St. Lucia welcomed Ambassador of Portugal to Saint Lucia His Excellency Augusto Martins Goncalves Pedro to its shores yesterday, when he presented credentials to Governor General Her Excellency Dr. Pearlette Louisy.

During the formal ceremony, the Portuguese Ambassador said, he is looking forward to capitalizing on the opportunities of the new millennium in terms of strengthening Portugal's relationship, with Saint Lucia. Geographical limitations, says the Portuguese Ambassador, will not be regarded as a deterrent to increase trade and functional cooperation between the countries.
Portugal, he added has supported and will continue to support St. Lucia and other ACP countries in their fight to maintain their preferential treatment with the European Union as regards the banana issue.
For her part, Her Excellency, Dr. Pearlette Louisy, indicated that there is need for concern over the increasing ambivalence between the expression of mutual friendship and collaboration, which the international community extends to one another and the implications and adverse effects of the globalization thrust, which is so often cold, faceless and devoid of sensitivity.
Dr. Louisy called for the International Community to design developmental strategies that take into consideration the social, economic and political status of individual countries.