The excellent relations between Cuba and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are characterized by the coincidence in foreign policy and solidarity cooperation, especially in health, but a diversification is in sight.

By Roberto Morejón

The excellent relations between Cuba and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are characterized by the coincidence in foreign policy and solidarity cooperation, especially in health, but a diversification is in sight.

This is evidenced by the results of the successful visit of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to Kingstown, capital of that island territory, crisscrossed by volcanic chains, with the fiery promontory La Soufriere at the head.

The St. Vincentans have suffered the rigors of its eruption and counted on the reinforced assistance of Cuban experts and doctors.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines suffers from the effects of climate change, so Cuba can help it, given its progress in a program to deal with them.  

Exchanges can also be extended in other aspects and this was emphasized by Díaz-Canel and his main interlocutor in Kingstown, Prime Minister Ralp Gonsalves, a great friend of Cuba for more than 20 years.

In the first visit of a Cuban Head of State to St. Vincent and the Grenadines and three decades after the establishment of ties, there was talk of bringing positions closer in tourism, food production, human resources training and construction.

In the same vein, the Minister of Finance, Camilo Gonsalves, prominent lawyer, diplomat, journalist and civil servant, highlighted the potential of his country in minerals and foodstuffs.

For Cubans and San Vincenteans, these potentialities are promising, without neglecting the permanence of doctors from José Martí's homeland, now numbering 81.

This presence, which is likely to increase, has had one of its high points in Operation Miracle, through which hundreds of San Vincentians recovered their sight.

Not by chance, the locals warmly greeted the delegation from the largest of the Antilles on an official visit.

They expressed their deep gratitude for the health care and the training of technicians and professionals at a higher level.

The Cubans also expressed their gratitude for the shipments of medical supplies and food from small St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the time of the COVID-19 peaks.

These are milestones in the broad trajectory of the mutual contribution, in which the Argyle International Airport, inaugurated in 2017 and built thanks to ALBA funds together with the technical support of Cuba stands out.