In New York on May 29th, Pakistan and Saint Lucia, an island nation in the eastern Caribbean, officially established diplomatic ties in a straightforward ceremony held at the Pakistan Mission to the United Nations. Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, and his counterpart from Saint Lucia, Ambassador Menissa Rambally, signed a joint communiqué formalizing the diplomatic relations between their respective countries.
During the event, Ambassador Akram emphasized the longstanding cooperation between both nations in multilateral forums such as the Commonwealth, highlighting that the formalization of relations would bolster bilateral ties, particularly in trade, commerce, political cooperation, and tourism. He also underscored the shared passion for cricket between the peoples of Pakistan and St. Lucia, expressing optimism about enhancing people-to-people connections and exploring tourism opportunities.
Ambassador Menissa Rambally expressed her delight at the commencement of this significant chapter in bilateral relations. She noted that former West Indies cricketer Darren Sammy, a native of St. Lucia and an honorary Pakistani citizen, often praised Pakistan and its people for their hospitality. Ambassador Rambally thanked Ambassador Akram for hosting the ceremony and expressed her appreciation for his guidance, highlighting the existing strong relationship between Pakistan and Saint Lucia and the potential for further collaboration with the establishment of formal diplomatic ties.
The ceremony was attended by Ambassador Usman Jadoon, deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, officials from the Pakistan Mission, and a diplomat from the Permanent Mission of Saint Lucia.