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Honorable Heads of State or Government of Barbados, Guyana,
Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, the four Caribbean countries that, having
achieved independence in 1972, 30 years ago, took the courageous step of
establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba;
Honorable Heads of State or Government of the other member countries of
CARICOM, whom we are bound to by close and excellent ties of brotherhood,
solidarity and cooperation in various fields that constitute an example of
relations between small developing countries;
Distinguished heads of delegations, ministers and special guests:
On a day like today, exactly 30 years ago, four small countries of the
English-speaking Caribbean, having recently achieved their long desired
independence, decided to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba.
Prior to this, from the very dawn of the Cuban Revolution, they had shown
their sympathy and respect for the process we were undertaking. As early as
January 1959, the local government of what was still the British colony of
Guyana, led by Dr. Cheddi Jagan, leader of the People’s Progressive Party, had
declared its solidarity with the Cuban Revolution.
In the second half of 1972, Guyana hosted a meeting of the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries. Comrade Raul Roa, Foreign Minister of Dignity, headed the
Cuban delegation. Guyana’s foreign minister at the time was Sir Shridath
Ramphall, whom we have invited to this meeting for the role he played and
continues to play in support of regional integration, particularly the
integration of Cuba not only to the Caribbean, but also to the African,
Caribbean and Pacific Group of Nations (ACP). That meeting served as a prelude
to the decision made by the Prime Ministers of Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and
Trinidad and Tobago to establish relations with Cuba.
In deciding to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba, the leaders of those
countries, considered the founding fathers of both the independence of their
nations and of Caribbean integration –Errol Barrow of Barbados, Forbes Burnham
of Guyana, Michael Manley of Jamaica, and Eric Williams of Trinidad and Tobago–
realized that they were charting the course for what would later become the
foreign policy of the Caribbean Community, characterized until today by three
main features: independence, courage and concerted action.
Diplomatic relations were officially established on December 8, 1972, in
ceremonies held simultaneously at the Jamaican Mission to the United Nations and
the Cuban Embassy in Ottawa. Subsequently, as they achieved their independence
and joined the Caribbean family, the other CARICOM countries established full
diplomatic relations with Cuba as well.
This unquestionably brave political decision, adopted by small and newly
independent countries in a climate of hostility and enormous pressures, was a
fundamental step toward breaking the diplomatic and trade blockade on Cuba in
the region, and a breach in the isolation imposed on Cuba through the OAS. Our
country will never forget this noble gesture on the part of its Caribbean
brothers.
We Caribbean countries face the challenge of surviving and advancing in the
midst of the most profound economic, social and political crisis ever sustained
by our hemisphere and the world, as neoliberal globalization threatens to
destroy not only our right to development, but also our cultural diversity and
national identities. It is only through integration and cooperation, not only
among states but also among the various regional organizations and entities,
that our peoples can find a way out of this predicament.
This is crucial to counteract the adverse effects of an unfair and
discriminatory international system, which inflicts particular suffering on our
small and vulnerable countries. This is why we have so enthusiastically
supported the Association of Caribbean States from its very inception and are
working for the materialization of a Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement
between CARICOM and Cuba.
Our country supports, and always will, the right of small and vulnerable
countries to receive special and differential treatment in their access to trade
and investment; to receive additional financial resources, on concessionary
terms; and to have free access to clean and efficient technologies, under
suitable conditions.
Cuba will always oppose the plundering of Caribbean professionals, doctors,
nurses and teachers by the wealthy nations and reject the unbridled,
ostentatious consumerism of a small group of wealthy countries, which poison the
seas and the air thus posing a serious threat to life in our small island
states.
The issue we propose to address involves the main threats faced by the region
and the strong and concerted action required to tackle them.
We reaffirm our resolute and unwavering commitment to cooperating with our
Caribbean brothers. Our country is willing to share with them its modest
achievements.
Between 1961 and 2002, a total of 1085 students from the 14 countries of the
Caribbean Community have completed studies in Cuba in 33 different areas of
specialization, including 818 in higher education, and this number should and
will continue to grow year after year. Today, in fact, the doors of Cuba’s
higher education institutions are open to thousands of youths from the
Caribbean, including roughly a thousand medical school students, all studying
free of charge.
There are currently 1174 Cuban civilian workers providing their services in
CARICOM countries. Of these, 964 work in the health care sector, with over two
thirds of them donating their services as some of our sister nations would not
have the necessary economic resources to pay for these vital professional
services.
We are aware that under the leadership of CARICOM, the countries of the
region have adopted the "Caribbean Initiative to Fight HIV/AIDS".
Cuba is prepared to support this initiative with all of the scientific
knowledge and expertise acquired in its own fight against HIV/AIDS, in
accordance with the priorities defined in the regional strategy to confront this
fearsome and destructive plague.
Our country is prepared to contribute to this decisive and crucial effort
with one thousand health care workers, whose wages would be covered by our
government. These personnel could also contribute to the training of local
specialists and technicians in the sector.
We are also offering to provide the professors and technicians required for
the establishment --in a Caribbean country chosen by CARICOM-- of a technical
training school in nursing and other areas of medical sciences at this level.
Every year, up to 200 young people from all of the CARICOM countries could
attend this school and be specially trained to provide services to HIV/AIDS
patients.
We would also contribute, free of charge, no less than 30% of the total value
of the diagnostic equipment and kits produced in our country for the
establishment of SUMA laboratories, which facilitate wide-scale testing of the
population. This is an easily operated technology, designed in Cuba and
validated and used not only here but also in over 35 other countries.
Our cooperation would not only include installation and commissioning of the
equipment but also technical assistance and the training of local personnel in
the use of this technology. In the case of Haiti, considering its enormous
poverty, its large population and the high rate of infection, Cuba would be
prepared to share the costs with other donor countries by contributing up to 40%
of the total value of the diagnostic equipment and kits.
For such a project, which would truly make a difference for the Caribbean
peoples, it will be crucial to seek and obtain the support of international
organizations and countries with greater possibilities, especially with regard
to anti-retroviral drugs. Based on its experience and the major advances made in
their production, use and efficacy, Cuba could contribute to reducing the costs
of these drugs to a minimum and would do so at no profit whatsoever.
The Caribbean has fought with all its might for Cuba to be a member of the
Cotonou Convention. The Caribbean headed up the efforts that led the African,
Caribbean and Pacific Group of States to accept Cuba as an observer in the ACP
Group in 1998, and as a member country as of 2000.
However, other elements beyond the wishes of Cuba and the Caribbean obliged
our country to withdraw its application for membership, which Cuba had filed in
March 2002, mindful first and foremost of the Caribbean interest.
The situation has partly changed. Certain humiliating conditions have been
mildly tempered. Cuba, which has continued to receive repeated requests from the
ACP Group, and from the Caribbean in particular, to apply for membership in the
Cotonou Convention, and guided by its desire to even further strengthen its
relations and join in the destiny of its brothers in the Caribbean and the ACP
Group, would like to inform you, Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean,
of its decision to submit its application for membership in the Association
Agreement between the ACP States and the European Union, known as the Cotonou
Convention.
Cuba will be forever grateful to its Caribbean brothers for their steadfast
position of respect for and solidarity with our country. The most recent proof
of this being the vote of the entire Caribbean Community, with one voice and
without a single exception, at the United Nations General Assembly, against the
unjust and ruthless blockade against our country lasting almost 44 years, an
unheard of and fully unprecedented case in history.
Unity, dignity and rational and solidarity-based integration are the only
possible means to confront the common challenges of the globalized, unequal and
discriminatory world that threatens us all.
In the name of friendship and the historical, cultural, family and other ties
that unite us, I thank you all, dear brothers, for the immense honor you have
made us in accepting the invitation to celebrate the 30th anniversary
of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana
and Trinidad and Tobago and our own country, a beautiful gesture of solidarity
unprecedented in our hemisphere. The sons of Cuba are and always will be
entirely at your disposal, noble and selfless Caribbean compatriots.
Allow me to reaffirm, on behalf of our noble and heroic people, that the
Caribbean will always be able to count on the eternal friendship, generosity and
appreciation as well as the full support of its Cuban brothers.
Thank you very much.
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