Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez highlighted the celebration of Cuba-CARICOM Day, marking the 53rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Barbados.

Havana, Cuba.- On social media, the top Cuban diplomat reaffirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening and further leveraging cooperation across the region, based on shared history and Caribbean brotherhood.

Prime Ministers Errol Barrow (Barbados), Michael Manley (Jamaica), Eric Williams (Trinidad and Tobago), and Forbes Burnham (Guyana), meeting at the Conference of Heads of Government in Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago, in 1972, announced to the world their sovereign decision to establish relations with Cuba.

This decision, made in the early years of these states’ independence, not only challenged the prevailing hemispheric policy of the time but also laid the foundation for diplomatic and cooperative relations between CARICOM and Cuba.

As a result of the organization’s first summit in Havana in 2002, it was agreed that December 8 would be designated as Cuba-CARICOM Day.

Cuba's ties with the rest of the Caribbean have strengthened over the years, reflected in collaboration in health, education, disaster response, and the joint defense of interests in international forums. (PL)