Minister Bramble Makes First Regional Contribution at ALBA Summit

A photograph of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fitzgerald Bramble as posted by the the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment and Diaspora Affairs.

By Val Matthias. Updated 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 30, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Minister of Foreign Affairs Fitzgerald Bramble marked his first regional engagement by participating virtually in the 25th Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), held in Caracas, Venezuela on December 14, 2025. Although joining via Zoom, Bramble represented Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday and conveyed greetings from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), assuring member states of SVG’s continued commitment to regional cooperation.

In an interview, Bramble highlighted SVG’s participation in two technical programmes supported by Venezuela ALBA Agro, which promotes agricultural cooperation, and ALBA Azul, which advances initiatives in the blue economy. He emphasized that the government’s foreign policy will be shaped by the priorities of the Vincentian people, with a focus on tangible benefits for ordinary citizens.

The official ALBA declaration, adopted by the heads of state and government, reaffirmed the alliance’s defense of sovereignty and rejection of external military threats in the region. It also underscored commitments to deepen economic and social cooperation, expand programmes in food security and marine resource management, and strengthen regional integration. The declaration paid tribute to ALBA’s founders, Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez, while expressing solidarity with member states facing sanctions or external pressures. SVG, while supportive of the cooperative programmes, recorded a reservation on aspects of the declaration, signaling the new government’s intent to carefully align its foreign policy with national priorities.

Reflecting on his transition into office, Bramble described the role as “exciting and challenging,” noting his prior diplomatic experience as Deputy Ambassador to the United States, Minister Counselor to the Organization of American States, and country representative for the OAS in Suriname. He underscored his readiness to represent SVG at multiple regional forums, stressing that the government’s agenda is to ensure every engagement ultimately results in improvements in the lives of Vincentians.

Currently, Minister Bramble holds the following portfolios, Foreign Affairs Foreign Trade OECS, CARICOM, CARICOM Single Market and Economy, External Marketing Foreign, Investment Foreign Economic Relation Diaspora Affairs, including Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit.

The summit brought together leaders, including President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela, President Miguel Díaz-Canel of Cuba, President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, and Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre of Saint Lucia, alongside foreign ministers from Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

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