Culture Minister of the British Virgin Islands Andrew Fahie headed a mission that visited the Dominican Republic this week to finalize the details on cultural exchanges between the two countries scheduled for this summer. The Dominican Republic and the British Virgin Islands have signed agreements for the exchange of folklore and educational programs. Fahie, as reported in El Caribe, says that one of the goals of the BVI government is that their citizens become trilingual. Carolyn O’Neal-Williams, in charge of foreign languages at the Culture Ministry, said that one of the programs to be implemented is a two-week course for 10 to 12 students between the ages of 14 and 18 as part of an exchange. "We want them to understand the way of life of both nations, to strengthen their skills in languages and serve as ambassadors of their cultures," she explained. She said that while the first phase is open to high school students, they will subsequently open the program to exchanges of professionals. Fahie was accompanied by Blas Jimenez, general secretary of the Dominican commission to UNESCO.