The Cuba -SVG Friendship Society extends warmest and sincerest greetings to the Government and People of Cuba on the occasion of the celebration of 100 years of Fidel Castro’s Birth.
For us in the Friendship Society we consider it a great privilege to share such a historic/momentous the occasion with our brothers and sisters of Cuba. The truth is that we have shared so much over the years and we have so much in common as one Caribbean people who have suffered together the dehumanizing effects of slavery and colonial plunder and even up to today we continue to suffer the devastating fall out from a neoliberal world order characterized by the harsh imposition of the Monroe or/Donroe doctrine. It is moments like these that force us as a people to reminisce on some of our outstanding 20th century leaders like Fidel, Maurice Bishop, Michael Manley to name a few, who were jealous guardians of our democracy and sovereignty and who reminded us that “we are in nobody’s backyard”. Well today the neo-cons who are in control in Washington doesn’t allow a day to pass by without reminding us that we are in fact in their backyard. You either do as Uncle Sam says or they slap sanctions on you or intimidate you in so many ways.
As we reflect on Fidel’s life, It is incumbent upon us as to celebrate this historic Birthday of a man whose entire life has been dedicated to the struggles of oppressed peoples the world over and who has helped to shape the contours of our geopolitical landscape in the 20th century and beyond. His ideas and legacy continue to resonate among progressive people who aspire to live in a world where they are treated as equals and not vassals of imperialist powers. Fidel was more than Cuban. He was imbued with the spirit of an undying love for humanity. He was the consummate internationalist who believed that a country/nation could not consider itself to be truly free until all humanity is free. This is why he opened Cuban doors to the world offering what little they have in education, health, human resources to countries whenever or wherever the need arise. St. Vincent and the Grenadines can attest to this legacy of generosity started and championed by Fidel. This was the practical expression of Fidel’s philosophical conviction. This is why he was most feared and hated by the West. This is why - by the CIA’s own admission - that several assassination attempts were made against him. This is the reason why the country has had to endure an economic blockade for over 67 years. We must understand that this whole idea of decapitating the Cuban leader was never about getting rid of a dictator and reinstating democracy – an argument that is still being advanced up to today as the US threatens military intervention - it was just a façade created to take the country back to the dark days of American colonial rule.
In celebrating Fidel’s birthdate we must admit that his ideas undoubtedly influenced the national liberation struggles for political independence and sovereign control in several parts of the world especially in Africa - In Angola, Namibia, Mozambique, etc. Fidel was a towering figure and leader in world politics and gave much impetus to building and strengthening of the non-aligned movement in the 70’s and 80’s which has morphed into what we now know as - South-South Cooperation.
How will history remember this titan of the 20th century. Of course, there are those detractors who are swayed by western mainstream media and propaganda who will grudgingly declare him one of the most brutal dictators of the past century and who at the same time refuse to condemn some of the most undemocratic and genocidal regimes in other parts of the world. Progressives on the hand and certainly the members of the Friendship Society will forever remember Fidel as the leader who gave hope to the downtrodden and shared his few “loaves and fishes” with the world.
Many great philosophers, including Karl Marx, have coined the phrase that it is the masses who make history and this is undisputed but at the same time we have to acknowledge the role that great leaders - like Fidel - by acting as the spark, the voice or steering wheel /influencer who organize the collective energy and shape the directions of the movement and turn their general discontent into specific action. That was what Fidel did when he lead one of the most historic and decisive social revolutions in the western hemisphere just 90 miles from the most powerful country in the world.
Today we pay tribute posthumously to Fidel’ 100 birthday by continuing to uphold the values and principles that he espoused throughout his entire life. The ideas and contribution of this 20th century icon will forever resonate in the breast of all those who fight for freedom and a more just and equitable society.
Long live the memory of Fidel and the principles he defended
Long live the friendship between the peoples of Cuba and St. Vincent and the Grenadines