With great enthusiasm and gratitude from Fidel, Cuba and his people, the lawyer, politician and activist of solidarity, David Comissiong, from Barbados, received in Havana the Medal of Friendship from Kenya Serrano, President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP). Comissiong is a founding member of the Cuba-Barbados Friendship Association and is the current Coordinator of the Caribbean Chapter of the International Network of Intellectuals, Artists and Activists In Defence of Humanity. At various historical moments he met with the Commander-in-Chief and maintained an unyielding position with the Revolution as a tireless promoter of unity between the two countries as well as the integration among our Caribbean sisters nations
Hero Fernando González, one of the Cuban Five and vice president of ICAP, emphasized the David´s vocation for Cuba, from his youth, and alluded to the work of solidarity that for years has kept supporting the causes of the Cuban people as the fight against terrorism and US blockade, for the return of Elián González (the Cuban child kidnapped by Cuban-American mafia in Miami) and for the freedom of the Cuban Five.
He referred to David's relentless activity to strengthen ties between the two peoples, with projects in the educational and cultural sectors, among others, being a key in his country in solidarity actions and in activities together with ICAP.
He also recalled the visit of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro to Barbados in 1998, during the "March for Emancipation," where David shared the podium with Fidel and delivered a substantive speech, which was later published in his book entitled "The wide streets of tomorrow ".
Fernando stressed that David´s love for Cuba is also extended to his family. Sally, his wife, also a lawyer, is a member of the solidarity movement with Cuba, as well as his daughters and son, one of whom graduated in Cuba.
David - wary of this award granted by the Council of State - evoked his meetings with Fidel, pointing out that in the early 1990s he had the privilege of meeting him, and he said: “I do not speak to you just as a Barbadian, but as black people, as an African man and the first thing I want to say is that I want to thank Cuba for what it did in Africa”. Then he thanked me! And he referred to what the governments of Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago did when they jointly decided in 1972 to tighten ties with Havana in defiance of the United States.
And he concluded: in this world full of negativity and decadence Cuba stands as a beacon of hope, noble values, humanity and human feelings, so it has a huge responsibility in this world, but we also know that the Cuban people is strong, of great spirit and if we work and fight together we will get that better world that is possible.