Passage of time has not quelled demand for justice – Ali on 1976 terrorist attack

In memory of the 1976 terrorist attack on Cubana Flight 455 which killed 73 people including 11 Guyanese, President Dr Irfaan Ali stated that this tragedy must further strengthen the resolve of the Caribbean to remain a zone of peace that is “free from all forms of terrorism, proxy wars and external threats”.
The Head of State was at the time delivering remarks at a wreath laying ceremony at the Cubana Monument on Tuesday in Barbados on the sidelines of the 8th Caribbean-Cuba Summit.

“Guyana recalls with extreme sadness, the bombing Cubana Airlines Flight 455 off the Coast of Barbados… We remember forever, the 73 victims including 11 Guyanese who perished as a result of that dastardly act.”
“We reflect in prayers with the families, friends and nationals of those who lost their lives… We are stronger together against any threat, it is, therefore, necessary for us to always remain together,” he stated.
Flight 455 was a Cuban flight from Barbados to Jamaica that was brought down on 6 October 1976 by a terrorist bomb attack. All 73 people on board, including 11 Guyanese – who were travelling with their families to Cuba for medical studies, were killed after two timebombs went off and the plane crashed into the sea.
“For us, this was a pure action and demonstration of terrorism… And for those who would not acknowledge this, the guilt of the death and murder of all those who lost their lives on that day remains with them,” he stated.
According to the Guyanese Leader, Cuba and Guyana along with the entire Caribbean Community (CARICOM) did not surrender to terrorism but grew stronger together in defiance of an assault of their independence to freely determine their friends and relations.
He posited that those 73 victims will forever hold a place in the region for having innocently paid the supreme sacrifice.
In fact, the President noted too that the passage of time has not quelled Guyana’s demand for justice.
“Cuba, Guyana [and] CARICOM did not succumb to terrorism, did not fall to terrorism but grew stronger and build better relationships and advanced human dignity… The passage of time has not quelled our demands for justice for the innocent victims of Cubana Air Disaster nor will it absolve the intellectual authors of this crime,” the Head of State asserted.

Nevertheless, President Ali went onto outline that coming out that tragedy is a strength of solidarity and commitment which in reflected in the fact that hundreds of other Guyanese have completed medical and other studies in Cuba over the years.
“The horrific events of October 6, 1976 will never deter us from manifesting our friendship with the people with the Republic of Cuba, whose nationals were also victims of the terrorist bombing… Guyana pledges its continuous solidary with Cuba,” the Guyanese Leader stated.
Also present at Tuesday’s wreath laying ceremony were President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel; Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley; President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokie; Prime Minster of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves; Secretary General of CARICOM, Dr Carla Barnett and other regional officials.
On October 6, 1976, the Cubana Airline flight 455 left Guyana en route to Cuba with stops along the way in Trinidad, Barbados and Jamaica respectively.
However, shortly after leaving the Barbados airport, there was an explosion in the aircraft’s rear, and upon realising that they could not make it back to the airport for an emergency landing, the pilot, Captain Wilfredo Perez, steered the plane towards the Atlantic Ocean, avoiding the tourist-packed Paradise Beach. Another bomb went off in the aircraft before it crashed, killing all 73 passengers and crew members on board.
The Guyanese killed included: Seshnarine Kumar, 18; Ann Nelson, 18; Eric Norton, 18; Rawle Thomas, 18; and Jacqueline Williams, 19, all students on their way to study medicine and engineering in Cuba. Others who perished were relatives Violet and Rita Thomas, nine-year-old Sabrina Harrypaul, Margaret Bradshaw, Raymond Persaud, and economist Gordon Sobha.
Among the other victims were five Koreans and 57 Cubans, including 24 members of the 1975 Cuban national fencing team, who were returning home after winning gold medals at the Central American and Caribbean Championship games.
Investigations had revealed that CIA-linked anti-Castro Cuban exiles conspired with members of the Venezuela Secret Police to bomb the Cuban aircraft in protest of Castro’s dictatorial policies in Cuba.
Four men who had joined the plane in Trinidad and disembarked the aircraft in Barbados were subsequently arrested and tried in Venezuela in connection with the bombing and murder of 73 persons.
Two of them were sentenced to 20 years in prison, another was acquitted and subsequently moved to the United States, while the other escaped from Venezuela and fled to the United States. (G8)