CARICOM leaders will meet virtually to discuss urgent matters, including the situation in Haiti, the Guyana-Venezuela border dispute, a potential regional debt swap, and the implications of U.S. actions regarding Cuba, just before Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders are convening virtually on Friday ahead of United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s upcoming visit to Jamaica on Wednesday. Reports indicate that Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Stuart Young engaged in extensive dialogue with CARICOM chair, Prime Minister Mia Mottley, to prepare for this important meeting.
Among the agenda items for the meeting are discussions on the escalating situation in Haiti, where criminal gangs pose significant threats to government stability amid plans for elections scheduled for November. Additionally, leaders will review the ongoing border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, which has recently intensified. Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, acting as an intermediary following diplomatic talks, warned against the potential for open conflict that could adversely affect both nations and the broader region.
The conference will also introduce a proposal for a regional debt swap and tackle issues arising from recent U.S. legal actions concerning Chinese-built ships entering U.S. ports. Rubio’s trip, planned before the end of March, aims to address key matters influencing CARICOM’s relations with the United States, including energy, economic development, and Haiti’s ongoing security concerns.
Despite ongoing tensions, CARICOM leaders have collectively supported the Cuban health program, highlighting its beneficial impact on Caribbean nations. In contrast, Rubio has indicated that the U.S. will intensify visa restrictions targeting individuals involved in the Cuban labor export program, particularly those associated with Cuba’s overseas medical missions. Notably, several CARICOM leaders have expressed readiness to relinquish their U.S. visas in support of the Cuban health brigade’s initiatives, which they argue have significantly aided their countries.
In conclusion, the forthcoming CARICOM leaders’ meeting is set to address pressing regional issues, including the political instability in Haiti and the Guyana-Venezuela border dispute. Additionally, discussions will encompass potential economic strategies such as a regional debt swap and critiques of the recent U.S. stance on Cuba. The ongoing support for the Cuban health programme reflects the leaders’ commitment to regional welfare despite external pressures from the United States.
Original Source: barbadostoday.bb
