Dear Editor,

Today heads of state and of government of the Republic of Cuba and of the countries of the Caribbean Community will be meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, at the Fourth Caricom-Cuba Summit.

The summit takes place when our Caribbean region observes Caricom-Cuba Day and commemorates the 39th anniversary of the joint and brave political decision taken by Barbados, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Jamaica and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba.

The courageous gesture staged in 1972 by those four newly independent countries marked the beginning of the close and excellent relations of friendship, solidarity and cooperation that Cuba enjoys today with all Caricom member states. Cuba has embassies in the 14 independent member states of Caricom while 13 member countries maintain diplomatic representation in Cuba.

The establishment of December 8 as Caricom-Cuba Day was agreed on during the first Caricom-Cuba Summit held in Havana, Cuba, in December 2002, when it was also decided to hold summit meetings every three years to commemorate such an important date. The second and third summits were held in Bridgetown, Barbados (2005) and in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba (2008). At the third summit, the Honorary Order of the Caribbean Community was presented to the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz.

The Cuban government has been working together with its Caribbean counterparts for the purpose of ensuring the success of the fourth Caricom-Cuba Summit.

Since 1972 to date, Cuba has supported its Caribbean brothers’ and sisters’ efforts aimed at consolidating their regional integration. Cuba has been ready to offer and implement its modest cooperation in the fields of education, training of human resources, health, energy, agriculture and others.

Over those years, more than 20,000 Cuban specialists have provided their services in all Caricom countries, mainly in the health and educational sectors. On the other hand, Cuba’s scholarship programme has benefited a large number of Caricom nationals including Jamaicans.

All Caricom countries have received cooperation through the “Miracle Operation” Eye Care Programme which has benefited thousands of Caribbean patients. In the Caricom region, Cuba has set up some Ophthalmology Centres fitted with state-of-the-art equipment and specialised personnel. Since 2005 to date, more than 60,000 Jamaicans have been screened under that programme, while more than 7,500 patients have undergone eye surgery free of charge.

It should also be noted that Cuba’s cooperation with Haiti has been ongoing for more than a decade in sectors such as agriculture, energy, fisheries, communications, health and education, including the implementation of the “Yes, I Can” literacy programme.

We Cubans are proud of our Caribbean roots and of our relations with the nations in the region. There is a satisfactory level of exchange between the Caribbean and the Cuban authorities manifested in the high-level visits paid by leaders of these nations to our country. Furthermore, Caricom countries share a clear position against the unjust US blockade imposed on Cuba. Cuba has the political will to expand and further strengthen the links with the Caribbean.

While celebrating another Cuba-Caricom Day, we anticipate the conviction that the said Fourth Summit in Port of Spain will be an additional step forward in the progressive development of our relations with the Caribbean Community, down the path of harmony and cooperation that we have been building over

the years.

Yuri A Gala López

Cuban Ambassador to Jamaica

Kingston