Rubio for CARICOM summit – Stabroek News

-as regional tension grows over Cuba

CARICOM Heads of Government will begin meeting today in St Kitts-Nevis with Cuba shaping up to be a major source of discord even as it was announced that US Secre-tary of State Marco Rubio will be joining the talks tomorrow.

US pressure on the region to limit ties with Havana has triggered regional divisions with a host of former leaders calling for solidarity with Cuba while Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has sharply differed with them.

Washington has threatened to impose tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba.

Guyana will be represented by President Irfaan Ali and Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd, coming just days after CARICOM Chair and St Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew arrived here for discussions at State House. Ali has been silent on calls by former regional leaders including Guyana’s former President Donald Ramotar for humanitarian aid to Cuba and an end to what has been called economic warfare by the US against Havana.

A release from the Office of the President said the engagement with Drew covered issues relating to CARICOM as well as Guyana and St Kitts and Nevis relations. Drew described the meeting as “fruitful” and said Heads would continue to push “regional integration and togetherness.”