Movement wants embargoes lifted under new US President

The Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration has welcomed the election of Joe Biden as president elect of the United States of America (USA).

However, the body’s general secretary, David Denny, is cautioning people from the region not to get too excited just yet about the change in leadership.

The 77-year-old Biden, who will become the USA’s 46th president, defeated Donald Trump in a closely-contested election after he received more than the 270 Electoral College votes needed for victory.

He is expected to be sworn in on January 20, 2021.

While Denny believes the decision by US voters not to give Trump a second term is the right one, he said Biden will have his work cut out for him, especially as it relates to improving the USA’s relationship with countries in the Caribbean.

He said one of the President-elect’s first moves once in office should be to remove the embargoes against Venezuela and Cuba.

Under the Trump administration, the US significantly expanded sanctions on Venezuela. As of October 30, the Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on around 159 Venezuelans while the State Department has revoked the visas of more than 1000 individuals and their families.

In addition, the US has also imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s state oil company, government and Central Bank.   

The embargo against Cuba prevents American businesses and businesses with commercial activities in the US from conducting trade with Cuban interests.

He also called on Biden to provide better conditions for members of the Caribbean diaspora living in the US.

“We also would like CARICOM and this newly-elected president and his Government to meet and to work out better arrangements for Caribbean people in the USA and also within the Caribbean.

“This new government in the USA will have to work towards creating the conditions for peace and justice in Latin America and the Caribbean. So our movement wants to say that we are happy that there is a change in the USA but at the same time we want to see real changes coming from the new Government,” Denny added.