Cuba Marches On A First hand account

by Mridul De in Havana

The celebrations for the fortieth anniversary of the Cuban Revolution were inaugurated here on January 1 in pomp and grandeur. Different functions and seminars are being held daily thereafter. From January 18 to January 22 an international conference on the global economy is being organized with about 600 intellectuals and economists from various countries of the world participating. The intellectuals from the countries Latin America, Spain and Portugal have already had a round of discussion on the economic development among themselves.

On the 40^th anniversary of the of the founding of the police force of the socialist state on January 5, Fidel Castro in his four and a half hour address announced large-scale reforms for the force. Said Castro, the balloon of globalisation was expanding day by day waiting to be punctured. The principle of equality and fraternity was opposed to globalization he said. At the function on the opening day of the celebrations , the famous writer and novelist Gabriel Garcia Marqees and this years Nobel Prize winner in literature , from Portugal were also present. Once one sets foot in Cuba one understands the magnitude of falsehood written or talked about Cuba in the capitalist world. After a few years of difficulties, Cuban economy has turned the corner braving machinations of the imperialists. The country was visited by 1.4 million tourists last year, this year the figure is likely to cross the 1.7 million mark. Not only among the countries of Latin America or among the third world countries , Cuba stands at the top in the spheres of education and health. Child mortality is about the lowest in the world. Social securities are a matter of envoy to people of other countries.

The main function on the day of the anniversary of the Revolution was held at Santiago de Cuba where on January 1,1959, the U.S.-propped, Batista government first conceded defeat to Castro’s revolutionary force. The day …January 1 is of special significance to the 11.1 million people of Cuba because despite economic sanctions and a siege of the country by the all powerful imperialist forces of the United States the socialist State of Cuba, only 90 kms from the US shores, has been making large strides following the path of socialism. Under the leadership of Fidel Castro. In his one hour forty minutes speech Castro narrated his experience of the last forty years, telling his audience how the Cuban people braved imperialist aggression , naval blockades and how the country carried on an ideological war against the imperialists on political and economic fronts. He also elaborated on the hollowness of globalization of the economy. He also gave the m the task to preserve socialism in Cuba . In his speech on the anniversary of the founding of the Cuban police force after the defeat of the Batista regime, Castro told the policemen to be on the alert all the time against subversision maintaining close contact with the people. He also laid stress on foiling attempts by drug traffickers of Lantin America, the United States using Cuba as a centre. Although incidents of dacoity and snatching are minimal, prison terms for these offences have been raised to 30 years.

On the occasion of the anniversary of the Cuban Revolution special mention was made of the heroes of the struggle for independence……. Che Guevera, Cammillo and others. There is no US embassy in Havana. An office situated on the shore of the Atlantic and in the Centre of Havana , issues visas for visiting the U.S, Close to this visa office a signboard declares prominently. You are all imperialists, we are not afraid of you .’