It was a busy day for Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, who arrived here on Sunday, November 1st on an official visit which ended yesterday afternoon around 4:30pm with his departure.
President Maduro’s arrived at the E.T. Joshua Airport, around 5pm on sunday accompanied by his wife Cilia Flores, as well as Foreign Affairs Minister Delcy Rodriguez, among other Venezuelan ministers, security details and media representatives from the spanish speaking country.
The delegation was greeted by Deputy Governor General Susan Dougan, Prime Minister Dr. Gonsalves and his wife, Eloise Gonsalves and Minister of Foreign Affairs Camillo Gonsalves as well as other government ministers and officials.
The visiting delegation toured the Hugo Chavez Fuel Storage and Distribution Plant at Lowmans Bay, around 9am yesterday, this was followed by a visit to the Argyle International Airport around 10:30am, following which a media briefing was held.
At around 12:40pm a bilateral meeting was held between President Maduro and Prime Minister Gonsalves then the team had lunch, at the residence of the Prime Minister.
At the conference meeting held at the Argyle International Airport terminal building, President Maduro pushed the case for developing a Caribbean that is strengthened by economic unity.
He promised continued assistance to the government and people of St.Vincent & the Grenadines announcing 7,500 laptops for primary school students, fifty homes he termed as “petro casas” and strengthening ties in education.
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves told the visiting president on his visit to the international airport site that the project is an indication of triumph.
Dr. Gonsalves says countries such as Taiwan, Cuba as well as Venezuela, need to be thanked for their contribution towards the construction of the air facility and says that Venezuela has been a generous partner not only with their monies but also human and other resources.
The Prime Minister pointed out that this was the third official state visit by a leader from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, with the late President Hugo Chavez in 2001, then in 2007 and now President Maduro in 2015,
Dr. Gonsalves says there were many naysayers but with solidarity from countries such as Venezuela, this country and its airport will triumph.
