The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas is once again expected to support a United Nations resolution calling for the end of the US embargo against Cuba, Cuban Ambassador Ernesto Soberon Guzman said yesterday.

The embargo has been in place since 1962 and like most countries in the world, the Bahamas has historically supported a UN resolution condemning it.

Ambassador Guzman yesterday said the embargo has caused more than $1,1 billion worth of damage to Cuba’s economy and incalculable suffering to its people.

At last year’s UN general assembly meeting, 188 countries – including the Bahamas – condemned the embargo.

Only the United States, Israel and the tiny state of Palau supported it.

During the press conference at the Cuban Embassy on Collins Avenue, Mr Guzman said US president Barack Obama has failed to deliver on his promise to improve relations between the US and Cuba.

Instead, he said, more strains have been placed on Cuba during Mr Obama’s presidency.

He called the embargo “a blockade”, noting that it also punishes third party countries that work with Cuba.

As for the relationship between Cuba and the Bahamas, Mr Guzman said stronger relations between the two countries could be established in the areas of culture, education and sports.

He noted that Bahamian businessmen have shown their support for Cuba by increasing bi-lateral trade initiatives with the country.

However, he said: “If we want to establish stronger economic links with the Bahamas, we run into problems. We have to pay counterparts like the Bahamas 
in Canadian or European dollars rather than US dollars and Bahamian boats cannot enter the US for six months after entering Cuban ports.

“Every year the Bahamian government, along with other international governments, tell the UN Secretary General of the problems encountered because of the embargo.”