Cuba Assumes CELAC Presidency

By: - January 28th, 2013

Above: Cuba President Raul Castro (UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Cuba has assumed the rotating presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, following the regional body’s summit in Santiago this weekend.

Cuba President Raul Castro, who assumes the presidency, in a government release, called it a “great honour” to assume the role, particularly on the 160th anniversary of Jose Marti, a national hero in Cuba for his role in the country’s independence movement in the 19th century.

Castro said Cuba would work for “peace, justice, development and understanding among member nations of the integration mechanism.”

The next CELAC Summit will be held in Havana in 2014.

Chile President Sebastián Piñera is the outgoing President of CELAC.

Cuba

Grenada Agriculture Minister Dies

Above: Grenada (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Grenada Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Michael Denis Lett has passed away. Lett, a member of the ruling National Democratic Congress, represented the St David’s constituency. “His dedicated and enlightened leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture has directly led in the emergence of Agriculture as one […]

Cuba

Belize, Guatemala Foreign Ministers Meet With OAS SG Insulza

Above: Jose Miguel Insulza (OAS Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Belize Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington and Guatemala Foreign Minister Luis Fernando Carrera held tripartite talks this weekend with Organization of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza in Santiago. The objective of the meeting was to exchange information on the tasks both countries will […]

Cuba

Haiti's Martelly Meets With Costa Rica President Laura Chinchilla

Above: Haiti President Michel Martelly and Costa Rica President Laura Chinchilla   By the Caribbean Journal staff Haiti President Michel Martelly met this weekend with Costa Rica President Laura Chinchilla on the sidelines of the EU-CELAC Summit in Chile. The talks focused on several topics, including environmental issues, according to a statement from the National […]

US Virgin Islands Officially Opens $37 Million Christiansted Bypass

Above: USVI Gov. John de Jongh (centre) at the ceremony (Photo: OG) By the Caribbean Journal staff US Virgin Islands Governor John de Jongh has officially opened the just-completed Christiansted Bypass in St Croix. The $37 million project, which began in 2007, completed construction at the end of 2012. “The greatly anticipated Bypass is a […]

OECS and Argentina Establish Formal Diplomatic Relations

Above: St Lucia By the Caribbean Journal staff The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and the government of Argentina have established formal diplomatic relations. The relations were formalized with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation. Newly-appointed Argentine Ambassador to the OECS Marcelo Aldo Salviolo presented his credentials to OECS Director General Dr […]

CCJ President Supports Dominica's Move to Adopt Regional Court

Above: USVI Gov. John de Jongh (centre) at the ceremony (Photo: OG) By the Caribbean Journal staff US Virgin Islands Governor John de Jongh has officially opened the just-completed Christiansted Bypass in St Croix. The $37 million project, which began in 2007, completed construction at the end of 2012. “The greatly anticipated Bypass is a […]

Antigua Launches Solar Project at Shirley Heights Lookout

 Above: the solar panel project By the Caribbean Journal staff Antigua and Barbuda’s government has launched a solar panel project at the Nelsons Dockyard Shirley Heights Lookout in Antigua. The six-kilowatt photovoltaic power system is the product of a partnership with the Organization of American States, the European Union and the governments of the US […]