 St. Lucia and Martinique continue to advance cooperation to strengthen cross-border security between the two territories. Following the eighth session of the Franco-St. Lucia Joint Security Commission held in Fort de France, Martinique, on December 14, Ambassador, His Excellency, Francis Etienne, and General William Bacquet led a delegation of gendarmes officials to St. Lucia on January 27, 2023. Prime Minister, Honourable Philippe J. Pierre held an audience with Ambassador Etienne and General Bacquet at the office of the Prime Minister. We have to protect our borders and we have to ensure that commonality doesn't thrive because what happens with me can happen to you because we are extremely close. So we welcome that cooperation. During the exchange, General Bacquet formally notified the Prime Minister about the delivery of a shipment of forensic materials to help improve capacity at the St. Lucia Forensic Science Laboratory. I will strengthen and I will reaffirm my will to give you support with material. So today I come with a gift of 100 kilos of forensic material for forensic studies and weapons. But together with this we have training sessions. The Director of the St. Lucia Forensic Science Laboratory, Fernanda Henry, has welcomed the donation of forensic materials. The donation from the Zhadamchi National consists of a laboratory hood with some forensic consumables. We intend to use the laboratory hood for our new crime scene units as well as the consumables will help us in our continued work with forensics, day-to-day work, forensic biology, forensic chemistry and other sections coming on, specifically the firearms unit. This cooperation with the French started in 2021 and since then we have benefited significantly from their generosity and their expertise as well. A small group of us from the laboratory went to Martinique and spent four days with them looking at scientific techniques and so on. So this really is a continuation of that collaboration. While concluding their courtesy visit to St. Lucia, the French delegation also toured the Forensic Science Laboratory. Ambassador Etienne, General Vaké and the Gendemeur delegation also interfaced with the High Command of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force and officials in the Ministry of Home Affairs during pre-arranged engagements with a view to coordinating training opportunities for the Marine Unit and pursuing forensic cooperation between the two territories. From the Office of the Prime Minister, Rihanny Isidou.