The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Daily Observer
5 November 2009
A four-man delegation from the executive members of The Gambia-Cuba Friendship Association (GCFA) last Thursday, paid a courtesy call on the new Cuban ambassador to The Gambia, Her Excellency Ine's Fors Fernandez at her office in Fajara, a press release from the association indicated.
The delegation comprised the association's chairman, vice chairman, secretary general and social secretary, Messrs Cornelius Gomez, Buba Senghore, Hamidou Baldeh and Mam Buba Sowe respectively. Senghore introduced the delegation to the ambassador and went further to highlight the reasons for establishing The Gambia-Cuba Friendship Association in the year 2004.
He outlined the aims and objectives of the association and gave a run down of numerous activities the association is embarking. Key among these, he highlighted are the expansion of the association across the country, affiliating with the student groups at the faculty of medicine, RVTH, the student friendship body at the Gambia College, Cuban Doctors and Nursing Association in Barra, Farafenni, Bwiam and Basse Health Centers as well as the National Assembly Select Committee for Cuba.
He praised her predecessor for being so committed to the association and continued that the visit is to further strengthen the mutual relations between the organizations and the embassy. For her part, Her Excellency Ambassador Ine's Fors Fernandez, expressed joy in the activities of the association and said her doors are always open. She advised the association to prepare an annual programmes of activities and submit it to her office for any help coordination of programmes. She said her office acknowledged Gambians, particularly the rural people's appreciation of the presence of Cuban health personnel within their communities.
Dilating on the economic blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States government, Ambassador Fernandez informed the delegates that an overwhelming majority of the United Nations General Assembly recently voted in favor of lifting the blockade on Cuba. She thanked The Gambia government, particularly the President of the Republic, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh for his solidarity speech at the United Nations 64th General Assembly recently in New York.
With regard to the Cuban five, Ambassador Fernandez said her office and the entire Cuban populace acknowledge and appreciate the association's position in the international condemnation of the jailing of the five Cubans. She said her government is committed to the bilateral relations between the two countries as a result of which, the number of health brigades from Cuba sent to The Gambia will increase gradually especially in the next group.
In recognition of the association's solidarity with Cuba, she promised that her office will try all possible means to initiate exchange visit between GCFA and ECAP in Cuba. Cornilius Gomez, the chairman of GCFA assured the Cuban diplomat of their continued support noting that this is to complement President Jammeh's move. He commended the role of Cubans in the Gambian society and Africa at large, adding that the strong ties between the two countries will be further strengthened.
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