President of Venezuela, His Excellency President Hugo Chávez Frías

Following a Red-Carpet Welcome, Prime Minister Douglas will place a Wreath at the Tomb of the Liberator, Simon Bolivar, before going to the Presidential Palace for a private meeting with his host, the President of Venezuela, His Excellency President Hugo Chávez Frías. Both leaders are expected to sign a Joint Communique between the two nations.

Prime Minister Douglas will also hold separate discussions on Friday and Saturday with Venezuela’s Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Arnoldo Marquez; Minister of Education, Culture & Sports; Aristobulo Isturis; Minister of Production and Trade, Castro Soteldo; Vice Minister of Tourism, Dalila Montserrat; the President of the National Assembly, Francisco Ameliach and the Minister of Energy and Mines, Dr. Rafael Ramirez.

While in Caracas, Prime Minister Douglas will visit the Bolivarian School at Fuerte Tiuna, the MERCAL Food Distribution Centre, the Barrio Adentro Mission (Inside the Neighbourhood), the House where Simon Bolivar was born, Bolivar Monument Square and Casa Amarilla.

Prime Minister Douglas will be accompanied by Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Joseph Edmeade; Financial Secretary, Mr. Wendell Lawrence; St. Kitts and Nevis’ Ambassador to the Republic of Venezuela, His Excellency, Mr. Fred Lam; St. Kitts and Nevis’ High Commissioner to Jamaica and Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba, His Excellency, Mr. Cedric Harper and Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr. Erasmus Williams.

The delegation leaves here on Friday on board an aircraft provided by the Government of Venezuela returns on Sunday afternoon.

Venezuela, a South American republic, is bordered by Brazil, Colombia and Guyana and like St. Kitts and Nevis, is a member of the Caribbean Development Bank, the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), the United Nations and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO).