Washington – United States officials said on Wednesday they were still formulating the invitation list regarding the attendance at the Summit of the Americas to be held next month, indicating nonetheless that the four-day event will be a success.
Caricom countries are divided on whether or not to boycott the event to be staged from June 6 to 10 in the American city of Los Angeles.
St Vincent & the Grenadines prime minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves confirmed on Wednesday that neither he nor any other government minister will be attending the Summit in protest over Washington’s decision not to invite the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.
“We are still looking though the invitations, we are continuing to engage in conversations with different countries and once we make the final decision we will make an announcement,” Juan Gonzalez, the U.S. national security council senior director for the western hemisphere, said.
Other countries in the Americas, including Mexico, have also raised concerns regarding their participation at the deliberations, insisting that the Summit must be inclusive and not exclusive.
Gonzalez said it was important in terms of the Summit to examine “why we are gathering and focus on our collective responsibility for a more inclusive and prosperous future for the hemisphere”.
“So we have not been focus on who is and who is not been invited, but more really on the outcomes that we want to achieve at the Summit,” he said.
Gonzalez acknowledged that there have been “very respectful and active conversations” with Mexico president Andres Manuel López Obrador threatened not to attend if invitations are not extended to Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.
Mexico is regarded as probably the most important Latin American country to attend the Summit with American officials indicating that it will include a special focus on immigration
(CMC)
