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Former Caribbean leaders urge UN support to end Cuba embargo

Former Caribbean leaders appealed to countries worldwide to back an upcoming United Nations General Assembly resolution against the US embargo on Cuba. Their open letter criticises restrictions affecting energy supplies and calls for resistance to US pressure. The appeal precedes a scheduled October 28 vote, with no outcome yet announced.

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Cuban and United Nations flags fly in front of the UN complex.

Former leaders appeal before the General Assembly vote

Former leaders from Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries wrote to nations around the world seeking support for ending the US embargo on Cuba. Their appeal asks countries to support a resolution before the United Nations General Assembly. The open letter is dated October 24 and precedes the planned October 28 vote.[1], [2]

Signatories include former Barbados prime minister Freundel Stuart, former Belize prime ministers Dean Barrow and Said Musa, and Grenada’s Keith Mitchell and Tillman Thomas. Jamaica’s Bruce Golding and PJ Patterson, former Guyanese president Donald Ramotar, Saint Lucia’s Kenny Anthony and Ralph Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines also joined the appeal.[1]

The letter challenges restrictions on energy supplies

The former leaders criticised sanctions affecting governments and entities that supply, sell or transport energy products to Cuba, including petrol and diesel. They urged countries to resist US pressure aimed at defeating the resolution. The letter characterised the measures as violations of Cuba’s sovereignty, independence and basic human rights. Those legal assessments were made by the signatories.[1]

A decades-old embargo faces another UN resolution

The United States introduced the embargo in 1962 under President John F Kennedy. The letter says General Assembly resolutions have opposed it by overwhelming majorities every year since 1992, while Washington has maintained the policy. Cuba has suffered lengthy power cuts amid ageing power plants and fuel shortages. Havana blames US measures for its economic crisis; Washington points to internal mismanagement.[1]

References

  1. News sourceJamaica ObserverFormer CARICOM leaders seek UN support against Cuba embargo↩1↩2↩3↩4
  2. News sourceJamaica GleanerCaribbean ex-PMs call for end to Cuba embargo↩
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