• Submitted by: manso
• Editorial Articles
• 01 / 20 / 2011

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Yuri Gala LOPEZ. Wednesday, January 19, 2011. The victory of the revolutionary forces in January 1959 allowed the Cuban people to attain true independence and sovereignty. Since then, our people undertook their project of freedom, solidarity and social justice facing an unjust blockade and aggressions of various kinds.

The profound economic, political and social changes undertaken paved the way for the eradication of structural injustices inherited from the colonial and neo-colonial domination that Cuba suffered.

Cuba´s cooperation with Haiti continues for more than a decade. As a result of more than five decades of revolution, and despite various challenges, Cuba is today a stable country, with a united, educated and healthy people.

In assessing the situation of our economy at the end of 2010, Cuban President Raúl Castro said last December: "In spite of the impacts of the world crisis on the national economy, the irregular rainfall pattern during the last 19 months from November 2008 until June this year, and without excluding our own errors, I can affirm that the performance of the 2010 economic plan could be deemed as acceptable considering the times we are living...".

In 2010, Cuba registered a 2.1 per cent growth in its GDP. We welcomed 2.5 million foreign visitors. Exports of goods and services increased.

On the social front, my country was able to declare it had largely complied with the Millennium Development Goals. Cuba ended 2010 with an infant mortality rate of 4.5 per 1000 live births, the lowest in the history of the Cuban revolution.

Cuba also attained the figure of one million university graduates since 1959.

For the current year, Cuba foresees a 3.1 per cent GDP growth. Our economic model is being updated with the view of strengthening our revolution. President Raúl Castro recently said: "The year 2011 is the first of five included in the mid-term projection of our economy. During this period we shall be gradually and progressively introducing some new structures and concepts in the Cuban economic model...".

Cuba has continued to offer its modest cooperation to other sister nations of the South, including Caricom countries. It should be noted that our cooperation with Haiti has been ongoing for more than a decade and will continue.

Cuba enjoys today worldwide and increasing international recognition, having diplomatic relations with over 180 countries.

We have received the solidarity of many peoples and governments of the world in issues such as the five-decade-old blockade and the case of the five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters unjustly imprisoned in US territory.

Last year was one in which the friendly and cooperative ties between Cuba and Jamaica continued to strengthen. Over 180 Cubans are now in Jamaica supporting bilateral programmes in the health and educational sectors.

More than 250 Jamaican youths are currently studying in Cuban universities, as part of a scholarship programme which so far has graduated nearly 600 Jamaicans. In January 2010, the Cuba-Jamaica Eye Care Centre was opened, and to date, over 4000 patients have been screened, and more than 1000 patients underwent free eye surgery.

Last year´s signing of an MOU between the UWI (Mona) and Havana University has deepened bilateral academic exchanges.

During 2010, both countries exchanged high-level delegations and other visits from various government agencies and institutions, including the ones carried out by Dr Kenneth Baugh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Rudyard Spencer, Minister of Health; and by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez who paid an official visit to Jamaica in December — an opportunity in which a comprehensive Joint Communiqué was issued. In June, Havana welcomed a parliamentary delegation headed by Speaker Delroy Chuck, who signed an agreement for the development of relations between both parliaments.

Both countries continued to support each other in international fora. Last October at the United Nations, the Government of Jamaica again supported the resolution on the necessity of ending the US blockade against Cuba. That position was also shared by the House of Representatives of Jamaica. Cuba deeply appreciates that solidarity. I also thank those Jamaicans whose long-standing friendship with Cuba has been accompanied by an active solidarity.

As we Cubans reflect on our achievements and challenges, we also look forward to making the friendly relations between Cuba and Jamaica even stronger in 2011.

The above is an edited version of a speech by Yuri Gala Lopez at a diplomatic reception on January 14 to mark the 52nd anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban revolution.

Source: //www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/