Greeting the Friends of Solidarity and local Cubans the day before, Ambassador Carina Soto said that Antonio and Ramón represent the spirit of unity and resistance that “is the same spirit of Cuba and that will accompany us in this exchange.”
Labañino explained that this visit was a reaction to the XI. International Meetings of the Latin American Cooperative Network, an event that brings together co-operative members, businessmen, MSMEs, personalities and academics from different countries with the common goal of growing together.
For the vice-president of the National Association of Economists, “the cooperative formula needs to be examined much more closely because it is a humane and supportive way of dealing with the problems that the world suffers from.”
Regarding the Cuban economy, he said that although it is going through a difficult period like most nations, it is making progress, especially in the implementation of the 43 measures to strengthen the socialist state enterprise under the impact of the economic, commercial and financial situation Blockade by the United States.
“Our solution is to thrive and struggle with the deadlock that is here and will be,” he said, implying that in that sense co-operativeism is a way of countering the restrictions imposed by these hostile policies.
Another time he referred to the behavior of tourism in the largest of the Antilles and the aspirations to reach three million visitors by the end of this year; on mutual benefit and aid agreements with Russia, as well as relations with other nations such as China and Vietnam.
He also touched on the link between the different forms of economic actors, namely the socialist state enterprise, cooperatives and MSMEs, which he believes are bearing some fruit.
The economist explained that they are working on a macroeconomic stabilization plan, import substitution, the use of science, technology and innovation in technological processes, while making important investments in agriculture and clean energy.
These are programs, he said, that are being promoted in the midst of difficulties. The most important thing, he stressed, is the blockade, which, among other things, does not allow Cuba to use the dollar for international transactions or conduct business.
It was interesting and emotional for those present at diplomatic headquarters to also listen to Antonio Guerrero, who was serving a lengthy sentence in US prisons on counter-terrorism charges along with Ramón Labañino, Gerardo Hernández, Fernando González and René González.
The Dominican Republic, he said, is very close to us through Generalissimo Máximo Gómez and his people, we met Dominicans in prison, my mother was here and I felt the solidarity very close, he commented.
Guerrero told of the Dominican who had lent him a small radio in prison, where on Sundays he listened to the program “La luz en lo oscuro” created for the Five to keep up to date with Cuban reality and closer to be with the family. the music, in short, from his country.
Reflecting on his years in prison, he assured that “I never felt the slightest thought that I was wasting my time”, recalling Che, José Martí, the historical leader of the revolution, Fidel Castro, thanking every gesture of affection and these people who love and believe in Cuba.”
During an evening that lasted almost three hours, Roberto Payano, President of the Dominican Solidarity Campaign with Cuba, thanked both for their presence and presented them with a painting of the five anti-terrorist patriots together.
The participants exchanged questions with Antonio and Ramón, talking among other things about solidarity, the struggle of the Dominican friends of Cuba for the return of the Five to their country and Fidel Castro’s idea to build the Máximo Gómez Polytechnic in the city of Bani confirm sincere friendship.
jf/mpv