Ambassador of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG),to Venezuela, Andreas Wickham has been awarded a high Venezuelan honour on completion of his term of duty in that country. The award, the Francisco de Miranda award was conferred on the Vincentian diplomat at a ceremony to mark the end of his 10-year assignment as his country’s Ambassador to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

The award is conferred by Venezuela on outstanding citizens or foreigners “who have contributed to the sciences, the progress of the country, to the humanities or who have exemplified outstanding merits”. It was personally conferred on him by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

President Maduro was full of praise for the work of Ambassador Wickham and his wife, Yvette for the role they played in strengthening the relationship between Venezuela and SVG. He also lauded Prime Minister Gonsalves and the Vincentian people for their consistent solidarity with Venezuela.

In thanking President Maduro, Ambassador Wickham said that, “Venezuela is a friend of St Vincent and the Grenadines, a loyal ally that has been maintained in difficult times”.

The ambassador and his wife were among the earliest Vincentian graduates from Cuban universities and have served the nation well. Our congratulations go out to them.