NLC Holds Day of Solidarity for Cuba

2087
SW.16-mariam
L-R: Dr Peter Ozo-Eson (GS, NLC), Ambassador Carlos Trejo-Sosa, Com Ayuba Wabba (President, NLC) and Ms. Miriam Morales Palmero (Deputy Head of Cuban Mission to Nigeria)

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in collaboration with the National Solidarity Movement on Cuba organized a Day of Solidarity with Cuba with a round table discussion on strengthening international struggle against the continued blockade and isolation of Cuba, led by the United States.

The occasion which took place at the Olaitan Oyerinde Memorial Hall, in the Labour House on Thursday 29th September 2016, attracted Labour Leaders from the affiliate unions of the NLC. Equally present were the Ambassadors of Cuba, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Ghana

The significance of the occasion rests on the fact that, without internationalist support, from the example of Cuba a tiny Caribbean Island Nation of about 12 million people, the powerful countries behind capitalism globally, will do everything possible to stifle attempts by any country, to seek alternative pathways for development.

This is the more reason, as the SWL continues to emphasise, why the socialist revolution can triumph only with its generalization as an international overthrow of capitalism. Despite the limitations of the Cuban revolution, it represents a major effort to bring an end to the exploitative system based on the profit motive.

Its heroic struggles have not been limited to Cuban soil. Sons and daughters of Cuba fought in Africa against the apartheid forces in the continent’s south, particularly in Angola where they contributed significantly to the MPLA’s defeat of apartheid South Africa’s defense forces, at the historic Battle of Cuito Cuanavale in the mid-1980s.

No sooner after the Cuban Revolution triumphed in 1959 that the imperialism in its characteristic manner, commenced an all-out struggle to crush the change of regime, just as they did against the Russian Revolution forty-two years earlier. This time around, the United States led the attempted invasion at the Bay of Pigs in 1961, and the longest and most comprehensive blockade against a country, in modern history.

Haven lost at the Bay of Pigs, the United States orchestrated the expulsion of Cuba from the Organization of American States on January 21, 1962. This expulsion was rescinded in 1975. On March 23, 1962 the embargo on all imports of products containing Cuban goods and on August 3, i962 the Foreign Assistance Act was amended to prohibit and to any country that provide assistance to Cuba.

Despite relentless imperialist hostility, Cuba emerged as a frontline nation in many fields of human endeavors such as medicine and biotechnology. Its accomplishment in sports, tourism, internationalism, education, and scholarship support to children and wards of poor working class people in Africa, are impressive.

The September occasion also witnessed the presentation of a birthday card to the Comrade Fidel Castrol at 90 years. This was handed to the Ambassador of Cuban to Nigeria for onward transmission to Fidel Castrol in Cuba. The presentation was done by the chair of the industriAll, Africa region and general secretary of the Textile and Garment Workers’ Union, comrade Issa Aremu on behalf of the organizers.

Several other comrades participated actively, including the General Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress, Dr Peter Ozo-eson and Prof. Toye Olorode from the Olabisi Onabanjo University.

The programme came to an end with a resolution demanding that the government of the United States of America removes all blockade and sanctions against Cuba, immediately.

by Peter Adejobi

Comments

comments

Previous articleNLC Holds 14th Rain School
Next articleAbuja Bus Drivers’ Strike Called Off