Saint Lucia and Cuba historical political ties

Earl Bousquet chronicles the historical political ties between Saint Lucia and Cuba, specifically focusing on the influence of Fidel Castro and Cuban media on Saint Lucian youth.

During the late 1960s, students at St Mary’s College engaged with Cuba’s ‘Granma’ newspaper, leading to the formation of the Students Revolutionary Organization (SRO). This era of Black Power influence eventually saw the establishment of the Workers Revolutionary Movement (WRM), which organized youth and students around progressive political issues and trade union advocacy.

In 1977, the WRM and its allies formed the National Preparatory Committee (NPC) to organize for the XI World Festival of Youth and Students, held in Havana from July 26 to August 5, 1978. This event marked the first time the festival was hosted in the Caribbean, providing Saint Lucian and regional youth the opportunity to visit Cuba.