Sam Macartney reports on Aleida Guevara’s visit to Scotland: On Saturday 11 November 2017 I had the great pleasure and honour to speak on behalf of UNISON Scotland at the STUC as one of the speakers at Aleida’s speaking tour and her visit to Scotland.
The speaking tour is to commemorate Aleida’s father Che and the leading role he played in the Cuban Revolution, it was incredibly moving and informative to listen and understand the Cuba of today and the continued socialist commitment that the Cuban people continue to live and progress throughout the world.
Aleida spoke of her work within the Cuban health service and the health service’s commitment to helping many countries throughout the world who need medical help and assistance, you can really understand this commitment when you realise that the Bolivian who shot Aleida’s father received cataract treatment from the Cuban health service and their excellent policy of helping poor people all over the world with sight problems, that is real socialist commitment in action.
Aleida also spoke of her work in Angola and the heartfelt choices she was forced to make because of limited drug and medical supplies during the recent Ebola outbreak, Aleida spoke very passionately and was clearly very upset when she explained to the comrades present of the difficult choice she was forced to make regarding the lives of three young children i.e. which was the strongest and had the greatest chance of survival with the few drugs she was able to administer, the decision she was forced to make will haunt her for the rest of her life.
Aleida spoke of her father and mother and the influence they both had in her life, but I would wish to highlight the fantastic work that Aleida Guevara carries on doing day after day tirelessly on behalf of the Cuban people and their ongoing revolution.
As I stated it was a real honour to speak at this event but not just that, it was a real honour to meet Aleida as I cannot speak highly enough about this person and her commitment to socialism, her father’s legacy, as Cuba continues to fight the tyrant which is Trump’s America the Trade Union Movement must again express in deeds and actions its ongoing commitment to the Cuban people and their socialist revolution.
VIVA Cuba
Sam Macartney
UNISON Scotland International Committee
(Chair Person)
See here for a report on Aleida’s last visit to Scotland in 2012