Havana, 20 March 2025. The member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Party and president of the National Assembly of People’s Power and the Council of State, Esteban Lazo Hernández, received on Thursday, at the National Capitol, the Speaker of the House of the Assembly of San Vicente y las Granadinas, Honorable Rochelle Forde.
He particularly stressed the importance of «being able to talk with our Caribbean brothers», in order to exchange experiences to expand cooperation for the benefit of our peoples. At the same time, he highlighted the courageous position taken by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves in defense of the Cuban collaborators of the Health, against the defamations of the US government.
Lazo Hernández reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment to maintain and expand bilateral cooperation in all areas of common interest for both nations. With regard to the links between the two legislative bodies, he recognized that it is necessary to further strengthen diplomatic relations between the two countries and defend the integration of the Caribbean in regional and international parliamentary bodies.
On the other hand, he went into depth on various aspects of the current situation in our country and on the characteristics and work of the X Legislature of the National Assembly.
Hon. Rochelle Forde expressed her pride and emotion of being able to visit Cuba, «a leading country and giant of dignity in the region, and a firm friend of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines». She also expressed appreciation for the historic solidarity of the Major of the Antilles with her nation in sectors such as health and education, among others, for several decades.
The Speaker of the House of Assembly described her visit as excellent, which will strengthen interparliamentary ties; and she said that she was inspired «by the creativity and determination of the Cuban people».
By the Cuban side also attended the meeting Ana María Mari Machado, Vice President of the National Assembly of People’s Power and the Council of State; Ailyn Justiz and Alberto Núñez, Chairperson of the Caribbean Friendship Parliamentary Group and Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on International Relations of the Cuban Legislature, respectively; and Jesús Rafael Mora and Laura Fernández, Director and officer of the Division of Foreign Affairs of the National Assembly.
Previously, the distinguished visitor and her delegation toured the historic halls of the National Capitol and paid tribute to the Cuban National Hero José Martí by playing a wreath before his monument at the Revolution Square (ANPP/Embassy of Cuba to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines).