Your Excellency President Fidel Castro
Colleague Heads of Government
Ministers of Government of Cuba and of CARICOM
Secretary General of the Caribbean Community
Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States
Distinguished Ambassadors
Specially invited guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
On behalf of the Governments and people of the Caribbean Community, I extent warm and sincere greetings to you, President Castro, and to the Government and indomitable people of Cuba. Thank you for your gracious remarks. We are indeed delighted to be here in Cuba at your invitation, which was readily accepted since Cuba is a neighbour, a true friend and a brother. We have admired your courage and that of the Cuban people in the face of great adversity as you work to build a better society.
We have just returned from paying tribute to the memory of your country’s national hero, Jose Marti. We hail him as a true Caribbean integrationist whose laudable ideals and admirable vision preceded us and influenced our continuing efforts towards integration.
Today, we meet to remember and to celebrate the firth of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba thirty years ago. This act must certainly rank among the significant milestones in the evolution of the Caribbean. Throughout these three decades, its remarkable significance has not faded.
That single symbolic act connected the historical roots that extend throughout this Region. It acknowledged and expressed geographic accuracy, reaffirmed cultural unity, admitted the political reality and underlined our commitment to work harmoniously together to bring economic and social progress to our peoples.
Today we note with satisfaction the unrivalled mutual benefits that have flowed to our countries and peoples through these relations. Excellency, in many areas of human endeavour, Cuba has been unstinting in making available and transferring its technological insights and scientific discoveries to our developing economies and to the benefit of our peoples.
Further, the ambassadors of the rich and vibrant deposits of Afro-Cuban culture with its Latin flavour have regularly crossed the Caribbean Sea, and we in turn have superseded the artificial barrier of language to discover our common roots and our rich heritage. Permanently etched in our memories is the captivating and serenading rendition of “Guantanamera” performed by the Cuban troupe that journeyed to Georgetown for the first Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts (CARIFESTA), also thirty years ago.
Excellency, phenomenal improvements have occurred in the health care of the peoples of the Caribbean since our independence. We acknowledge that Cuba, with no comparable equal, deserves credit for helping to catapult forward our health systems through a constant inflow of competent Cuban health professionals, and additionally through the provision of generous scholarship programmes for CARICOM nationals to the now renowned educational institutions of your country. I offer the sincere gratitude of the Caribbean people.
These relations have not been cosmetic, unilateral, or merely for the satisfaction of conventions. In global fora, our history and our realities have often made for the pursuit of identical goals. Whether it was the liberation of oppressed peoples; South/South cooperation; the Non-Aligned Movement; the Group of 77 and China; the United Nations; and even in those organisations in which Cuba continues to be unfairly denied its place, the concurrence of our views and actions has been mutually reinforcing.
Excellency, the Caribbean Community, with its modest resources but formidable diplomatic and intellectual endowment, has zealously agitated regionally and globally for policies that are non-discriminatory and fair. As small developing states we continue to call for special and differential treatment for our economies and for our exports. The numerous trade negotiations are placing strains on our meagre economic resources. The rapid changes in trade policies and regulations which reduce access and prices for our products, are creating greater poverty and social dislocation. Before we are able to adjust to one wave of change, our shores are mercilessly pounded by other more severe waves of change.
Consequently, our support for the role of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery must be intensified. Cuba’s contribution to the work of the Regional Negotiating Machinery is highly commendably and its support has been unwavering.
The support of the Caribbean Community for Cuba has not faltered over these years. In 1994 we insisted that there could not be an Association of Caribbean States that omits Cuba. Similarly, at the Third Summit of the Americas the Caribbean Community again called for Cuba to be fully engaged as a member of the hemispheric community. Further, we remain committed in support of Cuba’s desire to accede to the Cotonou Agreement.
It is our realistic expectation that a way will be found for the normalisation of US/Cuba relations. That long-awaited act will mend the last issue of fragmentation in our hemisphere. The United States of America is a powerful and dynamic nation. The Republic of Cuba has, within its capability, made enduring contributions to our Region and the world. The trade embargo imposed by the US is anachronistic in this era of globalisation and trade liberalisation and should be removed. Ways must be found for the two countries to work together to normalise their relations for the benefit of the peoples of both countries. The Caribbean Community will continue to urge the normalisation of Cuba/US relations.
Excellencies, thirty years is a significant milestone by any measure. And while we are justly nostalgic that our foresight and courage have been rewarded in mutually satisfactory ways, we must look to the future. We must embrace change and find ways to adapt to the new realities to ensure the survival and prosperity of our peoples. We must find new and unexplored sectors for co-operation and collaboration. We believe there is room for expanded intra-Caribbean trade and opportunities for collaboration to safeguard our economies and the future of our peoples in the era of globalisation with its attendant challenges.
Through our efforts and example we will make a case and struggle for a world that accepts plurality and has room for small states allowing them to survive and provide a satisfactory life for their peoples.
The CARICOM/Cuba Joint Commission continues to foster collaboration in trade, tourism, disaster management, meteorology, environment, human resources and technical cooperation. The CARICOM Technical and Economic Agreement with Cuba provides and excellent framework for the expansion of our trade relations. Our resolve must be demonstrated in ratifying and making it operational expeditiously.
Excellency, already Cuba participates in selective organs of CARICOM. We should work towards transforming our economies through the application of science and technology, and further support efforts to develop our human resources. Beyond concluded trade agreements we should advance to the conclusion of other agreements, including agreements on double taxation and the protection of investments. Greater levels of integration of our economies would take us further along the path towards a fully integrated Region.
The Caribbean Community applauds the fortitude of Cuba and is impressed by the adaptive measures being adopted to ensure the continued progress of the Cuban people. We declare our commitment and pledge our support to the continued fraternal and harmonious relations between Cuba and the Caribbean Community.
In closing, Your Excellency, I wish on behalf of my Colleague Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community to thank you most sincerely for the generosity and kind hospitality accorded to us by the Government and people of Cuba.
