Ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Guyana and Cuba, the latter has trained hundreds of Guyanese in various skills, notably medicine, a field that Guyana has been deficient in due to the brain drain which began in the 1970s because of political and other reasons.

This gesture by the Cuban Government and people is indicative of their commitment to help less fortunate countries in overcoming developmental obstacles in the struggle to provide essential services and improve the standard of living of their peoples.

Cuba has indeed lived up to its internationalist philosophy of solidarity with the poor and less fortunate, unlike many other countries which only pay "lip service" to this philosophy.

Furthermore, Cuba is by no stretch of the imagination a wealthy country, still enduring a trade embargo and economic blockade imposed by the United States four decades ago.

Despite this, the Cuban Government and people have been generous in helping to develop cadres of professionals, free of cost and without any strings attached.

Cuba has not only been generous to Guyana.

Under its aid programme and despite its constraints, it has been providing training for personnel in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

And during the period of the Angolan war, it cared for hundreds of children who became orphans as a result of that war, providing them with education and training so that when they were re-integrated into their society they would been equipped to help themselves and contribute positively to their countries.

Cuba could help fellow developing countries because it has one of the finest education and medical systems in the world, which has been producing huge numbers of scientists, doctors, dentists and engineers, among a host of other fields.

Although some may have misgivings about Cuba's political system, its achievement in the education and medical fields cannot be denied and the latest batch of Guyanese students going there to study could benefit tremendously in advancing in their chosen careers.

At the orientation for the batch last Saturday, President Bharrat Jagdeo appropriately described the gesture of the Cuban Government and people as "magnanimous."

On returning to Guyana following the completion of their studies, the students could play a pivotal and crucial role in helping to repair the damage that has been done to the social, educational and physical infrastructure so that the achievement of national developmental goals can be accelerated.