It was the bombing of a Cubana passenger aircraft off Barbados on October 6, 1976 in which all 73 people aboard perished - 57 of them Cubans, eleven Guyanese and five North Koreans.

Up to this day, elements involved in that tragedy which was financed and organised with the help of the United States Central Intelligence Agency, remain at large, including a mastermind paediatrician who managed to escape justice and has been living in America.

Those in and out of the USA now being called upon to embrace the fight against international terrorism, need to be reminded how this region was traumatised by the Cubana tragedy at a time of enormous tension in America's Cold War battle against Cuba under Castro.

All acts of terrorism must be forcefully condemned and all terrorists brought to justice, whether their victims are Americans, Europeans, Israelis and Palestinians, Cubans, Koreans, Guyanese - or else.

The terrorism unleashed against the USA in September 2001 was horrendous in scale compared with other recent acts of terrorism. But neither the extent of the crime nor the number and nationality of the victims makes a difference.

Terrorism, in all its manifestations, including some of the home-grown variety to which Guyanese have been subjected at varying periods, must never be encouraged and at all times be unequivocally denounced.

As we join this weekend with Cuba and the rest of the Caribbean in reflecting on the Cubana tragedy of 1976, it is also appropriate to do whatever little we can to help in efforts to counter terrorism and ensure a healthy and secured environment.

The people of Israel and Palestine need no reminder about the horrors of terrorism that offer no solution whatsoever to their rights to be allowed to peacefully coexist as two independent border states.

Those who have lost loved ones in the 9/11 terrorist strikes in New York and Washington, or those who continue to lose family members and friends  in, for example,  Iraq and Afghanistan,  can perhaps empathise with the families of the victims of the Cubana tragedy of 1976.

Whatever the nature of related activities either in Cuba or Guyana, these, like the memorial service  at the St. Patrick Roman Catholic Cathedral in Barbados, should serve to remind us all that acts of terrorism and violence can be no substitute for peaceful, constructive dialogue.

Now is also a good time for all friends of the USA and Cuba to make some fresh efforts to encourage and promote the restoration of normal relations between the world's sole superpower and a small Caribbean state.

Welcome to the Editorial Page for Sunday, October 05, 2003