Senior Reporter
Former People’s Partnership government minister Winston Dookeran is urging Trinidad and Tobago to stand by Cuba, insisting that the Caribbean nation’s sovereignty must be respected and its people defended.
His comments come amid a fiery confrontation between the United States (US) and Cuba at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) yesterday, which saw proceedings briefly suspended following heated exchanges over the decades-long American embargo against the island.
The confrontation erupted as the US representative accused Cuba’s leadership of corruption, repression and enjoying lavish lifestyles while ordinary citizens struggled with shortages of basic necessities.
Responding to Guardian Media via WhatsApp yesterday, Dookeran said the issue went beyond the verbal confrontation and centred on the fundamental right of nations to determine their own affairs. The former foreign affairs minister said, “The issue is really about sovereignty and the sovereign will of a nation. The UN Charter protects that right for all. Yes, in spite of the UN resolutions, sanctions remain, and this is an uncomfortable truth of geopolitics.”
Dookeran said the confrontation was unsurprising, given the longstanding geopolitical tensions surrounding the embargo.
“The UN is a forum to express differences and cool tensions in preserving peace. So, one cannot be surprised at the verbal confrontation at the UN; it signifies nothing new.”
He emphasised that Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean had historically supported the removal of the embargo on Cuba, a position he said was grounded in international law and humanitarian principles.
Dookeran, who served as a minister from 2010 to 2015, said, “The Caribbean and T&T have traditionally called for the removal of the embargo on Cuba, a Caribbean nation. And for good reason in law and humanity. We must continue to stand for the right principles in the practice of diplomacy, more so, as small nations, and the UN provides a powerful medium to do so. These are principles that anchor our thrust for peace and our support for humanity. These are fundamental premises for good order and decency. ”
He also warned that T&T must not allow itself to become entangled in the geopolitical rivalry between major powers at the expense of its longstanding diplomatic principles. “T&T must not be caught in the mud of the geopolitics of our time; we can only stand in defence of a sovereign Caribbean state, striving to serve the interest of its people. There can be no other option. Today, the Cuban embargo is cruel, and our voice must be clear and clean.”
Reflecting on his tenure as foreign affairs minister, Dookeran said he had previously raised the importance of ideological pluralism at the General Assembly.
He said that T&T must continue navigating its international relationships without compromising its fundamental principles.
Heated exchanges at UN
Meanwhile, the debate over a resolution calling for an end to the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba descended into a series of confrontations between the American and Cuban delegations.
The US representative accused Cuba’s communist government of corruption and political repression, alleging that its leaders enjoyed extraordinary wealth while ordinary citizens struggled with shortages of food, fuel and medicine.
At one point, he displayed photographs of luxury watches, properties and yachts, questioning how members of Cuba’s leadership could afford such extravagance amid the country’s economic difficulties.
The accusations drew repeated objections from the Cuban delegation, which accused the American representative of lying and insulting the dignity of the Cuban people and government.
The Cuban representative said, “I would like you to call to order the lying permanent representative of the United States who is offending this delegation, a delegation of a member state.”
The American representative refused to back down, responding sharply to the interruptions.
He said, “This is America, my friend. This is the United Nations. This isn’t your communist dictatorship. You cannot silence me, or you cannot silence my colleagues.”
He later warned that continued interruptions would only prompt him to repeat his accusations against the Cuban government.
He added, “Foreign minister, here’s how this is going to work. Every time you interrupt me and my right to speak here to the world and show your corruption and malfeasance, every time you interrupt me, I’m just going to keep explaining how corrupt this regime is. And I’m going to do it a little more slowly.”
The exchanges became so heated that the meeting was briefly suspended before proceedings resumed.
The US representative also rejected Cuba’s characterisation of the American restrictions as a blockade, pointing to continuing shipments of goods to the island, including from American companies and other international partners. He argued that Cuba’s economic difficulties were the result of its government’s policies rather than American restrictions.
Despite the confrontation, several countries and international groupings continued to support the resolution, calling for the embargo to be lifted and highlighting its humanitarian consequences for the Cuban population.
However, the American representative urged member states to reject it.
He said, “Colleagues, history is watching. Do not stand with this regime. Vote no on this resolution and stand with the Cuban people.”
Trinidad and Tobago did not deliver a statement during yesterday’s proceedings.
No vote was taken, with the General Assembly expected to continue consideration of the resolution today.
