Humanism is also the theme that former Foreign Minister Assad Shoman mentioned. He presently lives in Cuba and, like Musa, has been an admirer of Castro since the 70's. Speaking with us today from Havana, he told us that Humanism and Solidarity define Castro's legacy:...
Assad Shoman, former Foreign Minister
"Fidel was and is the best friend that humanity ever had, or is ever likely to have. And to expand on that a bit, I mean he was an example of what solidarity means, to feel responsible for people anywhere on the planet who are suffering from hunger, ignorance, disease or oppression. And to feel a duty to do what you can to help them."
"And the amazing thing in my mind, Jules, (you say to put it it in context, noh?) is that all this has been done while Cuba has suffered form an illegal and genocidal blockade from the mightiest country ever."
"And remember that one of the first acts of the revolution was to make Cuba the first country in the Americas free from illiteracy. And then, of course, as you know the education revolution, which has brought free education as well as free health to all Cubans at all levels."
Jules Vasquez, 7News
"While Belize receives assistance and donations from all over the world, it is always with a quid pro quo, with Cuba a quid pro quo was never involved because Cuba never asked us to vote for them at the UN."
Assad Shoman, former Foreign Minister
"Certainly I can speak for what happened to Belize and how we got Cuba's support for Independence, right? I was there, and I was part of it. And I've been watching other things along the way. And I can assure you that never, never did the Cubans ever ask us to, to change any policy, to do anything that they wanted, never asked for anything. Back then, a lot of people felt that you know there's an interest in this and they want to make us communist, or whatever. There was never any attempt, and still is and there would never be from the kind of Cuba that Fidel created, to get something out of us."
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