In statements to the newspaper “Barbados Today,” Comissiong pointed out that although his government acknowledges President Joe Biden’s decision to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT) list as positive, he remains concerned about the large number of other sanctions that are till in force.

“Broader measures are needed to alleviate economic pressure on Cuba, which have been active for decades since President Kennedy made the blockade policy official in 1962,” he said.

The diplomat commented that Barbados is concerned about Donald Trump’s ability to reverse Biden’s decision, since, according to records, it was the president-elect who included Cuba on the list during the last days of his previous term.

The Commission recalled that the CARICOM countries have repeatedly insisted with the outgoing government of Joe Biden to lift the blockade in various scenarios such as the Summit of the Americas, the United Nations Organization and through confidential channels, so he affirmed that “the US officials have no justification for maintaining it.”

The CARICOM opposes the United States policy against Cuba, evident in its repeated support for the resolution against the blockade that has been approved by the UN General Assembly since 1992.

Most Caribbean heads of government include it in their respective speeches on the occasion of international events.

arc/ohh