REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000712 SIPDIS WHA/CCA - JARAHN HILLSMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2019 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU XL SUBJECT: REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT: BARBADOS REF: STATE 115416 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires D. Brent Hardt, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Response to reftel inquiries for St. Vincent and the Grenadines follows. - Has the host country, in Post's opinion, worked to promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba? No, Barbados has not sought 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, 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 David Thompson visited Cuba in May, 2009, where he announced Barbados' intent to open an Embassy in Havana in September, 2009. To date, the Embassy has not yet opened. - What is the nature of investments (and names, if known) that host country businesses have in Cuba? The Canadian energy company Sherritt (www.sherrit.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. GOGGIN