FORTY-ONE years ago Sabrina Harrypaul, Eric Norton, Ann Nelson, Raymond Persaud, Margaret Bradshaw, Gordon M. Sobha, Rawle Thomas, Rita Thomas, Violet Thomas, Jacqueline Williams and Seshnarine Kumar were among 73 persons who perished when Cubana flight CU-455 was bombed and crashed off the shore of Barbados. This incident occurred in the heightened period of the Cold War that saw efforts to influence alignment to and support for the Western or Eastern bloc.

Guyana distinguished herself during this period by embracing the Non-Aligned Movement and policies, which allowed for the pursuit of national interest on the international stage, independent of having to side with either bloc, though working with both in pursuit of our development agenda and making the world a better place. The non-aligned principles allowed Guyana to play a leading role in the fight against apartheid in Southern African, a system the Western powers gave support to because those African governments supported that bloc.

As the Fidel Castro government provided military support to fight against the apartheid system, Guyana made available its airstrip for planes to stop and refuel on their journey to and from Africa. While the West was distrustful of Cuba’s communist government – which came to power through a revolution that ousted the United States (U.S.) supported Fulgencio Batista government – and isolated the country and repeatedly accused its government of violating human rights, they embraced Southern African governments that practiced apartheid and denied the masses their fundamental rights and freedoms as a matter of law.
Guyana over the years has shared close relations with Cuba which was informed by our non-aligned policy. This relationship, more than any other, has resulted in scholarships for Guyanese in the field of medicine, veterinary science, engineering, pharmacology, agriculture and other technical areas. Such support contributed significantly in improving the intellectual capacity of the nation’s human capital to pursue our national developmental goals.

The bombing of Flight 455 was an act of terrorism not unlike attacks the U.S. suffered on the 11th September 2001. The fact is that a few exiled Cubans who despised the Castro government had the support of the Venezuela Secret Police to commit a cowardly act designed to send a message. Undoubtedly the message to Cuba, Guyana and other Caribbean allies was a clear warning that there are forces prepared to destroy you rather than talk with you if they dislike your politics, influence and relations.
In that era the superpowers and their allies were jostling for world dominance. Cuba being in the backyard of the West, reaching into the Caribbean and on the Africa continent, presented a geopolitical threat to one bloc and empowerment to the other. Threats seen through the lens of the superpower in either bloc led to acts of violating others, including invading countries, on justification to crush or spread an ideology. In this environment newly independent small state societies found it complex and problematic pursuing political, economic, social and cultural self-determination having to navigate a bipolar politics that paid greater importance on alignment.

The support and protection offered to the terrorists by Venezuela, while the U.S. intelligence agency though possessing knowledge of the plan well in advance of the attack did not share the information with the Cuban Government, make the point of the nature of the politics at the time. During this period U.S. and Cuba relations were hostile. U.S. had severed diplomatic relations, imposed a trade embargo and restricted its citizens from travelling to that country.

In revisiting Venezuela’s role, it is being recalled in 1962 that country made known to the United Nations it no longer accepts the 1899 Tribunal Award that settled the Guiana border dispute with Great Britain. Forty-one years hence, though the Cold War is considered over, acts of terrorism have grown more complex and continue to wreak havoc around the world. In reflecting on those who were never allowed to live out their dreams and give of their contributions to the society’s development, it becomes more important to work harder to secure worldwide comity.

The 6th October, 1976 should be integrated into the education curriculum, serving not only as knowledge but more so to underscore the importance of continuing the quest for global justice and not cowering in the face of adversity. Where the misplaced belief is held that someone has the right to determine for the other and there exists intolerance for the views and values of another, work remains to be done. Consequently, our eleven citizens who perished must not only be a marker in our history but a leading motivation to overcome.