Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs

Senator the Honourable Dr. Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs received Mr. Mark-Anthony Sheppard, a Trinidad and Tobago national whom the Government assisted in evacuating Ukraine, on Wednesday 6th July, 2022 at the Ministry’s headquarters in St. Clair, Port of Spain. Mr. Sheppard who resided in Kyiv, Ukraine and is married to a Ukrainian national, was the only Trinidad and Tobago national in Ukraine at the outbreak of hostilities in February 2022.
During the meeting, Mr. Sheppard praised the staff of the Embassy of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in Brussels, Belgium, for the assistance rendered in evacuating him and his wife from war-torn Ukraine and expressed immense pride in his country for ensuring his safe arrival in Budapest from Kyiv. Mr. Sheppard and his wife were able to evacuate Kyiv and have safe passage to Budapest, Hungary, through coordinated efforts spearheaded by the Embassy of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in Brussels, Belgium. Our Embassy in Brussels provided assistance to Mr. Sheppard and his wife with the support of a network of diplomatic missions in Europe, NATO representatives and the International Red Cross.
Minister Browne expressed specific gratitude to German and Chinese diplomats for their overall concern and engagement during the evacuation of Mr. Sheppard and his wife from Ukraine. The Minister empathized with Mr. Sheppard on the horrific toll of warfare and the terrible effects of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. He emphasized the enduring commitment of the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs to assist as far as possible with any additional relocation required by the Sheppard family.
Mr. Sheppard arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on 24th June 2022 for a short visit with his family and is expected to reunite with his wife in Budapest on his return to Europe.

Download PDF article