Cuba and Caribbean Nations Forge Deep Friendship Bonds

By RHC / redaccion@ahora.cu / Friday, 15 January 2010 10:40

Cuba began the year 2010 with the strengthening of its indissoluble links with the rest of the Caribbean nations, and the consolidation of regional integration. With this in mind, the island welcomed in the first half of this month the visits of the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Stephen King, and the Foreign Minister of Suriname, Lygia Louise Irena Kraag-Keteldijk.

In 1972, four Caribbean countries challenged the U.S. blockade policy and established diplomatic relations with Cuba. These brave countries were Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados and Guyana. Since then, important steps have been taken to consolidate the political and economic ties between the countries of the region.

The first Cuba-CARICOM summit held in Havana in 2002 gave a major boost to these ties. During this important meeting, it was arranged to hold ministerial meetings every 18 months.

After the First Summit to date, much significant progress has been achieved within the region, particularly in terms of cooperation in education, health, energy, agriculture and other spheres.

The positive and constantly increasing relations between Cuba and St. Lucia and Cuba and Suriname are developing along these lines. All Caribbean states, without exception, receive the solidarity and support of the Cuban government and people.

On a recent visit, the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia acknowledged Cuba’s valuable contribution of 173 nurses to carry out health care in his country who pointed out that this strategy allows them to balance the emigration of these specialists to the United States, Canada and the UK.

The main objective of the Foreign Minister of Suriname’s visit was the official opening of the embassy of this country in Havana. Minister Kraag-Keteldijk also expressed her appreciation Cuba’s cooperation, through which about 25, 000 of her people have benefited from the Operation Miracle, a Cuban and Venezuelan initiative which has restored or improved the sight of poor people in many nations of the world.

Underlying the deep friendship between the Caribbean nations and Cuba is their votes every year in the UN General Assembly on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade the U.S. has maintained for almost half a century against the Cuban people.

Friendship, solidarity and mutual respect have characterized the relations between Cuba and its Caribbean neighbors during the last years. Undoubtedly, the words of the top leader of the Revolution Fidel Castro have been put into practice, when he stated: “We must respond to the selfish and neoliberal globalization, to the anti-democratic political and economic order with unity, the globalization of solidarity, and the promotion of dialogue, integration and genuine cooperation.”

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