With a keynote address given on May 30 by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves, the day of celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was closed at Kingstown.
Cuban Ambassador Vilma Reyes Valdespino greeted those present including Frederick Stephenson, Minister of National Mobilization, Social Development, Family, Gender Issues, People with Disabilities and Youth; Sandy Peters-Philips, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Reynold Hadaway, Chief of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police, René Baptiste, President of the OECS Parliamentary Assembly and President of the Association of Artists, Producers and Writers of SVG; Hans King, Press Secretary and spokesperson for the Prime Minister, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Desiree Richards, Director of the "Vincentian" Newspaper, as well as representatives of other mass media.
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves made a brilliant dissertation on the history of the ties between Cuba and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the national and regional political moment in which the diplomatic relations were formalized, the first bilateral steps, the opening of the embassies in the respective countries and the beginning of the cooperation programs.
Dr. Ralph Gonsalves recalled the figure and leadership of Fidel, and also his first visit to Cuba and referred to the rest of his travels to the largest Island of the Antilles.
He emphasized the principles that underpin the relations of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with Cuba, as well as the firm, determined and indispensable support of his country to the Cuban Revolution.
The activity, which included the screening of a film produced by the Public Information Agency (A.P.I) on Cuba-SVG relations, ended with a question-and-answer session, which had a lively participation by those present.