New York: President Danny Faure met with the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), H.E. Ralph Gonsalves, in the margins of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly yesterday. 

The two leaders discussed a number of bilateral issues key to both island nations. President Faure reiterated the need for a more coordinated response from like-minded small island states which would help spur their development. He also explored the possibility of legal draughtsman to be sent from SVG to the Seychelles, and in this context, the development of capacity building programmes between the two countries. President Faure also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Gonsalves to be the guest of honour at Seychelles' National Day celebrations in 2019. 

On his part, Prime Minister Gonsalves expressed his nation's desire to learn from Seychelles' experience in the field of tourism so as to grow that sector of SVG's economy. The Prime Minster also remarked that small island states need to embrace a paradigm shift which would inherently address their specificities, a concept he termed 'small state exceptionalism.'

Both leaders agreed on the need for greater multilateralism and the need for small island states to rely on the primacy and protection of international law. They also renewed their commitment to further consolidate the excellent ties of friendship that exist between the two island nations.