PARAMARIBO–More than 50 medical doctors from Cuba will relocate to Suriname shortly, Health Minister Celsius Waterberg announced, on Monday as President Desi Bouterse and his delegation reported on the outcome of their recent Cuba trip. The minister said that 17 specialized nurses will arrive soon, followed by ten medical practitioners, two neurologists, three hormone scientists, two surgeons and cancer specialists. Cuba is also sending five pharmacists, five dialogists  and a team of eye specialists, Waterberg reported.

The minister said he would engage talks with Surinamese medical specialists soon, because they should understand that the Cubans do not pose a threat. “We should rather see them as complementary to our local supply of medical specialists,” said Waterberg.

President Bouterse said that he would see to it that the expertise of the Cuban specialists finds its way to especially the hinterland. “It does bother the President and the Vice President that in the inlands there’s 0,2 doctor per 1,000 residents. These people have just as much  right to health care as us who live in Paramaribo. We should raise the standards of our healthcare,” Bouterse said.

Accompanied by Public Works Minister Ramon Abrahams, Health Minister Waterberg and Foreign Minister Winston Lackin, Bouterse visited Cuba from Tuesday May 24 till Monday May 31st, in response to an official invitation by his Cuban counterpart, President Raul Castro Ruz. Aside from his meeting with President Castro, Bouterse also laid a wreath at the monument for Cuban national hero Jose Marti and toured the associated museum, met with Minister Rodrigo Malmierea Diaz of International Trade and Investments. The delegation also met with Suriname’s students that are studying at Cuban universities.

HAVANA, Cuba–The ongoing visit by President Bouterse to Cuba is likely to spur more cooperation between Suriname and Cuba, Bouterse’s cabinet is reporting.

“Cuba’s President Raul Castro reiterated that Suriname is invited to the Commercial Fair that will be hosted in Havana next November; upon his return to Suriname (Foreign) Minister Winston Lackin will take concrete steps toward making that happen,” Bouterse’s spokesperson Cliff Limburg wrote in a press release. He also wrote that Suriname and Cuba have discussed Cuban investments in bio-techniques, healthcare and national sports trainings, specifically in the Regional Sports Academy that Suriname wants to start.

Limburg furthermore reported that Suriname and Cuba will next July be among the Caribbean and Latin American countries to sign for the establishment of the SELAC (Systema Economica Latina Americana y Caribe), a new institute that should serve as the umbrella organization of all regional cooperative bodies. “For all Latin American and Caribbean countries to operate with one voice, independent from their former colonizers, will be the realization of Simon Bolivar’s dream,” the President’s spokesperson wrote.

Accompanied by Public Works Minister Ramon Abrahams, Health Minister Celsius Waterberg and Foreign Minister Winston Lackin, Bouterse arrived in Cuba on Tuesday May 24, on a three-day official visit in response to an official invitation by his Cuban counterpart, President Raul Castro Ruz. The private sector is represented on this trip by Mr. Algoe; Mr. R. Power and Mr. D. Sardjoe; the businessmen are interested in establishing business relations in the fields of agriculture, lumber and fertilizer, the press release stated.

It said that aside from his meeting with Cuban President Raul Castro, Bouterse also laid a wreath at the monument for Cuban national hero Jose Marti and toured the associated museum. On Wednesday the delegation met with Minister Rodrigo Malmierea Diaz of International Trade and Investments, to continue talks Foreign Minister had previously initiated on agriculture, health and sports investments. “Suriname is interested in importing fertilizers and cements from Cuba and the Cubans are keen on our lumber and rice. They also will offer their expertise in helping us establish the curriculum for the regional sports academy. They will be visiting the international school for sport in that regard on Friday,” the release reported.

The delegation was also scheduled for meetings with Suriname’s students that are studying at Cuban universities.

HAVANA, Cuba–President Bouterse has highlighted the excellent state of relations with Cuba, as well as his country’s interest in deepening cooperation bonds, Cuban media are reporting. Bouterse arrived in Cuba on Tuesday May 24, on a two-day official visit in response to an official invitation by his Cuban counterpart, President Raul Castro Ruz.

“We have a new opportunity to explore other possibilities, see what we have to offer each other to expand cooperation. We’re convinced that the visit will be a success,” Cuba’s La Prensa quotes Bouterse as saying.

The Cuba visit made local headlines on Wednesday, when it turned out that despite announcing that a group of businessmen was supposed to travel along with the president, none had gone.

Bouterse is scheduled to hold official talks with Cuban President Castro, in addition to carrying out other activities.

HAVANA, Cuba–President Desi Bouterse arrived in Cuba on Tuesday May 24,in response to an official invitation. During his stay in the island the president will meet with his Cuban counterpart, President Raul Castro Ruz. A visit with ailing revolutionary leader Fidel Castro is not on the agenda. Main issue on the agenda is a meeting between the two presidents, that has an “open agenda”, Foreign Minister Winston Lackin has said. Bouterse is accompanied by two of his cabinet ministers, advisors and Surinamese businessmen.

Lackin said strengthening the business relationship is high on the agenda, hence the addition of agriculture and timber businessmen to the delegation. “The intention is for them to establish direct ties with their Cuban counterparts. We would like to export more rice and lumber to Cuba and are very interested in their cement and fertilizer industries,” Lackin said.

The Minister said that the delegation will also aim at establishing airlift between Cuba and Suriname, with a possible stop in Georgetown, Guyana. “That would assist in regional integration,” he said. The two countries will also look at strengthening the cooperation in the field of sports.  “We’re discussing our plan to set up a sports academy in Suriname with Cuba. Cuba will assist by sending trainers to Suriname,” said Lackin.

Cuba and Suriname established diplomatic relations on May 31, 1979, and have taken forward important bilateral exchanges, mainly in the fields of health, sports, and training of professionals.

Cuba’s medical cooperation in Suriname began in 1998; there are currently 17 Cuban health professionals working at health institutions in the country. Minister Lackin explained that Health Minister Celsius Waterberg is part of the Suriname delegation, because Suriname is interested in increasing the number of Cuban health specialists that work in Suriname. “We also want to look at the possibility of arranging for more Surinamese medical students to study in Cuba”, Lackin said. At present there are 50 Surinamers at Cuban medical schools.

Since the beginning of bilateral cooperation between the two countries, 54 Surinamers have graduated from Cuban universities.