…for listing Cuba as a sponsor of terrorism

THE President of the Guyana Cuban Solidarity Movement (GCSM), Halim Khan, has condemned the Donald Trump administration for designating Cuba as a sponsor of terrorism.

Khan told the Sunday Chronicle that the move could complicate any efforts by the incoming Joe Biden administration to revive the Obama-era agreement with Havana.

In 2015, then U.S. President, Barack Obama, formally removed Cuba from the terrorism list to help restore diplomatic ties between the two countries.

“The terrorism designation carries a prohibition on U.S. economic aid and a ban on U.S. arms exports, among other restrictions,” Khan added.

Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, had said Cuba was being listed for “repeatedly providing support for acts of international terrorism” by harbouring U.S. fugitives and Colombian rebel leaders.

But the GCSM President explained that Trump has clamped down on Cuba since coming to power, tightening restrictions on U.S. travel and remittances to Cuba, and imposing sanctions on shipments of Venezuelan oil to the island.
“Trump has kept up a steady stream of 11th-hour sanctions announcements and other actions against targets including Cuba, Venezuela and Iran, and Biden aides have said some appear designed to tie his hands when he is sworn in on January, 20,” Khan explained.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) recently denounced the unilateral declaration by the outgoing United States administration to designate Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.

“Cuba’s international conduct does not in any way warrant that designation. This further attack on the country adversely affects its international standing and its social, human and economic development and is another misguided action in addition to the unproductive, unnecessary and illegal financial and economic embargo already imposed on this Caribbean nation by the United States,” CARICOM noted in a statement.

CARICOM called for the immediate review and reversal of these unjustified actions taken in regard to Cuba and looks forward to the United States moving towards normalising relations with Cuba.