St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force facilitated officers and cadets of the Venezuelan Training School Ship, Liberator Simon Bolívar for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph (War Memorial) on Wednesday, April 26th, to pay homage to St. Kitts and Nevis and Anguilla soldiers killed in World Wars I and II.

The ceremony was attended by the Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas, Non-Resident Ambassador to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, His Excellency Dr. Norgen Wilson, as well as senior government officials.

Chargé d’ Affaires Ad Hoc of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Marco Antonio Guzmán Adrian described the event as momentous.

“We gather today to recognize the men and women who lost their lives in the World Wars; also, to recognize our men and women martyrs of the successful Maracaibo Lake Battle which is approaching in June” said Chargé d’ Affaires Guzmán.

The Battle of Lake Maracaibo also known as the ‘Naval Battle of the Lake’ was fought on July 24, 1823, on Venezuela’s Lake Maracaibo.

The wreath-laying ceremony provided excellent content especially as the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis celebrated Diplomatic Week 2023 from April 23-28). It highlighted the respect and close relationship between both countries.