Statement of Senator The Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs And Foreign Trade, on the commemoration of CARICOM-Cuba Day 2021 and the 49th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Jamaica and the Republic of Cuba:
Today, the Government and people of Jamaica are honoured to join the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Government and people of the Republic of Cuba, in commemorating the Forty-Ninth (49th) Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between CARICOM and Cuba.
CARICOM-Cuba Day coincides with the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the first four independent countries of CARICOM, namely Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, and the Government of Cuba. The decision taken by these countries marked the beginning of the close and excellent relations of friendship, solidarity and cooperation which exist between CARICOM and Cuba.
CARICOM and Cuba have consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the development of a sustained technical and functional cooperation programme which has allowed for the continuation of a dynamic partnership. This has been amply demonstrated through the highly valued CARICOM-Cuba Cooperation Programme which covers a wide range of areas of strategic regional importance, among them health, education, disaster risk reduction, culture, security and human resource development.
Jamaica appreciates the continued generosity of the Government and people of Cuba, expressed more recently in the timely assistance provided in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and health care personnel to Jamaica as well as to other CARICOM Member States.
With bilateral relations spanning almost five decades, Jamaica values greatly the partnership shared with Cuba, which has been nurtured by our shared history, cultural heritage, and people-to-people contacts. Our relationship has also been strengthened through opportunities for exchanges and high- level visits on both sides, as well as, through active collaboration in several key areas, including health and education.
Jamaica and the Caribbean Community have always advocated for Cuba’s involvement in multilateral affairs and particularly for the elimination of the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed on our sister Caribbean nation. In that connection, Jamaica and the rest of CARICOM stand in solidarity with Cuba in support of the resolution “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”, which is tabled annually by Cuba at the United Nations General Assembly.
As we celebrate the strong and enduring CARICOM-Cuba partnership, as well as Jamaica-Cuba bilateral relations, it is our firm hope that our friendship will continue to grow from strength to strength for the betterment of our peoples.
Happy CARICOM-Cuba Day!
Senator The Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith
Minister of Foreign Affairs And Foreign Trade
8 December 2021