Both sides are celebrating the decision by Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Guyana, and Jamaica to establish diplomatic relations with Havana in 1972 and break the hostile isolation that the government faced after its revolutionary triumph in 1959.

Such a gesture paved the way for other Caribbean states to develop ties of friendship and cooperation with that sister nation. Later, in 2002, this led to the implementation of the mechanism of the CARICOM-Cuba summits.

In that meeting, the heads of State and Government of the integrationist bloc and Cuba agreed to establish this date to celebrate the beginning of their relations, which has become a reference for other integration projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.

These gatherings are held every three years to examine and expand cooperation and integration projects in education, health, energy, and trade, among other sectors.

During its five decades of relations, Cuba has granted scholarships, technical assistance, personnel, and medical aid in emergencies and deployed many professionals to provide different services in several CARICOM states.

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