CUBA – A true friend
Next Monday, July 26, 2010, the people of Cuba will celebrate one of their biggest days, the anniversary of the event considered the beginning of the Cuban Revolution.{{more}} That event was the heroic, but very costly in terms of human lives lost, attack on the Moncada barracks in Eastern Cuba on July 26,1953, by a group of young Cuban revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro. Though that insurrection was brutally put down by the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, Fidel and those of his colleagues who survived were jailed then sent into exile where they triumphed a mere five years later.
July 26 is to the Cuban people what July 14 is to the people of France. On that date in 1789, the hated prison fortress called the Bastille in Paris was stormed by the French people leading to the French Revolution, under the banner of âLiberty, Equality, and Fraternityâ. The Cubans also share July revolutionary celebrations with the people of their northern neighbour, the United States of America, who on July 4, 1776, declared their Independence from Britain. All three of these republics, the USA, France and Cuba, therefore share a common history of having been established by revolution.
Unfortunately for Cuba, its people have not been allowed to enjoy their victory or to celebrate their anniversary unmolested. Differences with the USA have resulted in that country imposing a cruel embargo on Cuba for almost fifty years now, beginning on February 7, 1962. This embargo has been frowned on by the international community. For the past 18 years, the General Assembly of the United Nations has voted overwhelmingly each year for an end to the embargo. Regrettably, the United States continues to defy this call. No other country on earth is subjected to this discriminatory treatment.
In spite of this, the Cuban people continue to strive to develop their country. Like other developing countries, it faces enormous challenges. The hostility from its northern neighbour has caused Cuba to be permanently on a war footing with implications for its internal democratic processes. The crippling embargo has also led to the Cuban government having to rely heavily on external forces and world -wide solidarity in order to survive. Yet in spite of these problems, Cuba has soldiered on making impressive strides in such areas as health, education, sport and culture.
Above all, Cuba, the recipient of international solidarity has been exemplary in its own solidarity, helping developing countries all over the world. Tens of thousands of doctors, engineers, nurses, economists and other professionals from these countries were trained at the expense of the Cuban people, in spite of their own deficiencies. The sacrifice has been herculean. That sacrifice reached its zenith when Cuban soldiers not only died for the liberation of Angola, but, by inflicting a crippling defeat on the army of the South African racists, directly hastened the end of apartheid and the release of Nelson Mandela from prison. Mr. Mandela has publicly acknowledged this and expressed his eternal gratitude.
We here in St.Vincent and the Grenadines are recipients of Cuban solidarity. Our core of professionals in the public service has been tremendously strengthened by Cuban training and our human resource capacity much enhanced as a result. Cuba has done for our health service what no other country has done and those who benefitted from the VISION NOW can attest to Cuban solidarity in practice. The contribution to our international airport is beyond description in a selfish modern world.
In spite of all this, there are those in our midst who daily engage in slander and acts of malice against the Cuban people. We do not all have to agree with the Cuban system of governance, nor is it realistic to expect us to replicate it. Each country must work out their own path of development. But we must never be ungrateful, never be afraid to stand up for those who befriend us.
We in the SVG/Cuba Friendship Society extend our congratulations to the government and people of Cuba on this historic occasion and assure them that patriotic Vincentians appreciate and highly value their contribution to our national development. We condemn those in our midst who repay kindness and good neighbourliness with ingratitude and malice. We will continue to promote and work for friendship and solidarity between our two peoples. CUBA IS A TRUE FRIEND!
Renwick Rose
President
SVG/Cuba Friendship Society
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