On Saturday, September 19, a multi-purpose Eucharistic celebration convened in Roseau, the capital of Dominica, bringing together political leaders, community members and longstanding allies to mark three overlapping milestones: the 30th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between Cuba and Dominica, the feast of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, and the centennial of the birth of iconic Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.
Organized with support from the Embassy of Cuba in Dominica, the interfaith gathering drew a diverse cross-section of attendees, including incumbent senior government officials, members of the Cuban diaspora based in Dominica, Dominican graduates of Cuban higher education institutions, Cuban medical and education professionals working in the country, and other friends of the Cuban people. High-ranking attendees included Josette Matthew, Acting President of Dominica, Dr. Vince Henderson, Dominica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ian Douglas, Dominica’s Ambassador to Cuba, Miguel Fraga, Cuba’s Ambassador to Dominica, and multiple members of Dominica’s national parliament. Father Frantzo Simbert presided over the religious service.
In his homily, Father Simbert emphasized Cuba’s decades-long contributions to advancing public health and accessible education across Dominica and the broader Caribbean region, a legacy that has laid the foundation for the close bilateral ties between the two island nations. Following the homily, guests enjoyed a performance of a segment of the iconic Cuban folk song *La Guantanamera*, which stood out as one of the most memorable and unifying moments of the day’s events.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Fraga opened by extending gratitude for the enduring partnership between Cuba and Dominica, and thanked the Catholic Church in Dominica for its willingness to host the celebration. He then turned to the ongoing economic challenges facing the Cuban people, highlighting the recent intensification of the long-standing United States economic, commercial and financial embargo, alongside new restrictive measures that have severely disrupted fuel supplies to the island nation.
Fraga stressed that these external measures are not abstract policy tools—they inflict tangible harm on everyday Cubans, especially the most vulnerable segments of the population. He described the cumulative impact of the embargo as “a silent genocide,” noting, “Behind these measures there are not just numbers: there are families, there are children, there are the elderly, there are the sick – there are human beings.” Rejecting decades of U.S. rhetoric framing Cuba as a global security threat, Fraga clarified, “Cuba is not a threat; the Embargo is.”
Even amid mounting economic and social pressures, Fraga affirmed that the Cuban people remain resolute and optimistic, drawing inspiration from the teachings of Pope Francis and their enduring devotion to Our Lady of Charity. Echoing the words of Cuban national hero José Martí, “with all and for the good of all,” Fraga emphasized that Cuba would continue to move forward, sustained by the strength of its people and the solidarity of global allies. He closed his remarks with a rousing declaration: “Cuba is alive! Cuba is fighting!”
The ceremony concluded with collective prayers and blessings for the people of both Cuba and Dominica, alongside renewed calls for global peace, cross-border solidarity, and the continuation of the warm bilateral friendship that has defined 30 years of official relations between the two nations.