This December 8 marked the 47th anniversary of the establishment of relations between Cuba and the nations of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), giving a rightful place to the close geographical, historical and cultural unity shared by our peoples for several centuries.
“The small nations of the Caribbean, with their honorable, sovereign policies, were pioneers in opening their arms to Cuba when the empire demanded isolating us,” the President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel, tweeted, recalling December 8, 1972, when Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago – the four independent countries of Caricom at that time – established diplomatic relations with our country.
That historic, courageous act strengthened fraternal ties with Caribbean states, which have been preserved to date. Today, Cuba and Caricom countries maintain excellent relations of brotherhood, solidarity and cooperation in multiple spheres, an example of relations between small, developing countries. Our nation has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to its Caribbean neighbors in the face of common challenges. In this regard, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, at the Sixth Caricom-Cuba Summit, held in Antigua and Barbuda, stated, “The Caribbean will always be able to count on Cuba’s eternal friendship, gratitude and support”.
Cuba-Caricom relations:
- The ties that unite Cuba and the Caribbean are based on the principles of solidarity, friendship, brotherhood, gratitude and full support for the Caribbean, established by the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz.
- Today Cuba has diplomatic missions in the 14 member states of Caricom and they are all represented in Havana. Cuba is accredited to Caricom, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, and the Association of Caribbean States.
- Cuba is the only Latin American country where all Caribbean countries are represented with their own diplomatic missions.
- The main areas of cooperation include health, education, human resources training, sport, culture, construction, agriculture, among other sectors.
- Cuba reiterates its gratitude to the Caricom countries for continuing to demand the lifting of the blockade imposed by the United States on our country and support for the United Nations resolution against this genocidal policy.
(Source:Minrex)