Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Cuban 'caravanistas' pin hopes on Obama
The retired Winnipeg educator and school administrator joins 130 others on the 20th annual Pastors for Peace caravan, a North America-wide mission collecting humanitarian aid for Cuba, which rolls through the city on Tuesday.
The caravan will stop at the Charleswood Mennonite Church at 7:30 p.m. Representatives from the Manitoba-Cuba Solidarity Committee and others who are strongly opposed to the 40-year U.S. economic blockade of the Caribbean island will address supporters.
It's the second such road trip for Cherveny, who has been involved with Cuban aid for four years.
"I'm hoping this will be the last one. That's the greatest desire of every caravanista, because hopefully the U.S. will lift the economic blockade," he said, noting the group also accepts monetary donations.
Obama has taken small steps towards restoring relations with Cuba since taking office in January, including relaxing restrictions on Cuban-Americans' trips to the island to visit family.
The caravanistas will take 14 separate routes covering 47 states and six provinces and convene in McAllen, Texas, where they will cross the border into Mexico. From there, they will load their haul -- including six school buses, an RV, a large truck and one car, all packed with medical and educational supplies -- on to a Mexican ship, manned by the country's longshoremen's union, which will set sail for Cuba.
Upon arrival, the goods will be picked up by the Cuban Economic Distribution Committee, a non-government agency, which will designate the aid according to need.
Jim Bowman, of Wisconsin, is the official spokesman. He said he anticipates another "interesting" time when they pull up to the U.S. border crossing at Pembina, N.D.: We believe the embargo is illegal and unconstitutional. Last year, we spent nearly a half-day at the border. Virtually every piece of humanitarian aid... was inspected while we were in the isolation booth.
"(The border guards) were intrigued by the artificial arms and legs, and they were surprised by some of the medical aid, computers and educational supplies we were carrying," he said.
Cherveny, who has participated in the Che Guevara Volunteer Brigade -- a program named after the late guerilla leader that encourages foreigners to work and study in Cuba -- said he donates his time out of respect for what the Cuban people have achieved over the last 50 years: "I value highly the contributions they are making to the fields of education, medical services and social improvements."
geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 6, 2009 A6
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