Trinidad PM defends vote against UN resolution on Cuba embargo
Key Points(5)
- In a statement published on social media on Wednesday, Oct.
- 28, Persad-Bissessar said the country's position reflected its commitment to democracy, freedom and the fundamental rights of all people.
- “The UNC supports the Cuban people; we do not support a military dictatorship.
- The Cuban people deserve democracy,” she declared.
- Persad-Bissessar said Trinidad and Tobago would not support Cuba's political system, arguing that its citizens should enjoy the same democratic rights and freedoms as people across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), including the ability to freely elect and change their government.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has defended Trinidad and Tobago's decision to vote against a United Nations resolution calling for an end to the United States' economic embargo on Cuba, insisting that her government supports the Cuban people but will not support what she described as a military dictatorship.
In a statement published on social media on Wednesday, Oct. 28, Persad-Bissessar said the country's position reflected its commitment to democracy, freedom and the fundamental rights of all people.
“The UNC supports the Cuban people; we do not support a military dictatorship. The Cuban people deserve democracy,” she declared.
Persad-Bissessar said Trinidad and Tobago would not support Cuba's political system, arguing that its citizens should enjoy the same democratic rights and freedoms as people across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), including the ability to freely elect and change their government.
“Why should citizens of CARICOM nations enjoy the right to freely elect and change their governments while the Cuban people are denied that same democratic choice?” she asked.
She also endorsed the position of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has advocated political reforms in Cuba, saying the United States Government had been spearheading a campaign for democracy on the island.
Persad-Bissessar argued that appeals for compassion towards the Cuban people had been manipulated to defend a political system that denied them fundamental democratic freedoms.
While acknowledging the suffering and economic hardship experienced by ordinary Cubans, she accused the country's leadership and their families of living in luxury while the population endured difficult conditions.
“The exploitation of ordinary Cubans to support the lavish lives of those associated with the ruling regime has to end,” she said.
The prime minister maintained that Trinidad and Tobago's position was directed at Cuba's political leadership and not its people, adding that her government respected the sovereign right of other nations to determine their foreign policies and expected the same consideration in return.
The statement followed Wednesday's vote at the United Nations General Assembly, where 130 countries supported a resolution calling for an end to the US economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba. Seventeen countries voted against the measure, including Trinidad and Tobago and the United States, while 25 abstained.
The resolution was adopted for the 34th consecutive year, although support fell significantly from the 165 countries that voted in favour in 2025.
Trinidad and Tobago's opposition marks a historic departure from its longstanding position on the issue. The country abstained when the resolution was first introduced in 1992 but voted in favour in every subsequent year through 2025.
The decision also placed Trinidad and Tobago at odds with most of its CARICOM partners. Seven regional countries supported the resolution, while Jamaica, Guyana and Haiti abstained. Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Saint Lucia did not record votes.
The annual General Assembly resolution is non-binding and does not compel the United States to lift its sanctions against Cuba.
Persad-Bissessar concluded that her government stood for democracy, freedom, human dignity and the right of every citizen, including Cubans, to determine their political future.
