Your Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, Governor General, and Lady Williams Honourable E.P. Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Trade Member of Parliament, Members of the Diplomatic Corp, Other distinguished ladies and gentlemen to include the man of the hour, Ambassador Gustavo Veliz Olivares. Today we are here to bid farewell to a friend, a brother, and a consummate diplomat. For his contribution towards the strengthening of the bilateral relations between Antigua and Barbuda and the Republic of Cuba during the last five years. Ambassador Olivares went beyond the call of duty and now that he is about to complete his tour of duty, it is only fitting that we pay tribute to his contributions over the years. There is no doubt that during the last five years that Ambassador Olivares would have played a significant role in strengthening the bilateral relations between both our nations, and today we can boast a relationship that is at its zenith. One in which the level of collaboration and cooperation would have increased. You know that Cuba over the years would have assisted us in different sectors of our society – in healthcare, in education, in other areas – engineering; and Ambassador Olivares would have played a significant role in keep the cooperation between both our countries. I recall when we came to government in June of 2014, that during my first engagement with Ambassador Olivares, we requested an increase in the amount of medical scholarships. Within a matter of weeks, he was able to report to us that the Cuban government had agreed to double the amount of medical scholarships. He was also instrumental in assisting us in getting a number of Cuban expertise in various areas. We have had for example, oncologists, epidemiologist, endocrinologist and other disciplines that hitherto did not exist. Ambassador Olivares was instrumental in getting us additional Cuban expertise to improve the healthcare at Mount St. John, to the extent that today Mount St. John has been voted by PAHO as the best hospital within the OECS sub region. His contributions are many. In fact, he arranged several bilateral discussion between myself and the former Cuban President Raul Castro. And was also instrumental in putting together the arrangement for the Cuba-CARICOM Summit which was held last December. And one in which we hosted the distinguished President of Cuba, his Excellency Raul Castro. But one of the most significant contributions was the response to Hurricane Irma which devastated Barbuda last year September. Ambassador Olivares was quick to the move and even though the means of Cuba are extremely limited, they responded and were able to assist us with a number of dried goods and different products. They also provided us with technical expertise in the reconstruction. They sent a number of Cuban experts who assisted us in restoring a number of public buildings and private home on Barbuda. So Ambassador we thank you for your responsiveness during that very difficult period. I am quite sure that your successor will have very big shoes to fill, but we still remain hopeful that your successor will continue in your tradition. Clearly you have demonstrated full commitment to this relationship and I believe that there is still further scope to advance this relationship. For example we are seeking to increase the amount of goods and products that we trade between both our nations. We believe too that there is a possibility to establish a Cuban OECS medical school to be domiciled right here in Antigua. One in which we will be able to provide medical education to individuals within the OECS and beyond. We have already commenced discussions and we are hoping that that particular initiative would come to fruition very shortly; and that too would have been an area in which Ambassador Olivares would have participated. So we thank you as well for advancing that idea. My understanding is that we are now doing a study in order to determine the viability of that school; and on the basis that it materializes, clearly Ambassador Olivares would have played a significant role. One of the areas in which Cuba has agreed to assist us within recent times, is to provide us with an expertise to provide treatment for individuals who are suffering from diabetic foot. Now you may not be aware, but we have perhaps dozens of amputees on an annual basis and that is a significant problem facing the country. Many of them are related to diabetes and my understanding is that by having this treatment now, we will be able to significantly reduce the number of amputees. So we are looking forward to that service with eager anticipation, as we seek to address what is clearly a developmental challenge for our small twin-island state. So clearly Cuba has gone beyond the call of duty to assist us and not only us here in Antigua and Barbuda, but within the Caribbean and beyond. It would have gone beyond its means to assist and I think it is a brilliant example for cooperation between developing countries. And the type of selflessness that we have seen from the Cuban government over the years, over the decades, in my mind is unmatched. Cuba has extended its cooperation beyond the Caribbean to include the Middle East, Africa, and it is amazing that such a small country (probably just 11 million people) with very limited resources, that Cuba could be making that type of global contribution. We believe that Cuba is in a position to do more for the world, but unfortunately Cuba has this senseless blockade against it by the United States government. And Antigua and Barbuda continues to agitate for that blockade to be lifted. It makes no sense. It creates no value. In fact all the American government is doing is literally preventing very capable people in the fields of education, healthcare, sports, the arts, from making their contribution to humanity. And again to continue to make that call in all fora, including the United Nations. We will continue to collaborate with the Republic of Cuba in the various for a – regional, international and to continue to call for the reform of the UN to ensure that it becomes a more representative body. Not to have a situation where a small cadre of nations continue to dominate the UN space. So Cuba can count on Antigua and Barbuda as a sustaining partner. Even though we are small, you can be assured that we will continue to fight with you and to and agitate for the removal of that blockade. And at the same time to agitate for the return of Guantanamo Bay to the Cuban people. We believe very strongly that Cuba has been done an injustice and that the entire Caribbean must continue to stand with Cuba because Cuba has stood with us. Ambassador, today is really about you and celebrating your contribution. I want to take this opportunity to wish you every success in your new posting. I want to wish both yourself and your wife Gilda, continued good health and prosperity. We consider you to be an enduring friend of the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda. The diplomatic circuit is very small, so we are quite sure that we will meet on the circuit from time to time and we consider you one of our adopted sons. We hope that in your new posting that you will continue to work with us, dialogue with us, and that there will be continued cooperation as we seek to …