Re: Stabroek News’ “Rubio for Cari-com Summit,” (February 24), this is more than just about differences and difficulties among Caricom member states or between Caricom member states and the United States. This hits home directly in Guyana in a rather profoundly disconcerting way that requires clarity for actions taken by the PPP/C government on immigration the last year.
More on those actions presently, but from a Guyanese perspective, the emerging Cuban Humanitarian Crisis, which will disproportionately affect ordinary citizens more than it would the leadership of the government in Havana if it is not resolved expeditiously, could also go on to match in impact, if not eclipse, the October 16 to 28, 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. That 13-day CMS saw the stage being set for a dangerously direct showdown between the United States and the former Soviet Union after the U.S discovered Soviet nuclear missiles had arrived in Cuba. It was a too-close-for-comfort development given Florida was only 90 miles away.
Cooler heads prevailed as the then leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union reached agreement, allowing for the dismantling and removal of the Soviet nukes from Cuba in exchange for America pledging never to invade Cuba, and especially after the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion. Ever since that nail-biting standoff, which had a ripple effect on Cheddi Jagan’s communist People’s Progressive Party in 1964, Cuba has remained in the political crosshairs of Washington.
And despite the Obama administration’s dovish attempt to restore a semblance of normalcy between Washington and Havana, there were and are hawkish elements in Washington that not only refused to go along with normalcy but ramped up searches for ways to tighten the noose around Cuba’s neck, even after the end of communism with the fall of the Soviet Union in December 1991. To the world’s amazement, after 65 years of covert and overt pressure tactics, the communist government in Havana continues to prove its resiliency
Typically, such tightening tactics are designed to squeeze the ordinary Joe and Jane socioeconomically until there is a groundswell of anger via protests that could lead to a change in government policies and practices or even outright regime change. This was almost borne out after the Trump 2017-2019 sanctions against Venezuela that saw a popular uprising forcing Nicolas Maduro to consider seeking political asylum in Cuba, only to have Russia’s Vladimir Putin intervene and insist on Maduro staying put, (“Venezuela’s Maduro was preparing to flee to Cuba but was stopped by Russia, Pompeo says,” Miami Herald, May 1, 2019 ).
As we fast forward to the Rubio-Caricom governments meeting in St Kitts-Nevis, we have to keep within our range of vision the fact that some Caricom heads of government have voiced concerns over America’s foreign policy activities that are directly affecting Cuba and Venezuela, both of which are located in the Latin America-Caribbean region, but indirectly threatening other neighbouring countries. They refused to ignore this ripple effect on the region’s stability.
For example, based on Maduro’s policies and practices and America’s ongoing sanctions, over 8 million Venezuelans now call other countries home. Guyana is said to be home to an official number of around 25,000.
Despite oil money flowing into its coffers, Guyana remains a developing country with a socioeconomic infrastructure that is incapable of handling any massive influx of foreigners. Additionally, because of the PPP government’s aversion to accountability and transparency, Guya-nese don’t know what exactly is happening as far as numbers are concerned in relation to government’s immigration policies and practices. Did the surge in immigration numbers play any role in the September 2025 elections results?
Take the 2022 Census Report, which was made public last month, showing that as of September 15, 2022, the population stood at 878,674. That was compared to the 2012 Census Report number of 746,955. But what instantly jumped out at us, per the 2022 report released last month, was that the projected population stood at 956,044 at the end of 2024. What the PPP government is telling Guyanese is that the population grew from by 209,089 between 2012 and 2024.
Back in 2023 and 2024, President Irfaan Ali spoke repeatedly about government importing labour to meet growing demand for developmental projects, but what Guyanese don’t know is the accurate breakdown of the aforementioned 209,089 number – between those who were born in Guyana and those who became naturalized – because that could raise serious questions about voter impact that disproportionately favoured the PPP.
Circling back to my opening focus on the circumstances leading up to the U.S-Caricom leaders meeting, cooler heads must prevail. While I am strongly averse to communism and heavily favour free and fair elections as part of the democratic process that does not end at the ballot box, I strongly encourage Caricom leaders who defend Cuba to expend equal energies on urging its leaders to experiment with free and fair elections just to see how it works. After all, Caricom leaders are beneficiaries of free and fair elections.
I am also aware of Caricom leaders’ growing concerns, not merely from an ideological standpoint in contrast to the newly coined ‘Donroe Doctrine’, but that any rashly executed attempt by the United States to punish the governments in Venezuela and Cuba could have an unintended consequential impact on governments that share the same regional space, as struggling Venezuelans and Cubans flee to neighbouring states. It also does not help when the U.S government starts deporting immigrants to the Caribbean region or even to distant countries. There is definite need for everyone to be on the same page in pursuit of shared vision and mission.
In 1982, the Reagan administration conjured up the Regional Security System (RSS) initially to help stop the spread of communism in the Caribbean region. Headquartered in Barbados, it has grown in scope and membership and allows the United States to coordinate with regional governments in ensuring regional stability, defense, and security through cooperation. While Guyana became a member in September 2022, Trinidad is not but it still participates in training activities.
I referenced the RSS to highlight need for the Trump administration to utilize this Reagan initiative as a conduit through which American foreign policy approach in the region can be introduced while ensuring regional stability, defence, and economic security through cooperation. Treat regional governments as allies and not subordinates. The same applies to European allies whose role for 75 years allowed America to retain its status as leader of the free world and now the lone-standing superpower.
