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| Volume 52 Number 26, October 29, 2022 | ARCHIVE | HOME | JBCENTRE | SUBSCRIBE |
Caribbean Network for Solidarity with Cuba (CNSC)
Flag No More Blockade
On the 2nd and 3rd of November 2022, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will hold a plenary meeting to debate the item titled, "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba". It will also discuss the report submitted by the Secretary General on the implementation of Resolution 75/289 which was adopted by the General assembly on 23 June 2021. This resolution called on all member states to "refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures" such as those that the US has adopted in its blockade of Cuba and further called on the US government "to take the steps necessary to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible". This resolution was adopted with 184 votes in favour, 2 votes against, 3 abstentions and 4 non participants. Thus it reflects the near universal demand of the people of the world for the US to end its illegal and cruel economic blockade of Cuba which has no other purpose than to impose harsh suffering on the people of that country in order to bring about regime change there. The demand for the ending of the blockade is also reflected in the Secretary General's report which includes responses from 157 UN member states, 31 UN agencies and 3 UN observer organisations which outline their opposition to the US imposed embargo as well as identifying the ways in which this hampers Cuba's participation in international activities.
However, since the adoption of resolution 75/289 in June 2021, the US government has remained unmoved in disregarding world public opinion and maintaining its cruel blockade against Cuba and her people. The upcoming UNGA debate on the blockade will mark the 30th consecutive year that the world community has discussed this cruel economic warfare against Cuba and it is expected they will once again, as they have done on the previous 29 occasions, demand that the US lift its blockade.
It is hypocritical in the extreme that the US government demands that Russia pay attention to the views expressed by the UN General Assembly, while it ignores the views of this assembly when they demand that the US end its illegal blockade of Cuba. It is also worth noting, that while the current US Democratic administration claims to be opposed to Trump and his MAGA movement, it has faithfully implemented the additional sanctions introduced by Trump against Cuba.
Today, the world can no longer tolerate the US government's attempt to starve Cuba and her people into submission. This is particularly so when Cuba is attempting to recover from the destructive passage of Hurricane Ian and the recent accident at the Matanzas oil facility. Across the world, popular actions and mobilisations are taking place to demand that the US end its cruel blockade of Cuba. Even parliaments, such as Jamaica's, are adding their voice to this just call.
The Caribbean Network for Solidarity with Cuba (CNSC), along with people's organisations across the region, add our voice to this global call.
Lift the blockade and let Cuba live!
This statement is supported by the following organisations (in alphabetical order):
Association Martinique Cuba
Caribbean Network for Solidarity with Cuba
Cuban Barbadian Friendship Association
Grenada Cuba Friendship Association
Guyana Cuba Friendship Association
Jamaica Cuba Friendship Association
Latin American and Caribbean Continental Network of Solidarity with Cuba
Les Amis de Cuba (Guadeloupe)
Oilfield Workers Trade Union (Trinidad and Tobago)
Saint Lucia Cuba Humanistic Solidarity Association
Trinidad and Tobago Cuba Friendship Association