• Submitted by: manso
• Politics and Government
• 09 / 17 / 2010

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Thursday, September 16, 2010. On December 8, 1972, four independent Caricom countries, Barbados, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Jamaica and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, established diplomatic relations with Cuba.

The Heads of State of Caricom and the Government of Cuba met at their first summit in Havana in December 2002 and decided to celebrate Cuba-Caricom Day on December 8. This historic decision institutionalised a permanent mechanism of dialogue at the highest governmental level between Cuba and the Caricom countries.

Since 2002, two other summits have been held between Caricom Heads of State and the Government of Cuba: one in Bridgetown, Barbados, in 2005 and the other in Santiago de Cuba in 2008. During the 2002 summit, it was agreed that a ministerial meeting would be held 18 months after each summit, with the aim of looking at priority issues of the Caribbean in greater detail.

The first Cuba-Caricom ministerial meeting was held in Havana on July 15, 2004. It was an important link in the follow-up to the agreements reached by the Heads of State and in the course of discussions between our countries. St Vincent and the Grenadines hosted the second ministerial meeting on May 29, 2007, where,besides the final joint communiqué, a special declaration on terrorism was approved.

Since the first ministerial meeting, significant progress has taken place within the region, especially regarding cooperation in the fields of education, health,energy, agriculture and others.

The Caribbean region continues to face challenges of political, natural,economic and social magnitude, all of which require our attention as a group.The subject of the third Cuba-Caricom ministerial meeting, to be held in Havana on September 17, 2010, will be "For a united and supportive Caribbean". The agenda will cover Cuba-Caricom relations, the situation in Haiti, the environment and sustainable development/MDGs, and the integration and political coordination in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In spite of being a developing and blockaded nation, Cuba considers cooperation with other peoples of the South as a duty and a reason for satisfaction. Currently, more than 1500 Cuban specialists render their services in the Caribbean, in the 14 Caricom countries plus Aruba, the Dutch Antilles and Guadeloupe, of which 83.5 per cent are from the health sector (more than 1300 specialists).

On the other hand, more than 4000 Caribbean youths have graduated in Cuba, of whom more than 1700 are medical graduates. At present, 3307 Caribbean youths study in Cuba, of whom more than 2400 are pursuing courses related to medical sciences.

In the Caribbean, eight ophthalmology centres have been set up: three in Haiti,one in St Vincent and the Grenadines (mobile ophthalmology unit), one in St Lucia, one in Guyana, one in Jamaica and one in Suriname (mobile ophthalmology unit). These centres have Cuban human resources and make free use of the equipment.

Cuba has undertaken to facilitate top-technology medical equipment for the setting up of 17 Comprehensive Diagnosis Centres in different Caribbean countries. At the moment, one of the centres is partially working in Antigua and Barbuda, one in Dominica and four in Guyana. One ophthalmology centre is currently being built in St Vincent and the Grenadines. As part of the Programme for the Reconstruction and Strengthening of Haiti's health system, there are 22 reference community hospitals, 30 rehabilitation wards, 14 health centres with and without beds, three "Operation Miracle" Units and a National Laboratory of Public Health attending and treating patients.

Cuba was welcomed nearly 38 years ago with an embrace of solidarity by its Caribbean brothers and sisters. Since 1972, my country has supported its Caribbean brothers' efforts aimed at consolidating their regional integration,and Cubans have been ready to offer our modest cooperation in the areas where this has been possible. For Cuba, it is not about giving others what we have to spare, but to modestly share the few resources that we have. The peoples of the Caribbean Community will always be able to count on Cuba's respect and friendship.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Cuba-shares-the-little-it-has_796...

By: Yuri A Gala López, she is Cuba's ambassador to Jamaica.

Source: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/message/117790