Then Cuban President Fidel Castro (right) makes a point to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez (left) during a visit to Jamaica, September 6, 2005. The US considers both Latin American leaders as thorns. At centre is P.J. Patterson, who was then Jamaica's prime minister. - File

The big man has officially left the building. Fidel Castro told everybody last week mi gone, adiós, see ya around and ta-ta when he decided not to continue as president or commander-in-chief. Thus ends the longest reign in the history of modern politics.

Think of all the American presidents who came, went (and died) and the old revolutionary is still standing. Well, not as strong as a few years back, but he's doing relatively fine. That kind of longevity in power may never be seen again.

Two events come to mind when I think of Fidel Castro. One was his trip in 1998 when he was honoured at a ceremony in Mandela Park. Jamaicans got the chance to hear him speak, and speak he did. He gave one of his usual lectures which had a few persons (as we Jamaicans say) dying to sleep. Castro was granite though, seeming to gain momentum the longer he spoke. The thing was, no matter how long he ranted, even if persons were bored, they didn't show it. Only a speaker with that kind of magnetism could captivate Jamaicans (who are known to bottle artistes who stay on stage too long).

Salutes and 'big-ups'

The second event took place a year before at the funeral of former Prime Minister Michael Manley. Dignitaries from across the Caribbean came to pay their respects to 'Joshua' but the crowd gave the most salutes and 'big-ups' to Fidel when he exited the vehicle. The sounds of 'brap, brap' as members of the crowd saluted him were deafening and showed just who was the big man.

I like Fidel and it's got nothing to do with him thumbing his nose at the US. I've got no problems with Uncle Sam. It's because it can't be easy to rule a communist country in an age where people all over the world are demanding more democracy. Sticking to your guns takes guts and resolve. He also has this aura of 'this is who I am, so what are you going to do about it?' Confrontational? Sure, but again, not for the lily-livered. How ironic that it's the internal organs that eventually started giving way.

Now he has plenty of detractors and the Cuban community in the US was throwing a fiesta when the news broke of his departure. I guess I would do the same if I were in their shoes. But say what you want about communism and all that jazz, Castro is one of the few leaders who, when you call the country's name, theirs comes right after. Say what you want about his methods and all that jazz, Castro is the man!

Kelly

You can talk to me, I'm no communist, at daviot.kelly@gleanerjm.com.