The national day of Cuban culture was celebrated with a small diplomatic activity in the residence of Ambassador Alejandro Simancas, complying with the current epidemiological restrictions, which was honoured by the presence of the Honourable Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and his wife Raquel Du Boulay-Chastanet. At the gathering, the Cuban Ambassador explained the historical roots of this patriotic Cuban anniversary, which originated on October 20th, 1868, when the national anthem of Cuba was sung for the first time. In addition, he highlighted the fundamental elements of the cultural policy of the Cuban Revolution and presented the documentary "My First Calling”, which narrates the epic literacy campaign carried out in Cuba in 1961. The Ambassador emphasized the historic ties of friendship and cooperation that unite Cuba and Saint Lucia and expressed his deep gratitude to be able to share this moment with the Honourable Prime Minister, as well as Her Excellency Jeannine Michele Giraudy-McIntyre, President of the Senate and the Honourable Fortuna Belrose, Minister in the Ministry of Tourism, Information and Broadcasting, Culture and Creative Industries with responsibility for Culture and Creative Industries. The event also made it possible to exchange and promote bilateral cultural relations, in particular with the authorities of the Cultural Development Foundation, which is evaluating together with the Cuban Fund for Cultural Property to strengthen cultural cooperation. The Cuban Ambassador, expressed his gratitude for the asstance of a prominent group of intellectuals and artists from Saint Lucia, including poets Jane King-Hippolyte and Kendel Hippolyte, sculptor Jallim Eudovic, painter Alwyn St. Omer, photographer Kirk Elliot, artisan Alcina Nolley and Sigrid Nama-Walcott, representative of the Nobel Prize awarded in literature Derek Walcott, whom the Ambassador considered our great Caribbean poet. In this way, the excellent bilateral relations and, in particular, the historical and close cultural and identity bonds that unite us in the Caribbean were highlighted.
