From Keith Ellis – Co-ordinator CNC Fundraising

I am sure that you know that Cuba has suffered a devastating blow. A lightning strike during a thunderstorm on Friday night, evading the precautions and defenses known to science, set off a fire in one of eight storage tanks in the bay of Matanzas containing oil used for power generation. The highly flammable feeder of a fire that is proving difficult to extinguish has not only kept this disaster going for days now but has enabled this horribly wasteful disaster to cause four explosions and ignite a second storage tank. The winds are picking up and threatening a third tank of this indispensable and expensive fuel.

Cuban firefighters have brought all their skills and their valour to the task, but the indispensable and expensive commodity for a modern economy has so far accounted for one death and seventeen missing firefighters, as well as injuring at least 120 people. Cuba’s appeal for international help came after it had already been offered by Russia and Bolivia and the response from Latin America, the Caribbean and other parts of the world has been positive. Mexico and Venezuela have already sent crews to fight the gigantic fire. Even the United States has spoken of offering technical assistance to quell the fire, an offer that is being assessed with respect to its implication for U.S. law and the long-lasting U.S. blockade.

The CNC is proposing a campaign for funds to help Cuba to deal with this disaster, one that comes not long after the destructive set-back to the country`s tourism industry caused by another gas explosion, this one to the Saratoga Hotel in Central Havana. The fundraising committee is suggesting a brief and intense campaign to raise funds for Cuba in these difficult times, an initiative already undertaken by a group in Calgary. The CNC is grateful for your contribution to this campaign and for any suggestions that you might have for making it more wide-reaching.

Keith Ellis

CNC Fundraising Committee

Your donation may be sent by e-transfer to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Write your cheque to Association of Cubans in Toronto and Mail to:

Julio Fonseca

705 King Street West # 1706

Toronto, ON

M5V 2W8

Unfortunately, the CNC is unable to give tax receipts for your donations.