The Workers’ Party have paid tribute to the President of the State Council of Cuba Comrade Fidel Castro who has retired after almost fifty years as leader of the Cuban people.

Workers’ Party General Secretary John Lowry said that Fidel Castro had been a tower of strength to the Cuban people and had overseen his country’s transition from an underdeveloped, exploited country into a country with first class education and healthcare, the highest literacy rate in the Americas and a country proud of its peoples achievements.

“Fidel’s role in leading the Cuban Revolution inspired millions of people all over the world when a group disciplined revolutionaries supported by the people overthrow the corrupt rule of the dictator Fulgencio Batista and his US mafia henchmen”.

President Castro, said Mr. Lowry, was also an inspiration to and a friend of oppressed people’s the world over and the material and practical help given by Cuba to such countries has been immense.  In particular his assistance to Angola when it was invaded by the racist apartheid regime of South Africa and indeed Cuba’s solid support of the African National Congress during that country’s own struggle will be remembered.

“On behalf of the Workers’ Party of Ireland I wish Comrade Fidel Castro the very best and offer my thanks to him for his huge contribution to the development of socialism and against oppression, hunger and exploitation worldwide”.

Tuesday, 19th February 2008.