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| Fernando González, center, addresses 7th Biennial CNC Convention |
The Canadian
Network on Cuba (CNC) held a very successful 7th Biennial Convention in Toronto
from May 30 -31, 2015. Delegates and alternate delegates from 19 member
organizations were joined by observers and invited guests including His
Excellency Julio Garmendía Peña, Ambassador of Cuba to Canada, Javier Dómokos
Ruiz, Toronto Consul General of Cuba and other Cuban diplomats.
The
Convention had the distinct honour and privilege of hosting Fernando González
Llort, one of the Five Cuban Heroes who had been imprisoned unjustly in
the United States for defending Cuba from terrorist attacks launched from the
United States and/or by U.S. citizens and covert agencies and for defending
Cuba's right to independence and self-determination.
Fernando
Gonzalez participated in his capacity as Vice-President of the Cuban Institute
for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP). He was accompanied by Sandra Ramírez
Rodriguez, Director of the North American Desk of ICAP. Also, present was Dr.
José de Jesús Portilla García, who had just completed nine-city tour to raise
awareness about Cuba's extensive and unprecedented internationalist solidarity
with the peoples of Africa, and in particular its recent contribution to
addressing the Ebola crisis in West Africa. Dr. Portilla Garcia has had a
distinguished career as a surgeon, university professor and head of the
Department of Health for the province of Havana. He was also involved in a
number of Cuban medical missions to Africa including to the former Republic of
Congo and Angola.
On behalf of
La Table de Concertation de Solidarité Quebec-Cuba, Christine
Dandenault and Genevieve Royer delivered a message of greetings to the
Convention. The National Network on Cuba from the United States also sent
a written greeting of support.
Conference
Highlight
A very well
attended public meeting on the evening of Saturday, May 30 was the highlight of
the 7th Convention. Fernando González Llort spoke to a standing room-only
audience gathered at the United Steelworkers Hall on Cecil Street in Toronto to
celebrate the freeing of all the Five Cuban Heroes. Fernando declared his
admiration and appreciation for the contribution of the Canada-Cuba solidarity
movement to the struggle to win their freedom stating: "On behalf of my
four brothers and our families, thank you. This victory belongs to all of you."
Fernando
also emphasized that the international solidarity movement with Cuba still
faces the task of ending the ongoing U.S policy of hostility and aggression
against the island nation. He noted that the struggle "hasn't ended. We
won a battle but the blockade remains and Guantanamo base is still there
[illegally on Cuban territory]. The blockade impacts all aspects of Cuban
life." He reiterated that Havana is committed to maintaining its
internationalist foreign policy of helping other countries. In Cuba "solidarity
is part of our culture," he stated.
Fernando
invoked Cuba's long struggle to realize and achieve independence,
self-determination and a just society, a struggle that stretches back to the
19th century. The victory of December 17, 2014 cannot be divorced from the
profound history in which it is embedded, he said. The freedom of Gerardo
Hernández, Ramón Labañino and Antonio Guerrero and Obama's new policy are the
culmination of Cuba's struggle for national affirmation, liberation,
independence and social justice. Fernando also stressed that for the people of
Cuba "the knowledge of our history, and our principles are going to keep
the Cuban Revolution strong."
Dr. José de
Jesús Portilla Garcia also addressed the gathering about the role of Cuban doctors
in the fight against Ebola. He explained the human-centred health care system
that has emerged in Cuba despite the U.S. economic blockade. He emphasized that
in Cuba healthcare is a human right enshrined in the Constitution and
guaranteed by the Cuban state. Dr. Portilla Garcia further noted that
despite being a poor country Cuba has provided medical assistance to other
countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean based on a spirit of
internationalism. This is something that he and all Cubans are committed
to and very proud of.
Pan Am Games
At the
Saturday, May 30 public meeting Ambassador Garmendía Peña announced the launch
of Cuba Pan Am 2015, the new website designed to
provide the latest news and information in English, French and Spanish about
Cuban sport and the country's participation at the 2015 Pan American Games
that will be held in Toronto from July 10-26, 2015. Facebook and Twitter
pages were also launched, which together with the website will provide updates
about the Cuban team and what to expect at the games. The website address
is: http://cubapanam2015.ca, Twitter: @cubapanam2015 and Facebook: Cuba Pan Am
2015.
Panel
Discussions
Interesting
panel discussions were held during the Convention, which was held within the
context of the resounding victory of the December 17, 2014 release of the final
three of the Five Cuban Heroes and the announcement by U.S. President Obama
that the United States government was taking steps toward the establishment of
formal diplomatic relations with Cuba, as well as the celebration of 70 years
of uninterrupted Canada-Cuba diplomatic relations.
During the
panel Canada-Cuba Solidarity & 70 Years of Canada-Cuba Diplomatic
Relations, Ambassador Garmendía Peña pointed out that despite the immense
and historic victory of winning the freedom of the Cuban Five and the
formalization of diplomatic relations between the U.S and Cuba, the economic
blockade is still in force. The work remains to end the blockade, the illegal
U.S. occupation of Guantanamo Bay and Washington's policy of destabilization.
The Ambassador further emphasized the need to continue building and deepening
the existing relations of friendship and cooperation that exist between Canada
and Cuba.
The
Honorable Jean Augustine also spoke. A former Liberal MP, Ms. Augustine was
Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade and
Speaker of the House of Commons in 2004. Her presentation focussed on the role
of parliamentarians in fostering Canada-Cuba relations. She regaled the
audience with vignettes of her various trips to the island nation, especially
her various meetings with the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel
Castro.
Nino
Pagliccia, editor of the recently released book Cuba Solidarity in Canada:
Five Decades of People-to-People Foreign Relations, outlined how Cuba's
internationalism provided a foreign policy model in which solidarity is the
fundamental principle.
A dynamic
session on Planning for 2015-2017: New Challenges New Struggles featured
Elizabeth Hill, CNC Co-Chair, Sandra Ramírez from ICAP and Tamara Hansen
from the organization Vancouver Communities in Solidarity With Cuba.
Their presentations highlighted the challenges facing the Canada-Cuba solidarity
movement in the coming period and the opportunities that exist to further
strengthen it and expand its reach.
The
Convention's final panel, Cuba-Today and Tomorrow, featured
Professor Emeritus Keith Ellis from the University of Toronto, Javier Domokos
Ruiz and CNC Co-Chair Isaac Saney. They presented lively information on the
ongoing renovation and updating of the Cuban economy and the significance of
U.S. President Obama's new policy. The panel stressed that the economic
measures being implemented by Cuba were taking place within the process of the
renewal and continuity of the Cuban revolutionary and socialist project, and
that while the people of Cuba welcomed the steps towards the possible
normalization of relations with the United States, they would never renounce
their independence, sovereignty or socialism.
CNC Sets Its
Program of Work
Extensive
reports by the CNC executive and CNC member organization were presented
covering the two years since the 6th Convention. The reports illustrated the
breadth and depth of Canada-Cuba solidarity activities from Vancouver to
Halifax. These activities encompassed the political, social and cultural
spheres. Highlights of the CNC's work included the very successful cross-Canada
tours of Geraldo Alphonso and Dr. Portilla Garcia, and the international
symposium Africa's Unknown War: Apartheid Terror, Cuba & Southern Africa
Liberation. Reports of member groups highlighted the struggle to free the
Cuban Five and the tremendous joy at their liberation. The scope and diversity
of this work encompassed a variety of arenas, from political work with
parliamentarians and unions to cultural performances and festivals to ongoing
information meetings, conferences, pickets and leafleting.
Recognizing
that the movement in solidarity with Cuba has arrived at a new moment which
poses specific challenges, CNC delegates resolved to mobilize Canadian public
and political opinion to end the U.S. economic blockade of the island, return
Guantanamo Bay and to challenge the disinformation campaign against Cuba. Based
on the reports, discussions and deliberations, resolutions were adopted to
strengthen and guide the CNC's work over the next two years and measures were
taken to update the CNC's by-laws.
Special
attention was also paid to other areas of ongoing work including among others,
the highly successful Ernesto Che Guevara Voluntary Work Brigade and the
annual Pastors for Peace Caravan, and the ongoing work with Canadian
parliamentarians. Delegates also pledged to mobilize support for the Cuban
participating in 15th Pan American Games that will be held in Toronto
and its environs from July 10th-26th, 2015. The Convention also committed to
support a symposium in Toronto in 2015 to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Operación
Carlota, the beginning of Cuba's internationalist mission in Angola that
was crucial to the success of the southern African national liberation and
anti-colonial struggles.
A new CNC
executive was elected to implement the Convention's decisions and realize the
work plan for 2015-2017: Michel Dugre, Julio Fonseca, Don Forman, Elizabeth
Hill, Isaac Saney, Aaron Shields and Saleh Waziruddin. The executive
subsequently selected Elizabeth Hill and Isaac Saney to continue as co-chairs.
Isaac Saney was also re-appointed National Spokesperson and Elizabeth Hill
Treasurer, with Saleh Waziruddin assuming the position of Secretary.
The exciting
and full two-day program reflected the rich, dynamic and spirited Canada-Cuba
solidarity movement, which has been in existence for more than fifty years. It
is a movement rooted in the overwhelming respect and admiration of Canadians
for Cuba's considerable achievements and affirmation of its right to
independence and self-determination despite facing the unceasing aggression of
the United States. This respect and admiration have forged unbreakable ties of
friendship and solidarity between the peoples of Canada and Cuba.
For
information, contact:
Isaac Saney
CNC National
Spokesperson
