Thank you very much for coming.
I am curious to know this. You talked about a big carrot and we talked about Canada's re-engagement policy that is now being criticized. I personally would look at these as two separate issues. For example, on the imprisonment of the trade unionists and all those guys, yes, that is the right way for us to protest and to say this is not acceptable. That is breaching human rights on the issues of free speech and what we in Canada have as core values. On freedom of speech, it is the right thing to talk to the Cubans about it and tell them we are protesting.
Now let's go to the second aspect of that, which is the engagement policy and the embargo of the U.S. by isolating Cuba, and Fidel Castro being in power for 40 years and nobody could do anything for 40 years to get him out. I'm curious to know this. If we go on the route that you're saying, how much of your NGO is engaged in Cuba itself? If we become tough in Cuba, the NGOs will probably not be allowed to come in. The NGOs are the best hope the people of Cuba have for furthering their life within the context of the lack of freedom. If we carry on.... I would like to hear your experience, as you're an NGO. How much are you involved in Cuban life?
Forget the government aspect. I've just talked about the government and what we want to do. But as civil Canadian societies, how much are you involved in day-to-day Cuban life? What will then happen is that you would be persona non grata in Cuba and you won't be able to go there. It would be a case of how good of an engagement can we do. Where is the point, from your perspective, not from the political aspect of a political prisoner, but from your point of view? Where do you want to go so hard that the engagement process falls off and NGOs are unable to enter to make any change in that country?