Belmopan, August 19, 2025. In a ceremony presided over by Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Culture, and Immigration of Belize, the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Belize was commemorated.
In her introduction to the event, Ambassador Amalia Mai, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our governments and peoples, which have contributed to strengthening our bilateral relations. She referred to her experience as Belize's first Ambassador to Cuba.
In hir remarks, Minister Fonseca stated that Cuba has been a valuable partner in Belize's national development, especially in the areas of health, education, sustainable development, disaster risk management, and various areas of technical cooperation.
The Minister reiterated Belize's support for the lifting of the US blockade against Cuba and the removal of Cuba from the list of alleged state sponsors of terrorism; and reaffirmed Belize's commitment to strengthening the ties of friendship and collaboration with the Government and people of Cuba, in a spirit of solidarity and shared progress.
The Cuban Ambassador, María Caridad Balaguer Labrada, referred to the cooperation between the two nations in various areas. She highlighted the presence of Cuban medical collaboration in Belize for 34 years, which, together with their Belizean colleagues, has provided services to the people of that sister nation. She also highlighted the professional training in Cuba of more than 250 young Belizeans in the areas of health, sports, technical sciences, social sciences, and pedagogical sciences, among others, which has contributed to strengthening the bonds of brotherhood between the two peoples.
The Cuban ambassador thanked Belize for its support in lifting the US blockade and for calling on the US government to remove Cuba from the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism. She also highlighted the excellent relations between our two nations, based on respect, mutual cooperation, friendship, and solidarity.
As part of the event, four paints by Cuban artist Fernando Reyna, a resident of Belize, were exhibited, and the Belizean musician Alexander Evans delighted attendees with his steel pan.
The ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Belize Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was also attended by the Minister of Health and Wellness, Kevin Bernard; Ambassador Lou-Anne Burns Martínez, who recently completed her mission to Cuba; the Ambassador-designate to our country, Dr. Perlita Aldana; as well as government officials from different institutions and members of the diplomatic corps accredited in the country. (Embacuba Belize)