And when it comes to Castrism, Shoman is the supreme Belizean authority. He is so committed to the revolution's ideals, that he moved to Cuba where has been living for a number of years. Yesterday he spoke of Castro's popular touch and his enduring legacy:...
Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Cuba was only too happy to support Belize in its quest for independence. What do you recall of those days in the, I guess mid to late 70's?"
Assad Shoman, former Foreign Minister
"Well Jules the amazing thing, I mean you go before that when Belize had not even won self-government yet, the highest representatives of Cuba abroad at the time, which was Ernesto Che Guevara said at a world meeting, a regional meeting, in Uruguay in 1961, that Cuba respects the Independence of Belize. I think, in part he did that, to, to (chuckles) confront Guatemala of course, but, but Cuba has supported our independence all the time, from the very beginning."
Jules Vasquez, 7News
"We know that the combatants who trained for the bay of pigs invasion, they trained in Guatemala under the CIA, is that a part of the reason why Cuba was always happy to help out Belize."
Assad Shoman, former Foreign Minister
"I believe that that support comes from the heart because Cuba believes in self-determination and the rights of peoples."
"And that is what I am sure because I was the one who had to deal with especially the Cuban ambassador in the United Nations, a great man, who is my friend here now, still, in Havana, Ricardo Alarcon."
"I know why and how he felt and nothing to do with the Bay of Pigs. It had to do with the principle of supporting a people who were colonized, and who were threatened by a neighbor, and who had a right to be free."
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