REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000305 SIPDIS FOR WHA/CCA AND WHA/CAR E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2019 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU XL SUBJECT: REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT - DOMINICA REF: STATE 48487 Classified By: polecon chief Ian Campbell, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Response to reftel inquiries for Dominica. - Has the host country, in Post's opinion, worked to promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba? No. Dominica has not taken any steps to advance democracy and 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, Dominica 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 Skerrit visited Cuba in December 2008 to attend a CARICOM-Cuba summit meeting. - What is the nature of investments (and names, if known) that host country businesses have in Cuba? There are no Dominica businesses known to have investments in Cuba. - Are there any bilateral trade agreements or other cooperative agreements between host country and Cuba? Yes. CARICOM has a trade agreement with Cuba that Dominica has ratified. - 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? Yes. Dominica is the recipient of Cuban scholarships and Cuban-paid medical travel for St. Kitts and Nevis nationals in need of eye surgery. There is no wide-scale program to utilize Cuban doctors in the local health care system. HARDT