Above: British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire inaugurates the mission (Photo: FCO)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

For the first time since 1966, the United Kingdom has a diplomatic mission in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

UK Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire has officially inaugurated the UK Embassy in Haiti, which will be located within the country’s Canadian mission.

The Foreign Office said the move was part of a wider push to expand the country’s overseas networks in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“It was an honour to open the new British Embassy in Port-au-Prince — our first permanent diplomatic presence in Haiti since 1966,” Swire said. “It is a symbol of the UK government’s desire to build its relationship with the government and people of Haiti.”

Swire opened the Embassy after a three-day visit to Haiti and the Dominican Republic this week, during which he met with officials including Haiti President Michel Martelly and Prime Mnister Laurent Lamothe.

“Our new Embassy will allow us to build an even closer dialogue between our two governments and support the government of Haiti in its efforts to promote sustainable development and open up to trade and investment.”