Dear Editor,
The prompt for this commentary is the SN article titled, “Singh pressed on Cuba policy change” (SN March 11th). Here it follows: Presidents Irfaan Ali and Kamla Persad-Bissessar attended “America’s Shield” confab with Secretary of State Rubio and President Trump. That meeting was unmistakably about RC, Regime Change, in Cuba. President Trump spoke in crystal clear terms about his desire to end the Marxist-Leninist government in Cuba.
At the BBC World Questions panel discussions, spokesman Ashni Singh seems to be denying President Ali’s position or deliberately trying to enter a nuanced position. President Ali must make up his mind on this matter: You have to be either against RC or for RC. No ambiguity.
Here is my advice to President Ali: Be bold; stand up and be counted for RC. It is long past time for the Cuban Experiment with Marxism-Leninism (“dictatorship of the proletariat” and “Command economy”) to come to an end. The economy has already collapsed and is now waiting for the government to fall. Let the government fall, the sooner the better. This way – petrol and food and billions of dollars in investments will flow quickly to rebuild Cuba.
The whole purpose of the U.S. embargo on Cuba was to pressure the Cuban government to end the M-L Experiment. Now they have reached the end point. Those Caribbean Leaders and local politicians (Clement Rohee, Donald Ramotar) who feel guilty about receiving aid from Cuba and now call for solidarity with Cuba are very misguided. They are not helping; they are dragging out the agony of Cuba. The solution: No food and petrol. The faster the government falls, the sooner the rebuilding of Cuba starts.
Note: China and Russia, bastions of Marxism-Leninism have long ended “Command economics”; and now largely practice some forms of free market economics. Why not Cuba? All Caricom countries have multi-party election democracy. Why not Cuba?
Cabinet officers like Minister Ashni Singh should encourage President Ali to come out and say unambiguously: “I am all-in with Rubio’s and Trump’s plan; time to end that Cuban Experiment that began in 1958 – 1961”. Let the Cuban people be free. And, they’ll be free without a shot being fired. As VS Naipaul would say, “Can’t beat that!”