Caricom Leaders Reiterate Call For Ending U.S./Cuba Embargo

Caricom Leaders Reiterate Call For Ending U.S./Cuba Embargo

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Fri. Dec. 9, 2005: Caricom leaders have again called for an end to the 45-year-old U.S. embargo on Cuba, exactly a month after the body registered it support against the restriction in the United Nations.

The call was made as leaders wrapped up their second Cuba-Caricom summit in Bridgetown yesterday, in the presence of President Fidel Castro.

Leaders of the 15-bloc organization called the restriction "unjust and cruel" with Caricom's chairman, Dr. Kenny Anthony of St. Lucian, saying the embargo was "blatantly inconsistent with international trading norms." And he urged Washington to dialogue with the Cuban government.

Caricom has been a friend of Cuba and consistently voted at the UN and at the Organization of American States for an end. And the UN General Assembly on Nov. 8 held its 14th debate on "the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba."

The assembly end with a vote of 182 to 4, with one abstention, to adopt a resolution urging nations to refrain from applying laws, such as the Helms-Burton Act, that involves third countries in economic embargoes.

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.. :kick: for the evening crowd.