In the wake of Hurricane Irma, we extend our solidarity
towards the impacted peoples of the Caribbean and renew our commitment with
Cuba!
Hurricane Irma has devastated the Caribbean
countries causing immense damage to infrastructure, agriculture, homes, electrical
production and distribution as well as water supplies. It has brought in its
wake not only destruction but also death. Tens of millions of people have had
their lives severely disrupted and millions remain homeless. The José Martí
Cultural Association in Athens extends its solidarity to the peoples of the Lesser
Antilles, the Bahamas, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, the state of Florida
in the USA and elsewhere.
In all these places the masses of people, the
poor, the workers and farmers, the small shopkeepers and others like them were
left to their own devices. The authorities simply issued orders to evacuate.
However, no real effort was made to move people safely and in an organized
fashion to shelters where beds, food, water and medical care was provided. This
resulted in untold misery for millions. We
realize that it is working people in all these lands that have been hit hardest
as it is they who were left abandoned to face their fate.
We also extend our solidarity to the people of
socialist Cuba who have also been hit hard by Irma. But unlike the places
mentioned above, in Cuba the Civil Defense organized to move over 1 million
people – among them tens of thousands of foreign tourists – in an organized
fashion to shelters where they were provided full meals and medical care. All
these were done at state expense. It is also worth mentioning that while Cuba
was facing the devastating impact of Irma, it sent a plane load of electricians
to Antigua to help repair that island’s electrical system. This contrast, once
again underlies the humanistic values of socialist Cuba and the disdain by the
ruling authorities for working people in the capitalist world.
Cuba’s electrical infrastructure, hotel
industry and agriculture have been severely damaged by Irma. This will have a
severe impact on the country’s economy for several years. The political and
economic crisis in Venezuela has also negatively impacted cuban economy.
Venezuela is one of Cuba’s main trading partners and in an act of solidarity
has for years provided Cuba with oil at advantageous prices. These blows come
on top of the asphyxiating economic, trade and financial embargo that
Washington continues to impose on the Cuban people, recently strengthened by
Trump administration despite the establishment of diplomatic relations. This
embargo has been a main obstacle towards Cuba’s development for over 5 decades.
Reconstruction has already begun as Cuba’s working
people are once more confidently mobilizing to face the new challenges.
However, at this difficult time for the Cuban
people it becomes all the more important to demand an immediate end to the US
embargo.
 |
José Martí Cultural Association
Athens, Greece, 16/9/2017
|
