BY KERRY MCCATTY Observer staff reporter mccattyk@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Local politicians and foreign diplomats yesterday greeted news of Fidel
Castro's retirement as Cuban president with a mixture of best wishes for
his health and hope that his departure will lead to democracy in Cuba.
Japanese ambassador Masahiro Obata, the government of Mexico through its
deputy chief of mission, Abraham Montes de Oca, Opposition Leader Portia
Simpson Miller and Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Kenneth Baugh were among
those who wished better health for Castro.
However, Castro's illness was not the only thing mentioned in the way of
the apparent or the expected. Cuba and its leader have formed an
important part of the political landscape for almost half-a-century, so
the separation of both is historic.
Jamaica has been a part of that history, as Simpson Miller mentioned in
an address to Parliament yesterday.
"In the very difficult days when countries were afraid to associate with
Cuba and Castro, the PNP (People's National Party), Michael Manley and
his government stood firm and retained diplomatic relations with Cuba,"
Simpson Miller said.
Later, in a news release from the Opposition People's National Party,
Simpson Miller lauded the Cuban Government's efforts at building the
Jose Marti High School and the GC Foster College in Jamaica, as well as
its scholarship programme for Jamaican medical students.
Baugh, in his statement, made reference to the Cuban leader's resilience
in the face of challenges to his leadership style.
"To friend and foe he has been a towering figure in stature and status,"
Baugh said. "He has remained steadfast and consistent in his ideas and
philosophy despite overwhelming opposition."
The most outstanding of those "foes" has been the United States, which
imposed a trade embargo on Cuba as punishment for its communist regime
and has long tried to topple Castro's Government. So yesterday's call
from US president George W Bush for democracy to take root in Cuba, now
that Castro is out of the picture, was not surprising.
Spokesperson and public affairs officer at the US embassy in Kingston,
Pat Atkisson, echoed that sentiment. "The US Government sees this as an
opportunity for the Cuban people to begin the transition to democracy,"
Atkisson said. She added that this should give way to a "political
pluralism" which the Cuban people have not known for many years.
Importantly, she said, it was time for political prisoners to be
released in demonstration of a respect for human rights.
"Most of all," she said, it was hoped that the necessary steps would be
taken towards a "pathway to free elections".
Prime Minister Bruce Golding, addressing Parliament, said it was
important that Cuba's transition, which he hoped would "put an end to
unjustified isolation of Cuban people," not be dictated by outside forces.
"In transition, the way is being paved for normalisation of
international relations as far as Cuba is concerned," Golding said,
adding that he had been invited to Cuba for an official visit by
Castro's brother and apparent successor, Raul Castro.
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