CARICOM agrees to send aid to Cuba, form committee to reset US ties

Caribbean Community leaders have agreed to send humanitarian aid to Cuba and to establish a three-member committee to reframe relations with the United States, as they wrapped up their four-day summit in St Kitts and Nevis on Friday.

At the closing news conference, CARICOM Chairman and St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew said leaders discussed what he described as the “challenging situation in Cuba” and issued a formal statement on the matter.

“The matter of the challenging situation in Cuba was also discussed. All parties recognised that there should be efforts to address the growing humanitarian crisis,” Drew said, quoting from the communiqué.

He added that CARICOM had taken the decision “to support humanitarian efforts in Cuba,” but noted that the precise nature and scale of the assistance are yet to be determined.

Drew said the issue was also raised during talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and that “all parties recognise that there should be efforts to address the growing humanitarian crisis.”

Since January, the administration of Donald Trump has sought to curtail oil supplies that power Cuba’s energy grid and critical infrastructure. Rubio has indicated that economic reforms could provide Havana with a pathway to easing US pressure, though he has not outlined specific conditions. He has suggested that greater economic freedoms for Cubans, alongside political reforms, would be key to improved relations.

Drew described the summit as “a conference of action,” saying leaders spent significant time addressing critical regional issues that would have a positive impact across the Community.

On Haiti, he said the CARICOM-appointed Eminent Persons Group (EPG), chaired by former St Lucia prime minister Kenny Anthony, presented a report on recent political developments and the security and humanitarian situation.

Drew said the EPG expressed deep appreciation to Kenya for leading the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti, which has transitioned to a Gang Suppression Force authorised by the United Nations Security Council. Leaders reiterated their commitment to restoring peace and stability in Haiti and expressed support for the framework to improve security and hold elections.

Turning to US-Caribbean relations, Drew said a Cooperation Framework to repurpose ties between CARICOM and Washington is in its initial stages. CARICOM will appoint a three-member team to engage US officials and develop the framework.

He described the move as significant in ensuring that the longstanding relationship between the United States and CARICOM continues in a structured and strategic way. According to Drew, Rubio noted his administration’s objective of reinvigorating traditional partnerships in the Western Hemisphere, citing shared challenges and opportunities.

Leaders also reviewed progress on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), including expanded categories for free movement to cover aviation personnel such as aircraft maintenance engineers, professional pilots, air traffic controllers and flight operations officers.

Barbados, Belize, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines reported that full free movement among themselves began on October 1, 2025, and that they are strengthening the required administrative and legislative frameworks.

On reparations, heads of government asked the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee to review the revised “Caricom Ten-Point Plan for Reparations: A Manifesto” and identify priority activities ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda in November and other key meetings in 2026.

In the area of regional security, leaders welcomed progress on model legislation and criminal justice reform and accepted an offer from the United Nations Development Programme to work with CARICOM to expand and implement a Police Record Management Information System.

A separate governance review committee was also established, comprising Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Dominica’s Roosevelt Skerrit, Jamaica’s Andrew Holness and Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, to examine the governance and financing of the Community.

On border matters, leaders received updates on cases before the International Court of Justice involving Guatemala and Honduras in relation to Belize, as well as the Guyana-Venezuela dispute. They reaffirmed their support for peaceful resolution through the ICJ and reiterated their unwavering backing for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both Belize and Guyana.