The Honorable Steve Blackett, Barbados acting chancellor, presided over the official delegation and said the words on behalf of his Government at the Reception by the 56th Anniversary of the Triumph of the Revolution and the 162 anniversary of the birth of our national hero, José Martí, activity attended by more than a hundred people from diverse sectors of Barbadian society, among government politicians and opposition parliamentarians, businessmen, artists and intellectuals, diplomats, consular and agencies and CARICOM UN accredited in Barbados, as well as managers and members of the various member organizations of Barbadians Solidarity Movement and the community of Cuban residents in the country.
The Chancellor highlighted the excellent bilateral relations friendship and determination expressed by the Cuban government during the recently concluded CARICOM-Cuba Summit to increase cooperation with its sister Caribbean nations, as part of which highlights financing two projects impact on region, as a regional school of arts and stimulation center especially children and youth with disabilities. It also highlighted the presence of Cuba in his fraternal collaboration with Barbados in several areas such as health, education, culture and sport. By ratifying the historical position of fraternal support of Barbados to develop bilateral ties, welcomed the decision of the Presidents of Cuba and the US to restore diplomatic relations, a fact that the entire subregion want for its positive perspectives and in particular for the Cuban people, which has faced more than 50 years of blockade.
The Cuban Ambassador, Francisco Fernandez, took on the historical sentence of Commander in Chief, Fidel Castro, defining the concept of revolution, to characterize the great work that now passes his victorious 57th Anniversary. He exalted as a special reason for this celebration the return of the Cuban Five to the homeland and to the bosom of their family, an event that has filled with endless popular jubilation to the island; in that context, he recognized the support offered by Barbadians friends as part of sustained international solidarity for release, most of them present in this celebration.
Citing the importance of National Hero, Ambassador highlighted several episodes of Marti's work related to politics, society and Caribbean culture, and read one of his Simple Verses evoking a dramatic moment lived by Marti at age 9 old who marked his life, related to slavery in the cane fields, common in much of the Caribbean region.
Among the personalities who attended, are highlighted by the Government, accompanying the acting Chancellor, Deputy Foreign Minister Simone Rudder, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's office, Sonja Welch, and the Director of Protocol, St Philip Gil. For the opposition, Sen. Mia Mottley, BLP leader, and parliamentary Trevor Prescod, among other relevant personalities of Barbadian civil society.