Policies established under United States President Donald Trump, particularly its actions in Venezuela and Cuba, were criticised extensively during meetings of the Assembly of the Caribbean States (ACS) in this country.
“Since Thursday evening, we have been meeting, looking at the problems of climate change in the region. The problem of the economic situation where the Washington institutions like the IMF and the World Bank dictate economic policies. We’ve been looking at revival or the more aggressive stance of the United States Munroe Doctrine where they believe that this region belongs to them, that is the United States and that we must do whatever they decide in their interest with the presidency of Donald Trump,” said David Abdulah, leader of the Movement for Social Justice at press conference at the University Inn in St Augustine Sunday.
“We’ve been looking at the impact of economic policies on working people and other sectors and we have had very rich discussions from Thursday to now,” said Abdulah.
Fifteen countries have been taking part in the five-day event, which follows the theme “Confronting the Imperialist Agenda, the resistant and unity of our people have been strengthened through the Assembly of Caribbean People.”
The Venezuelan crisis and the recent uprising in Puerto Rico which saw the ousting of Governor Ricardo Rosell were among the talking points.
“This summer has ended with the resignation of the governor and in five days the self-proclaimed governor suffered the same fate. So in less than three months we’ve have three governors,” said Puerto Rican union leader Luis Pedraza during the press conference.
“The key thing for us throughout this process has been that calls for the resignation of the governor have been added to all the calls for the dismantling of the fiscal control board appointed by the President of the United States,” he said.
Earlier this month, United States President Donald Trump announced an economic embargo on Venezuela in an attempt to force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro out of office. Since January the US has announced that it recognises Juan Guaido as the Venezuelan president.
Parallels between the action against Venezuela and the established embargo against Cuba were discussed.
“We in Cuba are still fighting against the criminal blockade that for more than 60 years the United States has imposed against our people. For this reason, Cuba comes to this meeting with the aim to support and to help in any way according to our modest experience in fighting against this imperialism,” said Jose Franciso, a former Cuban ambassador to Jamaica.
“We are saying the United States must take their hands off Venezuela they must not attempt, or well continue anything that will incite or create civil war in Venezuela,” said Abdulah in support.
Camille Chalmers, director of the Haitian Platform for an Alternative Development, also pointed out the Caribbean was facing a serious migrant problem due to high unemployment and hunger.
“We have one of the highest rates of unemployment. We are really in a situation with the flow of migrants, and this is a tragedy this kind of migration that has a very bad impact on our families and our countries,” he said.
It is the eighth edition of the assembly, which was first held in Chaguaramas, Trinidad 25 years ago.
The Assembly is set to end Monday.