The Revolutionary Communist Group and Rock around the Blockade send our solidarity to the people of Cuba in the face of the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that shook the eastern part of the island on 10 November. This comes on the heels of Hurricane Rafael, which landed in eastern Cuba on 6 November, and Hurricane Oscar on 20 October, which killed eight people. October also saw a major electricity grid failure that plunged millions into darkness.
We pay tribute to the Cuban people's resilience and determination in the face of these natural disasters, which have caused widespread destruction and disruption to daily life, with more than 283,000 evacuated from their homes in advance of Hurricane Rafael. Thanks to the swift response of Cuba’s well-organised and community-led disaster response system, no one was reported dead or missing following the latest hurricane and the earthquake.
However, the economic impact of these disasters is all the more severe due to the crippling effects of the more than six-decade-long US blockade, which was condemned by the overwhelming majority of countries at the United Nations General Assembly on 30 October. For the 32nd consecutive time, the UNGA adopted a resolution ‘the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba’. Only the United States and Israel voted against this motion, and only Moldova abstained. This inhumane and illegal policy has restricted Cuba's access to vital resources, including medical supplies, food, and construction materials, hindering the country's ability to recover from these disasters.
The blockade is a form of economic warfare, designed to strangle the Cuban Revolution and undermine the island's sovereignty. But the Cuban people have consistently shown their determination to resist and overcome this aggression, building a socialist society that prioritises the needs of its people, despite the enormous challenges posed by US imperialism.
We demand that the US government immediately lifts the blockade and ends its economic, financial, and commercial embargo on Cuba. We call on the British government to enforce blocking legislation to punish British banks and financial institutions which are illegally complying with US sanctions on Cuba.
As the Cuban people work to rebuild and recover, we pledge our solidarity and support in their efforts. We recognise that the Cuban Revolution is an inspiration to people around the world fighting against oppression and exploitation.
Long live the Cuban Revolution! Long live the Cuban people!