|
| |
Contact:
Rose Marie Harris
Monday, March 31, 2003 - “Ambassador Henry Vidal was not solely an
Ambassador he was a very dear friend of Saint Lucia,” said Prime Minister
Honourable, Dr. Kenny Anthony as he said farewell to the outgoing French
Ambassador to Saint Lucia on Monday.
Prime Minister Anthony said the relationship which now exists between Saint
Lucia and France was brought about during Ambassador Vidal’s tenure. He
expressed his hope that that relationship would be further strengthened. “First
of all, the decision by the French government to allow Saint Lucians to visit
Martinique without visas. Initially Ambassador Vidal played a key role in
facilitating that initiative and thanks to his effort and his support Saint
Lucians are able to travel to Martinique without visas, initially, on an
experimental basis. Obviously now we have to make sure that we put in a sound
and proper footing and I know we are finalising certain adjustments.”
Mr. Vidal was also instrumental in getting the French Embassy to assist the
Royal Saint Lucia Police Force in sourcing vital equipment. Dr. Anthony says the
ambassador also contributed to Saint Lucia’s infrastructural development.
“One of the projects that really excite me is the Road Rehabilitation Programme
to enhance our eco-tourism product. Earlier this year we announced that the Ajen
Francais Development had made available a very generous loan to Saint Lucia, a
loan that provides several years of moratorium for which we are very, very
deeply grateful but what is most important too is that that loan is going to
touch the lives of Saint Lucians particularly those persons residing in
communities where the tourism potential is real and obvious.”
Ambassador Henry Vidal says for any country to develop there must be
partnership, as government alone cannot handle the responsibility of developing
the island. “Many of our projects here are Saint Lucian projects which has been
designed by your government and you personally. What has facilitated my mission
is your willingness to strengthen the relation between our two countries and as
you have many times told me which was an encouragement for me and for my
government that the relationship existing between the two countries to have a
kind of a special relation, a bond of some sentimentality,” Ambassador Vidal
said.
Ambassador Vidal served in Saint Lucia from April 2000.
|
