Caribbean Community (CARICOM)-countries have supported a United Nations resolution calling on the United States to end its decades’ old economic embargo against Cuba.
The 192-member United Nations body voiced concern about the “adverse effects” of such measures on the Cuban people and on Cuban nationals living in other countries in the non-binding resolution.
The text was supported by 187 countries while the United States and Israel voted against. There were three abstentions.
The resolution reiterated previous calls on countries “to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures” that do not conform to their obligations to reaffirm freedom of trade and navigation.
In addition, the resolution urged countries to repeal or invalidate any such laws as soon as possible.
Originally adopted in May, the Baldwin Spencer administration in Antigua and Barbuda reiterated its full commitment to “the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and in particular the principles of sovereign equality of States, non-intervention and non-interference in their internal affairs and freedom of international trade and navigation.
“The Government of Antigua and Barbuda expresses its concern at the continued promulgation of the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba, despite the overwhelming support by Member States of General Assembly resolution 64/6, previous resolutions against the embargo and other relevant international treaties,” the statement said.
Belize said the ongoing attempt to isolate Cuba “in disregard of this annually adopted resolution is a cause of concern,” stating that at the bilateral level, Belize continues to engage with Cuba in a “constructive and mutually beneficial partnership which has yielded concrete benefits for all our peoples.”
The Belizean government said its policy of engagement is “further enhanced through regional cooperation between the Caribbean Community and Cuba.”
The Bruce Golding administration in Jamaica said it remains “opposed to the unilateral application of economic and trade measures by one State against another that would obstruct the freedom of commercial activity, trade and economic cooperation.”
To this end and in keeping with its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and international law, the government said it has “not promulgated any law, legislation or measure that would infringe on the sovereignty of a State or its lawful national interests.”
“Consequently, the Government of Jamaica reiterates its support for General Assembly resolutions calling for an end to the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba and urges all States that continue to apply such laws and measures to take the necessary steps to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible,” the statement said.
The Ralph Gonsalves administration in St. Vincent and the Grenadines said it “enjoys very friendly relations with Cuba and continues to engage the Government and people of Cuba in solidarity on a variety of constructive, cooperative and mutually beneficial partnerships.”
“St. Vincent and the Grenadines has consistently and unreservedly voted in favour of the General Assembly resolutions on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba,” it said.
“St Vincent and the Grenadines expresses continued concern with the hardships and human suffering caused by the ongoing promulgation of the embargo against Cuba, despite the overwhelming international support for multiple resolutions that call for an end to this blockade,” it added.
CMC