’11 million civilians facing punishment,” PJ Patterson says of Cuba crisis

Former Jamaican Prime Minister P. J. Patterson says he has been experiencing “indescribable” personal torment over the deepening political and humanitarian crisis in Cuba, warning that the Caribbean must not remain silent as conditions worsen.

Patterson was among 10 former Caribbean prime ministers who issued a joint statement as the situation on the island deteriorates amid reported fuel shortages. Speaking on Beyond the Headlines on Radio Jamaica, he said the present moment stands in sharp contrast to the bold leadership shown by the region decades ago.

“I have been undergoing a level of personal torment which is indescribable because what I see is a total reverse of the courage, the boldness, the foresight, a willingness to fight formidable odds, which were all evident in the meeting of December 8, 1972, and the present time,” he said.

On that date, leaders of four independent Caribbean states met in Chaguaramas, Trinidad, and agreed to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba despite the United States’ embargo — a move strongly associated with the leadership of Michael Manley.

Patterson said he felt compelled to break his long-standing rule about avoiding public comment.

“I’m often quoted for saying silence cannot be misquoted, but I’m also aware of that passage in Ecclesiastes, which says there’s a time to be silent and a time to refrain from silence. And in my mind, in my torment, in my agony, the time had come to refrain from silence.

“And so, I reached out to a number of former colleagues who have served at various times as heads of state and government in the Caribbean. We are not a formal organisation, and as we have all retired from active service, we are not in the kind of regular contact which previously obtained,” he said.

The initial signatories included Jamaica’s Bruce Golding and Patterson, St. Lucia’s Kenny Anthony, Barbados’ Freundel Stuart, Guyana’s Donald Ramotar, Trinidad and Tobago’s Keith Rowley, Grenada’s Tillman Thomas and Dominica’s Edison James. Antigua and Barbuda’s Baldwin Spencer and Belize’s Said Musa later added their names.

Patterson stressed that the former leaders are mindful that they no longer hold political power.

“We are aware that we no longer exercise political control, and we are acutely conscious of the challenges and responsibilities of those in whose hands that power presently resides. And our statement was intended and is designed to set out the very clear principles on which our relationships with Cuba has been based over many years of association,” he said.

He warned that cutting off energy supplies to Cuba could trigger severe humanitarian consequences.

“If you cut off the energy supplies, you’re cutting off food supplies, medical supplies, [and] we’ve just heard sanitation problems arise which could result in an epidemic, a pandemic,” Patterson said, describing the situation as one that “offends our common humanity.”

“This one is of an unprecedented dimension because whatever one might think about the people in the government of Cuba, it is the 11 million civilians that are facing punishment,” he added.

Patterson also urged regional leaders meeting this week in Saint Kitts and Nevis to make clear where the Caribbean stands.

“Our appeal is for the Caribbean heads… to make very clear where the Caribbean region stands in solidarity with the people of Cuba in their repudiation of action which will result in an unprecedented humanitarian crisis,” he said.