As is to be expected, President Donald Ramotar will be in South Africa to join world leaders in celebrating the life of the legendary international icon for freedom, justice and morality in public affairs, Nelson Mandela.
The first democratically-elected President of South Africa and a former leader of the African National Congress (ANC), whose heroic struggles were embraced by countries and liberation movements across the world, passed away at his private home Thursday, after battling for months a prolonged lung ailment.
As part of its own remembrance activities for the iconic freedom fighter of oppressed peoples everywhere, Cuba — one of the first countries chosen by Mandela to visit following his freedom from a South African prison after 27 years of ruthless incarceration — chose to release this past week, the complete text of the late President’s memorable address in Havana in February 1991 to mark the 38th Anniversary of the Fidel Castro-led revolution.
Of related significance, Cuba, consistent with its own admirable commitment to the promotion of meaningful friendship with nations of the world which continue to demonstrate solidarity with its courageous people for defying the United States economic blockade for more than half-a-century, has also recalled the historic importance of today as ‘CARICOM-Cuba Day’.
It was by the “Havana Accord” of December 8, 2002 that this “CARICOM-Cuba Day” was established to mark the historic decision by four founding states of our Caribbean Community — Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago — to jointly establish diplomatic relations with Cuba that subsequently triggered political initiatives beyond this hemisphere to bring Cuba out of the so-called “diplomatic cold”.
All other independent member states of CARICOM were to later establish diplomatic economic and cultural relations with Cuba. It is now the norm for member states of the United Nations, with the exception of no more than three, including  Israel, to vote with the USA to maintain its shameful economic blockade against Cuba that was designed to derail is historic revolution.
In his meetings with Caribbean and Latin American leaders, and during the occasional visits, President Mandela was consistent in his praise for the tremendous sacrificial support given by Cuba to the people of South Africa to defeat the degrading, heinous politics of apartheid, as well as providing valuable human and other resources for the success of liberation movements elsewhere in Africa.
No wonder that Caribbean leader, governments and people of this and other regions of the global community are simply anxious to praise and embrace the struggles for freedom and commitment to peoples everywhere by Nelson Mandela.
Guyanese of all walks of life, irrespective of political persuasion or attachment, would readily salute this great gift to humanity: Nelson Mandela. He is gone, but will never be forgotten for the fine examples he has bequeathed — whether in or out of power.