Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRIDGETOWN715
2008-12-10 20:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bridgetown
Cable title:  

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA: SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF

Tags:  ETRD ETTC PREL PINR PGOV CU BB XL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0010
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWN #0715/01 3452027
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 102027Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6928
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0124
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000715 

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2018
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL PINR PGOV CU BB XL
SUBJECT: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA: SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF
THE LIBERTAD ACT

REF: REF: STATE 126578

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires D. Brent Hardt for reasons 1.4(b) and
(d).

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000715

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2018
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL PINR PGOV CU BB XL
SUBJECT: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA: SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF
THE LIBERTAD ACT

REF: REF: STATE 126578

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires D. Brent Hardt for reasons 1.4(b) and
(d).

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


1. (C) At the 2008 CARICOM-Cuba Summit, Antigua and Barbuda
publicly declared its commitment to deepening its
relationship with Cuba further through increased bilateral
collaboration and exchange in a number of areas such as
renewable energy, sports, health, education, agriculture,
engineering, disaster mitigation, tourism, and science and
technology. Antigua and Barbuda also called for an end
to U.S. trade embargo, agreeing with the CARICOM consensus
that the embargo is synonymous 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. Post has no evidence of
participation by businesses from Antigua and Barbuda in
FIHAV 2008.

--------------
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 cooperation 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.

--------------
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 1,182
people suffering from vision impairment 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 44 Cuban personnel working
in Antigua and Barbuda in health care. In Cuba, the GOC
established a special medical facility, where there are
currently 43 students from Antigua and Barbuda 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. Cuba has a
program to replace millions of incandescent light bulbs
with Cuban-made fluorescent bulbs aimed at saving energy
throughout the Caribbean.

--------------
Democracy and Human Rights Promotion
--------------


5. (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
--------------


6. (U) Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer was in Havana on
December 8, 2008 attending the CARICOM-Cuba Summit. While
at the meeting PM Spencer called on the United States to
remove its trade embargo on Cuba. In May of 2008, PM
Spencer visited Cuba for a meeting with new Cuban President
Raul Castro. While there, he expressed his keen interest
in Cuba's experience in dealing with diabetes and other
chronic ailments. 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 significant 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."

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


7. (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. HARDT
HARDT