The opening of the Sixth Session of the St Kitts and Nevis-Cuba Joint Commission on Economic and Technical Cooperation took place at the Ministry of Investment and Economic Cooperation (MINVEC) in Havana, Cuba on Monday, 28th May 2007.
Representing the Government of St Kitts and Nevis at the two day session are Ms. Theresa Nisbett, Head of the delegation and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ms. Kaye Bass and Ms. Verna Morris, Foreign Service Officers of Foreign Affairs and Ms. Angelica Elliott, Assistant Secretary in the Premier's Ministry, Nevis.
Mr. Orlando Requeijo, Vice Minister of MINVEC welcomed the St Kitts and Nevis delegation and declared that the relationship between the Federation and the Republic of Cuba is a foreign policy priority. He explained that the level of cooperation between both countries has experienced increased growth in recent years.
The Cuban Vice Minister referred to the recent visit to Cuba of the Hon. Prime Minister, Dr Denzil Douglas during which agreements for bilateral cooperation in priority areas were discussed. The implementation process has already begun.
Ms. Nisbett, in responding to Mr. Requeijo's remarks, expressed deep appreciation to him and his staff at MINVEC, the Embassy of Cuba in St Kitts and Nevis and the Government of Cuba for its generosity to the Government and people of the Federation in offering and delivering technical assistance in multiple sectors - assistance that has advanced our country's national development agenda. She reiterated, "The value of such cooperation is difficult to quantify perhaps because it is in fact, immeasurable."
Permanent Secretary Nisbett explained that the assistance Cuba has offered and continues to offer to the Federation is not a mere caress, but a firm grip which enables both countries to rise together and to achieve together. She also expressed a wish for the continued recuperation of President Fidel Castro to full strength and long life.
The delegation of St Kitts and Nevis also had the opportunity to meet with representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture, Health, Education, Finance, Trade, Science and Technology, Culture and Transport.
The first day's session proved very productive and the delegation of St. Kitts and Nevis is confident that Tuesday's discussion with their Cuban counterparts in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will yield similar results.
