Ambassador Rafael Dausá Céspedes of the Latin American and Caribbean Department of Cuba’s Ministry of External Affairs, with Dean of the African Corps, Ambassador Rosalie Kama Niamayoua, and Deputy Dean of the CARICOM Caucus, Ambassador Ellsworth John. (Photo courtesy MFAFT)
Barbados joined other accredited African and CARICOM diplomatic corps resident in Cuba to commemorate Africa-CARICOM Day, on Sunday, September 7, with a wreath-laying ceremony.
The special event, which was attended by other diplomatic colleagues accredited to Cuba and senior Cuban officials, saw the Dean of the African Corps and Ambassador of the Republic of Congo, Rosalie Kama Niamayoua; and the Deputy Dean of the CARICOM Caucus, Ambassador Ellsworth John of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, presenting wreaths. The wreaths were laid during consecutive ceremonies at the CARICOM Heroes Park and the African Heroes Park in Havana, Cuba.
Barbados’ Ambassador to Cuba, and the current Chair of the CARICOM Caucus of Ambassadors, Dr. Sharon Marshall, spoke on the group’s behalf, while the Ambassador of Gambia, Seyaka Sonko, delivered remarks on behalf of his African colleagues.
Ambassador Marshall traced the Africa-Caribbean interaction from the early days of the Pan-African movement by mentioning stalwarts such as George Padmore and C.L.R. James, and African leaders like Nkrumah and Kenyatta.
She highlighted the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum and the presence of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) as recent engagements related to trade and business.
Barbados’ Ambassador to Cuba, and the current Chair of the CARICOM Caucus of Ambassadors, Dr. Sharon Marshall. (Photo courtesy MFAFT)
In relation to the cultural arts, Dr. Marshall gave the example of the Ghanaian theatrical production of Mansa Musa and the Trail of the Lost Gold, recently staged at CARIFESTA XV and referred to the Africa-CARICOM Summit as collaboration at the highest political level.
“From the origins of the early Pan-Africanist movement to the present push towards building constructive relations, it is evident that despite distance and all other barriers, Africa and the Caribbean continue to forge ahead, widening and deepening our cultural, familial and economic ties to ensure a brighter future for both regions,” Ambassador Marshall asserted.
Ambassador Sonko also spoke of the significance of the Africa-CARICOM Summit and reiterated the importance of the Transcontinental Partnership and the collective pursuit of reparatory justice.
The designation of September 7 as Africa-CARICOM Day was a notable outcome of the historic inaugural Africa-CARICOM Summit hosted virtually by Kenya, and was intended to institutionalise cooperation between the continent and the Caribbean region.
Author: Government of Barbados
Source: https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/blog/africa-caricom-day-commemorated-in-cuba/
