Will CARICOM Help Cuba?

And while CARICOM leaders meet in St. Kitts and Nevis, the ambassador is reaffirming Cuba’s strong ties with Belize and CARICOM. Amid the U.S. pressure and the ongoing blockade, Ambassador Martinez says her country is prioritizing energy sovereignty and diversifying international partnerships to secure its future.

 

Yahima Martinez Millán, Cuban Ambassador to Belize

“Our relationship with CARICOM and also with Belize is historic. We have a relationship for many years and while other see the region as a political, Cuba sees it as home. We recognize and this has been very important for us, the support that Caricom has given to CUBA in order to denounce and also eliminate the US blockade and that has been very important for us. And in the case with Belize, we share an exemplary cooperation for many years especially in health and technical training.”

 

Hipolito Novelo

“In terms of the external shocks, what structural or long term solution is CUBA pursuing to reduce this vulnerability?”

 

Yahima Martinez Millán

“We know that the solution lies in energy sovereignty. That is the most important for us. We had a plan but during this situation we are accelerating all the propose in order to get the transition to renewal energy source. It is a technology that is high cost. It is difficult for us due to the blockage but now it is priority for our country.”

 

Hipolito Novelo

“Is the Cuban government exploring new economic diplomatic partnership to navigate what you describe as US suffocation on the country?”

 

Yahima Martinez Millán

“For many years, Cuba has worked in order to diversify our relations, our trade relations with the world mainly after the collapse of the Soviet Union. We are strengthening ties with the BRICS bloc for example. And also we are working, and we have some ties with some partners in Asia, Europe and also in Latin America. Additionally to that, we are updating our economic model that also include a greater participation of non state actors to enhance trade.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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