Cuba: the aftermath

[Thinking Man's Idiot]

Cuba: the aftermath

(Thursday 02 October 2008)

ANN DOUGLAS witnesses the impact of hurricanes Gustav and Ike.


Cuba's valiant efforts to recover from a spate of vicious storms and hurricanes underline once again why it is admired across the globe.


Thousands of Cuban homes have been torn apart or damaged by a recent barrage of storms and hurricanes. The total cost to Cuba is estimated at $5 billion, with nearly half a million homes destroyed and agriculture, electricity infrastructure and telecommunications severely affected.

Arriving just after the hurricanes had departed, a group of visiting Welsh solidarity activists have witnessed Cuba's vigorous response first hand.

"We have been appalled by the extent of the devastation, but amazed by the energetic Cuban response," comments delegation member Gareth Miles.

Their tour was originally aimed at strengthening ties between Wales and Guantanamo province established by Cymru Cuba, the Welsh arm of the Cuban Solidarity Campaign, and Cymru Wales UNISON following a 1995 visit.

But, just before their departure, they received a call from the Cuban embassy in London to tell them that meetings with officials and activists would have to be cancelled. Understandably, the Cuban authorities had their hands full grappling with the aftermath of hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

While the delegation's planned itinerary was torn up in the hurricanes' wake, their hastily rearranged schedule proved to be an eye-opener.

At a meeting in the provincial capital Guantanamo City, health union leader Lourdes Exposito Boue and sugar cane workers leader Eduardo Carbonell Urgelles described the aftermath of the hurricanes as "a war situation."

And, after a short bus journey to the historic town of Baracoa, where Christopher Columbus made his first foray into the "new world," it soon becomes clear why.

It was an attractive tourist resort before the 120mph winds hit. But the hurricanes forced half the population of 81,000 to flee. More than 800 houses were destroyed and another 5,000 were damaged.

"In the midst of this devastation, however, there were no fatalities and only 23 people injured," says local director of health Robeito Caracases Guilarte.

Just days after the hurricanes hit, repairs are already well under way. An army of builders and other activists have been working furiously to repair and rebuild homes, hospitals and schools. An improvised breeze block factory now dominates the town's main square.

But, as the authorities try to rebuild the ravaged town and others like it, ordinary Cubans are still feeling the force of the hurricanes' devastating impact.

"People are in desperate need of basic household items such as mattresses, sheets and clothes," reports Caracases.

"There has never been a more important time for us to redouble our efforts," concludes delegation member and Cymru Cuba secretary Roger Bevan on their return to Guantanamo City.

"We will do all we can to ensure that those affected return to a normal life."

The Cuban government has called for a six-month suspension to the US economic blockade so that it can purchase much-needed materials and appliances from US companies. Washington has refused.

Surveying the fallout from the hurricanes, delegation leader Dominic MacAskill contrasts the generous support given to Cuba by some countries with the measly US offer of conditional, limited aid.

"Washington knows only too well that no amount of aid could adequately substitute for even the temporary lifting of the imperialist economic and trade blockade of Cuba," he says.

Their Welsh guests have been more generous. They have already donated £750 on behalf of Cymru Cuba and the Welsh Communist Party to help some of the workers affected by the hurricanes and to fund much-needed repairs to trade union vehicles.

And they hope to give more.

Bevan pledges: "We will be launching an appeal in Wales for aid to Baracoa and asking UNISON, other trade unions and political parties for their co-operation."

For information on how to contribute to the Cuba Solidarity Campaign's hurricane relief work email office@cuba-solidarity.org.uk or call (020) 8800-0155. To donate to the Cymru Cuba fund for Baracoa, send cheques payable to Cymru Cuba to Roger Bevan, PO Box 69, Pontypridd, CF37 9AB.

[Thinking Man's Idiot]

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Workers reports exclusively from Cuba on how the socialist island is coping with the aftermath of two devastating hurricanes…
Exclusive: Hurricanes – Cuba fights back

WORKERS, OCTOBER 2008 ISSUE

Pinar del Rio, in the hard-hit west of Cuba, 17 September: the union committee meets to see how to support workers whose houses have been damaged or destroyed.

All Cuba pictures courtesy Dr Maria del Carmen Rodriguez, Cuban Health Workers Union
The recent hurricanes that have caused so much loss of life and damage in the Caribbean and southern United States are considered by the Cuban Civil Defence Authority to be the worst for 60 years, partly because of their strength and partly because there were so many in close succession. Hardly surprising, then, that many people are asking the question ‘why does Cuba manage to keep the loss of life so low compared to other countries?’ The answer lies in both Cuba’s values and working class organisation. More detail and photos here...