A TEAM OF medical professionals from the State of Palestine are currently in St Vincent and the Grenadines to provide a number of health support services to Vincentians.

Two senior officials from the State of Palestine met with Prime Minister. Dr Ralph Gonsalves on Monday, May 29, at the Prime Minister’s official residence, ahead of the arrival of the medical mission.

The team which will be here for one week comprises 10 medical doctors and a nurse with expertise in various areas of medicine and general surgery. The team is expected to perform up to 70 surgeries while here.

Prime Minister Gonsalves said St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) and the State of Palestine enjoy good relations and this country has supported Palestine’s call for recognition as a member of the United Nations.

The Prime Minister insisted that this country will continue to strengthen relations with Arab nations and he hoped that peace and an amicable settlement can be reached with regards to the Palestinian/ Israeli conflict.

“We support the resolutions of the United Nations regarding Palestine and Israel, the question of an independent state of Palestine …. “We have diplomatic relations with Israel and we make our position known, without any rancour, without any bitterness, that what is happening to the Palestinian people is entirely unacceptable, what certain forces are doing.”

Assistant Minister for International Cooperation of Palestine, Ambassador Imad Al-Zuhairi said the ongoing programmes, compliments the Palestinian International

Cooperation Agency, is in its third phase in hospitals in Georgetown and Kingstown.

The Ambassador also reiterated his Government’s commitment to future programmes in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“We will be adapting our capacities to the needs expressed by St Vincent and the Grenadines and our instructions are very clear … to do all that is necessary to support our brothers here in SVG, because SVG was always standing next to the rights of the Palestinian people,” the Ambassador pledged.

(API)