PRESS RELEASE
WDC-32-2022
30 SEPTEMBER 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A delegation from the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC – led by Minister and Consul General Iric C. Arribas – met with Mme. Sandy Peters-Phillips, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) and discussed possible cooperation in aquaculture, coconut industry development, climate change, disaster risk management, and protection of foreign workers’ welfare. Consul General Arribas also suggested that SVG send a delegation to the Philippines to strengthen our bilateral ties, and further exchange information and best practices on the fields discussed.
Separate meetings also took place with SVG Labor Commissioner Mme. Rachel Lawrence and Permanent Secretary of the SVG Ministry of Health Mr. Cuthbert Knights, following SVG’s interest to hire nurses from the Philippines. Consul General Arribas was accompanied by Philippine Labor Attache Angela Librado-Trinidad and Philippine Welfare Officer Mae Codilla during the meetings.
Concurrently, consular outreach missions were conducted in SVG and in Antigua, with a total of 76 passport renewals processed and oath of allegiance administered to 16 dual citizenship applicants. Filipino community volunteers in these two Caribbean destinations welcomed and assisted the Embassy’s consular team.
Antigua is home to about 150 Filipinos, mostly working in the tourism industry and household services while SVG is host to approximately 50 Filipinos, mostly working in the medical field. Antigua and SVG are both under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C.###
