By Garwin Davis, Assistant News Editor JAMAICA'S SEEMING reluctance to criticise Cuba for its crackdown on dissidents should not be viewed as an endorsement of attacks on freedom of expression, according to Delano Franklyn, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
According to him, Jamaica was not in a position to say whether it approves or disapproves of the actions of Havana in last month's jailing of 75 dissidents, a number of them journalists.
"It would have to be a CARICOM position," explained Mr. Franklyn. "Jamaica cannot, on its own, openly criticise the actions of a sovereign state...for or against." Mr. Franklyn was responding to questions from The Gleaner regarding criticisms relating to Cuba.
In the last month, the Cuban authorities have rounded up 75 dissidents and imprisoned them for terms of up to 28 years. As part of the crackdown, Cuba also executed three men who hijacked a ferry in a failed bid to reach the United States.
The United States, in condemning the actions of the Fidel Castro led Government, said it was reviewing all aspects of its policy on Cuba. There have also been a huge international outcry, including Pope John Paul against the lengthy sentences.
REVIEWING OUR POLICIES
"We are reviewing all of our policies and our approach to Cuba in light of what I think is a deteriorating human rights situation within Cuba," Powell said on NBC's news programme Meet the Press last Sunday. "The actions of Cuba explains why that country continues to be isolated in the international community."
However a Cuban government statement released earlier this month warned that: "More than four decades of revolution have demonstrated that our country is capable of facing any threat and defeating sinister plans of all kinds."
Mr. Franklyn said the Govern-ment is aware of the criticisms of the Cuban Government, noting that CARICOM would soon make its position known.
The delay, however, of "a strong and meaningful response" by Jamaica and other CARICOM nations is not sitting well with influential media organisations worldwide. Most have strongly criticised the region for its failure to condemn the actions of the communist island.
At the UNESCO World Press Freedom Day 2003 conference in Kingston two weeks ago, Jim Ottaway, chairman of the World Press Freedom Committee, said he was surprised at how silent the region was on what had happened in Cuba.
