St. Jonh's.October 12. 2018. Talking Points for the Honourable Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Trade on the Occasion of the Farewell Reception for H.E. Gustavo Veliz Olivares, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Antigua and Barbuda.-His Excellency the Governor General;
Honourable Prime Minister;
Ministers of Parliament;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
Members of the Cuban Medical Brigade;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
- I wish to extend a warm welcome to all of you this evening.
- We are gathered here tonight to thank His Excellency Gustavo Veliz Olivares for serving as Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Antigua and Barbuda, and to bid him and his lovely wife, Madame Gilda Lopez Mestre, farewell.
- Five years have flown by. We are also here tonight to enjoy their company during their last days in Antigua with us. They have become our very good friends.
- Ambassador Veliz has achieved much during his time here. He played an instrumental role in the facilitation and organisation of the CARICOM-Cuba Summit in Antigua and Barbuda in December 2017, which saw His Excellency Raul Castro, the former President of the Republic of Cuba, on Antiguan soil for the very first time – an honour, which could not have been achieved easily due to the former President’s hectic schedule that year.
- Ambassador Veliz also facilitated the recent signing of the “Migration Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Cuba, and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda,” and has helped both countries to embark on new cooperation initiatives with respect to agriculture, to name a few.
- In addition, when disaster struck Barbuda in the forms of Hurricane Irma and Maria, we all witnessed Ambassador Veliz’s commitment to assist our twin island nation state, when he communicated Barbuda’s urgent need for assistance to the Cuban Government at a time when Cuba was undergoing its own hardships and devastation due to those same storms. As a result, members of the Cuban Medical Brigade were swiftly deployed to Barbuda.
- Furthermore, Ambassador Veliz also oversaw two Cuban cargo ships bearing two hundred (200) tonnes of relief supplies to Barbuda, and the dispatching of Cuban electricians and construction workers to Barbuda to assist in recovery and rebuilding efforts, in response to a request made by Prime Minister Browne.
- Without a doubt, Ambassador Veliz has greatly contributed towards the further consolidation of bilateral relations between Antigua and Barbuda and Cuba.
- He has demonstrated a high level of professionalism, energy and dedication in fostering relations between Cuba and Antigua and Barbuda.
- On a personal level, we know that diplomacy is a team effort, and I must say that working relations between my Ministry, and Ambassador Veliz have been excellent.
- We also know that the Ambassador and his wife are excellent salsa dancers, and we hope that they may grace us with a few of their moves this evening.
- Ambassador Veliz, on behalf of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration, I would like to thank you for your hard work towards the further development of bilateral relations, which have resulted in the betterment of both our countries. You and your wife are special friends to Antigua and Barbuda, and you will surely be missed.
- We wish you all the success for your next assignment. May God bless you.
- May I now invite you all here to raise your glasses and join me in proposing a toast to the enduring excellent relations between Antigua and Barbuda and Cuba, and towards the everlasting friendship between our peoples.