Rubio presses CARICOM on drug networks, Cuba `transition’

By Marcelle Thomas in St Kitts-Nevis

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio yesterday met with CARICOM Heads of Government to press what he called the region’s most urgent shared priority in confronting transnational criminal organizations in addition to discussing a framework for Cuba’s transition.

“The meeting went well and Secretary Rubio highlighted how the US can better partner with CARICOM to making it safer …alongside a number of other matters,”  President Irfaan Ali told Stabroek News on the sidelines of day two of the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in St Kitts-Nevis.

Asked if the crisis in Cuba and humanitarian aid was discussed, he said that, “Secretary Rubio said the US is not stopping humanitarian  aid to the people of  Cuba”. Pressed further on if oil can be given, Ali said that “oil is not humanitarian aid.”  He said that selling oil comes under global economic conditions of which Guyana is a party. 

The President also pointed out that discussions on Cuba centred on “a framework for transition” but did not go into detail about what that framework will entail.