• Submitted by: manso
• International
• 01 / 30 / 2011

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Saturday, January 29, 2011. The following was presented by Speaker of the House Delroy Chuck on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Dr Kenneth Baugh on January 14 at a diplomatic reception at the residence of Cuban Ambassador Yuri Gala Lopez in Kingston.

TONIGHT we have gathered as friends to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban revolution with our Cuban brothers and sisters. We reflect on their many achievements over these 50 years, often against many odds and with many challenges.

Jamaica and Cuba have enjoyed a strong and close relationship since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1972. The successful visit of the Cuban Foreign Minister to Jamaica, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, on December 14 last year, serves as testimony to our solid relationship. That visit further advanced the bonds of friendship that exist between us. Ambassador Gala, we look forward to the continued further deepening of the collaboration and interaction between our two countries over the coming years. We remain committed to the prevailing friendship and to mutual support.

Notwithstanding the global financial crisis which continued to plague the international community, and moreso developing countries throughout 2010, Cuba has continued to extend its generosity to Jamaica and other Caricom member states through the provision of invaluable technical assistance and cooperation.

One of the best kept secrets has been the invaluable medical assistance Cuba has provided to Haiti, immediately following the devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010, which caused widespread loss of life and irreparable damage to property. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, the medical personnel, doctors and paramedics who were already stationed in many of the communes in Haiti began to set up camps to provide essential medical services to the Haitian people, making it one of
the first countries to respond to the devastation. Once the gravity of the situation became apparent, Cuba deployed additional medical personnel, medicine, clothes and food. The Cuban programme embraces different levels of health care, including primary, secondary and tertiary health care and medical training. The kindredship and acts of kindness displayed by Cuba towards Haiti highlight the importance of unity within the region.

Let me now speak briefly on the importance of Caricom-Cuba relations. Diplomatic relations were officially established on December 8, 1972, and are deeply rooted in the principles of mutual respect and non-intervention. Since 1972, the community has enjoyed excellent relations with Cuba and implemented wide-ranging programmes of cooperation in the areas of education, with the provision of numerous scholarships by Cuba; health, with the training of nurses and the establishment of eye care centres; disaster relief and energy-saving programmes. Caricom, with the full support of Jamaica, continues to lend its unwavering support for numerous UN General Assembly resolutions calling for the elimination of the economic blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States. On October 26 last year, during the 65th Session of the General Assembly in New York, all Caricom countries voted along with the other 175 countries in favour of an end to the embargo, and for the normalisation of relations between the US and Cuba. We will continue as a community to lend this support to our sister nation, Cuba.

Every year, Caricom member states and Cuba celebrate Caricom Cuba Day on December 8, in recognition of the close relationship Cuba shares with the member states of the Caribbean Community and to underscore the value we place on the fraternal linkages between our countries and peoples. Building on the success of the celebrations in 2009 at the Foreign Ministry, Jamaica expanded the celebration activities, and collaborated with the University of the West Indies and the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Kingston, to jointly host Caricom Cuba Day. It was such a success that UWI principal, Professor Gordon Shirley, has signalled that the university is very interested in continuing the collaboration with the Foreign Ministry in the celebration activities for the 2011 Caricom Cuba Day.

Last year, at this very event, we spoke of the establishment of an ophthalmology centre in Jamaica. As I am sure you are all aware, a few weeks later, on January 27, 2010, the Jamaica/Cuba Eye Care Centre was officially opened at the St Joseph's Hospital. Since its opening, the centre has been providing first-class eye care treatment to many vulnerable Jamaicans, who without this centre would go blind or remain visually disabled. The birth of the eye care centre was only the beginning, as the Government of the Republic of Cuba also provided the staff and equipment for the Centre. We are indeed grateful and I wish to once again congratulate the Cuban government on this initiative.

Let us raise a toast to the continued strengthening of excellent relations between Jamaica and Cuba. May the progress which Cuba continues to achieve also serve to re-energise the efforts of all Cubans to attain the revolution's vision for Cuba's sustained development.

Source: //www.jamaicaobserver.com/