In an address to representatives of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states yesterday, Prime Minister Perry Christie suggested that CARICOM take action to neutralize any adverse impact that could result from the United States' decision to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba.
Christie, who previously said the announcement by the U.S. "ought to be a very serious concern" for The Bahamas' tourism product, said the region ought to find ways to partner with Cuba.
Cuba's impact on regional economies was among the topics under discussion at the 26th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM at the Melia Nassau Beach resort. Addressing the opening ceremony of that two-day conference, Christie said the region needs to move quickly on the matter for the benefit of all countries.
"With a view to strengthening our relations with our sister nation...I reiterate that sooner rather than later, CARICOM should engage in feasibility surveys with a view to developing multi-destination tourism initiatives with Cuba," said Christie, who is also the chairman of CARICOM.
In December, U.S. President Barack Obama announced the policy shift, which is widely viewed as a step toward lifting the 54-year-old embargo on Cuba. Obama said the United States plans to open an embassy in Cuba and possibly make changes to the travel laws that restrict traffic between the two countries.
Immigration and Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, who spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the meeting, expounded on the need to partner with Cuba.
"The change in the attitude of the United States towards Cuba is a significant one in the region that has obvious economic implications, in the sense that there would be a kind of forbidden fruit impact in the first few years of any open relationship with the United States," he said. "So it behooves the region to act in a manner that is strategic and that is what the call from the prime minister meant.
"We must start speaking with Cuba on the synergies that can operate between ourselves and Cuba out of necessity and out of ensuring that our economies don't suffer adverse impacts, but, in fact, the pie grows bigger by having a larger market."
Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe and Minister of State for Investments Khaalis Rolle have both recently said that The Bahamas needs to improve the quality of its offerings if it wants to be able to compete with Cuba. The meeting also focused on leveraging the region's human, cultural and natural assets to enhance the development of the community. Key discussion areas include youth development and marijuana legalization.
Christie also called for gender equality during his address.
"...We must also ensure that female empowerment is a priority not only as a moral imperative but also as a social necessity," Christie said as Jamaica Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller clapped loudly.
"In this latter regard, it is a statistical fact that over 50 percent of our families are run by single mothers. Recognizing, as we do, that the family is the most basic, most fundamental building block of society, the case for female empowerment, inclusive of full equality for women in relation to their male counterparts, is therefore too compelling to countenance any serious dissension."
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