Cuba and Seychelles celebrate long lasting friendship |29 July 2015
Cuban doctors working here, the Seychelles Cuba Association, members of the International Affairs Committee in the National Assembly (IAC), have hosted Cuban residents and friends to a ceremony to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the Moncada Attack.
The attack, which marked the first armed action of the Cuban Revolution which would triumph in 1959, happened on July 26, 1953, when a small group of revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro attacked the federal garrison at the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba.
Seychelles is always active in expressing its solidarity to the people of Cuba in cherishing the long and friendly relationship which exists between our two nations and joining together with Cuban counterparts to mark the event was another opportunity to do so.
The celebration, which took place at the Espace building on Saturday evening, was also attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport Joel Morgan, the deputy speaker of the National Assembly Andre Pool, who is also the chairperson of the IAC, among other guests.
During the ceremony a representative of the Cuban Doctors Brigade working here, Dr Mailin Manzo Cabrera, also addressed the guests through an interpreter Arianny Cruise-Wilkins.
For his part Mr Pool read a message of congratulation from the Speaker of our National Assembly Dr Patrick Herminie addressed to Esteban Lazo Hernandez, the President of the National Assembly of the People’s Power of the Republic of Cuba
The message reads:
“The National Assembly of Seychelles, once again, joins the rest of the world in celebrating the commemoration of the unforgettable attack on the Moncada Barrack in Santiago de Cuba on the 26th of July, 1953.
“We remain active in expressing our solidarity to the people of Cuba as we cherish the long and friendly relationship that exists between our two parliaments and peoples.
“On this occasion, we also take pleasure in rejoicing the return of the Cuban-Five back to their loved ones in Cuba. This victory demonstrates the true meaning and power of unity among nations. Seychelles is proud to have been able to support the release of our five comrades through a motion passed in the National Assembly of the Seychelles on April 8, 2014, only seven months before the release of the remaining Cuban Five on December 17, 2014.
“Cuba will forever remain and be remembered as a country of great determination and dedication towards its people.
“The National Assembly of Seychelles together with its International Affairs Committee, the deputy Speaker and the leaders in the House and myself join together with the rest of the world and your good self in celebrating the achievements that Cuba continues to celebrate and express our will to continue working towards a similar goal for the prosperity of our peoples.
“On this 62nd Anniversary of the Attack on the Moncada Barrack, let us renew our commitment in continuing to work towards the common goal of the wellbeing and prosperity of our people.
“Long live the relationship between our two legislatures and our two Nations, Seychelles and Cuba.”
The Cuban Five were five Cuban intelligence officers who were arrested in September 1998 and later convicted in Miami of conspiracy to commit espionage, conspiracy to commit murder, acting as an agent of a foreign government, and other illegal activities in the United States.