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Contact:
Primus Hutchinson
Friday, February 20, 2004 - St. Lucia may be in for even greater
educational benefits from the United States of America. The announcement came
from the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to
St. Lucia, Her Excellency Mary Elizabeth Kramer while presenting her letters of
credence to St. Lucia’s Governor General, Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy
on Thursday.
Ambassador Kramer emphasized her determination to increase interaction at all
levels between the United States and St. Lucia’s Educational Systems. According
to Mrs. Kramer, with her interest and experience in education, St. Lucia can be
assured of her fullest support.
Ambassador Kramer pledged her country’s continued support for the Fulbright
Scholar Programme, which provided St. Lucians the opportunity to study at
universities in the United States. According to Mrs. Kramer, graduates of this
programme have been instrumental in the establishment of a Criminal Justice
Programme at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, the first programme of its
kind in the Caribbean.
St. Lucia’s effort at improving Immigration and Custom procedures, as well as
its fight against the scourge of drug trafficking and other criminal activities
was also highly commended. Mrs. Kramer described the initiative as a model for
other islands in the region.
Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy says, it is indeed encouraging, that the
United States Ambassador has accredited the island with the same category of
interest and experience in education that exist in her country.
“This is particularly welcomed at this time, as we focus on human resource
development”, Dame Pearlette Louisy said. She also added that some of the US
education assistance programme have been very successful, particularly the
Fulbright Scholarship Programme and expressed optimism about the outcome of
another recent US education initiative, The Centre of Excellence in Teacher
Training Programme.
Dame Pearlette Louisy also made an appeal for the US to renew its effort at
implementing the Third Border Initiative, while expressing her gratitude for the
assistance already given for HIV/AIDS Education. Diplomatic relations between
St. Lucia and the United States was established, twenty five years ago.
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