I was able to follow the discussions of the Caribbean leaders, represented at the highest level in the meeting in Santiago de Cuba, capital of the former Oriente province and cradle of the Revolution. In a few days, the 50th anniversary of that triumph of January 1, 1959 will be commemorated.
The Honorary Order of the Caribbean Community is an immense and undeserved honor, for which I am infinitely grateful.
All the leaders expressed their ideas with brilliant arguments. Knowledge of historic, economic and political issues and sincerity and courage could be perceived in them.
I humbly receive the noble idea of the decoration and I will keep it in my mind together with the idea of Martí that “The free Antilles will save the independence of Our America.”
Fidel Castro Ruz
December 9, 2008
1:25 p.m.