MIRAMAR, HAVANA, CUBA- On Saturday, October 20th 2018 the Ambassador of Grenada to Cuba, Her Excellency Claris Charles hosted an activity to honour the twenty four (24) Cubans who died on October 25th 1983.
Those present included persons who worked on the Maurice Bishop International Airport as well as the families and friends of those who lost their lives.
The Ambassador took the opportunity to thank Cuba for all that it has done for Grenada over the many years of Solidarity and friendship and expressed deep regret for the loss of so many lives.
A plaque was presented to Armando Quintana, the son of Ramon Quintana, who died while doing voluntary work at the Mt. Hartman Quarry preparing material for the airport on January 17th, 1982. While former First Secretary of the Cuban Embassy in Grenada during the Revolution, Gaston Diaz presented Ambassador Charles with two books on Maurice Bishop.
Three documentaries were shown which depicted (a) the construction stage of the airport in 1982/83 and as it is today, (b) a short film “Grenada, take off from a dream” by Rigoberto López Pego, (c) the new “Martyrs Monument” which was officially opened last October 25th at the old site of the workers’ barracks at the Maurice Bishop International Airport.
Grenadian students from the Medical School in Havana sang patriotic songs followed by entertainment by the Havana Steel Orchestra.
Many of those present shared their experiences of the time spent working in Grenada and expressed their desire to visit again.
It was a very rewarding day having brought workers together who had not seen each other for many years. There were tears of joy accompanied by the wish that this will be a yearly affair.
The Ambassador thanks all those who helped to make this event a success including our staff and the past workers at the Cuban Embassy in Grenada during the revolution.
