Cuban Ambassador heading back home

The tenure of Cuba’s Ambassador to St.Vincent and the Grenadines, Olga Chamero Trias, has come to an end.{{more}}

Her Excellency leaves the state at the end of September and will be replaced by a new ambassador. His name has been accepted by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and he is also expected to arrive here in September.

Chamero Trias’ stint here lasted for a period of four years and five months, following her arrival on April 28, 2006.

In an exclusive interview with SEARCHLIGHT on Tuesday, September 7, at the Cuban Embassy, Ratho Mill, Chamero Trias said: “This is the normal tenure in my Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You go for five years, you stay two to three years at home and you go out again.”

The outgoing ambassador, a specialist and former professor in International Affairs, disclosed that she will be using the time in Cuba to complete her doctoral thesis in International Affairs.

She noted that her priority will be to complete her studies, because it is very challenging to do so while working.

Trias said she believes that her role has seen a consolidation of the relationship between Cuba and St.Vincent and the Grenadines. She, however, noted that her successor will have many things to do and will be as busy as she was.

Pinpointing her biggest achievement in St.Vincent and the Grenadines, Trias said: “For me the cooperation between Cuba and St.Vincent [and the Grenadines] will be the most important thing.”

Under her tenure, several Cuban doctors visited St.Vincent and the Grenadines, and the State has started construction of a medical diagnostic centre and an international airport with the help of funding and personnel from Cuba.

“From the human point of view, I think our cooperation has been very, very important,” said Chamero Trias.

“When you save the life of a person and when you save the life of a child, you will never forget. Never matter which party you are, that doesn’t bother you. When you were not able to see and suddenly you are able to see, you would never forget that. These are the types of cooperation that my country does, because for us, fundamentally what we look after is the human needs,” said Trias.

Trias used the opportunity to express thanks to the people of the country.

“I will also like to thank the people of St.Vincent and the Grenadines for receiving me so well and all my staff,” said Trias.

In 2009, Trias completed her 50th year in Cuba’s Diplomatic Service. She started her career by dealing with the affairs of Latin America and the Caribbean as well as that of United States and Canada.

She later moved on to Asia where she spent the majority of her diplomatic career in India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Before arriving in St.Vincent and the Grenadines, she worked as a professor at the Superior Institute of Diplomatic Affairs.

This country has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Cuba since 1992.