Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago attends the welcoming reception to the National Folkloric Ensemble of Cuba.
Port of Spain, March 5. - The National Folkloric Group of Cuba began its work program in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago with a colorful and emotional welcome by its Trinidadian hosts, an event in which the presence of the Honorable Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, and two other Trinidadian ministers from the Portfolios of Commerce and Public Works. The Cuban cultural delegation, made up of 35 artists and directors of the laureate company, arrives in Trinidad and Tobago, invited by the "Success Laventille" Secondary School, located in one of the humblest regions of the Trinidadian capital, which has been promoting and leading a fruitful educational-cultural program which began in 2015 with the visit to Cuba of his musical band of Steel Pan, a national Trinidadian instrument. To achieve its objective, Success Laventille School has enjoyed the enthusiastic support of the Cuban Embassy in the Caribbean country and the Ministry of Education and the Trinidadian Chancellery, as well as the sponsorship of a diverse representation of public and private companies of the Caribbean country.
The Principal of Success Laventille School, Ms. Hamida Baksh, described the visit as an excellent opportunity to bring even closer Caribbean peoples, especially Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago, and recalled the rich Cuban experience in teaching and promoting the cultural manifestations in the communities and the interest of their school to absorb it. The Cuban Ambassador Guillermo Vázquez Moreno stressed the importance of working with young people in a society, to enrich their vision with demonstrations such as dance and music; he also reiterated Cuba's willingness to continue to support such initiatives for the well-being and enjoyment of our Caribbean peoples. The guests were then entertained with a beautiful and picturesque tour of the traditions of Iranian dance, which are characterized by a rich syncretism of cultures, mainly of African and Hindu origin. At various points in the cultural program, the members spontaneously shared dance, rhythm and harmony with their Trinidadian colleagues, to the delight of those present.
The visit program of the National Folkloric Group of Cuba not only includes three important presentations of its wide repertoire in Port of Spain, San Fernando and the island of Tobago (9, 10 and 11 March, respectively), but also includes a strong educational component in which a number of training workshops on dance education in secondary and pre-university education are held, as well as seminars and academic-cutting activities on talent training and cultural work in communities.
(Cubaminrex-Embacuba Trinidad and Tobago)