Kingston, Jamaica, January 28th, 2017. Summoned by the Solidarity Organizations with Cuba all over the island under the concept that “Revolution is Fidel and Fidel is the triumphant Revolution that has just celebrated its 58 anniversary”, near 300 persons from different Latin American and Caribbean nations, all followers of the life and work of Fidel, gathered that the Police Club of Kingston to pay him tribute.
The ceremony was headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith, in representation of Prime Minister Andrew Holness, the Leader of the Opposition and former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, former Prime Minister Percival James Patterson, Ambassador of Cuba Bernardo Guanche Hernandez as well as senior diplomats from Venezuela, Ecuador, Trinidad and Tobago, among other countries.
Likewise, the event was attended also by members of the Parliament, solidarity organizations, the Association of Cuban Residents, the Council of Peace, Jamaicans graduated from Cuban universities, members of workers unions, the People´s National Party and the media.
All moments, it was felt the gratitude the Jamaican people feels for a man that did much for Jamaica, donated four schools that today stands as a symbol of the friendship between the two nations, made possible that thousand professionals studied in Cuba, offered advisory in agriculture, technology, fight against natural disasters and contributed as none else to the unity of the Caribbean.
To many speakers, to talk about Fidel was to highlight the achievements of the Cuban Revolution in education, health, social security, international solidarity, collaboration with the Third World countries and support to the liberation of many African nations.
Portia Simpson Miller commented about the long hours she had shared with Fidel, qualifying the mutual friendship as one of the biggest privileges of her personal and political life and thanked for being a special guest to the mass tribute at the Revolution Square.
Patterson related anecdotes shared with Fidel during his visit to Jamaica in 2005 and at the Millennium Summit at the United Nations, and he qualified Fidel as “an immortal and champion in the fight for justice in the world”.
Likewise, the Chancellor, on behalf of her government, highlighted the dynamism and the political vision of the Historical Leader of the Cuban Revolution, while the Ambassador thanked for the countless expressions of friendship, appreciation and condolences received at the Embassy following the announcement of the death of Fidel and up to the present.
At the same time, he praised the efforts of the solidarity organizations to organize the Jamaican tribute to the Commander in Chief on the evening of January 28, 2017, during the 164 anniversary of the birth of the National Hero of Cuba, Jose Marti, who was also remembered as the paradigm of Fidel and his best disciple.
The ceremony also included the presentation of different representatives from the local culture like poets Travis Graham and Amina Blackwood-Meeks; the last one recited her poem dedicated to Fidel following his death, guitar players and composers Eloy Elad and Luis Felipe Bellorin, from Jamaica and Venezuela, respectively and Cubans residents Anabel Jimenez and Rafael Salazar, who pleased the audience with classics from Cuban music.