BOGOTA, Colombia, CMC – St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr. Godwin Friday, has called for an end to the United States trade and economic embargo against Cuba, as well as extending support for Haiti, where criminal gangs are seeking to overthrow the government following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021.
“We must speak clearly on two urgent matters in our hemisphere,” Friday told the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) summit here over the last weekend.
“The economic, commercial, and financial embargo continues to impose severe hardship on the Cuban people. St Vincent and the Grenadines reaffirms the need to end this embargo and rejected the extraterritorial measures that obstruct Cuba’s access to international financial transactions, while noting that its continued designation as a state sponsor of terrorism further restricts its development,” Friday said.
The 33-member CELAC, which was created on December 2, 2011, is a regional bloc that aims to unite, strengthen, and promote the interests of Latin American and Caribbean states.
Friday said that as partners committed to sovereignty and international law, CELAC and Africa “must stand together in calling for the immediate removal of these anti-development measures”.
Last year, the majority of the United Nations’ 193 member states urged Washington to lift the measures. The resolution – titled Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba – was adopted by 165 votes in favour, seven against, and 12 abstentions.
This year, Cuba has been rocked by repeated and extensive blackouts as the United States has sought to cut off the supply of oil to the country.
Prime Minister Friday also told the summit that Kingstown expresses strong solidarity with the government and people of Haiti as they work toward political, economic, and social stability.
“We have emphasised the need for Haitian-led dialogue, strengthened security institutions, action against illicit arms flows, and support for the organisation of elections envisioned for August 2026 under the National Pact for Stability,” Friday said, and that CELAC and Africa must join forces to help Haiti rebuild with dignity, sovereignty, and long-term resilience.
“These are not isolated issues; they are tests of our collective commitment to justice, solidarity, and South–South cooperation.
“The Global South, if united, can shape international law, global governance, climate obligations, and development financing toward justice and equity,” he added.
Meanwhile, Guyana’s Prime Minister Mark Phillips has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to regional integration, stronger strategic partnerships, and advancing climate action.
In his address to the 10th Summit of Heads of State and Government of CELAC, Phillips.
described the current global landscape as a ‘polycrisis’ shaped by geopolitical tensions, economic instability, and climate change.
He said these factors carry far-reaching implications for peace, security, and development, emphasising that CELAC remains a vital platform for dialogue and collaboration that enables member states to address shared challenges and pursue opportunities for collective growth. In this regard, he welcomed recent engagements with extra-regional partners.
“These meetings have been both valuable and productive, auguring well for the development of strategic partnerships. We work to advance comprehensive programmes of cooperation on a range of issues with parties external to our region.”
The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of strengthening intra-regional collaboration, particularly in agriculture and food security.
“Our government, having taken responsibility for agriculture and food security within CARICOM, welcomes collaborative efforts and partnerships across CELAC to build the necessary capacity for the modernisation and advancement of this sector, with a view to boosting productive and logistics capacities and enhancing food security.”
The Prime Minister identified climate change as a major threat to development in the region, especially for small islands and low-lying coastal states. He warned that extreme weather events can quickly reverse development gains. He reiterated the need for sustained global advocacy to secure adequate financing for developing countries — both to shield them from the impacts of climate change and to support efforts to preserve the environment.
Prime Minister Phillips pointed to Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 as a key framework for balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability.
He explained that achievements such as increased investment in renewable energy, progress in forest preservation, and low-carbon infrastructure demonstrate that “economic growth and environmental stewardship can advance hand in hand, providing scope thereby, for my Government to strengthen its capacity to deal with climate change”.
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