Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas thanked visiting Mexican Ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency Sergio Saavedra Melendez, for making its hospitality service institutions available to nationals for training and noted that with the closure of the 350-year-old sugar industry, St. Kitts and Nevis faces several challenges as it puts in place a new tourism, financial and services-based economy.

"We are pleased that in the past, we have had the benefit of Mexico, making your institutions of training available to our people. We emphasise as much as possible the ways that Mexico can help to shape and prepare our people for the new challenges, as we move into hospitality and tourism in a very firm and definitive way," said Prime Minister Douglas.

The St. Kitts and Nevis leader thanked the Government of Mexico for the

 tremendous efforts to date to facilitate an improvement in the local infrastructure for fighting crime and welcomed the assistance being given in the ongoing discussions for the construction of two police stations in the twin-island Federation.

The controversial immigration policy in the United States was briefly mentioned with Prime Minister Douglas saying: "we are keenly concerned about the developments that are taking place especially on the immigration policy as it emerges and as it involves the people of Mexico.  We expect a successful outcome. With Mexico leading the way, other countries in the region and in the hemisphere that are similarly affected, would benefit by your own successes."

Ambassador Melendez said Mexico will strengthen the links with St. Kitts and Nevis and other Caribbean nations.

"Mexico is interested in deepening and strengthening its friendship links with this country.  Of course we share the concerns with St. Kitts and Nevis on issues of education, immigration, security. In some way, we have the same challenge," said the Mexican diplomat.

He gave the assurance that the Government of Mexico will make every effort to improve the standard of living "because at the end, that is the main purpose of every government."

The Mexican official said his country was fashioning a new cooperation agreement with CARICOM and the OECS and congratulated Prime Minister Douglas as the Incoming Chairman of the Caribbean Community.