CUBA, May 6, 2008. Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is here to consolidate cooperation agreements in the areas of health, education, construction and energy. Upon his arrival at the air terminal Jose Marti Monday evening, Gonsalves was received by government minister, Ricardo Cabrisas. In his first statements to reporters, Gonsalves said this is a new opportunity to strengthen relations and cooperations with Cuba, while referring to the steps taken by his country to become a member of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of our America (ALBA). Like other members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines has accepted and signed the principles of ALBA, group created at the initiative of Venezuela and currently formed by Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Dominica and Venezuela. In fact, there are many agreements of that integrationist project in which the Caribbean nations already participate. Gonsalves did not overlook the present complex situation of high food prices, which affects neighboring Caribbean nations like Haiti, the more complex of these cases in his opinion. The visit program starting today includes talks with President Raul Castro and visits to different places of economic, historic and social interest. ( Cubaminrex- Prensa Latina) |