SANTIAGO, Cuba – An Honorary Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC) was bestowed on the former Cuban President, His Excellency Fidel Castro, during the Third CARICOM/Cuba Summit in Santiago de Cuba, December 8, 2008, for his contribution to the economic and social development of the Region.
Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), The Honourable Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda said that it was an honour to confer the award to a “most deserving champion of our Caribbean civilization.”
In his expression of thanks to the Community for the award, the former Cuban President said that the Honorary OCC was an “immense and underserved honour” for which he was “deeply appreciative”. The 82-year-old leader was at the helm of the Spanish speaking country throughout the first 35 years of diplomatic relations between CARICOM and Cuba. He is the first non-national of the Community to whom an Honorary OCC has been granted.
Following is the full text of the Chairman’s statement:
It is with a deep sense of pride and satisfaction that, on behalf of the Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), I have the honour to bestow on His Excellency Dr. Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, the former President of the Republic of Cuba, and longstanding friend of the Caribbean Community, an Honorary Order of the Caribbean Community.
This Order is the highest award which can be bestowed by the Caribbean Community. It is an award that very few possess as it is conferred only on those who have served the Caribbean Community with distinction and whose contribution to our Region has been exceptional.
Fidel Castro
These qualities have been exemplified by our Friend and Brother Fidel Castro who is the first non-national of the Caribbean Community to whom this award is granted.
Thirty-six years ago, at the height of the Cold War, the principled and historic step taken by the quartet of then independent states of the English-speaking Caribbean to jointly recognize Cuba was inspired by the example of the selfless courage, indomitable spirit and integrity that Fidel Castro had demonstrated as the leader of Cuba in charting defiantly his own path for development of his country.
Over the years, Fidel Castro cultivated and nurtured a strong relationship with CARICOM, a relationship built on friendship, goodwill, mutual respect and solidarity.
Demonstrating by example his commitment to South-South cooperation, Fidel Castro extended a generous hand of cooperation and collaboration to the Member States of CARICOM.
Through the provision of medical aid, scholarships, training programmes and technical cooperation projects in a wide range of areas, including health, education, science and technology, disaster preparedness, culture and sports, the peoples of the Caribbean Community have benefited significantly.
It would be fair to say that this human resource capacity building and assistance of all types provided by Cuba under the leadership of Fidel Castro have enhanced the quality of life of the people of the Caribbean Community.
The Caribbean is fortunate to have had in its midst for such a long period a visionary leader, friend and exemplar of the stature of Fidel Castro.
Linked together by the fraternal ties of geography, history and culture; united by the shared vision of a common Caribbean identity; motivated by the mutual belief in the power of regionalism, convictions which Fidel Castro championed, we have all been inspired by his example.
Fidel Castro, our friend, our Brother, we salute the fervour, the passion, and the sacrifice which you have channel into a lifetime of dedicated service to your country, to your region and to the wider developing world.
The Caribbean Community salutes you, commends you for your inestimable contribution and has the signal honour to award you the Honorary Order of the Caribbean Community
