Fidel and his decisions

On July 31, 2006, Fidel Castro surprisingly passed his power over to his brother Raul, after a series of complicated intestinal surgeries. One year and seven months later, the man who governed Cuba for over 50 years, left no questions unanswered on his political future, when he announced that his resig­nation as Cuba’s Chief of State and Armed Forces Commander. Castro, 81, made the announcement in the form of a letter to the Cuban press, prior to a February 24th meeting of the Cuban Parliament in which they will for a new government for the island.

After reading over some of the international responses to Castro’s announcement, it is interesting to point out that Brazilian President Luis Ignacio Lula DaSilva observed that “The big myth goes on; Fidel Castro is one of the big myths of our recent history,” while calling for calm and order during the change in Cuba’s government.

China, on the other hand, expressed hope for Castro’s health to improve and reconfirmed their intention to tighten their bonds with the Antillean nation.

Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, who was visiting Spain at the time of the announcement, said that “relations will not change” with Havana, noting that Cuba continually sends teachers and doctors to Central America.

In Mexico, congressmen of diverse political parties high­lighted Castro’s personality and suggested that the Cuban political future depends solely on their own people.

The Argentinean government defended the “good links” with Cuba and likened Castro as a “man to which many pages in history will be dedicated,” according to the head of the Governmental Cabinet, Alberto Fernandez.

Castro, the ultimate Cuban revolutionary, made several monu­mental decisions in his life. History will highlight two; taking the government away from Fulgencio Batista and therefore starting a popular revolution and retiring from power at precisely the right time.

A Cuban missionary in Tegucigalpa said “I had to come to this country, to fully value what I have in Cuba.” When asked to clarify, she said, “Here, you live behind bars in fear. Insecurity and violence are now part of your daily environment; many children live on the streets and many of the young use drugs.” The missionary was planning on buying electronics to take back to Cuba and added, “But, you are wealthy and dignified in the measure of how much you can buy.”

We all know that Cuban medi­cine is some of the best; the Cubans export their medical services with quality and technical expertise. We all know of their educational achievements and achievements in academia. Cubans located throughout Latin America collab­orate widely to educate. Their efforts don’t come out of just anywhere – they obey efficient governmental policies.

No doubt, many Cubans immi­grated to other countries after the revolution. But those who stayed, suffering economical and political embargoes, created a unique country. Necessity being the mother of invention, a special surgical thread was developed in Cuba, due to a boycott of medical equipment. After years of boycotts, Cubans have managed to develop and perfect their own technology, education, physics and music.

Nothing made by humans is perfect, Castro’s regime made mistakes and to many, his pres­ence in Angola and Nicaragua was a sore subject. But it is interesting that Camilo Gomez, former Commissioner of Peace in Colombia said, “During the period that Colombia was looking for peace through politics, Fidel was involved with the cause. He talked to the guerrillas on the absurdity of kidnapping and the need for peace and talked with the Colombian government on the difficulties of achieving peace. All the while, he did it with enormous respect.”

What will happen to Cuba without Fidel? The Cubans have to be careful: they have sacrificed for many difficult years; they deserve better times, and they have to make important decisions, good ones. History waits for them.

Dear HTW:

As a recent UK visitor to your country (I arrived in Tegucigalpa on the 1st Feb. and departed on the 10th) I was interested to read your article about the runway and the response from Carlos Morales, which I picked up just prior to my departure. I was surprised at his comment that it was unfortunate to publish the article ‘since it will not contribute to the national tourist industry’. In my view a newspaper that prints only the official line, and not the other views is merely pumping out propaganda and cannot expect to be taken seriously as a newspaper.

The fact that upon arrival the pilot immediately applied maximum reverse thrust in bringing about an abrupt stop, and thereby brought about a large spontaneous round of applause from the passengers indi­cated to me that there is an issue here as I have not experienced this behaviour and such apparent relief at a major international airport previously.

Mr Morales ends his letter somewhat cryptically ‘Let us build not destroy’ but he should realise that it would take just one inci­dent, serious or not, for the airport to gain notoriety and for the tourist industry to be irreparably damaged.

In short, keeping quiet about the airport’s shortcomings will not assist anyone as they are all too apparent.

Incidentally,I had a wonderful time in the Capital, in Copan and Roatan and will definitely return, whether via an extended runway or not.

Regards,

Alan W. R. Robinson
Weston-super-Mare
England
Via Internet

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