KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Eight former heads of Caribbean countries are urging the Trump administration in the United States to rescind what they describe as an inhumane weapon of mass destruction in relation to Cuba.
The former leaders say they are perturbed at the deepening humanitarian crisis in Cuba and are impelled to make public their appeal to avert further human destruction.
The strongly worded letter bears the signatures of former Jamaican Prime Ministers Percival James Patterson and Bruce Golding.
The other former leaders are Dr. Kenny Anthony of St Lucia, Dr. Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago, Tillman Thomas of Grenada, Edison James of Dominica, Fruendel Stuart of Barbados, and a former President of Guyana, Donald Ramotar.
The leaders say the January 29 executive order by the United States against any nation providing oil to Cuba without the imposition of punitive discriminatory tariffs constitutes economic warfare and inflicts unconscionable suffering upon the Cuban people.
“The universal principle of dialogue to resolve conflicts and disputes cannot be abandoned on the altar of the mighty, powerful waging political vendettas against smaller nations by economic warfare.”
The statement adds that the consequences of “this horrific fuel blockade are catastrophic and constitute cruel punishment of the 11 million civilians by the strangulation of Cuba’s vital requirements for energy, food, medication, education, and basic livelihood.”
Pointing out that four Caribbean countries established diplomatic relations with Cuba on December 8, 1972, they note that for over five decades, Cuba has stood in solidarity with the Caribbean through medical brigades, educational scholarships, sports, and disaster relief, freely assisted in times of greatest need and devoid of any request by them for reciprocal support of any kind.
The former leaders state that the global community cannot remain mute and indolent while a fatal, pernicious fuel tourniquet stifles the Cuban economy and suffocates human lives there.
They are advocating the imperative of repealing immediately any decree that will result in an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Cuba and undermine the tenets of international law.
The statement notes that the foundation of the Caribbean Community rests on the right of each sovereign state to promote regional solidarity and advance comprehensive cooperation between all Caribbean states, adding that the CARICOM tradition of solidarity and the exercise of the right to enter and pursue beneficial programmes within our regional geographic space have proven invaluable and worthy of perpetuation.
The former leaders say they believe that the Caribbean citizenry will support any decision by the leaders to render tangible material support to brothers and sisters in Cuba at this time of need.
The leaders are also calling on the international community to provide Cuba with desperately needed humanitarian assistance.
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