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Trinidad & Tobago states will to
repay Cuba's solidarity
Ana Ivis Galán
García
• PAULA Gopee-Scoon, the
foreign minister of Trinidad & Tobago, was received
by her Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla at
the Cuban Foreign Ministry in Havana, where they
held fraternal talks during which the two diplomats
confirmed their governments’ will to strengthen the
historic links of friendship between the two peoples.
The Cuban minister
acknowledged Trinidad & Tobago as a sister nation
and described the links between the two nations as
excellent.
The Trinidadian foreign
minister assessed the visit as "a great honor,"
which is taking place "at a very opportune moment
since it coincides with the anniversary of the
establishing of diplomatic links between our
countries," links that her government "holds in very
high esteem," she said.
The culmination of the
working day was the closing ceremony of the 3rd
Cuba-Trinidad & Tobago Intergovernmental Commission,
during which the two sides reiterated their decision
to reinforce cooperation in sectors such as
healthcare, agriculture, food security and sport.
She announced her country’s
will to extend existing cooperation in the fields of
tourism, education, and culture; and develop
exchange in other sectors such as energy, oil, the
petrochemical industry and natural gas.
The ceremony included the
signing of a bilateral cooperation protocol, signed
by Gopee-Scoon and Rodrigo Malmierca, minister of
foreign trade and foreign investment.
Malmierca confirmed that
they are to continue working to bring to fruition
the agreements signed, which give continuity to
existing cooperation and extend it to diverse
sectors.
The visiting diplomat
thanked the government and Cuban people for the
excellent welcome afforded to her and the delegation
accompanying her and sent "greetings to President
Raúl Castro."
She expressed the desire of
her people to repay the solidarity offered by Cuba
and as proof of that, made a donation of musical
instruments for Cuba’s steel band, and announced a
commitment to make other similar donations.
She highlighted the work of
Cuban doctors who "have made a tremendous
contribution to improving the healthcare sector in
our country." She confirmed her government’s desire
to extend cooperation in healthcare services to
include ophthalmology and general medicine, as well
as its interest in Cuban pharmaceutical products.
The Trinidadian minister
also held talks with Vice President Ricardo Cabrisas,
attended the opening of the 13th Crafts Fair in
Havana and visited the National School of Dance. •
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