Yaima Puig Meneses

THE 1st Cuba-CARICOM Summit nine years ago was for many yet another utopia. How could the interests of so many people become shared amidst the many prevailing challenges, inequalities and instances of social exclusion? Integration for what? Shared and cooperative projects for whom?

However, our peoples are persistent. The centuries of mockery of their genuine identities through the imposition of unequal trade agreements, of plundering their natural and economic resources, of lack of respect for their right to self-determination… and more, have become a bulwark for independent reflection, aware of the need to strengthen relations of cooperation and solidarity.

With these principles in mind, throughout these years, successive declarations have been approved by CARICOM member states: the Declaration of Havana, 2002; the Declaration of Bridgetown, 2005, and the Declaration of Santiago de Cuba, 2008. These documents are guidelines for the partnership between CARICOM and Cuba.

The Declaration of Port of Spain, recently approved at the 4th CARICOM-Cuba Summit, as a genuine reflection of what transpired in the capital city of Trinidad and Tobago, is the result of a profound analysis and the awareness of Caribbean and Cuban governments of the need to strengthen ties and broaden the spaces for cooperation that will promote development.

The declaration reflects the member countries’ working priorities for the next years, their principal concerns in the international sphere and the decision to consolidate and increase relations of cooperation. Furthermore, the firm commitment of the Caribbean community and Cuba to the principles enshrined in the UN Charter in relation to multilateralism and international law, including respect for the sovereign equality of states, non-intervention and non-interference in internal affairs, is reiterated. (…) respect for territorial integrity, the peaceful solution of disputes and the sovereign right of the citizens of each country to freely determine their system and political institutions, in conditions of peace, stability and justice."

Once more, Cuba is recognized as an integral part of the vibrant and diverse Caribbean region, while the document underlines the need to promote and protect shared values, objectives and interests in various regional and international forums.

It emphasizes that cooperation between Cuba and the Caribbean Community nations in the sectors of health, education, sports, and the training of human resources has effectively contributed to attaining greater well-being among the peoples.

The participating dignitaries renewed their unwavering commitment to South-South cooperation, specifically regional cooperation, as one of the central strategies for confronting challenges to the sustainable development and welfare of our peoples in the context of the unstable international situation, particularly in the areas of food security, nutrition and energy.

The sister Republic of Haiti is included in the declaration, with heads of state emphasizing the importance of the international community meeting its pledges in relation to the reconstruction and development of that sister nation. "We commit ourselves to jointly promote a global effort of cooperation which takes into account the difficult conditions and special features of this Caribbean nation, and which will lead to significant contributions of financial, material and technological resources for its development, reconstruction and rehabilitation, under the guidance and leadership of the Haitian government and the principle of full respect for its sovereignty."  
Reference is also made to the historic constitution of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), defined by the Caribbean leaders as a fully inclusive mechanism representative of the region. They reaffirm the need to ensure that the interests of the Caribbean region are duly represented in the new organization and reaffirm their commitment to unity and economic, political and social integration.
The Final Declaration includes the responsibility of Cuba and the CARICOM member states to cooperate in the international fight against drug trafficking, and also expresses the leaders’ concern in relation to the persistent illicit trafficking of light weapons, their use for criminal and violent acts within the region and their resulting impact.

Also included is a condemnation of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism, committed by any person in any place. In this case, the document recalls the Bridgetown (Barbados) Declaration on Terrorism, adopted at the 2nd CARICOM–Cuba Summit, which urged the United States government to favorably consider Venezuela’s application for the extradition of the terrorist Luis Posada Carriles.
The Final Declaration demands, moreover, that the U.S. government respond to the call made by members of the United Nations and immediately lift the unjust economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed on the Republic of Cuba, and which extends to third countries. It also condemns "the unilateral and extraterritorial application of coercive laws and measures contrary to international law, the United Nations Charter and to principles of free navigation and trade in the world (…)"

Finally, the heads of state and government decided to sign a special communiqué strongly condemning the U.S. government for its decision to prevent the government of Trinidad and Tobago from holding the summit at the Hilton Hotel, because by so doing, it would be in violation of the blockade of Cuba. In the statement, the Caribbean leaders rejected the application of extraterritorial legislation impeding the exercise of their sovereignty.

Thus, the 4th CARICOM-Cuba Summit once again demonstrated that this space has become "an optimal forum for coordinating joint action on national development efforts and the pursuit of shared interests within the context of wider cooperation and integration processes."

As President Raúl Castro Ruz stated in his speech during the opening ceremony of the 3rd CARICOM-Cuba Summit, the projects promoted by our nations do not operate according to neoliberal rules, do not seek to achieve comparative advantage or to maximize profits, but to promote development, justice, equity and human well-being.

As has been reiterated on many occasions, every project, program, exchange of qualified personnel, technological transfer, ttraining of professionals or health service provided, represents a new step toward our aspirations of regional integration. This continues to be the basis of our relations.

We, the Heads of State and Government of CARICOM and Cuba meeting for the 4th CARICOM-Cuba Summit in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago are affronted by the intrusion of the United States in the sovereignty of Trinidad and Tobago. This constitutes a unilateral and unjustified extraterritorial application of the United States Helms Burton Act, contrary to the United Nations Charter and international law. It also contradicts the annual overwhelming rejection of this policy by the United Nations General Assembly.
We reject the intervention of U.S. authorities which prevented the hosting of the CARICOM-Cuba Summit at the Hilton Hotel. This was one more demonstration of the injustice of the United States blockade and its damaging impact on the daily life of the Cuban people. On this occasion, the extraterritorial action could have impacted on the success of the Summit, but thanks to the commitment and solidarity of the member states of the Caribbean Community, we can celebrate an outcome which reinforces the fraternal bonds existing between CARICOM and Cuba.