By Dexter Rose
Thirty two years ago, on May 26, St Vincent and the Grenadines and the Republic of Cuba signed an agreement formalizing diplomatic relations between both nations.
It was a bold move by then Prime Minister James F. Mitchell to assert that Cuba was a sister nation of our Caribbean region and deserved to be embraced as such.
The SVG-Cuba Friendship Association had long before that date established and maintained fraternal ties with the Cuban Institute for Friendship with Peoples (ICAP). The Friendship Association therefore hails the commemoration of this important political date.
Indeed relations with Cuba had been maintained by progressive forces and had resulted in the first university scholarships being awarded to three young men in 1980.
Subsequent years saw the then United Peoples Movement accepting university scholarships in Cuba.
The Government of SVG later began accepting university scholarships from the Government of Cuba and today the results of the process of engagement can be seen spread over professionals serving at the highest levels at home.
The relationship with the Republic of Cuba has paid dividends for SVG as Cuban professionals continue to provide stellar service in engineering, agriculture, and medicine both in the State and private sectors.
Today there is a growing community of Cuban professionals living in our midst of persons either married to Vincentians or immigrants who have chosen this country as their home, the results of bonds of friendship which were sowed by progressive forces in the seventies and now continued by the Government.
