One week after a Cuban delegation visited Grenada, Prime Minister Hon Dickon Mitchell travelled to Cuba to participate in and deliver his maiden address at the XXII ALBA-TCP Summit.
At the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of our America – Peoples Trade Treaty (ALBATCP) summit, the prime minister implored upon his regional colleagues to partner in boosting regional development and trade. This is needed in the region, as countries are impacted by inflation, disrupted supply chains and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The vision that presidents Fidel Castro Ruz and Hugo Chávez Frías held for “Our America” is still within reach—a self-reliant region built on mutual respect and the principles of solidarity, cooperation and economic complementarity. Together, we have the potential to drive our own development through strategic partnerships and the reorientation of our trading patterns towards greater intraregional exchanges,” he told the gathering that is focused on the political and economic integration of Caribbean and Latin American countries.
In the area of solidarity, Hon Mitchell repeated the longstanding position of Grenada regarding sanctions imposed by the USA.
“We must continue to stand firm against the unfair and, quite frankly, immoral embargo against our brothers and sisters in Cuba” by the USA. More so, he noted the expectations to see sanctions lifted that were recently placed on Venezuela by the USA.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Export Development Hon Joseph Andall; Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance Chevanne Britton and PetroCaribe Chair Hassan Hadeed.
The Dec 14 summit discussed rising global tensions and the commitment to strengthen ALBA-TCP as an instrument of unity, based on the principles of solidarity, social justice, cooperation and economic complementarity.
Meanwhile, the December 07 to 08 Cuban delegation’s visit to Grenada was headed by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, and comprised several ministers representing foreign affairs, health, science and technology, foreign investment and economic collaboration. The visit was seen as an opportunity to strengthen the 43-yearold diplomatic relationship between the Republic of Cuba and Grenada and to explore new areas of cooperation.
The two-day visit was marked by bilateral and other strategic meetings, interactions with Cuban nationals resident in Grenada, and a visit to the Cuban Monument.
The visit by Cuban President Miguel DíazCanel to Grenada was the third and last stop on his tour of Caribbean nations.
This presidential visit marks the second for the Republic of Cuba to Grenada, the first being in 1998 when former President Fidel Castro visited. That followed an invitation by then Prime Minister Dr Hon Keith Mitchell, which was made during his visit to the communist nation in 1997.