CARICOM urged to unite in face of US pressure, threats

By Prince Moore  

 

 

There's a call for CARICOM to be united in the face of threats from a US congressman to comments made by Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness on Cuba. 

 

Prime Minister Holness, speaking at the CARICOM Heads of Governent meeting on Tuesday, called for frank discussion about the situation in Cuba, noting that Jamaica and Cuba share deep historical ties and that Cuban doctors and teachers have supported countries across the region, including Jamaica.

 

In response, US Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez criticised the Prime Minister's comments, warning that Jamaica could face consequences.

 

Professor Mark Kirton, Director of the Center for International and Border Studies in Guyana, believes the congressman is articulating the US policy in the region.

 

He said CARICOM should have a strong united approach to counter the position of the US.  

 

"I listened where some of the leaders of the Caribbean said they are very hopeful, as a result of Secretary Rubio's visit, and that there could be some approaches that could satisfy both sides. But I think that we see very clearly that the US is moving again to reintroduce that, what they now term the Monroe Doctrine, basically full pressure applied to small states of the region. And recognising, I believe, the fragmentation among our states, we need

to push further and harder for unity," he suggested.

 

Professor Kirton commended Dr. Holness on a balanced declaration on Cuba, saying he hoped this stance would remain and "influence some of the thinking in the Caribbean community so that we continue to recognise the need for solidarity for the government and people of Cuba". 

 

"More than 50 years, Cuba has been in that act of proletarian internationalism, been providing all kinds of support and assistance for the Caribbean community. And therefore, I believe we just can't walk away and just bend over to the whims and fancies of the United States. I believe we have to indicate quite clearly that this is more than humanitarian. This is an effort that continuing solidarity which began in 1972," said the professor, who was speaking Thursday on Radio Jamaica's Beyond the Headlines.

 

At the same time, Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago, Dr. Danielle Roper said the US congressman's  criticism of Dr. Holness' statement on Cuba is an example of a fascist Trump administration. 

 

"I think that the statement was, you know, I mean, so tepid and so kind of, you know, basic. It wasn't even some kind of overt claim for solidarity or anything of the sort. And yet the response is threats because I think that, you know, we in Jamaica need to be really, really aware that we're not dealing with some kind of reasonable administration. We're dealing with a fascist authoritarian administration that is running an empire whose intention is to colonise all of us. 

 

"I think what they're doing to Cuba is basically we should, how we say, tek sleep mark death. Because it's basically saying to us that if we don't all, every single country, work in deference to the intentions and interests of the United States, we will be threatened," she warned.