A voice from a proud, dignified people

Iliana Hernandez works in the International Relations 
Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of 
Cuba. She previously held positions in the Young Communist League 
(UJC) and was deeply involved in preparations for the Cuba Vive 
Festival (1995) and the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students 
(1997). She has a bachelor's degree in pedagogy and was a senior 
high school teacher. She took up her latest duties in 1997 and 
has been part of delegations from her Party on visits to China, 
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

Iliana recently visited Australia as the guest of the CPA. She 
addressed well-attended meetings in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, 
Adelaide and Melbourne and fielded questions from gatherings keen 
to know more about how Cuba is facing its many challenges. In 
Adelaide Bob Briton from The Guardian spoke to Iliana 
about some of these issues.

Guardian: What can you tell us recent economic 
developments in Cuba, about its efforts to deal with the blockade 
imposed by the US?

Iliana Hernandez: The effects of the blockade have been 
very severe from the beginning of the revolution. The imposition 
of the blockade has not only meant setbacks in the agricultural 
sector but also in the areas of health, education, and generally 
throughout society. The blockade has caused Cuba losses worth 
more than US$74 billion throughout all areas of the economy. Of 
course the blockade has also caused disruption to the production 
of necessary medications and the import of vital equipment. It 
prevents the entry of important products for the development of 
agriculture and the development of industry in general. The US 
blockade is about preventing development in Cuba in all sectors.

Sound economic growth

In spite of this, during the years of the blockade Cuba has been 
taking measures in specific areas in order to develop. Last year 
we were able to record positive results in various sectors. It's 
important that people know that in Cuba we are not only working 
for growth in the Gross Domestic Product but for intelligent 
growth of the GDP.

For example, last year commerce grew by 4.7 per cent, services by 
4 per cent, the production of oil and gas rose by 4.3 million 
tonnes and in agriculture there was growth in the production of 
grain and vegetables. The sugar industry grew by 2.1 per cent. 
Tourism increased by 12.7 per cent with more than 1,700,000 
people visiting Cuba last year. Over 63 per cent of the products 
supplied for tourism are made in Cuba. Unemployment was reduced 
last year to 3 per cent. These are the results of the very 
successful social policies being applied in the country.

Exports grew by 14 per cent and imports by 13 per cent. This 
shows the general economic situation in the country. This has 
been achieved in conjunction with social programs that have been 
prioritised by the revolution. This demonstrates that even with a 
low level of development it has been possible to maintain just 
results and social solidarity.

G: How big a set back have the recent storms been for 
Cuba?

IH: The impact of Hurricane Charlie — I haven't had 
access to details of the more recent storms — has been put at 
US$1 billion; 700,000 homes have been damaged partially or 
completely destroyed; thousands of hectares of cultivated land 
were damaged; 798 educational facilities were affected; 312 
health centres damaged and the supply of electricity to the whole 
province of Pinar del Rio was cut off; 28 high tension towers 
fell and 298 electrical transformers failed.

However, nobody has been abandoned in this situation. Everyone 
has had access to medical assistance. The electrical and 
construction workers of the whole country were mobilised. Human 
solidarity under all circumstances is an important feature of the 
Cuban revolution. The value of a united people is incalculable. 
Those who know our country understand what this means in Cuba.

In the most recent hurricane [Ivan] the evacuation of 1,300,000 
people was pre-planned. Measures were taken to protect crops and 
farm animals. The leaders of the revolution were present during 
all these steps. Within two days of the storms there were major 
declarations from the leaders of our country describing how we 
will be able to recover from this terrible setback. There have 
been rapid responses aimed at a rapid recovery in the country, 
especially in the western part. Those affected have been 
receiving the solidarity of the people of all the provinces. This 
is basic for us.

Solidarity from the Australian people and especially from the 
Australia Cuba Friendship Society has been very important. We 
have been pressing ahead with all the projects in Cuba initiated 
from Australia.

G: We have seen some statements from Fidel Castro about a 
new emphasis on education in Cuba. What has been happening in 
Cuba recently in the field of education?

IH: The first thing pointed out by Fidel is that we are 
making a real revolution, an educational revolution within the 
revolution itself. It is important that we keep developing the 
values, the integral culture of people. In the field of education 
we have introduced a joint program at all levels of instruction.

The aim of these efforts is to have one teacher for every 20 
pupils. We've introduced new audiovisual methods using videos, TV 
and computers. In secondary education there have been profound 
changes in the planning of studies so that we can achieve the 
goal of one teacher for every 15 students. For this project we 
have restored 567 classrooms and built 98 schools.

Revolution within a revolution

Recently 4000 teachers graduated and began work as generalist 
classroom teachers. We have made universal access to higher 
education possible. We have created 732 university locations 
taking in 146,000 students. Of course, these 732 locations aren't 
new. We've rearranged the timetables of existing educational 
institutions, rearranging lessons so that facilities used in the 
afternoon for one purpose can be used for university studies in 
the evening.

It's important to note that we have set up two TV channels for 
education that have transmitted 112 educational programs. We 
intend that these programs should reach throughout all the 
provinces and provide courses for all levels of instruction. All 
this has been achieved in recent years in the area of education 
in which the youth has been given a great responsibility under 
the guidance of the government. This revolution within the 
revolution has been carried out in order to keep on improving the 
education of new generations, to keep on developing the human 
resources of Cuba as a crucial task for carrying forward the 
revolution.

International solidarity

Of course, as well as doing these things for its own population, 
Cuba has been working to help other peoples throughout the world. 
In the years since the victory of the revolution more than 41,000 
young people from various countries have studied in Cuba. Today 
in Cuba — in the Latin American School of Medicine — students 
are completing medical degrees to prepare them for their future 
work with some of the poorest communities in Latin America. There 
are young people from other countries, for example from Africa 
and a small group from the US.

In Cuba there is also an International School of Sport, which 
aims to create promoters of sport in different countries. There 
are young people from Laos and Cambodia for example. The aim in 
all of this is not only to provide training for our own 
population but for the other peoples of the world as well. We 
honour the basic principle of the revolution — to provide human 
solidarity.

G: The President of Cuba's Assembly of People's Power, Mr 
Alarcon, has referred to the Bush Administration's detailed plans 
for the invasion of Cuba. Could you give our readers further 
information? What has been the response of the Government of Cuba 
to this escalation of tensions?

IH: There has been aggression against Cuba from the very 
beginning of the revolution. This year there have been further 
indications of aggression from the Bush Administration. President 
Bush arranged for the compilation of a report from the Commission 
for Assistance to a Free Cuba that plans to strangle the Cuban 
revolution. It is a well set out, well-resourced document of more 
than 400 pages that advocates total intervention in the internal 
affairs of Cuba.

The object of the plan is to overthrow the government of Cuba by 
giving support to the forces of counter-revolution and by 
increasing subversive activities and disinformation against our 
country. Other measures will be directed against the Cuban 
economy. The document has a group of chapters that weren't made 
public that we know discusses military aggression against Cuba.

This is not a new situation for the Cuban Government; it is well 
and truly prepared to meet any aggressive measure. We remember in 
the early years of the revolution, that the Bay of Pigs invasion 
in 1961 became the first defeat for US imperialism in Latin 
America. If they choose to try it again, they will be defeated 
again. They will meet a well-organised people. It will cost them 
very dearly, much more dearly than the cost of compiling this 
plan.

The two messages originating from the Cuban Government and 
declarations from Fidel to the US Government have made it clear 
that the unity and strength of the Cuban people are incalculable. 
As Fidel said in a proclamation made in May, "No force in the 
world could drag like a flock of animals a dignified, proud 
people which has withstood 45 years of hostility."

G: How important to Cuba are recent developments in parts 
of Latin America like the changes in Argentina, Ecuador and 
Brazil and the consolidation of President Chavez in Venezuela? 
Are the people of Cuba encouraged by these developments?

IH: The development of the revolution in Venezuela under 
President Chavez and the changes in several other countries are 
very positive from the point of view of giving a boost to the 
progressive movement throughout the whole of Latin America. We 
are very encouraged by the very positive actions of the 
Venezuelan Government and with the positions taken by President 
Chavez that have woken up various social movements.

The process currently taking place in Venezuela is very important 
for the rest of the region. In Cuba we admire and support this 
process. Latin America has been punished for many years. 
Unfortunately, for poor people throughout Latin America the 
situation remains very difficult. Violence against children and 
women, violence associated with unemployment, hunger and poverty 
have been a terrible scourge. Lula, Chavez, Kirchner in Argentina 
and others have taken steps towards significant change. 

G: Do you have any other message for the friends of Cuba 
in Australia?

IH: I would like to pass on to progressive people in 
Australia that they can have confidence in the revolution that 
belongs to the Cuban people. We will never renounce the 
profoundly human task begun in 1959. We know well the cost of the 
revolution and that is why we will defend it forever. Many young 
men and women have died defending the revolution. Defending this 
revolution we know we are also defending the noblest causes of 
humanity.

* * *

Interview conducted in Spanish — interpreted by Juan Garrido