World ponders Cuba’s future

An Associated Press story entitled ‘This may be Castro’s closest call yet’ said Castro’s alleged statement said he was in good spirits but that his condition was touch and go, saying: “I cannot make up positive news.”

Reactions to Tuesday’s news varied widely. With Cuban exiles in Florida wildly celebrating Castro’s illness, Cuban-American Senator Mel Martinez (Republican — Florida) told Associated Press (AP) “I think it is possible he is very ill or dead.”

Locally, OWTU education officer David Abdullah felt the demise of Castro, whenever it comes, would not change Cuba politically. Meanwhile the world media probed to find out about Castro’s health but with limited success.

Reuters news agency reported “Government tight-lipped over Castro,” while some reassurance came from media houses as diverse as Australia’s ABC online (“Castro stable after surgery”) and the Malaysia Star (“Castro out of intensive care, says estranged sister”).

The British Guardian (‘I am perfectly well’) said a statement was broadcast yesterday on Cuban television to assure that Castro is well and to quash rumours that his condition was worse than admitted.

The world media speculated about his successor and younger brother, vice-president Raul Castro.

The Christian Science Monitor wrote a story ‘Where the next Castro might take Cuba’ which suggested Raul might ease long-standing hostilities with the US, whereas the Chicago Sun — Times (‘Cuban Americans skeptical, anxious’), quoted Cuban-exiles as saying that Raul was “worse” than Fidel, with one person saying his behaviour is criminal.

The British Guardian noted that Raul Castro is not in the best of health and has liver problems. The New York Times also queried Raul saying: “He is 75 years old and seems to lack the charisma, political skill and rhetorical brilliance of his brother. His detractors in the United States say he will find it hard to hold the government together if Castro were to die.”

Fidel Castro visited Trinidad and Tobago under the former UNC government in 1999 to attend a meeting of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). Officials at the Cuban Embassy in TT were unreachable for comment yesterday afternoon.

Cheryl Moses, communications officer for Minister of Foreign Affairs, Knowlson Gift, said: “He (Gift) has sent his best wishes to the Cuban Government and wishes the President, ‘El Commandante,’ a speedy recovery.”

OWTU officer David Abdullah, who visits Cuba often and has actually met Castro, was untroubled by the present situation.

Abdullah said the Cuban State is well-prepared and has highly-developed institutions of government. “They know Fidel is human and will get ill and die one day, so they would have discussed it and worked out what will happen.” He said Cubans are a people who prepare for every eventuality, especially in light of facing 50 years of tension with the United States who he said had tried to subvert the Cuban Revolution and assassinate Castro.