• Submitted by: admin
• Arts and Culture
• 09 / 05 / 2007

Celebrations for the 85th anniversary of the birth of Cuban radio began on Thursday with a pilgrimage to the final resting ground of Luis Casas Romero, known as the father of Cuban radio.

The national radio system boosts a large audience and is comprised of 87 radio stations across the island.

Among the activities to celebrate the anniversary will be an award ceremony to be held at the Museum of the Revolution in Havana recognizing outstanding workers in all areas of national radio broadcasting.

Celebrations will include the presentation of a cancellation stamp commemorating the anniversary and a interactive forum on the five Cuban antiterrorist fighters unjustly held in US prisons for more than eight years.

Cuban radio has made a significant contribution to the international campaign for the freedom of Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon Labañino, Rene Gonzalez and Fernando Gonzalez, known worldwide as the Cuban Five. The forum will open on Saturday at the Jose Marti International Institute of Journalism in Havana.

Cuba was one of the first Latin American countries to develop a radio broadcasting network. The first radio station was inaugurated on August 22, 1922.
Radio Rebelde, the Cuban revolution's radio station, broadcasted for the first time on February 24, 1958 opening a new period in the history of radio on the island.
The Cuban Radio and Television Institute was created on May 24, 1962 with the purpose of extending broadcasting to the whole territory.

Source: Radio Rebelde