Malta-Cuba Society

The Malta Cuba Society will be participating in the Jose-Marti European Solidarity camp covering a full two weeks next July (2nd till 20th), for the sixth consecutive year. The International Work Brigade consists of groups from solidarity and socio-political organisations of several European countries mostly youths. Members of the Brigade spend two weeks in Caimito - Havana as a ‘Brigadista’, working and socialising with Cubans and people from all across Europe. It is a unique opportunity to experience the Cuban Revolution firsthand and show that Cuba is not alone. This event is organised by ICAP (Cuban Association of Friendship with other Nations).

This camp is ideal for students, youths, workers, teachers, political activists and those wanting a different holdiay.

Participants will have the opportunity to see and experience the real Cuba:

Participation in any of the events is non-obligatory. Brigadistas also take part in a full programme of activities including educational and political events plus visits to hospitals and schools to see for yourself the successes of the Revolution. Entertainment is provided at the camp with live bands and dance lessons, whilst excursions to some of Cuba’s fantastic beaches and places of interest are organised. The brigadistas will also stay a weekend at a hotel in Pinar del Rio, an adjacent province to Havana, which also has its distinct characteristics from Havana.

More information can be obtained from the Jose Marti section on the website from here or by emailing maltacuba@gmail.com or phone/sms 7928 3716 / 7937 0523

Participation in VOs programme on ONE RADIO

Members of the Malta Cuba Society participated in the evening programme - VOs on ONE RADIO , on Friday 16/03/2012

Presidents Address for the 2011 AGM

I want first of all to thank the outgoing committee for the work performed during the last 12 months. To the new committee, being elected today, I auger success in the preparations, for the celebration of the 30th. Anniversary, from the foundation of our society, which falls in the year 2012. I wish to see another good participation in the annual “Jose Marti” brigade. Let me also express my appreciation for the socio-cultural research and the commercial feasibility work regarding the potential of tourism with Cuba, that were carried out by the Malta-Cuba Cooperative, which was established in 2010 by the participation of a group of members from our society.

The objectives of our society and the aims of the cooperative are very difficult to be achieved in our country, because we are facing a negative perception obscuring the recent history and way of life of the Cubans.
To put this falsity in its true perspective, our members especially the youths should scrutinize every episode of the last 55 years of the Cuban socio-political history. This task helps us also to appreciate the solidarity that the Cuban people deserve for enduring immense hardships in their struggle for real democratic freedom and sovereignty.

The hostile situation developed during the 48 years that the Cuban people have been striving against the barbaric economic blockade, which is still being imposed by the United States, in spite of the continuous annual objections from the United Nations. To add insult to injury, the US spreads propaganda against the Cuban policies and way of life.

The blockade brought nearly total economic/commercial isolation, because the American government threatened to blacklist governments and commercial and maritime companies, that cooperated with Cuba. Without going into more detail, we must remember that this siege was intensified by the famous military attack of the “Bay of Pigs”, and by an infinite series of terroristic activities that included the burning of whole fields of crops, to increase the hardships for the population. Such was the sacrifice endured, and the determination and courage shown by the Cuban people, to overcome the inhuman siege. Meanwhile, we were bombarded with propaganda that the Cubans lack our level of comfortable life, and that they are anti-democratic because they take defensive actions against terrorists. But we are never told that in spite of all those hostilities, the Cubans have the best state health scheme in the world, and that they export doctors and teachers to help countries that need them.

While sustaining these excellent statal health and education schemes, the Cuban government is adjusting other sectors of the social policy in a way to compliment the positive changes that have been registered, and that are expected to result from the progress which is being achieved diplomatically in the international economic/commercial fields. In front of this impressive trend in favour of Cuba, the host-ile approach of the US administration is being gradually relieved.

That strong character and progressive vision of the Cuban government and people encourage us to continue in our endeavour to neutralize that propaganda which gives the false impression of the sovereign Cuban State. Therefore apart from emphasizing the importance of the committee’s communication with ICAP regarding a fitting celebration of our society’s 30th.anniversary, I appeal for all our members` utmost contribution to achieve this goal, and to see our Cuban friends realize the imperative objective of achieving their supreme aspirations.

Documentaries about Cuba on DVD available from the Malta Cuba Society

Book documentaries from the Malta Cuba Society for 7 euros each, or all three for 18 euros.
Contact andre.damato@gmail.com to book your documentary from The Two Islands Productions.

"The Day Diplomacy Died" (33mins)

Cuban state agents speak out about why the Cuban government locked up 75 “independent” journalists, trade unionists and librarians in Spring 2003.

Although Cuba produced abundant evidence demonstrating that the imprisoned 75 so-called dissidents were actually on the US payroll to disrupt Cuban society, the mainstream news media ignored the facts and did not further investigate the real story behind the headlines and the role played by US diplomats in Cuba.

“One Man’s Story: Philip Agee, Cuba and the CIA” (30mins)

This film focuses on the dark side of United States foreign policy and has the potential to become a valuable teaching tool on US attempts to destroy the Cuban Revolution using mercenaries and US taxpayer’s money.
Filmed in Havana with excellent archive material of numerous US covert and direct involvements in Latin America, "One Man’s Story" allows Agee, who betrayed big brother and paid the price, to tell his captivating story.

" Mission against Terror" (50mins)

Critically acclaimed 50-minute film which follows the case of five Cuban
men currently serving long sentences in U.S. jails for trying to prevent
terrorist attacks on Cuba. The film raises the important question: Why are
people who fight terrorism imprisoned in the U.S. while known terrorists are
allowed to walk the streets of Miami freely?

Reading book available at Malta Cuba Society: Napoleon Bonaparte’s and his Maltese soldiers

When General Bonaparte left Malta to invade Egypt, among the troops of his Army of the Orient were some 400 Maltese, ex-soldiers of the Knights of Malta forcibly “press ganged” by the French. In Egypt, Bonaparte formed them into the Legion Maltaise.

Author Richard Mifsud tells the story of the trials and hardship suffered by the Maltese soldiers in a new book, in English, entitled “Napoleon’s Maltese Legion”. He also tells the story of some 40 Maltese soldiers who ended up in France where a Depot de la Legion Maltaise was set up.
Just published by KoPri koperattiva ltd, the book is the first of a project by KoPri to produce historical studies.

Further information from the author at mifsud.richard@yahoo.com (mob: 9928 1575)
or from Ghaqda Malta-Kuba (mob: 7928 3716)

Napoleon’s Maltese Legion is retailing at 10.50 euros
Students and members price from Ghaqda Malta-Kuba 8.00 euros

After visiting Cuba in the summer of 2010 I strongly believe that the Cuban government is acting on misconceived bouts of patriotism and anti-American colonialism whenever it restricts rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression. This should not be perceived as a justification for their actions yet it would be callow to criticize Cuba without taking into account the context.

The context being, that Cubans feel threatened by the American embargo, which is stalling their economy and putting on hold their livelihoods. Having a democrat for president, as yet, did not prove to be much fruitful to Cuba. After all, the U.S. under Obama extended for another year (ending in September 2011) sanctions against Cuba under the Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA). Yet everyone should note that positive change is more likely with Obama than with McCain.

Irrespective of American politics, Cuba is showing signs of amicability towards other nations, brought by “Istituto Cubana de Amistad con los Pueblos” (ICAP), among other organisations, which is very active internationally. Having arrived back from nearly a month of voluntary work and cultural discovery from Cuba (courtesy to the aforementioned ICAP), I hold only fond memories of the friendly people, resounding humility, and an intense desire to invigorate an economy which is held in shackles by an unjust and inequitable American foreign policy.

Upon leaving Cuba, visitors have the option of asking their passport to be stamped by Cuban authorities. It proves that the visitor has been to Cuba. It seems that when entering the US, if they suspect that you have been to Cuba, they will interrogate you for an unspecified amount of time. Hence many visitors opt not to stamp their visa in their passport. I understand those who prefer to avoid future trouble if they decide to visit the great U.S.A. in the future. But looking down to my passport, at my ‘Republica de Cuba’ visa, I have no regrets, and you can hold me to that.

So do yourselves a favour, if you are looking for an adventure next summer. Check out Malta-Cuba’s Jose Marti programme to visit Cuba and you’ll surely won’t be disappointed!

REMARKS BY ARMY GENERAL RAUL CASTRO RUZ, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA, AT THE 15TH NAM SUMMIT, SHARM EL SHEIKH, EGYPT

Your Excellency Mr. Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt:

On behalf of my delegation I wish to express our appreciation to the Egyptian government and people for their warm welcome. We are convinced that this 15th Summit Conference will strengthen the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. Cuba shall offer its full support to Egypt as its new chair.

It is an honor for our country to pass the chair of the Movement on to one of its founders. From its early days, the Cuban Revolution found friendship and support in this Arab nation; and this year we shall celebrate together six decades of continuous fraternal relations.

We never forget the noble gesture of President Gamal Abdel Nasser, one of the founding fathers of non-alignment, who visited the then Prime Minister of the Revolutionary Government, comrade Fidel Castro Ruz, when both converged in New York in 1960 to attend the 15th Session of the UN General Assembly and the Cuban leader was accorded a discriminatory and insulting treatment by the U.S. authorities.

The ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of NAM held in Havana April 27 to 30 this year succeeded in its basic objective of making arrangements for this summit conference. The ministers and heads of delegations assembled there reached consensus on their positions with regard to the most pressing issues affecting humanity and particularly the developing countries.

The Special Declaration on the World Economic and Financial Crisis adopted in that meeting is proof of the transcendence of the debates and of our determination to work in concert towards the solution of the international problems. NAM has asserted its firm belief that every country, and not only a few, should participate in the quest for effective and just solutions to the current crisis.

Żjara mill-Għaqda Malta-Kuba lill-iSpeaker tal-Kamra tad-Deputati - 16.06.2009

Delegazzjoni tal-Għaqda Malta-Kuba mmexxija mill-President tal-Għaqda s-Sur Michael Camilleri l-bieraħ għamlet żjara lill-iSpeaker tal-Kamra tad-Deputati l-Onor Louis Galea.

Din iż-żjara saret f’serje ta’ laqgħat li l-Għaqda qed ikollha ma’ persuni distinti bi preparazzjoni għall-parteċipazzjoni tal-Għaqda fil-Brigata Jose Marti li sejra ssir f’’Kuba f’Lulju li ġej.

Din hija t-tielet sena li l-Għaqda Malta-Kuba ser tipparteċipa f’din l-attività annwali li ssir f’Kuba sabiex membri ta’ għaqdiet Ewropej ta’ solidarjetà ma’ Kuba jagħtu l-kontribut tagħhom permezz ta’ xogħol volontarju filwaqt li fl-istess ħin jaraw b’għajnejhom ir-realtà ta’ dan il-pajjiż.

Matul iz-zjara tagħhom f’Kuba l-voluntiera jkollhom l-opportunità li jagħmlu xogħol fl-oqsma tal-agrikoltura u kostruzzjoni, xogħol utli ħafna, speċjalment meta tqis li s-sena l-oħra Kuba ntlaqtet minn tlett uragani li għamlu ħafna ħsara.

Letter of condolences, Comrade Ken Gill, from the Malta Cuba Society - 29th May 09

Dear Friends,

Please accept the sympathy of the Malta-Cuba Society for the loss of Comrade Ken Gill. Please convey our condolences to his immediate family and to his friends and comrades in the Cuba Solidarity Campaign and in all the other organizations he was affiliated too. I had the honour to come to know him during the European Solidarity Committee meetings that was held in Copenhagen in 1998 and can understand the loss suffered by the Cuba Solidarity Campaign.

Victor Degiovanni
International Secretariat
Malta-Cuba Society

Bibieta mal-Hbieb

Organizzata min Zminijietna - Lehen ix-Xellug

Post: Lady Di Pub - Tas-Sliema [vicin Quisisana]
L-Erbgha 20 ta' Mejju fid-9pm

Ghal aktar informazzjoni 79536914

F'din l-attivita se jitqassamu ukoll kopji tal-harga (Mejju 2009) ta' Zminijietna

Ghall din l-attivita gejjin ukol partecipanti Maltin li se jippartecipaw fil birgata Ewropeja tal-2009 gewwa Havana - Kuba. F'din l-attivita se jkun hemm ghall bejh flokk edizzjoni specjali mahrug mill-Malta Kuba

In accordance with the ideas expressed by President of the Council of State and Ministers, Army General Raul Castro Ruz, in the constituent session of the 7th Legislature of the National Assembly of the People´s Power on February 24, 2008, regarding that “it is required today a more compact and functional structure, with less number of organisms of the State´s central administration and a better distribution of the work they carry out,” the Council of State, on the proposal of its President, previously consulted with the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Party, agreed in a meeting carried out today, make the following changes of officials and restructuring in some organisms of the State´s Central Administration:

1. Relieve comrade Jose Luis Rodriguez Garcia from the post of Vicepresident of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Economy and Planning.

Appoint comrade Marino Murillo Jorge in the post of Vicepresident of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Economy and Planning and release him from his responsibility as Minister of Domestic Trade.

2. Relieve comrade Otto Rivero Torres from his responsibilities as Vicepresident of the Council of Ministers, taking into account he has concluded the transfer of the programs attended by him to the respective investor organisms. Vicepresident of the Government, Ramiro Valdes Menendez will be in charge of its coordination and control.

3. Fusion the ministries of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment and Economic Collaboration and appoint comrade Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz in the post of Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, denomination that comprises the activities of Economic Collaboration carried out by the country.

Relieve comrade Raul de la Nuez Ramirez from his responsibilities as Minister of Foreign Trade.

4. Fusion the ministries of Food Industry and the Fishing Industry and appoint comrade Maria del Carmen Concepcion Gonzalez, who was previously relieved from her duties as member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Party, as Minister of the Food Industry, denomination that comprises the activities of the Fishing Industry.

Relieve comrades Alejandro Roca Iglesias and Alfredo Lopez Valdes from their posts as ministers of the Food Industry and the Fishing Industry, respectively.

5. Relieve comrade Felipe Perez Roque from his responsibilities as Minister of Foreign Relations and promote current First Deputy Minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla to that post. 6. Relieve comrade Georgina Barreiro Fajardo from the post of Minister of Finance and Prices and name in her place comrade Lina Pedraza Rodriguez, also released from her condition of member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC in Spanish), responsibility from which she attended the global economic entities.

7. Relieve comrade Fernando Acosta Santana from the post of Minister of the Steel and Mechanic Industry and promote in his place the Brigadier General Salvador Pardo Cruz, who worked as Director General of the Military Industrial Union.

8. Promote comrade Jacinto Angulo Pardo, First Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Domestic Trade, to the post of Minister of that organism.

9. Relieve comrade Alfredo Morales Cartaya from the post of Minister of Labor and Social Security and promote in his place comrade Margarita Marlene Gonzalez Fernandez, currently First Deputy Minister of that organism.

10. Appoint as Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment, organism to which the Science Center (research) is added for its attention, comrade Jose M. Miyar Barruecos, who was relieved to that end from his condition of Secretary of the Council of State.

11. Appoint in an interim manner, subject to his ratification by the People´s Power National Assembly in the next ordinary session period, deputy Homero Acosta Alvarez in the post of Secretary of the Council of State, with the duty to assist and aid the President, the First Vicepresident, the Vicepresidents and the rest of the members of the Council of State in the performance of their duties according to Articles 89, 90 and 93 of the Constitution of the Republic.

The post of Secretary of the Council of State does not constitute in itself a decision-making authority and does not have any protagonism in the direction of the State.

12. Relieve comrade Carlos Lage Davila from his post of Secretary of the Council of Ministers and appoint to that responsibility the current chief of the Secretariat of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, Brigadier General Jose Amado Ricardo Guerra, with the function of assisting and aiding the President of the Council of Ministers, the First Vicepresident and the rest of the members of the Executive Committee in their activities, corresponding to article 97 of the Constitution of the Republic and the current legislation and thus this post does not legally constitute an authority with decision-making functions in government matters nor it is attributed to him any protagonic role in the direction of the Government.

In the framework of these decisions, the Political Bureau and the Council of State ratified the validity of the words of comrade Raul Castro on February 24, 2008 when he expressed: “…the institutionality is one of the pillars of invulnerability of the Revolution in the political area, that is why we must work to constantly perfect it. Not think ever that which we have done is perfect.” In correspondence with the aforesaid, it was deemed necessary to continue studying the current structure of the Government with the aim to reduce gradually its magnitude and heighten its efficiency

Castro jimxi fit-toroq tal-Havana - Christopher Cutajar

Nhar il-Gimgha li ghadda l-agenzija tal-ahbarijiet Reuters irrapurtat li Chavez (President tal-Venezwela) stqarr fuq ir-Radju li Fidel Castro hareg f'mixja taht sigurta' stretta gewwa l-Havana. Dan ghamlu wara sentejn li kien ilu ma jaghmel xi dehra pubblika. L-eks mexxej ta' Kuba li llum jghodd 82 sena wasal ukoll biex jikteb lil Chavez (f'wahda mill-ittri li jibghatlu spiss) li sahanitra mar "il-boghod" biex jara sigar li kien hawwel mal-erbghin sena ilu fil-bidu li Kuba bdiet titmexxa tahtu (1959).

Huwa interessanti li wiehed janalizza l-ghaliex ir-rivoluzzjoni socjalista gewwa Kuba irnexxielha zzomm sa issa. Jiena nemmen li whud mill-fatturi kienu l-intelligenza fit-tmexxija, l-investimenti fl-edukazzjoni u s-sahha, u l-kapacita' li jaghmlu l-bidliet necessarji mall-waqa' tal-Kamp Socjalista, ossija il-Hajt ta' Berlin.

Raul Castro, hu Fidel, issa li ghandu t-tmexxija ta' Kuba f'idu, donnu qed jaghti kaz hafna tal-htiega li l-ekonomija tkun aktar produttiva u efficjenti. Il-qasam agrikolu jehtieg li jipproduci aktar ghall-Kubani. L-uragani li kellhom dan l-ahhar servew ta' xkiel mill-akbar, izda xorta d-determinazzjoni fit-tmexxija tal-haddiema tibqa' hemmhekk.

(Fir-ritratt t'hawn fuq - mix-Xellug - Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro, Raul Castro)

Kuba zortha f'Lulju li ghaddha. Mort Havana, Santa Clara u Cienfuegos. Ghandhom problemi f'dak li ghandu x'jaqsam trasport, xoghol produttiv u importazzjoni ta' makkinarju teknologiku. Mill-banda l-ohra in-nies jieklu sew, jilbsu sew, ghandhom kura ta' sahha tajba, edukazzjoni li taghti r-rizultati ghalkemm jixirqilha tirrikonoxxi aktar tipi ta' hsibijiet u fuq kollox livell kulturalment ta' l-ghageb.

Fil-hmistax li domt hemm rajt lil Raul jitkellem fl-assemblea nazzjonali (parlament taghhom), fuq it-televixin Kuban. Il-bniedem jidher li mhux biss irid jitkellem fuq il-problemi, izda wkoll jahdem biex isolvihom.

Awguri lil Fidel ghal aktar snin fuq dil-pjaneta. Awguri lil Raul sabiex Kuba tkun aqwa milli halliha huh il-kbir.

For the second consecutive year, last July a group of Maltese will participate in the yearly Jose-Marti Brigade. This is a Voluntary International Work Team where the participants spend two weeks in Caimito - Havana, working and socialising with Cubans and people from all across Europe.

Din is-sena 3 membri ta` l-ghaqda Malta-Kuba telghu ghal 16 -il jum Kuba sabiex jaghmlu parti mill-brigada Jose` Marti.

Fost attivitajiet li kelna nsemmu:

Welcome to the official website of the Malta Cuba Society. Navigate through the website by using the menu on the left

Participation in VOs programme on ONE RADIO

Presidents Address for the 2011 AGM

Documentaries about Cuba on DVD available from the Malta Cuba Society