THE end of five decades of “diplomatic isolation” inflicted on the Government and people of Cuba by the United States of America was welcomed by the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), yesterday.

And the party’s General Secretary, Clement Rohee, noted that the landmark decision by President Barrack Obama to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba can undoubtedly be credited to countries, including Guyana, who

have advocated for such a move.
“The PPP is convinced that it is the strong advocacy role played by the PPP/C Government and the rest of the international community that resulted in a foreign policy shift by the U.S. Government in relation to Cuba,” he said.

In 1956, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara landed in Cuba with a small band of insurgents, known as the ’26th of July Movement’, and began a guerrilla war against the Government. In December 1958, Castro launched a full-scale attack, and the then President, Fulgencio Batista, the American-friendly, who was forced to flee. In February 1959, Castro was sworn in as Prime Minister of Cuba. The USA, since the revolution, expressed concerns time and time again over the political situation in the Caribbean island – which led to the breakdown of ties between the two countries.
Last week, President Obama issued instructions for the USA to “immediately begin” discussions with Cuba to re-establish diplomatic relations that were severed since January of 1961. Also, going forward, the United States is expected to re-establish an embassy in Havana, and high-ranking officials will visit Cuba.
“The time is long overdue for the United States to normalise relations with Cuba; and more importantly, to lift the trade embargo against Cuba which has resulted in that country’s inability to realise its full growth potential,” Rohee said.

“The PPP is convinced that it is the strong advocacy role played by the PPP/C Government and the rest of the international community that resulted in a foreign policy shift by the U.S. government in relation to Cuba.” – PPP General-Secretary, Clement Rohee

ADVOCACY WILL CONTINUE
While moves have been made to restore U.S. relations with Cuba, the embargo that’s been imposed for decades remains in place, as it is codified in legislation. However, the U.S. President has indicated there will be moves to address lifting the embargo.
The PPP General Secretary, on that note, stated that the ruling party is confident that the economic blockade will be lifted sooner rather than later.
“The PPP is proud of the strong advocacy role it played in adding its voice for an end to the trade embargo against Cuba and calls not only for normalisation of diplomatic relations with Cuba, but also for an immediate end to the U.S. embargo against that country,” Rohee said.
Rohee said, “The PPP has consistently advocated the lifting of the trade embargo against Cuba having itself been the victim of past treachery and manipulation, which resulted in the removal of the PPP from office in the 1960’s.

“The PPP takes this opportunity to renew the bonds of friendship and solidarity which exists between itself and the Communist Party of Cuba. It is the sincere hope of the PPP that this bond will continue to grow and deepen in the years ahead.” – PPP General-Secretary, Clement Rohee

“Several other progressive and left governments in the region were overthrown during that period when Latin America and the Caribbean were regarded as the ‘U.S. backyard’.”
“…the PPP recalls the several acts of terrorism against Cuba by agents hostile to the Cuban Government which resulted in the deaths of seventy three persons which included eleven Guyanese when a Cuban aircraft was brought down in Barbados waters en route to Cuba.”
The PPP General-Secretary stressed that against all odds, it is to Cuba’s credit that that despite the embargo and other acts of terrorism, it continued to develop and make meaningful contributions to other nations.

STRONG RELATIONS
Guyana, Rohee said, has benefited from technical and other forms of assistance from Cuba during the two countries’ decades long relationship.
He said, “Cuba still continues to render technical assistance to several countries of the developing world, especially in the areas of health and education.
“…the PPP is thankful to the Cuban Government for the assistance it received during that tense period in our history, when foreign vested interests in collaboration with local reactionary forces sought to destabilise the PPP Government.
“During those difficult years, it was the Cuban Government that came to the rescue of the PPP Government. Guyana continues to benefit from such assistance, especially in the field of medicine.”
On that note, the PPP General-Secretary made it clear that the party stands committed to strong relations with Cuba.
“The PPP takes this opportunity to renew the bonds of friendship and solidarity which exists between itself and the Communist Party of Cuba. It is the sincere hope of the PPP that this bond will continue to grow and deepen in the years ahead,” he said.
Guyana and Cuba have enjoyed close collaboration in health, education, culture and sports since the establishment of diplomatic ties in December 1972. In 1974, the first Friendship society between Cuba and Guyana was constituted; ten years later in 1984, appeared the Committee of Friendship and Solidarity Cuba- Guyana, and in October 2006, the Association of Friendship Guyana- Cuba was created but it was not officially registered. In May this year, the Guyana-Cuba Friendship Association was officially launched.
Guyana’s position on the United States’ decades-old economic and financial embargo on Cuban has been a consistent one, as has that of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).