Denny calls on United States to remove embargo against Cuba

General Secretary of the Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration David Denny has joined the call for the United States to remove the embargo against Cuba.

During a solidarity rally with the governments and People of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua — next to the Cuban Monument, Paynes Bay St James, this evening — Denny commended the Government of Barbados for joining with the rest of the world to condemn the United States for the embargo against Cuba, which is now in its 60th year.

Denny said: “And what was even more impressive by the Government of Barbados was when the Government of Barbados issued a statement only this week to remand the removal of this blockade by the United States of America against Cuba”.

Denny argued that the blockade is an injustice to Cuba, which is a friend to many countries and plays a significant role in medical internationalism, which has been going strong since the 1960s.

Denny said: “Cuba also offers scholarships to young Africans at the primary, secondary and tertiary level. Cuba also offers scholarships to our region, and Barbados was able to send over 100 Barbadians to study medicine in Cuba.

“Cuba has also extended its international solidarity work in terms of helping many of the poor nations of the world to deal with this COVID-19 situation.

“So for us, Cuba is the international country that is normally organized to help the poor and impoverished people of the world and it is a country that the United States of America has put up an economic and political blockage against”.

The United States embargo against Cuba prevents American businesses and businesses with commercial activities in the US from conducting trade with Cuban interests. This embargo is described as the most enduring trade embargo in modern history.

The rally was organized by the Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration, Cuban Barbadian Friendship Association, Cubans Association in Barbados, Barbados Israel Lovell Foundation, Clement Payne Movement, 13th July 1980 Movement (Barbados), and the Pan African Coalition of Organizations.

Also speaking at the event, the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba Sergio Jorge Pastrana, said despite the challenges Cuba has faced over the years due to the embargo, today his country is proud to maintain its strong relationship with Barbados.

He said the strength of Barbados and Cuba’s relationship is evident through the presence of the medical team from his country in Barbados helping with the COVID-19 fight.

Ambassador Pastrana said: “Nurses and doctors of Cuba and sports trainers of Cuba, working in solidarity with the Barbadian people to provide education, to provide training and to provide health to continue the work of those who died in that attack [on Cuban flight from Barbados to Jamaica which was brought down on October 6, 1976 by a terrorist bomb attack] . This is why we must continue to work together, to stand together”.

Charge d Affaires of the Venezuelan Embassy, Alvaro Sanchez, who also delivered remarks at the event, condemned the actions of the American Government against Cuba which he said has maintained a solid relationship with his country for many years. (AH)