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Stop comparing Guyana with Cuba the realities are radically different

Jul 05, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,

First of all I must congratulate ‘Lady Jags’ for being the first Guyanese team to qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup Tournament and I do wish them all the best as they continue to make Guyana proud.

I am disappointed in the way they were allegedly treated in Cuba and though I find it hard to believe I cannot pronounce much on it since I was not there.

However, I wonder if the team was not comprised of mainly North American-based Guyanese if there would have been those complaints at all. Food for thought. I do however wish it could have been dealt with more professionally rather than to be aired the way it was in the Kaieteur News when considering that Cuba is a sister and friendly nation to us. Mr. Editor, in this regard, the Guyana Chronicle and SN were more proficient in their articles and avoided the route that Kaieteur News chose to take.

As if that wasn’t enough, to add insult to injury as the Guyanese would say, Freddie Kissoon in his 2010-07-03 column penned his opinion (which he is entitled to) but I nevertheless wish to comment on. I am not aware that he has any beef with Cuba but certainly very deep emotions could be sensed from his writings whenever he refers to Fidel and/or Cuba.

Mr. Kissoon calls Cuba a failed state but when one considers the inhumane blockade that they were faced with over 50 years or so and the progress they have made in the various fields of science, technology, culture, sports, education, medicine, agriculture, engineering and military strategies in spite of those difficulties, the word fail certainly does not come to mind.

It is true that at all international airports, there exists very strict surveillance, immigration and customs requirements but can you blame the Cubans who have been subjected to various terrorist acts over the years such as the Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961 and the Air Cubana bombing in 1973 to do all they can to protect their beloved land?

Besides, due to their intelligence, drug trafficking is almost zero and so is the crime rate. That’s not bad we would all agree. And what about travellers being detained by the US authorities simply because they visited Cuba?

I am not sure why Freddie thinks the Cubans are horrible people. For persons like me who were adopted and given similar rights as a Cuban citizen during the time of our study, we would never make a statement like that so he shouldn’t be surprised that he hasn’t heard complaints from Cuban trained professionals. Horrible people do not offer scholarships to children around the world including the USA to improve themselves, family, community and nation, nor do they send doctors and nurses to save thousands of lives globally among many other humanistic gestures. Cuba shares the little they have with others not the extra stuff that they have no need for.

Finally, I thought I would introduce myself to Uncle Freddie so at least he will know one other Guyanese that studied in Havana. But there are many others such as Dr. Simpson Da Silva (Ex-Minister of Agriculture), Dr. Christina Brijmohan, Dr. Brian Caesar, Dr. Kenrick Elias, Dr. Melissa Samuels, Dr. Ariston Lyte, Dr. Dexter Allen, Dr. Joshua Da Silva who immediately come to mind.

It must be noted that although entry into the University of Havana is difficult due to the high standards that are set, eligible Guyanese students may be prevented from doing so if they do not receive the required permission from the Guyana Public Service Ministry through the Student Affairs Officer resident in Cuba.

Mr. Kissoon I beg you to stop comparing Guyana with Cuba, the realities are radically different.

Viva Cuba Libre!

Dr. Devon Dublin

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