Trent University Durham Historian Spends Three Nights in Havana on Official Visit
Dr. Robert Wright joins diplomats, government representatives and trades officials on Prime Minister's visit to Cuba
It was a whirlwind trip to Cuba for Trent University Durham historian Dr. Robert Wright last week as he joined a contingent of government officials, international diplomats, and Ministerial trade representatives attending Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s official state visit to Cuba.
Professor Wright, who has penned several books about former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, including international best seller, Three Nights in Havana and his latest book, Trudeaumania: The Rise to Power of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was invited by Patrick Parisot, the Canadian Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba, to participate in some of the visit’s key events as a guest of the Prime Minister’s office.
“It was a nice surprise to be invited to Havana during Prime Minister Trudeau’s official visit, and to be a fly on the wall for such an historic occasion,” remarked Prof. Wright. “Pierre Trudeau’s 1976 state visit to Cuba is recalled with genuine affection by many older Cubans, so it was inevitable that Justin’s visit last week would be steeped in history.”
While in Havana, Prof. Wright attended two by-invitation-only events. The first, a public speech that the Prime Minister gave at the University of Havana. Prof. Wright estimated that he was the only Canadian academic in attendance at the historic speaking engagement. Also in attendance was Cuban president, Raúl Castro, highlighting the importance of the Prime Minister’s visit to the Island nation.
“Justin opened his remarks at the University of Havana by reminiscing about his father’s trip, reminding his audience that it was his late brother, Michel, who had accompanied his parents to Havana and endeared himself to so many Cubans,” Prof. Wright recounted. “Cuban officials presented Justin Trudeau with the text of the speech Pierre gave in Cienfuegos, when he famously cheered “Viva la amistad cubano-canadiense!” (“Viva Cuban-Canadian friendship”)”
“Justin Trudeau spoke often, and warmly, about the many “people-to-people” contacts that have been cultivated between Canada and Cuba over the last several decades,” Prof. Wright continued. “Scholarly exchanges are an important element in that bilateral relationship, though admittedly they pale in comparison with Canada’s business interests in Cuba and especially with the 1.3 million Canadian tourists who visit Cuba annually.”
Prof. Wright was also a guest at the formal reception hosted in honour of Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, which included over 500 guests, including political representatives, foreign officials and academics.