BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE much-anticipated visit to St. Kitts and Nevis by Venezuela’s Head of State, President Nicholas Maduro, was postponed due to, what was reported as, an ailment.
His visit to the Federation has been rescheduled for sometime during this week, according to Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, who made the announcement during his presentation at the People’s Action Movement’s Dinner held at the Marriott Resort on Friday night (Sept. 18).
Dr. Harris had however stated that “the Vice President shall be coming and the Foreign Affairs Minister shall be coming later tonight (Sept. 18), between tonight and tomorrow”.
Both of them were among a large number of dignitaries who had attended the Independence Day Parade held at the Warner Park Cricket Stadium yesterday morning (Sept. 19).
President Maduro was scheduled to arrive at the RLB International Airport at approximately 8:45 p.m. on Friday, where members of the media would have met with him at a reception in the VIP Lounge.
Though rumours were abound that he would no longer be coming to the Federation, some members of the media had turned up at the airport and voiced their disappointment, stating that there was no official communication concerning the postponement until the announcement made by Dr. Harris some one hour later.
President Maduro was slated to attend the Federation’s 32nd Independence Day Parade and Toast to the Queen and the Nation, as well as assisting in the handing over of cheques to ex-sugar workers.
The Venezuelan President was instrumental in his Government’s $16M to the Team Unity Administration to settle compensation claims by ex-sugar workers.
Prior to St. Kitts and Nevis, President Maduro was also scheduled to visit the hurricane-ravished Dominica on Friday but, there too, he did not turn up.
Information reaching SKNVibes stated that the media on that island were alerted on Friday afternoon that the visit was no longer taking place, but no reason was given for the cancellation.
Reportedly, President Maduro was expected on Dominica to symbolically handover 300 ‘petrocasas’ donated by his Government following the passage of Tropical Storm Erika.
