Minister Brantley Looks Forward to Deepening Links with Consular Corps

Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 23, 2015 (SKNIS): The Honourable Mark Brantley, Minister of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Civil Aviation formally, met with Honorary Consuls in St. Kitts and Nevis at a meeting that was designed to address issues and concerns with the aim of promoting prosperity and forge stronger collaboration. The meeting was held at the Ocean Terrace Inn (OTI) on Thursday, October 22.
“This event has been organized with the aim of providing an opportunity for me as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to interact and dialogue with you, the members of the Honorary Consular Corps resident here in St. Kitts and Nevis within an informal and relaxed setting,” Minister Brantley said, adding that the meeting was a first step to hopefully a long and fruitful relationship between the Honorary Consular Corps and MOFA.
The Foreign Minister stated that St. Kitts and Nevis has been fortunate to have a cadre of such accomplished and experienced representatives who have, over the years, been enthusiastic and valued partners in the development of the Federation.
“From the longest serving of you to the newest entrants, your role as Honorary Consul is an important and cherished one as you are charged, in the main, with furthering the development of commercial, economic, cultural and scientific relations and linkages between the countries you represent and St. Kitts and Nevis,” he said. “You are all established businessmen and women and professionals within your own right. As such, you are all an important part of the social and economic fabric of St. Kitts and Nevis and are able to perform your role from a unique inside perspective as genuine partners and friends.”
Minister Brantley said that although the Honorary Consuls are charged with representing the interests of third states and their nationals in the Federation, they are equally invested with St. Kitts and Nevis in ensuring that whatever interventions they may make would redound to the benefit of the people of the twin-island Federation.
Minister Brantley thanked the Honorary Consuls for their hard work and years of dedicated service in the Federation.
A highlight of the meeting was the honouring of the longest serving Honorary Consul. Mr. Douglas Gillanders, Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of the Netherlands has served the Federation for the last twenty-three years.
Other Honorary Consuls present were Mr. Jacques Cramer (The State of Israel), Mr. D. Michael Morton (The Republic of Turkey), Mr. Ernest Amory (Italy), Mr. Austin Gary DaSilva (The Kingdom of Spain), Mrs. Denise Parris-Mertins (The Federal Republic of Germany), Mr. Reginald Amory (The Republic of Austria), Mr. Thomas Williams, (The Republic of Korea), Ms. Sarah Percival (United Kingdom), Mrs. Elizabeth A. Kelsick (The Republic of Chile), Ms. Betty-Ann Gilbert ( Grenada) and Ms. Shawna Lake (France).
Dr. Joy Kathleen Allen Ferdinand represents the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden, Mr. Analdo Bailey, the Republic of Suriname, Mr. Jose Rosa Santory, Mexico and Dr. Caroline Lawrence, the Kingdom of Norway.