ANTIGUA-BARBUDA: SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 001501

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CCA AND WHA/CAR
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2017
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL PINR PGOV CU BB XL
SUBJECT: ANTIGUA-BARBUDA: SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE
LIBERTAD ACT

REF: STATE 158768

Classified By: CDA Clyde I. Howard for reasons 1.4(B) and (d).


Summary
--------------


1. (C) Antigua and Barbuda enjoys a close relationship with
Cuba. The Government of Antigua and Barbuda (GOAB) has
publicly declared CARICOM's commitment to deepening their
relationship further through increased bilateral
collaboration and exchange in health, education,
transportation, and science and technology. Antigua and
Barbuda has also stepped up its rhetoric against USG policy
toward human rights and democracy in Cuba within the last
year, agreeing with the CARICOM consensus that the embargo is
synonomous with international interference and a violation of
sovereignty. End Summary.

Nature of Investments
--------------


2. (C) There are no known private sector investments in Cuba
from Antiguan nationals.

Bilateral Trade Agreements
--------------


3. (U) Antigua and Barbuda's trade agreements with Cuba are
mostly through CARICOM, of which Antigua and Barbuda is a
member. In December 2005, CARICOM's "Declaration of
Bridgetown" gave Cuba access to free trade in the region.
While more a declaration than a detailed trade agreement, the
agreement aimed to strengthen cooperaton and build links in
the areas of trade, education, health, culture and sports.
The CARICOM-Cuba Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement was
signed in July 2000, and provides for duty free access on
certain goods and services in each territory. The agreement
also provides for the adoption of common positions at
international fora and the exchange of information and views
on economic and social matters of mutual interest.

Health Exchange Programs
--------------


4. (U) The Government of Cuba's (GOC) "Operacion Milagro" is
one of Cuba's most publicized programs in the Eastern
Caribbean, especially in Antigua and Barbuda, where 900
people suffering from blindness have benefited from receiving
an all-expense paid trip to Cuba for free cataract removal,
cornea transplants, and/or glaucoma treatment, while over
13,000 people have been screened in Antigua under the
program. Currently, the GOC is sending Cuban doctors to
Antigua to perform these surgeries in-country. There are
currently 140 Cuban personnel working in Antigua and Barbuda
in health care. In Cuba, the GOC established a special
medical facility, where more than 400 students from the
Eastern Caribbean are being trained in the areas of mental
health, clinical nursing, oncology care, dialysis care,
health administration, and clinical pharmacology. Cuba also
assisted in the development, equipping and staffing of a
diagnostic center in Antigua with an intensive care unit,
rehabilitation center, and ambulance. In addition, the GOC
provided a power generation unit for an Antiguan hospital
upgrade, along with operation rooms and equipment.
Democracy and Human Rights Promotion
--------------


6. (C) Antigua and Barbuda has done nothing to advance
democracy and human rights in Cuba, but has instead shown
solidarity with Cuba in international fora, particularly on
matters related to the U.S. embargo. Antigua and Barbuda
regularly votes to support pro-Cuba resolutions in the United
Nations and almost never criticizes the Castro regime on its
human rights record.

High-Level Visits
--------------


7. (U) The last known high-level visit between Cuba and
Antigua and Barbuda occurred in May 2007 at the 45th OECS
Heads of State Meeting in Grenada, where PM Spencer and his
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Colin Murdoch, met with Cuban Foreign Minister, Felipe Perez
Roque and Cuban Ambassador to Antigua, Marcelino Fajardo, met
on the margins to discuss cooperation between the two

countries in the areas of sports exchanges, medical programs,
and aviation. In a public statement, PM Spencer declared
that "the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda thank
the Government and people of the Republic of Cuba for their
significan humanitarian gesture." Spencer also expressed his
hope "for the full recovery of Cuban President Fidel Castro"
and that he is "looking forward to an excellent working
relationship."


8. (U) In February 2007, Minister of Tourism, Harold Lovell,
Tourism Research and Planning Officer, Corthwright Marshall,
Tourism Product Development Officer, Darlene Lay, Senior
Assistant to the Minister, Elinor Oliver, and Tourism
Communications Officer, Maria Blackman travled to Cuba, where
they sought technical assistance in tourism development. The
Cuban Minister of Tourism, Manuel Marrero Cruz, agreed to
assist with the restoration of cultural heritage sites in
Antigua.

Comment
--------------


9. (C) Antigua and Barbuda and Cuba have had solid diplomatic
relations for over thirty years and like other Eastern
Caribbean states, consider each other "Caribbean brothers."
In addition, Antigua and Barbuda's recent U.N. voting record
on human rights and democracy indicates that Antigua and
Barbuda does not support democracy and human rights in Cuba,
where it is in Antigua and Barbuda's perceived economic and
political best interests to consistently turn a blind eye.
HOWARD