Ambassador presents his credentials to Governor General

Tatsuo Hirayama, the new Non-Resident Ambassador of Japan to St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) presented his credentials to Governor General Sir Frederick Ballantyne at Government House last Wednesday, February 13.

SVG and Japan officially established diplomatic relations on April 15, 1980. Since then, both countries have cemented close cooperation through various sectors including agriculture, healthcare, fisheries, education, disaster preparedness, and people-to-people exchanges. Over the years, the Government of Japan has made various financial and technical contributions to the development of these sectors; most notably in the fields of healthcare and fisheries. The most recent substantial contribution by the Government of Japan to SVG came by way of the Japanese Grant Aid entitled “Economic and Social Programme” (Provision of Japanese Disaster Reduction Equipment).

While in the State, Ambassador Hirayama met with several senior government officials. On Wednesday February 13, the Japanese Ambassador participated in a signing ceremony held at the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Edinboro for the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP) entitled “The Project for the Renovation of the St Mary’s Roman Catholic School” valued at US$32,047 (EC$86,028.65). A handing over ceremony for several pieces of equipment and machinery contributed by the Government of Japan was also held on the same day on the grounds of The National Emergency Office (NEMO) in Kingstown.

Ambassador Hirayama is resident in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.