Prime Minister Patrick Manning says all 34 countries attending the Fifth Summit of the Americas want to see Cuba reintegrated into the Western Hemisphere. The prime minister made the statement yesterday, during a press conference at his official residence and Diplomatic Centre in St Ann's, Port-of-Spain.

Among those present were Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Joseph Harper, Panama’s President Martin Erasto Torrijos Espino and Mexican President Felipe de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa. Political observers had indicated the development of what could be termed The Port-of-Spain Summit on Cuba.

Manning said: “All the countries would like to see Cuba reintegrated into the Western Hemisphere. We were heartened by the expressions from the West from President Obama. There is new thinking. “It can be expected that it won’t be too long before the reintegrating of Cuba into the Western Hemisphere,” he said. Obama had announced removal of restrictions on remittances to Cuba and on travel to the island. His administration had also projected an interest in updating its policy toward Cuba.