|
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
At his meeting with President Desi Bouterse last week, legendary Cuban leader Fidel Castro said Suriname's future is tied to the development of its agricultural sector. "He presented a perfect analysis of our country and all the opportunities we have," Suriname's Foreign Minister Winston Lackin who sat in at the meeting said on Tuesday.
Castro (87) met with several Caribbean and Latin American leaders visiting Cuba for the Second Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) last week. It was the first time in months that he appeared in public. Pictures showed the aging revolutionary who ruled Cuba for 48 years before transferring power to his brother Raul, grey, frail and walking with a cane.
Minister Lackin said that during his talks with President Bouterse, at which he touched on matters relating to humanity and the ties and cooperation between their two countries, Castro came across as sharp. "He had a perfect grasp of present day world issues. He can discuss in detail developments that take place in the most distant corners of the world and which directions they could take," Lackin said.
He said Castro showed remarkable insights regarding sustainable development and holds distinct principles about man being in charge of his own destiny. "These are all linked to his views on philosophy and a pretty up-to-date vision on public health and development matters," said Lackin.
The Minister said the Cuban leader was also well abreast of matters relating to Suriname's development. "He said that the development of our agriculture should be in tandem with scientific developments we initiate, for instance in the education, public health and ICT sectors," said Lackin.
The two-day summit of CELAC, which aims to strengthen the political, social and cultural integration of the Latin American and Caribbean States, closed on Wednesday last week. Bouterse was among the 33 Latin American and Caribbean leaders that attended and defied criticism of embracing the ideas of Castro and of being antidemocratic. Bouterse joined the increasing calls against the trade blockade the US has imposed on Cuba for more than half a century. "No matter what Government held rule in Suriname, it has always been the view of my country that the blockade against Cuba was an inhumane and unfair measure," Bouterse said.
The Surinamese President said that the comparison between Suriname and Cuba was that both countries were able to develop themselves against all odds.
|
