**South African Cleric Urges Trump to End Cuba Blockade Amid Humanitarian Crisis**
Havana, Cuba - South African anti-apartheid cleric Michael Lapsley has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to end the longstanding blockade of Cuba, citing severe fuel shortages that have led to widespread power cuts and exacerbated the island's humanitarian crisis. Lapsley made this appeal as he travels to Havana to participate in a colloquium commemorating the centenary of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro's birth.
In a statement shared prior to his departure, Lapsley, who serves as canon for healing and reconciliation at St. George’s Cathedral and is the honorary life president of the Friends of Cuba Society, emphasized the urgent need to lift the blockade. "End the blockade now," he urged, adding, "We say no to a U.S. war against Cuba." Lapsley also brought medical supplies to Cuba, donated by the Friends of Cuba Society, which he co-founded in the lead-up to South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994.
The U.S. has maintained an embargo on Cuba since 1962, which has been a point of contention in international relations. In January, President Trump declared a national emergency regarding Cuba and implemented measures to restrict fuel supplies to the island, including blocking oil tankers and threatening tariffs against nations that continue to provide support.
The situation in Cuba has deteriorated significantly, with the country's energy and mines minister, Vicente de la O Levy, reporting in May that Cuba had exhausted its diesel and fuel oil reserves, relying solely on gas from domestic sources. Since March, blackouts have affected the entire island, prompting UN human rights experts to label the fuel blockade as a serious violation of international law, equating it to energy starvation. The United Nations General Assembly recently voted overwhelmingly, with 165 votes in favor and only seven against, to call for an end to the embargo.
Lapsley highlighted the economic toll of the blockade, estimating that Cuba has suffered damages amounting to $8 billion over the past year. He expressed concern that the humanitarian impacts of the blockade are reversing advancements in healthcare, particularly in infant mortality rates. "Now with the U.S. policy of seeking to starve and strangle the nation, some of the achievements like infant mortality are beginning to go backwards," he stated.
Cuba has a history of providing medical training and support to South Africa, particularly during the apartheid era. Lapsley noted that Cuban medical professionals were instrumental in training South African doctors under a collaboration initiated by Fidel Castro and former President Nelson Mandela. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuba also deployed its Henry Reeve Brigade of medics to assist South Africa.
Reflecting on the historical ties between Cuba and South Africa, Lapsley remarked, "Never in human history has there been a country who has trained doctors as a principal export." He praised the Cuban revolution's achievements in healthcare, asserting, "I have no doubt that what the revolution achieved in the area of healthcare makes God smile."
Lapsley also recalled the role of Cuban troops in supporting Angolan forces against apartheid South Africa, particularly during the pivotal battle of Cuito Cuanavale, which he described as a turning point in the struggle for Namibian independence and the end of apartheid. He emphasized Cuba's commitment to solidarity, stating, "We do not forget that, unlike our colonizers who plundered our resources, Cuba only took back to Cuba their dead comrades."
In his address titled "I Am a Fidelist," Lapsley drew on a historical reference from Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, who famously remarked on Castro's ideological alignment. Lapsley critiqued Western Christians for their focus on whether socialism is compatible with Christianity, suggesting that the more pertinent question is whether capitalism aligns with Christian values.
Lapsley's personal history is also marked by the violence of the apartheid regime. In April 1990, he survived a letter bomb attack orchestrated by the apartheid government, which led to significant injuries. He recalled the support he received from international figures, including the Palestinian Ambassador and the Cuban Ambassador, who offered assistance during his recovery.
As Lapsley prepares to address the colloquium in Havana, his message resonates with calls for solidarity and humanitarian support for the Cuban people, urging an end to policies that contribute to their suffering.