On Tuesday, July 24, 2012, The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams paid an official visit to the United States State Department, the Government Department responsible for International Relations. The Prime Minister met with Mrs. Liliana Ayalde, who was recently appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Caribbean, Central American and Cuban Affairs.
The meeting centered on St. Maarten's new status as a Country within the Dutch Kingdom and the new dynamics which the status brings with it. Deputy Assistant Secretary Ayalde was very pleased with the meeting and described St. Maarten's constitutional position as one that is unique in the Caribbean.
Deputy Assistant Secretary Ayalde also expressed gratitude for the cooperation between St. Maarten and State Department officials thus far. She also encouraged the Government of St. Maarten to make use of United States agencies to enhance the island's networking capabilities, especially in the areas of security and trade programs. One such program is the so-called "Caribbean Basin Initiative" and related elements, which aim to facilitate economic development and export diversification of the Caribbean Basin economies. Also attending the meeting was Deputy Director Henry Rector of the Office of Caribbean Affairs; Robert Dressen, First Secretary Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister Ms. Emilia Thomas.
From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister