Georgetown: Guyana was amongst sixty-eight countries represented at the recent International Solidarity meeting held in Cuba. Representing Guyana was President of the Guyana Cuba Solidarity Movement (GCSM), Haleem Khan.
Khan was honoured with a certificate of recognition for the work and lobbying he had done to highlight the injustice suffered by the “Cuban Five” and their eventual freedom.
The Cuban Five- Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Rene Gonzalez and Fernando Gonzalez were arrested by US authorities in 1998 and sentenced in a rigged process to disproportionate penalties for warning of violent actions taken against Cuba from US soil by terrorist groups.
Of these, Hernández, Labañino and Guerrero arrived in Cuba after being released last December 17 (previously had returned after serving their sentences Fernando and René), in a context marked by the announcement of Havana and Washington to carry out actions after moving towards normalization of links.
Meanwhile, Khan is calling on the newly elected Head of State President David Granger to show full solidarity with Cuba while supporting the end to the embargo.
On December 17, 2014, nearly 55 years after the U.S. imposed its commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, President Barack Obama surprised the world by announcing his intention to enter into negotiations aimed at re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba. It is widely believed that this step, which includes the re-opening the U.S. embassy in Havana, will 
pave the way for an end to the embargo and eliminate certain travel restrictions on Americans looking to visit the island. In fact, some progress has already been made with regards to travel restrictions, as Americans are now able to use their debit and credit cards on visits to Cuba. Additionally, as of December 2014, Washington allows Americans to visit Cuba.
Khan explained that Cuba along with Guyana is heading for a path of massive development. He said that both countries have enjoyed decades of friendship which is testimony to the over 300 doctors within the system who were trained in Cuba through scholarships.
He underscored that the meeting dealt with the future agenda of solidarity with Cuba while noting the essential need for the elimination of the economic blockade imposed by the United States.
The event was held at the Havana Convention Center and was attended by various sectors.
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