In the 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered Cuba and he claimed the land for Spain. In 1762, Havana was taken over by the British and by 1763 it was returned to Spain in accordance with the Treaty of Paris and Spanish rule remained until 1898 when the US forced the Spanish to retreat and Cuba was handed over to the US. During these years there was a 10 year war of Independence, where Spain promised reform and many other promises that were never kept. Though approached for Slaves to supply Europe and the US, Cuba refused to release any of its people. Slavery was finally abolished in 1886.
By 1902 Cuba was independent once again but they were under the protection of the US and this gave the USA the rights to intervene and interfere in Cuban affairs. and was taken over by Spain, the US really wanted a piece of Cuba, it had beautiful beaches, many natural resources, it was an agriculturally sound country and could really self sustain it's inhabitants with freshly grown fruit, sugar cane, livestock. A paradise the warm weather year round and it's location was so close to the United States. The ruler that was now put into place Thomas Estrada Palma, he ruled until 1906 when another rebellion ensued and he resigned, leaving Cuba once again in the hands of the United States. In 1909, Another ruler was put into place, Jose Miguel Gomez, under the watchful eye of the US, be he soon became corrupt and once again, threw the Cuban people into turmoil. In 1924 a new President emerged, his name was Gerardo Mechado, who was a brutal leader and lead a very unforgiving dictatorship in Cuba, forcing the people basically into slave labor to survive. In 1925 a communist party began to emerge and by 1933, Mechado was overthrown and by 1934 the US releases it's hold on Cuba but ensures that there are fair tariffs for Cuba on all it's cane sugar export.
More political unrest settled into Cuba and in 1959 Fidel Castro, his brother Raul and Che Quevera lead a successful revolution against Sargent Batista, who had been ruling Cuba since 1934 on and off, Fidel became president and ruled Cuba until 2007, after a severe illness, he steps down and makes his brother Raul President. Fidel just made his first public appearance in a very long while, in 2013. He is still remarkably sharp and motivated at age 87!
In 1965 Che Guevara left Cuba to form a revolution in Congo-Kinshasa which was unsuccessful, then later to Bolivia, where with the help of an informant the CIA and Bolivian forces, he was executed. This was a real hardship for the Cuban people, Che was a hero to them and this was such a devastation. Che did many good things while in power in Cuba, he believed in the people and instituted many good things in Cuba like a country wide Literacy campaign and because of his charisma and world travel, he became a diplomat on behalf of Cuban Socialism.
The Soviet Union was the biggest supplier and friend of Cuba until the collapse in 1991. This left the Cuban people crippled, without rations that they depended on, as their wages could not sustain them. Canada was one of the first countries to reach out to aid Cuba in this time and have become a great friend of Cuba.
In 2001 the devastation of Hurricane Michelle on Cuba, left many Cuban's without anything. The US aids the Cuban people by importing food for the first time in 40 years. In 2006 once again a hurricane (Dennis) devastates Cuba and leaves the people in peril and 16 dead. In 2008 two tropical storms, Hurricane, Gustav and Ike, leave the worst devastation in Cuban history left over 200,000 Cuban people without homes and crops devastated.
Canada has a long standing trade and investment relationship with Cuba. We currently have 2 oil plants in Cuba, we have trade, tourism, investments and ongoing relationships with Cuba that bring in millions of dollars to their economy every year. We as Canadians are loved in Cuba because we are kind, generous and supportive to the people. Every year our relationship strengthens and creates more opportunities for the Cuban people in Agriculture, Small Businesses, Human Relations and Tourism.
As of 2008 the people of Cuba are allowed to own personal Cell phones and Computers, giving them access to friends and family abroad and semi-independence. They can access the internet in very limited areas and connections. Cuba still does not allow any devices that have mapping or satellite features. They, as of 2012, have been able to own land, buy and sell it for the first time in 50 years. The restrictions on travel of Cuban relatives in the US visiting Cuba have been lifted as has the restrictions on aid from their families in the US.
Thank you to the BBC News, Cuba Wikipedia, Canadian Government Websites for Dates and information on the history of Cuba.
No comments:
Post a Comment