Kingston, 28 May 2025. The Embassy of Cuba in Jamaica hosted the award ceremony for the scholarships offered each year by the Cuban government to young Jamaicans to pursue higher education in Cuba.
The ceremony was presided over by the Ambassador of Cuba, Fermín Quiñones Sánchez, and the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Honourable Alando Terrelongue. Also present were officials from the Ministries of Finance and the Public Service; and Education, Skills, Youth and Information; the Jamaica-Cuba Friendship Association; the Association of Jamaicans Graduated in Cuba; the coordinators of the Cuban medical and educational cooperation brigades; as well as the awarded students and their families.
A binational selection committee was established to award the 14 scholarships available in the fields of medicine, health technologies, veterinary medicine, accounting and postgraduate studies in ophthalmology. The committee was composed of representatives of the Cuban State Mission and the aforementioned Jamaican ministries and organisations, which evaluated more than 50 applications and interviewed 30 candidates.
The Minister of State, speaking on behalf of his government, thanked Cuba for its collaboration with his country, including the scholarships it has been awarding each year to Jamaican students to study free of charge.
In his remarks, the Ambassador emphasised the Cuban Revolution's commitment to solidarity despite the current challenges facing Cuba as a result of the impact of the genocidal blockade imposed by the United States government and our country's continued inclusion on the spurious list of states that allegedly sponsor terrorism. He also reflected on the commitment made by the selected young people to serve their country, especially the most disadvantaged communities, once they have completed their studies in Cuba.
For her part, Delriana Thomas, representing the Selection Committee, highlighted the preparation and social commitment of all the applicants, while Ramonia Smith Hamilton, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, urged the young people to take advantage of every opportunity offered, which will contribute to their comprehensive training as future professionals.
Doctors Arlene Blake-Mc Cain, Lorenzo Gordon and Neville Graham, graduates in Cuba and now renowned professionals in Jamaica, shared their experiences of studying in Cuba and highlighted the enormous sacrifice made by the Cuban people, amid countless economic difficulties, to guarantee these scholarships to students from all over the world and especially from the Caribbean.
To conclude the ceremony, scholarship recipient Joel Jevohni Amos, on behalf of his fellow students, thanked the governments of Cuba and Jamaica for the opportunity they were being given to fulfil their dreams, and reaffirmed their commitment to train as good professionals in order to contribute to the development of their country.