Kingstown, 6 November 2014. A high level delegation of the internationally recognised Roman Catholic and charitable Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George in Rome paid an Official Visit to the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from 6-8 November 2014 as part of a wider regional visit following the invitation from the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The purpose of this high level visit was to better understand the needs of the country and to agree a series of worthy charitable projects to be supported by the Order, which would directly benefit the people of St Vincent. It is expected such projects will form part of the charitable activities already announced as part of the Order’s newly formed Permanent Delegation for the Caribbean region.
The high level delegation to St Vincent was led by His Eminence Renato Raffaele Cardinal Martino, Grand Prior of the Constantinian Order, and Cardinal Proto-Deacon of the Holy Roman Church, His Excellency Anthony Bailey, OBE, Delegate for the Caribbean, Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations of the Constantinian Order and Secretary General of the Royal Order of Francis I and Dr Xhoana Papakostandini, Chief of Staff.
Msgr Pawel Obiedziński, Chargé d’Affaires a.i of the Apostolic Nunciature accredited to St Vincent and the Grenadines and wider Caribbean was also present throughout the visit.
The Delegation was formally received at Kingstown Airport by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of National Reconciliation, the Cabinet Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister, the Commissioner of Police, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Kingstown, and the Chargé d’Affaires a.i of the Apostolic Nunciature.
During the Official Visit a courtesy call was paid on His Excellency Sir Frederick Nathaniel Ballantyne, GCMG, Governor General of St Vincent and the Grenadines and official representative of HM Queen Elizabeth II in her right as Queen of St Vincent and the Grenadines at Government House in Kingstown.
A further courtesy call was made by the delegation on Dr The Hon. Ralph Everard Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingstown. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade & Consumer Affairs, Senator Hon. Camillo Gonsalves, was also present at the meeting.
The delegation also met with The Hon. Girlyn Miguel, Deputy Prime Minister and The Hon. Arnhim Eustace, the Leader of HM Loyal Opposition at Democrat House in Kingstown.
The Official Visit to St Vincent and the Grenadines was part of a wider regional visit to the Caribbean including St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Barbados.
To view photographs from the Constantinian Order’s visit to St Vincent and the Grenadines, please see our Photo Gallery by clicking here.
