Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba are celebrating 53 years of diplomatic ties.
At a CARICOM-Cuba Day event, officials highlighted the enduring partnership and its impacts in the region.
Speaking at the 53rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago on Monday, Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Wilfred Morris reflected on the history of the momentous day.
“Since that time our relationship with Cuba has grown from strength to strength, exemplified in 1996 by the establishment of the Cuban Embassy in Port of Spain, followed in 2007 by the opening of Trinidad and Tobago’s Embassy in Havana and a Trade Facilitation Office. These diplomatic channels have given birth to numerous commercial and technical cooperation initiatives.”
Cuban Ambassador Gustavo Daniel Veliz Olivares emphasised that this historic decision helped break Cuba’s diplomatic isolation. He stressed that the relationship between the nations goes far beyond symbolism, reflecting deep and enduring ties.
“I am proud to state that Cuban doctors remained in Trinidad and Tobago even during the most difficult moment of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, 95 health professionals, Cuban health professionals, continue to serve in this nation.”
Acting Executive Director of the National Library and Information System Authority, Dr. Beverly Williams, noted that despite the union’s potential to carry a tremendous political weight, the regional nations still forged ahead and paved a working relationship of respect.
“Their decision paved the way for more than 50 years of mutual respect and collaboration in education, health care, culture, disaster preparedness, and people-to-people exchanges.”
Mr. Olivares noted that since 1999 Cuba’s Latin American School of Medicine in Havana has trained over 6,000 Caribbean students.