By: Sydney Umstead, News Editor
On Sept. 23, the Western New York Peace Center and Latin American Solidarity Committee hosted the “First-Hand Views of Cuba and the Embargo” with speaker Dr. Richard Reitsma, associate professor of Spanish and the faculty associate dean of Inclusion and Engagement.
Kaitlin O’Meara and James Neely, who attended the student trip to Cuba alongside Dr. Reitsma, were also in attendance to discuss their experiences in Cuba and what stood out to them.
The trip was part of a class taught by Dr. Reitsma which touched on themes in Cuban cinema. Neely stated that the course made it possible to see “Cuba through the eyes of Cubans.” Many of these films are available to be streamed through the Canisius library.
While in Cuba, the group met with many people from the area such as a local doctor, students, a musician, an artist and an economist. They stayed in the capital, Havana, but also visited other cities like Santa Clara, Regla and Trinidad.
The group saw an old sugarcane press from Cuba’s former slave plantations that had been manufactured in Buffalo. Many of the presses have been stripped down or have completely deteriorated; however, this one remains in working condition.
At the end, there was a discussion of the current issues with establishing legitimacy amongst the Cuban government as the new generation demands more change than reiterating the evolution revolution started by Fidel Castro, their former president.
Part of the issue prevailing in Cuba is the unification of the currency that took place during COVID. The pandemic in itself already brought tough times for tourism rates, which contributed extensively to the economy, as highlighted in the presentation. Certainly, the currency unification made matters worse; the CUP currency had been combined with the USD, rendering the dollar almost invaluable.
Dr. Reitsma and the other members of the group all traveled with extra items in their luggage such as medical supplies and first-aid kits in order to provide any materials possible to the people of Cuba.
Donation baskets for humanitarian aid campaigns by Pastors For Peace were put out during the talk. These organizations include “Cuba Kids Count Too,” and “Let Cuba Live: Bread For Our Neighbors.”
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