• Fidel receives Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.

PRESIDENT Fidel Castro officially received Roosevelt Skerrit, prime minister and minister of finances, planning and Caribbean affairs of the Commonwealth of Dominica at the Palacio de la Revolución, when the latter carried out a working visit to Cuba.

The leader of the Cuban revolution and the distinguished Caribbean visitor greeted the delegations of the two countries and later held official talks in the Palacio de la Revolución.

The Dominican delegation included Osborne Riviere, minister for foreign affairs, trade and marketing; Reginald Austrie, minister for communications, construction and housing; Clarkson Thomas, honorary consul; and Floyd Capitolin, an official from the ministry for foreign trade.

Taking part on behalf of Cuba were Felipe Pérez Roque, minister for foreign affairs; Carlos Valenciaga Díaz, member of the Council of State; Ricardo Cabrisas, government minister; Raúl Taladrid, deputy minister for foreign investment and cooperation; and Aramis Fuente, director of MINREX’s Latin American department.

This is the second time that Roosevelt Skerrit has visited Cuba as prime minister and minister for finances, planning and Caribbean affairs for the Commonwealth of Dominica.

The two countries have expressed their interest in strengthening and extending ties of friendship and cooperation and exchanging opinions on the world situation and international organizations and institutions, in particular with reference to the Caribbean.

Other issues of bilateral interest include the next Cuba-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Joint Meeting scheduled to take place in Trinidad and Tobago next March, as well as preparations for the 2nd Cuba-CARICOM Summit in Barbados this coming December. Cuba and the Commonwealth of Dominica established diplomatic relations on May 18, 1996.

More than 150 young people from this Caribbean country are currently studying in Cuba and a small group of Cuban workers are providing services in that nation.

INTEREST IN EDUCATION

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit toured the facilities of the José Martí Junior High school, where he received broad-ranging information on the tasks of education in our country, particularly on this educational level, and shared time with students.

In response to reporters’ questions, the visitor affirmed that the world owes a debt of gratitude to Cuba, and he contemplated Cuba’s support to other countries in the areas of education, health and other issues.

He explained the efforts underway in his country to ensure access to education for all young people in Dominica by 2006.

He has come to meet with President Fidel Castro to analyze issues related to cooperation between Cuba and Dominica, he noted.

He commented that Fidel is a wealth of knowledge and information, which is why it is always important to meet with him and converse about issues concerned with international cooperation.