CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Statements of Parents of Surinamese students in Cuba against the economic, commercial and financial blockade of America against Cuba

SURINAME, October 10, 2008. We, the parents of Surinamese students in Cuba, support the campaigns of many countries in the world aimed at ending the US blockade against Cuba.

This blockade is a harsh discrepancy with the millennium goals which have been adopted in the United Nations and whereby all member states promised to realize the goals by the year 2015 among which: ‘eradicate extreme poverty and hunger’; and ‘working towards a global partnership for development’.

This blockade is the longest and most unscrupulous ever in history. It is an economic war that can be qualified as an act of genocide. Seven of each ten Cubans were born and are still living under this blockade.
The financial /economic damage that the Cuban population suffers is unheard of, leave alone the social damage.

Third World countries may not sell products to Cuba if these products consist of more than 10 percent of ingredients originating from the US. The other way around these Third World countries may not export to the US if the products contain raw materials from Cuba.

Even when tourists want to visit Cuba they are prevented from doing so with ostensible reasons and because of this Cuba looses billions of dollars in revenues.
Presently almost 60 students of Surinamese origin are in Cuba, they will specialize in several occupations which will only be of benefit to our country. But they also experience the blockade of America. For example they can not email or call us freely, because America is controlling even that.

The people in Cuba just like us have the need for self development, development of their own talents, creativity, achievements, healthy rivalry and progress, but they are prevented from this by this inhumane blockade.

We as parents must and shall support the Cubans in their fight to end the blockade of the Americans. We may be a small group with a small voice, but all voices count. We want to join the rank of Caricom member states, the NAM and the millions of other people around the world who call for the end of the blockade now.

With this brief statement, I on behalf of the parents of children studying in Cuba want to express solidarity with Cuba and the Cuban people in their sincere fight for a dignified life. We stand up and unconditionally denounce injustice done to another people.

“You can not continue to harass in this way a person in his or hers existence!!!”

On behalf of the parents of students in Cuba,
Gloria Christopher (Coordinator)