US interventions dominated speeches at a summit of 15 nations from the Caribbean and the Americas on Tuesday, as the region’s leaders met amid deadly military strikes against suspected drug boats and an oil blockade on Cuba.

During the opening ceremony of the four-day Caricom summit in St Kitts and Nevis, leaders of the regional bloc called for a strategic collaborations to deal with the impact of recent US policies.

The Jamaican prime minister and the outgoing Caricom chair, Andrew Holness, said that he supports “constructive dialogue between Cuba and the US aimed at de-escalation, reform and stability”.“We must address the situation in Cuba with clarity and courage,” Holness said. “Cuba is our Caribbean neighbour. Its doctors and teachers have served across our region,” he said.

He added that Cubans are facing “severe economic hardship, energy shortages and growing humanitarian strain”, which could have consequences across the wider region.

“It must be clear that a prolonged crisis in Cuba will not remain confined to Cuba,” Holness said. “It will affect migration, security and economic stability across the Caribbean basin.

Source: Associated Press Contribution