The People's Progressive Party (PPP) joins with the rest of the international community in calling on the United States Government to bring an end to the economic and trade embargo against Cuba. This embargo has severely affected the economic and social development of the country which for several decades has been unable to realize it growth potential as a consequence of the embargo.
It is time for the United States administration to listen to the voice of reason as expressed in the overwhelming number of Member States at the United Nations who on several occasions supported the call for an end to the trade embargo.
While taking note of some positive developments in the recent past, most notably the restoration of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba, the PPP is of the strong conviction that the time is long overdue for the 'enemy' image held against Cuba by the United States to give way to one of genuine partnership in the pursuit of mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence.
Regrettably, the Cold War mentality still persisted among some UN Member States in relation to Cuba even though that era has long come to an end. The PPP is of the opinion that the time is long overdue for the national sovereignty of Cuba be respected and for the Cuban people to be allowed to decide on its political and governance system without interference from outside forces.
Despite the economic constraints caused by the embargo, it is noteworthy that Cuba has done well in terms of human development, in particular in the two important areas of education and health. What is even more significant is the fact that Cuba still manages to render technical and humanitarian assistance to many countries in several important skill areas such as medicine, education, engineering and a host of other disciplines. One is left to wonder how much more could have been achieved in terms of human development not only for the Cuban people but in the rest of the developing world were it not for that punishing embargo.
The PPP is optimistic that good sense will prevail in the corridors of power and that the process started by the Obama administration to normalize relations with Cuba would sooner consummate in the lifting of the trade embargo and the eventual complete normalization of relations between the two neighboring countries and peoples.
October 3, 2016