– Ambassador La Rocque
SECRETARY-General, Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin La Rocque said that the CARICOM-Cuba Day is an acknowledgement of the achievements which have resulted from the CARICOM and Cuba relationship. La Rocque made this remark at the opening of the 4th Annual CARICOM-Cuba Summit in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
The CARICOM–Cuba summit is a triennial celebration of a 39-year old relationship established between the Caribbean Community and Cuba. The Heads of State and Government of CARICOM and Cuba have been meeting triennially since 2002.
La Rocque said the customary meeting is both a commemoration and a means of exploring further avenues to extend the tangible cooperation between the countries of the Caribbean and Cuba.
He said member states of  CARICOM have maintained their unwavering support for Cuba in various international forums and take pride in being the pioneer in embracing Cuba, at a time when most countries in the hemisphere did not.
As a result of this cooperation, the countries have benefitted from a number of CARICOM-Cuba joint initiatives that resulted in the countries growing closer and the region becoming more integrated, La Rocque said.
“Through scholarships offered by Cuba, the Region has seen an increase in the number of persons trained in a range of areas including health, engineering, agriculture, sports and culture making a positive contribution to the Community’s development,” he said, adding that the establishment of clinics and the provision of personnel by Cuba in many of the CARICOM territories have only served to complement the CARICOM countries’ health, education and cultural sectors.
“CARICOM-Cuba Day is an acknowledgement of the achievements which have resulted from our relationship; a day to declare our recognition of the Republic of  Cuba as an integral member of the Caribbean family; a day to express our solidarity with and best wishes for the People of Cuba; and a day for CARICOM and Cuba to reflect on ways to maintain our support of each other,” he told the Heads of State and Government of CARICOM and Cuba  and urged them to use the summit, to have focused dialogue that could only result in the adoption of strategies that can only further enhance the CARICOM-Cuba relationship.