Controversial Castroclaims
LOCAL Indpendent councillor Declan Bree says President Michael D Higgins’ message of sympathy on the passing of Fidel Castro reflected the views and the values of the great majority of the Irish people.
Cllr Bree visited Cuba on a number of occasions. He heard Fidel Castro speak in ‘ Revolution Square’ during his first visit to Cuba in 1978, when he was one of the 120 young Irish people who participated in the World Festival of Youth and Students.
When he was Mayor of Sligo in 2004 he visited Havana on the invitation of its Mayor, Juan Contino Aslan. The Mayor and City Council hosted a Conference for Co- operation and Solidarity with Havana which was attended by over 150 mayors from all parts of the world.
Speaking yesterday Cllr Bree said: “Ireland is similar to Cuba in many respects. We have a population who cherish the concept of freedom and liberty. And like Cuba we are a small nation that for many years sought to assert its independence and sovereignty - an island nation, which has had to suffer constant and consistent interference from a larger neighbour.
“Cuba’s biggest export is not cigars or rum, but doctors. And every time there’s an emergency, or a natural disaster, it’s the Cubans who are first to bring aid and sustenance to the people.
“In addition to training tens of thousands of medical students from developing countries free of charge Cuba has, over the years, sent over 185,000 health workers to more than 100 countries.
“Of course the Cuba that Fidel built is not the perfect society, nor has it ever claimed to be, but when we compare it to so many other countries its achievements can clearly be recognised.”
“President Higgins was right when he said that the Fidel will be remembered as a giant among global leaders whose view was not only one of freedom for his people but for all the oppressed and excluded peoples on the planet,” he concluded.