Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from Radio Havana Cuba's news service for Monday, January 25, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- PRIME MINISTER OF ST. LUCIA WRAPS UP THREE-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO CUBA 2.- CUBA AMONG COUNTRIES WITH LEAST NUMBER OF AIDS PATIENTS 3.- GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO THE ELDERLY EXPANDS IN 1999 4.- SOUTH AMERICAN SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA BRIGADE VISITS THE ISLAND 5.- GENERAL DIRECTOR OF HAITI'S HEALTH AND POPULATION MINISTRY VISITS CUBA 6.- TEGUCIGALPA RENAMES AVENUE "CUBAN SOLIDARITY" 7.- CANADIAN COMPANY GENOIL BEGINS OIL EXPLORATION IN CUBA PRIME MINISTER OF ST. LUCIA WRAPS UP THREE-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO CUBA Havana, January 25(RHC)-- The Prime Minister of the Caribbean island St. Lucia, Kenny Davis Anthony, wrapped up a three-day official visit to Cuba on Monday. The St. Lucian prime minister arrived in Havana Saturday at the head of a high-ranking delegation that included his Foreign Minister George W. Odlum. During official talks with Cuban President Fidel Castro, the two countries signed several accords in diverse fields. Anthony, who is also the current president of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM, expressed his country's desire for bilateral cooperation with Cuba in the sphere of mental health -- after visiting Havana's Psychiatric Hospital. The Caribbean dignitary also gathered with 130 St. Lucians studying in Cuban universities. He was awarded Cuba's Jose Marti Order -- the island's highest distinction -- given to him by Cuban President Fidel Castro. As has occurred with other nations in the Caribbean, relations between Cuba and St. Lucia have grown steadily in recent years. CUBA AMONG COUNTRIES WITH LEAST NUMBER OF AIDS PATIENTS Havana, January 25(RHC)-- Cuba is among the countries with the least number of AIDS patients in the world, according to the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations, Ariel Francais. According to a report issued by the United Nations, 11 people contract the HIV virus each minute throughout the world -- a total of 662 every hour. The UN resident coordinator added that Cuba is one of the nations least affected by the deadly disease, although he warned that the opening to tourism is a key factor to take into consideration. He stressed the United Nation's interest in maintaining its support and contributing to the control of AIDS in the country. Since the beginning of Cuba's AIDS prevention program in 1986 until December 1998, 2122 people have been registered as HIV positive; of that number, 800 have become ill and 572 have died as a result of the disease. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO THE ELDERLY EXPANDS IN 1999 Havana, January 25(RHC)-- Over 20,000 elderly people received social security benefits during 1998 and, according to official plans for this year, all types of assistance to the elderly will be increased, despite the island's economic situation. The Director of the Labor Ministry's Social Assistance Office, Santos Prieto, stated that the island's elderly are included in a government plan that invests over 50 million pesos each year to help single mothers and orphans. SOUTH AMERICAN SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA BRIGADE VISITS THE ISLAND Santa Clara, January 25(RHC)-- Members of the South American Solidarity with Cuba Brigade, currently visiting the island, placed a floral wreath before the Ernesto Che Guevara Memorial in the central city of Santa Clara. More than 250 members of the 6th Contingent of the South American solidarity brigade also toured the Loma de Capiro and other historic sites where important and decisive battles of the Cuban Revolution were fought, led by legendary guerrilla Ernesto Che Guevara. The brigadistas also did voluntary work in an agricultural area near Caimito, located on the outskirts of Havana, and attended conferences on the Cuban reality. GENERAL DIRECTOR OF HAITI'S HEALTH AND POPULATION MINISTRY VISITS CUBA Havana, January 25(RHC)-- The General Director of Haiti's Health and Population Ministry, Micaela Amede Yedeon, is currently in Cuba on a three-day visit. The Haitian official will visit hospitals, polyclinics and family doctor offices in the central province of Cienfuegos. She will also take a first-hand look at the province's medicine distribution network and the research being done with natural medicine. TEGUCIGALPA RENAMES AVENUE "CUBAN SOLIDARITY" Tegucigalpa, January 25(RHC)-- One of the main avenues in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa will be renamed "Cuban Solidarity." The decision of City Hall is in recognition of the island's medical aid to the victims of Hurricane Mitch. Cuban medical personnel are currently offering their services to the Honduran people in the country's remote areas. As part of the decision, other streets in Tegucigalpa will be renamed "Mexico," "Japan" and "Lisbon" in recognition of their support for the Honduran people. CANADIAN COMPANY GENOIL BEGINS OIL EXPLORATION IN CUBA Havana, January 25(RHC)-- The Canadian company Genoil will begin oil exploration in the municipality of Media Luna, located in eastern Granma province. Genoil has a risk contract with the Cuban oil firm CUPET and will drill in one of the 33 Cuban geological prospecting blocks at a depth of 2500 meters. After geological experts discovered a type of oil without much sulfur, the Canadians invested nearly two million 500,000 dollars for the exploration stage, which is expected to take some 40 days. [c] 1999, Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. This prohibition includes the distribution of this material via Usenet News, "bulletin board" services, e-mail lists, print media, radio and television. For the complete RADIO HAVANA CUBA NEWSCAST and other features, please write for our daily broadcast schedule. We welcome your comments and suggestions. For further information, contact us at: Postal Address: Radio Havana Cuba P.O.Box 6240 Havana, Cuba Telephone: (53) (7) 791053 Fax: (53) (7) 795007 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org WWW: http://www.radiohc.org