We will stand with Cuba, says Jamaican Government
Published:Tuesday | October 30, 2018 | 12:00 AMLivern Barrett/Senior Parliamentary Reporter
The Andrew Holness administration has made it clear that Jamaica will not support any changes to a United Nations (UN) draft resolution, to be voted on today, that condemns the decades-old economic embargo imposed on Cuba by the United States (US).
“The Government of Jamaica will not support any amendment to the draft resolution before the United Nations General Assembly,” Jamaica’s Attorney General Marlene Malahoo-Forte declared last night.
The announcement was made in the Jamaican Parliament just before lawmakers from both side of the political divide voted unanimously to approve a resolution demanding that the US “unilaterally and unconditionally” end the embargo.
The stance taken by the Holness administration could put Jamaica at odds with the Donald Trump administration, which according to one American media entity, has proposed “a series” of amendments to the UN resolution that would call out Cuba’s human rights record.
“I can also report that the Government of Jamaica supports Cuba’s opposition to amendment of the resolution to include any reference to human rights concerns,” Malahoo-Forte declared, to applause from other lawmakers.
“The reason for that, Mr Speaker, is that there is another United Nations body that is specifically charged with dealing with human rights issues,” she added, in reference to the UN Human Rights Council.
Jamaica’s Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips, in supporting the resolution, cautioned that the economic sanctions imposed on Cuba should not be seen as “abstract development” taking place elsewhere in the world.
“They have a direct consequence on us. Sanctions imposed on Russian companies having nothing to do with what is happening [between US and Cuba] threaten the livelihood of Jamaicans workers,” Phillips said.
“We have no great army, we can’t threaten anyone. We have to depend on the rule of international law and this blockade is contrary to international law,” he added.