(This is an address by Cuba’s ambassador to Jamaica, Bernardo Guanche Hernandez at the reception on the occasion of the National Day of Cuba held January 21 in St Andrew)

It is a huge pleasure and a great honour to my wife Mabel, to colleagues of our Mission and myself to give each of you, our sincere and warm welcome to our residence tonight in the celebration of our National Day.

The year 2015 was one of intense work and positive results for Cuba. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by four per cent. All productive sectors grew. Social services maintained levels similar to those of the previous year. The number of visitors rose to three and a half million – the highest growth ever recorded. Cuba continued to face the commitments made in the different debt-restructuring processes with foreign creditors have been fulfilled.

Our infant mortality rate for the last year was 4.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, reaffirming the country is among the first 20 nations in the world. The success of efforts in health care to ensure the safety and well-being of Cubans is a result of programmes initiated since the Triumph of the Revolution.

Now, we are getting ready for the 7th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba in April this year. It will analyse the “Programme for Economic and Social Development through 2030: Proposed Vision of the Nation, Strategic Priorities, Objectives and Strategic Sectors”. Meanwhile, Cuba will continue to be immersed in the process of updating its economic and social model, to build prosperous and sustainable socialism, advance the development of the country and consolidate the achievements of the Revolution.

Ladies and gentlemen, in Cuba’s foreign affairs, bilateral political dialogue with numerous countries was strengthened, evidenced by the visits to Cuba of 184 foreign delegations, 25 of which were led by heads of state or government from all over the world.

This past October 27, 191 United Nations member States supported Cuba’s resolution against the blockade, a gesture which our people deeply appreciated, and which shows that the world has not forgotten that the blockade continues.

On April 11, 2015, Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro shook hands at the Summit of the Americas in Panama. With the re-establishment of diplomatic relations, the process towards the normalisation of bilateral ties will be long and complex; as part of which a set of issues will have to be resolved arising from past policies still in force, which affect the Cuban people and our nation. It includes the blockade, which should be lifted, as President Barack Obama and the international community claim. With too many conflicts in the world, Cuba and United States are given an example on how it is possible to find civilised ways for its solutions, based on respect and equal rights.

The Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, signed by all heads of state and governments at the Second CELAC Summit held in Havana, in January of 2014, provides a solid foundation for the development of relations between our countries and at the international level.

We feel optimistic, given the progress achieved in the peace talks on Colombian conflict, a process which is closer than ever to reach an agreement to put an end to the armed conflict.

Cuba just assumed the pro tempore presidency of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS/AEC). Upon assuming the responsibility, we reaffirmed the country’s commitment to revitalising the regional institution, which has the potential to make an important contribution to Latin American and Caribbean integration and face jointly the challenges of our era. The 7th ACS/AEC Summit will take place this year in Havana.

In this context, Cuba and Jamaica develop excellent and growing diplomatic, political, economic, cultural relations in terms of collaboration and in many more areas. They are favoured by our geographical proximity and funded on strong historical relations, like the indelible mark left forever by the prominent Jamaican leader Michael Manley and the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro.

An example of it was a motion demanding the lifting of the blockade, which was approved unanimously by the Parliament last October 20th. As noted by the Jamaican Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator Arnold Nicholson, Jamaica was always on the right side of history in relation to Cuba.

The renewal of the agreements between our countries in the fields of national security and health is an expression of the highest level reached in the bilateral relations. It also constitutes a manifestation of the decision and will of the Cuban Government to maintain and increase cooperation that is composed now by two brigades, one in health care and other in education. Both cover almost the entire country. It´s hard to know with accuracy how many Jamaican lives have been saved and how many people have recovered their sight thanks to the work carried out by these dedicated Cuban collaborators.

Something similar happens with our 51 teachers who teach Spanish and other subjects and play a key role to continue forging ties between our two peoples.

In 2015, eight young Jamaicans, including the son of a Cuban resident, were awarded scholarships to study medicine in Cuba.

In late 2015, a team from the Cuban press visited Jamaica and I take this opportunity to thank all who made this visit by the journalists a success. One reporter published a front-page article in the Granma newspaper on December 31st, entitled “An intense earth” which read: “And that air of welcome offered by the people of Jamaica feels closer to Cuba. Jamaica no problem, they tell everyone. In this intense land, the Jamaican people love Cubans.”

And Cubans also love Jamaicans and celebrate as ours the colossal achievement reached by Jamaica at the 15th World Championships in Athletics in Beijing, China.

For me, it was a great honour to witness the historic event of the nomination, with the name of Fidel Castro of one facility, which was among a group of educational institutions donated to Jamaica by the Cuban Government in the late 70s. This gesture had a profound sentiment of gratitude and has indeed a historical significance.

Recently, during the Scientific Forum of Cuban Health Collaborators, a quote by the Apostle of Cuba José Martí was read, stating that when somebody works for others it not just fulfils its duty but that also makes him feel happy. Tonight I would like to add that this happiness is even greater when it comes to supporting a people as grateful as the Jamaicans.

Over the last year, Cuba and Jamaica were moving forward to create the Caribbean Regional School of Arts in Jamaica and finalised the first stage. In the coming weeks, we are going to continue working in the second stage together with Jamaican Government and Edna Manley College.

So Cuba will continue contributing to the social development of others. Cuba shares its modest resources with many other developing countries through genuine international cooperation.

Ladies and gentlemen, experiences like I have just mentioned demonstrate that we have reasons to feel proud to be Cubans and to celebrate of the 57th anniversary of the Revolution that made all this possible.