Dear Editor,

Mr Lance Robinson has suddenly appeared in our local print media as the writer of “LETTER OF THE DAY” in one publication and now as a freelance journalist with a column, “The long-suffering people of Cuba”, in your newspaper on November 14.

It seems that his mission is to throw dust in the eyes of the Jamaican people to erode Jamaica’s support for the worldwide demand for the lifting of the genocidal US trade embargo against Cuba which has cost that nation over US$96 billion since it was imposed 50 years ago.

By preventing trade between Cuba and US companies, the wicked embargo affects every sector of activity in Cuba. Because of the embargo, Cuba has to pay high freight charges to import essential goods from faraway countries and they are not able to import any goods with more than10 per cent US input from anywhere.

Cuba cannot procure critical medical supplies and instruments which are produced only in the US, not even to treat chronically ill children and old people. Some basic resources are limited because of the prohibitive cost of importation and so Cubans either have to do without them or ration the limited supplies they obtain.

Lance Robinson executes his mission by presenting unsubstantiated opinions as well-known facts. He should know that Jamaicans are not foolish enough to imbibe stories without question because history has taught us that when certain people try to deter us from a path, it is because that path is in our own best interest and against theirs.

Jamaica and Cuba share a common history of colonialism and neo-colonialism which Cuba overthrew in 1959 to chart its own destiny. The bastion of neo-colonialsm has never forgiven Cuba for daring to reject that path and opting for genuine independence. The US blockade is intended to whip Cuba back into the neo-colonial line by wreaking untold hardship on the people and getting them to rebel against the best government they have ever had.

Cubans know that the only reward for acceding to the pressure to fall in line would be greater impoverishment. The annual Human Development Report from the United Nations shows that there is growing impoverishment in developing countries while there is an increasing concentration of wealth in the developed countries. Fifty of the least developed countries are listed as living below the poverty line but Cuba is not on that list. Cuba compares favourably with the developed countries on most of the key development indicators and even outstrps them in some, despite the wicked embargo to which no other nation on the planet is subjected. Here are just a few of Cuba’s achievements: 99 per cent literacy; free medical care; free education, including tertiary; a very low crime rate; and many more achievements in sports, science and social development.

Mr Robinson should know that two men – Raul and Fidel Castro – no matter how great, could not by themselves maintain the revolution. The Cuban people love their revolution and will die defending it. That is why the Bay of Pigs invasion and all the various forms of steady attacks during the 50 years have failed. His will too.

Bobby Johnson

bobbyjohnson6@gmail.coma