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