PM Harris attends President Maduro's swearing-in ceremony in Venezuela

The Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, has accepted an invitation to attend the inauguration of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Prime Minister Harris travelled to Venezuela yesterday, Wednesday, January 9, 2019, to see President Nicolás Maduro sworn in for a second six-year term on Thursday, following his re-election in May 2018.

The Honourable Prime Minister was accompanied by a delegation representing the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, namely the Honourable Ian Patches Liburd, who is Minister of Public Infrastructure, Posts, Urban Development and Transport; His Excellency Ambassador Michael Powell, who is Special Envoy in the Office of the Prime Minister, and His Excellency Ambassador Sydney Osborne, who is St. Kitts and Nevis' OECS Commissioner and Ambassador to CARICOM.

In a letter dated December 10, 2018, Nicolás Maduro requested the honour of Prime Minister Harris' presence at his inauguration, saying, "Knowing his special respect for Venezuela, his singular appreciation for the good relationship between our countries and his inestimable solidarity with the Venezuelan people, it will be a great honor and an enormous privilege to have his presence at the State Ceremony, as well as in the rest of the official activities that will take place in the city of Caracas, on January 10, 2019.

President Maduro also noted that Prime Minister Harris' presence would provide "an unparalleled opportunity to continue strengthening the relations between our countries."

The Venezuelan President added that he hoped to receive the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis in Venezuela, "where you have the affection and gratitude of a people that cultivates fraternity with the other peoples of the world."

At a cocktail reception held in St. Kitts at the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on Friday, October 26, 2018, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela celebrated the 35^thanniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.  Diplomatic ties were formalized between Venezuela and St. Kitts and Nevis on October 31, 1983.

In recent times, St. Kitts and Nevis' bilateral cooperation with Venezuela has spanned many areas, such as energy cooperation, poverty alleviation and human settlements.  For instance, the East Basseterre condo housing development is a major initiative that will be implemented this year.

Prime Minister Harris and his delegation will pursue further bilateral cooperation while in Venezuela.