Caribbean round-up: Mottley trims jubilee plans, Caricom turns 53 and Cuba’s health system strains

Barbados

Prime Minister Mia Mottley said her government would focus on helping citizens cope with rising global living costs while continuing national reforms.

To free up resources, celebrations for Barbados’ 60th independence anniversary and fifth republic anniversary will be shortened and held over three months. “What I’m not going to do as prime minister of this country is to mis-allocate funds or misprioritise funds when circumstances clearly show you are dealing with a war,” Mottley said.

She said a draft report for a new constitution had been submitted to the President and would go to Cabinet before public consultation. She defended capping fuel at Bds$4.01 per litre, rather than the recommended Bds$4.20, with the government paying the difference.

Caricom

As Caricom marked its 53rd anniversary, Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett said regional integration and co-operation were vital to overcoming the Caribbean’s challenges. “Caricom is a strong expression of collective determination to shape our own destiny,” she said.

She pointed to progress on security, disaster response, climate change, public health and education, and stressed the need to improve transport and digital connectivity across the community.

Cuba

Cuba’s free universal healthcare system has declined significantly amid economic problems and fuel shortages that analysts link to stricter US sanctions. Hospitals face severe shortages of medicines, supplies and equipment parts, and many doctors and technicians have left the country.

A representative of the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization described the situation as “shocking”. The Trump administration says it will consider lifting sanctions only if Cuba carries out major economic reforms and changes its system of governance.

Trinidad and Tobago

ExxonMobil has expressed strong confidence in Trinidad and Tobago’s deepwater sector, telling Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal that its first seismic survey in Block TTUD-1 is nearly complete.

The company will analyse the data and identify potential drilling sites before deciding whether to drill exploration wells. In its first contract year it paid US$3.66mn to the Energy Ministry, including US$935,000 for training, research and scholarships for nationals.