Family photo with Castro prompted threats

A Kelowna woman has come forward following the death of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro to share a family story about the communist leader.

Carol Neish has a black and white photo of her parents Elgin (“Scotty”) and (Viola) Gladys Neish when they visited Castro in Cuba in April 1961.

“It was the year of the Bay of Pigs invasion and they were there at the time and were trapped in Cuba,” said Neish.

“They went to Cuba to support Fidel in his efforts to educate the women and the children and support Fidel in his efforts to make it a communist country.”

Scotty Neish was involved in the communist party in British Columbia from the 1930’s and played an instrumental role in the first fishermen’s union along the coast.

His dedication to movement is still honoured by the communist party in Victoria.

Carol’s brother Kevin remains a well known human-rights activist.

The plan was also to enlighten Cuban fisherman on new techniques.

Neish said the photo of her parents with Castro raises eyebrows and their family receives threats because of their close ties to communism.

“Our family has been threatened numerous times over my dad’s political beliefs,” she said.

Scotty Neish died in 1995 at the age of 79, while his wife Gladys passed away in 1994 at the age of 75.