Parliamentary leaders of Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago met in Havana

HAVANA, Cuba, Sep 4 (ACN) Esteban Lazo Hernández, president of the National Assembly of People's Power and of the Council of State, met in this city with Bridgid Annisette-George, president of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

“It is a real pleasure to receive you and your delegation at the seat of our Parliament; we always look forward to talking with our Caribbean brothers and sisters to share view and boost our cooperation,” said Lazo, who recalled the words of Army General Raúl Castro Ruz when he said, ‘We share a common history of colonialism, slavery and struggles for freedom, independence and development, which is the crucible in which our cultures have forged. We also face common challenges that we can only overcome with the closest unity and effective cooperation’.

Trinidad and Tobago was one of the first four Caribbean states to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba more than 50 years ago, and both countries have developed strong links of friendship, cooperation and respect since then.

Lazo also thanked his guest for the unconditional support of her country to Cuba’s demand for the end of the U.S. blockade and its removal from the illegitimate list of alleged State sponsors of terrorism.

On her end, Ms. Annisette-George, who said it was an honor and a historical privilege to be in Havana a few days before the 62nd anniversary of her nation's independence, praised Cuba’s work against COVID-19 with its own vaccines and its solidarity with the international community in the fight against the Ebola virus and the pandemic, an effort she described as an example worth following worldwide.

As she presented her host with a Letter of Intent for the establishment of a Cuba Friendship Group in the Trinidadian legislative body, she assured Lazo that her country would keep supporting the resolutions that Cuba submits for approval every year at the United Nations to put an end to the U.S. blockade.