Cuba reaffirms qualification opportunities for Caribbean citizens

By: Roberto Morejón

Cuba reaffirmed its ties with its Caribbean neighbors and joined an important initiative in the fight against hunger worldwide, by participating in the Brazil-Caribbean Summit, recently held in the capital of the South American giant.

Cuban Vice-President Salvador Valdés Mesa headed his country's delegation to the conclave, which was attended by 17 leaders, and in which he had important meetings with Caribbean dignitaries.

Cuba, Barbados, Saint Lucia and the Inter-American Development Bank joined Brazil's Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, an important tool for reducing the number of people in vulnerable conditions.

Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, is promoting the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty in the Group of 20, inspired by the goal of eradicating these scourges by 2030.

The proposal, to which dozens of countries have joined, is of interest to the Caribbean countries, and Cuba understands that it can contribute ideas and considerations.

Vice President Valdés Mesa held several meetings with prime ministers of neighboring countries and ratified their willingness to continue cooperation in areas such as health, education, climate change, natural disasters and other areas.

Whenever Cuban leaders and those from the rest of the Caribbean coincide in international events, it is appropriate to reaffirm mutual political trust and historical affinity.

In addition, the largest of the Antilles underscored to its interlocutors that even in the midst of accentuated material limitations, aggravated by the U.S. blockade, which the Caribbean repudiates, it is possible to share knowledge and resources.

It should be noted that more than 1,800 professionals from the land of José Martí, including doctors, technicians, sports coaches and engineers, are currently working in sister nations of the region.

Vice President Valdés Mesa reiterated the opportunities offered by his country for young Caribbean people to benefit from scholarships for their cultural and technical qualification.

These facilities are of great help to the recipients to such an extent that now more than 910 Caribbean youths are studying in the largest of the Antilles, which will be added, at the end of their education, to the more than six thousand previously benefited.

Cuba believes that channels are being opened to deepen cooperation with the Caribbean for mutual benefit.