Remarks by Cuban Ambassador Ivette Martínez Leyva, in tribute to the Cuban collaborators who fell during the US invasion of Grenada on 25 October 1983.
As our José Martí said, to Honour, Honour! Today we are gathered on this historic hill, very close to where 24 Cuban internationalists lost their lives during the US invasion of Grenada, to pay them their deserved tribute.
Every 25 October, the date on which they fell in 1983, friends of Cuba accompany us to remember our fallen. 24 brave men who were part of the Cuban Brigade that worked on the construction of the Point Salines International Airport.
They did not die in their land but definitely in the one they felt was theirs and for which they fought until they shed their blood. Blood that has germinated in your solidarity but that should serve as an example of how far the ideas, the sovereignty and the authenticity of a Revolution are defended.
At the time of the invasion, there were 784 Cuban internationalists in Grenada, including the diplomatic mission, collaborating in various sectors. Despite the tragedy and the diminishing of bilateral relations then, Cuba never stopped offering its collaboration in the training of human resources and technical assistance.
Today, with the same dedication and willingness to fulfill their mission on Grenadian soil, 30 health professionals and 6 engineers work for the well-being of the people and the development of infrastructure on the island. Our Commander and our fallen comrades would be proud to see how we have fulfilled their legacy of brotherhood with Granada, to know that we have promoted new collaboration projects and that we have achieved the unwavering support of the Grenadian government in denouncing the ever-increasing suffocating blockade.
Brothers and sisters
At the farewell ceremony for our fallen heroes in the unequal combat against imperialism in Grenada, Commander in Chief Fidel Castro said, “It is not possible to express in a purer form the generosity and self-denial of these human beings. Their example will multiply, their ideas will multiply, and they will multiply in us!” There will be no power, no weapons, no force that can prevail over patriotism, internationalism, the feelings of human fraternity and the communist conscience that they represented!” end of quote.
To honour and multiply their example will always be the watchwords, to multiply with the commitment to defend the correct side of history, to defend the ideas of those who risked everything to place Cuba and Grenada on the world map and in the ranks of the combatants against evil empires.
May this tribute also serve to honour the memory of Maurice Bishop and the comrades who were cruelly murdered along with him 41 years ago.
We are always grateful to be able to count on this magnificent place, where our flag is raised with the same robustness and nobility of the fallen. A memorial was made possible by the invaluable support of the former Ambassador of Grenada in Cuba Clarice Charles, of comrade Lynden Ramdhanny, of the airport authorities, the collaborators of UNECA and the Cuban diplomatic mission. Let us take care of and defend this space as a symbol of heroism, humanism and solidarity between the peoples of Cuba and Grenada.
Brothers and sisters
The Cuban people have lived through very difficult days in recent days, facing the simultaneous impacts of an energy emergency that shut down the country for days and the passage of Hurricane Oscar. The resistance of the people, the effort and dedication of the government to resolve the situation has been a true feat.
On behalf of the Cuban Government and people, I express gratitude to the Government of PM Dickon Mitchell for his timely message of solidarity and willingness to generate a humanitarian aid initiative for Cuba from Caricom.
On 30 October, Cuba will present to the UN General Assembly the draft resolution entitled “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.” Once again, we will have overwhelming international support and rejection of the Blockade, but we need to continue counting on sister voices and international solidarity to demand that the United States Government lift this unjust policy.
The resistance of the Cuban people today is the same as that of the fallen Cubans we now honour, demonstrating that imperialism has no capacity to defeat us or break our commitment to Until Victory Always or as we say in Spanish, Hasta la Victoria Siempre.
Long live our Heroes and Martyrs.
Long live the friendship between the peoples of Cuba and Grenada.
Forward ever, Backward never!
Forward ever, Backward never!
Thank you so much.
