Fidel Castro Receives Dominica Prime Minister

Taken from Prensa Latina
02.18.05

Cuban president Fidel Castro received the prime minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit at the Palace of the Revolution.
Dressed in his usual olive green fatigues, the Cuban president welcomed his guest. Both leaders then began official talks at the head of high-level delegations from both countries.
The parties expressed their interest in increasing bilateral cooperation and exchange on topics of the world situation and about international organizations and institutions, in particular of the Caribbean region.
They also talked about the next joint meeting Cuba-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to be held in Trinidad and Tobago on March, 2005. Another topic of conversations was the preparation of the 2nd Summit Cuba-CARICOM scheduled for Dember this year in Barbados.
Cuba and the Commonwealth of Dominica established diplomatic relations on May 18, 1996.
On December of that year, the then prime minister James Mitchell made an oficial visit to Cuba on occasion of the 2nd Ministerial Meeting of the Association of Caribbean States.
On November, 2001 another head of government, Pierre Charles, was received in Havana by president Fidel Castro. This is Skerrit´s second visit to this capital.
Over 150 youths from Dominica are studying in Cuba, while a small group of Cuban collaborators are working in that country.
Dominica is the northernmost and longest of the Eastern Caribbean islands. It has an area of 750 square kilometers, divided in 10 parishes.
It is an island of volcanic origin and has a dense rain forest which limits the urban settlements along the coasts, boasting beautiful beaches.
Dominica has many rivers, lagoons and sulphurous springs, including the Boiling Lake to the south, second of its class in the world.
Its capital is Rosseau with near to 20 thousand inhabitants and a total population a little over 76 thousand.
Dominica is a docking point of cruiser ships along the Caribbean. Agriculture has an important role in the economy, in particular banana and coconut exports.
Cuba has close relations with member nations of CARICOM and Havana´s aid has been of strategic importance to some of these nations in human resources formation.