The Governor General said: "The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Republic of Cuba are both within our region and hemisphere. My government recalls our nation’s long and friendly history with these two good Caribbean friends who have been positive contributors not only to our own, but to regional development. It goes without saying that our twin island nation has benefited greatly from the Cuban Medical Brigades deployed to our shores.
These hard-working medical experts have even come to our rescue during our most anxious moments in the early months of the COVID 19 Pandemic. Their contributions are invaluable and difficult to quantify. Fully funded Cuban Scholarships provided to hundreds of Antiguan and Barbudan residents through a programme which commenced decades ago, have transformed the lives of many of our citizens who are now making a meaningful contribution to our economy in a range of areas including medicine, technology and agriculture. With a similar focus on education, The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, established the Institute for Culture and Cooperation in Antigua and Barbuda over 40 years ago. This institution, which has already started classes this year, provides free instruction in the Spanish language as it seeks to build stronger connections between our peoples through culture and education. Hundreds of residents have benefited from this free resource which has been a staple even when our two nations at various times have had to deal with internal challenges. Venezuela must be applauded for leading the charge in the establishment of the ALBA Bank, a fiscal vehicle which has allowed my government to have access to fresh capital.
At this moment, there is an on-going crisis with their neighbour to the North. My government’s principled stand, divorced from convenience and fear, leads Antigua and Barbuda to embrace these Caribbean countries that have always demonstrated their true neighbourliness to several Antigua and Barbuda administrations. My government asserts the fact that Venezuela and Cuba are our friends and Antigua and Barbuda is theirs".