Castro in Trinidad

President Raul Castro has arrived here for a three-day official visit that will also includes talks with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders. Castro was met on arrival by President George Maxwell Richards, as well as Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar and members of her coalition People’s Partnership government. Heavy rains greeted the Cuban leader who arrived at the Pairco International Airport on a “Cubana” aircraft. He was also given a gun salute and inspected a guard of honour mounted by the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment. Castro, who took over power from his brother, Fidel in 2008, was whisked away in a special bullet proof BMW vehicle donated by the Venezuelan government for the occasion. Castro will, during his official visit, pay courtesy calls on President Maxwell Richards and hold bilateral talks Prime Minister Persad Bissessar. He will also lay a wreath at the Cenotaph, Memorial Park in the capital. President Richards and his wife, Dr Jean Ramjohn-Richards, will host a State dinner Wednesday night , on the occasion of the visit. Castro is scheduled to leave Trinidad on Friday.