CARICOM begins pooling cash for Cuba relief supplies

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, 22:51 by Writer

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member nations have begun pooling cash to send to Mexico to buy a variety of supplies for shipment to Cuba, the Guyana-based regional headquarters said on Tuesday.

Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM, David Comissiong also said “the idea is that all CARICOM member states will make financial donations and that sum will be used to purchase humanitarian items in Mexico so that they could easily be transported to Cuba” which is very near to Mexico.

CARICOM said the items to be purchased in Mexico from suppliers there would include powdered milk, including baby formula; non-perishables such as beans, wheat flour, rice, and canned goods; basic medical supplies, solar panels, batteries, and water tanks.

“CARICOM’s initiative is supported by the government of Mexico, which has identified suppliers in Mexico able to deliver the items to the port of departure, and which will provide free shipment from Mexico to Cuba,” the CARICOM headquarters also said in a statement.

Mr Comissiong last week called on foreign ministers of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), at their meeting in Cuba, to defend a 2014 Declaration of Havana that the region is a zone of peace.

He also said CELAC must denounce and reject extra-judicial killings of their citizens by “an intruding great power”, in clear reference to the United States’ military bombing of alleged drug-ferrying boats in the Caribbean and Pacific seas and killing of more than 100 persons.

“We must also hold fast to our collective denunciation of the United States’ illicit unilateral blockade of our CELAC member state of Cuba as a gross violation of our region’s internationally recognized designation as a zone of peace,” he said.

CARICOM Chairman, St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew had skirted questions from the media concerning the US’ actions in Caribbean waters, at a news conference after regional leaders held their summit in his country. US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio had also addressed that summit.

Ever since the US military’s capture of Venezuela’s President, Nicolás Maduro and his rendition to New York to face trial for alleged drugs trafficking and weapons possession, Caracas has ceased supplying Havana with vitally needed fuel.

Hospitals, schools, solid waste collection, airport operations and transportation have ground to a virtual halt. The island’s electricity generation plants have collapsed twice in recent days.

With Mr Maduro out of the way and Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez more pliant to Washington’s directives, the Trump administration is pushing for regime change.