ON November 4 last year, a day after the US yet again opposed the UN general assembly’s resolution condemning the blockade on Cuba, I tabled a statement of opinion in the Senedd expressing solidarity with the Cuban people.

In my statement, which garnered support from a third of the Senedd, I proposed that the Senedd: 1) expresses its solidarity with the people of Cuba; 2) notes that 185 countries voted against the US blockade of Cuba at the United Nations, with only the US and Israel supporting its continuation; 3) further notes that this inhumane policy has been in place for more than 60 years causing severe shortages of food, medicines and fuel; 4) recognises that despite the blockade, Cuba has made real achievements in health and education policy, with the results widely applauded by Unesco and the World Health Organisation; 5) believes that the Welsh government should develop links with Cuba in areas of mutual interest.

Last month, almost one year on since I tabled that statement, I had the pleasure of welcoming both Barbara Montalvo Alvarez, the Cuban ambassador to Britain, as well as Bob Oram, executive member of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, to Plaid Cymru’s annual conference in Aberystwyth to discuss the latest situation in Cuba. On behalf of UNDEB — Plaid Cymru’s trade union section — it was a privilege to chair the event and extend Plaid’s solidarity to the people of Cuba.