Fidel Castro RIP – Tributes by Gerry Adams in Belfast and at Free Derry Wall

FIDEL CASTRO’S PASSING was marked within hours on Saturday by Sinn Féin activists in Belfast and Derry.

In Belfast, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD laid flowers at the Bobby Sands mural on the Falls Road in recognition of the Cuban revolutionary icon’s vigorous and outspoken support for the H-Blocks Hunger Strikers in 1980s.

● Revolutionary icons Fidel, Che Guevara and Bobby Sands honoured after the Cuban leader’s passing (Photo: Peadar Whelan)

Gerry Adams said:

“On Behalf of Sinn Féin, I extend condolences and solidarity to President Raul Castro, to Fidel Castro’s family and the Cuban people on the sad news of his death.

“Fidel was a global leader, part of the revolution that liberated Cuba. He lived long enough to see the vindication of the sacrifices of his people when President Obama commenced the process of normalising relations between the USA and Cuba.

“Much more needs to be done. The blockade should be totally lifted,” he said.

Earlier this year, in a historic step toward lifting the blockade on Cuba, the United States abstained in the United Nations General Assembly vote unanimously calling for the end of the Cold War measure for the 25th consecutive year.

Only two countries, the United States and Israel, abstained from the vote, while 191 of the 193 member states in the Assembly voted in favour of the resolution. Last year, 191 states voted in favour of the resolution. Only the United States and Israel voted against it.

Cuba says that the blockade has cost the island nation US$4.7billion in the past year in lost potential export revenue and trade and financial transactions and a massive US$753.7billion over the past half century.

US President Obama has acknowledged that the blockade is “hurting the Cuban people”.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams added on Saturday:

“I have good memories of meeting with Fidel. 

“He was very conversant with Irish history and good friend to the Irish people and an admirer of our struggle, especially the Hunger Strikers of 1981.”

Separately, Gerry Adams said that, during a Sinn Féin delegation’s six-hour meeting with Fidel in Cuba in 2001 the iconic world leader was “very friendly, very down to earth, pleasant and funny”.

Fidel “just mopped up” information about Ireland, Gerry Adams said, adding:

“We raised with him human rights issues and the issues of political prisoners and dissidents. We raised all of those issues with him.”

In Derry City on Saturday, the Cuban national flag was raised at Free Derry Wall by Sinn Féin members.

Sinn Féin Councillor Colly Kelly said:

“It was important that, following the death of Fidel Castro, this mark of respect was carried out at Free Derry Wall.

“The people of Derry have always had a great affinity for the people of Cuba and places like Palestine, the Basque Country and South Africa.”

◼︎ The Cuban Embassy is opening a Book of Condolences “in honour of the memory of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz” at the Embassy of Cuba, 32B Westland Square, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, every day from 28 November to 4 December from 9am to 6pm.