Press Releases

Press Release - Saint Lucia's Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary/Permanent Representative

On Wednesday, February 22, 2017, His Excellency Cosmos Richardson, Saint Lucia’s new permanent representative to the United Nations, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.



In presenting his Letters of Credence to Secretary General Guterres, His Excellency Cosmos Richardson stated his intention to work closely with the UN Secretariat, its various agencies, and its membership. He also pledged to advance the organization’s goals, while ensuring that Saint Lucia’s interests are protected and promoted.


Further, Ambassador Richardson used his discussion with Secretary-General Guterres to highlight a few of the issues that most concern Saint Lucia, and the priorities of its people within the United Nations context. Chief among them are climate change, security, the successful implementation of the sustainable development goals, international development cooperation, youth development and unemployment.


Ambassador Richardson also struck a note of national pride, reiterating that his official accreditation to the United Nations occurred on the very day that Saint Lucians at home and abroad were commemorating the island’s thirty-eighth year of independence.


A retired civil servant with more than three decades of service to the Government of Saint Lucia, Ambassador Richardson has held a number of key government positions. Most recently, he served as Saint Lucia’s Ambassador to CARICOM and the OECS. From 2007 to 2012 he was Cabinet Secretary and Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister. Prior to that, he served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, International Trade, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs. From 1986 to 1997, he served in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources, and Co-operatives.


Until his diplomatic appointments, Ambassador Richardson also provided consultancy services for various organizations in the areas of public policy, policy analysis, and strategic planning.


A graduate of St Mary’s College and the University of the West Indies, Ambassador Richardson holds a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in Economics, as well as a post-graduate diploma in Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics.


Ambassador Richardson succeeds Menissa Rambally, who served as Saint Lucia’s Permanent Representative to the UN from May 2012 to December 2016.

Saint Lucia and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Establish Diplomatic Relations

November 10, 2023
New York, NY (November 10, 2023) – In line with the continued thrust towards expanding diplomatic partners, this week Saint Lucia and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste established diplomatic relations in New York. Saint Lucia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, H.E Menissa Rambally, and H.E Karlito Nunes, Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste to the United Nations, signed a joint communiqué on November 08, 2023, establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries. The establishment of diplomatic relations with this Southeast Asian state is part of the Government of Saint Lucia’s Foreign Policy to forge new diplomatic ties with non-traditional and other developing economies in pursuit of mutually beneficial development objectives.  As Small Island Developing States (SIDS), formalization of relations between the two nations sets the foundation for advancing efforts including addressing climate change, culture, and knowledge exchange as well as pursuing cooperation in other political and socio-economic areas.

Saint Lucia Reiterates Call for End to US Embargo on Cuba at the United Nations

November 2, 2023
New York, NY (November 02, 2023) – At the United Nations General Assembly annual debate on the resolution calling for an end to the United States embargo on Cuba, Saint Lucia joined 186 members states in condemning this blockade.  Saint Lucia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, H.E Menissa Rambally, who also delivered a statement on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), highlighted that this long-standing matter continues to serve as an impediment to the regional cooperation that CARICOM maintains with Cuba. The unselfish assistance of Cuba to Saint Lucia, the wider Caribbean and globally in furtherance of socioeconomic development and sustainability is consistent with the values and aspirations of cooperation amongst the countries of the Global South. Cooperation with Saint Lucia in health and other sectors like education, has been the foundation for an enduring bond spanning decades. Saint Lucia acknowledged the indomitable spirit of the Cuban people who continue to persevere despite the unlawful economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States. Ambassador Rambally, reaffirmed the Government of Saint Lucia’s fervent call for an end to this embargo, and expressed hope that the will of the overwhelming majority of the nations of the world is duly respected on this matter. View Statement here: https://youtu.be/Fm6fGuK2a9A?t=2208

Prime Minister Addresses the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, 2023

September 22, 2023
Philip Joseph Pierre, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Development and Youth Economy of Saint Lucia, addresses the general debate of the 78th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (New York, 19 - 26 September 2023).  The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is the main policy-making organ of the Organization. Comprising all Member States, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations. Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote. The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945. Currently made up of 193 Member States, the UN and its work are guided by the purposes and principles contained in its founding Charter. The UN has evolved over the years to keep pace with a rapidly changing world. But one thing has stayed the same: it remains the one place on Earth where all the world’s nations can gather together, discuss common problems, and find shared solutions that benefit all of humanity. General debate website: https://gadebate.un.org/
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