During a civic ceremony in Sam Sharpe Square, thousands gathered as Cuban President Dr. Fidel Castro received the keys to Montego Bay from Mayor Arthur Gilchrist. In his passionate address, Castro emphasised the need for stronger economic ties between Jamaica and Cuba, particularly in tourism. Prime Minister P.J. Patterson echoed the sentiment, affirming Jamaica's commitment to a firm friendship with Cuba.

Published Thursday, July 30, 1998 ’United we stand’

Patterson, Castro pledge to deepen economic ties

WESTERN BUREAU

THOUSANDS GATHERED in Sam Sharpe Square heard a joint resolve to deepen ties between Jamaica and Cuba from the leaders of both nations yesterday.

The charismatic President Dr. Fidel Castro and his entourage arrived at Sangster International Airport earlier in pouring rain under the tight security blanket deployed in the square.

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson outlined Jamaica’s plans to pursue even closer links with the Spanish-speaking nation as he welcomed the Cuban leader on his third visit to Jamaica.

"Mr. President, no one is going to cause us to ignore that we are one. We resolve to maintain a firm friendship," the PM said at the civic ceremony launching the three-day state visit.

Castro, leader of an 11 million population struggling to survive the economic embargo imposed by the US, was passionate in his response as he spoke of the need for greater economic ties, especially in tourism.

In a thinly veiled criticism of the US, Mr. Patterson said that "shadows of the Cold War continue to haunt" the region, adding that Jamaica was "implacably opposed to the economic blockade of Cuba."

He described the cross-the-border application of US legislation on foreign companies doing business with Cuba as morally wrong and a contravention of international law.

The press reports that claimed that Castro was gravely ill were not substantiated by Castro’s vigour.

"Mr. President, we are happy to see ... for ourselves that you are in very good health and excellent spirits," said PM Patterson, who likened the Cuban leader to National Hero Sam Sharpe, after whom the MoBay square is named, and put him in the company of Cuban heroes Antonio Maceo and Jose Marti as an unrepentant freedom fighter.

President Castro, who deemed it an honour to receive the keys to Montego Bay presented to him by Mayor Arthur Gilchrist, pointed to similarities between the city and Varadero, an area where Cuba is now attempting to develop similar tourism infrastructure.

Already, the all-inclusive names of SuperClubs and Sandals are established at Varadero, but the Cuban president indicated that his country would welcome more tourism investment.

Touching on the dominating powers of developed nations and their cut-throat approach to world trade as globalisation becomes more real, Castro, speaking through an interpreter said: "We need to know what will be our places in that global world ... We see the difficulties, we realise how some are forgotten. We need to put up a fight for our Caribbean peoples."

The region, he continued, has to give its young a legacy other than conquest, slavery, and exploitation.

He praised the gold medals accrued in sports but told Jamaica that the emphasis now must be on winning in the ’Olympics’ of the sciences, literature, poetry, and music.

He also spoke whimsically of insufficient resources that limit naval and air communications, cross-border sharing of electrical power, and road linkages between islands.

Those, he said, are challenges for Caribbean leaders. Dr. Castro, after his 45-minute speech, was presented with a bust by Spelling Bee Haydee Lindo of Montego Bay High School.

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