Sinn Féin’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Seán Crowe TD, has sent his condolences to the Cuban people on the death of Fidel Castro.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“I was deeply saddened to wake up this morning and hear of the death of Fidel Castro.

“Fidel was a leader of one of the most important revolutions of the 20th Century.  His vision and lifetime of experience will be greatly missed as we continue to face the challenges of climate change, poverty, and globalisation.

“The ground breaking successes in healthcare and education that Fidel oversaw in Cuba, as well as Cuba’s internationalism, remains an inspiration to all of us who share a vision of an inclusive and fair world. The successes of that revolution are clearly evident today in the confidence and abilities of the Cuban people.

“Cuba is still placed under an illegal, inhuman and crippling blockade by the USA.  One can only imagine the advances the Cuban economy and society could have made had these barriers had been removed.

“Fidel was a leader and a visionary. He was an internationalist and spoke for the poor and dispossessed. He took on the status quo the comfortable elites, the bigots, the racists, and the apartheid apologists.

“I have extended my condolences, and the collective condolences of the Sinn Féin membership, to the Cuba Ambassador to Ireland at this sad time.

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”

ENDS