THE 35th anniversary of the Cubana Air Disaster was on Thursday observed in Guyana, with a commemorative programme at the Cuban Embassy in Kingston, Georgetown.
The highlight of the evening was the solemn unveiling of a plaque in memory of the 73 persons who perished in the terrorist attack on October 6, 1976. The victims included 57Cubans, 11 Guyanese travelling to Cuba to study medicine, and five North Koreans.

Joining the Cuban Ambasssador to Guyana Raul Gortazar-Marrero and staff of the Cuban Embassy in the commemoration ceremony were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Venezuelan Ambassador Dario Morandy, PPP/C Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar,  Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green, Minister within the Ministry of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, and   General Secretary of GAWU Komal Chand.
The 48 passengers and 25 crew members killed in the bombing were travelling en-route to Jamaica from Barbados, via Cubana Flight 455, when the Douglas DC-8 aircraft was brought down by the terrorist attack.    

Among the main speakers were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Ambassador Raul Gortazar-Marrero, Donald Ramotar, and Samuel Adool, President of the Cuban Medical Brigade, and Executives and members of the Guyana-Cuba Friendship Association.

Ambassador Gortazar-Marrero noted that his country’s identification with the sister-Republic of Guyana was made stronger, since apart from all that united the two countries before, the blood of Guyanese and Cubans was added.  He referred to it as a  Day of Mourning for Guyana and Cuba… ‘When Guyanese and Cubans lost their lives as a consequence of a criminal sabotage on the Cuban aircraft, ‘Cubana Aviacion’.   The The Ambassador said that specially touching was the death of the entire Cuban fencing team, both male and female, who were returning home victoriously, having won all the gold medals that were competed for in the Central American Games.

Sadly recounting the events within the next few days, following the tragic experience,  Ambassador  Gortazar-Marrero asserted on a somber note: “We remember a day like today, when in the historical Square of the Revolution, our people were bidding farewell to a number of coffins that carried small fragments of human remains and some personal belongings.  More than a million Cubans, with tears in their eyes, were bidding farewell in a symbolic way to our brothers.”

In concluding he assured that the government and people of Guyana can always depend on the solidarity of the government and people of Cuba.

And President of the Cuban Medical Brigade, Samuel Abdool stressed that there is a need to combat terrorism in this hemisphere.  “We feel that the attackers should be brought to justice. We would be condoning the acts of terrorism if we do not speak out for justice in this matter,” he stated, adding that it is hoped that a disaster of this nature will no occur again, within this hemisphere. 
Of those who lost their lives in the bomb attack, Abdool said that the attack has wiped out the dreams of young Guyanese students on board, to realise their true potential of becoming medical doctors, as well as the notable sports personalities of Cuba and other nationals on board.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, whom the Cuban Ambassador recognised as always standing by the side of the Government and people of Cuba, and notably, representing the government of Guyana in paying tribute for the victims of terrorism, said the latter will continue to call for an end to terrorism.

Prime Minister Hinds who later in the programme  participated in unveiling a plaque in the memory of those killed in the disaster, said that Guyana continues to join with Cuba in calling for justice to be dispatched in this matter He lamented the loss of lives in the tragedy, not only of the 11 Guyanese, including the students on their way to Cuba to pursue medical studies, but the 57 Cubans and all others on board.

Alluding to the fraternal relations existing between the two countries, Hinds, expressing appreciation for the bilateral relations in health, education and other areas of economic activity, called for the two countries to recommit themselves to fighting terrorism that has robbed both our countries of the lives of their young people 35 years ago. 

And. Donald Ramotar, sharing the pain of the tragic loss brought about by the terrorist attacks on that occasion, said that it has left a big imprint on the minds of people.  He recalled that Dr. Cheddi Jagan was scheduled to be on that flight as well, and had it not been for a change of plans, he would have perished on the flight as well.

Said Mr. Ramotar,  “I think terrorism must be condemned as a political act.”
He said that if we are going to make an impact on terrorism, then the perpetrators of the heinous crime committed 35 years ago, and walking free, must be brought to justice.  Noting that mere rhetoric is not the way to deal with terrorism, he said, “We cannot  talk terrorism…. Terrorism is terrorism and we must fight it in every way.”