Searchlight – You spoke for me, too

12.SEPT.08
EDITOR: I write to commend you and Searchlight for your editorial of 25/09/08 captioned, “Repay Cuban Generosity.” You deserve high praises, for it is common practice by many in our land to focus solely on the deficiencies existing in that fair land of our brothers, while never once mentioning their unmatched capacity for international solidarity with the poor and powerless of this world, including SVG.{{more}} It causes me terrible heartache when Vincentians who have the capacity to find the truth indulge in exposing all of Dr. Castro’s committed sins, real or western media manufactured, but in the same breath refuse to acknowledge his role in the liberation of most of Southern Africa, including the revered Nelson Mandela, his commitment to educating students from the economic disadvantaged nations of the world, and his willingness to always share the very little that Cuba’s has. And, a ten-second check would show that I have chosen three, from a very lengthy list of this sister Caribbean nation’s generosity to the rest of the world.

I am, therefore, indeed very grateful that your respected newspaper was bold enough to state this elementary truth. Of course, it will not stop those hell-bent on demonizing Fidel from pursuit of their mission of hate, lies, deceit and of being anti-Cuban attack dogs, all in an effort to paint a purely negative picture of a country that has done so much for us. But at the very least, it shows that not all Vincentians are ungrateful. Believe me, your editorial spoke on my behalf as well, and hence my sincere thanks.

Dr. Richard A. Byron-Cox