DESPITE Jamaica being threatened with retaliation after Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness urged Caribbean nationals to stand in solidarity with the people of Cuba, Caricom has indicated that it will be offering humanitarian support to Jamaica’s northern neighbour.

This was disclosed on Friday by Caricom Chairman Dr Terrance Drew during the closing press conference for the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caricom held this week in St Kitts and Nevis.

Drew, responding to questions from reporters, stated that the issue of regime change in Cuba was not discussed at the level of Caricom or with the United States.

A reporter alerted Drew to the fact that the issue of economic and regime change in Cuba was reported by the Miami Herald this week. The report also indicated that the grandson of Raul Castro met with a close advisor to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the Caricom conference to discuss the issue.

Responding, Drew said, “I can’t speak for the Associated Press or Miami Herald; I guess you would have to ask them about that question, so I am not in a position to respond to what they have written”.

“With respect to Cuba and the humanitarian efforts, we are going to respond on the humanitarian end in short order, within a month. We will give more specifics on it very, very, shortly, but within a month we’re going to respond in a significant way to help the humanitarian situation in Cuba,” Drew disclosed.

“I think that, that is on the way and you will get more details in respect to it,” he added. The St Kitts and Nevis prime minister would not be drawn on whether humanitarian aid to Cuba would involve the supply of fuel.

On Tuesday, Holness urged Caricom member states to address the humanitarian crisis in Cuba “with clarity and courage,” and suggested that wise, skilful, and prudent management is needed to resolve the deepening geopolitical conflict between Washington and Havana.

Holness, the immediate past chairman of the regional bloc, was delivering his address on the opening day of the Caricom summit.

The conference, which ended Friday, was held against the backdrop of rising concerns in the region over the crisis in Cuba, triggered by United States President Donald Trump’s oil blockade on the Spanish-speaking country.

Trump cut off key supplies of Venezuelan oil to Cuba after ousting Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, and has threatened sanctions on states that sell oil to Havana.

Cuba, under a US trade embargo since 1962, has for years battled extended power cuts and shortages of fuel, medicine, and food, even before the Caribbean country of 9.6 million people lost its main oil supplier last month.

In his address to Caricom heads on Tuesday, Holness pointed to the role that Cuba has played in supporting its Caribbean neighbours.

“Its doctors and teachers have served across our region. Its people are part of our shared history. But, today, the Cuban people face severe economic hardship, energy shortages, and growing humanitarian strain,” Holness said.

He declared that Jamaica is sensitive to the struggles of the Cuban people and pointed out that “humanitarian suffering serves no one”.

“Apart from our fraternal care and solidarity with the Cuban people, it must be clear that a prolonged crisis in Cuba will not remain confined to Cuba. It will affect migration, security, and economic stability across the Caribbean basin. It is, therefore, important that we carefully consider this matter and take collective action,” Holness said.

“Let there be no doubt, Jamaica stands firmly for democracy, human rights, political accountability, and open market-based economies. We do not believe that long-term stability can exist where economic freedom is constrained and political participation is limited.”

By Wednesday, Holness was facing backlash for his speech. United States Congressman Carlos Giménez blasted him in a post on
X for his Cuba comments.

Addressing Holness in his capacity as the leader of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Giménez said, “I harshly condemn this and find it lamentable that the JLP would cover up for the moribund dictatorship in #Cuba, when the Castro regime repeatedly intervened in #Jamaica’s politics to exacerbate partisan tensions and undermine the JLP!”

He ended his post saying, “Jamaica will face the consequences!”

Caricom chairman and St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew (centre) is flanked by outgoing chairman of Caricom and Prime Minister of Jamaica Dr Andrew Holness (left) and Saint Lucia Prime Minister Philip J Pierre, at the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caricom in St Kitts and Nevis last week. Photo: Caricom

A tricycle is decorated with US and Cuban flags in Havana on February 26, 2026. Photo: AFP