Sir, - Like Joyce Williams (June 27th) I too would like some clarification onwhether or not US policy is aiming to create a famine in Cuba.
I have just returned from that country, where I was horrified to learn thatthe Cuban government has handed a report to the United Nations about thepresence of the "Thrips Palmi Karay" Asian insect among its crops in theMatanza area. According to the report, the source of the infction is a USregistered plane (model S2r, number N3093M), used by the Department of Statein the war against drug traffickers. Witnesses saw the plane in the region last October with a strange "tail of dust" coming from it's undercarriage.
This is the first time that "Thrips Palmi" have appeared in Cuba and the consequences from the entire crop in the region affected is devastating.There is no known insecticide and the Cubans have had to ask for help fromthe FAO in preventing its spread to other areas.
Could we have some clarification on this matter from the US Embassy? If theUnited States is involved in this sort of covert action against Cuba, it is trying to starve a people into submission. How are we to take Bill Clinton'swords on our own famine as sincere? - Yours, etc.
KAREN HATHERLEY,
Clondara Street,
Belfast 12.