ON June 6, 1762, Great Britain conquered the Spanish Caribbean port of Havana, thus began the sovereign nation's 11-month occupation of Cuba.

Nearly three centuries following British admiral Charles Knowles' conquest, Havana now finds herself again under siege, only this time the would-be aggressors are more of a subtle nature.

Defying a Government ban on travel to the Western Hemisphere's sole socialist state, thousands of Americans continue to flock to Havana to savour the country's rich and proud culture, a culture which has yet to yield to the will of the United States.

In 1962, shortly after the US' botched invasion of Cuba and the Cuban missile crisis, US President John F. Kennedy signed the presidential proclamation (No. 3,447) which established a total economic, commercial and financial blockade and travel of its citizens to the region against Fidel Castro's Government.

Last month, the US House of Representatives renewed its efforts to weaken the embargo on Cuba by lifting a ban on US citizen travel to the island. However, the measure still faces obstacles in Congress and a veto threat from President George W. Bush. The House voted 227-188 to lift the ban.

Also, on four consecutive attempts (1992-1995), each draft resolution presented by Cuba against the US blockade has been victoriously approved at the United Nations, thanks to the solidarity of many countries that have bravely rejected this dreadful situation with their votes.

Earlier this year, President Bush condemmed Cuba for its human rights record following the swift executions of three men who commandeered a ferry boat and a sweeping round-up of 75 political dissidents who have since been imprisoned by the state.

However, in a May speech at Havana's Revolution Square, Cuban President Castro argued his nation's human rights record paled considerably in comparison to President's Bush's record while he was in office as Governor of Texas, where he presided over the executions of many convicted felons.

"Most Cubans are aware of the consequences of the blockade and think it is the cause of many of our financial problems which affects families' welfare," explained Carmalena Morales, who works in historically-rich Old Havana.

told me: "If it didn"t exist we'll probably have more access to medicines, equipment, oil and other products we import paying double the normal price because they are American products and we have to get them through Third World countries."

For Castro's revolution today, there are only two alternatives; either the Caribbean nation surrenders or is destroyed. And that is seemingly the only alternatives the US Government offers.

However, regardless of its size, Cuba has opted to be destroyed with dignity as opposed to surrendering, refusing to negotiate with a nation that has long since adopted a position of force against her.

But in tourism, says Mrs. Morales, Cuba has found a new ray of hope.

"Of course, tourism brought us a ray of light ? it was another source of income easier than the sugar cane industry as we didn't have a way to get new technology for our mills and the sugar price was low on the world market," she explained.

"We have potential attractions and a lot of people would like to see how we are living; get to know our culture, the culture of a people who hasn't submitted to the will of the Unites States in spite of all the pressure ? especially the Americans."

She went on: "Most of the Americans that come to Cuba are interested in our history, our culture and are against the blockade.

"They are normal people, they do not belong to the Goverment. Sometimes they are investors or own companies and want to trade with us. They are concerned about our well-being because of what their Goverment has done and continue do to us; they are very respectful, and so are we."

the fall of the former Soviet Union in 1989, the US economic blockade had minimal effect on Cuba, as the Caribbean nation thrived on supplying sugar to the East European socialist satellite nations. However, since the collapse of the Soviet Empire, with sugar prices subject to the vagaries of the world markets, Havana quickly turned to tourism as a priority source of income.

"Tourism brought money into the country and you can see people are getting a better living little by little," said Mrs. Morales.

"Those who work in tourism got more possibilities because they receive tips but the Goverment is paying $10 (US) plus the salaries to those industries that export their productions and are getting dollars into the country.

"So with this money we can pay for all our imports. The average salary is about 200 pesos which is about $8 (US) a month and if you work in tourism or another export industry that would be $10 (US) more."

But, according to Mrs. Morales, that's still not enough, though Cubans manage to survive.

"It's not enough because the prices are still high. Most of our hotels are owned by the state, just a few are run by other companies. But they are jointly owned.

In turn, this means nobody owns nothing by himself, everything is ours, of course on a contract basis.

"It doesn"t matter where the money comes from and we think likewise about American tourists."

PRIOR to Castro's triumphant revolution in 1959, undesirable Government officials of the then-President, General Fulgencio Batista and greedy tyrants became millionaires, allowing American companies to plunder the country.

Together with local Government administrative mismanagement, they created an unbearble situation for Cuban society, resulting in hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers and hundreds of thousands of Cubans living in poverty.

Almost all the latifundia with the best farmlands and the largest and most important companies operating in Cuba were American property, many establishing themselves in the country through illegal manipulations.

At present, off-shore international companies account for 75 per cent of Bermuda's economy, while recently, Bermuda Government Minister Dale Butler came under fire for signing a memorandum forging cultural links with socialist Cuba.

"We won"t give up fighting against the blockade and we are not perfect, we have made mistakes," said Mrs. Morales.

"We may make decisions thinking that it will be better for our people and sometimes it comes out the other way around, but that"s human.

"But I'm sure that what our Goverment does, it's always in our best interests.

"What Cubanos most want is comfort in their houses, a decent salary to cover all their needs, and to be able to have a car and travel.

"Like what normal people would like, but without being told what's better for us as we have always done.

"That's why we fight against those opinionated that interfere or talk about what's our own business.

"We like our independence and we'll fight to death to keep it."