Celebrations for CARICOM-Cuba Day begin in Trinidad and Tobago CUBA, December 8th, 2010.- Celebrations to mark the 38th anniversary of the December 8th establishment of relations between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba began on Friday in Trinidad and Tobago with the screening of a documentary on the work of Cuban physicians in several countries. The 93-minute documentary, by U.S. producers Connie Field and Gail Reed, records Cuban help to developing nations in training their own healthcare professionals, and shows the work of the island’s physicians in isolated area of Venezuela, Honduras and South Africa. Among other activities, Trinidadian authorities have scheduled a health fair in the city of San Fernando, the screening of films, and performance of indigenous music, the Prensa Latina news agency reported. The establishment of CARICOM-Cuba Day was agreed on during the first bilateral summit held in 2002 in Havana, where the heads of state and government of CARICOM and Cuba agreed to commemorate the day in honour of the beginning of diplomatic relations between Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Cuba. In 1972, these four countries that are members of the regional group decided to break the isolation Cuba was subjected to in the international arena. Every three years, the parties carry out summit meetings to examine and expand their cooperation and integration projects in fields like education, health, energy and trade, among others. Celebrations will conclude on Wednesday with a cultural gala, in which local artists and Cuban musician José Maria Vitier will participate. (Cubaminrex-RHC) |