The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Watching CNN this morning, I witnessed an American congresswoman passionately criticising Beyonce and her husband for going to Cuba and showing the world that they had a great time, laughing and joking with the Cuban people.

The congresswoman blatently lied and commented that the pop stars were there in Cuba having a fine time entertaining themselves in fine hotels where ordinary Cubans couldn’t go.

This was a total fabrication of the truth and typical of the senseless propaganda aimed at the Cuban people for decades.

I can testify that as long as 20 years ago, a Cuban friend was able to stay with me at the Hotel Angleterra with full knowledge and permission of the Cuban government.

As long as 12 years ago, I took a group of Bahamian friends on a month long tour of the entire island of Cuba and met no objection to our guide staying with us in the finest hotels along the way.

Last New Years’ Eve I had a wonderful time at the Hotel Santa Isabella with my Cuban friend.

I was proud that Beyonce and her husband had the courage to go to Cuba, where their fellow countrymen are denied the freedom to go, and make up their own minds about the country.

Cubans have the freedom to go anywhere in the world, and I have had the pleasure of hosting many Cubans here, in the Bahamas, having not the slightest problem with the Cuban government.

Finally, I prefer to go to Cuba rather than America on vacation because I feel physically safer in Cuba, and in the unlikely event I need them, Cuba has the finest free medical services anywhere.

STUART HOWELLS

Nassau,

April 9, 2013.