Cuba and Grenada: 47 Years of Friendship and Cooperation

From that same year, a broad program of technical cooperation was established in different sectors such as education, health, fishing, agriculture, construction, and sports. A prime example of this cooperative spirit was the delivery of the first of ten fishing vessels, named “Manzanillo,” which was converted into a floating school for young Grenadians. The goal was to help create a modern state-owned fishing industry in the country.

Among the most significant projects for Grenada's economic and social development was Cuba's contribution to the construction of Point Salines International Airport, now Maurice Bishop International Airport. The first Cuban teams and technical personnel arrived on the island in November 1979 to begin construction. At its peak, some 300 Cubans worked on the project, which was interrupted by the 1983 U.S. invasion.

The difficulty of undertaking such a construction project was explained by Fidel Castro in 1998:

“The problem is that there was no space to build it here, next to the capital; there were 10 to 12 relatively high hills, a bay, and the sea in front of it. How to do it, where to do it? (…) We told our Grenadian brothers: Let’s flatten the hills, fill in the bay, advance onto the sea, and build the airport.”

The pages of this story also hold an indelible memory: the Cuban blood spilled on Grenadian soil, where 24 internationalists died as a consequence of the 1983 U.S. intervention. That sacrifice became a testament to the unwavering commitment with which Cuba has always defended its principles.

That same spirit of solidarity among Cubans was expressed years later in the field of health, when Cuba contributed to the first and second phases of renovation and expansion of the General Hospital of Grenada in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Since then, doctors, nurses, and other medical specialists have provided services to the people of Grenada, even during weather emergencies and the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of this healthcare collaboration, more than 1,600 Grenadians, beneficiaries of Operation Miracle, regained their sight thanks to this project developed in conjunction with the Venezuelan government.

Cuba's commitment to solidarity has also been evident in the field of education. At the beginning of the millennium, more than 200 Grenadians became literate thanks to the "Yes, I Can" program, which opened new learning opportunities for historically marginalized sectors of society. Furthermore, over 300 Grenadians have graduated from Cuban universities, and more than 30 are currently studying on the island, benefiting from the scholarships Cuba awards each year.

The island known as the Spice Island has also provided aid and support to Martí's homeland. In 2008, a contingent of electrical workers traveled to Cuba to assist in the recovery efforts following Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, a gesture that demonstrated the reciprocal nature of the ties between the two nations.

In recent years, in response to the intensification of the United States' economic, commercial, and financial blockade against Cuba and the impact of several natural disasters on the island, the Grenadian government has donated significant financial and material resources to assist the Cuban people. In addition, on the political front, Grenada has supported the international struggle for independence under the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States.

High-level exchanges have been a cornerstone in strengthening the bonds of friendship between Cuba and Grenada over the past few decades. Among these, the visits by Prime Minister Keith Mitchell in 1997 and 2014 stand out, as well as the visit of the Commander-in-Chief to the small island nation in 1998. In 2010, then-Prime Minister Tillman Thomas paid an official visit to Havana, and more recently, two milestones were reached: the presence of President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez in Grenada in December 2022, and the visit to Cuba by Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell from April 11-14, 2024.

For almost five decades, the ties between the two countries have navigated diverse international circumstances. It’s a story, marked by solidarity, sacrifice and cooperation, that has become an example of how Caribbean peoples can maintain strong and lasting ties.

Translated by Amilkal Labañino / CubaSí Translation Staff