Friendship and Solidarity Between the Cuban and Quebec People Reaffirmed!
Roundtable's general assembly, April 6,
2024
On April 6 in Montreal, the Quebec-Cuba Solidarity Roundtable (Roundtable) dedicated the entire day to celebrating the solidarity and friendship that unites the Cuban and Quebec people, as well as the resilience of the Cuban people and their government.
In the morning, the Roundtable held its general meeting and celebrated the 22nd anniversary of its existence. Throughout the meeting, representatives of member organizations presented their achievements on different fronts in support of Cuba. They spoke of the monthly picket lines, rain or shine, demanding an end to the blockade; the numerous conferences to inform Quebeckers of the U.S. blockade against Cuba, the Cuban health system, their battle during the pandemic, the creation of their own vaccines to fight Covid in order to protect Cubans, the internationalist medical brigades, the elections in Cuba, the holding of the annual Madeleine-Parent brigades, etc. The Roundtable maintains relations with various organizations in Canada and the United States to strengthen common work in support of Cuba, some of whom sent the Roundtable their wishes for success.
An important front of work of which the Roundtable is very proud is that of gathering medical equipment to donate to Cuba. This work has developed valuable collaborative links with many people and organizations working in the health field. Over the past two years, more than $400,000 worth of medical equipment has been sent.
Delegates from member organizations unanimously adopted a resolution expressing their determination to continue their work to defend the Cuban revolution. They are determined to continue their work particularly in light of the escalating efforts of U.S. imperialism to divide the people and defeat their nation-building project.
The resolution highlights, among other things: "On the occasion of its general meeting of April 6, 2024 and the 22nd anniversary of its founding, the Quebec-Cuba Solidarity Roundtable salutes the heroism of the Cuban people and their government who have once again foiled, on March 18, the attempts of the United States and its counterrevolutionary agents to provoke a popular uprising against the Revolution. Demands for stable supplies of electricity and food bring problems that the government is struggling to resolve despite the blockade and brutal U.S. sanctions. It is not the Revolution which is the origin of these problems; it is the U.S. blockade to which all the member countries of the United Nations, with the exception of the United States, Israel and one or two American protectorates, demand an end.
"Cuba's problems are the people's problems and the people's problems are Cuba's problems. Who can say that the government of the United States or the governments of other countries that foment counterrevolution in Cuba belong to the people? Nobody.
"We take the opportunity of our general meeting to reaffirm loud and clear our determination to help end the criminal economic, commercial and financial blockade that the U.S. government has imposed on the Cuban people. Whether through our actions, pickets, caravans, conferences, brigades and medical aid of all kinds, we will continue this work in unwavering support for the Cuban people."
In the afternoon, the Roundtable invited Susana Malmierca Benitez, Consul General of Cuba in Montreal, to talk about the difficult situation facing the Cuban people and their government at the moment and how they are dealing with it. Some 70 people thus learned from the daily struggle which is waged through the mobilization and involvement of all in the resolution of problems, to ensure their well-being and security while the United States is intensifying its counterrevolutionary activities to attempt to suffocate and crush Cuba.
Public conference, April 6, 2024
Dealing with the intensity of the blockade against Cuba, especially under the Trump administration, which the Biden administration has not lessened, she explained the problems in obtaining credits in international financial markets due to the persecution of institutions that deal with Cuba and because Cuba has been put on the U.S. list of state-sponsors of terrorism. Selling products that Cuba might export is also more difficult, again because potential buyers face the threat of being accused of supporting terrorism. For example, ships stopping in Cuba cannot stop in a U.S. port for six months before or after the Cuban visit. Given the proximity of the United States and the scale of its international market, this is particularly problematic for Cuba. The blockade prevents the sale to Cuba of any manufactured goods containing more than 10 per cent U.S. materials, which is again particularly problematic given the extent of U.S. control over the global economy.
The U.S.' cyberwar activities against Cuba are also part of the reality in Cuba. They are desperately trying to use the Internet to sow trouble and turn the population's frustration and discontent with the difficulties against their own government, without providing any solution. Meanwhile, when people take to the streets in Cuba, she said, as happened last month, local and national authorities join their people to discuss the problems and see together how they can resolve these issues.
The meeting ended with informal discussions on new initiatives to support revolutionary Cuba and demand an end to the criminal and inhumane U.S. blockade against it. Friendship and solidarity between the Cuban and Quebec peoples were reaffirmed.
This article was published in
Volume 54 Number 3 - April 2024
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/M5400316.HTM
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