Palmerston North, March 5, 2016. The Festival of Cultures, organized every year by Palmerston North city, New Zealand, had for the first time a Cuban stall, accompanied with good music, food and a lot of happiness; something that did not go unnoticed by all the audience.

Cubans living in this city, did not hesitate for a moment of the opportunity that this festival was bringing, and they showed to all the residents of this welcoming town, the diversity and cultural wealth of their country of origin, Cuba.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Mrs. Hanna Serwaa Tetteh received the Ambassador of Cuba, Mr. Pedro L. González Despaigne, who submitted her the Open Letters of his Letters of Credence.

After the delivering of the document they held a meeting where were evoked the close ties that unite both countries. It was also reflected the will to take bilateral relations to a higher position.

World Day of Prayer was devoted to Cuba by several churches of different religious affiliation on March 4th 2016. At least St Philip´s Parish Church, Speightstown Methodist Church and St John´s Church have done a Worship Service, which was prepared by the Cuban WDP Committee entitled “Receive children. Receive me”. To this purpose, the coordinators of these activities, Sisters Joyce Sealy, Peggy Wilkes and Marcia Miller, respectively, visited the Cuban Embassy in Barbados to get some information and national symbols for the contextualization of the service.

India, Mar 4 2016. The Church of North India (CNI) a Protestant denomination with more than 1.5 million faithful, condemned today the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed the United States against Cuba for more than 50 years.

During a religious ceremony at a temple on the occasion of World Day of Prayer, this year devoted to Cuba, Communication Secretary of the CNI, Sushma Ramswami, demanded the end of this punitive measure.

Leader of the House, and minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, Defense and the Earthquake Commission in New Zealand, Hon Gerry Brownlee, received a courtesy call by Ambassador of Cuba, Mario Alzugaray. During the exchange, the Cabinet Minister offer introductory information on the work of research, education and preparation against earthquakes, as well as his role in Parliament.

Wellington, March 3, 2016. The Minister of Health of New Zealand, Jonathan Coleman, received a courtesy call from the Ambassador of Cuba, HE Mario Alzugaray. In the meeting, held at the government headquarters in the Beehive, both parties exchanged on the health systems of their countries and the challenges faced in order to provide better service to its citizens.

In a meeting held at the Beehive with the Ambassador of Cuba, Mario Alzugaray, Primary Industry Minister Nathan Guy, expressed his positive assessment with regard to the support of joint efforts in the agricultural branch. The kiwi leader expressed satisfaction with the interest of Cuba in learning about New Zealand experiences in this sector, specifically regarding sheep and dairy cattle.

On his side, the Cuban diplomat briefed Minister Nathan Guy on the process of updating the Cuban and the interest in exchanges on the respective development paths.

THE BAHAMAS, February 29th ,2016.- The Ambassador of Cuba to The Bahamas, Ismara Vargas Walter, was received this morning by the Honourable Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Education, Science and Technology of the Caribbean country at the headquarters of his ministry.

During the meeting, both sides reiterated their willingness to continue cooperating in the education field, while they reviewed the current state of the issues between the two countries.

THE BAHAMAS, 26 February 2016. - The Ambassador of Cuba to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Ismara Vargas Walter, met with the High Commissioner of The Bahamas to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Mr. Picewell A. Forbes, also a Member of Parliament.

During the meeting, both parties discussed various topics of interest, in particular on the importance of continuing the dialogue CARICOM- Cuba.

The Right Honorable Prime Minister, Freundel J. Stuart, and the Honorable Senator Maxine McClean, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, accompanied by other senior government officials and the Barbadian Foreign Ministry made a breakfast meeting with the diplomatic corps in the country in Accra Beach Hotel, located precisely in the constituency that the Prime Minister represents in Parliament. During the activity was shared with diplomatic representatives of different countries planned events to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Independence in the coming months.