Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 18, 2013 (SKNIS): St. Kitts and Nevis Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) Jacinth Henry-Martin paid posthumous tribute to the late President of Venezuela, His Excellency Hugo Chávez Frias, during a special meeting of the OAS Permanent Council on Friday (March 15).
Henry-Martin, who also is the Federation’s Ambassador to the United States, reiterated the “deep and sincere sympathy” expressed by the Right Honourable Prime Minister to the Government and people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on the grief felt by the passing of the “charismatic leader.”
The Ambassador said the Prime Minister, Dr. Denzil Douglas and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Honourable Patrice Nisbett described the death of the Venezuelan leader as “a huge loss for the masses to whose empowerment President Chávez fought so tirelessly,” adding that it was an “equally heavy loss for Latin America and the Caribbean family of nations.”
“The Government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis have long enjoyed very close and friendly relations with Venezuela,” Ambassador Henry-Martin stated. “In the words of the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis: the tangible fruits of the cooperation realized during President Chávez s tenure will perpetuate an endearment of his legacy by current and future generations.
“May his legacy inspire in the youths of his beloved country, a similar passion for service to the least among them in society and for the greater good of their country and their hemisphere. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” the diplomat concluded.
President Chávez died on March 05, 2013 after battling cancer for more than a year.
According to an OAS press release, the special meeting was held in the Simón Bolívar Hall of the headquarters of the organization in Washington, DC. Before the beginning of the session, a wreath was laid in front of Bolivar’s statue, located in the terrace of the garden of the General Secretariat. Bolivar was a prominent Venezuelan military and political leader in the 19th century.