By Oscar Ramjeet
WHILE Alan Gross is celebrating his return back home with his wife, children and close friends, the United States, Cuba and several countries in the world are debating whether or not US President Barak Obama has made the correct move in releasing three convicted spies in exchange for his release as well as other comprimises he made with his Cuban counterpart, Raoul Castro.

It seems to me that most persons agree with the historic move by President Obama, but a large number of Americans, both Republicans, and Democrats, as well as Cubans who live in Miami and the communist island feel that Obama gave too much and received very little. The critics include a few Cuban born US lawmakers including two who are possible Republican candidates for the US Presidency.

Most of the dissatisfied Cubans are the older ones –there is a generation split on the move, arguing that Castro and the old brigade are still in power and who will continue to rule without holding free and fair elections, and will continue to imprison persons who spoke out against the regime without a fair trial.
However on the brighter side both the Cubans and Americans will set up embassies in Washington and Havana. However critics feel that now that the Republicans control the House and the Senate it would be difficult for a US Ambassador to get the nod of the lawmakers who might block funds for the Embassy in Havana.

Americans will now be able to travel to neighbouring Cuba, but with little restriction since they have to go through agencies who have licences to do so. This situation will improve after the embassies are established and banking and commercial relationships are established.
Both Presidents Obama and Castro made the announcement at noon last Wednesday and reports from Havana state that church bells were ringing during and after Castro’s speech and there were tears of joys from hundreds. It was the first time in more than five decades that a Cuban President has offered good words for a US President when Castro praised Obama for his action. Both Presidents Obama and Castro also praised Pope Francis for his kind intervention.
Critics feel that the Cuban President did not have a choice to forge a good relationship with the United States because his country was facing serious economic problems since most of their financial assistance was coming from Russia and Venezuela and both countries are now facing serious economic problems and will soon cut off all assistance.
Meanwhile leaders in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are extremely happy about the move. Chairman of CARICOM, Gaston Browne, who is Chairman of the regional body has lauded both Obama and Castro while St. Vincent Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves on hearing the news while in Parliament debating his country’s Budget adjourned Parliament for the day describing the event as one “of earth proportions”
In fact at a meeting of Cuba/Caricom leaders in Havana earlier this month the parties involved in the discussion were optimistic about a Cuba/US trade relationship, but there is still a long way to go for this to become a reality.
The Organization of American States (OAS) removed the trade barriers at its 39th General Assembly on June 8, 2009. I was present at that CONFAB which was held at San Pedro Sula when the then Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, walked out of the Assembly when she was questioned about US embargo and stated that the ban will not cease until there is free and fair elections in Cuba. There is freedom of speech and the US prisoners are released. It seems as if we will get there sooner than later.