Pretoria, March 13, 2020.- The Cuban Ambassador, Rodolfo Benítez Verson participated in the celebrations organized in South Africa on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU).
In his speech, cro. MzwandileMakwayiba, president of the WFTU, and also president of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU), highlighted the achievements of the Cuban Revolution in the health and education sectors, among others and reiterated the need to increase solidarity with Cuba in the current times where the Island is the victim of increased aggressiveness and blockade by US imperialism.
Likewise, the Secretary General of the International Association of Civil and Associated Workers and NEHAWU, cro. Zola Saphetha, expressed the commitment of that organization to maintain its activism as part of the international campaign to support the Cuban Revolution and to condemn the blockade imposed by the United States government against Cuba.
During his intervention in this important event, the Cuban Ambassador conveyed a fraternal greeting from the Workers' Central Union of Cuba(CTC)affiliates, a founding member of the WFTU, and from the CTC Secretary General, Ulises Guilarte, also vice president of the FSM. He thanked the World Federation of Trade Unions, NEHAWU and the South African people, for standing firm in defending the right to self-determination and sovereignty of the Cuban people.
AMBASSADOR OF CUBA INTERVENCION: 75 ANNIVERSARY FOR THE WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNION
Dear Comrade Mzwandile Michael Makwayiba, President of the World Federation of Trade Union (WFTU) and president of NEHAWU,
Dear Comrade Zola Saphetha, Secretary General of NEHAWU and of the Trade Union International of Public Services and Allied
I bring to this Seminar revolutionary greetings from the 4 million affiliates of the Workers Central Union of Cuba (CTC), which is a founder member of WFTU and from the CTC's Secretary General, Comrade Ulises Guilarte, who is also one of the Vicepresidents of the WFTU.
Very happy 75 Anniversary for the World Federation of Trade Union and thank you for always being at the forefront in the defense of the legitimate interests and rights of workers.
Dear Comrades,
In a world dominated by savage capitalism, and the exploitation of workers, Cuba has demonstrated that it is possible to create a society based on human solidarity and social justice, even under aharsh blockade and with very limited resources.
We do not accept that capitalism is the unique and universal model.
The Cuban socialist model is far from perfect, but it has proven its great advantages, even in the most difficult conditions. Let me mention some examples.
In Cuba high quality medical care is provided to all our population, completely free of charge. The life expectancy of Cubans is 80 years, higher than in many rich countries.
Cuba is the country with the highest number of doctors per capita in the world (9 per 1,000 inhabitants) and with one of the best infant mortality rates on the planet, better than in the US.
Among the 815 million people in the world who suffer from chronic hunger today there is not a single Cuban. There is not one Cuban either among the 18,000 children who die every day on our planet as a result of poverty.
While 760 million adults worldwide are illiterate and 325 million children cannot attend school, the entire Cuban population receives free, high-quality education at all levels, including university.
While millions of people in the world suffer the terrible consequences of unemployment, in our country the unemployment rate is only 1.5% and we are committed to reduce it to zero.
While millions of women in the world are discriminated and abused, Cuban women receive equal wages for equal work, and constitute 54% of our national Parliament, the second highest number worldwide.
Our pregnant women are guaranteed a maternity leave from 8 months of pregnancy and for a full year after the baby is born, receiving 100% of their salary during that time.
Those achievements and many others have been possible because in Cuba it is the working class who is in power.
The Cuban Revolution has been and will continue to be a revolution of the working class for the working class.
Dear Comrades:
Since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, and for 60 years, the United States government has imposed a criminal economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba.
That blockade is the longest and most severe ever recorded in history against any country.
More than two thirds of the current Cuban population was born and has lived all their lives under the blockade.
Without the blockade, Cuba's GDP would have grown annually in the last decade, around 10%.
The government of President Donald Trump has intensified the blockade and hostilities against Cuba to unprecedented levels.
The goal is to suffocate our economy, in order to achieve a regime change in Cuba. Almost every week the Trump Administration announces new unilateral sanctions against our country.
The intention is to provoke hunger and despair; make all our people suffer to try to get political concessions. That is simply an international crime of genocide.
I can assure you that the current economic aggression, no matter how harsh it may be, will not get a single concession from us.
As has already happened with 11 previous US Administrations, the policy of regime change of the Trump government against Cuba will fail.
Even with its immense power, imperialism does not have the capacity to break the dignity of a united people.
From Commander in Chief Fidel Castro we learned the key value of unity. In the union of the people is strength. In the union of the people is its invincibility.
The history of the Cuban Revolution proves that a united people cannot be defeated.
Dear Comrades:
Unity and solidarity between the revolutionary and progressive forces in each country and worldwide are indispensable.Isolated we will be swallow by the strength of the powerful.
Despite the shortages and difficulties, Cuba will continue to share with other nations the limited resources we have.
Today Cuban international collaborators are present on all continents. 5,500 of them provide their services in Africa,most of them medical doctors.
Cuban universities have contributed to the training of more than 30,000 young people from 54 African countries.
Precisely this year, more than 700 South African doctors trained in Cuba under the Nelson Mandela-Fidel Castro program will graduate, most of them from disadvantaged communities. It will be the largest medical graduation in South African history.
Despite threats from the United States, we will continue to firmly support the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela and we will continue to reject the criminal sanctions against that sister Latin American nation, where important social and economic advances have been made in favor of the working class.
Cuba will continue to raise its voice in support of the just and heroic struggle of the Palestinian people against the illegal Israeli occupation supported by the United States and we will always defend their legitimate right to an independent Palestinian State.
Dear Comrades:
Let me conclude by thanking, on behalf of the people and government of Cuba, the World Federation of Trade Unions, NEHAWU and the South African people, for your support to our struggle.
Thank you for defending our right to self-determination and sovereignty.
Cuba will continue fighting, together with you, for a better world.
Thank you.