Headlines:
| Party leaders pay tribute to Fidel Castro |
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| Tuesday, 19 February 2008 | |
 Jamaican Parliamentarians on February 19th spoke
in Gordon House about their relationships with President Fidel Castro who on Tuesday announced that he was
stepping down a leader of the communist country after 49 years of rule.
"We on this side Mr. Speaker have never been ambivalent
about President Fidel Castro during the period of the great ideological divide.
We were fierce opponents of the political values as were espoused then and we
expressed that opposition in very forceful terms," said Prime Minister Bruce
Golding. He added that Jamaica and Cuba today enjoy a relationship that is mutually respectful. Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller also paid tribute to the communist leader. "I think this afternoon I can say that this morning a legend, a giant and a champion departed the stage of political leadership in his country, Cuba. That giant (is) Fidel Castro. I am proud to stand from this side of the House to speak on behalf of the Opposition. Proud because during the very difficult days when there were countries that were afraid to be associated with Cuba and Castro, the People's National Party government, (led by) Michael Manley and P.J. Patterson stood firm," said Mrs. Simpson Miller. |