Trinidad and Tobago became the first Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country in decades to ever have voted against a United Nations resolution condemning the United States trade and economic embargo against Cuba, as regional countries remained divided on the issue.
But while the Cuban government may have been pleased with the outcome of the vote, Havana lost significant support from countries in the Western Hemisphere and Europe. The resolution passed 130-17, with 25 abstentions, a sharp drop from last year, when it won 165 votes, with seven against and 12 abstentions.
Of the CARICOM countries that were present at Wednesday’s debate, Jamaica, Haiti and Guyana abstained, while Trinidad and Tobago became the first CARICOM country ever to vote against the UN resolution to end the trade and economic and commercial embargo.
The Bahamas, Belize, Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St.Kitts and Nevis and Suriname, all voted in favour of the resolution, while Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica and St. Lucia were marked as being absent when the vote was taken.
Jamaica’s Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Kamina Johnson-Smith, told a news conference that Kingston had been reflecting on the UN vote for some time, ‘as this is a shift in policy’
She recalled that Prime Minister Andrew Holness at a CARICOM summit in St. Kitts and Nevis earlier this year had ‘expressed concern at the worsening humanitarian suffering, the impact on Cuba’s circumstances on the region.
‘He reaffirmed our solidarity with Cuba, but also called for U.S.-Cuba dialogue aimed at stability and improving the circumstances of the people. He called for reform and he suggested that CARICOM could, if possible, CARICOM member states could play a constructive role in engagement and cooperation.’
She said more recently at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, she delivered Jamaica’s national policy statemen ‘reaffirming the perspectives first stated by the Prime Minister in July.
‘I want to, by way of reminder, restate the relevant excerpt from the national policy statement. I said, Mr. President, the suffering of the Cuban people is of deep concern to Jamaica. We encourage domestic reform and greater integration of Cuba into the international economic system, supported by policies that create pathways for progress and eliminating the dire humanitarian crisis, rather than perpetuating isolation under the blockade.’
Johnson-Smith said that in the Jamaica parliament on Tuesday, the government moved a motion entitled motion on the Economic and Humanitarian Situation in Cuba, ‘again consistent with the perspective that a broader view of the complex situation in Cuba is needed.
‘Rather than simply calling for an end to the embargo, as has been done in previous years, the motion called on the Parliament to do the following. It asks that Parliament one expresses its deep concern regarding the economic and humanitarian challenges confronting the Cuban people and affirms that their welfare and aspirations must remain central to efforts to address these challenges, two, recognises the importance of intensified economic and institutional reforms, as well as respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms, as well as other essential elements of sustainable development.’
She said that the Parliament also ‘supports constructive engagement between Cuba and the United States of America, grounded in mutual respect and peaceful dialogue, aimed at reducing economic restrictions and other barriers to international trade, finance, and investment, while facilitating Cuba’s progressive integration into the international economic system, rather than its isolation under the blockade.’
Johnson-Smith said that these broader contexts are not included in the resolution before the United Nations, ‘and there is no scope to adjust the language of the resolution.
‘We therefore abstained. We did not vote against, because we do not support unilateral actions in accordance with the UN Charter, and we did not vote for, because it is clear that continuing to do the same thing each year, to support the resolution simplicita, with not only no improvement in the circumstances, but in fact a deepening of the humanitarian crisis and suffering, this does not serve the benefit of the Cuban people.’
She said that the position taken is also consistent with Jamaica’s broader perspective on multilateralism.
‘As stated in our national policy statement, we cannot simply continue to defend it and do the same things, and believe that in a changing world, it will somehow magically manifest Agenda 2030, and the systems be deemed to be fully effective.
‘We believe that the systems need reform, and this requires us to act differently. So in the totality of these circumstances,’ she said, adding that Jamaica outlined its reasoning to the United Nations on Wednesday for abstaining on the vote.
According to the Johnson-Smith Jamaica and Cuba share longstanding relations founded on our geographical proximity, historical ties, neutral respect and cooperation, consistent with Jamaica’s commitment to sovereignty, territorial integrity, peaceful coexistence, respect for the Charter of the United Nations, and the principles of international law.
‘We are therefore deeply concerned about the deteriorating socioeconomic and humanitarian conditions being experienced by the people of Cuba, which includes shortages of food, medicines, energy, and other essential goods and services.
‘These challenges adversely affect their quality of life and prospects to achieve the sustainable development goals as envisioned in Agenda 2030. Mr. President, the challenges being experienced by the people of Cuba reflect the combined effects of longstanding external economic restrictions, including the United States economic, commercial, and financial embargo, as well as domestic economic policies and structural constraints,which have limited productivity, investment, and economic opportunity.
‘We are of the view that sustainable improvements in the welfare of the Cuban people would be supported by a more enabling international environment alongside economic and institutional reforms that promote productivity, enterprise, investment, and fuller participation in the international economic and financial system.’
She said Jamaica also recognises the importance of respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as other essential elements of sustainable development, and affirms that the welfare and aspirations of the Cuban people must remain central to efforts to address the current challenges.
‘Reiterating our conviction that multilateralism must deliver fairness for all and affirming our strong belief in resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy, we therefore continue to encourage constructive engagement between Cuba and the United States of America.
‘Such dialogue must be grounded in mutual respect, with the objective of reducing economic restrictions and other barriers to international trade, finance, and investment, while facilitating Cuba’s progressive integration into the international economic system rather than its isolation under the economic, commercial, and financial blockade,’ Johnson-Smith told reporters.