SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba, Dec 9 (acn) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) granted its Honorary Order to the leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro for his unconditional support towards regional progress and wellbeing.
President Raul Castro received the decoration on behalf of Fidel during the closing session of the Third Cuba-CARICOM Summit that took place Monday at the Melia-Santiago Hotel in Santiago de Cuba.
Raul thanked the Caribbean leaders for their gesture calling it “an act that commits us even further with our loyalty and appreciation of our Caribbean heritage and roots.”
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister and CARICOM temporary President Baldwin Spencer spoke about Fidel Castro's passionate role and sacrifice during an entire life dedicated to serving his country, the region and the rest of the developing world.
CARICOM’s Honorary Order is given to persons who have made exceptional contributions to the region. Spencer noted how over the years Fidel has cultivated and promoted strong ties with CARICOM, based on friendship, goodwill, and mutual respect and solidarity.
Spencer also highlighted the revolutionary leader's systematic work, and said "Cuba is a real friend."
CARICOM confiere Orden Honoraria a Fidel Castro
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta CARICOM. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta CARICOM. Mostrar todas las entradas
miércoles, 10 de diciembre de 2008
Raul Castro: Cuba Will Meet Its Commitments to Fellow Nations
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba, Dec 8 (acn) Cuba will not give up nor abandon its commitments to its fellow nations, said Cuban President Raul Castro when inaugurating the Third Cuba-CARICOM Summit in this city.
Raul Castro told the Caribbean leaders attending the meeting that Cuba will overcome the US economic blockade, the effects of the world financial crises and the impact of three hurricanes, continuing with its efforts towards integration and finding new means of cooperation.
As part of this, the Cuban president referred to the 480 scholarships that will be offered for university studies in the coming year to the countries of the region. Of them, 150 are for medical schools, explained Raul Castro. He also highlighted the continuity of programs for health assistance, including the Operation Miracle eye-surgery project.
Since 2005, more than 56,000 people improved or fully recovered their sight (through Operation Miracle), noted Raul Castro and added that the figure of people benefiting from the eye-care project will increase still more with the opening of three more eye clinics in Guyana, Saint Lucia and Jamaica.
Meanwhile, over the past three years, more than 1,300 Caribbean students have graduated in Cuba from 33 university or technical school courses and 567 from medical institutions.
Today, more than 2,900 people from the Caribbean are currently studying in Cuba, of them 1,478 are being trained as doctors, said the Cuban leader.
Raul reaffirmed the Cuban stance in favour of regional integration and pointed out that every single project, program, exchange of skilled labour, technology transfer, educational or health initiatives led by Cuba is a new step towards integration.
In his speech, Raul Castro also spoke about the importance of the Summit taking into account the economic uncertainty generated worldwide as a result of failed neo-liberal policies and a serious world crisis, "whose scope and circumstances are yet to be predicted," he noted.
The first step to face such crises, he said, would be taking actions to reduce oil consumption as much as possible at a time that renewable and clean fuel sources are being searched for, and on which Cuba has been seriously working.
The Cuban president repeated the official welcome to the participants in the summit on behalf of the Cuban people and especially those from Santiago de Cuba, the host city, and the rest of the eastern provinces. He passed on a message of greetings from Fidel Castro, whom Raul said was the main promoter of the unity among "our peoples."
During the opening ceremony, it was announced that CARICOM's highest award, the Order of Honour of the Caribbean Community had been bestowed on Fidel Castro, the first such honour granted to a non-CARICOM leader.
Raúl: cuba cumplirá sus compromisos con pueblos hermanos
Raul Castro told the Caribbean leaders attending the meeting that Cuba will overcome the US economic blockade, the effects of the world financial crises and the impact of three hurricanes, continuing with its efforts towards integration and finding new means of cooperation.
As part of this, the Cuban president referred to the 480 scholarships that will be offered for university studies in the coming year to the countries of the region. Of them, 150 are for medical schools, explained Raul Castro. He also highlighted the continuity of programs for health assistance, including the Operation Miracle eye-surgery project.
Since 2005, more than 56,000 people improved or fully recovered their sight (through Operation Miracle), noted Raul Castro and added that the figure of people benefiting from the eye-care project will increase still more with the opening of three more eye clinics in Guyana, Saint Lucia and Jamaica.
Meanwhile, over the past three years, more than 1,300 Caribbean students have graduated in Cuba from 33 university or technical school courses and 567 from medical institutions.
Today, more than 2,900 people from the Caribbean are currently studying in Cuba, of them 1,478 are being trained as doctors, said the Cuban leader.
Raul reaffirmed the Cuban stance in favour of regional integration and pointed out that every single project, program, exchange of skilled labour, technology transfer, educational or health initiatives led by Cuba is a new step towards integration.
In his speech, Raul Castro also spoke about the importance of the Summit taking into account the economic uncertainty generated worldwide as a result of failed neo-liberal policies and a serious world crisis, "whose scope and circumstances are yet to be predicted," he noted.
The first step to face such crises, he said, would be taking actions to reduce oil consumption as much as possible at a time that renewable and clean fuel sources are being searched for, and on which Cuba has been seriously working.
The Cuban president repeated the official welcome to the participants in the summit on behalf of the Cuban people and especially those from Santiago de Cuba, the host city, and the rest of the eastern provinces. He passed on a message of greetings from Fidel Castro, whom Raul said was the main promoter of the unity among "our peoples."
During the opening ceremony, it was announced that CARICOM's highest award, the Order of Honour of the Caribbean Community had been bestowed on Fidel Castro, the first such honour granted to a non-CARICOM leader.
Raúl: cuba cumplirá sus compromisos con pueblos hermanos
CARICOM Condemns Economic Blockade of Cuba
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba, Dec 8 (acn) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) today condemned the US economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba and hopes that the new US administration puts aside such an economic warlike policy.
A surprising cold war relic still subsists, said Baldwin Spencer, who is the pro-tempore president of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community during the Cuba-CARICOM Summit, underway in this eastern Cuban city.
Spencer, who is also Antigua-Barbuda’s Prime Minister, recalled that today’s world is quite different from that of the 1970´s, while Washington maintains its blockade of Cuba although the overwhelming majority of UN member nations have voted against the US measure.
The Caribbean Community hopes that the ongoing changes in the United States definitely make the US measure a past chapter, said Baldwin.
Cuban President Raul Castro previously gave the opening speech at the event’s inaugural session and affirmed that Cuba will honor its commitment to its sister nations by going ahead with its integration efforts in new cooperation ways.
On behalf of the rest of Caribbean leaders, Baldwin acknowledged the role played by Cuba as Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement in the 2006-2009 period of time. He extended his gratefulness to Cuba for its assistance in the fields of health and education.
CARICOM countries are being benefited by the work of highly skilled personnel in the fields of engineering, agriculture, medicine, sports and arts; those professionals are helping develop capacities in each nation, he said.
Baldwin Spencer stated forth the position of the CARICOM on the need to produce changes in the international financial system and that the United Nations should play a leading role in the issues related to world economic management.
He favored to the establishing a true international monetary reserve system, which avoids the dependence of the countries on the national currencies to keep their reserves.
Spencer also requested Cuba’s support of a petition of a international financial system aimed at the foreign debt management so that it allows for a wider debate space for vulnerable economies, like those of small island states that make up CARICOM.
Baldwin Spencer also reiterated CARICOM´s willingness to take new steps towards regional integration and sent a solidarity message to the Cuban people affected by recent hurricanes that recently hard hit Cuba. The pro-tempore CARICOM president announced that Cuban Revolution Leader Fidel Castro would be granted the Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC).
Fidel has proved that Cuba is and continues to be a true friend, said Specncer as he said that the OCC is a public acknowledgement to Fidel for his support of the economic and social development of the Caribbean Community.
Comunidad del Caribe condenó bloqueo yanqui a Cuba
A surprising cold war relic still subsists, said Baldwin Spencer, who is the pro-tempore president of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community during the Cuba-CARICOM Summit, underway in this eastern Cuban city.
Spencer, who is also Antigua-Barbuda’s Prime Minister, recalled that today’s world is quite different from that of the 1970´s, while Washington maintains its blockade of Cuba although the overwhelming majority of UN member nations have voted against the US measure.
The Caribbean Community hopes that the ongoing changes in the United States definitely make the US measure a past chapter, said Baldwin.
Cuban President Raul Castro previously gave the opening speech at the event’s inaugural session and affirmed that Cuba will honor its commitment to its sister nations by going ahead with its integration efforts in new cooperation ways.
On behalf of the rest of Caribbean leaders, Baldwin acknowledged the role played by Cuba as Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement in the 2006-2009 period of time. He extended his gratefulness to Cuba for its assistance in the fields of health and education.
CARICOM countries are being benefited by the work of highly skilled personnel in the fields of engineering, agriculture, medicine, sports and arts; those professionals are helping develop capacities in each nation, he said.
Baldwin Spencer stated forth the position of the CARICOM on the need to produce changes in the international financial system and that the United Nations should play a leading role in the issues related to world economic management.
He favored to the establishing a true international monetary reserve system, which avoids the dependence of the countries on the national currencies to keep their reserves.
Spencer also requested Cuba’s support of a petition of a international financial system aimed at the foreign debt management so that it allows for a wider debate space for vulnerable economies, like those of small island states that make up CARICOM.
Baldwin Spencer also reiterated CARICOM´s willingness to take new steps towards regional integration and sent a solidarity message to the Cuban people affected by recent hurricanes that recently hard hit Cuba. The pro-tempore CARICOM president announced that Cuban Revolution Leader Fidel Castro would be granted the Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC).
Fidel has proved that Cuba is and continues to be a true friend, said Specncer as he said that the OCC is a public acknowledgement to Fidel for his support of the economic and social development of the Caribbean Community.
Comunidad del Caribe condenó bloqueo yanqui a Cuba
lunes, 8 de diciembre de 2008
Raul Castro Opens Cuba-CARICOM Summit
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba, Dec 8 (acn) Cuban President Raul Castro officially opened the 3rd Cuba-CARICOM Summit on Monday morning at the Hotel Santiago in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba.
The meeting is taking place with the participation of the heads of state and government from the 15 member countries of the regional bloc and representatives from the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), who will analyze joint projects and ways to increase cooperation as well as actions to face the current international financial crisis and recession, among other aspects.
The opening session of the event includes speeches by Raul Castro and also by Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and pro-tempore president of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM; and Edwin Spencer, General Secretary of this bloc.
CARICOM is comprised of the independent states of Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Surinam, and Trinidad & Tobago.
Also part of the bloc is Montserrat while the Virgin Islands is an associated state. Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Mexico, Venezuela, Aruba, Colombia, the Ditch Antilles, Bermudas, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico are observers.
At the end of the meeting, participants will approve the Declaration of Santiago de Cuba as the final document of the event and also a Special Declaration on the Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development scheduled for Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, on December 16-17.
Raúl declara abierta III Cumbre cubano caribeña
The meeting is taking place with the participation of the heads of state and government from the 15 member countries of the regional bloc and representatives from the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), who will analyze joint projects and ways to increase cooperation as well as actions to face the current international financial crisis and recession, among other aspects.
The opening session of the event includes speeches by Raul Castro and also by Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and pro-tempore president of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM; and Edwin Spencer, General Secretary of this bloc.
CARICOM is comprised of the independent states of Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Surinam, and Trinidad & Tobago.
Also part of the bloc is Montserrat while the Virgin Islands is an associated state. Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Mexico, Venezuela, Aruba, Colombia, the Ditch Antilles, Bermudas, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico are observers.
At the end of the meeting, participants will approve the Declaration of Santiago de Cuba as the final document of the event and also a Special Declaration on the Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development scheduled for Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, on December 16-17.
Raúl declara abierta III Cumbre cubano caribeña
Raul Castro Welcomes CARICOM Leaders
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba, Dec 8 (acn) Following is the key address by Cuban President Raul Castro during the welcoming ceremony of the heads of state and government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) that will participate in the 3rd Cuba-CARICOM Summit that opens its sessions on Monday in Santiago de Cuba.
“Your Excellencies Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community:
“Dear guests:
“On the eve of the 3rd Cuba-CARICOM Summit, I wish to extend to you a cordial welcome to our homeland and to convey warm greetings from comrade Fidel.
“It will be 36 years tomorrow to the day when four Caribbean nations took the daring step of establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba. That seminal event was one of historic and strategic dimension to us.
“It marked the onset of Cuba’s formal relations with the future members of CARICOM and the beginning of bonds of brotherhood and friendship which have successfully passed the test of time.
“It is worthwhile recalling the historic context of that event. At the time when diplomatic relations were simultaneously signed with Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago, Cuba was diplomatically isolated from the continent. Even if we had close links with almost all of the peoples in the hemisphere, we only had diplomatic relations with Mexico, Chile, Peru and Canada. Actually, under US pressure, most governments in the region had severed their relations with Cuba.
“Today, reality is different. Cuba has full diplomatic relations with 30 of the 32 Latin American and Caribbean nations. We have come a long way from the time when it was possible to isolate Cuba. The governments of those four nations, and their leaders, made a significant contribution to the region we all share.
“Therefore, I wish to avail myself of this moment of friendship and fraternity among the Caribbean peoples, to pay tribute to that event that took place on December 8, 1972, which gave way to a transcendental chapter in the history of Cuba and the Caribbean. Let’s pay tribute to the memory of Errol Barrow, Michael Manley, Forbes Burnham and Eric Williams.
“Let’s celebrate the CUBA-CARICOM Day!
“Thank you”
Palabras de bienvenida de Raúl a integrantes de CARICOM
“Your Excellencies Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community:
“Dear guests:
“On the eve of the 3rd Cuba-CARICOM Summit, I wish to extend to you a cordial welcome to our homeland and to convey warm greetings from comrade Fidel.
“It will be 36 years tomorrow to the day when four Caribbean nations took the daring step of establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba. That seminal event was one of historic and strategic dimension to us.
“It marked the onset of Cuba’s formal relations with the future members of CARICOM and the beginning of bonds of brotherhood and friendship which have successfully passed the test of time.
“It is worthwhile recalling the historic context of that event. At the time when diplomatic relations were simultaneously signed with Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago, Cuba was diplomatically isolated from the continent. Even if we had close links with almost all of the peoples in the hemisphere, we only had diplomatic relations with Mexico, Chile, Peru and Canada. Actually, under US pressure, most governments in the region had severed their relations with Cuba.
“Today, reality is different. Cuba has full diplomatic relations with 30 of the 32 Latin American and Caribbean nations. We have come a long way from the time when it was possible to isolate Cuba. The governments of those four nations, and their leaders, made a significant contribution to the region we all share.
“Therefore, I wish to avail myself of this moment of friendship and fraternity among the Caribbean peoples, to pay tribute to that event that took place on December 8, 1972, which gave way to a transcendental chapter in the history of Cuba and the Caribbean. Let’s pay tribute to the memory of Errol Barrow, Michael Manley, Forbes Burnham and Eric Williams.
“Let’s celebrate the CUBA-CARICOM Day!
“Thank you”
Palabras de bienvenida de Raúl a integrantes de CARICOM
Cuba-CARICOM Summit Begins on Monday in Santiago
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba, Dec 8 (acn) Heads of state and government from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba are in Santiago de Cuba to participate in the 3rd Cuba-CARICOM Summit that begins there on Monday under the slogan ‘Cooperation for Integration’.
Some of the topics to be discussed during the event include the current international financial crisis and economic recession, as well as the strengthening of ties towards regional integration.
The official opening ceremony of the meeting takes place at 9:00 a.m. with speeches by the host delegation; Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and pro-tempore president of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM; and Edwin Spencer, General Secretary of this bloc.
According to the program of the event, the aspects to be discussed during the first part of the summit are: “The Environmental, Food, Energy and Financial Crisis and its Impact on the Caribbean” and “Cuba and CARICOM prior to the Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development.”
Meanwhile, the second part of the event will focus on “Cooperation between Cuba and CARICOM: Current Situation and Prospects”, which will be followed by the approval of the Declaration of Santiago de Cuba as the final document of the summit.
There will also be a Special Declaration on the Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and development scheduled for Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, on December 16-17.
On Sunday, President Raul Castro and the CARICOM leaders paid tribute to Cuban National Hero Jose Marti and Independence Hero Antonio Maceo.
Comienza hoy Cumbre Cuba-Comunidad del Caribe
Some of the topics to be discussed during the event include the current international financial crisis and economic recession, as well as the strengthening of ties towards regional integration.
The official opening ceremony of the meeting takes place at 9:00 a.m. with speeches by the host delegation; Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and pro-tempore president of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM; and Edwin Spencer, General Secretary of this bloc.
According to the program of the event, the aspects to be discussed during the first part of the summit are: “The Environmental, Food, Energy and Financial Crisis and its Impact on the Caribbean” and “Cuba and CARICOM prior to the Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development.”
Meanwhile, the second part of the event will focus on “Cooperation between Cuba and CARICOM: Current Situation and Prospects”, which will be followed by the approval of the Declaration of Santiago de Cuba as the final document of the summit.
There will also be a Special Declaration on the Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and development scheduled for Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, on December 16-17.
On Sunday, President Raul Castro and the CARICOM leaders paid tribute to Cuban National Hero Jose Marti and Independence Hero Antonio Maceo.
Comienza hoy Cumbre Cuba-Comunidad del Caribe
Trinidad-Tobago’s Patrick Manning Highlights Cuba-CARICOM Links
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba, Dec 7 (acn) Trinidad-Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning underscored the excellent relations between Cuba and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the importance of the 3rd Summit of the regional bloc, which begins Monday in this eastern Cuban city.
CARICOM countries consider relations with Cuba of high importance and they expect that such links will expand; the 3rd Summit offers one more opportunity in that direction, said Manning upon his arrival in Santiago de Cuba.
The T&T Prime Minister sent greetings to Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro and said he would like to welcome President Raul Castro in his country. He added that the summit is important not only because of its agenda, but also due to the moment and the place it takes place under the slogan Cooperation for Integration.
As to the world financial crisis, the first topic to be discussed by the CARICOM leaders, Prime Minister Manning said that it will be important to learn about the position of the rest of the heads of state and government on the subject and the joint actions to be taken in order to face its consequences.
He said today’s discussions focus on the time the economic recession may last; some say it will take up to two years, other say less than that, but he stressed that you can not know how long it will really take, so a consensus is important to achieve.
Manning explained that many of his country’s export products, such as ammonia, urea, ethanol, iron and steel, have seen their prices fall, which has hit Trinidadian economy, while on the other hand credit lines have been reduced, thus having an impact on development programs.
Trinidad-Tobago is a group of islands with 5,128 square kilometers and a population of 1,290 000 inhabitants. It was one of the first four Caribbean nations to establish relations with Cuba on December 8, 1972; in that respect Manning stressed the good development of bilateral relations particularly in the sector of health care.
The Trinidadian PM also underscored the importance of the Summit to find consensus towards the upcoming Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development, to take place next December 16 and 17 in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil.
He also said that all the meetings of this kind are decisive towards the 5th Summit of the Americas, slated for April 2009 in the Trinidadian capital Port of Spain, an event in which Caribbean nations are to show common positions on crucial issues for the continent and for the rest of the world, he concluded.
Mandatario de Trinidad y Tobago destaca vínculos con Cuba
CARICOM countries consider relations with Cuba of high importance and they expect that such links will expand; the 3rd Summit offers one more opportunity in that direction, said Manning upon his arrival in Santiago de Cuba.
The T&T Prime Minister sent greetings to Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro and said he would like to welcome President Raul Castro in his country. He added that the summit is important not only because of its agenda, but also due to the moment and the place it takes place under the slogan Cooperation for Integration.
As to the world financial crisis, the first topic to be discussed by the CARICOM leaders, Prime Minister Manning said that it will be important to learn about the position of the rest of the heads of state and government on the subject and the joint actions to be taken in order to face its consequences.
He said today’s discussions focus on the time the economic recession may last; some say it will take up to two years, other say less than that, but he stressed that you can not know how long it will really take, so a consensus is important to achieve.
Manning explained that many of his country’s export products, such as ammonia, urea, ethanol, iron and steel, have seen their prices fall, which has hit Trinidadian economy, while on the other hand credit lines have been reduced, thus having an impact on development programs.
Trinidad-Tobago is a group of islands with 5,128 square kilometers and a population of 1,290 000 inhabitants. It was one of the first four Caribbean nations to establish relations with Cuba on December 8, 1972; in that respect Manning stressed the good development of bilateral relations particularly in the sector of health care.
The Trinidadian PM also underscored the importance of the Summit to find consensus towards the upcoming Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development, to take place next December 16 and 17 in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil.
He also said that all the meetings of this kind are decisive towards the 5th Summit of the Americas, slated for April 2009 in the Trinidadian capital Port of Spain, an event in which Caribbean nations are to show common positions on crucial issues for the continent and for the rest of the world, he concluded.
Mandatario de Trinidad y Tobago destaca vínculos con Cuba
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