Nevis, West Indies. ?A Non-Tourist-Trap? Blog About Nevis.

Premier Parry With Ambassador Zurbiaur (R)

Charlestown, Nevis
November 17, 2009

Premier of Nevis Hon Joseph Parry, welcomed new resident Cuban Ambassador to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency Jorge Desiderio Payret Zurbiaur, at his Bath Hotel Office on Tuesday. The meeting came one week after he bade farewell to outgoing Ambassador Ana-Maria Gonzales.

Mr. Parry told him that Ambassador Gonzales had done excellent work and had laid the foundation for closer relations with Cuba.

“Ambassador Ana-Maria was excellent. She has laid the foundation and I know you will continue to build on that as you bring our countries more closely together. Thank you very much Sir and welcome,” he said.

The Premier noted, that the government and people of Nevis were appreciative of the work that the Cuban government had done to assist the Federation and in particular in Nevis.

He pointed to the assistance of the Cuban doctors and the nine patients from Nevis who had been referred to Cuba for specialised medical attention that was not available on Nevis. Mr. Parry said they returned to Nevis satisfied with the treatment they had received.

“We are also thankful for your doctors who are here working with us and for the training of our doctors, we are hoping to have nurses trained and we are looking forward to doing some cooperation in agriculture as well,” he said.

The Premier explained that he was aware that Cuban personnel were in the Federation to assist with the assessment of the monkey population.

“It is my understanding that already in the Federation, there is a gentleman trying to assess the population of the monkeys both in St. Kitts and Nevis. That is only the first phase because as we have said, it is the control of the monkeys that is important so that farmers can continue to do their work,” he said.

In response, Ambassador Zurbiaur thanked Premier Parry for having received him so soon after his arrival to the Federation.

He said he had already met with the medical doctors and other Cuban personnel who were in the Federation and they had all expressed satisfaction with their working conditions.

The Ambassador said that the relationship already forged in the area of health was a good first step to assist patients on Nevis.

“I hope that the healthy and friendly relations that we have will continue expanding,” he said.

Prior to his posting to the Federation, the Ambassador explained that his 40 year span in the Cuban Foreign Service had taken him to Scandinavia in Central Europe, the Czech Republic and Ecuador in Latin America. St. Kitts and Nevis was his first posting in the Caribbean.

“That is why I am very pleased to be here in an area that we are a part of also. So as much as we can do for cooperation in the Caribbean the better,” he said.

Related posts:

1. Cuban Ambassador Bids Farewell To St. Kitts - Nevis
2. Nevis Bids Farewell To Outgoing Cuban Ambassador
3. Cuban Ambassador Urges Graduates To Make Contribution
4. PM Douglas Praises Outgoing Cuban Resident Ambassador
5. Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) pays courtesy call on Premier Parry

Dr. Drew (L), PM Douglas, and Drew’s Mom
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts - Nevis
November 16, 2009 (CUOPM)

The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is committed to ensuring that the twin-island Federation develop and maintain a thriving agricultural industry while at the same time preserving the thrust toward the service-oriented economy.

At a farewell ceremony honouring outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to St. Kitts and Nevis, Her Excellency Ana Maria Gonzalez-Suarez, Prime Minister Douglas also praised Cuba’s role in capacity building and healthcare.

“Only last month, the Cuban Alumni Association of St. Kitts and Nevis planned a ceremony in honour of four nationals who recently graduated from Cuban institutions of higher education in the fields of accounting, dentistry, engineering and medicine,” said Dr. Douglas, who reminded the guests that Dr. the Hon. Earl Asim Martin was the first of such graduates and who today is a very senior and successful Parliamentarian and Minister of Government.

Dr. Douglas informed that in 2008, there were two graduates and the year before that twelve (12), which brings to 41, the number of students who have graduated from Cuba, almost all of whom are now gainfully employed or self-employed in the Federation.

“This is remarkable considering that we lose a vast majority of our young people who migrate to further their studies abroad and never return.  Think about the impact Cuba is making on my Government’s pursuit of maximizing the strength of one of our greatest assets, human capital,” said the Prime Minister.

He said the list of Cuban experts who have come to St. Kitts and Nevis to conduct training in social work, sculpting and craft-making, dancing, sports, and agriculture.

“On my visit to Cuba in the first quarter of 2007, I had the privilege of visiting some hydroponic or organic farming.  We engaged the Cuban authorities and expressed our desire to experiment with this type of farming in St Kitts and Nevis.  Subsequently, two Cuban experts were dispatched here to work with the Department of Agriculture and soon thereafter, many backyard gardens developed as a result.  My Government believes that this is a one small step toward ensuring food security, while providing a source of income to subsistence and small scale farming.  Not only were the experts able to demonstrate but they were also able to train some of our own people to continue this kind of farming even after they have returned to Cuba.  But this is not the only agricultural venture,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

He said that the Miracle Eye Care Mission, a joint initiative by both the Cuban and Venezuelan Governments is a hallmark of former Cuban President Fidel Castro who has often displayed acts of philanthropy and altruism toward his Caribbean friends.

“May he continue to enjoy long life!  Through this programme, thousands of Caribbean nationals were able to receive medical treatment at no cost in Cuban hospitals.  Initially, this project was for eye care, but some patients were diagnosed with other non-communicable diseases for which they were treated in Cuba.  I understand that the number of consultations that occurred numbered more than half of the Federation’s population. The outcome of this inventiveness is long-lived and far-reaching. In addition to the life-changing operations performed, many friendships were forged which may span a lifetime and our people experienced the Cuban culture,” said the Prime Minister.

He praised the Cuban Medical Brigade, noting that the team of dedicated medical doctors and technicians who are working in the hospitals in a plethora of fields, administering medical treatment to nationals.

Since 1996, over sixty (60) have been deployed to work in St. Kitts and Nevis as Cuba continues to touch nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis from all sphere and walk of life.

He said that there has been a myriad of cooperation projects which the people of St. Kitts and Nevis have benefitted greatly from assistance from the good government and people of the Republic of Cuba.

“The cooperation has not been one-sided however.  I am pleased to recall that earlier this year, my Government was able to show its solidarity with our Cuban brothers and sisters when we donated a sum of money to that country, after it was ravaged by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike,” said Dr. Douglas.

At the United Nations General Assembly, St Kitts and Nevis supports the UN-sponsored resolution which urges the United States to end the economic and commercial embargo.

“I promise that under my Government, we shall continue to support such and similar resolutions in international fora in view of our extremely good and friendly relationship with Cuba,” said Dr. Douglas.

Related posts:

1. Cuba Gives Free Medical Clinics For SKN Independence
2. Cuba Offers More Assistance To St. Kitts and Nevis
3. Cuba Posts First Ambassador of African Descent To St. Kitts - Nevis
4. Nevis Citizens To Receive Medical Care In Cuba
5. Cuban-Trained Kittitian Physician Says Cuba Has Changed His Life

Cuban VP Esteban Lazon and Sir Cuthbert (r) 

Basseterre, St. Kitts - Nevis
October 29, 2009 (CUOPM)

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Governor General His Excellency Dr. Sir Cuthbert Montraville Sebastian has thanked the Republic of Cuba for is assistance in the fields of health and education.

Sir Cuthbert, now on an official visit the Spanish-speaking Caribbean nation met Thursday with Cuba’s Vice President, His Excellency Esteban Lazo.

According to the Cuban News Agency, Sir Cuthbert during the exchange thanked Cuba for its cooperation, especially in the fields of health and education, and highlighted the work carried out by the medical brigade now in St. Kitts and Nevis, as well as archipelago’s contribution in the professional training of youngsters from the twin-island Federation.

For his part, the Cuban Vice-President underscored the friendship bonds uniting the two Caribbean nations and expressed his appreciation for the favorable vote of St. Kitts and Nevis on the Cuban resolution against the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba for almost 50 years now.

The two leaders reviewed the development of bilateral relations and other topics on the regional and international agendas and also spoke about the objectives and challenges small countries share in the face of the global economic crisis and climate change.

Also present in the talks were Cuban Foreign Minister ad interim Marcelino Medina and other officials from the Foreign Ministry.

The Cuban Vice President during his attendance at the Petro Caribe Summitt in St. Kitts extended an official invitation to Sir Cuthbert to visit Havana.

Related posts:

1. Castro Bails Out From PetroCaribe Summitt
2. St. Kitts - Nevis Attend Third CARICOM-Cuba Summit
3. St. Kitts - Nevis Citizens Asked To Help Cuba
4. Cuban-Trained Kittitian Physician Says Cuba Has Changed His Life
5. Third Cuba-CARICOM Summit To Be Held In Cuba