Jamaica’s PM Holness warns Cuban crisis will ripple across Caribbean

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness is urging Caribbean leaders to confront the worsening crisis in Cuba with what he called “clarity and courage,” warning that the fallout will extend well beyond the island’s borders.

Speaking Tuesday at the opening of the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in St. Kitts and Nevis, Holness said Jamaica supports “constructive dialogue” between Cuba and the United States aimed at easing tensions and promoting stability.

“We believe there is space, perhaps more space now than in years past, for pragmatic engagement that protects the Cuban people from any further deterioration in their circumstances and instead promotes national and regional prosperity,” he said.

His remarks come amid a deepening fuel crisis in Cuba following an Executive Order signed on January 29 by U.S. President Donald Trump restricting oil supplies to the island. The order applies trade pressure to countries that provide fuel to Cuba, tightening energy access and compounding economic strain.

Cuban authorities have responded by shortening the work week and scaling back essential public services in an effort to conserve limited oil supplies.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to travel to St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday for talks with regional leaders, placing the issue squarely on the CARICOM agenda.

Holness cautioned that the situation in Cuba will not remain contained.

“It will affect migration, security and economic stability across the Caribbean region. It is therefore important that we carefully consider this matter and take collective action,” he said.

He noted that Cuban health professionals have long served across the Caribbean, underscoring the depth of the island’s regional ties.

At the same time, Holness reaffirmed Jamaica’s commitment to democratic governance and economic openness.

“Jamaica stands firmly for democracy, human rights, political accountability and an open, market-based economy,” he said. “We do not believe that long-term stability can exist where economic freedom is constrained and political participation is limited.”

While acknowledging that Jamaica is “sensitive” to the struggles of the Cuban people, he stressed that sustainable prosperity requires “openness to ideas, to enterprise, to investment and to the will of the people.”

“This moment, therefore, calls not for rhetoric but for responsible statecraft even as we encourage support for humanitarian relief,” Holness added.

CARICOM leaders are meeting under the theme “Beyond Words, Action Today for a Thriving, Sustainable CARICOM,” with regional security, economic resilience and external pressures expected to dominate discussions.