Xenophobia is alien to Cubans
THE EDITOR, Madam:
N ITS April 27 issue, The Gleaner reports that “approximately 40 Jamaican medical students in Cuba are pleading with the Holness administration to come home, claiming that food shortages, xenophobia, and limited sanitation products continue to threaten their mental and physical health.”
It is no secret to anyone that food, hygiene products and many other supplies and items necessary for the normal development of the economic and social life of any country are in short supply in Cuba. For more than 60 years, my people have faced one of the most ruthless blockades in the history of humanity, imposed by the richest and most powerful country in the world against a small and poor country that refuses to get down on its knees. Even the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic has not deterred the US government from continuing to strengthen its economic siege against Cuba.
Even in such difficult circumstances, the Cuban people continue to practise solidarity to help other peoples in the world, including Jamaica. Currently, 433 health professionals and 77 Cuban teachers serve in this sister land. As a result of a fruitful cooperation that has been going on for decades, hundreds of Jamaican professionals from various specialities have been and continue to be trained in Cuba.
IUNSUSTAINABLE REFERENCE
Today, when COVID-19 has paralysed teaching activities in all Cuban higher education centres and poses a serious threat to life, the desire of Jamaican students who are in Cuba to return to their country seems completely legitimate to us; however, we are deeply shocked by the unsustainable reference to xenophobic behaviour by the Cuban people as part of the arguments used to justify the return to Jamaica.
Xenophobia, according to the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN), supposes all kinds of distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference motivated by race, colour, lineage or national or ethnic origin that has the aim or result of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, under conditions of equality, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other areas of public life. It is usually expressed with discriminatory actions or openly hostile and deliberate expressions of hatred towards foreigners.
Few things are as alien to the Cuban people as xenophobia. From our National Hero José Martí we learnt that “Homeland is Humanity”. It is in that spirit that our internationalist fighters have shed their blood and our health professionals have saved lives in countries geographically distant but close by the certainty of shared feelings and ideals. We were, we are and we will continue to be, a people of solidarity.
The brotherhood between the peoples of Cuba and Jamaica is beyond doubt. It has passed and will pass any test, no matter how difficult it may be.
Cubans are and will be here, sharing what we have – whether it is a lot or a little – and extending our solidarity arm as long as Jamaica needs it.
INÉS FORS FERNÁNDEZ Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba