Toronto, June 5th, 2017.- Last weekend took place a verysuccessful 8th Biennial Convention in Toronto. The delegates and alternate delegates from solidarity organizations across Canada were joined by observers and invited guests including Luis Morlote Rivas, Vice-president of UNEAC and a member Cuban National Assembly and Sandra Ramírez, Director of North America of Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP).
The Counsellor Minister and Deputy Head of Mission, Deborah Ojeda, along with the Consul General in Toronto, Tania Lopez and other Cuban diplomatic staffs were also present. Cubans resident in Canada were represented in this event by the president of the "Juan Gualberto Gómez" Association of Toronto, Professor Julio Fonseca.
The CNC member groups reported all the activities held by their organizations since 2015, when the 7th Convention took place. The participants exchanged ideas and experiences in discussion panels about the solidarity movement with Cuba and Latin-America. Among the panels worth noting is the one led by Dr. Isaac Saney, a professor at the University of Dalhousie, about the bonds of brotherhood between Cuba and the African continent. At the end of the debate the participants stressed the importance of keeping actions in solidarity with Cuban causes up and incorporating new generations on the movement.
In the final session a new Executive was elected and the delegates approved the work guidelines for 2017-2019. There was a strong call for the immediate and unconditional return to the Cuban people of the territory illegally occupied by the Guantanamo Naval Base and unconditional elimination of the US blockade against Cuba.
As part of the program, on Saturday afternoon was held a Public Meeting "Cuba Moving Forward in 2017". The Vice-president of UNEAC exchange with the participants about the updating of the economic and social system in Cuba. There was a special tribute to Fidel Castro Ruz. The Cuban photographer Roberto Chile presented the photo exposition "Comandante" that will be in Canada until December.
(Consulate General of Cuba in Toronto)