THE STRUGGLE TO PRESERVE OUR FREEDOMS.
Introduction
“The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” Thomas Jefferson
During the Cold War era, Jamaica, an island of only 2.8 million people which lies just 90 miles from Cuba, faced the real threat of being overtaken by that well- armed communist nation, a surrogate of the USSR.
At the time, the prime minster of Jamaica was Michael Manley and he was so attracted by the supreme power that Fidel Castro wielded over his people that he eagerly collaborated with the communists to bring his own island under their domination.
This is the true and riveting story of a Jamaican woman, who along with other freedom loving people who were allegedly assisted by the American CIA, who decided in the 70’s that their liberty was more important than everything else. This forced the author to face imminent danger and make many heart wrenching sacrifices including having to send her two young children away for a long period, to safer environs, in order to ensure that Jamaica would not be brought into the USSR’s sphere of influence.
While the world knows Jamaica as a beautiful paradise which has given the world reggae music, the rastafari culture and the fastest man on the planet Usain Bolt, all this did not come by chance as during the Cold war era, over a 4 year period Jamaicans fought an “undeclared civil war” which caused: the massacre of innocents, international intrigue and even treason as intelligence forces such as the Cuban DGI and Russian KGB openly operated in the country.
After taking readers deep into that dangerous struggle, seeing the numerous problems that Jamaica still faces, Joan wonders aloud if it was worth it, but quickly answers her own question writing:. “I have visited Cuba four times, including once in 2014 to get acquainted and spend a few days with some cousins that were born there. Although the natural beauty of that country cannot be totally destroyed, life there is simply intolerable for the residents. And I am not talking about only the lack of freedoms but also the system makes it impossible for people to advance economically no matter how hard they work. For poverty is pervasive while corruption and prostitution is rampant as people turn to any means necessary to survive."
And she is not at all shy in thanking the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) which it is said gave surreptitious assistance to those who struggled against the local communists who were armed and assisted by the Russian KGB and Cuban DGI, boldly stating; “…if it’s the CIA that assisted us to win the battle that saved us from becoming a deprived, browbeaten and hopeless people like the Cubans, I feel nothing but gratitude towards them.”
With the USA now normalising relations with the Cubans, and Putin acting like a bully, this book should play a useful role in the discussions on world affairs. For if Cuba refuses to respect human rights, what is to stop them from once again becoming a threat to small islands in the Caribbean, when their economy starts moving in the right direction?
For we must never forget that every single young man in Cuba is a trained soldier.
Further, as we see oppressive regimes causing millions of people to risk their lives and that of their children, to flee to countries where freedom and democracy prevails, the question arises; don’t powerful freedom -loving democracies have a duty to intervene whether overtly or covertly to remove vile governments before their citizens are forced to take such measures and become a burden on others?
After leaving readers to contemplate these challenging issues, Williams then shares with her readers the hell she faced when her only son was murdered and the struggle she faced to restore her life to normalcy.