Carib Scope

标签： Cuba

古巴

  • Díaz-Canel Receives Panama’s Foreign Minister

    Díaz-Canel Receives Panama’s Foreign Minister

    In a significant diplomatic engagement at Havana’s Palace of the Revolution, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez hosted Panama’s Foreign Minister Javier Eduardo Martínez-Acha Vásquez this Wednesday, marking a pivotal moment in bilateral relations between the two Latin American nations.

    The high-level meeting, attended by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, centered on strengthening economic cooperation and addressing regional political matters. President Díaz-Canel expressed profound gratitude for Panama’s consistent support of the annual United Nations resolution condemning the U.S. economic, commercial, and financial embargo against Cuba—a longstanding point of contention in international diplomacy.

    During the cordial exchange, the Cuban leader emphasized the untapped potential for enhanced trade relations, acknowledging that while current economic exchanges remain modest, both nations possess substantial opportunities for expanded commercial engagement. The discussions reflected mutual interest in developing more robust economic partnerships across various sectors.

    Foreign Minister Martínez-Acha, currently on an official working visit to Cuba, conveyed appreciation for the warm reception and logistical support extended by Cuban authorities. The Panamanian delegation included Ambassador Edwin Abel Pitty Madrid, presidential advisor Marcos Caisuutti, and foreign ministry advisor Adolfo Ahumada.

    The bilateral talks extended beyond economic matters to address pressing regional and international issues, with both parties characterizing the development of Cuba-Panama relations as progressing positively. Notably, the Panamanian diplomat’s itinerary included meetings with detained Panamanian citizens accused of crimes against Cuba’s constitutional order—a sensitive matter highlighting the complex nature of international legal and diplomatic relations.

    This diplomatic engagement represents continuing efforts by Caribbean and Latin American nations to foster regional solidarity despite external political pressures and economic challenges.

  • In Defense of Cuba

    In Defense of Cuba

    A seminal historical analysis revisits José Martí’s powerful 1889 rebuttal to U.S. expansionist rhetoric, revealing enduring patterns of imperial ideology. The original article, published in Philadelphia’s The Manufacturer, advocated against Cuban annexation not from principled opposition but through racist characterization of Cubans as “effeminate,” “lazy,” and inherently incapable of self-governance.

    Martí’s response, titled ‘In Defense of Cuba,’ systematically dismantled these prejudicial claims while highlighting the revolutionary resilience of Cuban people against Spanish oppression. The Manufacturer’s proposal involved effectively replacing Cuba’s population with Americans to achieve ‘complete Americanization’—a genocidal implication Martí confronted with documented evidence of Cuban valor and intellectual achievement.

    This historical exchange exemplifies how imperial powers historically manufactured racial and cultural hierarchies to justify domination. The article draws direct connections between 19th-century expansionist rhetoric and contemporary anti-imperial struggles, positioning Martí’s defense as foundational to Cuban national identity and revolutionary consciousness.

    The analysis concludes that Cuba’s socialist revolution represents the ultimate vindication of Martí’s faith in his people’s moral and revolutionary capabilities—a living refutation of centuries-old imperial prejudices that continues to inspire anti-colonial movements globally.

  • The metaphor of Life

    The metaphor of Life

    At Havana’s Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Teaching Hospital, medical professionals demonstrate extraordinary resilience amid Cuba’s severe energy crisis and economic constraints. The facility, which serves as a national referral center for specialized pediatric care, continues operating despite regular national power outages that force staff to physically carry patients up seven flights of stairs when elevators fail.

    This remarkable dedication is exemplified through the stories of two teenage patients: 17-year-old Lisnatali, diagnosed with nodular sclerosis Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and 16-year-old Anyeli, battling a rare pregnancy-related cancer. Both girls endure their ‘horribly painful’ treatments with courage and joy, supported by medical staff who face their own profound challenges.

    Dr. Andy Hernández Álvarez, head of pediatric clinical oncology, embodies this commitment. A childhood cancer survivor himself, he understands both sides of the white coat. ‘The professional who stands firm deserves respect,’ he states. ‘We choose to stay despite transportation difficulties, physical exhaustion, and poor sleep.’

    The hospital’s struggles have intensified following tightened economic restrictions and oil embargoes that have forced measures like postponed surgeries and extended waiting lists. Yet the facility remains operational, serving as the country’s primary pediatric unit for burn victims and housing Cuba’s largest oncohematology ward and intensive care unit.

    Recent relief arrived through the Hatuey Project (Health Advocates in Truth, Unity, and Empathy), which delivered crucial donations of cytostatic drugs, antibiotics, antiemetics, medical consumables, and toys. Dr. Hernández emphasized the profound impact: ‘This isn’t just about saving lives but maintaining quality of life. A patient who can tolerate adverse reactions endures more treatments and stays in good spirits.’

    The donation represented more than material support. Miami-based Dr. Nadia Marsh of the Hatuey Project noted: ‘We thank Cuban healthcare workers—you are an inspiration. We see what a people can do when they truly think of the people despite blockade and resource limitations.’

    As Dr. Hernández returns to his rounds, checking on patients receiving chemotherapy and visiting the smiling teenagers playing with their new Parcheesi set, the hospital continues functioning as what he describes as ‘not a building, but a living, beating heart.’

  • Granma 2.0: “Solidarity cannot be blocked”

    Granma 2.0: “Solidarity cannot be blocked”

    A significant international solidarity initiative reached Cuban shores this week as the tuna vessel ‘Maguro,’ renamed ‘Granma 2.0’ by its crew, docked in Havana harbor carrying over 30 tons of humanitarian aid. The shipment represents a concerted effort by activists from eleven nations to support Cuba during its current economic challenges.

    The vessel, serving as the flagship of the ‘Our America Solidarity Convoy,’ embarked from Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula on March 20th. The journey encountered unexpected difficulties when electrical system malfunctions extended the planned one-day voyage to five days. Despite these technical challenges, the 32 international activists aboard persisted in their mission.

    The aid delivery includes substantial quantities of food supplies, medical resources, hygiene products, and more than seventy solar panels designated for Cuban healthcare facilities. The convoy’s nomenclature pays homage to the original Granma yacht that transported revolutionary figures to Cuba seventy years earlier under the motto ‘free or martyrs.’

    Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila articulated the mission’s philosophical foundation during arrival ceremonies: ‘This represents historical reciprocity. Cuba has consistently demonstrated unparalleled international solidarity, deploying medical brigades worldwide during health crises, supporting disaster relief efforts, and contributing to liberation movements across the Global South. The global community now acknowledges its debt to Cuban generosity.’

    Australian participant Daniel Herbert provided critical context regarding media representation, noting that ‘heavy political propaganda in Western media deliberately distorts Cuba’s reality. Having traveled extensively, I can confirm these narratives are manufactured contrary to evident truth.’

    The initiative emerges amidst complex international relations and economic pressures affecting the island nation. Participants characterized their mission as countering systematic disinformation campaigns while providing tangible support to Cuban institutions. As one activist concluded: ‘While defeating oppressive systems presents difficulties, this vessel demonstrates that solidarity remains unblockable. Free peoples worldwide possess far greater strength than any empire.’

  • Life imprisonment sentenced to terrorist who assaulted police officer in Camaguey

    Life imprisonment sentenced to terrorist who assaulted police officer in Camaguey

    In a landmark ruling, the First Chamber of the Camagüey Provincial People’s Court has sentenced Osvaldo Fernández Pichardo to life imprisonment for committing acts of terrorism and unlawfully possessing weapons or explosives. The verdict concludes case number 6 of 2025, which involved a violent assault on a National Revolutionary Police officer in Camagüey city.

    The court established that Fernández Pichardo, a U.S. resident with documented anti-government activism, accepted a payment of $600 to execute a brazen attack on a uniformed police officer. Surveillance footage from May 29th of the previous year captured the defendant approaching the unarmed officer from behind on República Street and stabbing her with a knife, exploiting his physical advantage in the assault.

    The sustained injuries were deemed life-threatening, requiring immediate medical intervention. Beyond the life sentence, the court imposed additional penalties including the revocation of civil rights, confiscation of assets connected to the crime, and travel restrictions prohibiting passport acquisition and international departure.

    The convicted individual was further ordered to provide financial compensation to the injured officer for damages incurred. Judicial authorities confirmed that all legal procedures and constitutional guarantees were strictly maintained throughout the investigation and trial process.

    This case has drawn significant public attention since its initial disclosure, with widespread condemnation of the attack on law enforcement personnel tasked with maintaining public safety. The court characterized the life sentence as an exceptional yet proportionate response to the severity of the offenses committed.

  • Determination in Preventing and Confronting Terrorism

    Determination in Preventing and Confronting Terrorism

    Cuba has formally reaffirmed its commitment to combating terrorism in all manifestations, citing its extensive history as a victim of externally orchestrated attacks. The Caribbean nation has implemented a robust legal and strategic framework to address ongoing security threats, particularly those originating from foreign soil.

    Historical records indicate that over six decades, Cuba has endured numerous terrorist incidents including the bombing of Cubana de Aviación Flight 455 that killed 73 passengers, the La Coubre explosion, hotel bombings, and armed assaults on fishing vessels. These acts, predominantly organized and financed from United States territory, have frequently resulted in impunity for perpetrators despite Cuba’s presentation of evidence to international bodies.

    In response, Cuba has ratified approximately twenty United Nations counterterrorism instruments and integrated these provisions into domestic law through Article 8 of its Constitution. The nation developed a Comprehensive National Strategy against Terrorism outlining prevention protocols, operational plans, and international cooperation mechanisms.

    The 2022 Criminal Code amendment significantly strengthened penalties for terrorism-related offenses, establishing sentencing ranges from 10-30 years imprisonment to life sentences or capital punishment for extreme cases. The legal definition encompasses acts intended to coerce governments, international organizations, or terrorize populations through various means including hostage-taking, attacks on protected persons, and cyber terrorism.

    Notably, the Code specifically criminalizes terrorism financing, addressing the collection, transportation, or provision of resources intended for terrorist activities. Judicial procedures mandate that convicted terrorists serve at least two-thirds of their sentence before parole eligibility, with no statute of limitations for prosecution and permanent criminal records for offenders.

    Cuba’s Prosecutor General published an updated National List identifying 62 individuals and 20 entities based in the United States allegedly involved in organizing, financing, and executing terrorist acts against Cuba. This inventory, documented in 2025’s Resolution 13, represents Cuba’s implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1373 regarding counterterrorism obligations.

    The government emphasized that despite ongoing threats, its revolutionary policy remains committed to preventing terrorism without exemption, including opposition to state-sponsored terrorism. Cuban authorities assert there will be no impunity for those involved in anti-Cuba terrorist activities.

  • In war Medicine, the miracle of Life

    In war Medicine, the miracle of Life

    At Havana’s Ramón González Coro Maternity and Obstetrics Hospital, medical professionals continue delivering critical care to high-risk pregnancies and newborns despite severe resource constraints, demonstrating remarkable resilience through innovative problem-solving and international solidarity.

    A European Solidarity Convoy arrived on March 17th with approximately five tons of medical supplies, medicines, and basic necessities, providing crucial support to the facility that specializes in complex cases including pregnant women with diabetes, heart conditions, and cancer. The delegation expressed astonishment at Cuba’s ability to maintain medical services amid significant challenges.

    Dr. Otto Rafael Recio, the institution’s director, explained their approach using a medical metaphor: “Much like a fetus with intrauterine growth restriction prioritizes vital organs, our country is focusing on essential healthcare functions.” The hospital has implemented strategic reorganizations of surgical activities and patient care to ensure service continuity.

    The reality of practicing “wartime medicine” was detailed by oncologist Raiza Ruiz, who described working with an “absolute minimum for everything.” Most medications and treatments for her specialty require imports, but Cuba faces purchasing restrictions despite having budget allocations through programs like the Maternal and Child Health Program (PAMI).

    Innovative solutions emerge from necessity. Two recently graduated engineers successfully repaired a previously unusable anesthesia machine by developing their own software when donors couldn’t provide the necessary programming. The equipment now functions fully, saving lives instead of collecting dust.

    The hospital has faced extreme situations, including generator failures during surgeries that required completion using emergency lamps. For newborns on German-made Dragger ventilators, battery replacements are unavailable due to trade restrictions, forcing staff to resort to manual ventilation during power outages.

    Andrea Santor of solidarity organization Cuba Va recalled how Cuba extended medical assistance to Italy during COVID-19’s devastating peak in Turin: “A small island, with fewer resources than capitalist countries, extended a helping hand when we needed it most.”

    Patient Maureen Echevarría Peña, hospitalized throughout her third trimester for hypertension and diabetes, expressed confidence in her medical team despite resource limitations. “The hospital has gone to great lengths to ensure I lack nothing,” she stated, focusing on her upcoming delivery rather than material shortages.

    The emotional visit concluded with a profound acknowledgment from a convoy member: “Thank you for the effort you make despite the difficulties, for the example of resilience you are.”

  • For Cuba, “Humanity Made Solidarity”

    For Cuba, “Humanity Made Solidarity”

    HAVANA – In a powerful demonstration of global solidarity, over 600 delegates from 33 nations convened at the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) headquarters on March 21st for the “Our America to Cuba Convoy” welcoming ceremony. The event featured Cuba’s highest leadership, including President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, and became a platform for resounding condemnation of the six-decade US economic embargo against the Caribbean nation.

    David Adler, co-general coordinator of Progressive International, set the tone by declaring: “Cuba has taught us what international solidarity means. We will never leave Cuba alone because fighting for Cuba is fighting for the right to self-determination of the peoples of the world.” Adler characterized the US blockade as a unique humanitarian crisis, asserting that convoy members represented millions globally who reject the policy of economic suffocation.

    The gathering served three fundamental purposes, according to Adler: humanitarian support for a nation under unprecedented sanctions, defense of Cuba’s revolutionary achievements as a viable alternative to capitalism, and resistance against what participants termed “genocidal policies” of the US government.

    Manolo de los Santos, executive director of The People’s Forum, praised Cuba’s resilience, stating: “This nation has given us the greatest lesson in what it means to create a true alternative to the horrors of capitalism and imperialism.” He explicitly labeled the blockade as “an act of genocide” for depriving Cubans of basic rights to life, peace, and normal international relations.

    Brazilian student leader Bianca Borges, president of the National Union of Students of Brazil, framed the event as elevating “the banners of solidarity, anti-imperialism, hope, and sovereignty” against imperial domination. She emphasized that solidarity with Cuba remains fundamental for achieving a just, integrated Latin America free from foreign domination.

    Fernando González Llort, Hero of the Republic and ICAP president, reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment to internationalist principles, telling attendees: “You represent the certainty that no imperial siege can ever imprison the dignity of our peoples. The homeland we defend is not a strip of land under siege—it is a piece of humanity that refuses to surrender.”

    The ceremony concluded with participants vowing to combat media misinformation about Cuba upon returning to their home countries, positioning the convoy as the beginning of sustained international advocacy rather than a singular event.

  • “If we turn our backs on Cuba, we would be turning our backs on humanity”

    “If we turn our backs on Cuba, we would be turning our backs on humanity”

    A significant international solidarity movement is demonstrating support for Cuba as the Our America to Cuba Convoy arrives with substantial humanitarian assistance. Comprising approximately 500 delegates from over 30 nations, the convoy is delivering nearly 20 tons of essential supplies to the island nation despite ongoing challenges posed by economic sanctions.

    The initiative, organized by The People’s Forum and Progressive International, has successfully raised approximately half a million dollars in the United States specifically for solar panels and related equipment destined for Cuban hospitals. Manolo De los Santos, a prominent leader of The People’s Forum, emphasized that while the material aid is crucial—particularly medicines for children with cancer—the most valuable contribution is the demonstration of global solidarity during Cuba’s challenging period.

    European representatives have joined the effort with notable determination. Italian MEP Ilaria Salis highlighted that her participation reinforces Italy’s consistent United Nations voting record advocating for the blockade’s removal. She acknowledged facing significant obstacles, including visa cancellations and threats, yet remained committed to the cause.

    First-time visitor and MEP Emma Fourreau described her journey as both duty and honor, citing the Cuban Revolution as an inspiration for global solidarity movements. Meanwhile, MEP Marc Botenga framed the situation within broader geopolitical context, questioning the fundamentals of international world order and condemning what he characterized as neocolonial practices.

    David Adler, coordinator of Progressive International, explained the convoy’s name derives from José Martí’s conceptual work emphasizing regional sovereignty. Adler announced additional support measures, including an anticipated flotilla of three ships carrying further assistance, and called for participation in March 21st events marking the International Day of Solidarity with Cuba.

  • Solidarity with Cuba from many quarters

    Solidarity with Cuba from many quarters

    A multinational humanitarian initiative dubbed the “Our America Convoy” has arrived in Havana with substantial material support for Cuba, representing a significant display of Pan-American solidarity against what organizers characterize as genocidal U.S. policies. The convoy, carrying essential medicines, food supplies, medical equipment, and educational materials, originated from multiple nations including Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Mexico, and even the United States itself.

    The initiative emerged in February 2026 as a direct response to the intensified energy blockade and economic sanctions against Cuba. David Adler, founder of the movement and participant in the Global Sumud Flotilla to Palestine, emphasized that while the physical supplies cannot fully address Cuba’s needs, the convoy serves as “a spark for a new international solidarity movement” aimed at pressuring governments to provide energy resources and break the decades-long blockade.

    Fernando Pereira, president of Uruguay’s Frente Amplio, delivered a powerful message upon arrival: “A people without a soul has little future.” He referenced Cuba’s historical humanitarian contributions, particularly Operation Miracle which restored vision to nearly 100,000 Uruguayans, stating that “parties that show gratitude when things are at their worst are the ones that should be there.”

    Brazil’s representation, led by Mónica Valente of the São Paulo Forum, announced parallel efforts to fundraise for solar panels to aid Cuba’s electricity generation. Valente condemned the escalating blockade despite annual UN resolutions calling for its end, noting that “every year, the United Nations approves by a large majority the end of that policy, and yet it intensifies.”

    The convoy notably included U.S. representatives from Pastors for Peace, continuing their decades-long support. Executive Director Claudia de La Cruz stressed that current U.S. administration policies “do not represent the sentiments of the American people” and emphasized their commitment to opposing aggression against Cuba.

    Youth representation was provided by Alexandre Pupo of the International Youth Organization for Ibero-America, representing 21 member states who view Cuba as “a beacon of hope for justice.” The convergence of multiple generations and nationalities demonstrates growing international recognition of what Adler termed the “historical debt” owed to Cuba for its struggles for national and international liberation.