(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) His Excellency Edwin Carrington has described Cuba’s former President His Excellency Fidel Castro Ruz as a true Caribbean Man.

Speaking a the opening ceremony of the Third CARICOM-Cuba Summit in Santiago de Cuba on Monday 8 December, the Secretary General said it was only fitting that the former president Castro who had provided such great inspiration and who had been steadfast in his support for the Caribbean should be honoured by the Caribbean Community. Mr Castro was decorated with an Honorary Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC) by CARICOM during the Summit.

Mr Carrington said: “ His Excellency Fidel Castro Ruz has truly been a Caribbean Man and the Region has benefited from his unwavering commitment, as indeed has the wider developing world. In honouring him today, the Caribbean Community pays tribute to an exceptional human being whose contribution to regional development can never be overestimated.”

The full text of Secretary-General Carrington’s statement follows:

Your Excellency Raul Castro Ruz, President of the Councils of State and of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba;
The Honourable Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community;
Other Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community;
Ministers of Government of the Republic of Cuba and of the Caribbean Community;
National Dignitaries;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Distinguished Guests;
Representatives of the Media;
Ladies and Gentlemen.

As Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), I consider it a great honour and privilege to be afforded the opportunity to address the Opening of the Third CARICOM-Cuba Summit, being held for the first time in this historic and beautiful city of Santiago de Cuba.

In doing so permit me to join the two previous distinguished speakers in welcoming you all to this historic Summit. At the outset, permit me also to thank the Government and people of Cuba for their traditional warm and generous hospitality which has been extended to us. This generosity has in no way been dampened by the devastation that Cuba has suffered over recent months from a number of violent storms and hurricanes. The Caribbean Community reiterates its deep regret at the loss of life and property wrought by these devastating acts of nature.

In the circumstances it is most apt that climate change and its effects on the environment is one of the main items on the Agenda of this Summit.

Further while only some Member States of CARICOM were severely affected by the passage of the hurricanes, all are virtually certain to be hit by the global financial and economic crisis, another major item on the agenda. That crisis has already begun to affect our tourism sector, food prices, remittances and foreign direct investment. And while falling oil prices is likely to bring some measure of respite for many of our countries it will not be the same for all.

All the challenges confronting us, severe as they are do however present opportunities for greater co-operation and collaboration among CARICOM countries and between CARICOM and Cuba. The sharing of experiences at this Summit will certainly enable us to forge a unified response to the many trials of these testing times.

Heads of State and Government, Honourable Ministers in just over a week, further opportunities for co-operation and collaboration will arise when the Government of Brazil hosts a historic meeting of the leaders of Latin America and the Caribbean. It will be the first time that Latin America and the Caribbean gather at this level to seek to create common cause. The discussions on this item today could lead to broad agreement by the countries represented here on some of the issues on the Agenda for the Summit in Bahia, Brazil, on 16-17 December.

As we celebrate 36 years of diplomatic relations between CARICOM and Cuba, today’s emphasis is appropriately so on CARICOM-Cuba co-operation. In reflecting, on the momentous statement of identity made by the four CARICOM countries namely Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago on the 8th December 1972, that act can hardly be put in better context than by the statement issued on the occasion of this Summit by one of the last surviving CARICOM supporting architects of that intervention, Sir Shridath ‘Sonny’ Ramphal. And I quote:

"Nothing better illumines this vintage period of Caribbean regionalism than the joint recognition of Cuba by the four major countries of the region simultaneously in 1972. It was an act rooted not in ideology but in practical regional considerations …… And because all this was done in the context not of alignment with East or West but in a framework of nonalignment, it too won for the Region only respect."

Today that respect and more continues.

There is therefore much for both sides to reflect on with satisfaction which must serve as an inspiration as we seek to intensify and diversify our co-operation.

It is only fitting therefore that the man who provided such great inspiration and who has been steadfast in his support for the Caribbean should today be honoured by the Caribbean Community. His Excellency Fidel Castro Ruz has truly been a Caribbean Man and the Region has benefited from his unwavering commitment, as indeed has the wider developing world. In honouring him today, the Caribbean Community pays tribute to an exceptional human being whose contribution to regional development can never be overestimated.

And what better place for us to pay tribute than in the city which honours two other great fighters for Cuba and its sovereignty - Antonio Maceo and Jose Marti.

Distinguished Heads of State and Government, it is my hope that the fraternal spirit which has been the hallmark of the two previous Summits will in this time and place and at this moment of history inspire a beneficial outcome to this Third Summit, an outcome that will greatly enhance the interests and welfare of all our peoples.

I thank you.

CONTACT: piu@caricom.org