CUBA NIGHT SUCCESS

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: september 2008 :: RMTnews 30 T he annual RMT/Cuba Solidarity Campaign garden party this year was another huge success, themed around Cuba50, the celebration of 50 years of the Cuban Revolution. Now in its 6th year several hundred people enjoyed a fabulous evening of live Cuban music, dance and solidarity. In his speech Bob Crow highlighted the recent case of the British bank, Lloyds that had been pressured by the United States to stop any trade with Cuba, putting jobs at risk. Former Cabinet Minister Tony Benn said that the whole Cuban experience was about building a society around need rather than profit and that was why it had succeeded. John McDonnell MP described Cuba as a shining beacon before his fellow MP and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cuba, Ian Gibson MP described Cuba's health service and excellence in biotechnology as world-class Prison Officers Association general secretary Brian Caton said that the POA would be calling for the TUC to have nothing to do with Lloyds TSB and that the ongoing attacks against the people of Cuba were completely unacceptable. Cuba Solidarity Campaign secretary Bernard Regan said that the evening was a wonderful expression of solidarity with Cuba and cited the Operation Milagro where over 1 million people had been treated for eye operations as an example of the internationalism of the Cuban health care system and society. Bernard reminded the gathering that 2008 was the 20th anniversary of the battle at Cuito Cuanavale where Cuban troops had defeated the apartheid army of South Africa hastening the end of the racist system in that country. Luis Marron, Political Counsellor at the Cuban Embassy (above), received warm applause when he announced that the Cuban revolution was safe, healthy and was moving forward. As the 10th anniversary of the imprisonment of the Miami five approaches Luis declared that there would be an international campaign to secure their unconditional release. The evening ended with a fabulous special set from The Alabama 3 who gave the crowd a real treat with their own unique brand of politics and music. CUBA NIGHT SUCCESS The Cuba Solidarity Campaign and trade unions will be holding a protest vigil outside the US Embassy on October 7 to demand justice for the Miami Five who have been incarcerated for 10 years in US prisons. www.cuba-solidarity.org.uk For details of Cuba50 events go to www.cuba50.org.uk From left to right, Ian Gibson MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Bob Crow, John Leach, Tony Benn and John McDonnell MP