President Kabbah In Cuba

The President, Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, has returned to Freetown after a one-week official visit to the Republic of Cuba. Upon arrival in Havana, Cuba on Tuesday 15th March 2005, President Kabbah was met by Mrs. Marta Lomas, Minister of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation and Mr. Jose R. Guerra Manchero, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as other senior government officials.

While in Cuba President Kabbah and entourage visited the Revolution Square, where he laid a wreath at the monument of Jose Marti, Cuban nationalist hero. The President was taken on a conduct tour of the Jose Marti Memorial and was shown a collection from the life and work of Jose Marti, which includes photographic documents (Iconography, engravings, drawings and maps).

President Kabbah later visited the Jose Marti Junior High School in old Havana, accompanied by Julio Martinez, First Secretary of the Young Communist League who offered a detailed explanation of the educational system in the country.

President Kabbah observed that the Cuban educational system has many advantages, adding that he was impressed with the example of bilingual education offered to the pupils during his welcome reception. He identified four most important areas for cooperation: education, health, youth development and sports.

The President also held fruitful discussions with the Young Communist League National Board on the update on the program for the emergent training of Professors and on the transformation in Secondary School.

President Kabbah met his host, President Fidel Castro, at the Palace of the Revolution. During their meeting the two leaders reviewed the current state of bilateral relations between their two countries, as well as international issues and the situation in Africa. President Kabbah later visited Varadero Beach resort.

It is worth noting that this was the first visit to Cuba by a Head of State from Sierra Leone since the country gained its independence in 1961.

President Kabbah was accompanied by Mr. Momodu Koroma, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Dr. Dennis Bright, Minister of Youth and Sports.

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