10 – 1: History to be made on Friday August 26

By Admin. Updated 6:00 a.m., Thursday, August 25, 2022, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Since independence, ten (10) individuals, all males, have served as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

On Friday, August 26, 2022, history is set to be made as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ first female foreign affairs minister will be sworn in.

The Office of the Prime Minister says Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Keisal Melissa Peters will be sworn in on Friday, August 26, 2022, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

The swearing-in ceremony will take place at 10:00 a.m., at Government House.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves had announced earlier in August that Ms. Peters, who is a Government senator, will be promoted and instituted as the full minister responsible for foreign affairs.

Ms. Peters assumed the position of Government Senator and Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately after the Unity Labour Party was sworn into office for a fifth consecutive term after winning the November 5, 2020 general election.

Since then, Peters has been representing the country at several international fora.

The portfolio item – Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade currently falls under prime minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves’ portfolio, but he will no longer have that portfolio item after Senator Peters’ appointment.

Dr. Gonsalves has taken up the portfolio of Tertiary Education to add to his other ministerial portfolio items of National Security, Legal Affairs and Information.

In a call to WEFM’s Issue at Hand program on August 21, Dr. Gonsalves said Ms. Peters has been doing a great job as Minister of State.

Here is a list (with photographs) of all the individuals who have served as minister responsible for foreign affairs since independence in 1979.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.