Brazilian Ambassador confirms Embassy in St Kitts-Nevis will close in August

Brazil's Ambassador to the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis has confirmed that the embassy is closing its doors in Basseterre.

His Excellency Wanderley de Vasconcellos’ has officially informed the Timothy Harris Government of the closure in August.

Ambassador Vasconcellos has told the government that the closure of the embassy in St. Kitts is as a result of the recent shift in Brazil’s foreign policy under its new leadership.

Over the weekend it was reported that the Brazilian Embassy will close and the three vehicles are to be sold.

The Embassy was officially opened during a ceremony on Horsford Road in Basseterre in December 2010 by then Prime Minister the Right Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas and then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Sam Condor.

According to Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil's relations with St. Kitts and Nevis was marked on the one hand, by cooperation for development, and, on the other, by the partnership within CELAC. During the First Summit Brazil-Caribbean Community (CARICOM), in 2010, Brazil and St Kitts and Nevis signed Agreements on Cultural and Educational Cooperation and on Technical Cooperation especially in the areas of vocational training, health, sports, vegetable production and fruit growing.

In the economic and trade field, St Kitts and Nevis joined, in 2014, a preferential trade agreement in force between Brazil and Guyana aimed at bringing positive socio-economic impact for the federation.

In 1985, The Embassy of Brazil in Georgetown, Guyana, was in charge of the representation of Brazilian interests in St Kitts and Nevis.

In 2004, Brazilian interests in St Kitts and Nevis begun being represented by the Embassy of Brazil in Bridgetown, Barbados.

In 2005, The Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, the Right Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas visited Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, in the CARICOM mission which resulted in cooperation projects in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment.

In 2008, St Kitts and Nevis participated in the Summit of Latin America and the Caribbean on Integration and Development (CALC) in Costa do Sauipe – BA

In 2009, the Embassy of Brazil in St Kitts and Nevis, based in the capital, Basseterre was created an opened in 2010.

In 2010, the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, the Rt Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas visited Brazil during the First Summit Brazil-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Brasilia.

In 2012, the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis headed the delegation of his country to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) and in 2013, the Foreign Minister of Brazil, His Excellency, Antonio Patriota met his counterpart from St Kitts and Nevis during the 43rd General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) and held talks with Prime Minister Douglas at Government Headquarters and with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Sam Condor at the Brazilian Embassy.