Maduro’s inaugural visit

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro made his first-ever visit to St Kitts and Nevis this week.

The trip included the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries “as symbols of the strong bonds of friendship and solidarity between the two countries,” according to a statement.

That agreement covered areas including housing, infrastructure, law and order, education and training, agriculture, energy, technical assistance and health.

Maduro’s visit was also timed to officially donate just under $6 million to former sugar workers in the twin-island federation.

St Kitts and Nevis’ sugar industry officially closed in 2005.

“We have done a lot, but as I said to my brother [St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister] Timothy Harris, there’s still a lot to do in the future,” President Maduro said. “It is undeniable that without PetroCaribe … this region might be facing the terrible and painful situation that today [exists] in Africa, in the Middle East and other areas of the world.”