Luis Enrique González, special report
Bridgetown, Dec 9, 2005. (Prensa Latina) Cuba and the Caribbean Community decided to work together as an effective strategy to handle sustainable development and the well-being of their peoples.
“Relations are stronger and we’ve modestly exchanged experiences” said President Fidel Castro after signing the final documents.
The Bridgetown Summit made links to fortify the Caribbean in education, health, culture, sports and trade, and Fidel Castro said “We have lived an unforgettable day.”
There was also a moving ceremony to pay homage to the 73 victims on board a plane that fell to the hands of terrorists in October 1976.
The Chief of State reminded of the tense situation with Luis Posada Carriles locked up in the United States years after he organized the detonation of that aircraft.
Cuba and CARICOM member countries reaffirmed the point of view that poverty and social exclusion are detrimental to human development, handling natural disasters or AIDS.
Cultural unawareness, illiteracy, food insecurity, asymmetrical knowledge, crime and violence are some of the factors that can impede healthy societies.
The Bridgetown Declaration was created to consolidate institutions and regional integration mechanisms.
Governors insisted that the final document respect the principles of the UN charter, sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in internal subjects of other countries and no use of force.
Multilateralism and self-determination were supported, as well as free elections for every people and system.
Unilateral measures and extraterritorial laws were condemned, as well as an exhortation to the US to remove its blockade of Cuba, were on the Declaration.
All the foreign officials also condemned all forms of terrorism and demanded that the White House find a way to give Venezuela its request to extradite Posada Carriles.