In the event of the 60th anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, several Jamaican organizations and personalities who are active in the solidarity movement with Cuba sent congratulatory messages to our Embassy. Now we reproduce three of them, received in the first days of 2019:
Her Excellency
Ines Fors Fernandez
Ambassador, Republic of Cuba
9 Trafalgar Road
Kingston 5
Dear Ambassador Ines Fors Fernandez,
I use this medium to express our deepest and heartfelt congratulations from the Jamaica solidarity movement to our brothers and sisters in our sister country, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the epoch-making triumph of the Cuban revolution.
A revolution which has changed the face of our region and indeed world, in ways that were fundamental to the most sacred expression of the apostle of Cuban independence Jose Marti and given practical expression by the historic leader of the Cuban revolution Fidel, ‘Homeland is Humanity’.
The sobering words of Fidel following January 1st,1959 still rings true today as it did then: “I believe that this is a decisive moment in our history: tyranny has been overthrown, the joy is immense and yet much remains to be done. We do not deceive ourselves believing that everything will be easy from now on, perhaps everything will be more difficult in the future”.
Our sister country’s progress in areas that are critical to human development in health, education and in general, people‑centric policies, are one of the yardsticks that international organisations charged with these responsibilities use as their barometer. A fact that is made more remarkable, given the unprecedented 58-year-old criminal and genocidal blockade that has been imposed on the Cuban people and maintained by 12 successive administrations of the United States of America, which the overwhelming majority of humanity’s citizens have called for the unconditional lifting of this anachronistic practice.
The words of Army General and First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba Raul Castro Ruz, when he spoke during the Central Act in commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution on January 1st, at the Santa Ifigenia patrimonial cemetery, in the heroic ‘cradle of the revolution’ Santiago de Cuba, reaffirms for us that, 60 years on, the Revolution is in safe hands:
“The optimism and joy of Fidel for the victory, continues today in the Cuban revolutionary process that continues to be young and fresh, as the process of transferring the main obligations of the revolution to the younger generations are going well, very well”.
Cuban President Diaz‑Canel is one of the best examples of this transition process from the Granma revolutionaries to the current state and party leadership.
Our Cuban brothers and sisters can continue to count on the unwavering support of solidarity movement in Jamaica as we stand in the trenches side by side with you, as for us and all the peoples who struggle for a better world, you represent a beacon of hope that another world is possible.
Hasta la Victoria Siempre!
Trevor G. Brown
President
JAMAICA-CUBA FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION
Dear Her Excellency Ambassador Ines Fors Fernandez,
It is with a sense of honour that we the members of Friends of Cuba take this opportunity to salute your government and people on the 60th Anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban revolution.
We salute the tenacity of a government and people who continue to uphold their principles and values in the face of adversity.
We salute a government and people who continue to support other countries and peoples around the world through health and education.
Madam, we salute you and your team for the work you're doing here in Jamaica to strengthen that bond of friendship that was formed during the 70s. Your warmth of Spirit has been felt among those with whom you have come into contact. Your personality and kindness has fostered an even greater strengthening of the of friendship between Jamaica and Cuba.
We condemn those who continue to try to isolate Cuba and rob the world of the skills, technology, education and health among other things that the government and people of Cuba can offer to the world.
Today as we reflect it would be remiss of us not to salute the late Comandante Fidel Castro and his team, those who have left us and those who are still with for building a country and instilling in the people the values of care, of giving and of solidarity with others. We know that wherever he is his spirit is watching over his people.
Today Friends of Cuba ask you madam to convey to your President our wish for a long life and the strength to continue to build on the foundation laid down by Comandante Fidel and Raul .
We salute the government and people of Cuba for always standing on the side of Principle, Solidarity and Friendship.
Happy National Birthday to Cuba
Long live Peace!
Long live justice!
Long live solidarity!
Long live friendship!
Long live Cuba!
Yours in solidarity,
Pamela Redwood & Paul Burke
Co-Chairs
FRIENDS OF CUBA
Her Excellency Ambassador Ines Fors Fernandez,
On January 1, 1959, the 26th of July Movement had entered Havana and declared victory. Their struggle was for national liberation, in a real sense rather than a mere nominal sense; the Cuban people wanted democratic control of their society and national control of their economy. Most land and businesses were American-owned, and the nation did not enjoy the fruits of its people's labour. In addition to this, the people were under a military dictatorship led by Fulgencio Batista, who had the backing of the imperialist USA. The revolutionary government quickly moved to secure national control of the economy, and the US was not happy with this. Since then, the US has imposed a blockade, sanctions, and has even undertaken direct violence like invasion and terrorist attacks against the Cuban people.
The Revolution was not merely an event that occurred in January 1959; it started before that, and it never ended. The Revolution is a continuous process; after having achieved national liberation, the revolutionary government declared that it would go on a Socialist path in 1961. Since then, it has upheld democracy and some of the highest standards of human rights. Food, housing, education, and healthcare are things that are human rights in Cuba, but are privileges in many other countries. The Revolution is also a process that all the people participate in. Cuba is a model society, despite the intense difficulties.
The Cuban Revolution has not been selfish with its prosperity; it invites students from all over the Third World to study in its universities, and it has sent doctors and other professionals to all corners of the world to help other nations in times of disaster or difficulty. This is all done in the name of internationalism. Cuba is an inspiration for Socialists and other progressives in all corners of the world.
Of course, revolution in other parts of the world may not necessarily take the same path. Cuban revolutionaries were fighting a brutal dictatorship, which doesn't exist in every country. Not every revolution is fought with guns, and Fidel Castro himself told Evo Morales that. We can honour the Cuban Revolution by supporting the same causes it has supported, and by supporting the leaders - both in Cuba and in other countries like Venezuela and Bolivia - who carry on the legacy of the Cuban Revolution and its mission to seek justice for oppressed peoples all over the world. We can honour Cuban revolutionaries by joining their struggle in the global sphere, the struggle against the blockade and the struggle against other things that imperialists and Capitalists in the handful of rich countries do to the rest of the world.
The Cuban Revolution has lived for 60 years, and we expect it to live for many more. Our solidarity with the Cuban people is eternal.
Christophe Simpson
Chairman
LEFT ALLIANCE FOR NATIONAL DEMOCRACY AND SOCIALISM