Dear Editor,
Global Watch Jamaica welcomes the news that United States President Barack Obama has announced the intent to re-establish of diplomatic ties with our neighbours Cuba.
Isolation has not worked. Cuba has at no time yielded to the pressures from the mighty USA. This unexpected turnaround, despite recent talks on the matter, has always been Jamaica's position, as first declared and championed by our beloved deceased former Prime Minister Michael Manley.
As a result of the position that Jamaica took, we saw where, under the hands of Ronald Reagan, the stability of our country was threatened by the mighty United States of America. Jamaica paid a heavy price for its stance and unbroken friendship with Cuba. Many were the taunts, scorn and national derision that came our way -- from both within and outside of our shores. The suspicion and negative publicity we received for standing firm in our friendship was daunting, at times gut-wrenching, but we never wavered or faltered. As a nation, we resisted any attempts at intimidation for standing with our ostracised neighbor.
Sad to say, under the JLP/Seaga administration, Jamaica revamped its alliance with Cuba and danced to the dictates of the President Reagan/Henry Kissinger led United States. They severed ties, yet continued to accept whatever help we got from their continuous generosity to us through nutritional products for the very young.
This shift in America's foreign policy brings an official end to the Cold War, and also brings the hope of renewed friendships all round.
This, however, will have major implications for Jamaica's tourism and our business culture.
I commend President Obama for being a fearless leader and a bigger man than his predecessors for this bold initiative.
Tony Smith
Global Watch Jamaica
smithbklyn@yahoo.com
Good news about Cuba -- our long-standing friend
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Global Watch Jamaica welcomes the news that United States President Barack Obama has announced the intent to re-establish of diplomatic ties with our neighbours Cuba.
Isolation has not worked. Cuba has at no time yielded to the pressures from the mighty USA. This unexpected turnaround, despite recent talks on the matter, has always been Jamaica's position, as first declared and championed by our beloved deceased former Prime Minister Michael Manley.
As a result of the position that Jamaica took, we saw where, under the hands of Ronald Reagan, the stability of our country was threatened by the mighty United States of America. Jamaica paid a heavy price for its stance and unbroken friendship with Cuba. Many were the taunts, scorn and national derision that came our way -- from both within and outside of our shores. The suspicion and negative publicity we received for standing firm in our friendship was daunting, at times gut-wrenching, but we never wavered or faltered. As a nation, we resisted any attempts at intimidation for standing with our ostracised neighbor.
Sad to say, under the JLP/Seaga administration, Jamaica revamped its alliance with Cuba and danced to the dictates of the President Reagan/Henry Kissinger led United States. They severed ties, yet continued to accept whatever help we got from their continuous generosity to us through nutritional products for the very young.
This shift in America's foreign policy brings an official end to the Cold War, and also brings the hope of renewed friendships all round.
This, however, will have major implications for Jamaica's tourism and our business culture.
I commend President Obama for being a fearless leader and a bigger man than his predecessors for this bold initiative.
Tony Smith
Global Watch Jamaica
smithbklyn@yahoo.com
Good news about Cuba -- our long-standing friend
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