The words of Fidel, historic leader of the Cuban revolution, whose centennial anniversary of his birth we celebrate this year (2026), echoes and reverberates 65 years ago, when he declared the socialist character of the Cuban revolution, prior to inflicting the first military defeat against US empire in the world, at the Bay of Pigs invasion.
'What the imperialist cannot forgive, is that we are here, that we have made a socialist revolution right under the nose of the United States'
And what are some of the gains of our sister country's socialist revolution? A free universal health-care system that is available and reaches all members of the Cuban population and eliminates diseases that existed prior to the revolution. Taken together, this overall improved all- health status is ranked with those of the top major global countries.
Additionally, Cuba have built up a wealth of human resource capital in the field of health care that has enabled it to extend the hand of solidarity with countries like Jamaica across the world and especially those in the global south.
In the field of education, Cuba provides and guarantees a free and inclusive system for all its citizens, from primary through to university, inclusive of post graduate and doctoral studies.
Cuba has also built up an enviable reputation in the field of bio- technology and pharmaceutical and this was most pronounced during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic, where they were among the very few countries that were able to manufacture its own effective vaccine which was not only utilized in their homeland but was shared with sister countries struggling against the oftentimes deadly effects, of this novel virus.
Furthermore, the internationally renowned Henry Reeves Brigade wrote a new chapter in Cuban internationalism, when they were deployed in 43 countries across the world, operating predominantly in the 'red zones' of their health facilities, facing up to the most deadly impact of the virus.
Additionally, our sister country has administered 32 social programs which focus on the most vulnerable members of the population at the individual, family and community levels. As a direct outcome of this wholistic approach, social justice, equity and participation have been achieved.
It is therefore particularly painful and heart- rending, that despite these health-care and social services capabilities, approximately 90,000 Cubans are on a waiting list for surgical operations, including more than 11,000 children.
This is due to the imposition of a criminal and genocidal blockade which prevents Cuba from accessing the necessary medical supplies to affect the surgeries, hardened by the cruel and heartless fuel blockade that is indispensable to undertaking operations to such a magnitude.
For the current occupant of the White House and Secretary of State/ cum national security advisor to declare on January 29, that 'Cuba poses an unusual and extraordinary threat to national security of the USA' is to formalise the basis on which an executive order can be taken by the president for action against our sister country.
As the majority of humanity's citizens knows through their representatives at the United Nations General Assembly unanimously vote(except for USA and Israel) 33 consecutive years, Cuba is not a threat, was never a threat to any country in the world.
What Trump and Rubio fear and what gave past US administrations 'sleepless nights' and 'countless nightmares', is the 'corrosive example' that Cuba represents for the majority of world's people who are struggling for sovereignty, independence, self-determination and a better life, against neo-colonialism and imperialism. An example which is grounded and inspired by the ethics of Marti and Fidel in 'being your brother's keeper'.
Cuban president Diaz Canel was 'on the ball' in pointing the way forward for the international movement in solidarity with our courageous brothers from the homeland of Fidel
"From this historic podium where Fidel words still echo, calling on the people to take their place in the coming struggle and where today, we pay a well-deserved tribute and homage to the heroes and martyrs of the day, when the homeland resolutely donned the militia uniform, we call for a national and international solidarity movement, to carry the truth of Cuba to every corner of the planet. The suffering of the people due to actions of the blockade and multi- dimensional economic war, exacerbated by the energy blockade, which constitutes genocide given the extreme levels of deprivation which all Cubans are subjected"
The apostle of Cuba's independence sums it up well, ' whoever rises up with Cuba today, rises up for all time. Jose Marti.