MORE than 150 people packed into a Glasgow hall on Monday night to stand in solidarity with the people of Cuba, and pay tribute to their revolutionary leader, Fidel Castro, in his centenary year.

Organised by the Scottish Cuba Solidarity Campaign (SCSC) and backed by Unison Scotland, whose convener, Mark Ferguson, chaired proceedings that included music from Calum Baird and speeches from STUC general secretary Roz Foyer, Labour MSP Carol Mochan, and the guest of honour, Castro’s grandson, Fidel Antonio Castro Smirnov.

Ms Mochan, chairwoman of the Scottish Parliament cross-party group on Cuba, told comrades of its work in publicising damage done by draconian US sanctions, but also the “great medical work that comes out of Cuba.”

“Cubans work not just for themselves, but to make sure they can share their knowledge and scientific breakthroughs with the rest of the world,” she said.

Hailing the achievements of the Cuban people and Castro as “an outstanding triumph,” Ms Foyer said: “What Cuba represents is the idea that things can be done differently, and that’s why Trump’s America is so determined to bring it down.

“The Cuban people, with the solidarity and help of people like us, will continue to endure and continue to keep the revolution alive.”

Joking that he missed the genes to give the “beautiful big speeches” his grandfather was renowned for, Mr Smirnov said: “The legacy of Fidel Castro is not a debate about the past, it is a debate about the future.

“While they attack, we plan vaccines, while they build walls, we train doctors, while others try to break us, without any fear we continue the work of my father and my grandfather.

“There will be no blockades nor imperial pressures that can change our march towards a sovereign, independent, prosperous and sustainable socialism.”

The final speaker was the SCSC’s Kath Campbell, who urged the many new faces in attendance to join the campaign as well as paying tribute to its secretary Arthur West, who had been unable to attend after a fall.

Ahead of the meeting, Mr West expressed hope it could be a “springboard” to boost the SCSC’s work, telling the Star: “Cuba’s record in building excellent public services and the provision of humanitarian aid to countries all over the world deserves to be supported and celebrated — now more than ever.”