Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BRIDGETOWN2156
2006-12-07 15:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bridgetown
Cable title:
BARBADOS AND CUBA - LIBERTAD ACT REVIEW
how-toVZCZCXYZ0025 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHWN #2156 3411516 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 071516Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3864 INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0055 RUEHCV/USDAO CARACAS VE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 002156
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CCA AND WHA/CAR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2016
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU BB XL
SUBJECT: BARBADOS AND CUBA - LIBERTAD ACT REVIEW
REF: STATE 191752
Classified By: CDA Mary Ellen T. Gilroy for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
(C) The five questions in reftel are answered below, in a Q
and A format:
--------------
Investments
--------------
Q1 - What is the nature of investments (and names, if known)
that host country businesses have in Cuba?
A1 - The Canadian energy company Sherritt (www.sherritt.com)
has set up two offshore companies in Barbados that it uses as
a platform for investments in Cuba. The significant tax
savings Canadian companies enjoy in Barbados, coupled with
Barbados' tax and investment treaties with Cuba, mean there
may be other Canadian companies using offshore subsidiaries
in Barbados to enter the Cuban market.
--------------
Trade Agreements
--------------
Q2 - Are there any bilateral trade agreements between host
country and Cuba?
A2 - Yes. Barbados has active bilateral tax and investment
treaties with Cuba. In addition, CARICOM has a trade
agreement with Cuba that Barbados has ratified.
--------------
Exchange Programs
--------------
Q3 - Are there any exchange programs between host country and
Cuba, including but not limited to: scholarships for host
country nationals to study in Cuba; Cuban-paid medical travel
for host country nationals; and Cuban doctors working in host
country?
A3 - Yes. Barbados is the recipient of Cuban scholarships
and Cuban-paid medical travel for Barbadians in need of eye
surgery. There is no wide-scale program to utilize Cuban
doctors in the local health care system.
--------------
Democracy and Human Rights
--------------
Q4 - Has the host country, in Post's opinion, worked to
promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba?
Q4 - No. Barbados has done nothing to advance democracy and
human rights in Cuba.
--------------
High-Level Visits
--------------
Q5 - Have there been any high-level diplomatic visits between
Cuba and host country in the past six months?
A5 - No.
GILROY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CCA AND WHA/CAR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2016
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU BB XL
SUBJECT: BARBADOS AND CUBA - LIBERTAD ACT REVIEW
REF: STATE 191752
Classified By: CDA Mary Ellen T. Gilroy for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
(C) The five questions in reftel are answered below, in a Q
and A format:
--------------
Investments
--------------
Q1 - What is the nature of investments (and names, if known)
that host country businesses have in Cuba?
A1 - The Canadian energy company Sherritt (www.sherritt.com)
has set up two offshore companies in Barbados that it uses as
a platform for investments in Cuba. The significant tax
savings Canadian companies enjoy in Barbados, coupled with
Barbados' tax and investment treaties with Cuba, mean there
may be other Canadian companies using offshore subsidiaries
in Barbados to enter the Cuban market.
--------------
Trade Agreements
--------------
Q2 - Are there any bilateral trade agreements between host
country and Cuba?
A2 - Yes. Barbados has active bilateral tax and investment
treaties with Cuba. In addition, CARICOM has a trade
agreement with Cuba that Barbados has ratified.
--------------
Exchange Programs
--------------
Q3 - Are there any exchange programs between host country and
Cuba, including but not limited to: scholarships for host
country nationals to study in Cuba; Cuban-paid medical travel
for host country nationals; and Cuban doctors working in host
country?
A3 - Yes. Barbados is the recipient of Cuban scholarships
and Cuban-paid medical travel for Barbadians in need of eye
surgery. There is no wide-scale program to utilize Cuban
doctors in the local health care system.
--------------
Democracy and Human Rights
--------------
Q4 - Has the host country, in Post's opinion, worked to
promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba?
Q4 - No. Barbados has done nothing to advance democracy and
human rights in Cuba.
--------------
High-Level Visits
--------------
Q5 - Have there been any high-level diplomatic visits between
Cuba and host country in the past six months?
A5 - No.
GILROY