U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio flew to St. Kitts in late February for talks with Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders at their summit last week and discussed topics from hemispheric security to cross-border narco trafficking to an overhaul of tourist visas for countries around the globe, including the region.
The decades of sustained pressure on Cuba also made the agenda, and, based on reports, regional leaders appeared to have stood their ground on the special relationship the community has with Cuba, despite the economic chokehold imposed on the island by the U.S. and the pressure it is applying on the bloc to scale back relations with Cuba.
As the three-day conference came to an end, the region made it clear to all and sundry that its support for the island remains steadfast, especially because of the decades of close cooperation in training Caribbean doctors and other professionals in Cuba, in large part free of cost. Conference Chair and Kittian Prime Minister Terrance Drew said the region is moving to send a significant relief package to Cuba in the coming weeks because that is basically the right thing to do.
“With respect to Cuba and the humanitarian efforts, we are going to respond on the humanitarian end in short order, within a month,” Drew said. “The matter of the challenging situation in Cuba was also discussed. All parties recognized that there should be efforts to address the growing humanitarian crisis. The Caribbean Community, cognizant of its very close relationship with both Cuba and the USA, and mindful of the extent to which the region can be negatively affected, is willing to participate in any way that will redound to the benefit of the Cuban people, while maintaining regional stability. I can go on further to say that the community has taken the decision as well to support humanitarian efforts in Cuba.”
He noted that during the session with Rubio, “all parties recognized that there should be efforts to address the growing humanitarian crisis.”
As an indication of things to come, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness led the way at the opening ceremony by suggesting that the region owes Cuba a debt of gratitude, even as he worried about a collapsed Cuba affecting the wider Caribbean, as he called for assistance to the country.
“Its people are part of our shared history, but today, the Cuban people face severe economic hardship, energy shortages, and growing humanitarian strain. Jamaica is sensitive to the struggles of the Cuban people,” he said, while noting that “humanitarian suffering serves no one. Apart from our fraternal care and solidarity with the Cuban people, it must be clear that a prolonged crisis in Cuba will not remain confined to Cuba. It will affect migration, security, and economic stability across the Caribbean basin. It is, therefore, important that we carefully consider this matter and take collective action.”
Drew chipped in by recalling his days of reading for a medical degree in Cuba as the leaders made the case for an assistance package to the island. “I studied in Cuba,” Drew said. “I lived in Cuba for seven years. I have friends there. I have people who are like family to me. They reach out to me and tell me of their difficulties. Food has become terribly scarce for some. Access to water has been challenging. Garbage fills the streets. Houses are without electricity. I can only feel the pain of those who treated me so well when I was a student. I can feel their challenges and their difficulties. I do not get involved in their politics, but as a matter of humanity, it is challenging — I would say it is almost impossible — not to feel the pain that is conveyed to me in messages and calls from those who I lived among.”
It is not clear when the relief package will head to Cuba, but leaders said that it must be sent to avoid another Haiti-like crisis.