Ten former Caribbean Community (CARICOM) heads of government have called on countries worldwide to support a United Nations resolution urging an end to the United States’ economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba.
In an open letter dated October 24, the former regional leaders urged all nations to vote in favour of the resolution when it comes before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on October 28.
- Advertisement -
The signatories described the decades-long embargo as contrary to international law and argued that Washington’s continued restrictions have contributed to the economic hardships experienced by the Cuban people.
“We, the undersigned former Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), strongly and unequivocally urge all nations to vote in favour of the Resolution on 28th October, 2026, at UNGA,” the letter stated.
The former leaders noted that the General Assembly has adopted resolutions calling for an end to the embargo by overwhelming majorities every year since 1992. They argued, however, that the United States has continued to disregard the international community’s position.
They said this year’s vote was particularly urgent because of what they described as Washington’s intensified efforts to restrict Cuba’s access to energy supplies, including gasoline and diesel, through sanctions targeting third parties that supply or transport such products to the island.
“Surely, such U.S. conduct is inhumane, and undoubtedly contrary to international law,” the letter stated.
The signatories also urged countries to resist what they described as US pressure and inducements intended to undermine support for the proposed resolution.
They argued that the embargo threatens regional and international peace and security, violates Cuba’s sovereignty and independence, and undermines the fundamental human rights of its population.
“The unilateral, coercive actions of the USA against Cuba represent the law of the jungle,” the former leaders stated, maintaining that the measures could not be justified under the United Nations Charter or international law.
The letter further declared that Cuba posed no threat to other nations and called for renewed international solidarity to help repair relations between Washington and Havana.
“Let us all contribute to the healing of the hemispheric fracture between the United States of America and Cuba by supporting the UNGA Resolution on 28th October, 2026,” the leaders urged.
The letter was signed by former Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart; former Belize prime ministers Dean Barrow and Said Musa; former Grenada prime ministers Keith Mitchell and Tillman Thomas; former Guyana President Donald Ramotar; former Jamaican prime ministers Bruce Golding and P.J. Patterson; former St. Lucia Prime Minister Kenny Anthony; and former St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.
The appeal comes amid longstanding tensions between the United States and Cuba over economic sanctions, political governance and bilateral relations. The US embargo dates to 1960 and was strengthened in the early 1960s. Although some restrictions were eased under former President Barack Obama, the Trump administration subsequently tightened several measures.
The former Caribbean leaders say supporting the UN resolution would represent an important step towards easing tensions and addressing the embargo’s effects on Cuba.
