 |
| Kofi Portuphy, Newly Elected Chairman of NDC |
By
Ekow Mensah
Party
congresses present a platform for demonstrating enthusiastic support and show
casing the achievements of the party especially if it happens to be the
Congress of a ruling party.
The
NDC congress held in Kumasi over the week-end was meant to be such a platform
but unfortunately, Ivor Greenstreet, General Secretary of the Convention Peoples
Party (CPP) did not feel compelled to stick to protocol.
He
let fly accusations right, left and centre and managed to mal an elaborately
orchestrated congress to the pleasure of opponents of the Government.
Not
even Kwabena Agyapong, General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the
largest opposition party could equal the tantrums of Ivor Greenstreet.
Greenstreet
accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of failing to keep its promise
of building a better Ghana.
He
said “no one feels the better Ghana” which was promised by President John
Dramani Mahama and the NDC.
According
to Greenstreet, the worse part of it all is that the Government and the NDC “do
not care” about their failures.
The
controversy that the Greenstreet’s “solidarity message” has generated is not about to die soon.
An
NDC communicator, Samuel George has not helped matters by commenting that Greenstreet
needs an elevation to enable him see the “better Ghana.”
Critics
have said that George’s statement is a reference to the physical handicap
suffered by Greenstreet as a result of an accident.
Greenstreet
moves about in a wheel chair.
Samuel
George has denied that his comment is about Greenstreet’s physical handicap but
the controversy is raging on the net.
Even
some of those who agree fully with the statement made by Greeenstreet say that
his choice of forum was unfortunate.
A
radio commentator said “what Greenstreet said was true but do you go to your
in-law’s funeral to proclaim him foolish even if he is?”
Mr
Jerry John Rawlings, founder of the party dropped hints that his wife, Nana
Konadu Agyemang Rawlings may be returning to the fold of the NDC.
The
question however is, on what condition will Nana Konadu rejoin the NDC?
The
speculation is that she may be offered the position of Vice Presidential
candidate in a deal which will be hammered primarily between President Mahama
and Mr Rawlings.
There
is also open talk of the sharing of ministerial and other positions between
supporters of the Rawlingses who congregated in the National Democratic Party
(NDP) and President Mahama.
The
casualties of this marriage can only be perceived loyalists of former President
John Evans Atta Mills and those in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who have made
a career out of the Akufo-Addo-Rawlings flirtations.
The
most important issues waiting to be addressed by the new leadership of the NDC
and its government are how to revive the national economy and restore regular
power supply.
President
Mahama has promised that his government will deliver on its promises and the
people of Ghana are anxiously waiting for the signs of good times ahead.
Editorial
CONGRESS IS OVER!
The
much talked about congress of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is now
over with the election of a new leadership for the party.
Before,
during and after the Congress, it was clear that the focus of the vast majority
of members is the wining of the 2016 national elections.
Party
members believe that whoever was elected at the congress has something to
contribute to the victory of the NDC in 2016.
The
Insight would like to point out that the task facing the party is not an easy
one and that it will require a clear vision and hard work to perform.
The
NDC cannot win the 2016 elections if it fails to provide regular supply of
electricity and water to the people.
The
state of the national economy in which all major means of production and
distribution are in the hands of foreign multi-national companies is a threat
to the victory of the party.
If
the NDC is to win the next elections, then it must do far better than it has
done so far.
This
is the truth!
CUBA
 |
| Vice President Amissah Arthur |
Vice
President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, will deliver, the key-note address at a
special ceremony to mark the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
relations between Ghana and Cuba in Accra today, Monday 23rd December.
The
event is scheduled to start at 6:00pm at the Accra International Conference
Centre.
Other
speakers will be the Foreign Minister of Ghana, Cuba’s Ambassador to Ghana and
Comrade Kwesi Pratt. Jnr, a member of the Cuban Solidarity Campaign.
The
event is taking place only a few days after the release of the last three of
the Cuban Five from prisons in the United States of America.
In
announcing the release, President Obama said the US wants to normalize
diplomatic relations with Cuba.
Ghana
has been at the forefront of the campaign for the release of the Cuban Five and
the lifting of the blockade against Cuba imposed by the United States of
America.
Two
years ago, President John Mahama joined 2,000 Ghanaians from all walks of life
to sign a petition calling for the release of the Cuban Five and the lifting of
the Blockade on Cuba.
The
late President John Evans Atta Mills also fired a letter to President Obama
demanding the release of the Cuban Five and calling for an end to the blockade.
Ghana
and Cuba became the axis of resistance against apartheid in South Africa.
This
collaboration led to the deployment of Cuban internationalist forces in Angola.
Cuba
co-operates with Ghana in the fields of health, education and at all levels of
the Non-Aligned Movement.
The
Cuban Ambassador to Ghana is expected to pay glowing tribute to Ghana for her
solidarity with the Cuban people.
Vice
President Amisah-Arthur will call for deepening relations between Cuba and
Ghana.
Portuphy Sweeps The Polls
By
Christian Kpesese
National
Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation, Mr Kofi Portuphy
has emerged the newly elected National Chairman of the ruling National
Democratic Congress (NDC) at the just ended 8th National delegates congress of
the party held in Kumasi.
He
pulled a total of 2,413 out of the total ballot cast to beat rivals Mr Dan
Abodakpi and incumbent Dr Kwabena Agyei who pulled 610 and 392 respectively.
Mr
Huudu Yahaya one of the major aspirants for the chairmanship race however
pulled out at the 11th hour with no reason given.
3,600
delegates from 217 constituencies in the ten regions of the country were
expected to vote
Incumbent
General Secretary, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia retained his seat with 2685 votes
to beat his only challenger Mr Ishaq Farakhan who got 606 votes.
Mr
Kofi Adams won the National Organiser position with a landslide victory. He
pulled 2,547 votes against the incumbent Mr Yaw Boateng Gyan who had 743 votes.
Mr
Solomon Nkansah pulled 1, 528 to beat his closest rival Mr Kobby Fiagbe who
pulled 1, 440 to emerge as the National Propaganda Secretary (now
Communications Officer). The third contender Mr Nii Dodoo Dodoo had 308 votes.
Mr
Samuel Ofosu Ampofo had 517 to emerge the new first National Vice Chairman, Mrs
Betty Mould Iddrisu got 401, Mr Lee Ocran had 286, Madam Anita Desosso got 372,
Mr Harry Zakour had 374 and Mr Said Sinare had 347 of the total votes cast.
Mr.
Koku Anyodoho had a vote of 2337 to become the new deputy general secretary of
the NDC. George Lawson the incumbent retained his position also with 1389.
Over
10, 000 participants including 3, 600 delegates were officially accredited for
the 8th National Delegates Congress.
The
newly elected Chairman in his victory remarks expressed appreciation to all
members of the party for contributing to a successful congress saying “this
congress will go down as one of the best congress ever organized by the NDC.
An
elated Kofi Portuphy said “on behalf of my colleagues we would like to express
our gratitude to the outgone Chairman Dr Kwabena Adjei and all other
executives. This dawn marks our journey to 2016. It begins now. I want to
assure all and sundry especially the unsung heroes of our party, the foot
soldiers, Our hard working grassroots. We shall bring all of you on to the part
of unity,
“We
shall ensure that we work for unity, 2016 is our goal. We will be available day
and night. You don’t need lamps to look for us in the night. It is victory for
the NDC and all of us. We will deliver with your support,” he stated.
Time for an Nkrumaist revival in Ghana
 |
| Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah |
By Zaya Yeebo
It seems that it is the NDC, not the CPP which is
the party of choice for progressive forces in Ghana, but that can change with a
merger of pro-Nkrumaists forces.
During the 105th Anniversary celebrations
of the birth of the Founder of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, I looked up
at his statue, his hand stretched out, almost reaching out to Africa. I wanted
to ask him one simple question: “Why did you leave us so early”? It is the sort
of question a child who loses a parent will ask. This is also not an honest
question because I also know that he was forced to leave Ghana and Africa to
the wolves of imperialism, and its local predators, acting at the behest of
their foreign masters.
To understand my love and gratitude to the
Osagyefo, I must provide a brief explanation. At the time of the February 24,
1966 coup, I was in what was then called elementary school. But most important
of all I had just joined the Young Pioneers. Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was
overthrown on a Thursday, the very day we were to meet and collect our Young
Pioneer Uniforms from Sekondi Takoradi. It was never to be. Worse was to come.
A week following the coup, a teacher whom I knew to be anti- CPP called out all
the names of members of the Young Pioneers, paraded us before a school assembly
and called us “Nkrumah’s dogs”. We were caned for simply being members of the
Young Pioneers. That week, my father was also arrested for being a CPP member.
The 2014 celebration of the 105th
birthday anniversary celebration of Ghana’s founding father has once more
reignited and re-awakened the ghost of anti-Nkrumaists sentiments in Ghana and
elsewhere. Some genuine, for ideological reasons, some just following their
(western) masters’ voice. Some have even suggested that the ideas of Kwame
Nkrumah are irrelevant to our current needs. Recently, someone went as far as
to suggest that all Nkrumaists are lazy intellectually.
Since the overthrow of Kwame Nkrumah in 1966, Ghana
has been coerced to follow the IMF path of development like lap dogs, kneeling,
begging, supplicating, what have you? Yet no one dares suggests that the IMF is
irrelevant to our needs. In fact, we have gone begging again with known
apologists for imperialism leading the pack. To suggest that the ideas of
Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah are archaic today is to suggest that all theorists
of political science – Karl Marx, Marx Weber, Adam Smith, etc., are also
irrelevant. After all, Nkrumah was not just a political leader and founder of
today’s Ghana, but a leading political theorist, writing many books of
relevance. Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah himself once uttered the following
prophetic words: “As far as I am concerned, I am in the knowledge that death
can never extinguish the torch I have lit in Ghana and Africa. Long after I am
dead and gone, the light will continue to burn and be borne aloft, giving light
and guidance to all people.” It still does.
Sometime this year, the Daily Graphic reported
that, “The Chairperson of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Ms Samia Yaba
Nkrumah, has declared her willingness to step down to ensure merger talks
between the CPP and the People’s National Convention (PNC) become a reality”.
This, she said, “will send the right signals to the rank and file of both
parties that she is ready to ensure a united Nkrumaist party”. This will be
welcome news to genuine Nkrumaists and those who would like to see a new type
of politics. Talk of a merger of Nkrumaists parties is always exciting, but it
also carries a lot of doubts whether it will lead to a reconfiguring of the
current political alignments. It also sends shivers down the spine of the
anti-Nlkrumaist forces in Ghana and the west.
Political mergers of this sort should be for
strategic reasons. I do not believe that political parties should take
advantage of infighting in other parties to make an inroad into electoral
politics. It will be short lived. However salivating the talk of a merger
between the CPP and the PNC, some realities beg for answers. Truth is both
parties have only three parliamentarians between them (PNC-2, and CPP-1). So in
terms of numbers at the parliamentary level, these two parties will hardly make
a dent in current political alignments. Secondly, this seems to be a merger at
the level of the leadership of both parties. To what extent are the grassroots
members of both parties involved in the merger debate, and therefore committed
to a new party structure?
Most important of all, the significance of this
merger will also depend largely on some political realities. In the first
place, both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress
(NDC) occupy the centre right formations. This could be contentious since the
NDC describes itself as a party with “social democratic” credentials. Ideologically therefore the ‘left’ of centre
is open for grabs. Secondly, the power base of both parties is crucial to the
success of a merging Nkrumaists party. The NPP’s power base remains the Ashanti
and Eastern regions, and among some conservative sections of the Akan ethnic
groups in the country. However it is beginning to make serious in roads into
some traditional seats of the NDC in the Upper East region. The election of Mr.
Paul Afoko as Chairman of the NPP, and Dr. Mahamdu Bawumina as Honourable
Akuffo Addo’s running mate, will help the NPP make further inroads into
traditional NDC/CPP strongholds in the North. This is likely to bring some
dividends to the NPP, but affect the NDC’s fortunes in 2016.
On the other hand, the NDC originally had its power
base in the Northern and Volta region and other minority groups in the country,
but is also drawing support from both the rural and urban poor because of its
history. Attempts by the middle class to hijack the party and push away the
cadres are proving difficult. The NDC’s radical roots remain its most positive
selling point to the masses, but an Achilles heel to western donors. The PNC
also draws its support from the Upper East and Upper West regions mainly
because of its founder, the late President Dr. Hilla Limann. In spite of many
efforts, I would suggest that the PNC has failed to develop a national
character, this making it a fringe party of convenience. The PNC is like an
orphan, since the two large parties have occupied the centre right and continue
to dominate national politics. In spite of its lack of parliamentarians, the
CPP remains the only genuine ‘third force’ in Ghanaian politics today. The
defection of Honourable Dr. Paa Kwesi Ndoum to the Progressive Peoples Party
(PPP) is not a significant blow to the CPP.
Unlike the NDC or NPP, the CPP today lacks a
recognisable power base. This is historical. The pre-1966 CPP had a message
that resonated with ordinary workers, farmers, youth, women and the ‘down
trodden’. Kwame Nkrumah’s charisma drove the CPP as a mass party; his
ideological pursuits formed its core values, while his Pan Africanist agenda
gave it a global reach.
Today, without the leader – Kwame Nkrumah, the CPP
is orphaned. More than that, it does not have Nkrumaists or people who actually
believe in the organisational strategies and political vision that the Osagyefo
had for this country. The party’s
failure to reclaim its historical radical roots will be its undoing. It is easy to reject Nkrumaism, but what are
they replacing it with? Mr. Justus
Henaku, a member of the CPP describes his party (the CPP) today as ‘cloned
NPP’. I have my doubts about this description, but it seems to make some sense.
In today’s personality based politics, the party can claim to have a Ms. Samia
Nkrumah as its claim to fame. However, it is not attracting enough progressive
forces. It seems that the NDC remains the party of choice for progressive
forces in Ghana today.
There is no doubt that Ghana is littered with
Nkrumaists political formations. These include the CPP, the PNC, Dr. Ndoum’s
Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) and if I may suggest, the ruling NDC. A merger
of all Nkrumaists parties will therefore bring some new impetus and energy into
electoral politics in Ghana. However, the emergence of this new progressive
formation will require some political gerrymandering of social and political
forces, and recognition that the Busia-Danquah group remains the most
formidable obstacle to the revival of the Nkrumaists agenda in Ghana today.
On its part, the CPP must reclaim its lost
constituency of workers, rural and urban workers, the unemployed and the under
privileged in Ghanaian society. The NDC must be willing to cede some grounds to
the CPP, and commit itself to an alliance with progressive sections of the
NDC. In spite of the efforts of the NDC
administration under President John Mahama, there is sense of total
indifference to the plight of the poor in Ghana. One does not have to be a
socialist to see the plight of innocent children on the streets, collapsing
schools and lack of affordable health care dating back to the Jerry Rawling’s
era. An alliance of progressive forces with the NDC as the leader might help
reclaim Ghana for its people.
Today, Ghana is awash with foreign sharks, mostly
western, but also Chinese. Some of these establishments have developed a habit of deliberating abusing
Ghanaian hospitality, ignoring the social needs of workers, and getting away
with it. The CPP’s anti-GMO campaign is in the right direction. It needs to do
more of this. This is what made the CPP
the party of choice. This nation is in need of repair, and the CPP, with the
support of progressive sections of the NDC and the PNC, can provide this.
Ms. Samia Nkrumah needs to be as courageous as her
father, and reclaim Ghana by working with those who believe in her father’s
vision. There is no doubt that the current NDC has some Nkrumaists
inclinations, and must be called back home. That also means a merged CPP-PNC
should also fight to reclaim those supporters of Kwame Nkrumah now in the NDC
and in the wider left movement. This merger can even consider joining the NDC
in an electoral alliance of some sort, to consign the Danquah-Busia bandwagon
to the dustbin of history, difficult as it may be. Nkrumaists can no longer wait for the NDC to
implode for Nkrumaists to return.
An alliance of Nkrumaist parties will be an
electoral power house. A future alliance
of PNC-CPP-NDC is a strategy for national renewal, a return to the golden days
of the two party state: Kwame Nkrumah versus Busia-Danquah. My generation had
expectations for a genuinely independent, free Ghana. A Ghana that looked after its own. That
vision is threatened by recklessness, hypocrisy and greed. But there is hope for a genuine Nklrumaists revival.
The parties have to be bold. The time is now.
Zaya Yeebo
Upper West Region
records 158 neonatal deaths
 |
| Kwaku Agyemang Mensah, Health Minister |
The Upper West Region has for the last three
years, recorded 158 neonatal deaths, a
situation stakeholders have to tackle seriously to help reduce neonatal mortality, Dr Abdulai Forgor, Upper West
Regional Director of Health Services has said.
He said
statistics showed that neonatal deaths contributed about 40 per cent to
children less than five years’ deaths in Ghana, indicating that children less
than five years deaths had reduced, but the corresponding declined in neonatal
mortality had been quite small.
Children less
than five years death rate has reduced to 80 per cent per 1000 live births in
Ghana, Ghana Demographic Health Survey of 2008 has revealed.
Dr Forgor
made these known at a regional forum to deliberate on Newborn Care involving
key stakeholders to support in the fight against new born deaths in the Region.
The forum
provided an opportunity for stakeholders to combine efforts to achieving the
Millennium Development Goal Four of improving child health and targets
reduction of children less than five years deaths by two-thirds by 2015.
He explained
that newborn care is the medical, surgical, socio-cultural interventions which
ensure the survival or otherwise of the human newborn from birth to 28 days of
life.
The newborn
period is categorised into three phases, which include: early neonatal up, from
birth to seven days after delivery, late neonatal seven days to 28 days after
delivery and perinatal which span from 28 weeks of pregnancy to seven days
post-delivery.
He explained
that newborn survival interventions must cover antenatal coverage, visit of
antenatal mothers for the full package before delivery, intermittent preventive
treatment, anaemia prevention in pregnancy, skilled delivery, and care for low
birth weights still birth rate and, exclusive breastfeeding among others.
Dr. Forgor
said about75 per cent of the newborn deaths were in the first week of life and
up to 50 per cent of newborns death occurs on the first day of life.
He classified
neonatal into direct and indirect causes and mentioned birth asphyxia,
prematurity and low birth weight, infections and congenital defects as direct
causes while poor quality of antenatal, unskilled attention at birth, maternal
conditions, such as malaria, HIV/AIDs, sexually transmitted infections, week
health systems and family and community factors as indirect causes.
Dr. Forgor
said the current challenges that confronted newborn care interventions had been
poor documentation of infants’ deaths, especially neonatal deaths in the health
facilities and community level to inform actual burden of newborn mortality.
He mentioned
cultural norms in relation to who could see the neonate and when he could be
sent “outside” to meet strangers and the difficulties in accurate recording of
early neonatal deaths in the communities, neonates not provided with names and
therefore no funerals and the reluctance among families to discuss issues about
them, as some of the challenges Poor road network and transportation
difficulties, inadequate equipment for neonatal care, poor staff attitude and
low capacity of staff in neonatal care, inadequate community sensitisation,
home visits and the involvement of other stakeholders in ensuring the provision
of timely care to pregnant women and newborns were impacting negatively on
newborn survival.
Dr. Forgor
however said with support from government and development partners, the region
was implementing some interventions to address the challenges of capacity
building for midwives and community health nurses in safe motherhood clinical
skills and essential newborn care.
Equipment had
also been distributed to health facilities conducting basic emergency obstetric
care, establishment of neonatal intensive care unit, auditing of all neonatal
deaths and implementation of audit recommendations and advocacy on good
neonatal care practice especially cord care had improved.
These
notwithstanding, Dr. Forgor said there were still gaps in newborn care with
respect to essential newborn equipment at the regional and district hospitals
levels, capacity building of community volunteers to support newborn care
activities at the community level.
Dr. Mohammed
Musheibu Alfa, Deputy Upper West Regional Minister said the government and
regional coordinating council were committed to quality health care for the
people.
He said
government was working hard to provide more health facilities in the communities
and improve access roads to open the communities to health facilities for
quality healthcare delivery for pregnant and nursing mothers to benefit from
the free maternal healthcare services.
GNA
ECG to be privatised by
next July
 |
| Kofi Buah, Minister of Energy |
The
Government is considering its options towards the privatisation of the
Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) by the middle of next year.
Mr
Frank Ocran, Chairman of the Stakeholders Consultation Committee on Energy, who
announced this in Accra said the move this follows Ghana’s
qualification to receive $500 million under the Compact 2 of the Millennium
Development Account to help turn the energy sector around.
Mr
Ocran was addressing a meeting of stakeholders held for the media to solicit
views on the two options the government intended to choose from: concession and
partial privatisation.
Under
the Concession, the state would enter into a long-term contract: 20 – 30 years
with the private partner, where the private partner would have the exclusive
right to operate, maintain and carry out investments in ECG for a defined
number of years.
The
private partner would have the responsibility for the operation and maintenance
of all assets and investment during the period.
The
state would retain full ownership of ECG as the asset holding company; at the
end of the concession period, control of ECG reverts to the state unless GoG
decides to extend or re-tender the concession.
Partial
privatization would involve the sale of ECG’s shares to a strategic investor
with the proven technical, financial capacity and track record in utilities
similar in size to ECG to carry out electricity distribution and supply
activities.
The
sale of shares would either be by; the government selling some of the existing
shares in the company that is being partially privatised; or the company itself
issuing new shares to the investors, thereby diluting the government’s
shareholding in the company or a combination of both these options.
Mr
Ocran said the challenges facing the energy sector were enormous and the
government could no longer inject capital into ECG.
Therefore,
he said, private sector participation was requisite in the running of ECG.
Mr
Ocran said the ECG had not been sold to any private entity.
The
compact two has six key areas; ECG financial and operational turn-around
project, NEDCo financial and operational turn-around project, regulatory
strengthening and capacity building project, access project, power generation
sector improvement project, energy efficiency and demand side management
project.
He
explained that the company’s assets would still be owned by the government
under the arrangement.
Mr
Ocran explained that Ghana loses about two percent to five of GDP annually as a
result of lost economic output due to the insufficient and unreliable power
supply.
ECG
had also recently been suffering from both operational and net income losses,
he said.
This
means it is not in a position to fund its much-needed capital investment
program of 10.8 billion Ghana cedis over 25 years. This represents an
annual average of over 400 million Ghana cedis in real terms, he added.
Mr
Mawunyo Rubson, Power Expert, Millennium Development Authority, said the
signing of the compact was not forced on the government.
Mr
Sulemana Abubakari, Deputy Director, Power Distribution said: “We have not
signed a contract yet, we are soliciting views to take a decision and there
will be international competitive bidding.
GNA
THE HEROIC CUBAN FIVE.
By
Kofi Henaku
It
came as a relief that the over 5 long decade moribund policy of the United
State of America, a giant nuclear super power with a population of over 350
million has had to be jettisoned and consigned to the dustbin of history for
the normalization of relations with Cuba a tiny little island but a heroic country of 11 million people. This
is indeed a great victory for a people who fought heroically to liberate their
country from Spanish colonization and won their second liberation from American
imperialism on 1st January 1959. This second liberation was backed and
supported by the progressive forces of the world including the then socialist
bloc led by the U.S.S.R, the newly liberated countries of Africa, Asia, and
Latin America including the non-Aligned Movement which Ghana played a prominent
role especially the support given by the Tri-continental conference held in
Havana.
Now
can we equate the 5 heroic intelligence officers from Cuba who infiltrated the
bandit and terrorist organizations of rightwing Cuban exiles in Miami, Florida
to supply information which thwarted a lot of terrorist plots against the Cuban
people. Those brave men defended their motherland from these evil exiles and
were arrested and unjustly jailed by the Yankee imperialist.
However
Mr. Gross and the other American spy infiltrated into Cuba to subvert this
peaceful country which is striving to survive against an economic blockade imposed on it for over 50 years by the U.S
which has also refused to hand over a piece of the Cuban territory called
Guantanamo back to Cuba and occupied it for over 110 years. It is the hope of
the Insight newspaper, that the normalization of relations would help reduce tension in the area, and that the
nefarious blockade which the U.S Imposed on Tiny Cuba and has utterly failed
and has also been extended to third country trade with Cuba would end and help human
to human contact between the American and Cuban people.
Cuba
should also beware of subversion as this might be a Trojan Horse as it is still
a bastion of principle, freedom and socialist practice and a beacon to all
freedom loving people of the world. Little Cuba has come out victorious, the
Yankee Goliath, bully and imperialist has come
crashing down to earth and must
bow down its head in shame. Long live the Cuban revolution.
Cuba overjoyed
The
Cuban people describe their reactions to the two great events of the day, year
and century: the return to the country of three Cuban heroes who were
previously incarcerated in U.S. prisons, and the announcement of the
reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the U.S.
Joy,
excitement, euphoria, tears, optimism, expectation, surprise. Words can not
describe how the Cuban people feel. More than 50 years have passed since the
severing of diplomatic relations with the United States and the establishment
of the unjust economic blockade; and 16 since the incarceration of the five
Cuban heroes, thus the national reaction to the yesterday’s news was one of
delight and absolute joy.
In
the street everyone is talking, and their words are excited and chaotic like
their emotions.
Germán
Menéndez, I.T technician said: “I think this is the result of the pressure
exerted by the many Latin American associations: CARICOM, MERCOSUR, CELAC,
UNASUR united in support of Cuba’s case. We are happy, extremely happy because
at last we have done it, the Five are in their country, with their families,
and we are full of hope and faith that our economic future will change.”
Liliana
Álvarez, agreed that Latin American integration was essential, in addition to
the entire campaign led by movements in solidarity with the Cuban heroes and
Cuba, and the struggle of this courageous and resilient people for so many
years. “I feel indescribable joy because I am here and I am part of this,” she
stated, and with emotion taking over and tears welling in her eyes exclaimed,
“Comandante en Jefe, we did it!”
“This
is the best news so far this century. The return of the Five has been long
awaited, suffered by Cubans and many people outside the continent. There are
emotions which words can’t express. What we Cubans are feeling and experiencing
today can only be understood by those here and abroad who have lived it with
us. This is the best Christmas present for a call which had become universal,”
commented José Antonio Pérez, foreign trade management expert.
“It
is the first time a U.S. President, after more than 50 years of a blockade
policy and hostile, reactionary positions against Cuba, has officially
expressed his will and intention to restore diplomatic relations, and most
importantly without having to cede our dignity. I think the exchange, and new
regulations to come, will be very beneficial for the Cuban people,” stated
Gretel Chinea, communications expert.
“I
and many others didn’t believe we would live to see this. We are surprised
because although we knew that conversations were taking place and attempts
being made by the Cuban and U.S. government to exchange prisoners, we never
imagined it would happen now, so suddenly, we always thought that this tragedy
would continue,” said Rubén Pérez Landaburo.
“What we had been hoping for a long time has finally happened. Now we are in a state of shock, this has a strong psychological impact on all Cubans because it has been years of waiting, uncertainty, tension between Cuba and the U.S. and now everything seems like it is going to change, at least the speeches by the Cuban and U.S. Presidents fill us with optimism.” Randy Pérez, bank employee, commented.
Rodolfo
Laborde Parla, telecommunications technician stated that he is happy, but
skeptical, noting that “the Five are now home, this is a significant
achievement, but with respect to the reestablishment of relations between Cuba
and the U.S. - we will have to wait and see if they really do prosper in a climate
of equality of conditions. But yes, we are all happy, surprised and expectant.”
Other
people, such as Marcelo Caballero Rodríguez from Matanzas, expressed that it
was a nice gesture from Obama. The pensioner also emphasized, “Something very
exciting has happened, which we also owe to the people of the U.S. and many
other people and solidarity leaders of the world.”
“Cuba
is experiencing a moment of glory and great joy. This December 17 will mark an
important chapter in the history of the homeland and the memory of these
anti-terrorist fighters,” emphasized Physical Culture graduate José Luis Gómez,
who in reference to the blockade, added, “This has been a wise decision. Cubans
don’t deserve to have this punishment prolonged any further.”
THE FIVE ARE FINALLY
HOME
Just
like in a workshop where Camilo Díaz Armentero, director of the Ciego de Ávila
Graphic Base Business Unit works; as among letters and books in the case of
philologist, Donna González Dobaño, Cubans experienced intense emotions this
Tuesday.
For
the young man, born in 1990, a difficult decade for the Cuban Revolution and
who has since birth, suffered many of the scarcities caused by the U.S.
economic blockade imposed against Cuba, it is logical that the news of the
reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the countries, as well as the
release of the three Cuban anti-terrorist fighters, would be of great
significance to him. “It is now up to the U.S. government to fulfill all that
President Barack Obama announced, for the good of the people of Cuba and the
U.S.”
Camilo
said he was greatly excited by the return of Gerardo, Ramón and Tony, and that
the promise Fidel made in 2001 has been fulfilled.
Employees
at the Palco Hotel stopped their work and gathered in the lobby to hear
President Raúl Castro´s speech.
“We
are very happy!” said Susel Martínez, customer service specialist, to Granma.
“Here we have followed the case of the Five and now that we will have them all
home again we can feel satisfied, we have been waiting for this for a long time,”
adding, “This is the best end of year present we could wish for, a great end to
2014.”
Fernando
Guerrero, the hotel’s chef, commented that “we are happy because they have
returned, as Fidel promised they would. We believe that it is one more
achievement of the Revolution, first, because they decided to free the three
heroes and second, because diplomatic relations between Cuba and the U.S. are
being restored, although there are many rough edges that need to be smoothed
out in this regard.”
For
her part, Nerelys Marín, head of reception, expressed, “Although we know that
our government and people have spent many years trying to secure their return,
knowing that they are here has come as a great surprise.”
Hotel
manager Fernando Álvarez commented that, on the whole, employees “received the
news with much enthusiasm, even when the news had already arrived, the elation
was immense after hearing it announced by our President.”
Félix
Rojas Vigó from the city of Guaso described the release of Antonio, Gerardo and
Ramón, and the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with the U.S. as the
news of the year in Cuba, and possibly the world. “16 years of the unjust
imprisonment of these young men is finally over, these men who did nothing more
than defend the people of Cuba and the U.S. against terrorism.”
“I
am certain that this is the most important decision adopted by a U.S. president
in regards to Cuba since the triumph of the Revolution in 1959. Obama’s courage
must be acknowledged. Well, we know the pressure he is under.”
“It is true that the problem of the economic, commercial and financial blockade - which has caused so much harm to the Cuban people - has still not been resolved, but we are hopeful that sooner or later it will be eliminated, given its anachronism and, as the latest events show, the bilateral dialogue currently underway is smoothing the way towards this objective, without compromising our independence and sovereignty.”
Máximo
Nápoles Vega a pensioner from Guantanamo stated to Granma that Gerardo, Ramón
and Tony, together with René and Fernando, have a special place in the heart of
all Cubans, for their example of heroism, resistance in the face of any test,
and loyalty to the homeland.
The
same reason for which in the center of the Island, in Villa Clara, Adelmar
Cedeño´s family, one of the many in Cuba, gathered to listen to the
announcement afterwards coming together in an interminable embrace.
The
same love was shown by students from the JuanCarlosRodríguezElementary School,
also located in Villa Clara, who came out to the plaza to rejoice, holding
hands and accompanied by five Cuban flags.
Why
are you all so happy? Asked Granma, to which the pionero Enmanuel Rodríguez
replied: “Eh, who said you had to be big to feel Cuban.”
EU TAKES HISTORIC
POSITION
 |
| Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President |
The
Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Ghana, His Excellency Abdalfatah A. K.
Alsattari says the position taken by the European Parliament is quite historic
to his country – Palestine.
“We
know that this is just a step in a new page that has been opened and that page
would culminate in the establishment of an independent Palestinian State with
East Jerusalem as its capital. This is what the votes symbolize. The huge gap
between the those who voted in favour of Palestine even collaborates the facts
on the ground”.
His
Excellency, Abdalfatah A. K. Alsattari also said, “Initially the international
community was not holding Israel responsible for such excesses until now. Everyone knows that Israel has lost its
legitimacy both in terms of politics and morality. Even the United States of
America whose umbilical cord is tied to Israel knows that this current state of
affairs is untenable. So this Israeli government has been censored, sanctioned
and criticized by various American officials”.
Ambassador
Abdalfatah A. K. Alsattari made the remarks in an exclusive interview with the Insight Newspaper on December 18th
2014, a day after the European Parliament massively voted to recognise the
State of Palestine.
Following is the full text of the
interview:
Q : What is the general situation in
Palestine today?
A : The condition of the
Palestinian people since West Bank and Gaza Strip were occupied in 1963, that
condition has not changed profoundly. Ever since, wars after wars have been
waged by Israel against the Palestinian people, women and children are being
killed and Palestinians are arrested and detained arbitrarily. All these
criminal activities affect and hurt the peace process.
The
Palestinian people continue to strive to defend themselves from the excesses of
the Israeli government. In that arena, I believe that we have made a lot of
achievements. But those achievements have come at a very high price. Our people
are resolute. They don’t mind paying that price in order to have their freedom.
Q : The European Union
General Court has decided to remove Hamas from its list of terrorist
organisations. How do the Palestinian people feel about this development?
A : first of all, we
thank Ghana for all that it’s doing for the Palestinian people. We thank His
Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, the government of Ghana, the Ghanaian
people and all those who are so dear to us. The people of Ghana have always
stood on our side on all international platforms. These gallant steps that have
been taken by the Ghanaian people is well appreciated by the Palestinian
people.
The
position that was taken by the European Union parliament yesterday is part of a
ground swell level of global conviction that the Palestinian people are
collectively defending themselves and it is the right of the Palestinian people
to defend themselves.
What
is happening does not give any political space for the Palestinian people and
the options for the Palestinian people are limited. They have to defend
themselves. The Palestinian people would use all avenues to protect themselves.
These particular votes from the European parliament also mean that the European
people are beginning to realize that Israel is an occupying nation.
Q : What is the current
level of cooperation between the Republic of Ghana and the State of Palestine?
A : First of all, the
bilateral ties between the people of Ghana and Palestinian people are very old
and very good. Our officials in our the Foreign Affairs Ministry are continuously having meetings with their
Ghanaian counterparts on how to deepen the relations. Only this week, I had an
order from the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the State of Palestine to meet some
officials in Ghana. All these are in attempts to deepen the relations between
our two countries in all areas.
The
specific areas would include the economy and the potential areas for investments
as well as the issues of health. After the festive session, I would do well to
meet the Ghanaian officials to kick start these projects. There is a huge
interest within the Palestinian government especially President Mahmoud Abbas
to consolidate the relations with the republic of Ghana. The directives from
President Mahmoud Abbas are clear. Everybody knows the role of Ghana as a
continental player and this is very important to us as Palestinians and to
President Mahmoud Abbas in particular.
Q : Many countries including Sweden, the United Kingdom, France and others
are pushing for the recognition of the State of Palestine. What does this mean
to the State of Palestine, Africa and the World at large?
A ; The votes we have
seen across various European parliaments are clarifying few realities. First of
all, this is a strong conviction that Israel is illegally occupying the state
of Palestine. Historically the facts are there and people are beginning to
realize them. The European parliaments by these votes also understand that
there need to be a termination of this occupation and when you look at the
geopolitics of the world, this is one of the illegal occupations of one State
which is not armed. This recognition has come from no less than a place but Europe.
In terms of practicing democracy, European countries seem to be doing more than
most other countries in the world. And the fact that public opinion about the
Palestinian issue is drifting towards the Palestinian people also points to
something.
The
posture of the Israeli government over the past few years has been one of pro
settlements, encouraging people to settle places belonging to the Palestinian
people and the Israeli government has also been very supportive of extremists
groups. The whole world is realizing this and isolating Israel as a result of
the price in blood that has been paid by our people in the recent Gaza Strip
and West Bank and other parts of Palestine. And many buildings were demolished
with their roofs collapsing on the heads of their inhabitants. The world is
also taking the current drastic steps because of the gruesome live images they
saw on televisions during the Gaza killings.
The
European countries and others are also realizing that the continuous break -
ins into the Aqsa Mosque by Israeli army and the fact that even Christian
Rabbis have being humiliated in front of the Holy Church. So that tells you
that everybody understand that these excesses could not happen without the
backings of the Netanyahu government.
Initially
the international community was not holding Israel responsible for such
excesses until now. Everyone knows that
Israel has lost its legitimacy both in terms of politics and morality. Even the
United States of America whose umbilical cord is tied to Israel knows that this
current state of affairs is untenable. So this Israeli government has been
censored, sanctioned and criticized by various American officials.
The
position taken by Europe is quite historic for us and that is meant to rid the
Palestinian people from terrorism of the Israeli army. We know that this is
just a step in a new page that has been opened and that page would culminate in
the establishment of an independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as
its capital. This is what the votes symbolize. The huge gap between the those
who voted in favour of Palestine even collaborates the facts on the ground.
For
us, this reflects the natural phenomenon. If Europe is joining the caravan, it
is simply because of the Israeli
excesses and aggressions and that the Palestinian people have the right to
establish their state.
Q : what is the state of
the Palestinian prisoners and negotiations for their release?
A : Since 1967, never
have the Israeli prison regime taken a breadth for a moment without from making
captives of the Palestinian people. Ever since those prisons were established
there have always been filled with Palestinians. You cannot count a single
household in Palestine except that one or two
of these three things has happened – either a relative has been killed,
a relative has been imprisoned or someone is a casualty from Israeli attacks.
Currently the number of Palestinians languishing in Israeli jails stands at
about seven thousand (7000). There are Palestinians who are also being detained
in Israeli prisons without trial.
About 19 are women, about 250 are children.
Some of the Palestinian prisoners are as young as six (6) years old. There are
32 parliamentarians that have been arrested and detained without trial by
Israel. There are about 30 of the Palestinian prisoners who have unlawfully
been in Israeli jails for over 25 years. This is the sad state and the
conditions that the people of Palestine have found themselves in because they
want to establish an independent State.
Q : What is the major
pre-occupation of President Mahmoud Abbas as he leads the Palestinian people in
this time of the struggle?
A : First of all, the
only thing President Mahmoud Abbas seeks for his people is freedom without any
occupation and without weapons to terrify them. President Mahmoud Abbas wants
Palestinian people to see smiles on the faces of their children just as other
people see smiles on faces of their children across the world. The President
wants a Palestinian woman to wake up in the morning and be able to establish a
family and also contribute to a community in peace and in stability and away
from Israeli bombardments and killings.
His
Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas is expending a lot of effort in that
regards. He would go to the United Nations Security Council with another
resolution in a bid to get freedom for the Palestinian people.
Q ; Excellency, what is
your final message to the people of Ghana?
A : first of all, we wish
the Ghanaian people the very best. I am still new as an Ambassador into this
country. I have spent about three months and what I have seen in Ghana is an
eye opener. I see women and men work, and I have seen women work at all levels
and young people are also working. So that they would build this country. I am
very proud of this country.
What
we are asking from all the people of the world, we are asking the same from the
Ghanaian people. We want everybody to stand on our side and God willing, we are
in the dying moments of our struggle for liberations. So that we would be liberated
from occupation and we are in the last few moments of that struggle.
We
call on everyone to stand by us so that we can end the occupation and stop the
bloodshed. All religions forbid killings and we are a people of peace. We have
a conviction that only someone who is not sane both in terms of body and
intellect that would resort to murder.
We
are proud of the Ghanaian people. We thank the Ghanaian people for their
historic stands and supports for the people of Palestine. The Great Yasser
Arafat was a friend to Ghana and the Ghanaian people and Excellency President
Mahmoud Abbas is also a friend to the Ghanaian people.
The country’s heart is
full
 |
| President Raul Catro with Gerardo, Ramon & Antonio |
Cuba
opens its arms to Gerardo, Ramón and Antonio, welcoming them home with human
warmth and sincere affection.
The
Cuban sky, which they had so longed to see, offered the first welcome to our
heroes, then the breeze, the feeling of freedom… hard for their eyes to believe
what was unfolding before them, hard for their hearts to bear so much joy, to
see the radiant, euphoric people opening their arms to their sons, and offering
them a cup of coffee. Eleven million tears were shed as the news was announced,
and the photos began to appear, with Raúl welcoming them to the homeland.
Who
didn’t feel goosebumps along with Elizabeth as she embraced Ramón. Who was not
moved as Gerardo gazed into Adriana’s face, and who did not feel the warmth
shared by Mirta and her son Tony… And what an avalanche of emotions hearing the
exclamations, including, “Para lo que sea”, (For whatever may be needed),
offering an exemplary lesson of genuine patriotism.
Outside,
in the streets, a sea of human beings welcomed them home, every corner of the
nation was full of joy. Feeling the country’s greatness, it is no lie that
Cubans feel our hearts swelling.
Imperialism and the Ruble
Crisis. “Economic Warfare”
 |
| President Vladimir Putin |
By
Alex Lantier
The plunge of the Russian currency this week is the drastic
outcome of policies implemented by the major imperialist powers to force Russia
to submit to American and European imperialism’s neo-colonial restructuring of
Eurasia. Punishing the Putin regime’s interference with their plans for regime
change in countries such as Ukraine and Syria, the NATO powers are financially
strangling Russia.
The
sanctions imposed by the United States in response to Russian opposition to
last February’s coup in Kiev have amounted to economic warfare. Over the past
four months, the value of the Russian ruble has plunged by more than 50 percent.
On Tuesday, as the ruble fell 10 percent against the dollar in one day, US
President Barack Obama indicated he would sign a bill imposing even harsher
sanctions on Russia and allowing Washington to directly arm the far-right,
pro-NATO regime in Ukraine.
When
Lieutenant-General Mikhail Mizintsev voiced the Russian Defense Ministry’s
“concerns over the significant increase of NATO military activity near Russian
borders,” Pentagon officials replied that NATO would keep building up its “air,
land and sea presence” around Russia.
Yesterday,
editorials appeared in several major newspapers warning that Russia’s currency
crisis would not abate until Moscow bowed to the Kiev regime and abandoned
support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. “The depth of the currency’s
slide,” wrote London’s Financial Times, “reflects the growing belief in
financial markets that Mr. Putin no longer runs Russia in its economic
interests and is instead bent on pursuing illusory geopolitical goals.” NATO,
it added, “should leave him in no doubt that de-escalation in Ukraine will
reduce international pressure on the Russian economy. The hope must be that,
even now, Mr. Putin is in a mood to change course.”
The New York Times wrote:
“The
sensible thing for Mr. Putin to do would be to withdraw from Ukraine. This
would bring immediate relief from sanctions, and that would ease the current
crisis and give officials room to start fixing the country’s economic problems.
The question is whether this reckless leader has been sufficiently chastened to
change course.”
Were
Russia to accept the US-NATO diktat, its surrender would simply set the stage
for further demands, whose ultimate outcome would be the actual breakup of the
country.
The
catastrophic consequences of the dissolution of the USSR in 1991 and the
restoration of capitalism are all too clear. Russia, the size of its military
and its oil reserves notwithstanding, is being forced to accept a position as a
semi-colonial appendage of finance capital, to be crushed if it crosses its imperialist
masters.
The
banks are tightening the financial noose around Russia’s neck. Anders Aslund of
the Petersen Institute for International Economics wrote that, since Washington
imposed sanctions on Russia in July, “Russia has received no significant international
financing—not even from Chinese state banks—because everybody is afraid of US
financial regulators.”
Cut
off from international credit, Russia is being strangled by the financial
parasites on Wall Street and their European counterparts. By Aslund’s
calculations, Russia—with liquid currency reserves of roughly $200 billion, a
net capital outflow this year of $125 billion, and total foreign debts of $600
billion—could be brought to its knees in as little as two years.
While
there are a host of global economic factors underlying the fall in oil prices,
it is unquestionable that a major role in the commodity’s staggering plunge is
Washington’s collaboration with OPEC and the Saudi monarchs in Riyadh to boost
production and increase the glut on world oil markets.
As
Obama traveled to Saudi Arabia after the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis last
March, the Guardian wrote,
“Angered by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, the Saudis turned on
the oil taps, driving down the global price of crude until it reached $20 a
barrel (in today’s prices) in the mid-1980s… [Today] the Saudis might be up for
such a move—which would also boost global growth—in order to punish Putin over
his support for the Assad regime in Syria. Has Washington floated this idea with
Riyadh? It would be a surprise if it hasn’t.”
Since
then, with OPEC declining to cut production despite an accelerating fall in
prices, oil has dropped to under $60 a barrel.
These
developments expose the absurdity of claims, advanced by innumerable middle-class
pseudo left organizations, that Russia is an imperialist power. Such arguments
simply ignore the historical context within which imperialism emerged and which
persists in the existing structure of world finance and international
geopolitics. The dissolution of the USSR represented a capitulation to
imperialism, not the entry of the “new” Russia into the ranks of ruling
imperialist powers.
As
Trotsky explained in 1929:
“The
struggle for world domination has assumed titanic proportions. The phases of this
struggle are played out upon the bones of the weak and backward nations. A
capitalist Russia could not now occupy even the third-rate position to which
czarist Russia was predestined by the course of the world war. Russian
capitalism today would be a dependent, semi-colonial capitalism without any
prospects. Russia Number 2 would occupy a position somewhere between Russia
Number 1 and India. The Soviet system, with its nationalized industry and
monopoly of foreign trade, in spite of all its contradictions and difficulties,
is a protective system for the economic and cultural independence of the
country.”
In
the final stages of the dissolution of the USSR, the Soviet bureaucracy and the
academic intelligentsia haughtily dismissed the Marxist analysis of imperialism
as they embraced Gorbachev’s “New Thinking.” In the event, the ensuing social
retrogression and subordination to imperialism have substantiated Trotsky’s
warnings. Ex-Soviet republics dissolved into ethnic civil war, from the Russian
war in Chechnya to the current war in Ukraine. Industrial life collapsed and
economic production fell by approximately 40 percent over the next decade, as
state factories were bought up and looted by criminal business oligarchs and
foreign banks at fire-sale prices.
While
the economic collapse halted in the 2000s and Russian capitalism rebuilt itself
around oil and gas exports, dominated by a clique of business oligarchs around
President Vladimir Putin, the bankruptcy of Russian society was admitted to
even by its rulers.
In
his 2009 “Go Russia” speech, then-Russian President Dmitri Medvedev confessed:
“Twenty years of tumultuous change has not spared our country from its
humiliating dependence on raw materials. Our current economy still reflects the
major flaw in the Soviet system: it largely ignores individual needs. With a
few exceptions, domestic business does not invent nor create the necessary
things and technology that people need. We sell things we have not produced,
raw materials or imported goods. Finished products produced in Russia are
largely plagued by their extremely low competitiveness.”
The
ruble’s collapse and the aggressive policy of imperialism today are again
bringing to the fore the bankruptcy of Russian capitalism. Prices in rubles for
food and consumer goods are expected to skyrocket, impoverishing masses of
people, since Russia still depends on imported manufactured goods and
agricultural inputs for domestic food production.
As
for Russia’s ruling clique, it is in a hopeless quandary. Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday that US sanctions aim to achieve regime
change in Russia. Based on the experience of other oil-rich countries targeted
for regime change by Washington, from Iraq to Libya, this means the Kremlin
believes that NATO seeks the destruction of the Russian government, the murder
of its top officials, and the plundering of Russian oil by Western
corporations.
Even
in this desperate situation, however, the Kremlin slavishly limits itself to
policies that are acceptable to the Russian plutocracy, whose wealth is based
on the plundering of state assets. It even seek to avoid such essential
defensive measures as imposing currency controls or freezing payments to
foreign banks.
Putin’s
stoking up of Russian nationalism—as in his praise for czarist General Aleksei
Brusilov’s “legendary” offensive at the beginning of World War I and his recent
denunciation of the Bolsheviks as traitors to Imperial Russia—is utterly
reactionary. If the Kremlin relies on its military strength and opts for
confrontation with NATO, what looms is the risk of a nuclear war that would
destroy the planet.
There
is no national solution to the Russian crisis. The capitalist oligarchy itself
is the greatest obstacle to the defense of the Russian working class against
imperialism. The central task facing the working class in Russia is
re-establishing its links with the traditions of the October Revolution and
Trotsky’s struggle against Stalinism.
There
is no means to halt the plunder of Russia and the drive towards war except
through the politically conscious intervention of the international working
class, which is hostile to both imperialist militarism and the maneuvers of the
Kremlin. This is why the International Committee of the Fourth International
insists upon the necessity of building an international anti-war,
anti-imperialist movement of the working class, fighting for world socialist
revolution.
Fidel Castro’s Legacy
 |
| Commandante Fidel Castro |
At
age 88, he’s Cuba’s elder statesman. A legend in his own time and then some.
Defying critics. Outwitting them. Outliving them.
This
article a snapshot of some of his achievements. Impressive by any standard.
On
the 50th anniversary of his July 26, 1953 Fort Moncada attack, media scoundrels
pronounced his revolution dead.
Expected
collapse. Predicted free market capitalism’s return. The bad old days called
good. More on Cuba under Castro below.
A previous article discussed America’s master plan
for world dominance. Key is eliminating all sovereign independent governments.
By
political, economic or military means. Installing puppet regimes. Convenient
stooges. Subservient to Washington.
Few
nations challenge US policies successfully. Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz bested
10 US administrations. From Eisenhower through George Bush.
From
January 1, 1959. When his guerrilla force ousted US-backed Fulgencio Batista.
To his February 2008 retirement announcement as Cuba’s president.
Remaining
Communist Party Central Committee First Secretary until April 2011. In the
interim, transforming Cuba from a repressive brothel to a populist state.
Defying US imperialism successfully.
America
ruled Cuba as a virtual colony. From President McKinley’s so-called
“liberat(ion)” from Spain. To Castro’s successful 1959 revolution. A
transformational event.
Other
than America’s Guantanamo footprint. Ceded through Platt Amendment chicanery.
Granting Washington “complete jurisdiction and control.” At the same time
recognizing Cuban sovereignty.
For
nearly half a century, Castro’s achievements were remarkable. In spite of
America’s embargo. In place since October 1960.
For
all products except food and medicines. In February 1962, extended to include
nearly all imports. Currently enforced by six statutes:
(1)
The 1917 Trading with the Enemy Act
(2)
1961 Foreign Assistance Act
(3)
1963 Cuba Assets Control Regulations
(4)
1992 Cuban Democracy Act (encouraging pro-opposition groups)
(5)
1996 Helms-Burton Act (hardening earlier legislation)
(6)
2000 Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act (authorizing sale of
humanitarian products)
Despite
longstanding embargo, blockade conditions weren’t imposed. Except in 1962.
Under short-term missile crisis conditions. Preventing missiles from arriving.
Early-on,
Castro made a clean break with predatory capitalism. Nationalizing
US-controlled industries. Instituted land reform.
Shuttered
Mafia-owned casinos and brothels. Ended longstanding systemic corruption. Built
a socialist state. Ended Cuban control by monied interests.
Essential
social services remain one of his most important achievements. Article 50 of
Cuba’s Constitution mandates “the right to health protection and care” for
everyone.
By
“providing free medical and hospital care by means of the installations of the
rural medical service network, polyclinics, hospitals, preventative and
specialized treatment centers.
(F)ree
dental care. Promoting the health publicity campaigns, health education,
regular medical examinations, general vaccination and other measures to prevent
the outbreak of disease.
All
the population cooperates in these activities and plans through the social and
mass organizations.”
Article
51 guarantees free universal education. At all levels. To children, youths and
adults. Constitutional language states:
“Everybody
has a right to education. This right is guaranteed by the extensive and free
system of schools, part-time boarding schools, boarding schools and
scholarships in all types and at all levels of education, by the free provision
of school materials to every child and young person regardless of the economic
situation of the family, and by the provision of courses suited to the
student’s aptitude, the requirements of society and the needs of economic and
social development.”
Castro
virtually eliminated illiteracy. Students learn math, reading, the sciences,
arts, humanities, social responsibility, civics and participatory citizenship.
Giving
them skills to become more productive citizens. Able to contribute to national
development.
Despite
embargo conditions, Cubans get nutritious food at affordable prices. Cuba’s Law
Number 49 mandated government provided social services.
Including
special help for Cuba’s elderly, disabled, others unable to work and single
mothers.
Cuba’s
Public Health Law mandates protecting the health of all citizens. Including
those rehabilitating from physical or mental disabilities.
Its
healthcare is among the world’s best. Including an extensive system of family
doctors. Sophisticated tertiary care facilities.
Emphasis
on nutrition and preventive care. Cuba’s low infant mortality rate bests
America’s. Matches its life expectancy.
Has
double the number of physicians per 1,000. An overall lower mortality rate. No
one lacks care because of affordability. Polar opposite America’s “pay or die
system,” according to Ralph Nader.
Maintains
the developing world’s most extensive infant immunization coverage. Emphasizes
chemical-free, non-GMO, organically grown fresh produce.
Delivers
top quality healthcare at minimum cost. Compared to America’s exorbitant
system. Double the cost of other developed countries.
Leaving
millions uninsured. Despite claims otherwise. Millions more underinsured. One
major illness for many away from bankruptcy.
Impossible
in Cuba. With top quality universal care for all. No one denied what’s needed.
Key
are hundreds of community-based polyclinics. Serving tens of thousands of
Cubans. Organizational hubs. For neighborhood-based family doctor/nurse
offices.
Accredited
research and teaching centers. For medical, nursing, and allied health sciences
students.
Backbone
of Cuba’s health system. Shaming America’s for millions of its most
disadvantaged.
Most
Cuban doctors practice general medicine. Mandated for most medical graduates.
Later able to specialize.
Polyclinic
care largely replicates what’s available in hospitals.
Services
include x-rays, ultrasound, optometry, ophthalmology, endoscopy, thrombolysis,
emergency services, traumatology, clinical lab services, family planning,
emergency dentistry, pre and postnatal child care, immunization, diabetic and
elderly care, as well as rehab.
Other
specialties include dermatology, psychiatry, psychology, cardiology, family and
internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, and gynecology, mouth disease,
acupuncture, message therapy, electromagnetic therapy, mud therapy, reflex
therapy, heat therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, and more.
Quality
care is stressed at all times. So is patient satisfaction. Cuba considers
healthcare a human right.
America
provides it on the ability to pay. Commodified for profit. Insurers, drug
giants, and large hospital chains make policy.
Cuba
has state responsibility for healthcare. Assuring availability for all.
Regardless of financial well-being. How all systems should be run.
Its
physicians complete a nine-year program. Including five years of basic
education. One-year hospital internship.
Three
rural practice years. Family medicine stressed. So is preventive care. Doctors
wanting to specialize must complete three more years of training.
Abide
by Cuba’s model health code in treating patients. Exclude private practice.
Follow government policies.
Emphasize
prevention and human welfare. Work for national wellness.
Profit
is America’s only goal. Other objectives are secondary. Cuba spends a minute
fraction per capita annually. Compared to what healthcare costs in America.
It
sends thousands of doctors to dozens of countries needing them. Offers free
medical education to thousands of students.
From
scores of countries. In return for providing their people Cuban-style care.
Largely in under-served communities.
Its
model shames America’s. It works because it’s fair. A testimony to Fidel’s
legacy.
Along
with high-quality free education. Other vital social services. Ones Americans
can’t even imagine.
Source:
Global Research
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