Republic of Cuba remembers ‘Bay of Pigs’

In commemoration of the 51st anniversary of the victory of the Cuban Giron (Bay of Pigs), an official ceremony was held at the Peace Memorial Hall{{more}} on Wednesday, April 18, by the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The event saw a number of persons in attendance, including Cuban nationals, Queen,s Counsel Parnel Campbell, Director of Public Prosecutions Colin Williams and former government minister René Baptiste.

His Excellency Pablo Antionio Roderiguez Vidal, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, said it was important for them to pay a worthy tribute to the martyrs and Cuban fighters that helped to guarantee the survival of their independence.

“We must not forget the solidarity support we received from our friends all over the world, especially here in St Vincent, where we have real friends….We have to pay tribute to the people that have been able to stand in the face of adversity over the years…,” Vidal said.

In an emotional address, Angella “Ideisha” Jackson, of the Vincentian Association of Professionals Trained In Cuba (Vincupa), said it is “heart-wrenching” sometimes to see those who have received benefits from Cuba through education and medical help, not show their gratitude.

“…Perhaps the greatest achievement of the Revolution is that it demonstrates that it is possible to build a society that is motivated principally by human solidarity rather than personal greed…. We need to take a page out of the revolutionary book of Cuba and start transforming our own country…,” Jackson said.

Other addresses came from Arianna Duharte Israel, President of The Association of The Cuban Residents In SVG, Juan Almeida Bosque; and a message from Renwick Rose, President of the SVG – Cuba Friendship Association.

The program was chaired by Violeta Gutiérrez Samuels.

In the early hours of April 17, 1961, a force, consisting of 1400 Cuban exiles, landed at the Bay of Pigs, Cuba, in an attempt to overthrow the revolutionary government headed by Fidel Castro. From the beginning, this “invasion” was marred by poor planning and poor execution.

The force, which had been secretly trained and armed in Guatemala by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), was too large to engage in effective covert operations, yet too small to realistically challenge Castro in a military confrontation without additional support from the United States.

After three days of fighting, the insurgent force, which was running short of ammunition and other supplies, had been effectively subdued by Castro’s forces. In a futile effort to avoid capture, the insurgents dispersed into the Zapata swamp and along the coast. Cuban forces quickly rounded up 1,189 prisoners, while a few escaped to waiting U.S. ships; 114 were killed.

The prisoners remained in captivity for 20 months, as the United States negotiated a deal with Fidel Castro. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy made personal pleas for contributions from pharmaceutical companies and baby food manufacturers, and Castro eventually settled on millions of dollars worth of baby food and medicine in exchange for the prisoners.

Almost 50 years later, relations between Castro’s Cuba and the United States remain strained and tenuous. (KW)