HAVANA, Cuba — On a recent Tuesday, the Embassy of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) based in the Cuban capital rolled out a dual celebration: a formal diplomatic reception paired with a curated cultural exhibition, held to honor the 47th milestone of the island nation’s national independence. Centered on the evocative theme “Resilience Forever”, the carefully curated event was designed to both spotlight the vibrant, distinct cultural heritage of SVG and pay tribute to the unyielding collective spirit of its population across the homeland and global diaspora.
The exhibition component of the commemoration pulled together a diverse array of displays that highlighted local Vincentian talent and domestic products. Featured works included handcrafted jewelry created by celebrated Vincentian artisan Nataki Benn, alongside a curated photo gallery documenting SVG’s rich cultural traditions, plus a curated spread of signature domestic goods ranging from locally produced wines and artisanal rums to nutrient-dense sea moss and native Caribbean seasonings.
Delivering the keynote address at the gathering, Angella Jackson, SVG’s resident ambassador to Cuba, opened her remarks by paying a heartfelt tribute to the unbreakable, enduring spirit of Vincentians both residing on the islands and scattered across global communities. She walked attendees through SVG’s long track record of overcoming cascading crises, listing landmark challenges the nation has rebounded from: the catastrophic Hurricane Allen in 1980, the devastating 2024 Hurricane Beryl, the major 2001 La Soufrière volcanic eruption, recurring cycles of crippling drought and destructive flooding, the widespread public health upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, and far-reaching global economic and geopolitical shocks in recent years.
Ambassador Jackson extended a public note of gratitude to the dozens of fellow diplomatic representatives from friendly nations in attendance, recognizing their consistent support and assistance extended to SVG across decades of national development. She placed special emphasis on the outsized, longstanding contributions that the government and people of Cuba have made to advancing SVG’s core national priorities over the decades.
The ambassador went on to detail the deep, decades-long bilateral partnership between the two Caribbean nations, which formally established official diplomatic ties back in 1992. Over the 34 years since that diplomatic milestone, Cuba has delivered consistent, targeted support to SVG’s human resource development goals, facilitating the higher education and specialized vocational training of hundreds of Vincentian students across a wide spectrum of academic and technical fields. Cuban cooperation also underpinned several transformative landmark infrastructure projects in SVG, including the state-of-the-art diagnostic medical center in Georgetown and the Argyle International Airport, a critical transit hub that opened the nation up to expanded global connectivity.
Jackson also highlighted the reciprocal nature of the bilateral alliance, noting that SVG has stood as a consistent, vocal advocate for Cuba on the global diplomatic stage, most notably through its repeated votes in favor of the annual United Nations resolution demanding an end to the long-running U.S. economic, commercial and financial embargo against the island nation.
Turning her remarks directly to the cohort of Vincentian students currently pursuing their studies in Cuba, Jackson acknowledged that the current period brings unique, unprecedented hardships for many of them. She encouraged the young scholars to draw strength from the legendary resilient spirit of their homeland to navigate ongoing challenges and stay focused on their educational goals.
The well-attended event drew a diverse roster of distinguished guests, including senior Cuban government officials, members of the full Havana-based diplomatic corps, leaders of prominent Cuban public institutions, all ambassadors representing CARICOM member states in Cuba, resident Vincentian expats based across the island, and long-time advocates of strong Havana-Kingstown bilateral ties, including former Cuban ambassadors who previously served postings in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
SVG marks 47 years of independence in Havana
