Diplomats To Gather for Diplomatic Week

[SKNIS] Approximately 42 countries are expected to be represented at this year’s Diplomatic Week, which will be celebrated from April 23 to 28. The operative theme for the week of activities is “Driving Change: Advancing a Vision for a Sustainable Island State.”

Diplomatic Week is an initiative that promotes engagement with local, regional and international diplomats, to strengthen partnerships, and to identify best practices in addressing matters of mutual interest.

Kaye Bass, Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provided some insight on Diplomatic Week, while appearing on the Government’s weekly radio and television programme “Infocus”.

“We are very elated to be able to host it. We are expecting that in addition to our own ambassadors who will be coming home, we will have other countries visiting. We have about 42 countries that will be represented here at Diplomatic Week 2023. Of the ambassadors who will come from other countries, we have about 20 and we have honorary consuls who represent St. Kitts and Nevis in other countries, as well as resident honorary consuls and resident ambassadors,” the Permanent Secretary explained.

“We hope that during the opening ceremony on Tuesday, April 25, the Honourable Prime Minister [Dr. Terrance Drew] will address the gathering and speak about his vision for a sustainable island state. We also have the Foreign Minister, the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas who will also be speaking about what the ministry is doing with respect to sustainable Development,” Permanent Secretary Bass revealed. 

Diplomatic Week opens on Sunday, April 23 with a Church Service at the Antioch Baptist Church. On Monday,  April 24, the ambassadors will engage with students of the Nevis Sixth Form College, the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, as well as with students of the Charlestown and Gingerland Secondary Schools. Several ambassadors will also present credentials to Her Excellency Dame Marcella Liburd, GCMG, JP, Governor-General of St. Kitts and Nevis and to Prime Minister Dr. Drew.

The Opening Ceremony for Diplomatic Week 2023 is scheduled for Tuesday, April 25. On Wednesday, April 26, the ambassadors will journey to Nevis for a tour, while Thursday, April 27 is designated as Diplomatic Boulevard where the public will get a chance to interact with the ambassadors.

Diplomatic Week climaxes on Friday, April 28 with a staff retreat. PS Bass said during that time, the Foreign Policy will be discussed and how to “develop a Foreign Policy so that when the week ends, we will have a manual as to how we can implement the Foreign Policy and fulfill our mandate.”