THE Government of Guyana has joined with the rest of the world in acknowledging Cuba’s 50th anniversary since the attack against the Moncada military complex, where a band of rebels, led by Fidel and Raul Castro, launched the attack 56 years ago, planting the seeds for the 1959 Cuban revolution. 

Parliamentarians on the government side of the National Assembly, on Thursday last conveyed the Government’s goodwill as well as its appreciation for the help afforded to Guyana over the past several years to Charge d’Affaires, Pedro Artega Cardenan, who was present at the sitting.

In a motion which received the support of the House, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett expressed the pleasure of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in commemorating, celebrating and associating itself with the anniversary of the revolution.

She noted that Guyana’s friendship and cooperation with Cuba transcends governments, as both the PPP/C and PNC maintained close ties with Cuba throughout the period of the Cold War and thereafter.

“Notwithstanding the fact that we are a small nation, struggling to find our own way in the world, following our independence from Great Britain in 1966, in 1972 Guyana, along with three other independent Caribbean States–Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago– broke free of the U.S. orchestrated isolation of Cuba in the hemisphere and established diplomatic relations with Cuba,” the Minister stated.

This, she noted, was a demonstration of solidarity between Guyana and Cuba, and represented a consolidation of the friendship, providing too the foundation for the further development of fruitful relations with Cuba, based on mutual respect and cooperation.

Guyana and Cuba share similar views on many issues, inclusive of which are ideals of sustainable development, economic equity and social justice, as well as equitable trade relations and the vulnerability of smaller economies, the Minister pointed out.

The Foreign Affairs Minister also noted that Guyana’s call for a new global human order, which was adopted by the United Nations general assembly, is similar to Cuba’s call towards equity and justice. Added to this, she said, Cuba co-sponsored two of the three resolutions on the new Order which was passed in the UN General Assembly in 2002 and 2007.

As it relates to the U.S. embargo on the island, the Minister stated, “The Government of Guyana firmly supports the cessation of the United States economic embargo on Cuba and continues to advocate this position at all regional and international forums.”

This position, she added, along with those of the rest of the Caribbean Community, was conveyed to U.S. President, Barack Obama before his inauguration as well as at the Summit of the Americas last April.

President Bharrat Jagdeo had consistently observed, “The embargo is the last vestiges of the Cold War and has no place in our world today”, the Minister said.

The Government of Guyana has also consistently called for Cuba’s full involvement in hemispheric and international activities, and recently joined with members of the Organisation of American States (OAS) in support of the reversal of the 1962 OAS resolution that had expelled Cuba from that organisation, the Minister stated. That expulsion was reversed last June.

She added that government has taken note of statements made by President Obama, and the encouraging measures announced by his Administration.

“Today, I want to, on behalf of the Government of Guyana, encourage the United States Administration to advance efforts to improve and ultimately restore normal diplomatic relations with Cuba.

“But, even as I do so, I want to recognise the resilience of the Cuban people and to point to Cuba’s sustained commitment to humanity, notwithstanding the embargo that has brought hardships on the people of Cuba, and the many challenges the government and people of Cuba have faced and continue to face,” Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said.

Despite this, she noted, Cuba has not been deterred; it has helped, and continues to help, many countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, in immeasurable terms.

She posited that Guyana has benefitted extensively from cooperation with Cuba, in areas such as scholarships to Guyanese students to acquire medical training, and provision of healthcare assistance such as the operation Miracle Programme.

She acknowledged the deployment of Cuban medical professionals to assist in Guyana’s health sector and the provision of technical expertise as well as material resources to assist with the construction, equipping and operation of four regional hospitals which are of tremendous benefit to the Guyanese population.

Observing that Cuba has faced several challenges, of which the embargo is just one, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett, stated that the global financial and economic crisis has not escaped that country either.

Cuba has been hit very hard, resulting in a reduction of economic growth this year, and the government has had to take stringent measures to address the situation, she said.

The 2008 hurricanes, which wreaked havoc on the country, causing severe destruction, have added to the problem.

“We in Guyana remain inspired by the ideals of the Cuban revolution, and are committed to providing continuous support to the government of Cuba and the people of Cuba in their efforts to pursue economic and social development free from outside interference,” Minister Rodrigues-Birkett stated.

Ministers of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford, Junior Minister of Health Bheri Ramsaran, as well as PPP/C General Secretary Donald Ramotar also added their voices to congratulate Cuba on this 50th anniversary.

Further recognition and appreciation was afforded the Cuban government by the Parliamentarians, for the invaluable support that it has provided to this country over the decades.