The St. Kitts- Nevis Cuban Alumni Association- Statement
The Cuba Alumni Association of St. Kitts and Nevis strongly condemns and rejects the decision that was recently taken by the new US president, Donald Trump to re-include Cuba on the unjust and damaging list of “States Sponsors of Terrorism”.
The inclusion of Cuba in the list of “State Sponsors of Terrorism”, in January 2021, resulted in the Cuban Government losing more than 40 relations with financial and banking institutions with plenty more thereafter refusing to do business with the island state directly due its inclusion on the aforementioned list. It is widely known and recognized that the US is a major influential giant when it comes to the global financial drawing board.
Stipulations stated under this unjust designation have had devastating implications for the socio-economic growth and development of Cub as a sovereign state. These specifications include on one hand, the requirement for the United States to oppose loans to Cuba by the World Bank and other international financial institutions. This is a cruel form of financial bullying and a direct interference in the affairs of an independent nation exercising its rights to interact freely with its global environment. This is a right afforded to all nations and one that is enjoyed unrestricted by the US itself.
The designation further specifies the prohibition on US Persons (i.e., entities organized under US laws and their non-US branches; individuals and entities physically located in the United States; and US citizens and permanent resident aliens, wherever located or employed) from engaging in financial transactions with the Cuban government without a license from the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, under the Terrorism List Governments Sanctions Regulations. This restricts the access to a wide range of valuable goods and services by both the Cuban and the American population and by extension their foreign partners.
The effect of this designation have been devastating all aspects of Cuba’s economy, for example, tourism, which is one of the branches that generates more income and has a dragging effect on other sectors of the Cuban economy, greatly affected the flow of European visitors. While the rest of the Caribbean region experienced a boom in this sector, for Cuba, the experience was the opposite. Tourism mainly from 41 countries of the European Union and Asia has decreased as a direct consequence of the inclusion and maintenance, especially for persons of who benefit from a US visa waiver program. Those travellers who decided to visit the Caribbean island had to apply for a visa in advance to enter the United States; a process that was cumbersome, due to the time delay, causing most travellers to decide to change their destination.
The decision of the re-inclusion of Cuba on this list among other equally damaging measures demonstrates the continued injustice being meted out against Cuba for the egotistic show of dominance and destruction.
When Former President Joe Biden’s removed Cuba from the List, it implied that finally, the US was now exhibiting a significant sign of humanity not only towards Cuba but also to the rest of the world. Finally, in our region, riddled with much socio-economic and political turbulence, we thought that we were on our way to healing wounds and bridging gaps. This decision unfortunately is not a pathway to peace and harmony but rather a cruel perpetration of archaic ideologies of disunity.
We therefore renew our call for the lifting of the devastating and illegal economic blockade against Cuba.
This embargo only serves to bring increasing hardship to the already suffering Cuban families and their livelihoods. This constitutes a hindrance for the full normalization of the bilateral relations between the people of Cuba and the US.
Despite the re-inclusion of Cuba on the List of States Sponsors of Terrorism, Cuba will not only continue, but will be triumphant in its fight to build a sovereign and viable state.
Cuba we stand with you; we stand for you!
We, the Cuba Alumni Association stands firmly in solidarity with our Cuban brethren and reiterate our steadfast sincerity and support for the Victorious Cuban Revolution.
ST. KITTS- NEVIS CUBAN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
St. Kitts and Nevis,
January 28th, 2025