Bright future ahead

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, Rogelio Sierra Diaz, is “very optimistic” about the future of diplomatic relations between Barbados and Cuba.

Speaking through Translator, Diana Mora, he made the statement to the media yesterday while at the Emancipation Monument in Haggatt Hall, St. Michael. There, he laid a wreath at the foot of the Bussa statue. This action was symbolic of the Barbados-Cuba friendship.

“Our two leaders will certainly work together in order to strengthen relations between the two peoples. That is one of the reasons for my visit here in Barbados. I have come to consolidate the ties between Barbados and Cuba. We are certain that the next few years would be very important in order to achieve those goals,” he noted.

Identifying areas where the two countries could further strengthen their friendship, Diaz stated: “There are many areas in which we can work together which are very important, such as addressing the effects of climate change and disaster risks. We will continue working with Barbados and the other countries of the Caribbean community, so that they can be compensated for the damages caused by slavery. And of course both of our countries have much to contribute to the unity of the Caribbean and Latin America, which is a very important relation. And so we can say that the future between our two nations is very promising.”

Yesterday’s wreath-laying was witnessed by Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Creative Economy, Culture and Sports, Terry Bascombe, who joined the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba in laying the wreath.

Also present were Cuban Ambassador to Barbados, Dr. Francisco Fernández Peña; Director for Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean at the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jorge Luis Mayo; and local members of the Pan-African Coalition of Organisations (PACO). Chairman of PACO, Onkphra Wells, too laid flowers at the monument.

Barbados is one of the stops for Diaz and his delegation, who are currently on tour of the Caribbean.