Former Charlottetown mayor looks back at twinning agreement with Havana

In 1996, Charlottetown became officially twinned with Havana, Cuba.

Twenty years later, former Charlottetown mayor George MacDonald says the changes in Cuba's relations with the U.S. make him wonder what could have came of the agreement had trade relations been different at the time.

MacDonald was deputy mayor when the twinning took place and spent a week in Havana withGordon MacQueenand two other Charlottetown business people, he told host Mitch CormieronCBC's Island Morning.

"He had been to Cuba on a number of occasions and the arrangements were made through him."

During their time there, an agreement was signed that MacDonaldsaid they hoped would be beneficial to both cities and countries.

"To me, it was quite important because we are the birthplace of Confederation, historically we have great importance in Canada, and when we went to Cuba they knew that. They recognized that."

MacDonald believes the special treatment they received during the visit was because of it.

Significant agreement

"We were able to then sign an agreement, which is at city hall as I understand, with Cuba and signed, not by Castro himself but his second in command."

MacDonaldsaid the twinning has a historicalsignificance for him as he watched PresidentBarack Obama'sfirst officialstatevisit to Cuba.

"We can say, 'We were there long before you,the birthplace of Canada was there long before you,'" saidMacDonald.

The former mayor said they even signed the agreement in the same building whereObamaspent time withCubanPresidentRaulCastro, the brother of former presidentFidelCastro.

But the now 20-year-old agreement didn't work for either side.MacDonaldsaid they were trying to open up trade agreements as they met with Cuban delegations that would be beneficial to both sides.

Dream and a wish

MacDonaldsaid it wasn't realized at the time that the regulations in Cuba were so restrictive that it became almost impossible to do anything.

"What we were venturing on was likely more of a dream and a wish than something that would actually happen," he said.

"We didn't leave with that idea but after we came back to Prince Edward Island and to Charlottetown, and talking with provincial officials and others, finding anyone excited about it was very difficult."

MacDonaldadmits he was very enthusiastic about the twinning and worked withMcQueento make something work from it but had no success.

He adds even a cultural exchange of musicians became impossible.

Now, MacDonaldadmits he is envious of what's happening in Cuba now because of what Charlottetown tried to do 20 years ago.

"The memories of my time in Cuba and what we thought we could do come back so clear I got excited about it. Twenty years ago, we were there saying, 'Look it, there's something we can do for the Cuban people and something the Cuban people can do for us.'"

MacDonaldsaid it's sad that it's taken so long for trade relations with Cuba to be improved.

Fond memories

The former mayor fondly recalled the time he spent in Havana, saying he felt very safe walking the streets.

He said taxis weren't plentiful but local citizens could be hired to drive you where you needed to go in their older cars.

But he also remembers thepoverty in Havana.

"It was something I had never seen before."

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