The Tribune

BY DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT - Cuban Ambassador H E Ernesto Sober�n Guzm�n made his first official visit to Grand Bahama on Monday, meeting with government officials and business leaders. He also toured the industrial sector on the island.

His first stop of the day came at 9.30am at the Ministry for Grand Bahama, where he paid a courtesy call on Minister Dr Michael Darville and other government officials.

Also in attendance were Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Grand Bahama Melvin Seymour, Under secretary in the Ministry for Grand Bahama Cecil Thompson, Deputy Director of Education Sandra Edgecombe, and Catherine E Weech, Hospital Administrator for Rand Memorial Hospital/Grand Bahama Health Service.

During his visit, the ambassador reviewed with Minister Darville the state of the bilateral relations between the Cuba and the Bahamas.

They discussed healthcare, education, agriculture, trade, and cultural exchange issues between Cuba and the Bahamas.

Minister Darville said that Ambassador Guzman’s visit would further strengthen diplomatic and cultural relations between the two countries.

He welcomed the ambassador to the second city.

Mr Darville explained that his ministry’s focus is the revitalisation of Grand Bahama as a tourism and industrial centre.

He said the island has a population of about 60,000 and is considered the industrial capital of the Bahamas.

“During your visit, Mr Ambassador, you would have the opportunity to see first hand the existing infrastructure on the island of Grand Bahama and to tour our industrial sector and see our deep water harbour, which is the largest man made harbour in the region,” Dr Darville said.

Dr Darville said Cuba is a “fascinating place.”

He said the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of State for Legal Affairs recently came back from a very successful visit to Cuba, where they were involved in high-level discussions concerning oil exploration, security and trade.

“Today, Mr Ambassador, I am certain that our meeting and your visit to Grand Bahama would certainly give you a deeper appreciation for the people of Grand Bahama and certainly deepen the diplomatic and cultural relations between our two countries,” the minister said.

He said that over the last 10 years many Cuban teachers have contributed to the educational system of the Bahamas.

From there, the ambassador went to the Pelican Bay Resort, where he met the local business community at the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce Business Luncheon meeting.

He was taken on a tour of Freeport Container Port and Freeport Harbour and the GB Shipyard.

Ambassador Guzman also paid a courtesy call on officials at the Grand Bahama Port Authority before departing the island.