Lead Editor-Politics
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has defended Trinidad and Tobago’s historic decision to vote against a United Nations resolution calling for an end to the United States embargo on Cuba, declaring that her Government will not support a “military dictatorship.”
In a statement issued on behalf of the United National Congress (UNC) hours after the vote yesterday, Persad-Bissessar insisted the decision reflected her Government’s commitment to democracy, freedom and the fundamental rights of all people.
“The UNC supports the Cuban people; we do not support a military dictatorship. The Cuban people deserve democracy,” the statement declared.
Persad-Bissessar also endorsed the United States’ campaign for political change in Cuba, backing the position of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“The United States government has been spearheading a campaign for democracy in Cuba. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, of Cuban heritage, is right: for Cuba to prosper, there must be political reforms and the democratic rights and freedoms of the Cuban people must be restored.”
She questioned why citizens of Caricom countries should enjoy the right to freely elect and change their governments while Cubans were denied the same opportunity.
“We cannot demand democracy, free and fair elections, freedom of expression and political rights for ourselves while remaining silent when those same freedoms are denied to the Cuban people,” she said.
She also accused Cuba’s ruling elite of enjoying privileged lifestyles while ordinary citizens experienced hardship.
“While the Cuban people suffer, the leaders of the Cuban regime and their families live in luxury. The exploitation of ordinary Cubans to support the lavish lives of those associated with the ruling regime has to end.”
Persad-Bissessar maintained that T&T respected the sovereign right of other countries to determine their foreign policies and expected the same respect in return.
“Those persons in Trinidad and Tobago who support dictatorship in Cuba would never support it in our own country. There is nothing romantic or idealistic about dictatorship masked as a revolutionary struggle for freedom,” she said.
In an earlier response to questions from Guardian Media, Persad-Bissessar said, “At the same time, it would be hypocritical for any leader, whether past, present or future, to advocate for or defend a system that actively suppresses dissent, silences opposing views and denies its citizens the very freedoms that we cherish here at home.”
T&T was among 17 countries voting against yesterday’s resolution, while 130 supported it and 25 abstained.
The US Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago thanked T&T for its vote. In a social media post, the embassy said, “Thank you, Trinidad and Tobago, for standing with the Cuban people and their hope for freedom.”
Persad-Bissessar championed end to blockade in 2015
In April 2015, however, Persad-Bissessar publicly championed an end to the US blockade against Cuba and celebrated the restoration of diplomatic relations between Washington and Havana.
Speaking at the Summit of the Americas in Panama, where then-US president Barack Obama and Cuban president Raúl Castro held historic talks, Persad-Bissessar described the diplomatic breakthrough as a defining moment for the region.
“It is for all of us in the Americas, a very historic and defining moment, one which we advocated a very long time ago,” she said at the time.
She specifically recalled T&T’s role, alongside other Caribbean countries, in establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1972 and advocating for an end to the blockade.
“You will recall that Trinidad and Tobago, along with Jamaica, Barbados and Guyana, called for this. In 1972, we established diplomatic relations with Cuba and we have been amongst those leaders calling for the end of the blockade on Cuba, and for Cuba to be re-admitted into the family of nations.”
She further reminded reporters, “It was only last year, you may recall, at the United Nations where I called for the end of the blockade against Cuba, and from what I heard today, it appears that President Obama is prepared to look at the second part of ending the embargo. The first part is taking place, but there is still a lot more work to be done.”
