Victoria, August 14, 2025. The Cuban Embassy and the Seychelles-Cuba Friendship Association (SECUFA) opened the program commemorating Fidel's centenary on August 13 with the opening of the “Fidel” photo exhibition at the National Library of Seychelles.
The exhibition brings together a selection of 16 photographs of Fidel taken through the lens of his son and photographer Alex Castro, most of them captured in the privacy of his home after his retirement from official duties, at a time when he devoted himself to researching and writing on various topics.
During the simple and emotional ceremony, Secufa President André Pool highlighted the legacy of Commander Fidel Castro, commemorating the 99th birthday of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution.
He also recalled his years as a law student at the University of Havana, the assault on the Moncada Barracks in 1956, the Granma yacht expedition, and the struggle in the Sierra Maestra until the triumph of the Revolution on January 1, 1959.
In his speech, he highlighted the transformations achieved in Cuban society over the years in areas such as education, health, culture, economy, defense, youth, and sports.
During his leadership, there were many attempts to destabilize the Revolution and also to take his life; however, Fidel survived them all and emerged stronger than before, he emphasized.
Pool also highlighted Commander Fidel Castro's internationalism and solidarity with the rest of the world, commending the presence of Cuban health professionals saving lives in Asia, Africa, and other parts of the world.
He mentioned the assistance provided by engineers in infrastructure construction and the participation of contingents of soldiers and military personnel not only in the liberation of other nations but also in their defense after achieving independence.
On this point, he highlighted the impact of Cuban cooperation in Seychelles, through culture and education with the training of young people on the Caribbean island, as well as the presence of the Medical Brigade.
For her part, Cuban Ambassador Martha Hernández Caneiro referred to Fidel's legacy as one of the most respected revolutionary, anti-colonialist, and anti-imperialist leaders in contemporary history and highlighted the relevance of his ideas both inside and outside Cuba.
"Fidel left us many lessons, but perhaps the most important was that the Cuban people do not give up no matter how difficult the circumstances, but fight until they achieve final victory. He also taught us that simplicity, modesty, and humility must always be qualities present in men of good will. Fidel preached by personal example the Martian concept that all the glory in the world fits in a grain of corn," she remarked.
The Cuban diplomat evoked the figure of Fidel as the founding father of the Cuban Revolution's foreign policy, founder of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77, promoter of the independence and integration of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean; a constant defender of the independence of African countries and his tireless struggle on favor of the Palestinian people and their right to a sovereign and independent state.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Seychelles, Sylvestre Radegonde; the Secretary General of the Institute of Culture, Heritage and the Arts, David André; the Chief of the Defense Forces, Major General Michael Rossete; government and Foreign Ministry officials; members of the diplomatic corps; and members of SECUFA and the Cuban Medical Brigade in the African nation.
The “Fidel” exhibition will be open to the public in the main gallery of the National Library of Seychelles until August 22.
(Embacuba Seychelles)
