Ratifying the historical position of Barbados in support of the Cuban resolution "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States to Cuba" presented for 25 consecutive years before the General Assembly of the United Nations, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart included in his speech to the general debate of the world organization the requirement that such unilateral sanction to be lifted completely. Similar position has been expressed in the past by the Barbadian Foreign Minister Maxine McClean in different international forums.
The dignitary noted that "with special pleasure we received the news earlier this year, forty three years after Barbados and three other states of CARICOM, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Guyana, decided to end the diplomatic isolation of Cuba the United States has decided to do the same".
"For Barbados, he added, this has been a positive development consistent, insistent and persistent because since 1972 we have been calling for an end to the economic embargo, which has not only delayed the development of Cuba, but has also prevented the realization of the deserved aspirations of its people for development. "
He concluded by congratulating President Barack Obama of the United States of America for its decision, "and looks forward to that process be perfected with the total elimination in the near future, the economic embargo on the island."