He transformed politics in the Western Hemisphere

– President Granger

As Cubans and the rest of the world mourn the death of former Cuban President Fidel Castro, President David Granger has hailed him as a significant leader in the Western Hemisphere.

Speaking with reporters on Saturday morning, President Granger expressed condolences to the people of Cuba, noting that Castro was perhaps one of the best known Latin Americans globally.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of President Castro. His life was of significance not only to Guyana and the friendship he had with Guyanese leaders, but also to the entire Western Hemisphere,” the President said.

Guyana, he said, sees Cuba as part of the Caribbean Bloc, and he noted that 44 years ago, Guyana, along with Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, established diplomatic relations with Cuba.

“Since then, we have [had] a very cordial, close relationship with Cuba. Right now we have many Guyanese who are being trained as doctors in Cuba. We have Cuban doctors working here, and there have been lots of engagements at different levels: educational levels, technical levels… So we are deeply saddened by the passing of President Castro,” President Granger noted.

He said, too, that the people of the Republic of Cuba have lost the longest serving president of the 20th century, after he had gained power in 1959 by overthrowing Fulgencio Batista. For 47 years, Castro held on to power; until an intestinal illness which required multiple surgeries forced him to temporarily give up leadership to his younger brother, Raul, in 2006. Two years later, he resigned as president and Raul became the de facto president of Cuba.

“He certainly transformed politics in the Western Hemisphere, and we would like to express our solidarity with the Cuban people in that regard,” the President said.

Castro died on Friday evening at age 90.

He was an outstanding friend and genuine partner

– Government of Guyana
THE Government and people of Guyana mourn the death of Dr. Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, the late former President of the Republic of Cuba.

Dr. Castro was President of Cuba from 1976 to 2008, and previously Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976, leading Cuba for a total of almost 50 years.

Guyana hails Dr. Castro, globally renowned as ‘El Commandanté’ or simply ‘Fidel’, as an outstanding friend and a genuine partner, even before our country attained independence. It was under his leadership that Guyana-Cuba friendly and fraternal relationship had been placed on a solid and unbreakable footing.

When an unjust embargo had been imposed against Cuba to isolate the Castro government, Guyana, in 1972, joined three other countries in our region to establish diplomatic relations with a fellow Caribbean state. Castro has since embraced our countries as partners, and responded to our critical needs, especially in the health and education sectors. To this day, Guyana benefits from scholarship and training opportunities afforded to our young people in becoming doctors, engineers and other specialists. We continue to benefit, too, from Cuban doctors and medical experts serving our people in our health care system.

Fidel was an exemplar of unparalleled generosity, revolutionary commitment, national dignity, and unyielding patriotism. Though he was ailing for many years, and had prepared his people for the inevitable, the passing of this colossus, whose greatness is indelibly written in the history of the world across both the 20th and 21st centuries, will evoke an immeasurable pain and loss in Cuba and beyond.

Guyana mourns the death of a dear friend, a revolutionary icon, and a giant of international humanitarianism.

The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana conveys to the Government and people of Cuba sincere condolences, and assures that at this time of collective global grief, the people of Cuba are not alone.

Death of a comrade

– Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

IF EVER I needed the words of our national poet Martin Carter as soft, self-assuring consolation, it is now.

“Too soon too soon our banner is draped in mourning…. Death must not find us thinking that we die.”

For years I have tried to mentally prepare myself for the sad news that Fidel Castro is no more. But when I heard it from President David Granger this morning, words failed me and I was momentarily in disbelief.

It was a repeat of the paralyzing anguish that I had felt over the news of the death of Cheddi Jagan, and then Nelson Mandela.

But the inevitable has come. The sturdiest and most dignified palm tree that once, in the contemplation of Jose Marti, stood up heroically against the raging, savage winds from the north, has finally succumbed. Fidel, a sincere man from the Land of the Palm Tree, at 90, died on November 25, 2016.

Fidel had prepared the Cuban people for this day when he told them that he would soon die. So, as was expected of an exemplary revolutionary, death did not find Fidel thinking that he died. He knew it was coming for sure.

It was the reverberation of the battle cry of Che: “Wherever death may surprise us, it is welcomed.”

Though inevitable, Fidel’s passing hurts. I cannot imagine the grief of the song-loving Cuban people. Their guitar, as was noted by national poet Nicolas Guillien when Che died, “is draped in mourning major”.

Fidel has seen his country safely through the perilous harbour of isolation and sabotage.
From Moncada to Grandma; from Vietnam through Grenada to South Africa; from blockade to the breakthrough, Fidel has towered like a colossal.

Alongside Cheddi Jagan, Fidel was the single greatest inspiration in my political life. I should now feel comforted, until my own day comes, that I had known them both and could live in the shadow of their examples.

May his image remain larger than life

– Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo
FAREWELL Cde. Fidel. Thank you for showing us the path to self-reliance and dignity. Thank

You for leading by example and standing up for your beliefs. Thank you for showing the world that small states matter, and have much to offer.

On behalf of the Guyanese people, our condolences (go out) to the People of Cuba on the passing of Cde. Fidel, may he rest in peace. May his image remain larger than life, and continue to be an inspiration and a guiding light to all peoples of the Caribbean.
Long Live the Revolution.

One of the greatest revolutionaries of all time

– Peoples Progressive Party
THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is deeply saddened over the passing of Dr. Fidel Castro. This is indeed a great loss, not only to the Cuban people, but for freedom-loving peoples throughout the world.

The late Dr. Castro was undoubtedly one of the greatest revolutionaries of all times, who during his lifetime had demonstrated that no sacrifices can be considered too great when it comes to defending the rights and dignity of the Cuban people.

He survived several threats and assassination plots by the CIA and other opposition elements, which only served to strengthen his resolve to intensify the struggle to defend the dignity and interests of the Cuban people.

The embarrassing failure of the United States to topple his government in the now infamous Bay of Pigs invasion will forever remain a monument of the extent to which he was loved and respected by the Cuban people, who still, until this day, regard him as their hero in the national liberation struggle and as the Father of the Cuban nation.

He stood as a beacon of hope for oppressed peoples throughout the developing world, in particular Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. His role in the national liberation struggles in several countries of the world, in particular Africa, is testimony to his unflinching solidarity with the poor and the oppressed.

The People’s Progressive Party remains eternally grateful to Dr. Castro, who came to the rescue of the PPP Government during the early 1960s when attempts were made by hostile and reactionary elements to destabilize the Jagan-led PPP Administration.

During the previous PPP/C Administration, Dr. Castro again extended a hand of friendship to the Guyanese people when he granted hundreds of scholarships to Guyanese students to pursue studies in medicine and in other technical fields, in addition to technical assistance rendered to the Government in a variety of areas.

The PPP wishes to extend its deepest condolences to President Raul Castro, the Communist Party of Cuba, and the whole of Cuba, on his passing. He has, however, left a rich legacy of revolutionary struggle for a better future, not only for the Cuban people, but for humanity as a whole. During one of his trials during the Batista dictatorship, he famously remarked: “Condemn me, history will absolve me”.

Dr. Castro has not only been absolved, but even in death will be immortalized in the hearts of millions way down the corridors of time.
May his soul rest in peace!

His leadership survived and made impressive achievements

– Former President Donald Ramotar

I HEREBY extend deepest sympathy to the people, the Communist Party and the Government of Cuba on the passing of Fidel Castro, the leader of the most significant revolution in our hemisphere.

Fidel Castro led Cuba towards profound changes in conditions of great hostility.

His country faced economic sabotage, the blockade being the greatest example of the economic war against Cuba. He had to contend with overt and covert military attacks and numerous assassination attempts, but survived them all.

Cuba under his leadership not only survived, but made impressive achievements. Cuban people are among the most literate in the world. The universal health care that the people enjoy is an achievement longed for by many. Today the Cuban people have one of the highest life expectancy rates in the world.

But Fidel was more than just a leader of the Cuban people. He was undoubtedly one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century.
His internationalism was profound. Even through the Cuban people had to make many sacrifices, Castro’s Cuba gave generously to the poor and oppressed the world over. Cuban doctors and educators have done tremendous humanitarian work in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Cuban soldiers spilled their blood for the freedom in Southern Africa. It is that solidarity and support, and at the invitation of the Angolan Government, that Cuban soldiers contributed to the end of apartheid in South Africa and led to freedom in Namibia, Angola and Mozambique.

Fidel Castro was also a profound thinker and champion of the oppressed. He led by the clarity of his views on important world issues, including the huge debt that the Third World was saddled with. Those efforts contributed to a change in policies that led to debt write–offs and debt forgiveness.

This giant, this larger-than-life figure, is now no more. However, he will be mourned by working people and the oppressed the world over. Once more, my deepest sympathy to all Cubans, who loved and revered him.
His name and work will endure throughout the ages.