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Leave Jamaicans alone!

Published:Wednesday | June 15, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Jamaica's Prime Minister Orette Bruce Golding (right) speaks to Cuba's president, Raul Castro, during a Caribbean Summit in Santiago, Cuba, in December 2008. Presidents and top ministers from all the members of the Caribbean Community gathered in Santiago, an eastern city that is Cuba's second-largest, to discuss how to keep foreigners visiting the tropics despite tough financial times. - File


  • US Kingston Embassy tells its superiors not to take action against Jamaicans trading with Cuba

The United States Embassy in Kingston has urged Washington not to take any action against Jamaicans doing business with Cuba.

Under US law, legal action can be taken against any entity or individual believed to be dealing in property seized from Americans by the Cuban government or property formerly owned by Cubans who became American citizens.

It appears Washington had written to its diplomats in Kingston with a list of questions surrounding Jamaica's relationship with Cuba in the immediate aftermath of the Jamaica Labour Party's 2007 victory in the general elections.

In a November 30, 2007 diplomatic cable, acquired by The Gleaner through the whistle-blowing news entity, WikiLeaks, the Kingston Embassy provided the responses without repeating the questions.

likely to provoke a strong response

"Post continues to believe that suspension of the right to bring action in US courts against entities and nationals trafficking in confiscated properties in Cuba is necessary to US interests," the cable said.

"Singling out Jamaican entities or nationals for prosecution would be counterproductive in achieving other USG (United States Government) objectives," added the cable.

According to the cable: "In post's view, proceeding with the implementation of Title III of the Libertad Act would seriously complicate, and perhaps even compromise, our efforts in areas of agreement. Actions against Jamaican nationals would likely provoke a strong response from GOJ (the Government of Jamaica)".

The embassy told Washington that while it was unaware of any Jamaican investments in Cuba, Jamaicans were generally opposed to US policy towards Cuba, which hampers its efforts to gather accurate investment data.

"There is no direct bilateral trade agreement between the Government of Jamaica and Cuba. Cuba remains a significant export market for Jamaica, with exports of US$9-million for 2006. Imports for the same period are US$2.8 million," said the cable.

"Although Cuban political involvement in Jamaica was strong at one time, now it has all but disappeared," said the cable as it noted that the Cuban government still provides significant social support through educational scholarships and the occasional deployment of medical personnel.

The Embassy said it had no evidence that the Jamaican Government had substantially changed its policies or actions toward Cuba.

"Prime Minister Bruce Golding, of the recently elected Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)-led government, released a statement on September 12, saying Jamaica would continue its diplomatic relations with Cuba," added the cable.

Months after the cable was sent, Golding and a large Cabinet delegation made a working visit Cuba.