Venezuela: “100bs for Cuba”, love is paid with love

Caracas, Oct 31.- Bringing out from the depths of the Venezuelan people all the love, admiration and solidarity that they have always had for Cubans, will be one of the purposes of the National Solidarity Campaign “100bs (bolivars) for Cuba.”

This initiative of the Movement of Solidarity and Mutual Friendship between the two countries started the day before and seeks to remember the 1958 crusade called “The March of the Bolívar towards the Sierra Maestra”, in which each Venezuelan was called to donate one bolivar for the bearded people. This was stated in conversation with Prensa Latina by the national coordinator of the solidarity group, Yhonny García, who pointed out that as a reissue, “we wanted to call this “100bs for Cuba” because of the historical significance then as it is now.”

In that year, 220 thousand dollars were raised that were used to purchase six tons of weapons for the guerrilla fight led by Fidel Castro (1926-2016) in the Sierra Maestra, in the east of the Caribbean nation, according to historical sources.

“We feel very excited because we believe it is going to be a great campaign because Venezuela has always been very supportive of Cuba,” said García.

He stressed that “they are historical ties that unite us” so the campaign must be preceded by Martí's phrase and as Commander Hugo Chávez (1954-2013) said: “Love is paid with love.”

The national coordinator of the Movement stated that it is time for Venezuelans to “express all the solidarity, altruism and what the love that Cuba feels for our people has meant.”

We want to carry out a campaign that allows us to raise funds and achieve the acquisition of products, materials, medicines, in order to help Cubans, he encouraged.

He estimated that today the Venezuelan people must reciprocate with that love and collaboration so that "the Cuban people can get out of the situation in which they find themselves."

It is, he stressed, about raising funds to, with the embassy of the largest of the Antilles in Caracas, “be able to resolve some needs that the Cuban people present at this exceptional moment” due to the tightening of the US blockade.

From the Movement and from all the friends who have been contributing to this task, “we predict a high-profile campaign, which will collect many resources and will be provided to Cuba,” he insisted.

Asked about the coincidence of launching the campaign on the same day that Cuba obtained another resounding victory in its fight against the economic, financial and commercial blockade in the UN General Assembly, the interviewee pointed out that it was appropriate and precise.

“That victory fills us with joy,” he said.

Although it is true that for more than 60 years Cuba has suffered from the economic, financial and commercial blockade, it also has to do with "the inclusion in the list of supposed countries that sponsor terrorism, which came to reinforce and intensify that siege," he stated.

For this reason, he opined, this is the moment in which we must show all our solidarity and the Movement, together with the Cuban embassy, ??the Association of Cuban Men and Women Residents in Venezuela, the United Socialist Party, social movements and community organizations, try to give all the effort.

García explained that the Campaign will be divided into two phases: one that began yesterday and will end on November 25 in the context of Commander Fidel Castro's passage to immortality and the other will conclude on January 1, 2025 when 66 years have passed since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution.

In a message addressed yesterday to the Cuban president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, and to the historical leader of the Revolution, Army General Raúl Castro, the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, expressed his solidarity and willingness to continue opening paths between the two countries.

In addition to creating formulas that "allow us to advance in the search for concrete solutions, and lead us to the comprehensive well-being of our nations," he pointed out.

On January 23, 1959, at an event in the Plaza Aerial del Silencio in Caracas, Fidel said: “I hope that the destiny of our people is one destiny! How long are we going to be in lethargy? How long will we be divided, victims of powerful interests? If the unity of our peoples has been fruitful, why shouldn't the unity of nations be more so? That is Bolivarian thinking. “Venezuela must be the leading country of the people of America (…)”, stated the Cuban revolutionary leader. (Text and Photo: PL)