BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 13TH 2006 (CUOPM) -
St. Kitts and Nevis is proud that the twin-island Federation is the first Eastern Caribbean nation that will be visited by newly-appointed United States Ambassador-designate to the Eastern Caribbean, Her Excellency Mrs. Mary Ourisman.
During her meeting with Eastern Caribbean Ambassadors including St. Kitts and Nevis Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Dr. Izben C. Williams, the new American diplomat indicated that St. Kitts and Nevis would be the first nation she would visit after taking up duties in Barbados.
The new US diplomat arrived here on Monday afternoon and will begin a hectic round of engagements Tuesday with the presentation of her credentials to the Governor Generals Deputy, His Honour Mr. Edmund Lawrence.
Mrs. Ourisman will also pay courtesy calls on St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, the Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Theresa Nisbett.
On Wednesday, the American official travels to Nevis and will pay courtesy calls on Deputy Governor General of Nevis, His Honour Mr. Eustace John, Premier of Nevis, the Hon. Joseph Parry and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assemby, the Hon. Malcolm Guishard.
Mrs., Ourisman returns to Basseterre on Wednesday afternoon and leaves the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport on Thursday morning.
The wife of successful automotive tycoon Mandell (Mandy) Ourisman, Chairman of Ourisman Enterprises, the Texas-born Ambassador is in her own right a mover and shaker on the Washington political and social scenes and is fiercely dedicated to promotion of the arts and to cultural initiatives.
~~Adz:Right~~She is a trustee of the Washington Opera, and is one of only 50 people from across the United States to serve on the Smithsonian Institutes National Board. At the Kennedy Centre she serves a trustee and vice-chairman of the Washington Committee of the Performing Arts and is on the Board of the International Committee on the Arts, in addition to being on the World Wildlife Fund's National Council.
Her career path has spanned painting, interior designing starting her own interior design business in California, and professional fundraising - after serving as Director of Development for GOPAC, a political action committee, she formed her own fundraising company.
