|
By Angus MacSwan
KINGSTON, Jamaica, July 30 (Reuters) - Cuban President Fidel Castro, in a
two-hour speech in a packed public park in the Jamaican capital on Thursday
evening, lauded solidarity between the small nations of the Caribbean and said
they must not be ignored in world economic agreements.
In a performance that showed off his legendary skills as an orator, Castro
covered topics including Cuban and Jamaican history, the evils of slavery, and
the fight against apartheid in South Africa.
Several thousand people turned out to see the veteran revolutionary at a
ceremony for the sprucing up and renaming of a Kingston park to honour South
African President Nelson Mandela.
They applauded frequently, cheering mentions of Mandela, guerrilla hero Che
Guevara and late Jamaican Premier Michael Manley.
Castro received a standing ovation when he finished, proving that to many in
the developing world, he is still a hero, though branded a dictator by the
United States and his many other enemies.
Stressing the main purpose of his trip, Castro said: ``The best friends Cuba
has are the Caribbean and Africa.
``It was in the Caribbean that the initiative came to fight the (U.S.)
blockade and isolation. Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad -- they were leading.''
He thanked Jamaica for its part in getting Cuba observer status at trade
talks this year between the Africa-Caribbean-Pacific grouping and the European
Union. He also pledged Cuba's backing for Caribbean nations in their fight
against World Trade Organisation moves to cut preferential tariffs on the key
regional export, bananas.
``Some have wanted to ignore the Caribbean, but the Caribbean cannot be
ignored. Jamaica can rely on us in all the battles it fights for its rights and
development,'' he said.
Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, in an address considerably shorter
than Castro's, said Jamaica wanted to be a catalyst in improving relations in
the hemisphere.
``Jamaica will continue to give the fullest support in ensuring Cuba's
reintegration within the hemispheric system,'' Patterson said.
There was a festive mood to the rally as the reggae beat of Bob Marley
boomed out from a sound system before Castro's arrival and the benign face of
Mandela beamed down from a portrait by the stage.
Well-dressed invitees took their seats while ordinary people were packed in
behind them and police sharpshooters watched from rooftops.
There was an air of nostalgia for Third World struggle as Castro railed
against U.S. imperialism and injustices toward poorer nations and called for
unity and brotherhood.
Though himself the son of a Spanish immigrant, he wooed his black audience
by recounting Cuba and Jamaica's shared legacy of African slaves. Both peoples
had a history of fighting for independence against European colonialists, he
said.
``Colonialists seized the children of Africa and made them slaves. What a
crime!'' he said. ``We are joined not only by geography but by history.''
Moving deftly from one theme to another -- and belying rumours his health is
failing -- Castro lauded Mandela and spoke about Cuba's role in fighting
apartheid.
For about half an hour, he discussed Cuba's dispatch of troops to fight the
South African army in Angola in the 1970s and 1980s, at the height of the Cold
War.
``There was no choice. It had to be done. What were we doing if not paying
back our debt to humanity, to Africa?'' he asked.
Patterson said that ``when the history is written of how the walls of
apartheid were finally shattered, the name Fidel Castro will be etched in
letters of gold.''
Such unstinting praise of the 71-year-old Castro is rare these days as Cuba
clings to one-party, communist rule.
But he has been lionised since his arrival here on Wednesday. He leaves
Jamaica late on Friday for Barbados, then will make a final call on Grenada.
01:37 07-31-98
Copyright 1998 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |