by Linda Straker
- Cuba’s contribution towards growth and development of Grenada very valuable
- 5 Cuban engineers expected to bolster Ministry of Infrastructure
- PM Mitchell strongly condemned inclusion of Cuba in list of countries that sponsor terrorism
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said that Cuba’s contribution towards the growth and development of Grenada, and by extension, the OECS and Caricom is very valuable. Without assistance from the Cuban government, some areas will be in a worse position.
Referring specifically to the healthcare sector, Prime Minister Mitchell, speaking at a news conference marking an official visit to Grenada by President of the Republic of Cuba HE Miguel Díaz-Canel, praised Cuba’s contribution. “Cuba is supplying significant personnel to Grenada’s healthcare service, and if we did not have that support, we would be in a deeper crisis than we currently are in our health sector.”
“I think we all know that we are still in a health crisis, so if you take away the Cuban support that has been offered to the health services in Grenada, we really will be in a bad way, and I think that alone is testimony to how much the Cuban support is important for Grenada and by extension the OECS and Caricom countries,” he added.
The Prime Minister disclosed that Grenada expects 5 Cuban engineers on 13 December to help bolster the Ministry of Infrastructure. “We have significant infrastructure challenges in Grenada; from the restoration of our historical sites, the restoration of our public buildings damaged by Hurricane Ivan which have not been restored, and just the general maintenance of our infrastructure.”
“Their willingness to provide expertise and the personnel to assist us, again, is a testament to how much we have benefitted and continue to benefit from the Cuban relationship,” he answered when asked for his opinion on the value of Caricom’s relationship with Cuba.
Through a translator, President Miguel Díaz-Canel thanked Grenada and Caricom for their continued support, and invited Prime Minister Mitchell to visit Cuba. “Let me thank Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell for his recent statement at the UN General Assembly when he strongly condemned the inclusion of Cuba in the list of countries that sponsor terrorism. This visit has given us the opportunity to renew our invitation to Prime Minister Mitchell to visit the Republic of Cuba at any time of his convenience.”
The Cuban delegation trip to Grenada is the last stop of a 3-nation Caricom tour that saw Díaz-Canel visiting St Vincent and the Grenadines, then Barbados for the VIII 2022 Cuba Caricom Summit.
Time for the Caribbean leaders to grow some balls and openly trade with Cuba.