Diplomatic Relations Cuba and SVG – A brief history

by Herbert Young Tue, Jun 12. 2012

In early April of 1992, I had the good fortune of meeting His Excellency Lazaro Cabesas, the Cuban Ambassador to Barbados at the VIP lounge of the Barbados International Airport.{{more}}

After some discussions on various regional and international issues, we agreed to pursue the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries.

Despite the circumstances that existed at the time, I had no fear of initiating this important milestone, as several countries of Caricom, including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Jamaica, had already established diplomatic relations with Cuba. Moreover, I was confident that such a move would not have caused any great concern among the Vincentian public, as our politics was well grounded in democracy.

In addition, St Vincent and the Grenadines and the Republic of Cuba had cooperated in a number of areas for some time. We have had cultural exchanges and several Cuban trained doctors, economists,engineers and dental technicians were employed in SVG. Also, several young Vincentians were in Cuba being trained in similar fields at the time when formal relations were contemplated.

Cuba and St Vincent and the Grenadines belong to the same hemisphere and we share common cultural characteristics and while we believe that the democratic path is the way to our development, it does not mean that we cannot have a civil relationship with those who are on a different path. This was my thinking at the time of the discussions with Ambassador Cabesas.

After discussing the proposal with Prime Minister Mitchell to establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Cuba, he gave full support to the initiative. I then journeyed to Cuba in the latter part of May 1992, and on the 26th of that month I had the privilege to sign the agreement with the Cuban Foreign Minister Mamierke, establishing formal relations between our two countries.

I later met President Fidel Castro who hosted a reception to celebrate the occasion and we took the opportunity to discuss a number of important international and regional issues and particularly how we could strengthen and expand relations between Cuba and St Vincent and the Grenadines. I was deeply impressed by his wealth of knowledge on all matters discussed.

This was indeed a progressive step and we have seen the the benefits to our respective countries, moreso SVG. As Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador to the United Nations, I have played my part in calling for the US embargo against the Cuban people to be lifted and I sincerely hope that this will occur in the near future.

I take this opportunity to wish the Cuban Ambassador to St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Cuban Government and the people of Cuba all the best, as we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries.