The Embassy of Japan in Trinidad and Tobago has introduced Anthony Regisford as Tokyo’s honorary consul in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Regisford was introduced during a reception in Villa on Friday attended by Japan Ambassador, Matsubara Yutaka, who is based in Trinidad and Tobago.
Yutaka, who was making his third trip to Kingstown in the last four months, said his embassy began a year ago the process to select the first Honorary Consul of Japan in SVG.
“This evening, thanks to the kind cooperation and support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I am pleased to officially introduce Mr. Anthony Regisford who has been appointed as the Honorary Consul of Japan on July 1, 2024,” Yutaka said.
He said that throughout his career, Regisford has made “valuable contributions as a dedicated servant contributing to this country’s growth and development, both in the public and private sectors.
“The breadth of his experience robustly supports his credentials as Japan’s new honorary consul,” the diplomat further said.
Yutaka said he was “pleased to count such an accomplished representative among our ranks and I have no doubt that he will continue to work diligently to further deepen relations between our two countries.
“Indeed, right after his appointment, Mr. Regisford greatly contributed to Japan’s effort to hand over emergency relief supplies to St. Vincent and the Grenadines in response to the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Beryl,” he further said, referring to the category 4 hurricane that devastated parts of SVG on July 1.
Speaking at the reception, SVG’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Frederick Stephenson said SVG and Japan celebrate 44 years of diplomatic relations this year, making Tokyo one of Kingstown’s longest diplomatic allies.
He thanked Japan for its continued support for SVG “as this relationship continues to blossom and grow.
Stephenson said that the appointment of Regisford as Japan’s first honorary consul in SVG “is yet another milestone that we add to our ever-blossoming friendship we share with Japan…
“We are proudly delighted that a man of the soil is able to receive this distinguished honour, and we trust that he will make us proud and demonstrate unwavering commitment to his task at hand.”
He said SVG and Japan continue to deepen their diplomatic relations marked by the presentation in September 2022 of letters of credence by Andrea Bowman, SVG’s ambassador to Taiwan, to serve as Kingstown’s non-resident ambassador to Tokyo.
The foreign affairs minister said that in 2020, Mr. Yukio was appointed as the honorary council for SVG in Japan, “emphasising the importance of lasting friendship between our countries”.
Meanwhile, Regisford said his appointment as honorary consul “was described as an important step in continuing to solidify the bridge between the relationship of Japan and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“I am indeed honoured that I have been seen as a link in this chain, and I have to say, without being cliche, that I hope I’m not the weakest link,” he said.
Regisford said he received a call while in traffic about a year ago asking if he was willing to be considered as Japan’s honorary consul to SVG.
“… it came like a shock to me. I, on the spur of the moment, agreed in principle and what happened after that, I absolutely have no regrets,” Regisford said.
“Indeed, I am flattered, honoured. I feel very appreciated, validated, whatever adjectives you want to use, that I was considered in the first place, and I was able to pass the muster to be finally appointed in this position, which is deemed to be a key position in strengthening and fortifying the relationship with St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Japan,” Regisford said.