In a solemn ceremony presided over by several ministers and high officials of the government of Barbados, civil society organizations and the accredited diplomatic corps, tribute was paid to the victims of the terrorist attack against the CU-455 flight of CUBANA on October 6, 1976 on the west coasts of this Caribbean island. The Minister of Foreign Trade in the Chancellery, Cheryl Sandra Husbands, the Minister of the Environment, Trevor Prescod, and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs, Simone Rudder, accompanied Cuban Ambassador Francisco Fernández to lay a wreath in remembrance of the victims. The General Consul of Guyana, Cita Pilgrim, the Secretary General of the Barbados-Cuba Friendship Association, David Denny, and Yaima Payne, president of the Association of Cuban Residents "Mártires de Barbados", also took the floor to condemn terrorism and express their condolences to the relatives of the 73 civilians killed in that despicable sabotage.
Minister Husbands expressed her condolences to the families of the victims and their solidarity with the governments and peoples of Cuba, Guyana and North Korea on behalf of her government and affirmed that "This act of terrorism that occurred in the territorial waters of her country is recorded forever in our memories. So, when we meet here annually, it is not routine but because of the obligation we feel to make sure that this atrocious act remains in our conscience because the final justice is still pending ".
The Guyanese consul reiterated her condolences and the commitment of her government to fight against the scourge of terrorism regardless of the place and those who practice it. He said that "the terrorists were well identified but never punished. His crime was protected by those who had the ability to do so. Although 42 years have passed, justice still demands that those responsible be judged (...) the international community must recognize this savage terrorist act and thereby guarantee that this hemisphere is free of terrorism ".
The solidarity leader David Denny, awarded with the Cuban Medal for Friendship, strongly condemned terrorism and the genocidal blockade against Cuba which is part of the same policy of isolation and the pretense of punishing a revolutionary people, which is also the most solidarian of the world with humankind and in particular with the underdeveloped nations of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. The President of the Cuban Residents emphasized that the Association chosed to be called "Martyrs of Barbados" for the commitment to always be in solidarity with her people and the families of the fallen of the three nations and to symbolize the special ties between Barbadians and Cubans, who were strengthened after this horrendous crime. Recalling Fidel's words against the extremists and terrorists who have attacked Cuba from US territory, she added that "what hurts the most is that the intellectual authors of the crime were freed and protected by the same imperialist government that today tries to control our region and the world, imposing sanctions and blockades that affect the development of our small nations, while continuing to support and finance terrorist acts throughout the world".
In his closing remarks, the Ambassador thanked the representatives of various segments of the Barbadian society for their presence and, in particular, the historical support of Barbados in this struggle, which belongs to everyone. He agreed with the Minister in highlighting the close ties established between the two countries as a result of the crime, which were essential to arrest the direct authors of the sabotage. He stressed that this was an act of state terrorism, without the justice having come after 42 years and having witnessed how the masterminds have been dying from natural causes while they were walking freely down the streets through the national territory of the United States. He stressed that the international community is aware that everything comes together in the imperial aggressive policy, the genocidal blockade included, that does not forgive our people for having conquered with its Revolution dignity, independence and self-determination.
In this regard, the Ambassador acknowledged how the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, in a courageous speech before the UN General Assembly in defense of the common challenges facing our small island states, and in particular the need to preserve multilateralism, once again denounced just a few days ago the US blockade and all kinds of unilateral measures that undermine our survival and sustainable development. (Cubaminrex - Embacuba Barbados)