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Jamaica's Prime Minister Michael Manley (right) being invested with the Order of Jose Marti by Cuba's president, Dr Fidel Castro, at a ceremony in the National Revolutionary Palace in Havana, in this July 1975 photo.

Howard Campbell, Sunday Gleaner Writer

FIDEL CASTRO stepped down as Cuba's president last week, ending a romantic, yet acrimonious 49-year tenure.

Few leaders in modern history matched the bearded, cigar-smoking revolutionary in terms of longevity, charisma and resilience.

The 81-year-old Castro annou-nced his resignation Tuesday, ending months of speculation that he would not resume leadership duties following intestinal surgery in 2006.

His younger brother Raúl, Cuba's long-serving defence minister, has been at the helm of the government since and is widely expected to officially succeed Castro. Although there have been videos of a gaunt Castro, he has not been seen in public since his surgery.

A trained lawyer, Castro made a mark on Latin America and emerging Caribbean states when his guerrilla troops overthrew the United States-backed regime of Fulgencio Batista in 1959.

Castro withstood relentless pressure from the US, including an economic embargo that has been in effect for over 40 years, as well as several assassination attempts.

He also outlived many of his communist/socialist comrades.

Hero to Caribbean youth

Because of his determined stance against imperialism, Castro was a hero to Caribbean youth inspired by the Black Power movement that erupted throughout the US in the 1960s.

Castro became even more popular internationally in the 1970s when he gave military support to the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MAPLE) troops in Angola.

They were fighting the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNIT), who were backed by the United States.

Some Latin American leaders, including Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, have visited Castro during his recovery. Chávez is a long-time admirer of the retired Cuban leader.

Friendship with Manley

Over 30 years ago, then Ja-maican Prime Minister Michael Manley also befriended Castro.

Like Chávez, Manley's relation-ship with Cuba did not go down well with the American govern-ment, which many believe led to his loss in the 1980 general election.

He said he was struck by Castro's commitment to self-reliance and programmes that transformed his country from a capitalist state to a socialist powerhouse.

"I was very impressed by his huge intellect and his grasp of world affairs," Manley said in a 1993 interview with The Pro-gressive Magazine. "What came across was a real humanistic concern for poverty."

Manley came to power in late 1972 and declared democratic socialism as the path of his administration two years later.

Controversial trip

In 1975, the Jamaican prime minister made a controversial trip to Havana, the Cuban capital. Two years later, Castro returned the favour with a six-day state visit that angered the administration of American President, Gerald Ford.

Castro's Jamaican visit was a hit. He and his 12-member party arrived at the Kingston Harbour aboard the 200-foot ship, José Martí, and drew huge crowds wherever he went.

He visited community projects in Kingston, St Catherine, Trelawny and St James and praised Manley's socialist policies.

"He is a dynamic and capable leader," said Castro during a speech at Sam Sharpe Square in Montego Bay, St James.

Cuban assistance

Over the years, Jamaica has benefited from Cuban assistance in health care, education and sports. The Jose Martí Technical School and the G.C. Foster College were built by the Cuban Government.

The Caribbean was not exempt from the frigid climate of the Cold War. The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party criticised the Government's relationship with Cuba and shortly after that party came to power in October 1980, it dismissed Cuban Ambassador Ulyses Estrada and severed ties with Havana.

Diplomatic relations

When Manley returned to power in 1989, he resumed diplomatic relations with Cuba. Castro later travelled to Kingston in May 1997 for Manley's funeral.

Fidel Castro visited Jamaica three more times, the last being in September 2005 for the PetroCaribe Summit in Montego Bay