| |
Contact:
Claudia Monlouis
Wednesday, August 25, 2004 – “Too often, persons forget the unmatched
contribution that Cuba has made to the development of St. Lucia.” This was the
observation made by Prime Minister, Honourable Dr. Kenny D Anthony, as he
addressed the official opening of the St. Lucia/Cuba exhibition, at the Castries
Town Hall on Tuesday August 24, 2004.
The exhibition marks fifteen years of diplomatic relations between St. Lucia and
Cuba. Dr. Anthony noted Cuba’s tremendous support for the OECS over the years,
against global forces, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Prime Minister Anthony further highlighted Cuba’s sterling contribution in
providing tertiary education and health care to St. Lucians. “And as I speak to
you, up to the end of the current academic year, there were 243 St. Lucian
students studying in Cuba. I do not know whether the Minister of Education will
agree with me, that we have far more students in Cuba than we currently have at
the University of the West Indies. Sixty-four of those students graduated this
year, leaving a balance of 179 continuing students to be joined by another 12
this year,” Dr. Anthony said.
Cuban Ambassador to St. Lucia, Mr. Victor Ramirez acknowledged that maintaining
diplomatic relations with Cuba may not be easy, in light of external forces.
However he believes that Cuba is on the verge of deepening its relationship with
St. Lucia. “Cuba will continue to do all it can, despite the many odds it has to
confront, to share with St. Lucia and the Caribbean all it has at its disposal.
Last month, at a meeting in Havana, we reiterated and even widen our readiness
to assist in the fighting of AIDS, “he said.
The week-long pictorial exhibition depicts the official relationship between the
two countries, aspects of the student experience in Cuba, and famous historical
sites.
|
