PM Douglas receives congratulations from Presidents of Brazil and Spain, Montserrat Chief Minister and Commonwealth SG

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas (left) and Brazil’s President His Excellency Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Sao Paulo discussing assistance to the OECS in combatting the HIV/AID virus

ST. KITTS, FEBRUARY 13TH 2010 (CUOPM) – Brazil, Spain, Montserrat and the Commonwealth have congratulated St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister on his Party’s recent re-election victory and his appointment as Prime Minister for a fourth straight term.

Brazil’s President, His Excellency Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva assured Prime Minister Douglas that in his “new term in office, the ties of friendship and cooperation between Brazil and St. Kitts and Nevis will continue to strengthen, especially in the political, economic and technical and cultural cooperation plans, as can be witnessed in the opening of the recent Brazilian Embassy in Basseterre.”

President Lula said it will be a great honour to receive Prime Minister Douglas for the Brazil-CARICOM Summit, to be held in Brasilia, this year. With your presence and that of all the leaders of the Caribbean Community, our Summit will be a complete success.”

Chief Minister of Montserrat, Hon. Reuben Meade said Prime Minister Douglas’ resounding victory at the polls “reflects my conviction that your total commitment is to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.”

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas (left) and Spain’s Prime Minister His Excellency Jose Luis Zapatero in Madrid, Spain, during a CARICOM-Spain Summit

“Your track record of fairness, transparency and an overriding desire of service to humanity is therefore rightfully being celebrated and honoured by the noble and fair-minded people from all walks of life in St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Mr. Meade.

He said he was hopeful that the continued close friendship and solidarity “will allow me and my colleagues in Montserrat to employ your model of good governance that must have guaranteed your longevity in the noble art of progressive political leadership.”

President of the Government of Spain, His Excellency Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero assured Prime Minister Douglas of the continuing strengthening of the relations between the two countries “and to work intensely to deepen the relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean, on the occasion of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which Spain will undertake during the first semester of 2010.”

Commonwealth Secretary General, His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma in congratulating Prime Minister Douglas said he “looks forward to continuing to work closely with you and your Government to promote our shared interest in the prosperity and progress of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Caribbean Region and the Commonwealth as a whole.”