Dear Editor,
US President Barak Obama’s historic visit to Cuba over March 20 -22 marks the first visit of a sitting United States President since Calvin Coolidge in 1928. The tenacity with which President Obama has pursued rapprochement with Cuba cannot be overstated. Despite opposition from a Republican Congress, Obama has forged on re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba in July 2015 after having announced this intent in December 2014.
Despite the formal embargo still in place, the visit and announced changes to travel and commerce, suggests that bilateral talks are progressing in a mutually agreeable direction. I believe that it is the intent of the sitting president to lift the formal embargo on Cuba.
Should this come to pass, over 50 years of isolation and sanctions would end for Cuba. But one wonders at the motivation for the US in this bold move, especially considering their traditional policy of interventionism and their opposition to communism. Could Raul Castro’s Government retain a single-party system or would divestment of power be a condition to fully restored relations? Whereas power is divested to include other parties, what role would the US play in the establishment of the system? The US’s motive must be questioned in this move.
President Obama has stated that the position of isolation has not worked. But worked to achieve what exactly? Are his interests only to leave a legacy and contribute to the advancement of the Cuban people by access to the resources of his country? Or is his intent to establish America’s position of dominance in Cuba? Considering other states such as Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan, which in recent times that have experienced America’s brand of democracy, there is much to be observed in what will transpire following President Obama’s visit.
But can communism continue in Cuba as is, even without US intervention? In our fast-paced world of new media technologies and the role it played in the recent revolution in Tunisia which sparked the Arab spring, and with Cubans increasingly accessing information through social media, voices of dissent are increasing. The Cuban Government, then, already challenged from within, and with the socio-economic realities of the masses undeniable, may have to concede that some form of change may be only a matter of time for Cuba. A revolution would topple the Government, while diplomatic manoeuvrings could very well result in a change without violence and instability, allowing Raul Castro to control how this change takes place.
It is important for Jamaica to prepare for this opening market and to observe the interests of the US carefully. With Cuba being the last frontier of the West, could established relations there signal the beginning of the end of economic interest in the region? How are we positioned as a country and as a region should Cuba’s system of government, with its 20-million plus population, allow for a more inclusive relationship with its neighbours? With the growth rates of small Asian countries increasing and the existing channels of manufacturing and cheap labour already established in these regions, could this be last lick for Caricom or are our ‘good neighbours’ simply greeting another guest?
Angellique Virtue
Cross Keys, Manchester
angellique_virtue@yahoo.com
US President Barak Obama’s historic visit to Cuba over March 20 -22 marks the first visit of a sitting United States President since Calvin Coolidge in 1928. The tenacity with which President Obama has pursued rapprochement with Cuba cannot be overstated. Despite opposition from a Republican Congress, Obama has forged on re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba in July 2015 after having announced this intent in December 2014.
Despite the formal embargo still in place, the visit and announced changes to travel and commerce, suggests that bilateral talks are progressing in a mutually agreeable direction. I believe that it is the intent of the sitting president to lift the formal embargo on Cuba.
Should this come to pass, over 50 years of isolation and sanctions would end for Cuba. But one wonders at the motivation for the US in this bold move, especially considering their traditional policy of interventionism and their opposition to communism. Could Raul Castro’s Government retain a single-party system or would divestment of power be a condition to fully restored relations? Whereas power is divested to include other parties, what role would the US play in the establishment of the system? The US’s motive must be questioned in this move.
President Obama has stated that the position of isolation has not worked. But worked to achieve what exactly? Are his interests only to leave a legacy and contribute to the advancement of the Cuban people by access to the resources of his country? Or is his intent to establish America’s position of dominance in Cuba? Considering other states such as Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan, which in recent times that have experienced America’s brand of democracy, there is much to be observed in what will transpire following President Obama’s visit.
But can communism continue in Cuba as is, even without US intervention? In our fast-paced world of new media technologies and the role it played in the recent revolution in Tunisia which sparked the Arab spring, and with Cubans increasingly accessing information through social media, voices of dissent are increasing. The Cuban Government, then, already challenged from within, and with the socio-economic realities of the masses undeniable, may have to concede that some form of change may be only a matter of time for Cuba. A revolution would topple the Government, while diplomatic manoeuvrings could very well result in a change without violence and instability, allowing Raul Castro to control how this change takes place.
It is important for Jamaica to prepare for this opening market and to observe the interests of the US carefully. With Cuba being the last frontier of the West, could established relations there signal the beginning of the end of economic interest in the region? How are we positioned as a country and as a region should Cuba’s system of government, with its 20-million plus population, allow for a more inclusive relationship with its neighbours? With the growth rates of small Asian countries increasing and the existing channels of manufacturing and cheap labour already established in these regions, could this be last lick for Caricom or are our ‘good neighbours’ simply greeting another guest?
Angellique Virtue
Cross Keys, Manchester
angellique_virtue@yahoo.com