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Personnel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Commerce, National Security and the Immigration Department, converged at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conference room on Tuesday 19th July to witness the Signing Ceremony of a Visa Waiver Agreement.

 
The Agreement, which was signed between the Governments of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Republic of Ecuador was signed by Non-Resident Ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, His Excellency Galo Yepez Holguin and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Honourable Sir Louis Straker.

Minister Straker noted that this country has come a long way in deepening and strengthening the relations with Ecuador. He pointed out that although the relationship between both countries started some twenty seven years ago it was not a very robust one. He noted, however, that the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of the America’s (ALBA), has brought the countries together and that they are now enjoying a solidarity and friendship which they have not enjoyed in the past.

“It is fascinating to look on the foreign policy of both Ecuador and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. At a time when many countries of the world are seeking to control their borders and to keep out people, and when those who are running for high offices in some countries are talking about building walls to separate countries, here we are a tiny dot, an island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, developing a strong relationship with a much larger country through love and friendship between the governments and peoples, that we are willing to take the step to have a Visa Waiver Agreement that our people can go to Ecuador and the Ecuadorians can come to St. Vincent and the Grenadines", Straker remarked. “I think we ought to teach Donald Trump and the others who are talking about dividing neighbouring countries a lesson as to how to dwell together in unity in this region,” he added.

“We will like to sign the VISA Waiver Agreement with the expectation that this is just the beginning of a greater flow of tourism between both countries with the coming on stream of the International Airport at Argyle”, the Foreign Affairs Minister said.

He also said that with this Visa Waiver Agreement, where the Ecuadorians can travel to SVG and Vincentians can do the same, we must give an impetus to our schools to teach Spanish in a more rigorous way. The Minister also said that in a hemisphere where Spanish is the principal language, he is hoping that many of our students will get involved in learning the language so that we can become more united in this hemisphere.

SOURCE:  API