BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 27TH 2013 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis is the only country in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) that enjoys visa-free entry to Canada.
And the Federation’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Patrice Nisbett said the visa-free entry to Canada and other several European countries enjoyed by Kittitians and Nevisians is as a result of our extraordinary work in this area.
“St. Kitts and Nevis and Canada will continue working to maintain the longstanding tradition of openness and collaboration with Canada and other allies in order that these relationships will continue to go from strength to strength,” Mr. Nisbett told the National Assembly.
He said St Kitts and Nevis continues to enjoy very close, immutable bonds of friendship and cordial bilateral relation with Canada.
“These have resulted in cooperation in several areas, health, education and training, security and the provision of economic assistance. Indeed, Canada continues to offer numerous opportunities to hundreds of Nationals of St Kitts and Nevis and their families who reside and contribute both to the development of that great country, as well as to the Federation through remittances and the lending of their expertise to various areas of social and economic advancement,” said Minister Nisbett.
He noted that at the regional level, the Federation has actively participated through the Ministry of International Trade in the negotiations to finalize a CARICOM-Canada Trade Agreement intended to benefit the region and the North American nation.
At the international level, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis through the Minister of Foreign Affairs has committed the Federation to supporting Canada’s principled stance on the human rights.
“The Government of St Kitts and Nevis remains resolute and steadfast in its efforts to pursue a Foreign Affairs Policy intended to promote economic and/or social development based on the principles of transparency, adherence to domestic laws, respect, due regard for the sovereignty of other countries and importantly, protection of the rights of the nationals, residents of the Federation,” Minister Nisbett said.