Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit

Skerrit thanked the Cuban leader for his country’s enormous contribution to Dominica’s development and Cuba’s significant contribution to the world: “At this point I wish to express my own personal thanks and that of the Government and people of Dominica to the President of Cuba, a personal friend of mine and I say so no matter where I go or who I speak to ... Fidel Castro is a friend of Dominica and a friend of humanity across the world and I believe he is someone who has touched the lives of every single human being on the face of the earth irrespective of which capital you live in, irrespective of which country you live in or which language you speak today.

“President Fidel Castro has a vision for the world where he believes that through genuine friendship and the desire and willingness to assist, we can transform the world and improve the lives of all our people.

“One would recall that after the earthquake in Pakistan, notwithstanding the fact that Cuba and Pakistan do not enjoy diplomatic relations, the Government of Cuba sent some 1600 medical practitioners to assist and to respond to the challenges placed by the earthquake last year.”

Skerrit added that there is much Dominicans can learn from the Cuban experience.

“We, since 1979 have been benefiting from the goodwill of the Cuban leader and the Cuban people. And to appreciate the contribution of the Cuban people is to have a greater understanding of the struggles they have gone through as a result of the economic blockade that has been placed before them for so many years.

“As Dominican people there is a lot we can learn from the struggles and successes of the Cuban people. That where there is a challenge, there is an opportunity and there is hope if we are determined and committed to hard work.

“We must recognise that the struggles of our people must come first before that of any other third country. The challenge for us Dominicans is for us to recognise that we have a responsibility to give more to our country and to give more to our people.

“Let us not ask what is the government doing for us but what am I doing to assist the government to do more for ourselves and for our people. And this is what the Cuban people have been doing. Not what President Fidel Castro can do for them, but what can they do for themselves and to assist the President of Cuba in bringing more to them and addressing the challenges.”

Meanwhile Prime Minister Skerrit used the occasion of the opening of the facility to outline in broad terms his vision for health in Dominica. “The vision for the health sector in Dominica is one where we can provide to our Dominican people the services which we have been travelling to Antigua, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Barbados, Trinidad and elsewhere for ... we can have it right here in Dominica.”

Meanwhile the Prime Minister announced that Cuba would soon be sending seventeen doctors to Dominica to assist in the delivery of health services on the island. This contribution is in addition to the diagnostic centre that will be established at the Portsmouth Hospital by the Cuban Government shortly.

The Cuban Government has also agreed to establish an Intensive Care Unit at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Roseau.

Seventeen medical personnel, including doctors, are currently in Dominica training 84 student nurses under the Cuban Technical Assistance Programme.