Cuba says Caribbean countries must work together

Last week the region’s radio and television broadcasters gathered in Havana, Cuba for the Annual General Assembly of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union. It was the first time in thirty-two years that the meeting was held in Cuba, as that country’s national broadcaster, ICRT, was admitted to full membership in the organisation just one year ago. Speaking at the opening ceremonies, Cuban National Assembly President, Ricardo Alarcon, told delegates of U.S. attempts to destroy his country’s economy through the forty-year-old blockade as well as acts of outright terrorism. As for links with the Caribbean, Alarcon told CBU reporter Michelle Malcolm of the Bahamas, that a unified approach would be the best way to go.

Michelle Malcolm, Reporting

As the largest of the Caribbean Islands, Cuba holds a central position in the region archipelago. The island nation is known for its fortitude and resilience, demonstrating their capacity to survive in spite of the many economic and political challenges, which have confronted it over the past decades. The Communist state is not looking to its neighbouring Caribbean countries for Help. Mr. Alarcon is seeking inter-regional co-operation at all levels.

Ricardo Alarcon, President, Cuban Nat’l Assembly

“In spite of the small difference of languages, we face similar challenges, small islands, small economies, tourists is a very important issue for all us. We can co-operate, we can integrate in this area, not to compete, but to co-operate by bringing people here and to the Bahamas at the same time or to Jamaica and so forth. But we have to work a lot.”

In size, Cuba constitutes approximately half of the entire Caribbean archipelago. While it is not yet a member of CARICOM, trade and economic linkages are being established as a precursor to that eventuality.

Working on that report from Cuba was News 5 production chief Rick Romero. At the end of the two days of meetings delegates elected Melba Smith of Barbados as the CBU’s new president. She replaces Belize’s Stewart Krohn, who chose to step down on completion of his two-year term. Krohn was elected to a one year term on the new CBU board.