Above: St Lucia Ambassador to the US Sonia Johnny at the OAS (OAS Photo/Maria Patricia Leiva)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

St Lucia’s new Ambassador to the United States, Sonia Johnny, presented her credentials to United States President Barack Obama in a ceremony last week.

Johnny previously served as St Lucia’s US Ambassador frmo 1997 to 2006, last presenting her credentials at the White House to former US President Bill Clinton.

She said there was an “excellent relationship” between the two nations, and said the country was encouraged by the US/Caribbean I

The new ambassador said St Lucia would work closely with the US to “root out and eradicate” criminal activities.”

Johnny also said St Lucia was encouraged by the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative launched earlier in Obama’s term, which looks to reduce the effect of transnational crime on citizen security in the region.

She is also St Lucia’s Permanent Representative to the OAS.