Amidst tight security measures, Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro arrived shortly after 11 am from Cuba. He was received with military honors by President Leonel Fernández and the Fernández cabinet at the Las Americas International Airport. The airport was closed from 8:30 am to the expected arrival at 11 am. The Cuban President arrived on a Cubana de Aviación flight. This is Castro’s first visit to the Dominican Republic. He will be in the Dominican Republic from 20 to 24 August. Castro’s visit to the Dominican Republic is part of a Caribbean diplomatic offensive that has taken him to Jamaica, Barbados and Grenada. While trade and cultural exchanges had occurred for several years during the Balaguer administrations, it was only in April of this year that the Dominican Republic restored full diplomatic relations with Cuba.
