From studying in Cuba to Ambassador: Kenneth Douglas

HAVANA, Cuba, May 11 (acn) When Kenneth Douglas graduated as a major in Physical Culture in 2007 he returned to his native St. Kitts and Nevis, but with the dream of one day returning to Cuba as ambassador of his country.

In 2015, year in which both nations met two decades of relations, his dream was fulfilled.

In an interview with ACN, the sports instructor become diplomat recalled that, despite the existence of links between the countries from 1995, steps to open an embassy in Havana had not been taken up to 2014.

The Cuban government offered us university scholarships and sent us medical personnel, he said, but there we did not have an embassy or official site. I felt that lack when I studied here. So, when returning to my land I told the then prime minister that if one day an embassy was opened, I wanted to be the ambassador.

Finally, last year the fact was materialized and I was much honored when I knew that my name had been taken into account. It was very intense for me the organizational work of the embassy, but in January 2015 we could start our functions, Mr. Douglas said.

One of the things that made me think about the need to open an office was that students, as I experienced it before, have not a direct flight home, which lengthens and makes more expensive travelling. And this is still happening, he noted.

A few days ago I was in talks with the Cuban Minister of Transport, exploring the possibility of starting a direct flight between my capital, Basseterre, and Havana. I also think that similar routes must exist to link other Caribbean cities, added the diplomat.

Regarding investments developed in recent years by the Cuban Government, Ambassador Douglas said his country had a similar economic development. It was first exporter of sugar, then got concentrated on promoting tourism and currently moves toward foreign investment as a source of financing.

Cuba can make good use of external financing. My country is focused on using it to invest in manufacturing electronic components and today we are the leading exporters of this item in the Caribbean, he stated.

With the right strategy, being a small country with a small population does not have to stop the development. In this regard, Cuba could be a tourist destination that displaces others in the region of the Antilles because it has preserved ecosystems and much civic tranquility, the people here are friendly and there no is street violence affecting other Caribbean nations, he added.

Mr. Douglas made some projections about what might be the strongest points in the cooperation of his country with Cuba and the Caribbean in general. It would be good that not only young people from my country to continue forming themselves as doctors here, but also the more Cuban health professionals to go to our lands and serve as speakers to share with us their experiences in missions around the world, highlighted the interviewee.

A theme of cooperation in which we are progressing is the risk management and cope with climate change, he said. Douglas recalled that a new cyclone season will shortly begin and we have to increase protection from a hurricane or other tropical storms, not only to avoid human losses, but to preserve the coasts and beaches, which are the basis of tourism, an economic activity essential for our area.

St. Kitts and Nevis and Cuba started their bilateral relations on May 10, 1995, and with the opening in 2014 of the embassy of that country, the diplomatic missions of the 14 member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) were completed in Havana.