PM Briceño Addresses CARICOM/Cuba Summit
John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño today championed the achievements of the CARICOM-Cuba cooperation at the Seventh Summit of Heads of State and Governments which took place virtually with regional leaders logging in from their respective countries. Prime Minister Briceño emphasized the importance of a regional approach to face the challenges of COVID-19, access to affordable financing and the economic and climate change crisis. On the bilateral front, he applauded the government and people of Cuba for their generosity in supporting Belize across multiple fronts, in particular in the health and education sectors.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Cuba has supported Belize in training young Belizeans in medicine. Because of this we can confirm that we have benefited from Cuba’s generosity and commitment of investment in human capita. These are the kinds of interventions that will help us strengthen our health system. The cooperation between Cuba and our region is not confined to the field of health alone. We are working together in many areas fundamental to the sustainable development of our region, including in education, culture and the arts, and trade. A common challenge we are all facing, especially as Small Island Development States, is climate change. This year alone, Belize suffered a devastating drought at the start of the year and then three storms between September and November bringing floods not seen by Belizeans in this generation. Belize’s experience is recognized by all countries here. While we do not have it in our power alone to address climate change, from each other on disaster risk reduction and preparedness, I am sure this is an area for deeper cooperation.”
He concluded by joining the call of CARICOM leaders demanding an end to the illegal financial and economic embargo against Cuba. Prime Minister Briceño was joined by ministers Eamon Courtenay and Ramon Cervantes. Today’s virtual meeting celebrated the eighteenth anniversary of CARICOM-Cuba Day and more than forty-eight years of partnership between Cuba and the region. The seventh CARICOM-CUBA Summit was hosted by Cuban President Miguel Mario Diaz Canel Bermudez and Co-chaired by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, in his capacity as CARICOM Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government.
