KINGSTOWN, St Vincent – Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonslaves has returned home from Cuba where he was awarded that country’s highest national award, the Order of José Marti.
Gonsalves is the second Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leader to have received the award from Havana in a one month period.
Late last month, Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit received the award, praised Havana for “holding fast to the ideas and ideals of Jose Martí, to the revolutionary spirit of Ché Guevarra and to the vigour and vision of Comrade El Presidente Fidel”.
Both leaders were presented with the award by President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel.
The Order of José Marti is named after the Cuban national hero, who became the symbol of Cuba’s struggle for independence.
Gonsalves had led a delegation to Cuba last week where he also participated in the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) summit, according to a government statement.
It said that Gonsalves also participated in a series of bilateral meetings.
On May 26, the two countries observed the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between them. (CMC)
