KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — President of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina Sánchez has extended his country’s full support to the Government and people of Jamaica, adding that he is committed to building a greater Caribbean.

“The Government of the Dominican Republic is there at the disposal of the Government and people of Jamaica to serve you in whatever interest you may need us. Count on the Dominican Republic on this project of together building a Caribbean that is capable of breaking away from the barriers represented by being an island,” he said.

President Medina was speaking at a State luncheon at King’s House on Monday after being conferred with the Order of Excellence by Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen.

For his part, Medina awarded Prime Minister Andrew Holness with his country’s Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella in the rank of Grand Cross with Gold Breast Star.

The Dominican Republic President said it is important that Jamaica and his country continue to build ties that will be beneficial to both nations.

“We are complementary economies. My visit to this country is precisely for that — to expand our horizons so that we do not stay as we are today, just islands. We need to break away from the barriers that separate us today, because, as the Governor-General just said, many more things bring us together than those that separate us. We have a commitment to our people; so many people in both our countries are living in poverty and only (by) breaking away from these barriers and opening our borders and our skies will we be able to overcome that situation, and that is what we are here for,” he said.

Medina noted that the relationship between the two nations has strengthened over the last few months.

“What I hope is for this type of exchange occurring today between the people of the Dominican Republic and the people of Jamaica to become stronger each day and starting from this moment onward, that we develop a relationship and cooperation that is only win-win, where the people of Jamaica win and the people of the Dominican Republic win,” Medina added.

He explained that the cooperation agreement signed between the two governments earlier that day will explore the possibilities of expanding social, cultural and economic relationships. Holness, for his part, said the State visit has allowed for greater discussions on a range of bilateral, regional and international matters of mutual interest.

Medina, who arrived in the island on Monday for the one-day State visit, is currently in Montego Bay for the United Nations World Tourism Organization Conference which ends tomorrow.