So Donald Trump is itching to give Cuba bloody nose.
The audacity of that man is unbelievable. He is the perfect example of why no world leader should be vested with so much power. He is of the mind that he can just trod around the world and do what he wants. His actions in Venezuela and Iran show that his thinking knows no limits.
For more than 60 years America has had an ideological problem with Cuba.
The Bay of Pigs was a failed 1961 CIA-backed invasion of Cuba by U.S.-trained Cuban exiles aiming to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist government; it happened because the U.S. saw Castro's alignment with the Soviet Union and nationalization of U.S. businesses as a threat, leading President Kennedy to approve the covert operation, which collapsed quickly due to poor planning, lack of expected Cuban support, and Castro's readiness.
Successive US presidents have left well alone in Cuba allowing the people to determine their own fate. It can be said that communism is an outmoded form of governance but it is up to the Cuban people to decide if they are still comfortable to live under its rules.
For decades Cuba has had extremely good relationships with her Caribbean neighbours. Yes there have been some testy moments such as the 1970s when political ideologies clashed but on the balance of it Cuba has been of more benefit to the Caribbean than harm. They produce world class engineers, doctors, nurses, teachers and other professionals who have served the region very well.
It is our turn to be kind to Cuba and Caricom should stand with our neighbour. Starving Cuba of oil and gas can only lead to mounting suffering and the conditions are getting worse by the day. Jamaica can’t handle a refugee crisis and we will be on the receiving end of mass migration should the worse happen.
Mr Trump says Cuba is at the end of its life and he essentially wants to see regime change. Can Jamaica and the Caribbean stand by and watch such warped international practices come to bear.
Cuba cannot stand up to the might of Donald Trump’s military power so somewhere there has to be diplomatic dialogue. There must be a peaceful solution which will see Cuba remain in charge of its own affairs and be able to live harmoniously with the US
A group of former Caribbean leaders and our own Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness as leader of Caricom have made their positions known on the issue. Perhaps it’s a matter that must now be properly brought before the United Nations, although Trump has shown scant regard for such organisations.
With its military strength America has not been very succesful at the war games. They have succeeded in slaughtering many innocent people around the world but just think about if Russia and China should take supporting positions in the Cuba matter. Would we have World War Three on our doorsteps? The thought is not even worth considering. Spare a thought for the people of Cuba and hope for the best. .