Georgetown: The best way to honour the memories of the victims of the Cubana Air Disaster is to continue to gear foreign policy to promote peace among peoples in every part of the world.
This is according to President of the Guyana Cuba Solidarity Movement (GCSM) Halim Khan during a wreath laying ceremony for the 42nd Anniversary of the Cubana Air Disaster held Saturday at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen campus.
Khan said forty two years ago a Douglas DC-8 aircraft trundled down the runway at Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados and took off, climbing into a blue Caribbean sky.
“As Flight 455 reached 18,000 feet, a bomb went off under an empty seat, the plane’s ascent slowed and it began to bank dangerously. Eight minutes later a second bomb went off in the toilet at the back of the plane and the plane plunged into the ocean. Everyone on board perished,” Khan said.
Further, he noted that 73 people on board perished including a girl aged nine.
The GCSM President said Luis Posada Carriles who was identified as a CIA-backed anti-Castro movement terrorist was never convicted or faced any sanctions living out his old age somewhere in the US.
“This was confirmed by the CIA in 2005. The agency had concrete advance intelligence as early as June 1976 of plans by Cuban exile terrorist groups in Miami to bomb the airline,” Khan said.
Ambassador of Cuba Narciso Reinaldo Amador Socorro in his address said October 6th has been adopted in Cuba as the day of ‘Victims of State Terrorism’ in perpetual remembrance of those killed as a result of terrorist acts against Cuba.
“The sabotage of Cubana de Aviacion aircraft on October 6, 1976, best known as: ‘The Crime of Barbados’ has left an unforgettable sorrow in the hearts of Guyanese and Cuban people. For that reason we are gathered together in the rejection of terrorism, the highest expression of irrational hatred,” the Cuban envoy said.
The ambassador said that history has shown that unity, solidarity and cooperation amongst peoples are the best way to overcome aggression and adversaries.
“Nothing will stop our two countries to continue working together for peace, happiness and sustainable prosperity of our two nations,” the Cuban envoy said.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo who attended the event said government pledge its commitment against encouraging or condoning terrorism to settle differences or controversies.
The Guyanese who perished included Margaret Bradshaw, Sabrina Harrypaul 9, Seshnarine Kumar 18, Ann Nelson 18, Eric Norton 18, Raymond Persaud, Gordon M. Sobha, Rawle Thomas 18, Rita Thomas, Violet Thomas and Jacqueline Williams 19.
You must be logged in to post a comment.