Hartley Neita

Had he not resigned this week, next year would have been the 50th anniversary of Fidel Castro's role as leader of the Cuban government and people.

His decision to step down was expected. He had been away from the public eye for almost two years following an operation and had ceded power to his brother Raul.

He is still alive and kicking. Yet the eulogies have begun.

Under his leadership, Cuba has achieved more positives during his 50 years at the helm, than has Jamaica. Shortly after getting rid of dictator Fulgencio Batista, he launched a literacy programme. Today, his country is not only fully literate but most Cubans speak several languages. We, too, speak many - various corruptions of English (a patois, Rastafarian and dancehall), none of which can truly be understood beyond our sea coast. We launched a literacy programme, which is still a-borning.

For many years, every main town in Cuba has had a university. It is only in the past few years that we have increased our own which was started in the 1940s. They have more trained doctors than we can only dream of for here. They have even trained many of our doctors. And they are first class. They also sent doctors to help man our hospitals and we chased them away.

promises

They sent troops to get rid of South Africa's apartheid army from Angola. We promised to send troops over and over. And except for a peace-keeping police team, our promises were just words.

They have quietly built a tourist industry which has been thriving without American visitors. We lost that battle.

They have Chevrolets, Buicks, Pontiacs, Studebakers, Lincolns and other American cars made before 1950 and which are in immaculate condition today,

Education is free. Not just tuition, but all aspects of education. We are just about to return to free tuition.

Health care is free. We are about to introduce this here.

There are mini-stadiums in every main town. We are now beginning to enjoy this facility in communities in the Corporate Area and in one or two rural areas. And like us, their sportsmen and women have been world beaters.

They have built mini dams for us and constructed schools as gifts. They have done these things because, despite the United States, they believe they are part of the world community and the population of the world are their brothers and sisters.

light bulbs

They gave us energy-saving electric light bulbs, and the programme was bungled by the politicians and civil servants. I have not heard of a similar bungling in Cuba.

Yes, there have been negatives. Human rights as defined by us have a different meaning in their culture. Dissidents are regarded as enemies of the State and are locked up. They have nationalised almost all private businesses and seized property owned by US citizens who are not allowed by their government to travel there, or are long since dead.

If they had been given a chance and not subjected to the US ban on exports, other than food and medicine; and had the US not banned Cuban imports and allowed US citizens to enjoy vacations in the island, the experiences of the Cuban people might well have been different.

On the whole, I think, history will absolve Castro. The majority of Cubans believe so. The comparative few who are now dancing with joy in Miami at his exit from the world stage will always hate him and wish his early death.