New Consul General to the French Departments of the Americas
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Contact: Shannon Lebourne
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 – Government has appointed Mr. Keats Compton as Saint Lucia's Consul General to the French Departments of the Americas.
As the new Consul General Mr. Compton will be responsible for overseeing the strengthening of relationships between Saint Lucia and the French Departments of the Americas and to protect Saint Lucia's interests in that region.
Press Officer in the Office of the Prime Minister Mr. Winston Springer says already, Mr. Compton has met with top French officials to reaffirm Saint Lucia government's commitment to corporation on matters of mutual interests.
“Saint Lucia's newly appointed Consul General to the French Departments of the Americas Mr. Keats Compton has presented his credentials to the Prefect of Martinique, Mr. Ange Mancini. Mr. Mancini welcomed Mr. Compton to Martinique following which brief discussions were held on matters of common interest including the strengthening of close cultural relations with Martinique. Compton stressed that maintenance of good relations is a priority and expressed satisfaction with the degree of corporation between law enforcement officials on both sides of the channel,” Springer added.
Prior to the meeting with the Prefect of Martinique, Saint Lucia newly appointed Consul General and the staff of the Saint Lucian Consulate in Martinique held meetings with the several Saint Lucian Association operating in Martinique.
Compton urged the Associations to look beyond immigration issues and focus on the wider the social, political and economic arenas which living in Europe affords.
“Mr Compton informed the Prefect of Martinique that he would encourage Saint Lucians to participate more actively in the business and political life in the French Department of Martinique, as is the case in French Guyana, particularly in light of the recently concluded Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union (EU) and CARIFORUM countries.”
The Prefect of Martinique Mr. Ange Mancini indicated that he will assist the Saint Lucian Consulate in Martinique to document the thousands of Saint Lucians who reside in Martinique.
Saint Lucians are believed to be the largest group of non-nationals living in that French Department. |
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