Kingston, 29 January 2026. As part of the actions to commemorate the centenary of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro, the panel ‘Africa, Cuba and the Caribbean: more than a century of cooperation’ took place on the afternoon of 28 January. The event, held at the University of the West Indies (UWI), was sponsored by the Embassy of Cuba in Jamaica and the PJ Patterson Centre for the African and Caribbean Advocacy.
More than 200 people gathered to discuss the common history that unites us. Notable attendees included former Governor General of Jamaica Kenneth O. Hall; members of the accredited diplomatic corps; officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; representatives of the Cuban community, the Movement of Solidarity with Cuba, political parties and social movements; students and professors from the UWI; and members of the Cuban State Mission in Jamaica.
During her introductory remarks, the Cuban Ambassador to Jamaica, Tania López Larroque, recalled the significance of 28 January, the birthday of our National Hero José Martí, for Cubans. She highlighted Fidel's deep love for our brothers and sisters in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa, which we have inherited. She also reaffirmed that ‘Cuba is there where it is most needed.’
The main panel was composed of Joseph Pereira, former deputy principal of the UWI; Karl Watts, professor in the Department of History and Archaeology at the same institution; and Osvaldo Cárdenas, president of the Association of Cuban Residents in Jamaica. Through questions posed by the moderator, those present discussed our country's influence on the independence processes of the African continent; cooperation in different areas, highlighting health, education, sports and the scholarship programme; the promotion of cultural exchanges and Cuban literary influence; the fight against racism; and integration processes on the continent. The speeches highlighted the legacy of our Commander-in-Chief, as well as recognition of the work carried out by the Cuban Revolution despite the limitations imposed by the genocidal policy of the blockade.
As part of the event, students from the UWI's Department of Modern Languages recited the poems ‘La Muralla’ by Nicolás Guillén and ‘Mujer negra’ by Nancy Morejón.