Irma González's visit to Nassau
During the first week of October 2006, the Cuban Embassy in the Bahamas invited Miss Irma González, daughter of René González, to Nassau in order to work along with our group in our effort to raise Bahamian awareness on the case of the Cuban Five.
Monday, October 2nd
Irma arrived on Monday October 2nd at 1:30pm at which time she was welcomed to the Bahamas by Cuban Ambassador Felix Wilson and co-chairman of BFC5, Alexandrio Morley. A brief press statement was made to the Tribune newspaper outlining the purpose of her visit.
Later, at 6:00pm, there was a reception at the Cuban Embassy which was attended by various members of the local Cuban community and several members of BFC5. Irma took the opportunity to remind her countrymen and women in the Bahamas of the details surrounding the case of the five and the importance of them supporting the local Bahamian solidarity movement. A point that was reiterated in several short addresses by BFC5 Chairman Errington Watkins and Secretary Tamico Gilbert.
Following the reception, Miss González, Ambassador Wilson and Mr. Gilbert took part in a television interview hosted by an independent production company for a show entitled "Controversy". The interview topics ranged from the Cuban Five, to the Bahamas' relationship with Cuba, to the successes of the Cuban revolution.
Tuesday, October 3rd
On Tuesday, the Tribune's article was published on the front page, drawing national attention to Irma's visit and the effort of BFC5 to bring attention to the Cuban Five.
At 10:00am on the same day, Ambassador Wilson accompanied Irma to the television studios of Island FM/Cable 12, one of the country's two leading producers of Bahamian nightly televised news. It was there that they taped an interview outlining again the purposes of Irma's visit and reiterating the details of the grave injustice facing the five Cuban heroes.
From there, Irma and Mr. Wilson were joined by BFC5 Chairman, Errington Watkins as they went to a live broadcast of Nassau's leading daytime radio talk show "Issues of the Day" on Love97. This talk show has a wide and varied listening audience and was also globally audible via the station's internet site. The questions came from a variety of angles and, somewhat unfortunately, there seemed to be a preponderance of questions regarding the affairs of Cuban intelligence and whether such intelligence extended to gathering here in the Bahamas. Despite Ambassador Wilson's efforts to keep callers on the specific issue of the Cuban 5, it turned out that this theme was carried on into a follow-up article which appeared the next day in the daily 'Bahama Journal' newspaper put out by the same Jones&Co. media group.
Following the talk show, Mr. Watkins invited Irma and Mr.Wilson to lunch over which the day's events and future plans were discussd.
Later that evening at 6:00pm, a group of Ghanians currently living in the Bahamas and schooled in Cuba, were invited to a reception at the Cuban Embassy. Irma was introduced to this group, that also included some Cubans that were not present the night before, and once again the mission and purpose of the solidarity movement and BFC5 were outlined.
Our contact list was expanding !
Wednesday, October 4th
At 11:00am on Wednesday morning, Irma was introduced to several Bahamian Members of Parliament who were briefed about the purpose of her visit and the situation as it regards the five. The current administration has overseen the opening of a Bahamian Embassy in Cuba and has voiced its intent to have a "good diplomatic relationship" with Cuba. This has been met with some degree of right-wing criticism, but to the Bahamian Friends of the Cuban Five, this illustrates that our current government appreciates the inherent good sense in maintaining relationships with our western neighbour.
At 3:30pm, BFC5 Secretary, Tamico Gilbert joined Cuban Ambassador Wilson and Irma González on a radio talk show hosted by "Lady" Russell which was broadcast on 1540AM, a station that covers the entire Bahamas and that can be heard in both South Florida and Cuba. Once again the topics discussed were varied and ranged from Cuba's involvement in the fight against apartheid, to the case of the five, to the reason for a local Bahamian solidarity group. It must be said that the callers to "Lady" Russell's show seemed more aware of the Cuban Five and more knowledgeable of the historic relationship between our two countries.
Later, at 7:30pm, Irma delivered an address at the College of the Bahamas in front of a group of around 35 students largely from Felix Bethel's (BFC5) class. Her address was very well received and was targeted towards young people. They seemed to all relate to this young lady, who was their own age, and a variety of well poised questions were directed at Irma, allowing for an informative exchange. Several journalists covered the forum and a well written article appeared in the next day's Tribune newspaper.
Lastly, at approximately 10pm Wednesday evening, Ambassador Wilson and the Cuban Embassy staff had arranged for a lovely cocktail reception at the Flamingo Latin Lounge on Bay Street. Members of BFC5 along with some of the COB students, "Lady" Russell, local Cubans and others joined with Irma for an evening of music, conversation, dancing and, of course, great Cuban cuisine.
The rest of the week was less busy, as we were content that we had done a great job in garnering significant media exposure.
Irma González and her diplomatic escort both left on Friday October 6th for Jamaica. We wish them well and thank them both for visiting. We will continue to lend ourselves as brothers and sisters to the Cuban people and to the Cuban Five to struggle for the freedom of the Cuban Five.
Monday, October 2nd
Irma arrived on Monday October 2nd at 1:30pm at which time she was welcomed to the Bahamas by Cuban Ambassador Felix Wilson and co-chairman of BFC5, Alexandrio Morley. A brief press statement was made to the Tribune newspaper outlining the purpose of her visit.
Later, at 6:00pm, there was a reception at the Cuban Embassy which was attended by various members of the local Cuban community and several members of BFC5. Irma took the opportunity to remind her countrymen and women in the Bahamas of the details surrounding the case of the five and the importance of them supporting the local Bahamian solidarity movement. A point that was reiterated in several short addresses by BFC5 Chairman Errington Watkins and Secretary Tamico Gilbert.Following the reception, Miss González, Ambassador Wilson and Mr. Gilbert took part in a television interview hosted by an independent production company for a show entitled "Controversy". The interview topics ranged from the Cuban Five, to the Bahamas' relationship with Cuba, to the successes of the Cuban revolution.
Tuesday, October 3rd
On Tuesday, the Tribune's article was published on the front page, drawing national attention to Irma's visit and the effort of BFC5 to bring attention to the Cuban Five.
At 10:00am on the same day, Ambassador Wilson accompanied Irma to the television studios of Island FM/Cable 12, one of the country's two leading producers of Bahamian nightly televised news. It was there that they taped an interview outlining again the purposes of Irma's visit and reiterating the details of the grave injustice facing the five Cuban heroes.
From there, Irma and Mr. Wilson were joined by BFC5 Chairman, Errington Watkins as they went to a live broadcast of Nassau's leading daytime radio talk show "Issues of the Day" on Love97. This talk show has a wide and varied listening audience and was also globally audible via the station's internet site. The questions came from a variety of angles and, somewhat unfortunately, there seemed to be a preponderance of questions regarding the affairs of Cuban intelligence and whether such intelligence extended to gathering here in the Bahamas. Despite Ambassador Wilson's efforts to keep callers on the specific issue of the Cuban 5, it turned out that this theme was carried on into a follow-up article which appeared the next day in the daily 'Bahama Journal' newspaper put out by the same Jones&Co. media group.
Following the talk show, Mr. Watkins invited Irma and Mr.Wilson to lunch over which the day's events and future plans were discussd.
Later that evening at 6:00pm, a group of Ghanians currently living in the Bahamas and schooled in Cuba, were invited to a reception at the Cuban Embassy. Irma was introduced to this group, that also included some Cubans that were not present the night before, and once again the mission and purpose of the solidarity movement and BFC5 were outlined.
Our contact list was expanding !
Wednesday, October 4th
At 11:00am on Wednesday morning, Irma was introduced to several Bahamian Members of Parliament who were briefed about the purpose of her visit and the situation as it regards the five. The current administration has overseen the opening of a Bahamian Embassy in Cuba and has voiced its intent to have a "good diplomatic relationship" with Cuba. This has been met with some degree of right-wing criticism, but to the Bahamian Friends of the Cuban Five, this illustrates that our current government appreciates the inherent good sense in maintaining relationships with our western neighbour.
At 3:30pm, BFC5 Secretary, Tamico Gilbert joined Cuban Ambassador Wilson and Irma González on a radio talk show hosted by "Lady" Russell which was broadcast on 1540AM, a station that covers the entire Bahamas and that can be heard in both South Florida and Cuba. Once again the topics discussed were varied and ranged from Cuba's involvement in the fight against apartheid, to the case of the five, to the reason for a local Bahamian solidarity group. It must be said that the callers to "Lady" Russell's show seemed more aware of the Cuban Five and more knowledgeable of the historic relationship between our two countries.
Later, at 7:30pm, Irma delivered an address at the College of the Bahamas in front of a group of around 35 students largely from Felix Bethel's (BFC5) class. Her address was very well received and was targeted towards young people. They seemed to all relate to this young lady, who was their own age, and a variety of well poised questions were directed at Irma, allowing for an informative exchange. Several journalists covered the forum and a well written article appeared in the next day's Tribune newspaper.
Lastly, at approximately 10pm Wednesday evening, Ambassador Wilson and the Cuban Embassy staff had arranged for a lovely cocktail reception at the Flamingo Latin Lounge on Bay Street. Members of BFC5 along with some of the COB students, "Lady" Russell, local Cubans and others joined with Irma for an evening of music, conversation, dancing and, of course, great Cuban cuisine.
The rest of the week was less busy, as we were content that we had done a great job in garnering significant media exposure.
Irma González and her diplomatic escort both left on Friday October 6th for Jamaica. We wish them well and thank them both for visiting. We will continue to lend ourselves as brothers and sisters to the Cuban people and to the Cuban Five to struggle for the freedom of the Cuban Five.
posted by teekoe at 6:57 AM
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