Elizabeth Morgan | Another Caribbean tragedy in the making?

Demanding their pound of flesh

All the countries in the wider Caribbean region have had their political, economic, social, and environmental problems. For years, the country which preoccupied the region most has been Haiti. How can this country which won its independence in 1804, against all odds, be put on a stable footing? The region and hemisphere are still grappling with this problem. Haiti has been the region’s long-standing tragedy. This column has looked at the situation in Haiti, and, on April 3, 2024 examined its history in an article titled ‘Haiti: A history of foreign involvement, but also of chronic crises in leadership’. 

CUBA

Now we are looking at Cuba as another Caribbean tragedy. 

Cuba fought for its independence from Spain from the 1820s. That struggle culminated in the 1898 Spanish-American War. The USA intervened and Spain was defeated. Cuba gained its independence from Spain, but was ceded to the USA. It came under US military occupation. It gained its independence from the USA on May 20, 1902. This May, Cuba marked 124 years of independence in great distress and under threat from the USA.

The USA was a pseudo-coloniser interfering in Cuba’s government continuously. It was said that the US ambassador had more power than the Cuban president. American companies, such as United Fruit, held sway in Cuba along with American organised crime syndicates which, it is reported, established a criminal empire there.

The United Fruit Company, other US corporate interests, and a wealthy Cuban upper class controlled the Cuban sugar industry. Most of Cuba’s sugar was exported to the USA which was the primary market for Cuban goods exports. These also included tobacco, cocoa, coffee, fruits, rum, iron ore and copper.

In addition, tourism became very important, with many visitors from the USA and elsewhere and USA investments in luxury hotels, casinos, and entertainment venues. The US was heavily involved in shipping.  The Cuban economy was intertwined with that of the USA.

The Cuban society was quite divided between the thriving urban centres and poor rural areas. Work was insecure, with lay-offs during agricultural off seasons. Trade unions were corrupt. There was discrimination and marginalisation of women and Afro-Cuban people. About 23 per cent of Cubans were illiterate, with the rate in rural areas increasing to 40 per cent. So life was not wonderful for most Cubans.

Thus, the Cuban Revolution began in July 1953, led by Fidel Castro and his supporters, rebelling against the corrupt and oppressive government of Fulgencio Baptista. He had actually come back to power in a military coup in 1952. Castro’s revolution was successful, as with waning USA support, Baptista fled the country.

USA TRADE EMBARGO

The Castro regime was not as fortunate as previous Cuban leaders in gaining USA support. The Castro government nationalised USA assets and properties. A rift developed between the two governments. The USA applied sanctions and diplomatic relations were severed in 1961. The USA maintained the Guantanamo Bay military base. 

The USA then unsuccessfully attempted the Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba.  By this time, the Cuban elite had fled to the USA, mainly to Florida. The next major schism was the Missile Crisis in October 1962. By then, Cuba had entered into a relationship with the Soviet Union (USSR). Thereafter, the USA imposed a near-total trade embargo on the country. Cuba’s support line was the USSR. The Republic of Cuba became a one-party socialist state ruled by its Communist Party.

In 1996, the USA further tightened its economic screws on Cuba, enacting the Helms-Burton Act which discouraged foreign investments. The fall of the USSR in 1991, meant that Cuba lost its main economic support. It was able to build a tourist industry with support from Europe and Canada.

CARICOM

Jamaica, and other now CARICOM member states, formally entered into diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1972 and maintained a friendly relationship for 54 years.

WORSE CAME

In spite of its difficulties and setbacks, though not being a democracy, Cuba managed to survive by trading its goods and turning to tourism. Its sugar industry collapsed in the 2O10s. Cuba turned to a form of trade in services, providing medical personnel and educators across the globe, including in the Caribbean. It also found support in Latin America, particularly in Venezuela, which supplied oil, along with Mexico and Russia.

During the Obama presidency, with the support of the Holy See (the Vatican), some progress was made to improve relations between the USA and Cuba.  In 2016, Barack Obama was the first US president to visit Cuba in 88 years.

Everything changed with the second return of President Donald Trump to office in 2025, appointing Marco Rubio of Cuban ancestry, from Florida, as his secretary of state and defence adviser. Many in the USA’s Cuban diaspora are rabidly opposed to the Cuban regime. 

With his new Monroe Doctrine and its Trump Corollary, President Trump applied more sanctions on Cuba, pointing to it as a security threat to the USA. The administration militarily removed the president of Venezuela, gaining significant influence over the Venezuelan government, and closing off oil supplies to Cuba. An oil embargo had been effected. They also raised concerns about the medical personnel programmes. Every concern came with a threat. 

It was made very clear that the USA administration and supporters in Florida desire regime change in Cuba, and they must have their pound of flesh. Cuban officials have been having discussions with USA officials. The USA has now indicted 94-year-old Raul Castro, brother of Fidel, and a former president of Cuba, for an incident which occurred 30 years ago. All the indications have been that the USA would not be averse to using its military against Cuba. Its objective is to strangle the country, bringing about its collapse and surrender. Reports out of Cuba are indicating dire distress for the population with the lack of electricity; a humanitarian crisis could be on the horizon, while, basically, world governments, with fear and ambiguity, look on with few commenting publicly. Some countries, civil society groups/individuals, and the Catholic Church, through CARITAS, have been providing humanitarian assistance. Some country’s history and national pride might not allow their leaders to capitulate.

It was a surprise to see CARICOM foreign ministers, except Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, recently issuing a statement on Cuba.

NOT A GOOD LOOK

Being 90 miles away from Cuba, it is certainly not a good look for Jamaica that a USA military aircraft carrier is now anchored in Kingston Harbour, whatever its goodwill mission. 

Elizabeth Morgan is a specialist in international trade policy and international politics. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.