St. John’s, February 5, 2015. The Ambassador of Cuba, His Excellency Mr. Gustavo Veliz Olivares, was received on the afternoon of Thursday by the Speaker of the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Gerald Watt Q C.
The Antiguan parliamentarian received a New Year’s postcard greeting from the Ambassador that was sent by the President of the National Assembly of the People’s Power, Esteban Lazo Hernández. Sir Gerald was grateful for the gesture and expressed his interest in the current development of the Cuban reality and the process of standardization of relations between Cuba and the USA. He also emphasized that Cuba is a country that is admired by everyone in Antigua and Barbuda; from the solid contributions materialized in the scholarships offered for training of specialists in Cuba, as well as advice and cooperation provided in medicine and other fields.
During the conversation, the Cuban Ambassador updated the parliamentarian and lawyer by profession, about the impact of the blockade on Cuba, which he explained still persists and affects the life of the Cuban people via the Helms-Burton Act and other laws and measures implemented by the Government and the Congress of the United States. The diplomat expanded on the operations of the People’s Power, elections in Cuba and the local bodies of government among other issues.
Sir Gerald Watt occupied the position of Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament in June 2014, after elections that gave victory to the current Government of the ABLP.