By Erasmus
ErLima, Peru, April 15, 2018 – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Mark Brantley were absent from a meeting between Caribbean leaders and United States Acting Secretary of State, John J. Sullivan.
Sullivan was confirmed by the United States Senate and sworn in as the Deputy Secretary of State on May 24, 2017. He became Acting Secretary of State on April 1, 2018.
Sullivan’s spokesperson, Heather Nauert in a statement on Sunday said the top U.S. official “met with the Caribbean Heads of Government and Foreign Ministers of The Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and St. Lucia on the margins of the Summit of the Americas in Lima, Peru on April 14.”
“During the meeting, the Acting Secretary underscored the U.S. commitment to enhance engagement with the Caribbean, as envisioned in the Caribbean 2020 strategy, including increasing private-sector investment in the Caribbean; ensuring a steady, long-term supply of clean, affordable energy to the region; building resilience to natural disasters; and supporting economic growth in the region for a more secure and prosperous hemisphere,” said Nauert.
She disclosed that Sullivan also discussed the need to rally the hemisphere’s united support for the Venezuelan people and their right to have a voice in government through free and fair elections.
“The Acting Secretary and the Caribbean leaders pledged continued engagement on security and energy initiatives, through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative and the Caribbean Energy Security Initiative, as well as disaster preparedness and emergency response efforts,” said Nuert.
She said the U.S. government provided nearly $22 million in humanitarian assistance to support immediate emergency relief efforts in Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint-Martin, and Sint Maarten in response to the hurricanes last year. This assistance helped an estimated 83,800 people with more than 185 tons of supplies.