Cuba and Seychelles |13 April 2022

Cuban Vice-President Mercedes López Acea during an official visit to Seychelles in February 2018

‘44 years of friendship, cooperation, mutual respect and political dialogue’

Yesterday, April 12, Seychelles and Cuba celebrated 44 years of diplomatic relations under the premises of friendship, cooperation, mutual respect, solidarity and political dialogue.

To mark this occasion, Ambassador Martha Hernández Caneiro readily answered our questions.

Seychelles NATION: How can you describe the relationship between Seychelles and Cuba?

Ambassador Martha Hernández Caneiro: In short, we could say that relations between our two countries have developed under the premises of friendship, cooperation, mutual respect, solidarity and political dialogue.

Diplomatic relations between Cuba and Seychelles were established on April 12, 1978 and the Cuban embassy in Victoria was opened on November 25, 1980.

The two countries share historic relations and have mutually supported each other as developing countries aspiring to achieve socio-economic development for their peoples.  

During these years, bilateral cooperation has covered a wide range of fields, such as health, education, agriculture, construction, power generation, environment, and climate change, among others, which have contributed to the socio-economic development of Seychelles and the health of its people.

According to official records, about 200 young people have been trained in Cuba in specialties such as social and economic sciences, health, engineering, sports, contributing to the country's development.

Also in the course of these 44 years of bilateral relations there has been a fruitful exchange of delegations between our two countries, including visits by presidents, vice-presidents, foreign ministers, ministers for health, other ministers and members of the Cabinet and deputies of the National Assembly.

Seychelles NATION: Over the years, Seychelles has benefited a lot from Cuba's expertise in sports, health and agriculture. Will this continue in the coming years?

Ambassador Martha Hernández Caneiro: Cuban collaboration in Seychelles started in 1980 with the signature of the scientific, technical and cultural cooperation agreement and has been maintained to date in several areas of interest to both parties.

The health sector continues to be the most important in the bilateral collaboration and just at this moment we should start the process of updating and renewing the agreement in force between the ministries of health of Cuba and Seychelles.

Actually, 67 Cuban doctors and health specialists are working in the Seychelles public health system.

It is important to mention that members of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Seychelles are recognised by the population and by the health authorities because they carry out an important work of assistance, prevention and work in the fight against Covid-19, some of them have been in the red zone and others in the community.

Among our collaborators we have unique specialists in the country in areas such as hematology, oncology, neonatology, endocrinology, neurology, geriatrics and physiatry. The greatest satisfaction and pride of the Cuban doctors is to contribute to raising the health and welfare indexes of the Seychelles population, saving lives and preventing diseases.

In the training of human resources, throughout these years, more than 25 health professionals have graduated after training in Cuba and currently nine Seychellois students are studying there. One in the career of medicine as part of the government scholarship programme and the remaining eight are undertaking postgraduate studies in specialties of high impact for the health system of Seychelles such as: urology, endocrinology, hematology, gynecology, neonatology, dermatology, anatomic pathology and ophthalmology.

We recently signed the memorandum of understanding for the cooperation on disaster risk reduction and management cooperation that will remain in force for a period of three years. It establishes the basis for the exchange of experiences, information and good practices in matters related to disaster risk management in fields such as meteorology, hydrology, agro meteorology, seismology, fires in rural areas, as well as human, plant and animal health.

On the other hand, there are interests and possibilities to resume cooperation in the area of physical culture and sports and to promote greater exchange for the benefit of both countries. We look forward to making progress in the signing of this agreement and we wish to contribute with our sporting experience to help Seychelles achieve relevant international results and realise its dream of winning its first Olympic medal.

Because of our insularity, we share common problems and challenges such as concern for climate change, environmental protection and sustainable development. In this sense, Cuba is interested in creating the basis for developing cooperation in the areas of environmental policy and management, in which Seychelles has valuable experiences.

Seychelles NATION: Any other field Cuba can help Seychelles?

Ambassador Martha Hernández Caneiro: We are two small developing islands and the promotion of cooperation and the exchange of experiences are undoubtedly fundamental aspects to boost the development of our nations. Cuba is willing to cooperate and help Seychelles in all fields in which it has real capabilities and possibilities.

There are areas with potential for exchange and cooperation such as agriculture, fishing, blue economy, artistic exchange and protection of cultural heritage.

Seychelles NATION: Do you think the people of Seychelles are in solidarity with Cuba when it concerns the financial blockade?

Ambassador Martha Hernández Caneiro: I would like to emphasise the high esteem of the Cuban people and government for Seychelles and to thank once again on behalf of my people and my government for the historic and unchanging position of solidarity that Seychelles has maintained against the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by successive United States of America’s governments against the Cuban people for more than 60 years.

In our common history of relations, there is a special place for Seychellois friends of the Cuba solidarity movement who have always accompanied and supported us in our struggles throughout all these years. They will always be able to count on Cuba.

Seychelles NATION: Finally, what is your impression of what has been happening in the world?

Ambassador Martha Hernández Caneiro:I think it is becoming increasingly evident that all countries need an international order that guarantees peace, regional and global security. Cuba maintains its invariable position in favour of peace, the sovereignty of peoples and the equalright of all nations to sustainable development, especially small developing islands.

Cuba is a country committed to the United Nations Charter and international law that will always oppose forcé or the threat of the use of forcé against any state. Only through multilateralism, solidarity and international cooperation will we be able to face global challenges.