Ambassador-Designate of the Bolvarian Republic of Venezuela, Her Excellency Leiff Liubliana Escalona Barrueta, presented her credentials to His Excellency Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles on August 4, 2022. The ambassador is serving for the second time as Venezuelan ambassador in Saint Lucia.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government of Saint Lucia for its commitment to strengthen our bilateral relations as well as to pursue our continued role and development within the Alba Integration Scheme. We particularly appreciate the decision taken by Saint Lucia last year to formally withdraw from the Lima group in support of this new relationship within the framework of respect for the sovereignty and a mutual self-determination of our peoples and of people everywhere.”

Her Excellency Leiff Escalona indicated that among her objectives are to ensure Saint Lucia’s participation in the framework of the Petro Caribe Energy Cooperation Scheme and to articulate, promote, and continue to contribute to social projects in the country.

His Excellency Cyril Errol Charles welcomed the ambassador to Saint Lucia and accepted her Letters of Credence. He extended gratitude to the Republic of Venezuela on behalf of the people of Saint Lucia and pledged to continue with the mutually beneficial relationship.

“Venezuela’s mission to Saint Lucia through the Venezuelan Institute of Culture and Cooperation from its earliest inception has always been the vanguard of our two nation’s efforts at peace cooperation, peaceful cooperation, through the arts and humanities.

"One recalls the number of students and other citizens who were trained in Spanish as a second language and students from the Saint Lucia School of Music who were taught to play musical instruments and to read and write musical scores. Today many of these persons have been gainfully employed in the tourism industry or in various occupations befitting that training and sing praises for believing in them and affording them an opportunity to be successful. For these and other kind acts of their novelance , we as a people are eternally grateful.” 

H.E. Cyril Errol Charles wished the ambassador and other officials a rewarding tour of duty, and extended best wishes for continued peace to President Maduro Moros on behalf of the Government and people of Saint Lucia.