Above: Dominica and Panama’s Permanent Representatives to the OAS (OAS Photo/Patricia Levia)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The governments of Dominica and Panama signed an agreement in Washington today to establish formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Dominica and Panama’s Permanent Representatives to the Organization of American States, Hubert Charles and Guillermo Cochez, respectively, signed the agreement.

“For a strange and not clear reason, our countries had not until now established diplomatic relations,” Cochez said following the signing. “I say strange because Panama and Dominica are sister nations. From the very start of Panama’s foundation, we shared with all the Caribbean nations, and in this case, Dominica, unique bonds that have shaped our relations, our culture, and so many aspects of our people.”

Dominica plans to have established formal ties with every OAS member state by the end of this year, according to Charles, who said Dominica would do its part to ensure that the agreement “results in strengthened social, cultural and economic ties between our countries.”

OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza was on hand as the Witness of Honour.

The meeting followed a high-level visit to Panama by Trinidad last week.