I recently returned from my second trip to Cuba, the first being two years ago, and I have to admit that I am in complete admiration for the Cuban people and the way their country is operated.

Love him or hate him, there is no denying that what Fidel Castro has done with his country for the last 50 years is nothing short of extraordinary, made even more so by the fact that he has had a United States embargo hanging like a noose around his neck for virtually the entire time.

Along with my two cousins, I was able to walk freely through all parts of Havana without any fear or paranoia of being robbed, held up or murdered. Trawling through the deepest parts of any major international city late at night, one would normally feel a sense of fear and trepidation, even if the surroundings are familiar, but the reason that this isn't the case is because of the discipline and mentality of the people of Cuba. The Cuban Government has gone to great lengths to ensure the safety of its people and the visitors to the country by having a very large police and military presence on the streets around the clock.

Law-enforcement personnel

Now, it must be noted that unlike those in most developing nations, and especially here in Jamaica, these law-enforcement personnel are very upstanding in their duties. They will not try to extort or unnecessarily harass the people. Even with all of this, there isn't even the sense that the people of Cuba would do anything different if this huge military presence were not there.

Unlike here in Jamaica, the Cubans have a unique sense of camaraderie. They strive to get ahead in life but not at the expense of their fellow man. On the contrary, they will try to help each other at every opportunity.

The view of many on the outside is that Cuba is a totalitarian country run by a vile dictator who keeps his people in poverty and treats the national treasury like his own, personal bank account. However, this view is only shared by the ignorant, and by that I mean the people who have not taken the time to learn about the country and its inhabitants or to visit the country and see for themselves.

Communism

I'm not saying that I am in favour of communism; I believe that no one type of government suits every country. Capitalism works in America, but not in Iraq, and communism works in Cuba, but it wouldn't work in Great Britain.

I am, etc.,

NICHOLAS HANNA

nicky_d2@hotmail.com

Kingston 6