seven-day, seven-country official tour of the Caribbean region on Sunday, May 12, where she will meet key allies and partners as part of the Harper government’s ongoing efforts to deepen Canada’s engagement in the Americas.

The minister will visit the Bahamas (May 12-13), St. Kitts and Nevis (May 14-15), Antigua and Barbuda (May 15), Dominica (May 15-16), Saint Lucia (May 16-17), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (May 17) and Grenada (May 17-18).

“Canada shares a special, historic relationship with the countries of the Caribbean. The strength of those ties lies in our ongoing cooperation in the region, and also in the long-standing personal connections between our peoples,” said Minister Ablonczy. “Our government is committed to deepening those close partnerships, and to enhancing prosperity and security in the Caribbean and across the hemisphere.”

During her visit, Minister Ablonczy will meet with national leaders, government ministers and officials to discuss the economic and security situations in the Caribbean and consider how to advance shared priorities.

Minister Ablonczy will also use the tour as an opportunity to meet with Caribbean and Canadian business representatives, in order to identify new opportunities to further strengthen private-sector ties between Canada and the region.

This visit will be Minister Ablonzczy’s first meeting with these nations’ leaders on their home soil. The trip follows on the heels of the visit of Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, to Canada in April.