CARICOM Cuba summit next week neCuba

Ministers of Foreign Affairs of CARICOM states are expected to meet in Cuba next week for the third Cuba/CARICOM Forum.{{more}}

Cuba’s Ambassador to St.Vincent and the Grenadines, Olga Trias, told SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday the meeting will be held on Friday, September 17.

She said the ministerial sessions usually co-ordinate projects for the benefit of the people of the Caribbean.

A first summit held between CARICOM Heads of State and Cuban officials in December 2002 paved the way for the staging of a summit every two years between the Heads of State of both regions. Also at that initial summit, a decision was taken to have a ministerial meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs every 18 months.

The first ministerial meeting was held in Havana, Cuba, on July 15, 2004, while the second was held in St.Vincent and the Grenadines on May 29, 2007.

Trias, highlighting the support that Cuba gives to CARICOM, said at the moment, there are 1,500 personnel from Cuba in the 14 CARICOM countries and 83 per cent of them are doctors.

She added, on the other hand, 4,000 young people have graduated from Cuban academic institutions, with 1,700 being doctors.

Trias disclosed that at present, there are 3,307 students from the Caribbean who are pursuing academic studies in Cuba, with the majority studying Medicine.

She added, the Diagnostic Centre at Georgetown is one of the projects that has been constructed with support from the co-operation.

Trias disclosed that this facility is expected to be completed in December and will become operational by February or March of next year. (HN)