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Tuesday, 4 July 2017

Eli Bitzer - memories of Havana


...  and some have Greatness thrust upon them.”

In September 2006 I was p“rivileged to visit the historical city of Havana for a second time, not as a mere tourist but as a member of the South African delegation accompanying then President Thabo Mbeki as well as Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad to the XIV NAM Summit.  As the only member of the Department aside from the PA of the Deputy Minister, my responsibility was to arrange and manage all the bilaterals for both the Principal and the Deputy Minister.  

Air Iberia had chosen to keep my luggage safely for me at OR Tambo Airport, only delivering it 5 days later (day before my return flight).  Being a stranger in town, I had only managed to purchase in the hotel lobby one Cuban shirt (collar recently replaced because of frequent and fond use),   Aside from that I had taken the precaution of carrying one T-shirt and one dress shirt in my cabin bag.   This left me rushing up and down the Spanish-speaking corridors of a hot and humid Havana Conference Centre in search of other delegations to arrange bilaterals with, wearing one shirt while the other was in the hotel laundry, being readied for the next day.   And so it came to pass that I returned to my hotel room one night to realise that I had forgotten my own birthday!

One morning I was standing at the bottom of broad stairs leading up to the entrance of the hotel, waiting for transport to the Conference Centre.  I suddenly felt myself shoved against a wall as a contigent of security personnel cleared the way for what was evidently a descending dignatory, being led by an equally important personality.;  That is to say, important for those who were able to recognise them - under which I did not count.  The first was Leonel Fernandez, President of the Dominican Republic, and the second was his Forein Minister, Charles Savarin.   Suddenly the Foreign Minister, for no recognisable reason whatsoever, noted me in the crowd and abruptly started redirecting his President towards me.  Surprised delegates parted like the Red Sea, while the Foreign Minister addressed both his President and a virage of Spanish words in my direction, with hands stretched out to greet and introduce the one and only me. 

The next morning I was again approached at breakfast by Minister Savarin, this time to very politely appologise that he had confused me with our dear and very hard working colleague Louis Pienaar, then Counsellor at our Mission in Havana responsible for the Dominicanm Republic and in the process of arranging a visit for them to South Africa.   When I later relayed this adventure to Louis, he typically only smiled demurely, neither commenting on his fame nor on the fact that I had been mistaken for looking like him.

But my true story does not end here.  Of course in the process of arranging bilaterals I was privileged to see, if seldom actually meet, colourful personalities such as Raoul Castro, Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales.  The first ever female Head of Government of a Caribbean country, Prime Minister  Portia Simpson Miller of Jamaica had just assumed office (and also sadly departed from office soon after).   She had requested a bilateral with Presiden Mbeki and I had to schedule a suitable time with the Jamaican delegation seated in plenary.   As I entered the hall I realised that President Mbeki had the podium as Chair of the G77 and China Group.   But low and behold, he was addressing that great audience of Heads of State and Government using words I recognised as my own!     As NAM Desk Officer I had been told by the Presidency to draft a speech, which Adv. Pillay, the Personal Assistant, had received without any changes at all except to insert a long introduction praising Comrade President Fidel Castro, then not well enough to himself attend the Summit.  

I was literally, although unfortunately only privately, gloating in my own greatness.  Tchaikovsky’s 1812 cannons were exploding all around me.    Through the smoke of the discharge I did notice a long-legged (further extended by very high heels) and very vivacious lady also waiting in the entrance behind the rows of chairs.  Furthermore, she seemed to be observing me.  Could it be that she knew I was the writer of the speech being presented here by the same person who had equalled Martin Luther King with his “I am an African” speech ?!!   And indeed, as President Mbeki concluded, she side-stepped in my direction and transfrormed herself into a magical Jamaican mirage simply by asking me in her unmistakable accent where I was from.  

I should not have answered.  I tried to reflect much later on whether it was a Flamenco or Tango dancer descending on me (probably the first), but her response was an excited bestowing of the name “Nelson” on me and then flinging her arms around me in a manner that completely disallowed any thought of resistance.   The bilateral was arranged soon after.   Sadly, the breakaway room was full to capacity and I was not allowed a second chance.   Not much later history in Jamaica also moved on without her.  

What a privilege, as insignificant foreign affairs functionaries, to be afforded  so many opportunities to witness history and have greatness thrust upon us.

Eli



(In fond memory of departed colleague Annabel Haslop, who did know Fidel Castro).

~~o~~



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