BARBADOS: SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000303

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2019
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL PINR PGOV CU BB XL
SUBJECT: BARBADOS: SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD
ACT

REF: STATE 48487

Classified By: Polecon Chief Ian Campbell for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Response to reftel queries for Barbados.

-- Has the host country, in Post's opinion, worked to promote
the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba?

No. Barbados has not taken any steps to advance democracy or
human rights in Cuba.

-- Has the host country made public statements or undertaken
other governmental actions, such as resolutions in the
national assemblies condemning human rights abuses in Cuba,
or actions in support of civil society in Cuba through host
country's diplomatic missions or other fora?

No, Barbados has not undertaken any such actions.

Have there been any high-level diplomatic visits between Cuba
and the host country in the past six months?

Yes. Prime Minister Thompson attended the annual
CARICOM-Cuba summit in December, 2008. In addition, Thompson
paid a visit to Cuba in May, 2009, where he announced
Barbados' intent to open an Embassy in Havana in September,

2009.

-- What is the nature of investments (and names, if known)
that host country businesses have in Cuba?

The Canadian energy company Sherritt (www.sherritt.com)
continues to operate two offshore companies in Barbados that
it uses as a platform for investments in Cuba. In 2008, the
Barbados company Mulberry Patch entered into a bilateral
cooperation agreement with the Cuban government to develop
sericulture production of silk worms.

-- Are there any bilateral agreements or other cooperative
agreements between the host country and Cuba?

The only known trade agreement between Barbados and Cuba is a
bilateral trade agreement "for the promotion and protection
of investments," signed in February 2006. The objective of
the agreement is to encourage reciprocal protections and
stimulate capital investment, business development and
economic prosperity. Barbados also ratified a trade
agreement between CARICOM and Cuba with similar objectives,
which was incorporated into Barbados' domestic legislation in
April 2006. In July 1999, Barbados concluded a tax
convention with Cuba to prevent double taxation and fiscal
evasion with respect to income taxation.

-- 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?

Barbados has been the recipient of Cuban scholarships and
Cuban-paid medical travel for Barbadians in need of eye
surgery via the "Operacion Milagro" program. There is no
wide-scale program to utilize Cuban doctors in the local
health care system.
HARDT