Viewing from May 2016

Cuban medical cooperation makes positive contribution in the Caribbean

News from Cuba | Monday, 30 May 2016

More than 30,100 Cuban health care collaborators are currently working in 18 of the Association of Caribbean States' 25 member nations During this week's meeting of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) in Havana, mention will surely be made of the wellbeing and hope which Cuban medical cooperation has brought to ... read more

The results of solidarity

News from Cuba | Friday, 27 May 2016

With the rise to power of Evo Morales Ayma, the first indigenous president in Bolivia’s history, bilateral cooperation reached new levels, maintained to this day Bolivian Foreign Minister, David Choquehuanca, and Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, signed an agreement to promote and develop programs for cooperation in ... read more

Cuba to Legally Recognise Some Private Businesses

News from Cuba | Thursday, 26 May 2016

Under the reform, Cubans may legally create small and medium-sized private businesses. Cuba will recognise small and medium-sized private firms as legal entities, a Communist Party document published on Tuesday showed, a move that could remove obstacles for businesses and foster the emerging private sector. Cuba's government has relaxed restrictions on self-employment ... read more

Socialism Yes, Homophobia No - Cuba celebrates its 9th annual International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

News from Cuba | Thursday, 26 May 2016

More than 1,000 people took part in Cuba’s 9th annual International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDOHOT) celebrations in Havana on Saturday 14 May. Mariela Castro, President of the National Centre for Sexual Education (CENESEX), led the parade, together with international guests including transgender US actress Candis Cayne. Popular Cuban comedian, ... read more

Bernard Regan, CSC National Secretary, H.E. Teresita Vicente, Cuban Ambassador, Frances O'Grady, TUC General Secretary and Rob Miller, CSC Director

Friends of Cuba 2016 Reception

Campaign News | Thursday, 26 May 2016

Over 100 ‘Friends of Cuba’ and special guests were invited to the Cuban Ambassador’s residence in St John’s Wood, London, for an exclusive reception to thank them for their support for Cuba and the Cuba Solidarity Campaign. The ambassador and staff welcomed guests with delicious traditional Cuban dishes including rice and ... read more

Young British trade unionists show solidarity with Cuba

Campaign News | Wednesday, 25 May 2016

A total of 28 young trade unionists, representing different British unions, formed part of the 11th Contingent of the May Day International Solidarity with Cuba Brigade, organised by the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP). The brigadistas, from Unite, UNISON, GMB, CWU, RMT and USDAW - representing several million ... read more

GMB North West & Ireland Region Delegate Ross Holden and RMT Delegate George Waterhouse

At Cuba’s Heart Is The Joy Of Living Solidarity

Campaign News | Tuesday, 24 May 2016

We climb up onto the old soviet-looking truck heading out of camp. Packed together are bodies tired from lack of sleep, the open air washes away the effects of last night’s rum. A cold trickle of rain scatters away resting lizards and frogs, washes away the night sweat of humid dormitories. ... read more

Ecuadorean Parliament thanks Cuba for aid after quake

News from Cuba | Tuesday, 24 May 2016

HAVANA, Cuba, May 23 (acn) The National Assembly of the Republic of Ecuador thanked the Henry Reeve Contingent and the Cuban Medical Brigade for the immediate help they gave after the earthquake that hit that South American nation last April 16. According to Wilmer Rodriguez, correspondent of Cuban Television, Ambassador Rafael ... read more

Dr Phophi Ramathuba, South African Health Minister, unveiling the Dr Ernesto

South Africa Honours Fidel Castro and Che Guevara

News from Cuba | Tuesday, 24 May 2016

HAVANA, Cuba, May 23 (acn) Two buildings belonging to the Health Department in the South African province of Limpopo will have the names of the leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro and the legendary guerrilla Ernesto Che Guevara. The initiative of the South African government was made in the context ... read more

Salvadoran immigrant watches as a US Border Patrol agent records family information

US: Cubans Welcome, but Vulnerable Latin Americans Stay Out!

News from Cuba | Tuesday, 24 May 2016

No other group of migrants from Latin America receives the same special treatment from the U.S. government as the Cubans do. While President Obama is in Cuba this week (article written in March 2016) to rebuild bilateral relations and encourage business opportunities on the island, there’s an immigration crisis brewing along ... read more

Cuba pays tribute to Ken Cameron

Campaign News | Monday, 23 May 2016

CSC was extremely saddened to learn of the death of Ken Cameron, the former General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), who died on 16 May aged 74. Ken had been a longtime friend to Cuba and the Campaign since his time as General Secretary and both CSC and the ... read more

Cuban Futures Roundtable discussion and CSC AGM

Campaign News | Monday, 23 May 2016

The first major UK meeting to look at the current situation in Cuba, following Obama's visit in March and the 7th Cuban Communist Party Conference in April, takes place on Saturday 11 June. Cuban Futures follows the CSC AGM at the NUT's Hamilton House, and provides and opportunity to find out ... read more

Elaine Smith MSP

CSC Co-op Bank account closures raised in Scottish Parliament

Campaign News | Monday, 23 May 2016

Elaine Smith, Member of Scottish Parliament, raised the issue of the Co-operative Bank closing the bank accounts of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign at the Scottish Parliament with a motion last week. The Labour MSP for Central Scotland said: “At a time when the United States itself is beginning to engage with Cuba ... read more

The new Dominican Republic health minister, Kenneth Darroux

The New Dominican Health Minister Owes 'Everything' to Cuba

News from Cuba | Saturday, 21 May 2016

If not for Cuba's superior and free social programs, Kenneth Darroux wouldn't have achieved his life's dream of becoming a physician. The Dominican Republic's Health Minister Kenneth Darroux thanked Cuba on Friday for giving him the opportunity to study to become a doctor, which paved the way to his current position. “Yes, ... read more

Fraternal Meeting between Fidel and Evo

News from Cuba | Saturday, 21 May 2016

HAVANA, Cuba, May 21 (acn) The historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, held on Saturday a friendly meeting with the President of the Pluri-national State of Bolivia, Evo Morales, at the end of his official visit to Cuba. Fidel and Evo recalled momentous moments in the process of progressive ... read more

Mohawk Native Americans Travel to Cuba for Diabetes Treatment

News from Cuba | Friday, 20 May 2016

The Mohawk tribe urged the U.S. federal government to approve the Cuban diabetes medicine and provide the tribes financial support so they can buy it. A U.S. delegation of the Mohawk tribe of Saint-Régis has travelled to Havana to be treated with Heberprot-P, a Cuban medicine used to treat diabetic foot ... read more

Lewis Philipson, UCATT Shop Steward, speaking at the CSC fringe meeting

Construction workers’ call for solidarity with Cuba

Campaign News | Thursday, 19 May 2016

UCATT 2016 Conference CSC Fringe Meeting Report Construction workers’ called for solidarity with Cuba at this crucial time at an inspiring fringe meeting at the UCATT Conference in Scarborough. Steve Cottingham, OH Parsons Consultant, gave an update into the developments in Cuba since December 17 2014, when Cuba and the United States ... read more

Press release issued by the Cuban delegation to the Third Meeting of the Cuba-U.S. Bilateral Commission

News from Cuba | Monday, 16 May 2016

During the meeting, both delegations reviewed the implementation of the agreements adopted at the second meeting of this Commission as well as the results achieved in the course of the last six months The third meeting of the Cuba-US Bilateral Commission was held in Havana on May 16, 2016. The Cuban delegation ... read more

Cuba Tells US Its Blockade 'Continues to Harm the Cuban People'

News from Cuba | Monday, 16 May 2016

Cuban officials also said they want the controversial Guantánamo Naval Base to be returned to Cuba. The lifting of the U.S. blockade on Cuba must be made a priority in order to help the Cuban people and further development on the island nation, Cuban delegates said Monday following the latest round ... read more

Young Trade Unionists' on May Day in Havana

28 Young Trade Unionists' visit Cuba on the May Day Brigade

Campaign News | Friday, 13 May 2016

28 Young Trade Unionists from across the British trade union movement visited Cuba to take part in the May Day celebrations in Havana and to offer their solidarity to the Cuban people on the 2016 Young Trade Unionists May Day Brigade, organised by Cuba Solidarity Campaign (CSC). Delegates from Unite, UNISON, ... read more

Former Government Minister attacks Co-operative Bank

Campaign News | Friday, 13 May 2016

Former Government Minister attacks Co-operative Bank for undermining the Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and ‘serious damage’ caused to UK business interests The Cooperative bank has been accused by a former Labour Minister of doing “serious damage” to the UK’s business relationship with Cuba and of undermining the recent visit by Foreign ... read more

Cuban Hero denounces double standards of the fight on terror

News from Cuba | Thursday, 12 May 2016

HAVANA, May 11 (acn) Cuban Hero Gerardo Hernandez said that while some countries allege they are fighting terrorism, they give shelter to terrorists. Hernandez made his statement during a meeting in Moscow with Russian foreign minister Serguei Lavrov, which was also attended by his comrades - the Miami Five - also ... read more

Breaking down stigmas: An exercise of social justice and equity

News from Cuba | Wednesday, 11 May 2016

Mariela Castro Espin, who holds a PhD in Sociology and is director of the National Center for Sex Education (Cenesex), spoke about how much work has been done to arrive at the 9th edition of the Cuban Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, and her unwavering commitment to defending justice "I got ... read more

Granma Front Page, 10 May 2016, featuring the CSC Co-op Bank closure

Co-op Bank closures of CSC bank account raised at United Nations, UK Parliament and Irish Parliament

Campaign News | Tuesday, 10 May 2016

On Monday, Cuba raised the continuing extraterritorial application of the US blockade against the island at the United Nations, regarding the status of a British bank under pressure from the unilateral economic, commercial and financial blockade. The Cuban Permanent Mission to the United Nations issued a press statement which states that ... read more

Co-operative Bank finally admits bank closures are directly due to US blockade policies

Campaign News | Tuesday, 10 May 2016

In November 2015 the Co-operative Bank closed the bank account of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign (CSC) citing changing “risk appetite” and “global regulations” among the reasons. Now following a huge campaign by CSC members and affiliates Niall Booker, the bank’s Chief Executive, has finally confirmed in writing that the closure was ... read more

The Co-operative Bank acknowledges extraterritorial application of the blockade in Britain

Campaign News | Tuesday, 10 May 2016

As reported in Granma International in March, the Co-op Bank closed the bank accounts of the British Cuba Solidarity Campaign (CSC) in November 2015, citing among the reasons a change in its “risk appetite” and “global regulations”. Now, following a huge campaign by CSC members and affiliates, the bank’s Chief Executive ... read more

Photo: Owen Liddle

Cuban Ambassador at London May Day Celebrations

News from Cuba | Tuesday, 10 May 2016

Her Excellency Teresita Vincente, the Cuban Ambassador, presented a framed portrait of Fidel Castro to the Marx Memorial Library in Clerkenwell Green as part of the London May Day celebrations. The Ambassador welcomed the forging of links between the library and the University of Havana and asked people to continue to ... read more

Cuban education: A Revolutionary achievement

News from Cuba | Saturday, 7 May 2016

1959 marked a watershed in Cuban history. Tyranny had left an unsavory legacy across all spheres of society including education: of a population of five and a half million, 23.6% people over the age of 15 were illiterate. The Moncada Program, referenced by the leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, ... read more

Alba members condemn the renewal of U.S. sanctions against Venezuela

News from Cuba | Friday, 6 May 2016

CARACAS.— The countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America - Peoples’ Trade Treaty (Alba-TCP) released a statement this Thursday, May 5, in rejection of the renewal of the 2014 Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act, adopted by the United States to impose sanctions ... read more