Roseau. April 27, 2021. The House of the Assembly (parliament) of the Commonwealth of Dominica, which met yesterday, April 26, 2021, approved in the evening, a Motion that calls for the end of the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the US government against Cuba and requests the exclusion of Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. The Motion resolves:
1. In the recognition of the inalienable human right of the citizens of Cuban call on a cessation of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the USA against Cuba and recommend that in the interest of brotherhood that the initiative started by the Obama-Biden Administration be rekindled
2. In the spirit of encouraging regional and international cooperation we strongly condemn the policy action taken by the USA and recommend that Cuba be removed from the list of state sponsored terrorism.
Next, the full text of the Motion:
RESOLUTION
FOR
• ENDING OF THE ECONOMIC, COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL BLOCKADE IMPOSED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AGAINST CUBA AND,
• THE REMOVAL OF CUBA FROM THE LIST OF STATE SPONSORED TERRORISM
WHEREAS THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN PARIS ON 10 DECEMBER 1948 (GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 217 A),
Proclaims “this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.”
AND WHEREAS ARTICLE 1 READS, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
AND WHEREAS ARTICLE 2 READS, “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.”
AND WHEREAS we recognize but respect that the political system of the Commonwealth of Dominica and that of Republic of Cuba are different and hold true to the policy of non-interference in the internal politics of any nation.
AND WHEREAS the people and government of the Republic of Cuba have significantly contributed globally in health services, education and the fight against injustice over the last forty (40) years. And most recently the Cuban people have manifested their selfless nature in helping in the fight against the COVID 19 pandemic regionally and internationally (in over 40 countries) through The Henry Reeve International Medical Brigade.
AND WHEREAS the United States of America initiated an economic blockade on Cuba since 1962 and placed Cuba on the list of State sponsored terrorism in 2021.
AND WHEREAS the blockade has significantly damaged the Cuban economy with accumulated damages estimated to be US$144 billion over six (6) decades and this blockade has caused more harm than good to the ordinary citizens by preventing them from enjoying their basic human right and dignity.
Furthermore, the unilateral action of placing Cuba on the list of state sponsored terrorism by USA has increased the country’s difficulties in entering trade and carrying out financial operations which we view as counterproductive and has exacerbated the plight of the Cuban citizenry on the brink of basic human survival.
BE IT RESOLVED THAT THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE
1. In the recognition of the inalienable human right of the citizens of Cuban call on a cessation of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the USA against Cuba and recommend that in the interest of brotherhood that the initiative started by the Obama-Biden Administration be rekindled
2. In the spirit of encouraging regional and international cooperation we strongly condemn the policy action taken by the USA and recommend that Cuba be removed from the list of state sponsored terrorism
Passed in the House of Assembly this 26th day of April, 2021.
DANIEL JAMES (MR.)
Clerk of the House of Assembly
EMBACUBA DOMINICA