Cuba’s Fidel Castro makes 1st TV appearance in 4 years
Fidel Castro
There is this news from the region, four years ago he fell ill, subsequently gave up power to his younger brother Raul Castro, and most wrote him off because his ailing health. But on Monday in Havana, the former Cuban president Fidel Castro, appeared for more than an hour on a current affairs television show called Mesa Redonda. Castro, was wearing a dark track suit, was well groomed and spoke lucidly. He discussed a wide range of issues from the global nuclear war to the use of energy efficient light bulbs. But the eighty-three year-old did not discuss the recent release of fifty- two political prisoners. It is not known what prompted his television interview; that remains a mystery like most of his life and has provided more drama to the guessing game surrounding most things about the former leader. Castro at times showed flashes of his skills as a powerful and eloquent speaker and at other times he paused for lengthy periods and shuffled pages of notes he kept in front of him. According to reports, most Cubans reacted with a degree of surprise or delight at Castro’s television appearance.
Castro last words should have been to boycott all those MCDonalds that will soon pop up on every city streets in Cuba.
Hey guys, just wanting to share my personal and honest opinion of Fidel Castro- with confidence the most famous political figure in this era. Fidel Castro is a real political power bomb! -He’s a man we can all trust on,… if he tells you NO, there’s no need for further discussion because he’s simply not gonna change his mind. As simple as that. Kudos to Fidel and all his true followers,… let’s all hope and pray for his full recovery: the day Fidel leaves us,… it will be a huge lost to human society, similar to the day when Ernesto “Che” Guevarra departed.
Viva Fidel—– Que VIVA!!!
We need a Fidel in Belize.
Its just a matter of time Earl! Our local Fidel is being groomed!
VIVA FIDEL! Afuera with american imperialism !!!
are you all crazy, fidel is a communist, for real. he controls everyone and everything in cuba. why do you think his people take a chance leaving the country on a raft? come on they are scared and are willing to die than stay there. at least the ones that are brave.
Only moronic people praise Fidel and the way his regime has literally taken a dump on the cuban people.
Ironically the same people who praise Fidel, are the same ones who like to cry when Police use excessive force…Well imagine that multiplied by a hundred.
No freedom of nothing. You are a slave of the state. Imagine not being able to travel anywhere in the world.
Imagine not being able to use something as basic as the internet to put up your moronic commie comments.
IF THINGS ARE SO GOOD IN CUBA CAN YOU COMMIES PLEASE TELL ME WHY IS IT THAT THE JIMMIE RIGGED TRUCK-BOAT-BATHTUBS ALWAYS GO FROM CUBA TO THE REST OF THE WORLD BUT YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYONE ELSE JIMMIE RIG A SIMILAR CRAFT AND TAKE FOR CUBA…
Capitalism is the best system in the world.It is not perfect,but I would rather live under capitalism than any other system.That is why America is the greatest country in the world. People in Cuba are not free.
Lisa, have you looked at the crime rate in Cuba? Our leaders fail to control crime. They are lost.
I do not agree with Fidel’s Communistic ideology; however i must give him props for staying the course and sticking with his beliefs, with extreme pressures from the capitalist system notwithstanding.
Was friends with a doctor he sent to belize, well Griga to be specific, who showed me a picture of Fidel hanging on the wall and said in the most convincing of ways; that is HIS god !!! Reason numero uno, why I am not too cool with Fidel.
On the other side though, please be informed that Cuba has the best medical/ healthcare and educational system in the western hemisphere , if not in the entire world.
For sure what they do NOT have is this foolishness we see taking place on the south side of Belize. That is the first part of Fidel that i would want for the Jewel.
I agree Louisville Ky.
Marx said that CAPITALISM contains the seeds to it’s own destruction. LOOK AT AMERICA NOW!!! There must be a mix of Communism and Capitalism for a successful society.
Cuba has the best/medical healthcare and educational system in the western hemisphere, if not in the entire world?????!!!!!!
HOGWASH!
Don’t let Michael Moore fool you.
Valid remarks Earl Grey! Belize needs a strong leader who will not be afraid to stand up for what is right!
Personally, I think Taiwan has the best health care system in the world. Ever heard of their Smart cards … brilliant. Western hemisphere? I’d say Germany. They care so much about your well being, your insurance covers a massage! And how about Switzerland? They even give fathers maternal leave!
To all the Fidel and Communism loving folks above, do you realize that living in Cuba or any other communist society, you wouldn’t be so privileged to be typing away on an online news forum debating politics etc.?
How would you like to be denied the privilege of blurting whatever is your mind with no consequence. To call your leader an idiot, etc.? Bet you wouldn’t like that, now, would you?
Tyadia…… for everything you (WE ALL) do……. there is a CONSEQUENCE.
Cuba is so great that is the reason Cubans are risking their lives to reach America. In America you could born poor and die rich.You could born black and become President. In many countries you could dream,but in America dreams come true. A quote from Don King ” Only in America”
Well of course, Earl Grey. But these consequences are much more severe in Communist countries than in democracies.
I haven’t heard of anyone being imprisoned in Belize lately for speaking out publicly against the Dean Barrow administration.
I don’t expect any severe repercussions for the comments I post on this site. I have no fear of typing anything on here. Now in Cuba, I’d be much more cautious.
I enjoy my freedom in a democracy.
And YOU certainly seem to be enjoying it too and clearly, you take it for granted.
Well Tyadia……. HOW DO YOU PROPOSE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM???? We need some COMMUNISIM / SOCIALISM………. OR CAPITALISM will EXPLOIT the working class and continue to screw the poor. There must be a mix of CAPITALISM and COMMUNISM…….. every country has its own formula. OBAMA REALIZES THAT TOO.
If we did have a communist state do you think we would have the privilege of expressing our views and openly criticising the government? Even what you hear through channel 5 would be controlled. One thing I will say of both our current government and the opposition is that freedom of speech has been allowed no matter how harsh. If you speak to the people about life in Cuba, they whisper their fears. Lets not glamorise “communism”. If it was so wonderful why is it that almost all of Florida long for the day to see their families in Cuba and for Fidel to die?
What I do admire about Cuba and its very close to my heart is that all children are cared for. Cuba like Belize is a poor country. Yet not a single child is without a school or a teacher, not a single child is without medical attention (including dental care), or social security and not a single Cuban child lives without the love and support of his fellow Cubans. In other words every single child starts at a level playing field in terms of their development, and the notion that it takes a village to raise a child is very present.
Perhaps pertinent to current affairs in Belize is that Police officers who find children loitering in the streets or begging from tourists frequently intervened and tried to find their parents. If a child was found bothering tourists more than once, police frequently fined the child’s parents. In addition, during their summer break, students are encouraged to enlist for up to a week of “volunteer labour” at work camps in rural areas (between the age of 13-18). What a brilliant idea? I would argue however that it should be a bit longer than a week. I would go as far as up to a fortnight, and volunteering in their local communities. As it is a way of initiating strong work ethics from a very early age and instilling values. It is also a way of them earning their keep, paying society (tax payers) back for looking after them.
If Cuba has managed this with limited resources due to the pressure from the US, and the international embargo, what is the reasons for us not managing to do something similar?
And if I may add…………… EVEN THE COMMUNIST CHINESE are adapting some form of CAPITALISM. See what I mean?????
Charlotte Y. Martin , thanks for concurring and elaborating on the social conscience of the Cuban revolution. As for communism and the heavy handed dictatorship of Fidel, I denounce that in the most pronounced way !!. By the same token ,i am not so one tracked as to not being able to give credit where credit is due.
At least, their young BLACK men are not MURDERING each other, along with their innocent babies with high powered automatic weapons on the streets of La Havana !!!
Maybe its only me but if i had a choice between an aging Dictator and the kind of viciousness as is the order of the day on the south side of the city with no pity ????……….Gimme the Dictator. Who bex…….bex !!!
Yes Earl Grey, China and even Vietnam have been developing a capitalist ECONOMY. Ideaology, still very much communist.
But, how does that support your argument that Communism is better than Capitalism????
I don’t believe that UNFETTERED CAPITALISM needs a COMMUNIST overhaul. I believe that capitalism needs regulation of course, and adapting socialist ideals is a good thing. Something that as you noted, Obama has supported.
You erroneously put communism and socialism side by side. DIFFERENT SYSTEMS.
Tyadia……. Read carefully……. I said that there has to be a MIX OF BOTH CAPITALISM AND COMMUNISM. and that each country has it’s own formula. THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE FORMULA FOR BELIZE?????
I don’t think the question lies in our system of governance. I think we have it right. We have a capitalist democracy.
The problem with Belize is corruption, lack of education, ignorance, crisis level of mistrust in ever segment of society from the family up to government and a lack of creativity and a sense of volunteerism and philanthropy. Everyone is all ME ME ME. and tends to look at things at a very micro level.
There is no need to change our political system.