Former President Donald Ramotar has joined seven former Caribbean leaders in urging countries to support a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for an end to the United States’ economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba.

In an open letter dated October 24, the leaders called on countries to resist US pressure ahead of the October 28 vote, arguing that intensified restrictions affecting Cuba’s access to fuel have made the issue more urgent.

They accused Washington of using sanctions against governments and entities supplying or transporting fuel, including gasoline and diesel, to pressure the Cuban population. The leaders described the measures as inhumane and contrary to international law.

“The US embargo continues to be a threat to hemispheric and international peace and security,” the letter states.

The signatories, alongside Ramotar, are former Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart; former Belize Prime Minister Said Musa; former Grenada Prime Ministers Keith Mitchell and Tillman Thomas; former Jamaica Prime Ministers Bruce Golding and P.J. Patterson; and former St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.

They argue that the embargo violates Cuba’s sovereignty and the rights of its people, while criticising Washington for maintaining the policy despite repeated UN General Assembly resolutions calling for it to end.

The former leaders are urging countries to support the resolution and help improve relations between Havana and Washington.

“Let us all contribute to the healing of the hemispheric fracture between the United States of America and Cuba,” they appeal.

 

Former President Donald Ramotar