Heads of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have expressed firm support for Cuba in the face of the ongoing US-led embargo against that country.
During the 54th Meeting of the OECS Authority held from January 23rd to 24th 2012 in Saint Lucia, the leaders expressed firm support against what they described as the “unjust and cruel economic, commercial and financial embargo against the Republic of Cuba, and the extraterritoral measures aimed at extending the reach of the embargo to include third countries.”
Cuba was among many matters discussed by the OECS leaders, among them Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, at the meeting. Another issue brought to the fore was that of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
Concerning the CCJ the heads agreed to the following:
1. All member countries of the OECS are committed to acceding to the appellate jurisdiction of the CCJ within the shortest possible time and to this end, in each member country public discussion on this issue will be facilitated and intensified;
2. The States of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Dominica are best placed constitutionally to take steps to accede to the CCJ’s appellate jurisdiction during the course of this year;
3. In keeping with its domestic law the State of Saint Lucia will seek from the OECS Court of Appeal an Advisory Opinion on aspects of the Constitution of that State which impact on that country’s accession to the appellate jurisdiction of the CCJ; and
4. The British Overseas Territories will engage with Her Majesty’s Government on the issue.
The Heads of Government also reiterated that the free movement of persons was vital to the success of the OECS. A comminique from the meeting said they all agreed that it was necessary to put in place the mechanisms for hassle free travel. They stressed the need for more training programmes for immigration and customs offices. The Heads stressed that the economic union was put in place for the benefit of all OECS citizens and that the Governments would remain committed to that goal.
The OECS must get serious. As much as the solidarity with Cuba is important and must be voiced at each opportunity, the OECS cnow begin to consider how it can forge a common policy o fits foreeign affairs. As odf that meeting’s date, the OECsannot agree on a common foreign policy and yet they want to take on the US on another matter. The OECS should speak always and every time in one voice on foreign policy. St.Lucia can begin the lead – send Taiwan parking. Of course that being said, I am of the firm belief that a country’s foreign policy is informed by by the local situation. Since our leader continue to keep us separated as different countries, then it is understandable why we are divided on foreeign policy. Everyone want to to be chief. So we will perpetually remain divided.
They should have called for the removal of the
80plus year Castro dictators who have ruled the island with an iron fist for over fifty years.
They hate “the Imperialist American” so much.
Why do they want them as trading partners. It’s about time that this archaic,oppressive
regime of the Castro Dynasty is overthrown.
The people of Cuba deserves better.They need
freedom of choice, freedom to travel and freedom from Government control.
I’ve visited Cuba the people and Country are beautiful but the Communist System is ROTTEN and it STINKS!!FREE CUBA! CUBA LIBRE!NOW!!
i really dont know how to take sides thats y i say, i support america on their action, and the oecs needs to be commended for caring for cuba, but most of all, birds of a feather should stick together. if cuba’s government falls under a certain category it should trade with people of its kind. why feel the need for trading with america? i dont think they are missing all the sickness we importing anyway, in terms of foods that kill us slowly. its not a matter of life or death so i see no problem with the whole situation
DNO,
What section(s)of our constitution make(s) Dominica among those best placed to accede to the CCJ appellate jurisdiction during the course of this year?
How can someone support a dictatorship nowadays ? ?
People want democracy, free elections, free opposition, etc…
Nothing like the Cuban or the Venezuelan regime !
Concerning the US embargo, let me recall to all that it does not concern vital supplies ; and US is not the only supplier in the world.
Cubans can import whatever they want from their good friends ( Venezuela, Russia, Iran, and other dictatorships ) ; so where is the issue with this so called embargo ?
Tell me ?
DNO you missed the most important news coming from the meeting. There was a signing of a CDB Grant for US $2.5 million for six OECS countries for eGovernment of which Dominica got some more free money for development. Do your research.
J.J.C- I have no argument with your views, except that a different composition of the Court with a more liberal bias could have produced a different result. Let’s not under estimate the powers of the Court and its influence on our political realities.
YES CUBA HAS HELPED AND HATS OFF TO THEM IN THAT REGARD
BUT THAT COMMUNIST THING MUST STOP; GOD GAVE US A FREE WILL AND MAN IMPOSES….ALL THE OECS HEADS WERE ELECTED………..
THAT’S MY FIVE CENTS
Roseau Valley, it was the people of the United States who handed G.W.Bush his second term in office.You must also remember it was the same people who rejected John Kerry.
In his first term,even without the courts decision, after every votes were counted.Bush was the clear winner.And by giving him another 4 years,endorsed his first win
We must lend support to the position of our OECS leaders (including Prime Minister Skerrit) in their collective call for support against the long, unproductive, senseless, unjust and cruel economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba. The rationale for such a policy position has long expired, if at it made any sense. Moreover, the legislative tool being used to sustain the said embargo appears to be illegal under international law.
With regard to the CCJ, I again agree with the OECS leaders and respectfully disagree with the opinion of Angelo Allen and Lennox Linton and others with regard to our ability as Caribbean people to control our destiny. We must forge ahead with anything that brings us closer together as Caribbean people and help free ourselves from intellectual slavery by thinking that we are not ready to advance ourselves. We must commit to acceding to the appellate jurisdiction of the CCJ. This is to our collective benefit as a Caribbean people.
Agreed, after years of political independence, our regional judiciary is still faced with challenges of its independence of conscience, credibility and functional effectiveness. – But so to is the judiciary in older and more advanced developed societies. After all, it was the conservative majority of the United States Supreme Court judges who essentially handed G. W. Bush his second term in office.
….However, let us encourage them for us the OECS members and others in the Caribbean to remove all the embargos we have on Cuba…many of the Caribbean countries do not have Cuba’s Universities as one of the traditional universities…meaning that if you studied there you are considered a foreigner and not able to work in the countries, and mind you these SAME leaders send the students to study in Cuba….HYPOCRITES, take out the mater for you eyes before pointing fingers…THE CARIBBEN LEADERS HAVE EMBARGOES ON CUBA
IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH THAT SOLIDARITY,CUBA IN SPITE OF ITS ECONOMIC ISSUES HAS SHARED ITS HUMAN A ND OPTHER RESOURCES SELFLESSLY WITH THE CARIBBEAN,AFRICA AND THE WORLD…VIVA CUBA
It would be nice to know all the islands that were represented! DNO?