In a stark departure from its 40-year history of supporting United Nations calls to terminate the long-running U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago cast a surprise “No” vote during the latest UN General Assembly ballot on the resolution on Wednesday, breaking ranks entirely with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) bloc. The global vote tally stood at 130 in favor of the resolution, 17 opposed, and 25 abstentions; within CARICOM, Trinidad and Tobago was the sole member to vote against the measure, with Jamaica, Guyana, and Haiti opting to abstain rather than join the regional consensus that has backed similar resolutions for generations.
COMMENTARY: Trinidad and Tobago votes No on Cuba, twinned with Washington, as it prepares for the Security Council.
